Support device and conveyor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a support device (30) for a conveyor (10) of an automatic assembly machine (100), the support device having a fixing device (32) for fixing to the conveyor (10) and a support unit (34) for supporting a component belt (92), wherein the support device (30) has at least one resilient connecting device (36), wherein the support unit (34) is connected to the fixing device (32) via at least one resilient connecting device (36). The invention also relates to a conveyor (10) for an automatic assembly machine (100), the conveyor (10) comprising a propulsion device (20) for advancing a component belt (92) and a support device (30) for supporting the component belt (92), wherein the support device (30) is at least partially designed to be resilient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a support device for a conveyor in an automated assembly machine, the support device having a fixing device for fixing to the conveyor and a support unit for supporting a component belt. Furthermore, this invention relates to a conveyor for an automated assembly machine, the conveyor including a propulsion device for advancing the component belt and a support device for supporting the component belt. Background Technology

[0002] In known automated assembly machines, components with component strips are provided on component reels. These component strips are mostly moved by a conveyor's propulsion mechanism and thus unwound from the component reel. The propulsion mechanisms of known conveyors mostly generate vibrations when interacting with the component strip. Vibrations occur particularly with the component strip when sections of the propulsion mechanism are inserted into and removed from it, and / or when the component strip passes through it, resulting in potentially undesirable movement of the components. For example, in known prior art, a clamping force and undesirable coupling of component movement occur due to friction between the component strip and the pins of the conveyor's propulsion mechanism as it moves from the component strip. Visually, vibrations and shocks occur within the component strip and for the components located therein. In known prior art, this undesirable component movement is reduced by supports on both sides of the component strip, such as supports on the right and left sides next to the components. These support elements are mostly designed to be rigid and are fixedly connected to the conveyor. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a support device for a conveyor of an automated assembly machine and a conveyor having the support device, especially utilizing them to enable the feeding of components onto the automated assembly machine with particularly low vibration, small structural space requirements, and advantageously and / or simply using inexpensive means.

[0004] The aforementioned task is accomplished by a support device having the features of independent claim 1 and a conveyor having the features of independent claim 7. Other features and details of the invention are derived from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Herein, the features and details described in conjunction with the support device according to the invention also apply to the conveyor according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosures regarding the various aspects of the invention are always cross-referenced or can be cross-referenced.

[0005] According to the present invention, a support device for a conveyor of an automated assembly machine is provided according to a first aspect. The support device has a fixing device for fixing to the conveyor and a support unit for supporting a component belt. The support device has at least one resilient connecting device, wherein the support unit is connected to the fixing device via at least one resilient connecting device. Preferably, the support unit is connected to the fixing device only via at least one resilient connecting device. The at least one resilient connecting device is preferably designed to be elastically deformable. Preferably, the support device has two or more connecting devices. The support device is preferably at least partially perforated. The support device preferably comprises a honeycomb structure and / or foam. The support device is preferably constructed of a material with high inherent damping and / or has a structural design with high inherent damping. Furthermore, the support device is preferably designed to be trapezoidal and / or have a trapezoidal cross-section. Particularly preferably, the at least one connecting device has an inclination relative to the fixing device, particularly in the conveying direction of the component belt, such that the support unit is advantageously designed to track the component belt. As detailed in the following description, the at least one resilient connecting device is elastically constructed in terms of material and / or structure. Preferably, the supporting force and / or damping force of at least one elastic connecting device is adjustable. The at least one elastic connecting device enables at least partially elastic connection of the support unit to the support device and thus at least partially elastic support of the component belt. The at least one elastic connecting device preferably enables support and / or compression of the component belt, particularly relative to the support device and / or the guide device of the conveyor. The at least one elastic connecting device advantageously makes it possible to avoid and / or reduce the vibrational movement of the component belt.

[0006] Therefore, advantageously, the support device according to the invention enables support and / or cushioning of the component belt under a certain prestress. Here, the force of the displaced teeth is preferably less than the prestress through the support device. Thus, movement of the component belt is advantageously prevented or at least reduced. The support device according to the invention preferably presses the component belt upwards and / or against the pickup window of the conveyor.

[0007] Intuitively, the support device according to the invention, preferably in the installed state, is capable of at least partially reacting against the forces generated by the interaction between the component belt and the conveyor's propulsion device. For example, the support device according to the invention prevents and / or reduces the forces introduced by the movement of the pin teeth of the propulsion device into and / or out of the conveyor, thereby preventing or reducing unwanted component movement, and / or making it possible to mitigate unwanted component movement.

[0008] Within the scope of this invention, a fixing device can be understood as a means for securing a support device to and / or at least partially to the conveyor. The fixing device is preferably designed integrally or as a component. Preferably, the fixing device is designed as a form-fitting and / or force-fitting fixing device. Preferably, the fixing device is designed for securing to and / or together with a mating fixing device on the conveyor. The fixing device is exemplary designed as a hole in the support device for securing to the conveyor using a fixing device, such as a screw. Also exemplary, the fixing device is designed as a plug connection, a clip, a bayonet connection, and / or a thread. Preferably, the fixing device is at least partially adjustable. The fixing device exemplary has at least one elongated hole to allow for the matching design of the fixed position of the support device.

[0009] By connecting the support unit and the fixing device through at least one elastic connecting device, the support function is achieved by the support device when using the support device and conveyor according to the invention, and the element is provided in a particularly low-vibration, advantageous, simple and cost-effective manner.

[0010] Within the scope of the invention, it is advantageous that the support unit is at least partially planar designed for guiding the element belt and / or at least partially has a curved side profile. The support unit according to the invention is designed for supporting the element belt. Preferably, the support unit for supporting the element belt has at least one support surface. The support unit is preferably designed for supporting and / or guiding the lower side of the element belt, i.e., the side of the element belt facing away from the element. The at least partially curved side profile of the support unit visually describes the advantageous separation of the element belt from the conveyor's propulsion mechanism when the support device is mounted on and / or in the conveyor. Preferably, the support unit has at least partially an arcuate section as its cross-section. This design of the support device is particularly advantageous because, when using the support device and conveyor according to the invention, support of the element belt and / or advantageous propulsion of the element belt can be achieved by simple means, wherein vibration of the element belt is advantageously reduced and / or avoided.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support device can be designed as a single piece and / or integrally. Preferably, the support device is made of plastic, especially plastic with elastic and / or damping properties. Alternatively or additionally, the support device is made of metal. This has the advantage of durability during assembly. Alternatively or additionally, the support device has a structure in which the contact surface between the element strip and the support device and / or ejector is metal and the rest of the support device is made of plastic. Thus, the support device designed in this way has a fixing device, a support unit, and at least one elastic connecting device as a single piece and / or integral device. Preferably, the support device is manufactured by additive manufacturing and / or particularly preferably using injection molding technology. Advantageously, the one-piece and / or integral support device enables simple and cost-effective manufacturing of the support device and advantageous elasticity of its supporting function. Advantageously, the integrated and / or monolithic support device enables elastic deformation of the support device and / or movement of the support unit, and thus, when using the support device and conveyor according to the invention, the support and / or advantageous propulsion of the component belt can be achieved in a simple manner and with particularly economical structural space.

[0012] According to a preferred improvement of the invention, the support unit may be designed to be at least partially, and especially entirely, made of a conductive material, particularly a conductive plastic. The design of at least part of the support unit made of conductive plastic can preferably be understood as a coating of the support unit made of conductive plastic. Preferably, the surface facing the component strip in the installed state, i.e., preferably the upper side of the support unit, is designed to be conductive. The support unit is preferably capable of being electrically connected to ground and / or potential balance. This design of the support unit advantageously reduces and / or avoids electrostatic fields that can be generated due to friction between the component strip and the support unit through the choice of material and / or coating of the support unit.

[0013] According to a preferred improvement of the invention, the support device may be configured to include at least one resilient connecting device mechanically designed as a tab and / or strut. The design of the at least one resilient connecting device as a mechanical connecting device can be understood, for example, as a spring within the scope of the invention. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one resilient connecting device is designed as a tab and / or strut, particularly wherein the tab and / or strut is elastically deformable. In embodiments where the resilient connecting device is a tab and / or strut, it is particularly advantageous that the support device includes more than one resilient connecting device to achieve advantageous stability of the support device. A support device thus designed with at least one resilient connecting device mechanically designed as a tab and / or strut is particularly advantageous because the components can be supplied advantageously and / or simply at low cost with low structural space requirements.

[0014] According to a preferred improvement of the invention, the support device may be defined as having a first thickness and a second thickness, wherein the first thickness corresponds to or substantially corresponds to the second thickness. The expression "X corresponds to or substantially corresponds to X" should be understood within the scope of the invention as possible, small deviations, such as those due to manufacturing tolerances, material properties, and / or process characteristics, without altering the potential, intended function of the feature. This design of the support device enables a particularly slender structure. The first and second thicknesses are understood within the scope of the invention as extensions of the fixing device and support unit along and / or parallel to the support surface of the support unit. Here, the support surface preferably corresponds, in the installed state, to the propulsion plane of the component belt in and / or on the conveyor and / or the lower side of the component belt. The first thickness of the support unit and the second thickness of the fixing device are preferably designed to allow free movement of the pin and the component belt. This design of the support device is particularly advantageous because it enables the support and / or advantageous propulsion of the component belt by simple means and with particularly economical structural space.

[0015] Furthermore, according to the second aspect, the aforementioned objective is achieved by a conveyor for an automated assembly machine according to the invention. This conveyor includes a propulsion device for advancing the component belt and a support device for supporting the component belt. The support device is at least partially designed to be resilient. Within the scope of the invention, the conveyor can be understood as a separate conveying unit, wherein the component belt is arranged on a reel, for example, in a belt container. Here, the component belt is preferably guided from the reel into the conveyor. The support device is preferably connected to and / or attached to the pick-up window and / or pick-up position of the conveyor for the components. The propulsion device is exemplarily constructed as a pin and / or gear, and / or at least partially engaged with and / or passes through the component belt to advance it. Visually, the support device is preferably arranged next to the propulsion device, particularly on the left side next to the propulsion device in the conveying direction of the propulsion device for the component belt. This advantageously reduces the reaction force of the propulsion device and / or pin on the components, especially those located at the pick-up position, as they are removed from the component belt. The at least partially resilient embodiment advantageously compensates for thickness fluctuations in the component belt. Preferably, the supporting force and / or damping force of the elastic support device are adjustable. The conveyor according to the invention is particularly advantageous because the support device preferably enables not only support relative to the component belt and the component, but also separation of the component belt from the propulsion device. The support device preferably enables support of the component belt, particularly in the region of the propulsion device, such that the reaction force acting on the propulsion device and / or the exit pin of the propulsion device further supports the component belt. This designed conveyor advantageously reduces vibration to the components and thus provides more reliable delivery of components to automated assembly machines.

[0016] According to a preferred improvement of the invention, the support device in the conveyor can be specified to be designed according to the first aspect. In this conveyor, all the advantages already described regarding the support device according to the first aspect of the invention are obtained.

[0017] According to a preferred improvement of the invention, in the conveyor, support units and / or support devices can be arranged below the component belt channel to support the component belt. The component belt channel is preferably understood as a belt guide member and / or structural channel in which the component belt is advanced, moved, and / or guided. Supporting the component belt from below advantageously reduces vibrations caused by the interaction between the component belt and the advancement device. The supporting force and / or damping force of the support units and / or support devices preferably act from below on the component belt and / or the component belt channel. Preferably, the component belt channel includes lateral guides for guiding the component belt.

[0018] Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, the propulsion device may include at least one pin wheel, wherein the at least one pin wheel is designed to engage at least partially in a recess of the element belt to propel the element belt, wherein a support device is arranged on the back side of the at least one pin wheel for supporting the element belt. The pin wheel is preferably understood as a wheel comprising radial pins and / or teeth. The pins and / or teeth are again designed to engage at least partially in a recess of the element belt, and thus propel the element belt. These recesses are generally arranged on at least one side of the element and / or in at least one edge region of the element belt. According to the invention, the back side of the pin wheel should preferably be understood as the back side of the pin wheel facing away from the center of the element and / or the element belt. Therefore, the front side of the pin wheel preferably faces the center of the element and / or the element belt. The arrangement of the support device on the back side of at least one pin wheel is particularly advantageous because it results in a smaller structural space requirement and is particularly advantageously achieved through the supporting function of the support device relative to the element belt and in the vicinity of at least one pin wheel. In the conveyor according to the invention, the element belt preferably extends along the radial end face of the pin wheel, the pin of the pin wheel, and / or substantially along the radial end face of the pin wheel. This design of the conveyor is particularly advantageous because by arranging the support device on the back side of the at least one pin wheel, the element can be supplied with particularly little vibration, minimal structural space requirements, and advantageously and / or simply by using inexpensive means.

[0019] In this invention, it is conceivable that the conveyor includes a base to which support devices are attached. The base is preferably designed as the housing of the conveyor. Alternatively or additionally, the base is designed as a structural component of the conveyor. The attachment of the support devices to the base advantageously achieves a stable arrangement of the support devices, particularly the support devices on the base of the conveyor and relative to the fixing devices of the component belt. Thus, by stably fixing the fixing devices to the base of the conveyor, an advantageous support function is achieved through the support unit and at least one connecting device. A conveyor designed in this way is particularly advantageous because by fixing the support devices to the base of the conveyor, the supply of components can be achieved with particularly little vibration, small structural space requirements, and advantageously and / or simply using inexpensive means.

[0020] Advantageously within the scope of this invention, the conveyor has a pick-up position for picking up components from the component strip by an automated assembly machine, wherein a support device is arranged at the pick-up position. The pick-up position of the conveyor should be understood as enabling the automated assembly machine to pick up components from the component strip at the pick-up position. Visually, the pick-up position is a section in and / or on the conveyor that is advantageously designed to be accessible to the automated assembly machine and to enable the picking up of components from the component strip and / or the conveyor. For example, the pick-up position is designed as a pick-up window, particularly in the base of the conveyor. Advantageously, the support device is arranged at and / or in the area of ​​the pick-up position. Preferably, the support device is arranged below the component strip at the pick-up position. In order to be able to remove all components from the component strip and also to process the shortest possible segment of the component strip, it is advantageous to pick up the components close to the center of the exemplary pin wheel. Due to the proximity in position between the pick-up position and the pin wheel engagement, without the support device according to the invention, the components could be placed in undesirable movement by the movement of the pin wheel in and out. The support device according to the invention can advantageously reduce and / or avoid undesirable movement of the element belt and / or the element. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The support device according to the invention and the conveyor according to the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They are shown schematically respectively:

[0022] Figure 1 A side view shows a conveyor with a propulsion device, component belt, and support device.

[0023] Figure 2 The previous view shows a conveyor with a drive unit, a base, a component belt, and a support unit.

[0024] Figure 3 The support device, including the fixing device, support unit, and two flexible connecting devices, is shown in perspective.

[0025] Components with the same function and mode of operation Figures 1 to 3 The same reference numerals are used for each of the attached figures.

[0026] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0027] 10 Conveyors

[0028] 12 Matrix

[0029] 20 Propulsion Device

[0030] 22 pins

[0031] 24. Dorsal side

[0032] 30 Support device

[0033] 32 Fixing device

[0034] 34 Support Units

[0035] 36 Connecting device

[0036] 40 Pickup Location

[0037] 92 Components

[0038] 94 recess

[0039] 96 components with channels

[0040] 100 Automatic Assembly Machine

[0041] D1 First Thickness

[0042] D2 is the second thickness. Detailed Implementation

[0043] exist Figure 1 The conveyor 10, having a propulsion device 20, a component belt 92, and a support device 30, is schematically shown in a side view. The conveyor 10 is designed for use with an automated assembly machine 100. The conveyor 10 includes a propulsion device 20 for advancing the component belt 92 and a support device 30 for supporting the component belt 92. The support device 30 is partially resiliently designed. The support device 30 has a fixing device 32 for securing to the conveyor 10 and a support unit 34 for supporting the component belt 92 on and / or in the conveyor 10. The support device 30 also has two resilient connecting devices 36, wherein the support unit 34 is connected to the fixing device 32 via the two resilient connecting devices 36. The support unit 34 is partially planarly designed for guiding the component belt 92 and partially has a curved side profile. The propulsion device 20 includes a pin wheel 22, wherein the pin wheel 22 is designed to partially engage in a recess 94 of the component belt 92 for advancing the component belt 92. The support device 30 is arranged on the back side 24 of the pin wheel 22, that is, on the left side of the pin wheel along the propulsion direction, to support the element belt 92. Therefore, referring to... Figure 1 In the plan view, support device 30 is arranged in front of pin wheel 22. Support unit 34 and support device 30 are arranged below component belt channel 96 for supporting component belt 92. Conveyor 10 has pick-up position 40 for picking up components from component belt 92 by automatic assembly machine 100, wherein support device 30 is arranged at pick-up position 40. By the proximity of position between pick-up position 40 and support device 30, undesirable movement of components and component belt 92 due to the movement in and out of pin wheel 22 is advantageously reduced and / or avoided.

[0044] Figure 2The previous view shows a conveyor 10 having a propulsion device 20, a base 12, an element belt 92, and a support device 30. The support device 30 is arranged on the back side 24 of the pin 22 for supporting the element belt 92. The conveyor 10 includes a base 12, to which the support device 30 is fixed. The support unit 34 has a first thickness D1, and the fixing device 32 has a second thickness D2, wherein the first thickness D1 corresponds to the second thickness D2. The back side 24 of the pin 22 is away from the element and away from the center of the element belt 92. Therefore, the front side of the pin 22 faces the element and towards the center of the element belt 92. It is particularly advantageous for the support device 30 to be arranged on the back side 24 of the pin 22 because this results in a smaller structural space requirement, and the support function of the support device 30 relative to the element belt 92 is particularly advantageous and is achieved in the vicinity of at least one pin 22. Figure 2 In the conveyor 10, the component belt 92 extends from the plane of the drawing and thus extends along the radial end face of the pin wheel 22 and its pin. The conveyor 10 is particularly advantageous in this design because by arranging the support device 30 on the back side 24 of the pin wheel 22, the component can be supplied with particularly little vibration, small structural space requirements, and advantageously and / or simply by using inexpensive means.

[0045] exist Figure 3 The support device 30 is schematically shown in perspective, comprising a fixing device 32, a support unit 34, and two resilient connecting devices 36. The resilient connecting devices 36 are mechanical and designed as struts. The support device 30 is designed integrally and monolithically. The support device 30 is designed in a trapezoidal shape and has a trapezoidal cross-section. The two resilient connecting devices 36 have an inclination relative to the fixing device 32 in the conveying direction of the component strip 92 (not shown), such that the support unit 34 is advantageously designed to track the component strip 92 (not shown).

Claims

1. A support device (30) for a conveyor (10) of an automatic assembly machine (100), the support device (30) having a fixing device (32) and a support unit (34), the fixing device (32) for fixing to the conveyor (10) and the support unit (34) for supporting the element belt (92). Its features are, The support device (30) has two elastic connecting devices (36), wherein the support unit (34) is connected to the fixing device (32) through the two elastic connecting devices (36). At least one of the flexible connecting devices (36) has an inclination relative to the fixing device (32) in the conveying direction of the component strip, and the support device (30) is designed as an integral and / or monolithic unit.

2. The support device (30) according to claim 1. Its features are, The support unit (34) is at least partially designed to be planar for guiding the element strip (92), and / or at least partially has a curved side profile.

3. The support device (30) according to claim 1. Its features are, The support unit (34) is at least partially made of a material that can conduct electricity.

4. The support device (30) according to claim 1. Its features are, The two flexible connecting devices (36) are mechanically designed as tabs and / or struts.

5. The support device (30) according to any one of the preceding claims. Its features are, The support unit (34) has a first thickness (D1) and the fixing device (32) has a second thickness (D2), wherein the first thickness (D1) corresponds to the second thickness (D2).

6. A conveyor (10) for an automatic assembly machine (100), the conveyor (10) comprising a propulsion device (20) for advancing a component belt (92) and a support device (30) for supporting the component belt (92). Its features are, The support device (30) is at least partially designed to be flexible, and the support device (30) has a fixing device (32) for fixing to the conveyor (10) and a support unit (34) for supporting the element belt (92). The support device (30) has two elastic connecting devices (36), wherein the support unit (34) is connected to the fixing device (32) through the two elastic connecting devices (36). At least one of the flexible connecting devices (36) has an inclination relative to the fixing device (32) in the conveying direction of the component strip, and the support device (30) is designed as an integral and / or monolithic unit.

7. The conveyor (10) according to claim 6. Its features are, The support unit (34) is arranged below the component strip channel (96) to support the component strip (92).

8. The conveyor (10) according to claim 6. Its features are, The propulsion device (20) includes at least one pin (22), wherein the at least one pin (22) is designed to engage at least partially in a recess (94) of the element belt (92) to propel the element belt (92), wherein the support device (30) is arranged on the back side (24) of the at least one pin (22) for supporting the element belt (92).

9. The conveyor (10) according to claim 6. Its features are, The conveyor (10) includes a base (12), wherein the support device (30) is fixed on the base (12).

10. The conveyor (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 9. Its features are, The conveyor (10) has a pick-up position (40) for picking up components from the component belt (92) by the automatic assembly machine (100), wherein the support device (30) is arranged at the pick-up position (40).

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