DEVICE FOR HOLDING OBJECTS

Abstract

A device for holding objects, e.g., driverless transport vehicles, includes a rack main frame and a pivot arm which can be pivoted relative to the rack main frame about a pivot axis extending in a longitudinal direction. The pivot arm has a first strut and a second strut which extend at a right angle to the pivot axis and are disposed parallel to each other at an offset in the longitudinal direction. One cutout is provided in the end region of each of the struts remote from the pivot axis for receiving respective fastening shafts.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A device for holding an object, comprising a rack main frame; and a pivot arm pivotable relative to the rack main frame about a pivot axis that extends in a longitudinal direction, the pivot arm including a first strut and a second strut that extend at a right angle to the pivot axis and that are disposed parallel to each other at an offset in the longitudinal direction, an end region of each strut remote from the pivot axis including a cutout adapted to receive a respective fastening shaft.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the object includes a driverless transport vehicle.

16. The device according to claim 14, further comprising two receiving devices adapted to connect to the object, each receiving device including a fastening shaft adapted to be received by a respective one of the cutouts.

17. The device according to claim 14, further comprising two receiving devices adapted to connect to the object, each receiving device including a fastening shaft, each cutout adapted to receive a respective one of the fastening shafts.

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the fastening shafts are adapted to extend coaxially to a common fastening axis.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein a drive unit is attached to one of the struts, the drive unit adapted to connect to one of the fastening shafts and to rotate the one of the fastening shafts about the fastening axis.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the drive unit includes a gearbox coupled to the one of the fastening shafts and a handwheel coupled to the gearbox.

21. The device according to claim 14, wherein a locking bolt is arranged at the end region of each strut remote from the pivot axis adapted to fix a respective fastening shaft in a corresponding cutout.

22. The device according to claim 14, further comprising a drive mechanism adapted to pivot the pivot arm about the pivot axis relative to the rack main frame, the drive mechanism including (a) a hydraulic cylinder hingedly connected to the rack main frame and to the pivot arm and (b) a hydraulic pump hydraulically connected to the hydraulic cylinder.

23. The device according to claim 14, further comprising a locking unit hingedly connected to the rack main frame and to the pivot arm, the locking unit, in a locked state, being adapted to prevent pivoting of the pivot arm about the pivot axis relative to the rack main frame in at least one pivot direction, and, in an unlocked state, adapted to allow pivoting of the pivot arm about the pivot axis relative to the rack main frame in both pivot directions.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the locking unit includes an outer pipe, an inner pipe coaxially guided in the outer pipe, and a rotary bolt attached to the outer pipe, the inner pipe including a plurality of locking openings, in the locked state of the locking unit, the rotary bolt being adapted to engage in one of the locking openings of the inner pipe, and, in the unlocked state of the locking unit, the rotary bolt adapted to be outside the locking openings.

25. The device according to claim 23, further comprising a Bowden cable adapted to pivot the rotary bolt into and out of at least one of the locking openings of the inner pipe.

26. The device according to claim 23, further comprising a Bowden cable adapted to pivot the rotary bolt into and out of a respective locking opening of the inner pipe.

27. The device according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of rollers disposed on the rack main frame and rotatable about an axis of rotation extending in a horizontal direction.

28. The device according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of rollers disposed on the main rack frame and rotatable about an axis of rotation extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction.

29. The device according to claim 28, further comprising a plurality of locking brakes adapted to locking the rollers.

30. The device according to claim 14, further comprising a receiving unit arranged on the rack main frame adapted to receive energy transmitted inductively from a charging unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view representation of a device for holding objects.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a front view of the device.

[0026] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an end region of a strut.

[0027] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a drive unit.

[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates a locking unit in an unlocked state.

[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates a locking unit in a locked state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for holding objects, e.g., driverless transport vehicles. The device is located on a floor in a technical plant, for example, in a production plant. The device is used, e.g., for maintenance or repair of driverless transport vehicles used in the technical plant.

[0031] The device includes a rack main frame 3, which includes metal profiles. The rack main frame 3 has, for example, a crossbar 35 extending in a longitudinal direction X. The rack main frame 3 further has a first rack support arm 1 and a second rack support arm 2. The rack support arms 1, 2 each extend in a cross direction Y and are disposed parallel to each other at an offset in the longitudinal direction X.

[0032] The cross direction Y extends runs at a right angle to the longitudinal direction X. A vertical direction Z extends runs at a right angle to the cross direction Y and at a right angle to the longitudinal direction X. The longitudinal direction X and the cross direction Y represent horizontal directions. The crossbar 35 is disposed at a distance from the rack support arms 1, 2 in the vertical direction Z. As illustrated, the crossbeam 35 is further away from the ground than the rack support arms 1, 2.

[0033] The device has a plurality of rollers 11. The rollers 11 are disposed on the rack main frame 3, e.g., on the rack support arms 1, 2. The rollers 11 can each be rotated about an axis of rotation extending in a horizontal direction. The device has a plurality of locking brakes 10 for locking the rollers 11. A locking brake 10 is assigned to each of the rollers 11.

[0034] The device includes a pivot arm 4. The pivot arm 4 can be pivoted about a pivot axis A extending in the longitudinal direction X relative to the rack main frame 3, e.g., relative to the crossbar 35. The pivot arm 4 has a first strut 41 and a second strut 42. The struts 41, 42 extend at a right angle to the pivot axis A and are disposed parallel to each other at an offset in the longitudinal direction X. The pivot arm 4 further has a cross strut 45 extending in the longitudinal direction X and connecting the struts 41, 42.

[0035] By pivoting the pivot arm 4 about the pivot axis A relative to the rack main frame 3 in a first pivot direction, end regions of the struts 41, 42 remote from the pivot axis A are moved upwardly in the vertical direction Z, i.e., away from the floor. By pivoting the pivot arm 4 about the pivot axis A relative to the rack main frame 3 in an opposite second pivot direction, the end regions of the struts 41, 42 are moved downwardly in the vertical direction Z, i.e., towards the floor.

[0036] The device further includes a drive mechanism for pivoting the pivot arm 4 about the pivot axis A relative to the rack main frame 3. The drive mechanism has a hydraulic cylinder 5 that is hinged to the rack main frame 3 and to the pivot arm 4. The drive mechanism also has a hydraulic pump 7 which is hydraulically connected to the hydraulic cylinder 5. For example, the hydraulic pump 7 can be operated manually. By increasing the hydraulic pressure, the hydraulic cylinder 5 extends and swivels the pivot arm 4 in the first swivel direction. By reducing the hydraulic pressure, the hydraulic cylinder 5 contracts and swivels the pivot arm 4 in the second swivel direction.

[0037] The device further includes a locking unit 6. The locking unit 6 is hinged to the rack main frame 3 and to the pivot arm 4. In a locked state, the locking unit 6 prevents pivoting of the pivot arm 4 about the pivot axis A relative to the rack main frame 3 in at least the second pivot direction. In an unlocked state, the locking unit 6 allows pivoting of the pivot arm 4 about the pivot axis A relative to the rack main frame 3 in both pivot directions.

[0038] The device also includes two receiving devices 8, which can be connected, for example, by screws, to an object to be held. The receiving devices 8 each have a fastening shaft 81. The receiving devices 8 are attached to a respective end region of the struts 41, 42 remote from the pivot axis A. The receiving devices 8 are disposed such that the two fastening shafts 81 extend coaxially to a common fastening axis B.

[0039] The device further includes a drive unit 9. The drive unit 9 is attached to the first strut 41, e.g., on the end region of the first strut 41 remote from the pivot axis A. The drive unit 9 is connected to one of the fastening shafts 81 of a receiving device 8. By the drive unit 9, the fastening shaft 81 can be rotated about the fastening axis B relative to the first strut 41.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a front view of the device for holding objects illustrated in FIG. 1. The locking unit 6 has an outer pipe 61 and an inner pipe 62. The inner pipe 62 is guided coaxially in the outer pipe 61. The locking unit 6 and the hydraulic cylinder 5 are both hinged to the cross strut 45 of the pivot arm 4. The locking unit 6 and the hydraulic cylinder 5 extend parallel to each other.

[0041] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the end region of the first strut 41 remote from the pivot axis A. A cutout 21 for receiving a fastening shaft 81 is provided in the end region of the first strut 41. In the cutout 21, the fastening shaft 81 of a receiving device 8 is received.

[0042] At the end region of the first strut 41, a locking bolt 25 is provided which serves to fix the fastening shaft 81 in the cutout 21. By pivoting the locking bolt 25 in the direction indicated by the arrow, the fastening shaft 81 is fixed in the cutout 21. By pivoting the locking bolt 25 in the opposite direction, the fixing of the fastening shaft 81 in the cutout 21 is undone.

[0043] The end region of the second strut 42 remote from the pivot axis A is arranged mirror-symmetrical to the end region of the first strut 41. A cutout 21 is also provided at the end region of the second strut 42, in which cutout a fastening shaft 81 is received. A locking bolt 25 for fixing the fastening shaft 81 is also provided at the end region of the second strut 42.

[0044] FIG. 4 is shows an enlarged view of a drive unit 9. The drive unit 9 is attached to the end region of the first strut 41 remote from the pivot axis A. The drive unit 9 has a gearbox 91 and a handwheel 92. The gearbox 91 is coupled, e.g., connected in a rotationally fixed manner, to the fastening shaft 81. The handwheel 92 is coupled, e.g., connected in a rotationally fixed manner, to the gearbox 91. Turning the handwheel 92 causes the fastening shaft 81 to rotate about the fastening axis B relative to the first strut 41.

[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates a locking unit 6 in an unlocked state. As mentioned above, the locking unit 6 has an outer pipe 61 and an inner pipe 62 coaxially guided in the outer pipe 61. The locking unit 6 also has a rotary bolt 65, which is attached to the outer pipe 61. The inner pipe 62 has a plurality of locking openings 67. In the unlocked state of the locking unit 6, the rotary bolt 65 is located outside the locking openings 67.

[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates a locking unit 6 in a locked state. In the locked state of the locking unit 6, the rotary bolt 65 engages in one of the locking openings 67 of the inner pipe 62.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0047] 1 First rack support arm [0048] 2 Second rack support arm [0049] 3 Rack main frame [0050] 4 Pivot arm [0051] 5 Hydraulic cylinder [0052] 6 Locking unit [0053] 7 Hydraulic pump [0054] 8 Receiving device [0055] 9 Drive unit [0056] 10 Locking brake [0057] 11 Roller [0058] 21 Cutout [0059] 25 Locking bolt [0060] 35 Crossbar [0061] 41 First strut [0062] 42 Second strut [0063] 45 Cross strut [0064] 61 Outer pipe [0065] 62 Inner pipe [0066] 65 Rotary bolt [0067] 67 Locking opening [0068] 81 Fastening shaft [0069] 91 Drive [0070] 92 Handwheel [0071] A Pivot axis [0072] B Fastening axis [0073] X Longitudinal direction [0074] Y Cross direction [0075] Z Vertical direction