JP5535682B2 - Screw drive conveyor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a screw-driven transport device including a plurality of screw shafts that are rotationally driven, a transport cart driven by the screw shafts, and a travel track on which the transport cart travels.

  Conventionally, as a transport device that transports a transport carriage by moving it from the outside, a pair of rails, a screw shaft provided in parallel between the pair of rails, a wheel traveling on the rail, and a screw shaft 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a screw-driven transport device that includes a transport carriage provided with an engagement means that engages with a spiral feed member, and that is configured to rotate a screw shaft to move the transport carriage on a rail.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, these screw drive conveyance devices 500 include a pair of left and right traveling tracks 530, a screw shaft 510 provided in a cover body 503 between both traveling tracks 530, and traveling wheels 521. It has a transport carriage 520 that is supported and guided by both travel tracks 530 and can travel freely.

  The conveying cart 520 is provided with an engaging means 522 provided with an engaging roller 523 guided by a guide body 529 so as to be movable up and down. A screw plate 510 is provided with a spiral plate 511 spirally on a cylindrical surface. When the engagement roller 523 of the transport carriage 520 is engaged with the spiral plate 511 of the screw shaft 510 from above, the transport shaft 520 is supported on the traveling track 530 by the rotational drive of the screw shaft 510 by a driving device (not shown). The vehicle travels while being guided (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-58463 (pages 3 to 4, FIGS. 1 and 3)

However, the conveyance carriage 520 of the conventional screw drive conveyance device 500 is configured such that the traveling direction of the traveling wheel 521 is defined by the traveling track 530 and guided in the conveying direction.
Accordingly, the posture of the transport carriage 520 is always in agreement with the transport direction defined by the traveling track 530, and the direction of the object to be transported on the transport carriage 520 depends on the transport direction and cannot be changed.

  For example, when transporting a long transport object in the long direction on an assembly line or the like, if the direction of the transport object cannot be changed, the distance between the transport carts cannot be reduced in the non-working part, and there is a margin in the width direction. Even in such a case, it is necessary to increase the length of the conveyance path, and there is a problem that efficient conveyance cannot be performed.

  In addition, it is well known to provide a posture changing mechanism such as rotating a transported object on the transport carriage so that the transport direction of the transport carriage and the direction of the transported object are variable. In addition, a control mechanism is required, and the structure of the transport carriage is complicated and the weight is increased, and the configuration and control of the entire screw-driven transport apparatus are also complicated.

  The present invention solves the problems of the prior art as described above, that is, the object of the present invention is to enable the transport carriage to travel in an arbitrary direction and to convey the object to be transported in the transport direction with a simple configuration. An object of the present invention is to provide a screw-driven transfer device that can change the posture and can efficiently carry it by setting the posture according to the shape of the object to be transferred.

The invention according to the claims 1, in screw drive conveyor apparatus having a running track for the transport carriage and the conveying carriage which is driven by a plurality of screw shaft and the screw shaft that is rotationally driven to travel, the transport carriage is , and a plurality of traveling wheels which freely follow the running direction of the transporting carriage at the screw shaft and engages engagement means and the traveling orbit, the traveling trajectory, before and after the transport direction of the transport vehicle 2 A plurality of screw shafts , each having a guide groove for guiding the front and rear engaging means provided at a place and a running surface for running the running wheel , are arranged in order with the engaging means. Engaging and driving and transporting the transport carriage, the guide groove having a branching portion, a double-track portion, and a merging portion, and having a branching means for freely switching a guiding direction of the engaging means at the branching portion; Part A rear guide groove that extends on the same line as the guide groove upstream from the branch portion and guides the engagement means behind the transport carriage, and is provided in parallel with the rear guide groove, the front engagement means of the transport carriage is branched. And a plurality of screw shafts arranged in a line in the conveying direction in the guide groove upstream of the branch portion and downstream of the front guide groove and the junction portion. Are arranged in a line in the conveying direction, and the connecting driving means for driving the engaging means is provided at a position where the engaging means on the front and rear of the conveying carriage are not engaged with any screw shaft. by and solves the problems described above.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the screw drive conveyance device according to the first aspect, the connecting drive means is constituted by a pusher that pushes the engagement means by fluid pressure, and the branching portion and by being arranged to drive the rear engagement means in the merging section with the rear guide groove for driving the rear engagement means is for further solve the aforementioned problems.

  The screw-driven transfer device of the present invention comprises a plurality of screw shafts that are rotationally driven, a transfer carriage that is driven by the screw axes, and a traveling track on which the transfer carriage travels. The drive control can be performed using the drive source, and the following special effects can be achieved.

In the screw drive conveyance device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the conveyance carriage has engagement means that engages with the screw shaft, and a plurality of traveling wheels that freely follow the traveling direction of the conveyance carriage on the traveling path. The traveling track has a guide groove for guiding the front and rear engaging means provided at two positions before and after the transport direction of the transport carriage and a travel surface for traveling the traveling wheel, and is disposed below the guide groove. A plurality of screw shafts are sequentially engaged with the engagement means to drive and convey the conveyance carriage, thereby changing the engagement state between the guide groove and the two engagement means to change the conveyance direction and the direction of the conveyance carriage. The relationship can be changed, and the traveling wheels can follow the transport direction regardless of the direction of the transport carriage. Therefore, the transport carriage can be driven in any direction, and the configuration with respect to the transport direction can be simplified. Change the posture of the conveyed product Theft is possible.

In addition, the guide groove has a branch part, a double line part, and a merge part, and also has a branch unit that freely switches the guide direction of the engaging means at the branch part , thereby setting the respective paths of the double line part, thereby conveying carts Can be moved in any direction, the path of the two front and rear engaging means can be changed by switching the branching portion, and the posture of the object to be conveyed relative to the conveyance direction can be changed with a simple configuration. It becomes possible.

The double-track portion extends on the same line as the guide groove upstream from the branch portion and is provided in parallel with the rear guide groove and the rear guide groove that guides the engaging means behind the transport carriage. With the front guide groove that guides the coupling means from the branching portion , the transport carriage can be driven in parallel while being rotated by a certain angle with respect to the transport direction, and the long cover in the transport direction. Even if the transported object is placed on the transport carriage, the angle of the transported object can be changed so that the distance between the transport carriages can be reduced and transported efficiently.

In addition, a plurality of screw shafts are arranged in one row in the conveyance direction in the guide groove upstream from the branch portion, and are arranged in one row in the conveyance direction below the front guide groove and the guide groove downstream from the junction portion. Since the connecting drive means for driving the engaging means is provided at a position where the front and rear engaging means of the transport carriage are not engaged with any of the screw shafts, a plurality of short screw shafts can be appropriately combined. It can be used, and the installation and adjustment of the entire screw-driven transfer device is facilitated, the entire device is downsized, and branching, merging, and curvilinear portions can be freely provided, and the design flexibility of the transfer path is large. It becomes possible to convey efficiently.

In addition to the effect produced by the screw drive conveyance device according to claim 1, the screw drive conveyance device of the invention according to claim 2 is constituted by a pusher that pushes the engagement means by fluid pressure. It is arranged to drive the rear engagement means in the head portion and the rear guide groove and to drive the rear engagement means in the merging portion. Connections associated with merging can be performed smoothly.

The top view of the screw drive conveyance apparatus which is one Example of this invention. The front view of the screw shaft of FIG. 1, a conveyance trolley, a running track, and a pusher. The top view of the screw shaft of FIG. 1 and a conveyance trolley. The side view of the screw shaft of FIG. 1, a conveyance trolley, and a running track. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the branch part of the screw drive conveyance apparatus of FIG. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the junction part of the screw drive conveyance apparatus of FIG. The top view of the screw drive conveyance apparatus which is another Example of this invention. The perspective view of the conventional screw drive conveyance apparatus. Sectional drawing of the conventional screw drive conveyance apparatus.

The present invention provides a screw drive conveyor apparatus having a running track for the transport carriage and the transport carriage driven by a plurality of screw shaft and the screw shaft that is rotationally driven is running, the conveyance carriage, the screw shaft engages Engaging means and a plurality of traveling wheels that freely follow the traveling direction of the transport carriage on the travel track, and the front and rear engagements are provided at two locations before and after the traveling path of the transport carriage. has a running surface that makes traveling guide groove and the running wheel to induce coupling means, a plurality of screw shaft disposed below the guide groove are sequentially engage a transport vehicle driven conveying the engaging means, guide grooves However, it has a branching means, a multi-line part, and a merging part, and also has a branching means that freely switches the guiding direction of the engaging means at the branching part, and the double-line part extends on the same line as the guide groove upstream from the branching part. Clerk behind the cart A rear guide groove that guides the means and a front guide groove that is provided in parallel with the rear guide groove and guides the engaging means in front of the transport carriage from the branch portion, and the plurality of screw shafts are upstream of the branch portion. A transfer driving means that is arranged in a row in the conveyance direction and is arranged in a row in the conveyance direction below the front guide groove and the guide groove downstream from the merging portion and that drives the engagement means; It is provided at a position where the front and rear engaging means of the transport carriage are not engaged with any screw shaft, and the transport carriage can run in any direction, and the posture of the object to be transported with respect to the transport direction is changed with a simple configuration. Any specific embodiment may be used as long as it can be efficiently conveyed by setting the posture according to the shape of the object to be conveyed.

  In other words, the screw shaft used in the screw driving and conveying apparatus of the present invention may be one in which a spiral groove is provided on the surface of a cylindrical shaft, and a plate is installed upright on the outer periphery of the cylindrical shaft. Or a cylindrical plate with slits spirally fixed to a columnar shaft directly or at intervals, as long as the engaging means engages with the spiral groove. It may be of a structure.

Below, the screw drive conveyance apparatus which is an Example of this invention is demonstrated based on drawing.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the screw drive conveyance device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a conveyance carriage 120 on which a workpiece W is placed along a guide groove 132 provided on a traveling track 130. The screw shaft 110 disposed below the guide groove 132 is driven and conveyed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the transport carriage 120 is provided with engagement means 122 at two places in the front and rear of the transport direction, and has traveling wheels 121 at four places on both sides in the front and rear width direction.
The engagement means 122 includes an induction roller 124 that rolls along the guide groove 132 provided on the traveling track 130, and an engagement that engages with the helical groove of the screw shaft 110 disposed below the guide groove 132. The roller 123 is disposed coaxially.

  Each of the traveling wheels 121 is attached to the transport carriage via the wheel turning means 125, and has a so-called caster structure in which the traveling surface of the planar traveling track 130 is correctly oriented in the transport direction regardless of the posture of the transport carriage 120. It is configured.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the screw shaft 110 is disposed below the guide groove 132, and has a spiral groove 111 that engages with the engagement roller 123 of the transport carriage 120 that protrudes below the guide groove 132. And is configured to be driven and transported by the carriage 112 by being driven to rotate by the motor 112.
The length of the screw shaft 110 is appropriately set, and a plurality of screw shafts 110 are arranged in the transport direction.

  When transporting in the longitudinal direction of the transport carriage 120, the interval between the plurality of screw shafts 110 is set shorter than the distance between the engagement means 122a and 122b before and after the transport carriage 120, so The engagement roller 123 engages with the spiral groove 111 of one of the screw shafts 110, and is sequentially transferred and continuously conveyed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the guide groove 132 of the traveling track 130 is branched in two directions at the branch part 133, and passes through a double-line part in which a front guide groove 134 and a rear guide groove 135 are provided in parallel at a predetermined distance, The merging portion 136 is configured to merge.
Appropriate switching means is provided at the branch portion 133 and operates so as to distribute the front engaging means 122a of the transport carriage 120 to the front guide groove 134 and the rear engaging means 122b to the rear guide groove 135.

  Thus, the transport cart 120 is transported and driven obliquely with respect to the transport direction, and the distance between the transport carts 120 can be reduced in the double-line portion regardless of the length of the transported object W in the transport direction. This improves the degree of freedom of the space on the transfer line.

  When the screw shaft 110 is disposed below the front guide groove 134 in the double line portion, only the engagement roller 123a of the front engagement means 122a is engaged with the screw shaft 110 at the branch portion 133, the double wire portion, and the merge portion 136, A section in which the engagement roller 123b of the rear engagement means 122b cannot engage with the screw shaft 110 occurs.

  Therefore, a pusher 115 is provided below the rear guide groove 135 at a position corresponding to the connecting point of the engaging roller 123a of the front engaging means 122a for connecting between the plurality of screw shafts 110.

The operation of the branching portion 133 in the screw drive conveying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.
In the transport carriage 120 that has been transported along the guide groove 132a upstream of the branching portion 133, the front engaging means 122 is guided to the front guide groove 134 side, and the posture of the transport carriage 120 gradually moves with respect to the transport direction. Tilt.

  When the engaging means 122b1 on the rear side of the transport carriage 120 is disengaged from the screw shaft 110 below the upstream guide groove 132a, the front engaging means 122a1 has not yet reached the screw shaft 110 below the front guide groove 134. Therefore, the rear engagement means 122b1 is driven by the push lever 116a1 of the pusher 115 disposed below the rear guide groove 135.

  At this time, the rear engaging means 122b1 is guided to the rear guide groove 135 side by the switching means provided in the branch portion 133, and when the rear engaging means 122b2 is propelled to the position of the push lever 116a2, the front engaging means 122b1 is pushed. The joining means 122a2 engages with the screw shaft 110 below the front guide groove 134, and the transport carriage 120 is propelled by the screw shaft 110 in a state of being inclined with respect to the transport direction.

The posture of the conveyed object W is changed by the operation of the branching unit 133.
In addition, the connection of the screw shaft 110 below the front guide groove 134 of the front engaging means 122 in the double line portion is performed by the same operation as the operation of the push lever 116 of the pusher 115 described above.

Next, the operation | movement in the junction part 136 is demonstrated based on FIG.
When the engaging means 122a1 on the front side of the transport carriage 120 that has been transported in an inclined state is disengaged from the screw shaft 110 below the front guiding groove 134, the rear guiding means 122b2 has the rear guiding groove 135 directed toward the joining portion. Since it goes to the curved section, it becomes difficult to dispose the pusher 115 under the rear guide groove 135 and propel it.

  Therefore, the pusher 115 is disposed below the front guide groove 134, and the front engagement means 122a1 is engaged with the screw shaft 110 below the guide groove 132b downstream of the joining portion 136 by the push lever 116a1. Propulsion to position 122a2.

  Then, the forward engaging means 122a3 is further propelled by the screw shaft 110 below the downstream guide groove 132b, whereby the rear engaging means 122b3 is guided from the rear guide groove 135 toward the joining portion to be conveyed. The posture of the object W is changed again in the transport direction.

The pusher 115 may be disposed in the double line portion below the front guide groove 134 in the same manner as the above-mentioned merge portion. If necessary, the conveying screw shaft 110 is provided below the rear guide groove 135. Thus, a pusher for connection may be provided below the front guide groove 134 or below the rear guide groove 135 at a corresponding position.
In the above embodiment, the pusher 115 reciprocates the push lever 116 with a fluid pressure cylinder such as air pressure or hydraulic pressure, but another linear drive device may be used.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, a connecting screw shaft 110 may be provided below the rear guide groove 135 in the double line portion, instead of the pusher 115 described above.
In this case, the length of the connecting screw shaft 110 provided below the rear guide groove 135 may be as long as the connecting interval of the conveying screw shaft 110 below the front guide groove 134.
Further, the connecting screw shafts 110 may be alternately provided below the front guide groove 134 and the rear guide groove 135 of the double-line portion.

  As described above, according to the screw drive conveyance device of the present invention, the relationship between the conveyance direction and the direction of the conveyance carriage can be changed by changing the engagement state between the guide groove and the two engagement means, Since the traveling wheels can follow the transport direction regardless of the direction of the transport carriage, the transport carriage can be driven in any direction, and the posture of the object to be transported with respect to the transport direction can be changed with a simple configuration. The effect is enormous.

In addition, in the said Example, except a branch part and a junction part, it is a linear conveyance path | route, However, A conveyance path | route may also be a curve including a double track | line part.
Moreover, you may provide a branch part and a junction part not for the purpose of changing the attitude | position of a conveyance trolley but for the purpose of branching and merging of the conveyance path | route itself of a conveyance trolley.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100, 500 ... Screw drive conveyance apparatus 503 ... Cover body 110, 510 ... Screw shaft 111 ... Spiral groove 511 ... Spiral plate 112 ... Motor 115 ... Pusher 116 ... Push lever 117 ... reciprocating drive means 120, 520 ... transport carriage 121, 521 ... traveling wheel 125 ... wheel turning means 122, 522 ... engagement means 123, 523 ... engagement roller 124: guide rollers 130, 530 ... travel track 131 ... travel surface 132 ... guide groove 133 ... branching part 134 ... front guide groove 135 ... rear guide groove 136 ... Junction W

Claims (2)

In screw drive conveyor apparatus having a running track for the transport carriage and the conveying carriage which is driven by a plurality of screw shaft and the screw shaft that is rotationally driven to travel,
The transport carriage has a plurality of traveling wheels which freely follow the running direction of the transporting carriage at the screw shaft and engages engagement means and the traveling orbit,
The running track has a running surface that makes traveling the traveling wheels and guide groove to induce front and rear engaging means provided at two positions in the conveying direction before and after the conveyance carriage,
It said plurality of screw shaft disposed below the guide groove is, the transport carriage driven conveying engaged sequentially engaging said engagement means,
The guide groove has a branching unit, a double line unit, and a joining unit, and a branching unit that freely switches a guiding direction of the engagement unit at the branching unit,
The double-track portion extends on the same line as the guide groove upstream from the branch portion and is provided in parallel with the rear guide groove and the rear guide groove for guiding the engagement means on the rear side of the transport carriage. It is composed of a front guide groove that guides the joint means from the branch part,
The plurality of screw shafts are arranged in a row in the conveyance direction in the guide groove upstream from the branch portion, and are arranged in a row in the conveyance direction below the guide groove downstream from the front guide groove and the junction portion. ,
The screw drive conveying device , wherein the connecting driving means for driving the engaging means is provided at a position where the engaging means on the front and rear of the conveying carriage are not engaged with any screw shaft . The connecting drive means is constituted by a pusher that pushes the engaging means by fluid pressure, and drives the rear engaging means in the branching portion and the rear guide groove and drives the rear engaging means in the junction portion. The screw drive conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein the screw drive conveyance device is arranged as described above.

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