Carrier profile with toothing

Abstract

A profile rail (1) made of sheet metal and having a tooth profile (2) extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the tooth profile (2) is formed from a multiplicity of lugs (3) and is suitable for interacting with a gearwheel, wherein the lugs (3) are bent out from a base portion (4) of the profile rail (1) and project forwards and each lug (3) encloses a lug angle (A) with the base portion (4), wherein the lug (3) has a lug height (5) in the normal direction in relation to the base portion (4) and wherein the profile rail (1) has a cross section and wherein a first limb portion (6) adjoins a first side of the base portion (4) and a second limb portion (7) adjoins a second side of the base portion (4), the second side being located opposite the first side, wherein the first limb portion (6) encloses a first limb angle (B) with the base portion (4) and the second limb portion (7) encloses a second limb angle (C) with the base portion (4) and both limb portions (6, 7) project forwards, and wherein, for each lug (3), a first punching edge (8) is formed on the base portion (4) and a second punching edge (9) is formed on the lug (3) itself and wherein the first punching edges (8) extend in the transverse direction over the entire base portion (4).

Description

[0001] Carrier profile with toothing

[0002] The present invention relates to a profile rail according to independent claim 1 and a method for producing a profile rail according to independent claim 14.

[0003] Profile rails are used in many technical applications due to their high stability and relatively low weight. A particularly suitable application is in industrial storage systems, which typically include tall and long rows of shelves, where profile rails form the supporting structures. Profile rails of this type are preferably used where transport equipment is to be moved along the storage system. These transport equipment can, for example, be self-driving robots that move along the shelves horizontally and / or vertically, loading them with the goods to be stored, or retrieving them from the shelves.

[0004] Technical solutions for transferring movement between the transport robot and the storage system are well known in practice. The transport robot can, for example, be moved using a gear on the transport robot, which interacts with a rack attached to the storage system. A disadvantage of this solution is that the rack, or the element that forms the counterpart to the gear on the transport robot, must first be adapted to the existing profile rails of the storage system and then laboriously attached. This requires additional components on the storage system, which, on the one hand, result in additional costs and, on the other, add weight compared to an existing storage system.

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages. This object is achieved by the features of independent claim 1.

[0006] According to claim 1, the object is achieved according to the invention if the profile rail made of sheet metal comprises a toothed profile extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the toothed profile is formed from a plurality of tabs and is suitable for interacting with a gear, wherein the tabs are bent out from a base section of the profile rail and protrude forwards and each tab encloses a tab angle with the base section, wherein the tab has a tab height in the normal direction to the base section and wherein the profile rail has a cross section and wherein a first leg section adjoins a first side of the base section and a second leg section adjoins a second side of the base section opposite the first side,wherein the first leg portion forms a first leg angle with the base portion, and the second leg portion forms a second leg angle with the base portion, and both leg portions project forward, and wherein a first punching edge is formed on the base portion and a second punching edge is formed on the tab itself for each tab, and wherein the first punching edges extend transversely over the entire base portion.

[0007] The solution according to the invention has the advantage that the drive element with which the gears of the transport robot interact is integrated into the profile rail.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0009] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the first leg angle and the second leg angle have substantially the same value, with the value being between 90° and 175°, and particularly preferably between 110° and 160°. The fact that the first and second leg angles have substantially the same value does not preclude, in the present case, the leg angles from also having slightly different values ​​due to manufacturing tolerances. A difference of up to 10° between the first and second leg angles is therefore considered to be substantially the same value.

[0010] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the first punching edge has a first punching edge end and a second punching edge end, wherein the first punching edge end lies in the region of the first leg portion and the second punching edge end lies in the region of the second leg portion.

[0011] It should be noted here that the first and second punched edges are created by a punching process to allow the tab to be bent out accordingly. Before the tab is bent out, both punched edges lie against each other. The second punched edge, assigned to the tab, is bent away from the first punched edge when the tab is bent out. It goes without saying that the punched edge ends of the first punched edge also form the punched edge ends of the second punched edge.

[0012] By arranging the ends of the punched edges in the area of ​​the leg sections, it is ensured that when the tabs are bent out, starting from the first punched edges, some of the tabs also lie in the area of ​​the leg sections. This offers the advantage that the material does not stretch too much when the tabs are bent out, and secondly, an additional supporting effect of the tabs is achieved in the area where the tabs lie in the area of ​​the leg sections. Adequate supporting effect and thus dimensional stability of the tabs is necessary in order to be able to absorb the forces generated when interacting with the gears of the transport robots without deformation. It has been shown that leg angles between 90° and 175°, and particularly preferably between 110° and 160°, are particularly suitable for bending the tabs out and for maintaining their shape.

[0013] According to a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the first punched edge end has a first punched edge height in the normal direction from and relative to the base section and the second punched edge end has a second punched edge height in the normal direction from and relative to the base section, wherein the first and the second punched edge height have substantially the same value and wherein the ratio of the first and second punched edge height to the tab height is between 0.1 and 1.0 and preferably between 0.2 and 0.9 and particularly preferably between 0.5 and 0.8.

[0014] The fact that the first and second punch edge heights have essentially the same value means, in this case, that the punch edge heights may also have slightly different values ​​due to manufacturing tolerances. A difference of up to 20% between the first and second punch edge heights is therefore considered to be essentially the same value.

[0015] Because the leg sections are at an angle to the base section and protrude forward, the first punched edge in the area of ​​the leg sections also runs at an angle to the base section. The punched edge ends are therefore spaced apart in the normal direction from the base section. Therefore, the further the punched edge ends extend into the leg sections, the greater the punched edge height values ​​become.

[0016] The tab height can also take on different values, depending on how far the tab is bent away from the base section. For the production of the tabs and their dimensional stability, it has proven advantageous if the ratio of the punched edge height to the tab height is between 0.1 and 1.0, preferably between 0.2 and 0.9, and particularly preferably between 0.5 and 0.8.

[0017] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the tab has a main section and the second punched edge in the region of the main section runs substantially parallel to the base section and a first support section adjoins a first end of the main section and a second support section adjoins a second end of the main section opposite the first end of the main section, wherein the first and second support sections each enclose a first and a second support angle with the base section and wherein the support angles have a value between 1° and 85° and particularly preferably a value between 10° and 50°.

[0018] The shape of the tab is created by bending the tabs out of the base section material. As already described, the tab is bent away from the base section to a certain height, the tab height. The lateral areas of the tab, which form the transition to the material from which the tab was bent, form the support sections. It has proven advantageous if the support angle is between 1° and 85°, and particularly preferably between 10° and 50°.

[0019] Between the support sections, the tab has a main section, with the second punched edge running essentially parallel to the base section in the area of ​​the main section. Essentially parallel in this case implies that the second punched edge follows a non-straight path of any kind. The relevant line here is the straight line formed by the starting point and the end point of the main section of the tab. Due to manufacturing tolerances, an angle of up to 20° between the straight line and the base section is considered essentially parallel.

[0020] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the main section of the tab has substantially the same width as the base section. The main section of the tab is thus essentially formed by the area that is bent out from the base section, while the support sections of the tab are preferably located in the region of the leg sections.

[0021] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the second punching edge in the region of the support sections encloses a leg section support angle with the leg sections, and this leg section support angle has a value between 30° and 120° and particularly preferably between 60° and 100°.

[0022] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the connection of the respective support sections to the main section of the tab has a radius, wherein the radius has a value of at least 5 mm.

[0023] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the profile rail has a closed profile.

[0024] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the link angle has a value between 50° and 90°, and particularly preferably between 60° and 80°. The link angle represents an important shape parameter of the tooth profile formed by the links.

[0025] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the metal sheet has a material thickness of 1-2.5 mm. With a lower material thickness, the required strengths would only be achievable with a significant amount of material. Furthermore, a tooth profile constructed according to the present invention would not be able to permanently transmit the forces generated when interacting with a gear of the transport robot. A material thickness of more than 2.5 mm, on the other hand, would result in excessive forces being required to bend the tabs out of the base section.

[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the punched edges have a punched edge spacing from one another, and the ratio of punched edge spacing to plate height is between 1.0 and 1.9. In other words, the punched edge spacing describes the distance between the plates forming the tooth profile. It goes without saying that this value must be selected such that the geometry of the tooth profile matches the geometry of the gear with which it is intended to interact. Since all plates are designed to be as similar as possible, both the distance between the first punched edges and the distance between the second punched edges can be used for the punched edge spacing.

[0027] With the exception of the first link of the tooth profile, each link is arranged between two second punched edges. The link height is therefore practically no greater than the distance between the second punched edges. Therefore, the closer the ratio of punched edge distance to link height is to 1.0, the closer the links are arranged and the further the individual links are bent away from the base section.

[0028] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the first and second punched edge ends defines the punched edge length and the ratio of punched edge length to tab height is between 1.5 and 6.0. It is obvious that the tab is bent out over the entire length of the punched edges, so that the punched edge length essentially corresponds to the width of the tab. The ratio of punched edge length to tab height is an important parameter for the production and strength of the tabs. The larger the ratio, the easier the tab can be bent out without cracks forming in the transition area to the unbent material. However, as the ratio increases, the supporting effect of the support sections on the main section of the tab decreases.If the ratio is too small, the tab cannot be bent into the desired shape of the main section without cracks occurring in the transition area to the unbent material.

[0029] A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides that the tabs forming the tooth profile do not protrude from the profile. The tabs do protrude outward on the profile rail. However, the arrangement of the base section in conjunction with the leg sections ensures that the tabs are arranged in a kind of recess. The tabs therefore do not protrude beyond the leg sections in the normal direction to the base section. In other words, the leg sections are designed such that they are higher than the tab height.

[0030] The present invention also provides a method for producing a profile rail from a metal strip, wherein the following steps are provided: Bending the leg sections relative to the base section such that, in a cross-section of the profile rail, a first leg section adjoins a first side of the base section and a second leg section adjoins a second side of the base section opposite the first side, wherein the first leg section forms a first leg angle with the base section and the second leg section forms a second leg angle with the base section, and both leg sections protrude forward; Introducing the punched edges such that the first punched edges are formed on the base section and extend transversely over the entire base section;Bending the tabs in such a way that the tabs are bent out of the base section of the profile rail and protrude forward and have a tab height in the normal direction to the base section and in such a way that a first punching edge is formed on the base section and a second punching edge is formed on the tab itself for each tab, wherein a tooth profile extending in the longitudinal direction of the profile rail is formed from the plurality of tabs and the tooth profile is suitable for interacting with a gear and; producing the profile of the profile rail by means of a suitable profiling process;

[0031] According to an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the profile is subsequently closed by joining. The two sides of the metal strip are brought into contact with one another and then joined together. The connection can be made, for example, by welding or folding. However, those skilled in the art are also aware of many other manufacturing processes with which a permanent connection between the two sides of the metal strip can be made. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the leg sections are first bent relative to the base section. If the leg sections have already been created when the tabs are bent out of the base section, the tabs are not subject to any further deformation during the production of the profile rail.

[0032] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the punching edges are created and the tabs are bent in one process step. The tool used for this purpose can comprise the punching tool and the bending tool. The tabs are created by the tool moving, for example, linearly in the normal direction to the base section. Since the tabs protrude towards the front, the tool moves from the rear towards the front of the base section. The punching tool first hits the base section from behind and creates the punching edges. As the movement of the tool continues, the bending tool comes into contact with the material of the base section, whereby the material is in turn bent by the continued movement of the tool up to a tool stop, thus forming the tabs.

[0033] An embodiment of the present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the following drawings.

[0034] They show:

[0035] Figure 1: a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention,

[0036] Figure 2: Cross section of the schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention according to Figure 1,

[0037] Figure 3: Sectional view of the schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention according to Figure 1,

[0038] In the following embodiments, identical parts are designated by identical reference numerals. If a figure contains reference numerals that are not further explained in the corresponding figure description, reference is made to the preceding or subsequent figure descriptions.

[0039] Figure 1 shows a profile rail 1 according to the invention with a tooth profile 2. For the sake of clarity, only a section of three tabs 3 of the tooth profile 2 is shown. Figure 1 also clearly shows that the tabs 3 are formed by punching the first and second punched edges 8, 9 and then bending the tab 3 forward. It goes without saying that a tooth profile 2 comprises a plurality of tabs 3 in order to be able to interact with a gear.

[0040] The profile rail 1 further comprises a base section 4 as well as a first leg section 6 and a second leg section ? opposite the first leg section 6. It can be clearly seen that the first punched edge end 10 and the second punched edge end 11 are each located in the region of the leg sections 6, 7, and that the first punched edge 8 extends from the first leg section 6 in the transverse direction over the entire base section 8 to the second leg section 7. The tabs 3, like the leg sections 6, 7, are bent forward and run in accordance with the first punched edge 8 in the transverse direction from the first leg section 10 to the second leg section 11. The tabs 3 have a main section 14, a second punched edge 9 and a first support section 17 and a second support section 18, wherein the support sections 17, 18 connect to the main section 14 with a radius 19.The main section 14 of the tabs 3 has approximately the same width as the base section 4 and the second punched edge 9 runs essentially parallel to the base section 4 in the area of ​​the main section 14. The support sections 17, 18 are at an angle to the main section 14 of the tabs 3 and, in a sense, form the transition from the tabs 3 to the leg sections 10, 11. The support sections 17, 18 also define a leg section support angle F with the respective leg section 6, 7 and the support angles D and E with the base section 4. Since the main section 14 of the tabs 3 runs essentially parallel to the base section 4, the support angles D and E each form adjacent angles, i.e. angles that together add up to 180°, to the angles defined by the main section 14 and the respective support sections 17, 18.

[0041] Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the profile rail 1 according to the invention as shown in Figure 1. It can be clearly seen that the first leg section 6 forms a first leg angle B with the base section 4 and that the second leg section 7 forms a second leg angle C with the base section 4, wherein the leg angles B, C in the illustrated embodiment have the same value of approximately 135°. Figure 2 also clearly shows the tab height 5, which is defined by the distance of the second punched edge 9 from the front of the base section 4. The first punched edge height 12, and analogously the second punched edge height 13, is formed by the distance of the first punched edge end 10 from the front of the base section 4 in the normal direction to the base section 4.It can be clearly seen that the value of the first punched edge height 10 is lower than the value of the tab height 5, with the second punched edge height 13 having approximately the same value as the first punched edge height 12. The ratio of the first punched edge height 10 to the tab height 5 is between 0.5 and 1.0 in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1. The arrangement of the plurality of tabs 3 can be clearly seen. The tabs 3 form the tab angle A with the base section 4, which angle has a value of 50° to 90° in this exemplary embodiment. It can also be clearly seen that the tabs 3, apart from the first tab 3 on the far right, are each formed between two first punched edges 8. The punch edge distance 20 is an important parameter for the tooth profile 2. It practically limits the tab height 5 and is a measure of how closely the tabs 3 are arranged to each other.

[0042] List of reference symbols:

[0043] 1 profile rail

[0044] 2 Tooth profile

[0045] 3 tabs

[0046] 4 Basic section

[0047] 5 Tab height

[0048] 6 first leg section

[0049] 7 second leg section

[0050] 8 first punching edge

[0051] 9 second punching edge

[0052] 10 first punch edge end

[0053] 11 second punch edge end

[0054] 12 first punching edge height

[0055] 13 second punching edge height

[0056] 14 Main section

[0057] 15 first end of the main section

[0058] 16 second end of the main section

[0059] 17 first support section

[0060] 18 second support section

[0061] 19 radius

[0062] 20 punch edge distance

[0063] 21 Punch edge length 22 Metal band

[0064] A Tab angle

[0065] B first leg angle

[0066] C second leg angle D first support angle

[0067] E second support angle

[0068] F leg section support angle

Claims

Claims 1. Profile rail (1) made of sheet metal with a toothed profile (2) extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the toothed profile (2) is formed from a plurality of tabs (3) and is suitable for interacting with a gear, wherein the tabs (3) are bent out from a base section (4) of the profile rail (1) and protrude forwards, and each tab (3) encloses a tab angle (A) with the base section (4), wherein the tab (3) has a tab height (5) in the normal direction to the base section (4), and wherein the profile rail (1) has a cross-section, and wherein a first leg section (6) adjoins a first side of the base section (4) and a second leg section (7) adjoins a second side of the base section (4) opposite the first side,wherein the first leg section (6) encloses a first leg angle (B) with the base section (4) and the second leg section (7) encloses a second leg angle (C) with the base section (4) and both leg sections (6, 7) protrude forward, and wherein for each tab (3) a first punching edge (8) is formed on the base section (4) and a second punching edge (9) is formed on the tab (3) itself, and wherein the first punching edges (8) extend transversely over the entire base section (4).

2. Profile rail (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first leg angle (B) and the second leg angle (C) have substantially the same value and that the value is between 90° and 175° and particularly preferably between 110° and 160°.

3. Profile rail (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first punched edge (8) has a first punched edge end (10) and a second punched edge end (11), and wherein the first punched edge end (10) lies in the region of the first leg section (6) and the second punched edge end (11) lies in the region of the second leg section (7).

4. Profile rail (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first punched edge end (10) has a first punched edge height (12) in the normal direction from and relative to the base section (4) and that the second punched edge end (11) has a second punched edge height (13) in the normal direction from and relative to the base section (4), wherein the first and the second punched edge height (12, 13) have substantially the same value and wherein the ratio of the first and second punched edge height (12, 13) to the tab height (5) is between 0.1 and 1.0 and preferably between 0.2 and 0.9 and particularly preferably between 0.5 and 0.

8.

5. Profile rail (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tab (3) has a main section (14) and the second punched edge (9) in the region of the main section (14) runs substantially parallel to the base section (4), and in that a first support section (17) adjoins a first end (15) of the main section (14), and a second support section (18) adjoins a second end (16) of the main section (14) opposite the first end (15) of the main section (14), and wherein the first and second support sections (17, 18) each enclose a first (D) and a second support angle (E) with the base section (4), and wherein the support angles (D, E) have a value between 1° and 85°, and particularly preferably a value between 10° and 50°.

6. Profile rail (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the main section (14) of the tab (3) has substantially the same width as the base section (4).

7. Profile rail (1) according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the second punched edge (9) in the region of the support sections (17, 18) encloses a leg section support angle (F) with the leg sections (6, 7) and this leg section support angle (F) has a value between 30° and 120° and particularly preferably between 60° and 100°.

8. Profile rail (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the connection of the respective support sections (17, 18) to the main section (14) of the tab (3) has a radius (19) and the radius (19) has a value of at least 5 mm.

9. Profile rail (1) according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the profile rail (1) has a closed profile.

10. Profile rail (1) according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the tab angle (A) has a value between 50° and 90° and particularly preferably between 60° and 80°.

11. Profile rail (1) according to one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the metal sheet has a material thickness of 1-2.5 mm. Punching edges (8) have a punching edge distance (20) from one another and that the ratio of punching edge distance (20) to tab height (5) is between 1.0 and 1.

9.

13. Profile rail (1) according to one of claims 1-12, characterized in that the distance between the first and the second punched edge end (10, 11) defines the punched edge length (21) and that the ratio of punched edge length (21) to tab height (5) is between 1.5 and 6.

0.

14. A method for producing a profile rail (1) from a metal strip (22) according to one of claims 1-13, comprising the following steps: Bending the leg sections (6, 7) relative to the base section (4) such that, in a cross-section of the profile rail (1), a first leg section (6) adjoins a first side of the base section (4) and a second leg section (7) adjoins a second side of the base section (4) opposite the first side, wherein the first leg section (6) encloses a first leg angle (B) with the base section (4) and the second leg section (7) encloses a second leg angle (C) with the base section (4) and both leg sections (6, 7) protrude forward; Introducing the punched edges (8, 9) in such a way that the first punched edges (8) are formed on the base section (4) and extend in the transverse direction over the entire base section (4); bending the tabs (3) in such a way that the tabs (3) are bent out of the base section (4) of the profile rail (1) and protrude forwards and have a tab height (5) in the normal direction to the base section (4) and in such a way that for each tab (3) a first punched edge (8) is formed on the base section (4) and a second punched edge (9) is formed on the tab (3) itself, wherein a tooth profile (2) extending in the longitudinal direction to the profile rail (1) is formed from the plurality of tabs (3), and the tooth profile (2) is suitable for interacting with a gear, and; Creating the profile of the profile rail (1) by means of a suitable profiling process.

15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the profile is subsequently closed by joining.

16. Method according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that first the leg sections (6, 7) are bent relative to the base section (4).

17. Method according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the introduction of the punched edges (8, 9) and the bending of the tabs (3) takes place in one process step.

Images