EP4025528A2

EP4025528A2 - Transport container for a sorting device

Info

Publication number: EP4025528A2
Application number: EP20765259.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas EISINGER
Original assignee: Interroll Holding AG
Current assignee: Interroll Holding AG
Priority date: 2019-09-05
Filing date: 2020-09-01
Publication date: 2022-07-13
Also published as: US11780686B2; CN114341029A; WO2021043760A3; CN114341029B; WO2021043760A2; JP7411784B2; US20220274790A1; JP2022546982A; DE112020004206A5

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport container (4) for a sorting device (1), which can be moved along a conveying path (2), comprising a support frame (6), wherein at least one support tray (8, 10) is rotatably mounted on the support frame, in particular a first support tray (8) and a second support tray (10) following the first support tray (8) in the conveying direction (A) of the transport container (4), wherein the at least one support tray (8, 10) can be rotationally moved by a control device (12) between a substantially horizontal transport position (P1) for transporting a load (L) and a substantially vertical tilt position (P2) for depositing the load (L), wherein the control device (12) has a control lever (14, 16) connected to the support tray, in particular a first control lever (14) connected to the first support tray (8) and a second control lever (16) connected to the second support tray (10), wherein the control lever (14, 16), in particular the respective first control lever (14) and/or second control lever (16), is arranged in the transport position (P1) and/or the tilt position (P2) in a top dead centre position forming a locking position.

Description

Transport container for a sorting device

description

The present invention relates to a transport container for a sorting device. The present invention also relates to a sorting device. The present invention also relates to a method for operating a sorting device.

State of the art

So-called split-tray sorters, i.e. piece goods sorters, are known as sorting devices for goods, which usually comprise a driven, endless conveyor belt that runs along a fixed frame along a closed and mostly horizontal path. Furthermore, the sorting device is provided with a number of transport containers which are spaced apart from one another.

The sorting device conventionally cooperates with a supply of the goods to be sorted and a delivery station for dropping the goods collected in a transport container. Sorting devices of this type are used in distribution systems in which certain items of goods to be sorted and to be assembled in a certain combination are transported in order to be delivered to certain distribution channels.

Such a split-tray sorter can be used for small and light packages or piece goods. There are a number of different opening and closing mechanisms for the aforementioned split tray sorters. Conventionally, a

The latch is opened and the tray halves fall and open. One half of the tray opens in the direction of travel and the other half of the tray against the direction of travel. The tray halves are also referred to as support trays.

DE 102013017314 A1 discloses a transport container for a sorting device for goods with rotatable flaps. A locking device ensures that the flaps are in a closed position.

DE 696 11 740 T2 discloses a device for sorting products with transport elements that can be moved along a transport path. Swiveling product carriers can carry a product or can be swiveled downwards release. The product carrier is held in a horizontal orientation by a locking hook.

Accordingly, there is a need to further develop existing transport containers.

Disclosure of the invention

The object is achieved according to the invention by the subjects of the independent claims; Refinements are the subject of the subclaims and the description.

One aspect relates to a transport container for a sorting device, which can be moved along a conveyor track, with a support frame on which a first support shell and a second support shell following the first support shell in the conveying direction of the transport container are rotatably mounted.

Rotatable can mean that the first support shell and the second support shell are each pivotable about an axis which is arranged perpendicular to the conveying direction. The conveying direction is the direction in which the transport containers are conveyed and / or can be conveyed along the conveying path of the sorting device.

The trays can be rotated by an adjusting device between an essentially horizontal transport position for transporting a load and an essentially vertical tilting position for dropping the load. The adjusting device has a first adjusting lever connected to the first supporting shell and a second adjusting lever connected to the second supporting shell. The first adjusting lever and / or the second adjusting lever are arranged in the transport position and / or tilting position in an over-center position that forms a locking pitch.

In one embodiment, a center of gravity of the carrier shell and / or a center of gravity of an adjusting lever connected to the carrier shell is first raised and then lowered to move the carrier shell from the transport position into the tilting position.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a way of securing the transport container in the transport position. During the movement along the conveyor track, it must be ensured that the transport container leaves the transport position and assumes the tilting position, which has so far been ensured by separate securing means, for example a securing bolt. The present invention represents a simplified safety mechanism which utilizes the weight of the elements involved, such as the supporting shell (together with the weight of the load) or the adjusting lever. The kinematics is therefore designed to be self-locking. One idea of the present invention is to provide a transport container for a sorting device in which the first adjusting lever and / or the second adjusting lever can be arranged in the transport position and / or the tilting position in an over-center position forming a locking division. As a result, in the transport position of the first support shell and the second support shell, it is advantageously possible to secure against unintentional opening of the support shells caused by a weight of the load.

The over-center position can mean that, for example, when the trays are moved out of the transport position, the trays have to be raised slightly in order to release the adjusting levers from the locking division before they can be moved down into the tilt position.

Likewise, the trays must first be opened a little wider to move them out of the tilted position before they can be moved up into the transport position.

In the tilted position, the locking of the first tray and the second tray advantageously prevents the trays from swinging back after opening. Furthermore, the transport container for the sorting device has a compact and inexpensive to manufacture adjusting device, which enables some or all of the required functions, ie locking, synchronous opening and acceleration of the trays and the prevention of overshooting and / or springing back of the trays after opening . Furthermore, a stop impact can be dampened, in particular when the support shells are opened. Further embodiments of the present invention are the subject matter of the further dependent claims and the following description with reference to the figures.

According to one embodiment it is provided that the adjusting device has a release lever rotatably mounted on the support frame for moving the first adjusting lever and the second adjusting lever, the first adjusting lever and / or the second adjusting lever being movable by the release lever in the transport position from the over-center position forming a locking division . The rotatably mounted release lever is thus advantageously able to move the adjusting lever out of the locking pitch in the transport position.

Furthermore, the release lever can be configured to move the first and / or second adjusting lever out of the locking pitch, that is to say to move the support trays from the transport position to the tilted position and vice versa. According to a further embodiment it is provided that the first support shell has a first guide element, preferably a guide rail, aligned in the conveying direction of the transport container, for guiding the first adjusting lever, the first adjusting lever having a first rolling and / or sliding element cooperating with the first guide element which the first adjusting lever is movable along the first guide element, the second support shell having a second guide element, preferably a guide rail, aligned in the conveying direction of the transport container, for guiding the second adjusting lever, and wherein the second adjusting lever has a second rolling and rolling element that interacts with the second guide element / or has sliding element, by means of which the second adjusting lever can be moved along the second guide element.

The provision of the first tray and the second tray with corresponding guide elements advantageously enables the control levers to be guided in the guide elements and the trays to move depending on a predetermined path of movement of the control levers between the transport position and the tilt position. Furthermore, the guide elements enable the over-center positions to be easily implemented.

According to a further embodiment it is provided that the first adjusting lever has a guide section and an articulation section angled to the guide section at a predetermined angle, preferably from about 20 ° to about 50 °, preferably from about 30 ° to about 40 °, the guide section at a longitudinal axial end portion is arranged on the first guide portion on the first guide element of the first support shell, and wherein the first adjusting lever is rotatably mounted in a connection area of the guide portion and the articulation portion on the support frame.

By providing the first adjusting lever with a guide section and an articulation section angled to the guide section at the predetermined angle, when the adjusting lever is deflected, it can advantageously be made possible that the first adjusting lever when the movement is triggered by the release lever both in the transport position and in the tilting position the transport trays can be brought into the desired barrier division. This configuration thus simplifies the actuation of the adjusting lever.

According to a further embodiment it is provided that the second adjusting lever has a guide section and an articulation section angled to the guide section at a predetermined angle, preferably from about 20 ° to about 50 °, preferably from about 30 ° to about 40 °, the guide section is arranged at a longitudinal axial end portion on the second guide element of the second support shell, and wherein the second Adjusting lever is rotatably mounted in a connection area of the guide section and the articulation section on the support frame.

The provision of the second adjusting lever with a guide section and an articulation section angled to the guide section at the predetermined angle advantageously enables the second adjusting lever when the movement is triggered by the release lever both in the transport position and in the tilting position of the transport trays when the adjusting lever is deflected can be brought into the desired barrier division.

According to a further embodiment it is provided that a third rolling and / or sliding element is arranged on a longitudinally axial end section of the articulation section of the first adjusting lever, preferably aligned perpendicular to the articulation section, which is movable along a surface of the release lever, and on a longitudinally axial end section of the Articulation section of the second adjusting lever, a fourth rolling and / or sliding element, preferably oriented perpendicular to the articulation section, is arranged, which is movable along a surface of the release lever. By providing the third rolling and / or sliding element and the fourth rolling and / or sliding element, it can advantageously be made possible that the actuating lever can be actuated with little friction and noise by the release lever.

According to a further embodiment it is provided that the articulation section of the first adjusting lever, preferably the longitudinally axial end section of the articulating section, and / or the articulating section of the second actuating lever, preferably that of the longitudinally axial end section of the articulating section, when the transport container drives past a second triggering element, preferably a closing ramp , can be deflected by the second trigger element in such a way that the first adjusting lever and the second adjusting lever can be moved into the over-center position in order to move the trays from the tilt position into the transport position. The closing of the trays of the transport container can thus be carried out in an advantageous manner only by an interaction of the adjusting lever and the second trigger element.

According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the release lever can be deflected by the first release element when the transport container drives past a first release element in such a way that the first control lever and the second control lever are activated by the release lever for moving the trays from the transport position to the tilted position from the over-center position, are preferably synchronously movable out, and wherein the release lever interacts with the first guide element and the second guide element in such a way that the first control lever and the second control lever after overcoming the Above dead center position can be accelerated with a g-force greater than 1g. Alternatively, the carrier trays can also be moved somewhat asynchronously out of the transport position, in particular so that the rear carrier tray in the conveying direction is opened faster and / or earlier than the front carrier tray in the conveying direction. Since the goods to be thrown are transported further back on the wing by the airstream, such asynchronous opening can be useful from certain speeds. Asynchronous opening can be achieved, for example, by changing the shape of the release lever and / or changing the angle between the guide section and the articulation section of the second actuating lever.

The preferably synchronous actuation and / or movement of the first tray and the second tray advantageously enables the trays to be opened evenly, so that the goods placed on the trays can be safely released and / or dropped along a predetermined position of the transport container the conveyor track is feasible.

Furthermore, due to the interaction of the release lever with the first guide elements and the second guide elements, the first control lever and the second control lever can be accelerated with a g-force of greater than 1g after overcoming the over-center position, and thus a faster opening of the trays compared to opening the Support shells are made possible by using a force of gravity acting by their own weight. Due to the faster opening of the support trays, for example, the conveyor track can be operated at an increased circulation speed, whereby the efficiency of the sorting device can be increased.

The release lever can have a first contact section, which contacts the first control lever and the second control lever, and a second contact section, which can be actuated by the first release element and is arranged essentially perpendicular to the first contact section.

The function of the first contact section is that the adjusting levers can slide and / or roll off with their rolling and / or sliding elements on the first contact section. The second contact section is designed to be connected to the first triggering element in such a way that the first triggering element can deflect the triggering lever by contacting the second contact section.

According to a further embodiment it is provided that the first rolling and / or sliding element of the first adjusting lever on the first guide element and the second rolling and / or Describe the sliding element of the second adjusting lever on the second guide element when moving the support trays through the adjusting device between the essentially horizontal transport position and the essentially vertical tilting position, a linear movement.

The linear movement of the first rolling and / or sliding element and of the second rolling and / or sliding element in and / or along the respective guide elements advantageously enables a simple and less fault-prone guide movement for the adjusting device.

According to a further embodiment it is provided that the first rolling and / or sliding element and / or the second rolling and / or sliding element for vibration and / or noise damping are at least partially formed from an elastomer. This enables improved noise behavior during operation of the sorting device.

According to a further embodiment it is provided that the release lever has a support element, preferably a rolling and / or sliding element selected from an elastomer, on which the release lever rests in a rest position. The provision of the support element thus advantageously enables the release lever to have a defined rest position when it is not actuated due to its support on the support frame of the transport container.

According to a further embodiment, the guide sections are designed to be elastically deformable, in particular at least regionally as a gas pressure damper and / or spring.

This enables vibration and / or noise damping. The deformability can act in particular when a tensile stress is applied.

According to a further embodiment it is provided that the articulation section of the first setting lever and the articulation section of the second setting lever are each inclined to a center of the transport container arranged along the conveying direction of the transport container. Such an arrangement of the articulation sections of the actuating levers advantageously enables the actuating levers to be safely moved into the transport position and / or the tilting position by the release lever.

According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the first carrier tray can be moved independently of one another between the transport position and the tilt position by the first adjusting lever and the second carrier tray can be moved independently of one another by the second adjusting lever. This design of the adjusting device advantageously enables a redundant design of the first adjusting lever and the second adjusting lever, ie a possible malfunction of the first Adjusting lever or the second adjusting lever has no influence on the respective other adjusting lever. Furthermore, as a result of the non-existent connection between the adjusting levers, jamming of the adjusting levers due to the connection during operation is excluded.

According to a further embodiment it is provided that the first adjusting lever and the second adjusting lever are coupled to one another by a coupling element.

This alternative arrangement has the advantage that the adjusting device of the transport container can be designed with fewer moving parts, since only one adjusting lever is required to operate the adjusting device.

According to one embodiment, all elements of the adjusting device are arranged at a vertical height at which the support trays move when they are opened and closed. This applies to the elements of the adjusting device that move with the carriage, e.g. the adjusting lever and the release lever, and / or to the elements of the adjusting device which are arranged on a frame of the sorting device, e.g. the first and second release element. The elements can thus be arranged within a lateral extension of the cuboid described by the movement of the support trays, which forms a dead space. This embodiment is thus designed to be space-saving.

One aspect further relates to a sorting device with a conveyor track and at least one transport container according to the invention that can be moved along the conveyor track.

One aspect also relates to a method for operating a sorting device. The method comprises providing a conveyor track and at least one transport container that can be moved along the conveyor track.

The method further comprises providing the transport container with a support frame on which a first support shell and a second support shell following the first support shell in the conveying direction of the transport container are rotatably mounted.

The method also includes a process of the transport container along the conveyor track, the support trays being rotatable by an adjusting device between a substantially horizontal transport position for transporting a load and a substantially vertical tilting position for dropping the load, the positioning device having one with the first support tray connected first control lever and is provided with a second control lever connected to the second support shell, and wherein the first control lever and / or the second adjusting lever in the transport position and / or tilting position can be brought into an over-center position forming a locking division.

The features of the adjusting device described herein can be applied to a large number of different transport containers and / or sorting devices. The trays of the transport container can be designed, for example, with a single flap per tray and two flaps per tray.

Brief description of the drawings

For a better understanding of the present inventions and their advantages, reference is now made to the following description in conjunction with the associated drawings. The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of exemplary embodiments which are indicated in the schematic illustrations of the drawings. It shows:

1 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a transport container for a sorting device according to an embodiment;

2 shows a side view of the transport container for the sorting device during an opening process of the support trays of the transport container according to the embodiment;

3 shows a side view of the transport container for the sorting device during the opening process of the support trays of the transport container according to the embodiment; 4 shows a side view of the transport container for the sorting device during the opening process of the support trays of the transport container according to the embodiment;

5 shows a side view of the transport container for the sorting device during the opening process of the support trays of the transport container according to the embodiment;

6 shows a side view of the transport container for the sorting device during the opening process of the support trays of the transport container according to the embodiment; 7 shows a side view of the transport container for the sorting device during the opening process of the support trays of the transport container according to the embodiment;

8 shows a side view of the transport container for the sorting device during a closing process of the support trays of the transport container according to the embodiment;

9 shows a side view of the transport container for the sorting device during the closing process of the support trays of the transport container according to the embodiment;

10 shows a side view of the transport container for the sorting device during the closing process of the support trays of the transport container according to the embodiment;

11 shows a side view of the transport container for the sorting device during the closing process of the support trays of the transport container according to the embodiment;

12 shows a side view of the transport container for the sorting device during the closing process of the support trays of the transport container according to the embodiment;

13 shows a side view of the transport container for the sorting device during the closing process of the support trays of the transport container according to the embodiment;

14 shows a schematic representation of a sorting device for the transport container according to the invention according to the embodiment; and

15 shows a flow chart of a method for operating the sorting device according to the embodiment.

Unless otherwise stated, the same reference symbols denote the same elements in FIG

Drawings.

Detailed description of the embodiments

Fig. 1 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a transport container 4 for a

Sorting device according to one embodiment. The transport container 4 for the sorting device (not shown in FIG. 1) has a support frame 6 on which a first support shell 8 and a second support shell 10 following the first support shell 8 in the conveying direction A of the transport container 4 are rotatably mounted.

The trays 8, 10 are positioned by an adjusting device 12 between a substantially horizontal transport position P1 for transporting a load L, as shown in FIG. 1, and a substantially vertical tilting position P2 for dropping the load L (which is not shown in FIG. 1) ) rotatably arranged.

An axis of rotation of the support shells is arranged on opposite longitudinal axial end sections of the support shells and perpendicular to the conveying direction.

The adjusting device 12 has a first adjusting lever 14 connected to the first supporting shell 8 and a second adjusting lever connected to the second supporting shell 10. The first adjusting lever 14 and the second adjusting lever 16 are arranged in the transport position P1 and in the tilting position P2 in an over-center position that forms a locking pitch.

Alternatively, for example, only the first adjusting lever 14 or the second adjusting lever 16 can be arranged in the transport position and / or the tilting position in the bridging position that forms the locking division.

In the transport position P1, the support shells 8, 10 form a coherent, essentially horizontally arranged and essentially closed receiving surface for receiving the load. Alternatively, in the transport position P1, the support trays 8, 10 can form a substantially V-shaped trough for centering the load. In the tilted position (not shown in FIG. 1), the support trays 8, 10 are also essentially inclined slightly to a center of the transport container 4 arranged along the conveying direction A of the transport container 4.

2 shows a side view of the transport container 4 for the sorting device during an opening process of the support trays of the transport container 4 according to the embodiment.

The adjusting device 12 has a release lever 18, which is rotatably mounted on the support frame 6 at a bearing point 18c, for moving the first adjusting lever 14 and the second adjusting lever 16. The first adjusting lever 14 and the second adjusting lever 16 can be moved by a release lever 18 in the transport position P1 and the tilting position P2 (not shown in FIG. 2) into the over-center position forming a locking division. Alternatively, for example, only the first adjusting lever 14 or the second adjusting lever 16 by the release lever 18 in the Transport position P1 and / or the tilt position P2 can be moved into the over-center position forming the locking division.

The first carrier shell 8 preferably has a first guide element 20, preferably a guide rail, oriented approximately in the conveying direction A of the transport container 4, for guiding the first adjusting lever 14. The first adjusting lever 14 has, for example, at its upper end a first rolling and / or sliding element 22 which interacts with the first guide element 20. The end of the first adjusting lever 14 can be moved along the first guide element 22 by the first rolling and / or sliding element.

Alternatively, the first guide element 20 and / or a second guide element 24 can for example not be designed as a guide rail but as a guide groove, channel and / or elongated hole along which the first rolling and / or sliding element can be guided accordingly.

The second support shell 10 has the second guide element 24, preferably a guide rail, which is oriented approximately in the conveying direction A of the transport container 4. The second guide element 24 serves to guide the second adjusting lever 16. The second adjusting lever 16 has, for example, at an upper end a second rolling and / or sliding element 26 which interacts with the second guide element 24.

The end of the second adjusting lever 16 can be moved along the second guide element 24 by the second rolling and / or sliding element 26.

The first adjusting lever 14 has a guide section 14a and an articulation section 14b angled to the guide section 14a at a predetermined angle a1, preferably from about 20 ° to about 50 °, preferably from about 30 ° to about 40 °.

The guide section 14a is arranged on a longitudinally axial end section 14a1 on the first guide element 20 of the first support shell 8. The first adjusting lever 14 is rotatably mounted on the support frame 6 in a connecting region 14c of the guide section 14a and the articulation section 14b.

The second adjusting lever 16 has a guide section 16a and an articulation section 16b angled to the guide section 16a at a predetermined angle a2, preferably from about 20 ° to about 50 °, preferably from about 30 ° to about 40 °. The guide section 16a is arranged on a longitudinally axial end section 16a1 on the second guide element 24 of the second support shell 10. The second control lever 16 is in a connecting area 16c of the guide section 16a and the articulation section 16b on the support frame 6 rotatably mounted.

A third rolling and / or sliding element 28, preferably oriented perpendicular to the articulation section 14b, is arranged on a longitudinally axial end section 14b1 of the articulation section 14b of the first adjusting lever 14. The third rolling and / or sliding element 28 can be moved along a surface of the release lever 18. The surface of the release lever 18 forms a first contact section 18a.

A fourth rolling and / or sliding element 30, which is preferably oriented perpendicular to the articulation section 16b, is arranged on a longitudinally axial end section 16b1 of the articulation section 16b of the second adjusting lever 16. The fourth rolling and / or sliding element 30 can be moved along a surface of the release lever 18, in particular along the first contact section 18a of the release lever 18.

When the transport container 4 drives past, the release lever 18 can be deflected on a first release element 32 by the first release element 32, as described below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7, in such a way that the first control lever 14 and the second control lever 16 are activated by the release lever 18 Moving the trays 8, 10 from the transport position P1 into the tilting position P2 from the over-center position, preferably synchronously, can be moved out.

The release lever 18 interacts with the first guide element 20 and the second guide element 24 in such a way that the first tray 8 and the second tray 10 are accelerated with a g-force greater than 1g after overcoming the over-center position.

The adjusting device 12 is also designed in such a way that the first rolling and / or sliding element 22 of the first adjusting lever 14 on the first guide element 20 and the second rolling and / or sliding element 26 of the second adjusting lever 16 on the second guide element 24 when the support trays 8, 10 describe a linear movement by the adjusting device 12 between the essentially horizontal transport position P1 and the essentially vertical tilting position P2.

The first rolling and / or sliding element 22 and the second rolling and / or sliding element 26 are formed at least partially from an elastomer for vibration and / or noise damping. The release lever 18 also has a support element 36, preferably a rolling and / or sliding element selected at least partially from an elastomer. The release lever 18 lies on the rolling and / or sliding element made of elastomer its rest position on. The rest position of the release lever 18 is defined as the position in which the release lever 18 is not actuated.

The articulation section 14b of the first actuating lever 14 and the articulation section 16b of the second actuating lever 16 are each inclined to a center of the transport container 4 arranged along the conveying direction A of the transport detector 4.

The first tray 8 can be moved by the first adjusting lever 14 and the second tray 10 is movable by the second lever 16 independently of the respective other adjusting lever between the transport position P1 and the tilting position P2.

In an alternative embodiment, the first adjusting lever 14 and the second adjusting lever 16 can be coupled to one another by a coupling element 38, as indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 2.

The adjusting device 12 of the transport container 4 is arranged in all positions, i.e. both in the transport position P1 and in the tilting position P2, within a width, i.e. lateral to the conveying direction, of the transport container 4 and / or within an extension of the transport container 4 in the width direction.

Likewise, the first trigger element 32 (not shown in FIG. 2) and the second trigger element 34 are arranged within a width of the transport container 4 and / or a lateral extension of a cuboid described by a movement of the adjusting device 12.

In the transport position P1 shown in Fig. 2, the first adjusting lever 14 is arranged in an over-center position, i.e. the guide section 14a forms an over-center angle α 3 to the perpendicular to the support surface of the first carrier shell 8, here to the vertical. The over dead center angle a3 can be from approximately 2 ° to approximately 10 °, preferably from approximately 4 ° to approximately 7 °, particularly preferably approximately 5 °. On the one hand, the over-center angle a3 is large enough to ensure a secure locking division in the transport position P1. On the other hand, it is small enough to ensure the opening of the first tray 8 with the smallest possible stroke. A stroke that is as small as possible results in a low force development when opening and / or closing, which in turn leads to the lowest possible noise development.

Similarly, in the transport position P1, the second adjusting lever 16 is also arranged in an over-center position, ie the guide section 16a forms an over-center angle (not shown) to the perpendicular to the supporting surface of the second Carrying tray 10, here to the vertical. This over-center angle can be dimensioned in the same way as the over-center angle a3. The over dead center angle in the tilted position P2 (cf. FIG. 8) can be dimensioned identically or similarly. Both in the transport position P1 and in the tilting position P2, the first rolling and / or sliding element 22 and the second rolling and / or sliding element 26 are arranged at the end 30 of the respective guide element 20 and 24, which is adjacent to the pivotable end of the respective Tray 8, 10 is arranged. An effective locking division is thus provided by the over-center position, which prevents unintentional pivoting of the support trays 8, 10.

3 shows a side view of the transport container 4 for the sorting device during the opening process of the support trays of the transport container 4 according to the embodiment.

The first trigger element 32 is arranged in a stationary manner on a frame and, in FIG. 3, rests against a second contact section 18b of the trigger element 18. The first tray 8 and the second tray 10 of the transport container 4 are slightly raised in relation to the horizontal transport position P1 (hardly visible in the illustration), since the release lever 18 from below against the third rolling and / or sliding element 28 and the fourth rolling and / or sliding element 30 presses, so that the first rolling and / or sliding element 22 and the second rolling and / or sliding element 26 are moved out of their respective over-center position.

4 shows a side view of the transport container 4 for the sorting device during the opening process of the support trays of the transport container 4 according to the embodiment.

The first release element 32 moves the rotatably mounted release lever 18 essentially vertically upwards in the direction of the bearing shells 8, 10. This results in a deflection of the first control lever 14 and the second control lever 16 due to the movement of the release lever 18.

The first rolling and / or sliding element 22 of the first adjusting lever 14 moves here from a first longitudinal axial end section of the first guide element in the direction of a second longitudinal axial end section of the guide element 20 is already slightly inclined downwards in the illustration shown.

In order to move the first tray 8 out of the essentially horizontal transport position P1, the first tray 8 is moved slightly upwards by the first actuating lever 14 when the first actuating lever 14 is deflected by the release lever 18 (cf. FIG. 3), by the to move the first tray 8 out of the over-center position forming the locking division and thus to release the locking in the transport position P1. A transfer to the tilted position is therefore only possible after the center of gravity of the supporting shell has been raised to a certain extent. The center of gravity of the adjusting lever is also initially raised slightly. The tray and the adjusting lever consequently act upon themselves in the transport position, which causes the transport position to be secured without separate securing means.

In order to move the second tray 10 out of the essentially horizontal transport position P1, the first tray 10 is moved slightly upwards by the second adjusting lever 16 when the second adjusting lever 16 is deflected by the release lever 18 (see. Fig. 3), by the to move the second support shell 10 out of the over-center position forming the locking division and thus to release the locking in the transport position P1.

5 shows a side view of the transport container 4 for the sorting device during the opening process of the support trays of the transport container 4 according to the embodiment.

In the present illustration, due to the movement of the transport container 4 along the conveying direction A, the first triggering element 32 has already reached an end section of the second contact section 18b of the triggering lever 18 which is distal in the conveying direction A. In this position of the first release element 32, the vertical deflection of the release lever 18 is maximum.

In the present illustration, the first rolling and / or sliding element 22 has arrived at a longitudinal axial end section of the first guide element 20, the first supporting shell 8 now moving with the impulse generated by the first adjusting lever 14 in the direction of the tilted position P2 of the first supporting shell 8 .

Likewise, the second rolling and / or sliding element 26 in the present illustration 30 has reached a longitudinal axial end section of the second guide element 24, the second support shell 10 now moving in the direction of the tilted position P2 of the second support shell 10 with the impulse generated by the second adjusting lever emotional.

6 shows a side view of the transport container 4 for the sorting device during the opening process of the support trays of the transport container 4 according to the embodiment.

In the present illustration, the first release element 32 is moved beyond an axial end section of the release lever 18, with the release lever 18 essentially remaining in its previous position up to this point in time, or optionally 10 is deflected slightly downwards by gravity. The first tray 8 and the second tray 10 are largely open.

Due to the almost vertical position of the trays 8, 10 and because the guide sections 14a, 16a are longer than the articulation sections 14b, 16b, the adjusting levers 14, 16 now move along the respective guide elements 20, 24 of the adjusting levers 14, 16 again due to gravity Direction of the opposite longitudinal axial end section of the guide elements 20, 24, here the lower end section.

7 shows a side view of the transport container 4 for the sorting device during the opening process of the support trays of the transport container 4 according to the embodiment.

In the present illustration, the transport container 4 has completely passed the first triggering element 32. The first tray 8 and the second tray 10 are shown in the following illustration in the tilted position P2. In the tilt position P2, the first tray 8 and the second tray 10 are arranged essentially almost vertically and / or essentially almost perpendicular to the conveying direction A of the transport container 4.

The first adjusting lever 14 and the second adjusting lever 16 are arranged with their respective rolling and / or sliding elements 22, 26 on the axial end sections of the guide elements 20, 24. Due to gravity, in the tilt position P2 of the first support shell 8 and the second support shell 10, these are the respective lower axial end sections of the first guide element 20 and of the second guide element 24.

In the transport position P1, the first guide element 22 and the second guide element 26 are arranged at the ends of the guide elements 20, 24, which are spaced from the axis of rotation of the respective associated support shell 8, 10. During the opening of the support trays 8, 10, the first guide element 22 and the second guide element 26 in the guide elements 20, 24 are initially moved towards the respective associated axis of rotation and then moved away again. In the tilted position P2, the rolling and / or sliding elements 22, 26 are again arranged at the ends of the guide elements 20, 24, which are spaced from the axis of rotation of the respective associated support shell 8, 10.

Also during the closing of the support trays 8, 10, the first guide element 22 and the second guide element 26 in the guide elements 20, 24 are initially moved towards the respective associated axis of rotation and then moved away again. In the transport position P1, the rolling and / or sliding elements 22, 26 are again arranged at the ends of the guide elements 20, 24, which are spaced from the axis of rotation of the respective associated support shell 8, 10.

8 to 13 show a side view of the transport container 4 for the sorting device during a closing process of the support trays of the transport container 4 according to the embodiment. In Fig. 8, the transport container is arranged in the tilt position P2.

The longitudinal axial end section 14b1 of the articulation section 14b of the first setting lever 14 and the longitudinal axial end section 16b1 of the articulation section 16b of the second setting lever 16 can be deflected by the second triggering element 34 when the transport container 4 passes a second stationary triggering element 34, preferably a closing ramp, so that the first adjusting lever 14 and the second adjusting lever 16 for moving the trays 8, 10 from the tilt position P2 into the transport position P1 can be moved.

In order to be moved out of the tilted position of the first carrier shell 8 and the second carrier shell 10 shown in FIG. 8, the over-center position of the first carrier shell 8 and the second carrier shell 10, which forms the locking division, is first activated by the interaction of the first adjusting lever 14 and the second adjusting lever 16 released with the second trigger element 34.

The second trigger element 34 already contacts the first adjusting lever 14 in the situation shown in FIG. 8 and thus causes its movement and / or deflection.

9 shows a side view of the transport container 4 for the sorting device during the closing process of the support trays of the transport container 4 according to the embodiment.

In the situation shown in Fig. 9, the second trigger element 34 contacts the articulation section 14b of the first control lever 14 and the articulation section 16b of the second control lever 16 and thus causes the first control lever 14 and the second control lever 16 to begin to be deflected from the tilt position P2 of the first Tray 8 and the second tray 10 out in the direction of the transport position P1

Here, the second adjusting lever 16 is arranged approximately at its dead point in the guide element 24, while the first adjusting lever 14 is already moved out of the locking pitch beyond its dead point.

10 shows a side view of the transport container 4 for the sorting device during the closing process of the support trays of the transport container 4 according to the embodiment. In the present illustration, the first adjusting lever 14 and the second adjusting lever 16 are already further deflected and a movement of the first tray 8 and the second tray 10 of the transport container 4 in the direction of the transport position P1 can be seen.

Due to the asynchronous and / or time-delayed deflection of the first adjusting lever 14 and the second adjusting lever 16 due to the geometry of the second triggering element 34, an asynchronous and / or time-delayed deflection of the first adjusting lever 14 and the second adjusting lever 16 takes place, which in turn is an asynchronous and / or time-offset deflection and / or movement of the first supporting shell 8 and the second supporting shell 10 is effected.

The movement sequence of the first carrier shell 8 has already progressed somewhat further than the second carrier shell 10 triggered and / or actuated later and / or subsequently.

11 shows a side view of the transport container 4 for the sorting device during the closing process of the support trays 8, 10 of the transport container 4 according to the embodiment.

In the present illustration, the first rolling and / or sliding element 22 of the first adjusting lever 14 has already been moved as far as possible in the direction of the opposite longitudinal axial end section of the first guide element 20.

Likewise, the second rolling and / or sliding element 26 of the second adjusting lever 16 is already largely moved in the direction of the opposite longitudinal axial end section of the second guide element 24.

12 shows a side view of the transport container 4 for the sorting device during the closing process of the support trays 8, 10 of the transport container 4 according to the embodiment.

In the illustration shown, the second trigger element 34 with its longitudinal axial end section has reached the third rolling and / or sliding element 28 of the articulation section 14b of the first adjusting lever 14. In the present illustration, the first tray 8 has reached its end position, i.e. in the transport position P1.

Because of the slightly delayed actuation, the second support shell 10 is not yet completely arranged in the tilted position P2. This is due, among other things, to the geometry of the second trigger element 34.

-ig _¬ 13 shows a side view of the transport container 4 for the sorting device during the closing process of the support trays 8, 10 of the transport container 4 according to the embodiment.

In the illustration shown, both the first tray 8 and the second tray 10 are arranged in the transport position P1. In the present illustration, the second trigger element 34 has already passed the articulation section 14b of the first actuating lever 14 and is arranged with its longitudinal axial end section, i.e. with the longitudinal axial end section of the second actuating element 34 in the area of the articulation section 16b of the second actuating lever 16.

In the illustration shown, both the first tray 8 and the second tray 10 are arranged in the over-center position of the transport position P1 which forms the locking pitch.

14 shows a schematic representation of a sorting device for the transport container according to the invention according to the embodiment. The sorting device 1 has a conveyor track 2 designed in the form of an endless loop, along which a multiplicity of transport containers 4 arranged adjacent to one another are inserted. A loading section 3 for filling the transport containers 4 with goods is located next to the conveyor track 2 at a predetermined position.

A drop zone 33 is arranged on a second predetermined section of the conveyor track 2, in which the transport containers drop the respectively filled load by opening the support trays 8, 10. The second release element 34 is arranged following the drop zone 33, whereby the first carrier tray 8 and the second carrier tray 10 are closed from the tilt position P2 to the transport position P1 by driving past the second release element 34.

The first release element 32 (not shown in FIG. 14) is moved into a travel path of the release lever 18 of the transport container 4 by an actuator (not shown in FIG. 14) in order to move the transport container 4 at a correspondingly designated position along the conveyor track 2 to open. After the release lever 18 has been opened and / or triggered, the first release element 32 is moved out of the path of the following transport container 4 again by the actuator.

The method comprises providing S1 a conveyor track 2 and at least one transport container 4 that can be moved along the conveyor track 2. The method further comprises providing S2 of the transport container 4 with a support frame 6 on which a first support shell 8 and a second support shell 10 following the first support shell 8 in the conveying direction A of the transport container 4 are rotatably mounted.

The method further comprises a method S3 of the transport container 4 along the conveyor track 2, wherein the support trays 8, 10 can be rotated by an adjusting device 12 between an essentially horizontal transport position P1 for transporting a load L and an essentially vertical tilting position P2 for dropping the load L The adjusting device 12 is provided with a first adjusting lever 14 connected to the first carrier shell 8 and with a second adjusting lever 16 connected to the second carrier shell 10 S4, and the first adjusting lever 14 and / or the second adjusting lever 16 in the transport position P1 and / or tilt position P2 are brought into an over-center position forming a locking pitch S5.

While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of alternatives and / or equivalent implementations exist. It should be noted that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way.

Rather, the above summary and detailed description provides those skilled in the art with convenient guidance for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes in the functionality and arrangement of elements can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims and their legal equivalents .

In general, this application is intended to cover changes and / or adaptations or variations of the embodiments set forth herein. List of reference symbols

1 sorting device

2 conveyor track

3 loading section

4 transport containers

6 support frame

8 first tray

10 second support shell

12 adjusting device

14 first control lever

14a guide section

14a1 longitudinal axial end section

14b articulation section

14b1 longitudinal axial end section

14c connection area

16 second control lever

16a guide section

16a1 longitudinal axial end section

16b articulation section

16b1 longitudinal axial end section

16c connection area

18 release lever

18a first contact section

18b second contact section

18c bearing point

20 first guide element

22 first rolling and / or sliding element

24 second guide element

26 second rolling and / or sliding element

28 third rolling and / or sliding element

30 fourth rolling and / or sliding element

32 first release element

33 Drop zone

34 second release element

36 support element

38 coupling element a 1 angle a 2 angle a 3 over dead center angle

A conveying direction

L load

P1 transport position

P2 tilt position

51 procedural step

52 Process step

53 procedural step

54 procedural step

55 Process step

Claims

Expectations

1. Transport container (4) for a sorting device (1), which can be moved along a conveyor track (2), with a support frame (6), with at least one support tray (8, 10), in particular a first support tray (8 ) and a second support shell (10), which follows the first support shell (8) in the conveying direction (A) of the transport container (4), is rotatably mounted, the at least one support shell (8, 10) being essentially between a horizontal transport position (P1) for transporting a load (L) and an essentially vertical tilting position (P2) for dropping the load (L) is rotatable, the adjusting device (12) having an adjusting lever (14, 16) connected to the carrier shell, in particular a first adjusting lever (14) connected to the first supporting shell (8) and a second adjusting lever (16) connected to the second supporting shell (10), the adjusting lever (14, 16), in particular the first adjusting lever in each case l (14) and / or the second adjusting lever (16), in the transport position (P1) and / or tilting position (P2), is arranged in an over-center position forming a locking division.

2. Transport container according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting lever (14, 16) in the transport position (P1) is arranged in an over-center position forming a locking pitch.

3. Transport container according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting device (12) is a rotatably mounted on the support frame (6)

Release lever (18) for moving the adjusting lever (14, 16), in particular the first

Adjusting lever (14) and the second adjusting lever (16), wherein the adjusting lever, in particular the first adjusting lever (14) and / or the second

Adjusting lever (16), by the release lever (18) in the transport position (P1) and / or

Tilt position (P2) can be moved into the over-center position forming a locking division.

4. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier shell (8, 10) has a guide element (20, 24) oriented in the conveying direction (A) of the transport container (4) for guiding the adjusting lever (14, 16), the adjusting lever ( 14, 16) with the guide element (20, 24) having cooperating rolling and / or sliding element (22, 26), by means of which the adjusting lever (14, 16) can be moved along the guide element (22, 24), in particular: wherein the first support shell (8) is a in the conveying direction (A) of the Transport container (4) aligned first guide element (20) for guiding the first adjusting lever (14), wherein the first adjusting lever (14) has a first rolling and / or sliding element (22) cooperating with the first guide element (20), through which the first adjusting lever (14) can be moved along the first guide element (22), the second support shell (10) having a second guide element (24) oriented in the conveying direction (A) of the transport container (4) for guiding the second adjusting lever (16), wherein the second adjusting lever (16) has a second rolling and / or sliding element (26) which interacts with the second guide element (24) and through which the second adjusting lever (16) can be moved along the second guide element (24).

5. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting lever (14, 16) has a guide section (14a, 16a) and one to the guide section (14a, 16a) at a predetermined angle (a1, a2), preferably from about 20 ° to approximately 50 °, angled articulation section (14b, 16b), wherein the guide section (14a, 16a) is arranged at a longitudinal axial end section (14a1, 16a1) on the guide element (20, 24) of the support shell (8, 10), and wherein the adjusting lever (14, 16) is rotatably mounted in a connecting area (14c, 16c) of the guide section (14a, 16a) and the articulation section (14b, 16b) on the support frame (6), in particular: the first adjusting lever (14) being a guide section (14a) and an articulation section (14b) angled at a predetermined angle (a1), preferably from about 20 ° to about 50 °, to the guide section (14a), the guide section (14a) at a longitudinal axial end section (14a1) the first guide element (20 ) the first support shell (8) is arranged, and wherein the first adjusting lever (14) is rotatably mounted on the support frame (6) in a connecting area (14c) of the guide section (14a) and the articulation section (14b), and / or wherein the second adjusting lever (16) has a guide section (16a) and an articulation section (16b) angled to the guide section (16a) at a predetermined angle (a2), preferably from about 20 ° to about 50 °, wherein the Guide section (16a) is arranged on a longitudinal axial end section (16a1) on the second guide element (24) of the second support shell (10), and wherein the second adjusting lever (16) is in a connecting area (16c) of the guide section (16a) and the articulation section ( 16b) is rotatably mounted on the support frame (6).

6. Transport container according to claim 5, wherein on a longitudinal axial end section (14b1, 16b1) of the articulation section (14b, 16b) of the adjusting lever (14, 16), a rolling and / or sliding element, preferably perpendicular to the articulation section (14b, 16b), is aligned (28, 30) is arranged, which is movable along a surface of the release lever (18), in particular: wherein at a longitudinal axial end section (14b1) of the articulation section (14b) of the first adjusting lever (14), preferably perpendicular to the articulation section (14b) aligned, third rolling and / or sliding element (28) is arranged, which is movable along a surface of the release lever (18), and / or wherein a longitudinal axial end section (16b1) of the articulation section (16b) of the second adjusting lever (16) , is arranged, preferably perpendicular to the articulation section (16b), the fourth rolling and / or sliding element (30) which is movable along a surface of the release lever (18).

7. Transport container according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the articulation section (14b, 16b) of the adjusting lever (14, 16), preferably the longitudinally axial end section (14b1) of the articulation section (14b, 16b), when the transport container (4) passes by on a second release element (34), preferably a closing ramp, can be deflected by the second release element (34) in such a way that the adjusting lever (14, 16) for moving the tray (8, 10) from the tilted position (P2) to the transport position ( P1) can be moved into the over-center position.

8. Transport container according to one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the release lever (18) when the transport container (4) moves past a first release element (32) can be deflected by the release element (32) in such a way that the actuating lever (14, 16) by the release lever (18) to move the tray (8, 10) from the transport position (P1) to the tilting position (P2) from the over-center position, preferably synchronously, can be moved out, and wherein the release lever (18) cooperates with the guide element (20, 24) in such a way that the adjusting lever (14, 16) is accelerated with a g-force of greater than 1 g after overcoming the over-center position.

9. Transport container according to one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the adjusting device (12) is designed such that the rolling and / or sliding element (22, 26) of the adjusting lever (14, 16) on the guide element (20, 24) during movement describe a linear movement between the essentially horizontal transport position (P1) and the essentially vertical tilting position (P2) of the carrier tray (8, 10) by means of the adjusting device (12).

10. Transport container according to one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the rolling and / or sliding element (22, 26) for vibration and / or noise damping are formed from an elastomer.

11. Transport container according to one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the release lever (18) has a support element (36), preferably a rolling and / or sliding element formed from an elastomer, on which the release lever (18) rests in a rest position.

12. Transport container according to one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the guide sections (14a, 16a) are designed to be elastically deformable, in particular at least regionally as a gas pressure damper and / or spring.

13. Transport container according to one of claims 4 to 12, wherein the articulation section (14b, 16b) of the adjusting lever (14, 16) are each inclined to a center of the transport container (4) arranged along the conveying direction (A) of the transport container (4).

14. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first tray (8) by the first adjusting lever (14) and the second tray (10) by the second lever (16) independently of one another between the transport position (P1) and the tilt position (P2 ) are movable.

15. Transport container according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the first adjusting lever (14) and the second adjusting lever (16) are coupled to one another by a coupling element (38).

16. Transport container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein all elements of the adjusting device (12) are arranged at a vertical height on which the support trays (8, 10) move when opening and closing.

17. Sorting device (1) with a conveyor track (2) and at least one transport container (4) according to one of claims 1 to 16 which can be moved along the conveyor track (2).

18. Method for operating a sorting device (1) with a transport container

(4), wherein the transport container (4) can be moved with a support frame (6) along a conveyor track (2), with at least one support shell (8, 10), in particular a first support shell (8) and one to the first support shell on the support frame (8) in the conveying direction (A) of the transport container (4) following second support shell (10), are rotatably mounted, the at least one support shell (8, 10) by an adjusting device (12) between a substantially horizontal transport position (P1) to Transporting a load (L) and an essentially in particular vertical tilting position (P2) for dropping the load (L) is rotatable, characterized in that a center of gravity of the carrying shell (8) is used to transfer the carrying shell from the transport position (P1) to the tilting position. and / or a center of gravity of an adjusting lever (14, 16) connected to the support shell is first raised and then lowered.