JPH1059520A - Circulating chain conveyor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a circulating chain conveyor device of simple structure, which can convey a conveying container easily by means of an endless chain even between upper and lower vertical carry-in and -out devices whose positions are deviated in a horizontal direction from each other. SOLUTION: A circulating chain conveyor device 5 includes a pair of endless chains 11, 12 which are circulated by a rotational driving device 7. A plenty of conveyed object supporting bodies 19 are fitted on a pair of circulating chains 11, 12 spacing from each other. The chains 11, 12 include vertically moving parts 11a, 12a, 11c, and 12c moving roughly vertically and horizontally moving parts 11b, 12b moving roughly horizontally. The respective conveyed object supporting bodies are transferred on the circulating moving route of the chains 11, 12 keeping a fixed position. A carrier container 20 is carried in/out of the conveyed object supporting body 19 by a vertical part carry-in/out device 21 which is formed on the way of the vertically moving part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circulating chain conveyor device for transporting a transport container by means of an endless chain that circulates and moves. More specifically, the transport container can be transported vertically and horizontally while maintaining a constant posture. The present invention relates to a circulation chain conveyor device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-53522
As described in the publication, a building having a number of floors is provided with a shaft extending vertically (up and down) through the floor of each floor, and transporting articles and documents therein. A vertical circulating chain conveyor device for transporting containers in the vertical direction is provided. This type of vertical circulation chain conveyor device has an endless chain that is circulated and moved synchronously by a rotary driving device, and is attached to the chain at a distance from each other and always maintains a constant posture (horizontal posture). The apparatus includes a plurality of transported object supports that are vertically transported on a chain circulation path, and transport containers that are supported by each transported object support. In addition, on the floor where goods and the like need to be carried in and out, a carry-in / out device (station) for carrying in and out the transfer container with respect to the vertical circulation chain conveyor device in the shaft is provided, and the side where the chain rises The transport container is loaded and unloaded on the side where the chain descends. In particular, in the vertical circulation chain conveyor device described in the above publication, a pair of endless chains are horizontally shifted from each other, so that the transport container can be loaded and unloaded in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the chains are arranged. It is possible to provide a carry-in part and a carry-out part side by side.

[0003]

However, depending on the structure of the building and the arrangement of the rooms, it may be difficult to connect the stations in the building with only one vertical shaft. In that case, two shafts are provided horizontally displaced from each other. However, when using a conventional vertical circulation chain conveyor device, it is necessary to install a vertical circulation chain conveyor device in both shafts, and transport between them. Containers need to be transported horizontally for transfer. For this reason, since it is necessary to separately install a horizontal transfer device between both conveyor devices, the entire device becomes complicated and causes an increase in cost.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a circulating chain conveyor device having a simple structure in which a transport container can be easily transported by an endless chain even between upper and lower vertical loading / unloading devices which are horizontally displaced. Is to do.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a pair of endless chains circulated and moved by a rotary driving device are provided at a distance from each other. A plurality of transported object supports that are attached and transported along the circulation movement path of the chain while maintaining a constant posture, and transport containers supported by each transported object support, wherein the chain moves substantially vertically. And a horizontal moving unit that moves substantially horizontally.

[0006] According to the above structure, since the transported object support supporting the transport container moves on the path of the vertical moving portion and the horizontal moving portion of the chain while maintaining a constant posture, the vertical transport and the horizontal transport of the transport container are performed. Becomes possible. Therefore,
The transport container can be easily transported by the endless chain between the upper and lower vertical portion loading / unloading devices that are displaced in the horizontal direction, and a circulating chain conveyor device with a simple configuration can be realized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the circulation chain conveyor device according to the first aspect, the chain has the vertical moving portions at upper and lower portions, respectively, and the horizontal moving portion is provided between the two vertical moving portions. A vertical portion carrying-in / out device which is formed and carries the carrying container in and out of the carrying support is provided on a vertical movement path at an upper portion and a lower portion of the chain.

According to the above construction, the two vertically moving parts of the endless chain can be arranged in the two shafts which are horizontally displaced from each other, and the horizontal moving parts of the chain can be arranged under the floor of the building or under the floor. Since it can be arranged indoors, a continuous conveyance path by the circulation chain conveyor device can be easily formed in the two shafts, and the object to be conveyed between the vertically-moved vertical loading / unloading devices shifted in the horizontal direction. Can be easily vertically transported.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the circulating chain conveyor device according to the second aspect, the vertical portion carrying-in / out device has a carrying-in portion on the side of the ascending moving portion of the chain and a moving portion on the side of the descending moving portion of the chain. It is characterized by having a carry-out part.

According to the above construction, in the vertical section carrying-in / out device on the way of the vertical movement of the endless chain, the transfer of the transfer container from the carrying-in section to the article support and the transfer from the article support to the carry-out section. Delivery of the container can be easily performed. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the circulating chain conveyor device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the transport container is carried in and out of the transport object support on a horizontal movement path of the chain. A horizontal section carrying-in / out device is provided.

According to the above configuration, the transport container 20 can be horizontally transported to another circulating chain conveyor device having the same configuration as that of the circulating chain conveyor device by effectively utilizing the space under the floor.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0013]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, through-holes 1a and 2a are provided in floors 1 and ceilings 2 of a plurality of floors of a building, and two vertical shafts 3 surrounding these through-holes 1a and 2a. 4 are formed horizontally offset from each other. And one of the two shafts 3, 4
Two continuous circulating chain conveyor devices 5 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the circulation chain conveyor device 5 has a drive unit (that is, a rotary drive device) 7 installed at the upper end of one shaft 3 (preferably, the top floor of a building). Reference numeral 7 denotes two chain wheels 8 and 9 which face each other at a position shifted horizontally by a predetermined dimension L, and a drive motor 10 for rotating these chain wheels 8 and 9.

Endless chains 11 and 12 are wound around the two chain wheels 8 and 9, respectively. These two chains 11 and 12 are provided in a tail unit 13 provided at the lower end of the other shaft 4. They are hung over the chain wheels 14 and 15, respectively (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 4). In the tail unit 13, the chain wheel 14 meshing with one chain 11 and the chain wheel 15 meshing with the other chain 12 are provided so as to be shifted from each other in the horizontal direction by the predetermined dimension L.

The two endless chains 11 and 12 comprise upper vertical moving portions 11a and 12a disposed substantially vertically downward from the drive unit 7 along one shaft 3 and
Horizontal moving parts 11b, 12b arranged substantially horizontally along the space between the floor 1 on the middle floor of the building and the ceiling 2 on the lower floor from the vertical moving parts 11a, 12a on the upper part; Lower vertical moving parts 11c and 12c are disposed substantially vertically downward along the other shaft 4 from the horizontal moving parts 11b and 12b to the tail unit 13, and the chains 11 and 12 are moved horizontally. In the installation space between the floor and the ceiling where the portions 11b and 12b are arranged, a chain wheel 16 for turning the direction which bends the chains 11 and 12 to approximately 90 °.
a to 16d and 17a to 17d are provided, respectively. The chain wheels 16a to 16d for changing the direction of the one chain 11 and the chain wheels 17a to 17d for changing the direction of the other chain 12 are arranged so as to be horizontally displaced from each other by the predetermined dimension L. That is, the one endless chain 11 and the other endless chain 12 are arranged in the same shape with their positions shifted from each other in the horizontal direction by the predetermined dimension L.
1 and 12 are circulated in a clockwise direction in FIGS. 1 and 4 in synchronization with each other. Further, guide rails 18 for guiding the chains 11 and 12 along their movement paths are provided in the shafts 3 and 4 and in the installation space between the floor and the ceiling where the horizontal moving parts 11b and 12b of the chains 11 and 12 are arranged. Is provided. Note that the horizontal moving portions 11b and 12b of the chains 11 and 12 may be arranged in a room on the floor 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, two chains 11,
A plurality of transport object supports 19 for detachably supporting the transport container 20 are attached to the transport container 12 at intervals along the direction of the movement path of the chains 11 and 12. Each of the transported article supports 19 in the illustrated embodiment has a rectangular frame shape, and has mounting portions 19a provided at diagonally opposed corners thereof.
19b is attached to the ascending or descending portion of the two chains 11, 12, respectively. When the two chains 11 and 12 circulate and move synchronously, the transported article support 19 keeps a constant horizontal attitude and the chains 11 and 12 move.
Move along the circulation path of.

On the floor 1 of the floor where the transport containers 20 need to be loaded and unloaded, a vertical section loading / unloading device 21 for loading and unloading the transport containers 20 with respect to the transported article support 19 on the vertical moving portions of the chains 11 and 12. Is provided. As schematically shown in FIG. 4, the vertical portion carrying-in / out device 21 includes a carrying-in portion 22 on the ascending / moving portion side of the chains 11 and 12 and a carrying-out portion 23 on the descending / moving portion side of the chains 11 and 12, respectively. I have. The carry-in part 22 and the carry-out part 23 are arranged so that the transport container 20 can be taken in and out at right angles to the plane on which the chains 11 and 12 are provided. Such a loading / unloading mode is possible because the vertical moving portions of the chains 11 and 12 are horizontally displaced from each other by a predetermined dimension L.

According to this configuration, the endless chain 11,
In the vertical section loading / unloading device 21 on the way of the vertical moving section 12, the transfer container 2 from the loading section 22 to the transported article support 19
0 and the transfer of the transport container 20 from the transported article support 19 to the unloading section 23 can be easily performed.

As shown in FIG. 5, a carry-in section 22 and a carry-out section 23 are each provided with a horizontal conveyor 24 (in the example shown, a roller conveyor) disposed on the floor 2, a horizontal conveyor 24 and a transported object support. A transfer mechanism 25 for transferring the transfer container 20 to and from the transfer container 19 is provided. The transfer mechanism 25 shown in FIG. 5 includes a pair of rotating arms 26 and a plurality of horizontal transfer rollers 27 arranged at the tip thereof. And

For example, in the carry-in section 22, the rotating arm 26 moves from the retracted position in FIG. 5 to the guide position in a substantially horizontal posture, and moves the horizontal transport roller 27 to the lower surface of the flange 20a of the transport container 20 on the horizontal conveyor 24. To be engaged. Then, the transport container 20 is moved by the horizontal transport roller 27 to the chain 11,
It is transported to a position above the transported article support 19 between the twelve. The transported article support 1 in which the bottom of the transport container 20 rises
When the transfer container 20 is placed on the transfer object 9, the transfer arm 20 is turned to the retreat position shown in FIG.

On the other hand, in the unloading section 23, the rotating arm 26 moves from the retracted position in FIG. 5 to the guide position in a substantially horizontal posture, and the horizontal transport roller 27 is moved to the transport container 20 flange 20a on the transported article support 19. Transport container 20
Receive. When the transported article support 19 is lowered to a predetermined distance, the transport container 20 is moved by the horizontal transport roller 27.
Is transported horizontally, and the transport container 20 is transferred to a horizontal conveyor 24.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, a horizontal section carrying-in / out device for carrying the carrying container 20 in and out of the carrying support 19 on the horizontal movement path of the chains 11 and 12 is further provided. 28 are provided. The horizontal section carrying-in / out device 28 of the illustrated embodiment includes a carrying-in section 29 on the lower side of the chains 11 and 12, for example, a horizontal moving section, and the chain 1
An unloading unit 30 is provided on the horizontal moving unit side on the upper side of 1, 12 respectively. Either of the loading section 29 and the unloading section 30 in the horizontal section loading / unloading device 28 may be located above. Loading section 29
The unloading section 30 includes a horizontal conveyor 31 (for example, a roller conveyor, a belt conveyor, or the like), and a transfer mechanism 32 that transfers the transport container 20 between the horizontal conveyor 31 and the transported article support 19. . According to such a configuration, the transport container 20 is horizontally transported to another circulating chain conveyor device having the same configuration as the circulating chain conveyor device, or the transport container 20 is unloaded in a room separated from the shafts 3 and 4 in the building. Entry can be performed.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of the configuration of the horizontal portion carrying-in / out device 28 used in the above embodiment. Referring to these figures, the transfer mechanism 32 in the loading section 29 and the unloading section 30 of the horizontal section loading / unloading device 28 is arranged along the guide rail 33 on the horizontal moving sections 11b and 12b of the chains 11 and 12 and the horizontal conveyor. 31 and a movable support 34 that can move horizontally between the
Supports a pair of belt conveyors 35 that can abut against the lower surface of the flange 20a of the transport container 20 placed on the transport support 19 on the horizontal moving parts 11b and 12b of the chains 11 and 12. . The belt conveyor 35 is a moving support 3
4 by the motor 36 attached to the chain 11, 1
2 and the horizontal moving parts 11 of the chains 11 and 12 at the same speed.
It is configured to be transported and driven in the same direction as b and 2b.

As shown in FIG. 7, the upper surface of the belt conveyor 35 is gently inclined from the vicinity of both ends to both ends to a position lower than the flange 20 of the transfer container 20 on the transfer support 19. Therefore, for example, the unloading section 30
In, the belt conveyor 35 can wait at the end on the upstream side in the transport direction for the flange 20a of the transport container 20 placed on the transported article support 19 and transported horizontally. After the flange 20a of the transport container 20 that is transported horizontally is placed on the end of the belt conveyor 35, the transport container 20 can be lifted upward along the slope by the belt conveyor 35, so that the transport The container 20 can be lifted from the transported article support 19 and received on the belt conveyor 35. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, an engagement pin 37 for preventing falling off is engaged with an engagement hole (not shown) formed in the bottom of the transport container 20 on the transported article support 19. Even in the case of protruding, the engagement hole of the transport container 20 can be disengaged upward from the engagement pin 37 by the belt conveyor 34.

When the transport container 20 has been transferred from the transported article support 19 onto the belt conveyor 35 in this way, the motor 36 is stopped, and the movable support 34 is moved to the horizontal conveyor 31.
Move up. Then, when the transport container 20 supported by the belt conveyor 35 moves above the horizontal conveyor 31, the belt conveyor 35 is transported and driven again, and sends out the transport container 20 on the belt conveyor 34 onto the horizontal conveyor 31.

In the horizontal section loading / unloading device 28 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the horizontal conveyor 31
The horizontal conveyor 31 is disposed in parallel with the horizontal moving parts 11b and 12b of the chains 11, 12 in the horizontal part carrying-in / out device 28 shown in FIGS.
b, 12b. In this case, the belt conveyor 3 is attached to the moving support 34 shown in FIGS.
The transfer container 2 supported by the belt conveyor 35 is provided by providing a rotation mechanism (not shown) for rotating the
0 can be sent out on the horizontal conveyor 31 shown in FIGS.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another example of the configuration of the horizontal section carry-in / out device 28. FIG. With reference to these figures, the transfer mechanism 32 in the loading section 29 and the unloading section 30 of the horizontal section loading / unloading device 28 moves along the guide rail 38 on the horizontal moving sections 11b and 12b of the chains 11 and 12 and the horizontal conveyor. 31. The moving support 39 has a movable support 39 that can move horizontally between the upper and lower surfaces of the transported support 1.
9 on both sides of the transport container 20 placed on the
The cradle 40 for supporting the bottom of the vehicle has two arms 4 each.
1 and 42, and the moving support 39
The two arms 41 and 42 and the cradle 40 constitute a parallel link. The moving support 39 is provided with a motor 43 for rotating at least one of the two arms 41 and 42 on both sides. Therefore, for example, in the unloading section 30, the transported article support 1
When the arms 43 and 42 are rotated by the motor 43 in the downstream direction in the horizontal transport direction when the transport container 20 placed on the upper portion 9 reaches the upper portion of the receiver 40, the receiver 40 is parallel to the transport container 20. To the transport container 20
Is lifted upward, the transport container 20 can be received on the receiving table 40 from above the transported article support 19. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, even when the engagement pins 37 for preventing the transfer container 20 from dropping out are provided on the transfer object support 19, the engagement of the bottom portion of the transfer container 20 is prevented. A hole (not shown) can be detached upward from the engagement pin 37.

In this way, the receiving container 40
Then, the motor 43 is stopped, the moving support 39 is moved horizontally, and the transport container 20 is moved onto the horizontal conveyor 31. Then, when the transport container 20 moves onto the horizontal conveyor 31, the arms 41 and 42 are rotated in the opposite directions by the motor 43 to move the receiving table 40 parallel downward, thereby placing the transport container 20 on the horizontal conveyor 31. Can be placed.

In the circulation chain conveyor device having the above configuration, the transported article support 1
9 moves on the paths of the vertical moving parts 11a, 12a, 11c, 12c and the horizontal moving parts 11b, 12b of the chains 11, 12 while maintaining the fixed posture.
Vertically and horizontally. Therefore,
Upper and lower vertical section loading / unloading devices 21, which are horizontally displaced
The transport container 20 can be easily transported by the endless chains 11 and 12 between 21..., And a circulating chain conveyor device having a simple configuration can be realized.

The upper and lower ends of the endless chains 11, 12
The two vertical moving parts 11a, 12a, 11c, 12c can be respectively arranged in the two shafts 3, 4 which are displaced in the horizontal direction, and the horizontal moving parts 11b, 12b of the chains 11, 12 are connected to the underfloor space of the building. Alternatively, since it can be disposed indoors, a continuous transport path by the circulation chain conveyor device can be easily formed in the two shafts 3 and 4, and the vertical portion loading / unloading device 21 that is horizontally displaced. , 21... Can be vertically transported easily.

Although the illustrated embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to only the above embodiment, and various modifications may be made to the components within the scope of the invention described in the claims. be able to. For example, the chains 11 and 12 each have substantially one horizontal moving portion and a horizontal moving portion that is bent from the upper or lower end thereof.
It may have a circular circulation path. Further, in the above embodiment, the vertical moving parts of the chain are shifted and arranged in two rows, but may be arranged in three or more rows stepwise via the horizontal moving parts. The rotary drive device 7 shown in FIG. 3 has single chain wheels 8 and 9 for winding the chains 11 and 12, respectively. 11, 12 may be wound,
In that case, at least one of them may be driven to rotate by the motor 10. Furthermore, it is only an example of the transfer mechanism 32 in the vertical portion carry-in / out device and the horizontal portion carry-in / out device in the illustrated embodiment, and any other transfer mechanism may be employed.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the transport container can be easily transported by the endless chain even between the upper and lower vertical loading / unloading devices shifted in the horizontal direction. A circulation chain conveyor device with a simple configuration can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a circulation chain conveyor device in a building showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the circulation chain conveyor device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part in the vicinity of a rotary driving device of the circulation chain conveyor device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part in the vicinity of a tail unit and a vertical portion carrying-in / out device of the circulation chain conveyor device shown in FIG. 1;

5 is a schematic side view of a main part showing a configuration example of a transfer mechanism applied to a carry-in portion and a carry-out portion of the vertical portion carry-in / out device of the circulation chain conveyor device shown in FIG. 1;

6 is a schematic vertical sectional side view showing a configuration example of a horizontal section carry-in / out device applied to the circulation chain conveyor device shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic vertical sectional front view of the horizontal portion carrying-in / out device shown in FIG. 6;

8 is a schematic vertical sectional side view showing another configuration example of the horizontal section carry-in / out device applied to the circulation chain conveyor device shown in FIG.

9 is a schematic vertical sectional front view of the horizontal portion carrying-in / out device shown in FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 floor 2 ceiling 3, 4 shaft 5 circulation chain conveyor device 7 rotation drive device 11, 12 chain 11a, 12a upper vertical movement unit 11b, 12b horizontal movement unit 11c, 12c lower vertical movement unit 19 transport support 20 transport container DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Vertical part carrying-in / out apparatus 22 Carry-in part 23 Carry-out part 25 Transfer mechanism

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pair of endless chains circulated and moved by a rotary drive device, and a plurality of conveyed objects attached to the pair of circulating chains at intervals from each other and conveyed on a circulating movement path of the chains. A circulating chain conveyor comprising: a support; and a transport container supported by each transported article support, wherein the chain includes a vertical moving unit that moves substantially vertically and a horizontal moving unit that moves substantially horizontally. apparatus. 2. The chain has the vertical moving portions at upper and lower portions, respectively, and the horizontal moving portion is formed between the two vertical moving portions, and the chain is located on the vertical moving paths at the upper and lower portions of the chain. The circulation chain conveyor device according to claim 1, further comprising a vertical portion carrying-in / out device for carrying in / out the carrying container to / from the carrying object support. 3. The vertical section carrying-in / out device according to claim 2, further comprising a carrying-in section on the side of the ascending moving section of the chain and a carrying-out section on the side of the descending moving section of the chain. Circulation chain conveyor device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a horizontal portion carrying-in / out device for carrying the carrying container in and out of the carrying support on the horizontal moving path of the chain. The circulation chain conveyor device according to any one of the above.