DE20012838U1 - Conveyor device for vehicles in vehicle treatment systems - Google Patents

Description

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Applicant:

California Kleindienst Holding GmbH Argonstrasse 86153 Augsburg

Representatives; Patent Attorneys Dipl.-Ing. H.-D. Ernicke Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Ernicke Schwibbogenplatz 2b 8 6153 Augsburg / DE

Date:

File :

24.07.2000 117-956

- 1 DESCRIPTION

Conveyor system for vehicles in

Vehicle treatment facilities
5

The invention relates to a conveyor device for
Vehicles in vehicle treatment facilities, especially in
short car washes or cycle systems with the features in the preamble of the main claim.

Such a conveyor system is from the
US-A-3,058,433. It is known as an underground system
and has a conveyor line with a
Drag chain with several freely rotating drag rollers,

which engage the vehicle wheel. The drag chain consists of two parallel chain strands, on which the
Drag rollers are attached on both sides. The drag chain runs endlessly in a vertically aligned circle and is driven accordingly. For the return

A channel is provided in the floor of the plant. This conveying system is expensive and requires a
considerable construction and assembly costs. In particular,
Due to the underground installation, earthworks are necessary/final.
This also reduces maintenance and repair costs

elevated.

A conveyor with a horizontally rotating
Drag chain is known from US-A-3,815,512. Here, too, several drag rollers are attached to the chain. They

are pivotably mounted on the chain and can be moved from the horizontal working and towing position into a
vertical hanging position, in which it is in a
additional channel in the floor of the plant. From this channel they can be discharged via a controllable swivel flap

raised and brought into the working and towing position. This arrangement has the purpose of
only then to activate and bring into towing position,

when a vehicle is ready to be transported. This conveyor system also requires high-quality workmanship and is very complex to build. In addition, it is kinematically problematic to detach the towing roller from the vehicle wheel at the end of the conveyor line, because the towing roller performs a swivel movement at the deflection point of the horizontally rotating towing chain, which exerts an undesirable transverse force on the vehicle wheel.

A similar conveyor with a horizontally

A circular drag chain with several drag rollers is known from US-A-3,408,951. This is a purely above-ground system, which requires less construction and assembly, but which also has the kinematics and gravity problem at the end of the conveyor line.

The invention has the object of demonstrating an improved conveying device.

The invention solves this problem with the features in the main claim.

In contrast to the prior art, the conveyor device according to the invention is designed and driven in a reversing manner. Preferably, there is only one dragging means per conveyor line, which is moved forwards and backwards along the track in accordance with the reversing movement. The conveyor device according to the invention can be designed as a purely above-ground system. It requires less construction effort than the previously known designs and at the same time offers better maintenance and assembly options. In addition, the cost situation and the economic efficiency are better than with the prior art.

The conveyor system can have one or two conveyor lines. A double arrangement of the conveyor lines offers the possibility of separate operation, so that the vehicle throughput can be increased. One vehicle can be towed per conveyor line. By offsetting the conveyor lines in time and distance, the distance between vehicles can be reduced, whereby two vehicles can be treated in the system at the same time.

For the reversing movement, it is advantageous if the towing device can be moved back and forth between an extended towing or working position and a retracted rest position. In the rest position, the towing device can then pass the vehicle wheels on the way back without collision. An adjusting device and, if necessary, an automatic and/or emergency resetting device are available for changing the position of the towing device.

The conveyor device according to the invention can be used for any vehicle treatment system. It is particularly suitable as a continuously moving towing device for a car wash and in particular for a short car wash that is slightly longer than the length of the vehicle. The vehicle is essentially continuously moved through the system.

The conveyor system can also be used with particular advantages as a discontinuously moving positioning device for a cycle system or a gantry washing system. This allows the vehicle placed outside the system to be brought exactly to the intended treatment position within the system, where it is then locked for the treatment process. In a cycle system, the vehicle can also be moved through the stations arranged one behind the other. During the treatment processes,

the conveyor system.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. 5

figure 2: 10 figure 3: figure 4: 15

The inventions are shown in the drawings by way of example and schematically. In detail:

Figure 1: a vehicle treatment plant with a

Conveyor system in side view,

a plan view of the plant and the conveyor system of Figure 2,

a rear view of the arrangement of Figures 1 and 2 and

an enlarged and fragmented top view of the conveyor system in two variants.

Figures 1 to 3 show a vehicle treatment system (1) with a conveyor device (9). Figure 4 shows the structural details of the conveyor device (9).

The vehicle treatment system (1) can have any design. In the embodiment shown

This is a short car wash, slightly longer than the maximum length of the vehicles to be treated (5). The rear view in Figure 3 shows the different possible vehicle sizes. 30

In a car wash, the vehicle (5) is essentially continuously towed through the facility by the conveyor (9). Different treatment devices (2) are arranged on one or more stationary or limitedly movable portals (3) that treat the vehicle during transport. The treatment devices (2) can be

Brush washing devices with roof and side brushes, a wheel washing brush device, a high-pressure washing device, a drying device and one or more application devices for cleaning agents, shampoo, dishwashing liquid, drying aid, etc. The number, design and arrangement of the components of the treatment device (2) can be selected as desired.

In a modification of the embodiment shown, the vehicle treatment system (1) can also be a gantry washing system with one or more portals that are movable relative to the stationary vehicle (5) and have the components of the treatment device (2). In a further variant, the system (1) can also be designed as a cycle system in which there are separate stations arranged one behind the other for washing and drying and, if necessary, other treatment processes on the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle treatment system (1) can also have any other configuration. Alternatively, it can also be a polishing system, a system for dewaxing brand new vehicles or the like.

The conveyor device (9) extends axially through the vehicle treatment system (1) and conveys the vehicles (5) in the conveying direction (27) indicated by the arrow. On the input side, the conveyor device (9) extends a little in front of the system (1) and picks up the vehicles (5) at a distance in front of the system (1). When designed as a car wash, the conveyor device (9) extends to the end of the system (1) and preferably also a little beyond it, so that it can push the vehicles (5) out of the system (1).

In the short car wash (1) shown, the conveyor device (9) is designed as an essentially continuously moving towing device for the vehicles (5). The vehicles (5) essentially move continuously through the system (1) and at most stop briefly for certain treatment processes or are transported more slowly at times.

In a variant not shown, the conveyor device (9) can also be designed as a substantially discontinuously movable positioning device. This is particularly the case when the system (1) is a gantry washing system or a cycle system. In this case, the positioning device (9) picks up the vehicle (5) provided in front of the system (1) and transports it to the treatment position provided in the system (1), in which the vehicle remains during treatment. At the end of the treatment, the vehicle in a gantry washing system can be pushed out through the exit, preferably in the conveying direction (27). In a cycle or continuous system, the vehicle (5) is brought to the next station for the next treatment. At the end, the vehicle is pushed out again.

The conveyor device (9) has at least one, preferably two conveyor lines (10, 11) which are arranged on both sides and preferably on the outside of the entry lane (7) in the system (1). Preferably, two conveyor lines (10, 11) are present which can be operated separately and can therefore transport different vehicles (5) within the system (1). One or more wheel guides (8) for the vehicle wheels are arranged in the entry lane (7). There is at least one central wheel guide with guide strips which prevent the vehicle (5) from being positioned very off-center. In addition, strips can also be arranged on the outside for the

Wheel guide (8) must be present.

The conveyor system (9) or the conveyor lines (10, 11) are designed and driven to be reversible. They transport the vehicles (5) in the conveying direction (27) to the end of the system (1) and then return empty along the same path to pick up the next vehicle (5) on the input side.

The conveyor lines (10, 11) are designed as overhead conveyors and are mounted on the system floor (4). They each consist of a drive means (12) with a towing means (16) which engages the vehicle (5), preferably the vehicle wheel (6). The engagement can be made either on the front wheel or the rear wheel. The drive means (12) and the towing means (16) can be designed in any suitable manner.

In the embodiment shown, the drive means (12) consists of a conveyor belt (13) arranged outside next to the entry track (7), which is guided at the end over deflection rollers (14) and is moved by a drive motor (15). The conveyor belt (13) is preferably designed as an open loop and is attached to the towing means (16) with the loop ends. The

Conveyor belt (13) is moved back and forth by the drive motor (15), whereby the towing means (16) is moved forwards and backwards along the entry track (7) on a preferably straight path between the deflection rollers (14). 30

The towing means is preferably connected to the drive means (12) on one side and is mounted in a floating manner. In the towing position (25) it extends into the entry track (7), where it reaches behind the vehicle wheel (6) and pushes it during the conveying movement. For return transport and idle stroke, the towing means (16) can be retracted into a rest position (24) in which it is in a

collision-free position outside the entry lane (7) and the vehicle wheel (6). The towing device (16) is moved back and forth between the extended towing position (25) and the retracted rest position (24) via an adjusting device (20). The adjusting device (20) can also be designed as desired.

In the embodiment shown, the entraining agent

(16) consists of a carriage (19) which is guided axially in a carriage guide (26) along the entry track (7) over suitable rollers. The drive means (12) is connected to the carriage (19) and moves it back and forth. A movable support arm is attached to the carriage (19).

(17) with a freely rotatable towing roller (18) mounted thereon. The support arm (17) and the towing roller (18) engage behind the vehicle wheel (6) and are moved back and forth between the towing position (25) and the rest position (24). In the preferred embodiment, the support arm (17) is designed as a horizontal pivot arm which is mounted on one side of the carriage (19) via a bearing (21) with a vertical axis of rotation. Alternatively, the support arm (17) can also be arranged so as to be movable in a sliding manner or can be movable in any other way in order to be able to assume the extended towing position (25) on the one hand and the folded or retracted rest position (24) on the other. In the embodiment shown as a pivot arm, it is folded against the longitudinal wall of the outer carriage (19) in the rest position (24).

Figure 4 illustrates this arrangement and the positions (24,25). In the position shown with solid lines at the front end of the conveyor (9), the support arm (17) is folded out into the towing position (25). Here, it is located at a distance behind the vehicle wheel (6) to be picked up. When the carriage (19) moves forward in the conveying direction (27), the

- 10 -

The support arm (17) or the towing roller (18) then comes into contact with the vehicle wheel (6), which is shown in dashed lines in the drawing. In this position, the carriage (not shown here) has already moved forward a little further.

At the end of the conveyor line, the conveyor device (9) initially stops. The vehicle can then continue in the conveyor direction by momentum or by its own propulsion.

(27) and thereby detach themselves from the towing roller (18) and the support arm (17). Alternatively, the drive means (12) with the carriage (19) can also move back a little, whereby the support arm (17) and the towing roller (18) are released from the vehicle wheel (6) to such an extent that they can be folded back into the rest position (24).

The movements of the support arm (17) and the towing roller (18) are effected by an actuating device (20) of any design. This can have a drive derived from the travel movements of the carriage (19), whereby the towing movements of the support arm (17) and the towing roller (18) are effected by stationary stops, guide rails or the like due to the carriage movement. Alternatively, the actuating device (20) can also have an independent swivel drive (22) for the support arm (17). This can be an electric drive, for example. This swivel drive (22) can carry out both directions of movement for folding in and out.

Alternatively, the adjusting device (20) can also have a separate reset device (23) which acts automatically when required or in an emergency and causes folding into the rest position (24). For this purpose, the reset device (23) can consist of a runner, a mandrel or the like, for example, which

- 11 -

When the carriage (19) moves backwards, it can get caught on the system floor (4) and cause it to collapse due to the carriage movement. Other variants are possible using a spring drive with bivalent dead center positions, with stops or other drive means causing a swing between the dead center positions and the corresponding drag and rest positions (25, 24).

The conveyor device (9) is designed as an above-ground device and is mounted on the system floor (4). The drive means (12) is guided in a horizontally aligned or lying loop, with the deflection rollers (14) having vertical axes of rotation. The components of the conveyor device (9) or the conveyor lines (10, 11) can be arranged in a suitable housing, whereby the conveyor lines (10, 11) can be handled and assembled as a complete part. The housing also offers a suitable guide for the drive means (12), in particular the conveyor belt (13), and also contains the carriage guide (26).

In the embodiment shown, the support arm (17) with the towing roller (18) is mounted on one side and cantilevered on the carriage (19). The support on the bottom side is provided by the towing roller (18) and the roller bearing. In addition, a separate guide track can be provided on the inner wheel guide (8). In a further variant, the conveyor line (10, 11) can also have an additional drive means in the area of this inner wheel guide (8), which grips the support arm (17) at the other end and guides and drives it. By designing the receiving elements on this drive means accordingly, it is possible for the support roller (17) to come free and to fold between the rest and towing positions (24, 25).

- 12 -

Figure 4 illustrates two functional variants in the two halves of the image. On the one hand, the two conveyor lines (10, 11) can work synchronously as shown in the left half of the image, whereby the vehicle wheels (6) of a single vehicle (5) are gripped from behind and dragged on both sides. Due to the synchronous operation, both conveyor lines (10, 11) only move one vehicle together.

In the variant shown in the right half of the picture, the conveyor lines (10,11) work separately and offset from each other. They therefore transport two different vehicles one after the other. If, for example, one conveyor line

(10) grabs the first vehicle and pushes it forward, the other conveyor line (11) remains stationary and waits until the next vehicle is ready. As soon as a sufficient distance between the vehicles is reached, the other conveyor line (11) also grabs the vehicle wheel (6) of the following vehicle and pushes it forward. The conveying speed and the conveying position of the two conveyor lines (10, 11) are mutually coordinated and monitored in order to avoid collisions and to enable sufficient separation of the treatment processes. When the first vehicle has finished the treatment and leaves the system (1), the first conveyor line (10) returns empty to the starting position. In the folded-in rest position (24), the towing means (16) can thus pass the second vehicle moved forward by the other conveyor line (11) without collision. As soon as the second vehicle has reached a predetermined position, the first conveyor line (10) can pick up the next vehicle and convey it forward. The second conveyor line

(11) then returns to the starting position with the towing device (16) folded in. The conveying cycle then begins again.

- 13 -

Modifications of the embodiment shown are possible in various ways. Firstly, the design of the conveyor lines (10, 11), their drive means (12) and their drag means (16) can vary as desired. It is also possible to use only a single conveyor line

(10) may be present. Instead of the support arm (17) and the towing roller (18), the towing means (16) may also have a towing element of any other design. Likewise, the kinematics and the drive for the movement between the rest and towing positions (24, 25) may vary as desired.

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- 14 LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 vehicle treatment facility, short car wash

2 Treatment facility, washing facility 3 Portal

4 Plant floor

5 Vehicle

6 Vehicle wheel

7 Entry lane 8 Wheel guidance

9 Conveyor device, positioning device

10 conveyor string

11 Conveyor line

12 Drive means 13 Conveyor belt

14 Deflection pulley

15 Drive motor

16 Towing equipment, carriers

17 Support arm

18 Towing roller

19 sledges

20 Adjustment device

21 warehouses

22 Swivel drive

23 Reset device

24 Rest position

25 Towing position

26 Slide guide

27 Conveying direction 30

Claims (14)

1. Conveying device for vehicles in vehicle treatment systems, in particular short car washes or cycle systems, wherein the conveying device has at least one conveyor line with a drive means and a drag means acting on the vehicle, in particular on the vehicle wheel, characterized in that the conveying device ( 9 ) is designed and driven in a reversible manner. 2. Conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveying device ( 9 ) is designed and arranged as an above-ground device. 3. Conveyor device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveyor device ( 9 ) has two conveyor strands ( 10 , 11 ) arranged on both sides of the entry track ( 7 ) and which can be operated separately. 4. Conveying device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the conveyor line ( 10 , 11 ) has a linearly reversibly movable drive means ( 12 ) with a single drag means ( 16 ). 5. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the drag means ( 16 ) is connected on one side to the drive means ( 12 ). 6. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the towing means ( 16 ) can be moved back and forth between an extended towing position ( 25 ) on the vehicle ( 5 ) and a retracted collision-free rest position ( 24 ). 7. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the towing means ( 16 ) has a carriage ( 19 ) connected to the drive means ( 12 ) with a movable support arm ( 17 ) and with a towing roller ( 18 ) as well as an adjusting device ( 20 ) for the movement of the towing roller ( 18 ) between the towing position ( 25 ) and the rest position ( 24 ). 8. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support arm ( 17 ) is designed as a horizontal pivot arm with a bearing ( 21 ), wherein the adjusting device ( 20 ) has a pivot drive ( 22 ). 9. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the carriage ( 19 ) is guided in a carriage guide ( 26 ) next to and parallel to the entry track ( 7 ). 10. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the adjusting device ( 20 ) has an automatic and/or emergency resetting device ( 23 ) for the towing roller ( 18 ) for movement into the rest position ( 24 ). 11. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the conveying device ( 9 ) is designed as a substantially continuously movable towing device for a car wash. 12. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the conveying device ( 9 ) is designed as a substantially discontinuously movable positioning device for a cycle system or a gantry washing system. 13. Conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the drive means ( 12 ) has a conveyor belt ( 13 ) with horizontally arranged deflection rollers ( 14 ) and a drive motor ( 15 ), wherein the conveyor belt ( 13 ) is guided in a substantially horizontal loop and is fastened at the end to the carriage ( 19 ). 14. Conveyor device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the conveyor device ( 9 ) has at least one wheel guide ( 8 ) in the entry track ( 7 ).