Transfer apparatus

(54) NAME Method and apparatus for moving carriers between two conveyor tracks (56) PUBLICATIONS QUOTED:

WO Al 88 09159 (A61G 7/10), EP Al 27638 (5/00) (57) SUMMARY:

The invention relates to a method and a device for moving a load (8) carried by a carrier (12) between two transport legs (3a, b) separated from each other. In this case, the carrier changes from being suspended in a movable member (4a) of the first conveyor path (3a) to suspended in a movable member (4b) of the second transport web (3b).

According to the method, when the carrier (12) is suspended by means of a first connecting means (9a, 11a) in the movable means (4a) of the first transport path (3a), the movable means (4b) of the second transport path (3b) are connected by a second connecting means (9b, 11b). The length of the second connection means is reduced and the carrier (12) is thereby transferred to hang completely in the movable means (4b) of the second transport path (3b).

In addition to the above-mentioned support means (12) and the specified connection means (9a, 11a; 9b, 11b), the device includes drive means for inputting and discharging at least one of the connecting means relative to the housing (14) for changing the distance between the supporting means (12). and the movable member (4a, b).

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The numbers in brackets indicate international identification code, INID code. Letters in clamps indicate international document code.

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Traveling device

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus according to the preamble to the independent claims.

In many contexts, there is a need to be able to easily move a suspended load between two physically different paths. By path here is meant, for example, a track arranged to cooperate with a trolley running in the track. For example, the carriage consists in its simplest embodiment of a wheel stored in a holder which in turn is provided with a means to which the load is connected.

Especially for Invalidated or sick persons who are cared for in the home for shorter or longer periods there is a need to move persons sitting on a carrier which in turn moves along a path arranged in the ceiling of the apartment 1 in which the person resides. Even people with reduced mobility may need such aids. A problem that arises is that in connection with doorways and the like path, the wall sections located above the doorways are interrupted. Of course, since the need for the aids mentioned here is relatively short-lived, it is of course from an economic point of view that it is not reasonable to make the rebuilds required to be able to mount a single-roof continuous track.

In the characterizing parts of the independent claims, an invention is provided which meets the above-mentioned needs.

The invention makes it possible to transport a patient along a path along a carrier and then to connect the carrier to a second path which is physically separate from the first path. The movement can be controlled by a nurse and in some cases by the patient himself.

The dependent claims specify suitable embodiments of the invention.

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The invention is described in more detail in connection with a number of figures which show in:

Fig. 1 shows a device hanging in a first web; Fig. 2 the device hanging in the first web and connected to the second web; Fig. 3 the device hanging 1 in both the first and second web; Fig. 4 the device hanging mainly in the second web. only in the second web, FIGS. 6-7, the device combined with a carriage going in the web in FIG. 8 a cross-section through an embodiment of a web.

In the figures, a ceiling 1 and a wall portion 2 are shown above a doorway. A first conveyor web 3a is provided on one side of the wall portion and a second conveyor web 3b on the other side of the wall portion. The conveyor tracks are shown in the figures as rails with a track 17. In FIG. 6, the web is shown in an embodiment where the web has a rectangular cross-section with a downwardly facing slot 18. In the web runs a carriage 4a with wheels 13, which is separate for every track. In the future, the wagons are usually referred to as first carriage 4a and second carriage 4b. The wagons are shown in the figures in one embodiment in which they are provided with a holding means 19 which protrudes through the slot 18. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the web and the wagons can be given varying embodiments within the scope of the invention.

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Resp trolley 4a, b is connected to a device 7 which carries a support member 12, for example a hook to which a chair, a harness or any other suitable means in which a patient 8 can be placed. The device is provided with two connecting means 9a, 11a; 9b, 11b, each of which is shown in an embodiment in which it includes a connecting means 9a, b extending from the housing 14 of the device. The device includes a drive means not shown in the figures for entering and discharging at least one of the connecting means relative to the housing of the device 14. The connecting means 9a, b are in a preferred embodiment of a belt, a chain or the like, which, for example, at its upper end is provided with a coupling means 11a, b, for example a hook with which the connecting means is connected to the carriage 4a, b. In Figures 1-5, the carriage is shown in an embodiment in which it is provided with an extension part comprising a belt 10a which is suspended from the carriage, which 1 is provided at its lower end with a connecting means 6a, b with which the connecting means 11a »b are connected. A switch 5 is provided for switching between the positions indicated by A and B.

The device is provided with actuators 15,16, for example pushbuttons, for controlling drive means (not shown in the figures) for 1n and output of the connecting means 9a, 11a ·, 9b, 11b relative to the housing of the device 14. By input and output of the connecting means the distance between the carrier 12 and the coupling means 11a, b and thus between the carrier 12 and the carriages 4a, b is changed. The position of the switch 5 determines whether the connecting means are input or output when the actuators 15,16 are actuated. As a rule, the connecting means 9a, b are arranged as belts which are wound within the housing of the device around drums which are rotated by the driving means whose movement is in turn determined by the position of the switching means 5 and by which actuators are actuated. The drums are also provided with locking means which prevent the connection means 9a, b from being controlled uncontrollably when the belts are under load. In the future, connecting means 9a which cooperate with the first carriage 4a are usually referred to as first connecting means 9a and the connecting means 9b which cooperates with the second carriage 4b ​​are usually second connecting means 9b.

Figures 6 and 7 show embodiments of the invention in which the device 7 is combined with the carriage 4a, b. Fig. 7 shows in particular how one

469'740 patient is retrieved from a mobile transport device 20. According to the embodiments shown in Figures 6 and 7, the connecting means 9a, 11a; 9b, 11b are suspended from the device 7.

In using the device, the patient is retrieved from a bed, wheelchair, etc. by means of the chair, harness etc which is suspended in the carrier

12th The first carriage 4a (cf. Fig. 1) is moved along the conveying path 3a until the carriage reaches the downward wall portion 2. The second connecting member 9b is withdrawn from the housing 14 of the device and interconnected (cf. Fig. 2) by the coupling means 11b with the coupling of the second carriage 4b. ring member 6b. Then the switch 5 is set to position B (cf. Fig. 3), where, when the actuator 15 for input of the connecting member 9b is actuated, this is pulled into the housing 14 of the device. This reduces the distance between the carrier 12 and the second carriage 4b. In a preferred embodiment, a certain generally corresponding discharge of the first connector 9a occurs from the housing 14 of the device to avoid a vertical elevation of the patient in connection with the input of the second connector 9b. As the distance between the second carriage 4b ​​and the carrier 12 decreases, the load is gradually transferred to the second carriage, so that it ultimately carries the entire load (cf. FIG.

4). When this is the case, the device is decoupled from the first carriage 4a and the patient is completely transferred to the second carriage for continued movement along the second transport path 3b (cf. Fig. 5).

Although the switch 5 and the actuators 15, 16 in the figures are shown arranged on the housing 14, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that in certain embodiments they constitute a means which is suspended from the housing. The suspended member allows the patient to operate the device himself.

The above detailed description has only referred to a limited number of embodiments of the invention, but it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention includes a large number of embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

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