DE102015119320A1 - System for grouping and / or distribution of piece goods and method for performing manipulation tasks in the range of a working distance with at least one handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

A system (1) for grouping and / or distributing piece goods (5) is disclosed. The system (1) comprises a working section (AS) with - an inlet (3) which has at least one horizontal conveyor (11) and via which a plurality of piece goods (5) can be transported in the mass flow and - one on the inlet (3) following manipulation area (22) with at least one manipulator (10) for grouping piece goods (5). The system (1) additionally comprises at least one handling device (9) which can be moved at least in sections along the working path (AS) and via which at least one handling device (9) a) the at least one manipulator (10) can be modified for different work processes and / / or via which at least one handling device (9) b) provided for piece goods (5) and arranged in the course of the working distance (AS) interchangeable and / or with respect to their relative spacing are adjustable and / or via which at least one handling device (9) c ) can be acted on certain cargo (5), which are in the course of the working distance (AS) and / or over which at least one handling device (9) d) packing media for at least one in the manipulation area (22) positioned manipulator (20) are provided ,

Description

The present invention relates to a system for grouping and / or distribution of piece goods and a method for performing manipulation tasks in the range of a working distance.

In the packaging of articles in the prior art several piece goods are transported via a horizontal conveyor and subsequently manipulated. In this case, devices are known which generate a grouping from a plurality of piece goods and subsequently apply thermoplastic packaging material to the groupings. The groupings are moved together with the thermoplastic packaging material in a shrink tunnel. In the shrink tunnel, the thermoplastic packaging material is subjected to temperature, wherein the thermoplastic packaging material is shrunk onto the respective grouping. Subsequently, the finished packages, which are bundled with packaging material, leave the shrink tunnel and can be palletized in further steps.

Such a packaging machine is for example from the DE 20 2010 013 513 U1 known. The DE utility model discloses a machine for packaging goods or packaging units with a horizontal conveyor belt. About the horizontal conveyor belt, the containers are transported to a packaging station, where they are wrapped by means of a Einschlageinrichtung with appropriately cut film webs. Subsequently, the container or the goods which form the container, moved together with the respective film web in a shrink tunnel.

Practice has shown that individual articles occasionally tilt or are accidentally displaced, both when sorting articles into groups and when subsequently applying the thermoplastic packaging material. To realign the articles, a manual intervention in the process is required, which involves an unwanted effort. It may also be that the process chain must be interrupted in order to realign the article or articles. However, an interruption of the process is undesirable because a high throughput is advantageous for packaging machines.

If piece goods with different geometries are to be packed in successive work processes, a conversion of the packing machine is necessary for this purpose. For example, it may be that format parts, such as guide rails or the like, must be exchanged or adjusted within a transport route for articles or piece goods. Modifications to manipulators may also be necessary in order to adapt the packing machine to piece goods with a specific geometry. To date, the conversion or modification of manipulators was done manually.

Packing media, such as thermoplastic films or cardboard, on which groupings on piece goods stand up, are manually fed to the respective manipulator in practice. Also, with the provision of packing media is therefore a time and personnel expenses in connection, which should be reduced in practice, if possible.

An object of the invention can therefore be seen to provide a system and a method for grouping and / or distribution of piece goods, by means of which a human effort can be at least reduced. Furthermore, the system should have a straightforward structure and the process can be easily implemented.

The above objects are achieved by a system and a method comprising the features in claims 1 and 13. Further advantageous embodiments are described by the subclaims.

The invention relates to a system for grouping and / or distribution of piece goods. The piece goods, which are grouped or distributed over the system, can be designed, for example, as beverage containers or PET bottles.

In conceivable embodiments, by means of the system according to the invention, a piece-goods flow conveyed from the m parallel rows in parallel goods conveyed by the feed in n parallel rows can be formed with the aid of the manipulator. The system can be designed here as a distribution system. However, in preferred embodiments, as described below, the system may be configured as a grouping and packaging system for piece goods. The packaging material may then be formed as a thermoplastic packaging material. It is also conceivable that the packaging material is then formed as a cellulosic packaging material or as Kartonumverpackung. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that, in addition, further packaging materials can be used which are not exhaustively enumerated in the present case.

The system includes a working distance. Part of the working route is an inlet, which has at least one horizontal conveyor and via which inlet a plurality of piece goods in mass flow can be transported. During their transport via the inlet or via the at least one horizontal conveying device of the inlet, leading piece goods can be in contact with their directly following piece goods. It is also conceivable that in the region of the inlet at least one guide rail or at least one guide element is provided, by means of which piece goods are moved in parallel rows on the at least one horizontal conveyor of the inlet. The relative distance between two guide rails in the feed to each other can correspond here at least approximately to the maximum diameter of the respective piece goods transported via the feed. Between two adjacent guide rails can thus be transported in each case a number of piece goods. The relative distance of the guide rails of the inlet can, within the scope of conceivable embodiments of the present invention, as described below, be set or adjusted via at least one handling device.

The system further comprises a manipulation area following the inlet with at least one manipulator for grouping and / or distributing piece goods. For example, the at least one manipulator may be in communication with a control device via which the at least one manipulator can be controlled in order to form a grouping for a respective container from a plurality of piece goods. Then, as described below, packaging material can be applied to the grouping in order to combine the respective piece goods of the grouping into a respective container.

Furthermore, it may be that the at least one manipulator is in communication with a control device, via which the at least one manipulator can be controlled to form a bundle stream with a number m, guided in parallel rows with a number m, of a piece goods flow guided in parallel rows with a number n , where the number n differs from the number m.

In particularly preferred embodiments, at least one further manipulator is arranged downstream of the at least one manipulator in the manipulation area, which at least one further manipulator is designed to apply preferably thermoplastic packaging material to the distributed and / or grouped piece goods. By way of the at least one handling device, the at least one manipulator and the at least one further manipulator can each be modified for different work processes.

At least one conveyor belt, which passes through the at least one manipulator, can extend over the manipulation area. The at least one conveyor belt can connect directly to the at least one horizontal conveyor device of the inlet. If necessary, the piece goods can be moved in the direction of a shrinking device or carried on to a shrinking device via the at least one conveyor belt.

For preferred embodiments, the at least one manipulator is assigned at least one first conveyor belt. In addition, at least one further manipulator, which adjoins the at least one manipulator and is designed for applying packaging material to piece goods, can be assigned at least one further conveyor belt. The at least one further conveyor belt can have a higher transport speed compared to the at least one first conveyor belt, so that for the purpose of grouping piece goods leading piece goods are accelerated against lagging piece goods when they pass on to the at least one further conveyor belt.

In the manipulation area or in the region of the at least one manipulator and / or the at least one further manipulator, guide elements can be arranged which extend parallel and in the transport direction of the piece goods. In conceivable embodiments, the guide elements can be exchanged via the subsequently described at least one handling device and / or their relative distance can be adapted to each other.

The at least one manipulator may comprise a plurality of one-piece fingers or abutment members which abut with groupings to align piece goods of a respective grouping flush. The Einteilfinger or Einteilstäbe can be performed all around.

Furthermore, it may be that the at least one manipulator has a conveyor belt which is clocked and / or operated at a varying transport speed in order to form a respective grouping from a plurality of piece goods. At the timed and / or operated with varying transport speed conveyor belt of at least one manipulator, at least one further conveyor belt of present in preferred embodiments, at least one further manipulator directly connect.

The at least one further manipulator may comprise a wrapping unit, via which the packaging material is placed around a grouping of piece goods. The wrapping unit can comprise a plurality of encircling wrapping elements or wrapping rods, which surround the packaging material around the respective grouping of piece goods lay. The wrapping elements or wrapping rods can emerge from below a transport plane of the piece goods on the transport plane, temporally following this place the thermoplastic packaging material to the respective grouping of piece goods and then submerge below the transport plane of the piece goods.

In preferred embodiments, the system may have at least one shrinking device which follows the at least one further manipulator and over which the thermoplastic packaging material can be shrink-wrapped by applying temperature to the respective grouping of piece goods. The at least one shrinking device is possibly part of the working distance of the system. The at least one shrinking device can be designed as a shrink tunnel and thus have a housing, in which groupings of piece goods enter and which leave the groups after shrinking the packaging material or the thermoplastic packaging material as a finished container. The at least one handling device can be designed to receive packages. In particular, in the event that the system or the shrinking device is to be taken out of service, have proven embodiments in which the at least one handling device for receiving containers after leaving the shrinking device is formed. The at least one handling device can in this case replace an empty route.

The at least one shrinking device may have a horizontal conveyor to transport groupings of piece goods together with their respective packaging material or their respective thermoplastic packaging material. The horizontal conveying device of the at least one shrinking device can connect to the previously described at least one conveyor belt, which optionally passes through the at least one manipulator and the at least one further manipulator.

• a) der mindestens eine Manipulator und in bevorzugten Ausführungsformen auch der wenigstens eine weitere Manipulator für unterschiedliche Arbeitsprozesse modifizierbar sind und/oder über welche wenigstens eine Handhabungseinrichtung
• b) für Stückgüter vorgesehene und im Verlauf der Arbeitsstrecke angeordnete Führungselemente austauschbar und/oder hinsichtlich ihrer relativen Beabstandung zueinander einstellbar sind und/oder über welche wenigstens eine Handhabungseinrichtung
• c) auf bestimmte Stückgüter eingewirkt werden kann, welche sich in bzw. im Bereich der Arbeitsstrecke befinden und/oder über welche wenigstens eine Handhabungseinrichtung
• d) Packmedien für wenigstens einen im Manipulationsbereich positionierten Manipulator bereitstellbar sind.

Furthermore, the system comprises at least one handling device, which can be moved at least in sections along the working path and via which at least one handling device

• a) the at least one manipulator and in preferred embodiments, the at least one further manipulator for different work processes are modifiable and / or via which at least one handling device
• b) provided for piece goods and arranged in the course of the working distance guide elements interchangeable and / or with respect to their relative spacing are adjustable to each other and / or via which at least one handling device
• c) can be acted on certain cargo, which are located in or in the range of the working distance and / or via which at least one handling device
• d) packing media can be provided for at least one manipulator positioned in the manipulation area.

As previously mentioned, the at least one manipulator may comprise a plurality of one-piece fingers or one-piece rods to align piece goods of a respective grouping flush. It is conceivable in this case that by means of the at least one handling device, the plurality of Einteilfinger or Einteilstäbe are interchangeable.

It is also conceivable that the impact elements or impact bars of the at least one further manipulator can be exchanged by means of the at least one handling device. For this purpose, the at least one handling device may comprise a working tool, for example a clamping and / or gripping device, in order to receive the plurality of turning bars and / or dividing bars and to replace them with further wrapping elements or wrapping bars.

A control device may be provided which is in communication with the at least one handling device and which predetermines a method or a movement of the at least one handling device along the working path.

At least over a certain section of the manipulation area, piece goods and / or groupings on piece goods can be guided by guide elements, such as guide rails or the like. As already mentioned above, guide elements can be provided in particular in the area of the inlet and / or in the manipulation area. In preferred embodiments, the at least one handling device can independently replace or replace guide elements or guide rails. Here, too, it is conceivable that the at least one handling device for exchanging or replacing the guide elements or guide rails has a working tool and in particular a clamping and / or gripping device. In further conceivable embodiments, it may be that the at least one handling device for adjusting or adjusting the relative distance of a plurality of guide elements to each other is formed. For this purpose, the at least one handling device can comprise a swivel arm, by means of which swivel arm the at least one handling device can be used to set the relative distance of several Guide elements or guide rails can make each other.

In order to apply packaging material to groupings of piece goods, it must be ensured that the at least one further manipulator is supplied with packaging material. For this purpose, the at least one handling device can provide packaging material for the at least one further manipulator. In conceivable embodiments, it may also be provided that groupings of piece goods are positioned on a cardboard before the groupings possibly enter into the shrinking device already mentioned above as part of preferred embodiments. For this purpose, the at least one handling device can provide cardboard boxes and possibly transport the cardboard boxes along the working distance. For example, the groupings on piece goods can be positioned on cardboard boxes via the at least one manipulator or via the at least one further manipulator. In further embodiments, an additional manipulator may be located in the manipulation area or along the working route, which positions groupings of piece goods on cardboard. The additional manipulator can be supplied via the at least one handling device with cardboard or with packaging material.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, an optical detection device can be provided for detecting an orientation of piece goods in the region of the working distance. The optical detection device can be arranged on the at least one handling device and thus, together with the at least one handling device, can be moved along the working path at least in sections. It may also be that the optical detection device is stationarily positioned in the region of the at least one manipulator and / or in the region of the at least one further manipulator and / or in the region of the inlet.

• i) die wenigstens eine Handhabungseinrichtung via die Steuerungseinrichtung zum Einwirken auf bestimmte Stückgüter ansteuerbar ist und/oder dass
• ii) Informationen zum Abweichen einer Ist-Orientierung von einer vorgegebenen Soll-Orientierung auf einer mit der Steuerungseinrichtung in Verbindung stehenden Anzeigeeinheit darstellbar sind.

Furthermore, a control device may be provided which is in communication with the optical detection device and is designed to compare the actual orientation of piece goods with a predetermined desired orientation of piece goods. In a deviation of the actual orientation of the predetermined target orientation can be provided that

• i) the at least one handling device is controllable via the control device for acting on specific piece goods and / or that
• ii) information for deviating an actual orientation from a predetermined desired orientation can be displayed on a display unit in communication with the control unit.

For example, it may be that an optical indication is output on the display unit if an actual orientation of a piece good or several piece goods deviates from a predetermined desired orientation.

For example, it is conceivable that a cargo or several cargo in the tipping area tilt or unintentionally moved or moved. If this is the case, the control device can determine a deviation of the actual orientation from a desired orientation. Following this, the at least one handling device can be controllable by the control device for erecting or for correcting the orientation of the one or more piece goods whose actual orientation deviates from the desired orientation.

In conceivable embodiments, the at least one handling device may have a working tool or a clamping and / or gripping device, via which the at least one handling device can receive and align piece goods. The clamping and / or gripping device can be arranged on the swivel arm, which has already been referred to previously.

The optical detection device can be designed, for example, as a camera system or comprise at least one camera system. The optical detection device may also comprise a light barrier or a plurality of light barriers for detecting an orientation of piece goods in the manipulation area or along the working path.

If information for deviating an actual orientation from a predetermined desired orientation can be displayed on a display unit in communication with the control unit, it can be provided that the display unit is designed as a display.

Further, a rail system may be provided. The at least one handling device can with the aid of the rail system be at least partially movable along the working distance. For this purpose, the rail system can run linearly along the working path.

Also, embodiments have proven in which the system comprises an induction loop positioned along the working path, wherein the at least one handling device is at least partially movable along the working section in operative connection with the induction loop.

In order to move the handling device accurately along the working distance, it can also be provided that the at least one handling device comprises at least one laser scanner. The at least one handling device can be moved at least in sections along the working path, in operative connection with the at least one laser scanner. In further conceivable embodiments, the at least one handling device for its movement may be in communication with a satellite-based navigation system.

In particular, embodiments have proven in which the at least one handling device comprises at least one articulated arm robot. The articulated arm robot may have at least 4 and preferably at least 5 pivot axes. An axis may be formed as a vertically oriented axis of rotation for the at least one handling device. Several axes may be formed as hinge axes of a pivot arm of the at least one handling device.

Further, embodiments have proven in which the at least one handling device along the entire working distance is movable. Thus, the at least one handling device can move into the area of the inlet and into the area of the at least one shrinking device and pass through the manipulation area. Due to the associated large range of at least one handling device is conceivable that the at least one handling device takes over several tasks. By way of example, the at least one handling device can thereby bring about a previously described modification of the at least one manipulator and / or the at least one further manipulator and, in addition, act on specific piece goods which are located in the course or in the region of the working route.

The invention further relates to a method for performing manipulation tasks in the area of a working route with the aid of at least one handling device. Features which have already been described above for various embodiments of the system can also be provided for various embodiments of the method described below and are not mentioned redundantly. In the reverse manner, features described below, which relate to various embodiments of the method according to the invention, may be provided in conceivable embodiments of the system according to the invention.

The working section here comprises an inlet, via which a large number of piece goods are transported in a mass flow. Furthermore, a manipulation area following the inlet with at least one manipulator, wherein piece goods are grouped and / or distributed over the at least one manipulator.

In preferred embodiments, at least one further manipulator may follow the at least one manipulator, wherein thermoplastic packaging material is preferably applied to grouped and / or distributed piece goods via the at least one further manipulator, wherein the at least one handling device controls the at least one further manipulator for a work operation modified different work processes.

It may be that the working section comprises a shrinking device, by means of which packaging material is shrunk onto the groupings of piece goods. For example, the at least one further manipulator can in each case equip the groupings with thermoplastic packaging material, which is subsequently shrunk onto the respective grouping by means of a shrinking device. The at least one further manipulator can also apply cellulose-containing packaging material to the respective grouping and fix or fix individual piece goods of the respective grouping by means of the cellulose-containing packaging material.

• – Bewegen der wenigstens einen Handhabungseinrichtung entlang der Arbeitsstrecke in einen bestimmten Arbeitsbereich,
• – Durchführen eines Arbeitsvorgangs durch die wenigstens eine Handhabungseinrichtung im bestimmten Arbeitsbereich, bei welchem Arbeitsvorgang die Handhabungseinrichtung
• – a) den mindestens einen Manipulator für unterschiedliche Arbeitsprozesse modifiziert und/oder
• – b) für Stückgüter vorgesehene und im Verlauf der Arbeitsstrecke angeordnete Führungselemente austauscht und/oder hinsichtlich ihrer relativen Beabstandung zueinander einstellt und/oder
• – c) auf bestimmte Stückgüter einwirkt und/oder
• – d) Packmedien für wenigstens einen im Manipulationsbereich angeordneten Manipulator bereitstellt.

The method according to the invention comprises the following steps:

• Moving the at least one handling device along the working distance into a specific work area,
• - Performing a work by the at least one handling device in the particular work area, in which operation, the handling device
• A) modifies the at least one manipulator for different work processes and / or
• B) exchanges guide elements provided for piece goods and arranged in the course of the working distance and / or adjusts them to each other with regard to their relative spacing and / or
• - c) acts on certain general cargo and / or
• - d) provides packing media for at least one manipulator arranged in the manipulation area.

It can also be provided that the at least one handling device in the context of several operations at least modified a manipulator and the previously described at least one further manipulator for different work processes.

In preferred embodiments, it can also be provided that an orientation of piece goods in the area of the working distance is detected optically, wherein the at least one handling device makes an alignment correction of this at least one piece good if an actual orientation of at least one piece goods deviates from a desired orientation this removed at least one piece goods from the range of the working distance. The actual orientation of the piece goods can be detected, for example, with the aid of a camera system.

It may also be that piece goods are checked in the working distance with the aid of optical detection for damage and / or contamination, the at least one handling device removes damaged and / or soiled cargo from the range of the working distance. If piece goods were taken from the area of the working distance, it is conceivable that the at least one handling device replaces the respective damaged and / or soiled piece goods by a non-damaged and / or non-contaminated piece goods or several non-damaged and / or non-soiled general cargo ,

It is also conceivable that if an actual orientation of at least one piece goods deviates from a predetermined desired orientation and / or if optical damage and / or contamination is detected, information is displayed on a display unit.

In the following, embodiments of the invention and their advantages with reference to the accompanying figures will be explained in more detail. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

1 shows a schematic view of a conceivable embodiment of a system according to the invention;

2 shows a schematic view of another conceivable embodiment of a system according to the invention.

For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of how the invention may be configured and are not an exhaustive limitation.

1 shows a schematic view of a conceivable embodiment of a system according to the invention 1 , The system 1 is intended for generating groupings 6 from several piece goods 5 and summarizing the groupings 6 about packaging material 4 , in the present case designed as a thermoplastic packaging material 4a ,

The system 1 includes an inlet for this purpose 3 with a horizontal conveyor 11 , On the horizontal conveyor 11 are piece goods 5 on and are transported in mass flow. Precious piece goods 5 stand here with immediately following general cargo 5 in Appendix.

In preferred embodiments, the feed comprises 3 several parallel to each other extending guide rails, with the aid of the cargo 5 be moved in several parallel paths. The guide rails are not visible in the figures of this patent application.

Immediately to the inlet 3 or on the horizontal conveyor 11 follows a manipulation area 22 with a first manipulator 10 and another manipulator 20 , the first manipulator 10 is subordinate. About the first manipulator 10 is made up of several piece goods 5 a respective grouping 6 formed by leading piece goods 5 a grouping 6 towards lagging piece goods 5 another grouping 6 be accelerated. The horizontal conveyor 11 of the inlet 3 is operated intermittently or with variable transport speed. A conveyor belt 12 of the first manipulator 10 has opposite the horizontal conveyor 11 of the inlet 3 a higher transport speed. To the respective piece goods 5 a grouping 6 to align flush, are one-part elements 8th provided with piece goods 5 a respective grouping 6 come into contact. The speed of movement of the one-part elements 8th This corresponds essentially to the transport speed of the conveyor belt 12 ,

The further manipulator 20 , which is in the manipulation area 22 on the first manipulator 10 follows, brings thermoplastic packaging material 4a on the over the first manipulator 10 formed groups 6 on. Meanwhile, the groups stand 6 on a conveyor belt 21 on which the other manipulator 20 happened or which groupings 6 during the Applying to thermoplastic packaging material 4a transported. In the further manipulator 20 become groupings 6 with thermoplastic packaging material 4a wrapped. For this purpose, the other manipulator 20 have more impact means or impact bars.

The groupings 6 then leave the other manipulator 20 and become in the direction of a further manipulator 20 downstream shrinking device 30 moved, which is designed as a shrink tunnel. By means of the shrinking device 30 or by means of the shrink tunnel is the thermoplastic packaging material 4a , which by the further manipulator 20 on the groupings 6 was applied to the respective grouping 6 on piece goods 5 Shrunk by temperature.

The piece goods 5 or the groupings 6 then leave the shrinking device 30 as a finished container 7 , and are possibly transported in the direction of a not shown with Pallettierstation.

To recognize further is a handling device 9 , which along the working distance AS, as in 1 indicated by arrow, can be moved or moved. The working distance AS extends over the inlet 3 , the manipulation area 22 and the shrinking device 30 , The handling device 9 has a swivel arm 14 which can be rotated around several parallel axes. In addition, the entire handling device 9 rotate around a vertical axis.

Unless for the system 1 a product change is to take place or temporally successive container 7 from piece goods 5 be formed with different geometries, it may be that the first manipulator 10 and / or the further manipulator 20 this must be modified or adapted. For example, it may be necessary for the one-part elements 8th by further one-part elements 8th be replaced. The handling device 9 can go this independently along the working distance AS and replacing the Einteilelemente 8th autonomously. A movement of the handling device 9 along the working distance AS is specified via a control device S, which with the handling device 9 related to this.

Next it may be in practice that general cargo 5 during their movement or during their transport from the inlet 3 in the direction of the shrinking device 30 tilt, thus causing problems in the preparation of groupings 6 or in the production of containers 7 accompanied. In the area of the working distance AS and / or on the handling device 9 Therefore, an optical detection device or a camera system can be arranged, which provides an actual orientation of the piece goods located in the region of the working distance AS 5 recognizes and transmits information to the control device S. The control device S can then compare the respective actual orientation with a predetermined desired orientation. If the actual orientation deviates from the predetermined desired orientation, the handling device 9 be moved by means of the control device S along the working distance AS and the actual orientation of the or each piece goods 5 correct.

To thermoplastic packaging material 4a via the further manipulator 20 on groupings 6 To be able to apply, must the other manipulator 20 For this, sufficient thermoplastic packaging material 4a be available. In the prior art, the thermoplastic packaging material 4a the other manipulator 20 provided by hand. The handling device 9 is at the system 1 out 1 able to drive along the working distance AS and the other manipulator 20 in this case with packing media or thermoplastic packaging material 4a to supply. The movement or the method of the handling device 9 is specified here via the control device S.

For example, it may be that in the area of the further manipulator 20 a sensor or a plurality of sensors are provided, via which a supply state of the further manipulator 20 with thermoplastic packaging material 4a can be recognized. The one sensor or the plurality of sensors may be in communication with the control device S, which, taking into account the supply state, the handling device 9 can proceed to the other manipulator 20 consistently sufficient thermoplastic packaging material 4a provide.

As already mentioned, in the area of the inlet 3 a plurality of guide elements or guide rails may be provided, by means of which the piece goods 5 be transported or guided in parallel paths. If a product change takes place or around the guide elements on piece goods 5 with different geometries, their relative spacing must be adjusted to each other. In practice, the relative spacing of two adjacent guide rails or guide elements to each other substantially corresponds to the maximum diameter of the respective via the horizontal conveyor 11 of the inlet 3 piece goods to be transported 5 , The control device S can for this purpose a movement of the handling device 9 along the working distance AS cause, so that the handling device 9 following in the area of the inlet 3 and makes the adjustment or adjustment of the relative distance of adjacent guide rails to each other independently. If an exchange of guide elements or guide rails is necessary to piece goods 5 to be able to transport in parallel paths, the handling device 9 have a working tool or are in communication with a working tool, about which working tool the handling device 9 can make the replacement of the guide elements or guide rails. The replacement may also be predetermined or initiated via the control device S, which controls the handling device 9 For this purpose moves along the working distance AS.

Should the system 1 All groupings must be taken out of service 6 or container 7 , which are within the shrinking device 1 located, from the shrinking device 1 be driven. Since these are initially not further processed, it can be provided that the handling device 9 in the area of the shrinking device 30 is moved and containers 7 which the shrinking device 30 leave, receive and if necessary placed on a buffer or placed.

In practice, moreover, embodiments have proven useful in which, as previously mentioned, an optical detection device or a camera system is provided. By means of the optical detection device, the actual orientation of the piece goods 5 be determined at least in a partial area of the working distance AS. Further, by means of the optical detection device, the operation of the system 1 to be watched. Since the optical detection device is in communication with the control device S, information about the functioning of the system 1 on a display unit or a display, which is coupled to the control device S, are output. If an actual orientation of piece goods 5 deviates from a predetermined target orientation, a user can be informed about this via the display unit or the display.

2 shows a schematic view of another conceivable embodiment of a system according to the invention 1 , Part of the system 1 out 2 continue to be an inflow 3 , a manipulation area 22 and a shrinking device 30 , The feed 3 , the manipulation area 22 and the shrinking device 30 can according to the embodiment of 1 be educated.

Furthermore, the handling device 9 to recognize which via a swivel arm 14 features. According to the embodiment of 1 can the handling device 9 selectively in the area of the inlet 3 , in the manipulation area 22 or in the area of the shrinking device 30 be moved. 2 now leaves a rail system 24 recognize, with which the handling device 9 is mechanically coupled. With the help of the rail system 24 becomes the handling device 9 moved or moved along the working distance AS. The movement or the method of the handling device 9 is further specified via the control device S.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications or changes may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 system

3

 Intake

4

 packing material

4a

 Thermoplastic packaging material

5

 cargo

6

 grouping

8th

 Einteilelement

7

 container

9

 handling device

10

 First manipulator

11

 Horizontal conveyor

12

 Conveyor belt (first manipulator)

14

 swivel arm

20

 Another manipulator

21

 Conveyor belt (further manipulator)

22

 manipulation region

24

 rail system

30

 shrinker

AS

 working range

S

 control device

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 202010013513 U1 [0003]

Claims (17)

System ( 1 ) for grouping and / or distributing general cargo ( 5 )), comprising a working section (AS) with - an inlet ( 3 ), which at least one horizontal conveyor ( 11 ) and via which a large number of general cargo ( 5 ) are transportable in the mass flow, - one on the inlet ( 3 ) following manipulation area ( 22 ) with at least one manipulator ( 10 ) for grouping and / or distributing general cargo ( 5 ), whereby the system ( 1 ) at least one handling device ( 9 ) which can be moved at least in sections along the working distance (AS) and via which at least one handling device ( 9 ) a) the at least one manipulator ( 10 ) is modifiable for different work processes and / or via which at least one handling device ( 9 ) b) for general cargo ( 5 ) provided and in the course of the working distance (AS) arranged guide elements interchangeable and / or with respect to their relative spacing are adjustable to each other and / or via which at least one handling device ( 9 ) c) on certain general cargo ( 5 ), which are located in the course of the working distance (AS) and / or via which at least one handling device ( 9 ) d) packing media for at least one in the manipulation area ( 22 ) positioned manipulator ( 10 . 20 ) are available. System according to claim 1, wherein in the manipulation area ( 22 ) the at least one manipulator ( 10 ) at least one further manipulator ( 20 ), which at least one further manipulator ( 20 ) for applying preferably thermoplastic packaging material ( 4 ) on the distributed and / or grouped general cargo ( 5 ) is formed, wherein the at least one handling device ( 9 ) the at least one manipulator ( 10 ) and the at least one further manipulator ( 20 ) are each modifiable for different work processes. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising optical detection means for detecting an orientation of unit loads ( 5 ) in the area of the working distance (AS) and a control device (S), which is in communication with the optical detection device and for comparing the actual orientation of piece goods ( 5 ) with a predetermined target orientation of piece goods ( 5 ) is formed, wherein in a deviation of an actual orientation of a predetermined desired orientation i) the at least one handling device ( 9 ) via the control device (S) for acting on specific piece goods ( 5 ) and / or ii) information for deviating an actual orientation from a predetermined desired orientation can be displayed on a display unit in communication with the control device (S). System according to claim 3, wherein the optical detection device is designed as a camera system. System according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the display unit is designed as a display. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, comprising a rail system ( 24 ), wherein the at least one handling device ( 9 ) with the aid of the rail system ( 24 ) at least in sections along the working distance (AS) is movable. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, comprising an at least partially along the working distance (AS) positioned induction loop, wherein the at least one handling device ( 9 ) is at least partially along the working distance (AS) movable under operative connection with the induction loop. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one handling device ( 9 ) comprises at least one laser scanner, wherein the at least one handling device ( 9 ) at least in sections along the working distance (AS) can be moved under operative connection with the at least one laser scanner. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one handling device ( 9 ) comprises at least one articulated arm robot. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one articulated arm robot has at least 4 and preferably at least 5 pivot axes. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, wherein the working distance (AS) at least one shrinking device ( 30 ), which on the manipulation area ( 22 ) and about which thermoplastic packaging material ( 4a ) via a temperature application to a respective in the manipulation area ( 22 ) formed grouping ( 6 ) on general cargo ( 5 ) is shrinkable. System according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, wherein the at least one Handling device ( 9 ) along the entire working distance (AS) is movable. Method for performing manipulation tasks in the area of a working route with the aid of at least one handling device ( 9 ), which working distance (AS) - at least one inlet (AS) 3 ), over which a large number of general cargo ( 5 ) are transported in the mass flow and - one on the inlet ( 3 ) following manipulation area ( 22 ) with at least one manipulator ( 10 ), whereby general cargo ( 5 ) via the at least one manipulator ( 10 ) are grouped and / or distributed, the method comprising the following steps: - moving the at least one handling device ( 9 ) along the working distance (AS) into a specific work area, - performing a work operation by the at least one handling device ( 9 ) in the specific work area, in which operation the handling device ( 9 ) - a) the at least one manipulator ( 10 ) modified for different work processes and / or - b) for piece goods ( 5 ) provided and arranged in the course of the working distance (AS) guide elements exchanges and / or with respect to their relative spacing to each other and / or - c) on certain piece goods ( 5 ) and / or - d) packing media for at least one in the manipulation area ( 22 ) manipulator ( 10 . 20 ). Method according to Claim 13, in which in the manipulation area ( 22 ) on the at least one manipulator ( 10 ) at least one further manipulator ( 20 ), via which at least one further manipulator ( 20 ) preferably thermoplastic packaging material ( 4a ) to grouped and / or distributed general cargo ( 5 ) is applied, wherein the handling device ( 9 ) in the context of a work operation, the at least one further manipulator ( 20 ) modified for different work processes. Method according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, in which an orientation of piece goods ( 5 ) is detected optically in the region of the working distance (AS), wherein the at least one handling device ( 9 ) if an actual orientation deviates from at least one piece goods ( 5 ) from a predetermined desired orientation, an alignment correction of this at least one piece goods ( 5 ) and / or this at least one piece goods ( 5 ) away from the working area (AS). Method according to one or more of claims 13 to 15, in which piece goods ( 5 ) are checked for damage and / or contamination in the region of the working distance (AS) with the aid of an optical recognition, wherein the at least one handling device ( 9 ) damaged and / or soiled general cargo ( 5 ) from the range of the working distance (AS) takes. Method according to Claim 15 and / or 16, in which, if an actual orientation deviates from at least one piece goods ( 5 ) are displayed on a display unit from a predetermined target orientation and / or optical detection of damage and / or contamination information.

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