7 077 620

7,077,620 Title:

Conveying apparatus with carriers

The present invention provides a carrier elevating apparatus suitable for a low floor type conveying apparatus with carriers. A cam rail 36 extends along a horizontal running track, along which a carriage runs. The carriage includes a deck 1, on which an erectable cross-linking mechanism 3 is mounted. The cross-linking mechanism 3 supports and vertically moves a carrier 2A. The cross-linking mechanism 3 includes a link 14a and a link 14b. The link 14a is supported at its lower end pivotably by the deck 1 through a fixed horizontal pivot shaft 16. The links 14a and 14b are connected together at their middle points by a fulcrum shaft 15, which is parallel with the pivot shaft 16. The link 14a is fitted with a driven member 25 between the shafts 15 and 16. An elevator 27 is supported vertically movably by the deck 1. The elevator 27 includes a bearing member 32 fixed to its top and a cam follower 34 supported by its bottom. The driven member 25 is supported by the bearing member 32 horizontally movably relative to it. The cam follower 34 can follow the cam rail 36, lifting the elevator 27, so that the cross-linking mechanism 3 erects to elevate the carrier 2A.

What is claimed is:

1. A conveying apparatus comprising a cam rail extending along a horizontal running track and a carriage movable along the track, the carriage comprising: a deck; at leastone erectable cross-linking mechanism mounted on the deck; the cross-linking mechanism including a pair of intercrossed links having a first link and a second link, the first link supported at one end thereof on a horizontal pivot axis adjacent to andfixed relative to the deck, the first and second links connected together at middle points thereof by a fulcrum parallel with the pivot axis; the cross-linking mechanism further including a driven member fitted to the first link between the pivot axisand the fulcrum; a carrier supported by the cross-linking mechanism; and an elevator supported vertically movably by the deck; the elevator including a bearing member fixed to the top thereof, the driven member supported by the bearing memberhorizontally movably relative thereto; the elevator further including a cam follower supported by the bottom thereof, the cam follower being able to follow the cam rail, lifting the elevator, so that the cross-linking mechanism erects to elevate thecarrier.

2. A conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cross-linking mechanism includes two facing pairs of intercrossed links each having a first link and a second link, a fulcrum shaft and a connecting shaft, one end of the first links ofthe pairs being supported on a horizontal pivot axis adjacent to and fixed relative to the deck, the fulcrum shaft connecting middle points of the intercrossed links of the two pairs thereof, the connecting shaft connecting the pairs of the intercrossedlinks together at the first links thereof, the fulcrum and connecting shafts being parallel with the pivot axis, the connecting shaft positioned between the pivot axis and the fulcrum shaft and provided with the driven member.

3. A conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bearing member of the elevator has a guide groove formed therein, and wherein the driven member of the cross-linking mechanism comprises a roller rotatable on an axis parallel with thehorizontal pivot axis, the roller engaging with the guide groove rollably and movably.

4. A conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cam rail comprises a pair of cam rails; the cross-linking mechanism comprising a pair of erectable cross-linking mechanisms spaced from each other along the running track; whereineach of the links of the two cross-linking mechanisms extends on a vertical plane perpendicular to the running track; the elevator comprising a pair of elevators; wherein each of the driven members of the two cross-linking mechanisms is supported byone of the bearing members of the two elevators; wherein each of the cam followers of the two elevators can follow one of the cam rails, lifting the associated elevator, so that the associated cross-linking mechanism erects to elevate the carrier; wherein the two driven members are offset from each other perpendicularly to the running track; wherein the two cam rails are offset longitudinally from each other so as to lift the two elevators in synchronism.

5. A conveying apparatus according to claim 1, the cross-linking mechanism including a lower pair of intercrossed links having a first link and a second link, and at least one upper pair of intercrossed links having a third link and a fourthlink, the first link supported at one end thereof on a horizontal pivot axis adjacent to and fixed relative to the deck, the first link connected at the other end thereof pivotably with one end of the third link, the first and second links connectedtogether at middle points thereof by a lower fulcrum parallel with the pivot axis, the second link connected at one end thereof pivotably with one end of the fourth link, the third and fourth links connected together at middle points thereof by an upperfulcrum parallel with the pivot axis.