JP2002240924A - Ball unit for carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball unit for carrying capable of increasing load resistance and durability by increasing the number of receiving balls in contact with a main ball. SOLUTION: This ball unit 10 for carrying includes a case 12 having a bottom surface formed into a concave curved surface, a plurality of receiving balls 20 arranged on a bottom surface within the case 12 and the main ball 22 arranged on the plurality of receiving balls 20. The concave curved surface of the bottom surface of the case 12 is formed so that an annular spherical surface receiving part 24 with a bottom surface center part X as a center to be a bottom part of a load direction may be a spherical surface with a center part O of the main ball 22 as a center. In the annular spherical surface receiving part 24, the plurality of receiving balls 20 simultaneously contact the main ball 22 and the concave curved surface to receive load from the main ball 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transporting ball unit, and more particularly to, for example, manufacturing a conveyor having a main ball rotatable in any direction and transporting a transported product by combining a plurality of main balls. The present invention relates to a transfer ball unit capable of performing the following.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing one example of a conventional transport ball unit. The transport ball unit 1 includes a case 2 having, for example, a cylindrical outer shape,
The bottom surface in the case 2 is formed to be a substantially spherical concave curved surface. A plurality of receiving balls 3 are spread on the bottom surface of the case 2, and a main ball 4 is disposed thereon.
The substantially spherical concave surface in the case 2 is formed in a spherical shape corresponding to the main ball 4 as a whole.
The diameter of the receiving ball 3 is about 1 / the diameter of the main ball 4.
It is set to about 8.

In such a transfer ball unit 1,
By rotating the receiving ball 3, the main ball 4 can rotate in all directions. Therefore, if a conveyor is manufactured by combining a plurality of the transport ball units 1, it is possible to provide a conveyor capable of transporting the transported article not only in one direction but also in all directions.

[0004]

However, since the transfer ball unit 1 is concentrated on the bottom surface in the case 2 for receiving the receiving ball 3 located near the lowermost portion of the main ball 4 in the direction in which the load is applied, The receiving ball 3 is concentrated on the portion, the surface pressure on the surface is large, and the rotation of the main ball 4 when conveying the conveyed object is poor. Therefore, the load resistance is relatively small and the durability is poor.
Further, if the main ball 4 which is turned upside down from that of FIG. 10 is of the downward type, the receiving ball 3 is more likely to move to the left and right than the center of the bottom surface of the substantially spherical concave curved surface. , The gap into which the receiving ball 3 enters is eliminated, and the rotation of the main ball 4 when transporting the transported object is deteriorated.

[0005] Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a transport ball unit capable of increasing the number of receiving balls in contact with the main ball, thereby increasing the load resistance and the durability. is there.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transfer ball unit comprising: a case having a concave bottom surface; and a plurality of receiving balls disposed on the bottom surface in the case. And a main ball disposed on the plurality of receiving balls, and the concave curved surface of the bottom surface of the case is such that an annular spherical receiving portion centered on the center of the bottom surface serving as the bottom in the load direction is centered on the center portion of the main ball. This is a transport ball unit formed such that a plurality of receiving balls simultaneously contact the main ball and the concave curved surface and receive a load from the main ball in the annular spherical receiving portion. The carrying ball unit according to the present invention includes a case having a concave bottom surface, a plurality of receiving balls disposed on the bottom surface in the case, and a main ball disposed on the plurality of receiving balls. The concave curved surface of the bottom of the case includes a plurality of receiving balls that are separated from the center of the main ball by a fixed angle around the center of the main ball and away from the center of the bottom in the load direction. A transfer ball unit may be formed in which a spherical receiving portion is formed corresponding to the outer surface of the main ball so as to be in contact with the concave curved surface and receive the load from the main ball at the same time. The transfer ball unit according to the present invention includes:
The spherical receiving portion may be formed over a position of about 18 ° to 70 ° with respect to the center of the bottom surface of the case as viewed from the center of the main ball. In the conveying ball unit of the present invention, the concave curved surface of the bottom surface of the case is formed on both sides of the spherical receiving portion such that a gap is formed in which a plurality of receiving balls do not simultaneously contact the main ball and the concave curved surface of the case. A gap receiving portion for rolling the receiving ball may be formed. In the transfer ball unit according to the present invention, the gap receiving portion may be located at a position intersecting with an extension of the radius of the main ball at a position of about 18 ° to 70 ° with respect to the center of the bottom surface of the case when viewed from the center of the main ball. A tangent may be formed. In the transfer ball unit according to the present invention, the gap receiving portion is formed by an extension of the radius of the main ball by about 90%.
A tangent having an angle of ° may be formed. In the transport ball unit of the present invention, the gap receiving portion may form a spherical surface having a radius longer than the radius extending from the center of the main ball to the spherical receiving portion. In the transport ball unit of the present invention, the spherical receiving portion has
It may be formed so that the length of the radius from the center of the main ball to the spherical receiving portion substantially corresponds to the sum of the radius of the main ball and the diameter of the ball.

The concave curved surface on the bottom surface of the case is located at a position away from the center of the bottom surface of the case, which is the bottom in the load direction.
As a plurality of receiving balls contact the main ball and the concave curved surface of the case at the same time and receive the load from the main ball,
A concave spherical surface receiving portion is formed corresponding to the outer surface of the main ball, and the load is dispersed and applied to the plurality of receiving balls, thereby increasing the load resistance. In addition, since the spherical receiving portion is formed over a position of about 18 ° to 70 ° with respect to the center of the bottom of the case as viewed from the center of the main ball, the center of the center of the concave curved surface of the bottom of the case is centered. Since a large number of receiving balls are arranged in a ring and support the main ball, the number of receiving balls hitting the main ball increases,
Increases load capacity. The concave curved surface on the bottom surface of the case is formed on the both sides of the spherical receiving portion so as to form a gap in which a plurality of receiving balls do not simultaneously contact the main ball and the concave curved surface of the case. Since the portion is formed, a large gap is formed between the receiving ball and the main ball, and for example, the receiving ball located above is easily dropped downward by the rotation of the main ball rotating to transport the conveyed object. The main ball rotates smoothly, and the conveyed object can be conveyed in all directions.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transfer ball unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the same. This transfer ball unit 10
Includes a cylindrical case 12. Case 12 includes a receiving member 14 having a circular planar shape. A concave portion 16 is formed on the inner surface of the receiving member 14 so as to be substantially spherical.

A male screw portion is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the receiving member 14, and a female screw portion formed on the cylindrical holding member 18 is screwed into the male screw portion. Recess 1 of receiving member 14
In 6, a plurality of receiving balls 20 are spread, and a spherical main ball 22 is arranged thereon. These receiving balls 20 are formed of a synthetic resin such as Duracon or a metal such as iron or stainless steel.
2 is formed of a metal such as iron or stainless steel.

The concave portion 16 of the receiving member 14 has an angle of about 18 ° with respect to the central portion X of the bottom surface of the receiving member 14 when viewed from the central portion X of the bottom surface of the case, that is, the central portion O of the main ball 22.
Over a 70 ° position, in this embodiment:
A spherical receiving portion 24 having a true spherical shape (a perfect circular cross section) that forms a spherical surface centered on the central portion O of the main ball 22 is formed over a position of 30 ° to 60 °. This spherical receiving part 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes a perfect circular cross-section in which the length of the radius from the central portion O of the main ball 22 to the spherical receiving portion 24 substantially corresponds to the sum of the radius of the main ball 22 and the diameter of the receiving ball 20. The receiving member 14 is formed in an annular shape centering on the bottom central portion X. That is, the concave curved surface of the bottom surface of the case 12 rotates by a fixed angle (30 ° to 60 °) about the center O of the main ball from the bottom center X which is the bottom in the direction of the load received from the conveyed object. A plurality of receiving balls 2 at a position away from the bottom center portion X.
0 contacts the main ball 22 and the concave curved surface of the case 12 at the same time and receives the load from the main ball 22.
A spherical receiving portion 24 is formed corresponding to the outer surface of the main ball 22 so as to be recessed and oppose, so that a plurality of receiving balls 20 are in contact with the main ball 22 even when a conveyed object is carried.

The concave curved surface of the concave portion 16 of the receiving member 14 has a gap on both sides of the spherical receiving portion 24 where the receiving ball 20 does not simultaneously contact the main ball 22 and the concave portion 16 of the receiving member 14. Like, receiving ball 2
A gap receiving portion 26 and a gap receiving portion 28 for rolling 0 are formed. Both the gap receiving portions 26 and the gap receiving portions 28 are provided with the concave portions 1 of the receiving member 14 when viewed from the center of the main ball 22.
6 at a position of about 18 ° to 70 ° with respect to the center of the bottom surface, in this embodiment, at a position of about 30 ° to 60 °, an angle of 90 ° with the extension lines R1 and R2 of the radius of the main ball 22 Are formed to form a tangent having That is, the lower gap receiving portion 26 is extended so as to be inclined downward from a position of about 30 ° with respect to the center of the bottom surface of the case 12 when viewed from the center of the main ball 22, and the radius of the main ball 22 is reduced. A tangent having an angle of 90 ° with the extension line R1 is formed so that the space between the extension ball R1 and the main ball 22 is gradually opened. The main ball 2 extends so as to be inclined upward from a position of about 60 ° with respect to the center of the bottom surface of the case 12 when viewed from the bottom.
A tangent having an angle of 90 ° with the extension line R2 having a radius of 2 is formed, and the space between the extension line R2 and the main ball 22 is gradually opened.

In order to firmly fix the receiving member 14 and the holding member 18, a retaining ring 30 having a spring property is formed by a circumferential groove 32 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the receiving member 14 and the inner periphery of the lower end of the holding member 18. It fits into the circumferential groove 34 formed on the surface. The retaining ring 30 is pushed outward at the tapered portion of the outer peripheral end of the fitting portion 14a of the receiving member 14 with the pressing member 18 when the receiving member 14 and the pressing member 18 are fitted. After the receiving member 14 and the pressing member 18 are fitted, the portion having a small diameter is located on the peripheral groove 32 side on the receiving member 14 side, and the portion having a large diameter is located on the peripheral groove 32 on the pressing member 18 side. 34.

By combining a plurality of the transporting ball units 10, for example, a conveyor capable of transporting a transported object in all directions can be manufactured. In such a conveyor, the transport ball unit 1
The conveyed object is moved by the rotation of the 0 main ball 22. In this case, the rotation of the plurality of receiving balls 20 allows the main ball 22 to rotate in all directions. Therefore, the conveyed object can be moved in all directions on the conveyor using the convey ball unit 10.

In the transfer ball unit 10, when the main ball 22 is stationary, the receiving ball 20 at the center of the bottom surface of the concave portion 16 of the receiving member 14 has a gap receiving portion 26 between the receiving ball 20 and the main ball 22. It is not in contact with the main ball 22 because it is wider. The receiving ball 20 arranged on the spherical receiving portion 24 is in contact with the main ball 22. Further, the upper space receiving portion 2
The receiving ball 20 on the eighth side is not in contact with the main ball 22.

When the main ball 22 of the transfer ball unit 10 rotates, as shown in FIG. 8, the receiving ball 20 which is in contact with the main ball 22 rotates and moves in the traveling direction (arrow direction Z in FIG. 8). The receiving ball 20a located at the position of the spherical receiving portion 24 of the receiving ball 20 moves to the gap receiving portion 28 side, and the receiving ball 20b located at the gap receiving portion 28 side moves backward and moves further downward. I will do it. Further, the receiving ball 20c, which is further behind in the traveling direction, gradually moves forward according to the rotation of the main ball 22, and the receiving ball 20d, which was on the gap receiving portion 28 side, gradually moves toward the gap receiving portion 26 side. When the transfer ball unit 10 moves and the main ball 22 rotates, the receiving ball 20d is gradually moved to the gap receiving portion 26.
And moves toward the spherical receiving portion 24 located forward in the traveling direction. Therefore, as a whole, there are many receiving balls 20 on the traveling direction side, there are few receiving balls 20 on the side opposite to the traveling direction, and the receiving balls 20 are in the gap receiving portions 28 on the traveling direction side. There are many, and the number of receiving balls 20 is reduced in the gap receiving portion 28 on the rear side.

The gap receiving portion 26 and the gap receiving portion 28
Forms a spherical surface having a radius longer than the radius extending from the center portion O of the main ball 22 to the spherical surface receiving portion 24, and gradually increases the gap between the main ball 22 and the outer surface. Is also good. That is, the gap receiving portion 26 may be formed such that the gap is widened downward, and the gap receiving portion 28 may be formed such that the gap is widened upward.

Further, as shown in FIG.
2 may be used as a downward facing type. With this usage method, the main ball 22 is grounded when used, and even when the main ball 22 rotates due to the movement of the transfer ball unit 10, a plurality of receiving balls 20 always exist between the main ball 22 and the spherical receiving portion 24. Therefore, the relative positional relationship between the main ball 22 and the receiving member 14 does not change. That is, even if the receiving ball 20 is more present on the space receiving portion 28 side and is not present on the space receiving portion 26 side,
This is because the main ball 22 exists at the position of the spherical receiving portion 24.

[0019]

According to the present invention, a case having a concave bottom surface, a plurality of receiving balls disposed on the bottom surface in the case, and a main ball disposed on the plurality of receiving balls are provided. And the concave curved surface on the bottom surface of the case is
At a position distant from the bottom center, which is the bottom in the load direction, corresponding to the outer surface of the main ball, so that the plurality of receiving balls simultaneously contact the main ball and the concave curved surface of the case and receive the load from the main ball. Since the recessed and opposed spherical receiving portions are formed, the number of receiving balls in contact with the main ball increases, the surface pressure decreases, the load resistance increases, and the durability increases.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a transport ball unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative sectional view of the carrying ball unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing main parts of a receiving member used in the transport ball unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing a main part of the transport ball unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a receiving member used in the transfer ball unit shown in FIG. 1;

6 is an illustrative sectional view of a holding member used in the transport ball unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an illustrative view of a retaining ring for fixing a receiving member and a pressing member used in the transporting ball unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an illustrative view showing a state where a main ball of the transport ball unit shown in FIG. 1 rotates.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative sectional view showing a modified example of the carrying ball unit of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an illustrative sectional view showing one example of a conventional transport ball unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Conveying ball unit 12 Case 14 Receiving member 16 Depression 18 Holding member 20 Receiving ball 22 Main ball 24 Spherical receiving part 26, 28 Gap receiving part 30 Retaining ring 32 Peripheral groove 34 Peripheral groove

Claims (8)

[Claims] A bottom surface having a concave curved surface, a plurality of receiving balls disposed on the bottom surface in the case, and a main ball disposed on the plurality of receiving balls; The concave curved surface on the bottom surface of the case is formed such that an annular spherical receiving portion centered on a bottom central portion serving as a bottom in the load direction becomes a spherical surface centered on a central portion of the main ball, and the annular spherical receiving portion is formed. , A plurality of receiving balls simultaneously contacting the main ball and the concave curved surface to receive a load from the main ball. 2. A case having a concave bottom surface, a plurality of receiving balls disposed on the bottom surface in the case, and a main ball disposed on the plurality of receiving balls. The concave curved surface on the bottom surface of the case is a concave curved surface between the main ball and the case at a position separated from the center of the bottom, which is the bottom in the load direction, by a fixed angle around the center of the main ball. In order to receive a load from the main ball by simultaneously contacting with the main ball, a spherical receiving portion which is recessed and faces the outer surface of the main ball is formed,
The transport ball unit according to claim 1. 3. The spherical receiving portion is located at a distance of about 1 to the center of the bottom surface of the case when viewed from the center of the main ball.
The transport ball unit according to claim 1, wherein the transport ball unit is formed over a position of 8 ° to 70 °. 4. The concave curved surface of the bottom surface of the case is formed such that a gap is formed on both sides of the spherical receiving portion so that a plurality of receiving balls are not simultaneously in contact with the main ball and the concave curved surface of the case. The transport ball unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a gap receiving portion that rolls is formed. 5. The air gap receiving portion is approximately one centimeter from the center of the bottom surface of the case when viewed from the center of the main ball.
The transport ball unit according to claim 4, wherein a tangent line is formed at a position that intersects with an extension of the radius of the main ball at a position of 8 to 70 degrees. 6. The transfer ball unit according to claim 4, wherein the gap receiving portion forms a tangent having an angle of about 90 ° with an extension of the radius of the main ball. 7. The transport ball unit according to claim 4, wherein the gap receiving portion forms a spherical surface having a radius longer than a radius extending from the center of the main ball to a spherical receiving portion. 8. The spherical receiving portion is formed such that the length of the radius from the center of the main ball to the spherical receiving portion substantially corresponds to the sum of the radius of the main ball and the diameter of the ball. A transfer ball unit according to claim 7.