JP2005145663A - Transfer device for high pressure-gas cylinder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transfer device capable of safely and surely holding a cylinder of a large type to a small type. <P>SOLUTION: This transfer device is provided with a cylinder holding mechanism for holding a gas cylinder 1 in an upright attitude, and transfers the gas cylinder 1 to a cylinder shipment area of a gas filling-up factory. The cylinder holding mechanism is constituted by a first holding member 4 for supporting an upper side body part of the gas cylinder 1, and a second holding member 5 for supporting a bottom part, and holds the gas cylinder from the upper and the lower. A plurality of the cylinder holding mechanisms are respectively assembled and supported on a movable base 2 supported through a lifting and lowering support mechanism and an advancing and retreating support mechanism so as to be freely lifted, lowered, advanced and retreated, and thereby a plurality of the gas cylinders 1 are respectively held on a machine frame arranged for a cylinder shipment stage by the respective cylinder holding mechanisms, and they are collectively arranged in the upright attitude in parallel along the transfer direction of a cylinder stock device arranged on the cylinder shipment stage, and can be transferred to freely reciprocating pallets G-1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a transfer device that collectively transfers a plurality of high-pressure gas containers (hereinafter referred to as gas containers) such as LP gas in an upright posture, and is mainly filled with a filling machine at a gas filling stage in a gas filling plant. The present invention relates to a transfer apparatus for transferring a gas container, which is loaded with heavy LP gas or the like and then carried out from the filling stage to a shipping stage through a conveyance path, to a container stock area of the shipping stage.

Generally, a gas container is a container that is automatically filled with high-pressure gas such as LP gas by a gas filling machine of a gas filling device installed in a gas filling stage of a gas filling factory, and then communicates with the gas filling stage through a conveyance path. It is carried out to the shipping stage, and at this stage, it is sorted for each delivery company and delivery area, and the required number is stocked, placed on the delivery vehicle of each delivery company, and delivered to various places. On the other hand, a used gas container (empty container) is collected by a delivery vehicle, carried to a container arrival stage, carried into a gas filling device, and delivered and collected by a gas filling machine of the gas filling device. Repeated.
The gas container after gas filling is heavy, and it is transported in the gas filling factory, for example, the gas container transported from the gas filling stage to the container shipping stage by the transport path is transferred to the container stock area, or the delivery vehicle. Since loading and unloading requires an excessive amount of labor, in recent years, some of these transfer and unloading operations have been performed mechanically, and a transfer device has been developed and provided.
The gas container has a cylindrical shape with no grip and is filled with highly dangerous liquefied gases. Therefore, safety is required and the best care is required.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a gripping mechanism having a suction head that sucks and holds an upper cubic curved surface of a gas container, an elevating mechanism that lifts and lowers the gripping mechanism, and a horizontal movement mechanism that horizontally moves the gripping mechanism in the front-rear and left-right directions. After lowering the suction head by the lifting mechanism and placing the suction head on the upper part of the gas container, the inside of the head is decompressed to suck the suction head to the gas container, and then the suction head is lifted by driving the lifting device. There is a transfer device that lifts a gas container and transfers the gas container to a delivery vehicle by driving a horizontal movement mechanism (Patent Document 1).

The transfer device described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems in relation to adsorbing and holding the upper cubic curved surface of the gas container.
That is, in the transport device described in Patent Document 1, the suction head is larger than the protective cap that covers the filling valve of the gas container, and has a skirt having an opening edge that is widened radially outward along the upper curved surface of the container. A vacuum that is evacuated by a vacuum device so that a vacuum is not generated when a suction head is placed on the curved surface of the upper part of the container. The gas container is suspended by adsorption.

By the way, the shape of the gas container includes a container with a protector provided with a protector so as to surround the filling valve according to the size (capacity) of the container, and the protective cap that is detachably covered on the filling valve as described above. There are two types of containers with caps. And in a container with a protector, there exists a type with the same outer diameter as a type with a circumferential outer diameter of a protector smaller than a container outer diameter, and a container outer diameter.
Therefore, in order to be able to suspend both the container with a cap and the container with a protector by vacuum suction, a suction head is enlarged and a large vacuum device is required, and in this case, a lot of energy is consumed. Not only is there a practical problem in terms of cost and the like, but there is a problem that it takes time to evacuate the inside of the suction head to reduce the vacuum, resulting in poor workability. This problem is largely related not only to the difference in the protective structure of the filling valve between the cap and the protector but also to the size of various containers such as 10 kg, 20 kg, 30 kg, and 50 kg. .

Furthermore, in a container with a protector that has a protector with a circumferential outer diameter that is the same diameter as the outer diameter of the container, the expansion shape of the suction head has been changed to a design that is completely different from the shape that holds and holds the container with a cap, for example cylindrical Therefore, the vacuum suction by the combined use with the container with a cap is difficult and impossible.
In addition, the container has been used for many years in outdoor distribution, and the surface of the upper curved surface has been peeled off, or dirt due to dirt, dust, etc. has become severely contaminated. There is a big safety problem that causes the heavy container to fall out. Further, since maintenance management for preventing this and maintenance management such as packing replacement of the suction head are necessary, there are practical problems in terms of security management.

Therefore, in view of such a problem, the applicant of the present application has previously proposed a transfer device that can handle both a gas container with a cap and a type with a protector (Patent Document 2).
The transfer apparatus described in Patent Document 2 includes a container holding mechanism with a cap that holds a container with a cap, and a container holding mechanism with a protector that holds a container with a protector, and the container holding mechanism is connected to the lifting device via a chain. The container holding mechanism is moved up and down by connecting and unwinding the chain by a lifting device. The elevating mechanism is configured to move along a traveling rail that is attached to and supported by the ceiling or the like, and to transfer the container with a cap or the container with a protector that is suspended and held by the container holding mechanism.

By the way, this kind of gas container transfer work is mainly performed in a well-ventilated outdoor work place with a roof, so that it is easily affected by the outdoor environment such as wind.
That is, the container holding mechanism with a cap in the transfer device described in Patent Document 2 is provided with a cylindrical holding body that covers at least a protective cap at the upper part of the container from above, and is provided in the profit of the holding body so as to be freely movable in and out. An engaging member composed of a plurality of balls that engages with the engaged groove (ring concave groove), and is supported by the lifting device so as to be movable up and down outside the holding body, and urges the engaging member inward. And a lock body that freely locks the engagement state with the engaged groove, whereby the container holding mechanism is lowered by the elevating device, and the holding body is put on the protective cap from above, so that each engagement The member is positioned so as to be engageable with the engaged groove, and the lifting plate is lowered by the retraction of the cylinder, and the connecting shaft pushes the locking body to the lock operating position in accordance with this, and the engagement member is engaged with the engaged groove. Lock the engaged state and It is to hold the gas container hung by a chain in the state.
Therefore, when the cylindrical holding body is put on the protective cap from directly above while lowering the container holding mechanism by the lifting device, the container holding mechanism rolls due to the influence of the side wind, etc., and thereby the holding body against the protective cap. However, there was still room for improvement because problems such as not being exposed quickly could occur.

Japanese Patent No. 2950469 JP 2000-344459 A

The problem to be solved by the present invention is that it can be held safely and securely so as to be held from above and below regardless of the difference in container shape such as a container with a cap or a container with a protector. Transfer equipment that can be expected to be automated for rationalization by eliminating the work of transporting the gas container to the stock area by the worker in the container stock stage at the container shipping stage such as a gas filling factory to be shipped on a car Is to provide.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a transfer device that is considered in terms of safety in a gas filling plant that handles liquefied gases with high risk.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention described in claim 1 is a transfer device that includes a container holding mechanism that holds a gas container in an upright posture, and transfers the gas container to a designated transfer area. ,
The container holding mechanism includes a first holding member that supports an upper body portion of the gas container and a second holding member that supports a bottom portion of the gas container, and the first holding member is vertically moved to a vertical guide shaft. The upper body part of the gas container that is supported in a movable manner and is carried in an upright position located at the front part of the guide shaft is pushed in from above without interfering with the protective cap or protective protector on the upper part. A plurality of armbands having a shape are provided, and the second holding member includes a support piece that supports the bottom portion of the gas container so as to be able to come into contact with and away from the gas container.
With such a configuration, the upper body portion of the gas container in an upright posture is supported from above by the plurality of armrests of the first holding member, and the bottom portion of the container is supported by the support piece of the second holding member from above and below. The gas container is held in an upright posture by the gripping structure and transferred to the designated transfer area. At this time, the plurality of braces of the first holding member have a shape that does not interfere with the protective cap or protective protector that protects the filling valve, so that various containers such as a cap-equipped container or a protector-equipped container are second-held. By cooperating with the support piece of the member, it can be held safely and reliably so as to be held from above and below.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus frame that is installed in a frame-like shape having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view toward the designated transfer area, and that is movable up and down via a lifting support mechanism and is advanced and retracted. By mounting and supporting a plurality of container holding mechanisms in parallel in a single row in the longitudinal direction in a rectangular movable base that is supported so as to be movable back and forth toward the designated transfer area via the A plurality of gas containers carried in parallel in a horizontal row in an upright posture are held so as to be individually supported from above and below by each container holding mechanism, and the movable base is slightly raised by the lifting support mechanism The plurality of gas containers are collectively transferred to the designated transfer area in an upright posture by the forward movement of the movable base by the advance / retreat support mechanism.
Examples of the designated loading area include a gas filling stage in a gas filling factory that automatically fills a used gas container with liquefied gas and a container stock area in a container shipping stage that communicates by a conveyance path. Gas containers are transferred for each delivery company and delivery area.
In the container stock area, a container stock device extending at right angles from the side portion of the transport path is disposed, and a plurality of gas containers having a size that can be mounted in an aligned state are arranged. In the state where the pallet is laid in parallel in the transfer direction, a transfer forward path is formed to transfer from the side portion of the transfer path toward the front edge of the container shipping stage, and the pallet is placed on the transfer end side below the forward path A transfer return path is formed to transfer the pallet to the transfer start end side, the transfer start end is provided with a pushing mechanism for pushing the pallet toward the transfer forward path, and a support mechanism for lowering the pallet toward the transfer return path is provided at the transfer end. The transfer device A repeatedly transfers a plurality of gas containers on the pallet in an upright posture at the start end standby portion of the transfer forward path several times. By being, is as gas container onto the pallet is aligned Nouketamawa substantially grid pattern in an erect posture

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of container width-adjusting carriages that support the plurality of container holding mechanisms in a suspended manner via two parallel guide shafts are incorporated in the movable base so as to be movable laterally. In addition, a container width adjusting mechanism is provided that moves the width adjusting carriage in the left or right direction.
The container width-shifting cart moved by the container width-shifting mechanism alternately in either the left or right direction according to the size (body diameter) of various containers such as 10 kg, 20 kg, 30 kg, etc. The movable base is advanced in a state where a plurality of gas containers individually held by each container holding mechanism supported in a hanging shape are shifted in the right or left direction. It moves to the container stock area by movement, and moves to align and transfer a plurality of gas containers in an upright position on each pallet of the stock apparatus installed in the stock area.

Furthermore, in the invention described in claim 4, a drive motor is installed outside the machine frame, and the power of the drive motor is supplied to a container holding mechanism for a gas container, a lifting support mechanism for a movable base, an advancing / retreating support mechanism, a container width adjustment. The container width adjusting mechanism of the carriage, and a power transmission mechanism of a multiple drive system that transmits to these mechanisms are provided, and by switching the power ON / OFF switching means provided at an appropriate place of the power transmission mechanism, the drive motor The motive power is switched and transmitted to the container holding mechanism, the elevation support mechanism, the advance / retreat support mechanism, and the container width adjusting mechanism.
The power ON / OFF switching means is not particularly limited, but is preferably an air clutch provided on a transmission shaft or the like constituting the power transmission mechanism.
In addition, exchanges with detectors such as optical sensors and limit switches installed in each part required for operating the above-mentioned air clutch and transfer device by automation include intrinsic safety protection safety signals such as air and light. It is preferable to carry out in accordance with the above, for example, in a gas filling factory where liquefied gases having a high risk are handled.

As described in detail above, the transfer device according to the present invention has the upper side cylinder according to the first aspect of the present invention without interfering with a protective cap or protective protector for protecting the filling valve at the upper part of the gas container in an upright position. The gas container is held by a holding structure from above and below that supports the body with a plurality of arm clamps of the first holding member that has a shape that supports the portion, and supports the bottom of the container with a support piece of the second holding member. By doing so, regardless of the difference between containers with caps, containers with protectors, etc., it is possible to respond to various container shapes, especially with protectors with protectors with a circumferential outer diameter that is the same diameter as the container outer diameter. The gripping structure that holds it so that it can be safely held can be transferred safely in an upright posture.
In other words, suspension type by vacuum suction of the upper part of the container at the top, engagement of the lower edge of the protective cap to the engaged groove (ring concave groove) or hooking of the protective protector to the opening for the handle Compared with a conventional device such as a hanging type, a transfer device that can hold various containers safely in an upright posture and transfer them to a designated transfer area can be provided.
In addition, compared to conventional devices that are suspended by vacuum suction, a transfer device that is superior in economic efficiency and convenience can be provided by eliminating the need for management and maintenance inspection for maintaining a vacuum.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the apparatus frame installed in the frame toward the designated transfer area can be moved up and down via the lift support mechanism and can be directed to the designated transfer area via the advance / retreat support mechanism. A plurality of container holding mechanisms according to claim 1 are incorporated and supported in a longitudinally parallel horizontal row on a movable base that is supported so as to be freely movable back and forth. It is safe with a gripping structure in which a plurality of gas containers carried in parallel in a horizontal row are held from above and below by a plurality of arm hooks of the first holding member of the container holding mechanism and a support piece of the second holding member. In this state, the movable base can be held in an upright posture and transferred to the designated transfer area in a lump by the slight rise of the movable base by the lifting support mechanism and the forward movement of the movable base by the advance / retreat support mechanism.
As a result, for example, the designated transfer area is a container stock area of a container filling stage that communicates with a gas filling stage in a gas filling factory that automatically fills a used gas container with a liquefied gas or the like through a conveyance path. If a container stock device is provided which is constructed by laying a plurality of pallets on which a plurality of gas containers can be mounted at right angles from the side portion of the transport path so as to reciprocate, Automation is promoted and achieved in a stage where a plurality of gas containers are transferred from each of the pallets together in an upright posture from the conveyance path.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the device frame that is installed in a frame shape in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view toward the designated transfer area is provided with an advance / retreat support mechanism that is movable up and down via the elevating support mechanism. A plurality of container holding mechanisms are incorporated and supported by a movable base supported via a container width-shifting carriage on a movable base that is supported so as to be movable forward and backward toward a designated transfer area, for example, 10 kg, 20 kg or less, Depending on the size of each container (body diameter, such as 30 kg), the containers are moved closer to each other and moved to the designated transfer area so as to reduce the interval between the plurality of gas containers individually held by each container holding mechanism. By being configured so as to be able to be loaded, for example, the gas container is moved in a line-up and aligned posture in which the gas container is alternately shifted in either the left or right direction on each pallet of the container stock device that becomes the designated transfer area. Can do.

  According to invention of Claim 4, the drive motor which requires a high voltage current is installed out of the apparatus machine frame. That is, by installing a drive motor in the vicinity of the transfer device, especially outside the gas filling plant that automatically fills the used gas container with high-pressure gas, not only the gas filling stage but also the container that carries in and out the gas container Providing transfer equipment that maximizes safety in gas filling factories that handle high-pressure gas by eliminating the need for wiring for high-current current to places with danger such as the loading stage and container shipping stage. be able to.

Gas filling that completes the gas filling stage with a gas filling device that is installed on each container mounting part arranged on the upper circumference of the turntable, a gas filling machine that automatically fills used gas containers with high pressure gas such as LP gas In a factory, a starting path is connected to a container outlet provided at a fixed position of a turntable of a gas filling device, and extends toward a container shipping stage, and a conveyance path for discharging a gas container after gas filling to the shipping stage. Equipped with a sub-conveying path for carrying out a gas container that is branched at right angles from the middle part of the carrying-out path toward the container stock area of the shipping stage and carried out by the carrying path toward the stock area, Further, a container provided with a container stock device disposed toward the front edge side on which a delivery vehicle or the like of the container shipping stage is mounted with the sub-transport path side as a start end side And that established the transfer device towards the container stock unit from the sub-passage of the load stage.
In this connection, the container stock apparatus is configured such that a plurality of pallets having a size that can be mounted in a state where a plurality of gas containers are aligned are arranged in parallel in the transfer direction in a side portion of the sub-transport path. Forming a transfer forward path for transferring toward the front edge of the container shipping stage, and forming a transfer return path for transferring the pallet from the transfer end side to the transfer start end side of the sub-transport path below the forward path, The starting end is provided with a pushing mechanism for pushing up the pallet toward the transfer forward path, and the transfer terminal is provided with a support mechanism for lowering the pallet toward the transfer return path.

  In this case, as the transfer device, the device machine frame is installed in a frame shape in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view from the sub-transport path toward the pallet on the transfer terminal side of the container stock device. A movable base having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is supported by an up-and-down support mechanism, and can be moved up and down from the sub-transport path toward a pallet of a container stock apparatus in a specified transfer area through an advance / retreat support mechanism. A plurality of container holding mechanisms, each of which includes a first holding member for supporting the gas cylinder-like body portion of the gas container in an upright position from above and a second holding member for supporting the bottom portion of the container, are provided in the longitudinal direction of the movable base. By incorporating and supporting each of the gas containers in parallel with each other in the direction, a plurality of gas containers that are automatically loaded with a high-pressure gas such as LP gas in the gas filling stage and then transferred to the conveyance path and carried out are loaded. each To be capable of automatically transferring collectively remain erect posture by vessels holding mechanism is held to hug the vertical from the sub transport path to reciprocate freely each pallet on the container stock unit.

A specific example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Fig. 1 shows that a high-pressure gas such as LP gas is automatically filled in the used gas containers 1 and 1-1 which are received by a delivery vehicle or the like into the container receiving stage B-2 and loaded on the transfer path C. In a gas filling factory in which the gas filling device B to be installed is installed on the gas filling stage, the gas containers 1 and 1-1 after gas filling are transferred to the transfer path D extending from the filling device B toward the container shipping stage B-1. The transfer device A of the present invention is installed in the container shipping stage B-1 in which the gas containers 1 and 1-1 that are carried out are loaded into the delivery vehicle H or the like for each delivery company or delivery area and shipped. An example of use is shown.

  The gas filling device B is known in this type of field (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-18188, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-198096, etc.), and each container mounting portion arranged on the upper surface of the turntable. A gas filling machine is installed in the container, and the used gas containers 1 and 1-1 that are sequentially loaded and supplied to the container mounting part are automatically filled with a predetermined filling weight of gas, A container inlet E and a container outlet F are provided at fixed positions, and the end of the transport path C and the start end of the transport path D are connected to each port.

The conveyance path D carries the gas containers 1 and 1-1 after gas filling to the container shipping stage B-1, and at a right angle from the middle part toward the container stock area B-10 of the shipping stage B-1 The sub-transport path D-1 extending in the direction is branched at a plurality of locations.
And it is arranged toward the front end edge side of the container shipping stage B-1 (the deck edge side of the container stock area B-10 on which the rear part of the loading platform such as a delivery vehicle is mounted) with the auxiliary transport path D-1 side as the starting end side. The gas containers 1 and 1-1 are automatically transferred to the container stock apparatus G by the transfer apparatus A of the present invention, and a large number of prefilled gases are supplied to each stock area B-10 for each delivery company and delivery area. Storage (storage) management of the gas containers 1, 1-1 in the distribution stage in which the containers 1, 1-1 are sorted and stocked is performed by the container stock device G.

The container stock apparatus G is known in this kind of field (see, for example, JP-A-9-178092, JP-A-2000-352496, JP-A-2001-341834, etc.).
That is, in the state where a plurality of pallets G-1 having a size that can be mounted in a state where a plurality of gas containers 1, 1-1 are aligned are laid in parallel in the transfer direction, the sub-transport path D- A transfer forward path is formed to transfer from one side part toward the front edge of the container shipping stage B-1, and the pallet G-1 is placed below the forward path from the transfer end side to the sub-transport path D-1 side. A transfer return path for transferring to the transfer start end side is formed, and the start end is provided with a pushing mechanism for pushing the pallet G-1 toward the transfer forward path, and at the transfer end, the pallet G-1 is directed toward the transfer return path. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of gas containers 1, 1-1 are in an upright posture on the pallet G- 1 from the sub-transport path D- 1 at the start end standby portion of the transfer forward path. The transfer that is automatically transferred as a whole is repeated several times by the transfer device A, so that the gas volume is placed on the pallet G-1. 1, 1-1 are to be aligned Nouketamawa substantially grid pattern in an erect posture (see FIG. 11).

  The transfer device A includes a container holding mechanism A-1 that holds the gas containers 1, 1-1 unloaded from the conveyance path D to the sub-conveyance path D-1 in an upright posture from above and below, An elevating support mechanism A-2 that supports the container holding mechanism A-1 so as to be movable up and down via a movable base 2 described later, and the container holding mechanism A- through the movable base 2 together with the elevating support mechanism A-2. An advancing / retreating support mechanism A-3 for supporting 1 in a pallet G-1 width direction (a width direction of the transfer outbound path) in the standby end side standby portion of the transfer outbound path of the container stock apparatus G, and this advancing / retreating support mechanism A machine frame A that is installed in a substantially rectangular bowl shape in plan view from the standby part toward the pallet G-1 width direction so as to support A-3 from the standby part toward the pallet G-1 width direction. -4, a drive motor A-5 installed outside the machine frame A-4, and a container holding mechanism A for the gas containers 1, 1-1 using the power of the drive motor A-5 -1, Elevating support mechanism A-2 and advancing / retracting support mechanism A-3 for movable base 2, Container width adjusting mechanism A-6 for container width adjusting cart 3, Power transmission mechanism A-7 for multiple drive system transmitting to these mechanisms And comprising.

  The container holding mechanism A-1 is an upper side body portion of the gas containers 1 and 1-1 that are carried in an upright posture from a sub-transport path or D-1 to a predetermined position below the movable base 2. The first holding member 4 that supports the upper body part of the gas container 1,1-1 and the bottom part of the gas container 1,1-1 are supported. The second holding member 5 is configured.

The first holding member 4 is supported by a vertical guide shaft 6 so as to be movable up and down, and is located on the front portion of the guide shaft 6 and is carried in an upright posture on the upper side of the gas containers 1, 1-1. Two arm rods 3-1 having a substantially L-shape in a side view in which the body part is pressed from above without interfering with the protective cap 7 or the protector 8 on the upper part are suspended from the movable base 2 in parallel. Are supported by the two guide shafts 6 so as to be movable up and down, and the gas container 1 is lowered by either forward rotation or reverse rotation of the ball screw 9 so that the arm tips (lower end portions) of both arms 3-1 are moved. It is configured to hold the presser at.
In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a linear rotary provided in a screwed state with the ball screw 9, and the armband 3-1 is moved up and down by the vertical movement of the linear rotary 10.

The upper end of the guide shaft 6 is fixed to the movable base 2 so as to be suspended from the movable base 2 so as to support the arm 3-1 so as to be movable up and down. The shaft 6 is supported by the movable base 2 in a vertically penetrating manner, and bevel gears 11 are fixedly attached to the upper ends of the base 2 so as to penetrate the base 2. The bevel gears 11 are individually meshed with each other. The power shaft 13 with the bevel gears 12 fixed at both ends and in the middle is driven by the power from the drive motor A-5 transmitted by the power transmission mechanism A-7 so that the three ball screws 6 are rotated in the forward direction. Alternatively, the linear rotary 10 provided in each ball screw 6 can be moved up and down by being rotated in the reverse direction.
The power shaft 13 is formed in a universal joint structure so that its length can be expanded and contracted following the width shifting movement in either the left or right direction of the movable base 2 of the container width adjusting carriage 3.

  In the figure, reference numeral 14 denotes a starting member which is supported by the linear rotary 10 and has a tapered shape or a wedge shape provided at a lower portion thereof. The starting member 14 is lowered and provided at a lower portion of the guide shaft 6. In relation to the container pusher 15, the container pusher 15 is rotated or pushed so that it protrudes forward, so that the outer part of the body of 50 kg or less, for example, 10 kg, 20 kg, and 30 kg class A gas container 1-1 having a diameter of less than 50 kg is pushed forward, so that the upper body portion of the container 1-1 can be securely held by both arm rods 4-1 of the first holding member 4. (See FIG. 9).

The second holding member 5 is provided with a support piece 5-1 that supports the bottom of the gas containers 1, 1-1 so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the lower end of the guide shaft 6, and can be turned up and down via the operation part 16. A lock mechanism 17 is provided for locking the support piece 5-1 while the support piece 5-1 supports the bottom of the gas container 1,1-1.
As shown in FIG. 6, the operation unit 16 has a gear mechanism 18 built in the box, and the gear mechanism 18 is rotated by the power from the drive motor A-5 transmitted by the power transmission mechanism A-7. By moving, the support piece 5-1 waiting in a downward posture is formed so as to rotate to a horizontal posture that supports the bottom of the gas container 1, 1-1 (from the state (a) to (b) Status).

  Further, the lock mechanism 17 is built in the box of the operation unit 16, and this lock mechanism 17 includes a lock claw 17-1 that is detachably engaged with a part of the gear mechanism 18, and this lock The state in which the claw 17-1 is engaged with the gear mechanism 18 is the locked state of the support piece 5-1 that supports the bottom of the gas container 1, 1-1, and the gas container 1, 1-1 is in the pallet G. -1 is transported to a predetermined position on the part, and the lower part of the lower half is protruded downward by immersing the upper half into the box by the lowering of the container holding mechanism A-1 by the movable base 2 at the site. The lower end of the unlocking pin 17-2, which is incorporated so that it can be moved up and down, hits the upper surface (container mounting surface) of the pallet G-1, and the releasing pin 17-2 moves into the box. Thus, the lock state of the lock claw 17-1 with respect to the gear mechanism 18 (knock state) is released, so that the gas Instrument support pieces 5-1 from a horizontal state downwardly to support the bottom of the 1, 1-1 is are to be restored (state from the state of FIG. 6 (b) (c)).

  In the figure, reference numeral 19 denotes a tension spring wound around the lower half of the lock release pin 17-2. Due to the elastic force of the spring 19, the lock pawl 17-1 is always moved in the direction of the gear mechanism 18. When the support piece 5-1 is biased and rotates from a downward posture to a horizontal posture that supports the bottom of the gas container 1, 1-1, it is in a locked state that meshes and locks with the tooth groove of the gear mechanism 18. It is supposed to be.

  The container holding mechanism A-1 thus configured individually holds three gas containers 1, 1-1, for example, a 50 kg class gas container 1 in a horizontal row in a parallel state at a predetermined interval. The movable base 2 can be individually mounted in the container width-shifting carriage 3 via the two guide shafts 6 so that the three gas containers 1 are kept in an upright posture. The three gas containers 1 are collectively transferred onto the pallet G-1 of the container stock apparatus G by the operation of the movable base 2 and the hanger base 2-1 described later. is there.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the elevating support mechanism A-2 has a lateral frame A- having a substantially U-shaped cross section extending parallel to the width direction of the pallet G-1 of the machine frame A-4. The screw rods 20 are screwed into the four corners of the movable base 2 from the four corners of the hanger base 2-1 attached to the horizontal frame A-40 in a bridging manner via the advance / retreat support mechanism A-3. By connecting, the container holding mechanism A-1 can be moved up and down together with the movable base 2 by the rotation of the screw rods 20 at the four corners.

A conversion box 21 having a built-in gear mechanism is provided at the upper surface corner of the hanger base 2-1 so that the upper end of the screw rod 20 is incorporated to rotate the screw rod 20 in the forward and reverse directions. The horizontal rotational power transmitted from the drive motor A-5 transmitted by the power transmission mechanism A-7 can be converted into the vertical rotation of the screw rod 20.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal rotation of the power shaft 22 that is attached to the front and rear conversion boxes 21 on both sides and is rotated by the power from the drive motor A-5 is rotated in the horizontal direction. Conversion boxes 21 for conversion to vertical rotation are disposed at the upper four corners of the hanger base 2-1.

  In the drawing, reference numeral 23 denotes a direction in which bevel gears 25 meshed and connected to bevel gears 24 fixed to the left and right power shafts 22 are fixed to both ends and provided between the power shafts 22 in a bridging manner. This is a conversion power shaft, and a bevel gear 26 is fixedly attached to a substantially central portion of the power shaft 23, and is rotated in the forward and reverse directions by power from a gear group 27 described later of the power transmission mechanism A-7. I have to do it.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the advancing / retracting support mechanism A-3 is a rail member (which is provided over the entire length of the frame A-40 on the upper side of the lateral frame A-40 on both sides of the machine frame A-4. (Slider) 28, and a rack 29 and a pinion 30 provided on the lower side, the rack 29 is provided over the entire length of the frame A-40, and the pinion 30 is pivoted on the hanger base 2-1. A drive motor A-5 that is supported and fixed to both ends of the power shaft 31 across the horizontal frame A-40 on both sides so as to mesh with the rack 29 and transmitted by the power transmission mechanism A-7. As the pinion 30 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions by the power from the hanger base 2-1, the movable base 2 provided in a suspended form on the hanger base 2-1, and each container holding mechanism A-1 are moved forward and backward. It is supposed to move.
A bevel gear 32 is fixedly attached to a substantially central portion of the power shaft 31, and is rotated in the forward and reverse directions by power transmission from the gear group 27 of the power transmission mechanism A-7.

A plurality of container width-adjusting carriages 3 incorporated on the movable base 2 and individually supporting the container holding mechanism A-1 via two parallel guide shafts 9 are provided on both sides of the movable base 2 in the width direction. A rolling wheel 34 that rolls while being engaged with a rail 33 that is disposed across the container, and a container width adjusting mechanism A-6 that operates by power transmission from the gear group 27 of the power transmission mechanism A-7, The 20 kg class gas container 1 is moved to the right or to the left.
That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the gas containers 1, 1-1, individually supported by the container holding mechanisms A- 1 are moved by shifting the width of the movable base 2 in the longitudinal direction of the movable base 2. In particular, when transferring 10 kg, 20 kg, and 30 kg class cylinders having a small outer diameter of, for example, 20 kg, for example, 20 kg of gas containers 1-1 on the pallet G-1, the first row is moved to the right side and transferred. In the row, the number of transfer on the pallet G-1 can be transferred several times larger than that of the 50 kg class gas container 1 so as to move toward the left side.
That is, in the 50 kg class gas container 1 shown in FIG. 11A, the number of transfer arrangements is nine, while in the 20 kg class gas container 1-1 shown in FIG. It is a book.

  The container width adjusting mechanism A-6 is meshed and connected to the rack 35 attached to the right side carriage 3 and the left side truck 3 except for the center, and the left and right racks 35 of the three container width adjusting trucks 3. The pinion 36 mounted on the movable base 2 as described above, and the gear 37 meshingly connected to both the pinion 36 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions by the power transmission from the gear group 27 of the power transmission mechanism A-7. Thus, as described above, the 20 kg class gas container 1-1 is moved to the right or to the left.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the power transmission mechanism A-7 uses the power of the drive motor A-5 installed outside the device frame A-4 to supply the container holding mechanism A- 1. Elevating support mechanism A-2 for movable base 2, advancing / retracting support mechanism A-3 for hanger base 2-1, container width adjusting mechanism A-6 for container width adjusting carriage 3, and multiple drive systems that transmit to these mechanisms There is a main transmission shaft 38 that is directly connected to the output shaft of the drive motor A-5, and a right angle extends from a middle portion of the main transmission shaft 38 to a middle portion of the power shaft 31 provided in the hanger base 2-1. A branch transmission shaft 39 to be arranged, and a gear group 27 arranged to be meshed and connected in parallel on the hanger base 2-1 by fixing one gear 27-1 in the middle of the transmission shaft 39, From two gears 27-2 and 27-3 of the gear group 27 and two transmission shafts 40 and 41 respectively arranged on the movable base 2 and further from one gear 27-4 of the gear group 27 Container The flexible transmission shaft 42 arranged over the support piece 5-1 of the second holding member 5 of the mechanism A-1 and the lifting support on the hanger base 2-1 from the remaining gear 27-5 of the gear group 27. It is composed of a transmission shaft 43 arranged across the bevel gear 26 of the direction changing power shaft 23 provided in a bridge shape between both the power shafts 22 of the mechanism A-2, and is installed outside the machine frame A-4. It is configured to transmit power from each of the two drive motors A-5.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each of the main transmission shafts 38 has a plurality of container stock devices G each having the aforementioned pallet G-1 reciprocally movable on the container stock stage B-1. All of the transfer devices A of the present invention installed adjacent to the transfer start end side of G are arranged in a bridging manner to transmit power to each of the aforementioned mechanisms in each transfer device A. A bevel gear 44 is fixedly attached to an intermediate portion located in the apparatus A.

The branch transmission shaft 39 serves to branch and transmit the rotational power of the main transmission shaft 38 in the direction of each transfer device A, and a bevel gear 45 that meshes with the bevel gear 44 of the main transmission shaft 38 is stopped at the upper end. At the same time, a bevel gear 46 is also fixedly attached to the lower end portion located on the hanger base 2-1 side, and this bevel gear 46 moves forward and backward to move the hanger base 2-1 forward and backward. The power shaft 31 is forwardly or reversely rotated by the power from the drive motor A-5, and the hanger base 2-1 moves forward or backward. It is designed to move backwards.
Furthermore, a power ON / OFF switching means 50 comprising an air clutch or the like is provided on the hanger base 2-1 side, and power is transmitted to the advance / retreat support mechanism A-3 only when the hanger base 2-1 is moved forward and backward. It is made to do.

  The gear group 27 includes a gear 27-1 fixed to the branch transmission shaft 39, a gear 27-2 that transmits power to the container width adjusting mechanism A-6, and power to the first holding member 4 of the container holding mechanism A-1. , A gear 27-4 that transmits power to the second holding member 5, and a gear 27-5 that transmits power to the lifting support mechanism A-2 of the movable base 2.

One end of the transmission shaft 40 is fixed to the gear 27-2, and a bevel gear 47 is fixed to the other end toward the movable base 2, and both pinions of the container width adjusting mechanism A-6 are provided. The rack 37 meshes with both the pinions 36 by transmitting the power from the drive motor A-5 to both the pinions 36 by meshingly coupling to the bevel gear 49 of the rotation support shaft 48 having the gear 37 meshingly linked to 36. The container width-shifting carriage 3 having 35 is moved toward and away from the left and right in the longitudinal direction of the movable base 2.
Further, the transmission shaft 40 is formed by a universal joint structure so that its length can be expanded and contracted following the vertical movement of the movable base 2 by the lifting support mechanism A-2. Furthermore, a power ON / OFF switching means 51 comprising an air clutch or the like is provided, and power is transmitted to the container width adjusting mechanism A-6 only when the container width adjusting carriage 3 is moved laterally.

The transmission shaft 41 has one end fixed to the gear 27-3 and a bevel gear 52 fixed to the other end facing the movable base 2, so that the ball screw of the container holding mechanism A-1 is provided. By connecting the bevel gear 54 meshingly connected to the bevel gear 53 fixedly attached to the power shaft 13 that rotates 9 to the bevel gear 56 of the rotation support shaft 55 fixedly connected, the drive motor A-5 Is transmitted to the power shaft 13 so that the ball screw 9 rotates forward or backward.
The transmission shaft 41 is also formed in a universal joint structure, similar to the transmission shaft 40 described above, and is provided with a power ON / OFF switching means 57, and the first holding member 4 is moved up and down via the linear rotary 10. By moving the rotary 10 further down, the above-mentioned container pushing section 15 pushes out the gas containers 1 and 1-1 having a body outer diameter of 10 kg, 20 kg, and 30 kg of less than 50 kg and having a small outer diameter to the front. It is designed so that the power that gives movement is transmitted only when necessary.

One end of the flexible transmission shaft 42 is fixed to the gear 27-4, and the other end of the container holding mechanism A-1 toward the second holding member 5 is connected to the support piece 5- of the holding member 5. By directly connecting 1 to a pivot that is pivotally fixedly supported, the power from the drive motor A-5 is transmitted to the pivot and the support piece 5-1 that stands by in a downward posture is supported horizontally to support the bottom of the gas container. It is designed to rotate to the posture.
Similarly to the transmission shafts 40 and 41 described above, the transmission shaft 42 is also provided with power ON / OFF switching means 59, and when the power to move the support piece 5-1 of the second holding member 5 is required. Only to be transmitted.

  In addition, the transmission shaft 43 has one end fixed to the gear 27-5, and a direction changing power provided between the power shafts 22 of the lifting support mechanism A-2 on the hanger base 2-1. By providing a bevel gear 58 meshingly connected to the bevel gear 26 of the shaft 23 at the other end, the power from the drive motor A-5 is transmitted to the power shafts 22 on both sides, and the movable base 2 is moved at the four corners. The screw shafts 20 to be supported are rotated forward or reverse.

  In the figure, reference numerals 60 and 61 denote gas containers 1 carried in by a sub-transport path D-1 disposed at a right angle from a middle portion of the transport path D extending from the gas filling stage B toward the container shipping stage B-1. , 1-1 loading detection, and a detector comprising a photosensor, a limit switch, and the like arranged to detect the size of the gas container 1,1-1.

Next, the operation sequence of transferring the gas containers 1, 1-1 from the sub-transport path D- 1 to the container stock apparatus G by the transfer apparatus A of the present example configured as described above will be simplified with reference to each drawing. explain.
In addition, each mechanism according to the order of operation of each container holding mechanism A-1, elevating support mechanism A-2, advance / retreat support mechanism A-3, container width adjusting mechanism A-6, and the difference in container size by the detectors 60 and 61 The operation order and the like, the instruction content necessary for the operation, and the like are input and set in advance in an apparatus control unit (not shown).

  The gas container 1 filled with gas in the gas filling stage B is unloaded from the transfer path D to the sub-transfer path D-1 by the gate 62 that is closably provided in the transfer path D. It was carried into the front position of each container holding mechanism A-1 of the transfer device A from the sub-conveying path D-1, and the loading of the gas container 1 to each position was confirmed by the detector 60 and carried in. When the size of the gas container 1, 1-1 is confirmed by the detector 61, first, the advancing / retreating support mechanism A-3 of the hanger base 2-1 is operated by the power from the drive motor A-5 to move the movable base. 2 is slightly advanced (from the two-dot chain line state in FIG. 3 to the two-dot chain line state).

When the movable base 2 is advanced and the container holding mechanism A-1 approaches the gas container 1 as shown in FIG. 3, the support piece 5-1 of the second holding member portion 5 of the holding mechanism A-1 is The bottom of the gas container 1 is supported by being rotated from a downward posture to a horizontal posture by the power from the drive motor A-5. At this time, the lock claw 17-1 of the lock mechanism 17 in the operating portion 16 is engaged with the tooth groove of the gear mechanism 18 to enter a locked state in which the horizontal posture of the support piece 5-1 is locked (FIG. 6). (State from (a) to (b)).
The rotation of the support piece 5-1 becomes the star of the transfer device A, and the ball screw 9 of the container holding mechanism A-1 is rotated by the power from the drive motor A-5 based on the detection signal from the detector 61. When the linear rotary 10 starts to descend, the arm 4-1 of the first holding member 4 of the mechanism A-1 descends from just above the gas container 1 due to this movement, and the upper body part of the gas container 1 Hold to support.

  At this time, when the detection signal from the detector 61 is a gas container 1 of 50 kg, the rotation of the ball screw 9 stops when the armband 4-1 supports and holds the gas container 1 from directly above, but 50 kg or less. For example, in the case of a 20 kg gas container 1-1, the rotation of the ball screw 9 is continued and the linear rotary 10 continues to descend, and the starting member 14 supported by the rotary 10 is replaced with a 20 kg gas container. As shown in FIG. 9 in relation to the container pusher 15 provided on the guide shaft 6 and located behind the trunk of 1-1, a movement to push the 20 kg gas container 1-1 forward is performed. Thus, the upper body of the 20 kg gas container 1-1 can be reliably supported and held by the armband 4-1.

As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, when the gas containers 1 and 1-1 that are carried in are held by the container holding mechanism A-1 from above and below, the lifting support mechanism A-2 is then driven. The operation is started by the power from the motor A-5, and the movable base 2 is raised.
When the gas containers 1 and 1-1 held by the container holding mechanisms A-1 are slightly lifted (for example, around 100 mm) by raising the movable base 2, in the case of a 50 kg gas container 1, the advancing / retreating support mechanism A-3 Starts to operate with the power from the drive motor A-5 and advances the hanger base 2-1 toward the pallet G-1 of the container stock device G, but it is movable in the case of a 20 kg gas container 1-1. After the base 2 is lifted, the container width adjusting mechanism A-6 starts to be operated by the power from the drive motor A-5, and as shown in FIG. In (b), the width is shifted to the left, and when this width adjustment is completed, the advance / retreat support mechanism A-3 starts to operate, and the hanger base 2-1 is moved to the pallet G- of the container stock apparatus G. Starts moving forward in one direction (from the solid line to the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8) ).

When the gas containers 1, 1-1 held by the container holding mechanism A-1 are transferred to the transfer advance position by the advance / retreat support mechanism A-3, the advance / retreat support mechanism A-1 is stopped, and the elevation support mechanism A- 2 starts operation and lowers the movable base 2.
When the movable base 2 is lowered, the unlocking pin 17-2 of the locking mechanism 17 of the support piece 5-1 supporting the bottom of the gas container 1,1-1 hits the upper surface of the pallet G-1, and the releasing pin 17- 2 is moved into the box of the operating portion 16, the locking state of the locking claw 17-1 with respect to the gear mechanism 18 (locked state) is released, and the support piece 5-1 is connected to the gas container 1, It returns from the horizontal state which supports the bottom part of 1-1 to a downward attitude | position (state from FIG.6 (b) to (c)). As a result, the gas containers 1 and 1-1 are transferred to the designated positions on the pallet G-1.

When the transfer alignment of the gas containers 1 and 1-1 to the designated position on the pallet G-1 is completed, the lift support mechanism A-2 is locked (locked) with the support claw 5-1 by the lock claw 17-1. When it is released, it stops, and the advancing / retreating support mechanism A-3 starts operating, and starts retreating to return the hanger base 2-1 to the original standby position.
When the hanger base 2-1 is returned to the standby position and the advance / retreat support mechanism A-3 stops, the lift support mechanism A-2 lowers the movable base 2 to the lowering standby position through operation, and the container holding mechanism A-1 Is returned to the standby position, thereby completing a series of transfer operations.
Thereafter, by repeating the above-described operation sequence several times, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, the gas containers 1 and 1-1 are automatically aligned and transferred onto each pallet G-1 of the container stock apparatus G. Is.

  When the alignment transfer of the gas containers 1, 1-1 onto one pallet G-1 is completed, the container stock apparatus G starts operation, and the next pallet G-1 is a gas container by the transfer apparatus A When the empty pallet G-1 is transferred to the transfer position (designated transfer area) 1, 1-1, the series of transfer operations described above by the transfer device A is continued. Gas-filled gas containers 1 and 1-1 carried out from the gas filling device B at the gas filling stage of the gas filling plant by the transfer path D are automated on each pallet G-1 in the transfer path of the container stock apparatus G. Aligned and transferred.

  In addition, when the 50 kg gas container 1 and the 20 kg gas container 1-1 are mixedly carried to the front positions of the respective container holding mechanisms A-1 of the transfer device A, the 50 kg gas container 1 is The 50 kg gas container 1 and the 20 kg gas container 1-1 are aligned and transferred onto each pallet G-1 of the container stock apparatus G according to the above-mentioned operation order of 50 kg.

FIGS. 12 to 15 show another embodiment of the container width adjusting mechanism A-6 for the gas containers 1 and 1-1. In such an embodiment, the right side of the three container width adjusting trolleys 3 excluding the center is shown. A rack 63 is attached to each of the cart 3 and the left cart 3 in a vertical position relationship, and a fan-shaped pinion 64 that is meshed and connected to the upper and lower racks 63 is arranged on the upper and lower coaxials. By directly connecting the end of the transmission shaft 40 described in detail in the above-described embodiment, the container width-shifting carriage 3 is moved to the right or left by the forward or reverse rotation of the transmission shaft 40. It is supposed to be.
In addition, the left and right carts 3 are connected to the central cart 3 in the container width-shifting cart 3 by a link mechanism 65 that is crossed in an X shape, and then moved to the right or left in the initial direction. (The interval at which the 50 kg gas container 1 is aligned and transferred to the pallet G-1) is restored.

  FIG. 15 shows another embodiment in which the container width-shifting carriage 3 is connected by using an endless member 66 such as a chain or a chain instead of the link 65.

  16 to 17 show another embodiment in which the arm 4-1 constituting the first holding member 4 described in detail in the above embodiment is movable, and in such an embodiment, the guide shafts 6 on both sides are vertically moved. The arm rods 4-10, which are formed in a substantially L-shape in a side view as described in detail in the above-described embodiment using round bar members, are mounted on the support members 67 on both sides that are movably provided so as to be movable back and forth. A retreat starting member 68 for retreating the arm 4-4 when the reed 4-10 descends is fixedly supported on the guide shafts 6 on both sides.

The brace 4-10 does not move backward with respect to the 50kg gas container 1, but moves backward when holding the 10kg, 20kg and 30kg class gas containers 1-1 of 50kg or less. As shown in the figure, a return spring 69 is wound around the front side of the support member 67, and the center of the continuous flange that protrudes rearward from the support member 67 is composed of a bearing or the like that rolls along the reverse activation member 68. A rolling wheel 70 is provided.
That is, the rolling wheel 70 rolls along the backward activation member 68 by the lowering of the armband 4-10, so that the armarm 4-10 is retracted so as to be pulled backward, thereby 10kg, 20kg, and 30kg. The upper body part of the class gas container 1-1 is pressed and held from above.

  The rear end actuating member 68 has guide shafts 6 on both sides at a height so as to move the arm 4-10 backward in the 10kg class gas container 1-1 to the 30kg class gas container 1-1 having the same outer diameter of the trunk. As shown in FIG. 16, it is formed in a strip shape with an appropriate width and thickness in the height direction, and the upper end side is gradually directed toward the tip as shown in FIG. By forming it in a curved taper shape (the shape of the tip of the sword), the rolling wheel 70 provided in the center of the rear end of the arm rod 4-10 is smoothly guided, and the arm rod 4-10 moves backward. It is supposed to be.

Thus, according to the first holding member 4 of such an embodiment, the linear rotary 10 starts to descend as in the above-described example, and this movement causes the first holding member 4 of the container holding mechanism A-1 to move downward. When the arm 4-4 descends from right above the gas container 1-1 and reaches the upper part of the gas container 1-1 or descends to the upper body part to be supported, the rolling wheel 70 is moved backwardly by the retraction starting member 68. The arm rod 4-10 is retracted so as to be pulled, and the upper end of the gas container 1-1 is pressed and held by the end of the arm (the state from the two-dot chain line in FIG. 16 to the solid line). .
In this way, by using the movable armband 4-10, the starting member 14, the container pushing member 15 and the like for pushing the gas container 1-1 forward required in the above-described embodiment are unnecessary. Become.

  It should be noted that the power ON / OFF switching means 50, 51, 57, 59 consisting of the air clutch and the like, and detection of optical sensors, limit switches, etc., which are disposed in each part necessary for operating the transfer device A automatically. It is suitable for gas filling factories that handle high-risk liquefied gases, etc., as the exchange between the devices 60 and 61 and the device control unit using the intrinsic safety protection safety signal such as air or light. It will be something.

Schematic plan view showing an example of use of the transfer device of the present invention Plan view showing the entire transfer device Same vertical side view Longitudinal front view showing the main part of the figure Schematic perspective view showing the overall configuration of the power transmission mechanism The 2nd holding | maintenance mechanism of a container holding mechanism is shown, (a) shows the process in which a support piece rotates from the downward attitude | position to the horizontal attitude | position which supports the bottom part of a gas container, (b) shows a support piece supporting the bottom part of a container. (C) shows a state where the horizontal support lock state of the support piece is released from the lock release pin and returned to the downward posture. Longitudinal side view showing a state where the 50kg gas container is held by the container holding mechanism so as to be held from above and below. Vertical side view showing the state where the gas container is lifted by the lifting support mechanism Longitudinal side view showing a state in which the 20 kg gas container carried in is held by the container holding mechanism from above and below. In the front view of the main part, (a) shows a state in which a 20 kg gas container is brought closer, (b) shows a state in which the 20 kg gas container is brought closer so that the 20 kg gas containers come into contact with each other. The gas container alignment transfer form on the pallet is shown in a plan view, in which (a) is a state in which a 50 kg gas container is aligned and transferred, and (b) is a state in which a 20 kg gas container is aligned and transferred. Another embodiment of the container width adjusting mechanism is illustrated, and a plan view of the main part The same schematic plan view of the state in which the same mechanism is incorporated into three container width adjustment carts The top view which shows an example of the structure which returns the container width adjustment trolley | bogie after being width-shifted in the container width-shifting mechanism to the initial space | interval The front view which shows the other Example of the structure which returns the container width alignment trolley | bogie after being width-aligned in the container width alignment mechanism to the initial space | interval Side view showing another embodiment in which the first holding member of the container holding mechanism is movable. A plan view showing a state in which a 20 kg gas container is pressed and held.

Explanation of symbols

A: Transfer device A-1: Container holding mechanism
A-2: Lifting support mechanism A-3: Advancement / retraction support mechanism
A-4: Equipment frame A-5: Drive motor
A-6: Container width adjusting mechanism A-7: Power transmission mechanism 1,1-1: Gas container 2: Movable base 3: Container width adjusting cart 4: First holding member
4-1: Armband 5: Second holding member
5-1: Support piece 6: Guide shaft 7: Protection cap 8: Protection protector 9: Ball screw 38: Main transmission shaft
39,40,41,42,43: Transmission shaft
50, 51, 57, 59: Power ON / OFF switching means

Claims (4)

A transfer device comprising a container holding mechanism for holding the gas container in an upright posture, and transferring the gas container to a designated transfer area,
The container holding mechanism includes a first holding member that supports an upper body portion of the gas container, and a second holding member that supports a bottom portion of the gas container,
The first holding member is supported on a vertical guide shaft so as to be movable up and down, and protects the upper body portion of the gas container that is placed in an upright position at the front portion of the guide shaft. A plurality of armbands having a shape to support without interfering with the cap or protective protector,
The second holding member is rotatably provided with a support piece that supports the bottom of the gas container so as to be able to contact and separate, and further includes a lock mechanism that locks the support piece while the support piece supports the bottom of the gas container. A transfer device for a high-pressure gas container.   The container holding mechanism according to claim 1 is configured to be movable up and down via a lifting support mechanism and to be moved back and forth on a device frame that is installed in a frame shape in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view toward a designated transfer area. By being incorporated in a longitudinally parallel movable base that is supported so as to be able to move forward and backward toward the designated transfer area in parallel with each other in the longitudinal direction, it is arranged in a horizontal row in an upright posture under the base. A plurality of gas containers that are carried in are individually held, and the plurality of gas containers can be collectively transferred to a designated transfer area in an upright posture by a forward movement of the movable base. A transfer device for a high-pressure gas container.   The movable base according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of container width-shifting carriages that individually support each container holding mechanism via a guide shaft and a ball screw are incorporated so as to be laterally movable, and the width-shifting carriages are arranged in either the left or right direction. A high-pressure gas container transfer device characterized in that a container width-shifting mechanism is provided for shifting the width of the container. In the transfer apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3,
A drive motor is installed outside the machine frame, and the power of the drive motor is transmitted to the container holding mechanism of the gas container, the lifting and lowering support mechanism of the movable base, the container width adjusting mechanism of the container width adjusting carriage, and these mechanisms. The power transmission mechanism of the multiple drive system is provided, and by switching the power ON / OFF switching means provided at an appropriate location of the power transmission mechanism, the power from the drive motor is transmitted to the container holding mechanism, the lifting support mechanism, and A transfer device for a high-pressure gas container, wherein the transfer device is configured to be switched and transmitted to an advancing / retreating support mechanism and a container width adjusting mechanism.

Images