Device and method for moving objects between two controlled environments

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for moving an object from a first controlled environment (301) to a second controlled environment (302), comprising a driverless rail vehicle (10) and a hermetically sealed enclosure (12) arranged on said rail vehicle (10), wherein a defined atmosphere can be maintained within the enclosure (12).

Description

[0001] Device and method for moving objects between two controlled

[0002] environments

[0003] FIELD OF APPLICATION AND STATE OF THE ART

[0004] The invention relates to a device and a method for moving objects between two controlled environments.

[0005] In the context of the application, a controlled environment is defined as a hermetically sealed environment with a defined atmosphere, such as a clean room and / or a dry room.

[0006] A dry room or dry clean room is a controlled environment with extremely low humidity. Dry rooms are required, for example, in the production of lithium-ion batteries. These dry rooms are therefore also referred to as battery clean rooms.

[0007] TASK AND SOLUTION

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a device and a method for moving an object from a first controlled environment into a second controlled environment, as well as a system comprising a first and a second controlled environment, wherein objects can be moved from the first environment into the second environment while maintaining a defined atmosphere.

[0009] These objects are achieved by the device, the system and the method having the features of claims 1, 9 and 10. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

[0010] According to a first aspect, a device for moving an object from a first controlled environment into a second controlled environment is provided, comprising a driverless rail vehicle and a hermetically sealed enclosure arranged on the rail vehicle, wherein a defined atmosphere can be maintained within the enclosure. The terms "a," "an," etc., are used in connection with the application merely as specific terms and not as counting words. In particular, one embodiment provides for multiple enclosures to be provided on the rail vehicle and / or for multiple objects to be introduced into the enclosure and transferred from the first environment to the second environment.

[0011] Likewise, the terms "first" and "second" in the context of the application serve merely to distinguish between the two and do not indicate a sequence. Nor do the terms "first," "first," etc., necessarily require the presence of second, identical or similar elements.

[0012] The rail vehicle is also referred to as a shuttle. The rail vehicle and associated rails are preferably designed as described in DE 195 13 095 A1, EP 0 728647 A1, DE 198 37 975 A1, DE 101 21 436 A1 and / or WO 2005 / 118365 A1, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In particular, in some embodiments the rail vehicle has rollers for moving along the rail. In advantageous embodiments the rollers are mounted so as to be rotatable about vertical axes. In advantageous embodiments the rail vehicle or rail vehicles is / are operated by means of an electric drive provided on the vehicle. In some embodiments the rail vehicle has carriages on which the rollers are mounted, wherein the carriages are connected via a platform. The housing is mounted on the platform. In some embodiments the housing is permanently mounted on the rail vehicle.

[0013] In other embodiments, the enclosure is detachably mounted on the rail vehicle, wherein the enclosure and the rail vehicle have complementary mechanical coupling elements, and wherein the coupling elements are configured to securely fix the enclosure to the rail vehicle. The enclosure can be separated from the rail vehicle, for example, to introduce the object, and only the enclosure can be introduced into a lock to receive an object. After the object has been introduced into the enclosure, the enclosure is mounted on the rail vehicle.

[0014] The device allows an object to be moved from a first controlled environment, for example a drying room, into a spatially separate second controlled environment via a transport route in which an atmosphere differs from the controlled environments, for example an atmosphere with a high humidity of 40-60%. Thanks to the hermetically sealed housing, contamination of the object arranged in the housing is avoided. In one embodiment, the housing has connections for creating the defined atmosphere in the housing. In another embodiment, the housing has a connection for removing a gas present in the housing, wherein air present in the first environment is introduced into the housing along with the object. The atmosphere thus created in the housing is maintained during transport of the object.

[0015] Thanks to the enclosure, there is no longer any need to move the rail vehicle itself within the controlled environment. This prevents the controlled environment from being contaminated by abrasion between the rail and the rail vehicle.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first environment and the second environment have identical properties, which are also maintained in the enclosure. In other embodiments, the environments have different properties.

[0017] For the introduction of objects, the enclosure has a hermetically sealable access opening in some embodiments. In some embodiments, a lock is provided at the access opening of the enclosure. Alternatively, the access opening has coupling elements in some embodiments, wherein the coupling elements are configured to couple the enclosure to the lock to form a hermetically sealed space.

[0018] In other embodiments, the enclosure is designed as a hood and / or comprises a hood, wherein the hood, also referred to as a lid, can be lifted to insert and remove an object. In some embodiments, objects are introduced from the first environment into the enclosure and / or from the enclosure into the second environment via locks present in the first or second environment. To introduce an object, the device and / or part of the device, for example the enclosure without the rail vehicle, can be introduced into the lock with the hood open and a defined atmosphere can then be created in the lock. As soon as the defined atmosphere prevails in the lock, the object can be introduced into the lock and the hood in the lock can be closed so that the atmosphere of the lock prevails in the enclosure. In some embodiments, the drive for raising and lowering the hood is part of the device.In other embodiments, the hood is raised and / or lowered manually or automatically by means of an external device. In one embodiment, the enclosure has a connection for removing a gas present in the enclosure, in particular to generate a vacuum and / or negative pressure within the enclosure. A vacuum generator required for this purpose is arranged stationary in some embodiments. In other embodiments, a device for generating a vacuum and / or negative pressure within the enclosure is provided on the rail vehicle. This allows a vacuum or negative pressure to be generated and / or maintained within the enclosure during movement of the rail vehicle.

[0019] Particularly in embodiments in which the housing is designed as a hood and / or comprises a hood, a generated vacuum or negative pressure serves to securely fix the hood in a closed position during movement of the rail vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, a mechanical interface is provided in embodiments to fix the hood to the rail vehicle in a closed position.

[0020] In one embodiment, the device comprises a sensor device for monitoring the atmosphere within the housing, in particular parameters influencing the atmosphere such as humidity, temperature, particle concentration, and / or mechanical vibrations of the housing and / or electromagnetic influences on the housing. The atmosphere within the housing can be monitored by means of the sensor device, whereby, for example, a transfer to the second environment only takes place if the atmosphere has defined properties throughout the entire transport. Otherwise, some embodiments provide for the object to be removed from the manufacturing process. In other embodiments, alternatively or additionally, the device sends a warning to the operating personnel and / or a higher-level system in the event of deviations.A decision regarding the necessary measures can then be made by the operating personnel and / or the higher-level facility. In other configurations, the atmosphere within the enclosure is alternatively or additionally checked before an object is introduced into the enclosure. The sensor device can be designed to suit the specific application and includes one or more sensors for monitoring defined properties.

[0021] Alternatively or in addition to the sensor device and / or the vacuum generator, the device may comprise further devices, such as a system for shielding against electromagnetic interference, a vibration-damping system, information and communication interfaces, an air conditioning system, a flooding system, a fire extinguishing system, or the like. The flooding system may be suitable for creating a defined atmosphere within a lock housing the device and / or a space comprising the enclosure and a lock chamber by supplying and / or removing specific media.

[0022] In some designs, the devices are powered by a battery that is carried along.

[0023] Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, pantographs are provided on the rail vehicle to supply power to the rail vehicle, which pantographs interact with a current-carrying conductor mounted along the rail, as described, for example, in DE 198 37 975 A1. In some embodiments, the power is used to drive the rail vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the energy is used to supply power to the devices present on the rail vehicle, such as a vacuum generator, an air conditioning system, a flooding system, a vibration-damping system, a fire extinguishing system, a sensor device for monitoring, a communications module, or the like. As an alternative to an electrically operated drive for the rail vehicle, a drive using a fuel cell is conceivable, as described, for example, in WO 2005 / 118365 A1.In some embodiments, a current collector is nevertheless provided on the rail vehicle for transmitting electrical energy from the current-carrying conductor mounted along the rail to devices present on the rail vehicle, in particular for transmitting electrical energy to the sensor.

[0024] In some embodiments, the housing comprises an interface, in particular an electrical interface for a power supply, a media interface for a media supply, in particular for a supply of gaseous or liquid media, and / or a communication interface for data exchange. The interface is designed in such a way that a power supply, a media supply and / or a data exchange is optionally carried out by or with other devices of the device carried by the rail vehicle or by or with external devices.

[0025] According to a second aspect, a system for manufacturing and / or processing objects in a controlled atmosphere is provided, comprising a first controlled environment, a second controlled environment, and a device for moving an object from the first controlled environment to the second controlled environment, which device comprises a driverless rail vehicle and a hermetically sealable enclosure. The system can be used, for example, for manufacturing batteries under controlled environmental conditions. However, other applications are also conceivable.

[0026] According to a third aspect, a method is provided for moving an object from a first controlled environment into a second controlled environment, wherein the object is introduced from the first controlled environment into a hermetically sealed enclosure arranged and / or arrangeable on a driverless rail vehicle and is moved by means of the rail vehicle to the second environment, wherein a defined atmosphere is maintained within the enclosure.

[0027] The enclosure serves to protect the object to be transported from a gas surrounding the rail vehicle, for example air with a normal or high humidity of at least 40%. Depending on the design, the enclosure is permanently installed on the rail vehicle or detachably connected to it. For example, in some designs, the enclosure is brought into the first environment and the object is brought into the enclosure in the first environment. In some designs, the enclosure is brought into the enclosure via a lock to prevent contamination of the first environment by the enclosure. In other designs, the enclosure is connected to the first environment and / or a lock, and the object is brought into the enclosure arranged outside the first environment.

[0028] The defined atmosphere is maintained within the enclosure during transport. In some embodiments, no defined atmosphere is created within the enclosure; instead, it is taken from the first environment and / or the second environment and simply maintained. In other embodiments, a defined atmosphere is created within the enclosure before an object is introduced and maintained during transport.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the atmosphere within the enclosure is monitored by means of a sensor device.

[0030] In one embodiment, a control query is performed by the sensor device before the object is transferred to the enclosure and / or to the second environment, and the object is transferred when an actual atmosphere within the enclosure detected by the sensor device corresponds to a defined target atmosphere. In one embodiment, electrical energy is transmitted by means of a current collector arranged on the rail vehicle from a current-carrying conductor mounted along the rail to a drive of the rail vehicle and / or to devices present on the rail vehicle, in particular to the sensor device.

[0031] In one embodiment, the object is introduced from the first environment into the enclosure via a lock provided in the first environment and / or the enclosure, and / or is introduced from the enclosure into the second environment via a lock provided in the second environment and / or the enclosure. The lock can be suitably designed by a person skilled in the art depending on the application.

[0032] According to a fourth aspect, a driverless rail vehicle is used to move an object from a first controlled environment to a second controlled environment. A hermetically sealed enclosure is arranged on the rail vehicle, and a defined atmosphere can be maintained within the enclosure. In some embodiments, a transport route for the rail vehicle is located in an uncontrolled environment and / or in an environment whose properties are subject to lower requirements than those of the first and / or second environment.

[0033] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Further advantages and aspects of the invention emerge from the claims and from the description of an embodiment of the invention, which is explained below with reference to the schematic figures. Showing:

[0035] Fig. 1: a first embodiment of a device comprising a rail vehicle and a housing;

[0036] Fig. 2: a second embodiment of a device comprising a rail vehicle and a housing; and

[0037] Fig. 3: A system comprising two controlled environments and a rail vehicle for moving objects between the environments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0038] Fig. 1 and 2 schematically show embodiments of a device 1 for moving an object (not shown) from a first controlled environment 301 (see Fig. 3) into a second controlled environment 302 (see Fig. 3).

[0039] For identical or similar components of the devices 1 according to Figs. 1 and 2, uniform reference numerals are used.

[0040] The devices 1 according to Figs. 1 and 2 each comprise a driverless rail vehicle 10, which can be moved along a rail 2, and a hermetically sealed housing 12 arranged on the rail vehicle 10. In embodiments, the housing 12 is detachably connected to the rail vehicle 10 by means of mechanical coupling elements.

[0041] In the embodiment according to Fig. 1, the housing has an access opening 14 through which an object can be introduced into the housing 12. The access opening 14 is suitably designed so that after the access opening is closed, the housing 12 is hermetically sealed against the atmosphere surrounding the rail vehicle 10 and the housing 12. In embodiments, a lock (not shown in Fig. 1) is provided at the access opening 14, wherein objects can be introduced into the housing 12 and removed from the housing 12 via the lock. In other embodiments, the device 1 according to Fig. 1 or the housing 12 of the device 1 according to Fig. 1, which is separate from the rail vehicle 10, is introduced into a lock to a controlled environment.

[0042] In the embodiment according to Fig. 2, the housing 12 has a hood 121 and a base plate 122, wherein the hood 121 can be raised and lowered relative to the base plate 122 for introducing or removing objects, as schematically shown by a double arrow. The hood 121 and the base plate 122 are suitably designed so that after the hood 121 has been lowered and placed on the base plate 122, the housing 12 is hermetically sealed against the atmosphere surrounding the rail vehicle 10 and the housing 12. For receiving or transferring objects from or to a controlled environment, in embodiments the device 1 according to Fig. 2 or the housing 12 separate from the rail vehicle 10 and comprising the hood 121 and the base plate 122 is introduced into a lock to a controlled environment. In the embodiment shown in Fig.In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the device 1 further comprises a vacuum generator 17 arranged on the rail vehicle 10, wherein a negative pressure and / or vacuum can be generated in the closed housing 12, i.e., after lowering the hood 121, by means of the vacuum generator 17. The hood 121 can be securely held in a closed position by means of the negative pressure and / or vacuum.

[0043] In the exemplary embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a defined atmosphere is maintained within the hermetically sealed enclosure 12 during movement of the rail vehicle 10. In the illustrated exemplary embodiments, a sensor device 16 is provided for monitoring the atmosphere within the enclosure 12.

[0044] The illustrated rail vehicle 10 comprises a current collector 15 for transmitting electrical energy from a current-carrying conductor (not shown) mounted along the rail 2 to the sensor device 16. In embodiments, the transmitted energy is also transmitted to a drive (not shown) of the rail vehicle 10.

[0045] In embodiments, a control query is carried out by means of the sensor device 16 before a transfer of the object to the housing 12 and / or before a transfer to the second environment 302 (see Fig. 3), wherein a transfer of the object only takes place if an actual atmosphere within the housing 12 detected by the sensor device 16 corresponds to a defined target atmosphere.

[0046] In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the housing 12 each has a connection 18. In some embodiments, the connection 18 allows gas exchange within the housing 12 to create a defined atmosphere within the housing before an object is introduced. This atmosphere is maintained during movement of the rail vehicle 10 along the rail 2.

[0047] Fig. 3 shows a system 3 for manufacturing and / or processing objects in a controlled atmosphere. The system 3 comprises a first controlled environment 301, a second controlled environment 302, and a device 1 for moving an object (not shown) along a rail 2 from the first controlled environment 301 into the second controlled environment 302. The course of the rail 2 is shown only schematically. In particular, depending on the design, the rail 2 can have branches and curves to move objects to different destinations.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, a lock 4 is provided at each entrance / exit of the first environment 301 and the second environment 302, with objects from or into the environments 301, 302 passing through the lock 4 to avoid contamination of the first environment 301 and / or the second environment 302. The device 1 or a housing 12 of the device 1 decoupled from the rail vehicle 10 can also be introduced into the lock 4 for receiving or transferring the objects in certain embodiments.

[0049] The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and numerous modifications are conceivable.

Claims

Patent claims 1 . A device for moving an object from a first controlled environment (301) into a second controlled environment (302), comprising a driverless rail vehicle (10) and a hermetically sealed enclosure (12) arranged on the rail vehicle (10), wherein a defined atmosphere can be maintained within the enclosure (12).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (12) and the rail vehicle have complementary mechanical coupling elements, wherein the coupling elements are designed to securely fix the housing (12) to the rail vehicle (10).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (12) has a hermetically sealable access opening, wherein in particular the access opening comprises coupling elements, wherein the coupling elements are designed to couple the housing (12) to a lock to form a hermetically sealed space.

4. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (12) is designed as a hood and / or comprises a hood, wherein the hood can be lifted for inserting and removing an object.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a device for generating a vacuum within the housing (12) on the rail vehicle (10) is provided.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a sensor device (16) is provided for monitoring the atmosphere within the housing (12), in particular parameters influencing the atmosphere such as humidity, temperature, particle concentration, and / or for monitoring mechanical vibrations of the housing (12) and / or for monitoring electromagnetic effects on the housing (12).

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rail vehicle (10) has a current collector (15) for transmitting electrical energy from a current-carrying conductor mounted along a rail (2) to a drive of the rail vehicle (10) and / or to devices present on the rail vehicle (10), in particular for transmitting electrical energy to the sensor device (16).

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing (12) comprises an interface, in particular an electrical interface for a power supply, a media interface for a power supply and / or a communication interface for a data exchange.

9. A system for manufacturing and / or processing objects in a controlled atmosphere, comprising a first controlled environment (301), a second controlled environment (302) and a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 for moving an object from the first controlled environment (301) into the second controlled environment (302).

10. A method for moving an object from a first controlled environment (301) into a second controlled environment (302), wherein the object is introduced from the first controlled environment (301) into a hermetically sealed enclosure (12) arranged and / or arrangeable on a driverless rail vehicle (10) and is moved by means of the rail vehicle (10) to the second environment (302), wherein a defined atmosphere is maintained within the enclosure (12).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the housing (12) and the rail vehicle have complementary mechanical coupling elements, wherein the housing (12) is to be securely fixed to the rail vehicle (10) by means of the coupling elements.

12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the housing (12) is designed as a hood and / or comprises a hood, wherein the hood is lifted for inserting and removing an object.

13. The method according to claim 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that the atmosphere within the housing (12), in particular parameters influencing the atmosphere such as humidity, temperature, particle concentration, and / or mechanical vibrations of the housing (12) and / or electromagnetic effects on the housing (12) are monitored by means of a sensor device (16). is / are, wherein, in particular, before the object is handed over to the housing (12) and / or to the second environment (302), a control query is carried out by means of the sensor device (16), and a handover of the object takes place when an actual atmosphere within the housing (12) detected by the sensor device (16) corresponds to a defined target atmosphere.

4. Method according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that electrical energy is transmitted by means of a current collector (15) arranged on the rail vehicle (10) from a current-carrying conductor mounted along a rail (2) to a drive of the rail vehicle and / or to devices present on the rail vehicle, in particular is transmitted to the sensor device. 5.Method according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the object is introduced from the first environment (301) into the housing (12) via a lock (4) provided on the first environment (301) and / or the housing (12) and / or is introduced from the housing (12) into the second environment (302) via a lock (4) provided on the second environment (302) and / or the housing (12).

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