DE102021006589A1 - conveyor arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

Conveyor arrangement (1), comprising a terminal chute (11, 12), set up - for taking over a conveyed item (9) at a transfer area (A1), - for transferring the conveyed item (9) at a transfer area (A3), - for transferring the conveyed item (9) in a chute area (A2) from the takeover area (A1) to the transfer area (A3), with the terminal chute being inclined downwards in the conveying direction (F) so that the conveyed goods (9) are conveyed in a sliding manner due to gravity, - the conveying arrangement is set up to specifically recognize a tumbling conveyed item (9) and/or to brake it in a targeted manner; and/or wherein the conveyor arrangement has a tumble detector (60) which is set up to detect a tumbling conveyed item (9); and/or wherein the conveying arrangement has a tumble lock (64) which is set up to at least brake a tumbling conveyed item (9) in a targeted manner, the tumble lock being able to be activated in a targeted manner to decelerate a tumbling conveyed item.

Description

The invention relates to a conveyor arrangement.

At terminals in a parcel distribution center, parcels are loaded into delivery vans or trolleys that are assigned to specific target regions. Via a sorter, for example a cross-belt sorter (e.g. WO 2019/002 048 A1), the packages are sorted and fed to the individual terminals. To overcome height differences, inclined chutes are used between the sorter and the final destination, in which the packages slide down due to gravity. This can lead to damage to the packages. In addition, parcel jams often occur, which can put pressure on the parcels below and damage them as a result.

the EP 1 868 923 B1 discloses a terminal chute with two rollers running transversely to the conveying direction of the chute and driven in the conveying direction. The speed of a roll is chosen to be higher compared to another roll, the closer the respective roll is to the exit side.

the DE 10 2019 119 696 A1 discloses a conveyor device for converting a serially transported piece goods flow into a parallel transported piece goods flow.

the DE 10 2010 005 267 A1 discloses a piece goods distribution system with an automatic sorting system. A manual distribution area and a conveyor are provided. The conveying device has a conveying head with a receiving area for manual placement of piece goods. The conveyor head can be moved in space. the DE 197 19 748 C2 discloses a package handling apparatus for loading and unloading a hold in which the packages are stacked one on top of the other.

EP 2 922 775 B1 discloses a brake reel based on magnetic eddy current. This brake can brake a conveyed item, but cannot hold it at a standstill.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved conveyor arrangement. This is solved by a device according to the main claims; Configurations are the subject of the dependent claims and the description.

The invention envisages reducing the risk of damage to conveyed goods in the vicinity of the end point through targeted improvement.

The invention is characterized by different measures to prevent congestion in connection with the terminal chutes.

The invention is set up in particular for the promotion of postal packages as the item to be conveyed and/or for the promotion of polybags as the item to be conveyed. Polybags are conveyed goods packed with foil without a rigid outer contour.

Goods to be conveyed that are suitable for use, in particular postal parcels, have a weight of 20 kg, which does not exclude the use of lighter and heavier parcels. In particular, the conveying arrangement is set up to convey a conveyed item, in particular a postal parcel weighing 50 kg. In addition, it may also be possible to convey so-called polybags, i.e. conveyed goods that are packaged in a film, such as items of clothing.

An end point is an area where the conveyed goods are stored at least for a short time in order to be taken from there to a delivery truck, for example.

• 1 schematisch den Aufbau einer Ausgestaltung der Förderanordnung in Seitenansicht;
• 2 schematisch den Aufbau einer Ausgestaltung der Förderanordnung in Draufsicht;
• 3 schematisch den Aufbau einer Ausgestaltung der Förderanordnung in Draufsicht;
• 4 schematisch den Aufbau einer Ausgestaltung der Förderanordnung in Draufsicht;
• 5 schematisch den Aufbau einer Ausgestaltung der Förderanordnung in Draufsicht;
• 6 schematisch den Aufbau einer Ausgestaltung der Förderanordnung in unterschiedlichen Ansichten;
• 7 schematisch den Aufbau einer Ausgestaltung der Förderanordnung in Seitenansicht;
• 8 schematisch den Aufbau einer Ausgestaltung der Förderanordnung in Seitenansicht;

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures; herein shows:

• 1 schematically shows the structure of an embodiment of the conveyor arrangement in side view;
• 2 schematically shows the structure of an embodiment of the conveyor arrangement in plan view;
• 3 schematically shows the structure of an embodiment of the conveyor arrangement in plan view;
• 4 schematically shows the structure of an embodiment of the conveyor arrangement in plan view;
• 5 schematically shows the structure of an embodiment of the conveyor arrangement in plan view;
• 6 schematically shows the structure of an embodiment of the conveyor arrangement in different views;
• 7 schematically shows the structure of an embodiment of the conveyor arrangement in side view;
• 8th schematically shows the structure of an embodiment of the conveyor arrangement in side view;

the 1 and 2 show a conveyor arrangement 1. A conveyed item 9, for example a postal parcel, is conveyed by a sorter 7 with a large number of sorting carriages 71. From the sorter 7 the conveyed goods 9 arrive at a terminal 4 via a selected chute from a plurality of chutes 11-19.

The slides each include a takeover area A1, on which there is a slide area A2 connects. In the chute area A2, the item 9 to be conveyed slides downward at least in sections in order to reach a transfer area A3. Rigid lateral guides 51 ensure that the item 9 to be conveyed reaches the end point. In slide area A2, there are sometimes very large differences in height. Due to space optimization, the chute area A2 is therefore very steep, which leads to a high acceleration of the conveyed goods 9 . This could lead to damage to the conveyed goods, especially when they hit the end point 4. In addition, the end points 4 are lined up closely together for reasons of space, so that the width of each end point chute 11 . . . 19 is limited. This can lead to blockages, particularly in the transfer area A1, as shown in the chute 18. The transfer area A1 can taper in the conveying direction F of the chute.

What is not shown in the figures is that a brake band can be provided in the slide area. The brake band is set up to brake conveyed goods that are being conveyed down at high speed. For this purpose, the brake band has a conveyor belt that is operated at low speed in the conveying direction.

3 shows details of a further development of the conveying arrangement 1 as a section 1 . A movable lateral guide 52 is provided, in particular in the transfer area A1. Due to the movable side guide, the width of the chute can be adjusted at least in sections, in particular in the transfer area A1, to the size of the package currently to be transferred. The movement can be done by pivoting or shifting. The movement is effected by an actuator 52A.

4 shows details of a further development of the conveying arrangement 1 as a section 1 . In the takeover area A1, the lateral guide 51 comprises a sliding pad element 53. This sliding pad element 53 prevents or reduces damage to a package hitting the lateral guide. The sliding pad element 53 is on the right in the 4 shown enlarged. It comprises a padding element 531 or a plurality of padding elements 531. For example, padding chips which are usually used for the inner padding of a package with sensitive content can be used for this purpose. However, such cushioning elements usually have an unfavorable coefficient of friction. Therefore, the padding elements are enclosed with a sliding film 532. The sliding film 532 has a lower coefficient of friction than the padding elements. In addition, the sliding foil allows mechanical shocks from the package to pass through to the upholstery elements without being damaged. Such sliding padding elements are known from indoor climbing playgrounds to protect playing children from the hard climbing frame.

5 shows details of a further development of the conveying arrangement 1 as a section 1 . Similar to 4 a dampening lateral guide is provided. The lateral guide 54 can be moved in a damping manner. For this purpose, the lateral guide 54 is flexibly mounted by means of a spring damper arrangement 541 . If a package hits the side guide 54, the side guide can move away in the direction of impact. The spring damper arrangement 541 brakes the movement and returns the lateral guide to an original position.

the 6a and 6b show details of a further development of the conveyor arrangement 1 1 . Two adjacent terminal slides 11,12 each have different minimum widths B. The minimum width B is the smallest width of the respective chute, which insofar defines the maximum package size that can pass through the respective terminal chute. The minimum width B of the first, wider terminal slide 11 is 1 m, for example; the minimum width B of the second, narrower terminal slide 12 is 0.5 m, for example. The two terminal slides 11, 12 can each open into the same terminal 4.

The sorter is programmed in such a way that it carries out the ejection of packages to the respective terminals depending on the package size, provided that the two terminal chutes 11, 12 are each connected to the same sorter at the transfer section A1.

In a further development, the two terminal chutes 11, 12 are connected to different feed devices 7 on the transfer section A1, in particular to different sorters 7. In the present example, the first terminal chute 11 is connected to a first sorter 7a, which is intended in particular for sorting larger packages is; the second terminal chute 12 is connected to a second sorter 7b, which is set up in particular for sorting smaller packages.

The conveyor arrangement can, like 6c shows a pre-sorting station 75 which, based on the size of the respective package, feeds it to one of the sorters 7a, 7b in a targeted manner. A package size detector 76 is provided for determining the size of a package, for example a camera with associated image evaluation. The pre-sorter is set up to feed the packets selectively to one of the sorters 7a, 7b on the basis of the determined size.

7 shows a package 9 which has started to tumble. When it tumbles, the package rotates on its own. It rolls instead of just gliding. Due to the lack of sliding friction, the package accelerates strongly and can therefore hit the end point 4 with increased speed.

The conveyor arrangement now includes a tumble detection 60. There are different possibilities of detection for this purpose.

In a first possibility, the terminal chute is monitored and evaluated by a camera 61 . The visual appearance is characterized by rapid changes in the views of the package; in particular, the visible frontal surface changes at high frequency, depending on whether the package is aligned parallel to the line of sight or at an angle to the line of sight of the camera 61 . With a floating package, the visual appearance changes much more slowly.

In a second option, the terminal chute is monitored using a microphone. The microphone captures a sound profile at the terminal chute. In particular, a tumbling package produces discrete knocking noises when it strikes a surface with an edge.

The images or sound profiles are evaluated by a controller.

The controller 63 can be formed by a self-learning system. For this purpose, films or sound profiles of a large number of moving packages were read in and compared with a manual evaluation.

If a tumbling package is recognized by the tumbling detector 60, then a tumbling lock 64 is activated. The tumbling block 64 is able to at least slow down or stop the tumbling package. In the present case, the tumbling block 64a is a wall which is normally arranged outside the sliding area of the terminal chute (solid line). An actuator 65 activates the somersault lock 64a and shifts it into the sliding area of the terminal slide (dashed line). The tumbling package is at least slowed down or even stopped by the tumbling block 64a. The somersault lock can then be lowered again and the package can slide to the end point.

The somersault can also serve as a backwater barrier. If the end point is filled with packages, there may be a backlog in the slide section. The greater this back pressure, the greater the pressure loads on the packages below, which can lead to damage. With such a backwater barrier, packages lying on top can be supported, so that packages lying above the backwater barrier do not exert any or at most a reduced pressure load on the packages lying below.

In an alternative embodiment, the somersault lock is a safety net 64b, which falls down as needed. In an alternative embodiment, the somersault lock is an air bag that is filled with air as needed. Basically, nothing changes in the activation by the tumble detector 60 .

According to the design 8th shows that terminal 4 is already filled with a large number of packages. There is a risk that subsequent packages will remain in slide area A2 and cannot slide down. This is particularly disadvantageous if the terminal includes a lattice box that is taken away after filling. The design according to 8th now has a direction-changing conveying section 70 in the chute area. The core of the conveying section 70 that changes direction is a position-changeable conveying surface 71 that can be shifted between at least two positions using an actuator 72 . In a first position (solid line), the packages can be deposited on a lower level in the terminal. In a second position, the packages can be deposited on an upper level of the terminal 4, for example on the packages previously deposited. The inclination of the variable-position conveying surface 71 can be adapted to this.

The conveying surface that can be changed in position can be formed by a chute or the upper side of a belt conveyor, in particular a brake belt.

The direction-changing conveying section, the conveying surface that can change position, or the actuator is controlled by a controller. The controller uses the signals of an occupancy sensor 73. The occupancy sensor 73 can be a camera with appropriate image analysis. Alternatively, the occupancy sensor 73 can be a light barrier or a light sensor.

8th shows another solution to the problem mentioned. For this purpose, the terminal 4 itself is adjustable in height. The terminal can be adjusted in height by an actuator 73, in particular lowered, if it has been determined by the occupancy detection that the terminal is filled with a large number of packages.

Reference List

1

conveyor arrangement

4

terminal

7, 7a, 7b

sorter

71

sorting trolley

8th

delivery trucks

9

Goods to be conveyed (parcel)

11-19

terminal slide

51

rigid lateral guidance

52

movable lateral guide

52a

actuator

53

sliding pad element

54

cushioning moveable lateral guide

541

spring damper assembly

60

tumble detection

61

camera

62

microphone

63

steering

64

somersault

65

actuator

70

direction-changing conveyor section of the slide area

71

position-changing conveying surface

72

actuator

73

occupancy sensor

74

steering

75

pre-sorting station

76

Packet Sizer

541

restoring means and/or braking means

A1

transfer area

A2

slide area

A3

transfer area

f

conveying direction

B

minimum width

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• EP 1868923 B1 [0003]
• DE 102019119696 A1 [0004]
• DE 102010005267 A1 [0005]
• DE 19719748 C2 [0005]
• EP 2922775 B1 [0006]

Claims (11)

Conveyor arrangement (1), comprising a terminal chute (11, 12), set up - for receiving a conveyed item (9) at a transfer area (A1), - for transferring the conveyed item (9) at a transfer area (A3), - for transferring the conveyed item (9) in a chute area (A2) from the transfer area (A1) to the transfer area (A3), with the terminal chute being inclined downwards in the conveying direction (F) so that the conveyed goods (9) are conveyed in a sliding manner due to gravity, characterized in that the conveyor arrangement is set up to specifically detect a tumbling conveyed item (9) and/or to brake it in a targeted manner; and/or that the conveying arrangement has a tumble detector (60) which is set up to detect a tumbling conveyed item (9); and/or that the conveyor arrangement has a tumble lock (64) which is set up to at least brake a tumbling conveyed item (9) in a targeted manner, wherein the tumble lock can be activated in a targeted manner for braking a tumbling conveyed item. Conveyor arrangement according to the preceding claim, comprising a plurality of terminal chutes arranged next to one another, each terminal chute being delimited laterally by a lateral guide (51, 52), in particular wherein the lateral guide comprises in particular a rigid lateral guide (51). Conveyor arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lateral guide comprises a movable lateral guide (52), the position of which can be adjusted in a targeted manner, in particular using an actuator (52a), in particular set up for the targeted and/or temporary enlargement of an area, in particular the transfer area ( A1), the associated end point chute (11), in particular wherein the movable lateral guide (52) is assigned to two end point chutes (11, 12) arranged next to one another. Conveyor arrangement according to one of claims 2 or 3 , characterized in that the side guide (51) comprises a sliding cushion element (53) and/or a side guide (54) that can be moved with damping, and/or that the side guide is mounted so that it can be moved with damping in such a way that when a conveyed item (9) hits the Lateral guide (54) which can be moved away in the direction of impact, in particular with restoring means (541) and/or braking means (541) being provided in order to move the lateral guide (54) back into a starting position or to brake the movement. Conveyor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tumble lock (64) can be activated in a targeted manner on the basis of the tumble detection (60) in order to brake the tumbling conveyed item (9). Conveyor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a direction-changing conveyor section (70) which is set up to selectively influence the conveying direction of the conveyed goods (9) in the chute area (A2) immediately before reaching the end point (4), so that the conveyed goods (9) can be transferred selectively to different areas of the terminal (4) at the transfer area (A3). Conveyor arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the direction-changing conveyor section (70) comprises a position-variable conveyor surface (71). Conveyor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end point (4) can be selectively adjusted in height by means of a height adjustment, in particular by means of an actuator (73) for the height adjustment. Conveyor arrangement according to one of Claims 6 until 8th , characterized in that the direction-changing conveying section (70) and/or the height adjustment is controlled based on an occupancy detection (73, 74) of the end point, in particular such that a position of the position-changing conveying surface (71) and/or the height of the end point (4th ) is set on the basis of the occupancy detection, in particular using an actuator (72, 72). Conveyor arrangement according to one of Claims 5 until 9 , characterized in that the position-variable conveying surface (71) comprises an underlying support surface or an upright side guide surface. Conveyor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one sorter and/or at least one first delivery device (7a) and one second delivery device (7b) as the delivery device (7).

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