CONVEYING DEVICE

Abstract

A conveying unit that includes a base body, a conveying member with a rest element forming a rest surface and receiving a conveyed object, an inclining body that is connected to the conveying member, and an inclining mechanism for inclining the inclining body and, with this body, also the rest surface, with respect to the base body towards a delivery side for the purpose of delivering the conveyed object. The conveying member includes an encompassing frame that at least partly encompasses the rest surface of the rest element for the object to be conveyed and can therefore secure the conveyed object against sliding away from the rest surface, and the encompassing frame can be lifted to above the rest surface or be lowered to below the rest surface via control elements on the conveying unit, on inclining the inclining body to the delivery side.

Claims

1. A conveying unit for a conveying device for conveying objects to be conveyed, wherein the conveying unit comprises a base body, a conveying member with a rest element that forms a rest surface and for receiving a conveyed object (11), further comprising an inclining body that is connected to the conveying member, and an inclining mechanism for inclining the inclining body and, with this body, also the rest surface, with respect to the base body towards a delivery side for the purpose of delivering the conveyed object, wherein the conveying member comprises a single-part or multi-part encompassing frame that at least partly encompasses the rest surface of the rest element for the object to be conveyed and can therefore secure the conveyed object against sliding away from the rest surface, and the encompassing frame can be lifted to above the rest surface or be lowered to below the rest surface via control elements on the conveying unit, on inclining the inclining body to the delivery side.

2. A conveying unit for a conveying device for conveying objects to be conveyed, wherein the conveying unit comprises a base body, a conveying member with a rest element that forms a rest surface for receiving a conveyed object, further comprising an inclining body that is connected to the conveying member, and an inclining mechanism for inclining the inclining body and, with this body, also the rest surface, with respect to the base body towards a delivery side for the purpose of delivering the conveyed object, wherein the inclining mechanism comprises a first inclining joint with a first pivot axis for pivoting the inclining body towards to a first delivery side, and a second inclining joint with a second pivot axis for pivoting the inclining body towards a second delivery side that lies opposite the first delivery side, as well as a connecting element that connects the two inclining joints to one another.

3. The conveying unit according to claim 2, wherein the conveying member comprises a single-part or multi-part encompassing frame that at least partly encompasses the rest surface of the rest element for the object to be conveyed and can therefore secure the conveyed object against sliding away from the rest surface, and the encompassing frame can be lifted to above the rest surface or lowered to below the rest surface via control elements on the conveying unit on inclining the inclining body to the delivery side.

4. The conveying unit according to claim 1, wherein the conveying member comprises the inclining body.

5. The conveying unit according to claim 1, wherein the conveying member is arranged on the inclining body and is inclinable together with this.

6. The conveying unit according to claim 2, wherein the first inclining joint is arranged on the conveying unit towards the first delivery side relative to the second inclining joint, and the second inclining joint is arranged on the conveying unit towards the second delivery side relative to the first inclining joint.

7. The conveying unit according to claim 1, wherein the encompassing frame or a part-frame of a multi-part encompassing frame is directly or indirectly mounted on the inclining body and is pivotable relative to the inclining body about a frame pivot axis via a frame joint.

8. The conveying unit according to claim 1, wherein the conveying member comprises a first part-frame and a second part-frame that form a closed encompassing frame, wherein the two part-frames are pivotable relative to the rest surface independently of one another about a frame pivot axis of a frame joint.

9. The conveying unit according to claim 1, wherein the encompassing frame or part-frame is connected to the base body via at least one control element that is designed as an actuation member, wherein the actuation member is articulately connected to the encompassing frame or part-frame via a first rotation axis and is articulately connected to the base body via a second rotation axis.

10. The conveying unit according to claim 1, wherein the inclining body comprises a cam member, via which the inclining body, interacting with a cam guide, can be inclined towards a delivery side.

11. A conveying device with at least one conveying unit according to claim 1, wherein the conveying device comprises a longitudinal guidance device, and the least one conveying unit is arranged on a conveying vehicle that is movable along the longitudinal guidance device.

12. The conveying device according to claim 11, wherein the conveying vehicle comprises at least one runner roller that is arranged in a manner rolling along the longitudinal guidance device.

13. The conveying device according to claim 11, wherein the conveying device comprises a cam guide that, for the purpose of inclining the inclining body to a delivery side, can interact with a cam member on the inclining body.

14. A method for conveying and delivering conveyed objects with a conveying device according to claim 11, comprising the steps of: moving the at least one conveying unit along a movement path; inclining the inclining body to a delivery side about the first pivot axis or the second pivot axis by way of lifting a cam member on the inclining body by way of a cam guide; transfer of the conveyed object by way of the sliding of the conveyed object from the rest surface onto a take-over device.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the conveying member comprises a single-part or multi-part encompassing frame, wherein the following steps are carried out simultaneously with the inclining of the inclining body towards the first or second delivery side, lifting or lowering the encompassing frame or a part-frame at the respective delivery side and releasing a delivery opening; transferring the conveyed object by way of the sliding-away of the conveyed object from the inclined rest surface through the delivery opening onto the take-over device.

16. The conveying unit according to claim 2, wherein the conveying member comprises the inclining body.

17. The conveying unit according to claim 2, wherein the conveying member is arranged on the inclining body and is inclinable together with this.

18. The conveying unit according to claim 3, wherein the first inclining joint is arranged on the conveying unit towards the first delivery side relative to the second inclining joint, and the second inclining joint is arranged on the conveying unit towards the second delivery side relative to the first inclining joint.

19. The conveying unit according to claim 3, wherein the encompassing frame or a part-frame of a multi-part encompassing frame is directly or indirectly mounted on the inclining body and is pivotable relative to the inclining body about a frame pivot axis via a frame joint.

20. The conveying unit according to claim 3, wherein the conveying member comprises a first part-frame and a second part-frame that form a closed encompassing frame, wherein the two part-frames are pivotable relative to the rest surface independently of one another about a frame pivot axis of a frame joint.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0114] The subject matter of the invention is hereinafter explained in more detail by way of preferred embodiment examples which are represented in the accompanying figures. Each represented schematically are:

[0115] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conveying device with conveying units according to the invention, according to a first embodiment;

[0116] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conveying unit according to the first embodiment with the rest surface in the neutral conveying position;

[0117] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the conveying unit according to the first embodiment with the rest surface in the inclined delivery position;

[0118] FIG. 4 is a further perspective view of the conveying unit according to the first embodiment with the rest surface in the inclined delivery position;

[0119] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conveying unit according to the invention, according to a second embodiment with the rest surface in the neutral conveying position;

[0120] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the conveying unit according to the second embodiment with the rest surface in the inclined delivery position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0121] The conveying unit 1, 21 according to the FIGS. 1 to 6 includes a plate-like base body 2 as well as a plate-like inclining body 3a, which, together with a two-part encompassing frame 10, forms a conveying member 3. The plate-like inclining body 3a forms the rest element 9 of the conveying member 3. The rest element 9 forms a plane rest (support) surface C for the conveyed object 11.

[0122] The encompassing frame 10 forms a lateral limitation for the object 11 to be conveyed, so that this cannot slip from the rest surface C during the conveying, e.g. by way of braking or accelerating the conveying unit 1.

[0123] The conveying unit 1 moreover includes an inclining mechanism with a first inclining joint 6a, which forms a first pivot axis S1, and with a second inclining joint 7a, which forms a second pivot axis S2. The two inclining joints 6a, 7a are rigidly connected to one another via a connecting plate 5a.

[0124] The first inclining joint 6a is arranged towards the first delivery side A and connects the inclining body 3a to the connecting plate 5a. In this manner the inclining body 3a is pivotable relative to the connecting plate 5a and also relative to the base plate 2 about the first pivot axis S1 towards the first delivery side A into an inclined position.

[0125] The second inclining joint 7a is arranged towards a second delivery side B opposite to the first delivery side A and connects the base body 2 to the connecting plate 5a. In this manner, the inclining body 3a together with the connecting plate 5a is pivotable relative to the base plate 2 towards the second delivery side B about the second pivot axis S2, likewise into an inclined position.

[0126] The inclining mechanism moreover includes a third inclining joint 6b with a third pivot axis S3 likewise for pivoting the inclining body 3a towards the first delivery side A, and a fourth inclining joint 7b with a fourth pivot axis S4 likewise for pivoting the inclining body 3a towards the second delivery side B. The third and the fourth inclining joint 6b, 7b are rigidly connected to one another via a second connecting plate 5b.

[0127] The third inclining joint 6b is arranged at the side of the first inclining joint 6a but fastened to the base body 2. The fourth inclining joint 7b is arranged at the side of the second inclining joint 7a but is fastened to the inclining body 3a. Accordingly, the second connecting plate 5b runs counter to the first connecting plate 5a. The stability of the design can be increased by way of this.

[0128] The first and the third pivot axis S1, S3 of the first and third inclining joint 6a, 6b lie on a common axis during the pivoting of the inclining body 3a about these pivot axes S1, S3.

[0129] The second and fourth geometric pivot axis S2, S4 of the second and fourth inclining joint 7a, 7b lie on a common axis during the pivoting of the inclining body 3a about the mentioned pivot axes S2, S4.

[0130] The inclining joints 6a, 7a; 6b, 7b are arranged on the base body 2 and the inclining body 3a respectively, in particular on a lateral edge termination to the delivery side A, B. Accordingly, the pivot axes S1, S2, S3, S4 are also arranged on the lateral edge termination.

[0131] In particular, this permits a practically complete lowering of the inclining body 3a onto the base body 2 in the neutral conveying position.

[0132] According to the inventive solution for ensuring a sufficient pivoting radius, the inclining body 3a does not therefore need to be spaced from the base body 2, as would otherwise be the case for example with a pivot axis arranged centrally between the base body and the inclining body.

[0133] The rest surface C of the rest element 9 can therefore be selectively pivoted to the first delivery side A by way of pivoting the inclining body 3a about the pivot axis S1, S3 of the first and third inclining joint 6a, 6b, and to the opposite, second delivery side B by way of pivoting the inclining body 3a about the pivot axis S2, S4 of the second and fourth inclining joint 7a, 7b.

[0134] The first and the second inclining joint 6a, 7a with the connecting plate 5a, as well as the third and fourth inclining joint 6b, 7b with the second connecting plate 5b are each arranged in pairs. This increases the stability of the design, in particular on pivoting.

[0135] The first and the second inclining joint 6a, 7a with the connecting plate 5a, as well as the third and the fourth inclining joint 6b, 7b with the second connecting plate 5b however can also be each arranged individually.

[0136] In a modified embodiment, the third and fourth inclining joint 6b, 7b with the second connecting plate 5b can also be omitted.

[0137] A cam roller 16a, 16b for the positive actuation of the inclination of the inclining body 3a is arranged on the inclining body 3a towards both delivery sides A, B. The cam rollers 16a, 16b interact with a cam guide 56 of the conveying device 51 by way of at least one cam roller 16a, 16b rolling on a running surface of the cam guide 56 at least for inclining the inclining body 3a. The cam roller 16a, 16b rolling on the running surface and, with this, the inclining body 3a, are lifted at the side of this cam roller 16a, 16b by way of an ascent of the mentioned running surface. The lifting of the inclining body 3a at one side effects an inclining of this (see FIG. 4).

[0138] The two-part encompassing frame 10 includes two U-shaped part-frames 10a, 10b each with two arm sections 15a, 15b. The part-frames 10a, 10b with the frame section are each aligned to one of oppositely lying delivery slides A, B and thus form a lateral limitation to the delivery sides A, B.

[0139] Accordingly, the U-shaped part-frames 10a, 10b lie opposite one another, wherein these are directed towards one another with their arm sections 15a, 15b. The arm sections 15a, 15b of the part-frames 10a, 10b are mounted on the rest element 9 via a common frame pivot axis RS of a frame joint and are pivotable relative to the rest element 9 as well as independently of one another.

[0140] The two part-frames 10a, 10b are moreover each connected to the base body 2 via an articulately attached actuation rod 12, 13; 22, 23.

[0141] The actuation rod 12, 13; 22, 23 is articulately fastened to an arm section 15a, 15b of the part-frame 10a, 10b in each case via a first rotation axis D1 and is pivotable relative to this arm section about the first rotation axis D1. The first rotation axis D1 runs parallel to the frame pivot axis RS.

[0142] The actuation rod 12, 13, 22, 23 is moreover articulately fastened to the base body 2 via a second rotation axis D2 and is pivotable relative to this about the second rotation axis D2. The fastening is effected via a fastening tab on the base body 2.

[0143] According to a first embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4, the actuating rod 12, 13 is fastened to a free arm section 15a, 15b of the part-frame 10a, 10b. The first rotation axis D1 is arranged offset to the frame pivot axis RS towards the end of the free arm section 15a,15b.

[0144] The actuation rod 12, 13 is moreover fastened to the base body 2 in each case towards the oppositely lying delivery side A, B, to which the free arm sections 15a, 15b of the respective part-frame 10a, 10b are directed. Accordingly, departing from the first rotation axis D1, the actuation rod 12, 13 runs obliquely downwards towards the second rotation axis D2 in the direction of the opposite delivery side A, B.

[0145] If the rest element 9 is now pivoted to one of the two delivery sides A, B via one of the two pivot axis pairs S1, S3; S2, S4 of the inclining joints 6a, 6b; 7a, 7b, then by way of the coupling of the part-frames 10a, 10b onto the base body 2 via an actuation rod 12, 13, the part-frame 10a, 10b, which is directed to the delivery side A, B, to which the inclining body 3a is pivoted is lifted to above the rest surface C of the rest element 9 amid the formation of a delivery opening 14.

[0146] This is effected by way of the actuation rod 12, 13 pressing the arm section 15a, 15b downwards in the region of the first rotation axis D1 by way of the relative movement between the inclining body 3a and the base plate 2. The frame pivot axis RS thereby acts in the manner of a rocker, which has the effect that the part-frame section, which is arranged on the other side of the frame pivot axis RS, is pivoted upwards.

[0147] According to a second embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6, the first rotation axis D1 of the actuation rod 22, 23 is arranged offset to the frame pivot axis RS towards the delivery side, at which the encompassing frame 10 is to be lowered.

[0148] The actuation rod 22, 23 is moreover fastened to the base body 2 towards the delivery side A, B, to which the arm sections 15a, 15b of the respective part-frame 10a, 10b are directed. The second rotation axis D2 is thereby arranged below the frame pivot axis RS.

[0149] Accordingly, departing from the first rotation axis D1, the actuation rod 22, 23 runs obliquely downwards in the direction of the opposite delivery side A, B towards the second rotation axis D2.

[0150] If the rest element 9 is now pivoted to one of the two delivery sides A, B via one of the two pivot axis pairs S1, S3; S2, S4 of the inclining joints 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, then by way of the coupling of the part-frame 10a, 10b onto the base body 2 via an actuation rod 22, 23, the part-frame 10a, 10b, which is directed to the delivery side A, B, towards which the inclination body 3a is pivoted is lowered to below the rest surface C of the rest element 9 amid the formation of a delivery opening 14.

[0151] This is effected by way of the actuation rod 22, 23 pressing the arm section 15a, 15b downwards in the region of the first rotation axis D1 due to the relative movement between the inclining body 3a and the base plate 2.

[0152] The conveyed object 11 can slide in the indicated arrow direction through the delivery opening 14 away from the inclined rest surface C due to gravity by way of lifting or lowering the encompassing frame 10 in the manner described above.

[0153] FIG. 1 shows a conveying device 51 with a plurality of conveying units 1 according to the invention, which are arranged successively in the conveying direction F. The rest surfaces C of the conveying units 3, as also in FIG. 2, are situated in the horizontal position in the neutral conveying position.

[0154] The conveying units 3 are each arranged on conveying vehicles 53 and with these form a conveying module. The conveying vehicles 53 of the conveying modules are connected to one another into a conveying chain via suitable joint connections.

[0155] The conveying vehicles 53 include runner rollers 54, via which these are moved along a guide rail 55. The runner rollers 54 run along the guide rail 55 during the movement of the conveying vehicles 53 in the conveying direction F. The guide rail 55 accordingly sets the movement path of the conveying units 1.

[0156] A transfer device 70, e.g., in the form of a take-over table can be arranged laterally of the guide rail 55, to which take-over device the conveyed objects 11 can be transferred by way of sliding-away from the inclined rest surface C of the conveying unit 1. A take-over conveyor can also be present instead of the take-over table.