Carrying roller, roller conveyor and conveyor device with carrying roller

Abstract

a support roller (1) for a conveyor device (100), comprising: - a support roller axle (2), - a support roller body (3) rotatably mounted about the support roller axle (2), - a radio module (4) for transmitting a call signal to a receiving unit (5), and - an energy generation unit (6) fully integrated in the support roller (1), which is designed to generate electrical energy from a rotary movement of the support roller body (3) for the energy supply of the radio module (4), - wherein the energy generation unit (6) comprises at least one piezoelectric element by means of which mechanical energy from the rotary movement of the support roller body (3) is converted into electrical energy.

Description

A support roller is specified. The support roller is preferably designed as a support roller for a roller conveyor and / or for a continuous shelf. Furthermore, a roller conveyor and a conveying device with at least one such support roller are specified.Continuous shelves are becoming very popular in mass production. These are usually fitted on one side of the shelf, while on the other side the removal of components or goods takes place. For the transport of storage goods, the storage goods move forward by means of drive elements or by gravity, for example on so-called roller or ball tracks. In order to maintain a trouble-free production flow, the task is to regularly equip the continuous shelf with new goods or components.To avoid unnecessary transport paths, the racks are often equipped with additional sensors and signal transmission devices. In addition, these usually have an energy connection and, in the event of an imminent empty rack part, they send a corresponding signal to the refill responsible for initiating the next process steps.However, sensor systems integrated in carrier rollers are nowadays usually linked to external energy sources. In addition, mechanical buttons for signal generation often increase maintenance effort.The document DE 10 2011 011 300 A1 describes a roller drive and a method for controlling a system, comprising a roller rotatably mounted on a roller carrier, wherein energy and data can be transmitted between the roller drive and the roller without contact. The energy is provided by an external energy source and transmitted, for example, by induction.The publication WO 2013 / 050 647 A1 describes a conveying device which has a measuring roller and an energy conversion unit attached to a roller holder. By means of the energy conversion unit, electrical energy for operating a transmission unit is generated from the rotational movement of the measuring roller. The disadvantage of the solution described in the publication WO 2013 / 050 647 A1 is that the electrical energy generated by the energy conversion unit has to be transmitted to the measuring roller and that due to the attachment of the energy conversion unit to the roller holder, no standardized shelf or standardized guide rail can be used.The publications WO 2010 / 142 029 A1, WO 2013 / 050 647 A1, DE 40 38 219 A1, DE 92 05 861 U1 and DE 10 2004 032 005 A1 show further embodiments of carrying rollers, conveying devices with carrying rollers or their drive mechanisms.It is thus an object to be achieved of at least some embodiments to specify a carrying roller for a conveying device which draws its required electrical energy from the rotational movement of the carrying roller body and which can be inserted into a conventional guide rail of a standard continuous rack or a standard roller track without having to adapt the guide rail in a complicated manner.This object is achieved by an object according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and developments of the subject matter are furthermore evident from the dependent patent claims, the following description and from the drawings.According to at least one embodiment, a support roller described here has a support roller axle, a support roller body mounted rotatably about the support roller axle, and a radio module for transmitting a signal, in particular a retrieval signal, to a receiving unit. The support roller body is preferably cylindrical. The receiving unit can be designed, for example, as a central processing unit. Alternatively, the receiving unit can also be configured as a transmitting and receiving unit, which can be designed, for example, in such a way that it transmits signals received from the radio module to a central processing unit. Furthermore, the support roller has an energy generation unit which is completely integrated in the support roller. For example, the energy generating unit can be arranged partially or completely in the support roller body of the support roller. The energy generation unit is preferably designed such that it generates electrical energy for supplying energy to the radio module from a rotational movement of the support roller body. The retrieval signal can be, in particular, a message signal which is generated as a result of the rotational movement of the carrier reel body.Because the energy generation unit is completely integrated in the support roller, the transfer of energy from a roller holder, a guide rail or another element of the roller conveyor or of the continuous shelf unit to the support roller is advantageously dispensed with in comparison with the prior art, so that the support roller according to the invention can be inserted at any desired point into a standardized shelf unit or into a standardized roller conveyor without the need for the shelf unit or the roller conveyor to be changed in a complicated manner.According to a further embodiment, the radio module is designed such that it transmits a polling signal to the receiving unit during a rotational movement of the carrier reel body. For example, the radio module can be designed in such a way that a polling signal is transmitted to the receiving unit during each rotational movement of the carrier reel body. The sending of the polling signal to the receiving unit is preferably done fully automatically. Furthermore, the radio module can be designed in such a way that the retrieval signal is transmitted with a time delay to the rotational movement and / or that the retrieval signal is prevented during a subsequent or subsequent counter-rotational movement of the support roller body. The time delay may be between 0.5 and 5.0 seconds, for example.Furthermore, the energy generation unit has at least one piezoelectric element. By means of the piezo element, mechanical energy is converted from the rotational movement of the support roller body into electrical energy. For example, the piezoelectric element can be arranged in the support roller body of the support roller in such a way that a mechanical force acts on the piezoelectric element during a rotational movement of the support roller body, whereby an electrical voltage is generated. Preferably, the transmission of the mechanical force to the piezoelectric element takes place exclusively on the basis of the rotational movement of the support roller body. One or more force transmission elements can be arranged within the support roller body, for example, which exert a mechanical force on the piezoelectric element during a rotational movement of the support roller body.According to a further embodiment, the support roller is designed such that it can be inserted into a standardized roller track and removed again. In particular, because the energy generating unit is completely integrated in the support roller, the support roller can be used at any desired point on a commercially available roller conveyor. Preferably, the support roller is further configured such that the insertion and / or removal of the support roller can be effected without tools.According to a further embodiment, the support roller body of the support roller has a support roller running surface which is designed to be non-slip. For example, the support roller running surface of the support roller body can have a rubberized layer or consist of a rubberized layer.According to a further embodiment, the support roller has a planetary gear for accelerating the rotational movement. For example, the planetary gear can be arranged completely inside the carrier roller body. The planetary gear can comprise, for example, a ring gear, a central sun gear and a plurality of planetary gears.According to a further embodiment, the support roller has an antenna which has a permanent electrically conductive connection to a guide rail of a roller conveyor. The antenna can be part of the radio module, for example, or can be designed as a component separate from the radio module. The signal can be transmitted to the receiving unit by means of the antenna.According to a further embodiment, the support roller has a control display device. The control display device is preferably designed to display the sending of a retrieval signal. For example, the control display device can comprise an optical and / or acoustic display unit. The control display device is preferably designed in such a way that it confirms the sending of each radio signal or retrieval by an acoustic and / or optical signal. For example, this confirmation signal can be effected by lighting up or flashing an LED and / or by a beep signal.Furthermore, a roller conveyor is specified with a plurality of load-bearing rollers arranged one behind the other. The roller conveyor preferably has at least one previously described support roller, which has a radio module and an energy generation unit integrated in the support roller for supplying energy to the radio module. This support roller can also be referred to here and in the following as "support roller according to the invention". The further support rollers can be designed, for example, as conventional support rollers, for example purely mechanical support rollers without electrical functional elements.The support roller according to the invention can be arranged within the roller track, in the conveying direction of the roller track, in front of or behind one or more further support rollers. In other words, the support roller according to the invention can be arranged, for example, within two guide rails, between which the further support rollers are also arranged. Alternatively or additionally, the support roller according to the invention can be arranged next to the guide rail of the further support rollers, for example next to a standardized support roller. In other words, the support roller according to the invention can be arranged outside the two guide rails. The guide rails are preferably purely mechanically designed and do not have any electrical functional elements or sensor systems.According to a further embodiment, the roller conveyor has a first end for receiving goods and a second, preferably opposite end for removing goods. Between the first end and the second end, a plurality of support rollers may be arranged. Preferably, a support roller according to the invention is arranged in a region of the second end of the roller track. The region of the first end can in this case contain the first three support rollers, for example, as seen in the conveying direction. The region of the second end can include, for example, the last three carrying rollers of the roller conveyor as viewed in the conveying direction.According to a further embodiment, the roller conveyor has at least two supporting rollers according to the invention. Preferably, one of the two support rollers according to the invention is arranged in a region of the first end of the roller conveyor and the other of the two support rollers according to the invention is arranged in a region of the second end of the roller conveyor.According to a further embodiment, all the support rollers according to the invention of the roller conveyor can be designed with a color such that they differ from the further rollers of the roller conveyor. This advantageously allows for a clear identification within the roller conveyor.According to a further embodiment, the support roller or rollers according to the invention are arranged within the roller conveyor in such a way that the support roller axle of the support roller or the support roller axles of the support rollers are secured against rotation. This can be done, for example, by suitable clamps or against holders.Furthermore, a conveying device is specified which has a plurality of roller tracks, at least one of the roller tracks having a supporting roller according to the invention. The conveying device can be designed, for example, as a carrying roller system or as a continuous rack. Particularly preferably, the conveying device has a plurality of roller tracks, each of which has at least one support roller according to the invention.According to a further embodiment, the conveying device has a transmitting and receiving unit and a central processing unit. The transmitting and receiving unit is preferably designed such that it amplifies a signal transmitted by the radio module and transmits the amplified signal to the central processing unit. The central processing unit can also process signals of a plurality of support rollers according to the invention of one or more roller tracks.The support roller described here is distinguished by the integrated construction of the support roller sensor system and the energy supply. Furthermore, mechanical buttons are preferably prevented. The support roller according to the invention also contributes to a cost reduction and an increase in comfort, in particular also by avoiding short maintenance intervals and increasing the service life of the roller webs or of the conveying device.Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the support roller, roller conveyor and conveying device described here are evident from the embodiments described below in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a supporting roller and a receiving unit according to an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a roller conveyor with a support roller according to the invention according to an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a conveying device having a plurality of roller tracks according to an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a support roller according to a further exemplary embodiment.In the exemplary embodiments and figures, identical or identically acting components can each be provided with the same reference numerals. The elements shown and their relative sizes with respect to one another are fundamentally not to be regarded as being to scale. Rather, for improved displayability and / or for improved understanding, individual elements can be represented with exaggerated thickness or large dimensions.FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a support roller 1 in a perspective view. The support roller 1 has a support roller axle 2 and a support roller body 3 connected to the support roller axle 2. The support roller body 3 is rotatably mounted about the support roller axis 2. Furthermore, the carrier reel 1 has a radio module 4 for transmitting a polling signal to a receiving unit 5. The radio module 4 can be arranged, for example, within the support roller body 3. The receiving unit 5 can be, for example, a central computing and / or control unit. Alternatively, the receiving unit 5 can be designed as a transmitting and receiving unit, which is configured to amplify a signal transmitted by the radio module 4 and to transmit it to a central computing and / or control unit.Furthermore, the support roller 1 has an energy generating unit 6, which is designed to generate electrical energy for supplying energy to the radio module 4 from a rotational movement of the support roller body 3. Preferably, the energy generating unit is completely integrated in the support roller 1. For example, the energy generating unit can be arranged completely or at least partially within the support roller body 3. The energy generation unit 6 has one or more piezoelectric elements, by means of which or by means of which mechanical energy can be converted from the rotational movement of the support roller body 3 into electrical energy. Alternatively, the energy generating unit 6 can convert mechanical energy from the rotational movement of the support roller body 3 into electrical energy, for example by induction. The radio module 4 is preferably designed in such a way that it transmits a request signal to the receiving unit 5 during a rotational movement of the carrier reel body 3.In the exemplary embodiment shown, the support roller 1 furthermore has an electronic control unit (not shown), which is configured to suppress specific radio signals of the radio module 2 if a rotational movement of the support roller body 3 in the opposite direction is detected within a defined time interval. The support roller 1 is advantageously designed in such a way that it can be inserted without tools into a standardized roller track or into a standardized continuous-flow rack and can subsequently be removed without tools from the roller track or from the continuous-flow rack.FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a roller conveyor 10 and of a container 11 arranged at a first end 7 of the roller conveyor 10. The roller conveyor 10 has a plurality of load-bearing rollers 14, 1 arranged one behind the other, wherein two of the load-bearing rollers are designed as load-bearing rollers 1 according to the invention with an integrated radio module 4 and an integrated energy generation unit 6. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the further supporting rollers are standard rollers 14 which do not have any electrical functional elements. One of the two support rollers 1 according to the invention is arranged in a region of the first end 7, and the second of the support rollers 1 according to the invention is arranged in a region of the opposite end 8. The standard rollers 14 and the support rollers 1 according to the invention are each arranged between two guide rails 13. As an alternative to the exemplary embodiment shown, the support rollers 1 according to the invention can also be arranged next to the standard rollers 14, that is to say outside the two guide rails 13. The support rollers 1 according to the invention can be designed, for example, with a color such that they differ from the remaining standard rollers 14, so that a clear identification within the roller conveyor 10 is possible.FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a conveying device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The conveying device 100 is designed as a continuous rack and has a multiplicity of roller tracks 10, of which only two are depicted in FIG. 3. A container 11 is arranged at a first end 7 of the two roller tracks 10.In the exemplary embodiment shown, the roller tracks 10 of the conveying device 100 each have at least one support roller 1 according to the invention. As a result, it can be ensured even in the event of a malfunction or failure of a carrier roll 1 according to the invention that the retrieval signal is transmitted to the receiving unit 5. Alternatively, it is also possible for only one or only a part of the roller tracks 10 of the conveying device 100 to have a carrying roller 1 according to the invention. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the support rollers 1 according to the invention are arranged in a region of the first end 7 of the roller tracks 10. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the support rollers 1 are arranged within the same guide rails 13, between which the remaining standard rollers 14 are also arranged. Alternatively, the support rollers 1 according to the invention can also be arranged next to the standard rollers 14, i.e. outside two guide rails 13 of a roller conveyor 10.FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a support roller 1 according to the invention according to a further exemplary embodiment. The radio module 4 integrated in the carrier reel 1 for transmitting a polling signal to a receiving unit 5 and the energy generating unit 6 integrated in the carrier reel are not shown for the sake of simplicity of illustration. The carrier roller 1 has a planetary gear 16 which is designed to accelerate the rotational movement of the carrier roller body 3 caused by an object, such as a product and / or a container. The planetary gear 16 integrated in the carrier roller 1 comprises a ring gear, a central sun gear and a plurality of planetary gears.List of reference characters1 Support roller 2 Support roller axle 3 Support roller body 4 Radio module 5 Receiving unit 6 Energy generating unit 7 First end 8 Second end 9 Support roller running surface 10 Roller track 11 Container 12 Conveying direction 13 Guide rail 14 Standard roller 15 Electronic control unit 16 Planetary gear 100 Conveying device

Claims

Support roller (1) for a conveying device (100), having - a support roller axle (2), - a support roller body (3) which is mounted rotatably about the support roller axle (2), - a radio module (4) for transmitting a retrieval signal to a receiving unit (5), and - an energy generating unit (6) which is completely integrated in the support roller (1) and is designed in such a way that it generates electrical energy for supplying energy to the radio module (4) from a rotational movement of the support roller body (3), - wherein the energy generating unit (6) has at least one piezoelectric element, by means of which mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy from the rotational movement of the support roller body (3).Support reel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the radio module (4) is designed such that it sends a polling signal to the receiving unit (5) during a rotational movement of the support reel body (3).Support roller (1) according to claim 2, wherein the radio module (4) is designed such that the request signal is transmitted with a time delay to the rotational movement and / or is prevented in the event of a counter-rotational movement of the support roller body (3).Support roller (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support roller (1) is designed such that it can be inserted into a standardized roller track (10) and removed again.Support roller (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support roller body (3) has a support roller running surface (9) which is designed to be non-slip.Support roller (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support roller (1) comprises a planetary gear (16) for accelerating the rotational movement.Support roller (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support roller (1) has an antenna which has a permanent electrically conductive connection to a guide rail (13) of a roller conveyor (10).Support roller (1) according to one of the preceding claims, having a control display device which is designed to display sending of a retrieval signal.Roller conveyor (10), comprising a plurality of carrier rollers arranged one behind the other, wherein at least one of the carrier rollers is designed like a carrier roller (1) according to one of the preceding claims.Roller conveyor (10) according to claim 9, having a first end (7) for receiving goods and a second end (8) for removing goods, wherein one of the support rollers is configured in a region of the second end (8) like a support roller (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10.Roller conveyor (10) according to one of claims 9 or 10, comprising at least two support rollers (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first of the two support rollers (1) is arranged in a region of the first end (7) and the second of the two support rollers (1) is arranged in a region of the second end (8).Conveying device (100), comprising a plurality of roller tracks, wherein at least one of the roller tracks is formed like a roller track (10) according to one of claims 9 to 11.Conveying device (100) according to claim 12, comprising a plurality of roller tracks (10) according to one of claims 9 to 11.Conveying device (100) according to one of Claims 12 or 13, having a transmitting and receiving unit and a central processing unit, wherein the transmitting and receiving unit is designed in such a way that it amplifies a signal transmitted by the radio module (4) and transmits it to the central processing unit.

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