Release device

Abstract

A release device 1, and an associated conveying device or line 2, for temporarily stopping and releasing goods 4 transported on a conveyor 2, comprises a blocking element 6 adjustable, via an adjustme

Description

The present invention relates to a release device for temporarily stopping and releasing transported goods conveyed on a conveyor line, having a blocking element which can be adjusted between a release position and a blocking position by an adjustment device, according to the preamble of Claim 1. The invention also relates to a conveying device having a conveyor line, in the course of which at least two such release devices are arranged. DE 10 2010 049 412 A1 discloses a generic release device for temporarily stopping and releasing transported goods conveyed on a conveyor line, having a blocking element which can be adjusted between a release position and a blocking position by an adjustment device. Another release device is known from DE 10 2020 106 906 B4. DE 10 2019 202 332 B4 discloses a stop device for temporarily blocking a conveyor line for transported goods in a conveying device, having an actuator which comprises an actuator housing and an actuator element movably mounted between a release position and a stop position on the actuator housing, wherein the actuator is assigned a sensor arrangement which is designed to determine a force effect on the actuator. The actuator comprises a coupling part which is movably arranged on the actuator element and is designed to transmit power to transported goods, wherein the sensor arrangement is assigned to the actuator housing or the actuator element or the coupling part. DE 10 2018 124 772 A1 discloses a stop module for the positionally accurate braking and / or stopping of an object on a transport line, which module has a base body which defines a mounting position in the region of the transport line. WO 2021 / 110 553 A1 discloses a method for transferring transported goods from an end section of a flow storage system to a removal device. Known conveying devices usually have roll conveyors, slide conveyors, roller conveyors or conveyor belts and can function in a gravity-based manner, for example by means of a slope. The conveyor track can also be a driven transport belt or a roll conveyor in which one or more rollers are driven. Central constituent parts of the release devices used in this process are a base body, which is mounted on the conveying device, an adjustment device and a blocking element. The blocking element is moved by the adjustment device. The blocking element protrudes from the base body and can be moved between a blocking position, in which it protrudes into the plane of movement of the transported goods, and a release position, in which it does not protrude into the plane of movement of the transported goods. The movement can be both rotational and translational. If the blocking element protrudes into the plane of movement of the transported goods, the next transported goods coming towards the blocking element are stopped by the blocking element. The release device performs two essential tasks: On the one hand, the transported goods can be stopped at a certain point, at which, for example, processing or removal takes place, and released again at a defined time by moving the blocking element into or out of the plane of movement. On the other hand, the release device can be used for separation or to reduce stagnation pressure. This is necessary if multiple transported goods, for example small load carriers, pass through a conveyor line, for example a roll conveyor, in succession and only a defined number should reach a processing position or removal position at a defined point in time. In this case, the release device is positioned in the conveyor line and, after the passage of a defined number of transported goods, the blocking element is moved into the conveyor plane in order to temporarily stop subsequent transported goods. A combination of multiple release devices is useful if, for example, the conveyor line is to be released at a removal position and, at the same time, subsequent transport goods are to be temporarily stopped at an upstream position. In this case, two release devices would have to be provided, in which the blocking elements alternately release and block the conveyor line. Applications are also conceivable in which more than two release devices are used and, depending on each other, release or block the conveyor line. The disadvantage of the prior art is that, when setting up a conveying device in which there is provision for the moving transported goods to be stopped if necessary at more than one point, that is to say more than one release device is to be used, it is necessary to match or adapt the release devices to each other in each case in terms of their switching behaviour. Each release device acts according to its respective default setting, without switching positions of any other release devices being able to be taken into account or processed. The release devices are connected to a central control device, for example a programmable logic controller, in which the desired behaviour of the release devices must be stored centrally. If changes are to be made to the structure of the conveyor line, the configured system of the release devices must be adapted via the central control device. This configuration or change of the system is time-consuming, expensive, and requires trained expert personnel. The present invention therefore deals with the problem of specifying an improved or at least an alternative embodiment for a generic release device, which in particular overcomes the disadvantages known from the prior art. This problem is solved according to the invention by the subjects of the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments. The present invention is based on the general idea of equipping a release device for temporarily stopping and releasing transported goods conveyed on a conveyor line with a microcontroller which makes it possible, starting from a single release device, to construct a system which consists of further release devices and manages without a central controller. The release devices should be provided with a default setting and be able to communicate with futher release devices present in a conveyor line, thus achieving a switching behaviour which takes place depending on the switching states of the further release devices. This enables a "plug &work" configuration, which means that further release devices can be easily added to the existing system without further adaptations, for example due to a change in the conveyor line. The release device according to the invention has a blocking element which can be adjusted between a release position and a blocking position by an adjustment device, and the microcontroller which is communicatively connected to an input interface, an output interface and the adjustment device. The input interface and the output interface allow a data-transmitting connection to other release devices in a conveyor line of a conveying device and allow a master-slave system to be set up through at least two levels (primary and secondary). In one advantageous development of the release device according to the invention, this has at least one sensor which is designed to detect the presence of transported goods in a predefined region of the conveyor line and is communicatively connected to the microcontroller. The sensor can be designed as a light sensor, as a speed sensor, as a weight sensor, as a force sensor or as an acceleration sensor. The at least one sensor can be arranged in a base body of the release device. Transported goods that are present can be detected using such a sensor and the blocking element can assume the desired position, depending on such a detection. A light sensor, especially in the form of a light barrier, offers the great advantage of reliably detecting transported goods regardless of weight and speed. In a further advantageous embodiment, the input interface and / or the output interface is / are designed for wired or wireless data transmission, in particular via WLAN or Bluetooth. For example, a control pulse or a sensor signal can be received in the form of a radio signal. The adjustment device expediently has an electrical drive device and an eccentric swing arm which is operatively connected thereto and is coupled to the blocking element or is part of the blocking element The adjustment device preferably has an electromotive drive and is also preferably connected via a gear, for example via a pinion, which engages in an eccentric swing arm connected to the blocking element. Alternatively, the adjustment device may also have a hydraulic drive device or a pneumatic drive device which is coupled to the blocking element or is part of the blocking element. The adjustment device can thus also be designed without a gear and can have, for example, a hydraulic or pneumatic setting piston for moving the blocking element or as a blocking element. In one particularly preferred embodiment, coupling points, such as flanges or openings, are arranged on the eccentric swing arm or the blocking element for coupling to a further blocking element. Through-holes or threaded through-holes for example, to which further mechanical elements can be connected, can thus be provided in suitable regions of the blocking element, for example in the region of the eccentric swing arm. Such a further mechanical element may be, for example, a control rod which transfers the movement of the blocking element to a further blocking element located on the conveyor line. The release device expediently has a potentiometer or encoder which is communicatively connected to the microcontroller for setting and / or detecting the release position and / or the blocking position of the blocking element. Thus, provision can be made for the adjustment device to be able to be preferably set via an encoder, which is located on the base body of the release device, and thus for the blocking position and the release position of the blocking element to be able to be set, that is to say, for example, how far the blocking element is to protrude into the conveying plane of the conveyor line. The control behaviour of the encoder, i.e., for example, which rotational angle change of the encoder determines which travel path of the blocking element, or whether there is a gradual adjustment, for example depending on the different sizes of the transported goods (e.g. box sizes) conveyed on the conveyor line, can be stored by programming the microcontroller. Adjustability via a potentiometer is also possible. This results in direct hardware coupling between the position of the potentiometer and the adjustment device or blocking element. The release device expediently has a data interface for connecting an external control device or an external sensor. Instead of or in addition to the encoder located in the release device, provision may likewise be made for the blocking element or the adjustment device to be set via an external sensor. This can be, for example, a distance sensor which is integrated in the conveyor line and is used to measure the height of the current transported goods on the basis of the TOF (Time of Flight) principle by way of the time-of-flight of light or sound pulses. The release device can then use this information to set and control the blocking position of the blocking element. It is therefore possible for the release device, for example, to adapt in each case to different types of conveyed goods which are conveyed successively on the transport line / conveyor line. The present invention is also based on the general idea of specifying a conveying device having a conveying line, in the course of which at least two release devices according to the invention are arranged, wherein a first release device assumes a primary function (master) and each further release device assumes a secondary function (slave), and wherein the first release device is communicatively connected to the input interface of the further release device via its output interface. The conveying device thus has at least two release devices each with a microcontroller and interfaces for the supply and processing of information. Preconfiguring the microcontroller makes it possible for the release device to detect whether there is at least one further release device in the conveyor line, with which the release behaviour is to be coordinated, or whether only a single release device is provided. This detection is preferably performed automatically when the release device is supplied with power for the first time. Simply incorporating the individual release devices into the conveyor line and connecting them to one another in a wired or wireless manner makes it possible to set up a functioning system that can be extended at any time without further programming or configuration. The input and output interfaces are suitable for connecting type-identical or compatible devices. These interfaces are preferably unidirectional or bidirectional communication interfaces which can also be used to effect status queries or error readings. If, for example, two release devices are provided, the first release device detects a second / further release device which is connected by its input interface to an output interface of the first release device. This connection can be both wired and wireless. The microcontrollers of the release devices are expediently designed such that a first release device integrated in the conveyor line automatically assumes the primary function and any further release device integrated in the conveyor line automatically assumes a secondary function by communicating with the first release device. In the initial detection process, the first release device is defined as the master (primary), while the second and all further release devices are configured as a slave (secondary). This happens in the software of the structurally identical devices. Due to the default settings stored in the two release devices, the release device defined as the master first moves the blocking element into the blocking position, i.e. into the conveyor line, while the release device defined as a slave synchronously moves the blocking element into the release position, i.e. out of the conveyor line. If the conveyor line is loaded with transported goods, for example small load carriers, the second release device moves into the conveyor line in order to separate the first goods carrier from the second. In addition to this described configuration, further release devices could be provided. A further release device would be connected in each case by its input interface to the output interface of the preceding release device and would thus be automatically defined as a slave (secondary). The preset switching behaviour would correspond to that of the first release device defined as a slave, i.e. it would take place in sync therewith. In the case of a wired connection between the individual release devices, the power is preferably supplied via the input or output interface, and so there is no need for a separate power supply. Further release devices are detected by the first release device (primary) as a slave (secondary) and are provided with an index (for example 1 to n, where n corresponds to the number of further release devices beyond the first release device), with the result that each further release device connected to the first release device receives a unique address. The described default settings can be changed and adapted before and after the release devices have been incorporated into the conveyor line. The existing interfaces, for example the input interface or the data interface, can also be connected to a button, a sensor or an external controller, with the result that the blocking element is moved from the blocking position into the release position, or vice versa, for example by a pressed button or an external control pulse. In a further advantageous embodiment of the conveying device, the conveyor line comprises a conveyor belt, a suspended transport track or a roll conveyor. This non-conclusive list already gives an idea of the various application possibilities. Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures on the basis of the drawings. It is understood that the features mentioned above and the features yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively stated combination, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Constituent parts of a higher-level unit, such as a device, an apparatus or an arrangement, which are mentioned above or are yet to be mentioned below and are separately designated may form separate component parts or components of this unit or may be integral regions or sections of this unit, even if this is shown differently in the drawings. Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference signs refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components. In the drawings, in each case schematically, Figure 1 shows a front view of a possible embodiment of a release device according to the invention having a blocking element in the blocking position, Figure 2 shows an illustration as in Figure 1, but with a blocking element in a release position, Figure 3 shows a rear view of the release device with a blocking element in the blocking position, Figure 4 shows a perspective view from behind, Figure 5 shows an illustration as in Figure 4, but with the front and rear housing parts removed, Figure 6 shows a front view of the release device with the front housing part removed, Figure 7 shows a view of a conveying device according to the invention having three release devices according to the invention. According to Figures 1 to 6, a release device 1 according to the invention for temporarily stopping and releasing conveyed goods 4 conveyed on a conveyor line 2 of a conveying device 3 according to the invention (cf. Figure 7) has a blocking element 6 which can be adjusted between a release position and a blocking position by an adjustment device 5. The blocking element 6 can be in the form of an extendable blocking pawl. Like the adjustment device, the blocking element 6 can be arranged on a base body 20, in particular a carrier. According to the invention, the release device 1 now has a microcontroller 7 which is communicatively connected to an input interface 8, an output interface 9 and the adjustment device 5. The release device 1 according to the invention makes it possible to construct a system which consists of a plurality of release devices 1, 1 a, 1 b - 1 n and manages without a central controller. The release devices 1,1a can be provided with a default setting and can communicate with further release devices 1b - 1n present in the conveyor line 2, thus achieving a switching behaviour which takes place depending on the switching states of the further release devices 1b - 1n. This enables a "plug &work" configuration, which means that additional release devices 1b -1 n can be easily added to the existing system, here the conveying device 3, without further adaptations, for example due to a change in the conveyor line 2. The release device 1 may have at least one sensor 10 which is designed to detect the presence of transported goods 4 in a predefined region 11 of the conveyor line 2 and is communicatively connected to the microcontroller 7. This sensor 10 can be designed, for example, as a light sensor, as a speed sensor, as a weight sensor, as a force sensor or as an acceleration sensor. The at least one sensor 10 can be arranged in a housing on a base body 20 of the release device 1. The housing may have a front housing part 18 and a rear housing part 19, which can be removed independently of each other and can be connected to the base body 20. Transported goods 4 that are present can be detected using such acpncnr ”10 anrl thA hlnnkinn olAmpnt A can acciimp thA HAcirAH nncxitinn wv11 w KJ I I KJ al I KJ LI I KJ kJ I KJK-*ivl 11 KJ t* It* 11 It* I1L KJ L / Cll I do O U11I kJ III KJ KJ KJ 11LJ KJ |JU w I LI vJI I j depending on such a detection. A sensor 10 designed as a light sensor, especially in the form of a light barrier, offers the great advantage of reliably detecting transported goods 4 regardless of weight and speed. The input interface 8 and / or the output interface 9 is / are designed for wired or wireless data transmission, in particular via WLAN or Bluetooth or cable. For example, a control pulse or a sensor signal can be received in the form of a radio signal or, in the case of a wired design, by means of cable. The release device 1 may also have a (further) data interface 16 for connecting an external control device 17. This external control device 17 may be a switch, for example. The adjustment device 5 may have an electrical drive device 12 and an eccentric swing arm 13 which is operatively connected thereto and is coupled to the blocking element 6 or is part of the blocking element 6. The electrical drive device 12 is preferably connected via a gear, for example via a pinion, which engages in the eccentric swing arm 13 connected to the blocking element 6 (cf. Figure 6). Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the adjustment device 5 to have a hydraulic drive device or a pneumatic drive device which is coupled to the blocking element 6 or is part of the blocking element 6. In addition, coupling points 14, such as flanges or openings, may be arranged on the eccentric swing arm 13 or the blocking element 6 for coupling to a further blocking element. Through-holes or threaded through-holes for example, to which further mechanical elements can be connected, can thus be provided in suitable regions of the blocking element 6, for example in the region of the eccentric swing arm 13. The further blocking element then does not require its own adjustment device 5, but can be concomitantly driven via a coupling point 14 and a corresponding coupling element, for example a coupling rod. The release device 1 may have a potentiometer or encoder 15 which is communicatively connected to the microcontroller 7 for setting and / or detecting the release position and / or the blocking position of the blocking element 6. The encoder 15 and / or the microcontroller 7 is / are also connected to the base body 20. Thus, the adjustment device 5 can be set via the encoder 15 and thus the blocking position and the release position of the blocking element 6, i.e., for example, how far the blocking element 6 is to protrude into the conveying plane of the conveyor line 2. The control behaviour of the encoder, i.e., for example, which rotational angle change of the encoder 15 determines which travel path of the blocking element 6, or whether there is a gradual adjustment, for example depending on the different sizes of the transported goods 4 (e.g. box sizes) conveyed on the conveyor line 2, can be stored by programming the microcontroller 7. Adjustability via a potentiometer is also possible. This results in direct hardware coupling between the position of the potentiometer and the adjustment device 5 or blocking element 6. Figure 7 illustrates a possible embodiment of a conveying device 3 according to the invention having a conveyor line 2, in the course of which at least two release devices 1, here a total of three release devices 1,1 a, 1 b, 1 n, are arranged, wherein a first release device 1a assumes a primary function (master) and each further release device 1 b - 1 n assumes a secondary function (slave), and wherein the at least two release devices 1, 1a, 1b are communicatively connected to one another via their input interface 8 or output interface 9. In Figure 7, the first release device 1a has a data-transmitting connection, via its output interface 9, to the input interface 8 of the further release device 1b. The further release device 1b in turn has a data-transmitting connection, via its output interface 9, to the input interface 8 of a further release device 1, and so on. The first release device 1 a (master) controls the further release devices 1 b -1 n (slave) in this case. In Figure 7, the conveyor line 2 is a conveyor belt. However, it can also be designed as a suspended transport track or as a roll conveyor. The microcontrollers 7 of the individual release devices 1, 1a, 1 b - 1 n are designed such that a first release device 1a integrated in the conveyor line 2 automatically assumes the primary function and any further release device 1b -1 n integrated in the conveyor line 2 automatically assumes a secondary function by communicating with the first release device 1a. The conveying device 3 can thus be equipped with a virtually unlimited number of release devices 1, 1a, 1b -1 n each with a microcontroller 7 and interfaces 8, 9 for the supply and processing of information. Preconfiguring the microcontroller 7 makes it possible for the release device 1 to detect whether there is at least one further release device 1 b -1 n in the conveyor line 2, with which the release behaviour is to be coordinated, or whether only a single release device 1, 1a is provided. This detection is preferably performed automatically when the release device 1,1 a, 1 b is supplied with power for the first time. Simply incorporating the individual release devices 1, 1 a, 1 b -1 n into the conveyor line 2 and connecting them to one another in a wired or wireless manner makes it possible to set up a reliably functioning system that can be extended at any time without further programming or configuration.

Claims

1. Release device (1) for temporarily stopping and releasing transported goods (4) conveyed on a conveyor line (2), having a blocking element (6) which can be adjusted between a release position and a blocking position by an adjustment device (5), characterizedin that the release device (1) has a microcontroller (7) which is communicatively connected to an input interface (8), an output interface (9) and the adjustment device (5), wherein the output interface is for communicatively connecting the release device to an input interface of a further release device.

2. Release device according to Claim 1, wherein the release device (1) assumes a primary function and the further release device assumes a secondary function.

3. Release device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterizedin that the release device (1) has at least one sensor (10) which is designed to detect the presence of transported goods (4) in a predefined region (11) of the conveyor line (2) and is communicatively connected to the microcontroller (7).

4. Release device according to Claim 3, characterizedin that the sensor (10) is designed as a light sensor, as a speed sensor, as a weight sensor, as a force sensor or as an acceleration sensor.

5. Release device according to any one of the preceding claims,characterizedin that the input interface (8) and / or the output interface (9) is / are designed for wired or wireless data transmission, in particular via WLAN or Bluetooth.

6. Release device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized- in that the adjustment device (5) has an electrical drive device (12) and an eccentric swing arm (13) which is operatively connected thereto and is coupled to the blocking element (6) or is part of the blocking element (6), or- in that the adjustment device (5) has a hydraulic drive device or a pneumatic drive device which is coupled to the blocking element (6) or is part of the blocking element (6).

7. Release device according to Claim 6,characterizedin that coupling points (14), such as flanges or openings, are arranged on the eccentric swing arm (13) or the blocking element (6) for coupling to a further blocking element.

8. Release device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterizedin that the release device (1) has a potentiometer or encoder (15) which is communicatively connected to the microcontroller (7) for setting and / or detecting the release position and / or the blocking position of the blocking element (6).

9. Release device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterizedin that the release device (1) has a data interface (16) for connecting an external control device (17).

10. Conveying device (3) having a conveyor line (2), in the course of which at least two release devices (1a, 1b) according to any one of the preceding claims are arranged, wherein a first release device (1a) assumes a primary function and at least one further release device (1 b) assumes a secondary function, and wherein the first release device (1a) is communicatively connected to the input interface (8) of the further release device (1 b) via its output interface (9).

11. Conveying device according to Claim 10, characterizedin that the conveyor line (2) has a conveyor belt, a suspended transport track or a roll conveyor.

12. Conveying device according to Claim 10 or 11, characterizedin that the microcontrollers (7) of the release devices (1,1 a, 1 b) are designed such that a first release device (1a) integrated in the conveyor line (2) automatically assumes the primary function and any further release device (1b) integrated in the conveyor line (2) automatically assumes a secondary function by communicating with the first release device (1a).*****

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