JP2004019877A - Sphere support device for movement - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a braking action from the side of a sphere support device for movement to an object being moved by the sphere support device for movement. <P>SOLUTION: This sphere support device for movement comprises a recessed spherical surface member 2 rotatably supporting a main sphere 3 on a recessed sphere surface 10 through a large number of auxiliary spheres 4 and a cover member 5 having an inner hole 11 allowing the upper part of the main sphere to be projected therethrough, The device is selectively changed between the free rolling state of the main sphere where the edge part of the inner hole is moved close to the main sphere with a minute clearance 24 and a braking state of the main sphere where the edge part of the main sphere is pressingly brought into contact with the main sphere. A cover member drive means supporting the cover member so as to be vertically displaced is installed so that the main sphere is brought in the free rolling state at a raised position and in the braking state at a lowered position. The cover member drive means comprises a cylinder part 12 connected to the cover member, a piston part 15 formed in the recessed spherical surface member and slidably moving in the cylinder part, and a rod part 16 passed through a rod cover 14 at the lower end of the cylinder part. Pressure fluid is supplied and discharged to and from a pressure chamber 19. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sphere support device for transferring an object, which movably supports the object by a sphere that is rotatably supported.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In this type of apparatus, a large main sphere is rotatably supported on a concave spherical surface via a large number of small secondary spheres, and the main sphere supports an object so as to be transportable. For example, when an object having a flat lower surface is supported by several main spheres, the main sphere is rotatable, so that the object can be moved in an arbitrary direction with a small force.
When the object is supported and transferred by the conventional transfer sphere support device, to stop or slow down the movement of the object, another device different from the transfer sphere support device, for example, a stopper, a pusher, a guide For example, a force is applied in a direction that resists the movement direction.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the object being transferred is stopped by, for example, a stopper, in order to avoid inconvenience caused by an increase in impact when the transfer speed is high, means such as providing a buffer or holding down the transfer speed at the expense of the transfer speed are provided. Be taken. In such a case, if a braking force can be applied to the object on the side of the transfer sphere support device, even if the transfer speed is increased to some extent, the speed can be reduced before the stopper action and the impact can be reduced. It is advantageous for improvement.
Also, since the transfer sphere support device has no directionality unlike the roller, if the support surface of the main sphere is slightly tilted or tilted with some main spheres supporting the transferred object, Then, the movement in the direction of the inclination starts, and there is a possibility that an unintended movement in an unexpected direction may occur. For example, when it is desired to temporarily hold a transferred object during transfer, unless the level is strictly maintained, the transferred object is not held and starts to move unintentionally. In such a case, if the movement can be suppressed on the side of the transfer sphere support device, it is advantageous when the transferred object is transferred while being loaded on the transfer sphere support device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that can apply a braking action to an object being transferred by a transfer sphere support device from the transfer sphere support device.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The first means of the present invention includes a concave spherical member rotatably supporting the main sphere on a concave spherical surface via a number of sub-spheres, and a lid member having an inner hole from which an upper portion of the main sphere projects, Change to the free rolling state of the main sphere where the edge of the inner hole approaches the main sphere with a small gap, and the braking state of the main sphere where the edge of the inner hole presses and contacts the main sphere. It is characterized by being performed.
[0005]
With this means, the main sphere can be changed between the free rolling state and the braking state by the lid member, so that the main sphere is set to the braking state by an object supported and moving by the main sphere in the free rolling state. Can provide a braking force. In addition, since a braking state is provided by the lid member, it is not necessary to use another braking member. Therefore, with a simple configuration, it is possible to apply a braking force to the object being transferred to decelerate or stop.
[0006]
In the above-mentioned means, the lid member driving means for supporting the lid member so as to be vertically displaceable with respect to the concave spherical member, so that the main ball is in a free rotation state at an ascending position, and the braking state of the main ball is at a lowered position. It is good to have the structure provided with.
[0007]
The lid member driving means includes a cylinder portion coupled to the lid member and extending downward surrounding the concave spherical member, a piston portion formed on the concave spherical member and sliding in the cylinder portion, and the cylinder portion. A rod portion extending from the piston portion through a rod cover provided at a lower end, and configured to supply and discharge pressure fluid to and from a pressure chamber formed between the piston portion and the rod cover. Is good. By supplying the pressure fluid to the pressure chamber, the cylinder portion is displaced downward with respect to the piston portion, so that the lid member integrated with the cylinder portion is lowered with respect to the main sphere supported by the concave spherical member which is the piston portion. It acts as a brake. By switching the pressure fluid to be supplied to a negative pressure or by providing a return means such as providing a spring that pushes up the cylinder portion, the braking action can be released. The magnitude of the braking force can be adjusted relatively easily by adjusting the supplied fluid pressure.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transfer sphere support comprising: a concave spherical member rotatably supporting a main sphere on a concave sphere via a number of sub spheres; and a lid member for preventing the main sphere from popping out. In the apparatus, a means for restraining the rolling of the plurality of sub-spheres is provided, and the rolling of the sub-ball is restrained by the rolling restraining means of the sub-sphere to provide a braking action to the rotation of the main ball. And
[0009]
With this means, the main sphere rotates when the object to be transferred is supported by the main sphere and moved. As the secondary sphere rolls on the concave spherical surface with the rotation of the main sphere, the object can be moved with a small force. When the rolling of the secondary ball is restrained by the rolling restraint means, the main ball must rotate overcoming the frictional resistance of the contact portion with the secondary ball, and therefore receives a braking force corresponding to the frictional resistance from the secondary ball side. Will be. Therefore, it is possible to apply a braking force to the moving object to decelerate or stop it.
[0010]
In the above means, the rolling restraining means of the secondary sphere is provided on an open side of the secondary sphere accommodating gap between the main sphere and the concave spherical surface, and an annular secondary sphere contact which comes into contact with an upper edge of the secondary sphere group when descending. Preferably, a pressure member having a portion is provided so as to be able to move up and down, and a driving means for driving at least the pressure member downward is provided.
In this configuration, when the pressing member is lowered by the driving means, the annular sub-sphere contact portion comes into contact with the sub-sphere group located at the upper edge of the sub-sphere group having a concave spherical shape along the concave spherical surface. And press downward. By this pressing action, the sub-spheres are pressed against each other and cannot roll. As a result, even if the main sphere tries to rotate, the secondary sphere does not roll, so that a braking action is applied to the main sphere. When the driving member raises the pressing member or releases the lowering force, the braking action on the main ball is released.
[0011]
In the above means, it is preferable that the driving means uses a fluid pressure cylinder or an electromagnet. When a fluid pressure cylinder is used, there is an advantage that the braking force can be easily adjusted by the fluid pressure, and when an electromagnet is used, there is an advantage that the device does not become large.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the transfer sphere support device 1 includes a concave spherical member 2, a main sphere 3, a sub sphere 4, a lid member 5, a lid member driving means 6, and the like. I have. The concave spherical member 2 is formed by forming a concave spherical surface 10 on the upper end surface of a short columnar member. On the concave spherical surface 10, a number of small diameter sub-spheres 4 are arranged in a single layer, and a large diameter main ball 3 is mounted thereon. Therefore, the main sphere 3 is supported by the concave spherical surface via the sub sphere 4, and is rotatable. The cover member 5 is provided with a circular hole 11 so that the upper portion of the main sphere 3 protrudes from a plate-shaped member.
[0013]
The cover member driving means 6 is provided with an air cylinder (fluid pressure cylinder) 12 as a braking means for the main ball 3. The air cylinder 12 has a cylinder portion 13 having an upper end connected to the lid member 5, a part extending downward surrounding the concave spherical member 2, and a rod cover 14 provided at a lower end. The piston 15 is formed of the concave spherical member 2 and has a rod portion 16 penetrating the rod cover 14 at the lower end. At the lower part of the rod part 16, a male screw part 18 for attaching and fixing to the base 17 is provided. The pressure chamber 19 formed between the piston 15 and the rod cover 14 can supply and discharge a pressurized fluid through a fluid passage 20 provided through the rod portion 16. In the figure, 21 and 22 are O-rings, and 23 is a return spring. Note that the cover member 5 is originally provided for the main purpose of preventing the main sphere 3 and the sub sphere 4 from jumping out of the concave spherical member 2 side, and is fixed to the concave spherical member 2. In this embodiment, in order to add a braking function separately, a lower portion is formed in the cylinder portion 13 so as to be vertically displaceable.
[0014]
When compressed air is not supplied to the pressure chamber 19, the transfer sphere supporting device 1 lifts the lid member 5 and the cylinder portion 13 by the action of the return spring 23 as shown in FIG. In this state, a minute gap 24 is formed between the inner edge of the circular hole 11 of the lid member 5 and the main sphere 3, and the object 25 is supported by the main sphere 3 that is not braked. This state is the same state as the conventional sphere support device for transfer, which can move the object 25 in a desired direction with a small force. It is assumed that the raised position of the lid member 5 and the cylinder portion 13 is such that the minute gap 24 can be adjusted by an appropriate restricting means. When the compressed air is supplied, the cylinder portion 13 and the lid member 5 descend against the return spring 23, and the inner edge of the circular hole 11 of the lid member 5 rises up to the main sphere 3 as shown in FIG. And exerts a braking action on the main sphere 3. Therefore, since the rotation of the main sphere 3 decreases and stops, the moving speed of the object 25 supported and transferred by the main sphere 3 decreases and stops. The deceleration and stop operations of the object 25 can be arbitrarily controlled by controlling the supplied compressed air.
[0015]
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the transfer sphere support device 1a includes a concave spherical member 2a, a main sphere 3, a sub sphere 4, a lid member 5a, a sub sphere rolling restraining means 30, and the like. It is configured. The concave spherical member 2a is formed by forming a concave spherical surface 10 on the upper end surface of a short columnar member and providing an outwardly projecting flange portion 31 for attachment to a base or the like at the lower end. On the concave spherical surface 10, a number of small diameter sub-spheres 4 are arranged in a single layer, and a large diameter main ball 3 is mounted thereon. Therefore, the main sphere 3 is supported by the concave spherical surface 10 via the sub sphere 4 and is rotatable. The lid member 5a is provided with a circular hole 11 at the center of a disk-shaped one so that the upper part of the main sphere 3 protrudes. When the main sphere 3 protrudes from the circular hole 11 and the inner edge of the circular hole 11 comes close to the main sphere 3 via the minute gap 24, for example, four lid members 5 are attached to the concave spherical member 2 a. Are fixed at intervals by a leg-like portion 32 composed of a pin having a circular cross section.
[0016]
The secondary ball rolling restraining means 30 includes a pressing member 33 and a driving means 34 thereof. The pressing member 33 is provided on the open side of the auxiliary sphere accommodation gap between the surface of the main sphere 3 and the concave spherical surface 10, that is, on the upper side, and can be moved up and down by using the leg-like portion 32 as a guide. It has an annular contact portion 35 that comes into contact with the upper edge portion of the group of sub-spheres, and is made of, for example, a circular steel plate having a center hole 36. The driving means 34 is an electromagnetic wire that presses and drives the pressing member 33 only downward or downward and upward. Note that a return spring 37 is provided in the case of driving only downward.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2A, when the pressing member 33 is pressed and driven upward by the driving means 34, the transfer sphere supporting device 1a, as shown in FIG. Is formed in such a manner that a minute gap 24 is formed between the main ball 3 and the object 25 supported by the main sphere 3 which is not braked. This state is the same state as the conventional sphere support device for transfer, which can move the object 25 in a desired direction with a small force. When the pressing member 33 is driven to be pressed downward by the driving means 34, the upper edge of the group of sub-spheres 4 is pressed by the pressing member 33 as shown in FIG. The secondary sphere 4 cannot circulate freely. That is, the state in which the main sphere 3 rolls, that is, the state in which the transferred object can be transferred, is a state in which the auxiliary sphere 4 is freely circulating while rolling on the concave spherical surface 10 along the rolling direction of the main sphere 3. The circulating state is restricted by the pressing force of the pressing member 33. Therefore, when the rolling of each sub ball 4 is restricted, a braking force acts on the rolling of the main ball 3. Since the lifting / lowering drive of the pressing member 33 can be arbitrarily operated by the driving means 34, the main sphere 3 being transported while supporting the object can be arbitrarily braked.
[0018]
The driving unit 6 of the lid member 5 described in the above embodiment can be applied also as a driving unit of the pressing member 33, and the driving unit 34 of the pressing member 33 can also be applied as a driving unit of the lid member 5. . Although the hydraulic cylinder is shown as an air cylinder, it may be a hydraulic cylinder. In addition to the fluid pressure and electromagnetic force, when a specific transfer sphere support device is used with a predetermined braking function, a screw may be used for the driving means.
[0019]
As can be understood from the above-described embodiment, the object being transported is decelerated by directly braking the main sphere 3 or braking the main sphere 3 by restraining the rolling of the secondary sphere 4. The transfer sphere support device can be stopped or stopped, and can be held in a stopped state.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to apply a braking force to the object being transferred from the transfer sphere support device side to decelerate or stop the object being transferred, or to hold the object at the stop position with a simple configuration. It works.
The invention described in claim 3 has an effect that the braking force applied to the main ball can be adjusted relatively easily.
The invention described in claim 4 or claim 5 has an effect that the object being transferred can be decelerated or stopped by applying a braking force from the transfer sphere support device side, or can be held at the stop position.
The invention according to claim 6 has an advantage that when a hydraulic cylinder is used, the braking force can be easily adjusted by the fluid pressure, and when an electromagnet is used, the device does not increase in size.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIGS. 1A and 1B show different states of the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a longitudinal sectional view of a main ball in a free rotation state, and FIG.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show different states of the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a longitudinal sectional view of a main ball in a free rotation state, and FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 1a Transfer sphere support device 2, 2a Concave spherical member 3 Main sphere 4 Secondary sphere 5, 5a Cover member 6 Cover member driving means 10 Concave spherical surface 11 Circular hole 12 Air cylinder (fluid pressure cylinder)
13 Cylinder part 14 Rod cover 15 Piston 16 Rod part 17 Base 18 Male screw part 19 Pressure chamber 20 Fluid passage 21, 22 O-ring 23 Return spring 24 Micro gap 25 Object 31 Flange part 32 Leg part 33 Pressing member 34 Drive means 35 Contact Part 36 center hole 37 return spring

Claims (6)

A concave spherical member rotatably supporting the main sphere on a concave spherical surface via a number of sub-spheres; and a lid member having an inner hole from which an upper portion of the main sphere protrudes. A transfer state characterized by being changed into a free rolling state of the main sphere approaching with a small gap between the main sphere and a braking state of the main sphere having an edge of the inner hole pressed against the main sphere. Sphere support device. 2. The transfer sphere support device according to claim 1, wherein the lid member is supported so as to be vertically displaceable with respect to the concave spherical member, the main sphere is freely rotated at an ascending position, and the main sphere is braked at a lowered position. A sphere supporting device for transfer, wherein a lid member driving means is provided so as to be in a state. 3. The transfer sphere support device according to claim 2, wherein the lid member driving means is formed on the concave spherical member, and a cylinder portion coupled to the lid member and surrounding the concave spherical member and extending downward. A piston portion that slides in the cylinder portion, and a rod portion that extends from the piston portion through a rod cover provided at a lower end of the cylinder portion, and a pressure formed between the piston portion and the rod cover. A transfer sphere support device configured to supply and discharge a pressurized fluid to and from the chamber. In a transfer sphere supporting device including a concave spherical member rotatably supporting a main sphere on a concave spherical surface via a number of sub spheres, and a cover member for preventing the main sphere from popping out, A transfer sphere support device, further comprising means for restraining rolling and providing a braking action to the rotation of the main sphere by restraining the rolling of the sub sphere by means of the rolling restraint of the sub sphere. 5. The sphere supporting device for transfer according to claim 4, wherein the rolling restraint means of the auxiliary sphere is provided on the open side of the auxiliary sphere accommodating gap between the main sphere and the concave sphere, and the lower sphere group is moved downward. A sphere supporting device for transfer, comprising: a pressurizing member having an annular sub-sphere contact portion in contact with an edge portion is provided so as to be able to move up and down, and driving means for driving at least the pressurizing member down is provided. 6. The transfer sphere supporting device according to claim 5, wherein said driving means uses a fluid pressure cylinder or an electromagnet.

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