DE9408513U1 - Overhead conveyor system - Google Patents

Description

Overhead conveyor system

The invention relates to a suspended conveyor system with a rail system composed of a plurality of rail elements and a rolling apparatus running along it.

Overhead conveyors have been around for a long time and are used to convey loads of very different sizes, whereby the design of the respective overhead conveyor systems can depend to a large extent on the load to be conveyed. In the

In the textile industry, overhead conveyor systems are often used to transport rolls of thread, sewn clothing or similar workpieces with a relatively low weight. The overhead conveyor systems are often designed in such a way that manual operation is possible, i.e. individual roller devices running on the rails with any goods hanging on them can be pushed forward by hand, or automatic operation can be possible, in which a carrier automatically transports the corresponding roller devices. 20

Traditionally, special profile beams were used as rails, which are manufactured by welding individual profile beams together or by extrusion. However, such constructions have the disadvantage that complex special profile beams have to be manufactured and the entire construction cannot be assembled using conventional profiles. In addition, such special profile beams cannot be combined with one another in a modular manner to a suitable extent, so that numerous special parts are required in order to be able to put together a rail system of any design. The special profile beams also have to be relatively large and heavy in order to achieve the desired rigidity of the rail system.
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The invention solves the problem of creating a suspension conveyor system in which rail sections with a supporting profile carrier and a running profile carrier in the

Modular principle with great design freedom to be assembled into a stable rail system.

This is achieved according to the invention in that the rail elements have at least one support profile carrier and two running profile carriers arranged at a distance below them, which are rectangular in cross section and each have an upper running surface; the support profile carrier and the running profile carriers are braced together at least at their ends by means of bridges arranged at a distance from one another and enclosing the running profile carriers running next to one another in such a way that a guide slot of defined width is formed between the two running profile carriers; the rolling apparatus has two running rollers with the same axis that are supported on the upper running surfaces of the running profile carriers; and the rolling apparatus has at least one lateral guide roller, the axis of which runs perpendicular to the axis of the running roller and which runs in a guided manner in the guide slot.

These features mean that the rail system can be assembled with a high degree of design freedom, essentially from conventional rectangular profiles, for which purpose the relatively light and small bridges are used, which allow a flexible connection of individual rail elements to one another and are also easy to transport. The distance from the running profile supports to the at least one supporting profile support helps to achieve a relatively high rigidity of the rail system.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the bridges are profile bodies manufactured by die casting or extrusion or as a rod-bent sheet metal part. These bridges designed in this way are relatively short in their extension in the direction of travel compared to the total length of the respective rail element, so that the use of special profiles that are relatively expensive to manufacture is reduced to a minimum.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the running profile supports have a lower running surface, and the rolling apparatus has at least one stabilizing roller, which is supported on the lower running surface. The upper and lower running surfaces are formed in a simple manner by the already existing rectangular shape of the support profile supports, whereby relatively uncomplicated stabilization can be achieved by means of the stabilizing rollers.

According to another advantageous development of the invention

Switch tongues are provided which engage in the guide slot on the side guide roller and, depending on the switch position, guide the rolling device for straight ahead travel or a branch to the left or right. The side guide rollers can also be rigid and function like guide sliders. However, this makes the entire system more difficult to move, which can be a problem, especially when a large number of rolling devices are being conveyed one after the other. The side guide rollers are therefore preferably rotatable, 20

According to another preferred embodiment, the switch tongues, which run parallel to one another, are arranged on both sides of the guide slot and these switch tongues are housed in the respective running profile supports. In principle, it is also possible to house the switch tongues somewhere other than in the running profile supports. For example, the guide rollers could be extended upwards and the switches could be arranged above the running profile supports. However, the construction with switch tongues arranged in the running profile supports represents a particularly space-saving construction that provides optimal protection for the switch mechanism and also works very reliably because the switch tongues can engage directly in the guide slot. Due to the design of at least one lateral guide roller on the rolling apparatus, which the switch tongue engages within the guide slot, the switch tongue only needs to accommodate the lateral guides and is not affected by the weight of the

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The trolley and the load hanging on it are loaded.

According to another preferred embodiment, the bridges are provided with clamping plates, whereby the running and supporting profile supports are pressed against the profile body by means of clamping screws. However, it is also possible to do without the clamping plates and use other clamping elements such as clamping claws or to press the supporting profile supports against the profile body by means of simple screws and washers.

According to another preferred embodiment, the profile supports have two lower flanges on which the two rectangular running profile supports rest. As a result, the running profile supports, which are also supported with their upper side on counter shoulders of the profile supports, are supported particularly securely by the profile body. In addition, the running profile supports can be connected to the profile body by means of rivets or screws or spot welding, which provides additional security against loosening and keeps the guide slot at its constant, defined width.

Preferably, the profile body is provided with fastening or connecting holes that extend parallel to the running or supporting profile supports. This allows a simple connection of the bridges, i.e. the profile body with other elements or neighboring bridges or profile bodies. However, other clamping elements are also possible, or the clamping plates mentioned above can be provided with fastening or connecting holes.

'■ According to a particularly preferred embodiment, two support profile supports are provided which run next to one another above the running profile supports , with a gap being formed between the support profile supports through which the clamping screws penetrate.

In this way, conventional rectangular tubes or

Square tubes can be used to construct the rail system. However, it is also possible to use the support profile beams placed on the corner, which slightly increases the bending stiffness but complicates the construction somewhat.

The support profile supports are preferably square or rectangular square tubes, the outer surfaces of which are aligned horizontally or vertically. However, these can also have other shapes, for example round tubes or solid profiles. The support profile supports are advantageously pressed against the profile body of the bridge by means of the clamping plate and the running profile supports are screwed to the profile body by means of screws. However, as already mentioned, the running profile supports can also be connected to the profile body by means of other devices, for example rivets or adhesive.

Although different profiles can be used as supporting profile beams or running profile beams, they are preferably designed identically, which simplifies the construction overall. Depending on the requirements, the supporting profile beams can, however, be stronger and have a higher cross-section than the running profile beams in order to ensure a correspondingly high bending strength.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the profile body can be provided with a groove on its upper side that can be gripped by a fastening element such as a screw head. In this groove, a screw head of a clamping screw and/or a suspension screw for hanging the entire rail on the ceiling of a room can be gripped by an undercut. - .

Advantageously, carriers can be provided for the automatic conveying of the roller devices, which run through the interior of the profile body. However, it is also possible to design the rails and thus the corresponding profile bodies in such a way that the overhead conveyor system is only suitable for manual

is suitable for operation in which the roller devices are pushed forward by hand.

In the case of automatic operation, it is particularly advantageous if the carriers are linked to an endless chain and the profile body is provided with side chambers through which the slack side of the chain with the carriers runs. This development means that the slack side is housed in a particularly space-saving and protected manner and no special guide devices need to be provided for the slack side. ■».

The rail system is advantageously constructed as a modular system and is essentially made up of the following rail elements: curved element, track element, 2-way switch straight / 45° left, 2-way switch straight / 45° right, 2-way switch 45° right / 45° left, 3-way switch straight / 45° right / 45° left and crossing switch. By combining these elements, a rail system of any length can be constructed, although only the small number of the aforementioned rail elements are required.

The switches advantageously each have a frog to which the respective switch tongue or tongues are articulated. The 2-way switch straight / 45° left and the 2-way switch straight / 45° right are particularly axially symmetrical to each other and the frog is designed in such a way that by turning the frog either the 2-way switch straight / 45° left or the 2-way switch straight / 45° right can be formed. A hand lever might have to be converted for this. Overall, however, a conversion can be carried out at a much lower cost than by completely replacing the switch with the other one.

The invention is explained below using preferred embodiments with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows:

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Figure 1 is a plan view of part of a rail system in a highly schematic form?

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of various switch positions in the part of the rail system shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 a 2-way switch straight / 45° left in different switch positions and with schematic rolling apparatus; *

Figure 4a) a perspective, schematic view of a rail section;

Figure 4b) a section along the line A-B in Figure 4c);

Figure 4c) a side view of the rail section shown in Figure 4b) together with roller devices in the side view;

Figures 5a) and 5b) show a section corresponding to Figure 4b), this embodiment having automatic drivers;

Figure 6 shows a connection point of rail elements, where two bridges are screwed together; Figure 7a) a section corresponding to Figure 4b), where the switch tongues are also shown schematically;

Figure 7b) a rolling device with the side guide rollers in side view;

Figure 7c) a schematic representation of the rolling apparatus with the side guide rollers and the switch tongues;

Figures 8a) and 8b) are sections corresponding to Figure 4b), but with support profile girders of different sizes; Figures 9 and 10 are a section corresponding to Figure 4b) of a further embodiment, each with support profile girders of different heights;

Figure 11 is a representation corresponding to Figures 9 and 10 of a further embodiment which is suitable for internal rotor operation with automatic drivers; Figure 12 is a plan view of a track element of the rail system;

Figure 13 is a plan view of an arched element of the rail system;

Figure 14 is a plan view of a crossing switch of the rail system;

Figure 15 a top view of a 2-way switch straight / 45° left;

Figure 16 a plan view of a 2-way switch straight / 45° right;

Figure 17 a plan view of a double switch 45° right / 45° left; and *

Figure 18 is a plan view of a 3-way switch straight / 45° right / 45° left.

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Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a top view of a part of a rail system in which two circulating loops 1 are connected to a straight section 2, whereby switch tongues 3 can be switched in order to guide rolling devices 4, also shown schematically, from the section 2 into the loops 1 or from these loops 1 back onto the section 2. As can be clearly seen from the drawing, two 3-way switches are provided for this purpose, which allow straight-ahead travel as well as turning left and turning right, or straight-ahead travel or entry onto the section 2 from the left or right.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the rails with the corresponding switch tongues 3 in different positions. The switch tongues 3 are pivoted individually or in pairs relative to the rails in such a way that they always run essentially parallel to each other.

Figure 3 also shows a schematic representation of a 2-way switch, which allows straight ahead travel and turning to the left. Also shown schematically in plan view is the rolling apparatus 4, which is provided with rollers 5 and guide rollers 6, whereby the guide rollers 6 run in a guide slot 7. The running profiles 8 ■ are provided with upper running surfaces 9, along which the rollers 5 roll. The respective position of the

The guide rollers 5 are steered by the switch tongue 3 or the switch tongues 3 in such a way that a straight-ahead journey or a turn is made possible accordingly.

Figure 4 shows the structure of the rails schematically, with Figure 4a) showing a perspective, schematic view of a rail section which, according to this embodiment, is made up of two track sections 10. Figure 4a) shows the two running profiles 8 and two support profiles 11, which are connected to one another by means of bridge elements 12. The adjacent track elements 10 are connected to one another by means of the bridges 12, as will be explained in more detail below. The running profiles 8 are also held at a defined distance from one another by means of the bridges 12, so that the guide slot 7 has a defined width in order to accommodate the guide rollers 6 between them with the required play. The support profile supports 11 are also held at a certain distance from one another by the bridges 12, so that a fastening slot 13 is formed between the support profile supports 11, through which clamping screws 14 can be inserted. The clamping screws 14, whose heads are located in an undercut groove on the top side of the bridge 12, press the supporting profile supports 11 against the respective bridge 12 by means of upper clamping plates 16, which is designed as a profile body section 15, as can be seen from Figure 4b).

In contrast to the illustration in Figure 4a), the supporting profile supports 11 according to the illustrations in Figure 4b) and Figure 4c) are not identical to the running profile supports 8, but are higher in cross-section in order to achieve a higher bending strength.

Figure 4c) shows a side view of a rail section or rail element 10, where the bridges 12, the clamping plates 16, the supporting profile supports 11, the running profile supports 8 and the rolling devices 4 can be clearly seen. The

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Roller devices 4 have a lower hook 17, which can be used for example to hold coat hangers, as well as the previously mentioned rollers 5 and lower stabilizing rollers 18, which are supported against a lower running surface 19 of the running profile supports 8, while the rollers 5 are supported on the upper running surface 9 of the running profile supports 8. The roller devices 4 have driver projections 20, which are suitable for automatically driving the roller devices 4.
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Figures 5a and 5b show sections along the section line marked A-B in Figure 4 and thus sections corresponding to Figure 4b). The supporting profile supports 11 can be seen again, which are pressed against the profile body 15 by means of the clamping plate 16 with the aid of clamping screws 14. The running profile supports 8 are supported by flanges 21, are supported with their upper side on the shoulders of the profile body 15 and are also firmly connected to the profile body 15 with the aid of screws 22. Instead of screws 22, corresponding rivets can also be used, for example. Drivers 23 can also be seen, which can engage the driver projection 20. The drivers are connected to a chain 24, which can run in a plastic rail 25. The slack side of the chain with the drivers runs in a

Profile body 15 formed chamber 27, into which the plastic rail 25 was pressed for this purpose. To accommodate this plastic rail 25, the profile body 15 can already be provided with appropriately formed projections 3 3. 30

As Figure 5b) shows, up to 3 drivers can be arranged next to each other in the profile body 15, which may be necessary, for example, to avoid a collision of drivers on sections of track, as indicated in Figure 2 by the section line C-D. Depending on whether straight ahead, turning left or turning right is desired after such a section of track, which is specified by the switch tongues 3, the corresponding

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two drivers no longer required behind the switch are disengaged from the driver projection 29, so that for example, the picture shown in Figure 5a) is again obtained.

As already mentioned, the running profile supports 8 are provided with an upper running surface 9 and a lower running surface 19, with the running rollers 5 resting on the upper running surface 9 and the stabilizing rollers 18 resting on the lower running surface 19. The profile body 15 keeps the running profile supports 8 at a defined distance from one another, whereby the guide slot 7" is formed, in which the guide rollers 6 run in a guided manner.

Also clearly visible are the fastening or connecting holes 28, which are formed in the profile body 15 and extend parallel to the running and supporting profile bodies. Using these fastening or connecting holes 28, several bridges 12 can be connected to one another or to any other element, as shown in Figure 6. For this purpose, the bridge elements can be connected to one another using conventional connecting screws 29.

Figures 7a) to 7c) show a further embodiment in which the profile body 15 is built lower in a section intended for manual operation than that for automatic operation. In other words, the support profile supports 11 and the running profile supports 8 are arranged closer together because no construction height is required for the carrier chains. Figure 7b shows the rolling apparatus 4 again in an enlarged view, while Figure 7c shows a schematic top view of the running profile supports 8. As can be seen from Figures 7b) and 7c), two side guide rollers 6 are provided, which are arranged at a distance from one another when viewed in the direction of travel of the rolling apparatus 4. The provision of two side guide rollers 6 ensures more stable operation and improved guidance. The switch tongues 3 are each in the support profile supports 8

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arranged and can be pivoted accordingly. This opens up the possibility that the switch tongues 3 can engage directly in the guide slot 7 on the side guide rollers 6 and, on the other hand, are housed in a space-saving and protected manner and are not stressed by the weight of the rolling apparatus and the load hanging on it.

Further embodiments are shown in Figure 8, where it can be seen that even with the same profile body 15, different support profile beams 11 can be used depending on the desired bending stiffness.

Furthermore, it can be seen from Figure 8b) that the running profile supports 8 do not necessarily have to be screwed to the profile support 15 from the side as in the previous embodiments, but that the screws 22 can also be screwed through the flange 21 and through the respective running profile support 8 and into the profile body 15. Of course, rivets can again be used here instead of the screws 22. It is also possible for the running profile supports to be glued or welded to the profile body during assembly.

Figures 9 and 10 show embodiments according to which the clamping plate 16 of the previous embodiments has been dispensed with and instead the support profile supports 11 are simply clamped to the profile support 15 by means of the clamping screws 14 via washers 30. In addition, upper vertical flanges 31 can be formed in order to securely hold the support profile supports 11. As indicated by the lines 32, the support profile supports can also be riveted or screwed to the profile body 15 via the flanges 31 using rivets or screws. In the embodiment according to Figure 9, the support profile supports are flush with the flanges 31, which leads to a particularly protected and visually appealing design. As the low construction height of the profile bodies according to the

As can be seen from Figures 9 and 10, these embodiments are suitable for manual operation, since there is no room for automatic drivers in the profile body 15.

An embodiment corresponding to Figure 9, which, however, is suitable for automatic operation, is shown in Figure 11. As can be seen, the constructions according to Figure 9 and Figure 11 are basically the same, but the profile body 15 is designed both higher and wider in order to be able to accommodate the drivers including the slack strand. The chambers 27 are provided for the slack strand. Further projections such as the projection 33 can be provided in order to fix other elements such as hydraulic hoses or cable ducts to the bridge 12.

Figures 12 to 18 show various rail elements from which the entire rail system is constructed in a modular manner. In principle, more rail elements are not required to create any rail route.

Identical components are designated with the same reference numerals in Figures 12 to 18 as well as in the other figures.

Figure 12 shows a straight track element 10 in plan view. This track element has already been shown in perspective in Figure 4a). The supporting profile supports 11 can be seen, below which the running profile supports 8 are arranged congruently, whereby the supporting profile supports 11 and the running profile supports 8 are held together by means of the bridges 12 arranged at both ends of the rail element 10. The bridges 12 also serve, as already mentioned, to connect to other rail elements.

Figure 13 shows a corresponding arch element, whereby the angle between the center line 34 of the guide slot 7 between the entry point of the arch element and the exit point of the arch element is 45°. In order to achieve a close tolerance with regard to the arch radius and the entry and exit angle of the arch elements, the

Support and running profile beams can also be designed as plastic molded parts, e.g. as solid profile beams.

Figure 14 shows a crossing switch, where four :5 crossing switch angles 35 are connected to one another by means of the bridges 12. The guide slots 7 cross at an angle of 90°.

Figures 15 and 16 show 2-way switches, which allow straight ahead travel and turning 45° to the left or right. For the sake of clarity, the switch tongues 3 are shown hatched. These are pivotably mounted on bearing bolts 36 and continue further to the rear. The rear end 37 of the switch tongues is provided with a recess 38 in which a toggle lever 39 can be accommodated, which in turn can be pivoted about a bearing bolt 40. An automatic switching device can engage the end 41 remote from the switch tongue 3 in order to pivot the toggle lever 39 and the switch tongue 3 via the recess 38. In addition, another rear end 42 of the switch tongue 3 is guided via a guide bolt 43 in an elongated hole 44. A lever for manual operation can be connected to the guide pin 43 in order to be able to switch the switch mechanism either manually or automatically. A locking ball 45, which is accommodated in the switch tongue 3 under spring preload, can engage in a locking body 4 6 or a rotating body in order to hold the switch tongue 3 releasably but in defined positions.

Figure 16 shows a switch analogous to the switch shown in Figure 15 for turning right and straight ahead. It is also possible to use a switch shown in Figure 15 like a switch shown in Figure 16, that is, to use it for straight ahead and turning right. To do this, only the bridges 12 have to be loosened and the frog 47 of the switch has to be turned over. In addition, the hand lever (not shown) which is connected to the guide pin 4 3 has to be remounted in order to

to be operated from below. Although converting a switch shown in Figure 15 into a switch shown in Figure 16 requires a certain amount of assembly work, this nevertheless represents a relatively inexpensive variation option and the flexibility of the modular system is further increased.

Figure 17 shows a switch that only allows turning to the left or turning to the right. The shape of the switch tongue 3 has been redesigned accordingly.

The slot 48 does not represent a guide slot, but is only a necessity because the double switch shown in Figure 17 is composed of the same frog pieces 47 as shown in Figures 1, 5 and 16. The end of the switch shown in Figure 17 is therefore a blind end.

Figure 18 finally shows a 3-way switch, which allows straight ahead travel as well as turning 45° to the left and turning 45° to the right. As can be seen, two switch blades 3 are required, which must be moved synchronously to one another in a certain way in order to set the desired switch positions.

As can be seen from Fig. 12 to 18, the rail elements are always provided with a bridge 12 at the ends of their running rails, via which the supporting profile supports and the running profile supports are held together and adjoining rail elements are connected to one another.

Claims (17)

Expectations 1. Overhead conveyor system with a rail system composed of a plurality of rails and switches and a rolling apparatus running along this, whereby the rails have at least one support profile carrier (11) and two running profile carriers (8) with a rectangular cross-section, each of which is provided with an upper running surface (9); the support profile carrier (11) and the running profile carriers (8) running next to one another are connected to one another by means of bridges arranged at a distance from one another in such a way that a guide slot (7) of a defined width is formed between the two running profile carriers (8); the rolling apparatus (4) has a chassis with rollers (5) supported on the upper running surfaces (9) of the running profile supports (8); and the rolling apparatus (4) has a lower load hook (17), characterized in that the rollers (4) have a common running axis; the running profile supports (8) each have a lower running surface (19); stabilizing rollers (18) arranged beneath the running rollers (5) are arranged to grip underneath the running profile supports (8), wherein the stabilizing rollers (18) are supported on the lower running surfaces (19); the rolling apparatus (4) has two side guide rollers (6) arranged at a distance from one another in its running direction, the axes of which run perpendicular to the axis of the rollers (5), and the side guide rollers (6) are arranged in such a way that they run guided in the guide slot (7) and interact with the switches, for which purpose Switch tongues (3) are provided which engage in the guide slot (7) on the guide roller (6) and, depending on the switch position, guide the rolling apparatus (4) for straight-ahead travel or a branch to the left or right. 2. Overhead conveyor system according to claim 1, characterized in that the bridges (12) are profile bodies (15) produced by die casting or extrusion or as a stamped and bent sheet metal part. 3. Overhead conveyor system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that switch tongues (3) running parallel to one another are arranged on both sides of the guide slot (7) and these switch tongues (3) are accommodated in the respective running profile supports (8). 10 4. Overhead conveyor system according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the bridges (12) are provided with upper clamping plates (16) with which the support profile supports (11) are pressed against the profile body (15) by means of clamping screws (14). 5. Overhead conveyor system according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the profile body (15) has two lower flanges (21) on which the two rectangular running profile supports (8) rest, which are supported with their upper side on shoulders of the profile body (15). 6. Overhead conveyor system according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the profile body (15) is provided with fastening or connecting holes (28) which extend parallel to the running and supporting profile supports (11). 7. Overhead conveyor system according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that two support profile supports (11) are provided, which run next to one another above the running profile supports (8) while forming a gap between them, through which the clamping screws (14) are inserted. 8. Overhead conveyor system according to claim 7, characterized in that the support profile supports (11) are square or rectangular square tubes, the outer surfaces of which are aligned horizontally or vertically. ...... : 9. Overhead conveyor system according to claim 8, characterized in that that the supporting profile supports (11) are pressed against the profile body (15) of the bridge (12) by means of the clamping plate (16) and the running profile supports (8) are fixed to the profile body (15) by means of screws (22), rivets, spot welds or the like. 10. Overhead conveyor system according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the support profile carriers (11) to the Running profile supports (8) are identical. 10 11. Overhead conveyor system according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the supporting profile supports (11) have a higher cross-section than the running profile supports (8). 12. Overhead conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the profile body (15) is provided with a groove on its upper side that can be engaged by a fastening element such as a screw head. 13. Overhead conveyor system according to one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that drivers (23) are provided for automatically conveying the roller apparatuses (4), which run through the interior of the profile body (15). 14. Overhead conveyor system according to claim 13, characterized in that the carriers (23) are attached to an endless chain (24) and the profile body (15) is provided with lateral chambers (27) through which the empty strand (26) of the chain (24) with the carriers (23) runs. 15. Overhead conveyor system according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the rail system is constructed in a modular system and is essentially made up of the rail elements curved element, track element, 2-way switch straight / 45° left, 2-way switch straight / 45° right, 2-way switch 45° right / 45° left, 3-way switch straight / 45° right / .45° left, and crossing switch. 16. Overhead conveyor system according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the switches each have a heart piece (47) on which the respective switch tongue (3) or the respective switch tongues (3) are pivotally mounted. 17. Overhead conveyor system according to claim 16, characterized in that the 2-way switch straight / 45° left is constructed axially symmetrically to the 2-way switch straight / 45° right and the core (47) is designed in such a way that it can be used optionally for the 2-way switch straight / 45° left or the 2-way switch straight / 45° right by turning it around.