Conveying device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10625937-B2
Application number	US-201916504157-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2019
Priority date	Jul 12, 2018
Publication date	Apr 21, 2020
Grant date	Apr 21, 2020

Abstract

A conveying device according to the present invention includes a first connection mechanism provided on an upper surface, a base member provided on the upper surface, a sliding mechanism that relatively and slidably moves a position of the first connection mechanism on a slide axis relative to the base member, and a traveling mechanism that makes the conveying device travel. The first connection mechanism is connected with a carriage at a predetermined connection position. The sliding mechanism slidably moves the first connection mechanism between the connection position and a predetermined conveyance position spaced away from the connection position on the slide axis in a state in which the first connection mechanism is connected with the carriage. The traveling mechanism makes the conveying device travel in a state in which the first connection mechanism is positioned in the conveyance position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conveying device that conveys a connected object to be conveyed in a state in which the conveying device is slid between a bottom surface of the object to be conveyed and a floor, the conveying device comprising:
a first connection mechanism provided on an upper surface of the conveying device;
a sliding mechanism that slidably moves a position of the first connection mechanism on a predetermined slide axis relative to the upper surface of the conveying device; and
a traveling mechanism that makes the conveying device travel, wherein
the first connection mechanism is connected with the object to be conveyed at a predetermined connection position,
the sliding mechanism slidably moves the first connection mechanism between the connection position and a predetermined conveyance position spaced away from the connection position on the slide axis in a state in which the first connection mechanism is connected with the object to be conveyed, and
the traveling mechanism makes the conveying device travel in a state in which the first connection mechanism is positioned in the conveyance position.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein
the connection position is positioned on the slide axis at an end of one side of the upper surface of the conveying device or in the vicinity thereof.

3. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein
the conveyance position is positioned on the slide axis on an opposite side to a side where the connection position is positioned with respect to the center of the upper surface of the conveying device.

4. The conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein
when the first connection mechanism is positioned in the connection position, the center of the conveying device is positioned outside an area directly below the bottom surface of the object to be conveyed, and
when the first connection mechanism is positioned in the conveyance position, the center of the conveying device is positioned within the area directly below the bottom surface of the object to be conveyed.

5. The conveying device according to claim 1 , further comprising a second connection mechanism connected with the object to be conveyed in a state in which the first connection mechanism is positioned in the conveyance position.

6. The conveying device according to claim 5 , wherein
the second connection mechanism includes:
a lifting part that performs a raising and lowering operation dative to the upper surface of the conveying device; and
a lifting connection part fixed to the lifting part, and
the lifting connection part engages with a part of the bottom surface of the object to be conveyed to connect with the object to be conveyed when the lifting part is raised.

7. The conveying device according to claim 6 , wherein
the lifting connection part is provided with a recess in an upper surface thereof, and a part of the bottom surface of the object to be conveyed is fitted in the recess.

8. The conveying device according to claim 5 , wherein
the second connection mechanism is provided in plurality, and the second connection mechanisms are respectively connected with the object to be conveyed at different positions.

9. The conveying device according to claim 8 , wherein
the second connection mechanisms are provided in a pair of linearly symmetric positions with respect to the slide axis.

10. The conveying device according to claim 5 , wherein
the second connection mechanism has a higher toughness to a load when towing the object to be conveyed, than the first connection mechanism.

11. A conveyance method for conveying a connected object to be conveyed in a state in which a conveying device is slid between a bottom surface of the object to be conveyed and a floor, the conveyance method comprising:
moving the conveying device to a location where the conveying device is connected with the object to be conveyed;
connecting, with the object to be conveyed, a first connection mechanism provided on an upper surface of the conveying device in a connection position;
slidably moving the first connection mechanism integrally with the object to be conveyed in a state in which the first connection mechanism is connected with the object to be conveyed, between the connection position and a conveyance position spaced away from the connection position on a predetermined slide axis; and
conveying the object to be conveyed in a state of being connected in the conveyance position, to the conveying device.

12. The conveyance method according to claim 11 , wherein
when the first connection mechanism is positioned in the connection position, the center of the conveying device is positioned outside an area directly below the bottom surface of the object to be conveyed, and
when the first connection mechanism is positioned in the conveyance position, the center of the conveying device is positioned within the area directly below the bottom surface of the object to be conveyed.

13. The conveyance method according to claim 11 , further comprising connecting, with the object to be conveyed, a second connection mechanism provided on the upper surface of the conveying device, when the first connection mechanism and the object to be conveyed are slidably moved to the conveyance position.

Assignees

• Sharp Kk

Inventors

• Ishimura Ryoji

Classifications

• B60D1/36

  for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers · CPC title

• B65G1/04 Primary

  mechanical · CPC title

• B65G47/962

  tilting about an axis substantially parallel to the conveying direction · CPC title

• B60D1/04

  Hook or hook-and-hasp couplings · CPC title

• B60D2001/005

  for carts, scooters or the like · CPC title