System for moving objects on a closed path

Abstract

A system ( 1 ) for moving objects or elements ( 100 ) on a closed path, said system comprising a fixed annular body ( 2 ) on which a structure ( 3 ) carrying said elements ( 100 ) moves in a guided manner, said fixed body ( 2 ) and said movable structure ( 3 ) each comprising a plurality of portions ( 10, 25 K, W) constrained to each other, said portions being modularly assemblable, the supported elements ( 100 ) of the movable structure being removably associated with said structure ( 3 ). The portions ( 25 K,W) of the movable structure ( 3 ) comprise at least one side ( 29 A, 29 B) shaped like a rack and pinion and cooperating with at least one toothed gear ( 46, 47 ) associated with a fixed box-like body ( 4 ) and moved by a gearwheel ( 50 ) driven by a geared motor ( 51 ), the toothed gear ( 46, 47 ) having two toothed portions ( 55, 56 ) with different diameter and superimposed, the one ( 55 ) cooperating with said gearwheel ( 50 ) and the other ( 56 ) with said side shaped like a rack and pinion, said box-like body being integrally joined with the fixed body ( 2 ) of the system.

1 . System ( 1 ) for moving objects or elements ( 100 ) defined by objects or elements representing people, things or animals, on a closed path, said system comprising a fixed annular body ( 2 ) suitable to support a structure ( 3 ) carrying said elements ( 100 ) in a movable and guided manner, said fixed body ( 2 ) and said movable structure ( 3 ) each comprising a plurality of portions ( 10 ,  25 K,W) constrained to each other, said portions being modularly assemblable, the elements ( 100 ) supported by the movable structure being removably associated with said movable structure ( 3 ), the portions ( 25 K,W) of the movable structure ( 3 ) comprising at least one side ( 29 A,  29 B) provided with a succession of coupling elements ( 32 ,  33 ) suitable to cooperate with at least one toothed gear ( 46 ,  47 ) of movement actuator means ( 4 ) which move said movable structure ( 3 ) on the fixed body ( 2 ), characterised in that said at least one toothed gear ( 46 ,  47 ) comprises a pair of toothed portions ( 55 ,  56 ) with different diameter and superimposed with respect to each other, a first toothed portion ( 55 ) cooperating with drive means ( 50 ,  51 ) of said movement actuator means ( 4 ) and the second toothed portion ( 56 ) cooperating with said coupling elements ( 32 ,  33 ) of said movable structure ( 3 ), said movement actuator means ( 4 ) being associated with a containment body ( 5 ) integrally joined with the fixed body ( 2 ) of the structure ( 1 ). 
     
     
         2 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the movement actuator means ( 4 ) comprise an electric geared motor ( 51 ) acting on a gearwheel ( 50 ) which cooperates with one ( 55 ) of said toothed portions ( 55 ,  56 ) of the toothed gear ( 46 ,  47 ). 
     
     
         3 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that each portion ( 25 K,W) of the movable structure ( 3 ) comprises rack and pinions ( 35 ) on both of its opposite sides ( 29 A,  29 B) and defined by said coupling elements ( 32 ,  33 ), the movement actuator means ( 4 ) comprising gears ( 46 ,  47 ) cooperating with said rack and pinions ( 35 ), both said gears having two superimposed toothed portions ( 55 ,  56 ), said toothed portions ( 55 ,  56 ) having different diameter, the lower toothed portions ( 55 ) cooperating engaged with respect to each other, the lower toothed portion ( 55 ) of one ( 47 ) of said gears ( 46 ,  47 ) receiving the motion from a gearwheel ( 50 ) of the movement actuator means ( 4 ), the upper toothed portions ( 56 ) of said gears ( 46 ,  47 ) having a smaller diameter with respect to that of the lower toothed portions ( 55 ) and being separated from each other by a space ( 59 ) corresponding to the width or transversal dimension of each portion ( 25 ) of said movable structure ( 3 ), the upper toothed portions ( 56 ) of such gears ( 46 ,  47 ) cooperating with both rack and pinions ( 35 ) of such portions ( 25 K,W) of the movable structure so as to move such structure on said fixed body ( 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said movable structure ( 3 ) passes through said containment body ( 5 ) constrained to the fixed body ( 2 ). 
     
     
         5 . System according to  claim 4 , characterised in that said containment body ( 5 ) is fixed to a first end portion ( 10 K) of the fixed body ( 2 ), said containment body ( 48 ) receiving a second end of the other end portion ( 10 W) of said fixed body ( 2 ) in a seat delimited by parallel arms ( 62 ,  63 ) spaced apart and protruding from said containment body ( 5 ). 
     
     
         6 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said portions ( 10 ,  25 K,W) of said fixed body ( 2 ) and of said movable structure ( 3 ) are flexible. 
     
     
         7 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that each portion ( 10 ) of the fixed body ( 2 ) has a protruding guide element ( 14 ) suitable to cooperate with a seat ( 28 ) provided for in the portions ( 25 ) of the movable structure so as to guide the movement thereof with respect to the fixed body ( 2 ). 
     
     
         8 . System according to  claim 7 , characterised in that said guide element ( 14 ) protrudes from a bottom ( 13 ) of a groove ( 12 ) provided inside each portion ( 10 ) of the fixed body ( 2 ), each portion ( 25 K,W) of the movable structure ( 3 ) moving inside the groove. 
     
     
         9 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises a plurality of toothed gears of the movement actuator means ( 4 ) arranged on the same side of the portions ( 25 K,W) of the movable structure, said plurality of gears cooperating with each other so as to transfer the motion of the movement actuator means ( 4 ) to said portions ( 25 K,W) of the movable structure ( 3 ), the other side of said portions ( 25 K,W) of the movable structure ( 3 ) moving in contact with a guide wall provided for in the box-like body ( 48 ). 
     
     
         10 . System according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said elements representing people, things or animals or said objects are magnetically constrained to said movable structure ( 3 ), between the elements representing people, things or animals or between said objects and the fixed body ( 2 ) there being present an element or sheet made of plastic material ( 43 ) on which said elements move driven by the movable structure ( 3 ). 
     
     
         11 . System according to  claim 8 , characterised in that each portion ( 10 ) of the fixed body ( 2 ) comprises elements suitable to retain the movable structure ( 3 ) in the groove ( 12 ) thereof of the fixed body ( 2 ).