Conveyor system, in particular transport system, with mobile components

Abstract

Conveyor system with mobile components for transporting objects along a conveyor route, where each handset has at least one electrical consumer, wherein each handset consists of a stationary, alternating current-powered, The primary conductor laid along the conveyor line is inductively supplied with electrical power. where secondary windings are 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 conveying system, in particular a transport system, with mobile parts.

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

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

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

[0005] A conveyor system for conveying individual items is known from WO 2017 / 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 objective of further developing a conveying system, in particular a transport system, with mobile units, wherein the mobile units are always to be electrically supplied.

[0009] According to the invention, the problem is solved in the conveying system, in particular the transport system, with mobile parts according to the features specified in claim 1.

[0010] Key features of the invention for the conveying system, in particular transport system, with mobile units, in particular platforms, in particular skilletts, for transporting objects along a conveying path, are that each mobile unit has at least one electrical consumer, wherein each handset is inductively supplied with electrical power from a stationary primary conductor, supplied with alternating current and laid along the conveyor line, wherein secondary windings, in particular rotationally fixed to a chassis of the handset, are attached to the side of the handset facing the primary conductor, in particular to the underside of the handset, and 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 by 90° is aligned parallel to the normal direction of the base surface.

[0011] A key advantage is that the mobile components can be conveyed by the conveyor system in different orientations. This allows the operator or technician easy access to all sides of the object being lifted. However, the lifting mechanism, as an electrical load, uses inductive coupling and a secondary winding wound around a ferrite core, which only allows energy transfer in one orientation and not in the other.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the handset 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 handset in the second orientation is rotated by a non-zero angle, especially by 90°, about an axis of rotation which is aligned parallel to the normal direction of the flat floor surface. An advantage of this 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 each other. This offers the advantage of cost-effective mass production and allows for multiple secondary windings to be incorporated on the underside of the handset without incurring particularly high costs.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, the first secondary winding(s) are / are identical in construction to the second secondary winding(s), and in particular are arranged rotated 90° relative to each other, especially around an axis of rotation parallel to the normal direction of the base surface. The advantage of this is that cost-effective manufacturing is achievable and a large number of secondary windings can be produced 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 matches the frequency of the alternating current impressed into the primary conductor. An advantage of this is that a high efficiency can be achieved 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, wherein the first straight line is oriented perpendicular to the second straight line and / or wherein the first straight line and the second straight line span a plane that is oriented parallel to the ground surface. It is advantageous that, when supplied by the first secondary windings, the first line is oriented parallel to the conveying direction, and when supplied by the second secondary windings, the second line is oriented parallel to the conveying 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. It is advantageous that the first secondary winding is located centrally on the handset, and thus the primary conductor is also aligned centrally with the handset.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the distance from the base surface to the respective first or second secondary winding is the same. It is advantageous that the secondary windings can be arranged on the underside of the handset.

[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 route. wherein the handsets have a plate-shaped base part which is placed on rollers of the roller conveyor, In particular, the conveying system has a lateral guide or limit for the mobile units, so that lateral drift of the mobile units is prevented. An advantage is that the mobile unit is very simple in design and essentially only requires a lifting mechanism mounted on a plate-shaped base.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment, each handset has a lifting mechanism, in particular a height-adjustable table, which includes an electric motor, wherein the electric motor acts as the consumer of the handset. In particular, the vertical height of the object picked up by the lifting mechanism varies depending on the position of the mobile unit along the travel path; that is, the object is picked up at different heights in the mobile unit at different points along the path. It is advantageous that the working height adjusts automatically as the unit travels along the conveyor path, preferably via its orientation.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment, the conveyor system has a rotary table mounted on the floor surface within the conveyor path. As the mobile unit passes over the rotary table, it rotates it by a non-zero angle, in particular 90°, about an axis of rotation that is aligned parallel to the normal direction of the flat floor surface. An advantage of this design is that the orientation of the mobile unit is achieved by the rotary table itself. Therefore, the mobile unit does not require a steering drive or similar mechanism.

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

[0023] Key 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, the handset is supplied from a first or second secondary winding depending on its orientation to the conveyor path of the conveyor system, where the height of the object is caused by the lifting mechanism - depending on the orientation of the handheld unit to the conveyor line, especially automatic, and / or - is controlled depending on the supply provided by the first or second secondary winding.

[0024] A key advantage is that no control unit is required on the handset; the working height for the technician adjusts automatically. As the device passes over the turntable, the orientation changes, and the power supply is then provided from the second secondary winding instead of the first. The working height is adjusted accordingly, providing a first working height before the turntable and a second working height after.

[0025] Further advantages arise from the dependent claims. The invention is not limited to the combination of features of the claims. For those skilled in the art, further meaningful combinations of claims and / or individual claim features and / or features of the description and / or the figures will become apparent, in particular from the problem statement and / or the problem arising from a comparison with the prior art.

[0026] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to schematic illustrations: In the Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a conveying system, in particular a transport system, according to the invention, which has mobile parts 1, in particular platforms, in particular skilletts 1, for transporting objects. In the Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the underside of one of the handsets 1.

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

[0028] As shown in the figures, a lifting mechanism 2 is arranged on the mobile unit 1, with which the object, in particular vehicle body, which is mounted on the mobile unit 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 track of the conveyor system. During operation, the mobile units 1 are conveyed sequentially. For this purpose, a roller conveyor is arranged on the floor, on which the mobile unit 1 rests. Rotatable rollers are mounted on the horizontally oriented floor surface, at least some of which can be set in motion 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 are set in motion, the handheld unit 1 is conveyed along the roller track. Lateral guides prevent the handheld unit 1 from deviating laterally. The handheld unit 1 rests on a base plate on the rollers, which are themselves stationary.

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

[0032] For example, vehicle bodies are guided along a track in an assembly hall using this method. This allows operators in the assembly hall to perform individual assembly steps on the vehicle body. The lifting mechanism 20 allows the object, in particular the vehicle body, to be brought to a predetermined vertical position, thus enabling the optimal working height for each assembly step to be achieved.

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

[0034] Preferably, the operator stands to the side of the mobile components 1 in the conveying direction, thus enabling the necessary assembly steps to be carried out. Preferably, the mobile component 1 is also designed to allow the operator to walk on it. However, performing the assembly steps at the front or rear of the object in the conveying device is only quick and easy because the mobile components 1 can be rotated 90° at each track position. For this purpose, a turntable is provided along the conveying path, which is realized by means of rollers spaced apart on the floor surface such that the mobile component 1 can be rotated 90° as it moves through the turntable, in particular where the axis of rotation is aligned parallel to the normal direction of the floor surface.

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

[0036] The mobile parts 1, rotated by 90°, are then conveyed further along the conveyor track of the conveyor system. This makes it possible to process the sides of the mobile part 1 that were previously difficult to access.

[0037] The electrical load(s) of each handset 9 are supplied via inductive coupling. For this purpose, each handset 1 has secondary windings 1 on its underside. These are inductively coupled, or can be coupled, to a primary conductor laid along the conveyor track along which the handsets 1 are moved, or to the primary conductor laid 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] In this design, 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 matches the frequency of the alternating current. In this way, high efficiency can be achieved even with weak inductive coupling.

[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 unit 1. In particular, the legs of the ferrite core, especially the perpendicular 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 handset 1 with the ferrite core is aligned such that the primary conductor is arranged between the imaginarily extended legs of the E or U.

[0044] The primary conductor, located in the plane of the ground, is therefore positioned between the legs of the C or U that are projected perpendicular to the plane of the ground.

[0045] When handset 1 is rotated by 90°, no voltage is induced in the secondary winding wound around or attached to the ferrite core. Therefore, a further secondary winding with another ferrite core is arranged on the underside of the handset. This second winding is identical in construction to the aforementioned secondary winding with a ferrite core, but rotated by 90° and also located on the underside of handset 1. Thus, in each of the two rotational positions of handset 1 relative to the primary conductor, the handset's device can be inductively powered via at least one of the secondary windings.

[0046] However, in order to transmit higher power levels, not only the two secondary windings mentioned above, 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 handset 1, wherein, on the one hand, the first secondary windings are identical in construction to each other and are aligned parallel to each other, and wherein, on the other hand, the second secondary windings are identical in construction to each other and are aligned parallel to each other, but are each rotated by 90° relative to the first secondary windings. Preferably, the first secondary windings are identical in construction to the second secondary windings, in particular to each other.

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

[0049] Preferably, the first straight line, particularly with respect to the travel path, is arranged centrally to the mobile unit 1. Thus, the perpendicular projection of the first straight line onto the floor surface intersects or contains the perpendicular projection of the center of gravity of the mobile unit 1. The first straight line is therefore aligned parallel to the direction of travel; before reaching the turntable, the mobile units 1 are thus aligned such that the first straight line is aligned with 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 positioned in the middle of handset 1.

[0051] Alternatively, the two straight lines are arranged off-center, at such a distance from a central position 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 of 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 equipped with their own control unit for regulating the traction drive.

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

[0054] In further embodiments according to the invention, the mobile parts 1 are equipped 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 rotatably mounted and thus rotatable by 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 rotary table, the rotation of the mobile unit 1 is then effected by the drive of the mobile unit. Reference symbol list 1 handset, in particular platform 2 hoist 20 Secondary winding 30 Rotary table 31 lateral guide / limit 32 Corner converters QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2022 004 830 A1

[0003] DE 10 2012 024 580 A1

[0004] WO 2017 / 097 391 A1

[0005] EP 2 744 741 B1

[0006] EP 2 697 110 B1

[0007]

Claims

[1] Conveyor system, in particular transport system, with mobile parts, in particular platforms, in particular skilletts, for transporting objects along a conveyor route, where each handset has at least one electrical consumer, wherein each handset is inductively supplied with electrical power from a stationary primary conductor, supplied with alternating current and laid along the conveyor line, wherein secondary windings, in particular rotationally fixed to a chassis of the handset, are attached to the side of the handset facing the primary conductor, in particular to the underside of the handset, and in particular which are inductively coupled to the primary conductor, characterized by , that 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 by 90° is aligned parallel to the normal direction of the base surface. [2] Conveyor system according to claim 1, characterized by , that the handset 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 wherein the handset in the second orientation is rotated by a non-zero angle, in particular by 90°, about an axis of rotation which is aligned parallel to the normal direction of the flat floor surface. [3] Funding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the secondary windings are of identical construction to each other, in particular identical. [4] Funding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the or several first secondary windings are of the same construction, in particular identical, to the or several second secondary windings, but in particular are arranged rotated by 90° to each other, in particular about an axis of rotation which is aligned parallel to the normal direction of the base surface. [5] Funding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that such a capacitance is connected in series or parallel to each secondary winding that the resonant frequency of the resulting resonant circuit equals the frequency of the alternating current impressed into the primary conductor. [6] Funding 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, in particular wherein the first straight line is perpendicular to the second straight line and / or wherein the first straight line and the second straight line span a plane that is parallel to the ground surface. [7] Funding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first straight line intersects the center of gravity of the chassis of the mobile unit or the center of gravity of the mobile unit. [8] Funding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the distance from the ground surface to the respective first or second secondary winding is the same amount. [9] Funding 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 route, wherein the handsets have a plate-shaped base part which is placed on rollers of the roller conveyor, in particular wherein the conveying system has a lateral guide or limit for the mobile parts, in particular so that lateral drift of the mobile parts can be prevented. [10] Support system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that Each handset has a lifting mechanism, in particular a height-adjustable table, which includes an electric motor, the electric motor acting as the consumer of the handset, in particular where the vertical height of the object picked up on the lifting device has different values ​​depending on the position of the mobile unit along the travel route, i.e., where the object is picked up at different heights in the mobile unit at different route positions. [11] Funding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the conveying system in the conveying route has a rotary table placed on the floor surface, which rotates the mobile part by a non-zero angle, in particular 90°, about an axis of rotation which is aligned parallel to the normal direction of the flat floor surface when passing through the rotary table. [12] Funding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that When supplied by the first secondary winding, the lifting mechanism moves the picked-up object to a first vertical position, and when supplied by the second secondary winding, it moves it to a second vertical position. in particular so that the height of the object depends on the orientation of the handset. [13] Method for operating a conveying system, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with mobile parts, wherein each mobile unit has an electrically driven lifting mechanism which transports an object picked up on the lifting mechanism to different height positions, the handset is supplied from a first or second secondary winding depending on its orientation to the conveyor path of the conveyor system, where the height of the object is caused by the lifting mechanism - depending on the orientation of the handheld unit to the conveyor line, especially automatic, and / or - depending on the supply provided by the first or second secondary winding is being targeted.

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