JPH04116091A - Passage change-over device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent difference of step by providing engaging members which engage mutually when both ends are connected and prevent up and down move ment between the ends at the end of a rail for changing over passage which is provided on a movable base which can move horizontally and at the end of a fixed rail. CONSTITUTION:A straight rail 21 for changing over passage and a horizontal curve rail 22 are provided on a movable base 20 which is supported on a fixed machine frame 19 in such a way that it can move horizontally, and a first fixed rail 4A, a second fixed rail 4B, and a third fixed rail 4C are selected and changed over due to the horizontal movement of the movable base 20. At an end 4Aa of the rail 4A, a female engaging member 43 which is provided with a first engaging section 41 with which a male engaging section 33 at an end 21a of the rail 21 when the rail 21 is connected at the top end and a second engaging section 42 with which a male engaging member 37 at an end 22a of the rail 22 at the bottom end is mounted on the side. The other end is done in the same way. It is possible to prevent occurrence of difference of step between the rails when they are connected owing to this engagement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a route switching device in which a route switching rail connectable to a fixed rail is installed on a movable base that is supported by a fixed machine frame so as to be horizontally movable. (Prior art and its problems) In this type of route switching device, the end of the route switching rail is supported by the movable base via a rail support bracket, and the end of the fixed rail is supported by the movable base via a rail support bracket. The section will be supported by a rail support rack etc. via a rail support bracket, but the bracket supporting the end of the route switching rail and the bracket supporting the end of the fixed rail should not be in contact with each other. Therefore, the ends of the rails supported by these brackets cantilever a suitable length from these brackets. If the conveyance vehicle that travels while being guided is of a type that conveys particularly heavy objects, one of the two running wheels on the front and back of this conveyance vehicle or the end of the fixed rail for route switching is used. When riding only on either end of the rail, only the end of the rail on which the wheel rides will bend and deform downward, creating a vertical difference between the ends of the connected rails. .

If a vertical step occurs between the ends of both connected rails in this way, a vertical positional shift will occur between the power supply lines and control signal lines laid on the sides of both rails. Even if the collector unit is relatively small, it will hinder the transfer of the collector unit slidingly in contact with the power supply line and the control signal line between both rails, so the collector unit cannot be disposed near the wheels. There were some inconveniences such as the items disappearing.

Conventionally, for example, according to Utility Model Publication No. 61-45106, etc.
A stopper bin and a driving actuator that can move in and out in the length direction of the rail are arranged on one of the fixed rail end and the route switching rail end, and the stopper pin is fitted to the other rail end. Is it known whether a member with a hole is attached to it? This configuration is not a configuration for preventing a vertical difference from occurring between the ends of both rails in the connected state as described above, but rather a configuration for preventing a vertical difference between the ends of the connected rails. Is this structure intended for positioning the route switching rail at the connection position? If this configuration is made by increasing the strength of the stopper bin or the member with the locking hole, the upper and lower ends of the connected rails may be Even if it could be used as a means to prevent the formation of steps, the stopper pin and its slide guide, which are movable parts that can move in and out, or the actuator for driving in and out, and its control means. Because it is necessary, the structure is complicated and the cost is significantly high, making it impractical.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the conventional problems as described above, the present invention has the following features:
In a route switching device in which a route switching rail connectable to a fixed rail is constructed on a movable platform supported by a fixed machine frame so as to be horizontally movable, an end of the route switching rail and an end of the fixed rail are connected to each other. Of these, on the side where the rail support bracket is located at one rail end, a fitting member that faces horizontally and laterally is connected to the other rail end side, and where the rail support bracket is located at the other rail end. A fitting member opposite to the fitting member on the one rail end side is provided in series on the side, and when the movable base moves laterally and the both rail ends are connected to each other, the refitting member The object of the present invention is to propose a path switching device configured to fit into each other to prevent relative vertical movement between the ends of both rails.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below based on the attached illustrative drawings.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, l is a transporting moving body that suspends the transported object via a hanger or the like (not shown), and is a transporting vehicle that suspends the transported object via a front drive trolley 2 and a rear driven trolley 3. It is suspended from one guide rule 4 so that it can run. The guide rail 4 has an upper rail part 5 and a lower rail part 6 which are integrally connected by a vertical plate part 7, and has a supporting bracket 8 whose lower end is attached to one side of the vertical plate part 7. A power supply and control signal line 9 is laid on the other side of the vertical plate-like part 7. The drive trolley 2 is connected to the upper rail portion 5 of the guide rail 4.
A drive wheel 1o to ride on, a motor 12 that drives this via a reducer 11, a control device 13 that controls the motor 12, etc., a collector unit 14 that comes into sliding contact with the power supply line and control signal line 9, and the guide rail. The driven trolley 3 is composed of vertical shaft rollers 15 for steady rests that sandwich both the upper and lower rail portions 5 and 6 of the guide rail 4 on both left and right sides, and the driven trolley 3 includes idle wheels 16 that ride on the upper rail portion 5 of the guide rail 4.
and a vertical shaft roller 17 for steadying, which sandwiches both the upper and lower rail portions 5, 6 of the guide rail 4 from both left and right sides.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, 18 is the transporting moving body 1.
In this route switching device, a straight rail 21 for route switching and a horizontal curved rail 22 for route switching are installed on a movable base 2o that is supported by a fixed machine frame 19 so as to be horizontally movable, and One end 21a of the straight rail 21 due to the movement
and the first fixed rail 4A to which one end 22a of the horizontal curved rail 22 is alternatively connected, and the straight rail 21 when connected to the straight rail 21 or the first fixed rail 4A.
A second fixed rail 4B that connects to the other end 21b, and a third fixed rail 4C that connects to the other end 22b of the horizontal curved rail 22 when the horizontal curved rail 22 connects to the first fixed rail 4A. This is a conventionally well-known arrangement.

In addition, 23 is a slide guide rail laid on the fixed machine frame 19, 24 is a slide guide block that is attached to the movable base 20 and fits into the slide guide rail 23, and 25 is a block for reciprocating the movable base 20. Cylinder units 26 and 27 interposed between the fixed machine frame 19 and the movable base 20 are stoppers that limit the stroke of the movable base 20, and are attached to the fixed machine frame 19. Also, both ends 21a and 21b of the straight rail 21.

Both ends 22a and 22b of the horizontal curved rail 22 are
The ends 4A of each of the fixed rails 4A to 4C are suspended from the movable platform 20 via support brackets 28 and 29 attached to the same side as the support bracket 8 shown in the figure.
a to 4Ca are suspended from the fixed machine frame 19 via support brackets 30 to 32 attached to the same side as the support bracket 8 shown in FIG.

In the above route switching device 18, the straight rail 21
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, one end 21a of the
Above the upper rail portion 5 and supporting bracket 28
The first fixed rail end 4A is located at a distance on one side.
The female fitting members 33, which face horizontally and laterally toward a, are attached to the side surface of the straight rail one end 21a and the side surface of the support bracket 28 using plates 34a, 3'4.
b, and the other end 21b of the straight rail 21
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, there is a female that faces horizontally and laterally toward the second fixed rail end 4Ba right next to the vertical plate portion 7 and on the side where the support bracket 28 is located. The shape fitting member 35 is attached to the side surface of the other end 21b of the linear rail and the side surface of the support bracket 28 via a plate 36a36b.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, one end portion 22a of the horizontal curved rail 22 has a first fixed rail end immediately beside the vertical plate portion 7 and on the side where the support bracket 29 is located. The female fitting member 37 facing horizontally toward the section 4Aa is attached to the side surface of the horizontal curved rail one end section 22a and the side surface of the support bracket 29 through plates 38a and 3a'b. As shown in FIG. 5, the other end 22b of the horizontal curved rail 22 has a groove extending toward the third fixed rail end 4Ca directly beside the vertical plate 7 and on the side where the support bracket 29 is located. The two horizontally opposing female fitting members 39 (see FIG. 8) are attached to the side surface of the other end 22b of the horizontal curved rail and the side surface of the support bracket 29 using plates 40a and 40b.
It is installed via.

Further, at the end 4Aa of the first fixed rail 4A, a fifth
As shown in the figure and FIG. 6, when the straight rail 21 is connected to the first fixed rail end 4Aa, the first fitting part 41 is fitted with the female fitting member 33 of the straight rail one end 21a.
at the upper end, and a second fitting part 4 into which the female fitting member 37 of the horizontal curve rail one end 22a fits when connected to the horizontal curve rail 22 or the first fixed rail 4A.
2 at the lower end is attached to the side surface of the first fixed rail end 4Aa and the side surface of the support bracket 30 through plates 44a and 44b, and As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, at the end 4Ba of the rail 4B, when the straight rail 21 is connected to the second fixed rail end 4Ba, the other end 2 of the straight rail 21 is connected to the second fixed rail end 4Ba.
The female fitting member 45 to which the female fitting member 35 of 1b fits is attached to the second defining rail end 4Ba (the two attachments to the first surface and the side surface of the support bracket 31 are the plate 46a,
46b, and the third fixed rail 4C.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the other end 22b of the horizontal curved rail is connected to the third fixed rail end 4C.
When connected to the horizontal curve rail other end 22b
The female fitting member 47 that fits into the female fitting member 39 is attached to the side surface of the third fixed rail end 4Ca and the side surface of the support bracket 32 through plates 48a and 48b. ing.

Note that all fitting members 33. 35. 37. 39°4
3.45 and 47 are located at positions away from the passage path of the wheel 10.16 moving on the upper rail part 5 and the vertical axis roller 1517 for steady rest that rolls in contact with the side surfaces of both the upper and lower rail parts 5.6. However, it does not impede the movement of the transportation moving body 1.

The transport vehicle 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is driven by operating the motor 12 of the drive trolley 2 in accordance with electric power and control signals supplied from the power supply line and the control signal line 9 via the collector unit 14. Is it possible to make the conveyance moving body 1 run by itself along the guide rail 4 by rotationally driving the wheels 10? The movable base 20 of the path switching device 18 is moved forward by the cylinder unit 25 to the stroke limit where it comes into contact with the stopper 27. As a result, the linear rail 21 reaches the position where the first fixed rail 4A and the second fixed rail 4B are connected, or at this time, the female fitting member 33 of the linear rail one end 21a shown in FIG. 6 is fixed to the first fixed rail. The other end 21b of the straight rail shown in FIG.
The female fitting member 35 is horizontally and laterally fitted into the female fitting member 45 of the second fixed rail end 4Ba. As a result, the straight rail one end 21a and the first fixed rail end 4
Aa, the other end 21b of the linear rail, and the second fixed rail end 4Ba are connected in such a manner that they cannot move vertically relative to each other, and the conveyance moving body 1 runs from the first fixed rail 4A to the second fixed rail 4B. When passing, that is, when the driving wheel IO or the idle wheel 16 transfers from the first fixed rail end 4Aa to the straight rail one end 21a, or when the straight rail other end 21
When transferring from above to the second fixed rail end 4Ba, the first fixed rail end 4Aa and the straight rail one end 21a
There is no possibility that only one of these rail ends will bend downward due to the load, creating a step in the vertical direction, or between the other end 21b of the straight rail and the second fixed rail end ABa.

Further, when the conveyance moving body l is moved from the first fixed rail 4A to the third fixed rail 4C, the movable base 20 of the path switching device 18 is moved by the cylinder unit 25 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. It is moved backward until it comes into contact with the stopper 26. As a result, the horizontal curved rail 22
reaches the position where the first fixed rail 4A and the third fixed rail 4C are connected. At this time, the female fitting member 37 of the horizontal car rail one end 22a shown in FIG. 6 is connected to the first fixed rail end 4Aa. The female fitting member 43 is fitted horizontally and laterally into the second fitting part 42 at the lower end, and the female fitting member 39 at the other end 21b of the straight rail shown in FIG. It is externally fitted horizontally to the female fitting member 47 of the portion 4Ca. As a result, one end of the horizontal car rail 2
2a and the first fixed rail end 4Aa, and the other end 22b of the horizontal curved rail and the third fixed rail end 4Ca are connected in such a manner that they cannot move vertically relative to each other. When passing from the first fixed rail end 4Aa to the third fixed rail 4C, that is, when the driving wheel IO or the idle wheel 16 transfers from the first fixed rail end 4Aa to the horizontal car rail one end 22a, or when the horizontal curve rail other end 22b When moving onto the third fixed rail end 4Ca from above, the first fixed rail end 4Aa and the horizontal curved rail one end 22a
There is no possibility that only one of these rail ends will bend downward due to the load and a vertical step will occur between the other end 22b of the horizontal curved rail and the third fixed rail end 4Ca. .

In addition, in the present invention, one linear rail is constructed on a movable platform, and the linear rail is moved between a first position connecting a first fixed rail and a second fixed rail and a third fixed rail by reciprocating the movable platform. When the transport moving body is transferred from the first fixed rail to the third fixed rail, the transport moving body is switched to a second position where it is connected only to the rail. It can also be implemented in a route switching device in which the transportation vehicle is temporarily stopped in the state where it has been transferred to the top, and after the linear rail is laterally moved to the second position, the conveyance moving body is started to travel.

(Operations and Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the route switching device of the present invention, when the movable base is moved laterally to connect the route switching rail and the fixed rail installed on the movable base, The fitting member on one rail end and the fitting member on the other rail end are fitted to each other so as to prevent relative vertical movement between the two rail ends, so as explained in the embodiment. When the conveyance moving body runs from one of the fixed rail and the route switching rail to the other, that is, when the wheels of the conveyance moving body transfer from one of the fixed rail end and the route switching rail end to the other. Furthermore, it is no longer possible for only one of the rail ends to bend downward due to a load and create a step in the vertical direction between the two rail ends.

Therefore, even if a power supply line or a control signal line is laid on the side surface of the fixed rail or the route switching rail, there is no risk that the power supply line or control signal line will only be misaligned in the vertical direction between the two rails. Even if the collector unit in sliding contact with the power supply line and the control signal line is disposed near the wheel, the collector unit can be transferred between both rails smoothly and satisfactorily.

Moreover, since no moving parts or drive actuators are required, the structure is extremely simple and can be implemented at a very low cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a transport moving body and a guide rail;
2 is a longitudinal front view of the same, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the route switching device, FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the same, FIG. 5 is a transverse plan view showing the main parts of the route switching device, and FIGS. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing each fitting member and its attachment portion. 1...Transportation moving body, 2...Drive trolley, 3...
・Followed trolley, 4... Guide rail, 4A~4C・
...First to third fixed rails, 4Aa to 4Ca... Fixed rail ends, 8, 28 to 32... Rail support brackets, 9... Power supply lines and control signal lines, 10... Drive Wheels 15.17...Vertical axis roller for steady rest, 16
...Idle wheel, 18...Route switching device, 19...
Fixed machine frame, 20... Movable base, 21... Straight rail for route switching, 2) a, 21b-- Straight rail end, 22
-・Horizontal curved rail for route switching, 22a, 22b...
- Horizontal curved rail end, 25... cylinder unit, 26.27... stopper, 33, 35, 37.
47...Female fitting member, 39,43.45...Female fitting member, 41.42...First and second fitting part. Figure 1

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a route switching device in which a route switching rail connectable to a fixed rail is constructed on a movable platform supported by a fixed machine frame so as to be horizontally movable, an end of the route switching rail and the fixed rail are connected to each other. At the end of the rail, a fitting member facing horizontally and laterally is connected to the side of the rail support bracket on the other rail end side, and the rail support bracket of the other rail end is provided. A fitting member opposite to the fitting member on the one rail end side is provided in series on the side where the bracket is located, so that when the movable base moves laterally and the two rail ends connect to each other, A path switching device configured such that both fitting members fit into each other to prevent relative vertical movement between both rail ends. (2) The path switching device according to claim 1, wherein each of the fitting members is connected to both a rail support bracket and the end of the rail.