Guide element for a protective cover, as well as protective cover and corresponding protective cover system

Abstract

Guide element (5), in particular protective cover guide element, for at least partially slidably guiding, preferably suspended, a protective cover (2) along a guide track (7), comprising a fastening section (50) provided for connection with the bellows and / or a shielding element (3) and a sliding head (51) which is designed to correspond with at least one undercut (7a, 7b) of the guide track (7), characterized in that the sliding head (51) and the fastening section (50) are integrally formed components of a blank made from a plate-shaped semi-finished product.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a guide element, in particular a protective cover guide element, for at least partially displaceably guiding, preferably suspended mounting, a protective cover along a guide track according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a protective cover comprising a bellows and / or a plurality of shielding elements with such a guide element and to a protective cover system with such a protective cover and at least one guide strip having at least one guide track.

[0002] Protective covers are used to delimit and visually conceal work areas. Due to their mechanical strength, they are preferably used to shield moving machine components. They primarily fulfill the functions already arising for safety reasons and / or protection against contamination, such as acting as a structural barrier against chips, lubricants, or coolants. Depending on the intended use, these can consist of a bellows with internal and external folds or comprise a length-adjustable base body formed from them. Designs that have an additional bellows or do without such a bellows (bellows-free) particularly also have shielding elements that at least partially overlap and are usually movable relative to one another transversely to their longitudinal direction. The shielding elements can, for example, be slats made of sheet metal or another suitable material.Composite materials made of at least two different materials are also possible.

[0003] If shielding elements are present, they either have a substantially flat cross-section or, at least in sections, an L-shaped cross-section. In the case of a shielding element with an L-shaped cross-section, this then comprises at least two legs angled towards one another. While the at least partially overlapping first legs of the shielding elements form a closed shielding surface, the cover surfaces of their second legs face one another. In the case of protective covers equipped with L-shaped protective covers, their length can be changed based on the distances between the second legs, which can be varied at least to a limited extent. In order to ensure the overlap of the first legs required to maintain the shielding surface and the cohesion of the protective cover as a whole, the individual shielding elements are interlinked.This can be achieved by a movable coupling of the directly opposite second legs via elements that movably connect them. The first legs can therefore also be referred to as covering legs and the second legs as fastening legs. These elements can be spring elements whose spring resistance is directed either in or against the direction of possible approach of the second legs. As a result, either the elongation or the shortening of the shielding surface formed by the first legs is at least supported via the connectors. At the same time, at least some of these elements can be designed to limit the distance between two directly adjacent second legs of the shielding elements, so that the shielding surface always remains closed even when the protective cover is extended to its maximum possible length.

[0004] Regardless of the possible interlinking of existing shielding elements, the protective cover requires suitable guidance using suitable guide elements to control its movements. These should be limited, if possible, to its length changes and avoid any associated deflections. Particularly in the case of a vertically adjustable and thus virtually suspended protective cover, the guide elements, each of which bears a portion of its weight, must allow the protective cover to be moved along a guide track.

[0005] To achieve the most compact shortening of the protective cover (compression dimension), its guide elements must meet corresponding requirements. These should allow the closest possible approach of the second legs of the shielding elements and / or the folds of a bellows.

[0006] DE 10 2012 109 445 A1 discloses a protective cover that can be wound onto and unwound from a shaft. Its two edge regions, extending parallel to its direction of movement, are guided on side frame elements. Each side frame element has a guide groove that encompasses an edge region of the protective cover in such a way that the protective cover can be moved within the two guide grooves and along the two side frame elements.

[0007] DE 10 2014 111 246 A1 discloses a bellows-free protective cover with a plurality of shielding elements extending parallel to one another, of which every second shielding element is guided along a rail via a sliding element in the region of at least one of its two end sections. The sliding elements each have a base body with a pin in the shape of a right circular cylinder, which is oriented such that its height extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the associated shielding element. In contrast, the rail has a groove into which the pins of the sliding elements engage, at least in sections, so that the protective cover is movable within the groove and along the rail.

[0008] DE 20 2015 005 543 U1 discloses a bellows-free protective cover with a plurality of shielding elements extending parallel to one another, each of which is connected to one of the support elements arranged parallel to one another. A holder is attached to the end of every fourth shielding element, which holder is equipped with a sliding body with an H-shaped cross-section, essentially cube-shaped in cross-section. The sliding bodies correspond to a rail with a C-shaped cross-section, the legs of which - defining their slot-shaped opening - engage in the opposing grooves of the sliding bodies, so that the protective cover can be moved along the rail. An alternative second variant of the holder has rotatably mounted, circular-cylindrical roller bodies, which can roll circumferentially on the strip of a longitudinal groove in the rail when the protective cover is moved.

[0009] DE 203 04 672 U1 discloses a protective cover with a holder structure similar to the second variant of DE 20 2015 005 543 U1, featuring circular-cylindrical roller bodies. Combined with a rail with a C-shaped cross-section, each holder has two roller bodies rotatably mounted via a common pin axis, each of which can roll on a side surface area of ​​the legs defining the slot-shaped opening of the rail.

[0010] EP 2 085 179 A2 discloses a protective cover in the form of a sectional apron, the individual aluminum shielding elements of which are suspended and slidably mounted in a rail. According to a first variant, the shielding elements each have a one- or two-part sliding body in the shape of a right circular cylinder, which corresponds to the rail with a C-shaped cross-section. For direct attachment of the sliding bodies, the individual shielding elements are equipped with a bore at one end, within which one of the sliding bodies is inserted. The two end sections of the sliding body each slide on a side surface area of ​​the two legs that delimit the slot-shaped opening in the rail.An alternative second variant of the holder provides a sliding disc in the form of a round rod section, which is arranged upright within the rail in such a way that the sliding disc does not slide circumferentially, but with two circular segment surfaces on the side surface areas of the legs delimiting the slot-shaped opening in the rail. For this purpose, the sliding disc has a slot on one of its two end faces, into which an end section of a shielding element is inserted. An alternative third variant of the holder comprises a sliding block with a square cross-section, which slides with two of its side surfaces, at least in sections, on the side surface areas of the legs delimiting the slot-shaped opening in the rail. This sliding block also has a slot arranged circumferentially, into which an end section of a shielding element is inserted and secured by a locking pin.

[0011] The guide elements known to date enable precise guidance of the respective protective cover. However, these can be complex to manufacture and have a design-related depth, which prevents the compression dimension from being reduced. Furthermore, these guide elements must always be threaded into their respective guide tracks from an open end of the guide rails used, which is particularly laborious when replacing a defective guide element and / or shielding element.

[0012] The present invention is therefore based on the object of further developing a generic guide element and a generic protective cover with such guide elements and a generic protective cover system with such a protective cover and at least one guide strip in such a way that they enable a further reducible compression dimension and allow the guide elements to be manufactured and integrated as simply as possible.

[0013] This object is achieved by a guide element having the features of claim 1, a protective cover having the features of claim 16, and a protective cover system having the features of claim 30. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the respective subclaims.

[0014] According to the invention, a guide element is proposed which comprises a fastening section provided for connection to the bellows and / or a shielding element of a protective cover, as well as a sliding head which is designed to correspond with at least one undercut of a guide track. It is essential to the invention that both the sliding head and the fastening section of the guide element are each made of a single material and integral components of a blank from a plate-shaped semi-finished product. In other words, the guide element according to the invention is no longer an assembled component, but rather a single material part cut from a plate-shaped semi-finished product.

[0015] This makes the guide element extremely simple and cost-effective to manufacture. Any combinations or even connections with other parts to construct a ready-to-use guide element are thus completely eliminated. Depending on the material used for the semi-finished product and / or the shape of the guide element, this can advantageously exhibit elastic flexibility, at least in certain areas, which greatly simplifies its arrangement or threading into the guideway of a guide rail. By selecting a correspondingly thin, plate-shaped semi-finished product, the guide element can also be extremely slim, which allows for a significantly reduced compression dimension as they approach each other.

[0016] According to an advantageous development, the semi-finished product can be made of plastic or at least comprise such a material. Preferably, the semi-finished product can be a plastic plate.

[0017] Particularly preferably, the guide element can have a connecting section that connects its sliding head and its fastening section to one another, which connecting section, as a further component of the semi-finished product made of the same material, is designed and / or constructed at least in sections to be elastic in such a way that the sliding head can be reversibly rotated relative to the fastening section by at least partially twisting the connecting section. This makes it extremely easy to thread the sliding head into the guide track of a guide rail, since this no longer has to be done from an open end of the guide rail, but can take place at any point on its guide track. In this way, defective guide elements can be replaced easily and in a very short time, or even completely.

[0018] Preferably, the sliding head can be designed, in particular essentially, in a T-shape. This allows for easy integration into most commercially available standard profiles with at least one groove, usually C-shaped in cross-section, which can then be used as a guideway.

[0019] The sliding head can have two arms extending away from one another, which are each designed to at least partially engage behind an undercut in the guideway of a guide rail. Each arm of the sliding head has a length running in the direction of its extension and a depth running transversely to its length, in particular corresponding to the material thickness of the semi-finished product. The depth of each arm can be smaller than its length. With regard to the arms of the sliding head, each arm can have a sliding surface facing the connecting section, which is designed for at least partial and / or temporary contact with an undercut in the guideway of a guide rail. The sliding head has an end face facing away from the connecting section, in particular at the end, which can have a slope towards the end of each arm.With respect to the sliding head, the latter further has a width extending between the ends of its arms, which may be equal to or greater than a width (B) of the connecting portion extending parallel thereto.

[0020] The guide element can preferably have two recesses located opposite one another on the edge, forming its sliding head. These recesses lead to a cross-sectional weakening of the guide element, which significantly simplifies its partial rotation in this area. For this purpose, the recesses can advantageously be located between the sliding head and the connecting section.

[0021] According to a preferred development, the fastening section and / or the connecting section can have at least one through-opening through which a fastening means can be arranged, in particular for at least indirect connection to a bellows and / or a shielding element of a protective cover. The fastening means can preferably be a rivet.

[0022] Overall, it is considered advantageous if the guide element as a whole is formed by a blank made from a plate-shaped semi-finished product.

[0023] Preferably, the semi-finished product can be formed from or comprise at least one of the following plastics: - Polypropylene (PP) - Polyamide (PA) - Polyoxymethylenes (POM) - Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) - Polyethylene (PE) - ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (PE-UHMW).

[0024] Preferably, a support element can be provided, which is at least partially connected to at least part of the fastening section and / or connecting section of the guide element. The support element can have a substantially V-shaped cross-section.

[0025] The support element, which in particular consists of a plate-shaped semi-finished product, can be formed from or comprise at least one of the following plastics: - Polypropylene (PP) - Polypropylene copolymer (e.g. PPR or PPC or E / P) - Polyethylene (PE) - Polyamide (PA).

[0026] The guide element according to the invention now presented allows for extremely simple and cost-effective production. Its cutting from a plate-shaped semi-finished product can be achieved, for example, by milling and / or laser cutting and / or water jet cutting, to name just a few options from a non-exhaustive list of manufacturing processes. Its slim design, made from a plate-shaped semi-finished product, enables a very compact compression dimension for a protective cover equipped with it. Its elastic flexibility also allows for its extremely simple integration into the guideway of a guide rail.

[0027] The invention further relates to a protective cover comprising a bellows and / or a plurality of shielding elements. The protective cover can be guided, in particular suspended, at least partially along a guide track by means of a plurality of guide elements according to the invention as described above.

[0028] The shielding elements, each of which is L-shaped in cross-section, can each have a first leg and at least one second leg angled relative to the first leg. The second legs can be arranged opposite one another with their cover surfaces such that the first legs of the directly adjacent shielding elements at least partially overlap, forming a shielding surface with variable length. The respective second leg of a shielding element can be connected to a guide element, in particular at least partially to its fastening section.

[0029] If a bellows is present, it can have consecutive inner folds and outer folds. At least some of its inner folds and / or outer folds can each be connected at least indirectly to a guide element, in particular at least partially to its fastening section. Strips can be arranged in at least some of the inner folds and / or outer folds of the bellows, wherein at least some of the strips can then be connected to a guide element, in particular at least partially to its fastening section.

[0030] Particularly preferably, two of the guide elements can be connected to one another and / or supported against one another by a support element, in particular one which is V-shaped in cross section, preferably in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0031] The support element can have two support legs, which can then be pivoted relative to each other along a bending line. An end section can be arranged at the free ends of each support leg, through which each support leg is connected to a guide element. Preferably, each of these end sections can be pivoted along a bending line relative to its associated support leg.

[0032] Advantageously, each end section of the support element can be adapted to the contour of the guide element in contact with it and / or the region of the guide element extending parallel to this, in particular congruent.

[0033] The contour of each end section of the support element can be adapted to the contour of the sliding head and the connecting section, in particular also its recesses, and at least part of the fastening section of the guide element connected to it and / or the region of the guide element extending parallel to this, in particular congruently.

[0034] Each end section of the support element can have at least one through-opening through which a fastening means, preferably a rivet, designed for connection to a guide element can be arranged or can be arranged.

[0035] The invention also relates to a protective cover system comprising a protective cover according to the invention and at least one guide rail. The guide rail has at least one guide track, which serves to at least partially displaceably guide, in particular to suspend, the protective cover.

[0036] The guide rail can preferably be formed from or comprise a metallic structural profile, particularly an extruded aluminum profile. This can advantageously be a standard profile, which further reduces the costs of the protective cover system, as the guide rails then do not require separate, particularly customized, production in sometimes only small quantities. For example, the use of extruded profiles, such as those from the manufacturer ITEM®, is conceivable.

[0037] The invention is described below with reference to the Fig. 1-6 are explained in more detail. They show: Fig. 1 - a protective cover system according to the invention in perspective view, Fig. 2 - a guide element according to the invention of the protective cover system from Fig. 1 in a two-dimensional view, Fig. 3 - the guide element from Fig. 2 in a slightly twisted state in otherwise the same representation, Fig. 4 - a cross-section through a part of the protective cover system from Fig. 1, Fig. 5- a side view of a section of the protective cover system from Fig. 1 and Fig. 6- a top view of a part of the protective cover system from Fig. 1.

[0038] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a protective cover system 1 according to the invention. The protective cover system 1 comprises a protective cover 2 with a plurality of shielding elements 3 extending parallel to one another, each parallel to a vertical direction Z. These can preferably be formed from a metal. The shielding elements 3 each have an L-shaped cross-section, at least in sections, so that each of these shielding elements 3 has a first leg 3a and a second leg 3b angled relative to the first leg 3a. The cover surfaces of the second legs 3b of the shielding elements 3 lie opposite one another in such a way that their first legs 3a at least partially overlap to form a shielding surface 4 whose length can be varied in a length-changing direction A of the protective cover 2.The width of the second legs 3b extends parallel to a transverse direction Y, while the width of the first legs 3a extends parallel to a longitudinal direction X.

[0039] On the second leg 3a of each shielding element 3, a guide element 5 is arranged, purely by way of example, by means of which the individual shielding elements 3 are coupled to a guide rail 6. The guide rail 6, which extends parallel to the longitudinal direction X, has, purely by way of example, a total of four guide tracks 7, of which the individual guide elements 5 are suspended in a guide track 7. The guide rail 7 is preferably formed from a metallic structural profile, in particular from an extruded aluminum profile. Two of the guide elements 5 are connected to one another and supported against one another by a support element 8 with a V-shaped cross-section. Due to the wide design of the support elements 8, sufficient guidance is achieved between the guide elements 5, which are thereby supported against one another in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0040] Fig. 2 shows one of the guide elements 5 from Fig. 1 in a unique position. This consists of a blank of a plate-shaped semi-finished product, which can preferably be a plastic plate. With reference to the illustration in Fig. 2, the guide element 5 has a fastening section 50 at its lower end and a sliding head 51 at its upper end, which is connected to the fastening section 50 via a connecting section 52. The sliding head 51 is essentially T-shaped. It has two arms 51a, 51b extending away from each other, which are designed to engage behind an undercut 7a, 7b of the guide track 6, at least in part (see Fig. 4). Each arm 51a, 51b of the sliding head 51 has a length L extending in the direction of its extension and a depth T extending transversely to its length L, in particular corresponding to the material thickness of the semi-finished product (see Fig. 5). The depth T of each arm 51a, 51b is smaller than its length L, so that the guide element 5 is extremely slim with respect to the length change direction A of the protective cover 2.

[0041] Each arm 51a, 51b of the sliding head 51 has a sliding surface G1, G2 facing the connecting section 52, with which the guide element 5, in the suspended state, maintains at least partial and / or temporary contact with the undercuts 7a, 7b of the guide track 7. Particularly in a suspended arrangement of the protective cover 2, its guide elements 5, with the sliding surfaces G1, G2 of the sliding head 51, can be supported on a portion of the guide track 7 in the region of their undercuts 7a, 7b and can slide accordingly upon movement of the protective cover 2. Furthermore, the sliding head 51 has an end face 51c facing away from the connecting section 52, in particular at the end, which has a bevel S toward the end of each arm 51a, 51b. This is particularly necessary for adapting the shape to the design of the guide track 7 of the respective guide rail 6 and may be different or even completely omitted in individual cases.In the example shown here, the sliding head 51 has a width W extending between the ends of its arms 51a, 51b, which is equal to or greater than a width B of the connecting section 52 extending parallel thereto. Two opposing edge-side recesses 52a, 52b are located on the connecting section 52. Their arrangement between the sliding head 51 and the connecting section 52 essentially forms the sliding head 51 of the guide element 5.

[0042] As can be seen, the guide element 5 has a plurality of through-openings D1-D7, of which in the present case and purely by way of example, a total of five through-openings D1-D5 are arranged on the fastening section 50, a further through-opening D6 on the connecting section 52, and a final through-opening D7 on the sliding head 51. The through-openings D1-D7 serve, on the one hand, to connect the guide element 5 to the second leg 3b of a shielding element 3, and, on the other hand, to connect the guide element 5 to at least one support element 8, which in turn have at least some correspondingly congruent through-openings. As in Fig. 1, the through-openings D1 and D3 arranged on the fastening section 50 serve to fasten the respective guide element 5 to the second leg 3b of a shielding element 3, while the remaining through-openings D2, D4-D7 serve to connect it to at least one support element 8. The actual connection can be made by fastening means not shown in detail here, which for this purpose are arranged through the superimposed through-openings D1-D7 of at least one guide element 5 and at least one support element 8. The fastening means can preferably be rivets.

[0043] The support elements 8 can also be made from a plate-shaped semi-finished product, preferably as a cutout from a plastic plate.

[0044] Fig. 3 shows again the structure of the guide element 5 from Fig. 2. A white arrow indicates the possibility of its limited elastic flexibility in certain areas. Specifically, the shape and / or the material as well as their thickness are selected such that the sliding head 51 can be reversibly rotated relative to the fastening section 50 by at least partial torsion in the area of ​​the connecting section 52. In this way, it is possible to suspend the guide element 5 at any point on the guide rail 6 in its guide track 7 by rotating its sliding head 51 relative to the fastening section 50 until it can be inserted into the guide track 7 while maintaining the required rotational force. For this purpose, the connecting section 52 can be rotated at least in sections relative to the fastening section 50, for example using a suitable tool and / or by hand, with the sliding head 51 correspondingly following this rotation.

[0045] Fig. 4 shows a cross section through a part of the protective cover system 1 from Fig. 1. The guide rail 6 with its guideways 7 can be seen in section, with the guide element 5 being coupled to the guideway 7 facing it. Fig. 3, this is possible because, after the sliding head 51 has been inserted into the guide track 7 of the guide rail 6, the previously described rotation is automatically reversed when the rotational force is released, so that the sliding head 51 returns to its original orientation relative to the fastening section 50 and its arms 51a, 51b engage behind the undercuts 7a, 7b of the guide track 7 (see Fig. 4). Of course, the guide element 5 can still be threaded in the conventional manner via an open end of the guide rail 6 into its guide track 7.

[0046] Fig. 5 is a side view of a part of the protective cover system 1 of Fig. 1. This particularly clearly shows the essentially V-shaped design of the support elements 8. As can be seen, each of the support elements 8 has two support legs 8a, 8b, which can be pivoted relative to one another along a bending line F1. At the free ends of each support leg 8a, 8b, an end section 8c, 8d of the support element 8 is arranged, by which each support leg 8a, 8b is connected to one of the guide elements 5. The end sections 8c, 8d can also each be pivoted along a bending line F2, F3 relative to the support leg 8a, 8b associated with it, which enables both the pulling apart and the compressing of the protective cover 2. At the same time, the support elements 8 exert a stabilizing and linking effect on the guide elements 5 and the shielding elements 3 connected to them, so that they are supported against one another and connected to one another across the entire direction of length change A.In this way, the maximum possible spacing of the respective second legs 3b of the shielding elements 3 can be limited. At the same time, the stabilizing effect of the support elements 8 ensures that the guide elements 5 cannot twist around their longitudinal direction and thus slip and / or fall out of the guide track 7 of the guide rail 6.

[0047] As can be further seen, two guide elements 5 can each be connected to a second leg 3b of a shielding element 3 by inserting the second leg 3b between the two guide elements 5. In combination with the two support elements 8 and the connection of all these parts, a corresponding structure is thus obtained. Preferably, the individual parts are only connected to one another after the guide element(s) 5 have been suspended in order to take advantage of their easy twistability until then. Their connection can ultimately result in a combined cross-section whose section modulus is greater than the section modulus of the individual parts.

[0048] With a view to Fig.1 shows that each end section 8c, 8d of the support element 8 is shaped, in particular congruent, with the contour of the guide element 5 in contact with it and / or the region of the guide element 5 extending parallel thereto. Specifically, the contour of each end section 8c, 8d of the support element 8 is shaped, in particular congruent, with the contour of the sliding head 51 and the connecting section 52 with its recesses 52a, 52b and at least part of the fastening section 50 of the guide element 5 connected to it and / or the region of the guide element 5 extending parallel thereto. This results in a uniform shape in the assembly of the aforementioned parts. Reference symbol: 1 protective cover system 2 protective covers of 1 3 shielding element of 1 3a first leg of 3 3b second leg of 3 4 Shielding area of ​​1 5 guide element of 1 50 fastening section of 5 51 sliding head of 1 51a Arm of 50 51b Arm of 50 51c Frontal area of ​​51 52 connecting section of 5 52a Recess of 52 52b Recess of 52 A Length change direction B width of 52 D1 passage opening D2 passage opening D3 Through opening D4 Through opening D5 Through opening D6 through opening D7 Through opening F1 bending line between 8a and 8b F2 bending line between 8c and 8a F3 Bending line between 8d and 8b G1 sliding surface of 51a G2 sliding surface of 51b S slope at 51a and 51b W width of 51 X Longitudinal direction Y transverse direction Z vertical direction QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2012 109 445 A1

[0006] DE 10 2014 111 246 A1

[0007] DE 20 2015 005 543 U1 [0008, 0009] DE 203 04 672 U1

[0009] EP 2 085 179 A2

[0010]

Claims

[1] Guide element (5), in particular a protective cover guide element, for at least partially displaceably guiding, preferably suspended mounting, a protective cover (2) along a guide track (7), comprising a fastening section (50) provided for connection to the bellows and / or a shielding element (3) and a sliding head (51) which is designed to correspond to at least one undercut (7a, 7b) of the guide track (7), characterized by that the sliding head (51) and the fastening section (50) are integral components of a blank made of a plate-shaped semi-finished product. [2] Guide element (5) according to claim 1, characterized by that the semi-finished product is made of plastic, in particular of a plastic plate, or has such a. [3] Guide element (5) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bya connecting section (52) which connects the sliding head (51) and the fastening section (50) to one another and which, as a further component of the semi-finished product made of the same material and integral with one another, is designed and / or constructed at least in sections to be elastic in such a way that the sliding head (51) can be reversibly rotated relative to the fastening section (50) by at least partially twisting the connecting section (52). [4] Guide element (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sliding head (51) is, in particular, substantially T-shaped. [5] Guide element (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sliding head (51) has two arms (51a, 51b) extending away from one another, which are designed to engage behind an undercut (7a, 7b) of one or the guide track (7) at least in some areas. [6] Guide element (5) according to claim 5, characterized by that each arm (51a, 51b) of the sliding head (51) has a length (L) running in the direction of its extension and a depth (T) running transversely to its length (L), in particular corresponding to the material thickness of the semi-finished product, wherein the depth (T) of each arm (51a, 51b) is smaller than its length (L). [7] Guide element (5) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by that each arm (51a, 51b) has a sliding surface (G1, G2) facing the connecting section (52), which is designed for at least partial and / or temporary contact with an undercut (7a, 7b) of one or the guide track (7). [8] Guide element (5) according to claim 7, characterized by that the sliding head (51) has an end face (51c) facing away from the connecting section (52), in particular at the end, wherein the end face (51c) has a slope (S) towards the end of each arm (51a, 51b). [9] Guide element (5) according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized by that the sliding head (51) has a width (W) extending between the ends of its arms (51a, 51b) which is equal to or greater than a width (B) of the connecting section (52) extending parallel thereto. [10] Guide element (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by two edge-side recesses (52a, 52b) which are opposite one another and in particular each located between the sliding head (51) and the connecting section (52) to form the sliding head (51). [11] Guide element (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the fastening section (50) and / or the connecting section (52) and / or the sliding head (51) has / have at least one through-opening (D1-D7) through which a fastening means, preferably a rivet, in particular for at least indirect connection to a bellows and / or a shielding element (3) of a protective cover (2), can be arranged. [12] Guide element (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by its formation as a cut from a plate-shaped semi-finished product. [13] Guide element (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the semi-finished product is made of or comprises at least one of the following plastics: - Polypropylene (PP) - Polyamide (PA) - Polyoxymethylenes (POM) - Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) - Polyethylene (PE) - ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (PE-UHMW). [14] Guide element (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a support element (8), in particular one with a V-shaped cross-section, which is connected at least in some areas to at least one part of the fastening section (50) and / or connecting section (52). [15] Guide element (5) according to claim 14, characterized by that the support element (8), which in particular consists of a plate-shaped semi-finished product, is formed from or comprises at least one of the following plastics: - Polypropylene (PP) - Polypropylene copolymer (e.g. PPR or PPC or / P) - Polyethylene (PE) - Polyamide (PA). [16] Protective cover (2) comprising a bellows and / or a plurality of shielding elements (3) which can be guided, in particular suspended, at least partially along a guide track (7) by guide elements (5) according to one of the preceding claims. [17] Protective cover (2) according to claim 16, characterized by that the shielding elements (3), which are in particular L-shaped in cross section, each have a first leg (3a) and at least one second leg (3b) angled relative to their first leg (3a). [18] Protective cover (2) according to claim 16 or 17, characterized by that the second legs (3b) are arranged with their cover surfaces opposite one another in such a way that the first legs (3a) of the immediately adjacent shielding elements (3) at least partially overlap to form a shielding surface (4) variable in length. [19] Protective cover (2) according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized by that the respective second leg (3b) of a shielding element (3) is connected to a guide element (5), in particular at least in regions to its fastening section (50). [20] Protective cover (2) according to one of claims 16 to 19, characterized by that the bellows has successive inner folds and outer folds. [21] Protective cover (2) according to claim 20, characterized by that at least some of the inner folds and / or outer folds of the bellows are each connected at least indirectly to a guide element (5), in particular at least partially to its fastening section (50). [22] Protective cover (2) according to claim 20 or 21, characterized by strips arranged in at least some of the inner folds and / or outer folds of the bellows, wherein at least some of the strips are connected to a guide element (5), in particular at least partially to its fastening section (50). [23] Protective cover (2) according to one of claims 16 to 22, characterized bythat two of the guide elements (5) are connected to one another and / or supported against one another by a support element (8), in particular one which is V-shaped in cross section, preferably in a rotationally fixed manner. [24] Protective cover (2) according to claim 23, characterized by that the support element (8) has two support legs (8a, 8b) which can be pivoted relative to one another along a bending line (F1). [25] Protective cover (2) according to claim 24, characterized by an end section (8c, 8d) arranged at the free ends of the support legs (8a, 8b), by means of which each support leg (8a, 8b) is connected to a guide element (5). [26] Protective cover (2) according to claim 25, characterized by that each end section (8c, 8d) is pivotable along a bending line (F2, F3) relative to the support leg (8a, 8b) associated with it. [27] Protective cover (2) according to claim 25 or 26, characterized bythat each end section (8c, 8d) of the support element (8) is adapted in shape, in particular congruent, to the contour of the guide element (5) in contact with it and / or the region of the guide element (5) extending parallel to this. [28] Protective cover (2) according to one of claims 25 to 27, characterized by that the contour of each end section (8c, 8d) of the support element (8) is adapted to the shape, in particular congruent, of the contour of the sliding head (51) and of the connecting section (52), in particular also its recesses (52a, 52b), and of at least part of the fastening section (50) of the guide element (5) connected to it and / or the region of the guide element (5) extending parallel to this. [29] Protective cover (2) according to one of claims 25 to 28, characterized bythat each end section (8c, 8d) of the support element (8) has at least one through-opening through which a fastening means, preferably a rivet, designed for connection to a guide element (5) is arranged or can be arranged. [30] Protective cover system (1), comprising a protective cover (2) according to one of claims 16 to 29 and at least one guide rail (6) having at least one guide track (7) for at least partially displaceable guidance, in particular suspended storage, of the protective cover (2). [31] Protective cover system (1) according to claim 30, characterized by that the guide rail (7) is formed from or comprises a metallic construction profile, in particular an extruded aluminium profile.

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