Gripper device for transport vehicle, transport vehicle and overhead hoist transport vehicle
A gripper device for a transport vehicle includes a base plate, a guide rail provided on an upper surface of the base plate, a pair of guide blocks arranged to be movable in a substantially horizontal direction toward and away from each other along the guide rail, and a pair of gripping parts. Each of the gripping parts includes a horizontal portion fixed to an upper surface of one of the guide blocks and arranged to extend substantially parallel to the upper surface of the base plate, a vertical portion arranged to extend downward from the horizontal portion to a position lower than that of the base plate, and a claw section provided on a lower end of the vertical portion and arranged to grip an object.
1. An overhead hoist transport vehicle arranged to travel along a path on a ceiling and convey an object, comprising:
a hand section arranged to grip the object and including:
a base plate;
a guide rail provided on the base plate;
a pair of chuck parts arranged to be movable in a substantially horizontal direction toward and away from each other along the guide rail and including claw sections to grip the object; and
a cushion member including a pair of elastic members respectively provided on the chuck parts; and
a hoist section arranged to raise and lower the hand section, wherein
the elastic members are configured to contact the hoist section and to receive pressure from the hoist section when the hand section is raised such that movement of the chuck parts is restricted through a friction force generated between the chuck parts and the hoist section; and
the elastic members are configured to separate from the hoist section when the hand section is lowered.
2. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
the hand section further includes a pair of guide blocks moveably provided on the guide rail;
the guide rail is provided on an upper surface of the base plate;
the pair of chuck parts each further includes a horizontal portion that is fixed to an upper surface of the guide blocks and extends in a substantially horizontal direction and a vertical portion that extends downward from the horizontal portion to a position lower than that of the base plate, and the claw sections are provided on a lower side of the horizontal portion; and
the cushion member is provided on an upper surface of the horizontal portion.
3. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the elastic member includes a silicone-based gel material.
4. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein:
the base plate includes a pair of through grooves located on two sides of the guide rail and arranged to extend along a direction in which the guide rail extends; and
the vertical portion includes a pair of plate-shaped members movable within the pair of through grooves along the direction in which the guide rail extends.
5. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 4 , further comprising a drive section provided on the upper surface of the base plate and arranged to drive the guide blocks.
6. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 3 , further comprising a drive section provided on the upper surface of the base plate and arranged to drive the guide blocks.
7. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein:
the base plate includes a pair of through grooves located on two sides of the guide rail and arranged to extend along a direction in which the guide rail extends; and
the vertical portion includes a pair of plate-shaped members movable within the pair of through grooves along the direction in which the guide rail extends.
8. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 7 , further comprising a drive section provided on the upper surface of the base plate and arranged to drive the guide blocks.
9. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 2 , further comprising a drive section provided on the upper surface of the base plate and arranged to drive the guide blocks.
10. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic member includes a silicone-based gel material.
11. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein:
the base plate includes a pair of through grooves located on two sides of the guide rail and arranged to extend along a direction in which the guide rail extends; and
the vertical portion includes a pair of plate-shaped members movable within the pair of through grooves along the direction in which the guide rail extends.
12. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 11 , further comprising a drive section provided on the upper surface of the base plate and arranged to drive the guide blocks.
13. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 10 , further comprising a drive section provided on the upper surface of the base plate and arranged to drive the guide blocks.
14. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
the base plate includes a pair of through grooves located on two sides of the guide rail and arranged to extend along a direction in which the guide rail extends; and
the vertical portion includes a pair of plate-shaped member movable within the pair of through grooves along the direction in which the guide rail extends.
15. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 14 , further comprising a drive section provided on the upper surface of the base plate and arranged to drive the guide blocks.
16. The overhead hoist transport vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
each of the pair of chuck parts includes a flat horizontal part, and the hoist section includes a flat horizontal bottom surface; and
the elastic members are provided on the flat horizontal parts of the chuck parts and are pinched between the flat horizontal parts of the chuck parts and the flat horizontal bottom surface of the hoist section when the hand section is raised.