Conveyor apparatus, treatment system, and method for conveying and treating workpieces

Abstract

The present invention relates to a conveyor apparatus (100) for conveying workpieces, in particular vehicle bodies, the conveyor apparatus (100) comprising the following: at least one conveying section (102) having a conveying direction (104); and one or more conveyor devices (106) which convey the workpieces along the at least one conveying section (102). The present invention also relates to a method for conveying and treating workpieces.

Description

[0001] Conveyor device, treatment plant and method for conveying and treating workpieces

[0002] The present invention relates to a conveying device for conveying and treating workpieces, in particular vehicle bodies. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a treatment system for conveying and treating workpieces, as well as a corresponding method for conveying and treating workpieces.

[0003] In practice, conveying devices are known which include conveying equipment or carriages that move workpieces to be treated linearly on a conveyor rail, the conveyor rail being arranged parallel to several treatment basins arranged one behind the other.

[0004] At the end of the treatment basins, the conveying devices are then rotated by 90 degrees to 180 degrees using a rotary table and moved back on a return rail or counter-running rail to pick up the next workpiece to be treated in the entry area of ​​the treatment basins.

[0005] Therefore, rotary tables or similar devices must always be provided at the ends of the conveyor rail or the return rail.

[0006] Furthermore, the conveyor rail and the return rail must be carefully coordinated during the installation of the associated treatment system, which includes the conveyor device and the treatment basins.

[0007] For space-saving return transport, the rotating shafts of the conveyor devices, on which the workpieces to be treated are picked up and around which the workpieces are rotated for treatment, are folded down along the return rail.

[0008] However, the hinge for folding down the conveyor devices for the return process is complex in design.

[0009] Energy transfer to the known conveying devices or carriages is generally inductive, which limits the payload or the number of possible conveying devices in the treatment process. Furthermore, current systems do not allow for the exchange of safety-related signals between the conveying devices, a stationary control and / or regulation unit, and a handheld operating device.

[0010] The present invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a conveying device that is easier, more flexible and more cost-effective to install and also complies with applicable safety regulations.

[0011] This problem is solved according to the invention by a conveying device for conveying workpieces with the features according to independent claim 1.

[0012] The conveying device is in particular a conveying device for conveying vehicle bodies which are to be treated in one or more treatment basins.

[0013] The treatment of vehicle bodies can, for example, be pretreatment and / or cathodic dip painting in a vehicle body paint shop, in which the vehicle bodies to be treated are rotated through several basins filled with a treatment fluid.

[0014] The conveying device comprises the following: at least one conveying section with one conveying direction; and one or more conveying devices which convey the workpieces along the at least one conveying section.

[0015] The conveying line is preferably arranged on a platform, for example a steel platform, so that the conveying equipment can be moved at the level of the top edge of basins filled with treatment fluid or above this level.

[0016] It can be advantageous if the conveyor line has at least one conveyor rail which includes one or more conveyor rail elements.

[0017] It can be advantageous if one or more conveyor rail elements are bent or curved. The conveyor rail elements are preferably bent in one or more radii so that they are available at the installation site of the conveyor device in the intended shape, i.e., in particular with the intended course of the conveyor section formed by the respective element.

[0018] If several bending radii are provided for a conveyor rail element, these can be in the same direction and / or opposite directions. The latter would result in such a conveyor rail element being, for example, S-shaped or meandering.

[0019] The conveyor line can therefore also include curved sections, which, for example, have a semicircular radius. This allows the existing rotary tables to be replaced and parallel conveyor line sections to be directly connected to each other using curved conveyor rail elements, thus enabling a more flexible and cost-optimized layout or design of the conveyor line's path.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that one or more conveyor rail elements are aluminium conveyor rail elements which have a) an extruded profile; and / or b) a double-T profile, preferably a symmetrical double-T profile.

[0021] The conveyor rail elements, which in particular have an aluminum extruded profile, preferably form together an electric monorail rail system, wherein each element has a double-T profile, I-profile or H-profile, i.e. in particular a symmetrical profile.

[0022] It can further be provided that the conveyor rail, preferably on the webs of the double-T profile of the conveyor rail elements, is equipped with: a) at least one leakage waveguide for controlling and / or regulating conveying equipment; and / or b) at least one symbol and / or code element, in particular at least one QR code and / or a barcode element, for determining the position of the conveying equipment along the conveying path; and / or c) at least one, preferably four, power lines, in particular copper power lines, for the three-phase power supply of the conveying equipment. The webs of the conveyor rail elements have, in particular, a perforated profile over the entire length of the conveyor rail element, so that retaining elements such as clips can be arranged at least approximately freely along the respective conveyor rail element.

[0023] The retaining elements can then be used to attach and guide the leakage waveguide, the QR tape and the four power lines to the conveyor rail elements.

[0024] The symbol and / or code element preferably comprises a plurality of consecutive symbols and / or codes, preferably two-dimensional codes or matrix codes, wherein two immediately consecutive symbols may be identical or differ from each other in shape and / or color. This allows the current position of a conveying device in relation to the conveying path to be detected very precisely.

[0025] A symbol and / or code element is particularly preferably designed as a QR code strip, wherein such a strip comprises a plurality of consecutive QR codes. This allows the exact position of a conveying device along the conveying path to be reliably determined by scanning one of these QR codes.

[0026] Alternatively or additionally, the symbol and / or code element can also be designed as a barcode element, which comprises several, preferably different, barcodes, by means of which the current position of a conveying device in relation to the conveying route can be recorded in particular.

[0027] Instead of a three-phase power supply for the conveying equipment, it would also be possible to supply the conveying equipment with direct current.

[0028] It can also be advantageous if two conveyor rail elements can be connected at least almost seamlessly.

[0029] Two adjacent conveyor rail elements can therefore be mounted seamlessly.

[0030] It can be advantageous if at least one connection between two conveyor rail elements includes an expansion joint or is designed as such. The conveyor rail elements can be mechanically separated from each other by expansion joints, which serve as length compensation and mechanical separation points.

[0031] The length compensation caused by the expansion joints between conveyor rail elements is particularly necessary when the floor or platform on which the conveyor line is erected has a coefficient of thermal expansion that differs from that of the conveyor rail elements.

[0032] The arrangement of expansion joints is preferably based on a predetermined maximum number of conveyor rail elements and / or building construction specifications.

[0033] It can be advantageous if the expansion joints – in relation to the conveying direction or the conveying distance – are arranged between the treatment basins of a treatment system, and consequently the conveying distance sections which are assigned to the treatment basins for treatment are free of expansion joints between the conveying rail elements.

[0034] It can be advantageous if the conveyor line has a large number of floor supports, with each conveyor rail element suspended from at least one floor support, in particular suspended in sections.

[0035] Expansion-free connections between two adjacent conveyor rail elements are advantageously supported by a floor support, i.e., in particular, that the conveyor rail elements concerned are pushed onto a receptacle of the floor support in a horizontal direction.

[0036] In one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that each floor support is adjustable for aligning the conveyor rail elements along and / or around a vertical axis.

[0037] The floor supports can therefore be adjusted both vertically and rotationally to align the conveyor rail elements with each other.

[0038] A floor support, for example, can weigh at least approximately 35 kg to 45 kg, preferably 40 kg. Furthermore, each conveying device may comprise two conveying units, which are preferably movable along and / or on and / or at the conveying path, and at least one rotating unit, which is arranged between the two conveying units.

[0039] A conveying device is preferably designed such that the conveying units are freely movable about two axes, so that the conveying devices can follow the bending radii of the conveying rail and the rotation unit between the two conveying units is rotatable, pivotable or tiltable.

[0040] Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the rotary unit is connected to each of the conveying units via at least one horizontal rotary bearing whose axis of rotation is horizontally aligned, and at least one vertical rotary bearing whose axis of rotation is vertically aligned, wherein preferably the horizontal axis of rotation and the vertical axis of rotation of the rotary bearings of the respective conveying unit intersect.

[0041] Each conveying unit is thus connected to the rotation unit via a type of cardan joint or double joint.

[0042] The vertical axis of rotation of the vertical rotary bearings is preferably arranged at least approximately in the plane of rotation of the impellers of the conveyor units. Consequently, the impellers and the vertical axes of rotation are aligned at least approximately with respect to the conveying direction.

[0043] Furthermore, it can be advantageous if an additional connecting horizontal rotary bearing is arranged between the rotary unit and the conveying units, the horizontal axis of rotation of which is aligned perpendicular to the other two axes of rotation, i.e., in particular, horizontally and perpendicularly to the conveying direction. This makes it possible for the conveying devices to also handle inclines and / or declines along the conveying path.

[0044] The rotating unit is preferably connected to the conveying units in such a way that it is arranged at least approximately aligned with the conveyor rail, the impellers of the conveying units, and / or the horizontal axis of rotation of the horizontal rotary bearings in a vertical direction, particularly in a direction of gravity. The center of gravity of the conveying equipment need not be located above the conveyor rail with respect to the direction of gravity, but can also be located laterally to the conveyor rail with respect to a direction transverse to the conveying direction.

[0045] It can be advantageous if all rotary bearings of a conveyor system are located above the conveyor line.

[0046] It can be advantageous if the horizontal rotary bearing and the vertical rotary bearing of one conveying unit are arranged and / or designed in a mirror-symmetrical manner with respect to a plane perpendicular to the conveying direction compared to the horizontal rotary bearing and the vertical rotary bearing of the other conveying unit.

[0047] In one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that a) the horizontal rotary bearing comprises an axial ball bearing or is designed as such; and / or b) the vertical rotary bearing comprises a plain bearing or is designed as such.

[0048] The axial ball bearings of the conveyor units preferably comprise two bearing shafts which are arranged in alignment with each other, i.e. the shaft axes lie on a common axis.

[0049] The axial ball bearings allow the rotating unit on the conveyor units to be folded down and / or raised.

[0050] The rotation unit can therefore preferably be rotated around the horizontal axis of rotation of the horizontal rotary bearings of the conveyor units from an upright position to a folded-down position and vice versa.

[0051] In contrast, the sliding bearings have a vertical axis of rotation, allowing the respective conveying unit to follow curved sections of the conveyor rail or conveyor track. When traveling around a curve, the conveying units rotate around this vertical axis and are pivoted relative to the rotating unit.

[0052] Axial ball bearings primarily transmit axial forces, whereas plain bearings primarily transmit rotational forces. Preferably, the bearing axes are secured against rotation in the direction of rotation and axially by shaft nuts.

[0053] It may also be provided that each conveying unit includes at least one wheel which rolls along the conveying track on the conveyor rail elements.

[0054] A conveying unit is preferably designed in such a way that it transfers occurring or applied loads of the rotating unit, the workpiece being picked up and processed, and the workpiece carrier on which the workpiece is arranged, to the conveying path by means of at least one wheel rolling above or on the conveying rail.

[0055] Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the conveying system includes at least one driving conveying unit, which has at least one drive device, and / or at least one moving conveying unit.

[0056] It is preferably intended that at least one drive unit is interchangeable. For this purpose, the drive units are designed to be modular.

[0057] It can be advantageous if each drive unit includes at least one electric motor, at least one inverter and at least one gearbox, which can be manually and / or automatically decoupled or coupled to the electric motor.

[0058] The gearbox of the drive unit is preferably flanged laterally to a driving conveyor unit and can be coupled to the impeller. The gearbox output shaft receives the impeller for coupling.

[0059] It can be advantageous if a lever is provided for the manual coupling or decoupling of the gearbox and motor of a drive unit.

[0060] The manual decoupling of the gearbox and motor of a drive unit of a conveyor unit allows the conveyor unit to be moved manually on the conveyor rail if necessary.

[0061] When the lever, especially a hand lever, is moved again, the motor is re-engaged with the gearbox. The lever could also be automatically disengaged and engaged via a cam mechanism, allowing for engagement and disengagement to be performed, for example, by pressing a button, using a control element, a push button, or similar means.

[0062] It can be advantageous if the driving conveyor unit includes a number of current collectors corresponding to the power lines of the conveyor rail, preferably spring-loaded contact finger elements, which contact the power lines for the power supply, in particular by sliding on them.

[0063] Preferably, four sliding contact finger elements are provided as current collectors, three 400 V contacts and one earthing contact.

[0064] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the moving conveyor unit comprises at least one optical sensor device, preferably a camera or a laser scanner, for detecting one or more symbols and / or codes of the symbol and / or code element of the conveyor rail and at least one antenna for short-range communication with the leakage waveguide of the conveyor rail.

[0065] Preferably, one of the QR codes of a symbol and / or code element designed as a QR band is detected by means of at least one optical sensor device, whereby the exact position of the respective conveying device along the conveying route can be reliably detected and determined.

[0066] Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that one of the conveying units has a radio antenna or the like, by means of which, in addition to short-range communication via the leakage waveguide, wireless communication to a stationary control and / or regulation unit of the conveying device can be realized.

[0067] It is also conceivable that one of the conveying units has a radio antenna or the like, which alternatively or additionally communicates wirelessly directly, i.e. in particular without the leakage waveguide, with a stationary control and / or regulating device of the conveying system.

[0068] It can also be provided that the positions of the driving conveying unit and the moving conveying unit are interchangeable with respect to the rotating unit. It can also be advantageous if each conveying unit has at least one maintenance access point, preferably a lockable maintenance door, which is preferably located on a side of the conveying unit facing away from the conveying rail.

[0069] This makes, for example, the pantographs, which are particularly prone to rubbing, or the camera or laser scanner easily accessible for maintenance or adjustment work.

[0070] It can be advantageous if each conveying unit includes at least one pair, preferably four pairs, of guide rollers which roll laterally and opposite each other on the conveying rail, the guide rollers being adjustable to adapt the tracking of the respective conveying device.

[0071] To keep the conveying equipment reliably on the track of the conveyor rail, preferably eight adjustable guide rollers are arranged on each conveying unit.

[0072] The guide rollers preferably roll laterally along the four flanks of the double-T profile of the conveyor rail elements and are arranged in pairs opposite each other, so that along each flank - with respect to the conveying direction - two guide rollers roll one behind the other.

[0073] In addition to guiding the track, the guide rollers also transfer any lateral forces, which may occur, for example, as a result of the folding down or straightening of the rotating unit, to the conveyor rail.

[0074] It can be advantageous if the rotating unit includes a shaft which is rotatably connected to the rotating unit and extends in a plane that is oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0075] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the shaft, together with the rotating unit, can be moved into at least one workpiece machining position and at least one return position by rotating the rotation unit around the axis of rotation of the horizontal rotary bearings of the conveyor units.

[0076] It may also be provided that the shaft has a roller at its end pointing away from the rotating unit. It may also be advantageous if the conveying device includes at least one counter-running rail, which is arranged below the conveying path with respect to the direction of gravity and is configured such that the rollers of the conveying devices roll on this rail when the rotating units or shafts are in the return position.

[0077] It can be advantageous if at least two workpiece carrier mounts spaced apart from each other are arranged on the shaft.

[0078] It can be advantageous if the workpiece carrier mounts are essentially mirror-symmetrical to a plane in which the shaft axis runs.

[0079] Furthermore, the conveying units of a conveying device or the centers of its impellers are preferably spaced so far apart from each other and / or from the shaft axis that there is no risk of the impellers lifting off the conveying rail when the center of gravity of the conveying device shifts, for example when the rotating unit is folded down or stood upright.

[0080] In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the rotary unit is connected to each conveying unit by means of at least one flexible and replaceable hose connection, which is arranged outside the conveying device and through which electrical lines for power supply are routed, wherein it is preferably provided that the hose connections have a quick-release fastener at at least one of their ends.

[0081] The power supply to the rotary unit is preferably designed to be flexible due to the movable rotary bearings between the rotary unit and the two conveyor units.

[0082] The length of the hose connections is preferably dependent on the greatest possible range of motion of the connections between the rotating unit and the conveying units.

[0083] Each hose connection is interchangeable, especially with regard to the electrical cables passing through it.

[0084] It may also be provided that a rotating unit has at least one

[0085] Drive device comprising at least one motor, at least one inverter and at least one gearbox, by means of which the shaft can be rotated about its shaft axis.

[0086] Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the at least one conveying section comprises at least one treatment section and at least one return section, which is preferably arranged at least approximately parallel to the at least one treatment section, and at least two deflection sections, which, in order to form a closed conveying section, connect the at least one treatment section and the at least one return section to each other in opposition to each other.

[0087] At least the treatment section and the return section are preferably arranged at approximately the same height level with respect to the direction of gravity.

[0088] The treatment section and the parallel return section are spaced 4 m to 8 m, preferably 6 m, apart from each other.

[0089] It can be advantageous if at least one conveyor line is divided into a large number of safety zones.

[0090] It can be advantageous if each safety area is assigned at least two safety modes, preferably one safety mode being an emergency stop mode and another safety mode being a mode with a reduced conveying speed.

[0091] The emergency stop mode should preferably not be bypassed.

[0092] The signal for the reduced conveying speed mode is preferably generated by a key switch or by operating a handheld control device.

[0093] It can be advantageous, especially when operating the conveyor manually, to switch to the mode with reduced conveying speed.

[0094] Preferably, at least one safety zone is a maintenance zone to which the emergency stop mode is assigned. The position of each conveyor unit along the conveyor line is known via the optical sensor system.

[0095] Preferably, the stationary control and / or regulating device is aware of a safe position of each conveying device at all times, whereby a safe position is understood to be a position that is safe in itself, can be safely detected by the optical sensor device and can be safely transmitted to the stationary control and / or regulating device and can also be safely processed by the stationary control and / or regulating device.

[0096] By determining, transferring and processing a safe position of the conveying equipment along the conveying route, personal safety is ensured in accordance with the machinery directive.

[0097] The stationary control and / or regulation of the conveying equipment is preferably safety-oriented, particularly with regard to the communication between the conveying equipment and the stationary control and / or regulation.

[0098] The primary goal is to increase personal safety.

[0099] It may also be provided that a mobile operating device or mobile operating unit such as a handheld operating unit is battery-powered and communicates wirelessly with the control and / or regulation unit of the conveying equipment, whereby the operating radius or area of ​​influence of the mobile operating device is defined by the selection of wireless communication.

[0100] It may also be provided that one or more operating areas are provided in the area of ​​a conveying device, preferably along the conveying path, which are on the one hand definable and / or adaptable and on the other hand are particularly safety-oriented.

[0101] Each operating area is assigned one or more conveying devices, which can preferably only be controlled and / or regulated safely from within their respective operating area. This means, in particular, that an operating area is linked to the positioning areas of conveying devices. An operating area can be a visual, working, and / or resting area in which an operator is located and who operates or commands the assigned conveying devices only from within this area, i.e., controls and / or regulates them. Consequently, the operator cannot control and / or regulate conveying devices in another operating area, thus preventing, for example, the remote control of conveying devices in another operating area that is not visible to the operator, and the potential impairment or injury of other operators or workers in that area.

[0102] Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the operating device or control unit includes a safety-related operating element, such as a two-channel enabling switch, and / or an emergency stop release function.

[0103] Furthermore, the operating device is preferably designed to initiate an emergency stop when it leaves the assigned operating area, especially without prior logoff.

[0104] Furthermore, it may be stipulated that the mobile operating device or mobile operating unit must always register with the respective area of ​​operation before its operating capabilities can be activated.

[0105] Alternatively or additionally, it may be stipulated that the mobile operating device must synchronize with the respective operating area to unlock its operating options, so that the respective data records are consistent.

[0106] Furthermore, the conveying device may be designed to control and / or regulate the movements of the conveying devices, i.e. preferably the translational and rotational movements, and / or the distances between any two conveying devices.

[0107] The latter is particularly to avoid collisions between the conveying equipment and / or between the conveying equipment and areas of the plant surrounding the conveying device.

[0108] The movement sequences of the conveying devices and the distances between them are preferably parameterizable, whereby the parameters for this can be preset and / or automatically set or adjusted based on the position information of the individual conveying devices. According to the invention, the conveying device for conveying workpieces is further comprised of a treatment system for conveying and treating workpieces, in particular vehicle bodies.

[0109] The treatment system comprises the following: at least one treatment area, which has at least one, preferably several, treatment basins arranged one behind the other, which are filled with a treatment fluid for the workpiece treatment; and at least one conveying device according to the invention, wherein the at least one conveying device is arranged on one side of the at least one treatment area.

[0110] It may also be provided that a lifting device with a lifting direction is provided in an entry zone and / or in an exit zone of the treatment area, which raises and / or lowers the shafts of the conveying equipment.

[0111] The object of the present invention is further achieved by a method for conveying and treating workpieces with the features according to the independent method claim.

[0112] The method according to the invention comprises the following steps:

[0113] Transferring a workpiece to a conveying device according to the invention, wherein the conveying device is arranged laterally from a treatment area of ​​a treatment system, which comprises several treatment basins arranged one behind the other and filled with a treatment fluid;

[0114] Picking up the workpiece, which is preferably arranged on a workpiece carrier, onto the shaft of one of the several conveying devices of the conveying system, wherein the receiving conveying device is in its processing position;

[0115] Conveying the workpiece along the conveyor route, wherein the workpiece is rotated through the fluid bath of one or more treatment basins of the treatment system in a treatment section of the conveyor route by means of the rotation unit of the conveyor device;

[0116] Transferring the treated workpiece out of the treatment area of ​​the treatment system; and returning the transferring conveying device to its return position to receive another workpiece to be treated.

[0117] For the treatment of the workpieces in one of the treatment basins, the respective conveying device can temporarily stop at a position next to the respective treatment basin, and the rotary unit then rotates the workpiece, which is picked up and locked on the shaft, through the fluid bath at the predetermined rotational speed.

[0118] Alternatively or additionally, the conveying device can continue moving in the conveying direction at a predetermined conveying or travel speed during the treatment, i.e., in particular during the rotation of a workpiece through the respective fluid bath. In this case, the conveying device does not stop next to the respective treatment tank to allow the workpiece to rotate through the fluid bath for treatment.

[0119] The method preferably has one or more of the features and / or advantages described in connection with the conveying device. Preferably, the conveying device also has one or more of the features and / or advantages described in connection with the method.

[0120] Further preferred features and / or advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the graphic representation of embodiments.

[0121] The figures show:

[0122] Fig. 1 shows a schematic, perspective representation of a conveying device of a conveying apparatus according to the invention, wherein the side facing away from a treatment area is shown;

[0123] Fig. 2 shows an enlarged section of Fig. 1;

[0124] Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the conveying device from Fig. 1;

[0125] Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of the conveying device from Fig. 1, showing the side facing a treatment area;

[0126] Fig. 5 shows an enlarged section of Fig. 4 in a perspective view; Fig. 6 shows a schematic, perspective view of two connected conveyor rail elements on a floor support;

[0127] Fig. 7 shows a schematic, perspective view of a floor support with a conveyor rail element pushed onto it;

[0128] Fig. 8 is a schematic side view of Fig. 7, looking towards the bottom support in the direction of conveyance;

[0129] Fig. 9 shows a schematic, perspective view of an expansion joint between two adjacent conveyor rail elements;

[0130] Fig. 10 is a schematic, perspective representation of a floor support;

[0131] Fig. 11 is a schematic top view of the base support of Fig. 10;

[0132] Fig. 12 shows a schematic vertical section view of a pair of sliding bearings and

[0133] Axial ball bearings;

[0134] Fig. 13 shows a schematic horizontal section view of a pair of plain bearings and axial ball bearings;

[0135] Fig. 14 shows a schematic, perspective view of a pair of plain bearings and axial ball bearings;

[0136] Fig. 15 shows a schematic, perspective view of a driving conveying unit, with the side facing a treatment area shown;

[0137] Fig. 16 shows another schematic, perspective representation of a driving conveying unit, showing the side facing a treatment area;

[0138] Fig. 17 is a schematic side view of the driving conveying unit from Figs. 15 and 16, looking towards the driving conveying unit in the conveying direction; Fig. 18 is a schematic side view of the conveying device from Fig. 1, looking towards the conveying device in the conveying direction;

[0139] Fig. 19 is a schematic vertical section view of Fig. 1;

[0140] Fig. 20 shows a schematic, perspective view of a driving conveying unit, with the side facing away from a treatment area shown;

[0141] Fig. 21 is a schematic, perspective view of a driving conveyor unit with an open maintenance door, showing the side facing away from a treatment area;

[0142] Fig. 22 shows a schematic, perspective view of a driving conveying unit, with the side facing a treatment area shown;

[0143] Fig. 23 is a schematic vertical section view of a driving conveying unit;

[0144] Fig. 24 shows a schematic, perspective view of a moving conveyor unit with an open maintenance door, showing the side facing away from a treatment area;

[0145] Fig. 25 shows a schematic, perspective representation of a moving conveying unit, with the side facing a treatment area shown;

[0146] Fig. 26 is a schematic vertical section view of a moving conveyor unit;

[0147] Fig. 27 shows a schematic, perspective view of a flexible and replaceable hose connection;

[0148] Fig. 28 is a schematic side view of a conveying device with the rotating unit and the shaft in the processing position, looking at the conveying device from the opposite direction of conveying; Fig. 29 is a schematic perspective view of a conveying device with a conveying unit in the return position; and

[0149] Fig. 30 shows another schematic, perspective view of the conveying device from Fig. 29.

[0150] Identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference symbols in all figures.

[0151] A conveying device 100 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is used for conveying workpieces (not shown).

[0152] Fig. 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of the conveying device 100 from the side facing away from a processing area.

[0153] In addition, Fig. 2 shows an enlarged section of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view, which also shows the side facing away from a machining area.

[0154] The conveying device 100 of Fig. 1 to 3 comprises a conveying section 102 with a conveying direction 104 and a conveying device 106 which conveys the workpieces along the conveying section 102.

[0155] The conveying device 106 comprises a driving conveying unit 108, a moving conveying unit 110 and a rotating unit 112, which is arranged between the two conveying units 108, 110.

[0156] The conveyor section 102 has a conveyor rail 114, which is arranged on a multitude of floor supports 116.

[0157] The conveyor section 102 is described in more detail in connection with Figures 6 to 10.

[0158] With respect to the conveying direction 104, the following conveying unit 110 is arranged in front of the driving conveying unit 108. However, it is also possible that the driving conveying unit 108 is arranged in front of the following conveying unit 110 with respect to the conveying direction 104, i.e., the following conveying unit 110 follows the driving conveying unit 108.

[0159] The driving conveying unit 108 and the accompanying conveying unit 110 are preferably configured in such a way that they are interchangeable with respect to their respective positions.

[0160] The conveying units 108, 110 roll on or along the guide rail 114, whereas the rotating unit 112 is not directly connected to the guide rail 114.

[0161] The floor supports 116 are preferably attached to a steel platform which is located next to the treatment area.

[0162] The driving conveying unit 108 comprises a drive device 118.

[0163] The conveyor units 108, 110 and the rotary unit 112 have lockable maintenance doors 120 through which the respective interior area and the components located there can be accessed.

[0164] In particular, Fig. 3 shows that each of the conveying units 108, 110 is connected to the rotary unit 112 via both a horizontal rotary bearing 122 and a vertical rotary bearing 124.

[0165] The horizontal rotary bearings 122 enable rotation about a horizontal axis of rotation 126.

[0166] The vertical rotary bearings 124, on the other hand, allow rotation about a vertical axis of rotation 128.

[0167] The horizontal axis of rotation 126 and the vertical axis of rotation 128 of a conveying unit 108, 110 are aligned perpendicular to each other and intersect each other.

[0168] By means of the two horizontal rotary bearings 122, the rotation unit 112 can be rotated about the horizontal axes of rotation 126 and thereby moved from the upright position shown in Figures 1 to 3 into a folded-down position. Conversely, a folded-down rotation unit 112 can be moved into an upright position by rotating it about the horizontal axes of rotation 126 of the horizontal rotary bearings 122 of the two conveyor units 108, 110.

[0169] The upright position is also referred to as the machining position, in which the workpieces are rotated by the rotary unit 112 around a shaft 130 of the rotary unit 112 shown in Figs. 28 to 30 for machining.

[0170] The folded-down position of the rotary unit 112 is also referred to as the return position.

[0171] The horizontal rotary bearing 122 and the vertical rotary bearing 124 of the driving conveying unit 108 are arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner with respect to a plane perpendicular to the conveying direction 104 compared to the horizontal rotary bearing 122 and the vertical rotary bearing 124 of the accompanying conveying unit 110.

[0172] The vertical rotary bearings 124 of the two conveyor units 108, 110 enable the conveyor device 106 to follow a curved or curved path of the conveyor rail 114.

[0173] In Fig. 4, the conveying device 106 of Figs. 1 to 3 is shown in a schematic side view, with the side facing a treatment area now being shown.

[0174] In addition to Fig. 4, Fig. 5 shows an enlarged section of Fig. 4 in a perspective view.

[0175] Figures 4 and 5 show that each conveying unit 108, 110 comprises a wheel 132 which is arranged within a housing 134 of the conveying units 108, 110 and rolls on the conveying rail 114.

[0176] The load of the conveyor device 104 and the loads received by the conveyor device 104 are transferred via the running wheels 132 to the conveyor rail 114.

[0177] The impeller 132 of the driving conveyor unit 108 is driven by the drive unit 118, which comprises an inverter, an electric motor, and a gearbox. The gearbox of the drive unit 118 can be manually and / or automatically disengaged from and / or engaged with the electric motor.

[0178] Fig. 2 shows that a lever 135 is provided on the illustrated driving conveying unit 108, by means of which the gearbox and electric motor of the drive unit 118 can be coupled or uncoupled.

[0179] By decoupling the gearbox and electric motor, the affected conveyor unit 106 can be moved manually along the conveyor rail 114 if required.

[0180] A cooling unit 136 is preferably arranged on the drive unit 118, by means of which at least a part of the drive unit 118 can be cooled.

[0181] The cooling unit 136 can be designed to cool actively or passively.

[0182] The drive unit 118 of a driving conveyor unit 108 is preferably designed to be interchangeable and can therefore be easily replaced as a whole.

[0183] For example, a conveying device 106 can have either a driving conveying unit 108 and a moving conveying unit 110 or two driving conveying units 108.

[0184] The conveying units 108, 110 are preferably designed such that their positions with respect to the conveying device 106 are interchangeable, i.e. the driving conveying unit 108 can also be the conveying unit which is arranged at the front in the conveying direction 104, whereby the accompanying conveying unit 110 would be arranged at the rear accordingly.

[0185] Figure 4 further shows that the conveying units 108, 110 of a conveying device 106, or the centers or axes of rotation of the impellers 132 of the conveying units 108, 110, are preferably spaced far enough apart that there is no risk of the impellers 132 lifting off the conveying rail 114 when the center of gravity of the conveying device 106 shifts, for example, when the rotating unit 112 is folded down or raised up. Figure 6 schematically shows two conveying rail elements 138 of the conveying rail 114, which are connected to each other and arranged on a base support 116.

[0186] The conveyor rail elements 138 are suspended from the floor supports 116. The conveyor line 102 is therefore primarily an electric monorail.

[0187] The conveyor rail elements 138 are preferably aluminum extrusion profiles.

[0188] The profile of the conveyor rail elements 138 is preferably a symmetrical double-T profile or a symmetrical H profile.

[0189] The web 140 of the double-T profile of the conveyor rail elements 138 has a perforated profile 142 to allow retaining elements 144 to be arranged along a conveyor rail element 138.

[0190] Figures 7 and 8 show that the conveyor rail elements 138 are preferably pushed onto or hooked onto a receptacle 146 of the base support 116.

[0191] The recording 146 can, for example, be designed as or comprise a recording plate 148.

[0192] The position of the receptacle 146 is preferably adjustable in the conveying direction 104 and / or in the gravity direction g relative to the rest of the floor support 116.

[0193] Preferably a symbol and / or code element 151 designed as a QR band 150, a leakage waveguide 152 and four power lines 154 are clipped into the retaining elements 144 of the conveyor rail elements 138, which are designed in particular as clips.

[0194] The QR tape 150 has a multitude of symbols and / or codes, preferably QR codes, arranged sequentially in the direction of conveyance, which may be the same or different in shape and / or color.

[0195] The QR code 150 enables the precise and reliable detection of the position of a conveyor 106 along the conveyor track 102 or along the conveyor rail 114. The leakage waveguide 152 serves to establish wireless, short-range communication between a stationary control and / or regulation unit of the conveyor 100 and the conveyors 106.

[0196] The four power lines 154 are in particular four copper power lines which form three phases and an earth to supply the conveying equipment 106 with a voltage of 400 V.

[0197] Two adjacent conveyor rail elements 138 can be connected to each other on a floor support 116 or at least arranged adjacent to each other almost without joints, with each conveyor rail element 138 being suspended from further floor supports 116.

[0198] Furthermore, an expansion joint 156 can be provided between some conveyor rail elements 138, or the connection of two adjacent conveyor rail elements 138 can be designed as an expansion joint 156, as shown in a schematic, perspective view in Fig. 9.

[0199] The conveyor rail elements 138 can be mechanically separated from each other by expansion joints 156, the expansion joints 156 serving as length compensation and mechanical separation point.

[0200] Since the conveying device 100 is preferably scaffolded or installed on a steel platform and the conveying rail elements 138 are made of aluminium, it may be necessary to allow length compensation due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of steel and aluminium by means of several expansion joints 156.

[0201] The expansion joints 156 are preferably arranged between the treatment basins of the treatment area or - with respect to the conveying direction 104 - before and / or after the treatment area.

[0202] Fig. 10 shows a schematic, perspective view of a floor support 116 and Fig. 11 is the corresponding schematic top view of the floor support of Fig. 10.

[0203] The floor supports 116 comprise a base section 158, which is preferably attached to a steel platform or a plant floor, and a rail support section 160, wherein the base section 158 is connected to the rail support section 160 via four spacer screws 162, which are each guided in curved elongated holes 164 in the rail support section 160.

[0204] The four curved elongated holes 164 are arranged such that the rail holding section 160 of a floor support 116 can be rotated relative to its base section 158 about a vertical axis 166 or vertical axis, which is aligned at least approximately parallel to the direction of gravity g.

[0205] Furthermore, the distance between the rail support section 160 and its base section 158 along the vertical axis 166 can be adjusted using the four spacer screws 162.

[0206] The adjustment options of each floor support 116 around and along the respective vertical axis 166 allow the floor supports to be adjusted or aligned in such a way that the conveyor rail elements 138 can be brought to the same height level and the connection point or contact point of two adjacent conveyor rail elements 138 has no lateral offset.

[0207] Fig. 12 shows a schematic vertical section view through the pair of horizontal rotary bearings 122 and vertical rotary bearings 124, which connects the driving conveying unit 108 with the rotary unit 112.

[0208] The horizontal rotary bearing 122 is preferably designed as an axial ball bearing 168.

[0209] The vertical rotary bearing 124 is preferably designed as a plain bearing 170.

[0210] As already explained above, the axes of rotation of the axial ball bearing 168 and the plain bearing 170 are aligned at least approximately perpendicular to each other and intersect.

[0211] The axial ball bearings 168 and the sliding bearings 170 of the two conveying units 108, 110 are preferably arranged above the conveying rail 114 with respect to the direction of gravity g.

[0212] The plain bearing 170 comprises a bearing shaft 172, which is guided in an upper plain bearing section 174 and a lower plain bearing section 176. The bearing shaft 172 passes through a bearing coupling 178.

[0213] The axial ball bearing 168 comprises at least two ball bearing receptacles 180, which are vertically aligned and absorb the forces in the conveying direction 104 or in the direction of the horizontal axis of rotation 126.

[0214] Furthermore, the bearing coupling 178 rests on a ball bearing receptacle 180, which surrounds the bearing shaft 172 of the sliding bearing 170 and absorbs vertical weight forces.

[0215] The axial ball bearing 168 also includes a bearing shaft 172, which is arranged in the bearing coupling 178 in such a way that a translational movement in the conveying direction 104 is blocked.

[0216] The other end of the bearing shaft 172 of the axial ball bearing 168 is clamped against a bearing housing 181 by means of shaft nuts 182.

[0217] In addition to Fig. 12, Fig. 13 shows a schematic horizontal section view through the sliding bearing 170 and the axial ball bearing 168 between the driving conveying unit 108 and the rotary unit 112.

[0218] The plain bearing 170, the axial ball bearing 168, the impeller 132 and the conveyor rail 114 are preferably located in a common vertical plane.

[0219] Both bearing shafts 172 are secured against rotation by means of pins 183.

[0220] The pins 183, which can secure the bearing shafts 172 against rotation, can also be seen in Fig. 14, which shows a schematic, perspective view of the pair of sliding bearing and axial ball bearing between the moving conveyor unit 110 and the rotating unit 112.

[0221] The following section discusses the lateral guidance of the conveyor device 106.

[0222] Figures 15 and 16 show schematic perspective views of the driving conveying unit 108 from different angles, showing the side facing a treatment area. Figure 17 complements this with a schematic side view of the driving conveying unit 108 from Figures 15 and 16, looking towards the conveying unit 108 in the conveying direction 104. The driving conveying unit 108 comprises eight guide rollers 184, which are arranged in pairs opposite each other on either side of the conveying rail 114.

[0223] The guide rollers 184 roll on the flanks 186 of the double-T profile of the conveyor rail elements 138.

[0224] The guide rollers 184 are adjustable at least in one direction transverse to the conveying direction 104, so that the guidance of the driving conveying unit 108 can be individually adapted or optimized.

[0225] The guide rollers 184 of the traveling conveying unit 110 are arranged in the same way as in the driving conveying unit 108 and can also be adjusted to adapt the track guidance.

[0226] Fig. 18 shows a schematic side view of the conveying device 106 from Fig. 1, looking towards this conveying device 106 in the conveying direction 104.

[0227] According to this side view, it can be seen that – with respect to a horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction 104 – the rotating unit 112 is arranged approximately centrally above the conveyor rail 114. However, it is not necessary for the entire center of gravity of the rotating unit, in conjunction with the shaft 130 and the workpiece mounted on it, to also be located above the conveyor rail 114.

[0228] The rotary unit 112 also includes a drive device 118, which is arranged inside its housing 188, as can be seen in the schematic vertical section view of Fig. 19.

[0229] The drive unit 118 of the rotary unit 112, by means of which the shaft 130 is rotated during the workpiece treatment, also includes an electric motor, a gearbox and a converter.

[0230] Figures 19 to 23 below describe in particular the power supply of a conveying device 106.

[0231] The driving conveying unit 108, as well as the accompanying conveying unit 110 of the conveying device 106 according to the invention, has a maintenance access in the form of a lockable maintenance door 120, which is located on the side of the respective conveying unit 108, 110 facing away from a treatment area.

[0232] Four current collectors 190 are accessible via the maintenance door 120 of the driving conveyor unit 108, corresponding to the number of current lines 154 which run along the conveyor rail 114. These collectors are preferably arranged on the inside of the maintenance door 120 and therefore swing out with the maintenance door when it is opened, thus facilitating inspection, maintenance and / or replacement.

[0233] The current collectors 190 are preferably designed as spring-loaded contact finger elements.

[0234] With the maintenance door 120 closed, the current collectors 190 rub against the current lines 154 of the conveyor rail 114 during the conveying or moving of the conveying device 106 along the conveying path 102. This supplies the driving conveying unit 108 with a 400 V voltage.

[0235] The other components are supplied with power or electrically connected to the current collectors 190 via flexible and interchangeable hose connections 192, through which electrical power lines are passed.

[0236] In order to enable, for example, the maintenance doors 120 to be swung open, the rotation unit 112 to be folded down or raised, the conveying units 108, 110 to follow the conveyor rail 114, or the drive unit 118 of the driving conveying unit 108 to be easily replaced, the hose connections 192 are designed to be flexible and are guided outside the components of the conveying unit 106.

[0237] Accordingly, the current collectors 190 are connected to the drive unit 118, the drive unit 118 to the rotary unit 112, and finally the rotary unit 112 to the accompanying conveyor unit 110. Thus, the drive units of the driving conveyor unit 108 and the rotary unit 112, as well as the components of the accompanying conveyor unit 110 to be described below, are supplied with current.

[0238] Figures 24 to 26 show the components of the moving conveyor unit 110, which are accessible via the maintenance door 120 of this conveyor unit. The moving conveyor unit 110 includes an optical sensor device 196 designed as a laser scanner 194, by means of which the QR tape 150 on the conveyor rail 114 can be read or the individual symbols and / or codes can be detected, thereby enabling the position of the conveyor unit 106 along the conveyor path 102 to be reliably detected and determined.

[0239] The optical sensor device 196 is particularly preferably designed as a camera.

[0240] An antenna 198 is arranged below, which serves for short-range communication with the leakage waveguide 152 of the conveyor rail 114.

[0241] Fig. 27 additionally shows in a schematic, perspective view that the hose connections 192 have a type of quick-release fastener at each of their ends 200, which engages with corresponding receptacles 202 on the components of the conveying device 106 to be connected.

[0242] Fig. 28 shows a schematic side view of a conveying device 106 with a shaft 130, looking at the conveying device 106 in the opposite direction to the conveying direction 104.

[0243] The rotation unit 112 comprises the shaft 130, which is rotatably mounted on the rotation unit 112 or rotatably connected to it.

[0244] In Fig. 28, the rotary unit 112 together with the shaft 130 are in the machining position, i.e. in particular that the rotary unit 112 is upright and the shaft axis is horizontally aligned.

[0245] Two workpiece carrier receptacles 204 are arranged on the shaft 130, which receive the workpiece carrier (not shown) in an entry zone of a treatment area, on which a workpiece to be treated is arranged.

[0246] Furthermore, the shaft 130 includes a roller 208 at its end 206, which points away from the rotating unit 112. This roller rolls on a counter-running rail 210 when the conveyor 106 is returned to its return position and back to the entry zone of the treatment area, as shown in Figures 29 and 30. Figures 29 and 30 show that the workpiece carrier receptacles 204 are V-shaped, with the two legs being mirror images of each other in a plane in which the shaft axis runs.

[0247] Only the locking devices 212 at the ends of the workpiece carrier receptacles 204 are not mirror-symmetrical, in order to be able to lock the workpiece carrier to the workpiece carrier receptacles 204 without problems and in the same way when transferring it into the treatment area.

[0248] Furthermore, in an entry zone and / or an exit zone of the treatment area of ​​a treatment plant, a lifting device 214 with a lifting direction may be provided which raises and / or lowers the shafts 130 of the conveying devices 106 or at least assists in doing so.

[0249] This lifting device 214 can also be assigned to the conveying device 100.

[0250] Reference symbol list

[0251] Conveyor device, conveyor track, conveyor direction, conveyor device, driving conveyor unit, traveling conveyor unit, rotary unit, conveyor rail, floor support

[0252] Drive unit, lockable maintenance door, horizontal slewing bearing, vertical slewing bearing, horizontal axis of rotation, vertical axis of rotation, shaft, impeller

[0253] Housing of the conveyor unit lever

[0254] Cooling unit

[0255] Conveyor rail element bridge

[0256] Perforated profile retaining element mount mounting plate QR band

[0257] Symbol and / or code element leakage waveguide

[0258] Power line expansion joint base section rail holding section spacer screws 64 curved slot 66 vertical axis 68 axial ball bearing 70 plain bearing 72 bearing shaft

[0259] 174 upper sliding bearing section

[0260] 176 lower sliding bearing section

[0261] 178 Bearing coupling

[0262] 180 ball bearing mount

[0263] 181 Bearing housings

[0264] 182 Shaft nut

[0265] 183 pens

[0266] 184 Leadership role

[0267] 186 Flank of the double-T profile

[0268] 188 Housing of the rotary unit

[0269] 190 current collectors

[0270] 192 Hose connection

[0271] 194 laser scanners

[0272] 196 optical sensor device

[0273] 198 Antenna

[0274] 200 End of a hose connection

[0275] 202 recording

[0276] 204 workpiece carriers picked up

[0277] 206 of rotation unit, pointing end of the wave

[0278] 208 roller

[0279] 210 counter-running rail

[0280] 212 locking devices

[0281] 214 Lifting device g Gravity direction

Claims

Patent claims 1. Conveying device (100) for conveying workpieces, in particular vehicle bodies, wherein the conveying device (100) comprises: at least one conveying section (102) with a conveying direction (104); and one or more conveying devices (106) which convey the workpieces along the at least one conveying section (102).

2. Conveying device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveying section (102) has at least one conveying rail (114) which comprises one or more conveying rail elements (138).

3. Conveyor device (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that one or more conveyor rail elements (138) are bent.

4. Conveyor device (100) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that one or more conveyor rail elements (138) are aluminium conveyor rail elements which have a) an extruded profile; and / or b) a double-T profile, preferably a symmetrical double-T profile.

5. Conveyor device (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that on the conveyor rail (114), preferably on the webs of the double-T profile of the conveyor rail elements (138), a) at least one leakage waveguide (152) for controlling and / or regulating conveying devices (106); and / or b) at least one symbol and / or code element (151), in particular at least one QR band (150) and / or a barcode element, for determining the position of the conveying devices (106) along the conveying path (102); and / or c) at least one, preferably four, power lines (154), in particular copper power lines, for three-phase power supply of the conveying devices (106) are arranged.

6. Conveyor device (100) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that two conveyor rail elements (138) can be connected at least approximately seamlessly.

7. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that at least one connection of two conveyor rail elements (138) comprises an expansion joint (156) or is designed as such.

8. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the conveying section (102) has a plurality of floor supports (116), wherein each conveying rail element (138) is suspended from at least one floor support (116), in particular suspended sectionally.

9. Conveyor device (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that each floor support (116) is adjustable for aligning the conveyor rail elements (138) along and / or about a vertical axis (166).

10. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each conveying device (106) comprises two conveying units (108, 110), which are preferably movable along and / or on and / or on the conveying path (102), and at least one rotation unit (112), which is arranged between the two conveying units (108, 110).

11. Conveying device (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that the rotation unit (112) is connected to each of the conveying units (108, 110) via at least one horizontal rotary bearing (122) whose axis of rotation (126) is horizontally oriented, and at least one vertical rotary bearing (124) whose axis of rotation (128) is vertically oriented, wherein preferably the horizontal axis of rotation (126) and the vertical axis of rotation (128) of the rotary bearings (122, 124) of the respective conveying unit (108, 110) intersect.

12. Conveying device (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that all rotary bearings of a conveying device are arranged above the conveying path.

13. Conveying device (100) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the horizontal rotary bearing (122) and the vertical rotary bearing (124) of a conveying unit (108, 110) are oriented with respect to a plane perpendicular to the conveying direction (104). are arranged and / or designed in a mirror-symmetrical manner to the horizontal rotary bearing (122) and the vertical rotary bearing (124) of the other conveying unit (108, 110).

14. Conveyor device (100) according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that a) the horizontal rotary bearing (122) comprises or is designed as an axial ball bearing (168); and / or b) the vertical rotary bearing (124) comprises or is designed as a sliding bearing (170).

15. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that each conveying unit (108) comprises at least one running wheel (132) which rolls along the conveying path (102) on the conveying rail elements (138).

16. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the conveying device (106) comprises at least one driving conveying unit (108) which has at least one drive unit (118), and / or at least one moving conveying unit (110), wherein it is preferably provided that the at least one drive unit (118) is interchangeable.

17. Conveying device (100) according to claim 16, characterized in that each drive device (118) comprises at least one electric motor, at least one converter and at least one gearbox which can be manually and / or automatically decoupled or coupled to the electric motor.

18. Conveyor device (100) according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the driving conveying unit (108) comprises a number of current collectors (190), preferably spring-loaded contact finger elements, corresponding to the current lines (154) of the conveyor rail (114), which contact the current lines (154) for power supply, in particular by sliding on them.

19. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the moving conveying unit (110) has at least one optical sensor device (196), preferably a camera or a laser scanner (194), for detecting one or more symbols and / or codes of the symbol and / or code element (151) of the conveyor rail (114) and comprising at least one antenna (198) for short-range communication with the leakage waveguide (152) of the conveyor rail (114).

20. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the positions of the driving conveying unit (108) and the moving conveying unit (110) are interchangeable with respect to the rotating unit (112).

21. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 10 to 20, characterized in that each conveying unit (108, 110) has at least one maintenance access, preferably a lockable maintenance door (120), which is preferably arranged on a side of the conveying unit (108, 110) facing away from the conveyor rail (114).

22. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 10 to 21, characterized in that each conveying unit (108, 110) comprises at least one pair, preferably four pairs, of guide rollers (184) which roll laterally and opposite each other on the conveying rail (114), wherein the guide rollers (184) are adjustable to adapt the tracking of the respective conveying device (106).

23. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 10 to 22, characterized in that the rotation unit (112) comprises a shaft (130) which is rotatably connected to the rotation unit (112) and extends in a plane which is oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction (104).

24. Conveyor device (100) according to claim 23, characterized in that the shaft (130) can be moved into at least one workpiece machining position and at least one return position by rotating the rotation unit (112) about the axis of rotation (126) of the horizontal rotary bearings (122) of the conveying units (108, 110) together with the rotation unit (112).

25. Conveying device (100) according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the shaft (130) has a roller (208) at its end (206) pointing away from the rotating unit (112).

26. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 23 to 25, characterized in that the conveying device (100) comprises at least one counter-running rail (210) which is arranged below the conveying section (102) with respect to the direction of gravity (g) and is arranged such that the rollers (208) of the conveying devices (106) roll on this rail in the return position of the rotating units (112) or the shafts (130).

27. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 23 to 26, characterized in that at least two workpiece carrier receptacles (204) spaced apart from each other are arranged on the shaft (130).

28. Conveyor device (100) according to claim 27, characterized in that the workpiece carrier receptacles (204) are formed essentially mirror-symmetrically to a plane in which the shaft axis runs.

29. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 10 to 28, characterized in that the rotation unit (112) is connected to each conveying unit (108, 110) by means of at least one flexible and replaceable hose connection (192), which is arranged outside the conveying device (106) and through which electrical lines for power supply are led, wherein it is preferably provided that the hose connections (192) have a quick-release fastener at at least one of their ends (200).

30. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 10 to 29, characterized in that a rotary unit (112) has at least one drive device (118) comprising at least one motor, at least one converter and at least one gearbox, by means of which the shaft (130) is rotatable about its shaft axis.

31. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 30, characterized in that the at least one conveying section (102) comprises at least one treatment section and at least one return section, which is preferably arranged at least approximately parallel to the at least one treatment section, and at least two deflection sections, which are positioned opposite each other to form a closed conveying section connect at least one treatment section and at least one return section.

32. Conveying device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 31, characterized in that the at least one conveying section (102) is divided into a plurality of safety zones.

33. Conveyor device (100) according to claim 32, characterized in that at least two safety modes are assigned to each safety area, wherein preferably one safety mode is an emergency stop mode and another safety mode is a mode with a reduced conveying speed.

34. Treatment system for conveying and treating workpieces, in particular vehicle bodies, wherein the treatment system comprises: at least one treatment area, which has at least one, preferably several treatment basins arranged one behind the other, which are filled with a treatment fluid for the workpiece treatment; and at least one conveying device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 33, wherein the at least one conveying device (100) is arranged on one side of the at least one treatment area.

35. Treatment plant according to claim 34, characterized in that a lifting device (214) with a lifting direction is provided in an entry zone and / or in an exit zone of the treatment area, which raises and / or lowers the shafts (130) of the conveying devices (106).

36. Method for conveying and treating workpieces, in particular vehicle bodies, wherein the method comprises the following steps: Transferring a workpiece to a conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 33, wherein the conveying device (100) is arranged laterally from a treatment area of ​​a treatment system, which comprises several treatment basins arranged one behind the other and filled with a treatment fluid; Picking up the workpiece, which is preferably arranged on a workpiece carrier, onto the shaft (130) of one of the several conveying devices (106) of the conveying device (100), wherein the receiving conveying device (106) is in its processing position; Conveying the workpiece along the conveying path (102), wherein the workpiece is rotated through the fluid bath of one or more treatment tanks of the treatment system in a treatment section of the conveying path (102) by means of the rotation unit (112) of the conveying device (106); transferring the treated workpiece out of the treatment area of ​​the treatment system; and Returning the transferring conveying device (106) to its return position to receive another workpiece to be processed

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