Plants for the treatment of bodyworks

A method for providing additional traction to at least one trolley configured to support a bodywork to be treated along a conveying line in a plant for treatment of bodyworks, the method comprising:

• providing on the at least one trolley a traction rack extending in a direction of movement of the at least one trolley along the conveying line;
• arranging in at least one zone along the conveying line a toothed traction wheel which is driven by a motor controlled by a control system and which is configured to engage in the traction rack when the at least one trolley passes into the at least one zone so as to move the at least one trolley along a portion of the conveying line under control of the control system;
• arranging sensors configured to detect angular position of the toothed traction wheel and approaching movement of the at least one trolley toward the toothed traction wheel, and connected to the control system of the toothed traction wheel;
• detecting the angular position of the toothed traction wheel and, when the toothed traction wheel is not engaged in the traction rack, driving the motor so as to bring the toothed traction wheel into a position for subsequent engagement with the traction rack of the at least one trolley;
• detecting arrival of the at least one trolley and starting the motor with a predetermined acceleration ramp when a front end of the traction rack approaches the toothed traction wheel until the toothed traction wheel and the traction rack are engaged;
• and
• driving the motor so as to continue rotation of the toothed traction wheel for a pushing action of the at least one trolley along the conveying line using the traction rack engaged in the toothed traction wheel.

A plant for treatment of bodyworks, the plant comprising:

• at least one trolley configured to support a bodywork to be treated;
• a conveying line configured to transport the at least one trolley along the plant;
• a first system configured to move the at least one trolley along the conveying line;
• a second system configured to move the at least one trolley along the conveying line, the second system comprising a toothed traction wheel, motor, and control system;
• a first sensor configured to detect angular position of the toothed traction wheel;
• and
• a second sensor configured to detect approaching movement of the at least one trolley toward the toothed traction wheel;
• wherein the at least one trolley comprises a traction rack extending in a direction of movement of the at least one trolley along the conveying line,
• wherein the toothed traction wheel is driven by the motor under control of the control system,
• wherein the toothed traction wheel is configured to engage in the traction rack upon passage of the at least one trolley into at least one zone of the plant so as to move the at least one trolley along a portion of the conveying line under the control of the control system,
• wherein the first and second sensors are connected to the control system so as to cause engagement between the toothed traction wheel and the traction rack upon arrival of the at least one trolley,
• wherein idle wheels are arranged at intervals along the conveying line, and
• wherein the idle wheels rest vertically on top of corresponding sliding surfaces of the at least one trolley.