DE102019208180B3 - Fall protection for a lifting gate, especially a machine protection lifting gate - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a fall protection device for a lifting gate, in particular a machine protection lifting gate, with a mechanical locking device which comprises a gate support movable in a vertical direction for joint movement with the lifting gate and a support element which is stationary in the vertical direction and which is mechanically locked in a vertical movement of the gate support The invention is characterized in that the locking device furthermore has at least one pawl that is articulated, at least indirectly connected to the gate support, which can be pivoted into the mechanically locking engagement with the support element, and that a stop element is spring-loaded on the gate support, which has a guide in which the pawl is guided in such a way that it is pivoted in the direction of the support element when the stop element is deflected, the stop element in a predetermined vertical end position ition is assigned a stop against which the stop element strikes during a vertical movement of the gate support.

Description

The present invention relates to a fall protection device for a lifting gate, in particular a machine protection lifting gate, and a lifting gate, in particular a machine protection lifting gate, with such a fall protection device.

Lifting gates, as the present invention relates in particular, are used in industry as part of a safety fence around a work area, for example a robot workstation, in order to create a possibility of access to the otherwise fenced-in work area. Such a lifting gate can also be part of an intermediate subdivision of such a work area and, in particular in this application, have to be opened and closed frequently and quickly.

The correct functioning of the lifting gate and its resistance to impact, for example a robot arm, are highly relevant to safety in order to avoid accidents, in particular a collision with the robot. Therefore, high demands are placed on it. For example, it is necessary that the lifting gate is securely held in its vertically upper position, even in the event of an unwanted collision with, for example, a robot arm. Conventionally, a fall protection device for the lifting gate is provided for this in practice, which mechanically locks the lifting gate against downward movement by providing a pneumatically or hydraulically actuated bolt which can be brought into a bolt-eye connection. The bolt is actively operated in order to bring it into its locking position within the eyelet. To lower the lifting gate, the bolt is actuated to remove it from the eyelet and thus cancel the mechanical lock. Due to the active control, the conventional fall protection systems are complex and maintenance-intensive.

EP 0 721 043 A1 discloses a monitoring device for a support cable of a door leaf with an electrical catching device connected to the carrying cable and a mechanical catching device, which are connected in series in such a way that first the electrical catching device and then the mechanical catching device respond.

The present invention is based on the object of specifying a fall protection device for a lifting gate, the fall protection device doing without an active control, being inexpensive to manufacture, advantageously requiring little or no maintenance, and working reliably.

The object according to the invention is achieved by a fall protection device with the features of claim 1 and by a lifting gate with such a fall protection device according to claim 9. In the dependent claims, advantageous and particularly expedient embodiments of the invention are specified.

A fall protection device according to the invention for a lifting gate, in particular a machine protection lifting gate of the type explained at the beginning, has at least one mechanical locking device which comprises a gate carrier movable in a vertical direction for joint movement with the lifting gate and a support element which is stationary in the vertical direction, the gate carrier and the support element in a mechanically locked engagement with one another which blocks a vertical movement, in particular a downward movement, of the gate carrier can be brought.

The locking device comprises at least one articulated pawl, which is connected at least indirectly to the gate support and which can be pivoted into mechanically locked engagement with the support element. According to the invention, a stop element which has a guide in which the pawl is guided in such a way that it is pivoted in the direction of the support element when the stop element is deflected is mounted on the gate support in a spring-loaded manner. In a predetermined vertical end position, in particular in a predetermined upper position, the stop element is assigned a stop against which the stop element strikes during a vertical movement, in particular an upward movement, of the gate carrier.

The fall protection is advantageously provided at the upper end of the lifting gate in order to avoid undesired movement of the gate support and thus of the lifting gate in a vertical downward movement. In principle, however, it can also be used at a lower end of the lifting gate to avoid vertical movement of the gate support or the lifting gate in an upward direction when a robot arm strikes from below. In the following, however, the invention is explained on the basis of an advantageous embodiment in which the fall protection avoids a downward movement of the gate support or the lifting gate.

The support element preferably comprises a bolt and the pawl comprises a mouth, the mouth being attachable to the bolt by pivoting the pawl. According to an alternative embodiment, the support element comprises a corresponding mouth or a recess and the pawl has a bolt which can be suspended in the mouth or the recess. Other embodiments are possible.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the guide comprises a backdrop with which a sliding block connected to the handle engages. As a result, the desired pivoting of the pawl is achieved when the stop element is moved in the direction of the gate carrier, either because the vertical movement of the stop element is stopped by the stop and the gate carrier continues to move in the vertical direction, or because the stop element is triggered by another force the gate carrier is moved to. Of course, the gate could also be provided in the pawl and the sliding block could be connected to the stop element as part of the guide or to form the guide.

The pawl is advantageously connected at least indirectly to the gate support such that it can be rotated about a horizontal axis of rotation. However, a pivoting movement is also possible, in which the pawl performs a combined rotary-displacement movement.

It is favorable if the stop is mounted displaceably in the vertical direction against a spring force. In this way, tolerances can be compensated for when the end position of the gate support or the lifting gate is approached if, for example, a drive device does not move the lifting gate exactly into the desired end position.

In order to safely intercept an impact of a robot arm from above on the gate carrier without the risk of the gate carrier loosening from its mechanical interlock with the support element, the stop element preferably completely covers the gate carrier on its upper side. In the case of protection against upward displacement of the gate support, the stop element would preferably completely cover the bottom of the gate support.

The stop element can be mounted on the gate support, for example, by means of at least one compression spring or with a plurality of compression springs.

A lifting gate according to the invention has at least one gate area and at least one drive device for moving the gate area up and down in a vertical direction. The gate field is connected to the gate support of a fall protection device according to the invention. Alternatively, the gate support is formed by the gate field itself.

The gate field can have several segments that can be moved one behind the other. Each segment that is comparatively further down is advantageously positioned on the side of the gate field above that faces away from the work area or danger area in which, for example, a robot is located, in order to prevent, for example, a robot arm from hitting a segment that is not covered by the stop element from above beats. As a rule, it can be sufficient to secure only the top gate field with a fall protection device according to the invention.

The drive device is advantageously connected vertically below the stop element and separately from the stop element on the gate field and / or on the gate support.

The drive device can, for example, comprise a chain drive or a belt drive which is connected to the gate field and / or to the gate support. However, other drive devices can also be used.

The fall protection device according to the invention advantageously manages without an external control and advantageously works purely mechanically.

Different co-operating springs are advantageously matched to one another with regard to a spring force. If, for example, the stop is mounted displaceably against the force of at least one spring, this spring or spring combination has in particular a greater spring force than the spring or spring combination with which the stop element is supported on the gate carrier. For example, the spring force of the spring / spring combination assigned to the stop is twice the spring force which is made available by the at least one spring or spring combination with which the stop element is mounted on the gate support.

The stop itself can be designed, for example, in the form of a rubber buffer.

If, in a fall protection device according to the invention, the gate carrier is moved together with the stop element in the direction of the stop, the stop element first strikes the stop and is moved relatively in the direction of the gate carrier as the gate carrier continues. As a result of this movement, the pawl connected to the gate support is pivoted due to the guide provided on the stop element, so that it moves in the direction of the support element for its mechanical locking and is finally locked with the support element. If, in this locked state, a body, for example a robot arm, hits the stop element from above, this exerts a force on the stop element which presses it in the direction of the gate support. As a result of the guidance, a continuing or increasing locking force is exerted on the pawl, which presses it in the direction of the support element. A Moving the pawl out of the mechanical locking with the support element is reliably avoided.

If, on the other hand, a drive force of the drive device acts on the lifting gate or the gate carrier, in the sense of a vertical movement, in particular downward movement, of the lifting gate or gate carrier, then the gate carrier is removed from the stop element, which is initially against the stop with the spring force of the spring / spring combination between the gate carrier and the stop element is pressed and remains there, and the guide pivots the pawl back out of its locking engagement with the support member. The mechanical locking between the latch and the support element is canceled and the gate support or the lifting gate can, as desired, in particular be moved downwards.

A resiliently mounted stop enables the gate support or the lifting gate to move a predetermined further distance in the direction of the stop even if the stop element has already hit the stop and has moved relatively in the direction of the gate carrier so that the pawl locks with the support element can, because then the stop yields elastically due to its resilient suspension. The secure locking between pawl and support element is not disturbed by this, however, and damage to the drive device, for example a chain drive or belt drive, is prevented. The risk of the stop element or the stop being damaged is also minimized.

The invention is to be explained below using an exemplary embodiment and the figures.

• 1 eine dreidimensionale Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Absturzsicherung;
• 2 einen Ausschnitt der Absturzsicherung aus der 1;
• 3 eine Draufsicht von oben auf eine erfindungsgemäße Absturzsicherung;
• 4 eine Schnittansicht durch die erfindungsgemäße Absturzsicherung aus der 1;
• 5 eine alternative Gestaltung einer erfindungsgemäßen Absturzsicherung;
• 6 eine schematische Schnittansicht durch die Absturzsicherung aus der 5;
• 7 ein erfindungsgemäßes Hubtor mit einer Absturzsicherung.

Show it:

• 1 a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of a fall protection according to the invention;
• 2 a section of the fall protection from the 1 ;
• 3 a plan view from above of a fall protection according to the invention;
• 4th a sectional view through the fall protection according to the invention from FIG 1 ;
• 5 an alternative design of a fall protection according to the invention;
• 6th a schematic sectional view through the fall protection from FIG 5 ;
• 7th a lifting gate according to the invention with a fall protection device.

In the 1 is a fall protection device according to the invention with a mechanical locking device 1 shown, the one in a vertical direction Z movable gate support 2 and one in the vertical direction Z stationary support element 3 includes. As in particular using the 2 to 4th can be seen is the gate carrier 2 into mechanically locked engagement with the support element 3 spendable.

The locking device 1 also includes one on the gate support 2 connected jack 4th which is in mechanically locked engagement with the support element 3 is pivotable. In the embodiment shown, the pawl comprises 4th a bolt 4.2 that in a mouth 3.2 or a recess in the support element 3 is hookable.

On the gate support 2 is a stop element 5 spring-loaded that a guide 6th has in which the latch 4th is guided such that it is in the direction of the support element 3 is pivoted when the stop element 5 in the direction of the gate carrier 2 is compressed.

In the embodiment shown, the guide includes 6th a backdrop 6.1 , with the one on the handle 4th connected sliding block 8th is engaged to the pivoting movement of the pawl 4th to force when the stop element 5 on the gate support 2 too is moved.

The gate carrier 2 is together with a lifting gate 10 , the upper end of which is the gate support 2 trains or at the upper end of the gate carrier 2 is connected, can be moved in two lateral door guides 13th stored facing in the vertical direction Z extend. At the top of the side door guides 13th each is a stop 7th provided on which the stop element 5 hits when the lift gate 10 or the gate carrier 2 moved to its upper end position. When moving towards the end position, the stop element hits first 5 at the stop 7th and is thereby in its movement in the vertical direction Z stopped, whereas the gate carrier 2 that is being driven continues upward in the vertical direction Z is moved. The stop element 5 springs against the force of the at least one compression spring 9 with which it is on the gate support 2 is stored, in the direction of the gate carrier 2 a. In this compression movement, the backdrop forces 6.1 the sliding block 8th in a direction transverse to the vertical direction Z outward. This will make the latch 4th outwards towards the support element 3 pivoted and with its bolt 4.2 in an area above the mouth 3.2 in the support element 3 spent or directly in the mouth 3.2 used. The drive device not shown here is switched off and the lifting gate 10 or the gate carrier 2 is in its upper end position.

On the one hand there is the lifting gate 10 or the gate carrier 2 held by the drive device in the upper end position because the drive device has a corresponding self-locking. However, this self-locking is usually not large enough to exert a comparatively large downward force on the lifting gate 10 is exercised to support. Such a comparatively large force can be caused, for example, by a robot arm striking the door support from above 2 or the stop element 5 be exercised and without the fall protection, the lifting gate 10 be knocked down.

Due to the fact that the bolt 4.2 in the mouth 3.2 or above the mouth 3.2 is located, such a force from above, however, leads to the gate carrier 2 is or is locked securely in the upper position and the lifting gate 10 is held accordingly.

If, however, a drive device on the gate support 2 attacks and on this a force in the vertical direction Z exerts downwards, the gate carrier moves 2 down and the compression spring 9 rebounds, whereby the stop element 5 initially still at the stop 7th is held so that the gate carrier 2 from the stop element 5 away. This becomes the sliding block 8th in the backdrop 6.1 moved inwards and the latch 4th gets out of position with the bolt 4.2 over or in the mouth 3.2 removed and pivoted inwards, so that the gate support is then attached 2 together with the stop element 5 can be moved down.

The design according to 5 and 6th works in accordance with the design included in the 1 to 4th is shown. In contrast, however, the latch points here 4th a mouth 4.1 on and the support element 3 has a bolt 3.1 on. The mouth becomes accordingly 4.1 through the link guide over the bolt 3.1 hooked to the desired mechanical locking of the gate carrier 2 with the support element 3 in the upper end position of the gate support 2 to reach.

In the embodiment shown here, the pawl is 4th articulated around the axis of rotation Y on the gate support 2 connected so that it executes a pure rotary movement. However, a different mounting could also be provided.

The attack 7th is indicated by a in the vertical direction Z Resiliently mounted component, here a rubber buffer, is formed. When the stop element 5 at the stop 7th strikes and then against the compression spring 9 is spring-loaded, the stop pressure spring enables 7.1 that, if a drive device, the gate carrier 2 moved further up, the stop 7th in the vertical direction Z yields or is displaced to damage the drive device or the mechanical locking device 1 to prevent.

The stop pressure spring 7.1 has a greater spring force than the compression spring 9 on to make sure that first the compression spring 9 compresses before the stop pressure spring 7.1 compresses.

In the 7th is an example of a lift gate 10 shown, for example, that several successively sliding gate fields 11 includes. At the lift gate 10 engages a drive device 12 , for example in the form of a belt drive or chain drive. Components of the mechanical locking device are also exemplary 1 shown.

List of reference symbols

1

Mechanical locking device

2

Gate carrier

3

Support element

3.1

bolt

3.2

Mouth

4th

pawl

4.1

Mouth

4.2

bolt

5

Stop element

6th

guide

6.1

Backdrop

7th

attack

7.1

Stop pressure spring

8th

Sliding block

9

Compression spring

10

Lift gate

11

Peat field

12

Drive device

13

Lateral gate guide

Z

Vertical direction

Y

Axis of rotation

Claims (11)

Fall protection for a lifting gate (10), in particular a machine protection lifting gate, with a mechanical locking device (1) which supports a gate support (2) that is movable in a vertical direction (Z) joint movement with the lifting gate (10) and a support element (3) which is stationary in the vertical direction (Z) and which can be brought into a mechanically locked engagement with one another that blocks a vertical movement of the gate carrier (2); wherein the locking device (1) furthermore has at least one pawl (4) which is articulated at least indirectly to the gate carrier (2) and which can be pivoted into mechanically locking engagement with the support element (3), and a stop element (2) on the gate carrier (2). 5) is spring-loaded, which has a guide (6) in which the pawl (4) is guided in such a way that it is pivoted in the direction of the support element (3) when the stop element (5) is deflected, the stop element (5 ) a stop (7) is assigned in a predetermined vertical end position, on which the stop element (5) strikes during a vertical movement of the gate support (2). Fall protection according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the support element (3) comprises a bolt (3.1) and the pawl (4) has a mouth (4.1) which can be hung on the bolt (3.1) by pivoting the pawl (4). Fall protection according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the support element (3) comprises a mouth (3.2) or a recess and the pawl (4) has a bolt (4.2) which can be suspended in the mouth (3.2) or the recess by pivoting the pawl (4) is. Fall protection according to one of the Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the guide (6) comprises a gate (6.1) with which a sliding block (8) connected to the pawl (4) engages. Fall protection according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th , characterized in that the pawl (4) is rotatably connected to a horizontal axis of rotation (Y) at least indirectly on the door support (2). Fall protection according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that the stop (7) is mounted displaceably in the vertical direction (Z) against a spring force. Fall protection according to one of the Claims 1 to 6th , characterized in that the stop element (5) completely covers the door support (2) on its upper side. Fall protection according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th , characterized in that the stop element (5) is mounted on the gate support (2) by means of at least one compression spring (9), in particular with a plurality of compression springs (9). Lifting gate (10) with at least one gate field (11) and a drive device (12) for moving the gate field (11) up and down in a vertical direction (Z), characterized by a fall protection according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th whose gate support (2) is connected to the gate field (11) or is formed by it. Lifting gate (10) according to Claim 9 , characterized in that the drive device (12) is connected vertically below the stop element (5) and decoupled from the stop element (5) on the gate field (11) and / or on the gate support (2). Lifting gate (10) according to one of the Claims 9 or 10 , characterized in that the drive device (12) comprises a chain drive or belt drive which is connected to the gate field (11) and / or to the gate support (2).

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