US20040011239A1 - Conveyance apparatus using movable body - Google Patents

Conveyance apparatus using movable body Download PDF

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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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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
Application number
US10/601,447
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English (en)
Inventor
Kenichiro Kawato
Shigeyoshi Nishihara
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Daifuku Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Daifuku Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daifuku Co Ltd filed Critical Daifuku Co Ltd
Assigned to DAIFUKU CO., LTD. reassignment DAIFUKU CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KAWATO, KENICHIRO, NISHIHARA, SHIGEYOSHI
Publication of US20040011239A1 publication Critical patent/US20040011239A1/en
Priority to US11/117,633 priority Critical patent/US7089868B2/en
Priority to US11/485,853 priority patent/US7296521B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • 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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  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Platform Screen Doors And Railroad Systems (AREA)
  • Branching, Merging, And Special Transfer Between Conveyors (AREA)
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US10/601,447 2002-06-21 2003-06-23 Conveyance apparatus using movable body Abandoned US20040011239A1 (en)

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US11/485,853 US7296521B2 (en) 2002-06-21 2006-07-13 Conveyance apparatus using movable body

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US20060266253A1 (en) 2006-11-30
CN1201985C (zh) 2005-05-18
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US7089868B2 (en) 2006-08-15
JP4122860B2 (ja) 2008-07-23
CZ20031735A3 (cs) 2004-02-18
JP2004025904A (ja) 2004-01-29
MXPA03005507A (es) 2004-01-22
US7296521B2 (en) 2007-11-20
CN1470444A (zh) 2004-01-28

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