Conveying device and linear transport system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10858192-B2
Application number	US-201916658939-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2019
Priority date	Apr 21, 2017
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

A conveying device for a linear transport system, wherein the conveying device comprises at least one rolling unit and a carrier unit, wherein the carrier unit is of U-shaped configuration and has an outer side and an inner side, wherein the inner side bounds a receiving space for receiving a running rail of the linear transport system, wherein the rolling unit is arranged in the receiving space in a manner spaced apart from the inner side, wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is substantially free from undercuts and/or corners and/or bumps, and/or wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is of substantially smooth configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A linear transport system comprising:
at least one drive module,
a running rail, and
a conveying device,
wherein the conveying device comprises at least one rolling unit, a magnet arrangement, a bearing arrangement and a carrier unit,
wherein the bearing arrangement supports the rolling unit on the carrier unit so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation,
wherein the bearing arrangement is arranged in the bearing space,
wherein the rolling unit has a rolling body comprising a running surface, a closure element and a bearing space,
wherein the closure element is connected on the end side to the rolling body and seals the bearing space on the end side in relation to an environment,
wherein the running rail has at least one rail running surface,
wherein the running surface of the rolling body rests on the rail running surface of the running rail so that the running rail guides the conveying device in a movement,
wherein the carrier unit engages around the running rail and the drive module at least in sections,
wherein the drive module has a control unit and a stator having a multiplicity of windings,
wherein the control unit is connected to the windings and is configured to activate the windings in such a manner that the stator switchably provides a moving magnetic field, and
wherein the moving field is operatively connected to the magnet arrangement and the moving field moves the conveying device along the running rail.

2. The linear transport system as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the carrier unit has a carrier with a first carrier portion and at least one second carrier portion,
wherein the second carrier portion is arranged inclined with respect to the first carrier portion and is connected to the first carrier portion,
wherein the inner side on the first carrier portion and on the second carrier portion is of flat configuration at least in sections, and
wherein the inner side between the first carrier portion and the second carrier portion is of curved configuration in such a manner that the inner side merges steplessly between the first carrier portion and the second carrier portion.

3. A conveying device for a linear transport system,
wherein the conveying device comprises at least one rolling unit and a carrier unit,
wherein the carrier unit is of U-shaped configuration and has an outer side and an inner side,
wherein the inner side bounds a receiving space for receiving a running rail of the linear transport system,
wherein the rolling unit is arranged in the receiving space in a manner spaced apart from the inner side,
wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is substantially free from undercuts and/or corners and/or bumps, and/or wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is of substantially smooth configuration,
wherein the carrier unit has a carrier with a first carrier portion and at least one second carrier portion,
wherein the second carrier portion is arranged inclined with respect to the first carrier portion and is connected to the first carrier portion,
wherein the inner side on the first carrier portion and on the second carrier portion is of flat configuration at least in sections,
wherein the inner side between the first carrier portion and the second carrier portion is of curved configuration in such a manner that the inner side merges steplessly between the first carrier portion and the second carrier portion,
wherein the carrier is of U-shaped and mirror-symmetrical configuration and has at least one third carrier portion and a fourth carrier portion,
wherein the third carrier portion is arranged on a side of the second carrier portion facing away from the first carrier portion and is connected to the second carrier portion,
wherein the third carrier portion is arranged inclined with respect to the first carrier portion and second carrier portion,
wherein the fourth carrier portion is arranged on a side of the third carrier portion facing away from the second carrier portion and is connected to the third carrier portion,
wherein the fourth carrier portion is arranged inclined with respect to the third carrier portion,
wherein the second carrier portion and the fourth carrier portion are arranged on a side of the third carrier portion facing the receiving space,
wherein the fourth carrier portion bounds a receiving opening of the receiving space on a side facing away from the first carrier portion, and
wherein the inner side extends on the inside beyond the carrier portions and is of stepless configuration.

4. A conveying device for a linear transport system,
wherein the conveying device comprises at least one rolling unit and a carrier unit,
wherein the carrier unit is of U-shaped configuration and has an outer side and an inner side,
wherein the inner side bounds a receiving space for receiving a running rail of the linear transport system,
wherein the rolling unit is arranged in the receiving space in a manner spaced apart from the inner side,
wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is substantially free from undercuts and/or corners and/or bumps, and/or wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is of substantially smooth configuration,
wherein the conveying device comprises a bearing arrangement,
wherein the bearing arrangement supports the rolling unit on the carrier unit so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation,
wherein the rolling unit comprises a rolling body, a closure element and a bearing space,
wherein the rolling body has a running surface circumferentially and bounds the bearing space on the inside,
wherein the bearing arrangement is arranged in the bearing space,
wherein the running surface is configured to lie against a rail running surface of the running rail of the linear transport system and to guide the conveying device along the running rail, and
wherein the closure element is connected on the end side to the rolling body and seals the bearing space on the end side in relation to an environment.

5. The conveying device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the closure element is of dome-shaped configuration and completely covers the rolling body on the end side.

6. The conveying device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the closure element and the rolling body are formed integrally and from the same material.

7. The conveying device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the rolling body and the closure element are on the outside free from undercuts and/or corners and/or bumps and/or are of substantially smooth configuration.

8. The conveying device as claimed in claim 4 ,
wherein the rolling unit has a first sealing element, and
wherein the first sealing element closes the bearing space on a side of the rolling body facing away from the closure element.

9. The conveying device as claimed in claim 8 ,
wherein the first sealing element has a first sealing surface radially on the inside, and a second sealing surface and a sealing outer surface radially on the outside,
wherein the first sealing surface lies against a fastener which fastens the bearing arrangement to the carrier unit,
wherein the second sealing surface lies against the rolling body on the inside,
wherein the sealing outer surface is arranged on a side of the first sealing element facing away from the bearing space,
wherein the sealing outer surface is configured in such a manner that a first transition between the fastener and the sealing outer surface and a second transition between an end surface of the rolling body, which end surface faces the first sealing element, and the sealing outer surface are substantially stepless, and
wherein the sealing outer surface is of substantially concave configuration wit

Assignees

• Beckhoff Automation Gmbh

Inventors

• Neufeld Jörg
• Sinzenich Andreas
• Vorbohle Thomas

Classifications

• F16C29/005

  Guide rails or tracks for a linear bearing, i.e. adapted for movement of a carriage or bearing body there along · CPC title

• B65G35/06

  comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path (effecting drive at two or more points spaced along the length of an endless conveyor B65G23/32) · CPC title

• F16C13/006

  Guiding rollers, wheels or the like, formed by or on the outer element of a single bearing or bearing unit, e.g. two adjacent bearings, whose ratio of length to diameter is generally less than one · CPC title

• H02K41/031

  of the permanent magnet type · CPC title

• H02K7/08

  Structural association with bearings · CPC title