DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING TRANSPORT BOATS

Abstract

A device for detecting transport boats includes a contact element for contacting a transport boat, and a connecting element spring mounted in a housing of the device, biased into an initial position and linearly displaceably guided via a guide of the housing. The contact element is connected to the spring mounted connecting element and is displaceable together therewith in such a way that contact of the transport boat with the contact element causes deflection of the connecting element against the bias from the initial position into a detection position. The device further includes a detection device adapted to detect reaching of the detection position by the connecting element.

Claims

1. A device (10) for detecting transport boats (62, 64), comprising: a contact element (12) for contacting a transport boat (62, 64), and a connecting element (14) spring mounted in a housing (20) of the device (10), biased into an initial position and linearly displaceably guided via a guide (30) of the housing (20), the contact element (12) being connected to the spring mounted connecting element (14) and being displaceable together therewith in such a way that contact of the transport boat (62, 64) with the contact element (12) causes deflection of the connecting element (14) against the bias from the initial position into a detection position, and wherein the device (10) comprises a detection device (34) adapted to detect a reaching of the detection position by the connecting element (14).

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the contact element (12) is a slide bar or a contact roller rotatably mounted on a first end of the connecting element (14).

3. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the contact element (12) and the connecting element (14) connected thereto are arranged rotationally fixed in the housing (20), the connecting element (14) and the housing (20) being interconnected via a bolt (16) which extends through bores in the contact element (12) and the connecting element (14) and is displaceably received at opposite ends in a respective associated slotted hole (18) of the housing (20).

4. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element (14) is a shaft.

5. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element (14) has a recess (26) in which at least a portion of a spring element (24) is accommodated.

6. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element (14) comprises an end section (42) facing away from the contact element (12), which end section is detected by the detection device (34) when the contact element (14) reaches the detection position.

7. The device (10) according to claim 6, wherein the end section (42) of the connecting element (14) facing away from the contact element (12) comprises a slant (44).

8. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (20) has a substantially cylindrical shape.

9. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (20) comprises a flange (46) by means of which the device (10) is connectable or connected in a sealed manner to a vacuum subjected portion of an associated facility.

10. The device (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a fixed stop (52) for mechanically securing the end position of the transport boat (62, 64), wherein the contact element (12) in the initial position of the connecting element (14) in the direction of the transport boat (62, 64) to be detected, the contact element (12) protrudes outwardly beyond the fixed stop (52) by a predetermined distance, and wherein the contact element (12) is maximally in line with the fixed stop (52) when the connecting element (14) is in the detection position as viewed in the direction of the transport boats (62, 64) to be detected.

11. The device (10) according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined distance is at most 1 cm.

12. The device (10) according to claim 10, wherein the housing (20) comprises a sleeve-shaped end section (50) with an end face forming the fixed stop (52).

13. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the detection device (34) comprises a non-contact sensor (38) and/or a mechanical limit switch (40).

14. A system (60, 70, 80) for detecting and guiding transport boats (62, 64), comprising at least one device (10) according to claim 1 and at least one transport boat (62, 64).

15. A method for detecting transport boats (62, 64), comprising the steps of: contacting a contact element (12) by means of a transport boat (62, 64), deflecting a spring mounted connecting element (14) connected to the contact element (12) against the bias from an initial position into a detection position, detecting a reaching of the detection position by the connecting element (14) by means of a detection device (34).

16. The device (10) according to claim 3, wherein the contact element (12) and the connecting element (14) connected thereto are rotationally fixed in the housing (20) by the contact element (12).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0046] embodiment examples of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic figures. They represent:

[0047] FIG. 1 a lateral sectional view of a device for detecting transport boats according to an embodiment example of the invention.

[0048] FIG. 2 a simplified side view of an embodiment example of the system according to the invention illustrating a first arrangement of the device relative to transport boats.

[0049] FIG. 3 a simplified top view of another embodiment example of the system according to the invention for illustrating a second arrangement of the device relative to transport boats.

[0050] FIG. 4 a simplified top view of still another embodiment example of the system according to the invention for illustrating a third arrangement of the device relative to transport boats.

FIGURE DESCRIPTION

[0051] Identical reference signs in the figures indicate identical or analogous elements.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment example of a device 10 having a contact element 12 for contacting a transport boat (not shown in FIG. 1). In the example shown, the contact element 12 is formed as a contact roller. The contact element 12 is rotatably attached to an upper end of a connecting element 14 of the device 10 and thus connected thereto. For this purpose, a bolt 16 is passed through associated bores in the contact element 12 and the connecting element 14. This bolt 16 terminates on both sides in a respective slotted hole 18 formed in a housing 20 of the device 10. Due to the arrangement of the two ends of the bolt 16 in the slotted holes facing each other (only one slotted hole 18 indicated in FIG. 1), the contact element 12 and the connecting element 14 connected thereto are rotationally fixed in the housing 20 with respect to the longitudinal axis 22 of the connecting element 14.

[0053] The connecting element 14 is in the form of a shaft and is spring mounted in the housing 20 by means of a metallic helical spring 24. For this purpose, the helical spring 24 is accommodated in sections in a recess 26 of the connecting element 14. Starting from an end of the connecting element 14 facing away from the contact element 12, the recess 26 extends upwards in the direction of the contact element 12. A lower end section of the helical spring 24 is supported against an inner housing stop 28. The helical spring 24 biases the connecting element 14 and the contact element 12 connected thereto into the initial position shown in FIG. 1. In this initial position, the contact element 12 is not in contact with any transport boat.

[0054] The connecting element 14 is arranged substantially coaxially with the cylindrical housing 20 inside the housing 20 and is linearly displaceably guided along the longitudinal axis 22 via a guide 30 of the housing 20, as illustrated by the double arrow 32. The slotted holes 18, in which the ends of the bolt 16 are supported, ensure that the displacement of the connecting element 14 and the contact element 16 in the direction of the double arrow 32 is possible despite the anti-rotation device. In the example shown, the maximum theoretical displaceability of the assembly of contact element 12 and of connecting element 14 is determined by the upper and lower ends of the slotted holes 18 and the abutment of the bolt 16 against these ends, respectively.

[0055] The contact element 12 and the connecting element 14 are jointly displaceable by virtue of their interconnection in such a manner that contact of a transport boat (not shown in FIG. 1) with the contact element 12 causes deflection of the connecting element 14 against the bias by the helical spring 24 from the initial position to a detection position.

[0056] As can be further seen in FIG. 1, the device comprises a detection device 34 adapted to detect the connecting element 14 reaching the detection position. The detection device 34 is arranged in a lower region of the housing 20. In the embodiment example shown, the lower region of the housing 20 is in the form of a sleeve or pot 36. This pot 36 is fixedly and sealingly connected to the adjoining region of the housing 20, which comprises the guide 30.

[0057] In the embodiment example shown, the detection device 34 comprises two sensors, namely a non-contact inductive sensor 38 and a mechanical limit switch 40. It is understood that in alternative embodiment examples, the detection device may comprise only one sensor or two sensors of the same type. Also, the detection device may comprise more than two sensors.

[0058] The inductive sensor 38 is attached to the pot 36 from the outside in such a way and the mechanical limit switch 40 is integrated into the pot 36 such that when the connecting element 14 reaches a predetermined detection position, an end section 42 of the connecting element 14 facing away from the contact element is detected by the two sensors 38, 40. In the embodiment example shown, the end section 42 of the connecting element 14 facing away from the contact element is in the form of a chamfer closing off the connecting element 14. The end section 42 thus comprises the slant 44 shown.

[0059] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the inductive sensor 38 can detect the reaching of a detection position of the connecting element 14 when the end section 42 or the slant 44 moves into a measuring field of the inductive sensor 38. Further, the mechanical limit switch 40 may be actuated by displacing the connecting element 14, thereby causing the slants 44 to contact the mechanical limit switch 40.

[0060] Since the displacement of the connecting element 14 from the initial position to the detection position via the contact element 12 is caused by the transport boat acting thereon against the bias, the position of the transport boat can be detected thereby. For example, the exact position of the device 10 in an overall system can be known for this purpose. To that end, the device 10 shown in FIG. 1 can be connected or become connected to a facility wall via a flange 46 provided on the housing 20. More precisely, the device 10 is screwed or can be screwed to the facility wall, for example, via the flange 46. In order to ensure a tight connection between the facility and the device 10, a circumferential seal 48 is provided in the flange 46, for example in the form of an O-ring arranged in a groove.

[0061] Upon detecting the connecting element 14 reaching the predetermined detection position, the detection device 34 may generate and transmit a corresponding signal to a controller (not shown). The controller may relate this signal to temporal parameters and/or stored parameters, such as the position of the device 10 in the overall system or the geometry of the transport boat, and use it to accurately determine the position of the transport boat. Also, in accordance with the previously determined position of the transport boat or in accordance with the received signal from the detection device 34, the control system can change a speed of movement with which the transport boat is moved.

[0062] In order to increase the safety of the overall system or of a performed process in the event of a malfunction, the illustrated device 10 is provided with a fixed stop for mechanically securing the end position of the transport boat. For this purpose, the housing 20 comprises a sleeve-shaped upper end section 50 with an end face 52 which forms the fixed stop. The fixed stop 52 for mechanically securing the end position of the transport boat makes it possible, for example, if the detection device 34 does not generate a signal despite the connecting element 14 reaching the detection position and/or the connecting element 14 remains in the detection position, for the movement of the transport boat against the bias to be limited by the fixed stop 52. Moreover, the transport boat can slide along the fixed stop 52 and the process does not necessarily have to be interrupted, although the detecting is limited.

[0063] In the embodiment example shown, in the initial position (FIG. 1) of the connecting element 14, an upper end of the contact element 12 projects outwardly beyond the fixed stop 52 by a predetermined distance of about 3 mm. In the detection position (not shown) of the connecting element 14, the upper end of the contact element 12 is maximally in line with the fixed stop 52.

[0064] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment example of a system 60 comprising a device 10 and two interconnected transport boats 62, 64. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, the device 10 is arranged orthogonal to the direction of motion BR of the transport boats 62, 64 below them.

[0065] In the example shown, the transport boats 62, 64 comprise a recess 66 on an underside thereof. As long as the underside of the transport boats 62, 64 is in contact with the contact element 12 of the device 10, the connecting element 14 is in the detection position due to the force applied by the transport boats 62, 64. As soon as the contact element 12 enters the area of the recess 66, the connecting element 14 shifts to the initial position due to the bias applied by the helical spring. This change from the detection position to the initial position is detected by a control system, since the detection device 34 then no longer generates a signal or detects a detection position. This allows the exact position of the two transport boats to be detected.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment example of a system 70 with two devices 10 and two interconnected transport boats 62, 64. In this example, the two devices 10 are arranged in the direction of motion BR of the transport boats 62, 64. As a result, the two devices 10 or their contact elements come into contact with a front end face of the front of the two transport boats 62, 64. This contact causes a displacement of the respective connecting element of the two devices 10 from an initial position into a detection position, whereby the position of the transport boats can be detected. At the same time, the devices 10 serve here for guiding the transport boats 62, 64, more precisely for deflecting their direction of motion BR by 90°.

[0067] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment example of a system 80 comprising two devices 10 and a transport boat 62. The devices 10 are connected to a facility wall 82 via flanges 46 provided on their respective housings. In the example of FIG. 4, the two devices 10 are also arranged in the direction of motion BR of the transport boat 62. As a result, the two devices 10 or their contact elements come into contact with a lateral end face of the transport boat 62. This contact causes a displacement of the respective connecting element of the two devices 10 from an initial position into a detection position, whereby the position of the transport boat can be detected.

[0068] At the same time, also in this embodiment example, the devices 10 serve for guiding the transport boat 62, more precisely for deflecting its direction of motion BR by 90°. In contrast to the example according to FIG. 3, the two devices 10 comprising a common slide bar as contact element 12. The slide bar allows the transport boat 62 to slide along two substantially orthogonal axes of the slide bar. This allows the transport boat 62 in contact with the slide bar to be deflected 90° to the direction of motion in two different directions (in FIG. 4, out of the plane of the image or into the plane of the image, or to the right or to the left).

[0069] It will also be understood that further combinations of the above-described embodiment examples are possible, for example different combinations of the systems 60, 70 and/or 80.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0070] 10 device [0071] 12 contact element [0072] 14 connecting element [0073] 16 bolt [0074] 18 slotted hole [0075] 20 housing [0076] 22 longitudinal axis of connecting element [0077] 24 helical spring [0078] 26 connecting element recess [0079] 28 housing stop [0080] 30 guide [0081] 32 displacement direction [0082] 34 detection device [0083] 36 pot [0084] 38 inductive sensor [0085] 40 mechanical limit switch [0086] 42 end section of connecting element [0087] 44 slant [0088] 46 flange [0089] 48 seal [0090] 50 upper end section of housing [0091] 52 fixed stop [0092] 60 system of a first embodiment [0093] 62 transport boat [0094] 64 transport boat [0095] 66 recess of the transport boat [0096] 70 system of a second embodiment [0097] 80 system of a third embodiment [0098] 82 facility wall [0099] BR direction of motion