Automatic goods unloading method and equipment for automatic sorting

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic unloading method for items for automatic sorting and to a corresponding device, in which a plurality of items are provided on a tray upstream of a subsequent process, all items are unloaded from the tray by means of an unloading device, and items that do not need the subsequent process are reloaded onto the tray by means of a loading device, thereby providing only the required items.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for automatically unloading a shipment according to claim 1 and a device according to claim 11. Background Art

[0002] In today's distribution logistics, the requirements for sorting are getting higher and higher. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a sorting system that can automatically process orders without manual intervention.

[0003] With such a system, it must be possible to automatically sort different products (or shipments) with thousands of different characteristics (size, shape, weight, specifications, surface, strength, compressibility, etc.). In order to uniformly handle these extremely different goods units, it is known to use pallets for their storage and transportation.

[0004] Automatically stacking shipments onto a base or carrier, especially onto pallets or trolleys to form a stack for subsequent transportation, i.e., "palletizing" itself, is known. In this process, individual shipments are placed at calculated positions by robots, clamps, etc. with a uniform size or uniform specifications.

[0005] In contrast, the process of automatically loading a load carrier with shipments of different characteristics to form a stack is called the so-called automatic "mixed-case" palletizing.

[0006] A device for automatically loading a load unit with goods units forming a stack, i.e., a palletizing device, is known from EP 1 462 394 B1. In this device, a goods unit placed on a table is pushed by a pusher along the wide side of the pallet to be loaded until it reaches the loading coordinate in the X direction. Then, another pusher and a loading tongue simultaneously push the goods unit along the loading depth direction on the pallet until it reaches the loading coordinate in the Z direction. Then, the loading tongue retracts, while the pusher remains stationary and serves as a pusher, so that the goods unit is placed "freely falling" at the desired position on the pallet. Here, the stack being formed is supported on the other three sides by a loading auxiliary device. Therefore, this is similar to "stacking against a wall". However, the pushing process on the packing table is time-consuming, and there are disadvantages in forming the stacking pattern due to limited accessibility. In addition, the loading tongue and the pusher / pushers must move simultaneously in the X direction. Moreover, only one goods unit can always be "processed" sequentially.

[0007] In a system or device according to EP 1 462 394 B1, for better and simpler handling, different merchandise or goods units are separately and individually placed on pallets and conveyed to the palletizing process. In the palletizing device itself, the pallets are unloaded and the goods units are finally palletized individually. Therefore, the device can only handle pallets loaded with a single type of item.

[0008] Although loading a single type of item on the pallet has advantages in terms of operation, especially in terms of automatic unloading of the pallet, it results in low space utilization of the entire system. In addition, a large number of pallets are correspondingly required, which incurs the cost and consumption of conveying tracks to provide these pallets, thus correspondingly limiting the throughput of the palletizing device.

[0009] A system is known in which each pallet stores multiple goods units and moves with them. For example, Knapp GmbH discloses at 2 minutes and 30 seconds in https: / / youtu.be / UR8HXvvM6CA and Vanderlande Industries discloses at 2 minutes and 10 seconds in https: / / youtu.be / FwagVpkDKtQ the process of targeted unloading of individual desired goods units from a pallet loaded with multiple types of items. Such targeted unloading is time-consuming and complex because the positions of the goods units on the pallet and relative to each other must be defined and known, and the pusher must be controlled accordingly.

[0010] It can be seen that the automated subsequent processing of items generally requires providing the items (i.e., unloading) in the case of pallets and, if necessary, separating the items individually. Summary of the Invention

[0011] In contrast, the object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for automatically unloading items for automatic sorting, which can flexibly and specifically provide items from a pallet loaded with multiple types of items.

[0012] This object is achieved by the method according to claim 1 or the device according to claim 11. Advantageous designs are derived from the dependent claims and the description.

[0013] It is seen according to the present invention that if all items are first unloaded from a pallet loaded with multiple types of items and then the unwanted items are reloaded onto the pallet, it is possible to flexibly combine the advantages of loading multiple types of items with the advantages of individual provision for palletizing. Thus, the method according to the present invention has a higher tolerance for the positions, arrangements, and the position of the pallet relative to the scraper (Abstreifer) between the individual items on the pallet, because all items are unloaded and can thus be manipulated (and, if necessary, oriented).

[0014] In other words, the parcels required only for sorting according to the present invention are not reloaded onto the pallet, but are provided to a subsequent palletizing device arranged downstream.

[0015] The reloading is carried out in the vicinity in the same device and is thus relatively compact. That is to say, the parcels do not need to be first stored in the warehouse and then taken out, or distributed by long-distance conveying technology and processed at other positions in the sorting system, but are directly carried out in this device. That is to say, the device is a module for providing the parcels required for sorting.

[0016] Therefore, it is preferably also stipulated that the same pallet is used for reloading. In principle, it is also possible to load another pallet or even a conveying device. This can be carried out spatially at the same position or separately, for example, at a slightly farther position downstream, especially when a guiding unit is provided between the unloading device and the loading device.

[0017] In order to simplify the reloading of the unwanted parcels and, if necessary, simultaneously separate the required parcels individually (i.e., release the grouped state or orient them), the required parcels can be separated from the parcels that do not need to be palletized subsequently before their reloading by forming a gap in the guiding unit. The gap formation can be carried out in a similar manner to the sorting technology by means of the gapping method. That is to say, the required parcels can be separated individually by forming a gap for subsequent processing, such as palletizing.

[0018] The pallet usually has a rectangular surface and can thus be transported forward with the short side or the long side. If the pallet is oriented before the unloading device so that the short side of the pallet is in front in the conveying direction, the unloading and loading are simplified. Thus, the unloading or loading can be carried out through the longer wide side.

[0019] Reliable and easy unloading can be achieved, for example, by lateral transfer, such as by pushing onto a parallel track. For this purpose, the pallet can be unloaded from the pallet conveying line to a parallel extending extraction track by means of the unloading device.

[0020] For this purpose, it is preferable that the surface of the extraction track is at approximately the same height level as the surface of the pallet conveying line in the unloading area and in the reloading area. In particular, the lifted parcels should have their bottoms at the height of the extraction track, thereby enabling the unloading and reloading to be carried out without interference.

[0021] If the pallets are alternately unloaded from two parallel pallet conveying lines in turn by means of the unloading device to the extraction track, an increase in throughput can be achieved. It is also possible to carry out loading and unloading simultaneously on two pallet conveying lines.

[0022] If the loading pattern of the goods is selected such that the goods columns are stabilized by the edge of the pallet when loading the pallet upstream of the unloading device, possible sources of failure are eliminated. If necessary, the goods can be oriented in columns. Thereby, during unloading, the overall operation is improved, for example, by lateral pushing without jamming between the goods. Preferably, the goods are oriented at the edge of the respective pallet here.

[0023] Alternatively, if jamming occurs because the pusher pushes one good, and this good in turn pushes another good and thus causes jamming, blocking, etc., a fault handling program can be used. Such a fault handling program can include reversing the conveying device, changing the speed of the conveying device, etc., in order to still achieve gap formation nevertheless.

[0024] An apparatus for unloading a pallet loaded with goods and reloading the pallet according to the sorting system of the present invention, wherein a plurality of goods are provided on an upstream pallet, the apparatus includes a first supply conveying device, a pick-up track extending at least partially parallel thereto, and an unloading device, wherein the pallet to be unloaded is provided on the first supply conveying device. All the goods are transferred from the pallet on the supply conveying device to the pick-up track by means of the unloading device. The goods that do not require (downstream) subsequent processing are conveyed back from the pick-up track to the pallet again in an internal (i.e., arranged in the same apparatus) loading device, so that only the goods required for sorting are retained on the pick-up track and are provided for subsequent sorting processing by means of the pick-up track.

[0025] Since not only the unloading device but also the loading device are arranged adjacent to each other spatially because they are located in the same apparatus, the apparatus is also compact.

[0026] The apparatus is particularly suitable for automatically providing goods for subsequent palletizing to achieve multi-layer stacking of goods on a carrier.

[0027] The corresponding pallet includes a frame with a surrounding raised edge and a bottom with at least one groove, and thereby all the goods can be lifted from below through at least one groove to a level above the edge and to the level of the pick-up track by means of a lifting device, so that the unloading device can unload the goods onto the pick-up track by means of an (unloading) pusher. Although alternatives such as robot-assisted grasping can be considered, for a very diverse range of packaging types, these alternatives are not only much more complex and costly to implement, but also generally more complex in terms of control technology.

[0028] Preferably, the device has a loading device for transferring unwanted items from the retrieval track onto a pallet on the first supply conveyor. The loading device can be designed similarly to the unloading device. Thus, a pusher or a return pusher can also be used here.

[0029] Both the (unloading) pusher and the (return) pusher can be suspended on a guiding device fixed above the supply conveyor or the retrieval track. Both are preferably arranged in the same position and share a retrieval track, which can also be used for orientation (gap formation) if necessary.

[0030] If pallets are alternately unloaded from two parallel pallet conveyor lines in turn onto the retrieval track by means of the unloading device, an increased throughput can be achieved. For this purpose, the unloading device can have two corresponding (unloading) pushers. It is also possible that loading and unloading are carried out simultaneously on two pallet conveyor lines thereby.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the retrieval track of the device has a sensor-controlled multi-segment conveying assembly by means of which the required items can not only be separated from the unwanted items but also be individually separated. The conveying assembly can, for example, include roller conveying segments arranged successively, which are individually driven and controllable. Photoelectric sensor devices capable of detecting the start and end of an item are sufficient as sensors. The passage of items can thereby be identified.

[0032] The sensor-controlled multi-segment conveying assembly of the retrieval track preferably includes a plurality of successive conveying segments for this purpose, wherein item sensors are arranged in the area of the second conveying segment, which is shorter than the first and the third conveying segments and one or more items are controllably accelerated for separation (gap formation). The acceleration can be carried out by means of the item sensors via a control device so that the required items are separated from the unwanted items by targeted acceleration. The loading device can then immediately load the unwanted items from the retrieval track back onto one or the same pallet.

[0033] If the device has two pallet conveyor lines extending parallel in the area of the unloading device, with the retrieval track located between the two pallet conveyor lines, wherein the unloading device includes unloading devices assigned to each pallet conveyor line, and the retrieval track includes loading devices acting on both sides, the throughput of the device can be increased by parallelizing the process. Description of the Drawings

[0034] Other details of the present invention result from the following description of the embodiments with the aid of the drawings, in which

[0035] Figures 1-4Schematic top views of a first embodiment of the invention in different stages of unloading or reloading are shown respectively;

[0036] Figures 5-10 Schematic top views of a second embodiment of the invention in different stages of unloading or reloading are shown respectively; and

[0037] Figure 11 A perspective view of the pallet in the conveying position and in the loading or unloading position is shown. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0038] In Figures 1 to 4 a first embodiment of the device 1 is shown, which is used to unload a pallet T loaded with a plurality of articles P to automatically provide the articles P for subsequent downstream multi-layer stacking (sorting) of the articles on a carrier (such as a pallet or a trolley) in the conveying direction F.

[0039] The device 1 includes a first supply conveyor 2, a pick-up track 3 that extends at least partially parallel thereto, an unloading device 4 and a loading device 5. Additionally, an optoelectronic sensor is provided as an article sensor 6 and a control device 7 for the device.

[0040] The first supply conveyor 2 is a roller conveyor having a conveying direction F. The roller conveyor supplies the loaded pallet from a storage device not shown. Optionally, a device for orienting the pallet T can be arranged upstream so that the short side of the pallet is in the front in the conveying direction F. Similarly, a device for optionally orienting a plurality of articles P in a row at the edge of the pallet can be arranged upstream.

[0041] The pallet T is known to include a frame R1 having a surrounding raised edge R2 and a bottom B having at least one groove. The article P located at the bottom is lifted from below through at least one groove to a level above the edge R2 by means of a lifting device not shown (see Figure 11 ), so that the unloading device 4 can unload the article P onto the pick-up track 3 in the transfer area 8. The surface of the pick-up track 3 in the transfer area 8 (in the unloading area and in the reloading area) is arranged at the same height level as the surface of the lifted bottom B.

[0042] The unloading device 4 is designed as a controllably manipulable pusher or unloading pusher, which laterally sweeps all the articles P from the pallet P onto the pick-up track 3 in the transfer area 8 ( Figure 2 ).

[0043] The pick-up track 3 is designed as a sensor-controlled multi-segment conveying assembly in the transfer area 8 to separate the required articles P from the unnecessary articles.

[0044] The sensor-controlled multi-segment conveying assembly of the extraction track 3 accordingly includes three successive conveying segments 8a, 8b, 8c, wherein the piece sensor 6 is arranged in the region of the second conveying segment 8b, which is shorter than the first and the third conveying segments 8a, 8c and controllably accelerates one or more pieces respectively for separation.

[0045] The second conveying segment has a higher speed compared to the first conveying segment, such that the acceleration enables separation of the respective piece entering this segment from the remaining pieces and thus enables gap formation ( Figure 3 ).

[0046] The conveying assembly is a series of successive roller conveying segments that can be individually driven and controlled.

[0047] An optoelectronic sensor device capable of detecting the beginning and the end of a piece is sufficient as the piece sensor 6. Thereby, the passage of the piece can be recognized.

[0048] Thereby, with the aid of the unloading device 4, all pieces P are transferred from the pallet T on the supply conveying device 2 to the extraction track 3.

[0049] Pieces that do not require subsequent processing are conveyed back from the extraction track 3 to the pallet again (see Figure 4 ), such that only the required pieces remain on the extraction track and are provided via the extraction track 3 for subsequent palletizing or sorting.

[0050] The loading device 5 of the device 1 is accordingly also designed as a controllably manipulable pusher or return pusher S, which laterally pushes all unwanted pieces P from the transfer region 8 of the extraction track 3 back onto the same pallet T ( Figure 3 and 4 ). The bottom B of the pallet T is lowered again here, such that only the edge R2 (see above) has to be overcome. That is to say, the loading device 5 and the unloading device 4 are spatially adjacent and not separated.

[0051] Figures 5-10 An extended variant is shown, which differs from the foregoing embodiment in that there are two pallet conveying lines 2A, B extending parallel in the region of the unloading device 4, the extraction track 3 being located between the two pallet conveying lines, wherein the unloading device 4 includes unloading devices 4A, B assigned to each of the pallet conveying lines 2A, B, and the extraction track 3 includes loading devices 5 acting on both sides, such that the throughput of the device can be increased by parallelizing the process.

[0052] Thus, a pallet can be unloaded on one pallet conveyor line and a pallet can be reloaded on a corresponding other pallet conveyor line simultaneously.

[0053] In this example, first, the pallet T is unloaded on the pallet conveyor line 2A, where the loading device 5 has been pre-positioned ( Figure 6 ).

[0054] Then, the required goods P and the unwanted goods ( Figure 7 ) are separated or the gap is formed as described above and are reloaded onto the same pallet T on the pallet conveyor line 2A by means of the loading device 5 ( Figure 8 ).

[0055] At the same time, the pallet is unloaded from the other pallet conveyor line 2B by means of the unloading device 4B ( Figure 8 ).

[0056] Then, the gap is formed again ( Figure 9 ) and the simultaneous reloading or unloading is carried out ( Figure 10 ).

[0057] It can be seen that the loading device 5 alternately reloads the goods P onto the pallet conveyor line 2A or 2B.

[0058] The goods sensor 6 is located above here so that it does not cause interference.

[0059] Figure 11 The pallet T is shown, which includes a frame R1 with a surrounding raised edge R2 and a bottom B loaded with two goods P, having an un-lifted bottom B in the conveying position ( Figure 11 A) and a lifted bottom B in the unloading position ( Figure 11 B).

Claims

1. An automatic unloading method for packages used in automatic sorting, wherein, Provide multiple shipments on a pallet upstream of subsequent processing. Unload all shipments from the pallet by means of an unloading device and reload the shipments that do not require subsequent processing onto the pallet by means of a loading device, so that only the shipments required for sorting are provided. The unloading device and the loading device are arranged in the same equipment.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Use the same pallet for reloading.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Separate the required shipments from the shipments that do not require subsequent processing by forming a gap before their reloading.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Orient the pallet in front of the unloading device so that the short side of the pallet is in the front in the conveying direction.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Unload the pallet from the pallet conveying line onto a parallel-extending extraction track by means of the unloading device.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The surface of the extraction track is at approximately the same height level as the surface of the pallet conveying line in the unloading area and in the reloading area, particularly at the level of the lifted shipments.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Alternately unload pallets from two parallel pallet conveying lines onto the extraction track by means of the unloading device.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Perform loading and unloading simultaneously on two pallet conveying lines.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Separate the required shipments individually by forming a gap for subsequent palletizing.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, When loading the pallet upstream of the unloading device, the loading pattern of the shipments is selected such that the shipment columns are stabilized by the pallet edges and / or multiple shipments are oriented in columns upstream of the unloading device.

11. An apparatus for unloading a pallet loaded with a shipment and reloading the pallet in a sorting system, wherein, Multiple shipments are provided on an upstream pallet. The equipment has a first supply conveying device, an extraction track extending at least partially parallel thereto, and an unloading device. The pallet to be unloaded is provided onto the first supply conveying device. Transfer all shipments from the pallet on the supply conveying device to the extraction track by means of the unloading device, and the shipments that do not require subsequent processing are conveyed back to the pallet again by an internal loading device from the extraction track, so that only the required shipments are retained on the extraction track and are provided for subsequent sorting processing by means of the extraction track.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that, The pallet includes a frame with a surrounding raised edge and a bottom with at least one groove, and all shipments are lifted from below through the at least one groove to a level above the edge and the level of the extraction track by means of a lifting device, so that the unloading device can unload the shipments onto the extraction track by an unloading pusher.

13. The device according to any one of the preceding claims 11 or 12, characterized in that, The required shipments are separated and individually separated from the unwanted shipments by a sensor-controlled multi-segment conveying assembly of the extraction track.

14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that, The sensor-controlled multi-segment conveying assembly of the extraction track includes a plurality of successive conveying segments. A shipment sensor is arranged in the area of the second conveying segment, which is shorter than the first and third, especially the fifth, conveying segments and controllably accelerates one or more shipments respectively for separation.

15. The device according to any one of the preceding claims 11 to 14, characterized in that, There are two pallet conveying lines extending in parallel in the area of the unloading device. The extraction track is located between the two pallet conveying lines. The unloading device includes unloading devices assigned to each pallet conveying line, and the extraction track includes loading devices acting on both sides.

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