Load crossmember, production cell, production environment and method

Abstract

Production cell (62), having a transfer region, which has a bearing point (44) as transfer position for inserting and / or for removing a shaft (66), and having a guide arrangement for orienting and / or guiding a load crossmember (2) relative to the bearing point (44), wherein the guide arrangement has an axial stop surface for the abutment of an axial sliding element of the load crossmember (2), and wherein the guide arrangement has a radial stop surface for the abutment of a radial sliding element (14) of the load crossmember (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a load traverse for handling a shaft according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a manufacturing cell, a manufacturing environment and a method for handling a shaft.

[0002] Such a load-bearing traverse is known from EP 3 197 803 A1. It is provided that a roll of material is transferred to an unwinding device by means of an overhead crane. This overhead crane has two movable arms with which two pins of the material roll can be held. Furthermore, it is known from EP 3 197 803 A1 that the material roll is transported / can be transported along a radial path by means of the arms.

[0003] Continuous materials, such as films, tubular films, paper, or the like, are frequently wound onto or unwound from winding shafts as material rolls during manufacturing, finishing, and / or further processing. Such winding shafts, together with the material roll they hold, can weigh several hundred kilograms or even several tons.

[0004] Whenever a shaft change, shaft loading, or shaft removal is required for a production cell, the winding shafts with the material rolls are typically handled using a lifting beam. Lowering or lifting the winding shaft usually requires manual intervention by a machine operator, for example, to remove or attach the lifting beam's rope loops or hooks. Such manual interventions are time-consuming, prone to errors, and, not least, pose an increased risk of injury to the machine operator, as they are working in close proximity to heavy loads.

[0005] Furthermore, it may be necessary to stop a manufacturing process in a production cell if handling the shaft requires opening a protective enclosure or switching off personal safety devices within the production cell. This can lead to downtime of the production cell.

[0006] Against this background, the present invention is based on the technical problem of providing a load traverse for handling a shaft, a manufacturing cell, a manufacturing environment and a method for handling a shaft, which in particular enable more efficient and safer handling of a shaft.

[0007] The technical problem described above is solved by each of the independent claims. Further embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0008] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a load traverse for handling a shaft, with a crossbeam, with a first load arm for holding the shaft, with a second load arm for holding the shaft, with an axial sliding element according to the invention for axially aligning the load traverse on a guide arrangement and with a radial sliding element for radially aligning the load traverse on the guide arrangement.

[0009] The load traverse enables, in particular, a repeatable, rapid and safe alignment and positioning of a shaft in conjunction with a guide arrangement.

[0010] When the term "shaft" is used in this text, it can refer to a winding shaft with a roll of material. For example, the shaft can consist of a winding shaft with a roll of material, where the roll of material is, for instance, a continuous material such as a film, tubular film, paper, or the like, which has been wound onto the winding shaft. In this context, the term "shaft" therefore refers specifically to a unit consisting of a winding shaft and a roll of material held or wound on it. Alternatively, the term "shaft" as used in this text can refer specifically to an axle, a roller, or a similar, essentially cylindrical component.

[0011] The radial sliding element can have or consist of a roller. The roller provides a simple and cost-effective way to guide the load beam, for example, along a stop surface and / or groove of the guide assembly. The rolling motion of the roller enables guided relative movement along the guide assembly with low resistance. Alternatively or additionally, the shaft itself can also serve as a radial sliding element. The shaft itself can include a roller.

[0012] The roller can be rotatably mounted on a mandrel or on the shaft. Such a mandrel can, for example, extend outwards in an axial direction. In particular, the roller is freely rotatable around the mandrel in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

[0013] The thorn can be a circular cylindrical cone.

[0014] The mandrel can be formed in one piece on a load arm.

[0015] The roller can be rotatably mounted on the mandrel. The roller can have a bearing, such as a ball bearing, a cylindrical roller bearing, or the like.

[0016] The roller may, in particular, have a circumferential rubber coating as a running surface in order to dampen vibrations of the load traverse during the rolling movement.

[0017] Insofar as a shaft is held by the load arms during operation of the load traverse, the axial longitudinal extent of such a shaft can be oriented essentially parallel to an axis of rotation of the roller. Furthermore, such an axial longitudinal extent of the shaft can be oriented essentially parallel to a longitudinal extent of the mandrel.

[0018] Alternatively, it can be provided that a rotation axis of the roller is not oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of a shaft held by the load arms during operation of the load traverse.

[0019] Alternatively or additionally, the radial sliding element may comprise a plate, a web, a sliding block, a sliding rail, or the like, and in particular may have a radial stop. The radial sliding element may be detachably or permanently connected, for example, to one of the load arms.

[0020] The axial sliding element can comprise a plate and / or a web, or consist entirely of a plate and / or a web. Such a plate can be detachably or permanently connected to, for example, one of the load arms. The plate can be attached to a load arm by means of screws, rivets, welding, adhesive bonding, or similar methods. Alternatively or additionally, the axial sliding element can comprise a web, which can, for example, be an integral part of a load arm.

[0021] The axial sliding element can form an axially projecting projection. The axial sliding element can also be an axial stop, which may be designed to abut an axial stop surface of the guide assembly. The axial sliding element can, for example, be made of a plastic and / or a metallic material, or consist of a plastic and / or a metallic material.

[0022] The axial sliding element may additionally or alternatively have at least one roller or consist of a roller. For example, two rollers or sliding elements spaced apart in the axial direction of the shaft may be provided, which can bear against opposing surfaces of a guide element that runs between the rollers.

[0023] The axial sliding element and / or the radial sliding element can be replaceable wear parts of the load traverse.

[0024] According to a further embodiment of the load-bearing beam, a radial sliding element and an axial sliding element are arranged on the first load arm. Alternatively or additionally, a radial sliding element and an axial sliding element are arranged on the second load arm. In this way, the first load arm and / or the second load arm can be aligned and / or guided in conjunction with the guide arrangement to align and / or guide the load-bearing beam as a whole.

[0025] It is possible for the radial sliding element and the axial sliding element to be a single component. For example, a roller may serve as both an axial and a radial sliding element. Similarly, a roller whose axis of rotation is oriented obliquely or inclined relative to the axial longitudinal extent of a shaft mounted on the load beam during operation may serve as both a radial and an axial sliding element.

[0026] According to an alternative embodiment, the axial sliding element and the radial sliding element can be provided separately from each other, with the radial sliding element and the axial sliding element being arranged at a distance from each other on the load traverse.

[0027] It can be provided that the axial sliding element and / or the radial sliding element each have at least one roller.

[0028] It may be provided that the axial sliding element and the radial sliding element each have a roller. It may be provided that the axes of rotation of the rollers, when viewed in a projection onto a horizontal plane, are essentially orthogonal to each other. It may be provided that the axes of rotation of the rollers, when viewed in a projection onto a horizontal plane, form an angle less than 90°.

[0029] It may be provided that either the axial sliding element or the radial sliding element has a roller.

[0030] Furthermore, it may be provided that neither the axial sliding element nor the radial sliding element has a roller.

[0031] It may be provided that a sliding element has a chamfer for axially aligning the crossbeam to the guide arrangement.

[0032] Furthermore, it may be provided that a sliding element has a chamfer for radially aligning the crossbeam to the guide arrangement.

[0033] According to a further embodiment of the load-bearing beam, the first load arm has a bend with a load hook for picking up an end section of the shaft. Alternatively or additionally, the second load arm can have a bend with a load hook for picking up an end section of the shaft.

[0034] The respective crank angle enables, in particular, a moment-free lifting of the shaft, wherein a bearing surface of a respective load hook, especially when viewed in the vertical direction, is arranged in alignment with a fastening point of the load arm on the crossbeam.

[0035] It may be provided that an axial sliding element and / or a radial sliding element of the first load arm is arranged at the crank of the first load arm. Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that a radial sliding element and / or an axial sliding element of the second load arm is arranged at the crank of the second load arm.

[0036] The axial sliding element and / or radial sliding element of the first load arm can be arranged on an outer side of the first load arm facing away from the second load arm. Alternatively or additionally, the axial sliding element and / or radial sliding element of the second load arm can be arranged on an outer side of the second load arm facing away from the first load arm.

[0037] If a radial sliding element has a roller, a mandrel for holding such a roller can be extended axially outwards from the outside of the respective load arm.

[0038] The first and second load arms can be extended essentially parallel to each other.

[0039] The first and second load arms can be arranged, in particular, at opposite ends of the crossbeam and, in particular, welded to the crossbeam.

[0040] The crossbeam and / or the first load arm and / or the second load arm may be made of or consist of a metallic material. The crossbeam and / or the first load arm and / or the second load arm may be a tubular or solid steel component.

[0041] It may be provided that each load arm is attached to the crossbeam with a first end section, while a second end section serves to receive the shaft or a shaft end.

[0042] In particular, the load arms are not flexible lifting devices such as ropes, chains, straps or the like.

[0043] Furthermore, it may be provided that the load-bearing traverse is essentially mirror-symmetrical to a plane of symmetry.

[0044] The lifting beam can be designed to lift loads weighing up to 3.5 tons, up to 5 tons, or up to 10 tons.

[0045] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a manufacturing cell with a transfer area that has a bearing point as a transfer position for inserting and / or removing a shaft and with a guide arrangement for aligning and / or guiding a load traverse relative to the bearing point, wherein the guide arrangement according to the invention has an axial stop surface for contacting an axial sliding element of the load traverse and wherein the guide arrangement has a radial stop surface for contacting a radial sliding element of the load traverse.

[0046] The manufacturing cell can be a development unit for another manufacturing cell, in which material unwound from the shaft is further processed. Alternatively, the manufacturing cell can have a development unit, in which material unwound from the shaft is further processed within the manufacturing cell.

[0047] The guide arrangement of the manufacturing cell can include a guide rail. Such a guide rail can, for example, have an elongated profile. In particular, the guide rail can have a profile such as a U-profile, a T-profile, a hollow profile, or the like. The guide rail can be made of or consist of a metallic material. In particular, the guide rail can be made of or consist of a steel material. A guide rail can be designed with a surface element along which a sliding element can slide. Guide rails can serve as radial and / or axial stop surfaces.

[0048] It may be additionally or alternatively provided that the radial stop surface is at least partially part of a groove in the guide rail. In particular, it may be provided that the groove in the guide rail has two opposing radial stop surfaces, so that, for example, a roller of a load-bearing beam guided within the groove is guided on two sides.

[0049] According to a further embodiment of the manufacturing cell, the groove in the area of ​​a groove exit can be provided with a pivotable latch for opening and closing the groove exit. In particular, the latch is designed to prevent the insertion of a radial sliding element into the groove exit and to allow a radial sliding element to exit the groove exit.

[0050] The groove can extend at least partially vertically and, in particular, can form a vertical linear guide for a radial sliding element, at least in sections.

[0051] In the case of a groove that extends at least partially vertically, the groove exit is provided, with respect to gravity, particularly at the lower vertical end of the groove.

[0052] The groove exit is located, in particular below the bearing point, when viewed in the direction of gravity.

[0053] The groove exit can be formed at an end section of the groove, which is particularly inclined to the vertical or to the direction of gravity. The end section of the groove can therefore cause a lateral displacement of a load beam guided along the groove, whereby a vertical lowering of the load beam by sliding along the inclined end section of the groove is at least partially converted into a radial lateral displacement of the load beam.

[0054] The bolt can be elastically pre-tensioned in a closed position to close the groove exit. A radial sliding element therefore displaces the bolt against the spring force as it leaves the groove, whereby the bolt then springs back into its closed position under spring tension.

[0055] Alternatively, it can be provided that the bolt is held in its closed position due to gravity and, after being displaced by a sliding element leaving the groove, falls back into its closed position under the influence of gravity.

[0056] Alternatively, the bolt can be switchable, i.e., have a drive associated with the bolt to actively move the bolt from the closed position to the open position, and vice versa.

[0057] Alternatively or additionally, a tactile sensor and / or an optical sensor can be arranged in the area of ​​the groove exit to detect the exit of a radial sliding element from the groove.

[0058] Alternatively or additionally, a tactile sensor and / or an optical sensor can be arranged in the area of ​​a groove entry to detect the insertion of a radial sliding element into the groove.

[0059] At least part of the axial stop surface can be inclined to a horizontal plane and / or formed with a chamfer. This allows the lowering of the load beam to be converted into an axial alignment movement of the load beam by the axial sliding element sliding along the inclined axial stop surface.

[0060] The axial stop surface can be part of the guide rail. In particular, the radial stop surface and the axial stop surface can therefore be compactly integrated into a single component.

[0061] The guide rail can have a length greater than the maximum radius of the shaft. A maximum shaft radius is, for example, the maximum radius that a winding shaft, together with a material roll mounted on the winding shaft, may have in order to be processed by the production cell or to be received in the transfer area. In particular, the guide rail can have a length of 0.5 m or more, and a length of 6 m or less, especially a length of 4 m or less.

[0062] The guide rail can extend vertically above the bearing point, at least in sections. In particular, it can be provided that a groove entry of a groove in the guide rail is arranged above the bearing point in the direction of gravity or when viewed vertically, and a groove exit of a groove in the guide rail is arranged below the bearing point in the direction of gravity or when viewed vertically.

[0063] A crossbeam guided along the guide rail can therefore be lowered towards the bearing point by means of the guide rail. In particular, the guide arrangement has a vertical linear guide for a crossbeam.

[0064] The guide arrangement may be designed to have two guide rails. In particular, the guide arrangement may be designed to be mirror-symmetrical about a plane of symmetry. Specifically, the two guide rails may have identical components, such as sliding elements, grooves, latches, or the like, or be essentially identical in construction.

[0065] The guide arrangement can include a stop for pre-positioning the shaft. In particular, such a stop is arranged vertically above a groove entry of a guide rail to allow pre-positioning of the shaft, e.g., before a sliding element is threaded into a groove. The stop can, in particular, be arranged vertically above a radial stop surface.

[0066] The stop can be part of the guide rail or arranged on the guide rail. In particular, the stop can have a surface inclined to a horizontal plane.

[0067] The guide arrangement can include a deflection element for deflecting the load beam in a direction transverse to the vertical. Such a deflection element can serve to cause a lateral offset of the load beam relative to the shaft after the shaft has been placed on the bearing. This prevents the load beam from lifting and carrying the placed shaft again when leaving the transfer area.

[0068] Such a deflection element can be part of the guide rail or arranged on the guide rail. In particular, it can be provided that a groove in the guide rail, together with the deflection element, defines a path for a radial sliding element of the load traverse along the guide arrangement in the manner of a cam guide.

[0069] The radial stop surface of the guide arrangement can have a vertical length that is a multiple of the vertical length of the axial stop surface. In particular, it can be provided that the vertical length of the axial stop surface is at least twice, four times, or five times, and less than twenty times or less than ten times, the vertical length of the radial stop surface.

[0070] In particular, the axial stop surface may be arranged adjacent to a groove entry of the guide rail. The axial stop surface may have a runout located at the level of an upper third or an upper quarter of the groove, wherein the upper third and the upper quarter of the groove comprise the groove entry.

[0071] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a manufacturing environment, comprising a lifting device for attaching a load traverse, a load traverse attached to the lifting device, wherein the load traverse is designed in a manner according to the invention, and a manufacturing cell according to the invention.

[0072] The manufacturing cell may have a protective enclosure with a vertical opening, and the lifting device may be configured to insert and / or remove shafts using the load traverse through the vertical opening.

[0073] The lifting device can be a permanently installed crane system, such as an overhead crane with a trolley. The lifting device can be a mobile crane system. The lifting device can be a material handling vehicle, such as a pallet truck, forklift, or similar. The lifting device can be a crane system integrated into a production cell, which is equipped at least for lifting and lowering a load and / or has at least one linear axis for positioning a lifting point for attaching a load.

[0074] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a method for handling a shaft in a manufacturing environment, wherein the manufacturing environment is designed in a manner according to the invention, comprising the method steps: providing a shaft, picking up and lifting the shaft with the load arms of the load traverse; axially aligning the load traverse on the guide arrangement, wherein the axial sliding element rests against the axial stop surface of the guide arrangement; radially aligning the load traverse on the guide arrangement, wherein the radial sliding element rests against the radial stop surface of the guide arrangement; and lowering the load traverse and placing the shaft onto the bearing point.

[0075] If the manufacturing cell has a protective enclosure with a vertical opening, the shaft can be positioned above the vertical opening before lowering the load traverse.

[0076] In particular, it can be provided that the shaft is first pre-positioned against stops of the guide arrangement by means of the load traverse, wherein a first end section of the shaft rests against a first stop of the guide arrangement and a second end section of the shaft rests against a second stop of the guide arrangement.

[0077] Subsequently, in particular, axial positioning of the shaft can take place, whereby at least one axial sliding element of the load arms is applied to an axial stop surface of the guide arrangement by lowering the crossbeam.

[0078] By sliding at least one axial sliding element along a particularly inclined axial stop surface, the load traverse, together with the shaft, can be axially positioned. A vertical lowering movement can be partially converted into a horizontal movement by sliding along the inclined surface.

[0079] In a next step, in particular, a roller of a load arm, wherein each roller can form the respective radial sliding element, can be threaded into a respective groove of an associated guide rail by further lowering the crossbeam.

[0080] Further lowering of the crossbeam can, in particular, cause axial sliding elements to leave the axial stop surfaces and the load crossbeam to be guided exclusively by means of the rollers in their respective grooves, especially linearly. In this case, the end sections of the shaft also no longer have contact with the stops or the guide arrangement.

[0081] After the shaft is laid down, the rollers, upon exiting the grooves, can displace locking bars that close the grooves at the groove exit. These locking bars can prevent the rollers from being reinserted into the grooves when the load beam is lifted.

[0082] After leaving the grooves, the load traverse can in particular be lifted, deflected radially by means of deflection elements and guided past the end sections of the shaft.

[0083] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in a drawing. The drawing schematically depicts: Fig. 1A a load-bearing traverse according to the invention in a front view; Fig. 1B the load-bearing traverse made of Fig. 1A in a side view; Fig. 1C the load-bearing crossbeam made of Fig. 1A in a further side view; Fig. 2A a manufacturing cell according to the invention in a front view; Fig. 2Legs guide rail of the manufacturing cell made of Fig. 2A in a side view; Fig. 2C the guide rail of the manufacturing cell made of Fig. 2B in a further side view; Fig. 3A a manufacturing environment according to the invention with a load traverse according to the invention in a first position in a side view; Fig. 3B the manufacturing environment made of Fig. 3A with the load traverse in a second position in a side view; Fig. 3C the manufacturing environment from Fig. 3A with the load traverse in a third position in a side view; Fig. 3D the manufacturing environment from Fig. 3A with the load traverse in a fourth position in a side view; Fig. 3E the manufacturing environment from Fig. 3A with the load traverse in the third position in an enlarged front view; Fig. 3F the manufacturing environment from Fig. 3A with the load traverse in a fifth position in a side view; Fig. 3G the manufacturing environment from Fig. 3A with the load traverse in a sixth position in a side view; Fig. 4 a flow chart of a method according to the invention.

[0084] For better comprehension of the following explanations, a Cartesian coordinate system is used in the figures. This coordinate system serves solely to illustrate the viewing direction or orientation of the view shown and is drawn at various positions relative to the relevant components, depending on the drawing.

[0085] Fig. 1A shows a load traverse 2 for handling a shaft 66 ( Fig. 3A ) in a front view.

[0086] The load beam 2 has a crossbeam 4. Two eyelets 6 are attached to the crossbeam 4 in order to couple the load beam 2 to a lifting device.

[0087] The load traverse 2 has a first load arm 8 for holding the shaft 66. The load traverse 2 has a second load arm 10 for holding the shaft 66.

[0088] On the first load arm 8 is an axial sliding element 12 according to the invention for axially aligning the load traverse 2 on a guide arrangement 46 ( Fig. 2A ) attached. A radial sliding element 14 for radially aligning the load traverse 2 on the guide arrangement 46 is attached to the first load arm 8. A further axial sliding element 16 is also attached to the first load arm 8.

[0089] An axial sliding element 18 according to the invention is attached to the second load arm 10 for axially aligning the load traverse 2 on the guide arrangement 46. Furthermore, a radial sliding element 20 is attached to the second load arm 10 for radially aligning the load traverse 2 on the guide arrangement 46. In addition, a further axial sliding element 22 is attached to the second load arm 10. The sliding elements 16, 22 serve to protect the load arms 8, 10 from wear.

[0090] The radial sliding element 14 of the first load arm 8 is a roller 14. The radial sliding element 20 of the second load arm 10 is a roller 20.

[0091] The axial sliding elements 12, 16 are plates 12, 16 screwed to the first load arm 8. The axial sliding elements 18, 22 are plates 18, 22 screwed to the second load arm 10.

[0092] The roller 14 is rotatably mounted on a pin 24 of the first load arm 8. The roller 20 of the second load arm 10 is rotatably mounted on a pin 26 of the second load arm 10.

[0093] As in Fig. 1A As can be seen, the load traverse 2 is mirror-symmetrical to a yz-plane of the in Fig. 1A designed according to the coordinate system shown.

[0094] Fig. 1B shows the load traverse Fig. 1A in a side view, so that essentially the first load arm 8 is shown. Likewise, it shows Fig. 1C the second load arm 10 in another side view of the load traverse 2.

[0095] How the Figuren 1A, 1B und 1C As can be seen, the sliding elements 12, 14, 16 of the first load arm 8 are arranged on an outer side 28 of the load arm 8 that faces away from the second load arm 10. Likewise, the sliding elements 18, 20, 22 of the second load arm 10 are arranged on an outer side 30 of the second load arm 10 that faces away from the first load arm 8.

[0096] The first load arm 8 has a bend 32 with a load hook 34, wherein the load hook 34 is configured to receive an end section 69 of a winding shaft 68 of the shaft 66. The second load arm 10 has a bend 36 with a load hook 38, wherein the load hook 38 is configured to receive an end section 71 of the winding shaft 68 of the shaft 66.

[0097] Fig. 2A This shows manufacturing cell 40. Manufacturing cell 40 is located in Fig. 2A shown in a front view. Additionally, shaft 66 is indicated in its lowered state.

[0098] The manufacturing cell 40 has a transfer area 42 with two bearings 43, which form a bearing point 44 as a transfer position for inserting and / or removing the shaft 66.

[0099] The manufacturing cell 40 has a guide arrangement 46 for aligning and guiding a load beam relative to the bearing point 44. The guide arrangement 46 has a first guide rail 48 and a second guide rail 50. The guide rails 48 and 50 are essentially identical in construction, with the guide arrangement 46 being designed as mirror images of each other. Fig. 2A to be seen. Therefore, only the first guide rail 48 is described below in relation to the Figuren 2B und 2C described in two side views.

[0100] The first guide rail 48 has an axial stop surface 52 according to the invention for the bearing of an axial sliding element of a load traverse. The axial stop surface 52 is inclined to a horizontal plane xy.

[0101] The first guide rail 48 also has a first radial stop surface 54 for the engagement of a radial sliding element of a load-bearing beam and a second radial stop surface 56 for the engagement of the radial sliding element of the load-bearing beam. The radial stop surfaces 54 and 56 are part of a groove 58 of the first guide rail 48. The stop surfaces 52, 54, and 56 are therefore part of the first guide rail 48.

[0102] The first guide rail 48 also has a stop 60 for pre-positioning the shaft 66. Both the first and the second guide rails 48, 50 extend above the bearing point 44 to guide a crossbeam during lowering in the direction of the bearing point 44, with the z-axis in each case denoting the vertical. The z-direction corresponds to the direction of gravitational acceleration.

[0103] Fig. 3A Figure 1 shows a manufacturing environment 62 with a lifting device 64, which in this case is a crane system 64. A load traverse 2 according to the invention is attached to the lifting device 64. The load traverse 2 supports the shaft 66. The shaft 66 has a winding shaft 68 and a material roll 70, which is wound onto the winding shaft 68. A first end section 69 of the winding shaft 68 rests on the load hook 34 of the first load arm 8 of the load traverse 2. Likewise, a second end section 71 of the winding shaft 68 rests on the load hook 38 of the second load arm 10 (not shown). The winding shaft 68 therefore rests with its end sections 69, 71 on the load hooks 34, 38, while the material roll 70, which is essentially cylindrical, is arranged between the load arms 8, 10.

[0104] The manufacturing environment 62 also includes a manufacturing cell 40 according to the invention.

[0105] Fig. 3A represents a first process step A of a process according to the invention ( Fig. 4 ) for handling the shaft 66 in the manufacturing environment 62.

[0106] According to process step A, a provided shaft 66 is picked up and lifted using the load traverse 2.

[0107] In a second process step B, which is in Figur 3B As shown, the winding shaft 66 with its end sections 69, 71 is pre-positioned at the respective stops 60 of the guide rails 48, 50. Further lowering of the load traverse 2 in the z-direction therefore causes the load traverse 2, together with the shaft 66, to slide along the inclined stops 60 and thus be pre-positioned in the y-direction or displaced in the negative y-direction.

[0108] The Figuren 3C and 3E describe an axial alignment of the load traverse 2 together with the shaft 66 held by the load traverse 2.

[0109] In this process, the axial sliding element 12 slides along the axial stop surface 52 of the first guide rail 48. Fig. 3E Various positions for the axial sliding element 12 are shown. A vertical lowering of the load traverse in the z-direction is therefore converted into an axial movement in the negative x-direction by a sliding of the sliding element 12 along the inclined axial stop surface 52 in order to axially position the load traverse 2 together with the shaft 66.

[0110] Furthermore, in Fig. 3C It can be seen that the roller 14 has been threaded into the groove 58 of the first guide rail 48. On the opposite side, the roller 20 of the second load arm 10 has likewise been threaded into the groove 58 of the second guide rail 50.

[0111] In this state, the load traverse 2 is therefore guided within the guide arrangement 46 in such a way that the load traverse 2 has only the vertical degree of freedom, so that no rotational movement about any of the axes x, y or z is possible, nor is any translational movement possible in the x or y direction.

[0112] The load traverse 2 is therefore aligned in such a way that it can now be lowered in a purely linear movement along the vertical z-direction in order to place the shaft 66 onto the bearing point 44.

[0113] In a process step D, which is in Figur 3D As shown, the shaft 66 is therefore placed on the bearing point 44. Fig. 3D As can be seen, the axial sliding element 12 is exposed for a large part of the linear lowering movement, so that once the axial sliding element is exposed, the load traverse 2 is guided exclusively by the roller 12. This also applies to the guidance in the area of ​​the second guide rail 50. Here, too, the load traverse 2 is guided exclusively in the area of ​​the groove 58 by the roller 20. The end sections 69, 71 of the winding shaft 68 are also exposed for a large part of the linear lowering movement.

[0114] In a final process step E, the load traverse 2 is returned. For this purpose, the load traverse 2 is lowered further, whereby the roller 12, upon leaving the groove 58, displaces a spring-loaded locking bar 72, which is pre-tensioned in a closed position ( Fig. 3F ) and is subsequently deflected along a deflection element 74 in the y-direction. Lifting the load traverse 2 in the negative z-direction is converted into a transverse displacement in the y-direction by the sliding of the roller 12 along the deflection element 74, in order to prevent the load traverse 2 from lifting the deposited shaft 66 again.

[0115] As in Figur 3G As shown, the bolt 72 falls back into its closed position under spring-like elastic preload, thereby closing the groove exit 76 or the groove run-out 76 of the groove 58. The preceding aspects apply equally to the opposite guide rail 50.

[0116] The process described above can be partially or fully automated. In particular, the various positions of the load traverse relative to a production cell can be predefined and approached (partially) automatically using a remote control or controller.

[0117] It may be provided that the manufacturing cell 40 has a protective enclosure 78 with a vertical opening 80, as exemplified in Fig. 3G As shown. In this case, the shaft 66 can be positioned above the vertical opening 80 before being lowered. The shaft 66 can then pass through the opening 80 and be lowered onto the bearing point 44 without stopping a manufacturing process of the manufacturing cell 40 or an associated manufacturing cell of a manufacturing environment. Reference sign

[0118] 2 Load beam 4 Crossbeam 6 Eyelets 8 First load arm 10 Second load arm 12 Axial sliding element 14 Radial sliding element / roller 16 Axial sliding element 18 Axial sliding element 20 Radial sliding element / roller 22 Axial sliding element 24 Mandrel 26 Mandrel 28 Outer side 30 Outer side 32 Crank 34 Load hook 36 Crank 38 Load hook 40 Production cell 42 Transfer area 43 Bearing 44 Bearing location 46 Guide arrangement 48 Guide rails 50 Guide rail 52 Stop surface 54 Stop surface 56 Stop surface 58 Groove 60 Stop 62 Production environment 64 Lifting device / crane system 66 Shaft 68 Winding shaft 69 End section 70 Material roller 71 End section 72 Latch 74 Deflection element 76 Groove exit / groove outlet 78 Protective housing 80 Through opening

Claims

1. Load cross-member for handling a shaft, - having a cross-beam (4), - having a first load arm (8) for holding the shaft (66), - having a second load arm (10) for holding the shaft (66) and - having a radial sliding element (14, 20) for radially orientating the load cross-member (2) on a guiding arrangement (46), characterized by an axial sliding element (12, 18) for axially orientating the load cross-member (2) on the guiding arrangement (46).

2. Load cross-member according to claim 1, characterized in that - the radial sliding element (14, 20) has a running roller (14, 20).

3. Load cross-member according to claim 2, characterized in that - the running roller (14, 20) is rotatably retained on a mandrel (24, 26).

4. Load cross-member according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the axial sliding element (12, 18) has a plate (12, 18) or a web.

5. Load cross-member according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - a radial sliding element (14) and an axial sliding element (12) are arranged on the first load arm (8), and / or - in that a radial sliding element (20) and an axial sliding element (18) are arranged on the second load arm (10).

6. Load cross-member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that - the first load arm (8) has an offset (32) having a load hook (34) for receiving an end portion (69) of the shaft (66) and / or - in that the second load arm (10) has an offset (36) having a load hook (38) for receiving an end portion (71) of the shaft (66).

7. Production cell - having a transfer region (42) which has a bearing location (44) as a transfer location for placing and / or removing a shaft (66), and - having a guiding arrangement (46) for orientating and / or guiding a load cross-member (2) relative to the bearing location (44) and - wherein the guiding arrangement (46) has a radial stop face (54, 56) for abutment of a radial sliding element (14, 20) of the load cross-member (2), characterized in that the guiding arrangement (46) has an axial stop face (52) for abutment of an axial sliding element (12, 18) of the load cross-member (2).

8. Production cell according to claim 7, characterized in that - the guiding arrangement (46) has a guide rail (48, 50).

9. Production cell according to claim 8, characterized in that - the radial stop face (54, 56) is part of a groove (58) of the guide rail (48, 50).

10. Production cell according to claim 9, characterized in that - the groove (58) in the region of a groove outlet (76) has a pivotable bar (72) for opening and closing the groove outlet (76).

11. Production cell according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that - the axial stop face (52) is part of the guide rail (48, 50).

12. Production cell according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that - the guide rail (48, 50) has a length which is greater than a maximum radius of the shaft (66) and / or - the guide rail (48, 50) extends at least partially vertically above the bearing location (44).

13. Production cell according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that - the guiding arrangement (46) has two guide rails (48, 50).

14. Production cell according to any one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that - the guiding arrangement (46) has a stop (60) for prepositioning the shaft (66) and / or - the guiding arrangement (46) has a redirection element (74) for redirecting the load cross-member (2) in a direction transverse relative to the vertical.

15. Production cell according to any one of claims 8 to 13 and according to claim 14, characterized in that - the stop (60) is part of the guide rail (48, 50) or is arranged on the guide rail (48, 50) and / or - the redirection element (74) is part of the guide rail (48, 50) or is arranged on the guide rail (48, 50).

16. Production cell according to any one of claims 7-15, characterized in that - the radial stop face (54, 56) has a vertical length which corresponds to a multiple of a vertical length of the axial stop face (52).

17. Production environment - having a lifting device (64) for securing a load cross-member (2), characterized by - a load cross-member (2) which is secured to the lifting device (64), wherein the load cross-member (2) is constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and - a production cell (40) according to any one of claims 7-16.

18. Production environment according to claim 17, - wherein the production cell (40) has a protective housing (78) with a vertical opening (80) and - wherein the lifting device (64) is configured to place and / or remove shafts (66) by means of the load cross-member (2) through the vertical opening (80).

19. Method for handling a shaft in a production environment, - wherein the production environment (62) is constructed according to either claim 17 or 18, having the method steps of: - providing a shaft (66), - receiving and lifting the shaft (66) with the load arms (8, 10) of the load cross-member (2), - axially orientating the load cross-member (2) on the guiding arrangement (46), wherein the axial sliding element (12, 18) bears on the axial stop face (52) of the guiding arrangement (46), - radially orientating the load cross-member (2) on the guiding arrangement (46), wherein the radial sliding element (14, 20) bears on the radial stop face (54, 56) of the guiding arrangement (46), and - lowering the load cross-member (2) and depositing the shaft (66) on the bearing location (44).

20. Method according to claim 19, - wherein the production environment (62) is constructed according to claim 18, - and wherein, prior to lowering the load cross-member (2) and depositing the shaft (66) on the bearing location (44), the following method step is carried out: - positioning the shaft (66) above the vertical opening (80).

Images