Roller-guided conveying element and a conveying facility comprising such conveying elements

Abstract

A roller-guided conveying element for a conveying facility, including a basis body, several rollers that are rotatably mounted on the basis body on two sides which are opposed to one another, as well as a holding member that is arranged on the basis body and is for holding an object to be conveyed. In each case, two rollers are arranged oppositely and equally offset in a crosswise manner at the two sides on the basis body. The conveying element with the rollers is designed such that a section of the conveying element, in each case with at least one roller of the two sides of the basis body, is rollingly movable in the guide channel of a longitudinal guidance body.

Claims

1. A roller-guided conveying element for a conveying facility, comprising a basis body, several rollers that are rotatably mounted on the basis body at two sides, which face in opposite directions, and the basis body is arranged between the rollers attached at both sides, further comprising a holding member that is arranged on the basis body and is for holding an object to be conveyed, wherein, in each case, two rollers are arranged oppositely and equally offset in a crosswise manner on the two sides on the basis body, and the conveying element with the rollers is designed such that a section of the conveying element, in each case with at least one roller of the two sides of the basis body, is rollingly movable within a guide channel formed by a cavity of a longitudinal hollow guidance body.

2. The conveying element according to claim 1, further comprising a dog contact element arranged on the basis body, for creating a driving contact with a dog of a driver device.

3. The conveying element according to claim 1, wherein at least one roller projects beyond the basis body in a running direction.

4. The conveying element according to claim 3, wherein the basis body forms a contact section at that side, at which the at least one roller projects beyond the basis body, so that a possible contact with a leading or trailing, equally designed conveying element is effected at least at the contact section.

5. The conveying element according to claim 3, wherein the at least one roller overlaps with the adjacent conveying element in the running direction, given a contact with a leading or trailing, equally designed conveying element at the contact section.

6. The conveying element according to claim 3, wherein at least one engagement section for a roller is arranged on the basis body, said engagement section projecting beyond the basis body in the running direction.

7. The conveying element according to claim 6, wherein at least one recess for receiving an engagement section of an adjacent, equally designed conveying element is arranged on the basis body.

8. The conveying element according to claim 6, wherein the at least one recess and the at least one engagement section are designed such that two adjacent, equally designed conveying elements contacting at the contact section are secured against a displacement perpendicular to the running direction and perpendicular to the rotation axes of the rollers.

9. The conveying element according to claim 6, wherein the conveying element comprises a plurality of recesses and a plurality of engagement sections or fastening sections for a roller in each case, in particular for the overlapping arrangement of the rollers between adjacent, equally designed guide elements.

10. The conveying element according to claim 1, wherein a side guidance roller with a rotation axis aligned perpendicularly to the rotation axes of the rollers is arranged on the basis body, for lateral guidance of the conveying element transversely to the running direction along a longitudinal guidance body.

11. A conveying facility, in particular a suspended-conveying facility, with several conveying elements according to claim 1, for conveying objects, and with a longitudinal hollow guidance body with a cavity forming a guide channel, along which guide channel the conveying elements are rollingly movable.

12. The conveying facility according to claim 11, wherein the longitudinal guidance body comprises a guide gap, through which the basis body extends.

13. The conveying facility according to claim 11, wherein the basis body of the conveying elements extends through the guide gap, wherein a first section of the basis body which receives the holding member is located outside the guide channel and a second section of the basis body, which receives at least two rollers, is located within the guide channel.

14. The conveying facility according to claim 11, further comprising a driver device with a plurality of dogs that cooperate with dog contact elements on the conveying elements, for driving the conveying elements.

15. The conveying facility according to claim 11, wherein the conveying elements are movable independently of one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The subject-matter of the invention is hereinafter explained in more detail by way of embodiment, examples which are represented in the accompanying figures. In each case in a schematic manner are represented in:

(2) FIG. 1a a perspective view of a conveying element according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 1b a lateral view of the conveying element according to FIG. 1a;

(4) FIG. 1c a front view of the conveying element according to FIGS. 1a and 1b;

(5) FIG. 2 a lateral view of two conveying elements according to FIGS. 1a-c, which are successively rowed on one another in the overlapping position,

(6) FIG. 3 a lateral view of a detail of a conveying facility with two conveying elements in the overlapping position according to FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 4 a front view of a detail of a conveying facility with a guide profile according to a first embodiment and with a conveying element according to FIG. 1 to 2;

(8) FIG. 5 a front view of a detail of a conveying facility with a guide profile according to a second embodiment and with a conveying element according to FIG. 1a-1c;

(9) FIG. 6 a front view of a detail of a conveying facility with a guide profile according to a third embodiment and with a conveying element according to FIG. 1a-1c;

(10) FIG. 7 a lateral view of a further embodiment of a conveying element according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) The conveying element 1, 1 according to the FIGS. 1a to 1c and 7 includes an elongate basis body 2, 2, which is aligned vertically in the freely suspended position. Accordingly, the middle longitudinal plane E, which runs in the longitudinal direction of the basis body 22 and parallel to the rotation axes D of the rollers 3a-3d, is also aligned vertically.

(12) Four rollers 3a-3d are arranged on the basis body 2, 2, wherein in each case two rollers 3a, 3b; 3c, 3d are arranged equally and oppositely offset on both sides of the basis body 2, 2 in a crosswise manner.

(13) In the freely hanging position of the conveying element 1, 1, the rollers 3a-3d are arranged in an X-shaped manner in a parallel projection parallel to the rotation axes D. This means that the rollers 3a, 3b; 3c, 3d are arranged in each case in a paired manner along the crossing arms of a diagonal or cross.

(14) A holding member 4 in the form of a holding eyelet, into which the hook of a coat hanger or a pocket can be hung, is formed on the basis body 2, 2. The holding member 4 is arranged below the rollers 3a-3d in the freely hanging position of the conveying element 1, 1.

(15) A pin-like dog contact element 5 is moreover formed on the basis body 2, 2. The dog contact element 5 is arranged above the rollers 3a-3d in the freely hanging position of the conveying element 1, 1.

(16) The rollers 3a-3d are fastened on the basis body 2, 2 via fastening sections 7a-7d. For this, axle stubs, onto which the rollers 3a-3d can be stuck or screwed, are arranged on the basis body 2, 2.

(17) The fastening sections 7a-7d and with these, also the rollers 3a-3d fastened thereto, project beyond the basis body 2, 2 which is to say protrude with respect to this, in a running direction V parallel to the surface normal of the longitudinal middle plane E.

(18) The basis body 2, 2 forms contact sections 6 at those two sides, at which the rollers 3a-3d project beyond the basis body 2, 2 in the running direction V, and these contact sections are arranged and designed such that a contact with a leading or trailing, equally designed conveying element 1, 1 is effected via the contact sections 6.

(19) The fastening sections 7a-7d, which project beyond the basis body 2, 2 in the mentioned manner, are designed in a semicircular manner in the present embodiment example. However, they can also have any other shape.

(20) Recesses 8a-8d for the exactly fitting receiving of a projecting fastening section 7a-7d of an adjacent, equally designed conveying element 1, 1 in each case are moreover arranged on the basis body 2, 2.

(21) The recesses 8a-8d are designed semicircularly in the present embodiment example. However, they can also have a different shape.

(22) The recesses 8a-8d are moreover arranged on the basis body 2, 2, in each case in a manner offset with respect to a projecting fastening section 7a-7d on the same basis body 2, 2. The contours of the recesses 8a-8d and of the corresponding fastening sections 7a-7d with this arrangement complement one another into a full circle in each case.

(23) The semi-circular geometry of the recess 8a-8d and the fastening section 7a-7d permit the vertical self-centering of conveying elements 1, 1, which are pushed together in the hanging position.

(24) If now two conveying elements 1, 1 are pushed together in the running direction V, to the extent that these contact one another via the contact sections 6, then the fastening sections 7a-7d in each case come into an engagement with the recesses 8a-8d of adjacent conveying elements, which are assigned to these fastening sections. The fastening sections 7a-7d therefore also have the function of engagement sections.

(25) The basis body 2, 2 of two adjacent conveying elements 1, 1, which contact at their contact sections, as a result of this overlap at the location of the engagement of the fastening section 7a, 7d into the recess 8a-8d. The rollers 3a-3d also simultaneously overlap with the basis body 2, 2 of the adjacent conveying elements 1, 1 (see also FIG. 2).

(26) The conveying elements 1, 1 in their suspended position are secured with regard to a vertical displacement relative to one another, by way of the engagement of the fastening sections 7a-7d into the recesses 8a-8d. The bringing-together of the fastening section 7a-7d and recess 8a-8d leads to a positive fit with regard to a vertical displacement.

(27) An identification element 9, 9, which according to FIG. 1a is present as an RFID transponder 9 and according to FIG. 1b is present as a bar code 9, is arranged on the basis body 2, according to the FIGS. 1a to 1c.

(28) The further embodiment of a conveying element 1 according to FIG. 7 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 1a-1c by side guidance rollers 10. The side guidance rollers 10 are rotatably mounted about the rotation axis B in a recess in the basis body 2. The rotation axis B is aligned perpendicularly to the rotation axes D of the rollers 3a-3d and runs parallel to the middle longitudinal plane E.

(29) The side guidance rollers 10 roll on a guide surface on the longitudinal guidance body, in a lateral manner relative to the running direction V and thus stabilise the conveying element to the side. The guide surface according to the present embodiment is formed by the face sides of guide bars forming the running surfaces.

(30) The associated conveying facility for driving the conveying elements 1 now includes a driver device with a driver element designed as a driver chain 61. A plurality of dogs 62, which project in the direction of the conveying element 1, are arranged on the driver chain 61 (see FIG. 3).

(31) The dog contact elements 5 of the conveying elements 1, in the drive position now engage between the dogs 62 of the driver chain 61. The dogs 62 are now likewise moved in the conveying direction F on account of the driver chain 61 moving in the conveying direction F and forcibly come into driving contact with the dog contact elements 5.

(32) The conveying elements 1 are likewise moved in the conveying direction F via the driving contact due to the continued movement of the dogs 62 in the conveying direction F.

(33) The conveying element 1 is designed as a so-called inner runner. This means that the rollers 7a-7d roll on running surfaces in the inside of the guide channel 52, 152, 252 of a longitudinal guidance body designed as a hollow profile body 51, 151, 251 (see FIGS. 4 to 6).

(34) The hollow profile body 51, 151, 251 is designed as an open hollow profile and includes a slot-like guide gap 54, 154, 254, which runs along the running direction V.

(35) The slot-like guide gap 54, 154, 254 is delimited, which is to say formed by two guide bars 53a, 53b; 153a, 153b; 253a, 253b of the hollow profile body 51, 151, 251, which lie opposite and parallel to another.

(36) The basis body 2 runs through the mentioned slot-like guide gap 54, 154, 254, which separates an outer-lying section of the basis body 2 with the holding member 4 from an inner-lying section of the basis body 2 with the rollers 7a-7d.

(37) The guide profiles 51, 151, 251 according to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 include a first guide channel 52, 152, 252 for guiding the rollers 7a-7d of the conveying element 1, as well as a second guide channel 56, 156, 256, which is arranged above the first guide channel 52, 152, 252 with respect to the gravitational direction G and is for guiding a driver chain 61. The two guide channels 52, 152, 252; 56, 156, 256 are connected to one another via a slot-like connection channel 57, 157, 257. The dog contact elements 5 of the basis body 2, as well as the dogs 62 of the driver chain 61 engage into the connection channel 57, 157, 257, so that the driving contact is formed in the connection channel 57 157, 257,

(38) The guide bars 53a, 53b; 153a, 153b; 253a, 253b, which form the slot-like guide gap 54, 154, 254, according to the two embodiments according to FIGS. 4 and 6, in the guide channel 52, 152, 252 form a running surface for the rollers 3b, 3d, which are at the bottom in the gravitational direction.

(39) The guide profile 51, 151 according to the two embodiments according to FIGS. 4 and 5, above the guide bars 53a, 53b; 153a, 153b forming the guide gap 51, 154 now includes two further second guide bars 55a, 55b; 155a, 155b, which project into the guide channel 52, 152, lie opposite one another and run parallel to one another.

(40) The second guide bars 55a, 55b; 155a, 155b are therefore arranged in the guide channel 52, 152 such that the upper rollers 3a, 3c are led past above the second guide bars 55a, 55b; 155a, 155b, and second lower rollers 3b, 3d below these.

(41) Accordingly, both rollers 3a-3d in each case are arranged mutually offset and spaced from one another on the respective sides of the basis body 2, such that the second guide bars 55a, 55b; 155a, 155b lead through between the respective roller pairings 3a, 3b; 3c, 3d at the respective side of the basis body 2.

(42) According to the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the first and second guide bars 53a, 53b; 55a, 55b as well as the rollers 3a-3d are arranged such that the lower rollers 3b, 3d in the guide channel 52 lie on the first guide bars 53a, 53b and roll along running surfaces formed by these, and the upper rollers 3a, 3c in the guide channel 52 lie on the second guide bars 55a, 55b and roll along running surfaces formed by these. Accordingly, the upper rollers 3a, 3c rotate in the same direction as the lower rollers 3b, 3d.

(43) According to the embodiment according to FIG. 5, the second guide bars 155a, 155b as well as the rollers 3a-3d are arranged such that the lower rollers 3b, 3d bear from below on the second guide bars 155a, 155b and roll along lower running surfaces formed by these, and the upper rollers 3a, 3c lie on the second guide bars 155a, 155b and roll along upper running surfaces formed by these. The upper and the lower running surface are arranged opposed to one another. Accordingly, the upper rollers 3a, 3c rotate in the opposite direction compared to the lower rollers 3b, 3d.

(44) According to the embodiment according to FIG. 6, the guide profile has no second guide bars projecting into the profile cavity, as is the cases in FIGS. 4 and 5. Here, the guide profile 251 as well as the rollers 3a-3d in contrast are designed and arranged such that the lower rollers 3b, 3d in the guide channel 52 lie on the first guide bars 53a, 53b and roll along running surfaces formed by these, and the upper rollers 3a, 3c bear on upper profile walls and roll along upper running surfaces, which are formed by these. The upper and lower running surface are arranged opposed to one another. Accordingly, the upper rollers 3a, 3c rotate in the opposite direction compared to the lower rollers 3b, 3d.

(45) The guide profiles 51, 151, 251 according to FIGS. 4 to 6 can also be applied in the conveying facility in combination. Thus, for example, a change from one guide profile 51, 151, 251 to the other can be envisaged in the region of a diverter.