Conveying device

Abstract

The present invention provides a conveying device capable of transporting objects that are roughly cylindrical or cylindrical in shape while they are in an inverted position. [Solution] A conveying device 1 is provided to be able to convey a transported object B which is substantially cylindrical or cylindrical in shape, and comprises a movable frame 2 and a gripping means 3A directly or indirectly connected to the frame 2, wherein the gripping means 3A has a gripping part 9, and the gripping part 9 has a pair of arm parts 10, and the position of the arm parts 10 can be changed according to the diameter of the transported object B, and the transported object B can be held in an overturned state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device, and more particularly to a conveying device provided to be capable of conveying an object to be conveyed having a substantially cylindrical shape or a substantially columnar shape.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a conveying device for conveying cylinders (hereinafter referred to as a cylinder conveying device). The conventional cylinder conveying device is configured as a cart provided to be capable of placing the cylinder in a state where it stands in a substantially vertical direction and conveying it in that state (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In recent years, due to the spread of fuel cells and the like, in gas cylinders such as hydrogen cylinders, use in a toppled state (including rolling over, the same hereinafter) has come to be assumed. Therefore, there is a demand for a conveying device that can convey the cylinder while it is toppled using a cylinder conveying device. However, in the conventional cylinder conveying device, it is only possible to convey the cylinder while it is standing upright, and it is impossible to convey the cylinder while it is toppled.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a conveying device capable of conveying an object to be conveyed having a substantially cylindrical shape or a substantially columnar shape while it is toppled. <了

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to a conveying device capable of conveying a substantially cylindrical or cylindrical object, comprising a movable frame and a gripping means directly or indirectly connected to the frame, wherein the gripping means is capable of holding the object in an overturned position.

[0007] Furthermore, in this invention, the gripping means has a gripping portion, and the gripping portion has a pair of arm portions, and the position of the arm portions can be changed according to the diameter of the object to be conveyed. In addition, in this invention, the arm portions can be slidably provided, and a sliding means for sliding the arm portions can be provided.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention includes a pivoting mechanism for rotating the gripping mechanism, and the gripping mechanism can be directly or indirectly connected to the pivoting mechanism. In addition, the present invention provides the gripping mechanism with a gripping portion and a pivoting body rotatably connected to the pivoting mechanism, and the gripping portion can be attached to each of the ends of the pivoting body. Furthermore, the present invention provides a lifting mechanism on the frame, and the lifting mechanism can be provided to allow the gripping portion to move up and down. Furthermore, the present invention allows the object to be transported to be a gas cylinder. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] This invention provides a conveying device that includes a movable frame and a gripping means directly or indirectly connected to the frame, wherein the gripping means is capable of gripping the object to be conveyed, thereby enabling the conveying of a substantially cylindrical or substantially cylindrical object while it is in an inverted position. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a front right side planar perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a planar perspective view of the rear left side of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]This is a right side view of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a bottom view of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a front right side planar perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a planar perspective view of the rear left side of a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a front view of a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a right side view of a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The conveying device 1 comprises a frame 2 and a gripping means 3 (hereinafter referred to as gripping means 3A). In this embodiment, the conveying device 1 further comprises a lifting means 4.

[0012] The frame 2 has a base 5 and a support 6 erected on the base 5. Wheels 7 are attached to the base 5 as means of moving the transport means 1. In this embodiment, the wheels 7 have a swivel wheel 7A at the base end and a fixed wheel 7B at the tip end. A floor lock 8 is provided between the two swivel wheels 7A to prevent the transport device 1 from moving from its position.

[0013] The gripping means 3A is provided to grip a transported object B, such as a gas cylinder, which is substantially cylindrical or cylindrical in shape, and is also provided to hold the transported object B in an inverted position. The gripping means 3A has a gripping portion 9. The gripping portion 9 has a pair of arm portions 10, and in this embodiment, it further has a receiving device 11, so that the transported object B can be gripped at three points: the arm portions 10 and the receiving device 11.

[0014] The arm portion 10 is provided so that its position can be changed according to the outer diameter D of the object B to be conveyed. In the present embodiment, the arm portion 10 can hold the object B in a fallen state from above, and the locking portion 12 that contacts the object B is provided with a buffer body 13 formed of an elastomer or the like to prevent the object B from being damaged by the arm portion 10. Further, the arm portion 10 is provided so as to be slidable on the sliding body 14 and is connected to a sliding means 15 provided for sliding the arm portion 10.

[0015] In the present embodiment, the sliding means 15 has a screw rod 16 and a sliding handle 18 for rotating the screw rod 16 about its axis. The screw rod 16 is screwed into the arm portion 10, and by rotating the screw rod 16, the arm portion 10 moves in the axial direction, whereby the arm portion 10 slides on the sliding body 14.

[0016] The receiver 11 is provided with a buffer body 13 at a portion that contacts the object B to be conveyed, similar to the arm portion 10, and is provided so that its protruding amount L can be adjusted according to the diameter of the object B to be conveyed, and a handle 18 is provided for adjusting the protruding amount L.

[0017] The lifting means 4 is provided to enable the gripping means 3A to move up and down. In the present embodiment, the lifting means 4 is installed on the support portion 6 of the gantry 2, and by turning the lifting handle 19, the gripping means 3A is moved up and down by a winch (not shown) and a pulley 20. With the lifting means 4, in a state where the gripping means 3A is lowered to a low position, the object B to be conveyed is gripped by the gripping means 3A and then moved up and down to an appropriate position, making the operation of loading the object B onto the conveying means 1 easier.

[0018] Therefore, in the conveying means 1 of the present embodiment, the arm portion 10 of the gripping means 3A is provided so as to be able to hold the object B to be conveyed in a fallen state, thereby providing a conveying device capable of conveying the object B while it is in a fallen state.

[0019] The second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 5 to 9. The difference from the first embodiment is that a gripping means 3B is provided instead of the gripping means 3A and a rotating means 21 is provided. Regarding the components denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, since they are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0020] In the present embodiment, the conveying device 1 includes a gripping means 3 (hereinafter referred to as the gripping means 3B) and a rotating means 21. The rotating means 21 is provided for rotating the gripping means 3B. In the present embodiment, the rotating means 21 includes a bellows block 23 in which a rotating core 22 connected to a rotating body 31 to be described later is pivotally supported, and a speed reducer 24, and the torque of the speed reducer 24 can be adjusted by a rotating handle 25. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the rotating means 21 rotates within a range where the tilting angle R is approximately ±35°.

[0021] The gripping means 3B is directly or indirectly connected to the rotating means 21. In the present embodiment, the gripping means 3B has a rotating body 26 and a gripping portion 27. The rotating body 27 is rotatably connected to the rotating means 21. In the present embodiment, the gripping portions 27 are coupled to each of both ends of the rotating body 27.

[0022] The gripping portion 27 is provided so as to be able to grip the conveyed object B and to be able to hold the conveyed object B in a tilted state. In the present embodiment, the gripping portion 27 has an upper gripping body 28 at the upper part and a lower gripping body 29 at the lower part. The upper gripping body 28 is pivotally supported by a shaft 30 and can be opened and closed. In the closed state, it is connected to the lower gripping body 29 by a clamp 31 to form a substantially circular locking portion 32. A buffer body 13 is provided in the locking portion 32 in the same manner as the locking portion 12 of the first embodiment.

[0023] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the gripping means 3B is connected to the fall prevention means 33, and if the gripping means 3B descends unintentionally, the fall prevention means 33 acts as a brake, preventing the transported object B from falling. The fall prevention means 33 is attached to the support portion 6 of the frame 2. Note that the fall prevention means 33 can also be provided in the transport device 1 of the first embodiment.

[0024] Therefore, in the conveying means 2 of this embodiment, the gripping means 3B is provided to hold the object to be conveyed B in an overturned state, thereby achieving the same effect as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the conveying device 1 of this embodiment, the rotation means 21 is provided so that the overturning angle R of the object to be conveyed can be adjusted, and the object to be conveyed B can be transported in an overturned state at any overturning angle R.

[0025] Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified as appropriate without changing the gist of the invention.

[0026] (1) In the first embodiment described above, the object to be transported B is transported in a state where it is tilted at approximately 90°, but by adjusting the length of each arm section 10, it is possible to transport the object to be transported B in a state where it is tilted at an appropriate tilting angle R.

[0027] (2) The first and second embodiments can be combined as appropriate. For example, the first embodiment can be provided with a rotating mechanism, making the gripping mechanism 3A rotatable so that the tipping angle R of the object to be transported B can be changed as appropriate. Alternatively, the second embodiment can be provided with a sliding mechanism, making the gripping mechanism 3B able to change its position according to, for example, the length of the object to be transported B.

[0028] (3) In the above embodiment, a gas cylinder is given as an example of the object to be conveyed, but the object to be conveyed can be anything that is substantially cylindrical or substantially cylindrical in shape, and may also be a roll or the like.

[0029] (4) In the second embodiment described above, the gripping means 3B was indirectly connected to the rotating means 2 via the rotating body 31, but the gripping means 3B may also be directly connected to the rotating means 21. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1. Conveying device 2. Stand 3. Gripping means 4 Lifting mechanism 5 Base 6 Support part 7 Wheels 7A Free wheel 7B Fixed wheel 8 Floor lock 9 Gripping part 10 Arm part 11 Receiver 12 Locking part 13 Buffer 14 Sliding body 15 Sliding means 16 Screw rod 17. Sliding handle 18. Handle 19. Lifting handle 20 Pulley 21 Rotating means 22 Rotating core 23. Lower block 24. Gear reducer 25. Rotary handle 26 Rotating body 27 Gripping part 28 Upper gripping body 29 Lower gripping body 30 Shaft 31 Clamp 32 Locking part 33 Fall prevention means B Transported object D: Outer diameter L: Projection R: Tipping angle

Claims

1. A conveying device equipped to transport objects that are substantially cylindrical or substantially cylindrical in shape, A movable frame, The frame is equipped with gripping means directly or indirectly connected to it, The conveying device is characterized in that the gripping means is capable of holding the conveyed object in an overturned state.

2. The gripping means has a gripping portion, The conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping portion has a pair of arm portions, and the position of the arm portions can be changed according to the diameter of the object to be conveyed.

3. The aforementioned arm portion is provided so as to be slidable, The conveying device according to claim 2, further characterized by comprising a sliding means for sliding the arm portion.

4. The gripping means is further provided with a rotating means for rotating it, The conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping means is directly or indirectly connected to the rotating means.

5. The gripping means comprises a gripping portion and a rotating body rotatably connected to the rotating means, The conveying device according to claim 4, characterized in that the gripping portion is connected to each of the ends of the rotating body.

6. The aforementioned frame is provided with a lifting mechanism. The conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lifting means is provided so that the gripping portion can be raised and lowered.

7. The conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the object to be conveyed is a gas cylinder.

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