Compressed Air Supply Equipment

Abstract

To provide a compressed air supply device of a simple structure capable of supplying compressed air from the external to pneumatic equipment incorporated in a moving device.SOLUTION: A compressed air supply device has: an air supply head 27a provided with an opposite face 28 opposed to a connection face 13; an air supply rod 32 disposed on the air supply head 27a in a manner that it can be reciprocated between a projecting position where a projection face 33 is projected from the opposite face 28 and a retreat position where the projection face 33 is retreated from the projecting position; an opening / closing valve 36 for communicating a compressed air supply source 41 and an air inflow passage 15 via an air guide passage 37 when a connection face 13 is abutted against the projection face 33; a first magnet 47 disposed on the connection face 13; and a second magnet 48 disposed on the opposite face 28. An outflow port 38 and an inflow port 14 are aligned by magnetic attraction of both magnets 47, 48.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3A

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a compressed air supply device for supplying compressed air to pneumatic equipment incorporated in a mobile device.

Background Art

[0002] Some types of automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) for transporting workpieces and workpieces in a factory are provided with actuators such as air hands for gripping workpieces and pneumatic control equipment for controlling pneumatic actuators. In addition, some types of industrial robots that move workpieces and perform various operations such as welding work are provided with pneumatic actuators for driving robot arms and air hands, and pneumatic control equipment for controlling pneumatic actuators. When using pneumatic actuators and pneumatic control equipment on an automatic guided vehicle, a compressed air device must be provided, or an air tank must be installed to supply compressed air from the outside. If an air tank is provided in a mobile device such as an automatic guided vehicle in which a pneumatic actuator and pneumatic control equipment are incorporated, compressed air can be supplied to the pneumatic actuator and pneumatic control equipment. When the remaining amount of compressed air in the air tank decreases, compressed air is supplied into the air tank by a compressed air supply device. On the other hand, in a mobile device not equipped with an air tank, when operating a pneumatic actuator or pneumatic control equipment, compressed air is directly supplied from the compressed air supply device to the pneumatic actuator and pneumatic control equipment.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a supply device for supplying electric energy and air energy to an automated guided vehicle in an automobile production factory. The supply device is guided by a guide rail and is movable along the automated guided vehicle. A synchronous bar and a guide hole are provided in the connector of the supply device. In the connector of the automated guided vehicle, a synchronous hole into which the synchronous bar is inserted and a guide bar inserted into the guide hole are provided. Further, a receiving coupler for receiving and supplying air energy from the supply coupler of the supply device is provided in the connector of the automated guided vehicle. When supplying air energy from the supply device to the automated guided vehicle, the receiving coupler is inserted into the supply coupler. The receiving coupler is connected to an accumulator which is a pneumatic device mounted on the automated guided vehicle.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a work system in which a traveling carriage equipped with a work robot is moved to a plurality of work stations by the guidance of a magnetic tape. A male coupling to which air is supplied and a magnetic adsorption type terminal connector as a power receiving device are provided on the attachment of the traveling carriage, and a slide box movably provided along a guide rail at the work station is provided with a female coupling for air supply and a magnetic adsorption type terminal connector as a power supply device. By approaching the slide box toward the work carriage, the male coupling is inserted into the female coupling, and compressed air is supplied to the pneumatic actuator of the work robot mounted on the work carriage.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the supply device described in Patent Document 1, in order to position the supply coupler and the receiving coupler, a synchronization bar is inserted into a synchronization hole, and then a guide bar is inserted into a guide hole, resulting in a complicated positioning mechanism. Further, if a synchronization bar and a guide hole are provided in the connector of the supply device, and a synchronization hole and a guide bar are provided in the connector of the automated guided vehicle, an increase in the size of each connector is inevitable.

[0007] In the work system described in Patent Document 2, the traveling robot pulls the slide box to its attachment to connect the female coupler and the male coupler to perform air supply and signal connection. Also, when separating the female coupler and the male coupler, the traveling robot detaches the slide box from the attachment. In this work system, the connection and separation of the male and female couplers are performed by a robot operation induced by a magnetic tape. In a self-propelled cart without a robot, it is impossible to position the attachment and the slide box or to separate the magnet to detach the slide box.

[0008] Also, although it is conceivable to mount a pneumatic compressor on a self-propelled cart which is a moving device, the weight of the pneumatic compressor increases and the battery of the self-propelled cart is consumed.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a compressed air supply device with a simple structure that can supply compressed air from the outside to pneumatic equipment incorporated in a moving device without using the accumulated energy of the moving device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The compressed air supply device of the present invention is a compressed air supply device that supplies compressed air from an inlet of an air inflow passage communicating with a pneumatic device mounted on a mobile device to the pneumatic device, and has an opposing surface facing a connection surface provided with the inlet, an air supply head mounted on a support member, an air supply rod disposed on the air supply head so as to be reciprocable between a protruding position where a protruding surface protrudes more than the opposing surface and a retracted position where the protruding surface retracts more than the protruding position, an air guide passage formed in the air supply rod and having an outlet provided in the protruding surface, an on-off valve that blocks communication between a compressed air supply source and the air guide passage when the protruding surface is away from the connection surface and communicates the compressed air supply source and the air inflow passage through the air guide passage when the connection surface abuts against the protruding surface, a first magnet provided on the connection surface, and a second magnet provided on the opposing surface and magnetically attracted to the first magnet when the opposing surface approaches the connection surface to align the outlet with the inlet. A separation rod is provided on the air supply head to separate the air supply head from the connection surface against the adsorption force between the first magnet and the second magnet. 。

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] The air supply head that supplies compressed air from a connection surface to a mobile device has a cylinder body in which an air supply rod is movably provided, and the cylinder body is provided with an opposing surface facing the connection surface. A first magnet is provided on the connection surface, and a second magnet is provided on the opposing surface. By the adsorption of both magnets, the outlet of the air guide passage formed in the air supply rod is positioned with respect to the inlet of the inflow passage. Since the air supply rod can be abutted against the connection surface of the mobile device to supply compressed air to the mobile device, compressed air can be supplied to the mobile device by a device with a simple structure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 4C

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each of the embodiments shown in the drawings, members having commonality are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the compressed air supply device 20 is applied to supply compressed air to pneumatic equipment provided on a moving device, that is, an automated guided vehicle (AGV) 10 as a moving object. The automated guided vehicle 10, also referred to as an automated guided cart, has wheels 11, and the wheels 11 are driven by an electric motor powered by a battery incorporated inside the automated guided vehicle 10. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, an air tank 12 as pneumatic equipment is provided inside the automated guided vehicle 10, and a pneumatic actuator using the compressed air injected into the air tank 12 as a driving source and pneumatic control equipment for controlling the pneumatic actuator are provided on the automated guided vehicle 10 as other pneumatic equipment. Examples of the pneumatic actuator include a chuck for gripping a workpiece, a cylinder for driving a hand, and a vacuum cup for adsorbing and holding a workpiece. Examples of the pneumatic control equipment include an on-off valve and a flow path switching valve. However, the pneumatic actuator and the pneumatic control equipment are not shown in the drawings.

[0015] An inlet 14 is provided on the connection surface 13 on the side surface of the automated guided vehicle 10, and as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the inlet 14 communicates with an air tank 12 as pneumatic equipment through an air inlet passage 15 provided inside the automated guided vehicle 10. A check valve 16 is provided in the air inlet passage 15, and the check valve 16 allows the flow of compressed air from the inlet 14 toward the air tank 12 and blocks the reverse flow.

[0016] The compressed air supply device 20 has a pneumatic cylinder 22 attached to a support member 21. A linear guide 23 is movably mounted on the pneumatic cylinder 22, and the linear guide 23 is connected to a rod 24 of the pneumatic cylinder 22. A support plate 25 is attached to the linear guide 23, and an elastic member 26 made of a coil spring, a rubber rod, or the like is attached to the support plate 25. An air supply head 27a is attached to the lower end of the elastic member 26. Since the air supply head 27a is attached in a state of being suspended from the support member 21 via the elastic member 26, the air supply head 27a is movable in the horizontal direction.

[0017] The air supply head 27a is formed by a pneumatic cylinder, and the end face on the tip side is a flat opposing face 28 that faces the connection face 13 of the self-propelled carriage 10. In order to supply compressed air from the air supply head 27a of the compressed air supply device 20 to the self-propelled carriage 10, it is necessary to accurately oppose the air outlet provided in the air supply head 27a to the inlet 14 of the air inflow path 15. However, in the case of the self-propelled carriage 10, even if it is brought close to the air supply head 27a, the inlet 14 cannot be accurately positioned at a predetermined position of the air supply head 27a, and displacement is inevitably generated.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the air supply head 27a has a cylinder body 29, a guide hole 31 that opens to the opposing face 28 is formed in the cylinder body 29, and an air supply rod 32 is mounted in the guide hole 31 so as to be reciprocally movable in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 3A, the air supply rod 32 moves between a protruding position where the tip end face of the air supply rod 32, that is, the protruding face 33, protrudes from the opposing face 28 and a retracted position where the protruding face 33 has retracted from this protruding position. A spring chamber 35 that communicates with the guide hole 31 via a stepped face 34 in the radial direction is formed in the cylinder body 29, and the inner diameter of the spring chamber 35 is larger than the inner diameter of the guide hole 31. An on-off valve 36 is formed by a large-diameter portion provided at the rear end portion of the air supply rod 32, and the on-off valve 36 opens and closes within the spring chamber 35.

[0019] An air guide path 37 is formed extending in the axial direction in the air supply rod 32, and an outlet 38 of the air guide path 37 is formed in the protruding face 33. The spring chamber 35 is connected to a compressed air supply source 41 by an air supply path 39, and compressed air is supplied to the spring chamber 35. A communication path 42 is formed between the base end portion of the air supply rod 32 and the cylinder body 29, and the spring chamber 35 and the air guide path 37 are communicated with each other by the communication path 42.

[0020] The compression coil spring 43 is disposed in the spring chamber 35. The tip of the compression coil spring 43 abuts against the end face of the on-off valve 36, that is, the rear end face of the air supply rod 32, and the rear end of the compression coil spring 43 abuts against the bottom wall of the cylinder main body 29. A spring force in a direction in which the protruding surface 33 of the air supply rod 32 protrudes more than the opposing surface 28 is applied to the air supply rod 32 by the compression coil spring 43. The on-off valve seal member 44 is disposed between the on-off valve 36 and the stepped surface 34. The on-off valve 36 is pressed against the stepped surface 34 via the on-off valve seal member 44 by the compression coil spring 43, and the communication between the spring chamber 35 and the air guide passage 37 is blocked. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3A, the protruding surface 33 of the air supply rod 32 protrudes from the opposing surface 28. On the other hand, when the protruding surface 33 is pressed by the connection surface 13 of the self-propelled carriage 10, as shown in FIG. 3B, the on-off valve 36 moves backward against the spring force, the communication passage 42 is opened, and the spring chamber 35 and the air guide passage 37 communicate with each other through the communication passage 42.

[0021] The space between the outer peripheral surface of the air supply rod 32 and the inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 31 is sealed by a seal member 45 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the air supply rod 32. The space between the protruding surface 33 of the air supply rod 32 and the connection surface 13 is sealed by a butting seal member 46 provided at the tip of the air supply rod 32. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the protruding surface 33 of the air supply rod 32 abuts against the connection surface 13 and moves backward, the spring chamber 35 and the air guide passage 37 communicate with each other through the communication passage 42, and the space between the protruding surface 33 and the connection surface 13 is sealed, so that the compressed air supplied from the compressed air supply source 41 is supplied to the air tank 12 as a pneumatic device through the air inflow passage 15.

[0022] In this way, the on-off valve 36 blocks the communication between the compressed air supply source 41 and the air guide passage 37 when the air supply rod 32 is in the protruding position, and when the connection surface 13 abuts against the protruding surface 33 and the air supply rod 32 is in the retracted position, the compressed air supply source 41 and the air inflow passage 15 are communicated with each other through the air guide passage 37.

[0023] The self-propelled carriage 10 is provided with a first magnet 47 having its surface exposed on the connection surface 13. Opposite to the first magnet 47 which is a magnet on the moving device side, the cylinder body 29 of the air supply head 27a is provided with a second magnet 48 having its surface exposed on the opposing surface 28. The magnets 47 and 48 are annular permanent magnets. The inlet 14 is located at the radial center of the magnet 47, and the outlet 38 is located at the radial center of the magnet 48. The magnetic poles of the exposed surface of the magnet 47 and the magnetic poles of the exposed surface of the magnet 48 are set to opposite polarities.

[0024] The air supply head 27a is mounted on the support plate 25 by an elastic member 26 and is movable in the horizontal direction. The connection surface 13 of the self-propelled carriage 10 is brought close to the protruding surface 33 of the air supply head 27a. When they are brought close, even if the outlet 38 and the inlet 14 are misaligned, as shown in Fig. 2B, the air supply head 27a is attracted to the self-propelled carriage 10 by magnetic force, and the two magnets 47 and 48 are adhered by magnetic adsorption force. As a result, the outlet 38 and the inlet 14 are centered so as to be coaxial, the protruding surface 33 abuts against the connection surface 13, and the air guide path 37 communicates with the air inflow path 15. Under this state, when compressed air is discharged from the compressed air supply source 41, the compressed air is supplied to the air tank 12 provided in the self-propelled carriage 10.

[0025] As described above, the compressed air supply device 20 has a simple structure including a cylinder body 29 composed of a pneumatic cylinder equipped with an air supply rod 32. When the protruding surface 33 of the air supply head 27a abuts against the connection surface 13 of the self-propelled carriage 10, the outlet 38 communicates with the inlet 14, and the cylinder body 29 can supply compressed air to the pneumatic equipment of the self-propelled carriage 10 as a communication member for compressed air. Moreover, by closely adhering the magnet 47 of the self-propelled carriage 10 and the magnet 48 of the air supply head 27a with magnetic adsorption force, the outlet 38 and the inlet 14 can be aligned and communicated with each other with a simple structure. Since the self-propelled carriage 10 and the air supply head 27a are joined by magnetic force, the sealing force between the protruding surface 33 and the connection surface 13 is enhanced by the magnetic force. Further, an on-off valve 36 is provided at the base end portion of the air supply rod 32. When the protruding surface 33 of the air supply rod 32 abuts against the connection surface 13, the air supply rod 32 has a function of opening the communication passage 42. As described above, although the air supply rod 32 has a simple structure, it has a function of supplying compressed air to the air inflow passage 15 and a function of opening and closing the communication passage 42.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the abutting seal member 46 is provided on the protruding surface 33 of the air supply rod 32, but the abutting seal member 46 may be provided on the connection surface 13 of the self-propelled carriage 10. The seal member for sealing between the protruding surface 33 and the connection surface 13 may be provided on at least one of the connection surface 13 and the protruding surface 33.

[0027] Since the exposed surface of the magnet 47 is flush with the connection surface 13 and the exposed surface of the magnet 48 is flush with the opposing surface 28, when the protruding surface 33 abuts against the connection surface 13, the protruding surface 33 assumes a retracted position flush with the opposing surface 28. On the other hand, the exposed surface of the magnet 47 may be provided on the connection surface 13 so as to protrude from the connection surface 13, and the exposed surface of the magnet 48 may be provided on the opposing surface 28 so as to protrude from the opposing surface 28. Thus, when at least one of the two magnets 47 and 48 protrudes, when the two magnets 47 and 48 are in close contact, the protruding surface 33 assumes a retracted position that protrudes more than the position shown in FIG. 3B.

[0028] Figs. 4A to 4C are cross-sectional views showing an air supply head 27b of a compressed air supply device according to another embodiment. In these figures, members having commonality with the members constituting the above-described air supply head 27a are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0029] A cylinder hole 51 is formed in a cylinder body 29, and a small-diameter guide hole 52 communicating with the cylinder hole 51 is formed in the cylinder body 29. The guide hole 52 opens to a facing surface 28. A separating piston 53 is reciprocally mounted in the cylinder hole 51, and a hollow separating rod 54 provided on the separating piston 53 is slidably inserted into the guide hole 52. Figs. 4A and 4B show a state where the separating piston 53 has moved to a retracted limit position. At this time, the tip surface 55 of the separating rod 54 is substantially flush with the facing surface 28. On the other hand, Fig. 4C shows a state where the separating piston 53 has reached a forward limit position. At this time, the tip surface 55 of the separating rod 54 protrudes from the facing surface.

[0030] A seal member 56 that contacts the cylinder hole 51 is provided on the separating piston 53. The separating piston 53 provided in the cylinder hole 51 forms a forward air pressure chamber 57 and a backward air pressure chamber 58. A forward air supply passage 39a is connected to the forward air pressure chamber 57, and a backward air supply passage 39b is connected to the backward air pressure chamber 58. A flow path switching valve 59 is provided between both air supply passages 39a and 39b and a compressed air supply source 41. When the compressed air from the compressed air supply source 41 is supplied to the backward air pressure chamber 58 via the flow path switching valve 59, as shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, the separating piston 53 reaches the retracted limit position. On the other hand, when the compressed air from the compressed air supply source 41 is supplied to the forward air pressure chamber 57, as shown in Fig. 4C, the separating piston 53 reaches the forward limit position. A seal member 45a is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 52, and the space between the outer peripheral surface of the separating rod 54 and the inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 52 is sealed.

[0031] The guide hole 31 and the spring chamber 35 are formed in the separation rod 54. The air supply rod 32 is coaxially and movably incorporated in the guide hole 31, and the on-off valve 36 provided at the base end of the air supply rod 32 is disposed in the spring chamber 35. The spring chamber 35 communicates with the air pressure chamber 58 for retraction through the communication hole 60 formed in the separation rod 54, and the spring chamber 35 communicates with the compressed air supply source 41 through the air pressure chamber 58.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4A, when the separation piston 53 is set at the retracted limit position and the air supply rod 32 is driven by the spring force and the protruding surface 33 protrudes from the opposing surface 28, when the self-propelled carriage 10 approaches the air supply head 27b, as shown in FIG. 4B, the magnet 48 of the air supply head 27b adheres to the magnet 47 of the self-propelled carriage 10 by magnetic force. As a result, the centering is performed so that the outlet 38 coincides with the inlet 14, and the air supply rod 32 moves backward against the spring force, and the on-off valve 36 opens the communication passage 42. Therefore, the compressed air discharged from the compressed air supply source 41 is supplied to the air inflow passage 15 through the communication hole 60, the communication passage 42, and the air guide passage 37.

[0033] The compressed air supplied to the air inflow passage 15 fills the air tank 12. When the filling of the air tank 12 is completed, as shown in FIG. 4C, the flow path switching valve 59 is operated to supply compressed air to the air pressure chamber 57 for forward movement. As a result, the separation rod 54 protrudes to the forward limit position against the attracting force of the magnets 47 and 48, and the air supply head 27b is separated from the self-propelled carriage 10. When compressed air is supplied to the air pressure chamber 58 for retraction by the flow path switching valve 59 in a state where the air supply head 27b is separated from the self-propelled carriage 10, as shown in FIG. 4A, the separation piston 53 is returned to the retracted limit position.

[0034] The air supply head 27b of the above-described form is coaxially disposed inside the separation rod 54 of the air supply rod 32, achieving miniaturization of the compressed air supply device equipped with the separation mechanism with a simple structure, and can supply compressed air to the pneumatic equipment in the self-propelled cart 10 by the air pressure from the compressed air supply source 41, and the air supply head 27b can be separated from the self-propelled cart 10.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the air supply head 27c of the compressed air supply device 20 according to still another embodiment.

[0036] The cylinder body 29 of the air supply head 27c is of a double-rod type, and a cylinder hole 61 is formed in the cylinder body 29. A small-diameter guide hole 62 communicating with the cylinder hole 61 is formed in the front end wall portion of the cylinder body 29, and a small-diameter guide hole 63 communicating with the cylinder hole 61 is formed in the rear end wall portion of the cylinder body 29, and both the guide holes 62, 63 and the cylinder hole 61 are coaxial. An air supply piston 64 is reciprocally mounted in the cylinder hole 61, and an air supply rod 32a slidably mounted in the guide hole 62 is provided on the front surface side of the air supply piston 64, and an air supply rod 32b slidably mounted in the guide hole 63 is provided on the rear surface side of the air supply piston 64. The air supply piston 64 and the air supply rods 32a, 32b are integrally formed. A seal member 65 contacting the cylinder hole 61 is provided on the air supply piston 64, a seal member 66 contacting the air supply rod 32a is provided on the cylinder body 29, and a seal member 67 contacting the air supply rod 32b is provided on the cylinder body 29.

[0037] The end face of the air supply rod 32a is the protruding surface 33, and the air guiding path 37 penetrates between the end face 68 of the air supply rod 32b and the protruding surface 33. In this air supply head 27c, when the protruding surface 33 is brought into contact with the connecting surface 13, the protruding surface 33 is substantially flush with the opposing surface 28, and at this time, the air supply piston 64 is in the retracted limit position. Therefore, when the air supply head 27c is brought close to the self-propelled carriage 10, the magnet 48 of the air supply head 27c adheres closely to the magnet 47 of the self-propelled carriage 10 by magnetic force. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the protruding surface 33 is in a retracted position substantially the same as the opposing surface 28.

[0038] An air supply path 69 connected to the compressed air supply source 41 is connected to the air supply rod 32b, and an on-off valve 71 is provided in the air supply path 69. The on-off valve 71 switches between a state in which the air supply path 69 is opened to supply the compressed air discharged from the compressed air supply source 41 to the air guiding path 37 and a state in which the air supply path 69 is blocked. Therefore, this on-off valve 71 blocks the communication between the compressed air supply source 41 and the air guiding path 37 when the protruding surface 33 is separated from the connecting surface 13, and when the connecting surface 13 abuts against the protruding surface 33, in order to supply compressed air to the pneumatic equipment of the self-propelled carriage 10, the compressed air supply source 41 and the air inflow path 15 are communicated via the air guiding path 37.

[0039] Before the compressed air is supplied, in both cases where the protruding surface 33 is separated from the connecting surface 13 and where the connecting surface 13 abuts against the protruding surface 33, the protruding surface 33 is in substantially the same position as the opposing surface 28 as shown in FIG. 5. The on-off valve 71 opens the air supply path 69 in response to a signal from the outside detecting that the connecting surface 13 has abutted against the protruding surface 33.

[0040] An air supply piston 64 provided in the cylinder hole 61 forms a forward air pressure chamber 72 and a backward air pressure chamber 73. A forward air supply passage 39a is connected to the forward air pressure chamber 72, and a backward air supply passage 39b is connected to the backward air pressure chamber 73. A flow path switching valve 59 is provided between both the air supply passages 39a, 39b and the compressed air supply source 41. When the compressed air from the compressed air supply source 41 is supplied to the backward air pressure chamber 73 via the flow path switching valve 59, as shown in FIG. 5, the air supply piston 64 reaches the backward limit position. On the other hand, when the compressed air from the compressed air supply source 41 is supplied to the forward air pressure chamber 72, the air supply piston 64 reaches the forward limit position, and the protruding surface 33 of the air supply rod 32a protrudes forward of the opposing surface 28 from the position shown in FIG. 5.

[0041] When the protruding surface 33 protrudes, the magnet 48 of the air supply head 27c is separated from the magnet 47 of the self-propelled carriage 10. Thus, the air supply rod 32 also functions as a separating rod for separating the air supply head adsorbed to the self-propelled carriage 10 from the self-propelled carriage 10.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an air supply head 27d of a compressed air supply device 20 according to still another embodiment.

[0043] The cylinder main body 29 has substantially the same basic structure as the cylinder main body 29 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. An air supply rod 32 is reciprocally mounted in a guide hole 31 formed in the cylinder main body 29. An on-off valve 36 integrated with the rear end portion of the air supply rod 32 is disposed in a spring chamber 35, and a spring force in the direction toward the forward limit position is applied to the on-off valve 36 and the air supply rod 32 by a compression coil spring 43. The outlet 38 of an air guide passage 37 formed in the air supply rod 32 opens to the protruding surface 33, and the air guide passage 37 communicates with the spring chamber 35 via a communication passage 42.

[0044] The cylinder body 29 of the air supply head 27d is attached with two separation cylinders 74 and 75 each composed of an air cylinder. Each of the separation cylinders 74 and 75 has a separation rod 74a and 75a protruding forward. When the protruding surface 33 is abutted against the connection surface 13 to communicate the air guide path 37 with the air inflow path 15 and supply compressed air to the pneumatic equipment of the self-propelled cart 10, and then the air supply head 27d is separated from the connection surface 13, the separation rods 74a and 75a of the respective separation cylinders 74 and 75 are protruded. The number of separation cylinders attached to the air supply head 27d is not limited to two. However, when a plurality of separation cylinders are attached, the air supply head 27d can be separated from the self-propelled cart 10 without tilting it.

[0045] The abutting seal member 46 for sealing between the connection surface 13 and the protruding surface 33 is provided on the connection surface 13, which is different from the above-described form. That is, the abutting seal member 46 is provided in an annular groove formed in the connection surface 13. In the air supply heads 27a to 27c of each of the above-described forms, the abutting seal member 46 may be provided on the connection surface 13.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 6, the magnet 47 provided on the connection surface 13 protrudes slightly from the connection surface 13. Similarly, the magnet 48 provided on the opposing surface 28 protrudes slightly from the opposing surface 28. In this case, when both magnets 47 and 48 are in contact and the protruding surface 33 is in contact with the connection surface 13, the opposing surface 28 is not in contact with the connection surface 13. In the air supply heads 27a to 27c of each of the above-described forms, the respective magnets 47 and 48 may be protruded.

[0047] Each of the magnets 47 and 48 is integrally formed in a ring shape. However, by attaching a plurality of magnets at the same radius position from the center of the inlet 14, the magnet 47 on the connection surface 13 side may be formed by a plurality of magnet pieces. Similarly, by attaching a plurality of magnets at the same radius position from the center of the outlet 38, the magnet 48 on the opposing surface 28 side may be formed by a plurality of magnet pieces. Although the surfaces of the respective magnets 47 and 48 are exposed to the outside, the surfaces may be covered with a thin protective film. Also, either one or both of the respective magnets 47 and 48 may be an electromagnet.

[0048] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof. This compressed air supply device 20 is suitable when the self-propelled carriage 10 cannot be positioned at a predetermined position of the air supply head, but can also be applied when the self-propelled carriage 10 can be positioned at a high accuracy with respect to the air supply head. Although the self-propelled carriage 10 is shown as a moving device, that is, a moving object, the present invention is not limited to the self-propelled carriage 10, and can be applied to any moving object equipped with a device operated by air pressure as long as compressed air is supplied thereto. Further, as the pneumatic device to which compressed air is supplied, not only an air tank for supplying compressed air to a pneumatic actuator or a pneumatic control device, but also the pneumatic actuator or the pneumatic control device may be directly supplied with compressed air as a pneumatic device.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0049] 10 Self-propelled carriage 11 Wheels 12 Air tank 13 Connection surface 14 Inlet 15 Air inlet passage 20 Compressed air supply device 21 Support member 27a~27d Air supply head 28 Opposing surface 29 Cylinder body 31 Guide hole 32 Air supply rod 33 Protruding surface 36 On-off valve 37 Air guide path 38 Outlet 39 Air supply path 41 Compressed air supply source 47 First magnet 48 Second magnet 53 Separation piston 54 Separation rod 64 Air supply piston 69 Air supply path 71 On-off valve 74, 75 Separation cylinder 74a, 75a Separation rod

Claims

1. A compressed air supply device that supplies compressed air from an inlet of an air inflow passage communicating with a pneumatic device mounted on a mobile device to the pneumatic device, comprising: an air supply head provided with a facing surface facing a connection surface provided with the inlet and mounted on a support member; an air supply rod disposed on the air supply head so as to be reciprocable between a protruding position where a protruding surface protrudes more than the facing surface and a retracted position where the protruding surface retracts from the protruding position; an air guide passage formed in the air supply rod and having an outlet provided in the protruding surface; an on-off valve that blocks communication between a compressed air supply source and the air guide passage when the protruding surface is separated from the connection surface, and that communicates the compressed air supply source and the air inflow passage through the air guide passage when the connection surface abuts against the protruding surface; a first magnet provided on the connection surface; a second magnet provided on the facing surface and magnetically attracted to the first magnet when the facing surface approaches the connection surface to align the outlet with the inlet; and a compressed air supply device provided with a separation rod on the air supply head that separates the air supply head from the connection surface against the attracting force between the first magnet and the second magnet.

2. A compressed air supply device that supplies compressed air from an inlet of an air inflow passage communicating with a pneumatic device mounted on a mobile device to the pneumatic device, comprising: an air supply head provided with a facing surface facing a connection surface provided with the inlet and mounted on a support member; an air supply rod disposed on the air supply head so as to be reciprocable between a protruding position where a protruding surface protrudes more than the facing surface and a retracted position where the protruding surface retracts from the protruding position; an air guide passage formed in the air supply rod and having an outlet provided in the protruding surface; an on-off valve that blocks communication between a compressed air supply source and the air guide passage when the protruding surface is separated from the connection surface, and that communicates the compressed air supply source and the air inflow passage through the air guide passage when the connection surface abuts against the protruding surface; a first magnet provided on the connection surface; a second magnet provided on the facing surface and magnetically attracted to the first magnet when the facing surface approaches the connection surface to align the outlet with the inlet; and a separation piston movably mounted in a cylinder hole formed in the air supply head. A hollow separation rod into which the air supply rod is movably incorporated is provided on the separation piston. A compressed air supply device that drives the separation rod by the separation piston.

3. In the compressed air supply device according to claim 1 or 2, the on-off valve is provided on the air supply rod, the on-off valve shuts off the communication between the compressed air supply source and the air guide path when the air supply rod is in the protruding position, and when the connection surface abuts against the protruding surface and the air supply rod reaches the retracted position, it allows the compressed air supply source and the air inflow path to communicate with each other through the air guide path. A compressed air supply device.

4. In the compressed air supply device according to claim 1 or 3, a separation cylinder for driving the separation rod is provided on the air supply head. A compressed air supply device.

5. A compressed air supply device that supplies compressed air from an inlet of an air inflow path communicating with a pneumatic device mounted on a moving device to the pneumatic device, an air supply head that is provided with a facing surface facing the connection surface provided with the inlet and is mounted on a support member, an air supply rod that is disposed on the air supply head so as to be reciprocable between a protruding position where the protruding surface protrudes more than the facing surface and a retracted position where the protruding surface retracts more than the protruding position, an air guide path formed in the air supply rod and having an outlet provided on the protruding surface, an on-off valve that shuts off the communication between the compressed air supply source and the air guide path when the protruding surface is separated from the connection surface, and allows the compressed air supply source and the air inflow path to communicate with each other through the air guide path when the connection surface abuts against the protruding surface, a first magnet provided on the connection surface, a second magnet provided on the facing surface that is magnetically attracted to the first magnet when the facing surface approaches the connection surface to align the outlet with the inlet, an air supply piston that is movably mounted in a cylinder hole formed in the air supply head and is integrally provided with the air supply rod, a guide hole that communicates with the cylinder hole and has a smaller diameter than the cylinder hole, in the cylinder hole, an air chamber for forward movement and an air chamber for backward movement are formed by the air supply piston, the on-off valve is provided in an air supply path connected to the air guide path of the air supply rod, the air supply piston moves between a retracted position where the protruding surface contacts the connection surface and a protruding position where it separates the air supply head from the connection surface against the adsorption force between the first magnet and the second magnet. A compressed air supply device.

6. In the compressed air supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A compressed air supply device, wherein the surface of the first magnet is substantially flush with the connection surface, and the surface of the second magnet is substantially flush with the opposing surface.

7. In the compressed air supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, A compressed air supply device provided with a butting seal member on at least one of the connection surface and the protruding surface.

8. In the compressed air supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, A compressed air supply device, wherein either one or both of the first magnet and the second magnet are electromagnets.

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