Conveyor system, especially transport system

Abstract

conveyor system, wherein the conveyor system has mobile parts arranged one behind the other along a travel path, where a barcode is arranged at the bottom of the conveyor system, wherein a first barcode reader and a second barcode reader are attached to the underside of a first handset, wherein the conveyor system has a turntable in the travel path, by means of which the orientation of the first mobile part can be changed by an angle of rotation, so that the first mobile part moves along the travel path either in a first orientation or in a second orientation, wherein the barcode enters the sensitive area of the first barcode reader when the first mobile part having the first orientation moves past and is thus detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced from the sensitive area of the second barcode reader, wherein the barcode enters the sensitive area of the second barcode reader when the first mobile part having the second orientation moves past and is thus detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced from the sensitive area of the first barcode reader.

Description

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

[0002] It is generally known that a conveyor system, in particular a transport system, has mobile parts on which an object can be received and transported from a first route position to a second route position.

[0003] From DE 10 2020 004 463 A1, the closest prior art is a method for operating a system with a first and further mobile units and a stationary controller.

[0004] From DE 10 2020 004 261 A1 a system with a mobile part that can be moved along a coding area is known.

[0005] A system is known from DE 10 2019 003 374 A1.

[0006] A system with a system, objects and handsets is known from DE 10 2019 000 903 A1.

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the object of developing a conveyor system, in particular a transport system, which should enable flexible operation.

[0008] According to the invention, the object is achieved in the conveyor system according to the features specified in claim 1 and according to the features specified in claim 2.

[0009] Important features of the invention in the conveyor system, in particular a transport system, are that the conveyor system has mobile parts arranged one behind the other along a travel path, in particular a conveyor path, wherein a barcode is arranged, in particular stationary, on the floor of the conveyor system, in particular to the side of the travel path, wherein a first barcode reader and a second barcode reader are attached to the underside of a first handset, wherein the conveyor system has a turntable in the travel path, by means of which the orientation of the first mobile part can be changed by an angle of rotation, in particular of 90°, so that the first mobile part moves along the travel path either in a first orientation or in a second orientation, wherein the barcode enters the sensitive area, in particular the field of view, of the first barcode reader when the first mobile part having the first orientation moves past and is thus detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced from the sensitive area of the second barcode reader, wherein the barcode enters the sensitive area, in particular the field of view, of the second barcode reader when the first mobile part having the second orientation moves past and is thus detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced apart from the sensitive area of the first barcode reader.

[0010] The advantage of this is that only one of the two barcode readers detects the barcode at a time. Thus, the orientation alone determines which of the barcode readers detects the barcode. The orientation of the vehicle is determined by the barcode reader that detects the barcode. This contributes to flexible system operation, as the working height can be determined based on the orientation, without the need for a higher-level central computer.

[0011] Important features of the conveyor system, especially the transport system, are that the conveyor system has mobile units arranged one behind the other along a travel route, in particular a conveyor route, wherein a barcode is arranged, in particular stationary, on the floor of the conveyor system, in particular to the side of the travel route, wherein a first barcode reader and a second barcode reader are attached to the underside of a first handset, wherein the conveyor system has a turntable in the travel path, by means of which the orientation of the first mobile part can be changed by an angle of rotation, in particular of 90°, so that the first mobile part moves along the travel path either in a first orientation or in a second orientation, wherein the barcode is located in the sensitive area, in particular in the field of view, of the first barcode reader at the route position of the first mobile part having the first orientation at which the first barcode reader has the smallest distance to the barcode and is thus detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced from the sensitive area of the second barcode reader, wherein the barcode is located in the sensitive area, in particular in the field of view, of the second barcode reader at that path position of the first mobile part having the second orientation at which the second barcode reader has the smallest distance to the barcode and is thus detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced from the sensitive area of the first barcode reader.

[0012] The advantage of this is that only one of the two barcode readers detects the barcode at a time. Thus, the orientation alone determines which of the barcode readers detects the barcode. The orientation of the vehicle is determined by the barcode reader that detects the barcode.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment, the first barcode reader is spaced apart from the center and / or center of gravity of the first mobile device. Advantageously, the barcode is located outside the sensitive area of the first barcode reader, while the barcode is located within the sensitive area of the second barcode reader.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, the second barcode reader is spaced apart from the first mobile unit. Advantageously, the barcode is located outside the sensitive area of the second barcode reader, while the barcode is located within the sensitive area of the first barcode reader.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment, the mobile parts are each conveyed along the travel path by rollers arranged, in particular stationary, on the floor of the conveyor system and driven, in particular driven, by electric motors. This allows for cost-effective driving, with the mobile parts not having their own drive.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment, the mobile units are guided by guide means arranged on the ground, particularly stationary, and particularly along the side of the route. This is advantageous because the mobile units can be guided along the route cost-effectively.

[0017] In an advantageous design, each of the mobile units rests on the rollers via a plate-shaped base. The advantage here is that the mobile units do not have their own drive, thus enabling cost-effective transport of the objects.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment, each of the mobile units has a lifting mechanism with which an object, in particular a vehicle body, picked up by the mobile unit can be moved to different vertical positions. This is advantageous because the operator works on the front of the object, in particular the vehicle body, at a different working height than the side, in particular the adjacent side or door side. The operator preferably stands to the side of the travel path.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment, the mobile unit has a control system configured such that, depending on whether the barcode is detected in the sensitive area of the first sensor or the second sensor, the object is moved to a different vertical position, in particular a working height. Advantageously, the orientation can be determined and subsequently effected depending on the detection of the barcode.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment, the handset has a or the control, The control is designed such that a signal is sent contactlessly from the handset controller to a stationary control of the turntable, in particular depending on the detection of the barcode, and the turntable aligns the handset depending on the signal. Advantageously, after the barcode is recognized, the desired alignment is determined, and the associated information is transmitted to the turntable controller.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment, the controller of the handset, to which the two barcode readers are connected, is a safety-related controller. This is advantageous because it allows for increased security.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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 for mobile parts, in particular skillets. In the Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of one of the handsets 1 in a top view of the underside of the handset 1. In the Fig. 3 schematically shows a change in the orientation of the mobile units 1 caused by a turntable 30.

[0024] As shown in the figures, the conveyor system, in particular a transport system, has mobile parts 1 arranged one behind the other along a travel path, in particular a conveyor path, which are conveyed along the travel path by rollers arranged on the floor and driven by electric motors and are guided by lateral guide means arranged on the floor.

[0025] An object 3, in particular a vehicle body, is mounted on a lifting mechanism driven by an electric motor and arranged on the respective mobile unit 1. Thus, the working height is adjustable.

[0026] At a first track position, there is a turntable 30, which rotates the orientation of the mobile units 1 by 90° when controlled accordingly. The track is a closed curve and has corners at which corner converters 31 are arranged. These change the direction of movement of the mobile units 1 by an angle of, for example, 90°, but do not change the orientation of the mobile unit 1, particularly relative to the conveyor system.

[0027] Barcodes, particularly stationary ones, are arranged along the route. Each of the mobile units 1 has two barcode readers 20, which are connected to a controller, particularly a safety controller.

[0028] The barcode readers 20 are preferably arranged on the underside of the mobile part, with a first of the two barcode readers 20 being arranged on a first side of the mobile part 1, in particular arranged off-center, and a second of the two barcode readers 20 being arranged on a second side of the mobile part 1, in particular arranged off-center. The first side is at the front in the direction of travel, i.e., the front, and the second side is a side adjoining the first side, in particular, not the underside, not the top, and not the rear.

[0029] The barcode is attached along the route to the side of the mobile part 1 passing the barcode, so that at least one of the two barcode readers 20 detects this barcode directly, i.e. at a distance that is smaller than a first threshold value, in particular the maximum distance.

[0030] When the handset 1 is rotated 90° while passing through the turntable 30, the second barcode reader 20 reaches the position of the first barcode reader 20. This position thus falls below the threshold value for the distance to the barcode code, allowing the second sensor to directly detect the barcode. However, after leaving the turntable, the first sensor is at a distance that is greater than the first threshold value, specifically the maximum distance. This is because the page length of the first page is shorter than the page length of the second page.

[0031] Preferably, the handset has a cuboid-shaped outer circumference.

[0032] The off-center arrangement of the two sensors enables improved safety.

[0033] Each sensor monitors a room area, i.e. a sensitive area.

[0034] Preferably, the two sensors are arranged on the underside of the handset in such a way that the barcode is located in only one of the two sensitive areas. The two sensitive areas are spaced apart from each other.

[0035] The conveyor system is primarily used in automobile manufacturing, where components are successively mounted onto a vehicle body.

[0036] In further embodiments of the invention, the signals from the two barcode readers are fed to a safety controller, in particular a safety-related controller. This allows for an increased level of safety. List of reference symbols 1 handset, especially Skillett 2 lifting gear 3 Object, especially vehicle body 20 barcode readers 30 turntable 31 lateral guide 32 corner converters

Claims

[1] Conveyor system, wherein the conveyor system has mobile parts arranged one behind the other along a travel path, characterized by , that a barcode is located at the bottom of the conveyor system, wherein a first barcode reader and a second barcode reader are attached to the underside of a first handset, wherein the conveyor system has a turntable in the travel path, by means of which the orientation of the first mobile part can be changed by an angle of rotation, so that the first mobile part moves along the travel path either in a first orientation or in a second orientation, wherein the barcode enters the sensitive area of the first barcode reader when the first mobile part having the first orientation moves past and is thus detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced from the sensitive area of the second barcode reader, wherein the barcode enters the sensitive area of the second barcode reader when the first mobile part having the second orientation moves past and is thus detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced from the sensitive area of the first barcode reader. [2] Conveyor system, wherein the conveyor system has mobile parts arranged one behind the other along a travel route, characterized by , that a barcode is located at the bottom of the conveyor system wherein a first barcode reader and a second barcode reader are attached to the underside of a first handset, wherein the conveyor system has a turntable in the travel path, by means of which the orientation of the first mobile part can be changed by an angle of rotation, so that the first mobile part moves along the travel path either in a first orientation or in a second orientation, wherein the barcode is located in the sensitive area of the first barcode reader at the route position of the first mobile part having the first orientation at which the first barcode reader has the smallest distance to the barcode and is thus detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced from the sensitive area of the second barcode reader, wherein the barcode is located in the sensitive area of the second barcode reader at that route position of the first mobile part having the second orientation at which the second barcode reader has the smallest distance to the barcode and is thus detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced from the sensitive area of the first barcode reader. [3] Conveyor system according to claim 1, characterized by , that the first barcode reader is spaced from the center and / or center of gravity of the first handset and / or that the second barcode reader is spaced from the center and / or center of gravity of the first handset. [4] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the mobile parts are each conveyed along the route by rollers arranged at the bottom of the conveyor system and driven by electric motors. [5] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the handsets are guided by guide devices arranged on the floor. [6] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that each of the handsets rests on the rollers with a plate-shaped base body. [7] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that each of the handsets has a lifting mechanism with which an object picked up by the handset can be brought to different vertical positions. [8] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the handset has a control which is designed in such a way that, depending on whether the barcode is detected in the sensitive area of the first sensor or the second sensor, the object is brought to a different vertical position. [9] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the handset has one or the control, wherein the control is designed such that a signal is sent from the control of the handset in a contactless manner to a stationary control of the turntable and the turntable effects the alignment of the handset in dependence on the signal. [10] Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the control of the handset to which the two barcode readers are connected is a safety-related control.

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