JPH0547132Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to the structure of a connecting portion of a shuttle for transporting a workpiece such as a vehicle body.

(Prior Art) As disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 60-128109, a shuttle conveyance device for conveying a workpiece such as an automobile body by a lift-and-carry operation has been known.

In this type of equipment, multiple shuttles are connected in series in the conveyance direction, and these shuttles are usually configured to work together to repeatedly carry out conveyance through lift-and-carry operations. be.

By connecting the shuttles in this way,
There is an advantage that the driving source can be shared, and the operations of the shuttles can be easily synchronized.

(Problem to be Solved) Incidentally, the length of the shuttle changes as the shuttle thermally expands and contracts due to temperature changes due to seasonal changes and the like. Therefore, for example, the shuttle length changes considerably between winter and summer. The effect of this length change is
This will cause a shift in the positions of the shuttles in the connection relationship. In particular, in a structure that connects multiple shuttles as described above, the change in the length of each shuttle is
Since the transfer is carried out in an accumulated manner one after another, the above-mentioned positional deviation becomes large in the shuttle located at the distal end, and there is a risk that the transfer operation will be hindered.

Conventionally, in order to solve this problem, a certain distance was provided between the connecting parts of the shuttle, and spacers were inserted as appropriate in response to changes in the distance due to thermal expansion and contraction of the shuttle due to seasonal changes. I was dealing with it.

However, this method has a problem in that it is necessary to replace the spacer, which reduces work efficiency.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention was constructed to solve the above problems, and has a simple structure that eliminates the adverse effects of temperature changes caused by seasonal changes, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a shuttle with a multiple connection structure that can always perform appropriate conveyance operations.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a shuttle that transports the transported workpiece to a predetermined position by repeating lift and carry operations.
At least two of the above-mentioned shuttles are connected in the conveyance direction of the workpiece, and the plurality of shuttles in this connected relationship perform the above-mentioned repetitive conveyance operation in synchronization, and the shuttles reciprocate on the conveyance rail. A positioning member is movably attached to each shuttle and positions the shuttle on the rail, and the shuttle is positioned on the rail by clamping the positioning member with a clamp member. The rail is configured to be moved up and down together with the shuttle by a vertical mechanism, and at least one recess and one protrusion in the width direction are formed at the end of each shuttle, This can be achieved by a structure of the connecting portion of the shuttle, in which the recessed portion of one shuttle accommodates the recessed portion of the other shuttle via a clearance.

(Operations and Effects) According to the present invention, since the connecting portion of the shuttles has a structure in which a portion of each shuttle is accommodated in a recess formed in the width direction of the other shuttle,
If the length of the shuttle changes in the longitudinal direction, the clearance at the connection part will simply become smaller than it was at the initial setting, and the change in the length of the shuttle due to temperature changes will affect other shuttles in the connection relationship. No impact.

Therefore, with the structure of the present invention, by simply setting the minimum necessary clearance at the connecting portion of each shuttle to allow the two shuttles in the connection relationship to absorb thermal changes, the shuttle can be operated. This effectively suppresses the positional shift of the shuttle, ensuring proper shuttle operation regardless of temperature changes.
can be secured.

(Description of Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automobile body conveying device constructed by connecting a plurality of shuttles.

Referring to FIG. 1, the conveyance device of this example carries the workpiece 1 by a predetermined distance by loading the vehicle body, that is, the workpiece 1, and performing a lift-and-carry operation.
It is equipped with a plurality of shuttle devices 2 for conveying.

It has a pedestal 3 for supporting the work 1, and the work 1 is supported at a predetermined position by a bracket provided on the pedestal 3 or by a receiving part 4. .

The shuttle device 2 is arranged on a rail 6 that extends in the direction of conveyance of the work via a roller 5a fixed to a bracket 5 provided below the pedestal 3.

In addition, at the bottom of the pedestal 3 of the shuttle device 2,
A positioning member 7 for positioning the shuttle device 2 is fixed approximately at the center in the longitudinal direction.

This positioning member 7 is configured to be clamped by a clamp mechanism 9 that includes a cylinder device 8 and is fixed at a predetermined position on the rail 6.
By driving the cylinder device 8, the clamp mechanism 9
When the positioning member 7 is clamped by the operation of the shuttle device 2, the shuttle device 2 is positioned with respect to the rail 6 at that position.

Further, a motor 1 for moving the shuttle device 2 on the rail 6 is provided below the pedestal 3.
0 is mounted, and the output side of this motor 10 engages in a rack 11 fixed to the rail 6.

Therefore, when the motor 10 rotates, the shuttle device 2 can move forward or backward on the rack 11, that is, on the rail 6, depending on the direction of rotation of the motor 10.

Further, the device 2 of this example includes a mechanism for raising and lowering the entire rail 6, and this raising and lowering mechanism extends below the rail 6 along the workpiece conveyance direction,
Rod 1 connected to a suitable drive source (not shown)
2, a rack 13 attached to the tip of this rod 12, a pinion 14 that meshes with this rack 13, and a pin 15a that meshes with this pinion 14 and is provided on the rail 6 at the tip.
The arm 15 is loosely engaged with the arm 15.

The tip of this arm 15 is displaced up and down when the pinion 14 rotates under the driving force from the rack 13, whereby the rail 6 moves up and down with the shuttle device 2 placed thereon.

The pinion 14 is attached to a fixed base 17 installed on the floor 16.

Further, a rod 18 of a balance cylinder (not shown) is attached to the lower part of the rail 6 to support the rail 6 so that it can move up and down smoothly, and this rod 18 is attached to the fixed base 17. It is slidably guided by a bracket 17a.

Further, the rear end portion of the pedestal 3 of the shuttle device 2 is connected to the tip portion of the pedestal 3 of another shuttle device 2.

This connecting portion has a structure as shown in FIG.

That is, a substantially U-shaped connecting member 19 is attached to the rear end of the cradle 3 of the front shuttle device 2, and this connecting member 19 is attached to the front end of the cradle 3 of the rear shuttle device 2. A further mating coupling member 20 is attached.

Connecting member 19 of cradle 3 of front shuttle device 2
is provided with a pair of convex portions 21 extending inwardly in the width direction from each other at the distal end, whereby the convex portions 21
A recess 22 is formed on the front side.

The connecting member 20 of the cradle 3 of the rear shuttle device 2 includes a pair of protrusions 23 extending forward, and furthermore, the protrusions 23a each extend outward in the width direction at the tips of the protrusions 23. is formed. As a result, a recess 24 is formed on the rear side of each protrusion 23a.

The recess 22 of the connecting member 19 of the cradle 3 of the front shuttle device 2 is provided with the rear shuttle device 2.
The protrusion 23a of the connecting member 20 of the cradle 3 of the rear shuttle device 2 is accommodated, and the connecting member 19 of the cradle 3 of the front shuttle device 2 is accommodated in the recess 24 of the connecting member 20 of the cradle 3 of the rear shuttle device 2. The convex portions 21 are respectively housed.

In this case, a certain clearance 2
5 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this connection part, a support stand 26 is arranged below the two connection members 19, 20 so as to straddle both, and furthermore, a support stand 26 is disposed below the two connection members 19, 20 so as to extend over the rail 6. A rolling roller 27 is attached.

In the above structure, when the workpiece 1 is transferred to a predetermined position on the transfer device, a drive source (not shown) is activated, the rod 12 is pushed to the left in the figure, and the rack 13 is moved at the same time. Then, the pinion 14 rotates. By this,
The tip of the arm 15 rotates upward, and the entire rail 6 is pushed upward. In this state, the clamp mechanism is clamping the positioning member 7,
The shuttle device 2 is positioned at a predetermined position on the rail 6.

Therefore, the shuttle device 2 supports the workpiece 1 located above by the receiving portion 4 by raising the rail 6.

Next, the cylinder 8 is activated to release the clamp mechanism. Next, the motor 10 rotates, and the shuttle device 2 moves forward on the rails 6 with the work 1 placed thereon, and transports the work 1 to a predetermined position.

When the workpiece 1 is received at that position, the drive source (not shown) is activated again to lower the rail 6 together with the shuttle device 2.

Next, the motor 10 rotates in the reverse direction to retract the shuttle device 2 to its original position, and the shuttle device 2 returns to the state before activation.

In this case, since a plurality of shuttle devices 2 are connected together on the rail 6, these plural shuttle devices 2 carry out the transport operation of the workpiece 1 in synchronization.

The length of the pedestal 3 of the shuttle device 2 changes depending on the temperature, but in the structure of the connection part of this example,
The structure is such that, even if the temperature rises or falls, the clearance 25 of the connecting portion hardly changes due to a change in the length of the pedestal 3.

That is, when the temperature rises and the length of the pedestal 3 of each shuttle device 2 becomes longer, the rear end portion of the connecting member 19 of the front shuttle device 2, that is, the rear end surface of the convex portion 21 The front end surfaces of the protrusions 23a of the connecting members 20 of the side shuttle device 2 are displaced forward, and both are displaced in the direction of reducing the clearance 25.

On the other hand, the front end surface of the convex portion 21 is located at the rear of the protruding portion 23a.
The rear end surface is displaced forward to increase the clearance 25.

However, since both the convex portion 21 and the protruding portion 23a are fitted into the concave portions 22 and 24 of the other connecting member 19 and 20, the size of the clearance 25 as a whole hardly changes.

Further, when the temperature decreases, only the displacement direction of the convex portion 21 and the protrusion portion 23a changes, and their relative positions hardly change.

Therefore, by structuring the connecting portion of the shuttle device 2 as in this example, it is possible to always operate the shuttle device 2 in synchronization without causing any positional shift of the connected shuttle device 2 regardless of temperature changes. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a connecting portion of a shuttle device, and FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2. A plurality of shuttle devices 2 for transporting the workpiece 1 are provided. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Workpiece, 2... Shuttle device, 3... cradle, 4... Receiving part, 5... Bracket, 6...
Rail, 7... Positioning member, 8... Cylinder device, 9... Clamp mechanism, 10... Motor, 1
1,13...Rack, 12,18...Rotsud, 1
4... Pinion, 15... Arm, 16... Floor, 17... Fixed base, 17a... Bracket,
19, 20... Connection member, 21, 23... Convex part,
22, 24... recess, 23a... protrusion, 25...
...Clearance, 26...Support stand, 27...Roller.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a shuttle that transports the transported workpiece to a predetermined position by repeating lift and carry operations, at least two or more of the above shuttles are connected in the transporting direction of the workpiece, and there is a connected relationship. Multiple shuttles are designed to perform the above-mentioned repetitive transport operations in synchronization.
The shuttles are reciprocally mounted on the conveyor rail, and each shuttle is provided with a positioning member for positioning the shuttle on the rail, and by clamping the positioning member with a clamp member, The shuttle is positioned on the rail, and the rail is moved up and down together with the shuttle by a vertical mechanism, and each end of the shuttle has a concave part and a convex part in the width direction. at least 1
1. A structure of a connecting portion of a shuttle, characterized in that the recessed portion of one shuttle accommodates the recessed portion of the other shuttle via a clearance in the connected portion.