Conveying device

Abstract

The object is tilted only when traveling around a curve. [Solution] The conveying device (100) comprises a trolley (2) having a traveling section (6) that travels and a belt conveyor (7) on which articles (200) are placed, the belt conveyor (7) being arranged on the traveling section (6) and connected to the traveling section (6) in a tiltable manner, and a displacement rail that applies an external force to the belt conveyor (7) so as to tilt the belt conveyor (7) when the trolley (2) is traveling on a curve.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device including a carriage that travels on a traveling path including a curved traveling path.

Background Art

[0002] When a transport carriage that transports articles to a destination travels at high speed, if the centrifugal force acts on the articles when traveling along a curve at the same speed as when traveling in a straight line, and the frictional force of the articles against the transport carriage cannot withstand the centrifugal force, the articles will fly out in the direction in which the centrifugal force acts. To avoid such inconveniences, for example, Patent Document 1 describes that in a conveyor-type carriage having a transport belt for receiving and delivering articles, the transport belt is arranged in an inclined state so that the articles do not fall due to the centrifugal force.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As described above, the transport belt of the conveyor-type carriage is always inclined. In a carriage without a transport belt, since a transport belt cannot be used for receiving and delivering articles, if the loading platform is always inclined, it may be difficult to receive and deliver articles generally performed on a straight traveling path.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention aims to incline articles only during curved travel.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, a transport device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a trolley having a traveling section that travels, a mounting platform for placing articles, the mounting platform being arranged on the traveling section and inclined to the traveling section, and an external force application structure that applies an external force to the mounting platform so as to tilt the mounting platform when the trolley is traveling on a curve. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, an article can be tilted only when traveling on a curve. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a plan view showing the configuration of a conveying device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a side view showing the configuration of the curved section of the rail and its surrounding area in the above-mentioned conveying device. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a rear view showing the configuration of the trolley in the above-mentioned transport device. [Figure 5] This is a side view showing the configuration of the above-mentioned trolley. [Figure 6] This is a plan view showing the configuration of the above-mentioned trolley. [Figure 7] This is a rear view showing the above-mentioned trolley's belt conveyor in an inclined position relative to the running section. [Figure 8] This is a rear view showing the configuration of a trolley according to the first modified embodiment described above. [Figure 9] This is a rear view showing the configuration of a trolley according to a second modified example of the above embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] [Embodiment] One embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0010] <Configuration of the conveying device> Figure 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of a conveying device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the curved portion 1c of the rail 1 and its surrounding area in the conveying device 100. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in Figure 2.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the conveying device 100 comprises a rail 1, a plurality of trolleys 2, a supply conveyor 3, a discharge conveyor 4, and a pair of displacement rails 5 (external force application structure). The trolleys 2 move along the rail 1 at a constant speed, spaced apart in a counterclockwise direction in the plan view shown in Figure 1.

[0012] Rail 1 forms the running path of the bogie 2. Rail 1 is configured in an oval shape and has an inner rail 11 and an outer rail 12. The inner rail 11 and the outer rail 12 are arranged parallel to each other at a constant distance apart. As shown in Figure 3, the upper end surface of the inner rail 11 is in contact with the wheels 62a of the bogie 2, which will be described later, so that they can roll. The upper end surface of the outer rail 12 is in contact with the wheels 63a of the bogie 2, which will be described later, so that they can roll.

[0013] Rail 1 has straight sections 1a and 1b, a pair of curved sections 1c, and a plurality of support legs 1d. The straight sections 1a and 1b are of the same length and are arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined interval. The pair of curved sections 1c each form a semicircular arc that connects the ends of the straight sections 1a and 1b. The curved sections 1c constitute a curved path on the rail through which the bogie 2 travels along a curve. The plurality of support legs 1d are arranged at intervals and support Rail 1 on the floor F.

[0014] Note that rail 1 may have a shape other than an oval. For example, rail 1 may have a triangular shape with three straight sections, two of which are connected by a curved section.

[0015] In FIG. 1, when the carriage 2 enters the left curved portion 1c, the straight portion 1a corresponds to the first straight path on the side where the carriage 2 enters the left curved portion 1c, and the straight portion 1b corresponds to the second straight path on the side where the carriage 2 exits from the left curved portion 1c. Also, in FIG. 1, when the carriage 2 enters the right curved portion 1c, the straight portion 1b corresponds to the first straight path on the side where the carriage 2 enters the right curved portion 1c, and the straight portion 1a corresponds to the second straight path on the side where the carriage 2 exits from the right curved portion 1c.

[0016] The carriage 2 places the article 200 and travels on the rail 1. The carriage 2 has a traveling section 6 and a belt conveyor 7. The traveling section 6 travels on the rail 1. The belt conveyor 7 is a mounting table for placing the article 200. The belt conveyor 7 is disposed on the traveling section 6 and is connected to the traveling section 6 so as to be tiltable. The configuration of the carriage 2 will be described in detail later.

[0017] The supply conveyor 3 is a conveyor that conveys the article 200 from the supply source of the article 200 and delivers it to the carriage 2 on the rail 1. The discharge conveyor 4 is a conveyor that receives the article 200 conveyed by the carriage 2 on the rail 1 and conveys it to the supply destination of the article 200. Each end of the supply conveyor 3 and the discharge conveyor 4 is close to the straight portions 1a, 1b of the rail 1 and is arranged so as to be perpendicular in the horizontal plane with respect to the direction in which the straight portions 1a, 1b extend.

[0018] The displacement rail 5 has contact bodies 51 to 55 and a plurality of support legs 56. The contact bodies 51 to 55 are continuously formed by plate-like members and constitute a track on which the rotating wheels 93 (specifically, the wheels 93a in FIG. 4) of the belt conveyor 7 roll. The plurality of support legs 56 are arranged at intervals and support the displacement rail 5 on the floor F.

[0019] The contact body 51 is positioned along the curved section 1c at a constant distance from the outer rail 12 of the curved section 1c, and is in contact with the rotating wheel 93. The contact body 51, like the curved section 1c, has the shape of a semicircular arc. The contact body 51 applies an external force to the belt conveyor 7 so as to tilt the belt conveyor 7 when the trolley 2 is traveling along the curved section 1c. Specifically, the contact body 51 pushes up the rotating wheel 93 from a position lower than the contact body 51, where the contact body 51 is located, so as to tilt the belt conveyor 7 by contacting the rotating wheel 93, which is the displaced end of the belt conveyor 7. The displaced end is the end of the belt conveyor 7 that displaces the most as it tilts.

[0020] As shown in Figure 3, the contact body 51 is formed with a downward slope from the outer circumference to the inner circumference. For convenience, Figure 3 shows the structure of the contact bodies 51, 52, and 54 as part of the inner rail 11, outer rail 12, and displacement rail 5.

[0021] The contact body 52 (first change section) is positioned to follow the straight section 1a (first straight path) on the left side of the curved section 1c in Figure 1, at a constant distance from the outer rail 12 of the straight section 1a (first straight path) on the side into which the bogie 2 enters, and to contact the rotating wheel 93. The contact body 52 is also positioned to follow the straight section 1b (first straight path) on the right side of the curved section 1c in Figure 1, at a constant distance from the outer rail 12 of the straight section 1b (first straight path) on the side into which the bogie 2 enters, and to contact the rotating wheel 93.

[0022] The contact body 52 has a contact surface 52a (first contact surface) that gradually changes in inclination from a first height H1 that positions the belt conveyor 7 horizontally to a second height H2 that positions the belt conveyor 7 in a specified inclined position. The contact surface 52a has a contact angle that gradually changes in the shape of the cross-section of the surface perpendicular to the direction of travel of the trolley 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as the direction of travel), such that the part with the lowest first height H1 is horizontal and the part with the highest second height H2 is inclined at the same angle as the contact body 51.

[0023] The contact body 53 (second change section) is positioned to run along the straight section 1b (second straight path) on the left side of the curved section 1c in Figure 1, at a constant distance from the outer rail 12 of the straight section 1b, and to contact the rotating wheel 93. The contact body 53 is also positioned to run along the straight section 1a (second straight path) on the right side of the curved section 1c in Figure 1, at a constant distance from the outer rail 12 of the straight section 1a, and to contact the rotating wheel 93.

[0024] The contact body 53 has a contact surface 53a (second contact surface) that changes so that the belt conveyor 7 is gradually inclined from a second height H2 to a first height H1. The contact surface 53a has a gradually changing angle of inclination in the cross-sectional shape of the surface perpendicular to the direction of travel, such that the part having the first height H1 is horizontal and the part having the second height H2 is inclined at the same angle as the contact body 51.

[0025] Although the contact body 52 is inclined linearly between the contact bodies 51 and 54 as shown in Figure 2, it may also be inclined in a shape other than linear, for example, in a curved shape. Similarly, the contact body 53 is inclined linearly between the contact bodies 51 and 55, but it may also be inclined in a shape other than linear, such as a curved shape.

[0026] The contact body 54 is a horizontal portion having a first height H1 so as to connect with the lower end of the contact body 52, and is formed to be significantly shorter than the contact body 52. ​​The contact body 54 constitutes an introduction end that introduces the rotating wheel 93 into the displacement rail 5.

[0027] The contact body 55 is a horizontal portion having a first height H1 so as to connect with the lower end of the contact body 53, and is formed to be significantly shorter than the contact body 53. The contact body 55 constitutes the release end that separates the rotating wheel 93 from the displacement rail 5.

[0028] <Bogie configuration> Figure 4 is a rear view showing the configuration of the trolley 2 in the conveying device 100. Figure 5 is a side view showing the configuration of the trolley 2. Figure 6 is a top view showing the configuration of the trolley 2.

[0029] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the trolley 2 is equipped with the aforementioned running section 6 and belt conveyor 7.

[0030] The running section 6 includes a support plate 61, a pair of rotating wheels 62, a pair of rotating wheels 63, a holding mechanism 64, and a pair of hinge mechanisms 65.

[0031] The support plate 61 constitutes the support base that supports the belt conveyor 7. The support plate 61 is positioned above the rail 1.

[0032] A pair of rotating wheels 62 are provided on the lower surface of the support plate 61, on the side of the inner rail 11. One rotating wheel 62 is positioned at the front end of the support plate 61 in the direction of travel. The other rotating wheel 62 is positioned at the rear end of the support plate 61 in the direction of travel. Each rotating wheel 62 has a wheel 62a and a rotating support portion 62b. As described above, the wheel 62a is positioned to roll on the upper end surface of the inner rail 11. The rotating support portion 62b supports the wheel 62a so that it can rotate on the inner rail 11. The rotating support portion 62b also supports the wheel 62a on the lower surface of the support plate 61 so that it can rotate horizontally. This allows the direction of the wheel 62a to be changed in the curved section 1c.

[0033] A pair of rotating wheels 63 are provided on the lower surface of the support plate 61, on the side of the outer rail 12. One rotating wheel 63 is positioned at the front end of the support plate 61 in the direction of travel. The other rotating wheel 63 is positioned at the rear end of the support plate 61 in the direction of travel. Each rotating wheel 63 has a wheel 63a and a rotating support portion 63b. As described above, the wheel 63a is positioned to roll on the upper end surface of the outer rail 12. The rotating support portion 63b supports the wheel 63a so that it can rotate on the outer rail 12. The rotating support portion 63b also supports the wheel 63a on the lower surface of the support plate 61 so that it can rotate horizontally. This allows the direction of the wheel 63a to be changed in the curved section 1c.

[0034] Here, the inner rail 11 has a main body portion 11a and a rising portion 11b. The main body portion 11a is the part that forms the main body of the inner rail 11 on which the wheel 62a rolls. The rising portion 11b is a portion of a certain width that is formed to rise upward from the side edge of the main body portion 11a on the outer rail 12 side.

[0035] The holding mechanism 64 is a mechanism that holds the running section 6 to the rail 1 so as to maintain the running of the running section 6 on the rail 1. The holding mechanism 64 has holding wheels 64a and 64b and a support part 64c. The holding wheel 64a is positioned on the side of the rotating wheel 62 of the rising section 11b on the inner rail 11. The holding wheel 64b is positioned on the side of the rotating wheel 63 of the rising section 11b on the inner rail 11. The holding wheels 64a and 64b are positioned at the same height with a gap wider than the thickness of the rising section 11b between them, such that one of the holding wheels 64a or 64b is in contact with the rising section 11b. The support part 64c supports the holding wheels 64a and 64b on the lower surface of the support plate 61 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal plane.

[0036] The pair of hinge mechanisms 65 are mechanisms that connect the belt conveyor 7 to the running section 6 so that it can be tilted. The pair of hinge mechanisms 65 are provided on the upper surface of the support plate 61, at the front end and rear end in the direction of travel, and at the edge on the side of the rotating wheels 62 and 63, respectively. The hinge mechanism 65 has a pair of fixed plates 65a, a rotating plate 65b, and a rotating shaft 65c.

[0037] As shown in Figure 5, a pair of fixed plates 65a are fixed on a support plate 61 at a certain distance apart. The lower end of the rotating plate 65b is located between the pair of fixed plates 65a, and the upper end is fixed to the underside of the belt conveyor 7. The pivot shaft 65c is provided at the upper end of the pair of fixed plates 65a, passing through the upper end, and is fixed to the upper end. The pivot shaft 65c is also provided so as to pass through the lower end of the rotating plate 65b.

[0038] The belt conveyor 7 is a conveyor that transfers goods 200 from the supply conveyor 3 to the trolley 2 on the rail 1, and transfers the goods 200 from the trolley 2 on the rail 1 to the discharge conveyor 4. The belt conveyor 7 has a conveyor body 8 and a displacement support section 9.

[0039] The conveyor body 8 includes a frame 81, rollers 82 and 83, a belt 84, a carrier plate 85, a stopper 86, and a drive mechanism 87.

[0040] The frame 81 is a holder that rotatably holds the rollers 82 and 83 and also holds the carrier plate 85. The frame 81 has a pair of base portions 81a, a pair of opposing portions 81b, and a connecting portion 81c. The frame 81 is formed by bending a thin steel plate.

[0041] The base portion 81a is a long, narrow plate-shaped part that extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel in the horizontal plane. The base portion 81a is positioned so that its surface faces up and down when the belt conveyor 7 is in the horizontal position shown in Figure 4. The pair of base portions 81a are arranged parallel to each other with a distance slightly wider than the width of the belt 84. The upper end of the rotating plate 65b of the hinge mechanism 65 described above is fixed to the lower surface near one end of the base portion 81a.

[0042] The opposing portion 81b is a part formed to rise from the edges of the pair of base portions 81a that are closest to each other. The opposing portion 81b has a width wider than the thickness of the carrier plate 85, which will be described later.

[0043] The connecting portion 81c is a plate-shaped part formed between the rollers 82 and 83 to connect the upper edges of a pair of opposing portions 81b. The connecting portion 81c is positioned to be in contact with the back surface of the upper portion of the belt 84, which will be described later.

[0044] The roller 82 is a cylindrical member and has a shaft 82a. The roller 82 is supported by the shaft 82a at the end of the outer rail 12 on a pair of opposing portions 81b of the frame 81 so that it can rotate.

[0045] The roller 83 is a cylindrical member and has a shaft 83a. The roller 83 is supported by the shaft 83a at the end of the inner rail 11 side of a pair of opposing portions 81b of the frame 81 so that it can rotate.

[0046] Belt 84 is an endless belt and is stretched across rollers 82 and 83. Belt 84 has a width slightly narrower than the length of rollers 82 and 83. Belt 84 is made of a material such as rubber.

[0047] The carrier plate 85 is a box-shaped structure that supports the load of the article 200 placed on the upper part of the belt 84 from the underside of the belt 84. The carrier plate 85 is positioned in the space enclosed by a pair of opposing parts 81b, a connecting part 81c, and the lower part of the belt 84. The upper surface of the carrier plate 85 is in contact with the lower surface of the connecting part 81c, and both sides of the carrier plate 85 are fixed to the pair of opposing parts 81b by bolts.

[0048] The stopper 86 is a component that restricts the position of the article 200 on the belt 84 so that the article 200 does not come off the belt 84. The stopper 86 has a pair of first restricting parts 86a and a second restricting part 86b. The pair of first restricting parts 86a restrict the position of the article 200 in the direction of travel and are attached to the opposing part 81b of the frame 81. The second restricting part 86b restricts the position of the article 200 on the rear side of the article 200, that is, on the side opposite to the side from which the article 200 is discharged to the discharge conveyor 4. The second restricting part 86b is connected to the upper end of the pair of opposing parts 81b in the vicinity of the roller 83.

[0049] The drive mechanism 87 is a mechanism for driving the roller 83 and includes a motor, a gear group that transmits the motor's driving force to the shaft 83a of the roller 83, and the like. The drive mechanism 87 configured in this way rotates the shaft 83a of the roller 83.

[0050] The displacement support section 9 supports the belt conveyor 7 so as to transmit the height displacement of the displacement rail 5 to the belt conveyor 7. The displacement support section 9 includes a support plate 91, a pair of support bodies 92, and a rotating wheel 93.

[0051] The support plate 91 is a plate-shaped member and has a main body portion 91a and a protruding portion 91b. The main body portion 91a is a rectangular portion that is elongated in the direction of travel. The main body portion 91a is fixed to the end on the roller 82 side of the lower surface of the base portion 81a of the frame 81. The protruding portion 91b is a portion that is provided to protrude laterally from the belt conveyor 7 from the middle part of the main body portion 91a.

[0052] As shown in Figure 4, the pair of support members 92 are plate-shaped members that support the belt conveyor 7 so as to keep the belt conveyor 7 in a horizontal position when the rotating wheel 93 is not being pushed up by the contact body 51 of the displacement rail 5. One support member 92 is positioned slightly behind the rotating wheel 63 in the direction of travel and is fixed at its upper end to the lower surface of the main body 91a. The other support member 92 is positioned slightly in front of the rotating wheel 63 in the direction of travel and is fixed at its upper end to the lower surface of the main body 91a. In the state shown in Figure 4, the lower ends of the support members 92 are in contact with the upper surface of the support plate 61 of the running section 6.

[0053] The rotating wheel 93 is provided on the protruding portion 91b of the support plate 91. The rotating wheel 93 has a wheel 93a and a rotating support portion 93b. The wheel 93a is positioned to roll on the upper end surface (contact surface) of the displacement rail 5. The rotating support portion 93b supports the wheel 93a so that it can rotate on the displacement rail 5. The rotating support portion 93b also supports the wheel 93a on the protruding portion 91b so that it can rotate horizontally. This makes it possible to change the direction of the wheel 93a at the contact body 51 of the displacement rail 5.

[0054] <Operation of the trolley> Figure 7 is a rear view showing the state in which the belt conveyor 7 of the trolley 2 is inclined relative to the running section 6.

[0055] As shown in Figure 1, when the trolley 2 traveling on the rail 1 reaches the vicinity of the end of the straight section 1a or straight section 1b, the rotating wheels 93 ride on the contact body 54 of the displacement rail 5 and are further pushed up by the upward-sloping contact body 52. ​​Consequently, the trolley 2 tilts relative to the running section 6 by the hinge mechanism 65 of the belt conveyor 7.

[0056] When the trolley 2 reaches the curved section 1c, the rotating wheels 93 are pushed up to the maximum height (second height H2) by the contact body 51 of the displacement rail 5. In this state, as shown in Figure 7, the belt conveyor 7 is inclined with respect to the running section 6 at the maximum inclination angle θ.

[0057] When the trolley 2 is traveling along the curved section 1c, the cosine component F1 of the centrifugal force F acts on the article 200 diagonally upward on the outer circumference side of the curved section 1c, while the sine component W1 of the load W on the article 200 and the frictional force X act diagonally downward on the inner circumference side of the curved section 1c. The frictional force X is the frictional force between the surface of the belt 84 and the article 200.

[0058] Therefore, by setting the inclination angle θ such that the cosine component F1, the sine component W1, and the frictional force X are balanced, it is possible to prevent the item 200 from falling off the trolley 2 due to centrifugal force F while it is moving in the curved section 1c. In addition, the normal force increases as the sine component F2 of the centrifugal force F is added to the cosine component W2 of the load W, so the frictional force X increases. Therefore, it becomes less likely for the item 200 to fall off the trolley 2.

[0059] Here, the centrifugal force F acting on the article 200, and the cosine component F1 and sine component F2 of the centrifugal force F with respect to the inclination angle θ, are expressed as follows:

[0060] F=m*V 2 / R F1 = F * cosθ F2 = F * sinθ In the above equation, m is the mass of item 200, V is the speed of trolley 2, and R is the radius of curvature of curved section 1c.

[0061] Furthermore, the load W, and its sine component W1 and cosine component W2, are expressed as follows:

[0062] W = m * g W1 = W * sinθ W2 = W * cosθ In the above equation, g is the acceleration due to gravity.

[0063] Furthermore, the frictional force X can be expressed as follows:

[0064] X = (W² + F²) * μ In the above equation, μ is the coefficient of friction of the surface of belt 84.

[0065] As the trolley 2 moves from the curved section 1c to the straight section 1b or straight section 1a, the rotating wheels 93 move onto the downward-sloping contact body 53 of the displacement rail 5 and are gradually lowered by the contact body 53. Accordingly, the belt conveyor 7 approaches a horizontal position due to the hinge mechanism 65. When the rotating wheels 93 reach the contact body 55 of the displacement rail 5, the belt conveyor 7 returns to a horizontal position.

[0066] In this manner, when the trolley 2 is traveling along a curved section 1c of the rail 1, the conveying device 100 applies an external force to the belt conveyor 7 by the contact body 51 of the displacement rail 5, which pushes up the rotating wheels 93, causing the belt conveyor 7 to tilt relative to the running section 6.

[0067] This allows the belt conveyor 7 to be tilted when the trolley 2 travels around a curve, and prevents the belt conveyor 7 from tilting in areas where the displacement rail 5 is not provided. Therefore, the belt conveyor 7 can smoothly transfer the goods 200 between the supply conveyor 3 and the discharge conveyor 4.

[0068] <Variations> A modified version of the conveying device 100 of this embodiment will now be described. Figure 8 is a rear view showing the configuration of the trolley 2A according to the first modified version. Figure 9 is a rear view showing the configuration of the trolley 2B according to the second modified version.

[0069] As shown in Figure 8, the trolley 2A according to the first modified example comprises a running section 6A and a belt conveyor 7. The running section 6A is the same as the running section 6 of the trolley 2 except that the position of the hinge mechanism 65 is different. In the running section 6A, the hinge mechanism 65 is positioned in the center of the support plate 61 in the width direction of the support plate 61, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the direction of travel and the horizontal plane. Displacement rail 5 In this configuration, when the rotating wheels 93 of the trolley 2A are pushed upward in the direction of arrow U by the contact body 51 of the displacement rail 5, the belt conveyor 7 tilts.

[0070] As shown in Figure 9, the trolley 2B according to the second modified example comprises a running section 6A and a belt conveyor 7B. The belt conveyor 7B has a displacement support section 9B instead of the displacement support section 9 of the belt conveyor 7. The displacement support section 9B has a spring support 94 instead of the support 92 of the displacement support section 9.

[0071] Although not shown in the diagram, the displacement rail 5 has the contact body 51 positioned at the lowest first height H1, and the contact bodies 54 and 55 positioned at the highest second height H2. The contact bodies 52 and 53 are formed to have an upward slope from the contact bodies 54 and 55 toward the contact body 51. The displacement rail 5 functions as a push-down rail that pushes down the rotating wheel 93 by reversing the height of the contact body 51 and the heights of the contact bodies 54 and 55.

[0072] In the conveying device 100 configured in this way, when the rotating wheel 93 of the trolley 2B is pushed down in the direction of arrow D by the contact body 51, the spring support 94 is compressed, causing the belt conveyor 7 to tilt. On the other hand, when the trolley 2B is released from being pushed down by the contact body 51 at the position where the rotating wheel 93 is in contact with the contact bodies 54 and 55, the spring support 94 returns to its original length as shown in Figure 9.

[0073] 〔summary〕 As described above, the conveying device according to embodiment 1 of the present invention comprises a trolley having a traveling section that travels, a mounting platform on which articles are placed, the mounting platform being arranged on the traveling section and connected to the traveling section so as to be tiltable, and an external force application structure that applies an external force to the mounting platform so as to tilt the mounting platform when the trolley is traveling on a curve.

[0074] In the above configuration, the mounting platform can be tilted by the external force applied when the bogie is traveling on a curve. This makes it possible to prevent the mounting platform from tilting when the bogie is not traveling on a curve.

[0075] The transport device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention further comprises, in embodiment 1 above, a hinge mechanism that connects the aforementioned platform to the traveling section in a tiltable manner, The external force application structure may be arranged along the curved path on which the trolley travels on a curve and may have a contact body that intrudes upon the displaced end of the aforementioned support base, thereby tilting the aforementioned support base.

[0076] In the above configuration, the mounting platform tilts around the hinge mechanism as the contact body contacts the displaced end. Furthermore, since the external force application structure is arranged along the curved path, there is no need to provide the external force application structure on the bogie. This avoids complicating the structure of the bogie.

[0077] The conveying device according to embodiment 3 of the present invention may include, in embodiment 2 above, a first changing part having a first contact surface that gradually changes from a first height that places the above-described stand in a horizontal position to a second height that places the above-described stand in a specified inclined position, and which is arranged to contact the displacement end along a second straight path that places the above-described stand in a displacement end along a second straight path that places the above-described stand in a horizontal position to a second height that places the above-described stand in a specified inclined position, and a second changing part having a second contact surface that gradually changes from the second height to the first height.

[0078] In the above configuration, the first contact surface gradually changes the orientation of the mounting platform from a horizontal to an inclined position along the first straight path, and the second contact surface gradually changes the orientation of the mounting platform from an inclined position to a horizontal position along the second straight path. This prevents abrupt changes in the orientation of the mounting platform from a horizontal to an inclined position, and abrupt changes in the orientation of the mounting platform from an inclined position to a horizontal position. Therefore, the orientation of the mounting platform can be changed with almost no impact on the article placed on the mounting platform.

[0079] In the conveying device according to embodiment 4 of the present invention, in embodiment 2, the contact body may push up or push down the displaced end.

[0080] According to the above configuration, the contact body can choose to push up or push down the displaced end depending on the position where the hinge mechanism is installed on the trolley. For example, if the hinge mechanism is installed on one side end in the width direction of the trolley perpendicular to the trolley's direction of travel (inside the curved path), the displaced end will be located on the other side end. In this case, the mounting platform will tilt as the displaced end is pushed up. Also, if the hinge mechanism is installed in the center in the width direction of the trolley, the displaced ends will be located on both side ends. In this case, the mounting platform will tilt as either one of the two side ends is pushed up or pushed down.

[0081] In the conveying device according to embodiment 5 of the present invention, in any of embodiments 1 to 4 above, the aforementioned platform may be a belt conveyor for transferring the article.

[0082] According to the above configuration, the platform can easily receive and transfer items.

[0083] [Additional Notes] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0084] 1a, 1b Straight sections (First straight path, Second straight path) 1c Curved section (curved path) 2,2A,2B Trolley 5. Displacement rail (external force application structure, contact body) 5b Change section (First change section) 5d Change section (second change section) 6,6A Running section 7,7A,7B Belt conveyor (mounting platform) 51~53 Contact body 52a Contact surface (1st contact surface) 53a Contact surface (second contact surface) 65 Hinge mechanism 93. Rotating wheel (contact end) 100 Conveying device H1 First Height H2, 2nd height

Claims

1. A trolley having a running section that moves and a platform for placing articles, the platform being positioned on the running section and connected to the running section so as to be tiltable, A conveying device comprising: an external force application structure that applies an external force to the aforementioned base so as to tilt the aforementioned base when the trolley is traveling on a curve.

2. The trolley further has a hinge mechanism that connects the aforementioned mounting platform to the running section in a tiltable manner, The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the external force application structure is arranged along a curved path on which the trolley travels on a curve and has a contact body that intrudes upon the displaced end of the aforementioned base, thereby tilting the aforementioned base.

3. The aforementioned contact body is The first changing section is positioned along the first straight path on the side into which the trolley enters the curved path so as to abut the displacement end, and has a first contact surface that gradually changes from a first height that places the aforementioned base in a horizontal position to a second height that places the aforementioned base in a specified inclined position, The conveying device according to claim 2, comprising: a second changing section arranged to contact the displacement end along a second straight path on the side from which the trolley exits the curved path, and having a second contact surface that gradually changes from the second height to the first height.

4. The conveying device according to claim 2, wherein the contact body pushes up or down the displaced end.

5. The conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mounting platform is a belt conveyor for transferring the article.

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