Transport bag for hanging transport of conveyed goods, as well as an unloading station, a closing station and a conveying system for these transport bags

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a transport bag for the suspended transport of conveyed goods according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to an unloading station and a closing station for such transport bags and to a conveyor system with such a station.

[0002] EP 2 130 968 A1 discloses a carrying device comprising a carrying wall with a rigid front wall and a flexible rear wall, and a closure device for detachably connecting the front wall to the rear wall. To release the connection between the front wall and the rear wall, the carrying device comprises an actuating device with an actuating means arranged at a distance from the closure device and a transmission means acting between the actuating means and the closure device. The transmission means is arranged on a front side of the front wall and is designed as a rigid pull rod. To ensure the free movement of the transmission means even when the carrying device is loaded with goods, the front wall is rigid. Due to the rigid design of the front wall, it is particularly heavy, and the maximum load capacity of the carrying device available for transporting the goods is reduced.Due to the limited flexibility of the front wall, it is also not possible to adapt to the individual geometry of the goods, which means that they are not sufficiently enclosed and can fall out of the carrying device due to vibrations and acceleration during transport.

[0003] EP 3 231 741 A1 discloses a carrying device for receiving goods, comprising a carrying wall and a closure device. The carrying wall comprises a front wall and a rear wall and can be arranged between a closed state, in which a carrying volume for receiving the goods is at least partially limited to the front, bottom, and rear, and an open state, in which the carrying volume is to be released downwards. The closure device has two locking means for reversibly connecting the front wall to the rear wall in the closed state. The two locking means are attached to the carrying wall. When releasing the goods from the carrying device, particularly large goods, can become wedged between the carrying wall and one of the two locking means. This can lead to downtimes, and the goods can fall out of the carrying device far from the intended unloading location, where they can be lost or damaged.From DE 20 2017 105 508U1, a transport bag is known, comprising a front wall, a rear wall, and a pivotable retaining bracket, wherein the front wall and the rear wall are each pivotally connected to the retaining bracket at their upper ends, and wherein at least one coupling element is arranged at the lower end of the front wall, characterized in that a channel- or trough-like base element (20; 120) is provided with a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall is pivotally connected to the rear wall, and the second side wall has at least one counter-coupling element that interacts with at least one coupling element. The disadvantage of the transport bag is loading from the side.

[0004] According to its summary, DE 20 2019 103 850 U1 relates to a transport bag for a conveyor device, comprising: - a first bag wall, - a second bag wall, - a suspension device arranged at an upper end of one of the bag walls, - wherein at a lower end of the bag walls remote from the suspension device, closing elements are arranged which can be reversibly coupled to one another and with which the lower ends of the bag walls can be connected to one another to form a bag bottom. The closing elements are designed such that they can be disengaged from the transport position closing the transport bag at the lower end by relative movement in order to release the closing elements from one another to open the transport bag at the lower end. DE 20 2019 103 850 U1 cites the following documents as further prior art: EP 2 130 968 B1, FR 2 430 363 A1, and EP 3 442 884.DE 20 2019 103850 U1 discloses the features of the preamble of claims 1 and 7.

[0005] The well-known transport bags with means for automatic unloading and closing and the conveyor systems for the transport bags are complex in design, require complicated closing and unloading stations, are not efficient enough, are sometimes noisy, heavy and are equipped with many additional safety systems to avoid operational downtimes.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of developing a generic transport bag for the hanging transport of conveyed goods, a conveyor system for the transport bags, as well as an unloading station and a closing station in such a way that an efficient transport bag is created which is compactly constructed with few parts, lightweight and foldable in the conveying direction, which can be transported in conveyor systems and can be automatically unloaded in unloading stations and closed in closing stations in an uncomplicated manner without great effort during transport, in particular at normal speed of the sorting system of the conveyor system.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention by the transport bags according to claims 1 and 7, by a conveyor system according to claim 8, by unloading stations according to claim 9 and by closing stations according to claim 10.

[0008] Further features, advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments and examples with reference to the drawings.

[0009] It shows: Fig. 1 a side view of the transport bag in the open state, Fig. 2 a perspective front view of the transport bag in the open state, Fig. 3 a perspective front view of the switching means and means for control, Fig. 4 a front view of the transport coupling with the electrical switching contacts, Fig. 5 a top view of the switching means, Fig. 6 a side view of the transport bag in the closed state, Fig. 7 a perspective rear view of the transport bag in the closed state, Fig. 8 a side view in section of the switching means, Fig. 9 a perspective top view of the front frame, Fig. 10 a perspective top view of the rear frame, Fig. 11a front view in section of the conveyor system and the unloading station, Fig. 12 a perspective rear view of the conveyor system and the unloading station, Fig. 13 a perspective rear view of the conveyor system and the closing station, Fig. 14 a side view of the locking station, Fig. 15 a front view of the conveyor system and the closing station, Fig. 16 a perspective rear view of the transport bag in the closed state, Fig. 17 a perspective rear view of the transport bag in the open state in the unloading station, Fig. 18 a perspective side view of a fragment of the linear locking elements, Fig. 19 a perspective side view of the linear locking elements, Fig. 20 a front view of the linear locking elements, Fig. 21 a side view of the linear locking elements, Fig. 22 a perspective rear view of the conveyor system and the closing station, Fig. 23a side view of the locking station, Fig. 24 a front view of the conveyor system and the closing station, Fig. 25 a perspective front view of the loading station, Fig. 26 a side view of the empty transport pockets in the conveyor system on a buffer line with a hitchhiker, Fig. 27 a perspective rear view of the empty transport pockets in the conveyor system on a buffer line with a hitchhiker.

[0010] In Fig. 1 to 5 a transport bag 2 is shown in the open state 22, consisting of a suspension device 1 with rollers 50 and a coupling 23 for transmission according to Fig. 11the driving force of the conveyor element 35. Furthermore, reference is made to DE102021002833A1, from which the suspension device 1 is previously known. The transport bags 2 are slidably mounted on the rollers 50 in a transport rail 33. The loading frame 20 is installed in the lower region of the suspension device 1. The loading frame 20 is rectangular and preferably consists of a metal wire. The support wall 54, which can be folded in the conveying direction 37, is attached to the loading frame 20 by means of seams and secured with the protective strips 62. The support wall 54 consists of a front wall 4, a rear wall 5 and side walls 3 and is at least partially made of flexible material. The material is preferably flame-retardant and, in particular, halogen-free.Located in the lower area of ​​the transport bag 2 is the closure device 56 for releasably connecting the front wall 4 to the rear wall 5 in the closed state 21 for receiving the conveyed item 39 and for releasing the connection between the front wall 4 and the rear wall 5 from the closed state 21 in the open state 22 to release the conveyed item 39 downwards. The closure device 56 includes a front frame 13 and a rear frame 11 which are pivotably connected to one another by hinges 12 and can be folded together to reversibly create a closed state 21 or open state 22 of the transport bag 2. The front frame 13 is attached to the front wall 4. The rear frame 11 is attached with the lower area 57 to the rear wall 5 and with the lateral areas 29 to the side walls 3. The rear wall 5 includes a stabilizing plate 6 in the lower outer area to prevent the loaded material 39 from tilting.The locking means 24 for reversibly connecting and opening the locking device 56 are located in the lower region of the locking device 56 and consist of a holding element 7 with a round eyelet 45 on the front frame 13 and, on the rear frame 11, of a reversible locking latch 18 consisting of an electric drive 10 which drives a linearly movable locking element 8 with a bevelled tip 59.

[0011] The rod-shaped locking element 8 is connected to the electric drive 10 by a hinge 17 and mounted in the linear guides 9, which are preferably linear ball bearings. The electric drive 10 is connected to the electrical contacts 14 by an electrical line 15. The electrical contacts 14 are positioned on the suspension device 1 on the right and left, mirror-inverted in the conveying direction. The electric drive 10 is preferably a cost-effective lifting magnet with a spring return and a movable rod-shaped armature. The reversible locking mechanism 18 is closed with the aid of the spring of the electric drive 10, whereby the locking element 8 moves into the eyelet 45 of the holding element 7, which is enclosed between the guides 19 at this moment.For opening, the electric drive 10 is switched on for a short time, the locking element 8 moves away from the holding element 7 and the reversible locking lock 18 is released, the locking device 56 opens.

[0012] According to Fig. 6 to 8 The transport bag 2 is shown in the closed state 21. The front frame 13 and the rear frame 11 are folded together. The locking element 8 is retracted into the eyelet 45 of the holding element 7, which is enclosed between the guides 19 at this moment. The transport bag 2 is in the closed state 21 and is ready to receive the conveyed goods 39.

[0013] The front frame 13 forms according to Fig. 9 a base body 25 in U-profile shape with hinge elements 27 on both sides with hinge bearings 26 for the hinge shaft. In the lower area of ​​the front frame 13 is the bracket 7 with the eyelet 45. The rear frame 11 forms according to Fig. 10a U-shaped frame made of a U-profile with hinge elements on both sides with hinge bearings 28 for the hinge shaft. The reversible locking mechanism 18 is located in the lower area of ​​the rear frame 11.

[0014] According to Figs. 11 and 12the unloading station 49 for the transport bags 2 is shown with a locking device 56, which has a front frame 13 and a rear frame 11, which are pivotally connected to one another by means of the hinges 12 and which can be folded together. The unloading station 49 serves to unload the conveyed goods 39 onto the unloading stations and to receive the unloaded conveyed goods 39. The unloading station 49 is fastened to the conveyor system, which preferably represents the sorting system for the transport bags 2. The conveyor system preferably has a conveyor rail 33 made of aluminum with a box-shaped and symmetrical cross-section with conveyor element guides 34 with the upper limiting webs for the rollers 50 and with the running webs for the rollers 50. The conveyor element 35 can be driven in rotation by means of an electric motor (not shown).The electric motor preferably has an acceleration ramp and a braking ramp to reduce the axial displacements and the resulting forces. The conveyor element 35 is preferably a cost-effective, commercially available roller chain with pivoting joints. The conveyor element 35 includes the drivers 36 on its underside. The driven transport pockets 2 are located in the transport rail 33 below the conveyor element 35. The unloading station 49 is attached to the transport rail 33 and includes switchable electrical switching contacts 31, which are mounted in a body 30 with at least one drive 32 in directions 52, 53. These switching contacts are preferably spring-loaded carbon brush contacts and have a corresponding connection to the electrical power grid.To open the closure device 56 for unloading the transport bag 2, the electric drive 10 is switched on for a short time, the reversible locking latch 18 is released, the closure device 56 opens, and the material to be conveyed 39 is unloaded from the transport bag 2. The switching takes place in the unloading station 49 in that electrical current is supplied to the electrical contacts 14 using the electrical switching contacts 31 of the unloading station 49, which, at the moment the contacts are reached, extend in the direction 52 using the drives 32 until contact with the electrical contacts 14 is made, establishing an electrical connection with the electrical contacts 14 and switching with electrical current from the electric drive 10, so that the closure device 56 opens and the transport bag 2 is unloaded.Unloading can take place in any conveying direction, namely when the electrical contacts 14 slide against the switched electrical switching contacts 31 and also with the transport pockets 2 stopped.

[0015] The Fig. 13 to 15show the closing station 51 for the transport bags 2 with a locking device 56, which includes a front frame 13 and a rear frame 11, for releasably connecting the front wall 4 to the rear wall 5 in the closed state 21 in order to receive the conveyed goods 39. The means for locking the locking device 56 include a lifting ramp 38 with lateral guide webs 42 for pivoting up and aligning the open transport bag 2. The open transport bag 2 is guided in the conveying direction 37 on the incline of the lifting ramp 38 with the conveyor system and displaced in a centered manner. The conveyor system has a transport rail 33 with a box-shaped and symmetrical cross-section with conveyor element guides 34, with the upper limit webs for the rollers 50 and with the running webs for the rollers 50. The conveyor element 35 can be driven in rotation by means of an electric motor (not shown).The underside of the conveyor element 35 contains drivers 36. Below the conveyor element 35, in the transport rail 33, are the driven transport pockets 2. In the upper area of ​​the lifting ramp 38, the locking device 56 folds together under its own weight due to the inclined position of the transport pocket 2, so that the locking device 56 is ready for locking. At the same time, when the electrical contacts 14 are reached, i.e. the contact position with the electrical switching contacts 31, the electrical switching contacts 31 are activated by the drive 32 and extend in direction 52 to establish an electrical connection with the electrical contacts 14 and to switch the electrical drive 10 with an electrical current. The reversible locking lock 18 of the closing means 24 opens, so that the holding element 7 moves between the guides 19 without resistance.After the electric drive 10 is switched off, the reversible locking mechanism 18 closes the holding element 7 using the spring and creates the locking state 21.

[0016] According to Fig. 16 to 211 shows a transport bag 2 with a closure device 56, which has a linear front closure element 44 and a linear rear closure element 43. The linear front closure element 44 is fastened to the lower region of the front wall 4, and the linear rear closure element 43 is fastened opposite in the lower region of the rear wall 5. The linear front closure element 44 and the linear rear closure element 43 include centering means 46, 47, 48 for the guided displacement of the linear closure elements 44 and 43 relative to one another into the closed state 21. At least one closure means 24 is provided, preferably two. The closing means 24 comprise a holding element 7 on the linear front closing element 44 of the closure device 56 and the reversible locking lock 18 on the linear rear closing element 43 of the closure device 56 and are constructed in the same way as described above according to the Fig. 1 to 5 is revealed.

[0017] Fig. 17 shows an unloading station 49 with the transport bag 2 with a closure device 56, which includes a linear front closing element 44 and a linear rear closing element 43. The unloading station 49 has the same structure and properties as described above according to the Figs. 11 and 12 is revealed.

[0018] The Fig. 22 to 24 show the closing station 51 for the transport bags 2 with a closing device 56 with linear closing elements 44 and 43.

[0019] The means for locking the closure device 56 include a lifting ramp 38 with lateral guide webs 42 for pivoting up and aligning the open transport bag 2 to bring it into the closed state 21 by guiding the open transport bag 2 by the lateral guide webs 42 with the conveyor system in the conveying direction 37 on the incline of the lifting ramp 38 and displacing it in a centered manner. In the upper region of the lifting ramp 38, the transport bag 2 folds under its own weight due to the inclined position, and the closure device 56 with the linear closing elements 44 and 43, which have the centering means 46, 47, 48 for the guided displacement of the linear closing elements 44 and 43 relative to one another, is prepared for locking.At the same time, when the electrical contacts 14 reach the position for contacting the electrical switching contacts 31, the electrical contacts 31 are activated by the drive 32 and extend in the direction 52 to establish an electrical connection with the electrical contacts 14 and to switch the electrical drive 10 with an electrical current. The reversible locking mechanism 18 of the locking means 24 opens, so that the holding elements 7 retract between the guides 19 without resistance, and the locking device 56 is moved into the closed state 21 by means of the springs after the electrical drives 10 are switched off.

[0020] According to Fig. 25The loading station 58 is shown. The loading station 58 is used to set up and position the transport pockets 2 on the loading table 40. This is achieved by means of a conveyor system (not shown). After setting up and positioning on the loading table 40, the material 39 is loaded into the transport pocket 2 manually or with a conveyor belt. The loaded transport pocket 2 is then preferably conveyed into the sorting system to distribute the material 39 to the unloading stations 49.

[0021] According to Figs. 26 and 27a storage section 41 with empty transport pockets 2 is shown. The transport pockets 2 are stopped by a separator or stop device 61 and move together on the gradient, folding in the conveying direction 37 and thus creating the maximum density with respect to one another with a total depth L. The suspension device 1 has a maximum dimension B and essentially forms the maximum depth of an empty folded transport pocket 2 in the conveying direction 37, preferably it is larger, so that when the empty transport pockets 2 are accumulated, the total depth of all transport pockets 2 does not exceed a dimension of L = B x number of transport pockets 2.

Claims

1. A transport bag (2) for a conveying system, wherein the transport bag (2) is configured for receiving conveying good (39) and comprises: - a support wall (54) comprising front wall (4) and rear wall (5), - a loading frame (20), which is connected to the support wall (54), representing an upper loading opening of the support wall (54), for arranging the front wall (4) spaced apart from the rear wall (5), - a suspension device (1), - a closure device (56) for detachably connecting the front wall (4) to the rear wall (5) in a closure state (21) for receiving the conveying good (39) and for opening the connection between the front wall (4) and the rear wall (5) from the closure state (21) into an open state (22) in order to release the conveying good (39) downwards, - at least one closing means (24) for reversibly connecting and opening the closure device (56), and - an electric drive (10); wherein the closing means (24) is operated with the electric drive (10) und wherein means for control of the electric drive (10) are provided, characterized in that - the electrical drive (10) is an electric traction magnet, which is electrically controllable, including a spring return and a movable rod-shaped anchor; and in that - the means for control of the electric drive (10) are electrical contacts (14) on the transport bag (2), which are attached to the transport bag (2) and connected, by an electric line (15), to the electric drive (10) in order to establish an electrical connection to the electric drive (10).

2. The transport bag (2) of claim 1 wherein the electric contacts (14) are attached to the suspension device (1) of the transport bag (2).

3. The transport bag (2) of any of claims 1 to 2 wherein the closure device (56) comprises a front frame (13) and a rear frame (11) being pivotally connected to each other, preferably by hinges (12), and foldable to each other for the reversibly generating of the closure state (21), or the open state (22), of the transport bag (2), and the front frame (13) is attached to the front wall (4) and the rear frame (11) is attached to the rear wall (5).

4. The transport bag (2) of claim 3, wherein the support wall (54) is formed at least partially, preferably completely, of a flexible fabric, in particular preferably of a textile fabric, the support wall (54) comprises side walls (3), the rear frame (11) is attached with lateral sections (29) to the side walls (3) for securing the conveying good (39) from falling out, and the closing means (24) is located in a lower section (57) of the closure device (56).

5. The transport bag of any of claims 3 to 4, wherein the closing means (24) comprises a reversible closing lock (18) on the rear frame (11) of the closure device (56), the reversible closing lock (18) comprises a linearly movable rod-shaped locking element (8) connected to the electric drive (10) and supported in the linear guides (9), and closing of the reversible closing lock (18) is operated by the return spring of the electric drive (10) and opening is operated by switching of the electric drive (10).

6. The transport bag (2) of claim 5, wherein the closing means (24) comprises, on the front frame (13) of the closure device (56), a holding element (7) having an eyelet (45), and when the closure device (56) is folded together, the holding element (7) is positioned such that the locking element (8) is movable into the eyelet (45) of the holding element (7) for closing the closure device (56).

7. A transport bag (2), the transport bag being configured for receiving conveying good (39), and comprising: - a support wall (54) comprising front wall (4) and rear wall (5); - a loading frame (20), which is connected to a support wall (54), representing an upper loading opening of the support wall (54) for arranging the front wall (4) spaced apart from the rear wall (5); - a suspension device (1); - a closure device (56) for detachably connecting the front wall (4) to the rear wall (5) into a closure state (21) for receiving the conveying good (39) and for releasing the connection between the front wall (4) and the rear wall (5) from the closure state (21) into an open state (22) for releasing the conveying good (39) downwards; - at least one closing means (24) for reversibly connecting and opening the closure device (56); - an electric drive (10); and - means for control of the electric drive (10); wherein the closing means (24) is operated by the electric drive (10); characterized in that the closure device (56) comprises a front frame (13) and a rear frame (11) being pivotally connected to each other, preferably by hinges (12), and foldable to each other for reversible generation of a closure state (21), or an open state (22), of the transport bag (2), and wherein the front frame (13) is attached to the front wall (4), and the rear frame (11) is attached to the rear wall (5); wherein the support wall (54) is formed at least partially of a flexible fabric; wherein the support wall (54) comprises side walls (3); wherein the rear frame (11) is attached with lateral sections (29) to the side walls (3) for securing the conveying good (39) from falling out; and wherein the closing means (24) is located in a lower section (57) of the closure device (56).

8. A conveying installation including - a transport rail (33), - a conveying element (35), which is movably supported in the transport rail (33) along a conveying direction (37), with drivers (36), - at least one transport bag (2) of one of claims 1 to 7 supported in the transport rail (33) below the conveying element (35), - an unloading station (49) for the at least one transport bag (2) including means for opening the closure device (56) of the at least one transport bag (2) for unloading the conveying good (39) onto the unloading locations, - a closing station (51) for the at least one transport bag (2) including means for locking the closure device (56) of the at least one transport bag (2), - a loading station (58) for the at least one transport bag (2) including a loading table (40) for manually, or by means of a transport belt automatically, transporting the conveying good (39) into the at least one transport bag (2), and - accumulation paths (41) including separations and stopping devices (61).

9. An unloading station (49) including a transport bag (2) of one of claims 1 to 6 and means for opening the closure device (56), wherein the means for opening the closure device (56) are electric switching contacts (31)supplied with electric current, and the electric switching contacts (31) generate, when switched, a contact to the electric contacts (14) on the transport bag (2), and establish an electric connection to the electric drive (10) for switching the electric drive (10) so that the closure device (56) opens and the conveying good (39) is unloaded.

10. A closing station (51) including a transport bag (2) of any of claims 1 to 6 and means for locking the closure device (56) of the transport bag (2), wherein the means for locking the closure device (56) comprise a lifting ramp (38) for swiveling up the transport bag (2) when conveyed in direction (37) in an inclination section of the lifting ramp (38) so that, due to an inclined position of the transport bag (2), a centered merging of the closure device (56) into the closure state (21) is created, and at the same time the electric switching contacts (31) are activated for establishing an electric connection to the electric drive (10) using the electric contacts (14) of the transport bag (2) and for opening the reversible closing lock (18) of the closing means (24) so that the closure device (56) is provided for locking, and, after deactivating the drive (10), the closure state (21) is generated by using a return spring.