DRIVE DEVICE FOR A CONVEYOR CAR OF A CONVEYING INSTALLATION

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a conveyor device for conveying material with a drive device for a conveyor carriage.

[0002] As disclosed in DE 10 2017 006 212 A1, in a conventional drive device for a conveyor carriage of a conveyor system, the conveyor carriage is usually pulled by a rubber block chain. Such conveyor carriages are equipped with a drivable conveyor belt arranged transversely to the conveying direction and are preferably used in circulating, particularly closed, carriage chains as crossbelt sorters (crossbelt sorters or crossbelt conveyors) to receive and distribute piece goods for high-performance distribution in postal and distribution centers. The rubber block chain is clamped in a gap between a drive belt and a counterpressure belt of a drive transmission device. The drive belt, which is itself driven, thus drives the rubber block chain and thus the conveyor carriages.

[0003] Such known solutions are usually heavy, maintenance-intensive, and expensive to manufacture. These disadvantages are primarily due to the drive type described above and result, for example, from the complex drive transmission system with drive belts and counterpressure belts. The high costs are primarily due to the multitude of different parts resulting from the drive type, especially the required rubber block chain, which is required along the entire conveyor line.

[0004] Another disadvantage of such known solutions is that the space below the respective conveyor carriage is at least partially traversed by the rubber block chain. This complicates or even prevents the use of conveyor carriages that sort their conveyed goods downwards using one or more flaps, similar to a trapdoor. This type of conveyor system is also known as a split tray sorter.

[0005] US 6,244,188 B1 discloses a device with a plurality of movable vehicles. To drive the vehicles, a drive belt is temporarily attached to the vehicle. For this purpose, the drive belt is pressed into a notch on the vehicle using a deflection roller, creating a frictional connection between the vehicle and the drive belt at the notch. Even after a long period of use, the drive belt must always have a surface condition that supports the press connection to the vehicle. US 2007 / 0283839 A1 discloses a similar device in which a plurality of pallets are driven along a travel path by a drive unit. A toothed belt is used for the drive connection between a drive wheel and the pallets. The toothed belt is driven by a gear wheel. The drive unit is arranged essentially horizontally. The contact force is provided by pneumatic actuators.The drive units are arranged in pairs on both sides of the pallets. This clamps the pallets across their entire width.

[0006] EP 1448463 B1 and JP H04 226213 A disclose a split tray sorter comprising at least one conveyor carriage with a drive surface, wherein the drive surface, viewed in plan view, is arranged laterally next to the receiving area of ​​the conveyor carriage for receiving piece goods. These documents disclose a split tray sorter according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved split tray sorter in which, in particular, maintenance effort and costs are reduced and / or production is simplified.

[0008] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. The respective dependent patent claims relate to preferred developments of the subject matter of the present invention.

[0009] One aspect relates to a conveyor device, namely a split tray sorter, comprising at least one conveyor carriage with a drive surface and a drive device for the conveyor carriage of the conveyor device, with a drive source for generating a drive force and a drive force transmission device for transmitting the drive force to a drive surface of the conveyor carriage, wherein the conveyor carriage has at least one abutment element which is designed as an abutment for the drive force transmission device.

[0010] An advantage of the present invention is simplified and more cost-effective manufacture of the drive device and / or the drive force transmission device due to reduced component complexity. This also makes it possible to reduce the required installation space and / or the installation effort. Compared to a conventional drive device, a counterpressure device on the drive force transmission device can be dispensed with. This is made possible by using one or more abutments arranged on the conveyor carriage, which abutments may already be present on the conveyor carriage and are suitable as abutments for the drive force transmission device and for absorbing the drive force. A drive surface formed on the conveyor carriage is used to drive the conveyor carriage.

[0011] The drive surface can be a cost-effective component, either already present on the conveyor carriage or attached to the conveyor carriage solely for the purpose of transferring the drive force to the drive surface. Furthermore, a rubber block chain can be dispensed with, since, as previously described, a drive surface formed on the conveyor carriage is used to drive the conveyor carriage, and the conveyor carriages are coupled to one another using simpler means, in particular the coupling rods and / or double joints described below.

[0012] A further advantage of the present invention is a universal application of the drive device and / or the drive force transmission device for different types of conveyor trolleys, according to the invention for a conveyor trolley of a split tray sorter.

[0013] The drive device for the conveyor carriage of the conveyor device can be a device for driving the conveyor carriage of the conveyor device, by means of which the conveyor carriage can be moved along the conveyor device, for example to transport a conveyed item on the conveyor carriage from a starting location to a destination location.

[0014] For transporting the material, the conveyor carriage of the conveyor system can have a conveying plane and / or conveying surface designed essentially perpendicular to a direction of gravity, on which the material can be placed due to the force of gravity acting on it and thus transported by the conveyor carriage. The conveyor carriage can, for example, have flaps of a split tray sorter.

[0015] The conveyor system can comprise one or more conveyor carriages and one or more drive devices for the conveyor carriage(s) for transporting material in a conveying direction. In particular, the conveyor system can comprise a closed chain of interconnected conveyor carriages, i.e., it can be designed, for example, as a horizontal conveyor.

[0016] The drive source of the drive device can be, for example, an electric, hydraulic, or electro-hydraulic drive source. The drive source can be embodied as a motor and provides the drive force. The drive source can be embodied as a component of the drive force transmission device.

[0017] The drive force transmission device for transmitting the drive force from the drive source to the drive surface of the conveyor carriage may have a drive-effective surface from which the drive force can be transferred or transmitted to the drive surface. The drive force transmission device is connected to the drive source and transmits at least part of the drive force to the conveyor carriage.

[0018] The drive force transmission device can be designed as a static component which is, for example, attached and / or arranged on a frame of the conveyor device.

[0019] The drive surface can be a surface already present on the conveyor carriage for driving the conveyor carriage, which is required for another reason but is also suitable for driving the conveyor carriage. Alternatively, the drive surface can be attached to the conveyor carriage solely for transmitting the drive force to the drive surface. The drive surface is designed as a driven surface. The drive surface can be designed such that it moves with the conveyor carriage and relative to the drive force transmission device.

[0020] The drive surface can be in active contact with the drive transmission device as it passes, so that the drive force can be at least partially transferred to it. The drive surface can extend over the entire length of the conveyor car, so that it can remain in active contact with the drive transmission device for as long as possible.

[0021] The abutment element can be an element arranged on the conveyor carriage which, although it may possibly also serve a different purpose, is also suitable as an abutment for the drive force transmission device. The abutment element can absorb a pressing force from the drive force transmission device and thereby support and / or enable the transmission of the drive force. For example, the abutment element can be designed as a support roller and / or a guide roller on the conveyor carriage, on which the conveyor carriage is supported against gravity and / or a horizontal or vertical force, in particular a centrifugal force, in particular on an - advantageously stationary - component of the conveyor device, such as a guide. The abutment element can support the drive surface of the conveyor carriage against the drive force transmission device, in particular against its drive-effective surface.The abutment element can be designed to absorb a pressing force of the drive force transmission device onto the drive surface in order to thereby support and / or enable the transmission of the drive force from the drive force transmission device to the drive surface of the conveyor carriage.

[0022] Advantageously, the drive surface and / or the conveyor carriage can be supported by means of the abutment element against a pressing force of the drive force transmission device.

[0023] In particular, the drive surface can be sufficiently stable to absorb the contact force required for power transmission, for example, sufficient flexural rigidity and / or surface hardness. The drive surface can, for example, be a frame surface of the conveyor carriage, particularly adapted to these requirements.

[0024] Thus, the pressure force required for the transmission of the driving force can be reliably exerted on the driving surface and / or absorbed by the driving surface without the driving surface and / or the conveyor carriage yielding or being deformed due to the pressure force exerted on it and / or the conveyor carriage.

[0025] Advantageously, the drive force transmission device can be arranged exclusively on one lateral side of the conveyor carriage, i.e., on the left or right, as viewed in the conveying direction. In other words, the conveyor carriage can be driven or is driven by the drive force transmission device exclusively on one side of the conveyor carriage, i.e., on the left or right, as viewed in the conveying direction.

[0026] Preferably, the drive force transmission device can be arranged on the inside of a curve of the conveyor device, whereby the conveyor device can have exclusively curves in the same direction. The drive force transmission device can generally be arranged on a straight section of the conveyor device.

[0027] Advantageously, the drive force can be transmitted or transferred frictionally from the drive force transmission device to the drive surface. Frictional force transmission requires a normal force on the frictionally connected surfaces. With sufficient normal force and / or a sufficient coefficient of friction for static friction of the frictionally connected surfaces, relative movement of the surfaces is at least reduced or prevented.

[0028] The drive force transmission device for transmitting the drive force from the drive source to the drive surface of the conveyor carriage can be a suitable device with a friction surface sufficient for frictionally transmitting the drive force. The drive force transmission device can, for example, include at least one friction belt and / or at least one friction wheel.

[0029] Advantageously, the drive surface can be designed as a friction surface and, together with the drive-effective surface, can be designed to have a friction coefficient for effective or optimized frictional power transmission.

[0030] With the above configuration, the driving force can be reliably transmitted from the driving force transmission device to the driving surface.

[0031] Advantageously, the at least one abutment element can be designed as a roller and / or as a sliding element of the conveyor carriage. Thus, a component that is already required for the conveyor carriage to move in the conveying direction and with which the conveyor carriage supports itself during movement against gravity and / or a horizontal and / or vertical force, in particular a centrifugal force, can be used as the abutment element. This allows a reduction in the number of parts of the drive device.

[0032] For example, the at least one abutment element is designed as a support roller and / or as a guide roller of the conveyor carriage.

[0033] The support roller is designed to support the weight of the conveyor carriage and can have an approximately horizontal axis of rotation. The guide roller is designed to guide the conveyor carriage along a conveyor path and can have an approximately vertical axis of rotation or at least an axis of rotation with a vertical component. Thus, means already present on the conveyor carriage for supporting it on the conveyor device can also be used as abutments for the drive force transmission device and for transmitting the drive force. The above configuration contributes to reducing the maintenance effort and costs of the drive device according to the invention and / or simplifying its manufacture.

[0034] Advantageously, a pressing force of the drive force transmission device on the drive surface—in particular a resultant of the pressing force—can be oriented at least partially substantially perpendicular to the drive surface. It is understood that the drive surface can be configured accordingly, in particular flat and parallel to the drive-effective surface, so that the drive-effective surface of the drive force transmission device bears against the drive surface over as large an area as possible.

[0035] With the above configuration, the highest possible efficiency can be achieved in transferring the drive force to the drive surface.

[0036] Advantageously, the drive-effective surface of the drive force transmission device can be oriented substantially horizontally, wherein the drive-effective surface is pressed against the drive surface with a substantially vertically oriented pressing force.

[0037] The above configuration can further contribute to achieving the highest possible efficiency in transferring the drive force to the drive surface. In particular, support rollers can be used as abutment elements.

[0038] Advantageously, the pressing force can be achieved at least by the weight of the drive force transmission device. In particular, the pressing force can be achieved exclusively by the weight of the drive force transmission device, or the pressing force can be additionally increased by additional means. Since the weight of the drive force transmission device is always present anyway, this configuration provides a particularly simple way to generate or at least support the pressing force.

[0039] Advantageously, a pressing force of the drive force transmission device can be effected at least partially by means of a pressing device.

[0040] For example, the pressure device can be designed as a spring pressure device, particularly arranged between the conveyor device and the drive force transmission device. Alternatively or additionally, the pressure device can be designed as one or more additional weights for the drive force transmission device.

[0041] With the above configuration, depending on the design of the drive force transmission device, the pressing force can be effected exclusively by means of the weight of the drive force transmission device and an additional pressing device can be dispensed with, or depending on the application, the pressing force can be increased with an additional pressing device.

[0042] For example, if the drive-effective surface is essentially horizontally aligned, the contact pressure can be generated exclusively by the weight of the drive force transmission device. However, if an increase in the contact pressure is necessary, the contact pressure can also be generated additionally by the contact pressure device.

[0043] Advantageously, the drive force transmission device can have a drive belt which can be pressed or is pressed against the drive surface by means of the pressure force.

[0044] As already mentioned, a counter-pressure device in the drive force transmission device - such as a counter-pressure belt - can be dispensed with.

[0045] The above configuration contributes to reducing maintenance effort and costs in the drive device according to the invention and / or simplifying its manufacture. For example, the drive-effective surface of the drive force transmission device can be a surface of the drive belt or a drive roller in contact with the drive surface, in particular on their respective undersides.

[0046] The drive belt can be designed, for example, as a multi-ribbed belt. In particular, the drive surface can be designed as a friction surface and, together with the drive surface, can be designed to a friction coefficient for effective or optimized frictional power transmission.

[0047] With the above configuration, a drive device for conveyor carriages can be provided that acts as a continuous drive for the conveyor carriages despite a gap between the conveyor carriages connected to each other to form a closed conveyor carriage chain. The length of the effective drive area of ​​the drive belt is larger than the gap between the conveyor carriages.

[0048] The effective drive surface of the drive belt is measured in its length approximately between the respective contact points of the drive belt on the drive surface at the deflection rollers or the outer pressure rollers of the drive belt and in its width approximately in the width of the drive belt.

[0049] Advantageously, the conveying device can have a plurality of drive force transmission devices arranged at predetermined distances from one another.

[0050] This increases the total drive force provided to the conveyor system, for example in conveyor systems with long trains of conveyor cars, when gradients have to be overcome and / or when conveying heavy loads.

[0051] Advantageously, the abutment element can be configured perpendicular to the conveying direction at a minimum distance from a line of action of a pressing force of the drive force transmission device that is less than approximately 70 mm and / or approximately 50 mm. The distance is configured horizontally perpendicular to the conveying direction. For example, the minimum distance can be configured between the center of the support roller on the one hand and the center of the drive belt on the other.

[0052] In particular, the abutment can be designed with a minimum distance from the line of action of the contact force. The minimum distance can, for example, be greater than approximately 0 mm and less than approximately 10 mm.

[0053] In particular, at least two abutment elements can be arranged on the sides of the conveyor carriage, i.e., on the left and right, viewed in the conveying direction, with at least one abutment element being arranged on each side at the front and rear of the conveyor carriage in the conveying direction. Furthermore, the abutment elements on the drive device side can be arranged with the minimum spacing transverse to the conveying direction such that the line of action of the pressure force lies within or on an imaginary rectangle of connecting lines between the abutment elements connected in series. The minimum spacing is the smallest distance occurring when passing the drive force transmission device.

[0054] For example, the minimum distance of the abutment element may be less than about 60 mm, preferably less than about 40 mm.

[0055] The abutment element can advantageously be formed on a side of the conveyor carriage opposite the drive surface.

[0056] With the above configuration, a substantially stable position of the conveyor carriage driven by means of the drive device according to the invention can be achieved and disturbing movements of the conveyor carriage such as - depending on the exact configuration - rolling (movement about a longitudinal axis), pitching (movement about a transverse axis) and / or yawing (movement about a vertical axis) can be reduced or avoided.

[0057] A further aspect of the invention relates to a conveyor device according to the preceding aspect, wherein the drive force transmission device can be inserted into a holder formed on the conveyor device and locked therein.

[0058] The drive force transmission device can be designed as a type of suitcase module which is provided with one or more handles for handling.

[0059] Preferably, the holder can have only one, in particular translational, degree of freedom for the movement of the drive force transmission device in the direction of the pressure force.

[0060] The support can be designed as U-profiles or H-profiles that are spaced apart and open in the conveying direction. The respective profiles can be mounted on the conveyor system, for example, using a bracket.

[0061] The drive force transmission device can be coupled to the drive source in such a way that it receives the drive force. Furthermore, the drive force transmission device is configured to come into operative contact with the drive surface of a conveyor carriage in such a way that it transmits the drive force to the drive surface and thus to the conveyor carriage. An abutment element of the conveyor carriage is designed as an abutment for the drive force transmission device.

[0062] Exemplary embodiments of the conveyor device according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described below, and that individual features thereof can be combined to form further exemplary embodiments.

[0063] They show: Figure 1 shows a section of a conveyor device with a drive device according to the invention according to an embodiment of the invention in a side view; Fig. 2 shows a spatial view of the drive device according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 a plan view of a drive device which is not part of the invention.

[0064] One in Fig. 1 The drive device 1 shown according to an embodiment of the invention is arranged in a conveyor device 2 for driving conveyor carriages 4 used there, as shown in a side view of a section of the conveyor device 2. In the figures, the conveyor device 2 is designed as a split tray sorter, in which each conveyor carriage 4 has two carrying trays that can be opened downwards to unload the transported goods.

[0065] As for example in the perspective view of the Fig. 2 As shown, the drive device 1 can be arranged only on one lateral side of the conveyor device 2 and / or the conveyor carriage 4, viewed in the conveying direction RF.

[0066] The drive device 1 comprises a drive source 6 for generating a drive force Frr and a drive force transmission device 8 for transmitting the drive force FTr to a drive surface 10 of the conveyor carriage 4. The drive force FTr is configured to drive the conveyor carriage 4 approximately in the conveying direction RF and is therefore oriented approximately in the conveying direction RF. The drive force FTr is shown as the force driving the conveyor carriage 4.

[0067] The drive source 6 can, as shown here, be arranged on and / or as a component of the drive force transmission device 8 and can be designed, for example, as an electric motor. During operation, the drive force transmission device 8 presses with a pressing force FDr onto the drive surface 10 of the conveyor carriage 4 in order to transmit the drive force FTr to the drive surface 10. The drive surface 10 of the conveyor carriage 4 can be designed as an approximately horizontally arranged surface extending approximately over the entire length of the conveyor carriage 4 in the conveying direction RF, e.g., as a rail. The drive surface 10 is arranged on a lateral edge region of the conveyor carriage 4, next to the supporting shells of the conveyor carriage 4.

[0068] The conveyor carriage 4 has at least one abutment element 12, which is designed as an abutment for the drive force transmission device 8 and to support the transmission of the drive force FTr. As in the Fig. 1 As shown in the exemplary embodiment, at least one support roller 14 can be formed on the conveyor carriage 4, on which the conveyor carriage 4 is supported on the conveyor device 2 against the force of gravity. Preferably, the conveyor carriage 4 has a plurality of support rollers 14, e.g., four support rollers 14. The support rollers 14 serve to support the weight of the conveyor carriage 4 and can have an approximately horizontal axis of rotation, which is aligned approximately laterally to the conveying direction RF.

[0069] As in Fig. 2 As shown, the conveyor carriage 4 can have a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above. A support roller 14 can be arranged in each corner region of the rectangular conveyor carriage 4, so that a total of four support rollers 14 can be present on the conveyor carriage 4. Alternatively, more than four support rollers 14 can be present on the conveyor carriage 4. The support rollers 14 present on the sides of the conveyor carriage, i.e., on the left and right, as seen in the conveying direction RF can be aligned in the conveying direction RF. The conveyor carriage 4 has a conveying surface 4F on which piece goods can be deposited.

[0070] The existing support rollers 14 can perform the function of the abutment element 12. The support rollers 14 can be arranged, in particular, transversely to the conveying direction RF, i.e., in an approximately horizontal lateral direction, at a minimal distance from a line of action 18 of the pressing force FDr, preferably directly on the side of the drive surface 10 opposite the drive force transmission device 8. This allows a substantially stable position of the conveyor carriage 4 driven by the described drive device 1 to be achieved, and disruptive movements of the conveyor carriage 4, such as rolling (movement about a longitudinal axis) and / or pitching (movement about a transverse axis), can be reduced or avoided.For this purpose, the drive force transmission device 8 and the abutment elements 12 can be arranged on the side of the drive force transmission device 8 at a minimal distance from each other to the line of action 18 of the pressing force FDr, as seen transversely to the conveying direction RF. In particular, the abutment elements 12 can be arranged such that a component of the pressing force FDr that would cause pitching is smaller than a counterforce applied by the abutment elements 12.

[0071] It is also conceivable that the drive force transmission device 8 and the support rollers 14 of the conveyor carriage 4 are arranged in such a way that the line of action 18 of the pressure force FDr, seen in the direction of force, lies within or on an imaginary rectangle of connecting lines of the abutment elements 12 connected in series, that is to say all support rollers 14 on the conveyor carriage 4.

[0072] The contact force FDr is in Fig. 1 As seen in the conveying direction RF, it is shown as a resultant in the center of the drive force transmission device 8. In fact, the pressure force FDr does not act as a point load, but rather as a distributed load and acts on the drive surface 10 over a larger area, in particular to reduce or prevent the drive force transmission device 8 from penetrating into the gaps between the interconnected conveyor carriages 4.

[0073] The minimum distance between the support roller 14 and the line of action 18 of the pressure force FDr transverse to the conveying direction RF can occur when the support roller 14 (viewed in the lateral direction to the conveying direction RF) is arranged below the line of action 18 of the pressure force FDr.

[0074] Furthermore, at least one guide roller 20 can be present on the conveyor carriage 4 (see Fig. 2 ), on which the conveyor carriage 4 is supported on the conveyor device 2 against a horizontal force, for example, a centrifugal force when cornering. The guide roller 20 can have an approximately vertical axis of rotation.

[0075] On the side of the conveyor carriage 4 on which the drive force transmission device 8 is arranged (usually on the inside of the curve), a guide roller 20 can be provided at the front and rear of the conveyor carriage 4 as seen in the conveying direction RF, so that a total of two guide rollers 20 can be provided on the conveyor carriage 4. The two guide rollers 20 of successive conveyor carriages 4 are arranged in Fig. 3 shown for another embodiment. Alternatively, more than two guide rollers 20 can be present on the conveyor carriage 4.

[0076] How to continue in Fig. 1 As shown, the drive force transmission device 8 can have a drive belt 22. The drive belt 22 can be wound around two deflection rollers 24, 26. A first deflection roller 24 also represents a drive roller 24 driven by the drive source 6. A second deflection roller 26 can also be designed as a tensioning roller. Between the deflection rollers 24, 26, one or more pressure rollers 28 of the drive force transmission device 8 can be formed as a belt pressure arrangement in order to be able to press the drive belt 22 reliably onto the drive surface 10. As in the Fig. 1 As shown in the embodiment shown, four pressure rollers 28 can be formed, but depending on the center distance between the drive roller 24 and the deflection roller 26, a different number of pressure rollers 28 can be formed.

[0077] In the Fig. 1 In the exemplary embodiment shown, it is shown that the drive roller 24, the deflection roller 26 and the pressure rollers 28 can be arranged on a base plate 30 of the drive force transmission device 8, wherein the base plate 30 of the drive force transmission device 8 can be received with free end sections opposite one another in the conveying direction RF in a holder 32 attached to the conveying device 2.

[0078] The drive force transmission device 8 can, as shown, be received in the holder 32 in such a way that a drive-effective surface 34 of the drive belt 22 can be oriented substantially horizontally, wherein the drive-effective surface 34 can be pressed against the drive surface 10 with a substantially vertically oriented pressing force FDr.

[0079] The drive-effective surface 34 is provided by the side of the drive belt 22 facing the drive surface 10. It is measured in the Fig. 1 In the embodiment shown, its length is approximately between the respective support points of the drive belt 22 on the drive surface 10 at the outer pressure rollers of the drive belt, and its width is approximately the width of the drive belt. If the pressure rollers 28 with their support points are at the same level as the drive roller 24 and the deflection roller 26 with their support points, the length of the drive-effective surface 34 can alternatively be approximately between the respective support points of the drive belt 22 on the drive surface 10 at the drive roller 24 and at the deflection roller 26.

[0080] In the illustrated embodiment, the contact force FDr can correspond to the weight force FGw of the drive force transmission device 8, which is arranged above and rests on the drive surface 10. Furthermore, due to the essentially vertical orientation, the drive unit can be installed in a space-saving manner, since vertical installation space is usually more advantageous in storage and production facilities than horizontal installation space.

[0081] For example, with a weight force FGw of the drive force transmission device 8 of approximately 400 N and a friction coefficient µ of approximately 1.5 between the drive belt 22 and the drive surface 10 in the Fig. 1 shown embodiment, in which the pressure force FDr is equal to the weight of the drive force transmission device 8, the drive force FTr according to the formula drive force FTr = Reibungskoeffizient μ *Andruckkraft FDr and is approximately 600 N.

[0082] In Fig. 2 is a spatial view of the drive device 1 according to Fig. 1 shown, wherein the conveyor carriages 4 driven thereby are for a split tray sorter, which are pivotally coupled to one another on the side of the drive force transmission device 8 by means of a coupling rod 36 in the conveying plane. As shown in the exemplary embodiment, the drive force transmission device 8 and the coupling rods 36 can preferably be arranged on the same side, namely the inside of the curve of the conveyor device 2. As further shown in Fig. 2 As shown, the drive force transmission device 8 can be designed as a type of suitcase module, wherein two handles 38 for handling can be formed on the base plate 30, by which the drive force transmission device 8 can be held and thus inserted into the holder 32.

[0083] The holder 32 can be designed as profiles 40, in particular Li profiles, which are spaced apart from one another in the conveying direction RF and open to one another.

[0084] In the Fig. 1 and 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the pressing force FDr is applied exclusively by the weight of the drive force transmission device 8 with the drive source 6. Since the drive-effective surface 34 is oriented substantially horizontally as described above, the pressing force FDr acts substantially perpendicularly from the drive-effective surface 34 to the drive surface 10.

[0085] In the Fig. 3 In the further arrangement example shown, which is not part of the invention, a drive device is shown in a plan view. The differences to the previously described Fig. 1 and 2 The drive force transmission device 8 is different from the one shown in the Figuren 1 and 2 shown embodiment tilted by approximately 90°. The drive force transmission device 8 can be received in the holder 32 such that the drive-effective surface 34 of the drive belt 22 can be aligned substantially vertically, wherein the drive-effective surface 34 can be pressed against the drive surface 10 with a pressure force FDr aligned substantially horizontally and approximately laterally, i.e. approximately perpendicular to the conveying direction FR. The drive surface 10 of the conveyor carriage 4 can in this case be designed as an approximately vertically arranged surface extending approximately over the entire length of the conveyor carriage 4 in the conveying direction FR, e.g. as a rail.

[0086] Therefore, the pressing force FDr in this arrangement example cannot be caused by the weight force of the drive force transmission device 8.

[0087] As shown in the arrangement example, the pressing force FDr can be applied by means of a pressing device 42. For example, the pressing device 42 can be designed as a spring pressing device arranged between the conveying device 2 and the drive force transmission device 8.

[0088] The profiles 40 of the holder 32 can be connected to a bracket 44 on which the pressure device 42 is supported and can thus cause the pressure force FDr on the drive force transmission device 8.

[0089] In this arrangement example, the function of the abutment element 12 is performed by the guide rollers 20 of the conveyor carriage 4. The guide rollers 20 can be arranged exclusively on the side of the drive force transmission device 8. For this purpose, the guide rollers 20 can be arranged at the front and rear of the conveyor carriage 4, as seen in the conveying direction RF.

[0090] For example, the guide rollers 20 can be arranged in a guide profile 46 in which the guide rollers 20 are guided on both lateral sides, thus supporting the conveyor carriage 4 against a horizontal force, for example, a centrifugal force when cornering. The guide profile 46 can, for example, be designed as a U-profile that is open at the top or bottom.

[0091] In this case, the guide rollers 20 can be arranged, in particular, transversely to the conveying direction RF with such a minimal distance from a line of action 18 of the pressing force FDr that a substantially stable position of the conveyor carriage 4 driven by means of the described drive device 1 is achieved and disturbing movements of the conveyor carriage 4 are reduced or avoided.

[0092] In general, the guide rollers 20 can be designed to reduce yaw (movement about a vertical axis). For this purpose, the abutment elements 12 can be arranged such that the line of action 18 of the pressure force FDr is spaced at the minimum distance from a horizontal line of symmetry of the abutment elements 12, as seen transversely to the conveying direction RF. List of reference symbols

[0093] 1 Drive device 2 Conveyor device 4 Conveyor carriage 4 Conveyor surface 6 Drive source 8 Drive force transmission device 10 Drive surface 12 Abutment element 14 Support roller 18 Effective line of the pressure force 20 Guide roller 22 Drive belt 24 Drive roller 26 Deflection roller 28 Pressure roller 30 Base plate 32 Bracket 34 Drive-effective surface 36 Coupling rod 38 Handle 40 Profile 42 Pressure device 44 Bracket 46 Guide profile FDrPressure force FTrDrive force FGwWeight force RFConveying direction

Claims

1. Conveyor device (2) namely a split tray sorter, comprising at least one conveyor wagon (4) with a drive surface (10); a drive device (1), adapted for driving the at least one conveyor wagon (4) , the drive device comprises a drive source (6) for producing a drive force (FTr) and a drive force transmitting device (8) for transmitting the drive force (FTr) to the drive surface (10) of the conveyor wagon (4), wherein the conveyor wagon (4) has a receiving region (4F), in particular a conveyor surface (4F), for receiving bulk goods, characterized in that the drive surface (10) when viewed in plan view and when viewed in the drive direction is arranged laterally next to the receiving region (4F) and is aligned horizontally.

2. Conveyor device (2) according to claim 1, wherein the drive surface (10) and / or the conveyor wagon (4) is supported by means of a counterbearing element (12) against a pressing force (FDr) of the drive force transmitting device (8).

3. Conveyor device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one counterbearing element (12) is configured as a roller and / or as a sliding element of the conveyor wagon (4).

4. Conveyor device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one counterbearing element (12) is configured as a support roller (14) and / or as a guide roller (20) of the conveyor wagon (4).

5. Conveyor device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a pressing force (FDr) of the drive force transmitting device (8) on the drive surface (10) is aligned substantially perpendicularly to the drive surface (10).

6. Conveyor device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive force transmitting device (8) comprises a substantially horizontally aligned drive-effective surface (34) which is pressed with a substantially vertically aligned pressing force (FDr) onto the drive surface (10).

7. Conveyor device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a pressing force (FDr) of the drive force transmitting device (8) is brought about at least partially by means of a pressing device (42).

8. Conveyor device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive force transmitting device (8) comprises a drive belt (22) which can be pressed or is pressed by means of the pressing force (FDr) onto the drive surface (10).

9. Conveyor device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive belt (22) is wound around two deflecting rollers (24, 26), wherein a pressing arrangement (28) is provided between the two deflecting rollers (24, 26), which is adapted to press the drive belt (22) with the pressing force (FDr) onto the drive surface (10), in particular wherein the pressing arrangement (28) comprises one or more pressing rollers (28) and / or in particular wherein the deflecting rollers (24, 26) do not serve to transmit the pressing force (FDr) onto the belt.

10. Conveyor device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor device (2) comprises a plurality of drive force transmitting devices (8) arranged at pre-determined distances from one another.

11. Conveyor device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the counterbearing element (12) is formed at a minimal distance from a line of action of a pressing force (FDr) of the drive force transmitting device (8) which is less than about 50 mm.

12. Conveyor device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive force transmitting device (8) can be introduced into a holder (32) formed on the conveyor device (2) and locked therein.

13. Conveyor device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive device (1) is arranged in a fixed position during operation.