VERTICAL CONVEYORS FOR TRANSPORTING UNIT GOODS AND METHOD FOR VERTICAL TRANSPORTING

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vertical conveyor for transporting unit loads.

[0002] Vertical conveyors are a type of material handling equipment used to transport product flows (usually in the form of individual items) upwards and downwards. Vertical conveyors are also used in combination with fully automated picking systems, for example, for storing medical supplies (pharmacy packages, dietary supplement packages, packaged bandages, etc.) in pharmacies.

[0003] A major advantage of fully automated picking systems is that they can store more individual items in a given footprint than manually operated storage systems. In the past, pharmacies commonly stored pharmaceuticals by type in horizontally extendable drawers and retrieved them manually as needed. Due to the number and depth of the drawers, manual storage systems require a large storage area – the pharmacy itself is then typically much smaller than the storage space.

[0004] While the use of fully automated picking systems allows for space savings, a relatively large floor area is still required. Since modern picking systems are fully automated, quick access to the systems themselves and the items stored within them is no longer as crucial. Therefore, the trend is to install the picking systems on a floor above the pharmacy – this allows for the largest possible pharmacy layout.

[0005] Conventional vertical conveyors for pharmacies are primarily spiral chutes or lifts. Spiral chutes have the disadvantage of requiring a relatively large amount of space, for example, a diameter of approximately 60 cm. The familiar lifts are complex and require significant maintenance. Furthermore, the aforementioned vertical conveyors have the disadvantage that the transfer of packages from the picking device to the vertical conveyor often results in damage to the packages themselves, which should be avoided, especially with pharmaceutical packaging, as damaged packaging regularly evokes negative associations in patients.

[0006] From FR 2 092 789 A1, a vertical conveyor for transporting unit loads is known, comprising a frame structure with a receiving section and a discharge section for unit loads, a vertically oriented guide device for the guided vertical movement of unit loads with a first guide element made of a reversibly deformable material and at least one second guide element. The first guide element is attached to the frame structure at the discharge section. The vertical conveyor further comprises a support unit that is vertically movable between the receiving section and the discharge section, with at least one support arm that is horizontally movable between a closed position and a release position. The support arm encompasses the first guide element, at least partially.The first and second guide elements of the guide device and the support arm are designed such that the support arm deforms the first guide element at least partially reversibly during a vertical movement of the support arm and, in the closed position, forms a damping section from the first guide element and the second guide element that can be deformed at least partially by a piece of goods and prevents a downward movement of the piece of goods.

[0007] WO 2006 / 038065 A2 discloses a device for controlling the lowering of delicate products inside the forming tube of a vertical packaging machine. The packaging machine comprises at least one vertical conveyor belt inserted into the forming tube and equipped with a shelf (for receiving products) that is rigidly connected to the belt and rotates downwards upon reaching the level of the lower deflection roller to allow the gradual release of the products towards the bottom of the forming tube.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a vertical conveyor for the vertical transport of unit loads, in which unit loads are picked up and transported even more gently and which is structurally uncomplicated and therefore requires little maintenance.

[0009] The problem is solved by a vertical conveyor for transporting unit loads according to claim 1.

[0010] The vertical conveyor according to the invention for transporting unit loads comprises a frame structure with a receiving section and a discharge section for unit loads, a vertically oriented guide device for guided vertical movement of unit loads with a first guide means with a reversibly deformable material and a second guide means with a reversibly deformable material, wherein the first and the second guide means are attached to the frame structure at the receiving section and the discharge section, as well as a support unit movable vertically between the receiving section and the discharge section with two support arms movable horizontally between a closed position and a release position.

[0011] According to the invention, it is provided that the support arms comprise the first and the second guide means at least partially, and that the first and second guide means of the guiding device and the support arms are designed such that the support arms deform the first and second guide means at least partially reversibly during a vertical movement of the support arms, and in the closed position form a damping section from the first guide means and the second guide means which can be deformed at least partially by a piece of goods and which prevents a downward movement of the piece of goods.

[0012] In the vertical conveyor according to the invention, the unit loads are not simply transferred, for example, into a transport trough or onto a chute, which could damage them upon contact. Instead, a damping section is provided that cushions the impact of the unit loads and gently receives them. The use of two guide elements, which at least partially comprise a reversibly deformable material, ensures particularly gentle handling of the unit loads.

[0013] In the vertical conveyor according to the invention, this damping section is not provided by a defined component that is moved between a receiving and a discharge position, but is provided by a deformation of a section of the reversibly deformable material of the first and second guide means of the guide device in interaction, namely by the support arms moving the reversibly deformable material horizontally, thereby forming the damping section closed at the bottom.

[0014] To achieve the damping property, it is necessary either to arrange the first and second guide elements accordingly in the vertical conveyor and / or to provide the reversibly deformable material (of the first and second guide elements) with additional material properties, for example by making it elastic.

[0015] As already mentioned, the support arms and the first and second guide means of the guiding device are designed in such a way that, during a vertical movement, the support arms reversibly deform the guide means and, in the closed position, form a damping section from the first guide means and the second guide means that can be reversibly deformed at least partially by a piece of goods, preventing a downward movement of the piece of goods.

[0016] If the reversibly deformable material is provided, for example, by two essentially parallel textile fabric webs and encompassed by the support arms, and these are moved together (closed position), the damping section has a roughly U- or V-shaped cross-section, depending on the "tension" of the textile fabric webs.

[0017] The support arms of the vertical conveyor's carrying unit are horizontally movable to form a damping section at the receiving section, which picks up individual items. During the downward movement of the carrying unit, one support arm remains positioned close enough to the other to prevent items from slipping through. The reversibly deformable material moves past the support arms, and the damping section is thus also shifted vertically as the carrying unit moves. When the carrying unit reaches the discharge section of the vertical conveyor, the guide elements must be separated by extending the support arms to release the item(s). The damping section must then be opened or disengaged so that the items can be discharged.

[0018] A further advantage of the vertical conveyor according to the invention is that, due to its design with the reversibly deformable material and the "moving" damping section, it can be operated extremely quietly. Customers in a pharmacy are therefore not disturbed by its operation.

[0019] As described above, the vertical conveyor according to the invention comprises two support arms. Crucially, the first and second guide elements can be combined to form a damping section that prevents vertical movement of a piece of material and dampens its impact. In the following, the term "one" support arm is regularly used, but the description applies to both support arms.

[0020] To move a support arm horizontally, it is conceivable to equip the support unit with a corresponding drive that ensures horizontal movement of the support arm. However, this has the disadvantage that the design of the support unit is more complex and prone to failure. Furthermore, the weight of the support unit itself increases when a drive is installed for the horizontal movement of a support arm. In a preferred embodiment of the vertical conveyor according to the invention, it is therefore provided that it has a vertically oriented support arm positioning device with a positioning recess, and that a support arm has an actuating section that engages in the positioning recess, wherein the positioning recess has a holding section and at least one opening section, wherein an opening section causes a horizontal movement of a support arm when the support unit moves vertically.In this embodiment, the movement of a support arm is not controlled by the support unit itself, but "from the outside" via the support arm positioning device, which extends along the guide element. Since the actuating section of a support arm engages in the positioning recess, the shape of the positioning recess causes a horizontal movement of the support arm when the support unit moves vertically. This makes it possible to use a structurally simple support unit that does not require its own drive for the horizontal movement of a support arm. The provision of the positioning recess and an actuating section on a support arm represents a mechanically simple and reliable system for moving and positioning the support arm.

[0021] In order to make the opening movement of a support arm particularly frictionless and gentle, in a preferred embodiment of the vertical conveyor according to the invention it is provided that a support arm is pivotably attached to the support unit and an opening section of the positioning recess is designed in a circular arc shape.

[0022] As explained above, a key aspect of the invention is that a damping section can be provided through the design of the guide elements of the guide device and the support arms. Furthermore, it is provided that a support arm, in its closed position, is guided past the reversible material of a guide element. To adjust, for example, the clamping force exerted by a support arm on the reversibly deformable material and to enable gentle movement of a support arm along the reversibly deformable material, a preferred embodiment provides that a support arm has at least one rotatable roller in a contact area with the reversible material of a guide element. By adjusting the rotational resistance, it is possible, for example, to adjust the damping characteristics of the damping section.Once the rotational resistance of the rollers is overcome, they rotate, reversibly deformable material is drawn into the damping section and becomes part of the damping section.

[0023] In a particularly simple design, the reversibly deformable material is provided by two parallel vertically oriented fabric panels, each attached to the frame structure at the receiving section and the delivery section.

[0024] In addition to the possibilities already described above for providing the damping section with its special properties, an alternative or additional embodiment of the guide device provides for a guide element to be pre-tensioned at the receiving section and / or the delivery section on the frame structure, for example by means of one or more springs.

[0025] As explained above, upon reaching the discharge section, the unit(s) located in the damping section are discharged by opening the damping section. In a vertically oriented conveyor, this means that the unit(s) can fall downwards through a bottom opening due to gravity. However, since this increases the risk of damage to the unit(s), a preferred embodiment of the vertical conveyor includes a discharge device that allows the unit(s) to be discharged laterally. In this context, it is particularly advantageous for this discharge device to include an adjustable discharge element, so that the unit(s) can be discharged, for example, to two opposite sides.

[0026] To effect the vertical movement of the support unit, the support unit itself can be provided with a drive. In a preferred embodiment, however, the vertical conveyor comprises a belt drive with a vertically arranged drive belt, which is coupled to the support unit and moves it vertically. In such a case, the drive itself can be located elsewhere on the vertical conveyor, so that the weight of the support unit is not unnecessarily increased. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the drive itself is stationary and is not constantly moved with the vertical conveyor.

[0027] In the following, preferred embodiments of the vertical conveyor according to the invention, as well as examples of a vertical conveyor and a method for vertical transport known from the prior art, are described with reference to the drawing in which Figures 1a and 1bOblique views of a first embodiment show, wherein at Figure 1b a front wall is omitted Figure 2 a rear oblique view shows Figure 3 a front view without a front wall shows Figure 4 a slanted view from the rear, with the side walls omitted, Figure 5 a slanted view from the front, with the side walls omitted, Figure 6 a slanted view from the front, with the side walls omitted and the support unit moved upwards into the closed position, Figure 7 a front oblique view, with the reversibly deformable material of the guide device omitted, Figure 8 a detailed rear view of the delivery section shows, Figure 9 a detailed oblique view of the delivery section shows, Figures 10a, 10b Detailed views of the support unit in combination with the reversibly deformable material of the guide device show, Figures 11a, 11b and 12a, 12bDetailed views of the support unit show, Figure 13 a detailed view of the delivery area shows, Figures 14a - 14d various stages of a preferred embodiment of the unclaimed method for vertical transport are shown, and Figures 15a - 15d different stages of an exemplary process using a known vertical conveyor.

[0028] The Figures 1 - 7Figure 1 shows (described in more detail above) views of a first embodiment of the vertical conveyor 1 according to the invention. This conveyor comprises a frame structure 10 with a front wall 11 and two side walls 12. The frame structure 10 includes a receiving section 20 and a discharge section 30, which are not specific components of the vertical conveyor but rather designate the sections where unit loads are fed into the vertical conveyor (receiving section) and where it discharges unit loads (discharge section). The vertical conveyor includes inside a guide device 200 with a first and a second guide element 201a, 201b. In the embodiment shown, the two guide elements 201a, 201b consist of a reversibly deformable material. In this embodiment, the reversibly deformable material is provided by two substantially parallel textile fabric webs.

[0029] In alternative embodiments, the first and / or the second guiding means can also be designed only section by section as a reversibly deformable material, thus "only" comprising it.

[0030] The first and second guide elements 201a, 201b (hereinafter referred to as "the guide elements") are attached to the frame structure 10 at the receiving section 20 and the discharge section 30 by means of two brackets 21a, 21b, 31a, 31b each. The two brackets 31a, 31b are further held by a spring 32, allowing the guide elements 201a, 201b to yield upon impact with a piece of goods (if the guide elements 201a, 201b are otherwise under tension). The springs can also serve to compensate for length differences, ensuring that the guide elements 201a, 201b always bear against their associated support arms 110a, 110b – however, this functionality is not necessary in all embodiments, for example, if the reversibly deformable material also has elastic properties.

[0031] The guide elements 201a, 201b are encompassed by the two support arms 110a, 110b, as shown, for example, in the Figures 5 and 6This is clearly visible. In these figures, the support arms are in the "closed position" - they are horizontally retracted and close or clamp the guide elements 201a, 201b (i.e., the reversibly deformable material of these in the form of textile fabric strips) between them. They thus form a damping section 202. Figure 6This damping section 202 can be seen at the receiving section 20. In this particular embodiment, the entire damping section is designed as a damping area 203, since both areas of the guide means 201a, 201b forming the damping section 202 are made of a reversibly deformable material. In an alternative embodiment, only a part of the damping section 202 may have damping properties, i.e., the damping section is not completely designed as a damping area. In this position, individual items are fed to the damping section 202, as will be explained in more detail in the description of the method. The support arms 110a, 110b are part of a support unit 100, which, in the illustrated embodiment, is mounted vertically on two rear frame struts so as to be movable.

[0032] A support arm adjusting device 40 is arranged between the frame struts 13. This includes a positioning recess 41 (in the illustrated embodiment, this recess completely penetrates the support arm adjusting device), through which actuating sections 111a, 111b of the support arms 110a, 110b extend, as is shown in particular in Figure 13 This is evident, particularly in the Figures 3 and 7 As can be seen, the positioning recess 41 comprises a vertical locking section 42 and two arcuate opening sections 43, which extend outwards in an arc from the locking section 42, which runs in the center of the support arm positioning device 40. Since the support arms 110a, 110b extend through the positioning recess, this recess forms a guide for the support arms, which, in the case of a vertical movement of the support unit, determines the movement of the support arms, as will be described in more detail with reference to the following figures.

[0033] In the lower discharge section 30 of the vertical conveyor 1, a discharge device 50 with a movable discharge flap 52 is arranged in the illustrated embodiment. The discharge device further comprises a discharge element 51 arranged at an angle as a chute, via which the individual items are discharged laterally (in the illustrated case via the front) – for example, into an access area for the sales staff of a pharmacy or into a storage container.

[0034] A key feature of the invention is, among other things, the vertical mobility of the support unit. In the illustrated embodiment, this is achieved by providing a belt drive device 60. This includes a drive 64, which is arranged on a base plate 14 (see [reference]). Figure 13 ). The drive is coupled to a drive wheel 62 ( Figure 2), which drives a drive belt 61. This is connected to the support unit 100, so that a movement of the drive belt causes a vertical movement of the support unit 100. The deflection pulley 63 of the belt drive 60 is arranged in the receiving section 20.

[0035] Figures 8 and 9 show detailed views of the first embodiment of the vertical conveyor according to the invention in the area of ​​the discharge section 30, wherein Figure 8 a view from the rear and Figure 9 a skewed view. In Figure 8 The arrangement of the drive wheel 62 of the belt drive is shown in particular, and it can be seen how the drive belt 61 extends along the frame strut 13. Furthermore, it can be seen that a back plate 116 of the support unit 100 is coupled to the belt drive 61 via a bracket 117. Figure 8It is also clearly visible that the support arms 110a, 110b are pivotally mounted by means of pivot axes 112a, 112b. As already mentioned above, the positioning recess comprises a holding section 42 and two opening sections 43, which are in Figure 8 are easily recognizable. In Figure 8 The figure shows a position in which the support arms engage in the two opening sections 43, i.e., in this position the support arms 110a, 110b have already been moved slightly horizontally apart.

[0036] In Figure 9 Figure 1 shows a position in which the support arms 110a and 110b are fully extended. Furthermore, a discharge element 51 of the discharge device can be seen in the lower area of ​​the vertical conveyor. This is arranged at an angle so that individual items are discharged forward. Figure 9It can also be seen that the support unit 100 includes a support plate 115 against which individual items can rest after being transferred into the damping section. The support plate 115 and the front wall 11 (see Figure 1a The elements of the vertical conveyor 1 can, in the illustrated embodiment, be considered parts of the guide device 200, the necessity of which depends on the precise design of the vertical conveyor. The larger the damping area 202 (compared to the unit loads), the less necessary front and rear guide elements are. The shape of the damping section also affects whether, for example, a front wall 11 is required as part of the guide device. With a corresponding design of the guide elements 201a and 201b, this is not necessarily essential. However, a front wall will regularly be present to prevent visibility of the interior and to reduce the potential risk of injury.

[0037] Figures 10a and 10b The figures show oblique views of the combination of guide means 201a, 201b and support unit 100 with two support arms 110a, 110b. In particular, it can be seen how the two support arms 110a and 110b encompass the guide means 201a, 201b, which in this embodiment are designed as track-like and are made of or contain reversibly deformable material, and how, in the closed position shown, a damping section 202 is formed above the support arms by sections of the guide means 201a, 201b.

[0038] Figures 11a, 11b and 12a, 12b show detailed views of the support unit 100, where the Figures 11a, 12a the support unit in the closed position and Figures 11b and 12b The supporting unit 100 is shown in the release position. The figures again show that the support arms 110a, 110b are mounted on pivot axes 112a, 112b. In particular Figure 12b It can be seen that the support arms have actuation sections, of which at Figure 12aThe actuating section 111a of the support arm 110a is indicated. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating sections extend through the positioning recess, and the horizontal movement of the support arms is controlled via the path of the positioning recess. The figures also show that in this embodiment, the support arms each have a plurality of rollers 114, the rotational resistance of which can be adjusted depending on the situation, i.e., on the exact material of the reversibly deformable material of the guide device and the weight of the goods to be transported.

[0039] Figure 13Figure 1 shows a detailed view of the lower section of the vertical conveyor. In this illustration, the discharge element of the discharge device is omitted, and it can be seen that a drive 64 of the belt drive is arranged on a base plate 14 of the vertical conveyor. Furthermore, this view shows again how the support arms 110a, 110b are guided by the opening sections 43 of the positioning recess.

[0040] With reference to the Figures 14a - 14d A first preferred embodiment of the unclaimed method for transporting unit loads is described, wherein the aforementioned figures schematically show a second embodiment of the vertical conveyor according to the invention. Figures 14a - 14d All irrelevant features have been omitted, and the exact procedure for transporting general cargo is only schematically indicated.

[0041] In Figure 14aThe support arms of the support unit 100 are shown in the release position, meaning they are not retracted and do not form a damping section for receiving individual items. It can be seen that in the vertical conveyor, the first and second guide elements 201a, 201b of the guide device are arranged "loosely," but are attached to the frame structure at the receiving and discharge sections. In alternative embodiments, the guide elements can also be arranged more "tightly," for example, if springs provide length compensation or if the reversibly deformable material of the guide elements has elastic properties.

[0042] In the lower section of the vertical conveyor, a discharge device 50 is indicated, wherein this discharge device comprises an adjustable discharge element 53 with which unit loads can be discharged to the left or right side. In the unclaimed method for vertically transporting unit loads, a damping section 202 for unit loads is provided in a first step at the receiving section 20 by moving the vertically movable support unit 100 towards the receiving section 20 and extending the support arms from the Figure 14aIn the illustrated release position, the vertical conveyor is moved horizontally into the closed position, where it clamps guide elements 201 and 201b between them in the form of two tracks. This creates a damping section 202 above the retracted support arms, formed by sections of the guide elements 201 and 201b, into which unit loads can be transferred. In the illustrated embodiment, the two sections of the guide elements 201 and 201b are designed as damping areas 203 due to the properties of the guide elements (reversibly deformable material). In alternative embodiments, where, for example, only one guide element is made of a reversibly deformable material and the second guide element is simply a (side) wall of the vertical conveyor, only the portion of the damping area provided by the reversibly deformable material would be a damping area.

[0043] Once the damping area 202 is in place, individual items can be transferred into it, for example, from a picking device for consumables (pharmacy packages, dietary supplement packages, etc.). Due to the nature and arrangement of the reversibly deformable material and the support arms 110a, 110b, the damping section 202, as the name suggests, has damping properties, such that the falling motion of the individual items 2 is dampened, thus preventing damage to them. Figure 14cThis is indicated by the reversibly deformable material of the damping area being shown as "bulging". Depending on the weight and clamping force of the support arms 110a, 110b, it can happen that when the impact of individual items is dampened, reversibly deformable material is pulled upwards, potentially creating stress in the reversibly deformable material 201 in the area below the damping section 202.

[0044] After the individual items have been transferred to the damping section 202, the support unit 100, with its retracted support arms 110a and 110b, is moved to the discharge section 30. During this movement, the support arms continuously reshape the reversibly deformable material, causing the damping section to move downwards or be extended downwards. The function of the damping section is then no longer damping itself, but merely guiding the individual items arranged within it.

[0045] In Figure 14d It is indicated that the support arms were moved towards the discharge section. When the discharge section is reached, the support arms 110a and 110b of the support unit 100 are extended, as indicated by the two dashed arrows of the Figure 14dAs indicated, as soon as the opening that forms is large enough, the individual items 2 fall due to gravity onto the adjustable deflector 53, which, in the embodiment shown, deflects the individual items to the "left".

[0046] With reference to the Figures 15a - 15d A well-known method for transporting general cargo is described. This also applies to the... Figures 15a - 15d All irrelevant features have been omitted. To avoid repetition, only the differences to the embodiments according to the following will be discussed. Figures 14a - 14d received.

[0047] Unlike the first embodiments of the vertical conveyor, the guiding device is not formed by two identical guide elements, but by two different ones: a first guide element 201a made of / with reversibly deformable material (as in the first embodiments) and a second guide element 12, which is provided by a side wall of the vertical conveyor. Accordingly, the support unit 100 comprises not two, but only one centrally arranged support arm 110a, which is otherwise constructed and guided in the same way. The damping section 202 is formed by the support arm 110a pressing the first guide element 201a against the second guide element 12. The second guide element comprises a reversibly deformable coating 14, so that in this embodiment as well, all sections of the guide elements above the support arm 110a have damping properties and are thus designed as damping areas 203.

Claims

1. A vertical conveyor (1) for transporting piece goods (2), having a frame structure (10) with a receiving portion (20) and a delivery portion (30) for piece goods, a vertically oriented guide device (200) for the guided vertical movement of piece goods with a first guide means (201a) with a reversibly deformable material and a second guide means (201b) with a reversibly deformable material, wherein the first and the second guide means (201a, 210b) is fastened to the frame structure (10) at the receiving portion (20) and the delivery portion (30), a support unit (100) which can be moved vertically between the receiving portion (20) and the delivery portion (30) and has two support arms (110a, 110b) which can be moved horizontally between a closed position and a release position, wherein the support arms (110a, 110b) at least in portions clasp the first and second guide means (201a, 201b), and that the first and second guide means (201a; 201b) of the guide device (200) and the support arms (110a, 110b) are designed such that the support arms (110a, 110b) at least in portions reversibly deform the first and second guide means (201a, 201b) during a vertical movement of the support arms and, in the closed position, form from the first guide means (201a) and the second guide means (201b) a damping portion (202) which can be at least in portions reversibly deformed by a piece good and which prevents a downward movement of the piece good.

2. The vertical conveyor (1) for transporting piece goods (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical conveyor (1) has a vertically oriented support arm adjusting device (40) with a positioning recess (41), and that a support arm (110a, 110b) has an actuating portion (111a, 111b) which engages in the positioning recess (41), wherein the positioning recess (41) has a locking portion (42) and at least one opening portion (43), wherein an opening portion causes a horizontal movement of a support arm (110a, 110b) during a vertical movement of the support unit (100).

3. The vertical conveyor (1) for transporting piece goods (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that a support arm (110a, 110b) is pivotally attached to the support unit and an opening portion is formed in the shape of a circular arc.

4. The vertical conveyor (1) for transporting piece goods (2) according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that a support arm (110a, 110b) has at least one rotatable roller (114) in a contact region with the reversibly deformable material of a guide means (201a, 201b).

5. The vertical conveyor (1) for transporting piece goods (2) according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the first and second guide means (201a, 201b) made of reversibly deformable material are provided by two parallel, vertically oriented fabric webs which are each fastened to the frame structure (10) at the receiving portion (20) and the delivery portion (30).

6. The vertical conveyor (1) for transporting piece goods (2) according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that a guide means (201a, 201b) made of a reversibly deformable material is pre-tensioned and fastened to the frame structure at the receiving portion (20) and / or the delivery portion (30).

7. The vertical conveyor (1) for transporting piece goods (2) according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the vertical conveyor comprises a discharge device (50) with which piece goods are removed laterally.

8. The vertical conveyor (1) for transporting piece goods (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the discharge device (50) comprises an adjustable discharge means (53).

9. The vertical conveyor (1) for transporting piece goods (2) according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that the vertical conveyor comprises a belt drive (60) with a vertically arranged drive belt (61) that is coupled to the support unit (100) and moves it vertically.