Overhead conveyor for assembling items into sorting orders and corresponding process

Description

[0001] The present invention is based on an overhead conveyor for assembling articles into sorting orders, with a plurality of transport pockets guided along a conveyor path of the overhead conveyor for receiving articles, wherein the transport pocket has two side walls which are detachably connected to one another at the bottom of the transport pocket, wherein the transport pocket has at least one adjusting mechanism for detaching the side walls connected at the bottom from one another to form an unloading opening, and with a loading station for loading the transport pocket with articles, as well as with a sorting target module which has a conveyor path section with a plurality of sorting targets arranged thereon for the respective unloading of a sorting order there, as well as with a control device with a memory,in which a target sorting destination for unloading the transport bag and / or the at least one article located in the transport bag is stored. Such an overhead conveyor is already known from the publication US 2020 / 156876 A1. Other overhead conveyors are also known from the publications US 2021 / 047127 A1, EP 4 122 849 A1, WO 2023 / 272322 A1, CH 714 004 A1, US 2022 / 332520 A1, EP 3 461 753 B1, EP 3 581524 A1 and DE 10 2018 209 266 A1. EP 4 122 749 A1 discloses the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating an overhead conveyor for assembling articles into sorting orders, wherein identification data can be recorded with reading devices along a transport path of an overhead conveyor system in order to track and control a conveying path of the carrying devices along the overhead conveyor system.

[0002] However, the overhead conveyor known from the prior art has the disadvantage that the unloading of the pockets takes place via opening devices or unloading stations installed at a fixed location along the conveyor section, in which the opening of the pockets is effected by a mechanism acting on them from the outside.

[0003] The object of the invention is therefore to further develop the overhead conveyor known from the prior art in such a way that the design effort for unloading the pockets is reduced and more flexible unloading of the pockets is enabled. This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

[0004] Accordingly, it is provided that the overhead conveyor has a position determining device for determining the actual position of at least one transport pocket along the conveyor section, wherein the transport pocket is designed for the automatic unloading of articles and the base can be opened by means of an actuating means arranged in the transport pocket and is controlled such that, if the actual position corresponds to the desired sorting destination, the at least one article contained in the transport pocket is automatically unloaded, in that the actuating means is designed to actuate the at least one actuating mechanism in such a way that the base is opened in response to pocket opening information sent out by the control device.

[0005] The target sorting destination can, in particular, be one of the multiple sorting destinations assigned to at least one or more items that together form a packaging order, wherein the one or more items can be transported using one or more transport bags. Thus, each transport bag loaded with corresponding items is also assigned a specific target sorting destination. Furthermore, the same sorting destination can be assigned to multiple bags that transport multiple items of the same order.

[0006] Automatic unloading in the sense of the invention can mean in particular that the bag is able to open the locking mechanism that closes the bottom of the bag using its own mechanical means, i.e. without external mechanical influence.

[0007] The actuating means can comprise an actuator for actuating the at least one actuating mechanism. Furthermore, the bag can comprise a control unit arranged in the bag, which can be configured to control the actuator upon receipt of the bag opening information so that the actuator actuates the at least one actuating mechanism and opens the bag bottom.

[0008] Additionally or alternatively, it can be provided that the actuating means has a memory connected to the control unit of the pocket for storing at least one predetermined pocket position for opening the pocket, for example that of a desired sorting destination. Furthermore, the position determination unit can be arranged in the pocket to determine the current pocket position. In this alternative, the control unit can be configured, upon determining that the at least one predetermined pocket position for opening the pocket has been reached by means of the position determination unit, to control the actuator such that the actuator actuates the at least one actuating mechanism and opens the pocket base. In this case, the data signal according to the invention can be output by the actual pocket position matching the at least one predetermined pocket position for opening the pocket.In this alternative, it can be provided that the pocket control unit receives the assigned target sorting destination of an article during the loading process, for example from the central control device of the overhead conveyor.

[0009] Furthermore, it can be provided that the at least one adjusting mechanism has at least one closing means which is designed to automatically close the bag bottom after unloading of goods transported in the bag or as soon as the side walls of the bag have come closer together again after unloading.

[0010] It is conceivable that the pocket base is formed by a coupling with which the side walls are detachably connected to one another, with each side wall having one of two coupling halves of the coupling. The coupling halves can be designed as rigid strips and extend essentially along the lower edge of the respective side wall. It can be provided that the actuator and the control unit are arranged in only one of the two coupling halves, and the other coupling half has no mechanically adjustable components.

[0011] The at least one actuating mechanism can be adjustable between a closed position, in which the coupling halves are secured to one another, in particular by a positive fit, and a release position, in which the coupling halves are released from one another. Furthermore, at least one actuating mechanism can have an actuating end controlled by the actuator. The actuator can be permanently coupled to the actuating end or can be articulated thereto in such a way that the actuator rests against the actuating end in an actuated state, for example, during the transfer of the actuating mechanism from the closed position to the release position, and is separated from the actuating end outside of the actuated state.

[0012] The locking means may include a return spring for returning the actuating mechanism to the closed position. The direction of action of the return spring may be opposite to the direction of action of the actuator.

[0013] It can be provided that the at least one adjusting mechanism is accommodated in one of the coupling halves and the actuating means is accommodated in the same or the other of the coupling halves.

[0014] Furthermore, the actuating means can be further associated with an electrical energy storage device for supplying the actuating means with electrical energy. The electrical energy storage device can also be arranged in one of the coupling halves. The electrical energy storage device can be designed as a rechargeable battery or a capacitor. The rechargeable battery can be designed for contactless, particularly inductive, charging. The charging capacity of the energy storage device can be dimensioned such that it is sufficient for at least one pocket opening.

[0015] The clutch arranged on the pocket base can have two, in particular counter-rotating, actuating mechanisms, each with a magnetic slide, and the actuating means can have two actuators, one of which is assigned to the first actuating mechanism and the other to the second actuating mechanism. The actuating means can be arranged between the first and second actuating mechanisms, with the first of the actuators acting in the direction of the first actuating mechanism and the second of the actuators acting in the opposite direction, or in the direction of the second actuating mechanism. The actuators, for example solenoids, can act in opposite directions, so that the actuators both act either by pulling one toward the other or pushing the other away from the other.

[0016] It can be provided that the side walls each have at least one magnetic element that attracts one another, wherein the magnetic element of a first of the two side walls is a permanent magnet and the magnetic element of a second of the two side walls is a ferromagnetic metal or a permanent magnet with opposite polarity to the permanent magnet of the first of the two side walls. For example, the coupling halves can each have at least one of the magnetic elements, wherein the magnetic elements are adjustable relative to one another via the adjusting mechanism and are brought closer to one another in the closed position relative to the release position.Furthermore, the coupling halves can each have at least one magnetic element, preferably a permanent magnet, which are of the same polarity and are arranged further closer to one another in the release position relative to the closed position and are preferably arranged with their same poles facing one another.

[0017] Furthermore, the adjusting mechanism can have at least one magnetic slide on which the at least one magnetic element, preferably a permanent magnet, is arranged in one of the two coupling halves, wherein the magnetic slide can be used to adjust the distance between this magnetic element and the at least one magnetic element of the other coupling half. The magnetic slide can further have a hook or an undercut hook receptacle complementary to the hook, which can be adjusted between the closed position and the released position with the magnetic slide. The coupling half having the magnetic slide can extend along the width of the pocket base, wherein the magnetic slide points in the width direction with an actuating end towards the actuator.Furthermore, if two adjusting mechanisms are provided, the coupling can have two magnetic slides that are arranged at opposite ends of the pocket base in the width direction of the pocket base and in opposite extension directions. The magnetic slide can be accommodated in a housing of the coupling half having the magnetic slide and can be exposed at least partially towards a positive-locking receptacle of the other coupling half. The magnetic slide, on which the at least one magnetic element of one of the two coupling halves is arranged, can have a mechanical preload in the direction of the closed position in the release position. The coupling can have a positive-locking section in which the two coupling halves engage with each other with complementary contours, wherein the positive-locking section can be arranged between the adjusting mechanism and the side walls.The positive locking section can have a groove extending in the width direction of the pocket bottom on a first of the two coupling halves and a return spring extending in the width direction of the pocket bottom and engaging in the groove in the closed position on the other of the two coupling halves. The coupling halves can extend substantially across the entire width of the pocket bottom to provide the positive locking.

[0018] The control device can be a central control device of the overhead conveyor. This can be configured to generate and manage sorting orders. To do so, it can locate the items intended for the respective sorting order, for example, in the warehouse or in the dynamic buffer into which returned items are fed, and request them at the respective locations. Furthermore, the control device can assign each sorting order an available sorting target of a sorting target module and, in the process, define this as the target sorting target.It can be provided that, when loading a transport bag, which can have an identifier, the control device stores assignment information between the transport bag identifier and the at least one article loaded into it and thereby receives the information as to which article of a sorting order is already on the overhead conveyor and in which bag it is transported. The control device can furthermore be connected to the position-determining device and can thereby receive real-time position information for each bag located on the overhead conveyor or, based on the stored assignment information, for each article transported on the overhead conveyor. The control device can furthermore be configured to control a transport bag using bag opening information when it has reached or is approaching a predetermined target sorting destination.In response to the pocket opening information, the pocket can automatically open the pocket bottom, in particular by triggering the actuator to operate the actuating mechanism. The control device can be configured to assign multiple items from the same sorting order to the same target sorting destination.

[0019] The transport bag can have a wireless communication interface, in particular a receiver, via which the transport bag can be controlled by the control device to unload the at least one article. The transport bag can also have an electrical energy storage device, such as a battery or a capacitor, for operating the electrical and electronic components arranged in the transport bag.

[0020] It can be provided that the at least one transport pocket has an identifier which is stored in the memory of the control device of the overhead conveyor, wherein the control device is configured to temporarily store an assignment of the identifier to the at least one article located in the transport pocket. Thus, during each pocket loading process, the corresponding assignment of the pocket identifier to the article loaded into the pocket can be established and temporarily stored in the memory of the control device, for example until the pocket has been unloaded at its assigned target sorting destination. After that, the relevant pocket-to-article assignment can be deleted or overwritten when the pocket is reloaded with a different article.

[0021] It may be provided that a receiving container is positioned at each of the sorting destinations, into which the items from the transport bags can be deposited. The containers can be any suitable means for holding a plurality of items, for example, cartons, roll containers, etc.

[0022] The receiving containers can each have an identifier, for example identified by an RFID chip, which is stored in the memory of the control device and the control device can be configured to automatically set the respective target sorting destinations based on the storage locations of the receiving containers.

[0023] It can be provided that the receiving containers are in motion during article transfer and that the overhead conveyor passes the receiving containers for unloading the bags at a relative speed. The directions of movement of the overhead conveyor and the receiving containers can be essentially the same and the overhead conveyor can be moved at a higher speed than the receiving containers so that the unloaded articles can be dropped into the designated receiving containers. The release of the articles can be taken into account at the time of drop based on weight, size, volume, etc. in order to ensure that the receiving container hits the receiving container. For example, a winter jacket has a different falling behavior than shoes, for example. The speed of the sorter can also be taken into account. An algorithm based on artificial intelligence can also be taken into account here.

[0024] Furthermore, the sorting destination module can have several autonomous mobile robots for removing receiving containers containing a complete order from a respective sorting destination and replacing them with an empty receiving container. For example, it is conceivable that the order is not yet complete, but appropriate sensors detect that the receiving container is full, so that another receiving container must be used for the current order. Monitoring of the fill level of the receiving container can also be provided, and automatic removal of the container when it is full. Furthermore, a monitoring system can be provided which determines before a roll container is removed or ensures during this removal that no necessary items are dropped during the period of the receiving container change.For example, the monitoring system can send out a signal that in this case the article should not be dropped, but the transport bag must complete another round in the system. For example, the receiving containers themselves can each have a permanently connected autonomous mobile robot or be designed to be moved by an autonomous mobile robot. For example, the containers can have rollers and can be pulled and / or pushed by the autonomous mobile robot. Alternatively, the container itself can also be designed without rollers. For this purpose, the roll container can be jacked up so that an autonomous mobile robot can drive into a free space underneath the container. For transport, the autonomous mobile robot can have a lifting unit by means of which the container can be lifted. The container can, for example, be jacked up using a plurality of stilts.The contact area provided by the stilts can be larger than the cross-section of the container. This can prevent the container from tipping over during handling. The lifting device can be formed by a plate on the top of the autonomous mobile robot or, for example, have forks that can engage in the free space. The container can have a lateral discharge flap, which can be hinged to an upper edge of one of the container walls so that the discharge flap can be pivoted upwards about a horizontal axis. The container base can have a slope aligned towards the discharge flap, for example between 20 and 30 degrees, so that articles in the container can automatically slide out of the container when the discharge opening is opened.

[0025] The sorting destinations can alternatively be designed as manual workstations and each have a chute onto which the articles can be unloaded from the transport bags and along which the articles can slide towards a work area of ​​the manual workstation. The chutes can have a first inclined section, in particular with an angle that is constant over the length of the section. This first section can serve to receive an article unloaded from a bag and transfer it to the work area. The work area can be designed essentially horizontally so that articles arriving at it remain there. The work area can be accessible towards a worker working there.

[0026] The overhead conveyor can further comprise a plurality of parallel-operated sorting target modules and an allocation matrix upstream of the sorting target modules, which can be configured to receive loaded transport bags in any desired sequence and to deliver the loaded transport bags in a defined manner to a sorting target module associated with a respective transport bag. Accordingly, all bags, regardless of the intended sorting target module, are initially fed into the allocation matrix. The allocation matrix then receives, for each bag located thereon, information from the control device as to which sorting target module the respective bag is to be discharged. For this purpose, the allocation matrix comprises at least one switch, by means of which the bags can be discharged to the at least two downstream sorting target modules.

[0027] The conveyor section containing the sorting destinations can be arranged in a meandering pattern, and the sorting destinations can each be accessed by an autonomous mobile robot from at least one side. Each meander can comprise two opposing sections of the conveyor section that are directly adjacent to one another. A corresponding adjacent meander, however, can be spaced apart from the first meander, so that autonomous mobile robots can move in the space created thereby or are accessible to personnel.

[0028] The invention further relates to a method for operating an overhead conveyor for assembling articles into sorting orders, comprising the steps: Defining a sorting order to be unloaded at an available target sorting destination of a sorting destination module, which order consists of at least one article, wherein the sorting destination module has a conveyor section with a plurality of sorting destinations arranged thereon for the respective unloading of a sorting order there; Loading at least one article of a sorting order into a transport pocket of the overhead conveyor, wherein the transport pocket is configured for the automatic unloading of the article(s), wherein the transport pocket has a bottom that can be opened by means of an actuating means arranged in the transport pocket; Assigning the transport pocket containing the at least one article of the sorting order to the corresponding target sorting destination; Conveying the loaded transport pocket along the conveyor section of the sorting destination module; Determining the actual position of the transport pocket along the conveyor section by means of a position-determining device;Comparing the actual position with the position of the target sorting destination; controlling the transport bag to automatically unload at least one article when the actual position matches the position of the target sorting destination.

[0029] The transport pocket can be controlled, for example, via wireless communication from the central control unit of the overhead conveyor to a receiver or control unit of the transport pocket. Alternatively, the control unit of the transport pocket can be used, provided the target sorting targets are stored therein and the transport pocket is either configured to determine its current actual position along the conveyor section of the sorting target module or receives this information via wireless communication from the central control unit, so that the transport pocket can compare the target position with the actual position and activate the opening mechanism at the appropriate time.

[0030] The method may further comprise the steps: Determining when all items of a sorting order have been unloaded at the intended target sorting destination; and issuing a signal indicating the completeness of the sorting order and identifying the respective target sorting destination and / or removing a receiving container positioned at the target sorting destination into which the items have been unloaded and replacing the container with an empty receiving container by means of an autonomous mobile robot.

[0031] The control of the transport bag for unloading the at least one article can be output, for example, from a central control device of the overhead conveyor.

[0032] It is further conceivable that at least two sorting target modules are provided, whereby the method can further comprise the following steps: Assigning a first plurality of sorting orders to the first sorting target module and assigning a second plurality of sorting orders to the second sorting target module; introducing the first and second plurality of sorting orders into an assignment matrix; removing the transport bags corresponding to the first plurality of sorting orders from the assignment matrix to the first sorting target module and removing the transport bags corresponding to the second plurality of sorting orders from the assignment matrix to the second sorting target module.

[0033] The method may further comprise conveying unloaded transport bags into a bag buffer and providing the transport bags stored in the bag buffer for reloading with articles.

[0034] Further details of the invention are explained with reference to the following figures. Figure 1 shows a functional flow diagram of a sorting arrangement known from the prior art; Figure 2 shows a schematic flow diagram of a first embodiment of the overhead conveyor according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a functional flow diagram of a second embodiment of the overhead conveyor according to the invention; Figure 4 shows a functional flow diagram of a third embodiment of the overhead conveyor according to the invention; Figure 5 shows a functional flow diagram of a fourth embodiment of the overhead conveyor according to the invention; Figure 6a shows an exemplary embodiment of the pocket according to the invention; Figure 6b shows an enlarged view of the pocket bottom of the pocket according to the invention according to Figure 6a; Figure 7a shows an embodiment of the pocket bottom in the release position of the adjusting mechanism; Figure 7b shows the embodiment according to Figure 7a with the coupling halves detached from one another; Figure 8a shows the embodiment according to Figure 7b with the adjusting mechanism in the closed position;Figure 8b shows the embodiment according to Figure 8a with the coupling halves partially brought closer together; Figure 8c shows the embodiment according to Figure 8b with the coupling halves completely brought closer together.

[0035] In Figure 11 shows, by way of example, a functional flow diagram of a sorting arrangement 1000 with an overhead conveyor 100 known from the prior art. This essentially comprises an overhead conveyor 100 and a warehouse 309, for example a high-bay warehouse, from which individual articles 320 are removed and fed into the overhead conveyor 100. Other possible storage or provision types can be implemented, for example, by block storage, shelving, gravity racks, flow racks, pallet racks, cantilever racks, floor storage, storage and retrieval machines, horizontal carousel storage, vertical carousel storage, an automated small parts warehouse, a storage container open storage, mobile racks, or shuttle systems. The articles do not necessarily have to come from a warehouse, but can also come, for example, from an automatic / manual infeed during the unloading of containers / trucks or even from a sorter.Furthermore, the transfer of articles can be performed manually or automatically via an interface with a similar or different conveyor or sorter. In the overhead conveyor 100, the articles 320 are sorted in a multi-step process and ultimately delivered in a predetermined sequence to packing stations 306, where the individual articles 320 are packaged according to predefined shipping orders. The individual articles 320 are removed from the warehouse 309 by a plurality of order pickers 308 in the form of appropriate picking devices or in the form of personnel. The individual articles 320 removed in the process are each collected at one of a plurality of transfer points 310 and compiled into individual order batches, which are to be transferred to the pocket sorter.The individual articles 320 collected at the transfer points 310 are then loaded into pockets 1 of the overhead conveyor 100 via several loading stations 303, wherein the assignment of each article 320 to the respective pocket 1 is stored as long as the article 320 is on the overhead conveyor. The loaded pockets are then fed to a dynamic batch buffer 302, in which a pre-sorting of the pockets 1 is carried out. For example, the dynamic batch buffer 302 can have several buffer circuits, wherein all pockets that are to be fed to the same packing station 306 as a sorting destination are held in the same buffer circuit until they are discharged from the buffer circuit as a group of pockets with the same sorting destination, for example upon request. Preferably, several groups of pockets that are to be fed to the same packing station 306 or have the same sorting destination can be received in each buffer circuit, i.e.be buffered. This pre-sorting in the dynamic batch buffer 302 can be carried out fully automatically based on at least one criterion. These criteria can relate to the departure time, identification of the freight forwarder, the total volume of objects with the same shipping destination, prioritization, a weight class, a size class, and / or the like. Furthermore, a dynamic buffer 301 is connected upstream of the dynamic batch buffer 302, which is fed by returns 311, which are also fed to it via a loading station 303. It can be provided that the returns 311 are fed to the dynamic batch buffer 302 in a prioritized manner before the corresponding article 320 has to be removed from the warehouse 309 again. Furthermore, it can be provided that each of the loading stations 303 is assigned a separate dynamic buffer 301, or that a common dynamic buffer 301 is provided for several or all of the loading stations 303.

[0036] The separation of the bags 1 according to their groups or sorting destinations takes place in a sorting matrix 304, which is connected downstream of the dynamic batch buffer 302 in terms of conveyor technology and into which the bags 1 are fed. The several complete groups of bags 1 with the same sorting destination are fed to the sorting matrix 304 in a random order. After passing through the sorting matrix 304, the bags 1 leave the sorting matrix 304 sorted by type, i.e. as a compact group of bags 1, with all bags 1 assigned to a group of bags 1 with the same sorting destination being discharged from the sorting matrix 304 in immediate succession. The sorting matrix 304 is further configured, in addition to sorting by type, to also establish an order of the bags 1 within the same group, thus creating a sequencing of the bags 1. This sequencing can, for example, be provided to achieve a further sorting stage.The sequenced bags 1 are then fed to a bag buffer 305 located upstream of the packing stations 306. Upon request from the packing stations 306, groups of sequenced bags, which, for example, belong to the same order, can be removed from the bag buffer 305 and fed to the packing station 306 requesting the order. In the packing stations 306, the articles 320 are then gradually removed from the incoming bags 1 and packed as specified by the order. The empty bags 1 are then temporarily stored in an empty bag buffer 307 and can be fed from there again to the loading stations 303.

[0037] The Figure 2shows an exemplary first embodiment of the overhead conveyor 100 according to the invention. The overhead conveyor 100 essentially consists of a system of conveyor rails 101, which can be designed, for example, as an accumulating conveyor 105 or as a transfer conveyor 107. At a transition 108 between an accumulating conveyor 105 and a transfer conveyor 107, the pockets 1 are transferred between the two transport systems. Suitable systems for an accumulating conveyor 105 and a transfer conveyor 107 are described in WO 2020 / 128941 A1 and EP 3670393 A1.

[0038] For sequencing the pockets 1, which are transported along the conveyor rail 101 and are to be fed in a preferred order and at a preferred time, for example, to an unloading workstation 104 or to a freely selectable unloading location 200, for example, to a plurality of roll containers 201, a sorting loop comprising a plurality of parallel accumulating conveyors 105, which can be connected to a transfer conveyor 107 via switches 102 on the forward and return sides, can be provided. To reduce the footprint of the system, inclined conveyors 103 can be used, which allow a multi-level system design. Overfill sensors 106 along the accumulating conveyor sections 105 of the sorting loop detect the fill level of the respective accumulating conveyor 105 in order to avoid overfilling of certain accumulating conveyor sections 105 by appropriately rerouting new pockets fed from the sorting loop.

[0039] At the loading and / or unloading workstation 104, the objects held by the bag 1 can be manually removed from the bag, for example by lateral engagement parallel to the side walls 2 of the bag 1. In contrast, unloading at the selected unloading location 200 can be automated. At the unloading location 200 located along the conveyor line, unloading containers such as roll containers 201 can be available, into which the transported goods are to be unloaded. The locations of all bags 1 transported along the overhead conveyor 100 are recorded in real time by a bag tracking device 50. As soon as a bag 1 to be unloaded reaches the unloading location 200, the bag tracking device 50 signals information relating to this event to a control device 40, which then transmits an opening signal to the remote-controllable actuation device of the bag.There, the signal is received by the receiver and transmitted to the control unit, which then activates the actuator to open the opening device. This opens the bag base 3 and unloads the goods into the designated roll containers 201.

[0040] Figure 3 shows a sorting arrangement 1000 with a first embodiment of the overhead conveyor 100 according to the invention. This does not have any Figure 2The overhead conveyor 100 shown does not have a dynamic batch buffer 302, a sorting matrix 304, a pocket buffer 305, or packing stations 306 for sequentially unloading the pockets 1. Instead, a sorting destination module 330 is provided, which is located directly downstream of the loading stations 303 and the dynamic buffer 301. The sorting destination module 330 provides a conveyor section along which a plurality of sorting destinations 312 are positioned, which can be provided, for example, by means for receiving the individual articles 320, such as containers or cartons of any type, for example roll containers / containers, etc., but also AGVs with loading areas, conveyor belts, etc. The pockets 1 are guided along this conveyor section until they reach a predetermined sorting destination 312, at which the loaded articles 320 are unloaded.As soon as all pockets 1 of an order have passed the sorting destination assigned to it and the respective pocket contents have been emptied there, the corresponding container is moved away by an autonomous mobile robot 313 and a new empty container is positioned at the sorting destination 312. Because a plurality of sorting destinations 312 are provided simultaneously and each sorting destination 312 is passed by each of the pockets 1, prior sorting and sequencing of the pockets 1 can be completely dispensed with. By means of the pocket opening mechanism according to the invention, which is integrated into each pocket, it is possible to open the pockets 1 by appropriate control at any point along the conveyor line of the sorting destination module 330. Of course, the area for opening the pockets is not limited to the sorting destination module 330, but opening can take place at any location along the overhead conveyor.Via an empty pocket buffer connected downstream of the sorting destination module 330, the pockets 1 are sorted according to the order shown in . Figure 1 shown arrangement is made available for loading again.

[0041] The Figure 4 The arrangement 1000 shown is a different arrangement from the arrangement shown in Figure 3Upscaled arrangement, which is configured to process a number of pockets that is 3 times larger. The essential difference is, on the one hand, that the illustrated arrangement has three separate sorting destination modules 330 with respective conveyor section, and, on the other hand, that an assignment matrix 321 is connected upstream of the three parallel sorting destination modules 330, via which the pockets 1 are discharged into the intended sorting destination module 330. The assignment matrix 321 is connected directly downstream of the loading stations 303 and the dynamic buffer 301 and has a corresponding number of inputs and a separate output for each of the sorting destination modules 330.

[0042] The Figure 5 The sorting target module 330 shown has, compared to the Figures 3 and 4The difference from the sorting destination modules 330 shown is that in this case, the sorting destinations 312 are not formed by containers into which the transported material is directly delivered, but rather by respective chutes 322 onto which the individual articles 320 are dropped and along which the articles slide down towards a manually operated packing station. Alternatively, instead of or in addition to the chutes, intermediate storage areas can be provided in which the articles, for example packages or boxes, can be temporarily stored. The articles 320 arriving there are packed at the packing station by a sorting worker 323 according to the order. It can be provided that each sorting worker 323 is assigned to a plurality of chutes 322.Furthermore, it can be provided that a signaling device, for example a green flashing lamp, is installed on each of the chutes, by means of which a sorting worker 323 can be made aware that all articles 320 of an order have arrived at the predetermined chute 322.

[0043] Figure 6a shows an overall view of a conveyor pocket 1, Figure 6b shows a detailed view A of a coupling 4 of a pocket base of the conveyor pocket from Figure 6a. The pocket 1 has two side walls 2 which are connected to one another at the lower end to form a pocket base 3 and are held at the upper end by a bracket 7 which, on the one hand, provides a loading opening 9 and, on the other hand, has a means for suspending the pocket 1 from a roller carrier 8 for movement along a rail of the overhead conveyor 100. At the lower end of each of the side walls 2, one of the coupling halves 5 is fastened, which are releasably locked together by means of two adjusting mechanisms 10.A remotely controllable actuating means 20 is arranged centrally in one of the coupling halves 5 between the two actuating mechanisms 20. The actuating means 20 comprises a receiver 21 for receiving a radio signal for receiving an opening signal, an actuator 22 for actuating the left actuating mechanism and an actuator 22 for actuating the right actuating mechanism, as well as a control unit 23 connected to the receiver 21 and the actuators 22, respectively. Upon receipt of the radio signal by the receiver 21, the control unit is configured to control the two actuators 22 such that the respective actuating mechanisms 10 are actuated and the pocket base 3 is opened.

[0044] Figures 7a to 8c show a coupling 4 suitable for remote-controlled unlocking. The coupling 4 can, for example, be arranged in the base region 3 of a pocket 1 of the arrangement according to Figure 6 and connect the two opposite side walls 2 of the pocket, which are oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction X. The magnetic slide 11 can have a mechanical preload in the closed position shown in Figure 8c. For this purpose, in the embodiment according to Figure 6, a spiral spring 30 is provided, which is received in the coupling half 5 having the magnetic slide 11 and is supported inside the housing of the coupling half 5 on a housing wall through which the magnetic slide extends with a guide pin. Alternatively, the spring can also be installed in the actuator itself. The coupling halves 5, 6 have magnetic elements 12, 13, 14.Preferably, all magnetic elements 12, 13, 14 are designed as permanent magnets. However, the magnetic element 13 in particular can also be designed as a ferromagnetic element, for example, comprise a ferrous metal. In the closed position shown in Figure 8c, the magnetic slide 11 is spaced from the actuator 22 with its actuating end 17 by a maximum adjustment path, by which the actuating end 17 can be adjusted between the closed position and the release position. In the closed position, the hook 15 of the magnetic slide 11 engages in the undercut hook receptacle 16, wherein the undercut receptacle 16 engages under the hook 15 with a projection that forms the undercut engaged by the hook 15 and rests against the hook 15, so that the closed position of the actuating mechanism 10 shown in Figure 8c is reproducibly defined.In the release position of the magnetic slide 11 shown in Figure 7a, the latter is brought as close as possible to the actuator 22, so that the hook 15 of the first coupling half 5 and the undercut hook receptacle 16 of the second coupling half 6 are spaced apart from one another and disengaged, so that the coupling halves 5, 6 can be released from one another in or against the conveying direction X. To transfer the magnetic slide 11, the actuator 22, which in the example shown is designed as a pulling lifting magnet, pulls the magnetic slide 11 away from the closed position from the undercut hook receptacle 16, to the right as viewed in the illustration, against the spring force of the return spring 30. Of course, the actuator 22 can also be designed as a pushing lifting magnet, in which case the orientation of the hook 15 and the hook receptacle 16, as well as the orientation of the magnets 12-14, would be reversed accordingly.To control the actuator 22, a control unit 23 is provided, which is connected to or has a receiver 21. Furthermore, an electrical energy storage device 24, such as a rechargeable battery, is provided to supply the control unit 23, the receiver 21, and the actuator 22 with energy. As soon as the receiver 21 receives a wireless signal to open the pocket base 3, this signal is transmitted to the control unit 23, which then controls the actuator 22 to move the magnetic slide 11 from the closed position to the released position.

[0045] To provide a repulsion force between the two coupling halves 5, 6 in the release position of the actuating mechanism 10 shown in Figure 7a, the magnetic elements 12 and 14 can each be designed as permanent magnets and face each other with identical poles, so that the two coupling halves 5, 6 are repelled from each other. Since in the release position shown in Figure 7a, not only are the two like-polarized permanent magnets 12, 14 aligned with each other, but also the hook 15 is released from the undercut of the undercut receptacle 16, the two coupling halves 5, 6 can be released from each other, which is shown in Figure 7b. In the present case, in particular, the second coupling half 6 having the hook 15 can be released from a positive-locking receptacle of the first coupling half 5. Since in the release position according to the Figures 3a and 3bthe like-polarized permanent magnets 12, 14 are aligned, while the distance between the attracting, oppositely polarized magnetic elements 12, 13 is increased compared to the closed position (see Figure 8c), the repulsion between the permanent magnets 12, 14 prevails over a possibly also in the release position according to the Figures 3a and 3b remaining, slight force of attraction between the magnetic elements 12 and 13.

[0046] After the two coupling halves 5, 6 have been separated from each other, the actuating mechanism 10, in particular the magnetic slide 11, can return to the closed position, whereby it automatically assumes this closed position due to its pretension in the closed position, for example, due to the return spring 30. This leads to, as shown in the Figures 4a and 4bIt is shown that the oppositely polarized magnetic elements 12 and 13 are brought back into alignment, whereby even in the partially spaced position shown in Figure 8a, they are centered and brought closer together due to the attractive force between the magnetic elements 12 and 13, as shown in Figure 8b. The alignment of the coupling halves 5, 6 to each other, as shown in Figure 8a, can, for example, be the initial state which the two coupling halves 5, 6 assume immediately after the unloading process, for example after unloading at an unloading location 200 into a roll container 201, as shown in Figure 2 is shown.

[0047] The side walls 2 of the bag 1 can, for example, be made of a flexible textile material, so that the coupling halves 5, 6 bring the bag into a vertical position like a weight in the bottom area of ​​the side walls 2, wherein the two side walls 2 are already largely brought closer to each other, for example due to a likewise substantially vertical arrangement of an opening bracket 7 at the upper end of the bag 1. Any remaining distance between the coupling halves 5, 6, as shown in Figure 8a, can be bridged by means of the magnetic attraction force between the magnetic elements 12, 13, so that the two coupling halves 5, 6 in the Figures 4a to 4c shown approach and locking.

[0048] After the pockets have been brought close enough to each other due to the magnetic attraction force between the magnetic elements 12 and 13, so that the hook 15 of the first coupling half 5 comes into contact with a starting bevel on a corresponding starting bevel on an undercut of the undercut receptacle 16 of the second coupling half 6, the attractive force between the magnetic elements 12 and 13 can be sufficient due to the small residual distance remaining in this position between the position shown in Figure 8b and the final closed position according to Figure 8c, to overcome the pretension of the magnetic slide 11 in its closed position shown in Figure 8a, the magnetic slide 11 is displaced at least far enough from the closed position in the direction of the release position, i.e. to the right in the illustration, that the hook 15 can engage behind the undercut of the undercut receptacle 16 with its hook tip.as shown in Figure 8c, whereupon the magnetic slide 11 is then moved back into the closed position shown in Figure 8c due to the mechanical preload. In the complete locking of the two coupling halves 6 to each other, as shown in Figure 8c, the two complementarily polarized magnetic elements 12, 13 are maximally close, while there is a lateral distance between the like-polarized magnets 12 and 14, which, due to the magnetic field lines propagating perpendicular to the pole face, is sufficient to reduce repulsion between the magnets 12, 14 to a permissible minimum.

[0049] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims may be essential for the realization of the invention both individually and in any combination. List of reference symbols

[0050] 1Pocket 2Side walls 3Pocket base 4Coupling 5Coupling half 6Coupling half 7Bail 8Roll carrier 9Loading opening 10Adjusting mechanism 11Magnetic slide 12First magnetic element 13Second magnetic element 14Third magnetic element 15Hook 16Hook receptacle 17Actuating end 20Actuating means 21Receiver 22Actuator 23Control unit 24Electrical energy storage device 30Return spring 40Control device 50Pocket tracking device 100Overhead conveyor 101Conveyor rail 102Switch 103Inclined conveyor 104Unloading workstation 105Accumulating conveyor 106Overfill sensor 107Transfer conveyor 108Transition from transfer conveyor to accumulating conveyor 200Freely definable unloading location 201Roll container 301Dynamic buffer 302Dynamic batch buffer 303Loading station 304Sorting matrix 305Packing buffer 306Packing station 307Empty pocket buffer 308Order picker 309Warehouse 310Picking area 311Returns 312Sorting destination 313Autonomous mobile robot 320Goods unit 321Assignment matrix 322Chute 323Worker 330Sorting destination moduleAEnlarged section XConveying direction

Claims

1. An overhead conveyor (100) for assembling articles (320) to form sorting orders, comprising a plurality of transport pouches (1) guided along a conveying path of the overhead conveyor (100) for receiving articles (320), wherein the transport pouch (1) has two side walls (2) which are detachably connected to one another at a base (3) of the transport pouch (1), wherein the transport pouch (1) has at least one actuating mechanism (10) for detaching the side walls (2) connected at the base from one another to form an unloading opening; comprising at least one loading station (303) for loading the transport pouches (1) with at least one article (320), comprising a sorting destination module (330) which has a conveying path section with a plurality of sorting destinations (312) arranged thereon for the respective unloading of a sorting order there; comprising a control device with a memory in which a desired sorting destination for unloading the transport pouch (1) is stored for the transport pouch (1) and / or the at least one article (320) located in the transport pouch (1); wherein the overhead conveyor (100) has a position determining device (50) for determining the actual position of at least one transport pouch (1) along the conveyor section, wherein the transport pouch (1) is set up for automatically unloading articles (320); characterized in that the base (3) can be opened by means of an actuating means arranged in the transport pouch (1) and is actuated in such a way that, if the actual position corresponds to the desired sorting destination, the at least one article (320) contained in the transport pouch (1) is automatically unloaded, in particular without a mechanical intervention acting externally on the transport pouch (1), by the actuating means being set up to actuate the at least one actuating mechanism (10) in response to pouch opening information transmitted by the control device in such a way that the base (3) is opened.

2. The overhead conveyor (100) according to claim 1, wherein the transport pouch (1) has a wireless communication interface (21), via which the transport pouch (1) is actuated by the control device for unloading the at least one article.

3. The overhead conveyor (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the transport pouch (1) has an electrical energy store (24), such as, for example, a rechargeable battery or a capacitor, for operating the electrical and electronic components arranged in the transport pouch (1).

4. The overhead conveyor (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one transport pouch (1) has an identifier which is stored in the memory of the control device, wherein the control device is set up for temporarily storing an assignment of the identifier to the at least one article located in the transport pouch.

5. The overhead conveyor (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein receiving containers (201), into which the articles (320) can be discharged from the transport pouches (1), are positioned at the sorting destinations (312).

6. The overhead conveyor (100) according to claim 5, wherein the receiving containers (201) each have an identifier, for example characterized by an RFID chip, a radio module and / or a barcode, which are stored in the memory of the control device, and the control device is set up to automatically set the respective desired sorting destinations on the basis of the storage locations of the receiving containers.

7. The overhead conveyor (100) according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the receiving containers (201) or the roll containers with autonomous mobile robots and / or rail guidance or the autonomous mobile robots with receiving containers are in motion, and the overhead conveyor (100) passes the receiving containers (201) at a relative speed for the unloading of the pouches (1).

8. The overhead conveyor according to claim 7, wherein the directions of movement of the overhead conveyor (100) and of the receiving containers (201) are substantially the same, and the overhead conveyor (100) is moved at a higher speed than the receiving containers (201), so that the unloaded articles can be dropped into the provided receiving containers (201) in a targeted manner.

9. The overhead conveyor (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sorting destination module (330) has a plurality of autonomous mobile robots (313) for removing a receiving container (201) having a complete order from a respective sorting destination (312) and for replacing the same by an empty receiving container (201).

10. The overhead conveyor (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sorting destinations (312) are configured as a manual workstation and each have a chute (322), onto which the articles (320) can be unloaded from the transport pouches (1) and along which the articles (320) can slide in the direction of a working region of the manual workstation.

11. The overhead conveyor (100) according to one of the preceding claims, which has a plurality of parallel sorting destination modules (330) and furthermore an assignment matrix (321) which is connected upstream of the sorting destination modules (330) and which is set up to receive loaded transport pouches (1) in any desired sequence and to discharge the loaded transport pouches (1) in a defined manner to a sorting destination module (330) having a sorting destination (312) assigned to a respective transport pouch (1).

12. The overhead conveyor (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the arrangement of the conveyor line section having the sorting destinations (312) is meandering, and the sorting destinations (312) are each accessible from at least one side by an autonomous mobile robot (313).

13. A method for operating an overhead conveyor (100) for assembling articles (320) to form sorting orders, having the steps: defining a sorting order which is to be unloaded at an available target sorting destination of a sorting destination module (330) and which consists of at least one article (320), wherein the sorting destination module (330) has a conveyor line section with a plurality of sorting destinations (312) arranged thereon for the respective unloading there of a sorting order; loading at least one article (320) of a sorting order into a transport pouch (1) of the overhead conveyor (100), wherein the transport pouch (1) is set up for the automatic unloading of the article(s) (320), wherein the transport pouch (1) has a base (3) which can be opened by means of an actuating means arranged in the transport pouch (1); assigning the transport pouch (1) having the at least one article (320) of the sorting order to the corresponding target sorting destination; conveying the loaded transport pouch (1) along the conveyor line section of the sorting destination module (330); determining the actual position of the transport pouch (1) along the conveyor line section by means of a position determining device (50); comparing the actual position with the position of the target sorting destination; actuating the transport pouch (1) for the automatic unloading of the at least one article (320) if the actual position corresponds to the position of the target sorting destination.

14. The method according to claim 13, furthermore having the step: determining if all the articles (320) of a sorting order have been unloaded at the provided target sorting destination; and outputting a signal indicating the completeness of the sorting order and characterizing the relevant target sorting destination and / or removing a receiving container (201) positioned at the target sorting destination, into which the articles (320) have been unloaded, and replacing the container by an empty receiving container (201) by means of an autonomous mobile robot (313) or by means of a rail system or manually by an operator.

15. The method according to one of claims 13 or 14, in which the actuation of the transport pouch (1) for unloading the at least one article (320) is output by a central control device of the overhead conveyor (100).

16. The method according to one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the actuation of the transport pouch (1) takes place by means of wirelessly transmitted pouch opening information.

17. The method according to one of claims 13 to 16, in which at least two sorting destination modules (330) are provided, wherein the method furthermore has the steps: assigning a first plurality of sorting orders to the first sorting destination module (330) and assigning a second plurality of sorting orders to the second sorting destination module (330); transferring the first and the second plurality of sorting orders into an assignment matrix (321); transferring the transport pouches (1) corresponding to the first plurality of sorting orders from the assignment matrix (321) to the first sorting destination module (330) and transferring the transport pouches (1) corresponding to the second plurality of sorting orders from the assignment matrix (321) to the second sorting destination module (330).

18. The method according to one of claims 13 to 17, furthermore having the step: conveying unloaded transport pouches (1) into a pouch buffer (307) and providing the transport pouches (1) stored in the pouch buffer (307) for renewed loading with articles (320).