Conveying apparatus

A conveying apparatus comprising:

• a support body configured to support a conveyed object;
• a linear moving member extended at a predetermined height position and configured to move in a predetermined conveying direction;
• a first guide rail including a first slope section inclined in the conveying direction from a predetermined first height position to a second height position different from the first height position, and configured to support the support body which moves in the first slope section;
• a second guide rail configured to form a second slope section at a position away from the first slope section by a predetermined horizontal distance which is set in the conveying direction, the second slope section being inclined in the conveying direction by a difference in height between the first and second height positions, and
• a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a driving force of the linear moving member to the support body when the linear moving member moves in the conveying direction,
• wherein the support body includes:
• a first moving body configured to move along the first guide rail;
• a second moving body situated at a position away from the first moving body by the predetermined horizontal distance, and configured to move along the second guide rail;
• and a placement portion connected to the first and second moving bodies, the conveyed object being placed on the placement portion,
• wherein an inclination angle of the second slope section is set so that a posture of the placement portion remains unchanged while the first moving body moves in the first slope section,
• wherein the transmission mechanism includes:
• a base portion configured to receive the driving force of the linear moving member;
• a first arm configured to form a first hinged joint in cooperation with the base portion, and extend obliquely downward from the first hinged joint;
• and a second arm configured to form a second hinged joint as a connection point with the first arm and extend obliquely downward from the second hinged joint in a direction, in which the second arm is bent from the first arm, the second arm forming a third hinged joint in cooperation with the support body, a slot member in which a slot is formed so as to determine a moving path of the second hinged joint while the first and second moving bodies move along the first and second slope sections respectively, and an inserting portion inserted in the slot at the second hinged joint, the transmission mechanism being configured to vertically extend and contract with changing an angle defined by the first and second arms at the second hinged joint in response to a change in vertical distance between the first guide rail and the linear moving member extended at the predetermined height position while the support body moves on the first slope section in the conveying direction with being supported by the first guide rail,
• wherein each of the first and second arms is longer than the predetermined horizontal distance, and
• wherein the first moving body or the second moving body is attached to the third hinged joint.