Caster capable of removing foreign substance

A caster capable of removing a foreign substance includes a flange mounted to a carrier or a plate on which cargo is loaded so as to be spaced apart from a lower surface of the carrier or the plate, the flange having a plurality of coupling holes formed therein, a rotator rotatably mounted to a lower surface of the flange, lower support members mounted respectively to opposite sides of the rotator, each lower support member having a rotating shaft coupling hole formed in a lower portion thereof, a wheel located between the lower support members and supported by a rotating shaft, which penetrates the rotating shaft coupling hole, and a foreign substance removal device fixed to and supported by the rotating shaft, the foreign substance removal device serving to remove and collect the foreign substance attached to a surface of the wheel that is being rotated.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a caster capable of removing foreign substances, and more particularly, to a caster capable of removing foreign substances, which enables easy removal and collection of foreign substances attached to a wheel thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a caster is a wheeled device, which is coupled to the lower side of a transportation appliance so as to freely change the movement direction. The caster is used in various places according to the use purpose thereof.

In addition, in the case of a caster that is used outdoors, a large amount of foreign substances is attached to the outer circumferential surface of a wheel. In the case of a caster that is used in a relatively clean indoor environment, a relatively small amount of foreign substances is attached to the outer circumferential surface of a wheel.

On the other hand, in the case of a caster that is used both outdoors and indoors, a large amount of foreign substances, having become attached to a wheel outdoors, may be introduced indoors, causing contamination of the indoor environment with the foreign substances.

In order to solve the problem described above, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2007-0009213 discloses technology for removing foreign substances that are attached to the outer circumferential surface of a wheel using a roll brush that is rotatably installed to pivot arms.

However, the conventional caster is inconvenient to assemble because both ends of a shaft, by which the roll brush is supported, need to be fastened and fixed using nuts or the like after being inserted into and supported by the pivot arms.

In addition, the conventional caster may not easily remove foreign substances attached to the outer circumferential surface of the wheel because the roll brush is rotated via the rotation of the wheel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is one object of the present invention to provide a caster, which enables the automated removal and collection of foreign substances attached to a wheel using a foreign substance removal device that is fixed to and supported by a rotating shaft.

In addition, it is another object of the present invention to provide a caster, which may use an accommodation support plate, which is mounted below a brush, to prevent foreign substances from falling down to the ground.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a caster capable of removing a foreign substance, the caster including a flange mounted to a carrier or a plate on which cargo is loaded so as to be spaced apart from a lower surface of the carrier or the plate, the flange having a plurality of coupling holes formed therein, a rotator rotatably mounted to a lower surface of the flange, lower support members mounted respectively to opposite sides of the rotator, each lower support member having a rotating shaft coupling hole formed in a lower portion thereof, a wheel located between the lower support members and supported by a rotating shaft, which penetrates the rotating shaft coupling hole, and a foreign substance removal device fixed to and supported by the rotating shaft, the foreign substance removal device serving to remove and collect the foreign substance attached to a surface of the wheel that is being rotated.

In addition, the foreign substance removal device may include a pair of connection members, each of which includes a lower fixing portion coupled to the rotating shaft, which is located between the lower support members and the wheel, and a hinge coupling portion and a spring support portion at a side opposite the lower fixing portion, an accommodation box located between one connection member and the other connection member, the accommodation box being rotated about an accommodation coupling portion, which is coupled to the hinge coupling portion, a brush mounted to a front surface of the accommodation box and serving to remove the foreign substance attached to the wheel, a return spring having one side connected to the accommodation box and an opposite side connected to the spring support portion, and a stopper formed on the connection member and serving to limit an operating range of the accommodation box.

In addition, the accommodation box may be attachably and detachably provided with an accommodation support plate, and the accommodation support plate may be located below the brush so as to guide the foreign substance to the accommodation box.

In addition, the accommodation box may include an accommodation space portion in which an accommodation space is formed, side plates disposed respectively at opposite sides of the accommodation space portion and formed of a transparent material, each side plate having a hinge coupling hole formed in an upper portion thereof, and a discharge slide mounted to one side of the accommodation space portion and serving to discharge the foreign substance, accommodated in the accommodation space portion, to an outside via sliding thereof.

According to the present invention, a foreign substance removal device, which is fixed to and supported by a rotating shaft, may automatically remove and collect foreign substances attached to a wheel, and may also simply collect the foreign substances in an accommodation box via rotation thereof.

In addition, an accommodation support plate, which is mounted below a brush, may prevent the foreign substances from falling down to the ground, and may also guide the foreign substances attached to the wheel to the accommodation box using an inclined guide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so as to allow those skilled in the art to easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention may be modified in various ways and is not limited to the embodiment described herein. The same or like elements are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating a caster capable of removing foreign substances according to the present invention,FIG. 2is a side view illustrating the caster capable of removing foreign substances according to the present invention,FIGS. 3 and 4are views illustrating another embodiment of a lower support member constituting the caster capable of removing foreign substances according to the present invention,FIG. 5is an exploded perspective view illustrating a foreign substance removal device constituting the caster capable of removing foreign substances according to the present invention,FIG. 6is a view illustrating another embodiment of an accommodation box constituting the caster capable of removing foreign substances according to the present invention, andFIGS. 7 and 8are views illustrating other embodiments of the foreign substance removal device constituting the caster capable of removing foreign substances according to the present invention.

The caster10capable of removing foreign substances according to the present invention includes a flange20, a rotator30rotatably mounted to the lower surface of the flange20, lower support members40mounted respectively to opposite sides of the rotator30, and a foreign substance removal device70disposed between one lower support member40and the other lower support member40, the foreign substance removal device70serving to remove and collect foreign substances attached to the surface of a wheel50.

The flange20is mounted to a carrier or a plate on which cargo is loaded so as to be spaced apart from the lower surface of the carrier or the plate.

Here, the flange20has a predetermined size and is provided with coupling holes22, which are formed near the corners thereof with a gap therebetween.

In addition, in the present invention, the flange20will be described by way of example as being a rectangular plate, which has a predetermined thickness and is provided in four corners thereof with the coupling holes22.

The rotator30, which is rotatably mounted to the lower surface of the flange20, is rotatably operated via a bearing or a roller provided therein.

That is, the rotator30is rotated depending on the directional force transmitted through the wheel50and downwardly transmits the load from the flange20.

Here, it is noted that any known flange may be selectively used instead of the flange20illustrated in the drawings.

The lower support members40, which are mounted to the respective opposite sides of the rotator30, have a predetermined width and height, and are provided in the lower portion thereof with respective rotating shaft coupling holes42.

That is, each lower support member40takes the form of a plate having a predetermined thickness and height, is provided in the lower portion thereof with the rotating shaft coupling hole42, and is fixed at the upper end thereof to the rotator30.

Here, it is noted that the lower support member40may have an “Π”-shaped form, the front and rear sides and the lower side of which are open.

In addition, the lower support member40may be configured as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4. That is, one side of the lower support member40may be coupled to the rotator30and the opposite side may be mounted to the foreign substance removal device70.

At this time, a shock absorbing device80is mounted to the connection portion of the foreign substance removal device70.

That is, the lower support member40may have a right-angled shape, and the shock absorbing device80may be mounted to the connection portion between the foreign substance removal device70and the lower support member40so as to absorb shocks and to prevent the generation of noise.

The shock absorbing device80includes a fixing bolt82, which is vertically mounted to the connection portion of a rotation support portion40aand a wheel support portion40b, which constitute the lower support member40, and a shock absorbing spring84, having one side supported by the rotation support portion40aand the opposite side supported by the fixing bolt82.

That is, the shock absorbing device80may serve to absorb shocks transmitted through the wheel50and to minimize the generation of vibrations in the lower support member40and the foreign substance removal device70using elastic force.

The wheel50, which is disposed between one lower support member40and the other lower support member40, has a predetermined thickness, is curved at the outer surface thereof, and is centrally provided with a through-hole52, through which a rotating shaft60penetrates.

That is, the wheel50is located between the lower support members40and is supported by the rotating shaft60penetrating the rotating shaft coupling holes42so as to move on the ground.

The foreign substance removal device70, which is fixed to and supported by the rotating shaft60, serves to remove and collect foreign substances attached to the surface of the wheel that is being rotated.

In addition, the foreign substance removal device70may include, for example, a pair of connection members71, each of which includes a lower fixing portion71acoupled to the rotating shaft60, which is located between the lower support members40and the wheel50, and a hinge coupling portion71band a spring support portion71cat the side opposite the lower fixing portion, an accommodation box72, which is located between one connection member71and the other connection member71and is rotated about an accommodation coupling portion72d, which is coupled to the hinge coupling portion71b, a brush73, which is mounted to the front surface of the accommodation box72to remove foreign substances attached to the wheel50, a return spring74, which is connected at one side thereof to the accommodation box72and is connected at the opposite side thereof to the spring support portion71c, and a stopper75, which is formed on the connection member71to limit the operating range of the accommodation box72.

That is, the foreign substance removal device70is constructed by mounting the respective connection members71to the rotating shaft60, which is located between the lower support members40and the wheel50, subsequently mounting the accommodation box72between one connection member71and the other connection member71, subsequently mounting the brush73to the front surface of the accommodation box72so as to come into contact with the wheel50, and thereafter mounting the return spring74to both the lower support member40and the accommodation box72.

Here, providing a supplementary description related to the accommodation box72, after the foreign substances attached to the surface of the wheel50are collected in the accommodation box72via the brush73, the accommodation box72is rotated at 90 degrees or more about the accommodation coupling portion72a, which is coupled to the hinge coupling portion71b, so as to discharge the foreign substances outward. Then, the accommodation box72returns to and remains in the initial state via the return spring74and the stopper75.

In addition, the accommodation box72may include an accommodation space portion72ain which an accommodation space72bis formed, side plates72c, which are disposed respectively at opposite sides of the accommodation space portion72aand are provided in the upper portion thereof with the respective accommodation coupling portions72d, and a discharge slide72e, which is mounted to one side of the accommodation space portion72aand discharges the foreign substances, accommodated in the accommodation space72bin the accommodation space portion72a, to the outside via sliding thereof.

At this time, the side plates72cmay be formed of a transparent material to allow a user to check the foreign substances accommodated in the accommodation space72bin the accommodation space portion72ain real time and thereafter discharge the foreign substances through the discharge slide72e.

Next, the foreign substance removal device70may be configured as illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8.

First, the foreign substance removal device70illustrated inFIG. 7illustrates an example in which an accommodation support plate76is attachably and detachably mounted to the front surface of the accommodation box72.

That is, when the accommodation support plate76is attachably and detachably mounted to the accommodation box72, which is located below the brush73, the foreign substance removal device70may allow the foreign substances passing through the brush73to be collected in the accommodation box72.

Providing a supplementary description thereto, when the accommodation support plate76, which is located below the brush73and is attachably and detachably mounted to the accommodation box72, is used along with the brush73, the foreign substances attached to the surface of the wheel50may be completely removed.

At this time, the inlet of the accommodation box72, into which the foreign substances are introduced, may of course be formed at a low height.

Next, the foreign substance removal device70illustrated inFIG. 8is configured in such a manner that inclined guides77are mounted to the respective connection members71, which are located above the brush73, so as to remove the foreign substances attached to the wheel50and to centrally collect the foreign substances.

That is, the inclined guides77are obliquely mounted to the respective connection members71so as to face each other, thereby serving to remove the foreign substances attached to the wheel50and to centrally collect the foreign substances.

An embodiment of the caster capable of removing foreign substances having the above-described configuration will be described below for reference.

First, after the flange20, which has a predetermined size and is provided with the coupling holes22near the corners thereof with a gap therebetween, is formed, the rotator30is mounted to the lower surface of the flange20.

Then, the lower support members40, which have a predetermined width and height and are formed in the lower portion thereof with the respective rotating shaft coupling holes42, are mounted respectively to opposite sides of the rotator30.

Subsequently, the wheel50, which has a predetermined thickness, is curved at the outer surface thereof, and is centrally provided with the through-hole52for the penetration of the rotating shaft60, is mounted between one lower support member40and the other lower support member40.

Subsequently, when the foreign substance removal device70, which includes the pair of connection members71, each of which includes the lower fixing portion71acoupled to the rotating shaft60, which is located between the lower support members40and the wheel50, and the hinge coupling portion71band the spring support portion71cat the side opposite the lower fixing portion, the accommodation box72, which is located between one connection member71and the other connection member71and is rotated about the accommodation coupling portion72d, which is coupled to the hinge coupling portion71b, the brush73, which is mounted to the front surface of the accommodation box72to remove foreign substances attached to the wheel50, the return spring74, which is connected at one side thereof to the accommodation box72and is connected at the opposite side thereof to the spring support portion71c, and the stopper75, which is formed on the connection member71to limit the operating range of the accommodation box72, is mounted, the assembly of the caster10capable of removing foreign substances is completed.

Here, the assembly sequence of the caster capable of removing foreign substances may have a configuration different from the above-described configuration.

Next, the use state of the caster capable of removing foreign substances having the above-described configuration will be described.

First, after the caster10capable of removing foreign substances is mounted to a carrier or a plate on which cargo is loaded so as to be spaced apart from the lower surface of the carrier or the plate, the carrier or the plate, to which the caster10capable of removing foreign substances is mounted, is used indoors or outdoors according to the use purpose thereof.

In addition, when force is applied to the carrier or plate used indoors or outdoors, the wheel50, which constitutes the caster10capable of removing foreign substances, is moved in the direction in which the force is transmitted, thereby moving the carrier or the plate in a desired direction.

At this time, the foreign substances attached to the surface of the wheel50are continuously and automatically collected via the foreign substance removal device70.

That is, when the wheel50is rotated in the direction of travel, the brush73, which is in close contact with the surface of the wheel50, removes the foreign substances attached to the surface of the wheel50and guides the removed foreign substances into the accommodation box72due to the inclination angle of the brush73.

Next, when it is desired to remove the foreign substances collected inside the accommodation box72, the accommodation box72is rotated at 90 degrees or more about the accommodation coupling portion72dthereof and a process of outwardly discharging the foreign substances collected inside the accommodation box72is continually performed.

At this time, when the force applied to rotate the accommodation box72is released after the foreign substances are discharged, the accommodation box72returns to and remains in the initial state thereof via the return spring74.

In this way, the caster capable of removing foreign substances may have an advantage of automatically removing and collecting the foreign substances attached to the wheel via the foreign substance removal device, which is fixed to and supported by the rotating shaft.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, modifications and variations of the present invention can be made via additions, modifications and omission of constituent elements by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the appended claims. Thus, it is intended that the modifications and variations should not be understood independently of the technical sprit or prospect of the disclosure.