Conveying device, processing installation, method for conveying and/or processing objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12448069-B2
Application number	US-201917421651-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2019
Priority date	Jan 11, 2019
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle, which is used in particular for transporting objects, in particular workpieces. Here, preferably one or more receiving elements for receiving one or more objects are provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle for conveying objects including vehicle bodies, the vehicle comprising:
a base body;
a chassis, by which the base body lies and/or is movable on a vehicle-accessible subsurface;
a drive device for driving the vehicle; and
a receiving device, which includes two or more receiving elements, for receiving at least one object, wherein all of the receiving elements extend along a common plane that runs vertically and parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the vehicle, wherein the two or more receiving elements are arranged on mutually opposite sides of a drive axis of the drive device.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the two or more receiving elements are arranged movably on the base body.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the vehicle includes a lifting drive device by which the one receiving element, the two or more receiving elements are raisable and/or lowerable in relation to the base body.

4. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein all of the receiving elements are coupled to one another and are only jointly movable in relation to the base body.

5. A vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein a lifting drive device of the vehicle includes a lifting drive element having a lifting drive belt or a lifting drive chain, wherein the lifting drive element connects a lifting drive motor and the two or more receiving elements to one another such that the two or more receiving elements are jointly movable by the lifting drive motor, the two or more than two receiving elements being raisable and/or lowerable in relation to the base body.

6. A vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein
a) the lifting drive element extends through a drive axis of the drive device for driving the vehicle, and/or
b) the lifting drive element extends below a drive axis of the drive device for driving the vehicle.

7. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the drive device has a drive axis that connects two drive elements including drive wheels of the drive device to one another, wherein the drive axis is oriented substantially transversely, at least approximately perpendicularly to a longitudinal center axis and/or main direction of travel of the vehicle.

8. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the drive device has a drive axis that connects two drive elements, including drive wheels of the drive device to one another,
wherein the drive axis is arranged, with respect to a longitudinal center axis and/or main direction of travel of the vehicle at least approximately centrally on the base body of the vehicle, and/or
wherein a plurality of drive elements including drive wheels of the drive device are drivable independently of one another.

9. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the drive device includes a drive axis and/or one or more drive elements that are lowerable and/or pressable onto a floor and/or are raisable away from the floor by an actuation device, and
wherein the drive axis and/or one or more drive elements are integrated into the base body of the vehicle and/or surrounded on five sides by the base body, and/or wherein the actuation device is accessible at an outer side of the vehicle for actuating the actuation device.

10. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two or more receiving elements each have a receiving portion that tapers towards an upper end, in relation to the direction of gravity.

11. A vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein all of the receiving portions take a form that is substantially conical, partially conical, frustoconical or partially frustoconical.

12. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the two receiving elements has a height that, along a direction parallel to the direction of gravity, is greater than a height of the base body of the vehicle as seen parallel to the direction of gravity.

13. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes one or more receiving sensors by which
a) an object arranged on at least one receiving element is detectable and/or its correct positioning is monitorable; and/or
b) an orientation and/or a location of an object that is arranged at a spacing from the at least one receiving element are detectable.

14. A vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein at least one receiving sensor is arranged on the base body and/or on the receiving element.

15. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving element includes a lubricating device which is integrated into the receiving element.

16. A vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the lubricating device is integrated into a shaft portion and/or a receiving portion of the receiving element, being arranged completely within the shaft portion and/or the receiving portion.

17. A vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the lubricating device includes a reservoir for receiving lubricant, and a dispensing element for a controllable supply of lubricant from the reservoir to an object that is to be lubricated, including a part of a lifting drive device.

18. A vehicle for conveying objects including vehicle bodies, the vehicle comprising:
a base body;
a chassis, by which the base body lies and/or is movable on a vehicle-accessible subsurface;
a drive device for driving the vehicle; and
a receiving device, which includes two or more receiving elements, for receiving at least one object, wherein the receiving elements extend along a common plane that runs vertically and parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the vehicle, wherein a first of the two or more receiving elements is arranged on a first side of a drive axis of the drive device, and a second of the two or more receiving elements is arranged on a second side of the drive axis, the second side opposite the first side.

Assignees

• Duerr Systems Ag

Inventors

• Lauer Michael
• Bartsch Dirk
• Rempp Peter
• Frasch Benny
• Weidle Martin
• Bayha Johannes
• Bell Stefano

Classifications

• B61B5/025

  Sub-floor conveyor systems, e.g. where the vehicle is above the ground and where the running gear and the propulsion device are located underground or in a tube. (tunnel systems: B61B13/10; funiculas systems B61B9/00) · CPC title

• B65G2814/03

  Loading or unloading means · CPC title

• B65G2207/40

  Safety features of loads, equipment or persons · CPC title

• B65G69/2876

  Safety or protection means, e.g. skirts · CPC title

• B65G47/52

  Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices (loading or unloading by means not incorporated in, or not operatively associated with, conveyors B65G65/00; transfer of workpieces during metal rolling B21B41/00) · CPC title