JP2000016550A - Carrier device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide simply constituted carrier device to carry and move along a closed loop type carrier route along the inside of a vertical surface while holding a carriage in a horizontal state. SOLUTION: A pair of chains 15, 25 is arranged in parallel along a closed loop route in the inside of a vertical surface, a carriage 50 is engaged with the chains and arranged between these chains and the carriage 50 is moved along the closed loop route in accordance with driving of the chains. Guide mechanisms having guide rollers are provided in the front, the rear, left and right of the carriage 50, and the guide mechanisms at two points positioned on a diagonal line are engaged with each of the chains 15, 25. The chains 15, 25 are arranged in parallel by longitudinally slipping by the same distance (p) as a longitudinal interval (p) of a guide means in the route making a closed loop. A guide rail to guide the guide rollers is provided on a horizontal part of the closed loop route, and a vertical moving device 40 to vertically move the guide rollers synchronously with vertical movement of the guide means the guide rollers of which are engaged with the chains is provided on a vertical part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transport device for continuously transporting an object such as an assembly or a coating in an assembly line, a painting line or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of transfer apparatuses have been proposed for such purposes. However, a transfer table on which an object to be transferred is placed can be moved in a horizontal state along a transfer path. Devices that can do this are often required. In an apparatus configured to move the transfer table in a horizontal state, the transfer target can be transferred simply by placing the transfer target on the transfer table, and there is no need to provide an instrument for fixing the transfer target on the transfer table. . For this reason, the transfer table may be a simple table, and there is an advantage that the apparatus configuration is simple, and there is an advantage that the apparatus is easy to use.

[0003]

However, when the transport table is moved in a horizontal state as described above, if the transport path is horizontal, the configuration of the transport apparatus is simple, but the transport path is winding up and down. In such a case, there is a problem that the configuration of the transport device becomes complicated, for example, a complicated mechanism for holding the transport table horizontally regardless of the transport path, and the device manufacturing cost increases. For example, in the case of an apparatus that continuously performs coating and drying of parts and the like, a transport path is formed in a closed space, and a closed loop transport path is formed along a vertical plane in this space. Therefore, it may be required to move the carriage along this closed loop while keeping it horizontal. In such a case, if the transport table is configured to be transported while keeping the transport table horizontal, there is a problem that the transport device becomes complicated and expensive.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a transport device having a simple configuration that can be transported while holding a transport table in a horizontal state along a closed loop transport path along a vertical plane.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a pair of chains is arranged in parallel along a path forming a closed loop in a vertical plane, and between the pair of chains. A transport device is provided such that a transport table is provided and locked to a chain, and the transport table is moved along a path forming a closed loop as the chain is driven. Further, guide means are provided at four places on the front, rear, left and right sides of the transport table, and two guide means located on a diagonal line of these guide means are locked by the pair of chains, respectively, and at least the other two places are provided. The guide means has a guide roller. The pair of chains are arranged in parallel in the path forming a closed loop, shifted back and forth by the same distance as the front-rear distance of the guide means, and support the guide roller from below in a horizontally extending portion of the path forming the closed loop. A guide rail for guiding the guide roller is provided, and a vertical movement mechanism for vertically moving the guide roller in synchronization with the vertical movement of the guide means locked to the chain is provided at a vertically extending portion in a closed loop path. .

[0006] In the case of the transfer device having such a configuration, in the horizontal portion of the closed loop path, the transfer table is guided by a chain in which two guide means located on a diagonal line move horizontally and another. Since the guide rollers of the guide means are guided by the horizontally extending guide rails, they are conveyed horizontally in a stable horizontal support state. On the other hand, in a vertical portion of the closed loop path, the carriage is guided by a chain in which two guide means located on a diagonal line move vertically, and at least one of the guide rollers of the other two guide means is Since the guide means is vertically moved in synchronization with the vertical movement of the guide means locked to the chain by the vertical movement mechanism, the guide means is horizontally transported and moved in a stable horizontal support state. That is, in the case of the transport apparatus of the present invention, the transport table is transported along a path forming a closed loop in a vertical plane while the transport table is stably supported horizontally.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a plan view and a side view of a schematic overall configuration of the transfer device according to the present invention. In these drawings, arrows F and B are used.
Are referred to as front and rear directions, the directions of arrows R and L are referred to as right and left directions, and the directions of arrows U and D are referred to as up and down directions.

[0008] This transfer device is configured to have a pair of left and right chain mechanisms 10 and 20, and both chain mechanisms 10 and 2.
0 each form a rectangular closed loop in the vertical plane. As shown in FIG. 2, the right chain mechanism 10
The left chain mechanism 20 is composed of fourth sprockets 11 to 14 and a chain 15 which is looped over these sprockets to form a rectangular closed loop. The left chain mechanism 20 is looped over first to fourth sprockets 21 to 24 and these sprockets. And a chain 25 forming a rectangular closed loop.
For convenience of explanation, in these chains 15, 25, the portion between the first and second sprockets 11, 21, 12, 22 is referred to as rear vertical portion 15B, 25B, and the second and third sprockets 12, 22, 13 are referred to as rear vertical portions 15B, 25B. , 23 are referred to as upper horizontal portions 15U, 25U, and the third and fourth sprockets 13,
The portions between 23, 14, and 24 are referred to as front vertical portions 15F and 25F, and the fourth and first sprockets 14, 24, 11, and 21 are provided.
The portions between them are referred to as lower horizontal portions 15D, 25D.

The right and left chain mechanisms 10 have the same configuration in the vertical plane, and are disposed so as to extend parallel to the front and rear at predetermined intervals on the left and right. Numeral 20 is disposed so as to be shifted forward and backward by a distance p. This transfer device has a drive motor 1 having a speed reducer and a power transmission mechanism 2 as shown in FIG. 1, and the rotational driving force of the drive motor 1 is transmitted through the power transmission mechanism 2 to the first sprocket 11. , 21 and the first sprockets 11, 21 are synchronously driven to rotate at the same speed,
Both chains 15, 25 are driven in the direction of arrow A at a constant speed.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, between the right and left chain mechanisms 10 and 20 arranged as described above, the carriages 50 are arranged in front and rear at equal intervals. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the transfer table 50 is located at the upper horizontal portion 15U, 25U or the lower horizontal portion 15D, 25D of the chains 15, 25.

The transfer table 50 is provided on a mounting table 55 having a rectangular mounting surface on the upper surface, and on the left and right sides of the mounting table 55 at the same horizontal plane with a distance p in front and rear. A total of four first to fourth guide mechanisms 51,
52, 53, and 54. These guide mechanisms are guide rollers 51 each composed of a ball bearing.
a, 52a, 53a, and 54a, and a first guide mechanism 51 and a third guide mechanism 53 located diagonally.
Are connected to the right chain 15 and the left chain 25 via connection pins 51b and 53b, respectively. The first and fourth guide mechanisms 51 and 54 are located coaxially, and the second and third guide mechanisms 52 and 53 are also located coaxially. .

On the other hand, the upper horizontal portion 15 of the chains 15, 25
U, 25U, and guide rails 3, 3 extending horizontally below and in parallel with the lower horizontal portions 15D, 25D.
The guide rollers 51a to 54a are vertically
In U, 15D, and 25D, rolling movement is performed on the guide rails 3, 3. For this reason, in the upper and lower horizontal portions 15U, 25U, 15D, and 25D, the transport table 50 is transported in a horizontal state in accordance with the movement of the chains 15, 25 in the direction of arrow A while being guided by the guide rails 3, 3. You.

In this way, for example, when the transfer table 50 is moved along the upper horizontal portions 15U, 25U and transferred to the front end thereof, the chains 15, 25 are moved to the front vertical portion 15U.
To move to F and 25F, the transfer table 50 is also vertically moved accordingly. The mechanism for this vertical movement is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows the center of the first and fourth guide mechanisms 51 and 54 when the transfer table 50 is located at the front end of the upper horizontal portions 15U and 25U (the shaft center of the third sprocket 13 of the right chain mechanism 10). 3) shows a vertical cross section in the left-right direction passing through the parentheses. FIG. 5 shows the second and third guide mechanisms 5 when the transfer table 50 is located at the front ends of the upper horizontal portions 15U and 25U.
2 shows a vertical cross section in the left-right direction passing through the center of the second chain mechanism 53 (the axis center of the third sprocket 23 of the left chain mechanism 20).

As described above, the transfer table 50 is moved to the upper horizontal portion 15U,
When located at the front end of 25U, the guide roller 51a of the first guide mechanism 51 connected to the right chain 15 is disengaged from the guide rail 3 (the guide rail 3 is cut away at the position where the third sprocket 13 is located). After being rotated 90 degrees along the pitch line of the third sprocket 13 together with the right chain 15 wound around and moving on the third sprocket 13, it is moved vertically downward with the right chain 15 (to the front vertical portion 15F). Travel along). Similarly,
The guide roller 53a of the third guide mechanism 53 connected to the left chain 25 is separated from the guide rail 3 by 90 degrees along the pitch line of the third sprocket 23 together with the left chain 25 that is wound around the third sprocket 23 and moves. After being rotationally moved, it is moved vertically downward together with the left chain 25 (movement along the front vertical portion 25F).

As described above, if the two first and third guide mechanisms 51 and 53 located on the diagonal line are vertically moved together with the right and left chains 15, 25 (15F, 25F), the remaining two second guide mechanisms 51 and 53 are moved. And fourth guide mechanisms 52, 54
The transfer table 50 (the mounting table 5
5) can be moved vertically while maintaining the horizontal state. However, with this alone, the horizontal holding of the mounting table 55 may become unstable. Therefore, in the present transport device, the second and fourth guide mechanisms 52 and 54 also guide for vertical movement. I have.

First, as for the fourth guide mechanism 54, a rotary movement guide device 6 having a structure as shown in FIGS.
0 is provided. The guide device 60 includes a guide disk 62 rotatably supported by a fixed shaft 61 fixed to the frame 4 that supports the guide rail 3. The fixed shaft 61 is connected to the third chain of the right chain mechanism 10. It is located on the same axis as the sprocket 13. Guide disk 62
A plurality of guide grooves 63 are formed at equal pitches on the outer peripheral end of the guide roller 54a of the fourth guide mechanism 54 when the carriage 50 is located at the front end of the upper horizontal portion as described above. Is the guide groove 63 of the guide disk 62
Is accepted within.

The locus of the center point of the guide roller 54a when the guide roller 54a received in the guide groove 63 rotates as the guide disc 62 rotates is the same as the pitch circle of the third sprocket 13. The guide disk 62 is formed so as to have a circular arc shape. For this reason, when the guide roller 51a of the first guide mechanism 51 rotates 90 degrees with the rotation of the third sprocket 13, the guide roller 54 of the fourth guide mechanism 54 is rotated.
a rotates 90 degrees along an arc-shaped locus having the same diameter. Thereafter, the guide roller 54a is separated from the guide groove 63, and is moved vertically downward along the guide side surface 65a of the vertical guide plate 65 with the vertical movement of the chains 15, 25.

On the other hand, as for the second guide mechanism 52, the vertical movement guide device 4 having the structure as shown in FIGS.
0 is provided. This vertical movement guide device 40
It has an upper sprocket 41 for a vertical guide which is attached to a rotating shaft 33 rotatably supported by a ball bearing with respect to the frame 4 and is rotatable. The upper sprocket 41 is disposed on the same axis as the third sprocket 23 of the left chain mechanism 20. On the other hand, although not shown, a rotary shaft similar to that described above is also provided on the same axis as the fourth sprocket 24 vertically below the upper sprocket 41, and is attached to this rotary shaft so as to be rotatable. A lower sprocket is provided, and a vertical guide chain 42 is stretched between the upper and lower sprockets. The vertical guide chain 42 has the same distance p as the longitudinal shift distance p of the left and right chain mechanisms 10 and 20 described above.
, A plurality of vertical guide members 43 are attached. The vertical guide member 43 extends to the position of the guide roller 52a of the second guide mechanism 52 in the left-right direction, and a guide groove 43a capable of receiving the guide roller 52a is formed at this position.

The rotary shaft 33 protrudes outwardly (to the right) of the frame 4, and a synchronous driven sprocket 34 is fixed to this portion. On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
The rotating shaft 31 to which the third sprocket 13 of the right chain mechanism 10 is attached projects outside the frame 4,
The synchronous drive sprocket 32 is fixed to this part. A synchronizing chain 35 is hung on the synchronous driving sprocket 32 and the synchronous driven sprocket 34 to constitute a synchronizing device 30. Therefore, the upper sprocket 41 for vertical guide is driven to rotate at the same rotation speed as the third sprocket 13.

As described above, when the transfer table 50 moves to the front end of the upper horizontal portion, the guide rollers 52a of the second guide mechanism 52 engage the guide grooves 43a of the guide members 43 attached to the vertical guide chains 42. Accepted by. Since the vertical guide upper sprocket 41 is rotationally driven in synchronization with the third sprocket 13 by the synchronizer 30, the guide member 43 is hung on the third sprocket 13 while receiving the guide roller 52a of the second guide mechanism 52. It is rotated 90 degrees and moved vertically downward in synchronization with the right chain 15 (see FIG. 7).

As can be seen from the above description, the first and third guide mechanisms 5 connected to the left and right chains 15, 25
The guide rollers 51a and 53a are vertically moved together with the left and right chains 15 and 25, and the second guide mechanism 52
The guide roller 52a is vertically moved by the vertical guide chain 42 in synchronization with the left and right chains 15, 25. As described above, the transfer table 50 has three guide mechanisms 5.
Since 1, 52 and 53 are vertically moved synchronously, the mounting table 55 is stably held in a horizontal state and is conveyed vertically downward.

Thereafter, in the lower horizontal sections 15D and 25D, similarly to the transport in the upper horizontal sections 15U and 2U, the transport table 50 is kept horizontal while the guide rollers 51a to 54a roll and move on the guide rails. It is transported stably. In the rear vertical portions 15B and 25B, the transport table 50 is stably held in a horizontal state and transported vertically upward by the reverse principle of the operation in the front vertical portions 15F and 25F.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In the horizontal part of the closed loop path, the carriage is
Two guide means located on the diagonal are guided by a horizontally moving chain, and the guide rollers of the other two guide means are guided by horizontally extending guide rails. And in the vertical portion of the closed loop path,
The carriage is guided by a chain in which two guide means located on a diagonal line move vertically, and at least one guide roller of the other two guide means is locked to the chain by a vertical movement mechanism. Since it is moved vertically in synchronization with the vertical movement of the guide means, it is transported horizontally in a stable horizontal support state. That is, according to the transfer device of the present invention, the transfer table can be transferred while being stably supported horizontally along a closed loop in a vertical plane, and the device configuration is very simple. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a transfer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a transfer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing a periphery of a transfer table constituting the transfer device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the transfer device shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
It is sectional drawing shown along.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the transfer device shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
It is sectional drawing shown along.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the transfer device taken along the arrow VI in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of the transfer device taken along arrow VII in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 20 chain mechanism 11 to 14, 21 to 24 first to fourth sprockets 15, 25 chain 30 synchronizer 40 vertical movement guide device 50 transport table 51 to 54 first to fourth guide mechanism 55 mounting table

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of chains are arranged in parallel along a path forming a closed loop in a vertical plane, are located between the pair of chains and are locked by the chains, and are driven by the driving of the chains. In a transport device having a transport platform that is moved along the closed loop path, guide means are provided at four locations on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the transport platform. Two guide means are respectively engaged with the pair of chains, and the other two guide means have guide rollers, and the pair of chains are provided with the guide means in a path forming the closed loop. The guide rollers are arranged in parallel with each other at the same distance as the front-rear interval, and the guide rollers are supported from below by a horizontally extending portion of the closed loop path. A guide rail is provided to guide the vehicle, a vertically extending portion of the closed loop path,
A transport device, comprising: a vertical movement mechanism for vertically moving at least one of the guide rollers in synchronization with vertical movement of the guide means locked to the chain.