• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A conveyor (10) for containers (70) comprising a feed conveyor (12), discharge conveyor (16) and drop conveyor (20) for vertically conveying and / or stacking containers (70) with passive braking in the form of compressed air, said drop conveyor (20) comprising: - a multi-walled, side (XZ) closed shaft (24); - a transfer station (30) disposed at an upper longitudinal end (28) of the shaft (24) and adapted in a first position at least one container from an infeed conveyor (12) and to hold the container (70) at the upper longitudinal end (28) of the shaft (24), and in a second position, the accepted and held container (70) for a free fall ( 78) into the well (24); a removal station (34) located at a lower longitudinal end (32) of the well (24); and a control device (52) for coordinating a supply of the container (70) into the transfer station (30), holding the container (70) in the transfer station (30), triggering a dropping operation of the container (70) into the slot ( 24), a free fall (78) of the bundle (70) within the well (24) and removal of the bundle (70) from the removal station (34) when the bundle (70) at the lower longitudinal end (32) of the well (24) arrived.
    公开号:AT13398U1
    申请号:TGM229/2011U
    申请日:2011-04-19
    公开日:2013-12-15
    发明作者:
    申请人:Ssi Schaefer Peem Gmbh；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    esiefrecfcisÄts fiäfeü disguises AT13 398U1 2013-12-15
    The present invention relates to a conveyor system for use in storage and order picking, wherein the conveyor has a drop conveyor for vertical transport and stacking of containers, especially containers, trays, boxes or the like, with a passive braking in the form of compressed air and a method for vertically conveying and stacking the above-mentioned containers.
    Below a container is below a conveyor technically manageable unit, such. a container, a tray, a carton or the like, understood to be moved manually or with technical equipment.
    The containers will be described below by way of example in the form of containers. It is understood that the following description for container of course applies to other types of containers.
    Under a conveyor is hereinafter understood a technical organizational means for moving and transporting containers. There are numerous types of conveyors, such as Belt conveyors, roller conveyors, swing conveyors, drag chain conveyors, gravity roller conveyors, vibratory conveyors, skid conveyors, continuous conveyors, telescopic belt conveyors, chain conveyors, discontinuous conveyors and others.
    A vertical conveyor is a device for preferably automatic operation for height bridging of the containers within a material flow system, such as e.g. in a storage and picking plant. There are often stationary lifts or lifts used as a vertical conveyor. The vertical conveyors usually have a load handling means, e.g. a lifting or telescopic fork of a storage and retrieval device, for receiving and delivering a container, such. a pallet. In shelf-mounted cranes, the load-carrying device is usually movable along a vertical mast with the aid of a hoist. The stacker crane itself can be moved horizontally (free or guided).
    The German utility model DE 20 2005 02 292 U1 describes a vertical conveyor in a picking system for the vertical conveying of piece goods like conveyed goods. Here, therefore, no containers, but the cargo itself transported vertically. The prior art vertical conveyor is constructed tower-like, in the vertical direction, a plurality of downwardly openable folding walls or laterally slidably mounted sliders is provided to drop piece goods level by opening and closing the flap walls or slide from top to bottom. The winding tower is open at the side. The respective drop height from one level to the next level is chosen so that the cargo is not damaged as possible. To overcome high altitudes, therefore, many levels - and thus folding walls or slide - necessary.
    Furthermore, in the prior art vertical conveyor in the form of circulating Paternosteraufzüge within order picking a Kornmissionieranlage known. So-called recirculating C-conveyors and circulating S-conveyors are disclosed in EP 0 396 925 A1. These vertical conveyors have the disadvantage that a platform must be provided for guiding the conveyed, which is guided by means of a drive height adjustable in the vertical direction. This is energy, material and construction-consuming.
    An extension of the known vertical conveyor in terms of scaling is not readily possible.
    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a vertical conveyor, the low-energy, can be operated with little material and as possible without guide elements. In particular, the vertical conveyor should be flexibly adaptable to differently sized and weighty containers.
    In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified method for conveying and / or stacking containers vertically. Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a conveyor system in which a vertical conveying and / or stacking of containers is to be accomplished as simply as possible.
    This object is achieved with a drop conveyor for vertical conveying and / or stacking of containers, in particular of containers, trays or boxes and that solved with passive braking in the form of compressed air, wherein the fall conveyor has: a multi-walled, laterally closed and preferably in the longitudinal direction at least unilaterally open shaft; a transfer station, which is arranged at an upper longitudinal end of the shaft and which is adapted to take over in a first position at least one container from an infeed conveyor, preferably automatically, and to hold the container at the upper longitudinal end of the shaft, preferably horizontally, and in a second position release the taken over and held container into the shaft for a free fall; a removal station disposed at a lower longitudinal end of the shaft; and control means for coordinating delivery of the package to the transfer station, holding the package in the transfer station, initiating a dropping operation of the package into the pit, free fall of the package within the pit and removal of the package from the removal station Container has arrived at the lower longitudinal end of the shaft.
    With the case conveyor according to the invention, shaft heights of 30 m and more can be easily measured in " free fall " fall through, without a load handling device, a recording platform o.Ä. would be provided for the container. If the control device drops the container into the shaft, the air is compressed in the direction of fall in front of the container and can handle the container laterally by a gap between the container and the shaft walls. Similar to a train in a tunnel, the falling container pushes an air cushion in front of it, by which the case is passively braked.
    The vertical transport from top to bottom is only due to gravity, so that a separate drive to overcome a height difference is not needed. The same applies to the load-carrying means or a receiving platform and an associated guide for these elements.
    The inventors have recognized that the air resistance of a falling container, which increases quadratically with the falling speed, can be advantageously exploited. Based on the fact that a free falling body may have a falling limit speed (e.g., 55 m / s and 198 km / h in a human body, for example), the falling limit speed depends on how large an attack surface of the falling body is. A person in a vertical orientation with head first has a significantly lower air resistance than with spread arms and legs, so that speeds up to just over 500 km / h can be achieved. Conversely, of course, the smaller an area that the air flowing past the falling body remains in relation to the resistance area of the falling body, the lower the falling limit velocity will be.
    In this way, it is possible to drop containers (with or without charge) with weights of up to 50 kg and more easily over a height difference of up to 30 m, without the container or the charge contained therein are damaged.
    In a preferred embodiment, at least one well wall is perforated in the longitudinal direction such that the shaft during the free fall of the container through the shaft by means of the control device targeted air, preferably fall height dependent, is supplied or withdrawn.
    By an additional supply of air in the direction of fall in front of the container, the brake effect causing air cushion is additionally reinforced by more air must be displaced at a constant volume. The air in front of the falling container is thus compressed by the air supply.
    If the container falls too slowly, the air column or the air cushion before the falling
    teresäBscHts p3) "r: iä! St AT13 398U1 2013-12-15
    Can be diluted by deprivation (e.g., vacuum).
    The shaft has in particular a substantially rectangular cross-section, wherein preferably two opposite shaft walls are perforated and wherein each hole of the perforation is connected to a pneumatic circuit.
    Most commercial containers have a rectangular continuous base, e.g. Containers, trays or boxes. Therefore, the shaft also has a substantially rectangular cross-section perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, so that the air in the intermediate space, which forms between the shaft walls and the falling container flows as laminar as possible on the falling container.
    It is understood, however, that the cross-section of the shaft, e.g. may also be circular, if containers are to fall with a circular base through the shaft.
    When the air is diluted or compressed in front of the falling bundles by supplying or discharging air through holes in the two facing shaft walls, the air density distribution is sufficiently homogeneous to prevent overturning or twisting of the falling bundle during the fall. If the air density distribution is not homogeneous, lateral lateral forces can act on the falling container, which in the worst case can tip over the falling container during free fall. Such a rotation of the falling container can lead to the dissolution of the air cushion in front of the falling container - and thus to the falling of the falling container within the shaft.
    In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one of the shaft walls is adjustable relative to the other shaft walls such that a size of a base of the shaft is variably adaptable to a size of a base of the container.
    By one or more shaft walls can be adjusted relative to the remaining shaft walls, the base of the shaft can be optimally adapted to the base of the falling container. In this way it is also possible to handle differently sized containers with one and the same drop conveyor. Furthermore, it is thus at least possible to handle different sized containers for predetermined periods of time. Usually, however, only containers with a fixed dimensioning are preferably handled with the invention.
    Furthermore, it is advantageous if the shaft walls define a laterally airtight tube which is open at the upper longitudinal end and substantially closable at the lower longitudinal end.
    Over the open, upper longitudinal end of the air can escape from the shaft. By closing the opposite lower end of the shaft, the braking air cushion can form in front of the falling container. Air leaks in the shaft walls are avoided, as otherwise they could cause inhomogeneities of the braking effect causing air volumes and flows.
    In a further particular embodiment, the removal station comprises in the region of the lower longitudinal end of the shaft an openable and closable opening, wherein the opening by means of the control device, preferably pneumatically, can be opened and closed to a container, which after free fall has arrived through the shaft in the removal station, to be able to remove laterally or longitudinally from the shaft.
    The closable opening in the region of the lower longitudinal end of the shaft allows the sealing of the space in front of the falling container during the fall and opening of the lower shaft end for the purpose of removing the fallen container after the container has reached the bottom.
    Furthermore, it is preferred if one or more shaft-dividing elements, in particular plates, sheets or a plurality of bolts, are provided in the shaft, which laterally extend and at longitudinal intervals can be activated and deactivated.
    With the help of the shaft dividing elements, an overall height of the shaft can be subdivided into smaller shaft sections or segments, with the above-described braking principle being used unchanged. If plates or sheets are used, they close the respective shaft section down. If laterally (horizontally) into the shaft projecting bolts are used, which need not necessarily extend over the entire width of the shaft, containers are mechanically braked to a speed and held at the level of the bolts. In this case, the container itself acts as a parting plane to form an air cushion over it for the next falling container. This of course assumes that the container itself has a continuous base.
    The segmentation of the shaft into smaller shaft sections in the vertical direction has the advantage that, especially for very large height differences, can be removed at the lower end of the container, the opening of the removal station is in its open position, while at the same time more containers fall into the shaft or stay. In this way, an increase in throughput (container / hour) is possible.
    Preferably, the transfer station has a weighing unit.
    With the help of the weighing unit can be determined whether a container that is prepared for free fall may be too heavy. If the weighing unit operates in a local resolution, uneven weight distributions within the container can be recorded and evaluated. Thus, containers whose weight is e.g. distributed left or right side is concentrated, to be sorted out before the free fall. In this way it is possible to prevent downtime of the drop conveyor and damage to the container.
    In particular, one or more light barriers for detecting containers passing in the longitudinal direction are arranged in the shaft.
    With the help of the light barriers, the time and the distance traveled can be detected, from which in turn the speed of the falling container can be calculated. If the speed is too high, the air can be compressed in front of the falling container. If the speed is too small, the air can be evacuated before the falling container.
    In particular, a base of the shaft is adapted to a base of the container so that a minimum distance is provided at any height of the shaft between each of the shaft walls and the free-falling container. The smaller the distance, the greater the braking effect. Maximum distances can be e.g. in the case of a conventional container (base area, for example, 400 × 600 mm 2) ± 50 mm or ± 10% of the respective side length.
    This limitation of the laterally available space through which the air cushion can degrade before the falling container, it is guaranteed that fall regardless of the size and geometry of their base undamaged by the fall conveyor. It is understood that a base of the container is substantially closed.
    With a maximum distance of e.g. 15 mm containers with a weight of up to 50 kg can safely fall through a, for example, 600 x 400 mm large shaft cross-section.
    Moreover, it is advantageous if the transfer station has one or more, preferably pneumatically operated, actuator units which are extendable in the first position of the transfer station such that the container laterally held on a threaded bottom or projecting threaded edge above the shaft and at a fall is prevented in the shaft, and which are retracted in the second position of the transfer station such that the previously held over the shaft container is released and falls into the shaft.
    The actuator thus blocks in a first position the way for the container to fall through the drop conveyor. In the other position the way is released. In this case, it is possible for the actuator unit to be moved laterally transversely (i.e., for example, horizontally) into the shaft cross section and retracted or pivoted into the cross section of the shaft by means of a rotational movement. 4.19
    Furthermore, the above object is achieved by a conveyor for containers with a feed conveyor, a drop conveyor according to the invention and a discharge conveyor, wherein the feed conveyor is preferably a roller conveyor and the discharge conveyor is preferably a belt conveyor ,
    In addition, the above object is achieved by a method for vertically conveying and / or stacking containers in a drop conveyor, which is preferably formed as described above, the method comprising the following steps: fitting a base of a shaft to a base a container to be conveyed vertically so that an air cushion builds up in the direction of fall in front of the container during a free fall of the container longitudinally through the shaft, which brakes the free fall of the container in the shaft so that the container is not damaged; Picking up the container in a transfer station; Releasing the container; If necessary, influencing the air pressure in the shaft in the direction of fall in front of the container by supplying and / or removing air.
    Further, it is preferred that a falling speed of the container, preferably by means of optical sensors, during the free fall of the container through the shaft in real time is determined such that the shaft at least in the direction of fall in front of the container when exceeding or falling below a desired Fall speed of the container air is additionally added or removed.
    It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained not only in the combination given, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
    Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a conveyor system according to the invention with a conveyor system according to the invention. FIG
    Drop conveyor according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of another drop conveyor according to the vorlie invention in section; FIG. 3 shows a still further embodiment of a drop conveyor according to the invention in a lateral section; FIG. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the drop conveyor of Fig. 1; FIG. 5 shows a variably adjustable base area of the drop conveyor according to the present invention
    Invention; Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a method according to the present invention.
    In the following description of the invention, the same elements and features are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures. Similar or slightly modified features are provided with similar reference numerals. Differences between different embodiments will be explicitly noted. Otherwise, features are the same.
    Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a conveyor 10 according to the present invention.
    The conveyor 10 includes a feed conveyor 12 for supplying containers, not shown here (containers, trays, boxes, etc.) in the form of a belt conveyor 14 with endless circulating belt. Furthermore, a discharge conveyor 16 in the form of a belt conveyor 18 is provided. Both the feed conveyor 12 and the discharge conveyor 16 extend substantially in a horizontally oriented plane (XZ plane). It is understood that the feed conveyor 12 and the discharge conveyor 16 may be of any type of conveyor.
    The feed conveyor 12 is provided in an upper portion of a drop conveyor 20. The 5/19
    AT 13 398 U1 2013-12-15
    Drop conveyor 20 is a multi-wall structure that extends substantially in the height direction Y, which coincides with the longitudinal extension of the drop conveyor 20 in the embodiment of the drop conveyor 20 of FIG. 1. The feed conveyor 12 adjoins the top of the drop conveyor 20. The discharge conveyor 16 adjoins the bottom of the drop conveyor 20. In Fig. 1, the belt conveyor 18 passes directly under a lower longitudinal end 32 of the drop conveyor 20 to substantially close the drop conveyor 20 from below substantially.
    A length of the drop conveyor 20 in the longitudinal direction Y corresponds to a height difference to be bridged between the feed conveyor 12 and the discharge conveyor 16.
    The drop conveyor 20 is held here by way of example in a frame or frame 22 formed with two cheeks.
    In its interior, the drop conveyor 20 defines an exemplary rectangular slot 24. The shaft 24 is limited here by way of example by four shaft walls 26-1 to 26-4. The shaft walls 26 are formed continuously flat and have, with a few exceptions, which will be discussed later, no holes, recesses or the like in order to keep the shaft 24 in the horizontal direction (XZ) as close as possible.
    The shaft 24 has an upper longitudinal end 28, in the region of which a transfer station 30 is arranged. The shaft 24 also has a lower longitudinal end 32, in the region of which a removal station 34 is arranged.
    The transfer station 30 comprises an actuator unit 36, here exemplarily four pneumatic cylinders with pistons 38, which are arranged in the walls 26-2 and 26-4 at the upper longitudinal end 32 of the shaft 24. The pistons 38 can be moved into an interior of the duct 24 by means of compressed air and can also be withdrawn from there so that they completely submerge in their respective shaft walls 26-2 and 26-4. In the extended state, the pistons 38 hold a container at the upper longitudinal end 28 of the shaft 20 and thus prevent the container thus held from falling into the shaft 24.
    It is understood that the actuator unit 36 may be formed diverse. Alternatively to the pneumatic cylinders with pistons 38, e.g. comb-like grippers are used, which can be pivoted into the interior of the shaft 24 and out of the interior of the shaft 24. This will be explained in more detail in connection with FIG.
    In addition, it is understood that the actuator unit 36 can also be operated electrically or in any other way. However, the use of compressed air is advisable because the two shaft walls 26-2 and 26-4 of the shaft 24 are each part of a compressed air chamber 40.
    In Fig. 1, the compressed air chamber 40 is shown at the shaft wall 26-4 in a partially open state for the purpose of a better and easier understanding. In addition to the shaft wall 26-4, the compressed air chamber 40 visible in FIG. 1 comprises laterally circumferential chamber walls 42, wherein a vertical part of the shaft wall 26-1 also simultaneously forms one of the chamber walls 42 for the compressed air chamber 40. Parallel to the shaft wall 26-4, which actually represents a rear wall of the visible compressed-air chamber 40 in the representation of FIG. 1, a further chamber wall 42 is actually provided, which is essentially the same size as the shaft wall 26-4 and omitted here for reasons of illustration was to provide an insight into an interior of the compressed air chamber 40.
    The left, in the longitudinal direction Y extending chamber wall 42 has an opening 44 to which a pneumatic line 46 is connected. The pneumatic line 46 is part of a not shown in detail and designated pneumatic circuit.
    The rear wall of the compressed air chamber 40 or the shaft wall 26-4 is perforated towards the interior of the shaft 24. In Fig. 1, the perforation comprises a plurality of holes 50, which are arranged here by way of example in two longitudinal rows, with two holes 15 each in pairs opposite. 19.6
    The holes 50 each have a diameter which is many times smaller than the dimensions of the shaft wall 26-4. Therefore, in the embodiment of the drop conveyor 20 shown in FIG. 1, the openings 50 may also be permanently open.
    It is understood that, as will be explained in more detail below, the openings 50 may alternatively be configured in groups or individually openable and closable. With the openings 50, an amount of air, preferably height-dependent, within the shaft 24 can be regulated. For this purpose, air, or another suitable gas, via the pneumatic line 46 and / or discharged.
    Each drop conveyor 20 may be provided with its own controller 52 or may be connected to a higher level controller (e.g., material flow computer, warehouse management computer, etc.) of the conveyor 10.
    However, the controller 52 may also be e.g. be realized by a PLC, a PC, a microcomputer or the like. The controller 52 is connected to a pressure regulator 54 via a data line 56 or wirelessly via a connection 58. The pressure control device 54 is in turn connected to the pneumatic circuit or the pneumatic line 46.
    The control device 52 is also connected to the transfer station 30 and the removal station 34, as indicated by two further data lines 56 in FIG. 1 by way of example.
    It is understood that the control device 52 may be connected to other elements of the drop conveyor 20, which are not shown in Fig. 1, but will be explained in more detail below. The controller 52 coordinates a " free fall " a container from top to bottom through the shaft 24 to overcome a height difference. The case is not actually "free" because it can be slowed or accelerated from the outside.
    The controller 52 further controls e.g. a door 60, which is part of the removal station 34. The door 60 conceals a nearly equal opening in the hoistway wall 26-1, through which containers dropped through the hoistway 24 are conveyed out of the hoistway 24 by means of the outfeed conveyor 16, which in turn is likewise connected to the control device 52 can. The door 60 is here e.g. in vertical rails 62 guided such that the door 60 - preferably pneumatically - can be moved up to the opening of the shaft 24 and down to close the shaft 24, as shown by an example by a double arrow 64 in Fig. 1.
    Further, it will be understood that sealing elements (such as sealing rubbers) may be provided at impacting interfaces to prevent as much as possible leakage of air in the horizontal direction (XZ) or downwards. Although a small air gap may be provided between the lower longitudinal end 32 of the well 24 and the belt conveyor 18 of the discharge conveyor 16, i. Although the lower longitudinal end 32 may not be hermetically sealed, the braking effect to be described below in the free fall of a container through the interior of the duct 24 in the form of an air cushion, which builds up in the fall direction in front of the container set.
    Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional side view of a modified drop conveyor 20 according to the present invention, looking in the Z direction into the interior of the shaft 24.
    Instead of providing the shaft walls 26-2 and 26-4 with holes 50 for the supply and discharge of air, here e.g. the opposite shaft walls 26-1 and 26-3 provided with corresponding holes 50. FIG. 2 shows a situation in which air is blown into the interior of the shaft 24 through the openings 50. This is shown by a plurality of horizontal arrows arranged in the vertical direction along the shaft walls 26-1 and 26-3.
    2, a container 70 in the form of a container 72 is shown for the first time, as he 7/19
    feirrelösse-ts fiUteStAte AT13 398U1 2013-12-15 usually used in a small parts warehouse (AKL). The container 72 has an edge (cubic) edge 74 which runs around in the horizontal direction (XZ) and adjoins container walls tapering conically downwards for stackability and terminating in a preferably continuous bottom of the container 72. The bottom preferably has no openings, recesses or the like. A top view of the container 72 is shown in FIG. 4. The containers 72 may also be empty containers which are located in the region of the shaft, i. at the foot of the shaft, be merged into a pile. The empty containers are then already nested to save space. The number of empty containers in the stack can be easily controlled.
    Referring to Fig. 2, a situation is shown in which the container 72 has been conveyed to the transfer station 30 via the belt conveyor 14 of the infeed conveyor 12, as shown by an arrow 76.
    The transfer station 30 of FIG. 2 has a total of four pneumatic cylinders, of which only two pneumatic cylinders with pistons 38 can be seen in FIG. These four pneumatic cylinders form the actuator unit 36.
    In Fig. 2, the pistons 38 of the pneumatic cylinders are extended and arranged at such a height relative to the upper run of the belt conveyor 14 that the container 42 alone by driving the belt conveyor 14 with a bottom of its peripheral edge 74 on the extended piston 38 is transported and handed over.
    If it is optionally ensured that the container 72 is preferably oriented horizontally and that a weight distribution is preferably homogeneous, the container can be dropped.
    Then, the controller 52 releases the container 72 by retracting the pistons 38. Once the container 72 has arrived in the removal station 34, as illustrated in FIG. 2 in the form of a container 72 shown in phantom, the container 72 can be removed by means of the discharge conveyor 16 to the left or right, as with the two Arrows 80 is indicated. For this purpose, the removal station 34 of FIG. 2, two doors 60 ', which are provided in a lower portion of the shaft walls 26-1 and 26-3 and which can be pivoted about a pivot axis 82 upwards, as with the aid of two arrows 84 is indicated.
    The discharge conveyor 16 is realized here by way of example as a roller conveyor 86.
    Within the duct 24, one or more light barriers 88 may be provided, the light beam of which extends substantially horizontally (XZ) between two opposite shaft walls 26. 2, three light barriers 88-1 to 88-3 are provided, wherein a first light barrier 88-1 is arranged in the region of the upper opening of the shaft 24 in order to be able to detect the entry of the container 72 into the shaft 24. A second photocell 88-2 is e.g. arranged at mid-height of the shaft 24, with a known distance to the first light barrier 88-1. As soon as the container 72 passes through the second light barrier 88-2, the time required for the container 72 to fall through the distance between the first light barrier 88-1 and the second light barrier 88-2 is detected. This time is either signaled to the controller 52 or calculated in the controller 52. The path length between the light barriers 88-1 and 88-2 is stored in the control device 52 or can also be signaled from an external data source. Based on this data, the control unit 52 may determine the falling speed at the location of the second photocell 88-2. The thus determined rate of fall may be compared to one or more limit speeds (depending on how many photocells are distributed over the length of the well 24). If the respective comparison reveals that the container 72 falls too fast through the shaft 24, the control device 52 can cause air in the shaft 24 on the remaining drop distance (path between the second light barrier 88-2 and the third light barrier 88-3) is injected to increase the amount of air in the direction of fall 78 in front of the falling container 72. A so formed air cushion in front of the falling container 72 reduces the falling speed of the container 72.
    However, if the determined by the controller 52 falling speed too low compared to a limit speed, the amount of air in front of the falling container 72 can also be reduced by 50 air is sucked through the holes.
    Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of a drop conveyor 20 according to the present invention in a schematic side sectional view.
    The feed conveyor 14 is not shown. The removal station 34 'comprises no doors 60 or 60', but a lifting table 104, as will be explained in more detail below.
    Instead of containers 72, cartons 90 are handled in FIG. 3. The cartons 90 are piled up inside the shaft 24 in the vertical direction Y one above the other to form a stack.
    The actuator unit 36 'here consists of a pair of comb-like grippers 92, which are arranged on the outer edges of two opposite shaft walls pivotally about a rotation axis 95. The actuator unit 36 'is signal-wise connected to a weighing unit 91, such as e.g. one or more strain gauges in conjunction or includes these. The weighing unit 91 in turn communicates with the controller 52 via e.g. a data line 56. By means of the weighing unit 91 can be determined whether the weight distribution of the carton 90 is homogeneous relative to its base.
    To release a carton 90, the gripper unit 92 may be pivoted vertically with its gripper fingers 94 downwardly to clear a path for the carton 90 into the interior of the well 24.
    When the well 24 is particularly long, e.g. 30 m or longer, it may be advantageous if multiple boxes 90 can be handled simultaneously in the slot 24.
    For this reason, the well 24 can be longitudinally extended (Y-direction) by means of well dividing elements 96, e.g. a plate-shaped slider 98, which can be arbitrarily inserted in the horizontal direction 100 from the outside into the interior of the shaft 24, as indicated in Fig. 3 with a dashed line 98 ', an upper shaft segment 102-1 and a lower shaft segment 102-2 be formed. In this sense, two shorter shafts 24 and fall conveyor 20 are then directly above one another and the previously explained concept could be carried out separately for each of the shaft segments 102.
    It is understood that the drop conveyor 20 of FIG. 3 may be provided with openings 50 in one or more shaft walls 26. Depending on the weight and height difference but may also be dispensed with an external air supply and discharge.
    In addition, one or more light barriers 88 can also be used in the case conveyor 20 of FIG. 3. Furthermore, it is understood that the working on an optical measuring principle photocells 88 can also be replaced by capacitive or inductive sensor units. Further, it is possible to make one or more of the well walls 26 of a transparent material such that the free fall 78 of a bundle 70 is e.g. can be tracked in real time using a high-speed camera.
    In the drop conveyor 20 of FIG. 3, a plurality of cartons 90 are formed at the lower longitudinal end 32 of the well 24 into a stack. When the stack of cartons 90 has reached a desired height, the lift table 104 can be lowered by its scissor legs 108 terminating in a base plate 106 to be raised again after removal of the stack, as illustrated by an arrow 110 , The discharge conveyor 16 is not shown in FIG. 3 for ease of illustration, as well as the feed conveyor 12.
    Fig. 4 shows the drop conveyor 20 of Fig. 2 in a plan view.
    isterreidiiscises AT13 398U1 2013-12-15 It will be appreciated that the container 72 is held over the well 24 by the extended pistons 38 in the XZ plane.
    A base of the well 24 is adapted to a footprint of the container 72 in terms of both geometry and size, as will be discussed in detail in connection with FIG. 5. The footprint of the container 72 is slightly smaller than the footprint of the well 24. The container 72 is spaced from the first well wall 26-1 by a distance d1. The same applies to the remaining shaft walls 26-2 to 26-4 and the remaining distances d2 to d4.
    It has proved to be advantageous if a maximum distance d of 15 mm is not exceeded. By adhering to these parameters, it is ensured that the container 72 is sufficiently braked solely by an air cushion forming in front of the container 72 during the free fall 78.
    In order to be able to react flexibly to different container sizes, one or more shaft walls 26 can be made variable in their length and designed to be displaceable with regard to their position.
    In Fig. 5, the first shaft wall 26-1 and the fourth shaft wall 26-4 foldable formed in order to set any length can.
    The solid lines surround a base 111 of the duct 24 that is smaller than a base 113 of the duct 24 of FIG. 5. The base 113 can be adjusted by moving the first well wall 26-1 outward in the X direction and extending in the Z direction about a wall segment 112, e.g. is unfolded. The same applies to the fourth shaft wall 26-4, which is moved in the Z direction until the 26-4 'be-signed position is reached, and which is also extended by a wall segment 112 by folding out.
    It is understood that the walls 26 can be extended or shortened in other ways. The shaft walls 26 may be of modular construction in that extension elements are laterally attachable and removable. The shaft walls 26 could be designed in several parts, wherein individual parts are mounted displaceably to each other so that they can partially overlap, if the length of the corresponding shaft wall to be shortened.
    Referring now to Figures 6A and 6B, a flow chart of a method 120 according to the present invention is shown. It is understood that not all of the steps explained below must necessarily be carried out in order to be able to carry out the method 120 of the present invention. The following description of the method 120 according to the invention is intended to show as many variations as possible.
    In FIG. 6A, the method 120 according to the invention begins with a step 122, in which a geometric size and shape of the shaft 24 are adapted to a geometry and size of the container 70, as shown by way of example in FIG. 4 (ratio base area of the container) Container to base of the shaft) and Fig. 5 (changing the base of the shaft) is shown as an example. When sizing has taken place, cans 70 can be transferred from the feeder 12 to the transfer station 30 by sliding the package 70 onto or into the actuator unit 36, preferably by means of the feeder 12, which in turn, depending on the embodiment, at different heights relative to the upper Longitudinal end 28 of the shaft 24 may be positioned (compare, for example, the actuator units 36 in Figs. 2 and 3).
    In a step 124 it can be queried whether a container 70 is located in the transfer station 30. For this, e.g. the weighing unit 91, which in this case indicates a weight of the container 70, or another sensor, e.g. a light barrier, which detects the entrance of the container 70 in the transfer station 30. These information and information to be described in more detail below are transmitted to the control unit 52, which in turn reacts accordingly and initiates suitable further steps. Will in step 124 10/19
    AT13 398U1 2013-12-15 found that no container 70 is in the transfer station 30, it is waited in a step 126 until a container 70 is actually in the transfer station 30. If, on the other hand, there is a container 70 in the transfer station 30, it can be checked in a query 128 whether the container 30 is positioned horizontally above the shaft 24. The container 30 is then sufficient " horizontal " positioned when the bottom of the container 70 is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the shaft 24. In the examples of Figs. 1 to 3, the longitudinal direction of the wells 24 is parallel to the Y-axis. It is understood that the longitudinal extension of the shaft 24 need not be oriented parallel to the Y-axis (vertical). The longitudinal extension of the shaft 24 may also be inclined at an angle α with respect to the vertical, the angle α being less than 90 °. The shaft 24 then has the shape of a rhombohedron. If more or fewer than four well walls 26 are required to conform to the shape of the base of the container 70, the well 24 corresponds to a straight prism (parallelepiped).
    Further, it should be understood that when viewed from " floor area " is spoken of the container 70 and is spoken, the area of a projection of the container 70 in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 40 is meant (see Fig. 4).
    If the query 128 that the container 70 is not properly oriented relative to the upper opening 28 of the shaft 24, the actuators of the actuator unit 36 in a step 130, preferably individually, raised and / or lowered. This is shown by way of example in FIG. 3 with two double arrows (in the Y direction) in the comb-like gripping unit 92. The pneumatic cylinder with piston 38 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be arranged to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 24. In this case, sometimes small paths in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 24 are sufficient to align the container 70 correctly with respect to the upper opening 28 of the shaft 24.
    If the query 128 shows that the container 70 is aligned correctly, it can be queried in a step 132 whether a weight of the container 70 in the transfer station 30 is sufficiently homogeneously distributed. Storage containers in an AKL, each storing a plurality of small piece goods, can e.g. be unevenly loaded over their base area, because permanently packaged goods are added or removed for picking purposes. In order to balance such inhomogeneities with respect to a weight distribution, in a step 134 e.g. by shaking it is attempted to distribute the weight more evenly over the base of the container 70. For this, e.g. the actuators of the actuator unit 36 are independently raised and lowered independently of each other, e.g. with the mechanism as written above in connection with step 130. Alternative vibrators, e.g. horizontally to the outside of the container 70 abutting pins or slides or the like, are also possible.
    [00110] Depending on the customer's request, the queries 124, 128 and 132 may or may not be performed by the control unit 52. Subsequently, in a step 136, the actuators of the actuator unit 36 are deactivated so that the transfer station 30 changes to its second operating position. In the first operating position, the container 70 is held above the shaft 24. In the second operating position, the container 70 is released to free fall. In the example of FIG. 2, this means that the pistons 38 of the pneumatic cylinders are withdrawn from the shaft 24. In the example of FIG. 3, this means that the comb-like gripper unit 92 is pivoted vertically downwards out of the shaft 24 about the axis 95.
    The method 120 then continues in FIG. 6B.
    In a query 138, it may be determined whether the free fall drop 70 reached within the well 24 is too large (compare step 138-1) or too small (compare step 138-2). This can e.g. by means of the light barriers 88 (see FIG. 2), which provide data needed to determine the current fall rate. The control device 52 can then compare the currently determined fall speed with predetermined fall speeds. The default fall speeds are u.a. depending on the current height of falling container 70 in 11/19 Austrian; · AT 13 398 U1 2013-12-15
    Shaft 24, the size of the base of the container 70, and the weight of the container 70.
    If it is determined in the query 138-1 that the falling speed is too high, the control unit 52 can cause more air to be blown in the direction of fall in front of the falling container 70 into the shaft 24. In this sense, an air column condenses in front of the falling container 70 and thus increases the friction, so that the falling speed is lowered.
    If it is determined in step 138-2 that the fall rate is too low, air can be evacuated from the well 24 so that the air column dilutes before the falling bundle 70. This leads to a reduction of the frictional resistance for the container 70, so that the falling speed increases.
    In this connection, it should be noted that the pressure chamber 40 represented continuously in FIG. 1 can be divided into a plurality of smaller sub-pressure chambers depending on the height, up to a single control of each individual opening 50 in the perforated shaft walls 26.
    If the currently determined fall speed is within a predefined fall speed range, it can be queried in a step 140 whether the bundle 70 has arrived at the removal station 34. For this purpose, at the entrance of the removal station, e.g. a photocell 88 (see 88-3 in Fig. 2) may be provided. Alternatively, for example, a pressure or weight sensor could be provided at the lower end 32 of the well 24, which outputs a signal when loaded.
    If the container 70 arrived in the removal station 34, so it can be removed in a step 142 by means of the discharge conveyor 16.
    It is understood that the method described above, of course, in the formation of a stack of containers 70 (see Fig. 3) applies. 12/19
    权利要求:
    Claims (14)
    [1]


    A conveyor system (10) for containers (70) with a feed conveyor (12), a discharge conveyor (16) and a drop conveyor (20) for vertical transport and / or stacking of containers (70 ), in particular containers (72), shelves or boxes (90), with passive braking in the form of compressed air, said drop conveyor (20) comprising: a multi-walled, side (XZ) closed, and preferably longitudinally (Y) at least one side open, shaft (24); a transfer station (30) which is arranged at an upper longitudinal end (28) of the shaft (24) and which is adapted, in a first position, to take over at least one container from a feeding conveyor (12), preferably automatically, and to transport the container ( 70) at the upper longitudinal end (28) of the shaft (24), preferably horizontally, and in a second position release the captured and held container (70) for free fall (78) into the shaft (24); a removal station (34) disposed at a lower longitudinal end (32) of the well (24); and control means (52) for coordinating feeding of the can (70) into the transfer station (30), holding the can (70) in the transfer station (30), initiating a dropping operation of the can (70) into the hopper (24 ), a free fall (78) of the bundle (70) within the well (24) and a removal of the bundle (70) from the removal station (34) when the bundle (70) at the lower longitudinal end (32) of the well ( 24) arrived.
    [2]
    2. Conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein at least one shaft wall (26) is perforated in such a way in the longitudinal direction (Y) that the shaft (24) during the free fall (78) of the container (70) through the shaft (24) by means of Control device (52) selectively air, preferably fall height dependent, fed and / or withdrawn.
    [3]
    3. Conveying system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shaft (24) has a substantially rectangular cross-section (111, 133), wherein preferably two opposite shaft walls (26-2, 26-4) are perforated and wherein each hole (50 ) of the perforation is connected to a pneumatic circuit (46).
    [4]
    4. Conveying system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the shaft walls (26) is adjustable relative to the other shaft walls (26) that a size of a base (111, 113) of the shaft (24) variable to a size of a base the container (70) is customizable.
    [5]
    5. Conveying system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft walls (26) define a laterally (XZ) airtight tube which is open at the upper longitudinal end (28) and closable at the lower longitudinal end (32).
    [6]
    6. Conveying system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the removal station (34) in the region of the lower longitudinal end (32) of the shaft (24) comprises a longitudinally openable and closable opening (60), wherein the opening (60) by means of the control device (52), preferably pneumatically, can be opened and closed to a container (70), which after the free fall (78) through the shaft (24) arrived in the removal station (34), laterally (X) or in the longitudinal direction (Y) to be removed from the shaft (24).
    [7]
    7. Conveying system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more tray dividing elements (96), in particular plates (98), sheets or a plurality of bolts are provided in the shaft, the side (XZ) and at intervals in the longitudinal direction (Y) in such a way can be activated and deactivated, that the shaft (24) in the longitudinal direction (Y) in shaft segments (102-1,102-2) is subdivided. 13/19

    & i »« id> AT13 398U1 2013-12-15
    [8]
    8. Conveying system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transfer station (32) comprises a weighing unit (91).
    [9]
    9. Conveying system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the shaft (24) one or more light barriers (88) for detecting a longitudinal direction (Y) passing through the container (70) are arranged.
    [10]
    10. Conveying system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a base (111, 113) of the shaft (24) is adapted to a base of the container (70) that at any height (Y) of the shaft (24) between each of Shaft walls (26) and the free-falling container (70) is provided a minimum distance.
    [11]
    11. Conveying system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transfer station (30) one or more, preferably pneumatically operated, actuator units (36, 36 ') which are extended in the first position of the transfer station (30) such that the container ( 70) is held laterally on a container bottom or projecting container edge (74) above the shaft (24) and prevented from falling into the shaft (24), and in the second position of the transfer station (30) are retracted such that the previously above the shaft (24) held container (70) is released and falls into the slot (24).
    [12]
    12. storage and picking system with a conveyor system according to one of claims 1 to 11.
    [13]
    A method of vertically conveying and / or stacking containers (70) in a drop conveyor (20) according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising the steps of: fitting a base (111, 113) of a shaft (24 ) to a base of a vertically conveyable container (70) such that during a free fall (78) of the container (10) along the shaft (24) an air cushion in the direction of fall in front of the container (70) builds up, the free Case (78) of the container (70) in the shaft (24) brakes so that the container (70) is not damaged; Receiving the package (70) in a transfer station (30); Releasing the container (70); if necessary influencing the air pressure in the shaft (24) in the direction of fall in front of the container (70) by supplying and / or removing air.
    [14]
    14. A method according to claim 13, wherein a falling speed of the package (70), preferably by means of optical sensors (88), during the free fall (78) of the package (70) through the chute (24) is determined in real time such that Manhole (24) at least in the direction of fall in front of the container (70) in case of exceeding or falling below a desired fall rate of the container (70) air is additionally supplied or removed. For this 5 sheets drawings 14/19
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    DE202011005493U1|2011-10-14|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    CA1122133A|1979-07-20|1982-04-20|Charles P. Tabler|Air cushion chute|
    EP0396925A1|1989-05-09|1990-11-14|Nerak Gmbh Fördertechnik|C-Conveyor|
    JP2005112578A|2003-10-09|2005-04-28|Shoken:Kk|Vertical chute|
    DE202005002292U1|2005-02-14|2005-05-12|Knapp Logistik Automation Ges.M.B.H.|Vertical conveyor for goods commissioning system has commissioning container dropped between successive seatings each provided with opening base for movement between upper and lower locations|
    JP2007238233A|2006-03-07|2007-09-20|Shin Meiwa Ind Co Ltd|Dust container transport device for building|CN104828456A|2015-03-30|2015-08-12|中信重工机械股份有限公司|Apparatus for preventing material jamming of blanking chute|
    CN105173520B|2014-02-13|2017-05-17|刘林琴|Restrained glide path|
    CN104495217A|2014-12-05|2015-04-08|江祖国|Conveying structure for firework cylinder powder filling assembly line|
    法律状态:
    2014-12-15| MM01| Lapse because of not paying annual fees|Effective date: 20140430 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    DE102010015585|2010-04-19|
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