Circuit and pocket

Abstract

Circuit (660) for rotating a rotatable axis (510) of a motor (M) of an actuating mechanism (200) of a pocket (100) of an overhead conveyor system, wherein the circuit (660) - comprises a pair of terminals (340) for receiving a terminal voltage; - is arranged, when a sign of the supply voltage is positive, to rotate the axis (510) of the motor (M) until it reaches a first angular position, and not to rotate the axis (510) when the axis (510) has reached the first angular position; and - is arranged, when the sign of the connection voltage is negative, to rotate the axis (510) until it reaches a second angular position and not to rotate the axis (510) when the axis (510) has reached the second angular position.

Description

The invention relates to a circuit for a motor, in particular a motor which is installed in a transport pocket in a suspended conveyor system. The invention further relates to a bag for a suspended conveyor system having such a circuit.Transport bags and suspended conveyor systems are fundamentally known and typically comprise a suspension element for suspending the transport bag on the suspended conveyor system, a bag body, which can be filled with products via a filling opening and has a front wall and a rear wall, wherein the rear wall and the front wall are each connected to one another at their lower end by at least one closure element. A suspended conveyor system comprises one or more loading and unloading stations. In an unloading station, the closure element is separated or opened by means of an adjusting mechanism and the products fall out of the pocket body. At the latest in a loading station, the adjusting mechanism and the closure element are again connected to one another and the front and rear walls are thus connected to one another, so that the pocket can be refilled.Typical actuator mechanisms use electromagnets to open and close the pockets. A disadvantage here is that a relatively large current is required when the magnets are opened.The application "Bag Opener" (application number EP24154159.8) of Logicdata Electronic & Software Development GmbH discloses a pocket, the state of which can be switched between an unloading state and a loading state by means of an adjusting mechanism and an electric motor. The power consumption of the adjusting mechanism requires less power when opening and closing the pocket than a solution with magnets. Such an adjusting mechanism is usually de-energized and requires little current only for a very short time when opening and closing the pocket.This pocket comprises connections, for example cables, for the connection voltage or for a triggering signal for switching the adjusting mechanism from the loading state to the unloading state. The trigger signal may be, for example, a pulse signal. Each pulse alternately triggers a rotational movement from the unloading state to the loading state or a rotational movement from the loading state to the unloading state.Such a triggering signal has the disadvantage that in the event of a fault, for example a contacting problem in the unloading station or in the loading station, an incorrect state is reached. Since the trigger signal only triggers the transition to the respective other state, this error is only compensated again by a further error. Until then, the bag always switches to the wrong state in the case of a pulse, which has the result that items cannot be loaded or fall out of the bag.An object to be achieved is to provide an improved concept for the circuit for opening and closing a transport bag.This object is achieved with the subject matter of the independent claims. Further developments are characterized in the dependent claims.The improved concept is based in particular on the idea of a circuit which controls the motor of the adjusting mechanism to change the state of the pocket only when a change from the loading state to the unloading state is actually required and vice versa. That is, the motor is not activated when the desired operating state is already present.The circuit has a pair of terminals and two terminals, respectively. These connections offer, on the one hand, the possibility of supplying the circuit and the motor with energy. On the other hand, binary information can be transmitted via the sign or the polarity of the terminal voltage. In particular, it is possible to transmit information about the sign, which indicates which of two possible angular positions the axis of the motor is to assume. By using the sign of the terminal voltage, no additional terminal is required for a signal line transmitting the binary information.Since the angular position of the axis defines the operating state of the pocket, the desired operating state of the pocket can thus be selected via the polarity of the terminal voltage.The circuit controls the motor of the adjusting mechanism only if the current angular position of the axis does not correspond to the target position which is defined by the sign of the current connection voltage of the circuit. The circuit does not drive the motor of the adjusting mechanism to rotate if the current position of the axis corresponds to the target position, which is defined by the sign of the current terminal voltage of the circuit.A started rotational movement of the axis of the motor ends only when the current angular position of the axis corresponds to the target position.In an embodiment of the improved concept, a circuit, in particular configured to rotate a rotatable axis of a motor of an actuating mechanism of a pocket of a suspended conveyor system, comprises a pair of terminals for receiving a terminal voltage. The circuit is configured to, when a sign of the terminal voltage is positive, rotate the axis of the motor until it reaches a first angular position, and not rotate the axis when the axis has reached the first angular position. Further, when the sign of the terminal voltage is negative, the circuit is configured to rotate the axis until it reaches a second angular position, and not to rotate the axis when the axis has reached the second angular position.For example, the circuit comprises for this purpose an arrangement for position detection, which comprises one or more position sensors, each of which is configured to determine a current angular position of the axis of the motor, a motor driver, which is configured to drive the axis of the motor to rotate, and a control logic, which is configured to generate a binary output signal, which can assume a first state and a second state, for example an active state and a passive state. The motor driver is configured to rotate the axis of the motor when the binary output signal assumes the first state and not to rotate the axis of the motor when the binary output signal assumes the second state.For example, the control logic is configured to generate the binary output signal with the first state if the connection voltage is positive and the current angular position of the axis of the motor does not correspond to the first angular position, and / or if the connection voltage is negative and the current angular position of the axis does not correspond to the second angular position. For example, the control logic is further configured to generate the binary output signal with the second state if the connection voltage is positive and the current angular position of the axis corresponds to the first angular position, and / or if the connection voltage is negative and the current angular position of the axis corresponds to the second angular position.In some implementations, the circuit further comprises a rectifier to rectify the terminal voltage, wherein the circuit generates an operating voltage for the motor, about 24V, and an operating voltage for the circuit, about 5V, from the rectified terminal voltage.A bag according to the improved concept for a suspended conveyor system comprises a circuit according to one of the described embodiments, a pair of terminals connected to the pair of terminals of the circuit and configured to receive the terminal voltage, and an actuating mechanism having a motor for driving a rotatable axle. The pocket is configured to assume a first operating state, for example a loading state, and a second operating state, for example an unloading state. The motor is configured to change the operating states of the pocket by a rotation of the axis. The first angular position of the axis corresponds to the first operating state, and the second angular position of the axis corresponds to the second operating state.For example, if a sign of the terminal voltage is positive, the circuit is configured to rotate the axis of the motor until it reaches the first angular position and until the first operating state of the pocket is established, and not to rotate the axis when the axis has reached the first angular position and when the first operating state is established. Similarly, when the sign of the terminal voltage is negative, the circuit is configured to rotate the axis until it reaches the second angular position and until the second operating state of the pocket is established, and not to rotate the axis when the axis has reached the second angular position and when the second operating state is established.The essence of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. The following are shown: FIG. 1 ashows an embodiment of a conveying pocket in the loading state; FIG. 1 bshows an embodiment of a conveying pocket in the unloading state; FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment, shown in simplified form, for a circuit block for voltage supply and request detection; FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment, shown in simplified form, of a circuit block for position detection; FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a circuit block for the control logic, which is illustrated in a simplified manner; FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment, shown in simplified form, of a circuit block for the motor driver; FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the adjusting mechanism; FIG. 7a is a view of an embodiment of the adjusting mechanism in the unloading state; FIG. 7 b shows a view of an exemplary embodiment of the adjusting mechanism in the loading state; FIG. 8 shows a view of an exemplary embodiment of the closure element; and FIG. 9 shows a detailed view of an exemplary embodiment of the closure element of a pocket in the loading state.FIGS. 1 aand 1 b show a pocket 100, for example a transport pocket in a suspended conveying system, with, for example, a horizontally installed adjusting mechanism 200 in the loading state (FIG. 1 a ) and in the unloading state (FIG. 1 b ).The pocket 100 comprises a front wall 150, a rear wall 140, two side parts 130, an adjusting mechanism 200 which is, for example, part of the rear wall 140, and a closure element 110 which is, for example, part of the front wall 150. The side walls 130 secure objects such as goods in the pocket 100 against falling out laterally.In the loading state in FIG. 1 a, the adjusting mechanism 200 and the closure element 110 are connected to one another via one or more, for example two, latches 210 of the adjusting mechanism 200 and the pocket 100 is therefore connected at its base. Objects or goods can be transported in the pocket 100 without the objects or goods being able to fall laterally or perpendicularly out of the pocket 100.In the unloading state in FIG. 1 b, the adjusting mechanism 200 and the closure element 110 are separated from one another. Objects or goods can fall vertically downwards out of the pocket 100 due to their own weight or the force of gravity.A suspended conveyor system transports a plurality of individual pockets 100, suspended on the respective suspension element 160, between loading stations to unloading stations. In an unloading station, the closure element 110 is separated from the closure element 110 by means of the actuating mechanism 200, and the objects or goods can fall out of the pocket body. The pocket 100 is in the unloading state. At the latest in a loading station, the adjusting mechanism 200 and the closure element 110 are connected again, or the front wall 150 and the rear wall 140 are connected, so that the pocket 100 can be filled anew. The pocket 100 is then in the loading state.Front wall 150, rear wall 140 and side walls 130 are sewn from, for example, fabric. Closure element 110 and adjusting mechanism 200 are sewn into the fabric in the present case. For example, the closure element 110 is sewn into the front wall 150 and the adjusting mechanism 200 is sewn into the rear wall 140.The pocket contains, for example, a circuit for rotating a rotatable axis of a motor of the adjusting mechanism 200 in order to bring about the change between the loading state and the unloading state. In one embodiment, the circuit is part of the adjusting mechanism 200, for example. The pocket comprises, for example, connections, for example cables, for the connection voltage or for a trigger signal for switching the actuating mechanism from the loading state to the unloading state. The terminals of the pocket are connected to a terminal pair of the circuit, wherein the circuit evaluates a sign of the terminal voltage in order to initiate and also end a switching depending on the sign.In one embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, such a circuit comprises approximately the following circuit blocks:a position detection arrangement 345 comprising one or more position sensors 350, 360 each configured to determine a current angular position of the rotatable axis 510 of the motor,a motor driver 500 which drives the axis 510 of the motor M to rotate, anda control logic 400 which generates a binary output signal which can assume a first state and a second state, such as an active state and a passive state.Optionally, the circuit also comprises an arrangement for detecting requests 310, 310', 310'' which determines a request for rotation of the axis 510 of the motor from the polarity or the sign of the connection voltage.In a further embodiment, a rectifier circuit can be included, by means of which the circuit generates the operating voltage for a motor, for example 24V, and the operating voltage for an electronic circuit, for example 5V, from the signed connection voltage.The circuit blocks described below are for schematic illustration, and the actual realization may deviate therefrom.FIG. 2 shows a circuit block for the voltage supply 300 and the request detection 310, 310', 310", which is illustrated in a simplified manner.This circuit block generates the operating voltage for the motor, for example 24V, and the operating voltage for the control logic, for example 5V.The circuit block 300 generates the operating voltages for the motor and the control logic from the connection voltage between a connection pair 340 with the two connections 342, 344, for example by means of a rectifier 320 and a downstream voltage regulator 330.The pair of terminals 340 can be realized, for example, in the form of a connecting terminal.For example, the terminal voltage between the upper terminal 342 and the lower terminal 344 of the two terminals 340 is approximately 24 V, i.e., is positive. Rectifier 320 generates GND and 24V therefrom. When the terminal voltage between the upper terminal 342 and the lower terminal 344 is about -24V, i.e., negative, the rectifier 320 also generates GND and 24V operating voltage.GND results from the paths of rectifier 320.In addition, the circuit block in FIG. 2 comprises the request recognition 310, 310', 310'', which generates the request signals Opn and Cls depending on the polarity of the terminal voltage between the terminal pair 340. The request signals are each binary and have, for example, an active state (1) and a passive state (0).For example, the request signal Opn is in the active state when a positive terminal voltage of 24V is applied between the upper terminal 342 and the lower terminal 344 of the two terminals 340. The request signal Cls is in the passive state in this case. The resulting combination of the request signal Opn in the active state and the request signal Cls in the passive state is a request to open the bag. For example, an unloading station makes such a request.For example, the request signal Cls is in the active state when a negative terminal voltage of -24V is applied between the upper terminal 342 and the lower terminal 344 of the two terminals 340. The request signal Opn is in the passive state in this case. The resulting combination of the passive state request signal Opn and the active state request signal Cls is a request to close the bag. For example, a loading station makes such a request.FIG. 3 shows a circuit block for position detection 345, which is shown in simplified form. The position detection 345 includes an unloading state position sensor 350 and a loading state position sensor 360.In one embodiment, the position detection 345 is realized with the aid of simple switches 370', 370" and resistors 380', 380", wherein the switches 370', 370" are actuated by the adjusting mechanism at the respectively relevant angular position of the axis of the motor M. The switch 370' is closed, for example, by the actuating mechanism when the unloading state of the pocket is reached. Then the end position signal IsOp is at GND because the switch 370' closes. The switch 370" is closed, for example, by the actuating mechanism when the loading state of the pocket is reached. Then the end position signal IsClsd is at GND because the switch 370" closes.The fact that the two end position signals IsOp and IsClsd are inverted is completely arbitrary. They could just as well be non-inverted.FIG. 4 shows a circuit block for the control logic 400, which is shown in a simplified manner.The control logic 400 generates an output signal, for example a motor control signal MtrEn, from the request signal Opn, the request signal Cls, the end position signal IsOpn and the end position signal IsClsd. The motor drive signal MtrEn is a binary signal, for example, having an active state and a passive state.The control logic 400 implements at least the following rules for the motor control signal MtrEn:If a request to rotate to the loading position is made and the loading position has already been reached, then the motor drive signal MtrEn is in the passive state.When a request for turning to the unloading position is made and the unloading position is already reached, the motor drive signal MtrEn is in the passive state.If a request for turning to the loading position is made and the loading position is not reached, then the motor drive signal MtrEn is in the active state.When a request for turning to the unloading position is made and the unloading position is not reached, the motor drive signal MtrEn is in the active state.The rules of the control logic 400 are mapped by a Boolean function, which are implemented in the circuit block of the control logic 400. FIG. 4 shows a possible embodiment of such an arrangement for realizing a Boolean function for the above rules, which are summarized in a truth table:Changing to Loading State (Closing):Loading position already reached (closed):Passively, passively, passive passive is passiveIsOp = activeOpn= passiveIsClsd= passiveCls = activeChange to Unloading State (Opening):Discharging state already reached (opened):Passively, passively, passive passive is passiveIsOp = passiveOpn = activeIsClsd = activeCls = passiveChanging to Loading State (Closing):Loading State Not Reached (Opened):Active ActiveIsOp = passiveOpn= passiveIsClsd = activeCls = activeChange to Unloading State (Opening):Discharge state not reached (closed):Active ActiveIsOp = activeOpn = activeIsClsd= passiveCls = passiveIn further embodiments, the control logic 400 can also implement further rules: for example, it can generate an error signal if the request signal Opn, the request signal Cls, the end position signal IsOp, or the end position signal IsClsd have prohibited states or state combinations. For example, the request signal Opn and the request signal Cls may never be active or passive simultaneously. For example, the position detection switch 370' and the position detection switch 370" may never be turned on simultaneously.Assuming that the request signal Opn and the request signal Cls are never in the active state at the same time, the XOR can also be replaced by an OR in a further embodiment. In the discrete construction, this results in a simpler circuit.FIG. 5 shows a circuit block for the motor driver 500, which is shown in a simplified manner.The motor driver 500 converts the logic signal MtrEn of the control logic 400 into a signal adapted to the motor power.In a further embodiment, not shown, the motor driver 500 is realized as a half bridge in order to short-circuit the motor M in the switched-off state, so that the latter comes to a standstill as quickly as possible at the end of the travel. This increases the positioning accuracy.FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of an adjusting mechanism 200 for installation in a pocket 100, for example a transport pocket for a suspended conveying system. The adjusting mechanism 200 is basically configured to change a state of the bag 100 between a loading state in which the bag can be loaded with objects such as goods, and an unloading state in which the objects are unloaded from the bag. The adjusting mechanism 200 has a housing, for example formed from two halves 610', 610", a profiled disk 620 rotatably mounted in the housing and having two contact surfaces 630, and two latches 640', 640" axially displaceable in the housing. In principle, at least one contact surface 630 and at least one latch 640', 640" which can be axially displaced in the housing are provided.The adjusting mechanism 200 of the embodiment in FIG. 6 has, for example, an axially aligned electric motor M and the profiled disk 620, which is driven by the motor M with a worm wheel drive.The motor M has a rotatable shaft 510. For example, the rotatable axle 510 of the motor M is connected to the profiled disk 620 via a worm gear.In addition, a circuit board with the circuit 660 for driving the motor M is located in the housing 610', 610", and the circuit board has terminals for the terminal voltage at the terminal pair 340. The circuit 660 is configured to change the state of the adjusting mechanism 200 from the loading state to the unloading state.As explained in detail above, the circuit 660 is configured to receive signals from position sensors 350, 360, for example simple switches or rotary position sensors, which indicate the rotary position of the motor M. The position sensors 350, 360 are located within the housing 610', 610'' of the adjusting mechanism 200.The locking members 640', 640" are inserted axially in the housing 610', 610" and are pressed against the profiled disk 620 by a respective restoring element 670', 670", for example a spring, per locking member 640', 640".The housing 610', 610'' has an opening 680', 680'' at each end face, through which an end of the latch passes through the housing 610', 610'' in the loading state.FIGS. 7 aand 7 b show views of an adjusting mechanism 200 of a pocket from FIG. 1 for the unloading state (FIG. 7 a ) and the loading state (FIG. 7 b ).In the unloading state, the two first ends 710', 710" of the two latches 640', 640" are located at a low-lying region of the height profile 730 of the profiled disk 620. The two second ends 820', 820" of the two latches 640', 640" do not project beyond the end of the housing 610'.In the loading state, the two first ends 710', 710" of the two latches 640', 640" are located at a high-lying region of the height profile 630 of the profiled disk 620, for example directly in front of a flank which leads to a low-lying region. The two second ends 820', 820" of the two latches 640', 640" project beyond the end of the housing 610'.FIG. 8 shows an embodiment for a closure element 110 which is contained in the pocket 100 as a counterpart to the adjusting mechanism. This embodiment has two end faces 170', 170" and a longitudinal side 180 which connects the two end faces 170', 170" to one another. The two end faces 170', 170" each have an opening 120', 120". This opening is, for example, slot-shaped.FIG. 9 shows the interaction between a latch 640, the adjusting mechanism 200 and the opening 120 of the closure element 110 on an end face 170 of the closure element 110. In the loading state, the latch 640 engages the opening 120. The latch 640 protrudes beyond the housing 610 of the adjusting mechanism 200. The closure element 110 and the adjusting mechanism 200 are connected to one another. The pocket 100 is closed.List of reference characters100 Pocket 110 Closure element 120, 120', 120" Opening of the closure element 130 Side wall of the pocket 140 Rear wall of the pocket 150 Front wall of the pocket 160 Suspension element 170, 170', 170" End face of the closure element 180 Longitudinal side of the closure element 200 Adjusting mechanism 210 Latch 220 Opening 300 Voltage supply 310, 310', 310" Request detection 320 Rectifier 330 Voltage regulator 340 Two connections for connection voltage Opn Request signal Cls Request signal GND Reference potential 345 Position detection 350 Position transmitter 360 Position transmitter 370', 370" Switch 380', 380" Resistor IsOp End position signal IsClsd End position signal 400 Control logic MtrEn Motor drive signal 500 Motor driver M Motor 510 Axis of the motor 610, 610', 610'' housing 620, 620', 620'' profiled disk 630, 630', 630' contact surface 640, 640', 640'' latch 660 circuit 670', 670'' restoring element 680', 680'' opening in the end face of the housing 700, cable 710', 710'' first end of a latch 720', 720'' second end of a latch 730 direction of rotation of the profiled diskReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedEP 24154159.8

[0004]

Claims

A circuit (660) for rotating a rotatable axis (510) of a motor (M) of an actuating mechanism (200) of a pocket (100) of a suspended conveyor system, wherein the circuit (660) - comprises a pair of terminals (340) for receiving a terminal voltage; - is configured to rotate the axis (510) of the motor (M) until it reaches a first angular position and not to rotate the axis (510) when the axis (510) has reached the first angular position; and - is configured to rotate the axis (510) until it reaches a second angular position when the sign of the terminal voltage is negative, and not to rotate the axis (510) when the axis (510) has reached the second angular position.Circuit (660) according to Claim 1, further comprising - a position detection arrangement (345) comprising one or more position sensors (350, 360) each configured to determine a current angular position of the axis (510) of the motor (M); - a motor driver (500) configured to drive the axis (510) of the motor (M) to rotate; and - a control logic (400) configured to generate, based on the sign of the terminal voltage and the current angular position, a binary output signal capable of assuming a first state and a second state, in particular an active state and a passive state; wherein the motor driver (500) is configured to rotate the axis of the motor (M) when the binary output signal assumes the first state and not to rotate the axis of the motor (M) when the binary output signal assumes the second state.The circuit (660) according to claim 2, wherein the control logic (400) is configured to generate the binary output signal with the first state - if the terminal voltage is positive and the current angular position of the axis (510) of the motor (M) does not correspond to the first angular position; - if the terminal voltage is positive and the current angular position of the axis (510) corresponds to the first angular position, generate with the second state; - if the terminal voltage is negative and the current angular position of the axis (510) does not correspond to the second angular position, generate with the first state; and - if the terminal voltage is negative and the current angular position of the axis (510) corresponds to the second angular position, generate with the second state.The circuit (660) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit (660) further comprises a rectifier (320) for rectifying the terminal voltage, wherein the circuit generates an operating voltage for the motor (M), in particular 24V, and an operating voltage for the circuit (660), in particular 5V, from the rectified terminal voltage.A bag (100) for a suspended conveyor system, the bag (100) comprising a circuit (660) according to one of the preceding claims, a pair of terminals connected to the pair of terminals of the circuit (660) and configured to receive the terminal voltage, and an adjusting mechanism (200) having a motor (M) for driving a rotatable axle (510), wherein - the bag (100) is configured to assume a first operating state, in particular a loading state, and a second operating state, in particular an unloading state; - the motor (M) is configured to change the operating states of the bag (100) by a rotation of the axle (510); - the first angular position of the axle (510) corresponds to the first operating state; and - the second angular position of the axle (510) corresponds to the second operating state.The pouch according to claim 5, wherein the circuit (660) is configured to: - when a sign of the terminal voltage is positive, rotate the axis (510) of the motor (M) until it reaches the first angular position and until the first operating state of the pouch (100) is established, and not rotate the axis (510) when the axis (510) has reached the first angular position and when the first operating state is established; and - when the sign of the terminal voltage is negative, rotate the axis (510) until it reaches the second angular position and until the second operating state of the pouch (100) is established, and not rotate the axis (510) when the axis (510) has reached the second angular position and when the second operating state is established.

Images