JP7127353B2 - articulated conveyor - Google Patents

Description

Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act applies [Date of sale] November 17, 2017 [Place of sale] Home Logistics Co., Ltd. (Prologis Park Ibaraki 3F West Office, 2-1 Saito Akane, Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture)

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to articulated conveyors, and more particularly to articulated conveyors that are connected to traveling carriages.

Conventionally, cargo in a container that has arrived at its destination is removed from the container and transshipped onto a pallet. For this transshipment, a vanning/devanning device for unloading (devanning) the container is used (see Patent Document 1, for example).
Specifically, the end of the conveyor of the above device is placed inside the container, and an operator places a load on the conveyor inside the container. A conveyor then carries the load out of the container, and finally another worker palletizes the load.

JP 2017-224136 A

The vanning/devanning device has, for example, a traveling truck and a plurality of conveyors connected to the traveling truck. A plurality of conveyors are connected to each other.
In the conventional device, for example, when the traveling truck is steered during traveling, the traveling truck travels while meandering as a whole. At that time, a large stress is generated in the connecting portion between the conveyors, and it is expected that the connecting portion will break.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to prevent damage to the joints between conveyors by reducing the stress generated in the joints of the joint conveyor when the traveling carriage meanders in the joint conveyor.

A plurality of aspects will be described below as means for solving the problem. These aspects can be arbitrarily combined as needed.

A connecting conveyor according to one aspect of the present invention is a connecting conveyor that connects to a traveling vehicle that travels in a horizontal direction, and includes a first conveyor device, a second conveyor device, and a connection structure.
The first conveyor device is a device that extends in a first direction and conveys loads in a first direction. The first conveyor device has a first direction first end connected to the traveling carriage.
The second conveyor device is positioned below the first conveyor device and partially overlaps the first direction second end of the first conveyor device in plan view. The second conveyor device is wider than the first conveyor device at least on the side of the first conveyor device in a second direction extending horizontally across the first direction.
A connecting structure is positioned between the first conveyor device and the second conveyor device in the height direction and extends in the second direction to move the first conveyor device relative to the second conveyor device in the second direction. It has a supporting linear guide and a support having a support surface and supporting the first conveyor device.
Supports are, for example, wheels, fixed flexures.
In this case, since the first conveyor device and the second conveyor device can be moved relative to each other in the second direction by means of the linear guides, when the two conveyor devices meander, a large stress does not occur in the connecting portion of the two conveyor devices.
Furthermore, since the width of at least the first conveyor device side of the second conveyor device is wider than the width of the first conveyor device, even if the first conveyor device deviates from the center position of the second conveyor device in the second direction, Also, the load can be reliably transferred from the first conveyor system to the second conveyor system.
Furthermore, since the first conveyor device and the second conveyor device are arranged to overlap each other vertically, when the first conveyor device is moved in the first direction via the support portion, the overlapping area with the second conveyor device can be widened. can. That is, in the stowed state, the connecting conveyor becomes compact in the first direction. The storage state is a state in which the first conveyor device is moved toward the second conveyor device after the connection between the first conveyor device and the traveling carriage is released.

The second conveyor device may have a first conveying section and a second conveying section arranged in the second direction on the side of the first conveyor device.
The conveying direction of the first conveying section and the conveying direction of the second conveying section may intersect each other so as to approach each other as it goes away from the first conveyor device.
In this case, the cargo is reliably moved to the center side of the second conveyor device by the first transport section and the second transport section. Therefore, even if the width of the conveyor device connected to the downstream side of the second conveyor device in the conveying direction is narrower than the width of the second conveyor device, the cargo can be reliably transferred from the second conveyor device to the following conveyor device.

In the linear guide, the end portion of the first conveyor device located in one direction in the second direction and the end portion of the second conveyor device overlap in plan view, and the end portion of the first conveyor device located in the other direction in the second direction overlaps with the end portion of the second conveyor device. It may have a length such that it can be moved in the second direction to a position where the ends of the second conveyor device overlap.
In this case, even if the first conveyor device is largely displaced in the second direction, the first conveyor device will not be positioned outside the second conveyor device in the second direction. It is possible to prevent the load from falling when the load is delivered to. Furthermore, by increasing the amount of movement of the first conveyor device within the range while achieving the above effects, the stress generated in the connection structure can be reduced even if the amount of meandering of the entire coupling device is large.

The linear guide may be connected to the first conveyor device and provided with the aforementioned support below.
The second conveyor device may have a lower support surface that extends in the first direction and supports the support surface of the support from below.
In this case, the first conveyor device and the linear guide can move in the first direction while being supported by the second conveyor device.
In this case, by moving the linear guide with respect to the second conveyor device via the support portion and the lower support surface, the first conveyor device can be arranged to overlap the second conveyor device. That is, the connecting conveyor can be made compact in the stored state.

The connecting conveyor may further include an additional conveyor device, a movement restrictor, and a stopper.
The additional conveyor device is connected to the end of the first conveyor device facing the second conveyor device.
The movement restricting part is provided at the end of the second conveyor device away from the first conveyor device.
The stopper is a member that stops movement of the first conveyor device when the first conveyor device moves rearward with respect to the second conveyor device.
The movement regulating portion is provided at a position where the additional conveyor device and the movement regulating portion overlap when viewed from the second direction when the movement of the first conveyor device is stopped.
In this case, the operation of restricting the movement of the first conveyor device in the second direction with respect to the second conveyor device in the retracted state of the connecting conveyor is simplified.

In the connected conveyor according to the present invention, the stress generated in the connecting portion when the traveling carriage meanders can be reduced, so that the connecting portion between the conveyors is less likely to be damaged.

1 is a side view of a vanning/devanning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vanning/devanning device; FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a connected conveyor (load conveyable state); FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a connecting conveyor (load conveyable state); FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a connected conveyor (load conveyable state); FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a connecting conveyor (load conveyable state); The typical side view of a connection conveyor (stored state). FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a connecting conveyor (accommodated state); The typical front view of a connection conveyor (storage state). The top view of a double slide apparatus. Front view of the double slide device. Side view of the double slide device.

1. First Embodiment (1) Basic Configuration of Vanning/Devanning Apparatus A vanning/devanning apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as "apparatus 1") will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. FIG. 1 is a side view of a vanning/devanning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vanning/devanning device.
In the following description, the length direction of the device 1 is defined as a first direction (arrow X), the width direction as a second direction (arrow Y), and the height direction as a third direction (arrow Z). The axis extending in the first direction is defined as the X axis, the axis extending in the second direction is defined as the Y axis, and the axis extending in the third direction is defined as the Z axis.

The device 1 is used, for example, for unloading (devanning) a container or for loading (vanning) a container, for example. Thus, the device 1 is moved to the container placement position for devanning and/or vanning the load.
The device 1 mainly comprises a conveyor 3, a workbench 5 and a running section 7. As shown in FIG.

(2) Conveyor The conveyor 3 is a device that conveys a load placed on its upper surface from the loading section to the discharging section. In the following, for simplification of explanation, a case where the device 1 is used as a devanning device will be explained. In this case, the upstream side in the conveying direction of the conveyor 3 is the front side, and the downstream side in the conveying direction is the rear side.
The conveyor 3 is composed of a plurality of conveyors. Specifically, the conveyor 3 has a first conveyor 3a, a second conveyor 3b, a third conveyor 3c, a fourth conveyor 3d, and a fifth conveyor 3e arranged side by side in the first direction. is doing. The first conveyor 3a is a belt conveyor driven by a motor. The second to fifth conveyors 3b to 3e are roller conveyors of free rollers. However, these conveyors may also be driven by motors.

The first conveyor 3a is a loading section for a worker to place a load during the devanning operation. The first conveyor 3a is arranged, for example, inside or outside a container, a truck when performing vanning or devanning.
The load conveying surface of the first conveyor 3a is moved rearward by a conveyor driving section (not shown) such as a motor.

The rear end of the first conveyor 3a is attached to the traveling portion 7 so as to be rotatable around the Y axis. Further, a conveyor lifting section (not shown) for rotating the first conveyor 3a is provided. The conveyor elevating unit is a known technique for elevating the tip of the first conveyor 3a, and has an elevating motor, a rotation driving unit including a plurality of gears, and the like.
Further, the rear end of the first conveyor 3a is attached to the traveling portion 7 so as to be rotatable around the Z axis. More specifically, the various structures of the conveyor lifting section described above are rotatable about the Z axis with respect to the traveling section 7 .
Thereby, the operator can move the tip of the first conveyor 3a to a desired position in the vertical and horizontal directions.

The second conveyor 3b is provided behind the first conveyor 3a. A first additional conveyor 3f is provided between the first conveyor 3a and the second conveyor 3b to bridge the rear end of the first conveyor 3a and the second conveyor 3b. Thereby, the cargo conveying surface of the first conveyor 3a and the cargo conveying surface of the second conveyor 3b can be connected with a small step.

The third conveyor 3c is connected to the upper rear end of the traveling portion 7 so as to be rotatable around the Y axis. Specifically, the third conveyor 3c is arranged such that the gap and step between the front end of the third conveyor 3c and the rear end of the second conveyor 3b are small. It is connected to the upper rear end of the running portion 7 so as to minimize the distance from the front end. More specifically, since the position where the third conveyor 3c is connected to the running portion 7 is near the conveying surface of the front end of the third conveyor 3c (immediately below the front end of the third conveyor 3c), The distance between the end and the front end of the third conveyor 3c is reduced.
The rear end of the third conveyor 3c is supported on the top of the first carriage 13. As shown in FIG. The first truck 13 has front wheels 13a and rear wheels 13b, and the rear wheels 13b are in contact with the running surface F. As shown in FIG. Thereby, the rear end of the third conveyor 3c can be arranged at a position higher than the running surface F by the height of the first carriage 13 .

In addition, the first carriage 13 is connected to the rear end of the lower portion of the traveling portion 7 so as to be rotatable around the Y axis. Furthermore, the rear end of the third conveyor 3c is movable relative to the first carriage 13 in the first direction.
With such a configuration, for example, when the device 1 travels on the inclined travel surface F, the first carriage 13 rotates around the Y-axis at the lower rear end of the travel portion 7, and the third conveyor 3c The upper rear end of the running portion 7 rotates around the Y axis. At this time, the rear end of the third conveyor 3c moves relative to the first truck 13 in the first direction, so that the first truck 13 and the third conveyor 3c can rotate smoothly.

The front end of the fourth conveyor 3 d (an example of the first conveyor device) is supported above the first carriage 13 . Specifically, in the upper portion of the first truck 13, the front end of the fourth conveyor 3d is connected to the rear end of the third conveyor 3c by a connecting member (for example, a hook). As a result, the distance between the front end of the fourth conveyor 3d and the rear end of the third conveyor 3c is minimized, that is, the step and gap between the load conveying surface of the third conveyor 3c and the load conveying surface of the fourth conveyor 3d are minimized. can be minimized.
Moreover, the front end of the fourth conveyor 3d is relatively movable in the first direction while being supported from below by the first carriage 13 .

The fifth conveyor 3e (an example of the second conveyor device) is a load discharge section for the worker to take out the load during the devanning operation. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fifth conveyor 3e is provided above the second carriage 15. As shown in FIG. The second truck 15 has front wheels 15a and rear wheels 15b that are in contact with the running surface F. As shown in FIG. The fifth conveyor 3 e is connected to the rear end of the fourth conveyor 3 d by a double slide device 23 (described later) provided on the second carriage 15 .
A second additional conveyor 3g (an example of an additional conveyor device) is connected to the rear end of the fourth conveyor 3d. Specifically, the front end of the second additional conveyor 3g is connected to the rear end of the fourth conveyor 3d so as to be rotatable around the Y axis. When the rear end of the fourth conveyor 3d is connected to the second carriage 15, the rear end of the second additional conveyor 3g hangs under its own weight and is in contact with the load conveying surface of the fifth conveyor 3e. As a result, the cargo conveying surface of the fourth conveyor 3d and the cargo conveying surface of the fifth conveyor 3e can be connected with a small step.

The fifth conveyor 3e is wider than the fourth conveyor 3d in the second direction. Specifically, the width of the fifth conveyor 3e is 1.3 to 1.7 times the width of the fourth conveyor 3d. It should be noted that the above numerical values are examples and are not limited to these. Therefore, even if the fourth conveyor 3d is displaced in the second direction with respect to the fifth conveyor 3e, the cargo is reliably transferred from the fourth conveyor 3d to the fifth conveyor 3e. In other words, the load will not fall.
A second direction movement restricting portion 31 (an example of a movement restricting portion) is provided on the rear side of the fifth conveyor 3e. Specifically, the second direction movement restricting portion 31 is a pair of members arranged on both sides in the second direction at the end of the second carriage 15 on which the fifth conveyor 3e is provided, on the side of the fourth conveyor 3d. . As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, when the connecting conveyor 21 is in the retracted state, the rear end of the second additional conveyor 3g enters between the pair of second-direction movement restricting portions 31 in the second direction while hanging down under its own weight. , thereby restricting the movement of the fourth conveyor 3d in the second direction with respect to the fifth conveyor 3e within a predetermined range.

(3) Workbench The workbench 5 is a lifter arranged below the first conveyor 3a on which an operator can ride. A worker can put a load on the first conveyor 3a by getting on the workbench 5. - 特許庁
The workbench 5 extends long in the second direction, so when the first conveyor 3a is near the center position of the workbench 5 in the second direction, the operator can move the first conveyor 3a in any direction in the second direction. You can also stand on the side.

The workbench 5 is vertically movable in accordance with the position of the first conveyor 3a when the worker loads the goods onto the conveyor 3. As shown in FIG. As a structure for this purpose, the workbench 5 is connected to the traveling unit 7 by a workbench elevating unit (not shown). The workbench elevating unit is a known technique for driving the workbench 5 up and down, and has a cylinder, a driving direction changing mechanism, and the like. Thereby, the operator can move the workbench 5 to a desired vertical position.

(4) Running Unit The running unit 7 is a running device that runs on the running surface F. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the traveling portion 7 can change its traveling direction by operating an operation device (no reference numeral).
Moreover, the traveling part 7 carries the first conveyor 3a and the second conveyor 3b, and connects the third conveyor 3c and the first carriage 13 to the rear end. Further, a second truck 15 is connected to a fourth conveyor 3d supported by the first truck 13. As shown in FIG.
As a result, the traveling portion 7 travels on the traveling surface F, and the first carriage 13 and the second carriage 15 connected to the traveling portion 7 move along with the traveling of the traveling portion 7, whereby the device 1 moves along the first conveyor. 3a to fifth conveyor 3e can be moved.

(5) Connection of the fourth conveyor and the fifth conveyor Using FIGS. explain. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the connecting conveyor (load conveyable state). FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a connecting conveyor (load conveyable state). FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the connecting conveyor (load conveyable state). FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a connecting conveyor (load conveyable state). FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the connecting conveyor (stored state). FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the connecting conveyor (stored state). FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of a connecting conveyor (stored state).
A connecting conveyor 21 is configured by the fourth conveyor 3d and the fifth conveyor 3e. The connecting conveyor 21, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, is connected to a traveling carriage 20 comprising a traveling section 7 traveling horizontally, a first conveyor 3a, a second conveyor 3b, a third conveyor 3c, and the like. A trailing conveyor 22 can be connected to the rear end of the connecting conveyor 21, as shown in FIG.

The 5th conveyor 3e has the 1st conveyance part 41 and the 2nd conveyance part 42 which are located in a line with the 2nd direction in the 4th conveyor 3d side. The first conveying section 41 and the second conveying section 42 are, for example, transfer points for goods from the fourth conveyor 3d to the fifth conveyor 3e in a state in which goods can be conveyed. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the rear end of the second additional conveyor 3g is arranged so as to overlap the front portions of the first conveying section 41 and the second conveying section . In addition, the first conveying unit 41 and the second conveying unit 42 may be provided only on the fourth conveyor 3d side of the fifth conveyor 3e, or may be provided on the entire fifth conveyor 3e. The portion 41 and the second conveying portion 42 are roller conveyors of free rollers. These conveyors may be driven. The rollers of the first conveying section 41 and the second conveying section 42 are inclined so that the conveying directions of the conveying sections intersect the first direction at an acute angle. As a result, the conveying direction of the first conveying portion 41 and the conveying direction of the second conveying portion 42 intersect so as to approach each other toward the rear side. In other words, the axis of rotation of the roller intersects at an acute angle with the centerline of the fifth conveyor 3e in the second direction. In other words, the rollers of the first conveying section 41 and the second conveying section 42 are arranged in a V-shape in plan view. With the above configuration, the cargo is reliably moved toward the center of the fifth conveyor 3e. Therefore, even if the width of the conveyor 22 connected to the rear side of the fifth conveyor 3e is narrower than the width of the fifth conveyor 3e, the cargo is reliably transferred from the fifth conveyor 3e to the conveyor 22.

The connecting conveyor 21 has a double slide device 23 (an example of a connection structure) that connects the fourth conveyor 3d and the fifth conveyor 3e so as to be relatively movable in the first direction and the second direction. The double slide device 23 allows the connection conveyor 21 to switch its posture between the transport state and the storage state. In the transportable state, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the fourth conveyor 3d extends forward from the fifth conveyor 3e. In the stored state, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the fourth conveyor 3d overlaps the fifth conveyor 3e.

The double slide device 23 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12. FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the double slide device. FIG. 11 is a front view of the double slide device. FIG. 12 is a side view of a double slide device;
The double slide device 23 has a linear guide 25 . The linear guide 25 is a device for supporting the fourth conveyor 3d movably in the second direction with respect to the fifth conveyor 3e. The linear guide 25 is a known technology. As shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 9, the linear guide 25 is arranged in the height direction between the fourth conveyor 3d and the fifth conveyor 3e and extends in the second direction. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the fourth conveyor 3d and the fifth conveyor 3e can be moved in the second direction relative to each other by the linear guides 25, so that when the two conveyors meander, the connection between the two conveyors can be displaced. large stress does not occur.

As mentioned above, the fifth conveyor 3e is wider than the fourth conveyor 3d in the second direction. Therefore, even if the fourth conveyor 3d moves in the second direction with respect to the fifth conveyor 3e as shown in FIG. to the fifth conveyor 3e.
Furthermore, the linear guide 25 has a length that allows the fourth conveyor 3d to move in the second direction to a position where the fourth conveyor 3d overlaps either end of the fifth conveyor 3e in the second direction in plan view. As a result, even if the fourth conveyor 3d is largely displaced in the second direction as shown in FIG. 6, the fifth conveyor 3e always overlaps the fourth conveyor 3d in the second direction. The second direction moving distance of 3d can be lengthened.

The double slide device 23 has a rail moving structure 27 . The rail movement structure 27 is a device for making the fourth conveyor 3d movable in the first direction with respect to the fifth conveyor 3e.
Rail travel structure 27 includes a caster or wheel structure 29 and support rails 30 .

The wheel structure 29 is provided on the lower surface of the fourth conveyor 3d to support the fourth conveyor 3d, as shown in FIGS. More specifically, the wheel structure 29 is fixed to the lower portion of the linear guide 25 as shown in FIG. 12, and more specifically in the second direction of the linear guide 25 as shown in FIGS. It is a pair of members fixed at both ends. A wheel structure 29 allows the linear guides 25 and the fourth conveyor 3d to move in the first direction with respect to the fifth conveyor 3e. The wheel structure 29 specifically includes a wheel body 29a and a support portion 29b that rotatably supports the wheel body 29a, and the peripheral surface of the wheel body 29a serves as a support surface. The supporting surface must be curved in side view. This is because the height and direction of the support surface change due to the vertical movement of the fourth conveyor 3d during running, etc., and this is to cope with such changes.

The support rail 30 is provided on the fifth conveyor 3e and extends in the first direction. More specifically, the support rails 30 are a pair of members arranged on both sides in the second direction of the conveying section of the fifth conveyor 3e. The support rail 30 forms a lower support surface for supporting the wheel structure 29 from below. Thereby, the fourth conveyor 3d and the linear guide 25 can move in the first direction while being supported by the fifth conveyor 3e.
In this embodiment, only the fourth conveyor 3d is moved forward with respect to the fifth conveyor 3e without moving the fifth conveyor 3e. can also be moved forward to load. Also, a telescopic conveyor (not shown) may be connected in an extendable state somewhere on the conveyor 3 so that the working position on the downstream side of the telescopic conveyor does not change even when the traveling carriage 20 travels.

As described above, the fourth conveyor 3d and the fifth conveyor 3e are arranged one above the other, and the rail movement structure 27 allows the fourth conveyor 3d to move in the first direction with respect to the fifth conveyor 3e. The conveyor 21 is switched between a load transportable state and a stored state (described later).

First, the conveyable state of the connecting conveyor 21 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the fifth conveyor 3e is positioned below the fourth conveyor 3d, and partially overlaps the downstream portion of the fourth conveyor 3d in the conveying direction in plan view. Specifically, the rear end of the fourth conveyor 3d is arranged above the front end of the fifth conveyor 3e.
In this transportable state, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, when the fourth conveyor 3d and the fifth conveyor 3e meander, the fourth conveyor 3d is moved by the linear guide 25 relative to the fifth conveyor 3e. , a large stress does not occur at the connection points of the fourth conveyor 3d and the fifth conveyor 3e. Further, as described above, by increasing the width of the fifth conveyor 3e or by providing the first and second conveying units 41 and 42 having a V shape, the fourth conveyor 3d and the fifth conveying unit 42 can be conveyed during running. Even if the conveyor 3e is displaced, the cargo can be conveyed.

Next, the storage state of the connecting conveyor 21 will be described. First, the fourth conveyor 3 d is decoupled from the traveling carriage 20 . Next, by moving the fourth conveyor 3d rearward with respect to the fifth conveyor 3e, the fourth conveyor 3d is arranged so as to overlap the fifth conveyor 3e. As a result, the connecting conveyor 21 is put in the stored state. In this state, the rear end of the fourth conveyor 3d and the rear end of the fifth conveyor 3e are overlapped, so that the overlapping area of the fourth conveyor 3d and the fifth conveyor 3e is widened as shown in FIGS. That is, in the stored state, the connecting conveyor 21 becomes compact in the first direction.

In the stored state, as shown in FIG. 7, the stopper 33 restricts the rearward movement of the fourth conveyor 3d. For example, the stopper 33 restricts the movement of the fourth conveyor 3d in the first direction by coming into contact with the wheel body 29a.
In this case, two stoppers 33 may be provided so as to contact the two wheel bodies 29a. Also, one stopper 33 may be provided so as to contact only one wheel body 29a. As a modification, an abutment member may be provided on the fourth conveyor 3d and the abutment member may be brought into contact with the stopper 33 to restrict the movement of the fourth conveyor 3d in the first direction. The stopper 33 and the second-direction movement restricting portion 31 may be composed of one member.

Furthermore, in the stored state, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second additional conveyor 3g hangs down under its own weight and engages with the second directional movement restricting portion 31. As shown in FIGS. In other words, no special work is required to restrict the movement of the fourth conveyor 3d in the second direction with respect to the fifth conveyor 3e.

2. Features of Embodiments The above embodiments can also be described as follows.
A connecting conveyor 21 (an example of a connecting conveyor) is connected to a traveling carriage 20 (an example of a traveling carriage) that travels in the horizontal direction, and includes a fourth conveyor 3d (an example of a first conveyor device) and a fifth conveyor. 3e (an example of a second conveyor device) and a double slide device 23 (an example of a connection structure). The fourth conveyor 3d is a device that extends in the first direction and conveys the load in the first direction. The fourth conveyor 3 d has a front end connected to the traveling carriage 20 . The fifth conveyor 3e is positioned below the fourth conveyor 3d and partially overlaps the rear end of the fourth conveyor 3d in plan view. The fifth conveyor 3e, at least on the side of the fourth conveyor 3d, is wider than the fourth conveyor 3d in the second direction extending horizontally across the first direction. The double slide device 23 is arranged between the fourth conveyor 3d and the fifth conveyor 3e in the height direction and has a linear guide 25 extending in the second direction, a wheel structure 29 supporting the fourth conveyor 3d, have
In this case, since the fourth conveyor 3d and the fifth conveyor 3e can be moved in the second direction relative to each other by the linear guide 25, a large stress is not generated in the connecting portion between the two conveyors when the two conveyors meander.

3. Other Embodiments Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention. In particular, multiple embodiments and modifications described herein can be arbitrarily combined as required.
Rollers such as the first conveying section 41 and the second conveying section 42 (the conveying direction of the conveying section is arranged at an angle so that the conveying direction of the conveying section intersects the first direction at an acute angle) may be used for the fourth conveyor 3d. good. In this modified example, even if the fourth conveyor 3c moves to the outside of the fifth conveyor 3e in the second direction in plan view, it is possible to transfer the cargo from the fourth conveyor 3c to the fifth conveyor 3e.

The positional relationship between the linear guide and the support portion is not limited to that of the first embodiment. For example, a linear guide is fixed to the second conveyor device, and a support is fixed thereon so that the wheels face upward, and the wheel portion may support the first conveyor device.
The articulated conveyor can also be applied to devices other than vanning and devanning devices.
The second conveyor device may be narrower on the rear side than on the front side. In this case, movement of the first conveyor device in the second direction is further restricted in the retracted state.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is widely applicable to articulated conveyors.

1: Vanning/Devanning Device 3: Conveyor 3a: First Conveyor 3b: Second Conveyor 3c: Third Conveyor 3d: Fourth Conveyor 3e: Fifth Conveyor 3f: First Additional Conveyor 3g: Second Additional Conveyor 5: Workbench 7 : Traveling part 13 : First truck 15 : Second truck 20 : Traveling truck 21 : Connection conveyor 22 : Conveyor 23 : Double slide device 25 : Linear guide 27 : Rail moving structure 29 : Wheel structure 30 : Support rail 31 : Second direction movement restricting portion 33 : Stopper 41 : First conveying portion 42 : Second conveying portion

Claims (5)

An articulated conveyor comprising a horizontally traveling carriage,
a traveling carriage including a first carriage and a second carriage;
a first conveyor device extending in a first direction for conveying loads in a first direction, the first conveyor device having a first direction first end coupled to the first carriage;
Provided on the upper part of the second carriage, positioned below the first conveyor device, and partially overlapping a second end in the first direction of the first conveyor device in plan view, at least the first conveyor a second conveyor device that is wider than the first conveyor device in a second direction in which the device side intersects the first direction and extends horizontally;
positioned between the first conveyor device and the second conveyor device in a height direction and extending in a second direction to enable movement of the first conveyor device relative to the second conveyor device in a second direction; a connecting structure comprising a supporting linear guide and a supporting portion having a supporting surface and supporting the first conveyor device;
with
The first conveyor device and the second conveyor device move as the traveling carriage travels, with the first conveyor device supported so as to be movable in the second direction with respect to the second conveyor device. ,
articulated conveyor. The second conveyor device has a first conveying section and a second conveying section arranged in a second direction on the side of the first conveyor device,
2. The connecting conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the conveying direction of said first conveying section and the conveying direction of said second conveying section intersect so as to approach each other as they go away from said first conveyor device. In the linear guide, an end portion of the first conveyor device located in one of the second directions and an end portion of the second conveyor device overlap each other in a plan view, and the first conveyor device is located in the other of the second directions. 3. An articulated conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, having a length such that it can move in the second direction to a position where the end of the belt and the end of the second conveyor device overlap. The linear guide is connected to the first conveyor device and provided with the support portion below,
The connecting conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said second conveyor device has a lower support surface that extends in the first direction and supports said support surface of said support portion from below. an additional conveyor device connected to the end of the first conveyor device on the side of the second conveyor device;
a movement restricting portion provided at the end of the second conveyor device away from the first conveyor device;
a stopper that stops movement of the first conveyor device when the first conveyor device moves rearward with respect to the second conveyor device;
The movement restricting portion is provided at a position where the additional conveyor device and the movement restricting portion overlap when viewed from the second direction when the movement of the first conveyor device is stopped. The articulated conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims.

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