JPH0710205A - Positioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the occurrence of dust at the time of positioning by providing a supporting part for supporting a load in a horizontal posture with a rolling body for positioning in a longitudinal and a lateral direction, and forming the rolling body so as to be abuttable on the load and moreover loosely rotatable. CONSTITUTION:A fork 8 to support a cassette 1 in a horizontal attitude is formed so as to be movable in a longitudinal direction and ascendable in a vertical direction. A pair of longitudinal rollers 9 and a pair of lateral rollers 10 which position the cassette 1 are attached to the upside of the fork 8. In the case where the fork 8 is elevated to lift the cassette 1, the rollers 9, 10 are inserted into each square hole 3 of the cassette 1, and side plate parts 5, 6 are fitted between a pair of rollers 9, 10 to position the cassette 1 for supporting it in a horizontal posture. In the case where the cassette 1 slips relative to the fork 8 in one of a longitudinal and a lateral direction, since either of the rollers 9 or 10 abuts against the side plate part 5 or 6 and rotates loosely round an axis, the side plate part fits surely between the rollers.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a positioning device which is used, for example, in a clean room, and which positions a cassette when a cassette or the like for storing articles such as liquid crystal glass which is not susceptible to dust is placed on a supporting portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a positioning device of this type, there is one shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, for example. That is, 121 is a support table provided in the clean room.
Use the fork, crane, etc. on the cassette 121
(Example of load) is placed. The cassette 122 has a box shape and accommodates a plurality of liquid crystal glasses or the like inside. On the support table 121, a pair of front and rear first positioning blocks 123 for positioning the cassette 122 in the front-rear direction,
A pair of left and right second for positioning the cassette 122 in the left-right direction
A positioning block 124 is provided. These first
The positioning block 123 and the second positioning block 124 are each formed in a trapezoidal shape, and both the first positioning blocks 12
Opposite side surfaces of 3 are the first guide surface 125 inclined upward.
Is formed as. Similarly, the opposite side surfaces of both second positioning blocks 124 are second guide surfaces inclined upward.
It is formed as 126.

According to this, when the cassette 122 is placed on the support 121 by using a fork, a crane, etc., and if the cassette 122 is displaced to the front or rear, as shown by the solid line in FIG. The lower end is in contact with the first guide surface 125 of the first positioning block 123, and the first guide surface 125
Slide downward while being guided by 125. Therefore, the figure
As indicated by the phantom line 23, the cassette 122 is positioned in the front-rear direction by the first positioning block 123 and is positioned between the first positioning blocks 123. Similarly, cassette 122
Is offset to the left or right, the lower end of the cassette 122 is the second guide surface 12 of the second positioning block 124.
It comes into contact with 6 and slides downward while being guided by the second guide surface 126. Therefore, the cassette 122 is positioned in the left-right direction by the second positioning block 124 and is positioned between the second positioning blocks 124. In this way, the cassette 122
Is the first positioning block 123 and the second positioning block
Since it is positioned in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction by 124, it is accurately placed on the regular position of the support base 121.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the cassette 122 is displaced in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, the lower end of the cassette 122 is the first guide surface 125.
Since it is slidably positioned on the second guide surface 126, this sliding allows the lower end of the cassette 122 and each block to be positioned.
There was a problem that 123 and 124 were scraped from each other and were abraded to generate dust.

The present invention solves the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a positioning device capable of preventing the generation of dust during positioning.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, a positioning device according to the first aspect of the present invention is a pair of front and rear first rolling elements for positioning a load in a front-rear direction on a support portion that supports the load in a horizontal posture. And a pair of left and right second rolling elements for positioning the load in the left-right direction, and the first rolling element is formed so as to be in contact with the load and freely rotatable around the axis in the left-right direction. The moving body is formed so that it can be brought into contact with a load and can freely rotate around the longitudinal axis.

The positioning device according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a first rolling element that positions the load at least on the inclined side on a support portion that supports the load through a support rolling element in an inclined posture in which the load is inclined forward or backward. A pair of left and right second rolling elements for positioning the load in the left-right direction are provided, and the first rolling element is formed so as to be capable of abutting against the load and freely rotating around the axis of the left-right direction, Is formed so that it can be brought into contact with a load and can freely rotate around the longitudinal axis.

In the positioning device according to the third aspect of the present invention, a pair of first rolling elements for positioning the load in the front right direction and the rear left direction, and a pair of first rolling elements for positioning the load in the front left direction and the rear right direction are provided on a support portion for supporting the load in a horizontal posture. And a pair of second rolling elements that are positioned by the second rolling element, and the first rolling element is formed so as to be freely contactable with a load and freely rotatable around a first axis extending from left front to right rear. The moving body is formed so that it can be brought into contact with a load and can freely rotate around a second axis extending from the right front side to the left rear side.

[0009]

According to the structure of the first aspect of the present invention, when the load is placed on the support portion, if the load is displaced to the front or back,
Since the front and rear ends of the lower end of the load contact one of the first rolling elements and one of the first rolling elements idles around the left-right axis, the load is guided by the one of the first rolling elements to ensure the reliability. A pair of first
It is fitted between rolling elements and positioned in the front-back direction.

When the load deviates to the left or right, one of the left and right ends of the lower end of the load abuts on one of the second rolling elements, and the one of the second rolling elements idles around the longitudinal axis. Therefore, the load is guided by the one of the second rolling elements to be reliably fitted between the pair of second rolling elements and positioned in the left-right direction.

As described above, at the time of positioning, even if the lower end portion of the load contacts the first rolling element and the second rolling element, each rolling element idles and guides the load, so that the sliding portion exists. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the generation of dust due to wear.

According to the structure of the second aspect of the present invention, when the load is placed on the support portion and the load is deviated to the inclined side in the front-rear direction, the front and rear ends of the lower end of the load contact the first rolling element. Since the first rolling elements are in contact with each other and idle around the axis in the left-right direction, the load is guided by the first rolling elements to the side opposite to the inclined side and positioned in the front-rear direction.

Further, when the load is displaced to the side opposite to the inclined side in the front-rear direction, the load is placed on the supporting rolling element in an inclined posture, and thereafter, the supporting rolling element is idled by its own weight. Move the load to the slope. As a result, the load comes into contact with the first rolling element on the inclined side and stops moving, so that the load is positioned in the front-rear direction.

When the load is displaced to the left or right, one of the left and right ends of the lower end of the load contacts one of the second rolling elements, and the one of the second rolling elements is idled around the longitudinal axis. Therefore, the load is guided by the one of the second rolling elements to be reliably fitted between the pair of second rolling elements and positioned in the left-right direction.

In this way, at the time of positioning, even if the lower end of the load contacts the first rolling element, the second rolling element, and the supporting rolling element, each rolling element idles and guides the load. Since there is no moving part, it is possible to prevent generation of dust due to wear.

According to the structure of the third aspect of the present invention, when the load is placed on the supporting portion, if the load is deviated to one of the front and rear sides, the front and rear ends of the lower end of the load are the front and rear first rolling elements. And one of the first rolling elements idle around the first axis and one of the second rolling elements idle around the second axis. As a result, the load is guided by the first rolling element and the second rolling element on one of the front and rear sides, and is reliably fitted between the front and rear sides of the first rolling element and the second rolling element that face each other, so that the load moves in the front-back direction. Positioned.

When the load deviates to the left or right, one of the left and right ends of the lower end of the load abuts the left and right first rolling elements and the second rolling element, and one of the first rolling elements moves to the first rolling element. The second rolling element on one side idles around the second axis while idling around the first axis. As a result, the load is loaded on the left or right side of the first
Guided by the rolling element and the second rolling element, the first rolling element and the second rolling element, which are opposed to each other, are securely fitted between the left and right sides and positioned in the left-right direction.

In this way, when positioning, even if the lower end of the load contacts the first rolling element and the second rolling element, each rolling element idles and guides the load, so that there is a sliding portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the generation of dust due to wear.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment, which is an embodiment of the first invention, will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 is a cassette which is an example of a load, and the cassette 1 is formed in a box shape with an open front surface. A pair of left and right square holes 3 are formed in the front and rear portions of the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1, so that the bottom plate 2 is connected to the square frame portion 4 and the square frame portion 4 in a cross shape. It is configured by the horizontal plate portions 5 and 6. A plurality of liquid crystal glasses are stored in the cassette 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, a fork 8 is an example of a supporting portion for supporting the cassette 1 in a horizontal posture. The fork 8 is provided on a horizontally movable fork main body 18 via an expansion / contraction arm 19, and is formed so as to be able to move back and forth in the front-rear direction and vertically movable in the vertical direction. On the upper surface of the fork 8, a pair of front and rear first rollers 9 (an example of a first rolling element) for positioning the cassette 1 in the front-rear direction and a pair of left and right second rollers 10 for positioning the cassette 1 in the left-right direction ( And an example of the second rolling element) are attached.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the pair of front and rear first rollers 9 are provided in mounting holes 11 formed on both left and right sides of the fork 8, respectively, and a support shaft mounted on the fork 8 side. It is fitted around 12 and can freely rotate around the axis 13 in the left-right direction. Substantially the upper half of the first roller 9 projects upward from the upper surface of the fork 8. The horizontal plate portion 5 of the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1 in the width direction is formed between the pair of front and rear first rollers 9 so as to be freely fitted and removed.

The pair of left and right second rollers 10 are respectively provided in mounting holes 11 formed in the front and rear portions of the fork 8 and are fitted onto a support shaft 12 mounted on the fork 8 side. It is freely rotatable around the longitudinal axis 14. The upper half of the second roller 10 projects upward from the upper surface of the fork 8. The horizontal plate portion 6 in the longitudinal direction of the cassette 1 is formed so as to be freely inserted into and removed from the pair of left and right second rollers 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 15 denotes a shelf for accommodating a plurality of the cassettes 1 described above. A support frame 17 for supporting the bottom plate 2 is provided.

The operation of the above structure will be described below.
When the fork 8 is raised and the cassette 1 is supported by the fork 8 and lifted from the support frame 17, the first roller 9 and the second roller 10 are inserted into the respective square holes 3 of the cassette 1 and the lateral plate portion in the width direction. 5 is fitted between the pair of first rollers 9 and the transverse plate portion 6 in the lengthwise direction is fitted between the pair of second rollers 10, whereby the cassette 1 is positioned and fixed on the fork 8 and supported in a horizontal posture. It

At this time, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 4, when the cassette 1 is displaced forward or backward with respect to the fork 8, the cassette 1 is lifted and one first roller 9 is moved laterally in the width direction. Abut on the plate 5
Since it freely rotates around 13, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the lateral plate portion 5 is guided by the first roller 9 on one side and securely fits between the pair of first rollers 9.

Similarly, when the cassette 1 is displaced to the left or right with respect to the fork 8, one of the second rollers is
Since 10 abuts on the transverse plate portion 6 in the longitudinal direction and idles around the longitudinal axis 14, the transverse plate portion 6 is formed by the one second roller.
Guided by 10, it is securely inserted between the pair of second rollers 10.

Thus, during positioning, the horizontal plate portions 5, 6
Even when the first roller 9 and the second roller 10 come into contact with each other, the rollers 9 and 10 idle to guide the lateral plate portions 5 and 6, so that there is no sliding portion, and therefore dust due to wear is not generated. Occurrence can be prevented.

In the above embodiment, the fork 8 is mentioned as an example of the supporting portion, but it may be a truck, a conveyor, a shelf or the like. A second embodiment, which is an embodiment of the first invention, will be described below with reference to FIGS.

That is, reference numeral 21 is a pair of left and right support frames provided as another example of a support portion for supporting the cassette 1 in a horizontal posture, and these support frames 21 are provided, for example, on a conveyor or the like. The support frame 21 includes a pair of front and rear first rollers 9 for positioning the cassette 1 in the front-rear direction.
Two sets (an example of a first rolling element) and two pairs of a pair of left and right second rollers 10 (an example of a second rolling element) for positioning the cassette 1 in the left-right direction are attached. That is, a total of four first rollers 9 are provided, and each of the first rollers 9 can come into contact with the left and right side portions of the front surface and the left and right side portions of the rear surface of the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1, respectively. Similarly, a total of four second rollers 10 are provided, and each of the second rollers 10 can freely come into contact with the front and rear portions of one side surface and the other side surface of the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1. In addition, between the pair of support frames 21 can be raised and lowered and a conveyor transport path.
A fork 22 that is movable back and forth along the line 23 is provided.

The operation of the above structure will be described below.
The cassette 1 is supported by a pair of support frames 21 using a fork 22.
When the cassette 1 is displaced to either the front or the back when it is placed on the tray, the front and rear ends of the lower end of the cassette 1 are the first
The first roller 9 is in contact with the roller 9 and one of the first rollers 9 has an axial center in the left-right direction.
Since it freely rotates around 13, the cassette 1 is guided by the first roller 9 on one side, and is reliably inserted between the pair of first rollers 9 to be positioned in the front-rear direction and supported in a horizontal posture.

Similarly, when the cassette 1 is displaced to the left or right as shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, one of the left and right ends of the lower end of the cassette 1 comes into contact with one of the second rollers 10 and one of the second rollers Since the roller 10 idles around the longitudinal axis 14,
As shown by the phantom line in FIG. 6, the cassette 1 is the second one of the above.
Guided by the roller 10, it is securely inserted between the pair of second rollers 10 and positioned in the left-right direction.

In this way, when positioning, even if the lower end of the cassette 1 comes into contact with the first roller 9 and the second roller 10, the rollers 9 and 10 rotate freely to guide the cassette 1, so that the slide is performed. Since there is no moving part, it is possible to prevent generation of dust due to wear.

In the above embodiment, the support frame 21 such as a conveyor is provided as the support portion.
However, it may be a dolly, a fork or a shelf. Hereinafter, a third embodiment, which is an embodiment of the second invention, will be described with reference to FIG.
~ It demonstrates based on FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, reference numeral 26 is a pair of left and right supporting blocks provided as another example of the supporting portion and facing each other in the front-rear direction. After this, the rear support block 26
Is set lower than the front support block 26.

In each support block 26, a support ball caster 28 having a support sphere 27 which is an example of a support rolling element,
A pair of front and rear first ball casters 30 having a first spherical body 29 which is an example of a first rolling element, and a pair of left and right second ball casters 32 having a second spherical body 31 which is an example of a second rolling element are provided. Has been.

That is, the support ball casters 28 are attached to the upper surfaces of the support blocks 26, and the cassette 1 is
The support ball casters 28 are placed on the support spheres 27 of the support ball casters 28, and as shown by the phantom lines in FIG.
Is supported by each support block 26 in an inclined posture (a) in which the rear part is inclined low.

The first spheres 29 are for positioning the cassette 1 in the front-rear direction and are provided in total of four,
The bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1 can come into contact with the left and right side portions of the front surface and the left and right side portions of the rear surface, respectively. Similarly, the second spheres 31 are used to position the cassette 1 in the left-right direction, and a total of four second spheres 31 are provided. It is accessible.
In addition, the spheres 27, 29, of the above ball casters 28, 30, 32,
Each 31 can be idled in all directions including the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis.

As shown in FIG. 8, the first ball casters 30 are erected on the front portions of the upper surfaces of the support blocks 26 located on the front side and on the rear portions of the upper surfaces of the support blocks 26 located on the rear side. The bracket 33 is attached so as to be inclined upward. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the second ball casters 32 are respectively provided on one side of the upper surfaces of the support blocks 26 located on one side and on the other side of the upper surfaces of the support blocks 26 located on the other side. Upright bracket 34
, Is mounted so as to be inclined upward. As shown in FIG. 7, a fork 35 is provided between the left and right sides of each support block 26.
Is inserted in the front-back direction.

The operation of the above structure will be described below.
When the cassette 1 is placed on each support block 26 using the forks 35, if the cassette 1 is displaced to the front or rear as shown by the solid line in FIG. 10, one end of the lower end of the cassette 1 is One of the first spheres abutting against the first sphere 29 of
Since 29 slides up and down, the cassette 1 is guided by the first spherical body 29 on one side as shown by the phantom line, and is reliably fitted between the pair of first spherical bodies 29 to be positioned in the front-rear direction.

When the cassette 1 is displaced to the left or right, one of the left and right ends of the lower end of the cassette 1 comes into contact with one of the second spheres 31 and one of the second spheres 31 idles up and down. The cassette 1 is guided by the one of the second spherical bodies 31 so as to be securely fitted between the pair of second spherical bodies 31 and positioned in the left-right direction.

As described above, the cassette 1 is guided by the first spherical body 29 and the second spherical body 31 and is supported by the supporting spherical body 27. At this time, even if the lower end of the cassette 1 comes into contact with the first sphere 29, the second sphere 31, and the support sphere 27, the spheres 27, 29, and 31 rotate freely to guide the cassette 1, so that the sliding portion Is not present, and therefore dust generation due to wear can be prevented.

In the above embodiment, the supporting blocks 26 are mentioned as the supporting portions, but these supporting blocks 26 are provided on a truck, a conveyor, a shelf, a fork or the like. Also,
In the said 3rd Example, a 1st spherical body is used as an example of a 1st rolling element.
A pair of front and rear first ball casters 30 having 29 and a second
A pair of left and right second balls having a second spherical body 31 as an example of a rolling element.
Although the ball casters 32 are provided, they are not limited to spherical bodies, and the rollers of the first and second embodiments described above may be used.

A fourth embodiment, which is an embodiment of the second invention, will be described below with reference to FIGS. 11 to 15. Figure 11, Figure 12, Figure 14
As shown in FIG. 4, reference numeral 40 denotes a pair of left and right support brackets provided as another example of the support portion and facing each other in the front-rear direction.
These support brackets 40 are fixed to a pair of left and right support frames 41, and an elevating space 43 for elevating the fork 42 is formed between the pair of left and right support brackets 40.

The cassette 1 is attached to each of the support brackets 40.
A second pair of front and rear first rollers 44 (an example of a first rolling element) for positioning the cassette 1 in the front-rear direction, and a pair of left and right second spherical bodies 45 (an example of a second rolling element) for positioning the cassette 1 in the left-right direction. A ball caster 46 and a support ball caster 48 having a support sphere 47 (an example of a support rolling element) that supports the cassette 1 are provided. That is, a total of four first rollers 44 are provided, each of which is provided on the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1.
The left and right side portions of the front surface and the left and right side portions of the rear surface can be freely contacted. Similarly, a total of four second spheres 45 are provided, and each of the second spheres 45 can come into contact with the front and rear portions of one side surface and the other side surface of the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, each of the first rollers 44 has a free end on one side of a first arm 51 which is bent in a dogleg shape, and a pin 52 which allows the first roller 44 to move around a left-right axial center 53. It is rotatably attached. A roller 55 is attached to the other free end of the first arm 51 via a pin 54, and a base end portion of the first arm 51 is provided with a bracket 57 that is erected on the support bracket 40 via a support shaft 56. Installed on. As a result, the first arms 51 are rotatable about the horizontal axis 58 in the directions toward and away from each other, with one free end side facing upward and the other free end side facing forward and backward. There is.
Further, the roller 55 projects into the elevating space 43.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, each of the second ball casters 46 is rotatably attached to one free end of the second arm 60. These second arms 60 are attached to a bracket 61 which is erected on the support bracket 40 via a support shaft 62, and are rotatable in the directions toward and away from each other about a longitudinal axis 63. A swing arm 65, which is swingable about a longitudinal axis 64, is attached to a bracket 61 via a support shaft 66 at a position closer to the elevating space 43 than each second arm 60. The free end of the swing arm 65 and the other free end of the second arm 60 are connected by a connecting rod 69 via pins 67 and 68, respectively. Of these, the roller 70 is attached to the free end of the swing arm 65 via the pin 68,
These rollers 70 project into the elevating space 43.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, each of the above first
The arm 51 and the second arm 60 have coil springs 7 respectively.
It is urged to rotate in the separating direction by 1,72. Of these, one end of the coil spring 71 is connected to the other free end side of the first arm 51, and the other end is connected to the bracket 61 side. Further, one end of the coil spring 72 is connected to the other free end side of the second arm 60, and the other end is connected to the bracket 61 side.

As shown in FIG. 12, the support ball caster 48 is attached to the upper end of the bracket 61 so as to face upward. Of these, the support ball casters 48 on the rear side are mounted at a lower position than the support ball casters 48 on the front side, so that the cassette 1 is supported by the support spheres 47 in an inclined posture (a) in which the rear part is inclined downward. It

Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, an auxiliary sphere 74 for assisting the positioning of the cassette 1 is provided between the front side support bracket 40 and the rear side support bracket 40.
An auxiliary ball caster 75 having the above is provided upward on the support frame 41 via a bracket 76. These auxiliary spheres 74 are formed so that they can be inserted into the square holes 3 on the rear side of the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1 and can abut on the rear surface of the lateral plate portion 5 in the width direction.

It should be noted that, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, when the fork 42 is lowered to the lower limit position, the coil spring 71
Each roller 55 is pushed down against the urging force of each roller 55, and each roller 70 is pushed out to the both outer sides against the urging force of the coil spring 72.

The operation of the above structure will be described below.
When supporting the cassette 1 on each support bracket 40,
As shown in FIG. 12, the forks 42 supporting the cassette 1 are lowered from above the respective support brackets 40. At this time, the fork 42 descends in the elevating space 43, and the cassette 1 is supported by the support sphere 47. Immediately after that, as the fork 42 descends to the lower limit position, the lower surface of the fork 42 abuts against the roller 55 and pushes down the roller 55 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 12, and the fork 42 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 42
Both side surfaces contact the roller 70 and push the roller 70 outward. As a result, the first arms 51 rotate against the biasing force of the coil spring 71 in the directions toward each other about the left-right axis 58, and as shown in FIG.
Contact the front surface and the rear surface of the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1 to sandwich the bottom plate 2 in the front and back, and further, each second arm 60 is connected to the connecting rod.
Interlocking with the swing arm 65 via 69, they rotate in the directions approaching each other around the longitudinal axis 63 against the biasing force of the coil spring 72, and as shown in FIG. The bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1 is brought into contact with the left and right side surfaces of the bottom plate 2 and the bottom plate 2 is clamped on both sides. As a result, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 12, the cassette 1 is supported by the supporting sphere in an inclined posture (a) with the rear part facing downward.
It is supported by 47 and positioned and fixed by the first roller 44 and the second sphere 45. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11, the auxiliary sphere 74
Is inserted into the square hole 3 on the rear side of the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1 and abuts on the rear surface of the lateral plate portion 5 in the width direction, so that the auxiliary sphere 74 together with the first roller 44 on the rear side of the cassette 1 in the inclined position. Fixed on the support sphere 47 so as not to slip backward.

As described above, when the cassette 1 is supported on the support brackets 40, the first roller 44 and the second sphere 45 contact the front and rear surfaces and the left and right surfaces of the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1 and sandwich them. Since the cassette 1 is accurately positioned in the front-rear and left-right directions, and the first roller 44, the second sphere 45, and the support sphere 47 idle to guide the cassette 1,
Since there is no sliding portion, it is possible to prevent the generation of dust due to wear.

By raising the fork 42 from the lower limit position, the fork 42 is separated upward from the rollers 55 and 70. As a result, each first arm 51 is rotated by the biasing force of the coil spring 71 in the direction away from each other about the horizontal axis 58, and each first roller 44 is separated from the front surface and the rear surface of the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1. In addition, each second arm 60 is axially centered in the front-rear direction by the urging force of the coil spring 72.
The second spherical bodies 45 are rotated about the 63 in a direction away from each other.
Are separated from the left and right side surfaces of the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1. As a result, as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 12 and 14, the cassette 1
The positioning and fixing are released, and the cassette 1 is lifted above the support sphere 47 by the fork 42.

In the above embodiment, the support brackets 40 are mentioned as the support portions, but these support brackets 40 are provided on forks, carriages, conveyors, shelves and the like. A fifth embodiment, which is an embodiment of the second invention, will be described below with reference to FIGS.
It will be described based on.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, reference numeral 81 is a pair of left and right support frames which are an example of a support portion, and these support frames 81 are rotatable with respect to a carriage main body 82 via a support shaft 83, for example. Installed on. The support shaft 83 is each support frame
It is inserted in the front end of 81 respectively. An ascending / descending space 85 for the fork 84 is formed between the support frames 81.

A compression coil spring 86 that horizontally supports each support frame 81 is provided between the rear end of each support frame 81 and the carriage main body 82. Further, stoppers 87 that restrict the rotation of each support frame 81 are attached to the carriage main body 82.

Each support frame 81 has a support sphere.
Support ball caster having 88 (an example of support rolling element)
A plurality of 89 are arranged in a row in the front-rear direction facing upward, and further, a first roller 90 (an example of the first rolling element) for positioning the liquid crystal cassette 1 rearward (that is, an inclined side) and a second roller 90 for positioning in the left-right direction. 91 (an example of the second rolling element) are provided.

That is, the support ball caster 89 is provided in the mounting hole 96 formed in the support frame 81, and the upper portion of the support sphere 88 projects upward from the upper surface of the support frame 81. The first roller 90 is located at the rear end of each support frame 81 and on the extension of the array of support ball casters 89. Each first roller 90 is mounted rotatably around a horizontal axis 93 via a support shaft 92 provided on each support frame 81. Each of the first rollers 90 is provided in a notch hole 97 formed in the support frame 81, and the upper portion of the first roller 90 is located above the support sphere 88.

The second rollers 91 are located outside the supporting ball casters 89 and are provided in pairs in front and rear. Each second roller 91 is mounted rotatably around a longitudinal axis 95 via a support shaft 94 provided on each support frame 81. Each second roller 91 is provided in a notch hole 97 formed in the support frame 81, and each second roller 91
The upper portion of 91 is located above the supporting sphere 88 and is set at the same level as the first roller 90.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below.
When the cassette 1 is placed on both the support frames 81 by using the forks 84, the lower end of the cassette 1 is guided by the first roller 90 so as not to be displaced rearward and the second roller 91.
Guided by and prevented from shifting to the left or right. On this occasion,
Even if the lower end of the cassette 1 contacts the first roller 90,
Since the roller 90 idles around the axial center 93 in the left-right direction, there is no sliding portion, and therefore it is possible to prevent generation of dust due to wear. Similarly, even if the lower end of the cassette 1 comes into contact with the second roller 91, the second roller 91 idles around the longitudinal axis 95, so that there is no sliding portion and therefore dust is generated due to wear. Can be prevented.

Then, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 17, the supporting frame 81 resists the urging force of the compression coil spring 86 by the weight of the cassette 1 until the lower surface of the supporting frame 81 contacts the stopper 87. It rotates downward about the support shaft 83. As a result, as shown in FIG. 18, both support frames 81 incline with the rear part facing downward, so that even if the cassette 1 is displaced forward, it slides down from the front on the support sphere 88 to the first roller 90. Abut and stop at the proper position. At this time, since the respective support spheres 88 freely rotate, the lower surface of the cassette 1 and the respective support spheres 88 do not slide with each other. Therefore, dust is generated due to abrasion between the lower surface of the cassette 1 and the respective support spheres 88. Can be prevented.

As a result, the cassette 1 has the first roller 90.
The second roller 91 and the second roller 91 position it in a proper position, and the rear portion is supported on the support frame 81 in an inclined posture (a) inclining downward.

When the fork 84 is inserted below the cassette 1 and between the both support frames 81 and the cassette 1 is lifted, the compression coil spring 86 expands and the both support frames 81 center around the support shaft 83. It rotates upward and returns to the original horizontal posture shown by the solid line in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the support frame 81 is provided on the carriage main body 82, but the support frame 81 may be provided not only on the carriage main body 82 but also on a shelf or a conveyor. A sixth embodiment, which is an embodiment of the third invention, will be described below with reference to FIGS.

That is, 101 is a fork which is an example of a supporting portion for supporting the cassette 1 in a horizontal posture. On the upper surface of the fork 101, four rollers 102 and 103 are provided at an angle of about 45 ° with respect to the front-rear and left-right directions. Among these, the pair of first rollers 102 (an example of a first rolling element) positions the cassette 1 in the front right direction and the rear left direction, and the other pair of second rollers 103 (an example of a second rolling element).
Is for positioning the cassette 1 in the front left direction and the rear right direction.

The pair of first rollers 102 includes the fork 10
Each of them is provided in a mounting hole 104 formed in 1 and is fitted onto a support shaft 105 mounted on the fork 101 side so as to be freely rotatable around a first shaft center 106 extending from left front to right rear. There is. Similarly, the pair of second rollers 103 are respectively provided in the mounting holes 104 formed in the fork 101, are fitted onto the support shaft 105 mounted on the fork 101 side, and extend from the right front to the left rear. It is freely rotatable around the second axis 107.

Substantially upper halves of the first roller 102 and the second roller 103 project upward from the upper surface of the fork 101. The corner portion 108 at which the widthwise horizontal plate portion 5 and the lengthwise horizontal plate portion 6 of the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1 intersect each has a first roller 102 and a second roller 103 which face each other.
It is formed so that it can be freely inserted into and removed from the front and back and from the left and right.

Further, on the upper surface of the fork 101, a plurality of support ball casters 110 having a freely rotatable support sphere 109 for supporting the cassette 1 are provided. A pair of left and right support ball casters 110 are provided at the tip of the fork 101, and a pair of left and right support balls are provided at a distance from the tip of the fork 101 according to the length of the cassette 1. As shown in Figure 21, each support ball caster
110 is fitted into a mounting hole 111 opened on the upper surface of the fork 101, and the support ball caster 110 is inserted in each mounting hole 111.
A compression coil spring 112 is provided for urging the coil upward. As a result, the upper portion of the support ball caster 110 projects from the upper surface of the fork 101, and the upper end of the support sphere 109 is positioned higher than the upper ends of the first and second rollers 102, 103.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below.
Insert the fork 101 below the cassette 1
21, the support balls 109 contact the lower surface of the cassette 1 and the support ball casters 110 are mounted against the biasing force of the compression coil spring 112 by the weight of the cassette 1 as shown in phantom lines in FIG. Pushed into hole 111.
Then, the cassette 1 that has been lifted is returned to each first roller 102.
And the second roller 103, and the positioning is performed without shifting to the front, rear, left and right. At this time, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 20, the first roller 102 and the second roller 103 are connected to the bottom plate 2 of the cassette 1.
Even when it comes into contact with the corner portion 108 of the first roller 102, the first roller 102 idles around the first axis 106 and the second roller 103 moves to the second axis 107.
Since it rotates around, the corner portions 108 are fitted between the front and rear sides and the left and right sides of the first roller 102 and the second roller 103, which face each other, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. Therefore, there is no sliding portion, and it is possible to prevent the generation of dust due to wear.

[0071]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in positioning, even if the lower end portion of the load abuts on the first rolling element and the second rolling element, the first rolling element moves in the horizontal axis direction. Since the second rolling element idles around and guides the load by idling around the longitudinal axis, the sliding portion does not exist, and therefore the generation of dust due to wear can be prevented.

According to the configuration of the second aspect of the present invention, at the time of positioning, even if the lower end portion of the load abuts on the first rolling element, the second rolling element and the supporting rolling element, the first rolling element moves in the horizontal axis direction. Since the second rolling element idles around and rotates around the longitudinal axis and the supporting rolling element idles and guides the load to the inclined side while supporting the load, there is no sliding portion. Therefore, generation of dust due to wear can be prevented.

According to the structure of the third aspect of the present invention, at the time of positioning, even if the lower end portion of the load abuts on the first rolling element and the second rolling element, the first rolling element idles around the first axis. At the same time, the second rolling element idles around the second axis to guide the load,
Since there is no sliding portion, it is possible to prevent the generation of dust due to wear.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a positioning device in a first embodiment which is an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a usage example of a fork having the positioning device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cassette positioned by the positioning device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining positioning by rolling elements of the positioning device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a positioning device in a second embodiment which is an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining positioning by rolling elements of the positioning device.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a positioning device in a third embodiment which is an embodiment of the second invention.

8 is a view on arrow AA in FIG. 7. FIG.

9 is a BB arrow view in FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining positioning by rolling elements of the positioning device.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a positioning device in a fourth embodiment which is an embodiment of the second invention.

12 is a view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining positioning by the first rolling element of the positioning device.

14 is a view on arrow DD in FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining positioning by the second rolling element of the positioning device.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a positioning device in a fifth embodiment which is an embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway side view of the positioning device.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing the cassette positioned by the positioning device and supported by the supporting portion in an inclined posture.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a positioning device in a sixth embodiment which is an embodiment of the third invention.

20 is a view taken along the line EE in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a partially cutaway FF arrow view in FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of a positioning device in a conventional example.

23 is a partially cutaway GG arrow view in FIG. 22.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 cassette (load) 8 fork (support portion) 9 first roller (first rolling element) 10 second roller (second rolling element) 13 left-right axis 14 front-back axis 21 support frame (support) 26 support Block (supporting portion) 27 Supporting sphere (supporting rolling element) 29 First sphere (first rolling element) 31 Second sphere (second rolling element) 40 Support bracket (supporting portion) 44 First roller (first rolling element) 45 Second sphere (second rolling element) 47 Supporting sphere (supporting rolling element) 53 Horizontal axis 81 Support frame (supporting portion) 88 Supporting sphere (supporting rolling element) 90 First roller (first rolling element) 91th 2-roller (second rolling element) 93 Left-right axis 95 Front-rear axis 101 Fork (support) 102 First roller (first rolling element) 103 Second roller (second rolling element) 106 First axis 107 2nd axis b Inclined posture

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pair of front and rear first rolling elements for positioning the load in the front-rear direction and a pair of left and right second rolling elements for positioning the load in the left-right direction are provided on a support portion for supporting the load in a horizontal posture. The first rolling element is formed so that it can be brought into contact with a load and can freely rotate around the axis in the left-right direction, and the second rolling element can be brought into contact with a load and freely rotate around the axis in the front-rear direction. A positioning device characterized by the above. 2. A first rolling element for positioning the load on at least the tilt side and a load for positioning the load in the left-right direction on a support portion that supports the load in a tilted posture in which the load is tilted to either the front or rear via the support rolling element. A pair of left and right second rolling elements are provided, and the first rolling element is formed so as to be freely contactable with the load and freely rotatable around the axis in the left-right direction, and the second rolling element is freely contactable with the load. In addition, the positioning device is formed so as to be freely rotatable around the longitudinal axis. 3. A pair of first rolling elements for positioning the load in a front right direction and a rear left direction and a pair of second second members for positioning the load in a front left direction and a rear right direction on a support portion that supports the load horizontally. A rolling element is provided, and the first rolling element is configured to be freely contactable with a load and freely rotatable around a first axis extending from the left front side to the right rear side, and the second rolling element is freely contactable with the load. Also, the positioning device is formed so as to be freely rotatable around a second axis extending from the right front side to the left rear side.