JP7147236B2 - Conveyor - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Law Published on November 3, 2017 in "Kingdom of Thailand 24000, Chachoengsao, Muang, Clone Udomchongrachong, 36/5 Mu 4"

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conveying device that lifts and conveys cargo.

Like the stacker crane described in Patent Document 1, a conveying device that lifts and conveys a load includes a lifting member that is hung on pulleys called sheaves and pulleys, and a lifting platform to which the lifting member is connected. ing. The conveying device raises and lowers the hoisting table by moving the suspending member with a motor, and conveys the load held on the hoisting table in the vertical direction.

JP-A-11-116009

Conventionally, when lifting a platform suspended by a suspension member using pulleys, in order to stably move the platform up and down, the platform is provided with a frame projecting upward in the vertical direction, and the upper end of the frame is A structure that connects the part and the hanging member is adopted.

In such a case, the entire lifting platform including the frame moves up and down within the area below the pulley, and the area for transporting the load is also limited to the area below the pulley. In other words, the area where the pulley exists becomes a dead space where the load does not reach.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is capable of minimizing the dead space in the upper part of the conveying apparatus and ensuring a long lifting stroke for conveying the articles. The object is to provide a conveying device.

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention is a conveying apparatus for lifting and lowering a load, comprising a base, at least two pillar members extending upward from the base, and the pillars At least two pulleys arranged in the upper end region of the member, at least two lifting members respectively hooked on the pulleys, and connected to the lifting members at separate connection points, and between the connection points, the load is and a frame that is attached to the lifting platform so as to extend upward from the connection point inside the connection point, and that moves along the column member.

According to this, the frame can be moved to the same height as the pulley or higher, and the thickness of the upper dead space of the transport device can be reduced.

The pillar members are arranged at four corners of a rectangle, and the frames are arranged at positions corresponding to the four pillar members. A guide roller may be provided that rolls along the edge of the guide roller, and in a plan view, the connecting portion may be arranged outside a rectangular area having the guide roller as an apex.

According to this, it is possible to stably raise and lower the platform with respect to the column member. In addition, the guide rollers can be moved to the same height as the pulleys or more without interfering with the pulleys, so that the area for conveying the load can be widened.

Further, as the guide rollers, an upper guide roller arranged above the connecting portion and a lower guide roller arranged below the connecting portion may be provided. According to this, since the guide roller abuts on the column member both above and below the connecting portion, it is possible to stabilize the lifting and lowering of the load.

Further, the column member includes two beam members arranged at four corners of a rectangular shape and connecting the upper ends of the pair of column members, respectively, and the pulleys are suspended from the beam members. may be attached.

According to this, the structure for supporting the pulley can be thinned, the pulley does not protrude upward from the upper end of the column member, and the thickness of the upper dead space of the transfer device can be reduced.

Further, the beam member may include a top plate portion that abuts an upper end surface of the pillar member, and a side plate portion that protrudes downward from an edge of the top plate portion and abuts a side surface of the pillar member. . According to this, the structural strength of the conveying device can be improved at the upper end portion of the column member, and the thickness of the upper dead space of the conveying device can be reduced.

According to the present invention, the thickness of the dead space in the upper part of the conveying device can be made as thin as possible, and the lifting stroke of the load can be secured as long as possible.

It is a perspective view showing an automated warehouse provided with a conveying device. It is a perspective view which shows a conveying apparatus. It is a top view which abbreviate|omits a beam member and shows a conveying apparatus from upper direction. It is a side view which abbreviate|omits the pillar member by the side of this side, and shows a conveying apparatus from the side. It is a front view which abbreviate|omits the beam member of this side, and shows a conveying apparatus from a front.

Next, an embodiment of a conveying device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. Numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of components, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in independent claims representing the highest concept will be described as arbitrary constituent elements.

In addition, the drawings are schematic diagrams in which emphasis, omissions, and ratios are appropriately adjusted in order to illustrate the present invention, and may differ from actual shapes, positional relationships, and ratios.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an automated warehouse equipped with a conveying device. As shown in the figure, the automated warehouse 200 automatically transfers packages 300 to the racks 201 using the carrier device 100, and unloads the packages 300 held on the racks 201 using the carrier device 100. It is a system that can

The rack 201 is not particularly limited as long as it can hold the load 300, but in the case of the present embodiment, the rack 201 has a plurality of shelf boards 202 arranged vertically to hold the load 300 in a mounted state. They are arranged in rows.

The conveying device 100 is a device capable of lifting and lowering the held load 300 . In the case of this embodiment, the automated warehouse 200 has a plurality of transport devices 100 arranged vertically on the side of the rack 201 . Although only two conveying devices 100 are shown in the figure, the automated warehouse 200 may have three or more conveying devices 100 arranged vertically, and only one conveying device 100 may be provided. good too. Moreover, although the rack 201 is arranged only on one side of the transport device 100, the rack 201 may be arranged on both sides.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the conveying device. As shown in the figure, the conveying device 100 is a device capable of moving a load 300 up and down (in the Z-axis direction in the drawing). , a lift table 130 and a frame 140 . In the case of this embodiment, the conveying device 100 can travel in a predetermined uniaxial direction (the X-axis direction in the drawing) in a horizontal plane, and can transfer a load 300 to and from the rack 201. , a travel device 160 and a transfer device 170 .

The base 101 is a member that serves as a structural base of the transport device 100 . The structure of the base 101 is not particularly limited, and in the case of the present embodiment, the base 101 has a structure in which rod-shaped members having the same structure as the column member 110 are combined in a ladder shape, parallel grid shape, or the like. there is

In the case of the present embodiment, a travel device 160 is attached to the base 101 so that the transport device 100 as a whole can travel along rails 162 . As a result, the conveying device 100 functions as a stacker crane, and can convey the load 300 in the vertical direction and the running direction (the X-axis direction in the drawing). For example, the travel device 160 includes wheels 161 and a travel drive source 163 , and the power of the travel drive source 163 rotates the wheels 161 on rails 162 to cause the conveying device 100 to travel.

The column member 110 is a columnar member that extends upward from the base 101 and functions as a support that supports the lift table 130 that is stopped or being lifted. If there are at least two pillar members 110 , it is possible to support the lift table 130 . The four pillar members 110 stand vertically upward from each of the four corners of the rectangular base 101 . Two pairs of pillar members 110 arranged in the depth direction (Y-axis direction in the drawing), which is a direction perpendicular to the running direction (X-axis direction in the drawing) of the conveying device 100 in the horizontal plane, have a pair of pillar members 110 at the upper ends thereof. A beam member 150 connecting the is attached in a bridge-like manner.

The beam member 150 is a member that reinforces the structural strength of the conveying device 100, and the shape thereof is not particularly limited. In the case of the present embodiment, the beam member 150 includes a plate-like top plate portion 151 that abuts on the upper end surface of the column member 110 , and protrudes downward from the edge of the top plate portion 151 . A plate-shaped side plate portion 152 abutting on the side surface is provided. By connecting the pair of pillar members 110 using the beam member 150 having an L-shaped cross section in this way, the structural strength of the conveying apparatus 100 can be improved without projecting the beam member 150 much above the pillar member 110 . can be improved.

In addition, the pair of beam members 150 are connected in a bridge-like manner by a second beam member 153 extending in the running direction, further improving the structural strength.

The pulley 121 is a member called a sheave, a pulley, or the like, which is arranged at the upper end of the column member 110 so as not to protrude upward from the upper end surface. By arranging the pulleys 121 at positions corresponding to both ends of the lifting platform 130 , the lifting platform 130 can be raised and lowered via the pulleys 121 . In the case of the present embodiment, the pulleys 121 are attached while being suspended from the pair of beam members 150 . That is, the pulley 121 is arranged so as not to protrude upward from the top plate portion 151 of the beam member 150 . As a result, the thickness of the area occupied by the member arranged above the column member 110 can be reduced, and the thickness of the dead space above the column member 110 can be made as thin as possible.

The hanging member 122 is a long flexible member such as a wire, chain, or belt that is hung on the pulley 121 . In the case of the present embodiment, the suspension member 122 is a timing belt connected in a loop, and is stretched in an endless track state between the lifting device 120 having a motor attached to the base 101 and the pulley 121. there is Suspension members 122 respectively hung on two pulleys 121 are suspended on one elevating device 120 , and the operation of the elevating device 120 interlocks the two suspension members 122 . The lifting device 120 includes a lifting drive source 123 such as a motor, a second pulley 124 on which the hanging member 122 is hung, and a shaft 125 connecting the two second pulleys 122 .

The lifting platform 130 is a member that is connected to the suspension member 122 at separate connection points 131 and holds the load 300 between the connection points 131 . In other words, the lifting platform 130 is lifted and lowered by the lifting device 120 via the hanging member 122 to convey the held load 300 in the vertical direction. In the case of the present embodiment, the lifting platform 130 is connected to the suspending member 122 at connection points 131 arranged in the center of both edges in the running direction. The lifting platform 130 holds the load 300 in a placed state, and the connection point 131 is arranged above the load surface of the load 300 . Therefore, the connecting member 132 for connecting with the suspending member 122 is attached to the main body of the lifting platform 130 via the protruding member 133 protruding upward from the mounting surface.

The frame 140 is a member attached to the main body of the lifting table 130 in a state of protruding upward from the mounting surface of the lifting table 130, and is a member for stably moving the lifting table 130 up and down with respect to the column member 110. be. In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 with the beam members 150 and the like omitted, the frames 140 are arranged at corresponding positions inside the four column members 110, and are connected to the two connection points 131. placed inside. The frame 140 is attached to the lift table 130 so as to extend upward from the connecting portion 131, as shown in FIG.

As described above, the frame 140 is arranged at a position that does not interfere with the pulley 121 attached in a suspended state from the beam member 150, and the lifting platform 130 is connected to the hanging member 122 below the upper end of the frame 140. , the platform 130 can be lifted to a position where the upper end of the frame 140 and the pulley 121 overlap (see FIG. 5).

In the case of this embodiment, guide rollers 104 are rotatably attached to each frame 140 and roll in contact with the column member 110 . As shown in FIG. 3, the guide roller 104 is attached to the frame 140 so that the connection point 131 is arranged outside a rectangular area having the guide roller 104 as the vertex in plan view. Further, the guide rollers 104 are provided so that the frame 140 can move smoothly along the column member 110 without shaking, and are provided so as to abut on opposite surfaces of the column member 110 respectively.

In the case of this embodiment, the guide roller 104 includes an upper guide roller 141 and a lower guide roller 142. As shown in FIG. , and the lower guide roller 142 is attached to a portion of the frame 140 below the connection point 131 . As a result, the lift table 130 can be moved up and down more stably, and the cargo can be transported stably.

Further, an upper guide roller 141 and a lower guide roller 142 are attached as the guide rollers 104 to the frame 140 arranged at the four corners of the rectangle. 104 are placed outside the rectangular area enclosing 104 .

The transfer device 170 is a device for transferring the load 300 between the rack 201 and the lift table 130 and is attached to the lift table 130 . The transfer method of the load 300 of the transfer device 170 is not particularly limited. As the transfer device 170 , there is a device that pushes out and pulls in the load 300 by applying a claw to the back side of the load 300 in the transfer direction, and a device that moves the load 300 between the rack 201 and the lift table 130 while holding the side of the load 300 . For example, the load 300 placed on the pallet is lifted by a fork and transferred.

According to the conveying apparatus 100 according to the above embodiment, the thickness of the so-called dead space that does not contribute to the lifting and lowering of the load 300 existing in the upper region of the column member 110 can be reduced. Therefore, a long stroke for raising and lowering the load 300 can be ensured with respect to the length of the column member 110, and the load 300 can be lifted and lowered efficiently.

Also, as in the automated warehouse 200 shown in FIG. 1, when the rails 162 are arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction and the plurality of transport devices 100 are run along the respective rails 162, the transport devices 100 and the transport devices 100 are arranged thereon. A gap with the rail 162 can be reduced. Therefore, the storage density of the packages 300 can be improved, and the storage efficiency of the automated warehouse 200 as a whole can be improved.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, another embodiment realized by arbitrarily combining the constituent elements described in this specification or omitting some of the constituent elements may be an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention also includes modifications obtained by making various modifications to the above-described embodiment within the scope of the gist of the present invention, that is, the meaning of the words described in the claims, which a person skilled in the art can think of. be

For example, in the above embodiment, four pillar members 110 have been described, but two pillar members 110 may be provided.

In addition, although the conveying device 100 has been exemplified as capable of traveling in the horizontal direction, the conveying device 100 may be fixed in the horizontal plane.

Further, although the conveying apparatus 100 capable of lifting and lowering the load 300 over the three stages of the shelf board 202 of the rack 201 is illustrated, the lifting stroke of the load 300 is not limited.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used in automated warehouses, physical distribution centers, and the like that lift and lower packages.

100 Conveying device 101 Base 104 Guide roller 110 Column member 120 Elevating device 121 Pulley 122 Hanging member 130 Elevating table 131 Connection point 132 Connection member 133 Projecting member 140 Frame 141 Upper guide roller 142 Lower guide roller 150 Beam member 151 Top plate portion 152 Side plate portion 153 Second beam member 160 Travel device 161 Wheel 162 Rail 163 Travel drive source 170 Transfer device 200 Automated warehouse 201 Rack 202 Shelf 300 Package

Claims (3)

A conveying device for lifting and lowering a load,
a base;
at least two column members extending upward from the base;
at least two pulleys disposed within the upper end region of the post member;
at least two suspension members respectively hung on the pulleys;
a lifting platform that is connected to the suspension members at separate connection points and that holds a load between the connection points;
a frame that is attached to the lifting platform in a state of extending above the connection point inside the connection point, and that moves along the column member;
with
The column members are arranged at the four corners of the rectangle,
The frames are arranged at positions corresponding to the four column members,
Guide rollers are rotatably attached to the frames and roll in contact with the column members,
In a plan view, the connection point is arranged outside a rectangular area having the guide roller as a vertex,
A conveying device comprising, as the guide rollers, an upper guide roller arranged above the connecting portion and a lower guide roller arranged below the connecting portion. The column members are arranged at the four corners of the rectangle,
comprising two beam members connecting the upper ends of the pair of pillar members, respectively;
2. The conveying apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said pulleys are attached to said beam members in a suspended state. The beam member
a top plate portion that abuts on the upper end surface of the column member;
3. The conveying apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a side plate portion that protrudes downward from an edge of the top plate portion and abuts on a side surface of the column member.

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