Traverser, base unit, and moving unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12030722-B2
Application number	US-202217729349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2022
Priority date	Nov 1, 2019
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

A traverser includes a base unit including a rail member, a moving unit configured to reciprocally move on the rail member between a first position and a second position, and a conveyance unit mounted on the moving unit and configured to convey a conveyance target object. The moving unit include a first travel roller that is a drive roller, and a drive mechanism configured to give a rotation driving force to the first travel roller. The drive mechanism includes a travel motor configured to supply the rotation driving force, and a friction transmission mechanism configured to transmit the rotation driving force of the travel motor to the first travel roller by a friction force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A traverser comprising:
a base unit including a rail member;
a moving unit configured to reciprocally move on the rail member between a first position and a second position; and
a conveyance unit mounted on the moving unit and configured to convey a conveyance target object, wherein
the moving unit comprises:
a first travel roller that is a drive roller; and
a drive mechanism configured to give a rotation driving force to the first travel roller,

the drive mechanism includes:
a travel motor configured to supply the rotation driving force;
a friction transmission mechanism configured to transmit the rotation driving force of the travel motor to the first travel roller by a friction force;
a first drive shaft rotated by the travel motor; and
a first drive wheel provided at an end portion of the first drive shaft and rotated integrally with the first drive shaft, and
the friction transmission mechanism comprises
a first friction transmission member provided on a peripheral surface of the first drive shaft and configured to attach the first travel roller to the first drive shaft.

2. The traverser according to claim 1 , wherein
the moving unit comprises:
a plurality of second travel rollers that are driven rollers; and
a travel transmission mechanism configured to transmit the rotation driving force of the first travel roller to the plurality of second travel rollers.

3. The traverser according to claim 2 , wherein
the travel transmission mechanism comprises:
a plurality of second drive shafts;
a second drive wheel provided at an end portion of each of the plurality of second drive shafts;
a transmitted portion integrally provided in a middle of each of the plurality of second drive shafts;
a second friction transmission member sandwiched between the second drive wheel and the transmitted portion of each second drive shaft;
biasing member, provided on each second drive shaft, configured to bias a driving force between the transmitted portion and the second drive wheel; and
a driving force transmission member configured to transmit the rotation driving force of the first drive wheel to each second drive wheel.

4. The traverser according to claim 2 , wherein
the conveyance unit comprises:
a plurality of conveyance rollers; and
a conveyance transmission mechanism configured to rotate the plurality of conveyance rollers,
the conveyance roller is the same roller as the second travel roller, and
the conveyance transmission mechanism is the same mechanism as the travel transmission mechanism.

5. The traverser according to claim 2 , wherein
the moving unit comprises:
a first roller array formed by arraying the plurality of second travel rollers in a moving direction of the moving unit; and
a second roller array arranged apart from the first roller array in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the moving direction and formed by arraying the plurality of second travel rollers along the moving direction,
the first drive shaft is extended in the orthogonal direction, and
the first drive wheel is provided at each of one end and the other end of the first drive shaft.

6. The traverser according to claim 5 , wherein
the conveyance unit comprises:
a third roller array formed by arraying the plurality of conveyance rollers in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the moving direction;
a fourth roller array arranged apart from the third roller array in the moving direction and formed by arraying the plurality of conveyance rollers along the orthogonal direction;
a conveyance motor configured to supply the rotation driving force;
a third drive shaft rotated by the conveyance motor; and
a third drive wheel provided at each of one end and the other end of the third drive shaft.

7. The traverser according to claim 2 , wherein
the base unit comprises:
a frame body configured to define a storage space for a cable configured to supply power to the travel motor;
a cover configured to cover the storage space;
a first stop member configured to contact the moving unit and stop the moving unit at the first position; and
a second stop member configured to contact the moving unit and stop the moving unit at the second position,

the moving unit comprises:
a control circuit configured to control drive of the travel motor;
a support body configured to support the travel transmission mechanism; and
a contact portion supported by the support body and configured to contact a side surface of the rail member during travel of the moving unit,

a gap along the rail member is formed between the cover and the rail member,
the travel transmission mechanism and the control circuit are located on an upper side of the cover;
the contact portion is located on a lower side of the cover, and
the support body comprises a support portion configured to support the contact portion via the gap.

8. The traverser according to claim 7 , wherein
the base unit comprises first and second cable support portions configured to support the cable, and
the cable is connected to the control circuit via the gap.

9. The traverser according to claim 1 , comprising
a wireless power supply device including a power transmission unit provided on the base unit, and a power reception unit provided on the moving unit.

10. A traverser comprising:
a base unit including a rail member;
a moving unit configured to reciprocally move on the rail member between a first position and a second position;
a conveyance unit mounted on the moving unit and configured to convey a conveyance target object;
a rotary encoder configured to detect rotation of the travel motor; and
a control circuit configured to control drive of the travel motor,
wherein
the moving unit comprises:
a first travel roller that is a drive roller; and
a drive mechanism configured to give a rotation driving force to the first travel roller, and

the drive mechanism includes:
a travel motor configured to supply the rotation driving force; and
a friction transmission mechanism configured to transmit the rotation driving force of the travel motor to the first travel roller by a friction force, and

the control circuit stops the drive of the travel motor if the moving unit is located at a middle position between the first position and the second position, and an output signal of the rotary encoder does not change for a predetermined time.

11. A traverser comprising:
a base unit including a rail member;
a moving unit configured to reciprocally move on the rail member between a first position and a second position; and
a conveyance unit mounted on the moving unit and configured to convey a conveyance target object, wherein
the moving unit comprises:
a first travel roller that is a drive roller;
a drive mechanism configured to give a rotation driving force to the first travel roller;

a support body configured to support the travel transmission mechanism; and
a contact portion supported by the support body and configured to contact a side surface of the rail member during travel of the moving unit, and
the drive mechanism includes:
a travel motor configured to supply the rotation driving force; and
a friction transmission mechanism configured to transmit the rotation driving force of the travel motor to the first travel roller by a friction force.

12. A traverser comprising:
a base unit including a rail member;
a moving unit configured to reciprocally move on the rail member between a first position and a second position; and
a conveyance unit mounted on the moving unit and configured to convey a conveyance target object, wherein
the movi

Assignees

• Hirata Spinning

Inventors

• Matsumoto Bungo

Classifications

• B65G2203/0291

  Speed of the load carrier · CPC title

• B65G47/643

  in a vertical plane · CPC title

• B65G43/04

  detecting slip between driving element and load-carrier, e.g. for interrupting the drive {(B65G43/02 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65G47/642

  in a horizontal plane · CPC title

• B65G41/02

  Frames mounted on wheels for movement on rail tracks · CPC title