Transfer equipment, processing equipment, and method for processing workpieces

Abstract

In order to provide a transport facility for transporting workpieces, in particular vehicle bodies, which is simple in structure and allows efficient workpiece transport, in particular for optimal processing of the workpieces, it is proposed that the transport facility has a main transport device, a lift device and a transfer device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transfer installation for transporting workpieces, which is particularly suitable for transporting vehicle bodies during the construction of vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, for example passenger cars. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicle bodies are usually coated, for example in a dip coating process. In this case, according to conventional methods, a linearly arranged continuous process is provided. For example, to carry out the coating process, the vehicle body is guided through a treatment vessel along a transport direction. However, such a linear process can be disadvantageous in terms of the flexibility that is often desired in the treatment of workpieces. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a transport installation which is of simple construction and which allows an efficient transport of workpieces, in particular for optimized workpiece processing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention by a transfer installation having the features of claim 1.

[0005] This transfer installation is used for transporting workpieces, in particular vehicle bodies, for example of motor vehicles, in particular passenger cars.

[0006] The transfer equipment preferably comprises: a main transport device for transporting the workpiece along a main transport direction; a lifting device, by means of which the workpiece can be displaced laterally and raised and / or lowered to a position arranged next to the main transfer device; a transfer device by means of which the workpieces can be transferred in a transfer direction extending transversely to the main transport direction from the main transport device to the lifting device and / or from the lifting device to the main transport device.

[0007] Due to the transport installation having a lifting device by means of which the workpiece can be lifted and / or lowered by laterally displacing it next to the main transport device, the workpiece can preferably be treated independently of its transport along the main transport direction, in particular whereby a separation can preferably be made between transport along the main transport direction and treatment at a position accessible by means of the lifting device.

[0008] It may be advantageous if the workpiece can be lowered into the treatment position by means of a lifting device. Preferably, the workpiece can be lowered into a fluid container, in particular an immersion bath, by means of the lifting device and thereby immersed in a liquid arranged in the fluid container, in particular an immersion bath.

[0009] The processing position is in particular arranged laterally displaced next to the main transport device.

[0010] The lifting device preferably has one or several, for example two or four, lifting units, which are preferably each provided with one or several lifting members.

[0011] The lift unit is in particular a lift column arrangement, by means of which a vertical movement can be realised for raising and / or lowering the workpiece.

[0012] Each lifting member preferably acts directly or indirectly on the workpiece to move it, for example one or more substantially L-shaped lifting members are provided which grip the bottom of the workpiece and are movable, in particular vertically, by sliding of the lifting member along the lifting unit.

[0013] It may be preferred if one or more lift members, in particular all lift members, are guided or can be guided within the gap area between two electrodes, respectively. For example, a number of electrodes may be arranged in the fluid container and extend away from the side wall of the fluid container, such that at least one substantially vertically extending section of each lift member does not extend beyond the side wall into the interior space of the fluid container more than the adjacently arranged electrode.

[0014] In one embodiment, the lifting device may have only two lifting units, which are particularly arranged on the same side of the fluid container.

[0015] Alternatively, the lifting device can have four lifting units, with two lifting units each being arranged on opposite sides of the fluid container.

[0016] Furthermore, alternatively, exactly two lift units can be provided, which are arranged on opposite sides of the fluid container and diagonally opposite one another with respect to the fluid container. In another embodiment, the lifting device may include a suspension device.

[0017] The suspension device has in particular a receiving frame, which forms the lifting member of the lifting device.

[0018] Furthermore, the suspension device preferably has one or more pushing and / or pulling members, such as belts, push cylinders and / or pull cylinders, in particular a push chain, which in particular can be electrically driven for lifting and / or lowering the receiving frame together with the workpiece arranged thereon.

[0019] It may be preferred if the main transfer device is a lateral transfer device, by means of which the workpieces can be transferred laterally.

[0020] The workpiece is oriented transversely, i.e. such that the longitudinal direction, in particular the longitudinal axis, of the workpiece is oriented transversely, in particular at least approximately perpendicular and / or at least approximately horizontally to the main transport direction.

[0021] In particular, when the workpiece formed as a vehicle body is arranged transversely, the vehicle longitudinal axis of the vehicle body can be oriented transversely, in particular at least approximately vertically and / or at least approximately horizontally, to the main transport direction, in case the workpiece formed as a vehicle body is arranged transversely.

[0022] The main transport device can be a chain transport device or a roller transport device or a suspended transport device. Furthermore, the main transport device can comprise a chain transport device and / or a roller transport device and / or a suspended transport device.

[0023] It may be advantageous if the workpieces are arranged on the respective transport devices, in particular the main transport device, the lift device and / or the transfer device, by means of a workpiece support.

[0024] For example, the main transport device may have a number of traveling carriages for accommodating the workpiece supports and / or the workpieces, each traveling carriage having, for example, a catch tray for catching dripping fluids, in particular cleaning and / or processing fluids.

[0025] It may be advantageous if the main transport device is a rail transport device, the running carriage being runnable along the main transport direction on the rails of the rail transport device.

[0026] The transfer device can be formed by one or more chain transport devices and / or one or more roller transport devices.Furthermore, the transfer device can have one or more chain transport devices and / or one or more roller transport devices.

[0027] The transfer device can be made in several parts and in particular can have several transport device sections, which can for example be arranged in or associated with a main transport device, in particular formed by telescopic devices and / or by drivable rollers and / or chains.

[0028] In particular, further transport device sections can be arranged, for example, in the lift device or can be associated therewith, in which case, for example, configurations in the form of driven rollers and / or chains can be provided.

[0029] The transport device section of the transfer device associated with the main transport device is in particular arranged movably along the main transport device and / or is associated with or arranged on a respective running carriage of the main transport device.

[0030] The transfer device section of the transfer device, which is associated with the running device, is preferably arranged and / or configured fixedly on the respective lifting device, in which case, in particular, the transfer device section cannot be moved from the respective lifting device to another lifting device.

[0031] It may be advantageous if the transport installation has a number of lifting devices arranged one after the other along the main transport direction, by means of which the workpiece can be displaced laterally in a number of ways and raised and / or lowered to positions arranged next to the main transport device, in particular lowered to a number of different processing positions.

[0032] Preferably, one such position, in particular one such processing position, is assigned to each lifting device. Preferably, exactly one such position, in particular exactly one such processing position, is assigned to each lifting device.

[0033] In one embodiment of the invention, the transfer device may have one or more support units on which the workpiece may be placed directly or indirectly, in particular by means of a workpiece support, for example by means of a traverse and / or a skid.

[0034] The workpiece can be transferred, for example placed, from the main transfer device onto one or more support units of the transfer device, in particular by sliding it horizontally.

[0035] It may be advantageous if one or more of the support units are movable. In particular one or more of the support units, in particular all of the support units, may be linearly slidable in a direction extending transversely to the delivery direction.

[0036] The transfer device preferably has a plurality of support units, in particular two rows of support units, which rows are movable towards each other to achieve a support position of the support units and / or movable away from each other to achieve a release position.

[0037] At the support position of the support unit, the support unit is preferably arranged as follows: i.e. so that the workpiece, possibly together with the workpiece support, can be placed thereon and / or transferred from or to the main transfer device.

[0038] In the release position of the support unit, the support unit is preferably arranged such that it does not interfere with the lifting movement of the workpiece by the lifting device, in particular its raising and / or lowering.

[0039] In the support position of the support unit, the support unit preferably overhangs into the workpiece hoistway.

[0040] The support unit acts on the workpiece in its support position, preferably below the workpiece and / or below the workpiece support.

[0041] The workpiece can be lifted from the one or more support units, preferably by means of a lifting device, in particular by means of one or more lifting members of the lifting device, thereby releasing the support unit itself and thereby moving the support unit from the support position to the release position.

[0042] The processing position, into which the workpiece can be lowered by the lifting device, can be arranged below one or more support units of the transfer device with respect to the direction of gravity.

[0043] In particular, the workpiece can be lowered completely into the area that is arranged below the support unit or units in order to reach a position, in particular a processing position.

[0044] The transfer installation is particularly suitable for use in processing installations for processing workpieces, in particular vehicle bodies, for example in the formation of motor vehicles, in particular passenger cars.

[0045] The invention therefore also relates to a treatment installation for treating workpieces, which treatment installation comprises, for example, one or more transfer installations according to the invention.

[0046] The treatment facility can be used to carry out the immersion treatment in particular.

[0047] The treatment installation therefore preferably has one or several treatment stations, with preferably one immersion bath being arranged in each treatment station.

[0048] The workpieces can be dipped into the respective immersion baths, preferably using one or more lift devices of the transfer installation.

[0049] Preferably, a separate immersion bath, in particular an individual immersion bath, is assigned to each treatment station.

[0050] However, it is also possible to provide an immersion tank which extends over several processing stations, in which case several lift devices are provided, in particular so that the workpieces can be placed in various positions in the immersion tank and, in particular, lowered into the immersion tank at different points.

[0051] By means of the lifting device at each processing station, each workpiece can be lowered, preferably linearly, along the direction of gravity and raised against the direction of gravity.

[0052] The immersion bath or baths of the treatment station or stations, in particular all immersion baths, are preferably arranged below the transport level, above which the workpieces can be transported by the main transport device along the main transport direction.

[0053] Therefore, in order to carry out a processing step using the processing equipment, preferably only an at least approximately horizontal movement from the main transport device to the lift device and - preferably except for a slight lifting of the workpiece - a vertical lowering of the workpiece into the respective immersion tank is required.

[0054] Preferably, a partial rotation of the workpiece can be provided, for example to avoid the formation of bubbles during immersion, but a complete rotation of the workpiece is preferably omitted. One or more of the processing stations, in particular all of the processing stations, are preferably electro-dip coating (electro-deposition) stations. Alternatively or in addition, one or more of the processing stations, in particular all of the processing stations, may be cleaning stations and / or pre-treatment stations.

[0055] Preferably, one or more of the processing stations, in particular all of the processing stations, can be accessible only from one side and / or only from the main transport device, in particular for feeding and / or unloading workpieces.

[0056] In that case, the treatment station, in particular the lifting device, is preferably not formed as a transfer station but rather as a box.

[0057] It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for processing workpieces, in which an efficient workpiece transport takes place.

[0058] This object is achieved according to the invention by a method as defined in the independent method claim.

[0059] The method for treating a workpiece comprises: Using a main transport device to transport the workpiece along a main transport direction; transferring the workpiece from the main transport device to the lifting device and / or from the lifting device to the main transport device in a transfer direction extending transversely to the main transport direction by means of a transfer device; In a position displaced laterally and arranged next to the main transport device, a lifting device is used to lift and / or lower the workpiece, the workpiece being lowered in particular to a processing position.

[0060] The method according to the invention preferably has one or more of the features and / or advantages described in relation to the transfer installation according to the invention and / or the treatment installation according to the invention.

[0061] Furthermore, preferably, the inventive treatment facility and / or the inventive transfer facility have one or more of the features and / or advantages described in connection with the inventive method.

[0062] For transferring a workpiece, it may be advantageous if the workpiece is received directly or indirectly by one or more support units of the transfer device and provided to the lifting device, which support unit or units are preferably moved away by the lifting device following the receiving of the respective workpiece, in particular moved out of the respective hoistway of the workpiece, which is arranged directly below the workpiece.

[0063] Furthermore, it may be advantageous if the workpieces are transported in a transverse orientation along the main transport direction and in a longitudinal orientation along the transfer direction.

[0064] Since the direction of movement along the main transport direction is at least approximately perpendicular to the direction of movement, in particular along the transfer direction, preferably no reorientation of the workpiece, in particular its rotation, takes place during the entire transport by the main transport device and / or the transfer device and / or the lifting device (except for possible oblique positions to facilitate immersion and / or lifting and / or to avoid bubble formation).

[0065] Additionally, the transfer facility, processing facility and / or method may have one or more of the following features and / or advantages:

[0066] The support units of adjacent processing stations are preferably arranged displaced relative to one another so that they are not blocked in their respective movements and thus the spacing between the fluid containers can be minimized.

[0067] It may be advantageous if a personnel-accessible area, in particular a maintenance area, is formed above the support unit.

[0068] In order to optimize the treatment, the workpieces can be washed or spray-cleaned, especially when they are removed from the respective fluid container. For this purpose, nozzles can be provided, for example, on the upper vessel edge of the fluid container or in the region of the upper vessel edge of the fluid container. Ultrafiltrates of the treatment medium can in particular be used as the washing or spray medium.

[0069] It may be advantageous if the lifting device comprises a swinging device for swinging the workpiece, in particular for optimizing the immersion or lifting process, which may in particular comprise a pendulum device with a plurality of pendulum arms, which are preferably mechanically or electrically coupled to one another in order to obtain a desired swinging movement and / or to limit the maximum swinging movement.

[0070] It may be advantageous if one or more of the pendulum arms extend at least partially between the two electrodes, in particular during the oscillation of the workpiece or also while maintaining the oscillating position, respectively, whereby the gap between the electrodes is preferably utilized to at least partially accommodate the pendulum arm or arms, whereby a preferably smaller width of the fluid container is realizable.

[0071] In that case the swinging movement of the workpiece is preferably limited so that the pendulum arm does not come into contact with the electrode.

[0072] Further preferred features and / or advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description of exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0073] In the drawings: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0074] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a processing installation, in which a transfer installation is provided having a main transfer device and a transfer device for transfer to a lift device, the lift device having two lift units on one side. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the main transfer apparatus with a workpiece disposed thereon. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically a vertical longitudinal section through the immersion bath of the treatment installation of FIG. 1, into which the workpieces are immersed by means of a lifting device. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1 of a first embodiment of a treatment installation, in which a lifting device is provided with two lifting units on each side. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a third embodiment of a treatment installation, in which a lifting device is provided having two lifting units arranged diametrically opposite each other. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows diagrammatically in a perspective view a fourth embodiment of a treatment installation, in which a lift unit is provided which is configured as a suspension device for a lift device. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows diagrammatically in a perspective view a fifth embodiment of a treatment installation, in which the transfer device is configured as a chain conveyor, and in which the workpieces are transferred directly from the main transport device to the lift device. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation, corresponding to FIG. 7, of a fifth embodiment of the treatment installation, in which the workpieces have been lowered into the immersion bath by means of a lifting device. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of the main transfer device of the fifth embodiment of the processing equipment shown in FIG. 7, in which the workpiece is placed at a position on the main transfer device, at which the workpiece is transferred along the main transfer direction. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view corresponding to FIG. 9 of the main transfer device and the workpiece, the workpiece being moved by the telescopic device towards the lifting device in order to transfer the workpiece from the main transfer device to the lifting device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0075] In all figures, identical or functionally equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numbers.

[0076] A first embodiment of a processing installation, generally designated 100 and shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, comprises one or more processing stations 102 for processing workpieces 104, in particular vehicle bodies 106.

[0077] The processing facility 100 is used, among other things, to apply a coating onto a workpiece 104 .

[0078] For this purpose, in particular a number of treatment stations 102 are provided, which are in particular configured as electric dip coating (electrodeposition) stations.

[0079] In the figures, only one processing station 102 is always shown for each processing installation 100. In practice, the processing installation 100 preferably comprises a plurality of processing stations 102, in particular which are configured at least approximately identically.

[0080] The processing facility 100 comprises a main transport device 108 by means of which the workpiece 104 can be transported along a main transport direction 110 .

[0081] The processing stations 102 are laterally displaced and arranged next to the main transport device 108 , in particular arranged successively along a main transport direction 110 .

[0082] One of the processing stations 102 will now be described in more detail with reference to the figures, with the caveat that the skilled person will understand that the other processing stations 102 are functionally similarly designed and that the main transport device 108 is used in particular to transport the workpieces 104 along a main transport direction 110 in order to selectively introduce them into one of the processing stations 102 or into several of them one after the other.

[0083] The processing station 102 comprises a fluid container 112, in particular an immersion bath 114, into which the workpieces 104 can be placed. To that end, the processing station 102 comprises a lift device 116 for raising and lowering the respective workpieces 104.

[0084] The lift device 116 has one or more, for example two, lift units 118 each provided with one or more lift members 120 .

[0085] The lift unit 118 is specifically a lift column device by means of which vertical movement can be achieved for raising and / or lowering the workpiece 104 .

[0086] Each lift member 120 acts directly or indirectly on the workpiece 104 to move the workpiece 104. For example, a substantially L-shaped lift member 120 may be provided that grips the bottom of the workpiece 104 and is vertically movable by sliding the lift member 120 along the lift unit 118.

[0087] The main transport device 108 is in particular a chain conveyor or a rail conveyor or a roller conveyor. In the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 3, the main transport device 108 is a rail conveyor.

[0088] The main transfer device 108 has one or more running carriages 122 for accommodating one or more workpieces 104 each.

[0089] Each traveling carriage 122 may have, for example, a catch tray 125 to catch fluid dripping from the workpiece 104 to minimize contamination of the surrounding area.

[0090] The traveling carriage 122 can directly accommodate the workpiece 104. Alternatively, for example, the traveling carriage 122 can be used to accommodate a workpiece support 124, for example a skid 126, on which the workpiece 104 is then arranged.

[0091] The running carriage 122 of the main transport assembly 108 includes a roller transport assembly 128, which can be seen particularly in FIG.

[0092] The workpiece support 124 or directly the workpiece 104 is supported on this roller transport device 128. The roller transport device 128 is oriented in such a way that the workpiece 104 can be moved in a transverse direction 130 of the main transport device 108, which is oriented transversely to the main transport direction 110.

[0093] This transverse direction 130 is in particular oriented perpendicular to the main transport direction 110 and at least approximately horizontal.

[0094] A lateral direction 130 of the main transfer device 108 is preferably oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction 132 of the workpiece 104 .

[0095] The workpiece 104 is therefore arranged in a transverse orientation on the main transport device 108 and is transportable in this transverse orientation along a main transport direction 110 .

[0096] The main transfer device 108 is therefore a lateral transfer device 134 .

[0097] The lateral direction 130 is simultaneously a transfer direction 136 along which the workpiece 104 can be moved in order to transfer the workpiece from the main transport device 108 onto the lift device 116 .

[0098] The processing facility 100 preferably includes a transfer device 140 by means of which the transfer takes place from the main transfer device 108 to the lift device 116 and from the lift device 116 to the main transfer device 108 .

[0099] Thus, the main transport device 108 , the transfer device 140 and the lift device 116 cooperate to transport the workpiece 104 within the processing facility 100 .

[0100] The main transfer apparatus 108 , the transfer apparatus 140 and the lift apparatus 116 together form a transfer apparatus 142 of the processing facility 100 .

[0101] The transfer device 140 is formed in two parts, one transfer device section 144 of the transfer device 140 being associated with the main transfer device 108 and the other transfer device section 144 being associated with the lift device 116 .

[0102] The transfer device section 144 of the transfer device 140 associated with the main transfer device 108 is formed in particular by a roller transfer device 128 on the respective running carriage 122 of the main transfer device 108 . The transport device section 144 associated with the lift device 116 is formed, for example, by another roller transport device 128 , which is arranged in particular substantially fixed relation to the processing station 102 .

[0103] The roller transport device 128 associated with the lift device 116 in particular has or forms a plurality of support units 146, which have, for example, rollers and are used to slidably accommodate the workpiece 104 and / or the workpiece support 124.

[0104] The support units 146 are in particular formed in the form of two mutually opposing rows 148 of support units 146 .

[0105] The two rows 148 of support units 146 are movable relative to each other, in particular towards each other and away from each other.

[0106] In the position of the rows 148 of support units 146 shown in FIG. 1, the rows are arranged in a release position, in which they are positioned particularly at a maximum distance from one another.

[0107] This release position is used specifically to release the hoistway for lowering the workpiece 104 into the immersion tank 114 .

[0108] In order to take away the workpieces 104 from the main transfer device 108 and to transfer the workpieces 104 to the main transfer device 108, the rows 148 of the support units 146 can be moved closer to each other so that the workpieces 104 can possibly be placed on the support units 146 by means of the workpiece supports 124 and thus transferred, in particular by suitable driving of rollers arranged on the support units 146. The driving of the rollers of the roller transfer device 128 is preferably performed via one or more mechanical couplings, in particular to avoid placing electrical components in areas of the processing stations 102 and / or the main transfer device 108, which are possibly supplied with liquid.

[0109] 1 and 3, a number of electrodes 150 are disposed within the fluid vessel 112, and particularly within the immersion bath 114. These are used to supply electrical current to the workpiece 104, thereby enabling an electrodeposition process to be performed, particularly for coating the workpiece 104.

[0110] As can be seen particularly from FIG. 3, the electrodes 150 are preferably distributed and positioned within the fluid container 112 as follows: the electrodes 150 are spaced apart from each other so that the lift members 120 can be inserted into the fluid container 112 between each two electrodes 150 in order to disturb the electric field formed by the electrodes 150 as little as possible.

[0111] In the embodiment of the processing facility 100 shown in FIGS. 1-3, the lift apparatus 116 has only two lift units 118, which are located on the same side of the fluid vessel 112.

[0112] The second embodiment of the processing equipment 100, shown in Figure 4, differs substantially from the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 in that the lift device 116 has four lift units 118, where two lift units 118 each are arranged on opposite sides of the fluid container 112.

[0113] Otherwise, the embodiment of the lift device 116 shown in FIG. 4 corresponds in terms of structure and function to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, so reference is made to the above description thereof to that extent.

[0114] The third embodiment of the processing installation 100 shown in Figure 5 differs substantially from the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 in that two lift units 118 are arranged on opposite sides of the fluid container 112. Furthermore, the lift units 118 are arranged displaced from one another in the lateral direction 130.

[0115] The lift units 118 are positioned diagonally opposite one another, particularly with respect to the fluid container 112 .

[0116] Otherwise, the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5 corresponds in terms of structure and function to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, so reference is made to the above description thereof to this extent.

[0117] The fourth embodiment of the processing installation 100, shown in Figure 6, is distinguished from the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 essentially in that the lift device 116 has a suspension device 152 instead of the lift unit 118 formed as a lift column unit.

[0118] The suspension device 152 has in particular a storage frame 154 which forms the lifting member 120 of the lifting device 116 .

[0119] The suspension device 152 further has one or more belts 156, which can be driven, in particular electrically, in order to enable the storage frame 154 together with the workpiece 104 placed thereon to be raised and / or lowered.

[0120] Instead of the belt 156, a chain or other traction member is also conceivable.

[0121] Otherwise, the fourth embodiment of the treatment installation 100 shown in FIG. 6 corresponds in terms of structure and function to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, so reference is made to the above description thereof to this extent.

[0122] The fifth embodiment of the processing installation 100 shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 essentially in that the transfer device 140 is formed by two chain transfer devices 158 .

[0123] In that case, one chain transfer device 158 is associated with the main transfer device 108 and is in particular arranged on the respective running carriage 122 of the main transfer device 108. The other chain transfer device 158 is associated with the lift device 116.

[0124] As is particularly clear from a comparison of Figures 7 and 8, the chain transfer device 158 associated with the lift device 116 is formed in two parts, in which case the two parts each having a chain of the chain transfer device 158 are slidable relative to each other, in particular can move away from each other and can move towards each other.

[0125] The two sections of the chain transfer device 158 thus replace the rows 148 of support units 146 of the third embodiment of the processing installation 100 shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0126] In particular, the two portions of the chain transfer device 158 associated with the lift device 116 are movable between a release position (see FIG. 8) and a support position (see FIG. 7).

[0127] As can be seen particularly from a comparison of FIGS. 9 and 10, the chain transfer device 158 associated with the main transfer device 108 is movable relative to the running carriage 122. The running carriage 122 in particular has a telescopic device 160 by means of which the chain transfer device 158 can be run out.

[0128] The telescopic device 160 can be used, in particular, to overcome the gap or interval that initially exists between the two chain transfer devices 158 of the transfer device 140, to ultimately ensure unhindered transfer of the workpiece 104 from the main transfer device 108 to the lifting device 116 or from the lifting device 116 to the main transfer device 108.

[0129] As further seen in FIG. 8, a rocking device 162 may be used to position the lift members 120 into their respective lift units 118 .

[0130] This may, among other things, allow tilting of the workpiece 104 as it is inserted into or removed from the fluid vessel 112, for example, to avoid bubble formation and the associated adverse effects of the coating process.

[0131] Otherwise, the fifth embodiment of the treatment installation 100 shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 corresponds in terms of structure and function to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, so reference is made to the above description thereof to this extent.

[0132] In other (not shown) embodiments of the processing facility 100, various components of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined. For example, the suspension device 152 of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 6 can be provided instead of the two lifting units 118 of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 10.

[0133] Moreover, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the above discussion that many of the features described in connection with the processing facility 100 are also important for the transfer facility 142, regardless of the actual processing of the workpiece 104 in particular. [Explanation of symbols]

[0134] 100 Processing Facilities 102 Processing Station 104 Workpiece 106 Vehicle body 108 Main Transport Device 110 Main transport direction 112 Fluid container 114 Soaking tank 116 Lifting device 118 Lift Unit 120 Lifting parts 122 Traveling carriage 124 Workpiece support 125 Catch Tray 126 Skid 128 Roller transfer device 130 Horizontal 132 Longitudinal 134 Horizontal transfer device 136 Delivery direction 140 Delivery Device 142 Transfer equipment 144 Transport Equipment Section 146 Support Unit 148 columns 150 electrodes 152 Suspension system 154 Containment Frame 156 Belt 158 Chain transfer device 160 Telescopic device 162 Rocking device

Claims

1. A transfer installation (142) for transferring a workpiece (104), in particular a vehicle body (106), comprising: The transfer facility (142) comprises: - a main transport device (108) for transporting said workpiece (104) along a main transport direction (110); a lifting device (116) by means of which the workpiece (104) can be displaced laterally and raised and / or lowered to a position arranged next to the main transport device (108), in particular lowered to a processing position; a transfer device (104) by means of which the workpiece (104) can be transferred from the main transfer device (108) to the lifting device (116) and / or from the lifting device (116) to the main transfer device (108) in a transfer direction (136) extending transversely to the main transfer direction (110); A transport facility having:

2. 2. The transfer installation (142) according to claim 1, characterized in that the main transfer device (108) is a lateral transfer device (134) by means of which the workpiece (104) can be transferred in a lateral orientation, and in which the workpiece (104) is oriented in the lateral orientation as follows: the longitudinal direction (132) of the workpiece (104), in particular its longitudinal axis, is oriented transversely, in particular at least approximately perpendicular and / or at least approximately horizontally, relative to the main transfer direction (110).

3. a) the main transport device (108) is a chain transport device (158) or a roller transport device (128) or the main transport device (108) has a chain transport device (158) and / or a roller transport device (128); b) the transfer device (140) is a chain transfer device (158) or a roller transfer device (128) or the transfer device (140) comprises a chain transfer device (158) and / or a roller transfer device (128); 3. The transfer installation (142) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. 4. The transport facility (142) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport facility (142) has a number of lifting devices (116) arranged one after the other along the main transport direction (110), by means of which the workpiece (104) can be displaced laterally and raised and / or lowered to a number of positions arranged next to the main transport device (108), in particular to a number of different processing positions.

5. 5. A transfer installation (142) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the transfer device (140) has one or more support units (146) on which the workpiece (104) can be placed directly or indirectly, in particular by means of a workpiece support (124), for example by means of a traverse and / or a skid (126), for example by horizontally sliding the workpiece (104) out of the main transfer device (108).

6. 6. A transfer installation (142) according to claim 5, characterized in that one or more of the support units (146) are movable, in particular linearly slidable, in a direction extending transversely to the transfer direction (136).

7. 7. The transfer installation (142) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the transfer device (140) has a plurality of support units (146), in particular two rows (148) of support units (146), the rows being movable towards each other to reach the support positions of the support units (146) and the rows being movable away from each other to reach the release position.

8. 8. The transfer facility (142) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the processing position, at which the workpiece (104) can be lowered by the lift device (116), is arranged below the one or more support units (146) of the transfer device (140) with respect to the direction of gravity.

9. 9. A processing installation (100) for processing a workpiece (104), in particular a vehicle body (106), said processing installation (100) comprising a transfer installation (142) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. 10. The treatment facility (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the treatment facility (100) has one or more treatment stations (102), each treatment station (102) being provided with an immersion tank (114) into which the workpiece (104) can be immersed by means of one or more lift devices (116) of the transport facility (142).

11. 11. The treatment facility (100) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the one or more immersion tanks (114), in particular all immersion tanks (114), are arranged below a transport level, and the workpieces (104) can be transported onto the transport level along the main transport direction (110) by means of the main transport device (108).

12. a) one or more of the treatment stations (102), in particular all of the treatment stations (102), are electro-dip coating (electro-deposition) stations; and / or b) one or more of said processing stations (102), in particular all of said processing stations (102), are accessible only from one side and / or from said main transport device (108) for feeding and unloading workpieces (104); A treatment facility (100) according to any one of claims 9 to 11.

13. A method for treating a workpiece (104), in particular a vehicle body (106), said method comprising: - transporting said workpiece (104) by means of a main transport device (108) along a main transport direction (110); - transferring the workpiece (104) from the main transfer device (108) to the lifting device (116) and / or from the lifting device (116) to the main transfer device (108) by means of a transfer device (140) in a transfer direction (136) extending transversely to the main transfer direction (110); - Lateral displacement of the workpiece (104) by means of a lifting device (116) to a position arranged next to the main transfer device (108), raising and / or lowering the workpiece (104), so that the workpiece (104) is lowered in particular to a processing position, How to have that.

14. To transfer the workpiece (104), the workpiece is received directly or indirectly by means of one or more support units (146) of the transfer device (140) and provided to the lift device (116); and the one or more support units (146) being moved away by the lifting device (116) following the receiving of each of the workpieces (104), in particular being moved out of the respective hoistways of the workpieces (104), which are arranged directly below the workpieces (104); 14. The method of claim 13.

15. 15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the workpiece (104) is moved in a transverse orientation along the main transport direction and in a longitudinal orientation along the transfer direction (136).

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