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DE-102024210135-B4 - Mechanical device and method for transporting an object mounted on rollers

DE102024210135B4DE 102024210135 B4DE102024210135 B4DE 102024210135B4DE-102024210135-B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanical device (1) comprising: an object (3) mounted on rollers (2), preferably a pallet mounted on rollers (2), a first rail support (5) and a second rail support (6) separated from each other by a gap (4), a first transport device (14) for transporting the object (3) along the first rail support (5) between a first position in which the object (3) rests on the first rail support (5) and a transfer position (13), and a second transport device (16) for transporting the object (3) along the second rail support (6) between a second position in which the object (3) rests on the second rail support (6) and the transfer position (13). In the transfer position (13), the object (3) rests on both the first rail support (5) and the second rail support (6). The invention also relates to a method for transporting an object (3) mounted on rollers (2).

Inventors

  • Norbert Kamper

Assignees

  • TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen SE + Co. KG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241021

Claims (15)

  1. A mechanical device (1) comprising: an object (3) mounted on rollers (2), a first rail support (5) and a second rail support (6) separated from each other by a gap (4), a first transport device (14) for transporting the object (3) along the first rail support (5) between a first position (11), in which the object (3) rests on the first rail support (5), and a transfer position (13), and a second transport device (16) for transporting the object (3) along the second rail support (6) between a second position (12), in which the object (3) rests on the second rail support (6), and the transfer position (13), whereby in the transfer position (13) the object (3) rests on both the first rail support (5) and the second rail support (6).
  2. Machine device (1) according to Claim 1 , further comprising: a separating device (7), and a movement device (8) for moving the separating device (7) between a locking position (9), in which the separating device (7) blocks the gap (4) in the area of the rail supports (5, 6), and a release position (10), in which the separating device (7) releases the gap (4) in the area of the rail supports (5, 6) for the transport of the object (3).
  3. Machine device (1) according to Claim 2 , further comprising: a housing (18) in which the first rail support (5) is arranged, wherein the housing (18) can be closed by moving the separating device (7) into the locking position (9).
  4. A mechanical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first transport device (14) has a first driver (21) and is configured to move the first driver (21) between an engagement position for engaging a first cam (22) of the object (3) and a release position in which the first driver (21) does not engage the first cam (22) of the object (3) and/or wherein the second transport device (16) has a second driver (24) and is configured to move the second driver (24) between an engagement position for engaging a second cam (25) of the object (3) and a release position in which the second driver (24) does not engage the second cam (25) of the object (3).
  5. Mechanical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first transport device (14) for moving the object (3) along the first rail support (5) has a cylinder-piston drive (15) or a spindle drive.
  6. Machine device (1) according to Claim 5 , in which the first driver (21) is attached to a piston rod (20) of the cylinder-piston drive (15), wherein a cylinder (19) of the cylinder-piston drive (15) is movable to move the first driver (21) between the engagement position and the release position.
  7. Mechanical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first transport device (14) is designed to place the object (3) with at least one roller (2) on the second rail support (6) when moving into the transfer position (13).
  8. Machine device (1) according to one of the Claims 4 until 7 , in which the first driver (21) does not extend upwards above the first rail support (5) in the release position.
  9. Mechanical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the second transport device (16) has a chain drive (17) for generating a linear movement of the object (3) along the second rail support (6).
  10. A method for transporting an object (3) supported on rollers (2) between a first rail support (5) and a second rail support (6), which are separated from each other by a gap (4), comprising the steps of: transporting the object (3) by means of a first transport device (14) along the first rail support (5) between a first position (11), in which the object (3) rests on the first rail support (5), and a transfer position (13), and transporting the object (3) between a second position (12), in which the object (3) rests on the second rail support (6), and the transfer position (13) by means of a second transport device (16), whereby in the transfer position (13) the object (3) rests on both the first rail support (5) and the second rail support (6).
  11. Procedure according to Claim 10 , in which, prior to moving the object (3) into the transfer position (13), a separating device (7) is moved from a locking position (9), in which the separating device (7) blocks the gap (4) in the area of the rail supports (5, 6), to a release position (10), in which the separating device (7) releases the gap (4) in the area of the rail supports (5, 6) for the transport of the object (3).
  12. Procedure according to Claim 10 or 11 , in which, for the transfer of the object (3) from the first rail support (5) to the second rail support (6), a first driver (21) of the first transport device (14) is released from an engagement position at the transfer position (13), in which the first driver (21) engages in a first cam (22) of the object (3), and a second driver (24) of the second transport device (16) is moved into an engagement position in which the second driver (24) engages with a second cam (25) of the object (3), and/or in which, for the transfer of the object (3) from the second rail support (6) to the first rail support (5), a second driver (24) of the second transport device (16) is released from an engagement position at the transfer position (13), in which the second driver (24) engages in a second cam (25) of the object (3), and a first driver (21) of the first transport device (14) is moved into an engagement position in which the first driver (21) engages with a first cam (22) of the object (3).
  13. Procedure according to Claim 12 , in which the first transport device (14) has a cylinder-piston drive (15) to whose piston rod (20) the first driver (21) is attached, wherein a cylinder (19) of the cylinder-piston drive (15) is moved to move the first driver (21) between the engagement position and a release position in which the first driver (21) is not engaged with the first cam (22).
  14. Procedure according to one of the Claims 10 until 13 , in which the first transport device (14) places the object (3) on the second rail support (6) with at least one roller (2) when moving the object (3) into the transfer position (13).
  15. Procedure according to one of the Claims 10 until 14 , in which the first driver (21) in a release position in which the driver (21) is not engaged with the first cam (22) does not extend upwards above the first rail support (5).

Description

The invention relates to a mechanical device. The invention also relates to a method for transporting an object mounted on rollers, preferably a pallet mounted on rollers. An object mounted on rollers, particularly a pallet, can be moved automatically on a rail support, which typically has two parallel guide rails. It may be necessary to transport the pallet across a gap between a first and a second rail support. This is the case, for example, if one of the two rail supports needs to be temporarily completely isolated from its surroundings by an enclosure. In this case, the two rail supports are spatially separated and not mechanically coupled. In the DE 32 40 962 A1 A device for the sequential automatic movement of pallets to and from a machine tool table is described. The device includes a bed anchored to the floor and a bed carriage that slides on the bed to guide a pallet mounted on the carriage. The device has a first transport mechanism for the linear movement of the bed carriage and a driver attached to the bed carriage that can engage with the pallet. The device also has a second transport mechanism for the reciprocating movement of the driver in the direction of movement of the bed carriage. The first transport mechanism can consist of a piston-cylinder assembly, and the second transport mechanism can include gears around which an endless chain is tensioned. In the US 2018 / 0 070 595 A1 A material handling system is described that includes conveyor belts for conveying multiple rows of containers along a conveying path. The system may include a device for changing the direction of material movement, the device generating a linear motion. This device may be a cylinder with a movable part to which a rod is attached. During operation, this rod contacts the material to be conveyed, pushing it onto a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt may have two driven chains with rods between them that are moved by the chains. The rods engage the containers to convey them. In the JP S51 - 93 589 U A pallet conveyor is described in which a pallet is placed on a group of rollers that are slightly inclined from the horizontal. The pallet is moved to a higher inclined side of the group of rollers by means of a pusher. In the DE 195 46 887 A1 A conveyor belt for pallets is described. DE 89 08 895 U1 describes a device for moving objects, e.g. in the form of pallets. The object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical device and a method that enable automated, process-reliable transport of an object mounted on rollers, in particular a pallet, over a gap between two rail supports. According to the invention, this problem is solved by a mechanical device comprising: an object mounted on rollers, preferably a pallet mounted on rollers, a first rail support and a second rail support separated from each other by a gap, a first transport device for transporting the object along the first rail support between a first position in which the object rests on the first rail support and a transfer position, and a second transport device for transporting the object along the second rail support between a second position in which the object rests on the second rail support and the transfer position, wherein in the transfer position the object rests on both the first rail support and the second rail support. The device described here enables a reliable, automated transfer of the object between the first and second transport units by ensuring that the object rests on both rail supports in the transfer position. To achieve this, the object typically rests with at least one roller on the first rail support and at least one other roller on the second rail support. This allows the object to be transported reliably "floating" across a gap of a relatively large width, e.g., more than 0.5 m. In one embodiment, the mechanical device comprises a separating device, preferably a lifting door, and a movement device for moving the separating device between a locking position, in which the separating device closes the gap in the area of the Rail supports blocked, and a release position in which the separating device releases the space in the area of the rail supports for the transport of the object. As described above, in certain cases it is advantageous to install a separating device in the space between the two rail supports to prevent the object from moving between them. This separating device could, for example, be a lifting door that can be moved between the locked and unlocked positions by a lifting and lowering motion. Alternatively, the movement mechanism could be designed to laterally displace and/or pivot the separating device to move it between the locked and unlocked positions. The separating device can be essentially flat, but it can also deviate from a flat geometry. In a further development of this embodiment, the machine device comprises a housing in which the first rail support is arranged, the housing being closable by moving