Conveying system and conveying device

Abstract

We provide an inexpensive transport system and its transport platform that offer high flexibility in installation. [Solution] A transport system comprising a guide rail, a transport trolley that can travel guided by the guide rail, and a wire for towing the transport trolley, wherein the guide rail has a guide groove along the direction of travel of the transport trolley, a wire that travels in the same direction as the transport trolley is housed in the guide groove, and the transport trolley is connected to the wire through an opening in the guide groove.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying system and a conveying device.

Background Art

[0002] In logistics warehouses and manufacturing sites of industrial machines, various conveying systems and conveying devices are used. For example, belt conveyors and roller conveyors are typical ones. On the other hand, there are also conveyors and conveying devices that use metal linear rails (also called linear guides). For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a pallet conveying device using a linear rail (see paragraphs

[0018] and

[0019] of the specification of Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since a belt conveyor can convey a large number of parts and workpieces, it has many usage examples. However, a belt conveyor requires a driving roller for driving the belt and a housing for supporting the belt, and requires a certain amount of space. In addition, since it is heavy, it may be an excessive means for conveying lightweight objects.

[0005] On the other hand, since a linear rail runs a bearing block incorporating a large number of balls on a polished rail, it is costly and a separate support base plate is required because the rail alone cannot be laid in the air. For example, the pallet conveying device of Patent Document 1 installs a gantry, fixes a support plate on the gantry, and fixes a linear motion guide rail on the support plate, so the installation location is limited and the installation cost is high.

[0006] Furthermore, linear rails use propulsion means such as timing belts or ball screws to move the bearing blocks, which requires separate space for the propulsion means and increases costs and weight. For example, the pallet transport device described in Patent Document 1 requires the installation of a toothed belt to move the linear motion blocks equipped with roller retainers, in addition to the linear motion guide rail, which further limits the installation location and increases installation costs.

[0007] Furthermore, linear rail transport is limited to straight-line travel. In recent years, there are systems that allow for curved travel in one direction (either left or right), but none that allow for travel in both directions. Therefore, if there are obstacles on either side of the direction of travel, it is not possible to lay the linear rail in a way that avoids the obstacles. In addition, especially in the case of long-distance transport, obstacles may be present in the vertical direction, but with conventional transport systems, it is impossible to lay the rails in a way that allows for vertical curves to avoid these obstacles.

[0008] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the above-mentioned problems and to provide an inexpensive transport system and transport device with high installation flexibility. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention includes several means for solving at least part of the above problems, the following being an example. In order to solve at least part of the above problems, a transport system according to one aspect of the present invention is a transport system comprising a guide rail, a transport trolley that is guided and can travel on the guide rail, and a wire for towing the transport trolley, wherein the guide rail is provided with a guide groove along the direction of travel of the transport trolley, a wire that travels in the same direction as the transport trolley is housed in the guide groove, and the transport trolley is connected to the wire that travels through an opening in the guide groove.

[0010] The return wire, which travels in the opposite direction to the transport trolley, may be housed in a return groove of the guide rail that is aligned with the direction of travel of the transport trolley.

[0011] The guide groove may have a lateral pocket next to the opening to conceal the wire being advanced.

[0012] The transport trolley may be provided with two or more guide shafts that fit into the guide grooves, spaced apart in the direction of travel.

[0013] The guide shaft portion may include a guide shaft having an axis extending vertically and a roller rotatably attached to the guide shaft.

[0014] One or both of the pair of guide shafts may have clamps for securing the wire.

[0015] The guide shaft portion having the clamp may be rotatably mounted on the transport platform of the transport trolley.

[0016] The guide rail may have a pair of running grooves on the left and right sides that are aligned with the direction of travel of the transport trolley, and the transport trolley may have one or more pairs of running shafts on the left and right sides that fit into the running grooves.

[0017] The aforementioned travel shaft portion may include a travel shaft having an axis extending in the left-right direction, and a roller rotatably mounted on the travel shaft.

[0018] The transport trolley may have a first spring that moves one of the travel axle portions toward the transport platform side.

[0019] The transport trolley may be provided with a pair of auxiliary shafts that contact at least one of the left or right sides of the guide rail.

[0020] The transport trolley may include a guide shaft portion that fits into the guide groove, and a clamp that secures the forward wire either in front of or behind the guide shaft portion.

[0021] The transfer cart may include a pair of left and right side plates attached to the transfer table, and a set of front and rear covers attached to the pair of side plates respectively for removing foreign objects.

[0022] The guide rail may include connecting means and be configured by connecting two or more rail members.

[0023] In order to solve at least part of the above problems, a transfer device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a guide rail and a transfer cart that can travel guided by the guide rail, and the transfer cart is a transfer device that is pulled by a wire and travels. The guide rail is a guide groove along the traveling direction of the transfer cart and includes a guide groove that accommodates a traveling wire that travels in the same direction as the transfer cart among the wires, and the transfer cart is connected to the traveling wire through the opening of the guide groove.

Advantages of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a transfer system and its transfer table that are inexpensive and have a high degree of installation freedom.

[0025] [[ID=ID=19]]Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the description of the following embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] A diagram showing an example of a transfer system according to an embodiment, (A) is a plan view, and (B) is a side view. [Figure 2] A planar conceptual diagram showing an example of a transfer device according to an embodiment, (A) is an example, and (B) is another example. <ID= [Figure 3] A diagram showing an example of a guide rail, (A) is a plan view, and (B) is a cross-sectional view. [Figure 4] A diagram showing an example of a guide rail, (A) is a side view, and (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view. [Figure 5] A cross-sectional view showing an example of a transfer device according to an embodiment. [Figure 6]This is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a transport device according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a transport device according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a transport device according to one embodiment. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a side view and (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a side view, (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view, and (C) is an enlarged view of the dashed-dotted line portion of (A). [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a plan view, (B) is a side view, and (C) is a cross-sectional view. [Figure 12] This figure shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a side view and (B) is an end view. [Figure 13] This figure shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a side view, (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the axial position of the guide shaft, and (C) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the axial position of the clamp shaft. [Figure 14] This figure shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a side view, (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the axial position of the guide shaft, and (C) is an enlarged cross-sectional view along the EE line. [Figure 15] This figure shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a side view, (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the centerline position of the clamp, and (C) is a side view showing an example of a guide rail. [Figure 16] This is a conceptual diagram, a plan view, showing the guide shaft portion of an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0027] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that common components in the following embodiments may be denoted by the same reference numerals as those mentioned above, and their descriptions may be omitted. Furthermore, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc., of components, unless otherwise explicitly stated or it is clearly considered otherwise in principle, this includes components that are substantially similar or approximate in shape, etc.

[0028] In the figures of this application, X represents the front-to-back direction (longitudinal direction) (-X is forward, +X is backward), Y represents the up-and-down direction (vertical direction) (-Y is downward, +Y is upward), and Z represents the left-to-right direction (lateral direction) (-Z is left, +Z is right). Unless otherwise specified, the cross-sectional view of each conveying device is a YZ cross-sectional view observed from the -X direction, and if it includes a guide shaft or clamp shaft, it is a YZ cross-sectional view at the axis position of one or both of them. For convenience of explanation, some components are shown in perspective or in cross-section in the plan view and side view.

[0029] Figure 1 shows an example of a transport system according to one embodiment, where (A) is a plan view and (B) is a side view. The transport system 100 of this embodiment includes a transport device 1 equipped with guide rails 2 and a transport trolley 3 for carrying and transporting objects, a wire 4 for pulling the transport trolley 3, and a winding and unwinding device 5 for driving the wire 4. Preferably, the transport system 100 further includes a tension device 6 for preventing slack in the wire 4. In the illustrated example, the X direction is the transport direction, and the transport trolley 3 travels along this transport direction in the -X direction or the +X direction. In this example, the X direction is the travel direction of the transport device 1, the -X direction is the forward direction, and the +X direction is the return direction. However, this application is not limited thereto, and the travel direction can be set as appropriate according to the transport purpose, and the guide rails 2 can be laid in a straight line or a curved shape as appropriate according to the transport purpose.

[0030] The transport system 100 in this embodiment comprises a guide rail 2, a transport trolley 3, and a wire 4. The guide rail 2 is provided with a guide groove 21 that runs in the direction of travel of the transport trolley 3, and a forward wire 41 of the wire 4 that travels in the same direction as the transport trolley 3 is housed in the guide groove 21. The transport trolley 3 is connected to the forward wire 41 through an opening in the guide groove 21.

[0031] In this embodiment of the transport system 100, preferably, not only the forward wire 41 but also the return wire 42 of the wire 4 that travels in the opposite direction to the transport trolley 3 is housed in a return groove of the guide rail 2 that is aligned with the travel direction of the transport trolley 3. The return groove may also serve as the guide groove 21, or preferably, a separate groove aligned with the travel direction is used in addition to the guide groove 21. In the illustrated example, the central groove (see central groove 24 in Figure 3 described later) provided in the center of the guide rail 2 serves as the return groove.

[0032] In this embodiment of the transport system 100 and transport device 1, the wire 4 for towing (propelling) the transport trolley 3 passes inside the guide rail 2, eliminating the need to prepare a separate location and means for propulsion in addition to the guide rail 2. This allows for greater flexibility in installation and reduces costs. Furthermore, by passing the wire 4 inside the guide rail 2, it is prevented from being exposed to the outside of the transport device 1, from touching and getting entangled with surrounding objects, or from touching and harming workers, thus preventing damage to the wire 4. In addition, the device can be made lighter by having a hollow section such as a guide groove 21 in the guide rail 2.

[0033] The wire 4 is, for example, made by bundling thin strands of wire. Materials such as iron, stainless steel, or high-strength fibers can be used for the wire 4. Preferably, the wire 4 has a coating layer on its surface to prevent wear. Compared to timing belts and conveyor belts, the wire 4 has an overwhelmingly smaller cross-sectional area under the same load conditions, for example, the tensile load per unit area is more than five times greater. The wire 4 has a high degree of freedom of bending in the left-right and up-down directions, and because of its small cross-sectional area (circular cross-section), it can be easily placed inside the guide rail 2. Since the wire 4 is easy to manufacture in long lengths, it is suitable for long-distance transport. By using the wire 4 in this embodiment of the transport system 100, a transport system that is inexpensive, lightweight, and offers a high degree of installation flexibility can be constructed in combination with the transport device 1.

[0034] The winding and unwinding device 5, which is the driving means for the wire 4, includes a rotor (drum) 51, a pulley 52, a drive shaft 53, a motor 54, and a coupling 55 that connects the drive shaft 53 and the output shaft of the motor 54. The wire 4 is wrapped between the rotor 51 and the pulley 52, and except for the portion that is wound and unwound, it is wound around the outer surface of the rotor 51. The winding and unwinding device 5 rotates the rotor 51 with the motor 54 to wind and unwind the wire 4, thereby moving the transport trolley 3 connected to the wire 4. The rotor 51 rotates integrally with the drive shaft 53 and can move parallel to the left and right relative to the drive shaft 53. The portion of the wire 4 that is wound and unwound moves parallel to the drive shaft 53 by the amount of one winding pitch of the wire 4 when the rotor 51 rotates once by a feed screw mechanism (not shown), so that its position in the left and right direction does not change.

[0035] Of the portion of the wire 4 that is routed between the rotor 51 and the pulley 52, as shown in Figure 1(B), when the rotor 51 is rotated counterclockwise, the forward wire 41 on the transport trolley 3 side (upper side in the figure) is wound onto the rotor 51 and moves in the direction of travel, while the return wire 42 on the opposite side of the transport trolley 3 (lower side in the figure) is unwound from the rotor 51 and returns in the opposite direction of travel. The forward wire 41 is connected to the transport trolley 3 within the guide groove 21, and the return wire 42 passes through the guide rail 2. If the rotor 51 is rotated clockwise, the forward wire 41 moves in the opposite direction, and the transport trolley 3 also moves in the opposite direction. In this way, the transport trolley 3 can move back and forth by being pulled by the wire 4.

[0036] The distance between the forward wire 41 and the return wire 42 (vertical distance in the illustration) is smaller than the normal vertical width of the guide rail 2, which is 30 mm to 80 mm, because the wire 4 is passed inside the guide rail 2. Therefore, it is preferable to provide height adjustment rollers 561 and 562 to widen the distance and allow it to be placed on the rotor 51.

[0037] The tension device 6, which is a means of preventing slack in the wire 4, may, for example, include a pulley 621 and a weight 622, and act directly on the wire 4 to maintain tension. The tension device 6 may also include a spring 623 or a cylinder 624, and act on the pulley 52 on the opposite side of the rotor 51 to maintain tension.

[0038] The conveying system 100 and conveying device 1 of this embodiment can provide a conveying means that can be adapted to situations that are difficult to handle with conventional conveying devices and conveying systems, and is suitable for conveying lightweight objects (hereinafter also referred to as "light objects") (for example, 10 kg or less) at low to medium speeds (conveying speed of, for example, 2 m / s or less). Of course, by improving the performance of each component constituting the system, such as strength and rigidity, it can also handle heavier objects and high speeds.

[0039] Figure 2 is a conceptual plan view showing an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is one example and (B) is another example. In the conveying device 1, the conveying trolley 3 travels directly on the guide rails 2. The conveying device 1 does not have rail deflection prevention means such as a base plate, and the guide rails 2 themselves also serve as beams to support the entire device.

[0040] The guide rail 2 has a guide groove 21 approximately in the lateral direction centered along the direction of travel of the transport trolley 3. The guide groove 21 is a bottomed groove with depth in the vertical direction and an opening 211 at the top. The guide groove 21 may also be a bottomed groove with depth in the vertical direction and an opening at the bottom, as in the example described later. The guide rail 2 may be straight for straight travel as in Figure 2(A), or curved for curves as in Figure 2(B). In either case, the width W1 of the opening 211 of the guide groove 21 is approximately uniform over the entire length of the rail. The transport trolley 3 can travel guided by the guide rail 2, more specifically by the guide groove 21.

[0041] The transport trolley 3 is equipped with a transport platform 30 for carrying and transporting objects, and can travel along the guide rail 2 along the guide groove 21; however, its configuration is not particularly limited. Preferably, the transport trolley 3 is equipped with a guide shaft portion 31 that fits into the guide groove 21 and has an axis extending in the vertical direction. One end of the guide shaft portion 31 is attached to the transport platform 30. There may be one guide shaft portion 31 or three or more, but two or more are preferred from the viewpoint of limiting the horizontal rotation of the transport platform 30. There may be three or more guide shaft portions 31, but in the case of a curved guide rail 2 as shown in Figure 2(b), for example, one set (two) is provided spaced apart in the direction of travel from the viewpoint of smooth travel. The diameter of the part of the guide shaft portion 31 that fits into the opening 211 of the guide groove 21 is less than or equal to the width W1 of the opening 211, and when the wire 4 is pulled, it can slide or roll in contact with the wall surface of the opening 211.

[0042] The guide rail 2 is not particularly limited, but preferably has a pair of running grooves 22 on the left and right sides that are aligned with the direction of travel of the transport trolley 3. The left running groove 22 is a bottomed groove with depth in the left-right direction and an opening to the left, and the right running groove 22 is a bottomed groove with depth in the left-right direction and an opening to the right. In both the case of straight and curved running grooves 22, the depth V1 of the opening and the maximum depth V2 are substantially uniform throughout the entire rail.

[0043] The transport trolley 3 is provided with one or more pairs of traveling shafts 32 on the left and right sides, preferably fitted into the traveling grooves 22 and having axes extending in the left-right direction. The transport trolley 3 is provided with one pair of left and right side plates 35 (see Figure 1) attached to the transport platform 30, and one or more pairs of traveling shafts 32 are attached to each pair of side plates 35. The traveling shafts 32 are attached perpendicular to the guide shafts 31 in a manner that they are inserted into the traveling grooves 22, and by restricting vertical movement, the transport trolley 3 can travel stably. One pair of traveling shafts 32 may be provided, or three or more pairs may be provided, for example, two pairs may be provided front and back with a gap in the direction of travel. The traveling shafts 32 may not be provided in pairs, but rather one side (left or right) may have many and the other side may have few. The travel shaft portion 32 has a diameter such that the part that fits into the opening of the travel groove 22 is less than or equal to the vertical width of the opening, and when the wire 4 is pulled, it can slide or roll in contact with the wall surface of the opening.

[0044] Figure 3 shows an example of a guide rail, where (A) is a plan view and (B) is a cross-sectional view. The guide rail 2 is a long member with a uniform cross-sectional shape along its entire length. The guide rail 2 only needs to have a guide groove 21 and a running groove 22, and its specific shape is not particularly limited. In the illustrated example, the guide rail 2 has a guide groove 21 that guides the movement of the transport trolley 3 approximately in the center of its width, and a running groove 22 that supports the transport trolley 3 approximately in the center of its height. In the illustrated example, the guide rail 2 does not have the guide groove 21 and the running groove 22 communicating with each other, nor do the left and right running grooves 22 communicate with each other. In the illustrated example, the guide rail 2 has a central groove 24 approximately in the center that does not open in any direction (up, down, left, or right), and a connecting groove 23 at the bottom. It is permissible for parts of the guide rail 2 to have holes for weight reduction, such as holes for mounting bolts, etc., that connect to each other.

[0045] The guide rail 2 has solid separation sections that separate each of the grooves described above. In cross-sectional view, the separation section has a central portion, extensions that radiate from each of the four corners of the central portion, and four corner portions 25 that connect to the ends of the four extensions. The four corner portions 25 may have cavities that penetrate the direction of travel, as shown in the illustrated example. One pair of upper corner portions 25 have an upper surface 201 and a side surface 202, and one pair of lower corner portions 25 have a side surface 202 and a lower surface 203.

[0046] The guide rail 2 is composed of an extruded product (rail member) manufactured by extrusion molding (a molding method in which heated raw material is pressurized and passed through a mold to obtain a long, continuous product with a constant cross-sectional shape). Because the guide rail 2 is formed by extrusion molding, the cavities of each groove can be easily formed. For example, aluminum, iron-based materials, plastics, etc. can be used for the guide rail 2. The guide rail 2 may have a low-friction surface treatment applied to some or all of the grooves.

[0047] As mentioned above, linear rails are very expensive because they are manufactured by grinding and polishing iron or stainless steel. Linear rails require means to prevent rail deflection, such as base plates, and also require a separate location and means of installation for propulsion means to run transport platforms or transport trolleys on them.

[0048] In contrast, the conveying device 1 of this embodiment uses extruded products for the guide rails 2, making it easy and inexpensive to construct even for long lengths. Because the guide rails 2 are made of extruded products, they offer a high degree of freedom in cross-sectional shape, high rigidity, and a large second moment of area despite being lightweight. In the conveying device 1 of this embodiment, the guide rails 2 themselves can also serve as beams, eliminating the need for further rail deflection prevention means such as base plates. Therefore, even for long-distance conveying, it can be installed with simple installation methods, resulting in low installation costs and high installation flexibility.

[0049] The aforementioned linear rails are limited to either rightward or leftward curve travel, and cannot travel on vertical curves. In contrast, the transport device 1 of this embodiment is constructed from an extruded product in which the guide rail 2 is straightened and then easily finished into a predetermined curved shape through post-processing. This allows for inexpensive and easy construction of a device that can travel on curves in both leftward and rightward directions, as well as vertical curves.

[0050] The transport system 100 and transport device 1 in this embodiment can transport parts, workpieces, or other objects. The transport system 100 and transport device 1 in this embodiment are particularly suitable for long-distance transport of lightweight objects because the guide rail 2 is lightweight yet has a large two-dimensional moment of cross-section, allowing for a compact overall configuration. For example, a camera can be mounted and transported over long distances, enabling wide-area monitoring with a single camera. Furthermore, since the wire 4 passes inside the guide rail 2, support means such as rollers are unnecessary for long-distance transport, eliminating the need for such support and allowing for simple installation in farms, ranches, etc. For example, for large-scale farms or monitoring livestock, where periodic observation is sufficient, a single unit can cover a wide area without the need for numerous cameras. Additionally, by mounting a temperature monitoring camera on the transport cart 3 and moving it, temperature changes can be monitored over a wide area, such as in a factory, which can be useful for disaster prevention.

[0051] The transport device 1 has an object mounted on a transport platform 30 according to its transport purpose, such as an image camera or a thermal camera for temperature sensing. Camera data (video data, temperature data, etc.) is transmitted wirelessly to a data management unit such as a management unit or control unit. The camera is powered by a battery, but if the battery capacity decreases, power is supplied to the camera by contact or non-contact means at the home position of the transport system 100 or the transport device 1. Therefore, in either case, no wire cable is required for camera data communication or power supply. In this way, this configuration frees the user from the construction of signal and power supply means, which are weaknesses in transport devices intended for transporting cameras, thus enabling long-distance transport.

[0052] Figure 4 shows an example of a guide rail, where (A) is a side view and (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view. The guide rail 2 may be composed of a single extruded product (rail member), or it may be composed of two or more extruded products (rail members) connected together with connecting means. For example, as shown in the illustrated example, by using a cross-sectionally U-shaped connecting member 291 and fastening it from below with a fixing screw 292 and a nut 293 incorporated in the connecting groove 23, the molded products can be easily connected so that they are joined (continuous) in the longitudinal direction. The nut 293 has a two-stage shape with different diameters to match the shape of the connecting groove 23. In addition, by placing a plate 294 lower between the connecting member 291 and the side of the extruded product and pressing it from the side with a pressing screw 295, the gap in the connected part can be easily adjusted and the connected part can be reinforced. The extruded products that make up the guide rail 2 can be easily manufactured in long lengths (e.g., 4m), but even when the transport distance exceeds the length that can be manufactured, this simple connecting means can be used to accommodate it.

[0053] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment. The conveying device will be described in more detail below. In the following description, the side of the guide rail 2 closer to the center of the cross-section will be referred to as the inside (inward), and the opposite side will be referred to as the outside (outward).

[0054] The transport trolley 3 has a transport platform 30 and a left side plate 35 and a right side plate 35 attached to the transport platform 30 by bolts or the like (or adhesive, etc.). The side plates 35 may be integrally molded with the transport platform 30. A mounting member 301 for attaching the guide shaft portion 31 is attached to the transport platform 30 by bolts or the like (or adhesive, etc.).

[0055] The guide shaft portion 31 includes a guide shaft 311 having an axis 310 extending in the vertical direction, a bearing 315 mounted on one end (upper end) of the guide shaft 311, a clamp 313 provided on the other end (lower end) of the guide shaft 311 to secure the forward wire 41, and a roller 312 rotatably mounted on the middle part of the guide shaft 311. The diameter of the roller 312 is smaller than the width of the opening of the guide groove 21. The upper end of the guide shaft 311 is assembled to the receiving hole of the mounting member 301 via the bearing 315, and is fixed to the inner ring of the bearing 315 with a bolt at the upper end surface.

[0056] When the guide shaft 31 is pulled by the wire 4, the roller 312 in the middle rotates while fitting into the opening of the guide groove 21. The transport trolley 3 in this example is equipped with a set of guide shafts 31 having rollers 312, so that it can move along the guide groove 21 without meandering. The rollers 312 are made of wear-resistant plastic, rubber, metal, etc. (the same applies to each roller below). The guide shaft 31 may be constructed by making the guide shaft 311 from a wear-resistant material and omitting the rollers 312, but by including the rollers 312, a guide shaft can be constructed that provides smoother guidance with less wear.

[0057] The guide shaft portion 31 has a clamp 313 at its lower end located deep within the guide groove 21, beyond the opening. The clamp 313 comprises a body made of a dense metal block having a wire hole and a retaining hole, and a retaining member 314. The wire hole is a through-hole with a nearly circular, arc-shaped cross-section that penetrates in the direction of travel, and in this example, it lies on the axis of the guide shaft 311 in cross-sectional view. The diameter of the wire hole corresponds to the diameter of the wire 4, and it is designed to accommodate the wire 4 just. The retaining hole is a screw hole that communicates with the wire hole from the side and has an internal thread on its circumferential surface. The moving wire 41 is passed through the wire hole, and the retaining member (grub screw, etc.) 314 screws into the retaining hole and presses against it from the side, thereby locking it to the transport trolley 3. The clamp 313 may be formed integrally with the guide shaft 311, or it may be formed separately and fixed in a way that prevents disassembly, or it may be detachable to improve the ease of assembly and disassembly. The clamp 313 may be provided on only one of the pair of guide shafts 31, but it is preferable that it be provided on both.

[0058] In this example, the guide shaft 31 fits into the guide groove 21 to guide the wire in the direction of travel, and also acts as a wire clamp to pull the transport trolley 3 by securing the wire 41 at the back of the guide groove 21. In other words, in this example, the guide shaft 31 also serves as the clamp shaft 33. Thus, in this example, the wire 41 is secured and housed at the back of the guide groove 21 of the guide rail 2 by the guide shaft 31, so the wire 41 does not get caught on or come into contact with external obstacles. Furthermore, in this example, the return wire 42 is passed through and housed inside the central groove 24, which serves as the return groove, so it does not get caught on or come into contact with obstacles, and no support means to support it from below is required.

[0059] The upper end of the guide shaft 31 is attached to the transport platform 30 via a bearing 315 and can rotate around the axis 310, so that when the transport trolley 3 moves in a straight line or curved direction, the wire 41 also bends to follow the curve. As a result, the guide shaft 311 and the clamp 313 at the bottom rotate slightly in the direction of the curve when passing through a curve to follow the direction of travel, allowing for smoother towing, reducing fatigue (bending stress) of the wire 41 due to repeated bending, and preventing a reduction in the wire's lifespan.

[0060] The running shaft section 32 includes a running shaft 321 having an axis 320 extending in the left-right direction, and a roller 322 rotatably mounted on the inner end of the running shaft 321. The diameter of the roller 322 is smaller than the vertical width of the opening of the running groove 22. The outer end of the running shaft section 321 is attached to the side plate 35 with bolts or the like. The running shaft 321 may be fixed to the side plate 35 by press-fitting or adhesive. The roller 322 is attached to the running shaft 321 via a bearing 323 from the viewpoint of further reducing rotational friction.

[0061] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment. The conveying device 1 in this example differs from the example in Figure 5 in that the guide shaft 311 of the guide shaft portion 31 is directly attached to the mounting member 301 without using a bearing. The conveying device 1 may be configured in this way from the viewpoint of cost reduction.

[0062] Furthermore, the conveying device 1 in this example differs from the example in Figure 5 in that, from the viewpoint of cost reduction, the rollers 322 of the travel shaft 32 are rotatably attached directly to the travel shaft 321 without bearings. In this example, the travel shaft 321 also serves as a bearing, but in order to reduce friction with the travel shaft 321, the rollers 322 are preferably made of a low-friction material.

[0063] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment. The conveying device 1 in this example differs from the above example in that it is equipped with a guide rail 2 that has a vertically elongated shape in cross-section. In the above example, the guide rail 2 can only be installed on its bottom surface. On the other hand, the guide rail 2 in this example has a separation portion, where the above-mentioned central portion is the upper central portion, and further, the lower central portion is also included. Of the extensions that radiate from the four corners of the lower central portion, the upper extensions connect with the lower extensions of the upper central portion to form a side surface, and the lower extensions connect with the two lower corners 25. The guide rail 2 in this example also has connecting grooves 23 on both sides of the lower central portion, so that not only the bottom surface but also the lower side surface can be used for installation. The lower central portion has a lower central groove 26 that runs in the direction of travel, and a return wire 42 may pass through its interior as a return groove. The guide rail 2 may be made lighter by having a cavity 27 between the extensions that connect to the side surface. Guide rail 2 can thus easily accommodate the required rigidity and installation requirements by lengthening its cross-sectional shape.

[0064] Furthermore, the conveying device 1 in this example differs from the above example in that it has a pair of left and right auxiliary shaft portions 34 that contact the left and right sides of the guide rail 2. The auxiliary shaft portion 34 has an auxiliary shaft 341 having an axis 340 that extends vertically parallel to the guide shaft 311, and a roller 342 that is rotatably attached to the lower end of the auxiliary shaft 341. The auxiliary shaft portion 34 is attached to the conveying platform 30 such that the roller 342 contacts the upper side of the guide rail 2. The auxiliary shaft portion 34 contacts at least one side of the guide rail 2, thereby reducing lateral movement in the left-right direction when the conveying trolley 3 is traveling. The auxiliary shaft portion 34 may also be configured without rollers 342, with the auxiliary shaft 341 directly contacting the side of the guide rail 2, but friction can be reduced by having rotatable rollers 342. The rollers 342 may be attached to the auxiliary shaft 341 via bearings to further reduce friction with the auxiliary shaft 341.

[0065] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment. The conveying device 1 in this example differs from the above example in that the guide groove 21 of the guide rail 2 is located at the bottom, and the conveying table 30 is assembled below the guide rail 2. In this example, the downward advancing wire 41 is housed in the downward guide groove 21, and the upward return wire 42 is housed in the central groove 24, which serves as the return groove. That is, in the conveying system 100 of this example, the wire 4 is wound and unwound in the opposite direction to the example in Figure 1.

[0066] The guide rail 2 in this example differs from the above example in that the upper corners 25 are connected, forming a continuous upper surface without an opening. This configuration prevents foreign matter such as dust from entering the guide rail 2 from above. The return wire 42 may be routed through the upper groove 28 between the upper corners 25, which serves as the return groove, and housed inside it.

[0067] The guide groove 21 in this example differs from the above example in that it has a lateral pocket 212 that conceals the wire 41 being routed, positioned laterally from the opening, and the clamp 313 is provided laterally from the guide shaft 311 and positioned within the lateral pocket 212. As a result, even when the wire 41 is housed in the guide groove 21 which has an opening at the bottom, it is housed in the lateral pocket 212 and the bottom is blocked, preventing the wire 41 from escaping downwards through the opening due to its own weight.

[0068] Figure 9 shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a side view and (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view. The conveying device 1 in this example differs from the above example in that the guide rail 2 has upper and lower curves.

[0069] In this example, the guide groove 21 is located at the top and its opening is also at the top. However, it differs from the above example in that it has a lateral pocket 212 that conceals the wire 41, positioned laterally from the opening, and the clamp 313 is positioned laterally from the guide shaft 311 and is located inside the lateral pocket 212. This allows the wire 41 to be housed in the lateral pocket 212 and its upward movement blocked, thereby preventing the wire 41 from escaping upward through the opening of the guide groove 21 when the transport trolley 3 travels up and down curves, especially in valley curves with large height differences.

[0070] Figure 10 shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a side view, (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view, and (C) is an enlarged view of the dashed-dotted line portion of (A). This example differs from the above example in that the conveying trolley 3 has a first spring 361 that moves one of the traveling axle portions 32 toward the conveying table 30. In the illustrated example, the first spring 361 is a tension spring, with one end attached to the conveying table 30 and the other end attached to the traveling axle 321 of the traveling axle portion 32. In this example, in the front-rear direction, the left traveling axle portion 32 is positioned approximately the same as the guide shaft portion 31, and the right traveling axle portion 32 to which the first spring 361 is attached is positioned at a distance from the guide shaft portion 31, and is positioned between a pair of guide shaft portions 31, but both may be positioned approximately the same.

[0071] In this example, the left-side running shaft 32 has an outer end of the running shaft 321 with a diameter approximately equal to the mounting hole of the left-side plate 35, resulting in no play. The diameter of the roller 322 is t1 smaller than the width of the opening of the running groove 22, and it is mounted close to the lower surface 222 of the running groove 22. The right-side running shaft 32 has an outer end of the running shaft 321 with a diameter smaller than the mounting hole of the right-side plate 35, resulting in play. The diameter of the roller 322 is t2 smaller than the width of the opening of the running groove 22. The other end of the first spring 361 is attached to the middle of the right-side running shaft 321, and its elastic force pulls the right-side running shaft 32 towards the conveyor table 30, pressing the roller 322 against the upper surface 221 of the running groove 22. The conveying device 1 may be configured symmetrically with respect to the illustrated example.

[0072] In this example, the transport trolley 3 can absorb vertical wobble (up and down play) of the transport trolley 3 caused by errors in the groove width of the travel groove 22 by positioning one of the rollers 322 of the pair of travel shafts 32 that receive the load towards the lower surface 222 of the travel groove 22 and pressing the other roller against the upper surface 221 with the first spring 361.

[0073] Figure 16 is a conceptual plan view showing a guide shaft portion of an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment. In this example, the conveying trolley 3 is equipped with a pair of guide shaft portions 31, for example, one pair of guide shaft portions 31 at the front and one pair of guide shaft portions 31 at the rear. Of the pair of guide shaft portions 31 at the front, the diameter of one roller 312 is t3 smaller than the width of the opening 211 of the guide groove 21 and is positioned towards the right side of the opening 211, while the diameter of the other roller 312 is t4 smaller than the width of the opening 211 of the guide groove 21 and is positioned towards the left side of the opening 211. The pair of guide shaft portions 31 at the rear are configured similarly. In this example, the transport trolley 3, by shifting the axial positions of one pair of guide shafts to the left and right in the pair of guide shaft portions 31, and by bringing the pair of rollers 312 closer to the left and right surfaces of the guide groove 21, the trolley as a whole makes close contact with the left and right groove surfaces of the guide groove 21, absorbing the wobble (play) caused by errors in the groove width of the guide groove 21, and improving the running accuracy. Note that each example of this application, including this example, may be combined as long as it does not contradict the spirit of the present invention. For example, by combining this example with the example in Figure 10, the transport trolley 3 can absorb vertical and horizontal wobble caused by errors in the groove width of the guide groove 21 and the running groove 22, and further improve the running accuracy.

[0074] Figure 11 shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a plan view, (B) is a side view, and (C) is a cross-sectional view. This example differs from the above example in that the conveying trolley 3 has a second spring 362 that moves the auxiliary shaft portion 34 towards the side of the guide rail 2. In the illustrated example, the second spring 362 is a compression spring, with one end attached to the side plate 35 and the other end attached to the auxiliary shaft 341 of the auxiliary shaft portion 34. The second spring 362 may be provided on only one side, as shown in Figure 11(C), or on both sides, as shown in Figure 11(A). In this example, by providing the second spring 362 on the auxiliary shaft portion 34, the elastic force moves the auxiliary shaft portion 34 towards the guide rail 2, pressing the roller 342 against the side of the guide rail 2, thereby absorbing the lateral wobble (left-right play) during travel caused by errors in the width of the conveying trolley 3, and enabling more stable travel. The transport device 1 may be configured symmetrically to the illustrated example. In this example, the auxiliary shaft portion 34 is positioned at a distance from the guide shaft portion 31 in the front-rear direction, between a pair of guide shaft portions 31, but they may be positioned at approximately the same location.

[0075] Figure 12 shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a side view and (B) is an end view (front view). This example differs from the above example in that the conveying trolley 3 is equipped with a front and rear set of covers 38 attached to a pair of side plates 35. The covers 38 are made of materials such as rubber, felt, or plastic. The covers 38 are attached to the side plates 35 by, for example, screws or adhesive. The covers 38 have one or both of a tongue portion 381 that enters the guide groove 21 and a tongue portion 382 that enters the running groove 22, and can sweep out and remove foreign matter such as dust that has entered the groove. If foreign matter such as dust adheres to the guide groove 21 or running groove 22 of the guide rail 2, it may get stuck between the guide shaft portion 31 and the running shaft portion 32 of the conveying trolley 3 and cause problems with its movement, and in this example, this can be prevented by providing the covers 38.

[0076] Figure 13 shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a side view, (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the axial position of the guide shaft, and (C) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the axial position of the clamp shaft. This example differs from the above example in that the guide shaft 31 does not have a clamp, but is provided with a clamp to secure the forward wire 41 in front of or behind the guide shaft 31. The clamp only needs to connect the forward wire 41 to the conveying trolley 3 and secure it in the guide groove 21, and its configuration is not particularly limited. The conveying trolley 3 in this example differs from the above example in that it is provided with a clamp shaft 33 having a clamp 332 at its lower end. The clamp shaft 33 may be provided one between a pair of guide shafts 31 in the front-rear direction, or one pair may be provided. The pair of clamp shafts 33 may be provided alternately with the pair of guide shafts 31, or one may be provided in front and the other in rear.

[0077] The clamp shaft portion 33 has a clamp shaft 331 having an axis 330 extending in the vertical direction, and a clamp 332 provided at the lower end of the clamp shaft 331. The clamp 332 has a dense block-shaped body, a clamping plate 333, and a bolt 334. The forward wire 41 is clamped between the clamp body and the clamping plate 333 and secured by fastening with the bolt 334. This simplifies the structure of the guide shaft portion 31 in this example. This example is suitable for a transport trolley 3 mainly used for straight-line movement.

[0078] Figure 14 shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a side view, (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the axial position of the guide shaft, and (C) is an enlarged cross-sectional view along line EE. This example differs from the above example in that the guide shaft 31 does not have a clamp, but is equipped with a clamp that secures the forward wire 41 in front of or behind the guide shaft 31. The clamp only needs to connect the forward wire 41 to the conveying trolley 3 and secure it in the guide groove 21, and its configuration is not particularly limited. The clamp 37 is directly attached to the conveying table 30 with bolts or the like.

[0079] In this example, a pair of clamps 37 are provided in the direction of travel, one of which is positioned in front of a pair of guide shafts 31 or one guide shaft 31, and the other is positioned behind it. As an example, as shown in the figure, the clamp 37 has a dense block-shaped body 371 and a pair of clamping members 372. In this example, the wire 41 is divided, with one end being pushed down into the back of the guide groove 21 by the body 371 of the front clamp 37, then lifted on the back and clamped and fixed by the pair of clamping members 372, and the other end being pushed down into the back of the guide groove 21 by the body 371 of the rear clamp 37, then lifted on the back and clamped and fixed by the pair of clamping members 372. As an example, the clamp 37 has a dense block-shaped body 371, and the wire 41 is directly clamped by the body 371 of the clamp within the opening of the guide groove 21. In this example, this configuration simplifies the structure of the guide shaft 31. The guide shaft portion 31 may be directly attached to the transport platform 30 without using the mounting member 301, as shown in the figure. This example is suitable for a transport cart 3 that is mainly used for straight-line movement.

[0080] Figure 15 shows an example of a conveying device according to one embodiment, where (A) is a side view, (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the centerline position of the clamp, and (C) is a side view showing an example of a guide rail. This example differs from the above example in that the guide shaft portion 31 does not have a clamp, and a pair of clamps are provided between a pair of guide shaft portions 31. The clamp 37 in this example is directly attached to the conveying table 30 with bolts or the like.

[0081] As an example, as shown in Figures 15(A) and 15(B), the clamp 37 comprises a main body 375 formed of a dense metal block having a wire hole and a fastening hole, and a fastening member 376. The wire hole is a through hole with an arc-shaped cross-section that penetrates in the direction of travel, and in this example, it is located on the center line 370 extending vertically in a cross-sectional view of the clamp 37. The wire hole is designed to accommodate the wire 4. The fastening hole is a screw hole that communicates with the wire hole from above and has an internal thread on its circumferential surface. The transport platform 30 has a through hole for passing the fastening member 376 through. The forward wire 41 is passed through the wire hole, and the fastening member (screw, etc.) 376 screws into the fastening hole and presses down from above, thereby locking it to the transport trolley 3. That is, the forward wire 41 is locked to the transport trolley 3 when the fastening member 376 is tightened, and can be released when the fastening member 376 is loosened. This configuration allows for the fixing and release of the wire 4 from the transport trolley 3 from above when replacing the wire 4, thereby improving the efficiency of maintenance.

[0082] As shown in Figure 15(C), the guide rail 2 may have notches 229 for shifting the running axle portion 32 upward and removing the transport trolley 3 from the guide rail 2. The notches 229 communicate with the running groove 22 and cut out to the upper surface of the guide rail 2, and are provided at least as many as the number of running axle portions 32. By configuring the guide rail 2 in this way, the transport trolley 3 can be removed not only from the ends of the guide rail 2 but also from above, improving the workability of maintenance.

[0083] Although embodiments and variations of the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples of the present invention and are not limited thereto. The present invention includes combinations of the above embodiments and their variations, as well as various further variations. Various additions, modifications, and partial deletions are possible without departing from the conceptual idea and spirit of the present invention derived from the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 100...Conveying system, 1...Conveying device, 2...Guide rail, 21...Guide groove, 22...Travel groove, 23...Connecting groove, 24...Central groove, 3...Conveying trolley, 30...Conveying platform, 31...Guide shaft section, 32...Travel shaft section, 33...Clamping shaft section, 34...Auxiliary shaft section, 35...Side plate, 361...First spring, 362...Second spring, 4...Wire, 41...Forward wire, 42...Return wire, 5...Winding and unwinding device, 51...Rotor, 52...Pulley, 53...Drive shaft, 54...Motor, 6...Tensioning device.

Claims

1. A transport system comprising a guide rail, a transport trolley that can travel guided by the guide rail, and a wire for towing the transport trolley, The guide rail is provided with a guide groove aligned with the direction of travel of the transport trolley, Of the aforementioned wires, the wires that move in the same direction as the transport trolley are housed in the guide grooves. The transport trolley is connected to the forward wire through the opening of the guide groove. Conveyor system.

2. The return wire of the aforementioned wire, which travels in the opposite direction to the transport trolley, is housed in a return groove of the guide rail that is aligned with the direction of travel of the transport trolley. The transport system according to claim 1.

3. The guide groove has a lateral pocket next to the opening that conceals the wire being advanced. The transport system according to claim 1.

4. The transport trolley is provided with two or more guide shafts that fit into the guide grooves, spaced apart in the direction of travel. The transport system according to claim 1.

5. The guide shaft portion comprises a guide shaft having an axis extending vertically and a roller rotatably attached to the guide shaft. The transport system according to claim 4.

6. One or both of the pair of guide shafts have a clamp for securing the wire. The transport system according to claim 4.

7. The guide shaft portion having the clamp is rotatably attached to the transport platform of the transport trolley. The transport system according to claim 6.

8. The guide rail is provided with a pair of running grooves on the left and right sides that are aligned with the direction of travel of the transport trolley. The transport trolley is provided with one or more pairs of traveling shafts on the left and right sides that fit into the traveling grooves. The transport system according to claim 1.

9. The aforementioned travel shaft portion comprises a travel shaft having an axis extending in the left-right direction, and a roller rotatably mounted on the travel shaft. The transport system according to claim 8.

10. The transport trolley has a first spring that moves one of the travel axle portions toward the transport platform side. The transport system according to claim 8.

11. The transport trolley is equipped with a pair of auxiliary shafts that contact at least one of the left and right sides of the guide rail. The transport system according to claim 1.

12. The transport trolley comprises a guide shaft portion that fits into the guide groove, and a clamp that secures the forward wire either in front of or behind the guide shaft portion. The transport system according to claim 1.

13. The transport trolley comprises a pair of left and right side plates attached to the transport platform, and a pair of front and rear covers attached to each of the side plates for removing foreign objects. The transport system according to claim 1.

14. The aforementioned guide rail is equipped with connecting means and is constructed by connecting two or more rail members. The transport system according to claim 1.

15. A conveying device comprising a guide rail and a transport trolley that is guided and can travel on the guide rail, wherein the transport trolley is pulled by a wire, The guide rail has a guide groove that is aligned with the direction of travel of the transport trolley and accommodates the wires that travel in the same direction as the transport trolley. The transport trolley is connected to the forward wire through the opening of the guide groove. Conveying device.

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