Conveyor device for the transport and positioning of building components and method for the transport and positioning of building components using a conveying device

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a conveyor device for transporting and positioning components and to a method for transporting and positioning components with a conveyor device according to the preamble of claim 1 or 12.

[0002] From EP 2 560 861 B1 a conveyor device for transporting components is known in which a component carrier carriage is positioned on a conveyor track in the Z direction in such a way that a Z support package connected to the component carrier carriage moves between an upper positioning roller and a lower counter roller and as a result a guide roller which is spring-loaded in a pivot bearing of the conveyor track deflects downwards towards the component carrier carriage.

[0003] From US 2012 / 110838 A1, a system for manufacturing a side panel of a vehicle is known, the system comprising upper guide rails and lower guide rails to provide a movement path of a carriage, the carriage comprising a support frame, a transfer roller, and a friction rod provided on a bottom surface of the support frame, the side panel being mountable on the carriage, the carriage selectively moving along the upper guide rails and the lower guide rails, comprising at least one friction drive unit and at least one friction wheel arranged along the upper and lower guide rails, the at least one friction drive selectively rotating the at least one friction wheel to move the carriage by selective engagement of at least one of the friction wheels with the friction rod of the carriage, and comprising an external unit supporting an edge portion of the side panel during the key welding process.

[0004] From JP 5 804403 B2, a vehicle assembly line is known which comprises a plurality of conveyor devices which convey a vehicle body along a line by moving a floor surface in a state in which they support the vehicle body, wherein the vehicle assembly line is an assembly line of a vehicle which assembles a component to be mounted on the vehicle body on each vehicle body supported by the plurality of conveyor devices, wherein the assembly line comprises a first assembly line, a second assembly line, and a line connecting portion connecting the first assembly line and the second assembly line, wherein the first assembly line and the line connecting portion have a substantially U-shape in a plan view, the line connecting portion being moved to the second assembly line in a state in which a forward-backward direction of the vehicle body conveyed by the first assembly lineis maintained, the conveying device comprises a support portion abutting a lower portion of each vehicle body to support a front-and-back direction of the vehicle body in a posture orthogonal to the conveying direction, and a base fixing the support portion to an upper surface, the support portion having an upstream support portion and a downstream support portion provided on an upstream side and a downstream side of the base along a conveying direction of the base, and a center of a support fixed to an upper surface of the base.

[0005] From DE 20 2007 005 034 U1 a conveyor device for transporting workpiece carriers from and to one or more work stations is known, wherein the conveyor device has a stationary conveyor track for the workpiece carriers and a conveyor drive, wherein the conveyor device has a positioning device at the work station for multi-axis positioning of the workpiece carrier.

[0006] The object of the invention is to propose a conveyor system with a simplified design. Furthermore, the object of the invention is to propose a method for transporting components using a conveyor system that allows for precise alignment of the component.

[0007] This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1 and 12, respectively, based on the features of the preamble of claim 1 and 12, respectively. Advantageous and expedient developments are specified in the respective subclaims.

[0008] The conveyor device for transporting and positioning components comprises a conveyor track, wherein the conveyor track comprises a plurality of track sections, wherein each track section comprises at least one rail and at least one support device, wherein the conveyor device comprises at least one component carrier carriage, wherein the component carrier carriage comprises a contact device, wherein at least one of the track sections is designed as a geotrack section, wherein the geotrack section comprises a compensation device, wherein the compensation device is arranged between the support device and the at least one rail of the geotrack section.By equipping the track section with a compensation device and arranging this compensation device in this way, the at least one rail can be designed with a simple structure, since the rail can be moved as a whole component, eliminating the need to move a large number of individual components. This can significantly reduce the costs for each geotrack section of the conveyor system.

[0009] According to the invention, the conveyor device is provided with a compensation device for compensating a weight force of the rail, a weight force of one of the component carrier carriages, and a weight force of the component, and for holding the rail at a corresponding load at a running level. The geotrack section comprises a deflection device, and the deflection device interacts with the contact device of the component carrier carriage in a parking position of the component carrier carriage in such a way that the rail of the geotrack section, the component carrier carriage, and the component are guided to a parking level that differs from the running level. This allows the component carrier carriage with the component to be processed to be easily brought to a parking level, at which automatic processing of the component can then take place. It can also be providedthe deflection device of the geotrack section is to be designed either as a lifting device for Z-positioning or as a lowering device for Z-positioning, whereby when designed as a lifting device the upper parking level is achieved by the deflection device in the parking position of the component carrier carriage absorbing part of the weight force, so that the rail, the component carrier carriage and the component are raised with the support of the compensation device and the rail is raised to an upper parking level lying above the driving level and whereby when designed as a lowering device the lower parking level is achieved by the deflection device in the parking position of the component carrier carriage loading the component carrier carriage with an additional force in the direction of the weight force, so that the rail,The component carrier carriage and the component are lowered against a compensating force of the compensation device, and the rail is lowered to a lower parking level below the driving level. Because the at least one rail follows the level change, the component carrier carriage is always supported in the same way by the at least one rail and thus stabilized, so that the component carrier carriage can be built lighter and therefore more cost-effectively.

[0010] Furthermore, it can be provided that the support device comprises at least two support means and that the compensation device comprises at least two compensation means, with each of the support means being assigned one of the compensation means. With such a design of the support device and the compensation device, a rail is optimally supported.

[0011] It can also be provided to equip the at least one rail of the geotrack section with rollers or at least one belt on which the component carrier carriage is moved, wherein at least one of the rollers is designed as a motor-driven drive roller or wherein the one belt or at least one of the belts is designed as a motor-driven belt. With this type of rail design, the component carrier carriage can be moved over the rail with little effort, despite its potentially heavy weight. Of course, it can also be provided to equip the at least one rail of the geotrack section with at least one roller and at least one belt, wherein at least one roller and / or at least one belt is / are driven.

[0012] It can also be provided that the component carrier carriage rests with a base surface on the rollers or at least one belt of the geotrack section. This ensures extensive contact with the at least one rail equipped with rollers, stabilizing the component carrier carriage.

[0013] It may also be provided to design the deflection wedges of the geotrack section's deflection device as Z-positioning devices, which are connected to a subsurface and / or to the support device. These Z-positioning devices can thus influence the level of the component carrier carriage.

[0014] The conveyor device can further be provided with a lateral guide device, wherein the lateral guide device comprises right lateral guide means and left lateral guide means, wherein the lateral guide means are connected to the at least one rail, wherein the component carrier carriage is guided between the lateral guide means, wherein each track section is equipped with an anti-tilt device, wherein the anti-tilt device comprises right pressure guide means and left pressure guide means acting in the z' direction, wherein the pressure guide means are connected to the at least one rail, wherein the component carrier carriage is pressed against the at least one rail by the pressure guide means. This ensures reliable guidance of the component carrier carriages on all track sections.With regard to the geotrack sections, reliable guidance is ensured even when changing from a driving level to a parking level, since the lateral guidance device and the anti-tilt device are arranged on the rail and are thus moved together with the component carrier carriage when it changes from the driving level to the respective intended parking level.

[0015] Furthermore, it may be provided to equip the geotrack section with at least one stopping device, wherein the stopping device is connected to the at least one rail, wherein the stopping device stops the component carrier carriage in an X-position when it has reached the parking level in the Z-direction. This ensures precise alignment of the component carrier carriage in the X-direction as well.

[0016] It is also proposed to assign a compensation element of the compensation device to each Z-positioning element such that the compensation element is arranged centrally below the Z-positioning element or with a deviation in the x-direction and / or x'-direction and / or y-direction and / or y-direction of up to 50 cm, and preferably only up to 20 cm. This achieves a largely vertical force flow and thus optimizes the loading of the components.

[0017] It can be provided to equip the component carrier carriage with a T-beam, wherein the T-beam rests on the rollers of at least one rail of one of the track sections, wherein the pressure guide means of the anti-tilt device run to the right and left of a central web of the T-beam on an upper side of a cross web of the T-beam and press the T-beam against the rollers of the rail in the z' direction onto the rail, and wherein the lateral guide means of the lateral guide device run to the right and left of the central web of the T-beam on side surfaces of the cross web or rest against the side surfaces of the T-beam in the y-direction and y' direction and keep the T-beam on track in the x-direction or transport direction. This creates a simple and reliable connection between the rail and the component carrier carriage.

[0018] Furthermore, it may be provided to equip at least one of the track sections of the conveyor track, and in particular the geotrack section, with a weight detection device, wherein the weight detection device detects and / or calculates the total weight of the component and component carrier carriage, or of the component, component carrier carriage, and rail. This makes it possible to specifically adjust the compensation device to a load that it experiences due to the weight of the component, the weight of the component carrier carriage, and the weight of the rail.

[0019] It can also be provided that the geotrack section includes a control device, wherein the control device adjusts the lifting force of the compensation device such that the rail of the geotrack section, the component carrier carriage, and the component are raised such that the rail is at the running level. This allows a geotrack section to be used for any combination of component carrier carriages of different weights, components of different weights, and rails of different weights without the need for conversion.

[0020] Finally, it can be provided to equip the geotrack section with a position detection device, wherein the position detection device detects an x-position of the component carrier carriage on the geotrack section and wherein a control unit adjusts a lifting force of the compensation device depending on the x-position of the geotrack section in such a way that entry into the deflection device is facilitated and / or exit from the deflection device is facilitated and / or that the component carrier carriage is fixed in the parking position by a lifting force applied by the compensation device. This can reduce the mechanical load on the geotrack section and the component carrier carriage. Furthermore, the component carrier carriage can be secured in the parking position additionally or without the need for further fixing means.

[0021] In the method according to the invention for transporting and positioning components with a conveyor device, in particular a conveyor device according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, it is provided that the conveyor device comprises a conveyor track, that the conveyor track comprises a plurality of track sections and at least one component carrier carriage, that each track section comprises at least one rail, a support device, that at least one of the track sections is designed as a geotrack section and additionally comprises a compensation device, that the compensation device is arranged between the support device and the at least one rail of the geotrack section, that in the geotrack section the weight of the at least one rail, the weight of the component carrier carriage and the weight of the component are compensated by the compensation device,When the component carrier carriage is moved at a driving level, the component carrier carriage is guided from the driving level to a parking level in the geotrack section by a deflection device of the geotrack section applying a deflection force to a contact device of the component carrier carriage in such a way that the component carrier carriage is moved from the driving level to the parking level. This enables precise positioning of the component carrier carriage with the component and thus also high-precision machining of the component.

[0022] Furthermore, it can be provided to direct the deflection force in the direction of the weight force, allowing the component carrier carriage to be pushed by the deflection force against the compensation force of the compensation device to a lower parking level below the driving level, or to direct the deflection force against the weight force, allowing the component carrier carriage to be lifted by the deflection force with the assistance of the compensation force of the compensation device to an upper parking level above the driving level. This allows a change between the driving level and the parking level to be achieved with comparatively little effort.

[0023] It can also be provided that, to reach the lower parking levels, the at least one rail of the geotrack section is brought closer to the support device, or, to reach the upper parking level, the at least one rail of the geotrack section is moved away from the support device. As a result, the component carrier carriage is supported and stabilized by the rail even when it moves to the parking level, is stopped at the parking level, or moves from the parking level back to the driving level.

[0024] Furthermore, it can be provided to set a maximum lifting force of the compensation device such that the compensation device generates a lifting force that is at least equal to the sum of the weight of the workpiece, the weight of the component carrier carriage, and the weight of the rail. This allows the force that must be generated by the deflection device to raise the component carrier carriage from the travel level to the upper parking level or to lower it to the lower parking level to be kept low. At the same time, it is ensured that the component carrier carriage or the rail is always at the travel level FN whenever the component carrier carriage is not influenced by the deflection device.

[0025] Finally, it can be provided to detect and / or calculate a mass of the workpiece, a mass of the component carrier carriage, and a mass of the at least one rail by means of a weight detection device. A determined total mass is transmitted to a control device, and the control unit sets a lifting force of the compensation device that compensates for at least the total mass. This allows the compensation device of each geotrack section to be automatically adjusted to a combination of component carrier carriage and component, so that the force that must be generated by the deflection device remains low, regardless of the combination of component carrier carriage and component.

[0026] Further details of the invention are described in the drawing using schematically illustrated embodiments.

[0027] This shows: Figures 1a to 1d: a first embodiment of a conveyor device according to the invention for transporting components in three schematic side views and a schematic sectional view, and Figures 2a to 2c: a second embodiment of a conveyor device according to the invention for transporting components in three schematic side views.

[0028] In the Figuren 1a bis 1d A first embodiment of a conveyor device 1 according to the invention for transporting a component 90 is shown in four schematic views. Figuren 1a and 1b a process using schematic side views. Figur 1c shows the Figur 1b in a higher level of detail. The Figur 1d shows a section through the representation of the Figur 1caccording to the section line Id-Id. The conveyor device 1 comprises a conveyor track 2. The conveyor track 2 comprises a plurality of track sections 3, 4, 5. Each track section 3, 4, 5 comprises a rail 6, 7, 8 and a support device 9, 10, 11, wherein the support devices 9 and 11 in the Figuren 1a and 1bare not visible. The support device 9, 10, 11 each comprises two support means 13, 14, whereby no support means of the support devices 9, 11 are visible. The conveyor device 1 comprises a component carrier carriage 50. The component carrier carriage 50 comprises a base body 51a, a contact device 51b and a holding device 51c. The contact device 51b is fixedly connected to the base body 51a. The component 90 is fastened to the component carrier carriage 50 by means of the holding device 51c. The middle track section 4 is designed as a geotrack section 16. The geotrack section 16 comprises a compensation device 17, whereby the compensation device 17 is arranged between the support device 10 and the rail 7 of the geotrack section 16. The compensation device 17 comprises compensation means 18, 19, which are each arranged between one of the support means 13, 14 and the rail 7.The compensation means 18, 19 are each designed as hydraulic lifting cylinders 18a, 19a. Alternatively, pneumatically or electrically operated lifting cylinders can also be used.

[0029] The compensation device 17 compensates a weight force of the rail 7, a weight force of the component carrier carriage 50 and a weight force of the component 90 in such a way that the rail 7 is held at a travel level FN when loaded by the component carrier carriage 50 and the component 90 arranged thereon.

[0030] The geotrack section 16 comprises a deflection device 20. The deflection device 20 acts in a Figur 1bIn the parking position PS shown, the component carrier carriage 50 engages with the contact device 51b of the component carrier carriage 50 such that the rail 7 of the geotrack section 16, the component carrier carriage 50, and the component 90 are guided to a parking level PN that differs from the driving level FN. Here, the deflection device 20 comprises deflection wedges 21, 22, and the contact device 51b of the component carrier carriage 50 comprises contact rollers 52, 53. The deflection wedges 21, 22 are attached to the support device 10 and are thus stationary.

[0031] If the component carrier slide 50 is removed from a Figur 1a shown position 50-I into a position shown in the Figur 1bshown position 50-II, the component carrier carriage 50 with its contact rollers 52, 53 runs onto the deflection wedges 21, 22 and is thereby raised to the parking level PN, which is also referred to as the upper parking level PN'. Together with the component carrier carriage 50 and the component 90, the rail 7 is also raised, since it is coupled to the component carrier carriage 50 and since, when the weight of the component carrier carriage 50 and the weight of the component 90 are relieved, it is pressed upwards in the direction of arrow z by the compensation device 17.

[0032] The deflection device 20 of the geotrack section 16 is designed as a lifting device 23 for positioning the component 90 in the z-direction. When designed as a lifting device 23, the upper parking level PN' is achieved by the deflection device 20 absorbing a portion of the aforementioned weight forces in the parking position PS of the component carrier carriage 50, so that the rail 7, the component carrier carriage 50, and the component 90 are raised with the assistance of the compensation device 17, and the rail is raised to the upper parking level PN', which lies above the driving level FN. If in this parking position PS a force with which the compensation device 17 carries the weight of the component 90, the component carrier slide 50 and the rail 7 is reduced, the component carrier slide 50 and the component 90 are fixed more strongly, since the component carrier slide 50 then rests with its contact rollers 52, 53 on the deflection wedges 21, 22 with an increased force.Optionally, the component carrier slide 50 is additionally equipped with lower counter-contact rollers 52a, 53a. These rest against the deflection wedges 21, 22 from below in the parking position PS. This also makes it possible for the component carrier slide 50 to be pressed against the deflection wedges 21, 22 of the deflection device 20 from below by increasing the force with which the compensation device 17 acts upward, thus clamping it.

[0033] The rail 7 of the geotrack section 16 comprises rollers 24 on which the component carrier carriage 50 slides. Three of the rollers 24 are designed as motor-driven drive rollers 25. The rails 6, 8 of the track sections 3, 5, which are designed as transport sections 26, 27, also each comprise rollers 28, 29, some of which are also designed as drive rollers 30, 31.

[0034] When traveling over the track sections 3, 4, 5, the component carrier carriage 50 rests with a base surface 54 on the aforementioned rollers 24, 28, 29 of the transport section 26 or the geotrack section 16 or the transport section 27 and is moved in a transport direction TR by rotating drive rollers 25, 30, 31.

[0035] The deflection wedges 21, 22 of the deflection device 20 of the geotrack section 16 form Z-positioning means 44, 45, which are connected to the support device 10 and are thus stationary. Alternatively, these can also be connected directly to a subsurface U.

[0036] In the Figur 1c is the representation of the Figur 1b shown in a higher level of detail. The Figur 1d shows the Figur 1cin a schematic view, a section according to the section line Id-Id through the geotrack section 16 of the conveyor device 1. In order to guide the component carrier carriage 50 safely on the conveyor track 2, the geotrack section 16 comprises a plurality of lateral guide devices 32, wherein only one of the lateral guide devices 32 is designated as an example. The lateral guide device 32 comprises right lateral guide means 33 and left lateral guide means (not shown), wherein the left lateral guide means are mirror-inverted to the right lateral guide means 33 with respect to an xz plane. The lateral guide means 33 each comprise a lateral guide roller 35 and are connected to the rail 7 of the geotrack section 16. The component carrier carriage 50 is guided between the lateral guide means 33 such that it is guided by the transport direction TR (see Figur 1c ) does not deviate in the y-direction or in the y'-direction.

[0037] Furthermore, the geotrack section 16 comprises a plurality of anti-tilt devices 37, only one of which is designated, and the anti-tilt device 37 comprises right-hand pressure guide means 38 acting in the z' direction and left-hand pressure guide means (not shown) arranged mirror-inverted with respect to the xz plane. The pressure guide means 38 are connected to the rail 7 and each comprise a pressure roller 40. The pressure guide means 38 press the component carrier carriage 50 from above against the rail 7, with the component carrier carriage 50 being in contact with the rollers 24 of the rail 7. The transport sections 26 and 27 arranged upstream and downstream of the geotrack section 16 also each comprise corresponding lateral guide devices and corresponding anti-tilt devices in order to safely guide the component carrier carriage in the transport direction TR.The number of lateral guidance devices and anti-tilt devices is adapted to the length of the respective track section and to the length of the component carrier carriage in such a way that the component carrier carriage is guided safely.

[0038] In the geotrack section 16, it is important that the lateral guide devices 32 and the anti-tilt devices 37 are connected to the rail 7 so that the lateral guide devices 32 and the anti-tilt devices 37 can move together with the rail 7 in the z-direction or in the z'-direction with the component carrier carriage 50 when the latter is raised to the upper parking level PN' and when the latter is lowered from the upper parking level PN' back to the driving level FN.

[0039] Geotrack section 16 includes - as stated in the Figuren 1a and 1bvisible - also a stopping device 42, which is connected to the rail 7. The stopping device 42 stops the component carrier carriage 50 in an x-position XPN when it has reached the upper parking level PN' in the z-direction. For this purpose, the stopping device 42 comprises a vertically retractable and extendable stop 43.

[0040] The compensation means 18 is assigned to the Z-positioning means 44 such that the compensation means 18 is arranged vertically below the Z-positioning means 44. Furthermore, the compensation means 18 is arranged centrally between the second and third rollers 24 of the rail 7.

[0041] The compensation means 19 is assigned to the Z-positioning means 45 such that the compensation means 19 is arranged vertically below the Z-positioning means 45. Furthermore, the compensation means 19 is arranged centrally between the fifth and sixth rollers 24 of the rail 7.

[0042] From the Figur 1dIt can also be seen that the base body 51a of the component carrier carriage 50 comprises a T-beam 55 and rests with the T-beam 55 on the rollers 24 of the rail 7 of the track section 4. The bottom surface 54 of the component carrier carriage 50 is formed by the T-beam 55. The pressure guide means 38 of the anti-tilt device 37 run to the right and left of a central web 56 of the T-beam 55 on an upper side 57a of a transverse web 57 of the T-beam 55. The central web 56 is formed by a hollow profile 58. The pressure guide means 38 of the anti-tilt device 37 thus press the T-beam 55 against the rollers 24 of the rail 7 in the z' direction. The lateral guide means 33 of the lateral guide device 32 run to the right and left of the central web 56 of the T-beam 55 on side surfaces 57b of the transverse web 57 and keep the T-beam 55 on track in the x-direction or transport direction TR by lateral pressure in the y'-direction and lateral pressure in the y-direction.Furthermore, the contact device 51b of the component carrier carriage 50 is visible, which rests with its contact roller 52 on the deflection wedge 21 of the deflection device 20 and thereby holds the component 90, the component carrier carriage 50 and the rail 7 at the upper parking level PN'.

[0043] In the Figur 1aIt is shown that the geotrack section 16 comprises a weight detection device GEE, which comprises a first sensor S1 and a second sensor S2. With these sensors S1, S2, the weight detection device GEE detects a total weight of component 90, component carrier carriage 50 and rail 7. The geotrack section 16 further comprises a control device SE, wherein the control device SE adjusts a lifting force of the compensation device 17 such that the rail 7 of the geotrack section 16, the component carrier carriage 50 and the component 90 are raised such that the rail 7 lies at the running level FN. In addition, it is also provided that the geotrack section 16 comprises a position detection device PEE, wherein the position detection device PEE detects an x-position of the component carrier carriage 50 on the geotrack section 16. The component carrier carriage 50 is in the Figur 1b shown in the x-position XPN. In the Figur 1aThe component carrier carriage 50 is shown in an x-position X1. The control unit SE adjusts a lifting force of the compensation device 17 depending on the x-position of the component carrier carriage 50 on the geotrack section 16 in such a way that entry into the deflection device 20 is facilitated, that exit from the deflection device 20 is facilitated, and that the component carrier carriage 50 is fixed in its parking position PS by a lifting force applied by the compensation device 17.

[0044] In the Figuren 2a bis 2c As an embodiment variant, a second conveyor device 101 according to the invention for transporting a component 190 is shown in three schematic side views. Basically, reference is made here to the description of the Figuren 1a and 1d referred to, whereby the Figuren 1a and 2a and 1b or 1c and 2b show strong analogies to each other. Figuren 2a bis 2cshow three track sections 103, 104, 105 of the conveyor device 101, the middle of which is designed as a geotrack section 116. Analogous to the first embodiment, each of the track sections 103, 104, 105 comprises a rail 106, 107, 108 and a support device 109, 110, 111. The geotrack section 116 additionally comprises a compensation device 117, which comprises two compensation means 118, 119. The rails 106, 107, 108 each comprise rollers 128, 124, and 129, which are designated only as examples. Here, some of the rollers 127, 124, 129 are designed as drive rollers 130, 125, and 131.

[0045] A component carrier carriage 150 is guided in a transport direction TR on a conveyor track 102 formed by the track sections 103, 104, 105. The drive rollers 130, 125, 131 are distributed such that the component carrier carriage 150 can be moved in the transport direction TR in any position by at least one of the drive rollers 130, 125, 131. The component carrier carriage 150 is guided in the geotrack section 116 in contrast to the Figuren 1a , 1band 3 is not raised from a driving level FN to a parking level, but is moved by a deflection device 120 of the geotrack section 116, which comprises deflection wedges 121, 122, from the driving level FN together with the rail 107 against an upward force of the compensation device 117 downwards to a parking level PN, wherein the parking level PN is designated as "lower parking level PN" according to its position relative to the driving level FN. This lowering of the component carrier carriage 150 and the rail 107 is effected by a contact device 151b of the component carrier carriage 150, which is moved with a base body 151a of the component carrier carriage 150, with its contact rollers 152, 153, with the stationary deflection wedges 121, 122 of the deflection device 120 of the geotrack section 116 comes into contact and the contact rollers 152, 153 roll on contact surfaces of the deflection wedges 121, 122.Accordingly, a deflection device 120 and its deflection wedges 121, 122 generate a downward force in the z' direction, with which the component carrier carriage 150 presses the rail 107 of the geotrack section 116 against a force of the compensation device 117 directed upward in the z' direction in the direction of the support device 110 of the geotrack section 116. The deflection device 120 of the geotrack section 116 is designed as a lowering device 146 for the Z-positioning of the component carrier carriage 150.

[0046] In the Figur 2a It is shown how the component carrier carriage 150 is moved by the conveyor track 102 from the track section 103 to the track section 104. Here, the rail 106 of the track section 103 and the rail 107 of the geotrack section 116 are both at the driving level FN.

[0047] In the Figur 2bIt is then shown how the component carrier carriage 150 is carried exclusively by the rail 107 of the geotrack section 116 and has already moved with its contact rollers 152, 153 under the stationary deflection wedges 121, 122, so that the lower parking level PN" is reached. In the lower parking level PN", the rail 107 of the geotrack section 116 lies lower than the adjacent rails 106, 108 of the track sections 103, 105. In this parking position of the component carrier carriage 150, the deflection device 120 loads the component carrier carriage 150 in the direction of the weight force with an additional force, so that the rail 107, the component carrier carriage 150 and the component 190 are lowered against an upwardly directed compensation force of the compensation device 117 and the rail 107 to the lower parking level PN" which is below the driving level FN.

[0048] In the Figur 2cIt is then shown how the component carrier carriage 150 moves during further transport together with the rail 107 of the geotrack section 116 from the lower parking level PN" towards the driving level FN, when the contact rollers 152, 153 continue to roll on the run-off surfaces of the deflection wedges 121, 122. At a time when the component carrier carriage 150 is moved from the rail 107 to the rail 108, the component carrier carriage 150 then moves again to the driving level FN, since the contact rollers 152, 153 of the component carrier carriage 150 then move again without restriction from the deflection wedges 121, 122.

[0049] The conveyor device 101 is equipped with a stopping device, just like the conveyor device 1. Accordingly, reference is made to the description of the Figuren 1a bis 1d Furthermore, the component carrier slide 150 is guided in the same way as the component carrier slide 50. Accordingly, reference is made to the description of the Figur 1d, whereby only the deflection device 120 and the contact device 151b are designed differently, as can be seen from the Figuren 2a bis 2c can be seen. Furthermore, as already described above, the rail 107, the component carrier carriage 150 and the component 190 are held at the lower parking level PN". List of reference symbols:

[0050] 1First variant of the conveyor system 2Conveyor track 3, 4, 5Track section 6, 7, 8Rail 9, 10, 11Support device of 6, 7, 8 13, 14Support means of 10 16Geotrack section 17Compensation device 18Compensation means of 17 18aLifting cylinder as 18 19aLifting cylinder as 19 19Compensation means of 17 20Deflection device of 16 21, 22Wipe wedges of 20 23Lifting device 24Roller of 7 25Drive roller of 7 26Transport section of 3 27Transport section of 5 28Roller of 26 29Roller of 27 30Drive roller of 26 31Drive roller of 27 32Side guide device 33Right side guide means 35Right side guide roller of 33 37Anti-tilt device 38Right pressure guide 40Right pressure roller of 38 42Stop device 43Movable stop of 42 44, 45Z-positioning device 50Component carrier slide 51aBase body of 50 51bContact device of 50 51cHolder device for 90 52Contact roller of 51b 52aLower counter contact roller for 52 53Contact roller of 51b 53aLower counter contact roller for 53 54Bottom surface of 50 55T-carrier 56Central web 57Cross web 57aTop side of 57 57bRight side surface of 57 58Hollow profile (forms 56) 90Component 101Second conveyor device according to the invention 102Conveyor track 103, 104, 105Track sections 106, 107, 108Rail 109, 110, 111Support device 116Geotrack section 117Compensation device 118, 119Compensation means 120Deflection device 121, 122Wipe wedges 124, 128, 129Rollers 125, 130, 131Drive rollers 146Lowering device 150 Component carrier slide 151a Base body of 150 151b Contact device of 150 152, 153 Contact roller of 151b 190Component FN Driving level GEE Weight detection device PEE Position detection device PN Parking level PN' Upper parking level PN" Lower parking level PS Parking position of 50 S1, S2 First, second sensor of GEE SE Control device TR Transport direction U Underground XPN x-position of 50 in PS 50 - First position of 50 50 - Second position of 50 xx-direction x'x'-direction X1x-position yy-direction y'y'-direction zz-direction z'z'-direction

Claims

1. Conveyor device (1; 101) for transporting and positioning components (90; 190), - wherein the conveyor device (1; 101) comprises a conveyor track (2; 102), - wherein the conveyor track (2; 102) comprises a multiplicity of track sections (3, 4, 5; 103, 104, 105), - wherein each track section (3, 4, 5; 103, 104, 105) comprises at least one rail (6, 7, 8; 106, 107, 108) and at least one support device (9, 10, 11; 109, 110, 111), - wherein the conveyor device (1; 101) comprises at least one component carrier carriage (50; 150), - wherein the component carrier carriage (50; 150) comprises a contact device (51b; 151b), - wherein at least one of the track sections (3, 4, 5; 103, 104, 105) is designed as a geotrack section (16; 116), - wherein the geotrack section (16; 116) comprises a compensation device (17; 117), - wherein the compensation device (17; 117) is disposed between the support device (10; 110) and at least one rail (7; 107) of the geotrack section (16; 116), characterized in that - the compensation device (17; 117) compensates for a weight force of the rail (7; 107), a weight force of one of the component carrier carriages (50; 150) and a weight force of the component (90; 190) and keeps the rail (7; 107) at a travelling level (FN) under a corresponding load, - the geotrack section (16; 116) comprises a deflection device (20; 120), - the deflection device (20; 120) in a parking position of the component carrier carriage (50; 150) interacts with the contact device (51b; 151b) of the component carrier carriage (50; 150) in such a manner that the rail (7; 107) of the geotrack section (16; 116), the component carrier carriage (50; 150) and the component (90; 190) are directed to a parking level (PN; PN'; PN") different from the travelling level (FN), and - it is provided in particular that the deflection device (20; 120) of the geotrack section (16; 116) is designed either as a lifting device (23) or as a lowering device (146), O wherein, in a design as a lifting device (23), the upper parking level (PN') is reached in that the deflection device (20), in the parking position of the component carrier carriage (50), receives part of the weight force so that the rail (7), the component carrier carriage (50) and the component (90) are lifted with the support of the compensation device (17) and the rail (7) is lifted to an upper parking level (PN') above the travelling level (FN), O wherein, in a design as a lowering device (146), the lower parking level (PN") is reached in that the deflection device (120), in the parking position of the component carrier carriage (150), impinges the component carrier carriage (150) with an additional force in the direction of the weight force, so that the rail (107), the component carrier carriage (150) and the component (190) are lowered counter to a compensating force of the compensation device (117), and the rail (107) is lowered to a lower parking level (PN") below the travelling level (FM) .

2. Conveyor device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the support device (3, 10, 11; 109, 110, 111) comprises at least two support means (12; 13, 14; 15), and in that the compensation device (17; 117) comprises at least two compensation means (18, 19), wherein each of the support means (12; 13, 14; 15) is assigned one of the compensation means (18, 19).

3. Conveyor device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one rail (7; 107) of the geotrack section (16; 116) comprises rollers (24; 124), or at least one belt, on which the component carrier carriage (50; 150) is moved, wherein at least one of the rollers (24; 124) is designed as a motor-driven drive roller (25; 125), or wherein the one belt, or at least one of the belts, is designed as a motor-driven belt, and wherein it is provided in particular that the component carrier carriage (50; 150) by way of a bottom surface (54) rests on the rollers (24, 25; 124, 125) of the geotrack section (16; 116) or on the at least one belt of the geotrack section (16; 116).

4. Conveyor device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the deflection wedges (21, 22; 121, 122) of the deflection device (20; 120) of the geotrack section (50; 150) form Z-positioning means (44, 45) which are connected to a substrate (U) and / or to the support device (10; 110).

5. Conveyor device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - each track section (3, 4, 5; 103, 104, 105) comprises a lateral guiding device (32), wherein the lateral guiding device (32) comprises right lateral guiding means (33) and left lateral guiding means, wherein the lateral guiding means (33) are connected to the at least one rail (7), wherein the component carrier carriage (50; 150) is guided between the lateral guiding means (33), and - each track section (3, 4, 5; 103, 104, 105) comprises an anti-tilt device (37), wherein the anti-tilt device (37) comprises right pressure guiding means (38) acting in the z' direction and left pressure guiding means acting in the z' direction, wherein the pressure guiding means (38) are connected to the at least one rail (7; 107), wherein the component carrier carriage (50; 150) is pressed against the at least one rail (7; 107) by the pressure guiding means (38), and - it is provided in particular that the component carrier carriage (50; 150) comprises a T-beam (55) and by way of the T-beam (55) rests on the rollers (24, 28, 29; 124, 128, 129) of the at least one rail (6, 7, 8; 106, 107, 108) of one of the track sections (3, 4, 5; 103, 104, 105), wherein the pressure guiding means (38) of the anti-tilt device (37) run on the right and on the left of a central web (56) of the T-beam (55) on an upper side (57a) of a transverse web (57) of the T-beam (55), and press the T-beam (55) against the rollers (24, 28, 29; 124, 128, 129) of the rail (6, 7, 8; 106, 107, 108) in the z' direction (z') onto the rail (6, 7, 8; 106, 107, 108), and wherein the lateral guiding means (33) of the lateral guiding device (32) run on the right and on the left of the central web (56) of the T-beam (55) on lateral surfaces (57b) of the transverse web (57) and keep the T-beam (55) on track in the x direction (x).

6. Conveyor device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the geotrack section (16; 116) comprises at least one stopping device (42), wherein the stopping device (42) is connected to the at least one rail (7; 107), wherein the stopping device (42) stops the component carrier carriage (50; 150) in an X-position (XPS) when the latter reaches the parking level (PN'; PN") in the Z-direction (z).

7. Conveyor device according to Claim 4, characterized in that each Z-positioning means (44, 45) is assigned one compensation means (18, 19) of the compensation device (17; 117) in such a manner that the compensation means (18, 19) is disposed centrally under the Z positioning means (44, 45), or with a deviation in the x-direction and / or x'-direction and / or y-direction and / or y-direction of up to 50 cm and preferably only up to 20 cm.

8. Conveyor device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the track sections (3, 4, 5) of the conveyor track (2), and in particular the geotrack section (16), comprises a weight sensing device (GEE), wherein the weight sensing device (GEE) detects and / or computes a total weight of the component (90) and the component carrier carriage (50), or of the component (90), the component carrier carriage (50) and the rail (7).

9. Conveyor device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the geotrack section (16) comprises a control device (SE), wherein the control device (SE) sets a lifting force of the compensation device (17) in such a manner that the rail (7) of the geotrack section (16), the component carrier carriage (50) and the component (90) are lifted in such a manner that the rail (7) lies at the travelling level (FN).

10. Conveyor device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the geotrack section (16) comprises a position detection device (PEE), wherein the position detection device (PEE) detects an x-position (X1, XPN) of the component carrier carriage (50) on the geotrack section (16), and wherein a control unit (SE) sets in each case a lifting force of the compensation device (18) as a function the x-position (X1, XPN) of the component carrier carriage (50) on the geotrack section (16) in such a manner that entering the deflection device (20) is facilitated, and / or that exiting the deflection device (20) is facilitated, and / or that the component carrier carriage (50) is fixed in the parking position (PS) by a lifting force applied by the compensation device (18).

11. Method for transporting and positioning components (90, 190) with a conveyor device, specifically a conveyor device (50; 150) according to at least one of Claims 1 to 10, - wherein the conveyor device (1; 101) comprises a conveyor track (2; 102), - wherein the conveyor track (2; 102) comprises a multiplicity of track sections (3, 4, 5; 103, 104, 105) and at least one component carrier carriage (50; 150), - wherein each track section (3, 4, 5; 103, 104, 105) comprises at least one rail (6, 7, 8; 106, 107, 108) and a support device (9, 10, 11; 109, 110, 111), - wherein at least one of the track sections (3, 4, 5; 103, 104, 105) is designed as a geotrack section (16; 116) and additionally comprises a compensation device (17; 117), - wherein the compensation device (17; 117) is disposed between the support device (10; 110) and at least one rail (7; 107) of the geotrack section (16; 116), - wherein in the geotrack section (16; 116) the weight force of the at least one rail (7; 107), the weight force of the component carrier carriage (50, 150) and the weight force of the component (90; 190) are compensated for by the compensation device (17; 117) when the component carrier carriage (50; 150) is moved at a travelling level (FN), and - wherein the component carrier carriage (50; 150) in the geotrack section (16; 116) is directed from the travelling level (FN) to a parking level (PN) in that a deflection force is applied to a contact device (51b; 151b) of the component carrier carriage (50; 150) by a deflection device (20; 120) of the geotrack section (16; 116) in such a manner that the component carrier carriage (50; 150) is moved away from the travelling level (FN) to the parking level (PN), whereby the at least one rail (7; 107) and the component (90; 190) are also moved conjointly with the component carrier carriage (50; 150).

12. Method according to Claim 11, characterized in that - the deflection force is directed in the direction of the weight force, and the component carrier carriage (150) is pushed to a lower parking level (PN") below the travelling level (FN) by the deflection force acting counter to the compensating force of the compensation device (117), or - the deflection force is directed counter to the weight force, and the component carrier carriage (50) is lifted to an upper parking level (PN') above the travelling level (FN) by the deflection force supported by the compensating force of the compensation device (17).

13. Method according to Claim 12, characterized in that - for reaching the lower parking levels (PN"), the at least one rail (107) of the geotrack section (116) is moved closer to the support device (110), or - for reaching the upper parking level (PN'), the at least one rail (7) of the geotrack section (16) is moved away from the support device (10).

14. Method according to Claim 11 or 12 or 13, characterized in that - a maximum lifting force of the compensation device (17; 117) is set in such a manner that a lifting force is generated by the compensation device (17; 117), which is at least equal to the sum of the weight force of the workpiece (90; 190) and the weight force of the component carrier carriage (50; 150) and the weight force of the rail (7; 170), and - it is provided in particular that a mass of the workpiece (90, 190) and a mass of the component carrier carriage (50; 150) and a mass of the at least one rail (7; 107) are detected and / or computed by means of a weight sensing device, wherein a determined total mass is transmitted to a control device, wherein a lifting force of the compensation device (17; 117) compensating at least for the total mass is set by the control unit.