WO2012025093A1

WO2012025093A1 - Method and device for transferring a piece good in a monitored manner from a supply conveyor to a conveyor

Info

Publication number: WO2012025093A1
Application number: PCT/DE2011/001567
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank Will; Ludger Pölling
Original assignee: Beumer Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2010-08-23
Filing date: 2011-08-09
Publication date: 2012-03-01
Also published as: EP2609023A1; DE102010035126A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for transferring a piece good (8) in a monitored manner from a supply conveyor (10) to a conveyor (2) that is moved in a conveying direction (6) at a conveying velocity (vs), wherein the supply conveyor (10) extends at an acute angle from or perpendicularly to the conveying direction (6), comprising the following steps: transferring the piece good (8) in a supply direction (18) from the supply conveyor (10) to a transfer conveyor (12), which has a transfer conveying surface that bears the piece good (8), in that the supply conveyor (10) and the transfer conveying surface are moved in the supply direction (18); transferring the piece good (8) to the conveyor (12), in that the transfer conveying surface and the piece good (8) located thereon are moved at a transfer velocity, which has a first velocity component (VGx) that corresponds to the conveying velocity (vs) and a second velocity component (VGx) that is perpendicular to the conveying direction (6) of the conveyor (2).

Description

Method and device for the controlled transfer of a piece goods from a feed conveyor to a conveyor

The invention relates to a method for the controlled transfer of a piece goods from a feed conveyor to a moving at a conveying speed in a conveying direction conveyor, wherein the feed conveyor extends at an acute angle or perpendicular to the conveying direction. The invention further relates to a device for the controlled transfer of a piece goods from a feed conveyor to a conveyor moving at a conveying speed, wherein the feed conveyor extends at an acute angle or perpendicular to a conveying direction of the conveyor.

Such a method and such a device are known for example from DE 10 2007 049 780 AI. When transferring a piece goods from a conveyor to an obliquely or at an acute angle to this arranged further conveyor is often the problem that the cargo is moved uncontrolled or twisted due to the speed and directional differences of the conveyor during the transfer, so that its orientation with respect changed in an uncontrolled and undesirable way in the direction in which it is being promoted. Such a displacement of the piece goods may result in that the piece goods, for example, come to lie obliquely on a support unit of a conveyor (for example tilting shell or transverse belt), which may lead to the geometrical boundary of the support unit being exceeded for larger piece goods.

The invention solves this problem in a generic method by the following measures: transferring the piece goods from the feed conveyor in a feed direction to a transfer conveyor having a transfer conveyor surface carrying the article load by moving the feed conveyor and the transfer front face in the feed direction; Transferring the piece goods to the conveyor by moving the transfer front surface and the piece goods located thereon at a transfer speed having a first speed component corresponding to the conveyor speed and a second speed component directed perpendicular to the conveyor direction of the conveyor. It is preferably provided that, when transferring the piece goods from the feed conveyor to the transfer conveyor, the feed conveyor and the transfer conveyor are operated with conveying speeds which correspond in terms of amount and direction.

Conveniently, the invention provides that the parcel is transferred without changing the amount or direction of its speed from the feed conveyor to the transfer conveyor, and further that the parcel is transferred without amount and directional change in its speed from the transfer conveyor on the conveyor. In this case, its second speed component is only mined on the conveyor.

By these measures, the invention realizes a speed synchronous transfer of the piece goods both in the transfer from the feed conveyor to the transfer conveyor and in the subsequent transfer from the transfer conveyor on the conveyor, so that there is no longer any risk of uncontrolled displacement, displacement or rotation of the piece goods.

It can be provided that the piece goods are transferred without changing its orientation from the feed conveyor to the transfer conveyor and / or from the transfer conveyor to the conveyor.

There is the possibility that the piece goods on the feed conveyor and / or on the transfer conveyor and / or on the conveyor is optically monitored. In particular, it may be provided that an alignment of the piece goods relative to its respective direction of movement is detected.

The invention further provides that the orientation of the piece goods on the transfer conveyor can be changed in response to an optical monitoring.

In terms of the device, the invention solves the underlying problem in a generic device in that between a discharge end of the supply conveyor Ers and the conveyor a Übergabefbrderer is arranged, which has a piece goods carrying Jbergabef rderfläche, the execution of a first conveying movement in a feed direction of the feed conveyor and a second conveying movement, the first, pointing in the conveying direction and coinciding with the conveying speed component speed and a second, directed perpendicular to the conveying direction velocity component is formed.

The invention preferably provides for the transfer conveyor to have a transfer drive element which can be operated in a predetermined transfer direction, which can be arranged at an angle of 30 ° to 60 ° to the feed direction, which can be moved as a whole parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor.

In particular, it may be provided that the transfer conveyor has a plurality of adjacent, in each case in a predetermined transfer conveyor direction, which may be arranged at an angle of 30 ° to 60 ° to the feed direction operable transfer conveyor elements, the common, individually or in groups operable and as a unit parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor are movable.

It can be provided an optical monitoring device for detecting an orientation of the piece goods relative to its respective direction of movement.

A feed drive of the feed conveyor and a transfer drive of the transfer conveyor are expediently assigned a controller which is set up to carry out the method according to the invention.

Appropriately, it is provided that at least one transfer conveyor element is designed as a belt or Rollenforderer.

The transfer conveyor may comprise at least one non-movable transfer table, with which the transfer conveyor cooperates and which is provided with a conveying element. There is the possibility that several feed conveyors are arranged to feed the transfer feeder.

The transfer conveyor may be configured as a chain of transfer conveyors circulating in a horizontal or vertical plane.

The conveyor can be designed as a sorting conveyor with individual support units.

At least one support unit may have a controlled drivable transverse conveyor element.

The transfer conveyor can be set up to transfer the piece goods to the conveyor without changing the orientation of the piece goods.

As a feed conveyor clock or acceleration belts can be used, which may each have a separate drive. Before the respective piece goods reach the feed conveyor, means for its alignment can be provided, for example inclined roller conveyors or pushers. The alignment can be done so that the cargo passes in non-square shape with the narrow side ahead of the feed conveyor.

The invention will be further explained with reference to embodiments, reference being made to a drawing in which

1 illustrates the invention with reference to an exemplary arrangement of a transfer conveyor between a feed conveyor and a conveyor, wherein a piece goods is on the feed conveyor,

FIG. 2 shows an arrangement according to FIG. 1, the piece goods being transferred to the transfer conveyor, FIG. ^r ig. 3 shows an arrangement according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the piece goods being on the transfer conveyor,

4 shows an arrangement according to FIGS. 1 to 3, wherein the piece goods are transferred to the conveyor,

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment with a plurality of feed conveyors,

6 shows an embodiment with a plurality of feed conveyors and a vertically revolving transfer conveyor,

7 shows an embodiment with a plurality of feed conveyors and a horizontally circulating transfer conveyor,

8 shows an embodiment with a transfer conveyor in a triangular arrangement,

Fig. 9 shows an arrangement according to the prior art, and

Fig. 10 illustrates the problem underlying the invention with reference to the transfer of a piece goods in an arrangement according to Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 shows a known arrangement of a conveyor 2, which is designed as a conveyor with a continuous series of support units 4, for example, each have a tiltable tray or in particular a transversely to a conveying direction 6 of the conveyor driven transverse belt as a supporting element. For the most gentle and positionally accurate transfer of a piece goods 8 from a feed conveyor 10 on a support unit of the conveyor 2, a transfer conveyor 12 is disposed between the feed conveyor 10 and the conveyor 2, which connects to a discharge end 14 of the feed conveyor 10 and in turn has a discharge end 16 which is arranged adjacent to the conveyor 2. During the transfer from the transfer conveyor 12 to the conveyor 2 at a corresponding speed adaptation of the conveying speed of the transfer conveyor 12 to the conveying speed of the conveyor 2, in particular due to the drivable transverse belts or the like. In general, there is no slippage or differences in the Fördergesch windage in the conveying direction 6, the parcel 8 can be slightly shifted in the transfer from the feed conveyor 10 to the Übergabeforderer 12 in its orientation, as is explained in Fig. 10.

Since the piece goods 8 on the feed conveyor 10 has a different direction of movement than the conveying direction of the transfer conveyor 12, it comes in particular in elongated cargo that are already in the transfer with a section on the transfer conveyor 12 and a section on the feed conveyor 10, easily seen to a rotation, which can be problematic for the further transport of the piece goods 8.

The invention solves this problem by an arrangement as exemplified in Fig. 1 to 4 is explained.

Fig. 1 shows in a schematic plan view of a conveyor 2, which is formed as well as in Fig. 9 as a conveyor with a number of successively arranged in an endless row support units 4, wherein each support unit 4 is formed as a support means in this exemplary embodiment by a cross belt conveyor which can be driven in a controlled manner in a desired speed in order to receive or deliver a piece good transversely to the conveying direction 6.

For feeding individual piece goods 8 in a feed direction 18 is a feed conveyor 10, which is designed here as a feed belt.

Between a discharge end 14 of Zufuhrforderers 10 and the conveyor 2, a transfer conveyor 12 is arranged, which has a number of transfer eförderelementen 20, wherein the entire transfer conveyor 12 with all transfer conveyor elements 20 as a unit in or against the conveying direction 6 is movable. A movement area 13 of the transfer orderers is indicated by dashed lines. The transfer elements 20 form with their the cargo 8 projecting top a Übergabeforderfläche.

Each transfer conveyor element 20 operates in a transfer conveyor direction 22, which is arranged in the illustrated exemplary embodiment at 45 ° both to the feed direction 18 and to the conveying direction 6. The transfer conveyor elements may alternatively be arranged at a different angle, for example from 30 ° to 60 °. The transfer conveyor elements 20 are designed as narrow belt conveyors in relation to their length, which cover a region between the discharge end 14 of the supply conveyor 10 and the conveyor 2 as far as possible, wherein intermediate spaces may optionally be closed by covers.

The individual transfer conveyor elements 20 can be driven individually, in predeterminable groups or all together with a predeterminable conveying speed in order to take over a piece goods 8 from the supply conveyor 10.

As explained in FIG. 2, a transfer of a piece goods 8 from the supply conveyor 10 to the transfer conveyor 12 takes place in such a way that the supply conveyor 10 is driven at a specific supply speed vz and the article 8 reaches the transfer conveyor 12 at this speed. So that the transfer takes place in synchronism with the speed, at least one transfer conveyor element 20 is simultaneously driven and also the entire transfer conveyor 12 is displaced counter to the conveying direction 2. Due to the geometric arrangement of the transfer conveyor elements 20 at 45 ° to the feed direction 18 for speed synchronous transfer must apply that or the driven transfer conveyor elements 20 are driven at a speed VQ, which is _/ 2 times the conveying speed v _{z of} the feed conveyor 10, wherein at the same time the transfer conveyor 12 as a whole with a speed v _T is displaced against the conveying direction 6, which is equal to the speed vz of the feed conveyor 10. Under these conditions, an effective conveying speed acting on the article 8 on the transfer conveyor 12, which coincides in terms of amount and direction with the conveying speed vz of the supply conveyor 10 with which the article 8 is transported, results before the delivery end 14 of the supply conveyor 10. The transfer conveyor surface of the transfer conveyor 12 is thus moved in the feed direction 18. The general cargo 8 is therefore used without amount or directional iert * its speed from the feed conveyor on the transfer conveyor, Rie is shown schematically in Fig. 2.

After picking up the piece goods 8 on the transfer conveyor 12, either the driven transfer conveyor element 20 and the transfer conveyor 12 can be temporarily shut down, for example, to wait for the arrival of a support element of the conveyor which has been previously selected by a higher-level control system, or the transfer is immediately thereafter of the piece goods to the conveyor 2, as explained below.

Fig. 3 shows a state in which the piece goods has arrived centrally on the transfer conveyor 12, starting from this state, the transfer conveyor 12 is now moved to transfer the piece goods to the conveyor 2 as a unit in the conveying direction 6. At the same time at least one of the transfer conveyor elements 20 or more or a group thereof, or all transfer conveyor elements 20, driven in the transfer conveyor direction 22 to achieve a speed synchronous transfer of the piece goods from the transfer feederer 12 to the conveyor 2, as Fig. 4 schematically illustrates. For this purpose, the transfer conveyor surface 12 is moved together with the piece goods 8 thereon at a transfer speed which has a first speed component (v _Gx + v _T ) matching a conveyor speed vs of the conveyor 2 and a second, perpendicular to the conveying direction 6 directed velocity component v _Gy . When forming the conveyor 2 as a cross belt conveyor, each support unit 4 is provided with a cross belt conveyor which is driven for receiving a piece goods in the transverse direction with a cross belt speed vc, which corresponds to the aforementioned second speed component v _Gy . Due to the arrangement of the transfer conveyor elements 20 at 45 ° to the conveying direction 6 results from the fact that the transfer drive elements 20 must be driven at a transfer feed speed VG, which is the ^ times the cross belt speed v _c .

If the transfer conveyor 12 as a whole would not be moved, the parcel would have a speed component vc _* in the conveying direction 6 which is equal to the transverse belt speed vc. In order for the first speed component (v _Gx + vr to be equal to the conveyor speed vs, the transfer conveyor 12 as a whole must be moved at a speed v _{T which} is equal to the difference between the conveyor speed vs and transverse speed. jurtgeschwindigkeit v _c (v _T = v _s - v _c ). If the conveying speed v _{s is} greater than the transverse belt speed vc, the transfer conveyor 12 must be moved in the conveying direction 6, otherwise in the opposite direction. If the conveying speed coincides with the transverse belt speed, the transfer folder 12 as a whole need not be moved. In any case, upon transfer, the speed of the transfer conveyor surface has the above-mentioned first and second components, the first component being equal to the conveying speed.

5 shows an embodiment variant in which the transfer conveyor 12, as seen along the conveying direction 6, is designed to be sufficiently long and contains a sufficient number of transfer conveyor elements 20 in order to be able to receive piece goods from a plurality of feed conveyors 10 arranged in parallel. At the same time, a plurality of piece goods can be taken over by several feed belts 10 onto the transfer conveyor 12, and accordingly a plurality of piece goods can be transferred simultaneously from the transfer conveyor 12 to the conveyor 2. Again, the Übergabeforderelemente form the Übergabeforderfläche.

6 and 7 show embodiments in which the transfer conveyor 12 is designed to be vertical or horizontal. Just as in the variant according to FIG. 5, the arrangement is in each case such that the piece goods 8, unlike the arrangements shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, arrive in a feed direction 18 on the transfer conveyor 12 and counter to the feed direction 18 on the transfer conveyor Conveyors are handed over, which has the advantage that the Übergabeforderer can be operated continuously, without having to be moved back or stopped. The prerequisite for this is, of course, an adaptation of the speed of Zuführforderers to the rotational speed VT of the transfer conveyor 12, which is the speed at which the transfer conveyor 12 is moved as a whole, as well as to the transfer conveyor speed VQ of the individual transfer conveyor elements 20, as well as a vote between rotational speed v _T , transfer speed v _G , conveying speed v _s and cross belt speed vc, so that a speed-synchronous transfer of the piece goods to the transfer conveyor and to the conveyor is ensured, as has been explained in detail with reference to FIG.

8 illustrates a further embodiment in which between a parallel to the conveying direction 6 reciprocating transfer conveyor 12 and a conveyor 2 at least a, in the example shown, two immovable transfer tables 36 are arranged, which are in each case provided with a plurality of parallel conveying elements 38 similar to the transfer conveyor elements 20 in order to transport the parcel from the transfer conveyor 12 to the conveyor 2 on. In this way, certain distances between Zuführfbrderer and conveyor can be bridged. In addition, the transfer conveyor can be freed by delivering a piece goods on the transfer table already for receiving a next piece goods, without the piece goods must already be handed over to the conveyor.

In the event that a piece of goods 8 despite the speed-synchronous transfer yet more or less twisted should get to the transfer conveyor 12, a control of the transfer conveyor 12 is set up so that individual transfer conveyor elements 20 can be driven at different speeds or in opposite directions to cause a rotation and alignment of a picked piece goods. A targeted or controlled rotation of individual piece goods may also be desired in individual cases to ensure a particular predetermined position of the piece goods on the conveyor 2.

For monitoring the position and orientation of individual piece goods 8 on the conveyor belt 10 and / or on the transfer conveyor 12 and / or on the conveyor 2, a camera system can be installed, which is coupled with a suitable evaluation software to provide appropriate information to the controller and to change the orientation of the position of a piece goods purposefully.

Distinctive promoter

support unit

conveying direction

cargo

infeed conveyor

Transfer conveyor

Range of motion (from 12)

Discharge end (from 10)

Discharge end (from 12)

feed

Transfer conveyor element

Transfer conveyor direction

Delivery table

impeller

Transfer conveyor speed

Component of v _G in the conveying direction

Component of VG transverse to the conveying direction

conveyor speed

Cross belt speed

Velocity of circulation; Displacement speed (from 12) feed rate

Claims

claims

1. A method for the controlled transfer of a piece goods (8) from a feed conveyor (10) to a conveying speed (v _s ) in a conveying direction (6) moving conveyor (2), wherein the feed conveyor (10) at an acute angle or perpendicular to the Conveying direction (6), comprising the steps of: transferring the piece goods (8) from the supply conveyor (10) in a feed direction (18) onto a transfer conveyor (12) having a transfer front surface carrying the article (8) by the delivery conveyor (8) 10) and the transfer front surface in the feed direction (18) are moved; Transferring the piece goods (8) to the conveyor (2) by moving the transfer conveyor surface and the piece goods (8) thereon at a transfer speed having a first speed component (VG _x ) corresponding to the conveyor speed (v _s ) and a second , perpendicular to the conveying direction (6) of the conveyor (2) directed velocity component (v _Gy ).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that when transferring the piece goods (8) from the feed conveyor (10) on the transfer conveyor (12) of the feed conveyor (10) and the transfer conveyor (12) with magnitude and directionally matching conveyor speeds (v _{Z ;} vc _y ) are operated.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cargo (8) without magnitude or directional change its speed (vz) from the feed conveyor (10) is transferred to the transfer conveyor (12).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piece goods (8) without magnitude or directional change its speed (v _G ) from the transfer conveyor (12) on the conveyor (2) is passed.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piece goods (8) without changing its orientation from the Zufuhrforderer (10) on the transfer conveyor (12) and / or transfer from the transfer conveyor (12) on the conveyor (2) becomes.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the parcel (8) on the Zufuhrforderer (10) and / or on the transfer conveyor (12) and / or on the conveyor (2) is optically monitored.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that an alignment of the piece goods (8) is detected relative to its respective direction of movement.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that an alignment of the piece goods (8) on the transfer conveyor (12) can be changed.

9. An apparatus for the controlled transfer of a piece goods (8) from a feed conveyor (10) to a conveyor (2) moving at a conveying speed (v _s ), the feed conveyor (10) being at an acute angle or perpendicular to a conveying direction (6) of the conveyor (6). 2), characterized in that between a discharge end (14) of the feed conveyor (10) and the conveyor (2) a transfer conveyor (12) is arranged, which has a the unit load (8) carrying transfer front surface, for carrying out a first conveying movement in a feed direction (18) of the feed conveyor (10) and to a second conveying movement, the first, in the conveying direction (6) pointing and with the Fördergesch wind speed (vs) matching speed component (VG _X ) and a second, perpendicular to the conveying direction ( 6) directed velocity component (v _Gy ) is formed.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the transfer conveyor (12) in a predetermined transfer conveying direction (22), which can be arranged at an angle of 30 ° to 60 ° to the feed direction, operable transfer conveyor element (20), as Whole parallel to the conveying direction (6) of the conveyor (2) is movable.

1 1. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the transfer conveyor (12) a plurality of adjacent, each in a predetermined ÜbergabefÖrderrichtung (22), which may be arranged at an angle of 30 ° to 60 ° to the feed direction, operable transfer conveyor elements (20) which can be driven jointly, individually or in groups, and as a unit parallel to the conveying direction (6) of the conveyor (2) are movable.

12. Device according to one of claims 9 to 1 1, characterized in that an optical monitoring device is provided for detecting an orientation of the piece goods relative to its respective direction of movement.

13. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that a feed drive of the Zufiihrförderers (10) and a transfer drive of the transfer conveyor (12) is associated with a controller which is adapted to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 9.

14. Device according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that at least one Übergabeforderelement (20) is designed as a belt or roller conveyor.

15. Device according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the transfer conveyor (12) has at least one non-movable transfer table (36) with which the transfer conveyor element (20) cooperates and which is provided with a conveying element (38).

16. Device according to one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that a plurality of feed conveyor (10) for loading the transfer conveyor (12) are arranged.

17. Device according to one of claims 9 to 16, characterized in that the transfer conveyor (12) as in a horizontal or vertical plane revolving chain of transfer conveyor elements (20) is formed.

18. Device according to one of claims 9 to 17, characterized in that the conveyor (2) is designed as a sorting conveyor with individual support units (4).

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that at least one support unit (4) has a controlled drivable Querforderelement.

20. Device according to one of claims 9 to 19, characterized in that the transfer conveyor for the transfer of the piece goods (8) to the conveyor (2) without changing the orientation of the piece goods (8) is arranged.