Plate conveyor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plate conveyor, comprising a first guiding track (1) and a second guiding track (2). The first guiding track extends in a first plane (10) with a first track section (11), a second track section (12) and a first curved section (21) configured. The second guiding track extends in a second plane (20) with a third track section (13), a fourth track section (14) and a second curved section (22) configured. Wherein, the first plane (10) and the second plane (20) are parallel to each other. The first track section (11) and the third track section (13) extend vertically. The second track section (12) and the fourth track section (14) extend horizontally. When viewed in an observation direction (II) orthogonal to the first plane (10) and the second plane (20), the first guiding track (1) and the second guiding track (2) intersect each other at an intersection point (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a plate conveyor, which includes a first guiding track and a second guiding track. The first guiding track extends in a first plane with a first track section, a second track section, and a first curved section formed therein. The second guiding track extends in a second plane with a third track section, a fourth track section, and a second curved section formed therein. Wherein, the first plane and the second plane are parallel to each other. Background Art

[0002] A plate conveyor with a conveyor chain is described in EP 336 904 A2. The conveyor chain runs on rollers and is guided in a guiding rail. It is shown in the drawings of this document that the conveyor chain extends in a track with track sections and curved sections. The conveyor chain turns in these curved sections. The plate conveyed along the track will be temporarily overturned during conveyance. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a plate conveyor in which the overturning (Kippen) of the plate is avoided.

[0004] This object is solved by a plate conveyor, which includes a first guiding track and a second guiding track. The first guiding track extends in a first plane with a first track section, a second track section, and a first curved section formed therein. The second guiding track extends in a second plane with a third track section, a fourth track section, and a second curved section formed therein. Wherein, the first plane and the second plane are parallel to each other. It is characterized in that the first track section and the third track section extend vertically, the second track section and the fourth track section extend horizontally, and in the viewing direction orthogonal to the first plane and the second plane, the first guiding track and the second guiding track cross each other at an intersection point.

[0005] The advantage of the plate conveyor according to the present invention is that the conveyed plate maintains its orientation during conveyance. An additional advantage is that with such a plate conveyor, not only can a single plate be conveyed, but also a stack of plates can be conveyed.

[0006] Different expansion schemes are possible:

[0007] The first track section and the third track section can extend parallel to each other (seen along the first guide track and the second guide track) before the intersection point and at a first spacing from each other, and the second track section and the fourth track section can extend parallel to each other (seen along the first guide track and the second guide track) after the intersection point and at a second spacing from each other, where the first spacing and the second spacing can be the same as each other or can be different from each other.

[0008] The first track section, the second track section, the third track section, and the fourth track section can be straight sections, or can extend quasi-straight and each have a much larger radius of curvature than the first curve section and the second curve section here.

[0009] The same plate carrier can be guided by the first guide track and simultaneously by the second guide track. The aforementioned plate carrier can be connected to the first guide track via a first pivot point and to the second guide track via a second pivot point. Measured along a first measurement direction parallel to the first plane and the second plane: the first pivot point and the second pivot point can be arranged at the aforementioned first spacing from each other, and measured along a second measurement direction parallel to the first plane and the second plane and orthogonal to the first measurement direction: the first pivot point and the second pivot point can be arranged at the aforementioned second spacing from each other.

[0010] The first pivot point can be formed by a first rotary hinge, through which the plate carrier is connected to a first traveling carriage guided by the first guide track. The second pivot point can be formed by a second rotary hinge, through which the plate carrier is connected to a second traveling carriage guided by the second guide track.

[0011] The first traveling carriage and the second traveling carriage can be running gears (Fahrwerke) rolling on the first guide track and the second guide track, or can be slides (Schlitten) sliding on the first guide track and the second guide track.

[0012] The plate carrier can be a plate stack carrier.

[0013] Here, the plate carrier can be a carrier for carrying an open plate tray on which a plate stack is located, or the plate carrier can be a carrier for carrying a closed plate cassette in which a plate stack is located.

[0014] The movement of the plate carrier along the first guide track and the second guide track can be driven by a motor via a transmission with a traction device.

[0015] The first guide rail and the second guide rail can be guide rails (Schienen) or chutes (Kulissen).

[0016] The traction mechanism can be a flexible traction mechanism (such as a toothed belt) or a multi - joint traction mechanism (such as a chain). Description of the Drawings

[0017] Other advantageous expansions result from the following description of the embodiments and the associated drawings, which are shown in:

[0018] Figure 1 According to the side view of the plate conveyor in the viewing direction I given in Figure 2 and the front view of the plate conveyor in the viewing direction II given in

[0019] Figure 2 According to the cross - section along the cutting line III - III given in Figure 1 and the front view of the plate conveyor in the viewing direction II given in

[0020] Figure 3 According to the cross - section along the cutting line III - III given in Figure 2 and the cross - section along the cutting line III - III given in Detailed Description of the Invention

[0021] In Figures 1 to 3 the plate conveyor shown is part of a system that is combined with a printing press in order to convey unused new plates to the printing units of the printing press and to transport used old plates away from these printing units. The printing press can be a sheet - fed printing press and the printing units can be offset printing units.

[0022] The plate conveyor includes a plate carrier 3 which receives a plate container in which there is a stack of plates. Such a plate container can be an open tray or a closed box. The plate container and the stack of plates are not shown together in the drawings.

[0023] The plate carrier 3 can move along the first guide rail 1 and the second guide rail 2 together with the plate container and the plate received therein. The first guide rail 1 includes, in the order mentioned: a first track section 11, a first curved section 21, and a second track section 12. The second guide rail 2 includes: a third track section 13, a fourth track section 14, and a second curved section 22 located therebetween. The first track section 11, the second track section 12, the third track section 13, and the fourth track section 14 each extend linearly, that is, they are linear sections. The first curved section 21 and the second curved section 22 each extend in an arc shape at an angle of 90°. The first guide rail 1 and the second guide rail 2 are configured as guide rails. The first guide rail 1 extends in a first plane 10, and the second guide rail 2 extends in a second plane 20.

[0024] In the drawings, an orthogonal coordinate system with spatial axes x, y, and z is given, where y is the vertical axis and x and z are the horizontal axes. The first plane 10 and the second plane 20 are parallel to these spatial axes x and y and extend spaced apart from each other by a distance c. When viewed in the direction of the spatial axis z (which corresponds to the viewing direction II), the first guide rail 1 and the second guide rail 2 intersect at the intersection point 4. The first track section 11 and the third track section 13 extend vertically and extend parallel to each other spaced apart by a first distance a, which is measured in the direction of the spatial axis x. The second track section 12 and the fourth track section 14 extend horizontally and extend parallel to each other spaced apart by a second distance b, which is measured in the direction of the spatial axis y.

[0025] The first traveling carriage 5 is guided by the first guide rail 1 and is connected to the plate carrier 3 via a first rotary hinge 7. The second traveling carriage 6 is guided by the second guide rail 2 and is connected to the plate carrier 3 via a second rotary hinge 8. The first traveling carriage 5 and the second traveling carriage 6 are both traveling mechanisms and each include a plurality of rollers 9, and each guide rail 1 (or 2) is inserted between these rollers 9.

[0026] The first rotary hinge 7 forms a first rotation point 17, and the second rotary hinge 8 forms a second rotation point 18. The distance measured between the first rotation point 17 and the second rotation point 18 along a first measurement direction (this first measurement direction corresponds to the direction of the spatial axis x) corresponds to the first distance a. The distance measured between the first rotation point 17 and the second rotation point 18 along a second measurement direction (this second measurement direction corresponds to the direction of the spatial axis y) corresponds to the second distance b.

[0027] (For example, an electric) motor 15 drives the movement of the plate carrier 3 along the first guide rail 1 and the second guide rail 2 via a transmission 16. The transmission 16 can be a traction drive (as shown in the figure). The shown transmission 16 includes, for example, a looped traction device 23, and the plate carrier 3 is arranged on the traction device 23 by a fixing device 24. The traction device 23 is configured as a chain. Wheels 25 and a turning guide rail 19 are used to guide the traction device 23.

[0028] List of reference numerals

[0029] 1 First guide rail

[0030] 2 Second guide rail

[0031] 3 Plate carrier

[0032] 4 Intersection point

[0033] 5 First traveling frame

[0034] 6 Second traveling frame

[0035] 7 First rotating hinge

[0036] 8 Second rotating hinge

[0037] 9 Roller

[0038] 10 First plane

[0039] 11 First track section

[0040] 12 Second track section

[0041] 13 Third track section

[0042] 14 Fourth track section

[0043] 15 Motor

[0044] 16 Transmission

[0045] 17 First rotation point

[0046] 18 Second rotation point

[0047] 19 Turning guide rail

[0048] 20 Second plane

[0049] 21 First curve section

[0050] 22 Second curve section

[0051] 23 Traction device

[0052] 24 Fixing device

[0053] 25 rounds

[0054] I Observation direction

[0055] II Observation direction

[0056] a First spacing

[0057] b Second spacing

[0058] c Spacing

[0059] x Spatial axis

[0060] y Spatial axis

[0061] z Spatial axis

Claims

1. A plate conveyor, comprising: - A first guiding track (1) which extends in a first plane (10) and is configured with a first track section (11), a second track section (12) and a first curved section (21), and - A second guiding track (2) which extends in a second plane (20) and is configured with a third track section (13), a fourth track section (14) and a second curved section (22), wherein the first plane (10) and the second plane (20) are parallel to each other, characterized in that the first track section (11) and the third track section (13) extend vertically, the second track section (12) and the fourth track section (14) extend horizontally, and when viewed in an observation direction (II) orthogonal to the first plane (10) and the second plane (20), the first guiding track (1) and the second guiding track (2) intersect each other at an intersection point (4), and the plate conveyor further includes a plate carrier (3) which is guided by the first guiding track (1) and simultaneously by the second guiding track (2), wherein the plate carrier (3) is connected to the first guiding track (1) through a first rotation point (17) and is connected to the second guiding track (2) through a second rotation point (18).

2. The plate conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that when viewed along the first guiding track (1) and the second guiding track (2), the first track section (11) and the third track section (13) extend parallel to each other with a first distance (a) before the intersection point (4), and when viewed along the first guiding track (1) and the second guiding track (2), the second track section (12) and the fourth track section (14) extend parallel to each other with a second distance (b) after the intersection point (4), wherein the first distance (a) and the second distance (b) are the same or different in size.

3. The plate conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first track section (11), the second track section (12), the third track section (13) and the fourth track section (14) each extend linearly.

4. The plate conveyor according to claim 2, It is characterized in that when measured along a first measurement direction (x) parallel to the first plane (10) and the second plane (20), the first rotation point (17) and the second rotation point (18) are arranged with the first distance (a) from each other, and when measured along a second measurement direction (y) parallel to the first plane (10) and the second plane (20) and orthogonal to the first measurement direction (x), the first rotation point (17) and the second rotation point (18) are arranged with the second distance (b) from each other.

5. The plate conveyor according to claim 4, characterized in that The first rotation point (17) is formed by a first rotation hinge portion (7) through which the plate carrier (3) is connected to a first traveling frame (5) guided by the first guide rail (1), and the second rotation point (18) is formed by a second rotation hinge portion (8) through which the plate carrier (3) is connected to a second traveling frame (6) guided by the second guide rail (2).

6. The plate conveyor according to claim 5, characterized in that the first traveling frame (5) and the second traveling frame (6) are traveling mechanisms that roll on the first guide rail (1) and the second guide rail (2), or are sliding frames that slide on the first guide rail (1) and the second guide rail (2).

7. The plate conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plate carrier (3) is a plate stacking carrier.

8. The plate conveyor according to claim 7, characterized in that the plate carrier (3) is a carrier for carrying a plate tray or for carrying a plate cassette.

9. The plate conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movement of the plate carrier (3) along the first guide rail (1) and the second guide rail (2) is driven by a motor (15) via a transmission (16) having a traction device (23).

10. The plate conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first guide rail (1) and the second guide rail (2) are guide rails or chutes.

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