JPS6228572Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a guide device for a conveyor chain that conveys a moving object such as a pallet carrier in a machining center or the like.

Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, this type of guide device has a conveyor chain 2 that is engaged with a drive wheel 1 that is rotated by a drive device (not shown). A vehicle configured such that a moving body such as the following is transported along a required rail 3 is used. Here, the conveyor chain 2 runs along a groove 3a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rail 3 as shown in FIG. 2, and the drive wheel 1 is bored in the rail 3 as shown in FIG. The rail 3 is inserted into a through hole 3b and is engaged with the conveyor chain 2, and the rail 3 is in contact with the roller 2a of the conveyor chain 2 from the outside (right side in FIG. 3) to guide the conveyor chain 2. A guide 4 is provided.

By the way, in the above-mentioned guide device, although the radial component of the driving force of the drive wheel 1 naturally acts on the guide 4, the rollers 2a of the conveyor chain 2 are not engaged with the teeth of the drive wheel 1. Since the guide 4 and the roller 2a cannot be rotated, there is a problem in that the guide 4 and the roller 2a rub violently and wear each other out. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the drive wheel 1 is made into an involute tooth shape to reduce the component force in the radial direction, and another guide roller 5 is installed above and below the roller 2a of the conveyor chain 2. A guide 4 has been devised in which a roller is rotatably provided and a guide 4 is formed so as to come into contact with the guide roller. However, in the improved guide device using the drive wheel 1 having an involute tooth profile, a special conveyor chain 2 had to be used as shown in FIG. 6, which caused dissatisfaction in various respects.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional method by placing a cam follower in contact with the link plate of the conveyor chain so that the conveyor chain is guided by the cam follower. A guide such as a pallet carrier is not necessary, and the type of drive wheel can be either an involute toothed type or a regular type, and the conveyor chain can be guided accurately without friction and wear between the conveyor chain and the guide. The purpose is to provide equipment.

The present invention will be explained in detail below based on the drawings.
FIGS. 7 and 8 show an embodiment of the present invention, and numeral 3 in the figures represents an endless track type rail formed to a required height. A groove 3a is formed on the outer circumferential surface of this rail 3 (the right side surface in FIG. 8), and the conveyor chain 2 runs along this groove 3a.
is stretched. Further, a drive device (not shown) is provided at a predetermined position inside the rail 3, and this drive device horizontally rotates the drive wheel 1, and the drive wheel 1 is bored in the rail 3. The conveyor chain 2 is inserted through a through hole 3b and engaged with the conveyor chain 2, and the drive wheel 1 is configured to cause the conveyor chain 2 to run along the groove 3a of the rail 3. A cam follower 6 is provided at the engagement portion of the drive wheel 1 and the conveyor chain 2, which is brought into contact with the lower link plate 2b of the conveyor chain 2 from the outside (right side in FIG. 7) and guides the conveyor chain 2. It is being The cam follower 6 is attached to a guide bracket 7 fixed to the rail 3.
Further, it is convenient to provide three or more cam followers 6 at appropriate intervals as shown in FIG. 7, since the link plate 2b of the conveyor chain 2 can be guided in a straight line. A moving body 8 such as a pallet carrier is provided, for example, as shown in FIG. Although it is configured to run along rail 3,
This configuration is basically the same as the conventional one.

When using this guiding device for pallet carriers, etc., the driving device is started first. The driving device rotates the driving wheel 1 horizontally, and the driving wheel 1 moves the conveyor chain 2, which has the moving body such as the pallet carrier in a predetermined position, along the rail 3.
The conveyor chain 2 travels along the groove 3a. A cam follower 6 is abutted against the link plate 2b of the conveyor chain 2, and this cam follower 6 rolls to guide the conveyor chain 2 in a straight line. In the above embodiment, the cam follower 6 is provided only for the lower link plate 2b of the conveyor chain 2, and the tooth profile of the drive wheel 1 is the most general one, but as shown in Fig. 9, the cam follower 6 may also be provided for the upper link plate 2b of the conveyor chain 2, and as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, a drive wheel 1 with an involute tooth profile may be used, and further, the cam follower 6 may be provided for both the upper and lower link plates 2b using the drive wheel 1 with an involute tooth profile.

As described above, according to the present invention, the cam follower guides the link plate of the conveyor chain, so there is no need for a special conveyor chain like in the past, and the drive wheel is a normal one even with an involute tooth profile. In addition, the conveyor chain can be accurately guided without the inconvenience of severe friction between the conveyor chain and the guide, and the drive efficiency of the conveyor chain can be improved. Furthermore, the structure is simple and easy to implement. It is possible to provide a guiding device such as a pallet carrier that has the following practical advantages.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 3 show a conventional guide device for a pallet carrier, etc., where Figure 1 is a plan view of the main part, Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the - line in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the - line in Figure 1.
The figure is a cross-sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 1. Also,
4 to 6 show a conventional example using an involute tooth profile drive wheel. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the main part, FIG.
The figure is a partially cutaway view taken along the - line in FIG. 4. Furthermore, FIGS. 7 and 8 show an embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 7 being a plan view of the main part, and FIG. 8 being a cross-sectional view taken along the line -- in FIG. Moreover, FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing another embodiment,
FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an embodiment using a drive wheel with an involute tooth profile, FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. Example, 1st
Figure 3 shows moving objects such as pallet carriers, rails,
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the conveyor chain and the conveyor chain. 1... Drive wheel, 2... Conveyor chain, 2a... Roller, 2b... Link plate,
3...Rail, 6...Come follow lower.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a guide device such as a pallet carrier in which a conveyor chain is engaged with a drive wheel rotated by a drive device, and a moving object such as a pallet carrier is conveyed along a rail by this conveyor chain, the engagement portion between the drive wheel and the conveyor chain is A guide device for a pallet carrier or the like, characterized in that a cam follower is provided on the outside to abut a link plate of the conveyor chain and guide the conveyor chain.