US 11,926,492 B2
Linear transport apparatus
Takuma Nakamura, Tokyo (JP); Shin Sakai, Tokyo (JP); Masaoki Iwase, Tokyo (JP); and Kazuhiko Fukushima, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Appl. No. 18/035,932
Filed by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
PCT Filed Jun. 17, 2021, PCT No. PCT/JP2021/023076
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 9, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/264371, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0322275 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 54/02 (2006.01); B61B 13/12 (2006.01); B61L 13/04 (2006.01); B61L 25/02 (2006.01); B65G 35/06 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 54/02 (2013.01) [B61B 13/12 (2013.01); B61L 13/04 (2013.01); B61L 25/025 (2013.01); B65G 35/06 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A linear transport apparatus, comprising;
a transport cart;
a first roller to rotate about a first rotation shaft extending from the transport cart along a first direction;
a second roller to rotate about a second rotation shaft extending from the transport cart and forming an acute angle with the first rotation shaft; and
a rail sandwiched between the first roller and the second roller to extend along a track on which the transport cart moves, wherein
the rail includes
a first contact portion to come into contact with the first roller and restrict movement of the transport cart in the first direction and in a second direction perpendicular to a direction in which the rail extends and perpendicular to the first direction, and
a second contact portion to come into contact with the second roller and be parallel to the second rotation shaft,
the rail includes a portion in which a curvature of the track on which the transport cart moves is different from another portion, and
a position of the second contact portion along the first direction differs between portions having different curvatures.