CONVEYING DEVICE AND CONVEYING METHOD FOR GOODS

Description

[0001] The content of the German patent application DE 10 2022 205 209.9 is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The invention relates to a conveying device and a conveying method for goods.

[0003] CH 714 004 A1 discloses a picking system for picking different goods, in particular goods that can be transported in a hanging manner, as well as a method for operating such a picking system.

[0004] US 2019 / 016539 A1, which discloses the preamble of claims 1 and 10, discloses a material handling system with dynamic recirculation capacity comprising a revolving high-speed sorting conveyor.

[0005] In conveyor systems, goods, especially individual items, are conveyed from one or more goods sources to one or more goods sinks. The goods are assigned to a specific goods sink and conveyed there from the goods source. When an order is processed at the goods sink, a certain quantity of goods, i.e. a number of items, must be temporarily stored there, i.e. buffered. The size required for the goods storage at the goods sink increases proportionally with the transport time from the goods source to the goods sink and with the goods processing capacity at the goods sink. Such a conveyor system requires a lot of space. The investment costs for such a conveyor system are high.

[0006] It is the object of the present invention to simplify the conveyance of goods and to reduce the space requirement, particularly in the area of ​​goods sinks.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention by a conveying device having the features specified in claim 1 and by a conveying method having the features specified in claim 10.

[0008] The core of the invention is that in a conveying device at least one source of goods is connected to a plurality of goods sinks by means of a circulating conveyor, wherein the circulating conveyor is designed to circulate continuously, i.e. to be closed in terms of conveying. It has been recognized that it is advantageous if the circulating conveyor has a first conveyor line and a second conveyor line, wherein only the first conveyor line has a fixed conveyor container carrier. The second conveyor line does not have a fixed conveyor container carrier. The second conveyor line has a buffer function. The second conveyor line serves in particular for the recirculation of the goods and in particular as a bypass section in the circulating conveyor with respect to the first conveyor line. In particular, the closed circulating conveyor is formed by the first conveyor line and the second conveyor line. In this case, the circulating conveyor has no further conveyor lines.

[0009] It is also possible for the circulating conveyor to have more than two conveyor lines, whereby several first conveyor lines, i.e., with a fixed conveyor container drive, and / or several second conveyor lines without a fixed conveyor container drive, can be present. It is important that only the first conveyor lines are designed with a fixed conveyor container drive. However, more than one conveyor line, namely several first conveyor lines, can also have a fixed conveyor container drive.

[0010] It has been found that the circulating conveyor, and in particular the second conveyor line without a fixed conveyor container carrier, enables a decoupling of the conveyor containers and the conveyor container carrier. This makes it possible, in particular, to cycle the conveyor containers into the goods flow of the circulating conveyor at an adjustable distance, i.e., to feed them into the circulating conveyor using conveyor technology. Gaps in the, in particular the returned, flow of goods, which arise in particular from the delivery of goods to the goods sinks, can be closed by at least temporarily accumulating the goods in the second conveyor line and / or by deliberately cycle the goods from the at least one goods source. According to the invention, it is possible to subsequently compact the flow of goods.

[0011] One aspect of the invention is that the conveyor container and a conveyor drive driving the conveyor containers in the circulating conveyor can be decoupled at least partially and / or at least temporarily, i.e., they are not permanently connected to each other. This decoupling occurs along the second conveyor line.

[0012] The circulating conveyor itself acts as a buffer and, in particular, enables flexible allocation of goods in the circulating conveyor to the goods sinks. Since the circulating conveyor is directly connected to several goods sinks, a rigid allocation of goods to a single goods sink is unnecessary. The process can be implemented flexibly.

[0013] The method according to the invention is particularly suitable for orderless quantity distribution and / or order-based distribution, which is used, for example, for e-commerce orders. In order-based distribution, instead of individual items, a quantity of goods constituting an order is assigned to a goods sink. An order comprises at least one item and, in particular, several items, which in particular are different items, i.e., different types of items. In particular, the goods sinks each have several goods locations. Each goods location forms a buffer for at least one order item.

[0014] The goods conveyed in the conveyor containers are clearly identifiable. For this purpose, the conveyor containers are equipped with known identification means, in particular RFID chips and / or machine-readable codes, in particular barcodes or QR codes. Readers are arranged along a goods conveying direction of the conveyor device, which serve to read the identification means. The conveyor containers and the goods conveyed therein are trackable within the conveyor device. In particular, the position of each conveyor container within the conveyor device can be determined.

[0015] In particular, each conveyor container transports exactly one item of goods. A conveyor container is, in particular, a conveyor pocket, which is transported in particular suspended in the conveyor device. The conveyor device is, in particular, an overhead conveyor. Such a conveyor pocket is known, for example, from DE 10 2018 201 675 A1 or from DE 10 2018 201 676 A1. Alternatively, the conveyor container can also be a flat-packed goods container, in particular a box or carton. In this case, the conveyor device is a flat-packed conveyor, in particular a belt conveyor or band conveyor.

[0016] The goods source is, in particular, a warehouse, a sorting unit, especially a matrix sorter, or a storage facility. From the goods source, goods required for order processing can be retrieved in a targeted and individual manner.

[0017] The conveying device can be designed to be compact and, in particular, with reduced space requirements for a buffer storage. A corresponding conveying process can be carried out with a reduced conveying time and thus more efficiently. The conveying device and the conveying process are economically advantageous and efficient. In particular, it was found that the number of conveying containers provided for processing orders at the goods locations of the goods sinks can be reduced, in particular to approximately 10% of the number of conveying containers according to a prior art system, i.e., in particular, a conveying device without a circulating conveyor according to the invention.

[0018] A conveying device in which the first conveyor line is directly connected to at least one goods source and the goods sinks enables targeted and direct conveyance of goods from the goods source to the goods sinks.

[0019] A conveyor device in which the circulating conveyor, in particular the first conveyor line, is designed as an overhead conveyor running vertically above the goods troughs, simplifies the automatic delivery of goods, in particular through automated unloading of the conveyor pockets. It is particularly advantageous if the conveyor pockets can be opened automatically in such a way that the goods fall out of the conveyor pockets automatically. Alternatively, it is possible to pivot the conveyor pockets, in particular about a horizontal axis, in such a way that the goods fall or slide out. The goods can be delivered directly from the goods pockets into the goods troughs arranged below due to gravity. Manual intervention is unnecessary.

[0020] If, alternatively, a discharge unit is arranged at the goods sinks, it is advantageous if the conveyor containers are guided at a horizontal distance from the goods sinks. In particular, the first conveyor line and / or the discharge unit are arranged vertically relative to one another such that the conveyor pockets are essentially at the same height as the goods sinks. Unloading the conveyor pockets at the goods sinks, particularly manually, is ergonomically advantageous. Alternatively, additional conveyors, particularly vertical conveyors, can be provided at the discharge unit to compensate for any difference in the height of the conveyor pockets relative to the goods sinks.

[0021] A conveyor device according to claim 2 enables uncomplicated conveying of the conveyor container. The conveying container is carried along in particular by a known conveyor rail and a drive chain running therein, which interacts with carriers. The carriers are designed in particular as so-called rolling adapters, which can be conveyed guided in the conveyor rail. Regarding the design and function of such rolling adapters, reference is expressly made to DE 10 2005 006 455 A1. The rolling adapters enable the conveyor container to be coupled to the conveyor drive means, i.e., the drive chain.

[0022] Alternatively, the conveyor line can be designed as a belt conveyor or belt conveyor, driven by a conventional conveyor drive mechanism. Lying containers are transported on the belt conveyor or belt conveyor.

[0023] A conveyor device according to claim 3 enables flexible and independent provision of goods from the goods source. The fact that different types of goods sources can be coupled to the circulating conveyor expands the design freedom for the conveyor device.

[0024] A conveying device according to claim 4 is particularly suitable for mail-order business. The goods are delivered to the goods sinks. The goods are delivered, in particular, from the circulating conveyor. At packing stations, the goods of an order are packed, in particular, loaded into a shipping container, and the shipping container is closed. A shipping container can be a box, a carton, or a bag. At the packing stations, the goods of an order are prepared for shipping and, in particular, conveyed to a goods exit of the conveying device as a fully packed order.

[0025] A conveying device according to claim 5 simplifies the delivery of goods to the goods sinks. The conveying containers can be unloaded, particularly automatically, using an unloading unit. For example, an opening mechanism is provided that enables automated opening of conveyor pockets, allowing the goods conveyed therein to fall downwards out of the conveying container, particularly due to gravity.

[0026] Additionally or alternatively, the goods sink can have a discharge unit for discharging conveyor containers from the circulating conveyor. The discharged conveyor containers can then be unloaded, particularly manually. A discharge unit is particularly advantageous if the conveyor container cannot be unloaded automatically. For example, the conveyor container can be a conveyor pocket that cannot be opened automatically or is not intended to be opened automatically, or a clothes hanger that is transported suspended from the roller adapter and on which a piece of clothing is suspended.

[0027] A conveying device according to claim 6 enables the removal of unloaded containers from the circulating conveyor. A removal section is provided, in particular, on the first conveyor line and, in particular, in the goods conveying direction, between the goods sinks, in particular the last goods sink, and the second conveyor line. It is also conceivable for the circulating conveyor to have multiple removal sections, each connected to a discharge unit. It is also conceivable for multiple discharge units to lead into a removal section.

[0028] A conveyor device according to claim 7 enables efficient goods conveyance. In particular, the conveying rate is increased. It has been recognized that the conveying rate of the first conveyor line is decisive for the conveying rate of the conveyor device as a whole.

[0029] A conveying device according to claim 8 simplifies the intermediate storage of goods in the second conveyor line. The second conveyor line can be designed as a gravity conveyor in a particularly advantageous and uncomplicated manner. As a gravity conveyor, the second conveyor line is arranged at an angle of inclination relative to the horizontal, wherein the inclination corresponds to the circulating direction of conveyance of goods. The angle of inclination is in particular at most 15°, in particular at most 10°, in particular at most 8°, in particular at most 5°, in particular at most 3°, and in particular at least 1°. With the gravity conveyor, the goods are conveyed automatically along the second conveyor line due to the force of gravity. In addition to or alternatively to the gravity conveyance, a separate conveyor drive for mechanically assisted conveyance can be provided on the second conveyor line.

[0030] If the conveyor is an overhead conveyor, the buffer section can also be designed as a power-and-free conveyor, i.e., a two-rail system with an upper rail carrying a drive chain and a lower rail carrying the carriers, i.e., roller adapters. In this case, the roller adapters are positively coupled to the drive chain and can be disengaged at any time, allowing the drive chain to rotate continuously while the individual roller adapters can still be stopped and / or discharged. This type of conveyor is also referred to as a trailing loop conveyor.

[0031] If the conveyor device is a horizontal conveyor, the second conveyor line can be designed, in particular, as a downwardly inclined ramp and / or roller conveyor. Additionally or alternatively, a driven conveyor belt can be provided.

[0032] Conveyor pockets according to claim 9 simplify the conveyance of goods and in particular the automated operation of the conveying device.

[0033] A conveying method according to claim 10 essentially has the advantages that arise from the operation of the conveying device according to claim 1. According to the invention, it was recognized that the flexible allocation of goods to the goods sinks and the direct supply of the goods sinks with goods from the circulating conveyor can reduce the storage capacity at the goods sinks. The space required and the investment in the equipment for the conveying device are reduced.

[0034] A method according to claim 11 enables consolidation of the flow of goods. In the second conveyor line, the goods that have not been released from the circulating conveyor and are therefore conveyed in a circulating manner, i.e., are placed in a further loop on the circulating conveyor, can be temporarily stored and / or recompressed. Gaps in the flow of goods can thus be efficiently avoided.

[0035] A conveying method according to claim 12 ensures the return of goods. It has proven advantageous if the returned goods from the second conveyor line are given priority over newly introduced goods from the goods source. In particular, this ensures that the second conveyor line can be prevented from filling up, thus preventing unwanted congestion in the second conveyor line and thus in the flow of goods in the circulating conveyor as a whole.

[0036] A method according to claim 13 particularly increases the efficiency of automation. In particular, it is possible to carry out the delivery of goods, i.e., unloading and / or ejection, at a constant conveyor speed. It has been recognized that a reduction in the conveyor speed in the circulating conveyor is unnecessary. The delivery of goods thus takes place, in particular, at the nominal speed of the conveyor drive. The method is, in particular, a continuous conveying method. The method enables increased efficiency, i.e., an increased conveying rate.

[0037] Both the features specified in the patent claims and the features specified in the following exemplary embodiment of a conveying device according to the invention are suitable, either individually or in combination with one another, for further developing the subject matter of the invention. The respective combinations of features do not represent any limitation with regard to further developments of the subject matter of the invention, but are essentially merely exemplary in nature.

[0038] Further features, advantages, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a conveyor device according to the invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged, partially cut-away side view of a first conveyor line of a circulating conveyor for a conveyor device according to Fig. 1 in the form of an overhead conveyor.

[0039] One in Fig. 1 The purely schematically illustrated conveying device 1 serves to convey goods from at least one goods source 2 to a plurality of goods sinks 3. The conveying device can comprise a plurality of goods sources 2, which are arranged in particular parallel to one another. Each goods sink 3 has, in particular, a plurality of goods discharges 4, which are in particular mechanically separated from one another, in particular in the form of partition walls. The goods discharges 4 at a goods sink 3 can also be designed as separate insertion chutes with a funnel-shaped goods receptacle that is open, in particular, upwards.

[0040] The goods sinks 3 are in particular packing stations at which goods of an order can be packed and in particular delivered to a goods exit of the conveyor device 1 for dispatch.

[0041] The goods source 2 and the goods sinks 3 are connected by means of a circulating conveyor 5. The circulating conveyor 5 has an endlessly circulating conveyor section and enables circulating conveyance along the goods conveying direction 6, which in Fig. 1 is symbolized by an arrow and is oriented counterclockwise.

[0042] The circulating conveyor 5 has a first conveyor line 7 and a second conveyor line 8. At the goods source 2, the goods are provided in conveyor containers and conveyed by means of the conveyor containers to the goods sinks 3. The goods sinks 3 are connected, in particular directly, to the at least one goods source 2 via the first conveyor line 7. In particular, exactly one item of goods is arranged in each conveyor container.

[0043] The first conveyor line 7 has a conveyor drive means (not shown in detail) that enables the fixed conveying container to be carried along. The conveyor drive means comprises, in particular, a drive motor and a drive chain mechanically coupled thereto. The drive chain is arranged, in particular, within a conveyor rail 13 of the first conveyor line 7, in particular within a guide profile, which is made, in particular, of plastic.

[0044] The first conveyor line 7 and the second conveyor line 8 are coupled to one another at two transfer points 35, 36. The first transfer point 35 is located in the goods conveying direction 6 between the end of the first conveyor line 7 and the beginning of the second conveyor line 8. At the first transfer point 35, the conveying containers are transferred from the fixed conveying container carrier in the first conveyor line 7 to the second conveyor line 8 without a fixed conveying container carrier. At the second transfer point 36, which is located in the goods conveying direction 6 between the end of the second conveyor line 8 and the beginning of the first conveyor line 7, the goods are transferred from the second conveyor line 8 to the fixed conveying container carrier in the first conveyor line 7.

[0045] The source of goods 2 is coupled to the circulating conveyor 5 via at least one feed conveyor line 10, in particular downstream of the second conveyor line 8 and in particular downstream of the conveyor drive means.

[0046] The second conveyor line 8 is designed, in particular, as a buffer section and, in particular, as a gravity conveyor. A particularly uncomplicated design is the gravity conveyor, which is inclined downwards, in particular, relative to the horizontal. The inclination is directed, in particular, toward the first conveyor line 7, in particular, toward the conveyor drive means. The second conveyor line 8 has a buffer function.

[0047] The conveying device 1 comprises several, in particular differently designed, goods sinks 3. The goods sinks 3 can also be identical. The goods sinks 3 are spaced apart along the goods conveying direction 6, i.e. arranged one behind the other. A first, in Fig. 1 The goods sink 3 shown on the left has an unloading unit (not shown in detail) that enables unloading, in particular automatic unloading, of the goods from the conveyor containers. The first goods sink 3 and in particular the delivery compartments 4 are arranged spatially adjacent to the first conveyor line 7. The automatic unloading unit can, for example, enable automatic opening or tilting of conveyor pockets and / or automatic pivoting or tilting of horizontal conveyor containers, wherein the delivery compartments of the first goods sink 3 are arranged in the delivery direction of the goods. The first goods sink 3 is therefore arranged directly adjacent to the first conveyor line 7.

[0048] Downstream of the goods sinks 3, a discharge line 11 is connected to the circulating conveyor 5. The discharge line 11 serves to discharge, in particular automatically, emptied conveyor containers from the circulating conveyor 5. The discharge line 11 leads in particular to a loading station (not shown), where the conveyor containers can be loaded with goods. The discharge line 11 can also be connected in particular to a buffer storage unit for temporarily storing empty conveyor containers.

[0049] The discharge section 11 can be omitted, in particular if the conveying containers are not automatically emptied by means of a discharge unit.

[0050] One in Fig. 1 The second goods sink 3 shown on the right is connected to the circulating conveyor 5, in particular to the first conveyor line 7, by means of a discharge unit 12. The second goods sink 3 can be arranged at a spatial distance from the first conveyor line 7, wherein a conveyor connection to the first conveyor line 7 is ensured by means of the discharge unit 12. The discharge unit 12 is designed in particular identical to the discharge section 11. The discharge unit 12 enables a targeted discharge of conveying containers from the circulating conveyor 5 into the discharge unit 12. In the area of ​​the second goods sink 3, the conveying containers are stopped by means of a stopper (not shown in detail) and then unloaded, in particular manually. It is conceivable that the discharge unit 12 leads to a loading station, analogous to the discharge section 11.It is also conceivable for the discharge unit 12 to be merged with the discharge line 11 or for the discharge unit 12 to flow into the discharge line 11. In particular, several discharge units 12 can be connected to the circulating conveyor. It is advantageous if either a discharge unit 12 or a discharge unit is provided for every second goods sink 3.

[0051] In the following, with reference to Fig. 2 the first conveyor line 7 is explained in more detail.

[0052] The first conveyor line 7 is designed as a conveyor rail 13, which is also referred to as a transport rail. Accordingly, the conveyor device 1 is an overhead conveyor. The transport rail 13 can be laid in a space by means of suitable support devices. The transport rail 13 is designed as a hollow box profile in which a drive chain 14 is arranged and by means of the Fig. 2 can be driven in the goods conveying direction 6 by a purely schematically illustrated drive 9.

[0053] Holding elements 15 are movable along the transport rail 13 by means of the drive chain 14. The drive chain 14 and the drive 9 form a conveyor drive means for the first conveyor line 7. The drive 9 is, in particular, an electric motor drive, which is mechanically coupled to the drive chain 14 by means of a power transmission element, in particular a drive gear, i.e., for power transmission.

[0054] The drive chain 14 is a so-called roller chain with rollers 16 that are connected to each other at a short distance from each other by connecting plates 17. Pins 18 have downwardly projecting, pin-shaped extensions that serve as drivers 19. The pins 18 with the drivers 19 run perpendicular to the transport rail 13 in a vertical plane spanned by the goods conveying direction 6.

[0055] The drive chain 14 is guided and held in the transport rail 13 in the direction of the bolts 18, i.e. perpendicularly and transversely to the goods conveying direction 6, by means of guides 20 which engage under the connecting plates 17.

[0056] The center-to-center distance a between adjacent carriers 19 in the transport rail 13 in the goods conveying direction 6 corresponds exactly to the pitch of the drive chain 14 and is therefore unchangeable and constant. The carriers 19 define the fixed conveyor container drive.

[0057] On an underside of the transport rail 13, two guide webs 21 are formed, facing one another, between which a slot 22 is formed or delimited, extending in the longitudinal direction of the transport rail 13, i.e. in the goods conveying direction 6. A flat support part 23 of each holding element 15 projects downwards out of the transport rail 13 through this slot 22. In its upper region, the holding element 15 has a roller 24 on each side of the support part 23, each of which is supported on one of the two guide webs 21 and can be displaced thereon in the goods conveying direction 6. There is therefore only one pair of rollers 24, which can rotate about a common axis 25, so that the entire holding element 15 can oscillate in the transport rail 13 about the axis 25.

[0058] The support member 23 has a receiving opening 26 at its lower end, into which a conveyor container in the form of a conveyor pocket 27 can be suspended. The conveyor pocket 27 is in Fig. 2 shown purely schematically. The holding element 15, which is conveyed by means of the rollers 24 in the transport rail 13 and which, by means of the receiving opening 26, is suitable for receiving the conveyor pocket 27, is also referred to as a rolling adapter.

[0059] The holding element 15 has an identification element 28, which is designed as a transponder, in particular an RFID chip, or as a machine-readable code, in particular a barcode or QR code. The identification element 28 is arranged in particular between the receiving opening 26 and the underside of the transport rail 13 and is thus readable by a reading device, in particular an automated one. The identification element 28 extends in the goods conveying direction 6 according to the arrangement of the plate-like support part 23, thus being open with its main surface transverse to the goods conveying direction 6, i.e., to the side.

[0060] After being mechanically coupled to the holding element 15, the conveyor pocket 27 containing the goods to be conveyed remains attached to this holding element 15 throughout the entire conveying process, thus being "married" to it. The goods to be conveyed are thus controlled via the identification element 28 and thus the holding element 15. Since the entire transport is carried out by the drive chain, it is very important that a holding element 15 assumes an absolutely unique position relative to the drive chain 14 during transport.

[0061] The transport rail 13 has horizontal limiting webs 29 directly above the rollers 24, which are directed toward one another and define a slot 30 between them. A stem-like extension 31 of the holding element 15 extends through this slot 30 and is formed integrally with the support part 23 at its upper end.

[0062] At the upper end of the stem-like extension 31, a stop 32 is formed in the manner of a crossbar, the horizontal extension of which, transverse to the goods conveying direction 6, is greater than the width of the slot 30, so that when the holding element 15 tilts relative to the transport rail 13, this stop 32 comes into contact with the limiting webs 29 and thus prevents further tilting of the holding element 15. The extension 31 and the stop 32 have the basic shape of a hammer, i.e., they are T-shaped.

[0063] The drivers 19 of the drive chain 14 extend directly above the limiting webs 29, so that a holding element 15 located between two drivers 19 is always reliably carried along, i.e. does not come out of engagement with the driver 19.

[0064] The conveying device 1 has a control unit 33, which is in particular signal-connected to the at least one goods source 2, the goods sinks 3, the circulating conveyor 5, and / or the conveyor lines 7 and 8. The signal connection can be wired or wireless. In particular, the control unit 33 is in signal-connected to the conveyor drive means to enable a targeted introduction of the conveyor pockets 27 from the at least one goods source 2 or a return of the conveyor pockets 27 from the second conveyor line 8.

[0065] The conveyor device 1 has a plurality of reading units 34, which are arranged in particular at the entrance of the circulating conveyor 5, i.e., where the feed conveyor line 10 opens into the circulating conveyor 5. A further reading unit 34 can be arranged in particular at the exit of the circulating conveyor 5, i.e., where the discharge line 11 opens out of the circulating conveyor 5. The reading units 34 serve to read the identification elements 28, so that direct conclusions can be drawn about the respective position of the conveyor pockets 27 in the conveyor device 1 and, in particular, within the circulating conveyor 5.

[0066] In particular, the control unit 33 is in signal communication with the unloading unit and / or with the discharge unit 12 in order to ensure automatic unloading and / or discharge of the conveyor pockets 27.

[0067] A conveying method for goods in the conveying device 1 is explained in more detail below.

[0068] Various goods are provided at the at least one goods source 2. For this purpose, the goods are each arranged individually in a conveyor pocket 27. The goods are fed into the conveyor pockets 27 via the feed line 10, the circulating conveyor 5 and in particular transferred to the first conveyor line 7 of the circulating conveyor 5 and introduced there. Since the first conveyor line 7, as in Fig. 2 shown, is designed with a fixed conveyor container carrier, the conveyor pockets 27 are each carried in a rolling adapter 15. The respective position of the conveyor pockets 27 can be clearly assigned by means of the identification elements 28.

[0069] The goods are conveyed in a continuous circulating manner in the circulating conveyor 5, i.e. they circulate along the goods conveying direction 6. If an order with at least one item of goods is to be processed at one of the goods sinks 3, the necessary demand for goods is registered via the control unit 33. The required goods are assigned to the corresponding goods sink 3 by means of the control unit 33 and conveyed there. Because the conveyor used for this purpose is a circulating conveyor 5, several goods sinks 3 can be connected to the goods source 2. It is therefore important that the allocation of goods to the goods sinks does not already take place at or in the goods source 2, but can be done flexibly from the circulating conveyor 5. In particular, the circulating conveyor serves as a goods buffer in which the goods circulate, i.e. are conveyed in a circulating manner, until a corresponding demand for goods is registered at one or more goods sinks 3.It is particularly advantageous that the circulating conveyor 5 can be used by all sinks, thereby increasing the flexibility in conveying the goods and in allocating the goods.

[0070] The goods are delivered to the respective goods sink in particular by means of automatic unloading or by diverting the conveyor pockets 27 into a divert unit 12. Unloaded conveyor pockets 27 can be diverted from the circulating conveyor 5 at the divert section 11. Conveyor pockets 27 that have not been diverted are conveyed into the second conveyor line 8 and thus remain in the circulating conveyor 5. The conveyor pockets 27 that have not been diverted can be accumulated, i.e. consolidated, in the second conveyor line 8. This closes any gaps in the flow of goods. The second conveyor line 8 enables the conveyor pockets 27 to be re-compacted. Using the conveyor drive means, the conveyor pockets 27 accumulated in the second conveyor line 8 can be returned to the first conveyor line 7 with the fixed conveyor container carrier. The second conveyor line 8 therefore serves to return goods that have not been delivered to the flow of goods.

Claims

1. Conveying apparatus for goods comprising a. at least one goods source (2) which provides the goods by means of conveyor containers (27), b. a plurality of goods sinks (3) to which the goods are conveyed, wherein c. the conveying apparatus (1) comprises an endless conveyor (5) which connects the at least one goods source (2) and the goods sinks (3) in terms of conveying technology and has a first conveyor strand (7) and a second conveyor strand (8) which follows the first conveyor strand (7) along a goods conveying direction (6) in the endless conveyor (5), wherein only the first conveyor strand (7) has a fixed conveyor container entrainment, wherein the endless conveyor (5) is designed to circulate endlessly, d. the first conveyor strand (7) is directly connected to the at least one product source (2) and the product sinks (3), characterized in that e. the endless conveyor (5) is designed as an overhead conveyor for the suspended conveyance of the conveyor containers (27), wherein the overhead conveyor runs vertically above the goods sinks (3).

2. Conveying apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first conveyor strand (7) has a conveyor drive means for fixed conveyor container entrainment, in particular a drive chain (14) running in a conveyor rail (13) and holding members (15) cooperating therewith, which can each be coupled to a conveyor container (27).

3. Conveying apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one goods source (2) is a warehouse, a sorting unit, in particular a matrix sorter, or a circulating storage unit.

4. Conveying apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the goods sinks (3) are designed as goods dispatching points, in particular packing places.

5. Conveying apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the goods sink (3) has an unloading unit, in particular an automatic unloading unit, for unloading the goods from the conveyor containers (27) and / or a discharge unit (12) for discharging the conveyor containers (27) from the endless conveyor (5).

6. Conveying apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a discharge line (11) connected to the endless conveyor (5) for discharging unloaded conveyor containers (27) from the endless conveyor (5), wherein the discharge line (11) is connected in particular to the first conveyor strand (7), in particular along the goods conveying direction (6) between the goods sinks (3) and the second conveyor strand (8).

7. Conveying apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first conveyor strand (7) has a first conveyor length (lr1) and the second conveyor strand (8) has a second conveyor length (lF2), wherein: lF1 > lF2, in particular lF1 >5 · lF2, in particular lF1 >10 · lF2.

8. Conveying apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second conveyor strand (8) is designed as an accumulation conveyor, in particular as a gravity conveyor and in particular as a conveyor rail (13) that is inclined downwards with respect to the horizontal.

9. Conveying apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor containers are each designed as conveyor bags (27), which in particular can each be unloaded individually and / or in an automated manner.

10. Conveying method for goods, comprising the method steps of - providing the goods by means of conveyor containers (27) at at least one goods source (2), - conveying the goods along a goods conveying direction (6) to one of a plurality of goods sinks (3) by means of a closed endless conveyor (5) which has a first conveyor strand (7) and a second conveyor strand (8) which follows the first conveyor strand (7) in the goods conveying direction (6), wherein the endless conveyor (5) is designed to circulate endlessly, wherein the first conveyor strand (7) is directly connected to the at least one goods source (2) and the goods sinks (3), characterized in that the endless conveyor (5) is designed as an overhead conveyor for the suspended conveyance of the conveyor containers (27), wherein the overhead conveyor runs vertically above the goods sinks (3), wherein the goods are conveyed only along the first conveyor strand with fixed conveyor container engagement.

11. Conveying method according to claim 10, characterized in that the goods are accumulated in the second conveyor strand (8).

12. Conveying method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by a return of goods from the second conveyor strand (8) into the first conveyor strand (7), wherein in particular the return of the goods is carried out in preference over an insertion of the goods provided by the goods source (2).

13. Conveying method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that at the goods sinks (3), the goods are unloaded, in particular automatically, from the conveyor containers (27) by means of an unloading unit and / or the conveyor containers (27) are discharged from the endless conveyor (5) by means of a discharge unit (12).