Conveying device for conveying workpieces, in particular circuit boards, in the conveying direction along a conveying line.

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveying device (2) for conveying workpieces (4, 6, 8), in particular circuit boards, in the conveying direction (T) along a conveying line. The conveying device (2) has first conveying means (18) and second conveying means (22) for the workpiece conveyance along a first and second part (20, 24) of the conveying line (10),workpieces (4, 6, 8) being fed to the first part of the line (20) via the second part of the line (24). The invention is characterized by separation means (26), which, at least in some sections along the first portion (20), separate a workpiece (4, 6, 8) from a workpiece (6, 8) following the workpiece (4, 6, 8) in the conveying direction, wherein said separation means (26) have at least one spacer (28), which can be moved in such a way and controlled by control means in such a way that, after the workpiece (4, 6, 8) has passed the initial position (30), the spacer (28) changes to an active mode, in which the spacer (28) follows the workpiece (4, 6, 8) arranged downstream in the conveying direction (T) and, in the process, forms a minimum distance between the workpiece (4, 6, 8) and the workpiece (6, 8) arranged downstream of said workpiece (4, 6 8) in the conveying direction T and, upon reaching the end position (32), changes to an inactive mode, in which the spacer (28) returns to the initial position (30).

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a conveying device for conveying workpieces, in particular circuit boards, along a conveying path in a conveying direction. Background technique [0002] The conveying devices involved are used in different fields for different purposes. For example, conveyor equipment within a production line is used to transport workpieces from one processing station to another. In this case, the conveying path of the concerned conveying device is subdivided into a plurality of subpaths, which are equipped with conveying devices in order to convey the workpieces along the subpaths in the conveying direction. [0003] Conveying devices of the type in question are known from the prior art and initially have a first conveying device for conveying workpieces along a first sub-path of the conveying path. Furthermore, these conveying devices have a second conveying device for conveying the workpieces along the second sub-path of the conveying pat...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0004] However, known conveying devices of the type concerned have inherently the disadvantage that the difference in the conveying speeds of the conveying of the workpieces by the first and the second conveying device can lead to either very large geometrical distances between the workpieces in the conveying direction, or The workpieces can collide with each other, especially in the transition region between the first and second subpaths and can be damaged as a result

In this regard, the known conveying devices of the type in question have the disadvantage of a low conveying speed of the workpieces and a high reject rate of the workpieces

These mentioned disadvantages can jeopardize the economical operation of the corresponding conveying equipment

[0005] A known solution to these problems is obtained by providing a workpiece intermediate store (buffer) to which workpieces are fed from the conveying path, if there is a danger that the number of successively arranged along the conveying path is not exceeded. Minimum spacing between workpieces so that there is a risk of these workpieces colliding with each other

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