Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Object Conveyor
The invention relates to a conveyor for objects, having an
endless load conveying surface as well as at least one transfer
device, through which the objects can be taken from the load
conveying surface or placed upon it.
In conventional conveyors of the above recited type, the
transfer devices have belts, chains, or comparable devices which
reach into the load conveying pakh of the conveyor, so that the
continuous removal of objects from the conveyor path and their
return is only possible with considerable technical outlay. This
outlay increases with the number of the transfer devices used.
Based on the above prior art, it is the object of the
invention to further embody the conveyor of the species in such a
way that the removal of work pieces arranged on the load conveying
surface can take place continuously, clearly simpler and with less
technical outlayO
In accordance with the invention, the object is attained
with the conveyor of the species in that the transfer device has a
turntable extending into the load conveying surface of the objects
and at least one shunt, by means of which the work pieces can be
brought from the load conveying surface onto the turntable.
It becomes clear that the invention has been at least
realized when the removal of the work pieces takes place by means
of a turntahle which, together with a shunt, is capabl~ of
transferring the work pieces on the load conveying surface to the
support surface of the turntable, wherein the work pieces can
again be transferred to the load conveying surface of the conveyor
after having been processed.
Further practical and advantageous embodiments of the
invention ensue from the dependent claims~ A particularly
practical embodiment provides that the turntable is disposed
para:Llel to the load conveying surface and approximately at its
2 3 1 ~
height. In this connection it is practical that the center of
rotakion of the turntable is disposed outside of the load
conveying surface. Within the framework of this concept of the
invention it is particularly practical if the turntable has the
shape of a flat ring and i5 disposed on a supporting device,
preferably a table. In this case the width of the support ring
can be selected to be such that it approximately corresponds to
the width of the load conveying surface.
A further practical embodiment of the invention provides
that the turntable cooperates with at least one object holder
which can hold the objects arranged on the turntable. It is the
task of the transfer device to transfer the objects/work pieces
carried by the, as a rule, endless conveyor, to process them there
and then again to transfer them to the conveyor. Since processing
of the work pieces takes a specific amount of time, they are
stopped in the area of the transfer device, namely by the object
holders. However, this stopping has no effect on the rotatability
of the turntable.
A further practical embodiment of the invention provides
that the object holders are embodied as pressurized bodies, which
can be operated pneumatically, hydraulically or electro~
magnetieally and are radially aligned in relation to the
turntable. As a rule, the proposed conveyor has a plurality of
transfer devices, so that a further practical embodiment o~ the
invention provides for controllable blocking bodies with sensors
for the objeets are disposed in the area of the inlet side to the
turntable. It is the task of the blocking bodies to stop the
transport of the work pieces on the load conveying surface when
the turntable is fully equipped with work pi~ces or when a work
piece is to be transferred from the turntable to the load
conveying surface.
2 ~
A further practical embodiment provides for the shunt to be
disposed in the area of the turntable outlet side. In this case
the shunt can be embodied as a le~er extending parallel to the
load conveying surface, which can be pivoted from an operating
position, in which it shunts the object transported on the load
conveying surface to the turntable, into a rest position, in which
it is disposed outside of the load conveying surface. It is
therefore the task of the shunt for one to assure that the objects
can be transferred from the load conveying surface to the
transport surface of the turntable and, on the other hand, that
they can be guided from the turntable back to the load conveying
surface.
A further practical embodiment of the invention provides
for at least one sensor to be disposed in the area of the
turntable outlet, by means o~ which it is possible to determine
how many objects are arranged on the turntable. For a fully
automatic operation it is particularly practical if the blocking
bodies disposed ln the area of the turntable inlet side, the
object holders and the sensor are connected to a central control
device, by means of which equipping the turntables with objects
can be controlled.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is schematically
illustrated in the drawings and will be described in detail below.
Fig. 1 shows a conveyor in a vertical top view, and
Fig. 2 shows the part of the conveyor of Fig. 1 identified
by II in an enlarged view.
The drawing figures show the conveyor or a part of a
conveyor of objects 10 to 20, having an endless load conveying
surface 22 as well as six transfer devices 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and
34. The objects 10, 11 can be taken from or placed on the load
conveyiny surface 22 through these transfer devices. The transfer
device 24 has a turntable 40 extending into the load conveying ~ `
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s ~
surface 22 of the objects 20 as well as a shunt 42, through which
the work pieces 10 to 20 can be taken from the load conveying
surface 22 to the turntable 40 and returned from it to the load
conveying surface 22. The turntable 40 is disposed parallel to
the load conveying surface 22 and at approximately its height. It
can be seen that the center of rotation 55 of the turntable 40 is
disposed outside of the load conveying surface 22 and is in the
shape of a flat ring supported by a support device 54 in the shape
of a table. The turntable 40 cooperates with four object holders
58, 60, 62 and 64, by means of which the objects 14, 16, 18 and 20
can be held. As a rule, at least one operating station 66 or an
automatic work station is provided around the transfer device 24
and is preferably disposed in the area of the turntable inlet
point. The object holders 58 to 64 can be embodied as pressurized
bodies, which can be operated pneumatically, hydraulically or
electro-mechanically, are radially aligned in relation to the
turntable 40 and in their operakional state hold the work pieces,
in the course of which the movement of the turntable 40 is not
interrupted.
A controllable blocking body 80 with a sensor and/ox a
recognition device for the objects is disposed in the area of the
turntable inlet point 81, which monitors to see whether the
turntable 40 can be equipped with additional work p1eces or lets
the work piece pass through without further processing. The shunt
42 is disposed in the area of the turntable outlet side 83 and can
be pivoted back and forth in the direction of the two-headed arrow
44. The pivot point 46 of the shunt 42 is disposed outside of the
turntable 40. In this ~ase the shunt 42 is embodied as a lever
extending parallel to th~ load conveying surface 22 and can be
pivoted from an operating position, in which it shunts the objects
12 transported on the load conveying surface 22 to the turntable
40, into a rest positiont in which it is disposed outside of th~
load conveying surface (shown in dashed lines). In this case the
lever 42 has the shape of a shackle which extends tangentially to
the turntable in its effective operating position (see Fig. 2).
It can also be seen that a sensor 82 is disposed in the
area of the turntable outlet point 83, by means of which it can be
determined how many objects 14, 16, 18 and 20 are arranged on the
turntable 40. It is a further feature of the conveyor that the
blocking body 80 disposed in the area of the turntable inlet side
81, as well as the object holders 58, 60, 62 and 64 and the sensor
82 are connected to a central control unit (not shown), by means
of which equipping the turntable with objects can be controlled.
Finally, the drawing figures show that the conveyor has two
reversing points 70, 72, and that the load conveying surface 22 is
defined by belts 48, 50, 52. However, the belts can also be
replaced by chains or cylinders which can be arbitrarily driven.
As a rule, these are belts extending parallel to each other, of
which the belt 48 ~an be made of one piece while the belts 50 and
52 extend as far as the. turntable 40, so that the transfer of the
work pieces 10, 11 to the turntable 40 can take place free of
problems. The same is true in respect to the belt 52, which is
provided for removing the work pieces from the turntable 40.
