Linear conveyor device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11117757-B2
Application number	US-201616321772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2016
Priority date	Sep 21, 2016
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A linear conveyor device is installed on a platform having an upper surface which serves as a predetermined installation surface. The linear conveyor device includes a linear motor stator; a slider which includes a linear motor mover; a straight-line conveyance part formed by linearly connecting a plurality of modules to each other, the modules each including a base frame that has an upper surface having guide rails for guiding the movement of the slider and a lower surface facing the platform; and a base member disposed between the upper surface of the platform and the lower surfaces of the modules at a connecting portion between the modules, and configured to position and support the pair of modules to be connected to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A linear conveyor device installed on a predetermined installation surface, the linear conveyor device comprising:
a linear motor stator;
a slider which includes a linear motor mover;
a straight-line conveyor formed by linearly connecting a plurality of modules to each other, the modules each including a base frame, the base frame having an upper surface on which the linear motor stator and a guide configured to guide movement of the slider are mounted and a lower surface which faces the installation surface; and
a base disposed between the installation surface and the lower surface of the base frame at a connecting portion between the modules, and configured to position and support the modules.

2. The linear conveyor device according to claim 1 , wherein
the base includes a support surface which forms a mating surface with the lower surface of the base frame, and a positioner configured to position at least one of the modules, the positioner being formed on the support surface in a projecting manner, and
the positioner has a contact portion which is brought into line contact with a portion of the frame in a state where the lower surface of the base frame and the support surface are in contact with each other.

3. The linear conveyor device according to claim 2 , wherein
the positioner is at least one semispherical protrusion formed on the support surface in a protruding manner,
a receiving hole into which the semispherical protrusion is fitted is formed in a recessed manner in the lower surface of the base frame, and
an opening edge of the receiving hole is brought into line contact with a proximal portion of the semispherical protrusion.

4. The linear conveyor device according to claim 3 , wherein
a cylindrical member having larger hardness than the base frame is inserted into the receiving hole, and a lower edge of the cylindrical member is an opening edge which is brought into line contact with the proximal portion of the semispherical protrusion.

5. The linear conveyor device according claim 4 , wherein
a holding hole is formed in the support surface of the base in a recessed manner so as to face the receiving hole, and
the semispherical protrusion is formed of a ball accommodated in the holding hole such that at least an upper half of the ball protrudes from the holding hole.

6. The linear conveyor device according to claim 4 , wherein
a plurality of the semispherical protrusions are disposed in a width direction of the at least one of the modules orthogonal to a moving direction of the slider.

7. The linear conveyor device according to claim 4 , wherein
the straight-line conveyor includes as the plurality of modules a first module and a second module,
the base is disposed at a connecting portion between an end portion of the first module and an end portion of the second module, and the support surface of the base is disposed so as to stride over lower surfaces of the base frames of the modules,
a plurality of the semispherical protrusions are disposed along a moving direction of the slider, and
the receiving hole includes:
a first receiving hole which is formed in a lower surface of the base frame of the first module and into which at least one of the semispherical protrusions is fitted; and
a second receiving hole which is formed in a lower surface of the base frame of the second module and into which at least another one of the semispherical protrusions is fitted.

8. The linear conveyor device according to claim 4 , wherein
the guide is formed of a guide rail mounted on the base frame, and
the guide rail is mounted on the base frame using a position of each of the semispherical protrusions as a reference.

9. The linear conveyor device according to claim 3 , wherein
the opening edge of the receiving hole is an edge portion having substantially no chamfered structure.

10. The linear conveyor device according claim 9 , wherein
a holding hole is formed in the support surface of the base in a recessed manner so as to face the receiving hole, and
the semispherical protrusion is formed of a ball accommodated in the holding hole such that at least an upper half of the ball protrudes from the holding hole.

11. The linear conveyor device according to claim 9 , wherein
a plurality of the semispherical protrusions are disposed in a width direction of the at least one of the modules orthogonal to a moving direction of the slider.

12. The linear conveyor device according to claim 3 , wherein
a holding hole is formed in the support surface of the base in a recessed manner so as to face the receiving hole, and
the semispherical protrusion is formed of a ball accommodated in the holding hole such that at least an upper half of the ball protrudes from the holding hole.

13. The linear conveyor device according to claim 12 , wherein
the holding hole is a bottomed hole having a flat bottom surface, and
a depth of the holding hole from an opening edge to the bottom surface is slightly smaller than a radius of the ball.

14. The linear conveyor device according to claim 12 , wherein
the holding hole is a bottomed hole having a circular horizontal cross section and a flat bottom surface,
a diameter of the holding hole is slightly larger than a diameter of the ball, and
an opening edge of the holding hole is an edge portion substantially having no chamfered structure.

15. The linear conveyor device according to claim 12 , wherein
a plurality of the semispherical protrusions are disposed in a width direction of the at least one of the modules orthogonal to a moving direction of the slider.

16. The linear conveyor device according to claim 3 , wherein
a plurality of the semispherical protrusions are disposed in a width direction of the at least one of the modules orthogonal to a moving direction of the slider.

17. The linear conveyor device according to claim 3 , wherein
the straight-line conveyor includes as the plurality of modules a first module and a second module,
the base is disposed at a connecting portion between an end portion of the first module and an end portion of the second module, and the support surface of the base is disposed so as to stride over lower surfaces of the base frames of the modules,
a plurality of the semispherical protrusions are disposed along a moving direction of the slider, and
the receiving hole includes: a first receiving hole which is formed in a lower surface of the base frame of the first module and into which at least one of the semispherical protrusions is fitted; and a second receiving hole which is formed in a lower surface of the base frame of the second module and into which at least another one of the semispherical protrusions is fitted.

18. The linear conveyor device according to claim 3 , wherein
the guide is formed of a guide rail mounted on the base frame, and
the guide rail is mounted on the base frame using a position of each of the semispherical protrusions as a reference.

19. The linear conveyor device according to claim 2 , wherein
the base has a first fixing portion which performs detachable fixing with respect to the at least one of the modules, and a second fixing portion which performs detachable fixing with respect to the installation surface.

20. A linear conveyor device installed on a predetermined installation surface, the linear conveyor device comprising:
a linear motor stator;
a slider which includes a linear motor mover;
a straight-line conveyor formed by linearly conne

Assignees

• Yamaha Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Urata Satoshi
• Muramatsu Hirokatsu

Classifications

• H02K41/02

  Linear motors; Sectional motors · CPC title

• B65G54/02 Primary

  electrostatic, electric, or magnetic · CPC title

• B65G9/008

  Rails or switches · CPC title

• B65G2811/09

  Driving means for the conveyors · CPC title

• H02K41/031

  of the permanent magnet type · CPC title