AUTOMOTIVE CARRIER TYPE CONVEYING APPARATUS

摘要

A conveying carrier is arranged to automotively move along a conveying passage. A pit is formed at the widthwise center portion of the conveying passage. A guide rail is laid within the pit. A track is formed to cover the top side of the pit and is flush with the road surface of the conveying passage. A slit is formed at the widthwise center of the track with the slit communicating with the pit. A plurality of wheels are attached to the conveying carrier to contact the road surface of the conveying passage. At least the front wheels are casters. A steering frame is pivotally supported on the conveying carrier and is turnable about a vertical steering axis line. A driving wheel and an automotive motor for driving the driving wheel are attached to the steering frame, with the driving wheel being positioned to contact the track at a location substantially directly below the vertical steering axis line. A guide member is guided by the guide rail for movement and is connected to the steering frame through the slit. The pit is constructed of a substantially U-shaped track frame buried in the widthwise central portion of the conveying passage. The track is formed of a pair of cover plates which are detachably mounted on the upper ends of side plates on both sides of the track frame as to leave a slit therebetween. The track frame can comprise an extruded material formed to have on the inner sides thereof continuous dovetail grooves extending in the longitudinal direction and one track frame can be connected to the other track frame by way of a dovetail-shaped joint member which engages with the dovetail grooves of both of the track frames at the joint portions. The track frame can also be provided with a channel groove capable of receiving therein nuts for fastening the guide rail to the track frame, with the channel groove being formed continuously in the longitudinal direction of the track frame.