JP2020029365A - Carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a carrying device that is capable of not only floating an object to be transported such as people and load but also obtaining driving force in the delivery direction by using ultrasonic energy.SOLUTION: The carrying device includes a transportation table 2 that a delivery subject 1 is loaded on and is transported on a delivery surface 40 and an ultrasonic vibration body 3 that is supported on the transportation table 2 and floats the transportation table 2 above the transportation surface 40 by ultrasonic vibration output toward the transportation surface 40 from the ultrasonic vibration output surface, the ultrasonic vibration body 3 whose ultrasonic vibration output surface being supported against the transportation surface 40 in an inclinable manner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport device that transports a transport target such as a person or a load using ultrasonic energy.

  As an ultrasonic levitation device using ultrasonic vibration, for example, those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are known. These ultrasonic levitation devices include a fixed portion, a movable portion movably installed with respect to the fixed portion, and a vibration generating device provided on the fixed portion or the movable portion to generate ultrasonic vibration. The movable unit is configured to float through the air bearing surface by the ultrasonic vibration of the generator.

JP 2006-247641 A JP 2005-231746 A

  In the above ultrasonic levitation device, the movable part is levitated by increasing the pressure of the air layer between the fixed part and the movable part by applying ultrasonic vibration. The ultrasonic levitation apparatus generates a driving force based on Fleming's left-hand rule by flowing an electric current to a coil of a driving mechanism in order to move the movable part while floating. The movable part is moved by force, and the ultrasonic vibration is used only for floating the movable part.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a transport device that can not only float an object to be transported such as a person or a load using ultrasonic energy but also obtain a propulsive force in a transport direction.

  The transport device of the present invention is configured such that a transport target is placed on the transport table and is transported on the transport surface, and is supported by the transport table, and outputs ultrasonic vibrations from the ultrasonic vibration output surface toward the transport surface. An ultrasonic vibrator for floating the carrier on the transport surface, the ultrasonic vibrator having an ultrasonic vibration output surface supported to be tiltable with respect to the transport surface.

  According to the transport device of the present invention, the transport platform floats on the transport surface by the gravitational acceleration of the ultrasonic vibration output from the ultrasonic vibration output surface of the ultrasonic vibrator toward the transport surface. When the ultrasonic vibration output surface of the ultrasonic vibrator is inclined with respect to the transport surface, the transport table is lifted by the vertical component of the gravitational acceleration of the ultrasonic vibration output obliquely to the transport surface. In addition, a thrust for propelling the carriage can be obtained by the horizontal component.

  The ultrasonic vibration generally refers to a vibration having a frequency of 20 kHz or more. However, in a technical field using ultrasonic energy, vibration of a relatively high frequency (10 kHz or more) which is not intended to be heard is used. Is also generally referred to as ultrasonic vibration. Ultrasonic vibration in the present invention includes a relatively high frequency vibration not intended to be heard.

  Here, the ultrasonic vibration body is supported so that the ultrasonic vibration output surface can be tilted obliquely rearward or obliquely forward with respect to the transport direction, so that the ultrasonic vibration output surface is moved with respect to the transport direction. When the carrier is inclined obliquely backward, the carrier is lifted by the vertical component of the gravitational acceleration of the ultrasonic vibration output obliquely rearward with respect to the transport direction, and the carrier is moved in the transport direction by the horizontal component. To get the propulsion to propell. On the other hand, when the ultrasonic vibration output surface is inclined obliquely forward with respect to the transport direction, the transport table is tilted by the vertical component of the gravitational acceleration of the ultrasonic vibration output obliquely forward with respect to the transport direction. While lifting, the carriage can be provided with a braking force in the direction opposite to the carrying direction by the horizontal component.

  It is desirable that the transport device of the present invention has a propulsion drive source that generates a propulsive force in the transport direction. As a result, a stronger driving force can be obtained by adding a driving force in the transport direction.

  Further, the transport device of the present invention is a rail that guides the transport direction, and desirably has a rail that is laid so that the output surface of the ultrasonic vibration comes into contact with the rail. This makes it possible to transport the transport target by guiding the transport direction by the rail.

  Here, the hardness of the rail is desirably higher than the hardness of the ultrasonic vibration output surface of the ultrasonic vibrator. Accordingly, the rail is less likely to be deformed than the ultrasonic vibration output surface of the ultrasonic vibrator, so that the ultrasonic vibration output from the ultrasonic vibrator is less likely to be transmitted to the rail and diffused.

(1) A carrier on which a carrier is placed and carried on a carrier surface, and a carrier supported by the carrier, and transporting the carrier by outputting ultrasonic vibrations from the ultrasonic vibration output surface toward the carrier surface. An ultrasonic vibrator that floats on a surface, and an ultrasonic vibrator that has an ultrasonic vibration output surface supported so as to be tiltable with respect to the transport surface. As a result, a propulsive force can be obtained, and it is possible to transport objects such as people and luggage using ultrasonic energy.

(2) The ultrasonic vibration body is supported so that the ultrasonic vibration output surface can be inclined obliquely backward or obliquely forward with respect to the transport direction, so that the carrier table floats due to the gravitational acceleration of the ultrasonic vibration. In this way, it is possible to obtain a propulsion force or a braking force in the transport direction.

(3) By having a propulsion drive source that generates a propulsion force in the transport direction, it is possible to obtain a more powerful propulsion force and to transport a transport target such as a person or luggage faster.

(4) It is a rail that guides the transport direction and has a rail that is laid so that the output surface of the ultrasonic vibration is in contact with the rail, so that the transport target can be transported accurately to a target position. Become.

(5) Since the hardness of the rail is higher than the hardness of the ultrasonic vibration output surface of the ultrasonic vibrator, the ultrasonic vibration can be efficiently used for floating and propulsion of the carriage.

It is a schematic front view of the conveyance device in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the transportation device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a state where the ultrasonic vibrator of FIG. 2 is inclined. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a state where the ultrasonic vibrator of FIG. 2 is inclined. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the ultrasonic vibrator of FIG. 1.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a transportation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the transportation device of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show a state where the ultrasonic vibrator of FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the ultrasonic vibrator of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a transport table 2 on which a transport target 1 such as a person or a luggage is placed, and an ultrasonic vibrator supported by the transport table 2. And 3. The ultrasonic vibration body 3 has an ultrasonic vibration output surface 35 (see FIG. 5) supported so as to be tiltable with respect to the transport surface 40. The carrier 2 is carried on a carrying surface 40 of two rails 4 extending in parallel. The transport platform 2 may have a luggage room or a passenger room, such as a train, in addition to a simple platform such as a trolley.

  The rail 4 guides the transport direction, and is laid so that the ultrasonic vibration output surface 35 of the ultrasonic vibrator 3 is in contact with the rail 4. The rail 4 is made of steel, ceramics, stone, or the like, and has high hardness and high flatness. In the present embodiment, a guide portion 41 is protruded outside the transport surface 40 of the two rails 4 extending in parallel. The ultrasonic vibrators 3 are provided in pairs inside the guide portions 41 outside the two rails 4 such that the upper side is inclined inward and the lower side is inclined outward.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ultrasonic vibrator 3 has an ultrasonic vibrator 32, a support horn 33, and an output horn 34 connected coaxially in a casing 31 supported by the carrier 2. is there. The ultrasonic vibrator 32 sandwiches a ceramic piezoelectric element 32A as an ultrasonic vibrator between two positive and negative electrode plates 32B and 32C, and the lower end thereof functions as a mass point for amplifying the ultrasonic vibration. 32D.

  The support horn 33 is, for example, an integrally molded product made of stainless steel. The support horn 33 includes a solid cylindrical main body 33A coaxially connected to the ultrasonic vibrator 32, a base 33B formed in a flange shape on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 33A, and an outer periphery of the base 33B in the axial direction. It has an elastic cylindrical cushioning sleeve 33C formed by extension and peripheral flanges 33D formed on both upper and lower ends of the cushioning sleeve 33C.

  When power is supplied to the electrode plates 32B and 32C from a power supply unit (not shown), the piezoelectric element 32A operates to excite the output portion 32D with ultrasonic vibration of 10 kHz to 20 kHz to 40 kHz whose vibration direction is in the axial direction. In the casing 31, the ultrasonic vibrator 32, the support horn 33, and the output horn 34 are coaxially connected to each other, so that the ultrasonic vibration excited in the output unit 32 </ b> D is output through the support horn 33. It is transmitted to the horn 34 and output from the ultrasonic vibration output surface 35 on the lower surface.

  In the transport device having the above configuration, the transport platform 2 floats on the transport surface 40 due to the gravitational acceleration of the ultrasonic vibration output from the ultrasonic vibration output surface 35 of the ultrasonic vibrator 3 toward the transport surface 40 of the rail 4. . Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the ultrasonic vibration output surface 35 is inclined obliquely rearward with respect to the transport direction T, the gravitational acceleration of the ultrasonic vibration output obliquely rearward with respect to the transport direction T is increased. While the carrier 2 is levitated by the vertical component, a thrust for propelling the carrier in the transport direction can be obtained by the horizontal component, and the transport object 1 can be transported.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when the ultrasonic vibration output surface 35 is inclined obliquely forward with respect to the transport direction T, the ultrasonic vibration output obliquely forward with respect to the transport direction T While the carrier 2 is levitated by the vertical component of the gravitational acceleration, a braking force in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the carrier 2 can be obtained by the horizontal component.

  Since the transport device in the present embodiment has the rail 4 for guiding the transport direction T, the transport direction T can be guided to the target position by the rail 4 and the transport target can be transported accurately. ing. In particular, in the transport device in the present embodiment, a guide portion 41 is protruded outside the transport surface 40 of the two rails 4. The ultrasonic vibrators 3 are provided in pairs on the inner side of the guide portions 41 of the two rails 4 so that the lower side of the ultrasonic vibrators 3 is inclined outward. Since the ultrasonic vibration is output from the lower ultrasonic vibration output surface 35, the carriage 2 is directed toward the center of the two rails 4, and the wobble during transportation is prevented.

  If the hardness of the rail 4 is higher than the hardness of the ultrasonic vibration output surface 35 of the ultrasonic vibrator 3, the rail 4 is less likely to deform than the ultrasonic vibration output surface 35 of the ultrasonic vibrator 3. Therefore, the ultrasonic vibration output from the ultrasonic vibrating body 3 is transmitted to the rail 4 and is hardly diffused, and the ultrasonic vibration can be efficiently used for floating and propulsion of the carrier 2.

  Further, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which a propulsion drive source such as a rotary wing, a jet engine or a linear motor is added to the carriage 2 in the present embodiment. Thus, a stronger driving force can be obtained by adding a driving force in the transport direction, and the transport target 1 can be transported more quickly.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as a transport device that transports an object to be transported such as a person or luggage using ultrasonic energy.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carrying object 2 Carrier 3 Ultrasonic vibrator 31 Casing 32 Ultrasonic vibrator 32A Piezoelectric element 32B, 32C Electrode plate 32D Output part 33 Support horn 33A Main body 33B Base 33C Buffer sleeve 33D Peripheral flange 34 Output horn 35 Ultrasonic vibration Output surface 4 Rail 40 Transport surface 41 Guide part

Claims (5)

A carriage on which a transport target is placed and transported on a transport surface,
An ultrasonic vibrator that is supported by the carrier and that causes the carrier to float on the carrier surface by outputting ultrasonic vibrations from the ultrasonic vibration output surface toward the carrier surface, wherein the ultrasonic vibration output is provided. An ultrasonic vibrator whose surface is supported to be tiltable with respect to the transport surface.   The transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic vibrator is supported such that the ultrasonic vibration output surface can be inclined obliquely rearward or obliquely forward with respect to a transport direction.   The transport device according to claim 1, further comprising a propulsion drive source that generates a propulsive force in the transport direction.   The transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transport device is a rail that guides the transport direction, and has a rail that is laid so that an output surface of the ultrasonic vibration comes into contact with the rail.   The transport device according to claim 4, wherein the hardness of the rail is higher than the hardness of an output surface of the ultrasonic vibrator for outputting ultrasonic vibration.

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