DE1051192B - Conveyor device for flow work to move objects such. B. Workpieces on platforms releasably connected to a conveyor - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a conveyor device for flow work for moving objects such as z. B. furniture, furniture parts or other goods or workpieces of all kinds, on a conveyor track in one or more cycles during manufacture, assembly or other treatment of these objects in order to carry out the steps to be carried out one after the other on these objects or workpieces To make work easier.

It is known to arrange the workpieces or other objects on platforms which are detachable connected to a moving conveyor that spaced the platforms from each other moved over the main conveyor track. There are also fixed ones next to the main conveyor Provided track sections on which the platforms temporarily, z. B. to run long permanent work or repairs, etc., can be stopped. The platforms can be accessed from the den moving part of the conveyor device forming the main conveyor track on the stationary part of the Facility-forming sections of the path on which they are in contrast to their in spaced movement on the main conveyor track tightly closed, d. H. right away one after the other, move. There are also devices for rotating the platforms on one Work station known, wherein the platforms do not have to be removed from the conveyor track.

A conveyor system is also known in which the conveyor carts moved by hand over a rail track At certain stations on junctions of the railroad can be directed to work processes of longer duration, whereupon the trolleys again at the end of these stations can be returned to the main railroad. However, there is a running conveyor belt in this system unavailable. Finally, it is also known to use a workpiece several times at one and the same job so that the worker can perform a plurality of operations on the workpiece can. In the case of railways or overhead railways, there are also automatic switching means for control of the points, etc. known, where the wagons or carriers to be discharged to the +5 Turn-off points arranged switching rotary parts move step by step and these after a predetermined Number of switching steps cause the discharge by electrical means.

The previously known, z. B. used for furniture factories conveyors of the type described above generally require conveyor tracks of 500 m and more in length to carry out the various processing operations. Since there is always a conveyor for flow work
for moving objects,
z. B. workpieces on platforms releasably connected to a conveyor

Applicant:

Maria Luisa DeBurgh, née Agreda,
Seattle, Wash. (V. St. A.)

Representative: Dipl.-Ing. EF Eitner, patent attorney,
Munich 5, Erhardtstr. 8th

If work occurs that takes a long time, powerful artificial dryers must be switched on in order to minimize the length of the conveyor track and the size of the floor space required keep. Such conveyor systems are suitable for large outputs, for example for the treatment of 1000 up to 1500 workpieces in 8 hours. Because of the very high investment costs, the number of necessary However, the dryer and the large amount of space required are very uneconomical and systems of this type impractical for smaller companies, which only have small quantities, for example only 300 units per · day, produce.

Further disadvantages for smaller companies are the following: The minimum workforce required to operate this continuous conveyor system is required can often be larger than the number of workers which the operation normally takes place during a day's work without the use of such a conveyor system needs. In addition, the workforce might one day be in production Have run for 2 or 3 hours. Employing skilled workers for such short hours is impossible. Most businesses have organized work, and the entrepreneur is not allowed to move the work from one department to the other, even if this would be practical, but what in reality it is not. Furthermore, the continuously operating conveyor system requires a tolerable consistent production volume to keep up with the

809 750/323

to be able to work with the best possible efficiency. Obviously, such a conveyor system can also be operated at a lower speed _; and the number of workers can be reduced for certain jobs. However, since it is the continuous type of conveyor, a minimum staffing is required to occupy all of the work stations, which means that operating at a slower speed during reduced production increases the cost per unit of manufacture. Hence, even such a system cannot adapt itself to the changes in production caused by the numerous peaks and valleys of production to which a smaller entrepreneur is exposed because he has limited capital or storage space, so that he is unable to maintain high production during times of business depression.

Where it is desired to fully complete a finished item, including attrition of the finishing material, a great length of the assembly line is continuous at each working conveyor system, as it takes a considerable amount of time to move the finishing material to cool and solidify before it is rubbed. This makes the inclusion of the Abrasion activity expensive. In contrast, the activity of the combined conveyor is in accordance with of the present invention does not require an additional conveyor length to perform the abrading.

The condition described above, which has been for years for both the manufacturers of conveyor systems as well as for the furniture makers, it makes it obvious that there is an urgent need here for a funding system that allows the smaller entrepreneur to work with comparable ones Costs to compete with larger operations with assembly lines or similar conveyor systems work. However, so far this condition could not be remedied; here is through the conveyor according to the invention achieved a significant advance, which already in three Factories were tried out, with each facility being trained depending on the product that was desired maximum production, the available floor space, etc. varies and the value of the invention through has proven a strong reduction in conveyor costs and, according to the invention, less requires less floor space than the other known types of conveyor systems. Here were in all Cases the costly forced drying units required in the continuously operating conveyor systems reduced and in one case even completely turned off. The establishment according to the The invention also reduces the number of spray booths and workstations, switches all of them Handling and displacement of the workpieces and the resulting damage from and improved the quality of the finish. The invention provides a device which, when used for a low production volume is required, all the advantages of the continuously operating conveyor systems has, but eliminates all disadvantages of the same. Another advantage is that through Reduce the normal number of circuits and reduce the number of work stations the workforce can be reduced and that the facility can operate at the same conveyor speed as can be operated at full production, thus maintaining the low production cost become, which is not possible with the known continuously operating conveyor systems.

The invention aims to provide a conveyor with a movable part and a fully mechanize the stationary part. For this purpose, according to the invention, the movable conveyor, z. B. the conveyor cable, across in front of the entrances to the railways of the stationary part and across in front of the exits of these railways, with in front of the entrances of the railways a mechanically driven device for the preselectable removal of certain platforms of the movable conveyor and for the automatic transfer of the same to predeterminable Railways is arranged, while at the exits of these railways one is also mechanical Driven device for the automatic return of those leaving the railways Platforms onto the moving conveyor and to their arrangement on this conveyor in the earlier intervals are provided.

As a result, a mechanical conveying device is created which has a relatively small Has space requirements, allows numerous variants of the operation and especially for smaller businesses with Advantage is usable. The number of circuits can be increased while maintaining the normal conveying speed increase. With such a system, a smaller production can also be carried out in flow work can be achieved at a relatively low cost by making certain workstations ineffective and doing the work normally done on these stations on the rest Stations running.

Care has been taken that the working speed of the machine and all of its accessories can be decreased or increased so that there is more or less time on the workstations to execute more or less difficult work is available, for what purpose only the display device to control the conveying speed set to the desired conveying speed needs to be.

In the drawing, an embodiment of the invention that is preferably used is for example illustrated.

Fig. 1 shows the conveyor system in a schematic plan view;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of a group of platforms in readiness opposite the storage section for movement in this section; Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the construction of Fig. 3 with the addition of a circuit diagram, some parts of the housing are shown broken away to reveal the underlying structure close;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 on an enlarged scale;

6 is a broken plan view, partially in section, of a plurality of platforms of FIG one of which is about to exit the storage section;

Figure 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figures 8 and 9 are sections along lines 8-8 and 9-9, respectively, of Figure 6;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a device for straightening an unaligned platform;

5 6

and Fig. 11 is a section along line 11-11 of the chain 57 capable of rotating. The shaft 54 is

Pig, 10. ^m a camp 58 a stored, which of a

The endless conveyor 10 shown in Fig. 1 loading stand 58 is carried.

sits a drive unit 11 and end sections or ^As can be seen from FIG. 4, the chain 57 carries

Runners 12 and 14. The device has a 5 drive hook 60 which is adjusted so that

Loading point 15 and an unloading point 16. If he is with the pin 25 of the platform 26 ο straight in

the platforms 26 along the main conveyor cable 17 comes into engagement when this platform while they

move, they pass a number of working on a conveyor line 17 * of the cable 17 is to itself

Stations 18, 18 a, 18 & etc., which are located at certain in alignment with the entrance 33 α (see

Depending on the type of work to be carried out io Fig. 2), and since the chain is perpendicular to the

and are arranged according to their peculiarities. trajectory of the platforms is running, the platform is

These workstations are ^{au form} in certain distances 28 f in the above-mentioned role of leadership

openings from one another are provided so that the distribution channels 61 and 62 of existing railways

different workpieces at the right time with them "34 * and thus moved into the storage section34,

arrive and leave them. The runners 12 and 14 15 ^The platform 26 a comes with the previously promoted

of the conveyor reduce the platform 63 in contact for the conveyor system and move the same

required floor space and provide space for more the width of a platform, so that the platform 26 α

Workstations. completely absorbed by the storage section

As can be seen from Fig. 3, are attached to the cable.

17 fastened at certain points blocks 20, of 20 As can be seen from Fig. 3, the chain 57 is other each carries a pair of rollers 22, which are mounted in an ascending manner, so that the hook 60, after-guide 23 along the intended for the conveyor which he has driven the pin 25 and the flat path move. Certain, previously selected form 26 α in their correct position in the memory blocks 20, with upstanding lugs 24, section 34 has come automatically from the pin see which solves with 25 25 attached to the platforms 26. The hook 60 continues to move until and from the latter depending pin 25 engages in one with the switch 42, which handle can come to the platforms 26 on which the current to the above-mentioned solenoid 43 under-supporting rollers 28 to move. breaks. Now a separated in the solenoid

As can be seen from Fig. 2, the pins can be arranged, not shown in the drawing back-

25 of the platforms 26 with a series of rotatable 30 guide spring the coupling surfaces 46 and 50 and

The mounted selector disks 29, 30, 31 and 32 in one interrupts the movement of the chain in this way

handle, which is opposite the entry points 57. This feature completes the control

33 of a storage section 34 are arranged. As the facility for stopping the operation of the elec-

If the main conveyor cable moves continuously, it is fresh control means.

it necessary to provide the selector disks which 35 ^The selector disc 31 has six pins, so that they are precisely adjusted "by platforms of the them in to be engaged platform two twelfths of a revolution when the platforms 26 a, 26 b requires to repeat the described operation in alignment with the inputs 33 of the ration. For the same reason storage section 34 comes through which the platforms should pass through the voter disc 30 with four pins and the voter between rails 34 *. 40 disc 29 with three pins Mistake.

For this purpose, the dial 29 is as shown in Fig. 6, the discharge end twelve teeth 36 and three upstanding tenons 38 of the storage section 34 with one provided by the plate; the voter disc 30 has twelve teeth to be actuated linkage 65 provided which and four pins, the dial 31 has twelve has a rod 66, with which the pin 25 Teeth and six tenons, and the dial 32 45 of a platform 67 can come into engagement. the has twelve teeth and twelve tenons. Rod 66 is rotatable at 68 on a bracket 69 if a platform 26 a, the voter disc 29 is steered. At 70, an arm 71 is attached to the free end of the happens, their pin 25 engages in a tooth of the rod 66 hinged and is normally through Dial 29 and causes a spring 72 to rotate clockwise. At the latter by a twelfth of a turn. The same 50 at its free end, the arm 71 has a notch 73, occurs at the selector discs 30, 31 and 32. Since the in the pin 25 of a previously conveyed plate Rotary disk 32 has twelve pins, causes form 75 can intervene, so that movement of the a twelfth turn that one of the pins 40 a platform 67 causes the pin 25 of the latter a switch 40 actuated, whereby a small sole platform abuts against the rod 66 and the same in noid 41 is fed with current, which in turn 55 the position shown in dashed lines in FIG the adjustment of the button of a switch 42 is pivoted, which furthermore has the effect that acts to supply a large solenoid 43 with power to the arm 71 of the platform 75 on the track 173 / the Food. Main conveyor line in the position of the platform 77

As can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, the main thrust is. A flat ribbon spring 78 presses on the flat drive shaft 45, which has a gear train of 60 form 75 and prevents the latter from getting over the geder Drive unit 11 of the main conveyor cable moved to the desired position. A spiral is driven, provided with a coupling member 46, tension spring 80 brings the rod 66 into its normal which is operated via a fork head 47, the position back. The pins 25 are in the Gevon the solenoid 43 is carried. housing of section 34 between two parallel

In this way a roller 49 is guided with a 65 rod 81, but the guide rails 34 *

Coupling surface 50 driven by shaft 45, can be used solely to guide the platforms

and a belt 52 and a pulley 53 will suffice.

a shaft 54 rotated. On the shaft 54 Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate how a plattist a sprocket 55 attached, which a on the form 26, which is on the cable conveyor 17 to their Guide 23 has rotated the sprocket 56 mounted on a 70 axis and shifted it laterally, automatically

is re-straightened by groups of contact rollers mounted on supports 86 and 87 and adjusted to act firmly against the bottom surfaces of the approached, misaligned platforms. In Fig. 10 the position of a misaligned platform 26 is indicated in dashed lines, it being possible to see how this platform overhangs laterally and is partially supported by the rollers of the roller group 85 a, 85 6 and 85 c . The axes about which all of these pulleys are rotatable are identical to one another, and all of these axes (viewed from the side of the oncoming platform) extend substantially more than at right angles to the cable 17 driving the platforms. As a result, these pulleys practice if a misaligned platform encounters it, a pushing effect on the platform and the latter swing automatically into a properly aligned position with respect to the cable 17.

The activity of the rear roller group 83 a, 83 b and 83 c is now easy to understand. The two groups of rollers work together to steer any misaligned approaching platform into its correct position. The rear roller group acts on the front part of a subsequent, misaligned platform when this is shifted to the relevant side of the cable 17.

As Figure 11 shows, each group of rollers used to align the platforms is somewhat with inclined to the rollers which are closest to the cable 17 and are located lower than the others Roll. This arrangement is desirable because it causes platforms that are significantly out of the Direction are brought more strongly touched by one of the outer straightening rollers. Of course you can Groups of such straightening rollers are arranged along the conveyor track wherever they are needed will.

In the device according to FIG. 1, where the conveyor lines marked A and B are used to carry out certain work stages, a section 17 χ of the cable 17 runs transversely along the entry end of the four platform guide rails in the section 34, and another cable section 17; y runs transversely in front of the exit end of these rails. It should be noted that both lines VTx and 173 / run in the same direction and that different work stations 18 », 18 δ etc. are arranged at appropriate intervals along the parts of the cable which precede the line 17 χ and follow the line 17 ν . It has already been described that a mechanical device is arranged at the entry end of the section 34, which optionally releases platforms at a certain constant distance in single succession along the cable route 17 χ from the cable and these platforms removed from the cable requirement route sideways from this cable route into the Pushes the entrance of the first of a plurality of railways, this shifting device then also removing those platforms from this cable section which immediately follow the platform that was removed first. This successive removal of the adjacent platforms is repeated in accordance with the number of railways included in said plurality of railways so that all of the railways are used. In the same way, the platforms accumulating towards the exit end of these railways are similarly mechanically removed from the storage section and lined up again on the cable route 17 at precise intervals following one another.

5 Although only a single storage section 34 is shown in the drawing, it goes without saying that also a plurality of such storage sections at corresponding intervals along the conveying path be arranged if a sufficiently large number of workpiece-carrying platforms is the application requires more sections of memory.

To illustrate the cycle process when applying the invention, it is assumed, for example, that a manufacturer intends to produce three hundred larger workpieces every eight hour day to produce. Also assume that time studies have shown that using this invention the work in the spray hoods can be carried out in half a minute and that the other activities, such as B. Loops, which require more time, by arrangement correspondingly longer Workstations and deployment of a corresponding number of workers can be carefully carried out.

A three-circuit setup using 300 platforms would in this case obviously be appropriate as the maximum number of circuits according to the desired Production and the required working time to achieve the minimum number of workers, whereby each cycle lasts 150 minutes with a 15 minute rest period between cycles when there is It is a matter of making production in 8 hours.

Example I.

First cycle

Load workpiece on station 15;

White sand on station ^;

Wash coating 'spray in the first stall 18 a;

Stains and fillers splash in the third stall 18 b]

Rinsing and mopping or padding on the conveyor at B as the workpieces travel to the storage conveyor 34, in this case into a heated dryer for the long drying period required by the filler;

Cooling during the time it takes to move from the storage section 34 to the crate 18c is required;

Spray the sealing coating at station 18 c , the sealing coating dry during the hike (passing crate 18 d) to station A.

Second cycle

Sand or grind the closure coating at A (use the same team as for the white sand);

Shade spray on station 18a (the same worker who applied the wash coat Has);

Glaze sprayer at station 18 b (the same worker who has applied the filler); Glaze rinse or shine and wipe on conveyor section B (the same crew that wiped the filler) while the work pieces are sent to the store 34 for the

Claims (12)

Glaze required long drying periods to wander; Cooling during the time required to travel from storage section 34 to splash booth 18c; spray the first coat of paint on station 18c (the same worker who applied the sealing coat); dry the first coat of paint during the hike (passing through the shed 18d) to the station ^. Third cycle refresh, apply templates and test at A using the same crew that was used for the sanding; spray the second coat of paint on station 18a (the same worker who applied the wash coat and the shading coat); only surface with the third coat of paint spray on station 18 & (same worker who applied the glaze); the workpieces travel to the storage section 34 for the long drying period required of the paint (in this case, overnight, before rub-off); the workers who were needed in circuits 1 and 2 for wiping and spraying in crate 18c are not required for the third circuit and are occupied with replacing supplies, cleaning and filling the pressure pots during the HA-hour cycle , Replenishing supplies and doing other work in preparation for the next day's operations. Of course, the above example only serves to illustrate such a working process, and of course numerous different machining operations, production quantities and also completely different workpieces not mentioned can be carried out or carried out or treated with the device according to the invention. Obviously, a different division of the circuits can also be undertaken, in which case, for example, the entire team would perform rubbing or other work in a fourth circuit. For example, in order to reduce production to 150 larger units per day while maintaining the same relatively low production costs, the machine could work as follows: Example II First cycle, loading on station 15; Sand white on section A; Spray wash coating on station 18 a. Second circuit 55 60 The worker who has loaded on station 15 goes to station B and works there as a mop; Stains and fillers spray on station 18a (the same worker who applied the wash coat); Wiping or plugging the filler at B, carried out by workers from station ^, who carried out the white sand in the ηο first cycle. Squirt Third Circuit Closure Coating at 18d; Sand cap coating at B using the same workers who wiped the filler during the second cycle. Fourth cycle glaze splash at 18 b; Wipe glaze at B using the same workers who sanded the closure coating during the third cycle. Fifth cycle Spray the first coat of paint at 18 d; Freshen up, apply stencils and inspect at B using the same workers who wiped the glaze during the fourth cycle. Sixth circuit Spray the second coat of paint at 18 c; only spray the surface with the third coat of paint at 18 d; the team from station B, which is not needed during the sixth cycle, can use 45 minutes to clean, refill pressure pots, secure supplies and carry out other work in preparation for the operations of the next day. On the face of it, one might assume that the continuously operating conveyor of US Pat. No. 2,317,675, cited above, could also be used for a circulatory system when the platforms return to their point of origin. However, a more detailed consideration shows the following: First, a continuously operating conveyor system with a capacity of 1500 units per day and a length of about 500 m would only require platforms if they were arranged with the usual average spacing of 250 cm; on the other hand, if this device were to operate according to the circulatory system, the arrangement of 1500 workpiece-carrying platforms would be required. Second, the object of the invention is to provide a small, effective, relatively inexpensive conveyor device with means for varying the production volume and for maintaining relatively low production costs with lower production for those companies for which the purchase of a continuously operating conveyor system of the type mentioned is necessary would require large investments, too much floor space and too many workers in relation to the desired production. Patent claims: 1. Conveyor device for flow work for moving objects on a conveyor track by means of platforms that can be detached from the conveying means for carrying the workpieces or others Objects, which are normally at a distance from each other on the movable Part of the device forming the main conveyor track are moved in certain track sections 80S 750B23 on the other hand, tightly closed, can be moved over a stationary part of the conveying device consisting of a plurality of adjacent rail tracks, characterized in that the movable conveying means 5 (17) transversely in front of the entrances of the loop tracks (34 x) of the stationary part (34) and transversely in front is guided along the exits of these railways (34 x) , with a mechanically driven device in front of the entrances of the railways (34 x) for the preselectable removal of certain platforms (26) from the movable conveying means (17) and for automatically transferring them to predeterminable railways (34 -r) is arranged, while at the exits of these railways (34ji;) a likewise mechanically driven device for the automatic return of the platforms (26) leaving the railways to the movable conveyor (17) and for their arrangement on this conveyor (17) in the earlier intervals. 2. Conveyor device according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable conveying means consists of an endless cable (17), with the aid of which the platforms (26) are moved over the movable part of the conveyor track, wherein the transversely in front of the entrances of the railways ( 34 x) moving cable section (17 x) and the cable section (17 3;) running transversely in front of the exits of the railways (34.1;) in the same direction. 3. Conveyor according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the platforms (26) having an elongated shape are lined up with their longitudinal directions in the direction of movement on the conveyor cable (17) and by the mechanical device provided at the entrance of the railways (34 x) are shifted transversely to their longitudinal axes from the conveyor cable (17) on to the railways (34 x) , with their longitudinal sides directly abutting one another on the railways (34 x). 4. Conveyor device according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that at the entrances of the railways (34 τ) of the stationary conveyor section (34) mechanically driven traction means (57) with hooks (60) are arranged, which in protruding parts or Pins (25) of the platforms (26) connected to the conveyor cable (17) by these pins intervene, detach them from the conveyor cable and pull them into the stationary conveyor section, and that means for releasing the hooks from those drawn into the stationary conveyor section Platforms and provided for returning the hooks (60) to their starting position are. 5. Conveyor according to claim 4, characterized in that the mechanical traction means are formed by endless chains (57), each via a within the stationary conveyor section mounted sprocket (55) and one outside of the stationary conveyor section The same mounted sprocket (56) are guided and each provided with a hook (60) which Hooks (60) cooperate with the pegs (25) fastened under the platforms (26). 6. Conveyor device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the movement path each chain (57) is inclined downwardly towards the interior of the stationary conveyor section so that the hook (60) is automatically released from the pin (25) of the platform (26) as soon as the latter opens the horizontal rail tracks (34λγ) by a certain distance in the stationary conveyor section (34) has occurred. 7. Conveyor according to claim 4 and 5, characterized in that the shaft (54) of the Chain wheel (55) from a main drive shaft (45) via an intermediate drive (52., 53) with engagement a releasable clutch (46, 50), which clutch is driven by a solenoid (43) is actuated, its excitation and shutdown automatically by means of a switch (40) takes place, which is actuated in a manner known per se by contact with the moving platforms will. 8. Conveyor according to claim 7, characterized in that in front of the inputs of the Railways (34 ^ r) of the stationary conveyor section (34) rotatably mounted selector discs (29, 30, 31, 32) are arranged in the path of movement of the platforms (26), with each dial is provided with a different number of teeth (36) and tenons (38) and of the pin (25) attached to the bottom of each platform as the platform passes by one tooth is indexed and the pin (38) of the selector discs is the electrical Operate the switch (40) to start the traction mechanism (57) in a specific sequence. 9. Conveyor according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a mechanical device (65) for ejecting the platforms is arranged at the output of each rail track (34 x) of the stationary conveyor section (34), which by advancing the on the platform (75) to be ejected, the next following platform (67) is actuated and translated in such a way that it multiplies the movement stroke of this next following platform (67) and the platform (75) to be ejected on the one behind the exits at a speed exceeding the advancement of the next following platform the stationary rail tracks running part of the conveyor track in the area of the driver of the conveyor cable (17) of the conveyor line (17 y) moves (Fig. 6). 10. Conveyor device according to claim 9, characterized in that the ejector device (65) one pivotably mounted in the vicinity of the exit of the stationary conveyor section (34) Having rod (66) between its pivot point (68) and its free end with the advancing platform (67) engages, and that at the free end of the rod (66) one end of a second rod (71) is articulated, the other end of which is guided in a straight line and exerts a pushing force on the preceding platform (75) to be ejected. 11. Conveyor device according to claim 1, characterized in that laterally or on both sides of the conveyor cable (17) mechanical means for re-direction of inclined platforms are provided. 12. Conveyor according to claim 11, characterized in that at certain intervals rollers mounted on axles along the conveyor track traversed by the conveyor cable (17)