Rail support member, conveyor, and support method of rail in conveyor

Abstract

To provide a rail support member suitable for conveying a heavy-weight conveyed object by using an existing conveyor.SOLUTION: A rail support member A includes a split-structured yoke 2A composed of a left segment 3 and a right segment 4, supporting a rail 10 composed of a channel-shaped left rail 11 and right rail 12 for guiding left and right traveling wheels of a movable body. The left segment 3 has a left receiving section 3A for receiving a lower side flange part 11B of the left rail 11 from below in unity with the left segment 3. The right segment 4 has a right receiving section 4A for receiving a lower side flange part 12B of the right rail 12 from below in unity with the right segment 4. The rail support member A including the split-structured yoke 2A can be easily installed as a second rail support member 2 between the adjacent first rail support members in an anteroposterior direction, in the first rail support member including integrated-structured yokes installed in an existing conveyor at a predetermined interval.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rail support member that supports a rail for guiding a moving body.

Background Art

[0002] In a conveying device including a rail laid on a predetermined conveying path and a moving body movable along the rail, a rail support member for supporting the rail is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A number of the rail support members are installed at predetermined intervals along the conveying path.

[0003] The rail support member of Patent Document 1 includes a yoke having an opening on the upper side and being substantially U-shaped when viewed from the conveying direction, and a mounting member for mounting the yoke on the floor surface. The rail is located above the yoke, and below the rail, there is a cable support member having a large width in the left-right direction, which is a horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction (see FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The predetermined interval for installing the rail support member along the conveying path is determined by the weight of the conveyed object conveyed by the moving body. By the way, for example, in an automobile manufacturing factory, due to the recent trend of electrification, the conveyance of vehicles with a large battery and a large weight is required. The conveyance of such a high-weight conveyed object requires the use of an existing conveying device in order to reduce costs.

[0006] However, when transporting a heavy load using an existing transport device in which the rail support members are installed at every predetermined interval as in Patent Document 1, there is a risk that the rail supported by the rail support member may be deformed because it cannot withstand the weight.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a rail support member suitable for transporting a heavy load using an existing transport device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The rail support member according to the first aspect of the present invention is a rail support member that supports a rail for guiding a moving body. The rail is composed of a channel-shaped left rail and a right rail that guide the left and right traveling wheels of the moving body and have openings facing each other with a space therebetween. The rail support member includes a yoke having a split structure composed of a left split body and a right split body. The left split body and the right split body are connected and fixed to use the yoke with the split structure as an integral body. The left split body integrally has a left receiving portion that receives the lower flange portion of the left rail from below. The right split body integrally has a right receiving portion that receives the lower flange portion of the right rail from below.

[0009] According to the rail support member according to the first aspect, it has a yoke having a split structure composed of a left split body and a right split body. For example, the left split body is moved from the left side of the left rail to the right side, and the right split body is moved from the right side of the right rail to the left side, and the left split body and the right split body are connected and fixed to use the yoke with the split structure as an integral body. Therefore, a rail support member including the yoke with the split structure can be easily installed as a second rail support member between the first rail support members including the yokes with an integral structure that are installed at predetermined intervals and adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction in the existing transport device.

[0010] For example, even when the existing conveying device is for a floor conveyor and the first rail support member supports a wide component having a width in the left - right direction larger than the distance between the left receiving portion and the right receiving portion, the rail support member including the yoke having the split structure can be easily added without removing the wide component supported by the first rail support member. Also, for example, even when the existing conveying device is for an overhead conveyor, the rail support member including the yoke having the split structure can be easily added without removing the rail having a width in the left - right direction larger than the distance between the left receiving portion and the right receiving portion and supported by the first rail support member.

[0011] Therefore, while reducing the man - hours of work, the second rail support member can be installed between the first rail support members adjacent to each other in the front - rear direction. Also, since the left receiving portion of the yoke having the split structure supports the left rail from below and the right receiving portion of the yoke having the split structure supports the right rail from below, deformation of the rail when transporting a high - weight conveyed object using the existing conveying device can be suppressed.

[0012] The rail support member according to the second aspect of the present invention is the rail support member according to the first aspect, and includes a left pressing member that presses the upper flange portion of the left rail from above and a right pressing member that presses the upper flange portion of the right rail from above. The left pressing member is attached to the left split body by detachable attachment means, and the right pressing member is attached to the right split body by detachable attachment means.

[0013] According to the rail support member according to the second aspect, with the left rail supported from below by the left receiving portion of the left split body, the left rail can be fixed to the left split body by attaching the left pressing member to the left split body by the attachment means. Also, with the right rail supported from below by the right receiving portion of the right split body, the right rail can be fixed to the right split body by attaching the right pressing member to the right split body by the attachment means.

[0014] Therefore, the working man-hours can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where the rail support member is fixed to the rail by welding. In particular, when the transfer device is installed in a painting factory that handles paint, since welding inside the building is prohibited, the effect of reducing the working man-hours becomes greater. That is, when the rail support member is fixed to the rail installed in the painting factory by welding, it is necessary to remove the rail and perform the welding work outside the building.

[0015] In addition, since the left receiving portion integrated with the left split body supports the left rail from below, and the right receiving portion integrated with the right split body supports the right rail from below, the rail support member can stably and reliably receive the load received by the rail for guiding the moving body, and the reference height of the rail can be maintained at the lower surface of the rail.

[0016] The rail support member according to the third aspect of the present invention is the rail support member according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the shape of the left split body and the shape of the right split body are the same.

[0017] According to the rail support member according to the third aspect, since the shapes of the left split body and the right split body constituting the yoke of the split structure of the rail support member are the same, the left split body and the right split body are replaceable, and the parts can be shared, so that the manufacturing cost and the parts management cost can be reduced.

[0018] The rail support member according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the rail support member according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the left split body and the right split body are bolted in a state of being overlapped in the front-rear direction.

[0019] According to the rail support member according to the fourth aspect, since the left split body and the right split body constituting the yoke of the split structure of the rail support member are bolted in a state of being overlapped in the front-rear direction, the rigidity of the yoke of the split structure can be increased, so that the yoke is less likely to be deformed when transporting a heavy load.

[0020] The conveying device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is a conveying device including a rail laid on a predetermined conveying path and a moving body movable along the rail, and is used for a floor conveyor. The rail is composed of a channel-shaped left rail and a right rail having openings facing each other with a space therebetween, which guide the left and right traveling wheels of the moving body. As a rail support member for supporting the rail, it has a first rail support member including a yoke of an integral structure, and a second rail support member including a yoke of a split structure, which is a rail support member according to the first aspect or the second aspect. The yoke of the first rail support member and the yoke of the split structure in an integrated state have an opening on the upper side and are substantially U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction. The rail is located above the yoke of the first rail support member and the upper part of the yoke of the split structure in an integrated state, and there is a wide part having a width in the left-right direction larger than the distance between the left receiving part and the right receiving part below the rail. With the rail supported by the first rail support member, the second rail support member including the yoke of the split structure is installed between the first rail support members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction by connecting and fixing the left split body and the right split body from a separated state.

[0021] According to the conveying device according to the fifth aspect having the rail support member according to the first aspect, the second rail support member including the yoke of the split structure can be easily added without removing the wide part having a width in the left-right direction larger than the distance between the left receiving part and the right receiving part, which is below the rail supported by the first rail support member.

[0022] Therefore, while reducing the man-hours, the second rail support member can be installed between the first rail support members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. Since the left receiving part of the yoke of the split structure supports the left rail from below and the right receiving part of the yoke of the split structure supports the right rail from below, deformation of the rail when transporting a high-weight conveyed object using an existing conveying device can be suppressed.

[0023] The conveying device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is a conveying device including a rail laid on a predetermined conveying path and a moving body movable along the rail, and is used for an overhead conveyor. The rail is composed of a channel-shaped left rail and a right rail in which openings face each other with a space therebetween, guiding the left and right traveling wheels of the moving body. As a rail support member for supporting the rail, it has a first rail support member including an integral yoke and a second rail support member including a split yoke which is the rail support member according to the first aspect or the second aspect. The yoke of the first rail support member and the yoke of the split structure in an integrated state have an opening on the lower side and are substantially inverted U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction. The rail is located below the yoke of the first rail support member and the lower part of the yoke of the split structure in an integrated state. With the rail supported by the first rail support member, the second rail support member is installed between the first rail support members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction by connecting and fixing the left split body and the right split body from a separated state.

[0024] According to the conveying device according to the sixth aspect having the rail support member according to the first aspect, the second rail support member including the split yoke can be easily added without removing the rail having a width in the left-right direction larger than the distance between the left receiving portion and the right receiving portion supported by the first rail support member.

[0025] Therefore, while reducing the man-hours, the second rail support member can be installed between the first rail support members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. Since the left receiving portion of the split yoke supports the left rail from below and the right receiving portion of the split yoke supports the right rail from below, deformation of the rail when transporting a high-weight conveyed object using an existing conveying device can be suppressed.

[0026] According to the conveying device according to the fifth or sixth aspect having the rail support member according to the second aspect, with the left rail supported from below by the left receiving portion of the left split body, the left pressing member is attached to the left split body by the attaching means, whereby the left rail can be fixed to the left split body. With the right rail supported from below by the right receiving portion of the right split body, the right pressing member is attached to the right split body by the attaching means, whereby the right rail can be fixed to the right split body.

[0027] Therefore, the number of man-hours can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where the rail support member is fixed to the rail by welding. In particular, when the conveying device is installed in a painting factory that handles paint, welding inside the building is prohibited, so the effect of reducing the number of man-hours is even greater. That is, when the rail support member is fixed to the rail installed in the painting factory by welding, it is necessary to remove the rail and perform the welding work outside the building.

[0028] In addition, since the left receiving portion integral with the left split body supports the left rail from below, and the right receiving portion integral with the right split body supports the right rail from below, the rail support member can stably and surely receive the load received by the rail for guiding the moving body, and the reference height of the rail can be maintained at the lower surface of the rail.

[0029] The method for supporting a rail in a conveying device according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is a method for supporting a rail in a conveying device used for a floor conveyor, which includes a rail laid on a predetermined conveying path and a moving body movable along the rail, and adding a rail support member to an existing conveying device. The rail is composed of a channel-shaped left rail and a right rail that guide the left and right running wheels of the moving body and have openings facing each other at intervals. The yoke that supports the rail has an opening on the upper side and is substantially U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction, and the rail is located above the yoke. Below the rail, there is a wide part whose width in the left-right direction is larger than the interval between the left receiving part and the right receiving part of the second rail support member including a yoke with a split structure, which is a rail support member according to the first aspect or the second aspect. A second rail support member including the yoke with the split structure is additionally installed between the first rail support members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction in the existing conveying device.

[0030] According to the method for supporting a rail in a conveying device according to the seventh aspect having a rail support member according to the first aspect, without removing the wide part whose width in the left-right direction is larger than the interval between the left receiving part and the right receiving part, which is below the rail supported by the first rail support member, the second rail support member including the yoke with the split structure can be easily added.

[0031] Therefore, while reducing the man-hours, the second rail support member can be installed between the first rail support members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. Since the left receiving part of the yoke with the split structure supports the left rail from below and the right receiving part of the yoke with the split structure supports the right rail from below, deformation of the rail when transporting a high-weight conveyed object using the existing conveying device can be suppressed.

[0032] The method for supporting a rail in a conveying device according to the eighth aspect of the present invention is a method for supporting the rail in a conveying device used for an overhead conveyor, in which a rail support member is added to an existing conveying device. The rail is composed of a channel-shaped left rail and a right rail that guide the left and right traveling wheels of the moving body and have openings facing each other with a space therebetween. The yoke that supports the rail has an opening on the lower side and is substantially inverted U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction, and the rail is located below the lower part of the yoke. A second rail support member including a yoke with a split structure, which is a rail support member according to the first aspect or the second aspect, is additionally installed between the first rail support members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction in the existing conveying device.

[0033] According to the method for supporting a rail in a conveying device according to the eighth aspect having a rail support member according to the first aspect, without removing the rail having a width in the left-right direction larger than the distance between the left receiving portion and the right receiving portion supported by the first rail support member, the second rail support member including the yoke with the split structure can be easily added.

[0034] Therefore, while reducing the man-hours, the second rail support member can be installed between the first rail support members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction, and the left receiving portion of the yoke with the split structure supports the left rail from below, and the right receiving portion of the yoke with the split structure supports the right rail from below. Thus, deformation of the rail when transporting a heavy load using the existing conveying device can be suppressed.

[0035] According to the method for supporting a rail in a conveying device according to the seventh aspect or the eighth aspect having a rail support member according to the second aspect, with the left rail supported from below by the left receiving portion of the left split body, the left pressing member can be attached to the left split body by the attachment means, thereby fixing the left rail to the left split body. With the right rail supported from below by the right receiving portion of the right split body, the right pressing member can be attached to the right split body by the attachment means, thereby fixing the right rail to the right split body.

[0036] Therefore, the man-hour can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where the rail support member is fixed to the rail by welding. In particular, when the transfer device is installed in a painting factory that handles paint, welding inside the building is prohibited, so the effect of reducing man-hours becomes greater. That is, when the rail support member is fixed to the rail installed in the painting factory by welding, it is necessary to remove the rail and perform the welding work outside the building.

[0037] In addition, since the left receiving portion integrated with the left split body supports the left rail from below, and the right receiving portion integrated with the right split body supports the right rail from below, the rail support member can stably and surely receive the load received by the rail that guides the moving body, and the reference height of the rail can be maintained at the lower surface of the rail.

Advantages of the Invention

[0038] As described above, according to the rail support member of the present invention, a rail support member suitable for transporting high-weight transported objects using an existing transfer device can be provided. Therefore, the transfer device according to the present invention and the method for supporting a rail in the transfer device according to the present invention, both using the rail support member according to the present invention, are also suitable for transporting high-weight transported objects using an existing transfer device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0039]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0040] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0041] In this specification, along the transport direction (see, for example, the arrow F in FIG. 1), the front side (downstream side) is referred to as the front, the rear side (upstream side) is referred to as the rear, and the left and right are in the direction of the front. A view seen from the left is taken as a front view. The partial cross-sectional front views of FIGS. 1 and 2 show the cross-section taken along the line X-X in FIG. 4.

[0042] [Transport Device] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example in which the transport device B according to an embodiment of the present invention is used for a floor conveyor. FIG. 3 shows the first rail support member 1, the second rail support member 2, and the rail 10 or the like in the example of FIG. 1.

[0043] The conveying device B includes a rail 10 laid on a predetermined conveying path C and a moving body 20 movable along the rail 10. The conveying device B has a first rail support member 1 including a yoke 1A with an integral structure as a rail support member for supporting the rail 10, and a second rail support member 2 including a yoke 2A with a split structure. The second rail support member 2 is a rail support member A that can be easily added to an existing conveying device.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the first rail support member 1 has a yoke 1A with an integral structure that has an opening on the upper side and is substantially U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the second rail support member 2 has a yoke 2A with a split structure that has an opening on the upper side and is substantially U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction in an integrated state.

[0045] The rail 10 is located above the yoke 1A and the upper part of the yoke 2A with a split structure in an integrated state. Below the rail 10, there is a cable support member 15.

[0046] The lateral width S of the cable support member 15 is larger than the distance T1 between the left receiving portion 1B and the right receiving portion 1C of the yoke 1A and the distance T1 between the left receiving portion 3A and the right receiving portion 4A of the yoke 2A in the state shown in FIG. 5 where the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 are connected and fixed (S > T1).

[0047] Therefore, the cable support member 15 is an example of a wide component Y whose lateral width S is larger than the distance T1 between the left receiving portion 3A and the right receiving portion 4A.

[0048] The conveying device B is formed by installing the second rail support member 2 between the first rail support members 1 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. 3 by connecting and fixing the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 as shown in FIG. 5 from the state where the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 are separated as shown in FIG. 6 while the rail 10 is supported by the first rail support member 1 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0049] [Rail] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rail 10 is composed of a channel-shaped left rail 11 and a right rail 12 which are spaced apart from each other and have openings facing each other, and guide the vertical rollers 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which are the left and right running wheels of the moving body 20. The rail 10 is laid in a state of being spaced upward from the floor surface G by using the first rail support member 1 and the second rail support member 2.

[0050] The left rail 11 has an upper flange portion 11A, a lower flange portion 11B, and an upwardly bent edge portion 11C extending upward from the inner ends in the left-right direction of the upper flange portion 11A. The right rail 12 has an upper flange portion 12A, a lower flange portion 12B, and an upwardly bent edge portion 12C extending upward from the inner ends in the left-right direction of the upper flange portion 12A.

[0051] [Moving body] The moving body 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a conveyed object support portion 28 that supports the conveyed object W, a load trolley LT that supports the conveyed object support portion 28, and a free trolley FT that does not support the conveyed object support portion 28, etc. The load trolley LT and the free trolley FT are supported and guided by the rail 10.

[0052] The moving body 20 includes, for example, trolleys 21, 22, 23, 24, and connecting rods 25, 26, 27. The front-end trolley 21 and the rear-end trolley 24 are free trolleys FT, and the front trolley 22 and the rear trolley 23 are load trolleys LT.

[0053] The front-end trolley 21 and the front trolley 21 are connected via a first connecting rod 25. The front trolley 22 and the rear trolley 23 are connected via a second connecting rod 26. The rear trolley 23 and the rear-end trolley 24 are connected via a third connecting rod 27.

[0054] The load trolley LT and the free trolley FT are provided with a horizontal roller 29 and a vertical roller 30 which is a running wheel. The front and rear horizontal rollers 29 of the load trolley LT and the free trolley FT are sandwiched by the left and right bending edges 11C, 12C shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, and the vertical rollers 30 which are the left and right running wheels of the load trolley LT and the free trolley FT roll on the left and right lower flange portions 11B, 12B shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5.

[0055] The front-end trolley 21 has an engagement dog E that engages with the towing dog of the power chain drive device. Thereby, the moving body 20 can be driven by the power chain drive device.

[0056] The trolleys 21, 22, 23, 24, and the connecting rods 25, 26, 27 have side surfaces that serve as drive surfaces D where the friction rollers of the friction roller drive device are in pressure contact. Thereby, the moving body 20 can be driven by the friction roller drive device.

[0057] [First Rail Support Member] The first rail support member 1 shown in FIG. 4 is composed of a yoke 1A having an integral structure for supporting the rail 10 and a mounting member M for mounting the yoke 1A on the floor surface G.

[0058] (Mounting of the first rail support member on the floor surface by the mounting member) The mounting member M is composed of a height adjustment bolt H, a nut I, an anchor plate J, and an anchor bolt N. After adjusting the height with the height adjustment bolt H screwed into the screw hole 1E provided in the flange portion 1D extending horizontally from the lower end portion of the yoke 1A from below, the nut I is screwed onto the upper end portion of the height adjustment bolt H to fix the height adjustment bolt H to the yoke 1A. By fixing the anchor plate J to the floor surface G using the anchor bolt N, the first rail support member 1 is fixed to the floor surface G.

[0059] (Attachment of the rail to the yoke of the first rail support member) The yoke 1A of the first rail support member 1 has, for example, a left receiving portion 1B that receives the lower flange portion 11B of the left rail 11 from below, and a right receiving portion 1C that receives the lower flange portion 12B of the right rail 12 from below.

[0060] That is, in FIG. 4, the width R1 of the rail 10 is larger than the distance T1 between the left receiving portion 1B and the right receiving portion 1C (R1 > T1). With the left rail 11 placed on the left receiving portion 1B and the right rail 12 placed on the right receiving portion 1C, the yoke 1A and the rail 10 are fixed, for example, by welding.

[0061] Since the yoke 1A and the rail 10 are firmly fixed, for example, by welding, the left receiving portion 1B and the right receiving portion 1C are not essential components. However, with the yoke 1A having the left receiving portion 1B and the right receiving portion 1C, while the left receiving portion 1B and the right receiving portion 1C receive the load of the rail 10, in the state where the rail 10 is supported by the yoke 1A as shown in FIG. 4, the positioning in the height direction of the rail 10 can be achieved. Therefore, it is a more preferred embodiment to provide the left receiving portion 1B and the right receiving portion 1C on the yoke 1A.

[0062] [Second Rail Support Member] The second rail support member 2, which is a rail support member A that can be easily added to an existing conveying device as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, includes a split yoke 2A that supports the rail 10 and a mounting member M for mounting the yoke 2A on the floor surface G.

[0063] The yoke 2A of the second rail support member 2 has a left receiving portion 3A that receives the lower flange portion 11B of the left rail 11 from below, and a right receiving portion 4A that receives the lower flange portion 12B of the right rail 12 from below. That is, in FIG. 5, the width R1 of the rail 10 is larger than the distance T1 between the left receiving portion 1B and the right receiving portion 1C (R1 > T1).

[0064] The yoke 2A with a split structure consists of a left split body 3 and a right split body 4, and is used in a state where the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 are connected and fixed as shown in FIG. 5. Since the yoke 2A has an opening on the upper side and is substantially U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction, the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 are each substantially L-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. 6.

[0065] The left split body 3 integrally has a left receiving portion 3A that receives the lower flange portion 11B of the left rail 11 from below. The right split body 4 integrally has a right receiving portion 4A that receives the lower flange portion 12B of the right rail 12 from below.

[0066] (Connection and fixation of the left split body and the right split body) Refer to FIGS. 5 and 6. The height of the upper surface of the left receiving portion 3A of the left split body 3 is made lower than the height of the lower surface of the lower flange portion 11B of the left rail 11, and the height of the upper surface of the rightward extending portion O1 at the lower part of the left split body 3 is made lower than the height of the lower surface of the cable support member 15. Also, the height of the upper surface of the right receiving portion 4A of the right split body 4 is made lower than the height of the lower surface of the lower flange portion 12B of the right rail 12, and the height of the upper surface of the leftward extending portion O2 at the lower part of the right split body 4 is made lower than the height of the lower surface of the cable support member 15. In that state, the left split body 3 is moved rightward from the left side of the left rail 11, and the right split body 4 is moved leftward from the right side of the right rail 12.

[0067] With the leftward extending portion O2 of the right split body 4 and the rightward extending portion O1 of the left split body 3 overlapped front-rear so that the through hole 4F of the right split body 4 and the through hole 3F of the left split body 3 are aligned, a bolt 8A is inserted through the through holes 4F, 3F, and a nut 7A is screwed, whereby the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 are connected and fixed, and the yoke 2A with a split structure is integrated.

[0068] In this way, since the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 that constitute the yoke 2A with a split structure of the second rail support member 2 are bolt-fastened in a state where they are overlapped in the front-rear direction, the rigidity of the yoke 2A with a split structure can be increased, so that the yoke 2A is less likely to deform when transporting a high-weight conveyed object.

[0069] (Installation of the Second Rail Support Member on the Floor by the Mounting Member) The mounting member M is composed of a height adjustment bolt H, a nut I, an anchor plate J, and an anchor bolt N. Before connecting and fixing the left split body 3 and the right split body 4, the height adjustment bolt H is screwed into the screw hole 3E provided in the flange portion 3D extending horizontally from the lower end portion of the left split body 3, and the height adjustment bolt H is also screwed into the screw hole 4E provided in the flange portion 4D extending horizontally from the lower end portion of the right split body 4.

[0070] After connecting and fixing the left split body 3 and the right split body 4, the height is adjusted by the height adjustment bolt H so that the lower flange portion 11B of the left rail 11 is supported by the left receiving portion 3A of the left split body 3, and the lower flange portion 12B of the right rail 12 is supported by the right receiving portion 4A of the right split body 4. After adjusting the height by the height adjustment bolt H, the nut I is screwed onto the upper end portion of the height adjustment bolt H to fix the height adjustment bolt H to the yoke 2A. By embedding the anchor bolt N through the through hole K for the anchor bolt of the anchor plate J, the second rail support member 2 is fixed to the floor surface G.

[0071] With the yoke 2A having the left receiving portion 3A and the right receiving portion 4A, the positioning in the height direction of the rail 10 can be performed in a state where the rail 10 is supported as shown in FIG. 5.

[0072] (Fixing of the Rail to the Second Rail Support Member) Refer to FIGS. 5 and 6. The second rail support member 2 includes a left pressing member 5 that presses the upper flange portion 11A of the left rail 11 from above, and a right pressing member 6 that presses the upper flange portion 12A of the right rail 12 from above.

[0073] With the nut 7B engaged with the nut engaging portion 3B of the left split body 3, the notch portion 5B of the left pressing member 5 is aligned with the notch portion 3C of the left split body 3. The bolt 8B is inserted through the through hole 5A of the left pressing member 5 and screwed into the nut 7B, so that the left pressing member 5 is bolted to the left split body 3. Thereby, the left rail 11 is fixed to the left split body 3.

[0074] With the nut 7B engaged with the nut engaging portion 4B of the right split body 4, the notch 6B of the right pressing member 6 is aligned with the notch 4C of the right split body 4. By inserting the bolt 8B through the through hole 6A of the right pressing member 6 and screwing it into the nut 7B, the right pressing member 6 is bolted to the right split body 4. Thereby, the right rail 12 is fixed to the right split body 4.

[0075] In this embodiment, the left nut 7B and bolt 8B are detachable attachment means V for attaching the left pressing member 5 to the left split body 3, and the right nut 7B and bolt 8B are detachable attachment means V for attaching the right pressing member 6 to the right split body 4. The detachable attachment means V is not limited to being by bolt fastening with the nut 7B and bolt 8B, and any means that can detachably attach the left pressing member 5 to the left split body 3 and the right pressing member 6 to the right split body 4 is acceptable.

[0076] For example, the detachable attachment means V includes those that attach a mounting member that is substantially horizontally U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear or left-right direction to the left split body 3 and the right split body 4, and also includes rivets, etc. that need to be destroyed when removing the left pressing member 5 and the right pressing member 6 from the left split body 3 and the right split body 4.

[0077] As described above, with the left rail 11 supported from below by the left receiving portion 3A of the left split body 3, the left rail 11 can be fixed to the left split body 3 by attaching the left pressing member 5 to the left split body 3 by the detachable attachment means V. With the right rail 12 supported from below by the right receiving portion 4A of the right split body 4, the right rail 12 can be fixed to the right split body 4 by attaching the right pressing member 6 to the right split body 4 by the detachable attachment means V.

[0078] Therefore, the man-hour can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where the second rail support member 2 is fixed to the rail 10 by welding. In particular, when the transfer device B is installed in a painting factory that handles paint, welding inside the building is prohibited, so the effect of reducing man-hours is even greater. That is, when the second rail support member 2 is fixed to the rail 10 installed in the painting factory by welding, it is necessary to remove the rail 10 and perform the welding work outside the building.

[0079] Further, since the left receiving portion 3A integrated with the left split body 3 supports the left rail 11 from below, and the right receiving portion 4A integrated with the right split body 4 supports the right rail 12 from below, the second rail support member 2 can stably and reliably receive the load received by the rail 10 that guides the moving body 20, and the reference height P of the rail 10 shown in FIG. 5 can be maintained at the lower surface of the rail 10.

[0080] [Examples of alternative forms of the first rail support member and the second rail support member] 7 to 10 show examples of alternative forms of the first rail support member 1 and the second rail support member 2 which is a rail support member A that can be easily added to an existing transfer device. In FIGS. 7 to 10, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 3 to 6 denote the same or corresponding components or parts, and thus the detailed description thereof is omitted. The yoke 1A of the first rail support member 1 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is formed by integrally welding a left plate member 17, a right plate member 18, and a lower angle member 19.

[0081] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first rail support member 1 and the second rail support member 2 have substantially U-shaped yokes 1A and 2A when viewed from the front-rear direction. The rail 10 is located above the yoke 1A and the yoke 2A having a split structure in an integrated state. Below the rail 10, there are a power rail 13 and an oil receiver 16. The power rail 13 is composed of, for example, left and right channels in which openings face each other with a space therebetween, and guides the power chain of a power chain type drive device.

[0082] Since the power rail 13 abuts against the inner surfaces of the yokes 1A and 2A, it can be positioned in the left-right direction with respect to the yokes 1A and 2A.

[0083] The width U of the power rail 13 is greater than the distance T1 between the left receiving portion 1B and the right receiving portion 1C of the yoke 1A shown in FIG. 8 and the distance T1 between the left receiving portion 3A and the right receiving portion 4A of the yoke 2A in the state where the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 are connected and fixed as shown in FIG. 9 (U > T1).

[0084] Therefore, the power rail 13 is an example of a wide part Y having a width U in the left-right direction that is greater than the distance T1 between the left receiving portion 3A and the right receiving portion 4A.

[0085] In the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9, since there is a power rail 13 that guides the power chain below the rail 10, the vertical length of the yokes 1A and 2A in the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9 is longer than the vertical length of the yokes 1A and 2A in the examples of FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0086] [Reasons for keeping the height of the rail from the floor low] The rails 10 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and FIGS. 8 and 9 keep the height from the floor surface G low. The reason is that there are restrictions on the height of the ceiling of the building where the conveying device B for the floor conveyor is installed, so as to prevent the conveyed object W conveyed by the conveying device B from interfering with the ceiling when the conveyed object W is large.

[0087] For the rail 10 whose height from the floor surface G is thus kept low, the second rail support member 2 in FIGS. 5 and 9 can integrate the split yoke 2A by moving the left split body 3 to the right from the left side of the left rail 11 and moving the right split body 4 to the left from the right side of the right rail 12 and connecting and fixing them. That is, since work can be done from the side of the rail 10 whose height is kept low, the workability is good.

[0088] [Method of adding a rail support member to an existing conveying device used for a floor conveyor] The existing conveying device, for example in FIGS. 1 and 2, does not have the second rail support member 2, and a number of first rail support members 1 spaced apart in the front-rear direction support the rail 10. Below the rail 10, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and FIGS. 8 and 9, there is a wide part Y whose lateral width S, U is larger than the interval T1 between the left receiving part 3A and the right receiving part 4A of the second rail support member 2 including the yoke 2A of the split structure.

[0089] Due to such structural constraints, when the yoke of the second rail support member 2 is not the split yoke 2A but an integral structure, the second rail support member 2 cannot be added to the existing conveying device. However, since the yoke 2A of the second rail support member 2 is a split structure as described above, the second rail support member 2 can be additionally installed between the first rail support members 1 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction in the existing conveying device to configure the conveying device B shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0090] Therefore, while reducing the man-hours, the second rail support member 2 can be installed between the first rail support members 1 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction, and the left receiving part 3A of the split yoke 2A supports the left rail 11 from below, and the right receiving part 4A of the split yoke 2A supports the right rail 12 from below. Thus, deformation of the rail 10 when conveying a high-weight conveyed object using the existing conveying device can be suppressed.

[0091] [Example of using the conveying device as an overhead conveyor] FIGS. 11 to 14 show an example of using the conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention as an overhead conveyor. The conveying device includes a rail 10 laid on a predetermined conveying path C and a moving body movable along the rail 10. In FIGS. 11 to 14, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 3 to 6 denote the same or corresponding components or parts, and thus detailed description is omitted.

[0092] The first rail support member 1 is composed of a yoke 1A with an integral structure and a mounting member for mounting the yoke 1A on a support structure such as an auxiliary beam installed under the ceiling of a building. Further, the second rail support member 2, which is a rail support member A that can be easily added to an existing conveying device, is composed of a split yoke 2A and a mounting member for mounting the yoke 2A on the support structure. In FIGS. 11 to 14, the support structure and the mounting member are omitted.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 12, the first rail support member 1 has an integral yoke 1A that has an opening on the lower side and is substantially inverted U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 13, the second rail support member 2 has a split yoke 2A that has an opening on the lower side and is substantially inverted U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction in an integrated state. The left split body 3 and the right split body 4 of the split yoke 2A of the second rail support member 2 are each substantially inverted L-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction, as shown in FIG. 14.

[0094] The rail 10 is located below the yoke 1A and the lower part of the split yoke 2A in an integrated state. The rail 10 and the yoke 1A are firmly fixed, for example, by welding.

[0095] Above the rail 10, there is a power rail 14. The power rail 14 has, for example, an I-shaped cross-sectional shape when viewed from the front-rear direction and guides the power chain of a power chain type driving device. Since the power rail 14 is abutted against the step portion 9A of the left split body 3 and the step portion 9B of the right split body 4, it can be positioned in the left-right direction with respect to the yoke 2A.

[0096] The left-right width R2 of the rail 10 is larger than the distance T2 between the left receiving portion 3A and the right receiving portion 4A of the yoke 2A in the state shown in FIG. 13 where the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 are connected and fixed (R2>T2).

[0097] As shown in Fig. 12, the conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention used for an overhead conveyor supports the rail 10 by the first rail support member 1. From the state where the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 as shown in Fig. 14 are separated, by connecting and fixing the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 as shown in Fig. 13, as shown in Fig. 11, the second rail support member 2 is installed between the first rail support members 1 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction.

[0098] With the yoke 2A having the left receiving portion 3A and the right receiving portion 4A, as shown in Fig. 13, the positioning in the height direction of the rail 10 can be performed while the rail 10 is supported by the yoke 2A.

[0099] The left rail 11 is bolted to the left split body 3 by the left pressing member 5, and the right rail 12 is bolted to the right split body 4 by the right pressing member 6.

[0100] Therefore, compared with the case of fixing the second rail support member 2 to the rail 10 by welding, the working man-hours can be significantly reduced. In particular, when the conveying device is installed in a painting factory that handles paint, since welding inside the building is prohibited, the effect of reducing the working man-hours becomes greater. That is, when fixing the second rail support member 2 to the rail 10 installed in the painting factory by welding, it is necessary to remove the rail 10 and perform the welding work outside the building.

[0101] In addition, since the left receiving portion 3A integrated with the left split body 3 supports the left rail 11 from below, and the right receiving portion 4A integrated with the right split body 4 supports the right rail 12 from below, the second rail support member 2 can stably and surely receive the load received by the rail 10 that guides the moving body of the conveying device, and the reference height Q of the rail 10 shown in Fig. 13 can be maintained at the lower surface of the rail 10.

[0102] [Method for Adding a Rail Support Member to an Existing Conveying Device Used for an Overhead Conveyor] The support member that supports the rail 10 in the existing conveying device used for the overhead conveyor, as shown in FIG. 11 for example, is one in which the second rail support member 2 is eliminated, and a number of first rail support members 1 spaced apart in the front - rear direction support the rail 10. Below the rail 10, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, there is a rail 10 whose lateral width R2 is larger than the interval T2 between the left receiving portion 3A and the right receiving portion 4A of the second rail support member 2 including the split - structure yoke 2A.

[0103] Due to such structural constraints, when the yoke of the second rail support member 2 has an integral structure instead of the split - structure yoke 2A, the second rail support member 2 cannot be added to the existing conveying device. However, since the yoke 2A of the second rail support member 2 has a split structure as described above, the second rail support member 2 can be additionally installed between the first rail support members 1 adjacent to each other in the front - rear direction in the existing conveying device.

[0104] Therefore, while reducing the man - hours of work, the second rail support member 2 can be installed between the first rail support members 1 adjacent to each other in the front - rear direction. Also, since the left receiving portion 3A of the split - structure yoke 2A supports the left rail 11 from below and the right receiving portion 4A of the split - structure yoke 2A supports the right rail 12 from below, deformation of the rail 10 when conveying a high - weight conveyed object using the existing conveying device can be suppressed.

[0105] [Shape of the left split body and the right split body] The shapes of the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 shown in FIG. 6 are the same. Also, the shapes of the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 shown in FIG. 10 are the same. Furthermore, the shapes of the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 shown in FIG. 14 are the same. Therefore, the left split body 3 and the right split body 4 are interchangeable, and parts can be made common, so the manufacturing cost and the parts management cost can be reduced.

[0106] [Shape of the left pressing member and the right pressing member] The shapes of the left pressing member 5 and the right pressing member 6 shown in FIGS. 6 and 10 are the same. Also, the shapes of the left pressing member 5 and the right pressing member 6 shown in FIG. 14 are the same. Therefore, the left pressing member 5 and the right pressing member 6 are interchangeable, and the parts can be made common, so the manufacturing cost and the parts management cost can be reduced.

[0107] The descriptions of the above embodiments are all illustrative and not restrictive. Various improvements and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0108] 1 First rail support member 1A Yoke of integral structure 1B Left receiving portion 1C Right receiving portion 1D Flange portion 1E Threaded hole 2 Second rail support member 2A Yoke of split structure 3 Left split body 3A Left receiving portion 3B Nut engaging portion 3C Notch 3D Flange portion 3E Threaded hole 3F Through hole 4 Right split body 4A Right receiving portion 4B Nut engaging portion 4C Notch 4D Flange portion 4E Threaded hole 4F Through hole 5 Left pressing member 5A Through hole 5B Notch 6 Right pressing member 6A Through hole 6B Notch 7A, 7B Nuts 8A, 8B Bolts 9A, 9B Step portions 10 Rail 11 Left rail 11A Upper flange portion 11B Lower flange portion 11C Upward bending edge portion 12 Right rail 12A Upper flange portion 12B Lower flange portion 12C Upward bending edge portion 13, 14 Power rails 15 Cable support member 16 Oil receiver 17 Left side plate material 18 Right side plate material 19 Lower angle member 20 Moving body 21 Front trolley 22 Front trolley 23 Rear trolley 24 Rear-end trolley 25 First connecting rod 26 Second connecting rod 27 Third connecting rod 28 Carrying object support part 29 Horizontal roller 30 Vertical roller (traveling wheel) A Rail support member B Conveying device C Conveying path D Driving surface E Engagement dog F Conveying direction FT Free trolley G Floor surface H Height adjustment bolt I Nut J Anchor plate K Through hole for anchor bolt LT Load trolley M Mounting member N Anchor bolt O1 Rightward extension part O2 Leftward extension part P, Q Reference height R1, R2 Width of rail S Width of cable support member T1, T2 Distance between left receiving part and right receiving part U Width of power rail V Detachable mounting means W Carrying object Y Wide part

Claims

1. A rail support member for supporting a rail for guiding a moving body, wherein the rail is composed of a channel-shaped left rail and a right rail that guide the left and right running wheels of the moving body and have openings facing each other with a space therebetween, the rail support member includes a yoke having a split structure composed of a left split body and a right split body, the left split body and the right split body are connected and fixed to use the split structure yoke integrally, the left split body integrally has a left receiving portion that receives the lower flange portion of the left rail from below, the right split body integrally has a right receiving portion that receives the lower flange portion of the right rail from below, a rail support member.

2. a left pressing member that presses the upper flange portion of the left rail from above; and a right pressing member that presses the upper flange portion of the right rail from above, wherein the left pressing member is attached to the left split body by a detachable attachment means, and the right pressing member is attached to the right split body by a detachable attachment means, The rail support member according to claim 1.

3. The rail support member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shape of the left split body is the same as the shape of the right split body.

4. The rail support member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the left split body and the right split body are bolted together in a state of being overlapped in the front-rear direction.

5. A conveying device including a rail laid on a predetermined conveying path and a moving body movable along the rail, for use in a floor conveyor, wherein the rail is composed of a channel-shaped left rail and a right rail that guide the left and right running wheels of the moving body and have openings facing each other with a space therebetween, as a rail support member for supporting the rail, a first rail support member; and a second rail support member including a yoke having a split structure, which is the rail support member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the yoke of the first rail support member and the yoke of the split structure in an integrated state have an opening on the upper side and are substantially U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction, the rail is located above the yoke of the first rail support member and the upper part of the yoke of the split structure in an integrated state, and there is a wide part having a width in the left-right direction larger than the distance between the left receiving portion and the right receiving portion below the rail, in a state where the rail is supported by the first rail support member, ​ ​ ​ ​ From a state where the left split body and the right split body are separated, by connecting and fixing them, the second rail support member is installed between the first rail support members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. Conveyor. **Claim 6** A conveyor device including a rail laid on a predetermined conveyance path and a moving body movable along the rail, which is used for an overhead conveyor. The rail is composed of a channel-shaped left rail and a right rail that guide the left and right traveling wheels of the moving body and have openings facing each other with a space therebetween. As a rail support member for supporting the rail, A first rail support member, A second rail support member including a split yoke, which is the rail support member according to claim 1 or 2. It has, The yoke of the first rail support member and the yoke of the split structure in an integrated state have an opening on the lower side and are substantially inverted U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction. The rail is located below the yoke of the first rail support member and the lower part of the yoke of the split structure in an integrated state. In a state where the rail is supported by the first rail support member, From a state where the left split body and the right split body are separated, by connecting and fixing them, the second rail support member is installed between the first rail support members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. Conveyor. **Claim 7** A method for supporting a rail by adding a rail support member to an existing conveyor device in a conveyor device used for a floor conveyor, the conveyor device including a rail laid on a predetermined conveyance path and a moving body movable along the rail. The rail is composed of a channel-shaped left rail and a right rail that guide the left and right traveling wheels of the moving body and have openings facing each other with a space therebetween. The yoke for supporting the rail has an opening on the upper side and is substantially U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction. The rail is located above the yoke. Below the rail, there is a wide part having a width larger in the left-right direction than the distance between the left receiving part and the right receiving part of the second rail support member including a split yoke, which is the rail support member according to claim 1 or 2. A second rail support member including the split yoke is additionally installed between the first rail support members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction in the existing conveyor device. A method for supporting a rail in a conveyor device. **Claim 8** A method for supporting a rail for adding a rail support member to an existing conveying device in a conveying device used for an overhead conveyor, the conveying device including a rail laid on a predetermined conveying path and a moving body movable along the rail, The rail is composed of a left rail and a right rail in a channel shape having openings facing each other with a space therebetween, which guide the left and right traveling wheels of the moving body, The yoke supporting the rail has an opening on the lower side and is substantially inverted U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction, The rail is located below the yoke, A second rail support member including a split yoke, which is the rail support member according to claim 1 or 2, is additionally installed between the first rail support members adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction in the existing conveying device, A method for supporting a rail in a conveying device.

Images