Conveyor system, in particular transport system, with mobile parts

Abstract

Conveyor system with mobile parts for transporting objects along a conveyor line, each handset having at least one electrical consumer, each mobile unit is inductively supplied with electrical power from a stationary primary conductor, which is supplied with alternating current and is laid along the conveyor line, with secondary windings attached to the side of the handset facing the primary conductor, wherein one or more first secondary windings are aligned perpendicular to one or more second secondary windings.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a conveyor system, in particular a transport system, with mobile parts.

[0002] It is common knowledge that an object can be transported using a mobile device.

[0003] From DE 10 2022 004 830 A1, the closest prior art is a method for transporting objects in a technical system.

[0004] From DE 10 2012 024 580 A1 a conveyor system for conveying objects along a conveyor line is known.

[0005] A conveyor system for conveying individual piece goods is known from WO 2010 / 097 391 A1.

[0006] A handset is known from EP 2 744 741 B1.

[0007] A transport system is known from EP 2 697 110 B1.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the object of developing a conveyor system, in particular a transport system, with mobile parts, wherein the mobile parts are always to be supplied with electricity.

[0009] According to the invention, the object is achieved in the conveyor system, in particular transport system, with mobile parts according to the features specified in claim 1 and by a method according to the features specified in claim 13.

[0010] Important features of the invention in the conveyor system, in particular transport system, with mobile parts, in particular platforms, in particular skillets, for transporting objects along a conveyor line, are that each mobile part has at least one electrical consumer, each mobile unit is inductively supplied with electrical power from a stationary primary conductor, which is supplied with alternating current and is laid along the conveyor line, wherein secondary windings are attached to the side of the handset facing the primary conductor, in particular to the underside of the handset, in particular in a rotationally fixed manner to a chassis of the handset, in particular which are inductively coupled to the primary conductor, wherein one or more first secondary windings are aligned perpendicular to one or more second secondary windings, in particular wherein the axis of rotation of the relative rotation of the first to the second secondary windings is aligned by 90° parallel to the normal direction of the bottom surface.

[0011] A benefit is that the mobile parts can be conveyed by the conveyor system in different orientations. This allows the operator or technician to easily process all sides of the picked-up object. Nevertheless, the lifting mechanism, as an electrical consumer, is connected via an inductive coupling and a secondary winding wound around a ferrite core, which allows energy transfer only in one orientation and not in the other.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the mobile part is supplied in a first orientation via the first or the first secondary windings and in a second orientation via the second or the second secondary windings, In particular, the mobile part, in the second orientation, is rotated by a non-zero angle, in particular by 90°, about a rotation axis that is aligned parallel to the normal direction of the flat floor surface. The advantage here is that, depending on the orientation, supply via different power paths is possible.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment, the secondary windings are structurally identical to one another, particularly identically. This allows for cost-effective mass production and allows for multiple secondary windings to be provided on the underside of the handset without particularly high costs.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, the first secondary winding(s) are of identical construction, in particular identical, to the second secondary winding(s), but are arranged rotated by 90° relative to one another, in particular about a rotation axis parallel to the normal direction of the base surface. This is advantageous in that cost-effective production is achievable and a large number of secondary windings can be provided at low cost.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment, a capacitor is connected in series or parallel to each secondary winding such that the resonant frequency of the resulting resonant circuit equals the frequency of the alternating current injected into the primary conductor. This has the advantage of allowing high efficiency even with fluctuations in the inductive coupling between the primary conductor and the respective secondary winding.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment, the first secondary windings are arranged along a first straight line, wherein the second secondary windings are arranged along a second straight line, In particular, the first straight line is oriented perpendicular to the second straight line and / or the first straight line and the second straight line define a plane that is oriented parallel to the floor surface. It is advantageous that, when supplied by the first secondary windings, the first line is oriented parallel to the conveying path direction, and, when supplied by the second secondary windings, the second line is oriented parallel to the conveying path direction.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the first straight line intersects the center of gravity of the handset's chassis or the center of gravity of the handset itself. Advantageously, the first secondary winding is positioned centrally on the handset, thus ensuring that the primary conductor is also centrally aligned with the handset.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment, the distance from the base surface to the respective first or second secondary winding is the same in each case. It is advantageous that the secondary windings can be arranged on the underside of the mobile part.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment, the conveyor system has a roller conveyor on which the mobile parts are placed and from which the mobile parts can be conveyed along the conveyor line, wherein the mobile parts have a plate-shaped base part which is placed on rollers of the roller conveyor, In particular, the conveyor system has a lateral guide or limiter for the mobile parts, in particular to prevent the mobile parts from drifting sideways. The advantage here is that the mobile part has a very simple design and essentially only requires a lifting mechanism on a plate-shaped base part.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment, each mobile part has a lifting mechanism, in particular a height-adjustable table, which has an electric motor, wherein the electric motor acts as a consumer of the mobile part, In particular, the vertical height of the object picked up on the lifting device varies depending on the position of the mobile unit along the travel route, meaning that the object is picked up at different heights in the mobile unit at different route positions. The advantage here is that the working height is automatically adjusted when traveling along the conveyor line, and this is preferably controlled via the alignment.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment, the conveyor system has a turntable mounted on the floor surface in the conveyor line, which rotates the mobile part as it passes through the turntable by a non-zero angle, in particular 90°, around a rotation axis aligned parallel to the normal direction of the flat floor surface. An advantage here is that the orientation of the mobile part can be achieved by the turntable. Thus, the mobile part does not require a steering drive or the like.

[0022] In an advantageous embodiment, the lifting mechanism transports the picked-up object to a first vertical position when supplied by the first secondary winding and to a second vertical position when supplied by the second secondary winding, In particular, the height of the object depends on the orientation of the mobile unit. The advantage of this is that no special control of the lifting mechanism is required depending on a detected position along the conveyor line; instead, the working height is adjusted fully automatically based on the position of the mobile unit in the conveyor line.

[0023] Important features of the method for operating a conveyor system with mobile units are that each mobile unit has an electrically driven lifting mechanism, which transports an object picked up on the lifting mechanism to different height positions, wherein the mobile part is supplied from a first or second secondary winding depending on its orientation to the conveyor line of the conveyor system, where the height of the object caused by the lifting mechanism - depending on the orientation of the handset to the conveyor line, in particular automatically, and / or - depending on the supply provided by the first or second secondary winding is controlled.

[0024] The advantage of this is that no controls are required on the handset; instead, the working height is adjusted automatically for the technician. This is because when the turntable is passed through, the orientation changes, and the power is supplied from the second secondary winding instead of the first. The working height is adjusted accordingly, so that a first working height is provided before the turntable and a second working height is provided after the turntable.

[0025] Further advantages emerge from the dependent claims. The invention is not limited to the combination of features in the claims. Further possible combinations of claims and / or individual claim features and / or features of the description and / or the figures will become apparent to those skilled in the art, particularly from the problem and / or the problem posed by comparison with the prior art.

[0026] The invention will now be explained in more detail using schematic illustrations: In the Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a conveyor system according to the invention, in particular a transport system, which has mobile parts 1, in particular platforms, in particular skillets 1, for transporting objects. In the Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the underside of one of the handsets 1.

[0027] The conveyor system has corner converters 32 in the conveyor line, which do not change the orientation of the mobile parts 1 but cause a change in the transport direction, and turntables 30, which change the orientation of the mobile parts, in particular by 90°, as well as lateral limits 31, which guide the mobile parts 1 along the conveyor line.

[0028] As shown in the figures, a lifting mechanism 2 is arranged on the mobile part 1, with which the object, in particular the vehicle body, picked up on the mobile part 1, in particular on the lifting mechanism 2, can be brought to the desired height.

[0029] The mobile units 1 are arranged one behind the other along a conveyor system track. During operation, the mobile units 1 are conveyed one behind the other. For this purpose, a roller conveyor is arranged on the floor, on which the mobile unit 1 rests. Rotatably mounted rollers are arranged on the horizontally aligned floor surface, at least some of which can be set in rotation by electric motors. The axes of rotation of the rollers are arranged in a plane that is parallel to the flat floor surface.

[0030] When the rollers rotate, the handset 1 is conveyed along the roller conveyor. Lateral guides prevent the handset 1 from moving sideways. The handset 1 rests on a base plate on the rollers, which are in turn stationary.

[0031] The contact surfaces, especially the support lines, lie in a plane parallel to the floor surface. In particular, the plane is a horizontal plane.

[0032] For example, vehicle bodies are guided along a track in an assembly hall in this way. Operators in the assembly hall can thus perform the respective assembly steps on the vehicle body. Using the lifting mechanism 20, the picked-up object, in particular the vehicle body, can be brought to a predetermined vertical position, thus enabling the optimal working heights for the respective assembly step to be controlled.

[0033] The lifting mechanism 20 has an electric motor, which thus functions as an electrical consumer of the mobile part 1.

[0034] Preferably, the operator stands to the side of the mobile parts 1 in the conveying direction of the mobile parts 1, allowing the necessary assembly steps to be carried out. Preferably, the mobile part 1 is also designed so that the operator can walk on it. However, the assembly steps to be carried out at the front or rear of the object in the conveyor device can only be carried out quickly and easily because the mobile parts 1 can be rotated by 90° at a respective track position. For this purpose, a turntable is provided along the conveyor path, which is implemented by rollers placed at such a distance on the floor surface that the mobile part 1 can be rotated by 90° as it moves through the turntable, in particular wherein the axis of rotation for this purpose is aligned parallel to the normal direction of the floor surface.

[0035] In particular, the conveyor system has a stationary turntable, which can rotate a respective mobile part 1 picked up by it as it passes through, about a vertical axis.

[0036] The mobile units 1, rotated by 90°, are then conveyed further along the conveyor system's conveyor track. This allows for processing of the previously difficult-to-process sides of the mobile unit 1.

[0037] The electrical load(s) of the respective mobile unit 9 are supplied via an inductive coupling. For this purpose, the respective mobile unit 1 has secondary windings 1 on its underside. These are or can be inductively coupled to a primary conductor laid along the conveyor track along which the mobile units 1 are moved, or in the floor of the conveyor system.

[0038] The primary conductor is supplied with an alternating current so that the electrical consumers of the respective handset 1 are supplied from the voltage induced in the respective secondary winding.

[0039] A capacitor is connected in series or parallel to the secondary winding, and the capacitor is dimensioned such that the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit formed by the capacitor and the secondary winding equals the frequency of the alternating current. This allows for high efficiency even with low inductive coupling strength.

[0040] The secondary winding is wound around a ferrite core or provided on a ferrite core, in particular as a flat winding or planar winding.

[0041] The ferrite core has an E- or U-shaped cross-section, wherein the legs of the E or U lie in a single plane, the normal direction of which is parallel to the direction of travel, in particular the conveying direction, of the mobile part 1. In particular, the legs of the ferrite core, in particular the vertical projections of the legs into the plane, span the plane.

[0042] In particular, the plane is aligned parallel to the ground plane.

[0043] Preferably, the mobile part 1 is aligned with the ferrite core in such a way that the primary conductor is arranged between the imaginarily extended legs of the E or U.

[0044] The primary conductor arranged in the ground plane is therefore arranged between the projected legs of the C or U which are perpendicular to the ground plane.

[0045] When the handset 1 is rotated by 90°, no voltage is induced in the secondary winding wound around the ferrite core or in the secondary winding arranged on the ferrite core. Therefore, a further secondary winding with a further ferrite core is arranged on the underside of the handset. Although it is structurally identical to the aforementioned secondary winding with a ferrite core, it is also arranged on the underside of the handset 1, rotated by 90°. Thus, in each of the two rotational positions of the handset 1 relative to the primary conductor, the load of the handset can be supplied inductively via at least one of the secondary windings.

[0046] However, in order to be able to transmit higher power levels, not only the two secondary windings mentioned, but a larger number of secondary windings are attached to the underside of the handset 1.

[0047] Thus, first and second secondary windings are attached to the underside of the mobile part 1. On the one hand, the first secondary windings are structurally identical to one another, in particular identical, and aligned parallel to one another. On the other hand, the second secondary windings are structurally identical to one another, in particular identical, and aligned parallel to one another, but are each rotated by 90° relative to the first secondary windings. Preferably, the first secondary windings are structurally identical to the second secondary windings, in particular identical.

[0048] The first secondary windings are arranged along a first straight line, in particular along a first straight line. The second secondary windings are arranged along a second straight line, in particular along a second straight line. The first straight line intersects the second straight line and is oriented perpendicular to it.

[0049] Preferably, the first straight line is arranged centrally to the mobile unit 1, particularly with respect to the travel route. Thus, the vertical projection of the first straight line onto the floor surface intersects or contains the vertical projection of the center of gravity of the mobile unit 1. The first straight line is thus aligned parallel to the direction of travel; before reaching the turntable, the mobile units 1 are aligned such that the first straight line is aligned in the direction of travel. After passing through the turntable and thus completing the 90° rotation, the first straight line is aligned perpendicular to the direction of travel, and the second straight line is parallel to the direction of travel.

[0050] Preferably, the second straight line is arranged centrally on the handset 1.

[0051] Alternatively, the two straight lines are arranged off-center, specifically at such a distance from a central positioning that in a first rotational position the consumer of the handset is supplied via the first secondary winding and in a rotational position rotated by 90° to the first rotational position via the second secondary winding.

[0052] In further embodiments according to the invention, each of the mobile units 1 has a traction drive, which is preferably designed as an electric motor drive. In a further development, the mobile units 1 are each designed with their own control system for regulating the traction drive.

[0053] In further embodiments of the invention, the mobile unit provides sufficient walkable space for an operator to walk around the lifting mechanism 2. The space is aligned parallel to the floor surface.

[0054] In further embodiments according to the invention, the mobile parts 1 are designed with their own traction drive, which drives drive wheels that roll on the floor surface, and therefore do not require a roller conveyor.

[0055] Preferably, the respective traction drive is mounted on a rotatable mount and can thus rotate through 90°, or it is designed as a tank drive or with two differently rotatable, coaxially aligned drive wheels, each of which can be driven separately. Instead of a turntable, the rotation of the mobile unit 1 is then achieved by the drive of the mobile unit. List of reference symbols 1 handset, especially platform 2 lifting gear 20 Secondary winding 30 turntable 31 lateral guidance / limitation 32 corner converters

Claims

[1] Conveyor system with mobile parts for transporting objects along a conveyor line, each handset having at least one electrical consumer, each mobile unit is inductively supplied with electrical power from a stationary primary conductor, which is supplied with alternating current and is laid along the conveyor line, with secondary windings attached to the side of the handset facing the primary conductor, characterized by , that one or more first secondary windings are aligned perpendicular to one or more second secondary windings. [2] Conveyor system according to claim 1, characterized by that the handset is supplied via the first or first secondary windings in a first orientation and via the second or second secondary windings in a second orientation. [3] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the secondary windings are constructed identically to each other. [4] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first secondary winding(s) is / are constructed identically to the second secondary winding(s). [5] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a capacitance is connected in series or parallel to the respective secondary winding such that the resonance frequency of the resulting oscillating circuit is equal to the frequency of the alternating current impressed into the primary conductor. [6] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first secondary windings are arranged along a first straight line, wherein the second secondary windings are arranged along a second straight line. [7] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the first straight line intersects the center of gravity of the handset chassis or the center of gravity of the handset. [8] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the distance from the base surface to the respective first or second secondary winding is the same. [9] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the conveyor system has a roller conveyor on which the mobile parts are placed and from which the mobile parts can be conveyed along the conveyor line, wherein the mobile parts have a plate-shaped base part which is placed on rollers of the roller conveyor. [10] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that each handset has a lifting mechanism which has an electric motor, the electric motor acting as a consumer of the handset. [11] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the conveyor system in the conveyor line has a turntable set up on the floor surface, which rotates the mobile part as it passes through the turntable by a non-zero angle about an axis of rotation which is aligned parallel to the normal direction of the flat floor surface. [12] Conveyor system according to one of claims 10 to 11 characterized by that the lifting mechanism transports the picked-up object to a first vertical position when supplied by the first secondary winding and to a second vertical position when supplied by the second secondary winding. [13] Method for operating a conveyor system with mobile parts, each mobile unit has an electrically driven lifting mechanism which transports an object picked up on the lifting mechanism to different heights, wherein the mobile part is supplied from a first or second secondary winding depending on its orientation to the conveyor line of the conveyor system, where the height of the object caused by the lifting mechanism - depending on the orientation of the handset to the conveyor line and / or - depending on the supply provided by the first or second secondary winding is controlled.

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