Conveyer apparatus

• US 20080230352A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hirata Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hirata Corporation
• Inventors: Hirata, Yasunari
• Application Number:
  US11/725,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20080230352A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/495
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/002 comprising load carriers resting on the traction element
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/22 Rails or the like engaging sliding elements or rollers attached to load-carriers or traction elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 45/10 Cleaning devices adaptations of roller sleeves for cleaning belts B65G39/073
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/677 for conveying, e.g. between different workstations

Abstract

A conveyer apparatus according to the present invention includes a case that defines a pair of right and left gap portions each of which has a predetermined width and extends in a conveying direction of a conveyance object, a conveyer that is arranged near or in a region adjacent to each of the pair of right and left gap portions and supported by the case to support and convey the conveyance object, a driving mechanism that is arranged in an internal space of the case to drive each conveyer, and sucking means for sucking air in the internal space. According to this configuration, when the sucking means sucks air in the internal space in the case, an air current flowing into the internal space from the outside through each gap portion is produced, and an abrasion powder or dust generated near, e.g., each conveyer arranged near under each gap portion flows with this air current to be sucked, thus avoiding scattering toward the outside.

Claims

1. A conveyer apparatus comprising:

a case that defines a pair of right and left gap portions each of which has a predetermined width and extends in a conveying direction of a conveyance object;

a conveyer that is arranged near or in a region adjacent to each of the pair of right and left gap portions and supported by the case to support and convey the conveyance object;

a driving mechanism arranged in an internal space of the case to drive the conveyer; and

sucking means for sucking air in the internal space.

2. The conveyer apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the conveyer is arranged near under each of the pair of right and left gap portions in the internal space of the case, and

the conveyance object is a pallet that has:

leg portions that are inserted into the internal space through the pair of right and left gap portions and supported on the conveyers; and

a supporting portion that is supported by the leg portions and positioned above and outside the case to support a workpiece.

3. The conveyer apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the leg portions of the pallet are formed to be inserted into and removed from the pair of right and left gap portions without restraint.

4. The conveyer apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the case includes:

a lower case that has a pair of right and left conveying frames extending in the conveying direction and a planar frame that couples lower parts of the pair of conveying frames with each other; and

an upper cover that faces the planar frame from above to define the internal space in a closed manner and faces the pair of conveying frames from an inside in a lateral direction to define the pair of right and left gap portions.

5. The conveyer apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the pair of right and left conveying frames and the planar frame are integrally molded.

6. The conveyer apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the upper cover is formed to be detachable with respect to the lower case.

7. The conveyer apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the conveyer is an endless belt that is stretched in the conveying direction and arranged in the internal space, and

an upper belt placed on an upper side of the endless belt is arranged to face each of the gap portions from below.

8. The conveyer apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the conveyer is a roller chain having a plurality of rollers that is stretched in the conveying direction and arranged in the internal space, and

an upper chain placed on an upper side of the roller chain is arranged to face each of the gap portions from below.

9. The conveyer apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the conveyer is an endless belt stretched in the conveying direction, and

an upper belt placed on an upper side of the endless belt is arranged near each of the gap portions.

10. The conveyer apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the conveyer is a plurality of rollers arranged in a region of each of the gap portions in a non-contact manner, and

upper parts of the plurality of rollers protrude from each of the gap portions to support the conveyance object.

11. The conveyer apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the sucking means includes:

a plurality of suction openings provided on a lower side at a substantially central position of the case in a lateral direction to be aligned in the conveying direction; and

a suction path communicating with the plurality of suction openings.

12. The conveyer apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the sucking means includes:

a plurality of suction openings provided at a substantially central position of the lower case in a lateral direction to be aligned in the conveying direction; and

a suction path communicating with the plurality of suction openings.

13. The conveyer apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a guide portion that engages with a part of the conveyance object and guides the conveyance object in the conveying direction is provided to the case.