JP6065281B2 - Conveyor equipment using a linked cart - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport device using a connected cart, in which a transport traveling body including a plurality of carts in series in a travel direction and a transport device between the carts is caused to travel along a travel route having a horizontal turn path portion. Is.

  A main traveling carriage used mainly for work support and work floors on both the left and right sides of the work, and a work floor for both front and rear ends of the work, which are used for transporting large works used in automobile assembly lines, etc. For example, as described in Patent Document 1, it is well-known that it is composed of two front and rear sub-carts used in In this type of transfer device, the central main carriage and the two front and rear sub-carts are connected by inter-cart connecting means, and one transport traveling body that transports one workpiece by the plurality of front and rear carriages. Although it is also known from Patent Document 1 to be configured so that it can be handled, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the inter-cart connection means is located in the travel path in the left and right sides of the transport traveling body. It was always provided in a connected state only on one side which is the inside of the horizontal curve path portion in the bending direction.

JP2013-6495A

  In the conventional well-known configuration described in Patent Document 1 above, the transport traveling body can be turned horizontally only in the direction in which the side on the side where the inter-cart connection means is located is inward. The route is limited to a simple loop layout that can be constituted by a horizontal curve route portion and a straight route portion that turn in the same direction, and there is no freedom in layout.

The present invention proposes a transport device using a connected cart that can solve the above-described conventional problems, and the transport device using a connected cart according to the present invention is the same as the embodiment described later. In order to facilitate understanding of the relationship, the reference numerals used in the description of the embodiment are shown in parentheses, and a plurality of carriages (2-4) and carriage connecting means (12, 13)
Conveying traveling body (1), guiding means for traveling the traveling traveling body (1) along the traveling path, and traveling the traveling traveling body (1) along the traveling path In the transport device comprising the drive means (24), the inter-cart connecting means (12, 13) is a pair of left and right connecting the left and right side portions of the front and rear adjacent carts (2, 3 / 3,4) separately. The connection units (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) are all divided into a left side connection unit (12a, 13a) and a right side connection unit (12b, 13b). The horizontal turn path portion (5, 5) in the traveling path is configured to be selectively switchable between a connected state and a disconnected state so that only the connecting units in either the left or right row are connected. In front of 7), in the left and right two rows of connecting units (12a, 13a / 12b, 13b), the row on the opposite side to the bending direction side of the horizontal turn path (5, 7) Connection control means (28, 31) for switching the connection unit of the row on the bending direction side of the horizontal turn path portion (5, 7) to the connected state when the connecting traveling unit (1) is in the connected state. Is provided.

  According to the configuration of the present invention described above, the transport traveling body that travels along the straight path portion is connected between the carriages by the connection units that are always connected in one of the connection units on the left and right sides. Therefore, not only can the transported object be transported by one transporting traveling body having a size such that a plurality of front and rear carriages are integrated, but also as a driving means for propelling the traveling traveling body, The driving means of the type that pulls the rear carriage with the front carriage is not limited to the driving means that pushes the front carriage with the front carriage.

  In addition, for the horizontal turn path portion where the row of connection units in the connected state on one side is on the inside in the bending direction, the transport traveling body is sent to the horizontal turn path portion as it is, and each carriage is connected to the connected connection unit. The horizontal turn path portion can be driven with the position opened as a fulcrum and the horizontal turn path portion where the row of connected units in one side connected state is outside in the bending direction is in front of it. In the connection control means, each connection unit in the connection release state of the opposite row is switched to the connection state. Therefore, the transport traveling body is fed into the horizontal turn path portion without any problem, and each carriage is connected in the connection state. The horizontal turn path portion can be made to travel in a state of being fan-shaped with the unit position as a fulcrum. That is, in the horizontal turn path portion, each carriage can be smoothly run in a fan-shaped state regardless of the bending direction. In other words, according to the configuration of the present invention, it is possible to freely lay out the travel route of the transportation traveling body by incorporating both the left-curved horizontal curve path portion and the right-curved horizontal curve route portion.

  In addition, when the transporting traveling body travels along the horizontal curve path portion, as in the case of traveling along the straight path portion, each connecting unit that is inside the bending direction is always in a connected state. The driving means for running the transporting traveling body in the path portion can be used in either a boosting type or a pulling type, like the straight path portion. For example, the conveyance driving body is sent to the horizontal curve path section by the pushing drive means on the entrance side of the horizontal curve path section, and at the same time as the conveyance traveling body is moved forward from the boost driving means, the horizontal curve path section It can be configured such that the conveying traveling body continuously receives a propulsive force by the pull-in driving means on the outlet side, and the entire conveying traveling body is withdrawn from the horizontal curve path portion. In other words, there are more choices of driving means for propelling the transport traveling body in the horizontal curve path section, which can be easily implemented.

  In carrying out the present invention, naturally, guide means for moving the transporting traveling body (each carriage) along the traveling route is necessary. As this guide means, for example, conventionally well-known guide means for guiding the wheels provided in each carriage with a guide rail on the travel route side can also be used. Thus, since the traveling body for conveyance (each carriage) is guided so as to move along the traveling route, it can be conventionally used as a driving means for traveling the traveling body for transportation along the traveling route. Various known ones can be used. For example, among a plurality of carts constituting the transport traveling body, a specific one of the plurality of carts constituting the transport traveling body, a train system in which a specific wheel is rotationally driven to self-run, A chain drive system in which a base is engaged with a drive chain that moves along the travel path, and a friction drive wheel on the ground side on a friction drive surface provided so as to be continuous in parallel with the travel direction over the entire length of the transport traveling body Friction drive system that presses can be used. Further, the drive means does not have to use the same system throughout the travel route, and in some cases, different drive means can be used for the straight path portion and the horizontal curve route portion. .

  In the case of carrying out the above-described transporting device using the connecting cart according to the present invention, each of the pair of left and right connecting units (12a to 13b) has a vertical shaft (18a, 18b, 20a, 20b) provided on one cart. And a hook-shaped connector (17a, 17b, 19a, 19b) provided on the other carriage and freely detachable in the lateral direction with respect to the vertical axis. The hook-shaped couplers of 13b) are arranged so that the left and right positions with respect to the vertical axes are opposite to each other, and the vertical shafts and hook-shaped couplers of the respective coupling units (12a to 13b) are arranged in the lateral direction. By relative movement, the vertical shafts of the connection units (12a, 13a / 12b, 13b) in either one of the left and right rows and the hook-shaped connectors are fitted to each other, and the connection units (12b, 13b / 12a, 13a) can be configured such that the vertical shaft and the hook-like connector are separated from each other. According to this configuration, when the pair of left and right connection units are switched between the connected state and the disconnected state, the pair of left and right hook-shaped connectors may be moved laterally integrally in the left-right lateral direction. Instead, a vertically movable movable bearing plate having bearing holes is used, and a pair of connecting units that are switched between a connected state and a disconnected state by moving the movable bearing plate up and down with respect to the vertical axis are provided in a pair of left and right. Compared with the case where it provides, the structure of the operation means which switches a pair of right and left connection units reversibly becomes simple.

When carrying out the above configuration, the vertical shaft (18a, 18b, 20a, 20b) and the hook-like connector (17a, 17b, 19a, 19b) are fixed in position with respect to the carriage (2-4), respectively. When the cart (3) with the shaft and the cart (2, 4) with the hook-like connector move relative to each other in the left-right lateral direction, the left and right rows of connecting units (12a, 13a / 12b, 13b)
In each of the connecting units in one row, the hook-like connector is fitted to the vertical axis, and in each of the connecting units in the other row, the hook-like connector is detached from the vertical shaft. The connection control means (28, 31) causes the carriage (3) provided with the vertical shaft and the carriage (2, 4) provided with the hook-shaped coupling device to laterally move in the lateral direction. Thus, it can be constituted by control guide rails (26, 29) for guiding each carriage (2-3). According to this structure, the movable parts which comprise a connection unit on each trolley become unnecessary, and a trolley | bogie can be comprised simply. In addition, as a means for switching the connection state, it is only necessary to slightly move a specific cart in the lateral direction, so it is very simple and inexpensive by using a guide rail that regulates the travel route of the cart. I can do it.

Furthermore, the transport traveling body (1) is provided with two left and right guide roller rows (10, 11), and each guide roller row (10, 11) is provided on both the left and right sides of the front and rear ends of each carriage (2-4). It is constituted by rollers (10a to 10f, 11a to 11f) that are rotatably supported around a vertical axis around the vertical axis (18a, 18b) in each of the connecting units (12a to 13b). , 20a, 20b), the rollers (10c, 10d, 11c, 11d) arranged on the lower side are arranged concentrically with the vertical axis, and the hook-like couplers (17a, 17b) of each coupling unit (12a-13b) , 19a, 19b) has a fitting groove (21) with respect to the vertical axis and has an arc shape centering on the vertical axis of the roller (10b, 10e, 11b, 11e) disposed below the groove (21). The shape is such that the end adjacent to the vertical axis is released, and the straight path section (6A-6D) in the travel path of the transport traveling body (1)
In the right and left rows of the connecting units (12a to 13b), straight guide rails for guiding the carriages (2 to 4) through the rollers on the same side as the connected rows of the connecting units ( 22L, 22R), and in the horizontal turn path (5, 7), the roller on the same side as the row of connected units in the connected state among the left and right rows of the connected units (12a-13b). Arc guide rails (23L, 23R) that guide each carriage (2-4) through the horizontal turn path (5, 7) and the left and right positions of the arc guide rails (23L, 23R) When the left and right positions of the straight travel guide rails (22L, 22R) in the straight travel path (6A, 6C) in front of the horizontal turn path (5, 7) are opposite, the straight travel path (6A to 6D) The control guide rails (26, 29) are arranged in the middle of the control guide rails (26, 29) and the circular guide rails (23L, 23R) in the horizontal turn path portions (5, 7). The first to connect Straight guide rails (27L, 30R) of the can be laid. With this configuration, the transport traveling body can always travel smoothly and safely in the straight traveling path portion in the travel route of the transport traveling body and the horizontal turn path portion in both the left and right directions, and a practical travel route layout. Can be realized freely.

  As described above, the drive means for driving the transport traveling body along the travel path may have any configuration, but the drive means is attached to the transport travel body (1) in parallel with the travel direction. Load bar (8) and the friction drive wheel (25a) provided on the travel path side so as to be in pressure contact with the side surface of the load bar (8), the load bar (8, 9) , Consisting of a single load bar (8a to 8c, 9a to 9c) divided along the left and right sides of each carriage (2 to 4) divided into each carriage (2 to 4) The rollers (10a to 10f, 11a to 11f) constituting the left and right guide roller rows (10, 11) can be pivotally supported at both front and rear ends of the load bar alone (8a to 8c, 9a to 9c). . According to this configuration, the transport traveling body is moved left and right by the pair of left and right load bars necessary for the friction drive means for smoothly friction-driving the left and right horizontal turn path portions. The horizontal turn path part can also be used as a bearing seat to form two left and right guide roller rows for smooth running, and a pair of left and right connecting units also use the ends of each load bar alone Can be configured simply.

1A and 1B are schematic plan views illustrating a travel route of a transport traveling body. 2A and 2B are schematic plan views for explaining a travel route provided with a connection control means for the transport traveling body. FIG. 3A is a plan view showing the arrangement of functional components of the transport traveling body, and FIG. 3B is a side view of the transport traveling body. FIG. 4A is a plan view illustrating a single load bar, inter-cart connecting means, and two left and right guide roller rows provided on each cart of the transport traveling body, and FIG. 4B is a side view thereof. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the functional components of the transport traveling body when the connecting units in the left and right reversed rows from the state shown in FIG. 2A are in the connected state. FIG. 6 is a front view of the main part when the transport traveling body in the state shown in FIG. 3A is in the travel route. FIG. 7A is a plan view showing a state in which the transport traveling body in which the connecting units in the left column are in a connected state bends a counterclockwise horizontal turn path section from the straight path section, and FIG. 7B shows the horizontal turn path section. It is an enlarged plan view which shows the principal part. FIGS. 8A and 8B are plan views showing the state in the first half of the connection control when the transport traveling body is sent from the straight path portion shown in FIG. 7A to the clockwise horizontal turn route portion. 9A and 9B are plan views showing the situation in the latter half stage following the former half stage shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a situation immediately before entering the clockwise horizontal turn path portion following FIG. 9.

  1 and 2, the transport traveling body 1 is composed of three carriages 2 to 4 in series in the running direction, and the central carriage 3 has a length in the running direction of the other carriages 2 and 2. It is longer than 4, and is a central main carriage used for a work floor for supporting a workpiece W such as an automobile body and the left and right sides of the workpiece W. The carriages 2 and 4 at both the front and rear ends have the same length. It is a sub-cart used mainly for the work floor for the front and rear ends of the workpiece W. The traveling path of the transport traveling body 1 includes a counterclockwise horizontal turn path section 5, an entrance-side straight path section 6 A of the counterclockwise horizontal turn path section 5, and an exit-side straight path path section 6 B of the counterclockwise horizontal turn path section 5. The clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7, the inlet-side straight path portion 6C of the clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7, and the outlet-side straight path portion 6D of the clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7 are combined.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the transport traveling body 1 has the same length as the entire length of the transport traveling body 1 and a pair of left and right provided along the left and right sides of the transport traveling body 1. Load bars 8 and 9, two left and right guide roller rows 10 and 11, inter-cart connecting means 12 for connecting the front and rear adjacent carts 2 and 3, and inter-cart connection for connecting the front and rear adjacent carts 3 and 4. Means 13 and two sets of four universal wheels 14 to 16 which are attached to the bottom of each carriage 2 to 4 and roll on the floor are provided. The load bars 8 and 9 are constituted by load bar single units 8a to 8c and 9a to 9c that are divided into the carts 2 to 4 and attached to the bottom of the cart along the left and right sides of the carts 2 to 4, respectively. Each of these load bar units 8a to 8c and 9a to 9c has a quadrangular prism shape, and two upper surfaces near both ends in the length direction thereof are attached to the bottom surfaces of the carriages 2 to 4, and mounting members 8d to 8f and 9d to 9f. The left and right side surfaces are friction drive surfaces.

  Among the load bar units 8a to 8c and 9a to 9c constituting the load bar 8, 9, the load bar units 8a, 9a and 8c, 9c attached to the front and rear carts 2, 4 having a short overall length are long. It has a length that extends into the area of the central carriage 3, and therefore both ends of the load bars 8 b and 9 b attached to the central carriage 3 have the same length from both front and rear ends of the central carriage 3. Only in the inset position. With this configuration, the lengths of all the load bar units 8a to 9c can be made the same or close to each other regardless of the difference in the total lengths of the carriages 2 to 4.

  The guide roller row 10 is configured by rollers 10a to 10f that are rotatably supported around vertical axes on the lower sides of both front and rear ends of each load bar unit 8a to 8c constituting the load bar 8 on the same side, The guide roller row 11 is configured by rollers 11a to 11f that are rotatably supported around vertical axes on the lower sides of the front and rear ends of each load bar unit 9a to 9c constituting the load bar 9 on the same side. Yes. Each of these rollers 10a to 11f is pivotally supported at the center position of the width of each load bar unit 8a to 9c having the same width, and the diameter thereof is about the same as the width of each load bar unit 8a to 9c.

  The inter-cart connecting means 12, 13 is constituted by a pair of left and right connecting units 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b. The pair of left and right connecting units 12a and 12b includes hook-like connecting members 17a and 17b made of a plate member attached to the upper rear end portion of the pair of left and right load bars 8a and 9a attached to the front end carriage 2, and the center. A pair of left and right load bars 8b, 9b attached to the carriage 3 is composed of vertical shafts 18a, 18b that are concentrically provided on the lower front side of the rollers 10c, 11c. The pair of left and right connecting units 13a and 13b includes hook-like connecting members 19a and 19b made of plate members attached to the upper front end portions of the pair of left and right load bars 8c and 9c attached to the rear end carriage 4, A pair of left and right load bars 8b, 9b attached to the central carriage 3 is provided on the upper rear end of the pair of load bars 8b, 9b so as to be concentric with the rollers 10d, 11d supported on the lower side. Vertical shaft 20a, and a 20b.

  The hook-like couplers 17a, 17b and 19a, 19b of the coupling units 12a-13b extend laterally outward with respect to the vertical shafts 18a, 18b and 20a, 20b adjacent in the front-rear direction. A fitting groove 21 having a circular arc shape centering on the vertical axis of the rollers 10b, 11b and 10e, 11e positioned on the lower side and the vertical axes 18a, 18b and 20a, 20b positioned on the inner side being released is provided. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the distance D2 between the pair of left and right load bars 8a, 9a of the front end carriage 2 and the distance D4 between the pair of left and right load bars 8c, 9c of the rear end carriage 4 are equal to each other. However, the distance D3 between the pair of left and right load bars 8b, 9b of the central carriage 3 is slightly shorter than the distances D2, D4. That is, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the central carriage 3 moves relatively to the lateral limit position on the left side where the load bar 8 is located with respect to the front and rear carriages 2 and 4, the left load bar unit 8a. 8c and the rollers 10a to 10f of the guide roller row 10 pivotally supported by these are positioned on a straight line, and the connecting units 12a and 13a on the same side are fitted into the fitting grooves 21 of the hook-shaped connecting members 17a and 19a. Is connected to the vertical shafts 18a and 20a located on the inner side by the radius of the vertical shafts 18a and 20a, and the connecting units 12b and 13b on the opposite side have the vertical shafts 18b and 20b on the outer side. The hook-shaped couplers 17b and 19b located at the position are configured to be in a disconnected state released from the fitting groove 21. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, when the central carriage 3 moves relatively to the right side where the load bar 9 is located with respect to the carriages 2 and 4 at the front and rear ends, the right load bar alone 9a to 9c and the rollers 11a to 11f of the guide roller row 11 pivotally supported by these are positioned on a straight line, and the connecting units 12b and 13b on the same side are fitted into the fitting grooves of the hook-shaped connecting members 17b and 19b. 21 is connected to the vertical shafts 18b and 20b located on the inner side by the amount of the radius of the vertical shafts 18b and 20b, and the opposite connection units 12a and 13a have the vertical shafts 18a and 20a, It will be in the connection cancellation | release state which remove | deviated inside from the fitting groove | channel 21 of the hook-shaped coupling tools 17a and 19a located in an outer side.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 6, the entrance side straight path portion 6 </ b> A of the counterclockwise horizontal turn path portion 5 and the outlet side straight path portion 6 </ b> B of the counterclockwise horizontal turn path portion 5 shown in FIG. Of the two guide roller rows 10 and 11 on the left and right sides of the traveling body 1, the rollers 10a to 10f of the guide roller row 10 provided on the left load bar 8 connected by the connecting units 12a and 13a are sandwiched from both the left and right sides. A straight guide left guide rail 22L is laid. As shown in FIG. 7, the left-handed horizontal turn path portion 5 has an arcuate left side that guides the rollers 10 a to 10 f of the left guide roller row 10 that moves inside the bending direction from both left and right sides. A guide rail 23L is laid. As shown in FIG. 5, a traveling traveling body 1 for traveling is provided in the inlet-side straight path portion 6C of the clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7 and the outlet-side straight path portion 6D of the clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7 shown in FIG. 1B. Of the left and right two guide roller rows 10, 11 of the guide roller row 11 connected to the right load bar 9 connected by the connecting units 12b, 13b. As shown in FIG. 10, the right guide rail 22R is laid on the right-hand horizontal turn path portion 7, and the rollers 11a to 11f of the right guide roller row 11 that moves in the bending direction are seen from the left and right sides as shown in FIG. An arc-shaped right guide rail 23R is provided to be sandwiched and guided.

  Friction drive means using the load bar 8 or 9 in which the load bar units 8a to 8c or 9a to 9c are connected by the connecting units 12a, 13a or 12b and 13b as drive means for causing the transport traveling body 1 to travel. 24 is disposed on the travel route side of the transport traveling body 1. These friction drive means 24 are conventionally well-known ones comprised of a friction drive wheel 25a sandwiching the load bar 8 or 9, a backup roller 25b, and a motor (not shown) for rotationally driving the friction drive wheel 25a. As is well known in the art, the installation interval of the driving means 24 on the travel route is also set such that when the transport travel body 1 is traveled at a constant speed at a predetermined interval, the entire length of the transport travel body 1 (the load bars 8 and 9). The friction drive means 24 is installed at the entrance and the exit in the boost drive section in which the transport traveling bodies 1 are continuously connected in a daisy chain and run integrally. In this embodiment, since the inner path length in the bending direction of the horizontal turn path portions 5 and 7 is slightly shorter than the total length of the load bars 8 and 9, the entrance and exit of the horizontal turn path portions 5 and 7 are the same. Friction drive means 24A, 24B are arranged on the front, and immediately before the rear end of the load bar 8 or 9 to be driven is detached from the friction drive means 24A at the entrance, the front end of the load bar 8 or 9 is the friction drive means 24B at the exit. It is comprised so that it may drive.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the transport traveling body 1 traveling from the inlet-side straight path portion 6A of the counterclockwise horizontal turn path portion 5 to the outlet-side straight path portion 6B via the counterclockwise horizontal turn path portion 5 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the central carriage 3 moves laterally to the lateral movement limit position relative to the front and rear carriages 2 and 4, and hooks are formed on the vertical shafts 18a and 20a of the left connecting units 12a and 13a. The couplers 17a and 19a are fitted and connected to each other, and the vertical shafts 18b and 20b are disengaged from the hook-shaped couplers 17b and 19b of the right coupling units 12b and 13b. . As a result, only the left side of each carriage 2 to 4 is coupled by the left coupling units 12a and 13a. Of the pair of left and right load bars 8 and 9, only the left load bar 8 is the load bar unit 8a. 8c are connected by the connecting units 12a and 13a to be in a straight line state, and only the left guide roller row 10 of the pair of left and right guide roller rows 10 and 11 has its rollers 10a to 10f in a straight line. In series. Accordingly, in each of the path portions 6A, 5 and 6B shown in FIG. 1A, the left traveling bar 8 is driven by the friction drive means 24, 24A and 24B, and the transport traveling body 1 travels forward. Each of the rollers 10a to 10f is guided by the straight left guide rail 22L and the arcuate left guide rail 23L, so that it can travel along the path portions 6A, 5 and 6B.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the transport traveling body 1 traveling from the inlet-side straight path portion 6C of the clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7 to the outlet-side straight path portion 6D via the clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7 is As shown in FIG. 5, the central carriage 3 moves sideways to the lateral movement limit position with respect to the front and rear carriages 2 and 4, and moves to the vertical shafts 18b and 20b of the right connection units 12b and 13b. The hook-shaped connectors 17b and 19b are fitted and connected, and the vertical shafts 18a and 20a are disengaged from the hook-shaped connectors 17a and 19a of the left connection units 12a and 13a. ing. As a result, only the right side portions of the carriages 2 to 4 are coupled by the right coupling units 12b and 13b. Of the pair of left and right load bars 8 and 9, only the right load bar 9 is associated with each load bar unit 9a. To 9c are connected by the connecting units 12b and 13b to be in a straight line state, and only the right guide roller row 11 of the pair of left and right guide roller rows 10 and 11 has its respective rollers 11a to 11f on a straight line. In series. Accordingly, in each of the path portions 6C, 7 and 6D shown in FIG. 1B, the transport traveling body 1 in which the right load bar 9 is driven forward by the friction drive means 24, 24A and 24B travels forward. Each of the rollers 11a to 11f is guided by the straight traveling right guide rail 22R and the arcuate right guide rail 23R, so that it can travel along the path portions 6C, 7 and 6D.

  The transport traveling body 1 traveling on the counterclockwise horizontal turn path portion 5 or the clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7 includes the carts 2 to 4 (each load bar unit 8a to 8c of the left load bar 8 or the right load bar 9). The trucks 2 to 4 are horizontally arranged around the vertical shafts 18a and 20a of the coupling units 12a and 13a or the vertical shafts 18b and 20b of the coupling units 12b and 13b. The load bar 8 or 9 that runs in the left-handed horizontal turn path portion 5 or the right-handed horizontal turn path portion 7 while being bent and opened in a fan shape and is detached from the friction drive means 24A at the entrance is caused by the friction drive means 24B at the exit. It continues to be driven and sent out to the exit side straight path section 6B or 6D. In addition, as shown to FIG. 7B which shows the state in the counterclockwise horizontal turn path | route part 5, when each trolley | bogie 2-4 opens fan-shaped around the vertical shafts 18a and 20a (or vertical shafts 18b and 20b), each connection The hook-shaped couplers 17a, 19a (or 17b, 19b) of the units 12a, 13a (or 12b, 13b) are fitted in a circular arc shape to the opposite vertical shafts 18a, 20a (or vertical shafts 18b, 20b). The groove 21 is fitted deeply.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the inlet-side straight path portion 6A of the counterclockwise horizontal turn path portion 5 is connected to, for example, the outlet-side straight path portion 6D of the clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7 shown in FIG. 1B. In the case where the traveling of the transport traveling body 1 is guided by the straight traveling right guide rail 22R, the straight traveling right guide rail 22R is terminated at an appropriate position in front of the counterclockwise horizontal turn path portion 5, and this straight traveling is performed. In the section from the vicinity of the terminal end of the right guide rail 22R to the counterclockwise horizontal turn path portion 5, the second straight traveling rail connected to the arc-shaped left guide rail 23L laid on the counterclockwise horizontal turn path portion 5 is provided. The left guide rail 27L is laid, and the control guide rail 26 is formed at the entrance of the second straight guide left guide rail 27L. The connection control means 28 is configured by the second straight left guide rail 27L provided with the control guide rail 26.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2B, the entrance-side straight path portion 6C of the clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7 is connected to the outlet-side straight path portion 6B of the counterclockwise horizontal turn path portion 5 shown in FIG. 1A, for example. In the case where the travel of the transport traveling body 1 is guided by the straight travel left guide rail 22L, the straight travel left guide rail 22L is terminated at an appropriate position in front of the clockwise horizontal turn path section 7, In the section from the vicinity of the terminal end of the straight left guide rail 22L to the clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7, a second arc guide right guide rail 23R laid on the clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7 is connected. A straight guide rail 30R for straight travel is laid, and a control guide rail 29 is formed at the entrance of the second straight guide rail 30R for straight travel. The connection control means 31 is constituted by the second straight traveling right guide rail 30R provided with the control guide rail 29.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 5, when the central carriage 3 moves laterally to the lateral movement limit position with respect to the longitudinal carriages 2, 4, the connecting units 12 a, 13 a or 12 b, 13 b on the lateral movement direction side. Is in the connected state, and the connecting unit 12b, 13b or 12a, 13a on the opposite side is in the disconnected state, so that the guide roller row 10 or 11 on the releasing side of the pair of left and right guide roller rows 10, 11 is A pair of front and rear rollers 10a, 10b, 10e, 10f or 11a provided on the front and rear carts 2 and 4 with respect to a virtual straight line in the front and rear direction through which the front and rear rollers 10c, 10d or 11c and 11d of the central cart 3 pass. 11b, 11e, and 11f are in a state of protruding outward. The control guide rails 26 and 29 of the connection control means 28 and 31 are rollers 10a, 10b, 10e and 10f or 11a, 11b and 11e included in the carriages 2 and 4 at both front and rear ends of the guide roller row 10 or 11 on the connection release side. , 11f are moved inward to move the carriages 2, 4 at the front and rear ends to the lateral movement limit position with respect to the central carriage 3 to the lateral movement limit position, and the guide roller row 10 or 11 (load bar 8 on the connection release side) Or, 9) is switched to a state in which all the rollers 10a to 10f or 11a to 11f are positioned on a straight line, and the connection units 12a, 13a or 12b and 13b that have been in the disconnected state are switched to the connected state.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the connection control means 31 shown in FIG. 2B will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. In the entrance-side straight path section 6 </ b> C of the clockwise horizontal turn path section 7, The guided transport traveling body 1 is in the state shown in FIG. 3A, in which the central carriage 3 laterally moves to the left side with respect to the front and rear carriages 2 and 4 to the lateral movement limit position. 12a and 13a are in a connected state, right connection units 12b and 13b are in a disconnected state, and the respective rollers 10a to 10f of the left guide roller row 10 positioned on a straight line are fitted to the straight guide left guide rail 22L, The left load bar 8 in a straight line state is driven by the friction drive means 24. Along with the forward travel after the transport traveling body 1 reaches the terminal end of the straight traveling left guide rail 22L, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the leading roller 10a of the left guide roller row 10 moves to the straight traveling left side. The front roller 11a of the right guide roller row 11 moves forward from the guide rail 22L and enters the second straight guide rail 30R while being pushed inward by the control guide rail 26.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, the operation of the control guide rail 26 for the top roller 11a causes the front end carriage 2 to support the left rear end roller 10b still guided by the straight left guide rail 22L. Tilt horizontally to the left. At this time, the hook-like connector 17b on the cart 2 side of the right connecting unit 12b moves slightly forward with respect to the vertical shaft 18b on the cart 3 side, but the right connecting units 12b and 13b are hook-shaped. Since the couplers 17b and 19b are in a disconnected state separated outward from the vertical shafts 18b and 20b, they do not interfere with each other. 9A, the roller 11b at the left rear end of the front carriage 2 enters the second straight guide rail 30R for straight advancement from the control guide rail 26. As shown in FIG. The front end cart 2 that has been tilted to the left is tilted inwardly with the left top roller 11a as a fulcrum, and the hook-like connector 17b on the cart 2 side of the connection unit 12b is then moved to the cart. The connection unit 12b is switched from the disconnected state to the connected state by fitting to the vertical shaft 18b on the third side from the outside. In the connection unit 12a in the connected state on the right side, the hook-shaped connecting member 17a on the cart 2 side is separated from the vertical shaft 18a on the cart 3 side and switched to the disconnected state.

  After the left connecting unit 12a is switched to the disconnected state and the right connecting unit 12b is switched to the connected state, the pair of front and rear rollers 11c and 11d on the right side of the central carriage 3 sequentially pass through the control guide rail 26. As a result, the pair of front and rear rollers 11c and 11d on the right side of the central carriage 3 are displaced inward and moved in the straight direction. Is positioned on a virtual straight line in the front-rear direction that passes through the pair of front and rear rollers 11a, 11b on the right side of the right side, so that it does not receive the operation of the control guide rail 26 and is moved to the second straight guide rail 30R. enter in. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9B, the roller 11e at the right front end of the rear carriage 4 at the position protruding outward with respect to the roller 11d at the right rear end of the central carriage 3 is moved inside by the control guide rail 26. The second straight right guide rail 30R is entered while being pushed and moved. As a result, the hook-like connector 19b on the cart 4 side of the right coupling unit 13b is fitted to the vertical shaft 20b on the cart 3 side from the outside and switched to the coupled state. At the same time, the left connecting unit 13a is switched to the disconnected state in which the hook-shaped connecting device 19a on the cart 4 side is separated rearward and outward from the vertical shaft 20a on the cart 3 side. Finally, as shown in FIG. 10, the rear right side roller 11f of the rear end carriage 4 enters the second straight traveling right guide rail 30R via the control guide rail 26. The carriage 4 at the end is also returned in the straight direction, the carriages 2 to 4 of the transport traveling body 1 are arranged in a straight line direction, and all the rollers 11a to 11f of the guide roller row 11 located on the straight line on the right side are the second. It is guided by the right traveling guide rail 30R.

  When the load bar unit 8c at the rear end of the left load bar 8 moves forward from the friction drive means 24 at the final position provided side by side with the straight guide left guide rail 22L, the transport traveling body 1 The friction drive means 24 provided in the straight traveling right guide rail 30R drives the load bar unit 9a at the front end of the right load bar 9 guided in the straight traveling direction by the second straight traveling guide rail 30R. The transfer traveling body 1 is transferred without stopping from the straight guide left guide rail 22L to the second guide right guide rail 30R, and subsequently the friction that is attached to the second guide right guide rail 30R. The drive means 24 continuously travels forward.

  When the connection control means 31 is operated, the left guide roller train 10 is guided by the straight left guide rail 22L and driven by the friction drive means 24 via the left load bar 8 in a straight line. In the transport traveling body 1 on the entrance-side straight path portion 6C of the horizontal turn path portion 7, the right guide roller row 11 is guided to the second straight right guide rail 30R in front of the clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7. In addition, since it is fed to the clockwise horizontal turn path 7 while being driven by the friction drive means 24 via the right load bar 9 in a straight line state, as described above with reference to FIG. 1B, the clockwise horizontal turn path The vehicle can travel forward through the section 7 to the straight path section 6D on the exit side.

As shown in FIG. 2A, connection control means 28 provided when the entrance-side straight travel path 6A of the counterclockwise horizontal turn path 5 guides the transport traveling body 1 by the straight travel right guide rail 22R. The configuration is symmetrical with the configuration of the connection control means 31 provided in the entrance-side straight path portion 6C of the clockwise horizontal turn path portion 7 described with reference to FIG. Are exactly the same except that they are reversed, and therefore, detailed configuration diagrams corresponding to FIGS.

  In the transport device using the coupled cart of the present invention, the counterclockwise horizontal turn path portion and the clockwise horizontal turn path portion can be freely incorporated in the travel path of the transport traveling body composed of a plurality of carts in series in the travel direction. It is a transfer device with a high degree of freedom in the layout of the transfer route, and can be used for transferring the car body in the car assembly line.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transportation traveling body 2-4 trolley 5 Left-handed horizontal turn path part 6A-6D Straight path part 7 Right-handed horizontal turn path part 8,9 Load bar 8a-8c, 9a-9c Load bar single body 10,11 Guide roller row 10a to 10f, 11a to 11f Roller 12, 13 Connecting means between carriages 12a to 13b Load bar unit 14 to 16 Free wheel 17a, 17b, 19a, 19b Hook-like connector 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b Vertical shaft 21 Hook-like connection Fitting groove 22L, 22R Straight guide rail 23L, 23R Arc guide rail 24, 24A, 24B Friction drive means 26, 29 Control guide rail 27L, 30R Second straight guide rail 28, 31 Connection control means

Claims (5)

  A traveling body for conveyance comprising a plurality of carriages in series in the traveling direction and connecting means between the carriages, guiding means for causing the traveling body for conveyance to travel along the traveling path, and the traveling body for transportation along the traveling path. In this case, the inter-cart connecting means is composed of a pair of left and right connecting units that connect the left and right sides of the carts adjacent to each other in the front and rear directions. Divided into connection units in the left column and connection units in the right column, and can be switched selectively between a connected state and a disconnected state so that only the connecting unit in either the left or right column is connected. In front of the horizontal turn path portion in the travel route, the connection units in the row on the opposite side of the horizontal turn path portion from the bending direction side of the horizontal turn path portion are in a connected state. During the passage of the conveying traveling body, the connection control means for switching the connection unit of the bending direction side of the column of the horizontal turn path section in engaged status is provided, connecting the bogie use the transport device.   Each of the pair of left and right connecting units is composed of a vertical shaft provided on one cart and a hook-shaped connector provided on the other cart and freely detachable in the horizontal direction with respect to the vertical shaft. The hook-like couplers of the pair of left and right coupling units are arranged so that the left and right positions with respect to the vertical axes are opposite to each other. By making the relative movement, the vertical shafts of the connecting units in either one of the left and right rows and the hook-like connectors are fitted to each other, and the vertical shafts of the connecting units in the other row are hooked to each other. The transport device using a connecting cart according to claim 1, wherein the transport device is configured to be detached.   The vertical shaft and the hook-shaped connector are respectively fixed in position with respect to the cart, and when the cart provided with the vertical shaft and the cart provided with the hook-shaped connector relatively move laterally in the left-right lateral direction, Of the connecting units, in each connecting unit in one row, the hook-like connector is fitted to the vertical axis, and in each connecting unit in the other row, the hook-like connector is detached from the vertical shaft. And the connection control means guides each carriage so that the carriage provided with the vertical shaft and the carriage provided with the hook-like connector are laterally moved in the horizontal direction. The conveyance apparatus using a connecting cart according to claim 2, comprising:   The transport traveling body is provided with two left and right guide roller rows, and each guide roller row is constituted by rollers that are rotatably supported around the vertical axis on the left and right sides of the front and rear ends of each carriage, Among these rollers, the roller disposed below the vertical shaft in each connection unit is disposed concentrically with the vertical shaft, and the fitting groove for the hook-shaped connector of each connection unit with respect to the vertical shaft is: An arc shape centering on the vertical axis of the roller arranged below and an end adjacent to the vertical axis are released, and the straight path portion in the travel path of the transport traveling body includes A straight guide rail for guiding each carriage through the roller on the same side as the connected unit row in the connected state among the left and right rows of the connected units is laid, and a horizontal turn path portion includes In each column An arc guide rail for guiding each carriage through the roller on the same side as the connected unit row in the connected state is laid, and the horizontal turn path and the horizontal position of the arc guide rail in the horizontal turn path section When the left and right positions of the straight travel guide rail in the straight travel path section in front of the section are opposite, the control guide rail is disposed in the middle of the straight travel path section, and the control guide rail and the horizontal turn path section The conveyance apparatus using a connecting cart according to claim 3, wherein a second straight guide rail connecting the arcuate guide rail is laid.   The driving means is composed of a load bar attached to the transporting traveling body in parallel with the traveling direction, and a friction drive wheel provided on the traveling path side so as to be in pressure contact with a side surface of the load bar. The load bar is composed of a single load bar divided along the left and right sides of each carriage, and the left and right guide roller rows are formed at both front and rear ends of each of the left and right rows of each load bar. The conveying apparatus using a connecting cart according to claim 4, wherein the roller is pivotally supported.

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