GB2084775A

GB2084775A - Code setting apparatus in a conveyor system

Info

Publication number: GB2084775A
Application number: GB8126281A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Buro Patent AG; Buero Patent AG
Current assignee: Buro Patent AG; Buero Patent AG
Priority date: 1980-09-01
Filing date: 1981-08-28
Publication date: 1982-04-15
Also published as: CA1159004A; AU7441181A; FR2489277B1; JPS5779524A; AU539681B2; FR2489277A1; DE3131918A1; DE3131918C2; CH646919A5; GB2084775B

Abstract

A conveyor means (2) comprises control markers (28, 30, 32) on its wall (20) which are movable into a plurality of positions in the direction of travel of the conveyor means and can be set up in the form of a code. A reference marker (34) is also provided on the wall (20). Beside the track (6) for the conveyor means (2) there are fixedly mounted stops (36, 38, 40) which project into the line of movement of the control markers (28, 30, 32). A scanning apparatus (44) is also provided, which scans the reference marker (34) and, when the selected code is attained by the control markers (28, 30, 32), triggers the withdrawal of the stop (36, 38, 40) set up. The code setting apparatus is simplified by the fact that each individual control marker (28, 30, 32) has a single retractable stop (36, 38, 40) associated with it. The scanning apparatus (44) and the reference marker (34) determine the particular position of the stop (36, 38, 40) with regard to the conveyor means (2) travelling past, and the corresponding position of the control marker (28, 30, 32) on the conveyor means (2) respectively. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Code setting apparatus in a conveyor system The invention relates to a code setting apparatus in a conveyor system comprising travelling. conveyor means.

A code setting apparatus of this kind is known, for example, from German OLS 2436376. This code setting apparatus has the same number of stops extending into the path of travel of a movable control marker as there are possible position5 for the control marker. In order to set up a code, the particular stop which corresponds to the desired position of the control marker is pulled out. A reference marker provided on the conveyor means marks the position in which the stops are located opposite the positions of the control markers. When the conveyor means with its reference marker has reached the fixed scanning apparatus, the stop set up is retracted. A disadvantage of such an apparatus is that it is necessary to provide as many stops as there are positions for the displaceable control marker.This makes the code setting apparatus relatively complicated, particularly if a plurality of control markers are provided side-by-side on the conveyor means, viewed in the direction of travel, the control markers being movable into a plurality of positions.

The object of the invention is to provide a code setting apparatus having a simpler and more reliable construction.

According to the invention, there is provided code setting apparatus in a conveyor system comprising travelling conveyor means, the conveyor means having at least one control marker which can be moved to a plurality of positions in the direction of travel of the conveyor means and can be positioned to represent a code, and a reference marker; the code setting apparatus comprising at least one retractable stop mounted at a fixed location beside the line of travel of the conveyor means and projecting into the line of travel of the associated control marker(s), the or each control marker having a single stop associated therewith, the code setting apparatus further comprising a fixed scanning apparatus which responds to the reference marker on the conveyor means, the scanning apparatus determining the position of the stop(s) relative to the travelling conveyor means and initiating the retraction of the stop or one of the stops when the selected code position has been attained by the respective control marker.

The fact that the or each control marker has only a single retractable stop associated with it means that the number of settable stops required can be substantially reduced, compared with the known apparatus. Improved reliability of operation and accuracy of the code setting apparatus can be achieved by virtue of the fact that the scanning apparatus and reference marker are constructed in such a way that they determine the particular position of the stop relative to the conveyor means travelling past, so as to trigger retraction of the stop set in position as soon as it has moved the control marker into the desired position.

In one preferred embodiment, at least two control markers which can be positioned to represent a code and are movable independently of each other into a plurality of positions are mounted one behind the other on the conveyor means, in the direction of travel, the control markers having a common retractable stop associated with them, each control marker having a reference marker associated with it, the control markers being capable of being scanned one after the other by a common scanning apparatus so that the scanning apparatus retracts the stop when the first control marker has reached the desired position and subsequently moves it forward again in order to set the second marker.

Such an embodiment is advantageous if the conveyor means is particularly long in the direction of conveying. In this case, however, each settable control marker must have a reference marker associated with it. For this an embodiment of the scanning apparatus having a plurality of sensors corresponding to the number and position of the settings of the control marker(s), the sensors co-operating one after another with the reference marker is particularly suitable.

However, a particularly simple embodiment of the code setting apparatus is obtained with a construction in which at least two control markers which can be positioned to act as a code and are movable into a plurality of positions in the direction of travel are mounted side-by-side on the conveyor means, viewed in the direction of travel, each control marker being associated with a single retractable stop, the reference marker being common to all the control markers on the conveyor means. In this case, a common reference marker and scanning apparatus are sufficient for two or more settable control markers arranged side-by-side, viewed in the direction of travel. The scanning apparatus may have a plurality of sensors corresponding to the number and position of the settings of the control marker(s), the sensors co-operating one after another with the reference marker.However, a construction in which the reference marker comprises a plurality of marker members corresponding to the number and position of the settings of the control marker(s) and the scanning apparatus comprises a sensor is more advantageous, since in this case the scanning apparatus need only have one sensor which can co-operate with a corresponding number of reference marker members.

There are many possibilities for the construction of the sensors and reference markers. Thus, for example, inductive or capacitive scanning is possible. Magnetic scanning is also conceivable. However a reference marker comprising at least one reflector and a scanning apparatus comprising at least one electrooptical sensor are particularly advantageous.

The code setting apparatus according to the invention is distinguished by being particularly simple in structure, in contrast to the complicated computer-controlled apparatus which are otherwise conventionally used. A code setting apparatus of this kind is necessary particularly where it is prohibited to touch the conveyor means by hand, for reasons of hygiene, as is the case in hospitals, for example.

An embodiment of a code setting apparatus according to the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a code setting apparatus in a conveyor system; Figure 2 shows the code setting apparatus of Fig. 1, viewed in the opposite direction to the direction of travel and partly in section; and Figure 3 is a side view of the conveyor means travelling on a rail which is partly broken away.

In the embodiment shown, the code setting apparatus serves to set destination codes for a conveyor system which has, as conveyor means, mobile containers designed to run automatically on rails. However, the code setting apparatus described can also be used for other trackless and track-based conveyor systems in which self-driven or drawn conveyor means are accurately guided along rails or conductor lines.

The drawings show a section from a conveyor system wherein a conveyor means 2 travels along a track 6 comprising a rail 4, past a code setting apparatus 8.

The conveyor means 2 consist in this instance of a container 10 closed by a lid 1 2 and having an undercarriage 14. The latter contains a drive motor (not shown in detail) which drives wheels 1 6. The conveyor means 2 travels in the direction 18. On the righthand side wall 20 of the conveyor means, viewed in the direction of travel 18, control markers 28, 30, 32 are each mounted on one of three guides 22, 24, 26 and may be arranged in a number of positions from 0 to 9. The guides 22, 24, 26 and hence the control markers 28, 30, 32 are located sideby-side, viewed in the direction of travel 18 or the track direction. The control markers 28, 30, 32 may be positioned to represent various codes, e.g. a three-digit destination code between 000 and 999.In this example, the control markers are set to the code 41 8. The control markers may comprise, for example, permanent magnets which may conveniently be read by reed relays. Underneath the control markers there is provided a reference marker 34 which is sub-divided into a number and arrangement of marker members 34o to 349 corresponding to the number and position of the settings of the control markers 28, 30, 32.

The code setting apparatus 8 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a single stop 36, 38, 40 for each control marker 28, 30, 32, these stops each being in the form of the core of an electromagnet 42. Moreover the code setting apparatus 8 comprises a scanning apparatus 44 which has a sensor 46 which co-operates with the reference marker members 34o to 349 of the reference marker 34. The sensor 46 and reference marker 34 operate electrooptically in this instance, and the reference marker members 34o to 349 are constructed as reflectors.The code setting apparatus 8 also includes a control apparatus 48 with number keys 50, an indicator light 52 and operating keys 54, 56, 58, Using the control apparatus 48 of the code setting apparatus 8 it is possible to set the desired code, for example a destination code other operating code, using the number of keys 50. In this way, the control apparatus is instructed to move the stops 36, 38, 40 forwards. If desired, the stops may alternatively be constructed so as to be prestressedinto the extended, forward position, by spring tension. The code is delivered to a counting mechanism (not shown in detail) by means of the number key.A counting mechanism of this kind may count backwards, for example, so as to be set back by one position by each trigger impulse received from the sensor 46 of the scanning apparatus 44 as a result of the reference marker members 34o to 349. At position 0 the relevant stop 36, 38, 40 is then retracted. The indicator light 52 of the control apparatus 48 will light up, for example, if an unacceptable code is fed in. The code can then be cancelled by means of the cancel key 54. A start key 56 may be used, for example, to call a conveyor means from a waiting position. Using a stop key 58 a conveyor means may be stopped on the track so that a new code, for example, can be set up before the conveyor means travels past.

In contrast to the embodiment shown by way of example it is also possible, in particular, for the control markers to be arranged not parallel as shown in Fig. 3, but in series. In this case, the three guides would be arranged one behind the other, for example, in the direction of the track, and then a reference marker would be necessary for each guide or for each control marker, these reference markers then being scanned one after the other by a common scanning apparatus. The reference marker and scanning apparatus must be adapted to each other so that the scanning apparatus triggers the retraction of the stop when the stop has brought the control marker into the desired position. After setting of each control marker, the stop must be extended again so that the following control marker can then be positioned and so on until all the control markers have been positioned.

In contrast to the embodiment shown by way of example, the scanning apparatus may have a number and arrangement of sensors corresponding to the number and position of the settings of the control marker, these sensors co-operating one after the other with the reference marker. This construction of the scanning apparatus is particularly suitable for the last embodiment described wherein the control markers are arranged one behind the other. In this case, it is sufficient for each control marker arrangement to have only one associated reference marker.

Claims

1. Code setting apparatus in a conveyor system comprising travelling conveyor means, the conveyor means having at least one control marker which can be moved to a plurality of positions in the direction of travel of the conveyor means and can be positioned to represent a code, and a reference marker; the code setting apparatus comprising at least one retractable stop mounted at a fixed location beside the line of travel of the conveyor means and projecting into the line of travel of the associated control marker(s), the or each control marker having a single stop associated therewith, the code setting apparatus further comprising a fixed scanning apparatus which responds to the reference marker on the conveyor means, the scanning apparatus determining the position of the stop(s) relative to the travelling conveyor means and initiating the retraction of the stop or one of the stops when the selected code position has been attained by the respective control marker.

2. Code setting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two control markers which can be positioned to represent a code and are movable independently of each other into a plurality of positions are mounted one behind the other on the conveyor means, in the direction of travel, the control markers having a common retractable stop associated with them, each control marker having a reference marker associated with it, the control markers being capable of being scanned one after the other by a common scanning apparatus so that the scanning apparatus retracts the stop when the first control marker has reached the desired position and subsequently moves it forward again in order to set the second control marker.

3. Code setting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two control markers which can be positioned to act as a code and are movable into a plurality of positions in the direction of travel are mounted side-by-side on the conveyor means, viewed in the direction of travel, each control marker being associated with a single retractable stop, the reference marker being common to all the control markers on the conveyor means.

4. Code setting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reference marker comprises a plurality of marker members corresponding to the number and position of the settings of the control marker(s) and the scanning apparatus comprises a sensor.

5. Code setting apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the scanning apparatus has a plurality of sensors corresponding to the number and position of the settings of the control marker(s), the sensors co-operating one after another with the reference marker.

6. Code setting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reference marker comprises at least one reflector.

7. Code setting apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reference marker comprises a plurality of reflectors, each reflector being positioned so as to correspond to one of the code positions of said at least one control marker.

8. Code setting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the scanning apparatus comprises at least one electrooptical sensor.

9. Code setting apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one electrooptical sensor generates a pulsed signal, each pulse representing one of the code positions of said at least one control marker.

10. Code setting apparatus in a conveying system substantially as herein described with reference to the attached drawings.