JPH055729B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an air levitation transportation device that can be moved without requiring human labor.

<Prior Art> An air levitation transport device is known as one of the means for transporting articles. In this system, the main body of the device on which the article (object to be transported) is placed is levitated (floated) by the pressure of air jetted from the underside of the device toward the floor, etc., and human power is applied to the main body of the device in this floating state. This allows the main body of the device to be moved in any direction.

The first common type of conventional air levitation transportation device is
As shown in FIG. FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section of the device, and FIG. 2 shows a plan view thereof.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of the apparatus, and a pair of air jet cylinders 3 are provided at the front and rear of the lower surface of the main body. Each air ejection tube 3 has a large number of air ejection holes opened toward the floor surface 7. An air passage 2 communicating with the air jet cylinder 3 is formed in the main body 1 of the apparatus, and an air supply hose 6 connected to an external air supply source (not shown) is connected to the air passage 2.

In this device, the object to be transported 5
is placed on the main body 1 of the device. Compressed air from an external air supply source passes through an air supply hose 6 and an air passage 2, and is ejected from an air ejection hole of an air ejection cylinder 3 toward a floor surface 7 (in the figure, an arrow 4 indicates the ejected air).
The main body 1 of the apparatus is levitated relative to the floor 7 by the pressurized air formed between the floor 7 and the air jet cylinder 3. By manually pushing or pulling the device body 1 in this state, the object 5 together with the device body 1 is transported to an arbitrary position.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> Conventional air levitation transportation devices can be easily moved manually as described above, but they can be moved easily in places where human hands are not available, for example, where it is difficult for workers to approach. It has the disadvantage that it cannot be used in difficult or dangerous places, and it cannot be used in cases where it is dangerous for the operator to handle it due to the type or condition of the object to be transported or the circumstances around the device.

The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of conventional air levitation transportation devices, and expands the scope of application of air levitation transportation devices by making it possible to move the main body of the device without the need for manpower. The purpose is to

<Means for Solving the Problems> The configuration of the present invention that achieves the above object is as follows: An object to be transported is placed thereon and is levitated relative to the moving surface by the pressure of air jetted from the lower surface toward the moving surface. a rotatable pressing roll provided on one side of the apparatus main body and pressed into contact with one side of the apparatus main body; and a rotatable pressing roll provided on the other side of the apparatus main body, the pressing roll being provided on the other side of the apparatus main body, the pressing roll An air levitation conveying device includes: a drive roll that is pressed against the other side of the device main body by being pressed into contact with one side of the main body, and is driven and rotated.

<Function> In the air levitation transportation device according to the present invention, the device body on which the transported object is placed is levitated relative to the moving surface by the pressure of compressed air jetted from the lower surface. When the pressing roll is brought into pressure contact with one side of the apparatus main body while the apparatus main body is floating, the drive roll is pressed against the other side of the apparatus main body. When the drive roll is driven and rotated in this state, the main body of the apparatus moves in a floating state due to the propulsive force generated by the drive rotation of the drive roll.

<Example> FIG. 3 shows a side view of an air levitation transportation device according to an example of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows a plan view thereof. In addition, FIGS. 5 and 6 show a pressing roll,
Details of the drive rolls are shown.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a table-shaped apparatus main body on which an object 5 to be transported is placed, and its structure is similar to that of the conventional apparatus. In other words, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
The air ejection tube 3 is provided with a large number of air ejection holes facing the floor surface 7, which is the moving surface of the device, and the air ejection tube 3 is provided with an air outlet inside the device main body 1. A passage 2 is formed, and an air supply hose 6 connected to an external air supply source (not shown) is connected to the air passage 2. Therefore, by supplying compressed air from the air supply source, a pressure air layer is formed between the air jet tube 3 and the floor surface 7, and the device main body 1 is levitated relative to the floor surface 7. .

A pressing roll device 20a including a pressing roll 21a that is brought into pressure contact with one side of the device main body 1 is installed on the floor surface 7 on a pair of side surfaces of the device main body 1. The pressing roll device 20a includes a pinion 23 that is rotatably supported around an axis perpendicular to the floor surface 7, and is provided perpendicularly to and integrally with the pinion 23 at a position offset by a distance X from the center 0 of the pinion 23. An eccentric shaft 22a, a pressing roll 21a provided on the upper part of the eccentric shaft 22a through a bearing 30 so as to be rotatable with respect to the eccentric shaft 22a, a rack 24 that meshes with the pinion 23, and a rack 24.
The pinion 23 is rotated by the movement of the rack 24 caused by the drive of the cylinder 25.
The eccentric shaft 22a integral with the apparatus body 1 is rotated, and the pressing roll 21a is brought into pressure contact with one side of the apparatus main body 1. Note that an elastic material such as rubber is used as the material of the pressing roll 21a.

On the floor surface 7 on the other side of the device main body 1,
A drive roll device 21b is installed, which includes a drive roll 21b that is pressed against the other side of the device body 1 by pressing the press roll 21a of the press roll device 20a against one side of the device body 1. The drive roll device 20b includes a worm wheel 26 rotatably supported around an axis perpendicular to the floor 7, a drive shaft 22b that is concentric with and integral with the worm wheel 26, and a drive shaft 22b that is integrally attached to the upper end of the drive shaft 22b. It consists of a drive roll 21b made of an elastic material such as rubber and attached to the worm wheel 21b, a worm wheel 27 that meshes with the worm wheel 26, and a drive motor 28 that drives and rotates the worm 27. The roll 21b is driven and rotated.

Pressing roll device 20a, drive roll device 20
A plurality of b are provided facing each other, and each is provided in plurality along the movement direction of the device main body 1 over the required movement range. Also, on both sides of the drive roll device 20b, side guides 9 are provided along the moving direction of the device body 1.
10 are provided. The side guides 9 and 10 serve as guides when the main body 1 of the apparatus is moved.

Next, the transportation of objects by the air levitation transportation device having the above configuration will be explained.

The object to be transported 5 is placed on the main body 1 of the apparatus.

By supplying compressed air from an air supply source (not shown), the main body 1 of the apparatus is levitated with respect to the floor surface 7 together with the object 5 to be transported.

By the operation of the cylinder 25 of the pressing roll device 20a provided on one side of the device main body 1,
The pressing roll 21a is rotated by the rack 24 and the pinion 23 using an eccentric amount X as an arm, and is pressed against one side of the apparatus main body 1 with a pressing force A.

By applying a pressing force to one side of the device main body 1, the other side of the device main body 1 is pressed against the drive roll 21b of the drive roll device 20b.

When the drive motor 28 is driven in the above state and the drive roll 21b is driven and rotated via the worm 27 and the worm wheel 26, the drive roll 21b
A propulsive force due to the rotation of the drive roll 21b acts on the device body 1 which is pressed against the device body 1.
will be moved. In other words, the object 5 is transported by the device main body 1. For example, the fourth
As shown in the figure, when the drive roll 21b rotates counterclockwise when viewed from above, the device body 1 is moved rightward, and when it rotates in the opposite direction, it is moved leftward.
Furthermore, if the drive motor 28 is stopped, it can be stopped on the spot. The cylinder 25 of the pressing roll device 20a and the drive motor 28 of the drive roll device 20b can be remotely controlled.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the pressing roll device 20
a. Although the drive roll device 20b is provided on the floor surface 7, it may be provided on a fixed member provided parallel to a moving surface such as the floor surface 7. Moreover, the pressing roll 21
Various mechanisms other than those described above can be employed as the pressing mechanism a and the driving mechanism of the drive roll 21b.

<Effects of the Invention> According to the air levitation transportation device according to the present invention, the main body of the device on which the transported object is mounted can be moved without the need for manpower, and it is possible to move the device body on which the transported object is mounted, without requiring human labor. This is a transport device that uses only driving force such as electricity or fluid pressure, making it possible to transport objects even in places where it is difficult to touch the device itself, and greatly expanding the range of application of the device. Unlike this, the device moves in a floating state using air pressure, so the capacity of the drive system is small and it is also inexpensive.The device can be moved forward and backward, accelerated/decelerated, and braked by remote control, making it easier for workers to move. This has the effect of reducing the burden and increasing safety.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the main part showing the schematic structure of a conventional air levitation transportation device, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the air levitation transportation device according to the present invention. 4 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pressing roll device, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the drive roll device. In the drawings, 1 is the device main body, 2 is an air passage, 3 is an air jet tube, 6 is an air supply hose, 20a is a pressing roll device, 20b is a driving roll device, 21a is a pressing roll, 21b is a driving roll, and 22a is an eccentric 22b is a drive shaft, 25 is a cylinder, and 28 is a drive motor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A device main body on which an object to be transported is placed and levitated relative to the moving surface by the pressure of air jetted from the lower surface toward the moving surface; and a device provided on one side of the device main body. a rotatable pressing roll provided on the other side of the apparatus main body and pressed into contact with one side of the apparatus main body; An air levitation transportation device comprising: a drive roll that is pressed against the other side of the main body and driven and rotated.