Means for guiding the rolling or gliding movement of objects along a given path

The guidance means (20) according to the invention is used for guiding the rolling or sliding movement of objects (10) along a predetermined or preset path or route, whose course is freely selectable within wide limits in space. The guidance means (20) has a guiding means extending without interruption over the predetermined path in the form of a cage-like arrangement of a plurality of at least limitedly bendable guide rails (21) and a plurality of support or carrying elements (22), which are arranged in mutually spaced manner along the predetermined path and which hold the guide rails (21) in parallel and in an at least partly spaced manner in the predetermined, cage-like arrangement. The guide rails (21) advantageously comprise a limited flexible, continuously manufacturable metal or plastic profile. The support elements (22) can be installed on a fixedly laid base element (23), e.g. in a position adjustable with respect to the base element (23). The profile material for the guide rails (21) and the discreet support elements (22) together represents a building block, with the aid of which guidance means with the most varied courses can be implemented.

The invention relates to a guidance means according to the preamble of the 
independent claim. The means is used for guiding the rolling or sliding 
movement of objects along a predetermined path or route, the spatial 
course of the predetermined path being freely selectable within wide 
limits. The objects movable along the predetermined path are e.g. 
individual, correspondingly driven conveying elements, which can be loaded 
with a load, or such conveying elements linked to form a chain, or force 
transmission means in the form of a chain or a row of individual elements. 
According to the prior art such a guidance means conventionally comprises 
either a guide channel, in which the objects to be moved are wholly or at 
least partly trapped and on whose inner surfaces they roll or slide, the 
guidance means is rail-like and is embraced by the objects to be moved, 
which roll or slide on outer surfaces of the guidance means. 
Conventionally for the implementation of such a guidance means the course 
of the path is firstly planned, then the guidance means is manufactured in 
accordance with the course of the path in the form of discreet parts and 
then said parts are installed in fixed form. Particularly at those points 
where the discreet parts are joined together a high precision is necessary 
or for a quiet and undisturbed running of the objects at said junction 
points special measures must be taken for linking the guidance means 
parts. The number of junction points can also be kept small, in that very 
long, but also cumbersome and path course-adapted guidance means parts are 
manufactured. 
Such guidance means are not only complicated with respect to their 
manufacture and installation, but also for the same reasons with respect 
to subsequent modifications and/or extensions, particularly as a large 
part of the material not only has to be installed in fixed form, but must 
also be adapted in fixed form to a specific path course and is 
consequently unusable for a modified path course. 
The problem of the invention is therefore to create a guidance means for 
guiding the rolling or sliding movement of objects along a predetermined 
or preset path, said guidance means, like the known guidance means, being 
installable in fixed form, but additionally can be more easily 
manufactured and installed and more easily modified and extended at lower 
cost than the known guidance means. 
This problem is solved by the guidance means, as defined in the claims. 
This problem is solved in that the functions of the system to be 
implemented are not only subdivided into a stationary and a moving 
function (guidance means and moving object), as forms the basis for the 
distribution of functions in the known systems. Additionally the 
stationary function (guidance means) is subdivided into a guiding and 
supporting or carrying function, the guiding means extending with a 
minimum number of interruptions in continuous manner over the entire, 
predetermined path and in which the support means, without any 
disadvantages for the system, is subdivided into a plurality of discreet, 
easily handlable and replaceable support elements. 
The guiding means comprises a plurality of guide rails, which comprise a 
profile bendable at least to a limited extent and advantageous elastically 
bendable or flexible, which is advantageously continuously manufacturable 
and advantageously transportable and handlable in considerable lengths. 
Such a profile can not only be adapted without difficulty to the most 
varied path courses, but can also be reused for a modified course. 
The supporting or carrying means comprises a plurality of support or 
carrying elements, which are arranged in spaced manner along the 
predetermined path and with the aid of which the guide rails are 
maintained in a predetermined, mutual arrangement and parallel to one 
another and to the predetermined path, said mounting support being 
advantageously reversible, i.e. randomly detachable and refixable. The 
extension of the support elements in the direction of the predetermined 
path is advantageously so small, that they are usable independently of the 
local course of the predetermined path, their spacings e.g. being 
adaptable to the local loading of the guidance means. 
The predetermined, mutual arrangement of the guide rails is adapted to the 
objects to be guided by the guidance means, i.e. the guide rails form a 
substantially cage-like arrangement extending uniformly over the 
predetermined path and either the guide surfaces of the guide rails on 
which the objects roll or slide, are directed against the interior of the 
cage and the parts of the support elements holding the guide rails are 
located on the outside, or the guide surfaces are on the outsides of the 
cage and the corresponding parts of the support elements are located in 
the interior. 
The supporting means can be further subdivided, in that the plurality of 
support elements holding the guide rails or at least part thereof, instead 
of being irreversibly installed on a base, are instead reversibly 
installed on at least one base element. This base element extends along at 
least part of the predetermined path. If the support elements and the base 
element are constructed in such a way that the installation positions of 
the support elements relative to the base element are adjustable, the at 
least one base element, without high precision, can be installed or laid 
along a path and the precision necessary for the guiding means can be 
provided on installing the support elements on the base element. 
A system in which the guidance means according to the invention is used, 
apart from highly portable objects (e.g. conveying means in the form of 
rollers, trucks or chains) has guidance means parts, which are also at 
least partly portable, i.e. easily interchangeable (guide rails and 
optionally support elements) and guidance means parts, which are not 
portable, i.e. only interchangeable with a much greater effort and 
expenditure (base elements and optionally support elements), said 
subdivision not being intended as a functional subdivision, but as a 
formal, material subdivision. Thus, according to the invention, a roller 
guide e.g. comprises a fixedly installed, non-portable, stationary base 
element, separately mountable or replaceable, portable support elements 
and guide rails and associated, highly portable, mobile conveying means. 
All these parts are functionally interconnected and form a conveying 
system, which can be randomly modified and disassembled. 
In the sense of the invention e.g. the base element is fixedly installed. 
To it are then fixed in replaceable and optionally adjustable manner the 
support elements, then the guide rails are laid between the individual 
support elements and advantageously fixed to each support element. The 
final stage involves the insertion of the objects to be moved along the 
predetermined path. 
The mobile objects are highly portable, i.e. replaceable at any time and 
optionally during operation, whereas the portable parts of the guidance 
means although being interchangeable or replaceable, this only applies 
when operation has been stopped. The non-portable base elements are firmly 
connected to structures and cannot be interchanged or modified in the 
portability sense. 
Apart from the already described flexibility, this also provides the 
following advantage. Fixedly walled in guides can only be replaced with 
difficulty in the case of wear and even minor changes lead to high costs 
for labour and equipment. In all cases a complete entity and not a 
separated structure is involved, in which relatively expensively performed 
guidance functions can be handled separately from relatively inexpensively 
performed support functions. The less expensive, supporting means are 
installed in fixed or at least partly fixed form for the supporting 
function, whereas at least the more expensive, guiding means, which are 
also exposed to increased wear are placed on said supporting means in 
removable, i.e. easily replaceable manner.

FIG. 1 shows the principle on which the invention is based with respect to 
an exemplified embodiment of the inventive guidance means. The guidance 
means 20 is shown in section perpendicular to the predetermined or preset 
path together with an object 10, which is movable guided by the guidance 
means along the preset path. The object 10 is e.g. a conveying means 
loaded or loadable with a load 11 and which e.g. rolls on rollers 12. The 
guidance means 20 has a guiding means and a supporting or carrying means. 
In the represented case, the guiding means is an arrangement of four guide 
rails 21, which extend over the predetermined path in a substantially 
continuous manner, parallel to one another and at least partly spaced from 
one another and form a channel-like cage, the guide faces of the guide 
rails guiding the object 10 being directed against the interior of the 
cage. 
The supporting or carrying means in the represented case comprises a 
plurality of discreet carrying or support elements 22 (only one being 
visible) and a base element 23, the latter being installed in fixed 
manner, e.g. on the floor of a building 1, on a building wall or on a 
building ceiling. 
The guide rails 21 are long pieces of at least limitedly bendable, e.g. 
strip-like and advantageously quasi-continuously manufacturable profiles 
with an e.g. flat, L-shaped, U-shaped or similarly shaped cross-section. 
As a function of the intended use and loading, they are made from e.g. 
metal or plastic. They are supported by the support elements 22 in such a 
way that they run in parallel along the predetermined path with a 
precision adequate for the object to be guided. 
The support elements 22 are spaced from one another along the predetermined 
path. They have on the one hand a holding area 22.1 embracing the cage 
formed by the guide rails 21 for the purpose of holding or maintaining the 
latter and with the aid of which the guide rails can be held and fixed in 
the predetermined arrangement, and a fastening or fixing area 22.2 with 
the aid of which they are advantageously randomly fastenable or fixable to 
a random base or, as shown, to a base element 23 belonging to the guidance 
means. 
The guide rails 21 are at least bendable to the extent that they can be 
laid along the predetermined path. Advantageously, in the direction of the 
predetermined path, the support elements have such a limited extension, 
that in the case of any planned path course, i.e. in particular also on 
those path areas with the smallest radii of curvature, they are usable in 
unchanged form. The mechanical stability of the guide rails 21 and the 
spacings between the support elements 22 are so matched to one another 
that the guide rails 21 in the gaps between the support elements 22 can 
absorb the forces acting thereon as a result of the movement of the object 
10 substantially with no deformation. The spacings between the support 
elements 22 in path areas with high loading, e.g. in highly curved areas 
can be smaller than in areas with a smaller loading, e.g. in linear areas. 
The guidance means according to the invention consequently substantially 
comprises an arrangement of guide rails 21 and support elements 22, the 
guide rails 21 and support elements 22 are independent of the specific, 
planned path course. Together the guide rails 21 and support elements 22 
constitute a construction set, with the aid of which the most varied path 
courses can be implemented. The cross-section of the guide rails and the 
holding area of the support elements, which together define the 
arrangement of the guide faces, are matched to the object to be guided and 
it is merely necessary to adapt the number of support elements 22 and the 
length of the guide rails 21 to a specific path course. 
As the guide rails 21 only have to transfer or transmit very local and 
consequently small loads, they are relatively thin and light and can 
therefore be easily handled in considerable lengths and optionally in 
rolled up form. As a result of the building block system with such a small 
number of different components, a guidance means according to the 
invention is not only easy to manufacture, but can also be easily modified 
or extended. 
As stated hereinbefore, the support elements 22 are fixed by their fixing 
area 22.2 to a base. This base can directly be a building part (floor, 
wall or ceiling) or an extraneous machine part. However, as shown in FIG. 
1, it is advantageous to mount the support elements 22 on a base element 
23, which extends at least over part of the predetermined path. It is also 
advantageous for the fitting of the support elements 22 to the base 
element 23 to be adjustable (different possible fitting or installation 
positions). In such a case the base element 23 can be installed with 
reduced precision and with a simplified course and the precision necessary 
for the object to be moved need only be adjusted on installing the support 
elements 23. The base element 23 shown in FIG. 1 is e.g. a rod or tube 
having a circular cross-section on which can be fitted, e.g. by engagement 
the support elements 22 in random pivoting positions (double arrow a). 
The base element 23 e.g. extends over at least part of the predetermined 
path. Such a base element 23 has a shape to be adapted to the specific 
path course. However, it need not extend continuously over the entire 
path, i.e. it can comprise a random number of individual elements, which 
do not have to be interconnected particularly carefully. It is 
conceivable, in addition to areas with the base element, that the guidance 
means also has areas without a base element, i.e. areas with support 
elements fixed directly to components or other structures not belonging to 
the guidance means. 
As a comparison with the guidance means according to the invention (FIG. 
1), FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a prior art guidance means 20', as is 
constructed for an identical object 10 to be moved. For the guidance means 
20' the guiding function and supporting function are not separated, so 
that the requirement for a continuous extension over the entire 
predetermined path applies to the entire guidance means 20'. This leads to 
a guidance means 20' adapted to the path course with a plurality of 
surface areas 21' serving as guide rails and extending along the 
predetermined path. The guidance means is fixed to a random base (e.g. 
building floor 1). 
If the guidance means 20' according to FIG. 2 is to be constructed as a 
building block, it will have to have a plurality of different guidance 
means pieces of different shapes (linear parts of different lengths and 
different directions and parts curved with different radii of curvature) 
and possibly means for linking the rail areas 21' between the guidance 
means pieces. Either the existence guidance means pieces will limit the 
planning of a path course or for each planned path corresponding pieces 
must be specifically manufactured. In particular, once the path course has 
been implemented it is difficult to modify and therefore also difficult to 
extend. 
FIG. 3 shows in three-dimensional form a portion of an exemplified 
embodiment of a guidance means according to the invention. It is a 
guidance means 20 for objects 10, which move by means of groups 30 of in 
each case three or two balls in the guidance means 20, the balls of each 
group rolling on in each case two guide rails 21 and on the other balls of 
the group. Such systems are e.g. described in EP 387318 (or U.S. Pat. No. 
5,074,678), corresponding, compact guide channels being provided as 
guidance means for the systems described therein and which as a function 
of the construction of the object 10 to be moved with the aid of the 
guidance means have a slot-like opening extending over their length or are 
in closed form. 
The guidance means for such a system, according to the invention, is not a 
compact guide channel, but instead a guidance means 20, which once again 
essentially comprises an arrangement of guide rails 21 (in this case six), 
a plurality of discreet support elements 22 and optionally a base element 
23. The guide rails 21 are held by the holding areas 22.1 of the support 
elements 22 in such a way that they form a cage-like arrangement extending 
substantially uniformly over the predetermined path and on whose inner 
surfaces or at least part thereof roll the object or at least portions 
thereof. The object 10 is movable in said guidance means 20 in the same 
way as in a guidance channel according to the prior art. 
The guidance means shown in FIG. 3 is in particular suitable for an 
inventive construction, because the object 10 rolls on balls, i.e. 
requires a theoretically linear rail system. Guide rails for such an 
arrangement advantageously have, as shown in FIG. 3, a circular 
cross-section and are therefore equally bendable in all directions and can 
be turned at random on installation. 
Apart from the advantages on installation and in the case of modifications 
of the inventive guidance means compared with the prior art, FIG. 3 makes 
clear the much simpler implementability of accesses of different types to 
the object 10 either between the guide rails or in areas where part of the 
guide rails is interrupted. 
FIG. 4 shows in detail a section at right angles to the predetermined path 
through a support element 22, through an object 10 and through the base 
element 23 of a system according to FIG. 3. 
The support element 22 has a holding area 22.1, which embraces the guide 
rail arrangement and on whose inside the six guide rails 21 having a 
circular cross-section are held in corresponding surface-narrowing slots 
40. On installation, the guide rails 21 are snapped into the slots 40 and 
are then pressed against the opening of the slots 40 by not shown 
setscrews, which are screwed in through the tapped holes 41. The setscrews 
also permit a resetting of worn guide rails. 
The support element 22 also has a fixing or fastening area 22.2, which in 
the represented case has a circular opening for the base element 23. The 
support element is clamped in place on the base element by means of a bolt 
or a screw (not shown) through the corresponding hole 42. 
In a view in the direction of the predetermined path, FIG. 5 shows the 
holding area 22.1 of a further support element 22 for another embodiment 
of the inventive guidance means 20 with an object 10 to be guided. In this 
embodiment the object 10 rolls on the outside of the cage formed by the 
guide rails 21 and partly embraces the same. The holding areas 22.1 of the 
support elements 22 are located on the inside of said cage. The object 10 
e.g. has balls 43 or rollers with the aid of which it rolls on the guide 
faces of the guide rails 21. 
Like FIG. 5, FIG. 6 shows the holding area 22.1 of a further support 
element 22 for another embodiment of the inventive guidance means 20 
together with an object 10 to be guided. As roller bodies, the object 10 
has groups of three rollers 44, which roll on corresponding strip-like 
guide rails 21. The guide rails 21 form a cage, on whose inside roll the 
roller bodies 44 and kept in the predetermined position from the outside 
by the holding areas 22.1 of the support elements 22. 
FIG. 7 shows in section at right angles to the predetermined path another 
embodiment of the inventive guidance means 20 with an object 10 to be 
guided and whereof only the rollers are shown. The object 10 is e.g. a 
link chain with groups of two runners 45 and a guide roller 46. The 
guidance means 20 once again has a base element 23 (here a tube with a 
circular cross-section) on which discreet support elements 22 are located. 
Guide rails, e.g. constructed as plastic profiles 21.1 and 21.2, run 
between the support elements. One of the profiles 21.1 has a U-shaped 
cross-section and serves as a guide rail for a runner 45 and the guide 
roller 46. The U-shaped profile 21.1 is inverted over correspondingly 
shaped regions of the holding area 22.1 of the support element 22, it 
advantageously being slightly deformed and consequently not requiring 
further fixing. 
The profile 21.2 is a substantially strip-like profile with a comb, which 
is located on the profile side opposite to the running surface and serving 
as an interlocking means. This comb is positively held in a corresponding 
groove in the holding area 22.1 of the support element 22. 
FIG. 7 shows in dot-dash line manner a second support element 22', which is 
fixed to the base element 23 in a reversed orientation compared with the 
support element 22. This second support element 22' is part of a further 
guidance means area of the same system or a different system, the support 
elements of the two guidance means areas being e.g. arranged in 
alternating manner on the base element 22 or can be constructed as twin 
elements. 
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the guidance means according to the 
invention, once again in section at right angles to the preset path. This 
once again has a cage-like arrangement of guide rails 21, there being two 
guide rails with a U-shaped cross-section and in each case three guide 
faces. The guide faces of the guide rails 21 are oriented outwards and are 
used for guiding the roller bodies 41 and 48 of the object 10 to be 
guided, which embraces the guide rail arrangement. The guide rails 21 are 
held in position by the holding area 22.1 of a plurality of support 
elements 22. The holding area 22.1 is located in the interior of the 
cage-like arrangement of guide rails 21 and in this case is in the very 
simple form of a T-beam, the guide rails being turned up on the ends of 
the crossmember. 
As a final example of an embodiment of the inventive guidance means, FIG. 9 
shows the guidance of an object 10 in the form of a link chain, with the 
aid of which e.g. a force can be transferred to a path randomly selectable 
within wide limits. The guidance means 20 and link chain are shown in a 
section at right angles to this path. Such link chains are e.g. described 
in DE-2220259 (or U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,514) or DE-3121835 (or U.S. Pat. No. 
4,397,145). The guidance means 20 once again comprises a cage-like 
arrangement of three guide rails 21, the link chain being trapped in said 
cage, the spherically designed chain links sliding on guide faces of the 
guide rails 21 directed against the cage interior. In principle, the 
support elements 22 have the same construction as the support elements of 
FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7, i.e. with holding areas 22.1, which embrace the 
arrangement of the guide rails 21.