Brush strip unit for a support plate, and handling unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a brush strip unit (10) for a support plate (50) which has receiving slots (60), wherein the brush strip unit (10) has at least one brush support element (12) with a longitudinal axis (11) and a height (H) that runs perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (11), said brush support element having an upper face from which at least indirectly secured brush elements (16) protrude and means designed to raise or lower the brush elements (16) in order to change the degree of friction between the support plate (50) and an object (O) positioned on the brush elements (16) or on the support plate (50).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Brush strip unit for a carrier plate and handling unit

[0003] Technical area

[0004] The invention relates to a brush strip unit for a carrier plate having receiving slots, which is characterized by a particularly advantageous structural design with regard to the raising and lowering of the brush elements. Furthermore, the invention relates to a handling unit comprising a carrier plate with at least one brush strip unit arranged in a receiving slot.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Technical brushes for handling objects, in particular for changing the friction during transport of objects in the area of ​​conveyor systems or similar, are already known from the state of the art.

[0007] For example, it is known from DE 10 2021 107 258 A1 to provide a plurality of brush strip units arranged parallel to one another. Each brush strip unit has a plurality of brush elements arranged next to and behind one another, which are fastened to a brush carrier element. The brush carrier elements are arranged between conveyor belts of a transport device for objects and can be lowered between the conveyor belts or raised above their upper side by means of a mechanically acting lifting drive. When the brush carrier elements are raised above the level of the conveyor belts, the objects stand on the brush elements so that they are not transported, whereas when the brush carrier elements are lowered to a level below the conveyor belts, the objects stand exclusively on the conveyor belts so that the conveyor device can transport the objects. DE 102016 125492 A1 also describes a perforated orA carrier plate with openings is known, with balls arranged in the openings or holes that can be lifted. These balls can be used to reduce the friction between an object and the carrier plate when the balls are raised to a level above the carrier plate, thus allowing the object to be moved easily.

[0008] Most recently, it is known from DE 3722 399 A1 to arrange rotatably mounted balls in the area of ​​a loading area of ​​a motor vehicle, which are arranged in the area of ​​holes in a support plate of the loading area. Using tubular lifting elements, the support plate can be raised or lowered to either bring the balls into contact with an object arranged on the support plate or lower the object onto the support plate.

[0009] Disclosure of the invention

[0010] The brush strip unit according to the invention for a carrier plate having receiving slots, with the features of claim 1, has the advantage that it enables universal applicability for carrier plates typically having T-slot-shaped receiving slots in a particularly simple design. The brush strip unit according to the invention is thus particularly suitable, for example, for retrofitting existing or standardized and thus readily available carrier plates.

[0011] Against the background of the above explanations, a brush strip unit according to the invention for a carrier plate having receiving slots, with the features of claim 1, therefore has at least one brush carrier element with a longitudinal axis and a height running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. At least indirectly attached brush elements protrude from the upper side of the brush carrier element. Furthermore, means are provided which are designed to raise or lower the brush elements in order to change the friction between the carrier plate and an object arranged on the brush elements or the carrier plate. The means consist of a volume-variable and / or shape-variable design of the brush carrier element which can be positioned in a receiving slot and which is dependent on the pressure of a medium, so that when the volume of the brush carrier element changes, its height changes.

[0012] The invention thus encompasses all solutions in which at least the height of the brush holder element increases upon a pressure increase in the brush holder element due to a medium, in particular a gaseous medium, that can be introduced into the brush holder element. The teaching of the invention thus also encompasses solutions in which, due to a structural design of the brush holder element, no change in volume or cross-section occurs upon a pressure increase in the brush holder element, but only a change in height.

[0013] Advantageous further developments of the brush strip unit according to the invention for a carrier plate having receiving slots are listed in the subclaims.

[0014] A particularly advantageous embodiment is one in which the brush strip unit comprises a plurality of brush carrier elements whose volume can preferably be changed simultaneously, i.e. synchronously. This means that, in principle, any desired size of transport areas or surfaces on the carrier plates can be equipped using brush strip units according to the invention, and particularly simple scalability to the respective application is enabled. In particular, the brush carrier elements can be identical or of the same design, which simplifies their assembly and manufacture. However, it is also conceivable to apply a medium differently to brush carrier elements or groups of brush carrier elements in order to control the transport or handling of the objects, in order to simultaneously generate transport areas and storage areas for the objects in different areas of the carrier plate.

[0015] In order to be able to adapt the at least one brush holder element particularly easily to different required lengths or lengths of the receiving slots, it is further provided that the at least one brush holder element is connected to a connection adapter that can be connected to a positive pressure and / or negative pressure source for a medium. A gas, preferably compressed air, is used as the medium. However, depending on the application, it is also conceivable to use a non-compressible or only slightly compressible liquid as the medium.The use of a vacuum source is useful when a particularly rapid lowering of an object onto the carrier plate is required and / or when the weight of the object is relatively low, so that the escape of the medium from the brush carrier element takes a relatively long time and / or the at least one brush carrier element in the pressureless state has a mechanical stability that hinders the reduction of its height.

[0016] In a particularly preferred structural embodiment of the at least one brush holder element, said element comprises a first component made of an elastic material, which is tubular and has a round or rectangular cross-section. This (first) component increases its volume when subjected to pressure from the medium and serves to lift the brush elements. Using a rectangular cross-section for the first component has the advantage that the hose or the first component does not twist in the receiving slot when pressure is applied or reduced, since the outer cross-section can rest positively or flatly against the cross-section of the receiving slot in some areas.

[0017] Alternatively, the at least one brush carrier element can comprise a first component which is made of an elastic or rigid material, is tubular in shape, and which preferably has a round or rectangular outer cross-section at a first pressure of the medium, and the outer cross-section of the first component is enlarged and / or changes its cross-sectional shape at a second pressure of the medium which is higher than the first pressure.

[0018] In a preferred development of the last proposal, it is provided that the at least one brush carrier element has a dimensionally stable second component which is operatively connected to the first component, in particular connected to the first component, and to which the brush elements are fastened. This second component is in particular in the form of an extrusion made of (relatively hard) plastic and preferably has a T-shaped cross-section. The base of the "T" is arranged on the upper side of the first component and is preferably connected to it, while the section protruding from the base engages (positively) in the upwardly open receiving slot of the carrier plate and thus enables optimal guidance of the brush elements during their movement. Furthermore, the base of the second component forms a stroke stop for the first component or the brush carrier element, i.e.that the maximum stroke of the brush elements is limited and defined.

[0019] There are various options for manufacturing the two aforementioned components of the brush holder element. In a first preferred embodiment, the two components are designed as separate components and connected to one another in a separate manufacturing step. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the two components to be designed as a 1- or 2-component extrusion component. The first component can either have a closed cross-section or a cross-section that is open towards the second component and closed by the second component. Alternatively, the two separately manufactured components can also be arranged loosely in the receiving slot, but in at least indirect contact with one another.

[0020] The first component of the brush holder element can be manufactured as a continuous component using an extrusion process. In order to adapt it to the respective application or the length of the receiving slot in the carrier plate, at least one axial end section of the first component is thermally welded, glued, or sealed by a closure element (closure plug). In particular, when using a closure element, this provides the advantage that this closure element can be fixed in the receiving slot of the carrier plate, preferably by clamping, in order to enable dimensionally stable and defined positioning of the first component and thus also of the brush holder element in the receiving slot of the carrier plate.

[0021] A further preferred design provides that, when multiple brush holder elements are present, at least one connection adapter is connected to multiple brush holder elements simultaneously. This enables the use of a one-piece connection adapter and simplifies the assembly of the corresponding components in the area of ​​the carrier plate.

[0022] In a first possible arrangement, the connection adapter is connected to one end face of the brush holder element. This allows the connection adapter to be easily removed from the receiving slot of the carrier plate, thus not reducing the transport or storage space of the carrier plate.

[0023] Alternatively, however, it is also possible for both axial end sections of the brush holder element(s) to be sealed, and for the at least one connection adapter to be connected to the brush holder element in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the brush holder element. The adapter element thus protrudes from the top side of the carrier plate into the receiving slot.

[0024] Furthermore, the invention also comprises a handling unit for objects, with a carrier plate having receiving slots arranged parallel to one another, with at least one brush strip unit arranged within a receiving slot, wherein pneumatically or mechanically acting means are provided within the receiving slot at least for lifting brush elements arranged on the brush strip unit, which are designed to move the brush elements from a level below or at the level of an upper side of the carrier plate to a level above the upper side in order to reduce friction between an object and the carrier plate.

[0025] Preferably, the brush strip unit is designed according to the invention to be variable in volume and / or shape, as described above, with brush carrier elements arranged in a plurality of receiving slots. Alternatively, mechanical means for lifting or moving the brush elements can be used, for example, in the form of sliding wedges or similar lifting elements.

[0026] Finally, it is preferably provided that the cross section of the receiving slots has a first section with a first width for receiving the brush elements and a second section with a second width that is larger than the first width, in which a volume- and / or shape-variable region of the brush carrier element is arranged, wherein an outer width of the brush carrier element is greater than the first width of the first section and preferably corresponds at least approximately to the second width of the second section. Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the drawings.

[0027] Short description of the drawings

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of a carrier plate in the area of ​​its front side,

[0029] Fig. 2 shows a handling unit for objects, with a carrier plate according to Fig. 1, with brush strip units arranged in the carrier plate and with a common connection adapter for the brush strip units in a perspective view,

[0030] Fig. 3 shows the connection adapter of Fig. 2 in a perspective top view,

[0031] Fig. 4 shows a modified design of the brush strip units in the carrier plate compared to Fig. 2 in a perspective view and

[0032] Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show the functional principle of the brush strip unit in deactivated and activated states in schematic sectional views.

[0033] Embodiments of the invention

[0034] Identical elements or elements with the same function are provided with the same reference numbers in the figures.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows a partial area of ​​a rectangular carrier plate 50, made in particular of aluminum, in the area of ​​one end face of the carrier plate 50. The carrier plate 50 has, in the area of ​​its upper side 51, a plurality of receiving grooves 52 arranged parallel to one another, which form receiving slots 60. The receiving grooves 52 are identical and have an at least substantially T-shaped cross-section. A first section 53 with a first width b extends from the upper side 51 of the carrier plate 50. The first section 53 is adjoined by a second section 54, which has a second width B that is greater than the width b of the first section 53. The two sections 53, 54 each have a rectangular cross-section, the first section 53 having two chamfers 55, 56 in the area of ​​the upper side 51 of the carrier plate 50.Optionally, a third section 57 adjoins the second section 54 at the base of the receiving groove 52, which third section 57 in the illustrated embodiment also has a width b like the first section 53.

[0036] The receiving grooves 52 or receiving slots 60 serve to receive brush strip units 10. Due to the manufacturing process of the carrier plate 50, the receiving grooves 52 or receiving slots 60 typically run over the entire longitudinal extent of the carrier plate 50 up to its end faces.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a handling unit 100. Brush strip units 10 are arranged, for example, in the region of five receiving grooves 52 or receiving slots 60 arranged directly next to one another in the receiving grooves 52. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, as can be seen particularly clearly from Figs. 5 and 6, the brush strip units 10 consist of a tubular, volume-variable portion of a brush carrier element 12 as the first component 13, which is arranged in the region of the second section 54 of the receiving slot 60, and a dimensionally stable second component 14 in the form of a carrier element 15, which is connected to the respective first component 13.

[0038] However, it is also conceivable that the dimensionally stable second component 14 rests only on a side of the brush holder element 12 facing the respective receiving slot 60.

[0039] The brush carrier element 12 has a longitudinal axis 11 running parallel to the receiving slot 60 (Figs. 5 and 6). The carrier element 15 is made of a hard or dimensionally stable plastic material and has on its upper side a plurality of brush elements 16 arranged one behind the other in the direction of the receiving slots 60. In the illustrated embodiment according to Fig. 2, two adjacent rows 17, 18 of brush elements 16 are provided on each carrier element 15, which are arranged offset from one another.

[0040] It should also be noted that it is of course also possible to provide only one row 17, 18 with brush elements 16 (as shown in Figs. 5 and 6) on the support element 15. The solution shown in Fig. 2 with two or more rows 17, 18 with brush elements 16 has the advantage that a denser packing of the brush elements 16 can be achieved, thus enabling an increased load-bearing capacity for an object O shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

[0041] The two components 13 and 14 of the brush holder element 12 can each be manufactured separately and then bonded together, preferably by a material bond. Alternatively, the two components 13 and 14 form a monolithic 1- or 2-component extrusion component. In this case, the two components 13 and 14 are either made of the same material, or the second component 14 or the support element 15 is made of a harder plastic (e.g., PVC) than the first component 13 of the brush holder element 12.

[0042] The height h (Fig. 5) of the brush elements 16 can, for example, be between 1 millimeter and 30 millimeters. Taller brush elements 16 have the advantage that they have a softer effect on the object O and can therefore cause less damage, but have a lower load-bearing capacity than brush elements 16 with a lower height h. The diameter d of the brush elements 16 combined to form brush bundles 20 can also be adapted to the application and is, for example, between 0.5 and 20 millimeters. To reduce friction with the object O, the tips of the brush elements 16 facing the object O can also be rounded. The material used for the brush elements 16 is preferably a polymer, in particular PP or PPT. However, other materials are also conceivable, depending on the application.

[0043] Furthermore, the material of the brush elements 16 can be electrically conductive, for example, by adding carbon. This has the particular advantage that any electrostatic charges can be avoided when an object O moves along the carrier plate 50, especially if the brush carrier element 12 as a whole is electrically conductive and electrically contacted in order to dissipate the electrical charge from the brush carrier element 12 or the brush strip unit 10.

[0044] For fastening the brush bundles 20 in the carrier element 15, blind holes 22 are formed on the upper side of the carrier element 15, in which the brush bundles 20 are inserted, as is known per se from the prior art.

[0045] The carrier element 15 or second component 14 is T-shaped in cross-section, with a base section 23 arranged in the second section 54 of the receiving slot 60 and a receiving section 24 projecting into the first section 53, in which the blind holes 22 are also formed. The base section 23 forming a stroke stop 25 in the receiving slot 60 for the carrier element 15 or the first component 13 of the brush holder element 12 covers the entire brush holder element 12 in the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6 and has a first width Bi which almost corresponds to the width B of the second section 54 in the receiving slot 60.In contrast, the receiving section 24 has a second width B2 which is reduced compared to the first width Bi and which is adapted to the width b of the first section 53 of the receiving slot 60 in such a way that the receiving section 24 forms a tilt-proof linear guide of the carrier element 15 in the first section 53.

[0046] The first component 13 of the brush holder element 12, which consists of an elastic material, in particular a polymer, preferably silicone or TPE, has either a round or a rectangular cross-section with an oval inner contour 26. The first component 13 of the brush holder element 12 is located exclusively in the region of the second section 53 of the receiving slot 60. The elastic material of the first component 13 of the brush holder element 12 enables a volume-variable design of the brush holder element 12.

[0047] The support element 15 is fastened to the upper side of the first component 13 of the brush support element 12 in a manner known per se and not essential to the invention, for example by welding or gluing. The length of the brush support elements 12 or the support elements 15 is adapted to the respective length of the support plate 50 or the receiving slots 60. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the five brush strip units 10 with their brush support elements 12 are connected to a common connection adapter 30 on one end face of the support plate 50. The connection adapter 30, manufactured from plastic using an injection molding process, has connection pieces 32 for each brush support element 12 on the side facing the receiving slots 60. Furthermore, fastening sections 34 projecting into the receiving slots 60 are provided (Fig.3) are provided, the cross section of which is adapted to the cross section of the receiving slots 60 in such a way that the fastening sections 34 form a clamping connection with the cross section of the receiving slots 60 in order to be able to fasten the connection adapter 30 to the front side of the carrier plate 50 even without additional fastening elements.

[0048] As can be seen in particular from Fig. 2, the five connecting pieces 32 in the exemplary embodiment open into a common media connection 36 on the side of the connection adapter 30 opposite the connecting pieces 32. The media connection 36, which is equipped with a media coupling known per se from the prior art, is connected at least to an overpressure source 38, optionally additionally to a vacuum or negative pressure source 40, which are alternately fluidically connected to the media connection 36 via valves (not shown) in order to introduce a preferably gaseous medium under pressure into the brush holder element 12 or, if necessary, to suck the medium out.

[0049] The end regions of the brush holder elements 12 opposite the connection adapter 30 are sealed in a media-tight manner, for example by thermal welding, gluing, or by closure elements (not shown). When plug-like closure elements are used, these can be designed as a one-piece unit for several brush holder elements 12 and, corresponding to the fastening sections 34 on the connection adapter 30, form a positive or clamped connection with the receiving slots 60.

[0050] In Fig. 4, each brush strip unit 10 has, in the region of one end face of the carrier plate 50, a closure piece 42 that can be inserted into the receiving slot 60 by clamping, from which the end region of the brush carrier element 12, which has a round cross-section, protrudes. The respective brush carrier elements 12 can be connected either jointly or separately to the aforementioned overpressure source 38 or vacuum source 40.

[0051] The functionality of the brush strip units 10 is explained below using Figures 5 and 6 as follows:

[0052] In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the brush carrier element 12 has a rectangular cross-section, wherein the height H of the brush carrier element 12, running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 11, in a state not subjected to excess pressure from the medium, is such that the receiving portion 24 of the carrier element 15 partially protrudes into the second portion 53 of the receiving slot 60 such that the upper sides 43 of the brush elements 16 or the brush bundles 20 are arranged at least flush with the upper side 51 of the carrier plate 50, preferably below the level of the upper side 51 of the carrier plate 50. In this state, an object O arranged on the carrier plate 50 is out of contact with the brush bundles 20.

[0053] When pressure is applied to the brush carrier element 12 by means of the overpressure source 38, the brush carrier element 12 expands in height H such that the carrier element 15 is raised together with the brush bundles 20, until, in the illustrated embodiment, the base section 23 of the carrier element 15 comes into contact with the upper side of the second section 54 and thereby acts as a stroke stop 25. The upper sides 43 of the brush elements 16 or the brush bundles 20 thereby reach a level above the upper side 51 of the carrier plate 50, so that the object O comes out of contact with the carrier plate 50, thereby reducing the friction between the object O compared to the carrier plate 50 in order to enable easier transport or easier movement of the object O on the brush elements 16.

[0054] If the friction is to be increased, the excess pressure present in the respective brush holder element 12 must be reduced. This occurs either by the medium escaping from the brush holder element 12 via an outlet valve (not shown) with the excess pressure source 38 switched off due to the weight of the object O, or by activating the negative pressure source 40. However, especially with relatively heavy objects O, the weight of the object O alone is typically sufficient for this purpose.

[0055] The brush strip unit 10 described so far can be modified or altered in many different ways without deviating from the inventive concept.

Claims

Claims 1. Brush strip unit (10) for a carrier plate (50) having receiving slots (60), wherein the brush strip unit (10) has at least one brush carrier element (12) with a longitudinal axis (11) and a height (H) running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (11), from the upper side of which at least indirectly fastened brush elements (16) protrude, and with means designed to raise or lower the brush elements (16) in order to change a friction between the carrier plate (50) and an object (O) arranged on the brush elements (16) or the carrier plate (50), wherein the means consist of a volume-variable and / or shape-variable design of the brush carrier element (12) which can be positioned in a receiving slot (60) and which is dependent on a pressure of a medium, so that when the volume and / or shape of the brush carrier element (12) changes, its height (H) changes.

2. Brush strip unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the brush strip unit (10) comprises a plurality of brush carrier elements (12), the volume of which can preferably be changed simultaneously.

3. Brush strip unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one brush carrier element (12) is at least indirectly connected to a connection adapter (30) which can be connected to an overpressure source (38) and / or a negative pressure source (40) for the medium in order to change the volume and / or shape of the at least one brush carrier element (12).

4. Brush strip unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one brush carrier element (12) has a first component (13) made of an elastic or rigid material, which is tubular in shape and which, in a first pressure of the medium, preferably has a round or rectangular outer cross-section, and in that the outer cross-section of the first component (13) at a the first pressure increased second pressure of the medium is increased and / or its cross-sectional shape changes.

5. Brush strip unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one brush carrier element (12) has a dimensionally stable second component (14) which is preferably connected to the first component (13) and to which the brush elements (16) are fastened.

6. Brush strip unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the second component (14) is T-shaped in cross section, with a base section (23) forming a stroke stop (25) for the first component (13) and having a first width (Bi), and a receiving section (24) for the brush elements (16) arranged on the side opposite the first component (13) and having a second width (B2) reduced compared to the first width (Bi).

7. Brush strip unit according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the two components (13, 14) are designed as separate components (13, 14) and are connected to one another by a separate manufacturing step.

8. Brush strip unit according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the two components (13, 14) are designed as a 1- or 2-component extrusion component.

9. Brush strip unit according to claim 4 to 8, characterized in that at least one axial end section of the first component (13) is thermally welded, glued or sealed by a closure element.

10. Brush strip unit according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that when several brush holder elements (12) are present, the at least one connection adapter (30) is connected to several brush holder elements (12) at the same time.

11. Brush strip unit according to one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that the at least one connection adapter (30) is connected to an end face of the brush carrier element (12).

12. Brush strip unit according to one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that both axial end sections of the brush carrier element(s) (12) are closed or sealed in a media-tight manner, and in that the at least one connection adapter (30) is connected to the brush carrier element (12) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (11) of the brush carrier element (12).

13. Handling unit (100) for objects (O), with a carrier plate (50) having receiving slots (60) arranged parallel to one another, with at least one brush strip unit (10) arranged within a receiving slot (60), wherein pneumatically or mechanically acting means are provided within the receiving slot (60) at least for lifting brush elements (16) arranged on the brush strip unit (12), which are designed to move the brush elements (16) from a level below or at the level of an upper side (51) of the carrier plate (50) to a level above the upper side (51) in order to reduce friction between an object (O) and the carrier plate (50).

14. Handling unit according to claim 13, characterized in that the brush strip unit (10) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 12, and that brush carrier elements (12) are arranged in a plurality of receiving slots (60).

15. Handling unit according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the cross section of the receiving slots (60) has a first section (53) with a first width (b) for receiving the brush elements (16) and a second section (54) with a second width (B) which is enlarged compared to the first width (b), in which a volume-variable region of the brush carrier element (12) is arranged, wherein a Outer width of the volume-adjustable area of the Brush holder element (12) is greater than the first width (b) of the first section (53) and preferably at least approximately corresponds to the second width (B) of the second section (54).

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