DE19502177C1 - Conveyor belt for pallet troughs used for growing plants - Google Patents

Abstract

The conveyor track (1) consists of several separate spaced apart conveyor tables with rollers (7), at least one of which is driven. The roller's pivot axles are crosswise to the direction of travel. The space between the rollers is less than half the length of a pallet trough (3). The distance between two of the conveyor tables gives roughly 30 centimetres or more space. The length of the conveyor table does not exceed that of the pallet trough by a large amt. The diameter of the rollers increases towards the ends. The rollers' length is greater than the width of the trough base.

Description

The invention relates to a conveyor track for usable for growing plants Pallet channels according to the preamble of claim 1.

Pallet channels are open in horticultural businesses known for growing plants. You will be on long Planting tables arranged, the pallet channels with its longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the plant table are aligned. The distance of the pallets gutters are determined by the size of the plants.

Therefore, while the plants are growing, both the plants inside the pallet channels open taking larger distances to be implemented as well the pallet troughs on the planting tables forever larger distances can be arranged.

Plant tables are usually next to each other in parallel other, so that the pallet gutters up to the forehead end of a planting table are promoted from there be promoted to a transfer station and to Front of a free plant table transported on which they then proceed with the required Distance can be arranged.

A monorail conveyor or an elevated, permanently installed conveyor track can be used to convey the pallet troughs in front of the front of the planting tables. A permanently installed conveyor track can be found in DE 42 41 950 C2 from FIG. 3.

The arrangement of the conveyor track is for companies problematic where the planting tables are not so  can be aligned that their end faces cursed with each other. In this case, a curvilinear course can be chosen with is associated with high costs or it must be under different distances from the planting tables in Purchase, which leads to disabilities in the Workflow. Furthermore, the continuous conveyor tracks, especially in the elevated conveyor tracks, disadvantageous that this accessibility like a closed barrier hinder the individual planting tables.

The invention has for its object a generic För to create the facility for pallet troughs that inexpensive and flexible in front of different ge designed and arranged planting tables and the gardener's freedom of movement disabled as little as possible.

This object underlying the invention will solved by a conveyor track according to the characterizing features of claim 1.

In other words, the invention proposes one Provide conveyor table, a variety of which are the same like conveyor tables can be strung together to create an overall conveyor track that be can connect arbitrary points. The Distances between adjacent conveyor tables be dimensioned so that the safe transfer of Pallet channels is guaranteed, however, that a Passage between two adjacent conveyor tables is created and thus the accessibility to the Plant tables is created. In this way forms with these conveyor tables trained conveyor no obstacle  for the gardener.

The pallet troughs are transported by motors ensured, with each conveyor table its own Motor can be assigned. Depending on the setup of the Conveyor tables are a single one or in front partly several driven roles for the trans port of the pallet channels provided. Any funding table is thus a self-sufficient conveyor element, so that any number of these tables for any length Conveyor tracks can be put together.

Alternatively, a conveyor track is possible, in which a motorized conveyor table on the pallet channels promotes a certain amount. From this height the remaining conveyor track slowly lowers, so that the pallet channels without drive to the rear End of the conveyor track or up to another motorized conveyor table. In this way is a particularly inexpensive training Conveyor track possible because of costs lowers the use of motorless conveyor tables is possible.

In an advantageous embodiment, the length the maximum length of the conveyor table is the length of the pallet trough not significantly exceed.

With a length of the pallet channels of approx. 2 m can for example a funding table have a length of 2.40 m, the Conveyor tables set up at a distance of about 80 cm can be a passage for to create the gardeners, on the other hand a safe one Transfer of the pallet troughs from one to the next Allow conveyor table.

For cost reasons, it is advantageous if possible few roles to use. To a safe fjord  However, enabling the pallet channels is wish for as many roles as possible value. In practice, half the length is too conveying pallet channels the greatest possible distance the rollers to safely transport the conveyor to ensure gutters. The will be advantageous Roller distance between two adjacent conveyors tables chosen so large that he was between one Quarter and half the length of the transpor existing conveyor troughs. That way a safe transfer of the pallet channels from one Conveyor table to neighboring conveyor table possible light and at the same time a sufficiently wide Ab stood between the two adjacent pallets tables that provide a convenient passage for enables the staff.

Secure guiding and centering of the channels the conveyor tables can be made possible in that the diameter of the rolls to theirs Ends increases, the length of the rolls being greater than the width of the gutter bottoms.

The course of the conveyor track can thereby be determined be that adjacent conveyor tables are slightly angled be put to each other. However, too angled or curved conveyor tables are provided be in which the axes of rotation of adjacent roles at an angle to each other are aligned.

Alternatively or in addition, a baffle can be attached at least one long side of the conveyor table, at for example on the outside of the curve to be a safe one with directional diversions To guide or to guide the pallet channels support.  

The advance of the channels and thus the way they work the motor provided on the conveyor table can thereby be controlled so that at least one is present Pallet trough registering sensor, as well as a circuit arranged to evaluate the sensor signals, which is connected to the motor.

For example, the drive on a conveyor table can only then started when a pallet in the Comes close to a driven roller. To this Ways can save energy for the conveyor track can be achieved.

Furthermore, the circuit be connected to the adjacent conveyor table.

To evaluate the sensor signals of this neighboring one Conveying table or to control the motor this neighboring conveyor table. This can cause a jam of Pallet gutters and damage to pallet gutters due to the pallet troughs pushed on subsequently be prevented. To this end the circuits can drive the motor on same conveyor table or, if applicable, on the adjacent conveyor table interrupt.

The energy supply of the entire conveyor track can through electrical Input and output connections for the electrical power supply are made possible. By appropriate Connection cable between two neighboring Conveyor tables can provide a seamless energy supply of the entire conveyor track will.

The flexible arrangement and disassembly of the Conveyor track in particular supported by the fact that the conveyor tables can be dismantled and are designed to be space-saving. To for this purpose the conveyor tables can have two Side member for  Holder of the rollers and the drive and sensor devices as well removable floor supports exhibit. From this function module of the conveyor table the floor supports can be designed to be removable, so that there is a space-saving stacking and storage option of the promotion table.

In particular, the floor supports can Main strut and have angled spreading elements. The floor supports can on the one hand Conveying table stable on a large footprint support, but on the other hand space-saving be stored.

The conveyor tables can be on uneven floors or Slopes can be adjusted by using the floor supports are height adjustable. In this way can the safe transfer of pallet channels between neighboring conveyor tables become or overall a downward course of the Conveyor path can be set.

Further advantageous configurations are in the other subclaims described.

The invention is based on the drawings in fol explained in more detail. It shows

Fig. 1 shows schematically an existing from erfindungsge MAESSEN conveyor tables För the web for pallet trays,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the conveyor of Fig. 1 together with the adjacent planting tables,

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2, but according to another conveyor track be aptly

FIGS. 4 and 5 details of the construction of a conveyor table, and

FIGS. 4a and 5a details similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, but in another execution example of the invention,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a fixed to the end face of a planting table conveyor table,

Fig. 7 shows a cross section through the mounting of the conveyor bed of FIG. 6,

Fig. 8 shows a hanging fixed conveyor table,

Fig. 9 is a conveying path with motorless conveyor tables,

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a conveyor table with guide plates and Zentrierungsrollen,

Fig. 11, the orientation of a multiple conveyor beds by means of a laser device, and

Fig. 12 is a schematic representation of several conveyor tables with a further embodiment of floor supports.

In Fig. 1, a conveyor track is shown, which is composed of several conveyor tables 1 . The conveyor tables 1 are constructed at a distance from one another and connected to one another by cables 2 . The conveyor tables 1 are used to convey pallet channels 3 , wherein the pallet channels 3 are used for growing plants. The length of the conveyor tables 1 is selected to be somewhat longer than that of the pallet channels 3 .

In Fig. 1 the conveyor tables 1 longitudinal support 4, the ground supports 5, a motor 6, rollers 7 and sensors 8 are identified as ingredients. Furthermore, in Fig. 1, a drive belt 9 is indicated in a conveyor table, which rotates both on the motor 6 and on all rollers 7 of this conveyor table 1 to deflection and with slaves.

The pallet troughs 3 are thus conveyed in the longitudinal direction over the conveyor tables 1 by the driven rollers 7 , the length of the pallet troughs 3 being considerably greater than the length of the spaces between two adjacent conveyor tables 1 , so that the pallet troughs are reliably transferred from one conveyor conveyor to the next 1 and thus an overall safe transport of the pallet channels over the entire length of the conveyor track is guaranteed.

In Fig. 1 are indicated by symbolically indicated points, which are each arranged a sensor, which of the sensors 8 detects and signals the presence of a pallet channel 3 . Accordingly, these points are shown in dark. By means of a corresponding circuit, the sensors 8 of a specific conveyor table 1 can control the motor 6 of the same conveyor table or the motor of an adjacent conveyor table 1 . Should the pallet channels 3 be removed from the conveyor track more slowly than they are fed by the conveyor track, a collision and thus damage to the pallet channels 3 can be reliably prevented in this way. A corresponding energy supply to the motors 6 and a signal transmission from the sensors 8 to the adjacent conveyor table 1 , if necessary, is made possible by the cables 2 .

In Fig. 2 is schematically arranged how the För dertische 1 between planting tables 10 are arranged. It can be seen that a free passage through the conveyor track and thus optimal accessibility of the planting tables 10 is ensured by the conditions between the conveyor tables 1 .

In Fig. 3, a conveyor track with conveyor tables 1 is shown, which runs ver between planting tables 10 , which are not aligned with flush aligned sides. Often, an irregular arrangement of planting tables 10 is forced by the spatial conditions in the greenhouse, for example by the course of obliquely cut plot boundaries and the like. the like

Basically, there is therefore the possibility of aligning adjacent conveyor tables 1 at an angle to one another in order to achieve a certain curve profile of the conveyor track. In Fig. 3, however, specially designed as curve pieces conveyor tables 1 a are shown, in which the rollers 7 can be arranged at an angle to each other or the ver in the outside of the guide guide plates 11 add ver.

In FIG. 4, with the omission of some parts is a cross section represented by a conveying stage 1. The two longitudinal beams 4 are designed as a hollow box girder and take axes 12 of the rollers 7 . At one end, the axle has a belt pulley 14 for driving the roller 7 . The two cables 2 are laid within the side members 4 in order to be able to transmit the electrical energy on the one hand and the sensor signals on the other hand. The two side members 4 lie on a cross support 15 , which is the upper end plate of floor supports 16 . The floor support 16 closes via a screw 17 height adjustable to the cross support 15 , so that a height adjustment and leveling of the Förderti cal 1 is possible and in particular a good and safe transfer of the pallet trays 3 between two adjacent conveyor tables 1 can be achieved.

As can be seen from Fig. 4, the rollers 7 have a larger diameter at their two outer ends than in the middle. This ensures automatic centering and correct guidance of the pallet troughs 3 on the conveyor tables 1 .

From Fig. 5 it can be seen that below the longitudinal beam 4, the motor 6 is arranged, which like the axes 12 also has a pulley 14 , so that the rollers 7 of a conveyor table 1 can be driven by means of the motor 6 by means of appropriate belts. The arrangement of a sensor 8 is also shown in FIG. 5. The sensor 8 is fastened on the side member 4 with the aid of a rider 18 , the position of the sensor 8 being able to be fixed with the aid of a clamping screw 19 . In this way, the position of the sensor 8 can be changed, for example, to be adapted to pallet grooves 3 of different lengths.

In Fig. 4a, a conveyor table 1 is shown, in which the floor support 16 comprises a main strut 20 , which can extend straight or angled to the floor. The main strut 20 has eyelets 21 in its lower region above an optionally provided angled portion for pivotally mounting expansion elements 22 . With the angled position of the two expansion elements 22 , a wide punching surface of the floor support 16 can be achieved, which ensures a stable position of the conveyor table 1 . The spreading elements 22 can be fixed in their angled spreading position and, if appropriate, in their angled, space-saving transport position by means of a clamping screw, locking elements or similar aids.

The height adjustment of the conveyor table 1 according to FIG. 4a takes place particularly quickly in that a threadless connection piece 23 extends into the main strut 20 , the connection piece 23 being able to be fixed at any height with the aid of a clamping screw 24 .

The side members 4 in Fig. 4a are designed so that they create receiving shafts 25 for cables or elec trical installation elements such as switches, connectors and the like.

From the motor 6 , a drive belt 9 runs to the roller 7 , the roller 7 consisting of one or, if necessary, a plurality of commercially available profi cylindrical elements arranged next to one another. Due to its surface profiling, the roller 7 forms grooves for guiding transmission belts 26 , a transmission belt 26 being able to connect two or more identical rollers 7 to one another. The arrangement of two transmission belts 26 , on the one hand, increases the functional reliability of the conveyor table 1 and, on the other hand, ensures that the planting trough 3 is aligned in favor of a smooth and even transport.

In the two exemplary embodiments, two floor supports 16 are provided for each conveyor table. If not in use, several floor supports 16 can be arranged on a transport trolley, for example a handcart. If, depending on the desired course of the conveyor track, some conveyor tables 1 are not required, they can be disassembled and stored in a space-saving manner. The free space remaining on the transport trolley can be used, for example, to hold the top parts of the conveyor tables 1 , that is to say the side members 4 and the components connected with them, in an upright position.

In Fig. 6 it is indicated schematically that a conveyor table 1 can be fixed to the front side of a planting table 10 . The conveyor table 1 can be screwed to the end face of the planting table 10, or it may be via corresponding, for reasons of clarity not illustrated boom end face in the planting table 10 be hooked. The ends of the boom can reach under a cross strut, which is arranged in the illustrated embodiment, approximately below the three pallet channels 3 shown .

In favor of automated operation, it can be provided that the side walls of a conveyor table 1 are designed such that they have two interruptions, so that two gripper arms 27 of a conveyor vehicle 28 can extend through the like exceptions and either remove a pallet from the conveyor table 1 or on can unload the conveyor table 1 .

Furthermore, a sensor 8 on the conveyor table 1 is indicated in FIG. 6, which registers the presence of a pallet channel on the conveyor table 1 . The sensor 8 is connected to a signal generator, for example a light or sound generator or a radio transmitter. This signal transmitter interacts with a corresponding receiver, which is provided on the conveyor vehicle 28 . The signal transmitter can be arranged, for example, in the area of the planting table 10 in which the middle of the three planting channels 3 shown in FIG. 6 is located. In this manner, a communication is Zvi the conveyor path and the conveying vehicle 28's possible so that it can give a plant trough 3 as needed, either to an empty conveyor track or a seed from a full conveying path channel can be found. 3

FIG. 7 schematically shows how a conveyor table 1 can be attached to a wall by means of a corresponding holding bracket 29 , a similar attachment being possible, for example also on the planting table 10 shown in FIG. 6.

Fig. 8 illustrates schematically how an inventive conveyor table 1 to a ceiling can be attached as a suspension member. The conveyor table 1 can be effected by a tether 30 includes be, wherein a spreader strut 31 is provided which ensures that the tether 30 leaving free above the conveyor table 1, a sufficient clearance space for the plants.

The tether 30 may be a rope open at the bottom, wherein, for example, a support plate or support rail for the conveyor table 1 can be seen below, so that the tether 30 connects to the right or left of the conveyor table 1 to such a holding element. To align the conveyor table 1 , the tether 30 can have tensioning screws on one side or on both sides.

In Fig. 9, a cost-saving formation of a conveyor track according to the invention is schematically indicated. The pallet troughs are first raised to a starting height by motorized conveyor tables 1 . Then the conveyor track by appropriately aligned and adjusted in height and inclination conveyor tables, each of which does not have to have a motor, has a downward course, so that the pallet troughs automatically reach the starting point of the conveyor track shown from their starting height. There they can either be handled manually, for example the transfer station can be located there, or a further motorized conveyor table can be provided there.

In Fig. 10 it is shown that, apart from the cross-sectional profile of the rollers 7 , a Zen tration of the pallet grooves 3 can be provided by means of elastic guide plates 32 . In this case, the guide plates 32 are spaced from one another, which enables the engagement of gripping arms 27 of a conveyor vehicle 28 (see FIG. 6).

The guide plates 32 ensure centering of the pallet troughs 3 on a conveyor table 1 , so that the exact transfer of a pallet trough from a conveyor table 1 to the adjacent conveyor table 1 is ensured. In deviation from the exemplary embodiment shown, the conveyor tables 1 can also have funnel-like catch plates or guide plates which guide and increasingly center the incoming pallet troughs. Such catch plates or guide plates, however, have the disadvantage that they increase the overall width of a conveyor table and that the personnel can get caught on them with their clothing.

Instead of the guide plates 32 or in addition to the guide plates 32 Zentrierungsrollen may be provided 33, wherein such Zentrierungsrollen have the same effect as the guide plates 32, but in addition have the advantage, that it to the pallet grooves 3 it be no friction, so that in particular for motorless conveyor tables 1 such centering rollers 33 a low-loss promotion of the pallet channels 3 made possible.

In Fig. 11 is shown with three alignment with each other aligned conveyor table 1 so that these conveyor tables 1 can be aligned with the aid of a laser apparatus 34th The conveyor tables 1 can each have a holder for the laser device 34 , the holder itself being only indicated schematically. In practice, such a holder can be formed, for example, by the receiving shaft 25 , inserted into the laser device 34 and, if necessary, clamped in place. In particular, the laser device 34 can be dimensioned such that when it is placed in the holder, for example in the receiving shaft 25 , a button for emitting the laser beam is automatically actuated.

The holder for the laser device 34 is advantageously arranged so that it does not hinder or prematurely terminate the transmission of the laser beam by components, for example by components within the receiving shaft 25 . Rather, an unlimited long laser beam is emitted by the laser device 34 . In this way it is possible to align further conveyor tables 1 using this laser beam, the laser beam preferably being chosen so weak that it does not cause damage to the human body. In this way, when handling the conveyor tables to be aligned, the correct position can be determined in a simple manner by the laser beam having to appear on the thumb or thumb nail of the hand holding the conveyor table to be aligned in order to indicate the correct alignment of the conveyor table 1 .

In this way, an accurate and inexpensive auxiliary device for aligning the conveyor tables 1 is created, since special display instruments for checking or for displaying the position of the laser beam are superfluous.

FIG. 12 shows several schematically indicated conveyor tables 1 , which are supported by floor supports 16 by means of a further exemplary embodiment. The floor supports 16 comprise, as can be seen in particular from the enlarged partial representation of FIG. 12, an approximately Z-shaped base element 35 . The base element 35 has at its two ends a receiving sleeve 36 for the main struts 20 , the main struts 20 being designed to be height-adjustable in the manner described with reference to FIG. 4a.

The length of the base element 35 is dimensioned such that it is considerably shorter than the length of a conveyor table 1 . In this way, material and weight can be saved, such as space, when the floor supports 16 are disassembled, ie when the main struts 20 are removed from the base elements 35 and when these components of the floor supports 16 are on a trolley in a storage space or the like be kept.

The comparison with the length of the conveyor table 1 it considerably shorter dimension of the base member 35 is directed in the shown execution example as in accordance with the distance that the two conveyor tables 1 are to occupy each other. In this way, a connection between two conveyor tables 1 is created in that the basic element 35 extends from the front end of a För dertisches to the front end of the adjacent conveyor table 1 , so that one of the two main struts 20 the one conveyor table 1 , the other main strut 20 of the same floor support 16 but supports a different conveyor table 1 .

This not only saves material compared to the production of a separate floor support for each of the two ends of a conveyor table 1 and secondly, that the two adjacent conveyor tables each share a floor support 16 also ensures that the distance between two conveyor tables 1 is not inadvertently is chosen too large, which could lead to problems in the production process and, for example, to uncertainties when transferring a planting trough between the two conveyor tables 1 .

Claims (19)

1. conveyor track for conveying usable for growing plants pallet troughs, the pallet troughs being arranged substantially in the longitudinal direction on the conveyor track, characterized in that the conveyor track is formed from several individual conveyor tables ( 1 ), which are arranged at a distance from each other are, each conveyor table ( 1 ) has rollers ( 7 ), of which at least one is driven and the axes of rotation of which are arranged essentially transverse to the conveying direction and the distance between the rollers ( 7 ) is less than half the length of a pallet channel ( 3 ) and the distance between two of the conveyor tables ( 1 ) creates a clearance of approximately 30 cm or more. 2. Conveyor track according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of the conveyor table ( 1 ) in the maximum case, the length of the pallet trough ( 3 ) does not significantly exceed. 3. Conveyor track according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the diameter of the rollers ( 7 ) increases towards the ends thereof, the length of the rollers ( 7 ) being greater than the width of the channel bottoms. 4. Conveyor track according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axes of rotation of adjacent rollers ( 7 ) are aligned at an angle to one another. 5. Conveyor path according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a guide plate ( 11 ) on at least one long side of the conveyor table ( 1 ). 6. Conveyor path according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one sensor ( 8 ) registering the presence of a pallet channel ( 3 ) and by a circuit for evaluating the sensor signals, which is connected to the motor ( 6 ). 7. Conveyor track according to claim 6, characterized in that the circuit with the adjacent bare conveyor table ( 1 ) can be connected to evaluate the sensor signals of this neighboring bare conveyor table ( 1 ) or to control the motor ( 6 ) of this adjacent conveyor table. 8. Conveyor path according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by electrical input and output connections for the electrical power supply (cable 2 ). 9. Conveyor track according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor tables ( 1 ) two longitudinal beams ( 4 ) for holding the rollers ( 7 ) and the drive and sensor devices (motor 6 , sensors 8 ) and removable bare supports ( 16 ) exhibit. 10. Conveyor track according to claim 9, characterized in that the floor supports ( 16 ) have a main strut ( 20 ) and angled spreading elements ( 22 ). 11. Conveyor track according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the floor supports ( 16 ) comprise two main struts ( 20 ) and an approximately z-shaped base element ( 35 ) intended to rest on the floor. 12. Conveyor track according to claim 11, characterized in that the main struts ( 20 ) are arranged detachably on the base element ( 35 ). 13. Conveyor track according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the length of the Grundele element ( 35 ) is considerably shorter than the length of a conveyor table ( 1 ) and slightly longer than the distance between two conveyor tables ( 1 ) provided. 14. Conveyor track according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor supports ( 16 ) are designed to be height-adjustable. 15. Conveyor path according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a holder for a laser device ( 34 ), the laser beam running parallel to the side edge of the conveyor table ( 1 ). 16. Conveyor path according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by resiliently elastic guide plates ( 32 ) which are arranged above the rollers ( 7 ) for centering the pallet trough ( 3 ). 17. Conveyor path according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by centering rollers ( 33 ) for the pallet trough ( 3 ) which can be rotated about an approximately vertical axis, the centering rollers ( 33 ) being arranged above the rollers ( 7 ). 18. Conveyor path according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by fastening means for fixing the conveyor table ( 1 ) at the front end of a planting table ( 10 ). 19. Conveyor path according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one sensor ( 8 ) registering the presence of a pallet trough ( 3 ) and by a circuit for evaluating the sensor signals, which is connected to a signal transmitter which is connected to a planting table ( 10 ) Control of a on the planting table ( 10 ) movable conveyor vehicle ( 28 ) is provided.