Linear Pull-Out Unit

Abstract

The invention relates a linear pull-out unit (1), in particular for a robot (5), having at least one telescopic pull-out (5), which has at least one guide rail (2, 3) and at least one lift truck (4, 5, 6), wherein the guide rail (2; 3) and the lift truck (4, 5; 6) are displaceably arranged relative to one another in a direction of displacement (x).

In order to achieve long stroke lengths with the shortest possible overall length, while ensuring precise and reliable guidance and enabling low-failure operation, the telescopic pull-out (5) is designed in three stages, wherein the first stage (9) has a first guide rail (2), the second stage (10) a second guide rail (3) and the third stage (11) a third lift truck (6).

Claims

1. A linear pull-out unit (1), in particular for a robot (21), having at least one telescopic pull-out (5) which has at least one guide rail (2, 3) and at least one lift truck (4, 5, 6), wherein the guide rail (2; 3) and the lift truck (4, 5; 6) are arranged displaceably relative to one another at least in one direction of displacement (x), characterized in that the telescopic pull-out (5) is designed in three stages, wherein the first stage (9) has a first guide rail (2), the second stage (10) a second guide rail (3) and the third stage (11) a third lift truck (6).

2. The pull-out unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein a first lift truck (4) is mounted displaceably in or on the first guide rail (2), wherein preferably the first lift truck (4) is firmly connectable to a housing or a robot (5).

3. The pull-out unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein a second lift truck (5) firmly connected to the second guide rail (3) is displaceably mounted in or on the first guide rail (2), preferably on a longitudinal side of the first guide rail (2) facing away from the first lift truck (4).

4. The pull-out unit (1) according to claim 3, wherein the second lift truck (4) is firmly connected to a central region (3c) of the second guide rail (3).

5. The pull-out unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the third lift truck (6)preferably on a longitudinal side of the second guide rail (3) facing away from the second lift truck (5)is displaceably mounted in or on the second guide rail (3).

6. The pull-out unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first guide rail (2) has a first pulling means (13) which is firmly connected to the first lift truck (4) on the one hand and to the second guide rail (3) on the other hand, preferably via a first driver part (19).

7. The pull-out unit (1) according to claim 6, wherein the first pulling means (13) has two ends (13a, 13b), wherein at least one of the ends (13a; 13b) is connected to a first clamping device (15) arranged in or on the first lift truck (4).

8. The pull-out unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second guide rail (3) has a second pulling means (14) which is firmly connectedpreferably via a second driver part (20)to the first guide rail (2) on the one hand and to the third lift truck (6) on the other.

9. The pull-out unit (1) according to claim 8, wherein the second pulling means (14) has two ends (14a, 14b), wherein at least one of the ends (14a; 14b) is connected to a second clamping device (16) arranged in or on the third lift truck (6).

10. The pull-out unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pull-out unit (1) has a telescopic pull-out (8), wherein preferably the third lift truck (6) of the telescopic pull-out (8) is connected to a manipulation device (22).

11. The pull-out unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pull-out unit (1) has at least two telescopic pull-outs (8), wherein preferably the telescopic pull-outs (8) are arranged symmetrically to a plane of symmetry (E) formed parallel to the direction of displacement (x).

12. The pull-out unit (1) according to claim 11, wherein the third lift trucks (6) of the telescopic pull-outs (8) are connected to a manipulation device (22), wherein preferably the manipulation device (22) is arranged in the region of the plane of symmetry (E) between the third lift trucks (6).

13. The pull-out unit (1) according to claim 10, wherein the manipulation device (22) is formed by a pallet table, a gripper or the like.

Description

[0024] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are not restrictive, wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a pull-out unit according to the invention in an angled view in an extended position;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows this pull-out unit in a plan view;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows this pull-out unit in a front view;

[0028] FIG. 4 shows this pull-out unit in a section according to the line IV-IV in FIG. 3 in a retracted position; and

[0029] FIG. 5 shows the pull-out unit in a schematic view in an end position.

[0030] FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 each show a linear pull-out unit 1 with a first guide rail 2 and a second guide rail 3, wherein the guide rails 2, 3 are connected to one another in a telescopically linearly displaceable manner via lift trucks 1, 6, 5 and are mounted against one another via bearing devices not shown in further detail. The first guide rail 2 has at least one first lift truck 1, which is connected to a robot indicated by reference numeral 20, for example a robot arm.

[0031] The first guide rail 2 is movably connected to the first lift truck 4, wherein the first guide rail 2 is guided on the first lift truck 4, or the first lift truck 4 on the first guide rail 2, so that the first guide rail 2 is displaceable relative to the first lift truck 4 in the direction of displacement x. The second guide rail 3 is displaceably connectedalso in the direction of displacement xto the first guide rail 2 by means of a second lift truck 5, wherein the second lift truck 5 is arranged on the second guide rail 3 in an approximately central region 3crelative to the longitudinal extension of the guide rail 3 in the direction of displacement xand is firmly connected thereto. Due to the central arrangement of the second lift truck 5, the telescopic pull-out 8 can be moved in the direction of displacement x as well as in the opposite direction. The second lift truck 5 is mounted in a sliding or rolling manner on the first guide rail 2. On the side facing away from the first guide rail 2 or the first lift truck 4, a third lift truck 6, which can be moved in or against the direction of displacement x, ?x, is displaceably connected to the second guide rail 3. The third lift truck 6 can be used to connect a manipulation device 21, such as a pallet table, a gripper device or similar manipulation devices, via a mounting plate 7. The bearings between the first lift truck 4 and the first guide rail 2, between the second lift truck 5 and the first guide rail 2, and between the third lift truck 6 and the second guide rail 3 can occur, for example, via conventional roller or ball bearings, wherein for the first lift truck 4, the second lift truck 5 and the third lift truck 6, at least one conventional ball and/or roller carriage can also be used. It is also possible to use two ball or roller carriages for the first lift truck 4, the second lift truck 5 and the third lift truck 6.

[0032] The first guide rail 2, the second guide rail 3 and the third lift truck 6 form a three-stage telescopic pull-out 8, wherein the first stage 9 is formed by the first guide rail 2, the second stage 10 by the second guide rail 3 and the third stage 11 by the third lift truck 6.

[0033] The telescopic pull-out 8 is driven by means of an actuating device 12 acting on the first guide rail 2, for example an electric motor which acts on the first guide rail 2 via a pinion meshing with a rack, wherein the rack is firmly connected to the first guide rail 2 and the electric motor is firmly connected to the first lift truck 4. The first guide rail 2 has a first pulling means 13 and the second guide rail 3 has a second pulling means 14. The pulling means 13, 14 can be, for example, toothed belts, chains or ropes. The pulling means 13, 14 can be designed as endless devices or comprise ends 13a, 13b; 14a, 14b clamped in a clamping device 15, 16, for example. The pulling means 13, 14 are deflected by rollers 17a, 17b; 18a, 18b mounted rotatably in the region of the rail ends 2a, 2b; 3a, 3b of the respective guide rails 2, 3.

[0034] In FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the pull-out unit 1 is shown in an extended position and in FIG. 4 in a retracted position.

[0035] As can be seen in FIG. 5 in particular, the first pulling means 13 is firmly connected to the first lift truck 4 or the robot 21 via the first clamping device 15 on the one hand and to the second guide rail 3 via a first driver part 19 on the other. The second pulling means 14 is firmly connected on the one hand to the first guide rail 2 via a second driver part 20 and on the other hand to the third lift truck 6 via the second clamping device 16. These fixed connections can be made by clamping or form-fitting connections of the driver parts 19, 20.

[0036] If the first guide rail 2 is moved by the actuating device 12 in the direction of displacement x or in opposite direction thereto, the first pulling means 13, which is firmly connected to the first lift truck 4, is rolled off, causing the second guide rail 3, which is connected to the first pulling means 13, to move twice as fast as the first guide rail 2 in the direction x or in opposite direction ?x. The movement of the second guide rail 3 also causes the second pulling means 14, which is firmly connected to the first guide rail 2 via the second driver part 20, to roll off, causing the third lift truck 6 connected to the second pulling means 14 to move twice as fast as the second guide rail 3 in the direction x or in the opposite direction.

[0037] With the described linear pull-out unit 1, high stroke lengths can be achieved with a very small overall length.