Travel device

Abstract

This travel device comprises a base part provided with a pair of support parts that support a pair of rails. The base part includes a connection part that connects the pair of support parts to each other. The connection part has formed therein a first opening that allows communication between a first space above the connection part and a second space below the connection part. The support parts have formed therein second openings that allow communication between the second space and a space on the side of the base part. A cable connected to an electrical apparatus is drawn out to the side of the base part through the first opening and the second openings.

Description

Running gear

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a running device.

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-103667 describes an actuator having a power cable that supplies power to an object to be moved.

[0003] A better running gear is needed.

[0004] The present disclosure aims to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0005] An aspect of the present disclosure is a running device for running electric equipment, comprising: a base having a pair of support parts that support a pair of rails; and a slider that can run along the pair of rails, wherein the base includes a connecting part that connects the pair of support parts to each other, wherein the connecting part has a first opening that connects a first space above the connecting part to a second space below the connecting part, and wherein the support part has a second opening that connects the second space to a space to the side of the base, and wherein a cable connected to the electric equipment is pulled out to the side of the base through the first opening and the second opening.

[0006] According to the present disclosure, a better traveling device can be provided.

[0007] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a traveling device in a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a top view of the traveling device in the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a side view of the traveling device in the first embodiment. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a second opening of the traveling device. Fig. 5 is a side view of the vicinity of the second opening of the traveling device. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a cable. Fig. 7 is a front view of a connector provided on the cable. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a traveling device in a second embodiment. Fig. 9 is a top view of the traveling device in the second embodiment. Fig. 10 is a side view of the traveling device in the second embodiment.

[0008] A traveling device has a slider that travels with an electrically powered device, such as a robot, placed on it. Cables connected to the electrically powered device are routed inside the traveling device. The cables supply power, signals, and the like to the electrically powered device. The traveling device is provided with a cable carrier that protects and guides the cables. The cable carrier moves in accordance with the movement of the slider.

[0009] To reduce the width of the traveling device, a cable carrier is sometimes placed on the axis of movement of the slider. In this case, the cable passes through a space surrounded by a base equipped with a support part that supports a rail that guides the slider, and is pulled out from the end of the base. This causes problems such as a long cable length and a limited degree of freedom in cable routing.

[0010] The traveling device of the present disclosure can shorten the length of the cable and improve the degree of freedom in wiring the cable.

[0011] [First embodiment] [Overall configuration of traveling device] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a traveling device 10 in a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a top view of the traveling device 10 in the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a side view of the traveling device 10 in the first embodiment.

[0012] The traveling device 10 is a device that causes a robot or the like to travel. The traveling device 10 includes a base 12 and a slider 14.

[0013] The base 12 includes a pair of support portions 18a and 18b that support the pair of rails 16a and 16b. The base 12 also includes a connecting portion 20 that connects the pair of support portions 18a and 18b to each other. The rails 16a and 16b extend in the X-axis direction. A slider 14 is provided across the rails 16a and 16b. The slider 14 is capable of traveling in the X-axis direction along the pair of rails 16a and 16b.

[0014] Electrically-powered devices such as a robot (not shown) and a drive motor 21 are mounted on the slider 14. The robot and the drive motor 21 can move together with the slider 14 in the X-axis direction.

[0015] A rack 22 is attached to the support portion 18a. A pinion (not shown) attached to a drive shaft (not shown) of a drive motor 21 meshes with the rack 22. When the drive motor 21 is driven, the slider 14 moves in the X-axis direction.

[0016] The traveling device 10 includes a cable carrier 24. One end of the cable carrier 24 is fixed to the slider 14. The other end of the cable carrier 24 is fixed to the base 12. A cable 40 is wired inside the cable carrier 24. Power and signals are sent through the cable 40 to electrically powered devices mounted on the slider 14, such as the robot and the drive motor 21. Although one cable 40 is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of cables 40 may be wired inside the traveling device 10.

[0017] A plurality of first openings 34 are formed in the connecting portion 20 of the base 12. The plurality of first openings 34 are arranged along the rails 16a and 16b. In other words, the plurality of first openings 34 are arranged side by side in the X-axis direction. The first openings 34 communicate between a space (first space) above the connecting portion 20 (in the +Z-axis direction) and a space (second space) below the connecting portion 20 (in the −Z-axis direction).

[0018] A plurality of second openings 36 are formed in the support portions 18a and 18b of the base 12. The plurality of second openings 36 are arranged along the rails 16a and 16b. In other words, the plurality of second openings 36 are arranged side by side in the X-axis direction. The second openings 36 communicate between a space (second space) below the connecting portion 20 (in the -Z-axis direction) and a space to the side of the base 12.

[0019] The base 12 includes a first partial base 12a, a second partial base 12b, and a third partial base 12c. The end of the first partial base 12a on the −X-axis direction side and the end of the second partial base 12b on the +X-axis direction side face each other. The end of the second partial base 12b on the −X-axis direction side and the end of the third partial base 12c on the +X-axis direction side face each other.

[0020] A first partial opening 38a is formed at the end of each of the first partial base 12a, the second partial base 12b, and the third partial base 12c on the −X-axis direction side. A second partial opening 38b is formed at the end of each of the first partial base 12a, the second partial base 12b, and the third partial base 12c on the +X-axis direction side.

[0021] The first partial opening 38a of the first partial base 12a and the second partial opening 38b of the second partial base 12b form the second opening 36. The first partial opening 38a of the second partial base 12b and the second partial opening 38b of the third partial base 12c form the second opening 36.

[0022] Each of the first partial base 12a, the second partial base 12b, and the third partial base 12c has four legs 26. Two of the legs 26 are arranged below (in the −Z-axis direction) the support portion 18a of each of the first partial base 12a, the second partial base 12b, and the third partial base 12c, spaced apart from each other in the X-axis direction. Two of the legs 26 are arranged below (in the −Z-axis direction) the support portion 18b of each of the first partial base 12a, the second partial base 12b, and the third partial base 12c, spaced apart from each other in the X-axis direction.

[0023] The leg 26 (first leg 26a) supporting the end of the first partial base 12a on the −X-axis direction side and the leg 26 (second leg 26b) supporting the end of the second partial base 12b on the +X-axis direction side are adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction. The second leg 26b and the leg 26 (third leg 26c) supporting the end of the second partial base 12b on the −X-axis direction side are adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction. The first leg 26a and the leg 26 (fourth leg 26d) supporting the end of the first partial base 12a on the +X-axis direction side are adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction. The distance between the first leg 26a and the second leg 26b is shorter than the distance between the second leg 26b and the third leg 26c, and shorter than the distance between the first leg 26a and the fourth leg 26d.

[0024] The leg 26 (third leg 26c) supporting the end of the second partial base 12b on the −X-axis direction side and the leg 26 (fifth leg 26e) supporting the end of the third partial base 12c on the +X-axis direction side are adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction. The fifth leg 26e and the leg 26 (sixth leg 26f) supporting the end of the third partial base 12c on the −X-axis direction side are adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction. The third leg 26c and the second leg 26b are adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction. The distance between the third leg 26c and the fifth leg 26e is shorter than the distance between the second leg 26b and the third leg 26c, and shorter than the distance between the fifth leg 26e and the sixth leg 26f.

[0025] The second openings 36 are formed between the first leg 26 a and the second leg 26 b, and between the third leg 26 c and the fifth leg 26 e, where the distance between the legs 26 is relatively short. This ensures the strength of the base 12.

[0026] Each leg 26 is extendable and retractable in the Z-axis direction. As a result, even if the stand (not shown) on which the traveling device 10 is placed is not horizontal, the extension direction of the rails 16 a and 16 b can be made horizontal by adjusting the height of the legs 26.

[0027] Stoppers 28 are provided at the ends of the support portions 18a and 18b of the first partial base 12a on the +X-axis direction side, respectively. The stoppers 28 are fastened to the support portions 18a and 18b with bolts 32. A buffer member 30 is attached to the stoppers 28.

[0028] The stopper 28 limits the movement of the slider 14 in the +X-axis direction. Normally, the slider 14 is controlled to move within a range where it will not collide with the stopper 28. If the slider 14 attempts to move further in the +X-axis direction beyond the stopper 28, the slider 14 will collide with the stopper 28, and the slider 14 will be limited from moving further in the +X-axis direction than the stopper 28. When the slider 14 collides with the buffer member 30, the buffer member 30 is pressed and plastically deformed, thereby absorbing the collision energy.

[0029] 1 to 3, a first partial opening 38a is formed at the end of each of the first partial base 12a, the second partial base 12b, and the third partial base 12c on the −X-axis direction side. A second partial opening 38b is formed at the end of each of the first partial base 12a, the second partial base 12b, and the third partial base 12c on the +X-axis direction side.

[0030] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the second opening 36 of the traveling device 10. Fig. 5 is a side view of the vicinity of the second opening 36 of the traveling device 10. The second opening 36 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 indicates the second opening 36 formed in the first partial base 12a and the second partial base 12b. The second opening 36 formed in the second partial base 12b and the third partial base 12c also has a configuration similar to the second opening 36 formed in the first partial base 12a and the second partial base 12b.

[0031] A second opening 36 is provided across the first partial base 12a and the second partial base 12b. The second opening 36 is formed by a first partial opening 38a at the end of the first partial base 12a on the −X-axis direction side and a second partial opening 38b at the end of the second partial base 12b on the +X-axis direction side.

[0032] A second opening 36 is provided across the second partial base 12b and the third partial base 12c. The second opening 36 is formed by a first partial opening 38a at the end of the second partial base 12b on the −X-axis direction side and a second partial opening 38b at the end of the third partial base 12c on the +X-axis direction side.

[0033] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the cable 40. Fig. 7 is a front view of a connector 42 provided on the cable 40. The connector 42 is provided on one end of the cable 40. The connector 42 is connected to an electrically powered device such as a robot placed on the slider 14, the drive motor 21, etc. The other end of the cable 40 is connected to a control device (not shown) that controls the electrically powered device such as the robot, the drive motor 21, etc.

[0034] The maximum vertical dimension L1 between the bottom surface of the base 12 and the bottom surface of the leg 26 shown in Fig. 5 is smaller than the thickness L2 of the connector 42 when viewed from the front, shown in Fig. 7. Note that the maximum dimension L1 is the dimension when the height of the leg 26 is set to its maximum.

[0035] 5 is greater than the thickness L2 of the connector 42 when viewed from the front, as shown in FIG. 7. The minimum dimension L3 is the dimension when the height of the leg 26 is set to the minimum.

[0036] This prevents the connector 42 from passing between the bottom surface of the base 12 and the platform, but allows it to pass through the second opening 36 .

[0037] 5, in the first embodiment, the second opening 36 is formed by a first partial opening 38a and a second partial opening 38b formed by cutting out the ends of the support portions 18a and 18b. However, the shape of the second opening 36 is not particularly limited. It is sufficient that the support portions 18a and 18b are provided with openings as the second openings 36 through which the connector 42 can pass.

[0038] [Routing of Cables] The cables 40 pass through the inside of the cable carrier 24 and are guided above the connecting portion 20 of the base 12. The cables 40 pass through the first opening 34 and the second opening 36 of the base 12 and are drawn out to the side of the base 12. The first opening 34 and the second opening 36 through which the cables 40 pass are appropriately selected depending on the positional relationship between the traveling device 10 and the control device (not shown). This allows the traveling device 10 to shorten the length of the cables 40 and improve the degree of freedom in wiring the cables 40.

[0039] Second Embodiment Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the traveling device 10 in a second embodiment. Fig. 9 is a top view of the traveling device 10 in the second embodiment. Fig. 10 is a side view of the traveling device 10 in the second embodiment.

[0040] While the traveling device 10 of the first embodiment includes one slider 14, the traveling device 10 of the second embodiment includes two sliders 14. Each of the two sliders 14 is provided straddling the same rails 16 a and 16 b. Both of the two sliders 14 can travel in the X-axis direction along the pair of rails 16 a and 16 b.

[0041] A cable 40 connected to an electric device such as a robot or drive motor 21 placed on one of the sliders 14 passes through the first opening 34 and the second opening 36 of the base 12 and is pulled out to the side of the base 12.

[0042] Similarly, a cable 40 connected to an electric device such as a robot or drive motor 21 placed on the other slider 14 is pulled out to the side of the base 12 through the first opening 34 and the second opening 36 of the base 12.

[0043] The following additional notes are further disclosed regarding the above embodiment.

[0044] (Supplementary Note 1) The traveling device (10) of the present disclosure is a traveling device for traveling an electric device (21), and comprises a base (12) provided with a pair of support parts (18a, 18b) that support a pair of rails (16a, 16b), and a slider (14) that can travel along the pair of rails, the base includes a connecting part (20) that connects the pair of support parts to each other, the connecting part has a first opening (34) that communicates between a first space above the connecting part and a second space below the connecting part, the support part has a second opening (36) that communicates between the second space and a space on the side of the base, and a cable (40) connected to the electric device is drawn out to the side of the base through the first opening and the second opening.

[0045] (Appendix 2) In the traveling device described in Appendix 1, a plurality of the first openings may be formed in the connecting portion, and the plurality of first openings may be arranged along the rail, and a plurality of the second openings may be formed in each of the pair of support portions, and the plurality of second openings may be arranged along the rail.

[0046] (Appendix 3) In the traveling device described in Appendix 1 or 2, the base may include a first partial base (12a) and a second partial base (12b), an end of the first partial base and an end of the second partial base face each other, and the second opening may be formed by a first partial opening (38a) formed at the end of the first partial base and a second partial opening (38b) formed at the end of the second partial base.

[0047] (Appendix 4) In the traveling device described in Appendix 3, the base is supported by a plurality of legs (26), and a first leg (26a) of the plurality of legs, a second leg (26b) adjacent to the first leg, and a third leg (26c) adjacent to the second leg are arranged along one of the pair of rails, the first leg supports the end of the first partial base, the second leg supports the end of the second partial base, and the third leg supports the second partial base, and the distance between the first leg and the second leg may be shorter than the distance between the second leg and the third leg.

[0048] (Appendix 5) In the traveling device described in Appendix 4, the maximum vertical dimension between the bottom surface of the base and the bottom surfaces of the legs when supported by the plurality of legs may be smaller than the thickness of the connector (42) provided at one end of the cable when viewed from the front.

[0049] (Appendix 6) In the running device described in Appendix 5, the height of the legs may be adjustable, and the maximum dimension in the vertical direction between the bottom surface of the base and the bottom surface of the legs when the height of the legs is set to the maximum may be smaller than the thickness of the connector when viewed from the front.

[0050] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, the present disclosure is not limited to the individual embodiments described above. Various additions, substitutions, modifications, partial deletions, etc. are possible in these embodiments without departing from the gist of the present disclosure or the spirit of the present disclosure derived from the content of the claims and their equivalents. These embodiments can also be implemented in combination. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the order of each operation and the order of each process are shown as examples and are not limited to these. The same applies when numerical values ​​or mathematical expressions are used in the description of the above-described embodiments.

[0051] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Traveling device 12...Base 12a...First partial base 12b...Second partial base 14...Slider 16a, 16b...Rails 18a, 18b...Support portion 20...Coupling portion 21...Drive motor (electric device) 26...Leg portion 26a...First leg portion 26b...Second leg portion 26c...Third leg portion 34...First opening 36...Second opening 38a...First partial opening 38b...Second partial opening 40...Cable 42...Connector

Claims

1. A traveling device for traveling electric equipment, comprising: a base provided with a pair of support parts that support a pair of rails; and a slider that can travel along the pair of rails, wherein the base includes a connecting part that connects the pair of support parts to each other, a first opening is formed in the connecting part that connects a first space above the connecting part to a second space below the connecting part, and a second opening is formed in the support part that connects the second space to a space on the side of the base, and a cable connected to the electric equipment is pulled out to the side of the base through the first opening and the second opening.

2. A traveling device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is formed with a plurality of first openings, the plurality of first openings being arranged along the rail, and the pair of support portions are each formed with a plurality of second openings, the plurality of second openings being arranged along the rail.

3. A traveling device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the base includes a first partial base and a second partial base, an end of the first partial base and an end of the second partial base face each other, and the second opening is formed by a first partial opening formed at the end of the first partial base and a second partial opening formed at the end of the second partial base.

4. A traveling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base is supported by a plurality of legs, and a first leg of the plurality of legs, a second leg adjacent to the first leg, and a third leg adjacent to the second leg are arranged along one of the pair of rails, the first leg supports the end of the first partial base, the second leg supports the end of the second partial base, and the third leg supports the second partial base, and the distance between the first leg and the second leg is shorter than the distance between the second leg and the third leg.

5. A running device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the maximum vertical dimension between the bottom surface of the base and the bottom surface of the leg when supported by the plurality of legs is smaller than the thickness of the connector provided at one end of the cable when viewed from the front.

6. A running device according to claim 5, wherein the height of the legs is adjustable, and when the height of the legs is set to the maximum, the maximum dimension in the vertical direction between the lowermost surface of the base and the lower surface of the legs is smaller than the thickness of the connector when viewed from the front.

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