Device and method for sequencing loading units in a predetermined order

Abstract

Device (1) for sequencing load units (2) in a predetermined order, comprising a sequencing zone (6) with a plurality of belts (7) for receiving load units (2) to be sequenced, a feed device (3) for load units (2) upstream of the sequencing zone (6), a singling device (23) downstream of the sequencing zone (6) with receptacles (24) for load units (2), a distribution device (26) distributing the load units (2) onto the belts (7), and a transfer device (28) conveying the separated load units (2) in the direction of a conveyor device (5) downstream of the device, characterized in that the distribution device (26) and / or the transfer device (28) is designed as a transverse slider (17, 20) which shifts the load units (2) transversely to the belts (7) or receptacles (24).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for sequencing load units in a predetermined order, comprising a sequencing zone with a plurality of belts for receiving load units to be sequenced and a feed device for load units arranged upstream of the sequencing zone, as well as a singling device arranged downstream of the sequencing zone with receptacles for load units, a distribution device distributing the load units onto the belts, and a transfer device conveying the separated load units in the direction of a conveyor device arranged downstream of the device, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a method for sequencing load units in a predetermined order, according to the preamble of claim 9.

[0002] Load units can be units or containers required for picking products for retail or branch operations. A branch pallet required for the respective operation is assembled from a variety of load units or containers containing different products.

[0003] These units or loading units are assembled on a load carrier in the form of, for example, a pallet, with the units on the pallet being assembled into product stacks, often in the form of a predetermined sequence specified by the branch operation.

[0004] An example of such loading units that must be handled with special care during order picking are stackable general cargo containers containing fruit and vegetable products.

[0005] The loading units can therefore be in the form of disposable containers, for example cardboard boxes, or reusable containers made of a plastic or cardboard material, or folding boxes, i.e. containers with foldable side walls.

[0006] Fresh produce is often shipped from the wholesaler in the form of the aforementioned containers, which must be stacked on load carriers in the form of pallets or roll containers in a store-appropriate manner. The aforementioned sequence in the formation of stacks plays a role here. This sequence is determined by the operating personnel in the case of manual formation of the stacks on the load carrier, and is specified by a control device, such as a master computer, in the case of automated loading of the load carriers.

[0007] The load units must therefore be stacked on the load carrier in a predetermined order for store operations. From the respective warehouse, where the load units are stacked, for example, on pallets delivered by the supplier with identical goods in or on load units, the load units are depalletized and transported on conveyors toward the sequencing device.

[0008] The conveying means may be a feeding device in the form of a feed belt, on which the load units are transported to the sequencing device in an order that is not suitable for palletising on a pallet or a roll container.

[0009] The load unit sequencing device must ensure that the load units are arranged in a sequence suitable for palletizing them on a pallet or roll container. This means that, after leaving the sequencing device, the load units must be in the appropriate order so that they can be fed, for example, to a conveyor system downstream of the device. The downstream conveyor system then transports the load units in the appropriate and predetermined correct sequence, for example, to an automated palletizing device, which then stacks the load units in the predetermined order on the pallets or roll containers in the desired stacking sequence.

[0010] The published patent application DE 10 2006 048 345 A1 shows a transport method and a transport device in which products are transferred from a first conveyor belt to a second conveyor belt by means of three product buffers.

[0011] Patent specification US 10 442 635 B2 shows a transport device with an input transport device, from which products are transferred to an accumulation surface by means of a loading unit. The products are transferred from the accumulation surface to an output transport device by means of an unloading unit.

[0012] US Pat. No. 6,186,724 B1 discloses a storage device with a staging area at the input side of parallel storage lanes. Each of the storage lanes is designed for a specific type of packaged product. At the other end of the storage lanes, the packaged products are transferred from the storage lanes to a receiving area by means of respective receiving devices according to a customer order.

[0013] EP 2 306 379 A1 discloses a method for controlling material flows, with which materials or components can be made available in the production plant at the right time and in the right quantity, particularly in the manufacture of vehicles.

[0014] In contrast to this known method, the present invention is based on the object of providing a device for sequencing load units in a predetermined order, with which the load units can be provided in the correct order for subsequent palletizing on pallets or roll containers. A method for sequencing the load units in the predetermined order is also to be provided.

[0015] To achieve this object, the invention provides a sequencing device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the device are described in the further claims. Furthermore, the invention provides a method for sequencing load units with the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments of the method are described in the further claims.

[0016] According to the invention, a device is provided for sequencing load units in a predetermined order, with a sequencing zone with a plurality of belts for receiving load units to be sequenced and a feed device for delivered load units upstream of the sequencing zone and a singling device downstream of the sequencing zone with receptacles for load units, and a distribution device distributing the delivered load units onto the belts and a transfer device conveying the separated load units in the direction of a conveyor device downstream of the device, wherein the distribution device and / or the transfer device is designed as a transverse slider which shifts the load units transversely to the belts or receptacles.

[0017] The device according to the invention comprises a sequencing zone in which a plurality of belts are provided for receiving load units to be sequenced. The belts are also referred to as accumulation belts, since several load units can be arranged one behind the other on a single belt, viewed from the feed device in the direction of the downstream conveyor device, which are then conveyed to the downstream conveyor device. The feed device upstream of the sequencing zone can be a feed belt on which the load units depalletized from a pallet or the like by a device for depalletizing the load units are conveyed towards the sequencing device.The load units conveyed by the feed device can be conveyed in a random order, i.e. the load units can be present on the feed device, for example the feed belt, in an order that is not sorted by size or weight.

[0018] By means of the device according to the invention for sequencing the loading units, the predetermined sequence of the loading units is then generated, which is required so that they can then be stacked, for example, by means of an automated palletizing device on a pallet or a roll container, in the way desired by the branch operation or required due to the type of goods or the weight of the loading units.

[0019] The device for sequencing the load units also has a singling device for the load units downstream of the sequencing zone. The singling device has receptacles for the load units, which can be, for example, singling belts that take the load units from the belts of the sequencing zone and transport them to or on a transfer device downstream of the sequencing zone for transport by the transfer device.

[0020] The device according to the invention for sequencing the loading units also has a distribution device which distributes the delivered loading units onto the belts of the sequencing zone, as well as the transfer device already mentioned above which conveys the separated loading units in the direction of a conveyor device downstream of the device.

[0021] The downstream conveyor device can, for example, be the automated palletizing device mentioned above, which then provides the load units in the intended sequence on the pallets or roll containers in stack form.

[0022] The invention provides that the distribution device is designed as a transverse slider that can move the load units transversely to the belts of the sequencing zone. The invention also provides that the transfer device can be designed as a transverse slider that moves the load units transversely to the receptacles. The transfer device can therefore move the load units transversely to the receptacles, for example, transversely to the aforementioned singulation belts, which receive the load units in the predetermined order from the belts of the sequencing zone.

[0023] The cross-shifter has the advantage of having a high power density, meaning it can transport a large number of load units per unit of time and requires little space for installation compared to, for example, a lifting table or the like.

[0024] According to a further development of the invention, the cross slider has at least two slider arms which can be pivoted relative to one another and which are provided on support arms arranged above and transversely to the belts or receptacles and are arranged so as to be displaceable along the support arms and can be brought into contact with the loading units.

[0025] This configuration achieves a doubled conveying capacity of the cross slider compared to a cross slider with only one slider arm, thanks to the at least two mutually pivotable slider arms. This significantly increases the throughput of the device according to the invention for sequencing the load units. In this way, for example, the device according to the invention can process at least 800 containers or load units per hour, i.e., can provide at least 800 load units per hour in the predetermined sequence, which can then be fed to the downstream conveyor.

[0026] Such a high throughput is particularly advantageous for load units filled with fruit and vegetable products, as it ensures that these perishable products can be quickly made available in the form of stacked load units on the store pallets or store roll containers and can therefore be transported quickly.

[0027] Because the at least two pusher arms are designed to be pivotable relative to one another, it is achieved that a pusher arm, which has, for example, moved a loading unit to a belt spaced apart from the entrance zone of the sequencing zone and has deposited or placed the loading unit on the belt, can be moved back in the direction of the entrance zone or the transfer area for the loading units from the feed belt to the sequencing zone, while the other pusher arm moves a loading unit in the direction of a belt of the sequencing zone during this return movement of the pivoted pusher arm.

[0028] Because the returning pusher arm can be pivoted relative to the other pusher arm, i.e., viewed in a vertical axis direction of the pusher arm, it can be pivoted backwards at an angle of, for example, 45 to 90 degrees, this pivoted pusher arm does not collide with the other pusher arm during the return movement, which is currently pushing or displacing a loading unit in the direction of a belt in the sequencing zone.

[0029] The device according to the invention thus achieves that a pusher arm can be moved back in the direction of the entrance zone of the sequencing zone, at which a next loading unit to be moved or relocated is already provided, while the other pusher arm is currently moving or relocating a loading unit previously taken over at the entrance zone in the direction of a belt of the sequencing zone.

[0030] The slider arms can be moved along support arms in the longitudinal direction of the support arms, with the support arms being arranged above and transversely to the belts or receptacles. A configuration is possible in which more than one slider arm can be moved on a support arm, and also a configuration in which each slider arm is assigned an independent support arm. In the case of two slider arms, therefore, two support arms are provided along which the slider arms can be moved. The slider arms can also be pivoted relative to the support arms and can, for example, be articulated on the support arm by means of a respective pivot joint, so that the slider arm can be pivoted at the pivot joint relative to a horizontal direction of the support arm.

[0031] According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the above-mentioned receptacles are designed in the form of separating belts which transport the loading units into the detection area of the cross slide.

[0032] The separation belts take the respective load unit from the respective belt in the sequencing zone and transport the load unit to the detection area of the pusher arm of the cross pusher, which then brings the pusher arm or, for example, a horizontally designed boom of the pusher arm into contact with a side surface of the load unit. The boom is held against the side surface of the load unit, while the pusher arm is displaced on the support arm. This displacement movement of the pusher arm on the support arm causes the load unit to be transported, for example, to a conveyor device. The conveyor device can be a conveyor belt or a pusher that ultimately places the load unit on the pallet or roll container, or places the load unit on another load unit already positioned on the pallet or roll container.

[0033] According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the feed device is designed as a feed belt and that a stop device is provided between the feed belt and a belt of the sequencing zone adjacent to the feed belt, against which stop device load units conveyed onto the adjacent belt can be brought into contact such that they remain arranged in contact therewith while the belt is running and can be brought into releasable engagement with the cross slide or its slide arm. According to an alternative, it is also provided that the load units are brought up to the stop device, come into contact there, and then the belt on which the load unit is arranged is stopped and the load unit is then taken over by the cross slide or the slide arm and shifted or pushed onto a predetermined belt in the sequencing zone.

[0034] According to a further development of the invention, it is also provided that at the end region of each belt of the sequencing zone, adjacent to the receptacle, a stop device is provided which is displaceable relative to the belt in such a way that a loading unit arranged on the belt can be conveyed from the moving belt in the direction of the receptacle when the stop device is displaced.

[0035] The load unit conveyed by the cross pusher onto the corresponding belt in the sequencing zone is therefore moved by the transport movement of the belt towards the stop device and comes to rest there. The stop device therefore holds the load unit back from further transport by the moving belt until the stop device is moved relative to the belt, for example from the horizontal plane of the belt downwards, so that the conveying movement of the belt moves the load unit onto the holder, for example onto the singling belt, which takes over the load unit and transports it into the detection area of the cross pusher of the transfer device. The load unit is then conveyed by the cross pusher to the downstream conveyor device, for example in the form of the aforementioned palletizing device, from which it is placed on the pallet or roll container.

[0036] According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the slider arm is designed to be pivotable relative to the support arm and can be brought into contact with the loading unit by means of the pivoting movement and can be displaced along the support arm in the pivoted position relative to the other slider arm.This ensures that the two slider arms can be displaced along the support arm or along the support arms past each other and in this way the conveying rate of the device according to the invention can be increased with the simultaneous movement of the two slider arms, since it is achieved that one of the two slider arms is always displacing a loading unit relative to the belts of the sequencing zone or relative to the receptacles or singling belts, while the other slider arm moves back in the direction of the inlet zone of the sequencing zone or moves back in the direction of the receptacle or singling belt at which the next loading unit is to be taken over by the slider arm.

[0037] According to a further development of the invention, it is also provided that the conveying speed of the respective separating belt or the respective receptacle is greater than the conveying speed of the respective belt of the sequencing zone and the stop device is or is displaced into the stop position relative to the belt of the sequencing zone after the loading unit has been detected by the separating belt or the receptacle in such a way that a loading unit conveyed by the belt in the direction of the stop device comes into contact with it.

[0038] The stop device, which has been moved relative to the receiving device or the singling belt to release the respective load unit, for example lowered, is immediately moved back into the stop position after the load unit has been detected by the receiving device or the singling belt, for example extended relative to the sequencing zone belt, so that the load unit conveyed on the sequencing zone belt immediately comes into contact with the stop device again. This ensures that a load unit already on the sequencing zone belt, which follows the load unit just transferred from the sequencing zone belt to the singling belt, comes into contact with the stop device. As the load unit just transferred is transported by the singling belt, a gap is created between the load unit just transferred and the previously adjacent load unit still on the sequencing zone belt.During the time that this gap exists, the anchoring device is moved back into the stop position and the anchoring device is in the stop position even before the next load unit comes into contact with it.

[0039] According to a further development of the invention, the belts and the receiving or separating belts are designed as mat chains and are provided with a beveled edge region perpendicular to the conveying direction of the belts. This beveled edge region ensures that the load units transported by the pusher arm perpendicular to the conveying direction of the mat chains do not collide with the mat chain at the edge region of the underbody of the load unit assigned to the mat chain, but can be transported by the pusher arm onto the conveying surface or surfaces of the mat chains without risk of collision.

[0040] The invention also provides a method for sequencing load units in a predetermined order, by means of a sequencing zone with a plurality of belts for receiving load units to be sequenced and a feeding device for delivered load units upstream of the sequencing zone and a singling device downstream of the sequencing zone with receptacles for load units, and a distribution device distributing the delivered load units onto the belts and a transfer device conveying the separated load units in the direction of a conveyor device downstream of the device, wherein according to the method the load units are displaced relative to the belts of the sequencing zone by means of a cross slider.

[0041] This ensures that the load units provided by the feed device can be taken over by the sequencing zone by means of a cross-pusher provided at the entrance area or at the entrance zone of the sequencing zone, and the load units are shifted by the cross-pusher relative to the belts of the sequencing zone. The cross-pusher can shift the respective load unit to a predetermined belt of the sequencing zone, wherein the respective belt is determined or predetermined, for example, by a control device based on a sequence with which the load units are then sequenced or sorted in the predetermined order, for example, depending on the occupancy status of the belts, so that they are then provided at the exit of the sequencing zone in the sequence predetermined for the subsequent palletizing of the load units.

[0042] A further development of the method according to the invention also provides for the load units to be displaced relative to the receptacles of the downstream singling device by means of a cross slider. The receptacles of the downstream singling device can, for example, be singling belts, with each singling belt being assigned to a respective belt in the sequencing zone, and the singling belt then taking over a load unit from the belt in the sequencing zone. The load unit thus taken over on the singling belt is then displaced by means of the cross slider in the direction of a downstream conveyor device, which can, for example, be an automated device for palletizing the sequenced load units, which can then deposit the load units in the form of stacks on a pallet or a roll container.

[0043] In a further development of the method according to the invention, it is also provided that the cross slider has two first and second slider arms which can be pivoted relative to one another, and the two slider arms are displaced on at least one support arm transversely to the conveying direction of the belts of the sequencing zone, wherein one of the support arms conveys a loading unit in the direction of the respective belt of the sequencing zone, while the other slider arm is moved in a position pivoted relative to the support arm in the direction of a belt adjacent to the feed device.

[0044] This ensures that one of the pusher arms moves a respective loading unit in the direction of the predetermined belt of the sequencing zone and the other pusher arm already moves again in the direction of the take-over position for loading units, wherein the take-over position can be provided in the area of a belt adjacent to the feed device.

[0045] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, which shows: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device for sequencing load units according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 an enlarged view of a section of the transfer area for load units from the feed device to the sequencing zone; Fig. 3 a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 1, where a loading unit has already been transferred from the feeding device to the sequencing zone; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing that a loading unit is already located on a first belt of the sequencing zone and a second loading unit is located in the transfer area from the feed device to the sequencing zone; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing that the second loading unit has already been moved by the cross-pusher onto a second belt of the sequencing zone; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the first loading unit already arranged on a stop device; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a third loading unit already arranged on a third belt of the sequencing zone; Fig. 8 a representation similar to that of Fig. 7, which shows that the third loading unit is conveyed towards the anchoring device; Fig. 9 a perspective view of the device according to the invention in a next step of the sequencing process; Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the device according to the invention in a next step of the sequencing process; Fig. 11 a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 10, which shows the device according to the invention in a next step of the sequencing process; Fig. 12 a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 11, which shows the device according to the invention in a next step of the sequencing process; Fig. 13 a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 12, which shows the device according to the invention in a next step of the sequencing process; Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the sequenced load units arranged on the belts of the sequencing zone before being conveyed by the second cross-pusher to the downstream conveyor; Fig. 15 a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 14 at a different angle of view; Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing how a loading unit is conveyed by the second cross slider towards the downstream conveyor; Fig. 17 a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 16, which shows the device according to the invention in a next step of the sequencing process; Fig. 18 a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 17, which shows the device according to the invention in a next step of the sequencing process; Fig. 19 a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 18, which shows the device according to the invention in a next step of the sequencing process; Fig. 20 a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 19, which shows the device according to the invention in a next step of the sequencing process; Fig. 21 an enlarged view of a section of Fig. 20; Fig. 22 a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 20, which shows the device according to the invention in a next step of the sequencing process; and Fig. 23 a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 22, which shows the device according to the invention in a next step of the sequencing process.

[0046] Fig. 1 of the drawing shows a perspective view of a device 1 for sequencing loading units 2, which in Fig. 1 are arranged on a feeding device 3 in the form of a feeding belt 4.

[0047] As is readily apparent, the loading units have two different sizes or dimensions and are marked with different letters "A", "B", "C", "D", "E", "F" to clarify the loading units. Fig. 1 it is also evident that the loading units 2 are not sorted in alphabetical order, but must be sorted in a certain alphabetical order, symbolically chosen here for the sake of explanation, for later processing by an automated palletizing device (not shown in detail), as can be seen from Fig. 23 of the drawing, which shows the loading units 2 arranged in a sorted manner on a conveyor device 5, which can transport the loading units 2, for example, to the automated palletizing device, which then stacks the loading units 2 in the form of stacks on pallets or roll containers (not shown in detail), with which the loading units 2 can then be transported to a branch.

[0048] The loading units 2 may be containers or containers for holding fruit and vegetable products, they may also contain other fresh goods, such as meat or the like, as well as frozen goods or other products.

[0049] Due to its high sequencing performance, the device 1 for sequencing load units 2 in a predetermined order is particularly suitable for sequencing load units in the form of the containers described above, which must be processed in a very short time due to the perishability of the aforementioned goods. The device 1 according to the invention is suitable, for example, for processing at least 800 containers per hour.

[0050] The device according to the invention also has a sequencing zone 6, which in the illustrated embodiment of the device 1 has six belts 7 arranged parallel to each other. The belts 7 can also be referred to as accumulation belts, since more than one loading unit 2 can be arranged on the belts 7, as can be seen, for example, from Fig. 10 of the drawing, which shows the first belt 7 with two loading units 2 arranged thereon.

[0051] The bands 7 can be designed in the form of mat bands 8, which can have a thickness of 4 to 5 millimeters, for example, and at least at the edge area 9 (see Fig. 2) are provided with rounded edges 10.

[0052] Fig. 1 of the drawing shows with the double arrow 11 marked X the orientation in which the upper tension chord 12 (see Fig. 2) of the mat belt 8 and also the orientation with which the beam belt 13 (see Fig. 2) of the mat belt 8 is moved.

[0053] Fig. 1 of the drawing shows with the double arrow 14 marked Z the orientation in which the first slide arm 15 (see Fig. 2) and the second slide arm 16 (see Fig. 2) of the first cross slide 17 and also the third slide arm 18 (see Fig. 20) and the fourth slide arm 19 (see Fig. 20) of the second cross slide 20 (see Fig. 1) can move.

[0054] As can be seen from, for example, Fig. As can be seen in Figure 23 of the drawing, the slide arms 15, 16 of the first cross slide 17 are displaceable on two first support arms 21 along the longitudinal direction of the support arms 21, which corresponds to the direction indicated by the double arrow 14.

[0055] Similarly, the third slider arm 18 and the fourth slider arm 19 are displaceable on two second support arms 22 in their longitudinal direction, as can be seen, for example, from Fig. 23 of the drawing.

[0056] The device 1 also has a singling device 23 arranged downstream of the sequencing zone 6, with receptacles 24 for receiving the loading units 2, wherein the receptacles 24 in the illustrated embodiment of the device 1 are designed as singling belts 25, as can be seen, for example, from Fig. 3 of the drawing.

[0057] The device 1 also has a distribution device 26 which distributes the delivered loading units 2 onto the belts 7, which in the illustrated embodiment of the device 1 is formed by the first cross slide 17 and also has a transfer device 28 which conveys the loading units 2 in the direction of a conveyor device 5 arranged downstream of the device 1 (see Fig. 3), which in the illustrated embodiment of the device 1 is formed by the second cross slide 20.

[0058] The first cross slide 17 has two slide arms 15, 16 pivotable relative to each other, as can be seen from Fig. 2 of the drawing. Fig. 2 of the drawing shows the second pusher arm 16 arranged in a vertical position on the support arm 21 and thus in a position in which the pusher arm 16 can move a loading unit 2, which can be positioned, for example, by means of Fig. 5 of the drawing and is designated there with the letter “F”, can be moved transversely to the bands 7, i.e. in the direction of the orientation of the double arrow 14, for example to the first band 27 (see Fig. 6) adjacent belt 7, from which the loading unit 2 is then conveyed in the direction of the separating belt 25, which is assigned to the belt 7 with the loading unit “F” thereon, as can be seen, for example, from Fig. 6 of the drawing.

[0059] According to the present embodiment of the invention, the distribution device 26 is designed as a first cross slide 17, and the transfer device 28 is designed as a second cross slide 20. Both cross slides 17, 20 each have two slide arms 15, 16 and 18, 19, respectively, which are each designed to be pivotable relative to one another and are arranged to be displaceable transversely to the belts 7 or receptacles 24. The first slide arm 15 and the second slide arm 16 are arranged to be displaceable or slidable on the first support arms 21 along their longitudinal direction, and the slide arm 18 and the slide arm 19 are arranged to be displaceable or slidable on the second support arms 22 along their longitudinal direction, as can be seen from all representations of the drawing.

[0060] As can be seen, for example, from Fig. 1 of the drawing, the first support arms 21 are arranged above the belts 7 of the sequencing zone 6 and extend in the direction of the orientation of the double arrow 14, i.e. they run transversely to the belts 7, the orientation of which can be seen from the double arrow 11 of the Fig. 1 of the drawing.

[0061] The second support arms 22 are arranged above the receptacles 24 and extend transversely to the receptacles 24, as can also be seen, for example, from Fig. 1 of the drawing, but also from all other figures in the drawing.

[0062] As already mentioned above, in the illustrated embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention, the receptacles 24 are designed as separating belts 25.

[0063] Fig. 17 and Fig. 18 of the drawing show that the separation band 25 assigned to the first band 27 of the sequencing zone 6 Fig. 17 still waiting on the belt 27 loading unit 2 is transported in the direction of the third pusher arm 18, whereby Fig. 18 of the drawing shows that the loading unit 2 designated by the letter “B” has been conveyed into the detection area of the pusher arm 18 of the cross pusher 20 and can then be conveyed further by this in the direction of the conveyor device 5.

[0064] Fig. Figure 2 of the drawing shows the first pusher arm 15 in a pivoted position relative to the support arm 21, specifically pivoted rearwardly, opposite to the conveying direction of the pusher arm 15. In the position of the pusher arm 15 pivoted in this way at a rotary joint or pivot joint 29, the pusher arm 16 can displace a loading unit 2 in the conveying direction of the double arrow 14, i.e., transversely to the longitudinal direction of the accumulation belts 7, i.e., push it underneath the pusher arm 15 pivoted rearwardly, for example, up to a belt 30 that is furthest away from the feed device 3 or the feed belt 4 in the direction of the double arrow 14.

[0065] During such a displacement movement of the loading unit 2, for example onto the belt 30 by the second pusher arm 16, the first pusher arm 15 can already move again in the direction of the transfer area 31 for loading units 2 onto the first belt 27 (see Fig. 1) move back

[0066] In the area of the transfer area 31, between the feed belt 4 and the first belt 27, i.e. adjacent to the belt 27 of the sequencing zone 6, a stop device 32 in the form of a stopper 33 is arranged, against which a loading unit 2 transferred from the feed belt 4 to the first belt 27 is brought into contact, as can be seen, for example, from Fig. 3 of the drawing.

[0067] Fig. 4 of the drawing shows that the stopper 33 has been pivoted upwards on a pivot joint 34 so that the belt 27 can transport the loading unit 2 in the direction of the orientation of the double arrow 11, i.e. in the direction of the receptacles 24 or the separating belts 25.

[0068] Fig. 5 of the drawing shows that the loading unit 2 designated by the letter “F” is pushed by the second pusher arm 16 in the direction of the second belt 35, from which it is then, as can be seen from the Fig. 6 of the drawing, is conveyed in the direction of the separating belt 25.

[0069] The second slide arm 16 can also, as can be seen from Fig. 6 of the drawing, can be pivoted on a pivot joint 36 relative to the support arm 21 and also relative to the first slide arm 15. The slide arm 15 has a guide element 37 with which it is guided on the support arm 21; the slide arm 16 also has such a guide element in order to be guided on the support arm 21.

[0070] As can be seen, for example, from Fig. 20 of the drawing, the third slide arm 18 also has a guide element 38 with which it is guided on the support arm 22 and the fourth slide arm 19 also has a guide element 38 with which it is guided on the support arm 22.

[0071] The slide arm 19 is pivotably arranged on a pivot joint 39 relative to the support arm 22 and also relative to the slide arm 18, and the slide arm 18 is pivotably arranged on a pivot joint 40 relative to the slide arm 19 and relative to the support arm 22.

[0072] Due to their articulated or pivotable arrangement, the two pusher arms 18 and 19 can be moved past each other relative to the support arm 22 and also relative to each other without the pusher arms or a pusher arm colliding with a displacement movement of the loading unit 2 in the direction of the conveyor device 5 taking place therebelow in the direction of the orientation of the double arrow 14.

[0073] As can be seen, for example, from Fig. 21 of the drawing, a stop device 42 in the form of a stopper 43 is arranged at the end region 41 of each belt 7, against which the respective loading unit 2 comes into contact when the belt 7 is running, as can be seen, for example, from Fig. 20 of the drawing, which shows the loading unit 2 arranged on the first belt 27 at the stopper 43. When the loading unit 2 is to be transferred from the belt 7 to the receiving device 24 or the separating belt 25, the stop device 42 is displaced downwards relative to the upper side 44 of the belt 7, as can be seen, for example, from the downwardly displaced stopper 45 according to Fig. 21 of the drawing and the circulating conveying movement of the belt 7 transports the respective loading unit into the detection area of the separating belt 25, so that the loading unit 2, as can be seen, for example, from the loading unit designated by the letter “C” according to Fig. 21 of the drawing can then be seen from the respective slider arm - in Fig. 21 of the drawing, for example, the slide arm 18 - and transported towards a sliding plate 46, which, for example, can be Fig. 23 of the drawing. A slider 47 is arranged in the area of the sliding plate 46, which then transports the containers or loading units 2 onto the conveyor device 5.

[0074] The slider arms are each designed to be pivotable relative to the support arm and can be brought into contact with the loading unit 2, for example a side surface of the loading unit 2, by means of the pivoting movement and the slider arms can then be axially displaced in their contact position on the loading unit relative to the support arm, which means that the loading units can be displaced relative to the respective belt 7 or relative to the respective separating belt 25.

[0075] The conveying speed of the respective separating belt 24 is greater than the conveying speed of the accumulation belt 7 of the sequencing zone 6 assigned to the separating belt 24, so that the stop device 45 can be quickly extended again relative to the upper side 44 of the respective accumulation belt 7 and the next loading unit 2 can be brought into contact with it again before this loading unit is detected by the separating belt 25.

[0076] Fig. 1 of the drawing shows an arrangement in which the loading units 2 are arranged in a non-sequenced order on the feed belt 4, Fig. Figure 2 of the drawing shows an enlarged view of the transfer area 31 for the loading units 2 from the feed belt 4 to the first belt 27, which acts both as a transfer belt and as an accumulation belt.

[0077] As shown by Fig. 3 of the drawing, a first loading unit 2 has already been transferred from the feed belt 4 to the sequencing zone 6, the loading unit 2 is therefore arranged in the transfer area 31 and rests against the stop device 32.

[0078] Fig. 4 of the drawing shows a perspective view showing that the stop device 32 has pivoted and has cleared the path of the loading unit “B” for further transport on the first belt 27 or the accumulation belt 7 in the direction of the stop device 43.

[0079] Fig. 5 of the drawing shows that a second loading unit “F” has already been transferred from the second pusher arm 16 of the first cross pusher 17 to the second belt 35 or accumulation belt 7 of the second track with the second belt 35.

[0080] Fig. 6 of the drawing shows that the loading unit “B” is already arranged on the stop device 43 and is held back by it, even if the first belt 27 continues to perform a feed movement.

[0081] Fig. 7 of the drawing shows that a loading unit “C” has already been shifted from the first pusher arm 15 to the third belt 48 of the sequencing zone 6 and the second pusher arm 16 is in the position pivoted relative to the support arm 21, in which the loading unit “C” can also be shifted below the second pusher arm 16 in the direction of the double arrow 14, i.e. transversely to the dust belts 7.

[0082] Fig. Figure 8 of the drawing shows a representation similar to that of Fig. 7, which shows that the third loading unit “C” on the third belt is already being moved towards the stop device 42.

[0083] Fig. 9 of the drawing shows that the loading unit “C” is already resting against the anchoring device and the loading unit “E” has already been released by the anchoring device 32 for further transport on the first belt 27 and the loading unit “D” is located just in front of the anchoring device 32 in order to be able to be transported there, as can be seen from Fig. 10 of the drawing, and then from there, as can be seen from Fig. 11 of the drawing, to be taken over by the second slider arm 16 and to be moved to the third belt 48.

[0084] The third belt 48 then takes over the loading unit “D” and transports it in the direction of the stop device 42 and the second pusher arm 16 has been pivoted backwards relative to the support arm 21, so that the Fig. 12 of the drawing, the loading unit “A” lying on the stop device 32 is released from the first pusher arm 15, as can be seen from Fig. 13 of the drawing, to be moved towards the fourth band 49.

[0085] Fig. 14 of the drawing shows that the fourth belt 49 has already transported the loading unit A to the stop device 42, where it is ready to be taken over by the separating belt 25.

[0086] Fig. 15 of the drawing shows that the stop device 42 has been lowered relative to the upper side 44 of the accumulation belt 49, so that the conveying movement of the accumulation belt 49 transfers the loading unit “A” to the separating belt 25, as can be seen from Fig. 16 of the drawing. The Fig. 14 to Fig. 16 also show that the load units “B”, “C”, “D”, “E” and “F” are still resting on the stop devices 42 and have not yet been released by them. With the release of the stop device 42, which is assigned to the fourth belt 49, the load unit “A” was transferred to the separating belt 25 and can be moved from there into the detection area of the third pusher arm 18, which can then transport the load unit “A” to the pusher plate 46 by means of a displacement movement on the support arm 22, as can be seen from the Fig. 17 of the drawing.

[0087] From the sliding plate 46, the loading unit “A” can then be conveyed onto the conveyor device 5 by means of the slider 47, as can be seen from Fig. 18 of the drawing. Fig. 18 also shows that the next loading unit “B” has been conveyed onto the separating belt 25 and can be taken over by the pusher arm 19 to be conveyed onto the pusher plate 46, on the conveyor device 5 is then, as can be seen from Fig. 20 of the drawing, the loading unit “A” followed by the loading unit “B”, the two loading units are thus arranged in the predetermined order.

[0088] Fig. 20 of the drawing shows that in a next step the loading unit “C” was released for transport onto the separating belt 25 and there by the pusher arm 18, which is located in Fig. 19 of the drawing is still in the backward pivoted position in which it could be moved over the loading unit “B”, is taken over, namely for the displacement movement of the loading unit “C” onto the sliding plate 46, from which the loading unit “C” can then be conveyed by means of the slider 47 onto the conveyor device 5, on which the loading units “A”, “B” and “C” are then arranged in the correct order, as can be seen from Fig. 23 of the drawing.

[0089] Fig. Finally, Figure 23 shows that the loading units “A”, “B”, “C” and “D” were conveyed onto the conveyor device 5 in the manner described above, so that the loading units are present there in the order intended for further processing.

[0090] The other loading units “E” and “F” are also processed in a similar way, so that they finally arrive at the system on the conveyor 5, where the loading units “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “E” and “F” shown in the figures are sequenced in the correct order.

[0091] The device 1 according to the invention is characterized, among other things, in that the cross sliders 17 and 20 are designed as double sliders and each have two slider arms that are operated alternately, thus increasing the storage and retrieval capacity to approximately 800 containers per hour. Because the slider arms are arranged to be pivotable relative to the support arms or to the slider arms, i.e. can be pivoted through an angle of approximately 45 to 90 degrees, preferably 75 degrees, the slider arms can be moved such that one slider arm performs a displacement movement on the container, while the other slider arm performs a return movement to the transfer area, where the slider arm then takes over the next container either at the inlet of the first belt or takes over the container or the loading unit at the respective pickup or the respective singling belt.

[0092] The sequencing device according to the invention can be followed by an automatic device (not shown in detail) for palletizing the load units. The sequencing zone's load unit capacity can be varied by changing the number and length of the accumulation belts 7 of the sequencing zone 6. The stop devices 42 at the respective end area of the accumulation belts can be moved, for example, by means of pneumatic cylinders, i.e., lowered and raised again. The respective separating belt 25 has a higher conveying speed than the corresponding accumulation belt 7, and the stop device 42 can therefore be raised again to engage the next load unit before it enters the detection range of the separating belt.

[0093] The sequencing device according to the invention is controlled by a control computer (not shown in detail), which releases the loading units to be sequenced in a predetermined order, so that the accumulation belts and the singling belts as well as the cross slides can be controlled accordingly, for example in such a way that the order of sequencing can be controlled on the basis of the weight of the loading unit, the type of the loading unit and the dimensions of the loading unit.

[0094] In this way, heavy load units can be stacked at the bottom of the pallet (not shown in detail) or the roll container (not shown in detail). A stack of load units then has the heaviest load unit at the bottom, followed by lighter load units at the top. It is also possible to control the stacking sequence for the same items.

[0095] By providing a double cross-pusher at the inlet and / or outlet of the sequencing zone, a high sequencing capacity of at least 800 packages per hour can be achieved. The use of mat chains as belts, accumulation belts, or separation belts, as provided for in the invention, ensures that the pusher arms can move the respective load units transversely to the belts, accumulation belts, and separation belts without any risk of collision between the respective undersides of the load units and the mat chains.

[0096] The use of two complementary pusher arms results in a very high throughput, as already explained. One of the pusher arms places a load unit on the specified buffer belt, while the other pusher arm is already positioned to receive the next container or load unit. As soon as the first pusher arm arrives with the container or load unit at the predetermined belt, the second pusher arm, on which the next load unit is already positioned, can begin its transfer movement along with the container or load unit.After the container or loading unit has been placed on the specified buffer belt, the first pusher arm pivots backwards and can move past the other moving pusher arm when returning to the transfer position of the next container or loading unit, without there being any risk of the pusher arm colliding with the other pusher arm or the other pusher arm colliding with the loading unit being moved by it.

[0097] With regard to the above features of the invention which are not explained in detail, reference is expressly made to the patent claims and the drawings. List of reference symbols 1 device 2 loading units 3 Feeding device 4 Feed belt 5 Conveyor system 6 Sequencing zone 7 volumes, volumes 8 mat tape 9 Marginal area 10 edge 11 Conveying direction 12 top tension belt 13 Beam chord 14 Double arrow 15 First slider arm 16 Second slider arm 17 First cross slide 18 Third slider arm 19 Fourth slider arm 20 Second cross slide 21 First support arm 22 Second support arm 23 Separation device 24 recording 25 Separation belt 26 Distribution facility 27 first volume 28 Transfer device 29 Swivel joint 30 volumes 31 Transfer area 32 Anchor device 33 stoppers 34 Swivel joint 35 Second Volume 36 Swivel joint 37 leadership 38 Guide element 39 Swivel joint 40 swivel joint 41 End area 42 Anchor device 43 stoppers 44 Top 45 Anchor device 46 Sliding plate 47 Slider arm 48 Third Volume 49 Fourth Volume

Claims

[1] Device (1) for sequencing load units (2) in a predetermined order, comprising a sequencing zone (6) with a plurality of belts (7) for receiving load units (2) to be sequenced and a feed device (3) for load units (2) arranged upstream of the sequencing zone (6) and a singling device (23) arranged downstream of the sequencing zone (6) with receptacles (24) for load units (2), and a distribution device (26) distributing the load units (2) onto the belts (7) and a transfer device (28) conveying the separated load units (2) in the direction of a conveyor device (5) arranged downstream of the device, characterized by that the distribution device (26) and / or the transfer device (28) is designed as a transverse slider (17, 20) which moves the loading units (2) transversely to the belts (7) or receptacles (24). [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized byin that the cross slider (17, 20) has at least two slider arms (15, 16, 18, 19) which can be pivoted relative to one another and which are provided on support arms (21, 22) arranged above and transversely to the belts (7) or receptacles (27) and are arranged so as to be displaceable along the support arms (21, 22) and can be brought into contact with the loading units (2). [3] Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the receptacles (24) are designed in the form of separating belts (25) which transport the loading units (2) into the detection area of the cross slide (17, 20). [4] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the feed device (3) is designed as a feed belt (4) and a stop device (32) is provided between the feed belt (4) and a belt (7, 27) of the sequencing zone (6) adjacent to the feed belt, against which stop device load units (2) conveyed onto the adjacent belt (7, 27) can be brought into contact in such a way that they remain arranged in contact therewith when the belt (7, 27) is running and can be brought into releasable engagement with the cross slide (17). [5] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at the end region (41) of each belt (7) of the sequencing zone (6) adjacent to the receptacle (24) there is provided a stop device (42) which is displaceable relative to the belt (7) in such a way that a loading unit (2) arranged on the belt (7) can be conveyed from the moving belt (2) in the direction of the receptacle (24) when the stop device (42) is displaced. [6] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the slide arm (15, 16, 18, 19) is designed to be pivotable relative to the support arm (21, 22) and can be brought into contact with the loading unit (2) by means of the pivoting movement and can be displaced in the pivoted position relative to the other slide arm (15, 16, 18, 19) along the support arm (21, 22). [7] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 6, characterized by that the conveying speed of the respective singling belt (25) is greater than the conveying speed of the respective belt (7) of the sequencing zone (6) and the stop device (42) is displaced into the stop position relative to the belt (7) of the sequencing zone (6) after the loading unit (2) has been detected by the singling belt (25) in such a way that a loading unit (2) conveyed by the belt (7) in the direction of the stop device (42) comes into contact therewith. [8] Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the belts (7) and the receptacles (24) are designed as mat chains (8) with an edge region (9) bevelled transversely to the conveying direction of the belts. [9] Method of sequencing load units (2) in a predetermined order, by means of a sequencing zone (6) with a plurality of belts (7) for receiving load units (2) to be sequenced and a feed device (3) for load units (2) upstream of the sequencing zone (6) and a singling device (23) downstream of the sequencing zone (6) with receptacles (24) for load units (2), and a distribution device (26) distributing the load units (2) onto the belts (7) and a transfer device (28) conveying the separated load units (2) in the direction of a conveyor device (5) downstream of the device, characterized by that the loading units (2) are displaced relative to the belts (7) of the sequencing zone (6) by means of a cross slider (17). [10] Method according to claim 9, characterized by that the loading units (2) are displaced by means of a cross slide (20) relative to the receptacles (24) of the downstream separating device (23). [11] Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized by in that the cross slider (17, 20) has two first and second slider arms (15, 16, 18, 19) which can be pivoted relative to one another, and the two slider arms (15, 16, 18, 19) are displaced on at least one support arm (21, 22) transversely to the conveying direction of the belts (7) of the sequencing zone (6), one of the slider arms (15, 16) conveying a loading unit in the direction of the respective belt (6) of the sequencing zone, while the other slider arm (15, 16) is displaced in a position pivoted relative to the support arm (21) in the direction of a belt (7, 27) adjacent to the feed device (3).

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