Abstract: A dip treatment system for treating articles, in particular for treating vehicle bodies, includes a dip treatment tank, which can be filled with a treatment liquid, into which articles to be treated can be fully or partially dipped. A conveying system defines a conveying path and includes at least one transport carriage, which can be displaced along the conveying path in a transport direction and includes a fastening device, to which at least one article can be fastened. The conveying system can convey the articles to be treated towards the dip treatment tank, fully or partially into the interior of the dip treatment tank, out of the dip treatment tank and away therefrom. The conveying path of the conveying system is divided into sub-paths, of which at least one first sub-path leads to the dip treatment tank or to an immersion region of the dip treatment tank and of which a second sub-path passes by said dip treatment tank or immersion region of said dip treatment tank.

Abstract: A device for controlling the temperature of workpieces, in particular for drying vehicle bodies, having a housing, a temperature-controlling tunnel accommodated in the housing, and a temperature-controlling system for controlling the temperature of workpieces. The temperature-controlling system includes a full-space temperature-controlling device which can control the temperature of a workpiece as a whole, and a local temperature-controlling device which can control the temperature of locally delimited regions of the workpiece and which comprises multiple temperature-controlling units that can be activated and actuated independently of one another for this purpose.

Abstract: A transport carriage for transporting workpieces, the transport carriage being movable on a mounting rail in a transport direction. The transport carriage has a transport carriage chassis which supports at least one drive roller that can roll on a drive running surface of the mounting rail and can be driven by a drive motor, the drive motor being carried along with the transport carriage chassis. The transport carriage additionally includes at least one securing device for at least one workpiece. The transport carriage carries along an autonomous power supply device which can supply the drive motor with power. A system is additionally provided for transporting workpieces, having a rail system which has at least one mounting rail and includes at least one such transport carriage which can be moved on the mounting rail in a transport direction.

Abstract: An area storage for storing vehicle bodies, the longitudinal extension of which equals at least one and a half times the transverse extension thereof, having a storage area having at least two storage spaces and two associated vehicle body receptacles, wherein the storage area is designed such that vehicle bodies can be stored on the storage area in a plane on the at least two storage spaces on one of the vehicle body receptacles in each case, at least one multi-track industrial vehicle, which can be coupled to the vehicle body receptacle. The industrial vehicle is designed for omnidirectional travel, such that the direction of conveyance can be chosen independently of the orientation of the industrial vehicle and the industrial vehicle having the coupled vehicle body receptacle can carry out a conveyance direction change without changing the relative orientation of the vehicle body receptacle and industrial vehicle. A method for conveying vehicle body receptacles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dip treatment system for treating articles, in particular for treating vehicle bodies, includes a dip treatment tank, which can be filled with a treatment liquid, into which articles to be treated can be fully or partially dipped. A conveying system defines a conveying path and includes at least one transport carriage, which can be displaced along the conveying path in a transport direction and includes a fastening device to which at least one article can be fastened. The conveying system can convey the articles to be treated towards the dip treatment tank, fully or partially into the interior of the dip treatment tank, out of the dip treatment tank and away therefrom. The conveying path of the conveying system is divided into sub-paths, of which at least one first sub-path leads to the dip treatment tank or to an immersion region of the dip treatment tank and of which a second sub-path passes by said dip treatment tank or immersion region of said dip treatment tank.

Abstract: A conveying method, wherein a conveying vehicle conveys an electrically driven motor vehicle during assembly thereof. In this method, the conveying vehicle uses energy which is stored in a traction battery of the motor vehicle. For this purpose, the conveying vehicle has an electrical interface which is connected to the traction battery of the motor vehicle, and a converter. This lowers an electrical voltage provided by the traction battery via the electrical interface to a value suitable for the conveying vehicle. The energy drawn by the traction battery can be used above all for the particular drive of the conveying vehicle and/or for other electrical loads of the conveying vehicle. As a result, an on-board battery for the conveying vehicle can have much smaller dimensions or can even be omitted completely.

Abstract: A conveying method, wherein a conveying vehicle conveys an electrically driven motor vehicle during assembly thereof. In this method, the conveying vehicle uses energy which is stored in a traction battery of the motor vehicle. For this purpose, the conveying vehicle has an electrical interface which is connected to the traction battery of the motor vehicle, and a converter. This lowers an electrical voltage provided by the traction battery via the electrical interface to a value suitable for the conveying vehicle. The energy drawn by the traction battery can be used above all for the particular drive of the conveying vehicle and/or for other electrical loads of the conveying vehicle. As a result, an on-board battery for the conveying vehicle can have much smaller dimensions or can even be omitted completely.

Abstract: A method for operating a conveyor system for objects, in which a conveyor apparatus is present at an operating site and is operated with a plurality of conveyor carts each having at least one fastening device for at least one object. The number of conveyor carts available at the operating site for operating the conveyor apparatus for a process sequence defines an actual number; the number of conveyor carts needed at the operating site to operate the conveyor apparatus for the process sequence defines a target number. The difference between the actual number and the target number defines a required number if the actual number is less than the target number, or defines an excess number if the actual number is greater than the target number. A conveyor cart pool is provided and comprises a stock number of conveyor carts, at least some of which are stored at a pool site which differs from the operating site of the conveyor apparatus.

Abstract: An area storage for storing vehicle bodies, the longitudinal extension of which equals at least one and a half times the transverse extension thereof, having a storage area having at least two storage spaces and two associated vehicle body receptacles, wherein the storage area is designed such that vehicle bodies can be stored on the storage area in a plane on the at least two storage spaces on one of the vehicle body receptacles in each case, at least one multi-track industrial vehicle, which can be coupled to the vehicle body receptacle. The industrial vehicle is designed for omnidirectional travel, such that the direction of conveyance can be chosen independently of the orientation of the industrial vehicle and the industrial vehicle having the coupled vehicle body receptacle can carry out a conveyance direction change without changing the relative orientation of the vehicle body receptacle and industrial vehicle. A method for conveying vehicle body receptacles is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for operating a conveyor system for objects, in which a conveyor apparatus is present at an operating site and is operated with a plurality of conveyor carts each having at least one fastening device for at least one object. The number of conveyor carts available at the operating site for operating the conveyor apparatus for a process sequence defines an actual number; the number of conveyor carts needed at the operating site to operate the conveyor apparatus for the process sequence defines a target number. The difference between the actual number and the target number defines a required number if the actual number is less than the target number, or defines an excess number if the actual number is greater than the target number. A conveyor cart pool is provided and comprises a stock number of conveyor carts, at least some of which are stored at a pool site which differs from the operating site of the conveyor apparatus.

Abstract: A temperature control device for controlling the temperature of workpieces in particular for drying vehicle bodies, having a housing and a temperature control tunnel accommodated in the housing and having a tunnel floor. A transport system includes a plurality of transport carriages, which can be moved in a transport direction on a rail system, and by means of which the workpieces can be transported through the temperature control tunnel. Each transport carriage has a transport carriage chassis and a securing device for at least one workpiece, which are coupled together by means of a connection device. Each transport carriage carries a separate drive system, so that the transport carriages can be driven and moved independently of one another.

Abstract: A device for controlling the temperature of workpieces, in particular for drying vehicle bodies, having a housing, a temperature-controlling tunnel accommodated in the housing, and a temperature-controlling system for controlling the temperature of workpieces. The temperature-controlling system includes a full-space temperature-controlling device which can control the temperature of a workpiece as a whole, and a local temperature-controlling device which can control the temperature of locally delimited regions of the workpiece and which comprises multiple temperature-controlling units that can be activated and actuated independently of one another for this purpose.

Abstract: An immersion treatment installation, which includes at least one immersion tank in a way known per se. A conveying system brings the items to be treated up to the immersion tank, into the space inside the immersion tank, out of it and away from it. The conveying system includes at least one transporting carriage, which has a carrying platform, which is pivotable about a pivot axis and to which at least one item can be fastened with the aid of a connecting structure. This connecting structure is movable on its own to such an extent that, with increasing pivoting from the unimmersed position, the distance between the item and the pivot axis becomes increasingly greater under the influence of gravitational force.

Abstract: A conveyor device for conveying transportation structures, particularly transportation skids in the automobile industry, having a conveyor path that is formed from a plurality of path units arranged one behind the other, each of the path units having two parallel longitudinal profiled sections. A drive system for said transportation structures is provided that has at least one drive device which, when said conveyor device is in operation, is arranged on at least one of said longitudinal profiled sections. The drive system includes at least one drive module which can be detachably secured to the longitudinal profiled section by means of a drive-securing device.

Abstract: An overhead conveyor system for transporting articles, especially for transporting vehicle bodies, in a treatment line comprises at least one transport carriage which has a fastening device to which at least one article can be fastened. The transport carriage can be displaced along the track by at least one drive means. The transport carriage is designed in such a manner that the fastening device can be transported at least along one section of the track, in a laterally offset manner with respect to the track. The invention further relates to a dip coating line comprising at least one dip-coating tank which can be filled with a treatment liquid, into which tank articles to be treated, especially vehicle bodies, are dipped. A conveying system can displace the articles to be treated towards the dip-coating tank, into the inner edge of the dip-coating tank, out of the dip-coating tank and away therefrom.

Abstract: A temperature control device for controlling the temperature of workpieces in particular for drying vehicle bodies, having a housing and a temperature control tunnel accommodated in the housing and having a tunnel floor. A transport system includes a plurality of transport carriages, which can be moved in a transport direction on a rail system, and by means of which the workpieces can be transported through the temperature control tunnel. Each transport carriage has a transport carriage chassis and a securing device for at least one workpiece, which are coupled together by means of a connection device. Each transport carriage carries a separate drive system, so that the transport carriages can be driven and moved independently of one another.

Abstract: A transport carriage for transporting workpieces, the transport carriage being movable on a mounting rail in a transport direction. The transport carriage has a transport carriage chassis which supports at least one drive roller that can roll on a drive running surface of the mounting rail and can be driven by a drive motor, the drive motor being carried along with the transport carriage chassis. The transport carriage additionally includes at least one securing device for at least one workpiece. The transport carriage carries along an autonomous power supply device which can supply the drive motor with power. A system is additionally provided for transporting workpieces, having a rail system which has at least one mounting rail and includes at least one such transport carriage which can be moved on the mounting rail in a transport direction.

Abstract: A conveyor device for conveying transportation structures, particularly transportation skids in the automobile industry, having a conveyor path that is formed from a plurality of path units arranged one behind the other, each of the path units having two parallel longitudinal profiled sections. A drive system for said transportation structures is provided that has at least one drive device which, when said conveyor device is in operation, is arranged on at least one of said longitudinal profiled sections. The drive system includes at least one drive module which can be detachably secured to the longitudinal profiled section by means of a drive-securing device.

Abstract: A conveyor unit which can be displaced for conveying vehicle bodies and which includes a bogie assembly and a coupling device which is connected to the bogie assembly and which is configured such that it interacts with the base areas of the vehicle body which are upwardly orientated to the roof. Also a conveyor system having at least one conveyor unit of such type and a plant for machining vehicle bodies. Vehicle bodies are conveyed by a conveyor system between and/or in machining stations, said plant also including such a conveyor system.

Abstract: A surface treatment plant for vehicle bodies having a first treatment area which comprises a first conveyor system enabling a vehicle body to be conveyed through the first treatment area, and a second treatment area which includes a second conveyor system enabling the vehicle body to be conveyed through the second treatment area. A transfer device enables the vehicle body to be transferred from the first conveyor system to the second conveyor system. The transfer device includes supports which engage on regions of the vehicle body and at least one is arranged in particular on the highest point of the horizontal and the vehicle body is oriented roof upwards. Also a method for conveying vehicle bodies through a surface treatment plant.