JPS6349583A - Structure of rail exchange branch section - 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 present invention aims to save space for installing a rail for switching and connecting a transport path provided at a branch point where horizontal and vertical transport paths of an article transport system converge, and to switch the transport path. The purpose is to shorten operation time.The connecting rails on both sides are made into a unit on each side, and the conveyance path can be switched by moving the unitized connecting rails on each side in opposite directions. We aim to achieve our objectives by ensuring that the

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a conveyance system equipped with horizontal and vertical conveyance paths that merge at a branch, and in particular, a structure of a rail exchange branch that enables efficient rail exchange for connection switching at a branch in a small space. Regarding.

Transportation systems that transport goods between stations within an office by running on a pair of rails or using transport vehicles such as near-motor carriers are recently not limited to flat transportation, but are also used to store documents on the upper and lower floors of offices such as high-speed buildings. It has also come to be used for three-dimensional transportation to move conveyed objects at high speed. When carrying out three-dimensional transportation across upper and lower floors in this way, a structure is adopted in which the rail connection is switched at a branching point where the horizontal rail and the vertical rail meet.

There is a strong demand for the structure of such a branch to meet the space constraints for installation without spoiling the aesthetics of the office, and making it more compact is an important issue.

[Conventional technology] Figure 4(a) shows an outline of the structure of a conventional rail exchange branch.

(shown in bl. FIG. 4 (al is a front view, FIG. 4 (bl is a plan view, in the figure, 1 is a first conveyance path provided vertically,
Reference numeral 2 designates a second transport path provided horizontally, reference numerals 3 and 3 designate linear first connection rails, and reference numerals 4 and 4 designate curved second connection rails. The first conveyance path 1 is constituted by a pair of rails 5.5 extending in the vertical direction, and the second conveyance path 2 is constituted by a pair of rails 6.6 extending in the horizontal direction. First connecting rail 3.3 and second connecting rail 4.4
are rails 5.5, respectively, as shown in Figure 4(b).
and the rails 6.6 are integrated with the same spacing W between the rails 6.6 to form the rail unit 7. This rail unit 7 includes the first rail unit 7. It is provided at the branching part 8, which is the confluence of the second conveyance path 1.degree.2, and is movable in the left-right direction in FIG. 4('b). The procedure for switching the connection of the transport path (rail exchange) at the branching section 8 of this transport system is as follows. When connecting the first conveyance path 1 itself at the branch part 8, the rail unit 7 is positioned in the state shown in FIG. 4('b). As a result, the first connection rails 3, 3 are connected to the upper and lower first
The transport vehicle 9 can pass through the branch 8 and travel up and down. Also, 1st. When connecting the second conveyance path 1.degree.2, the rail unit is moved a distance S to the right as indicated by the arrow from the position of the mountain in FIG. Thereby, the second conveyance path 2 is connected to the first conveyance path 1 above the branch part 8 via the second connection rails 4, 4, and the conveyance vehicle 9 passes through the branch part 8 and is connected to the first conveyance path 1 above the branch part 8. It is possible to travel from one conveyance path to another conveyance path.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In this way, in the conventional structure, the first. By moving the rail unit formed by integrating the second connection rail in the direction across the transport path, the transport path connection is switched at the branching part, and the rail unit has a width that is more than twice the width of the transport path. Since it requires a large amount of installation space, it also has the disadvantage of increasing the amount of movement when switching connections, which increases the operation time. [Means to solve the problem] The present invention provides a structure for a rail exchange branch that can solve the above-mentioned problems, and its principle is illustrated in Figure 1 (
Shown in a) and (b). FIG. 1 (al) is a front view, and FIG. 1 ('b) is a side view. In the figures, 11 is a first conveyance path, 12 is a second conveyance path, and 13 and 14 are rail units.

The first conveyance path 11 consists of a pair of first rails 15.15 that extend along a first axis and are arranged in parallel along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Route 12 is the first. The rails 1 are arranged in parallel along a third axis perpendicular to the second axis.
It consists of a pair of second rails 16° 16 that diverge from 5.15 at a branching portion 17. The first transport path 11 is partially cut out at the branch 17, and the rail units 13, 14 are provided at the branch 17. The rail unit 13 includes a linear first connection rail on one side that connects the cutout portion of the first conveyance path 11;
1st. A curved second connection rail 19 on one side that connects the second conveyance paths 11 and 12 is integrated with a gap a such that the second connection rail 19 is on the outside. , the rail unit 14 is connected to the first . Connect the second connecting rail 18.19 to the second connecting rail 19.
They are integrated with each other at a distance a such that they are on the outside.

Furthermore, in the present invention, although not shown in FIG. Positioning means for respectively positioning the first connecting position where the path 11 itself is connected and the second connecting point 1 where the second connecting rail 19.19 connects the first and second conveying paths 11.12. is provided. Figure 1 (bl shows the rail unit 13° 14 positioned at the first connection position, and the second connection position is a position moved inward (in the direction of the arrow) by a distance a from this position. .

[Effect]

When connecting the first transport path 11 cut out at the branching part 17 at the branching part 17, the rail unit 1-1
3.14 is positioned at the first connection position by the positioning means. Thereby, the first connection rail 18 connects the cutout portion of the first rail 15, and the connection of the first conveyance path 11 is realized. In this case, the transport vehicle 9 can pass through the branching section 17 and move on the first transport path 11 .

Also, 1st. When connecting the second transport path 11.12 at the branch 17, the rail unit 13.14 is positioned in the second connection position. This causes the second connection rail 19 to connect to the first connection rail 19. Connect the second rail 15.16 to the first rail. The connection of the second conveyor 11.12 is realized.

In this case, the transport vehicle 9 can pass through the branching part 17 and move between the first transport path 11 and the second transport path 12.

Note that when positioning the rail unit (13.14) at the second connection position, the first connection rail 18 is connected to the rail 1.
5.16, but since this connecting rail 18 is straight, it does not interfere with the travel of the transport vehicle 9.

〔Example〕

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the structure of the rail exchange branching section according to the present invention (transport vehicle omitted), and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line mm in FIG. This is a positioning means not shown.

Also, 9 is a transport vehicle, 11.12 is the first vehicle. The second conveyance path, 13.14 is a rail unit, 15.16 is a first conveyance path. The second rail, 17 is the branch part, 18° 19 is the first rail. In the second connecting rail, each of these members has the function of the configuration 2 described above in connection with FIG. 9
The details of the action will be explained.

The transport vehicle 9 includes a secondary conductor 21 corresponding to a stator on the rail side (not shown), wheels 22 and 23 that hold the upper side of the rail between the upper and lower sides, and wheels 2 that abut on the inside of the side side of the rail.
4.

The rail unit 1-13.14 is configured by integrating a linear first connection rail 18 and a curved second connection rail 19 through a connecting portion 25.

The positioning means 20 is composed of a fixed motor 26 and threaded shafts 28 and 29 that are rotated in opposite directions by the motor 26 via a bevel gear mechanism 27, and each shaft 28, 29 has a threaded shaft. Sections 30.31 are provided. The threaded portion 30.31 is screwed into a nut 32 fixed to the connection 25 of each rail unit 13.14.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which each rail unit is positioned at the first connection position, and in this state, the linear first connection rail 18 of each rail unit is connected to the first conveyance path 11 itself. Connected. In this case, the transport vehicle 9 can pass through the branching section 17 and move on the first transport path 11 . If you want to change the connection of the transport path from this state,
The motor 26 is rotated by a predetermined amount in a predetermined direction. As a result, each shaft 28, 29 rotates a predetermined amount in opposite directions, and each rail unit 13, 14, in which the threaded portion 30, 31 and nut 32 are screwed, moves inward by a predetermined distance (as shown in FIG. 1(b)). Distance a) moved and positioned in the second connection position.

During this movement, each rail Uniso 1-13. '14 is guided by the guide bar 33 (see Figure 2) and moves smoothly, and when the movement is completed, the first connection rail 18 is positioned at the position indicated by the chain line, and the curved second connection rail 18 is positioned at the position indicated by the chain line. The connection rail 19 moves to the position where the first connection rail 18 was previously. As a result, the first. Second conveyance path 11°12
are connected at the branching part 17, and the transport vehicle 9 is connected at the branching part 1.
7 and can move between both conveyance paths.

Thereafter, when it is desired to position each unit 1-13, 14 in the first connection position, it is sufficient to rotate the motor 26 by the same amount in the opposite direction to that described above.

Note that if a ball screw method is adopted for the threaded portion of the threaded portion 30.31 of the shaft and the napht 32, each rail unit 13.14 can move more smoothly.

Furthermore, when positioning each rail unit 13, 14 to the second connection position, the first connection rail 18 is located inside the rail of each conveyance path;
Since the line 8 is linear, the passage of the transport vehicle 9 cannot be prevented. Taking this into consideration, the rail units are configured with the second connection rail 19 on the outside, and the rail units are moved in opposite directions to each other for positioning.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the rail is replaced and the conveyance path is switched by moving only the distance a shown in FIG. can be made significantly more compact, and the time required for switching can also be shortened.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 (a), (bl is a principle diagram of the present invention, Figure 2 is a front view showing the structure of the rail exchange branch part of the embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line mm in Figure 2). Fig. 4fa) and Fig. 4(bl) are a front view and a plan view showing an outline of the structure of a conventional rail exchange branching section, in which 9 is a transport vehicle, 11 is a first transport path, 12 13 and 14 are the second transport path, 13 and 14 are the rail units, 15 and 16 are the first and second rails, 17 is the branching part, 18 is the straight first connecting rail, and 19 is the curved second rail. 20 is a positioning means, and 25 is a connecting portion.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A part of the first conveyance path is branched, which is made up of a pair of first rails that extend along a first axis and are arranged in parallel along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. A cutout is made at the branch part, and from the branch part,
A second rail comprising a pair of second rails extending along a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes and arranged in parallel along the second axis.
The transport path branches, and the first transport path branches into the branch part.
A pair of linear first connection rails connecting the cutout portions of the conveyance path, and a curved pair of second connection rails connecting the first and second conveyance paths. In a conveyance system in which the connection of the conveyance path is changed by being replaceable, the first and second connection rails on one side and the first and second connection rails on the other side are connected to each other. In the direction along the second axis, the two rail units are integrated at a predetermined interval so that the second connecting rail is on the outside, and each of the rail units is integrated along the second axis. By moving in the opposite direction, the first connection rail connects the first transport path itself to a first connection position, and the second connection rail connects the first and second transport paths. A structure of a rail exchange branch section, characterized in that positioning means for positioning each second connection position to be connected is provided.