Carrying apparatus

Abstract

Carrying apparatus (1) of an inspection unit for inspecting parameters of the parts which are produced by an injection-moulding, punching, deep-drawing or thermoforming machine and are transported through the inspection unit, having a carrying-base element (2), having at least two carrying profiles (3), which are oriented parallel to one another, having at least two carrying ribs (4), which connect at least two carrying profiles (3) to one another, are arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the carrying profiles (3) and are fastened on these carrying profiles, and also having at least two carrying plates (5), which are fastened on the at least two carrying ribs (4), wherein each carrying plate (5) is arranged at the ends (6) of at least two carrying ribs (4), and is assigned to one of the at least two carrying profiles (3), wherein the carrying apparatus (1) also has a transporting means (7) for the parts, the transporting means being fastened on at least two of the carrying plates (5).

Description

[0001] Carrying device

[0002] The invention relates to a carrying device of an inspection unit for the inspection, in particular the inline or post-sorting inspection, of parameters of the parts produced by an injection molding, punching, deep drawing or thermoforming machine and transported through the inspection unit.

[0003] During the production of injection-molded parts—such as beverage caps—or other parts made of plastic or metal by injection molding, stamping, deep drawing, or thermoforming, a multitude of quality controls are performed. Among other things, each individual part is inspected for completeness and freedom from defects. The quality control of each individual part includes, in particular, a visual quality control check for completeness and freedom from defects, but also inspections for color defects, under-molds, holes, burrs, injection points, and other issues. Parts that are defective in one or more respects are subsequently rejected.

[0004] The number and type of inspection devices at various points along the part production path significantly influence the space required for the production equipment and, above all, the production speed. The inspection processes must therefore be designed to minimize production process slowdowns. Currently, part-related processing speeds of over 2,000 parts / min up to 4,000 parts / min are common, especially for injection-molded parts, meaning that less than 30 ms is available for quality control at one location per part.

[0005] In addition to the required speed of quality control, it must also be as precise as possible in order to avoid generating unnecessarily large amounts of waste or even to fail to identify defective parts as such and later reject them. However, precision is often neglected in favor of gearing the inspection unit to the high parts count per minute. For example, in the current state of the art, it is common practice to hold a transport device such as a vacuum conveyor belt, which transports the parts through the inspection unit, in position using sheet metal or aluminum profiles with a screw connection and a through-hole. These sheet metal profiles are also used to hold inspection units such as sensors, which have usually been pre-calibrated under laboratory conditions, in position. This simple attachment makes the transport device particularly easy to remove from the device for the regularly required belt changes.However, the manufacturing tolerances of the sheet metal profiles and mounting holes, as well as the fact that the inspection units cannot be easily calibrated under operating conditions, result in compromises in the precision of quality control. Even if the inspection units are calibrated to the newly installed conveyor belt, this additional step must be repeated every time the belt is changed or other maintenance work is performed that results in mechanical deviations from the previous condition.

[0006] The present invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a particularly precise carrying device of an inspection unit despite the high demands on the throughput speed of an inline or post-sorting inspection device and thereby solving the aforementioned problems of the prior art.

[0007] This task is solved by a carrying device of a

[0008] Inspection unit for the inspection of parameters of the parts produced by an injection molding, punching, deep-drawing or thermoforming machine and transported through the inspection unit, comprising a support base element, comprising at least two support profiles oriented parallel to one another, at least two support ribs connecting the at least two support profiles to one another, arranged perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the support profiles and fastened thereto, and at least two support plates fastened to the at least two support ribs, wherein each support plate is arranged at the ends of at least two support ribs which is assigned to one of the at least two support profiles, wherein the support device further comprises a transport device for the parts fastened to at least two of the support plates.

[0009] The following refers primarily to injection-molded parts from an injection molding machine, but the invention also includes other parts made of plastic or metal by injection molding, stamping, deep drawing or thermoforming.

[0010] The support base element represents the basic framework which establishes the connection between a substructure at the place of use and the inspection unit with its inspection elements and which compensates for inaccuracies in the substructure according to the invention, so that the inspection elements can be inserted into the support base element according to the invention in a largely standardized and pre-calibrated manner and can be used immediately without further calibration.

[0011] According to the invention, it is particularly important to keep the error chains of the support base element as small as possible, since dimensional errors, for example, of the support rib, can affect the arrangement of the support profiles and support plates connected to it, and thus the transport device and inspection elements directly or indirectly attached to the support plates. Support plates, transport devices, inspection elements, and their respective connecting elements represent further sources of dimensional errors, whose errors accumulate. At the end of this error chain is the inspection unit and thus the quality of the control results of this inspection unit.

[0012] In addition to this error reduction, the invention ensures the repeatability or repeatability of the measuring system. Repeatability refers to the precision of the system, which ensures that individual components are positioned in the same position even after disassembly and reassembly, for example, during maintenance work or when replacing components. This greatly eliminates the need for recalibration, or makes it necessary only in exceptional cases.

[0013] According to the invention, the support profiles are arranged parallel to one another, which is ensured with high precision by the support ribs, which are each connected to both support profiles and oriented perpendicular to the support profiles. Two or more support profiles are particularly advantageous in order to protect the support base element against torsion and twisting of the support ribs. The support ribs according to the invention are high-precision, in particular milled, components, i.e. components which, due to their type of production, have the smallest possible dimensional tolerance. According to the invention, the support ribs can be designed not as a single piece, but as multiple parts, since this allows particularly stable and dimensionally accurate support ribs to be produced. The term "components" for the purpose of the invention also refers to all parts of the device which together form the support device according to the invention.Likewise, all recesses, holes, or similar features of these components exhibit correspondingly low defects or are manufactured with tight tolerances, ensuring a high overall accuracy of the device and thus of the associated inspection unit. Analogous to this measure, the support plates attached to the support ribs and their dimensions, recesses, and holes are also machined, in particular milled, with tight tolerances. This manufacturing with tight tolerances is particularly advantageous in the area of ​​the connections between the components.

[0014] The transport device used to transport the parts, particularly injection-molded parts, through the inspection unit is arranged between the two support plates and is directly or indirectly connected to them. The transport device is preferably a vacuum conveyor belt, but can also be any other transport device, such as a simple conveyor belt. In any case, according to the invention, this transport device is also connected to the support plates with close tolerances, so that it can be positioned precisely and repeatably within the support device during a change.It is also advantageous if the surface of the transport device on which the parts, in particular injection-molded parts, are moved, is arranged above the surface of the support plates, i.e. the surfaces of the support plates are recessed relative to the surface of the transport device, so that objects located on the support plates cannot easily reach the transport device and, via this, into the flow of parts to be inspected.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, a modular extension of the support base element is provided, in particular coaxially on both sides of the support base element. This advantageously ensures that an inlet and / or outlet belt of the device according to the invention can be extended depending on on-site requirements. For modular expansion, the length of the support profiles and, accordingly, the number of support ribs can be adjusted as needed, whereby the basic structure of the support base element remains identical. Likewise, subsequent expansion of the support base element is possible, in particular by adding further support plates, support ribs, and / or adapter plates that connect the support plates and / or the support ribs to one another. To ensure the stability of the extended support base element, screwing and pinning the support ribs in the area of ​​the extension interface is expedient.

[0016] In a further development of the invention, the support ribs are fastened, in particular screwed, to the support profiles in two directions perpendicular to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the support profiles. This screw connection is a simple yet precise and stable connection type. By connecting the support ribs to the support profiles in two axes, namely the two axes oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support profiles, the stability and precision of the device is advantageously increased. This double connection also stabilizes the orientation and position of the support profiles, which are thus aligned with the support ribs, thus allowing aluminum to be used as a material for the support profiles.

[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, positioning pins are arranged between the support plates and support ribs and / or between the support plates and the transport device. The positioning pins serve to precisely align the connection of the components parallel to the respective connecting surface. In this way, in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the positioning pins - i.e. parallel to the connecting surface - displacement of the components to be connected relative to one another is prevented, while displacement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the positioning pins is prevented by the connecting elements, e.g., the screws. The positioning pins and the recesses in the support plates and support ribs or transport devices that accommodate the positioning pins are manufactured with particular precision as described above, in particular as milled parts.As an alternative to the arrangement of positioning pins between the support plates and the transport device, centering by means of countersunk screws and, if necessary, elongated holes is provided according to the invention, which also enables the alignment of the transport device, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axes of the support profiles.

[0018] The support plates are preferably arranged in a plane relative to one another that is parallel to a plane spanned by the support profiles, wherein the parallelism of the support plates to one another is made possible by a mutually parallel design of the respective contact surfaces with the support ribs. This results in exactly the same height and extremely precise parallelism for the opposing support plates due to their exact design. A height-staggered arrangement of opposing support plates is also in accordance with the invention; in this case, however, at least one of the support plates has a connection to the transport device designed such that the surface of the transport device on which the parts, in particular injection-molded parts, are transported is aligned parallel to the surfaces of the support plates.Compared to such a configuration, however, the parallel arrangement of the support plates in a common plane is preferred. In principle, the transport device is connected to the support base element, in particular the support plates, in such a way that the transport device is arranged parallel to the support plates and parallel to the plane spanned by the support profiles. This ensures that the orientation of the inspection elements connected to the support plates is coordinated with the orientation of the support plates, in order to be simultaneously calibrated to the orientation of the parts, in particular injection-molded parts, on the transport device. In one configuration of the invention, it is provided that the support plates and the transport device have mutually corresponding fastening elements, which are arranged in particular in projections protruding from the support plate or the transport device or pass through these.The fastening elements are, in particular, screws and positioning pins. The corresponding projections, or their contact surfaces when connected, are exactly parallel to each other and, according to the invention, can also be arranged parallel to the support plates and the transport device, particularly with regard to the available space. The direct connection between the support plates and the transport device also minimizes the number of error sources in the system.

[0019] In a further development of the invention, it is provided that it has a pivoting frame which is positioned above the transport device and is connected to the support plates, in particular by means of positioning pins and screws, wherein the pivoting frame is pivotable in such a way that inspection elements arranged on it and the transport device located below it are accessible.

[0020] This pivoting frame enables modular attachment of the inspection elements. Because of its pivoting capability, the attached inspection units (Z-element) and the transport device underneath are accessible. It is also important here that the working position of the pivoting frame, i.e., its non-pivoted end position, is a repeatable position, meaning the pivoting frame can always be moved to exactly the same position. The pivoting frame has a pivotably mounted section, which is attached to the support plates at its end—containing the pivot axis. The other, freely pivoting end, when the pivoting frame is in the closed position, rests in particular on stops, which in turn are attached to the support plates.For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if the pivoting frame has corresponding, spring-loaded locking pins that engage in corresponding locking holes in the stops when closed, locking the frame in this precise closed position. The locking mechanism can be released, for example, by a push button at the free end of the pivoting frame. The stops have chamfered edges to ensure that the locking pins automatically slide into the locking holes when closing the pivoting frame.

[0021] The pivoting frame is precisely attached to the support plates, particularly using positioning pins and screws. The same applies to the stops. The refinement of the invention with labeled scales at each adjustable position makes repositioning transparent and repeatable.

[0022] The pivotable part of the pivot frame has a base frame for holding any inspection elements, which in particular has positioning scales formed from several, particularly preferably labeled, recesses. The positioning scales thus enable a repeatable assembly of inspection elements. The inspection elements can be used in any modular manner within this base frame. For this purpose, the inspection elements are installed in a pivot frame module, which, in addition to the inspection element, has positioning plates that can be detachably connected to the base frame of the pivot frame. Here, too, a particularly precise design of the base frame and the positioning plates is essential to the invention, and a connection to one another by means of positioning pins and screws is particularly advantageous.

[0023] Positioning plates and base frames are preferably provided with a scale. The pivot frame modules enable the use of inspection elements, which can be inserted and replaced as modular pre-assembled units in the base frame of the pivot frame. The base frame accommodates one or more pivot frame modules as required. As an alternative to inspection elements, a pivot frame can also accommodate an additional transport device, such as a vacuum conveyor belt, to transport the parts to be inspected over the top, leaving the underside freely accessible for inspection.

[0024] In an embodiment of the invention, the pivot frame comprises at least one pivot force amplifier, in particular a gas spring, and / or corresponding positioning radii, wherein the positioning radii are arranged in at least one stop of the pivot frame and in a pivotable free end of the pivot frame. A pivot force amplifier makes it easier for a user to move the pivot frame, which is rather heavy when fully loaded, without any particular effort. This also significantly reduces the risk of damage to the precise elements of the pivot frame due to excessively vigorous operation; this applies in particular to dampening the closing movement of the pivot frame. The positioning radii in the stop and correspondingly in the free end of the pivot frame are preferably milled parts and are thus components within the meaning of the invention as explained above.In a further development of the invention, the support base element comprises at least one of the inspection elements selected from the group consisting of: camera, lens, lighting, sensor for part tracking—in particular, a trigger light barrier—, sensor for part counting—in particular, a counter light barrier—, conveyor belt, blow-out valve, ejection channel, separation device, external light shield, high-voltage testing unit, and part measurement unit. The inspection elements include any conceivable or necessary elements for quality control of the parts, in particular injection-molded parts.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the support ribs, support plates, and / or fastening elements, or parts thereof, are formed as milled parts. If only parts of the support ribs, support plates, and / or fastening elements are formed as milled parts, these are in particular their connecting parts for connection to other components. This primarily minimizes overall errors.

[0026] In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the support base element is indirectly connected to a stationary surface, in particular a workbench or a work cabinet, via connecting elements. The workbench or work cabinet in itself is not necessarily part of the invention. Rather, any other surface can be selected which can accommodate or support the support base element and which is present at the installation site or is to be used there. Due to this further development of the invention, particular precision in the dimensions of the surface is not required. The particularly precise support base element is not influenced by the faulty surface, since the connecting elements compensate for these errors. For this purpose, the connecting element has elongated holes. According to the invention, the workbench or work table (hereinafter referred to jointly as "workbench") has, in addition to a base frame, in particular two or more side walls.In addition, horizontally arranged cross plates and vertically arranged center walls are advantageous for increasing the stability of the workbench. According to the invention, it is advantageous if the support base element is connected to the center walls of the workbench directly or via the connecting elements described above, for example, by means of screws.

[0027] The support base element is screwed directly onto the center walls with a fastening rib each. It intentionally does not rest on the side walls to prevent the inaccuracy of the workbench from being transferred to the support base element. The connection to the side walls is made via elongated holes in the connector, whereby a free space is always maintained between the side wall and the support base element. Because the support base element is only connected without compensation to the two closely spaced center walls, it cannot bend during variable attachment to the remaining side walls. A slight inclination of the support base element relative to a substrate does not affect the accuracy and repeatability of the quality controls, since both the transport device and the inspection units are arranged at the same angle to the substrate thanks to the precise support base element and are therefore not inclined relative to each other.Therefore, the angle error does not affect the quality control.

[0028] Finally, a further development provides for the workbench to accommodate an electrical cabinet and / or blower and / or ejection container. These are required for the operation of the inspection units and the transport device, or for receiving the sorted parts, and are thus provided at the site of use. A hood on the support plates or on the workbench protects the inspection area from external influences. This hood can be detachably connected and / or at least partially pivoted, allowing access to the area below for maintenance work. The hood can have doors or removable walls.

[0029] Furthermore, it is advantageous if, if possible, all adjustable mechanical elements for calibrating the inspection feature a scale and / or mechanical guides, which, in accordance with the invention, are designed to be as precise as possible. These scales and the mechanical guides prevent calibration errors and ensure repeatability in every adjustable element of the device.

[0030] The invention is described by way of example in a preferred embodiment with reference to a drawing, wherein further advantageous details can be taken from the figures of the drawing.

[0031] Functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0032] The figures in the drawing show in detail:

[0033] Fig. 1a: schematic view of a support base element according to the invention,

[0034] Fig. 1 b: sectional view of a support base element according to the invention,

[0035] Fig. 1c: schematic view of a support base element according to the invention with a modular extension,

[0036] Fig. 2: schematic view of a support base element according to the invention with transport device in the unconnected state, Fig. 3a: schematic view of a work table according to the invention,

[0037] Fig. 3b: schematic view of a workbench according to the invention with a support base element according to the invention in the unconnected state,

[0038] Fig. 3c: schematic view of a workbench according to the invention with a support base element according to the invention in the connected state,

[0039] Fig. 4a: schematic view of a swivel frame according to the invention in the open state,

[0040] Fig. 4b: schematic view of a locking mechanism of a pivoting frame according to the invention,

[0041] Fig. 5a: schematic view of a swing frame according to the invention in the closed state without installed swing frame modules,

[0042] Fig. 5b: schematic view of a first swing frame module according to the invention,

[0043] Fig. 5c: schematic view of a second swing frame module according to the invention.

[0044] Fig. 1a shows a schematic view of a support base element 2 of the support device 1 according to the invention. The support base element 2 is formed from two parallel support profiles 3 and a plurality of support ribs 4 as well as a plurality of base plates 5. The support ribs 4 are each arranged parallel to one another and perpendicular to the support profiles 3 and are connected to them, in particular in the illustrated angled region of the support ribs 4, so that all support ribs 4 have the same orientation. The support profiles 3 are conventional aluminum profiles, the support ribs 4 and support plates 5 are milled parts, or partially milled parts. The support plates 5 are attached to the two free ends of the support ribs 4 and arranged relative to one another in such a way that the support plates 5 can each be assigned to one end of the support ribs 4 or to one support profile 3.The support plates 5 assigned to one support profile 3 are opposite the support plates 5 assigned to the other support profile 3. In addition, the opposing support plates 5 are spaced apart from one another, such that a free area is formed between the opposing support plates 5. The support base element shown here has exactly six support plates 5 and six support ribs 4, whereby any number of support plates 5 and support ribs 4 greater than or equal to two is possible according to the invention. While the two upper support plates 5 in the image are connected to two support ribs 4, the two lower support plates 5 in the image are connected to three support ribs 4. The middle two support plates 5 and the two upper support plates 5 share a support rib 4, to which a total of four support plates 5 are attached.All support plates 5 are always connected to at least two support ribs to ensure sufficient stability of the support plates 5. The recesses in the support plates 5 serve to accommodate various inspection units 12 (not shown here), while the smaller holes shown serve to accommodate fastening elements 9 or positioning pins 8 of any inspection units 12 arranged on the support plates 5.

[0045] Fig. 1b shows a sectional view of a support base element 2 according to the invention. The support profiles 3 and support ribs 4 are fastened to one another in the region of the two angles of the support ribs 4 by means of fastening elements 9. The support ribs 4 are screwed to the support profiles 3 via two axes perpendicular to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the support profiles 3, in particular using T-nuts. In addition, both the support ribs 4 and the support plates 5 are designed as milled parts that have particularly low error tolerances. Therefore, the support plates 5, which are each connected to the free ends 6 of the support ribs 4, are aligned exactly parallel to one another. In addition, their position in the mutually parallel plane of the support plates 5 is further ensured by positioning pins 8 and fastening elements 9 (not shown in detail here).The positioning pins 8 and / or the fastening elements 9 are turned parts, while the corresponding recesses in the support plates 5 are milled in order to have the smallest possible error in the system.

[0046] Fig. 1c shows a schematic view of a support base element 2 according to the invention with a modular extension. The added element comprises two support plates 5, two support ribs 4, and two support profiles 3. The extended support profiles 3 are arranged coaxially with the two original support profiles. The extended support ribs 4 and support plates 5 are connected to the extended support profiles 3, whereby the same fastening elements 9 and positioning pins 8 are used as for the original support base element 2. The connection between the original support base element 2 and the extended support base element 2 is formed via the two mutually facing support ribs 4. These are connected to one another, in particular also via positioning pins 8 and fastening elements 9, in order to enable a particularly low error tolerance here as well.Adapter plates between the support profiles 3 would also be according to the invention, which can be connected to one another and / or the length of the support profiles 3 are coordinated with one another. Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a support base element 2 according to the invention with a transport device 7 in the unconnected state. In the embodiment shown, the support device 7 is directly connected to the support plates 5 and is not in direct contact with the support ribs 4. For the connection between the transport device 7 and the support plates 5, both parts each have projections 10 whose mutual contact surfaces are milled or otherwise precisely designed. The parallel arrangement of the support plates 5 is thus transferred to the transport device 7, so that it is arranged exactly parallel to the two support plates 5. In addition, recesses which guide the fastening elements 9 are provided in the protruding projections 10.

[0047] Fig. 3a shows a schematic view of a workbench 17 according to the invention. In addition to a base frame, the workbench has two side walls 19 and two center walls 20. In addition, the workbench 17 has horizontally arranged cross plates 21 in two of the areas delimited by the side walls 19 and center walls 20, which, like the center walls 20, increase the stability of the workbench 17. The electrical cabinet 22, which is arranged between a center wall 20 and a side wall 19, also improves the stability of the workbench 17. The inspection units 12, which are subsequently positioned on the workbench 17 via the support device 1, can be supplied with power via the electrical cabinet 22. The components of the workbench 17 are not necessarily precisely designed, since the tolerances in the dimensions of the parts are compensated for by the precise support base element 2 and the connection between the support base element 2 and the workbench 17.

[0048] Fig. 3b shows a schematic view of a workbench or work cabinet 17 according to the invention with a support base element 2 according to the invention in the unconnected state. The workbench 17 is at least indirectly connected to the support base element 2 arranged above it via the side walls 19 and center walls 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the support base element 2 is connected directly to the two center walls 20 of the workbench 17 via its support ribs 4, in particular directly screwed, whereby the outer support ribs 4 of the support base element 2 are only indirectly connected via connecting elements 18. Since the support base element 2 is directly connected to exactly two center walls 20, warping or bending of the support base element 2 due to different heights of the center walls 20 is excluded and, at most, a uniform inclination of the entire support base element 2 is possible.This inclination is irrelevant since all devices attached to the support base element 2 have the same inclination to the ground and are therefore not inclined towards each other.

[0049] Fig. 3c shows a schematic view of a workbench 17 according to the invention with a support base element 2 according to the invention in the connected state. This illustration is a close-up of the connection between the side wall 19 of the workbench 17 and the support rib 4 of the support base element 2, as shown in Fig. 3b. The connection between the side wall 19 and the support rib 4 is established indirectly via a connecting element 18. The connecting element 18 has recesses for both the support rib 4 and the side wall 19 for receiving fastening elements, in this case screws. Only the recesses assigned to one of the two parts to be connected, here the support rib 4, are not designed as elongated holes. The recesses assigned to the side wall 19, on the other hand, are elongated holes to enable positional compensation.Support rib 4 and side wall 19 do not have to contact each other; a gap between them is permissible.

[0050] Fig. 4a shows a schematic view of a pivoting frame 11 according to the invention in the open state. The pivoting frame 11 is essentially formed from a pivotable part and here two stops 15. The stops 15 form a precise limitation of the pivoting movement of the pivoting part of the pivoting frame 11. The pivoting part has a free end 16, which rests on the stops 15 or is received by them when the pivoting frame 11 is closed. The pivoting frame 11 serves to accommodate one or more inspection elements 12, which, due to the pivotability of the pivoting frame 11, can be moved between an operating state and an accessible state, for example for maintenance work or the replacement of the inspection elements 12. Gas pressure springs 13 facilitate the opening and closing of the pivoting frame 11 and thus protect the stops 15 from damage.

[0051] Fig. 4b shows a schematic view of a locking mechanism of a pivot frame 11 according to the invention. Shown are the two stops 15 and the freely pivotable end 16 of the pivot frame 11, which in a closed position rests on the stops 15 or is received by them. The surfaces that contact each other in the closed state - here corresponding positioning radii 14 - are components according to the invention and are therefore manufactured, in particular milled, with the smallest tolerances. The free end 16 of the pivot frame 11 has locking pins 23 on the sides, which engage in the locking openings 24 in the stops 15 when the pivot frame 11 is in the closed state, whereby the pivot frame 11 locks in the closed position. For release, a locking pin, such as the one shown in Fig.5a is provided, by the actuation of which a user can retract the spring-loaded locking pins 23 and thereby remove them from the locking openings 24. For the simple, automatic sliding of the locking pins 23 into the locking openings 24 during closing, the stops 15 have beveled guide planes (inlet bevels) through which the locking pins 23 are gradually pressed in when the pivoting frame 11 is closed until they are positioned over the locking openings 24 and are returned to them.

[0052] Fig. 5a shows a schematic view of a pivoting frame 11 according to the invention in the closed state without installed pivoting frame modules 29. The basic structure of the pivoting frame 11 therefore consists primarily of a base frame 25, which is mounted in the pivotable part of the pivoting frame 11. All required inspection elements 12 can be attached to this base frame 25 in a modular manner as needed. Furthermore, the inspection elements 12 can be replaced at any time as needed. This replacement is also repeatable and possible without calibration. This is made possible in particular by the precise design with the smallest possible error tolerances of the base frame 25. In addition, the base frame 25 has a positioning scale 26, by means of which the inspection elements 12 or the pivoting frame modules 29 can always be attached to the same position on the base frame 25 without the need for complex documentation of the test setup.Accordingly, the pivoting frame modules 29 are primarily limited to their connection to the base frame 25 via this positioning scale 26 and its recesses to ensure repeatability of the inspection setup. Accordingly, the recesses of the positioning scale 26 also have the lowest possible error tolerance, which can be achieved, for example, by using a base frame 25 as a milled part.

[0053] Fig. 5b shows a schematic view of a first swivel frame module 29 according to the invention. The illustrated swivel frame module 29 is formed from an inspection element 12, in the example shown a camera, and a holder via which the swivel frame module 29 can be attached to the base frame 25 of the swivel frame 11. For this purpose, the swivel frame module 29 has two positioning plates 27, which are attached via their two ends 28 to the positioning scale 26 of the base frame 25 of the swivel frame 11. The positioning plates 27 are also designed with particular precision in order to make the connection between the swivel frame module 29 and the base frame 25 of the swivel frame 11 as precise and repeatable as possible.In addition, the positioning plates 27 have at their ends 28 a fastening device oriented both along the longitudinal axis of the positioning plates 27 and perpendicular thereto, so that the most precise connection possible to the base frame 25 can be established. Likewise, the positioning plates 27 each have a positioning scale 26. In this example, the inspection element 12 is indirectly connected to the positioning plates 27 via a rail 30. The rail 30 enables not only precise but also adjustable mounting of the inspection element 12, which is mechanically adjustable in height thanks to the rail 30.

[0054] Fig. 5c shows a schematic view of a second pivoting frame module 29 according to the invention. This pivoting frame module also has the previously described positioning plates 27 for repeatable connection to the base frame 25 of the pivoting frame 11. In this exemplary embodiment, however, the pivoting frame module 29 carries a transport device 7, which can transport the parts, in particular injection-molded parts, from above, for example, for the inspection of the underlying surfaces. Depending on the size of the parts to be inspected, in particular injection-molded parts, it is expedient to also mount this transport device 7 in a height-adjustable manner. For this purpose, an adjustment unit 31 is provided which is vertically displaceable. To further ensure the repeatability of the arrangement, the adjustment unit 31 is connected to the positioning scale 26 of the positioning plates 27 via cross struts, in addition to being freely displaceable.As before, both the positioning plates 27 and the adjustment unit 31 are designed with the smallest possible error tolerance.

[0055] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0056] 1 carrying device

[0057] 2 support base element

[0058] 3 Support profile

[0059] 4 carrying ribs

[0060] 5 Carrying plate

[0061] 6 End of a supporting rib

[0062] 7 Transport device

[0063] 8 Positioning pin

[0064] 9 Fastening element

[0065] 10 Protruding projection

[0066] 11 Swing frame

[0067] 12 Inspection element

[0068] 13 Gas spring

[0069] 14 Positioning radius

[0070] 15 stops

[0071] 16 Free end of the swing frame

[0072] 17 Workbench / Workcase

[0073] 18 Connecting element

[0074] 19 Side wall

[0075] 20 center wall

[0076] 21 Cross plate

[0077] 22 Electrical cabinet

[0078] 23 locking bolts

[0079] 24 locking opening

[0080] 25 base frames

[0081] 26 Positioning scale

[0082] 27 Positioning plate

[0083] 28 Positioning plate end

[0084] 29 Swing frame module 30 Rail

[0085] 31 Adjustment unit

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS Supporting device (1) of an inspection unit for the inspection of parameters of the parts produced by an injection molding, punching, deep drawing or thermoforming machine and transported through the inspection unit, comprising - a support base element (2), comprising o at least two support profiles (3) oriented parallel to one another, at least two support ribs (4) connecting the at least two support profiles (3) to one another, arranged perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the support profiles (3) and fastened thereto, and at least two support plates (5) fastened to the at least two support ribs (4), o each support plate (5) being arranged at the ends (6) of at least two support ribs (4) which are assigned to one of the at least two support profiles (3), - wherein the carrying device (1) further comprises a transport device (7) for the parts, which is fastened to at least two of the carrying plates (5). Carrying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrying ribs (4) are fastened, in particular screwed, to the carrying profiles (3) in two directions perpendicular to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the carrying profiles (3). Carrying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that positioning pins (8) are arranged between the carrying plates (5) and the carrying ribs (4) and / or between the carrying plates (5) and the transport device (7). Carrying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrying plates (5) are arranged in a common plane, this plane being parallel to a plane spanned by the carrying profiles (3). Carrying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrying plates (5) and the transport device (7) have mutually corresponding fastening elements (9), which are arranged in particular in projections (10) projecting from the carrying plate (5) or from the transport device (7) or penetrating them.Carrying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a pivoting frame (11) which is positioned above the transport device (7) and is connected to the support plates (5), in particular by means of positioning pins (8) and screws, wherein the pivoting frame (11) is pivotable in such a way that inspection elements (12) arranged on it and the transport device (7) located below it are accessible. Carrying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting frame (11) has at least one pivoting force amplifier, in particular a gas pressure spring (13), and / or mutually corresponding positioning radii (14), wherein the positioning radii (14) are arranged in at least one stop (15) for the pivoting frame (11) and in a pivotable free end (16) of the pivoting frame (11). Carrying device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support base element (2) has at least one of the. Inspection elements (12) selected from the group formed by: camera, lens, lighting, sensor for parts tracking, in particular trigger light barrier, sensor for parts counting, in particular counter light barrier, conveyor belt, blow-out valve, ejection channel, separating device, Extraneous light protection, high-voltage testing unit, part measurement unit. Supporting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting ribs (4), supporting plates (5), and / or fastening elements (9), or parts thereof, are formed as milled parts. Supporting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting base element (2) is connected to a stationary base, in particular a workbench (17) or a work cabinet, indirectly via connecting elements (18).

Images