Material handling lifting device

Abstract

Facilitates the transport of materials to different levels. [Solution] A material transport lifting device 100 is equipped with an electric hoist 10 that can travel on a tier rail 11 and lift materials WK while suspending them. The tier rail 11 has an exposed edge 11a facing a through-space 2 that passes vertically between the tiers, and is equipped with a rail elevator 20 that can raise and lower a lifting rail 21 that is installed within the through-space 2 and can be positioned so that it is continuous with the edge 11a of each tier rail 11 that faces the through-space 2. With the rail elevator 20, the lifting rail 21 is raised and lowered to a height continuous with the edge 11a of the floor rail 11 of the floor where the electric hoist 10 is located, and the electric hoist 10 is then moved from the floor rail 11 to the lifting rail 21, and the lifting rail 21 including the electric hoist 10 is then raised and lowered so as to be continuous with the edge 11a of the floor rail 11 of the floor to which the electric hoist 10 is to be moved, and the electric hoist 10 is moved from the lifting rail 21 to the floor rail 11 to which the electric hoist 10 is to be moved.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to material handling and lifting equipment. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in factories, construction sites, demolition sites, etc., conveying devices known as lifting devices, cargo handling devices, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "material transport lifting devices") have been used to move heavy materials such as tools, work equipment, finished products, and semi-finished products. Such material transport lifting devices include, for example, a crane with an electric hoist that moves a suspended load such as a structural part manufactured inside a building such as a factory in the vertical direction and moves the suspended load along a rail installed on the ceiling side.

[0003] In such a hoist crane, rails made of I-beams or the like are installed on the ceiling of the building in order to move the electric hoist to a desired position. Generally, as shown in Fig. 17, a movable rail 912 that crosses a pair of parallel fixed rails 911 so as to bridge the gap between them is moved back and forth along the fixed rails 911, and the electric hoist is moved laterally on the movable rail 912, thereby allowing the electric hoist to be moved to a desired position within a wide area.

[0004] However, in the case of a multi-story building, materials could only be moved within the range of rails laid within each floor, and it was not possible to transport materials between floors. Therefore, in the past, materials had to be carried to the elevator by a hoist crane, unloaded, loaded onto the elevator, and then moved to the desired floor, after which the materials had to be unloaded from the elevator and loaded onto the hoist crane again for further transport. This required multiple reloading operations, resulting in a lot of unnecessary work. Furthermore, installing an elevator required annual inspections, which created the problem of time-consuming maintenance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-213933 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a material transporting and lifting device that facilitates the transport of materials to different floors. Another object is to provide a material transporting and lifting device that is easy to install in a building. Note that the description of these objects and objects of the present disclosure does not preclude the existence of other objects and objects. Furthermore, it is not necessary for one embodiment of the present disclosure to solve all of these objects. Furthermore, other objects can be extracted from the description of the specification, drawings, and claims of the present disclosure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A material transporting and lifting device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is a material transporting and lifting device for suspending and transporting materials in a building having multiple floors, and is equipped with a floor rail installed on the ceiling side of each floor for each floor to which materials are moved, and an electric hoist that can run on the floor rail and suspend and lift materials, and the floor rail has an exposed edge facing a through space that passes vertically between floors, and is installed within the through space and positioned so as to be continuous with the edge of each floor rail facing the through space. The electric hoist is then moved from the elevator rail to the elevator rail in a state in which the electric hoist is located at a height adjacent to the edge of the story rail of the story where the electric hoist is located, and the electric hoist is then moved from the elevator rail to the elevator rail, and the electric hoist is then raised or lowered so that the elevator rail including the electric hoist is adjacent to the edge of the story rail of the destination story, thereby moving the electric hoist from the elevator rail to the story rail of the destination story. With the above configuration, when transporting materials to a different story, it is possible to move materials between different stories while they are still suspended from the electric hoist, eliminating the need to hoist the materials onto the electric hoist and move them to a location where an elevator is located, then lowering them from the electric hoist and transferring them onto the elevator, raising and lowering them to the desired story, and then lowering them from the elevator and transferring them onto the electric hoist of that story. In particular, in the past, movement using an electric hoist was limited to the floor on which the electric hoist was installed, and it was not possible to transport materials between different floors. In contrast, by providing a rail elevator, the hoist rail can be raised and lowered while the materials are still suspended, without the need to be reloaded, providing the advantage of facilitating transportation between different floors.

[0008] In addition, in the material transporting lifting device according to the second aspect, in the above-mentioned aspect, the rail lifter has a lifting guide that guides at least one edge of the lifting rail and is provided in the vertical direction along the through-space. With the above-mentioned configuration, by raising and lowering the lifting rail along the lifting guide, it is possible to change the height position of the lifting rail while stably maintaining a constant attitude.

[0009] Furthermore, in the material transporting and lifting device according to a third aspect, in any one of the above aspects, the lifting guide is a lip channel steel.

[0010] Furthermore, in the material transport lifting device according to form 4, in any of the above forms, the rail lifter is provided with a stopper for each story that holds the lift rail so that the lift rail is at a height continuous with the story rail of each story. With the above configuration, the stopper can hold the lift rail at the same height as the story rail of each story, allowing the electric hoist to move smoothly between the story rail and the lift rail.

[0011] Furthermore, in the material transport lifting device according to form 5, in any of the above forms, the stopper is configured to be retractable. With this configuration, when raising or lowering the lifting rail, the stopper can be retracted to avoid the stopper interfering with the raising or lowering of the lifting rail, and on the other hand, when maintaining the lifting rail at the same height as the floor rail, the stopper can be pulled out to stably hold the lifting rail and allow the electric hoist to move smoothly, which is advantageous.

[0012] Furthermore, in the material transporting lifting device according to aspect 6, in any of the above aspects, the tier rails are configured as units of a predetermined size, and the installation of the tier rails for each tier can be achieved by connecting multiple tier rails. With this configuration, tier rails of a desired length can be constructed by connecting tier rails configured as units of a predetermined size, which has the advantage of simplifying the installation work of the tier rails.

[0013] Furthermore, in the material transporting and lifting device according to a seventh aspect, in any one of the above aspects, the through-space is provided at an end edge of the story rail on each story.

[0014] Furthermore, in the material transporting and lifting device according to an eighth aspect, in any one of the above aspects, the through-space is provided in the middle of the story rails on each story.

[0015] Furthermore, in the material transporting and lifting device according to form 9, in any of the above forms, the stair rails intersect on each level, and the device is provided with a rail swivel that can swivel a swivel rail that is positioned at the intersecting position of the stair rails and can be positioned so as to be continuous with the edge of each intersecting level rail. This configuration makes it possible to arrange the stair rails in an intersecting manner, allowing for flexible arrangement of the stair rails and making it possible to move the electric hoist to the intersecting level rails. Furthermore, when multiple electric hoists are used on the same stair rail, when the electric hoists face each other, it is possible to use the rail swivel to retract one electric hoist to allow the other electric hoist to pass.

[0016] Furthermore, a material transporting and lifting device according to form 10 is a material transporting and lifting device for suspending and transporting materials in a building, and includes: stair rails installed on the ceiling side of the building; and an electric hoist that can run on the stair rails and suspend and lift materials; the stair rails are intersected; and the device includes a rail swivel that can swivel a swivel rail that is positioned at the intersecting position and can be positioned so as to be continuous with the edge of each intersecting stair rail. This configuration makes it possible to arrange the stair rails in an intersecting manner, allowing for flexible arrangement of the stair rails and making it possible to move the electric hoist to the intersecting stair rails.

[0017] Furthermore, the material transporting and lifting device according to form 11, in any of the above forms, further comprises a sensor for detecting the position of the electric hoist, and a control unit electrically connected to the sensor for controlling the operation of the electric hoist, wherein the control unit is configured to grasp the current position of the electric hoist using information from the sensor and control the movement of the electric hoist and the raising and lowering of the lifting rail. With the above configuration, the control unit can grasp the positions of the electric hoists, thereby avoiding interference between the electric hoists.

[0018] Furthermore, in the material transporting and lifting device according to aspect 12, in any of the above aspects, the sensor is a limit switch that is arranged along the floor rail and can detect the passage of the electric hoist.

[0019] Furthermore, in the material transporting and lifting device according to aspect 13, in any one of the above aspects, the electric hoist is battery-powered. With this configuration, it becomes possible to drive the electric hoist wirelessly, improving operability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a material transporting and lifting device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the lift rail taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 1 is a system diagram of a material transporting and lifting device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing how materials on the lower floor in FIG. 1 are hoisted. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing how the lift rail is pulled up to an upper floor from the state shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the state in which the electric hoist is moved from the lifting rail to the floor rail of an upper floor, from the state shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the lift rail taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 1. [Figure 9] FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a material transporting and lifting device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the material handling and lifting device of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a material transporting and lifting device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 12] 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the material handling and lifting device of FIG. 11. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a material transporting and lifting device according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 14] 14 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the material handling and lifting device of FIG. 13. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a material transporting and lifting device according to a modified example. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a material transporting and lifting device according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional crane with an electric hoist. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a material transporting and lifting device according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is an enlarged plan view showing the rail swivel of FIG. 18. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view showing a charging section of a material transporting and lifting device according to a seventh embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a material transporting and lifting device according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples for embodying the technical concepts of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to the following. Furthermore, this specification does not in any way specify the components set forth in the claims to be those of the embodiments. The dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of components described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, and are merely illustrative examples, unless otherwise specified. The size and positional relationships of components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity. Furthermore, in the following description, the same names and symbols indicate components that are identical or of the same quality, and detailed descriptions will be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, the elements constituting the present disclosure may be configured with the same components, such that multiple elements are shared by one component, or conversely, the functions of one component may be shared by multiple components.

[0022] The material transporting and lifting device of the present disclosure is mainly installed on each floor inside a building, and enables the transport of materials between different floors. Below, as the material transporting and lifting device according to the first embodiment, a structure for moving materials between floors in a factory having multiple floors will be described, but the present disclosure is not limited to such completed buildings, and can also be applied to buildings under construction or being demolished. [Embodiment 1]

[0023] 1 to 8 show a material transporting lifting device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. In these figures, Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the material transporting lifting device 100 according to the first embodiment, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the lifting rail 21, Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the lifting rail 21 in Fig. 1 taken along line III-III, Fig. 4 is a system diagram of the material transporting lifting device 100 according to the first embodiment, Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the state in Fig. 1 where material WK is being lifted from a lower floor, Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the state where the lifting rail 21 is being pulled up to an upper floor from the state in Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the state where the electric hoist 10 is being moved from the lifting rail 21 to the floor rail 11 on an upper floor from the state in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the lifting rail 21 in Fig. 1 taken along line VIII-VIII. The material transport lifting device 100 shown in these figures allows an electric hoist 10 to run along floor rails 11 installed on the ceiling side of each floor in a multi-story factory (three floors in Figure 1). (Electric hoist 10)

[0024] The electric hoist 10 travels along a storied rail 11 laid along the ceiling of each floor of the building BD. The electric hoist 10 is equipped with a rope drum 13 around which a wire rope 12 is wound. This rope drum 13 is rotated by a hoisting motor 14 and has the function of winding and unwinding the wire rope 12 connected to the suspended load, i.e., the material WK to be transported. If necessary, a weight or the like may be hung from the other end of the wire rope 12. The electric hoist 10 is also equipped with a travel motor 15 for traveling on the storied rail 11. Driving this travel motor 15 moves the electric hoist 10 along the storied rail 11. Such an electric hoist 10 can be appropriately made of known components, such as a traveling hoist capable of lifting and lowering the material WK. Multiple electric hoists 10 may be installed. Preferably, one or more electric hoists 10 are installed on each floor. This allows the materials WK to be lifted by the electric hoist 10 on each floor, making it possible to transport the materials WK within the floors.

[0025] Furthermore, for the horizontal movement and suspension operations of the electric hoist 10, a dedicated wireless or wired console may be provided for each electric hoist, or a control unit may be installed that centrally manages the operations of multiple electric hoists and each device, including the rail elevators described below. The control unit may be a dedicated controller, or may be operated by installing an operating application on a general-purpose PC, tablet, smartphone, etc., or by using a web application, etc.

[0026] Furthermore, it is preferable to use wireless connections rather than wired connections with each device to be operated, such as the electric hoist 10. Wireless connection methods that can be used include radio waves, microwaves, optical communications, etc. For radio waves, short-range wireless, wireless PAN, wireless LAN, etc. are available. In particular, standardized wireless communications such as WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, and Sub-1 GHz (all of which are product or service names or trademarks) enable low-cost implementation and introduction. In particular, it is preferable to use a communication method that supports low power consumption, such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) (trademark or service name). (Level Rail 11)

[0027] The floor rails 11 can be made of known materials such as I-beams that can run with the electric hoist 10 suspended from them. (Through space 2)

[0028] The material transporting and lifting device 100 also has a through space 2 that passes vertically between the floors. The through space 2 serves as an elevator space for transporting materials WK between the floors. In the example of Figure 1, the through space 2 is provided at the end edge 11a (on the right side in the figure) of the floor rail 11 on each floor. The floor rail 11 on each floor has the end edge 11a exposed, facing the through space 2. (Rail lift 20)

[0029] Furthermore, a rail elevator 20 capable of raising and lowering the lifting rail 21 is installed within the through-space 2. The rail elevator 20 has a rail hoisting machine 24 driven by a lifting motor 23 installed above it, and raises and lowers the lifting rail 21 via a lifting wire 22. The lifting wire 22 may be made of a metal wire, or may be a chain or a rope. Note that although the example shown in Fig. 1 uses two lifting wires 22, one or three or more wires may be used. (Lift rail 21)

[0030] The lifting motor 23 is controlled to position the lifting rail 21 so that it is continuous with the end edge 11a of each level rail 11 facing the through-space 2. For this reason, the lifting rail 21 has the same shape as the level rails 11. The lifting rail 21 is also formed to a length that can hold the electric hoist 10. For example, the length of the lifting rail 21 is set to 1 m to 1.5 m.

[0031] Furthermore, a connecting structure for fixing the lifting wire 22 is provided on the upper part of the lifting rail 21. In the example shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 2, a base 25 is fixed to the upper surface of the lifting rail 21, and a connecting structure for the lifting wire 22 is provided on this base 25.

[0032] A buffer section 26 may also be provided on a portion of the lift wire 22. The buffer section 26 may be made of an elastic member such as a coil spring. By providing the buffer section 26 on the lift wire 22, when a stopper 28C (described later) is provided on the top floor as shown in FIG. 1, the operation of the lift rail 21 when it abuts against the stopper 28C can be stabilized.

[0033] It is preferable to move and hold the lift rail 21 at a height approximately equal to that of the stratum rail 11. In particular, if there is a step between the lift rail 21 and the stratum rail 11, it may be difficult to overcome the step depending on the output of the electric hoist 10 and the size of the wheels. For example, the lift rail 21 can be raised and lowered slightly by the rail elevator 20, making it easier to overcome the boundary between the lift rail 21 and the stratum rail 11. Specifically, when moving the electric hoist 10 from the stratum rail 11 to the lift rail 21, the rail elevator 20 can be used to slightly lower the lift rail 21 to a position slightly lower than the stratum rail 11, creating a downward slope at the boundary, making it easier to overcome. Conversely, when moving the electric hoist 10 from the lift rail 21 to the stratum rail 11, the lift rail 21 can be raised slightly to a position slightly higher than the stratum rail 11, creating a downward slope at the boundary, making it easier to overcome. (Lifting guide 27)

[0034] The rail elevator 20 has a lift guide 27 that guides at least one end edge 21b of the lift rail 21, and is provided vertically along the through-space 2. This configuration allows the lift rail 21 to be raised and lowered along the lift guide 27, making it possible to stably change the height position of the lift rail 21 while maintaining a constant posture. As shown in the horizontal cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the lift guide 27 can be made of a lip channel steel (a so-called C-channel). In the examples of FIGS. 1 and 3, the lift guide 27 is provided only on the right side of the lift rail 21 in each figure. This cantilever design allows the left side of the lift rail 21 to be free to connect with the floor rail 11, while the right side is guided by the lift guide 27 to achieve positioning. (Stopper 28)

[0035] The rail elevator 20 may also be provided with stoppers 28 on each level that keep the lifting rails 21 at the same height as the level rails 11 on each level. This allows the stoppers 28 to keep the lifting rails 21 at the same height as the level rails 11 on each level, making the level rails 11 and lifting rails 21 continuous and allowing the electric hoist 10 to move smoothly between the level rails 11 and lifting rails 21.

[0036] The stoppers 28 are preferably provided at the bottom or top of the tier rails 11. On the lowest and top levels, the stoppers 28 can be provided as backing plates. In the example of Figure 1, stopper 28A is provided at the bottom of the tier rails 11 on the bottom level, and stopper 28C is provided at the top of the tier rails 11 on the top level.

[0037] On the other hand, in the middle floor, it is preferable to configure the stopper 28B to be retractable. This makes it possible to prevent the stopper 28B from interfering with the lifting rail 21's lifting and lowering by retracting the stopper 28B. On the other hand, when the lifting rail 21 is to be kept at the same height as the floor rail 11, the stopper 28B can be retracted to stably hold the lifting rail 21. The operation of switching the stopper 28B between the retracted position and the extended position is performed electrically, for example, by wireless operation. Preferably, the control unit 40, which will be described later, automatically switches the position of the stopper 28B in accordance with the movement of the electric hoist 10. (System configuration of material handling lifting device)

[0038] The system configuration of the material transporting and lifting device is shown in the block diagram of Figure 4. As shown in this figure, the material transporting and lifting device 100 includes a control unit 40, an electric hoist 10, a rail lifter 20, a sensor 50, a remote control 42, and an operation unit 44. (control unit 40)

[0039] The control unit 40 controls the ON / OFF of the horizontal movement motor of the electric hoist 10 and the ON / OFF of the vertical movement motor of the rail elevator 20. Furthermore, when multiple electric hoists 10 are used, the control unit 40 controls the electric hoists 10 so that they do not interfere with or collide with each other. That is, the control unit 40 grasps the current position of each electric hoist 10 and prevents it from moving along a path that would cause a collision, or restricts its movement in a direction that would cause a collision.

[0040] The remote control 42 is a component for operating each piece of equipment, such as the electric hoist 10 and the rail elevator 20. A remote control 42 is provided for each piece of equipment. A user can operate the remote control 42 to perform various operations, such as moving the electric hoist 10 and raising and lowering the elevator rail 21. The operation unit 44 is a component for specifying the operation of the electric hoist 10, for example, the destination to lift or transport materials, and for instructing the destination and route of the electric hoist 10 accordingly. Each piece of equipment is operated by the control unit 40 in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 44. A plurality of operation units 44 may be provided. For example, a plurality of users may each use their own tablet or smartphone as the operation unit 44. The operation unit 44 may also be integrated with the control unit 40. (Sensor 50)

[0041] A sensor 50 may also be provided to detect the position of the electric hoist 10. The sensor 50 is electrically connected to the control unit 40. This allows the control unit 40 to grasp the position of the electric hoist 10, and makes it possible to avoid interference between the electric hoists 10.

[0042] The control unit 40 is configured to grasp the current position of the electric hoist 10 using information from the sensor 50 and control the movement of the electric hoist 10 and the raising and lowering of the lifting rail 21.

[0043] The sensors 50 are arranged at multiple locations along the floor rails 11. The sensors 50 can be, for example, limit switches or the like that can detect the passage of the electric hoist 10. Alternatively, the electric hoist 10 can be fitted with a symbol such as a barcode or two-dimensional code, or a tag such as a coil or RFID, and the position of the electric hoist 10 can be determined by reading the symbol with a reader that is a sensor 50 arranged along the floor rails 11. Alternatively, a camera can be used as the sensor 50. For example, the positions of the electric hoist 10 and the lifting rail 21 can be determined by image processing. In this way, a known component that can detect the position of the electric hoist 10 can be used as the sensor 50, as appropriate. (Steps for moving between levels)

[0044] Using this rail elevator 20, the electric hoist 10 can be moved to the story rail 11 of a different story. This process will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 7. Here, an example will be described in which materials WK on a lower story (first story) are moved to an upper story (second story). First, as shown in Figure 5, the materials WK on the lower story are lifted by the electric hoist 10. Meanwhile, the rail elevator 20 is used to move the lift rail 21 in the through-space 2 so that the edge 11a of the story rail 11 is at the same height as that of the lower story. In this state, the electric hoist 10 with the materials WK suspended from it is moved to the right and positioned from the story rail 11 to the lift rail 21. In this state, the stopper 28B on the upper story is in the retracted position so that the lift rail 21 does not get impeded from moving up and down.

[0045] Next, as shown in Figure 6, the lift rail 21 is raised from the lower floor (first floor) by the rail lifter 20, and positioned so that the height of the edge 21a of the lift rail 21 is the same as the floor rail 11 of the upper floor (second floor). In this state, the stopper 28B is pulled out, maintaining the height of the lift rail 21 so that it is continuous with the floor rail 11 of the upper floor. Then, as shown in Figure 7, the electric hoist 10 is moved from the lift rail 21 to the floor rail 11 of the upper floor, which is now continuous with the ground, making it possible to transport the material WK to the upper floor.

[0046] In this way, the electric hoist 10 can be moved not only horizontally but also vertically, allowing the materials WK to be moved between different floors. In other words, the lift rails 21 that ascend and descend in the through-hole section can be used like an elevator to smoothly move the electric hoist 10 horizontally within each floor and vertically across floors. This provides the advantage of seamless horizontal and vertical movement without the need for the cumbersome task of first removing the electric hoist 10 from the building, transferring it to a tower crane, or the like, and then transporting it to another floor, as was previously the case when moving between floors.

[0047] These tier rails 11 and lift rails 21 are preferably configured as units of a predetermined size. For example, laying the tier rails 11 for each tier can be achieved by connecting multiple tier rails 11. This has the advantage of simplifying the work of laying the tier rails 11 by connecting tier rails 11 configured as units of a predetermined size like blocks to build tier rails 11 of the desired length.

[0048] A sensor may also be provided to position the lift rail 21 when it is raised or lowered. For example, a microswitch may be provided as a sensor to align the lift rail 21 with the floor rail 11 on a specific floor. In a material transport lifting device that raises and lowers the lift rail 21 between two floors, typically the first and second floors, a microswitch may be provided on the moving body side, such as the lift rail 21 or platform 25. For example, in a configuration in which stoppers 28A and 28C are provided to align the highest possible lift position with the floor rail 11 on the second floor and the lowest possible lower position with the floor rail 11 on the first floor, respectively, a microswitch provided at a position that abuts these stoppers 28A and 28C can reliably stop the lift rail 21 at the correct height. Furthermore, providing a microswitch on the moving body side offers the advantage of simplifying wiring, etc., compared to a configuration in which microswitches are provided around the moving body. [Embodiment 2]

[0049] In the above example, an example has been described in which the through-space 2 is provided in the corner of each story or at the end of the story rail 11, as shown in the horizontal cross section of Figure 8. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration, and the through-space 2 may also be provided in the middle of the story rail 11 on each story. Such an example is shown as a material transport lifting device 200 according to embodiment 2 in the horizontal cross section of Figure 9 and the vertical cross section of Figure 10. In these figures, components similar to those in embodiment 1 described above are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0050] In a configuration in which the middle of the floor rail 11 is cut out to provide a through-space 2B in which a rail elevator 20B is installed and the lifting rail 21 is arranged, it is not possible to install lifting guides on both sides of the lifting rail 21. Therefore, as shown in Figure 9, a lifting guide 27B is installed on the side of the lifting rail 21. This prevents the lifting guide 27B from interfering when the electric hoist 10 moves from the floor rail 11 to the lifting rail 21. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 10, the lifting guide may be omitted.

[0051] By arranging the through space 2B so as to straddle the middle of the tier rail 11 in this way, the area where the tier rail 11 is partially missing due to the through space 2B can be used as the through space 2B, and the lifting rail 21 of the rail elevator 20B can be arranged to complement the continuous tier rail 11. In particular, since the through space 2B functions as an elevator, by providing the through space 2B in a position suitable for transporting materials WK, more efficient transport of materials WK can be achieved. [Embodiment 3]

[0052] Furthermore, the material transporting and lifting device may be installed not only inside a building but also outside the building. Although it is not easy to retrofit a through-space inside an existing building, it is relatively easy to add a material transporting and lifting device by adding it to the outside. Such an example is shown as a material transporting and lifting device 300 according to a third embodiment in the horizontal cross-sectional view of FIG. 11 and the vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 12. In these figures, the same components as those in the first embodiment and the like are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0053] In this example, a rail elevator 20C of the material transport elevator device 300 is added to the side of the building BD, forming a through-space 2C. This configuration allows the use of an empty space as the through-space 2C, eliminating the need to create a through-space in the existing building BD and facilitating installation. As shown in FIG. 11 and other figures, a truck or other vehicle can be parked next to the rail elevator 20C extending from the building BD, and the materials WK can be unloaded directly onto a loading platform or similar using the electric hoist 10, improving the convenience of transportation. On each floor, openings 3 are provided by utilizing the windows of the building BD or by opening up a portion of the wall, as shown in FIG. 12, so that the materials WK suspended by the electric hoist 10 can be transported from the building BD to the outdoors. This allows the floor rails 11 installed indoors to be connected to the elevator rails 21 installed outdoors. [Embodiment 4]

[0054] Furthermore, in the above-described material transport lifting device, an example has been described in which the lifting guides 27 are arranged on either the left or right side or one side of the lifting rail 21 to lift and lower it, but the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration, and three or more lifting guides 27 may be used. Furthermore, the lifting guides 27 may be arranged in a position other than on a straight line with the lifting rail 21 or the floor rail 11 in a plan view. Such an example is shown in Figures 13 to 15 as a fourth embodiment. In these figures, the same components as those in the first embodiment and the like are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0055] The material transport lifting device shown in Figure 13 has four lift guides 27D surrounding a lift rail 21D. The four lift guides 27D are arranged at the four corners of a rectangle in plan view. A lift frame 29 is provided so that it can slide up and down within the rectangular area in plan view surrounded by the lift guides 27D. With this configuration, the lift rail 21D and the floor rail 11 can be passed between the lift guides 27D, so the lift guide 27D can be installed without interfering with them. As a result, the lift rails 21D can be installed not only at the edges of the floor rail 11 but also in the middle. Furthermore, compared to installing an elevator, there are no legal restrictions such as periodic inspections, making management easier.

[0056] As shown in the horizontal cross section of Figure 14, it is preferable to provide wheels at the four corners of lifting frame 29 so that it can be raised and lowered along lifting guide 27D. This reduces frictional resistance and supports the periphery of lifting guide 27D, allowing it to be raised and lowered smoothly. However, the mechanism for raising and lowering lifting frame 29 along lifting guide 27D can be any known structure, such as making the lifting guide pole-shaped and providing curved connecting pieces around the periphery of the lifting frame, or making the lifting guide out of H-beams or C-channels and sandwiching the lifting guide around the periphery of the lifting frame.

[0057] Furthermore, lift rails 21D are suspended from lift frame 29 at multiple locations below it via supports. The supports may be flexible wires such as wires or stems, or hard materials such as iron or steel wires. Because lift frame 29 moves up and down within the rectangularly arranged frame of lift guides 27D, it can easily move up and down while maintaining a horizontal position, which is advantageous in that it is easy to stabilize lift rails 21D in a fixed position.

[0058] In the example of Figure 13, the supports are arranged radially from the periphery toward the center of the rectangular lifting frame 29. However, this configuration is not limited thereto, and for example, as in the material transport lifting device shown in Figure 15, the supports may extend downward from the center of the lifting frame 29E. In particular, when the supports are made of hard materials, the number of supports and the number of fixing points can be reduced. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 21, the upper surface of the lifting rails may be fixed directly to the lifting frame. This allows the supports to be omitted, further simplifying the structure. [Embodiment 5]

[0059] Furthermore, the lifting frame can be extended along the lifting guide 27D. By lengthening the lifting frame in the lifting direction, the lifting frame changes from a flat shape to a three-dimensional shape, making it less likely to tilt within the frame of the lifting guide 27D, and allowing the lifting frame to be more stable in a horizontal position. Furthermore, since the lifting frame does not tilt, a single lifting wire can be used to suspend the lifting frame, simplifying the rail lifting device and making it easier to use existing equipment such as hoists. Such an example is shown in Figure 16 as a material transport lifting device according to embodiment 5. In this figure, components similar to those in embodiment 1 and the like are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0060] The material transport lifting device shown in Figure 16 has a double lifting frame 29F configured along the lifting guide 27D. In other words, the lifting frames 29F are spaced apart vertically and connected at their four corners. This allows the lifting frame 29F to be substantially extended in the height direction, making it less likely to tilt inside the lifting guide 27D. This also allows for lighter weight and lower costs compared to a configuration in which the lifting frame itself is made larger in the vertical direction. However, if weight and cost allow, the lifting frame itself may simply be made longer in the vertical direction. [Embodiment 6]

[0061] The material transport lifting device may also have crossed tier rails 11. By arranging the tier rails 11 so that they cross on each tier, the electric hoist 10 can move vertically and horizontally within a horizontal plane, increasing the degree of freedom of movement.

[0062] In a conventional hoist crane 900, as shown in FIG. 17, a movable rail 912 that crosses a pair of parallel fixed rails 911 so as to bridge the gap between them is moved back and forth along the fixed rails 911, and an electric hoist 910 is moved laterally on the movable rail 912, thereby moving the electric hoist 910 to a desired position.

[0063] However, with this configuration, the electric hoist 910 suspending a heavy load moves freely in all directions in the overhead space inside the building, putting workers inside the building at risk from accidents such as unintended falls. From the perspective of ensuring worker safety, it is desirable to lay rails around the ceiling of the building to minimize movement above the workers' heads. However, rails are generally straight, and forming them into curved shapes poses a problem of high costs. As such, the movement of the electric hoist 910 in the conventional hoist-type crane 900 is restricted. (Rail Swivel 30)

[0064] In contrast, in the material transporting lifting device 400 according to the sixth embodiment, as shown in Figure 18, the level rails 11 are crossed, a swivel rail 31 is positioned at the crossed position, and the rail swiveling device 30 is used to rotate the swivel rail 31, thereby changing the direction of the electric hoist 10. The rail swiveling device 30 can rotate the swivel rail 31 and position the end edge 31a of this swivel rail 31 so that it is continuous with the end edge 11a of each intersecting level rail 11. This makes it possible to change the direction of the electric hoist 10 without bending the level rails 11, allowing for flexible positioning of the level rails 11 and enabling the electric hoist 10 to be moved to the intersecting level rails 11.

[0065] Furthermore, when multiple electric hoists 10 are used on the same tiered rail 11, when the electric hoists 10 face each other, it is possible to move one of the electric hoists 10 aside using the rail swivel 30 to allow the other electric hoist 10 to pass.

[0066] As shown in the enlarged plan view of Figure 19, the rail swivel 30 installed at each intersection of the tiered rails 11 has a swivel rail 31 placed on a circular turntable 32 that can be rotated by a swivel motor 33. In the example of Figure 19, for convenience of explanation, the swivel motor 33 is placed on the side of the turntable 32, but it goes without saying that it can also be placed on the underside of the turntable. The swivel rail 31 is also configured to have the same shape as the tiered rail 11. Preferably, the length of the swivel rail 31 is made the same as the length of the lifting rail 21. This allows the rail swivel 30 including the swivel rail 31 to be unitized and can be freely combined with the rail lifting device 20 including the lifting rail 21, increasing the flexibility to easily change the layout.

[0067] In this way, in addition to making it possible to move materials vertically across floors using the rail elevator 20, when moving materials horizontally on each floor, the rail swivel 30 enables more complex movements, thereby increasing the flexibility of material transportation.

[0068] The rail swivel 30 is not only applied to the material transporting and lifting device 100 in which the rail lift 20 is provided in the through-space 2 as shown in FIG. 1, but may also be introduced into a building in which no rail lift is provided. [Embodiment 7]

[0069] The driving power of the electric hoist 10 described above is supplied, for example, from a trolley wire installed parallel to the floor rails 11. However, the electric hoist 10 may also be battery-powered. This makes it possible to drive the electric hoist 10 wirelessly, improving operability. Such an example is shown in FIG. 20 as a material transporting and lifting device 500 according to the seventh embodiment. In this figure, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0070] The battery-powered electric hoist 10 is equipped with a battery. To charge the battery, the floor rail 11 may have a charging section 60 in part thereof, as shown in FIG. 20 , where a charger is provided. While the electric hoist 10 is located in the charging section 60, the charger electrically connects to the battery, and the electric hoist 10 is automatically charged. The charging method can be a known method, for example, a contactless charging method such as an electromagnetic induction method, as appropriate. [Industrial Applicability]

[0071] The material transporting and lifting device according to the present disclosure can be suitably used for transporting materials within factories, construction sites, demolition sites, and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 100, 200, 300, 400, 500...Material handling lifting device 2, 2B, 2C…through space 3...Opening 10...Electric hoist 11...floor rail; 11a...edge 12...Wire rope 13...Rope drum 14...Hoisting motor 15...Traction motor 20, 20B, 20C...Rail lift 21, 21D...lifting rail; 21a, 21b...edge 22...Lifting wire 23...Lift motor 24...Rail hoisting machine 25... stand 26…Buffer section 27, 27B, 27D...Lift guide 28, 28A, 28B, 28C...Stopper 29, 29E, 29F...Lifting frame 30...Rail swivel 31...swivel rail; 31a...edge 32...Turntable 33...Slewing motor 40...Control unit 42...Remote control 44...Operation unit 50...Sensor 60...Charging section 900...Hoist crane 910...Electric hoist 911…Fixed rail 912...Moving rail BD...Building WK…Materials

Claims

1. A material transport and lifting device for suspending and transporting materials in a building having multiple floors, For each floor where materials are moved, there are floor rails installed on the ceiling of each floor, an electric hoist that can travel on the level rails and lift and lower materials while suspending them; It is equipped with The floor rails have exposed edges facing through spaces that pass vertically between floors, A rail elevator is provided which is installed in the through space and can raise and lower a lifting rail which can be positioned so as to be continuous with the end edge of each floor rail facing the through space, The rail elevator, The electric hoist is moved from the floor rail to the lifting rail while the lifting rail is raised or lowered to a height continuous with the edge of the floor rail of the floor on which the electric hoist is located, and The lifting rail including the electric hoist is raised and lowered so as to be continuous with the edge of the story rail of the destination story, and the electric hoist is moved from the lifting rail to the story rail of the destination story, The rail elevator has an elevator guide that guides at least one end edge of the elevator rail and is provided vertically along the through-space.

2. 2. The material transporting and lifting device according to claim 1, The material handling lifting device, wherein the lifting guide is a lip channel steel.

3. 2. The material transporting and lifting device according to claim 1, The material transport lifting device is configured such that the rail lifter is provided with stoppers for each story that hold the story rail so that the lifting rail is at a height that is continuous with the story rail of each story.

4. 4. The material transporting and lifting device according to claim 3, The material transporting and lifting device is configured so that the stopper is retractable.

5. 2. The material transporting and lifting device according to claim 1, The layered rails are configured in units of a predetermined size, A material transport and lifting device in which the installation of the tier rails on each tier can be realized by connecting a plurality of the tier rails.

6. 2. The material transporting and lifting device according to claim 1, A material transporting and lifting device in which the through space is provided at the end edge of the story rail on each story.

7. 2. The material transporting and lifting device according to claim 1, A material transporting and lifting device in which the through space is provided in the middle of the level rails on each level.

8. 2. The material transporting and lifting device according to claim 1, At each level, the level rails are crossed, A material transport and lifting device comprising a rail swivel that can swivel a swivel rail that can be positioned so as to be continuous with the end edges of each intersecting stratum rail, and is arranged at the position where the stratum rails intersect.

9. The material transporting and lifting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: a sensor for detecting the position of the electric hoist; a control unit electrically connected to the sensor and controlling the operation of the electric hoist; It is equipped with The control unit is configured to grasp the current position of the electric hoist using information from the sensor and control the movement of the electric hoist and the raising and lowering of the lifting rail.

10. 10. The material handling and lifting device according to claim 9, The material handling and lifting device, wherein the sensor is a limit switch arranged along the floor rail and capable of detecting when the electric hoist has passed.

11. A material transporting and lifting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The material transporting and lifting device wherein the electric hoist is battery-powered.

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