Load support mechanism

Abstract

To achieve a mechanism that supports an article at a desired position in a displaceable manner in accordance with a weight of the article with a simple, small, and lightweight structure. An article supporting deviceincludes a base member, a supporting member, a spring memberwhich is a compression coil spring, a spring force transmission member, a cam member, and a cam follower member. The cam follower member is pressed against a downward-facing cam surfaceof the support member, an upward-facing cam surfaceof the spring force transmission member, and a sideward-facing cam surfaceof the cam member by a load of an article and a spring force of the spring member. The downward-facing cam surface and upward-facing cam surface are inclined in reverse directions to each other and disposed opposite to each other with the cam follower member interposed therebetween. A pressing force of the sideward-facing cam surface against the cam follower member includes a vertical direction component depending on a height position of the supporting member. The downward-facing cam surface, upward-facing cam surface, and sideward-facing cam surface are designed such that, in a moving range of the support member, the load, spring force, and pressing forces of the respective cam surfaces against the cam follower member are in equilibrium about the cam follower member.