Transportation System

Abstract

A transport installation has at least one rail, on which transport carriages are able to be transported by at least one trolley, and on at least one side has a guide arrangement which stabilizes the state and position of the transport carriage above the rail. A drive unit with several runners is provided in the trolleys of the transport carriages, which drive unit is able to be swivelled about the axis of the rail with respect to the trolley. The rail bifurcates into two rail branches. In the region of the bifurcation, grooves can be formed on the upper surface of the rails and rail branches. The pivoting angle and angle coverage of the drive unit and depth of the grooves are greatly reduced.

1 . A transport installation with at least one rail ( 1 ) and with at least one transport carriage ( 8 ) which is movable on the rail ( 1 ) by means of at least one trolley ( 7 ), characterized in that a drive unit ( 6 ) of the trolley ( 7 ) rests on the rail ( 1 ) and is guided on it, that the drive unit ( 6 ) is swivellable with respect to the trolley ( 7 ) about the axis of the rail ( 1 ), that at least one guide arrangement ( 9 ,  10 ) is provided which stabilizes the position of the transport carriage ( 8 ) above the rail ( 1 ), and that in the rail ( 1 ) at least one bifurcation is provided in which the rail ( 1 ) divides into two rail branches ( 2 ). 
   
   
       2 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that in the region of the bifurcation, grooves ( 3 ) are provided at least on the upper side of the support rail ( 1 ), which grooves ( 3 ) terminate in the region of the wedge between the rail branches ( 2 ). 
   
   
       3 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the drive unit ( 6 ) is guided by means of at least two rollers ( 5 ) on the rail ( 1 ,  2 ). 
   
   
       4 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the sum of half the cover angle (δ) of the drive unit ( 6 ) and the pivoting angle (σ) for travel over bifurcations lies below 180°. 
   
   
       5 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the drive unit ( 6 ), on travelling over a bifurcation ( 2 ), is rotated so that the upper roller ( 5 ) is moved through the groove ( 3 ) of the support rail ( 1 ) lying closer to the roller ( 5 ). 
   
   
       6 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the drive unit ( 6 ), on travelling over a bifurcation ( 2 ), is rotated so that the upper roller ( 5 ) is swivelled completely out from the region of the outgoing rail branch ( 2 ). 
   
   
       7 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the drive unit ( 6 ), on travelling over a bifurcation ( 2 ), is rotated so that the upper roller ( 5 ), on travelling over the outgoing rail branch, is squeezed in the region of the elastic deformation. 
   
   
       8 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one roller ( 5 ) of the drive unit ( 6 ) is rotatably driven. 
   
   
       9 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a drive is provided for rotating the drive unit ( 6 ). 
   
   
       10 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a drive is provided for deflecting the rollers ( 5 ) of the drive unit ( 6 ). 
   
   
       11 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the guide arrangement consists of a guide rail ( 9 ) which is guided laterally parallel to the support rail ( 1 ,  2 ), and of a clamp ( 10 ) which can be closed and opened, and in the closed state brings about a form-fitting stabilizing of the state and position of the transport carriage ( 8 ). 
   
   
       12 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the guide rail ( 9 ) consists of a tubular cross-section and the clamp ( 10 ) consists of two rollers which are pressed from above and below onto the guide rail ( 9 ). 
   
   
       13 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the drive of the transport carriage ( 8 ) is integrated into the guide arrangement ( 9 ,  10 ). 
   
   
       14 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the drive of the transport carriage ( 8 ) takes place by a linear motor. 
   
   
       15 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the support rail ( 1 ) has a circular cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       16 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the running surface of the rollers ( 5 ) is curved in a concave shape congruently to the outer contour of the rail ( 1 ). 
   
   
       17 . The transport installation according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the transport carriages ( 8 ) are provided with electrical energy and/or control data by means of conductor rails and contacts. 
   
   
       18 . The transport installation according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the drive unit ( 6 ) is guided by means of at least two rollers ( 5 ) on the rail ( 1 ,  2 ). 
   
   
       19 . The transport installation according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the sum of half the cover angle (δ) of the drive unit ( 6 ) and the pivoting angle (σ) for travel over bifurcations lies below 180°. 
   
   
       20 . The transport installation according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the drive unit ( 6 ), on travelling over a bifurcation ( 2 ), is rotated so that the upper roller ( 5 ) is moved through the groove ( 3 ) of the support rail ( 1 ) lying closer to the roller ( 5 ).