CN111824756B

CN111824756B - Stop module

Info

Publication number: CN111824756B
Application number: CN201910962977.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S.昂特胡贝尔
Original assignee: Asu Technology Co ltd
Current assignee: Asu Technology Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-04-18
Filing date: 2019-10-11
Publication date: 2022-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2039-10-11
Also published as: CN111824756A; DE102019205718A1; DE102019205718B4

Abstract

A stop module with a base body having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis oriented at right angles to the longitudinal axis, at which a stop unit is arranged for an object moving in a current working movement direction, having a stop element carrier and a stop element mounted at the stop element carrier, the stop unit being mounted at the base body so as to be movable by means of an actuating drive belonging to the stop module between an active position projecting into a movement plane of the object and an inactive position displaced from the movement plane along a vertical axis by a downward stroke, wherein a damping mechanism is present, which together with the stop element, when the object is stopped, can be moved by damping out of an initial position of travel into a stop position relative to the stop element carrier, wherein the damping mechanism has a spring, which is formed in the stop element carrier, A cavity is formed with a cross-sectional contour, which is formed in an elongated manner.

Description

Stop module

Technical Field

The invention relates to a stop module, in particular for an automated processing and conveying device, having a base body with a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis oriented at right angles to the longitudinal axis, at which a stop unit is arranged with a stop element carrier and a stop element mounted thereon for an object moving in a current working movement direction, which stop unit is mounted on the base body by means of an actuating drive belonging to the stop module so as to be movable between an active position projecting into a movement plane of the object and an inactive position extending out of the movement plane along a vertical axis by a downward stroke, wherein a damping device is present, which is coupled to the stop element in such a way that the stop element, when stopping the object, can be transported out of a retracted initial position relative to the stop element carrier by damping A stop position, in which the damping mechanism has a cavity formed in the stop element carrier and having a cross-sectional contour.

Background

Stop modules with damping mechanisms have been known for a long time, for example from EP 0484648 a 1. The stop described here is moved out of the workpiece that is guided to the movement path and can be moved back into said workpiece by means of a pneumatically actuable adjusting piston. For compressed air loading, a compressed air connection is provided in the housing, via which compressed air is supplied in a controlled manner. In addition, a damping mechanism is associated with the stop, so that the movement of the stopped object, for example a workpiece, can be damped.

In the use state, the stop module is usually fixed to a fixing profile of the processing and conveying device, for example a conveyor belt. The overall height of the stop modules is also determined in particular by the cavities formed in the stop element carrier, since, depending on the specifications of the stop modules, a defined buffer volume must be provided for effectively braking the impacting object.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a stop module of the type mentioned at the outset, which is distinguished by a large damping volume with a simultaneously small overall height.

This object is achieved by a stop module having the features of independent claim 1. Further developments of the invention are presented in the dependent claims.

The stop module according to the invention is characterized in that the cross-sectional profile of the cavity, which has a main cross-sectional axis oriented along the transverse axis and a short cross-sectional axis oriented along the vertical axis, is designed to be elongate.

As a result, the cavity is virtually pressed flat along the vertical axis, which leads to a reduction in the structural height relative to the circular cross-sectional profile from the prior art. If the buffer volume is not even larger, the buffer volume is at least exactly as large as in the case of the circular cross-sectional profile of the prior art.

In a particularly preferred manner, the cross-sectional contour of the cavity is rectangularly formed with rounded corners. This offers the advantage of a larger damping volume, in particular while simultaneously reducing the overall height of the stop module, in comparison with a conventional circular cross-sectional profile.

Alternatively, it is conceivable for the cross-sectional contour of the cavity to be oval, in particular elliptical.

In a development of the invention, the base body has a recess formed by a side wall extending along the longitudinal axis and a base, in which recess the stop element is accommodated.

In a development of the invention, the base body consists of plastic. Alternatively, it is also conceivable, however, for the base body to be produced from a metallic material.

It is possible that the base body has at least two fastening holes oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis for fastening to an associated fastening profile of the processing and conveying device by means of fastening elements passing through the fastening holes.

The fastening element can be, for example, a bolt which is equipped with a groove block for engaging into a groove at the fastening profile. The other end of the screw projects beyond the side wall of the base body and is usually secured there by a nut, as a result of which the stop module is clamped to the side of the fastening profile.

In the case of conventional fastening profiles, a certain dimension exists between the middle of the groove in the fastening profile and the lower edge of the work piece carrier which is transported on the conveyor belt, which can be a pallet, for example. The distance between the opening formed in the base body and the upper edge of the stop module must therefore be smaller than the aforementioned dimensions, since otherwise the base body of the stop module is already in the movement plane and the movement of the workpiece carrier is blocked. The position of the fastening opening in the base body is therefore dependent on the distance between the centers of the recesses of the fastening profile at the lower edge of the workpiece carrier and is therefore determined for a specific fastening profile. The base body of the stop module, however, also has a recess, in which the stop unit is accommodated, which is moved between the active and inactive positions by means of the actuating drive. The gap is typically relatively large because the cushioning mechanism can be integrated. However, this results in the upper edge of the fastening hole in the base body and the bottom of the recess having a relatively small distance from one another, i.e. the wall thickness of the base body between the opening and the recess is relatively small.

By virtue of the design of the cavity with an elongated cross-sectional contour, the stop element carrier can be shorter along the vertical axis compared to a circular cross-sectional contour, whereby the recess can have a smaller depth along the vertical axis, so that a larger wall thickness exists between the upper edge of the fastening hole in the base body and the bottom of the recess compared to conventional designs.

In this way, in the case of a base body of the stop module, which is made of plastic, the plastic base body is prevented from deforming when the fastening element is screwed in, in particular in the region of the fastening hole and in the region of the side walls, which are arranged on both sides of the recess in the base body.

In a development of the invention, the damping device has a damping piston which is accommodated in the cavity of the stop element carrier and is guided in a linearly movable manner there and which is adapted to the cross-sectional contour of the cavity, said damping piston being connected to a piston rod which is guided out of the cavity on its side and is connected to the stop element.

In a particularly preferred manner, the stop element carrier consists of plastic and is formed simultaneously with the production of the stop element carrier.

In a development of the invention, the cavity is open on one side via a cavity opening, wherein the opening contour of the cavity opening corresponds to the cross-sectional contour of the cavity.

It is possible for the cavity opening to be closed in a liquid-tight manner by means of a closure cap, which is a separate component from the stop element carrier.

Suitably, the closure cap is constructed from plastic. The closure cap can be connected to the stop element carrier without a thread, in particular with a material fit. For example, it is possible for the coupling cap to be welded to the stop element carrier by means of ultrasonic welding.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. In the drawings:

figure 1 shows a front view of a preferred embodiment of a stop module according to the invention fixed at a fixing profile of an automated processing and conveying mechanism,

FIG. 2 shows a side view onto the stop module of FIG. 1, an

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view through the stop module of fig. 2 along the line III-III from fig. 2.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 3 show a preferred embodiment of a stop module 11 according to the invention. The stop modules 11 are preferably used in automated processing and conveying systems, for example conveyor belts in the automobile industry, in order to separate objects 13, for example workpieces, which are moved in a movement plane in the working movement direction 12. After separation, the objects 13 can then be individually processed, e.g. machined, re-routed, etc.

As is shown in particular in fig. 1, the automatic processing and conveying device expediently has fixing profiles oriented parallel to one another in the working movement direction 12, wherein in fig. 1 the fixing profiles 14 are shown in cross section. The fixing profile 14 is shown by way of example in the form of an extruded profile (for example made of aluminum material). The fixing profile 14 has an upper side 15, on which a conveyor belt 16 is mounted so as to be linearly movable.

In parallel to this, a further fixing profile is arranged for the fixing profile 14 shown in fig. 1, which is of the same design. However, the stop module 11 is usually only located at one of the two fixing profiles 11.

The fixing profile 14 has a fixing groove 17 with a hammerhead-shaped profile cross section, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the fixing profile. For this purpose, the fastening groove 17 has a narrow neck section 18 which is open toward the side of the fastening profile 14 and a fastening section 19 which widens in the direction of the interior of the fastening profile 14 and has a larger cross-sectional contour. The conveyor belt 16 has an upper edge 80. A distance a is formed between the upper edge 80 of the conveyor belt 16 and the middle of the neck section 18 in the height direction.

The stop module has a base body 23 equipped with a longitudinal axis 20 (fig. 2) and a transverse axis 21 and a vertical axis 22 oriented at right angles to the longitudinal axis, which is shown in more detail in fig. 2 and 3. The base body 23 has a receiving section 24 in which a recess 25 for a stop unit 26 of the stop module 11, which is described in more detail below, is formed.

As is shown in particular in fig. 3, the recess 25 is delimited by two

side walls

27a, 27b, which are arranged parallel to one another and each extend along the longitudinal axis 20, and a back wall 28 and a bottom 29. The bottom 29 has a bottom surface 30. The interspace 25 is open at the side opposite the back wall 28 and has lateral openings 31 there. In addition to the receiving section 24, the base body 23 has a base section 32 for receiving an actuating drive (not shown).

As already mentioned, the stop unit 26 is accommodated in the recess 25 in the base body 23. The stop unit 26 has a stop element 33 for the object 13 moving in the current working movement direction 12, which is mounted on the base body 23 so as to be movable by means of the actuating drive between an active position 34 projecting into the movement plane of the object 13 and an inactive position 35 moving out of the movement plane along the vertical axis 22 via a downward stroke.

In addition to the stop element 33 (described in more detail below), the stop unit 26 has a stop element carrier 36 (the design of which is likewise explained in more detail below), which is coupled to the adjustment drive. The output movement produced by the actuating drive is therefore transmitted to the stop element carrier 36, which is responsible for moving the stop element 33 between the active position 34 and the inactive position 35.

As is shown in particular in fig. 1, the stop module 11 can be fixed to the longitudinal side of the associated fixing profile 14. For fastening, the base body 23 of the stop module 11 has at least two fastening holes 37 oriented along the transverse axis 21 of the base body 23, which are penetrated by suitable fastening means 38. In order to prevent the base body 23 of the stop module 11 from protruding into the plane of movement of the object 13, the distance b between the upper edge 39 of the base body 23 and the middle of the fastening opening 37 (corresponding to the middle of the neck section 18) is smaller than the distance a between the upper edge 80 of the conveyor belt 16 and the middle of the neck section 18.

The base body 21 is made of plastic. The base body 23 is expediently a plastic injection-molded structural part produced by means of plastic injection molding. In this case, the entire functional sections are connected to one another in one piece, i.e., the base body 23 is a one-piece or one-piece structural part, i.e., the receiving section 24 with the recess 25 is molded onto the base section 32.

As is shown in particular in fig. 1, the stop module 11 is fixed to the associated fixing profile 14 by means of a fixing element 37 which passes through a fixing hole 37. The fastening element 37 is shown here by way of example in the form of a screw or threaded rod. Each fastening hole 37 is assigned a bolt. The screws each have a threaded section 40 which passes through the associated fastening hole 37. On the one hand, the threaded section 40 is connected to the fastening section, since there is a groove block 41 equipped with a hammerhead-like profile, which can rotate freely relative to the threaded section 40. The opposite end of the threaded section 40 is free to slide.

For fastening the stop module 11, the groove piece 41 is introduced into the associated fastening groove 17 via the neck section 18, wherein a penetration transverse to the longitudinal extension of the fastening groove 17 is also possible due to the free rotational mobility. The groove piece 41 is accommodated in the fixed state in the hammerhead-like groove fixing section 19 of the fixing groove 17 and is supported at a wall section around the periphery of the neck section 18. The fastening nut 42 is screwed onto the end region of the threaded section 40 that projects beyond the side of the stop module or its base body 23. The stop module 11 is clamped to the fastening profile 14 by tightening the fastening nut 42.

In the case of a base body 23 produced from plastic, problems can arise because material deformations can occur during the fixed clamping or pinching of the stop module 11, for example, coupling openings (not shown) formed between the base sections 32 in the region of the base 29 of the recess 25 can be deformed, which effect the coupling between the adjustment drive and the stop unit 26. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the

side walls

27a, 27b placed on both sides of the interspace 25 are bent or deformed. All this can result in the stroke of the stop unit 26 being influenced until the clamping of the stop unit 26 is influenced during the upward or downward stroke.

Said problem is solved by the stop module 11 according to the invention.

As explained above, the stop unit 26 has the stop element 33 and the stop element carrier 36.

In the example case shown, the stop element carrier 36 is likewise made of plastic. In a preferred manner, the stop element carrier 36 is likewise a plastic injection-molded structural part.

The stop element carrier 36 has a carrier section 43 for supporting the stop element 33 and a coupling section 44 for coupling to the actuating drive. The carrier section 43 and the coupling section 44 are molded at each other and form a one-piece structural component.

The stop module 11 has a damping mechanism 45, which is coupled to the stop element 33 in such a way that, when stopping an object, the stop element 33 can be moved, damped, relative to the stop element carrier 36 from a retracted initial position (not shown) into a stop position 46. The damping mechanism 45 has a cavity 48 formed in the stop element carrier 36 and having a cross-sectional contour 47.

An important aspect of the invention is that the cross-sectional contour 47 of the cavity 48 is of elongate design, with a main cross-sectional axis 49 oriented along the transverse axis 21 and a short cross-sectional axis 50 oriented along the vertical axis 22, relative to the main cross-sectional axis 49. That is to say that the cross-sectional profile 47 is pressed flat or flat in the direction of the vertical axis.

As shown in particular in fig. 3, the cross-sectional contour 47 of the cavity 48 is rectangularly formed with rounded corners.

Such a design of the cross-sectional profile 47 provides a larger damping volume than conventional damping mechanisms with a cavity having a circular cross-section. Furthermore, the structural height of the stop element carrier 36 (that is to say the extension along the vertical axis 42) is smaller than in the case of conventional stop modules, so that the recess 25 in which the stop unit 26 is integrated can also be equipped with a smaller depth. This means that the wall thickness between the upper edge of the fastening opening 37 and the bottom 30 of the base 29 is greater, and thus deformation of the base body 23 made of plastic when fastened to the fastening profile 14 is avoided, without further measures being required for this purpose.

The cavity 48 is open on one side via a cavity opening 51, wherein the opening contour of the cavity opening 51 corresponds to the cross-sectional contour 47 of the cavity 48. The cavity opening 51 is closed in a liquid-tight manner by means of a closure cap 52, which is a separate component from the stop element carrier 36.

The closure cap 52 is likewise made of plastic. Expediently, the closure cap 52 is connected without a thread to the carrier section 43 of the stop element carrier 36. The connection can be effected, for example, by material bonding, in particular by means of ultrasonic welding.

As is shown in particular in fig. 1 and 2, the stop element 33 has a stop catch 53 which, in the active position 34, projects into the plane of movement of the object 13. In addition to the stop catch 53, the stop element 33 has a piston rod 54, which likewise forms part of the damping mechanism 45, which is connected to the stop catch 53, is accommodated in the cavity 48 of the carrier section 43, on the one hand, and is connected to a damping piston (not shown), on the other hand.

The damping mechanism 45 therefore has a damper housing formed by the stop element carrier 36, wherein the damper housing surrounds a cavity 48 in which a damping piston is movably guided.

As shown in particular in fig. 3, the closure cap 52 is assigned to the front side of the stop element carrier 36 and for this purpose has a through-opening 55, which is penetrated by a piston rod 54. The closure cap 52 furthermore has a rotation-blocking means 56, which is formed in the exemplary case on the one hand by a non-circular, for example flattened on one side, cross section of the piston rod 54 and on the other hand by a corresponding non-circular, in particular flattened on one side, cross-sectional contour of the through-opening 55. The rotation-blocking means 56 prevent a rotation of the piston rod 54 and thus of the coupled blocking clip 53 relative to the closure cap 52 and thus relative to the stop element carrier 36.

Claims

1. A stop module having a base body (23) with a longitudinal axis (20) and a transverse axis (21) oriented at right angles to the longitudinal axis, at which a stop unit (26) is arranged for an object (13) moving in the current working movement direction (12) with a stop element carrier (36) and a stop element (33) supported at the stop element carrier, which is mounted on the base body (23) such that it can be moved by means of an actuating drive belonging to the stop module (11) between an active position (34) projecting into the movement plane of the object (13) and an inactive position (35) extending out of the movement plane along a vertical axis (22) via a downward stroke, wherein a damping mechanism (45) is present, which together with the stop element (33) can be damped relative to the base body (23) when stopping the object (13), and a damping mechanism is provided The stop element carrier (36) is moved out of an initial retracted position into a stop position (46), wherein the damping mechanism (45) has a cavity (48) formed in the stop element carrier (36) and having a cross-sectional profile (47), characterized in that the cross-sectional profile (47) of the cavity (48) is formed in an elongated manner, with a main cross-sectional axis (49) oriented along the transverse axis (21) and a short cross-sectional axis (50) oriented along the vertical axis (22) relative to the main cross-sectional axis (49).

2. The stop module according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross-sectional contour (47) of the cavity (48) is rectangularly configured with rounded corners.

3. The stop module according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross-sectional contour (47) of the cavity (48) is configured oval.

4. The stop module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base body (23) has a void (25) formed by side walls (27 a, 27 b) and a bottom (29) extending along the longitudinal axis (20), in which void the stop unit (26) is accommodated.

5. The stop module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base body (23) consists of plastic.

6. The stop module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base body (23) has at least two fastening holes (37) oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis (20) for fastening to an associated fastening profile (14) of a processing and conveying device by means of fastening elements (38) which pass through the fastening holes (37).

7. The stop module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the damping mechanism (45) has a damping piston which is accommodated in a cavity (48) of the stop element carrier (36) and is guided in the cavity in a linearly movable manner and which is adapted to the cross-sectional contour (47) of the cavity (48), the damping piston being connected to a piston rod (54) which is guided on its side out of the cavity (48) and is connected to the stop element (33).

8. The stop module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stop element carrier (36) consists of plastic and the cavities (48) are simultaneously configured together when the stop element carrier (36) is manufactured.

9. The stop module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cavity (48) is open on one side via a cavity opening (51) having an opening contour corresponding to a cross-sectional contour (47) of the cavity (48).

10. The stop module according to claim 9, characterized in that the cavity opening (51) is liquid-tightly closed by means of a closure cap (52), which is a separate structural component with respect to the stop element carrier (36).

11. The stop module according to claim 10, characterized in that the closure cap (52) consists of plastic.

12. The stop module of claim 1, wherein the stop module is used in an automated processing and transport mechanism.

13. The stop module according to claim 3, characterized in that the cross-sectional contour (47) of the cavity (48) is elliptically configured.