EP1042202B1 - Conveying means which can be rail-guided and a guiding rail for guiding said conveying means - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to conveying means (1) which can be rail-guided and are provided for conveying especially flat products in a conveying direction (F). Said conveying means comprises a guiding part (2) which runs in a v-shaped manner in a conveying direction and constructs a three point support. In addition the conveying means comprises a supporting part (3) which is provided for holding the product and arranged in fixed manner on the guiding part (2). The conveying means also have a coupling part (4) which is arranged on a driving means (9) such that it can be coupled.

Description

The invention relates to a rail-guided funding according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a guide rail for guiding the Funding according to the preamble of claim 12.

A rail-guided funding for printed products is known from the patent specification CH 382 768. A majority of subsidies firmly connected to the rail Allow printed products to be gripped along the rail promote, and put in a remote place.

The disadvantage of this known arrangement is that The fact that the funding is relatively large have mutual distance, and the printed products can therefore only be conveyed with a low density.

Furthermore, from US 4,892,186 rail-accessible funding known, which in essentially has a cuboid basic shape. In the Direction of conveyance measured edge length of the conveyor determines the minimum distance between two funds.

An object of the invention is a to further develop rail-guided conveying means that the funding arranged on a rail can promote a high density product flow.

This task is solved with a rail-guided Funding having the features of claim 1. Die Subclaims 2 to 11 relate to further advantageous embodiments of the rail-guided Conveying means. The task is solved further with a designed according to the funding Guide rail having the features of claim 12.

The sub-claims 13 to 14 relate to further advantageous embodiments of the guide rail.

The task is solved in particular with a Rail-guided funding for the promotion of in particular flat products in a conveying direction, which is a V-shaped in the conveying direction (F) a guide part forming a three-point support has at least one sliding body with two side arms. A supporting part is fixedly arranged on the guide part for holding the product, as well as a coupling part, which can be coupled to a drive means is. In an advantageous embodiment, the Trackable funding in a normal plane H-shaped guide part for conveying direction on.

In contrast to the known funding, in which any holding device intended for conveying a product arranged on a separate, rail-guided carriage , the funding according to the invention instructs Waiving a car, a guide part with a preferably H-shaped cross section. According to that The guide part is adapted to each other spaced rails provided. The two Spaces of the H-shaped guide part are insertable into the two spaced rails, so that the guide part in a through the course of the Rails certain conveying direction F slidable is stored. The guide part has no wheels, and slides, held by the H-shaped design, safely guided in the direction of the rail. The The guide part is V-shaped in the conveying direction designed to make the guide part more stable To give sliding behavior and possibly on the guide part attacking moments without the risk of tilting to transfer the rails. In addition, the V-shaped allows Design a large-scale support of the Guide part on the rail. The guide part is as designed a glider, which in particular is wide-legged and with respect to Guide rail forms a three-point support, see above that the glider on the guide rail is secured against rotation is led.

One advantage of the funding according to the invention is to see that it is a very short in the conveying direction Has construction. For example, a variety of Funds touch each other and are therefore tight can be lined up in succession on a rail. Because every Funding a holding device for holding a Product, for example a printed product, is a very good with the funding according to the invention dense product flow can be promoted. Therefore, also at a low conveying speed a high one Funding density can be achieved. In addition, the funding is very small and very light in weight capacities configurable.

Another advantage of the funding according to the invention can be seen in the fact that the drive device is not must be firmly coupled to the funding. At a The sloping rail course can be used for subsidies for example due to the attacking gravity be driven. With a rising track can be a chain consisting of a plurality mutual funds are trained, the rearmost in the chain Funded by a drive means in the direction of conveyance is moved, and the funding in front of it be pushed accordingly. At least further one grant each from one parallel to the track running, driven wagon captured and along the Be promoted by rail. In an advantageous The rail-guided funding has a design a relatively large game in terms of the rail, the carriage thus extending with respect to the rail is arranged that a firmly coupled to the car Funding largely without contact Rail is promoted. As long as the funding is on the vehicle is not connected to the funding necessarily a conductive rail since the Direction of conveyance through the direction of the carriage is determined. Therefore, the rail can be used with a Outflow area to be configured to the funding from Disconnect the rail, or the rail can be designed with a run-in area, around which without a conveyor moved from the wagon back into the To engage the rail.

In an advantageous embodiment, the Guide part of the funding one for engagement one Release device designed to attack the guide part through the release device keep controllable or let go.

Are on the support part of the funding according to the invention Holding means attachable, which in a variety of Variants are configurable to a variety of differently designed and different to keep products with geometric shapes or to promote. The inventive Funding is particularly for the promotion of flat Products such as printed products, cardboard, Suitable for flat glass, frames, clothes or sheets.

Other forms of training and applications of Rail-guided conveyors are in EP-A-1 042 203 and EP-A-1 042 204.

Fig. 1

Eine Seitenansicht eines in einer Schiene angeordneten, schienenführbaren Fördermittels;

Fig. 2

ein Grundriss des Fördermittels gemäss Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht des Fördermittels gemäss Fig. 1 aus der Betrachtungsrichtung A-A;

Fig. 4

eine Mehrzahl auf der Schiene hintereinander angeordneter Fördermittel;

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht der Fördermittel gemäss Fig. 4 aus Betrachtungsrichtung B-B;

Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht der Fördermittel gemäss Fig. 5 aus Betrachtungsrichtung C-C;

Fig. 7

eine Mehrzahl auf der Schiene hintereinander angeordneter, weiterer Fördermittel;

Fig. 8,9

weitere Ausführungsbeispiele schienenführbarer Fördermittel.

The invention is explained below using several exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

A side view of a conveyable means which can be guided in a rail and is arranged in a rail;

Fig. 2

a floor plan of the funding according to FIG. 1;

Fig. 3

a side view of the conveyor according to Figure 1 from the viewing direction AA.

Fig. 4

a plurality of conveyors arranged one behind the other on the rail;

Fig. 5

a side view of the funding according to Figure 4 from viewing direction BB.

Fig. 6

a side view of the funding according to Figure 5 from viewing direction CC.

Fig. 7

a plurality of further conveying means arranged one behind the other on the rail;

Fig. 8.9

further embodiments of rail-guided funding.

In Figure 1 is a side view, in Figure 2 a Floor plan and in Figure 3 a side view from the direction A-A of the same rail-guided funding 1 shown. One shown only in broken lines Rail 6 comprises two, forming a gap 7 spaced-apart rail parts 6b. This gap 7 forms a first guide and sets the conveying direction F of the funding 1 fixed. To describe the Funding means 1 is alternatively one in the three figures Cartesian coordinate system with X, Y and Z directions drawn in, with the X direction congruent to Delivery direction F is.

The conveying means 1 comprises a V-shaped in the conveying direction F running and in a normal plane to Direction of conveyance F, as can be seen from FIG. 3, is H-shaped configured guide part 2. The funding 1 further comprises a fixedly arranged on the guide part 2 Support part 3 for holding a product, as well as a Coupling part 4, which is connected to a drive means 9 is designed to be coupled (FIG. 6). The guide part 2 comprises two perpendicular to the conveying direction F, or spaced apart in the Z direction, connected with a web 2c, V-shaped Sliding body 2a, 2b. In the illustrated embodiment the sliding bodies 2a, 2b are congruent in the Z direction designed and arranged. The two sliding bodies 2a, 2b differ from each other only in that the upper sliding body 2a on both sides in the end region arranged notch 2g, which for engagement of a Retaining fingers 10a, 10b of a stop and Release device 10 is determined (Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 7). The two sliding bodies 2a, 2b could also mutually be designed differently and for example a different length with respect to the X direction exhibit.

The sliding bodies 2a, 2b have two facing Surfaces 2d, 2e, which are so mutual are spaced that the rail part 6b under play there is space in between. The V-shaped design of the Sliding bodies 2a, 2b enable the surfaces 2d, 2e relatively large area, so that the Large-area sliding bodies 2a, 2b supported on the rail 6 can rest.

The web 2c of the guide part 2 has two in Conveying direction F, lateral sliding surfaces 2k on. The guide part 2 consists of several individual Parts, namely the sliders 2a, 2b, the web 2c and two screws 2h, 2i. In addition, the support member 3 through Screws 2h, 2i firmly connected to the guide part 2. The guide part 2 could also be formed in one piece his. The guide part 2 can be made of plastic. The guide part 2 can also be ferromagnetic Have properties and consist of a metal part or for example contain iron powder, which in a plastic is stored. advantageously, the sliding body 2b has ferromagnetic properties on.

Each sliding body 2a, 2b has two side arms, which together form the V-shaped shape, each the side arms one with respect to the conveying direction F leading edge 2m and a trailing edge 21 exhibit. In the illustrated embodiment, the two edges 2m, 2l mutually parallel respectively designed to run approximately in parallel. This Design has the advantage that several, themselves mutually contacting guide parts 2 very stable are stored. The adjacent guide parts 2 are relatively rigidly coupled to one another and form one Kind of rod out. The held on the guide parts or Funded objects are in this rod-like Location of the guide parts 2 easily manipulated, because the Guide parts 2 mutually supported and therefore in their Location are very stable.

The side arms form a side surface 2f in the end region, which runs approximately parallel to the sliding surface 2k is designed. This side surface 2f is used for Support the guide part 2 in the Y direction, if the Forming rail 6 with an inner surface 6c Guide parts 6a is provided. This a second tour are forming guide parts 6a, as in Fig. 1 and 3 can be seen lying on the rail part 6b arranged, and are used in particular to accommodate a Z-direction, acting on the guide member 2 Torque.

The web 2c has an overall length L4 in the conveying direction F. and in the Y direction perpendicular to the conveying direction F. a width B4, the total length L4 Is three times the width B4. The rail 6 forms a gap 7 with inner surfaces 6d. The guide part 2 is caused by the engagement of the web 2c in the gap 7 guided. In order to tilt the web 2c in the rail 6 to prevent the total length L4 of the web is 2c at least twice its width B4.

The guide part 2 has an overall length in the X direction L2 and a total width B2 in the Y direction. The cross to the conveying direction F, dashed Support part 3 shown has a length L3 in the X direction and a width B3 in the Y direction. The length L4 of the Web 2c is in the illustrated embodiment identical to the length L3 of the supporting part 3. In order for the Guide part 2 a stable, tilt-free sliding in To ensure the rail 6, the total length is L2 of the guide part 2 is preferably at least 1.5 times Total length L4 of the web 2c.

The guide part 2 has a fastening surface 2n, on which, for example by means of a screw, differently designed support parts 3 and Holding means 8 are attachable.

4 shows a plurality of rails 6 funding arranged in a row 1. The For the sake of clarity, only the guide parts 2 of the Funding 1 shown completely, whereas Funding 1 associated support parts 3 only partially and are shown in dashed lines. Fig. 4 also shows a stop and release device 10, which two in Movement direction 10c movable retaining fingers 10a, 10b, which in the notch 2g of the guide part 2 engage to hold the guide part 2 and controllable to release by releasing. By this stop and release device 10 can Guide parts 2 are held back so that the Guide parts 2 in the guide direction F mutually touch and over length section of the rail 6 one Form buffer area 11b. The buffer area 11b there is an inlet area 11a upstream, within which a guide part 2 is freely movable approaches the buffer area 11b. The buffer area 11 a further area 11c follows within which the guide parts 2, preferably spaced from each other, again in the conveying direction F move.

5, which is a side view of FIG. 4 Viewing direction B-B, all support parts 3 located. Each funding 1 includes one Guide part 2, a support part 3 and one on the support part attached holding means 8. The holding means 8, consisting from joint 8a and two tongues 8b, 8c, is preferred in such a way that the funded product, for example a printed product, vertical or approximate is held perpendicular to the conveying direction F.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of FIG. 5 Direction C-C over the support part 3 with the guide part 2 connected holding means 8. The guide part 2 is over the coupling part 4 with a sketchy Drive means 9 firmly connected. This form or non-positive connection of the guide part 2 with the Drive means 9 can be used in many different ways be designed such that the guide part 2 is releasably fixed is connected to the drive means 9. In a preferred embodiment has the sliding body 2b ferromagnetic properties and thereby forms at the same time the coupling part 4. The Drive means 9 has a magnet, so that the Sliding body 2b by a magnetically acting non-positive connection firmly with the Guide part 2 is connected. The guide part 2 could also from a non-ferromagnetic material, also consist of a plastic, for example the guide part 2 on the drive means 9 facing surface a ferromagnetic part which forms the coupling part 4.

The drive means 9, configured for example as a Carriage or a band is spaced from the rail 6 and arranged parallel to this. That I resulting between the guide part 2 and the rail 6 Game can be dimensioned so that one guided by a drive means 9 guide part 2 there is little or no contact with the rail 6. is the guide part 2 detached from the drive means 9, so lies the guide part 2 usually with the surface 2e of the sliding body 2b on the rail 6.

Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of a vertically running rail 6 with a buffer area 11b forming guide parts 2. The release device 10 with retaining fingers 10a, 10b allows the Guide parts 2 controlled and released individually. The Guide parts 2 have a sliding body 2a with them on the outside tapered leg. This Design gives a larger space between the hooks arranged downstream in the direction of conveyance F. 2g, so that these guide parts 2 are particularly simple and reliably from the stop and release device 10 can be handled. The stop and Release device 10 allows the guide parts 2 to stop, hold and release again. The in Fig. 7 illustrated embodiment of the guide parts 2 with itself sliding bodies tapering towards the outside in a wedge shape has the advantage that the guide parts 2 in how shown in Fig. 7, touching each other Condition, along arbitrarily curved rail tracks are eligible. The guide parts 2 can in particular very simply along one within the viewing plane curved guide rail 6 are conveyed, because the thighs tapering towards the outside the guide parts 2 a mutual rotation by one axis of rotation running perpendicular to the viewing plane allow. This makes each other touching Condition formed a kind of "curved rod".

Of course, the guide part 2 is also in one along the direction opposite to the conveying direction F. the rail 6 eligible. The inventive Guide part 2 has the advantage that the rail 6 can have any lines in space, and the guide part 2 securely on the rail 6 in any position is led.

Fig. 8 shows a cross section through a U-shaped on both sides designed guide rail 6, with a gap for a cam 2c designed as a slider 2 Guide part 2. The slider 2 is a V-shaped body designed and consists of a first sliding body 2a and the web 2c. The slider 2 is always at least on three points stored in or on the guide rail 6 and thereby secure against rotation in the guide rail 6 held, the slider in the direction F of the Guide rail 6 is movable. The web 2c acts here with its two side surfaces 2k on the inner surfaces 6d of the rail 6. Above the guide part 2 is a Support part 3 arranged on its surface Funding object can be arranged.

9 shows a side view of a curve extending guide rail 6, on which a rail-guided funding 1 is stored. The Guide part 2 is also as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 shown in the direction of conveyance F V-shaped and also designed H-shaped. The V-shaped Sliding bodies 2a, 2b have at their opposite the web 2c End area each have a taper 2o, which such are configured such that, as shown in FIG. the space between the two sliding bodies 2a, 2b extended. This configuration has, for example Advantage on that the conveyor 1 is also curved extending rail sections 6 with low friction is eligible. Of course, only one of the both sliders 2a, 2b have a taper 2o.

Claims (15)

1. Rail-guidable conveying means (1) for conveying, in particular, sheet-like products in a conveying direction (F), comprising a guide part (2), a carrying part (3), which is arranged firmly on the guide part (2) and is intended for retaining the product, and a coupling part (4), which is configured such that it can be coupled to a drive means (9)characterized in that the guide part (2) has at least one sliding body (2a, 2b) with two side arms whereby the side arms of in each case one sliding body run in the form of a V in the conveying direction (F), and whereby said guide part forms a three-point support.
2. Conveying means according to Claim 1, characterized in that the guide part (2) is of H-shaped configuration in a plane normal to the conveying direction (F).
3. Conveying means according to Claim 2, characterized in that the guide part (2) comprises two V-shaped sliding bodies (2a, 2b) which are spaced apart perpendicularly to the conveying direction (F) and are connected by a crosspiece (2c).
4. Conveying means according to Claim 3, characterized in that the two sliding bodies (2a, 2b) are arranged congruently in relation to a direction (Z) which runs perpendicularly to the conveying direction (F).
5. Conveying means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the crosspiece (2c) has an overall length (L4) in the conveying direction (F) and a width (B4) in a direction (Y), which runs perpendicularly to the conveying direction (F), and in that the overall length (L4) is at least twice, preferably approximately 3 times, the width (B4), and/or in that the guide part (2) has an overall length (L2), and the overall length (L2) of the guide part (2) is at least 1.5 times the overall length (L4) of the crosspiece (2c).
6. Conveying means according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said two side arms of the V-shaped sliding body (2a, 2b) have a leading edge (2m) and a trailing edge (21), as seen in the conveying direction (F), and in that the two edges (2m, 21) run parallel to one another.
7. Conveying means according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said two side arms of the V-shaped sliding body (2a, 2b) have a leading edge (2m) and a trailing edge (21), as seen in the conveying direction (F), and in that the two edges (2m, 21) run in a wedge-shaped manner in relation to one another in order to form side arms which taper in the outward direction.
8. Conveying means according to one of Claims 3 to 7, characterized in that, at its end region which is directed away from the crosspiece (2c), the V-shaped sliding body (2a; 2b) has an engagement means (2g), in particular configured as a notch or a hook, and/or has a tapered section (20).
9. Conveying means according to one of Claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the coupling part (4) is formed by the sliding body (2a; 2b), which consists of a ferromagnetic material.
10. Conveying means according to one of Claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the coupling part (4) is configured as a part which is fixed to the sliding body (2a; 2b) and is made of ferromagnetic material.
11. Conveying means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a retaining means (8) is configured, and arranged on the carrying part (3), such that an, in particular, sheet-like product can be retained.
12. Guide rail for guiding a conveying means (1) according to one of the preceding claims, having two parallel rails (6) which form a gap (7) and are configured in adaptation to the H-shaped guide means (2) such that the crosspiece (2c) can be mounted in a movable manner in the gap (7) and each sliding body (2a, 2b) comes to rest on opposite sides of the rails (6).
13. Guide rail according to Claim 12, characterized in that the rail (6) has an outer rail part (6a) which forms an inner surface (6b) which runs in the conveying direction (F) and is directed toward the gap (7), and in that the distance between the gap (7) and the inner surface (6c) is selected such that the inner surface (6c) forms a lateral directing surface for the sliding body (2a; 2b) of the guide part (2).
14. Guide rail according to either of Claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the rail (6) is configured in adaptation to the guide part (2) such that a guide part (2) arranged on the rail (6) has an amount of play.
15. Use of a rail-guidable conveying means (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 11 and/or of a guide rail according to one of Claims 12 to 15 [sic] for conveying sheet-like products, in particular printed products.

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