Conveyance system and winding / unwinding device

Abstract

To provide a winding / unwinding device that integrally has a function to wind / unwind a linear body and a function to maintain the tension of the linear body, a conveyance system comprising the winding / unwinding device.SOLUTION: A winding / unwinding device for a conveying system comprises a drive unit that winds and unwinds a linear body, and a tension unit that maintains the tension of the linear body. The tension unit allows the drive unit, which is configured on an upper slide base, to move relative to a base plate below it in a direction in which the tension of the linear body increases.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport system and a winding / unwinding device thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] There are various types of devices that transport workpieces in industrial machinery. Typical types include belts and rack and pinion systems, but there are also wire-based transport systems that are used in factories.

[0003] The conveying system using this wire has the following advantages because the wire is lightweight yet strong. That is, high-speed conveying is possible, and it can be applied to conveying at 3 to 10 m / s, whereas conventional systems are 0.5 to 2 m / s. In addition, long-distance conveying is possible, and it can be applied to conveying at 3 to 50 m, whereas conventional systems are 0.2 to 10 m. In addition, it is capable of carrying heavy loads, and it can be applied to conveying at 2 to 500 kg, whereas conventional systems are 0.5 to 200 kg. In addition, since the wire is light, it can save 10 to 30% of energy compared to conventional systems. In addition, it is quiet and generates almost no noise.

[0004] On the other hand, a conveying system using this wire has a problem of a decrease in tension due to the stretching of the wire. This also occurs when using other linear objects, such as belts or chains, and therefore a mechanism or device for adjusting the tension is required. Patent Document 1 proposes a constant tension device to solve this problem. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-124198 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem of the decrease in tension due to elongation of the linear body and the constant tension device described in the above document will be described below with reference to Figs.

[0007] 13 and 14, the conveying system 9 includes a winding / unwinding device 92 and a constant tension device 99, which moves a traveling body 911 on a guide rail 912 back and forth by winding and unwinding a wire 921, which is a linear body. The traveling body 911 is attached to a linear bearing that moves up and down and left and right on the guide rail 912 with a small gap, so that it moves with high precision while supporting a load. Therefore, even when a load is placed on the traveling body 911, it moves with high precision, and thus has secured a certain degree of status as an industrial conveying machine.

[0008] Winding / unwinding device 92 accurately rotates winding / unwinding rotor 922 with motor (typically a servo motor) 925, and since rotor 922 can move one pitch of the wire in one rotation in the left and right direction, wire 921 can be accurately wound and unwound.

[0009] Wire 921 is usually made up of thin metal wires (iron, stainless steel) twisted together (49 to 133 strands), so there are slight gaps between the wires when it is first manufactured. However, as it ages during use, these gaps close and the gaps between the wires become denser, which leads to longitudinal elongation of wire 921.

[0010] Therefore, even if the wire 921 is in a taut state at the beginning of assembly, it will gradually stretch and the tension will decrease, which may lead to a decrease in the positioning accuracy of the conveying device.

[0011] The constant tension device described in the above document was developed to solve such problems. The conveyor system 9 is equipped not only with the winding / unwinding device 92 but also with a constant tension device 99 that automatically maintains the tension of the wire 921, so that the problems caused by the decrease in tension of the wire 921 are almost completely solved.

[0012] However, the constant tension device has a relatively large number of parts, and requires a relatively long time for adjustment during assembly, resulting in high costs.

[0013] As a means for solving this problem, a manual tensioning device for manually applying tension has been developed and put to practical use, and the manufacturing cost is low.

[0014] This manual tensioning device will be described with reference to Fig. 15. The manual tensioning device 90 is used by a maintenance person for the conveyance system to periodically check the tension of the wire 921, and when a decrease in the wire tension is confirmed, the maintenance person readjusts the wire tension according to the following procedure.

[0015] First, the pulley position fixing bolts 902 at four locations on the pulley 901 are loosened. The position of the pulley 901 can be adjusted within the range of four long holes 907 in the support body 906. Next, while checking the tension of the wire 921, the nut 903 that abuts against the bracket 905 and is screwed into the bolt 904 is tightened in the direction that increases the tension of the wire 921 (clockwise) until the tension of the wire 921 is set to an appropriate value. Next, the pulley position fixing bolts 902 are tightened to complete the tension adjustment.

[0016] As described above, the constant tension device and the manual tension applying device have advantages and disadvantages, and also have a common problem of being located quite far away from the winding / unwinding device. This is because most conveying systems that use linear objects such as wires generally convey long distances, and the constant tension device or the manual tension applying device is often located several meters to several tens of meters away from the winding / unwinding device.

[0017] For this reason, there is a demand for a device or mechanism that can adjust the tension of the wire in close proximity to the winding / unwinding device.

[0018] The present invention is intended to solve at least one of the above problems, and aims to provide a winding / unwinding device that has an integrated function for winding and unwinding a linear body and a function for maintaining tension in the linear body, and a conveying system equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0019] The present application includes a number of means for solving at least part of the above problems, examples of which are as follows: To solve at least part of the above problems, a winding and unwinding device according to one aspect of the present invention is a winding and unwinding device for a conveyance system, and includes a drive unit for winding and unwinding a linear body, and a tension unit for maintaining tension in the linear body, and the tension unit allows the drive unit, which is configured on an upper slide base, to move in a direction that increases the tension in the linear body, relative to a base plate below it.

[0020] The tension unit may include a screw mechanism that connects the slide base and the base plate, and the tension of the linear body may be adjusted so that the slide base moves by rotating a screw of the screw mechanism, thereby increasing the tension.

[0021] The screw mechanism may include a male screw member and a female screw member that screws into the male screw member, the male screw member being attached to the base plate side and the female screw member being attached to the slide base side.

[0022] The tension unit may include a linear guide mechanism that guides the movement of the slide base, and the linear guide mechanism may have a moving member fixed to the underside of the slide base and a rail member fixed to the upper surface of the base plate.

[0023] The tension unit may include a drive mechanism for rotating the screw mechanism, and the drive mechanism may rotate the screw mechanism in response to a decrease in tension of the linear body.

[0024] The tension unit may include a cam member for actuating the drive mechanism, and the cam member may rotate in synchronization with a drive shaft of the drive unit.

[0025] The tension unit may include a transmission part for linking the drive shaft and the cam member.

[0026] The transmission portion may include a magnet gear.

[0027] The screw mechanism may include a male screw member and a female screw member that screws into the male screw member, and one end surface of the female screw member may abut against a male screw support member that is fixed to the base plate and supports the male screw member.

[0028] In order to solve at least a part of the above problems, a conveying system according to one aspect of the present invention includes the above winding / unwinding device. Effect of the Invention

[0029] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a winding / unwinding device that is integrally equipped with a function for winding / unwinding a linear object and a function for maintaining tension on the linear object, and a transport system equipped with the same.

[0030] According to the present invention, the winding / unwinding device is integrally provided with a function of winding / unwinding a linear body and a function of maintaining tension on the linear body, which enables the use of common components and leads to a reduction in parts costs.

[0031] According to the present invention, the other end of the system, located away from the winding / unwinding device, only has a pulley with almost no adjustment elements, so that maintenance workers only need to adjust the winding / unwinding device, reducing the effort of traveling long distances for adjustments.

[0032] Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1A is a plan view showing an example of a transport system according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a front view showing the same. [Diagram 2]1 is a three-dimensional external view showing an example of a winding / unwinding device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the internal configuration of the winding / unwinding device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the internal configuration of the winding / unwinding device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining the operation of a drive mechanism of the tension unit. [Figure 7] 13 is a diagram for explaining a winding / unwinding device according to a third modified example of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the internal configuration of a winding / unwinding device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the internal configuration of a winding / unwinding device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a winding / unwinding device according to a second modification of the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an external view showing an example of a winding / unwinding device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the internal configuration of a winding / unwinding device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a conventional conveying system. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a conventional conveying system. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a conventional manual tension applying device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Hereinafter, examples of the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that components common to the following embodiments (variations) may be given the same reference numerals as those described above, and descriptions thereof may be omitted. In addition, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc. of components, etc., it is assumed that those that are substantially similar or similar to the shape, etc. are included, except when specifically stated otherwise or when it is considered in principle to be clearly different.

[0035] <Embodiment 1> 1 is a diagram showing an example of a conveying system according to embodiment 1, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a front view. Note that, in the following embodiments and their modifications, an example using a wire as an example of a linear body will be described, but the present invention may be applied to a conveying system and its winding / unwinding device using other linear bodies, such as a belt or a chain.

[0036] The conveying system 1 of this embodiment includes a winding / unwinding device 7 and a pulley 8, and a wire 21 is wound between them with tension. The wire 21 is wound around the outer circumferential surface of a rotor (drum) 22 except for the portion where winding / unwinding takes place. A workpiece (not shown) is placed on a traveling body 11 that is fixed to and pulled by the wire 21, and is conveyed by the traveling body 11 traveling on a guide rail 12.

[0037] As shown in the figure, the transport system 1 has the winding / unwinding device 7 disposed at one end of the system and the pulley 8 disposed at the other end. The arrangement and direction may be different as long as they are not contrary to the spirit of the present invention. In the figure, the pulley 8 is disposed at the front end and the winding / unwinding device 7 at the rear end, but the winding / unwinding device 7 may also be disposed at the front end and the pulley 8 at the rear end. In the figure, the motor 25 is provided at the right end of the winding / unwinding device 7, but it may be provided at the left end, and the entire winding / unwinding device 7 may be configured symmetrically to the figure.

[0038] The winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment is configured on a horizontally disposed flat base plate 70. The base plate 70 may also be a part of the main body plate 13 shown in the figure, or a separately configured part may be fixed to the main body plate 13 as shown in Fig. 2 described later.

[0039] As shown in the figure, the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment includes a drive unit 2 that winds and unwinds the wire 21, and a tension unit 3 that maintains the tension of the wire 21. The drive unit 2 is configured on a slide base 20, and the tension unit 3 allows it to move together with the slide base 20 in a direction that increases the tension of the wire 21 relative to the lower base plate 70 in the direction (the direction of arrow F in the figure). In other words, the winding / unwinding device 7 has an upper and lower two-layer structure, and the upper drive unit 2 can move relatively in the direction that increases the wire tension.

[0040] As described above, the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment integrally comprises the drive unit 2 that winds / unwinds (drives) the wire 21, and the tension unit 3 that maintains the tension of the wire 21, which allows for standardization of components and reduces parts costs. This also allows for a simple configuration in which the pulley 8 is simply attached to the frame 14 of the guide rail 12 using a mounting bracket, as shown in the figure.

[0041] According to this embodiment, the other end of the system, remote from the winding / unwinding device 7, consists only of pulley 8 with almost no adjustable elements, and maintenance workers only need to adjust the winding / unwinding device, reducing the effort of traveling long distances for adjustments.

[0042] Fig. 2 is a three-dimensional external view showing an example of a winding / unwinding device according to embodiment 1, as observed from the rear left side of Fig. 1. In the figure, X indicates the front-to-rear direction (-X is the front, +X is the rear), Y indicates the up-down direction (vertical direction) (+Y is up, -Y is down), and Z indicates the left-to-right direction (horizontal direction) (-Z is the left, +Z is the right) (the same applies to the following figures).

[0043] In the drive unit 2 of the winding / unwinding device 7, a rotor 22 is provided with a nut (e.g., a spline nut) at its axial center, and rotates integrally with a corresponding drive shaft (e.g., a spline shaft) 23 and moves parallel to the drive shaft 23 relatively. The drive shaft 23 is connected to a motor (e.g., a servo motor) 25 via a coupling 24. Although a detailed description is omitted, the drive unit 2 includes a feed screw mechanism such that the rotor 22 moves parallel along the drive shaft 23 by one winding pitch of the wire 21 when the rotor 22 rotates once. The configuration of the drive unit 2 is not particularly limited, and known techniques can be used as appropriate.

[0044] The drive unit 2 has, as a support body for supporting the above-mentioned configuration, a flat slide base 20 that supports the entire structure, and a main plate 261, an intermediate plate 262, and a motor plate 263 that are fixed perpendicularly to the slide base 20. One end of the drive shaft 23 is attached to the main plate 261 via a bearing, and the other end is attached to the intermediate plate 262 via a bearing. The motor 25 is attached to the motor plate 263. In this manner, the drive unit 2 is configured (constructed) on the slide base 20. Hereinafter, the space above the slide base 20 will also be referred to as the "upper space."

[0045] The tension unit 3 in the winding / unwinding device 7 includes a drive unit 4 for moving the drive unit 2 together with the slide base 20, a guide unit 5 for guiding the movement, and a transmission unit 6 for connecting the drive shaft 23 and the drive unit 4.

[0046] The drive section 4 and the guide section 5 of the tension unit 3 are disposed between the slide base 20 and the base plate 70. Hereinafter, the space between the slide base 20 and the base plate 70 will also be referred to as the "lower space."

[0047] The driving unit 4 includes a screw mechanism 41 that connects the slide base 20 and the base plate 70. The screw mechanism 41 includes a male screw member 411 having a thread on its outer circumferential surface that is installed on the base plate 70 side, and a female screw member 412 having a thread on its inner circumferential surface that is installed on the slide base 20 side and that screws into the male screw member 411.

[0048] The male screw member 411 is fixed to the upper surface of the base plate 70 at a predetermined distance from the upper surface so that its longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction. The female screw member 412 is attached to the moving bracket 416 via a bearing. The moving bracket 416 is fixed to the vicinity of the rear end (including the rear end) of the slide base 20. In other words, the male screw member 411 is attached to the base plate 70 side, and the female screw member 412 is attached to the slide base 20 side.

[0049] The winding / unwinding device 7 is thus arranged in the lower space, and is adjusted so that the slide base 20 moves relative to the base plate 70 by rotating the screw of the screw mechanism 41 connecting the slide base 20 and the base plate 70, thereby increasing the wire tension. Other configurations of the drive unit 4 will be described later.

[0050] The guide unit 5 is configured by a linear guide mechanism, and has a rail member 51 fixed to the upper surface of the base plate 70, and a moving member 52 fixed to the lower surface of the slide base 20 and sliding along the rail member 51. The rail member 51 is fixed so as to extend in the front-rear direction (corresponding to the extending direction of the wire 21). As shown in the figure, two pairs of rail members 51 and moving members 52 are provided in parallel on both sides of the screw mechanism 41, sandwiching it therebetween. A single pair of rail members 51 and moving members 52 may be provided.

[0051] The winding / unwinding device 7 is thus provided with the guide section 5, which makes the connection between the slide base 20 and the base plate 70 more stable and enables smooth linear movement of the drive unit 2. The rail member 51 and the moving member 52 are configured so that the lower space can accommodate the drive section 4.

[0052] The transmission unit 6 is a part that links the drive shaft 23 and the drive unit 4, and in the illustrated example, a cam member 43 described below. The transmission unit 6 is configured to include a magnet gear, which is a non-contact gear. Since the magnet gear transmits power in a non-contact manner by utilizing the attraction and repulsion of magnets, there is no contact between gears or dust due to wear, and it is suitable for use in clean rooms, etc. The transmission unit 6 may be a contact gear or a transmission belt that transmits power by meshing teeth on the outer periphery of a rotating body.

[0053] The transmission unit 6 includes, for example, a magnet gear A, a magnet gear B, and a magnet gear C, and transmission shafts 61, 62, and 63 that link these together.

[0054] Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged view of Fig. 2. An example of the arrangement of the transmission part 6 will now be described in detail.

[0055] The first transmission shaft 61 is rotatably attached at its middle portion to the main plate 261 by using a bearing member 611 so as to be vertically inclined slightly rearward. The second transmission shaft 62 is rotatably attached at its middle portion to the vicinity of the rear end of the slide base 20 by using a bearing member 621 at a position corresponding to the lower end of the first transmission shaft 61 and horizontally in the left-right direction. The third transmission shaft 63 is rotatably attached at its front end portion to the lower surface of the slide base 20 by using a bearing member 631 at a position corresponding to the right end of the second transmission shaft 62 and horizontally in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 5(a) described later).

[0056] The magnet gear A has one of a pair of gears that attract and repel each other, gear A1, fitted to one end supported by the main plate 261 of the drive shaft 23 or a shaft portion connected thereto so as to provide a predetermined air gap, and the other gear A2 is fitted to the upper end of the first transmission shaft 61. The magnet gear B has one of a pair of gears that attract and repel each other, gear B1, fitted to the lower end of the first transmission shaft 61, and the other gear B2 is fitted to the left end of the second transmission shaft 62 so as to provide a predetermined air gap. The magnet gear C has one of a pair of gears that attract and repel each other, gear C1, fitted to the right end of the second transmission shaft 62, and the other gear C2 is fitted to the third transmission shaft 63 slightly toward the rear end (see FIG. 5(a) described later) so as to provide a predetermined air gap. The magnet gears rotate together with the shaft portions to which they are fitted.

[0057] In this way, in the winding / unwinding device 7, the torque of the drive shaft 23 in the upper space is transmitted to the third transmission shaft 63 to which the cam member 43 in the lower space is fitted, via the transmission part 6. In other words, a transmission path is formed in which power is transmitted in the following order: motor 25, drive shaft 23, magnet gear A, magnet gear B, magnet gear C, and cam member 43, and this causes the cam member 43 to rotate in synchronization with the drive shaft 23.

[0058] Figures 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining the internal configuration of the winding / unwinding device according to embodiment 1, with Figure 4 being a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration as viewed from the rear (rear side) and Figure 5 being a schematic diagram as viewed from the front side (a) showing a partially cut-out front view together with the PP cross section of Figure 4 and (b) showing a partially cut-out front view together with the QQ cross section of Figure 4. An example of the configuration for automatically adjusting the wire tension of tension unit 3 will be described in detail below, focusing on the configuration of drive unit 4.

[0059] The drive section 4 includes the screw mechanism 41, a drive mechanism 42 for rotating the screw mechanism 41, and a cam member 43 for operating the drive mechanism 42. The drive section 4 is disposed in the lower space E, and is disposed between a pair of linear motion guide mechanisms of the guide section 5 in the left-right direction. The drive unit 2 is disposed in the upper space D as shown in the figure.

[0060] 4 and 5(a), the cam member 43 is attached to the third transmission shaft 63 and rotates in synchronization with the drive shaft 23. The outer peripheral surface of the cam member 43 is a cam, and the cam member 43 has an eccentricity e. Note that the cam member 43 is only one example, and other configurations may be used as long as they are not contrary to the spirit of the present invention.

[0061] 4 and 5(b), the drive mechanism 42 has a swing arm 421, a one-way clutch 422, a cam follower 423, and a spring 424. Note that the illustration is merely an example, and other configurations may be used as long as they are within the scope of the present invention.

[0062] The swing arm 421 has a ring portion having a circular shape and a pair of rod-shaped portions extending linearly on both sides of the ring portion. The ring portion of the swing arm 421 is fitted onto the outer periphery of the female screw member 412 of the screw mechanism 41 via a one-way clutch 422.

[0063] The cam follower 423 corresponding to the cam member 43 is attached to the end of one rod-shaped portion of the swing arm 421. Here, the cam follower 423 is configured so that its outer circumferential surface abuts against the outer circumferential surface of the cam member 43 above the cam member 43.

[0064] The spring 424 has a lower end hooked to the end of the other rod-shaped part of the swing arm 421 using an attachment member, and an upper end hooked to the rear end of the slide base 20 using an attachment member. The spring 424 is hung between the two in a tensile state, whereby the cam follower 423 on the opposite side of the swing arm 421 is pressed from above so as to abut against the cam member 43 (is biased downward).

[0065] 5(b), the male screw member 411 is horizontally raised to a predetermined height from the upper surface of the base plate 70 and supported at both ends by male screw support members 414, 415. The male screw member 411 is fixed at both ends to the male screw support members 414, 415 by bolts or the like.

[0066] The female screw member 412 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and has a female screw thread on the inner peripheral surface of one end portion which corresponds to the male screw member 411, and a circular ring portion of a swing arm 421 is fitted onto the outer peripheral surface which corresponds to this female screw portion via a one-way clutch 422. The other end portion of the female screw member 412, which does not have a screw thread on its inner peripheral surface, is attached via a bearing 413 to a hole penetrating in the front-rear direction of a moving bracket 416 which extends downward from the slide base 20.

[0067] By configuring the drive unit 4 in this way, when the tension of the wire 21 falls below a predetermined value, the drive mechanism 42 rotates the screw mechanism 41, and an operation to increase the tension of the wire 21 (tension increasing operation) is performed. This will be described in detail below.

[0068] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the drive mechanism of the tension unit, as viewed from the rear (back side).

[0069] The screw mechanism 41 is configured as a right-handed screw here, and the one-way clutch 422 transmits torque when rotating left and blocks torque when rotating right. As described above, the cam member 43 has an eccentricity e, and the cam follower 423 abuts against the cam member 43 from above.

[0070] 6(a), when the third transmission shaft 63 rotates in synchronization with the drive shaft 23, the cam member 43 rotates together, and the cam follower 423 is pushed up by the outer circumferential surface portion that is a long distance from the center. Then, the other end of the swing arm 421, to which the spring 424 is applied, lowers against the tensile force, with the annular portion as the fulcrum. When the rotation of the cam member 43 continues and the outer circumferential surface portion that is a short distance from the center is reached, the force pushing up the cam follower 423 disappears, and the other end of the swing arm 421 is pulled upward by the spring 424. In this way, the rotation of the cam member 43 causes the swing arm 421 to swing, and the spring 424 to expand and contract.

[0071] That is, the spring 424 has a tensile force sufficient to maintain an appropriate wire tension. Therefore, when the wire 21 is slack, in the oscillating arm 421, when the outer peripheral surface portion is at a short distance from the center of the cam member 43, the tensile force of the spring 424 overcomes the wire tension, and the other end to which the spring 424 is applied is pulled up. This causes the oscillating arm 421 to rotate leftward around the annular portion by the eccentric amount e (rotation angle θ). Note that "overcoming the wire tension" directly refers to being greater than the rotation torque of the screw mechanism 41 due to the wire tension, but here the term "overcoming the wire tension" also includes energy loss.

[0072] The torque of the rotation of the swing arm 421 is transmitted to the internal screw mechanism 41 via the one-way clutch 422. Here, since the one-way clutch 422 transmits torque only during left rotation, only the torque of the left rotation of the swing arm 421 is transmitted to the internal screw mechanism 41.

[0073] 5(b), when the torque of the left rotation of the swing arm 421 is transmitted to the internal screw mechanism 41, the female screw member 412 rotates on the outer periphery of the male screw member 411 and moves backward (moves in the F direction). Then, the movable bracket 416 engaged with the bearing 413 moves backward together with the male screw member 412 without rotating, and the entire drive unit 2 moves backward together with the slide base 20 to which the movable bracket 416 is fixed. This increases the distance to the pulley 8, and the tension of the wire 21 increases.

[0074] 6(b), the tension of the wire 21 increases little by little with the rotation of the screw mechanism 41, and when it becomes appropriate, the operation of increasing the tension is stopped. More specifically, when the above tension increasing operation is repeated, the tension of the wire 21 increases little by little, the axial stress of the screw mechanism 41 becomes high, and finally the tensile force of the spring 424 cannot pull up the other end of the swing arm 421. In this state, as shown in the figure, the spring 424 extends, the cam follower 423 stops at the farthest point from the cam member 43, and the swing of the swing arm 421 stops.

[0075] However, when the wire 21 stretches through use, the wire tension decreases, and accordingly the axial stress of the screw mechanism 41 decreases. As a result, the end of the oscillating arm 421 is again pulled up by the tensile force of the spring 424, and the above-mentioned tension increasing operation is performed.

[0076] In this manner, according to the present embodiment, when the wire tension decreases, the wire tension is automatically increased. In other words, the drive mechanism 42 rotates the screw mechanism 41 in response to the decrease in the wire tension. The spring 424 is selected to have an appropriate spring constant so that the tensile force becomes a desirable tension for the wire 21.

[0077] As the drive unit 2 moves, the power cable connected to the motor 25 also moves and becomes separated from the fixed part. However, since the expected amount of movement is approximately 100 mm or less and the movement speed is very slow, it is sufficient to leave a little slack in the length and there is no need to use a particularly durable power cable.

[0078] In the drawings, the cam member 43 is configured to rotate in both left and right directions in response to the bidirectional rotation of the motor 25. The cam member 43 may be configured to rotate only leftward. For example, the cam member 43 is fitted to the third transmission shaft 63 via a one-way clutch (not shown) and is configured to rotate only leftward. With this configuration, it is possible to avoid a load in the pressing direction of the cam follower 423 and one of the rod-shaped portions of the swing arm 421 caused by the cam member 43 rotating rightward.

[0079] The above is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The following modified examples and other configurations that provide similar effects may also be used.

[0080] <Modification 1 of the First Embodiment> Although not shown, the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that the screw mechanism 41 is configured as a left-handed screw.

[0081] With the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment configured as described above, the drive unit 2 moves linearly forward in the opposite direction to that of the above-mentioned embodiment 1 to increase and adjust the wire tension. This makes it possible to accommodate a case in which the winding / unwinding device 7 is disposed in the front and the pulley 8 is disposed in the rear in the conveyance system.

[0082] <Modification 2 of the First Embodiment> Although not shown, the winding / unwinding device 7 of this example has the screw mechanism 41 configured as a right-handed screw, similarly to the first embodiment.

[0083] On the other hand, in the drive mechanism 42 of this embodiment, the one-way clutch 422 is set so as to transmit torque during clockwise rotation and to block torque during counterclockwise rotation.

[0084] In the driving mechanism 42 of this example, the cam follower 423 attached to the end of one rod-shaped portion of the swing arm 421 is disposed below the cam member 43. The upper end of the spring 424 is hung on the end of the other rod-shaped portion of the swing arm 421, and the lower end is hung on a mounting member extending downward from the slide base 20. The spring 424 is hung in a tensioned state, and the cam follower 423 of the swing arm 421 is pressed (biased upward) so as to abut against the cam member 43 from below in this example.

[0085] By configuring the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment in this way, it is possible to adjust the wire tension by linearly moving the drive unit 2 forward in the opposite direction to that of the first embodiment, without significantly changing the overall structure. This makes it possible to accommodate a case in which the winding / unwinding device 7 is disposed in the front and the pulley 8 in the rear in the conveyance system.

[0086] <Modification 3 of the First Embodiment> FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a winding / unwinding device according to a third modification of the first embodiment, and is a schematic diagram showing a part of the front side cut away together with a part corresponding to the QQ cross section of FIG.

[0087] The winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in the position where the screw mechanism 41 is disposed.

[0088] That is, the moving bracket 416 of the screw mechanism 41 in this example is fixed near (including) the center in the front-rear direction of the underside of the slide base 20. As a result, the positions of the female screw member 412 attached to the moving bracket 416 and the swing arm 421 fitted to the outer periphery of the female screw member 412 via the one-way clutch 422 are correspondingly changed to near the center. Also, the male screw member 411 is formed longer than the above.

[0089] The winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment is configured in this way, so that the direction of linear movement of the drive unit 2, in this embodiment, can be easily switched between forward and backward. This makes it even easier to accommodate a variety of transport systems.

[0090] In other words, when the drive unit 2 is moved backward to increase the wire tension, the drive section 4 can perform the tension increasing operation in the same manner as in the above-mentioned embodiment 1. On the other hand, when the drive unit 2 is moved forward to increase the wire tension, the drive mechanism 42, more specifically, the one-way clutch 422, the cam follower 423, and the spring 424, can be installed (set) in the same manner as in the modified example 2 of the above-mentioned embodiment 1.

[0091] <Other Modifications of the First Embodiment> Although illustration and detailed description are omitted, the above-mentioned first embodiment and its modifications 1, 2, and 3 may be configured symmetrically with respect to the above.

[0092] <Embodiment 2> Figures 8 and 9 are diagrams for explaining the internal configuration of a winding / unwinding device according to embodiment 2, with Fig. 8 being a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration with a portion cut away as viewed from the rear (back side), and Fig. 9 being (a) a front view, and (b) a schematic diagram showing a portion of the front cut away together with a QQ cross section of Fig. 8. This embodiment differs from the above embodiment and its variations in that the tension in the wire is maintained manually. Below, the differences from the above embodiment and its variations will be mainly explained.

[0093] The drive unit 2 in the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment has a similar configuration to that of the above-described embodiment 1, and is configured on the slide base 20 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment 1. In other words, the drive unit 2 is disposed in the upper space D in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment 1.

[0094] The tension unit 3 in the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment includes a drive unit 4 for moving the drive unit 2 together with the slide base 20, and a guide unit 5 for guiding the movement. The drive unit 4 and the guide unit 5 are disposed in the lower space E between the slide base 20 and the base plate 70.

[0095] The drive unit 4 includes a screw mechanism 44 that connects the slide base 20 and the base plate 70. The screw mechanism 44 includes a male screw member 441 having a thread on its outer circumferential surface that is installed on the base plate 70 side, and an adjustment female screw member 442 having a thread on its inner circumferential surface that screws into the male screw member 441.

[0096] In the winding / unwinding device 7 of the present embodiment, the slide base 20 moves relative to the base plate 70 by rotating the screw of the screw mechanism 44, and the tension of the wire 21 is adjusted to increase.

[0097] The guide unit 5 is configured similarly to the above-described embodiment 1. As shown in the figure, the rail member 51 and the moving member 52 of the linear motion guide mechanism of the guide unit 5 are provided in two pairs in parallel on both sides of the screw mechanism 44. Alternatively, one pair of the rail member 51 and the moving member 52 may be provided.

[0098] The winding / unwinding device 7 of the present embodiment is provided with the guide section 5, which makes the connection between the slide base 20 and the base plate 70 more stable and enables smooth linear movement of the drive unit 2. The rail member 51 and the moving member 52 are configured so that the lower space becomes a space in which the drive section 4 can be disposed.

[0099] The screw mechanism 44 of this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 9(b).

[0100] The screw mechanism 44 has a male screw member 441 having a head at one end of a threaded portion. The male screw member 441 is formed of, for example, a bolt. The adjustment female screw member 442 that screws into the male screw member 441 is formed of, for example, a nut.

[0101] The male screw member 441 is horizontally raised to a predetermined height from the upper surface of the base plate 70 and supported so that its longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction. The male screw member 441 is supported by a moving bracket 443 and a male screw support member 444.

[0102] The moving bracket 443 is fixed near the rear end of the slide base 20. The moving bracket 443 has a mounting hole for mounting the male screw member 441, which penetrates in the front-rear direction and has a screw thread on its inner peripheral surface.

[0103] The male screw support member 444 is fixed to the upper surface of the base plate 70. The male screw support member 444 has a through hole penetrating in the front-rear direction for inserting the male screw member 441. The through hole of the male screw support member 444 is slightly larger than the outer periphery of the male screw member 441, and does not have a screw thread on its inner circumferential surface.

[0104] The female screw member 442 is disposed so that one end surface of the female screw member 442 abuts against the male screw support member 444 .

[0105] The screw mechanism 44 further has a fixed female screw member 445, one end surface of which abuts against the moving bracket 443 to fix the male screw member 441. The fixed female screw member 445 is formed of, for example, a nut.

[0106] The tip side of the male screw member 441 is inserted through an adjustment female screw member 442, a male screw support member 444, a fixed female screw member 445, and a moving bracket 443 in this order, and is screwed into the mounting hole and the female screw member. In the initial state immediately after assembly, the screw mechanism 44 is tightened so that the tension of the wire 21 becomes a predetermined value.

[0107] In this embodiment, a maintenance person for the conveying system periodically checks the tension of the wire 21, and when he / she finds that the tension of the wire 21 has decreased, he / she manually increases the tension of the wire 21 according to the following procedure. That is, while checking the tension of the wire 21, he / she tightens the adjustment female screw member 442 by turning it clockwise to set the tension to an appropriate value.

[0108] In other words, in this embodiment, the drive unit 2 to which the moving bracket 443 is fixed is moved toward the male screw support member 444, thereby moving the drive unit 2 backward (in the F direction) and increasing the tension of the wire 21.

[0109] As described above, the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment integrally comprises the drive unit 2 that winds and unwinds the wire 21 and the tension unit 3 that maintains the tension of the wire 21, which allows for standardization of components and reduces parts costs. This also allows for a simple configuration in which the pulley 8 is simply attached to the frame 14 of the guide rail 12 using a mounting bracket.

[0110] According to this embodiment, the other end of the system, remote from the winding / unwinding device 7, consists only of pulley 8 with almost no adjustable elements, and maintenance workers only need to adjust the winding / unwinding device, reducing the effort of traveling long distances for adjustments.

[0111] According to this embodiment, the adjustment work is simpler than that of the conventional manual tension adjuster, and the labor required for adjustment is further reduced.

[0112] The above is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The following modified examples and other configurations that provide similar effects may also be used.

[0113] <Modification 1 of the second embodiment> Although not shown, the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment differs from that of the second embodiment in that the screw mechanism 44 is configured as a left-handed screw.

[0114] With the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment configured as described above, the wire tension can be increased and adjusted by linearly moving the drive unit 2 forward in the opposite direction to that of the above-mentioned embodiment 2. This makes it possible to accommodate a case in which the winding / unwinding device 7 is disposed in the front and the pulley 8 in the rear in the conveyance system.

[0115] <Modification 2 of the second embodiment> FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a winding / unwinding device according to Modification 2 of the second embodiment, and is a schematic diagram showing a part of the front side cut away together with a part corresponding to the QQ cross section of FIG.

[0116] The winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment differs from the second embodiment mainly in the arrangement position of the screw mechanism 44. That is, the moving bracket 443 is fixed near (including) the center of the lower surface of the slide base 20 in the front-rear direction.

[0117] The winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment is configured in this way, so that the direction of linear movement of the drive unit 2, in this embodiment, can be easily switched between forward and backward. This makes it even easier to accommodate a variety of transport systems.

[0118] In other words, when the drive unit 2 is moved backward to increase the wire tension, the drive section 4 can increase the tension in the same manner as in the second embodiment.

[0119] On the other hand, when the drive unit 2 is moved forward to increase the wire tension, the adjustment can be performed as follows: While checking the tension of the wire 21, the adjustment female screw member 442 is turned counterclockwise to loosen it, and the tension is set to an appropriate value.

[0120] <Other Modifications of the Second Embodiment> Although illustration and detailed description are omitted, the above-mentioned second embodiment and its modifications 1 and 2 may be configured symmetrically with respect to the above.

[0121] <Embodiment 3> 11 and 12 are diagrams for explaining a winding / unwinding device according to a third embodiment, where FIG. 11 is a front view showing one example, and FIG. 12 is a view showing a SS cross section of FIG.

[0122] The conveying system 1 of this embodiment is similar to the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2 and their modifications in that it includes a winding / unwinding device 7 and a pulley 8, and the wire 21 is wound around between them with tension, but the installation angle of the winding / unwinding device 7 in the conveying system is different. That is, in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2 and their modifications, the winding / unwinding device 7 is installed so that the drive shaft 23 extends in the left-right direction (Z direction) so as to be perpendicular to the extension direction of the wire 21, but in this embodiment, as shown in the figure, the drive shaft 23 extends in the front-rear direction (X direction).

[0123] In other words, while in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2 and their modifications, wire 21 is wound and unwound in a direction perpendicular to drive shaft 23, winding and unwinding device 7 of the present embodiment uses sheave 27 to change the winding and unwinding direction of wire 21 to be parallel to drive shaft 23. Below, the differences from the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2 and their modifications will be mainly described.

[0124] The drive unit 2 in the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment uses a pair of sheaves 27 to convert the direction in which the wire 21 is wound and unwound to be parallel to the drive shaft 27. The pair of sheaves 27 are configured on the slide base 20 similar to other configurations of the drive unit 2, and are disposed in the upper space D. The sheaves 27 may be disposed below the rotor 22 as shown in the figure, or may be disposed above the rotor 22, although not shown. As an example, as shown in the figure, the pair of sheaves 27 are rotatably attached to the upper surface of the slide base 20 using a support member or an attachment member.

[0125] The tension unit 3 in the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment includes a drive section 4 for moving the drive unit 2 together with the slide base 20, a guide section 5 for guiding the movement, and a transmission section 6 for linking the drive shaft 23 and the drive section 4. The drive section 4 and the guide section 5 are disposed in a lower space E between the slide base 20 and the base plate 70. The transmission section 6 is to be referred to in the above-mentioned embodiment 1 and its modified examples, and illustrations and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted here.

[0126] The driving unit 4 includes a screw mechanism 41 that connects the slide base 20 and the base plate 70. As in the above-described first embodiment and its modified examples, the screw mechanism 41 includes a male screw member 411 having a thread on its outer circumferential surface that is installed on the base plate 70 side, and a female screw member 412 having a thread on its inner circumferential surface that is installed on the slide base 20 side and that screws into the male screw member 411. Although detailed illustration and description of the screw mechanism 41 are omitted here, the male screw member 411 is fixed to the upper surface of the base plate 70 at a predetermined distance from the upper surface so that the longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction, and the female screw member 412 is attached to a moving bracket 416 via a bearing. The moving bracket 416 is fixed to the slide base 20.

[0127] The winding / unwinding device 7 is thus adjusted so that the wire tension is increased by rotating the screw of the screw mechanism 41 that connects the slide base 20 to the base plate 70, which is located in the lower space, so that the slide base 20 moves relative to the base plate 70.

[0128] As in the above-mentioned first embodiment and its modified examples, the drive unit 4 further includes a drive mechanism 42 that rotates the screw mechanism 41 when the tension of the wire 21 falls below a predetermined value, and a cam member 43 that operates the drive mechanism 42. As a result, as in the above-mentioned first embodiment and its modified examples, the tension of the wire 21 is automatically increased. For details, refer to the above-mentioned first embodiment and its modified examples, and illustrations and detailed explanations are omitted here.

[0129] When the winding / unwinding device 7 is disposed at the rear of the conveyor system, the drive unit 2 is relatively moved rearward to adjust the wire tension to increase, as in the illustrated example. When the winding / unwinding device 7 is disposed at the front, as in the above-mentioned first embodiment and its modified examples, the drive unit 2 may be configured to move forward to increase the wire tension.

[0130] The guide unit 5 is configured by a linear guide mechanism, and has a rail member 51 fixed to the upper surface of the base plate 70, and a moving member 52 fixed to the lower surface of the slide base 20 and sliding along the rail member 51. The rail member 51 is fixed so as to extend in the front-rear direction (corresponding to the extending direction of the wire 21). As shown in the figure, two pairs of the rail member 51 and the moving member 52 are provided in parallel on both sides of the screw mechanism 41, sandwiching it therebetween. A pair of the rail member 51 and the moving member 52 may be provided. Of the pair of linear guide mechanisms, one moving member 52 may be provided as in the above-mentioned embodiment 1, or two or more moving members 52 (two in the figure) may be provided. In other words, in the present application, the number of moving members 52 may be set appropriately.

[0131] The winding / unwinding device 7 is thus provided with the guide section 5, which makes the connection between the slide base 20 and the base plate 70 more stable and enables smooth linear movement of the drive unit 2. The rail member 51 and the moving member 52 are configured so that the lower space can accommodate the drive section 4.

[0132] This embodiment also provides the same effects as those of the above-mentioned first embodiment and its modified example.

[0133] <Embodiment 4> Although not shown, the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment differs from the third embodiment in that the tension of the wire 21 is maintained manually. The following description will focus on the differences from the third embodiment.

[0134] The drive unit 2 in the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment has a similar configuration to that of the above-described embodiment 3. That is, similar to the above-described embodiment 3, a pair of sheaves 27 is used to change the winding / unwinding direction of the wire 21 to be parallel to the drive shaft 23, and similarly, each component including the sheaves 27 is configured (constructed) on the slide base 20.

[0135] The tension unit 3 in the winding / unwinding device 7 of this embodiment includes a drive unit 4 for moving the drive unit 2 together with the slide base 20, and a guide unit 5 for guiding the movement. The drive unit 4 and the guide unit 5 are disposed in the lower space E between the slide base 20 and the base plate 70.

[0136] The guide section 5 is configured in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment 3. The guide section 5 is configured so that the lower space becomes a space in which the drive section 4 can be disposed. The guide section 5 makes the connection between the slide base 20 and the base plate 70 more stable, enabling the drive unit 2 to move smoothly in a straight line.

[0137] The driving unit 4 here is configured similarly to the above-mentioned embodiment 2 and its modified example. That is, it includes a screw mechanism 44 that connects the slide base 20 and the base plate 70, and the slide base 20 moves relative to the base plate 70 by rotating the screw of the screw mechanism 44, and the tension of the wire 21 is adjusted to increase.

[0138] More specifically, the screw mechanism 44 has a male screw member 441 having a thread on its outer circumferential surface which is installed on the base plate 70 side, and an adjustable female screw member 442 having a thread on its inner circumferential surface which screws into the male screw member 441. The male screw member 441 is lifted horizontally to a predetermined height from the upper surface of the base plate 70 and supported by a moving bracket 443 fixed to the slide base 20 and a male screw support member 444 fixed to the upper surface of the base plate 70 so that its longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction.

[0139] The female screw member 442 is disposed so that one end surface of the female screw member 442 abuts against the male screw support member 444 .

[0140] The screw mechanism 44 further has a fixed female screw member 445 whose one end face abuts against the moving bracket 443 to fix the male screw member 441 .

[0141] The screw mechanism 44 is assembled in the same manner as in the second embodiment and its modified example, and in the initial state immediately after assembly, is tightened so that the tension of the wire 21 becomes a predetermined value.

[0142] In this embodiment, a maintenance person for the conveying system periodically checks the tension of the wire 21, and when a decrease in the tension of the wire 21 is confirmed, performs work to increase the tension of the wire 21. Here, when the winding / unwinding device 7 is disposed at the rear of the conveying system, the wire tension is adjusted by moving the drive unit 2 rearward relative to the base plate 70 (see FIG. 11). The specific tension adjustment work is similar to that of the above-mentioned embodiment 2 and its modified example, and a detailed description will be omitted here.

[0143] When the winding / unwinding device 7 is disposed in the front, it may be configured so that the wire tension is increased by moving the drive unit 2 forward, similarly to the above-described second embodiment and its modified example.

[0144] This embodiment also provides the same effects as those of the second embodiment and its modified example.

[0145] Although the embodiment and modified examples of the present invention applied to the transport system 1 using the wire 21 as the linear body have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention may be applied to other transport systems.

[0146] For example, as described above, the principle of the winding / unwinding device according to the present invention is not limited to the case where a wire is used, but can also be applied to devices and systems that use other linear power transmission means such as a ring-shaped belt, a timing belt, or a chain. In this case, the drive unit 2 and the pulley 8 can be appropriately configured according to the linear object to be used. For example, in the case of a belt or a chain, a pulley for a belt or a sprocket for a chain can be attached to the drive shaft 23 instead of the rotor 22 illustrated and described in each of the above embodiments and their modified examples, and the linear object can be wound and unwound by this. It goes without saying that the pulley 8 may also be appropriately modified in the same manner.

[0147] Although the embodiment and the modified examples of the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these. The present invention includes combinations of the above embodiments and their modified examples, as well as various other modified examples. Various additions, modifications, and partial deletions are possible within the scope of the conceptual idea and intent of the present invention derived from the contents defined in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0148] 1...conveying system, 2...drive unit, 20...slide base, 21...wire, 22...rotor, 23...drive shaft, 24...coupling, 25...motor, 3...tension unit, 4...driving section, 41...screw mechanism, 411...male screw member, 412...female screw member, 413...bearing, 416...moving bracket, 42...driving mechanism, 421...oscillating arm, 422...one-way clutch, 423...cam follower, 424...spring, 43...cam member, 44...screw mechanism, 441...male screw member, 442...adjustable female screw member, 443...moving bracket, 444...male screw support member, 5...guide section, 51...rail member, 52...moving member, 6...transmission section, A,B,C...magnet gear, 7...winding / unwinding device, 70...base plate, 8...pulley.

Claims

1. 1. A winding and unwinding device for a conveying system, comprising: a drive unit for winding and unwinding the linear body; a tension unit for maintaining tension of the linear body, The tension unit allows the drive unit, which is configured on an upper slide base, to move in a direction in which the tension of the linear body increases relative to the base plate below it. A winding / unwinding device comprising:

2. the tension unit includes a screw mechanism that connects the slide base and the base plate, The slide base is moved by rotating the screw of the screw mechanism, and the tension of the linear body is adjusted to increase.

2. The winding / unwinding device according to claim 1 .

3. The screw mechanism includes a male screw member and a female screw member that screws into the male screw member, The male screw member is attached to the base plate side, and the female screw member is attached to the slide base side.

3. The winding / unwinding device according to claim 2.

4. The tension unit includes a linear motion guide mechanism that guides the movement of the slide base, The linear guide mechanism has a moving member fixed to the lower surface of the slide base and a rail member fixed to the upper surface of the base plate.

3. A winding / unwinding device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The tension unit includes a drive mechanism for rotating the screw mechanism, The drive mechanism rotates the screw mechanism in response to a decrease in tension of the linear body.

3. The winding / unwinding device according to claim 2.

6. The tension unit includes a cam member for actuating the drive mechanism, The cam member rotates in synchronization with the drive shaft of the drive unit.

6. A winding / unwinding device according to claim 5.

7. The tension unit includes a transmission part for linking the drive shaft and the cam member.

7. The winding / unwinding device according to claim 6,

8. The transmission unit includes a magnet gear.

8. A winding / unwinding device according to claim 7.

9. The screw mechanism includes a male screw member and a female screw member that screws into the male screw member, The female screw member has one end surface that abuts against a male screw support member that is fixed to the base plate and supports the male screw member.

3. The winding / unwinding device according to claim 2.

10. The winding / unwinding device according to claim 1 or 2 is provided. A transport system comprising:

Images