JP2009067511A - Lifting/lowering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lifting/lowering device capable of increasing lifting/lowering speed of a load to improve movement efficiency of the load. <P>SOLUTION: A stacker crane 100 for lifting/lowering objects is provided with a placement table 108 lifted/lowered while holding the objects; a base body 112 supporting the placement table 108 so as to enable its lifting/lowering and long in the lifting/lowering direction: a motor 128 for exhibiting driving force for lifting/lowering the placement table 108; running blocks 120 rotated around rotating shafts; chains 122 having one ends mounted to the rotating shafts of the running blocks 120 and transmitting the driving force of the motor 128 to the running blocks 120; and wire ropes 124 having one ends mounted to the base body 112 and the other ends mounted to the placement table 108, hung around the running blocks 120 and having characteristics different from those of the chains 122. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lifting device.

  The lifting device is provided in a stacker crane or the like that moves in the automatic warehouse, and lifts and lowers the load.

  The load and the load platform that supports the load move up and down above the base that supports the lifting device by the driving force of a drive source such as a motor. A mast is erected on the base, and a fixed pulley is attached above the mast.

  And in order to reduce the load concerning a drive source, a counterweight is attached to a stacker crane. The counterweight is a weight that moves up and down as the loading platform moves up and down.

  The counterweight is connected to the cargo bed by a rope or a chain that is hung on a fixed pulley mounted above the mast, and moves up and down in the mast. In this case, a space in which the counterweight moves is secured inside the mast. In addition to the space where the counterweight moves, the mast needs to have a height to which the fixed pulley is attached.

  Thus, the distance of the counterweight and the height of the mast corresponding to the mechanism provided for the movement are required. Therefore, a long movement distance of the counterweight causes an increase in the size of the stacker crane, and at the same time, a restriction on the design of the stacker crane.

Therefore, a technique for reducing the overall height of the stacker crane and reducing the size of the stacker crane is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the technique described in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 3, the moving distance of the counterweight 3 is reduced by suspending the counterweight 3 on the rotating shaft of the movable pulley 1.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-12111

  However, the conventional technique has a problem that the driving speed of the driving source is the same as the lifting / lowering speed of the load holding tool, and the moving efficiency of the holding tool is poor.

  In the conventional technique, the length of the rope that the motor serving as the driving source winds and feeds the rope that is connected to the loading platform matches the lifting distance of the loading platform. Therefore, the drive speed of the drive source is the same as the lifting speed of the loading platform.

  However, it is desirable that the moving speed of the loading platform is high. By increasing the moving speed of the loading platform, for example, the use efficiency of an automatic warehouse can be improved.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an elevating device capable of increasing the elevating speed of a load and improving the movement efficiency of the load.

  In order to achieve the above object, a lifting device according to the present invention is a lifting device that lifts and lowers an object, holding the object and lifting and lowering the object, and supporting the holding tool so as to be lifted and lowered. A base that is long in the ascending / descending direction, a driving source that exerts a driving force for raising and lowering the holder, a moving pulley that rotates about a rotating shaft, and one end attached to the rotating shaft of the moving pulley, and the driving A first flexible elongate body for transmitting force to the movable pulley; one end attached to the base; the other end attached to the holder; A second flexible elongated body having a property different from that of the body.

  As described above, the lifting device includes the movable pulley that is driven by the driving source through the first flexible elongated body and moves up and down. The second flexible elongated body that is hung around the movable pulley has one end attached to the base and the other end attached to the holder. Therefore, the holder moves at twice the speed of the moving pulley. Therefore, it is possible to increase the movement speed of the luggage and improve the movement efficiency of the luggage.

  In addition, the first flexible elongated body attached to the rotating shaft of the movable pulley and the second flexible elongated body wound around the movable pulley have different moving speeds due to the structure of the lifting device. The applied tension is also different. Specifically, a strong tension is applied to the first flexible elongated body. Therefore, a member having excellent load resistance is suitable for the first flexible elongated body. In contrast, the second flexible elongated body moves at a high speed. Therefore, a member having excellent wear resistance is suitable.

  Thus, by using a member suitable for each of the two types of drive members divided by the movable pulley, it is possible to extend the life of the flexible elongated body.

  The first flexible elongated body is preferably a chain, and the second flexible elongated body is preferably a wire rope.

  In general, a chain is more wear resistant than a wire rope. Further, the chain can be hung around with a pulley having a smaller diameter than the wire rope. On the other hand, the wire rope can move faster than the chain.

  By using the first flexible elongated body as a chain and the second flexible elongated body as a wire rope, taking advantage of each member to make the lifting device have a long life and a small size, and at a high speed holding body Can be moved up and down.

  That is, since the first flexible elongated body is attached to the rotating shaft of the movable pulley and the second flexible elongated body is hung around the movable pulley, the second flexible elongated body is the first flexible elongated body. Move faster than your body. Therefore, it becomes possible to move the holder at a high speed by using a wire rope for the second flexible elongated body.

  Further, by using a chain for the first flexible elongated body that moves at a relatively low speed, it is possible to extend the life.

  And a fixed pulley attached to the base above the upper end of the range in which the holder moves up and down, and the drive source is attached to the base below the fixed pulley, and the first flexible elongate The body is preferably hung around the fixed pulley.

  In this way, the fixed pulley is attached to the base body above the upper end of the range in which the holder moves up and down. In general, by using a chain as the first flexible elongated body, the diameter of the fixed pulley on which the first flexible elongated body is wound can be reduced. Therefore, the height of the base can be reduced, and the lifting device can be downsized.

  Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a counterweight attached to the first flexible elongated body and assisting the driving force of the driving source.

  As described above, when the counterweight is attached to the first flexible elongated body, the movable pulley is interposed between the counterweight and the holder. Therefore, the moving distance of the counterweight is half of the moving distance of the object, and the moving distance of the counterweight can be reduced. Although the movement of the counterweight causes noise and vibration, it is possible to reduce the noise and vibration by reducing the movement distance of the counterweight.

  Further, when the counterweight moves up and down inside the base body, a space for the counterweight to move up and down is secured inside the base body. By reducing the movement distance of the counterweight, it is possible to reduce the design restrictions for securing the movement space of the counterweight.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the speed of raising and lowering the load.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a lifting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a configuration of an automatic warehouse including a stacker crane.

  A stacker crane 100 as an elevating device is an apparatus that is provided in an automatic warehouse in which luggage is stored on a shelf 102 and that conveys the luggage between the shelf 102 and a station 104.

  The stacker crane 100 is placed on a rail 106 laid in a passage in the automatic warehouse, and moves on the rail 106. The stacker crane 100 has a mounting table 108 as a holding tool that can move up and down while holding an object. Details of the mounting table 108 will be described later.

  The shelf 102 is used for storing luggage and is provided along the passage. The shelf 102 has a shelf plate 110 provided in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, and luggage is placed on the shelf plate 110. By storing the luggage on the shelf 2, the luggage is stored in the automatic warehouse.

  Station 104 is located beside shelf 102 along the passage. The package is carried into the shelf 102 via the station 104 and is carried out from the shelf 102.

  2A and 2B are front views schematically showing the configuration of the stacker crane 100. FIG. FIG. 2A shows a state in which the mounting table 108 is located at the lower part of the substrate, and FIG. 2B shows a state in which the mounting table 108 is located at the upper part of the substrate.

  The stacker crane 100 includes a mounting table 108, a base body 112, a moving pulley 120, a chain 122, a wire rope 124, fixed pulleys 126a to 125h, a motor 128, and a counterweight 130.

  The mounting table 108 is a table on which a package as an object is mounted. The mounting table 108 moves up and down with an object placed thereon.

  The base 112 is a frame that supports the elevation of the mounting table 108 and is long in the elevation direction. The base 114 is supported at the lower portion and the top plate 116 attached to the upper portion, and the mast that connects the base 114 and the top plate 116. 118.

  The base 114 is a member below the base body 112, and includes a fixed pulley 126f, a fixed pulley 126g, a fixed pulley 126h, and wheels 132.

  Each of the fixed pulley 126f, the fixed pulley 126g, and the fixed pulley 126h is rotatably attached to the base 114.

  The wheels 132 are for traveling on the rail 106 and are driven by a travel motor (not shown).

  The top plate 116 is an upper member of the base 112 and is disposed above the upper end of the range in which the mounting table 108 moves up and down. A fixed pulley 126a, a fixed pulley 126b, and a fixed pulley 126c are attached to the top plate 116. Each of the fixed pulley 126a, the fixed pulley 126b, and the fixed pulley 126c is rotatable.

  The mast 118 is a columnar member that is vertically attached to the base 114 and connects the base 114 and the top plate 116, and includes a fixed pulley 126 d and a fixed pulley 126 e, and a motor 128.

  The motor 128 as a drive source has a rotating shaft 128a that rotates under the control of a control unit (not shown), and is attached to the mast 118 below the fixed pulley 126a, the fixed pulley 126b, and the fixed pulley 126c. Demonstrate the driving force to move up and down.

  Each of the fixed pulley 126d and the fixed pulley 126e is rotatably attached to the mast 118.

  The movable pulley 120 has a rotation axis and rotates around the rotation axis. The movable pulley 120 is moved up and down by the driving force of the motor 128.

  The chain 122 serving as the first flexible elongated body is a metal roller chain having both ends attached to the rotating shaft of the movable pulley 120 and forming an annular shape.

  There are two chains 122, and one of the chains 122 is wound around a fixed pulley 126a, a fixed pulley 126b, a fixed pulley 126d, a fixed pulley 126e, a fixed pulley 126f and a fixed pulley 126g, and a rotating shaft 128a of the motor 128. ing.

  2A and 2B, the other end of the chain 122 is shown as interrupted, but the fixed pulley 126a, the fixed pulley 126b, the fixed pulley 126c, the fixed pulley 126d, the fixed pulley 126e, the fixed pulley 126f, the fixed pulley 126g, and It is a series of chains that are wound around the fixed pulley 126h and the rotating shaft 128a of the motor 128.

  Both the two chains 122 are flexible enough to be hung around the fixed pulleys 126a to 124h and the rotating shaft 128a of the motor 128. One end of the chain 122 is attached so as to suspend the rotating shaft of the moving pulley 120 from above, and transmits the driving force of the motor 128 to the moving pulley 120.

  The wire rope 124 as a second flexible elongated body is a metal rope having one end attached to the mounting table 108, the other end attached to the base 114, and a halfway between both ends hung around the movable pulley 120. is there.

  The wire rope 124 is flexible enough to be hung around the movable pulley 120.

  In the chain 122 attached to the rotating shaft of the moving pulley 120 and the wire rope 124 hung around the moving pulley 120, the chain 122 has greater tension applied to the wire rope 124 than the wire rope 124, and the wire rope 124 has a higher chain. The moving speed is faster than 122. Thus, each of the chain 122 and the wire rope 124 has a different manner of attachment to the movable pulley 120, and therefore, the main properties required for the chain 122 and the wire rope 124 are different.

  In general, the chain 122 is superior in flexibility and wear resistance to the wire rope 124, and the wire rope 124 is superior in movement at a higher speed than the chain 122. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the chain 122 is used as a flexible long body attached to the rotating shaft of the moving pulley 120, and the wire rope 124 is used as a flexible long body that is hung around the moving pulley 120. By doing so, it becomes possible to improve durability and achieve high-speed movement.

  Further, since the chain 122 is more flexible than the wire rope 124, it can be downsized.

  The counterweight 130 is a member that moves up and down along the mast 118 and reduces the burden on the motor 128, and has a weight corresponding to about twice the weight of the mounting table 108. The counterweight 130 moves up and down along the mast 118 at a portion above the joint portion 134.

  Here, the seam portion 134 is a seam of members constituting the mast 118. When the scale of the automatic warehouse is large, the height of the mast 118 is about 50 meters. In the case of such a high mast 118, a plurality of members are connected by bolts and nuts or welding to form one mast 118.

  Next, the operation of the stacker crane 100 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, when the mounting table 108 is located at the lower part of the base, the mounting table 108 is raised by rotating the rotating shaft 128a of the motor 128 counterclockwise. At the same time, the counterweight 130 is lowered. FIG. 2B shows a state where the mounting table 108 is raised and the counterweight 130 is lowered.

  In the state shown in FIG. 2B, by rotating the rotating shaft 128a of the motor 128 to the right, the mounting table 108 is lowered, and at the same time, the counterweight 130 is raised. As a result, the state shown in FIG. 2A is obtained.

  Thus, since the driving force of the motor 128 is transmitted to the mounting table 108 via the movable pulley 120, the lifting distance of the counterweight 130 is half of the lifting distance of the mounting table 108. Therefore, the counterweight 130 moves up and down the mast 118 above the joint part 134.

  Conventionally, when the counterweight 130 moves up and down in the vicinity of the mast 118, when the counterweight 130 passes through the joint portion 134, it rubs against the member of the joint portion 134, which may cause noise. However, in the stacker crane 100 of the present invention, as described above, the counterweight 130 moves up and down the mast 118 above the joint portion 134. As a result, the counterweight 130 does not rub against the members of the joint portion 134, and noise during movement of the counterweight 130 can be reduced.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  For example, the chain 122 as the first flexible elongated body is not limited to a roller chain, and may be a long chain having flexibility enough to be hung around a pulley. Further, the material of the chain 122 is not limited to metal as long as it has a load resistance that can withstand a force corresponding to the weight of the load, and may be a carbon material, resin, or the like. The chain 122 may be a combination of chains made of different types of materials.

  Further, for example, the first flexible elongated body and the second flexible elongated body are not limited to the chain and the wire rope, respectively, and the first flexible elongated body is superior in wear resistance, and the second The flexible elongated body may be any flexible elongated body having different properties such as a wire rope having different properties, such that the flexible elongated body is superior in load resistance.

  Further, for example, the other end of the wire rope 124 is not limited to the base 114 and may be fixed to a part of the base body 112. For example, the other end of the wire rope 124 may be fixed to the mast 118. Moreover, you may fix to the top plate 116 via another pulley.

  Further, for example, the other end of the chain 122 may not be attached to the movable pulley 120 and may be wound around the rotating shaft 128a of the motor 128. In this case, when the mounting table 108 is raised, the chain 122 is wound around the rotating shaft 128a, and when the mounting table 108 is lowered, the chain 122 is unwound from the rotating shaft 128a.

  The present invention can be applied to a stacker crane.

It is a perspective view which shows an example of a structure of an automatic warehouse provided with a stacker crane. It is a front view which shows typically the structure of the stacker crane 100, and the state in which the mounting base 108 is located in the lower part of a base | substrate is shown. It is a front view which shows typically the structure of the stacker crane 100, and shows the state which the mounting base 108 is located in the upper part of a base | substrate. It is a figure which shows the example of the conventional stacker crane.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Stacker crane 102 Shelf 104 Station 108 Mounting base 110 Shelf board 112 Base body 114 Base 116 Top plate 118 Mast 120 Moving pulley 122 Chain 124 Wire rope 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d, 126e, 126f, 126g, 126h Fixed pulley 128 Motor 130 Counterweight 132 Wheel 134 Seam

Claims (4)

A lifting device that lifts and lowers objects,
A holding tool capable of holding and lifting objects;
Supporting the holder so that it can be lifted and lowered, and a base that is long in the lifting direction;
A driving source that exerts a driving force to raise and lower the holder;
A moving pulley that rotates about a rotation axis;
A first flexible elongated body having one end attached to the rotating shaft of the movable pulley and transmitting the driving force to the movable pulley;
One end is attached to the base body, the other end is attached to the holding tool, is wound around the movable pulley, and includes a second flexible elongated body having a property different from that of the first flexible elongated body. A lifting device characterized by that. The first flexible elongated body is a chain;
The lifting device according to claim 1, wherein the second flexible elongated body is a wire rope. further,
A fixed pulley attached to the base above the upper end of the range in which the holder moves up and down;
The drive source is attached to the base below the fixed pulley,
The lifting device according to claim 2, wherein the first flexible elongated body is wound around the fixed pulley. further,
The lifting apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a counterweight attached to the first flexible elongated body and assisting a driving force of the driving source.

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