Damping device, stacker crane, transport system, and damping device jig

{
  "publication_number": "US12091063B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Damping device, stacker crane, transport system, and damping device jig",
  "abstract": "A damping device includes a damper provided to an outer end of a stacker crane in a traveling direction. The damper includes: a rod member extending along the traveling direction; a first biasing member configured to bias the rod member outward in the traveling direction; and a movement restriction mechanism configured to allow inward movement of the rod member in the traveling direction and restrict outward movement of the rod member in the traveling direction when the rod member has moved inward in the traveling direction.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A damping device comprising a damper provided to an outer end of a stacker crane in a traveling direction, wherein the damper comprises: a rod member extending along the traveling direction; a first biasing member configured to bias the rod member outward in the traveling direction; and a movement restriction mechanism configured to allow inward movement of the rod member in the traveling direction and restrict outward movement of the rod member in the traveling direction when the rod member has moved inward in the traveling direction; wherein the movement restriction mechanism comprises: a plurality of engaged portions aligned along the traveling direction, the plurality of engaged portions each being a protrusion formed on an outer peripheral surface of the rod member, and each having an inner side surface in the traveling direction inclined with respect to the traveling direction and an outer side surface in the traveling direction orthogonal to the traveling direction; and an engaging portion having elasticity along a direction of approaching the outer peripheral surface of the rod member and configured to engage with the outer side surface of each engaged portion in the traveling direction; wherein the engaging portion comprises: a tubular member provided to surround the outer peripheral surface of the rod member and split into at least two when viewed from the traveling direction; a claw formed on an inner peripheral surface of the tubular member and configured to contact the engaged portion; and a second biasing member configured to bias the tubular member toward the rod member; and wherein an inner side, in the traveling direction, of an inner peripheral surface of the tubular member has an inclined surface inclined to become wider toward the traveling direction.",
    "2. A stacker crane comprising the damping device according to claim 1, wherein the damper is provided on at least two outer ends of the stacker crane in the traveling direction.",
    "3. The stacker crane according to claim 2, further comprising, as the damper, a first damper, a second damper, a third damper, and a fourth damper, wherein the first damper is provided on an upper side in a vertical direction and on one side in a width direction intersecting the traveling direction and the vertical direction, the second damper is provided on the upper side in the vertical direction and on the other side in the width direction, the third damper is provided on a lower side in the vertical direction and on the one side in the width direction, and the fourth damper is provided on the lower side in the vertical direction and on the other side in the width direction.",
    "4. A stacker crane comprising: a damping device comprising a damper provided to an outer end of the stacker crane in a traveling direction, wherein the damper comprises: a rod member extending along the traveling direction; a first biasing member configured to bias the rod member outward in the traveling direction; and a movement restriction mechanism configured to allow inward movement of the rod member in the traveling direction and restrict outward movement of the rod member in the traveling direction when the rod member has moved inward in the traveling direction; wherein the damper is provided on at least two outer ends of the stacker crane in the traveling direction; and a first stacker crane and a second stacker crane, wherein the first stacker crane includes the damper on its outer end in the traveling direction on a side closer to the second stacker crane, the second stacker crane includes the damper on its outer end in the traveling direction on a side closer to the first stacker crane, and the damper of the first stacker crane and the damper of the second stacker crane are disposed at positions such that the dampers are adapted to contact each other.",
    "5. A damping device jig for use with a damping device comprising a damper provided to an outer end of a stacker crane in a traveling direction, wherein the damper comprises: a rod member extending along the traveling direction; a first biasing member configured to bias the rod member outward in the traveling direction; and a movement restriction mechanism configured to allow inward movement of the rod member in the traveling direction and restrict outward movement of the rod member in the traveling direction when the rod member has moved inward in the traveling direction; wherein the movement restriction mechanism comprises: a plurality of engaged portions aligned along the traveling direction, the plurality of engaged portions each being a protrusion formed on an outer peripheral surface of the rod member, and each having an inner side surface in the traveling direction inclined with respect to the traveling direction and an outer side surface in the traveling direction orthogonal to the traveling direction; and an engaging portion having elasticity along a direction of approaching the outer peripheral surface of the rod member and configured to engage with the outer side surface of each engaged portion in the traveling direction; and configured to release engagement of the engaging portion with the engaged portion, the damping device jig comprising a jig body in which a hole, through which the rod member is insertable, is formed, wherein the jig body has a contact portion configured to contact the engaging portion such that the engaging portion elastically deforms in a direction of being separated from the rod member.",
    "6. The damping device jig according to claim 5, further comprising an elastic-deformation restriction member detachably fixed to the damper and configured to contact or be adjacent to a side of the engaging portion opposite to a rod member side.",
    "7. The damping device jig according to claim 5, further comprising an adjuster detachably fixed to the rod member and configured to adjust the amount of movement when the rod member is biased to be moved outward in the traveling direction by the first biasing member after engagement of the engaging portion with the engaged portion has been released.",
    "8. The damping device jig according to claim 7, wherein the adjuster comprises: a shaft extending along the traveling direction, having one end detachably fixed to an inside on the rod member in the traveling direction, and having an external thread on its outer peripheral surface; a thread-engaging member thread-engaging with the external thread of the shaft; and a support member fixed to the jig body and being in contact with an outside on the thread-engaging member in the traveling direction.",
    "9. The damping device jig according to claim 8, further comprising a first member to which the contact portion is provided and a second member to which the support member is fixed and also the first member is detachably fixed."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This disclosure relates to a damping device, a stacker crane, a transport system, and a damping device jig.\n\nA damping device including a damper provided to an outer end of a stacker crane in a traveling direction is known. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-1692 describes a stacker crane including a vehicle configured to travel on a traveling path and mechanical dampers (dampers) provided to the front end and the rear end of the vehicle.\n\nIn the above-described technique, when the traveling stacker crane has collided, an impact force of the collision is intended to be alleviated by the action of the damper. However, the stacker crane is pushed back by the action of the damper (bounces back toward the side opposite to the traveling direction), which may increase the possibility of breakage of equipment, for example.\n\nIn view of this, it could be helpful to provide a damping device configured to, when a stacker crane has collided, alleviate an impact force of the collision and prevent the stacker crane from being pushed back, a stacker crane including the damping device, a transport system including the stacker crane, and a damping device jig to be used for the damping device.\n\nA damping device includes a damper provided to an outer end of a stacker crane in a traveling direction.",
  "cpc": [
    "B61G 11/04",
    "B65G 1/04",
    "B66F 9/07",
    "B66F 9/07513",
    "F16F 7/00",
    "H10P 72/3218",
    "H10P 72/3404"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B61G 11/04",
    "B66F 9/07",
    "B66F 9/075"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Murata Machinery Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Kazuma Yagawa",
    "Ken Inada"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-02-03",
  "publication_date": "2024-09-17",
  "grant_date": "2024-09-17",
  "priority_date": "2019-04-24",
  "application_number": "US-202017604697-A",
  "family_id": "72942384",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "SU1184988A1",
    "JPS62451U",
    "JPH02209639A",
    "JPH0710216A",
    "US6553617B1",
    "US20040201154A1",
    "CN2711460Y",
    "JP2007001692A",
    "US20100080652A1",
    "CN101680200A",
    "US20110283478A1",
    "CN103821864A",
    "JP2015034087A",
    "TW201811645A"
  ]
}