JP2785527B2 - Rail switch device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an area where two transport paths intersect at substantially the same level, of a guide rail extending along one transport path and intersecting the other transport path. A part is cut off to form a movable rail, and this movable rail is used to retract to a path open position that does not hinder the traveling of the transport means in the other transport path.
The present invention relates to a rail switch device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a place where two transport paths intersect, it is usual to detour one transport path above or below the other transport path. If space cannot be secured, or if the transport means is inappropriate for traveling up and down, the other transport path of the guide rails installed along one transport path as described above It is conceivable to adopt a rail switch device that separates an area part intersecting with the movable rail into a movable rail and retracts the movable rail to a path open position that does not hinder the traveling of the transport means in the other transport path. Conventionally, a rail switch device suitable for such a purpose has not been specifically considered.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its features are indicated by reference numerals in the embodiments described later. A movable rail 5 pivotally mounted so as to be horizontally rotatable by a vertical support shaft 7 by cutting off one of the guide rails 3 erected along the transport path and intersecting with another transport path 2. And a driving means 10 for reciprocatingly rotating the movable rail 5 between a route connection position and a route opening position.
Are provided at both ends of the movable rail 5,
When the movable rail 5 is at the path connection position, a pair of front and rear movable rails that enter the lower side of each of the supported parts 12 and 13 and support the supported parts 12 and 13 are provided. It comprises end support members 16 and 18 and retraction drive means 17 and 19 for driving the rail end support members 16 and 18 out and back.

[0004]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numerals 1 and 2 denote two transport paths crossing each other. The guide rail 3 of the path 1 crosses the lower side of the guide rail 4 of the other transport path 2. That is, one transport path 1
Guide rail 3 crosses the inside of the other transport path 2. The guide rail 3 includes a movable rail 5 having an area crossing the transport path 2 cut away.

[0005] The movable rail 5 is suspended via a rail suspension member 9 from a movable frame 8 pivotally mounted at one end thereof to a fixed frame 6A by a vertical support shaft 7 so as to be horizontally rotatable. I have. Numeral 10 denotes a driving means for reciprocatingly rotating the movable rail 5, comprising a motor 11 operatively connected to the vertical support shaft 7 and installed on the fixed frame 6 </ b> A, and rotating the vertical support shaft 7 by the motor 11. Thus, the movable rail 5 can be rotated through the movable frame 8 in any direction. That is, the movable rail 5 is rotated by 90 degrees from the path connection position A connecting the guide rail 3 as shown in FIG. 2 to the side of the transport path 2 from the path connection position A as shown by a virtual line in FIG. The drive means 10 causes the drive unit 10 to rotate forward and backward between the path opening position B and the path opening position B.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, supported portions 12 and 13 are continuously provided at both ends of the movable rail 5.
Free end of movable rail 5 (end farther from vertical support shaft 7)
Is supported between a pair of bearing members 12b protruding laterally outside the free end of the movable frame 8 (in the direction of rotation to the path connection position A) in the longitudinal direction of the movable frame 8. Roller 12a supported by a horizontal support shaft orthogonal to
The supported portion 13 located on the base end side of the movable rail 5 is orthogonal to the length direction of the movable frame 8 between a pair of bearing members 13 b protruding above the base end portion of the movable frame 8. Roller 13a supported by a horizontal support shaft
It consists of.

[0007] A second supported portion 14 is continuously provided on the free end side of the movable rail 5. This second supported portion 14 is a bearing member 14b attached to the lower end of the L-shaped member 15 protruding from the free end of the movable frame 8 to the side inside (toward the path opening position B in the direction of rotation). The movable frame 8 includes a roller 14a supported by a horizontal support shaft parallel to the length direction of the movable frame 8.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, fixed frames 6B and 6C are provided so as to be connected to both ends of the movable frame 8 when the movable rail 5 is at the path connection position A. A rail end support 1 that can enter under the supported portion 12 (roller 12a) on the free end side of the movable rail 5 located at the path connection position A is provided laterally outside the fixed frame 6B.
6 and an extension / retraction driving means 17 for driving the rail end support 16 to extend / retreat. Also, fixed frame 6C
On the upper side, a rail end support member 18 that can enter under the supported portion 13 (roller 13a) on the base end side of the movable rail 5 at the path connection position A, and the rail end support member 18 And a withdrawal driving means 19 for driving the withdrawal.

The rail end support members 16 and 18 can be freely moved back and forth by a pair of left and right guide rails 20 and 21 via supporting horizontal shaft rollers 22 and 23 and steadying vertical shaft rollers 24 and 25. Air cylinders 17a and 19a, which are the driving means 17 and 19, are connected to the rear ends of the movable tables 26 and 27, respectively. The rail end supports 16 and 18 have wedge-shaped tips so that they can smoothly enter under the supported parts 12 and 13 (rollers 12a and 13a). Thus, the supported portions 12, 13 (the rollers 12a, 13a) are supported at a constant level.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
B includes a support member 28 on which the second supported portion 14 (the roller 14a) rides when the movable rail 5 arrives at the route connection position A, and a stopper 29 for preventing the movable rail 5 from rotating excessively. Is provided. The stopper 29 includes a plate 30a disposed on the support member 28 so that the movable rail 5 comes into contact with the second supported portion 14 (the roller 14a) when the movable rail 5 reaches the path connection position A. , The position can be adjusted by the bolt 30b and the lock nut 30c.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the movable rail 5 is at the path opening position B, a fixed frame 6D is disposed adjacent to the free end of the movable frame 8, and the fixed frame 6D is attached to the fixed frame 6D. When the movable rail 5 arrives at the path opening position B, the second supported portion 14 (the roller 1
4a) a supporting member 31 on which the movable rail 5
A stopper 32 for preventing excessive rotation of the movable rail 5, and a pressing tool 3 for pressing the free end of the movable rail 5 toward the stopper 32.
3 and a driving means 34 for the pressing tool 33 are provided.

The stopper 32 is provided on the movable rail 5.
When the vehicle reaches the route opening position B, the second supported portion 1
4 (a roller 14a), a plate 35a disposed on the support member 31 so that the bolt 3
The position can be adjusted with the lock nut 35c and the lock nut 35c. The pressing member 33 is provided on the reinforcing plate 1 protruding above the L-shaped member 15 on the free end side of the movable frame 8.
The rotary lever 33a presses the rotary lever 33a and is supported by a vertical support shaft 37 so as to be horizontally rotatable on a support plate 36 connected to the fixed frame 6D. An air cylinder 34a as the driving means 34 supported on the support plate 36 is connected, and the air cylinder 34a allows the air cylinder 34a to rotate forward and reverse between a pressing position shown by a solid line and a retracted position shown by a virtual line. I'm sullen.

When the transport means guided by the guide rail 3 on the transport path 1 is used to travel across the transport path 2,
The movable rail 5 is switched to the path connection position A as shown in FIGS. That is, the motor 1 of the driving means 10
1 rotates the movable frame 8 forward through the vertical support shaft 7 to horizontally rotate the movable rail 5 to a path connection position A where the divided guide rails 3 are connected. Immediately before the movable rail 5 arrives at the route connection position A, the roller 14a of the second supported portion 14 rides on the support member 28 on the fixed frame 6B side, and the roller 14a contacts the plate 30a of the stopper 29. As a result, the free end of the movable rail 5 is connected at the same level as the end of the guide rail 3 at the position connected to the movable rail 5.

In this state, the rail end supports 16 and 18 on the fixed frames 6B and 6C are moved to the drive means 17 and 1 respectively.
When the air cylinders 17 and 19a advance and move through the movable bases 26 and 27, the rail end supports 16 and 18 are supported by the rollers 12a and 13a of the supported parts 12 and 13 at both ends of the movable frame 8. Go down,
The movable rail 5 is connected via these rollers 12a and 13a.
Since both ends of the (movable frame 8) are supported and the movable rail 5 is fixed at the route connection position A, the transport means guided by the guide rail 3 is used to safely pass over the movable rail 5. You can run.

When the transport means guided by the guide rail 4 on the transport path 2 is used to travel across the transport path 1, the movable rail 5 at the path connection position A is moved to the path open position B as described above. Switch. That is, the rail end support members 16 and 18 are moved backward by the air cylinders 17 a and 19 a as the drive means 17 and 19, and the rollers 12 as the supported portions 12 and 13 at both ends of the movable frame 8.
a, 13a. Then, the movable frame 8 is reversely rotated by the motor 11 of the driving means 10 via the vertical support shaft 7, and the movable rail 5 is rotated from the path connection position A to the path open position B.

Immediately before the movable rail 5 arrives at the path opening position B, the roller 14a of the second supported portion 14 rides on the support member 31 on the fixed frame 6D side, and the roller 14a is mounted on the plate 32a of the stopper 32. Then, the rotating lever 3 on the fixed frame 6D side
3a is rotated by the air cylinder 34a as the driving means 34, and the pressing member 33 at the retracted position is rotated to the pressing operation position, whereby the reinforcing plate 15a on the movable frame 8 side is rotated by the pressing member 33. By pressing, the movable lever 5 (movable frame 8) can be fixed at the path opening position B by the stopper 32 and the pressing tool 33.
When the movable rail 5 is rotated from the path opening position B to the path connection position A, the pressing tool 33 is rotated from the pressing position to the retracted position, and the fixing of the movable rail 5 (movable frame 8) is released.

When the apparatus of the present invention is implemented, when the movable rail 5 is at the path connection position A, the transport means guided by the guide rail 4 on the transport path 2 side is moved to a position just before the rotation area of the movable rail 5. When the movable rail 5 is at the path opening position B when the stopper which is temporarily stopped by
A stopper for temporarily stopping the transfer means guided by the guide rail 3 on the side of the movable rail 5 (before the transfer path 2) can be provided.

Further, as in the above embodiment, the second supported portion 14 is continuously provided on the free end side of the movable rail 5, and when the movable rail 5 arrives at the route connection position A and the route opening position B. A supporting member 28 on which the second supported portion 14 rides,
31 and a stopper 2 for preventing excessive rotation of the movable rail 5
9 and 32, and a pressing tool 33 for pressing the free end of the movable rail toward the stopper 32 when the movable rail 5 is at the path opening position B, and a driving means 34 for the pressing tool. When arranging, the danger that the movable rail 5 switched to the route opening position B unexpectedly turns toward the route connection position A can be reliably eliminated, and the load applied to the free end side of the movable rail 5 can be reduced. Rail end support 16 and support member 2
8 can take charge of both.

In other words, since the base end of the movable rail 5 can receive the load by both the bearing portion and the rail end support member 18, the support for supporting the free end of the movable rail is provided. The member 28 can correspond to a bearing portion on the base end side of the movable rail 5. Therefore, two rail end supports for supporting both ends of the movable rail 5 respectively having the same structure and the same size are used. Even so, it is possible to support both ends of the movable rail 5 in a well-balanced manner to enhance safety.

[0020]

As described above, according to the rail switch device of the present invention, by switching the movable rail to the path open position, the other movable rail crosses when the movable rail is at the path connection position. The traveling of the transport means on the transport path can be performed without hindrance. Conversely, by switching the movable rail to the path connection position, the transport means on the transport path side including the movable rail is used as the other means. The transport route can be traversed without hindrance. Moreover, when the movable rail is switched to the route connection position,
Since both ends can be reliably supported at a predetermined level by a rail end support that can move back and forth, not only can the transfer means be safely and smoothly transferred between rails, but also the movable rail can be rotated. It is not necessary to apply the load of the transport means traveling on the movable rail to the vertical support shaft and its bearing portion which can be supported as much as possible, and the vertical support shaft and its bearing portion for supporting the movable rail are made small and lightweight. And the service life can be prolonged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the entire apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side view in a state where a movable rail is at a path connection position.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a second supported portion shown in FIG. 3, a support member for supporting the second supported portion, and a stopper.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a means for supporting a free end of a movable rail at a path open position.

FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, conveying path 3, 4, guide rail, 5 movable rail, 6A to 6D fixed frame, 7 vertical support shaft, 8 movable frame, 10 movable rail rotation drive means, 11 driving Means motor, 12, 13 supported part, 12a, 13a supported part roller, 14 second supported part, 14a second supported part roller, 18, 18 rail end support 17, 19: Outgoing / retracting drive means, 17a, 19a: Air cylinder of the same outgoing / retracting drive means, 26, 27: movable table, 28, 31: support member, 29, 32: stopper, 33: pressing tool, 33a ... Rotating lever of the pressing tool, 34 ... Drive means of the pressing tool, 34a ... Air cylinder of the driving means.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B61B 13/00 B61B 13/12 B61J 1/10 E01B 25/12

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A part of a guide rail extending along a transport path and intersecting with another transport path is separated.
A driving means for reciprocatingly rotating the movable rail between a path connection position and a path open position is provided, with one end of the movable rail being pivotally mounted to be rotatable horizontally by a vertical support shaft, A supported portion is continuously provided at both ends of the movable rail, and when the movable rail is located at the path connection position, a pair of front and rear retracts to enter under each of the supported portions and support the supported portion. A rail switch device comprising: a freely movable rail end support member; 2. A supporting member having a second supported portion connected to a free end side of the movable rail, wherein the second supported portion rides when the movable rail arrives at a route connection position and a route opening position. A stopper for preventing excessive rotation of the movable rail, a pressing tool for pressing the free end of the movable rail toward the stopper when the movable rail is at the path open position, and driving of the pressing tool. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
A switch device for a rail according to claim 1. 3. The movable part is provided such that the supported part and the second supported part on the free end side of the movable rail are separately arranged on both left and right sides of the movable rail in plan view, and the other end of the movable rail is provided. 3. The rail switch device according to claim 2, wherein the supported portion is disposed above the movable rail.