DESCRIPTION
GRAVITY FALL CONVEYER DEVICE
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001]
This disclosure relates to a gravity fall conveyer device configured to convey a load from a loading position to an unloading position located downwards. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a gravity fall conveyer device including a loading tool on which a load is to be placed, a rope-like tool to which the loading tool is attached, and an upper guiding tool that supports the rope-like tool and guides a movement of the rope-like tool in the longitudinal direction with one side portion and the other side portion of the rope-like tool in its longitudinal direction being wound around the upper guiding tool and extending downwards respectively, the conveyer device being arranged such that when the load is placed on the loading tool at the loading position lower than the upper guiding tool, due to the weight of the load, in association with the movement of the rope-like member in the longitudinal direction, the loading tool with the load being placed thereon descends from the loading position to the unloading position.
BACKGROUND ART [0002]
Conventionally, this type of gravity fall conveyer device proposed previously, as shown in Fig. 18, includes a rope-like endless rotary tool 61 wound around an upper guiding tool 60a and a lower guiding tool 60b, and a plurality of loading tools 62 attached to the endless rotary tool 61 with equal spacing therebetween. In operation, when a load W is placed on the loading tool 62 at a loading position Uw, due to the weight of the load W, the loading tool 62 with the load W placed thereon descends from the loading position Uw to an unloading position Dw and also, with a rotary movement of the endless rotary tool 61 associated with the descending of the load W, an unloaded next loading tool 62 will move to the loading position Uw. Thus, the device is configured as a unidirectional rotation type gravity fall conveyer device (see Patent

Document l). [0003]
Further, differently from the above unidirectional rotation type, as shown in Fig. 19, there has been proposed also a counterweight type gravity fall conveyer device. In this device, on one hand, a loading tool 64 is attached to one side end portion of a rope-like tool 63 wound around an upper guiding tool 60a. On the other hand, a counterweight 65 is attached to the other side end portion of the rope-like tool 63. In operation, when a load W is placed on the loading tool 64 at a loading position Uw, due to the weight of this load W, the counterweight 65 ascends whereas the loading tool 64 with the load W placed thereon descends from the loading position Uw to an unloading position Dw. Thereafter, when the load W is unloaded from the loading tool 64 at the unloading position Dw, due to weight of the counterweight 65, this counterweight 65 descends and the unloaded loading tool 64 from which the load W has been unloaded ascends from the unloading position Dw back to the loading position Uw (see Patent Document 2).
BACKGROUND ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Documents [0004]
Patent Document V Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-119128
Patent Document 2- Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2011-51728
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by Invention [0005]
However, with the unidirectional rotation type gravity fall conveyer device described above, since both the loading position Uw and the unloading position Dw are located on the descending portion side of the endless rotary tool 61, in order to allow continuous operation of the device with loads W being placed on the respective loading tools 62 which move to the loading position Uw one after another, it is necessary to provide and mount at least three loading tools 62 to the endless rotary

tool 61 with an equal spacing therebetween which is equal to the spacing between the loading position Uw and the unloading position Dw. Thus, the rope-like endless rotary tool 61 needs to have a significant length for the spacing between the loading position Uw and the unloading position Dw, which causes a problem of enlargement of the device. [0006]
Moreover, with the unidirectional rotation type gravity fall conveyer device, in association with rotation of the endless rotary tool 61, each loading tool 62 will move in such a manner as to climb past over the upper guiding tool 60a and the lower guiding tool 60b. Thus, spaces for allowing passage of the loading tool are required at a position upwardly of the upper guiding tool 60a and a position downwardly of the lower guiding tool 60b, respectively. This invites further enlargement of the device disadvantageously [0007]
On the other hand, the counterweight type gravity fall conveyer device is free from such problem of enlargement. However, the conveying of the loads W is interrupted during the returning ascending movement of the loading tool 64 from which the load W has been unloaded at the unloading positon Dw, so there is the problem of the conveying efficiency of the load W being limited low. [0008]
In view of the above-described state of the art, the principal object of the present invention is to resolve the problem of enlargement and the problem of conveying efficiency, by adopting a rational mode of movement.
Solution [0009]
According to a first characterizing feature of the present invention, a gravity fall conveyer device comprises^
a loading tool on which a load is placed;
a rope-like tool to which the loading tool is attached; and
an upper guiding tool that supports the rope-like tool wound around the upper guiding tool and guides a movement of the rope-like tool in the longitudinal direction with one side portion and the other side

portion of the rope-like tool in its longitudinal direction extending downwards respectively!
the device being arranged such that when the load is placed on the loading tool at the loading position lower than the upper guiding tool, due to the weight of the load, in association with the movement of the rope-like member in the longitudinal direction, the loading tool with the load being placed thereon descends from the loading position to the unloading position;
wherein the loading tool is attached respectively to one side portion and the other side portion of the rope-like tool delimited from each other by the upper guiding tool therebetween; and
wherein in association with a movement of the rope-like tool in the longitudinal direction associated with a descending movement of the one side loading tool attached to the one side portion of the rope-like tool from the loading position to the unloading position due to the weight of the load placed thereon, the other side unloaded loading tool attached to the other side portion of the rope-like tool ascends from the unloading position to the loading position. [0010]
With the above-described arrangement, in association with a descending movement of the one side loading tool attached to the one side portion of the rope-like tool from the loading position to the unloading position, the other side unloaded loading tool attached to the other side portion of the rope-like tool ascends from the unloading position to the loading position. Thus, a load can be unloaded from the one side loading tool descended to the unloading positon and a load can be loaded on the other side loading tool ascended to the loading position and subsequently, the other side loading tool can be lowered from the loading position to the unloading position due to the weight of its load and the one side unloaded loading tool can ascend from the unloading position to the loading position. [0011]
Therefore, in comparison with the counterbalance type gravity fall conveyer device, loads can be conveyed respectively to the unloading position in an efficient manner by alternately loading a load to the one side loading tool and the other side loading tool at the loading position.

[0012]
Further, unlike the unidirectional rotation type gravity fall conveyer device described above, there is no need to provide and mount at least three loading tools to the endless rotary tool with equal spacing equal to the spacing between the loading position and the unloading position. Instead, it suffices to provide and mount two loading tools to the rope-like tool. The required length of the rope-like tool can be reduced, thus enabling compactization of the device. [0013]
Furthermore, unlike the unidirectional rotation type gravity fall conveyer device, there is no need to adopt the operation mode of causing the respective loading to climb past over the upper guiding tool and the lower guiding tool. Thus, the required spaces in the vertical direction can be reduced also, which enables further compactization of the device. [0014]
According to a second characterizing feature of the present invention which specifies a preferred mode of embodying the first characterizing feature:
the loading tool is configured to be switchable between an erected posture allowing placing of the load thereon and a collapsed posture along a lifting passage of the loading tool and not allowing placing of the load thereon;
an erection/collapse guiding mechanism is provided for switching over the loading tool to the erected posture or the collapsed posture through utilization of a movement force of the loading tool; and
the erection/collapse guiding mechanism is configured to switch over the loading tool from the erected posture to the collapsed posture at an initial portion of an ascending process of the loading tool after its departure from the unloading position and to switch over the loading tool from the collapsed posture to the erected posture at an ending portion of the ascending process of the loading tool prior to its arrival at the loading position. [0015]
With the above-described arrangement, in addressing to the occurrence of passing each other of one side loaded loading tool descending from the loading position and the other side unloaded loading

tool ascending from the unloading position to the loading position in association with the descending of the one side loading tool, as the unloaded loading tool ascending from the unloading position is switched over to the collapsed posture along the lifting passage from the initial portion to the ending portion in the ascending process, the space required for such mutual passing can be reduced, thus enabling even further compactization of the device. [0016]
Further, since the switchover of the loading tool between the erected posture and the collapsed posture is effected with utilization of the moving force of the loading tool (namely, the gravity of the load placed on the loading tool), the device cost and the running cost of the device can be further reduced in comparison with e.g. an arrangement of effecting such posture switchover of the loading tool by electric power. [0017]
According to a third characterizing feature of the present invention which specifies a preferred mode of embodying the second characterizing feature:
the loading tool incudes an erecting arm integrally attached thereto;
the erection/collapse guiding mechanism includes a collapsing guide rod portion for switching the loading tool under the erected posture to the collapsed posture and an erecting guide rod portion for switching the loading tool under the collapsed posture to the erected posture;
at the initial portion of the ascending process, the erecting arm changes its posture due to its contact with the collapsing guide rod portion, thus switching the loading tool from the erected posture to the collapsed posture; and
at the ending portion of the ascending process, the erecting arm comes into contact with the erecting guide rod portion, thus switching the loading tool from the collapsed posture to the erected posture. [0018]
With the above-described arrangement, the loading tool is switched to the erected posture or the collapsed posture due to the erecting arm coming into contact with the erecting guide rod portion or the collapsing guide rod portion. Thus, the posture of the loading tool

can be switched at a predetermined position in a reliable manner via shape setting and/or position setting of the respective guide rod portions. With this, in comparison with e.g. the arrangement of effecting posture switchover of the loading tool with electric power, it is possible to obtain a high reliability respecting the device operation while reducing the device cost. [0019]
According to a fourth characterizing feature of the present invention which specifies a preferred mode embodying any one of the first through third characterizing features:
a plurality of lifting structures are disposed side by side and spaced from each other;
each one of the lifting structures includes the upper guiding tool, the rope-like tool, the one side loading tool attached to the one side portion of the rope-like tool and the other side loading tool attached to the other side portion of the rope-like tool; and
at the loading position, the load is placed on the plurality of loading tools in such a manner as to stride over the plurality of loading tools located the loading position in each lifting structure. [0020]
With this arrangement, a load is caused to stride over the loading tools included in the respective lifting structures, thus being supported by these plural loading tools. Thus, even a load having a large weight or a large-sized load (in particularly, a load having a long length) can be conveyed in a stable manner. [0021]
According to a fifth characterizing feature of the present invention which specifies a preferred mode of embodying the fourth characterizing feature:
a synchronizing coordinating mechanism is provided for coordinating lifting movements of the loading tools between/among the lifting structures. [0022]
With the above-described arrangement, the plurality of loading tools on which a load is placed to stride over them can be caused to be lifted with keeping a same phase by the synchronizing coordinating

mechanism. With this, it becomes possible to avoid reliably a conveyance trouble due to occurrence of a phase difference in the lifting up/down movements of these plurality of loading tools. [0023]
According to a sixth characterizing feature of the present invention which specifies a preferred mode of embodying any one of the first through fifth characterizing features:
a governor device is provided for adjusting a lifting speed of the loading tool;
the governor device includes a driven rotational shaft, a brake shoe and a brake drum;
the driven rotational shaft is rotated with a movement of the rope-like tool associated with a lifting movement of the loading tool; and
the brake shoe presses the brake drum by a centrifugal force generated with rotation of the driven rotational shaft. [0024]
With the above-described arrangement, the higher the lifting up/down speed of the loading tool generated by the weight of the load becomes, the higher the rotational speed of the driven rotational shaft rotated in association with the lifting movement of the loading tool becomes and the greater the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the driven rotational shaft becomes. So that, the pressing force applied from the brake shoe to the brake drum becomes greater. With this increase of the pressing force, the braking effect on the rotation of the driven rotational shaft, i.e. the braking effect on the ascending/descending movement of the loading tool becomes stronger. [0025]
Conversely, the lower the lifting up/down speed of the loading tool generated by the weight of the load becomes, the lower the rotational speed of the driven rotational shaft rotated in association with the lifting movement of the loading tool becomes and the smaller the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the driven rotational shaft becomes. So that, the pressing force applied from the brake shoe to the brake drum becomes smaller. With this decrease of the pressing force, the braking effect on the rotation of the driven rotational shaft, i.e. the braking effect on the ascending/descending movement of the loading tool becomes

weaker. [0026]
Therefore, via changes in the strength of the braking effect according to these increase/decrease of the lifting speed, the lifting speed of the loading tool can be automatically adjusted to an appropriate speed. [0027]
According to a seventh characterizing feature of the present invention which specifies a preferred mode of embodying the sixth characterizing feature:
a pivotable shoe operational arm is mounted on the driven rotational shaft;
one end portion of the shoe operational arm is coupled to the brake shoe; and
a weight attaching portion to which a braking force reducing weight is to be attached is included in the shoe operational arm on a side opposite to the side coupled to the brake shoe relative to a pivot point of the shoe operational arm. [0028]
With the above-described arrangement, as the rotational speed of the driven rotational shaft becomes higher, both the centrifugal force applied to the brake shoe and the centrifugal force applied to the braking force reducing weight attached to the weight attaching portion of the shoe operational arm become higher. In this, as the brake shoe and the braking force reducing weight are located on the opposite sides each other relative to the pivot point of the shoe operational arm, the centrifugal force applied to the braking force reducing weight substantially reduces the centrifugal force applied to the brake shoe. [0029]
Therefore, by selecting the weight of the braking force reducing weight to be attached to the weight attaching portion of the shoe operational arm or displacing the attaching position of the braking force reducing weight or selecting need or no-need to attach the braking force reducing weight, according to the weight of the load to be placed on the loading tool, the strength of the braking action to be applied to the lifting motion of the loading tool can be adjusted according to the weight of the load.

[0030]
According to an eighth characterizing feature of the present invention which specifies a preferred mode of embodying any one of the first through seventh characterizing features:
a loading tool holding device is provided for holding the loading tool at the loading position in association with arrival of the loading tool at the loading position; and
a release operational portion is provided for releasing holding of the loading tool by the loading tool holding device. [0031]
With the above-described arrangement, when the loading tool arrives at the loading position, this loading tool is held at the loading position by the loading tool holding device. Therefore, under this holding state, a loading operation of the load to the loading tool can be carried out in a safe and appropriate manner in plenty of time. [0032]
And, after completion of the loading operation of the load to the loading tool, holding of the loading tool by the loading tool holding device is released by the release operational portion. With this, the device can be returned speedily to the operational state for lifting the loading tool by the weight of the load. [0033]
According to a ninth characterizing feature of the present invention which specifies a preferred mode of embodying the eighth characterizing feature:
a loading device is provided for placing a load on the loading tool located at the loading position;
as the release operational portion, a link mechanism is provided for operably linking the loading device with the loading tool holding device; and
the link mechanism is configured to release holding of the loading tool by the loading tool holding device upon completion of placing of the load by the loading device. [0034]
With the above-described arrangement, upon completion of placing of the load onto the loading tool by the loading device, holding of

the loading tool by the loading tool holding device is released automatically by the link mechanism which operably links the loading device with the loading tool holding device. [0035]
Therefore, in comparison with releasing holding of the loading tool by the loading tool holding device by a manual operation by a worker, holding of the loading tool by the loading tool holding device can be released at a more appropriate timing and in a more reliable manner. [0036]
According to a tenth characterizing feature of the present invention which specifies a preferred mode of embodying any one of the first through ninth characterizing features:
a shock absorbing device is provided for providing a shock absorbing action on the lifting movement of the loading tool adjacent the loading position or the unloading position. [0037]
With the above-described arrangement, as the shock absorbing device provides a shock absorbing action on the lifting movement of the loading tool adjacent the loading position or the unloading position, although the arrangement causes a lifting motion of the loading tool through utilization of the weight of the load, the loading tool can be caused to arrive at the loading position or the unloading position in a gentle manner, whereby the safety of the device and maintenance of the load can be enhanced. [0038]
According to an eleventh characterizing feature of the present invention which specifies a preferred mode of embodying the tenth characterizing feature:
the shock absorbing device includes a shock absorbing member;
the shock absorbing member is displaceable between a shock absorbing position for providing the shock absorbing effect to the lifting movement of the loading tool and a retracted position retracted from the shock absorbing position and is urged toward the shock absorbing position by the weight of a shock absorbing weight; and
the shock absorbing member is temporarily switched over from the shock absorbing position to the retracted position against the weight

of the shock absorbing weight in association with the lifting movement of
the loading tool.
[0039]
With the above-described arrangement, when the loading tool, in the course of its lifting movement in the vicinity of the loading position or the unloading position, switches the shock absorbing member from the shock absorbing position to the retracted position against the weight of the shock absorbing weight, the weight of the shock absorbing weight providing a reaction force to the loading tool provides a shock absorbing effect on the lifting movement of the loading tool. With this, the loading tool will arrive at the loading position or the unloading position in a gentle manner. [0040]
Namely, with this arrangement, as a shock absorbing effect is applied to the lifting movement of the loading tool via the weight of the shock absorbing weight, the device cost and the running cost can be further reduced in comparison with an arrangement of providing a shock absorbing action to the ascending/descending movement of the loading tool by means of e.g. an electromagnetic brake.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0041]
Fig. 1 is a side view of a gravity fall conveyer device,
Fig. 2 is a front view of the gravity fall conveyer device,
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the gravity fall conveyer device,
Fig. 4 is an enlarged section as seen in a plan view of a lifting
structure,
Fig. 5 is a side view of an upper portion of the device illustrating
a descending process of a loading tool,
Fig. 6 is a side view of a lower portion of the device illustrating
the descending process of the loading tool,
Fig. 7 is a side view of the lower portion of the device illustrating
an ascending process of the loading tool,
Fig. 8 is a side view of the upper portion of the device illustrating
the ascending process of the loading tool,
Fig. 9 is a side view showing periphery of the loading tool,

Fig. 10 is a front view showing the periphery of the loading tool,
Fig. 11 is a side view of a loading device,
Fig. 12 is a plan view of the loading device,
Fig. 13 is a front view of a stopper device,
Fig. 14 is a side view of a lower shock absorbing device,
Fig. 15 is a structural diagram as seen in a front view of a governor device,
Fig. 16 is a structural diagram as seen in a plan view of the governor device,
Fig. 17 is a schematic perspective view of a gravity fall conveyer device showing a further embodiment,
Fig. 18 is a schematic side view showing a conventional gravity fall conveyer device, and
Fig. 19 is a schematic side view showing another conventional gravity fall conveyer device.
EMBODIMENTS [0042]
Figs.l through 3 show a gravity fall type conveyer device 1. This conveyer device 1 includes, on the left and right opposed sides, lifting structures 2A, 2B which have an identical construction and assume parallel erected postures. Each one of these lifting structures 2A, 2B, as shown in Fig. 4, includes a pair of left and right posts 3 disposed in close vicinity each other and first through third guide rods 4, 5, 6 disposed between these posts 3 and mounted respectively to the posts 3. [0043]
Each post 3 is comprised of a Oshaped steel member, and in each one of the left and right lifting structures 2A, 2B, the pair of left and right posts 3 are disposed parallel with each other, with respective apertures of the Oshaped steel members facing each other, the posts 3 being mounted erect on a base 7 inside a floor pit P. [0044]
The first through third guide rods 4-6 are arranged with a predetermined spacing in a front/rear direction and mounted to the respective post 3. And, the front side first guide rod 4 and the center second guide rod 5 respectively assumes a vertical posture along the post

3 and extends linearly from the upper end portion to the lower end
portion of the device.
[0045]
The rear side third guide rod 6, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, is divided into three portions, i.e. an upper guide rod portion 6a, a center guide rod portion 6b and a lower guide rod portion 6c. And, these three guide rod portions 6a-6c are disposed linearly under a vertical posture along the post 3 between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the device. [0046]
At an upper portion of the device, between the upper guide rod portion 6a and the center guide rod portion 6b of the third guide rod 6, there is provided an upper rod lacking portion 8a and from the lower end of the upper guide rod portion 6a of the third guide rod 6, there is extended an erecting guide rod portion 6x which extends obliquely rearwards downwardly in a curved form as seen in a side view thereof. [0047]
Similarly, at a lower portion of the device, between the center guide portion 6b and the lower guide rod portion 6c of the third guide rod 6, there is provided a lower rod lacking portion 8b and from the upper end of the lower guide rod portion 6c of the third guide rod 6, there is extended a collapsing guide rod portion 6y which extends obliquely rearwards upwardly in a curved form as seen in a side view thereof. [0048]
These erecting guide rod portion 6x and collapsing guide rod portion 6y together constitute an "erection/collapse guide mechanism" for switching over a loading tool 10 to be described later between a horizontal erected posture capable of placing a load W thereon and a vertical collapsed posture along a lifting passage of the loading tool 10 and incapable of loading the load W thereon. [0049]
Further, each post 3 includes a guide groove-like portion 9 extending vertically. This guide groove-like portion 9 includes an upper groove-like portion 9a, an intermediate groove-like portion 9b and a lower groove-like portion 9c. [0050]

The intermediate groove-like portion 9c of the guide groove-like portion 9 extends linearly in the vertical direction at a vertical intermediate portion of the post 3 along the outer face of a front side portion 3a of the Oshaped steel member. The upper groove-like portion 9a of the guide groove-like portion 9 extends obliquely rearward upwardly from the upper end of the intermediate groove-like portion 9b and its upper end is opened rearwards in the vicinity of the inner face of a rear side portion 3b of the Oshaped steel member. [0051]
The lower groove-like portion 9c of the guide groove-like portion 9 extends obliquely rearward downwardly from the lower end of the intermediate groove-like portion 9b and its lower end is opened rearwards in the vicinity of the inner face of the rear side portion 3b of the C-shaped steel member. [0052]
This guide groove-like portion 9 constitutes an "auxiliary guide mechanism" for assisting the posture switchover of the loading tool 10 by the above-described erection/collapse guide mechanism (the erecting guide rod portion 6x and the collapsing guide rod portion 6y). [0053]
On the other hand, each of the left and right lifting structures 2 A, 2B includes, as the loading tool 10 for placing the load W thereon, a pair of bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b. And, as shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, at a rear end portion of these respective bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b, an erecting arm 11 is attached. [0054]
The erecting arm 11 assumes a tilted posture tilted obliquely rearwards downwardly as seen in its side view by a predetermined angle 6a (e.g. 6a = 70 degrees approximately), when the bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b corresponding thereof assumes the horizontal erected posture. [0055]
At the base end portion of the erecting arm 11 (namely, the end portion for connection to the bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b), a loading tool rotational shaft 12 is attached and at the leading end of the erecting arm 11, there is attached a rotatable erecting roller 13. [0056]

Further, each of the pair of left and right bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b continuously includes a lifting frame tool 14 via the loading tool rotational shaft 12 of the erecting arm 11 and the loading tool rotational shaft 12 is pivotally attached to the upper end portion of the lifting frame tool 14. [0057]
To the loading tool rotational shaft 12, a lifting roller 15 is attached within the framework of the lifting frame tool 14. And, to the lower end portion of the lifting frame tool 14, a lower rotational shaft 16 is pivotally attached. And, to this lower rotational shaft 16, there is attached a lower lifting roller 17 similarly within the framework of the lifting frame tool 14. [0058]
At a lateral end portion of the loading tool rotational shaft 12, an auxiliary arm 18 is integrally attached. Conversely from the erecting arm 13, this auxiliary arm 18 assumes a tilted posture tilted obliquely rearwards upwardly as seen in its side view by a predetermined angle 6b (e.g. 6b = 20 degrees approximately), when the bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b corresponding thereto assumes the horizontal erected posture. [0059]
And, to the leading end of the auxiliary arm 18, a rotatable auxiliary roller 19 is attached. [0060]
Namely, the respective bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b, the erecting arm 11 and the auxiliary arm 18 formed continuously in the respective bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b are rotatable together about a center axis ql of the loading tool rotational shaft 12. [0061]
The erecting arm 11 attached to each of the pair of left and right bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b is disposed between the pair of left and right posts 3. The upper and lower lifting rollers 15, 17 mounted to the lifting frame tool 14 are disposed between the first guide rod 4 and the second guide rod 5 mounted to the corresponding and nearest post 3. By these first guide rod 4 and second guide rod 5, vertical movements of the upper and lower lifting rollers 15, 17 (in other words, vertical movements of the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b and the lifting frame

tool 14) are guided. [0062]
The erecting roller 13 attached to the leading end of the erecting arm 11 is disposed between the second guide rod 5 and the third guide rod 6 mounted to the corresponding nearest post 3 and by these second and third guide rods 5,6, vertical movement of the erecting roller 13 is guided. [0063]
The auxiliary roller 19 attached to the leading end of the auxiliary arm 18 is disposed within the groove of the guide groove-like portion 9 provided in the corresponding nearest post 3 and by this guide groove-like portion 9, movement of the auxiliary roller 19 is guided. [0064]
In each of the left and right lifting structures 2A, 2B, the upper ends of the pair of left and right posts 3 are connected via an upper end connecting member 20, and to this upper end connecting member 20, there is attached an upper sprocket 21 rotatable about a front-rear oriented axis q2, as an "upper guide tool". [0065]
Similarly, in each of the left and right lifting structures 2A, 2B, the lower ends of the pair of left and right posts 3 are connected via a lower end connecting member 22 within the floor pit P, and to this lower end connecting member 22, there is attached a lower sprocket 23 rotatable about a front-rear oriented axis q3, as a "lower guide tool". [0066]
Around the upper sprocket 21 as the upper guide tool, an upper chain 24 is wound as a "rope-like tool". And, a lower end of a one side portion 24a of the upper chain 24 extending downwards from the upper sprocket 21 along one post 3 is connected to an upper end of the one side lifting frame tool 14 formed continuously with the one bar-like loading tool 10a. [0067]
And, a lower end of the other side portion 24b of the upper chain 24 extending downwards from the upper sprocket 21 along the other post 3 is connected to an upper end of the other side lifting frame tool 14 formed continuously with the other bar-like loading tool 10b.

[0068]
Similarly, around the lower sprocket 23 as the lower guide tool, a lower chain 25 is wound. And, an upper end of a one side portion 25a of the lower chain 25 extending upwards from the lower sprocket 23 along one post 3 is connected to a lower end of the one side lifting frame tool 14 formed continuously with the one bar-like loading tool 10a. [0069]
And, an upper end of the other side portion 25b of the lower chain 25 extending downwards from the lower sprocket 23 along the other post 3 is connected to a lower end of the other side lifting frame tool 14 formed continuously with the other bar-like loading tool 10b. [0070]
In this conveyer device 1, a position slightly lower than the upper sprocket 21 on the front face side of the device (the near side in Fig. 2) is set as a "loading position" Uw and a position slightly higher than a floor F on the front face side of the device is set as an "unloading position" Dw. And, the length respectively of the upper chain 24 and the lower chain 25 in each of the left and right lifting structures 2A, 2B is set as a length where the other side bar-like loading tool 10b is located the unloading position Dw when the one side bar-like loading tool 10a is located at the loading position Uw (in other words, a length where the one side bar-like loading tool 10a is located the unloading position Dw when the other side bar-like loading tool 10b is located at the loading position Uw). [0071]
Accordingly, in each of the left and right lifting structures 2 A, 2B, when one side bar-like loading tool 10a descends from the loading position Uw to the unloading position Dw, with rotations of the upper sprocket 21 and the lower sprocket 23, the upper chain 24 and the lower chin 25 move in their longitudinal directions, whereby the other side bar-like loading tool 10b ascends from the unloading position Dw to the loading position Uw. [0072]
On the rotational shaft of the upper sprocket 21 in one side lifting structure 2A and on the rotational shaft of the upper sprocket 21 in the other side lifting structure 2B respectively, a synchronizing sprocket 26 is attached. And, around these left and right synchronizing sprockets

26, a synchronizing chain 27 is wound. [0073]
These synchronizing sprockets 26 and the synchronizing chain 27 together constitute a "synchronizing coupling mechanism" for coordinating lifting up/down movements of the bar-like loading tools 10a, lb between the lifting structures 2A, 2B disposed side by side. [0074]
Namely, with this synchronizing chain 27, the upper sprocket 21 of the one side lifting structure 2A and the upper sprocket 21 of the other side lifting structure 2B are rotated in coordination with each other, whereby the one side bar-like loading tools 10a of the left and right lifting structures 2A, 2B are moved vertically in constant synchronism and in a same phase each other. Also, the other side bar-like loading tools 10b of the left and right lifting structures 2A, 2B too are moved vertically in constant synchronism and in a same phase each other. [0075]
As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 8, at the upper rod lacking portion 8a provided between the upper guide rod portion 6a and the intermediate guide rod portion 6b of the third guide rod 6, there is mounted an upper switching tool 28 for switching over a movement path of the erecting roller 13. [0076]
Also ass shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, at the lower rod lacking portion 8b provided between the intermediate guide rod portion 6b and the lower guide rod portion 6c of the third guide rod 6, there is mounted a lower switching tool 29 also for switching over the movement path of the erecting roller 13. [0077]
The upper switching tool 28 is rotatable about a left/right oriented axis q4 and also by a weight of a weight portion 28a attached to the lower portion of the upper switching tool 28, the upper switching tool 28 is constantly urged toward its vertical posture for closing the upper side rod lacking portion 8a from its front side, thus establishing continuation between the upper guide rod portion 6a and the intermediate rod portion 6b of the third guide member 6. [0078]

Namely, when the erecting roller 13 is to descend between the upper guide rod portion 6a of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5, as shown in Fig. 5, as the upper side rod lacking portion 8a is closed by the upper switching tool 28, the erecting roller 13 will move from between the upper guide rod portion 6a of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5 and then directly into between the intermediate guide rod portion 6b of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5, thus descending linearly. [0079]
Also, in the course of the above also, the auxiliary roller 19 which descends along the inner face of the rear side portion 3b of the Oshaped steel member, namely the post 3, in association with the descending movement of the erecting roller 13 does not enter the upper groove-like portion 9a of the guide groove-like portion 9, but directly descends linearly along the inner face of the rear side portion 3b of the Oshaped steel member. [0080]
However, when the erecting roller 13 ascends in the area rearwardly of the intermediate guide rod portion 9b of the third guide rod 6, as shown in Fig. 8, this erecting roller 13 will come into contact with the erecting guide rod portion 6x in the ascending process, and then the ascending movement of the erecting roller 13 will be guided obliquely forward upwardly by the erecting guide rod portion 6x, whereby the erecting roller 13 will come into contact with the upper side switching tool 28 under its vertical posture from the rear side thereof. [0081]
And, due to this contact of the erecting roller 13, the upper side switching tool 28 is tilted forwardly about the axis q4 against the weight of the weight portion 28a, so that the upper side rod lacking portion 8a is opened temporarily. With this, the erecting roller 13 passes through the upper side rod lacking portion 8a and enters between the upper guide rod portion 6a of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5. Thereafter, the erecting roller 13 will ascend linearly as being guided by the upper guide rod portion 6a of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5. [0082]

Further, when the erecting roller 13 receives guiding by the erecting guide rod portion 6x in its ascending process, the auxiliary roller 19 which ascends together with the erecting roller 13 will move from the intermediate groove-like portion 9b to the upper groove-like portion 9a of the guide groove-like portion 9 and in succession thereto, so that the ascending movement of the auxiliary roller 19 is guided obliquely rearwards upwards and in succession thereto, the auxiliary roller 19 will pass through the upper groove-like portion 9a of the guide groove-like portion 9 and then ascends linearly along the inner face of the rear side portion 3b of the Oshaped steel member, i.e. the post 3. [0083]
The lower switching tool 29 is rotatable about a left/right oriented axis q5 and also by a weight of a weight portion 29a attached to the upper portion of the lower switching tool 29, the lower switching tool 29 is constantly urged toward its rearward tilted posture for opening the lower side rod lacking portion 8b, thus establishing continuation of the intermediate guide rod portion 6b of the third guide rod 6 with the lower portion of the second guide rod 5. [0084]
Namely, when the erecting roller 13 descends between the intermediate guide rod portion 6b of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5, as shown in Fig. 6, the erecting roller 13 will come into contact with the lower switching tool 29 under its rearwardly tilted posture from the upper side thereof. [0085]
And, with this contact of the erecting roller 13, the lower side switching tool 29 will be pivoted toward the vertical posture about the axis q5 against the weight of the weight portion 29a, whereby the lower rod lacking portion 8b is closed temporarily, thus opening between lower guide rood portion 6c of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5. With this, the erecting roller 13 will move from between the intermediate guide rod portion 6b of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5 into between the lower guide rod portion 6c of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5 and will descend linearly thereafter also. [0086]
Further, in the above, the auxiliary roller 19 which descends

along the inner face of the rear side portion 8b of the Oshaped steel member, i.e. the post 3, in association with descending of the erecting roller 13 will descend as it is linearly along the inner face of the rear side portion 3b of the Oshaped steel member. [0087]
However, in case the erecting roller 13 ascends between the lower guide rod portion 6c of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5, as shown in Fig. 7, as the lower switching tool 29 assumes the rearwardly tilted posture due to the weight of the weight portion 29a thus opening the lower side rod lacking portion 8b, the erecting roller 13 will ascend and enter the lower side rod lacking portion 8b in association with the pivoting of the erecting arm 13 about the center axis ql of the loading tool rotational shaft 12 due to the weight of the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b). [0088]
With the above, the erecting roller 13 will pass the lower rod lacking portion 8b and then the ascending movement of the erecting roller 13 will be guided obliquely rearwards upwardly by the collapsing guide rod portion 6y And, when the erecting roller 13 arrives at the upper end of the collapsing guide rod portion 6y, then, the erecting roller 13 will ascend linearly in the rear rearwardly of the intermediate guide rod portion 6b of the third guide rod 6. [0089]
Further, when the erecting roller 13 receives guiding by the collapsing guide rod portion 6y in its ascending process, the auxiliary roller 19 which ascends together with the erecting roller 13 will enter the lower groove-like portion 9c of the guide groove-like portion 9 due to posture change of the auxiliary arm 18 associated with posture change of the erecting arm 11. [0090]
With the above, the ascending movement of the auxiliary roller 19 is guided obliquely forward upwardly by the lower groove-like portion 9c of the guide groove-like portion 9 and then as the auxiliary roller 19 moves to the intermediate groove-like portion 9b of the guide groove portion 9, the auxiliary roller 19 will ascend linearly along the outer face of the front side portion 3a of the Oshaped steel member, i.e. the post 3.

[0091]
Therefore, when the descending movement of the respective bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b from the loading position Uw to the unloading position Dw as a whole is considered (see Fig. 1, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6), firstly, at the loading position Uw, the upper side lifting roller 15 (namely, the loading tool rotational shaft 12) is located between the first guide rod 4 and the second guide rod 5, whereas the erecting roller 13 is located between the upper guide rod portion 6a of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5 and also the auxiliary roller 19 comes into contact with the inner face of the rear side portion 3b of the Oshaped steel member, whereby the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) at the loading position Uw assumes a substantially horizontal erected posture. [0092]
Here, when the one side bar-like loading tool 10a is positioned at the loading position Uw and assumes the horizontal erected posture in one lifting structure 2A, due to the operative coupling via the synchronizing chain 27, the one side bar-like loading tool 10a in the other lifting structure 2B also is located at the loading position Uw and assumes the horizontal posture. Therefore, the load W conveyed to the loading position Uw by the conveyer device 30 will be placed on the two one-side bar-like loading tools 10a, 10a assuming these erected postures, with the load W striding across the one side bar-like loading tools 10a, 10a assuming the erected posture at the loading position Uw in the left and right lifting structures 2A, 2B. [0093]
Further, this placing of the load W by the loading device 30 will be effected similarly also in case each other side bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b is located at the loading position Uw and assumes the horizontal erected posture in the left and right lifting structures 2A, 2B. [0094]
In each of the left and right lifting structures 2A, 2B, the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) on which the load W was placed at the loading position Uw will start descending from the loading position Uw due to the weight of the load W. In association with this, the lifting rollers 15, 17 too will descend linearly between the first guide rod 4 and the second guide rod 5.

[0095]
And, in the descending of the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) from the loading position Uw, the erecting roller 13 descending therewith will descend linearly between the upper guide rod portion 6a of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5 as the upper switching tool 28 assumes the vertical posture as described above. So, the erecting roller 13 will descend linearly between the upper guide rod portion 6a of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5 and then descend linearly between the intermediate guide rod portion 6b of the guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5. [0096]
Further, the erecting roller 13 will push open the lower switching tool 29 assuming the tilted posture and will move from between the intermediate guide rod portion 6b of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5 to between the lower guide rod portion 6c of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5 to continue its linear falling. [0097]
And, in the descending of the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) from the loading position Uw, the auxiliary roller 19 descending therewith will not enter the upper groove-like portion 9a as described above, but will descend linearly to the device lower portion along the inner face of the rear side portion 3b of the Oshaped steel member. [0098]
Namely, in the descending of the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) from the loading position Uw, the erecting roller 13 and the auxiliary roller 19 descend linearly to the device lower portion, with keeping the relative positional relationship relative to the lifting frame tool 14 to the positional relationship when the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) is present at the loading position Uw. Thus, the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) will descend from the loading position Uw to the unloading position Dw due to the weight of the load W, with keeping its horizontal erected posture. [0099]
Here, at the unloading position Dw, an unloading conveyer 38 stands ready for descending of the load W. At time of arrival at the unloading position Dw of two one side bar-like loading tools 10a, 10a

which descend in a same phase in the left and right lifting structures 2A, 2B, the load W will be reloaded onto the unloading conveyer 38, whereby these two one-side loading tools 10a, 10a are rendered into unloaded state. [0100]
This reloading (namely, unloading) of the load W to the unloading conveyer 38 is effected similarly also at time of descending of the two other side bar-like loading tools 10b, 10b of the left and right lifting structures 2A, 2B to the unloading position Dw. [0101]
However, in the left and right lifting structures 2A, 2B, in association with descending of the two one side bar-like loading tools 10a, 10a and subsequent arrival thereof at the unloading position Dw, the two other side bar-like loading tools 10b, 10b ascend from the unloading position Dw and arrive at the loading position Uw. Thus, as the next load W is loaded onto these two other side bar-like loading tools 10b, 10b by the loading device 30, device operation will continue with use of the weight of the load W. [0102]
Next, when the ascending movement of the respective bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b from the respective unloading positions Dw to the loading positions Uw as a whole is considered (see Fig. 1, Fig. 7 and Fig. 8), at time of start of the ascending movement of the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) located at the loading position Dw due to the weight of the load W placed on the bar-like loading tool 10b (10a) located at the loading position Uw, the upper side and lower side lifting rollers 15, 17 ascend linearly between the first guide rod 4 and the second guide rod 5, whereas the erecting roller 13 ascends between the lower guide rod portion 6c of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5 to come into contact with the lower switching tool 29 under its tilted posture. With this contact, the erecting roller 13 passes the lower rod lacking portion 8b, whereby the ascending movement of the erecting roller 13 is guided obliquely rearwards upwardly by the collapsing guide rod portion 6y. [0103]
Further, in the course of the above, the auxiliary roller 19 enters the lower groove-like portion 9c of the guide groove-like portion 9 in

response to posture change of the auxiliary am 18 associated with posture change of the erecting arm 11. With this, the ascending movement of the auxiliary roller 19 is guided obliquely forward upwardly by the lower groove-like portion 9c of the guide groove portion 9. [0104]
In this way, as the upper lifting roller 15 (namely, the loading tool rotational shaft 12) ascends linearly between the first guide rod 4 and the second guide rod 5, the ascending movement of the erecting roller 13 is guided obliquely rearwards upwardly by the collapsing guide rod portion 6y, whereby the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) will experience, at the initial portion of the ascending process, a gradual posture change from the horizontal erected posture to the vertical collapsed posture as being rotated about the loading tool rotational shaft 12 in association with the ascending. [0105]
And, the erecting roller 13 will arrive at the upper end of the collapsing guide rod portion 6y and then the erecting roller 13 will ascend linearly in the area rearwardly of the intermediate guide rod portion 6b of the second guide rod 6 and also the auxiliary roller 19 will shift from the lower groove-like portion 9c to the intermediate groove-like portion 9b of the guide groove-like portion 9 and then the auxiliary roller 19 will ascend linearly along the outer face of the front side portion 3a of the C-shaped steel member. In this process, the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) will ascend with keeping its vertical collapsed posture and in the course of this ascending process under the collapsed posture, the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) will pass by the bar-like loading tool 10b (10a) under its erected posture and in the process of descending from the loading position Uw under the loaded state. [0106]
The erecting roller 13 which continues to ascend linearly after the above-described passing each other will come into contact with the erecting guide rod portion 6x. And, with this contact, the ascending movement of the erecting roller 13 will be guided obliquely forward upwardly by the upper groove-like portion 9a. [0107]

Also, in the course of the above, the auxiliary roller 19 will shift from the intermediate groove-like portion 9b to the upper groove-like portion 9a of the guide groove-like portion 9, whereby the ascending movement of the auxiliary roller 19 will be guided obliquely rearwards upwardly by the upper groove-like portion 9a of the guide groove-like portion 9. [0108]
In this way, as the upper lifting roller 15 (namely, the loading tool rotational shaft 12) ascends linearly between the first guide rod 4 and the second guide rod 5, the ascending movement of the erecting roller 13 is guided obliquely forwards upwardly by the erecting guide rod portion 6x, and also the ascending movement of the auxiliary roller 19 is guided obliquely rearwards upwardly by the upper groove-like portion 9a of the guide groove-like portion 9. With these, the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) will experience, at the final portion of the ascending process, a gradual posture change from the vertical collapsed posture to the horizontal erected posture as being rotated in reverse about the loading tool rotational shaft 12 in association with the ascending. [0109]
Thereafter, as the erecting roller 13 comes into contact with the upper switching tool 28 under its vertical posture from the rear side thereof, the upper rod lacking portion 8a is opened up. With this, the erecting roller 13 ascends linearly between the upper guide rod portion 6a of the third guide rod 6 and the second guide rod 5. [0110]
Further, the auxiliary roller 19, after passing the upper groove-like portion 9a of the guide groove-like portion 9, ascends linearly along the inner face of the rear side portion 3b of the C-shaped steel member, i.e. the post 3. With this, the bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) will return again to the loading position Uw under the horizontal erected posture. [0111]
Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 show the loading device 30. This loading device 30 includes a base frame 31 which is fixedly installed, a lift frame 32 mounted on the base frame 31, and a slide frame 33 mounted on the lift frame 32.

[0112]
Between the base frame 31 and the lift frame 32, a loading cylinder 34 is mounted. In response to an expanding/contracting movement of this loading cylinder 34, the lift arm 32 is pivoted to the ascending side about a left/right oriented axis q6 and with this pivoting to the rising-side, the lift arm 32 will change in its posture from a lowered posture along the base frame 31 to a lifted tilted posture with its side adjacent the loading position Uw being elevated. [0113]
The slide frame 33 is mounted on the lift frame 32 to be slidable to the loading position Uw side. By driving of a slide chain 36 by a loading motor 35, the slide frame 33 slides relative to the lift frame 32 between a retracted state located on the lift frame 32 and a protruding state protruding from the lift frame 32 to the loading position Uw side. [0114]
Namely, with this loading device 30 in operation, when the load W is conveyed by the loading conveyer 37 to above the slide frame 33 under its retracted state on the lift frame 32 under its lowered posture, the loading cylinder 34 is expanded to render the lift frame 32 to the elevated tilted posture, whereby the load W (in this example, two loads W placed side by side on the front and rear sides) will be received from the loading conveyer 37 onto to the sliding frame 33. [0115]
And, subsequently to this receipt of the loads W, with keeping the lift frame 32 under the elevated tilted posture, the slide frame 33 is slid from the retracted state to the protruding state, whereby the loads W on the slide frame 33 will be brought above the two bar-like loading tools 10a, 10a (or 10b, 10b) assuming the erected posture and located at the loading positions Uw. Under this state, the loading cylinder 34 is contracted to lower the lift frame 32 together with the slide frame 33, whereby the loads W on the slide frame 33 will be placed onto the two bar-like loading tools 10a, 10a (or 10b, 10b). [0116]
Thereafter, on the lift frame 32 assuming the lowered posture, the slide frame 33 is slid from the protruding posture to the retraced posture, thus being ready for receipt of next loads W from the loading

conveyer 37. [0117]
At a position slightly lower than the loading position Uw in each post 3, there is mounted a stopper device 39 serving both as a "loading tool holding device" and an "upper side shock absorbing device". This stopper device 39, as shown in Fig. 13, includes a stopper member 40 which is rotatable about a front/rear oriented axis q7. [0118]
This stopper member 40 defines a receiving cutout 40a. With this stopper member 40 in operation, as a cam follower 45a attached to the lower end portion of each lifting frame tool 14 is brought into engagement with the receiving cutout 40a, descending of each lifting frame tool 14, namely, descending of the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b is prevented. [0119]
Namely, in this respect, the stopper device 39 constitutes the loading tool holding device for holding the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b at the loading positions Uw in association with arrival of these bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b at the loading positions Uw. [0120]
Also, at a lower portion of the stopper member 40, there is formed a shock absorbing cam portion 40b formed with a gentle curve to act as a "shock absorbing member". In the ascending process of the bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b, the cam follower 45a comes into contact with the shock absorbing cam portion 40b of the stopper member 40 from the lower side thereof, so that in the stopper member 40, its portions forming the receiving cutout 40a and the shock absorbing cam portion 40b are pivoted about the axis q7 to its open posture side away from a lifting passage of a cam follower 45a; with this, ascending movements of the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b are allowed. [0121]
And, at an upper portion of the stopper member 40, a shock absorbing weight 41 is attached. With the weight of this weight 41, the stopper member 40 is constantly urged to its closing posture side (namely, the side of the shock absorbing position) in which its portions forming the receiving cutout 40a and the shock absorbing cam portion 40b are

located within the lifting passage of the cam follower 45a. [0122]
Namely, when the nearly erected bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b approach the loading positions Uw in the ascending process, the cam follower 45a comes into contact with the shock absorbing cam portion 40b of the stopper member 40 and with this contact, the cam follower 45a pushes open the stopper member 40 from the shock absorbing position to the retracted position side against the weight of the weight 41, whereby the ascending speed of the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b is reduced by the weight of the weight 41 and with this, the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b will arrive at the loading positions Uw under a shock-absorbed state. [0123]
Further, after the cam follower 45 a while receiving such shock absorbing action passes upwardly through the mounting portion of the stopper member 40, the stopper member 40 will return to the closed posture immediately by the weight of the weight 41. With this, until completion of placing of the load W onto the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b by the loading device 30, due to the engagement of the cam follower 45a with the receiving cutout 40a, lifting movements of the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b will be stopped temporarily. [0124]
The stopper member 40 is operably linked to the loading device 30 via a link mechanism 42. More particularly, when the slide frame 33 of the loading device 30 is to return to the retracted posture after completion of placing of the load W on the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b, this slide frame 33 comes into contact with an operational arm 42a of the link mechanism 42 and with this contact, the operational arm 42a is operated, whereby the stopper member 40 is temporarily switched to the opened posture side against the weight of the weight 41, thus allowing descending of the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b which have been held at the loading positions Uw, by the weight of the load W. [0125]
Namely, the link mechanism 42 constitutes a "release operating portion" for releasing holding of the loading tools 10a, 10b by the stopper device 39 as the "loading tool holding device". [0126]

On the other hand, at a lower portion of each post 3, there is attached a lower shock absorbing device 43. This lower shock absorbing device 43, as shown in Fig. 14, includes a seesaw member 44 which effects seesaw movements about a left/right oriented axis q8 as a shock absorbing member. [0127]
At the lower end portion of each lift frame tool 14 which lifts (ascends/descends) together with the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b along the first guide rod 4 and the second guide rod 5, there is attached a shock absorbing tongue piece 45 which protrudes to the front side. One end portion of the seesaw member 44 is disposed within a lowering passage of the shock absorbing tongue piece 45. Further, the cam follower 45a described hereinbefore is attached via this shock absorbing tongue piece 45 to the lower end portion of the lifting frame tool 14. [0128]
At the other end portion of the seesaw member 44, a shock absorbing weight 46 is attached. With the weight of this shock absorbing weight 46, the seesaw member 44 is constantly urged to its tilted posture side (shock absorbing position side) in which one end side thereof is elevated and the other end side thereof is lowered with its pivoting about the axis q8. [0129]
Namely, the shock absorbing tongue piece 45 of the descending lifting frame tool 14 comes into contact with one end portion of the seesaw member 44. With this contact, the shock absorbing tongue piece 45 pushes up the one end portion of the seesaw member 44 from the shock absorbing position to the retracted position against the weight of the shock absorbing weight 46, whereby the descending speed of the lifting frame tool 14 is reduced and thus the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b will arrive at the unloading positions D under shock-absorbed state. [0130]
Further, at the upper end of the left/right one side lifting structure 2A, a governor 47 is mounted. This governor 47 automatically adjusts the descending speed of the bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b which descends due to the weight of the load W (in other words, the ascending speed of the other bar-like loading tool 10b (10a) which ascends in

association with descending of the one bar-like loading tool 10a (10b) due
to the weight of the load W) to an appropriate speed.
[0131]
As shown in Fig. 15 and Fig. 16, the governor 47 includes a driven rotational shaft 48 under a vertical posture, a pair of shoe operating arms 49, a pair of brake shoes 50, and a brake drum 51 fixed to the post 3. [0132]
The driven rotational shaft 48 assuming the vertical posture is operably linked via a bevel gear mechanism 52 to the one side upper sprocket 21 and the synchronizing sprocket 26. In operation, as the upper sprocket 24 and the synchronizing sprocket 26 are rotated with the movement of the upper chain 24 associated with ascending/descending of the bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b, the driven rotational shaft 48 is rotated via the bevel gear mechanism 52. [0133]
The pair of shoe operating arms 49 are operably coupled to the driven rotational shaft 48 while being freely rotatable about a horizontally oriented axis q9 at their arm length intermediate portions. And, at the upper portion of each shoe operating arm 49 relative to the axis q9, there is provided a weight attaching portion at which a braking force reducing weight 53a is to be attached. On the other hand, at the lower portion of each shoe operating arm 49 relative to the axis q9, there is provided a weight attaching portion at which a braking force increasing weight 53b is to be attached. [0134]
The pair of brake shoes 50 are disposed in such a manner as to surround the driven rotational shaft 48 between these brake shoes 50. And, the brake drum 51 is disposed to surround these paired brake shoes 50. [0135]
On the driven rotational shaft 48, there are attached shoe attaching arms 54 extending in the radial direction of the driven rotational shaft 48. Each brake shoe 50 is connected to the leading end portion of the shoe attaching arm 54 at one end portions of the brake shoes 50 to be freely rotatable about a vertical axis qlO.

[0136]
And, to an upper face portion of each brake shoe 50, the lower end portion of each shoe operating arm 49 is connected via a connecting tool 55. [0137]
Namely, with this governor 47 in operation, when the driven rotational shaft 48 is rotated in association with descending or ascending of the bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b, the lower end portion of each shoe operating arm 49 is moved to the outer side in the rotational radial direction by a centrifugal force and each shoe operating arm 49 is tilted with its pivoting about the axis q9, whereby each brake shoe 50 is pressed against the inner circumferential face of the brake drum 51. With this, the rotation of the driven rotational shaft 48 is braked and the descending speed or ascending speed of the bar-like loading tool 10a, 10b is restricted to an appropriate speed. [0138]
Further, in the above, the centrifugal force applied to the braking force increasing weight 53b which is attached to the lower portion lower than the axis q9 in each shoe operating arm 49 acts as a force to increase the pressed contact force of the respective brake shoe 50 against the inner circumferential face of the brake drum 51. On the other hand, the centrifugal force applied to the braking force reducing weight 53a which is attached to upper portion higher than the axis q9 in each shoe operating arm 49 acts as a force to reduce the pressed contact force of the respective brake shoe 50 against the inner circumferential face of the brake drum 51. [0139]
Therefore, by adjusting the attaching positions of these respective weights 53a, 53b to the shoe operating arms 49 in the longitudinal direction of the shoe operating arms 49, the descending speed and the ascending speed of the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b can be adjusted to appropriate speeds, irrespectively of the weight of the load W. [0140]
At the upper end of left/right one lifting structure 2A, addition to the governor 47 described above, there are mounted an electromagnetic

brake 56 and an emergency motor 57. The electromagnetic brake 56 is switched to a braking state for preventing rotation of the upper sprocket 21 and the synchronizing sprocket 26 upon detection by an operation sensor (not show) of arrivals of the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b at the loading position Uw and the unloading position Dw, whereby the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b are held at the loading position Uw and the unloading position Dw. [0141]
Also, the electromagnetic brake 56 is switched to a brake releasing state for allowing rotations of the upper sprocket 21 and the synchronizing sprocket 26 upon detection by a releasing sensor (not shown) of switchover of the above-described stopper member 40 to the opening side by the link mechanism 42 (namely, to the side of allowing descending of the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b), whereby ascending/descending movements of the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b are allowed. [0142]
Still further, the electromagnetic brake 56 is used also for forcibly stopping the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b at desired ascending/descending positions at time of e.g. inspection maintenance of the device, an emergency, etc. [0143]
The emergency motor 57 is coupled to the upper sprocket 21 and the synchronizing sprocket 26 via an electromagnetic clutch 58. In operation, by operating this emergency motor 57 with switching over of the electromagnetic clutch 58 to the motor connecting side at time of inspection maintenance of the device, etc., the bar-like loading tools 10a, 10b can be operated for ascending/descending by the driving force from the emergency motor 57.
[0144]
[Other Embodiments]
Next, other embodiments of the invention will be described one after another. [0145]
The loading tools 10a, 10b are not limited to the bar-like loading

tools disclosed in the foregoing embodiment, but can be of any arrangement such as in the form of a base, a container, comb teeth, luggage rack, etc. Still alternatively, they may be loading tools configured to place the loads W under a suspended state. [0146]
The erection/collapse guide mechanism configured to switch over the loading tool 10a, 10b from the erected posture to the collapsed posture at the initial portion in the ascending process after departure of the loading tool 10a, 10b from the unloading position Dw and also to switch over the lading tool 10a, 10b from the collapsed posture to the erected posture at the final portion in the ascending process prior to arrival of the loading tool 10a, 10b at the loading position Uw is not limited to the collapsing guide rod portion 6y and the erecting guide rod portion 6x described in the foregoing embodiment. The mechanism can be of any type as long as it switches over the loading tool 10a, 10b to the collapsed posture or the erected posture with utilization of the moving force of the loading tool 10a, 10b. [0147]
The synchronizing coupling mechanism for coupling ascending/descending movements of the loading tools 10a, 10b between the lifting structures 2A, 2B is not limited to the synchronizing sprocket 26 and the synchronizing chain 27 disclosed in the foregoing embodiment. Instead, any other coupling type such as a belt coupling type, a gear coupling type, etc. can be employed. [0148]
In the foregoing embodiment, there was disclosed a device configuration in which two lifting structures 2A, 2B each including a pair of left and right loading tools 10a, 10b are disposed side by side. Instead, as shown schematically in Fig. 17, a device configuration in which only one lifting structure 2 having a pair of left and right loading tools 10a, 10b is provided may be employed and loads W may be placed on the respective left and right loading tools 10a, 10b individually.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [0149]
The gravity-fall conveyer device according to the invention may

be used for descending conveyance of various kinds of articles in a variety of fields.
DESCRIPTION OF SIGNS [0150]
W: load
10a, 10b: loading tool 24: upper chain (rope-like tool) 24a: one side portion of upper chain 24b: the other side portion of upper chain 21: upper sprocket (upper guiding tool) Uw: loading position Dw: unloading position
6x: erecting guide rod portion (erecting guide mechanism) 6y: collapsing guide rod portion (collapsing guide mechanism) 11: erecting arm 2A, 2B: lifting structure
26: synchronizing sprocket (synchronizing coupling mechanism) 27: synchronizing chain (synchronizing coupling mechanism) 47: governor 48: driven rotational shaft 50: brake shoe 51: brake drum 49: shoe operating arm 53a: braking force reducing weight
39: stopper device (loading tool holding device, shock absorbing device)
42: link mechanism (release operating portion)
30: loading device
43: shock absorbing device
40b: shock absorbing cam portion (shock absorbing member)
44: seesaw member (shock absorbing member)
41: weight (shock absorbing weight)
46: shock absorbing weight

WE CLAIM:
1. A gravity fall conveyer device comprising:
a loading tool on which a load is placed;
a rope-like tool to which the loading tool is attached; and
an upper guiding tool that supports the rope-like tool wound around the upper guiding tool and guides a movement of the rope-like tool in the longitudinal direction with one side portion and the other side portion of the rope-like tool in its longitudinal direction extending downwards respectively;
the device being arranged such that when the load is placed on the loading tool at the loading position lower than the upper guiding tool, due to the weight of the load, in association with the movement of the rope-like member in the longitudinal direction, the loading tool with the load being placed thereon descends from the loading position to the unloading position;
wherein the loading tool is attached respectively to one side portion and the other side portion of the rope-like tool delimited from each other by the upper guiding tool therebetween; and
wherein in association with a movement of the rope-like tool in the longitudinal direction associated with a descending movement of the one side loading tool attached to the one side portion of the rope-like tool from the loading position to the unloading position due to the weight of the load placed thereon, the other side unloaded loading tool attached to the other side portion of the rope-like tool ascends from the unloading position to the loading position.
2. The gravity fall conveyer device of claim 1, wherein:
the loading tool is configured to be switchable between an erected posture allowing placing of the load thereon and a collapsed posture along a lifting passage of the loading tool and not allowing placing of the load thereon;
an erection/collapse guiding mechanism is provided for switching over the loading tool to the erected posture or the collapsed posture through utilization of a movement force of the loading tool; and
the erection/collapse guiding mechanism is configured to switch

over the loading tool from the erected posture to the collapsed posture at an initial portion of an ascending process of the loading tool after its departure from the unloading position and to switch over the loading tool from the collapsed posture to the erected posture at an ending portion of the ascending process of the loading tool prior to its arrival at the loading position.
3. The gravity fall conveyer device of claim 2, wherein:
the loading tool incudes an erecting arm integrally attached thereto;
the erection/collapse guiding mechanism includes a collapsing guide rod portion for switching the loading tool under the erected posture to the collapsed posture and an erecting guide rod portion for switching the loading tool under the collapsed posture to the erected posture;
at the initial portion of the ascending process, the erecting arm changes its posture due to its contact with the collapsing guide rod portion, thus switching the loading tool from the erected posture to the collapsed posture; and
at the ending portion of the ascending process, the erecting arm comes into contact with the erecting guide rod portion, thus switching the loading tool from the collapsed posture to the erected posture.
4. The gravity fall conveyer device of any one of claims 1
through 3, wherein:
a plurality of lifting structures are disposed side by side and spaced from each other;
each one of the lifting structures includes the upper guiding tool, the rope-like tool, the one side loading tool attached to the one side portion of the rope-like tool and the other side loading tool attached to the other side portion of the rope-like tool; and
at the loading position, the load is placed on the plurality of loading tools in such a manner as to stride over the plurality of loading tools located the loading position in each lifting structure.
5. The gravity fall conveyer device of claim 4, wherein a
synchronizing coordinating mechanism is provided for coordinating

lifting movements of the loading tools between/among the lifting structures.
6. The gravity fall conveyer device of any one of claims 1
through 5, wherein:
a governor device is provided for adjusting a lifting speed of the loading tool;
the governor device includes a driven rotational shaft, a brake shoe and a brake drum;
the driven rotational shaft is rotated with a movement of the rope-like tool associated with a lifting movement of the loading tool; and
the brake shoe presses the brake drum by a centrifugal force generated with rotation of the driven rotational shaft.
7. The gravity fall conveyer device of claim 6, wherein:
a pivotable shoe operational arm is mounted on the driven rotational shaft;
one end portion of the shoe operational arm is coupled to the brake shoe; and
a weight attaching portion to which a braking force reducing weight is to be attached is included in the shoe operational arm on a side opposite to the side coupled to the brake shoe relative to a pivot point of the shoe operational arm.
8. The gravity fall conveyer device of any one of claims 1
through 7, wherein:
a loading tool holding device is provided for holding the loading tool at the loading position in association with arrival of the loading tool at the loading position; and
a release operational portion is provided for releasing holding of the loading tool by the loading tool holding device.
9. The gravity fall conveyer device of claim 8, wherein:
a loading device is provided for placing a load on the loading tool located at the loading position;
as the release operational portion, a link mechanism is provided

for operably linking the loading device with the loading tool holding device; and
the link mechanism is configured to release holding of the loading tool by the loading tool holding device upon completion of placing of the load by the loading device.
10. The gravity fall conveyer device of any one of claims 1
through 9, wherein a shock absorbing device is provided for providing a
shock absorbing action on the lifting movement of the loading tool
adjacent the loading position or the unloading position.
11. The gravity fall conveyer device of claim 10, wherein:
the shock absorbing device includes a shock absorbing member;
the shock absorbing member is displaceable between a shock
absorbing position for providing the shock absorbing effect to the lifting movement of the loading tool and a retracted position retracted from the shock absorbing position and is urged toward the shock absorbing position by the weight of a shock absorbing weight; and
the shock absorbing member is temporarily switched over from the shock absorbing position to the retracted position against the weight of the shock absorbing weight in association with the lifting movement of the loading tool.