KR20210158246A - Vehicle lift - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle hoist capable of improving vehicle transport efficiency. A vehicle hoist comprises: a chamber arranged at different heights in a vertical direction, connected to multi-layered running rails extending in a front-rear direction, and accommodating a vehicle running along the running rails; a plurality of support rails provided in the chamber to be lifted and lowered to the height of the traveling rails, and each supporting the vehicle; and a circulation device for circulating the support rails along a vertical direction so that the support rails maintain a horizontal state.

Description

vehicle lifting device {Vehicle lift}

The present invention relates to a vehicle lifting device, and more particularly, to a vehicle lifting device for raising and lowering a vehicle between multi-layer rails having different heights.

In general, an article transfer apparatus transfers articles such as wafers, printed circuit boards, and reticles to article processing units that respectively perform deposition, exposure, etching, and cleaning. The articles may be transported loaded in a FOUP, FOSB, magazine, reticle pod, or the like. The article transport device transports the article or loads the article to the article handling units while the vehicle moves along the traveling rail.

When the running rails are multi-level running rails of different heights, the article transport device may use a slope rail or a vehicle lift to move the vehicle between the multi-level running rails.

Since the slope rail has a low inclination for the vehicle to travel, a length of the slope rail may be increased. In addition, it is impossible to load and steer the vehicle on the slope rail. Accordingly, the efficiency of the slope rail may be reduced.

Since the vehicle lift is fixed to the ceiling, it is difficult to fix the vehicle lift to the ceiling due to the weight of the vehicle lift when the length of the vehicle lift is increased. In addition, since the vehicle lift can raise and lower only one vehicle, the transport efficiency of the vehicle lift may be reduced.

The present invention provides a vehicle lifting device capable of improving vehicle transport efficiency.

A vehicle elevating device according to the present invention includes a chamber for accommodating a vehicle that is disposed at different heights in a vertical direction and is connected to multi-layered traveling rails extending in a front-rear direction and traveling along the traveling rails; A plurality of support rails each supporting the vehicle and a circulation mechanism that circulates the support rails in the vertical direction so that the support rails maintain a horizontal state. can

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the circulation mechanism is connected to the annular guide member extending in the vertical direction, the rotation driving unit for rotating the guide member, and the guide member, each fixing the support rails It may include fixed arms.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the fixing arms may rotate the support rails about a rotation support shaft so that the support rails may maintain the horizontal state.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, vehicle detection sensors are provided in the chamber at the heights of the traveling rails, respectively, and detect the vehicle supported on the support rails so that the vehicle is precisely positioned at the heights. may include

According to embodiments of the present invention, the support rails may be arranged to circulate in a left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction, which is an extension direction of the traveling rails.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the chamber may be further connected to the traveling rails spaced apart from each other in the left and right directions at the same height, and the vehicle may be transported in the left and right directions while the support rails circulate in the vertical direction. .

According to embodiments of the present invention, the support rails may include a second support rail for maintaining the vehicle.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, it may include at least one height measuring sensor disposed on the second support rail for measuring the height of the driving wheels of the vehicle.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a left height measuring sensor for measuring the heights of the left driving wheels of the vehicle and a right height measuring sensor for measuring the heights of the right driving wheels of the vehicle are located above the second support rail A sensor may be disposed.

According to embodiments of the present invention, at least one second height measuring sensor disposed on the second support rail for measuring a height of the second support rail may be further included.

According to embodiments of the present invention, at least one guide rail disposed above the second support rail and configured to support upper guide wheels of the vehicle may be further included.

According to embodiments of the present invention, recesses corresponding to the traveling wheels of the vehicle may be provided on the upper portion of the second support rail.

According to embodiments of the present invention, spacers inserted into the recesses and having the same thickness as the depth of the recesses may be further included.

According to the present invention, the vehicle lifting device may circulate the plurality of support rails each supporting the vehicle in the vertical direction. The vehicle lifting device can accommodate a plurality of the vehicles and can simultaneously raise and lower the vehicles. Accordingly, the efficiency of the vehicle lifting device can be improved.

Also, since the vehicle lifting device easily extends in the vertical direction, it may be connected to a plurality of traveling rails having different heights in the vertical direction.

In addition, the vehicle lifting device may include a second support rail for maintaining the vehicle. Since various maintenance operations for the vehicle can be performed in the chamber, the cost and time required for maintenance of the vehicle can be reduced.

1 is a schematic side view for explaining a vehicle lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic front view for explaining the vehicle lifting device shown in FIG. 1 .
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view for explaining another example of the vehicle lifting device shown in FIG. 1 .
FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view for explaining the driving modules shown in FIG. 1 .
5 is an enlarged plan view for explaining the support structure shown in FIG.
6 is a schematic enlarged configuration diagram for explaining the second support rail and vehicle shown in FIG. 1 .
FIG. 7 is a schematic enlarged bottom view for explaining the base panel shown in FIG. 6 .
FIG. 8 is a schematic enlarged configuration diagram for explaining a method of adjusting positions of guide wheels shown in FIG. 4 .

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Since the present invention can have various changes and can have various forms, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the text. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to the specific disclosed form, it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. In describing each figure, like reference numerals have been used for like elements. In the accompanying drawings, the dimensions of the structures are enlarged than the actual size for clarity of the present invention.

Terms such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various elements, but the elements should not be limited by the terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may also be referred to as a first component.

The terms used in the present application are only used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present application, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate that a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or a combination thereof described in the specification exists, but one or more other features It is to be understood that it does not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related art, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless explicitly defined in the present application. does not

1 is a schematic side view illustrating a vehicle lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view illustrating the vehicle lifting device shown in FIG. 1 , and FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. It is a schematic side view for explaining another example of the vehicle lifting device, FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view for explaining the driving modules shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view for explaining the support structure shown in FIG. It is a plan view, FIG. 6 is a schematic enlarged configuration diagram for explaining the second support rail and vehicle shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 7 is a schematic enlarged bottom view for explaining the base panel shown in FIG. 6 , FIG. 8 is a schematic enlarged configuration diagram for explaining a method of adjusting the positions of the guide wheels shown in FIG. 4 .

1 and 2 , the vehicle lifting device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may raise and lower the vehicle 30 in the vertical direction (X-axis direction). For example, the vehicle lifting device 100 may be used for lifting and lowering the vehicle 30 in the overhead traveling transfer device 10 .

The ceiling traveling transport device 10 is arranged at different heights in the vertical direction on the ceiling of the clean room, and includes multi-layered traveling rails 20 and the traveling rails 20 extending in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). It may include the vehicle 30 configured to be movable in each phase. Although not shown in detail, the vehicle 30 is mounted on the driving modules 40 that provide driving force for moving along the driving rails 20 and the driving modules 40 and is mounted on the lower part of the driving modules 40 to transport goods. It may include a hoist module 70 for The hoist module 70 may include a gripper unit for picking up an object to be transported, a hoist unit for vertical movement of the gripper unit, and a robot for horizontal movement and rotation of the gripper unit and the hoist unit.

Referring to FIG. 4 , each driving module 40 includes driving wheels 42 disposed on the upper driving rail 20 and the lower driving rail 22 , and the driving wheels 42 are mounted thereon. A main body 44 and guide wheels 46 disposed on the main body 44 and for supporting and guiding the driving module 40 at a branch point may be provided. Although not shown in detail, the main body 44 includes a first driving unit for rotating the driving wheels 42 and a second driving unit for moving the guide wheels 46 left and right with respect to the driving direction. can do. The guide wheels 46 may be disposed on the movable member 48 configured to be movable in the left and right directions, and at both upper sides of the main body 44, a support structure for supporting the movable member 48 ( 50) may be respectively disposed.

Referring to FIG. 5 , each support structure 50 includes a support frame 52 mounted on the main body 44 and a stopper made of a metal such as aluminum disposed to be spaced apart from the support frame 52 by a predetermined distance. The member 54 may include a support member 56 disposed on a side surface of the stopper member 54 and made of a plastic material such as polyacetal for supporting the movable member 48 . The plastic support member 56 may be used to reduce particle generation, and the support member 56 and the stopper member 54 may be mounted to the support frame 52 by a fastening member such as a bolt. can

Meanwhile, shim plates 60 for adjusting the positions of the guide wheels 46 may be inserted between the support frame 52 and the stopper member 54 . For example, shim plates 60 having a thickness of about 0.2 mm may be inserted between the support frame 52 and the stopper member 54 , depending on the number of the inserted shim plates 60 . Accordingly, the positions of the guide wheels 46 may be adjusted.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vehicle lifting device 100 is connected to the traveling rails 20 and provides a space for elevating the vehicle 30 traveling along the traveling rails 20 . a plurality of support rails 120 and the support rails provided so as to be able to ascend and descend to the height of the traveling rails 20 inside the chamber 110 and support the vehicle 30, respectively (120) may include a circulation mechanism 130 for circulating the support rails 120 in the vertical direction to maintain a horizontal state.

The chamber 110 may have a substantially rectangular shape.

Openings 111 for entering and exiting the vehicle 30 may be provided at the height of the traveling rails 20 at the front and rear surfaces of the chamber 110 . That is, ends of the traveling rails 20 may be respectively disposed inside the openings 111 as shown.

The support rails 120 may support the vehicle 30 , respectively, and may move up and down to heights of the traveling rails 20 . In this case, the support rails 120 may be raised or lowered to be higher or lower than the heights of the traveling rails 20 .

The circulation mechanism 130 may circulate the support rails 120 in the vertical direction to raise or lower the support rails 120 to the heights of the traveling rails 20 . For example, the circulation mechanism 130 may be a carousel type.

Specifically, the circulation mechanism 130 is connected to the annular guide member 131 extending in the vertical direction, the rotation driving unit 132 for rotating the guide member 131 and the guide member 131 , and the It may include fixing arms 133 for fixing the support rails 120, respectively.

An example of the guide member 131 may be a belt or a chain, and an example of the rotation driving unit 132 may be a motor including a pulley or a gear.

The fixing arms 133 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval along the vertical direction on the guide member 131 .

The fixing arms 133 each have a rotation support shaft 134 for fixing the support rails 120 . The rotation support shafts 134 may respectively fix the support rails 120 , and the support rails 120 may rotate about the rotation support shaft 134 . Accordingly, even when the guide member 131 rotates in the vertical direction, the support rails 120 fixed to the fixing arms 133 may maintain the horizontal state.

Since the support rails 120 can each support the vehicle 30 , the vehicle lifting device 100 can accommodate the plurality of vehicles 30 . In addition, since the support rails 120 circulate in the vertical direction, the plurality of vehicles 30 can be simultaneously raised and lowered. Accordingly, the vehicle lifting device 100 can quickly transport the vehicles 30 to the heights of the traveling rails 20 , and the efficiency of the vehicle lifting device 100 can be improved.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the support rails 120 have a left-right direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the front-rear direction, which is an extension direction of the traveling rails 20 . It can be arranged to cycle along. In this case, the chamber 110 may be further connected to the traveling rails 20 spaced apart from each other in the left and right directions at the same height.

The support rails 120 may move in the left and right directions while circulating in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the vehicle lifting device 100 may transport the vehicle 30 between the traveling rails 20 of the same height spaced apart in the left and right directions.

Alternatively, like the vehicle lifting device 100a shown in FIG. 3 , the support rails 120 may be arranged to circulate in the front-rear direction, which is the same direction as the extension direction of the traveling rails 20 . In this case, the vehicle lifting device 100a cannot transport the vehicle 30 between the traveling rails 20 of the same height spaced apart in the left and right directions.

The support rails 120 may include a second support rail 120a for maintaining the vehicle 30 .

The second support rail 120a is preferably provided with one of the support rails 120, but may be provided in plurality.

6 and 7 , the second support rail 120a may be connected to each other by connection bridges 122 , and a base panel 124 may be disposed on the connection bridges 122 . have.

For example, a height measuring sensor 150 for measuring the height of the driving wheels 42 of the vehicle 30 may be mounted on a lower surface of the base panel 124 . The height measuring sensor 150 may include left and right height measuring sensors 150 for measuring the height of the left and right driving wheels 42 of the driving module 40 .

In addition, second height measuring sensors 152 for measuring the height of the second support rail 120a may be mounted on the lower surface of the base panel 124 . That is, the height of the driving wheels 42 measured by the left and right height measuring sensors 150 and the height of the second support rail 120a measured by the second height measuring sensors 152 . may be compared to each other to determine the degree of wear of the driving wheels 42 , and whether to replace the driving wheels 42 may be determined according to the result.

However, unlike the above, the height of the second support rail 120a may be measured by the left and right height measuring sensors 150 . In this case, the second height measuring sensors 152 may be omitted.

In addition, a guide rail 160 for adjusting the positions of the guide wheels 46 may be disposed on a lower surface of the base panel 124 . The guide rail 160 may be disposed to be elongated in the traveling direction of the vehicle 30 , or two guide rails 160 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the traveling direction as shown.

Referring to FIG. 6 , recesses 126 corresponding to the driving wheels 42 of the vehicle 30 may be provided on an upper portion of the second support rail 120a, and the recesses 126 may be provided. Spacers 128 having the same thickness as the depth of the recesses 126 may be inserted therein. In particular, when the driving wheels 42 are positioned on the spacers 128 , the guide wheels 46 may be positioned on the side surfaces of the guide rails 160 .

As shown above, when one of the spacers 128 is removed while the guide wheels 46 are positioned on the side surfaces of the guide rails 160, the spacer 128 is removed. A predetermined gap G may be formed between the bottom surface of the recess 126 and the corresponding driving wheel 42 . For example, the depth of the recess 126 may be about 2 mm.

Meanwhile, as the number of the shim plates 60 increases, the gap G may also increase, so that the number of the shim plates 60 mounted may be adjusted so that the gap G becomes a preset value. have. For example, the number of mounting of the shim plate 60 may be adjusted so that the gap G is about 2.3 mm to 2.5 mm. (42) can be repeated 4 times.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2 , while the second support rail 120a circulates along the vertical direction like the support rails 120 , or in a state in which the second support rail 120a is stopped, the A state check of the vehicle 30 supported on the second support rail 120a may be performed.

Although not shown, a first door (not shown) for checking the operating state of the vehicle 30 may be provided on a side surface of the chamber 110 . After the vehicle 30 is lowered to a height lower than the heights of the traveling rails 20 by the second support rail 120a, the operator opens the first door and then operates the vehicle 30 can be checked. For example, the operating states of the driving modules 40 and the hoist module 70, the operating states of various sensors, etc. may be checked by the operator.

On the other hand, when the operating state of the vehicle 30 is poor and repair or replacement of parts is required, the vehicle 30 may be taken out from the chamber 110 . To this end, the chamber 110 may be provided with a second door (not shown) for carrying in and taking out the vehicle 30 .

On the inner surface of the chamber 110, the vehicle ( 30), vehicle detection sensors 180 may be provided.

The vehicle detection sensors 180 are respectively disposed at the heights of the traveling rails 20 .

The vehicle 30 may be detected by sensing the support rails 120 with the vehicle detection sensors 180 . Alternatively, the vehicle detection sensors 180 may directly detect the vehicle 30 .

The vehicle detection sensors 180 may be proximity sensors or light sensors.

As an example, when the optical sensors are used as the vehicle detection sensors 180 , reflectors may be provided on the support rails 120 or the vehicle 30 .

The circulation mechanism 130 circulates the support rails 120 in the vertical direction until the vehicle detection sensors 180 detect the vehicle 30 . Since the position of the vehicle 30 in the chamber 110 can be confirmed using the vehicle detection sensors 180 , the circulation mechanism 130 is supported by the vehicle 30 supported on the support rails 120 . ) can be precisely raised to the heights of the traveling rails 20 .

As described above, the vehicle lifting device may circulate the plurality of support rails each supporting the vehicle in the vertical direction. The vehicle lifting device can accommodate a plurality of the vehicles and can simultaneously raise and lower the vehicles. Accordingly, the efficiency of the vehicle lifting device can be improved.

Also, since the vehicle lifting device easily extends in the vertical direction, it may be connected to a plurality of traveling rails having different heights in the vertical direction.

In addition, the vehicle lifting device may include a second support rail for maintaining the vehicle. Since various maintenance operations for the vehicle can be performed in the chamber, the cost and time required for maintenance of the vehicle can be reduced.

Although the above has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art can variously modify and change the present invention within the scope without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims. You will understand that you can.

10: ceiling traveling transport device 20: traveling rail
30: vehicle 40: driving module
42: driving wheel 44: body
46: guide wheel 48: movable member
50: support structure 60: shim plate
70: hoist module
100: vehicle lifting device 110: chamber
120: support rail 120a: second support rail
122: connecting bridge 124: base panel
126: recess 128: spacer
130: circulation mechanism 131: guide member
132: rotation driving unit 133: fixed arm
134: rotation support shaft 150: height measuring sensor
152: second height measuring sensor 160: guide rail
180: vehicle detection sensor

Claims (13)

a chamber arranged at different heights in the vertical direction and connected to the multi-layered running rails extending in the front-rear direction and accommodating the vehicle running along the running rails;
a plurality of support rails provided in the chamber to be elevated to a height of the traveling rails, each supporting the vehicle; and
and a circulation mechanism for circulating the support rails in the vertical direction so that the support rails are maintained in a horizontal state. According to claim 1, wherein the circulation mechanism,
an annular guide member extending in the vertical direction;
a rotation driving unit for rotating the guide member; and
and fixed arms connected to the annular guide member and fixing the support rails, respectively. The vehicle elevating device according to claim 2, wherein the fixing arms rotate the support rails about a rotation support shaft so that the support rails maintain the horizontal state. The vehicle detection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the chamber includes vehicle detection sensors respectively provided at the heights of the traveling rails and sensing the vehicle supported on the support rails so that the vehicle is precisely positioned at the heights. vehicle lifting device. The vehicle elevating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support rails are arranged to circulate in a left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction, which is an extension direction of the traveling rails. The method of claim 5, wherein the chamber is further connected to the traveling rail spaced apart from each other in the left and right directions at the same height,
The vehicle lifting device, characterized in that the support rails circulate in the vertical direction to transport the vehicle in the left and right directions. The vehicle lifting device of claim 1, wherein the support rails include a second support rail for maintaining the vehicle. 8. The vehicle elevating device according to claim 7, comprising at least one height measuring sensor disposed above the second support rail and configured to measure the height of the traveling wheels of the vehicle. The method according to claim 7, wherein a left height measuring sensor for measuring the heights of the left driving wheels of the vehicle and a right height measuring sensor for measuring the heights of the right driving wheels of the vehicle are disposed on the upper portion of the second support rail Vehicle lifting device, characterized in that. 8. The vehicle lifting device according to claim 7, further comprising at least one second height measuring sensor disposed on the second support rail and configured to measure a height of the second support rail. 8. The vehicle lifting device of claim 7, further comprising at least one guide rail disposed on the second support rail and configured to support upper guide wheels of the vehicle. The vehicle lifting device according to claim 7, wherein recesses corresponding to the traveling wheels of the vehicle are provided in an upper portion of the second support rail. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising spacers inserted into the recesses and having a thickness equal to the depth of the recesses.

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