METHOD FOR OPERATING A CONVEYOR FOR CONSEQUENTIAL GOODS AND CORRESPONDING CONVEYOR SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a conveyor for successive goods, in which the goods are successively fed onto the conveyor in an infeed device and are diverted at a predetermined point of the conveyor via a diverter, according to claim 1.

[0002] These are preferably so-called overhead conveyors or hanging conveyors for hanging goods, which are either contained in bags, pouches, etc. or transported by means of brackets that engage in adapters and are then moved via overhead conveyor chains.

[0003] From EP 2 789 555 A1, for example, a device for order-oriented provision of individual goods for several orders from a warehouse is known, comprising at least one intermediate storage unit connected to a warehouse for temporarily storing individual goods of at least one order, a collection area connected to each intermediate storage unit for collecting the individual goods of the at least one completed order, and a separation area having several dispensing lines for order-oriented provision of the individual goods of the at least one completed order. EP 0 765 826 A1 discloses the features of the preamble of claims 1 and 8.

[0004] In this system, the fixed distance between the adapters and the fixed distance between the drive chain carriers determines the distance between the transport of successive hanging garments or bags, regardless of how wide the goods are in the conveying direction and where the goods are to be transported in the system.

[0005] In contrast, the object of the present invention is to create a possibility in which the distance between the transport of successive goods, in particular hanging garments or bags, can be adjusted in a space-optimized manner.

[0006] This problem is solved by the method described in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims and the description.

[0007] According to the invention, it has been recognized that if the goods are fed successively onto the conveyor in an infeed unit and are diverted at a predetermined point on the conveyor via a diverter, wherein the distance between successive goods on the conveyor is either minimized if these successive goods are to be diverted at the same diverter, or the distance of the successive goods on the conveyor is increased to correspond to the minimum diverter distance if the successive goods are not to be diverted at the same diverter, it is possible to arrange the goods closer together on the conveyor track with the same objective and thus achieve an increase in capacity through space savings.

[0008] Alternatively, the distance can also be optimized for goods without the same destination, provided that the distance is at least large enough to allow the switch for the first diversion to be activated, the goods to be diverted, and the switch to be closed again before the next goods are conveyed past the switch.

[0009] In other words, goods with the same destination are fed in as a group with close spacing, whereas goods with different destinations are spaced out so that they can be selectively and then discharged together as a group. This not only saves space on the conveyor but also reduces discharge time at the switch.

[0010] According to the invention, the conveyor is an overhead conveyor with a chain drive. The chain drive defines a fixed pitch, and the distance between the goods is determined by the variable engagement distance in the chain. In other words, the distance between the goods is determined by the engagement or interaction with the chain. The chain typically has fixed spacing between the drive lugs or eyelets. This fixed pitch defines a grid within which the goods can be attached to the chain (with or without adapters).

[0011] Additionally, it can be advantageous if the spacing between goods also includes their respective thickness or extent in the conveying direction. The respective thickness can be predefined and stored for retrieval by the injector. For this purpose, the injector can be equipped with an identification device to, for example, recognize the goods and retrieve the thickness from a database. Thus, the goods can be identified in the injector and / or their properties, especially their thickness in the conveying direction, can be determined.

[0012] Additionally or alternatively, the spacing of successive goods on the conveyor can be adjusted for further optimization using a thickness measuring device in the infeed unit.

[0013] Within the scope of the invention, it is possible to feed the goods sequentially and individually into an infeed unit onto the conveyor. In other words, the goods can be fed individually into the infeed unit via a singulation mechanism. Alternatively, a group or cluster of goods can be fed into the infeed unit in one go. Such a group can preferably be the group that comprises at least the consecutive goods that are to be discharged at the same diverter.

[0014] It goes without saying that such conveyors must include at least one collection section with several inlets and several switches.

[0015] Preferably, the minimum rejection distance is determined by the distance between successive diverts in the conveying direction. This can be selected so that, despite high conveying speeds, sufficient time remains to actuate the divert for the first rejection, to discharge the material, and to close the divert again before the next material is conveyed past the divert.

[0016] It is advisable to set the spacing of successive goods in the infeed unit once, when they are fed onto the conveyor.

[0017] The invention also relates to a corresponding conveying system with a conveyor for successive goods and with at least one infeed device to feed the goods successively onto the conveyor, and with at least one diverter to divert goods at a predetermined point on the conveyor via the diverter, and with a control system configured to minimize the distance between successive goods on the conveyor by controlling the infeed device if they are to be diverted at the same diverter, or to increase the distance between successive goods on the conveyor to correspond to the minimum diverter distance if they are not to be diverted at the same diverter.

[0018] According to the invention, the conveyor is a suspended conveyor with chain drive, and the chain drive defines a fixed pitch, and the distance between the goods is determined by the variable distance of the engagement in the chain, and the control system is designed to feed goods with the same destination in as a bunch with a small distance between them, whereas goods with different destinations are spaced so that they can be selectively fed in and then discharged together as a bunch.

[0019] Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of an overhead conveyor system during infeed; Fig. 2 the schematic diagram of the overhead conveyor system of Figure 1 after the infeed and Fig. 3 the schematic principle view of the overhead conveyor system of Figure 1 during disembarkation shows.

[0020] The figures show a suspended conveyor system labelled as a whole with the number 100.

[0021] It includes a main conveyor line 1, which is fed with goods 5, 6 via inlets 3A, B and has outlets 4A, B for forwarding the goods in the system.

[0022] The overhead conveyor system 100 is monitored and controlled by a central control unit 2. The control unit 2 regulates both the drive and the infeed 3 and outfeed 4.

[0023] In addition, the control unit 2 is connected to a thickness measuring device 9 in the inlets 3 in order to optically determine the respective thickness of the goods in the conveying direction using light grids and then to adjust the distance to each other during inlet operation and thus on the conveying path 1.

[0024] The infeed points 3A and B have feed units 7A and B, which are designed for the individual feeding of the suspended goods 5 and 6 onto the conveyor line 1. By means of appropriate control, a transport distance T between the goods from the respective infeed point can be set on line 1, depending on their respective thickness D1 and D2 and their destination (outfeed).

[0025] Discharges 4A and B are connected to conveyor line 1 via controllable switches 8A and B, and can be selectively supplied with goods. Discharges 4 lead to packing stations (not shown).

[0026] The distance X in the conveying direction between the diverts 8A, B or the diverts 4A, B corresponds to a minimum divert distance, which is chosen so that despite high conveying speed, there is enough time to actuate the divert 8A for the first divert 4A, to divert the material 6 and to close the divert 8A again before the next material 5 is conveyed past the divert 8A to reach the divert 8B.

[0027] Goods 5, 6 in the respective entry points 3A, B have been sorted in the inbound process, so that in the present example they are order-pure.

[0028] Therefore, goods 5 all have a common goal, namely expulsion 4B, and goods 6 have a different common goal, namely expulsion 4A.

[0029] The other goods (10) serve to illustrate that they have different goals, distances, etc.

[0030] Goods 5 have a thickness D1 and goods 6 have a thickness D2. As illustrated, thickness D1 is greater than thickness D2, so the distance T1 between goods 5 is greater than the distance T2 between goods 6.

[0031] The distance T1 and also the distance T2 are therefore minimized with respect to the thickness D1, 2 in the conveying direction.

[0032] At the same time, the transport distance between the group of goods 5 and the group of goods 6 is equal to the minimum exit distance X, since they have different destinations.

[0033] The minimum absolute distance between two goods is determined by the fact that the conveyor is an overhead conveyor equipped with a chain drive, and the chain drive defines a fixed pitch, and the distance between the goods is determined by the variable distance of the engagement with the chain.

[0034] The goods 5, 6 are in the present case contained in hanging bags which are carried (moved) by the drive chain via adapters in a manner known (cf. EP 3 480 142 A1).

Claims

1. Method for operating a conveyor (1) for goods (5, 6) following one behind the other, wherein the goods (5, 6) are fed onto the conveyor (1) one after another in an introduction means (3A, 3B) and are discharged at a predetermined location of the conveyor (1) via a switch point (8A, 8B), wherein the conveyor (1) is an overhead conveyor having a chain drive and the chain drive defines a fixed division and the distance between the goods (5, 6) is fixed by the variable distance of the engagement in the chain, characterised in that the distance between successive goods (5, 6) on the conveyor (1) is either minimised when these successive goods (5, 6) are to be discharged at the same switch point (8A, 8B), or the distance between the successive goods (5, 6) on the conveyor (1) is enlarged such that it corresponds to the minimum discharge distance when the successive goods (5, 6) are not to be discharged at the same switch point (8A, 8B), so that goods (5, 6) having the same destination are introduced within a small distance of each other as a batch, whereas goods (5, 6) having a different destination are spaced apart from each other such that they can be discharged in a targeted manner and then together as a batch.

2. Method for operating a conveyor as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the distance between the successive goods (5, 6) on the conveyor (1) is minimised when the successive goods (5, 6) are to be discharged at the same switch point (8A, 8B) because they belong to the same order and / or destination.

3. Method for operating a conveyor (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the distance between the successive goods (5, 6) on the conveyor is adjusted for further optimisation using a thickness measuring device (9) in the introduction means (3A, 3B).

4. Method for operating a conveyor (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the conveyor comprises a gathering path having a plurality of introduction means (3A, 3B) and a plurality of switch points (8A, 8B).

5. Method for operating a conveyor (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the minimum discharge distance is determined by the distance between the successive switch points (8A, 8B) in the conveying direction.

6. Method for operating a conveyor (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the distance between the successive goods in the introduction means (3A, 3B) is fixed once upon introduction of the goods onto the conveyor (1).

7. Method for operating a conveyor (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the goods (5, 6) are identified in the introduction means (3A, 3B) and / or the properties thereof, in particular thickness in the conveying direction, are determined.

8. Conveying system (100) having a conveyor (1) for goods (5, 6) following one behind the other, and having at least one introduction means (3A, 3B) in order to feed the goods (5, 6) onto the conveyor (1) one after another, and having at least one switch point (8A, 8B) in order to discharge goods (5, 6) at a predetermined location of the conveyor via the switch point (8A, 8B) , and with a controller (2), wherein the conveyor (1) is an overhead conveyor having a chain drive and the chain drive defines a fixed division and the distance between the goods (5, 6) is fixed by the variable distance of the engagement in the chain, characterised in that the controller (2) is configured to minimise the distance between successive goods (5, 6) on the conveyor (1) by actuating the introduction means (3A, 3B), when said goods are to be discharged at the same switch point (8A, 8B), or to enlarge the distance between the successive goods (5, 6) on the conveyor (1) such that it corresponds to the minimum discharge distance when said goods are not to be discharged at the same switch point (8A, 8B), and the controller (2) is configured to introduce goods (5, 6) having the same destination within a small distance of each other as a batch, whereas goods (5, 6) having a different destination are spaced apart from each other such that they can be discharged in a targeted manner and then together as a batch.