Conveying device

Abstract

To make conveying equipment with vertical circulation paths more compact. [Solution] The carrier 3 includes a load-bearing section 31 on which the load 100 is placed, a rotating shaft 32 rotatably supported by support members 4 attached to chains 2a and 2b, and a posture-holding member 33 fixed to the rotating shaft so as not to rotate relative to the load-bearing section 31. The upper reversal section 21 and lower reversal section 22 of the vertical circulating transport path are provided with a pair of sprockets 5a, 5a and 5b, 5b arranged horizontally spaced apart, thereby forming a horizontal travel section 23 on which chains 2a and 2b travel horizontally. Horizontal guides 61 or 71 that can move back and forth in the vertical direction are placed on the upper reversal section 21 and the lower reversal section 22. When the carrier 3 travels through the horizontal travel section 23, the posture-holding member 33 pushes up or down the horizontal guides 61 or 71, and the reaction force from the horizontal guides 61 or 71 maintains the horizontal posture of the load-bearing section 31 throughout the entire horizontal travel section 23.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device.

Background Art

[0002] In a conveying device that connects a carrier to a chain forming a vertical circulation conveying path to transfer a load, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of providing a movable contact plate to suppress the swing of a mounting table at an inversion part.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conventional conveying device, since the inversion part is constituted by a single sprocket, when changing the direction, the carrier draws a large semi - circular arc orbit, and a long operation stroke is required for a movable guide mechanism for maintaining the posture. Therefore, a space for ensuring a large stroke of the guide has to be secured at the uppermost part or the lowermost part of the device, resulting in a problem that the device becomes large - sized.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to suppress the vertical movement of the carrier at the inversion part, reduce the stroke of the horizontal guide, and make the conveying device having a vertical circulation conveying path more compact.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The conveying device of the present invention comprises an endless chain forming a vertical circulating conveying path and at least one carrier connected to the chain. The carrier comprises a load-bearing section for placing loads, a rotating shaft rotatably supported by a support member attached to the chain, and a posture-holding member fixed to the rotating shaft so as not to rotate relative to the load-bearing section. At least one of the upper and lower reversal sections of the vertical circulating conveying path is provided with a pair of sprockets spaced apart horizontally to form a horizontal travel section for the chain to travel horizontally, and a horizontal guide that can move up and down is provided in at least one of the reversal sections. When the carrier travels through the horizontal travel section, the posture-holding member pushes up or down the horizontal guide, and the reaction force from the horizontal guide maintains the horizontal posture of the load-bearing section throughout the entire horizontal travel section.

[0007] According to the conveying device of the present invention, the chain trajectory is horizontalized by a pair of sprockets in the reversing section, and the vertical movement of the carrier is suppressed, making it possible to dramatically reduce the operating stroke of the horizontal guide. As a result, dead space at the top and bottom of the device is eliminated, reducing the overall height of the device and enabling the realization of an extremely compact conveying device.

[0008] In the conveying device of the present invention, the horizontal guide is supported so as to be able to move back and forth while being biased toward the attitude-holding member by a biasing device, and when the attitude-holding member engages with the horizontal guide, the tilt of the load-placing section may be restricted by the biasing force of the biasing device.

[0009] In this configuration, since the reaction force from the biasing device is actively used for attitude control, the horizontal position of the load-bearing section can be maintained more firmly and stably even when an uneven load occurs.

[0010] Furthermore, the posture-holding member comprises a pair of lateral arms extending in the left-right direction with respect to the rotation axis, a lower arm extending downward, a horizontal guide roller attached to the lateral arms, and a vertical guide roller attached to the lower arm. The vertical guide roller engages with a lifting guide disposed in the vertical travel section of the vertical circulation transport path to maintain the posture of the carrier during lifting and lowering. The lower arm may be formed such that the distance between the rotation axis and the vertical guide roller is longer than the distance between the rotation axis and the horizontal guide roller.

[0011] This configuration allows for smooth transitions by using separate guide mechanisms for lifting and horizontal travel, and effectively improves posture stability during vertical travel by utilizing the lever action of the long lower arm.

[0012] Furthermore, a weight member may be attached to the lower arm to stabilize the posture of the load-bearing section.

[0013] In this configuration, by applying a restoring moment due to the weight of the weight member, the carrier's horizontal maintenance function can be enhanced without the use of special power, thereby improving the reliability of transport.

[0014] Furthermore, both the upper reversal section and the lower reversal section may be equipped with the pair of sprockets and the horizontal guide.

[0015] In this configuration, the guide stroke can be minimized at both the upper and lower ends of the device, thereby maximizing the overall height of the device and enabling space-saving installation.

[0016] Furthermore, the vertical circulating transport path may include a front chain and a rear chain arranged parallel to each other as the endless chain, the support member may include a cylindrical member whose front part is connected to the front chain and whose rear part is connected to the rear chain, the rotating shaft of the carrier may pass through the support member, the load-placing part may be fixed to the front of the rotating shaft, and the posture-holding member may be fixed to the rear of the rotating shaft.

[0017] In this configuration, the tilt of the rotation axis can be prevented by connecting the support members to the front and rear chains. Furthermore, by separating the load-bearing section and the attitude control mechanism at the front and rear of the rotation axis, load balance can be maintained while avoiding interference between them, ensuring reliable operation.

[0018] Furthermore, the loading section is configured to include a plurality of fork members arranged parallel to each other, and to place a load on the loading section at a load receiving position provided in the upward path of the vertical circulation transport path by having the fork members pass between the rollers of the roller conveyor. A load stopper member may also be provided between the upward path and the downward path to stop the load being transported by the roller conveyor at the load receiving position and to be able to be flipped up and retracted as the fork members rise.

[0019] This configuration allows for efficient continuous transport by precisely positioning the load during conveyor operation and quickly retracting the stopper after receiving the load. Furthermore, since the load stopper member can be flipped up and retracted as the fork member rises, it does not require a complex mechanism such as a cylinder mechanism to drive the load stopper member, thus saving space and reducing costs.

[0020] Furthermore, the support member of the carrier is provided with a vehicle body that moves along the outer peripheral frame surface and the inner peripheral frame surface, which are respectively arranged on the outer peripheral and inner peripheral sides of the vertical circulating transport path, so as to be unable to rotate relative to the support member. The vehicle body comprises a plurality of outer wheels that roll along the outer peripheral frame surface and a plurality of inner wheels that roll along the inner peripheral frame surface. The plurality of outer wheels may be arranged at both ends of the vehicle body in the direction of travel, and the plurality of inner wheels may be arranged at both ends and the center of the vehicle body in the direction of travel.

[0021] In this configuration, the vehicle body reliably holds the frame at multiple points and rolls, so even in reversing sections where the chain's behavior tends to be unstable, vibrations and rattles of the device are suppressed, allowing for smooth transport. In particular, when the diameter of the sprocket (reversing section) is set to be relatively small, the trajectory traced by the front and rear ends of the vehicle body in the direction of travel deviates from the curve of the inner frame surface at corners. If inner wheels are placed only at both ends in the direction of travel of the vehicle body, there is a concern that in sharp curves, the wheels at both ends may fall out of the guide range of the inner frame surface and derail, causing the vehicle body to tilt. In this case, the inner wheel positioned in the center of the vehicle body continues to contact the inner frame surface, effectively suppressing rattles and tilting of the entire vehicle body. As a result, lifting and tilting of the vehicle body are prevented throughout the entire transport path, and the posture of the carrier held by the support member can be made extremely stable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the present invention, by horizontalizing the chain trajectory with a pair of sprockets in the reversing section and suppressing the vertical movement of the carrier, the operating stroke of the horizontal guide can be minimized, eliminating dead space in the device and realizing an extremely compact conveying device with a reduced overall height. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0023] [Figure 1] This is a front perspective view showing a transport device according to one embodiment, along with a conveyor. [Figure 2] It is a rear perspective view of the same conveying device. [Figure 3] It is a front view of the same conveying device. [Figure 4] It is a plan view of the same conveying device and the conveyor. [Figure 5] It is a left side view of the same conveying device. [Figure 6] It is a rear view showing the carrier, the horizontal guide, and the elevating guide. [Figure 7] It is a rear view showing the state where the carrier is located in the horizontal traveling section. [Figure 8] It is a rear perspective view for explaining the chain drive mechanism. [Figure 9] It is a separated perspective view showing the carrier together with the chain. [Figure 10] It is a front perspective view showing the support structure of the carrier with a part of the frame omitted. [Figure 11] It is a rear perspective view showing the support structure of the same carrier. [Figure 12] It is a front view showing the state of the traveling vehicle body and the traveling wheels when the carrier passes through the corner portion of the conveying path. [Figure 13] It is a front view for explaining the operation of the carrier and the load stopper member at the load receiving position.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Next, referring to the drawings, the configuration of the conveying device according to the present embodiment will be described. In the following description, words such as "front and rear" and "left and right" are used to specify directions, but the direction in which the load placement portion of the carrier is arranged with respect to the device frame is defined as the front direction. These words are used for convenience of explanation and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0025] FIGS. 1 to 5 show an overall view of the conveying device in one embodiment. This conveying device is a device provided with a vertical circulation conveying path for moving a load in the vertical direction, and enables continuous handling work by circulating a plurality of carriers 3.

[0026] The conveying device of this embodiment comprises endless chains 2a and 2b that form a vertical circulating conveying path, and at least one carrier 3 connected to the chains 2a and 2b. The carrier 3 comprises a load-placing section 31 on which a load 100 is placed, a rotating shaft 32 that is rotatably supported by support members 4 attached to the chains 2a and 2b, and a posture-holding member 33 fixed to the rotating shaft 32 so as not to rotate relative to the load-placing section 31.

[0027] In the vertical circulation transport path, at least one of the upper reversal section 21 and lower reversal section 22 is equipped with a pair of sprockets 5a, 5a and 5b, 5b arranged horizontally spaced apart, thereby forming a horizontal travel section 23 that allows the chains 2a and 2b to travel horizontally. In this embodiment, the horizontal travel section 23 is formed in both the upper reversal section 21 and the lower reversal section 22.

[0028] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, an upper horizontal guide mechanism 6 having an upper horizontal guide 61 that can move back and forth in the vertical direction is arranged in the upper inversion section 21. A lower horizontal guide mechanism 7 having a lower horizontal guide 71 that can move back and forth in the vertical direction is arranged in the lower inversion section 22. When the carrier 3 travels along the horizontal travel section 23, the attitude holding member 33 of the carrier 3 pushes up or down the horizontal guides 61 and 71, and the reaction force from the horizontal guides 61 and 71 maintains the horizontal posture of the load-carrying section 31 throughout the entire horizontal travel section 23.

[0029] In this embodiment, the conveying device horizontalizes the chain trajectory using a pair of sprockets 5a, 5a and 5b, 5b in the reversing sections 21 and 22, suppressing the vertical movement of the carrier 3, thereby dramatically reducing the operating stroke of the horizontal guides 61 and 71. This eliminates dead space at the top and bottom of the device, reducing the overall height of the device and enabling an extremely compact conveying device. Furthermore, the configuration of horizontalizing the chain trajectory using a pair of sprockets in the reversing section of a vertical circulating conveying path and reducing the vertical stroke of the horizontal guides 61 and 71 is also applicable to conveying devices having a vertical circulating conveying path with a single chain, such as those described in Patent Document 1.

[0030] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the vertical circulating conveyor path is formed by a double chain, comprising a front chain 2a and a rear chain 2b arranged parallel to each other as an endless chain. The support member 4 that supports the carrier 3 includes a cylindrical member, the front part 4a of which is connected to the front chain 2a, and the rear part 4b of which is connected to the rear chain 2b. The rotating shaft 32 of the carrier 3 passes through the cylindrical support member 4. The load-bearing section 31 is fixed to the front of the rotating shaft 32. The attitude-holding member 33 is fixed to the rear of the rotating shaft 32.

[0031] In this embodiment, the conveying device has a support member 4 connected to the front chain 2a and the rear chain 2b, which prevents tilting of the carrier's rotation axis 32, i.e., tilting of the load-receiving section 31. Furthermore, by arranging the load-receiving section 31 and the attitude-holding member 33 separately in front of and behind the rotation axis 32, reliable operation can be achieved while balancing the load and avoiding interference between them. Note that in a configuration where the vertical circulating conveying path has front chains 2a and rear chains 2b that are parallel to each other, and the front and rear parts of the support member 4 are connected cylindrical members, and the carrier's rotation axis 32 passes through the support member 4, the configuration in which the load-receiving section 31 is fixed to the front of the rotation axis 32 and the attitude-holding member 33 is fixed to the rear is also applicable to conveying devices in which the reversing section is composed of a single sprocket. In this case, the carrier's attitude control in the reversing section can be any known configuration as long as the carrier's attitude can be controlled via the attitude-holding member, such as a configuration in which the attitude-holding member is engaged with a horizontal guide (see, for example, Patent Document 1) or a configuration in which rollers provided on the attitude-holding member are guided by guide grooves.

[0032] Next, the various parts of the conveying device of this embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the conveying device comprises a device frame 1 which forms the main outer shell and support structure of the device. An endless conveying means is arranged inside the device frame 1, and a space is secured in front of the device frame 1 that allows a carrier 3 carrying a load 100 to move along a specific track. In this embodiment, the load 100 is, for example, a rubber tire with an outer diameter of about 800 mm. However, the load 100 is not limited to a tire.

[0033] The main elements constituting the vertical circulating transport path are endless chains 2a and 2b. As shown in Figure 8, the chains 2a and 2b are formed, for example, from roller chains and consist of two parallel chains, a front chain 2a and a rear chain 2b, spaced apart from each other. By driving the front chain 2a and the rear chain 2b synchronously, the carrier 3 is transported in a stable position.

[0034] The travel paths of chains 2a and 2b form a vertical circulating transport path, consisting of a pair of vertical travel sections 24 extending vertically, and upper and lower inversion sections 21 and 22 located at the upper and lower ends of these vertical travel sections 24. The pair of vertical travel sections 24 function as an upward path and a downward path, respectively, for transporting the load 100 upwards and downwards, respectively.

[0035] The upper reversal section 21 of the vertical circulation transport path reverses the direction of travel of the rising chains 2a and 2b to a horizontal direction, and then guides them vertically downward again. By providing a horizontal travel section 23 in the upper reversal section 21 where chains 2a and 2b move horizontally, the transport path is stabilized when changing direction.

[0036] The lower reversal section 22 of the vertical circulating transport path causes the descending chains 2a and 2b to travel horizontally in the horizontal travel section 23, and then turns them back onto the vertically upward ascending path. In this way, the layout of the entire device, including the upper reversal section 21 and the lower reversal section 22, establishes an endless circulating track.

[0037] In this conveying device, the conveying direction is defined as a unidirectional circulation along a vertical circulating conveying path. As shown in Figure 3, the conveying direction in this embodiment is clockwise when viewed from the front. As can be seen from the front view, plan view, and side view in Figures 3 to 5, chains 2a and 2b circulate inside the device frame 1.

[0038] As shown in Figure 1, the supply roller conveyor 102 places the load 100 at the load receiving position 101 located in front of the upward path of the vertical circulation transport path. Driven by chains 2a and 2b, the load 100 placed at the load receiving position 101 is placed on the load loading section 31 of the rising carrier 3 and rises, passing through the upper horizontal travel section 23 and being transported to the discharge roller conveyor 104 located at the load discharge position 103 in the downward path.

[0039] The device frame 1 firmly holds various mechanisms for driving and guiding the chains 2a and 2b. As shown in Figure 8, the double chain drive mechanism transmits synchronous rotation from a single power source 51 to the front and rear chains 2a and 2b. In this embodiment, the power source 51 is an electric motor with a reduction gear that generates rotational power.

[0040] The front chain 2a is endlessly wound around the four front sprockets 5a, and the rear chain 2b is endlessly wound around the four rear sprockets 5b. The front and rear sprockets 5a and 5b are connected so as not to rotate relative to each other by a horizontal sprocket rotation axis 55.

[0041] A drive-side sprocket 52 is fixed to the output shaft of the power source 51. A driven-side sprocket 53 is fixed to the middle of one of the four sprocket rotation shafts 55 (the upper left sprocket rotation shaft 55 in this embodiment). A drive chain 54 is stretched between the drive-side sprocket 52 and the driven-side sprocket 53. This transmits the rotational power of the power source 51 to one of the sprocket rotation shafts 55.

[0042] The rotation of the sprocket rotation shaft 55, to which the driven sprocket 53 is fixed, is transmitted to the front chain 2a via the front sprocket 5a and to the rear chain 2b via the rear sprocket 5b. In this way, power is transmitted from a common sprocket rotation shaft 55 to two separate systems, the front chain 2a and the rear chain 2b, completely preventing any phase misalignment between the rotations of chains 2a and 2b.

[0043] The carrier 3 and its support structure will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. The carrier 3 comprises a load-bearing section 31 for placing loads, a rotating shaft 32 for supporting the load-bearing section 31, and a posture-holding member 33 fixed to the rotating shaft 32 so as not to rotate relative to the load-bearing section 31. The rotating shaft 32 is connected to chains 2a and 2b that form a vertical circulating transport path via a support member 4, thereby allowing it to move along the transport path.

[0044] The load-bearing section 31 comprises a plurality of fork members 31a arranged parallel to each other with a gap between them in the lateral direction. The fork members 31a are arranged extending in the front-rear direction, and their base ends are connected to load-bearing section stays 31b that extend in the lateral direction. The front end of the rotating shaft 32 is fixed to the center of the rear surface of the load-bearing section stays 31b. The load-bearing section stays 31b are positioned to follow the horizontal direction, and the group of fork members 31a are arranged along the horizontal direction.

[0045] As shown in Figure 9, the support member 4 is configured as a cylindrical member with an internal space. The support member 4 is connected to the front chain 2a at its front portion 4a and to the rear chain 2b at its rear portion 4b. By connecting the support member 4 across a pair of chains 2a and 2b that are arranged parallel to each other in this way, it is possible to stably distribute and support the load of the entire carrier 3.

[0046] The rotating shaft 32 of the carrier 3 is inserted inside the support member 4. The rotating shaft 32 is held in place of the support member 4 via a bearing and is supported to rotate freely about the axial direction of the support member 4. This structure ensures rotational freedom to maintain the load-carrying section 31 in the appropriate position at all times, even when the travel paths of the chains 2a and 2b change in a curved manner.

[0047] The load-bearing section 31 is fixed to the front of the rotating shaft 32 so as not to rotate relative to it. The attitude-holding member 33 for controlling the attitude of the carrier 3 is fixed to the rear of the rotating shaft 32, on the opposite side of the rotating shaft 32 from the load-bearing section 31, so as not to rotate relative to it. By arranging the load-bearing section 31 for placing the load 100 and the attitude-holding member 33 for controlling the attitude separately at the front and rear, the configuration avoids physical interference between the cargo handling operation and the attitude control mechanism.

[0048] The posture-holding member 33 is made of metal, for example, and comprises a substantially T-shaped posture-holding member body having a pair of lateral arms 33a extending in the left-right direction with respect to the rotation axis 32 and a lower arm 33b extending downward. The posture-holding member 33 is equipped with horizontal guide rollers 33c attached to the front ends of each of the left and right lateral arms 33a, and a vertical guide roller 33d attached to the lower end of the back of the lower arm 33b.

[0049] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the vertical guide roller 33d engages with the lifting guide 8, which is located on the rear side of the device frame 1 in the vertical travel section 24 of the vertical circulation transport path, to maintain the horizontal position of the load-carrying section 31 of the carrier 3 during lifting and lowering. The left and right horizontal guide rollers 33c engage with the horizontal guides 61 and 71 of the horizontal guide mechanisms 6 and 7 in the horizontal travel section 23 in the reversing sections 21 and 22, and in the curved travel section between the horizontal travel section 23 and the vertical travel section 24, to maintain the horizontal position of the load-carrying section 31. In this way, by using separate guide mechanisms for lifting and lowering and for horizontal travel, a smooth transition is made possible. Note that the guide rollers 33c and 33d may be located on either the front or back of the arms 33a and 33b.

[0050] In this embodiment, the lower arm 33b is formed such that the distance between the rotating shaft 32 and the vertical guide roller 33d is longer than the distance between the rotating shaft 32 and the horizontal guide roller 33c. This allows for effective improvement of posture stability during vertical travel by utilizing the lever action of the long lower arm 33b. Note that the configuration of the posture holding member 33 is not limited to this embodiment. For example, any known configuration may be adopted as long as the posture of the carrier 3 can be controlled via the posture holding member, such as a configuration in which the length of the lower arm 33b is equal to or less than that of the horizontal arm 33a, or a configuration in which rollers are provided at each of the four ends of a cross shape.

[0051] Furthermore, a metal weight member 33e is attached to the front middle of the lower arm 33b to stabilize the posture of the load-carrying section 31. By applying a restoring moment to the posture-holding member 33 due to the weight of the weight member 33e, the horizontal maintenance function of the load-carrying section 31 can be enhanced without the use of special power, thereby improving the reliability of transport. The weight member 33e may also be attached to the back of the lower arm 33b.

[0052] As shown in Figures 2 and 4 to 7, the upper horizontal guide mechanism 6 includes a biasing device that supports the upper horizontal guide 61, which extends in the left-right direction, so that it can move up and down while biasing it downwards. The biasing device includes a lifting guide 62 that supports the upper horizontal guide 61 so that it can slide up and down, and an air cylinder 63 that applies a downward biasing force to the upper horizontal guide 61 while restricting the sliding range of the upper horizontal guide 61. Similarly, the lower horizontal guide mechanism 7 includes a biasing device having a lifting guide 72 that supports the lower horizontal guide 71, which extends in the left-right direction, so that it can slide up and down, and an air cylinder 73 that applies an upward biasing force to the lower horizontal guide 71 while restricting the sliding range of the lower horizontal guide 71.

[0053] Upon reaching the end of the vertical travel section 24 of the ascending path, the carrier 3 engages its left and right horizontal guide rollers 33c with the underside of the upper horizontal guide 61, pushing the upper horizontal guide 61 upward as it passes through the curved section 25 between the vertical travel section 24 and the horizontal travel section 23. After that, the carrier 3 travels along the horizontal travel section 23, and then, after passing through the curved section 25, reaches the beginning of the vertical travel section 24 of the descending path.

[0054] In the upper reversal section 21, the upper horizontal guide mechanism 6 maintains the horizontal position of the upper horizontal guide 61 while the carrier 3 travels through the curved section 25, the horizontal travel section 23, and the curved section 25, and biases the left and right horizontal guide rollers 33c of the carrier 3 downward with the upper horizontal guide 61. In this way, the upper horizontal guide 61 works in cooperation with the attitude holding member 33 to maintain the horizontal position of the load-bearing section 31 of the carrier 3 from the end of the vertical travel section 24 of the ascending path, through the horizontal travel section 23, to the beginning of the vertical travel section 24 of the descending path.

[0055] The lower horizontal guide 71 of the lower horizontal guide mechanism 7, in the lower inversion section 22, works in cooperation with the attitude holding member 33, similar to the upper horizontal guide 61, to engage with the horizontal guide roller 33c from the end of the vertical travel section 24 of the descending path, through the curved section 25, the horizontal travel section 23, and the curved section 25, to the beginning of the vertical travel section 24 of the ascending path, thereby maintaining the horizontal posture of the load-bearing section 31 of the carrier 3.

[0056] In this embodiment, the chain track is horizontalized by a pair of sprockets in the reversing sections 21 and 22, and the vertical movement of the carrier 3 is suppressed, making it possible to dramatically reduce the operating stroke of the horizontal guides 61 and 71. This eliminates dead space at the top and bottom of the device, reduces the overall height of the device, and makes it possible to realize an extremely compact conveying device. In addition, since the horizontal posture of the load-carrying section 31 can be maintained by a single horizontal guide 61 or 71 for the carrier 3 traveling throughout the entire horizontal travel section 23 and the curved sections 25 at both ends of the horizontal travel section 23, the horizontal guide mechanisms 6 and 7 can be simplified and made more compact.

[0057] Furthermore, the mechanism for sliding the horizontal guides 61 and 71 up and down is not limited to a linear motion mechanism, but may be a parallel link mechanism, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. Also, the mechanism for applying a biasing force to the horizontal guides 61 and 71 is not limited to an air cylinder, but may be any mechanism, such as a mechanism utilizing an elastic body like a coil spring, or a mechanism utilizing magnetism, gravity, liquid, or gas.

[0058] As shown in Figures 2, 9, and 12, the support member 4 is provided with a front travel body 41 and a rear travel body 42 to stabilize the movement of the carrier 3 along the vertical circulation transport path. The travel bodies 41 and 42 are fixed to the support member 4 so as not to rotate relative to each other and move within the transport path following the movement of the chains 2a and 2b. The front travel body 41 moves along the front outer frame surface 11a and the front inner frame surface 12a provided on the front side of the device frame 1 (see Figure 12, etc.). The rear travel body 42 moves along the rear outer frame surface 11b and the rear inner frame surface 12b provided on the rear side of the device frame 1 (see Figure 11, etc.).

[0059] The front travel body 41 is equipped with outer wheels 41a that roll along the front outer frame surface 11a formed on the frame side of the transport path, and inner wheels 41b and 41c that roll along the front inner frame surface 12a. Similarly, the rear travel body 42 is equipped with outer wheels 42a that roll along the rear outer frame surface 11b, and inner wheels 42b and 42c that roll along the rear inner frame surface 12b. The front and rear travel bodies 41 and 42 sandwich the front frame surfaces 11a and 12a and the rear frame surfaces 11b and 12b of the device frame 1, thereby restricting the movement of the support member 4 in the front-rear direction (axial direction).

[0060] In the running bodies 41 and 42, the outer wheels 41a and 42a are provided at both ends in the direction of travel. On the other hand, regarding the inner wheels 41b, 41c, 42b, and 42c, not only are the end inner wheels 41b and 42b provided at both ends in the direction of travel of the running bodies 41 and 42, but also the central inner wheels 41c and 42c provided in the center. By distributing the multiple outer wheels 41a, 42a and inner wheels 41b, 41c, 42b, and 42c in the direction of travel of the running bodies 41 and 42, the load on the support member 4 is effectively received at multiple points, suppressing rattling in the longitudinal direction (axial direction of the support member 4) during travel and stabilizing the running trajectory.

[0061] In particular, as shown in Figure 12, when the diameters of the sprockets 5a and 5b forming the reversing sections 21 and 22 are set to be relatively small, the trajectory traced by the front and rear ends of the running body 41 and 42 in the direction of travel deviates from the curve of the inner frame surfaces 12a and 12b at corners. If the inner end wheels 41b and 42b are placed only at both ends of the running body 41 and 42 in the direction of travel, there is a concern that in sharp curves the inner end wheels 41b and 42b will fall out of the guide range of the inner frame surfaces 12a and 12b and derail, causing the running body 41 and 42 to tilt.

[0062] In this embodiment, the central inner wheels 41c and 42c, positioned in the center of the vehicle bodies 41 and 42 in the direction of travel, remain in contact with the inner circumferential frame surfaces 12a and 12b, thereby effectively suppressing rattling and tilting of the entire vehicle bodies 41 and 42 when they pass through corners. As a result, lifting and tilting of the vehicle bodies 41 and 42 are prevented throughout the entire transport path, making it possible to maintain an extremely stable posture for the carrier 3 held by the support member 4.

[0063] Furthermore, the frame surfaces 11a, 11b, 12a, and 12b that guide the wheels 41a, 41b, 42a, 42b, and 42c of the running vehicle bodies 41 and 42 do not need to cover the entire front and rear of the device, but only need to be provided in an area that can guide the wheels 41a, 41b, 42a, 42b, and 42c.

[0064] As shown in Figures 9 to 11, the support member 4 includes a pair of front rotation restricting members 43a provided on either side of the front part 4a of the support member so as to be positioned along the front chain 2a, and a pair of rear rotation restricting members 43b provided on either side of the rear part 4b of the support member so as to be positioned along the rear chain 2b. The rotation restricting members 43a and 43b come into contact with or approach the chains 2a and 2b as the support member 4 passes through the straight running sections 23 and 24, restricting the rotation of the support member 4 around its axis and improving the attitude stability of the carrier 3.

[0065] Restricting rollers 44 are provided at the four corners of a pair of front rotation restricting members 43a, rotatably supported on a rotation axis parallel to the axial direction of the support member 4. When the support member 4 travels through the vertical travel section 24, the restricting rollers 44 roll along or approach a pair of restricting roller guides 9 arranged on either side of the vertical travel section 24 in the device frame 1, thereby restricting the lateral movement of the support member 4 and improving the attitude stability of the carrier 3. The device frame 1 may also be provided with restricting roller guides to guide the restricting rollers 44 in the horizontal travel section 23. Furthermore, restricting rollers may also be provided at the four corners of a pair of rear rotation restricting members 43b, and corresponding restricting roller guides 9 may be provided on the device frame 1.

[0066] Next, with reference to Figure 13, the coordinated operation of the carrier 3 and the supply roller conveyor 102 at the load receiving position 101 will be described. A load receiving position 101 for receiving loads 100 from the outside is set up on the upward path of the vertical circulating transport path. At this position, the transport end (or intermediate transport section) of the supply roller conveyor 102 for supplying loads 100 is located close to the front of the device frame 1.

[0067] The loading section 31 of the carrier 3 is equipped with a plurality of fork members 31a arranged parallel to each other at intervals. In the loading process, each fork member 31a of the rising carrier 3 passes from bottom to top through the gaps between the plurality of rollers 105 that make up the supply roller conveyor 102. As a result, the load 100 that was waiting on the rollers 105 at the loading position 101 is picked up by the fork members 31a.

[0068] To ensure accurate loading, a loading stopper member 10 is provided between the ascending and descending paths. The loading stopper member 10 has the function of stopping the load 100, which has been transported by the supply roller conveyor 102, at the appropriate position at the loading receiving position 101. In this embodiment, the loading stopper member 10 includes a stopper 10a for stopping the load 100 and a hinge member 10b connected to the stopper 10a. The hinge member 10b is supported by a stopper support arm 10c that protrudes forward from the front of the device frame 1.

[0069] As shown in Figure 13, the load stopper member 10 has a mechanism that allows it to retract after holding the load 100 so as not to interfere with the upward movement of the fork member 31a. The stopper 10a is held in a horizontal position when stopping the load 100, and when the load 100 is picked up by the fork member 31a as the carrier 3 moves upward, it is pushed up by the upward-moving fork member 31a and retracts so as to rotate upward around the hinge axis of the hinge member 10b. Once the fork member 31a has passed, the stopper 10a rotates downward around the hinge axis by its own weight and returns to the standby position.

[0070] The load stopper member 10 can efficiently perform continuous transport operations by positioning the load 100 precisely and quickly retracting after receiving the load. Furthermore, since the load stopper member 10 can be flipped up and retracted as the fork member 31a rises, it does not require a complex mechanism such as a cylinder mechanism to drive the stopper 10a, thus saving space and reducing costs.

[0071] Furthermore, the load stopper member 10 may be configured to return the stopper 10a from the flipped-up position to the standby position by the elastic force of an elastic body such as a torsion coil spring. Also, the load stopper member 10 may be provided on the supply roller conveyor 102.

[0072] Although embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the configurations, arrangements, numerical values, shapes, materials, etc. in the embodiments are merely examples and can be materialized in various forms. The configuration of each part is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the configurations described in the embodiments and modifications (see notes, etc.) described above may be combined, and configurations can be added, omitted, replaced, or otherwise modified. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0073] 1. Device frame 2a Front chain 2b Rear chain 3 carriers 4. Support members 4a Front part of support member 4b Rear of support member 5a Front sprocket 5b Rear sprocket 6. Upper horizontal guide mechanism 7. Lower horizontal guide mechanism 8 Lifting Guide 9 Regulator roller guide 10 Load stopper member 10a Stopper 10b Hinge member 10c Stopper support arm 11a Front outer frame surface 11b Rear outer frame surface 12a Front inner frame surface 12b Rear inner frame surface 21 Upper inversion section 22 Lower inversion section 23. Horizontal travel section 24 Vertical travel section 25 Curved Section 31 Loading area 31a Fork member 31b Mounting part stay 32 Rotation axis 33 Posture-holding member 33a Horizontal Arm 33b Lower arm 33c Horizontal Guide Roller 33d Vertical Guide Roller 33e Weight member 41 Front vehicle 41a Outer wheel 41b End inner wheel 41c center inner wheel 42 Rear running vehicle 42a outer wheel 42b End inner wheel 42c center inner wheel 43a Front rotation restricting member 43b Rear rotation restricting member 44 Regulatory roller 51 Power source 52 Drive side sprocket 53 Driven sprocket 54 Drive chain 55 Sprocket rotation axis 61 Upper horizontal guide 62 Lifting Guide 63 Air Cylinder 71 Lower horizontal guide 72 Lifting Guide 100 loads 101 Receiving location 102 Supply roller conveyor 103 Load discharge position 104 Discharge roller conveyor 105 Laura

Claims

1. A conveying device comprising an endless chain forming a vertical circulating conveying path, and at least one carrier connected to the chain, The carrier comprises a load-bearing section for placing loads, a rotating shaft rotatably supported by a support member attached to the chain, and a posture-holding member fixed to the rotating shaft so as not to rotate relative to the load-bearing section. Of the upper and lower reversing sections of the vertical circulation transport path, at least one of the reversing sections is equipped with a pair of sprockets spaced apart horizontally, thereby forming a horizontal travel section that allows the chain to travel horizontally. A horizontal guide that can move up and down is provided in at least one of the reversing sections. As the carrier travels along the horizontal travel section, the attitude-holding member pushes up or down the horizontal guide, and the reaction force from the horizontal guide maintains the horizontal posture of the load-carrying section throughout the entire horizontal travel section. The posture-holding member comprises a pair of lateral arms extending in the left-right direction with respect to the rotation axis, a lower arm extending downward, a horizontal guide roller attached to the lateral arms, and a vertical guide roller attached to the lower arm. The vertical guide roller engages with a lifting guide installed in the vertical travel section of the vertical circulation transport path to maintain the carrier's posture during lifting and lowering. The lower arm is formed such that the distance between the rotation axis and the vertical guide roller is longer than the distance between the rotation axis and the horizontal guide roller. Conveying device.

2. The horizontal guide is supported so as to be able to move back and forth while being biased toward the attitude-holding member by a biasing device. When the attitude-holding member engages with the horizontal guide, the biasing force from the biasing device restricts the tilt of the load-bearing section. The conveying device according to claim 1.

3. A weight member is attached to the lower arm to stabilize the posture of the load-bearing section. The conveying device according to claim 1.

4. Both the upper reversing section and the lower reversing section are equipped with the pair of sprockets and the horizontal guide. The conveying device according to claim 1.

5. A conveying device comprising an endless chain forming a vertical circulating conveying path, and at least one carrier connected to the chain, The carrier comprises a load-bearing section for placing loads, a rotating shaft rotatably supported by a support member attached to the chain, and a posture-holding member fixed to the rotating shaft so as not to rotate relative to the load-bearing section. Of the upper and lower reversing sections of the vertical circulation transport path, at least one of the reversing sections is equipped with a pair of sprockets spaced apart horizontally, thereby forming a horizontal travel section that allows the chain to travel horizontally. A horizontal guide that can move up and down is provided in at least one of the reversing sections. As the carrier travels along the horizontal travel section, the attitude-holding member pushes up or down the horizontal guide, and the reaction force from the horizontal guide maintains the horizontal posture of the load-carrying section throughout the entire horizontal travel section. The vertical circulating transport path comprises a front chain and a rear chain arranged parallel to each other as the endless chain, The support member includes a cylindrical member whose front portion is connected to the front chain and whose rear portion is connected to the rear chain. The rotating shaft of the carrier is inserted through the support member, The load-carrying section is fixed to the front of the rotating shaft, The attitude-holding member is fixed to the rear of the rotation shaft. Conveying device.

6. A conveying device comprising an endless chain forming a vertical circulating conveying path, and at least one carrier connected to the chain, The carrier comprises a load-bearing section for placing loads, a rotating shaft rotatably supported by a support member attached to the chain, and a posture-holding member fixed to the rotating shaft so as not to rotate relative to the load-bearing section. Of the upper and lower reversing sections of the vertical circulation transport path, at least one of the reversing sections is equipped with a pair of sprockets spaced apart horizontally, thereby forming a horizontal travel section that allows the chain to travel horizontally. A horizontal guide that can move up and down is provided in at least one of the reversing sections. As the carrier travels along the horizontal travel section, the attitude-holding member pushes up or down the horizontal guide, and the reaction force from the horizontal guide maintains the horizontal posture of the load-carrying section throughout the entire horizontal travel section. The load-carrying section comprises a plurality of fork members arranged parallel to each other, In the configuration, at a load receiving position provided in the upward path of the vertical circulation transport path, the load is placed on the load placement section by the fork member passing between the rollers of the roller conveyor, Between the ascending path and the descending path, there is a load stopper member that stops the load being transported by the roller conveyor at the load receiving position and can be flipped up and retracted as the fork member rises. Conveying device.

7. A conveying device comprising an endless chain forming a vertical circulating conveying path, and at least one carrier connected to the chain, The carrier comprises a load-bearing section for placing loads, a rotating shaft rotatably supported by a support member attached to the chain, and a posture-holding member fixed to the rotating shaft so as not to rotate relative to the load-bearing section. Of the upper and lower reversing sections of the vertical circulation transport path, at least one of the reversing sections is equipped with a pair of sprockets spaced apart horizontally, thereby forming a horizontal travel section that allows the chain to travel horizontally. A horizontal guide that can move up and down is provided in at least one of the reversing sections. As the carrier travels along the horizontal travel section, the attitude-holding member pushes up or down the horizontal guide, and the reaction force from the horizontal guide maintains the horizontal posture of the load-carrying section throughout the entire horizontal travel section. The support member of the carrier is provided with a vehicle body that moves along the outer peripheral frame surface and the inner peripheral frame surface, respectively, which are arranged on the outer peripheral and inner peripheral sides of the vertical circulation transport path, so as to be unable to rotate relative to the support member. The vehicle body comprises a plurality of outer wheels that roll along the outer circumferential frame surface and a plurality of inner wheels that roll along the inner circumferential frame surface. The aforementioned multiple outer wheels are positioned at both ends of the vehicle body in the direction of travel, The aforementioned plurality of inner wheels are positioned at both ends and the center of the vehicle body in the direction of travel, respectively. Conveying device.

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