WO2020007542A1

WO2020007542A1 - Loading device and package transport vehicle having a loading device

Info

Publication number: WO2020007542A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/064042
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philipp Lischnewski; Volker Schwohl; Yasmin Saskia BRÖHL; Julia Mühlbayer
Original assignee: Daimler Ag
Priority date: 2018-07-05
Filing date: 2019-05-29
Publication date: 2020-01-09
Also published as: DE102018005350A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a loading device (1), in particular for a loading compartment (9) of a package transport vehicle (8), comprising a transport track (2), on which packed items (58) are arranged, and comprising a pushing device (6) which has a pushing unit (7) which is movable between two opposing, lateral ends (3, 4) of the transport track (2), and by means of which packed items (58) arranged on the transport track (2) can be moved along said track. According to the invention, the pushing unit (7) comprises a closure element (10) which is adjustable on at least one of the two ends (3, 4) between an operating position, in which the closure element (10) delimits the transport track (2), and a loading position, in which the closure element (10) frees the transport track (2).

Description

Loading device and parcel transport vehicle with a loading device

The invention relates to a loading device of the type specified in claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a parcel transport vehicle with a loading device.

As more and more online orders are placed these days, the number of packages that are sent to customers via the shipping route is increasing accordingly. This leads to a particularly high volume of traffic, in particular to a particularly high volume of road traffic. Since a respective deliverer needs selective access to the respective packages in his parcel transport vehicle, a storage space of the corresponding parcel transport vehicle cannot be fully used, for example due to a central aisle in the loading space of the

Packet transport vehicle. Because the deliverer goes into this aisle to find the appropriate shipment or package in the cargo area of the

Include package transport vehicle to ultimately deliver the package or shipment to the customer or recipient. There is therefore generally a need to use unused storage space or loading space in transport vehicles particularly efficiently in order to minimize traffic volume due to package transport vehicles.

For this purpose, for example, DE 10 2013 218 251 A1 discloses a method for the horizontal displacement of article groups or article layers from a first one

Support level of a first conveyor module on a vertical movable second

Support level of a second conveyor module immediately downstream of the first conveyor module in a conveying direction, the respectively pushed article group or article position on the second conveyor module being displaced in the conveying direction by means of a support surface that is horizontally movable relative to this second conveyor module and / or is centered on the second conveyor module before or while it is performing a vertical lifting movement.

With this method or with this device for palletizing article groups or layers, an article flow with respect to the first conveyor module is limited to first in first out (first in, first out), as a result of which this method and this device, in particular in the area of package delivery, is only particularly inflexible.

The object of the present invention is to make it particularly versatile

To create a loading device by means of which a cargo space can be used particularly efficiently.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a loading device with the features of claim 1 and by a parcel transport vehicle with the features of claim 10. Advantages and advantageous embodiments of the

Loading device according to the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous configurations of the parcel transport vehicle according to the invention and vice versa. Advantageous refinements with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the remaining claims.

The loading device according to the invention, in particular for a loading space

Parcel transport vehicle, has a transport path on which packages are arranged or can be arranged. The charging device also has a

Pushing device which has a pushing unit which can be moved between two opposite, lateral ends of the transport track and by means of which packages arranged on the transport track can be displaced along the latter. In particular, the transport track is elongated. The two mutually opposite, lateral ends of the transport path are spaced apart from one another in particular over a longitudinal extent of the transport path. In other words, it extends

Transport path between the two lateral ends. If at least one package or several packages are arranged on the transport track, for example placed on them, these packages come into direct or direct contact with the pusher unit when it is moved between the two lateral ends. As a result of a further movement of the thrust unit along the transport path, the corresponding packages are moved along the transport path by the pusher unit. This means that the packages arranged on the transport path can be moved along the transport path by means of the pusher unit or by means of the pusher device.

In order to design the loading device in such a way that a loading space can be used particularly efficiently by means of it, the invention provides that the

Thrust unit comprises a closure element, which at least at one of the two ends between an operating position in which the closure element

Transport path limited, and a loading position in which the closure element releases the transport path is adjustable. So the charger is not on one

Unloading direction of the packages limited, which with a loading direction of the

Packages are aligned (first in first out: first in, first out). Instead, the charging device can be used both according to the First In First Out principle and according to the Last In First Out principle (last in, first out) without having to adapt the charging device to one of the two principles. Since the packages can be conveyed or conveyed along the transport path to one of the two ends by means of the push unit, lateral access to the transport path for loading and unloading the loading device can be dispensed with. In other words, a user needs the

Loading device, for example a deliverer, does not go outside the loading device between the two lateral ends in order to place a package on the

Set up the transport track or remove a package from the loading device. In this way, the loading device can be operated in a particularly space-efficient manner, so that in particular when the charging device is used in a loading space, a

Parcel transport vehicle this cargo space is used particularly efficiently.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the pushing device has a locking unit which is between a locking position in which the closure element is locked in its operating position and one

Unlocking position, in which the locking element is unlocked from the operating position, is adjustable. This ensures that

Closure element, which can also be referred to as a door element, does not accidentally disengage from the locking position. In order to make the loading device particularly easy to operate, it has proven to be advantageous if the pushing device has a drive unit with at least one pulling means connected to the pushing unit. The drive unit comprises at least one drive element which interacts with the traction means and by means of which the corresponding traction means and consequently the thrust unit can be driven.

As a result, manual displacement of the thrust unit can be omitted. For example, it is conceivable that the deliverer operates the loading device from one of the two ends of the transport path, for example in which the deliverer operates the

Drive unit controls and / or drives the drive element. The charging device is particularly ergonomic if, by means of the drive element, a force different from a human muscular force is used to generate a force

Drive torque is usable for the traction device or is used.

The charging device can be used particularly flexibly if the at least one

Traction means is endless and the drive unit has respective deflection units at the ends of the transport path, which deflect the at least one traction means into one

Divide the upper run and a lower run. Thus, the pushing device can be made particularly compact and / or low in parts, which in turn is reflected in a particularly low weight of the loading device. Furthermore, the thrust unit can be moved in both directions between the lateral ends by means of the endless traction means, even with only a single drive element. It is to be understood in particular that the invention is not limited to just a single drive element, but that the charging device can comprise more than one drive element.

The at least one traction means can have a textile belt on which a tooth structure is fixed. This means that the belt can be formed, for example, from a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, a braid, etc. and / or a combination of these. In particular, it is provided that threads or fibers are used to manufacture the belt, which are at least partially made of an aramid or comprise an aramid. The tooth structure can have a plurality of individual teeth, a respective individual tooth being, for example, wedge-shaped and extending away from a belt surface. The tooth structure or the individual teeth can be non-positively, positively and / or cohesively connected to the textile belt, so that the individual teeth are mutually along the textile

Belts are arranged equidistantly. Such a traction means has one particularly low mass, so that the loading device as a whole can be designed particularly mass-efficiently, as a result of which a parcel transport vehicle equipped with the loading device can be operated in a particularly fuel-efficient, energy-efficient and / or low-emission manner.

Furthermore, the textile belt with the tooth structure can be deflected around all three spatial axes, so that even complex traction device profiles would be possible. Due to the use of the plastic fibers described above, which have aramid, the traction means designed in this way is oil, grease, gasoline and benzene-resistant, which makes the traction means particularly suitable for use in a motor vehicle.

In order to move the packages arranged on the transport track particularly efficiently along the transport track by means of the pushing device or by means of the pushing unit, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the pushing device along the transport track comprises a guide device along which the pushing unit is held perpendicular to the transport track , This ensures that the push unit or the closure element always remains perpendicular to the transport path. This is advantageous in that there is a particularly low risk that the pusher unit will be deflected from the vertical position by means of a package placed on the transport track, as a result of which the package in question would not be carried as intended by means of the pusher unit.

Particularly when the loading device is used in a parcel transport vehicle, effective securing of the load of the packages transported in the parcel transport vehicle is advantageous and is required by law. For this purpose, the loading device along the transport path can have a limiting device which, together with the transport path, defines a transport channel, an upper element of the

Limiting device is spaced from the transport path and perpendicularly adjoin side elements of the limiting device which are spaced apart from one another in a mirror image, perpendicular to mutually opposite longitudinal edges of the transport path and longitudinal edges of the upper element. To put it more simply, the transport path and the delimiting device form an at least essentially cuboid hollow prism with one another. Here, the transport path determines at least a portion of an inner surface of the cuboid and hollow prism. The packages arranged in the interior of the transport channel defined by the rectangular hollow prism are in front of one due to the limiting device

Secured falling out of the loading device. Along the longitudinal direction of the

Loading device or the transport track, these packages are secured on the one hand by the thrust unit and on the other hand by a stop element delimiting the corresponding other end. The corresponding packages between the push unit and the stop element can be secured or secured in a form-fitting manner.

The loading device can also have a sensor unit, by means of which it can be determined on at least one of the lateral ends of the transport path whether the at least one package is conveyed to a removal position. For example, it can be provided that the sensor unit provides a sensor value that characterizes that the at least one package has arrived at the removal position. This sensor value can, for example, be made available to a display device which provides the deliverer with appropriate information, so that the deliverer can be informed or informed accordingly that the corresponding package at the removal position, for example at one of the two ends, is ready for removal and further delivery. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the sensor value is made available to a control device of the loading device, which is designed to control the pushing device, for example to move the pushing unit. In this context, it can be provided that the control device, as soon as the sensor signal described above is provided, ends further movement of the thrust unit and / or does not begin. This prevents a package from being pushed beyond one of the two ends of the transport path by the pusher unit and falling out of the loading device.

Furthermore, the charging device can have a further sensor unit which is designed differently from the sensor unit described above. By means of this further sensor unit, at least one of the lateral ends of the transport path is

determinable whether the thrust unit is moved to an end position. That's how it is

Loading device is particularly efficiently protected against damage which could occur if the drive unit continues to act on the thrust unit, even though it has reached its extreme end position, in particular at one of the two ends of the transport path. This is because the further sensor unit can transmit a sensor signal provide, which characterizes that the thrust unit is moved to the end position. This sensor signal can be provided to the deliverer and / or the control device, in particular analogously to the above description, as a result of which in

Consequence is effectively prevented from being arranged in the end position

Thrust unit is driven undesirably.

The invention further relates to a parcel transport vehicle with at least one, in particular previously described loading device. As is known, this shows

Parcel transport vehicle a loading space, which is used particularly efficiently by at least one loading device is / is used in the loading space. In particular, a plurality of loading devices can be used in the loading space of the parcel transport vehicle, the individual loading device being non-positive and / or positive

are fixed to each other and / or in the hold. Since the hold of the with the

If the loading device equipped transport device according to the invention is used particularly efficiently, individual packages or shipments can be delivered to a customer with particularly low emissions.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment and from the drawing. The features mentioned in the description and

Characteristic combinations as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures are not only in the respectively specified combination but also in others

Combinations or alone can be used without leaving the scope of the invention.

It shows

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loading device.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a thrust unit with one in one

Operating position arranged closure element;

3 shows a perspective view of the thrust unit with the closure element arranged in a loading position; 4 is a top view of the pusher;

5 shows a schematic view of a drive unit;

6 is an exploded perspective view of a drive element;

Fig. 7 is a schematic and perspective view of the drive unit;

Fig. 8 is a schematic side view of the loading device;

9 is a perspective view of a cargo space assembly with a plurality of

Loaders; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a parcel transport vehicle in a

Loading.

Identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

1 shows a perspective view of a loading device 1, which has a transport track 2, on which packages (only shown in FIG. 10 and labeled 58) can be arranged or arranged. The transport path 2 extends between two opposite, lateral ends 3, 4 of the transport path 2 along a transport direction 5. This means that the transport direction 5 runs parallel to the transport path 2 or parallel to a longitudinal extension of the transport path 2.

The loading device 1 furthermore has a pushing device 6, which in turn has a pushing unit 7 which runs between the two ends 3, 4 along the

Transport path 2 or along the transport direction 5 is movable. 1 shows the thrust unit 7 as it is arranged in a first end position A. The end position A is assigned to one of the two ends 3, 4, in the present case the end 4, the end 4 determining the end position A in the present example. Accordingly, a second end position B is provided, which extends from the first end position A along the Transport path 2 or along the transport direction 5 is spaced from the first end position A over the longitudinal extent of the transport path 2. Analogously to the end position A, the end position B is assigned to the corresponding other of the ends 3, 4, in the present case the end 3, so that the end 3 determines the end position B. As a result, the push unit 7 is movable between the two end positions A, B. If one package or several packages are arranged on the transport track 2, for example placed on them, these packages are pushed along the transport track 2 or along the transport device 6 by means of the pushing device 6, in particular by means of the pushing unit 7

Transport direction 5 displaceable by moving the push unit 7 in direct contact with the corresponding packages or with the corresponding package and moving the push unit 7 further pushing the package or packages over the transport path 2. In the present example, packages placed on the transport track 2 can be moved from the end 4 in the direction of the end 3 by means of the pusher unit 7. For this purpose it is provided that the packages between a respective end 3, 4 and

Thrust unit 7 are arranged.

A parcel transport vehicle 8 (see FIG. 10) has a loading space 9, in which the loading device 1 can be arranged or arranged. It is particularly preferred if a multiplicity of charging devices 1 is arranged in the loading space 9, the respective charging devices 1 being arranged one above the other and / or next to one another.

In particular, the respective loading devices 1 adjoin one another directly, so that the loading space 9 is used particularly efficiently. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that no aisle is to be kept clear in the loading space 9, since the packages can be conveyed at one of the two ends 3, 4 by means of the respective push units 7. In the present example, the end 3 is the load-side opening end.

In particular, it is provided that the charging device 1 can be secured or secured in the loading space 9 without detachment. Accordingly, it is envisaged that the

Loading device 1 is loaded outside the loading space 9 with packages which are to be delivered to 8 customers by means of the package transport vehicle. This is advantageous in that a downtime of the parcel transport vehicle 8 for loading the parcel transport vehicle 8 is particularly short, as a result of which the parcel transport vehicle 8 can be used particularly efficiently. In order to make the loading device 1 particularly flexible, the

Push unit 7 has a closure element 10 which is adjustable between an operating position (see FIG. 2) and a loading position (see FIG. 3). In Fig. 1, the closure element 10 is arranged in its operating position, the

Closure element 10 limits the transport path 2. If the closure element 10 is arranged in the loading position, the closure element 10 releases the transport path.

In order to prevent the packages placed on the transport path 2 from falling off the ends 3, 4 of the transport path 2, the loading device 1 has a limiting device 11 along the transport path 2, which defines a transport channel 12 together with the transport path 2. For this purpose, an upper element 13 of the limiting device 11 of the transport path 2 is opposite and spaced from it, so that even when the loading device 1 rotates about the

Transport direction 5, for example in a traffic accident

Package transport vehicle 8, the packages are held within the transport channel 12. Furthermore, the limiting device 11 has a mirror image of one another

spaced-apart side elements 14 which are perpendicular to the transport path 2 and each adjoin opposite longitudinal edges 15 of the transport path 2. Furthermore, the side elements 14 border vertically on corresponding longitudinal edges 16 of the upper element 13. In this way, a cuboid prism is formed, which has a rectangular, in particular square, cross section along the longitudinal extent of the transport channel 12. An interior of the cuboid prism is hollow, since the cuboid prism is completely penetrated by the transport channel 12. Consequently, packages placed on the transport track 2 are arranged inside the transport channel 12, and are by means of the

Thrust unit 7 is movable within the transport channel 12 along the transport direction 5.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the thrust unit 7 with that in the

Operating position arranged closure element 10. Fig. 3 shows in a

Perspective view of the thrust unit 7 with the closure element 10 arranged in the loading position. In order to avoid that the closure element 10 unintentionally disengages from the operating position, the loading device 1, in particular the

Push device 6, a locking unit 17, which between a

Locked position - as shown in Fig. 2 - and an unlocked position - as in Fig. 3 shown - is adjustable. In the locking position, the locking unit 17 holds the closure element in its operating position. Furthermore, when the locking element 10 is disengaged from its operating position, the locking unit 17 arranged in the locking position enables the locking element 10 to be moved into the operating position and to be detachably held in the operating position. In the unlocked position, the closure element 10 is released, so that

Locking element 10 in the unlocking position of the locking unit 17 is adjustable from the operating position, in particular into the loading position.

The locking unit 17 has a locking latch 18 which engages behind an extension 19 of the closure element 10 in the locked state. The extension 19 and the locking latch 18 are arranged centrally in the locked state on an edge 20 of the closure element 10. In order to avoid inadvertent unlocking of the extension 19, the locking unit 17 has a locking unit 21, by means of which the locking latch 18 can be locked in the locking position. For example, a bolt 22 can disengage from a bolt receptacle of the locking latch 18 corresponding to the bolt 22 under tensioning of a spring element, so that the locking latch 18 can be unlocked by the extension 19. Furthermore, the locking unit 21 can have at least one securing element 23, in the present case two securing elements 23, by means of which the closing element 10 can be secured in its operating position. The securing elements 23 can be designed analogously to the bolt 22, with the securing elements 23 thus differing from the bolt 22

distinguish that the securing elements 23 engage in the securing element receptacles 24 corresponding to the securing element 23 apart from the locking latch 18. In particular, it can be provided that the securing elements 23 can be disengaged from the corresponding receptacles together with the bolt 22 by means of a common handling means. This means that it can be provided that the securing elements 23 are mechanically connected to the bolt 22.

The securing element receptacles 24 can be on a thrust unit carrier 25

be arranged. The closure element 10 or the pusher unit 7 is pivotally connected to the pusher unit carrier 25 via at least one hinge 26, in the present case three hinges 26. The hinges 26 are on one of the edges 20

opposite, further edge 27 of the pusher unit or the closure element 10 is arranged. Consequently, the closure element 10 or the push unit 7 is related pivotable to the thrust unit carrier 25 between the operating position and the loading position.

3, the transport track 2 can be seen particularly well, which in the present example is designed as a roller or roller track. This means that packages placed on the transport track 2 are each tangentially adjacent to a plurality of rollers 28 of the roller track or transport track 2 and are placed thereon. Alternatively or additionally, the transport track 2 can have a flat and particularly smooth surface, so that the packages are moved over this smooth surface when the closing element 10 or the pushing unit 7 is moved.

4 shows a top view of the thrust unit 7 isolated from the transport channel 12. Only side elements 14 of the limiting device 11 are shown. It can be seen in particular that the thrust unit carrier 25 is constructed in several parts, that is to say has a plurality of carrier elements 29, in the present case four, so that

Closure element 10 is pivotable in relation to the four support elements 29.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the loading device 1, in particular its pushing device 6, has a guide device arranged along the transport path 2

30 along which the push unit 7 is held perpendicular to the transport path 2. In the present example, the guide device 30 has the longitudinal edge 15 of each

Transport track 2 has two rail elements 31, which guide the pusher 6 linearly when it is moved along the transport direction 5. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the respective carrier elements 29 each have four rolling elements 32, which are arranged in pairs and in mirror image to one another, so that a first pair of rollers 33 have the carrier element 29 on an upper side 34 of the corresponding rail element

31 supports. A second pair of rollers 35, which is spaced from the pair of rollers 33 by the corresponding rail element 31, is an underside 36 of the corresponding one

Rail element 31 facing, so that moving the corresponding

Carrier element 29 is prevented transversely to the rail element 31. Furthermore, the respective carrier element 29 prevents the push unit 7 or the closure element 10 from rotating transversely to the guide device 30. For this purpose, at least one of the rolling elements 32 can be positively connected to the corresponding one

Rail element 31 interact. 1 also shows that the pushing device 6 has a drive unit 37, by means of which the pushing unit 7 can be driven. For better clarity, FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the drive unit 37, which has a traction means 38 that is connected to the thrust unit 7. This means that the pushing unit 7 is fixed in relation to the pulling means 38, so that moving the pulling means 38 necessitates moving the pushing unit 7 and vice versa. In the present example, the traction means 38 is endless and is divided into an upper strand 41 and a lower strand 42 by means of two deflection units 39, 40. The drive unit 37 further comprises a drive element 43, by means of which a drive torque can be applied to the endless traction means 38, whereby the thrust unit 7 by means of the

Drive elements 43 can be driven via the endless traction means 38.

For example, the drive element 43 can be designed as a motor, in particular an electric motor 44, which rotates with one of the drive shafts via its output shaft

Deflection units, in particular with the deflection unit 40, is connected.

Between the two outer deflection units 39, 40 there can be others

Deflection units 45 are provided, each of the upper strand 41 or the

Deflect the lower strand 42 of the endless traction means 38. That is how it is

Drive element 43 or the electric motor 44 can be arranged on an edge 58 of the transport channel 12 (see FIG. 1). Because, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the drive unit 37 has two traction means 38, which can be driven together by means of the drive element 43. This is arranged in time with the transport track 2, and likewise interacts with two deflection units 40, each of which is operatively connected to one of the traction means 38. This is shown in more detail in FIG. 6.

6 shows a perspective exploded view of part of the drive unit 37, in particular how the drive element 43 and the two traction means 38 interact. As already explained, the drive element 43 can be designed as the electric motor 44. Alternatively, the drive element 43 can include the electric motor 44. Furthermore, the drive element 43 can have a gear unit 46, the input side and output side of which are angled by 90 degrees to one another, so that a longitudinal extension of the electric motor 44 can be arranged parallel to the transport path 2 (cf. FIG. 1). An output shaft 47 of the drive element 43 is rotationally fixed to the two

Deflection units 40 connected, the two deflection units 40 being arranged in a manner fixed against relative rotation on a shaft element 48. The shaft element 48 runs transverse to the longitudinal extent of the transport path 2 along a narrow edge thereof. Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 5, it can be seen that the drive element 43 or the electric motor 44 is disengaged from a central plane 49 of the endless traction means 38. This means that although the shaft element 48 connects the two lateral deflection units 40 to one another, an end opening of the transport channel 12, in particular at the end 3 of the transport path 2, is free. In other words, the shaft element 48 does not cross the front opening of the transport channel 12.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic and perspective view of the drive unit 37 with further elements of the same. The drive unit 37 has, for example

Support rails 50 on whose respective upper side the respective upper strand 41 of the corresponding traction means 38 is supported, so that the upper strand 41 does not sag along the longitudinal extent of the loading device 1. At least one tensioning device 51 is provided on the respective support rail 50, on which a respective lower run 42 of the respective traction means 38 rests, so that this also does not sag along the longitudinal extent of the loading device 1. Furthermore, a large number of lateral guide elements 52 are provided, which protrude above the respective upper run 41 of the corresponding traction means 38, so that the upper run 41 of the corresponding traction device 38 is prevented from breaking out laterally.

The respective deflection unit 40 and / or 45 can have a traction means tensioner 53, by means of which the corresponding traction means 38 can be tensioned or pretensioned along the longitudinal extent or along the transport direction 5, so that the traction means 38 is always kept taut in an advantageous manner.

The respective traction means 38 is advantageously designed as a textile belt on which a tooth structure is fixed. In order to be able to drive the respective traction means 38 in a particularly efficient manner, that is to say with a particularly small amount of slippage, by means of the drive element 43, the drive element 43 can have a gearwheel or wedge wheel on its output side which meshes with the tooth structure of the traction means 38. This means that the deflection units 40, which are operatively connected to the drive element 43, are advantageously designed as such a toothed wheel or spur gear or have such a toothed wheel or splined wheel. Furthermore, it can be seen in FIG. 7 that the respective pulling means 38

Towing elements 54 are connected. In particular, the two are with

Trailing elements 54 are fixedly connected to the respective upper run 41 of the corresponding traction means 38, so that the two trailing elements 54 can be moved equally along the transport direction 5 via the respective traction means 38 insofar as the two traction means 38 are driven by means of the drive element 43. The locking element 10 or the thrust unit 7 is mounted between the two entraining elements 54, in that one of the hinges 26 is arranged on one of the two entraining elements 54 and the locking latch 18 is arranged on the corresponding other entraining element 54. For particularly simple orientation or assignment of the individual figures to one another, the entraining element equipped with the hinge 26 is designated as 54a and the entraining element equipped with the locking latch 18 as 54b and is correspondingly entered in FIG. 4.

7 shows a schematic side view of the charging device 1, which has a sensor unit 55, which can be designed, for example, as a light barrier unit. A corresponding light barrier path runs in the present example at the end 3 of the loading device 1 transversely to the opening of the transport channel 12 there and covers the opening at least for the most part, in particular completely. If a package driven by the pusher unit 7 arrives at the end 3 of the loading device 1 along the transport path 2, the package breaks at least partially through the light barrier path, as a result of which the light barrier or the sensor unit 55 of a control unit 56 connected wirelessly and / or with cables to the sensor unit 55 provides a corresponding sensor signal. The control unit 56 can be designed to control the drive unit 37. Accordingly, it can be provided that as soon as a package reaches the end 3 of the loading device and there the

Light barrier section interrupts, a further movement of the thrust unit 7 along the transport direction 5 is interrupted by the control unit 56 and / or a movement of the thrust unit 7 is not started. This is particularly advantageous

ensures that a package is not accidentally over the end 3 of the

Charging device 1 is pushed out and therefore does not fall out of the charging device 1. It is understood that the sensor unit 55 according to others

Sensor principles can be formed. This means that the sensor unit 55 can be an optical, acoustic and / or capacitive sensor or can at least include such a sensor. It can further be provided that, due to the Sensor signal to the deliverer optically, haptically, acoustically etc. information

it is provided that the package has arrived at the end 3 of the loading device 1, consequently at a removal position.

Furthermore, a further sensor unit 57 can be provided, which is connected wirelessly and / or with a cable to a further control unit and / or to the control unit 56. This further sensor unit 57 is arranged at the end 4 of the loading device 1 and is designed to recognize whether the push unit 7 is moved to an end position. That means that one is effectively prevented from

If the push unit 7 moves against the transport direction 5, the drive unit 37 continues to drive the corresponding traction means 38, although the push unit 7 has reached the end 4 of the loading device 1. Because with the second sensor unit 57 in

Connected control unit 56 controls - as already described - this

Drive element 43 depending on corresponding sensor signals from sensor unit 55, 57. Sensor unit 57 can be designed in accordance with an optical, capacitive, acoustic, etc. sensor principle. Furthermore, the sensor unit 55 and / or the sensor unit 57 can have a mechanically actuated switch, which is actuated when the corresponding end positions of the thrust unit 7 or the package are reached and is consequently switched.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a loading space arrangement 59 with a multiplicity of loading device 1. It can be seen particularly well in FIG. 9 that an upper element 13 of the limiting device 11, which is arranged along the transport path 2 and together with this the respective Forms transport channel 12, can be formed by a transport path 2 of a further loading device 1 arranged above. A top loading device 1 which leads directly to a roof of the

Loading space 9 is adjacent, can be free of an upper element 13 directly connected to this loading device 1, whereby falling out of packages from the corresponding loading device 1 is nevertheless prevented, in which the uppermost one

Loading device 1 is delimited on the upper side by the roof of the loading space 9.

Likewise, the respective openings of the transport channels 12 can be delimited by a door of the loading space, so that the respective loading device 1

invited packages, in particular form-fitting, between the respective

Thrust units 7 and the hold door are held. This way a form-fitting load securing of the packages which are loaded into the respective loading device 1 is particularly simple.

10 shows a perspective view of the parcel transport vehicle 8 in a loading station or in a transhipment station. It can be seen particularly well that the end 3 of the corresponding charging device 1 is arranged on a rear side of the loading space 9. For a particularly simple loading of the loading device 1, it can be provided that the entire loading device 1 is moved into a loading position, the loading device 1 at least partially protruding from the loading space 9. It can further be provided that the loading device 1 is completely removed from the loading space 9 in order to load it. In the present example, a so-called one-shot loading system is loaded for loading the loading device 1. In this case, the corresponding packages 58 to be loaded into the loading device 1 are pre-picked in the loading station, at which point it is not necessary for the delivery vehicle or

Parcel transport vehicle 8 is at the loading station on site. As can be seen in FIG. 10, the pre-picked packages 58 are lined up one behind the other and are then, for example by means of a slide, into the transport channel 12 of the

corresponding loading device 1 introduced. In this way, the loading device 1 and, consequently, the parcel transport vehicle 8 can be loaded particularly quickly, so that the service life of the parcel transport vehicle 8 can be kept particularly short, as a result of which the parcel transport vehicle 8 can be operated particularly efficiently.

Overall, the invention shows how today's challenge of more and more online orders and more and more deliveries can be met. Because the increasing volume of deliveries of packages or shipments leads to more and more vehicles, especially on the streets. Here, however, the respective cargo holds of the vehicles cannot be used completely in space, since in today's cargo holds aisles or access areas must be kept clear in order to obtain selective access to the goods transported in the cargo hold. As a result, the respective emissions are particularly high, based on the respective shipment. By means of the loading device 1 according to the invention, it is possible to dispense with such access areas in the interior of the loading space, so that the loading spaces of the

Parcel transport vehicles are used particularly efficiently in terms of space. In other words, due to the loading device 1, more packages can be placed in the loading space 9 be invited. In particular in connection with loading space optimization software and the use of optimized loading systems in the supply chain, the respective efficiency of the processes of delivering consignments or

Packages can be increased.

Claims

claims

1. Loading device (1), in particular for a loading space (9)

Parcel transport vehicle (8), with a transport track (2) on which packages (58) are arranged, and with a pushing device (6) which has a pushing unit which can be moved between two opposite, lateral ends (3, 4) of the transport track (2) (7), by means of which packages (58) arranged on the transport track (2) can be displaced along the latter,

characterized in that

the push unit (7) comprises a closure element (10) which, at least at one of the two ends (3, 4), between an operating position in which the closure element (10) delimits the transport path (2) and a loading position in which the closure element (10) the transport track (2) releases, is adjustable.

2. loading device (1) according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the pushing device (6) has a locking unit (17) which can be adjusted between a locking position in which the locking element (10) is locked in its operating position and an unlocking position in which the locking element (10) is unlocked from the operating position.

3. loading device (1) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

the pushing device (6) comprises a drive unit (37) with at least one pulling means (38) connected to the pushing unit (7) and with a drive element (43, 44) interacting with the at least one pulling means (38), by means of which the corresponding pulling means (38) and as a result the thrust unit (7) can be driven.

4. loading device (1) according to claim 3,

characterized in that

the at least one traction means (38) is endless and the drive unit (37) has respective deflection units (40) at the ends (3, 4) of the transport path (2), which deflect the at least one traction means (38) into an upper run (41) and divide a lower strand (42).

5. Loading device (1) according to one of claims 3 or 4,

characterized in that

the at least one traction means (38) has a textile belt to which a tooth structure is fixed.

6. Loading device (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the pusher (6) along the transport path (2) comprises a guide device (30) along which the pusher unit (7) is held perpendicular to the transport path (2).

7. Loading device (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

a limiting device (11) is arranged along the transport path (2), which defines a transport channel (12) together with the transport path (2), an upper element (13) of the limiting device (1 1) from the

Transport path (2) is spaced and mirror images of side elements (14) of the limiting device (11) perpendicular to adjacent longitudinal edges (15) of the transport path and longitudinal edges (16) of the upper element (13).

8. loading device (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

marked by

a sensor unit (55), by means of which at least one of the lateral ends (3, 4) of the transport path (2) can be determined whether the at least one package (58) is conveyed to a removal position (3, B).

9. Loading device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by

a further sensor unit (57), by means of which it can be determined on at least one of the lateral ends (3, 4) of the transport path (2) whether the push unit (7) is moved to an end position (4, A).

10. parcel transport vehicle (8) with at least one designed according to one of claims 1 to 9 loading device (1).