A system for handling goods

Abstract

The invention involves a system for handling goods, comprising a conveyor (1) and a trolley (2), - wherein a rotating element (211) of the trolley is arranged to be driven so as to rotate, and to drive by the rotation a supported goods item (3, 301) off the trolley (2) and onto the conveyor when the trolley is in a delivering position, - wherein the conveyor comprises, at a receiving end, an engagement member (104), wherein the trolley is arranged so that, as the trolley approaches the delivering position, a lower region of the rotating element (211) contacts an upper surface (1041) of the engagement member, whereby the rotating element (211) urges, by the rotation and the contact with the upper surface of the engagement member, the trolley towards the delivering position.

Description

[0001] A SYSTEM FOR HANDLING GOODS

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a system for handling goods, comprising a conveyor and a trolley.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] The invention is advantageously used as part of a system for handling goods in a warehouse, storage facility, a factory, or the like.

[0006] Trolleys are used e.g. in warehouses for moving goods from one place to another. For instance, trolleys are used for transferring goods to and from conveyors, such as stationary conveyors. In for instance a production site for assembly of products, goods are unloaded from trolleys onto a conveyor system and distributed to various workstations.

[0007] It is known to use trolleys and conveyors in which upper regions of structures thereof are provided with rollers. It is also known in the art to put a trolley next to a conveyor, in order to load and unload goods items to and from the trolley. An example is given in

[0008] US2019210624 AL

[0009] There is nevertheless a desire to reduce the complexity of systems with conveyors and trolleys, and to make transfer of goods items from trolleys to conveyors easier.

[0010] SUMMARY

[0011] An object of the invention is to make transfer of goods items from trolleys to conveyors easier. It is further an object of the invention to provide goods handling systems with conveyors and trolleys that are relatively uncomplicated.

[0012] The objects are reached by a system for handling goods according to claim 1. Thus, the objects are reached with a system for handling goods, comprising a conveyor and a trolley, wherein the trolley is provided with a support structure adapted to support a goods item from underneath the goods item. The support structure comprises a rotating element which is located at a delivery end of the trolley. The trolley is adapted to be placed in a delivering position at a receiving end of the conveyor with the delivery end of the trolley towards the receiving end of the conveyor, and to deliver the goods item to the conveyor. Further, the rotating element is arranged to be driven so as to rotate, and to drive by the rotation the supported goods item off the trolley and onto the conveyor when the trolley is in the delivering position. Yet further, the conveyor comprises, at the receiving end, an engagement member. The trolley is arranged so that, as the trolley approaches the delivering position, a lower region of the rotating element contacts an upper surface of the engagement member, whereby the rotating element urges, by the rotation and the contact with the upper surface of the engagement member, the trolley towards the delivering position.

[0013] The system, or at least the trolley, may be provided on a flat floor, e.g. in a building. The conveyor may be arranged to support and move the goods item by means of a conveying mechanism, which may consist of conveyor rollers, one or more belts, or one or more chains. The goods item may include a supporting structure, such as a pallet, for supporting goods.

[0014] The rotating element may form at least a part of an upper region of the support structure. The rotating element may be arranged to be driven so as to rotate so that a top of a contact surface of the rotating element moves towards the receiving end of the conveyor. The contact surface may be arranged to contact the goods item. The contact surface may be cylindrical.

[0015] Since the support structure is adapted to support the goods item from underneath the goods item, and the support structure comprises a rotating element, it is understood that the rotating element is arranged to be under the goods element.

[0016] The engagement member may be arranged to protrude towards the trolley as the trolley approaches the delivering position. The upper surface of the engagement member may comprise any surface of the engagement member which has a normal with a component in the upwards direction. The upper surface of the engagement member is preferably below an upper surface of the conveying mechanism.

[0017] It is understood that an upper region of the rotating element may contact the goods item. Thereby, simultaneously to the rotating element urging, by the rotation and the contact with the upper surface of the engagement member, the trolley towards the delivering position, the rotating element also urges, by the rotation and the contact with the goods item, the goods item off the trolley. Once the trolley is in the delivering position, the rotating element may continue to urge the goods item off the trolley. The conveyor is arranged to move the goods item, once the goods item is received from the trolley, along the conveyor away from the receiving end of the conveyor.

[0018] The invention provides the rotating element with two functions. The force of the rotating element driving the goods item off the trolley will cause a reaction force urging the trolley away from the delivering position. Since the rotating element urges, by the rotation and the contact with the upper surface of the engagement member, the trolley towards the delivering position, no separate arrangement is needed to hold the trolley in the delivering position while the goods item is offloaded.

[0019] Thereby, the invention will make the transfer of goods items from conveyors to trolleys easy, while keeping the system relatively uncomplicated.

[0020] In some embodiments, the trolley may comprise two or more rotating elements in the form of front rollers which are located at the delivery end of the trolley. The front rollers may be distributed laterally at the trolley delivery end. I.e. the rotating elements may be spaced apart in a direction which is parallel to rotational axes of the rotating elements. The rotating elements may be two front rollers with coinciding rotational axes. Thereby, a solution which is simple to implement is provided. However, in other embodiments, the rotating element is a roller extending at least the full width of the goods item. In some embodiments, where the one or more rotating elements are formed by one or more front rollers, the support structure of the trolley comprises in addition to the one or more front rollers, back rollers which are, compared to the front rollers, located further away from the delivery end of the trolley. The back rollers may be driven, or non-driven. The back and front rollers may form at least a part of an upper region of the support structure. The back and front rollers may form two or more rows, each row comprising one, two, or more rollers. Where there are two or more rollers in a row, they preferably have coinciding rotational axes. The rows of rollers may have parallel horizontal rotational axes.

[0021] The diameter of the contact surface of each front roller, which contact surface is arranged to contact the goods item, may be at least 125 mm, preferably at least 150 mm, and more preferably at least 175 mm. Advantageously, the rollers may form three or more rows.

[0022] It should be noted that in some embodiments, where the one or more rotating elements are formed by one or more front rollers, the support structure of the trolley may form a flat surface behind front rollers, which surface is adapted to support the goods item.

[0023] Advantageously, where the one or more rotating elements are front rollers which are located at the delivery end of the trolley, the one or more front rollers comprise respective roller bodies. Thereby, the one or more front rollers may be provided with guiding flanges extending circumferentially and radially outwards from the respective roller bodies. Thereby, the flanges are located, where there is a single front roller, at ends of the front roller. Where there are two or more front rollers forming a row of front rollers, the flanges are preferably located at ends of the row of front rollers. Preferably, the guiding flanges are provided with respective bevelled surfaces which face partly radially outwards and partly away from the respective front roller ends or row ends.

[0024] The trolley may be adapted to be pushed or pulled manually. In some embodiments, the trolley is motorized. In further embodiments, the trolley is self-driving. For this, the trolley may comprise sensors to perceive its surroundings. Such sensor may include thermographic cameras, radar, lidar, sonar, GPS, odometry and inertial measurement units. The trolley may comprise a control unit which is adapted to receive signals or data from the sensors, to identify obstacles and signage. The control unit may be adapted to control propulsion and steering functions of the trolley, in dependence on the signals or data from the sensors. Thereby, the control unit may determine appropriate control actions for movements of the trolley.

[0025] Preferably, where the conveyor is arranged to support and move the goods item by means of a conveying mechanism, the engagement member is located at a distance from the conveying mechanism, so that in the delivering position of the trolley, the rotating element is not in contact with the engagement member. Thereby, the engagement member may be separated from the conveying mechanism by a gap. The lowest point of the rotating element may be located in the gap. Thereby, in the delivering position of the trolley, the rotating element may rotate without contacting the engagement member. Thereby, the support structure of the trolley may be fully supported by wheels of the trolley contacting a floor which supports the trolley.

[0026] Before the rotating element makes contact with the engagement member, the lowest point of the rotating element may be at a position that is lower than the position of the upper surface of the engagement member, or at least a position of the highest point of the upper surface of the engagement member. In cases where the upper surface of the engagement member is flat and horizontal, the position of the highest point of the upper surface of the engagement member may be anywhere on the upper surface. Said difference in elevation may be e.g. a few millimetres. Thereby, when the rotating element has made contact with the engagement member, and when the lowest point of the rotating element is at the highest point of the upper surface of the engagement member, the lowest point of the rotating element is raised. Thereby, front wheels of the trolley may lose their contact with the floor. Thereby, a part of the weight of the trolley may be supported by the rotating element. Once the lowest point of the rotating element reaches the gap separating the engagement member from the conveying mechanism, the lowest point of the rotating element may again be at a position that is lower than the position of the highest point of the upper surface of the engagement member. In some embodiments, where the conveyor is arranged to support and move the goods item by means of a conveying mechanism, the system comprises a positioning roller with a rotational axis that is fixed in relation to the engagement member. The positioning roller is preferably arranged so that when the trolley is in the delivering position, the positioning roller contacts the rotating element and prevents the rotating element from moving into contact with the engagement element. Thereby, the rotating element, which may be biased towards the engagement element by a reaction force created by the movement of the goods item, is prevented to move into contact with the engagement element. Thereby, wear of the rotating element caused by contact with the engagement element may be avoided. The positioning roller axis is preferably horizontal and lateral. The positioning roller may be mounted to the engagement element. Alternatively, the positioning roller may be mounted to something else, such as a roller holding device supported by a floor supporting the conveyor and the trolley. The rotational axis of the positioning roller, i.e. the imaginary line about which a roller body of the positioning roller may rotate, is fixed in relation to the engagement member. For the rotation, the positioning roller may comprise a bearing. A static portion of the bearing may be mounted to a static device, such as the engagement member. The roller body of the positioning roller may be mounted to a rotatable portion of the bearing. A point of contact between the rotating element and the positioning roller may be located between the upper surface of the engagement element and a lowest point of the rotating element.

[0027] Preferably, the positioning roller is allowed to rotate so that an upper part of the positioning roller moves in the direction away from the conveying mechanism, but is prevented from rotating so that the upper part of the positioning roller moves in the direction towards the conveying mechanism. Thereby, the rotating element is allowed to rotate, while in contact with the positioning roller, so as to offload the goods item from the trolley. However, for moving the trolley away from the delivering position, after the goods item has been offloaded from the trolley, the rotating element may be driven so as to rotate in the opposite direction. Thereby, the lower region of the rotating element will move towards the conveying mechanism. Since the positioning roller is prevented to rotate so that the upper part of the positioning roller moves towards the conveying mechanism, the rotating element, and hence the trolley, will, by the rotation of the rotating element and the contact between the rotating element and the positioning roller, be away from the conveying mechanism. The positioning roller may comprise a freehub, e.g. with pawls and ratchets, to allow rotation in only one direction.

[0028] Preferably, where the conveyor is arranged to support and move the goods item by means of a conveying mechanism, at least a portion of the upper surface of the engagement member is inclined upwards towards the conveying mechanism. Thereby, the initial contact between the rotating element and the engagement member may be on a part of the upper surface of the engagement member which is flat or has a continuous curvature, e.g. a smooth part of the upper surface of the engagement member. Thereby, at repetitive moves of the trolley towards the delivery position, wear of the rotating element caused by repeated initial contacts with a comer of the engagement member may be avoided.

[0029] However, alternatively, the upper surface of the engagement member can be horizontal. Thereby, the upper surface may be flat. Thereby, the rotating element encountering a corner of the engagement member, and moving onto the upper surface of the engagement member, may resemble a wheel on a vehicle encountering an edge of a sidewalk or pavement which is raised compared to the adjacent roadway. It is understood that the wheel may move to the pavement or sidewalk, by contacting and passing the edge. Similarly, it is understood that the invention may involve the rotating element contacting and passing a corner of the engagement member whereafter a lower region of the rotating element contacts the upper surface of the engagement member.

[0030] It is even possible that at least a portion of the upper surface of the engagement member is inclined downwards towards the conveying mechanism of the conveyor.

[0031] In any case, when the lower region of the rotating element contacts the upper surface of the engagement member, a part of the weight of the trolley is preferably supported by the rotating element so that the rotating element urges, by the rotation and the contact with said upper surface, the trolley towards the delivering position. Advantageously, a contact surface of the rotating element is an engagement enhancing surface and / or is formed by a friction enhancing material. The engagement enhancing surface may be provided with impressions or a 3-D pattern, such as on a tyre. The friction enhancing material may be a rubber material which preferably is relatively soft.

[0032] Preferably, the system comprises a supporting structure of the goods item, such as a pallet, for supporting goods of the goods item. Thereby, the goods item may comprise an underlying supporting structure. Optionally the goods item may also comprise goods supported by the supporting structure. Thereby, the trolley may be provided with two or more rotating elements in the form of rollers. In case the supporting structure is a pallet, the rollers may have a width adapted to essentially correspond to a width of a respective foot portion of the pallet. The pallet may be a Euro pallet of a standard size. The pallet may have at least three elongated feet, wherein the rollers in separate ones of the rows of rollers are aligned so that, when the pallet feet extend perpendicularly to the rows of rollers, each pallet foot is supported by at least two rollers in separate rows.

[0033] Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention are disclosed in the following description.

[0034] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Below, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which fig. l is a side view of a part of a conveyor, a trolley, and a goods item on the conveyor, fig. 2 is a top view of the conveyor part, trolley, and goods item in fig. 1, fig. 3 is a side view of the conveyor part, trolley, and goods item in fig. 1, with the goods item at an end of the conveyor, fig. 4 - fig. 6 are side views of the conveyor part, trolley, and goods item in fig. 3, with the trolley in respective positions, where hidden parts are indicated with broken lines, and where a part of a frame of the trolley is not shown in order to display parts behind the part not shown, fig. 4a shows details of fig. 4, fig. 4b shows the details of fig. 4a in an alternative embodiment of the invention, fig. 5 is a side view of the conveyor part, trolley, and goods item in fig. 4, with the goods item partially on the trolley, where hidden parts are indicated with broken lines, fig. 6 is a side view of the conveyor part, trolley, and goods item in fig. 5, with the goods item on the trolley, fig. 7 shows details of fig. 6 with an added roller according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, fig. 8 is a top view of a conveyor part, trolley, and goods item in an alternative embodiment of the invention, fig. 9 - fig. 10 are perspective views of parts of a conveyor, a trolley, and a goods item in another embodiment of the present invention, wherein some parts seen in fig. 9 are not shown in fig. 10, fig. 11 is a side view of parts of a conveyor, a trolley, and a goods item in a further embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 12 a perspective view of a part of the conveyor shown in fig. 11.

[0036] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0037] Fig. 1 shows parts of a system comprising a conveyor 1 and a trolley 2. The conveyor comprises a conveyor structure 100 supporting a conveying mechanism, in this example in the form of a plurality of conveyor rollers 101. The conveying mechanism is arranged to support and move a goods item described below. The conveyor rollers 101 have rotational axes extending transversely to the direction of movement of the goods item. The conveyor rollers are distributed along the direction of movement of the goods item.

[0038] The trolley 2 comprises with a support structure 200 adapted to support the goods item. The trolley comprises a plurality of wheels 221 at a lower portion of the support structure, to allow the trolley to move on a floor F. One or more pairs of the wheels, e.g. the front wheels, may be articulated for steering the trolley. The trolley may be motorized, but is in this example adapted to be moved manually by a handle 222. The support structure comprises one or more, in this example two, rotating elements in the form of front rollers 211 which are located at a delivery end 210 of the trolley. The rotating elements 211 are arranged to be driven by a drive arrangement, e.g. in the form of one or more electric motors (not shown). The trolley may comprise a manoeuvring device (not shown) for an operator to control the rotating element drive arrangement.

[0039] The support structure of the trolley further comprises a plurality of back rollers 212 which are, compared to the front rollers 211, located further from the delivery end of the trolley. The back rollers are in this example non-driven.

[0040] Reference is made also to fig. 2. The front rollers 211 have coinciding rotational axes. The front rollers 211 are rotatably mounted on a non-rotating shaft 2112.

[0041] Each front roller 211 presents a contact surface 2111. The contact surfaces 2111 are provided on respective roller bodies 2113 of the front rollers 211. The roller bodies may comprise a core made of a suitable material, such as die cast aluminium.

[0042] The contact surface 2111 of each front roller 211 is an engagement enhancing surface by being provided with impressions or a 3-D pattern, or by being formed by a friction enhancing material. For example, each contact surface 2111 may be provided by an endless band, e.g. in rubber, which has been threaded onto a respective core of the respective front roller 211. The band may have a thick of about 1 cm.

[0043] Further, the front rollers 2111 are provided with guiding flanges 2114 extending circumferentially and radially outwards from the respective roller bodies. The flanges 2114 are located at ends of the row of front rollers. I.e., the flanges 2114 are located at outer ends of the front rollers. The guiding flanges 2114 are provided with respective bevelled surfaces 2115. The bevelled surfaces 2115 face partly radially outwards and partly away from the respective front roller row ends. I.e. the bevelled surfaces 2115 face partly inwards. Reference is made also to fig. 3, showing the trolley supporting a goods item 3, 301. The goods item includes a supporting structure 3, such as a pallet, for supporting goods 301.

[0044] Preferably, the width of the goods item 3, 301 is adapted to the width of the support structure 200 of the trolley. More specifically, the distance between the guiding flanges 2114 (fig. 2) on opposite sides of trolley is preferably the same or slightly larger than the width of the goods item 3, 301. Thereby, when transferred to the trolley, as exemplified below, the guiding flanges 2114 can effectively control the lateral position of the goods item 3, 301.

[0045] The conveyor 1 may comprise, at least at the receiving end, guide elements (not shown) for the goods item, e.g. guide rails, to keep the forward end of the goods item 3, 301 perpendicular to the path of travel of the goods item. The guide elements may extend past ends of the rollers 101. In alternative embodiment, the guide elements 311 may comprise guide rollers.

[0046] As understood from fig.3, the trolley 2 is adapted to be moved towards a delivering position at a receiving end 103 of the conveyor 1 with the delivery end 210 of the trolley 2 towards the receiving end 103 of the conveyor 1. The trolley 2 is adapted to deliver the goods item 3, 301 to the conveyor 1. Each rotating element 211 is arranged to be driven so as to rotate, and to drive by the rotation the supported goods item off the trolley 2 and onto the conveyor 1 when the trolley 2 is in the delivering position.

[0047] Reference is made also to fig. 4. The rotating elements 211 are arranged to be driven so as to rotate so that a top of the contact surface 2111 (see also fig. 2) of each rotating element 211 moves towards the receiving end 103 of the conveyor. The conveyor 1 comprises, at the receiving end 103, two engagement members (see also fig. 2) 104. The trolley is arranged so that, as the trolley approaches the delivering position, a lower region of each rotating element 211 contacts an upper surface 1041 of a respective of the engagement members 104. Thereby, each the rotating element 211 urges, by the rotation and the contact with the upper surface 1041 of the respective engagement member 104, the trolley towards the delivering position. Reference is made also to fig. 4a. The upper surface 1041 of each engagement member 104 is inclined upwards towards the conveying mechanism 101 (fig. 4).

[0048] Alternatively, as shown in fig. 4b, a portion 1041a of the upper surface of each engagement member may be horizontal, and another portion 1041b, further away from the conveying mechanism 101 (fig. 4), may be inclined upwards towards the conveying mechanism 101. Such an inclined portion may be created by a bevel on the respective engagement member 104.

[0049] Reference is made also to fig. 5. The rotation direction of each rotating element 211 is indicated therein. As each rotating element 211 moves along the upper surface of the respective engagement member 104, the rotating element 211 reaches an end of the upper surface of the respective engagement member 104. Thereby, the trolley 211 is moved further towards the delivering position. As the rotating elements drive the trolley in this way, they also start driving the goods item 3, 301 off the trolley.

[0050] Fig. 6 shows the trolley placed in the delivering position at the receiving end 103 of the conveyor 1 with the delivery end 210 of the trolley 2 towards the receiving end 103 of the conveyor 1.

[0051] Each engagement member 104 may be mounted to the conveyor structure 100 of the conveyor by means of a respective engagement member mounting device 106. Each engagement member mounting device 106 may be at a lower location than the upper surface 1041 of the respective engagement member. Thereby, a cavity 1042 may be formed between the respective engagement member 104 and the conveyor structure 100 to receive the lower region of the rotating element 211. Instead of being mounted directly to the conveyor structure 100, each engagement member 104 may be secured to the floor F to which also the conveyor 1 is secured, at a distance from the conveyor structure 100.

[0052] Each engagement member 104 is located at a distance from the conveying mechanism 101, so that in the delivering position of the trolley 2, the rotating element 211 is not in contact with the engagement member 104. When the trolley reaches the delivering position, the rotating elements continue to move the goods item 3, 301 off the trolley.

[0053] The conveyor may comprise one or more stopping devices 105 arranged to contact the trolley 2, e.g. a frame thereof, to provide a limit for the movement of the trolley 2 towards a conveying mechanism 101 of the conveyor. The stopping devices 105 protrude from the structure 100 of the conveyor. Alternatively, the structure 100 of the conveyor 1 may serve as such a stopping device.

[0054] Reference is made to fig. 7. Advantageously, the system comprises two positioning rollers 107 with rotational axes that are fixed in relation to the engagement members 104. Each positioning roller 107 is arranged so that when the trolley is in the delivering position, the positioning roller 107 contacts the rotating element 211 and prevents the rotating element 211 from moving into contact with the respective engagement element 104. Each positioning roller 107 may be mounted to the respective engagement element 104.

[0055] Further, each the positioning roller 107 is allowed to rotate so that an upper part of the positioning roller moves in the direction away from the conveying mechanism 101, but is prevented from rotating so that the upper part of the positioning roller 107 moves in the direction towards the conveying mechanism 101.

[0056] Thereby, the rotating element 211 is allowed to rotate, while in contact with the positioning roller 107, so as to offload the goods item 3, 301 from the trolley 2. However, for moving the trolley away from the delivering position, after the goods item 3, 301 has been offloaded from the trolley 2, the rotating element 211 may be driven so as to rotate in the opposite direction. Since the positioning roller 107 is prevented to rotate so that the upper part of the positioning roller 107 moves towards the conveying mechanism 101, the rotating element 211, and hence the trolley 2, will, by the rotation of the rotating element 211 and the contact between the rotating element 211 and the positioning roller 107, be moved away from the conveying mechanism 101. As exemplified in fig. 8, the system may comprise one or more guide devices GD to guide the trolley to the delivering position. The guide devices GD may be provided in the form of guide rails which are fixed in relation to the conveyor 1. Alternatively, guide rollers may be used. The guide devices GD may be arranged to position the trolley 2 in a desired lateral position in relation to the receiving end 103 of the conveyor 1. The guide devices GD may also be arranged to position the trolley 2 straight in relation to the receiving end

[0057] 103 of the conveyor 1. In alternative embodiments, one or more guide devices are provided on the trolley 2. Thereby the guide devices GD may be arranged to engage one or more guide devices GD which are fixed in relation to the conveyor 1.

[0058] In fig. 9 - fig. 12, the same reference numbers have been used for same features as shown and described above with reference to figs. 1-8. Fig. 9 shows four engagement members

[0059] 104 at a receiving end of a conveyor 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In fig. 9, only a part of the conveyor 1, at the receiving end thereof, is shown. A trolley 2 is adapted to be placed in a delivering position at the conveyor 1, and to deliver a goods item 3, 301 to the conveyor 1. The trolley is arranged so that, as the trolley approaches the delivering position, lower regions of two rotating elements 211 contacts upper surfaces 1041 of the engagement members 104. The engagement members are arranged in pairs, so that each rotating element 211 contacts two of the engagement members. Thereby, the rotating elements 211 urge, by a driven rotation and the contact with the upper surfaces 1041 of the engagement members 104, the trolley towards the delivering position.

[0060] Each engagement member 104 is located at a distance from a conveying mechanism 101 of the conveyor. The engagement members 104 are mounted to a conveyor structure 100 of the conveyor by means of respective engagement member mounting devices 106. In this embodiment, each engagement member is formed to be integrated with a respective of the engagement member mounting devices 106. More specifically, vertical sheets, e.g. of aluminium, form the engagement members as well as the engagement member mounting devices. Upper surfaces of the engagement member mounting devices 106 are concave, so as to form cavities 1042 between the engagement devices and the conveyor structure 100. Fig. 10 shows the trolley placed in a delivering position at the receiving end 103 of the conveyor 1 with the delivery end 210 of the trolley 2 towards the receiving end 103 of the conveyor 1. In fig. 10, only a part of the conveyor 1, at the receiving end thereof, is shown. For better understanding, the rotating element 211 depicted is shown without a flange seen in fig. 9. In the delivering position of the trolley, lower parts of the rotating elements are received in said cavities between the engagement devices and the conveyor structure 100, so that the rotating elements 211 are not in contact with the engagement members 104.

[0061] Instead of being mounted to the conveyor structure 100 via the engagement member mounting devices 106, the engagement member 504 may be secured to the floor F to which also the conveyor 1 is secured, at a distance from the conveyor structure 100.

[0062] In the embodiment shown in fig. 11, the conveyor 1 comprises a positioning roller 107 with a rotational axis that is fixed in relation the engagement member 104. The positioning roller 107 is arranged so that when the trolley is in the delivering position, the positioning roller 107 contacts the rotating element 211 and prevents the rotating element 211 from moving into contact with the engagement element 104. The positioning roller 107 may be mounted to the engagement element 104.

[0063] Further, the positioning roller 107 is allowed to rotate so that an upper part of the positioning roller moves in the direction away from the conveying mechanism 101, but is prevented from rotating so that the upper part of the positioning roller 107 moves in the direction towards the conveying mechanism 101.

[0064] Thereby, the rotating element 211 is allowed to rotate, while in contact with the positioning roller 107, so as to offload the goods item 3, 301 from the trolley 2. However, for moving the trolley away from the delivering position, after the goods item 3, 301 has been offloaded from the trolley 2, the rotating element 211 may be driven to rotate in the opposite direction. Since the positioning roller 107 is prevented to rotate so that the upper part of the positioning roller 107 moves towards the conveying mechanism 101, the rotating element 211, and hence the trolley 2, will, by the rotation of the rotating element 211 and the contact between the rotating element 211 and the positioning roller 107, be moved away from the conveying mechanism 101.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system for handling goods, comprising a conveyor (1) and a trolley (2),- wherein the trolley (2) is provided with a support structure (200) adapted to support a goods item (3, 301) from underneath the goods item,- wherein the support structure comprises a rotating element (211) which is located at a delivery end of the trolley (2),- wherein the trolley (2) is adapted to be placed in a delivering position at a receiving end (103) of the conveyor (1) with the delivery end of the trolley towards the receiving end of the conveyor, and to deliver the goods item (3, 301) to the conveyor, characterised in that- the rotating element (211) is arranged to be driven so as to rotate, and to drive by the rotation the supported goods item off the trolley (2) and onto the conveyor when the trolley is in the delivering position, and in that the conveyor comprises, at the receiving end, an engagement member (104), wherein the trolley is arranged so that, as the trolley approaches the delivering position, a lower region of the rotating element (211) contacts an upper surface (1041) of the engagement member, whereby the rotating element (211) urges, by the rotation and the contact with the upper surface of the engagement member, the trolley towards the delivering position.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the trolley is arranged so that, as the lower region of the rotating element (211) contacts the upper surface (1041) of the engagement member, a part of the weight of the trolley is supported by the rotating element.

3. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engagement member (104) and the rotating element (211) are arranged so that, before the rotating element makes contact with the engagement member, the lowest point of the rotating element is at a position that is lower than a position of the highest point of the upper surface of the engagement member.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the engagement member (104) and the rotating element (211) are arranged so that when the rotating element has made contact with the engagement member, and when the lowest point of the rotating element is at the highest point of the upper surface of the engagement member, the lowest point of the rotating element is raised.

5. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor is arranged to support and move the goods item by means of a conveying mechanism (101), wherein the engagement member (104) is located at a distance from the conveying mechanism, so that in the delivering position of the trolley, the rotating element (211) is not in contact with the engagement member (104).

6. A system according to claim 5, comprising a positioning roller (107) with a rotational axis that is fixed in relation to the engagement member (104), the positioning roller being arranged so that when the trolley is in the delivering position, the positioning roller contacts the rotating element (211) and prevents the rotating element from moving into contact with the engagement element (104).

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the positioning roller (107) is allowed to rotate so that an upper part of the positioning roller moves in the direction away from the conveying mechanism (101), but is prevented from rotating so that the upper part of the positioning roller moves in the direction towards the conveying mechanism.

8. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor is arranged to support and move the goods item by means of a conveying mechanism, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface of the engagement member is inclined upwards towards the conveying mechanism.

9. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a contact surface (2111) of the rotating element (211) is an engagement enhancing surface and / or is formed by a friction enhancing material.

10. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system comprises a supporting structure of the goods item (3, 301), such as a pallet, for supporting goods of the goods item.

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