Conveyance apparatus

Abstract

To provide a conveyance apparatus which can move over a difference in level occurring on a track by itself.SOLUTION: A conveyance apparatus 100 comprises a hanging tool 1, a support wheel 2, an auxiliary wheel 3, a driving mechanism 4 and a suspension mechanism 5. The hanging tool 1 hangs an object W to be conveyed. The support wheel 2 rolls along a track 10, and supports the hanging tool 1 by hanging it on the track 10. The auxiliary wheel 3 sandwiches the track 10 with the support wheel 2, is rotatably fitted to the hanging tool 1, and rolls along the track 10. The driving mechanism 4 transmits rotational force to the support wheel 2 or the auxiliary wheel 3. The suspension mechanism 5 allows the rolling auxiliary wheel 3 to absorb a difference in level D of the track 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport device that suspends and transports an object to be transported. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a conveying device that conveys objects such as parts or luggage by suspending them from a track in a building such as a factory or a warehouse. Such a conveying device conveys the objects along a determined conveying route by traveling along a rail (track) as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-211089 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, a rail is formed by connecting a plurality of rail members as described in Patent Document 1. However, steps occurring at the joints of the rail members have been an obstacle to the self-propelling of a conveying device.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide a transport device that can autonomously travel over steps that occur on a track. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the conveying device of the first invention is characterized in that it comprises a suspending device for suspending an object to be conveyed, a support wheel that rolls along a track and supports the suspending device by suspending it from the track, an auxiliary wheel that sandwiches the track between the support wheel and the support wheel and is rotatably attached to the suspending device and rolls along the track, a drive mechanism that transmits rotational force to the support wheel or the auxiliary wheel, and a suspension mechanism that causes the rolling auxiliary wheel to absorb steps in the track.

[0007] A transport device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the transport device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the drive mechanism transmits a rotational force to the auxiliary wheels.

[0008] A third aspect of the present invention is a conveying device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the support wheel or the auxiliary wheel, to which rotational force is transmitted by the drive mechanism, has an opposing surface facing the track and a cover covering the opposing surface, and it is preferable that the cover is softer than the track.

[0009] A conveying device according to a fourth invention is the conveying device according to the second invention, wherein the drive mechanism has a drive source that generates the rotational force and an adapter that attaches the drive source to the suspension mechanism, and it is preferable that the auxiliary wheels are attached to the drive source.

[0010] A transport device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the transport device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein the drive source is an electric motor.

[0011] A sixth aspect of the present invention is a conveying device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the suspension mechanism has a repulsive body that generates a repulsive force against an applied load, and the repulsive body presses the training wheels against the track. Effect of the Invention

[0012] The transport device of the present invention can overcome steps on the track by self-propelling. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a conveying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a front view of a conveying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a support member is omitted. [Diagram 3] 2 is a front view of the transport device in FIG. 1 with the support members omitted, and shows a state in which the drive mechanism has been removed from the suspender. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the track, the hoist, the support wheels, the auxiliary wheels, and the suspension mechanism in FIG. 1, showing a state before the support wheels overcome a step. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the support wheel is in the middle of climbing over a step in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state after the support wheel has overcome the step in FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a front view of a conveying device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a side view of a conveying device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the drive mechanism is removed from the suspender in FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 10] 8 is a diagram showing the conveying device of FIG. 7 descending along a downwardly inclined track. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] [Embodiment 1] A conveying device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0015] In the drawings, the direction indicated by an arrow labeled "down" indicates the direction of gravity, and in the specification, the direction of gravity is referred to as the "downward direction." The direction opposite to the downward direction is referred to as the "upward" direction.

[0016] The conveying device 100 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 travels by itself along a track 10 with a conveyed object W suspended therefrom. The track 10 has a number of track members 10A and support brackets 10B. The track members 10A are elongated plates that are wide in the vertical direction and extend in the traveling direction of the conveying device 100. The traveling direction of the conveying device 100 includes a direction intersecting the vertical direction and the vertical direction itself. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the direction in which the conveying device 100 travels may be referred to as the "forward direction", and the direction opposite to the forward direction may be referred to as the "rearward direction". The direction intersecting the forward-rear direction may be referred to as the "lateral direction".

[0017] The track members 10A are arranged along the traveling direction of the conveying device 100 and connected to each other. The connected track members 10A are suspended from, for example, a ceiling S of a building by support brackets 10B so as to be arranged above the conveying path along which the conveyed object W is conveyed.

[0018] The conveying device 100 absorbs the step D occurring at the joint of the track member 10A by the suspension mechanism 5 described later. As a result, the conveying device 100 can overcome the step D by self-propelling. In the following, for ease of explanation, the track member 10A will be simply referred to as the track 10, and the step D occurring between the track members 10A will be simply referred to as the step D.

[0019] The structure of the transport device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. The transport device 100 includes a hoist 1, support wheels 2, auxiliary wheels 3, a drive mechanism 4, and a suspension mechanism 5.

[0020] The hoist 1 suspends the transported object W. The hoist 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 has a receiving portion 11 extending in the vertical direction at a position spaced apart from the wide surface 10D of the track 10, and a suspending portion 12 extending from the lower end of the receiving portion 11 toward a position below the track 10. The transported object W is suspended from the suspending portion 12. For example, the transported object W is suspended from an eye nut 14 attached to the lower end of a suspension bolt 13 that penetrates the suspending portion 12 in the vertical direction and is fixed to the suspending portion 12. In addition, the structure for suspending the transported object W from the suspending portion 12 may have a bearing 15 for holding the suspension bolt 13 on the suspending portion 12 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis passing through the vertical direction, as exemplified in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Specifically, the bearing 15 is disposed between the head of the suspension bolt 13 and the suspending portion 12, and supports the suspension bolt 13 at its head. When the hanging bolt 13 rotates relative to the hanging part 12 by the bearing 15, the eye nut 14 attached to the hanging bolt 13 also rotates together with the hanging bolt 13. Therefore, the transported object W is suspended from the eye nut 14 from various directions. In the above, a structure combining the hanging bolt 13, the eye nut 14, and the bearing 15 has been exemplified as a structure for the hanging device 1 to suspend the transported object W. However, the structure for suspending the transported object W from the hanging part 12 may be a structure other than the structure combining the hanging bolt 13, the eye nut 14, and the bearing 15.

[0021] The support wheel 2 rolls along the track 10, and supports the hoisting tool 1 by suspending it from the track 10. The support wheel 2 supporting the hoisting tool 1 by suspending it from the track 10 includes the track 10 receiving the weight of the conveying device 100 via the support wheel 2. The support wheel 2 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a cylindrical roller rotatably attached to the upper end 11A of the receiving portion 11. The support wheel 2 may be attached to the hoisting tool 1 via another member. The outer circumferential surface 21 of the support wheel 2 is provided with a groove 212 into which the upper end 10C of the track 10 fits. The groove 212 of the support wheel 2 fits the upper end 10C of the track 10, and the track 10 supports the hoisting tool 1 and the transported object W suspended from the hoisting tool 1.

[0022] Auxiliary wheels 3 sandwich track 10 between themselves and support wheels 2, are rotatably attached to suspending device 1, and roll along track 10. Auxiliary wheels 3 shown in Figures 1 and 2 sandwich track 10 between themselves and support wheels 2 from below. Auxiliary wheels 3 are rollers that are rotatably attached to suspending device 1 via drive mechanism 4, which will be described later.

[0023] The drive mechanism 4 transmits a rotational force to the support wheel 2 or the auxiliary wheel 3. The support wheel 2 or the auxiliary wheel 3 rotates due to the rotational force transmitted by the drive mechanism 4. The rotation of one of the support wheel 2 or the auxiliary wheel 3 causes the sling device 1 to move along the track 10. The other of the support wheel 2 or the auxiliary wheel 3 also rotates following the movement of the sling device 1 along the track 10. Specifically, for example, if the drive mechanism 4 transmits a rotational force to the support wheel 2, the sling device 1 moves along the track 10 due to the rotation of the support wheel 2. The auxiliary wheel 3 rotates following the movement of the sling device 1. On the other hand, if the drive mechanism 4 transmits a rotational force to the auxiliary wheel 3, the sling device 1 moves along the track 10 due to the rotation of the auxiliary wheel 3. The support wheel 2 rotates following the movement of the sling device 1.

[0024] Preferably, the drive mechanism 4 transmits the rotational force to the auxiliary wheels 3. When the rotational force is transmitted to the auxiliary wheels 3, the support wheels 2 rotate following the rotation of the auxiliary wheels 3. As a result, the support wheels 2 serve to support the weight of the conveying device 100 and the transported object W, and the auxiliary wheels 3 serve to make the conveying device 100 self-propel along the track 10. In this way, by assigning the function of supporting the weight of the conveying device 100 and the transported object W and the function of making the conveying device 100 self-propel to separate components, the conveying device 100 can stably travel along the track 10.

[0025] The auxiliary wheel 3 has an opposing surface 31 and a cover 32 .

[0026] The facing surface 31 is a surface facing the track 10. Specifically, the facing surface 31 is an outer peripheral surface of the roller. A groove 311 is provided around the entire circumference of the facing surface 31, into which the lower end 10E of the track 10 fits.

[0027] The cover 32 covers the facing surface 31. The cover 32 shown in FIG. 2 is fitted into the groove 311, and is fixed to the training wheel 3 in a state of covering the entire circumference of the facing surface 31. The cover 32 fixed to the training wheel 3 rotates together with the training wheel 3 in a state of contact with the track 10. The material of the cover 32 is rubber, resin, or other material softer than the track 10. When the training wheel 3 rotates to which a rotational force is transmitted from the drive mechanism 4, the training wheel 3 runs along the track 10 due to a frictional force generated between the cover 32 and the track 10. If the support wheel 2 receives the rotational force from the drive mechanism 4, the outer circumferential surface of the support wheel 2 is covered with the cover 32 to make the support wheel 2 run along the track 10.

[0028] The drive mechanism 4 includes a drive source 41 and an adapter 42 .

[0029] The driving source 41 generates a rotational force. The driving source 41 is a device that travels together with a motor or other conveying device 100 to generate a rotational force. If the track 10 is inclined downward, the weight of the object becomes the rotational force, so the driving source 41 may simply be a heavy object.

[0030] The adapter 42 attaches the drive source 41 to the suspension mechanism 5 (described in detail below). Preferably, the training wheels 3 are attached to the drive source 41. In this manner, the training wheels 3 and the drive source 41 can be removed from the suspension mechanism 5 together with the adapter 42. Therefore, the user can replace the cover 32 of the training wheels 3 by simply removing the adapter 42 from the suspension mechanism 5 without removing the sling 1 from the track 10.

[0031] The adapter 42 has a fixed part 421 and a holding part 422. The fixed part 421 is a part that is fixed to the suspension mechanism 5. The holding part 422 is a part that holds the driving source 41 in a freely detachable manner. Specifically, the adapter 42 has a shape in which an end of a plate extending in the vertical direction is bent toward the direction of the track 10. The fixed part 421 is an end bent toward the direction of the sling 1. And the holding part 422 is a part that extends in the vertical direction. The fixed part 421 is fixed to the suspension mechanism 5 by a fastening member 42D such as a bolt and a nut. The details of the attachment structure of the fixed part 421 to the suspension mechanism 5 will be described later.

[0032] The holding part 422 holds the driving source 41 on the surface 42A facing the sling 1. In this way, since no other parts are arranged between the position where the auxiliary wheels 3 are arranged and the driving source 41, the structure for attaching the auxiliary wheels 3 to the driving source 41 is simplified. The driving source 41 is held by the holding part 422 with fastening parts such as bolts. Also, preferably, in the holding part 422, a part for driving the driving source 41 is held on the outer surface 42B opposite to the surface 42A facing the sling 1. For example, a controller 42C for controlling a motor is attached to the outer surface 42B. In this way, the part for driving the driving source 41 can be arranged near the driving source 41, so the driving mechanism 4 becomes smaller.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a state in which the adapter 42 has been removed from the suspension mechanism 5. To change from the state shown in FIG. 2 to the state shown in FIG. 3, first, the adapter 42 is moved in a direction away from the track 10 (downward) to prevent the adapter 42 and the parts attached to the adapter 42 from interfering with the track 10. As described later, the adapter 42 moves downward by displacing a portion of the suspension mechanism 5 to which the fixed portion 421 is fixed in a direction away from the track 10. By moving the adapter 42 downward, the groove 311 of the training wheel 3 moves away from the lower end 10E of the track 10. Therefore, when the fastening between the suspension mechanism 5 and the adapter 42 is released, the training wheel 3 can be removed from the sling 1 without interfering with the lower end 10E of the track 10. Next, the fastening member 42D fastening the adapter 42 to the suspension mechanism 5 is loosened, and the adapter 42 is removed from the suspension mechanism 5 together with the training wheel 3, the driving source 41, and the controller 42C.

[0034] Preferably, drive mechanism 4 further includes a sub-adapter 43. Sub-adapter 43 is a component that holds components that drive drive source 41 and / or components that assist in the rotation of support wheel 2 to suspension mechanism 5. Sub-adapter 43 shown in Fig. 2 is disposed on the opposite side of adapter 42 across the suspender 1. Similar to adapter 42, sub-adapter 43 has a shape in which the end of a plate extending in the vertical direction is bent toward the suspender 1.

[0035] Specifically, a battery 43A, which is an example of a part that drives the driving source 41, and a support rod 43B that auxiliarily supports the training wheel 3 are attached to the sub-adapter 43. The battery 43A is disposed at a position where the sub-adapter 43 is sandwiched between the battery 43A and the sling 1. The support rod 43B is a rod having one end fixed to the sub-adapter 43 and the other end supporting the training wheel 3 from the side opposite the driving source 41. The other end of the support rod 43B is fitted into the hollow portion of the training wheel 3 to support the training wheel 3. In this way, the training wheel 3 has a double-end support structure. Therefore, deformation of the training wheel 3 in the direction of moving away from the track 10, which occurs in the connection structure between the training wheel 3 and the driving source 41 due to the weight of the training wheel 3, can be suppressed.

[0036] The suspension mechanism 5 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 allows the rolling auxiliary wheel 3 to absorb the step D of the track 10. In order to absorb the step D of the track 10, the suspension mechanism 5 displaces the drive mechanism 4 and the auxiliary wheel 3 attached to the drive mechanism 4 in a direction approaching the track 10 or in a direction away from the track 10. By displacing the auxiliary wheel 3 at the step D in a direction approaching the track 10 or in a direction away from the track 10, the suspension mechanism 5 creates a gap between the auxiliary wheel 3 and the track 10, or fills the gap created between the auxiliary wheel 3 and the track 10. This allows the support wheel 2 to overcome the step D by self-propelling. Also, unlike the support wheel 2, the auxiliary wheel 3 does not need to support the weight of the transported object W and the transport device 100. Therefore, the suspension mechanism 5 attached to the auxiliary wheel 3 via the drive mechanism 4 has the advantage of not needing to be structured to support the weight of the transported object W and the transport device 100.

[0037] The suspension mechanism 5 has a repulsion body fixing member 51, a reaction force receiver 52, and a repulsion body 53. The repulsion body fixing member 51 is a component that fixes the repulsion body 53 to the sling 1. The reaction force receiver 52 is a component that transmits the repulsive force of the repulsion body 53 to the training wheels 3. The repulsion body 53 is a component that generates a repulsive force that repels an applied load.

[0038] In detail, the repulsion body fixing member 51 is suspended and supported by the hanging section 12 by the support member 511. The repulsion body fixing member 51 illustrated in Fig. 1 is a plate disposed below the hanging section 12 with a gap therebetween and penetrated by the hanging bolt 13. The support member 511 illustrated in Fig. 1 is a bolt (support bolt 512) that penetrates the hanging section 12 and the repulsion body fixing member 51 in the vertical direction, and a nut (support nut 513) that is attached to the support bolt 512. In Fig. 1, the hanging section 12 receives the weight of the repulsion body fixing member 51 by the head of the support bolt 512 and the support nut 513 that sandwich the hanging section 12 and the repulsion body fixing member 51 from above and below.

[0039] Preferably, the support member 511 further includes a spacer 514 that covers the shaft of the support bolt 512. The spacer 514 is cylindrical. The shaft of the support bolt 512 passes through the hollow part of the spacer 514. The spacer 514 is sandwiched between the hanging part 12 and the repulsion body fixing member 51 from above and below. With such a spacer 514, even if the reaction force receiver 52 described later is structured so that the support bolt 512 penetrates the reaction force receiver 52 in the above and below, the shaft of the support bolt 512 can be prevented from contacting the reaction force receiver 52. As a result, the reaction force receiver 52 can be smoothly displaced in a direction approaching the track 10 or in a direction away from the track 10 without being caught by the shaft of the support bolt 512.

[0040] The reaction force receiver 52 is a plate that is passed through by the hanging bolt 13 so as to be displaceable in a direction toward or away from the track 10. The reaction force receiver 52 shown in FIG. 2 is disposed above the repulsion body fixing member 51. The adapter 42 is attached to the reaction force receiver 52.

[0041] The repulsive body 53 applies a force to the driving mechanism 4 to press the training wheel 3 attached to the driving mechanism 4 against the track 10. Specifically, the repulsive body 53 is disposed between the repulsive body fixing member 51 and the reaction force receiver 52 in a state in which the repulsive body 53 generates a repulsive force that lightly presses the training wheel 3 against the track 10. As a result, the repulsive force generated by the repulsive body 53 is transmitted to the training wheel 3 as a force to press the training wheel 3 against the track 10 via the reaction force receiver 52 and the driving mechanism 4 attached to the reaction force receiver 52.

[0042] The repulsion body 53 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 has a guide bolt 531 and a coil spring 532. The guide bolt 531 is a bolt that passes through the repulsion body fixing member 51 and the reaction force receiver 52 in the vertical direction. The guide bolt 531 sandwiches the repulsion body fixing member 51 and the reaction force receiver 52 between its head 533 and a nut 534 screwed into the threaded portion of the guide bolt 531. The coil spring 532 is disposed so as to fit into the shaft portion of the guide bolt 531 between the repulsion body fixing member 51 and the reaction force receiver 52. In this way, the user can displace the reaction force receiver 52 in a direction approaching the track 10 or in a direction away from the track 10 simply by adjusting the tightness of the nut 534 screwed into the guide bolt 531. In other words, the user can adjust the pressing force of the auxiliary wheel 3 against the track 10 simply by adjusting the tightness of the nut 534 screwed into the guide bolt 531. The magnitude of the pressing force of the stationary training wheel 3 against the track 10 is determined taking into consideration the size of the step. When removing the adapter 42 from the reaction force receiver 52, the user displaces the reaction force receiver 52 downward to such an extent that the lower end 10E of the track 10 is exposed from the groove 311 of the training wheel 3. A spacer such as a nut may be disposed between the coil spring 532 and the repulsion body fixing member 51 and / or the reaction force receiver 52. In this way, the repulsion force of the coil spring 532 is easily transmitted to the repulsion body fixing member 51 and / or the reaction force receiver 52.

[0043] Preferably, the suspension mechanism 5 has two units of the repulsive body 53 sandwiching the reaction force receiver 52. Specifically, although not shown, one of the two units of the repulsive body 53 is disposed so as to fit into the shaft portion of the guide bolt 531 between the head portion 533 of the guide bolt 531 and the reaction force receiver 52. The other of the two units of the repulsive body 53 is disposed so as to fit into the shaft portion of the coil spring 532 between the repulsive body fixing member 51 and the reaction force receiver 52. In this way, the auxiliary wheel 3 can be flexibly displaced in the vertical direction so as to correspond to both the step D (see FIG. 1) which is a wall protruding downward in the forward direction and the step which is a wall protruding upward in the forward direction.

[0044] Preferably, the suspension mechanism 5 is provided below the auxiliary wheels 3. In this way, only the structure supporting the transport device 100 can be arranged above the auxiliary wheels 3, so that the structure of the transport device 100 is simplified.

[0045] In addition, there are a plurality of repulsive bodies 53. The plurality of repulsive bodies 53 are arranged at least one unit at two positions sandwiching the auxiliary wheel 3 from the lateral direction. Specifically, the conveying device 100 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 has two units of repulsive bodies 53, 53. In this way, the force applied to the auxiliary wheel 3 from the lateral direction is balanced, so that the rotation of the auxiliary wheel 3 is stabilized. Furthermore, it is preferable that the plurality of repulsive bodies 53 are arranged at positions surrounding the auxiliary wheel 3 from all sides. Four units of repulsive bodies 53 are arranged at the front side, rear side, and four sides sandwiching the auxiliary wheel 3, one unit at a time. In this way, the rotation of the auxiliary wheel 3 is stabilized compared to the case where two units of repulsive bodies 53, 53 are arranged at positions sandwiching the auxiliary wheel 3 from the lateral direction. The larger the size of the conveyed object W, the more difficult it is to stabilize the rotation of the auxiliary wheel 3, so the suspension mechanism 5 having four units of repulsive bodies 53 is suitable for a conveying device that conveys a large conveyed object W.

[0046] 1, the transport device 100 further includes a stabilizing device 6 for stably moving the sling 1. The stabilizing device 6 is a device that travels on the track 10 while being coupled with the sling 1.

[0047] 1 includes a connecting part 60, a stabilizing suspender 61, a stabilizing support wheel 62, and a stabilizing auxiliary wheel 63. The connecting part 60 is a plate that connects the stabilizing suspender 61, which will be described in detail later, to the suspender 1.

[0048] The stable suspending device 61 has the same shape as the suspending device 1. The transported object W may also be suspended from the stable suspending device 61. By suspending the transported object W from the stable suspending device 61 as well, the weight supported by the support wheels 2 can be reduced, so that the transport device 100 can stably move on its own.

[0049] The stable support wheel 62 is a roller rotatably attached to the stable suspender 61 in order to support the stable suspender 61 and the transported object W suspended from the stable suspender 61. The stable support wheel 62 is hooked onto the upper end 10C of the track 10 so as to roll along the track 10. Therefore, the weight of the transported object W is shared by the stable support wheel 62 in addition to the support wheel 2 and supported by the track 10. Since the downward load applied to the support wheel 2 is reduced, the support wheel 2 can easily overcome a step that acts as a wall protruding upward in the forward direction.

[0050] The stabilizing auxiliary wheel 63 is a roller rotatably attached to the stabilizing hoist 61 at a position where the stabilizing support wheel 62 and the stabilizing support wheel 63 sandwich the track 10 from below in order to guide the running of the stabilizing support wheel 62. The stabilizing support wheel 63 has an opposing surface 64 and a pair of guides 65, 65. The opposing surface 64 is the outer peripheral surface of the roller and faces the track 10 with a gap. The gap between the opposing surface 64 and the track 10 is determined taking into consideration the size of the step D. The pair of guides 65, 65 protrude from the opposing surface 64 and are walls that sandwich the track 10 from the lateral direction with a gap. The guides 65 abut against the wide surface 10D of the track 10 as the stabilizing support wheel 62 runs, thereby guiding the stabilizing support wheel 62 so that it can run along the track 10.

[0051] The operation of the transport device 100 to overcome the step D will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, in the direction in which the transport device 100 travels, there may be a step D that serves as a wall protruding downward.

[0053] The conveyor device 100 travels along the track 10 as the auxiliary wheels 3 rotate due to the rotational force generated by the drive source 41. When the conveyor device 100 travels, the auxiliary wheels 3 come into contact with a step D, as shown in FIG. 5. A load F1 in a direction away from the track 10 is applied to the auxiliary wheels 3 that have come into contact with the step D. This causes the auxiliary wheels 3 to be displaced in a direction away from the track 10 and come into contact with a lower end 10E of the track 10 in front of them. As a result, the auxiliary wheels 3 can travel over the step D.

[0054] The downward load F1 due to the step D is removed from the auxiliary wheel 3 that has overcome the step D. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the auxiliary wheel 3 is pressed against the track 10 by the reaction force R1 of the repulsive body 53. Then, the conveyance device 100 can travel on the track 10.

[0055] [Embodiment 2] A conveying device 200 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7 to Fig. 10. In the conveying device 200 according to the second embodiment, the shape of the track 9 is different from the track 10 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, the conveying device 200 according to the second embodiment differs from the conveying device 100 according to the first embodiment in the detailed shape. Below, the differences between the conveying device 200 according to the second embodiment and the conveying device 100 according to the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0056] Before describing the conveyance device 200 according to the second embodiment, the track 9 on which the conveyance device 200 according to the second embodiment runs will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0057] The track 9 is a cylinder extending in the direction of transport by the transport device 200. A slit 9A penetrating the outer wall of the track 9 is provided at the top of the track 9 along the longitudinal direction of the track 9. The track 9 is hung from the ceiling S of the building by a bracket 9B. The bracket 9B has a main body 9C extending in the direction of gravity and a hook portion 9D extending in the lateral direction of the track 9. The hook portion 9D hooks onto the inner wall of the track 9, allowing the bracket 9B to support the track 9.

[0058] The transport device 200 according to the second embodiment differs from the transport device 100 according to the first embodiment in the structures of a suspender 201 and a support wheel 202.

[0059] 7 and 8 has a pair of walls 20A, 20A extending in the running direction and a bottom wall 20B connecting the pair of walls 20A, 20A. The track 9 is disposed so as to pass between the pair of walls 20A, 20A.

[0060] The wall 20A has an opening 20C and a sloped portion 20D.

[0061] The opening 20C is provided in at least one of the pair of walls 20A. In FIG. 7, the opening 20C is provided in the wall 20A on the left side of the paper. The opening 20C is large enough for the training wheels 3 to pass through. When the training wheels 3 are in contact with the track 9, a part of the connection portion 41A between the training wheels 3 and the driving source 41 is disposed in the opening 20C. When the training wheels 3 need to be replaced, this can be done by simply removing the driving source 41 from the adapter 42 as shown in FIG. 9, similar to the conveyance device 100 described in FIG. 3. When the driving source 41 is removed from the adapter 42, the training wheels 3 pass through the opening 20C.

[0062] Inclined portion 20D is a portion that inclines upward from the upper end of wall 20A in a direction away from track 10. In each of a pair of walls 20A, 20A, support wheel 202 is rotatably attached to surface 20E of inclined portion 20D on the track 9 side. Support wheel 202 is disposed on inclined portion 20D such that its circumferential surface abuts against an upper oblique portion of track 9. In this manner, the pair of support wheels 202, 202 sandwiching track 9 can travel along track 9 while supporting the weight of hoisting tool 201 and transported load W.

[0063] Preferably, two units of the support wheels 202 are attached to the inclined portions 20D, 20D as shown in Fig. 8. In this way, the weight supported by each unit of the support wheels 202 is reduced. As a result, the support wheels 202 can run smoothly along the track 9.

[0064] A load W is suspended from the bottom wall 20B. For example, the load W is suspended by being hooked on an eye nut 14 attached to a lower part of a suspension bolt 13 fixed to the bottom wall 20B.

[0065] The operation of the transport device 200 will be described. As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the transport device 200 also travels along the track 9 as the auxiliary wheels 3 in contact with the lower surface of the track 9 rotate due to the rotational force generated by the drive source 41, similar to the transport device 100 described in Fig. 1 to Fig. 6.

[0066] Preferably, the driving source 41 is an electric motor. As shown in Fig. 10, when the conveying device 200 moves downward on the track 9 that is inclined downward, the motor generates a load B on the rotation of the auxiliary wheels 3. Therefore, the motor brakes the rotation of the auxiliary wheels 3, and the conveying device 200 can move slowly down the track 9. Therefore, the conveying device 200 suspending the conveyed object W can always maintain the conveyed object W in a stable position.

[0067] However, the embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. Any configuration other than that described as the embodiment of the invention is an optional configuration and can be deleted or modified as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1 Lifting equipment 2 Support wheels 3 Training wheels 4. Drive mechanism 5 Suspension mechanism 6 Stabilizer 9 orbit 10 orbits 32 Cover 41 Power Source 42 Adapter 53 Repulsion Body 201 Lifting equipment 202 Support wheel D. Step W Transported object

Claims

1. A suspending tool for suspending the transported object; a support wheel that rolls along a track and suspends and supports the suspending tool on the track; An auxiliary wheel that sandwiches the track between the support wheel and the auxiliary wheel and is rotatably attached to the hoisting tool to roll along the track; A drive mechanism that transmits a rotational force to the support wheel or the auxiliary wheel; A conveying device comprising: a suspension mechanism for the rolling auxiliary wheels that absorbs steps in the track.

2. The transport device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism transmits a rotational force to the auxiliary wheels.

3. The support wheel or the auxiliary wheel to which the rotational force is transmitted by the drive mechanism is An opposing surface facing the track; a cover for covering the opposing surface, The transport apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover is softer than the track.

4. The drive mechanism includes: a drive source to which the auxiliary wheels are attached and which generates the rotational force; an adapter for attaching the drive source to the suspension mechanism, The transport device according to claim 2 , wherein the drive source is detachably held by the adapter.

5. The transport device according to claim 4 , wherein the drive source is an electric motor.

6. The suspension mechanism includes: A repulsive body that generates a repulsive force against an applied load, The transport device according to claim 1 , wherein the repulsive body generates a force pressing the auxiliary wheels against the track.

Images