JPS63101166A - Rail branch mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the space required for switching a conveyance path switching mechanism at a vertical branch part of an article conveyance system. The aim is to achieve this purpose by providing connections so that they can be connected.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a rail branching mechanism in an article conveyance system in which articles are conveyed by carriers running on track rails.

BACKGROUND ART Recently, track-type transport systems have been widely used as goods transport systems in banks, hospitals, and factories.

These transport systems have a wide variety of travel routes, and a rail branching mechanism is required to accommodate these.

[Conventional technology]

The conventional rail branching mechanism is shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b).
Shown below.

In the case of FIG. 4(a), the conveyance path is switched by moving the branch rail in a direction that crosses the conveyance direction of the carrier 100 left and right, and in the figure, 1.2 is the first track rail, the second track rail, 3 is a branch rail.

The first track rail 1 has a cutout 5 at the branch 4, and the second track rail branches vertically at a distance from the first track rail to the left of the cutout 5. The branch rail 3 is the first. The second track rail 1.2 switches the conveyance path between the first track rail 1 and the first track rail 6 that connects the first track rail 1 at the cutout 5, and the first track rail 1 on the left side of the cutout 5. and a second rail 7 that connects the second track rail 2 and the second track rail 2 are arranged in parallel in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the figure (a direction that crosses the carrier conveyance direction left and right), and a drive source (not shown) is provided. It is possible to move in the same direction by being driven by. When the branch rail 3 connects the first track rail 1 itself, the branch rail 3 connects to the first rail 6.
is positioned so that the first. Second
When connecting two track rails, the branch rail 3 is positioned at a position where these track rails are connected.

On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 4(b), the conveyance path is switched by moving the branch rail in a direction that vertically crosses the carrier conveyance direction, and in the figure, 11° and 12 are the first . 13 is the second track rail, 13 is the branch rail 14 is the branch part, 15 is the first
This is the cutout of the track rail. The branch rail 13 is the first
A first rail 16 connecting the track rails 11 of the first . A second rail 17 connecting the second track rails 11 and 12 is arranged integrally in the vertical direction. This branch rail 13 is connected to a driving source (
It is driven and moved by a rotating motor (18) via a crank mechanism 19, and is positioned at each connection position.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

By the way, in the article conveyance system targeted by the present invention, high speed is required, so it is necessary for the rail branching (connection switching) to be completed before the carrier reaches the branching part, and the above-mentioned The conventional structure satisfies this requirement.

However, in the case of Fig. 4(a), a large space is required in the moving direction (rail width direction) of the branch rail 3, and in the case of Fig. 4(b), a large space is required in the vertical direction. This is disadvantageous.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides a rail branching mechanism that can solve the above-mentioned problems, and as a means for that purpose, the present invention includes a first track rail having a cutout at the branching part, and one end of the cutout. In an article conveyance system that switches a conveyance path between the first track rail adjacent to the first track rail and a second track rail that branches vertically at a predetermined interval, one end of the cutout part is attached to the branch part. a first position connecting the first track rail as a fulcrum;
．． A branch rail is provided that is rotatable between a second position connecting a second track rail, and the branch rail is driven to move to the first position and the second position, and ．．
Means are provided for retaining each of said branch rails in a second position.

[Effect]

Conveyance path switching is performed by moving the branch rail to the first one using the drive source. This is done by moving the branch rail to the second position, and the branch rail that has completed the switching is moved to the first position. each held in a second position. Therefore, reliable branching is possible.

In addition, since the holding means is provided in this way, it is possible to use a rotational morph as a drive source, reducing costs and
This is advantageous in terms of mechanical stability.

〔Example〕

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1-3.

An example is shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the rail branching mechanism according to the present invention, in which 21 is a first track rail, 22 is a second track rail,
23 is a branch rail, 24 is a branch part, and 25 is a rotating motor (
26 and 27 are magnets (holding means).

The first track rail 21 has a cutout 28 , and the first track rail 21 has a cutout 28 .
8 is located at the branching portion 24.

The second track rail 22 branches upward (in the vertical direction) from the second track rail 21 adjacent to the left side of the cutout 28 at a predetermined interval.

The branch rail 23 is for switching the conveyance path, and is rotatable about the left end A of the cutout portion 28 as a fulcrum.

The rotary motor 25 is connected to the branch rail 23 via a link 29.

The structure of the present invention is as described above, and its operation will be explained next.

In the normal state in which the carrier 100 runs on the first track rail 21, the branch rail 23 is positioned at the first position located in the cutout 28 as shown by the chain line and is held by the magnet 26, and in this state So, career 100
can run stably by passing through the branch rail 23 that is securely held by the magnet 26.

In this state, when a branch signal is sent from a system controller (not shown), a branch control system (not shown) receives the signal, applies a drive signal to the rotary motor 25, and de-energizes the magnet 26. Then, the rotary motor 25 rotates for a predetermined number of steps, and then the motor excitation is cut off and at the same time the magnet 27 is excited. By the rotation of the rotary motor 25 at this time, the branch rail 23 is driven via the link 29 and rotated to the second position indicated by the solid line, and is securely held by the magnet 27. In this state,
1st. The second track rails 21 , 22 are connected by a branch rail 23 so that the carrier 100 can run past this branch rail 23 . Then career 100
When it is determined that the motor has completely passed through the branching part 24, the magnet 27 is de-energized and the rotary motor 25 rotates in the reverse direction.
The branch rail 23 returns to the original position shown by the chain line and is held by the magnet 26 which is excited.

Note that if the branch rail 23 is made of an elastic material, the carrier 10 can be moved over the branch rail 23 positioned at the second position.
The branch rail 23 bends in a curved shape due to the load when 0 passes, and the movement of the carrier 100 passing over the branch rail 23 becomes smooth.

A second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the rail branching mechanism of this example, and in the figure, 31 is the first track rail, 32 is the second track rail, 33 is the branch rail, 34 is the branch part, and 35 is the rotary motor. (Drive source) 36 is a cutting portion, and 37 is a link. In addition,
Although not shown, this example also includes two magnets similar to the previous example.

In the case of this example, the configuration of the branch rail 33 is different from the previous example, but the rest is the same as the previous example.

As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the branch rail 33 is formed by connecting a plurality of unit rails 38 adjacent to each other in the form of a chain, and is biased into a straight line by a spring (opponent force means) 39. There is.

When the carrier 100 passes over this branch rail 33 while it is positioned at the second position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 and held by a magnet (not shown), the branch rail 33 is spring 3
It curves in a curved line against the urging force of 9 and allows the carrier 100 to pass smoothly.

When connecting the first track rail 31 itself, the branch rail 33 is positioned at the first position shown by the chain line in FIG.
0 is supported.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve the following various excellent effects.

(1) Connection switching of the branch rail at the branch part can be reliably performed in a small space, and the holding force of the branch rail when the carrier passes is guaranteed.

(2) Since the branch rail has a simple rotating structure, cost reduction and stable operation can be achieved.

(3) If the branch rail is made of an elastic member or has a structure as shown in FIG. 3, the movement of the carrier moving thereon can be made smoother.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a rail branching mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a rail branching mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a front view showing a rail branching mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Perspective view showing details of main parts, Fig. 4(a)
and Fig. 4(b) are front views showing conventional rail branching mechanisms, in which 21.31 is the first track rail, 22.32 is the second track rail, 23.33 is the branching rail, 24.34 is a branch part, 25.35 is a rotating motor (drive source), 26.27 is a magnet (holding means), 28.36 is a cutting part, 38 is a unit rail, 39 is a spring (enemy force means), 100 is a career.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first track rail (21) having a cutout (28) at a branching part (24), and a predetermined distance from the first track rail adjacent to one end of the cutout. In an article conveyance system that switches a conveyance path between a second track rail (22) and a second track rail (22) that branches in a vertical direction, the first track rail is connected to the branch part using one end of the cutout part as a fulcrum. A branch rail (23) is provided which is rotatable between a first position where the track rail is connected to the first track rail and a second position where the first track rail is connected to the second track rail. A rail branching mechanism characterized by comprising means for moving the branching rail to a position and a second position and holding the branching rail in the first and second positions, respectively. 2. The rail branching mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the branching rail is formed of an elastic member. 3. The rail branch according to claim 1, wherein the branch rail is constituted by a plurality of unit rails arranged adjacent to each other and a biasing means for biasing the unit rails to become linear. mechanism.