CONVEYING DEVICE WITH A CONVEYING CHAIN

Abstract

A conveying device with a conveying chain, which includes a plurality of chain links, and a plurality of conveyed object containers, which are attached on the conveying chain, for receiving a conveyed object. The conveyed object containers are fastened to the conveying chain via holding elements connected to the conveying chain, wherein the conveyed object containers are held in each case by the holding element.

Claims

1. A conveying device comprising a chain conveyor with a conveying chain and a plurality of conveyed object containers, which are attached on the conveying chain and which are adapted to receive a conveyed object, wherein the conveyed object containers are fastened to the conveying chain in each case via a holding element that is directly or indirectly connected to the conveying chain, wherein at least one conveyed object container is held in each case by said holding element.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein, for holding, the conveyed object container is pushed in an insertion direction onto or into the holding element.

3. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the holding element is releasably fastened to the conveying chain in a direct or indirect manner.

4. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the holding element comprises clamping means that directly or indirectly fixedly clamp the conveyed object container on the holding element.

5. The conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the clamping means comprise a clamping element that exerts a clamping force upon the conveyed object container in a direct or indirect manner.

6. The conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the holding element contains a counter-element that is designed to secure the conveyed objects conveyed by the conveyed object container, against falling out of the at least one conveyed object receiver.

7. The conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the clamping force that acts upon the conveyed object container is directed perpendicularly to the insertion direction of the conveyed object container.

8. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyed object container is a longitudinal body, and the conveyed object container is arranged on the holding element such that a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal body runs parallel to the insertion direction.

9. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyed object container comprises at least one conveyed object receiver for receiving a conveyed object.

10. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the holding element forms a container rest, on which the conveyed object container lies.

11. The conveying device according to claim 10, wherein the holding element contains a counter-element, which lies opposite the container rest, and thus prevents a movement of the conveyed object container away from the container rest in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction.

12. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein a guard is arranged between the conveyed object containers and the conveying chain.

13. The conveying device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one guard element is arranged between the holding elements and the conveying chain, or that the at least one guard element is part of the holding elements.

14. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein holding element and its arrangement on the conveying chain are such that the insertion direction forms an angle of greater than 0° to the conveying direction of the holding element.

15. The conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising a buffer station with an extensive conveying element for buffering conveyed object containers, which are pushed out of the holding element.

16. A method for buffering conveyed object containers with a conveying device according to claim 15, wherein the conveying device forms a transfer zone, in which the conveyed object containers are pushed from the holding elements and are transferred onto the extensive conveying element of the buffer station, and a take-over zone, in which the conveyed object containers are pushed from the conveying element onto the holding elements.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the conveyed object containers in the transfer zone are brought from a cycled conveying by the chain conveyor into a non-cycled conveying by the extensive conveying element, and the conveyed object containers in the take-over zone are brought from an non-cycled conveying by the extensive conveying element into a cycled conveying by the chain conveyor.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the position and the speed of the conveyed object containers in the take-over zone are synchronized with the holding elements of the chain conveyor which are cyclically moved into the take-over zone, by way of the take-over device.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the conveying direction of the extensive conveying element in the take-over zone is parallel to the conveying direction of the holding elements of the chain conveyor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0124] The subject-matter of the invention is hereinafter explained in more detail by way of embodiment examples which are represented in the accompanying figures. There are schematically shown in each case in:

[0125] FIG. 1a a front view of a holding element with a piece item container according to a first embodiment;

[0126] FIG. 1b a front view of the holding element according to FIG. 1a, without piece item containers,

[0127] FIG. 2 a lateral view of the holding element with piece item containers, according to FIGS. 1a and 1b;

[0128] FIG. 3 a view in the conveying direction, of the holding element with piece item containers according to FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2, the holding element being arranged on a carriage;

[0129] FIG. 4 a plan view of a first embodiment of a conveying device with a buffer station, according to the invention;

[0130] FIG. 5 a plan view of a second embodiment of a conveying device with a buffer station, according to the invention;

[0131] FIG. 6 a perspective view of a further embodiment of a conveying device with holding elements according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0132] Basically, in the figures, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0133] The piece item container 3 according to FIGS. 1a, 1b and 2 to 5 is designed as a longitudinal body with plurality of piece item receivers 10 which are arranged successively in a row along its longitudinal axis L. The piece item receivers 10 are recesses, into which the piece items 4 are brought. The piece item receivers 10 each receive the piece items 4 in an exactly fitting manner, so that the piece items 4 have a defined retention in the piece item receivers 10. The piece items 4 project with an upper end section out of the piece item receivers 10.

[0134] According to the present embodiment, the piece items 4 are semi-finished products of gas lighters. The piece item container 3 thereby simultaneously serves as a piece items holder for carrying out processing or machining steps on the gas lighters 4. This, for example, can be the filling of the gas lighter with gas, and/or the assembly of the head with the spark wheel and flint.

[0135] The piece item container 3 can be laterally inserted into a holding element 2, for conveying the piece item 4 in the piece item container 3. The holding element 2 is designed as an angular profile. The angular profile forms an insertion section 12 with a container rest and a side guide 14. The side guide 14 comprises lateral profile walls.

[0136] In the region of the insertion section 13, the holding element 2 forms a receiving region 17 for receiving the piece item container 3 as well as the lighters 4, which are conveyed by this.

[0137] The insertion section 13 moreover includes a profile base that delimits the receiving region 17 towards the conveying chain 20. Two arched spring steel sheet elements 5 are arranged in the receiving region 17, on the profile base. These form a container rest.

[0138] The holding element 2 moreover includes a first counter-element 11 in the form of at least one projection projecting into the receiving region 17. The projection is formed by a wall section, which is bent out of the profile wall into the receiving region 17.

[0139] The holding element 2 moreover has a second counter-element 12 in the form of a further projection projecting into the receiving region 17. The projection is formed by an end section of the lateral profile wall, which is bent into the receiving region 17.

[0140] On inserting the piece item container 3 into the insertion section 13 of the holding element 2, this container is then pushed over the spring steel sheet elements 5, which are concavely ached into the receiving region 17. The spring steels sheet elements 5 are thereby squashed and the curvature flattens. The piece item container 3 is pressed away from the profile base in the direction of the first counter-element 11 and abuts on this, due to the now acting restoring force of the spring steel sheet elements 5. The piece item container 3 is now firmly clamped between the first counter-element 11 and the spring steel sheet element 5 and is secured against release from the holding element 2.

[0141] If piece items 4 are arranged on the piece item container 3, then the piece items 4 are pressed by the spring steel sheet elements 5, via the piece item container 3, towards the second counter-element 12 and abut on this, on inserting the piece item container 3 over the spring steel sheet elements 5. The piece items 4 are fixedly clamped in the holding element 2 and are secured against falling out of the piece item receivers 10.

[0142] The holding elements 2 are each fastened on a chain link 6 of a conveying chain 20. The chain links 6 are designed as carriages 56, which are connected to one another via joint connections, into the conveying chain 20.

[0143] The carriages each include a main body 9. The main body 9 has coupling elements 8 for forming the joint connection (see FIG. 4).

[0144] The main body 9 moreover includes a connection interface 18 for creating a connection to the holding element 2. The holding elements 2 are thus each fastened to the main body 9 of the carriage 6 via the connection interface 18.

[0145] The carriage 6 has two rollers 15, via which the carriage 6 rolls along a runner rail 7. The carriage 6 moreover also has a guide roller 16, via which the carriage 6 is led along the runner rail 7.

[0146] The holding elements 2 and with them, the piece item containers 3 that are arranged on them, are arranged obliquely, i.e. at an angle of greater than 0°, with respect to the conveying direction F1 (see FIG. 4).

[0147] The piece item containers 3, which are held by the holding elements 2, are now conveyed with the piece items 4 between the individual processing stations by way of the driven conveying chain. Since the piece item containers 3 as well as the piece items 4 themselves are fixedly clamped in the holding element 2 and thus secured against falling out, these can be conveyed along complex conveying paths in three-dimensional space. The conveying path can thus include steep ascents and descents, as well as spiral-like curved paths. An upside-down conveying is possible.

[0148] The conveying device according to the embodiment according to FIG. 4 now, apart from the chain conveyor described above, further comprises a buffer station 31. A central element of the buffer station 31 is formed by a conveying belt 32, on which the piece item containers 3 with the piece items 4 can be buffered when required.

[0149] The buffer station 31 with the chain conveyor forms a transfer zone Z1, in which the piece item containers 3, which are conveyed in the conveying direction F1, can be pushed from the holding element 2 onto the conveying belt 32 of the buffer station 21. In the transfer zone Z1, the conveying direction F2 of the conveying belt 32 runs parallel to the conveying direction F1 of the chain conveyor. However, the conveying speed of the conveying belt 32 is lower than the conveying speed of the chain conveyor.

[0150] A transfer device, by way of which the piece item containers 3 are pushed from the holding element 2 onto the conveying belt 32, can be provided in the transfer zone Z1 (not shown).

[0151] Downstream, the buffer station 31 with the chain conveyor moreover forms a take-over zone Z2, in which the piece item containers 3 with the piece items 4 and which are conveyed in the conveying direction F2 are pushed from the conveying belt 32 of the buffer station 31 onto the holding elements 2.

[0152] In the region of the take-over zone Z2, the buffer station 31 includes a constraint that prevents the piece item containers 3 from falling down from the conveying belt 32 (not shown).

[0153] Since the conveying direction F1 of the chain conveyor is changed in a deflection by 180°, the conveying direction F2 of the conveying belt 32 and the conveying direction F1 of the chain conveyor now run counter to one another, but parallel to one another, in the take-over zone Z2. The conveying directions F1, F2, which are opposite to one another now, assist the procedure of the pushing of the piece item containers 3 from the conveying belt 32 onto the holding element 2.

[0154] A take-over device can be provided in the take-over zone Z2, by way of which take-over device the piece item containers 3 are pushed from the conveying belt 32 onto the holding element 2 (not shown).

[0155] The conveying device according to the embodiment example according to FIG. 5 includes a chain conveyor 80 as well as a buffer station 91. The chain conveyor 80 with regard to its basic construction corresponds to a plate conveyor and includes conveying plates 86, which are fastened in each case to a conveying chain, which is to say to its chain links (not shown). The conveying chain is formed from carriages that are articulately connected to one another (not shown).

[0156] Holding elements 82, as have already been described further above, are attached on the conveying plates 86. The present holding elements 82 differ from the holding elements, which are described in detail above, merely in the type of fastening on the conveying plates 86.

[0157] The holding elements 82 receive piece item containers 3. The piece item containers 3 correspond to the piece item containers already described further above. They include piece item receivers for receiving individual piece items 4 in each case.

[0158] The holding elements 82 and the piece item containers 3 are designed as longitudinal bodies. With their longitudinal axis L, they are arranged on the conveying plates 86 in an oblique manner with respect to the conveying direction F1 of the chain conveyor 80. The longitudinal axis thus encloses an acute angle with the conveying direction F1.

[0159] The buffer station 91 includes a conveying belt 92, on which the piece item containers 3 with the piece items 4 can be buffered when required.

[0160] The buffer station 91 now with the chain conveyor 80 forms a transfer zone Z1, in which the piece item containers 3 conveyed in the conveying direction F1 are pushed from the holding element 82 onto the conveying belt 92 of the buffer station 91. In the transfer zone Z1, the conveying direction F2 of the conveying belt 92 runs parallel to the conveying direction F1 of the chain conveyor 80. However, the conveying speed of the conveying belt 92 is lower than the conveying speed of the chain conveyor 80.

[0161] A transfer device 93, by way of which the piece item containers 3 are pushed from the holding elements 82 onto the conveying belt 92 is provided in the transfer zone Z1.

[0162] Downstream, the buffer station 91 with the chain conveyor 80 moreover forms a take-over zone Z2, in which the piece item containers 3, which are conveyed in the conveying direction F2, are pushed from the conveying belt 92 of the buffer station 91 onto the holding elements 82.

[0163] A take-over device 94, by way of which the piece item containers 3 are pushed from the conveying belt 92 onto the holding elements 82 is provided in the take-over zone Z2.

[0164] The buffer station 91 in the region of the take-over zone Z2 includes a constraint, which prevent the piece item containers 3 from falling down from the conveying belt 92 (not shown).

[0165] The conveying device 51 according to the embodiment example according to FIG. 6 includes a plate conveyor. The plate conveyor has conveying plates 54 that are fastened on a conveying chain 70 in each case.

[0166] The conveying chain 70 is again formed from carriages 56 that are articulately connected to one another. The carriages 56 are guided in a runner rail 57, which sets the conveying path. The conveying plates 54 are accordingly fastened on the carriages 56.

[0167] In contrast to the embodiment example according to FIG. 5, here the conveying plates 54 form a part of the holding elements 52. Holding limbs 55 projecting from the conveying plates 54 are arranged on these plates. The holding limbs 55 are designed in a compliant manner.

[0168] The holding limbs 55 are part of the holding element 52 and include holding sections, via which the piece item containers 53 are held on the conveying plates 54 in each case by the holding limbs 55.

[0169] The holding limbs 55 are arranged on the conveying plates 54 in each case in pairs, with holding sections which face one another. They delimit a receiving region for receiving the piece item containers 53. The holding limbs 55 for this are arranged successively in a row along the conveying direction F1.

[0170] The piece item containers 53 are designed as crates with a conveyed object receiver 60 for receiving the conveyed object. The piece item containers 53 can be closed with a closure cover 61.

[0171] The piece item containers 53 include insert grooves 58, which are arranged laterally and run in the insertion direction R. The holding limbs 55 engage into the insert grooves 58 when pushing the piece item container 53 onto the holding element 52. The insert grooves 58 thus form a lateral insertion guide.