Device for omnidirectional conveying of flexible material units

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveyor system module (100) for the omnidirectional conveying of units of conveyed goods, in particular of flexible conveyed goods such as film packaging, comprising a largely angularly designed carrier plate (2), wherein the carrier plate (2) can be connected to adjacent carrier plates (2') of further modules (110') or to a module carrier, and at least one omnidirectional conveyor wheel (3) driven individually by a motor, wherein the carrier plate (2) has a cutout (4) through which the conveyor wheel (3) projects upwards above the conveying plane (B) formed by the carrier plate (2) with a height h, wherein a plurality of conveyor system modules (100) are designed and arranged such that they can cooperatively carry out a movement of units of conveyed goods in any direction above the conveying plane (B), wherein the carrier plate (2) has a raised portion (5) in the edge region of the cutout (4),which is designed to be circumferential relative to the cutout (4) and which is dimensioned in its height d, measured in the installed position between the surface of the support plate (2) as the base point and the upper edge (6) of the elevation (5) as the head point, such that d < h, as well as a corresponding conveyor system (110) and a ring component (8) for forming an elevation (5) according to the invention.,

Description

The invention relates to a device for omnidirectional conveying, in particular of limp conveyed goods units, in production environments and in logistics.BackgroundEspecially with the further increasing online and shipping trade and with the increasing importance of globally dependent supply chains, logistics and thus the conveyance of packages, bags, shipping bags and other goods are a highly technical and complex task. A conveying system is generally composed of a plurality of different conveying devices which are connected in a cooperating manner. These conveying devices are normally many times larger than an object to be conveyed, such as a conveyor belt with endless belts or a driven roller conveyor, on which a plurality of objects can be placed and conveyed simultaneously.In order to be able to achieve better variability at high conveying speed, conveying systems have been developed which can convey the articles in different directions and which are also capable of rotating the articles. Such conveying systems are also called omnidirectional conveyors. An example of such a conveying system, which is constructed either as a large conveying table or as a modular conveying system constructed from conveying units which are small in relation to the usual material to be conveyed, is known from DE 102012014181 A1. A central component of such omnidirectional conveying systems is the individually drivable omnidirectional conveying wheels, also called omni wheels, which function as transport units. In all-side wheels (also omnidirectional wheel or omniwheel), the running surface of the wheel consists of roller or barrel bodies, the axes of rotation of which are at an angle to the axis of rotation of the main wheel. This allows a low friction relative movement of the wheel in the axial direction. Usually, the rollers are arranged at right angles to the axis of rotation of the main wheel, as described in US 3789947 A, but there are also wheels which have arranged the rollers at a 45° angle (also called Mecanum wheels). The omnidirectional conveying wheels therefore do not have a uniform, smooth surface, in contrast to comparable conveying units such as balls or belts. Rather, they have elements which move relative to one another during operation, namely the roller bodies on the carrier wheel. This construction has a very good conveying effect in the case of conveyed articles having rigid, rather rigid bases or walls, such as, for example, cardboard packaging, trays or solid plastic packaging. The all-side wheels are usually embedded in cut-outs in a carrier plate or mounted on an open frame / frame, so that they project out of the plane of the carrier plate or of the frame / frame. Usually, the axis of rotation of the all-side wheel lies below the conveying plane. The cutouts must be selected in their dimensions such that the conveying wheels can freewheel and installation and removal are made possible without great effort. As a result, it is essential that a distance or gap is present between the frame / frame or between the edge of the cutout and the conveying wheel.This construction has proven to be very efficient and highly throughput for conveyed goods with a flat subfloor which is as rigid as possible. However, constructions of this kind for the all-side conveyor wheels have occasionally proved problematic for very flexible packaging such as shipping bags or shipping bags, in particular for thin-walled film bags. Such packages are increasingly being used in modern logistics, since they have a low own weight and, in addition, have a clearly better space yield in relation to the transported material. In addition, the limp packages can be stacked more tightly. The problems occur above all with regard to the aspects of the omnidirectional conveying systems described below. On the one hand, when conveying flexible packages with omnidirectional conveying systems, the problem can arise that no sufficient drive forces are transmitted from the conveying wheels to the very flexible articles to be conveyed if the contact surface of the simultaneously contacting conveying wheels becomes too small in relation to the total surface area of the package.On the other hand, the flexible packages can be drawn into the conveying technology and can be hooked or interlaced there. This applies both to the gap between the carrier plate and the conveying wheel and, subordinate thereto, to the rollers or barrel bodies of the conveying wheel itself which move relative to the main conveying wheel. Since the limp packages on the carrier plate do not always maintain a stable shape but also have creases or folds, such a hooking occurs not only in the region of the package ends but can also occur in central regions of the material being conveyed. However, in most cases this leads to a forced stop of the conveyor system and the fed-in mail bags must be released manually.There have been several approaches to solve these problems. A first approach would be to reduce the gap between the omni-directional conveying wheel and the carrier plate. In this respect, disadvantages with regard to the assembly capability and service of the conveyor wheels would have to be accepted. However, it has been found in tests that such a measure has even proved to be a hindrance and the shipping bags have been increasingly drawn in, since they become caught even more quickly in the remaining gap of smaller dimensions.Another approach to the alleged solution of the problem is described in CN110683311 A. Free-running, non-driven support balls are provided in the carrier plate, which are intended to offer easier mobility of the bags virtually across the gap of the conveying wheels. This arrangement of support balls, but without mentioning an effect for shipping bags, is also already described in DE 102012014181 A1. However, this approach has also proved unsuccessful in test experiments. The flexible bags were pulled in to the same extent and become hooked up as in a conveying system which does not have the passive support balls.The object is to provide a method for performing a processIt is therefore an object of the invention to provide an apparatus which makes it possible to transport even limp items of conveyed efficiently with an omnidirectional conveying device, wherein the advantages of the omnidirectional conveying systems, such as the property of being able to convey and rotate packages simultaneously in one direction, to convey different packages in a targeted manner in different directions, to make possible a very high throughput with an extremely low own space requirement, can be retained in addition.The object is achieved according to the invention by a device according to claim 1.The present invention relates to a conveyor system module for omnidirectional conveying of conveyed product units, comprising a carrier plate of substantially angular configuration, wherein the carrier plate can be connected to adjacent carrier plates of further modules or to a module carrier, and at least one omnidirectional conveyor wheel individually driven by a motor, wherein the carrier plate has a cutout through which the conveyor wheel projects upwards beyond the conveying plane B formed by the carrier plate at a height h, wherein a plurality of conveyor system modules is designed and arranged in such a way that they can cooperatively execute a movement of conveyed product units in any direction above the conveying plane B.According to the invention, it is provided that the carrier plate has an elevation in the edge region of the cutout, which elevation is formed circumferentially with respect to the cutout and which elevation is dimensioned in such a way, measured in its height d, in the installation position, between the surface of the carrier plate as a base point and the upper edge of the elevation as a head point, that d<h.In particular, it is a device for conveying limp goods to be conveyed, such as, for example, shipping bags, poly bags, paper bags, padded shipping envelopes, film bags and, above all, film-packaged textiles, which are frequently repackaged with particularly thin-walled films. The device comprises a carrier plate which serves on the one hand as a frame and fastening element for the motors, control and communication elements, power supply and conveying wheel or conveying wheels and on the other hand constitutes a planar support surface for the units to be conveyed. The carrier plates of several modules can together be designed as a large-format table and span the entire omnidirectional conveying system in terms of their length and width. Likewise, the carrier plate can also be smaller in size in relation to the usual shipping container sizes and can comprise, for example, only one, two, three or four or a plurality of conveying wheels. In such a case, the entire conveyor system is composed of a plurality of such units or modules.The carrier plate is preferably formed as square as possible. Thus, in the sense of the invention, the superordinate geometry of the outer edges of the carrier plate is characterized in particular, wherein recesses, projections or other deviations in the region of the outer edges are ignored. Examples of suitable angular geometries are triangular, rectangular, pentagonal or hexagonal.This has the advantage that such a geometry can be more easily integrated into an overall plant, for example with regard to the connection of feeds and discharges of the units to be conveyed. In the case of a small-dimensioned carrier plate for a modular construction of the overall conveyor system, a carrier plate of substantially angular configuration serves in particular to produce a conveying plane which is as flat as possible together with the carrier plates of the adjacent modules. Therefore, the geometry of the carrier plate is particularly suitable for a surface with which a surface can be well formed without interruptions by placing the adjacent plate, such as a triangular, square, pentagonal or hexagonal geometry. The carrier plate can preferably be made of metal or plastic. It is particularly preferably produced from a metal sheet which is resistant to bending.The carrier plate can be connected to adjacent carrier plates of further modules and / or to a module carrier, so that an omnidirectionally conveying system is formed. The surface of the carrier plate forms the conveying plane B on which the units of material to be conveyed are moved and conveyed.In particular in the case of a carrier plate for a modular construction of the conveying system, in which a module has between two and four, preferably three, conveying wheels, the carrier plate comprises connecting devices in the region of its flanks for connecting to adjacent modules. These can be provided as plug connection devices, screw connection devices, projections or screw holes for connection pieces; in particular, the connection devices can be designed in such a way that they prevent an accidental impermissible alignment, with, for example, complementary projections between flanks of a first and a second carrier plate, in that the first and second projections are formed in particular inversely with respect to one another and thus specify a positive connection.The device according to the invention further comprises at least one omnidirectional conveying wheel individually driven by a motor. An omni-directional conveying wheel is a special type of wheel capable of moving in all directions of a plane. It consists of several small roller bodies arranged in a certain pattern on a driven carrier wheel to allow 360 degree movement in one plane. This type of wheel is frequently used in robotics and materials transport, as it offers a high maneuverability and makes it possible to move in narrow spaces or to take curves easily. It is important to note that the exact construction and operation of an omni-directional conveyor wheel may vary depending on the application. Examples of omnidirectional conveying wheels which may be mentioned are, in particular, all-side wheels, also referred to as omniwheels, especially double-side wheels, and mecanum wheels. An omnidirectional conveying wheel is preferably a double-sided wheel, in particular preferably a so-called omniwheel, or a multi-sided wheel. The omnidirectional conveying wheel is preferably not a ball or roller with a smooth or closed surface. According to the present invention, it is provided that each omnidirectional conveying wheel is driven by a dedicated drive motor. As a result, the conveying wheels of one module and / or the conveying wheels of adjacent modules can be driven differently or identically in such a way that the conveyed items can be freely moved in the conveying plane or above the conveying plane.The carrier plate has a cutout through which the conveying wheel projects upwards over the conveying plane B formed by the carrier plate with a height h. The height h is measured in the sense of the invention as the distance between the surface of the carrier plate as the base point and the upper edge or the highest point of the conveying wheel as the head point.In the edge region of the cutout, the carrier plate has an elevation which is designed to be circumferential with respect to the cutout and which is dimensioned in such a way, measured in its height d, in the installation position, between the surface of the carrier plate as a base point and the upper edge of the elevation as a head point, that d<h.An elevation in the sense of the present invention relates to an elevated or protruding structure or surface on the surface of the carrier plate. The elevation need not have a constant height, but may have different heights at different points of the circumference. This elevation can serve in particular to guide and / or support the conveyed items. The elevation can have any desired geometry and can be formed, for example, with a continuous or discontinuous gradient, in sections angularly or rounded.The elevation is formed in the edge region of the conveying wheel cutout of the carrier plate. In other words, the elevation is placed on or integrally in the carrier plate in the region of the conveying wheel cutout and thus forms a level difference between the conveying plane B determined by the surface of the carrier plate and the contact point of the conveying wheel with the unit being conveyed. The elevation extends circumferentially to the cutout of the carrier plate for the conveying wheel. The term circumferential is broadly construed in the sense of the present invention and comprises, in addition to shapes completely enclosing the circumference of the cutout, also such elevations which do not completely enclose or frame the cutout and thus do not form a closed ring. This is therefore also understood to mean, for example, those configurations which form an elevation only on three sides of an essentially rectangular cutout, but not on the fourth side, or which have, for example, smaller or larger defect regions of the complete circumference.Overall, the elevation is dimensioned smaller in its height d than the protrusion height h of the conveying wheel. This ensures that the conveying wheel always protrudes beyond the upper edge of the elevation.By means of a conveyor system module for omnidirectional conveying of conveyed product units as described above, it is possible to convey even limp conveyed product units without being drawn into the conveying technology and causing a conveying jam. At the same time, it is ensured that, due to the conveying technology, sufficient forces are transmitted from the conveying wheels to the limp units of conveyed material in order to ensure efficient and continuous conveying. Thus, with an arrangement according to the present invention, the characteristics of reducing or excluding the entrainment of the bags into the conveyor technology and the efficiency of the conveying capacity of the bags for omnidirectional conveying are combined, and the contradiction to addressing the problems that has existed hitherto is overcome. The elevation provided according to the invention prevents, in particular with its upper edge, the limp items of material from being drawn into the non-closed surface of the conveyor wheels on the one hand and into the gap between the conveyor wheel and the edge of the cutout in the carrier plate on the other hand. At the same time, the contact pressure on the conveyor wheels is large enough for the frictional engagement between the unit of material to be conveyed and the wheel to bring about the desired propulsion.In one embodiment of the invention, the height d is between 50% and 80% of the height h, preferably between 60% and 70% of the height h, and particularly preferably about 2 / 3 of the height h.In the aforementioned areas, an optimisation of the prevention of the drawing-in of flexible shipping bags on the one hand and the propulsion effect of the conveying wheels on the shipping bags on the other hand is provided.In one embodiment of the invention, the elevation is ramp-shaped with a continuous slope, convex with an discontinuous slope or step-shaped.In general, the elevation can have any desired geometry starting from its base point on the surface of the carrier plate up to its head point, which is preferably arranged in alignment with the edge of the cutout in the carrier plate for the conveying wheel. Preferably, the elevation is formed with a continuous gradient in the course from base point to top point, so that a ramp-shaped course results. As a result, the guiding effect of the elevation on the region of the conveying wheel and away from the region of the conveying wheel can be achieved well without avoidable additional hindrance effect of the movement of the units of material to be conveyed. In addition, simple geometries of the elevation result, which can be easily produced. In the case of an embodiment in which the head point is arranged in alignment with the edge of the cutout in the carrier plate for the conveying wheel, it follows that the gap along the radial circumference of the conveying wheel between conveying wheel and cutout edge is smaller than the gap between conveying wheel and head point of the elevation. This configuration can also be referred to as a collar-like, a circumferential collar or a ring-like configuration. Due to the change in the gap width, initially drawn-in regions of a shipping bag or packaging bag can be freed again by the movement of the conveyed material, so that a supporting effect of the improved conveying of limp conveyed material units is achieved as a result.In one embodiment of the invention, a horizontally running end region or one provided with a radius or a plurality of radii is formed on the upper edge of the elevation.As a result, the force transmission from the conveying wheel to the unit of conveyed material can be advantageously influenced, since the contact surface of the limp unit of conveyed material assumes a defined, smooth course by the provision of the end region running horizontally or with one radius or a plurality of radii.The horizontally extending end region of the elevation is between approximately 0.05 cm and 2.0 cm wide, for example. The horizontal end region runs either circumferentially or preferably not completely circumferentially, and in particular along a longitudinal extent of the elevation.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the elevation is formed integrally in the carrier plate.In other words, this is understood to mean an elevation which is formed completely from the material of the carrier plate by forming methods such as bending, deep-drawing, hydroforming, etc. This advantageously results in an edge-free transition from the planar regions of the carrier plate to the elevation.Alternatively, it is equally possible to form an elevation integrated in the carrier plate, but made of another material, for example plastic, for example by injection molding.In an alternative embodiment of the conveying system module according to the invention, the elevation is designed as a ring which can be releasably fixed on the carrier plate.In contrast to the previous embodiment, in which the elevation is formed integrally from the carrier plate, according to the alternative embodiment it is formed as a detachably fixable, single component, so that even already existing conveyor modules installed in conveyor systems can be adapted without elevations according to the invention for conveying limp conveyor units by attaching the additional component. Such a subsequently attachable ring component is also called a retro-fit component.In a further embodiment of the conveyor system module of the invention, a conveyor system module comprises two, three, four or a plurality of individually driven conveyor wheels.Particularly preferably, the conveyor system module is configured with three individually driven conveyor wheels which are aligned with one another in a triangular arrangement. Reference is made in this respect in its entirety to German patent applications DE 10 2012 014 181 and DE 10 2012 025 939. According to the invention, each cutout of the carrier plate has in the edge region an elevation which is formed peripherally with respect to the cutout and which is dimensioned in such a way, measured in its height d, in the installation position, between the surface of the carrier plate as a base point and the upper edge of the elevation as a head point, that d<h.As a result, it is possible to assemble a modular omnidirectional conveying system which can be quickly adapted to changing topology requirements and operates with very low space requirements and which can be easily controlled on account of the plurality of, in particular three, individually driven conveying wheels.In this embodiment, the elevations are preferably each designed as a component that can be releasably fixed on the carrier plate.In other words, the elevation is designed as a component which can be plugged on or screwed on and can preferably be fixed in the region of the flanks or corners and more preferably in the edge region of the conveying wheel cutouts of the carrier plate. In this embodiment, the carrier plate can be designed as a flat, planar plate, which simplifies production. The additionally attachable and detachably fixable component can be made of plastic as an injection molded component or by simple additive manufacturing.In this way, already existing conveying modules can also be equipped subsequently for conveying limp materials to be conveyed. For the re-production of conveyor system modules according to the invention, the applicability can be extended on the one hand by the configuration of the elevation as a releasably fixable component, since the elevation component can be attached or removed depending on the nature of the conveyed goods, and on the other hand the module can be produced with very low additional costs, since no change in the production of the carrier plate is necessary. The elevation components are uniformly adapted in terms of their dimensions to the cutouts in the carrier plate which are always of the same dimensions and to the conveying wheels which are always of the same dimensions and can therefore be produced in series, which additionally saves costs. In the present embodiment, it is provided that, for example, a detachably fixable component is formed only for a respective cutout in the carrier plate.Alternatively, in a preferred variant of the embodiment, three elevations are designed as a coherent component that can be releasably fixed on the carrier plate.However, a detachably fixable component can also be formed in such a way that it provides two, three, four or a plurality of elevations in a coherent component, in each case in the number matched to the number of conveying wheels per module. The component preferably has three elevations coordinated with three provided conveying wheels per module. For this purpose, the elevated regions can be connected, for example, to webs. Such a connected component can, however, also have a base plate which can be placed on the actual carrier plate and fixed. The corresponding elevations are then formed from the base plate, in particular in one piece, in the installation position in the edge region of the cutouts in the carrier plate.Tongues, tabs, clips, plug connections, cut-outs or bores can be provided on the component for fixing on the carrier plate.The component is preferably produced from metal or a plastic or a combination thereof, for example the component is produced from metal in its base body and sliding surfaces such as, for example, the base point and / or the top point are formed from a plastic or provided with such a plastic, which preferably has a lower coefficient of friction than the material of the base body. In particular, the component is produced from a plastic by injection molding or by an additive method.Plastics with a low coefficient of friction can provide advantages here. Corresponding sheet metal attachments are likewise conceivable, which are produced by sheet metal forming methods, such as, for example. The method can be used for the production of bending, deep drawing, hydroforming, etc.The invention further relates to a conveying system for omnidirectional conveying of conveyed items units comprising a carrier plate, and a multiplicity of omnidirectional conveying wheels individually driven by a motor in each case, wherein the carrier plate has cutouts through which the conveying wheels in each case project upwards over the conveying plane B formed by the carrier plate with a height h, wherein the multiplicity of conveying wheels is arranged in such a way that they can cooperatively execute a movement of conveyed items units in any direction above the conveying plane B, wherein the carrier plate in the edge region of the cutouts in each case has an elevation which is formed peripherally with respect to the cutout and is dimensioned in terms of its height d, measured in the installation position between the surface of the carrier plate as a base point and the upper edge of the elevation as a head point, in such a way that d<h.In this embodiment of the invention, there is no modular construction of an omnidirectional conveying installation with interacting conveying modules which are dimensioned rather smaller than the units to be conveyed in relation to the latter. Rather, this embodiment of the invention relates to a conveying installation with a uniform carrier plate, which is dimensioned to be larger in relation to the units of conveyed material and in which a plurality of omnidirectional conveying wheels are arranged.The above explanations concerning the details of the conveying wheels, the cutouts and the elevations located in the edge region of the cutouts also apply correspondingly to this configuration.The invention additionally relates to the use of a conveyor system module according to the invention or a conveyor system according to the invention for conveying limp items of conveying, in particular goods packaged in shipping bags or films, preferably textile goods.The invention further relates to a ring component configured for releasable fixing in the region of one or more cutout(s) of a carrier plate of a conveyor system module for omnidirectional conveying of conveyed product units, comprising a carrier plate configured as angular as possible, wherein the carrier plate can be connected to adjacent carrier plates of further modules or to a module carrier, and at least one omnidirectional conveying wheel individually driven by a motor, wherein the carrier plate has a cutout through which the conveying wheel projects upwards over the conveying plane B formed by the carrier plate at a height h, wherein a plurality of conveyor system modules is configured and arranged in such a way that they can cooperatively execute a movement of conveyed product units in any direction above the conveying plane B, wherein the carrier plate has an elevation in the edge region of the cutout, or from a conveying installation for omnidirectional conveying of conveyed items units comprising a carrier plate, and a multiplicity of omnidirectional conveying wheels individually driven in each case by a motor, wherein the carrier plate has cutouts through which the conveying wheels in each case project upwards beyond the conveying plane B formed by the carrier plate with a height h, wherein the multiplicity of conveying wheels is arranged in such a way that they can, in cooperation, carry out a movement of conveyed items units in any desired direction above the conveying plane B, wherein the carrier plate has an elevation in the edge region of the cutout.According to the invention, it is provided that the ring component, after being fixed on the carrier plate, forms the elevation which is circumferential with respect to the cutout and which is dimensioned in such a way, measured in its height d, in the installed position between the surface of the carrier plate as a base point and the upper edge of the elevation as a top point, that its height d is smaller than the protrusion h of the conveying wheels beyond the conveying plane B formed by the carrier plate.A ring component according to the invention partially or completely encloses the cutout for a conveying wheel in a carrier plate and preferably has a basic shape corresponding to the conveying wheel cutout in a carrier plate of a conveying installation module or of a conveying installation. To form an elevation around the conveying wheel cutout, the ring component comprises a planar base region which comes to rest on the carrier plate and extends away (distally) from the edge region of the cutout, and a rising or raised region which is formed so as to be built up from the base region in the vertical direction. In a preferred embodiment, the ring component is formed with a substantially triangular cross section. This results in a continuous gradient of the rising or raised region toward the top point of the ring component, which can be arranged on the inner edge region of the ring component. In a preferred embodiment, but not necessarily, the top point of the elevation is placed flush with the inner edge of the ring component, so that roughly the cross section of a right-angled triangle results for the ring component. Likewise, the head point as the end point of the slope can also be located in front of the inner edge region, so that a horizontally running region adjoins the head point as far as the inner edge of the ring component.The height d of the ring component is dimensioned such that in the installed position it is smaller than the protrusion height h of the conveying wheel above the conveying plane formed by the carrier plate. This ensures that a sufficient force transmission is transmitted from the conveyor wheels to the units of material to be conveyed in order to be able to effect a movement in each direction of the conveying plane.In other words, the height d of the ring component is adjusted in relation to the protrusion height h of the conveying wheel, which protrudes upward out of the conveying plane through the cutout in the carrier plate.In a preferred embodiment of the ring component according to the invention, the height d is between 50% and 80% of the height h, preferably between 60% and 70% of the height h, and is particularly preferably about 2 / 3 of the height h.In other words, the elevation is designed as a ring component which can be plugged on or screwed on and can preferably be fixed in the region of the flanks or corners and more preferably in the edge region of the conveying wheel cutouts of the carrier plate. In this embodiment, the carrier plate can be designed as a flat, planar plate, which simplifies production. The ring component which can additionally be attached and releasably fixed can be produced from plastic as an injection-molded component or by simple additive manufacturing. In this way, already existing conveying modules can also be equipped subsequently for conveying limp materials to be conveyed. For the re-production of conveyor system modules according to the invention, the usability can be extended on the one hand by the configuration of the elevation as a ring component which can be detachably fixed, since the elevation component can be attached or removed depending on the nature of the conveyed goods, and on the other hand the module can be produced with very low additional costs, since no change in the production of the carrier plate is necessary. The dimensions of the ring components are uniformly adapted to the cutouts in the carrier plate which are always of the same dimensions and to the conveying wheels which are always of the same dimensions and can therefore be produced in series, which additionally saves costs. In the present embodiment, it is provided that, for example, a releasably fixable ring component is formed only for a respective cutout in the carrier plate.Alternatively, in a preferred variant of the embodiment, three elevations are designed as a contiguous ring component that can be releasably fixed on the carrier plate.However, a ring component that can be detachably fixed can also be shaped in such a way that it provides two, three, four or a plurality of elevations in a contiguous ring component, in each case in the number matched to the number of conveying wheels per module. The ring component preferably has three elevations coordinated with three provided conveying wheels per module. For this purpose, the elevated regions can be connected, for example, to webs. Such a connected ring component can, however, also have a base plate which can be placed on the actual carrier plate and fixed. The corresponding elevations are then formed from the base plate, in particular in one piece, in the installation position in the edge region of the cutouts in the carrier plate.Tongues, tabs, clips, plug connections, cutouts or bores can be provided on the ring component for fixing on the carrier plate.The ring component is preferably made of metal or a plastic or a combination thereof, for example the ring component is made of metal in its base body and sliding surfaces such as the base point and / or the head point are made of a plastic or provided with such a plastic, which preferably has a lower coefficient of friction than the material of the base body. In particular, the ring component is produced from a plastic by injection molding or by an additive method.Plastics with a low coefficient of friction can provide advantages here. Corresponding sheet metal attachments are likewise conceivable, which are produced by sheet metal forming methods, such as, for example. The method can be used for the production of bending, deep drawing, hydroforming, etc.The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. In these, the following shows: FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective plan view of a conveyor system module according to the invention in an embodiment, FIG. 2 shows a highly schematic cross-sectional view of a detail section of a conveyor system module according to the invention, FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective plan view of a conveying system module according to the invention in a further embodiment, FIG. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a section of a conveyor system formed from a plurality of conveyor system modules according to the invention, FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a ring component according to the present invention in one configuration, and FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a ring component according to the present invention in a further embodiment.Detailed DescriptionThe invention will be illustrated in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be noted that different aspects are described, which can be used individually or in combination, i.e. any aspect can be used with different embodiments of the invention, unless explicitly shown as a pure alternative.Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity, only one entity will normally be referred to below. If not explicitly stated, however, the invention can also have in each case a plurality of the entities concerned. In this respect, the use of the words "a", "an" and "an" is to be understood only as an indication that at least one entity is used in a simple embodiment.FIG. 1 shows a highly schematic perspective top view of a conveyor system module 100 for omnidirectional conveying of, in particular, limp items of conveyed according to the present invention. The conveyor system module 100 comprises a carrier plate 2 of substantially angular configuration, wherein the carrier plate 2 can be connected to adjacent carrier plates (2', not shown here) of further modules (110, not shown here) or to a module carrier. The conveyor system module 100 in the embodiment shown comprises three omnidirectional conveyor wheels 3 individually driven by a motor, which are designed as double wheels. The conveying wheels are omnidirectional conveying wheels, in the present case are so-called omniwheels each having a carrier wheel and roller bodies rotatably mounted thereon. Each conveyor wheel, here each dual wheel, is individually driven and the motors are individually controllable. The carrier plate 2 has a cutout 4 for each conveying wheel 3, through which cutout the conveying wheel 3 projects upwards over the conveying plane B formed by the surface of the carrier plate 2 with a height h. Exemplary dimensions for the height h are protrusions in the range between 5 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 7.5 mm and 25 mm. A plurality of identical conveyor modules 100 are designed and can be arranged such that they can cooperatively execute a movement of items to be conveyed units in any direction above the conveying plane B. In the edge region of the cutout 4, the carrier plate 2 has an elevation 5. The elevation 5 is formed circumferentially with respect to the cutout 4 and completely enclosing it in the embodiment shown. It is formed from a releasably attachable ring component. In its central opening geometry, it follows the geometry of the cutout 4 and the top point 6 of the elevation is arranged in alignment with the edge region of the cutout 4. The elevation 5 extends from the top point 6 falling down to the surface of the carrier plate 2 and forms a level difference from the conveying plane B. As shown in FIG. 1, not all leg regions of the substantially rectangular elevation have the same gradient. In particular, the leg which is oriented toward the outer edge region of the carrier plate 2 has a greater gradient than the legs which are oriented toward the surface of the carrier plate 2.According to the invention, it is provided that the elevation 5 is dimensioned in its height d, measured in the installed position between the surface of the carrier plate 2 as the base point and the upper edge 6 of the elevation 5 as the head point, such that d<h. The elevation 5 is thus always projected over the conveying wheel 3, and the slopes of the elevation are selected such that the elevation 5 continues to allow efficient movement of the items to be conveyed by the conveying wheels. For example, the ratio of the height d of the elevation 5 to the protrusion height h of the conveying wheel 3 is between 50% and 80% of the height h, preferably between 60% and 70% of the height h, and is particularly preferably approximately 2 / 3 of the height h. Thus, the height d of the elevation can be, for example, between 2 mm and 25 mm, preferably between 3.5 mm and 15 mm.Due to the curvature of the conveying wheel 3, the elevation 5 in the edge region of the cutout 4 results in the gap along the radial circumference of the conveying wheel between the inner edge of the elevation 5 or between the head point 6 of the elevation 5 and the closest point of the conveying wheel 3 being greater than the gap between the cutout edge of the carrier plate 2 and the closest point of the conveying wheel 3. It has been observed that this circumstance contributes to the fact that in particular limp goods such as foil packages or flexible shipping bags in regions can be drawn into the gap first, but then free again by the movement of the conveying wheel 3 and thus a jamming in the gap can not occur, which leads to a standstill of the conveying.FIG. 2 shows a highly schematic cross-sectional view of a cross section along the line A-A from FIG. 1 ; the horizontally running carrier plate 2 is shown here in the region of the cutout 4, through which the conveying wheel 3 protrudes upward beyond the surface of the carrier plate 2. The projection height h of the conveying wheel 3 over the surface of the carrier plate 2 is shown and is measured from the surface of the carrier plate 2 as a base point to the highest point of the conveying wheel 3 as a head point. The protrusion height h is smaller than the radius of the conveying wheel 3, since the axis of the conveying wheel 3 is arranged below the carrier plate. The receptacle of the axis of the conveying wheel 3 is likewise schematically illustrated. The conveying wheel 3 is shown only schematically in this illustration as a wheel with a closed periphery, but the conveying wheel 3 corresponds to the omniwheel double wheel from FIG. 1. the elevation 5 is substantially triangular in its cross section and has a height d, measured from the surface of the carrier plate 2 as far as its top point 6. This is not obligatory; in other configurations, the head point can also already be reached in front of the edge of the cutout 4, and a horizontally running region adjoins the head point 6 in the direction of the inner edge of the elevation.As shown in the figure, the panels are usable as retrofit attachments. That is to say that all existing installations can be retrofitted therewith. Circumferentially on the outer sides are fittings which enable engagement with adjacent modules. Although the elevation 5 is shown as a solid ring in the simplified illustration shown here, the elevation can also be designed as a hollow body or as a lightweight component without the bearing surface on the surface of the carrier plate 2 assuming the entire width of the elevation.FIG. 3 shows a conveying system module 100 according to the invention in a further embodiment. As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the module 100 has a substantially angular carrier plate 2 with three conveying wheels 3, 3', 3" arranged at an angle to one another. The conveying wheels are also designed here as omniwheel double wheels and project from the conveying plane B formed by the surface of the carrier plate 2 through corresponding cut-outs 4 in the carrier plate with a projecting height h. In the edge region of each of the cutouts 4, an elevation 5, 5', 5" is arranged circumferentially. The elevation 5 is of ring-like configuration with non-identical leg regions. A leg region of the elevation has a horizontally oriented region 7, so that on this leg the head point 6 of the elevation is not first reached in alignment with the inner edge of the elevation. The leg regions of the elevation 5 do not necessarily have the same slope, as shown in FIG. 3. Likewise, the slope of the elevation 5 need not be continuous.FIG. 4 shows a schematic detail illustration in a slightly perspective plan view of a conveying installation formed from a multiplicity of conveying installation modules 100 according to an embodiment of the invention analogous to the embodiment in FIG. 1. Each module 100 has a substantially angular carrier plate 2, in which in each case three omnidirectional conveying wheels 3 are arranged in such a way that they can cooperatively bring about a movement of items to be conveyed units in each direction of the conveying plane. The conveyor wheels 3 are arranged in cut-outs 4 in the carrier plate. In the edge region of each of the cutouts 4, an elevation 5 is provided, as has already been described above with reference to FIG. 1.In a further embodiment of the invention, a conveying installation can likewise be constructed not in modular fashion with interacting individual modules 100 but with a continuous carrier plate 2. In this case, the carrier plate has a corresponding plurality of conveying wheels 3, which are each surrounded by a circumferential elevation 5, as described above.FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a ring component 8 according to the present invention. The ring component 8 has a substantially rectangular basic shape which extends around a central opening 12. The opening 12 roughly simulates the shape of the corresponding cut-out for a conveying wheel in a carrier plate in its geometry. In the edge region of the opening 12, the ring component has vertical edges 13. To form an elevation 5, the ring component 8 comprises circumferentially inclined sections which come to rest with their outer edge on the surface of the carrier plate of a conveyor module or of a conveyor. The pitch segments are designed with a continuous pitch, but not with an identical pitch. The leg on the left side of the component shown is designed, for example, with a greater pitch than the other legs, so that the head point 6 of the elevation 5 is reached in front of the inner edge and a horizontal region 7 is subsequently connected thereto. As a result, a unit of conveyed goods experiences further support and folds or bulges previously formed in the case of limp conveyed goods are smoothed. In the lower portion, the ring component 8 has projections 11 for engaging or engaging the carrier plate. In addition, further projections or latching devices can also be provided for connection to carrier plates of adjacent modules. The ring component shown is preferably not solid but rather is designed as a lightweight component, so that it is fixed on the carrier plate in particular with the projections 11 and the outer edges. In the installed position, a ring component 8 is attached in each case in the edge region of a cutout for a conveying wheel and improves the conveying, in particular, of limp conveying products such as shipping bags or film packages, while flexurally rigid packages can still be conveyed equally well. Mixed material supply loci are thus also movable reliably and efficiently.FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a ring component 8 aaccording to the invention in a schematic perspective view. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 5, the ring component 8 ashown here has a base plate 9 which carries the elevations 5. The basic shape of the base plate 9 substantially follows the geometry of the carrier plate 2 of a conveyor system module and can be detachably fastened thereon by bearing and / or screwing. The base plate 9 has projections 11 on its underside for engagement in the cutouts of the carrier plate of the conveyor module. Corresponding to the cut-outs in the carrier plate for the conveying wheels, the ring component 8a has openings 12 through which the conveying wheels can protrude upwards. The elevations 5 are formed circumferentially in the edge region of the openings and can be formed either integrally with the base plate 9 or as an attachment single ring. The configuration of the elevations 5 shown corresponds to the configuration of corresponding elevations of FIGS. 1 and 4. In particular, the elevations have a top point 6 arranged flush with the edge of the openings and slope regions on the legs of the elevations, which are continuous in sections, but are dimensioned differently in the edge region of the base plate than in the leg regions which are directed toward the surface of the base plate. The base plate further comprises protrusions 10 at its outer edge areas, which allow fastening of adjacent conveyor modules.With the ring components 8 and 8 ashown, it is possible to also equip existing modules or conveying systems for optimizing the conveying of limp materials to be conveyed. The ring component 8 is designed for subsequent installation around a single conveying wheel, while a ring component 8 acan be used to provide a complete conveying module, in particular with three conveying wheels arranged at an angle, subsequently in one step.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 102012014181 A1 [0003, 0007]US 3789947 A

[0003] CN110683311 A

[0007] DE 10 2012 014 181

[0037] DE 10 2012 025 939

[0037]

Claims

Conveyor system module (100) for omnidirectional conveying of items to be conveyed comprising a carrier plate (2) of substantially angular configuration, wherein the carrier plate (2) can be connected to adjacent carrier plates (2') of further modules (110') or to a module carrier, and at least one omnidirectional conveyor wheel (3) which is individually driven by a motor, wherein the carrier plate (2) has a cutout (4) through which the conveyor wheel (3) projects upwards over the conveying plane (B) formed by the carrier plate (2) at a height h, wherein a plurality of conveyor system modules (100) is designed and arranged in such a way that they can cooperatively execute a movement of items to be conveyed units in any direction above the conveying plane (B), characterized in that the carrier plate (2) has an elevation (5) in the edge region of the cutout (4), which is designed to be circumferential with respect to the cutout (4) and which is dimensioned in such a way, in its height d, measured in the installed position, between the surface of the carrier plate (2) as a base point and the upper edge (6) of the elevation (5) as a head point, that d<h.Conveyor module according to claim 1, wherein the height d is between 50% and 80% of the height h, preferably between 60% and 70% of the height h, and particularly preferably about 2 / 3 of the height h.Conveyor system module according to one of Claims 1 to 2, wherein the elevation (5) is ramp-shaped with a continuous gradient, convex with an discontinuous gradient or is shaped in a step-like manner.Conveyor system module according to one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein an end region (7) running horizontally or provided with one radius or a plurality of radii is integrally formed on the upper edge of the elevation (5).Conveyor system module according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the elevation (5) is formed integrally in the carrier plate (2).Conveyor system module according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the elevation (5) is designed as a ring which can be releasably fixed on the carrier plate (2).Conveyor module according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a conveyor module (100) comprises two, three, four or a plurality of individually driven conveyor wheels (3, 3', 3").Conveyor system module according to claim 7, wherein the elevations (5, 5', 5") are each designed as a component (8) which can be releasably fixed on the carrier plate (2).Conveyor system module according to claim 7, wherein three elevations (5, 5', 5") are formed as a coherent component (8a) which can be releasably fixed on the carrier plate (2).Conveyor system module according to one of Claims 8 to 9, tongues, tongues, clips, plug connections, cutouts or bores being provided on the component for fixing on the carrier plate (2).Conveyor module according to one of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the component is produced from metal or a plastic or a combination thereof.Conveyor system module according to one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein an omnidirectional conveyor wheel (3) is a double-sided wheel, preferably a so-called omniwheel, or a multi-sided wheel.Conveying installation (120) for omnidirectional conveying of items to be conveyed comprising a carrier plate (2), and a multiplicity of omnidirectional conveying wheels (3, 3', 3",...) driven individually in each case by a motor, wherein the carrier plate (2) has cutouts (4, 4', 4",...), through which the conveying wheels (3, 3', 3",...) each project upwards over the conveying plane (B) formed by the carrier plate (2) at a height h, wherein the multiplicity of conveying wheels (3, 3', 3",...) is arranged in such a way that they can cooperatively execute a movement of items to be conveyed units in any desired direction above the conveying plane (B), characterized in that the carrier plate (2) in the edge region of the cutouts (4, 4', 4",....) in each case has an elevation (5, 5', 5",... ), which is formed circumferentially with respect to the cutout (4, 4', 4",... ) and is dimensioned in its height d, measured in the installed position between the surface of the carrier plate (2) as the base point and the upper edge (6) of the elevation (5) as the head point, such that d<h.Use of a device according to one of Claims 1 to 13 for conveying limp units of conveyed material, in particular goods packaged in shipping bags or films, preferably textile goods.Ring component (8, 8a) configured for releasable fixing in the region of one or more cutout(s) (5) of a carrier plate (2), of a conveyor system module (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 12 or of a conveyor system (120) according to Claim 13, characterized in that the ring component (8, 8a), after fixing on the carrier plate (2), forms an elevation (5) which is circumferential with respect to the cutout (4) and which is dimensioned in terms of its height d, measured in the installation position between the surface of the carrier plate (2) as a base point and the upper edge (6) of the elevation (5) as a head point, in such a way that its height d is smaller than the protrusion h of the conveyor wheels (3) above the conveyor plane (B) formed by the carrier plate (2).The ring component (8, 8a) according to claim 15, wherein the height d is between 50% and 80% of the height h, preferably between 60% and 70% of the height h, and particularly preferably about 2 / 3 of the height h.

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