WO2008135371A2

WO2008135371A2 - Material flow system, and method for detecting the topology thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2008135371A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/054781
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jürgen ELGER; Cornel Klein; Christoph Moll; Christoph Niedermeier
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2007-05-03
Filing date: 2008-04-21
Publication date: 2008-11-13
Also published as: WO2008135371A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveyor element (1) for the transport of a conveyed item (2) along a conveyor path (3) of the conveyor element (1), which comprises one or more coupling points (4, 5) for the connection to a coupling point (6) of a further conveyor element (7), having at least one identification means (8) associated with a coupling point (5), wherein a typing code (IdA) of the conveyor element (1) and an identification (AA1) of the coupling point (5) can be read from the identification means (8). Such conveyor elements can be combined to form a material flow system having coupled conveyor elements and a control computer.

Description

description

Material flow system and method for detecting the topology thereof

The present invention relates to a conveying element for transporting a conveyed material along a conveying path, a material flow system with corresponding conveying elements and a method for detecting the topology of a material flow system which has corresponding conveying elements. The invention further relates to a computer program product as an implementation of the method.

In modern plant construction for complex plants, in which, for example, workpieces are processed at different processing points or provided with further equipment, but also plants in which, for example, fluids pass through several process stages, material flow systems are generally used. This is understood to mean the largely automated transport of the respective conveyed goods via means of transport or conveying elements, which may also have other functions.

The starting point for the design of a fully automatic material flow system is first of all the construction and linking of corresponding conveying means, such as conveyor belts, on which packages can be transported, or tubes for the passage of liquids or gases. The individual elements of the material flow system usually also have integrated control mechanisms, such as light barriers or flow meters, in order to be able to monitor the passage of conveyed goods. The actual control of the constructed material flow system takes place during operation thereof by an automation computer, in which the composition of the physical material flow system with its conveying elements and functions is programmed-technically depicted. For this purpose, it is necessary, the individual components of the material flow system by typical engineering activities, for example with so-called Represent engineering tools in an appropriate form for the automation computer.

As a rule, the topology and / or the layout of the physically constructed material flow system and its component parts must be manually recorded and entered by the automation computer during the configuration of the material flow control. The configuration of the material flow control is usually referred to as the incorporation of the physical material flow system, that is to say through the actual conveyor components or elements, as well as their functions and characteristics into the automation system. This configuration process is generally performed temporally and locally decoupled from the actual assembly of the mechanics and electrics of the material flow system.

Usually, the construction or assembly of the material flow system is done by other personnel than the one responsible for the engineering. Before the material flow system is put into operation with its control, there can not usually be a comprehensive review of the actual physical layout and its mapping in the form of automation control. Errors can therefore only be detected relatively late, and their elimination is therefore complicated and costly. The usual device of a fully automatic material flow system has the other

Disadvantage that in principle the compilation of the layout or the topology of the material flow system is done twice. On the one hand as part of the physical assembly of the system components and on the other hand again in the control engineering on the side of the automation computer.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to simplify the establishment of a material flow system.

This object is achieved by a Forderelement for transporting a Fordergutes with the features of claim 1 and a material flow system with the features of claim 23. Accordingly, a Forderelement for transporting a Fordergutes along a Forderstrecke the Forderelements is provided which has one or more coupling points for connection to a coupling point of another Forderelementes. The Forderelement has at least one, a coupling point associated identification means, wherein from the identification means a typing code of the Forderelementes and an identifier of the coupling point can be read out.

By means of the data stored in it, the identification means allow for the simple detection and evaluation of its relative position within the type of the Forderelement, for example a straight Befferungsstrecke for a container, and the identifications of its coupling points, ie attachment points for further Forderelemente in the respective material flow system the material flow system and its task, the example can be derived from the typing code.

As an identification means is e.g. a barcode, a passive transponder, a passive RFID chip, a chip card or even a write-readable magnetic stripe on which the typing code and the identifiers are coded. This makes it possible, for example via a suitable scanner device after the construction of several Forderelemente according to a desired layout of a material flow system, this topology, which can be parameterized via the Typisierungscodes and the Kopplungsstellen- identifications to capture and use as a starting point for the configuration of the automation computer.

It is also possible to equip identification means with an active transponder of a transmission device or with a transceiver. The corresponding data, the typing code and the identifiers, can then be transmitted wirelessly to a controller, for example. Preferably, the identification means is in each case designed such that data with identification means of spatially adjacent conveying elements are interchangeable and in particular a pair of identifiers of coupled coupling points are detected. By detecting identification pairs of interconnected coupling points, for example at the exit of a first conveying element with an input of a second conveying element, as well as the knowledge of the types of the two conveying elements results in a (sub) topology of the material flow system, which consists of many conveying elements can be constructed.

The conveying element may also be provided with a control device which controls the identification means or the identification means. Preferably, the control device is configured such that a handshake takes place between identification means of coupled coupling points and then a transmission of linkage data, which in particular includes the identifiers of the coupled coupling points and the typing codes of the respective conveying elements happens. The sending can be done via various communication media, for example to an automation computer. If all interconnected coupling points and the associated linkage data are detected, the topology of the formed material flow system is determined in principle and can be evaluated. A configuration of the control technology on the side of the automation computer is done automatically.

A respective conveying element may for example have a branch and have several inputs or outputs for the conveyed. Are conceivable embodiments of the conveyor element as a conveyor belt, belt conveyor, chain conveyor, rail system, pipe, roller conveyor but also as a lifting table or lift for vertical transport of the transported material. Conveyed goods can be a container, loose material, bulk material, a fluid, a liquid, gas or wagons. A respective typing code is preferably assigned a type description of the conveying element, in particular to the length and / or shape of the conveying path, the number of coupling points and / or a transport direction for the conveyed material. The type description is then preferably stored in the identification means. The typing code may also be assigned to a class of similar types of conveying elements. This reduces the administrative effort for the mapping of the material flow system from interconnected conveyor elements by the potentially present automation computer, since for a class of conveyor element types only a single (software) description is necessary, which only has to be instantiated several times in the presence of the same conveyor elements to carry out the configuration of the system.

In a preferred embodiment of the conveying element each coupling point of the conveying element is associated with a readable identification means. As a result, apart from end points, that is to say inputs or outputs of the entire material flow system formed by conveying elements, pairs of identification means always result at the connections between the conveying elements. This ensures that, on the one hand, all inputs or feeds of the material flow system are detected by (directed) graphs of the possible conveyor paths and the outputs of the material flow system during the configuration.

In a development of the conveying element, a software module for a control program of an automation computer for controlling and operating the conveying element is also stored in the respective identification means. This makes it possible that even foreign conveyor elements with foreign functions, so properties that are not available through engineering tools for the control computer, can be downloaded directly from the conveyor element. As a result, the program design of a corresponding automation software is greatly simplified. By appropriate conveyor elements, a method for detecting the topology and / or the layout of a material flow system with such conveying elements is further made possible according to claim 15.

Linking relationships of the coupled coupling points and conveying elements are detected as a function of the read-out typing codes and the identifiers of the coupled coupling points.

Preferably, the method steps readout of the identification means; Assigning the read typing codes to type descriptions to types of conveyor elements; and constructing a list of linking relationships of the coupled coupling points and conveying elements depending on the type descriptions of the conveying elements and the identifiers of mutually coupled coupling points.

The list can be e.g. be created in the manner of a transport matrix. In principle, this transport matrix represents the entire topology, that is to say the possible directed graphs for the transport flow of the conveyed goods passing over the material flow system. This means that the configuration of the automation system has practically also taken place.

Preferably, a respective typing code is assigned to a respective class of conveyor elements having the same type descriptions. This eliminates the provision of storage space for the type description of all, even the same, present in the respective material flow system conveyor elements. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to associate a type description of the respective conveying element with each typing code. It is also conceivable that further parameters for describing the function of the respective conveying element are included in the type description. In the method, first of all a request can be sent to the identification means and subsequently the typing codes and the identifiers can be transmitted. The transmission can be directed, for example, to the automation computer.

In one embodiment of the method, the typing codes, the identifiers of the coupling points and / or the type descriptions are written into the identification means before the conveying elements are coupled to the material flow system. Optionally, other parameters for describing the function of the respective Forderelementes are written into the identification means. As a result, the storage of this metadata to the individual Forderelementen is not central, for example, held over a server or memory of the automation computer, but stored distributed decentralized. Thereby it is e.g. easier possible to include new, the control computer unknown Fordertechnische elements in a material flow system, or to use a particularly large number of variants of many Forderelemente.

It is also possible to read a respective software module stored in the identification means for a control program of an automation computer for controlling and operating the Forderelementes from the identification means and to use in a material flow program as a subroutine.

The invention further relates to a computer program product, which causes the execution of a corresponding method for detecting the topology and / or the layout of a material flow system with Forderelementen by a program-controlled automation computer.

The invention also provides a material flow system having the features of claim 23. This has Forderelemente for transporting a Fordergutes with the features described above and a control device for controlling and monitoring the coupled together Forderelemente. In this case, a method for recognizing the topology is preferably carried out.

Preferably, the identification means, which are associated with each other coupled coupling points, connected to each other via a communication means. The identification means and the control device can also be connected via a

Data network, in particular ZigBee, Bluetooth, WLAN, LAN and / or the Internet to be networked together. Since a communication network is usually set up for the material flow control and further regulation of the individual functions of the interconnected Forderelemente, also the detection and readout of the typing codes and identifiers of the coupling points can be made about it.

Further advantageous embodiments and developments are the subject of the dependent claims and the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to individual embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

It shows

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of an inventive Forderelementes;

Fig. 2 embodiment of two coupled together Forderelementen according to the invention;

3 is a flowchart of a variant of the method for recognizing the layout of a material flow system;

4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a material flow system according to the invention; and FIG. 5 shows a directed transport graph corresponding to the embodiment of the material flow system. FIG.

In the figures, the same or functionally identical elements have been given the same reference numerals, unless stated otherwise.

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a Forderelement for the transport of a Fordergutes. The Forderelement 1 has a Forderstrecke 3, on which a Fordergut, such as a container 2 in a transport direction D can be required. Promotional elements are well known and can be used e.g. Rail systems, roller conveyors, belt conveyors, which are suitable for transporting containers or corresponding wagons in which, for example, workpieces or material to be processed is present. Likewise, Forderelemente can also be understood as a means that transport, for example, gaseous or liquid substances along a route 3.

A complex material flow system is constructed, for example, from a large number of such conveyor elements, which may also have other components in addition to the transport function. For this purpose, a corresponding Forderelement 1 at its coupling points 4, 5 with coupling points of other Forderelementen, of which here by way of example a Weiteres 7 is shown connect. The two coupling points 5, 6 of the first and second Forderelementes 1, 7 provide a transition for the transport of the container 2 from the transport path 3 of the first Forderelementes 1 to the transport section 33 of the second Forderelementes 7. In the simple example of a straight transport section 3, 33, the here connected in series Forderelemente 1, 7, the first coupling point 4 of the first Fordermittels 1 an input and the second coupling point 5 is an output of the first Forderelementes 1. Similarly, the coupling point 6 of the second Forderelementes 7 is understood as an input for Forderguttransport , The output of the first conveying element 1 is provided with an identification means 8, which is configured, for example, as an RFID tag, and on the one hand provides a typing code IdA of the conveying element 1 stored and on the other hand an identifier AAl for the output or the coupling point 5 of the promotion element 1. Based of the typing code IdA can be determined, for example, that it is the conveying element 1 is a straight transport path of a certain length for the transport of standard containers 2 in a transport direction D. The identifier of the output AAl is assigned to the output 5 fixed. Analogously, the coupling point 6 of the second conveying element 7 has an identification means 9, which also provides the typing code IdB and the identifier BEI of the input or the coupling point 6 stored.

The conveying means 1, 7 equipped with the identification means 8, 9, which are linked with one another, allow a particularly simple detection of the topology or the layout of the material flow system composed of such conveying means 1, 7. The simple example shown in FIG. 1 shows a section of such a material flow system, namely a straight transport section 3, 33 of, for example, two identical conveying means 1, 7. It is now possible, after the two conveying means 1, 7 in the assembly together. were simply set to capture the topology, which can be represented here for example by two consecutive vectors. For this purpose, the identification means 8, 9 of the adjacent coupling points 5, 6 are read out. This can be done manually, for example, by means of a suitable RFID scanner, but it is also possible to equip the identification means 8, 9 with independent transmitting / receiving devices, or to let them communicate with one another via a data network.

The result of the readout is a linkage date, which indicates that an input 6 with the identifier BEI of a conveyor 7 of type B is coupled to a conveyor element of type A at its output 5 carrying the identifier AAl. This For example, as shown in the form of vectors A and B, they can be represented. This linkage data is then transmitted to the respective automation computer so that the automation computer has the topology in the form of the directed graph constructed from the vectors A, B.

By providing the identification means 8, 7 in the claim means 1, 7, therefore, there is always a consistency between the physical physical topology of the material flow system of interconnected Forderelementen 1, 7 and the image in the automation system, e.g. in the form of a transport matrix or directed graphs composed of vectors A, B. Furthermore, by the typing codes IdA, IdB and the shape, or properties of the associated Forderelemente 1, 7 known. Because the automation system can e.g. a database that contains a mapping of typing codes to other type descriptions. An otherwise necessary engineering activity, namely the manual translation of the physical, mounted M material flow system into a form that can be used in a control technology

Automation calculator thus eliminates the use of the corresponding Forderelemente, as e.g. are shown in FIG. 1.

2, a second exemplary embodiment of interconnected Forderelemente is shown. The first Forderelement 1 has an input 4 and an output 5, and coupled to the output 5 Forderelement 7 has an input 6 and an output 17. The inputs and outputs are coupling points of the respective Forderelementes 1, 7. The Forderelement 1 points an identification means 8 assigned to the output 5, which has a transmission device 10, such as a transceiver or active transponder. Furthermore, a memory 12 is provided for the identification means 8, in which the typing code, eg IdA and the identifier AAl of the output 5 are stored. The identification means 8 is controlled via a control device 14, which generates corresponding control signals CT. Similarly, the second Forderelement 7 with a first I- dentification 9, which is associated with the input 6, and a second identification means 16, which is associated with the output 17, equipped. Both identification means are controlled via a control device 15 which generates control signals CT. The identification means 9 assigned to the input 6 is likewise equipped with a transceiver 11 and a memory 13, the memory 13 providing the identification, ie the typing code IdB and the identifier BEI of the request element 7 or input 6.

In order to detect the topology, that is to say the combination of the conveyor elements 1, 7, the identification means 8, 9 of the adjacent coupling stations 5, 6 interlinked with each other exchange the corresponding identification data in response to a command and controlled by the control devices 14, 15. That is, via the transceiver devices 10, 11, the data necessary for the description of the coupling between the Forderelementen 1, 7, namely the two identifiers AAl, BEI and the type of Forderelemente 1, 7, which are characterized by the typing codes IdA, IdB, acquired and then transferred to a central computer, such as the automation computer. It is e.g. It is possible for the control devices 14, 15 to control a data communication such as, for example, a handshake between the identification means 8, 9, or to evaluate a corresponding readout command which can be transmitted externally to the transceivers 10, 11, and the corresponding data exchange between the identification means 8, 9 initiated.

The basic process sequence for detecting and detecting the respective topology of the interconnected conveyor elements 1, 7 and potentially further conveyor elements, which ultimately form the material flow system in their entirety, is shown in FIG. In a first step S1, the linking data is read out by reading out the identification means 8, 9. This can be done manually, for example via a corresponding scanner during the execution of the identification. fikationsmittel as passive elements, or controlled and automatically by sending and receiving appropriate commands to the identification means. As a result, step S1 supplies a collection of linkage data in principle of all coupling points of the conveying elements present in the material flow system. A linkage data record which characterizes the coupling of the conveying elements shown in FIG. 3 or 1 could, for example, as a linkage date the typification code IdA of the first conveying element 1, the typing code IdB of the second conveying element 7, the identifier AAl of the output 5 and the identifier At the entrance 6 include.

In a second step S2, from the typing codes, for example IdA, IdB, the type descriptions associated with these typing codes are used. That is, the type descriptions which are e.g. The conveying element 1 is characterized as a straight conveying path for a container-shaped material to be conveyed in the direction D with a predeterminable speed and a certain conveying path length, are taken from a database. In the simplest case, a transport direction D suffices to determine the corresponding sub-topology together with the association information (AA1, BEI).

In step S3, the acquired linkage data is now evaluated. This can be done, for example, in the form of a list of all interconnected coupling points in the form of the respective identifiers and the typing codes. A graphical representation of this evaluation would be, for example, a directed graph, as indicated in FIG. 1 as a pair of vectors A, B. In complex material flow systems, which have a variety of components for transporting goods or workpieces, a complex network of vectors results. Also possible is a representation as a transport matrix, which represents the logistical transport performance between sources, ie inputs of the respective material flow system and lowering of the system or of outputs, in a table. Transport matrices are known in logistics or automation technology. As a result, the evaluation in step S3 provides the layout of the material flow system. This layout then includes, for example, the transport matrix together with the properties of the installed Forderelemente, which are known from the type descriptions by means of Typisierungscodes. It is thus an illustration of the physical system of the Forderelementen as mechanical components in plant construction on the control level of the layout in the form of the description as eg transport matrix and the respective specifications of the type descriptions of the inserted Forderelemente created. The use of the Forderelemente with identification means allows extensive automation of the creation of the control-technical layout for the automation system and the automation computer.

Since such an automatic configuration results in control technology, which represents exactly a picture of the mechanically assembled and assembled components for transport, there are hardly any errors. Thus, the time to commissioning of the respective material flow system and in particular the necessary test times is reduced. The proposed method also allows a simple modularization and standardization of mechanical or electromechanical components, as well as the control technology in the form of automation computers. Due to the automatic configuration by reading out the identifications, assigning the (standard) type descriptions and an evaluation to generate the layout for the respective automation computer, it is easy to make changes to the material flow system without having to carry out engineering activities again. It is also conceivable to write into the memory 12, 13 maintenance information for the respective Forderelement 1, 7, which also allow a facilitation of automated maintenance operations in the operation of the overall system.

In FIG. 4, an exemplary embodiment of a material flow system 100 according to the invention is shown in principle using the example of a simple sorting path. Two are straight for that Conveying elements 1, 7 coupled together, and further, a third, acting as a switch conveyor element 18, the second conveyor element 7 downstream. The first conveying element with a straight path has an input 22 to which an identification means 21 is assigned and an output 5 to which an identification means 8 is assigned. Likewise, the conveyor element 7, which likewise has a straight transport path, has the input 6 and an output 17, corresponding identification means 9, 16 being arranged. The third conveying element 18 has an input 19, to which an identification means 20 is assigned, and three outputs 26, 27, 28, which have each assigned an identification means 23, 24, 25. In addition to the identification means, the conveying elements 1, 7, 18 have further functional facilities, such as the actual conveyor mechanism or a

Input and output photocells for detecting the transported material.

In operation, the conveying means 1, 7, 18 are controlled via control signals CT by a material flow computer 31. One possible use of this sorting path 100 could be, for example, the allocation of parcels as conveyed goods in postal code regions. The second conveying element 7 can then be associated, for example, with a further function, which is reflected in an associated type description, such as the detection of a barcode on the transported package, whereupon the material flow computer 31 decides to which outlet 26, 27, 28 of the branch conveying element 18 the respective package is to be issued. However, in order to be able to carry out this control of all conveying elements 1, 7, 18 present in the material flow system 100, a configuration of the automation computer, which is designated here by 29, must first be carried out. That is, the automation computer, an image of the mounted conveyor elements 1, 7, 18 must be entered together with their performance descriptions and linked to a control program. As has already been explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, each conveyor element has a typing code, eg IdA for the first conveyor element, IdB for the second conveyor element and IdC for the third conveyor element 18. Further, the inputs and outputs 22, 5, 6 , 17, 19, 26, 27, 28 each have an identifier. In this case, the identifier can, for example, from the type of conveying element, a name for input or output and a number composed. For example, the output 5 of the first conveyor element may have the identifier AAl, the output 17 of the second conveyor element 7 the identifier BAl, the input 19 of the third conveyor element 18 CEl and the outputs 26, 27, 28 of the third conveyor element 18 such as BAl, BA2, BA3 , The respective identifiers are stored in the identification means 21, 8, 9, 16, 20, 23, 24, 25.

In one possibility of auto-configuration for the automation computer 29, the identification means 21, 8, 9, 16, 20, 23, 24, 25 have transceivers or transponders and can be controlled wirelessly. On a command of the automation computer 29, which is also routed for example via the control network with control signals CT to the conveyor elements 1, 7, 18 and the identification means, the identification means 21, 8 9. 16, 20, 23, 24, 25 transmit the linkage data the automation computer 29. That is, all the data that determine the layout, namely the typing codes IdA, IdB, IdC and the linking information, namely that the input 22 with the identifier AEl is open, the output 5 with the identifier AAl with the input 6 with the identifier BEI is connected, the output 17 with the identifier BAl is connected to the input 19 with the identifier CEl and the outputs 26, 27, 28 are free with the identifiers CAl, CA2, CA3. The simple topology, namely the sequence of two straight conveyor lines and a branch is already known.

This is shown in FIG. 5. In this case, the vectors A, B, C1, C2, C3 denote the topological properties of the conveying elements 1, 7, 18. Overall, a basic topology of the material flow system 100 is thus already parameterized. A Dar- Position in the form of a transport matrix 32 is also possible. The automation computer 29 is coupled to a database 30, which allows an assignment of the typing codes IdA, IdB, IdC to type descriptions of the respective Forderelemente 1, 7, 18. In an extension, it is also conceivable that the entire type descriptions stored stored in the identification means 21, 8, 16, 20, 23, 24, 25 and the control software for the material flow computer 31, automated by the automation computer 29, compiled. This is made possible because the layout of the material flow system 100 is error-free and automatic by sending the Verknupfungsdaten to the automation computer 29.

A material flow system comprising the above-described conveyor elements together with a corresponding method, as schematically indicated in FIG. 3, has a number of advantages, since no separate engineering services due to manual transmission of the physical layout configuration in, for example, a workshop to the requirements of the automation computer. This also happens automatically. The corresponding configuration tools and engineering tools can therefore be omitted. It is also not necessary that in the construction of the mechanical elements, so the actual Forderelemente specialists of control technology must be present, which record the layout and capture by means of appropriate software tools for the configuration of the automation system. The error rate is thereby significantly reduced. A corresponding system can be flexibly expanded and reconfigured, with the respective mapping into the automation system being able to be automated again in the form of software.

Although the present invention has been explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments and exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto but can be modified in many ways. In addition to the sorting path in FIG. 4 mentioned by way of example, any material flow system, for example in complex plant construction, is possible. The Behalter as Fordergut is only By way of example, other materials or materials can be transported. The illustrated and exemplified communication paths, such as ZigBee, Bluetooth, WLAN, LAN, Internet, GSM, UMTS, Firewire, are just examples of possible communication paths between the identification means and the automation computer. The form and formatting of the linkage data can also be adapted to the particular computer system for the material flow computer and is to be understood by way of example.

Claims

claims

1. Forderelement (1) for transporting a Fordergutes (2) along a Forderstrecke (3) of the Forderelementes (1) having one or more coupling points (4, 5) for connection to a coupling point (6) of a further Forderelementes (7) , with at least one identification means (8) associated with a coupling point (5), wherein from the identification means (8) a typing code (IdA) of the Forderelements (1) and an identifier (AAl) of the coupling point (5) can be read out.

2. Forderelement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the identification means (8) comprises a bar code, a passive transponder, a passive RFID chip, a smart card and / or a readable magnetic stripe.

3. Forderelement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the identification means (8) comprises an active transponder, a transmission device or a transceiver.

4. Forderelement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the identification means is configured such that with I- dentification means (9) of spatially adjacent Forderelementen (7) data of identification means (9) are interchangeable and in particular pairs of identifiers (AAl, BEI) of coupled coupling points (5, 6) are detected.

5. Forderelement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a control device (14) is provided, which controls the one or more identification means (8).

6. Forderelement (1) according to claim 5, wherein the control device (14) is designed such that a handshake between identification means (8, 9) coupled coupling points (5, 6) takes place and a sending of Verknup- tion data in particular the identifiers (AAl, BEI) of the coupled coupling points (5, 6) and the type pisierungscodes (IdA, IdB) of the respective conveyor elements summarized takes place.

7. conveying element (18) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying path has at least one branch and a plurality of inputs and / or outputs (19, 26, 27, 28) for the conveyed (2).

8. conveying element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying element is a conveyor belt, a belt conveyor, a

Chain conveyor, a rail, a tube, a roller conveyor, a lift table or a lift comprises.

9. conveying element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyed (2) a container, loose material, bulk material, a

Fluid, a liquid, a gas and / or wagon comprises.

10. conveying element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a respective Typisierungscode (IdA) a type description of the conveying element, in particular to the length and / or shape of the conveying path (3), the number of coupling points (4, 5) and / or a transport direction (D) for the conveyed (2), is assigned.

11. conveying element (1) according to claim 10, wherein the type description of the conveying element is stored in the identification means (8).

12. conveying element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the typing code of a class of the same types of

Assigned conveyor elements.

13. conveying element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each coupling point (5, 22) of the conveying element (1) is associated with a readable identification means (8, 21).

14. conveying element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a software module for a control program of an automation ration computer (29) for driving and operation of the conveying element (1) in the identification means (8) is stored.

15. A method for detecting the topology and / or the layout of a material flow system (100) with conveying elements (1, 7, 18) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein linkage relationships of the coupled coupling points (5, 6, 17, 19) and conveying elements ( 1, 7, 18) depending on the read-out typing codes (IdA, IdB, IdC) and the identifiers (AAl, BEI, BAl, CEl) of the coupled coupling points (5, 6, 17, 19) are detected.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the following procedural steps are performed: a) reading the identification means (Sl); b) assigning the read typing codes to type descriptions of types of conveying elements (S2); c) creating a list of link relationships (S3) of the coupled coupling points (5, 6, 17, 19) and

Conveying elements (1, 7, 18) in dependence on the type descriptions of the conveying elements (1, 7, 18) and the identifiers (AAl, BEI, BAl, CEl) each coupled to each other coupling points (5, 6, 17, 19).

17. The method of claim 15 or 16, wherein the list of link relationships in the manner of a transport matrix (32) is created.

18. A method according to any one of claims 15-17, wherein a respective typing code is associated with a respective class of conveying elements (1, 7, 18) having the same type descriptions.

19. The method according to any one of claims 15-17, wherein each Typisierungscode a type description of the respective conveyor element (1, 7, 18) is assigned.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the type description further comprises further parameters for describing the function of the respective Forderelements (1, 7, 18).

21. The method according to any one of claims 15 - 20, wherein for reading the identification means (8, 9, 16, 20) a request to the identification means (8, 9, 16, 20) is sent and transmitting the typing codes (IdA, IdB , IdC) and the identifiers (AAl, BEI, BAl, CEl).

22. The method according to any one of claims 15-21, wherein the typing codes (IdA, IdB, IdC), the identifiers of the coupling points (AAl, BEI, BAl, CEl, CAl, CA2, CA3) and / or the type descriptions before coupling the Forderelemente (1, 7, 18) to the material flow system (100) in the identification means (8, 9, 16, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25) are inscribed.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein in the identification means (8, 9, 16, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25) further parameters for describing the function of the respective Forderelements (1, 7, 18) are written.

24. The method according to any one of claims 15 - 23, wherein a respective in the identification means (8, 9, 16, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25) stored software module for a control program of an automation computer (31) for controlling and for operating the Forderelementes (1, 7, 18) is read in the identification means and is used in a material flow program as a subroutine.

25. Computer program product, which causes the execution of a method according to one of claims 12 - 14 by a program-controlled automation computer (31).

26. Material flow system (100) with Forderelementen (1, 7, 18) according to any one of claims 1 -14 and a control device (29) for controlling and monitoring the mutually coupled Forderelemente (1, 7, 18).

27. The material flow system (100) according to claim 26, wherein the control device (29) is designed such that a method according to any one of claims 15-24 is performed.

28, material flow system (100) according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the mutually coupled coupling points (5, 6, 17, 19) associated with identification means (8, 9, 16, 20) are interconnected via a communication means.

29 material flow system (100) according to any one of claims 26 - 28, wherein the identification means (8, 9, 16, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25) and the control device (29) via a data network, in particular ZigBee, Bluetooth, WLAN , LAN and / or the Internet are interconnected.