Overhead Conveyor System and Dip Coating Line Comprising Said System

• US 20110017132A1
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eisenmann Corp. (Eisenmann SE)
• Original Assignee: Eisenmann Anlagenbau GmbH & Company KG (Eisenmann SE)
• Inventors: Robbin, Joerg
• Granted Patent: US 10,106,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 118/423
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 49/0459 movement in a vertical direction is caused by self-contained means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 49/0463 movement in a vertical direction is caused by lifting means or fixed or adjustable guiding means located at the bath area

Abstract

An overhead conveyor system for transporting articles, especially for transporting vehicle bodies, in a treatment line comprises at least one transport carriage which has a fastening device to which at least one article can be fastened. The transport carriage can be displaced along the track by at least one drive means. The transport carriage is designed in such a manner that the fastening device can be transported at least along one section of the track, in a laterally offset manner with respect to the track. The invention further relates to a dip coating line comprising at least one dip-coating tank which can be filled with a treatment liquid, into which tank articles to be treated, especially vehicle bodies, are dipped. A conveying system can displace the articles to be treated towards the dip-coating tanker, into the inner edge of the dip-coating tanker, out of the dip-coating tank and away therefrom.

Claims

1. An overhead conveyor system for transporting objects, in particular for transporting vehicle bodies, in a treatment plant, having:

a) at least one transport carriage which includes a securing device to which at least one object may be secured;

b) at least one rail carrying the transport carriage;

c) at least one drive means for moving the transport carriage along the rail;

in which

d) the securing device is always arranged below the rail, wherein

e) the transport carriage is set up such that the securing device may be conveyed laterally offset from the rail, at least along a section of the rail.

2. The overhead conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the securing device includes a holding structure with securing means which is carried only by way of a side surface of a further component of the transport carriage.

4. The overhead conveyor system of according to claim 2 wherein the further component of the transport carriage, which holds the holding structure, is a vertically movable slide.

5. The overhead conveyor system of claim 4, wherein the slide is vertically movable by means of a telescopic device which may be retracted or extended in the vertical direction.

6. The overhead conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the securing device is mounted such that it is rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation.

7. The overhead conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the transport carriage includes as the drive means a drive carriage which may be moved by motor on the rail.

8. The overhead conveyor system of claim 7, characterised in that the telescopic device is mounted on the drive carriage of the transport carriage such that it is rotatable about the vertical axis of rotation.

9. The overhead conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the securing means are provided which secure the transport carriage to prevent tipping about a tilt axis parallel to the rail.

10. The overhead conveyor system of claim 9, characterised in that the securing means include a support structure which is arranged parallel to and below the rail and which supports the holding carriage.

11. The overhead conveyor system of claim 10, characterised in that the securing means include a guide roller which is mounted on the transport carriage, is rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation and is guided in a guide rail that is complementary thereto, with the guide rail running below the drive rail and parallel thereto.

12. A dip treatment plant, having:

a) at least one dip bath which can be filled with a treatment liquid and into which objects to be treated, in particular vehicle bodies, can be dipped;

b) a conveying plant which can bring the objects to be treated to the dip bath, put them into the interior of the dip bath, take them out of the dip bath and move them away therefrom,

characterised in that

c) the conveying plant is the overhead conveyor system according to claim 1.

3. The overhead conveyor system of claim 3, characterised in that the holding structure is mounted on the further component of the transport carriage such that it is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation.

13. The overhead conveyor system of claim 3 wherein the further component of the transport carriage, which holds the holding structure, is a vertically movable slide.

14. The overhead conveyor system of claim 13, wherein the slide is vertically movable by means of a telescopic device which may be retracted or extended in the vertical direction.