GB2121744A

GB2121744A - Over-run preventing arrangement for carriers in a conveying system

Info

Publication number: GB2121744A
Application number: GB08302022A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans-Hermann Volkstorf; Manfred Geng
Original assignee: Translift Gesellschaft fuer Hebe und Foerderanlagen mbH
Current assignee: Translift Gesellschaft fuer Hebe und Foerderanlagen mbH
Priority date: 1982-02-06
Filing date: 1983-01-25
Publication date: 1984-01-04
Also published as: ES8400978A1; JPS58145560A; ES519535A0; JPH044181B2; FR2521112A1; IT1161873B; IT8319419A0; GB8302022D0; DE3204154C2; DE3204154A1

Abstract

A switching mechanism 11 to 16 is arranged at the front of driven travelling gear 5 of a following carrier 4, 5, 6 and a tripping device 9, 10 is arranged at the rear of trailing travelling gear 7 of preceding carrier 6, 7 so as to actuate the switching mechanism upon relative approach of the carriers. The switching mechanism 11 to 16 comprises a forwardly-protruding mounting 11 which is swingable about a pivot 12 and which carries, at its front end, a roller 13 behind which a proximity switch 14 is adjustably arranged. For extra safety, a cam 15 is provided which, upon upward swinging of the mounting 11, actuates a further switch to interrupt driving current to the driven gear 5. The tripping device 9, 10 comprises a straight-edge or track 9 with a run-up edge or ramp 10 for the roller 13. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Over-run preventing arrangement for carriers in a conveying system This invention relates to over-run (or collision) preventing arrangements for carriers (i.e. travelling carriages, traversers or the like) in conveying systems. It is known, in conveyng systems to use carriers which each comprise a driven travelling gear which is adapted to the rail cross-section of a rail of the conveyor and which comprises a motor-driven roller, as well as an appropriately-designed trailing idler travelling gear which is connected to the driven travelling gear by way of a draw bar which may be articulated.

Overrunning preventers for such travelling gears have become known which comprise for example, a stirrup or U-frame which is arranged at the front of the driven travelling gear and which is coupled with a switching mechanism which, when the stirrup or U-frame encounters an obstacle, switches off traction current to the driven travelling gear. The switching mechanism may consist, for example, of a mechanical switch or a capacitive or inductive proximity switch.

These switches have been incorporated only selectively or optionally in conveying systems. In the cases where the switch is a proximity switch, this responds only to metal objects; accordingly, a travelling gear provided with a proximity switch, upon approach to a non-metal object and more particularly when approaching a person, will not stop the driven travelling gear. Accordingly, the rail region of a conveying system of the kind mentioned at the introduction hereof represents a definite danger for persons present in the vicinity thereof.

Moreover, in the event of failure of the proximity switch, the carrier is no longer protested against the risk of collision with a carrier disposed ahead on the rail system.

The problem underlying the present invention is, therefore, to provide an over-run preventing arrangement for a carrier in a conveying system wherein the above-discussed disadvantages are obviated or minimised, and with this in view the present invention provides an over-run preventing arrangement as aforesaid comprising a switching mechanism which is disposed at the front of the driven travelling gear of a carrier of the system and a tripping device which is disposed at the rear of the trailing travelling gear of a preceding carrier of the system and which serves to actuate the switching mechanism characterised in that arranged at the front of the driven travelling gear is a forwardly protruding support which is mounted for swinging about a pivot and which carries, at its front end, a roller and behind which a proximity switch is disposed, the support being adapted, by way of an actuation mechanism, for example a cam or dog, upon swinging movement, to actuate a further switch in the vicinity of its rear end, to interrupt traction current, and in that there is arranged, at the rear of the trailing travelling gear of the preceding carrier, a straightedge or track with a run-up edge for the roller of the support.

With the arrangement in accordance with the invention the considerable advantage is achieved that safety against collision is ensured in two respects. On the one hand the proximity switch arranged in the front region of the protruding support switch as off the traction current upon approaching a metal object, and on the other hand the driven travelling gear can also be stopped, upon raising of the swingably-mounted support by way of the mechanically-actuatable further switch.

Thus, for example, a person or operative is in the vicinity of the rail of the conveying system, seeing a driven travelling gear approaching him, simply by raising the swingable support, can interrupt the traction current and stop the carrier, so that the carrier is prevented from continuing its approach, and the possibility of striking him and even injuring him is avoided.

Advantageous further developments of the arrangement of the invention are set out in the sub-claims appended hereto.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic fragmentary side view illustrating part of a conveying system incorporating a preferred embodiment of the over-run preventing arrangement of the invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of the over-run preventing device of the system of Figure 1.

Shown in the drawing is a length of a rail of a conveying system, which rail comprises two tubular sections or profiles 1 and 2 connected by an intermediate web 3 and on which runs a runner or roller 4 of a driven travelling gear or carriage 5 driven, for example, by an elastic motor. The driven travelling gear 5 is coupled, below the rail by way of a draw bar or traverse 6 to a trailing travelling gear.

The driven and trailing travelling gears together with the draw bar constitute a carrier of the conveying system. In Figure 1,the trailing travelling gear associated with the illustrated driven travelling gear 5 is not shown. What is shown is the trailing travelling gear 7 of the preceding carrier or carriage, and it will be understood that the trailing travelling gear of the driven gear 5 is substantially identical with the illustrated trailing travelling gear 7. The direction of travel is indicated by the arrow 8.

Arranged at the rear of the trailing travelling gear 7 of the preceding carrier is a switching straight-edge or track 9 which is provided, at its rear end, with a run-up edge or ramp 10. Arranged at the front of the driven travelling gear 5 of the following carrier is a mounting 11 which is mounted for swinging about a pivot 12. The mounting 11 has, at the front end, a roller 13 behind which is a proximity switch 14. At its other or resr end the carrier 11 is provided with a cam,dog or lobe 15 which, upon the upward swinging of the swingably-mounted 11, actuates a mechanically-operable electric switch 16.

if, when the driven travelling gear 5 is travelling in the direction of the arrow 8, it approaches the trailing travelling gear 7 of the carrier ahead, the roller 13 runs onto the switching straightedge or track 9 by way of the run-up edge or ramp 10 which thus determines the exact switching distance from the proximity switch 14 to the straightedge or track 9.

Upon the run-up onto the straightedge or track 9, the proximity switch 14 switches off the power to the motor of the driven travelling gear of the following carrier.

Moreover, if the travelling gear runs towards a person, such person can, by manual actuation, swing the mounting 11. This causes mechanical actuation of the switch 16 so that the current supply to the driven travelling gear is switched off and the entire carrier comes to rest. The two switches 14 and 16 are advantageously coupled in an OR configuration so that the traction current to the driven travelling gear is interrupted irrespective of which switch is actuated.

The illustrated arrangement is such that the pivot 15 extends through the cam or dog 16, and that the proximity switch 14 is adjustable on the mounting 11, but these features are not essential to the invention.

Claims

1. An over-run preventing arrangementforcar- riers in a conveying system, comprising a switching mechanism which is disposed at the front of the driven travelling gear of a carrier of the system, and a tripping device which is disposed at the rear of the trailing travelling gear of a preceding carrier of the system and which serves to actuate the switching mechanism, characterised in that arranged at the front of the driven travelling gear is a forwardlyprotuding support which is mounted for swinging about a pivot and which carries, at its front end, a roller and behind which a proximity switch is disposed, the support being adapted, by way of an actuation mechanism, for example a cam or dog, upon swinging movement, to actuate a switch in the vicinity of its rear end, to interrupt traction current, and in that there is arranged, on the rear of the trailing travelling gear, a straightedge or track with a run-up edge for the roller of the support.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the pivot extends through the cam or dog.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the proximity switch is arranged adjustably on the mounting.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, characterised in that the two switches are connected in an OR configuration for switching-off the traction current in the motor travelling gear.

5. An over-run preventing arrangement for carriers in a conveying system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.