WO2023166048A1

WO2023166048A1 - Conveying device

Info

Publication number: WO2023166048A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/055168
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abdelrahman WAGDI; Jan MOSELEY; Stefanie AUFSFELD; Jan Jensen
Original assignee: Interroll Holding Ag
Priority date: 2022-03-04
Filing date: 2023-03-01
Publication date: 2023-09-07

Abstract

A conveying device (10), the conveying device (10) comprises • - a frame (14); • - a conveyor track (13) having a conveyor drive (13m), • - a control unit (12), • - a presence sensor (15); wherein the conveyor track (13) is held on the frame (15) and is adapted to move an object (5), which is positioned on the conveyor track, between different positions on the conveyor track (13); wherein the conveyor drive (13m) is adapted to provide a driving force for moving the object on the conveyor track (13); wherein the presence sensor (15) is adapted to detect the presence of an object within a predefined area of the conveyor track (13); wherein the control unit (12) is adapted to control operation of the drive track (13), in particular of the conveying drive (13m), in particular based of a signal issued by the presence sensor, wherein conveying device (1) is in a preassembled state.

Description

Conveying device description

The invention refers to a conveying device.

Conventional conveying devices are used within manufacturing facilities or distribution centres and are part of a large conveying system. Here a complex arrangements are provided, which installation comprises huge efforts in mechanical installation and electronic / software installation, for example shown in EP 3222 564 B1.

The Neoden J08 (htps : //www.yo utu be . co m/watch? v= 9 W3a WZyT rk8 and https://neodenusa.com/pcb-conveyors/j08-conveyor) is a compact conveyor adapted for PCB assembly and linking PCB equipment together. The J08 is made as a standalone conveyor. A main aspect is the speed accuracy of the conveyor; the speed can be adjusted between 0.5 mm/min and 400mm/min.

US 2022/0002091 A1 discloses a conveying device suitable for conveying parcels. The device has a plurality of conveying zones. Each conveying zone having at least one conveying drive and being associated with a control unit that controls the conveying drive of the conveying zone. The conveying device has a support structure. Several conveying zones are fastened on a common support structure so as to form a complete individual conveying device. So for assembling one operable conveying device, a plurality of preassembled conveyor zones need to be mounted on one common support. Due to the concept of having a plurality of preassembled conveyor modules within one device, a conveying device has a plurality needs to have a plurality of controls, resulting in high costs for controls.

It is the object of the invention to provide an conveying device, which is easy to install for the end user without significant proficiency of the user in terms of hardware and software installation. This object is solved by the subject of the main claims; embodiments are subject of the subclaims and the description.

The present invention refers to conveyors which are adapted to convey different kinds of goods. As a minimum requirement, the conveyor is adapted to convey postal parcels having a size 10cm x 10cm x 10cm (length x width x height). That means, that conveyors, which cannot convey postal parcels of said size are not covered by the present description. Conveyors, which are able to convey also postal parcels of a larger size are covered by the present description as well. The idea of the present invention is to provide the end user with a full functional conveying device, which does not require noteworthy effort for installation. So the conveyor is suitable to be put into operation by the unexperienced end user. The effort should be that simple that even may be private consumer is set into condition to put the conveyor into operation, comparable to the final assembly of a piece of furniture with a Swedish name, which was purchased in a self-service furniture store.

In particular the conveying device has an upstream end and a downstream end; the conveyor track is adapted to move the object from the upstream end to the downstream end.

In an embodiment the conveyor track is a roller conveyor track or a belt conveyor track.

Operational position of a certain component means in particular the position, in which the component is held in relation to the frame during operation of the device. In contrast thereto, a transport position is a position which is different to the operational position; in particular the supports are held during transport in a different transport position in order to save space during transport. In the transport position the component may be arranged separate to the frame.

The object can be transferred by the conveying operation between the first conveying track and the second conveying track. That means that by operating the first conveying track and /or by operating the second conveying track the object can be transferred from the first conveying track to the second conveying track or from the second conveying track to the first conveying track.

Separated means that the conveying tracks are located at a distance to each other making it impossible to transfer an object between the first and the second conveying track by operation of at least one of the conveying tracks.

As a particular feature the invention a conveying arrangement can simply be established from a plurality of such preassembled conveying devices. Thereby it is enabled to establish conveying arrangement in main by merely unpacking the preassembled conveying devices, transferring the supports into operation position, arranging the conveying devices to each other and plugging in the electrical contacts.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail with reference to the attached figures, herein show fig. 1 typical situations of a user expecting an easy to install conveying arrangement; fig. 2 a conveying device located in a transport box; fig. 3 a typical situation before start of operation of the conveying device of figure 2; fig. 4 a situation during final assembly of the conveying device of figure 2; fig. 5 the conveying device of figure 2 in final assembled and operational state; fig. 6 the conveying device of figure 2; fig. 7 a diagram of a) a first automatic modus b) a second automatic modus; fig. 8 schematically a conveying arrangement with three conveying devices according to figure 2; fig. 9 schematically a conveying arrangement with one master conveying device according to figure 2 and two slave conveying devices; fig. 10 terminals of two conveying devices in a non-connected state; fig. 11 terminals according to figure 10 in a connected state; fig. 12 shows the compatibility I incompatibility of the terminals fig. 13 a user entering a do-it-yourself store; fig. 14 pallets of preassembled conveying devices in transport boxes; fig. 15 the user leaving the do-it-yourself store.

Figure 1 shows a user II of an inventive conveying arrangement. The user 8 wants to build up a conveying arrangement comprising a plurality of conveying segments (figure 1a). The user II wants to have a device, which is easy to install. The device should be installable by the use of merely usual tools 8. The installation should be that easy so that even an unexperienced user II is set into condition by a simple assembly instruction 9 (figure 1b).

The solution is a conveying arrangement which is provided as preassembled modules each provided in a transport box 7 (figure 1c). Figures 2 and 3 show the content of a transport box 7. The transport box 7 includes a preassembled conveying device 10, supports 20 and an assembly instruction 9. The supports 20 are located in a transport position, which deviates from an operational position.

Figure 4 illustrates the required steps for finalizing the assembly. At first two supports 20 are fixed to the conveying device 10. Each support 20 comprises two upper beams, 21, two lower beams 22 and two cross beams 23. The upper beams 21 are already preassembled to each other by means of the cross beams 23. The lower beams 22 are to be assembled to the upper beams 21. Figure 4 shows the supports in the operational position.

Not shown in the figures is, that the support can be assembled in a manner, so that the frame 14 is brought into an angled orientation. Here an inclined conveying direction can be established.

The conveying device 10 comprises an electrical connection cable 11C with a plug 11 P, which can be plugged into a standard wall socket 6, such as a 220V socket or a 400V socket. After inserting the electric plug 11 P into the wall socket 6, the conveying device 10 is ready for use and an object 5 can be conveyed along the conveying device 10 (figure 5).

It is to be noted that for a proper operation of the conveying device it is not mandatory that the supports are assembled to the frame. In principle the conveying device can be operated without the support. For example the conveying device 10 can be put on a table or can be mounted to another support structure.

It is obvious from figure 2 that in the unassembled state the supports 20 can be arranged together with the preassembled conveying device 1 within the transport box 7 in a space saving manner.

The preassembled conveying device 1 is described with the help of figure 6 in more detail.

The conveying device 1 further comprises a conveying track 13. The conveying track 13 comprises all components which are immediate involved in conveying an article. In the present example, the conveying track is a belt conveying track. Here the conveying track comprises a conveyor belt 13b, which is wound around two rollers 13i, 13m. Roller 13m is a motor driven roller, in particular a drum motor. Roller 13i is an idler roller. The belt 13b establishes a surface, of which the object 5 is transported.

In another example (not shown) the conveying track may be a roller conveying track comprising more than two rollers, where the rollers itself establish a surface for transporting the object. An object conveyed in a conveying direction D can enter the conveying track 13 at an upstream end E1 and can leave the conveying track at downstream end E2.

The conveying device 1 comprises at least one in particular two presence sensors 15a, 15b for detecting the presence of an object 5 to be conveyed. The at least one presence sensor 15 is in particular located at one I both of said ends E1 , E2 of the conveying track and/or is adapted to detect the presence of an object at said ends E1, E2.

The conveying device 1 comprises an upstream terminal 16a at the upstream end E1 and a downstream terminal 16b at the downstream end E2.

The conveying device 1 comprises a control unit 12. The control unit 12 having a CPU 124 and is adapted to control operation of the conveying track. In particular the control unit 12 is connected via a wiring to the conveyor drive 13m of the conveyor track 13 and via a power cable 11C to the plug 11 P. The control unit 12 is further connected via a wiring to the presence sensor 15.

The control unit 12 has an on/off switch 121. After switching the control unit to “ON”, the conveying device 1 is in a situation to convey an object.

The control unit 12 has a display 122 to provide information to the user. The control unit 12 has an emergency stop button 123.

There may be several other buttons, so that the user can amend several settings of the configuration.

The conveying device 1 comprises a frame 14, supporting the conveyor track 13, the control unit 12 and the presence sensors 15.

After connecting the plug 11 P to the socket 6 the preassembled conveying device 10 is fully operable. Therefore the control unit 12 is provided with a finalized configuration considering the attached hardware components like the sensors 15 and the drive 13m. So the user does not need to perform any configuring or programming work prior to operation.

The inventive conveying device is consequently intended for users having no experience in configuration of conveying devices, like private citizens or craftsmen from other sectors than the logistic sector. So the inventive conveying device is simply suitable to be distributed via so called do-it-yourself stores (german: “Heimwerkermarkt”).

Initially the conveying device is set in a first automatic modus, which operates according to the diagram of figure 7a. At a first step A1 , the main switch is switched on and the conveyor drive 13m is off. In case the presence sensor 15a at the upstream end E1 detects the presence of an object, the conveyor drive is turned on in step A2. Now the object is conveyed along the conveyor track 13. As soon as the presence sensor 15b at the downstream end E2 detects the presence of an object the drive 13m is stopped.

During said first automatic modus the object is conveyed in a defined manner from the upstream end E1 to the downstream end E2, wherein the object is stopped at the downstream end E2. In this modus it is prevented, that the object falls down from the conveyor track, in case there is no collecting bin located behind the downstream end E2.

By a simple user input the conveying device is set in a second automatic modus, which operates according to the diagram of figure 7b. At a first step A1 , the main switch is switched on and the conveyor drive 13m is off. In case the presence sensor 15a at the upstream end E1 detects the presence of an object, the conveyor drive is turned on in step A2 and a timer is started. Now the object is conveyed along the conveyor track 13 for a predetermined duration, which is defined by a set value. As soon as the timer reaches the set value, the drive 13m is stopped. Under consideration of the conveying speed the set value may dimensioned in a manner so as that the object is conveyed beyond the downstream end E2, where it can be transferred to another device, e.g. a collecting bin or another conveying track.

By a simple user input the conveying device is set in a manual modus. Here the user presses a start button. The conveyor drive 13m is switched to “ON”, as long as the user presses a stop button. In the manual modus presence sensors do not have an influence on the operation.

Figure 8 shows a conveying arrangement 1. The conveying arrangement 1 comprises a plurality of conveying devices 10 as described before, here a first conveying devices 10a, a second conveying devices 10b and a third conveying devices 10c. So at a downstream end of the first conveying device 10a an upstream end of the second conveying device 10b is attached; at a downstream end of the second conveying device 10b an upstream end of the third conveying device 10c is attached. Said sequence can be repeated at will.

Figure 9 shows a conveying arrangement 1 which is similar to the conveying arrangement 1 of figure 8, so the description of figure 8 is valid also for figure 9 except for the following differences.

Here slightly different conveying devices 10M, 10S are installed as the first second and third conveying devices 10a,b,c. It is mandatory, that the conveying arrangement 1 comprises at least one master conveying device 10M, which is identical to the conveying device 10 as described before. In addition the conveying arrangement 1 comprises at least one slave conveying device 10S, which has a slightly different configuration compared to the master conveying device 10M, in particular has less equipment.

As an example of the less equipment:

- The slave conveying device 10S comprises a presence sensor merely at the downstream end E2. In the conveying arrangement according to figure 9. Here the sensors at the downstream end may perform the function of the sensor at the upstream end of the following downstream conveyor track, so that the location indicated with 15X may not be provided with a separate sensor.

- The slave conveying device 10S comprises a slave control unit 12S, which has less functionality than the master control unit 12M of the master conveying device 10M. At the slave conveying device 10S the on/off switch and the emergency stop button are omitted.

- The slave conveying device 10S does not comprise the plug 11 P, which can be plugged into a standard wall socket 6, such as a 220V socket or a 400V socket. Consequently, electric energy for all conveying devices is provided via the master conveying device 10M over terminals 16 as described below.

The smaller equipment of the slave conveying device leads to reduced costs during manufacturing. The smaller equipment is functionally compensated by the components of the other conveying devices 1 within the conveying arrangement 1 , which will become clear from the following description.

A downstream terminal 16b at the downstream end E2 of the of the upstream conveying device 12M is aligned with the upstream terminal 16a at the upstream end E1 of the downstream conveying device 12S.

Figure 10 shows the conveying arrangement of figure 9 in the area of the terminals 16 between a first, master conveying device 10M, 10a and a second, slave conveying device 10S 10b in a non-connected state. Figure 11 shows the area of the terminals 16 between the master conveying device 10M and the slave conveying device 10S of figure 10 in a connected state.

The terminals 16 comprise a terminal housing 161. The terminal housing is adapted to accommodate a terminal connector 162.

The terminals 16 each comprise a connector 161a, 161b for establishing an electrical connection between an upstream conveying device and the downstream conveying device. Each conveying device 10S, 10M (slave as well as master) comprises at the terminals an upstream connector 162a located at the upstream terminal 16a and a downstream connector 162b located at the downstream terminal 16b. The upstream connectors 162a of each conveying device 1 are adapted to be connected to an respective downstream connector 162b of any of the other conveying devices 1.

In the non-connected state the connector can be accommodated within the terminal housing 161 of the respective terminal, to which the connector 162 belongs. For connecting the connector 162 to the respective other connector, the connectors can be guided through terminal openings 163 when both terminals 16 of facing each other. Now the upstream and the downstream connectors 162a, 162b can be connected to each other and can be accommodated in one of the terminal housings 161.

For operation of the conveying arrangement the connectors are adapted to establish a data connection between the neighbouring conveying devices 10. When applied to the embodiment of figure 8 it is not necessary that the connector transfers the driving energy for the conveying drive 13m, since all conveying devices 10 have their own plug 11 P for standard sockets.

However the conveying devices should also be adapted to be assembled in an embodiment according to figure 9, where the driving energy for the conveyor drives 13m of all conveying devices 110M, 10S are provided via the plug of the master conveying device 10M.

Consequently, the energy needs to be distributed via the terminal connectors. In an embodiment at least two separate connector may be provided in each terminal, one connector for the driving energy and one connector for establishing a data communication between the conveying devices. So the energy is then transferred separately from the communication data.

The connectors are directly connected via a cable to the control units 12M, 12S of the respective conveying device 10M, 10S.

The connectors are designed in a manner that misassembling is prevented (figure 12). So a connectors 162a of an upstream terminal 16a can be connected to a connector 162b of a downstream terminal 16b.

Only the master conveying devices are provided with an emergency stop button. Pressing the emergency stop button at the master conveying device is valid for the complete conveying arrangement, so also the slave conveying devices are set into an emergency stop condition.

Establishing a conveying arrangement is as easy as building up furniture from a Nordic furniture shop. The user visits a do-it-yourself store 3 (figure 13), where the transport boxes 7 containing preassembled conveying devices are kept in huge amounts on europallets (figure 14). The user takes the desired number of items from the stack on the europallets and puts them in his shopping trolley (figure 15). It may be possible that in a combibox more than one conveying device is contained, e.g. a master conveying device 12M plus a slave conveying device 12S. After paying the goods he drives into his facility and starts with the final assembly as in figures 3ff.

List of reference signs

1 Conveying arrangement

3 do-it-your-self store

4 europallet

5 object to be conveyed

6 standard wall socket

7 transport box

8 usual tools

9 assembly instruction

10 preassembled conveying device

10M master conveying device

10S slave conveying device

11 P electric plug

11 C electric connection cable

12 control unit

12M master control unit

12S slave control unit

121 On/Off switch

122 display

123 emergency stop button

124 CPU

13 conveyor track

13b conveyor belt

13i idler roller

13m motor drive roller, also including a drum motor

14 frame

15 presence sensor

16 terminal

16a, 16b upstream I downstream termina

161 terminal housing

162a upstream connector

162b upstream connector

163 terminal opening

20 supports

21 upper beam 22 lower beam

23 cross beam

E1 upstream end

E2 downstream end

II user

D conveying direction D

Claims

1. A conveying device (10), the conveying device (10) is adapted to convey postal parcels having a size of 10cm x 10cm x 10cm; the conveying device (10) comprises

- a frame (14);

- a conveyor track (13) having a conveyor drive (13m),

- a control unit (12),

- a presence sensor (15); wherein the conveyor track (13) is held on the frame (15) and is adapted to move an object (5), which is positioned on the conveyor track, between different positions on the conveyor track (13); wherein the conveyor drive (13m) is adapted to provide a driving force for moving the object on the conveyor track (13); wherein the presence sensor (15) is adapted to detect the presence of an object within a predefined area of the conveyor track (13); wherein the control unit (12) is adapted to control operation of the drive track (13), in particular of the conveying drive (13m), in particular based of a signal issued by the presence sensor, characterized in that the conveying device (1) is in a preassembled state.

2. A conveying device (10) according to the previous claim, characterized in that in the preassembled state

- the conveyor track (13),

- the control unit (12) and/or

- the presence sensor (15) is mounted on the frame (14) in an operation position.

3. A conveying device (10) according any of the previous claims, characterized in that in the preassembled state an electrical connection is established between

- the conveyor drive (13m) and the control unit (12); - the presence sensor (15) and the control unit (12) and/or

- a power support cable (11C) and the control unit (12). A conveying device (10) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the conveying device (1) comprises a support (20) for supporting the frame (14) on a floor, where the support (20) is arranged in a transport position. A conveying device (10) according any of the previous claims, characterized by a power cable (11 C) , wherein the power cable is equipped with a plug, wherein the plug is the adapted to be plugged into a standard wall socket (6), in particular a 220V wall socket or a 400V wall socket, in particular in the preassembled state the power cable (11C) is connected to the conveying device (10). A conveying device (10) according any of the previous claims, characterized in that the conveying device (10) is in its preassembled stated contained in a transport box (7), in particular the support (20) is contained in the transport box (7) in the transport position. Conveying arrangement (1), comprising a first conveying device (10a) according to any of the previous claims; in particular contained in a first transport box (7a); a second conveying device (10b) according to any of the previous claims, in particular contained in a second transport box (7b) or in the first transport box (7a), the first conveying device (10a) and the second conveying device (10b) are adapted to be connected and/or are connected to each other at respective connecting terminals (16). Conveying arrangement (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that the first conveying device (10a) has a downstream terminal (16b) at a downstream end (E2); that the second conveying device (10b) has an upstream terminal (16a) at a upstream end (E1); where tine upstream terminal (16a) and the downstream terminal (16b) are adapted, so that

- a downstream terminal (16b) can be connected to an upstream terminal (16a),

- a downstream terminal (16b) cannot be connected to an downstream terminal (16b),

- an upstream terminal (16a) cannot be connected to an upstream terminal (16b). Conveying arrangement (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the first conveying device (10a) has an upstream terminal (16a) at an upstream end (E1); that the second conveying device (10b) has a downstream terminal (16b) at a downstream end (E2). Conveying arrangement (1) according to any of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the first conveying device (10a) is a master conveying device (12M) and the second conveying device (10b) is a slave conveying device (12S), wherein the master conveying device (10M) is adapted to operate without interaction to the second conveying device (10a); wherein the slave conveying device (12S) is adapted to operate only in interaction with at least one component of the master conveying device (10M). Method of putting a conveying device (10), in particular according to any of claim 1 to 6, and/or a conveying arrangement (1), in particular according to any of claims 7 to 10, into operational condition; comprising the following steps: preassembling a first conveying device (10a) at a first location, packing the preassembled first conveying device (10a) into a transport box (7a); transporting the transport box (7a) containing the preassembled first conveying device (10a) to a second location; unpacking the preassembled first conveying device (10a) at the second location; final assembling the first conveying device (10a) at the second location, in particular thereby transferring, in particular mounting, a support from a transport position into an operation position. Method according to the preceding claim of putting a conveying arrangement (1) into operational condition, the method comprising the following steps: preassembling a second conveying device (10b) at a first location, packing the preassembled second conveying device (10b) into a transport box (7b); transporting the transport box (7b) containing the preassembled second conveying device (10b) to the second location; unpacking the preassembled second conveying device (10b) at the second location; final assembling the second conveying device (10b) at the second location, in particular thereby transferring in particular mounting a support from a transport position into an operation position; combining the first conveying device (10a) and the second conveying device (10b) to form said conveying arrangement (1). Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the preassembled first conveying device (10a) is packed in a first transport box (7a), that the preassembled second conveying device (10b) is packed in a second transport box (7b), the first transport box (7a) is separate to the second transport box (7b). Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the first location, where the first conveying device is preassembled, is different or identical to the first location, where the second conveying device is preassembled. Method according to any of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that each of the first and second conveying devices contains a dedicated support, wherein the support of the first conveying device (10a) is separate to the support of the second conveying device (10b).