FR2638437A1 - CONVEYOR APPARATUS HAVING L-SHAPED SWINGS - Google Patents

Abstract

A conveyor apparatus has an overhead conveyor 11, 13, at least one L-shaped swing frame 18 suspended from this overhead conveyor, a load bearing portion 18 'of the swing set being located on the side of this conveyor, a guide roller 23 being provided on the load support portion and a guide rail 24 being provided to guide the roller. The swing can be suspended by means of a C-shaped fitting 25, the opening of which faces the load-bearing portion of the swing; a foreign matter screen may be provided which has a horizontal plate 26a projecting into the opening of the C and a vertical plate 26b.

Description

i Conveyor device fitted with L-shaped swings

  The invention relates to a conveyor device equipped with L-shaped swings, intended for use, for example, in an automobile assembly line. Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing shows a conventional air conveyor apparatus, equipped with L-shaped swings in which foreign materials such as oil, used particles, etc. can be prevented from falling on the transported objects. The portion 3 carrying the objects of an L-shaped swing 2, which is

  suspended from an air carrier 1, is offset laterally-

  relative to conveyor 1 and a separating plate

  tion 4 is provided between the transporter and this portion 3 to prevent foreign matter from spreading on the transported object A. The moment resulting from the offset of the transported object A acts on the L-shaped swing 2 so that a roller 5, which is adapted to roll against a guide rail 8 in order to resist this moment, is mounted on a frame 6 fixed on the portion

  vertical 3 'of the swing 2 with a reinforcement gusset

7 between them.

  In this prior device, the distance between the guide roller 5 and the center of gravity of the load is relatively large and as a result, the moment acting on the frame 6 becomes appreciably large due to the substantial weight of the object transported, by example of an automobile body. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a reinforcing structure, such as the gusset 7, which increases the total weight of the swing 2. In addition, because the reaction force of the guide roller 5 against the rail 8 acts vertically downwards, the load acting on the carrier rail of the air carrier increases correspondingly. Thus, the load acting on the air carrier increases correspondingly, which requires increasing the mechanical strength of the components of the air carrier, which in turn requires a force

  greater drive of the carrier.

  In addition, although the partition plate 4 can prevent foreign matter from falling on the body

  automobile A, it cannot prevent foreign matters

  handles to fall vertically down from the carrier.

  Consequently, in cases where the auto bodies

  are coated by electrodeposition, there is a risk that oil, dust, etc., fall into the treatment bath in which the bodies are transported for pre-treatment and contaminate

this bath.

  The main object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor device equipped with shaped swings

  of L which eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art.

  The present invention therefore provides a conveyor apparatus comprising an air conveyor, at least one L-shaped swing suspended from this air conveyor and having a load support portion projecting laterally from this conveyor, a guide roller provided on the support portion load and a fixed guide rail to guide the roller as the swing moves

  according to the route defined by the transporter.

  Due to the previous structure, the load acting on the air carrier can be reduced, which simplifies the overall structure of the device.

  transporter at the same time as reducing its total weight.

  The L-shaped swing can be suspended from a C-shaped fitting, the opening of this C being turned towards the load-bearing portion of the swing, and means of protection against foreign materials can be provided and include: both a horizontal plate projecting into the opening of the C and a vertical plate. Such protective means can effectively prevent foreign matter, such as dust, oil, etc., from the carrier

  air to enter the treatment bath.

  Alternatively, the guide roller can be provided immediately.

  below the vertical portion of the swing.

  In addition, guide rollers can also be provided at practically the same height as the point of

suspension of the swing.

  The conveyor apparatus of the present invention is particularly effective when it is necessary to separate the conveyor apparatus from a highly polluting atmosphere, for example when drying, painting,

  cleans car bodies with water, etc.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description.

  tion, given below by way of example only, of preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which: - Figure 1 is a side view of a conveyor of the prior art;

  - Figure 2 is a front view of a first embodiment

  tion of this invention; - Figure 3 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 2, in which an automobile body is transported in a treatment bath; - Figure 4 is a side view similar to Figure 3, showing another embodiment; - Figure 5 is a side view showing the swing of Figure 4, carrying no object; - Figure 6 is a front view similar to Figure 2, but showing another embodiment; - Figure 7 is a side view similar to Figure 3, but of the embodiment of Figure 6; - Figure 8 is a side view of the swing of Figure 7, carrying no object; - Figure 9 is a side view similar to Figure 7, but of another embodiment; and - Figure 10 is a side view in partial section of an application of this invention for transporting car bodies in a drying room

after painting.

  Figure 2 is a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention and Figure 3 is a view

  front, representing a trans-automobile body

  worn in a bath. A double air conveyor 10 comprises a motor rail 11, a drive rod 12 adapted to be guided along the rail 11, a front anterior carriage 14, a rear anterior carriage 15, a front rear carriage 16 and a rear rear carriage 17 adapted to be driven by the drive chain 12 and guided on a free rail 13. Two L-shaped swings 18,18 are mounted on the carriages 15,16 respectively, so that the swings can swing at the same time longitudinally and laterally with respect to the length of the conveyor, as will be explained below. The swings 18, 18 are connected by an upper horizontal bar 19 and a lower horizontal bar 19 '. The load support portions 18 ′, 18 ′ of the swings 18, 18 project themselves

  generally horizontally, are arranged side-

  compared to air carrier 10 and support

  a transported object A, such as an automobile body.

  Because the swings 18, 18 can swing longitudinally, the transport path can be tilted horizontally. And also because the swings can swing sideways, they can be allowed to be tilted as shown in Figure 5

  under their own weight, for example when they do not

  carry more auto bodies, which saves

  lateral space to bring back empty swings.

  A collecting element 20 is adapted to slide against a supply rail 22 mounted on a wall of a tank 21, when an automobile body A is immersed in the pretreatment tank 21, as shown

in figure 3.

  A guide roller 23 is provided in the respective load support portions 18 ′ of the swings 18, these rollers 23 being guided by a guide rail 24 disposed along the transport path of the object A to prevent the swings from tilting. The guide rail 24 only serves to restrict the lateral movement of the guide rollers 23, since there is no need to restrict their

vertical movement.

  Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of this invention in a view similar to Figure 3. The same references will be used to designate identical components

or the like.

  The L-shaped swing 18 is suspended from a transport

  overhead 10 by means of a C-shaped fitting 25, so that it can tilt at the same time

  longitudinally and laterally. A first joint (upper-

  laughing) of the articulation type 25a connects the carriage 15,16

  to the fitting 25 to allow a longitu-

  dinal of the swing, and a second joint (lower) of the articulation type (25b) connects the swing to the fitting 25 to allow lateral swinging of the swing. The fitting 25 opens laterally in the direction

  of the load support portion 18 'of the swing 18.

  A foreign material protection element 26 includes a horizontal plate 26a and a vertical plate 26b. The horizontal plate 26a is housed in the opening of the fitting 25, while the vertical plate

  26b projects upward along the conveyor.

  Foreign materials, such as oil, particles

  used cules, dust, etc. which could fall out

  of the air carrier, settle on the horizontal plate-

  tab 26a, so that they cannot penetrate the solution contained in the tank 21; moreover, any lateral projections of such foreign matter can be prevented by the vertical plate 26b, so that, likewise, they do not contaminate

the solution.

  The guide roller 23 can be provided at any desired location on the load support portion 18 '; however, it goes without saying that the greater the distance between the guide roller and the center of the swinging movement of the swing, the more the load acting on the roller

  of the tilting moment is small.

  The L-shaped swing 18 is capable of tilting transversely, as can be seen in FIG. 5. Thus, in these sections where no transport of automobile bodies is necessary, eliminating the rail

  24, the swing can tilt so as to reduce noticeably-

  the lateral space required for transporting the balances

the empty ones.

  Figures 6 to 8 show another embodiment of this invention. As before, identical numbers denote identical components, and the

description of these components.

  A lower guide roller 23 'is provided in the center of the lower horizontal bar 19' and immediately

  below (i.e. at its lower end

  18) vertical portion 18 "of the L-shaped swings 18.18, so that it can be guided

  by a lower guide rail 24 '.

  In addition, at the lower side of the C-shaped fittings 25.25, upper guide rollers 27.27 are respectively provided at almost the same height.

  that the articulation defining the second seals 25b, 25b.

  These upper guide rollers 27, 27 are adapted to cooperate with the inner surface of an upper guide rail 28 to prevent the swings 18, 18 from tilting clockwise around the point of contact of the roller. lower guide 23 'with lower guide rail 24'. The upper guide rail 28, which is U-shaped and opens upwards, is connected to the wall 29. This upper guide rail 28 also serves to receive the dust which can be created when the collecting element 20 moves by sliding

on the power rail 22.

  This realization facilitates the transfer of objects transported

  tees A to the swing by means of an elevator, because the lower guide roller 23 'is not provided in the load support portion 18', as it was

  the case in the first realization.

  In addition, the mounting of a single lower guide roller 23 'facilitates the passage between the horizontal position and the tilted position of the swing when it enters the tank 21 and leaves it, because the

  path of the guide roller 23 'is simple.

  In addition, the mounting of upper guide rollers 27, 27 and of the guide rail 28 serves to stabilize the position.

  of the second seal 25b, thus making the movement more stable

  ment of the swing 18 inside the tank 21.

  In this case, two upper guide rollers 27, 27 and a single lower guide roller 23 ′ are in three-point contact with the upper guide rail 28 and the lower guide rail 24 ′, which ensures a

transport well stabilized.

  In the case of the conventional L-shaped swing

  in Figure 1, she was unable to tip over-

  dirty, which required the guide rail 8, even in a return line of empty swings. Thus, it was impossible to converge or diverge transmission lines. However, in the embodiments of this invention described above, the L-shaped swings can tilt transversely, which eliminates the guide rails in the return lines of the empty swings. As a result, we can

  easily make the lines diverge or converge.

  FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the lower guide rail 24 ′, placed in the tank, defines a zigzag line in the direction of transport. Thus, when it moves longitudinally through the tank 21, the swing 18 also rocks laterally, which makes it possible to expel the air trapped under the roof of the bodywork of the transported automobile. Thus, the electrodeposition of the

pre-treatment.

  In addition, FIG. 9 shows a modification of the means of protection against foreign materials, which comprise inclined roof elements 30 and 31 covering the surface of the bath in the tank. The end 30a of the roof element 30 projects into the opening of the C-shaped fitting 25; and the roof element 31 projects up to the vicinity of the back of the fitting 25. In this case, a collecting element 20 ′ and a supply rail 22 ′ are provided above the roof element 30. This modified structure serves to simplify the structure above the roof elements; and maintenance of the transporter

aerial is facilitated.

  Figure 10 shows a possible application of the L-shaped swing of the present invention. A frame 40 of a drying room 41 for car bodies A after painting is arranged so

  that it practically surrounds automobile bodies.

  An insulating material 42 is fixed to the interior surfaces of the room 41. Hot air inlets 43 and hot air outlets 44 are provided adjacent to the interior wall of the room 41. A longitudinally elongated slot 45 is provided at the level of the bottom of room 41, so that the proximal end of the load support portion 18 'of the L-shaped swing 18 can pass through. The slot 45 can preferably be sealed

  by means of known air curtains 46.

  In this particular embodiment, the portion of entrain-

  The transport unit can be completely separated from the polluting atmosphere inside the drying room. Consequently, it is possible to positively prevent possible corrosion of the various mechanical parts, or degradation of the lubricating oils, etc.,

  due to this polluting atmosphere, and the maintenance work

  nance of the carrier is easier. Alternatively, the room may be provided for painting or cleaning car bodies with water; in this case, the separation between the conveyor apparatus and the room guarantees that oil, dust, etc., which could come from the conveyor, will not be introduced into

  the local, which would affect the quality of treatment.

  Room 41 mentioned above is not necessarily completely closed; a simple partition wall may suffice, provided that the atmosphere surrounding the objects transported and the transporting device can be

actually separated.

  Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for illustrative purposes, it should be appreciated that various variations and modifications can be made to it, including rearranging the components, while remaining within the scope of the invention. scope of the

present invention.

Claims (8)

Claims   1.- Conveyor apparatus comprising a mobile air conveyor along a defined path and an L-shaped swing (18) suspended from this air conveyor (13) and having a load support portion (18 ') projecting on the side of this conveyor and disposed laterally with respect to it, characterized in that a guide roller (23) is provided on the load support portion and that a fixed guide rail (24) serves to guide the roller   when the swing moves along the defined path.   2.- Conveyor apparatus comprising a mobile air conveyor along a defined path, characterized in that an L-shaped swing (18) is suspended from the air conveyor by means of a C-shaped fitting opening laterally (25), the opening of this C-shaped fitting looking towards the side of the conveyor on which the load support portion (18 ') of this swing is located, in that a guide roller (23) is provided on the load support portion and that a guide rail (24) is used to guide this roller when the swing moves along the defined path, and in that means for protection against foreign materials (26) have a plate horizontal (26a) projecting into the opening of the C-shaped fitting and a plate   vertical (26b). located adjacent to this conveyor.   3.- Conveyor apparatus comprising a mobile air transporter along a defined path and an L-shaped swing (18) suspended from this air transporter and having a load support portion (18 ') disposed on the side of this transporter, the swing having a portion   vertical (18 ") projecting downwards from the trans-   carrier and having a lower end connected to the load support portion, characterized in that a guide roller (23 ') is provided adjacent to the lower end of the vertical portion of this swing and that a guide rail ( 24 ') is used to guide this roller when   the swing moves along the defined path.   4.- Conveyor apparatus according to claim 3, charac-   characterized in that a single guide roller is mounted on the swing.   5.- Conveyor apparatus according to claim 3, charac-   characterized in that it comprises a second guide roller (27) provided at practically the same height as the suspension point of the swing and a second rail   guide (28) to guide this second guide roller.   6.- Conveyor apparatus according to claim 5, charac-   terrified in that it has only one first   guide roller and two second guide rollers.   7.- Conveyor apparatus according to claim 3, charac-   terized in that at least one vertical wall (40) is provided and has a slot (45) through which the portion passes horizontal (18 ') of the swing.   8.- Conveyor apparatus according to claim 7, charac-   terized in that the interior of this vertical wall is a room for processing a transported object and that   this slot (. ') is sealed by air curtains (46).