LINE GUIDING APPARTUS

Abstract

A line guiding apparatus (1) includes a line guiding unit (2) having a direction-changing region (7) and a support unit (8) which has a slide (9) with a support element (10) arranged thereon for the direction-changing region (7), that at the inside bears against the direction-changing region (7) and permits a movement of the line guiding unit (2) about the centre point axis (17) of the direction-changing region (7). To displace a line guiding unit of high flexibility in a stable linear orientation the support unit (8) has a drive device engaging the slide (9) and driving it in the direction of displacement of the line guiding unit (2) and a control device which is operatively connected to the drive device and is not formed by the line guiding unit (2) itself and with which the drive device is controllable in dependence on the state of movement of a movable connecting region (5). (FIG. 1).

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A line guiding apparatus comprising: a line guiding unit having a first run provided with a fixed connecting region, a second run provided with a movable connecting region and an arcuate direction-changing region connecting the first run and the second run together, and having a support unit which has a slide with a support element arranged on the slide for the direction-changing region of the line guiding unit, that at an inside bears against the direction-changing region and, upon displacement of the line guiding unit in a longitudinal direction of the first run and the second run, permits a movement of the line guiding unit about a central point axis of the direction-changing region, wherein the support unit has a drive device which engages the slide and drives the slide in a direction of displacement of the line guiding unit and a control device which is operatively connected to the drive device and which is not formed by the line guiding unit itself, with which the drive device is controllable in dependence on a state of movement of the movable connecting region.

18. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the support element is mounted rotatably to the slide.

19. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the support element comprises a direction-changing roller around which the direction-changing region of the line guiding unit is arranged and is rotatable with the direction-changing roller.

20. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control device and the drive device provide a configuration such that the support element exerts a prestressing on the line guiding unit.

21. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the slide is guided by a guide device.

22. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the slide has guide means which cooperate with guide means of a housing for linear guidance of the line guiding unit, wherein the line guiding unit and the support unit are arranged in the housing.

23. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the support unit has a sensor device, by which a position of the movable connecting region of the line guiding unit, or an entrainment means connected thereto, is detectable and which is connected in signal relationship with the control device.

24. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the drive device and the control device form a mechatronic system.

25. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control device is connected in signal relationship to the drive device.

26. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control device is connected in signal relationship to a control unit for an entrainment means connected to the movable connecting region of the line guiding unit.

27. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control device is integrated into a control unit for an entrainment means.

28. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control and drive device is formed by a mechanical operative connection between the movable connecting region of the line guiding unit, or an entrainment means connectable thereto, and the slide of the support unit.

29. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the mechanical operative connection has a belt or a cable pull means of which one end is connected to the movable connecting region, or is connectable to an entrainment means which is connectable thereto, and of which another end is connectable to a first stationary fixing region, which in an end position of the direction-changing region of the line guiding unit, is arranged with a minimal length of the second run outside the support unit, wherein the belt or the cable pull means extends from the movable connecting region of the line guiding unit, or the entrainment means which is connectable thereto, in a prolongation of the second run to a second stationary fixing region which is arranged outside the end position of the movable connecting region, or the entrainment means which is connectable thereto, at a maximum length of the second run, is changed in direction at same by a first direction-changing unit and is guided back to the first stationary fixing region, is changed in direction at same by a second direction-changing unit and is guided to the slide of the support unit where it is guided around a third direction-changing unit arranged at the slide to the first stationary fixing region.

30. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the first direction-changing unit includes a first roller and a second roller, wherein the first roller changes the direction of the belt or the cable pull means in a prolongation of the second run in a direction towards the first run relative to the second roller and the second roller changes the direction of the belt or the cable pull means at the outside of the first run in the direction towards the first stationary fixing region and the second direction-changing unit includes a third roller and a fourth roller, wherein the third roller changes the direction of the belt or the cable pull means guided from the second roller in a direction towards the second run relative to the fourth roller and the fourth roller guides the belt or the cable pull means in a direction towards the third direction-changing unit arranged at the slide.

31. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the third direction-changing unit is in a form of a direction-changing roller mounted rotatably to the slide.

32. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the direction-changing roller arranged at the slide and the first to fourth rollers for changing the direction of the belt or the cable pull means are arranged in a plane extending through to centre of the first run and the second run.

33. The line guiding apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the first and second fixing regions are arranged in end regions of a housing accommodating the line guiding unit and the support unit.

Description

[0029] An embodiment of the present invention is described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the drawing in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the line guiding apparatus,

[0031] FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the line guiding apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a housing,

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a view in the direction of the arrow A on to the line guiding apparatus shown in FIG. 1 at the position of maximum extension of the line guiding unit,

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a view in the direction of the arrow A on to the line guiding apparatus shown in FIG. 1 at a first retracted position of the line guiding unit,

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a view in the direction of the arrow A on to the line guiding apparatus shown in FIG. 1 at a second retracted position of the line guiding unit,

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a view in the direction of the arrow B on to the line guiding apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and

[0036] FIG. 7 shows a section along line C-C in FIG. 3.

[0037] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 1 the line guiding apparatus 1 includes a line guiding unit 2 which includes a first run 4 provided with a fixed connecting region 3, a second run 6 provided with a movable connecting region 5, and an arcuate direction-changing region 7 connecting the two runs 4 and 6 together, as well as a support unit 8 having a slide 9 with a support element 10 arranged on the slide 9.

[0038] The line guiding unit 2 is in the form of an energy guiding chain which has at both sides a respective tensioning cable 11 with frames 12 fixed thereto at equal spacings. The tensioning cables 11 are flexible so that the energy guiding chain can bend in the direction-changing region 7 thereof. The frames 12 which serve as link members of the energy guiding chain are suitable for receiving energy lines and/or information transmission lines and guiding them therein.

[0039] That structure of the line guiding unit 2 can be seen more clearly from the cross-section shown in FIG. 7 through a frame 12. The frame 12 has a rectangular frame body 13, through which energy lines and/or information transmission lines can be guided. The interior of the frame body 13 is divided by dividing webs 14 into portions which serve to receive lines that are to be arranged separately and that can be of different kinds. Formed laterally on the frame body 13 are engagement elements 15, the structural purpose of which is described hereinafter.

[0040] The movable connecting region 5 of the line guiding unit 2 is connected to an entrainment means 16, by which the lines emerging from the movable connecting region 5 of the line guiding unit 2 are fed to a machine unit (not shown) connected to the entrainment means. The lines in question pass into the line guiding unit 2 in the fixed connecting region 3.

[0041] The support unit 8 has a support element 10 mounted rotatably on the slide 9, adjoining two direction-changing pulley discs 18 mounted on a spindle 17. The support element 10 bears at the inside against the direction-changing region 7 of the line guiding unit 2 and, upon displacement of the line guiding unit 2 in the longitudinal direction of the runs 4 and 6, permits a movement of the line guiding unit 2 about the centre point axis of the arcuate direction-changing region 7, the centre point axis corresponding to the spindle 7 of the arcuate direction-changing region 18.

[0042] The direction-changing discs 18 mounted rotatably with their spindle 17 at both sides of the slide 9 have at their periphery recesses into which the engagement elements 15 of the frames 12 of the line guiding unit 2 engage in the direction-changing region 7 thereof. In that case the tensioning cables 11 which are guided by the engagement elements 15 are not contacted by the direction-changing discs 18.

[0043] The support unit 8 of the line guiding apparatus 1 has a drive and control device which is in the form of a mechanical operative connection 19 between the entrainment means 16 of the line guiding unit 8, that is connected to the movable connecting region 5, and the slide 9 with the support element 10 arranged thereon. The mechanical operative connection 19 has a cable pull means 20 of which one end is connected to the movable connecting region 5 and of which the other end can be connected to a first stationary fixing region 21 arranged in an end position of the direction-changing region 7 of the line guiding unit 2 with minimal length of the second run 6 outside the support unit 8. The cable pull means 20 extends from the movable connecting region 5 of the line guiding unit 2 as a prolongation of the second run 6 to a second stationary fixing region 22 which is arranged outside the end position of the movable connecting region 5 at the maximum length of the second run 6. The direction of the cable pull means is changed thereat by a first direction-changing unit 23 and the cable pull means is guided back to the first stationary fixing region 21. The direction of the cable pull means 20 is changed thereat by a second direction-changing unit 24 and the cable pull means is guided to the slide 9 of the support unit 8 where it is guided around a third direction-changing unit 25 arranged at the slide 9 to the first stationary fixing region 21.

[0044] The first direction-changing unit 23 has a first roller 26 and a second roller 27, wherein the first roller 26 is deflected in the direction towards the first run 4 relative to the second roller 27. At same the cable pull means 20 is deflected in a direction towards the first stationary fixing region 21 and is guided at the outside of the first run 4.

[0045] The second direction-changing unit 24 has a third roller 28 and a fourth roller 29, wherein the third roller 28 changes the direction of the cable pull means 20 guided from the second roller 27, in a direction towards the second run 6 relative to the fourth roller 29. The fourth roller 29 guides the cable pull means 20 in the direction towards the third direction-changing unit 25 arranged at the slide 9. The third direction-changing unit 25 is in the form of a direction-changing roller mounted rotatably at the slide 9.

[0046] The mechanical operative connection 19 has thus both a control function and also a drive function and, in the embodiment described here and illustrated in the drawing, forms the control and drive device of the support unit 8, by which the support element 10 can be controlledly driven in dependence on the state of movement of the movable connecting region 5.

[0047] The third direction-changing unit 25 which is arranged on the slide and which is in the form of a direction-changing roller as well as the first to fourth rollers 26-29, by way of which the cable pull means 20 is changed in direction at the first and second fixing regions 21, 22 respectively, as can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, is disposed in the plane passing through the centre of the two runs 4 and 6. The entire cable pull means 20 is thus arranged in the plane of the centre of gravity extending through the centre of the two runs 4 and 6 so that the support unit 8 co-operates with the line guiding unit 2 compensating for forces in that plane.

[0048] As can be seen from FIG. 2 the first and second fixing regions 21 and 22 are arranged at end plates 30 of a housing 31 in which the slide 9 of the line guiding unit 2 is guided.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0049] 1 line guiding apparatus

[0050] 2 line guiding unit

[0051] 3 fixed connecting region

[0052] 4 first run

[0053] 5 movable connecting region

[0054] 6 second run

[0055] 7 direction-changing region

[0056] 8 support unit

[0057] 9 slide

[0058] 10 support element

[0059] 11 tensioning cable

[0060] 12 frame

[0061] 13 frame body

[0062] 14 dividing web

[0063] 15 engagement elements

[0064] 16 entrainment means

[0065] 17 spindle

[0066] 18 direction-changing disc

[0067] 19 operative connection

[0068] 20 cable pull means

[0069] 21 first fixing region

[0070] 22 second fixing region

[0071] 23 first direction-changing unit

[0072] 24 second direction-changing unit

[0073] 25 third direction-changing unit

[0074] 26 first roller

[0075] 27 second roller

[0076] 28 third roller

[0077] 29 fourth roller

[0078] 30 plate

[0079] 31 housing