CH705451A1 - Method, system and feed unit for providing groups of products. - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method for providing groups (8) of products (7) by means of a conveyor system (100), the products (7) are present in several, different types as well as in several different variants. From input groups, wherein one input group comprises several products (7) of the same type, output groups are formed, which consist of products (7) of different types but the same variant. A corresponding system (100) has an input section (101), a transfer section (102) and an output section (103). These sections have gravity feeders, with a drop of less than 4 °. A corresponding conveying unit (9) has at least one rolling body 11, each with a rolling body cage (14) and rolling elements (12), wherein the rolling bodies (12) roll both against each other and on the guide track (40). Preferably, successive conveyor units (9) can be coupled to each other and again separated from each other.

Description

The invention relates to the field of materials handling, in particular to a method and a system for providing groups of products, as well as a corresponding conveyor unit, according to the preamble of the corresponding independent claims.

STATE OF THE ART

In the automotive industry, it is necessary for the assembly of seat covers for seats of a vehicle to deliver the different parts of the seat covers to assembly stations. In an individualized production, the seat covers are individually selected for each vehicle from a variety of variants of materials, colors and patterns and must be delivered together in appropriate groups. Such a group thus has several parts usually of different types, which are usually all of the same variant. There is a need for efficient, automated delivery of such groups of products.

DE 10 145 606 A1 shows a conveyor system with a cyclic memory and a method for storing parts in this memory.

DE 19 536 313 C2 describes a method for conveying suspended on a hanger conveyed. In it, several straps are combined with adhesive tape to form a jointly promoted group.

DE 20 306 496 U1 discloses a multifunctional carrying device which can be conveyed along different types of rails, and to which a plurality of hangers can be hung.

EP 0 721 902 B1 shows an adapter which carries a bracket in a conveyor system, wherein the bracket can be unhooked by running onto a rod from the adapter.

WO 2010/055 167 A1 describes an intermediate hook for conveyor tracks. The intermediate hook can be multi-part, wherein the individual parts are rotatable when passing through curves of the conveyor track against each other.

EP 1 163 175 B1 shows a conveyor system in which a sequence of serially conveyed elements over a certain section is required in parallel, for example in a displaceable rail section.

EP 1 205 406 B1 describes a conveyor system with individually conveyed holding elements, each of which holds a product.

EP 0 944 544 B1 discloses a conveyor system with holding elements, for example grippers, which each hold a product, wherein the holding elements can be transferred together with the products of a first conveyor line to a second conveyor line.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and a system for providing groups of products, as well as a corresponding conveyor unit, which allow an efficient operation. Another object is to allow a simple construction of the plant and a space-saving construction and to allow energy-efficient operation.

These objects are achieved by a method and a system for providing groups of products, as well as a conveyor unit having the features of the corresponding independent claims.

The method for providing groups of products by means of a conveyor system, wherein the products are in several, different types and in several different variants, and wherein a group of products comprises a plurality of products, thus comprises the following steps: Loading an input section of the system with input groups, wherein an input group comprises several products of the same type; Receiving a plurality of machine-readable output group requests, wherein an output group request specifies a composition of an output group by specifying type and variant for a plurality of products, the products preferably being all of the same variant; Conveying the products from the input section to a transfer section of the system; Conveying the products from the transfer section to an output section of the installation; wherein after conveying the products into the transfer section and into the exit section in the exit section, there are output groups of the products in accordance with the issue group requirements; Output of the output groups from the output section.

The output can be done, for example, to one of one or more processing stations, or to a backup memory.

According to a variant of the method, the transfer section on one or more transfer conveyor, which store as a circulating conveyor each having a plurality of products in a cyclic memory, preferably in a spiral conveyor. This allows products to be cached and retrieved from the circulating memory to form the requested groups and passed to the output section.

According to a variant of the method only products of the same type are stored in each of the transfer conveyor. This simplifies the control.

According to a variant of the method products of the same type are stored in at least two of the transfer conveyor. This reduces on average the time until a certain product can be handed over.

According to a further variant, the transfer section has exactly one transfer conveyor.

According to a variant of the method, the transfer section has a plurality of transfer conveyor, in which the products are conveyed from the input section to the output section, without the transfer conveyor is designed as a cyclic memory. For a simple structure and a simple control of the system can be realized.

According to a variant of the method, the products for a particular output group are conveyed parallel to each other in a plurality of transfer conveyors, and is formed by the transfer of these products to the output section, the output group in the output section.

According to another variant of the method, an output group is formed in each of the transfer conveyor, and this is then passed as an entire output group to the output section.

According to a variant of the method, the output group is divided before delivery to a processing station in two or more subgroups of a plurality of products. Thus, several processing stations, which are working on the same end product, can be supplied with subgroups of the output group that are assigned to this end product.

According to a variant of the method, a product is in each case conveyed by a conveyor unit, and conveyor units of a group or a subset of products are mechanically coupled to each other by couplings of the conveyor units. Thus, a composition of jointly funded conveyor units is formed.

The system for carrying out the method according to one aspect of the invention, an input section, a transfer section and an output section, which are each designed as a conveyor with moving conveyor units for conveying products. They have drive areas or lifting areas as well as free rolling areas in which the conveyor units - equipped with the products or without products - are moved only by gravity.

According to one embodiment, the free rolling areas have a gradient of less than 4 °, preferably less than 3 ° or less than 2 °. This makes a space-saving design possible. Thanks to the low gradient, fewer drives are required, which simplifies the design of the system, and the energy required to operate the system - based on the number of required products - is relatively low. The number of drives required becomes smaller, making it easier to design and control the plant. According to other embodiments, the gradient may also be greater than the aforementioned angle.

In one embodiment of the system, the transfer section has one or more spiral conveyors.

In one embodiment of the system, a conveyor unit each have a conveying element, which is conveyed in one of the conveyors, and a transport element, which is designed for transporting at least one product, wherein the conveying element and the transport element are detachably connected to each other. In this case, the system has a transfer device for transferring a delivery unit from a first of the conveyors to a second one of the conveyors. The transfer device effects: Separating the transport element from a conveying element of the first conveyor, Transferring the transport element to the second conveyor; and conveying the transport element by means of the second conveyor, in particular by connecting the transport element with a conveying element of the second conveyor.

The second conveyor is different, for example, as the first conveyor. For example, it has other or no conveying elements, and / or another drive (gravity, cam chain, etc. ...), and / or linked in contrast to non-linked conveyor elements; or vice versa.

From the point of view of the subsidized product, a transfer device can be considered as a switch for splitting the product flow or as a combination of two product flows. Turnouts or merging can also be realized with other mechanical elements, for example, with movable or movable guideways of the conveyor units and their conveying elements.

A conveying element may also be referred to as a carriage. A transport element can also be referred to as a carrier.

In one embodiment of the system, the rolling bodies are guided in guideways, wherein a guideway each having a guide channel with Abrolleinlagen inserted therein of a different material, wherein the Abrolleinlage extend in areas where the rolling elements of the rolling elements roll along the guide channel , and the Abrolleinlagen, seen in cross-section, on the side on which roll the rolling elements, have two Abrollkanten, where the corresponding rolling elements unrolls, and lying between the Abrollkanten recess in which the rolling element does not touch the Abrolleinlage.

The conveyor unit is suitable and intended for use in the system described. It has at least one rolling body, each with a Wälzkörperkäfig and rolling elements, wherein the rolling elements are arranged in recesses of the Wälzkörperkäfigs and for rolling in a guideway, each two or three or more rolling elements form a set of rollers, and the rolling elements of a set of rollers both together and roll on the guideway, and there is at least one set of rollers per rolling body. This is a very low-friction promotion possible, and in turn a slight decline of the conveyor.

The rolling elements described are preferably formed as in WO 90/02 269, which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety in the present application. Corresponding rails and deflections for such rolling elements are described for example in WO 99/33 720 and the references referenced therein.

In one embodiment of the conveyor unit successive conveyor units are coupled together in a conveyor, and again detachable from each other. By coupling together the conveyor units form a composition of conveyor units.

In one embodiment of the conveyor unit successive conveyor units can be coupled to each other by pushing against each other of the conveyor units. So they snap together by pushing against each other.

In one embodiment of the conveyor unit successive conveyor units by a controlled movement of a coupling element can be coupled to each other, in particular by a backdrop-controlled movement.

In one embodiment of the conveyor unit, a detachable connection between the coupling element of a conveyor unit and a coupling member of an adjacent conveyor unit can be produced, and the connection can be produced and / or released by rotation or translation of the coupling element.

In one embodiment of the conveyor unit, a conveyor unit each having a conveying element, which has the at least one rolling body and is conveyed in one of the conveyors, and a transport element, which is designed for transporting at least one product, wherein the conveying element and the transport element detachably connected to each other.

In one embodiment of the conveyor unit, the conveying elements are coupled to each other and again detachable from each other.

In one embodiment of the conveyor unit, both the conveying elements each have identification elements and the transport elements each have further identification elements. This makes it possible to track the transport of both the conveyor elements and the transport elements - which can go their separate ways in separable transport elements - through the system and to control individually. This control occurs, for example, by correspondingly controlling points and devices for stopping a conveyor unit.

In one embodiment of the conveyor unit, a conveyor unit each having a conveying element, which has the at least one rolling body and is conveyed in one of the conveyor, wherein transport elements, which is designed for transporting at least one product, and wherein successive conveying elements respectively by means of a transport element are temporarily coupled to each other. The transport element or a part of the transport element thus acts as a connection or coupling element between the conveying elements.

In one embodiment, the conveyor unit are each at least two rolling elements per conveyor unit and are arranged by means of flexible connecting elements consecutively. Thus, the conveyor unit can achieve a certain minimum distance between the products with correspondingly thick products, but remain curved despite their resulting overall length.

Further preferred embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims. Characteristics of the method claims are analogously combined with the device claims and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the subject invention will be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Show it: <Tb> FIG. 1 and 2 <sep> a conveyor unit in a guideway; <Tb> FIG. 3 and 4 <sep> a conveyor unit in a guideway formed as a guide channel in cross section; <Tb> FIG. 5 <sep> Details of a conveyor unit; <Tb> FIG. 6 to 10b <sep> different variants of couplable conveyor units; <Tb> FIG. 11 and 12 <sep> by means of a transport element coupled together conveying elements; <Tb> FIG. 13 to 15 <sep> Transfer devices for transferring transport elements from one conveyor to another; <Tb> FIG. 16 schematically shows an installation for providing groups of products; <Tb> FIG. 17 schematically shows a spiral conveyor for such a system; <Tb> FIG. Fig. 18 schematically shows a topology of such a plant and a parallel provision of groups of products; and <Tb> FIG. 19 schematically shows a topology similar to that of FIG. 18 with serial provision of groups of products.

Basically, the same or similar parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 and 2 show a conveyor unit 9, which is conveyed along in a guideway 40 of a conveyor 104. The conveying unit 9 has a conveying element 10 and a transport element 30 fixedly connected to the conveying element 10. In this embodiment, the conveying element 10 has several, for example, three rolling elements 11, which are lined up and connected to each other by a flexible, preferably also elastic connecting element 16. The connecting element 16 may be a coil spring as shown, or a body made of a flexible, preferably also elastic material such as rubber or plastic.

Here as well as in all the other embodiments, transport elements 30 may be present, and the conveying elements 10 and transport elements 30 not only fixed but also releasably connected to each other. This also applies to the embodiments in which transport elements 30 are not explicitly mentioned or drawn, for example because the embodiment relates to a coupling.

Here, as well as in the other embodiments, the rolling elements 11 are preferably designed as described in WO 90/02269, i. with rolling elements 12, which are held in a Wälzkörperkäfig 14 and roll on each other and on the guide track 40 in a conveying direction F. For unwinding, the guideway 40 has a plurality of pairs of guide rods 45 extending along the guideway 40, on which the rolling elements 12 roll, or, as shown in the following figures, a guide channel 41.

3 and 4 show a conveyor unit in a guide channel 41 formed as a guideway 40 in cross section. The guide channel 41 has according to the rolling elements 12 arranged Abrolleinlagen 42. These extend in the longitudinal direction of the guide channel 41, wherein the rolling elements 12 roll on the Abrolleinlagen 42. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the Abrolleinlagen 42 offer little or no stabilization of the rolling elements 11 with respect to a rotation about the direction of movement of the rolling elements 11. This direction extends in the longitudinal direction of the guide channel 41, ie perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of FIG Embodiment according to FIG. 4, the Abrolleinlagen 42 - seen in cross section - on the rolling elements 12 side facing a recess 44, with both sides of the recess 44 extending Abrollkanten 43, on which the corresponding rolling elements 12 rolls. This stabilization with respect to the aforementioned rotation is possible. In FIGS. 3 and 4, a section of an optional rack 15 is also shown, which can be seen in a side view in FIG. 5, and can serve to drive the conveyor element 10 or the entire conveyor unit 9. It is arranged on opposite sides of the conveying element 10 depending on a rack 15, so that driving elements can engage from both sides, thereby occurring lateral forces compensate each other.

Fig. 5 shows details of a conveyor unit 9 with a roller 11 of a conveyor unit 9 in a guide track 40 with guide rods 45 in a side view. On one side, in the same line as the rack 15, an identification element 6 is arranged, for example an RFID element or "tag" or a bar code element such as a sticker or a plate. Of course, in other embodiments an identification element 6 can also be arranged at other locations of a conveyor unit 9 on the conveyor element 10 and / or on the transport element 30.

6 to 10 show different variants of couplable conveyor units 9 with couplings 20. In each case, a coupling element 21 of a conveyor unit 9, in particular a conveyor element 10, releasably connected to a coupling member 23 of an adjacent, i.e.. preceding or subsequent conveyor unit 9 respectively a conveyor element 10 connectable. In the following, for the sake of simplicity, only a coupling of conveying elements 10 is mentioned, but in any case the same also applies to the coupling of conveying units 9, which can not be divided into conveying elements 10 and transport elements 30. The coupling element 21 may be designed to engage in the butting of the conveyor units on the coupling member 23, or engage only with an active actuation of the coupling element 21. For releasing the clutch and optionally active manufacture of the clutch, for example, actuating elements, such as, for example, control levers 18 with or without control rollers 17, can be actuated by means of control cams 19. Alternatively, actuation may also be by other means, such as electrical, magnetic, pneumatic, etc. means.

Fig. 6 shows coupled conveyor elements 10 respectively whose rolling body 11, in which the coupling element 21 is pivotally mounted in the conveyor element 10, and hangs with a hook-like coupling portion 24 on a coupling member 23 of an adjacent conveyor element 10. By means of a control lever 18, the coupling element 21 is actuated, i. rotatable or pivotable, this movement being represented by a double arrow. This rotation can be done against the action of a spring 22. The figure shows by way of illustration a control lever 18 both with and without a control roller 17, wherein in a real plant only one or the other variant is present.

Fig. 7 shows, together with a detailed view of Fig. 8, coupled to each other conveyor elements 10, in which the coupling element 21 is slidably mounted in the conveyor element 10, wherein depending on the position of the coupling element 21 designed as a recess coupling portion 24 of the coupling element 21st a corresponding coupling portion 24 of a coupling member 23 of an adjacent conveyor element 10 blocks or releases. For example, with a further spring 22, the coupling element 21 is held in the locked position, and the clutch element 21 is pushed by a lever 29 with a translation into the release position when passing the conveyor element 10 to a fixed further control roller 17.

Fig. 9 shows again a rotational control of a clutch 20, wherein a recess formed as a coupling portion 24 of the coupling element 21 blocks or releases a corresponding coupling portion 24 of a coupling member 23 of an adjacent conveyor element 10 by the coupling element 21 is rotated by the control lever 18 becomes. Again, the figure for illustration shows a control lever 18 both with and without a control roller 17, wherein in a real plant usually only one or the other variant is present.

Fig. 10a shows as coupling member 23 elements made of spring steel, which realize a flexible and elastic in two directions connection between conveyor elements 10. The coupling 20 may be formed according to the variants of FIGS. 7 to 9. The spring steel elements are sufficiently stiff to ensure that, when the conveyor elements 10 are pushed against one another, the coupling members 23 move into a corresponding receiving opening of the adjacent conveyor elements 10.

Coupling members 23 may be formed so that they can accommodate at least one transport element 30. Accordingly, FIG. 10 b additionally shows intermediate carriers 28 which are arranged in a region between the conveying elements and allow one or more transport elements 30 to be held, for example by hooking or coupling the transport elements 30 to the intermediate carriers 28. The intermediate carriers 28 on coupling elements 21 or coupling members 23 may be attached. In particular, as shown, the coupling elements 21 or coupling members 23 may be guided through a recess of the intermediate carrier 28. In another embodiment (not shown), the transport elements 30 are mounted without intermediate carrier 28 on the coupling members 23 itself or connected in any other way with these.

11 and 12 show by means of a transport element 30 coupled to each other conveyor elements 10. A conveyor element 10 each has an arm 25 with a first hook 26 and a second hook 27. The arm 25 can be pivoted by actuation of a control roller 17 by a control cam 19. A coupling 20 is formed in each case in that a transport element 30 is suspended in the first hook 26 of a first conveyor element 10, and the second hook 27 of a second conveyor element 10 is hooked on the transport element 30. The coupling can also be done by snapping - if on one of the conveyor elements 10, a transport element 30 is mounted - or by active actuation, in particular pivoting of the arm 25. The same applies to the release of the clutch 20th

In another embodiment, the separation of the coupling 20 is not done by pivoting the arm, but by lifting the transport member 30 from the two hooks 26, 27, after which the two hooks can move away from each other in the conveying direction. The lifting of the transport element 30 is done by a not shown guide means or funding. This can transport away the transport elements 30, or temporarily transport and then hang again on one of the conveyor elements 10.

FIGS. 13 to 15 show transfer devices 31 for transferring transport elements 30 from a first conveyor 104 to another conveyor 104, 104, 104, or vice versa. The embodiments of these figures have in common that in at least one of the conveyor 104, 104, 104, 104, the conveyor units 9 in conveying elements 10 and transport elements 30 are separable. In the transfer device 31, the transport elements 30 are released from the conveyor elements 10 of the one conveyor and transferred to another conveyor 104, 104, 104. In this case, the transport elements 30 can be guided or transported to guide elements 32. FIGS. 13 to 15 each show a transfer of the transport elements 30 by a sliding guide as transfer means. However, essentially any other transfer means may also be present, for example a ramp with fixed rollers, a cam chain, a wheel, etc. Transfer devices may also be designed as in EP 0 944 544 B1 mentioned in the introduction.

In one embodiment, to support the transport elements 30 conveyed in the transfer device 31, there is a roller body, as described in WO 2005/113 391, and / or a support, as described in WO 2010/148 523 ,

Identification elements 6 on the conveyor elements 10 as well as on the transport elements 30 are shown in FIGS. 13 to 15. It is understood that identification elements 6 can be used in all other embodiments shown. The identification elements 6 allow each individual conveyor element 10 and transport element 30 to be tracked and located individually. The identification elements 6 for conveying elements 10 and transport elements 30 may be the same or different types. For example, 10 barcodes and the transport elements 30 RFID tags can be used on the conveyor elements, or vice versa. This mutual interference in the query of the identification elements 6 can be prevented.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 13, the further conveyor 104 is designed analogously to the first conveyor 104, in that the transport elements 30 can be connected to and conveyed by further conveyor elements 10.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 14, the further conveyor 104 has a transport chain 46, with further conveying elements 10 fixedly coupled to the transport chain 46, which take over the transferred conveying elements 10.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 15, the further conveyor 104 has a slide rail, or another type of guide, in which the transport elements 30 themselves are guided and conveyed without a conveyor element 10, for example on the same guide elements 32, which serve to guide in the transfer device 31.

In the previous figures, the transport elements 30 are exemplified in each case as a bracket or hook. However, the transport elements 30 can also be grippers or clamps or pockets, etc., and it is understood that each of the embodiments can be realized with each of these variants as well as with further variants of transport elements 30.

FIGS. 16 to 19 schematically show a plant 100 for providing groups 8 of products 7, or a part of such a plant. For all of them: The products 7 are in a feed area 105 the conveyor elements 10 and the transport elements 30 of the conveyor elements 10 passed and from there on through an input section 101, a transfer section 102 and an output section 103 to a delivery area 106 transported where they Transport elements 30 are taken and processed. For re-sorting the sequence of products 7, switches 109 and mergers 110 are present in the flow of products 7 through the individual sections. The switches 109 and drives of individual conveyors 104 are controllable by a controller (not shown). In this case, the controller has at several locations of the system 100 detection stations, which determine, for example, based on the identification elements 6 of the conveyor elements 10 and / or transport elements 30, where these elements are in the system and thus also, which products 7 are where in the system , There may also be detection devices for this purpose, which detect identification elements which are attached to the products 7 themselves. For guiding and conveying the products 7, conveyors 104 and conveying units 9 according to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 15 can be used in each case. The conveyor units 9 can be used according to the following embodiments: Conveying elements 10 and transport elements 30 are fixedly connected to each other to a conveyor unit 9 and run after loading with the products 7 together with the products 7 through the system. After removing the products 7 from the conveyor units 9 in a discharge area 106, the conveyor units 9 are guided back to a loading area 105. Conveying elements 10 and transport elements 30 are separable from each other. During the flow of the products 7 through switches 109 or junctions 110, the products 7, together with the transport element 30 transporting them, can be transferred from a conveyor element 10 of a first conveyor 104 to a conveyor element 10 of a second conveyor 104. Conveyor elements 10 and transport elements 30 are fixedly connected to one another to a conveyor unit 9, at points 109 or mergers 110 in the flow of products 7, the products 7 can be transferred from a conveyor unit 9 of a first conveyor 104 to a conveyor unit 9 of a second conveyor 104.

Thus, if the flow of the products 7 through the system 100 is described below, then this can be realized according to each of the three variants above. Depending on the variant, therefore, the mentioned switches 109 and mergers 110 are designed for transferring conveyor units 9 with products 7, transport elements 30 with products 7, or only products 7.

Also applies to all system variants that they are preferably carried out with the rolling elements 11 described above. For a very low-friction guidance of the conveyor units 9 is realized. In turn, these can be performed as a gravity conveyor with a comparatively low gradient, for example, with a gradient of less than 4 ° or 3 ° or 2 °. Accordingly, long distances or storage helixes with little difference in height can be realized, and the number of drives required as well as the complexity of the system are reduced.

16 schematically shows a topology of such a system 100, in which the transfer section 102 has a plurality of transfer conveyors 111. The transfer section 102 is fed from the conveyed product input section 101 by having switches 109 at multiple locations along the input section 101, which redirects individual products 7 or a series of successive products 7 to one of the transfer conveyors 111. The transfer conveyor 111 are formed as circular memory. That is, the products 7, after having been transferred to one of the transfer conveyors 111 at a merge 110, optionally remain in a circuit through the transfer conveyor 111 or are removed by a switch 109 to the transfer conveyor 111. In the latter case, the products 7 are transferred at a junction 110 in a conveyor of the output section 103, which transports the products 7 to one or more delivery areas 106. A distribution on a plurality of delivery areas 106 can take place without points 109, or - as shown in FIG. 16 - with one point 109 per delivery area 106, or with another, for example, tree-like distribution structure. If the products 7 were transported together with transport elements 30 or entire conveyor units 9 through the installation 100, these transport elements 30 or conveyor units 9, now without products 7, are reclaimed via a return path with an optional buffer area 108 to the loading area 105.

The conveyor lines comparatively briefly illustrated in FIG. 16 between the input section 101 and the transfer section 102, respectively, between the transfer section 102 and the output section 103 can serve as (linear, non-circular) buffer storages.

Fig. 17 shows schematically a spiral conveyor 112 for such a system 100. In a lifting area 113, the products 7 and the conveyor units 9 with a conveyor drive 115, for example with a chain or a toothed belt, against gravity to a higher Level brought. In a subsequent free rolling area 114 corresponding to a helical gravity conveyor, the conveyor units 9 roll with the products back to the beginning of the lifting area 113. At least one combination 110 and one switch 109 are available for introducing or removing products 7. Exemplary dimensions that can be realized with the rolling elements 11 used: pitch g of the helix: 1 m to 2 m, preferably 1.5 m, diameter of the helix: 20 m to 30 m.

A plant 100 according to FIG. 16 can be operated as follows: The products 7 are each referred to as batches of products 7 of the same type (A, B, C, D,...) And the same variant (suffix 1 , 2, 3, 4, ...) and fed to the plant 100 as input groups. The goal is to form each predetermined groups or output groups of products 7, where a group are several products 7 of a given type and a given variant. According to a variant of the method, one group each comprises the same combination of types, and all products 7 are of the same variant. The types of a group are usually different from each other, but individual types can occur several times. The desired combination is given to the controller by a higher-level production system and is referred to below as the output group request. These output group requests may optionally be linked to a specification to which delivery area 106 and at what time the group is to be delivered. A dispensing area 106 corresponds, for example, to a workstation or assembly station in a production plant, at which the products 7 are combined with each other or with other products of the higher-level production system. For example, corresponding output group requirements are: <tb> <sep> For station X1 at time T1: A1, B1, B1, C1, D1, E1 <tb> <sep> For station X2 at time T2: A3, B3, B3, C3, D3, E3 <tb> <sep> For station X3 at time T3: A1, B1, B1, C1, D1, E1 <tb> <sep> For station X4 at time T4: A4, B4, B4, C4, D4, E4 <tb> <sep> ... etc.

Thus, groups with products of types A, B, C, D, E are required, in each case 2 copies of type B must be present. In each of the requirements, the variants of the products 7 are identical. Such requirements occur, for example in the manufacture of automobiles in the assembly of seat covers: the types correspond to the different parts of the seat covers of a vehicle (headrest, back, seat, armrest left, armrest right, bench, ...), the variants correspond to the possible materials , Colors and patterns. Analogous demands occur in the order-picking system in the clothing industry, for example in the production of garments where different parts of the same material have to be brought together, or in the compilation of products for shipping.

According to this example from the automotive industry, according to a further variant of the method, a group can be assembled and then promoted as a group and possibly cached, but divided before delivery on two or more subgroups, which are led to different delivery areas 106. These different delivery areas 106 are associated with the two sides of the same vehicle during seat production, for example.

In order to compose a group according to an output group request, the following procedure can be adopted: Feeding batches of products 7 of the same type and the same variant into the input section 101. Distributing the products 7 on the transfer conveyor 111, by one or more of the transfer conveyor 111 only with the products 7 of a certain type are filled. In Fig. 16, only a few products 7 are drawn on each transfer conveyor 111, in reality, these are typically tens to hundreds of products 7, which are stored in a transfer conveyor 111. When products 7 of one type are stored in several transfer conveyors 111, on average the access time to a product 7 of a particular variant decreases. Retrieving the products 7 of a group one by one from the transfer conveyors 111, the products 7 each being fed into the delivery section 103 before or after or between the other products 7 of the same group, respectively when fed into the delivery section 103. In FIG. 16, this is simplified and illustrated schematically for a group in that, at a first time, there is a product A2 in the output section 103, a product B2 has been introduced behind the product A2 at a later time, and a product at a later time C2 behind B2. This sequence can be supplemented with products 7 from other, not shown transfer conveyors 111 to the finished group. As a rule, between the products shown for this example, there are other products and groups formed from them. Transport of the group of products 7 thus formed to one or more delivery areas 106.

Fig. 18 shows schematically a topology of a plant 100 for providing groups 8 of products 7 in which a parallel provision of groups of products 7 takes place. The input section 101 is preferably a circulating conveyor and thus has a memory function as a circular memory (ring memory). The transfer conveyor 111, however, have no feedback, the products 7 are guided only linearly through the transfer conveyor 111, so this acts as FIFO (First In, First Out) memory for the products 7. According to the output group requirements are respectively Products 7 which circulate in the input section 101 are diverted into the transfer conveyors 111, so that the products 7 that are in the same place in the various transfer conveyors 111 together form a required group. These products 7 are transferred in parallel, quasi simultaneously from the various transfer conveyors 111 to the conveyor of the delivery section 103 and thereby form the required group. This is fed to one or more delivery areas 106 (not shown in detail).

Fig. 19 shows schematically a topology substantially similar to Fig. 18, but with a serial provision of groups of products 7. For this, the transfer conveyors 111 must be capable of storing at least as many products 7 as are required for a group of maximum size , In order to form a required group, this group is assigned to one of the transfer conveyors 111, and the individual products 7 of the group are successively transferred from the circulating conveyor of the input section 101 into this transfer conveyor 111. If the group is complete, it is handed over to the output section 103 as a whole.

In addition, reserve memory 107 is shown in FIG. These are circular memories, which are connected to points 109 and mergers 110 to the output section 103. They store preferably whole, ready assembled groups. You can either return the stored groups to the output section 103 or directly to a delivery section 106.

Of course, the reserve memories 107 according to FIG. 19 can also be combined with the system of FIG. 18 or FIG. 16. If the products 7 are conveyed with a transport element 30 or a conveyor unit 9, then there is also a corresponding return of the transport elements 30 or conveyor units 9.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0080] <Tb> 100 <sep> System <Tb> 101 <sep> input section <Tb> 102 <sep> transfer section <Tb> 103 <sep> Output Section <Tb> 104 <sep> Transporters <Tb> 105 <sep> loading area <Tb> 106 <sep> delivery area <Tb> 107 <sep> Reserve memory <Tb> 108 <sep> buffer area <Tb> 109 <sep> Soft <Tb> 110 <sep> Merge <Tb> 111 <sep> transfer conveyor <Tb> 112 <sep> bowl feeder <Tb> 113 <sep> Lifting range <Tb> <sep> Drive area <Tb> 114 <sep> Free roll area. slide <Tb> 115 <sep> conveyor drive <Tb> 9 <sep> delivery unit <tb> 10 <sep> Conveying element, trolley <Tb> 11 <sep> rollers <Tb> 12 <sep> rolling elements <Tb> 13 <sep> roller set <Tb> 14 <sep> Rolling Element <Tb> 15 <sep> rack <Tb> 16 <sep> connecting element <Tb> 17 <sep> control roller <Tb> 18 <sep> joystick <Tb> 19 <sep> cam <Tb> 20 <sep> Clutch <Tb> 21 <sep> coupling element <Tb> 22 <sep> Spring <Tb> 23 <sep> coupling member <Tb> 24 <sep> coupling section <Tb> 25 <sep> Arm <tb> 26 <sep> first hook <tb> 27 <sep> second hook <Tb> 28 <sep> subcarrier <Tb> 29 <sep> Lever <tb> 30 <sep> Transport element, carrier <Tb> 31 <sep> transfer device <Tb> 32 <sep> guide element <Tb> 7 <sep> Product <Tb> 8 <sep> Products Group <Tb> 6 <sep> identification element <Tb> 40 <sep> guideway <Tb> 41 <sep> duct <Tb> 42 <sep> Abrolleinlage <Tb> 43 <sep> Abrollkanten <Tb> 44 <sep> depression <Tb> 45 <sep> guide rods <Tb> 46 <sep> transport chain

Claims (23)

Method for providing groups (8) of products (7) by means of a conveyor system (100), the products (7) being present in several, different types as well as in several different variants, one group (8) of products (7 ) has several products (7), with the following steps: - loading an input section (101) of the system (100) with input groups, wherein an input group comprises a plurality of products (7) of the same type; Receiving a plurality of machine readable output group requests, wherein an output group request specifies a composition of an output group by specifying type and variant for a plurality of products (7), the products (7) preferably all of of the same variant; - conveying the products (7) from the input section (101) into a transfer section (102) of the system (100); - conveying the products (7) from the transfer section (102) into an exit section (103) of the installation (100); - wherein after conveying the products (7) into the transfer section (102) and into the output section (103) in the output section (103) there are output groups of the products (7) in accordance with the output group requirements; Output of the output groups from the output section (103). 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer section (102) comprises one or more transfer conveyors (111), which store as circulating conveyor each a plurality of products (7) in a cyclic memory, preferably in a spiral conveyor (112). 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein in each of the transfer conveyor (111) respectively only products (7) of the same type are stored. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein in at least two of the transfer conveyor (111) products (7) of the same type are stored. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer section (102) has a plurality of transfer conveyors (111) in which the products (7) are conveyed from the input section (101) to the discharge section (103) without the transfer conveyor (111) as a cyclic storage is trained. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein in a plurality of transfer conveyors (111) in parallel to each other, the products (7) are promoted for a given output group, and by the transfer of these products (7) to the output section (103) the output Group in the output section (103) is formed. A method according to claim 5, wherein an output group is formed in each of the transfer conveyors (111), and then given as an entire output group to the output section (103). 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the output group is divided before delivery to a processing station in two or more subgroups of a plurality of products (7). 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a product (7) in each case by a conveyor unit (9) is conveyed, and conveying units (9) of a group or a subset of products (7) by couplings (20) of the conveyor units ( 9) are mechanically coupled to each other. A plant (100) for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an input section (101), a transfer section (102) and an output section (103), each as a conveyor (104) with moving conveyor units (9) for conveying of products (7), having drive areas or lifting areas (113) and free rolling areas (114) in which the conveyor units (9) are driven only by gravity, the free rolling areas (114) having a pitch of less than 4 °. 11. Plant (100) according to claim 10, wherein the transfer section (102) has one or more spiral conveyors (112). 12. Plant (100) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a conveyor unit (9) each having a conveying element (10), which is required in one of the conveyor (104), and a transport element (30), which for transporting at least one product (7) is formed, wherein the conveying element (10) and the transport element (30) are detachably connected to each other, and the system (100) comprises a transfer device (31) for transferring a conveyor unit (9) from a first of the conveyors (104 ) to a second of the conveyors (104) Separating the transport element (30) from a conveying element (10) of the first conveyor (104), - transferring the transport element (30) to the second conveyor (104); - And conveying the transport element (30) by means of the second conveyor (104), in particular by connecting the transport element (30) with a conveying element (10) of the second conveyor (104). 13. Plant (100) according to claim 10 or 11 or 12, in which the rolling bodies (11) in guide tracks (40) are guided, wherein a guide track (40) each have a guide channel (41) inserted therein Abrolleinlagen (42) from a other material, said Abrolleinlage (42) in areas where the rolling elements (12) of the rolling elements (11) roll along the guide channel (41) extend, and the Abrolleinlagen (42), seen in cross-section, on the side on which the rolling bodies (12) roll, have two rolling edges (43) on which the corresponding rolling element (12) rolls, and a recess (44) located between the rolling edges (43), in which the rolling elements (12) form the rolling insert (42) not affected. 14. Feed unit (9) for use in a plant (100) according to one of claims 10 to 13, comprising at least one rolling body (11) each having a Wälzkörperkäfig (14) and rolling elements (12), wherein the rolling elements (12) in recesses of the Wälzkörperkäfigs (14) and for rolling in a guideway (40) are arranged, wherein in each case two or three or more rolling elements (12) form a roller set (13), and the rolling elements (12) of a roller set (13) both to each other and roll on the guideway (40), and at least one roller set (13) per rolling body (11) is present. 15. Feed unit (9) according to claim 14, in which successive conveyor units (9) are coupled to each other and are again detachable from each other. 16. Feed unit (9) according to claim 15, wherein successive conveyor units (9) by mutually poking the conveyor units (9) are coupled to each other. 17. Feed unit (9) according to claim 15, wherein successive conveyor units (9) by a controlled movement of a coupling element (21) are coupled to each other, in particular by a backdrop-controlled movement. 18. Feed unit (9) according to one of claims 15 to 17, wherein a releasable connection between the coupling element (21) of a conveyor unit (9) and a coupling member (23) of an adjacent conveyor unit (9) can be produced, and the connection by rotation or Translation of the coupling element (21) can be produced and / or released. 19. Feed unit (9) according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein a conveyor unit (9) each having a conveying element (10) having the at least one rolling body (11) and in one of the conveyor (104) is conveyed, and a Transport element (30), which is designed for transporting at least one product (7), wherein the conveying element (10) and the transport element (30) are detachably connected to each other. 20. Feed unit (9) according to claim 19, in which the conveying elements (10) are coupled to each other and are again detachable from each other. 21. Feed unit (9) according to claim 19 or 20, in which both the conveying elements (10) each have identification elements, as well as the transport elements (30) each have further identification elements. 22 conveying unit (9) according to claim 15, wherein a conveyor unit (9) each having a conveying element (10) which has the at least one rolling body (11) and in one of the conveyor (104) is conveyed, wherein transport elements (30), are present, which is designed for transporting at least one product (7), and wherein successive conveying elements (10) in each case by means of a transport element (30) are coupled to each other. 23. Feed unit (9) according to one of claims 14 to 22 in which in each case at least two rolling bodies (11) are present per conveyor unit (9) and are arranged successively by means of flexible connecting elements (16).