Conveyance device, planar conveyance apparatus, and conveyance unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10577189-B2
Application number	US-201615573538-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2016
Priority date	Jun 25, 2015
Publication date	Mar 3, 2020
Grant date	Mar 3, 2020

Abstract

A conveyance device capable of performing traveling operation and turning operation, a planar conveyance apparatus, and a conveyance unit. A conveyance device 1 has a travel part 5 having a belt 2 for allowing an article to be placed, and a turning table 6 that supports the travel part 5. The belt 2 is an endless member suspended between a pair of rollers 3. The belt 2 travels by being engaged with a driving body 4 to which power of a motor for traveling 9 is transmitted by a drive shaft 14. Power of a motor for turning 8 is transmitted to the turning table 6, so that the turning table 6 turns. That is, when the motor for turning 8 is driven, the travel part 5 turns along with the turning table 6.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A conveyance device comprising:
a travel part moving an article and having a contact member, the contact member coming into contact with the article to rotate or travel;
a turning table supporting the travel part;
a motor for turning comprising:
a through hole axially passing through the motor for turning; and
an output part outputting turning force;
a motor for traveling disposed below the motor for turning; and
a drive shaft inserted into the through hole,
wherein the motor for traveling rotates the drive shaft, the drive shaft driving the travel part, and
wherein the turning table is directly or indirectly engaged with the output part of the motor for turning, the motor for turning the turning table and the travel part.

2. A conveyance device comprising:
a first travel part moving an article and having a contact member, the contact member coming into contact with the article to rotate or travel;
a turning table supporting the first travel part;
a first engaging member;
a motor for traveling;
a drive shaft transmitting power to the first travel part; and
a second engaging member mounted on the drive shaft, the second engaging member rotating as one piece with the drive shaft,
wherein the motor for traveling rotates the drive shaft, the drive shaft driving the first travel part, and
wherein the second engaging member is capable of driving a second travel part of another conveyance device whereas the first engaging member receives power transmission from outside to turn the turning table and the first travel part.

3. A conveyance device comprising:
a travel part moving an article and having a contact member, the contact member coming into contact with the article to rotate or travel;
a turning table supporting the travel part;
a first engaging member having a turning axis and having a through hole axially passing through the first engaging member; and
a drive shaft transmitting power to the travel part, the drive shaft having a third engaging member,
wherein the drive shaft is inserted into the through hole,
wherein the third engaging member receives power transmission from another conveyance device to rotate, and
wherein the first engaging member receives power transmission from outside to turn the turning table and the travel part.

4. The conveyance device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the contact member is an endless member,
wherein the travel part comprises:
a pair of rotators freely rotating;
the endless member suspended between the rotators; and
a driving body receiving power of the drive shaft to rotate, and
wherein the driving body is engaged with the endless member between the rotators to cause the endless member to travel.

5. A conveyance device comprising:
a travel part moving an article and having a contact member, the contact member coming into contact with the article to rotate or travel;
a turning table turning while supporting the travel part to thereby change a conveying direction of the article in contact with the contact member; and
a drive shaft,
wherein the contact member is an endless member,
wherein the travel part comprises:
a pair of rotators freely rotating;
the endless member suspended between the rotators; and
a driving body receiving power of the drive shaft to rotate, and
wherein the driving body is engaged with the endless member between the rotators to cause the endless member to travel.

6. The conveyance device according to claim 1 , wherein the conveyance device is a first conveyance device, and further comprising
an engaging part on the first conveyance device engaged with an engaging part on another conveyance device, wherein the engaging parts of the one and another conveyance devices are engaged with each other to allow planar connection of the one and another conveyance devices.

7. A conveyance device comprising:
a travel part moving an article and having a contact member, the contact member coming into contact with the article to rotate or travel;
a turning table supporting the travel part;
a motor for turning that turns the turning table and the travel part,
the motor for turning having an axis; and
a motor for traveling that drives the travel part,
the motor for traveling having an axis,
wherein the turning table is directly or indirectly engaged with an output part of the motor for turning,
wherein the motor for turning and the motor for traveling are located at overlapped positions,
wherein the motor axes are coincident.

8. The conveyance device according to claim 7 , further comprising a drive shaft,
wherein the motor for turning or the motor for traveling disposed on an upper side has a through hole axially passing therethrough, and
wherein the drive shaft is engaged with the motor for turning or the motor for traveling disposed on a lower side, the drive shaft being inserted into the through hole to drive the travel part or the turning table.

9. A conveyance device comprising:
a travel part moving an article and having a contact member, the contact member coming into contact with the article to rotate or travel;
a turning table that supports the travel part;
a motor for turning;
a motor for traveling; and
a drive shaft,
wherein the motor for turning or the motor for traveling disposed on an upper side has a through hole axially passing therethrough, and
wherein the drive shaft is engaged with the motor for turning or the motor for traveling disposed on a lower side, the drive shaft being inserted into the through hole to drive the travel part or the turning table.

10. The conveyance device according to claim 9 , wherein the motor for turning and the motor for traveling are disposed on a same axial line.

11. The conveyance device according to claim 9 , further comprising a speed reduction mechanism decelerating rotation of the motor for turning to drive the turning table.

12. The conveyance device according to claim 11 , wherein the motor for turning has an enclosure member comprising a rotor, a stator, the speed reduction mechanism, and an internal gear therein, the speed reduction mechanism being a planet gear train having the internal gear as one of components.

13. A planar conveyance apparatus comprising a plurality of the conveyance devices according to claim 1 , the plurality of the conveyance devices being disposed planarly.

14. A planar conveyance apparatus comprising:
one or more main conveyance devices each composed of the conveyance device according to claim 1 ; and
one or more auxiliary conveyance devices each comprising:
a travel part moving an article and having a contact member, the contact member on each auxiliary conveyance device coming into contact with the article to rotate or travel; and
a turning table supporting the travel part,
wherein the travel part and/or the turning table of at least one of the auxiliary conveyance devices moves in synchronization with the travel part and/or the turning table of any of the main conveyance devices.

15. A planar conveyance apparatus comprising:
at least one main conveyance device each composed of the conveyance device according to claim 1 ; and
at least one auxiliary conveyance device,
wherein the one main conveyance device comprises: an engaging member connected to or engaged with the output part of the motor for turning,
wherein the one auxiliary conveyance device comprises:
a travel part moving an article and having a contact member, the contact member on the one auxiliary conveyance device coming into contact with the article to rotate or travel;
a turning table support

Assignees

• Itoh Denki Co Ltd

Inventors

• Itoh Kazuo
• Nakamura Tatsuhiko
• MIKI Kazuwo

Classifications

• B65G23/24

  Gearing between driving motor and belt- or chain-engaging elements (contained in drums, rollers or wheels B65G23/08) · CPC title

• B65G47/2445 Primary

  by means of at least two co-operating endless conveying elements · CPC title

• B65G43/08

  Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged {(and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42)} · CPC title

• B65G47/244

  by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane · CPC title

• B65G15/22

  comprising a series of co-operating units · CPC title