ES2667004T3 - Transfer device for transport cars and transport installation that includes the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for transferring a transport carriage (16) that can travel on a lane system (12) of a horizontal lane segment (38) of the lane system (12) to a lane segment (32) of the system (12) of rails inclined with respect to the horizontal rail segment (38) or vice versa, of a rail segment inclined to a horizontal rail segment of the rail system (12), with a pivoting rail (42) pivotally mounted on a horizontal pivot shaft (44), which in a first position aligns with the horizontal rail segment (38) and in a second position aligns with the inclined rail segment (32), characterized in that the pivot shaft (44) it is arranged offset with respect to the geometric center of the pivoting rail (42).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Transfer device for transport cars and transport installation that includes it.

The invention relates to a device for transferring a transport carriage that can be moved on a rail system of a horizontal rail segment of the rail system to a rail segment of the inclined rail system with respect to the horizontal rail segment or the inverse, of a rail segment inclined to a horizontal rail segment of the rail system, with a pivoting rail pivotally mounted on a horizontal pivot axis, which in a first position aligns with the horizontal rail segment and in a Second position aligns with the inclined rail segment.

A device of this type is known from EP 0 663 471 A1.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a transport installation for the transport of objects with

a) a rail system, comprising a first horizontal rail segment, which is arranged at a first height level, and a transfer zone with an inclined rail segment with respect to the first horizontal rail segment, which leads to a second horizontal rail segment, which is arranged at a second height level different from the first height level;

b) several transport carts that can be driven, by means of which in each case at least one object can move on the rail system;

c) a transfer device, with which the transport carriages can be transferred from the first rail segment to the inclined rail segment.

These types of transport facilities with transfer devices of the type mentioned at the beginning are known in the market as air rails, in which there are different segments of the rail system, which are arranged at different levels of height.

Overcoming the difference in height between these rail segments of the transport facility placed at different levels of height is produced by inclined rail segments. In order to transfer the carriages of a horizontal rail segment to an inclined rail segment, these two segments, in transport facilities known in the market, are joined by curved rail segments in the vertical direction, which thus form in each case a transfer device of the type mentioned at the beginning. However, the radius of curvature of such a curved rail segment must be relatively large because the translation mechanism of the commonly used transport carriages is not suitable for following a marked curvature in the vertical direction.

The power supply of the transport cars is produced as a rule by means of contact lines placed along the rails. These contact lines also limit the available range for the radius of curvature of a curved rail segment.

Accordingly, the curved rail segments, which connect a horizontal rail segment with an inclined rail segment, are relatively long and constructively complex.

Therefore, the objective of the invention is to provide a transfer module and a transport installation of the type mentioned at the beginning, which considers this concept.

This objective is achieved with a transfer module of the type mentioned at the beginning because the pivot axis is arranged offset with respect to the geometric center of the pivoting rail.

The invention is based on the knowledge that then a transport carriage with ascent capacity, which can be moved on an inclined rail segment, with a kind of vertical needle can be transferred from the horizontal rail segment to the particularly inclined rail segment favorable. The pivoting rail can be configured straight and does not require any curvature, so it can be configured shorter than a corresponding curved rail segment.

In addition, when a pivoting rail is present, the transport carriage can also move through the passage to another height level of the rail system, without a height crossing, when the pivoting rail in a horizontal position joins two segments of Horizontal lanes located at the same height level.

Advantageously there is a pivot module coupled with the pivoting rail, by means of which the pivoting rail can pivot between the first position and the second position.

This pivot module is preferably motor driven.

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Alternatively or additionally it is convenient that means are present whereby the pivoting rail can be retained in its first or second position in a separable manner. When no active pivot module is provided, pivoting of the pivoting rail can be produced, for example, by the force of gravity of a transport carriage acting downwards.

In this regard, it is particularly advantageous for the pivoting rail to be secured with fastening means, in particular by spring force, in its first position. Then, these fastening means and, if necessary, the spring force are adjusted so that they are less than the force of the effective gravity of a transport carriage located on the pivoting rail.

It is particularly effective that the pivoting rail is straight.

In an alternative not according to the invention, the pivot axis is preferably arranged in the geometric center of the pivoting rail.

The pivot axis according to the invention may be arranged offset with respect to the geometric center of the pivoting rail in its longitudinal direction at one of the ends of the pivoting rail.

Alternatively or additionally, the pivot axis may be arranged offset with respect to the geometric center of the pivoting rail in one direction, which is located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pivoting rail.

The above mentioned objective is achieved with a transport installation of the type mentioned at the beginning because

d) as transfer device a transfer device according to one of claims 1 to 8 is provided.

In this respect, the advantages correspond to the advantages indicated above in relation to the transfer module.

A transfer module can be used particularly well when the transport installation is configured as an airway.

Examples of embodiments of the invention will now be explained in more detail by means of the drawings. The drawings show:

Figures 1 to 4, an area of a vertical fork of a rail system with a transfer module, by means of which a transport carriage of a horizontal supporting rail can be transferred to a passage rail of the rail system inclined upwards in the direction of transport, showing different stages of the transfer;

Figures 5 and 6, the vertical fork zone of Figures 1 to 4 with a modified transfer module at different transfer stages;

Figure 7, an area of a vertical crossing of the rail system with the transfer module according to Figures 5 and 6;

Figures 8 and 9, an area of a vertical bending leading upwards in the transport direction with a transfer module again modified;

Figures 10 and 11, the area of the vertical fork according to Figures 1 to 6 with another modified transfer module;

Figures 12 to 15, an area of a vertical bending leading down in the direction of transport with another transfer module again modified;

Figures 16 and 17, an area of a modified vertical bending leading upwards in the transport direction again with a modified transfer module;

Figures 18 to 21, an area of a modified vertical bending leading down in the transport direction with a newly modified transfer module.

In Figures 1 to 21, a transport installation configured as an airway for transporting objects is designated with 10 as a whole, of which in each case a fragment is shown.

The transport installation 10 comprises a system 12 of rails with horizontal supporting rails that run at different levels of height, which have the same construction and of which in the figures in each case only a first horizontal supporting lane 14 is shown to a first height level What has been said for this supporting rail 14 will apply correspondingly for additional horizontal carrier rails not shown.

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The supporting rail 14 is routinely made as an I-profile and in the known manner is suspended from a bearing construction not expressly shown in this case.

The transport installation 10 further comprises a plurality of transport trolleys 16, of which only one is shown in the figures in each case and which can be moved along the horizontal supporting rails. A transport direction, in which the merchandise to be transported is transported by means of the transport installation 10 along the first horizontal supporting rail 14, is only indicated in Figures 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 18 with in each case an arrow 18.

Contact lines not shown expressly run along the supporting rail 14, which serve for the electrical supply of the transport carriages 16 as well as for the transmission of signals thereto. These types of contact lines correspond to the state of the art.

Each transport carriage 16 comprises a translation mechanism 20 attached to the supporting rail 14 that supports at least one carrier roller 22 that rolls above the supporting rail 14, which receives the load transported by the transport carriage 16. Each transport carriage 16 is driven by an electric motor 24 which also carries the translation mechanism 20, which is fed and activated by said contact lines in the usual manner.

The translation mechanism 20 is secured with measures known per se against a rollover and an inclination with respect to the supporting rail 14.

In order to be able to transport objects with the transport carriage 16, it comprises a hanging transport element 26, which is connected to the transport mechanism 20 of the transport carriage 20 by means of a coupling module 28. Thanks to the coupling module 28, the transport carriage 16 is suitable for movements in an ascent or descent segment of the rail system 12. The operation of this coupling module 28 corresponds to the state of the art and for example is described in DE 10 2008 049 975 A1. For the sake of simplicity the individual components of the transport carriage 16 are only provided with a reference number in Figure 1.

To carry a transport carriage 16 of the first horizontal carrier rail 14 to a second horizontal carrier rail at another height level, the rail system 12 comprises transfer zones 30. In these there is an inclined passage rail 32 with respect to the horizontal bearing rail 14, which establishes an inclined rail segment.

The angle of inclination of the passage rail 32 with respect to the supporting rail 14 amounts in this variant and in the variants described below to 45 °; however, other angles of inclination are also possible. In general, the passage rail 32 is inclined at an angle of less than 90 ° with respect to the horizontal bearing rail 14.

The passage lane 32 extends between two transfer modules of each of the height levels to be joined, of which only the transfer module 34 is shown in the figures, which is associated with the first height level and with it to the first supporting lane 14.

In these transfer zones 30, of which in each case one is shown in Figures 1 to 21, a transfer of the transport trolleys 16 from the first horizontal supporting rail 14 to the inclined passage rail 32 is produced first of a transfer module 34 associated with the supporting rail 14 and with it at its height level. The transport carriage 16 is then moved by means of a transfer module associated with the second horizontal carrier rail at the second height level to this second horizontal carrier rail.

A transfer zone 30 is shown in Figures 1 to 4, which is configured as vertical fork 36. In addition to the term vertical fork, the terms vertical crossing and vertical bending will also be used below. The denomination of vertical bifurcation will make reference in each case to which optionally a change of direction can take place with a component of vertical movement.

In the vertical fork 36, the passage rail 32 is inclined upward in the direction of transport 18 and the second horizontal supporting rail runs correspondingly above the first supporting rail 14. Furthermore, in this vertical fork 36, the supporting rail 14 comprises a first horizontal rail segment 38 and a second horizontal rail segment 40, which are spaced apart from each other. The transfer device 34 comprises a straight pivoting rail 42, which is pivotally mounted on a horizontal pivot shaft 44, which runs perpendicular to the transport direction 18. In this regard, the pivot shaft 44 is arranged in the geometric center of the pivoting rail 42, as corresponds to the alternative not according to the invention. When the pivoting rail 42 adopts a horizontal position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it aligns with the two horizontal rail segments 38 and 40 and joins them. In this case, a transport carriage 16 can be moved along the pivoting rail 42 of the first horizontal rail segment 38 to the second horizontal rail segment 40.

The pivoting rail 42 and the inclined passage rail 32 are adapted to each other with respect to their position and geometry such that the pivoting rail 42 can adopt an inclined position, in which it is aligned with the inclined passage rail 32 of such so that a transport carriage 16 can move from the pivoting rail 42 in its inclined position to the inclined passage rail 32. This inclined position of the pivoting rail 42 is shown in Figures 3 and 4.

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To pivot the pivoting rail 42 between its horizontal position and its inclined position, it is coupled with a pivot module 46, which is only shown in Figure 1 and here only very schematically. In the modifications explained below, the pivot module 46 is shown correspondingly in each case only in Figures 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 18.

The pivot module 46 can swing the motor pivoting rail 42 on one side. On the other hand, the pivot module 46 can also alternatively or additionally comprise one or more ratchet locks, by means of which the pivoting rail 42 is retained in an adopted position, either the horizontal position or the inclined position, and optionally Free yourself from this position. Reference will be made to this respectively in the corresponding place.

In the case of the transfer device 34 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the pivoting rail 42 is associated with a clamping ratchet 48 which is under elastic pretension, which also moves with the pivoting rail 42 and which can work together with an element 50 in the transport carriage 16, which also only in figure 1 is provided with a reference number. In the inclined passage rail 32, another spring-loaded ratchet 52 of this type is provided stationary.

When the transport carriage 16 must be transferred in the transfer zone 30 of the horizontal rail segment 38 of the horizontal supporting rail 14 to the inclined passage rail 32, firstly the transport carriage 16 is moved to the pivoting rail 42, until its holding element 50 passes through the ratchet 48 for securing the pivoting rail 42, so that the transport carriage 16 can no longer move against the transport direction 18. This is shown in figure 2.

As is evident from FIG. 2, in this respect the transport carriage 16 travels on the pivoting rail 32 such that its global center of gravity is located as close as possible to the pivot axis 44. In this way, the effort required to pivot the pivoting rail 32 with the transport carriage 16 located above can be minimized.

The motor pivot rail 42 is now pivoted by means of the pivot module 46 to its inclined position, in which it is aligned with the inclined passage rail 32, as shown in Figure 3. By means of the securing ratchet 48, prevents the carriage 16 from falling or slipping from the pivoting rail 32.

The transport carriage 16 is now moved up to the inclined passage rail 32 until its securing ratchet 52 secures the transport carriage 16, which can be recognized in Figure 4.

The transfer module indicated above, associated with the upper horizontal supporting rail, is configured analogously to the transfer module 34. Then, by means of this transfer module, the transport carriage can be moved correspondingly to the upper horizontal supporting rail, thereby completing the transfer of the transport carriage 16 from the first height level to the second height level.

The ratchets 48 and 52 may also be correspondingly present in the following variants of the passage zone 30.

A variation of the transfer device 34 is shown in Figures 5 and 6 in the area of the vertical fork 36, in which there are no ratchets 48 and 52. The securing pawls 48 and 50 can be dispensed with, when by means of the coupling module 28 of the transport carriage 16 or other measures it is guaranteed that it cannot slide from the pivoting rail 42 in its inclined position or from the inclined passage rail 32. Otherwise, the transfer of the transport carriage 16 from the horizontal rail segment 38 to the inclined passage rail 32 functions as described above.

Figure 7 shows the transfer zone 30 in the form of a vertical crossing 54. Here, as in the case of the vertical fork 36, the horizontal rail segments 38 and 40, the passage rail 32 inclined upward in the transport direction 18 and the transfer module 34 with pivoting rail 42 and module 46 are present of pivoted In addition there is an additional inclined passage rail 56. This second passing rail 56 is arranged in the extension of the first passing rail 32 below the supporting rail 14 such that the pivoting rail 42 joins the two passing rails 32 and 56 together, when it adopts its inclined position.

In this case, a transport carriage 16 can move from the pivoting rail 32 inclined either upwardly to the passageway 32 or downward to the passageway 56, stopping from here, by means of in each case a corresponding transfer device, transfer to an upper horizontal supporting rail or a lower horizontal supporting rail with respect to the supporting rail 14.

Figures 8 and 9 show a modification of the transfer device 34 in a transfer zone 30, which is configured as vertical bending 58 leading upwards in the transport direction 18. Here there is no second segment 40 of horizontal lane. Since the space below the passageway 32 inclined upwards in the direction of transport is free, the inclined passageway 32 may be closer to the supporting rail 14 and the pivoting rail 32 may be set as a whole shorter than in the case of the fork 36 vertical or

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vertical crossing 54.

In the two cases mentioned, first of all, it must be ensured that the distance between the supporting rail 14 and the inclined passageway 32 or 56 is so large that a transport carriage 16 with a hanging transport element 26 can pass through the gap between the corresponding lanes without problems.

Now, in Figures 10 and 11 a vertical fork is shown again designated with 36, in which however a delivery device 34 with a modified pivoting rail 42 is present. In this modified pivot rail 42 the pivot shaft 44 is not centrally arranged, but displaced with respect to the geometric center of the pivoting rail 42 in its longitudinal direction towards the end 60 of the pivoting rail 32 which acts in conjunction with the first segment 38 of horizontal lane

When the inclined passage rail 32 maintains its position with respect to the vertical fork 36 according to Figures 1 to 6, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the pivoting rail 32 may be configured shorter due to the position of the shaft 44 Pivot

On the contrary, when the length of the pivoting rail 32 remains unchanged, the vertical distance between the supporting rail 14 and the inclined passage rail 32 can be greater, which can be considered as larger transport trolleys 16 from the constructive point of view. or with a construction more up or whose hanging element 26 requires more space down.

Figures 12 to 15 show a transfer zone 30, which is configured as vertical bending 62 leading down in the transport direction 18. Therefore, here the passageway 32 is inclined downward in the direction of transport 18. While in Figures 10 and 11 the lateral displacement of the pivot axis 44 of the pivot rail 42 is relatively moderate, here the pivot axis 44 of the pivot rail 42 is disposed in the area of the rail end 60, associated with the segment 38 of horizontal lane

The pivot module 46 is illustrated in Figure 12. If necessary, with such an arrangement of the pivot shaft 44, a motor-operated pivot module 46 can be dispensed with to pivot the pivoting rail 42. In place, the detachable retention already indicated above of the pivoting rail 42 may be present.

In this case, the transport carriage 16 first moves to the pivoting rail 42 retained in its horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 13. Then the retention of the pivoting rail 42 is released and pivoted by the force of gravity. of the transport carriage 16 directed downwards with the hanging element 26 loaded on the pivot shaft 44 down to the pivoted position shown in Figures 14 and 15. In this respect, the pivoted movement of the pivoting rail 42 can be stopped by dampers , as they know themselves.

Then the pivoting rail 42 is retained in its pivoted position and the transport carriage 16 can be moved to the inclined passageway 32 leading downwards (compare Fig. 15). Then, the pivoting rail 42 can pivot upward again to the horizontal orientation. This can occur either by motor or by other means such as spring force. In the latter case, the pivoting rail 42 is held by a corresponding spring force in its first position, in which it is aligned with the horizontal rail segment 38 of the supporting rail 14. This spring force is overcome by the force of gravity of the transport carriage 16 directed downwards, when the transport carriage 16 moves to the pivoting rail 42 and is disposed beyond the pivot axis 42.

Together, clamping means are provided, by means of which the pivoting rail 42 is held in its first position or returned thereto, when the pivoting rail 42 is not retained in its second position. As a clamping means of this type, a spring or modules of comparable action can be used, which exert the spring force indicated above on the pivoting rail 42. On the other hand, they are also considered media known as pneumatic modules, counterweights or similar.

If necessary, the retention of the pivoting rail 42 can also be dispensed with. In this case, the pivoting rail 42 pivots downwards, while the transport carriage 16 moves thereto, once the pivot axis 44 seen in the transport direction 18 has passed.

Figures 16 and 17 show a transfer zone 30, which is configured as vertical bending 64 leading upwards in the transport direction 18 and in which a transfer device 34 with a pivoting rail 42, whose axis 44 of The pivot is now displaced with respect to the geometric center of the pivoting rail 42 in its longitudinal direction towards the end 66 of the pivoting rail which acts in conjunction with the inclined passage rail 32, which opposes the end 60.

If necessary, in all the variants described above and then the pivoting rail 42 can also have a curvature. In this case its longitudinal direction will be understood as the direction of the end 60 to the end 66 of the pivoting rail 42.

Otherwise, the foregoing applies correspondingly with respect to the transfer module 34 according to Figures 12 to 15.

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Finally, in Figures 18 to 21 a transfer zone 30 is shown configured as vertical bending 68 leading downwards in the transport direction 18, in which a modified transfer module 34 is used. Also here the passage rail 42 is inclined downward in the direction of transport 18. Axis 44

Pivot 5 of the pivoting rail 42 is arranged displaced with respect to its geometric center both towards its end 60 and in a direction located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pivoting rail 42. For this, the pivoting rail 42 is supported by a support member 70, which sets this axis 42 of the pivoted pivot.

In a modification not expressly shown, it can also be provided that the pivot shaft 44 is arranged

10 displaced with respect to the geometric center of the pivoting rail 42 in only one direction, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pivoting rail 42.

As a whole, the transfer device 34, by changing the position of the pivot shaft 44 with respect to the pivoting rail 42, can be adapted to different geometries and positions of horizontal rail segments to be joined and inclined passage rails thereon, established by particular factors of the transport system, such as

15 for example, the type of transport cars used or the available construction space.

In all the transfer zones 30 described above, the transport direction 18 shown in each case with respect to the supporting rail 14 is only by way of example. The transport direction 18, at least at the vertical fork 36 and the vertical crossing, can also point in each case in the other direction.

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Claims (10)

image 1 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 1.-Device for transferring a transport carriage (16) that can travel on a rail system (12) of a horizontal rail segment (38) of the rail system (12) of rails to a rail segment (32) of the system (12) of inclined rails with respect to the horizontal rail segment (38) or vice versa, of a sloped rail segment to a horizontal rail segment of the rail system (12), with a pivoting rail (42) mounted in a manner pivoting on a horizontal pivot axis (44), which in a first position aligns with the horizontal rail segment (38) and in a second position is aligned with the inclined rail segment (32), characterized in that the axis Pivot (44) is arranged offset with respect to the geometric center of the pivoting rail (42). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a pivot module (46) is present coupled with the pivoting rail (42), by means of which the pivoting rail (42) can pivot between the first position and the second position. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the pivoting module (42) is motor driven. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means are present by means of which the pivoting rail (42) can be retained in its first or second position in a separable manner. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivoting rail (42) is secured with fastening means, in particular by means of spring force, in its first position. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivoting rail is straight. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot shaft (44) is arranged offset with respect to the geometric center of the pivoting rail (42) in its longitudinal direction at one of the ends (60, 66) of the rail (42) pivoting. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot shaft (44) is arranged offset with respect to the geometric center of the pivoting rail (42) in one direction, which is located perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail ( 42) pivoting. 9.-Transport installation for the transport of objects with: a) a rail system (12), comprising a first horizontal rail segment (38), which is arranged at a first height level, and a transfer zone (30) with a sloped rail segment (32) with with respect to the first horizontal rail segment (38), which leads to a second horizontal rail segment, which is arranged at a second height level different from the first height level; b) several transport trolleys (16) that can be driven, by means of which in each case at least one object can move on the rail system (12); c) a transfer device (34), with which the transport carriages (16) can be transferred from the first rail segment (38) to the inclined rail segment (32),  characterized because, d) as transfer device (34) a transfer device (34) according to one of claims 1 to 8 is provided. 10. Transport installation according to claim 9, characterized in that it is configured as an airway. 8