Device for guiding long object

Abstract

In the present invention, a device for guiding a long object comprises a plurality of links (20). Each of the links (20) is provided with a pair of link plates (11), a first connecting member (12), and a second connecting member (13). The first connecting member (12) has a plate-shaped body part (12a), a first engaging part (40) that engages with a first engaged part (30a), and a second engaging part (50) that engages with a second engaged part (30b). The first engaged part (30a) and / or the second engaged part (30b) are / is provided with an outward engaged part (32a). The first engaging part (40) and / or the second engaging part (50) have / has a suspended wall (42) that extends in the thickness direction of the body part (12a), an inward engaging part (43) that engages with the outward engaged part (32a), and an outward protruding wall (44) that protrudes outward from the hanging wall (42).

Description

Guiding device for long objects

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a guide device for an elongated object.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an energy conduction chain. As shown in Fig. 15, an energy conduction chain 80 has links 83 formed by a pair of opposing link plates 81 and a connecting piece 82 that connects the pair of link plates 81 together. A retaining plate 84 is also stretched across the pair of link plates 81. An energy conductor such as a cable or a hose is disposed in the space surrounded by the pair of link plates 81, the connecting piece 82, and the retaining plate 84.

[0003] The pair of link plates 81 have engagement pieces at their upper ends that engage with the retaining plates 84. The engagement pieces are composed of semicircular rod bodies 85 whose circumferential surface is on the inner side of the pair of link plates 81. The outer side of the rod body 85 is a flat surface 85a, and this flat surface 85a has a groove 85b that runs along the axial direction of the link 83.

[0004] The retaining plate 84 has a base plate 86, a first side piece 87 hanging down from one end of the base plate 86, and a second side piece 88 hanging down from the other end of the base plate 86. The first side piece 87 has a protrusion 87a that engages with a groove 85b of the rod body 85. The second side piece 88 has a semicircular locking hole 88a that fits onto the rod body 85.

[0005] When attaching the retaining plate 84 to the pair of link plates 81, the rod 85 of one link plate 81 is fitted into the semicircular locking hole 88a of the second side piece 88 of the retaining plate 84. Then, the retaining plate 84 is rotated around the semicircular locking hole 88a. The retaining plate 84 is attached to the pair of link plates 81 by engaging the protrusion 87a of the first side piece 87 of the retaining plate 84 with the groove 85b of the rod 85 of the other link plate 81.

[0006] Publication No. 2-526

[0007] Incidentally, in the energy conduction chain 80 as a guide device for a long object described in Patent Document 1 and the like, there are cases where the engagement between the retaining plate 84 as the first connecting member and the link plate 81 needs to be released in order to inspect or replace the long object. In such cases, an operator inserts a jig or the like between the first side piece 87 of the retaining plate 84 and the rod body 85 of the other link plate 81 to release the engagement between the protrusion 87a of the first side piece 87 and the groove 85b of the rod body 85. However, it is difficult for an operator to release the engagement using the jig or the like, making it difficult to release the engagement of the retaining plate 84.

[0008] A guide device for a long object according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of links connected in series to be rotatable with respect to each other, each link including a pair of opposing link plates, a first connecting member connecting the pair of link plates, and a second connecting member connecting the pair of link plates, and is configured so that a long object can be accommodated within a space surrounded by the pair of link plates, the first connecting member, and the second connecting member in each link, and one of the pair of link plates in each link includes a first engaged portion and the other includes a second engaged portion, and The first connecting member in this case has a plate-shaped main body portion, a first engaging portion that engages with the first engaged portion, and a second engaging portion that engages with the second engaged portion, and if the direction in which the pair of link plates face each other is defined as the inward direction of the link and the opposite direction is defined as the outward direction of the link, at least one of the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion has an outer engaged portion, and at least one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion has a hanging wall extending in the thickness direction of the main body portion, an inner engaging portion provided on the hanging wall that engages with the outer engaged portion, and an outer protruding wall that protrudes outward beyond the hanging wall.

[0009] 1 is a perspective view of a guiding device for a long object according to an embodiment; a perspective view of a link; a perspective view of a first connecting member; a perspective view of the first connecting member from another angle; a perspective view of a second engaged portion of the link plate; an exploded perspective view of a link; a cross-sectional view of a state in which a hinge shaft is engaged with a hinge bearing portion; a perspective view of an outer engaged portion of the first engaged portion of the link plate before engagement between the outer engaged portion of the first engaged portion and the inner engaging portion of the first engaging portion of the first connecting member; a perspective view of a state in which an outer engaged portion of the first engaged portion of the link plate and the inner engaging portion of the first engaging portion of the first connecting member are engaged; a partial cross-sectional view of a state in which an outer engaged portion of the first engaged portion of the link plate and the inner engaging portion of the first engaging portion of the first connecting member before engagement between the outer engaged portion of the first engaged portion of the link plate and the inner engaging portion of the first engaging portion of the first connecting member; a partial cross-sectional view of a state in which an outer engaged portion and an inner engaging portion are engaged; a partial cross-sectional view of a state in which an outer engaged portion and an inner engaging portion are engaged in a modified example; a partial cross-sectional view of a state in which an outer engaged portion and an inner engaging portion are engaged in another modified example. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of a state in which an outer engaged portion and an inner engaging portion of yet another modified example are engaged with each other.

[0010] A guide device 10 for a long object according to one embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the guide device 10 for a long object (hereinafter also referred to as a guide device) includes a plurality of links 20. Each link 20 includes a pair of opposing link plates 11, a first connecting member 12 connecting the pair of link plates 11, and a second connecting member 13 connecting the pair of link plates 11. In the guide device 10, the plurality of links 20 are connected in series so as to be rotatable relative to one another.

[0011] Hereinafter, the serial direction of the multiple links 20 will be referred to as the serial direction X. The direction perpendicular to the serial direction X and in which a pair of link plates 11 face each other will be referred to as the width direction Y. As shown in FIG. 1 , the direction perpendicular to both the serial direction X and the width direction Y will be referred to as the up-down direction Z, based on the point where the multiple links 20 extend linearly.

[0012] Of the multiple connected links 20, the link 20 located at one end in the serial direction X has a connecting fitting 14. The connecting fitting 14 is connected to a moving body (not shown) that moves back and forth in the serial direction X. The link 20 located at the other end in the serial direction X has a fixing fitting 15. The fixing fitting 15 is fixed to a fixing portion (not shown). The direction connected to the connecting fitting 14 is defined as the front, and the direction fixed to the fixing fitting 15 is defined as the rear.

[0013] As shown in Figure 2, the direction in which the pair of link plates 11 face each other is referred to as the inside of the link 20, and the opposite direction is referred to as the outside of the link 20. Hereinafter, the link plate 11 located at the back side in Figure 2 may be referred to as the first link plate 21. Furthermore, the link plate 11 located at the front side in Figure 2 may be referred to as the second link plate 22.

[0014] 1 and 2, the guide device 10 accommodates a long object TK in a space surrounded by a pair of link plates 11, a first connecting member 12, and a second connecting member 13 in each link 20. The long object TK can be flexibly bent. The guide device 10 accommodates the long object TK in the space and guides the long object TK while protecting it with the multiple links 20.

[0015] The following describes the details of the guide device 10. <Link Plate> As shown in Figure 2, the link plate 11 is configured as a plate that is long in the serial direction X. Both ends of the link plate 11 in the serial direction X are semicircular with convex outer sides in the serial direction X.

[0016] The link plate 11 has an engaged portion 30 at its upper end in the vertical direction Z at the center of the serial direction X, with which the first connecting member 12 engages. The engaged portion 30 will be described later. The link plate 11 has an engaged portion at its lower end in the vertical direction Z at the center of the serial direction X, with which the second connecting member 13 engages. Description of this engaged portion will be omitted. The second connecting member 13 is connected to both of the pair of link plates 11. The second connecting member 13 connects the lower ends of the pair of link plates 11 to each other.

[0017] The following describes the second link plate 22 of the pair of link plates 11. As shown in Figure 2, the second link plate 22 has a through hole 23 forward of its center in the serial direction X. The second link plate 22 has an outer thin portion 24 rearward of its center in the serial direction X, the outer thin portion 24 having a thickness that decreases from the outside to the inside of the second link plate 22. The front edge of the outer thin portion 24 is curved so as to convex forward.

[0018] The second link plate 22 has a cylindrical shaft portion 25 that protrudes outward from the center of the outer thin portion 24. The protruding height of the shaft portion 25 is approximately equal to the depth of the outer thin portion 24. In other words, the top of the shaft portion 25 is approximately flush with the outer surface of the second link plate 22 excluding the outer thin portion 24.

[0019] The second link plate 22 has a rectangular protrusion 26 in the outer thin portion 24, located forward of the axle 25. The second link plate 22 also has a sector-shaped recess 27, located rearward of the axle 25, where the thickness of the second link plate 22 is further reduced and which widens rearward in a sector shape.

[0020] The second link plate 22 has an inner thin portion 28 recessed from the inside to the outside of the second link plate 22, located forward of the center in the serial direction X. As shown in Figure 2, the shape of the inner thin portion 28 at the center in the serial direction X of the second link plate 22 is the same as the shape of the outer thin portion 24 when the second link plate 22 is rotated 180 degrees about the rotation axis P, assuming that the rotation axis P extends in the up-down direction Z. That is, the inner thin portion 28 has a rectangular protrusion 26 and a sector-shaped recess 27 on the inward side of the link 20, and a through hole 23 in the outer thin portion 24 at the position of the shaft portion 25.

[0021] 2, the pair of link plates 11 are bilaterally symmetrical. In other words, the pair of link plates 11 are mirror images of each other, including the shape of the engaged portion 30. That is, the first link plate 21 and the second link plate 22 are mirror images of each other in the opposing direction.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the guide device 10 has a plurality of links 20 connected in series so as to be rotatable relative to one another. When connecting the plurality of links 20, the rear side of one pair of link plates 11 is connected to the front side of another pair of link plates 11. Specifically, the shafts 25 located in the outer thin-walled portions 24 of one pair of link plates 11 are fitted into the through holes 23 located in the inner thin-walled portions 28 of the other pair of link plates 11. At this time, the rectangular protrusions 26 of the outer thin-walled portions 24 are positioned within the sector-shaped recesses 27 of the inner thin-walled portions 28. The rectangular protrusions 26 of the inner thin-walled portions 28 are also positioned within the sector-shaped recesses 27 of the outer thin-walled portions 24.

[0023] This allows another pair of link plates 11 to rotate around the shafts 25 of one pair of link plates 11. The rotation range of the other pair of link plates 11 is defined within the range in which the rectangular protrusions 26 of the other pair of link plates 11, which are arranged in the sectorial recesses 27 of the other pair of link plates 11, can swing. The rotation range can be changed by changing the angle or direction of the sector in the sectorial recesses 27 or the shape or position of the rectangular protrusions 26.

[0024] As described above, by repeatedly connecting one pair of link plates 11 to another pair of link plates 11, a plurality of links 20 are rotatably connected. <Engaged Portion of Link Plate> As shown in FIG. 2 , the link plate 11 has an engaged portion 30 with which the first connecting member 12 engages, at the upper end in the center of the serial direction X. Specifically, the first link plate 21 of the pair of link plates 11 has a first engaged portion 30a with which the first engaging portion 40 of the first connecting member 12 engages. The second link plate 22 of the pair of link plates 11 has a second engaged portion 30b with which the second engaging portion 50 of the first connecting member 12 engages. Therefore, one of the pair of link plates 11 has the first engaged portion 30a with which the first engaging portion 40 of the first connecting member 12 engages. The other of the pair of link plates 11 has the second engaged portion 30b with which the second engaging portion 50 of the first connecting member 12 engages.

[0025] Because the first engaged portion 30a and the second engaged portion 30b have the same shape, the following description will focus on the second engaged portion 30b, and a description of the first engaged portion 30a will be omitted. As shown in Figure 5, the second engaged portion 30b has a first notch 31 cut downward from the upper end of the second link plate 22. The first notch 31 penetrates the second link plate 22 in the thickness direction. The depth of the first notch 31, i.e., the length of the first notch 31 in the up-down direction Z, is approximately equal to the thickness of the main body 12a of the first connecting member 12.

[0026] The second engaged portion 30b has hinge bearing portions 31a recessed on both sides in the serial direction X from the first notch 31. The hinge bearing portions 31a extend to the outer surface of the second link plate 22 in the thickness direction of the second link plate 22. The inner periphery of the hinge bearing portion 31a is semicircular, allowing a hinge shaft 52 (described later) to rotate while engaged with the hinge bearing portion 31a.

[0027] The second engaged portion 30b has a second notch 32 below the first notch 31. The second notch 32 cuts out an outer portion of the second link plate 22 in the thickness direction of the second link plate 22. The width of the second notch 32 along the serial direction X is the same as the width of the first notch 31 along the same direction.

[0028] The second engaged portion 30b has an outer convex portion 32a that protrudes outward inside the second notch 32. As shown in Figure 7, the outer convex portion 32a has an inclined surface 32b that slopes diagonally downward outward. The outer convex portion 32a also has a horizontal surface 32c below the inclined surface 32b that extends in the thickness direction of the second link plate 22.

[0029] 5 and 7 , the second engaged portion 30b has a third notch 33 below the second notch 32. The third notch 33 extends obliquely downward and outward from the center of the second notch 32 in the serial direction X, and has an inclined surface 33a that is obliquely downward and outward. The width of the third notch 33 along the serial direction X is shorter than the width of the second notch 32. The third notch 33 functions as a release recess into which a jig or finger can be inserted when removing the first engaging portion 40 of the first connecting member 12 from the engaged portion 30 of the first link plate 21.

[0030] <First connecting member> As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first connecting member 12 has a plate-shaped main body portion 12a, a first engaging portion 40 that engages with the first engaged portion 30a of the first link plate 21, and a second engaging portion 50 that engages with the second engaged portion 30b of the second link plate 22.

[0031] (Main Body) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main body 12a has a plate surface extending along the serial direction X and extends elongatedly in the width direction Y.

[0032] Hereinafter, in the longitudinal direction of main body portion 12a, the direction toward the center of main body portion 12a will be referred to as the inward direction of first connecting member 12, and the opposite direction will be referred to as the outward direction. (First Engaging Portion) First engaging portion 40 has a curved portion 41 extending from one end of main body portion 12a in the longitudinal direction, a hanging wall 42 extending downward along the thickness direction of main body portion 12a from the outer end of curved portion 41, and an outward protruding wall 44 protruding outward from the upper end of hanging wall 42.

[0033] 3 and 4, the curved portion 41 protrudes outward from one end of the main body 12a, then curves upward, and then further curves outward. That is, the curved portion 41 extends in a crank-like curve. Note that a crank-like shape refers to a shape having two or more portions curved in opposite directions.

[0034] In addition, the phrase "extending downward along the thickness direction of the main body portion 12a" of the hanging wall 42 does not necessarily mean that the hanging wall 42 must be perfectly aligned with the thickness direction of the main body portion 12a, but also includes a direction that is slightly inclined relative to the thickness direction of the main body portion 12a.

[0035] 3 and 4, the first engagement portion 40 has an inward protrusion 43 as an inner engagement portion that protrudes inward at the lower end of the hanging wall 42. As shown in Fig. 10, the inward protrusion 43 has an inclined surface 43a that slopes diagonally upward inward. The inward protrusion 43 also has a parallel surface 43b above the inclined surface 43a that extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the main body 12a.

[0036] 11 , the protruding length of the outward protruding wall 44 is set so that the tip of the outward protruding wall 44 does not protrude from the outer edge of the first link plate 21 when the first engaging portion 40 is attached to the first engaged portion 30a of the first link plate 21. Specifically, the tip of the outward protruding wall 44 is flush with the outer edge of the first link plate 21.

[0037] 11 , the upper surface, which is the outer surface of the outwardly protruding wall 44, is located lower than the upper surface, which is the outer surface of the main body 12a of the first connecting member 12. As shown in FIG. 8 , the length of the first engaging portion 40 along the serial direction X, i.e., the width of the curved portion 41, the hanging wall 42, the inwardly protruding portion 43, and the outwardly protruding wall 44 along the serial direction X, is slightly smaller than the width of the second notch 32 along the serial direction X.

[0038] 3 and 4, the second engagement portion 50 has a protruding piece 51 that protrudes outward from the other longitudinal end of the main body portion 12a, and a hinge shaft 52 that protrudes on both sides in the lateral direction of the main body portion 12a from the tip of the protruding piece 51. The hinge shaft 52 has a circular cross section.

[0039] 2, the second connecting member 13 is made of a long plate material. The second connecting member 13 connects the lower ends of a pair of link plates 11. When the link 20 is viewed from the width direction Y, the second connecting member 13 is attached at a position overlapping the first connecting member 12 in the up-down direction Z.

[0040] <Attachment mechanism for first connecting member> As shown in Figure 6, when attaching the first connecting member 12 to a pair of link plates 11, first, the hinge shaft 52 of the second engaging portion 50 of the first connecting member 12 is inserted from the outside into the hinge bearing portion 31a in the second engaged portion 30b of the second link plate 22.

[0041] 7, while the hinge shaft 52 is in contact with the semicircular periphery of the hinge bearing portion 31a, it is restricted from moving further inwardly of the second link plate 22. As a result, the second engaging portion 50 of the first connecting member 12 is engaged with the second engaged portion 30b of the second link plate 22.

[0042] 7 and 8, the first connecting member 12 is rotated around the hinge shaft 52 so that the first engaging portion 40 approaches the first engaged portion 30a of the first link plate 21. As shown in Fig. 9, the first engaging portion 40 of the first connecting member 12 is inserted into the first notch 31 in the first engaged portion 30a of the first link plate 21.

[0043] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the inner convex portion 43 of the hanging wall 42 of the first connecting member 12 engages from the outside with the outer convex portion 32a in the second notch 32 of the first engaged portion 30a of the first link plate 21, thereby preventing the first engaging portion 40 from coming off the engaged portion 30.

[0044] When the inner convex portion 43 and the outer convex portion 32a engage with each other, the resistance during engagement is reduced by the inclined surface 32b of the outer convex portion 32a abutting against the inclined surface 43a of the inner convex portion 43. Furthermore, after the outer convex portion 32a and the inner convex portion 43 are engaged, if the engagement between them is about to be released, the horizontal surface 32c of the outer convex portion 32a abuts against the parallel surface 43b of the inner convex portion 43, making it difficult for the engagement to be released.

[0045] Furthermore, the curved portion 41 of the first engaging portion 40 abuts against the lower end of the first notch 31 of the first engaged portion 30 a. In other words, the curved portion 41 of the first engaging portion 40 abuts against the outer protrusion 32 a of the second notch 32. The curved portion 41 of the first engaging portion 40 abuts against the outer protrusion 32 a of the second notch 32, thereby suppressing rattling of the first connecting member 12.

[0046] 11 , the upper surface, which is the outer surface of the outwardly protruding wall 44 of the first connecting member 12, is located below the upper end of the first link plate 21. Furthermore, the tip of the outwardly protruding wall 44 of the first engaging portion 40 does not protrude beyond the outer surface of the first link plate 21 in the thickness direction of the first link plate 21, but is flush with the outer surface.

[0047] There are no particular limitations on the materials of the link plates 11, the first connecting members 12, and the second connecting members 13 that constitute the guide device 10. For example, resin or metal can be used as the material.

[0048] <Operation and Effect> The operation of the guide device 10 of this embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 9 and 11, in the guide device 10, upward stress (arrow B) may be applied to the first connecting member 12 from the space in which the elongated object is accommodated, located inside the link 20. For example, this stress may be applied when the elongated object accommodated in the guide device 10 cannot follow the movement of the guide device 10 or when there is insufficient space to accommodate the elongated object. When this stress is applied, the center side of the first connecting member 12 in the longitudinal direction is likely to be displaced upward.

[0049] 11 , even if the longitudinal center side of the first connecting member 12 is displaced upward, the horizontal surface 32c of the outer convex portion 32a and the parallel surface 43b of the inner convex portion 43 are maintained in contact with each other, so the hanging wall 42 of the first engaging portion 40 of the first connecting member 12 is unlikely to be displaced outward. Therefore, the engagement between the inner convex portion 43 of the hanging wall 42 and the outer convex portion 32a of the first link plate 21 is unlikely to be released. In other words, the first engaging portion 40 of the first connecting member 12 is unlikely to come off the first engaged portion 30a of the first link plate 21.

[0050] 11 , when removing the first engaging portion 40 of the first connecting member 12 from the first engaged portion 30a of the first link plate 21, an upward force (arrow A) is applied to the outwardly protruding wall 44 of the first engaging portion 40 using a finger or a jig. This force causes the curved portion 41 to bend, displacing the hanging wall 42 outward. This disengages the inward convex portion 43 of the first engaging portion 40 from the outward convex portion 32a of the first engaged portion 30a.

[0051] 9 , the outwardly protruding wall 44 can be easily visually recognized from the outside of the link 20, and therefore, an operator can easily recognize that the outwardly protruding wall 44 is a portion for applying stress to remove the first connecting member 12. Furthermore, the presence of the outwardly protruding wall 44 makes it easier for an operator to apply stress upward using a finger or a tool, and therefore, the operator can easily release the engagement state of the first engagement portion 40.

[0052] As shown in Figure 9, the link 20 further has a third notch 33 on the outside thereof as a release recess into which a jig or finger can be inserted when removing the first engaging portion 40 from the first engaged portion 30a of the first link plate 21. Therefore, as shown in Figure 11, the engagement state of the first engaging portion 40 can also be released by inserting a jig or finger in the direction along the inclined surface 33a of the third notch 33 (the direction of arrow C).

[0053] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the third notch 33 has an inclined surface 33a that slopes diagonally downward and outward. Furthermore, the width of the third notch 33 along the serial direction X is smaller than the widths of the hanging wall 42 and the inward protrusion 43 of the first connecting member 12 along the serial direction X. In other words, the width of the third notch 33 along the serial direction X is smaller than the width of the second notch 32 along the serial direction X. Because the third notch 33 has an inclined surface 33a that slopes diagonally downward and outward, an operator can easily recognize the position of the third notch 33. Furthermore, because the width of the third notch 33 is small, an operator can more easily recognize the position of the third notch 33 when viewing the link 20 from the outside. Therefore, an operator can easily insert a tool or a finger into the third notch 33 to disengage the first engagement portion 40.

[0054] The effects of the guide device 10 of this embodiment will be described below. (1) The first engaging portion 40 of the first connecting member 12 has a hanging wall 42 extending in the thickness direction of the main body 12a, an inner protrusion 43 provided on the hanging wall 42 and engaging with the outer protrusion 32a of the first link plate 21, and an outer protruding wall 44 that protrudes outward beyond the hanging wall 42.

[0055] Therefore, even if the longitudinal center side of the first connecting member 12 is displaced upward, the engagement between the inner protrusion 43 of the first engagement portion 40 and the outer protrusion 32a of the first link plate 21 is unlikely to be released.

[0056] Furthermore, when releasing the engagement between the inward protrusion 43 of the first engagement portion 40 and the outward protrusion 32a of the first link plate 21, the engagement can be easily released by displacing the outward protruding wall 44 of the first engagement portion 40 upward using a finger or a jig. Furthermore, because the outward protruding wall 44 is easily visible from the outside of the link 20, the worker can easily displace the outward protruding wall 44 to release the engagement of the first engagement portion 40.

[0057] (2) The first engaging portion 40 has a curved portion 41 between the hanging wall 42 and the main body portion 12a. By having the curved portion 41, it becomes easier to bend the curved portion 41 and displace the outwardly protruding wall 44, making it easier to release the engagement state of the first engaging portion 40.

[0058] (3) The first engaged portion 30a has a third notch (release recess) 33 on its outer surface into which a tool or finger can be inserted to release the engagement between the outer convex portion 32a and the inner convex portion 43. Therefore, the engagement of the first engaging portion 40 can also be released by inserting a tool or finger into the third notch (release recess) 33. Because the worker can select the method for releasing the engagement of the first engaging portion 40, the worker can efficiently perform the work in a manner that suits him or her.

[0059] (4) The third notch (release recess) 33 has an inclined surface 33a that is inclined downward and outward. Therefore, the position of the third notch (release recess) 33 can be easily recognized by an operator, and the operator can easily insert a tool or a finger into the third notch (release recess) 33 to release the engagement state of the first engagement portion 40.

[0060] (5) The width of the third notch (release recess) 33 along the serial direction X is smaller than the width of the hanging wall 42 and the inward protrusion 43 of the first connecting member 12 along the same direction. This makes it easier for an operator to recognize the position of the third notch 33 when viewing the link 20 from the outside. This makes it easier for an operator to insert a tool or a finger into the third notch 33 to release the engagement state of the first engagement portion 40. Furthermore, the small width of the third notch 33 prevents other members from being accidentally inserted into the third notch 33.

[0061] (6) The outer surface of the outwardly protruding wall 44 of the first connecting member 12 is located lower than the outer surface of the main body 12a of the first connecting member 12 and the upper end of the first link plate 21. Therefore, as shown in Figure 9, it is possible to prevent other members from interfering with the outwardly protruding wall 44 from above the link 20.

[0062] (7) The tip of the outwardly protruding wall 44 of the first engagement portion 40 is flush with the outer end of the first link plate 21. Therefore, as shown in Figure 9, the unevenness at the outer end of the link 20 can be reduced, making it easier to prevent other components from interfering with the outer end of the link 20.

[0063] (8) The pair of link plates 11 are symmetrical. When attaching the first connecting members 12 to the pair of link plates 11, the first connecting members 12 can be attached without having to worry about the left-right orientation of the first connecting members 12, which improves work efficiency.

[0064] <Modifications> This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0065] The outer surface of the outwardly protruding wall 44 of the first connecting member 12 is not limited to being located below the outer surface of the main body 12a of the first connecting member 12. As shown in Fig. 12, for example, the outer surface of the outwardly protruding wall 44 of the first connecting member 12 may be flush with the outer surface of the main body 12a of the first connecting member 12. Alternatively, the outer surface of the outwardly protruding wall 44 of the first connecting member 12 may be located above the outer surface of the main body 12a of the first connecting member.

[0066] The shape of the curved portion 41 of the first engaging portion 40 of the first connecting member 12 is not limited to the shape of the present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 13, for example, the curved portion 41 may be crank-shaped and protrude from one end of the main body portion 12a in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 12a, then curve downward and further extend outward. Furthermore, the number of crank-shaped curved portions is not limited to two, and may be three or more.

[0067] The curved portion 41 of the first engagement portion 40 of the first connecting member 12 may be omitted. As shown in Fig. 14, for example, the first engagement portion 40 of the first connecting member 12 may be provided with a straight portion 45 that extends linearly along the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 12a between one end of the main body portion 12a and the hanging wall 42.

[0068] In the present embodiment, the first engaging portion 40 of the first connecting member 12 has the inner convex portion 43 as the inner engaging portion at the lower end of the hanging wall 42, and the first engaged portion 30a of the first link plate 21 has the outer convex portion 32a as the outer engaged portion, but this is not limiting. As long as the inner engaging portion and the outer engaged portion can engage with each other in a concave-convex relationship, either one may be a concave portion.

[0069] In the present embodiment, the width of the third notch 33 along the serial direction X is configured to be smaller than the width of the inward protrusion 43 of the first engagement portion 40 along the serial direction X, but this is not limited to this. The width of the third notch 33 along the serial direction X may be the same as the width of the inward protrusion 43 along the serial direction X. In other words, the width of the third notch 33 along the serial direction X may be the same as the width of the second notch 32 along the serial direction X.

[0070] The inclined surface 33 a of the third notch 33 is not limited to being inclined obliquely downward and outward from the center of the second notch 32 in the serial direction X. The inclined surface 33 a of the third notch 33 may be inclined obliquely downward and outward from either end of the second notch 32 in the serial direction X.

[0071] The inclined surface 33 a may be omitted from the third notch 33. In other words, the third notch 33 may be cut out along the thickness direction of the link plate 11. The third notch 33 as a release recess may be omitted.

[0072] - The tip of the outward protruding wall 44 at the first engagement portion 40 may protrude from the outer surface of the first link plate 21 in the thickness direction of the first link plate 21, or may be located inside the outer surface of the first link plate 21.

[0073] In the present embodiment, the first engaged portion 30a and the second engaged portion 30b of the pair of link plates 11 both have the outer convex portion 32a and the hinge bearing portion 31a, but this is not limited to this. The first engaged portion 30a and the second engaged portion 30b may have the outer convex portion 32a but omit the hinge bearing portion 31a. Alternatively, only one of the first engaged portion 30a and the second engaged portion 30b may have the outer convex portion 32a, and only the other may have the hinge bearing portion 31a.

[0074] In the present embodiment, the first connecting member 12 has the inward protrusion 43 at the first engagement portion 40 and the hinge shaft 52 at the second engagement portion 50, but this is not limited to this. The first connecting member 12 may have the hinge shaft 52 at the first engagement portion 40 and the inward protrusion 43 at the second engagement portion 50. Alternatively, the first connecting member 12 may have the inward protrusion 43 at both the first engagement portion 40 and the second engagement portion 50, and the hinge shaft 52 may be omitted.

Claims

1. A guide device for an elongated object comprising a plurality of links connected in series and rotatably relative to each other, each link comprising: a pair of opposing link plates, a first connecting member connecting the pair of link plates, and a second connecting member connecting the pair of link plates; and a guide device for an elongated object configured so that the elongated object is accommodated in a space surrounded by the pair of link plates, the first connecting member, and the second connecting member in each link, one of the pair of link plates in each link comprising a first engaged portion and the other comprising a second engaged portion, the first connecting member in each link having a plate-shaped main body portion, a first engaging portion that engages with the first engaged portion, and a second engaging portion that engages with the second engaged portion, the direction in which the pair of link plates face each other being defined as the inward direction of the link and the opposite direction being the outward direction of the link, at least one of the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion comprises an outer engaged portion, A guiding device for a long object, wherein at least one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion has a hanging wall extending in the thickness direction of the main body portion, an inner engaging portion provided on the hanging wall and engaging with the outer engaged portion, and an outer protruding wall protruding outward beyond the hanging wall.

2. A guide device for a long object as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first engagement portion has a curved portion between said hanging wall and said main body portion.

3. A guiding device for a long object as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion has a release recess on its outer surface for releasing the engagement between the outer engaged portion and the inner engaging portion.

4. A guiding device for elongated objects as described in claim 3, wherein the width of the release recess along the serial direction of the multiple links is the same as or smaller than the width of the inner engagement portion of the first connecting member along the serial direction.

5. A guiding device for elongated objects as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outer surface of the outwardly protruding wall of the first connecting member is positioned lower than the outer surface of the main body of the first connecting member.

6. A guiding device for a long object as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the other of the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion has a hinge bearing portion, and the other of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion has a hinge shaft that engages with the hinge bearing portion.

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