Intralogistics system

Abstract

The present invention relates to an intralogistics system (1) for transferring a transported item (15) from an automated guided vehicle (AGV) (2) to a delivery point (3.1, 3.2), comprising an AGV (2) with a transport trough (13), a transfer station (4) with a stationary base (6), a pendulum arm (9), and a pendulum actuator (8), and a delivery point (3.1, 3.2). The transport trough (13) of the AGV (2) has a concave recess (14) suitable for receiving the transported item (15). The pendulum arm (9) of the transfer station (4) is rotatably or pivotably mounted on the stationary base (6) of the transfer station (4) and is movable by the pendulum actuator (8). The pendulum arm (9) has an extension beam (11) which is arranged at one end of the pendulum arm (9) facing away from the base (6) and which moves along a circular arc or curved extension path when the pendulum arm (9) is rotated or pivoted.For the transfer of the transported goods (15), the industrial truck (2) with the transported goods (15) located in the transport trough (13) can be positioned in a transfer position (4). When the industrial truck (2) is positioned in the transfer position (4), the pendulum arm (9) can be rotated or pivoted by means of the pendulum actuator (8) such that the extension beam (11) at least partially enters the concave trough (14) when rotating or pivoting, and thus, with further rotation or pivoting, conveys the transported goods (15) located in the transport trough (13) out of the transport trough (13) and transfers them to the delivery point (3.1, 3.2) located adjacent to the industrial truck (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an intralogistics system comprising a driverless industrial truck, a transfer station and a delivery point for transferring a transported item from the industrial truck to the delivery point.

[0002] An intralogistics system is an automated or semi-automated system for controlling and executing material flows within a company's premises, particularly in production and storage facilities. Such systems serve the efficient transport of goods, such as merchandise, components, pallets, containers, or packaging units, between different processing or storage areas.

[0003] An automated guided vehicle (AGV) is a ground-level, floor-bound transport device with its own drive system, automatically controlled and guided without physical contact to transport goods horizontally. AGVs are also known as "driverless transport systems" or "automated guided vehicles".

[0004] A transfer station is a stationary device within an intralogistics system that transfers the transported goods from an automated guided vehicle (AGV) to a delivery point. It can use mechanical, pneumatic, or gravity-based mechanisms to unload the transported goods in a controlled manner.

[0005] Intralogistics systems are used in various industrial and logistical sectors, particularly in the automotive industry, food production, retail, pharmaceuticals, and logistics centers. They enable efficient and automated goods movement, reduce manual intervention, and optimize internal processes.

[0006] The task of the transfer station is to transfer the transported goods from the automated guided vehicle (AGV) to the delivery point. Various unloading methods are used for this purpose. Transfer stations are often equipped with push-off combs that move along a plane just above the loading platform of the AGV, thus pushing the transported goods from the AGV to the delivery point. Alternatively, transfer stations can also tilt or tip the AGV as a whole, so that the transported goods slide off the loading platform of the AGV to the delivery station by gravity.

[0007] Such transfer stations are often technically complex in their design and maintenance. This not only results in high investment and operating costs, but also means that improper handling or unfavorable operating conditions can lead to malfunctions and service interruptions.

[0008] German patent application DE 39 399 71 A1 describes a forklift truck with a receiving trough from which a conveyed item can be removed by means of a device through direct contact.

[0009] Document DE 10 2009 049 174 A1 discloses a conveying vehicle with a receiving surface for a conveyed material which can be removed by a manipulator through direct contact.

[0010] Document KR 1 025 855 92 B1 describes a conveying vehicle with several concave receiving troughs. The conveyed goods located in the receiving troughs are discharged by tilting the receiving troughs.

[0011] US patent US 799 27 00 B2 discloses a conveyor with a concavely shaped receiving trough. A manipulator pushes the conveyed material laterally by direct contact, with a slider engaging in the concave receiving trough.

[0012] Against this background, the present invention aims to provide an intralogistics system that is characterized by better practicality, particularly with regard to an efficient, robust and less prone to malfunctions transfer of the transported goods from a driverless industrial truck to a delivery point.

[0013] This problem is solved by the intralogistics system according to the invention for transferring a transported item from a driverless industrial truck to a delivery point according to claim 1 and the transfer station according to claim 10. Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0014] The intralogistics system according to the invention for transferring a transported item from a driverless industrial truck to a delivery point comprises (at least) a driverless industrial truck with a transport trough, a transfer station with a stationary base, (at least) a pendulum arm and a pendulum actuator and (at least) a delivery point, wherein - the transport trough of the (at least one) industrial truck has a concave recess suitable for receiving the transported goods, - the (at least one) pendulum arm of the transfer station is rotatably or pivotably mounted on the stationary base of the transfer station and is movable by the pendulum actuator, - the (at least one) pendulum arm has (at least) one extension beam arranged at one end of the (at least one) pendulum arm furthest from the base, and which moves along a circular arc or curved extension path when the (at least one) pendulum arm is rotated or pivoted, - for the transfer of the transported goods, the (at least one) industrial truck with the transported goods in the transport trough can be positioned in a transfer position, - when the industrial truck is positioned in the transfer position, the (at least one) pendulum arm can be rotated or pivoted by means of the pendulum actuator in such a way that the (at least one) extension beam, when rotating or pivoting, at least partially enters the concave trough and, in this way, when rotating or pivoting further, conveys the transported goods located in the transport trough out of the transport trough and transfers them to the delivery point located adjacent to the industrial truck.

[0015] Through the synergistic combination of the features according to the invention, an intralogistics system can be realized that is characterized by a structurally extremely simple and equally reliable transfer station.

[0016] The pendulum motion of the pendulum arm or the extension beam attached to it can be easily and reliably achieved by a rotatable or pivotable mounting of the pendulum arm on the stationary base of the transfer station. By adjusting the length of the pendulum arm, and thus the path of the circular or curved extension track, to the depth and contour of the transport trough according to the invention, it can be ensured that the extension beam moves into the trough when passing over it, reliably, gently, and easily pushing out the transported goods.

[0017] The concave shape of the transport tray ensures that the transported goods slide to the lowest point of the tray due to gravity and remain securely in place even when cornering.

[0018] Some aspects of the invention are defined and explained in more detail below: The transport trough is typically located on the top of the forklift truck, designed to hold a load, and thus forms the truck's transport area. The transport trough has a concave shape with two opposing trough shoulders and a central trough base located between them. The surface of the trough curves continuously from the shoulders to the center, reaching its maximum depth there.

[0019] The two opposing shoulders of the trough define an imaginary opening area of ​​the transport tray, beneath which the concave trough extends. The depth of the trough refers to the distance from the surface of the trough to this imaginary opening area.

[0020] The transfer station comprises a stationary base and a pendulum arm. The stationary base is permanently installed and expressly not located on the forklift truck that picks up the goods to be transferred. The stationary base can, for example, be mounted on a building ceiling or secured to the floor with struts or supports.

[0021] The statement that the pendulum arm is rotatably mounted on the stationary base expresses the fact that the pendulum arm can be rotated around an axis of rotation relative to the stationary base (in particular, by more than 360°). When the pendulum arm rotates, the extension beam thus moves along a circular arc path.

[0022] The description stating that the pendulum arm is pivotally mounted on the stationary base expresses the fact that, during its movement relative to the stationary base, the pendulum arm simultaneously performs a rotational and a translational movement; that is, the axis of rotation shifts translationally at the same time. When the pendulum arm pivots, the extension beam thus moves along a curved (e.g., elliptical, parabolic) extension path.

[0023] Terms such as top, bottom, above, below, one above the other, and one below the other are positional descriptions with respect to the vertical and refer to the arrangement of the components of the intralogic system during normal operation. The vertical is defined by the direction in which gravity acts.

[0024] The wording that the industrial truck is positioned below the stationary base of the transfer station thus expresses that the industrial truck and the stationary base of the transfer station overlap in a vertical projection.

[0025] The wording that the extension beam, when rotating or pivoting, at least partially (penetrating the opening surface of the transport trough and) dips into the concave recess, expresses that the pendulum arm and the transport trough are coordinated in such a way that the pendulum arm, with the extension beam, "engages" into the recess of the transport trough when rotating or pivoting. The immersion depth of the extension beam into the concave recess (i.e., the maximum distance between the extension beam and the opening surface of the transport trough) increases continuously until the pendulum arm reaches its lowest point in the area of ​​the center of the recess and then decreases continuously again.

[0026] The wording that the forklift and the delivery point are adjacent expresses that the forklift and the delivery point are arranged side by side.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment of the intralogistics system according to the invention - the transport tray is bounded by two opposing, parallel tray edges, - the concave recess extends below an opening plane of the transport tray spanned by the tray edges, and - the extension beam, when rotating or swiveling, at least partially penetrates the opening plane of the transport tray.

[0028] The trough shoulders are thus designed as parallel trough edges that define the concave trough on two opposite sides. Between the two opposite trough edges, the surface of the trough has a circular arc or curved contour that transitions into the trough edges in a continuous bend. The transport trough has, in particular, a rectangular base shape, with the two opposite trough edges forming two opposite sides of the rectangle. The other two sides can, in particular, be designed as trough walls.

[0029] The two opposing, parallel edges of the trough define an imaginary opening plane (flat opening surface) of the transport trough. Beneath this opening plane extends the concave trough, with its depth increasing continuously and steadily towards the center. The depth of the trough is defined as the distance from the surface of the trough to the opening plane.

[0030] Furthermore, it is advantageously provided that the pendulum arm and the trough are coordinated in such a way that the air gap resulting when the pendulum arm is rotated or pivoted between the push-off beam and the transport trough has a width of less than or equal to 10 cm, in particular less than or equal to 5 cm, 3 cm or 1 cm.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of the intralogistics system according to the invention - the pendulum arm is rotatably mounted on the stationary base about an axis of rotation, - the push-off beam moves along a circular arc-shaped push-off path as the pendulum arm rotates, - is the recess of the transport tray designed in a cylindrical segment shape, at least in sections, and - In the transfer position, the axis of rotation and a cylinder axis of the cylindrical segment-shaped trough section are arranged parallel to each other and, in particular, vertically one below the other.

[0032] In this way, a particularly robust, cost-effective and easy-to-manufacture intralogistics system can be realized.

[0033] The cylinder axis of the cylindrical segment-shaped trough section is defined as the imaginary straight line that runs parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical segment-shaped trough section and has the same distance from all points on the surface of the cylindrical trough section.

[0034] This means that even small items can be reliably and easily transferred from the forklift to the delivery point.

[0035] It can be particularly advantageous to provide that the position of the axis of rotation is changeable in the vertical direction.

[0036] This can be achieved, for example, by mounting the pendulum arm on a bearing unit that is part of the stationary base and can be moved vertically relative to the rest of the stationary base by means of an actuator.

[0037] By adjusting the vertical position of the rotation axis, the intralogistics system can be adapted to transport trays of different heights and transport goods of different sizes.

[0038] According to another preferred embodiment, two or more pendulum arms are rotatably mounted on the transfer station and can be moved by the pendulum actuator.

[0039] In this way, the efficiency of the transfer station can be further increased.

[0040] Advantageously, at least one pendulum arm can be rotated or swivelled in different directions by the pendulum actuator.

[0041] In this way, the transported goods can be transferred to one side or the other of the forklift truck, depending on the direction of rotation or pivoting of the pendulum arm. If a delivery point is located on both sides of the forklift truck positioned in the transfer position, the transported goods can be transferred to one or the other delivery point by selecting the appropriate direction of rotation or pivoting of the pendulum arm, thus sorting the transported goods.

[0042] Furthermore, the (at least) one delivery point is preferred, implemented as - a forklift truck, especially one equipped with a transport tub, - a roller conveyor, - a conveyor belt, or - a conveyor chute.

[0043] The goods being transported can thus be transferred from one industrial truck to another industrial truck or to a roller conveyor, conveyor belt or conveyor chute.

[0044] A roller conveyor is a continuously operating conveying system with rollers arranged parallel to each other, which can carry and move a conveyed item. The rollers can be either driven (motorized rollers) or undriven (gravity conveyors).

[0045] A conveyor belt is a continuously operating conveying system that has an endless belt guided over rollers or drums and driven by an active drive element.

[0046] In contrast, a conveyor chute is a gravity-driven conveying system that moves goods along an inclined surface without active drive elements.

[0047] Furthermore, it may be provided that the (at least one) push-off beam has a sealing lip or a brush seal at its end facing away from the base, which comes into contact with the transport tray when rotating or swiveling.

[0048] The sealing lip or brush seal can close the air gap between the extension beam and the transport tray, so that especially very small, soft or moist goods can be safely and reliably transferred from the transport tray to the delivery point.

[0049] A sealing lip is a flexible seal, usually made of rubber or plastic, that is attached to an edge or surface to seal gaps. Its elasticity allows it to adapt to uneven surfaces and ensures a reliable seal.

[0050] A brush seal is a seal that has a large number of flexible bristles that are attached to a holder.

[0051] The present invention is also manifested in a transfer station according to the invention suitable for use in an intralogistics system according to the invention.

[0052] Two exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows Fig. 1 - 4 a first embodiment of an intralogistics system according to the invention in a frontal view in various operating states, Fig. 5 the first embodiment in a side view, and Fig. 6 a second embodiment in a frontal view.

[0053] The in the Fig. The first embodiment of an intralogistics system 1 shown in Figures 1 to 5 comprises a driverless industrial truck 2, two delivery points 3.1, 3.2 and a transfer station 4.

[0054] The transfer station 4 has a stationary base 6 attached to a building ceiling 5, comprising a bearing unit 7, a pendulum actuator 8, and two pendulum arms 9. Both pendulum arms 9 are rigidly connected to each other and rotatably mounted on the bearing unit 7 about a common axis of rotation 10. They can be rotated in different directions (i.e., both directions of rotation) by the pendulum actuator 8, which is an electric motor with a gearbox. The bearing unit 7 itself can be moved vertically relative to the rest of the stationary base 6 by means of a bearing unit actuator (not shown). At their ends furthest from the base 6 (or the axis of rotation 10), the pendulum arms 9 each have two extension beams 11, which move along a circular arc-shaped extension path when the pendulum arms 9 are rotated (about the axis of rotation 10).

[0055] The driverless industrial truck 2 is movable on a building floor G by means of wheels 12. A transport trough 13 with a concave recess 14, suitable for receiving a transported item 15, is arranged on the upper surface of the industrial truck 2. The transport trough 13 is bounded by two opposing, parallel edges 16, which define an opening 17 of the transport trough 13, below which the concave recess 14 extends. The transport trough 13 has a rectangular base shape, with the two opposing edges 16 forming two opposite sides of the rectangle. The other two edges of the rectangle are designed as trough walls 18. The concave recess 14 is segmentally cylindrical with respect to an imaginary cylinder axis 19.

[0056] For the transfer of the transported goods 15 from the forklift truck 2 to one of the two delivery points 3.1, 3.2, the forklift truck 2 is in the position shown in the Fig. The transfer position is shown in Figures 1 to 4. In the transfer position, the imaginary cylinder axis 19 of the cylindrical segment-shaped trough section and the rotation axis 10 of the pendulum arms 9 run (essentially) parallel to each other and are arranged (essentially) vertically below one another. Furthermore, the industrial truck 2 is positioned adjacent to the two discharge points 3.1 and 3.2 in the transfer position.

[0057] The two delivery points 3.1, 3.2 are in the first embodiment according to the Fig. 1 to 4 each designed as a conveyor chute.

[0058] The following describes the process of transferring the transported goods 15 from the forklift 2 to the adjacent transfer station 3.1 on the left, based on the Fig. 1 to 4 explained.

[0059] According to Fig. The industrial truck 2, in whose transport trough 13 the transported goods 15 are located, is in the transfer position. The pendulum actuator 8 sets the pendulum arms 9 into a clockwise rotation, so that the extension beams 11 move on the arc-shaped extension track around the axis of rotation 10.

[0060] On their way along the circular arc-shaped push-off track, the two dive according to Fig. 2 “lower” extension beams 11 at least partially into the concave recess of the transport trough.

[0061] The extension beam 11 facing the transported goods 15 comes into contact with the transported goods 15 and conveys according to Fig. 3 As the pendulum arms 9 continue to rotate, the transported goods 15 are moved laterally out of the transport trough 13 along the contour of the trough 14 and transferred to the adjacent delivery point 3.1 on the left.

[0062] By rotating the pendulum arm 9 in the opposite direction of rotation, i.e. counterclockwise, goods can be transferred from the forklift truck 2 to the adjacent delivery point 3.2 on the right.

[0063] The in Fig. The second embodiment of an intralogistics system 1 according to the invention, as illustrated in Figure 6, differs from the one shown in the Fig. The first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4 differs essentially in that the two discharge points 3.1, 3.2 are designed as further driverless industrial trucks and not as conveyor chutes. Reference symbol list 1 Intralogistics system 2 industrial trucks 3.1, 3.2 Delivery points 4 Transfer station 5 Building ceiling 6 stationary base 7 storage units 8 Pendulum actuator 9 Pendulum arm 10 Rotation axis 11 extension beams 12 wheel 13 Transport tub 14 concave depressions 15 Transported goods 16 Bathtub edge 17 Opening level G Building floor 18 bathtub walls 19 cylinder axle

Claims

[1] Intralogistics system (1) for transferring a transport item (15) from an automated guided vehicle (2) to a delivery point (3.1, 3.2) comprising an automated guided vehicle (2) with a transport trough (13), a transfer station (4) with a stationary base (6), a pendulum arm (9) and a pendulum actuator (8) and a delivery point (3.1, 3.2), wherein - the transport trough (13) of the industrial truck (2) has a concave recess (14) suitable for receiving the transported goods (15), - the pendulum arm (9) of the transfer station (4) is rotatably or pivotably mounted on the stationary base (6) of the transfer station (4) and is movable by the pendulum actuator (8), - the pendulum arm (9) has an extension beam (11) which is arranged at one end of the pendulum arm (9) away from the base (6) and which moves along a circular arc or curved extension path when the pendulum arm (9) is rotated or pivoted, - for the transfer of the transported goods (15) the industrial truck (2) with the transported goods (15) located in the transport tub (13) can be positioned in a transfer position (4), - when the industrial truck (2) is positioned in the transfer position (4), the pendulum arm (9) can be rotated or pivoted by means of the pendulum actuator (8) in such a way that the extension beam (11) at least partially enters the concave trough (14) when rotating or pivoting and in this way, when rotating or pivoting further, conveys the transported goods (15) located in the transport trough (13) out of the transport trough (13) and transfers them to the delivery point (3.1, 3.2) located adjacent to the industrial truck (2). [2] Intralogistics system (1) according to claim 1, wherein - the transport tray (13) is bounded by two opposing tray edges (16) running parallel to each other, - the concave recess (14) extends below an opening plane (17) of the transport trough (13) spanned by the trough edges (16) and - the extension beam (11) at least partially penetrates the opening plane (17) of the transport tray (13) when rotating or swiveling. [3] Intralogistics system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pendulum arm (9) and the trough (14) are arranged such that the air gap resulting when the pendulum arm (9) is rotated or pivoted between the push-off beam (11) and the transport trough (13) has a width of less than or equal to 10 cm, in particular less than or equal to 5 cm, 3 cm or 1 cm. [4] Intralogistics system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the pendulum arm (9) is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation 10) on the stationary base (6), - the push-off beam (11) moves along a circular arc-shaped push-off path when the pendulum arm (9) rotates, - the recess (14) of the transport trough (13) is designed at least in sections as a cylindrical segment, and - in the transfer position the axis of rotation (10) and a cylinder axis (19) of the cylindrical segment-shaped trough section are arranged parallel to each other and, in particular, vertically below each other. [5] Intralogistics system (1) according to claim 4, wherein the position of the rotation axis (10) is changeable in the vertical direction. [6] Intralogistics system (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein two or more pendulum arms (9) are rotatably mounted on the transfer station (4) and are movable by the pendulum actuator (8). [7] Intralogistics system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one pendulum arm (9) is rotatable or pivotable in different directions by the pendulum actuator (8). [8] Intralogistics system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing point (3.1, 3.2) is configured as - a forklift truck, especially one equipped with a transport tub, - a roller conveyor, - a conveyor belt, or - a conveyor chute. [9] Intralogistics system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the push-off beam (11) has a sealing lip or a brush seal at its end facing away from the base (6), which comes into contact with the transport tray (13) when rotating or pivoting. [10] Transfer station (4) suitable for use in an intralogistics system (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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