Overhead conveyor system with a device for order-oriented provision of individual goods from multiple orders at one packing station

Abstract

Overhead conveyor system (1) with - a device for order-oriented provision of individual goods (2) of several orders (15) at a packing station (14) of the overhead conveyor system (1), - a packing station (14) for packing the individual goods (2) provided in an order-oriented manner by means of the device (13; 13a; 13b), wherein the device (13; 13a; 13b) has a. a conveying device (11, 30) for suspended conveying of the individual goods (2) into transport bags (7), b. an unloading station (12) for unloading the individual goods (2) from the transport bags (7), wherein the individual goods (2) fall downwards out of the transport bags due to gravity, c. a conveyor belt (18; 18a; 18b) with i. a feed opening (19) for feeding the individual goods (2) unloaded at the unloading station (12), ii. a discharge opening (20) connected to the feed opening (19) for the provision of individual goods (2) of a first order (15) at the packing station (14), d. a parking area (27; 27a; 27b) for parking individual goods (2) of a second order (15) at the packing station (14), wherein the parking area (27; 27a; 27b) is arranged in the second conveyor (18b), which is provided with a second feed opening (19) for feeding the individual goods (2) of the second order (15) and with a second discharge opening (20) connected to the second feed opening (19) for providing the individual goods (2) of the second order at the packing station (14), wherein the conveyors (18; 18a; 18b) are each designed as a conveyor chute, spiral chute and / or belt conveyor.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an overhead conveyor system with a device for order-oriented provision of individual goods for several orders at a packing station.

[0002] Individual items from a receiving area and / or a warehouse can be transported separately in a conveyor system using transport bags. The transport bags, loaded with individual items, are conveyed to a packing station, where they are unloaded and collected for packing. Once all individual items for an order are present at the packing station, the order can be packed and dispatched. To ensure that individual items from different orders are not mixed, items for a subsequent order are only unloaded at the packing station once the previous order has been completely processed. During this waiting period, the packing station is blocked. The conveying of individual items in such a system is inflexible. The throughput rate is reduced. In particular, the throughput rate of the overhead conveyor system depends on the processing speed at the packing station, which is primarily manual.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to make the conveying of individual goods in an overhead conveyor system more flexible and efficient.

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention by a suspended conveyor system with the features specified in claim 1.

[0005] According to the invention, it has been recognized that a parking area at a packing station of an overhead conveyor system allows for increased flexibility. Individual items transported to the packing station in the overhead conveyor system can be discharged into a conveyor lane of a device. The device comprises several conveyor lanes. The device can be used for shipping packaging in e-commerce. An e-commerce order typically comprises three to four individual items. The device can also process orders with multiple individual items. An order consisting of a large number of individual items, in particular more than 10 individual items, in particular more than 100 individual items, in particular more than 1,000 individual items, and in particular more than 10,000 individual items, can be divided across several conveyor lanes in the device to efficiently supply the individual items to the packing station.Individual items are fed into the conveyor system via a feed opening and conveyed to a discharge opening connected to the conveyor. The individual items are made available at the discharge opening according to the order. The parking area allows for the temporary buffering of individual items from a subsequent order while the individual items from a previous order are still being processed at the packing station. Conveyor systems include, in particular, a conveyor shaft, a chute, a spiral chute, and / or a belt conveyor. The feed opening of a conveyor shaft, especially a closed one, is defined as the end of the shaft where the individual items enter. Similarly, the discharge opening is the opening of the closed shaft from which the individual items can be removed. In the case of a conveyor chute, spiral chute, or belt conveyor, the feed opening and discharge opening are defined as the points of entry and exit, respectively.The term "feed" refers to the discharge of individual goods onto their respective conveyor belts. The feed opening is, for example, the upstream end of the belt, and the discharge opening is the downstream end. The method of conveying from the feed opening to the discharge opening is irrelevant. Conveying can be automatic, particularly gravity-driven. Conveying can also be achieved using a powered conveying device. The conveyor belt defines a conveying direction, oriented from the feed opening to the discharge opening.

[0006] The device includes a conveying system for transporting individual goods, particularly in individual transport bags, suspended from the conveyor. At an unloading station, the individual goods can be unloaded from the transport bags, particularly automatically. At the unloading station, the transport bags are opened automatically, allowing the individual goods to fall out due to gravity. The individual goods can then automatically enter the conveyor track through the feed opening. At the packing station, the individual goods are packed according to order specifications and subsequently transported away. It is particularly possible for the transport bags to be unloaded at the unloading station while being transported along a specific direction. For this purpose, an unloading corridor can be defined within the unloading station, within which the automatic unloading of the transport bags takes place.The length of the unloading corridor depends in particular on the transport speed of the transport bags and / or the size of the feed openings.

[0007] It is particularly advantageous if the individual items of an order are pre-sorted, especially in an order-oriented manner, before being fed into the device, i.e., pre-sorted before being delivered to the conveyor. It is particularly advantageous to reduce the time between the first individual item of an order arriving at the packing station and the last individual item of that order arriving at the packing station. This reduces the time during which the conveyor is filled with the individual items of the order and thus blocked for subsequent orders. The overall utilization of the device is increased. According to the invention, the device is also suitable for enabling so-called target-location sorting by sorting the unsorted individual items delivered to the device and assigning them to the various delivery openings depending on the order. The device allows for the intermediate buffering of individual items at the packing station.The device also makes it possible, in particular, to sort individual goods according to orders.

[0008] The device comprises at least two conveyor lanes. A device in which the parking area is located in a second conveyor lane, equipped with a second infeed opening for feeding the individual items of the second order and a second discharge opening connected to the second infeed opening for making the individual items of the second order available at the packing station, simplifies the separate handling of individual items from different orders. The number of conveyor lanes and their allocation to the packing stations can be variable. The individual items of a first order are discharged onto a first conveyor lane, and the individual items of a second order onto a second conveyor lane. The first and second conveyor lanes are physically separated from each other and are designed, in particular, as separate conveyor chutes, chutes, spiral chutes, and / or belt conveyors.This allows individual items from the second order to be transferred to the second conveyor while the individual items from the first order are still being transferred to the first conveyor and / or processed at the packing area. In particular, it is not necessary for the individual items to be conveyed to the device already sorted according to the order. A so-called destination sorting process can take place at the device, which represents a target location.

[0009] A signaling element according to claim 3 signals to an operator, particularly at the packing station, the dispensing opening where the individual items of a complete order are located. The operator can then process this order next. In particular, it is conceivable to use a control unit, which is in signal communication with the signaling element, particularly bidirectionally, to indicate to the operator which order is to be processed, i.e., packed, first. The signaling element enables an optical, acoustic, and / or other type of signal to facilitate technologies such as pick-by-light, pick-by-voice, and / or pick-by-vision at the packing station.

[0010] In addition to or as an alternative to the signaling element, a retention element can be provided to prevent the operator from unauthorized removal of individual items from an order at the dispensing opening. This retention element is, for example, a mechanical separating device, which may be designed in the form of a flap that cannot be opened manually, a basket, or a spacer for the operator. The retention element prevents the processing of orders that should not yet be processed or cannot be processed because, for example, they are incomplete, have a low priority, and / or are scheduled for delayed delivery. Such a design is particularly necessary when handling individual items that require a high degree of process reliability, such as in the pharmaceutical industry.

[0011] A device according to claim 4 enables a compact design of the conveyor and parking area. The parking area can be integrated into the conveyor by means of a separating element. The separating element is, in particular, a mechanical separating element, especially in the form of a pivoting flap or a slide gate. By means of the separating element, the connection between the feed opening and the discharge opening along the conveying direction can be interrupted, at least temporarily. This makes it possible to discharge individual items of a subsequent order into the conveyor while the individual items of the previous order are still being processed at the discharge opening. Because the individual items of the subsequent order are prevented from being conveyed to the discharge opening by the separating element, mixing of the individual items of different orders is reliably prevented.

[0012] The separating element can also be designed as a switch flap. In such a design, the conveyor has, in particular, one infeed opening and two discharge openings, with the individual items of the first order being collected at the first discharge opening and the individual items of the second order being collected at the second discharge opening. Such a conveyor is particularly straightforward if the individual items are already sorted by order before being fed onto the conveyor. In this case, all the individual items of the first order are first fed into the first discharge opening, then the switch blade is activated, and subsequently the individual items are fed into the second discharge opening.It is also conceivable that the switch tongue is in bidirectional signal communication via a control unit in order to change the switching position of the switch tongue depending on the individual goods supplied to the feed opening, so that the individual goods are sorted according to the first and second order in the conveyor track.

[0013] Multiple conveyor lanes according to claim 5 enable particularly high flexibility in handling and sorting individual goods, as well as a high throughput rate in goods transport. The conveyor lanes serve as a buffer to compensate for fluctuations in the number of orders provided and packed. This buffer function is particularly advantageous when the number of occupied and free conveyor lanes is monitored and made available to the plant operator. Based on this information, the plant operator can add or remove operators.

[0014] A compact arrangement of the inlet and outlet openings allows for space-saving unloading of individual goods from the transport bags and packing of individual goods into orders.

[0015] A stop element according to claim 6 ensures the defined positioning of individual goods at the dispensing opening. The stop element can be a pivoting flap or a slide at the dispensing opening that opens when the individual goods are to be picked. The opening of the stop element can also be automated. The stop element can also be a retaining strip that, particularly at the end of an inclined chute or shaft, prevents the uncontrolled further transport of individual goods.

[0016] The stop element can be used in addition to or as an alternative to the restraint element.

[0017] Inclined designs of the feed opening and / or the discharge opening according to one of claims 7 and 8 simplify the automated feeding and removal of individual goods into and from the conveyor.

[0018] An embodiment of the conveyor according to claim 9 enables particularly simple conveying of individual goods along the conveyor. In particular, automatic, gravity-driven conveying is possible.

[0019] A sensor according to claim 10 enables flexible operation of the device. In particular, the sensor can detect the release of an individual item from a transport bag of the overhead conveyor system into the conveyor track of the device. Further sensors can be arranged along the overhead conveyor system and the device to detect the respective position of the transport bag. The combination of the known identity and position of the transport bag, as well as confirmation of the release of an individual item by the sensor, is sufficient to determine the completeness of an order in a conveyor track.

[0020] The sensor can also be used to signal to the control unit whether the assigned conveyor is empty or already occupied with individual items from an order. Additional sensors can be positioned along the conveyor for this purpose, particularly near the discharge opening. This prevents operators at the packing station from removing incomplete items from an order. For example, if the operator releases the conveyor after removing the individual items and the sensor at the discharge opening still detects individual items, a corresponding error signal can be generated. The sensor can be designed to be particularly simple, as the unambiguous identification of each individual item is not required. It is sufficient for the sensor to detect that at least one item is present at the discharge opening. The sensor is designed to communicate bidirectionally with the control unit.It is possible to monitor and influence the flow of individual goods in the overhead conveyor system and in the device, i.e., to selectively deliver individual goods to a specific conveyor track.

[0021] A method comprising the following steps: conveying individual goods by means of a device to an unloading station, unloading the individual goods at the unloading station, feeding the unloaded individual goods via a feed opening into a conveyor, conveying the individual goods along the conveyor, providing individual goods of a first order at a delivery opening at the packing station, packing the individual goods of the first order at the packing station, transporting the packed first order from the packing station, parking individual goods of a second order in a parking area, and providing the individual goods of the second order at the packing station after the first packed order has been transported away, essentially exhibits the advantages of the device itself, to which reference is hereby made.By allowing individual items from a subsequent order to be parked (i.e., temporarily stored) in a parking area while the items from the previous order are being packed, flexibility in the handling of individual items is increased, and the risk of items from different orders being mixed up at the packing station is prevented. In particular, it is possible to pack higher-priority orders first, even if they arrived at the packing station after other orders. Order prioritization is independent of the sequence of individual items or transport bags. This design is especially advantageous in large packing areas with numerous conveyors.

[0022] A method in which individual items are fed into the feed opening in a job-oriented manner allows for a simplified design of the device. Because the individual items are fed in a job-oriented manner, sorting within the device is unnecessary.

[0023] A sorting unit enables order-oriented pre-sorting and simplifies the order-oriented feeding of individual goods to the device.

[0024] Targeted delivery of individual items to different conveyor tracks enables so-called destination sorting. The functional density of the device is increased. The process exhibits greater flexibility.

[0025] Both the features specified in the claims and the features specified in the following exemplary embodiments of a device according to the invention are each suitable, individually or in combination with one another, for further developing the subject matter of the invention. The respective combinations of features do not represent any limitations with regard to the further development of the subject matter of the invention, but are essentially merely exemplary.

[0026] Further features, advantages, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic view of an overhead conveyor system, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a device according to a first embodiment for an overhead conveyor system, Fig. 3 one Fig. 2. Corresponding representation of the device in a modified working arrangement, Fig. 4 a representation of a device according to a second embodiment, Fig. 5 a view of a section of an overhead conveyor system with a device according to a third embodiment.

[0027] One in Fig. 1. The entire system, designated as 1, serves for conveying and / or transporting individual goods 2. System 1 includes a warehouse 3 in which the individual goods 2 are stored. The warehouse 3 can be configured as a manual or automated storage system. System 1 also has a receiving area 4, through which individual goods 2 are supplied to system 1, particularly from external sources. Returned goods can also be supplied to the receiving area 4.

[0028] Goods receiving area 4 is connected to warehouse 3 by means of a conveyor system 5. The conveyor system 5 is, for example, a conveyor belt or a manual feed system for the individual goods 2, which may also be in containers in goods receiving area 4, to warehouse 3.

[0029] The system 1 further includes a loading station 6, at which the individual goods are loaded into a carrying device 7, which is designed as a transport bag. The loading station 6 is connected independently to both the receiving area 4 and the warehouse 3 by a conveyor system 5. The conveyor system 5 transports the individual goods 2 from the warehouse 3 and / or the receiving area 4 to the loading station.

[0030] It is also possible to configure system 1 without conveyor technology between the loading station 6 and goods receiving 4 or warehouse 3. In this case, the individual goods 2 are conveyed manually from goods receiving 4 and / or warehouse 3 to the loading station 6, in particular using spring-loaded trolleys or pallet jacks.

[0031] The carrying devices 7 can each be transported individually in a rail system guided by a roller adapter. The carrying devices 7 are conveyed suspended. The system 1 is an overhead conveyor system. It is advantageous if the carrying devices 7 can each be uniquely identified by means of an identification device. For this purpose, each roller adapter can have an integrated RFID chip on which identification data is stored. The identification data can be captured by suitable reading devices, which are arranged in particular along the transport path of the overhead conveyor system 1, in order to track and control the conveying path of the carrying devices 7 along the overhead conveyor system 1.

[0032] For suspended conveying in the overhead conveyor system 1, the support devices 7 are each positively connected to a roller adapter. In particular, each support device 7 has a hook that can be engaged in a corresponding recess of the roller adapter. A clothes hanger with a garment hanging from it can also be attached to the recess of the roller adapter. In particular, each support device 7 serves for conveying exactly one individual item 2.

[0033] Details of the roller adapter, its conveyance along a rail system and the suspended conveyance of a carrying device in the form of a transport bag are described in EP 1 690 811 B1, to which explicit reference is hereby made.

[0034] Alternatively, the roller adapter can also be designed in a hook shape and hooked into a recess of the carrying device 7.

[0035] The overhead conveyor system 1 includes a sorting unit 8, which serves to sort the carrying devices 7, i.e., to change the order of the individual goods in the flow of goods. The sorting unit 8 can be configured in various ways. The sorting unit 8 can have several accumulation sections arranged in parallel and / or in series and / or one or more rotating heads. Additionally or alternatively, the sorting unit 8 can be configured as a matrix sorter.

[0036] The sorting unit 8 is used in particular to assemble the individual goods 2 into logical groups. Specifically, the individual goods 2 are grouped into sets of individual goods 2 that form an order 15. The sorting unit 8 can also form sets of individual goods 2 that are part of an order 15.

[0037] The overhead conveyor system 1 includes a central control unit 9, which is in signal communication with the reading devices along the overhead conveyor system 1. The signal connection can be wired or wireless. A wireless, radio-based signal connection is in Fig. 1 is represented by a symbol 10 for radio transmission.

[0038] The overhead conveyor system 1 comprises a rail system 11 by means of which the carrying devices 7 are conveyed from the loading station 6 to the sorting unit 8 and through the sorting unit 8. The rail system 11 also serves to connect the sorting unit 8 to at least one unloading station 12.

[0039] In particular, several unloading stations 12 are provided. At the unloading station 12, the carrying devices 7 are automatically opened and unloaded, specifically by the individual item 2 falling downwards from the open carrying device 7 due to gravity. An opening unit, not shown in detail, serves to automatically open the carrying devices 7 in the unloading station 12.

[0040] The individual goods 2 unloaded at unloading station 12 are transferred to a device designated as a whole by 13 for order-oriented provision of the individual goods 2 for several orders. The device 13 is located adjacent to the unloading station 12 and a packing area with at least one packing station 14. In particular, the device 13 serves to convey and provide the individual goods 2 from the unloading station 12 to the packing station 14.

[0041] At least one of the unloading stations 12 is permanently assigned to the packing area. The packing area has at least one packing station 14. In particular, several packing stations 14 are provided in the packing area. The number of unloading stations 12 per packing station 14 is at least one. Several unloading stations 12 can also be assigned to one packing station 14.

[0042] In particular, a version without a fixed unloading station assignment is also conceivable, allowing for a flexible number of operators per packing area. Adaptability to the individually varying throughput of individual operators is increased. Adaptability to the order profile, especially to characteristics that change the duration of the packing process, such as order size and value-added services, is improved.

[0043] The carrying devices 7 emptied in the unloading station 12 are returned via a return section 35 of the overhead conveyor system 1, closed by means of a closing unit not shown, thus returning to their original state, and made available again, for example, at the loading station 6 as empty bags for loading with individual goods 2.

[0044] At packing station 14, the individual items 2 of an order 15 are grouped and packed. Packing station 14 is connected to a goods issue point 16 via a conveyor system. The orders 15, containing the individual items 2, can leave system 1 via goods issue point 16. The orders 15 processed in system 1 can contain different items and varying quantities of items. It is also possible for an order 15 to contain only a single item 2. Orders 15 from goods issue point 16 can be transported away using external transport vehicles 17, such as trucks.

[0045] The following will be based on the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 a device 13 according to a first embodiment is explained in more detail.

[0046] The device 13 comprises four conveyor tracks 18. The conveyor tracks 18 are each designed as 90° bends in the form of a conveying shaft and are essentially identical. Each conveyor track 18 has a feed opening 19 arranged at the top and a [missing information - likely a specific opening or feature] in [missing information - likely a specific location]. Fig. The two discharge openings 20 shown on the left are open. At the respective feed opening, individual goods 2 can be unloaded from the carrying device 7 and discharged into the device 13. The respective discharge openings 20 of the conveyor tracks 18 are each connected to the corresponding feed opening 19 by means of a conveying system. The individual goods 2 that are fed to the device 13 at the feed opening 19 are conveyed towards the discharge opening 20. According to the illustrated embodiment, the conveyance of the individual goods 2 along the device 13 occurs automatically, i.e., by gravity. A conveying direction 21 is defined along the conveyor track 18 from the feed opening 19 to the discharge opening 20.

[0047] Along the conveying direction 21, an actuable separating element 22 is arranged between the feed opening 19 and the discharge opening 20. For illustrative purposes, only the separating element 22 for the conveying path 18, which is located in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is shown in the lower right. The other conveyor tracks 18 of the device 13 have corresponding separating elements 22. According to the illustrated embodiment, the separating element 22 is a pivoting flap which is in Fig. 2 is arranged in the open position. The separating element 22 is pivotally mounted on the conveyor track 18 about a separating element pivot axis 23. The separating element 22 can be moved between the open position in Fig. 2 and the closed position in Fig. 3 will be swung.

[0048] The conveyor tracks 18 are according to Fig. 2 are arranged in a matrix-like 2x2 grid. Similarly, the feed openings 19 and the discharge openings 20 are each arranged in a 2x2 grid, i.e., in two rows and two columns. If multiple conveyor tracks 18 are provided, any arrangement of the conveyor tracks 18 is conceivable, for example, in a single row or in any nxm grid. According to the illustrated embodiment, the feed openings 19 are oriented horizontally, i.e., in a horizontal plane. It is also conceivable that the feed openings 19 can be arranged with a feed inclination angle relative to the horizontal plane, wherein the feed inclination angle is, in particular, at most 45°, in particular at most 30°, in particular at most 15°, and in particular at most 5°.

[0049] According to the illustrated embodiment, the dispensing openings 20 are oriented vertically, i.e., in a vertical plane. The dispensing openings can also be arranged with a dispensing tilt angle relative to the vertical plane, wherein the dispensing tilt angle is at most 45°, in particular at most 30°, in particular at most 15°, in particular at most 5°.

[0050] Each of the discharge openings 20 is equipped with a stop element 24 in the form of a retaining strip. The stop element 24 prevents the individual goods 22 conveyed along the conveyor track 18 from unintentionally exiting the conveyor track 18. The stop elements 24 ensure that the individual goods 2 are positioned precisely at the discharge opening 20. Instead of the retaining strips 24, a hinged flap or a sliding flap can be additionally or alternatively arranged at the discharge opening 20 to close it.

[0051] It is also conceivable to provide a closing element at each of the feed openings 19 to prevent items, especially individual goods 2, from unintentionally entering the respective conveyor track 18. This eliminates the risk of incorrect order picking. In purely schematic terms, Fig. Figure 2 shows a sensor 25, which serves to detect the individual goods 2 delivered to the conveyor 18. In particular, each conveyor 18 is assigned a sensor 25. The sensor 25 is in signal communication with the central control unit 9. The sensor 25 can provide a control signal when all individual goods 2 of an order have been delivered to the conveyor 18.

[0052] In the closed position of the separating element 22, the conveyance of individual goods 2 to the discharge opening 20 is prevented. The separating element 22 divides the conveyor track 18 into a discharge area 26 facing the discharge opening 20 and a parking area 27 located between the feed opening 19 and the separating element 22. In the discharge area 26, the individual goods 2 are made available for dispensing. In the parking area 27, individual goods 2, in particular those from a subsequent order 15, are parked. The separating element 22 prevents the individual goods 2 from different orders 15 from being mixed together in the device 13.

[0053] According to the illustrated embodiment, the parking area 27 is integrated into the conveyor track.

[0054] In the area of ​​the dispensing opening 20, a signal element in the form of an indicator element 28 is provided on the stop element 24, according to the illustrated embodiment. The indicator element 28 serves to show that the individual items 2 of a complete order 15 are ready at the dispensing opening 20. The indicator element 28 can additionally or alternatively be designed as an acoustic indicator, for example, in the form of a signal tone. It is also conceivable to use a display unit in the form of a screen that shows which of the dispensing openings 20 is to be used next.

[0055] The following will be based on the Fig. 2, Fig. 3. The operation of the device 13 is explained in more detail. The carrying devices 7 with individual goods 2 are conveyed along the overhead conveyor system 1 to the unloading station 12 and opened there automatically. Due to gravity, the individual goods 2 fall downwards out of the carrying device 7 and are discharged into the feed opening 19 of a conveyor track 18. Due to gravity, the individual goods 2 are conveyed in the conveyor track 18 along the conveying direction 21 to the discharge opening 20 and stopped at the stop element 24. The discharge of the individual goods 2 into the conveyor track 18 is monitored by means of the sensor 25. As soon as all individual goods 2 of order 15 have been discharged into the conveyor track 18, a control signal is transmitted from the control unit 9 to the separating element 22, so that the separating element 22 moves away from the Fig. 2 shown open position into the in Fig. The closed position shown in Figure 3 is swivelling. The individual items 2 of the first order 15 are arranged in the delivery area 26 and are ready for removal at packing station 14.

[0056] Additional individual items 2 of a second order 15 can already be transferred to conveyor 18, even if the individual items 2 of the first order 15 have not yet been removed from the discharge opening 20, or not completely removed. The individual items 2 of the second order 15 are parked, i.e., temporarily stored, in parking area 27. When the individual items 2 of the first order 15 have been removed and packed at packing station 14, the control unit 9 sends a release signal to the separating element 22, which then moves the items into the Fig. The open position shown in diagram 2 swings back so that the individual items 2 of the second order 15 are conveyed to the delivery opening 20. For differentiation, the individual items 2 of the first order 15 are symbolized as circles and the individual items 2 of the second order 15 as triangles.

[0057] The device 13 enables order-oriented provision of the individual goods 2. According to the illustrated embodiment, the individual goods 2 are unloaded at the unloading station 12 in an order-oriented manner and fed to the device 13. This means that first all individual goods 2 of the first order 15 are delivered to the device 13 before the next individual goods 2 of the subsequent order 15 are delivered.

[0058] In another embodiment, not shown, the conveyor track 18 can also be designed as a spiral slide.

[0059] The following refers to Fig. Section 4 describes a second embodiment of a device. Parts that are structurally identical receive the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, to which reference is hereby made. Parts that are structurally different but functionally similar receive the same reference numerals with a trailing "a".

[0060] In device 13a, the conveyor track 18a is essentially Y-shaped with a feed opening 19 and two discharge openings 20. The conveyor track 18a has a diverting section 29. The separating element 22a is arranged in the diverting section 29. The separating element 22a is designed as a diverting tongue, which is pivotably arranged between two end positions about the pivot axis 23a. In the Fig. In the arrangement of the separating element 22a shown in Figure 4, the individual goods 2 are conveyed into the left branch of the conveyor track 18a to the discharge opening 20 shown on the left. In the correspondingly different arrangement of the separating element 22a, which is shown in Figure 4, the individual goods 2 are conveyed into the left branch of the conveyor track 18a to the discharge opening 20 shown on the left. Fig. As indicated by the dashed line 4, the individual goods 2 are conveyed into the right branch of the conveyor track 18a to the discharge opening 20 shown on the right. In the Fig. In the arrangement shown in Figure 4, the right branch of the conveyor 18a, which is separated from the feed opening 19 by the separating element 22a, represents the parking area 27a. The branch of the conveyor 18a released by the separating element 22a forms the discharge area 26a.

[0061] The device 13a according to Fig. 4 can be arranged such that the conveying direction 21 is essentially vertically oriented, i.e. both the feed opening 19 and the discharge openings 20 are each arranged in a horizontal plane.

[0062] Alternatively, the conveying direction 21a can also be horizontally oriented. Accordingly, the feed opening 19 and the discharge openings 20 are oriented in a vertical plane. In this case, the conveying path can, for example, be a driven belt on which the individual goods 2 are placed and conveyed by the belt.

[0063] The following refers to Fig. 5 A third embodiment of the invention is described. Structurally identical parts are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, to which reference is hereby made. Structurally different, but functionally similar, parts are given the same reference numerals with a trailing "b".

[0064] The essential difference compared to the first embodiment is that each device 13b comprises two conveyor tracks 18b, with the individual goods 2 from different orders 15 being discharged into the first conveyor track and the second conveyor track 18b, respectively. Thus, the one conveyor track 18b where the individual goods 2 are discharged forms the discharge area 28b, and the other conveyor track 18b where the individual goods 2 are temporarily buffered, i.e., parked, for later discharge, forms the parking area 27b. A separating element is unnecessary in this embodiment. An overhead conveyor system is provided at the unloading station 12, comprising a rail system 11 along which transport bags 7 are suspended from roller adapters 30. The unloading station 12 is arranged such that the transport bags 7 are guided above the feed openings 19 of the conveyor tracks 18b.The automatic opening of the transport bags 7 allows the individual goods 2 to fall into the designated feed openings 19. The unloading of the individual goods 2 from the transport bags 7 occurs primarily during transport of the transport bags 7. Specifically, it is not intended that the transport bags 7 be stopped for the purpose of unloading the individual goods 2. The device 13b is also referred to as a packing wall.

[0065] The packing wall is typically operated by several operators 32, each operator 32 having a fixed work area 34. The work area 34 for each operator 32 is defined, in particular, by a fixed allocation of dispensing openings 20. A typical work area 34 might, for example, comprise six dispensing openings 20, which are located in Fig. 5 are shown in grey.

[0066] It is also conceivable that the respective work area is defined flexibly. A flexible definition of the respective work area is particularly possible depending on the individual packing performance of the operator 32 and / or other distinguishing criteria, especially those specific to individual items. Such criteria include, for example, the value of the goods, the parcel service provider, the order size, and / or the shipping container.

[0067] The respective conveyor tracks 18b form so-called destination stations. By selectively placing the individual goods 2 into the conveyor tracks 18b, a so-called destination sorting can be carried out. In particular, it is not necessary that the individual goods 2 be transported to the devices 13b in an order-oriented manner. The individual goods 2 can, in particular, be transported to the unloading station 12 completely unsorted.

[0068] The device 13b has a plurality of conveyor tracks 18b, which are arranged in two rows such that two dispensing openings 20 are arranged one above the other. In the area of ​​the dispensing openings 20, a packing table 31 is provided at the packing station, which makes it easier for operators 32 to pack the individual goods 2 taken from the dispensing opening 20 into a shipping container 33 in the form of a shipping carton.

[0069] The unloaded, emptied transport bags 7 are returned via the return conveyor 35. The fully packed shipping container 33 can be transported to the goods issue point 16 using a transport infrastructure 36. Instead of the transport infrastructure 36, which is designed as an automatic conveyor belt, manual transport to the goods issue point 16 can also be provided.

[0070] At Packwall 13b, the individual goods 2 are collected in the conveyor lanes 18b, which serve as destination points. The destination point is stationary. To ensure reliable feeding of the individual goods 2 from the transport bags 7 into the conveyor lanes 18, chutes and / or spiral conveyors can be used.

[0071] As soon as all individual items 2 of an order 15 are present in conveyor lane 18b, or as soon as a partial order is present in the case of split orders, this is signaled to the operator 32 by means of the display element 28. An order can be split based on the total volume of the order, i.e., the number of individual items, and / or on other criteria such as the fragility of an individual item. Distributing the individual items of an order 15 across several conveyor lanes 18b, i.e., destination points, is advantageous to prevent damage to the individual items. In particular, the back pressure within a conveyor lane is reduced. The operator 32 can remove the individual items 2 of the order 15 via the discharge opening 20 and pack them at the packing table 31, thus converting them into the packed order 15. The conveyor lanes 18b according to the packing wall can also be additionally equipped with a separating element as described for the first embodiment.

[0072] At packing station 14, additional non-pocketable individual items 37 can be provided by means of an additional infrastructure 38. This expands the functionality of the overhead conveyor system 1, as the orders 15 can also include non-pocketable individual items 37.

[0073] The main advantages of the device according to the invention are that the complexity of the overhead conveyor technology of the overhead conveyor system 1 is reduced. The space requirement at the packing station 14 is reduced. The provision of non-pocketable individual items 37 is simplified due to the reduced space requirement. In particular, it is conceivable that the non-pocketable individual items 37 are provided in a separate packing wall designed specifically for this purpose. The sequence of the two material flows of pocketable and non-pocketable individual items does not need to be coordinated. The provision of the goods at the packing station 14 can be flexible and independent.

[0074] This results in a flexible design of the number of operators 32. This results in a flexible design of the work areas 34 at the packing wall 13b.

[0075] The height requirement at packing station 14 is reduced. Because the overhead conveyor technology in the area of ​​packing station 14 can be designed very compactly, its connection to other transport infrastructures, in particular the transport infrastructure 36 for removing finished packed orders 15 and the additional infrastructure 38 for providing non-baggable individual goods 37, is simplified.

[0076] This results in a flexible design regarding the number of packing places: 14.

[0077] The conveying capacity of the overhead conveyor system can be optimally utilized. The device according to the invention is suitable for unloading more than 250 individual items 2 per hour, in particular more than 500, in particular more than 1000, in particular more than 2000, in particular more than 2500 and in particular more than 3000 carrying devices 7 per hour in the unloading area 12 and for making the individual items 2 available at the dispensing openings 20, which are then packed into orders 15 by the operators 32.

[0078] The packaging material can be made more easily accessible at packing station 14. The device 13b can be combined with other technologies, especially when packing individual items, in particular pick-by-light, pick-by-voice and pick-by-vision. 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] EP 1 690 811 B1

[0033]

Claims

[1] Overhead conveyor system (1) with - a device for order-oriented provision of individual goods (2) of several orders (15) at a packing station (14) of the overhead conveyor system (1), - a packing station (14) for packing the individual goods (2) provided in an order-oriented manner by means of the device (13; 13a; 13b), wherein the device (13; 13a; 13b) has a. a conveying device (11, 30) for suspended conveying of the individual goods (2) into transport bags (7), b. an unloading station (12) for unloading the individual goods (2) from the transport bags (7), wherein the individual goods (2) fall downwards out of the transport bags due to gravity, c. a conveyor belt (18; 18a; 18b) with i. a feed opening (19) for feeding the individual goods (2) unloaded at the unloading station (12), ii. a discharge opening (20) connected to the feed opening (19) for the provision of individual goods (2) of a first order (15) at the packing station (14), d. a parking area (27; 27a; 27b) for parking individual goods (2) of a second order (15) at the packing station (14), wherein the parking area (27; 27a; 27b) is arranged in the second conveyor (18b), which is provided with a second feed opening (19) for feeding the individual goods (2) of the second order (15) and with a second discharge opening (20) connected to the second feed opening (19) for providing the individual goods (2) of the second order at the packing station (14), wherein the conveyors (18; 18a; 18b) are each designed as a conveyor chute, spiral chute and / or belt conveyor. [2] Overhead conveyor system according to claim 1, characterized by that the transport bags (7) can hold exactly one single item (2). [3] Overhead conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a signaling element (28) to signal that the individual goods (2) of a complete order (15) are ready at the delivery opening (20). [4] Overhead conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a separating element (22; 22a) is arranged along the conveyor track (18; 18a; 18b) for separating the individual goods (2) of different orders (15). [5] Overhead conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that several conveyor tracks (18; 18b), each having in particular a feed opening (19) and a discharge opening (20), wherein the feed openings (19) and / or the discharge openings (20) are arranged in a matrix-like manner, in particular in rows and columns. [6] Overhead conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a stop element (24) is arranged at the discharge opening (20) to stop the conveyance of the individual goods (2). [7] Overhead conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the feed opening (19) is arranged with a feed inclination angle relative to a horizontal plane of at most 45°, in particular at most 30°, in particular at most 15°, in particular at most 5° and is in particular horizontally oriented. [8] Overhead conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the dispensing opening (20) is arranged with a dispensing inclination angle relative to a vertical plane of at most 45°, in particular at most 30°, in particular at most 15°, in particular at most 5° and is in particular vertically oriented. [9] Overhead conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the conveyor tracks (18; 18a; 18b) are each inclined at least sectionally to the horizontal. [10] Overhead conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bya sensor (25) for detecting the individual goods (2) delivered to the conveyor (18; 18a; 18b). [11] Overhead conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at the unloading station (12) an overhead conveyor system with a rail system (11) is available, wherein the transport bags (7) can be conveyed suspended on roller adapters (30) along the rail system (11). [12] Overhead conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the unloading station (12) is arranged such that the transport bags (7) are guided along the conveyor tracks (18b) above the feed openings (19). [13] Overhead conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a packing table (31) is available at the packing station (14) in the area of ​​the delivery openings (20).

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