Material handling equipment
By using straight transport rails and rotating transfer mechanisms, the article conveying device addresses the issue of large installation space in conventional devices, achieving reduced space requirements and increased flexibility.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHIBUYA IND CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2022-06-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-20
AI Technical Summary
Conventional article conveying devices using linear driving devices require large installation spaces due to the need for an arc-shaped conveying path connecting the forward and return paths, leading to increased size and space requirements.
The device employs a configuration with a straight first transport rail as the forward path and a parallel straight second transport rail as the return path, utilizing electromagnetic coils and transfer means to rotate carriers between these rails, eliminating the need for an arc-shaped path, and incorporating rotating transfer mechanisms to facilitate circular movement.
This configuration reduces the required installation space and enhances design flexibility by shortening the distance between the transport rails, thereby minimizing the overall space needed for the conveying device.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0005] , ,
[0001] The present invention relates to an article conveying device, and more particularly to an article conveying device configured to convey an article by moving a plurality of carriers holding the article by a linear driving device.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, an article conveying device configured to convey an article by moving a plurality of carriers holding the article by a linear driving device has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the article conveying device of Patent Document 1, a circulation conveying path is adopted in which the forward path of the carrier is on the upper side and the return path is on the lower side, and each carrier is independently moved along the conveying rail by the linear driving device to convey the article held by the carrier.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] By the way, the article conveying device using the linear driving device as disclosed in Patent Document 1 had the following problems. That is, since the component parts of the linear driving device have dimensions determined by each manufacturer, when a circulation conveying path in which the forward path and the return path of the carrier are in an up-and-down relationship as described above is adopted, it is necessary to secure an arc-shaped conveying path connecting the forward path and the return path, which causes the linear driving device to become large-sized, and consequently the installation space of the article conveying device becomes large.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] In view of the circumstances described above, the present invention provides an article conveying device configured to convey articles held by the carriers, comprising: a plurality of carriers provided with permanent magnets and moving while holding articles at required positions; a conveying rail for moving the plurality of carriers along a circulating conveying path; a plurality of electromagnetic coils arranged along the circulating conveying path; and a control device for exciting the electromagnetic coils to move the carriers along the circulating conveying path. The above-mentioned transport rail comprises a straight first transport rail which serves as the forward path when the carrier moves along the circulating transport path, and a straight second transport rail which is arranged in parallel and separated from the first transport rail and serves as the return path when the carrier moves along the circulating transport path. The system includes a first transfer means that receives multiple carriers from the downstream end of the first transport rail, rotates, and transfers the carriers to the upstream end of the second transport rail, and a second transfer means that receives multiple carriers from the downstream end of the second transport rail, rotates, and transfers the carriers to the upstream end of the first transport rail. The above-mentioned circulating transport path is formed by the first transport rail, the first transfer means, the second transport rail, and the second transfer means. The first and second transfer means described above are characterized by comprising a linear rail on which a plurality of electromagnetic coils are provided along the longitudinal direction and which accepts a plurality of carriers, and a rotating means for rotating the linear rail. [Effects of the Invention]
[0006] With this configuration, by providing both of the above-mentioned transfer means, the arc-shaped transport path that was conventionally required can be omitted. Therefore, the distance between the first transport rail and the second transport rail can be shortened compared to conventional devices. Consequently, the installation space required for the item transport device can be reduced compared to conventional devices. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0007] [Figure 1] A front view showing one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A front view showing a different state from Figure 1. [Figure 3] Right side view of the main part of Figure 1. [Figure 4] A front view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Right side view of the main part shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6] A front view showing a third embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0008] The present invention will now be described with reference to the illustrated embodiments. In Figures 1 to 3, 1 is an article processing system. This article processing system 1 transports empty containers 3 in the direction of the arrow using a number of carriers 2, and fills each container 3 with a filling liquid using a filling device 4. After that, a capper 5 attaches a cap (not shown) to the upper opening of each container 3. This article processing system 1 includes an article conveying device 7 that conveys containers 3 as articles in the direction of the arrow using a number of carriers 2, a filling device 4 positioned above the conveying path of the containers 3 by the article conveying device 7 and filling the containers 3 with a filling liquid, a capper 5 positioned downstream and attaching a cap to the mouth of the containers 3, and a control device 8 that controls the operation of these components. A supply robot (not shown) is located at supply position A, which is adjacent to the filling device 4 and upstream. At supply position A, empty containers 3 are supplied from the supply robot to each carrier 2 while it is stopped and held in place. Additionally, a discharge robot (not shown) is located at discharge position B, which is adjacent to the capper 5 and downstream. When the carrier 2 holding the containers 3 with the caps attached is stopped at discharge position B, the discharge robot removes the containers 3 from the carrier 2 and discharges them onto a discharge conveyor (not shown).
[0009] The article conveying device 7 is configured to move each carrier 2 in a circular conveying path R along a vertical plane by a linear drive device using a linear motor. The article conveying device 7 of this embodiment includes a first conveying rail 11 which is horizontally arranged above and extends along the conveying direction of the container 3, a second conveying rail 12 which is horizontally arranged below the first conveying rail 11 and extends along the conveying direction, a first transfer means 14 which transfers multiple carriers 2 from the downstream end 11A of the first conveying rail 11 to the upstream end 12A of the second conveying rail 12, a second transfer means 15 which transfers multiple carriers 2 from the downstream end 12B of the second conveying rail 12 to the upstream end 11B of the first conveying rail 11, and a number of carriers 2 which are moved in a circular manner across the first conveying rail 11, the second conveying rail 12 and both transfer means 14 and 15. In this embodiment, a circulating transport path R is formed by the first transport rail 11, the second transport rail 12, the first transfer means 14, and the second transfer means 15, which move a large number of carriers 2 in a circulating manner in a vertical plane. The area where the first transport rail 11 is provided becomes the forward path when the carriers 2 are moved, and this forward path is the transport path through which the carriers 2 hold and transport the containers 3. The supply position A, the filling device 4, the capper 5, and the discharge position B are sequentially provided above this forward transport path. The area where the second transport rail 12 is provided becomes the return path when the carriers 2 are moved.
[0010] As shown in Figure 3, numerous electromagnetic coils 17 are embedded in a single row along the transport direction (longitudinal direction) of the first transport rail 11, and these electromagnetic coils 17 are energized at the required timing by the control device 8. Numerous shuttles 18 are arranged in a line along the transport direction in close proximity and above the first transport rail 11, and each shuttle 18 has a permanent magnet 23 embedded in it. A connecting shaft 19 is horizontally connected to one side of each shuttle 18, and a support shaft 20 is horizontally connected to the other side of each shuttle 18. Rollers 21 are rotatably mounted on the connecting shaft 19 and the support shaft 20, and these rollers 21 are configured to roll on the mounting surfaces on both sides of the first transport rail 11. A gripper 22 is attached to the connecting shaft 19 to hold the container 3 via a support member. In this embodiment, the carrier 2 is composed of the shuttle 18, the connecting shaft 19, the gripper 22, the support shaft 20, and the roller 21. When the container 3 is supplied to the carrier 2 by the supply robot while each carrier 2 is stopped at the supply position A, it is held by the gripper 22. The carrier 2 then transports the container 3 from the supply position A to the discharge position B while holding it with the gripper 22. In this embodiment, the carrier 2 is equipped with a gripper 22 and the container 3 is held by this gripper 22, but the gripper 22 may be omitted and the container 3 may simply be held on a support member. A linear drive system is constructed from a number of electromagnetic coils 17 embedded in the transport direction of the first transport rail 11 and the permanent magnets 23 of each carrier 2. The control device 8 energizes the electromagnetic coils 17 at the required positions, thereby moving each carrier 2 from the upstream end 11B to the downstream end 11A of the first transport rail 11 and stopping it at the required positions. In other words, the linear drive system transports the containers 3 held by the carriers 2 from the supply position A to the discharge position B, and can stop them along the way below the filling device 4, below the capper 5, and at the supply position A and discharge position B. When the carrier 2 stops below the filling device 4, the empty containers 3 are filled with filling liquid by the filling device 4, and when the carrier 2 stops below the capper 5, a cap is attached to the containers 3 by the capper 5. The configuration of a linear drive system using a linear motor is conventionally known from the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, etc. As described above, numerous electromagnetic coils 17 are embedded in the first transport rail 11. In this embodiment, each of these electromagnetic coils 17, their wires and accessories, and support members for supporting the first transport rail 11 at a predetermined height are arranged in a manner that does not take up much space in the area adjacent to and below the first transport rail 11. The above describes the first transport rail 11 and the multiple carriers 2. In this embodiment, the second transport rail 12 has the same configuration as the first transport rail 11, but is arranged upside down. In plan view, the installation area of the first transport rail 11 (forward path) and the installation area of the second transport rail 12 (return path) are the same, and the first transport rail 11 overlaps the second transport rail 12 in this arrangement. Numerous electromagnetic coils 17 are embedded in the second transport rail 12 along the transport direction (longitudinal direction) (see Figure 3), and these electromagnetic coils 17 are energized at the required timing by the control device 8, similar to the case of the first transport rail 11. At the discharge position B of the first transport rail 11, the container 3 is removed and the empty carrier 2 is transferred via the first transfer means 14 (described in detail later) from the downstream end 11A of the first transport rail 11 to the upstream end 12A of the second transport rail 12, inverted by 180°, and then transferred upside down. The carrier 2, now upside down after being transferred to the second transport rail 12, is moved from the upstream end 12A to the downstream end 12B by the control device 8, which energizes the electromagnetic coil 17 at a required position on the second transport rail 12. Subsequently, the upside-down carrier 2 is transferred via the second transfer means 15 (described in detail later) from the downstream end 12B of the second transport rail 12 to the upstream end 11B of the first transport rail 11, inverted by 180° (see Figures 1 and 2). In this way, the empty carrier 2, before it held the container 3, is returned to the first transport rail 11. Thus, in this embodiment, a circulating transport path R is formed by the first transport rail 11, the first transfer means 14, the second transport rail 12, and the second transfer means 15.
[0011] However, this embodiment omits the arc-shaped transport path in the conventional elliptical continuous circulating transport path, and is characterized by the provision of a first transfer means 14 and a second transfer means 15 that rotate 180° in both forward and reverse directions. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the first transfer means 14 includes a linear rail 25 into which multiple carriers 2 are brought and guided in their movement, a fall prevention guide 26 that prevents the carriers 2 on the linear rail 25 from falling when the linear rail 25 is reversed from an elevated position to a lowered position, and a rotating means 27 that rotates the linear rail 25 and the fall prevention guide 26 together by 180° alternately. The linear rail 25 is connected to the straight upper surface of the support member 28, and the fall prevention guide 26 is also connected to the support member 28 via a bracket (not shown). The distance between the mounting surface of the linear rail 25 and the fall prevention guide 26 is such that the roller 21 on the carrier 2 side can fit in without any gaps. A projection 28A is formed in the center of the longitudinal direction of the lower surface of the support member 28, projecting in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A rotating shaft 29 perpendicular to the conveying direction is fitted into a through hole in this projection 28A, and the drive shaft of the motor M1 is connected to this rotating shaft 29. The motor M1 is controlled by the control device 8 to rotate in forward and reverse directions. By rotating the motor M1 in forward and reverse directions, the control device 8 alternately moves the linear rail 25 between an elevated position where it is supported horizontally on the upper side (shown by the solid line in Figure 1) and a lowered position where it is reversed 180° and supported horizontally on the lower side. When the linear rail 25 reaches the raised position shown in Figure 1, it is at the same height as the first transport rail 11 and is supported horizontally on its extension. One end (upstream end) of the linear rail 25 is connected to the downstream end 11A of the first transport rail 11. Multiple electromagnetic coils 17 are embedded in the linear rail 25 along its longitudinal direction, and these electromagnetic coils 17 are energized by the control device 8. When the linear rail 25 is in the raised position as described above, the control device 8 energizes the electromagnetic coils 17 of the first transfer rail 11 and the linear rail 25, so that the carrier 2 from which the container 3 has been removed at the discharge position B on the first transfer rail 11 side is moved from above the first transfer rail 11 via the downstream end 11A and stopped on the linear rail 25 of the first transfer means 14. In this embodiment, five shuttles 18 (carriers 2) are received and stopped on the linear rail 25. The rollers 21 of the five carriers 2 thus loaded onto the linear rail 25 are sandwiched between the anti-drop guide 26 and the linear rail 25. Then, from this state, the electromagnetic coil 17 of the linear rail 25 is energized by the control device 8 to magnetically attach the carrier 2 to the linear rail 25, and the motor M1 is rotated clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2. Therefore, with the rotation shaft 29 as the center of rotation, the linear rail 25, the anti-drop guide 26, and the five carriers 2 sandwiched therebetween are inverted by 180° and positioned at the lowered position (the state shown on the lower side of FIG. 3). When it reaches this lowered position, the height of the mounting surface of the linear rail 25 becomes the same as the mounting surface of the second transfer rail 12, and the other end (downstream end) of the linear rail 25 is connected to the upstream end 12A of the second transfer rail 12. In addition, while rotating in the state where the electromagnetic coil 17 of the linear rail 25 is energized by the control device 8, by providing the anti-drop guide 26, the five shuttles 18 do not fall off the linear rail 25 when the linear rail 25 is inverted (see FIG. 3). Then, when the linear rail 25 in the lowered position is connected to the second transfer rail 12, the control device 8 energizes the electromagnetic coils 17 of the linear rail 25 and the second transfer rail 12, so that the five carriers 2 on the linear rail 25 side are moved and transferred to the second transfer rail 12 via the upstream end 12A. When the five carriers 2 are transferred from the linear rail 25 in the lowered position to the second transfer rail 12 in this way, the control device 8 reverses the motor M1, so that the linear rail 25 and the anti-drop guide 26 are inverted by 180° and return to the raised position shown in FIG. 1. Thus, when five carriers 2 are carried onto the linear rail 25, the first transfer means 14 reverses the linear rail 25 from the raised position to the lowered position by means of the rotating means 27, so as to transfer the five shuttles 18 (carriers 2) from the first transfer rail 11 to the second transfer rail 12. After that, the linear rail 25 is reversed by the rotating means 27 and returns from the lowered position to the raised position. The rotating means 27 of this embodiment is composed of a support member 28, a rotating shaft 29, and a motor M1. Next, the configuration of the second transfer means 15 is the same as that of the first transfer means 14 described above, and the same member numbers are assigned to each member corresponding to the components of the first transfer means 14. That is, the second transfer means 14 includes a linear rail 25, a fall prevention guide 26, a rotating means 27, and a support member 28. These configurations are the same as those of the first transfer means 14 described above. A rotating shaft 29 is fitted to the protruding portion 28A of the support member 28, and this rotating shaft 29 is rotated forward and backward alternately by 180° by a motor M2. When the motor M2 is rotated forward and backward by the control device 8, the linear rail 25 and the fall prevention guide 26 are alternately reversed by 180° and moved between the raised position and the lowered position, similar to the case of the first transfer means 14. As shown by the solid line at the left end of FIG. 1, when in the lowered position, the height of the mounting surface of the linear rail 25 is the same as the mounting surface of the second transfer rail 12, and one end (upstream end) of the linear rail 25 is connected to the downstream end 12B of the second transfer rail 12. In the state where the linear rail 25 in the lowered position is connected to the second transfer rail 12, the control device 8 energizes the electromagnetic coils 17 of the linear rail 25 and the second transfer rail 12, so that the five carriers 2 located on the second transfer rail 12 side are carried onto the linear rail 25 via the downstream end 12B of the second transfer rail 12 and stopped. The five carriers 2 carried onto the linear rail 25 are sandwiched between the fall prevention guide 26 and the linear rail 25 (see FIG. 1). From this state, the control device 8 energizes the electromagnetic coil 17 of the linear rail 25, causing the carrier 2 to magnetize onto the linear rail 25. When the motor M2 is rotated clockwise as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the linear rail 25, the fall prevention guide 26, and the five carriers 2 between them are rotated 180° around the rotation axis 29 and positioned in the raised position (see Figures 1 and 2). Even when the linear rail 25 is rotated, the control device 8 energizes the electromagnetic coil 17 of the linear rail 25 while it is rotating, and the fall prevention guide 26 is provided, so the five carriers 2 will not fall off the linear rail 25 due to centrifugal force. When the linear rail 25 is in this elevated position, the height of the mounting surface of the linear rail 25 becomes the same as the height of the mounting surface of the first transport rail 11, and the other end (downstream end) of the linear rail 25 is connected to the upstream end 11B of the first transport rail 11. Then, the control device 8 energizes the electromagnetic coils 17 of the linear rail 25 and the first transport rail 11, so that the five carriers 2 on the linear rail 25 are moved and transferred to the first transport rail 11 via the downstream end 11B. As the five carriers 2 are transferred from the raised linear rail 25 to the first transport rail 11, the control device 8 immediately reverses the motor M2, causing the linear rail 25 and the fall prevention guide 26 to be reversed by 180°, returning them to the lowered position shown in Figure 1. In this manner, when the five carriers 2 are loaded onto the linear rail 25 of the second transfer means 15, the linear rail 25 is reversed from a lowered position to an raised position, thereby transferring the five carriers 2 from the second transport rail 12 to the first transport rail 11. After that, the linear rail 25 returns to its lowered position from the raised position. Although the mounting surface of the second transport rail 12, which is positioned on the lower side, is facing downwards, centrifugal force does not act on the carrier 2 during the transport path (return trip) of the carrier 2 by the second transport rail 12. Therefore, no fall prevention guides 26, such as the two transfer means 14 and 15, are provided on the lower side of the mounting surface of the second transport rail 12. The article processing system 1 and its article transport device 7 in this embodiment are configured as described above.
[0012] In the above configuration, as shown in Figure 1, the operation of the article processing system 1 begins with the linear rail 25 of the first transfer means 14 of the article transport device 7 in the raised position and the linear rail 25 of the second transfer means 15 in the lowered position. In other words, when the control device 8 energizes the electromagnetic coil 17 of the first transport rail 11, an empty carrier 2 that does not hold a container 3 at supply position A is moved in the direction of the arrow and stopped. At this point, an empty container 3 is supplied to each of the carriers 2 stopped at supply position A by the supply robot and held by the gripper 22 (see Figure 3). Subsequently, as the carrier 2 moves along the first transport rail 11 in the direction of the arrow, the five carriers 2, moving in succession, are first stopped below the filling device 4, and the filling liquid is then filled into the empty containers 3 held by these five carriers 2 by the filling device 4. Next, the five carriers 2 holding the containers 3 filled with the filling liquid are moved in the direction of the arrow and stop below the capper 5, at which point the capper 5 attaches a cap to the upper opening of each container 3. After this, the five carriers 2 are moved to the downstream discharge position B and stop, at which point the discharge robot removes the containers 3 from each carrier 2 and discharges them onto a discharge conveyor (not shown). After this, the five carriers 2, now empty at discharge position B, are moved downstream and transported onto the linear rail 25 of the first transfer means 14 via the downstream end 11A of the first transport rail 11, where they are stopped. Then, the linear rail 25 of the first transfer means 14 is rotated 180° by the rotating means 27 to the lowered position, and the linear rail 25 is connected to the upstream end 12A of the second transport rail 12 (see Figures 1 and 2). As a result, the five carriers 2 are inverted and upside down, but they are prevented from falling off the linear rail 25 by the magnetic force of the energized electromagnetic coil 17 and the fall prevention guide 26. After this, the five inverted carriers 2 on the linear rail 25 of the first transfer means 14 are moved from the linear rail 25 to the second transport rail 12 via the upstream end 12A. Once all the carriers 2 have moved from the linear rail 25 of the first transfer means 14, the linear rail 25 is reversed by 180° by the rotating means 27 and returns to its original raised position, connecting to the first transport rail 11. Meanwhile, the five carriers 2 that have been transferred to the second transport rail 12 are moved along the second transport rail 12 by the excitation of the electromagnetic coil 17 of the second transport rail 12, and are carried to the linear rail 25 of the second transfer means 15 via the downstream end 12B (see Figure 1). After this, the linear rail 25 of the second transfer means 15 is rotated 180° by the rotating means 27 to the raised position, so that the linear rail 25 is connected to the first transport rail 11, and the five carriers 2 held on the linear rail 25 become upright. After this, the electromagnetic coil 17 of the linear rail 25 is excited, so that the five carriers 2 are moved (returned) to the supply position A of the first transport rail 11 via the upstream end 11B. Subsequently, the linear rail 25 of the second transfer means 15 is rotated 180° by the rotating means 27, so that the linear rail 25 returns to the lowered position and is connected to the second transport rail 12.
[0013] As described above, the article transport device 7 of this embodiment is equipped with a first transport rail 11 and a second transport rail 12 that are spaced apart, and a first transfer means 14 and a second transfer means 15 are provided between them to move the carrier 2 in a circular motion along the circular transport path R. In conventional material handling devices that use a continuous elliptical circular transport path, there was a problem in that the installation space for the material handling device 7 was large because it was necessary to install two arc-shaped transport paths to connect the outbound and return paths. In contrast, in this embodiment, the two arc-shaped transport paths that were previously required are omitted, and instead, the two transfer means 14 and 15 are provided. As a result, the distance between the first transport rail 11 and the second transport rail 12 can be reduced compared to the distance between the forward and return paths of the conventional article transport device described above. This makes it possible to reduce the installation space required for the item handling device 7, and consequently, the overall installation space required for the item processing system 1. Furthermore, by configuring the item handling device 7 as described above, the design flexibility for installing the item handling device 7 can be increased.
[0014] Next, Figures 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the article conveying device 7 of the present invention. In the first embodiment described above, the second conveying rail 12 was positioned directly below the first conveying rail 11, but in this second embodiment, the second conveying rail 12 is positioned by moving it parallel to one side from below the first conveying rail 11. In other words, with respect to the first transport rail 11 which is the outward path, the second transport rail 12 which is the return path is positioned on one side below the first transport rail 11, so as not to overlap with it in a plan view. As a result, the electromagnetic coils 17 and wires of the first transport rail 11 and the electromagnetic coils 17 and wires of the second transport rail 12 are arranged in an overlapping state in the vertical direction (height direction). In other words, in this second embodiment, the installation space in the height direction can be reduced compared to the first embodiment. In this second embodiment, the second transport rail 12 is shifted laterally from its position directly below the first transport rail 11. As a result, the first transfer means 14 and the second transfer means 15 are provided with an additional sliding mechanism 31 that moves back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the extension of the transport direction of the first transport rail 11 and the second transport rail 12. The configuration of the first transfer means 14 and the second transfer means 15 in this second embodiment is the same as the components of both transfer means 14 and 15 in the first embodiment, except for the sliding mechanism 31, and the corresponding members are assigned the same member numbers. The slide mechanism 31 is connected to the support member 28, and the operation of the slide mechanism 31 is controlled by the control device 8. When the linear rail 25 is in the raised position, the linear rail 25 is moved horizontally along the extension of the first transport rail 11 by the slide mechanism 31. On the other hand, when the linear rail 25 is reversed and goes to the lowered position, the linear rail 25 is moved horizontally along the extension of the second transport rail 12 by the slide mechanism 31 (see Figure 5). In this second embodiment, the same effects and benefits as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained.
[0015] Next, Figure 6 shows an article conveying device 7 which is a third embodiment of the present invention. This third embodiment is an improvement over the support members 28 of the first transfer means 14 and the second transfer means 15 in the first embodiment. Specifically, in this third embodiment, the protruding portion 28A of the support member 28 of the first transfer means 14 is positioned away from the center in the longitudinal direction to one end (the upstream end of the linear rail 25). The rotating shaft 29 is fitted into the through hole of the protruding portion 28A. On the other hand, the protruding portion 28A of the support member 28 of the second transfer means 14 is positioned away from the center in the longitudinal direction to one end (the upstream end of the linear rail 25). The other configurations of both transfer means 14 and 15 are the same as those of the first embodiment. Furthermore, corresponding to the configuration of the support members 28 of the two transfer means 14 and 15 as described above, the second transport rail 12 is positioned upstream of the first transport rail 11, with the projection 28A offset from the longitudinal center. The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment, and the same member numbers are assigned to each member corresponding to the first embodiment. In this third embodiment shown in Figure 6, the same effects and benefits as those in each of the above embodiments can be obtained.
[0016] Although the above embodiments describe the application of the present invention to an article conveying device 7 in which the circulating conveying path R is provided along a vertical plane, the present invention can also be applied to an article conveying device in which the circulating conveying path R is provided along a horizontal plane (that is, a configuration in which both conveying rails 11 and 12 are arranged parallel to each other in a plan view, and both transfer means 14 and 15 are arranged between them). Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when rotating the linear rails 25 of the first transfer means 14 and the second transfer means 15, the electromagnetic coil 17 is excited to magnetically attach the carrier 2 to the linear rail 25. However, the linear rail 25 may be rotated without exciting the electromagnetic coil 17. In this case as well, the presence of the fall prevention guide 26 prevents the carrier 2 from falling off. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0017] 2... Carrier 3... Container (item) 7…Material handling equipment 8…Control device 11...First transport rail 11A...Downstream end 11B…Upstream end 12…Second transport rail 12A…Upstream end 12B…Downstream end 14…First delivery means 15…Second delivery means 17…Electromagnetic coil 23…Permanent magnet R...Circular transport route
Claims
1. An article conveying device configured to convey articles held by the carriers, comprising: a plurality of carriers equipped with permanent magnets that hold articles at required positions and move; a conveying rail that moves the plurality of carriers along a circulating conveying path; a plurality of electromagnetic coils arranged along the circulating conveying path; and a control device that energizes the electromagnetic coils to move the carriers along the circulating conveying path, The above-mentioned transport rail comprises a straight first transport rail which serves as the forward path when the carrier moves along the circulating transport path, and a straight second transport rail which is arranged in parallel and separated from the first transport rail and serves as the return path when the carrier moves along the circulating transport path. The system includes a first transfer means that receives multiple carriers from the downstream end of the first transport rail, rotates, and transfers the carriers to the upstream end of the second transport rail, and a second transfer means that receives multiple carriers from the downstream end of the second transport rail, rotates, and transfers the carriers to the upstream end of the first transport rail. The above-mentioned circulating transport path is formed by the first transport rail, the first transfer means, the second transport rail, and the second transfer means. The article conveying device is characterized in that the first and second transfer means described above comprises a linear rail on which a plurality of electromagnetic coils are provided along the longitudinal direction and which accepts a plurality of carriers, and a rotating means for rotating the linear rail.
2. The first transport rail is positioned horizontally at a predetermined height, and the second transport rail is positioned horizontally below the first transport rail, maintaining a required distance from it. The first transfer means described above is configured to move the linear rail to a raised position where it is connected to the first transport rail and to a lowered position where it is connected to the second transport rail by the rotation means described above. The article conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second transfer means moves the linear rail to a lowered position where it is connected to the second transport rail and to an raised position where it is connected to the first transport rail by the rotating means.
3. The first transport rail is positioned horizontally at a predetermined height, and the second transport rail is positioned horizontally below the first transport rail and offset to one side. The first transfer means described above includes a sliding mechanism that moves the linear rail to a raised position where it is connected to the first transport rail and to a lowered position where it is connected to the second transport rail by the rotation means, and also moves the linear rail to a position on the extension of the first transport rail and to a position on the extension of the second transport rail. The article conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second transfer means moves the linear rail to a lowered position where it is connected to the second transport rail and to an elevated position where it is connected to the first transport rail by the rotating means, and also includes a sliding mechanism that moves the linear rail to a position on the extension of the second transport rail and a position on the extension of the first transport rail.