JPH0515463Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial application field This invention relates to a high-speed linear conveyance device used for high-speed conveyance of cash, slips, documents, parts, etc. in factory production lines, hospitals, offices, etc. More particularly, it concerns an improved construction of the vertical conveying section.

BACKGROUND ART Currently, high-speed linear conveyance devices using linear induction motors have been developed and put into practical use as office automation or factory automation systems for the purpose of high-speed conveyance of various articles.

As shown in the conceptual diagram in Fig. 5, a conventional general high-speed linear conveyance device covers the entire length of the conveyance rail b on which the carrier a runs, for example, 5 m.
The structure is such that linear motors c, which apply running thrust to the carrier a, are installed at intervals of about 10 m.

The reason for this configuration is that the linear motor c is very expensive, and in order to reduce the cost of the entire conveying device, it was necessary to configure it to be operable with a minimum number of linear motors. carrier a
Each time it reaches an individual linear motor c, it gains momentum and travels at a high speed of about 10 m/sec at maximum.

Problems to be Solved by the Present Invention (2) The problem with the high-speed linear conveyance device having the above-mentioned configuration is the conveyance of vertical portions.

In other words, in order to smoothly carry out the vertical conveyance of the carrier a, it is necessary to install a huge number of linear motors c... with small intervals as shown in Fig. 5, in order to secure the necessary amount of running thrust. There is, and it is very expensive.

() Furthermore, in the case of the conventional configuration as described above, horizontal conveyance and vertical conveyance could only be performed by one continuous conveyance rail b. In other words,
It is not possible to switch to horizontal transport at any point during vertical transport, or to switch directions or transfer operations such as boarding the carrier from the horizontal transport path to a position midway along the vertical transport path, and due to route design or transport control. The problem was that there was a lack of flexibility and freedom.

Means for Solving the Problems As a means for solving the problems of the above-mentioned prior art, a high-speed linear conveyance device according to the present invention is provided, as preferred embodiments are shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings. The conveyance path along which the carrier 4 travels is constructed by connecting a horizontal conveyance rail 1 and a vertical conveyance rail 2, and linear motors 5 are installed on the horizontal conveyance rail 1 at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction. installed.

A rotary station 3 that rotates at least 90 degrees was installed at the connection between the vertical conveyance rail 2 and the horizontal conveyance rail 1.

The vertical transport rail 2 including this rotary station 3 has a carrier 4 along its entire length.
An endless track 2a that moves by sandwiching it from both sides,
3a was installed in a configuration in which the rotary station 3 and the rest of the vertical conveyance rail 2 were separated and independent.

Operation To switch the carrier 4 from horizontal transport to vertical transport, first rotate the rotating station 3 to the horizontal position as shown in Fig. 4, connect it to the horizontal transport rail 1, and then switch the carrier 4 that has been traveling on the horizontal transport rail 1. 4 onto the rotating station 3.

Next, the rotating station 3 is rotated to a vertical position and connected to the vertical transport rail 2 (second
figure). And the endless orbit 3 of the rotating station 3
A is driven to send out the carrier 4, ride it onto the endless track 2a of the vertical transport rail 2, and vertically transport it as it is on the endless track 2a.

On the other hand, in order to switch the carrier 4 from vertical transport to horizontal transport, when the carrier 4 gets onto the rotating station 3 from the vertical transport rail 2, rotate the rotating station 3 to a horizontal position,
Connect to the horizontal conveyance rail 2. Then, the endless track 3a of the rotating station 3 is driven to drive the carrier 4.
is sent out to the horizontal conveyance rail 1.

Embodiment Next, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings will be described.

1 and 2 are conceptual diagrams of a high-speed linear conveyance device according to this invention. The conveyance path on which the carrier 4 travels has a configuration in which a horizontal conveyance rail 1 and a vertical conveyance rail 2 are connected, and linear motors 5 are installed on the horizontal conveyance rail 1 at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction. has been done.

Of the vertical conveyance rails 2, rotating stations 3 are provided at the connection positions with the horizontal conveyance rails 1, respectively.
...is installed. In other words, when the rotating station 3 is rotated to a vertical position as shown by the solid line in FIG.
can be connected in series, and the carrier 4 can be transported vertically without any problems.

Furthermore, when the rotating station 3 is rotated to a horizontal position as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, the rotating station 3 can be connected to the horizontal conveyance rail 1. Therefore, the carrier 4 that has traveled on the horizontal transport rail 1 can be loaded onto the rotating station 3 as it is.

Or conversely, the carrier 4 that has entered the rotary station 3 from the vertical transport rail 2 can be directly sent onto the horizontal transport rail 1 and switched to horizontal transport.

Carrier 4 sent onto horizontal transport rail 1
is immediately given running thrust by the linear motor 5 and runs at high speed.

In addition, as shown in the bottom row of FIG. 2, in addition to the case where the horizontal transport rail 1 is installed only on one side (left side) of the vertical transport rail 2, as shown in the upper row, the horizontal transport rail 1 is installed on the left and right sides of the vertical transport rail 2. Even if the horizontal transport rails 1, 1 are installed at the same level on both sides, the rotary station 3 can be connected to one or both horizontal transport rails, and the carrier 4 can run in both directions.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 1, the main bodies of the vertical conveyance rail 2 and the rotary station 3 are endless tracks 2a and 3a, such as a pair of left and right endless chains or belts, which sandwich and move the carrier 4 from both sides. It consists of The endless track 2a of the vertical conveyance rail 2 and the endless track 3a of the rotating station 3 are each configured to be separate and independent (FIG. 1).

The endless tracks 2a and 3a of the vertical conveyance rail 2 and the rotary station 3 are configured such that a pair of left and right sides that sandwich the carrier 4 are driven in the same direction at synchronous speeds, and convey the carrier 4 in parallel movement. It is said that

The third example shows this configuration more concretely.
It is a diagram.

First, there is a channel-shaped steel member 2b installed in an inwardly opening manner as a part of the vertical conveyance rail 2, and a belt pulley 10 is provided at both upper and lower ends of the channel-shaped steel member 2b.
is installed, and an endless belt 2a is installed so as to be wound around the belt pulley 10. The pair of endless belts 2a, 2a on both the left and right sides that sandwich the carrier 4 are driven by a common motor 11 to drive the respective drive-side belt pulleys 10', 10' (Fig. 3) at synchronous speeds in a common direction. It is configured to rotate and drive the belts 2a, 2a to run.

Similarly, in the case of the rotary station 3, there is a groove-shaped steel member 3b installed in an inwardly opening manner as a part of the conveyance path, and the belt pulley 12, 12 is installed, and an endless belt 3a is installed so as to be wound around the belt pulleys 12, 12. The pair of endless belts 3a, 3a on both the left and right sides, which are arranged to sandwich the carrier 4, are driven in a common direction by a single common motor 13, respectively. The belts 3a, 3a are rotated at a synchronous speed to run the belts 3a, 3a.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a specific configuration for rotating the rotary station 3 from a horizontal position to a vertical position.

First, the grooved steel members 2b, 2 of the vertical conveyance rails 2 which are vertically adjacent to each other with the rotary station 3 in between.
The end portions of b are rigidly connected inwardly with a generally U-shaped connecting member 14, 14, and the connecting members 14, 14 serve as a support frame for the rotary station 3.

On the other hand, the main frame 15 of the rotary station 3 has a substantially channel-shaped steel cross section, and the inner surface of its flange portion has
The grooved steel member 3b containing the endless belt 3a is attached as described above.

Further, trunnion shafts 16, 16 are protruded from approximately the center of the outer surface of the flange portions on both sides of the main frame 15, and are rotatably supported by the connecting members 14, 14.

Moreover, one of the trunnion shafts 16 is rotated by a motor 17 attached and fixed to the tie member 14. In other words, by remote control of the motor 17, the rotary station 3 can realize a horizontal position where it is connected to the horizontal transport rail 1 and a vertical position where it is connected to the vertical transport rail 2.

Although not shown in FIG. 4 for convenience, all motor drive mechanisms for the endless belt 3a shown in FIG. 3 are installed in the main frame 15.

Effects of the present invention As described above in detail in conjunction with the embodiments, the high-speed linear conveyance device of this invention does not require any expensive linear motors, especially in the vertical conveyance portion, and the endless track 2a, 3a, the structure can be inexpensive and simple, resulting in a highly economical device.

In addition, by rotating the rotary station 3, the horizontal transport rail 1 can be moved from the vertical transport rail 2.
The direction can be freely switched in both directions by entering the carrier 4 into the vertical transport rail 2 or by entering the horizontal transport rail 1 from the vertical transport rail 2.

Moreover, by installing the rotary station 3, the horizontal transport rail 1 can be connected to any position along the vertical transport rail 2, so there is a high degree of freedom in route design for high-speed linear transport, and transport for transfers and transfers is possible. This gives you greater control.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 and 2 are front and side views conceptually showing the configuration of the high-speed linear conveyance device, especially the vertical conveyance section, and Figure 3 is a more specific illustration of the main parts of the vertical conveyance section. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the specific structure of the rotary station, and FIG. 5 is an elevational view conceptually showing the structure of a conventional vertical conveyance section.

Claims (1)

[Claim for Utility Model Registration] The conveyance path along which the carrier 4 travels is constructed by connecting a horizontal conveyance rail 1 and a vertical conveyance rail 2, and the horizontal conveyance rail 1 is provided with an appropriate interval in its longitudinal direction. A linear motor 5 is installed at each position, and a rotary station 3 that rotates at least 90 degrees is installed at the connection between the vertical conveyance rail 2 and the horizontal conveyance rail 1, and includes the rotary station 3. The vertical conveyance rail 2 has endless tracks 2a and 3a, which sandwich and move the carrier 4 from both sides over its entire length, and is separated and independent into a portion of the rotary station 3 and a portion of the vertical conveyance rail 2 other than this. This is a high-speed linear conveyance device that is characterized by being installed in a high-speed configuration.