Patent ID: 7357240
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: B66B

Abstract:
1. A conveyor apparatus comprising: a plurality of steps that are moved along tracks; step chains which couple the plurality of steps such that the steps endlessly circulate; and driving units which drive the step chains, each of the driving units comprising: a power unit comprising a general-purpose motor provided on a structure, and a driving machine including pulleys arranged in series along a movement direction of the steps and friction belts that reduce a rotation speed of the motor so as to meet a required reduction gear ratio and transfer the rotation speed to the step chains; a pair of right and left driving mechanisms that convert a rotary movement transferred from the driving machine of the power unit via an eccentric shaft into a rocking movement of rocking units, and apply a propelling force to the step chains via pin rollers provided at any one of sides of the rocking units and the step chains and trochoidal rolling gears provided at the other side of the rocking units and the step chains to engage with the pin rollers; two arms provided at front and rear portions of right and left frames that support required members of the pair of right and left driving mechanisms, and having a spatial portion required to arrange the power unit inside the arms; and a device support base attached to the arms as a bridge, and having a portion shared by the power unit as the support base, wherein besides the first eccentric shaft to which a rotational movement is transferred from the motor via the driving mechanism, a second eccentric shaft to which the rotational movement is not transferred is arranged in an opposite direction such that the motor is sandwiched between the eccentric shafts; a brake unit which is opened at a normal time but is operated in accordance with detection of an abnormal condition executed by a safety device is provided on the second eccentric shaft; and when the brake unit is operated, the movement of the steps is stopped via the rocking units.