Switching gate for changing the position of at least one slider

Abstract

The present invention relates to a switching gate for changing the position of at least one slider (7), wherein the position change can be brought about by a ball (18). The ball is guided in gate tracks (2), which are provided in the switching gate and form gates (20) arranged parallel to each other.

Description

[0001] Switch gate for changing the position of at least one slider

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a switching gate for changing the position of at least one slide, wherein the position change is effected by a ball. The ball is guided in gate tracks provided in the switching gate and forming gates arranged parallel to one another.

[0004] background

[0005] In technology, devices are often required with which several machine elements are to be moved independently of one another, for example in order to adjust several flaps or similar. For this purpose, an actuator is always provided for each machine element to be moved, which actuator is suitable for moving or adjusting the corresponding machine element. The more machine elements that have to be moved, the more actuators are required. On the one hand, this means a considerable amount of technical effort, as many resources are used up to provide the actuators. Furthermore, the control of many different actuators is complex and, with increasing complexity, also more susceptible to control errors. Last but not least, a large number of actuators also means a lot of installation space and weight, which is often to be saved.

[0006] Task It is therefore the task of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a switching gate with which it is possible to move several slides independently of one another, whereby only a single drive is required for this purpose.

[0007] Solution

[0008] The above-mentioned object is achieved by a switching gate according to the features of patent claim 1. The present invention is a switching gate with a gate support and gate tracks embedded therein for guiding a ball and a slide arranged thereon and displaceable with a magazine received therein for holding at least one ball and for guiding a ball in the gate tracks, wherein the gate tracks are connected to one another via bending regions and form gates arranged parallel to one another, wherein non-return valves are provided in the bending regions so that the ball can only be guided in one direction from one gate to the next, and wherein the gate support is provided with the same number of slides as the number of gates, which slides are displaceably mounted on the gate support and can be driven by the ball.

[0009] By moving the carriage on the guide rail, a ball located underneath the carriage is guided through the individual guide tracks. The carriage drives the ball, which in turn can drive different slides one after the other, depending on the position to which the ball is guided by the carriage on the guide tracks. The ball can be guided one after the other from one guide track to the next. When passing through the bend, it must simultaneously overcome a backstop which ensures that the ball can no longer be guided back along the same path of movement, but is guided into the next guide track. Depending on the movement of the carriage, the ball can be guided different distances into a guide track. Accordingly, a slider driven by the ball can be moved different distances.It is also conceivable for the ball to be guided repeatedly over the bending area and the non-return valves there by a back and forth movement of the carriage, so that the ball travels a cascade-like movement path without driving a slide. For example, the ball can be guided into a certain guide track without having caused a slide to be moved in the previous guide tracks. This means that the ball can be moved precisely into certain positions simply by a corresponding back and forth movement of the carriage with different deflections, which in turn allows certain slides to be moved into the required positions. This means that different slides can be moved in different ways, independently of one another and to different extents, solely by moving the carriage.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment of the switching gate, the carriage can be driven by a drive unit and thus displaceable on the gate support. The drive unit can advantageously move the carriage in two opposite directions. This enables the carriage, with the magazine accommodated therein, to move back and forth. At the same time, the ball located underneath can also be displaced in the same way as the carriage moves. The carriage and gate support form a sliding connection. It is conceivable here that an additional sliding rail is provided on the gate support, which is at least partially encompassed by the carriage and thus guides the carriage in its sliding movement. The advantage of a separate sliding rail is that it effectively prevents the carriage from tilting when being moved.Instead of a sliding connection between the carriage and the link support, a linear or curved guide with ball, needle, and / or roller bearings can be provided. This allows for particularly quiet and low-resistance movement of the carriage.

[0011] In a further advantageous embodiment of the switching gate, the drive unit is a stepper motor which can generate a rotary movement or a linear movement. With a stepper motor, it is possible to carry out movements with precise positioning without additional control effort or control sensors. For example, a quarter turn can be achieved purely by controlling the stepper motor. When the movement of the stepper motor is transferred to the carriage, the carriage can be moved very precisely into a pre-determined position. Tolerances in the position depend on the transfer of the movement to the carriage, i.e. whether the transfer takes place directly or via a gear. Furthermore, the tolerances in the position are within the ranges usual for stepper motors.

[0012] A distinction can be made between stepper motors that generate a rotary motion or a translatory motion. A rotary motion can also be converted into a translatory / linear motion via appropriate couplings. Such a coupling can also be referred to as a gear. In a further advantageous embodiment of the

[0013] In a switching gate, it is provided that the carriage is connected to the drive unit via a gear mechanism, the gear mechanism having at least one lever which is rotatably connected to the drive unit and can be driven by the latter. The lever is advantageously fastened to the drive unit so that it can rotate and can be deflected or pivoted in accordance with the movement of the drive unit. The lever is advantageously fastened directly to the drive unit with one free end. The opposite, free end can act directly on the carriage or be operatively connected to the carriage via further machine elements, so that a movement of the lever is transmitted to the carriage. In any case, the lever is part of a kinematic chain which consists at least of a drive unit, a lever and a carriage.The transmission of the movement of the lever to the slide can also simultaneously cause a conversion from a rotary to a linear movement or vice versa.

[0014] It is conceivable, for example, for a coupling rod to be arranged in an articulated manner on the lever. This is advantageously arranged at the free end which is opposite the free end where the lever is fastened to the drive unit. Alternatively, it is conceivable that instead of a coupling rod, a gear arc, i.e. a circular segment of a gear, is arranged at the free end there. For example, the lever and the machine element arranged on it, which can be part of a gear transmission or else the carriage itself, can form a spur gear pairing in the form of a spur gear. It is equally conceivable that instead of a spur gear, an internal gear transmission is formed with a pairing of internally toothed and externally toothed spur gears, wherein a circular segment of an internally toothed spur gear is advantageously provided at the outer, free end of the lever.

[0015] It is also conceivable to provide a gear mechanism in the form of a rack and pinion instead of a lever. For example, the carriage can be moved via a rack and pinion, with the driving gear / pinion being arranged directly on the drive unit or indirectly connected to the drive unit via one or more intermediate gear pairs.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the shift gate, the gear mechanism is a slider-crank mechanism and additionally has a coupling rod. The coupling rod is rotatably connected to the slide and the lever, thereby enabling a linear sliding movement of the slide. This converts a rotational movement into a linear movement. The linear movement is transmitted directly to the slide via the coupling rod, allowing it to be moved back and forth.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the switching gate, the gate support is flat. This means that in the simplest case the gate support is designed as a plate. For this purpose, the flat gate support can also be referred to as a coding plate, since certain movement paths for balls are predetermined, or in other words coded, based on the gate tracks embedded in it. At least one side of the flat gate support forms a flat plane along which the carriage can slide. In a further advantageous embodiment of the switching gate, the gate support is curved. In the simplest case the gate support is designed as a cylindrical half-shell. In other words, this can also be referred to as a coding shell, since certain movement paths for balls are predetermined, or in other words coded, by the gate tracks embedded in it.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment of the switching gate, the magazine is spring-mounted on the slide and / or within the slide by means of at least one spring element. In this case, it is conceivable that the spring element is a leaf spring or a coil spring. Due to the spring-mounted mounting of the magazine on and / or within the slide, the slide can glide over the gate support together with the magazine without any jamming occurring on elevations. If, for example, the ball is guided over the backstop in the bend area, the backstop can be lifted briefly. This causes the magazine, which guides the ball, to swing into the slide and then, driven by the spring element, out of the slide or the slide housing again. This ensures smooth and even guidance of the ball.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment of the switching gate, each slide has two driving pins which project into the guide tracks via elongated recesses in the guide tracks and can be pushed there by the ball. The movement of the slide can therefore be transferred to the ball. The movement of the ball is transferred to one of the two driving pins, as a result of which the slide, to which the driven driving pin belongs, is set in motion and moved accordingly. This kinematic chain therefore ensures that the movement of the slide ultimately ends in the movement of a slide. By moving the slide back and forth accordingly, the ball can be guided through the individual guide tracks.Depending on how far the ball is pushed by the slide into the respective slide track and how far a driving pin of a slide is moved as a result, the corresponding slide is moved.

[0020] In a further advantageous embodiment of the shift gate, the backstops are designed as ramps. Ramps here are understood to be inclined planes. Specifically, such a ramp has a gentle rise on one side and a steep fall on the opposite side. Flat and steep are to be understood as relative terms to one another, so that one side of the ramp is flatter than the other. The effect of the ramp is that a ball can be moved over the ramp from the flat side with comparatively little expenditure of force. In the opposite direction, the ball hits the steep side of the ramp, whereby the expenditure of force to move the ball over it is disproportionately greater than if it were pushed over the flat side.

[0021] In the bending area, three slide tracks intersect, whereby a backstop must be overcome at the transition from a first slide track to a second slide track. The backstop is advantageously designed as a ramp, as described above. In this case, the flat side of the ramp points in the direction of the first slide track. If the ball is now pushed from the first slide track over the ramp into the second slide track, it must cross the flat side of the

[0022] Ramp. When the ball is then moved back again, it comes from the second slide track and hits the steep side of the ramp. At this point, the second slide track bends into a third slide track, which is arranged parallel to the first slide track. As it moves along the steep side of the ramp, the ball is deflected towards the third slide track. This means that the ball is not guided back into the first slide track, but is deflected into the third slide track because of the backstop. The movement sequence described here can be repeated as often as required, with the last third slide track also being the first slide track for the next movement sequence. If the movement sequence is repeated several times, the ball describes a cascade-like course as it passes through the individual slide tracks.This means that it is moved back and forth in a zigzag motion and can be driven by the carriage to any depth into the respective slide track.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment of the shift gate, the components of the shift gate are made of plastic. Particularly advantageous is the injection-molded production of all components. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the balls and spring elements to be made of metal instead of plastic. This ensures low wear and long durability.

[0024] Furthermore, in a further advantageous embodiment of the shift gate, the guide tracks have a semicircular profile. This allows a ball to roll along the guide tracks particularly easily and with low friction. This makes it easy to guide the ball through the guide tracks with a semicircular profile, effectively preventing and preventing unwanted lateral deviations of the ball or even tilting.

[0025] Further advantages, features and design options emerge from the following description of figures of non-limiting embodiments.

[0026] Brief description of the drawings The drawings show:

[0027] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a linear shift gate,

[0028] Fig. 2 is a further perspective view of a linear shift gate without drive unit,

[0029] Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the switching gate from Fig. 2,

[0030] Fig. 4 is a plan view of the switching gate from Fig. 2,

[0031] Fig. 5 a sectional view of the switching gate from Fig. 4

[0032] Fig. 6 a section of the slide support with slide tracks,

[0033] Fig . 7 a top view of the link carrier,

[0034] Fig. 8 is a plan view of another embodiment of the switching gate in linear design,

[0035] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the gate support of the switching gate from Fig. 8,

[0036] Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the switching gate from a frontal view,

[0037] Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the switching gate from a perspective view obliquely from above,

[0038] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a rotary shift gate,

[0039] Fig. 13 is a frontal view of the switching gate from Fig. 12, Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the switching gate from Fig. 13, Fig. 15 is an internal view of the gate support of the switching gate in rotary design,

[0040] Fig. 16 is an exploded view of the individual components of the rotary shift gate without drive unit.

[0041] In the drawings, elements provided with the same reference numerals essentially correspond to one another, unless otherwise stated. Furthermore, the drawings refrain from showing or describing components that are not essential to understanding the technical teaching disclosed herein. In the following, the reference numerals will not be repeated for all elements already introduced and illustrated, provided that the elements themselves and their function have already been described or are known to a person skilled in the art.

[0042] Detailed description of implementation examples

[0043] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a linear shift gate, which has a gate support 1 with a laterally attached slide rail 3. The gate support 1 is designed as an elongated, rectangular plate. A carriage 4 is arranged on the gate support 1 and is guided by the slide rail 3. Additionally, a magazine 5, which is only partially visible here, is accommodated inside the carriage 4.

[0044] Several slide tracks 2 are provided on the slide support 1, which are largely concealed by the other components in the illustration shown. Three parallel slides 7 are arranged below the slide support 1. They are designed as elongated rods with a rectangular cross-section and rounded edges.

[0045] The carriage 4 can be moved along the longitudinal extent of the link support 1. With corresponding movement of the carriage 4 this causes one of the slides 7 to move, whereby each slide 7 can be moved forwards and backwards independently of one another. This means that depending on the sliding movement of the carriage 4, the slides 7 can be controlled and moved individually. The carriage 4 is driven by a drive unit 10. In the embodiment shown, the drive unit 10 is designed as a motor, more precisely as a stepper motor and is connected to the carriage 4 via a lever 11 and a coupling rod 12. The lever 11 and coupling rod 12 form a so-called coupling gear in the form of a slider crank. The rotary movement caused by the stepper motor is transmitted to the lever 11.The coupling rod 12, which is hinged to the lever 11, transmits the movement to the carriage 4, whereby the rotary movement of the drive unit 10 is converted into an oscillating pushing movement of the carriage 4. With the help of the stepper motor, a rotary movement with precise angles can be generated, which is then correspondingly converted into a linear movement of the carriage 4. The carriage 4 can be moved back and forth with centimeter precision, or more advantageously with millimeter precision. The motor 10 can rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise and thus move the carriage 4 back and forth on the link support 1.

[0046] Fig. 2 shows a further perspective view of a shift gate in a linear design, as already shown in Fig. 1, but here without the drive unit 10 and the lever 11 and coupling rod 12. Three gate tracks 2 are embedded in the gate support 1 and extend along the longitudinal extent of the gate support 1. The profile shape of the gate tracks 2 is each semicircular so that a ball 18, which is not visible here, can roll in it. At the apex of the profile shape, a recess 13 in the form of a slot is provided in each of the gate tracks 2, which is not visible in the illustration shown. A driver pin 8 is guided through the slot from below into the gate track 2 and extends from a slide 7 upwards in the direction of the gate support 1 and projects into the gate track 2.Each slider 7 has two driving pins 8 that extend into the respective slide track 2, beneath which the respective slider 7 is arranged. To prevent the slider 7 from falling downward, a retaining plate 9 is additionally arranged beneath the slider 7. The slider 7 can slide back and forth on the retaining plate 9.

[0047] In the outermost slide track 2, which faces the viewer, a rib-shaped ramp 6 is provided, which is arranged there instead of a recess 13. The rib-shaped ramp 6 extends vertically upwards and projects beyond the slide support 1. The rib-shaped ramp 6 serves to guide a ball 18 back into the magazine 5 after all slide tracks 2 have been traversed.

[0048] Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of the shift gate from Fig. 2. The individual components of the shift gate are shown lined up one below the other in the order in which they would be assembled. A holding plate 9 is provided at the bottom. In the middle of the holding plate 9 there are three rectangular recesses arranged next to one another, into each of which a spring element 14 in the form of a leaf spring can be inserted. The spring elements 14 serve to press the slides 7, which are arranged above them, from below against the gate support 1. The driving pins 8 engage through recesses 13 (not visible here) in the gate tracks 2 of the gate support 1. Above the gate support 1 there is a magazine 5, which in turn is made up of several components.At the bottom, a magazine lower part 15 is provided, which in the assembled state lies directly on the link carrier 1 and can slide along it.

[0049] The magazine lower part 15 can be put together with a magazine middle part 16, the two parts forming a semicircular passage in their interior which can hold a plurality of balls 18. The balls 18 can be pushed in on one side via two opposite holes on the magazine lower part 15 and can then leave the semicircular passage again on the other. The balls 18 are prevented from falling downwards out of the magazine 5 by a magazine upper part 17. The magazine upper part 17 is designed as a clamp which is put onto the magazine middle part 16 from above and surrounds it on both sides. The clamp has an inward-facing projection on each of its outer ends.When assembled, the outer ends of the clip engage in lateral slots of the two opposite holes on the magazine base 15, so that the inward-facing projections block the passage through the holes for the balls 18. The hole is only released by the application of force. To do this, a force must be exerted on one side on a ball 18, which would push the ball 18 into the magazine 5. This causes the outer end of the clip to swing to the side and the.

[0050] Bullet 18 can pass through. At the same time, the bullet 18 pushes the other bullets 18 inside the magazine 15 ahead of it, so that on the opposite side, a bullet 18 is pressed out of the magazine 5. Here, too, the outer end of the clip is pushed to the side, so that a bullet 18 can pass through the opposite hole and thus leave the magazine 5. The force is directed outward from the magazine 5.

[0051] Above the upper part 17 of the magazine or above the entire magazine 5 there is a further spring element 14, also in the form of a leaf spring. This spring-loaded mounting of the magazine 5, which is accommodated in a slide 4, is provided. In the embodiment shown, the magazine 5 is pushed into the housing of the slide 4 from below. The spring-loaded mounting of the magazine 5 within the slide 4 is advantageous when the slide 4 slides over the link support 1 and, in the process, travels over elevations. In this way, the sliding movement of the slide 4 with the magazine 5 is not interrupted by an elevation. When it slides over, the magazine 5 is simply lifted within the slide 4 and springs back again due to the spring element 14.

[0052] Fig. 4 shows a top view of the switching gate, as shown in Fig. 2. Top view in this case means that the carriage is facing the viewer. The slides 7 are all in a uniform position. The driving pins 8 of the slides 7 lie against one end of the recesses 13 in the guide tracks 2. This means that from this position the slides 7 can only be moved in one direction: From the viewer's point of view the slides 7 can only be moved upwards until the second driving pin 8 of each slide 7 abuts the respective opposite end of the recess 13. The second driving pins 8 are covered by the carriage 4 here and cannot be seen.

[0053] Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the switching gate from Fig. 4, wherein the sectional plane A runs transversely to the longitudinal extent of the gate carrier 1 through the center of the slide 4. The arrangement of the individual components of the switching gate can be clearly seen in the order as already shown in Fig. 3. In particular, the semicircular passage can be seen, which is formed by the magazine lower part 15 and the magazine middle part 16. A number of balls 18 are accommodated in the semicircular passage. The number of balls 18 accommodated is such that they lie against one another and completely fill the semicircular passage. If a ball 18 is now pressed into the semicircular passage of the magazine 5 from one side, the outer end of the clamp of the magazine upper part 17 swings outwards to the side as a result of the force applied when it is pressed, and provides access to the semicircular passage.When a ball 18 is pushed in, a ball 18 on the opposite side is similarly pushed out of the magazine 5. The force is passed on from one ball 18 to the next. In the embodiment shown, as seen from the viewer, a ball 18 is pushed in on the right-hand side and pushed out again on the left-hand side. However, this can only happen if there is no longer a ball 18 on the left-hand side in the guide track 2 below the magazine 5. A ball 18 is pushed in on the right-hand side by a ball 18 on the outer right-hand guide track 2 being pushed up onto the rib-shaped ramp 6 by a corresponding movement of the slide 4, which simultaneously pushes the ball 18 into the magazine 5. Furthermore, Fig. 5 shows the resilient mounting by the spring element 14 within the slide 4.In this way, the magazine 5 can move up and down within the slide 4 without any undesired canting occurring during a sliding movement of the slide 4.

[0054] Fig. 6 shows a section of the link carrier 1 with link tracks 2, wherein in particular the transitions of the individual link tracks 2 into one another are shown. The transitions are arranged centrally along the longitudinal extent of the link carrier 1. The transitions can also be described as a kink area in the link tracks 2. The link tracks 2 to the right and left of the kink area are arranged offset from one another, so that a cascade-like path is produced for a ball 18 when it is moved from one link track 2 into the following link tracks 2.

[0055] The ball 18 starts in a first, outer guide track 2, which is located at the top left as seen from the viewer. When the ball 18 moves to the right, it is pushed over a backstop 19, which is designed as a ramp, in the bend area. At this point, the magazine 5 is lifted within the carriage 4 (neither shown here) and, after crossing the backstop 19, springs back into its original position. The ball 18 now enters the following guide track 2, which is offset from the first guide track 2. Depending on the movement along the guide track 2, it can push a driver pin 8 in front of it. The movement path of the ball 18 just described can then be repeated in mirror image.In this case, the previously overcome backstop 19 means that the ball 18 cannot be pushed back into the original, first guide track 2, but instead ends up in a guide track 2 arranged below it. In doing so, it has to overcome a further backstop 19 in the bend area. The repeated sequence of movements of the ball 18 within the guide tracks 2 causes a cascade-like movement path up to the last guide track 2, bottom left as seen from the viewer, where a ramp-shaped rib 6 is also arranged. When the ball 18 moves into this last guide track 2, it is simultaneously moved upwards in the direction of the viewer by the rib-shaped ramp 6. This means that the ball 18 is pressed into the magazine 5, which is not shown here.

[0056] Fig. 7 shows a plan view of the link carrier 1, wherein, as seen from the viewer, a plurality of links 20 arranged parallel to one another are marked by dashed lines from top to bottom. A link 20 is formed by two adjacent link tracks 2 which are connected to one another via a bend area and a backstop 19 arranged there. The movement of a ball 18 within a link 20 causes a slide 7 to move via the respective driving pins 8. A slide 7 can be assigned to each link 20. The exception to this is the last link 20, which is the lowest as seen from the viewer and serves to return the ball 18 back into the magazine 5 (not shown here), wherein at the same time during the return a ball 18 is again made available in the first link 20, which is at the very top as seen from the viewer.

[0057] Fig. 8 shows a plan view of a further embodiment of the switching gate in a linear design. The operating principle is the same as that already described in the previous figures. A carriage 4 can be moved back and forth linearly along the longitudinal extent of the gate support 1 by a drive unit 10 via a lever 11 and a coupling rod 12. In this case, a ball 18 is guided inside the carriage 4 within the gate tracks 2. Depending on the movement of the carriage 4, the ball 18 can push a driver pin 8 in front of it within the gate tracks 2 and in this way move a slide 7. By moving the carriage 4 back and forth, the ball 18 is guided inside the carriage 4 in a cascade-like manner from one gate track 2 to the next until it finally reaches the lowest gate track 2 as seen from the viewer.There it is pressed into the magazine 5 inside the carriage 4 with movement over the rib-shaped ramp 6, wherein at the same time on the opposite side a ball 18 is pressed out of the magazine 5 into the uppermost guide track 2 as seen from the viewer and is made available. The movement sequence just described can be carried out again. Depending on the deflection of the movement of the carriage 4, the ball 18 can be guided to different distances in the guide tracks 2. In this way the slides 7 can be moved to different distances from left to right or vice versa as required. In this way the slides 7 can be moved independently of one another with just a single drive unit, without the need for complex switching and / or gear arrangements.

[0058] Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of the gate support 1 of the shift gate, as shown in Fig. 8. The gate support 1 essentially corresponds to the gate support 1 from Fig. 7. The only differences are in the design of the outer ends of the gate tracks 2, which, however, has no effect on the operation of the shift gate. The same applies to the two following figures, which merely serve to better understand the function of the shift gate.

[0059] Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 each show a sectional view of the shift gate from different perspectives, namely a frontal view and a perspective view obliquely from above.

[0060] Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of a gearshift gate in a rotary design. Here, a drive unit 10 in the form of a stepper motor is provided, on which all other components of the gearshift gate are arranged axially to the drive axis of the drive unit 10. A gate support 1 is arranged directly on the drive unit 10, this being plate-shaped with a vertical, semicircular projection. Slide tracks 2 arranged parallel to one another are embedded in this semicircular projection, in which a ball 18 can be guided. The slide tracks 2 cannot be seen in the figure shown. The semicircular projection is supplemented by a congruent, semicircular shell so that an overall cylindrical shape is formed.

[0061] A plurality of slides 7 are arranged concentrically on the outside of this cylindrical shape. In the embodiment shown, three slides 7 are provided, each designed as a toothed ring. The slides 7 each have two driving pins 8 which extend radially inwards and protrude through recesses 13 in the guide tracks 2 in the form of elongated slots into the interior of the guide support 1. The driving pins 8, recesses 13 and the guide tracks 2 are concealed by other components and are therefore not visible in this figure.

[0062] Furthermore, a carriage 4 with a magazine 5 accommodated therein is provided inside the link support 1, wherein the carriage 4 has a semicircular profile and is arranged congruently to the semicircular projection of the link support 1. The carriage 4 can thus slide back and forth in a rotational manner over the link tracks 2 inside the link support 1 and in doing so guide a ball 18, which is not visible here, through the individual link tracks 2. Depending on the deflection, the carriage 4 can guide the ball 18 through the link tracks 2 in such a way that it moves the driving pins 8 of the individual slides 7 separately and thus brings about a corresponding rotation of the slides 7, which are shown here in the form of toothed rings.

[0063] Fig. 13 shows a front view of the shift gate from Fig. 12, with a vertical sectional axis A running centrally through the shift gate. The corresponding sectional view is shown in Fig. 14. In Fig. 13, the shift gate is shown such that the carriage 4 and slide 7 are in a basic position and there is no deflection of the carriage 4 and slide 7.

[0064] Fig. 14 shows a sectional view of the switching gate from Fig. 13, showing the arrangement of the individual components of the switching gate and their engagement with one another. Three slides 7 in the form of toothed rings are arranged concentrically on the gate support 1. A plurality of gate tracks 2, in which a ball 18 can be guided, are arranged parallel to one another on the inside of the gate support 1. The ball 18 can set driving pins 8 of the slides 7 in motion and thereby adjust the position of the slides 7. The driving pins 8 project into the interior of the gate support 1 via recesses 13 in the gate tracks 2. The ball 18 in the gate track 2 is provided by a magazine 5, wherein a plurality of balls 18 are arranged and held in a semicircular passage within the magazine 5.The magazine 5 is accommodated in a slide 4 and is spring-loaded by a spring element 14 in the form of a spiral spring. The magazine 5 and the slide 4 can slide along the slide tracks 2 on the inside of the slide support 1.

[0065] The operating principle of the rotary shift gate is the same as that of the linear shift gate. Instead of a linear movement, the slide moves in a rotary pivoting motion. The gate support 1 is not plate-shaped, but rather curved.

[0066] Fig. 15 shows an internal view of the gate support 1 of the switching gate in a rotary design. Here, parallels can be seen in the arrangement of the gate tracks 2, the recesses 13 arranged therein in the form of elongated slots and the kink areas with non-return valves 19 in the form of ramps from Fig. 7. Visually, the curvature of the gate support 1 is missing in the internal view shown here. The gate tracks 2 run towards the viewer on the left and right. Seen from the viewer, at the bottom left in the corresponding gate track 2 there is also a rib-shaped ramp 6 which is similarly curved. The guide paths of the ball 18 (not shown here) are similarly cascade-like and go from one gate track 2 via the kink areas to the next up to the rib-shaped ramp 6.In the bending areas of the slide tracks 2, return stops 19 in the form of ramps are provided, just as in the linear embodiment of the formwork.

[0067] Finally, Fig. 16 shows an exploded view of the individual components of the shift gate in a rotary design, although the drive unit 10 is not shown here. A rotary movement generated by the drive unit 10 is transmitted via a lever 11 to a carriage 4 with the aid of a pair of gears. The gear of the carriage 4 is arranged on the side facing away from the viewer and is therefore not visible. A magazine 5 consisting of an upper magazine part 17 and a lower magazine part 15 is received and spring-mounted in the carriage 4 via a spring element 14 in the form of a spiral spring. A semicircular passage is formed within the magazine 5, in which a number of balls 18 are received. The carriage 4 is received concentrically inside a gate carrier 1 and mounted for rotation. Seen from the viewer, a half-shell is arranged from below on the gate carrier 1, so that an overall cylindrical shape is formed.Three slides 7 in the form of toothed rings are arranged concentrically on the outside of this cylinder. Each slide 7 has two driving pins 8 that extend radially inward and protrude through recesses 13 in the guide rail 1 into its interior, where they can be displaced by a ball 18. The ball 18 can be guided in one of the guide tracks 2 by the carriage 4. The guidance of the ball 18 and the resulting adjustment of the slides 7 occurs according to the same principle as with the linear switching gate. List of reference symbols.

[0068] Scenery carrier

[0069] Slide track

[0070] Slide rail

[0071] Sleds

[0072] magazine

[0073] Rib-shaped ramp

[0074] slider

[0075] Driver tap

[0076] retaining plate

[0077] drive unit

[0078] lever

[0079] coupling rod

[0080] recess

[0081] spring element

[0082] Magazine bottom part

[0083] Magazine middle section

[0084] Magazine top

[0085] Bullet

[0086] Backflow preventer

[0087] backdrop

Claims

Patent claims 1. A switching gate with a gate support (1) and gate tracks (2) embedded therein for guiding a ball (18) and a slide (4) arranged thereon and displaceable with a magazine (5) received therein for holding at least one ball (18) and for guiding a ball (18) in the gate tracks (2), wherein the gate tracks (2) are connected to one another via bending regions and form gates (20) arranged parallel to one another, wherein non-return valves (19) are provided in the bending regions so that the ball (18) can only be guided in one direction from one gate (20) to the next, and wherein the gate support (1) is provided with the same number of slides (7) according to the number of gates (20), which are displaceably mounted on the gate support (1) and can be driven by the ball (18).

2. Shift gate according to claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (4) can be driven by a drive unit (10) and is thus displaceable on the gate support (1).

3. Shift gate according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive unit (10) is a stepper motor which can generate a rotational movement or a linear movement.

4. Shift gate according to claim 2, characterized in that the carriage (4) is connected to the drive unit (10) via a gear, wherein the gear at least one lever (11) which is rotatably connected to the drive unit (10) and can be driven by it.

5. Shift gate according to claim 4, characterized in that the gear is a slider-crank gear and additionally has a coupling rod (12), wherein the coupling rod (12) is rotatably connected to the carriage (4) and the lever (11), whereby a linear pushing movement of the carriage (4) can be effected.

6. Shift gate according to claim 1, characterized in that the gate support (1) is flat.

7. Shift gate according to claim 1, characterized in that the gate support (1) is curved.

8. Shift gate according to claim 1, characterized in that the magazine (5) is resiliently mounted on the carriage (4) and / or within the carriage (4) via at least one spring element (14).

9. Shift gate according to claim 1, characterized in that each slide (7) has two driving pins (8) which project into the gate tracks (2) via elongated recesses (13) in the gate tracks (2) and can be pushed there by the ball (18).

10. Shift gate according to claim 1, characterized in that the return locks (19) are designed as ramps.

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