DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING VEHICLE BODIES

• US 20130313075A1
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eisenmann AG
• Original Assignee: Eisenmann AG
• Inventors: Robbin, Joerg, Hennig, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,038,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/604
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/18 Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines conveyors and haulage in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/12 comprising a series of individual load-carriers fixed, or normally fixed, relative to traction element

Abstract

A device for transporting vehicle bodies, on which standardised holding components are provided. A guide device is provided for at least one continuous drive train which having a driving side and a slack side, and having a first return element and at least one second return element around which the at least one continuous drive train circulates. The at least one continuous drive train supports a plurality of coupling elements which are arranged and aligned in such a manner that they can work together with the standardised holding components provided on the vehicle body.

Claims

1. A device for conveying vehicle bodies, on which standardised holding components are present, the device comprising:

a) at least one continuous drive train which includes a load-carrying strand and a return strand;

b) a guide device for the at least one continuous drive train, which comprises a first deflection element and at least one second deflection element by way of which the at least one continuous drive train revolves,

wherein

c) the at least one continuous drive train carries a plurality of coupling elements which are arranged and aligned such that they are capable of cooperating with the standardised holding components of the vehicle body.

2. The device according to claim 1, comprising:

at least two continuous drive trains, whereof the load-carrying strands extend parallel to one another and form a conveying plane with the coupling elements.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling elements extend vertically upwards beyond the continuous drive train, at least in the region of the load-carrying strand of the continuous drive train.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling elements comprise support pins (58).

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein

a) the coupling elements are connected to the continuous drive train such that the coupling elements are tillable about an axis;

b) means are present, which are aligned in such a way that the coupling elements are carried along by the load-carrying strand in an operating position and by the return strand in an idle position which is tilted by comparison, and wherein the means comprise;

ba) a tilting device at a first end (12) of the continuous drive train, which tilts the coupling elements from the operating position into the idle position; and

,

bb) a righting device at a second end of the continuous drive train which tilts the coupling elements from the idle position into the operating position.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the tilting axis of the coupling elements extends horizontally and perpendicularly to a direction of revolution when the device is in operation, and the tilting device and the righting device comprise rail elements which allows for the coupling elements to carry out the tilting movement in positively driven manner.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second deflection element are mounted such that the first and the second deflection element are capable of being rotated about mutually parallel axes which extend at an angle other than 0°

with respect to a horizontal plane.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the axes of the first and the second deflection element extend vertically.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the coupling elements are mounted on an upper side of the continuous drive train.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the continuous drive train is supported on an underside by a plurality of rollers which are carried along.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein a roller is arranged in each case opposite a coupling element on the continuous drive train.