Component support

Abstract

The invention relates to a component support (1) having a support unit (2) for receiving at least one component (3), the support unit (2) comprising at least one component guide (4), at least one component support (5) and at least one component stop (6). The invention also relates to a method. The component guide (4), the component support (5) and the component stop (6) deploy a receptacle for the component (3) on and / or on the carrier unit (2) of the component carrier (1). Furthermore, the carrier unit (2) is oriented and / or alignable on the component carrier (1) in such a way, and / or the component guide (4), the component support (5) and the component stop (6) are oriented and / or alignable relative to one another in such a way that the component (3) can be fixed to the carrier unit (2) at least in a form-fitting manner and / or due to gravity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a component support having a support unit for accommodating at least one component. Background Technology

[0002] In a similar field, DE 10355942 A1 discloses a roller chair for a belt conveyor. Here, the roller chair's roller support is guided on its upper side by two guide profiles laterally arranged below a guide plane via roller support bearings. Furthermore, at least one load-bearing and drive roller is directly supported on the roller support shaft, at which a roller support base acts. In the roller support base, at least one vertically supported guide roller arranged below the guide plane is rotatably supported, with the guide roller abutting against two inner surfaces of the guide profiles.

[0003] Furthermore, a method for monitoring a production line for sheet metal components used in automotive body manufacturing is known from DE 102011001852 A1. Here, the production line includes component manufacturing equipment and measuring equipment. Each sheet metal component is directly introduced into the measuring equipment and measured according to the production line's takt (sometimes called cycle). The measuring equipment has guide rails and / or guide rollers for accommodating separated sheet metal components. The sheet metal components introduced into the measuring equipment can be pre-positioned via these guides. Thus, the guide rails and / or guide rollers enable the rapid introduction, particularly pushing, of the sheet metal components into the measuring equipment. Pre-positioning via the guides allows for the introduction of the sheet metal components into the measuring equipment with a particularly short introduction time in subsequent adjustment steps.

[0004] Furthermore, it should be emphasized in principle that reproducible component retention is particularly important during manufacturing, for example, for measuring and / or joining components. This reproducibility ensures that components meet the same specifications and quality standards. This is absolutely necessary to ensure production consistency and reduce scrap rates.

[0005] For example, in vehicle body manufacturing, so-called combined operating devices are often used as holding devices to secure components. These holding devices are designed to have a large number of restraining and clamping elements for two different component types. Here, the clamping elements are placed in an advantageous arrangement so that the two different components can be placed into the same holding device with different orientations. Furthermore, centering devices are known that can precisely bring a component to a predefined position after it has been removed from a storage container and then immediately remove the component again.

[0006] However, such a solution is only partially satisfactory. Disadvantageously, while the retaining device offers some flexibility, it can only accommodate a limited number of different components, thus requiring the structure of the retaining device to be matched, or even replaced, when the component configuration changes. Therefore, there is low flexibility in accommodating possible component types, where a large structural space is needed to meet the required functional requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In this context, the object of the present invention is to implement the type of component support mentioned at the beginning in such a way that the component support is suitable for accommodating a large number of components that are at least partially different in shape.

[0008] This objective is achieved using the component support described below.

[0009] Therefore, according to the present invention, a component support is provided having a support unit for accommodating at least one component. Here, the support unit includes at least one component guide, at least one component support, and at least one component stop, wherein the component guide, component support, and component stop extend at and / or on the support unit of the component support for receiving portions of the component. Here, the support unit is oriented and / or oriented at the component support, and / or the component guide, component support, and component stop are oriented and / or oriented relative to each other, i.e., such that the component can be reproducibly and at least form-fittingly and / or gravity-inducedly accommodated or fixed at the support unit. Here, by extending the receiving portion via the component guide, component support, and component stop, thereby constructing only a few support, abutment, and / or holding portions for the component, a suitable and therefore highly flexible component support can be provided for a large number of components that are at least partially different in shape. Here, the force fit caused by additional clamps can be eliminated, especially because a gravity-induced form fit can be established between the component and the support unit or the component support by means of the orientability and / or orientation of the support unit. Here, the orientation of the support unit can be designed by an angled arrangement of the support unit, through which the component arranged at and / or on the support unit is subjected to a gravity-induced force in the direction of the component stop. Here, the component can be particularly planar ( Sometimes referred to as flat) Components, such as body components, like doors or door blanks, have a high degree of suitability for component supports.

[0010] In a particularly advantageous improvement of the invention, the component support further extends substantially perpendicularly to the component guide along its longitudinal axis. Here, in a preferred design, the component support is positioned substantially at the center of the component guide and attached to the component guide at one end, thus the component support and component guide are generally designed in a T-shape. Therefore, a large positioning surface for the component can be advantageously provided while simultaneously providing excellent support through a few, for example, three, four, or five supporting, abutting, and / or retaining parts, thereby ensuring high stability of the component at the support unit or component support.

[0011] Furthermore, it is advantageous that at least one, preferably at least two, and particularly preferably only two, support members are arranged at the end region or end of the component support portion, preferably away from and opposite to the component guide portion, for the abutment of the component. Here, via the separate support members, abutment or holding portions or points can be advantageously and simply provided, through which the component rests against the support portion. Furthermore, by providing one or two abutment or holding portions by the separate support members, oversteering of the component at the support unit and / or component support can be avoided, thereby ensuring stable positioning of the component.

[0012] Furthermore, the following embodiment of the invention is considered advantageous: at least one of the supports is configured as a sliding element or a rotating element rotatably arranged at the component support, particularly a roller or ball. In this way, low-friction movement of the support along the component support can be achieved, resulting in translational movement as unobstructed as possible. Thus, the component applied (aufgebracht, sometimes called placement) to the component guide in a manner spaced apart from the component stop can move self-centeringly on the support unit and therefore on the component support in the direction of the stop, especially when the support unit is inclined.

[0013] In another highly advantageous improvement of the invention, at least one of the component support and / or support member is implemented at the support unit in a manner particularly capable of at least oscillating and / or rotating relative to the component guide and / or preferably resisting at least one return element. Here, the component support is preferably configured to oscillate and / or rotate about its longitudinal axis, and / or one or more support members are configured to oscillate and / or rotate about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the component support. Preferably, this axis is the longitudinal axis of the support member. Thus, advantageously, it is feasible to match the geometry or profile of the component arranged at or on the support unit, particularly to bring the component abutting against the stop when the component translates along the component guide.

[0014] Furthermore, an advantageous design of the invention is that the component guide has at least two, preferably only two, guides for supporting the component. By implementing guides that also form support and / or holding portions or support and / or holding points, comparable to the embodiment with at least one support member, it is advantageous to prevent the component from over-stability at the support unit and / or component support. Therefore, high stability of the component at the support unit or component support can be ensured.

[0015] Furthermore, the following improvement of the invention is advantageous: at least one of the guides is configured as a sliding element or a rotating element rotatably arranged at the member guide portion. Here, the rotating element can be, for example, a roller. This allows for low-friction, particularly translational, movement, preferably along the longitudinal axis of the member guide portion. Thus, for example, in the presence of an inclined support unit, the member applied to the member guide portion in a manner spaced apart from the member stop portion can move self-centeringly in the direction of the stop portion on the support unit and therefore on the member support. In this way, low-friction movement along the member support portion enables precise orientation and positioning of the member on the support unit and / or the member support.

[0016] In an advantageous manner, in one embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of the component stop is arranged at the support unit, preferably at the component guide, in a manner that resists rotational and / or oscillating movements relative to the component guide, particularly against rotational and / or oscillating movements of at least one return element. In this way, the component stop can, at least to a certain extent, conform to the geometry of the component arranged on the support unit and / or component support, particularly by self-orientation.

[0017] Another advantageous improvement of the invention is that the component support has a base on which the support unit is disposed. This arrangement enables stable and reliable holding of the support unit, which in turn leads to improved operation of the component and stable positioning of the component at the support unit and / or component support. Furthermore, by using the base, the structure of the component support can be strengthened to ensure improved load-bearing capacity and stability. Here, the base can be constructed, for example, as a support leg, frame, or column.

[0018] In another embodiment of the invention, advantageously, at least a portion, preferably the entire support unit, is arranged to rotate and / or oscillate relative to the base about at least one axis, preferably at least two axes, and particularly preferably only two axes. Here, one of the axes may be an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the member guide, so that the support unit can rotate and / or oscillate or tilt such that the gravitational component acting on the member causes the member to rest on the member guide and / or abut against the member support, particularly the at least one support member. Furthermore, the second axis may be an axis extending perpendicular to or normal to the longitudinal axis of the member guide and / or the longitudinal axis of the member support, or an axis extending substantially parallel to the surface normal of the member. Thus, the support unit can rotate at the member support such that a force caused by gravity acts on the member in the direction of the member stop arranged at the end of the member guide. Attached Figure Description

[0019] This invention allows for many implementations. To further clarify its basic principles, some of these are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. In the drawings:

[0020] Figure 1 Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a component support with a fixed inclined support unit;

[0021] Figure 3 A detailed view of the cross-section of a rotating element, which is implemented as a roller, is shown, including a support portion and a guide portion for a rotatable component with a rotatable support member.

[0022] Figure 4 Figure 5 shows a component support with a swingable support unit and a swingable component support.

[0023] Figure 6 A component support with a component guide portion implemented as a sliding element is shown;

[0024] Figure 7 A component support is shown as the only supporting element of a rotating element with a component support portion implemented in the form of a sphere;

[0025] Figure 8 The component support is shown as a component support with a component support portion implemented as a roller, and a component stop portion designed as a rotatable part.

[0026] Figure 9 A component support with a component support portion is shown as the sole support element, which is a sliding element. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Figure 1 and 2 One embodiment of the component support 1 is shown, wherein the component support 1 has a support unit 2 (which is used to accommodate the component 3 at and / or on the support unit 2 and thus the component support 1) and a base 14. Here, the support unit 2 is arranged at the base 14, which is implemented as a column.

[0028] In addition, the support unit 2 includes a component guide 4, a component support 5, and a component stop 6, wherein the component guide 4, the component support 5, and the component stop 6 extend at and / or on the support unit 2 of the component support 1 to accommodate the component 3.

[0029] Here, the component support 5 extends substantially perpendicularly to the component guide 4 along its longitudinal axis 7, and is implemented approximately at the center of the component guide 4 in the support unit 2, specifically at the component guide 4, thus forming a T-shape between the component guide 4 and the component support 5. At the end region of the component support 5 opposite to the component guide 4, at the end region of the longitudinal retainer 18 of the component support 5, two additional supports 8 are arranged to allow the component 3 to rest against the component support 5. These supports are respectively constructed as rotating elements 10 in the form of rollers. Here, the supports 8, implemented as rotating elements 10 in the form of rollers, are arranged in the support unit 2 in a manner rotatable about their longitudinal axis 19, and are particularly rotatable in the component support 5. The possible rotatable movement is indicated by arrow P. Furthermore, from... Figure 1 and Figure 2 It can be concluded that the two support members 8 are arranged at a distance from each other on the component support 5 via the transverse retainer 17, at the longitudinal retainer 18 of the component support 5. Furthermore, the longitudinal axis 19 of the support member 8, which is implemented as a rotating element 10 in the form of a roller, is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis 7 of the component support 5.

[0030] also, Figure 1 and 2 As shown, the component stop 6 is arranged on the end side of the component guide 4, wherein the component guide 4 further has two guides 11 for supporting the component 3, the guides being respectively constructed as rotating elements 13 in the form of rollers rotatably arranged at the component guide 4. The rotatable movement of the rotating elements 13 implemented in the form of rollers is again indicated by arrow P.

[0031] Now, the support unit 2 is oriented at the component support 1 in such a way that the component guide 4, the component support 5 and the component stop 6 are oriented to each other in such a way as explained above, that is, so that the component 3 can be fixed at the support unit 2 in a form fit and by gravity.

[0032] In particular, the support unit 2 is inclined relative to the base 14, which is implemented as a column. Here, the support unit 2 is arranged at the base 14 in a manner that it is rotated about an axis 15, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes 7, 20 of the component guide 4 and the component support 6. In normal operation, that is, when the component support 1 is erected on the base 14, which is implemented as a column, at the ground, this inclination causes the component 3 (which is applied to the rotating element 13, which is implemented as a roller, of the component guide 4 and rests against the rotating element 10, which is also implemented as a roller, of the component support 5, which is spaced apart from the component stop 6. Figure 1 and 2 The component (often a car body part, particularly a door blank) is subjected to a force F caused by gravity in the direction of the component stop 6. This is especially true for... Figure 1 As shown in the image. Thus, component 3 moves in the direction of component stop 6 for such a long time, that is, until the component rests against component stop 6 in its stationary position. Here, in Figure 2 The static position is shown in the figure. As the member 3 is applied at a distance from the member stop 6 and moves into the member stop 6, the member 3 is self-centered or self-oriented at and / or on the support unit 2 and thus the member support 1, thereby the member 3 is arranged at and / or on the support unit 2 in a reproducible position.

[0033] Figure 3 Another embodiment of a component support 1 with a component 3 arranged at and / or on a support unit 2 is shown.

[0034] also, Figure 3 Detailed Figure A shows a top view toward the component support 5, where it can be seen again that the support 8 of the rotating element 10, configured as a roller, is arranged in the component support 5, specifically at the transverse retainer 17, in a manner rotatable about its longitudinal axis 19. Furthermore, in this embodiment of the component support 1, the component support 5 itself is designed to resist rotational movement about its longitudinal axis 7 by a return element (e.g., a torsion spring) not shown in detail. The rotatable movement of the component support 5 and the rotating element 10, configured as a roller, is again indicated by arrow P. Furthermore, detailed Figure B shows a cross-section of the guide 11, also configured as a rotating element 13 in the form of a roller, which is arranged spaced apart from each other at the component guide 4. Here, each guide 11 has a surrounding V-shaped recess into which the component 3 can be received and guided.

[0035] In addition, from Figure 4 and 5 The embodiment of component support 1 is obtained in which support unit 2, in addition to being in Figure 1 and2 In addition to axis 15 shown, it is also configured to rotate or swing about axis 16. Furthermore, the component support 5 is configured to resist rotation or swinging motion of a return element (not shown in detail) relative to the component guide 4 about axis 22, which extends parallel to or coincides with the longitudinal axis 20 of the component guide 4. Thus, the component support 5 forms a rocker arm and can be placed against the component 3 in a supporting manner by deflecting it relative to the component 3. Figure 4 and 5 The arrow P again indicates the respective rotational and / or oscillating motions.

[0036] also, Figures 6 to 9 An embodiment of the component support 1 is described, which differs in part in the design of the support member 8, the guide member 11, and the component stop 6.

[0037] Thus, from Figure 6 A component support 1 is obtained, whose two support members 8 are as follows: Figures 1 to 5 In the embodiment, the rotating element 10 is implemented as a roller. However, on the other hand, the two guides 11 arranged at the component guide 4 are designed as sliding elements 12. Here, together with the component stop 6, a sliding element is again implemented for example in... Figure 1 and 2 The five support and / or abutment parts of component 3 are shown in the image.

[0038] In addition, from Figure 7 An embodiment of the component support 1 can be obtained, in which the component support 5 has only one support member 8. However, this support member 8 is again designed as a rotating element 10, but here it is designed in the form of a sphere. Therefore, combined with the two guide members 11 configured as a rotating element 13 in the form of a roller and the component stop 6, it is implemented for example in Figure 1 and 2 The four support and / or abutment parts of component 3 are shown in the image.

[0039] also, Figure 8An embodiment of the component support 1 is described, in which only one support element 8 is again arranged at the component support portion 5, which is implemented as a single rotating element 10 in the form of a roller. The two guides 11 are again constructed as rotating elements 13 in the form of rollers. Furthermore, the component stop 6 is designed such that a portion 21 of the component stop 6 is arranged at the support unit 2 in a manner that allows rotational movement relative to the component guide 4, and is specifically arranged rotatably at the component guide 4 itself. The portion 21 of the component stop 6 that abuts the rocker arm is rotatable about an axis 22, which is parallel to axis 15, about which the support unit 2 is tilted. The rotatable movement of the portion 21 of the component stop 6 is again indicated by arrow P. The support 8, the component stop 6, and the two guides 11 are again, for example, in… Figure 1 and 2 The component 3 presented in the middle provides four support and / or abutment parts.

[0040] exist Figure 9 Another embodiment of the component support 1 is disclosed, in which the component support 5 again has only one support member 8. However, here, the support member 8 is designed as a single sliding element 9. The two guide members 11 of the component guide 4 are implemented as rotating elements 13 in the form of rollers, wherein, together with the component stop 6, a mechanism for, for example, in, is generated at the component support 1. Figure 1 and 2 The four support and / or abutment parts of component 3 are shown in the image.

[0041] Reference number list

[0042] 1 component support

[0043] 2 support units

[0044] 3 components

[0045] 4-component guide section

[0046] 5-component support section

[0047] 6-component stop section

[0048] 7. Longitudinal axis

[0049] 8 support components

[0050] 9 sliding elements

[0051] 10 rotating elements

[0052] 11 guides

[0053] 12 sliding elements

[0054] 13 rotating elements

[0055] 14 bases

[0056] 15 axis

[0057] 16-axis

[0058] 17 Lateral Cage

[0059] 18 longitudinal cages

[0060] 19. Vertical axis

[0061] 20 longitudinal axis

[0062] Part 21

[0063] 22 axis

[0064] Force F acts

[0065] P arrow

Claims

1. A component support (1) having a support unit (2) for accommodating at least one component (3), wherein, The support unit (2) includes at least one component guide (4), at least one component support (5), and at least one component stop (6), wherein the component guide (4), component support (5), and component stop (6) extend at and / or on the support unit (2) of the component support (1) to accommodate the component (3), and hereby the support unit (2) is oriented and / or oriented at the component support (1), and / or the component guide (4), the component support (5), and the component stop (6) are oriented and / or oriented to each other, i.e., such that the component (3) can be fixed at the support unit (2) at least in a form fit and / or by gravity.

2. The component support (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The component support (5) extends along its longitudinal axis (7) in the direction normal to the component guide (4).

3. The component support (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, At least one support member (8) is arranged at the end region of the component support (5) for the abutment of the component (3).

4. The component support (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, At least one of the support members (8) is configured as a sliding element (9) or a rotating element (10) rotatably arranged at the support portion (5) of the member.

5. The component support (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, At least one of the component support (5) and / or the support member (8) is implemented at the bracket unit (2) in a manner that allows for at least swinging and / or rotational movement.

6. The component support (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The component guide (4) has at least two guides (11) for supporting the component (3).

7. The component support (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, At least one of the guides (11) is configured as a sliding element (12) or a rotating element (13) rotatably arranged at the guide portion (4) of the component.

8. The component support (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, At least a portion (21) of the component stop (6) is arranged at the support unit (2) in such a way that it can rotate and / or swing relative to the component guide (4).

9. The component support (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The component support (1) has a base (14), and the support unit (2) is arranged on the base.

10. The component support (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, At least a portion of the support unit (2) is arranged to be rotatable and / or oscillating relative to the base (14) about at least one axis (15, 16).

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