Base station for the transfer of information carriers, system for the transfer of information carriers and procedure for marking objects

Abstract

A base station (1) for the transfer of information carriers (2), comprising - a means of storing the information carriers (10); - a means of isolating the information carriers (11); and - a means for transferring the individual information carriers (12); characterized in that the base station (1) is suitable for transferring the individual information carriers (2) to a receiver (31) of an autonomous aircraft (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a base station for transferring information carriers, a system for transferring information carriers and a method for marking objects.

[0002] The automated marking of objects to be marked with information carriers is currently usually carried out using one or more stationary marking systems. For example, the object to be marked is aligned and moved at a short distance past an information carrier transfer system. For objects of variable size, applicators with moving machine components are used. These can overcome distances between an information carrier transfer system and an object to be marked within a limited range of a few centimeters to a few meters. For this purpose, robot systems or combinations of linear and rotary machine elements are used, for example, which transport an information carrier from a stationary means for separation to an object's surface.The kinetic energy, potential energy, and force of these moving machine elements pose a significant risk of injury to operators. These moving machine elements also account for a significant portion of the energy consumption of information transmission systems. These systems are often permanently installed and can only be moved by trained operators.

[0003] Autonomous flying vehicles are already being used in many industrial sectors. One of the areas of application for autonomous aircraft is warehouse logistics. For example, US Patent No. 10112714 B2 describes the printing of objects to be marked using an aircraft. A disadvantage of this system is the high weight of the aircraft due to the integrated printer, which makes it difficult to control and sluggish.

[0004] CN 1 08 033 182 B also discloses an automatic system for applying barcodes and loading goods using a drone, which can be used in unmanned warehouse logistics.

[0005] CN 2 10 793 933 U describes a mechanism for applying labels by an unmanned aerial vehicle used to inspect industrial facilities.

[0006] CN 2 12 738 849 U discloses an automatic marking device comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicle is controlled by a controller and guided to a position to be marked. The unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a label box, a scraper blade, and a waste box and can be navigated, in particular, into areas such as tunnels and caves where satellite signal reception is poor.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and a system for transferring information carriers and a method for marking objects which does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0008] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims, the enclosed description and the figures.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, a base station for transferring information carriers is provided. The base station comprises a means for storing the information carriers, a means for separating the information carriers, and a means for transferring the separated information carriers, and is suitable for transferring the separated information carriers to a receptacle of an autonomous aircraft. The base station can be stationary or mobile. Information can be stored on the information carrier. For example, it can be in the form of a label with a barcode, QR code, or text, or in the form of an RFID tag. The information carrier preferably has an adhesive side with which it adheres to objects. The aircraft is suitable for receiving the information carrier by means of the receptacle, transporting it, and using the information carrier to mark an object to be marked.The autonomous aircraft can, for example, be designed in the form of a drone. The means for storing the information carriers serves to equip the base station with a suitable quantity of information carriers in order to ensure smooth workflows. For example, the information carriers can be stored on rolls. With the help of the means for separating the information carriers, it is then possible to remove a required individual information carrier and prepare it for handover. The handover means is suitable for taking over the separated information carrier and handing it over to the aircraft. The handover of the information carrier can, for example, be carried out by a flight movement of the aircraft. The separated information carrier is then attached to the means for.

[0011] The base station is handed over in such a way that the aircraft can touch the base station with its pickup during a flying approach and thus take over. In the field of logistics, more and more companies are relying on warehouse systems with chaotic and organic goods movements. These can further increase their efficiency and level of automation by avoiding bottlenecks and using short distances. Currently, marking processes usually take place at a fixed location, from where the marked items are then transported further. Non-location-based marking with aircraft makes it possible to carry out marking during goods movements or at the storage location of a corresponding material. This enables shorter distances and fewer goods movements, increases the flexibility of goods movements, and prevents bottlenecks, as marking with the information carrier does not have to take place at a fixed time and location.Since the information carriers are usually significantly lighter than the objects they mark, energy savings can also be achieved if only the information carrier, rather than the object, is moved for marking. The base station can be designed to transmit positioning information or instructions to the aircraft before and during the transfer of the information carrier. However, the aircraft can also be positioned solely using sensors on the aircraft.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the means for transferring the information carrier is designed to be linearly or rotationally movable. It is advantageous to arrange the means for transferring at a certain distance from other elements, such as the means for singling out the base station, in order to avoid a collision with other elements of the base station in the event of a position deviation of the aircraft during the transfer process. For this purpose, the means for transferring can, for example, be designed such that it receives the information carrier in a pick-up position from the means for singling out and then moves it to a delivery position that is at a distance from other elements of the base station. It is also conceivable for the means for transferring to be actively aligned with the position of the aircraft. After picking up the information carrier from the means for singling out, it moves to a delivery position depending on the position data of the aircraft.An advantage is that the transfer device can be positioned relatively quickly and precisely compared to the aircraft. The transfer to the aircraft in the drop-off position can then be achieved, for example, by the aircraft approaching and the receiver contacting the transfer device. It is also advantageous to provide a certain degree of flexibility for the transfer device, so that damage to the aircraft or the base station can be avoided in the event of an accidental collision.

[0013] According to a further exemplary embodiment, the means for transferring the information carrier comprises at least one holding element suitable for receiving at least one partial surface of the information carrier. The means for transferring the information carrier can, for example, be designed such that it only touches the information carrier on one partial surface or on several partial surfaces, preferably on less than 55%, particularly preferably on less than 40% of the side of the information carrier facing away from the pressure-sensitive adhesive. This enables the aircraft to touch another partial surface on the same side of the information carrier with the holder in order to receive it. The holding forces are generated either by negative pressure in cutouts of the holding element or by van der Waals forces between the information carrier and the holding element.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the means for transferring the information carrier has compressed air nozzles for receiving and / or releasing the information carrier. This offers the advantage that the information carrier can be blown onto the aircraft's receptacle. This enables contactless transfer of the information carrier from the base station to the aircraft at a distance of several centimeters. Accidental contact between the aircraft and the base station is thus avoided, and this design enables transfer to the aircraft, which is hovering in the appropriate orientation at a short distance from the base station. A further advantage results from the short transfer time, which is in the range of a few milliseconds.If the position and orientation of the aircraft are detected, for example, by sensors or a camera system, the transfer can be linked to conditions such as the position and orientation of the aircraft relative to the base station. Once these conditions are met, the information carrier can be transferred to the aircraft in a fraction of a second by a blast of air, before the relative position and orientation can change significantly. Applying negative pressure enables the information carrier to be picked up and temporarily held.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base station comprises a means for activating activatable pressure-sensitive adhesive layers on information carriers. If the base station comprises such a means, it is possible to use information carriers in the form of carrier-free labels with an activatable pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. The label can, for example, be kept ready in the transfer means when it is activated or at the aircraft receptacle. For activating the label at the aircraft receptacle, a position of the activation means away from the separation means and the transfer means is conceivable, for example, and is controlled by the aircraft after the label has been picked up. The spatial separation offers the advantage that the remaining subareas of the base station are protected from excess activation medium or excess activation energy.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base station comprises a means for transferring information to the information carrier. This offers the advantage that the base station can provide each information carrier with the required information, precisely tailored to the object to be marked. For example, it is conceivable to use a printer that prints data, such as a barcode or product information, onto an information carrier in the form of a label. It is then sufficient to store blank information carriers at the base station and, as needed, to provide them with the required information before they are transferred to the aircraft.

[0017] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base station has a means for temporarily receiving the aircraft. This offers the advantage that the positioning accuracy of the aircraft for transferring the information carrier can be increased and the optimal transfer of the information carrier is ensured. The means for temporarily receiving the aircraft can, for example, have geometric elements that interact with the aircraft during a landing process in order to bring it into a predefined position and orientation by utilizing the aircraft's own weight. This allows the means for transferring the base station and the aircraft holder to be positioned relative to one another in such a way that a reliable transfer is possible. At the same time, it is possible, for example, to supply the aircraft with electricity and other operating media such as compressed air in this position.

[0018] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the means for temporarily accommodating the aircraft is suitable for bringing the aircraft into a position suitable for transferring the information carrier. For example, a funnel-shaped design of the means for temporarily accommodating the aircraft is conceivable. This offers the advantage that the aircraft can land in a relatively wide area of ​​the means for temporarily accommodating the aircraft and then slide through a narrowing area, thereby being firmly positioned and held. This fixed positioning ensures a smooth transfer of the information carrier.However, it is also conceivable, for example, that the means for temporary accommodation is suitable for moving the aircraft in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner to the means for transferring the information carrier, for example, if the means for accommodation is designed as a robotic arm that grasps the aircraft or as a conveyor belt on which the aircraft can be transported. Such a design can increase the positioning accuracy of the aircraft and thus ensure smooth operation.

[0019] According to a further aspect of the invention, a system for transferring information carriers is provided. The system comprises a base station, at least one aircraft with a receptacle for information carriers, and a control unit connected to the base station and the at least one aircraft. It is conceivable for the base station to serve to equip multiple aircraft with information carriers. The control unit serves to ensure communication between the base station and aircraft, to supply the base station and the aircraft with information regarding the required information carrier and the object to be marked, and to ensure a smooth transfer of the information carrier. It is also conceivable to provide multiple base stations that can be controlled by one or more aircraft.For example, the control unit can calculate the shortest possible routes within a storage room based on the position data of the objects to be marked, base stations, and aircraft. It is also conceivable for the control unit to take into account when the base station is already busy with a handover process to another aircraft. In this case, another base station can be selected that is free for the aircraft, thus avoiding waiting times.

[0020] The advantage of such a system is the ability to use autonomous aircraft to mark objects located in inaccessible or difficult-to-reach locations, such as storage areas in automated high-bay warehouses, hazardous areas such as production lines, container warehouses, or raw material warehouses. Autonomous marking with aircraft can avoid time-consuming goods movements and risks for employees who would otherwise be responsible for marking the objects to be marked. Due to the low mass of the aircraft, its kinetic energy and force pose no significant danger to humans, eliminating the need for protective barriers and safety-related production interruptions.If the base station is sufficiently supplied with information carriers, several products or several sides of an object can be marked simultaneously by using a large number of aircraft, resulting in a further increase in performance.

[0021] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the receptacle of the aircraft has compressed air nozzles for receiving and / or dispensing the information carrier. The negative pressure can be generated in cutouts of the receptacle using an air flow generator on the aircraft. This negative pressure can hold the information carrier until it is to be applied to the object to be marked. Furthermore, the receptacle can have a pressurized volume and valve element which, depending on the valve position, can communicate with cutouts in the receptacle in order to separate the information carrier from the holding surface and thus blow it off. The information carrier can be applied to the object to be marked by approaching the aircraft to the surface until the information carrier touches it with the adhesive side. For this to happen, the receptacle must protrude beyond the remaining contour of the aircraft.To limit the forces transferred to the object, the holder can be designed to be movable relative to the rest of the aircraft. To return a movable holder to a defined position for transfer, the movable holder can, for example, be equipped with spring elements. To improve the adhesion of the information carrier to the object's surface, the information carrier can be pressed onto the surface after application. To do this, the aircraft performs a flight maneuver after application, for example, in which the information carrier is pressed onto the object to be marked by the holder, by brushes attached to the aircraft, or by the airflow from the aircraft's rotors.

[0022] The aircraft mount can also be equipped with compressed air nozzles to blow the information carrier onto the object to be marked. For this purpose, cutouts in the mount can be pressurized. This overpressure accelerates the information carrier, initially located on the mount, towards the object's surface. This allows application to be carried out with a distance of up to 20 cm between the aircraft and the surface to be marked. Contactless application protects the surface of the object to be marked and the mount on the aircraft, and avoids undefined flight conditions that can arise when the aircraft comes into contact with the object to be marked. This offers advantages over contact-based application, particularly on irregular surfaces and with low positioning accuracy of the aircraft.

[0023] It is also conceivable to provide recordings at multiple locations on the aircraft, allowing for more flexible acquisition. This allows the aircraft to, for example, acquire multiple information carriers at once and transfer them to one or more objects to be marked.

[0024] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the aircraft has a capacitive, acoustic, or optical sensor for monitoring the presence of an information carrier on the receptacle. Such a sensor also offers the possibility of checking the positioning on the receptacle and, based on this data, determining an optimal release position so that the information carrier can be optimally placed on an object to be marked. Should the aircraft inadvertently lose the information carrier, this can be registered by the sensor. This information can then be transmitted via the control unit to the base station, so that the base station can provide a replacement for the lost information carrier.

[0025] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the aircraft mount is arranged perpendicular to the plane of the aircraft's rotors. This offers the advantage that an information carrier located on the mount is less exposed to the airflow generated by the rotors. This minimizes the risk of the aircraft inadvertently losing the information carrier prematurely.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for marking objects using the system already described is provided. It comprises the singulation of the information carrier by the singulation means. For example, the information carrier on a roll with many information carriers can be held at the base station at the means for storing information carriers. However, only individual information carriers are required for marking. After singulation, the information carrier is picked up by the transfer means. This temporarily holds the information carrier in such a way that it can be transferred to the aircraft. The aircraft receives the information carrier, moves it away from the base station towards the object to be marked, and marks it by transferring the information carrier to it.The advantage of such a process is that, due to the low risk to humans posed by small and lightweight autonomous aircraft, cooperative processes can also be implemented. This allows marking to be performed even during not fully automated processes, such as the unloading or loading of objects by aircraft. The marking can also be combined with other autonomous processes, such as inventory taking by the aircraft. This design saves a considerable amount of time.

[0027] It is also conceivable that the aircraft is suitable for transporting an object to be marked. By using the aircraft not only for marking but also for transporting an object to be marked, costs, control effort and the number of aircraft required can be reduced. For example, the aircraft can pick up a label from the base station and then pick up an object to be marked. The information carrier can be applied to the object either when it is picked up or during the flight to a destination. However, it is also conceivable that the aircraft first picks up an object to be marked and flies with it to the base station, which applies the information carrier directly to the surface of the object picked up by the aircraft.

[0028] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Fig. 1a,b show a system for transferring information carriers according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2a,b show a system for transferring information carriers according to a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 shows a system for transferring information carriers according to another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4a,b,c show a base station with a means for temporarily accommodating an aircraft according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5a,b show the marking of an object according to another embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 6 shows a system for transferring information carriers according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0029] In the Fig. 1a and Fig. Figure 1b shows a system for transferring information carriers 2 according to one embodiment of the invention. The system comprises a base station 1 and an autonomous aircraft 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the base station 1 has wheels 14 so that it is movable. However, it is also conceivable to provide the base station 1 in a stationary location. The base station has means for storing information carriers 10, where information carriers 2 can be stored, for example, on a rolled-up carrier belt 16. The carrier belt 16 runs over a separating means 11, designed here as a dispensing edge 11, so that separated information carriers 2 can be dispensed. A transfer means 12 receives the separated information carrier 2 and holds it on a holding element 120 for transfer to the aircraft 3.The aircraft 3, which has rotors 30 for flight, navigates to the base station 1 into a position suitable for transfer, so that a receptacle 31 can receive the information carrier 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the transfer is carried out by the aircraft 3 touching the holding element 120 with the receptacle 31. The transfer means 12 is designed to be flexible for this purpose, as can be seen from the various positions in . Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b. This prevents damage to the base station. The holder 31 has an axial fan 310, which can be used to generate negative pressure to hold the information carrier 2. The transfer means also has a compressed air supply 15.

[0030] The Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b shows a system for transferring information carriers 2 according to a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the information carriers 2 are transferred from the base station 1 to the aircraft 3 without contact using compressed air. A position detection system 5 records the position data of the aircraft 3. As soon as the aircraft is in a suitable position, the transfer takes place. For this purpose, the transfer means 12, after receiving the separated information carrier 2 at the dispensing edge 11, moves to a dispensing position in front of a compressed air supply 15, which is supplied with compressed air by a pressure device 17. The compressed air supply 15 then releases the compressed air, whereby the information carrier 2 is blown off the transfer means 12 and transferred to the holder 31. During this process, the aircraft 3 maintains the transfer position by means of the rotors 30.The base station 1 is suitable for storing larger quantities of information carriers 2 thanks to the storage means 10. In this embodiment, the base station 1 also has wheels 14, but here, too, these are optional.

[0031] In Fig. 3 shows a system for transferring information carriers 2 according to a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the base station 1 has a means for temporary reception 13. This ensures a secure transfer of the information carrier 2 from the transfer means 12 to the reception 31 because the aircraft 3 is temporarily held in the base station 1. The functions of the means for storage 10, for separation 11, over which the carrier belt 16 runs, and for transfer 12 remain unchanged. As soon as the aircraft 3 has landed in the means for reception 13, the transfer can take place. At the same time, the aircraft can be supplied with compressed air via the compressed air supply 15. In this embodiment, the aircraft 3 has a compressed air coupling 34, via which the filling of a compressed air tank 33 can be carried out. It is conceivable that the charging can be carried out inductively.By storing compressed air, the aircraft 3 can release the information carrier 2 at the target location by emitting compressed air bursts. It is also conceivable that the receiving means 13 supplies the aircraft 3 with power. The aircraft's compressed air tank can be designed, for example, as an integrated part of the chassis or as an attached component.

[0032] The Fig. 4a-c show a base station 1 with the means for temporarily receiving an aircraft 13 according to a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the receiving means 13 functions as a conveyor belt or a type of slide. The aircraft 3 lands in a wider area of ​​the receiving means 13 and slides, guided by the geometry of the receiving means 13, into a position suitable for transfer, which in Fig. 4c. The aircraft is aligned so that the receptacle 31, in the transfer position, faces the transfer means 12. After the transfer, the aircraft 3 can take off again and move away from the base station 1 toward the destination.

[0033] In the Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b shows the marking of an object 4 according to a further embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5a, the aircraft 3 has moved into a delivery position. The receptacle 31 is aligned with a surface suitable for marking the object 4. With the help of the axial fan 310, the aircraft 3 holds the information carrier 2 until the appropriate delivery position is reached. Fig. 5b shows the marking of the object 4. The information carrier 2 is delivered from the aircraft 3 to the object 4. This is possible, for example, by using compressed air to blow the information carrier 2 off the holder 31. For this purpose, the axial fan 310 can also be used, for example, or it is possible to provide a compressed air tank 33 on the aircraft 3, as shown in Fig. 3. It is also conceivable to release the information carrier 2 by contact. The aircraft 3 then presses the information carrier 2 onto the object 4 to be marked. With such a configuration, it is advantageous to design the receptacle 31 to be flexible, thus avoiding damage to both the object 4 and the aircraft 3 itself. This is possible, for example, using spring elements.

[0034] Fig.6 shows a system for transferring information carriers 2 according to a further embodiment of the invention. The aircraft 3 can both receive information carriers 2 from the transfer means 12 from the base station 1 and transport objects 4 using a holder 32. In this way, the aircraft 3 performs multiple functions, namely marking and transporting objects 4. Optionally, the object 4 can also be marked with the information carrier 2 directly at the transfer means 12 and then transported to a destination by the aircraft 3. However, the aircraft 3 can also transport a first object 4 while receiving one or more information carriers 2 for a second or further objects 4 to be marked from the base station 1. This makes operational processes even more flexible and time-saving. Reference symbol 1 base station 10 Means of storing information media 11 Means of separating the information carriers 12 Means of handing over the individual information carriers 120 holding element 13 Means of temporary accommodation 14 wheels 15 Compressed air supply 16 carrier tape 2 information carriers 3 autonomous aircraft 30 rotors 31 recording 310 axial fan 32 bracket 33 Compressed air tank 34 pneumatic coupling 4 Object 5 Position detection

Claims

[1] A base station (1) for transferring information carriers (2), comprising - a means of storing the information carriers (10); - a means for separating the information carriers (11); and - a means of transferring the individual information carriers (12); characterized by that the base station (1) is suitable for transferring the isolated information carriers (2) to a receptacle (31) of an autonomous aircraft (3). [2] Base station (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the means for transferring the information carrier (12) is designed to be linearly or rotationally movable. [3] Base station (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the means for transferring the information carrier (12) comprises at least one holding element (120) which is suitable for receiving at least a partial surface of the information carrier (2). [4] Base station (1) according to claim 3, characterized bythat the holding element (120) has compressed air nozzles for receiving and / or dispensing the information carrier (2). [5] Base station (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the base station (1) comprises a means for activating activatable pressure-sensitive adhesive layers of information carriers (2). [6] Base station (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the base station (1) comprises a means for transmitting information to the information carrier (1). [7] Base station (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the base station (1) comprises a means for temporarily receiving (13) the aircraft (3). [8] Base station (1) according to claim 7, characterized by that the means for temporarily receiving (13) the aircraft (3) is suitable for bringing the aircraft (3) into a position suitable for transferring the information carrier (2). [9] System for the transfer of information carriers (2), comprising: - a base station (1) according to one of the preceding claims; - at least one aircraft (3) with a receptacle (31) for information carriers (2); and - a control unit connected to the base station (1) and the at least one aircraft (3). [10] System according to claim 9, characterized by that the receptacle (31) of the aircraft (3) has compressed air nozzles for receiving and / or dispensing the information carrier (2). [11] System according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized by that the aircraft (3) has a capacitive, acoustic or optical sensor for monitoring the presence of information carriers (2) on the receptacle (31). [12] System according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by that the receptacle (31) of the aircraft (3) is arranged perpendicular to the plane of rotors (30) of the aircraft (3). [13] Method for marking objects (4) by means of a system according to one of claims 9 to 12, comprising the following steps: - separation of the information carrier (2) by the separation means (11); - receiving the information carrier (2) by the transfer means (12); - delivery of the information carrier (2) from the delivery means (12) to the aircraft (3); - movement of the information carrier (2) by means of the aircraft (3) to an object (4) to be marked; and - Transfer of the information carrier (2) to the object to be marked (4).

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