Patent ID: 11945662
Assignee: DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 3:
4. A raising/lowering conveyance device for a container for conveying an article, comprising:
at least two sets of container support means horizontally movable closer to and away from an article conveying container and movable up and down with respect to the container, the container support means having a pin holder shaped structure having a large number of container support pins being capable of horizontally protruding and retracting on a side where the container is located and being biased and held at positions protruding from front surface members of the container support means;
the container support means being configured such that the container support pins are operable to enter below a downward step surface of an overhanging rib formed outside the container by approaching movement with respect to the container such that the container can be lifted;
pin main bodies protruding from the front surface members of the container support means of the container support pins each include a flat tip surface perpendicular to an axial center and are formed in a reverse-tapered pin shape whose diameter is increased toward the flat tip surface;
the container support pins are each composed of the pin main body, a flange portion continuously provided to a rear end of the pin main body so as to be concentric, and a shaft portion continuously provided rearward from the flange portion so as to be concentric;
the front surface members of the container support means are provided with front through holes through which the pin main bodies pass, and rear surface members are provided with rear through holes through which the shaft portions pass;
compression coil springs for biasing the container support pins in a protruding direction to pressure-contact the flange portions with back surfaces of the front surface members are fitted to the shaft portions between the flange portions and the rear surface members; and
the front through holes through which the pin main bodies pass have a diameter allowing a largest-diameter tip portion of the pin main body of a reverse-tapered pin shape to penetrate, and the container support pins are configured to be swingable within a range of annular spaces between the front through holes and the pin main bodies.