CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR THE LOCAL TRANSPORT OF WORKPIECES AND USE OF SAME WITH OR IN A COATING SYSTEM

Abstract

A conveyor system for the local transport of workpieces having a track having rail sections extending next to one another, with portions, inclined differently from one another relative to a horizontal plane, along which load carriers for receiving the workpieces, are movable one behind the other. Each load carrier has a running gear with a first and a second bearing assembly spaced apart from each other relative to the extension of the track and by which the load carriers are guided on the track. In some sections, the relative height positions of two rails section running next to one another are different from one another. The load carriers, which are each guided via their first bearing assembly on one rail section and via their second bearing assembly on one further rail section, are, relative to the direction of travel, horizontally oriented the same at every point of the track.

Claims

1. A conveyor system (1), in particular a circulating conveyor system, for the local transport of workpieces (3), comprising a track (4) having rail sections (8, 9) extending next to one another, with portions (4a-4c) which are inclined differently from one another in relation to a horizontal plane (H) and along which load carriers (2) designed to receive the workpieces (3) are movable one behind the other, wherein each load carrier (2) has a running gear (5) with at least one first bearing assembly (6) and at least one second bearing assembly (7), which is spaced apart from the first bearing assembly (6) in relation to the extension of the track (4) and through which the load carriers (2) are guided on the track (4), comprising relative height positions (Y1, Y2) that differ from one another at least in some sections, of at least two rail sections (8, 9) running next to one another, in the portions (4a-4c) of the track (4) in such a way that the load carriers (2), which are each guided via their first bearing assembly (6) on at least one rail section (9) and via their second bearing assembly (7) on at least one further rail section (8) running next to said rail section (9), are oriented the same relative to the horizontal plane (H) at every point of the track (4) in relation to their direction of travel (F).

2. The conveyor system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the track (4) has only one outer rail section (8a, 8b) or two outer rail sections (8a, 8b) running at the same height position (Y1, Y2) and only one inner rail section (9a, 9b) or two inner rail sections (9a, 9b) running at the same height position (Y1, Y2), on which the load carriers (2) are guided via their bearing assemblies (6, 7).

3. The conveyor system (1) according to claim 2, wherein each load carrier (2) is guided via its first bearing assembly (6) on at least one inner rail section (9a, 9b) and via its second bearing assembly (7) on at least one outer rail section (8a, 8b).

4. The conveyor system (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the rail sections (8, 9) has an angled or laterally open, in particular U-shaped or C-shaped, cross-section.

5. The conveyor system (1) according to claim 4, wherein the inner rail sections (9a, 9b) facing one another with their open sides at least partially receive between them the first bearing assembly (6).

6. The conveyor system (1) according to claim 4, wherein, in a portion (4b) of the track (4) that rises relative to the horizontal plane (H), the outer rail sections (8a, 8b; 8c, 8d) face one another with their open sides, and/or in a portion (4c) of the track (4) that falls relative to the horizontal plane (H), they face away from one another with their open sides.

7. The conveyor system (1) according to claim 4, wherein, in a portion (4a) of the track (4) that is parallel to the horizontal plane (H), the outer rail sections (8a, 8b; 8c, 8d) face away from one another or face one another with their open sides.

8. The conveyor system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bearing assemblies (6, 7) in each case have only one rolling body (6a, 6b; 7a, 7b) or in each case have at least two rolling bodies (6a, 6b; 7a, 7c; 7b, 7d) arranged next to one another or one above the other in particular in a transverse direction (Y) in relation to the track (4).

9. The conveyor system (1) according to claim 6, wherein the second bearing assembly (7) of the load carriers (2) has two support units (10a, 10b), each having an inner rolling body (7a, 7b) and/or an outer rolling body (7c, 7d), wherein in a portion (4b) of the track (4) which rises relative to the horizontal plane (H), the load carriers (2) are guided via the outer rolling bodies (7c, 7d) on the outer rail sections (8c, 8d), and/or in a portion (4c) of the track (4) which falls relative to the horizontal plane (H), they are guided via the inner rolling bodies (7a, 7b) on the outer rail sections (8a, 8b).

10. A method for using a conveyor system (1) with or in a coating system, wherein at least one section of a track (4) of the conveyor system (1) extends through the coating system and the workpieces (3) to be transported through the coating system take the form of motor vehicle rims, in particular car rims, or comprise at least parts thereof, wherein the track (4) has rail sections (8, 9) extending next to one another, with portions (4a-4c) which are inclined differently from one another in relation to a horizontal plane (H) and along which load carriers (2) designed to receive the workpieces (3) are movable one behind the other, wherein each load carrier (2) has a running gear (5) with at least one first bearing assembly (6) and at least one second bearing assembly (7), which is spaced apart from the first bearing assembly (6) in relation to the extension of the track (4) and through which the load carriers (2) are guided on the track (4), wherein relative height positions (Y1, Y2) that differ from one another at least in some sections, of at least two rail sections (8, 9) running next to one another, in the portions (4a-4c) of the track (4) in such a way that the load carriers (2), which are each guided via their first bearing assembly (6) on at least one rail section (9) and via their second bearing assembly (7) on at least one further rail section (8) running next to said rail section (9), are oriented the same relative to the horizontal plane (H) at every point of the track (4) in relation to their direction of travel (F).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8. In the drawings:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a detail of a conveyor system from the prior art in a schematic side view;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a detail of a conveyor system according to the invention in a schematic side view;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the conveyor system according to the invention in the region of an incline in a schematic side view;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a detail of the conveyor system according to the invention in the region of a flat portion in a schematic side view;

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a detail of the conveyor system according to the invention in the region of a decline in a schematic side view;

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a load carrier of the conveyor system according to the invention of FIGS. 2 to 5 in a first front view;

[0038] FIG. 7 shows the load carrier of FIG. 6 in an alternative embodiment in a first front view; and

[0039] FIG. 8 shows the load carrier of FIG. 7 in a second front view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] FIG. 1 firstly shows a conveyor system 1 from the prior art. The conveyor system 1 comprises a plurality of load carriers 2, each of which serves to receive a workpiece 3 that is to be transported. In the present case, the depictions of the individual workpieces 3 each show the side view of a motor vehicle rim, in particular a car rim, purely by way of example. Furthermore, the conveyor system 1 comprises a track 4 having successive portions 4a, 4b. The load carriers 2 are coupled to a drive (not shown in greater detail here), for example a circulating traction mechanism, via which they can be moved one behind the other along the track 4 in a direction of travel F. Without going into more detail at this point about the specific embodiment of the individual load carriers 2, FIG. 1 serves to illustrate their behavior in transition regions between two portions 4a, 4b of the track 4 that are inclined differently from one another in relation to a horizontal plane H. As can be seen, a first portion 4a runs in parallel to the horizontal plane H, while the subsequent second portion 4b is inclined relative to the first portion 4a and in this respect is also inclined relative to the horizontal plane H. Taking into account the direction of travel F, the second portion 4b represents an incline of the track 4. As soon as a load carrier 2 reaches the second portion 4b, it naturally tilts in proportion to the inclination thereof in the direction of the directly following load carrier 2 (indicated by a white curved arrow). In order to prevent a collision of the received workpieces 3 with one another in this case, the load carriers 2 must maintain a relatively large distance A from one another. In addition, the workpieces 3 must be appropriately secured in order to effectively prevent the associated load carrier 2 from slipping or even falling off.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a detail of a conveyor system 1 according to the invention in a side view. In relation to the direction of travel F, it is clear that the detail shows a portion 4b of the track 4 in the region of an incline. The individual load carriers 2 each have a running gear 5 which comprises a first bearing assembly 6 and a second bearing assembly 7. In relation to the extension of the track 4, the two bearing assemblies 6, 7 are clearly spaced apart from one another so that the individual load carriers 2 are guided in a stable manner along the track 4. In contrast, the track 4 comprises rail sections 8, 9 which extend next to one another and on which the individual load carriers 2 are movably supported via their bearing assemblies 6, 7. With regard to the workpieces 3 depicted here purely by way of example as motor vehicle rims, it is furthermore noteworthy that each load carrier 2 has a spindle 5a which extends perpendicularly to the horizontal plane H and on the free end of which receptacles (not shown in more detail) are arranged or formed for the workpieces 3.

[0042] Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the rail sections 8, 9 of the track 4 run next to one another at different height positions Y1, Y2. In the present case, the first rail section 8 is located at a first height position Y1, which is below the height position Y2 of the second rail section 9, so that the second rail section 9 runs above the first rail section 8. Due to the different height positions Y1, Y2 of the individual rail sections 8, 9, each load carrier 2 as regards its spindle 2a is oriented in the present case perpendicularly to the horizontal plane H, although this is located on a portion 4b describing an incline. In other words, the different height positions Y1, Y2 of the individual rail sections 8, 9 of the track 4 here compensate for the bearing assemblies 6, 7, which are located opposite one another at the same height position, of the load carriers 2. In this way, the load carriers 2 do not undergo any tilting, so that they require a significantly smaller distance A from one another.

[0043] FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate the changing height positions Y1, Y2 of the rail sections 8, 9 in the portions 4a to 4c of the track 4 that are inclined differently from one another, as explained in more detail below. In this context, it should first be noted that the individual rail sections 8, 9 are spaced apart from one another in relation to a transverse direction Y extending in parallel to the horizontal plane H and at the same time perpendicularly to the track 4. In other words, the rail sections 8, 9 are located in different planes in relation to the depth of the representations in the figures. For better clarification, the rail section 8, which is located in the foreground or further outward, is always shown hatched, while the rail section 9, which is located in the background or further inward, does not have such hatching; now in detail:

[0044] FIG. 3 again shows a portion 4b of the track 4 in the form of an incline, as can already be seen in FIG. 2. As can be seen, the bearing assembly 7 which leads in relation to the direction of travel F is guided on the outer rail section 8, while the bearing assembly 6 trailing in relation thereto is guided on the inner rail section 9.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a portion 4a of the track 4 running in parallel to the horizontal plane H in the form of a flat portion. As can be seen, the inner rail section 9 is in this case concealed by the outer rail section 8. In other words, the two rail sections 8, 9 have the same height position Y1, Y2 in the flat portion so that the load carriers 2 continue to extend perpendicularly to the horizontal plane H as regards their spindles 2a.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows the situation in a decline of the track 4, in which the portion 4c is sloped downward in relation to the direction of travel F. As can be seen here, the height positions Y1, Y2 of the two rail sections 8, 9 have effectively changed relative to the incline in FIG. 3, so that the load carriers 2 also continue to extend perpendicularly to the horizontal plane H as regards their spindles 2a.

[0047] FIG. 6 shows a front view of a preferred embodiment of a load carrier 2 with a view opposite to the direction of travel F or in the longitudinal direction of the track 4. Only in this view does it become clear that the second bearing assembly 7 thereof has two support units 10a, 10b, which are spaced apart from one another in relation to a transverse direction Y and on which a rolling body 7a, 7b is rotatably arranged in each case. The position of the two individual rolling bodies 7a, 7b is shown here only purely by way of example. This means that the respective rolling body can be arranged either on a side of the associated support unit 10a, 10b facing the first bearing assembly 6 (as shown in FIG. 6) or on a side of the associated support unit 10a, 10b (not shown) facing away from the first bearing assembly 6. In the possible embodiment of the load carrier 2 shown, the first bearing assembly 6 comprises, as can be seen, two rotatable rolling bodies 6a, 6b located next to one another in the transverse direction Y.

[0048] FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiment of the load carrier 2 in a front view of the latter as already shown in FIG. 6. In contrast to the embodiment in FIG. 6, the second bearing assembly 7 now comprises a total of four rolling bodies 7a to 7d, which are divided into two outer rolling bodies 7c, 7d facing away from one another and two inner rolling bodies 7a, 7b facing one another. Alternatively, only one inner rolling body 7b per support unit 10a, 10b can preferably be provided, while the outer rolling bodies 7a are omitted (not shown in detail). In this variant too, the first bearing assembly 6 comprises, purely by way of example, a total of two rotatable rolling bodies 6a, 6b located next to one another in the transverse direction Y.

[0049] The rail sections 8, 9, which have a laterally open, in particular C- or U-shaped, cross-section, are designed in duplicate so that the track 4 has two outer rail sections 8a, 8b running at the same height position Y1 and two inner rail sections 9a, 9b running at the same height position Y2, on which the load carriers 2 are guided via their bearing assemblies 6, 7. As can be seen, the two inner rail sections 9a, 9b face one another with their open sides such that between them, they at least partially receive the first bearing assembly 6 comprising two rolling bodies 6a, 6b. Here, in each case one of the two rolling bodies 6a, 6b rolls on the web of the associated inner rail section 9a, 9b, wherein the rolling bodies 6a, 6b are each restricted laterally by the flanges of the inner rail sections 9a, 9b against a displacement in relation to the transverse direction Y.

[0050] The position of the outer rail sections 8a, 8b can vary along the track 4 in such a way that in relation to their longitudinal direction, they run in each case rotated by 180° in the portions 4b having an incline and/or in the portions 4c having a decline (see FIG. 8). The corresponding changes can be carried out in the portions 4a having a horizontal flat portion, as indicated by way of example in FIG. 4 by the outer rail sections 8 having different hatchings. The embodiment of the track 4 shown in FIG. 6 can, for example, illustrate the situation in the region of a portion 4c of the track 4 (decline) that falls relative to the horizontal plane H and in which the open sides of the outer rail sections 8a, 8b face away from one another. As a result, the load carriers 2 are guided on the two outer rail sections 8a, 8b via the inner rolling bodies 7b of the second bearing assembly 7.

[0051] In relation to the alternative embodiment mentioned above, FIG. 8 is the situation then possible in the region of a portion 4b of the track 4 which rises relative to the horizontal plane H (incline), in which the open sides of the outer rail sections now rotated by 180° about their respective longitudinal axis face one another in the form of two outer rail sections 8c, 8d. In this way, the load carriers 2 can be guided in an incline via the outer rolling bodies 7c, 7d on the outer rail sections 8c, 8d oriented in this way. As already explained in more detail in connection with the first bearing assembly 6, the rolling bodies 7a to 7d of the second bearing assembly 7 always roll on a flange of the associated outer rail sections 8a to 8d.

[0052] With regard to the alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the change in the orientation of the outer rail sections 8a, 8b; 8c, 8d can take place in the portion(s) 4a (flat) of the track 4 parallel to the horizontal plane H, so that they can then face away from one another or face one another at least in some sections in that region. In the specific implementation, this can be effected in each case by two successive outer rail sections 8a, 8b; 8c, 8d, which have different orientations of their open sides. A continuous guidance of the rolling bodies 7a, 7b; 7c, 7d of the second bearing assembly 7 is ensured by means of a preferably overlap of their free ends at least in some sections.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0053] 1 Conveyor system [0054] 2 Load carrier of 1 [0055] 2a Spindle of 2 [0056] 3 Workpiece [0057] 4 Track [0058] 4a Portion of 4 (flat) [0059] 4b Portion of 4 (incline) [0060] 4c Portion of 4 (decline) [0061] 5 Running gear of 2 [0062] 6 First bearing assembly of 5 [0063] 6a Rolling body of 6 [0064] 6b Rolling body of 6 [0065] 7 Second bearing assembly of 5 [0066] 7a Inner rolling body of 7 on 10a [0067] 7b Inner rolling body of 7 on 10b [0068] 7c Outer rolling body of 7 on 10a [0069] 7d Outer rolling body of 7 on 10b [0070] 8 First rail section of 4 [0071] 8a Outer rail section of 8 [0072] 8b Outer rail section of 8 [0073] 8c Outer rail section of 8 [0074] 8d Outer rail section of 8 [0075] 9 Second rail section of 4 [0076] 9a Inner rail section of 9 [0077] 9b Inner rail section of 9 [0078] 10a Support unit of 7 [0079] 10b Support unit of 7 [0080] A Distance [0081] F Direction of travel of 2 [0082] H Horizontal plane [0083] Y Transverse direction [0084] Y1 Height position of 8 or 8a and 8b [0085] Y2 Height position of 9 or 9a and 9b