Intralogistic conveyor arrangement

Abstract

Intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1), adapted to convey an object (9) from at least one feed-in station (F) selectively to a destination (D), in particular a selected destination from a plurality of destinations (D), the conveyor arrangement (1), comprising, - a plurality of conveyor zones (2), each at lest some of said conveyor zones (2) is are adapted to convey an object (9) from an inlet (I) of said conveyor zone (2) to an outlet (O) of said conveyor zone (2), - a conveyor communication network (N), the conveyor communication network (N) comprising a) a plurality of zone controllers (11), adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones (2), b) a bus connection (13) connecting the zone controllers (11) to each other; wherein said conveyor zones (2) are arranged in a manner, that said object (9) can be transferred from an outlet (O) of a previous conveyor zone (2) to an inlet (I) of a subsequent conveyor zone (2); wherein said conveyor communication network (N) is adapted to transmit object conveying information (14C) between the zone controllers (11), wherein said conveyor communication network (N) is adapted to transmit enhanced object information (14P, 14R).

Description

[0001] Intralogistic conveyor arrangement description

[0002] The invention refers to an intralogistic conveyor arrangement.

[0003] In a conventional intralogistic conveyor arrangement, e.g. shown in US 7,996,104 B2, a plurality of conveyor zones are provided. A plurality of local zone controllers control operation of the zones based on overall control signals provided by a central programmable logic controller (PLC). Thereby each local zone controller provides start / stop and speed control of a motorized roller according to messages from the PLC.

[0004] Scanners provided along the zones provide identification data relating to objects to be conveyed. These identification data are sent via data connection to the PLC. The PLC has access to an object data base, which provides destination data based on the identification of the objects. Based on the acquired destination data the PLC provides operation instructions to a local zone controller, how to handle said object, i.e. to which of the outlets said object is to be conveyed. Consequently the routing decisions for individual objects are done within the PLC and are provided to the zone controllers. The zone controllers control the zone actuators in accordance with the provided routing decisions.

[0005] EP 3 222 564 B1 discloses a conveyor, which operates according to a more decentral approach. Here an object moves from a start position to a target destination. The conveyor comprises a plurality of zones into which the conveyor is divided, the object is being conveyed across the zones. Each of the zones comprising a linear conveyor zone that linearly conveys the object; a conveyor direction changing zone selecting a conveyor direction of the object to send out the object in the selected conveyor direction; a conveyance destination storage unit that is configured temporarily to store the conveyance destination information; an information receiving unit that is configured to receive the conveyance destination information from an upstream zone; and an information transmitting unit that is configured to transmit the conveyance destination information to a downstream zone. The conveyor is configured to transfer conveyance destination information from the upstream zone to the downstream zone with the movement of the object across the zones. Based on the conveyance destination information received from the upstream zone routing of the object is controlled locally by the actual zone.

[0006] US 2002 / 0045969 A1 discloses an apparatus for sorting units of material. A central sort logic processor, e.g. a PLC, is provided which multicasts an output signal through the a network bus to a plurality of actuators. The actuators are controlled directly by the central sort logic processor. EP 2 370 331 B1 discloses a material flow system having a plurality of multidirectional conveyor modules. Each module has a conveying hardware, in particular motor driven rollers, and a controller, controlling operation of the hardware and communicating with other modules. The modules can operate fully autonomous without being connected to any central control unit. The modules can be attached to neighbouring modules, to transfer an object to be conveyed from modules to the neighbouring module and vice versa at respective ports. The ports serve as inlets and outlets for the objects to be conveyed. Each port is equipped with a data interface, via which the neighbouring modules are data connected directly with each other. No bus connection is provided between the modules. Any amendments of the spatial relation between the modules can easily be recognized by the module controls. A topography of the modules and any change of the topography can be determined automatically.

[0007] US 2005 / 065642 A1 discloses a transport system for transporting items to a destination on predefined transport routes. The predefined transport routes having a plurality of branching locations. A master controller is setting for each transported item the destination and a transport route is associated with the destination. Consequently any local controllers control the branching locations based on the transport route provided by the master controller.

[0008] EP 3 925 910 A1 discloses a handling system that handles and processes kinds of articles different kinds. The handling system comprises: a first conveyance device configured to transport a target article to be processed among the plural kinds of articles to a work area for a robot to handle and process the target article; a second conveyance device configured to transport the target article to a work area for an operator to handle and process the target article; and a control device. The control device determines by which of the robot or the operator the target article is to be processed, in accordance with process information generated based on a result of handling and processing of an article by the robot in past, and transport the target article to the first conveyance device when the control device determines that the target article is to be processed by the robot, and transport the target article to the second conveyance device when the control device determines that the target article is to be processed by the operator. The determination is performed by the centrally arranged control device.

[0009] It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved way of controlling a conveyor arrangement.

[0010] The invention is solved by the subject of the independent claims; embodiments are subject of the subclaims and the description. A particular aspect of the invention is the synergetic usage of the infrastructure of controlling the different kinds of conveying devices. Compared to the prior art, where the conventional central logic provides data from a central management system directly to the robots (see EP 3925910 A1 , figure 9), the already existing communication infrastructure comprising a plurality of zone controllers for the conveying operation is used to transmit the data which is required for the object handling, in particular performed by robots.

[0011] This is of particular advantage for the case, that some object information is used on the one hand for the conveying operation (which includes also sorting operations) and on the other hand for handling operations in particular by a handling robot. As an example the object robot handling information may be used by a zone controller controlling a sorting operation as well by a controller controlling a robot handling operation. Such information may be provided by the central control merely once to the plurality of zone controller and are then is forwarded within the plurality of zone controller and to the respective handling controller.

[0012] An overall effect is a reduced effort during installation, e.g. the handling control may be simply be connected to a zone controller of the handling zone. There is no secondary communication network required to obtain the relevant object information at the handling controller.

[0013] In terms of the present invention the zone controller is in particular to be understood as a device separate to the central control and in particular located in the proximity of the conveyor zone. The zone controller is in particular attached to a frame of the conveyor zone, which is controlled by the zone controller.

[0014] The object handling operation is in particular a robot picking operation.

[0015] A non-limiting example of the invention is described with respect to the figures; herein show

[0016] Fig. 1 an exemplary conveyor zone used within the invention;

[0017] Fig. 2 schematically embodiments of conveyor zones having different inlet I outlet configurations;

[0018] Fig. 3 schematically a conveyor arrangement;

[0019] Fig. 4 a handling station within the conveyor arrangement of figure 3;

[0020] Fig. 5 a table of different robot handling tools along with associated objects suitable to be handled by the respective robot handling tool; Fig. 6 schematically a representation of a data object used during operation of the conveyor arrangement of figure 3;

[0021] Fig. 7 a handling robot having switching head with two robot handling tools in different operation conditions;

[0022] Fig. 8 a schematical architecture of the conveyor communication network and attached devices.

[0023] Figure 1 shows an exemplary conveyor zone 2, comprising several conveyor rollers 3 which are driven together. For this purpose, one of the conveyor rollers 3 is designed as a motor- driven conveyor roller 3M. The motor-driven conveyor roller 3M is driven in particular by a three-phase motor arranged in the conveyor roller 3M. Via one or more drive connectors 4, e.g. a drive belt, the conveyor rollers 3 of a conveyor zone 2 are drive-connected to each other and are jointly driven by the motor-driven conveyor roller 3M. An object is linearly conveyed from an inlet I to an outlet O.

[0024] By means of a presence sensor 5, the presence of a conveyed object 9 arranged on the conveyor zone 2 can be determined. The presence sensor 5 does not have to cover the entire conveyor zone 2; it is sufficient if the presence of a conveyed object 9 within a partial area of the conveyor zone 2 is detected by the presence sensor 5. The presence sensor 5 thereby generates a sensor signal S5, which is connected via a signal line (not shown) to a zone controller 11 presented further below. Presence detection can also be performed without an explicit sensor and can be derived from other raw data. For example, there are already approaches to derive the presence of a conveyed object on the conveyor zone 2 from other data, e.g. from the course of the current intensity in a conveyor zone 2.

[0025] The conveyor rollers 3 and the presence sensor 5 are attached to a common support frame 8. The conveyor rollers 3 of several conveyor zones 2 can be attached to a common support frame 8.

[0026] The motor-driven conveyor rollers 3M are each controlled by at least one or a plurality of zone controllers 11 . A single zone controller 11 can control the motor-driven conveyor rollers 3M of several conveyor zones 2. Several such zone controllers 11 are arranged in a conveyor arrangement 1 (see below in figure 3), which communicate with each other via a bus connection 13.

[0027] The zone controllers 11 control the motor-driven conveyor rollers 3M in such a way that the successively approaching conveyed goods 9 do not collide with each other. The control takes place in such a way that essentially only one conveyed object 9 is present per conveyor zone 2. However, slight overlaps may occur. For example, an upstream conveyed object 9 may already enter a downstream conveyor zone 2 from an upstream conveyor zone 2 even though a downstream conveyed object 9 has not yet left this downstream conveyor zone 2 completely. Among other things, the sensor signals S5 of the presence sensors 5 serve as input variables here, although it is ensured that the two conveyed objects 9 do not then touch and thus damage each other.

[0028] In the following course of the invention, reference is made to conveyor zones 2, using a schematic representation of said conveyor zones as shown in figure 2. Here figure 2a represents schematically the conveyor zone 2 of figure 1 , showing one first inlet 11 and one first outlet 01 . No more inlets and outlets are provided. The conveyor zone can be curved.

[0029] Figure 2b shows the representation of another conveyor zone 2b having an extended scope of operation. Here in addition to the conveyor zone 2a of figure 2a the conveyor zone 2b has an additional, second outlet 02. The object 9 can be conveyed selectively from said first inlet 11 to one of said first and second outlets 01 , 02.

[0030] As an example, said conveyor zone of figure 2b can be formed by a conveyor zone as shown in figure 1 , which additionally is provided with a transfer device 20 as described with reference to figure 5 of EP 3 222 564 B1.

[0031] Figure 2c shows the representation of a conveyor zone 2c having an extended scope of operation. Here in addition to the conveyor zone 2a of figure 2a, the conveyor zone 2b has an additional second inlet I2. Objects 9 can be conveyed from one of said first and second inlets 11 , I2 to said first outlet 01 . Such conveyor zones are also known as “a merge”.

[0032] The transfer device as described with reference to figure 2b may be suitable also to provide said additional second inlet I2.

[0033] Figure 2d shows the representation of a conveyor zone 2d having an extended scope of operation. Here in addition to the conveyor zone 2a of figure 2a the conveyor zone 2d has an additional second inlet I2 and an additional second outlet 02 and is an example as a combination of the embodiments of figures 2b and 2c.

[0034] All conveyor zones are controlled by a zone controller 11 as shown in figure 1 , in particular wherein one zone controller 11 may be adapted to control the operation of more than one zones 2. Figure 3 shows a conventional conveyor arrangement 1 , where conveyor zones 2 as described previously are used. A plurality of zone controllers 11 control operation of the zones 2 based on overall control signals provided by an a central control 12, such as a PLC 12.

[0035] Scanners S provided along the zones 2 provide identification data relating to objects 9 to be conveyed. These identification data are sent via a bus connection 13 to a said central control 12 or to other zone controllers 11 . The central control 12 has access to an object data base 15, which provides destination data based in the identification of the objects 9. Based on the acquired data the central control 12 provides operation instructions to a local zone controller 11 , how to handle the object 9, i.e. to which of the destinations D said object 9 is to be conveyed.

[0036] Alternatively and / or instead of a PLC 12 an object data broker (not shown) may be provided as the central control 12 which provides object data to several zone controllers (see International patent application PCT / EP2023 / 065597).

[0037] Each object 9 is finally conveyed from one of a feed-in station F1 , F2 to one of a destination D1-D4.

[0038] Some of the conveying zones 2 and / or the destinations D may be designed as a handling station 20. The handling station 20 is shown in more detail in figure 4.

[0039] In each handling station 20 a handling robot 21 is provided, which is adapted to handle an object 9 conveyed in the conveying arrangement 1 . Each handling robot 21 has a robot handling tool 22, which is adapted to handle an object 9. “Handling” means in this respect a mechanical interaction, which amends the position or orientation of the object 9 independently from the conveying capabilities provided by the conveyors.

[0040] Each handling robot 21 can be provided with a robot handling tool 22 of different type. The table of figure 5 shows a selection of different types of robot handling tools 22, together with a variety of objects. For different kinds of objects, a different type of robot handling tool 22 is more preferred, than another type of a robot handling tool 22.

[0041] In figure 5 a robot handling tool 22a of the gripping type and a robot handling tool 22b of the sucking type is shown. The sucking type robot handling tool 22b is an universal tool, which is able to handle a variety of objects 9, thereby requiring a regular surface of a certain dimension. Rectangular parcels, envelopes and softpacks made from foil mostly meet this condition. The sucking type robot handling tool 22b may have an electrical vacuum pump. Objects 9 which cannot meet such a condition (e.g. glasses, a toothbrush, a hammer) are handled more reliably with a robot handling tool 22a of the gripping type. The gripping type robot handling tool 22a may comprise an electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically actuated gripper.

[0042] The handling robot 21 is controlled by a handling controller 24 (figure 4). At least one camera 23 is provided which is focused on the handling station 20. The object 9 may be accommodated within an object tray 91 .

[0043] In conventional systems, the controlling of the handling robot 21 is performed locally by the handling controller 24, using the information obtained by the cameras 23. Based on the information obtained by the camera a picture recognition is performed which detects the shape and / or position of the object 9 to be handled. The handling controller 24 may comprise different subcontrollers, such as a controller optimized for image recognition in combination with a subcontroller optimized for controlling actuators of the robot (not shown here).

[0044] Controlling of the conveyor arrangement 1 can be performed under consideration of object data sets 14, such as exemplarily shown in figure 6.

[0045] The object data set 14 may comprise the following data values: intID: an explicit unique internal identification used to identify each of the objects

[0046] 9 conveyed within the conveyor arrangement 1 . The identification can be a counter, which corresponds to the position within the sequence of all conveyed objects 9. The explicit unique internal identification can be substituted by an implicit internal identification as described below: feedlnTime: a time stamp, indicating the calendar day (here 19.07.2022) and day time

[0047] (here 16:11 :13), when the object 9 was fed in at the feed-in station F1. feedlnlD: a unique identification, identifying the feed-in station, e.g. feed-in station F1 , where the object was fed in. labellD: a unique label identification, which is provided as machine readable information on the object 9 itself. Usually said label ID is provided on the object 9 as a printed code, like a barcode or a QR code. In an embodiment said label identification may be other than printed e.g. a RFID code provided by a RFID tag attached to the object 9. The labellD may be recorded by the scanner S. destinationlD: a unique identification, identifying one of the destinations D within the conveyor arrangement 1 , to which the object 9 is to be conveyed. destinationTime: a time stamp, indicating the calendar day and day time, when the object 9 has arrived at said destination D. weight: the weight of the object 9 to be conveyed.

[0048] The above data within the object data set 14 are referred to as the object conveying information 14C (see figure 6). The combination of the values of feedlnTime and feedlnlD provides already an implicit unique internal identification, since only one object 9 can be fed in at once at a single feed-in station F. Said combination can be used here and in all other steps within the scope of this description as an (implicit) internal identification instead of an explicit internal identification.

[0049] These object data sets 14 or parts of it are provided to the zone controller 11 via the bus connection 13. It is to be noted that it is not required that all object data sets 14 are available at all controls 11 . It may be possible that merely some essential information are selectively provided to certain controls 11 . In the further course of this application the combination of central control 12, zone controller 11 and the bus connection 13, connecting the zone controller 11 is called the conveyor communication network N.

[0050] Conventionally the conveyor communication network N is used merely for providing data related to the conveying operation, including said object conveying information 14C.

[0051] According to the present invention the conveyor communication network N is also used to provide enhanced object data 14P, 14R to the handling station 20. Therefore the object data set 14 comprises also the object robot handling information 14R as well as the object picture recognition information 14P (see figure 6).

[0052] As stated the object robot handling information 14R contains information, which is used by the handling station 20 during a handling operation. The term handling excludes thereby the pure conveying operation which is performed by the conveyor zones 2.

[0053] In addition the object robot handling information 14R is used in performing routing decisions. As an example, in figure 3 the handling stations 20 within the destinations D1 and D2 are provided with handling robots 21 each having a different dedicated robot handling tool 22. During routing the objects 9 to the respective handling stations 20, the handling type suitability feature within the data robot handling information 14R of the object data is considered. Only objects 9 having a “yes” in the “suitability for gripping type robot handling tool” are routed to the destination D1 where the handling station 20 having a gripping type robot handling tool 22a.

[0054] Only objects having a “yes” in the “suitability for sucking type robot handling tool 22b” is routed to the destination D2 where the handling station 20 having a sucking type robot handling tool 22b.

[0055] Figure 7 shows another embodiment of a handling robot 21 which can be used in the handling stations 20 of the conveyor arrangement 1 of figure 3. Here the handling robot 21 has a switching head 22S, which is capable of switching a robot handling tool 22 between an operation position and a standby condition. Only the robot handling tool 22 which is in the operation condition (here the gripping type robot handling tool 22a) is in a condition to perform a handling operation. Any robot handling tool 22 (here the sucking type robot handling tool 22b), which is in a standby position (sleeping), is not in a condition to perform a handling operation and must firstly be switched into the operation condition.

[0056] By using the conveyor communication network N, the object robot handling information 14R, referring to the handling type capabilities can be transmitted to the handling controller 24 in advance, as soon as a routing decision is performed. As a consequence, switching the robot handling tool 22 is brought forward in time, so that the handling operation can be finished earlier.

[0057] Figure 8 shows the overall architecture of the conveyor communication network N used in the conveyor arrangement of figure 3. There are provided a plurality of said zone controller 11 connected to said central controller 12 via said bus connection 13.

[0058] The central controller 12 provides the object conveying information 14C, the object picture recognition information 14P, the object robot handling information 14R to the zone controllers 11.

[0059] The zone controller 11 controls the operation of said conveying zone, connected to the zone controller 11 , based on the provided object conveying information 14C.

[0060] The zone controller 11 controls the operation of conveying zone, connected to the zone controller 11 , based on the provided object robot handling information 14R. In particular the zone controller issues a routing decision based on the object handling information 14R, so that an object is guided to a robot handling station which is capable of handling the related object. The object picture recognition information 14P and the object robot handling information 14R are forwarded to the robot controller 24, which controls operation of the handling robot based on said picture recognition information 14P and the object robot handling information 14R.

[0061] Accordingly, the enhanced object information (14P, 14R) of a related object is communicated between the zone controllers 11 and is provided from one of the plurality of zone controllers 11 to the individual handling controller 24, which is controlling the handling operation of said related object.

[0062] List of reference signs

[0063] 1 conveyor arrangement

[0064] 2a...d conveyor zone

[0065] 3 conveyor roller

[0066] 3M motorized roller

[0067] 4 drive connector

[0068] 5 presence sensor

[0069] 8 support frame

[0070] 9 conveyed object

[0071] 91 object tray

[0072] 10 object data broker

[0073] 11 zone controller, sorting controller

[0074] 12 central control

[0075] 13 bus connection

[0076] 14 object information I object data set

[0077] 14C object conveying information

[0078] 14P object picture recognition information

[0079] 14R object robot handling information

[0080] 15 object data base

[0081] 20 handling station

[0082] 21 handling robot

[0083] 22 robot handling tool

[0084] 22a gripping type robot handling tool

[0085] 22b sucking type robot handling tool

[0086] 22S switching head

[0087] 23 camera

[0088] 24 handling controller

[0089] I inlet of conveyor zone

[0090] O outlet of conveyor zone

[0091] D destination

[0092] F feed in station

[0093] S scanning station I scanner

[0094] S5 sensor signal

[0095] N conveyor communication network

Claims

Claims1. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1), adapted to convey an object (9) from at least one feed-in station (F) selectively to a destination (D), in particular a selected destination from a plurality of destinations (D), the conveyor arrangement (1), comprising,- a plurality of conveyor zones (2), at lest some of said conveyor zones (2) are adapted to convey an object (9) from an inlet (I) of said conveyor zone (2) to an outlet (O) of said conveyor zone (2),- a conveyor communication network (N), the conveyor communication network (N) comprising a) a plurality of zone controllers (11), adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones (2), b) a bus connection (13) connecting the zone controllers (11) to each other; wherein said conveyor zones (2) are arranged in a manner, that said object (9) can be transferred from an outlet (O) of a previous conveyor zone (2) to an inlet (I) of a subsequent conveyor zone (2); wherein said conveyor communication network (N) is adapted to transmit object information (14) between the zone controllers (11), characterized in that said conveyor communication network (N) is adapted to transmit enhanced object information (14P, 14R).

2. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the conveyor arrangement (1) comprises at least one handling station (20), wherein the handling station (20) is adapted to perform a handling operation to a conveyed object (9), in particular that the handling action comprises a mechanical interaction between the handling station (20) and the object (9), which amends the position and / or orientation of the object (9) independent from the conveying capabilities provided by the conveyor zone (2).

3. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the handling station (20) comprises a handling controller (24) adapted to control said handling operation; and that for controlling the handling operation the handling controller (24) is adapted to use object robot handling information (14R), which is provided to the handling controller (24) by the conveyor communication network (N).

4. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the handling station (20) comprises a handling robot (21) adapted to perform said handling operation; and that for controlling said handling operation the handling controller (24) is adapted to use object robot handling information (14R), which are provided to the handling controller (24) by the conveyor communication network (N), in particular that a mechanical interaction between the handling robot (21) and the object (9) is performed based on the object robot handling information (14R), provided to the handling controller (24) by the conveyor communication network (N).

5. Intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said enhanced object information comprises object robot handling information (14R) comprising an indication- that the object (9) is suitable and to be handled by a certain robot handling tool (22a, 22b), and / or- that the object (9) is not suitable to be handled by a certain robot handling tool (22a, 22b).

6. Intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that based on the object robot handling information (14R) a zone controller (11) performs a routing decision in a manner, that an object (9) is routed only towards a selected handling station (20), where the handling station (20) has a robot handling tool (22) matching to the object robot handling information (14R).

7. Intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according any to the preceding claims and claim 2,characterized in that the handling station (20) comprises at least one camera (23) adapted to record an image of the object (9) and a handling controller (24) is adapted to perform a picture analysis of the recorded object (9) and based on the analyses the handling operation is controlled, wherein the analysis of the picture is influenced by an object picture recognition information (14P), which is provided to the handling controller (24) by the conveyor communication network (N).

8. Intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said conveyor zones (2) is a sorting zone (2b, 2d) having at least two outlets (01 , 02), wherein a zone controller (11) controlling a sorting zone (2b, 2d) is a sorting controller (11 b, 11 d, 11 e), wherein each sorting controller (11 b, 11 d, 11 e) is adapted to control the sorting zones (2b, 2d) in a manner so that said sorting zone (2b, 2d) conveys said object (9) selectively from an inlet (I) to a selected outlet (01 , 02) from said at least two outlets (01 , 02).

9. Intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1), according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor communication network (N) additionally comprises c) a central control (12); wherein the bus connection (13) connects the plurality of zone controllers (11) with the central control (12).

9. Intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims and claim 2, characterized in that a handling controller (24) is connected to one of said zone controllers (11) and said zone controller (11) is adapted to provide said object enhanced object information (14P, 14R) to said handling controller (24).

10. Intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according the preceding claim, characterized in that each zone controller (11) is fixed to a frame (8) of a conveyor zone (2), which is controlled by said zone controller (11).

11. Method of operating an intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1), which is adapted to convey an object (9) from at least one feed-in station (F) selectively to a destination (D), in particular a selected destination from a plurality of destinations (D), the conveyor arrangement (1), comprising,- a plurality of conveyor zones (2), at least some of the conveyor zones (2) are adapted to convey an object (9) from an inlet (I) of said conveyor zone (2) to an outlet (O) of said conveyor zone (2),- at least one object handling station (20), the handling station (20) is adapted to perform a handling operation to a conveyed object (9);- a conveyor communication network (N), the conveyor communication network (N) comprising a) a plurality of zone controllers (11), adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones (2), b) a bus connection (13) connecting the zone controllers (11) to each other; c) a central control (12) connected to the plurality of zone controllers (1) by the bus connections (13); wherein said conveyor zones (2) are arranged in a manner, that said object (9) can be transferred from an outlet (O) of a previous conveyor zone (2) to an inlet (I) of a subsequent conveyor zone (2); wherein said conveyor communication network (N) transmits object information (14), in particular enhanced object information (14R, 14P), between the zone controllers (11).

12. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the handling operation of said object handling station is controlled by a handling controller, in particular robot controller (24), the method comprising the following steps: providing said object information (14) from- the central control (12) to a first zone controller of the plurality of zone controller (11); and / or- from a second zone controller of the plurality of zone controller (11) to a first zone controller of the plurality of zone controller (11); forwarding at least parts (14P, 14R) of the object information (14) from the first zone controller (11) to the handling controller (24).

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the said object information (14) comprises- object conveying information (14C), wherein the zone controller (11) controls a conveying operation of a related conveyor zone based on said object conveying information (14C); and / or- enhanced object information (14P, 14R), in particular object robot handling information (14R) and / or object picture recognition information (14P), wherein the handling controller (24) controls said handling operation based on said enhanced object conveying information (14P, 14R).

14. Method according to any of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that at least one of said zone controller (11) controls a sorting operation of a related conveyor zone, in particular sorting zone, based on said enhanced object conveying information, in particular based on said object robot handling information (14P).

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