WO2015024930A1

WO2015024930A1 - Sorting conveying apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2015024930A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/067648
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ralph LUSTIG; Maik WESEMEIER
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2013-08-23
Filing date: 2014-08-19
Publication date: 2015-02-26
Also published as: DE102013216864A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a sorting conveying apparatus (1) by means of which items, in particular baggage items in a baggage-sorting conveying installation in an airport, are unloaded laterally in relation to a conveying direction (3). The apparatus comprises a conveying device, by means of which an item-accommodating transporting container (2) is conveyed, and a tilting device, by means of which the transporting container (2), when conveying movement is underway, is tilted about a tilting axis (4) oriented parallel to the conveying direction (3). According to the invention, the conveying and tilting devices are formed by a series of fixed-location tilting conveying modules (5) which can be coupled in the conveying direction (3). Each tilting conveying module (5) here has at least one conveying unit (6), which is mounted such that it can be rotated about the tilting axis (4) and has driveable conveying wheels (9) for conveying a transporting container (2) resting thereon, and a lifting unit (17), which is articulated on the at least one conveying unit (6) and by means of which the at least one conveying unit (6) is rotated in a controlled manner about the tilting axis (4) between a transporting position (18), in which a transporting container (2) conveyed thereon is oriented horizontally, and an unloading position (19), in which a transporting container (2) conveyed thereon is tilted through a predeterminable angle of inclination (α). This means that the sorting conveying apparatus (1) can be adapted straightforwardly to a predetermined number and density of unloading locations arranged one behind the other along the conveying path.

Description

description

Sortierfördervorrichtung The invention relates to a sorting conveyor according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such sorting conveyors are used in particular in baggage sorting conveyor systems at airports, but also in other sorting conveyor systems, such as for packages or other general cargo of distribution logistics. In the case of large baggage sorting installations, pieces of luggage which are delivered to check-in desks during dispatch are deposited on cup-shaped transport containers and automatically transported thereon by means of conveyor technology to a destination terminal assigned to a specific flight as a sorting destination. When sorting the baggage items according to their sorting destination, they must be separated from their transport containers - in a manner which does not damage the baggage items. For this purpose, the baggage items are discharged laterally at a discharge point by the sorting conveyor with respect to a conveying direction by a tilting device tilts the transport container laterally, so that the baggage gently slides from the transport container on a chute or on a discharge conveyor. The piece of luggage slides without additional support only gravity-driven from the transport container, so that the angle of inclination must be so high that the friction ^¬ friction between the surfaces of the luggage and the transport container can be overcome. During tipping it must be ensured that the Kippbeschleunigung not exceed ei ^¬ nen critical value so that the luggage ^¬ piece will not catapult-like thrown from the transport container. Sorting conveyor devices are known in which pieces of luggage are statically unloaded, that is, the transport container conveyed by the conveyor is stopped, then tilted by the tilting device for unloading and subsequently ßend is transported by the conveyor. To achieve ei ^¬ nen higher Entladedurchsatz, also sorting conveyors are known, in which pieces of luggage unloaded dyna ^¬ mixing, the tilting so the movement takes place during the conveyor.

The patent document DE 197 56 303 Cl discloses a dispensing ^¬ conveyor for transferring piece goods, in particular of Flugge ^¬ päckstücken, from a conveyor track to at least one adjoining branch conveyor. In the conveying direction arranged one behind the other and movable along a running rail chassis are connected via a driven traction means to an endless umlau ^¬ fenden chain. On the trolleys tilting arms are arranged, which are laterally pivotable for transferring the piece goods to a direction in the conveying direction and largely horizontal axis. For the tilting movement engages on each Kipparm outside its axis hinged to a coupling rod which is oriented substantially vertically and at whose end remote from the tilting arm a leadership role is superimposed for holding the Kipparme in its horizontal transport position in a parallel to the rail extending guide rail is guided. The guide roller is for pivoting the Kipparme about the axis via a switchable switch element in a vertically displaced to the guide rail arranged tilting rail diverted. The Wei ^¬ chenelemente consist of a switch rail, which is arranged in its horizontal rest position in the course of the guide rail and is pivotable via a drive in a pivoted and the guide rail with the associated Kippschiene connecting- operating position. The points rail is pivotable via a cam gear in the manner of a Maltese cross, which has a transversely directed to the conveying direction, drivable pin disk. The pin disk engages via a pin in a slot arranged in a slotted disk, wherein a connecting rod is mounted on the slotted disk, the rotational movement of the

Slotted disc in a lifting or lowering movement of the switch rail converts. From patent specification DE 102 36 168 B3 is a Transportsys ^¬ system for article containers, in particular for luggage containers, on a substantially horizontal conveyor track with at least one means for discharging the piece goods to the exclusion of gravity use by tilting the cargo container to an unloading position transversely to its Transport direction known. There are at least two spaced apart För ^¬ are provided, of which at least one conveyor is driven, the article containers are supported freely on the two conveyors lying. The device for unloading the piece goods has a conveyor side designed as a loop running rail, are guided on the Koppelglie ^¬ , controlled from the outside at the front end of the running rail seen in the conveying direction with a predetermined cargo container coupled and at the rear end of the track can be decoupled again. In this case, the running rail loop spatially so that the general cargo container is lifted during its transport through the device by means of the positively driven coupling member on one side of the adjacent conveyor and pivoted into its tilted position.

For sorting conveyors with dynamic discharge when dropping the item of luggage exactly meet the unloading, both the unloading and the sorting conveyor itself must be made longer than in sorting conveyors with static discharge. Each of the known sorting conveyors is provided for exactly one unloading point. The construction of the known Sortierför- of the devices requires a minimum height for the Förderni ^¬ veau, which is well above the usual head.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a sorting ^¬ conveying device of the type mentioned above, which is adaptable in a simple manner to a predetermined number and density of on the conveyor path successively arranged unloading. The object is achieved by a generic Sortierför ^¬ dervorrichtung with the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1. Accordingly, conveying and tilting means are formed by a series of stationary tilting conveying modules which can be coupled in the conveying direction. Each Kippfördermodul has at least one rotatably mounted about the tilting axis feed unit with drivable conveying wheels for loading ^¬ promote an on these horizontal transport container. Further, each Kippfördermodul an articulated to the at least one conveyor unit lifting unit for controlled Dre ^¬ hen the at least one transport unit around the tilt axis Zvi ^¬ rule a transport position in which an upgraded thereon transport container is aligned horizontally, and a Ent ^¬ loading position, in which a transport container carried thereon is tilted by a predefinable inclination angle. Due to the modular structure, the length of the unloading is skalier ^¬ bar, that is arbitrarily variable by adding or omitting Kippfördermodulen. Thus, a scalability of the sorting conveyor between a high throughput of luggage at less unloading points and a high throughput at many unloading is possible. Due to the dynamic discharge, the use of the sorting conveyor according to the invention in main conveyor lines is possible. A high density of transport containers to be emptied can be run. The modular design simplifies installation and reduces the investment costs of the sorting conveyor by using a large number of identical components, especially on simple sheet metal and standard parts. The structure of the sorting conveyor according to the invention is robust and can be made compact, in particular because of their ge ^¬ ringer delivery height. For example, three tilting and conveying units can form a stationary tilting conveying module. A sorting conveyor can be formed for example by coupling six consecutively lined Kippfördermodulen. The Kippfördermodule be individually controlled by means of a Steuerein ^¬ direction so that a tilting of single or synchronized by a plurality of adjacent Kippförder- modules is possible - depending on the number and distribution of the unloading points to be operated.

In an advantageous embodiment of the sorting conveyor according to the invention, the lifting unit has a coupling ^¬ rod, one end of which is hinged to the conveyor unit and the other end is operatively connected to a lifting drive for moving the coupling rod. The linear actuator may be game designed as a linear drive, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic working cylinder at ^¬ which pushes a ^¬ formed as an axially guided push-rod coupling rod ver.

In a preferred embodiment of the sorting conveyor according to the invention, the lifting drive is designed as an electric motor whose motor shaft is operatively connected to the coupling rod via a converter unit for converting the rotational movement of the motor shaft into a movement of the coupling rod. The converter unit may be formed, for example, as an eccentric disc or cam or as a crankshaft. The Elect ^¬ romotor is preferably drehrichtungsumkehrbar.

In an advantageous embodiment of the sorting conveyor according to the invention, each conveyor unit a corresponding length of the tilt axis extending drive shaft, which is coupled with egg ^¬ nem conveyor drive for driving the drive shaft or to an adjacent drive shaft of an adjacent conveyor unit for transferring the drive torque to the Benach ^¬ disclosed drive shaft , And a wheel shaft connecting the conveyor wheels, which is driven via deflection by the on ^¬ drive shaft. Drive shafts are coupled with each other or with the conveyor drive preferably via Kettenradkupp ^{¬ development} . The deflecting means can be designed as a belt drive with pulleys and a round belt connecting them via a belt deflection.

In a preferred embodiment of the sorting conveyor according to the invention, each conveyor unit has an in Direction of conveying aligned guide ^rail for guiding ei ^¬ nes connected to the transport container guide ^wheel . The guide wheel can be arranged centrally on the underside of the transport container ^¬ and be rotatable about a perpendicular to the underside standing pivot axis. The guide wheel is guided on the conveying path through a conveyor ^rail mounted, for example, on the conveying unit, which stabilizes a straight-ahead travel of the transport container and on points as

Forced operation for a branch of the transport container is used.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the sorting conveyor according to the invention, each conveyor unit has laterally arranged support wheels which laterally guide a horizontally oriented transport container in the transport position and support the tilted transport container in the unloading position. The guide wheels are rotatable about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane and on the one hand serve for the additional guidance of the transport container when driving straight ahead. On the other hand verhin ^¬ countries the support wheels lateral sliding of the tilted transport container.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a concrete embodiment with reference to the drawings, in which

1 shows a sorting conveyor according to the invention with

Transport container in plan view,

2 shows a cross section of the sorting conveyor according to

1 in transport position,

3 shows a cross section of the sorting conveyor according to

1 in unloading position,

4 shows a conveyor unit of the sorting device in a perspective view,

5 shows the conveyor unit according to FIG 4 with tilting unit and

Conveyor drive in plan view, 6 is a perspective view of a Kippförder ^¬ module of the sorting conveyor in transport position,

7 is a perspective view of the Kippfördermo- module according to FIG 6 in the unloading position and

8 shows a sorting conveyor with two coupled

Tilting conveyor modules are illustrated schematically in perspective view.

A sorting conveyor 1 according to the invention according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 is used, for example, in a baggage sorting conveyor system of an airport. There, trained as baggage pieces ^¬ piece goods are conveyed along conveying paths formed by conveyor technology on cup-shaped, per se known transport containers. 2 By means of the sorting conveyor 1 can now a piece of luggage from his

Transport container 2 are dynamically discharged upon reaching a discharge, so without the transport container 2 must be stopped there. The sorting conveyor device 1 comprises a conveying device for conveying the transport containers 2 in the conveying direction 3 and a tilting device for tilting the transport containers 2 about a tilting axis 4 aligned in parallel to the conveying direction 3, wherein conveying and tilting device according to the invention by a series of stationary in the conveying direction 3 coupled Tilting conveyor modules 5 are formed. The number of coupled tilt conveyor modules 5 depends on the conveyor speed to be traveled and on the locations and the density of discharge path-side unloading points.

A tilting conveyor module 5 has one or more, for example three, about the tilting axis 4 rotatably mounted conveyor units 6. Each conveyor unit 6 has a transversely to the conveying direction

3 lying wheel bar 7, in which a wheel shaft 8 is mounted. With the wheel shaft 8 two conveyor wheels 9 are connected, on which a transport container 2 to be conveyed rests. The wheel bar 7 is in the center of a along the tilt axis

4 aligned drive shaft 10 passes through the Radbai- ken 7 is rotatably mounted. For driving the conveyor wheels 9, a conveyor drive 11 is provided, the drive torque is transmitted via a chain coupling 12 to the drive shaft 10 gen ^¬ conditions. For further transmission of the drive torque from the drive shaft 10 to the wheel shaft 8 deflection means are seen ^¬ before, the one connected to the drive shaft 10, the first pulley 13, connected to the wheel shaft 8, second pulley 14 and one on the first pulley 13 and the second pulley 14 stretched and about a mounted in the wheel bar 7 guide roller 15 deflected round belt 16 include. The drive torque of a drive shaft 10 is also transmitted through a chain coupling 12 on the coupled drive shaft 10 of an adjacent conveyor unit 6 of the toggle ^¬ conveyor module. 5 On an upper side of the Radbalkens 7 is centrally aligned in the conveying direction 3 guide ^¬ rail 26, in which a connected to the transport container 2 guide wheel 27 is guided, and laterally depending on a support ^¬ wheel 28, which support the transport container 2 laterally and lead arranged ,

A Kippfördermodul 5 further comprises a lifting unit 17 for ge ^¬ controlled turning its conveying units 9 about the tilt axis 4 between a transport position 18 and an unloading position 19. In the transport position 18 an upgraded on the Kippfördermodul 5 Transport container 2 is substantially horizontally aligned, so that a piece of luggage transported on this can not slide off. In the unloading position 19 an upgraded on the Kippfördermodul 5 transport ^container ter 2 is by a predeterminable angle of inclination of beispielswei- se 45 ° to 50 ° relative to the transport position 18 laterally to the conveying direction 3 is tilted so that a piece of luggage can slide smoothly from the transport container. 2 For this purpose, the lifting unit 17 has a lifting drive 20, which can be designed as a reversible electric motor. The drive torque of a motor shaft 21 of the electric motor is transmitted via a

Transducer unit in a force movement of a hinged to the wheel bar 7 coupling rod 22 on the conveyor unit 6 transmis ^¬ gene. In the embodiment shown in FIG 2 and FIG 3, the converter unit is designed as connected to the motor shaft 21 eccentric disc 23 to which an axially ge ^¬ led and vertically displaceable coupling rod 22 is supported. The eccentric disc 23 has a variable angle of rotation, so that a rotational movement of the eccentric disc 23 causes a linear displacement movement of the coupling rod 22. In the embodiment shown in FIG 5 to 8, the converter unit is executed in the manner of a crank drive, wherein the coupling rods 22 eccentrically on a rotatably connected to a shaft 25 eccentric lever 24 are deflected ^¬ and act as a kind of connecting rod. The Kippför ^¬ dermodule 5 are individually controlled by means of a control device, not shown, so that a tilting of individual nen or synchronized of several adjacent Kippfördermodulen 5 is possible - depending on the number and distribution of the unloading points to be operated.

According to FIG. 8, two tilt conveyor modules 5, each with three conveyor units 6, are coupled to a sorting conveyor device 1.

By adding or omitting Kippfördermodulen 5, the sorting conveyor 1 can be scaled arbitrarily in order to increase at a few unloading the throughput of luggage or to throttle it at many unloading. It can be driven a high density to be emptied transport containers 2. The modular structure of the sorting conveyor 1 simplifies assembly and allows the use of a large number of identical components. The structure can be made compact, especially because of their low delivery height. The conveyor units 6 are based on plummer block 29 on a in the conveying direction over the length of the sorting conveyor 1 extending receiving frame 30, which stands on support brackets 31.

Claims

claims

1. sorting conveyor device (1) with respect to a conveying direction (3) lateral unloading of piece goods, in particular of luggage in a baggage sorting conveyor of an airport, with a conveyor for conveying a piece goods receiving transport container (2) and with ei ^¬ ner tilting device for tilting of the transport container (2) located in conveying movement about a tilting axis (4) aligned parallel to the conveying direction (3), characterized in that conveying and tilting means are formed by a series of stationary tilting conveying modules (5) which can be coupled in the conveying direction (3) each tilt conveyor module (5) at least ei ^¬ ne about the tilt axis (4) rotatably mounted conveyor unit (6) with drivable conveyor wheels (9) for conveying a resting on this transport container (2) and at the at least one conveyor unit (6) articulated lifting unit ( 17) for controlled rotation of the at least one conveyor unit (6 ) about the tilting axis (4) between a transport position (18) in which a transport container (2) conveyed thereon is aligned horizontally, and an unloading position (19) in which a transport container (2) conveyed thereon is tilted by a predeterminable angle of inclination (16) is, has.

2. sorting conveyor (1) according to claim 1, wherein the

Lifting unit (17) has a coupling rod (22), whose one end is articulated to the at least one conveyor unit (6) and the other end with a lifting drive (20) for moving the coupling rod (22) is operatively connected.

3. Sortierfördervorrichtung (1) according to claim 2, wherein the lifting drive (20) is designed as an electric motor, the Mo ^¬ torwelle (21) with the coupling rod (22) via a Wandlerein ^{¬ unit} for converting the rotational movement of the motor shaft (21) in one Movement of the coupling rod (22) is operatively connected.

4. sorting conveyor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each conveyor unit (6) along the Kippach- se (4) extending drive shaft (10) which with a conveyor drive (11) for driving the drive shaft (10) or with an adjacent drive shaft (10) of an adjacent conveyor unit (6) for transmitting the drive torque to the adjacent drive shaft (10) is detachable, and one the

Conveyor wheels (9) connecting the wheel shaft (8), which is driven by deflection ^¬ medium by the drive shaft (10).

5. sorting conveyor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each conveyor unit (6) in the conveying direction

(3) aligned guide rail (26) for guiding a with the transport container (2) connected to the guide wheel (27).

6. sorting conveyor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each conveyor unit (6) laterally arranged support wheels (28) in the transport position (18) a horizontally oriented transport container (2) laterally and in the unloading position (19) the Support tilted transport container (2).