ES2932617T3 - Fall protection for a lift gate, in particular a machine protection lift gate - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to fall protection for a lifting door, in particular a lifting machine protection door, with a mechanical locking device comprising a vertically movable door support for joint movement with the door. and a support element which is stationary in the vertical direction and which are mechanically locked and block a vertical movement of the door support can be coupled with each other. The invention is characterized in that the locking device also has at least one pawl which is connected at least indirectly to the door support in a hinged manner and which is rotatable to mechanically engage with the support element, and in that a stop element it is resiliently mounted on the door bracket, which has a guide in which the pawl is guided in such a way that it rotates in the direction of the support element when the stop element deviates, the stop element being assigned a stop in a predetermined vertical end position, against which the stop element strikes during a vertical movement of the door holder. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Fall protection for a lift gate, in particular a machine protection lift gate

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

Lift gates, to which the present invention is particularly concerned, are used in industry as part of security fencing around a work area, such as a robotic work station, to provide a possibility of access to the work area. work otherwise fenced. Such a lift gate can also be part of such a work area subdivision and, in particular in this case of application, must be moved up and down frequently and quickly.

The correct operation of the liftgate and its resistance to impact, for example from a robot arm, are very important for safety in order to avoid accidents, in particular collision with the robot. Therefore, they must meet very strict requirements. For example, it is necessary for the liftgate to be held securely in its upper vertical position, even in the event of an accidental collision, for example with a robot arm. Conventionally, in practice, a fall protection for the liftgate is provided for this purpose which mechanically locks the liftgate to prevent downward movement, a pneumatically or hydraulically actuated bolt being provided which can be passed into a pin joint and ring. The bolt is actively actuated to move it into its locked position within the shackle. To lower the liftgate, the latch is actuated to remove it from the eye, thus releasing the mechanical interlock. Due to active control, conventional fall protection systems are complex and require a lot of maintenance.

Document EP 0721 043 A1 discloses a monitoring device for a carrier cable of a gate leaf with an electrical safety device connected to the carrier cable and a mechanical safety device that are connected in series so that it responds first. the electrical locking device and then the mechanical locking device.

Document JPH0740994 U discloses a locking device to prevent vertical movement of the roller blind in the upward direction, comprising an end sheet movable in the vertical direction to move together with the roller blind and a support element stationary in the vertical direction , which can be made to fit together in a mechanically interlocked manner blocking a vertical movement of the final sheet; the locking device furthermore having at least one ratchet which is pivotally connected to the end blade, at least indirectly, and can be rotated into engagement with the supporting element for mechanical locking, and an element being received in the end blade stop element so that it can be compressed, the end plate having a pin on which the ratchet is guided in such a way that it is rotated in the direction of the support element when the stop element is compressed, the stop element being associated with a predetermined vertical end position a stop, against which the stop element abuts when a vertical movement of the end blade occurs.

The present invention has the object of specifying a fall protection for a lift gate, the fall protection being able to dispense with an active control, being able to be manufactured cheaply, requiring advantageously little or no maintenance and operating reliably.

The object of the invention is achieved by a fall protection with the characteristics of claim 1, as well as by a lift gate with such a fall protection according to claim 9. Advantageous and particularly expedient configurations are indicated in the dependent claims. of the invention.

A fall protection according to the invention for a lift gate, in particular a machine protection lift gate of the type explained at the outset, has at least one mechanical locking device comprising a gate support movable in the vertical direction for co-movement with the lift gate and a stationary support element in the vertical direction, the gate support and the support element being able to engage one another in a mechanically locked manner, preventing a vertical movement, in particular a downward movement, of the support of the gate

The locking device comprises at least one ratchet that is articulated, at least indirectly connected to the gate support, which can be rotated so that it engages mechanically in a locked manner with the supporting element. According to the invention, a stop element is mounted in such a way that it can be compressed, which has a guide in which the pawl is guided in such a way that it is rotated in the direction of the support element when the element top is compressed. In a predetermined vertical end position, in particular in a predetermined upper position, the stop element is associated with a stop against which the stop element abuts when a vertical movement, in particular an upward movement, of the gate support occurs.

Advantageously, the fall protection is provided at the upper end of the liftgate to prevent undesired movement of the gate support and therefore of the liftgate making a downward vertical movement. In principle, however, it can also be used at a lower end of the lift gate in order to prevent a vertical movement of the gate support or the lift gate upwards when a robotic arm impinges from below. However, the invention will be explained below with the aid of an advantageous embodiment in which the fall protection prevents a downward movement of the gate support or the lift gate.

Preferably, the support element comprises a bolt and the ratchet includes a socket, the socket being capable of engaging the bolt by turning the ratchet. According to an alternative configuration, the supporting element comprises a corresponding socket or recess and the ratchet has a pin that can engage in the socket or recess. Other embodiments are possible.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the guide comprises a slide into which a slide block connected to the ratchet engages. In this way, the desired rotation of the ratchet is achieved when the stop element moves in the direction of the gate support, or because the stop element is stopped in its vertical movement by the stop and the gate support continues to move in the direction vertical, or because the stop element is moved towards the gate support by the application of another force. Of course, the slot could also be provided on the ratchet and the slide block could be connected to the stop element as part of the guide or as part of the guide.

Advantageously, the ratchet is connected at least indirectly to the gate support so that it can be rotated about a horizontal axis of rotation. However, a turning movement is also possible, in which the ratchet performs a combined turning and moving movement.

It is advantageous if the stop is mounted in such a way that it can be displaced in the vertical direction against a spring force. In this way, tolerances can be compensated when approaching the end position of the gate support or the lift gate, for example, when a drive device does not move the lift gate exactly to the desired end position.

In order to safely retain an impact of a robotic arm from above on the gate support, without there being a risk of the gate support coming loose from its mechanical engagement with the support element, the stop element preferably covers the support element. gate on its entire upper side. In the case of a protection against upward displacement of the gate support, the stop element would preferably cover the entire underside of the gate support.

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

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

The gate panel can have several segments that can be moved one after the other. In this connection, each segment that is arranged comparatively lower down is advantageously positioned on the side of the gate panel that is arranged above it that does not face the work zone or the danger zone, on which it is arranged. eg a robot, to prevent eg a robot arm from colliding from above against a segment that is not covered by the stop element. Thus, as a rule, it may suffice to secure only the uppermost gate panel with a fall protection according to the invention.

Advantageously, the drive device is vertically connected below the stop element and spaced from the stop element to the gate panel and/or to the gate support.

The drive device may comprise, for example, a chain drive or a belt drive, which is connected to the gate panel and/or gate bracket. However, it is also possible to use other drive devices.

Advantageously, the fall protection according to the invention does not require an external control and advantageously works purely mechanically.

Several springs cooperating with one another are advantageously matched to one another in terms of spring force. If the stop is mounted, for example, so that it can be displaced against the force of at least one spring, this spring or spring combination in particular has a greater spring force than the spring or spring combination with which the stop element is engaged. rests on the gate support. For example, the force of the spring/spring combination associated/associated with the stop corresponds to twice the spring force provided by the at least one spring or the spring combination with which the stop element is accommodated in the holder. of the gate

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

When in a fall protection according to the invention the gate support moves together with the stop element in the direction of the stop, the stop element first abuts against the stop and moves, from a relative point of view , in the direction of the gate bracket if the gate bracket continues to move. Due to this movement, the ratchet attached to the gate support rotates due to the guide provided in the stop element, so that it moves in the direction of the support element for its mechanical interlocking and is finally interlocked with the support element. If now, in this locked state, a body, for example a robot arm, collides from above against the stop element, a force is exerted on the stop element which presses it in the direction of the gate support. In this way, the guide exerts a force that continues to engage or engages with increasing force on the ratchet, which pushes it in the direction of the support element. Movement of the ratchet out of the mechanical engagement with the support element is reliably prevented.

If, on the other hand, an actuating force from the actuating device acts on the lift gate or the gate support in the direction of a vertical movement, in particular a downward movement, the lift gate or the gate support is withdrawn. the gate holder of the stop element, which is first pressed against the stop by the spring force of the spring/spring combination between the gate holder and the stop element and remains there, and the guide rotates the ratchet so that it stops fitting into the support element by locking it. The mechanical interlock between the ratchet and the support element is no longer effective and the support of the gate or the lift gate can be moved as desired, in particular downwards.

A spring-mounted stop allows the gate support or liftgate to be moved a predetermined additional distance in the direction of the stop, even if the stop element has already butted against the stop and has moved relatively in the direction of the gate support. so that the ratchet is locked with the support element, because in this case the stop yields elastically due to its elastic suspension. However, this does not interfere with the secure locking between the ratchet and the support element and damage to the drive device, for example a chain drive or a belt drive, is avoided. The risk of damage to the stop element or the stop is also minimized.

The invention will be explained by way of example below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the figures.

Show:

FIG. 1 a three-dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of fall protection according to the invention;

figure 2 a part of the fall protection from figure 1;

3 is a plan view from above of a fall protection according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the fall protection according to the invention from FIG. 1;

figure 5 an alternative configuration of a fall protection according to the invention;

6 is a schematic sectional view of the fall protection from FIG. 5;

figure 7 a lift gate according to the invention with a fall protection.

In FIG. 1, a fall protection device according to the invention with a mechanical locking device 1 is shown, which comprises a gate support 2 that can be moved in the vertical direction Z and a support element 3 that is stationary in the vertical direction Z. Seen in particular with reference to Figures 2 to 4, the gate support 2 is movable to engage mechanically interlocked with the support element 3.

The locking device 1 further includes a ratchet 4, which is connected to the gate support 2 and can be rotated so that it engages in a mechanically locked manner with the support element 3. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the ratchet 4 comprises a bolt 4.2 that can be hooked in a mouth 3.2 or in a recess of the support element 3.

A stop element 5 is accommodated in the gate support 2 in such a way that it can be compressed and has a guide 6 in which the pawl 4 is guided in such a way that it is rotated in the direction of the support element 3 when the stop element 5 is compressed in the direction of the gate support 2.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the guide 6 comprises a slider 6.1, into which a slider block engages. 8 attached to the ratchet 4 to force the rotational movement of the ratchet 4 when the stop element 5 moves towards the gate support 2.

The gate carrier 2 is accommodated together with the lift gate 10, the upper end of which forms the gate carrier 2 and with the upper end of which the gate carrier 2 is connected slidably in two lateral gate guides 13, which run in the vertical direction Z. At the upper end of the side gate guides 13 there is respectively provided a stop 7 against which the stop element 5 abuts when the lift gate 10 or the gate bracket 2 is moved into its upper end position . During the movement in the direction of the end position, the stop element 5 first abuts against the stop 7 and thus stops in its movement in the vertical direction Z, while the gate support 2, which is actuated, it continues to move upwards in the vertical direction Z. The stop element 5 is compressed in the direction of the gate support 2 against the force of the at least one compression spring 9 with which it is accommodated in the gate support 2. During this In this compression movement, the slider 6.1 forces the slider block 8 outwards in a direction transverse to the vertical direction Z. In this way, the ratchet 4 rotates outwards in the direction of the support element 3 and moves with its bolt 4.2 to an area above the socket 3.2 in the support element 3 or is inserted directly into the socket 3.2. The drive device not shown in this case is switched off and the lifting gate 10 or the gate support 2 is in its upper end position.

On the one hand, the lift gate 10 or the gate carrier 2 is held in the upper end position by the drive device, since the drive device has a corresponding self-locking device. As a rule, however, this self-retaining device is not large enough to withstand a comparatively large downwardly directed force exerted on the liftgate 10. Such a comparatively large force can be exerted, for example, by a crash from a robot arm from above onto the gate support 2 or the stop element 5 and, without the fall protection, the lift gate 10 would fall under the shock received.

Due to the fact that the bolt 4.2 is located in the opening 3.2 or above the opening 3.2, such an application of force from above nevertheless causes the gate support 2 to be locked or remains locked securely. in the upper position, holding the upper gate 10 correspondingly.

If, on the contrary, an actuating device acts on the gate support 2 and exerts a downward force on it in the vertical direction Z, the gate support 2 moves downwards and the compression spring 9 is stretched, whereby the stop element 5 is initially still held in the stop 7, so that the gate support 2 moves away from the stop element 5. The slide block 8 therefore moves in the slide 6.1 inwards and the pawl 4 is removed from its position with the bolt 4.2 above or in the socket 3.2 and rotates inwards, so that the gate bracket 2 can then be moved downwards together with the stop element 5.

The configuration of figures 5 and 6 works according to the configuration shown in figures 1 to 4. However, in contrast to it, in this case the ratchet 4 has a socket 4.1 and the support element 3 has a bolt 3.1 . Consequently, the mouth 4.1 is engaged by means of the slider guide by means of the bolt 3.1, in order to achieve the desired mechanical interlocking of the gate support 2 with the support element 3 in the upper end position of the gate support 2.

In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the ratchet 4 is pivotally connected to the gate support 2 about the pivot axis Y, so that it performs only one pivoting movement. However, other accommodation could also be provided.

The stop 7 is formed by a component elastically mounted in the vertical direction Z, in this case a rubber stop. When the stop element 5 abuts against the stop 7 and is then compressed against the compression spring 9, the stop compression spring 7.1 allows the stop 7 to yield or move in the vertical direction Z, in order to avoid damage to the locking device. drive or mechanical interlocking device 1, in case a drive device continues to move the gate support 2 upwards.

The stop compression spring 7.1 has a higher spring force than the compression spring 9, to ensure that the compression spring 9 is compressed first, before the stop compression spring 7.1 is compressed.

FIG. 7 shows by way of example a lift gate 10 comprising, for example, several gate panels 11 that can be moved one behind the other. A drive device 12 acts on the liftgate 10, for example in the form of a belt drive or a chain drive. The components of the mechanical interlock device 1 are also shown by way of example.

List of reference signs

1 Mechanical interlock device

2 Gate bracket

3 support element

3.1 Bolt

3.2 Mouth

4 ratchet

4.1 Mouth

4.2 Bolt

5 Stop element

6 Guide

6.1 Slider

7 Stop

7.1 Compression stop spring

8 Slide block

9 Compression spring

10 Liftgate

11 Gate panel

12 Drive device

13 Side gate guide

Z Vertical direction

Y axis of rotation

Claims (11)

1. Fall protection for a lift gate (10), in particular a machine guard lift gate, with a mechanical locking device (1) comprising a gate bracket (2) movable in the vertical direction (Z) for joint movement with the lift gate (10) and a support element (3) stationary in the vertical direction (Z), which can be made to engage with each other in a mechanically interlocked manner to block a vertical movement of the gate support (2), the locking device (1) also having at least one ratchet (4) that is articulated, at least indirectly connected to the gate support (2), which can be rotated so that it engages in a mechanically locked manner with the support element (3), and a stop element (5) being housed in the gate support (2) in such a way that it can be compressed, which has a guide (6) in which the pawl (4) is guided in such a way that it is rotated in the direction of the support element (3) when the stop element (5) is compressed, the stop element (5) being associated in a predetermined vertical end position with a stop (7) against which the stop element (5) abuts when a vertical movement of the gate support (2) occurs. Fall protection according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting element (3) comprises a bolt (3.1) and the ratchet (4) has a jaw (4.1) that can be engaged in the bolt (3.1) by turning of the ratchet (4). Fall protection according to claim 1, characterized in that the support element (3) comprises a socket (3.2) or a recess and the ratchet (4) has a bolt (4.2) that can be hooked into the socket (3.2). or in the recess by turning the ratchet (4). Fall protection according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guide (6) comprises a slide (6.1) into which a slide block (8) connected to the ratchet (4) engages. Fall protection according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ratchet (4) is connected at least indirectly to the gate support (2) so as to rotate about a horizontal axis of rotation (Y). Fall protection according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the stop (7) is mounted so that it can be displaced in the vertical direction (Z) against a spring force. Fall protection according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the stop element (5) covers the gate support (2) over its entire upper side. Fall protection according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the stop element (5) is accommodated in the gate support (2) by means of at least one compression spring (9), in particular with a plurality of of compression springs (9). Lift gate (10) with at least one gate panel (11) and a drive device (12) for moving the gate panel (11) up and down in a vertical direction (Z), characterized by a Fall protection according to one of Claims 1 to 8, the gate bracket (2) of which is connected to or formed by the gate panel (11). Lift 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), to the gate panel ( 11) and/or to the gate support (2). Lift gate (10) according to one of Claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the drive device (12) comprises a chain drive or a belt drive, which is connected to the gate panel (11) and/or to the gate support (2).