Stop and release device, separating device and suspended conveying system

Abstract

The invention relates to a stop and release device (1) for temporarily stopping and releasing transport carriages (130, 131, 132) on a profiled rail (5) of a suspended conveying system (505), comprising a bar (20) which can be moved between a release position and a blocking position. According to the invention, - the stop and release device (1) has a main body (10) which is designed as a U-shaped bent sheet metal part having two U-limbs, - the bar (20) is designed as a U-shaped bent sheet metal part and is mounted on the main body (10) to pivot about an axis (60) extending through two U-limbs of the bar (20) and preloaded into the blocking position by means of a spring (100).

Description

[0001] Stop and release device, singulation device and overhead conveyor system

[0002] The present invention relates to a stop and release device for temporarily stopping and releasing transport trolleys on an overhead conveyor system, comprising a latch adjustable between a release position and a locking position, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a singulation device for the singular release of one or more transport trolleys on an overhead conveyor system, as well as an overhead conveyor system comprising a profile rail on which at least one such stop and release device and / or such a singulation device is arranged.

[0003] From DE 10 2011 119411 B4 a stopper unit that can be installed on an overhead conveyor is known, wherein the overhead conveyor has a pawl driver in a slot of a support rail that is open at least on one side, on which brackets can be transported slidingly by means of pawl drivers.

[0004] From DE 195 27 819 A1, a singulation device for separating hangers is known, to which hangers can be assigned via at least one dispensing station. This station is attached to a clothes rail connected to at least one dispensing station, on which the hangers can be guided by their hooks to at least one destination station. To simplify the recognition control of the sorted hangers and thereby accelerate the redistribution process to designated destination stations, the singulation device for the separating hangers has a recognition-controlled, lockable gate that is open for the hangers assigned from at least one dispensing station without a recognition procedure. From DE 10 2012 015 040 A1, an overhead conveyor is known with a stationary guide rail arranged in a conveying plane and with several transport carriages movable along this guide rail in a conveying direction.The system provides for a singulation device in an end section of the guide rail for the piecemeal transfer of the transport cars, which are accumulated by gravity in the end section of the guide rail, to a rail unit that is movable relative to the end section of the guide rail. The singulation device can be moved by moving the rail unit into a defined transfer position relative to the end section of the guide rail from a first position, in which a first holding element engages with the first transport car in the conveying direction, to a second position, in which the first holding element releases the first transport car and engages a second holding element with the second transport car located behind the first transport car in the conveying direction.

[0005] A disadvantage of the stop and release devices known from the prior art, especially singulation devices, is that they are extremely elaborate and complex in design and therefore also expensive.

[0006] The present invention therefore addresses the problem of providing an improved or at least an alternative embodiment of a stop and release device of the generic type, which is in particular more cost-effective. This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] The present invention is based on the general idea of ​​constructing a stop and release device, known per se, for temporarily stopping and releasing transport trolleys on an overhead conveyor system, with a bar adjustable between a release position and a locking position, using only a few and simple sheet metal bending parts, and thereby being able to manufacture it much more cost-effectively than was the case with the stop and release devices known from the prior art.The stop and release device according to the invention comprises a base body designed as an i-shaped sheet metal bending part with two U-shaped legs, wherein the bolt is also designed as a U-shaped sheet metal bending part, has two U-shaped legs, and is pivotably mounted on the base body about an axis extending through both the two U-shaped legs of the U-shaped base body and the two U-shaped legs of the U-shaped bolt, and is pre-tensioned in its locking position by means of a spring. Both the base body and the bolt can be designed as one-piece U-shaped sheet metal bending parts, allowing them to be manufactured by a simple stamping and forming process. Naturally, appropriate screws are required to pivotally mount the bolt on the base body.The stop and release device according to the invention, in comparison to stop and release devices known from the prior art, essentially consists of only two U-shaped bent sheet metal parts, namely the base body and the bolt, as well as the spring and the screws for pivotally mounting the bolt on the base body. This allows for a significant reduction in the number of parts, thereby reducing not only the design effort but also assembly, storage, and logistics costs. The stop and release device according to the invention can thus be designed to be significantly more cost-effective and, at the same time, considerably simpler in construction.

[0008] Furthermore, an adapter block with a T-nut for fixing to a profile rail of an overhead conveyor system can be provided, which is arranged on the inside of a web connecting the two U-shaped legs of the base body. The adapter block allows for easy adjustment of the distance between the base body and a profile rail.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment of the stop and release device according to the invention, locking elements are arranged on the U-shaped legs of the bolt, projecting orthogonally and angled at a free end. When the bolt is in its locked position, these locking elements engage in the track of a transport carriage attached to the overhead conveyor system, thus stopping the carriage. When the bolt is pivoted relative to the base body into its release position, the locking elements are also moved out of the track of the transport carriage, allowing it to move freely again.

[0010] The locking elements can preferably be formed integrally with the bolt, thus eliminating the need for subsequent and therefore costly mounting of such locking elements to the bolt. Naturally, appropriate damping elements can also be arranged on the locking elements to reduce noise emissions from a transport carriage striking the locking element. In a further advantageous embodiment of the stop and release device according to the invention, the spring is designed as a coil spring and is hooked onto the base body on one side and onto the bolt on the other. Such coil springs are not only cost-effective but can also be manufactured in virtually any configuration, and hooking the coil spring onto both the bolt and the base body of the stop and release device simultaneously enables comparatively simple assembly, particularly without additional fixing means such as screws.Of course, fixing the device using screws is also conceivable. Such a spring, designed as a helical spring, also contributes to the cost-effective production of the stop and release device according to the invention.

[0011] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the stop and release device according to the invention, a pin extending parallel to the axis (pivot axis) and projecting outwards is arranged on one of the U-shaped legs of the bolt, wherein a rotatable locking device is provided on one of the U-shaped legs of the base body, which, in a locked position, fixes the bolt, particularly in its locked position, and, in a release position, releases the bolt. With such a rotatable locking device, which can be actuated manually or by means of an actuator, a permanent locking of the stop and release device, i.e., a permanent fixing of the bolt in its locked position, can thus be achieved relatively easily. This can be of great advantage, for example, during maintenance and repair work.

[0012] In a further advantageous embodiment of the stop and release device according to the invention, the rotatable locking device has an actuating element, which can be designed as a roller. By means of such an actuating element, adjusting the locking device, specifically rotating it, from its locked position to its released position and back can be accomplished relatively easily by hand. The actuating element can be moved by contact / impact with a corresponding actuating element or another suitable geometry, for example, a rod or a buffer. This application is conceivable if, for example, the overhead conveyor system is to transfer transport trolleys to a manually or automatically moved transport vehicle, which in turn is equipped with a profile rail for receiving the transport trolleys of the overhead conveyor system.

[0013] The rotatable locking device advantageously features a pawl with a recess designed complementary to the pin, into which the bolt pin engages positively in the locked position of the locking device. The recess designed complementary to the pin enables a self-locking position of the locking device in its locked position, thus reliably preventing accidental and unintentional release of the locking device.

[0014] The present invention is further based on the general concept of providing a singulation device for the individual release of one or more transport carts running successively on an overhead conveyor system, which has two oppositely oriented stop and release devices as described in the preceding paragraphs. By means of two stop and release devices arranged successively in the direction of travel on the overhead conveyor system, namely a first and a second stop and release device, singulation of the transport carts can thus be achieved in order to assign them, for example, to different further running routes at a subsequent switch or to remove them individually.A connecting rod, designed like a pendulum rod, is advantageously provided. This rod connects the two bolts of the first and second stop and release devices at adjacent U-shaped legs of the bolts, such that the bolt of the first stop and release device is in its release position while the bolt of the second stop and release device is in its locked position. Due to the appropriate length of the connecting rod, simply actuating one bolt of the first stop and release device, for example, from its release position to its locked position, simultaneously moves the bolt of the second stop and release device from its locked position to its release position. Adjustment of the bolts can be performed manually or by means of an electric actuator.This allows for the creation of a comparatively simple and therefore cost-effective singulation device, which can stop and release transport carts running sequentially along a profile rail of an overhead conveyor system. This enables the simple distribution of such transport carts to different subsequent tracks, as well as their removal, both manually and automatically.

[0015] The present invention is further based on the general concept of providing an overhead conveyor system with a profile rail, for example, an extruded aluminum profile, on which at least one stop and release device according to the preceding paragraphs and / or a singulation device according to the preceding paragraphs are arranged. This allows the advantages described with regard to the stop and release device and the singulation device, respectively, to be transferred to the overhead conveyor system with the profile rail. Specifically, these advantages lie in a structurally extremely simple and therefore both maintenance-friendly and cost-effective design of the stop and release device and the singulation device, and thus indirectly also of the overhead conveyor system.

[0016] Further important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0017] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The components of a higher-level unit, such as a device, apparatus, or arrangement, mentioned above and those to be mentioned below, which are designated separately, can form separate parts or components of this unit or be integral areas or sections of this unit, even if this is depicted differently in the drawings.

[0018] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0019] They show, schematically, each one

[0020] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a stop and release device in an exploded view, Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the stop and release device with a latch in a locked position,

[0021] Fig. 3a shows an embodiment of an overhead conveyor system according to the invention with a stop and release device in a locking position,

[0022] Fig. 3b shows a representation similar to Fig. 3a, but with a stop and release device in the release position.

[0023] Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a singulation device with a connecting rod,

[0024] Fig. 5a shows an embodiment of the singulation device with a first, locked transport trolley and a second, released transport trolley.

[0025] Fig. 5b shows another embodiment of the singulation device with a second locked transport trolley,

[0026] Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of the singulation device with a longer connecting rod compared to Fig. 4.

[0027] Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the singulation device with a locked locking device,

[0028] Fig. 8 shows a representation as in Fig. 7, but with the locking device unlocked. According to Fig. 1, a stop and release device 1 according to the invention for temporarily stopping and releasing transport trolleys 130, 131, 132 (see Figs. 3a, 3b, 5a and 5b) on a profile rail 5 of an overhead conveyor system 505 has a bolt 20 adjustable between a release position (see Fig. 3b) and a locking position (see Fig. 3a). The stop and release device 1 has a base body 10 designed as an i-shaped sheet metal bending part with two U-shaped legs, wherein the bolt 20 is also designed as a U-shaped sheet metal bending part and is pivotably mounted on the base body 10 about an axis 60 extending through two U-shaped legs of the bolt 20 and is pre-tensioned in the locking position by means of a spring 100.

[0029] An adapter block 30 with a T-nut 40 allows for fixation to a profile rail 5 of the overhead conveyor system 505, the adapter block 30 being arranged on the inside of a web connecting the two U-shaped legs. The T-nut 40 is screwed to the base body 10 using suitable screws 50 and locking rings 55, the locking rings 55 preferably serving only to secure the screws 50 during pre-assembly.

[0030] The bolt 20 is rotatably mounted on the base body 10 about the axis 60 by screws 70, nuts 80, washers 90, and spacers 95. To stop the transport carriages 130, 131, 132, the bolt 20 has an integral locking element 25 on each of its U-shaped legs, which, in its locking position, projects into a track of the transport carriage 130, 131, 132 and locks it. The locking elements 25 are arranged orthogonally to the U-shaped legs of the bolt 20 and are angled at one free end. Preferably, the locking elements 25 are formed integrally with the bolt 20. By pivoting the bolt 20 about the axis 60 in the direction of rotation as shown by the arrow 65 in Fig. 2, the locking elements 25 move upwards and release the running track and thus the transport carriage 130, 131 , 132.

[0031] The spring 100 pre-tensions the bolt 20 into its locking position, in which the track of the overhead conveyor system 505 is blocked and the next arriving transport car 130, 131, 132 comes to a standstill at the bolt 20. The spring 100 can be designed as a coil spring and can be attached to the base body 10 on one side and to the bolt 20 on the other, for example to associated elements 105.

[0032] An actuating element can be attached to a mounting opening 110. This can be, for example, a handle for manual operation, a Bowden cable that can be actuated manually or by a controlled actuator, or a roller.

[0033] A pin 140 (see Figs. 7 and 8) extending parallel to the axis 60 and projecting outwards can be arranged on one of the U-shaped legs of the bolt 20. As can be seen particularly in Figs. 7 and 8, a rotatable locking device 150 is provided on one of the U-shaped legs of the base body 10, which, in a locked position (see Fig. 7), secures the bolt 20 and, in a release position (see Fig. 8), releases the bolt 20. The rotatable locking device 150 can also include an actuating element 160.

[0034] If one examines Figs. 7 and 8 more closely, one can see that the rotatable locking device 150 has a pawl with a recess 170 designed complementary to the pin 140, into which the pin 140 engages in a form-fitting manner in the locking position of the locking device 150.

[0035] The base body 10 and / or the bar 20 can be formed in one piece.

[0036] According to Figures 4 to 6, a singulation device 2 according to the invention for the singular release of one or more transport trolleys 130, 131, 132 on an overhead conveyor system 505 comprises a first stop and release device 1, 1a and a second stop and release device 1, 1b as described in one of the preceding paragraphs, which are oriented opposite to each other. The two adapter blocks 30 are adjacent to each other.

[0037] A pendulum-like connecting rod 120 can be provided, which connects the two bolts 20 of the two stop and release devices 1 , 1a, 1 b to each other on an adjacent U-leg such that the bolt 20 of the first stop and release device 1 , 1a is in its release position, while the bolt 20 of the second stop and release device 1 , 1b is in its locking position.

[0038] Looking again at Fig. 2, it can be seen that the stop and release device 1 according to the invention, or rather its locking bar 20, is in a locked position and the locking elements 25 block the running track. In this state, the spring 100 is relaxed or at least partially relaxed.

[0039] Fig. 3a shows the stop and release device 1 according to the invention, mounted on a profile rail 5 of an overhead conveyor system 505 in the locking position, in which the path for the transport carriage 130 is blocked. For mounting, the T-nut 40 is inserted into a corresponding groove in the profile rail 5. The locking elements 25 engage in the running track of the transport carriage 130, so that it abuts the locking elements 25. Fig. 3b shows the stop and release device 1 according to the invention mounted in the same way, but in the release position, in which the transport carriage 130 can pass the stop and release device 1. The locking elements 25 do not engage in the running track of the transport carriage 130, so that it can move freely.

[0040] Fig. 4 shows two stop and release devices 1, 1a, 1b according to the invention, mounted rotated 180 degrees relative to each other about a vertical axis. These devices are a first stop and release device 1a and a second stop and release device 1b, connected to each other by a connecting rod 120. This connection ensures that either the first stop and release device 1, 1a is in a locked position while the second stop and release device 1, 1b releases the running track, or the first stop and release device 1, 1a releases the running track while the second stop and release device 1, 1b is in a locked position. In this way, the two stop and release devices 1, 1a, 1b according to the invention form the singulation device 2 according to the invention.

[0041] Fig. 5a shows the singulation device 2 according to the invention in a state mounted on a profile rail 5 in the locking position for the transport carriage 131 located at the end of the track in the direction of travel 67, i.e., at the end of the profile rail 5. The carriage 131 is held in its position while the track is cleared for the following transport carriage 132. The first stop and release device 1, 1a is in a locking position, while the second stop and release device 1, 1b releases the track. Fig. 5b shows the singulation device 2 according to the invention in a locking position for the following transport carriage 132 after the singulation device 2 has been actuated and the preceding transport carriage 131 has been released and removed as shown in Fig. 5a. The first stop and release device 1, 1a releases the track, while the second stop and release device 1, 1b assumes a locking position.

[0042] By alternately opening and closing the track, it is made possible that only one transport wagon 130, 131 can be released and removed at a time, without further transport wagons 130, 132 being able to follow immediately.

[0043] Fig. 6 shows an example of the construction of a singulation device 2 according to the invention with two stop and release devices 1, 1a, 1b according to the invention and a longer connecting rod 120 compared to Fig. 4, which defines a greater distance between the two stop and release devices 1a, 1b, whereby more than one transport trolley 130 can be transferred or removed simultaneously.

[0044] For its function as a singulation device 2, only the connecting rod 120 is additionally required, which connects the two bolts 20 of the adjacent stop and release devices 1, 1a, 1b. Because the base body 10 surrounds the bolt 20, the risk of injury, for example from crushing, is minimized.

[0045] The stop and release device 1 according to the invention and the singulation device 2 built therefrom can therefore be designed to be significantly more cost-effective and at the same time significantly simpler in construction.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Stop and release device (1) for temporarily stopping and releasing transport trolleys (130, 131, 132) on a profile rail (5) of an overhead conveyor system (505) with a latch (20) adjustable between a release position and a locking position, characterized in that - that the stop and release device (1 ) has a base body (10) designed as a U-shaped sheet metal bending part with two U-legs, - that the bolt (20) is designed as a U-shaped sheet metal bending part and is pivotable about an axis (60) extending through two U-legs of the bolt (20) and is pre-tensioned to the locking position on the base body (10) by means of a spring (100).

2. Stop and release device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that locking elements (25) are arranged on the U-shaped legs of the bolt (20).

3. Stop and release device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that - that the locking elements (25) are arranged orthogonally to the U-shaped legs of the bolt (20) and are angled at one free end, and / or - that the locking elements (25) are formed integrally with the bolt (20).

4. Stop and release device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the spring (100) is designed as a coil spring and is hooked on one side to the base body (10) and on the other side to the latch (20).

5. Stop and release device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - that a pin (140) running parallel to the axis (60) and projecting outwards is arranged on one of the U-shaped legs of the bolt (20), - that a rotatable locking device (150) is provided on one of the U-shaped legs of the base body (10), which in a locking position fixes the bolt (20) in its locking position and in a release position releases the bolt (20).

6. Stop and release device (1 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that the rotatable locking device (150) has an actuating element (160).

7. Stop and release device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the rotatable locking device (150) has a locking pawl with a recess (170) designed complementary to the pin (140), into which the pin (140) engages in a form-fitting manner in the locking position of the locking device (150).

8. Stop and release device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (10) is formed in one piece.

9. Stop and release device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latch (20) is formed in one piece.

10. Stop and release device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an adapter block (30) with a T-nut (40) for fixing to the profile rail (5) is provided, which is arranged from the inside on a web of the base body (10) connecting the two U-legs.

11. Singling device (2) for the singular release of one or more transport trolleys (130, 131, 132) on an overhead conveyor system (505), comprising a first stop and release device (1, 1a) and a second stop and release device (1, 1b) according to one of the preceding claims, which are oriented opposite to each other.

12. Singulation device (2) according to claim 11, characterized in that a pendulum-rod-shaped connecting rod (120) is provided which connects the two latches (20) of the two stop and release devices (1 , 1a, 1 b) to each other on an adjacent U-leg such that the latch (20) of the first stop and release device (1 , 1a) is in its release position, while the latch (20) of the second stop and release device (1 , 1 b) is in its locking position.

13. Overhead conveyor system (505) with a profile rail (5) on which at least one stop and release device (1 , 1a, 1 b) according to one of claims 1 to 10 is mounted. and / or a singulation device (2) according to claim 11 or 12 are / are arranged.

Images