CN111989275A

CN111989275A - Conveying device

Info

Publication number: CN111989275A
Application number: CN201980025900.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 宇野强
Original assignee: Nakasu Denki KK
Current assignee: Nakasu Denki KK
Priority date: 2018-09-28
Filing date: 2019-06-20
Publication date: 2020-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 2039-06-20
Also published as: JP6661151B1; KR20200135526A; WO2020066166A1; KR102471576B1; CN111989275B; JP2020050497A

Abstract

A conveying device including a hollow conveying rail extending in a conveying direction of the object; and a conveying body that travels along the conveying rail and supports the object. The conveying track comprises an opening extending in the conveying direction for arranging the conveying body; and a transfer unit disposed in the conveying rail so as to be parallel to the opening. The transport body comprises a connection unit connecting the transport body to the transfer unit so that the transport body can travel in the opening. A blocking strip is further provided inside the conveying track, the blocking strip extending to block substantially the entire opening. The blocking belt is supported by the conveying rail so as to be rotatable on the outer circumferential side of the transfer unit. Both ends of the stopper belt are engaged with both conveying direction ends of the conveying body, whereby the stopper belt can be rotated in accordance with the driving of the conveying unit.

Description

Conveying device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a conveying device for conveying objects.

Background

Conventionally, various types of conveying devices (conveying systems) have been used to convey an object (workpiece) from a first processing position where processing is performed on the object to a second processing position where another processing is performed.

For example, patent document 1 discloses a conveying device capable of placing a conveying body at any position on a conveying rail at the time of stopping operation. Hereinafter, in this paragraph, the symbols used in patent document 1 are shown in parentheses. The conveyance device (100) includes: one or more conveying bodies (110) which convey the objects to a predetermined position; and a conveying track (130) comprising: a rail unit (131) extending in the conveying direction of the object to allow the conveying body (110) to travel, and a transfer unit (135) disposed beside the rail unit (131) and driven to rotate in the conveying direction. The conveying track (130) comprises: a bottom wall (132) extending longitudinally in the conveying direction; a pair of side walls (133) extending upward from the edges in the width (short) direction of the bottom wall (132); and an opening (134) located between the pair of sidewalls (133). The conveyance body (110) includes: a carrier main unit (111); a support portion (112) for supporting an object; a traveling section (113) for allowing the conveyance body main unit (111) to travel on the rail unit (131); a pressure contact body (115) supported by the carrier main unit (111) and pressed against the transfer unit (135) to connect the carrier main unit (111) to the transfer unit (135); and a control unit (116) for releasing the pressure contact body (115) from pressing against the transfer unit (135). The conveyance body (110) travels in the opening (134) by being rotationally driven by the conveyance unit (135).

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 5878996

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the conveying device of patent document 1, the opening constituting the traveling path of the conveying body is always open, which means that foreign objects can enter the inside of the conveying rail through the opening during the conveying operation. In particular, there is a risk that a worker may inadvertently insert his or her finger into the conveying rail and touch the moving conveying body during the conveying operation. Such direct contact may cause accidents such as injuries, and cause a reduction in operation efficiency since work may be interrupted. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that a collision between the conveying body and a foreign object may lead to an accident, such as the conveying body or the conveying track collapsing due to the collision. Therefore, there is a need for a delivery device designed to be more safety critical.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a conveying device with greater attention to safety.

Means for solving the problems

The conveying device according to an embodiment of the invention is:

a delivery device, comprising: a hollow conveying track extending in a conveying direction of the objects; and a conveying body that supports the object and travels along the conveying track,

The conveying track includes: an opening extending in the conveying direction, the conveying body being disposed in the conveying direction; and a transfer unit provided in combination with the opening in the conveying rail,

the transport body includes a connection unit that connects the transport body to the transfer unit to allow the transport body to travel in the opening,

wherein the inside of the conveying rail is further provided with a blocking belt extending to block substantially the entire opening, the blocking belt is rotatably supported outside the transfer unit by the conveying rail, and both ends of the blocking belt are coupled to both ends of the conveying body in the conveying direction so that the blocking belt can be driven to rotate by the transfer unit.

According to the conveying device of the invention, when the conveying body travels, the blocking belt blocks the opening, thereby preventing foreign objects from entering the inside of the conveying track and touching the conveying body. The conveying device according to the invention is therefore safer than conventional devices. Further, since the barrier belt is coupled to both ends of the conveying body in the conveying direction and is held outside the transfer unit, the barrier belt is rotatably driven by the travel of the conveying body, which is driven by the transfer unit. This allows the barrier belt to rotate in response to the travel of the conveying body while continuously closing the opening, only by driving the transfer unit, without providing any additional external power. Therefore, the present invention greatly improves safety with a simple configuration.

A conveying apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention is the conveying apparatus described above, further characterized in that the conveying rail is provided with a rail unit extending along the opening inside the conveying rail, and the conveying body is provided with a traveling unit composed of wheels traveling on the rail unit. Therefore, by causing the traveling unit of the conveyance body to travel on the rail unit, the conveyance body can be smoothly moved in the conveyance rail.

A delivery device according to a further embodiment of the invention is the delivery device described above, further characterized in that the blocking strip blocks the opening with a gap small enough not to allow passage of a person's finger.

A conveying apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention is the conveying apparatus described above, further characterized in that the stopper belt is wound around tension pulleys provided outside in the conveying direction at both ends of the conveying unit.

A conveying apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention is the conveying apparatus described above, further characterized in that the tension pulleys are provided at four positions on an outer peripheral side of the conveying unit.

A conveying apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention is the conveying apparatus described above, further characterized in that each of the tension pulleys includes a rotating body rotatably supported by a rotating shaft provided to the conveying rail, the rotating body being a barrel-shaped cylinder having a middle portion and end portions, the middle portion having a larger diameter than the end portions. The rotating body of the barrel cylinder causes the center of the barrier belt in the width direction to bulge outward, thereby preventing the barrier belt from deviating in the width direction of the rotating body.

A conveying apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention is the conveying apparatus described above, further characterized in that the tension pulley further includes a pair of shake preventing plates fixed to inner surfaces of side walls of the conveying rail and abutting surfaces of both ends of the rotating body of the tension pulley to prevent the rotating body from shaking. The swing of the rotating body and the resultant deviation of the stopper belt in the width direction are reduced by preventing the rotating body from swinging by the swing preventing plate.

A conveying apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention is the above-described conveying apparatus, further characterized in that the conveying rail includes a main body section provided with the opening and the conveying unit, and extension sections attached to both ends of the main body section and supporting the tension pulley. By subsequently mounting the extension to the body section, the ordinary conveyor track (not equipped with tensioning wheels) can be expanded in function.

A conveying apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention is the conveying apparatus described above, further characterized in that the conveying apparatus further includes a bracket that fixes the conveying rail to a building, the bracket having a gripping unit for gripping both side walls of the conveying rail, the gripping unit being fixed to the side walls of the conveying rail by bolts, the bolts being further inserted into shafts of pulleys around which a drive-ring-shaped belt of the conveying unit is wound. Since the pulleys support the driving endless belt and the conveying body connected to the driving endless belt, the load on the pulleys is large. The bracket integrally supports the pulley on the side wall of the conveying rail by directly screwing the bracket to the shaft through the side wall. Therefore, the carriage prevents the heavy driving endless belt and the conveying body from falling off from the conveying rail.

Effects of the invention

In the conveying device according to the invention, the opening is blocked by the blocking belt, so that the safety is greatly improved.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a delivery device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of an end of the delivery device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the delivery device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view of the delivery device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the delivery device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the delivery device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view of the delivery device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the delivery device of FIG. 1;

3 FIG. 3 9 3 is 3 a 3 cross 3- 3 sectional 3 view 3 taken 3 along 3 line 3 A 3- 3 A 3 of 3 the 3 delivery 3 device 3 of 3 FIG. 3 5 3; 3

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial view of the delivery device of FIG. 9 showing how the delivery body and transfer unit are connected;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial view of the conveyor of FIG. 9 showing the configuration of the tensioning wheels;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of the delivery device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is an end view taken along line C-C of the delivery device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 14 is an end view taken along line D-D of the delivery device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 15 is an end view taken along line E-E of the conveyor of FIG. 3;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing the delivery device of FIG. 1 in use;

Fig. 17 is a schematic view showing another use example of the transport apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 18 is a schematic view showing a conveying apparatus according to a modification of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the shapes shown in the drawings referred to in the following description are conceptual or schematic illustrations for describing preferred shapes, and the sizes and proportions shown do not necessarily match actual proportions. In other words, the invention is not limited to the scale shown in the figures.

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a conveying apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in fig. 1, the conveying apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes: a conveying rail 110 placed along a predetermined conveying path along which the object is conveyed and suspended in the air; a conveying body 150 that supports the object and conveys the object to a predetermined position in a conveying direction; and a blocking belt 160 coupled to the conveying body 150 and closing the opening 114 of the conveying track 110. In this conveying apparatus 100, in order to perform a plurality of processes on an object (workpiece), the object is moved along the conveying rail 110 from a first processing position where a first process is performed to a second processing position where a second process is performed using the conveying body 150.

The following describes the conveying rail 110 constituting the conveying device 100 according to the present embodiment. The conveying rail 110 includes a top wall 112 extending longitudinally in the conveying direction, a pair of side walls 113 extending downward from edges in a width (short) direction of the top wall 112, and an opening 114 opening downward between the pair of side walls 113. An inwardly protruding rail unit 111 is formed at an open end of each sidewall 113. In other words, the opening 114 extends between the pair of rail units 111. The space between the pair of rail units 111 extending in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction) is larger than the width of a below-described conveying body main unit 151, and corresponds to the positions of a pair of wheels constituting the traveling unit 153 (see fig. 11 and 14). In other words, the opening 114 has a width capable of accommodating the carrier main unit 151.

Further, a transfer unit 115 is provided inside the opening 114 of the conveying rail 110. The transfer unit 115 is provided in combination with the rail unit 111 and the opening 114, and drives the conveying body 150 to travel on the rail unit 111. The conveying unit 115 includes a driving endless belt 116 extending along the opening 114 and a plurality of

pulleys

117, 118 around which the driving endless belt 116 is wound to be rotationally driven. Among the plurality of

pulleys

117, 118, the driving pulley 118 is connected to a driving motor 119 (see fig. 1, not shown in other figures) that provides a driving force. In other words, the pulley 117 and the driving endless belt 116 are driven to rotate by the driving pulley 118. The pressure contact plate 155b of the pressure contact body 155 is in pressure contact with the outer surface of the driving endless belt 116, whereby the conveying body 150 moves in accordance with the rotational driving of the driving endless belt 116.

Further, the conveying rail 110 is composed of a main body section for supporting the opening 114 and the transfer unit 115, and extension sections 120 mounted to both ends of the main body section. Fig. 2, 7, 11 and 15 show the construction of the extension 120 in detail. The extension 120 is configured to rotatably introduce the blocking belt 160 coupled to the conveying body 150 into an outer circumferential side of the transfer unit 115. In other words, by attaching the extension segment 120 to the main segment, which is the basic configuration of the conveying track 110, the conveying device 100 can then be configured.

Each extension 120 includes: a tension pulley 121 disposed outside an end of the conveyance unit 115 in the conveyance direction (longitudinal direction), the stopper belt 160 being wound around the tension pulley 121; and a cover 126 that supports the tension pulleys 121 and connects them to the top wall 112 and the side walls 113. The cover 126 is composed of a box-shaped plate covering the end of the conveying rail 110. More specifically, the cover 126 covers the assembly of the tension pulley 121 from the side with a side plate shaped into a U having an angle. Further, although the cover 126 covers the assembly of the tension pulley 121 with the bottom plate from below, the cover 126 is configured not to cover the end of the opening 114 so as not to affect the traveling path of the conveying body 110. It should be noted that since the cover 126 of the present invention is integrally coupled to the top wall 112 and the side wall 113, it may be interpreted as a part of the top wall 112 and the side wall 113.

In the present embodiment, a pair of tension pulleys 121 are arranged outside the conveying unit 115 in the height direction. As shown in fig. 15, each tension pulley 121 includes a rotating body 123 rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 122 fixed to a cover 126. The rotating body 123 is a barrel-shaped cylinder, and the diameter of the end portion is slightly smaller than that of the middle portion. More specifically, the diameter of the end portion is approximately one to three percent smaller than the diameter of the central portion. The slightly larger diameter of the middle portion can reduce the deviation of the stopper belt 160 in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 122. In particular, in the case where a cylindrical body having a uniform diameter is used as the rotating body, it has been confirmed that the rotation of the barrier tape with time causes the barrier tape to deviate in the axial direction. However, it has been empirically confirmed that, by making the rotating body barrel-shaped, as in the present invention, the deviation of the stopper belt in the axial direction is suppressed. Further, as shown in fig. 15, a pair of shake preventing plates 124 fixed to the cover body 126 (in other words, the inner surface of the extended side wall) of the conveying rail 110 are provided between the rotary body 123 and the inner surface of the cover body 126, the shake preventing plates 124 being in sliding contact with the end surface of the rotary body 123 to prevent the rotary body 123 from shaking. The shaking prevention plate 124 is a plate having a predetermined thickness, and is configured to fill a gap between the inner surface of the cover body 126 and the inner surface of the rotating body 123. Each of the shake preventing plates 124 is provided with a pair of upper and lower through holes 124a through which the rotation shaft 122 is supported. The cover 126 and the rotation shaft 122 are fixed by inserting the bolt 127 thereinto, thereby completing the extension 120.

Further, as shown in fig. 8, fixed to the conveying rail 110 are a plurality of brackets 131 directly or indirectly attached to the building, whereby the conveying rail 110 is suspended in midair by the plurality of brackets 131. As shown in fig. 9, each bracket 131 is provided at a position corresponding to each pulley 117 of the conveying rail 110. More specifically, each bracket 131 includes: a U-shaped holding unit 132 having an angle, which is fixed to the side wall 113 of the conveying rail 110; and a fixing unit 134 extending upward from the grip unit 132 and connected to the building. The gripping unit 132 grips the pair of side walls 113 of the conveying rail 110 to grip the side walls 113. As shown in fig. 14, a holding unit 132 is fixed to each side wall 113 by a bolt 133, and the bolt 133 is further inserted into a shaft 117a of the pulley 117. Specifically, the center of the shaft 117a of the pulley 117 is provided with a bolt hole 117b in the axial direction of the shaft 117 a. By screwing the bolts 133 into these bolt holes 117b, the main body of the conveying rail 110 and the pulley 117 are directly supported by the bracket 131. In other words, the bracket 131 integrally fixes and holds the side wall 113 and the pulley 117 to effectively prevent the transfer unit 115 from falling off the conveying rail 110.

Next, the conveying body 150 constituting the conveying device 100 according to the present embodiment is described. The basic construction of the conveying body 150 is shown in detail in fig. 4, 10, 12 and 13. The conveyance body 150 includes: a block-shaped conveyance body main unit 151; a supporting unit 152 for supporting an object, which is connected to the bottom of the transporting body main unit 151; a traveling unit 153 for allowing the conveying body main unit 151 to travel on the rail unit 111 of the conveying rail 110; a pressure contact body (connection unit) 155 supported by the conveying body main unit 151 and configured to be capable of pressure contact with the conveying unit 115 (the outer surface of the drive endless belt 116) of the conveying rail 110; and a control unit 156 for performing an operation to perform an operation to release the pressure contact of the pressure contact body 155 with the transfer unit 115.

The conveying body main unit 151 is a rectangular block whose long side in a plan view is in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction) rather than in the width direction of the conveying rail 110. As shown in fig. 10, the carrier main unit 151 has a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) through holes 151a drilled in the height direction of the carrier main unit 151. Each through hole 151a is configured to have a predetermined diameter larger than that of a shaft 155a of a pressure contact body 155 described below so that the shaft 155a is movable in the axial direction. Further, the supporting unit 152 is fixed to be suspended from the carrier main unit 151, and is formed in a basket shape in which an object can be placed. Further, the traveling unit 153 is composed of several pairs of wheels rotatably supported on the side of the transporting body main unit 151. These wheels are provided on either side of the front and rear of the conveying body main unit 151.

The pressure contact body 155 is supported by the conveying body main unit 151 and is pressed against the outer surface of the driving endless belt 116 of the conveying rail 110, thereby serving as a connecting unit that connects the conveying body main unit 151 to the transfer unit 115. The pressure contact body 155 includes a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) shafts 155a extending in the height direction of the carrier main unit 151, a pressure contact plate 155b fixed to an end of the shaft 155a, and a connecting shaft 155c connecting the bottom ends of the central shafts 155 a. Each shaft 155a is (loosely) inserted into a respective through hole 151a of the carrier main unit 151 to move up and down therein. Each shaft 155a passes through an elastic body 154 in the form of a coil spring. The bottom end of the elastic body 154 abuts on the edge (upper surface) of the through hole 151a of the transporting body main unit 151, and the upper end of the elastic body 154 abuts on the lower surface of the pressure contact plate 155 b. The elastic body 154 is disposed in a compressed state between the conveying body main unit 151 and the pressure contact plate 155b, and biases the conveying body main unit 151 and the pressure contact plate 155b away from each other. In other words, the pressure contact body 155 is biased toward the transfer unit 115 by the elastic restoring force of the elastic body 154. Further, the pressure contact plate 155b is configured to be bent end-down, and the outer surface of the pressure contact plate 155b is pressed against the outer surface of the drive endless belt 116.

The control unit 156 according to the present embodiment is used to perform an operation of releasing the pressure contact of the pressure contact body 155 with the transfer unit 115. That is, the control unit 156 displaces the pressure contact body 155 in the height direction of the transporting body main unit 151. Specifically, the control unit 156 is a lever pivotally supported by the connecting shaft 155c of the pressure contact body 155. As the lever pivots, the base end of the lever engages the outer surface of the carrier main unit 151, thereby pulling the pressure contact body 155 toward the carrier main unit 151.

Further, the ends in the longitudinal direction of the transporting body main unit 151 are each provided with a belt coupling 157 for fixing the long barrier belt 160. As shown in fig. 10, the belt coupling 157 is an L-shaped metal fitting that is screwed to the side surface of the transporting body main unit 151. Each of the belt couplers 157 sandwiches upper and lower surfaces of an end of one of the barrier belts 160. Accordingly, in a case where one barrier belt 160 is fixed to the conveyor main unit 151 by a pair of belt couplings 157, the conveyor 150 and the barrier belt 160 cooperate to form an endless loop.

Next, the stopper belt 160 constituting the conveying device 100 will be described. The stop band 160 is comprised of an elongated strip-like band member having one end and the other end. Specifically, the blocking belt 160 has a longer outer circumferential length than the driving endless belt 116 in a state of being connected to the conveying rail 110 in an endless shape, and has a larger width than the opening 114 of the conveying rail 110. The blocking belt 160 is configured to be rotatably tensioned around a tension wheel 121 provided at an end of the conveying rail 110.

Based on the above description of the constituent elements of the present invention, the mechanism of the conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail. In the conveying apparatus 100, the conveying body 150 is connected to the driving endless belt 116 of the conveying rail 110 through a pressure contact body 155 (see fig. 9 and 10), whereby the conveying body 150 travels on the rail unit 111 in the longitudinal direction due to the rotational driving of the driving endless belt 116. Further, as shown in fig. 9, both ends of the blocking belt 160 are connected to the ends of the conveying body 150 in the conveying direction and are tensioned around tensioning rollers 121 provided at both ends of the conveying rail 110 so as to be held in a ring shape outside the driving endless belt 116 within the conveying rail 110. As shown in fig. 10, 11 and 14, the blocking strip 160 extends facing the opening 114 and blocks the entire length of the opening 14 from within the conveyor track 110. The blocking strip 160 preferably blocks the opening 114 with a gap (e.g., 5mm or less) that is small enough to not allow a human hand or finger to pass through. When the transfer unit 115 performs the rotational driving, the rotating body 123 of the tension pulley 121 and the blocking belt 160 rotate as the conveying body 150 travels along the opening 114.

Fig. 16 shows the transport device 100, wherein the transport body 150 has been moved. As shown in fig. 16, as the conveyance body 150 travels, the blocking belt 160 moves without exposing the opening 114. In other words, the blocking belt 160 is used to continuously block the opening 114 when the conveying device is operated to convey the object.

Further, the conveying device 100 according to the present invention may freely extend according to the conveying path. For example, as shown in fig. 17, in order to extend the conveying path, the extended conveying apparatus 100' may be constructed by connecting a plurality of body segments of the conveying rail 110, mounting the extension segment 120 on the end of the connected segment, and winding the blocking belt 160 on the tension wheel 121.

The operational effects of the conveying device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

According to the conveying device 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the blocking belt 160 continuously blocks the opening 114 of the conveying rail 110 while the conveying body 150 travels, thereby preventing an object such as a finger from entering the inside of the conveying rail 110 through the opening 114 and touching the conveying body 150. Therefore, the conveying apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is safer than conventional devices. Further, since the blocking belt 160 is coupled to both ends of the conveying body 150 in the conveying direction and remains outside the transfer unit 115, the blocking belt 160 is rotationally driven by the traveling of the conveying body 150, and the traveling of the conveying body 150 is driven by the transfer unit 115. This allows the blocking belt 160 to rotate in response to the travel of the conveyance body 150 while continuously blocking the opening 114 only by driving the transfer unit 115 without providing any additional external power. Therefore, the conveying apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment provides improved safety while maintaining a simple configuration.

[ modification ]

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but various embodiments and modifications are possible. Several variations of the invention are described below. In each embodiment, constituent elements that share the same last two digits as in the above description have the same or similar features, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

The form of the conveying body of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The conveying body main unit, the pressure contact body (connection unit), the traveling unit, and the like of the conveying body may have various configurations as long as they can exert their functions. For example, the configuration of the conveying body described in japanese patent No. 5878996 by the same inventor may be partially adopted.

The form of the conveying track of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the rail unit and the traveling unit may be in the form of a rack and pinion, whereby the transport body may travel by the engagement of gears. The use of such a rack and pinion is advantageous when the conveying body is to travel on an inclined or vertically arranged conveying path.

The form of the conveying track of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a pair of upper and lower tension pulleys are provided at one end of the conveying rail, but the form of the tension pulley of the present invention may be modified. For example, in the conveying apparatus 200 shown in fig. 18, one tension pulley 221 (a rotation shaft 222, a rotating body 223) having a larger diameter than the pulley 217 of the conveying unit 215 is provided at an end of the conveying rail 210, and the stopper belt 260 is wound around the tension pulley 221. In addition, a blocking belt 260 is provided to close the opening 234 from the outside of the conveying track 210. Although not shown here, both ends of the barrier belt 260 are coupled to the conveying body 250 outside the conveying rail 210. In other words, when the blocking belt blocks the opening from the inside of the conveying track in the conveying device 100 according to the above-described embodiment, the blocking belt may also be provided to block the opening from the outside of the conveying track, as shown in fig. 18.

In this embodiment, the inner structure of the conveying track, such as the transfer unit, is covered by the top wall and the side walls and is therefore not exposed to the outside, but it is at least sufficient that the blocking belt blocks the opening. For example, the top wall of the conveying rail may be omitted so that the inside of the conveying rail is exposed to the outside from a place other than the opening.

In the present embodiment, the conveying body is connected to the transfer unit by pressure contact of the pressure contact body, but the connection manner is not limited to this form. For example, the conveying body may be combined with the transfer unit by bolts, adhesives, or the like.

The conveying unit is not limited to the form of a pulley and a belt, and may include any form as long as it can maintain the connection with the conveying body and convey the conveying body along the conveying path. For example, a plurality of driving wheels may be employed as the conveying unit, whereby the conveying body is conveyed by rotation of the driving wheels.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, but may be practiced in various aspects as long as they remain within the technical scope of the present invention.

Description of the reference numerals

100 conveying device

110 conveying track

111 track unit

112 top wall

113 side wall

114 opening

115 transfer unit

116 drive endless belts

117 pulley

117a axis

117b bolt hole

118 drive pulley

119 driving motor

120 extension (part of the conveying track)

121 tensioning wheel

122 rotating shaft

123 rotating body

124 shaking prevention plate

124a through hole

126 cover body

127 bolt

131 support

132 gripping unit

133 bolt

134 fixed unit

150 conveying body

151 conveying body main unit

151a through hole

152 support unit

153 traveling unit

154 elastomer

155 pressure contact body (connection unit)

155a axle

155b pressure contact plate

155c connecting shaft

156 control unit

157 band coupling

160 stop belt

Claims

1. A conveying apparatus includes: a hollow conveying track extending in a conveying direction of the objects; and a conveying body that supports the object and travels along the conveying track,

Wherein the inside of the conveying rail is further provided with a blocking belt extending to block substantially the entire opening, the blocking belt is rotatably supported at an outer circumferential side of the transfer unit by the conveying rail, and both ends of the blocking belt are coupled to both ends of the conveying body in a conveying direction so that the blocking belt can be driven to rotate by the transfer unit.

2. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveying rail is provided with a rail unit extending along the opening inside the conveying rail, and the conveying body is provided with a traveling unit composed of wheels traveling on the rail unit.

3. The delivery device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the blocking strip blocks the opening with a gap small enough not to allow passage of a human finger.

4. The conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stopper belt is wound around a tension pulley provided outside in the conveying direction at both ends of the conveying unit.

5. The conveying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the tension pulleys are provided at four positions on an outer peripheral side of the conveying unit.

6. The conveying apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein each of the tension pulleys includes a rotating body rotatably supported by a rotating shaft provided to the conveying rail, the rotating body being a barrel-shaped cylinder having a middle portion and end portions, the middle portion having a larger diameter than the end portions.

7. The conveying apparatus according to claim 6, further provided with a pair of shake preventing plates that abut surfaces of both ends of the rotating body of the tension pulley to prevent the rotating body from shaking.

8. The conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the conveying rail includes a main body section provided with the opening and the transfer unit, and extension sections mounted to both ends of the main body section and supporting the tension pulley.

9. The conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a bracket for fixing the conveying rail to a building, the bracket having a grip unit for clamping both side walls of the conveying rail, the grip unit being fixed to the side walls of the conveying rail by bolts, the bolts being further inserted into shafts of pulleys around which the driving endless belt of the conveying unit is wound.

10. A conveyor with a conveyor track suspended in mid-air,

the conveying rail includes a driving endless belt rotatably driven by a driving motor, and a plurality of pulleys wound by the driving endless belt,

wherein a plurality of brackets are fixed to the conveying rail, the brackets are directly or indirectly fixed to a building, the brackets have holding units for clamping both side walls of the conveying rail, the holding units are fixed to the side walls of the conveying rail by bolts, and the bolts are further inserted into shafts of the pulleys.