Conveyor device for synchronizing transport units

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveyor device for synchronizing transport units and a method for operating a conveyor device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In intralogistics, various devices are used to convey goods, typically using suitable transport units. Depending on requirements, the transport units can be arranged at a fixed distance from each other, for example, when synchronized conveying is desired in certain conveyor sections, or at a variable distance, for example, in buffer sections. Within an intralogistics conveyor system, various conveyor lines with such different conveyor types can be arranged and connected to one another.

[0003] In this context, the transitions from conveyor sections with transport units with variable spacing to conveyor sections with fixed spacing between the transport units, e.g. when synchronizing into a cyclic conveyor, are particularly technically demanding, as there is often an increased susceptibility to errors and the probability of reduced conveying capacity.

[0004] Such transitions can become particularly numerous and relevant with the increasing complexity of intralogistics requirements, for example in order picking systems in which different goods, especially those that are transported hanging, are to be efficiently sorted and assembled completely and error-free at a high throughput.

[0005] Such an order picking system is described, for example, in the applicant's application CH00947 / 17 filed on July 20, 2017, which comprises a loading station with a plurality of parallel loading locations for loading the goods to be picked into the order picking system and at least one shipping station with a plurality of parallel shipping locations for delivering the picked goods to the shipping department, wherein at least one intermediate storage device is provided between the loading station and the shipping station for picking the goods.The at least one intermediate storage comprises a dynamic storage for the intermediate storage of the goods provided for order picking and a retrieval storage downstream of the dynamic storage for storing goods retrieved from the dynamic storage and pre-sorted in the process, which are arranged within a common circulating conveyor and are connected to one another via the common circulating conveyor.

[0006] EP0765826A1 was published on August 29, 1996, in the name of Dürkopp Adler AG and relates to a method for conveying items hanging on hangers, in particular garments, wherein the items are transported from a loading area to a conveying area and from there to a delivery area, as well as devices for use in the method. The conveyor system has a transport area (II) for feeding the garments between an input area (I) and a delivery area (III), wherein the grippers cooperate with a group of clothes hangers that are moved at a defined relative distance along the transport area.The grippers are held at the input area and fed into the transport area so that they fit into the next available transport slot, with the movement of each gripper through the transport area being controlled by counting clock pulses, with movement into the delivery area occurring when a certain clock rate is reached. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a conveyor device for timing transport units and a method for operating such a conveyor device, which at least partially improve the state of the art for timing transport units.

[0008] This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are provided in the dependent claims and in the present description and figures.

[0009] The invention relates to a conveyor device for synchronizing transport units, comprising a plurality of transport units, a synchronized conveyor for the synchronized conveying of the transport units, the synchronized conveyor comprising a plurality of carriers, each of which is detachably connectable to a transport unit, at least one conveyor line, and a switch device via which the conveyor line is connected to the synchronized conveyor at an synchronization point, and which is configured to synchronize the transport units into the synchronized conveyor at the synchronization point. A first detection device is arranged on the conveyor line and is configured to detect the extent of each transport unit.The conveying device has a controller which is connected to the first determination device and to the switch device and is configured to divide the indexing conveyor along the conveying direction into logical segments, each with at least one associated expansion range, and to compare the respective determined expansion of a transport unit at the infeed point with the at least one expansion range of a logical segment at the infeed point, wherein the switch device is configured to index a transport unit into the indexing conveyor if the determined expansion of the transport unit at the infeed point lies in the at least one expansion range of the logical segment at the infeed point.

[0010] In the indexing conveyor, the carriers are generally arranged at a fixed distance from one another, so that the transport units can be conveyed at a fixed distance from one another. In the context of the present invention, indexed conveying is therefore understood to mean conveying transport units at a specific distance from one another, with the indexing conveyor typically having a subdivision for the fixed arrangement of the carriers. The carriers are releasably connectable to the transport units in such a way that free carriers without transport units can be arranged between certain carriers that are engaged with transport units.

[0011] In this context, it is clear to the person skilled in the art that "fixed spacing" includes tolerances and shifts within the indexing conveyor, e.g., due to chain loads. In contrast to transport units that can be conveyed independently and at variable spacing, the transport units in an indexing conveyor are to be understood as not being independent of one another and being conveyed in a timed manner.

[0012] A high conveying capacity can be achieved by ensuring that the highest possible number of carriers are engaged with transport units during conveying and by minimizing the number of free carriers. Due to the fixed subdivision of the indexing conveyor, e.g. by a chain, the minimum number of free carriers between successive carriers occupied by transport units is generally determined essentially by the extent of the transport units, e.g. by the depth in the conveying direction. In order to reduce the susceptibility to errors during synchronization, especially of transport units with different dimensions, and to take into account, among other things, a switch switching time,the switch device cycles the transport units from the conveyor line into the indexing conveyor in such a way that, regardless of the size of the transport units, a sufficiently high minimum number of carriers is kept free between each successive occupied carrier, which, however, usually has a negative effect on the conveying capacity.

[0013] The invention offers the advantage that the susceptibility to errors during synchronization can be kept low and, at the same time, the number of free carriers can be minimized, thus optimizing the conveying capacity. The first determination device can determine the respective extent of the transport units at the synchronization point and transmit this to the controller. By subdividing the synchronized conveyor into logical segments, each with at least one assigned extent range, the loading of the carriers with transport units along the synchronized conveyor can be adapted to the variability of the dimensions of the transport units. By assigning an extent range, a specific range of extent values ​​can be determined for which transport units can be synchronized into a specific logical segment. This allows tolerances to be accommodated in the determined extents of the transport units.Furthermore, it is also possible to schedule transport units with different dimensions, which can be transported in the same logical segment, e.g. because the dimensions do not differ too much, into a specific logical segment.

[0014] The division of the indexed conveyor into logical segments is preferably performed by the controller and can be modified by the controller. In particular, the length of the logical segments, the number of carriers in a logical segment, or which specific carriers are included in each logical segment can be adjusted by the controller.

[0015] In some embodiments, the dimensions of a transport unit can include a depth of the transport unit in the conveying direction and / or a width of the transport unit transverse to the conveying direction, or other geometric dimensions. The detection device, the controller, and the switching device can be designed accordingly for operation depending on the depths and / or widths or other geometric dimensions of the transport units.

[0016] Preferably, the controller is configured to assign a driver value of a number of drivers between two consecutive transport units in the respective logical segment to the at least one expansion area, and the switch device is configured to clock transport units into the indexing conveyor in such a way that the number of drivers between two consecutive transport units in the logical segment corresponds to the assigned driver value of the expansion area.

[0017] The carrier value therefore represents the number of free carriers between carriers occupied or to be occupied by transport units. This carrier value can be transmitted by the control system of the switching device, so that the switching device time-locks the transport units into a respective logical segment of the indexing conveyor such that the number of free carriers between occupied or to be occupied carriers corresponds to the transmitted carrier value according to the expansion range. For example, transport units with extensions that require five free carriers between occupied carriers can be time-locked into logical segments of the indexing conveyor with an expansion range to which a carrier value with five free carriers is assigned.

[0018] Furthermore, by a suitable selection of an extension range, mixed logical segments with differently extended transport units, but with equal distances between successive transport units due to a certain driver value, can be provided.

[0019] For transport units with comparatively large dimensions, a logical segment with an expansion range encompassing large expansion values ​​can therefore be provided. Transport units with comparatively large dimensions can be clocked into such a logical segment of the indexing conveyor via the switch device, with the carriers advantageously being occupied by transport units in such a way that a sufficient number of free carriers are located between them and sufficient space is available between successive transport units.

[0020] However, for comparatively small transport unit dimensions, a logical segment with an expansion range encompassing small expansion values ​​can be provided. In such a logical segment, the switch device can cycle the transport units into shorter cycles, i.e., with a smaller number of free carriers between occupied carriers or carriers to be occupied.

[0021] In particular, excess free carriers, which are not required to ensure sufficient distance between the transport units, can be reduced or avoided, so that an optimized utilization of the indexing conveyor can be provided with adjusted distances between the transport units.

[0022] In some embodiments, the first detection device can be an optical sensor, e.g., comprising a light barrier, or an inductive sensor. In certain embodiments, the first detection device can be designed as a reading device that reads the dimension information from the transport unit, e.g., via a barcode or RFID tag arranged on the transport unit, or from a database in which the dimension information of transport units on the conveyor line is stored.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment, the conveyor device comprises a plurality of conveyor lines connected to the indexing conveyor at different entry points. By controlling and dividing the indexing conveyor into logical segments, it is possible to ensure that the entry of transport units from the plurality of conveyor lines is distributed optimally across the indexing conveyor according to the respective dimensions of the transport units.

[0024] In one embodiment, the switch device is configured to retain a transport unit in the conveyor line if the determined extent of the transport unit at the infeed point lies outside the at least one extent range of the logical segment at the infeed point.

[0025] This prevents transport units with an unsuitable extension from being clocked into a logical segment of the indexing conveyor. For example, a transport unit with an extension that requires five free flights between two transport units can be prevented from being clocked into a logical segment with an extension range that requires three free flights between transport units. This reduces the risk of errors during clocking.

[0026] Alternatively or additionally, it can be prevented, for example, that a transport unit with an extension for which two free flights are sufficient between two transport units is clocked into a logical segment with an extension range with extension values ​​for which five free flights are provided between transport units. This can optimize the conveying capacity by reducing the number of unnecessary free flights.

[0027] In one embodiment, the transport units can be conveyed on the conveyor line at a variable distance from one another.

[0028] The invention is particularly advantageous for the timing of transport units from such conveyor lines into a timing conveyor, since transport units that are not timed on the conveyor line can be optimally distributed to the timing conveyor according to their size.

[0029] In one embodiment, the conveyor line has a curve at the infeed point.

[0030] Curvatures of the conveyor line at an infeed point can occur particularly in conveyor devices in which the conveyor line is arranged perpendicular to the conveying direction of a section of the indexing conveyor to which the conveyor line is connected. A curvature of the conveyor line at an infeed point can lead to an increase in the required distance between successive transport units in the indexing conveyor. The control system preferably takes the curvature of the conveyor line at the infeed point into account by adjusting the expansion range and / or the driver value.

[0031] For example, the controller can account for the effect of a curvature, especially for transport units above a certain minimum dimension, e.g., a minimum depth along the conveying direction that is twice the width of the transport units transverse to the conveying direction, by reducing the dimension values ​​of an expansion range. Alternatively or additionally, the controller can increase the driver value of an expansion range to account for the effect of a curvature.

[0032] In one embodiment, the cycle conveyor is designed as a circulating conveyor.

[0033] In one embodiment, the cycle conveyor is designed as an endless conveyor.

[0034] The circulating conveyor is a conveyor that can transport the transport units in a closed circuit or loop. Actuable or switchable diverter devices can be provided at various points along the circulating conveyor, allowing the targeted entry of transport units into the loop or the exit of transport units circulating in the loop. In particular, conveyor sections can be connected to the circulating conveyor via diverter devices, e.g., within the circulating conveyor.

[0035] In one embodiment, the indexing conveyor has an initiator which is configured to assign a first driver, preferably cyclically, to a first logical segment.

[0036] The initiator can be used to set a zero point with the first carrier so that the controller can identify and track the position of all carriers in the indexing conveyor. The controller can then assign the identified carriers to the logical segments accordingly. In particular, a rotary encoder for identifying the carriers can be arranged on the indexing conveyor. The initiator also offers the advantage that the identification of the carriers can be checked, preferably cyclically in a circulating conveyor. In the event of deviations from the original identification, e.g. due to shifts within or between logical segments, the initiator can reassign a first carrier to a logical segment for calibration purposes. Such shifts can be caused, for example, by chain tension, stopping operations, reverse movements, etc.

[0037] In one embodiment, the transport units each have a receiving unit, wherein the extent of the transport units is determined by the extent of the receiving units, preferably in the conveying direction.

[0038] The holding units can be bags, containers, baskets, boxes, transport carriers, etc.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the receiving units are designed as pockets, wherein, for example, the depth of the pockets in the conveying direction can be determined by the transported goods being received. For example, the pockets can be designed to be collapsible, so that the pockets have a small depth in an empty configuration. By receiving a large transported item, the pocket can be unfolded, thus increasing the depth. The first detection device can determine the depth of the filled pockets at the infeed point and transmit it to the control system or the switching device.

[0040] In one embodiment, the transport units each have a carriage to which the receiving units can be fastened, wherein the carriages can be brought into engagement with the carriers of the indexing conveyor, preferably via a pin.

[0041] The conveyor line can comprise a guide rail in which the carriages can be conveyed independently and at a variable distance from one another.

[0042] The transport units can comprise trolleys, each of which is attached to one or two carriages.

[0043] Bags, scaffolding, clamps, grids, trays, baskets, etc. can be attached to the trolleys.

[0044] In one embodiment, the controller is configured to assign half-open expansion areas to the logical segments, which are limited by a maximum expansion or by a minimum expansion.

[0045] In one embodiment, a loading station is arranged on the conveyor line, which is designed to load the transport units with transport goods.

[0046] In one variant, when a transport unit is loaded with a transport item, the loading station assigns an extension and transmits it to the first detection device. The extension can be determined by information located on the transport item, such as a barcode or an RFID tag, or by information about the transport item stored in the loading station.

[0047] Preferably, the first detection device is arranged after the loading station and is configured to detect the extent of the loaded transport units.

[0048] A conveyor line can also have multiple loading stations, each of which loads the transport units with transport goods. In such a case, the first detection device is preferably arranged after the last loading station in order to determine the extent of a transport unit after the last loading.

[0049] In one embodiment, a sensor is arranged after the infeed point on the indexing conveyor, which sensor is connected to the controller and is configured to determine the number and / or position of transport units in a logical segment.

[0050] The sensor can determine whether a specific division of the indexing conveyor into logical segments, the definition or assignment of expansion ranges, or the assignment of carrier values ​​is optimal. For example, if the sensor detects that a logical segment conveys few or no transport units away from the infeed point, this may indicate that the specific division into logical segments, the definition or assignment of expansion ranges, or the assignment of carrier values ​​is not optimal.

[0051] Preferably, the sensor is configured to transmit the number and / or position of the transport units in a logical segment to the controller, and the controller is configured to change the division of the index conveyor into logical segments or the expansion areas assigned to the logical segments depending on the number and / or position of transport units determined by the sensor.

[0052] Furthermore, the controller can adjust the driver values ​​or the assignment of the driver values ​​in order to achieve better utilization of the logical segments.

[0053] In one embodiment, the indexing conveyor has a chain with chain links on which the carriers are arranged.

[0054] In particular, the goods to be transported in the intermittent conveyor can be suspended from individual carriages along a guide rail. The carriages in the intermittent conveyor are moved by a driven conveyor chain that runs parallel to the guide rail on its own rail and is in releasable engagement with the carriages. Suitable carriages and guide rails are described and disclosed, for example, in WO2016 / 030275 A1. However, it is also conceivable to arrange a conveyor chain laterally, as shown in WO2016 / 030273 A1.

[0055] In one embodiment, a second determination device is arranged on the conveyor line in front of the switch device, which second determination device is connected to the controller and is configured to determine the extent of the transport units in front of the switch device and to compare it with the extent determined by the first determination device.

[0056] The second detection device can be used to check the dimension determined by the first detection device. This can be advantageous if a transport item moves along the conveyor line in the transport unit, thus changing the dimension of the transport unit. In the case of a pocket, this can be the case, for example, if a transport item tilts or pivots in the pocket. Checking the dimension can also be advantageous if the transport unit itself rotates along the conveyor line, e.g., due to rotation, or if it empties itself unintentionally.

[0057] In one embodiment, the first determining device is configured to determine the depth of a transport unit along the conveying direction and / or the width of a transport unit transverse to the conveying direction, and the controller is configured to assign expansion ranges for the depths and / or widths to the logical segments.

[0058] In one embodiment, the controller is configured to assign at least two disjoint expansion areas to at least one logical segment.

[0059] By assigning disjoint extension ranges, mixed logical segments with different distances between consecutive transport units can be provided. Furthermore, different carrier values ​​can be assigned to the disjoint extension ranges. Optionally, additional intermediate carrier values ​​are assigned to the disjoint extension ranges. The switch device is configured to time the transport units in successive transport units with different extensions such that the number of free carriers between the consecutive transport units with different extensions corresponds to an intermediate carrier value.

[0060] In one embodiment, the controller is configured to provide at least one disjoint expansion range for the depths of the transport units along the conveying direction and at least one disjoint expansion range for the widths of the transport units transverse to the conveying direction. The controller is preferably configured to assign an identifier to the expansion ranges to identify the respective expansion range for depths or widths. Preferably, the switch device is configured to read the identifier and compare the appropriate expansion range with the depth or width.

[0061] The invention further relates to a method for operating a conveyor device according to the present invention, comprising the steps: i) providing transport units in a conveyor line; ii) dividing the indexing conveyor into logical segments by the controller; iii) assigning at least one extension range to a respective logical segment by the controller; iv) determining the extension of the transport units along the conveying direction by the first determining device; v) transmitting the determined extension to the controller or the switch device; vi) comparing the determined extension of a transport unit at the infeed point with the at least one extension range of a logical segment at the infeed point; vii) indexing the transport unit from the conveyor line into the indexing conveyor by the switch device if the determined extension lies in the at least one extension range of the logical segment.

[0062] It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the steps of the method do not necessarily have to be carried out consecutively in the order described.

[0063] In one embodiment, the controller assigns to the at least one expansion area a driver value of a number of drivers between two consecutive transport units in the respective logical segment, and the switch device clocks the transport units into the clock conveyor in such a way that the number of drivers between two consecutive transport units in the logical segment corresponds to the assigned driver value of the expansion area. LIST OF CHARACTERS

[0064] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the following figures and the associated description. They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a conveying device; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of a conveying device; Fig. 3 is an enlarged representation of the conveying device from Figure 1 in the area of ​​two infeed points; Fig. 4a-bperspective views of an embodiment of a transport unit which can be conveyed suspended on a guide rail; Fig. 5a perspective view of a section of an embodiment of a timing conveyor; Fig. 6a schematic representation of the conveying device from Fig. 2 with transport units with different depths and different widths. DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0065] In order to illustrate the invention, preferred embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the figures.

[0066] Figure 1shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a conveying device 100 comprising a plurality of transport units 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, a timing conveyor 2 for the synchronized conveying of the transport units 1.1-1.4 with a plurality of carriers 21, each of which can be releasably connected to a transport unit. The transport units 1.1-1.4 comprise pockets 1.11-1.41, which are attached to carriages 1.12-1.42 and which can accommodate a transport item G. The transport items G have different dimensions, which, after the pockets 1.11 have been filled, lead to different dimensions T2, T3, T4 of the transport units 1.1-1.4. In the present embodiment, the dimensions T2, T3, T4 represent the depths of the transport units in the conveying direction.The conveying device 100 further comprises four conveyor sections 3 and four switch devices 4, via which the conveyor sections 3 are each connected to the indexing conveyor 2 at an infeed point E. The conveyor sections 3 are arranged perpendicular to the conveying direction of the section of the indexing conveyor 2 to which the conveyor sections 3 are connected and have a curvature at the infeed points E.

[0067] The transport units 1.1-1.4 can be conveyed independently along the conveyor lines 3 and at a variable distance from one another. A loading station 5 is arranged on each conveyor line 3, which loads the empty pockets 1.11 of the transport units 1.1 with the transport goods G. After the loading stations 5, a first detection device 6.1 is arranged on each conveyor line 3, which determines the dimensions T2-T4 of the transport units 1.2-1.4. Further downstream on the conveyor lines 3, before the infeed points E, a second detection device 6.3 is arranged, which checks the dimensions T2-T4 of the transport units 1.2-1.4.

[0068] The indexing conveyor 2 is divided by a controller 10 into logical segments LS, LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, etc., symbolized by dashed lines. The logical segments LS1 and LS4 are assigned expansion intervals into which the expansions T4 of the thickest transport units 1.4 fall. The logical segment LS2 is assigned an expansion interval into which the expansions T2 of the thinnest transport units 1.2 fall. The logical segment LS3 is assigned an expansion interval into which the expansions T3 of medium-thick transport units 1.3 fall. The switch device 4 clocks the transport units 1.2-1.4 into the clock conveyor 2 in such a way that the logical segments LS1-LS4 each convey transport units 1.2-1.4 with different extensions T2-T4, which correspond to the respective extension intervals of the logical segments LS1 -LS4.

[0069] How to continue in the Figure 1As can be seen, each expansion interval is assigned a carrier value, so that the number of free carriers between consecutive occupied carriers is defined for the respective logical segments LS1-LS4 and varies depending on the expansion T2-T4 of the conveyed transport units 1.2-1.4. The number of free carriers is optimized for the expansion T2-T4 of the transport units and increases with increasing expansion T2-T4 of the transport units 1.2-1.4. Figure 1It can be seen that the logical segments LS1-LS4 each convey transport units with a defined extension, although the transport units 1.2-1.4 are mixed and fed onto conveyor lines 3. The carrier values ​​of the logical segments LS1-LS4 are defined in such a way that the distance between consecutive transport units 1.2-1.4 is adapted to the curve guidance in the curvature of the conveyor lines 3 at the infeed points E, as will be explained in more detail below. Figure 3 is carried out. Furthermore, an initiator 7 is arranged on the indexing conveyor 2, which assigns a first driver 21.1 to a first logical segment LS.

[0070] Figure 2shows a further embodiment of a conveyor device 100' with transport units 1.1', 1.2', 1.3', 1.4'. The cycle conveyor 2' is divided into logical segments LS1', LS2', LS3', LS4' by the controller 10'. Conveyor lines, receiving stations, first and second detection devices are analogous to the embodiment according to Figure 1 The logical segment LS2' is assigned an expansion range, in which the dimensions T2' of the thinnest transport units 1.2' fall. The logical segment LS4' is assigned an expansion range, in which the dimensions T4' of the thickest transport units 1.4' fall. In contrast to the Figure 1In the embodiment shown, at least two disjoint expansion areas are each assigned to the logical segments LS1', LS3', so that mixed logical segments LS1', LS3' with transport units 1.2'-1.4' of different thicknesses and different distances or different numbers of free carriers between the transport units 1.2'-1.4' are formed. The logical segment LS1' is assigned a first expansion area, into which the expansions T2' of the thinnest transport units 1.2' fall. Furthermore, the logical segment LS1' is assigned a disjoint second expansion area, into which the expansions T4' of the thickest transport units 1.4' fall. The expansion T3' of the medium-thick transport units 1.3' falls into a disjoint third expansion area, which is assigned to the logical segment LS1'.

[0071] The first and second expansion ranges of the logical segment LS1' are each assigned first and second carrier values, which determine the number of free carriers between carriers occupied by thin transport units 1.2' and between carriers occupied by thick transport units 1.4'. Furthermore, the first and second expansion ranges are assigned additional intermediate carrier values, which determine the number of free carriers between a carrier occupied by a thin transport unit 1.2' and a carrier occupied by a thick transport unit 1.4'. Accordingly, third carrier values ​​and additional intermediate carrier values ​​are assigned to the third expansion ranges.

[0072] Similarly, the logical segment LS3' is assigned two disjoint expansion ranges for the dimensions T2' of the thinnest transport units 1.2' and for the dimensions T3' of medium-thick transport units 1.3'. The dimensions T4' of the thickest transport units 1.4' can fall into a disjoint third expansion range for the logical segment LS3'. Depending on the dimensions of the transport units, further disjoint expansion ranges can be assigned to the logical segments.

[0073] Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of the conveyor device 100 from Figure 1 in the area of ​​two infeed points E. For a better overview, only thick transport units 1.4 are shown on the conveyor line 3.1, except for the rearmost transport unit, and only thin transport units 1.2 are shown on the conveyor line 3.2. As shown in the Figure 3As can be seen, due to the curved guides in the curves of the conveyor lines 3.1, 3.2, a larger distance is required between the thick transport units 1.4 at the infeed points E than between the thin transport units 1.2. Accordingly, the driver values ​​of the logical segments LS4, LS2 are adjusted to accommodate the distances required due to the curves.

[0074] Figures 4a and 4b show perspective views of an embodiment of a transport unit 1, which can be conveyed suspended from a guide rail 31. The transport unit 1 comprises a pocket 11, which is attached to a carriage 12. The carriage 12 can be conveyed independently of other carriages at a variable distance from them in the guide rail 31. Figure 4b shows a folded bag 11 before being loaded with a transport item. Figure 4ashows the pocket 11 after being loaded with a transport item, so that the extent of the pocket 11 in the conveying direction determines the depth T of the transport unit 1.

[0075] Figure 5shows a perspective view of a section of an embodiment of a cyclic conveyor 2. The cyclic conveyor 2 comprises a conveyor chain 22, which is guided with its chain links 221 in a rail 23. Below the rail 23 of the conveyor chain 22, a guide rail 31 is held parallel, in which individual carriages 12 are movably mounted. The chain links 221 of the conveyor chain 22 engage with the carriages 12 via downwardly projecting drivers 21a, 21b and a pin 121 on the carriage 12, so that a conveying movement of the conveyor chain 22 causes a corresponding movement of the engaged carriages 12. On each of the carriages 12, a connecting element 122 is provided, by means of which connecting element a receiving unit, such as a bag, can be attached in a hanging manner to the carriage 12.

[0076] Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of the conveyor device from Figure 2, wherein transport units 1.5'-1.9' are conveyed in the conveying device, wherein the different dimensions of the transport units 1.5'-1.9' include both the depths of the transport units 1.5'-1.9' in the conveying direction and the widths of the transport units 1.5'-1.9' transverse to the conveying direction. In the figure, a narrowest transport unit 1.5' and widest transport units 1.8', 1.9' as well as transport units 1.6', 1.7' with medium widths transverse to the conveying direction are designated. The widest transport units 1.8', 1.9' have the same width transverse to the conveying direction, but different depths along the conveying direction. The situation is similar with the medium-width transport units 1.6', 1.7', which have the same width transverse to the conveying direction, but different depths along the conveying direction. In addition to the expansion areas into which the depths of the transport units fall and which are to be Figure 2 As already described, disjoint expansion ranges for the widths of the transport units are assigned. In this way, mixed logical segments can be provided in which transport units with both different depths and different widths can be conveyed. The division into logical segments is carried out in such a way that an optimized infeed into the infeed conveyor is provided, which takes into account both the depths and widths of the transport units, as well as the curvatures of the conveyor sections at the infeed points E.

[0077] In Figure 6Mixed logical segments are shown as examples for the logical segments LS2'-LS4'. The logical segment LS2' is assigned an expansion range for the depth of the transport units, into which the depths of the thinnest transport units fall. In addition, the logical segment LS2' is assigned at least two disjoint expansion ranges for the widths of the transport units, into which, as shown in the figure, the widths of the medium-width and widest transport units fall. The logical segment LS4' is assigned an expansion range for the depth of the transport units, into which the depths of the thickest transport units fall, as well as at least two additional disjoint expansion ranges for the widths of the transport units.At least two disjoint expansion ranges are assigned to the logical segment LS3', both for the depths of the transport units and for the widths of the transport units, creating a logical segment LS3' that is mixed in terms of both depths and widths. An identifier is assigned to the expansion ranges for the depths and for the widths in the controller 10', which indicates whether an expansion range relates to a depth or a width of a transport unit. The switch devices 4 are configured to read the identifier and compare the appropriate expansion range with the depth or width.

Claims

1. Conveying device (100, 100') for the clock-integration of transport units (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9'), comprising a plurality of transport units, an indexing conveyor (2, 2') for the clocked conveyance of the transport units, the indexing conveyor comprising a plurality of carriers (21, 21.1, 21a-b), which are respectively detachably connectable to a transport unit, at least one conveyor section (3, 3.1, 3.2), and a diverter (4), via which the conveyor section is connected at a clock-integration point (E) to the indexing conveyor and which is configured to clock-integrate the transport units at the clock-integration point into the indexing conveyor, characterized in that at the conveyor section (3, 3.1, 3.2) is arranged a first detection device (6.1), which is configured to respectively detect the extension (T, T2-T4, T2'-T4') of a transport unit (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9'), and the conveying device (100, 100') has a control system (10, 10'), which is connected to the first detection device and to the diverter (4) and is configured to divide the indexing conveyor (2, 2') along the direction of conveyance into logical segments (LS, LS1-LS4, LS1'-LS4') having respectively at least one assigned extension region and to compare the respective detected extension of a transport unit at the clock-integration point (E) with the at least one extension region of a logical segment at the clock-integration point, wherein the diverter is configured to clock-integrate a transport unit into the indexing conveyor when the detected extension of the transport unit at the clock-integration point lies in the at least one extension region of the logical segment at the clock-integration point.

2. Conveying device (100, 100') according to Claim 1, characterized in that the control system (10, 10') is configured to respectively assign to the at least one extension region a carrier value of a number of carriers (21, 21.1, 21a-b) between two successive transport units (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9') in the respective logical segment (LS, LS1-LS4, LS1'-LS4'), and the diverter (4) is configured to clock-integrate transport units (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9') respectively in such a way into the indexing conveyor (2, 2') that the number of carriers (21,21.1, 21a-b) between two successive transport units (1, 1 .1-1 .4, 1 .1'-1.9') in the logical segment (LS, LS1-LS4, LS1 '-LS4') corresponds to the assigned carrier value of the extension region.

3. Conveying device (100, 100') according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the diverter (4) is configured to detain a transport unit (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9') in the conveyor section (3, 3.1, 3.2) when the detected extension (T, T2-T4, T2'-T4') of the transport unit (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9') at the clock-integration point (E) lies outside the at least one extension region of the logical segment (LS, LS1 -LS4, LS1 '-LS4') at the clock-integration point (E).

4. Conveying device (100, 100') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport units (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9') are conveyable on the conveyor section (3, 3.1, 3.2) at a variable distance apart from each other.

5. Conveying device (100, 100') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor section (3, 3.1, 3.2) at the clock-integration point (E) has a curvature.

6. Conveying device (100, 100') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport units (1, 1.1 -1.4, 1.1'-1.9') respectively have a receiving unit (11, 1.11-1.41), wherein the extension (T, T2-T4, T2'-T4') of the transport units is defined by the extension of the receiving units (11, 1.11'-1.41), preferably in the direction of conveyance.

7. Conveying device (100, 100') according to Claim 6, characterized in that the transport units (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9') respectively have a carriage (12, 1.12-1.42) to which the receiving units (11, 1.11 -1 .41) can respectively be fastened, wherein the carriages (12, 1.1 2-1.42) can be brought into engagement with the carriers (21,21.1, 21a-b) of the indexing conveyor (2, 2'), preferably via a pin (1 21).

8. Conveying device (100, 100') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the conveyor section (3, 3.1, 3.2) is arranged an infeed station (5), which is configured to load the transport units (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9') with transport goods (G).

9. Conveying device (100, 100') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after the clock-integration point (E) is arranged at the indexing conveyor (2, 2') a sensor, which is connected to the control system (10, 10') and configured to detect the number and / or position of transport units (1 , 1 .1-1.4, 1 .1'-1.9') in a logical segment (LS, LS1-LS4, LS1'-LS4').

10. Conveying device (100, 100') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the indexing conveyor (2, 2') has a chain (22) having chain links (221) on which the carriers (21,21.1,21a-b) are arranged.

11. Conveying device (100, 100') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the conveyor section (3, 3.1, 3.2) before the diverter (4) is arranged a second detection device (6.3), which is connected to the control system (10, 10') and is configured to detect the extension (T, T2-T4, T2'-T4') of the transport units (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1 .9') before the diverter (4) and to compare this with the extension (T, T2-T4, T2'-T4') detected by the first detection device (6.1).

12. Conveying device (100, 100') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first detection device (6.1) is configured to detect the depth (T, T2-T4, T2'-T4') of a transport unit (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9') along the direction of conveyance and / orthe width of a transport unit (1, 1.1 -1 .4, 1 .1 '-1 .9') transversely to the direction of conveyance, and the control system (10, 10') is configured to assign to the logical segments (LS, LS1-LS4, LS1'-LS4') extension regions for the depths (T, T2-T4, T2'-T4') and / or widths.

13. Conveying device (100, 100') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control system (10, 10') is configured to assign to at least one logical segment (LS, LS1-LS4, LS1'-LS4') at least two disjunctive extension regions.

14. Method for operating a conveying device (100, 100') according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps: i) provision of transport units (1, 1.1-1.4, 1 .1'-1 .9') in a conveyor section (3, 3.1,3.2); ii) division of the indexing conveyor (2, 2') into logical segments (LS, LS1-LS4, LS1'-LS4') by the control system (10, 10'); iii) assignment of at least one extension region to respectively a logical segment (LS, LS1-LS4, LS1'-LS4') by the control system (10, 10'); iv) detection of the extension (T, T2-T4, T2'-T4') of the transport units (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9') by the first detection device; v) transmission of the detected extension (T, T2-T4, T2'-T4') to the control system (10, 10') or the diverter (4); vi) comparison of the detected extension (T,T2-T4, T2'-T4') of a transport unit (1, 1 .1-1 .4, 1 .1'-1.9') at the clock-integration point (E) with the at least one extension region of a logical segment (LS, LS1-LS4, LS1 '-LS4') at the clock-integration point (E); vii) clock-integration of the transport unit (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9') from the conveyor section (3, 3.1, 3.2) into the indexing conveyor (2, 2') by the diverter (4) when the detected extension (T, T2-T4, T2'-T4') lies in the at least one extension region.

15. Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that the control system (10, 10') respectively assigns to the at least one extension region a carrier value of a number of carriers (21, 21.1, 21a-b) between two successive transport units (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9') in the respective logical segment (LS, LS1-LS4, LS1'-LS4'), and the diverter (4) clock-integrates the transport units (1, 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9') respectively in such a way into the indexing conveyor (2, 2') that the number of carriers (21, 21.1, 21a-b) between two successive transport units (1 , 1.1-1.4, 1.1'-1.9') in the logical segment (LS, LS1-LS4, LS1'-LS4') corresponds to the assigned carrier value of the extension region.