Linear movement mechanism

Abstract

To provide a linear movement mechanism which can accurately move a traveling body to a target position along a power transmission medium while suppressing the occurrence of the loosening of the engagement-type power transmission medium.SOLUTION: A linear movement mechanism includes a traveling body which moves along one piece of an engagement-type power transmission medium which is stretched so as to extend in a linear shape, and the traveling body includes a drive source, drive gears which are rotationally driven by the drive source, a pair of counter gears engaged with the drive gears, a pair of driven gears engaged with the corresponding counter gears, a pair of sprockets engaged with the power transmission medium, and rotating coaxially and integrally with the corresponding driven gears, and an energization member for energizing the pair of counter gears in a direction in which the pair of driven gears are reversely rotated, being a direction in which the pair of sprockets are rotated so as to wind up the power transmission medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a linear motion mechanism including a single meshing type power transmission medium that is tensioned so as to extend linearly, and a traveling body that moves along the power transmission medium. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a drive device is known in which a rack base having many sprocket teeth is combined with first and second rotating bodies and a chain (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A support plate is attached to the rack base of this drive device so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction. The first and second rotating bodies are attached to the support plate at a predetermined interval and are rotated by a chain drive unit. The chain has many link parts that mesh with the sprocket teeth of the rack base and is stretched from the first rotating body to the second rotating body. The chain drive unit rotates and drives the first rotating body and the second rotating body to move the chain in a circumferential direction, and the link parts are sequentially meshed with the sprocket teeth to move the support plate as a moving body along the rack base. Patent Document 1 describes that a structure in which the chain meshes with the sprocket teeth of the rack base can be adopted to realize non-backlash. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5917637 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, in the drive device described in Patent Document 1, if the moving distance required for the support plate, which is the moving body, is long, the overall length of the rack table increases, leading to increased costs. In contrast, if the running body is moved along a meshing power transmission medium such as a chain or a toothed belt, the moving distance of the running body can be increased while suppressing the increase in costs. However, when the running body is moved along a power transmission medium such as a chain, slack may occur in the power transmission medium behind the acceleration direction of the running body depending on the acceleration / deceleration of the running body or the change in the moving direction. If slack occurs in the power transmission medium, it becomes difficult to move the running body to the target position with high accuracy after the moving direction of the running body is changed.

[0005] Therefore, a primary object of the present disclosure is to provide a linear motion mechanism that can precisely move a running body to a target position along a power transmission medium while suppressing the occurrence of slack in a meshing type power transmission medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The linear motion mechanism disclosed herein is a linear motion mechanism including a single meshing power transmission medium stretched so as to extend in a linear manner, and a running body that moves along the power transmission medium, wherein the running body includes a drive source, a drive gear rotated and driven by the drive source, a pair of counter gears arranged at intervals in the extension direction of the power transmission medium and meshing with the drive gears, a pair of driven gears arranged at intervals in the extension direction of the power transmission medium and meshing with the corresponding counter gears, a pair of sprockets that mesh with the power transmission medium and rotate coaxially and integrally with the corresponding driven gears, and a biasing member that biases the pair of counter gears in a direction that rotates the pair of driven gears in opposite directions to each other and in a direction that rotates each of the pair of sprockets so as to wind up the power transmission medium.

[0007] In the linear motion mechanism of the present disclosure, power from a drive source is transmitted to a pair of sprockets via a drive gear, a pair of counter gears, and a pair of driven gears. The pair of sprockets rotate in the same direction by the power from the drive source, and roll on a single meshing type power transmission medium, which is stretched so as to extend linearly, while sending the power transmission medium downstream in the rotation direction. As a result, the running body moves along the power transmission medium. Furthermore, the pair of counter gears are biased by a biasing member in a direction that rotates the pair of driven gears in opposite directions and rotates each of the pair of sprockets so as to wind up the power transmission medium. As a result, while the running body moves along the power transmission medium, one of the pair of sprockets located on the rear side in the traveling direction of the running body pulls the power transmission medium located at the rear toward the running body. Therefore, in the linear motion mechanism of the present disclosure, it is possible to effectively suppress slackening of the power transmission medium in the front and rear of the running body and to eliminate backlash between the sprockets and the power transmission medium. As a result, even if the drive source is operated, the backlash and slack in the power transmission medium are prevented from being wound up by the sprocket, preventing the running body from moving, and it becomes possible to move the running body accurately to the target position along the power transmission medium. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a parking facility to which the linear motion mechanism of the present disclosure is applied; [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view showing a charging connector inserting / removing device included in the parking facility of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a linear motion mechanism of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a linear motion mechanism according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Next, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a parking facility 1 including linear movement mechanisms 13, 16 according to the present disclosure. The parking facility 1 shown in the figure is an automatic valet parking system, and realizes automatic entry and exit by automatically driving a vehicle V between a boarding and disembarking location (not shown) for a passenger of the vehicle V and a plurality of parking spaces 2. The parking facility 1 also includes a plurality of charging devices 3 arranged adjacent to the corresponding parking spaces 2, a plurality of charging connectors 5 each connected to the corresponding charging device 3 via a charging cable 4, and a charging connector inserting and removing device 10. Each charging device 3 outputs AC power, or converts AC power from an AC power source such as a commercial power source into DC power and outputs the DC power. In this embodiment, each charging connector 5 is held by a stand 6 arranged adjacent to the charging device 3 when not in use.

[0011] The charging connector insertion / removal device 10 is used to insert and remove a charging connector 5 into and from a charging inlet (charging port) CI of a target vehicle (electric vehicle) V in a narrow space between adjacent vehicles V, in order to automatically charge a battery (not shown) of an electric vehicle (battery electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid vehicle) included in multiple vehicles V parked in a parking facility 1. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the charging connector insertion / removal device 10 includes a pair of first guide rails (first guide members) 11, a pair of second guide rails (second guide members) 12, and linear movement mechanisms 13, 16.

[0012] The pair of first guide rails 11 are disposed in the parking facility 1 so as to extend in a first direction (x-axis direction in Figs. 1 and 2) that is predetermined in the parking facility 1 and to be spaced upward from the parking surface (floor surface of the parking space 2) of the vehicle V. In this embodiment, the pair of first guide rails 11 are supported by pillars (not shown) so as to face each other at a distance on both sides in a second direction (y-axis direction in Figs. 1 and 2) perpendicular to the first direction of the multiple parking spaces 2, and are located above the multiple vehicles V parked in the parking facility 1. In addition, a linear movement mechanism 13 is installed on each of the first guide rails 11. The linear movement mechanism 13 includes a first chain with ends (meshing type power transmission medium) 14 that is tensioned so as to extend linearly in the first direction over substantially the entire length of the first guide rail 11, and a first running body 15 that is supported by the corresponding first guide rail 11 so as to be freely movable in the first direction.

[0013] The first chain with ends 14 is a well-known drive chain including a plurality of inner links and outer links alternately connected via bushes and pins. Each first running body 15 moves on the corresponding first guide rail 11 along the first chain with ends 14 in the first direction. Note that the meshing type power transmission medium used with the first running body 15 may be a toothed belt or the like other than the drive chain. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the corresponding ends of a pair of second guide rails 12 are fixed to each first running body 15. As a result, the pair of second guide rails 12 are supported by the pair of first guide rails 11 via the two (pair) first running bodies 15 so as to be movable in the first direction. That is, the pair of second guide rails 12 extend parallel to each other in the second direction and are located above the vehicle V, spaced upward from the parking surface of the vehicle V (the floor surface of the parking space 2).

[0014] A linear movement mechanism 16 is installed on one of the pair of second guide rails 12. The linear movement mechanism 16 includes a second chain with ends (meshing type power transmission medium) 17 tensioned so as to extend linearly in the second direction over substantially the entire length of the one second guide rail 12, and a second running body 18 supported by the one second guide rail 12 so as to be freely movable in the second direction. The second chain with ends 17 is also a well-known drive chain including a plurality of inner links and outer links alternately connected via bushes and pins. The second running body 18 moves in the second direction on the second guide rail 12 along the second chain with ends 17. The meshing type power transmission medium used together with the second running body 18 may be a toothed belt or the like other than the drive chain. A slider (moving member) 19 is connected to the second running body 18, and the slider 19 is supported by the pair of second guide rails 12 so as to be freely movable. When the second running body 18 is operated, the slider 19 moves in the second direction along the pair of second guide rails 12, and when the pair (two) of first running bodies 15 are operated, the slider 19 moves in the first direction along the pair of first guide rails 11 integrally with the pair of second guide rails 12.

[0015] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the charging connector insertion / removal device 10 includes a rotation mechanism 20 fixed to the underside of the slider 19, an advance / retract movement mechanism 21 supported by the rotation mechanism 20, a support member 22 connected to the advance / retract movement mechanism 21, a first rotation mechanism 23, a second rotation mechanism 24, a connector holding portion 25 as an end effector that holds the charging connector 5 in a detachable manner, and a control device 100.

[0016] The pivot mechanism 20 is an electric actuator or a fluid pressure actuator including a motor, and is disposed between the slider 19 and the advance / retract movement mechanism 21. The pivot mechanism 20 pivots the advance / retract movement mechanism 21 and the support member 22, etc., in forward and reverse directions together about an axis extending in a third direction (z-axis direction (up-down direction) in Figs. 1 and 2) perpendicular to the first and second directions. The advance / retract movement mechanism 21 is suspended and supported by the slider 19 via the pivot mechanism 20, and extends downward from the pivot mechanism 20 along the third direction. The advance / retract movement mechanism 21 includes a fluid pressure cylinder or an electric actuator, and moves the support member 22 forward and backward (up-down) in the third direction relative to the slider 19. The support member 22 is a rod material formed of metal, resin, etc., and is connected to the tip of the movable part of the advance / retract movement mechanism 21 via the first rotation mechanism 23 so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the third direction (horizontal direction). As a result, the advance / retreat movement mechanism 21 and the support member 22 form a substantial L-shape.

[0017] The first rotation mechanism 23 is an electric actuator or a fluid pressure actuator, and is disposed between the advance / retract movement mechanism 21 and the base end of the support member 22. The first rotation mechanism 23 rotates the support member 22 in forward and reverse directions relative to the advance / retract movement mechanism 21 (slider 19) around an axis extending in the extension direction of the support member 22 perpendicular to the third direction. The second rotation mechanism 24 is an electric actuator or a fluid pressure actuator, and is fixed to the tip of the support member 22. The connector holding portion 25 is supported by the support member 22 via the second rotation mechanism 24. The second rotation mechanism 24 rotates the connector holding portion 25 in forward and reverse directions relative to the support member 22 around an axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the support member 22.

[0018] The connector holding unit 25 can hold the charging connector 5 held by the mounting table 6 such that the extension direction of the terminals of the charging connector 5 is parallel to the rotation axis of the second rotation mechanism 24, and can remove the charging connector 5 from the mounting table 6. The connector holding unit 25 can also deliver the held charging connector 5 to the mounting table 6. However, the connector holding unit 25 may be a fixed unit to which the charging connector 5 is fixed. The control device 100 includes a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, an input / output interface, etc., and controls the pair of first running bodies 15, second running body 18, the rotation mechanism 20, the advance / retract movement mechanism 21, the first rotation mechanism 23, the second rotation mechanism 24, and the connector holding unit 25.

[0019] That is, when an instruction to charge the battery of any vehicle V parked in the parking facility 1 is given, the control device 100 sets a target arrival position for the connector holding unit 25 holding the charging connector 5, based on the parking position of the vehicle V to be charged and the position of the charging inlet CI of the vehicle V. Furthermore, the control device 100 controls the first and second rotation mechanisms 23, 24 to move the slider 19 from the standby position to the stand 6 close to the vehicle V to be charged, and to set the attitudes of the support member 22 and the connector holding unit 25 to attitudes corresponding to the position and insertion / removal direction of the charging inlet CI in the vehicle V. Next, the control device 100 appropriately moves the slider 19 etc., and controls the connector holding unit 25 to grip the charging connector 5 on the stand 6. Then, the control device 100 controls the first and second traveling bodies 15, 18, the rotation mechanism 20, the forward / backward movement mechanism 21, etc. so that the connector holding portion 25 moves to the target arrival position and inserts (couples) the charging connector 5 into (connects) the charging inlet CI of the vehicle V to be charged. Note that the lid L of the charging inlet CI is opened according to a predetermined procedure before the connector holding portion 25 reaches the target arrival position.

[0020] When the charging connector 5 is coupled to the charging inlet CI, the control device 100 controls the first and second running bodies 15, 18, the rotation mechanism 20, the advance / retract movement mechanism 21, etc., so as to release the grip of the charging connector 5 by the connector holding portion 25 and move the slider 19 to a standby position. Furthermore, when charging of the battery of the vehicle V is completed, the control device 100 controls the first and second running bodies 15, 18, the rotation mechanism 20, the advance / retract movement mechanism 21, etc., so as to move the connector holding portion 25 to a target gripping position. Furthermore, the control device 100 controls the first and second running bodies 15, 18, the rotation mechanism 20, the advance / retract movement mechanism 21, etc., so as to cause the connector holding portion 25 to grip the charging connector 5 and return the charging connector 5 to the mounting table 6.

[0021] Next, the linear movement mechanisms 13 and 16 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Since the linear movement mechanisms 13 and 16 (first and second carriages 15 and 18) basically have the same structure, the linear movement mechanisms 13 and 16 will be described in detail below using the linear movement mechanism 13 as an example.

[0022] Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the linear movement mechanism 13, and Fig. 4 is a side view showing the linear movement mechanism 13. As shown in these drawings, the first traveling body 15 of the linear movement mechanism 13 includes a main body 150, an electric motor 151 as a drive source controlled by the control device 100, a drive gear 152, a pair of counter gears 153, a pair of driven gears 154, and a pair of drive sprockets 155. The main body 150 has a plurality of wheels 156 (see Fig. 4) that roll on a rolling surface 11r formed on the first guide rail 11, and is supported by the first guide rail 11 so as to be freely movable in the first direction. The electric motor 151 is fixed to the main body 150 so that a rotating shaft 151s (see FIG. 4) extends in a direction (y-axis direction in the figure, i.e., second direction) perpendicular to both the extending direction of the first guide rail 11 and the first ended chain 14 (x-axis direction in the figure, i.e., first direction) and the height direction of the main body 150 (z-axis direction in the figure, i.e., third direction). The drive gear 152 is coaxially fixed (coupled) to the rotating shaft 151s of the electric motor 151 and is driven to rotate by the electric motor 151.

[0023] The pair of counter gears 153 are rotatably supported by movable support members 157. A shaft 153s is coaxially fixed to each counter gear 153. The shafts 153s of the counter gears 153 extend parallel to each other at an interval and are rotatably supported by the movable support members 157 via bearings (not shown) so that their axes are included in the same plane. The movable support members 157 are supported by the main body 150 so as to be movable (slidable) in a direction (third direction) perpendicular to both the extending direction (first direction) of the first guide rail 11 and the first ended chain 14 and the extending direction (second direction) of the rotating shaft 151s of the electric motor 151.

[0024] In a state where the movable support member 157 is supported by the main body 150, the shaft 153s of each counter gear 153 extends in the second direction parallel to the rotating shaft 151s of the electric motor 151. As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of counter gears 153 are arranged at intervals in the extending direction (first direction) of the first guide rail 11 and the first end chain 14, and each meshes with the driving gear 152. In a state where the pair of counter gears 153 meshes with the driving gear 152, a plane including the axis of each counter gear 153 (shaft 153s) extends parallel to the xy plane in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Furthermore, a plurality of (for example, four in this embodiment) coil springs (biasing members) SP1 are arranged in a compressed state between the main body 150 and the movable support member 157. Each coil spring SP1 biases the movable support member 157 relative to the main body 150 in the z-axis direction in the figure, i.e., in the third direction, in a direction away from the first guide rail 11 (upward in FIGS. 3 and 4). Note that a single coil spring may be used instead of the multiple coil springs SP1, and an elastic body such as a leaf spring or rubber material may be used instead of the coil spring SP1.

[0025] The pair of driven gears 154 are each rotatably supported by the main body 150. A shaft 154s is coaxially fixed to each driven gear 154. The shaft 154s of each driven gear 154 is rotatably supported by the main body 150 via a bearing (not shown) so as to extend in the second direction parallel to the rotating shaft 151s of the electric motor 151 at an interval longer than the axial distance between the pair of counter gears 153. The axial centers of each driven gear 154 (shaft 143s) are included in the same plane extending parallel to the xy plane in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment, the axial center of the drive gear 152 (axial center of the rotating shaft 151s of the electric motor 151) is included in the plane (see the dashed line in FIG. 4) including the axial center of each driven gear 154 (shaft 154s). The pair of driven gears 154 are arranged at intervals in the extending direction (first direction) of the first guide rail 11 and the first ended chain 14, and mesh with corresponding counter gears 153 supported by movable support members 157, respectively.

[0026] The pair of drive sprockets 155 are fixed coaxially to the corresponding shaft 154s so as to be spaced apart from the corresponding driven gear 154 by the same distance on one side (the far side of the paper in FIG. 4) in the extension direction (second direction) of the shaft 154s. As a result, each drive sprocket 155 is rotatably supported by the main body 150 so that its axis extends parallel to the rotating shaft 151s of the electric motor 151, and is capable of rotatably coaxially and integrally with the corresponding driven gear 154.

[0027] The first running body 15 also includes a pair of tension sprockets 158 in addition to the pair of drive sprockets 155. One of the pair of tension sprockets 158 (the right tension sprocket 158 ​​in FIG. 4) is rotatably supported by the main body 150 so as to be located on the opposite side (upper side in FIG. 4) of the first guide rail 11 with respect to the right drive sprocket 155 in FIG. 4. A shaft 158s is coaxially fixed to the tension sprocket 158. The shaft 158s is rotatably supported by the main body 150 via a bearing (not shown) so as to be spaced apart from the right shaft 154s in FIG. 4 in the first direction (right side in FIG. 4) and the third direction (upper side in FIG. 4) and to extend in the second direction parallel to the rotation shaft 151s of the electric motor 151. The tension sprocket 158 ​​overlaps with the right drive sprocket 155 in FIG. 4 when viewed from the third direction (z-axis direction).

[0028] The other of the pair of tension sprockets 158 (the left tension sprocket 158 ​​in FIG. 4) is rotatably supported by a pair of second movable support members 159. The pair of movable support members 159 are arranged on the opposite side of the one tension sprocket 158 ​​in the first direction (x-axis direction) at an interval in the second direction, and are supported by the main body 150 so as to be movable (slidable) in the extension direction (first direction) of the first guide rail 11 and the first ended chain 14. Furthermore, coil springs (second biasing members) SP2 are arranged in a compressed state between the main body 150 and each movable support member 159. Each coil spring SP2 biases the corresponding movable support member 159 in a direction away from the one tension sprocket 158 ​​(left side in FIG. 4) along the first direction (x-axis direction) relative to the main body 150. Note that an elastic body such as a leaf spring or a rubber material may be used instead of the coil spring SP2.

[0029] A shaft 158s is also coaxially fixed to the other tension sprocket 158. Both ends of the shaft 158s are rotatably supported by the corresponding movable support members 159 via bearings (not shown) so that the other tension sprocket 158 ​​is located between a pair of movable support members 159. As a result, the other tension sprocket 158 ​​is located on the opposite side (upper side) of the first guide rail 11 with respect to the left drive sprocket 155 in FIG. 4, and overlaps with the left drive sprocket 155 in FIG. 4 when viewed from the third direction (z-axis direction). The shaft 158s of the other tension sprocket 158 ​​is spaced apart from the left shaft 154s in FIG. 4 in the first direction (left side in FIG. 4) and the third direction (upper side in FIG. 4), and extends in the second direction parallel to the rotation shaft 151s of the electric motor 151.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 4, the first end chain 14 is wound around a pair of tension sprockets 158 from the side opposite to the first guide rail 11 side (the upper side in Fig. 4), and is also wound around the drive gear 152 side and the first guide rail 11 side of each drive sprocket 155. Both ends of the first end chain 14 are pulled out from the first running body 15 and fixed to the corresponding ends of the first guide rail 11. That is, each drive sprocket 155 meshes with the first end chain 14 from the side opposite to the first guide rail 11 side, and the pair of tension sprockets 158 mesh from the inside with the first end chain 14 pulled out from between the pair of drive sprockets 155 to the side opposite to the first guide rail 11 side.

[0031] In the linear motion mechanism 13 (16) configured as described above, power from the electric motor 151, which is a drive source, is transmitted to a pair of drive sprockets 155 via a drive gear 152, a pair of counter gears 153, and a pair of driven gears 154. The pair of drive sprockets 155 rotate in the same direction by the power (torque) from the electric motor 151, and roll on the single first end chain 14, which is tensioned so as to extend linearly, while sending the first end chain 14 downstream in the rotation direction. As a result, the first running body 15 moves along the first end chain 14, and accordingly, the pair of second guide rails 12 fixed to the first running body 15 and the slider 19 supported by the pair of second guide rails 12 move in the first direction.

[0032] In the linear movement mechanism 13 (16), the movable support member 157 supporting the pair of counter gears 153 is biased by the coil springs SP1 in a direction away from the first guide rail 11. That is, the pair of counter gears 153 are biased by the coil springs SP1 in a direction that rotates the pair of driven gears 154 in the opposite directions as shown by solid arrows in Fig. 4, and in a direction that rotates each of the pair of drive sprockets 155 so as to wind up the first end chain 14. As a result, while the first running body 15 moves along the first end chain 14, one of the pair of drive sprockets 155 located on the rear side in the traveling direction of the first running body 15 pulls the rear first end chain 14 toward the first running body 15. Therefore, in the linear movement mechanism 13 (16), it is possible to effectively prevent the first end chain 14 from slackening in front of and behind the first running body 15, and to eliminate backlash between the teeth of the drive sprocket 155 and the rollers of the first end chain 14. As a result, it is possible to prevent the first running body 15 from being unable to move due to the backlash and the slack of the first end chain 14 being wound up by the drive sprocket 155, even when the electric motor 151 is operated, so it is possible to accurately move the first running body 15 along the first end chain 14 to a target position by controlling the rotation angle of the electric motor 151.

[0033] Also, the combined biasing force of the multiple coil springs SP1 may be determined so as not to cause slack in the first ended chain 14 when the electric motor 151 outputs a maximum torque (rated torque). Furthermore, in the linear movement mechanism 13 (16), when the first running body 15 stops in response to the insertion of the charging connector 5 into the charging inlet CI while the electric motor 151 is operating, or when some external force acts on the stopped first running body 15, the pair of counter gears 153 biased by the multiple coil springs SP1 are permitted to rotate, so that shocks and the like associated with the insertion of the charging connector 5 can be mitigated. Also, the biasing force (load) applied from the multiple coil springs SP1 to the movable support member 157 may be adjustable using a screw mechanism or the like that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown).

[0034] Furthermore, the first running body 15 of the linear movement mechanism 13 includes a pair of tension sprockets 158 and a coil spring SP2 as a second biasing member. The pair of tension sprockets 158 are arranged at an interval in the extending direction of the first end chain 14 and mesh with the first end chain 14 between the pair of drive sprockets 155. The pair of tension sprockets 158 are biased by the coil spring SP2 to move away from each other. As a result, even if the first end chain 14 is sent to the rear side of the traveling direction of the first running body 15 by one of the pair of drive sprockets 155 and is wound up to the front side of the traveling direction of the first running body 15 by the other of the pair of drive sprockets 155, the pair of tension sprockets 158 can be separated from each other to effectively prevent the first end chain 14 from slackening between the pair of drive sprockets 155. As a result, it is possible to move the first running body 15 along the first end chain 14 to the target position with greater accuracy. In addition, in the linear motion mechanism 13, one of the pair of tension sprockets 158 is supported by the main body 150 so as to be freely movable in the first direction, but this is not limited to this. In other words, both of the pair of tension sprockets 158 may be supported by the main body 150 so as to be freely movable in the first direction, and a coil spring SP2 may be provided for each pair of tension sprockets 158.

[0035] The first traveling body 15 of the linear movement mechanism 13 includes a main body 150, a movable support member 157, and a plurality of coil springs SP1 as biasing members. The main body 150 supports an electric motor 151 and a drive gear 152 connected to the electric motor 151, and rotatably supports a pair of driven gears 154, a pair of drive sprockets 155, and a pair of tension sprockets 158. The movable support member 157 rotatably supports a pair of counter gears 153, and is supported by the main body 150 to be movable in a third direction (z-axis direction) perpendicular to the first direction (x-axis direction) in which the first guide rail 11 and the first end chain 14 extend. The plurality of coil springs SP1 are disposed between the main body 150 and the movable support member 157 so as to bias the movable support member 157 in a direction away from the first guide rail 11, i.e., toward the pair of tension sprockets 158, as shown in FIG. 4. This makes it possible to bias the pair of counter gears 153 in a direction that rotates each of the pair of drive sprockets 155 so as to wind up the first ended chain 14.

[0036] In the linear motion mechanism 13 (16), the axis of the drive gear 152 (rotation shaft 151s) and the axis of the pair of driven gears 154 and the pair of drive sprockets 155 are included in the same plane. In addition, in the linear motion mechanism 13, the movement of the pair of counter gears 153 in the direction in which they are biased by the multiple coil springs SP1 is regulated by the drive gear 152 and the pair of driven gears 154 meshing with the pair of counter gears 153, and the axis of each shaft 153s is included in approximately the same plane as the axis of the drive gear 152 and the axis of the pair of driven gears 154 and the pair of drive sprockets 155. As a result, when a torque in a direction of winding the first end chain 14 is applied to a pair of drive sprockets 155 from a pair of counter gears 153 biased by multiple coil springs SP1, the fluctuation in the axial distance between the drive gear 152 and the counter gear 153 and the axial distance between the driven gear 154 and the counter gear 153 in response to displacement of the pair of counter gears 153 in the third direction (z-axis direction) can be kept as small as possible, making it possible to suppress a decrease in transmission efficiency and an increase in noise.

[0037] Furthermore, the first end chain 14 is stretched on a first guide rail 11 arranged in the parking facility 1. The first traveling body 15 is connected to a connector holding portion 25 that holds a charging connector 5 to be inserted into or removed from a charging inlet CI of a vehicle V parked in the parking facility 1, and moves on the first guide rail 11 along the first end chain 14. This makes it possible to move the connector holding portion 25 connected to the first traveling body 15 to a target vehicle V parked in the parking facility 1, and insert or remove the charging connector 5 into or from the charging inlet CI of the vehicle V. However, it goes without saying that the linear movement mechanisms 13, 16 can be used in other places than the parking facility 1, such as factories and logistics facilities. The first and second traveling bodies 15 (18) may be supported by being suspended from the first guide rail 11 (second guide rail 12).

[0038] The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above embodiment is merely a specific form of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention, and does not limit the elements of the invention described in the Summary of the Invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0039] The present disclosure is applicable to the linear motion mechanism manufacturing industry and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 Parking facility, 5 Charging connector, 10 Charging connector insertion / removal device, 11 First guide rail, 12 Second guide rail, 13, 16 Linear movement mechanism, 14 First chain with ends (power transmission medium), 15 First running body, 150 Main body, 151 Electric motor (driving source), 152 Drive gear, 153 Counter gear, 154 Driven gear, 155 Drive sprocket, 157 Movable support member, 158 Tension sprocket, 17 Second chain with ends (power transmission medium), 18 Second running body, 25 Connector holding portion, CI Charging inlet, SP1, SP2 Coil springs (biasing members), V Vehicle (Electric vehicle).

Claims

1. A linear motion mechanism including a single meshing type power transmission medium stretched so as to extend linearly, and a traveling body that moves along the power transmission medium, The traveling body is A driving source; A drive gear that is rotationally driven by the drive source; a pair of counter gears arranged at an interval in an extension direction of the power transmission medium and meshing with the drive gears, a pair of driven gears arranged at an interval in an extension direction of the power transmission medium and meshing with the corresponding counter gears; a pair of sprockets each meshing with the power transmission medium and coaxially and integrally rotating with the corresponding driven gear; a biasing member that biases the pair of counter gears in a direction that rotates the pair of driven gears in mutually opposite directions and in a direction that rotates each of the pair of sprockets so as to wind up the power transmission medium; A linear motion mechanism comprising:

2. 2. The linear motion mechanism according to claim 1, The traveling body is a pair of tension sprockets spaced apart from each other in an extension direction of the power transmission medium and meshing with the power transmission medium between the pair of sprockets; and a second biasing member biasing the pair of tension sprockets so as to move away from each other.

3. 3. The linear motion mechanism according to claim 2, The traveling body is a main body that supports the driving source and the driving gear connected to the driving source, and also rotatably supports the pair of driven gears, the pair of sprockets, and the pair of tension sprockets; a movable support member that rotatably supports the pair of counter gears and is supported by the main body so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the power transmission medium, The biasing member is a linear movement mechanism disposed between the main body and the movable support member so as to bias the movable support member toward the pair of tension sprockets.

4. 3. The linear motion mechanism according to claim 1, A linear motion mechanism in which the axis of the drive gear and the axes of the pair of driven gears and the pair of sprockets are included in the same plane.

Images