U.S. patent application number 14/158746 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-15 for guideway mechanism.
This patent application is currently assigned to HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to SHOU-KUO HSU, SHEN-CHUN LI, HSIEN-CHUAN LIANG.
Application Number | 20140130701 14/158746 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47021404 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140130701 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LI; SHEN-CHUN ; et
al. |
May 15, 2014 |
GUIDEWAY MECHANISM
Abstract
An exemplary guideway mechanism includes two branches, a
plurality of branches each including two parallel rails, a
plurality of groups of connecting blocks including four connecting
blocks arranged at four corners of an imaginary square, and a
plurality of supporting brackets each connecting one corresponding
group of connecting blocks. Adjacent ends of the rails of each
branch respectively connect two adjacent connecting blocks. Each of
two ends of each rail connects one corresponding connecting block.
Two adjacent rails respectively located in two adjacent branches
are perpendicular to each other and connected together by a
respective connecting block of one corresponding group of
connecting blocks. The other two rails respectively located in the
two adjacent branches connect another two respective connecting
blocks of the one corresponding group of connecting blocks. The
whole guideway mechanism is in the form of a grid.
Inventors: |
LI; SHEN-CHUN; (Tu-Cheng,
TW) ; LIANG; HSIEN-CHUAN; (Tu-Cheng, TW) ;
HSU; SHOU-KUO; (Tu-Cheng, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD. |
New Taipei |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO.,
LTD.
New Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
47021404 |
Appl. No.: |
14/158746 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13182428 |
Jul 13, 2011 |
8674238 |
|
|
14158746 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
104/91 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16C 2322/59 20130101;
B61B 3/00 20130101; F16C 29/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
104/91 |
International
Class: |
B61B 3/00 20060101
B61B003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 22, 2011 |
TW |
100113959 |
Claims
1. A guideway mechanism comprising: a plurality of branches each
comprising two parallel rails; a plurality of groups of connecting
blocks comprising four connecting blocks arranged at four corners
of an imaginary square, adjacent ends of the rails of each branch
respectively connecting two adjacent connecting blocks, each of two
ends of each rail connecting one corresponding connecting block,
two adjacent rails respectively located in two adjacent branches
being perpendicular to each other and connected together by a
respective connecting block of one corresponding group of
connecting blocks, the other two rails respectively located in the
two adjacent branches connecting another two respective connecting
blocks of the one corresponding group of connecting blocks, the
whole guideway mechanism being in the form of a grid; and a
plurality of supporting brackets each connecting one corresponding
group of connecting blocks.
2. The guideway mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of locking members, ends of the connecting blocks which
do not connect any of the rails connecting instead with
corresponding of the locking members, each locking member
connecting two respective adjacent connecting blocks.
3. The guideway mechanism of claim 2, wherein two spaced connecting
posts protrude from each end of the rail, two spaced connecting
holes being defined in each end of each connecting block, the two
connecting posts of one end of the rail being inserted into the two
connecting holes in a corresponding end of the connecting block to
connect the rail with the connecting block together.
4. The guideway mechanism of claim 3, wherein each supporting
bracket comprises a rectangular top plate and four supporting poles
extending perpendicularly downwardly from four corners of the top
plate, each connecting block defining a fixing hole, a bottom end
of each supporting pole being inserted into the fixing hole of a
corresponding connecting block to connect the supporting bracket
with the group of connecting blocks.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a divisional application of
patent application Ser. No. 13/182,428, filed on Jul. 13, 2011,
entitled "GUIDEWAY MECHANISM," which is assigned to the same
assignee as the present application, and which is based on and
claims priority from Taiwanese Patent Application No. 100113959
filed in Taiwan on Apr. 22, 2011. The disclosures of patent
application Ser. No. 13/182,428 and the Taiwanese Patent
Application are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The disclosure relates to a guideway mechanism used in a
workshop.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] In a typical workshop, a mobile platform moves along a rail
mounted on a ceiling of the workshop. A manipulator of a robot is
suspended from the mobile platform, and the mobile platform and the
robot control work on a production line below the mobile platform.
However, adaptability of a conventional rail is poor. When an
extending direction of the rail along the ceiling of the workshop
needs to be changed, all parts of the original rail must be
dismantled from the ceiling and replaced with a newly assembled
rail having an extending direction different from that of the
original rail.
[0006] What is needed, therefore, is a guideway mechanism which can
overcome the limitations described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of a guideway
mechanism in accordance with a first embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a rail of the guideway
mechanism of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a connecting block of the
guideway mechanism of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a supporting bracket of the
guideway mechanism of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a locking member of the
guideway mechanism of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 6 is an assembled, isometric view of a guideway
mechanism in accordance with a second embodiment of the
disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a locking member of the
guideway mechanism of FIG. 6.
[0014] FIG. 8 is an assembled, isometric view of a guideway
mechanism in accordance with a third embodiment of the
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a guideway mechanism 10 in accordance
with a first embodiment is shown. The guideway mechanism 10 can be
mounted on a ceiling of a workshop. A mobile platform (not shown)
can be mounted on the guideway mechanism 10 and can move along the
guideway mechanism 10. An electrical source (not shown) is
connected to the mobile platform via a plurality of electrical
wires (not shown) to drive the mobile platform to move along the
guideway mechanism 10. The guideway mechanism 10 is substantially
cross-shaped, and includes four branches 12, a group of connecting
blocks 14, a supporting bracket 16, and four locking members
18.
[0016] Each branch 12 includes two parallel rails 122. Two adjacent
rails 122 respectively located in two adjacent branches 12 are
perpendicular to each other, and connected together by a respective
connecting block 14. Also referring to FIG. 2, each rail 122
defines two elongated first grooves 124 respectively in top and
bottom sides thereof along a lengthwise direction. A transverse
cross section of each first groove 124 defines a substantially
semicircular shape. Each rail 122 defines two elongated second
grooves 128 in an inner side thereof along the lengthwise
direction, for receiving the electrical wires of the electrical
source. A transverse cross section of each second groove 128 is
rectangular. Two spaced connecting posts 126 protrude from each end
of the rail 122.
[0017] Also referring to FIG. 3, the group of connecting blocks 14
includes four connecting blocks 14 arranged at four corners of an
imaginary square. Each connecting block 14 includes a top face 141,
a bottom face 142 parallel to the top face 141, two perpendicularly
adjacent inner side faces 143, an arc-shaped outer side face 144,
and two connecting faces 145 located at two ends of the connecting
block 14. Each connecting block 14 defines two elongated,
perpendicular third grooves 1412 in each of the top and bottom
faces 141, 142 thereof. A fixing hole 1414 is defined in the top
face 141 of each connecting block 14. Two parallel fourth grooves
1432 are defined in each inner side face 143 of each connecting
block 14, for receiving the electrical wires of the electrical
source. A transverse cross section of each fourth groove 1432 is
rectangular. Two spaced connecting holes 146 are defined in each
connecting face 145 of each connecting block 14. The two connecting
posts 126 of one end of a respective rail 122 are inserted into the
two connecting holes 146 in a corresponding end of the connecting
block 14, so that the third grooves 1412 and the fourth grooves
1432 of the connecting block 14 respectively communicate with the
first grooves 124 and the second grooves 128 of the rail 122.
[0018] Also referring to FIG. 4, the supporting bracket 16 is
connected to the group of connecting blocks 14. The supporting
bracket 16 includes a rectangular top plate 162 and four supporting
poles 164 extending perpendicularly downwardly from four corners of
the top plate 162. The top plate 162 defines a fastening hole 1622
in a center thereof, and four through holes 1624 evenly arranged
around the fastening hole 1622. A fastener (not shown) can extend
through the fastening hole 1622 of the top plate 162 to fasten the
guideway mechanism 10 on the ceiling of the workshop. The four
through holes 1624 are used for the electrical wires of the
electrical source to extend therethrough. A bottom end of each
supporting pole 164 is inserted into the fixing hole 1414 of a
corresponding connecting block 14, to connect the supporting
bracket 16 with the group of connecting blocks 14.
[0019] Also referring to FIG. 5, each locking member 18 is
connected to the ends of the two rails 122 of a corresponding
branch 12 which are away from the connecting blocks 14. Each
locking member 18 includes a rectangular side plate 182, a blocking
portion 184 extending perpendicularly from a middle of the side
plate 182, and two spaced column-shaped protruding poles 188
extending perpendicularly from each of two ends of the side plate
182. Each of the two ends of the side plate 182 defines two spaced
circular through holes 187 therein. The two protruding poles 188
are located at two opposite sides of the group of two through holes
187. Two spaced protruding bars 185 protrude from each of two
opposite sides of the blocking portion 184 generally toward the
protruding poles 188. A transverse cross section of each protruding
bar 185 is rectangular. The protruding bars 185 and the protruding
poles 188 are parallel to each other. The protruding bars 185 and
the protruding poles 188 of each locking member 18 are respectively
inserted into the first grooves 124 and the second grooves 128 in
the ends of the two rails 122 of the corresponding branch 12. The
connecting posts 126 of the ends of the two rails 122 of the
corresponding branch 12 are inserted into the through holes 187 of
the locking member 18. The blocking portion 184 of each locking
member 18 is sandwiched between the two rails 122 of the
corresponding branch 12.
[0020] Also referring to FIG. 6, a guideway mechanism 10a in
accordance with a second embodiment is shown. The guideway
mechanism 10a is frame-shaped, and includes four branches 12, four
groups of connecting blocks 14, four supporting brackets 16, and
eight locking members 18a. Each group of connecting blocks 14 is
connected to one corresponding supporting bracket 16, and includes
four connecting blocks 14 arranged at four corners of an imaginary
square. Each branch 12 includes two parallel rails 122. Each of two
ends of each rail 122 connects one corresponding connecting block
14. Two adjacent rails 122 respectively located in two adjacent
branches 12 are perpendicular to each other, and connected together
by a respective connecting block 14 of one corresponding group of
connecting blocks 14. The other two rails 122 respectively located
in the two adjacent branches 12 connect another two respective
connecting blocks 14 of the one corresponding group of connecting
blocks 14.
[0021] Also referring to FIG. 7, the locking members 18a of the
guideway mechanism 10a of the second embodiment are similar to the
locking members 18 of the guideway mechanism 10 of the first
embodiment. Each locking member 18a includes a rectangular side
plate 182, a blocking portion 184 extending perpendicularly from a
middle of the side plate 182, two spaced column-shaped protruding
poles 188 extending perpendicularly from each of two ends of the
side plate 182, and two spaced protruding bars 185 protruding from
each of two opposite sides of the blocking portion 184 generally
toward the protruding poles 188. The locking members 18a of the
second embodiment and the locking members 18 of the first
embodiment differ in that each locking member 18a has two spaced
column-shaped protrusions 186 protruding from each of the two ends
of the side plate 182. That is, the protrusions 186 effectively
replace the through holes 187 of the locking member 18 of the first
embodiment. At each end of the side plate 182, the two protruding
poles 188 are located at two sides of the group of two protrusions
186. The length of each protruding pole 188 is larger than that of
each protrusion 186. The protruding bars 185, the protruding poles
188 and the protrusions 186 are parallel to each other. In each
group of connecting blocks 14, the ends of three of the connecting
blocks 14 which do not connect the rails 122 connect instead the
corresponding locking members 18a. That is, the protruding bars
185, the protruding poles 188 and the protrusions 186 of each
locking member 18a are respectively inserted into the fourth
grooves 1432, the third grooves 1412 and the connecting holes 146
of two corresponding adjacent connecting blocks 14. Thereby, the
blocking portion 184 of each locking member 18a is sandwiched
between two corresponding adjacent connecting blocks 14.
[0022] Also referring to FIG. 8, a guideway mechanism 10b in
accordance with a third embodiment is shown. The guideway mechanism
10b is in the form of a grid, and includes twenty-four branches 12,
sixteen groups of connecting blocks 14, sixteen supporting brackets
16, and sixteen locking members 18a. Each group of connecting
blocks 14 connects one supporting bracket 16, and includes four
connecting blocks 14 arranged at four corners of an imaginary
square. Each branch 12 includes two parallel rails 122. Each of two
ends of each rail 122 connects one corresponding connecting block
14. Two adjacent rails 122 respectively located in two adjacent
branches 12 are perpendicular to each other, and connected together
by a respective connecting block 14 of one corresponding group of
connecting blocks 14. The other two rails 122 respectively located
in the two adjacent branches 12 connect another two respective
connecting blocks 14 of the one corresponding group of connecting
blocks 14. The ends of certain of the connecting blocks 14 which do
not connect any of the rails 122 connect instead the corresponding
locking members 18a.
[0023] According to the above, all members (i.e. rails 122,
connecting blocks 14, supporting brackets 16, and locking members
18, 18a) can be conveniently dismantled from the respective
guideway mechanisms and reassembled, replaced and/or added to using
other suitable members to become guideway mechanisms with different
shapes and configurations according to different requirements. So
the adaptability of the guideway mechanisms is excellent.
[0024] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set
forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the
structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is
illustrative only; and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
* * * * *