Brush strip unit for a carrier plate and handling unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a brush strip unit (10) for a carrier plate (50) having receiving slots (60), wherein the brush strip unit (10) has at least one brush carrier element (12) with a longitudinal axis (11) and a height (H) running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (11), from the upper side of which at least indirectly fastened brush elements (16) protrude, and with means which are designed to raise or lower the brush elements (16) in order to change a friction between the carrier plate (50) and an object (O) arranged on the brush elements (16) or the carrier plate (50).

Description

Technical FieldThe invention relates to a brush strip unit for a carrier plate having receiving slots, which is distinguished by a particularly advantageous structural design with regard to the raising and lowering of the brush elements. The invention further relates to a handling unit having a carrier plate with at least one brush strip unit arranged in a receiving slot.Prior ArtTechnical brushes for handling objects, in particular for changing the friction during transport of the objects in the area of conveying systems or the like, are already known from the prior art.For this purpose, it is known from DE 10 2021 107 258 A1 to provide a plurality of brush bar units arranged parallel to one another. Each brush bar unit has a plurality of brush elements arranged side by side and one behind the other, which are fastened to a brush carrier element. The brush carrier elements are arranged between conveyor belts of a transport device for objects and can be lowered between the conveyor belts or raised above their upper side by means of a mechanically acting lifting drive. When the brush carrier elements are raised above the level of the conveyor belts, the objects stand on the brush elements, so that no transport of the objects takes place, while when the brush carrier elements are lowered to a level below the conveyor belts, the objects stand exclusively on the conveyor belts, so that the conveyor device can transport the objects.In addition, a carrier plate having holes or openings is known from DE 10 2016 125 492 A1, wherein balls arranged in the openings or holes so as to be movable in stroke are arranged. By means of these balls, when the balls are raised to a level above the carrier plate, the friction between an object and the carrier plate can be reduced in order to enable simple movement of the object.Finally, it is known from DE 37 22 399 A1 to arrange balls which are rotatably mounted in the region of a load surface of a motor vehicle and are arranged in the region of holes of a carrier plate of the load surface. The carrier plate can be raised or lowered by means of tubular lifting elements in order to bring the balls selectively into contact with an object arranged on the carrier plate, or else to lower the object onto the carrier plate.Disclosure of the InventionThe brush strip unit according to the invention for a carrier plate having receiving slots with the features of claim 1 has the advantage that it enables universal applicability for carrier plates usually having T-groove-shaped receiving slots in a particularly simple structural manner. In particular, the brush strip unit according to the invention is thus suitable, for example, for retrofitting already existing or standardized and thus easily available carrier plates.Against the background of the above explanations, a brush strip unit according to the invention for a carrier plate having receiving slots and having the features of claim 1 therefore has at least one brush carrier element having a longitudinal axis and a height running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Brush elements which are fastened at least indirectly project from the upper side of the brush carrier element. Furthermore, means are provided which are designed to raise or lower the brush elements in order to change friction between the carrier plate and an object arranged on the brush elements or the carrier plate, wherein the means consist in a volume-variable and / or shape-variable design of the brush carrier element which can be positioned in a receiving slot, which design is dependent on a pressure of a medium, such that the height of the brush carrier element changes when the volume of the brush carrier element changes.The invention thus comprises all solutions in which at least the height of the brush carrier element increases in the event of a pressure increase in the brush carrier element due to an in particular gaseous medium that can be introduced into the brush carrier element. The teaching of the invention thus also encompasses solutions in which, although no change in volume or cross section occurs in the event of a pressure increase in the brush carrier element, as a result of a structural design of the brush carrier element, only a change in height.Advantageous further developments of the brush strip unit according to the invention for a support plate having receiving slots are listed in the dependent claims.An embodiment is particularly advantageous in which the brush strip unit comprises a plurality of brush carrier elements, the volume of which can preferably be varied simultaneously, i.e. synchronously. As a result, in principle, transport areas or surfaces of any desired size can be equipped on the carrier plates by means of brush strip units according to the invention, or particularly simple scalability to the respective application is made possible. In particular, the brush carrier elements can be identical or identical, which simplifies their assembly and production. However, it is also conceivable to apply different media to brush carrier elements or groups of brush carrier elements in order to control the transport or the handling of the objects, in order to thereby generate transport areas and storage areas for the objects simultaneously on different areas of the carrier plate.In order to be able to adapt the at least one brush carrier element particularly easily with regard to lengths or lengths of the receiving slots that are required in different ways, it is furthermore provided that the at least one brush carrier element is connected to a connection adapter that can be connected to a source of overpressure and / or underpressure for a medium. A gas, preferably compressed air, is used in particular as the medium. Depending on the application, however, it is also conceivable to use a liquid that is not compressible or only slightly compressible as the medium. The use of a vacuum source is expedient when a particularly rapid lowering of an object onto the carrier plate is required and / or when the weight of the object is relatively low, so that the escape of the medium from the brush carrier element takes a relatively long time and / or the at least one brush carrier element has a mechanical stability which hinders the reduction of its height in the unpressurized state.In a particularly preferred structural configuration of the at least one brush carrier element, the latter comprises a first component made of an elastic material which is of tubular design and which has a round or a rectangular cross section. This (first) component increases its volume when pressurized with the medium and serves to raise the brush elements. When using a rectangular cross section of the first component, the advantage is achieved that the hose or the first component does not twist in the receiving slot when pressure is applied or pressure is reduced, since the outer cross section can bear in areas in a form-fitting or planar manner against the cross section of the receiving slot.Alternatively stated, the at least one brush carrier element can comprise a first component which consists of an elastic or rigid material, is of tubular design and which, in a first pressure of the medium, preferably has a round or a rectangular outer cross section, and that the outer cross section of the first component is enlarged and / or changes its cross section in the case of a second pressure of the medium which is increased in comparison with the first pressure. In a preferred development of the last proposal, it is provided that the at least one brush carrier element has a dimensionally stable second component which is arranged in operative connection with the first component and is in particular connected to the first component and to which the brush elements are fastened. This second component is in particular designed in the form of an extrusion part made of (relatively hard) plastic and preferably has a T-shaped cross section. The base of the "T" is arranged on the upper side of the first component and is preferably connected thereto, while the section protruding from the base engages in the upwardly open receiving slot of the carrier plate (positively locking) and thus enables optimum guidance of the brush elements during their movement. Furthermore, the base of the second component forms a stroke stop for the first component or the brush carrier element, i.e. the maximum stroke of the brush elements is limited and defined.There are different possibilities with regard to the production of the two mentioned components of the brush carrier element. In a first preferred embodiment, it is provided that the two components are designed as separate components and are connected to one another by a separate production step. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the two components to be designed as a 1- or 2-component extrusion component. The first component can either have a closed cross section or else a cross section which is open towards the second component and is closed by the second component. Alternatively, the two separately produced components can also be arranged loosely, but in at least indirect contact with one another, in the receiving slot.The first component of the brush carrier element can be produced as an endless component by the extrusion process. In order to adapt it to the respective application or the length of the receiving slot in the carrier plate, it is provided that at least one axial end section of the first component is thermally welded, bonded or sealed by a closure element (closure plug). In particular when using a closure element, the advantage is thereby achieved that this closure element can be fixed in the receiving slot of the carrier plate, preferably received or arranged by clamping closure, in order to enable a dimensionally stable or defined positioning of the first component and thus also of the brush carrier element in the receiving slot of the carrier plate.A further preferred structural embodiment provides that, in the presence of a plurality of brush carrier elements, the at least one connection adapter is simultaneously connected to a plurality of brush carrier elements. This enables the use of a one-piece connection adapter and simplified mounting of the corresponding components in the region of the carrier plate.In a first possible arrangement of the connection adapter, the latter is connected to an end face of the brush carrier element. The connection adapter can thus easily be led out of the receiving slot of the carrier plate and thus does not reduce the transport or storage area of the carrier plate.Alternatively, however, it is also possible for both axial end sections of the brush carrier element or elements to be sealed, and for the at least one connection adapter to be connected to the brush carrier element in a direction running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the brush carrier element. The adapter element thus protrudes from the upper side of the carrier plate into the receiving slot.Furthermore, the invention also comprises a handling unit for objects, having a carrier plate which has receiving slots arranged parallel to one another, having at least one brush strip unit arranged within a receiving slot, wherein pneumatically or mechanically acting means are provided within the receiving slot at least for lifting brush elements arranged on the brush strip unit, which are designed to move the brush elements from a level below or at the height of an upper side of the carrier plate to a level above the upper side in order to reduce friction between an object and the carrier plate.Preferably, the brush strip unit is designed to be volume- and / or shape-variable according to the invention as described above, wherein brush carrier elements are arranged in a plurality of receiving slots. In an alternative use of mechanical means for lifting or moving the brush elements, they can be designed, for example, in the form of sliding wedges or similar lifting elements.Finally, it is preferably provided that the cross section of the receiving slots has a first section with a first width for receiving the brush elements and a second section with a second width that is enlarged compared to the first width, in which a volume- and / or shape-modifiable region of the brush carrier element is arranged, wherein an outer width of the brush carrier element is greater than the first width of the first section and preferably corresponds at least approximately to the second width of the second section.Further advantages, features and details of the invention are evident from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and on the basis of the drawings.Brief Description of the DrawingsFIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a partial region of a carrier plate in the region of its end face, FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a handling unit for objects, having a carrier plate according to FIG. 1, having brush strip units arranged in the carrier plate and having a common connection adapter for the brush strip units, FIG. 3 shows the connection adapter of FIG. 2 in a perspective top view, FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of a modified embodiment of the brush strip units in the carrier plate compared to FIG. 2, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show the functional principle of the brush strip unit in deactivated or activated state in schematic sectional representations.Embodiments of the InventionIdentical elements or elements with the same function are provided with the same reference numbers in the figures.FIG. 1 shows a partial region of a rectangular carrier plate 50, in particular made of aluminum, in the region of an end face of the carrier plate 50. In the region of its upper side 51, the carrier plate 50 has a multiplicity of receiving grooves 52 which are arranged parallel to one another and form receiving slots 60. The receiving grooves 52 are of identical design and have an at least substantially T-shaped cross section. A first portion 53 having a first width b extends from the upper side 51 of the carrier plate 50. The first section 53 is adjoined by a second section 54 which has a second width B which is greater than the width b of the first section 53. the two sections 53, 54 each have a rectangular cross section taken individually, wherein the first section 53 has two chamfers 55, 56 in the region of the upper side 51 of the carrier plate 50. Optionally, the second section 54 is adjoined at the base of the receiving groove 52 by a third section 57 which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, likewise has a width b like the first section 53.The receiving grooves 52 or receiving slots 60 serve for receiving brush strip units 10.FIG. 2 shows a handling unit 100. Brush strip units 10 are arranged in each case in the receiving grooves 52 by way of example in the region of five receiving grooves 52 or receiving slots 60 arranged directly next to one another. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, as can be seen particularly clearly with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the brush strip units 10 consist of a tubular, volume-variable region of a brush carrier element 12 as the first component 13, which is arranged in the region of the second section 54 of the receiving slot 60, and a dimensionally stable second component 14 in the form of a carrier element 15 connected to the respective first component 13.However, it is also conceivable for the dimensionally stable second component 14 to bear only on a side of the brush carrier element 12 facing the respective receiving slot 60.The brush carrier element 12 has a longitudinal axis 11 (FIGS. 5 and 6 ) running parallel to the receiving slot 60. The carrier element 15 consists of a hard or dimensionally stable plastic material and has on its upper side a plurality of brush elements 16 arranged one behind the other in the direction of the receiving slots 60. In the illustrated embodiment according to FIG. 2, two rows 17, 18 of brush elements 16 arranged next to one another are provided on each carrier element 15, which rows are arranged offset from one another.It is also mentioned in addition that it is of course also possible to provide only one row 17, 18 with brush elements 16 (as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 ) on the carrier element 15. The solution shown in FIG. 2 with two or more rows 17, 18 with brush elements 16 has the advantage that a more dense packing of the brush elements 16 can be achieved, so that an increased load-bearing capacity for an object O shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is made possible.The two components 13 and 14 of the brush carrier element 12 can each be produced separately and subsequently connected to one another preferably in a materially bonded manner. Alternatively, the two components 13 and 14 form a monolithic 1- or 2-component extrusion component. Here, the two components 13 and 14 either consist of the same material, or else second component 14 or the carrier element 15 consists of a harder plastic (e.g. PVC) than the first component 13 of the brush carrier element 12.The height h (FIG. 5 ) of the brush elements 16 can be, for example, between 1 millimeter and 30 millimeters. Higher brush elements 16 have the advantage that they have a softer effect for the object O and can thus cause less damage, but have a lower load bearing than brush elements 16 which are lower in height h. The diameter d of the brush elements 16 combined to form brush bundles 20 can likewise be adapted to the application and is, for example, between 0.5 and 20 millimeters. In order to reduce the friction with the object O, the tips of the brush elements 16 facing the object O can furthermore be rounded. A polymer, in particular PP or PPT, is preferably used as material for the brush elements 16. However, other materials are also conceivable, depending on the application.Furthermore, the material of the brush elements 16 can be designed to be electrically conductive, for example by admixing carbon. This has the particular advantage that any electrostatic charges can be avoided when moving an object O along the carrier plate 50, in particular if the brush carrier element 12 is electrically conductive and electrically contacted overall in order to dissipate the electrical charge from the brush carrier element 12 or the brush strip unit 10.For fastening the brush bundles 20 in the carrier element 15, blind holes 22 are formed on the upper side of the carrier element 15, in which blind holes the brush bundles 20 are inserted, as is known per se from the prior art.The carrier element 15 or second component 14 is T-shaped in cross section, with a base section 23 arranged in the second section 54 of the receiving slot 60 and a receiving section 24 projecting into the first section 53, in which the blind holes 22 are also formed. The base section 23 forming a stroke stop 25 in the receiving slot 60 for the carrier element 15 or the first component 13 of the brush carrier element 12 covers the entire brush carrier element 12 in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and has a first width B 1 which corresponds almost to the width B of the second section 54 in the receiving slot 60. In contrast, the receiving section 24 has a second width B 2 which is reduced in comparison with the first width B 1 and is adapted to the width b of the first section 53 of the receiving slot 60 in such a way that the receiving section 24 forms a tilt-proof linear guide of the carrier element 15 in the first section 53.The first component 13 of the brush carrier element 12, which component consists of an elastic material, in particular a polymer, preferably silicone or TPE, has either a round or a rectangular cross section with an oval inner contour 26. The first component 13 of the brush carrier element 12 is located exclusively in the region of the second section 53 of the receiving slot 60. the elastic material of the first component 13 of the brush carrier element 12 enables a configuration of the brush carrier element 12 that can be varied in volume.The fastening of the carrier element 15 on the upper side of the first component 13 of the brush carrier element 12 is effected in a manner known per se and not essential to the invention, for example by welding or adhesive bonding. The length of the brush carrier elements 12 or of the carrier elements 15 is matched to the respective length of the carrier plate 50 or of the receiving slots 60.In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the five brush strip units 10 are connected by their brush carrier elements 12 on one end face of the carrier plate 50 to a common connection adapter 30. The connection adapter 30 produced from plastic by injection molding refers to connecting pieces 32 for each brush carrier element 12 on the side facing the receiving slots 60. Furthermore, fastening sections 34 (FIG. 3 ) are provided which project into the receiving slots 60 and whose cross section is adapted to the cross section of the receiving slots 60 in such a way that the fastening sections 34 form a clamping connection with the cross section of the receiving slots 60 in order to be able to fasten the connection adapter 30 to the end side of the carrier plate 50 even without additional fastening elements.As can be seen in particular with reference to FIG. 2, the five connecting pieces 32 in the exemplary embodiment open on the side opposite the connecting pieces 32 on the connection adapter 30 into a common media connection 36. The media connection 36 equipped with a media coupling known per se from the prior art is connected at least to an overpressure source 38, optionally additionally to a vacuum or underpressure source 40, which are connected in terms of fluid communication alternately to the media connection 36 via valves, not shown, in order to introduce a preferably gaseous medium under pressure in the brush carrier element 12 or optionally to suck off the medium.The end-side end regions of the brush carrier elements 12 opposite the connection adapter 30 are closed off in a media-tight manner, for example by thermal welding, adhesive bonding or by closure elements (not shown). When plug-like closure elements are used, these can be formed as a single-piece structural unit for a plurality of brush carrier elements 12 and, corresponding to the fastening sections 34 on the connection adapter 30, form a form-fit or clamp-fit connection with the receiving slots 60.In FIG. 4, each brush strip unit 10 has, in the region of one end face of the carrier plate 50, a closure piece 42 which can be inserted into the receiving slot 60 by means of a clamping fit and from which the end region of the brush carrier element 12 having a round cross section projects in each case. The respective brush carrier elements 12 can be connected either jointly or else separately to the mentioned overpressure source 38 or underpressure source 40.The functioning of the brush strip units 10 is explained below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 as follows:In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the brush carrier element 12 has a rectangular cross section, wherein the height H of the brush carrier element 12 running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 11 is, in a state not subjected to overpressure of the medium, such that the receiving section 24 of the carrier element 15 projects regionally into the second section 53 of the receiving slot 60 such that the upper sides 43 of the brush elements 16 or of the brush bundles 20 are arranged at least flush with the upper side 51 of the carrier plate 50, preferably below the level of the upper side 51 of the carrier plate 50. In this state, an object O placed on the support plate 50 is out of contact with the brush bundles 20.When the brush carrier element 12 is pressurized by means of the overpressure source 38, the brush carrier element 12 expands at the height H in such a way that the carrier element 15 is raised together with the brush bundles 20, to be precise until, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the base section 23 of the carrier element 15 comes into contact with the upper side of the second section 54 and thereby acts as a lifting stop 25. In this case, the upper sides 43 of the brush elements 16 or the brush bundles 20 reach a level above the upper side 51 of the carrier plate 50, with the result that the object O comes out of contact with the carrier plate 50, and therefore the friction between the object O in comparison with the carrier plate 50 is reduced, in order to enable simpler transport or simpler movement of the object O on the brush elements 16.If the friction is to be increased again, the overpressure present in the respective brush carrier element 12 must be reduced. This takes place either by the medium escaping from the brush carrier element 12 via an outlet valve (not shown) when the overpressure source 38 is switched off due to the weight of the object O, or by the activation of the underpressure source 40.The brush strip unit 10 described thus far can be modified in various ways without departing from the concept of the invention.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2021 107 258 A1

[0003] DE 10 2016 125 492 A1

[0004] DE 37 22 399 A1

[0005]

Claims

Brush strip unit (10) for a support plate (50) having receiving slots (60), wherein the brush strip unit (10) has at least one brush support element (12) having a longitudinal axis (11) and a height (H) running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (11), brush elements (16) fastened at least indirectly projecting from the top side of said brush element, and having means which are designed to raise or lower the brush elements (16) in order to change friction between the support plate (50) and an object (O) arranged on the brush elements (16) or the support plate (50), wherein the means consist in a configuration, which is dependent on a pressure of a medium and can be changed in volume and / or can be changed in shape, of the brush support element (12) which can be positioned in a receiving slot (60), such that, in the event of a change in volume and / or change in shape of the brush carrier element (12), its height (H) changes.Brush bar unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the brush bar unit (10) comprises a plurality of brush carrier elements (12), the volume of which can preferably be varied simultaneously.Brush strip unit according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one brush carrier element (12) is connected at least indirectly to a connection adapter (30) which, for the purposes of volume change and / or shape change of the at least one brush carrier element (12), can be connected to an overpressure source (38) and / or a underpressure source (40) for the medium.Brush strip unit according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one brush carrier element (12) has a first component (13) made from an elastic or rigid material, which is of tubular design, and which preferably has a round or a rectangular outer cross section in a first pressure of the medium, and in that the outer cross section of the first component (13) is enlarged and / or changes its cross section shape in the case of a second pressure of the medium which is increased in comparison with the first pressure.Brush strip unit according to Claim 4, characterized in that the at least one brush carrier element (12) has a dimensionally stable second component (14), which is preferably connected to the first component (13) and to which the brush elements (16) are fastened.Brush strip unit according to Claim 5, characterized in that the second component (14) is of T-shaped configuration in cross section, having a base section (23), which forms a stroke stop (25) for the first component (13), having a first width (B 1), and having a receiving section (24), arranged on the side opposite the first component (13), for the brush elements (16) having a second width (B 2). which is reduced in comparison with the first width (B 1).Brush strip unit according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the two components (13, 14) are designed as separate components (13, 14) and are connected to one another by a separate production step.Brush strip unit according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the two components (13, 14) are designed as a 1- or 2-component extrusion component.Brush strip unit according to Claim 4 to 8, characterized in that at least one axial end section of the first component (13) is thermally welded, bonded or sealed off by a closure element.Brush strip unit according to one of Claims 3 to 9, characterized in that, in the presence of a plurality of brush carrier elements (12), the at least one connection adapter (30) is connected simultaneously to a plurality of brush carrier elements (12).Brush strip unit according to one of Claims 3 to 10, characterized in that the at least one connection adapter (30) is connected to an end face of the brush carrier element (12).Brush strip unit according to one of Claims 3 to 10, characterized in that both axial end sections of the brush carrier element or elements (12) are closed or sealed off in a medium-tight manner, and in that the at least one connection adapter (30) is connected to the brush carrier element (12) in a direction running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (11) of the brush carrier element (12).Handling unit (100) for objects (O), having a carrier plate (50) which has receiving slots (60) arranged parallel to one another, having at least one brush strip unit (10) arranged within a receiving slot (60), wherein pneumatically or mechanically acting means are provided within the receiving slot (60) at least for raising brush elements (16) arranged on the brush strip unit (12), which brush elements are designed to move the brush elements (16) from a level below or at the level of an upper side (51) of the carrier plate (50) to a level above the upper side (51) in order to reduce friction between an object (O) and the carrier plate (50).Handling unit according to claim 13, characterised in that the brush strip unit (10) is formed according to one of claims 1 to 12, and in that brush carrier elements (12) are arranged in a plurality of receiving slots (60).Handling unit according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the cross-section of the receiving slots (60) has a first section (53) with a first width (b) for receiving the brush elements (16) and a second section (54) with a second width (B) which is enlarged compared to the first width (b) and in which a volume-variable region of the brush carrier element (12) is arranged, wherein an outer width of the volume-variable region of the brush carrier element (12) is greater than the first width (b) of the first section (53) and preferably corresponds at least approximately to the second width (B) of the second section (54).

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