JPH0818787B2 - Overhead conveyor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Object of the Invention (1) Field of Industrial Application The present invention is a ceiling of a substantially rectangular carriage having one side surface along the X axis and the other side surface along the Y axis. The present invention relates to an overhead conveyor that can run along rails and that has a hanger on which a work can be placed.

(2) Conventional technology Conventionally, for example, a device for raising and lowering a work conveyed by an overhead conveyor at a specific position is, for example, the actual open sho 64-64.
The drop lifter disclosed by Japanese Patent Publication No. 800 is known, but in this one, a pair of columns are fixedly arranged at a specific position on the floor surface along the transfer line by the overhead conveyor, and the specific position thereof. The work space on the floor surface becomes narrower, and the position where the work can be raised and lowered is fixed.

There is also a prior art in which the hanger can be lifted and supported on a trolley, and the hanger is lifted and lowered by a cam rail laid along the ceiling rail. It is necessary to dispose the cam rails accordingly, which makes it difficult to change the vertical position of the work.

Further, there is also one in which the hanger is lifted and lowered by a plurality of cylinders provided on the truck. In this one, the hanger can be raised and lowered at any position by extending and retracting the cylinder, but the structure on the truck The hanger is large in size, and it is difficult to operate a plurality of cylinders precisely in synchronization, and the posture of the hanger tends to tilt.

Therefore, in order to solve these problems, for example, Japanese Patent Publication Sho 59
While preventing slanting of the hanger by slidably fitting a guide member fixed to the hanger to a vertically long guide rail fixed to the bogie as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 8857-
It has already been proposed that a hanger can be lifted and lowered by a drive motor via a hanging rope that hangs down from a trolley so that the hanger can be smoothly moved up and down.

(3) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-mentioned proposal, four guide rails are arranged at the four corners of the substantially rectangular carriage, and four guide members are provided on the hanger corresponding to these rails. Since only one rope is used as the hanging rope, if the rope is damaged during lifting or lowering of the hanger, the hanger will not be raised but the hanger will not be lowered. It becomes difficult to hold it in that position. In addition, four relatively heavy guide rails and four guide members are required, which poses a problem of increasing the weight burden of the truck (hence, the power required for its traveling) as a whole, and the hanger side suspended by a rope. Since the weight of the rope is also relatively large, not only is the load of the rope winding motor large,
Combined with the fact that there is only one rope, there is a problem that the load on the rope itself is very large.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to provide an overhead conveyor that can solve the problems of the conventional structure at once.

B. Configuration of the Invention (1) Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, according to the first feature of the present invention, one side surface is along the X axis and the other side surface is Y.
In an overhead conveyor in which a substantially rectangular carriage along an axis can be run along a ceiling rail, and a hanger on which a work can be placed is suspended on the carriage, at a substantially central portion in the X-axis direction of the carriage. The upper ends of a pair of vertically extending guide rails are fixed to both sides in the Y-axis direction, and a pair of vertically extending guide members are slidably fitted to the pair of guide rails. Are fixed to a substantially rectangular support frame that supports the hangers, and a pair of first drive sprockets, which are rotatably driven by a common drive motor, are provided at one end of the carriage in the X-axis direction and on both sides in the Y-axis direction. While the second drive sprockets are respectively arranged, the other end portion in the X-axis direction and both side portions in the Y-axis direction of the truck respectively correspond to the one first and second drive sprockets, respectively. Rollable first and second driven sprockets are respectively arranged, a first chain hung on the first driven sprocket and one of the first driving sprockets and hanging below the first driven sprocket, and a second driven sprocket and A second chain that is hung on one of the second drive sprockets and hangs down the second driven sprocket, a third chain that is hung only on the other first drive sprocket and hangs down the drive sprocket, and the other chain. The support frame is suspended by the fourth chain that is hung only on the two drive sprockets and hangs downward from the drive sprockets. Engagement portions are provided at a plurality of positions spaced above and below each guide member. , The trolley has a plurality of lock portions operable between positions for engaging the engaging portions and positions for releasing the engagement with the engaging portions. When, a lock drive means which is respectively connected to those of the locking member is arranged.

According to a second feature of the present invention, in addition to the above features, the carriage is provided with auxiliary drive sprockets that rotate in conjunction with the common drive motor in pairs with the drive sprockets. The sub chains that connect the drive sprocket and the support frame in a relaxed state are the first to the fourth.
It can be hung on each auxiliary drive sprocket in pairs with a chain.

(2) Operation According to the configuration of the first feature described above, the hanger support frame is suspended and supported from the bogie via the chain, and the chain is driven by the drive motor. The hanger can be lifted and lowered at any position, and the hanger-side guide members are slidably fitted to the pair of guide rails of the carriage, so that the hanger can be smoothly lifted and lowered in a stable posture. .

In addition, the four corners of the hanger support frame can be suspended from the four corners of the bogie through four chains, and these chains can be driven by a common drive motor. Even if it breaks, the remaining three can hold the hanger support frame in a stable posture, and the lifting operation from that position is also possible. Moreover, since it is sufficient to provide only one pair of relatively heavy guide rails and guide members, the weight on the hanger support frame side can be reduced, and the hanger support frame is shared by four chains. In addition, the load on each chain is significantly reduced, and the overall weight that the carriage must bear is also reduced. In addition, even if the drive motor is shared by the four chains in order to simplify the structure of the drive mechanism, a dedicated drive sprocket is provided for each of the chains, and the chains are individually hung on these drive sprockets. Therefore, even if one chain is broken, transmission to the rest of the chains can be performed without any problems.

By engaging the lock member with the engaging portion, the vertical position of the hanger with respect to the carriage is fixedly supported.

Further, according to the configuration of the above-mentioned second feature, the hanger can be supported by the sub-chain even if two or more chains in a tension state are broken.

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

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional front view, Fig. 2 is a side view taken along the line II of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of Fig. 2. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG.

First, in FIGS. 1 to 3, a vehicle body B as a work is conveyed by an overhead conveyor 1 in an assembly factory of vehicles, and the overhead conveyor 1 travels along a pair of ceiling rails 2, 2. Possible trolley 3
In addition, two pairs of hanger 4 on each of which the vehicle body B can be placed are provided on the left and right sides.
A support frame (20) for integrally connecting and supporting each other is movably supported.

A support beam 6 extending along the transportation direction 5 of the vehicle body B is fixedly disposed on the ceiling portion of the assembly factory, and the pair of ceiling rails 2, 2 spaced apart from each other are provided in the transportation direction. 5
It is fixed to the lower ends of the support arms 7, 7 which are hung from the support beam 6 at a number of positions spaced apart along.

The trolley 3 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape so that one side surface thereof is along the horizontal X axis and the other both side surfaces are along the horizontal Y axis. The trolley board 8 and the pair of ceiling rails 2, A total of four wheels 9 supported on the bogie substrate 8 at two positions spaced along the X-axis direction (conveying direction 5 in the illustrated example) so as to be engaged with 2 to roll, and the bogie. It is composed of four support leg portions 10 ... Hanging from the lower surface of the substrate 8 and a support frame 11 that connects the lower ends of the support leg portions 10 ...
It is possible to travel along the ceiling rails 2, 2 by a travel drive means (not shown).

The hanger 4 comprises a hanger arm 13 connected to a lower end portion of an arm 12 extending vertically so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis. That is, the base end of the hanger arm 13 is connected to the lower end of the arm 12 via a support pin 14 having a vertical axis, and the base end of the hanger arm 13 has a lower end of the arm 12. A restricting flange 16 is provided opposite to the supporting flange 15 provided on the section. In addition, the support collar 15 is provided with a support cylinder 18 for vertically movably supporting a regulation pin 17 having an axis extending vertically, and the regulation collar 16 has a plurality of holes through which the regulation pin 17 can be inserted (see FIG. (Not shown)
Are bored at intervals on a virtual arc centered on the axis of the support pin 14. Therefore the hanger arm
13 is rotatable about a vertical axis, and its rotation position can be maintained by inserting the restriction pin 17 into the hole. Also hanger arm
A receiving member 19 for receiving a lower end of a side portion of the vehicle body B, that is, a side sill, is fixed to a tip portion of 13.

The hangers 4 configured in this manner are arranged so as to respectively support the front and rear positions along the transport direction 5 on both sides of the vehicle body B.
The upper ends of the arms 12 in the ... Are formed in a substantially rectangular shape and fixed to the support frames 20 arranged below the carriage 3.

Upper ends of a pair of vertically extending guide rails 22 and 22 are fixed to the trolley board 8 of the trolley 3 at substantially the center in the X axis direction and to both sides in the Y axis direction. A pair of vertically extending guide members 21, 21 are fitted to the support frame 20 at substantially the central portion in the X-axis direction and at both side portions in the Y-axis direction so as to be slidably fitted. The guide rails 22 and 22 and the guide members 21 and 21 are fitted to each other so that the support frame 20 and hence the hangers 4 are
... can be moved up and down by being guided by the guide rails 22,22.

A drive motor 23 having an output shaft 23a arranged in the X-axis direction is fixedly arranged at each central portion of the support frame 11 in the carriage 3 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Further, a speed reducer 25 having a pair of output shafts 25a, 25a along the Y-axis direction is fixedly arranged at one end of the support frame 11 in the X-axis direction and substantially in the center of the Y-axis direction. The input shaft 25b of the speed reducer 25 is connected to the output shaft 23a of the drive motor 23 via a coupling 24. A drive gear 26 is fixed to each of the output shafts 25a, 25a.

Two pairs of bearings 28, 29; 28, 29 are fixed in pairs at one end in the X-axis direction and at both sides in the Y-axis direction of the support frame 11, and these bearings 28, 29; 28, 29 are fixed. Thus, the first and second rotating shafts 30a and 30b along the Y-axis direction are rotatably supported. Thus, driven gears 27, 27 meshing with the drive gears 26, 26 are fixed to the respective one ends of the first and second rotating shafts 30a, 30b. The other end of the support frame 11 in the X-axis direction and Y
Two pairs of bearings 31, 32; 31, 3 on each side in the axial direction
2 are fixed and their bearings 31,32; 31,32 make Y
First and second driven rotary shafts 33a, 33b along the axial direction are rotatably supported.

A pair of first drive sprockets 34a, 34a and second drive sprockets 34b, 34b are fixed to the first and second rotary shafts 30a, 30b, respectively, and the driven rotary shafts 3
Each of the first and second drive sprockets 34, 3a, 33b.
First and second driven sprockets 35a and 35b corresponding to a and 34b are fixed, respectively. Further, adjacent to each of the first and second drive sprockets 34a, 34a, 34b, 34b, 34 is a pair of first and second auxiliary drive sprockets 36a, 36a, 36b,
36b are fixed to the first and second rotary shafts 30a and 30b, respectively,
First adjacent to the first and second driven sprockets 35a, 35b
And the second sub-drive sprockets 36a, 36b are attached to the driven rotary shafts 33.
Fixed to each.

At the other end portion in the X-axis direction and both side portions in the Y-axis direction of the substantially rectangular support frame 20 that connects and supports the four hangers 4 in common.
One ends of the first and second chains 38a and 38b are connected to each other, and the chains 38a and 38b are connected to the upper first chain.
And the second driven sprockets 35a and 35b, respectively, and further to the first and second drive sprockets 34a and 34b, respectively, which are located in front of them. Further, one ends of the third and fourth chains 40a, 40b are respectively connected to one end of the support frame 20 in the X-axis direction and both sides in the Y-axis direction, and these chains 40a, 40b are
Each other first and second drive sprocket located above
Wrapped around 34a and 34b respectively. Furthermore, X of support frame 11
The first and second ends are provided at one end in the axial direction and on both sides in the Y-axis direction.
The chain storage boxes 42a, 42b are fixed, the other ends of the first and third chains 38a, 40a are stored in the first chain storage box 42a, and the second and fourth chains 38b, 40b.
The other end of is stored in the second chain storage box 42b.

At the other end of the support frame 20 in the X-axis direction and on both sides in the Y-axis direction, adjacent to the first and second chains 38a, 38b,
And one ends of the second sub-chains 39a, 39b are respectively connected, and the sub-chains 39a, 39b are respectively wound around the first and second sub-driven sprockets 37a, 37b. The first and second auxiliary drive sprockets 36a and 36b are respectively wound around. Also, the support frame 20
One end of each of the third and fourth sub-chains 41a, 41b is connected to one end of each of the X-axis direction and each of both sides in the Y-axis direction so as to be adjacent to the third and fourth chains 40a, 40b. The sub-chains 41a and 41b are located above the sub-drive sprocket 36.
Wrapped around a and 36b respectively. Further, the other ends of the first and third sub chains 39a, 41a are stored in the first chain storage box 42a, and the other ends of the second and fourth sub chains 39b, 41b are stored in the second chain storage box 42b. It is supposed to be done.

Moreover, the first and second chains 38a, 38b are the first and second chains.
While the driven sprockets 35a and 35b and the support frame 20 are connected in a tensioned state, the first and second sub chains 39a and 39b are connected.
Connects the first and second auxiliary driven sprockets 37a, 37b and the support frame 20 in a loose state, and the third and fourth chains 40a, 40b connect the first and second drive sprockets 34a, 34b and the support frame 20. The third and fourth sub-chains 41a, 41b connect the first and second sub-drive sprockets 36a, 36b and the support frame 20 in a loose state, while the two are connected in a tensioned state.

Referring also to FIG. 4, the inner surface of each guide member 21 is provided with engaging portions 44 ... on the other hand,
The support frame 11 of the carriage 3 has one of the engaging portions 44 ...
A pair of lock members 45, 45 that can be engaged with each other are supported, and cylinders 46, 46 serving as lock driving means are connected to both the lock members 45, 45.

Engaging claws 45a capable of engaging with the engaging portions 44 are provided at one ends of the locking members 45, 45, and the locking members 45, 45 are one of the engaging portions 44. The position where the engaging claw 45a is engaged with the position (the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 4) and the engaging claw 45a.
A can be rotated between a position where it is disengaged from the engaging portion 44 (a position shown by a chain line in FIG. 4), and can be rotated around the support frame 11 via a support shaft 47 parallel to the transport direction 5. Supported by.

Each of the cylinders 46, 46 has a horizontal axis line orthogonal to the transport direction 5, and is fixedly arranged on the support frame 11. The tip of the piston rod 46a in each of the cylinders 46, 46 has a lock member 45. Is connected to the other end of. Thus each cylinder 4
By extending 6 and 46, the locking members 45 and 4
5 is at a position where the engaging claw 45a is disengaged from the engaging portion 44, and when the respective cylinders 46, 46 are contracted, the locking members 45, 45 are engaged with one of the engaging portions 44 ... Is the position to engage.

Further, on the support frame 11, the lock members 45, 45 are provided with engaging portions 44.
A detection switch 48 for detecting that the position where the engaging claw 45a is engaged with one of the positions is provided.

A switch box 50 for controlling the operation of the drive motor 23 and both cylinders 46, 46 is provided on both guide rails 2
The switch box 50 is hung from one of the two 22, 22 via a support member 49. The switch box 50 has six switch buttons 51 corresponding to the six engaging portions 44 provided on the guide member 21 and an activation switch. 52 and a lamp 53 are provided.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, when the respective hangers 4 on which the vehicle body B is mounted are raised from the lowermost position as shown in FIG. While pressing 52, the switch button 51 corresponding to the desired position is pressed. As a result, first, both cylinders 46, 46 are extended and the locking members 45,
The engaging claw 45a of 45 is disengaged from the uppermost engaging portion 44. Next, the drive motor 23 is rotated by a predetermined amount, and the first and second
Each chain 38a, 38b, 40a, 40b by rotation of the rotating shafts 30a, 30b
., The support frame 20, that is, the hangers 4 ... At this time, the pair of guide members 21, 21 fixed to the support frame 20 are guided by the guide rails 22, 22 to ascend, so that the hangers 4 ... Can be raised without tilting their postures.

When the respective hangers 4 ... Ascend to a desired position, both cylinders 46, 46 are contracted, and both locking members 45, 45 rotate to a position where their engaging claws 45a engage the desired engaging portion 45. Lamp and move it and detect it with the detection switch 48
53 lights up.

In this way, the hangers 4 ... Ascend to the desired position and the position is fixedly maintained.

Further, when lowering the respective hangers 4 ..., the same operation as the above-mentioned operation may be performed, and accordingly, the drive motor
23 operates in the opposite direction to that at the time of raising, and each hanger 4 ... Is lowered to a desired position.

As described above, since the hangers 4 are supported by the carriage 3 so as to be able to move up and down, the carriage 3 traveling along the ceiling rails 2, 2 is stopped at an arbitrary position, and the arbitrary stop position is set. It is possible to raise and lower each hanger 4, and it is not necessary to dispose a device for raising and lowering each hanger 4 on the floor surface, so that a sufficient working space can be secured.

Also, especially the four chains 38a, 38 from the four corners of the trolley 3
Since the four corners of the hanger support frame 20 can be suspended via b, 40a, 40b, even if one of the four chains 38a, 38b, 40a, 40b is broken during the lifting operation, the remaining 3 With the book, the hanger support frame 20 can be kept in a stable posture, and the lifting operation from that position is also possible. Moreover, since the guide rail 22 and the guide member 21, which are relatively heavy, need only be provided in pairs, the weight on the hanger support frame 20 side can be reduced and the load on the drive motor 23 can be reduced. Hanger support frame 20 with four chains 38a, 38b, 40a, 40b
Combined with the fact that it is shared and supported, the load load per chain can be reduced and its durability can be improved. Also, in order to simplify the structure of the drive mechanism, four chains 38a, 38b, 40
Despite the common use of the drive motor 23 for a and 40b, dedicated drive sprockets 34a, 34b, 36a and 36b are provided for their respective chains 38a, 38b, 40a and 40b.
Since the chains 38a, 38b, 40a, 40b are individually hung on these drive sprockets, even if one chain is broken, the transmission to the remaining chains can be performed without any support.

Furthermore, when each hanger 4 ...
Assuming that two or more of b, 40a, 40b are broken, it becomes possible to support the hanger support frame 20 in a stable posture by the sub chains 39a, 39b, 41a, 41b in a relaxed state, and each hanger can be supported. It is possible to reliably prevent the drop of 4 ...

C. Effect of the Invention As described above, according to the first feature of the present invention, the hanger support frame is suspended from the carriage through the chain, and the chain is driven by the drive motor. It is possible to raise and lower the hanger at any position along the
Moreover, since the hanger-side guide members are slidably fitted to the pair of guide rails of the carriage, the hanger can be smoothly moved up and down without tilting.

In addition, since the four corners of the hanger support frame can be suspended from the four corners of the bogie through four chains, and the chains can be driven by a common drive motor, the hanger support frame can be raised and lowered. Even if one of the four chains breaks during operation, the remaining three can hold the hanger support frame in a stable posture, and the lifting operation from that position is also possible. Moreover, since it is only necessary to provide one pair of relatively heavy guide rails and guide members, it is possible to reduce the weight on the hanger support frame side and reduce the load on the chain drive motor. Combined with the fact that four chains are shared and supported, the load load per chain can be reduced, which contributes to the improvement of its durability, and the overall weight that the carriage must bear is also reduced. It In addition, even if the drive motor is shared by the four chains in order to simplify the structure of the drive mechanism,
A drive sprocket dedicated to each of the chains is provided, and the chains are individually hung on these drive sprockets. Therefore, even if one chain is broken, the transmission to the remaining chains can be performed without any support.

Further, by engaging the lock member with the engaging portion provided on the guide member, the up and down position of the hanger with respect to the carriage can be fixedly supported.
It is only necessary to provide two sets in accordance with the individual guide members, and the structure can be simplified accordingly.

Further, according to the second feature of the present invention, even if two or more chains in a tension state are cut, the hanger support frame can be supported by the sub chain in a stable posture, and the hanger can be more reliably prevented from falling. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional front view, Fig. 2 is a side view taken along the line II of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of Fig. 2. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1 ... Overhead conveyor, 2 ... Ceiling rail, 3
…… Bogie, 4 …… Hanger, 20 …… Support frame, 21 …… Guide member, 22 …… Guide rail, 23 …… Drive motor, 34a, 34
b …… first and second drive sprockets, 35a, 35b …… first and second
Driven sprockets, 36a, 36b …… First and second auxiliary drive sprockets, 38a, 38b, 40a, 40b …… First, second, third, fourth chains, 39a, 39b, 41a, 41b …… First , Second, third and fourth sub-chains, 44 ... Engaging portion, 45 ... Lock member, 46 ... Cylinder as lock driving means, B ... Car body as work

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Eiji Kobayashi 163-6 Minemachi, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture (56) References JP-A-59-31292 (JP, A) SAIKAI 49-40987 (JP, U) 57-138882 (JP, U) JP 59-8575 (JP, B2) JP 55-46360 (JP, B2)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A substantially rectangular carriage (3) having one side surface along the X-axis and the other both side surfaces along the Y-axis, is allowed to travel along a ceiling rail (2), and the carriage (3). In the overhead conveyor in which the hanger (4) on which the work (B) can be placed is hung, the upper and lower sides of the carriage (3) are approximately at the center in the X-axis direction and on both sides in the Y-axis direction. While the upper ends of the pair of extending guide rails (22) are fixed to each other, the pair of vertically extending guide members (21) are slidably fitted into the pair of guide rails (22), respectively. 4) is fixed to a substantially rectangular support frame (20) and is rotatably driven by a common drive motor (23) at one end of the carriage (3) in the X-axis direction and on both sides in the Y-axis direction. A pair of first drive sprockets (34a, 34a) and a second drive sprocket While the sets (34b, 34b) are respectively arranged, the first and second drive sprockets (34) are provided at the other end in the X-axis direction and both sides in the Y-axis of the carriage (3).
a and 34b) respectively corresponding to the rotatable first and second driven sprockets (35a, 35b), respectively, and are mounted on the first driven sprocket (35a) and one of the first drive sprockets (34a). The first driven sprocket (35a) hangs down to the first chain (38a), the second driven sprocket (35b) and one of the second drive sprockets (34b), and the second driven sprocket (35b) )
A second chain (38b) hanging downward, and a third chain (40a) hanging only on the other first driving sprocket (34a) and hanging downwardly of the driving sprocket (34a),
The support frame (20) is suspended by the fourth chain (40b) hanging only on the other second drive sprocket (34b) and hanging below the drive sprocket (34b), and each guide member (21) is suspended. Engagement portions (44) are provided at a plurality of positions spaced above and below, respectively, and the carriage (3) has a position to engage with each engagement portion (44) and each engagement portion (44). A plurality of lock members (45) operable between positions for releasing the engagement with each other, and lock driving means (46) respectively connected to the lock members (45) are provided. , Overhead conveyor. 2. A sub-drive sprocket (36a, 36a, 36) that rotates in conjunction with the common drive motor (23) on the carriage (3).
b, 36b) are provided in pairs with the drive sprockets (34a, 34a, 34b, 34b) respectively, and the auxiliary drive sprockets (36a, 36a, 36b, 36b) and the support frame (20) are in a relaxed state. The sub chains (39a, 39b, 41a, 41b) connected by
~ The overhead conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that the overhead conveyor is paired with a fourth chain (38a, 38b, 40a, 40b) and hung on each sub-drive sprocket (36a, 36a, 36b, 36b).