Unit and Method for Conveying Workpieces Along a Processing

Abstract

A unit and method are provided for conveying workpieces along a processing run, having at least one transport car (10), moving along the processing run in a conveying direction (FR) and a rotating shaft (20), mounted on the transport car (10), close to a first of the ends thereof, to rotate about the axis thereof at right angles to the conveying direction (FR) and on which a mounting (40) for the workpiece to be processed is provided. The rotating shaft (20) is only mounted close to the first end thereof on the transport car (10) and may thus be driven in the conveying direction (FR), the second free end thereof being passively transported along in the conveying direction (FR). It is thus possible to pivot the rotating shaft (20) in a plane running at right angles to the conveying direction, in particular, to permit a space saving return.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The invention relates to a unit for conveying workpieces on a processing run.[0002]Along such a processing run, there is located at least one, however, mostly several of successive processing stations into which said workpieces are introduced for surface treatment.[0003]Such a processing station may, for example, be a dipping bath containing a processing liquid, the expression processing station may, however, also be understood to be any other kind of cabin or basin in which processing of the workpiece takes place. Such treatment may, for example, also encompass a washing process. Other examples of processing are dipping-phosphatizing, pre-treatment for immersion-painting, powder-coating, wet-painting or the like.PRIOR ART[0004]Units known so far for the surface treatment of workpieces, such as car bodies in dipping baths or processing cabins, are divided into continuously conveying units and non-continuously conveying units.[0005]In continuously conveying units...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]The rotating shaft is preferably arranged in such a manner that it is at least in part pivotable in a plane running at right angles to the conveying direction. In this regard, the transport car may be arranged to be pivotable in said plane together with the entire rotating shaft, and / or the rotating shaft may include a folding mechanism, by means of which the second end of the rotating shaft is pivotable in said plane. The latter-mentioned variant facilitates pivoting the shaft with comparably small constructional complexity.

[0017]The second end of the rotating shaft can be provided with a non-driven support member which may run on a supporting surface, for example on an already provided rim of a dipping basin. In the case of such a support of the free end of the shaft, the loads acting on the workpiece carrier are reduced.

[0018]The rotating movement of the rotating shaft around its axis may be suitably coupled, using a rotation drive, with the movement of the transport car in the conveying direction; this brings about the advantage that no separate drive is required for the creation of this rotating shaft and the energy required is reduced. The rotating drive may thereby for example be a roller lever. Variants are also possible with a gear which facilitates certain adaptation of the rotating movement of the rotating shaft.

[0025]The transport car can be diverted during pivoting or following pivoting on a return run, can be returned there and again diverted in order to reach the starting position and can be pivoted into its original position. This sequence facilitates returning the transport car with the rotating shaft in a particularly space-saving manner.

[0026]If a partial area of the rotating shaft which includes the second end of the rotating shaft is pivoted in said plane, said partial area of the rotating shaft may be diverted during pivoting or following pivoting to a return run, it may be oriented parallel with the conveying direction for return, and may be diverted again to reach the starting position and can be pivoted into its original position. The orientation of the shaft in parallel with the conveying direction during return results in by far less space being required perpendicular to the conveying direction.

Problems solved by technology

The continuously conveying units are more reliable since the units run using few driving motors, while the individually-cycled carriers of cycle units show an increased likelihood of breakdowns due to several individually controlled motors.

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