阅读说明：本技术 用于输送盘片的辊式运送器 (Roller conveyor for conveying discs ) 是由 A.帕尔曼蒂埃 A.泽希纳 J.J.布里斯 M.沙雷尔 A.鲁耶 于 2019-05-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于沿着输送方向(t)输送盘片(15)的辊式运送器(1),该辊式运送器至少包括：-多个输送辊(2),这些输送辊沿着输送方向(t)并排地布置,并且具有辊端部(3),所述辊端部带有布置于其上的旋转轴承(5)；-至少一个上部的冷却装置(6),该冷却装置用于冷却一组(7)辊端部(3),该冷却装置具有上侧面(6a)、相对而置地布置的下侧面(6b)和环绕地布置的侧面(6c),其中,所述上部的冷却装置(6)可在第一位置(A)与第二位置(B)之间移动；在所述第一位置中,所述上部的冷却装置(6)基本上平行于所述输送辊(2)的旋转轴线(r)布置在一组(6)辊端部(3)的上方,以用于冷却所述辊端部(3),并且冷却装置(6)的下侧面(6b)面向一组(7)辊端部(3)；在所述第二位置中,所述上部的冷却装置(6)相比于第一位置(A)向上枢转了角度α。(The invention relates to a roller conveyor (1) for conveying a disk (15) along a conveying direction (t), comprising at least: -a plurality of conveyor rolls (2) arranged side by side in a conveying direction (t) and having roll ends (3) with rotational bearings (5) arranged thereon; -at least one upper cooling device (6) for cooling a set (7) of roll ends (3), having an upper side (6 a), an oppositely arranged lower side (6B) and a circumferentially arranged side (6 c), wherein the upper cooling device (6) is movable between a first position (a) and a second position (B); in the first position, the upper cooling device (6) is arranged above a set (6) of roll ends (3) substantially parallel to the rotational axis (r) of the conveyor roll (2) for cooling the roll ends (3), and the lower side (6 b) of the cooling device (6) faces the set (7) of roll ends (3); in the second position, the upper cooling device (6) is pivoted upwards by an angle a compared to the first position (a).)

1. Roller conveyor (1) for conveying a disc (15) along a conveying direction (t), comprising at least:

-a plurality of conveyor rolls (2) arranged side by side in a conveying direction (t) and having roll ends (3) with rotational bearings (5) arranged thereon;

-at least one upper cooling device (6) for cooling a group (7) of roll ends (3), having an upper side (6 a), an oppositely arranged lower side (6 b) and a circumferentially arranged side (6 c),

wherein the upper cooling device (6) is movable between a first position (A) and a second position (B); in the first position, the upper cooling device (6) is arranged above the set (7) of roll ends (3) substantially parallel to the rotational axis (r) of the conveyor roll (2) for cooling the roll ends (3), and the lower side (6 b) of the cooling device (6) faces the set (7) of roll ends (3); in the second position, the upper cooling device (6) is pivoted upwards by an angle a compared to the first position (a).

2. A roller conveyor (1) according to claim 1, wherein said angle a is between 30 ° and 180 °, preferably 45 ° to 90 °, particularly preferably 60 ° to 90 °, in particular 90 °.

3. A roller conveyor (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one upper cooling device (6) is connected to a cooling circuit by means of which a coolant is guided through said at least one upper cooling device (6), wherein said coolant is preferably water.

4. A roller conveyor (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an insulation (8) is arranged on the upper side (6 a) of said at least one upper cooling device (6).

5. Roller conveyor (1) according to claim 4, wherein the insulating element (8) has a projection (u) which is thickened towards the conveyor roller (2) beyond the upper cooling device (6), and the insulating element (8) preferably has recesses (9) in the region of the projection (u) with a substantially semicircular cross section, which recesses are each adapted to partially accommodate a section of a conveyor roller (2) in the first position (A), and the number of recesses (9) is equal to the number of roller ends (3) cooled by the upper cooling device (6).

6. A roller conveyor (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a lower insulating member (26) is arranged at least partially below the conveyor rollers, which lower insulating member has recesses (27) into which each conveyor roller (2) is partially accommodated.

7. Roller conveyor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said at least one upper cooling device (6) has, on a lower side (6 b), dimples (10) with a substantially semicircular cross section, which dimples are each adapted to partially receive a roller end (3) in said first position (A), and the number of dimples (9) is equal to the number of roller ends (3) cooled by said upper cooling device (6).

8. A roller conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a set (7) of roller ends (3) comprises 2 to 20, preferably 4 to 10, particularly preferably exactly 6 roller ends (3).

9. A roller conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least 2, preferably at least 4, particularly preferably 5 to 10 upper cooling devices (6) are arranged side by side along the conveying direction for cooling a set (7) of roller ends (3) respectively.

10. A roller conveyor (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising at least one lower cooling device (12) for cooling a set (7) of roller ends (3), which lower cooling device is arranged below the set (7) of roller ends (3) substantially parallel to the rotational axis (r) of the conveyor roller (2) for cooling the set (7) of roller ends (3), and is preferably connected with a cooling circuit by means of which a coolant, in particular water, is guided through the lower cooling device (11).

11. A roller conveyor (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one lower cooling device (11) has dimples (12) with a substantially semicircular cross section on the side facing the conveyor rollers (2), the number of dimples (12) being equal to the number of roller ends (3) cooled by said lower cooling device, and the lower cooling device (11) is arranged below the conveyor rollers (2) such that the roller ends (3) to be cooled by the lower cooling device (11) are partially accommodated in the dimples (12).

12. A roller conveyor (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising at least one lateral cooling device (13) for laterally cooling a set (7) of roller ends (3), which lateral cooling device is preferably connected to a cooling circuit by means of which a coolant, in particular water, is guided past said lateral cooling device (13).

13. Method for replacing a transport roller (2) of a roller conveyor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, the roller end (3) of which is cooled by an upper cooling device (5), wherein,

-moving an upper cooling device (5) arranged above a roll end (3) of a conveyor roll (2) to be replaced from the first position (a) to the second position (B);

-removing the conveyor roll (2) to be replaced;

-inserting a new conveyor roller (2) into the idle position;

-moving the upper cooling means (5) from the second position (B) back into the first position (a).

14. Bending device (16) comprising at least a heated bending chamber (17) and a roller conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 for conveying a disc (15) into said bending chamber (17).

15. A method for bending a disc (15), wherein the disc (15) is transported into a bending chamber (17) heated to a bending temperature by means of a roller conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and the disc (15) is bent in the bending chamber (17).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a roller conveyor for conveying disks, having at least one cooling device for cooling a set of roller ends of the roller conveyor.

This patent document describes various bending processes for glass sheets.

Background

In WO 2017/178733 a1, a bending process is described in which a disk is bent in a bending chamber having a first bending die and a second bending die arranged laterally offset thereto. The disk to be processed is conveyed to a position below the first bending die by a roller conveyor comprising a plurality of conveying rollers, wherein a row of roller ends of the conveying rollers is arranged inside the bending chamber.

The thermal bending process is typically performed at a temperature of 650 ℃ to 700 ℃. Such high temperatures in the bending chamber can lead to problems with the rotary bearings of the roller conveyors used in hot bending processes, which are arranged on the roller ends, in particular to more rapid wear and damage of the rotary bearings. Such damage can affect process accuracy.

In WO 2017/078908 a1 a roller conveyor for bending processes is disclosed, in which the roller ends arranged in a bending chamber are cooled by a cooling unit. The cooling chamber of the cooling unit is here defined by respective sleeves, which are arranged around the roll ends, and a jacket, which surrounds the roll ends arranged in the bending chamber.

For the roller conveyor described in WO 2017/078908 a1, roll changes involve high costs. For this purpose, either the cooling circuit must be interrupted and the upper part of the jacket removed in order to be able to remove the transport roller together with the sleeve upwards and insert a new transport roller with the sleeve. Or the transport roller must be pulled out of the sleeve laterally and a new transport roller must then be pushed into the sleeve laterally.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present application is to provide an improved roller conveyor with at least one cooling device for cooling a set of roller ends of the roller conveyor, wherein in particular a simple exchange of the individual conveyor rollers is possible.

The object of the invention is achieved by a roller conveyor according to independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

The roller conveyor according to the invention for conveying a disc along a conveying direction comprises at least:

-a plurality of transport rollers arranged side by side in a transport direction and having roller ends with rotational bearings arranged thereon;

at least one upper cooling device for cooling a set of roll ends, the cooling device having an upper side, an oppositely arranged lower side and a circumferentially arranged side,

wherein the upper cooling means is movable between a first position and a second position; in the first position, the upper cooling device is arranged above the set of roller ends substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the conveyor roller for cooling the roller ends, and the lower side of the cooling device faces the set of roller ends; in the second position, the upper cooling device is pivoted upwards by an angle alpha (alpha) compared to the first position.

The swivel bearings can be arranged, for example, directly on the roller ends or on connections arranged on the roller ends for connecting the respective roller end with the respective swivel bearing.

In one embodiment, the connection is configured as an end cap, i.e. the rotary bearing is arranged on an end cap arranged on the roller end.

The roller conveyor according to the invention is preferably a roller conveyor for a disk processing system, in particular a roller conveyor for a bending device comprising a bending chamber in which a first bending die and a bending die laterally offset therefrom are arranged. The roller conveyor according to the invention is preferably adapted to transport the disc into the bending chamber into a position below the first bending die, and in the heated bending chamber a row of roller ends of the roller conveyor is arranged. Preferably, all the roll ends arranged in the heated bending chamber are cooled by means of at least one upper cooling device. The ends of the rolls arranged outside the heated bending chamber are preferably not cooled. The ends of the rolls outside the bending chamber, which ends are arranged in the vicinity of the bending chamber, can likewise be cooled, if desired. The cooling is here performed by means of any suitable cooling system, for example by means of cooling pipes guiding water or another cooling liquid.

In the context of the present application, the lower side of the upper cooling device refers to the side of the upper cooling device which faces the ends of the set of rolls in the first position. In the context of the present application, the upper side of the upper cooling device is the side of the upper cooling device which is opposite the lower side. The circumferentially arranged side of the upper cooling device extends between the upper side and the lower side of the upper cooling device.

The term "disk" is intended in particular to mean a glass plate, preferably a thermally prestressed (vorstand) soda-lime glass.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper cooling device is arranged in the first position above a set of roller ends parallel to the axis of rotation of the conveyor roller for cooling the roller ends.

Preferably, the angle α is between 30 ° (degrees) and 180 °, particularly preferably 45 ° to 90 °, more particularly preferably 60 ° to 90 °. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the upper cooling device is pivoted completely upward in the second position, i.e. the angle α is 90 °, and the underside of the upper cooling device is arranged substantially perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the conveyor roller. In another embodiment, the upper cooling device is pivoted upwards by 180 ° in the second position.

The movability of the upper cooling device is preferably achieved by means of a hinge rod, to which the upper cooling device is pivotably fixed. Suitable pivotable fastening arrangements for the upper cooling device are known to the person skilled in the art.

The set of roller ends of the roller conveyor preferably comprises 2 to 20, particularly preferably 4 to 10, very particularly preferably 6 roller ends. However, a set of roll ends may also comprise only one roll end, in which case the cooling device provided for cooling the upper part of the set of roll ends cools only one single roll end.

Compared to the roller conveyors of the prior art, the roller conveyor according to the invention has the following advantages: that is, it is possible to achieve effective cooling of at least one set of roller ends and at the same time to simply replace the rollers, since the upper cooling device, which cools the roller ends of the conveying rollers to be replaced, can be pivoted upwards for roller replacement.

In an advantageous embodiment, the roller conveyor comprises at least 2, preferably at least 4, particularly preferably 5 to 10 upper cooling devices for cooling a group of roller ends in each case, wherein the upper cooling devices are arranged next to one another in the conveying direction. The roller conveyor according to the invention may also comprise more than 10 upper cooling devices.

The presence of more than one upper cooling device, wherein each upper cooling device is adapted to cool a set of roll ends, respectively, provides the following advantages: that is, in order to replace the conveying roller, it is only necessary to pivot the cooling device of the upper portion that cools the set of roller ends including the roller end of the conveying roller to be replaced upward. Thus, during a roll change, the cooling of only one set of roll ends is interrupted as a result of the upper cooling device being moved from the first position to the second position. The roll ends of the remaining groups continue to be cooled by other upper cooling means which can remain in the first position during roll replacement, thus reducing the risk of thermally induced wear of their rotary bearings.

The transport roller of the roller conveyor according to the invention is a cylindrical roller and is preferably made of ceramic, in particular silicon-based ceramic, so-called "fused silica insulating foam". The rotary bearing, which is arranged on the roller end either directly or via a connection, can be made of metal or a metal-containing alloy, for example stainless steel. The connecting elements, which are optionally arranged at the ends of the rolls, can be configured, for example, as end caps, which can likewise be made of metal or metal-containing alloys, for example, stainless steel. The transport rollers of the roller conveyor form a roller bed for carrying the disk in a planar manner.

In one embodiment, the transport rollers of the roller conveyor according to the invention have a length of between 500mm and 5000mm, preferably between 1000mm and 3000mm, for example 2300mm, and a diameter of between 10mm and 200mm, preferably between 30mm and 100mm, for example 50 mm.

The cooling device of the upper part preferably has a substantially plate-like shape.

The length of the upper cooling device, which is provided for cooling the roll ends, is adapted to the number and diameter of the roll ends. When there are 2 or more upper cooling devices, the lengths of the individual cooling devices are independent of one another, i.e. the individual upper cooling devices may also have different lengths, thus cooling a different number of roll ends.

The width of the upper cooling device is adapted to the size of the roll end to be cooled. Preferably, the upper cooling device has a width at least such that it completely covers the rotary bearing arranged on the roller end in the first position. As long as the rotary bearing is arranged on a connecting piece arranged on the roll end, the upper cooling device has a width such that it at least in the first position completely covers the rotary bearing arranged on the roll end and at least partially, preferably also completely, covers the connecting piece. If these connections are configured as end caps, the upper cooling device preferably has a width at least such that it completely covers the rotary bearing and the end caps arranged on the roll ends in the first position. In the case of 2 or more upper cooling devices, the widths of the cooling devices are independent of one another, i.e. the upper cooling devices can also have different widths.

The thickness of the upper cooling device is preferably between 10mm and 200mm, particularly preferably between 20mm and 100mm, for example 40 mm.

In one embodiment, the upper cooling device has a downwardly directed projection on a section of the side edge, which in the first position faces away from the roll end. In this design, the upper cooling device thus has an L-shaped cross section.

The at least one upper cooling device may in principle be any cooling device suitable for reaching a specific temperature. The at least one upper cooling device preferably means a cooling device which is connected to a cooling circuit by means of which coolant is conducted through the at least one upper cooling device. Preferably, a pipe system, through which the coolant can be conducted, extends through the upper cooling device. The coolant can be, in particular, water, wherein the water can optionally be mixed with an antifreeze agent.

In the case of more than one upper cooling device, it is preferable for each individual upper cooling device to be connected to its own cooling circuit, as a result of which particularly effective cooling can be achieved.

In an advantageous embodiment, an insulating element is arranged on the upper side of the at least one upper cooling device. The insulating material insulates and protects the cooling device. All known insulating materials are suitable as insulating material. In particular refractory materials with high insulating properties, such as ceramics, fiber-based materials or ceramic foam-based materials, are suitable. The insulation can be screwed, for example, to the upper cooling device.

The insulating part preferably has a projection u of the cooling device beyond the upper part, wherein the insulating part is thickened in the region of the projection toward the conveyor roller. The thickening is in particular designed such that the insulation extends to the transport roller when the upper cooling device is in the first position.

In an advantageous embodiment, the insulating element has recesses in the region of the thickened projections u, which recesses have a substantially semicircular cross section. These recesses are each adapted to partially accommodate a section of the conveyor roller in the first position. The number of recesses in the insulation is equal to the number of roll ends, which are cooled in the first position by the respective upper cooling device. By partially accommodating the conveyor roller in the recess of the insulating part, when the upper cooling device is arranged in the first position, the heated air is prevented or at least reduced in the first position from flowing into the intermediate space between the roller end and the at least one upper cooling device and heating the swivel bearing and optionally the connecting part arranged thereon.

In one embodiment, the region between the insulation and the conveyor roller is configured as a labyrinth seal in the first position.

In one embodiment, the roller conveyor according to the invention also has a lower insulating part which is arranged at least partially below the conveyor rollers and has recesses into which each conveyor roller is partially received. By means of such a lower insulation, the heated air is prevented or at least reduced from flowing below the conveyor roller towards the roller end and heating the rotary bearing and optionally the connecting piece arranged thereon. All known insulating materials are suitable as the material. In particular refractory materials with high insulating properties, such as ceramics, fiber-based materials or ceramic foam-based materials, are suitable.

In one embodiment, the lower insulation is at the same time a support for the roll ends.

In one embodiment, the region between the lower insulation and the transport roller is designed as a labyrinth seal.

In a further embodiment of the roller conveyor according to the invention, the at least one upper cooling device is designed such that it has recesses on the lower side, which recesses have a substantially semicircular cross section and are each adapted to partially receive a roller end in the first position. By receiving the roll ends in this way partially in an indentation on the underside of the upper cooling device, a particularly effective cooling of the roll ends can be achieved. The number of dimples on the lower side of the upper cooling means is equal to the number of roll ends, which are cooled by the respective upper cooling means, so that each roll end is partially received in each dimple.

In an advantageous embodiment of the roller conveyor according to the invention, the roller conveyor has, in addition to at least one upper cooling device, at least one lower cooling device for cooling a set of roller ends, which lower cooling device is arranged below the set of roller ends substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the conveyor roller for cooling the set of roller ends.

Preferably, the at least one lower cooling device is connected to a cooling circuit by means of which coolant is guided through the lower cooling device. The at least one lower cooling device can be formed, for example, as one or more cooling tubes or can also be formed in a plate-like manner. For a plate-type lower cooling device, a line system is preferably extended through the lower cooling device, through which the coolant of the cooling circuit can be conducted. The coolant can be, in particular, water, wherein the water can optionally be mixed with an antifreeze agent.

The at least one lower cooling device can be arranged here below the support of the roll end, but can also be arranged directly below the roll end and thus serve as a support.

In one embodiment, at least one lower cooling device has recesses on the side facing the roller ends, which recesses have a substantially semicircular cross section, and is arranged below the conveyor roller in such a way that each roller end is partially received in the recesses. The number of dimples in the lower cooling device is equal to the number of roll ends, the respective lower cooling device cools the roll ends such that each roll end is partially received into each dimple, and the respective lower cooling device thus serves as a cradle for the roll ends, which are cooled by the respective lower cooling device.

The number of cooling devices in the lower part may be different from the number of cooling devices in the upper part. The roller conveyor according to the invention may, for example, have more than one upper cooling device, but only one single lower cooling device. In this case, the lower cooling device is preferably designed such that it cools a group of roll ends comprising as many roll ends as the entire group of roll ends cooled by means of the entire upper cooling device.

In a further embodiment of the roller conveyor according to the invention, the roller conveyor has, in addition to the at least one upper cooling device, at least one lateral cooling device for laterally cooling the ends of the set of rollers. The lateral cooling device is preferably arranged substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the transport roller on the side of the roller conveyor for laterally cooling the set of roller ends.

Preferably, the at least one lateral cooling device is connected to a cooling circuit, by means of which coolant is guided through the lateral cooling device. The at least one lateral cooling device can be embodied, for example, in the form of a plate. In one embodiment, a line system, through which the coolant of the cooling circuit can be conducted, extends through the at least one lateral cooling device. The coolant can be, in particular, water, wherein the water can optionally be mixed with an antifreeze agent.

The number of lateral cooling devices may be different from the number of upper cooling devices. The roller conveyor according to the invention may then, for example, have more than one upper cooling device, but only one single lateral cooling device. In this case, the lateral cooling device is preferably designed such that it cools a group of roll ends which comprises as many roll ends as the entire group of roll ends cooled by means of the entire upper cooling device.

Preferably, the roller conveyor according to the invention has, in addition to at least one upper cooling device, at least one lower cooling device and at least one lateral cooling device.

The upper cooling device, the lower cooling device and/or the lateral cooling device are preferably made of stainless steel.

In one embodiment, the roller conveyor according to the invention additionally has a mechanism for moving the upper cooling device between the first position and the second position. The skilled person is aware of suitable mechanisms for moving the cooling means of the upper part. Such a mechanism may be, for example, a motor-driven mechanical component or a pneumatic cylinder. The mechanism for moving the upper cooling device between the first and second positions is preferably a pneumatic cylinder, in particular a pneumatic cylinder.

The invention also relates to a method for exchanging a transport roller of a roller conveyor according to the invention, the roller end of which is cooled by an upper cooling device, wherein the lower steps are carried out in a given sequence:

-moving the cooling device arranged in the upper part above the conveyor roll to be replaced from the first position to the second position;

-removing the conveyor roll to be replaced;

-inserting a new conveyor roller into the free position;

-moving the upper cooling means from the second position back to the first position.

"inserting a new conveyor roller into an empty position" means inserting a new conveyor roller into the position occupied by the conveyor roller to be replaced before removing the conveyor roller to be replaced.

The first and fourth steps of the method may be performed manually or mechanically. This is done, for example, by means of a mechanical component or a cylinder driven by an electric motor when the upper cooling device is mechanically moved from the first position to the second position. The first and fourth steps of the method are preferably carried out by means of an electric motor with position control or by means of a pneumatic cylinder.

The invention also relates to a bending device comprising at least a heated bending chamber and a roller conveyor according to the invention.

The bending device according to the invention preferably has a bending chamber in which a first bending tool and a second bending tool offset laterally with respect thereto are arranged. The roller conveyor according to the invention arranged in the bending device is preferably adapted to transport the disc into the bending chamber to a position below the first bending die, and in the heated bending chamber an array of roller ends of the roller conveyor is arranged. The roller conveyor according to the invention may also be adapted to convey the disk out of the bending chamber.

In an advantageous embodiment of the bending device according to the invention, the end of the row of rollers of the roller conveyor, which is arranged in the heated bending chamber, is equal to the sum of the end of the group of rollers cooled by the at least one upper cooling device and optionally also by the at least one lower cooling device and/or the at least one lateral cooling device. That is to say, the roll ends arranged in the heated bending chamber are cooled by at least one upper cooling device. Optionally, the roll end arranged in the heated bending chamber is additionally cooled by at least one lower cooling device and/or at least one lateral cooling device.

The bending device according to the invention may for example be a bending device such as disclosed in WO 2017/178733 a1, wherein instead of the roller conveyor described in WO 2017/178733 a1 a roller conveyor according to the invention is employed.

The invention also relates to a method for bending a disk, wherein the disk is conveyed by means of a roller conveyor according to the invention into a bending chamber heated to a bending temperature and is bent in the bending chamber. Preferably, the bending chamber used in the method has a first bending die and a second bending die laterally offset thereto, and the disk is conveyed into the bending chamber by means of the roller conveyor according to the invention to a position below the first bending die.

It goes without saying that the feeding of the disk into the bending chamber here together comprises feeding the disk inside the bending chamber, in particular to a position below the bending die.

The invention also relates to the use of the disk bent using the bending process according to the invention in vehicles, preferably motor vehicles, trucks, buses, particularly preferably as a front pane, rear pane, roof pane or side pane in a vehicle.

Drawings

The invention will be described in detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings. These figures are schematic and not to scale. The drawings do not limit the invention. Wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a roller conveyor according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of another design of a roller conveyor according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partly in section, of another design of a roller conveyor according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cooling device of the upper portion;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cooling device of the upper part;

FIG. 6A is a cut-away of a cross-section of a roller conveyor according to the invention in a first position;

FIG. 6B is a cut-away of a cross-section of a roller conveyor according to the invention in a second position;

FIG. 7 is a cutaway portion of a cross-section of another embodiment of a roller conveyor according to the present invention in a first position;

FIG. 8 is a cutaway portion of a cross-section taken along a rotational bearing of one design of a roller conveyor according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cut-away portion of a cross-section taken along a rotary bearing of another design of a roller conveyor according to the invention;

FIG. 10 is a cut-away of a cross-section taken along a rotary bearing of another design of a roller conveyor according to the invention;

FIG. 11 is a cut-out of a cross-section in a first position of another design of a roller conveyor according to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a cut-away portion of a cross-section taken along a rotary bearing of another design of a roller conveyor according to the invention;

figure 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of one design of a bending apparatus according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a roller conveyor 1 according to the invention, in section. The plurality of conveying rollers 2 are arranged side by side in the conveying direction t. These conveyor rolls 2 have roll ends 3, on which, in the embodiment shown in fig. 1, connecting pieces in the form of end caps 4 and rotary bearings 5 are arranged. The feed roller is made of, for example, ceramic, and the end cover 4 and the rotary bearing 5 are made of, for example, stainless steel. However, it is also possible for the pivot bearing 5 to be arranged on the roller end 3 by means of a different connection than the end cap 4 or directly, i.e. the conveyor roller 2 has no end cap 4. In the section shown in fig. 1, the roller conveyor 1 comprises 2 upper cooling devices 6 for cooling a set 7 of roller ends 3, respectively. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, a group of 7 roll ends cooled by 2 upper cooling devices includes 6 roll ends 3, respectively. These upper cooling devices 6 each have an upper side 6a, an oppositely disposed lower side 6b and a peripheral side 6 c. In fig. 1, an upper cooling device 6 is located in a first position (denoted by a in fig. 1), in which this upper cooling device 6 is arranged above a set 7 of roller ends 3 parallel to the axis of rotation r of the conveyor roller 2 for cooling the roller ends 3. In this first position, the lower side 6b of the cooling means 6 faces the end of the set 7 of rolls. The second cooling device 6 shown in fig. 1 is in a second position (indicated by B in fig. 1) in which the upper cooling device 6 is pivoted upwards by an angle α compared to the first position a, wherein in the embodiment shown in fig. 1 the angle α is 90 °. The 2 upper cooling devices 6 have a plate design, wherein the upper cooling device 6 has a downwardly facing projection 6d on a section of the side edge 6c, which in the first position a faces away from the roll end. In this design, the upper cooling device 6 thus has an L-shaped cross section. The 2 upper cooling devices 6 are pivotably fastened to the hinge rods 25, respectively.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view, in section, of a further embodiment of the roller conveyor 1 according to the invention. The roller conveyor 1 shown in phantom in fig. 2 differs from the roller conveyor 1 shown in phantom in fig. 1 only in that an insulating element 8 is provided on each of the upper sides 6a of the 2 upper cooling devices 6. The insulating parts 8 each have a projection u, which is thickened in the direction of the conveyor roller 2 and has six recesses 9 with a substantially semicircular cross section, which are suitable for partially receiving the conveyor roller 2 in each case in the first position a.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view, in section, of a further design of the roller conveyor 1 according to the invention. The roller conveyor 1 shown in phantom in fig. 3 differs from the roller conveyor 1 shown in phantom in fig. 2 only in that the roller conveyor 1 has 2 lateral cooling devices 13 of plate-type design. In fig. 3, the coolant inlet 24a and the coolant outlet 24b are also shown for the upper cooling device 6 shown in the first position a, by means of which the upper cooling device 6 can be connected to the cooling circuit. The embodiment of the roller conveyor 1 shown in section in fig. 3 does not have a lower cooling device 11 and shows a carrier 14 supporting the rotary bearing 5. However, cooling pipes for conducting cooling water can also be used as the support 14.

Fig. 4 and 5 show perspective views of the upper cooling device 6 from different perspectives. The upper cooling device 6 shown in fig. 4 and 5 is of plate-type construction and has an upper side 6a, a lower side 6b and a lateral edge 6c running between them. The upper cooling device 6 has a projection 6d so that the cross section of the upper cooling device 6 is L-shaped. Fig. 4 also shows the coolant inlet 24a and the coolant outlet 24b, and the direction of flow of the coolant through the upper cooling device 6 is indicated by arrows. The upper cooling device 6 shown in fig. 4 and 5 is pivotably secured to the hinge rod 25.

Fig. 6A shows a cut-out of a cross-section of a roller conveyor 1 according to one embodiment of the invention in a first position a. Which cross section passes through the conveyor roller 2 along its axis of rotation r. An end cap 4 is fastened to the roller end 3, on which a rotary bearing 5 is arranged. The end caps 4 are optional, and the rotary bearing 5 can be arranged on the roll end 3 by alternative connections or also directly. The feed roller 2 is made of, for example, ceramic, and the end cover 4 and the rotary bearing 5 are made of stainless steel. The swivel bearing 5 is located on the bracket 14 and is supported by the bracket from below. The roll ends 3 are cooled by an upper cooling device 6, wherein the upper cooling device 6 has an L-shaped cross section. In the embodiment shown in fig. 6A, the upper cooling device 6 completely covers the end cap 4 and the rotary bearing 5 arranged thereon. The upper cooling device is made of stainless steel, for example, and is connected to a cooling circuit not shown in fig. 6A. The upper cooling device 6 is pivotably fixed to the hinge rod 25 (this fixing is not shown in fig. 6A). On the upper side 6a of the upper cooling device 6, an insulating part 8 is arranged, which has a projection u. In the region of the projection u, the insulation 8 is thickened toward the conveyor roller 2. The conveyor roller 2 is partially accommodated in an indentation 9 in the insulating element 8, which indentation has a substantially semicircular cross section. In the design shown in fig. 6A, the roller conveyor 1 has a lateral cooling device 13, which is arranged laterally to the roller ends 3. The cooling device is made of, for example, stainless steel and is connected to a coolant circuit (not shown in fig. 6A).

Fig. 6B differs from fig. 6A only in that the upper cooling device 6 is pivoted upwards by an angle α.

Fig. 7 shows a cut-out of a cross section in a first position a of a further embodiment of the roller conveyor 1 according to the invention. Which cross section passes through the conveyor roller 2 along its axis of rotation r. This design of the roller conveyor 1 differs from the design of the roller conveyor 1 shown in cross section in fig. 6A only in that, below the conveying roller 2, an additional insulation 26 is arranged opposite the projection u and adjacent to the bracket 14. The insulating element 26 has an indentation 27 with a substantially semicircular cross section, into which the conveyor roller 2 is partially accommodated. It is also possible for the insulating element 26 to additionally also extend below the carrier 14 (not shown in fig. 7).

Fig. 8 shows a cut-out of a cross section of the roller conveyor 1 according to the invention along the rotary bearing 5. This corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along section line X' -X of fig. 6A. The rotational bearing 5 is arranged around the end cap 4 and is supported by a bracket 14. The rotary bearing 5 and the end cap 4 are cooled from above by an upper cooling device 6, on the upper side 6a of which an insulating element 8 is arranged. However, it is also possible for the pivot bearing 5 to have a different connection than the end cap 4 or to be arranged directly on the roller end 3, i.e. the conveyor roller 2 has no end cap 4.

Fig. 9 shows a section through a cross section through a rotary bearing 5 of a roller conveyor 1 according to another embodiment of the invention. The embodiment shown in fig. 9 in cross-section in a section differs from the embodiment shown in fig. 8 in cross-section in that a lower cooling device 11 is arranged below the support 14.

Fig. 10 shows a section through a cross section through a rotary bearing 5 of a roller conveyor 1 according to another embodiment of the invention. The embodiment shown in fig. 10 in cross section is distinguished from the embodiment shown in cross section in fig. 8 only in that, instead of the carrier 14, a lower cooling device 11 is arranged below the rotary bearing 5, which cooling device supports the rotary bearing 5. The lower cooling device 11 has recesses 12 with a substantially semicircular cross section on the side facing the rotary bearing 5, into which recesses the rotary bearing 5 and the end cover 4, i.e. the roll end 3, are partially accommodated.

Fig. 11 shows a section through a cross section in a first position a of a design of a roller conveyor 1 according to the invention. Which cross section passes through the conveyor roller 2 along its axis of rotation r. An end cap 4 is fastened to the roller end 3, on which a rotary bearing 5 is arranged. The end caps 4 are optional, and the rotational bearings 5 may also be arranged on the roll ends by alternative connections or directly. The feed roller 2 is made of, for example, ceramic, and the end cover 4 and the rotary bearing 5 are made of stainless steel. The roll ends 3 are cooled by an upper cooling device 6, wherein the upper cooling device 6 has an L-shaped cross section. In the embodiment shown in fig. 11, the upper cooling device 6 completely covers the end cap 4 and the rotary bearing 5 arranged thereon. The upper cooling device 6 has recesses 10 on the lower side 6b with a substantially semicircular cross section, into which the rotary bearing 5 and the end caps 4, i.e. the roll ends 3, are partially accommodated. The upper cooling device 6 is made of stainless steel, for example, and is connected to a cooling circuit not shown in fig. 11. The upper cooling device 6 is pivotably fixed to the hinge rod 25 (this fixing is not shown in fig. 11). On the upper side 6a of the upper cooling device 6, an insulating part 8 is arranged, which has a projection u. In the region of the projection u, the insulation 8 is thickened toward the conveyor roller 2. The conveyor roller 2 is partially accommodated in an indentation 9 in the insulating element 8, which indentation has a substantially semicircular cross section. In the design shown in fig. 11, the roller conveyor 1 has a lateral cooling device 13, which is arranged laterally to the roller ends 3. The cooling device is made of stainless steel, for example, and is connected to a coolant circuit (not shown in fig. 11). Below the swivel bearing 5, a lower cooling device 11 is arranged, which supports the swivel bearing 5. The lower cooling device 11 has recesses 12 with a substantially semicircular cross section on the side facing the rotary bearing 5, into which recesses the rotary bearing 5 and the end cover 4, i.e. the roll end 3, are partially accommodated. The roller conveyor 1 has a lower insulating member 26. The conveyor roller 2 is partially accommodated in a recess 27 in the insulating element 26 with a substantially semicircular cross section. In an alternative embodiment, the lower cooling device 11 and the lateral cooling device 13 can also be formed in one piece.

Fig. 12 shows a section through a cross section through the rotary bearing 5 of a further embodiment of the roller conveyor 1 according to the invention. This corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along section line X' -X of fig. 11. The embodiment shown in fig. 12 in cross-sectional section differs from the embodiment shown in cross-sectional section in fig. 10 only in that the upper cooling device 6 has recesses 10 on the lower side 6b with a substantially semicircular cross section, into which the rotary bearing 5 and the end caps 4, i.e. the roll ends 3, are partially accommodated, and in that it has a lower insulating part 26, which is not shown in fig. 12.

Fig. 13 is a simplified schematic diagram of one design of a bending apparatus 16 according to the present invention. The device 16 comprises a bending zone 17 for bending the disk 15, a preheating zone 30 arranged laterally to the bending zone 17 and a prestressing zone 31 arranged laterally to cool or prestress the bent disk 15, with heating means for heating the disk 15 to the bending temperature, which heating means are not shown in detail in fig. 13, since they are located behind the bending zone 17 in this view. The pre-stressed region 31 is coupled to the bending region 17 on the right. The preheating zone 30 and the prestressing zone 31 are arranged at the bending zone 17 at an angle of 90 ° in a top view from above and are functionally coupled thereto. The preheating zone 30, the bending zone 17 and the prestressing zone 31 are in each case spatially separate regions of the device. The bending zone 17 is configured in the form of a bending chamber which is closed or closable with respect to the outside. The bending zone 17 is provided for this purpose with an insulating wall 36, so that the inner space of the bending zone 17 can be heated to a temperature suitable for the bending process of the disk 15 (bending temperature) and maintained. For heating the interior space, the bending zone 17 has a heating mechanism, which is not shown in detail in fig. 13.

In the device 16, the disk 15 can be continuously transported from the preheating zone 30 into the bending zone 17 and finally into the prestressing zone 31. In order to transport the disk 15 from the preheating zone 30 into the bending zone 17, a roller conveyor 1 according to the invention is provided, which comprises a cylindrical transport roller 2 for the planar placement of the disk 15. The conveyor rollers 2 are mounted rotatably with their horizontally oriented axes of rotation, in this case actively and/or passively, for example parallel to the x direction. The disks 15 heated to the bending temperature in the preheating zone 30 can each be brought individually one after the other into a removal position 32 in the bending zone 17 by means of the transport rollers 2. The transport direction of the disk 15 is perpendicular to the drawing plane.

Bending zone 17 has 2 separate bending stations 33, 33 ', wherein first bending station 33 and second bending station 33' are arranged spatially offset from each other in the horizontal x-direction. In introducing the 2 bending stations 33, 33', the reference "" respectively denotes the components of the second bending station 33 ", wherein the various components of the second bending station may also be without", if this seems appropriate. For ease of reference, all the components of second bending station 33' are also referred to as "second components", to distinguish them from those of first bending station 33, also referred to as "first" components.

The bending stations 33, 33 ' have vertical holders 34, 34 ', respectively, for releasably fixing the bending tools 18, 18 '. The holding portions 34, 34 'are displaceable in the vertical direction by holding movement mechanisms 19, 19', respectively, which are not shown in detail. Optionally, the holding portions 34, 34 'are also laterally displaceable by the movement mechanisms 19, 19', respectively, with at least one horizontal movement component, in particular in the positive or negative x-direction. At the lower ends of the holding portions 34, 34 ', bending tools 18, 18' are releasably mounted, respectively. Each bending tool 18, 18 'has a downwardly directed convex contact face 35, 35' for placing the disc 15 flat. In the case of a corresponding contact pressure, disc 15 may be bent at a corresponding contact face 35, 35'. For this purpose, the 2 contact faces 35, 35 ' have an external face section 37, 37 ' and an internal face section 38, 38 ', respectively, located at the end or edge, with mutually different face profiles (face shapes), wherein the internal face sections 38, 38 ' are completely surrounded (wrapped) by the external face sections 37, 37 '.

The face profiles of the external face section 37, 37 ' and the internal face section 38, 38 ' of the same bending tool 18, 18 ' are different from each other, except that the contact faces 35, 35 ' of the 2 bending tools 18, 18 ' also have different face profiles. In particular, the outer surface section 37 of the contact surface 35 of the first bending tool 18 has a surface contour which corresponds to the desired edge end curvature, i.e. the final curvature, in the (e.g. strip-shaped) edge region 39 of the disk 15, i.e. achieves this final curvature. The end edge region 39 of the disk 15 adjoins a disk (cut-away) edge 41 arranged perpendicularly to the 2 disk main surfaces facing one another. The inner surface section 38 of the contact surface 35 of the first bending tool 18 has a surface contour which corresponds to a pre-curvature, i.e. a non-final curvature, of the surface in an inner region 40 of the disk 15, which is completely surrounded by an edge region 39. The external face section 37 ' of the contact face 35 ' of the second bending tool 18 ' has the same face contour as the external face section 37 of the contact face 35 of the first bending tool 18, and has a face contour corresponding to the desired degree of edge end bending in the edge region 39 of the disc 15. The internal face section 38 'of the contact face 35' of the second bending tool 18 ', which is different from the internal face section 38' of the contact face 35 of the first bending tool 18, has a face profile corresponding to a face-end curvature, i.e. a final or quasi-final curvature, in the internal region 40 of the disc 15. The first holding portion 34 forms together with the first bending tool 18 the first bending mould 20. In a corresponding manner, second holding portion 34 "jointly with second bending tool 18" forms second bending die 20 ".

The 2 bending stations 33, 33 ' are provided with respective suction means 42, 42' for suction abutment of the disc 15 against the contact surfaces 35, 35 '. For this purpose, the contact surfaces 35, 35' may for example be provided with evenly distributed suction holes (not shown) and/or with a fence at the edge. By means of the generated underpressure or vacuum, the disc 15 can be sucked against the contact surfaces 35, 35'.

The first bending station 33 also has a blowing mechanism 43, not shown in detail, with which a flowing gaseous fluid, for example an air flow 50, can be generated in the vertical direction at the removal position 32 through the roller conveyor 1. This makes it possible to lift disk 15 from removal position 32 toward bending tool 20. The removal position 32 is located directly below the bending tool 18 of the first bending mould 20 in the vertical direction.

The bending station 33 also has a clamping frame 21 (e.g., a clamping ring) for clamping and transporting the disk 15. This clamping frame 21 is fixedly arranged on an elongated support 44 and can be displaced laterally in relation to the first and second bending moulds 20, 20' in the positive or negative x-direction by movement of the support 44. The carriage 44 can be moved along its extension by a carriage movement mechanism, not shown in detail. It is thus possible to move the pressing frame 21 back and forth in translation, in particular between the first pressing frame position 22 of the first bending station 33 and the second pressing frame position 23 of the second bending station 33'. The first pressing frame position 22 and the second pressing frame position 23 are located, for example, on the same horizontal plane. The removal position 32 is located directly below the first hold-down frame position 22.

The pressure frame 21 has an edge-oriented (for example, strip-shaped) pressure surface, the surface contour of which is complementary to the surface contour of the outer surface portion 37 of the bending tool 18 of the first bending tool 20. The upwardly facing pressure surface is suitable for pressing the flat disk 15 in the edge region 39. The pressure frame 21 is not of completely planar design, but rather has an inner through-opening which enables a surface pre-bending under the influence of gravity of the inner region 40 of the disk 15 placed on top of it.

The prestressing zone 31, which is coupled laterally to the bending zone 17, has 2 so-called prestressing boxes 29, which are arranged offset to one another in the vertical direction. By means of the 2 prestressing force boxes 29, an air flow can be generated in each case for air-cooling the disks 15 located between the 2 prestressing force boxes 29 in order to prestress the bent disks 15. A prestressing frame 28 is present in the prestressing zone 31 for transport and storage during prestressing of the bent disk 15. The prestressing frame 28 can be displaced laterally with respect to the bending zone 17 along at least one horizontal movement component by a prestressing frame-movement mechanism 45 not shown in detail. In particular, the pre-stressing frame 28 can be moved back and forth in translation in the horizontal plane between a second pre-stressing frame position 46, which is located between the 2 pre-stressing boxes 29 of the pre-stressing station 31, and a first pre-stressing frame position 23, which is identical to the second compacting frame position. For this purpose, the bending zone 17, which is designed as a bending chamber, has a door 49. In this way, the prestressing frame 28 can be moved into the second clamping frame position 23 in order to receive the bent disk 15 and to translate into the prestressing zone 31. The disk 15 can be removed therefrom in a simple manner and processing can be continued.

As can be seen in fig. 13, for the transport rollers 2 that transport the disk 15 inside the curved chamber 17, a roller end 3 (roller end in the region marked Z) is arranged inside the curved chamber 17 and a roller end 3 (roller end in the region marked Y) is arranged outside the curved chamber 17, respectively. In the embodiment of the bending device 16 according to the invention shown in fig. 13, a row of roll ends 3 is thus arranged inside the bending chamber 17. In order to protect the rotary bearing 3 of the conveyor roller 2 from the temperatures of 650 ℃ to 700 ℃ which exist in the bending chamber 17, the bending device according to the invention shown in fig. 13 has an upper cooling device 6 in the region marked Z for cooling the roller end 3 arranged in the bending chamber 17, wherein an insulation 8 is arranged on the upper side of the upper cooling device 5.

List of reference numerals

1 roller conveyor

2 conveying roller

3 roll end

4 end cap

5 swivel bearing

6 upper cooling device

6a upper side

6b lower side

6c side surface

6d projection

Group 7 (roller end)

8 insulating part

9 inner recess

10 concave

11 lower part cooling device

12 concave

13 lateral cooling device

14 support

15 disc

16 bending device

17 bending zone, bending cavity

18 first bending tool

19 second bending tool

20. 20' bending die

21 pressing frame

22 first position of the pressing frame

23 second hold down frame position

24a coolant inlet

24b coolant outlet

25 hinge rod

26 lower insulation

27 concave

28 pre-stressed frame

29 prestressing tank

30 preheating zone

31 pre-stressed zone

32 removal position

33. 33' bending station

34. 34' holding part

35. 35' contact surface

36 insulated wall section

37. 37' external panel section

38. 38' interior panel section

39 edge region

40 inner region

41 disc edge

42. 42' suction mechanism

43 blowing mechanism

44 support

45 pressing surface

46 prestressing frame moving mechanism

47 second prestressed frame position

48 blowing mechanism air flow

49. 49' suction mechanism air flow

50 door

51 support moving mechanism

t direction of conveyance

r axis of rotation

u-shaped projection

A first position

B second position

Y in the region of the ends of the rolls outside the bending chamber

Z is in the region of the roll ends within the bending chamber.