JP7472389B1 - Transport System - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To make it possible to transport objects in multiple directions using a simple mechanism that uses a fixed power source. [Solution] One embodiment of the disclosed transport system is a transport system that includes a plate-shaped pallet and a roller device for moving the pallet, the roller device including a cylindrical rotating body that rotates in both directions around an axis connecting the centers of both bottom surfaces of the cylinder, and roller protrusions that are protruding parts arranged at predetermined intervals on the cylindrical side surface from one bottom surface to the other bottom surface, the pallet including pallet protrusions that are protruding parts arranged on the underside of the plate, and the pallet protrusions that rotate in both directions in the planar direction of the plate. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

Related to transportation equipment technology.

Conventional technologies related to transportation methods can be broadly categorized into two types. One is a method in which the object to be transported is placed on a cart and the wheels of the cart are driven. The other is a method in which a fixed power source drives a belt or wire, and the object is transported by the belt or wire.

In this context, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a conveying device that can improve the stopping position accuracy of a driven object in a conveying method in which conveying units having pinion gears driven by a drive motor are installed on multiple planes.

Patent Document 2 proposes a conveying device that simplifies the overall configuration by not using planar gears on the running plate that forms the traveling path, and that can prevent running problems such as gears riding up or becoming jammed and stuck when the running body moves.
Moreover, Patent Document 3 proposes making it possible to reliably use a conveying device having a plurality of pallets.

JP 2020-169081 A JP 2019-089618 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-242307

However, the above-mentioned conventional technology had the problem that the structure of the transport device was complicated.

In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a transport system that can transport objects in multiple directions using a simple mechanism that uses a fixed power source.

One form of the conveying system disclosed is a conveying system comprising a pallet of plate-shaped bodies and a roller device for moving the pallet, wherein the roller device comprises a cylindrical rotating body that rotates freely in both forward and reverse directions around an axis connecting the centers of both bottom surfaces of the cylinder, and roller protrusions that are protrusions arranged at predetermined intervals on a side surface of the cylinder from one bottom surface to the other bottom surface, the pallet comprises pallet protrusions that are protrusions arranged on the underside of the plate-shaped body, and the pallet protrusions are cylindrical bodies having an axial direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the plate-shaped body and that rotate freely in both forward and reverse directions around the perpendicular axis .

The disclosed conveying system uses a simple mechanism that uses a fixed power source to enable the transport of objects in multiple directions.

1 is a perspective view of a transport system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a pallet and a roller device according to the present embodiment. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of an arrangement of pallet protrusions according to the present embodiment. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an example of an arrangement of roller devices according to the present embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
(Structure of the transport system according to this embodiment)

The structure of the conveying system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an overview of the conveying system 1, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the cross-sectional structure of the conveying system 1, Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the pallet protrusions 6, and Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the roller devices 8.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the conveying system 1 has a pallet 2 and a roller device 8. The pallet 2 forms a plate-like body 4 and has a pallet protrusion 6, which is a protruding portion disposed on the underside of the plate-like body 4. Since the object to be conveyed is placed on the upper surface of the plate-like body 2, it is preferable that the shape of the plate-like body 4 is, for example, a square or a rectangle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pallet protrusion 6 can rotate in both directions in the plane of the plate-like body 4. The pallet protrusion 6 has a function to reduce friction with the roller protrusion 16 described below.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, multiple pallet protrusions 6 are arranged on the underside of the plate-like body 4, and their arrangement (arrangement, spacing, etc.) can have various patterns. As shown in Figure 3, the pallet protrusions 6 are arranged, for example, on the diagonals of the square plate-like body 4, and it is preferable that they are also arranged regularly in positions other than the diagonals.

The roller device 8 has a rotating body 10 and a roller protrusion 16. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rotating body 10 is cylindrical and can rotate in both forward and reverse directions around an axis 14 that connects the centers of both bottom surfaces 12 of the cylinder.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the roller protrusions 16 are protrusions arranged on the side of the rotating body 10 (cylindrical) from one bottom surface portion 12 to the other bottom surface portion 12, and are arranged at predetermined intervals. The roller protrusions 16 are cylindrical and rotate freely in the same direction as the rotating body 10, forward and backward. The roller protrusions 16 have a function of reducing friction with the pallet protrusions 6.
As shown in FIG. 4, the roller devices 8 are preferably arranged regularly.
In addition, the height of the roller protrusion portion 16 and the height of the pallet protrusion portion 6 can have various patterns, so they are not specifically or limited.
(Method of using the transport system according to this embodiment)

The following describes how to use the conveying system 1. The roller device 8 is rotated with the roller protrusions 16 and the pallet protrusions 6 in contact with each other. Then, the pallet 2 moves in the rotational direction of the roller device 8 (rotating body 10) as the pallet protrusions 6 are pushed by the roller protrusions 16.

Therefore, when a first guide 18 is installed to restrict horizontal movement relative to the travel direction of the pallet 2 (the rotation direction of the roller device 8 (rotating body 10)), the pallet 2 moves vertically along the first guide 18. On the other hand, when a second guide 20 is installed to restrict vertical movement relative to the travel direction of the pallet 2, the pallet 2 moves horizontally along the second guide 20.

As shown in Figure 4, assume that the roller devices 8 are regularly arranged, with the first guide 18 and the second guide 20 installed around the periphery (outer edge). In this case, for example, when the roller device 8 at the (2,C) position is rotated to the upper left, the pallet 2 at the (2,C) position moves toward the (1,C) position. Also, for example, when the roller device 8 at the (3,C) position is rotated to the lower right, the pallet 2 at the (3,C) position moves toward the (3,B) position.
Furthermore, for example, when the roller device 8 at the (1, A) position is rotated in an upward and leftward direction, the pallet 2 arranged at the (1, A) position moves toward the (1, B) position.

4, it is also possible to arrange the roller devices 8 in a regular pattern and use the pallets 2 arranged on the roller devices 8 as the first guide 18 and the second guide 20. For example, if the pallets 2 are arranged at positions (2, B), (3, B), and (2, C), and the roller device 8 at position (2, C) is rotated downward and to the right, the pallet 2 arranged at position (2, C) will move towards position (3, C).
In this manner, the conveying system 1 is capable of conveying the object 2 in multiple directions using a simple mechanism that uses a fixed power source 8 .

Now, we will explain how to move the object to be transported in the height (high-low) direction. First, two roller devices 8 are arranged so that their respective rotation axes 14 are perpendicular to each other and face each other. Next, one pallet 2 is placed on each roller device 8 so that the roller protrusions 16 and pallet protrusions 6 abut and the top surfaces of the plate-like bodies 4 of the pallet 2 (the sides on which the object to be transported is placed) face each other. Then, the object to be transported is sandwiched between the top surfaces of the plate-like bodies 4 of the two pallets 2.

As described above, when the two roller devices 8 are rotated in the same direction, in opposite directions, or only one of them is rotated, the object to be transported (pallet 2) can be moved up, down, left, right, or diagonally depending on the combination.
In this manner, the conveying system 1 is capable of conveying the object 2 in multiple directions using a simple mechanism that uses a fixed power source 8 .

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

1 Conveyor system 2 Pallet 4 Plate-like body 6 Pallet protrusion 8 Roller device 10 Rotating body 12 Bottom surface portion of rotating body 14 Axis connecting the centers of both bottom surface portions of the rotating body 16 Roller protrusion 18 First guide 20 Second guide

Claims (2)

A conveying system including a pallet of plate-shaped bodies and a roller device for moving the pallet,
The roller device is
A rotating body having a cylindrical shape and capable of rotating in both forward and reverse directions around an axis connecting the centers of both bottom surfaces of the cylinder;
and roller protrusions, which are protrusions arranged at predetermined intervals on the cylindrical side surface from one of the bottom surface portions to the other of the bottom surface portions;
The pallet is
A pallet protrusion portion is provided on the lower surface of the plate-like body,
A conveying system characterized in that the pallet protrusion is a cylinder having an axial direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the plate-like body, and can freely rotate in both forward and reverse directions around the perpendicular axis . When the roller device rotates with the roller protrusion and the pallet protrusion in contact with each other, the pallet is moved in the rotation direction of the roller device with the pallet protrusion being pushed by the roller protrusion,
The conveying system described in claim 1, characterized in that when a first guide is installed to restrict horizontal movement of the pallet with respect to the direction of travel, the pallet moves vertically along the first guide, and when a second guide is installed to restrict vertical movement of the pallet with respect to the direction of travel, the pallet moves horizontally along the second guide.