US20040011239A1 - Conveyance apparatus using movable body - Google Patents
Conveyance apparatus using movable body Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20040011239A1 US20040011239A1 US10/601,447 US60144703A US2004011239A1 US 20040011239 A1 US20040011239 A1 US 20040011239A1 US 60144703 A US60144703 A US 60144703A US 2004011239 A1 US2004011239 A1 US 2004011239A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- members
- movable bodies
- movable body
- guided
- lateral travel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G35/00—Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for
- B65G35/06—Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61B—RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B61B13/00—Other railway systems
- B61B13/12—Systems with propulsion devices between or alongside the rails, e.g. pneumatic systems
- B61B13/127—Systems with propulsion devices between or alongside the rails, e.g. pneumatic systems the propulsion device consisting of stationary driving wheels
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61B—RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B61B3/00—Elevated railway systems with suspended vehicles
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, which is used to move a movable body for conveying items on a fixed path located on a floor or on a ceiling, for example.
- the main body of a movable body which is able to move along a fixed path by being supported and guided on rails by means of a plurality of guided devices, is formed by three frame members which are connected, by means of a connecting device, in a relatively rotatable fashion in lateral directions traversing the longitudinal travelling direction of the movable body.
- a supporting section for items to be conveyed is provided on the middle frame, and a group of guided devices are connected, by means of a vertical axle, to the movable body in a relatively rotatable fashion.
- a plurality of divided rail members capable of supporting the group of guided devices are provided in a set path section within the fixed path, and furthermore, rotating means for causing these divided rail members to rotate about a vertical axis are also provided.
- a group of lateral travel rail members capable of connecting to the divided rail members when the latter are rotated and separated from the rails, are provided to the lateral side of the set path section.
- the respective guided devices of the movable body are supported on the divided rail members, and in this state, the group of divided rail members are connected to the lateral travel rail members by reverse rotation of rotating means.
- the respective guided devices can assume a posture facing sideways in the lateral direction, whilst the main body of the movable body is aligned in a direction following the set path section.
- the movable body can be moved laterally whilst the main body of the movable body remains in an attitude aligned with the set path section. Consequently, by forming a storage path from a lateral travel path section composed of a group of lateral travel rail members, it is possible to store the movable bodies in such a manner that the main bodies thereof are aligned laterally in parallel.
- the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies is a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies in which each movable body is able to move along a fixed path by being supported and guided on a main rail by means of a plurality of guided devices, the main body of the movable body being formed by a plurality of frame members connected in a relatively rotatable fashion in a traverse direction with respect to a longitudinal direction via connecting devices, at least one of the frame members being provided with a supporting section for conveyed items, each of the guided devices being coupled in a relatively rotatable fashion to the movable body by means of vertical axles, characterized in that a plurality of lateral travel rail members are provided on a lateral side of a prescribed region of the fixed path for supporting and guiding the guided devices in such a manner that the frame member provided with the supporting section assumes an orthogonal position with respect to a direction of travel, whilst the other frame members become aligned with the direction of travel,
- the movable body in linear shaped path sections of the fixed path, can be moved in such a manner that the main body thereof, in other words, the respective frame members thereof, assume a linear attitude in a plan view.
- the movable body in a left or right-hand curved path section, can be moved in such a manner that the respective frame members thereof assume a curved attitude in accordance with the curved path, also in a plan view, by means of the connecting devices, and in this case, such curvature is achieved by relative rotation of the guided devices about vertical axles.
- the movable body can be conveyed smoothly by automatically adjusting the orientation thereof in accordance with the leftward or rightward curvature of the rail.
- a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies is such that the main body of the movable body is formed by three frame members, the supporting section being provided on the middle frame member, and a pair of lateral travel rail members are provided in such a manner that the movable body is conveyed laterally in a state wherein the front frame member thereof is aligned with one of the lateral travel rail members, and the rear frame member thereof is bent to be aligned with the other lateral travel rail member.
- this first aspect it is possible to branch off and convey a movable body in a lateral direction with respect to the fixed path, in a state where the middle frame member provided with the supporting section assumes an orthogonal position with respect to the direction of travel, whilst the front frame member and rear frame member are bent so as to be aligned with the lateral travel rail members.
- movable bodies can be moved in a lateral direction in a state where a spacing corresponding to the length of the front frame member and the rear frame member is guaranteed therebetween in the lateral travel direction.
- a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a second aspect of the present invention is such that when a plurality of movable bodies are supported and guided on the lateral travel rail members, guided devices of preceding and following movable bodies which are adjacently positioned in the direction of travel can be coupled together.
- a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a third aspect of the present invention is such that motional force applying means is provided for applying motional force to a movable body supported on the plurality of lateral travel rail members.
- a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is such that the region where the lateral travel rail members are provided is formed into a working path section with respect to conveyed items.
- a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is such that the movable body is formed with passive surfaces on the side faces of the respective frame members thereof, and feeding means having feed rollers capable of abutting on these passive surfaces is provided in the fixed path.
- a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies is such that the branching means comprises a plurality of divided rail members formed by dividing the main rail in the prescribed region and being capable of supporting the guided devices, and rotating devices for causing these divided rail members to rotate about vertical axes.
- the divided rail members by causing the divided rail members to rotate about the vertical axles by operating the rotating devices so as to connect them to the main rail whilst separating them from the lateral travel rail members, it is possible to cause the guided devices of the conveyed movable body to be transferred from the main rail to the group of divided rail members, whereupon the movable object can be halted in a position wherein the guided devices are supported by corresponding divided rail members.
- the divided rail members can be separated from the main rail and connected with the lateral travel rail members by reverse rotation of the rotating devices, and by means of this rotational force on the divided rail members, the guided devices can be rotated about vertical axles with respect to the main body or a supporting section of the movable body.
- the guided devices can be transferred from the divided rail members onto the lateral travel rail members.
- the divided rail members can be separated from the lateral travel rail members and connected with the main rail, thereby returning the system to the initial state.
- a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is such that the branching means is composed in such a manner that all of the movable bodies arriving at the prescribed region in the fixed path are caused to branch off onto the plurality of lateral travel rail members.
- a movable body arriving at the prescribed region is always transferred to the lateral travel rail members and conveyed laterally, without allowing it to pass through the prescribed region.
- a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies is such that the branching means is composed to branch off the movable body in such a manner that the frame members other than the frame member provided with the supporting section assume an orthogonal attitude in a same direction, with respect to the frame member provided with the supporting section.
- the movable body can be conveyed laterally in a U-shaped bent attitude, wherein the other frame members are positioned mutually in parallel, in alignment with the lateral travel rail members, and hence a force for lateral conveyance, and the like, can be applied in a stable fashion by means of these other frame members in parallel alignment.
- a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is such that the movable body comprises a supporting section for conveyed items in a lower portion of at least one of the frame members.
- FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a divided rail member section in a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before rotation, according to a first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a fixed path section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies
- FIG. 3 is a side view of a movable body in a linear path section of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 4 is a plan view of the movable body in the linear path section of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies
- FIG. 5 is a rear view of the movable body in the linear path section of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies
- FIG. 6 is a side view of a principal section of the movable body in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies
- FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway plan view of a principal section of the movable body in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway rear view of the movable body in a feeding means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway side view of the feeding means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies
- FIG. 10 is a plan view of the feeding means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies
- FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway side view of a curved section-feeding means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 12 is a plan view of the curved section-feeding means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies
- FIG. 13 is a front view of a start end section of a working path section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies
- FIG. 14 is a side view of a final end section of the working path section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies
- FIG. 15 is a partially cutaway front view of various means in the working path section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 16 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before branching is started;
- FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, when branching is started;
- FIG. 18 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, during branching;
- FIG. 19 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, when branching is finished;
- FIG. 20 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before joining is started;
- FIG. 21 is a side view of a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before branching is started, according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 22 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before branching is started;
- FIG. 23 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, during branching;
- FIG. 24 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, when branching is finished;
- FIG. 25 is a schematic plan view of a branching means section in a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 26 is a schematic plan view of a joining means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies
- FIG. 27 is a partially cutaway side view of a branching means section in a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before branching is started, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 28 is a partially cutaway plan view of the branching means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before branching is started;
- FIG. 29 is a partially cutaway side view of the branching means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, during branching;
- FIG. 30 is a partially cutaway plan view of the branching means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, during branching;
- FIG. 31 is a side view of a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
- a first embodiment of the present invention is described below in a mode applied to a ceiling-located travel system for movable bodies, with reference to FIG. 1-FIG. 20.
- a main rail 2 having an I-shaped cross section is provided on a ceiling-mounted machine frame 1 .
- This main rail 2 forms a fixed path 5 .
- the fixed path 5 comprises, in plan view, for example, a pair of parallel linear shaped path sections 5 a , 5 c, and a curved path section 5 b which connects between the front and end portions of the linear shaped path sections 5 a , 5 c, and the like.
- a portion of one of the pair of linear-shaped path sections 5 c is formed into a prescribed region 5 d, and a working path section 6 is formed orthogonally on one side of this prescribed region 5 d.
- a separate fixed path 5 A which is orthogonal to the working path section 6 and parallel to the linear path section 5 c is similarly formed by a main rail 2 A, or the like, having an I-shaped cross-section.
- a movable body 10 is provided which is supported and guided by the main rail 2 , 2 A and is capable of moving along the fixed paths 5 , 5 A.
- the main body 11 of this movable body 10 is constituted by three (a plurality of) frame members 12 , 13 , 14 .
- the respective frame members 12 , 13 , 14 are formed from a square tubular member (square bar-shaped member) which extends in the direction of the fixed path 5 , 5 A, a front end member which is formed integrally with the front end of this square tubular member, and a rear end member which is formed integrally with the rear end thereof, and the like, the two side faces of the movable body 11 being formed into passive surfaces 15 .
- the front face and rear face of the movable body 11 in other words, the front face (free end section) of the front frame member 12 , and the rear face (free end section) of the rear frame member 14 are formed into abutting sections 16 , 17 .
- a plate-shaped passive member 18 is provided in a standing fashion on the upper faces of the front frame member 12 and the rear frame member 14 , and the respective side faces of these passive members 18 are formed into upper passive surfaces 19 .
- the front frame member 12 and the middle frame member 13 , and the middle frame member 13 and the rear frame member 14 are respectively connected together by means of connecting devices 20 , in such a manner that they are relatively rotatable in a crosswise direction and an upward and downward direction.
- the respective connecting devices 20 are provided between the rear end member of the front frame member 12 and the front end member of the middle frame member 13 , and between the rear end member of the middle frame member 13 and the front end member of the rear frame member 14 .
- connection devices 20 wherein a connecting member 22 connects in a relatively rotatable fashion in the crosswise direction with the front end member and rear end member of the middle frame member 13 , via a vertical axle 21 , and moreover, the connecting member 22 also connects in a relatively rotatable fashion in the upward and downward direction with the rear end member of the front frame member 12 and the front end member of the rear frame member 14 via a lateral axle 23 .
- the vertical axle 21 is also constituted in such a manner that it can rotate relatively with respect to the middle frame member 13 or connecting member 22 , about a vertical axis 21 a.
- the movable body 10 is constituted movably along the fixed path 5 , 5 A, by being supported and guided by the main rail 2 , 2 A via a plurality of guided devices.
- the guided devices comprise a middle guided devices 30 connected to the vertical axle 21 , and end guided devices 40 connected to a vertical axle 25 provided on the front end member of the front frame member 12 and the rear end member of the rear frame member 14 , and these guided devices 30 , 40 are composed in a similar trolley structure.
- the vertical axle 25 is composed in a relatively rotatable fashion (turnable fashion) with respect to the front frame member 12 or the rear frame member 14 , about a vertical axis 25 a.
- a trolley member 31 of the middle guided device 30 is constituted by a pair of supporting plate members 31 a arranged on the left and right sides, and a pair of connecting plate members 31 b fixed to the lower portion of these supporting plate members 31 a on the front and rear sides.
- a pair of horizontal pins 32 consisting of front and rear horizontal pins are provided in the upper portion of each of the two supporting plate members 31 a so as to project inwards and in alignment with each other, and supported rollers 33 which fit into the main rail 2 , 2 A and are supported and guided by same, are attached in a freely rotatable fashion on the inward projecting sections of the horizontal pins 32 .
- brackets 34 are provided on the inside of the upper portions of the two supporting plate members 31 a , and to the outer sides, or front and rear sides of the locations where the horizontal pins 32 are provided, such that they are in alignment with each other, and vertical pins 35 extending downwards are fixed to these brackets 34 .
- Guided rollers 36 which contact with the main rail 2 , 2 A and are guided by same are attached in a freely rotatable fashion to each of the vertical pins 35 .
- the middle guided device 30 is connected in a relatively rotatable fashion to the upper end portion of the vertical axle 21 .
- the vertical axle 21 is inserted between the two supporting plate members 31 a and between the two connecting plate members 31 b , and a horizontal pin 24 which passes between the two supporting plate members 31 a is inserted through the top end section of the vertical axle 21 .
- the coupling between the upper end portion of the vertical axle 21 and the middle guided device 30 is achieved by means of the horizontal pin 24 which passes through the upper end portion of the vertical pin 21 .
- the end guided device 40 is generally similar to the middle guided device 30 , the trolley member 41 thereof being constituted by a pair of supporting plates 41 a disposed on the left and right sides, and a plurality of tubular spacer members 41 c provided between the lower portions of these supporting plate members 41 a by means of fixing devices (bolts and nuts) 41 b.
- a single horizontal pin 42 is provided in the upper portion of each of the supporting plate members 41 a so as to project inwards in alignment with each other, and supported rollers 43 which fit into the main rail 2 , 2 A and are supported and guided by same are provided in a freely rotatable fashion on the inward projection portions of the horizontal pins 42 .
- Brackets 44 are provided respectively on the inside of the upper portions of the two supporting plate members 41 a, and on the outsides, or front and rear sides, of the locations where the horizontal pins 42 are provided so that they are in alignment with each other, and vertical pins 45 extending downwards are fixed respectively to these brackets 44 .
- Guided rollers 46 which come into contact with the main rail 2 , 2 A and are guided by same are installed in a freely rotatable fashion on each of the vertical pins 45 .
- lift up prevention rollers 47 which oppose the main rail 2 , 2 A from the underside thereof are provided on a prescribed front and rear pair of the tubular spacer members 41 c, in a freely rotatable fashion.
- the end guided device 40 is connected in a relatively rotatable fashion to the upper end portion of the vertical axis 25 . More specifically, the vertical axle 25 is inserted between the two supporting plate members 41 a and between the lift up prevention rollers 47 , and a horizontal pin 26 which passes between the two supporting plate members 41 a is inserted through the upper end portion of the vertical axle 25 . In this way, the coupling between the upper end portion of the vertical axle 25 and the end guided device 40 is achieved by means of the horizontal pin 26 which passes through the upper end portion of the vertical axle 25 .
- a supporting section 50 for conveyed items is provided on at least one of the three frame members 12 , 13 , 14 forming the main body 11 of the movable body 10 , and more specifically, in a position below the middle frame member 13 .
- This supporting section 50 comprises a longitudinal member 51 provided between the lower ends of the middle vertical axles 21 , crosswise arm members 53 connected respectively via brackets 52 to the front and rear ends of the longitudinal member 51 , and conveyed item supporting devices 54 , or the like, provided on the free ends of the respective arm members 53 .
- the longitudinal member 51 is composed in such a manner that it can rotate relatively about the vertical axis 21 a, with respect to the vertical axle 21 .
- feeding means 60 for applying a travelling force to the movable body 10 by acting on the passive surfaces 15 thereof are provided in the start end portion of the linear shaped path section 5 a .
- the base frame 61 of this feeding means 60 is attached to the upper face of the main rail 2 , and a vertical axle 63 is supported rotatably on a bracket 62 installed on this base frame 61 .
- a link member 64 is installed on the vertical axle 63 , and a supporting member 65 is provided on the free end of this link member 64 .
- An induction motor 66 provided with reduction gears which is one example of a rotational drive device, is installed on the upper face of the supporting member 65 , and a feed roller 68 having an outer circumference portion made from urethane is fixed to an output axle which extends in a downward direction from the induction motor 66 .
- This induction motor 66 is composed so as to impart a feed rotational force A to the feed roller 68 .
- An adjustable swing restricting member 69 in the form of a nut and bolt arrangement is provided between and through the bracket 62 and the supporting member 65 , passing through the vertical axle 63 arranged in the middle therebetween, and furthermore, a compression spring 70 fitted on the outer side of the bolt, is provided between the bracket 62 and the supporting member 65 .
- feeding means 60 is constituted by the elements 61 to 70 , and the like.
- the feeding means 60 causes the supporting member 65 and the link member 64 to swing towards the inner side about a vertical axis 71 , due to the elastic repulsive force of the compression spring 70 , and hence the feed roller 68 is urged in a direction which causes it to abut on the passive surfaces 15 .
- the position of maximum approach is restricted by the swing restricting member 69 .
- braking means 75 for applying a braking force to the movable body 10 by acting on the passive surfaces 15 is provided on the last end portion of the linear shaped path section 5 a .
- This braking means 75 has a similar structure to the feeding means 60 and comprises a braking roller 76 which is able to abut on the passive surfaces 15 of the movable body 11 from the side thereof, and is made of urethane, for example, and a rotational drive device 77 , which is interlocked to this braking roller 76 and which applies a feeding rotational force B to the braking roller 76 .
- the rotational drive device 77 comprises a torque motor, or the like, and the feeding rotational force B is set so as to be smaller than the feeding rotational force A of the induction motor 56 , in other words, such that A>B.
- feeding means 78 similar to the feeding means 60 .
- feeding means 79 similar to the feeding means 60 is provided in the curved path section 5 b .
- constituent elements which are the same as the feeding means 60 are labelled similarly and detailed description thereof is omitted.
- the arrangement pattern of the respective means 60 , 75 , 78 , 79 is altered variably, and part or all of the respective means 60 , 75 , 78 , 79 may be omitted.
- a pair of (plurality of) lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B for supporting and guiding the guided devices 30 , 40 in such a manner that the middle frame member 13 fitted with the supporting section 50 assumes an orthogonal state with respect to the direction of travel, are provided to the side of the prescribed region 5 d, and hence the region in which the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B are provided is formed into the working path section 6 relating to the conveyed items.
- the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B are positioned in a state where the majority portions thereof are respectively parallel, the positioning interval L 1 therebetween being set to the same value as the vertical axis to vertical axis distance L 2 between the vertical axes 21 a in the middle frame member 13 .
- the start and end parts of the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B are formed suitably into curved shapes, for the purpose of branching and joining.
- the branching means 81 is constituted by divided rail members 82 A, 82 B formed by splitting the main rail 2 , which are disposed at two locations corresponding to the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B, and operating devices (such as cylinder devices) 84 A, 84 B, or the like, for causing these divided rail members 82 A, 82 B to rotate about the axes of vertical axles 83 A, 83 B.
- operating devices such as cylinder devices
- 84 A, 84 B or the like
- a composition is adopted whereby, when caused to rotate, the upstream ends of the divided rail members 82 A, 82 B are always connected to the main rail 2 , and the downstream ends thereof are connected selectively to either the main rail 2 or to a lateral travel rail member 80 A, 80 B.
- the joining means 85 has a similar structure to the branching means 81 , and comprises divided rail members 86 A, 86 B formed by splitting the main rail 2 A, and operating devices 88 A, 88 B, or the like, for causing these divided rail members 86 A, 86 B to rotate about the axes of the vertical axles 87 A, 87 B, the joining means 85 being disposed in a symmetrical position with respect to the branching means 81 .
- a movable body 10 can be caused to travel laterally in the working path section 6 , in a state where the front frame member 12 of the movable body 10 is aligned with one of the lateral travel rail members 80 A, the middle frame member 13 fitted with the supporting section 50 is caused to assume an orthogonal state with respect to the direction of travel, and the rear frame member 14 assumes a bent state in alignment with the other lateral travel rail member 80 B.
- a composition is achieved whereby, in the working path section 6 , when a plurality of movable bodies 10 are supported and guided between the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B, it is possible to couple adjacent guided members 30 , 40 of preceding and following movable bodies 10 in the direction of travel.
- coupling receiver members 90 are provided on the vertical axle 25 connected to the leading end guided member 40 and the vertical axle 21 connected to the trailing middle guided member 30
- coupling members 100 are provided on the vertical axle 21 connected to the leading middle guided member 30 and the vertical axle 25 connected to the trailing end guided member 40 .
- the coupling receiver members 90 are fixed to the lower ends of the vertical axles 21 , 25 by means of connecting members 91 , and are formed with recess sections 92 which are open on the upper face thereof and project in a forward direction, a coupling receiver face 93 being formed by the rearward orientated face forming the recess section 92 .
- a cam guide face 94 which increases in height in the rearward direction is formed on the front end of the coupling receiver member 90 .
- the coupling members 100 are connected swingably in the vertical direction on brackets 101 fixed to the middle portion of the vertical axles 21 , 25 , by means of horizontal pins 102 .
- the coupling members 102 are hook-shaped, the projecting portion thereof being disposed to the rear side and extending in a downward direction, and a coupling face 103 capable of engaging with the coupling receiver face 93 is formed by the forward orientated face of the projecting portion, in addition to which a cam guide face 104 capable of acting on the cam guide face 94 described above is formed on the rearward orientated face of the projecting portion, the height thereof increasing in the rearward direction.
- An operating pin 105 for causing the coupling member 100 to swing in the upward direction against its own weight is provided in the side portion of the coupling member 100 , and a stopper member 106 for restricting the downward swing of the coupling member 100 due to its own weight is provided on a side of the bracket 101 .
- the recess section 92 of the coupling receiver member 90 is formed to have a prescribed length in the front/rear direction, and hence, even if it is in a coupled state with the coupling member 100 , in the linear shaped path sections 5 a , 5 c , or the like, contact between the abutting sections 16 , 17 is still possible.
- pulling means 108 for pulling the movable body 10 towards the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B is provided in the start end portion of the working path section 6 .
- motional force applying means 110 for applying a motional force to the movable body 10 supported by the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B, and feed-in means 112 for propelling the movable body 10 towards the fixed path 5 A are provided in the final end portion of the working path section 6 .
- the pulling means 108 , the motional force applying means 110 and the feed-in means 112 have a similar composition to the feeding means 60 , and the constituent elements which are the same as the feeding means 60 are similarly labelled and detailed description thereof is omitted here.
- the pulling means 108 , motional force applying means 110 and feed-in means 112 are disposed in such a manner that the feed roller 68 abuts against the upper passive surface 19 of the passive member 18 provided on the front frame member 12 or rear frame member 14 , and the supporting plate members 31 a , 41 a of the guided devices 30 , 40 , on the outer sides thereof.
- the motional force applying means 110 comprises backup rollers 109 , 111 , 113 which abut against the upper passive surface 19 of the passive member 18 , from the inner side thereof, and are disposed so as to form pairs with the feed rollers 68 .
- the pulling means 108 , motional force applying means 110 and feed-in means 112 are respectively positioned on the outer side of the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B.
- the arrangement pattern of the pulling means 108 , motional force applying means 110 and the feed-in means 112 is altered variously, for instance, by providing the lateral travel rail member 80 A and the lateral travel rail member 80 B in separate positions in the direction of the working path section 6 .
- a guide member 115 for guiding the operating pin 105 of the coupling member 100 is provided on the final end side of the direction of travel in the working path section 6 , and hence by means of the operating pin 105 being guided by the guide pin 115 , the coupling member 100 is caused to swing upwards against its own weight, thereby releasing the coupling thereof.
- a movable body 10 which has moved along the linear shaped path section 5 a due to the conveyance rotational force of the feeding means 78 , or the like, is applied with a motional force (travel force) by the conveyance rotational force A of the feeding means 60 provided in the linear shaped path section 5 a.
- the feed roller 68 projecting on the inner side is caused to contact the passive surfaces 15 of the moving body 10 arriving there, by means of the elastic force of the compression spring 70 , whereby, as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 10, it is pressed against the passive surfaces 15 in a retracted state, against the elastic force of the compression spring 70 .
- the feed roller 68 is driven in rotation by the induction motor 66 , and therefore, since the feed roller 68 which is subjected to forced rotation is in pressure contact with the passive surfaces 15 , motional force is imparted to the movable body 10 due to the conveyance rotational force A thereof.
- the abutting section 16 of the front end portion of the introduced movable body 10 abuts on the abutting section 17 of the rear end portion of the last movable body 10 of a movable body 10 group situated in a train-like formation on the linear shaped path section 5 a , and thus the group of movable bodies 10 situated in a train-like formation on the linear shaped path section 5 a is caused to move at a prescribed speed by the conveyance rotational force A of the feeding means 60 , and the group of movable bodies 10 situated in a train-like formation on the linear shaped path section 5 a is pushed from the rear and caused to move (see dotted lines in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4).
- the braking means 75 applies a braking force to the movable bodies 10 which have moved along the linear shaped path section 5 a and have arrived at the final end side thereof.
- a braking roller 76 which is pressed against the passive surfaces 15 by an action similar to that of the feeding means 60 is caused to rotate forcibly, and a braking force is applied to the movable body 10 by the conveyance rotational force B thereof.
- the movement of the movable bodies 10 by the feeding means 60 as described above is performed by means of the feed roller 68 thereof acting successively on the passive surfaces 15 of the front frame member 12 , and then from that to the passive surfaces 15 of the middle frame member 13 , and on to the passive surfaces 15 of the rear frame member 14 .
- the feed roller 68 also acts on a passive surface on the side face of the connecting member 22 in the connecting device 20 .
- a floor-based operator for example, can proceed with a variety of operations with respect to the conveyed items 115 supported by the supporting section 50 , from below.
- a group of empty or full movable bodies 10 can be stored on the linear shaped path section 5 a , whilst being moved in an intermittent or continuous fashion.
- a movable body 10 moved so as to be projecting from the region of the braking means 75 is moved along the curved path section 5 b by feeding means 79 , whereupon it is conveyed along the linear shaped path section 5 c .
- the movable body 10 is moved by the feeding means 78 and enters into the prescribed region 5 d.
- the divided rail members 82 A, 82 B are connected to the main rail 2 at the upstream end thereof and are connected to the main rail 2 at the downstream end thereof.
- the divided rail members 82 A, 82 B are disposed in an integral, linear fashion with respect to the main rail 2 . Consequently, when there is no requirement to branch off a movable body 10 into the working path section 6 , the movable body 10 is caused to move and pass through the prescribed region 5 d , with the divided rail members 82 A, 82 B in the state.
- the front side middle guided device 30 passes along the upper side divided rail member 82 B, and by detecting the passage thereof, the upper side operating device 84 B of the branching means 81 is operated, thereby causing the divided rail member 82 B to turn about the vertical axis 83 B and connecting the downstream end thereof to the lateral travel rail member 80 B.
- the movable body 10 is branched off into the working path section 6 in a state wherein the front frame member 12 of the movable body 10 is aligned in a preceding fashion with one of the lateral travel rail members 80 A, the middle frame member 13 which is fitted with the supporting section 50 adopts an orthogonal attitude with respect to the direction of travel, and furthermore, the rear frame member 14 is bent in the opposite direction so as to be aligned with the other lateral travel rail member 80 B, in a trailing fashion.
- the divided rail members 82 A, 82 B are then rotated back in such a manner that the downstream ends thereof connect with the main rail 2 .
- the pulling force of the feed roller 68 is transmitted reliably by means of the backup roller 109 in contact with the inner sides of the upper passive surface 19 of the passive member 18 , and the supporting plate members 31 a , 41 a of the guided members 30 , 40 .
- the movable body 10 pulled in this way is then coupled with the movable body 10 which precedes it. More specifically, the movable body 10 positioned in front has a coupling member 100 provided on vertical axles 21 , 25 , facing in a rearward direction. The laterally conveyed movable body 10 has a coupling receiver member 90 provided on the vertical axles 21 , 25 , facing in a forward direction.
- the coupling member 100 By means of the cam guide face 94 passing over the cam guide face 104 , the coupling member 100 then swings downwards about the horizontal pin 102 , due to its own weight, whereby the front end portion thereof falls into the recess section 92 , the coupling face 103 thereof abuts on the coupling receiver face 93 , and the coupling member 100 is thus coupled to the coupling receiver member 90 .
- the feed roller 68 of the motional force applying means 110 provided on the final end side of the working path section 6 abuts on the outer sides of the upper passive surfaces 19 of the passive member 18 of the movable body 10 opposing it, and the supporting plate members 31 a , 41 a of the guided devices 30 , 40 thereof, thereby causing the movable bodies 10 to be conveyed laterally in a train-like fashion, whilst maintaining the bended attitude.
- the conveyance driving force of the feed roller 68 is transmitted reliably by means of a backup roller 111 in contact with the inner sides of the upper passive surface 19 and the supporting plate members 31 a , 41 a.
- the motional force applying means 110 By pulling and moving the group of movable bodies 10 in the working path section 6 in a train-like fashion by means of the motional force applying means 110 in this way, the motional force of the preceding movable body 10 is transmitted via the coupling member 100 thereof to the coupling receiver member 90 of the laterally conveyed movable body 10 .
- the laterally conveyed movable body 10 receives a pulling force on the guided devices 30 , 40 supported on the respective lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B, by means of the vertical axles 21 , 25 .
- the laterally conveyed movable body 10 is pulled and conveyed thereafter in a train-like fashion.
- the front side middle guided device 30 flows from the lateral travel rail member 80 A onto the main rail 2 A by means of the divided rail member 86 A, and in a simultaneous manner, the rear side middle guided device 30 flows onto the main rail 2 A via the divided rail member 86 B.
- the lower side operating device 88 A of the joining means 85 is operated, and the divided rail member 86 A is turned about the vertical axis 87 A, thereby connecting the upstream end thereof with the main rail 2 A.
- the rear side middle guided device 30 joined onto the main rail 2 A is moved along the divided rail member 86 A, and the rear side end guided device 40 is joined onto the main rail 2 A via the divided rail member 86 B, similarly to the rear side middle guided device 30 , and is then moved over the divided rail member 86 A.
- the respective frame members 12 , 13 , 14 of the movable body 10 can be moved over the main rail 2 A in a linear fashion.
- the middle guided device 30 is supported and guided via the respective supporting rollers 33 on the main rails 2 , 2 A, the divided rail members 82 A, 82 B, and the lateral travel rail members BOA, BOB, and the respective guided rollers 35 contact with and are guided by the main rail 2 , 2 A, the divided rail members 82 A, 82 B, and the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B.
- the end guided device 40 is supported and guided via the respective supported rollers 43 on the main rails 2 , 2 A, the divided rail members 82 A, 82 B, and the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B, and the respective guided rollers 46 contact with and are guided by the main rails 2 , 2 A, the divided rail members 82 A, 82 B, and the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B, in addition to which the lift up prevention roller 47 opposes the main rails 2 , 2 A, the divided rail members 82 A, 82 B, and the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B, from the under side thereof.
- the main bodies 11 of the respective movable bodies 10 in other words, the respective frame members 12 , 13 , 14 , assume a linear arrangement in plan view and side view, as illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, and therefore a state is achieved wherein the abutting sections 16 abut against the respective abutting sections 17 directly from the rear direction, and hence the pushing movement is achieved in a smooth and reliable manner.
- the respective frame members 12 , 13 , 14 are pushed from behind and moved in a bent attitude following the curve of the path, in plan view, in the regions of the connecting devices 20 .
- the relative angle formed between the rear frame member 14 of the leading movable body 10 and the front frame member 12 of the following movable body 10 is an obtuse angle, and since the abutting section 16 meets the abutting section 17 at an obtuse angle, the pushing movement can be performed smoothly and reliably.
- the curving is performed by relative rotation about the vertical axle 21 at the connecting device 20 .
- the guided devices 30 , 40 rotating about vertical axes 21 a , 25 a by means of the vertical axles 21 , 25 , the guided devices 30 , 40 can be moved smoothly whilst the orientation thereof changes automatically in accordance with the leftward or rightward curvature of the main rail 2 , 2 A.
- branching means 121 comprises two divided rail members 122 A, 122 B capable of supporting the guided devices 30 , 40 , formed by dividing the main rail 2 at a prescribed region 5 d , and rotating devices 131 A, 131 B which cause these divided rail members 122 A, 122 B to rotate about vertical axes 123 A, 123 B.
- the divided rail members 122 A, 122 B are constituted in such a manner that when rotated and separated from the main rail 2 , they can be connected to lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B.
- bearings 125 A, 125 B are provided on beams 124 A, 124 B, and the divided rail members 122 A, 122 B are connected to the lower end of vertical axles 126 A, 126 B supported rotatably on the bearings 125 A, 125 B.
- the rotating devices 131 A, 131 B which cause the divided rail members 122 A, 122 B to rotate about the vertical axes 123 A, 123 B are provided singly for each of the divided rail members 122 A, 122 B.
- links 132 A, 132 B are fixed to the upper ends of the vertical axles 126 A, 126 B, and cylinder devices 133 A, 133 B are provided between one end of the links 132 A, 132 B and the beams 124 A, 124 B.
- pairs of stopper members 134 A, 134 B, 135 A, 135 B which are capable of abutting on the other ends of the links 132 A, 132 B are provided on the beams 124 A, 124 B.
- Feeding means capable of acting on the guided devices 30 , 40 are provided respectively in the region of the branching means 121 , in a state where they oppose the divided rail members 122 A, 122 B when connected to the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B.
- the upstream end and downstream end of the divided rail members 122 A, 122 B are connected to the main rail 2 , as illustrated in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22.
- the divided rail members 122 A, 122 B are disposed in an integral, linear fashion with respect to the main rail 2 . Consequently, when there is no requirement to branch off a movable body 10 into the working path section 6 , the movable body 10 is caused to move and pass through the prescribed region 5 d , with the divided rail members 122 A, 122 B being in this mentioned state.
- a movable body 10 is to be branched off into the working path section 6 , then firstly, as illustrated by the solid lines in FIG. 22, the movable body 10 is halted at a position where the leading end guided device 40 of the movable body 10 is supported by the lower side divided rail member 122 A.
- the vertical axle 126 A is caused to rotate through 90°, via the link 132 A and the like, by means of a compressive movement of the cylinder device 133 A in the rotating device 131 A.
- the divided rail member 122 A is separated from the main rail 2 , and is then connected to the lateral travel rail member 80 A, as illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 22.
- this end guided device 40 is caused to move from the divided rail member 122 A onto the lateral travel rail member 80 A.
- the vertical axle 126 A is rotated in reverse via the link 132 A, and the like, by means of a reverse operation of the cylinder device 133 A, thereby connecting the divided rail member 122 A to the main rail 2 .
- the movable body 10 is then halted at a position where the leading middle guided device 30 is supported by the divided rail member 122 A and the trailing middle guided device 30 is supported by the upper side divided rail member 122 B.
- the vertical axles 126 A, 126 B are caused to rotate through 90°, via the links 132 A, 132 B, and the like.
- the divided rail members 122 A, 122 B are separated from the main rail 2 and, as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 23, and are connected with the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B.
- these middle guided devices 30 are caused to move from the divided rail members 122 A, 122 B onto the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B.
- the vertical axles 126 A, 126 B are rotated in reverse by a reverse operation of the cylinder devices 133 A, 133 B, via the links 132 A, 132 B, and the like, whereby the divided rail members 122 A, 122 B are connected to the main rail 2 .
- the rear side end guided device 40 is moved via the divided rail member 122 B and onto the lateral travel rail member 80 B, by a similar action to the foregoing.
- the movable body 10 can be branched off into the working path section 6 in a state wherein the front frame member 12 thereof is aligned with one of the lateral travel rail members 80 A, the middle frame member 13 fitted with the supporting section 50 , assumes an orthogonal attitude with respect to the direction of travel, and furthermore, the rear frame member 14 is bent in the opposite direction so as to be aligned with the other lateral travel rail member 80 B.
- the divided rail members 122 A, 122 B are rotated back appropriately in such a manner that the downstream ends thereof connect with the main rail 2 .
- the branching means 140 is provided in one place, commonly for both the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B, and it comprises a rail member 141 which connects to the final end of the main rail 2 , and an operating device (cylinder device, or the like) 143 for causing this rail member 141 to rotate about the axis of a vertical axle 142 .
- a composition is adopted wherein when the rail member 141 is rotated, the upstream end thereof remains connected to the main rail 2 at all times, and the downstream end thereof connects selectively with one of the two lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B.
- the joining means 145 has a similar composition to the branching means 140 , and it comprises a rail member 146 connected to the start end of the main rail 2 A, an operational device 148 for causing this rail member 146 to rotate about the axis of the vertical axle 147 , and the like, and the joining means 145 is disposed in a symmetrical position with respect to the branching means 140 .
- the operating device 143 in the branching means 140 is actuated, causing the rail member 141 to rotate about the vertical axle 142 , such that the downstream end thereof connects with the lateral travel rail member 80 B, as illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 25.
- the rear side middle guided device 30 and the trailing end guided device 40 move via the rail member 141 onto the lateral travel rail member 80 B.
- the operating device 147 in the joining means 145 is contracted, thereby rotating the rail member 146 about the vertical axle 147 , such that the upstream end thereof connects with the lateral travel rail member 80 B, as illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 26.
- the rear side middle guided device 30 and the trailing end guided device 40 move from the lateral travel rail member 80 B, via the rail member 146 , and onto the main rail 2 A.
- a configuration is adopted wherein the movable body 10 is branched off into the working path section 6 in a U-shaped bent attitude, whereby the front frame member 12 and the rear frame member 14 are aligned with the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B, in a preceding fashion, and the middle frame member 13 is caused to assume an orthogonal position with respect to the direction of travel, in a trailing fashion.
- the branching means 151 constitutes a divided rail member 152 A, which is able to support the leading end guided device 40 and the front side middle guided device 30 simultaneously, a divided rail member 152 B, which is able to support the rear side middle guided device 30 and the trailing end guided device 40 simultaneously, formed by dividing the main rail 2 at a prescribed region 5 d , and rotating devices 161 A, 161 B which cause these divided rail members 152 A, 152 B to rotate about vertical axes 153 A, 153 B.
- the divided rail members 152 A, 152 B are able to connect with lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B.
- bearings 155 A, 155 B are provided in beams 154 A, 154 B, and the divided rail members 152 A, 152 B are coupled to the lower ends of vertical axles 156 A, 156 B which are supported rotatably in these bearings 155 A, 155 B.
- the vertical axles 156 A, 156 B are positioned on mutually adjacent sides.
- Rotating devices 161 A, 161 B which cause the divided rail members 152 A, 152 B to rotate about the vertical axes 153 A, 153 B are provided, one for each of the divided rail members 152 A, 152 B. More specifically, links 162 A, 162 B are fixed to the upper ends of the vertical axles 156 A, 156 B, and cylinder devices 163 A, 163 B are provided between one end of the links 162 A, 162 B and the beams 154 A, 154 B.
- arc-shaped guide rails 164 A, 164 B having respective centres of curvature at the vertical axes 153 A, 153 B, are provided on the beams 154 A, 154 B, and guide rollers 158 A, 158 B installed on the upper portion of the free ends of the divided rail members 152 A, 152 B via brackets 157 A, 157 B are supported and guided by these guide rails 164 A, 164 B.
- pairs of stopper members 165 A, 165 B, 166 A, 166 B which are capable of abutting on the brackets 157 A, 157 B are provided on the beams 154 A, 154 B.
- Delivery means capable of acting on the guided devices 30 , 40 are provided respectively in the region of the branching means 151 , in such a manner that they oppose the two divided rail members 152 A, 152 B when connected to the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B.
- the divided rail members 152 A, 152 B are connected to the main rail 2 , as illustrated in FIG. 27 and FIG. 28. Accordingly, the divided rail members 152 A, 152 B are disposed in an integral and linear fashion with respect to the main rail 2 .
- a movable body 10 When a movable body 10 is to be branched off into the working path section 6 , firstly, the movable body 10 is halted at a position where the leading end guided device 40 and the front side middle guided device 30 of the movable body 10 are supported simultaneously by the lower side divided rail member 152 A, whilst the rear side middle guided device 30 and the trailing end guided device 40 are supported simultaneously by the upper side divided rail member 152 B.
- the end guided devices 40 and the middle guided devices 30 are caused to move from the divided rail members 152 A, 152 B onto the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B.
- the vertical axles 156 A, 156 B are rotated in reverse by actuation of the cylinder devices 163 A, 163 B, via the links 162 A, 162 B, and the like, thereby causing the divided rail members 152 A, 152 B to rotate back so as to connect with the main rail 2 .
- a fifth embodiment of the present invention in other words, an embodiment involving movable bodies 10 capable of moving along the floor, is described on the basis of FIG. 31.
- the main rail 2 and the divided rail members 82 A, 82 B, and the like have broadly the same composition as those of the first embodiment described above, although they differ in terms of detailed composition, such as the format of left and right-hand pairings, and the like. Consequently, constituent elements which are the same as or similar to elements in the first embodiment described above are labelled with the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.
- the movable body 10 is branched off onto the working path section 6 in a state where the front frame member 12 is aligned with one of the lateral travel rail members 80 A, in a preceding fashion, a middle frame member 13 is positioned orthogonally with respect to the direction of travel, and the rear frame member 14 is bent in the opposite direction so as to be aligned with the other lateral travel rail member 80 B, but by adjusting the operation of the branching means 81 , 121 , it is also possible to branch off the movable body 10 to the working path section 6 in a U-shaped bent state, wherein the front frame member 12 and the rear frame member 14 are aligned with the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B, in a preceding fashion, and the middle frame member 13 is caused to assume an orthogonal position with respect to the direction of travel, in a trailing fashion, and it is also possible to branch off the movable body 10 to the working path section 6 in an inverse U-shaped bent state,
- the middle guided devices 30 are coupled in a relatively rotatable manner to the end of vertical axles 21 which are connected in a relatively rotatable manner in the crosswise direction, to the frame members 12 , 13 , 14 , but it is also possible, for example, to adopt a configuration wherein the middle guided devices 30 are coupled in a relatively rotatable manner via vertical axles provided independently on the middle frame member 13 .
- a composition was described wherein the main body 11 of the movable body 10 consisted of three frame members 12 , 13 14 , but it is also possible to adopt a composition of three or more members, wherein a single frame member or a plurality of frame members are connected before or after the front frame member 12 , or before or after the rear frame member 14 , or a composition of three or more members having a plurality of middle frame members 13 . Furthermore, a two member composition can be adopted wherein any one of the frame members 12 , 13 , 14 is omitted. In these cases, the number and positions, and the like, of the lateral travel rail members 80 A, 80 B are designed and changed in accordance with the number and length, and the like, of the frame members.
- a composition was described wherein a connecting device 20 is achieved by providing a vertical axle 21 on the middle frame member 13 and providing a horizontal axle 23 on the front and rear frame members 12 , 14 , but it is also possible to adopt a composition wherein horizontal axles are provided on the middle frame member 13 , and vertical axles are provided on the front and rear frame members 12 , 14 .
- a drive configuration is adopted wherein a plurality of movable bodies 10 are conveyed between feeding means 60 and braking means 75 in an aligned state whilst being pushed tightly from behind, without gaps occurring between the respective front and rear ends thereof, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration wherein the movable bodies 10 are conveyed and driven in a state where gaps occur between the respective front and rear ends thereof.
- feeding means 60 , 78 , 79 , braking means 75 , and the like act only on any one of the passive surfaces 15 of the main body 11 , but it is also possible to adopt a configuration wherein, by providing receiving means, such as a receiving roller which acts on another passive surface, or the like, a strong frictional force can be obtained by gripping the main body 11 from both sides, and hence a sufficient conveying force and braking force can be exerted.
- the receiving roller acting on the other passive surfaces to be a forcibly driven type of roller or a freely rotating roller.
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Abstract
A conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, in which a plurality of lateral travel rail members capable of supporting and guiding guided devices situated on a main rail are provided to the side of a prescribed region of the fixed path, in such a manner that a frame member provided with a supporting section assumes an orthogonal attitude with respect to a direction of travel, whilst the other frame members become aligned in the direction of travel, and branching means for causing the guided devices to branch off onto the lateral travel rail member group is provided in the prescribed region. Thereby, spacing between the movable bodies in the lateral travel direction can be maintained readily by means of a simple structure, and the group of movable bodies can be moved laterally in such a manner that there is no mutual contact between conveyed items.
Description
- The present invention relates to a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, which is used to move a movable body for conveying items on a fixed path located on a floor or on a ceiling, for example.
- Conventionally, a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-114094, for example, has been used as this kind of apparatus. More specifically, the main body of a movable body which is able to move along a fixed path by being supported and guided on rails by means of a plurality of guided devices, is formed by three frame members which are connected, by means of a connecting device, in a relatively rotatable fashion in lateral directions traversing the longitudinal travelling direction of the movable body. A supporting section for items to be conveyed is provided on the middle frame, and a group of guided devices are connected, by means of a vertical axle, to the movable body in a relatively rotatable fashion. A plurality of divided rail members capable of supporting the group of guided devices are provided in a set path section within the fixed path, and furthermore, rotating means for causing these divided rail members to rotate about a vertical axis are also provided. Moreover, a group of lateral travel rail members capable of connecting to the divided rail members when the latter are rotated and separated from the rails, are provided to the lateral side of the set path section.
- According to this conventional constitution, the respective guided devices of the movable body are supported on the divided rail members, and in this state, the group of divided rail members are connected to the lateral travel rail members by reverse rotation of rotating means. Thereby, the respective guided devices can assume a posture facing sideways in the lateral direction, whilst the main body of the movable body is aligned in a direction following the set path section. By moving the group of guided devices sideways in a lateral direction, the movable body can be moved laterally whilst the main body of the movable body remains in an attitude aligned with the set path section. Consequently, by forming a storage path from a lateral travel path section composed of a group of lateral travel rail members, it is possible to store the movable bodies in such a manner that the main bodies thereof are aligned laterally in parallel.
- However, according to the prior art constitution described above, in the lateral travel path section, it is not readily possible to maintain a spacing between movable bodies in the lateral travel direction, and therefore, in order to convey the movable bodies laterally in such a manner that there is no mutual contact between the conveyed items, it has been necessary to separately install lateral conveyance devices, or the like, having a complicated structure.
- Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, whereby spacing between movable bodies in the lateral direction can be maintained readily by means of a simple structure, and hence a group of movable bodies can be conveyed in a lateral direction, in such a manner that there is no mutual contact between conveyed items.
- In order to achieve the object, the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to the present invention is a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies in which each movable body is able to move along a fixed path by being supported and guided on a main rail by means of a plurality of guided devices, the main body of the movable body being formed by a plurality of frame members connected in a relatively rotatable fashion in a traverse direction with respect to a longitudinal direction via connecting devices, at least one of the frame members being provided with a supporting section for conveyed items, each of the guided devices being coupled in a relatively rotatable fashion to the movable body by means of vertical axles, characterized in that a plurality of lateral travel rail members are provided on a lateral side of a prescribed region of the fixed path for supporting and guiding the guided devices in such a manner that the frame member provided with the supporting section assumes an orthogonal position with respect to a direction of travel, whilst the other frame members become aligned with the direction of travel, and branching means is provided in the prescribed region for causing the guided devices on the main rail to branch off onto the plurality of lateral travel rail members.
- By adopting the foregoing constitution, in linear shaped path sections of the fixed path, the movable body can be moved in such a manner that the main body thereof, in other words, the respective frame members thereof, assume a linear attitude in a plan view. Moreover, in a left or right-hand curved path section, the movable body can be moved in such a manner that the respective frame members thereof assume a curved attitude in accordance with the curved path, also in a plan view, by means of the connecting devices, and in this case, such curvature is achieved by relative rotation of the guided devices about vertical axles. Furthermore, by means of the guided devices rotating about the vertical axles, the movable body can be conveyed smoothly by automatically adjusting the orientation thereof in accordance with the leftward or rightward curvature of the rail.
- In this way, by causing the respective guided devices of a movable body to branch off from the main rail and onto lateral travel rail members when the movable body arrives at the prescribed region of the fixed path by being supported and guided on the main rail, it is possible to branch off and convey the movable body in a lateral direction with respect to the fixed path, in a state where the frame member provided with the supporting section is positioned orthogonally with respect to the direction of travel and the other frame members are aligned in the direction of travel. Thereby, it is possible to move movable bodies laterally in a state where a spacing corresponding to the length of the other frame members is maintained therebetween in the lateral travel direction, and this maintenance of the spacing between movable bodies in the lateral travel direction is achieved readily by means of a simple structure, and hence a group of movable bodies can be conveyed laterally in such a manner that there is no mutual contact between conveyed items.
- A conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a first aspect of the present invention is such that the main body of the movable body is formed by three frame members, the supporting section being provided on the middle frame member, and a pair of lateral travel rail members are provided in such a manner that the movable body is conveyed laterally in a state wherein the front frame member thereof is aligned with one of the lateral travel rail members, and the rear frame member thereof is bent to be aligned with the other lateral travel rail member.
- According to this first aspect, it is possible to branch off and convey a movable body in a lateral direction with respect to the fixed path, in a state where the middle frame member provided with the supporting section assumes an orthogonal position with respect to the direction of travel, whilst the front frame member and rear frame member are bent so as to be aligned with the lateral travel rail members. Thereby, movable bodies can be moved in a lateral direction in a state where a spacing corresponding to the length of the front frame member and the rear frame member is guaranteed therebetween in the lateral travel direction.
- A conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a second aspect of the present invention is such that when a plurality of movable bodies are supported and guided on the lateral travel rail members, guided devices of preceding and following movable bodies which are adjacently positioned in the direction of travel can be coupled together.
- According to this second aspect, by coupling the guided devices of a movable body which is branched off and conveyed laterally, with the guided devices of the preceding movable body, it is possible thereafter to move a group of movable bodies laterally, in a train-like fashion.
- A conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a third aspect of the present invention is such that motional force applying means is provided for applying motional force to a movable body supported on the plurality of lateral travel rail members.
- According to this third aspect, it is possible to convey a movable body that has been branched off, in an state wherein the frame member provided with the supporting section can move orthogonally to the direction of travel, by the operation of the motional force applying means.
- A conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is such that the region where the lateral travel rail members are provided is formed into a working path section with respect to conveyed items.
- According to this fourth aspect, it is possible to maintain spacing between movable bodies in the lateral travel direction, and hence various tasks can be performed readily and accurately with respect to the conveyed items, whilst a group of movable bodies are conveyed laterally in such a manner that there is no mutual contact between the conveyed items.
- A conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is such that the movable body is formed with passive surfaces on the side faces of the respective frame members thereof, and feeding means having feed rollers capable of abutting on these passive surfaces is provided in the fixed path.
- According to this fifth aspect, by causing forcibly rotated feed rollers to abut on the passive surfaces of the movable body, it is possible to impart a motional force (travelling force) to the movable body by means of rotational feeding force thereof, and hence the movable body can be conveyed readily and reliably.
- A conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is such that the branching means comprises a plurality of divided rail members formed by dividing the main rail in the prescribed region and being capable of supporting the guided devices, and rotating devices for causing these divided rail members to rotate about vertical axes.
- According to this sixth aspect, by causing the divided rail members to rotate about the vertical axles by operating the rotating devices so as to connect them to the main rail whilst separating them from the lateral travel rail members, it is possible to cause the guided devices of the conveyed movable body to be transferred from the main rail to the group of divided rail members, whereupon the movable object can be halted in a position wherein the guided devices are supported by corresponding divided rail members. Next, the divided rail members can be separated from the main rail and connected with the lateral travel rail members by reverse rotation of the rotating devices, and by means of this rotational force on the divided rail members, the guided devices can be rotated about vertical axles with respect to the main body or a supporting section of the movable body.
- Consequently, by moving the guided devices by appropriate lateral feeding means, the guided devices can be transferred from the divided rail members onto the lateral travel rail members. Thereupon, by reverse operation of the rotating means, the divided rail members can be separated from the lateral travel rail members and connected with the main rail, thereby returning the system to the initial state. By an operation of this kind, it is possible to branch off a plurality of guided devices onto a plurality of divided rail members.
- A conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is such that the branching means is composed in such a manner that all of the movable bodies arriving at the prescribed region in the fixed path are caused to branch off onto the plurality of lateral travel rail members.
- According to this seventh aspect, a movable body arriving at the prescribed region is always transferred to the lateral travel rail members and conveyed laterally, without allowing it to pass through the prescribed region.
- A conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according an eighth aspect of the present invention is such that the branching means is composed to branch off the movable body in such a manner that the frame members other than the frame member provided with the supporting section assume an orthogonal attitude in a same direction, with respect to the frame member provided with the supporting section.
- According to this eighth aspect, the movable body can be conveyed laterally in a U-shaped bent attitude, wherein the other frame members are positioned mutually in parallel, in alignment with the lateral travel rail members, and hence a force for lateral conveyance, and the like, can be applied in a stable fashion by means of these other frame members in parallel alignment.
- A conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is such that the movable body comprises a supporting section for conveyed items in a lower portion of at least one of the frame members.
- According to this ninth aspect, it is possible to convey movable bodies of a suspended conveyance design, laterally, whilst the supporting section thereof retains a horizontal position.
- FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a divided rail member section in a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before rotation, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a fixed path section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 3 is a side view of a movable body in a linear path section of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 4 is a plan view of the movable body in the linear path section of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 5 is a rear view of the movable body in the linear path section of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 6 is a side view of a principal section of the movable body in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway plan view of a principal section of the movable body in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway rear view of the movable body in a feeding means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway side view of the feeding means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 10 is a plan view of the feeding means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway side view of a curved section-feeding means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 12 is a plan view of the curved section-feeding means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 13 is a front view of a start end section of a working path section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 14 is a side view of a final end section of the working path section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 15 is a partially cutaway front view of various means in the working path section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 16 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before branching is started;
- FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, when branching is started;
- FIG. 18 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, during branching;
- FIG. 19 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, when branching is finished;
- FIG. 20 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before joining is started;
- FIG. 21 is a side view of a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before branching is started, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 22 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before branching is started;
- FIG. 23 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, during branching;
- FIG. 24 is a partially cutaway plan view of the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, when branching is finished;
- FIG. 25 is a schematic plan view of a branching means section in a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 26 is a schematic plan view of a joining means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies;
- FIG. 27 is a partially cutaway side view of a branching means section in a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before branching is started, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 28 is a partially cutaway plan view of the branching means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, before branching is started;
- FIG. 29 is a partially cutaway side view of the branching means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, during branching;
- FIG. 30 is a partially cutaway plan view of the branching means section in the conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, during branching; and
- FIG. 31 is a side view of a conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
- A first embodiment of the present invention is described below in a mode applied to a ceiling-located travel system for movable bodies, with reference to FIG. 1-FIG. 20.
- In FIG. 2 to FIG. 8, a
main rail 2 having an I-shaped cross section is provided on a ceiling-mountedmachine frame 1. Thismain rail 2 forms afixed path 5. Here, the fixedpath 5 comprises, in plan view, for example, a pair of parallel linearshaped path sections curved path section 5 b which connects between the front and end portions of the linear shapedpath sections - A portion of one of the pair of linear-shaped
path sections 5 c is formed into aprescribed region 5 d, and a workingpath section 6 is formed orthogonally on one side of thisprescribed region 5 d. Moreover, a separatefixed path 5A which is orthogonal to the workingpath section 6 and parallel to thelinear path section 5 c is similarly formed by amain rail 2A, or the like, having an I-shaped cross-section. - A
movable body 10 is provided which is supported and guided by themain rail paths main body 11 of thismovable body 10 is constituted by three (a plurality of)frame members respective frame members path movable body 11 being formed intopassive surfaces 15. - The front face and rear face of the
movable body 11, in other words, the front face (free end section) of thefront frame member 12, and the rear face (free end section) of therear frame member 14 are formed into abuttingsections frame members main body 11 of themovable body 10, a plate-shapedpassive member 18 is provided in a standing fashion on the upper faces of thefront frame member 12 and therear frame member 14, and the respective side faces of thesepassive members 18 are formed into upper passive surfaces 19. - The
front frame member 12 and themiddle frame member 13, and themiddle frame member 13 and therear frame member 14, are respectively connected together by means of connectingdevices 20, in such a manner that they are relatively rotatable in a crosswise direction and an upward and downward direction. Here, the respective connectingdevices 20 are provided between the rear end member of thefront frame member 12 and the front end member of themiddle frame member 13, and between the rear end member of themiddle frame member 13 and the front end member of therear frame member 14. - In other words, a trunnion design is adopted for the
connection devices 20, wherein a connectingmember 22 connects in a relatively rotatable fashion in the crosswise direction with the front end member and rear end member of themiddle frame member 13, via avertical axle 21, and moreover, the connectingmember 22 also connects in a relatively rotatable fashion in the upward and downward direction with the rear end member of thefront frame member 12 and the front end member of therear frame member 14 via alateral axle 23. In this case, thevertical axle 21 is also constituted in such a manner that it can rotate relatively with respect to themiddle frame member 13 or connectingmember 22, about avertical axis 21 a. - The
movable body 10 is constituted movably along the fixedpath main rail devices 30 connected to thevertical axle 21, and end guideddevices 40 connected to avertical axle 25 provided on the front end member of thefront frame member 12 and the rear end member of therear frame member 14, and these guideddevices vertical axle 25 is composed in a relatively rotatable fashion (turnable fashion) with respect to thefront frame member 12 or therear frame member 14, about avertical axis 25 a. - More specifically, a
trolley member 31 of the middle guideddevice 30 is constituted by a pair of supportingplate members 31 a arranged on the left and right sides, and a pair of connectingplate members 31 b fixed to the lower portion of these supportingplate members 31 a on the front and rear sides. A pair ofhorizontal pins 32 consisting of front and rear horizontal pins are provided in the upper portion of each of the two supportingplate members 31 a so as to project inwards and in alignment with each other, and supportedrollers 33 which fit into themain rail - Furthermore,
brackets 34 are provided on the inside of the upper portions of the two supportingplate members 31 a, and to the outer sides, or front and rear sides of the locations where thehorizontal pins 32 are provided, such that they are in alignment with each other, andvertical pins 35 extending downwards are fixed to thesebrackets 34. Guidedrollers 36 which contact with themain rail - The middle guided
device 30 is connected in a relatively rotatable fashion to the upper end portion of thevertical axle 21. In other words, thevertical axle 21 is inserted between the two supportingplate members 31 a and between the two connectingplate members 31 b, and ahorizontal pin 24 which passes between the two supportingplate members 31 a is inserted through the top end section of thevertical axle 21. In this way, the coupling between the upper end portion of thevertical axle 21 and the middle guideddevice 30 is achieved by means of thehorizontal pin 24 which passes through the upper end portion of thevertical pin 21. - Furthermore, the end guided
device 40 is generally similar to the middle guideddevice 30, thetrolley member 41 thereof being constituted by a pair of supportingplates 41 a disposed on the left and right sides, and a plurality oftubular spacer members 41 c provided between the lower portions of these supportingplate members 41 a by means of fixing devices (bolts and nuts) 41 b. A singlehorizontal pin 42 is provided in the upper portion of each of the supportingplate members 41 a so as to project inwards in alignment with each other, and supportedrollers 43 which fit into themain rail -
Brackets 44 are provided respectively on the inside of the upper portions of the two supportingplate members 41 a, and on the outsides, or front and rear sides, of the locations where thehorizontal pins 42 are provided so that they are in alignment with each other, andvertical pins 45 extending downwards are fixed respectively to thesebrackets 44. Guidedrollers 46 which come into contact with themain rail prevention rollers 47 which oppose themain rail tubular spacer members 41 c, in a freely rotatable fashion. - The end guided
device 40 is connected in a relatively rotatable fashion to the upper end portion of thevertical axis 25. More specifically, thevertical axle 25 is inserted between the two supportingplate members 41 a and between the lift upprevention rollers 47, and ahorizontal pin 26 which passes between the two supportingplate members 41 a is inserted through the upper end portion of thevertical axle 25. In this way, the coupling between the upper end portion of thevertical axle 25 and the end guideddevice 40 is achieved by means of thehorizontal pin 26 which passes through the upper end portion of thevertical axle 25. - A supporting
section 50 for conveyed items is provided on at least one of the threeframe members main body 11 of themovable body 10, and more specifically, in a position below themiddle frame member 13. This supportingsection 50 comprises alongitudinal member 51 provided between the lower ends of the middlevertical axles 21, crosswisearm members 53 connected respectively viabrackets 52 to the front and rear ends of thelongitudinal member 51, and conveyeditem supporting devices 54, or the like, provided on the free ends of therespective arm members 53. Thelongitudinal member 51 is composed in such a manner that it can rotate relatively about thevertical axis 21 a, with respect to thevertical axle 21. - In FIG. 2, feeding means60 for applying a travelling force to the
movable body 10 by acting on thepassive surfaces 15 thereof are provided in the start end portion of the linear shapedpath section 5 a. As illustrated in FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, thebase frame 61 of this feeding means 60 is attached to the upper face of themain rail 2, and avertical axle 63 is supported rotatably on abracket 62 installed on thisbase frame 61. Alink member 64 is installed on thevertical axle 63, and a supportingmember 65 is provided on the free end of thislink member 64. - An
induction motor 66 provided with reduction gears, which is one example of a rotational drive device, is installed on the upper face of the supportingmember 65, and afeed roller 68 having an outer circumference portion made from urethane is fixed to an output axle which extends in a downward direction from theinduction motor 66. Thisinduction motor 66 is composed so as to impart a feed rotational force A to thefeed roller 68. - An adjustable
swing restricting member 69 in the form of a nut and bolt arrangement is provided between and through thebracket 62 and the supportingmember 65, passing through thevertical axle 63 arranged in the middle therebetween, and furthermore, acompression spring 70 fitted on the outer side of the bolt, is provided between thebracket 62 and the supportingmember 65. One example of feeding means 60 is constituted by theelements 61 to 70, and the like. - Consequently, the feeding means60 causes the supporting
member 65 and thelink member 64 to swing towards the inner side about avertical axis 71, due to the elastic repulsive force of thecompression spring 70, and hence thefeed roller 68 is urged in a direction which causes it to abut on the passive surfaces 15. The position of maximum approach is restricted by theswing restricting member 69. - In FIG. 2, braking means75 for applying a braking force to the
movable body 10 by acting on thepassive surfaces 15 is provided on the last end portion of the linear shapedpath section 5 a. This braking means 75 has a similar structure to the feeding means 60 and comprises abraking roller 76 which is able to abut on thepassive surfaces 15 of themovable body 11 from the side thereof, and is made of urethane, for example, and arotational drive device 77, which is interlocked to thisbraking roller 76 and which applies a feeding rotational force B to thebraking roller 76. Therotational drive device 77 comprises a torque motor, or the like, and the feeding rotational force B is set so as to be smaller than the feeding rotational force A of the induction motor 56, in other words, such that A>B. - Consequently, a composition is achieved whereby, in the linear shaped
path section 5 a, a plurality ofmovable bodies 10 travel between the feeding means 60 and the braking means 75 in an aligned fashion, without any gaps arising between the respective front and rear ends thereof, in other words, in a state where the front and rear abuttingsections - In the linear shaped
path section 5 c, or the otherfixed path 5A, or the like, there is provided feeding means 78 similar to the feeding means 60. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, feeding means 79 similar to the feeding means 60 is provided in thecurved path section 5 b. Moreover, in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, constituent elements which are the same as the feeding means 60 are labelled similarly and detailed description thereof is omitted. Here, the arrangement pattern of the respective means 60, 75, 78, 79 is altered variably, and part or all of the respective means 60, 75, 78, 79 may be omitted. - As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 13-FIG. 16 and FIG. 20, a pair of (plurality of) lateral
travel rail members devices middle frame member 13 fitted with the supportingsection 50 assumes an orthogonal state with respect to the direction of travel, are provided to the side of theprescribed region 5 d, and hence the region in which the lateraltravel rail members path section 6 relating to the conveyed items. Here, the lateraltravel rail members vertical axes 21 a in themiddle frame member 13. The start and end parts of the lateraltravel rail members - Branching means81 for branching the guided
members main rail 2, onto either of the lateraltravel rail members prescribed region 5 d, and joiningmeans 85 for joining together guidedmembers travel rail members travel rail members - More specifically, the branching
means 81 is constituted by dividedrail members main rail 2, which are disposed at two locations corresponding to the lateraltravel rail members rail members vertical axles rail members main rail 2, and the downstream ends thereof are connected selectively to either themain rail 2 or to a lateraltravel rail member - The joining means85 has a similar structure to the branching
means 81, and comprises dividedrail members main rail 2A, andoperating devices rail members vertical axles means 81. - By means of the divided
rail members movable body 10 can be caused to travel laterally in the workingpath section 6, in a state where thefront frame member 12 of themovable body 10 is aligned with one of the lateraltravel rail members 80A, themiddle frame member 13 fitted with the supportingsection 50 is caused to assume an orthogonal state with respect to the direction of travel, and therear frame member 14 assumes a bent state in alignment with the other lateraltravel rail member 80B. - A composition is achieved whereby, in the working
path section 6, when a plurality ofmovable bodies 10 are supported and guided between the lateraltravel rail members members movable bodies 10 in the direction of travel. In other words, as illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6,coupling receiver members 90 are provided on thevertical axle 25 connected to the leading end guidedmember 40 and thevertical axle 21 connected to the trailing middle guidedmember 30, andcoupling members 100 are provided on thevertical axle 21 connected to the leading middle guidedmember 30 and thevertical axle 25 connected to the trailing end guidedmember 40. - The
coupling receiver members 90 are fixed to the lower ends of thevertical axles members 91, and are formed withrecess sections 92 which are open on the upper face thereof and project in a forward direction, acoupling receiver face 93 being formed by the rearward orientated face forming therecess section 92. A cam guide face 94 which increases in height in the rearward direction is formed on the front end of thecoupling receiver member 90. - The
coupling members 100 are connected swingably in the vertical direction onbrackets 101 fixed to the middle portion of thevertical axles horizontal pins 102. Thecoupling members 102 are hook-shaped, the projecting portion thereof being disposed to the rear side and extending in a downward direction, and acoupling face 103 capable of engaging with thecoupling receiver face 93 is formed by the forward orientated face of the projecting portion, in addition to which acam guide face 104 capable of acting on the cam guide face 94 described above is formed on the rearward orientated face of the projecting portion, the height thereof increasing in the rearward direction. Anoperating pin 105 for causing thecoupling member 100 to swing in the upward direction against its own weight is provided in the side portion of thecoupling member 100, and astopper member 106 for restricting the downward swing of thecoupling member 100 due to its own weight is provided on a side of thebracket 101. - The
recess section 92 of thecoupling receiver member 90 is formed to have a prescribed length in the front/rear direction, and hence, even if it is in a coupled state with thecoupling member 100, in the linear shapedpath sections sections - As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 15, FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, pulling means108 for pulling the
movable body 10 towards the lateraltravel rail members path section 6. Moreover, motional force applying means 110 for applying a motional force to themovable body 10 supported by the lateraltravel rail members movable body 10 towards the fixedpath 5A, are provided in the final end portion of the workingpath section 6. The pulling means 108, the motional force applying means 110 and the feed-in means 112 have a similar composition to the feeding means 60, and the constituent elements which are the same as the feeding means 60 are similarly labelled and detailed description thereof is omitted here. - In this case, the pulling means108, motional force applying means 110 and feed-in means 112 are disposed in such a manner that the
feed roller 68 abuts against the upperpassive surface 19 of thepassive member 18 provided on thefront frame member 12 orrear frame member 14, and the supportingplate members devices backup rollers passive surface 19 of thepassive member 18, from the inner side thereof, and are disposed so as to form pairs with thefeed rollers 68. - The pulling means108, motional force applying means 110 and feed-in means 112 are respectively positioned on the outer side of the lateral
travel rail members travel rail member 80A and the lateraltravel rail member 80B in separate positions in the direction of the workingpath section 6. - A
guide member 115 for guiding theoperating pin 105 of thecoupling member 100 is provided on the final end side of the direction of travel in the workingpath section 6, and hence by means of theoperating pin 105 being guided by theguide pin 115, thecoupling member 100 is caused to swing upwards against its own weight, thereby releasing the coupling thereof. - Below, the operation of the first embodiment described above is described.
- As shown in FIG. 2, a
movable body 10 which has moved along the linear shapedpath section 5 a due to the conveyance rotational force of the feeding means 78, or the like, is applied with a motional force (travel force) by the conveyance rotational force A of the feeding means 60 provided in the linear shapedpath section 5 a. - More specifically, as shown by the dotted line C in FIG. 10, the
feed roller 68 projecting on the inner side is caused to contact thepassive surfaces 15 of the movingbody 10 arriving there, by means of the elastic force of thecompression spring 70, whereby, as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 10, it is pressed against thepassive surfaces 15 in a retracted state, against the elastic force of thecompression spring 70. In this case, thefeed roller 68 is driven in rotation by theinduction motor 66, and therefore, since thefeed roller 68 which is subjected to forced rotation is in pressure contact with thepassive surfaces 15, motional force is imparted to themovable body 10 due to the conveyance rotational force A thereof. - Here, the abutting
section 16 of the front end portion of the introducedmovable body 10 abuts on the abuttingsection 17 of the rear end portion of the lastmovable body 10 of amovable body 10 group situated in a train-like formation on the linear shapedpath section 5 a, and thus the group ofmovable bodies 10 situated in a train-like formation on the linear shapedpath section 5 a is caused to move at a prescribed speed by the conveyance rotational force A of the feeding means 60, and the group ofmovable bodies 10 situated in a train-like formation on the linear shapedpath section 5 a is pushed from the rear and caused to move (see dotted lines in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). - The braking means75 applies a braking force to the
movable bodies 10 which have moved along the linear shapedpath section 5 a and have arrived at the final end side thereof. In other words, in the braking means 75, abraking roller 76 which is pressed against thepassive surfaces 15 by an action similar to that of the feeding means 60 is caused to rotate forcibly, and a braking force is applied to themovable body 10 by the conveyance rotational force B thereof. - Here, since the conveyance rotational force A of the feeding means60 is greater than the conveyance rotational force B of the
braking roller 76, themovable body 10 corresponding to the braking means 75 is caused to move whilst receiving a braking action, in accordance with the differential between the forces. Consequently, in the linear shapedpath section 5 a, a plurality ofmovable bodies 10 are caused to move in an aligned fashion between the feeding means 60 and the braking means 75, whilst being pressed tightly from the rear, without any gaps occurring between the front and rear ends thereof. - The movement of the
movable bodies 10 by the feeding means 60 as described above is performed by means of thefeed roller 68 thereof acting successively on thepassive surfaces 15 of thefront frame member 12, and then from that to thepassive surfaces 15 of themiddle frame member 13, and on to thepassive surfaces 15 of therear frame member 14. Moreover, thefeed roller 68 also acts on a passive surface on the side face of the connectingmember 22 in the connectingdevice 20. - In this case, when the
feed roller 68 acts on thefront frame member 12, themiddle frame member 13 and therear frame member 14 are pulled and moved by means of the connectingdevice 20. Moreover, when thefeed roller 68 acts on themiddle frame member 13, thefront frame member 12 is pushed and moved via the connectingdevice 20, and therear frame member 14 is pulled and moved via the connectingdevice 20. Furthermore, when thefeed roller 68 acts on therear frame member 14, themiddle frame member 13 andfront frame member 12 are pushed and moved via the connectingdevice 20. - In this way, whilst a group of
movable bodies 10 are moved in an intermittent or consecutive manner along the linear shapedpath section 5 a, or whilst they are intermittently halted, a floor-based operator, for example, can proceed with a variety of operations with respect to the conveyeditems 115 supported by the supportingsection 50, from below. Alternatively, a group of empty or fullmovable bodies 10 can be stored on the linear shapedpath section 5 a, whilst being moved in an intermittent or continuous fashion. - As shown in FIG. 2, a
movable body 10 moved so as to be projecting from the region of the braking means 75, is moved along thecurved path section 5 b by feedingmeans 79, whereupon it is conveyed along the linear shapedpath section 5 c. In this linear shapedpath section 5 c, themovable body 10 is moved by the feeding means 78 and enters into theprescribed region 5 d. - More specifically, in the
prescribed region 5 d, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the dividedrail members main rail 2 at the upstream end thereof and are connected to themain rail 2 at the downstream end thereof. Thereby, the dividedrail members main rail 2. Consequently, when there is no requirement to branch off amovable body 10 into the workingpath section 6, themovable body 10 is caused to move and pass through theprescribed region 5 d, with the dividedrail members - Furthermore, if a
movable body 10 is to be branched off into the workingpath section 6, then firstly, as illustrated in FIG. 16, the lowerside operating device 84A in the branchingmeans 81 is operated, and the dividedrail member 82A is caused to rotated about thevertical axis 83A, in such a manner that the downstream end thereof connects with the lateraltravel rail member 80A. Thereby, after the leading end guideddevice 40 of themovable bodies 10 has passed from the upper side dividedrail member 82B to themain rail 2, then as illustrated in FIG. 17, it will pass via the dividedrail member 82A onto the lateraltravel rail member 80A. - In this case, the front side middle guided
device 30 passes along the upper side dividedrail member 82B, and by detecting the passage thereof, the upperside operating device 84B of the branchingmeans 81 is operated, thereby causing the dividedrail member 82B to turn about thevertical axis 83B and connecting the downstream end thereof to the lateraltravel rail member 80B. - Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 18, after the front side middle guided
device 30 has passed from the upper side dividedrail member 82B to themain rail 2, similarly to the leading end guideddevice 40, it passes via the dividedrail member 82A onto the lateraltravel rail member 80A. In a similar manner to this, the rear side middle guideddevice 30 moves onto the lateraltravel rail member 80B via the lower side dividedrail member 82B. Thereupon, the rear side end guideddevice 40 moves onto the lateraltravel rail member 80B via the lower side dividedrail member 82B, similarly to the rear side middle guideddevice 30. - In this way, as illustrated in. FIG. 1, FIG. 13 and FIG. 19, the
movable body 10 is branched off into the workingpath section 6 in a state wherein thefront frame member 12 of themovable body 10 is aligned in a preceding fashion with one of the lateraltravel rail members 80A, themiddle frame member 13 which is fitted with the supportingsection 50 adopts an orthogonal attitude with respect to the direction of travel, and furthermore, therear frame member 14 is bent in the opposite direction so as to be aligned with the other lateraltravel rail member 80B, in a trailing fashion. The dividedrail members main rail 2. - As illustrated by FIG. 15 and FIG. 19, when a
movable body 10 has been branched off onto the workingpath section 6 in this way, thefeed roller 68 of the pulling means 108 engages with the outer side of the upperpassive surface 19 of thepassive member 18 provided on thefront frame member 12 orrear frame member 14, and with the supportingplate members members movable body 10 to be pulled into the workingpath section 6 in the bended attitude, and then to be conveyed laterally. In this case, the pulling force of thefeed roller 68 is transmitted reliably by means of thebackup roller 109 in contact with the inner sides of the upperpassive surface 19 of thepassive member 18, and the supportingplate members members - The
movable body 10 pulled in this way is then coupled with themovable body 10 which precedes it. More specifically, themovable body 10 positioned in front has acoupling member 100 provided onvertical axles movable body 10 has acoupling receiver member 90 provided on thevertical axles - In this state, when the laterally conveyed
movable body 10 approaches the precedingmovable body 10, firstly, the cam guide face 94 of thecoupling receiver member 90 abuts on thecam guide face 104 of the opposingcoupling member 100, whereby thecoupling member 100 is caused to swing upwards about thehorizontal pin 102, against its own weight, as illustrated by the dotted line in FIG. 6. By means of the cam guide face 94 passing over thecam guide face 104, thecoupling member 100 then swings downwards about thehorizontal pin 102, due to its own weight, whereby the front end portion thereof falls into therecess section 92, thecoupling face 103 thereof abuts on thecoupling receiver face 93, and thecoupling member 100 is thus coupled to thecoupling receiver member 90. - In this case, in the group of
movable bodies 10 branched off onto the workingpath section 6, thefeed roller 68 of the motional force applying means 110 provided on the final end side of the workingpath section 6 abuts on the outer sides of the upper passive surfaces 19 of thepassive member 18 of themovable body 10 opposing it, and the supportingplate members devices movable bodies 10 to be conveyed laterally in a train-like fashion, whilst maintaining the bended attitude. In this case, the conveyance driving force of thefeed roller 68 is transmitted reliably by means of abackup roller 111 in contact with the inner sides of the upperpassive surface 19 and the supportingplate members - By pulling and moving the group of
movable bodies 10 in the workingpath section 6 in a train-like fashion by means of the motional force applying means 110 in this way, the motional force of the precedingmovable body 10 is transmitted via thecoupling member 100 thereof to thecoupling receiver member 90 of the laterally conveyedmovable body 10. By this means, the laterally conveyedmovable body 10 receives a pulling force on the guideddevices travel rail members vertical axles movable body 10 is pulled and conveyed thereafter in a train-like fashion. - When the leading
movable body 10 reaches the final end portion of the workingpath section 6, theoperating pin 105 provided on thecoupling member 100 thereof is guided by theguide member 115, andcoupling member 100 is caused to swing upwards against its own weight, thereby releasing the coupling thereof with the followingmovable body 10, as illustrated in FIG. 14. The leadingmovable body 10 is then joined into the fixedpath 5A by the operation of the feed-inmeans 112. In this case, the joining operation is performed smoothly by means of the joining means 85 operating in a similar manner to the branchingmeans 81. - More specifically, by turning the two dividing
rail members vertical axes travel rail members movable body 10 by the operation of feed-in means 112, firstly, the leading end guideddevice 40 of themovable body 10 is caused to flow from the lateraltravel rail member 80A and onto themain rail 2A, by means of the dividedrail member 86A. Thereupon, in a similar fashion, the front side middle guideddevice 30 flows from the lateraltravel rail member 80A onto themain rail 2A by means of the dividedrail member 86A, and in a simultaneous manner, the rear side middle guideddevice 30 flows onto themain rail 2A via the dividedrail member 86B. - Here, by detecting the passage of the front side middle guided
device 30 over the dividedrail member 86A, the lowerside operating device 88A of the joiningmeans 85 is operated, and the dividedrail member 86A is turned about thevertical axis 87A, thereby connecting the upstream end thereof with themain rail 2A. In this state, the rear side middle guideddevice 30 joined onto themain rail 2A is moved along the dividedrail member 86A, and the rear side end guideddevice 40 is joined onto themain rail 2A via the dividedrail member 86B, similarly to the rear side middle guideddevice 30, and is then moved over the dividedrail member 86A. In this way, therespective frame members movable body 10 can be moved over themain rail 2A in a linear fashion. - As described above, whilst a group of
movable bodies 10 are moved in a train-like fashion in an intermittent or consecutive manner along the workingpath section 6, or whilst they are intermittently halted, a floor-based operator, for example, can proceed with a variety of operations with respect to the conveyeditems 118 supported by the supportingsection 50. - As illustrated in FIG. 19, in this case, since the
front frame member 12 andrear frame member 14 are positioned in alignment with the downward direction of the two lateraltravel rail members middle frame members 13 of preceding and followingmovable bodies 10 can be maintained at a distance corresponding to the length of thefront frame member 12 orrear frame member 14. Thereby, the spacing betweenmovable bodies 10 in the lateral travel direction can be maintained readily by a simple structure, and hence a group ofmovable bodies 10 can be moved laterally in the workingpath section 6 in such a manner that there is no mutual contact between conveyeditems 118. Consequently, various types of work operations can be performed on the conveyeditems 118, in a simple and accurate manner. - When the
movable body 10 moves in the manner, the middle guideddevice 30 is supported and guided via the respective supportingrollers 33 on themain rails rail members rollers 35 contact with and are guided by themain rail rail members travel rail members - Furthermore, the end guided
device 40 is supported and guided via the respective supportedrollers 43 on themain rails rail members travel rail members rollers 46 contact with and are guided by themain rails rail members travel rail members prevention roller 47 opposes themain rails rail members travel rail members - In this way, the movement of the
movable bodies 10 is performed in a stable fashion, without catching, toppling, lifting up, or the like, and hence various tasks can be performed with respect to the conveyeditems 118 and the conveyeditems 118 can be loaded and unloaded in an accurate manner at all times. - In the train-like pushing movement along the fixed
paths 5 described above, themain bodies 11 of the respectivemovable bodies 10, in other words, therespective frame members sections 16 abut against the respective abuttingsections 17 directly from the rear direction, and hence the pushing movement is achieved in a smooth and reliable manner. - Furthermore, in the left (or right-hand)
curved path section 5 b, therespective frame members devices 20. Thereby, in plan view, the relative angle formed between therear frame member 14 of the leadingmovable body 10 and thefront frame member 12 of the followingmovable body 10 is an obtuse angle, and since the abuttingsection 16 meets the abuttingsection 17 at an obtuse angle, the pushing movement can be performed smoothly and reliably. - Here, the curving is performed by relative rotation about the
vertical axle 21 at the connectingdevice 20. Moreover, by means of the guideddevices vertical axes vertical axles devices main rail - Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is described on the basis of FIG. 21 to FIG. 24. More specifically, branching means121 comprises two divided
rail members devices main rail 2 at aprescribed region 5 d, androtating devices rail members vertical axes rail members main rail 2, they can be connected to lateraltravel rail members - In order to rotate the two divided
rail members vertical axes bearings beams rail members vertical axles bearings - The
rotating devices rail members vertical axes rail members links vertical axles cylinder devices links beams stopper members links beams - Feeding means (not illustrated) capable of acting on the guided
devices rail members travel rail members - Below, the operation of the second embodiment described above will be described.
- In the
prescribed region 5 d, the upstream end and downstream end of the dividedrail members main rail 2, as illustrated in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22. Thereby, the dividedrail members main rail 2. Consequently, when there is no requirement to branch off amovable body 10 into the workingpath section 6, themovable body 10 is caused to move and pass through theprescribed region 5 d, with the dividedrail members - Furthermore, if a
movable body 10 is to be branched off into the workingpath section 6, then firstly, as illustrated by the solid lines in FIG. 22, themovable body 10 is halted at a position where the leading end guideddevice 40 of themovable body 10 is supported by the lower side dividedrail member 122A. Next, thevertical axle 126A is caused to rotate through 90°, via thelink 132A and the like, by means of a compressive movement of thecylinder device 133A in therotating device 131A. By this rotational movement, the dividedrail member 122A is separated from themain rail 2, and is then connected to the lateraltravel rail member 80A, as illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 22. - By means of the feeding means acting on the leading end guided
device 40, this end guideddevice 40 is caused to move from the dividedrail member 122A onto the lateraltravel rail member 80A. In this case, by detecting the movement of the end guideddevice 40 onto the lateraltravel rail member 80A, thevertical axle 126A is rotated in reverse via thelink 132A, and the like, by means of a reverse operation of thecylinder device 133A, thereby connecting the dividedrail member 122A to themain rail 2. - In this state, as indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 23, the
movable body 10 is then halted at a position where the leading middle guideddevice 30 is supported by the dividedrail member 122A and the trailing middle guideddevice 30 is supported by the upper side dividedrail member 122B. Next, by extension and/or contraction of thecylinder devices rotating devices vertical axles links rail members main rail 2 and, as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 23, and are connected with the lateraltravel rail members - By means of the feeding means acting on the two middle guided
devices 30, these middle guideddevices 30 are caused to move from the dividedrail members travel rail members device 30 onto the lateraltravel rail members vertical axles cylinder devices links rail members main rail 2. In this state, the rear side end guideddevice 40 is moved via the dividedrail member 122B and onto the lateraltravel rail member 80B, by a similar action to the foregoing. - In this way, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the
movable body 10 can be branched off into the workingpath section 6 in a state wherein thefront frame member 12 thereof is aligned with one of the lateraltravel rail members 80A, themiddle frame member 13 fitted with the supportingsection 50, assumes an orthogonal attitude with respect to the direction of travel, and furthermore, therear frame member 14 is bent in the opposite direction so as to be aligned with the other lateraltravel rail member 80B. The dividedrail members main rail 2. - Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described on the basis of FIG. 25 and FIG. 26.
- In this third embodiment, a configuration of lateral travelling is achieved wherein a
movable body 10 does not pass through theprescribed region 5 d when it reaches it, but rather is always moved onto a workingpath section 6. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 25, the branching means 140 is provided in one place, commonly for both the lateraltravel rail members rail member 141 which connects to the final end of themain rail 2, and an operating device (cylinder device, or the like) 143 for causing thisrail member 141 to rotate about the axis of avertical axle 142. A composition is adopted wherein when therail member 141 is rotated, the upstream end thereof remains connected to themain rail 2 at all times, and the downstream end thereof connects selectively with one of the two lateraltravel rail members - As illustrated in FIG. 26, the joining means145 has a similar composition to the branching means 140, and it comprises a
rail member 146 connected to the start end of themain rail 2A, anoperational device 148 for causing thisrail member 146 to rotate about the axis of thevertical axle 147, and the like, and the joining means 145 is disposed in a symmetrical position with respect to the branchingmeans 140. - Below, the operation of the third embodiment described above will be described.
- When a
movable body 10 is moved into the workingpath section 6, firstly, as illustrated by the solid lines in FIG. 25, the operatingdevice 143 of the branching means 140 is actuated, causing therail member 141 to turn about thevertical axle 142, such that the downstream end thereof connects with the lateraltravel rail member 80A. Thereby, the leading end guideddevice 40 and the front side middle guideddevice 30 of themovable body 10 move from therail member 141 onto the lateraltravel rail member 80A. - By detecting that the front side middle guided
device 30 has passed over therail member 141, the operatingdevice 143 in the branching means 140 is actuated, causing therail member 141 to rotate about thevertical axle 142, such that the downstream end thereof connects with the lateraltravel rail member 80B, as illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 25. Thereby, the rear side middle guideddevice 30 and the trailing end guideddevice 40 move via therail member 141 onto the lateraltravel rail member 80B. - By operating the
rail member 141 of the branching means 140 to perform a branching operation in this way, it is possible to cause themovable body 10 to move laterally onto the workingpath section 6, in a state where thefront frame member 12 is aligned with one of the lateraltravel rail members 80A, in a preceding fashion, themiddle frame member 13 fitted with the supportingsection 50 is positioned orthogonally with respect to the direction of travel, and furthermore, therear frame member 14 is bent in the opposite direction so as to be aligned with the other lateraltravel rail member 80B, in a trailing fashion. - When the
movable body 10 on the workingpath section 6 moves onto the fixedpath 5A, firstly, as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 26, the operatingdevice 147 in the joining means 145 is caused to extend, thereby rotating therail member 146 about thevertical axle 147, such that the upstream end thereof connects with the lateraltravel rail member 80A. Thereby, the leading end guideddevice 40 and the front side middle guideddevice 30 of themovable body 10 move from the lateraltravel rail member 80A onto themain rail 2A, via therail member 146. - By detecting the passage of the front side middle guided
device 30 over therail member 146, the operatingdevice 147 in the joining means 145 is contracted, thereby rotating therail member 146 about thevertical axle 147, such that the upstream end thereof connects with the lateraltravel rail member 80B, as illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 26. Thereby, the rear side middle guideddevice 30 and the trailing end guideddevice 40 move from the lateraltravel rail member 80B, via therail member 146, and onto themain rail 2A. - Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 27 to FIG. 30.
- In this fourth embodiment, a configuration is adopted wherein the
movable body 10 is branched off into the workingpath section 6 in a U-shaped bent attitude, whereby thefront frame member 12 and therear frame member 14 are aligned with the lateraltravel rail members middle frame member 13 is caused to assume an orthogonal position with respect to the direction of travel, in a trailing fashion. - In other words, the branching means151 constitutes a divided
rail member 152A, which is able to support the leading end guideddevice 40 and the front side middle guideddevice 30 simultaneously, a dividedrail member 152B, which is able to support the rear side middle guideddevice 30 and the trailing end guideddevice 40 simultaneously, formed by dividing themain rail 2 at aprescribed region 5 d, androtating devices rail members vertical axes main rail 2, the dividedrail members travel rail members - In order that the two divided
rail members vertical axes bearings beams rail members vertical axles bearings vertical axles - Rotating
devices rail members vertical axes rail members vertical axles cylinder devices links beams - Furthermore, arc-shaped
guide rails vertical axes beams rollers rail members brackets guide rails stopper members brackets beams - Delivery means (not illustrated) capable of acting on the guided
devices rail members travel rail members - Below, the operation of the fourth embodiment described above will be explained.
- In the
prescribed region 5 d, the dividedrail members main rail 2, as illustrated in FIG. 27 and FIG. 28. Accordingly, the dividedrail members main rail 2. - When a
movable body 10 is to be branched off into the workingpath section 6, firstly, themovable body 10 is halted at a position where the leading end guideddevice 40 and the front side middle guideddevice 30 of themovable body 10 are supported simultaneously by the lower side dividedrail member 152A, whilst the rear side middle guideddevice 30 and the trailing end guideddevice 40 are supported simultaneously by the upper side dividedrail member 152B. - Thereupon, by the contraction of the
cylinder device rotating devices vertical axles links rail members main rails 2, and they connect with the lateraltravel rail members - By causing the feeding means to act on the respective end guided
devices 40 and the respective middle guideddevices 30, the end guideddevices 40 and the middle guideddevices 30 are caused to move from the dividedrail members travel rail members devices 30 onto the lateraltravel rail members vertical axles cylinder devices links rail members main rail 2. - Thereby, it is possible to cause a
movable body 10 to branch off into the workingpath section 6 in a U-shaped bent attitude, wherein thefront frame member 12 and therear frame member 14 are aligned with the lateraltravel rail members middle frame member 13 fitted with the supportingsection 50 is caused to assume an orthogonal position with respect to the direction of travel, in a trailing fashion. - Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in other words, an embodiment involving
movable bodies 10 capable of moving along the floor, is described on the basis of FIG. 31. In the fifth embodiment, themain rail 2 and the dividedrail members - The respective embodiments described above related to a configuration wherein a
prescribed region 5 d is formed at one location of a linear shapedpath section 5 c, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration whereinprescribed regions 5 d are formed at a plurality of locations in the linear shapedpath section 5 c, lateraltravel rail members prescribed regions 5 d. - In the first embodiment described above, the movable body10 is branched off onto the working path section 6 in a state where the front frame member 12 is aligned with one of the lateral travel rail members 80A, in a preceding fashion, a middle frame member 13 is positioned orthogonally with respect to the direction of travel, and the rear frame member 14 is bent in the opposite direction so as to be aligned with the other lateral travel rail member 80B, but by adjusting the operation of the branching means 81, 121, it is also possible to branch off the movable body 10 to the working path section 6 in a U-shaped bent state, wherein the front frame member 12 and the rear frame member 14 are aligned with the lateral travel rail members 80A, 80B, in a preceding fashion, and the middle frame member 13 is caused to assume an orthogonal position with respect to the direction of travel, in a trailing fashion, and it is also possible to branch off the movable body 10 to the working path section 6 in an inverse U-shaped bent state, wherein the middle frame member 13 is caused to assume an orthogonal position with respect to the direction of travel, in a preceding fashion, and the front frame member 12 and the rear frame member 14 become aligned with the lateral travel rail members 80A, 80B, in a trailing fashion.
- In the respective embodiments described above, configurations are described wherein the
movable body 10 is moved laterally in the workingpath section 6 in a state where a singlemiddle frame member 13 is positioned orthogonally with respect to the direction of travel, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration wherein two or moremiddle frame members 13 provided with respective supportingsections 50 are moved laterally in the workingpath section 6 in an orthogonal position with respect to the direction of travel, and in this case, three or more lateral travel rail members are to be provided. - In the respective embodiments described above, the middle guided
devices 30 are coupled in a relatively rotatable manner to the end ofvertical axles 21 which are connected in a relatively rotatable manner in the crosswise direction, to theframe members devices 30 are coupled in a relatively rotatable manner via vertical axles provided independently on themiddle frame member 13. - In the respective embodiments described above, a composition was described wherein the
main body 11 of themovable body 10 consisted of threeframe members front frame member 12, or before or after therear frame member 14, or a composition of three or more members having a plurality ofmiddle frame members 13. Furthermore, a two member composition can be adopted wherein any one of theframe members travel rail members - In the respective embodiments described above, a composition was described wherein a connecting
device 20 is achieved by providing avertical axle 21 on themiddle frame member 13 and providing ahorizontal axle 23 on the front andrear frame members middle frame member 13, and vertical axles are provided on the front andrear frame members - In the respective embodiments described above, a drive configuration is adopted wherein a plurality of
movable bodies 10 are conveyed between feeding means 60 and braking means 75 in an aligned state whilst being pushed tightly from behind, without gaps occurring between the respective front and rear ends thereof, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration wherein themovable bodies 10 are conveyed and driven in a state where gaps occur between the respective front and rear ends thereof. - In the respective embodiments described above, a configuration was adopted wherein the
movable bodies 10 are moved by means of thefeed rollers 68 of feeding means 60, 78, 79 abutting on thepassive surfaces 15, but it is also possible to move themovable bodies 10 by means of a drive chain mechanism, in theprescribed region 5 d, in particular, or the like. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, it is also possible to adopt a configuration wherein a drive transmission member on a drive chain provided in the direction of thelinear path section 5 c engages with and disengages from a receivingpin 28 provided on themiddle frame member 13. Furthermore, a system wherein a drive belt abuts against thepassive surfaces 15 may also be adopted. - In the respective embodiments described above, a configuration is described wherein feeding means60, 78, 79, braking means 75, and the like, act only on any one of the
passive surfaces 15 of themain body 11, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration wherein, by providing receiving means, such as a receiving roller which acts on another passive surface, or the like, a strong frictional force can be obtained by gripping themain body 11 from both sides, and hence a sufficient conveying force and braking force can be exerted. In this case, it is also possible for the receiving roller acting on the other passive surfaces to be a forcibly driven type of roller or a freely rotating roller. - In the respective embodiments described above, it is also possible to adopt a working
path section 6 having a descending path section and an ascending path section, by displacing the lateraltravel rail members
Claims (10)
1. A conveyance apparatus using movable bodies, each movable body being able to move along a fixed path by being supported and guided on a main rail by means of a plurality of guided devices, each movable body having a main body formed by a plurality of frame members connected in a relatively rotatable fashion in a traverse direction with respect to a longitudinal direction via connecting devices, at least one of the frame members being provided with a supporting section for conveyed items, each of said guided devices being coupled in a relatively rotatable fashion to the movable body by means of vertical axles, wherein
a plurality of lateral travel rail members are provided on a lateral side of a prescribed region of the fixed path for supporting and guiding the guided devices in such a manner that the frame member provided with the supporting section assumes an orthogonal position with respect to a direction of travel, whilst the other frame members become aligned with the direction of travel, and branching means is provided in the prescribed region for causing the guided devices on the main rail to branch off onto the plurality of lateral travel rail members.
2. The conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to claim 1 , wherein the main body of the movable body is formed by three frame members and the supporting section is provided on the middle frame member, and the lateral travel rail members are formed in a pair and the movable body is conveyed in such a manner that a front frame member thereof is aligned with one of the lateral travel rail members, and a rear frame member thereof is bent so as to be aligned with the other lateral travel rail member.
3. The conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to claim 1 , wherein when a plurality of movable bodies are supported and guided on the lateral travel rail members, guided devices of preceding and following movable bodies which are adjacently positioned in the direction of travel can be coupled together.
4. The conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to claim 1 , wherein motional force applying means are provided for applying motional force to a movable body supported on the plurality of lateral travel rail members.
5. The conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to claim 1 , wherein the region where the lateral travel rail members are provided is formed into a working path section for conveyed items.
6. The conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to claim 1 , wherein the movable body is formed with passive surfaces on side faces of the respective frame members thereof, and feeding means having feed rollers capable of abutting on these passive surfaces is provided in the fixed path.
7. The conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to claim 1 , wherein said branching means comprises a plurality of divided rail members, formed by dividing the main rail in the prescribed region and capable of supporting the guided devices, and rotating devices for causing these divided rail members to rotate about vertical axes.
8. The conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to claim 1 , wherein said branching means is constructed so as to branch off all of the movable bodies arriving at the prescribed region in the fixed path onto the plurality of lateral travel rail members.
9. The conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to claim 1 , wherein said branching means is constructed in such a manner that the frame members other than the frame member provided with the supporting section assume an orthogonal attitude in a same direction, with respect to the frame member provided with the supporting section.
10. The conveyance apparatus using movable bodies according to claim 1 , wherein the movable body is provided with a supporting section for conveyed items in a lower portion of at least one of the frame members.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/117,633 US7089868B2 (en) | 2002-06-21 | 2005-04-19 | Conveyance apparatus using movable body |
US11/485,853 US7296521B2 (en) | 2002-06-21 | 2006-07-13 | Conveyance apparatus using movable body |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2002-180643 | 2002-06-21 | ||
JP2002180643A JP4122860B2 (en) | 2002-06-21 | 2002-06-21 | Transportation equipment using moving objects |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/117,633 Division US7089868B2 (en) | 2002-06-21 | 2005-04-19 | Conveyance apparatus using movable body |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20040011239A1 true US20040011239A1 (en) | 2004-01-22 |
Family
ID=30437015
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/601,447 Abandoned US20040011239A1 (en) | 2002-06-21 | 2003-06-23 | Conveyance apparatus using movable body |
US11/117,633 Expired - Lifetime US7089868B2 (en) | 2002-06-21 | 2005-04-19 | Conveyance apparatus using movable body |
US11/485,853 Expired - Lifetime US7296521B2 (en) | 2002-06-21 | 2006-07-13 | Conveyance apparatus using movable body |
Family Applications After (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US11/117,633 Expired - Lifetime US7089868B2 (en) | 2002-06-21 | 2005-04-19 | Conveyance apparatus using movable body |
US11/485,853 Expired - Lifetime US7296521B2 (en) | 2002-06-21 | 2006-07-13 | Conveyance apparatus using movable body |
Country Status (5)
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US (3) | US20040011239A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4122860B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1201985C (en) |
CZ (1) | CZ303791B6 (en) |
MX (1) | MXPA03005507A (en) |
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US20090193998A1 (en) * | 2008-02-05 | 2009-08-06 | Shigeyoshi Nishihara | Friction drive trolley conveyor |
US20090205532A1 (en) * | 2008-02-14 | 2009-08-20 | Shigeyoshi Nishihara | Suspension conveyance apparatus |
KR101328131B1 (en) * | 2013-03-28 | 2013-11-08 | (주)금강오토텍 | Flexible driving system |
US20160221621A1 (en) * | 2013-09-24 | 2016-08-04 | Torsten Hösker | Overhead Conveying Apparatus for Mounting on the Ceiling of an Assembly Plant |
KR20170087772A (en) * | 2016-01-21 | 2017-07-31 | 육용득 | Unmanned laundry export and return system |
CN107719383A (en) * | 2017-11-10 | 2018-02-23 | 中唐空铁集团有限公司 | Overhead single rail traffic system vehicle body suspension system |
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JP4122860B2 (en) * | 2002-06-21 | 2008-07-23 | 株式会社ダイフク | Transportation equipment using moving objects |
US8235000B2 (en) * | 2008-05-09 | 2012-08-07 | Caterpillar Inc. | Modular paint line and method of operation therefor |
JP5099454B2 (en) * | 2009-03-27 | 2012-12-19 | 株式会社ダイフク | Intersection switching equipment |
US8800754B2 (en) | 2009-09-22 | 2014-08-12 | OCS Intellitrak, Inc. | Conveyor system with interchangeable drive tube couplings |
US20110070020A1 (en) * | 2009-09-22 | 2011-03-24 | Tabler Charles P | Heavy-Duty Drive Tube Coupling |
US20110068617A1 (en) * | 2009-09-22 | 2011-03-24 | Tabler Charles P | Drive Wheel |
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US8584594B2 (en) * | 2012-02-03 | 2013-11-19 | Jervis B. Webb Company | Friction drive conveyor assembly |
CN102785911B (en) * | 2012-07-27 | 2014-12-03 | 江苏速升自动化装备股份有限公司 | Accumulation and discharge type suspension conveyor line layered cross rail |
CN102785912B (en) * | 2012-07-27 | 2015-08-26 | 江苏速升自动化装备股份有限公司 | A kind of Stacking Type Hang Conveyer cross rail with mending rail |
US9533691B2 (en) * | 2013-08-16 | 2017-01-03 | Jeremiah David Heaton | Overhead rail guidance and signaling system |
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DE102014000865B4 (en) * | 2014-01-23 | 2019-12-12 | CSF Förderanlagen GmbH | Conveyor |
JP6747211B2 (en) * | 2016-09-26 | 2020-08-26 | 中西金属工業株式会社 | Conveyor equipment |
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US20090193998A1 (en) * | 2008-02-05 | 2009-08-06 | Shigeyoshi Nishihara | Friction drive trolley conveyor |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20050183620A1 (en) | 2005-08-25 |
JP2004025904A (en) | 2004-01-29 |
CN1470444A (en) | 2004-01-28 |
CZ303791B6 (en) | 2013-05-09 |
US7296521B2 (en) | 2007-11-20 |
CZ20031735A3 (en) | 2004-02-18 |
US20060266253A1 (en) | 2006-11-30 |
CN1201985C (en) | 2005-05-18 |
JP4122860B2 (en) | 2008-07-23 |
MXPA03005507A (en) | 2004-01-22 |
US7089868B2 (en) | 2006-08-15 |
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Owner name: DAIFUKU CO., LTD., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KAWATO, KENICHIRO;NISHIHARA, SHIGEYOSHI;REEL/FRAME:014224/0646 Effective date: 20030521 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |