Intralogistic conveyor device
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- INTERROLL HLDG
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-16
AI Technical Summary
Conventional intralogistic conveyor systems rely on centralized control by a PLC for routing decisions, which can be inefficient and require complex programming to adapt to changing topologies, and decentralized systems lack efficient data sharing among modules.
Implementing a central data broker that provides item datasets to local zone controllers, allowing sorting decisions to be made locally based on item data, eliminating the need for centralized routing instructions and enabling flexible adaptation to changing conditions.
Enables efficient, decentralized operation of conveyor systems with reduced complexity and improved adaptability by allowing local zone controllers to make routing decisions based on item-specific data, enhancing system flexibility and reducing the need for extensive reprogramming.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an intralogistic conveyor device.
Background Art
[0002] In a conventional intralogistic conveyor device, as shown in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 7,996,104, a plurality of conveyor zones are provided. A plurality of local zone controllers control the operation of the zones based on the overall control signals provided by a central programmable logic controller (PLC). Thereby, the local zone controller performs start / stop and speed control of the electric rollers according to the message from the PLC.
[0003] Scanners installed along the zone provide identification data regarding the articles being conveyed. These identification data are transmitted to the PLC via a data connection. The PLC can access an article database that provides destination data based on the identification of the article. Based on the obtained destination data, the PLC provides an operation instruction to the local zone controller, indicating how to process the article, that is, to which outlet the article is to be conveyed. As a result, the routing decision for each individual article is made within the PLC and provided to the zone controller. The zone controller controls the zone actuator according to the provided routing decision.
[0004] European Patent No. 3222564 discloses a conveyor that operates according to a more decentralized approach. Here, an article is conveyed from a starting position to a target destination. The conveyor comprises a plurality of zones into which the conveyor is divided, and the article is conveyed between the zones. Each zone includes a linear conveyor zone for linearly conveying the article, a conveyor direction change zone for selecting the conveying direction of the article and sending the article in the selected conveyor direction, a destination storage unit configured to temporarily store destination information, an information receiving unit configured to receive destination information from an upstream zone, and an information transmitting unit configured to transmit the destination information to a downstream zone. The conveyor is configured to transfer destination information from an upstream zone to a downstream zone when the article moves between zones. Based on the destination information received from the upstream zone, the routing of the article is locally controlled by the actual zone.
[0005] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002 / 0045969 discloses an apparatus for sorting units of material. A central sorting logic processor (such as a PLC) is provided, which multicasts output signals to a plurality of actuators via a network bus. The actuators are directly controlled by the central sorting logic processor.
[0006] European Patent No. 2370331 discloses a material flow system comprising a plurality of multi-directional conveyor modules. Each module includes conveying hardware, particularly motor-driven rollers, and a controller that controls the operation of the hardware and communicates with other modules. The modules can operate completely autonomously without connecting to a central control unit. The modules can be attached to adjacent modules and can transfer the articles being conveyed from one module to an adjacent module or vice versa at respective ports. The ports function as inlets and outlets for the articles being conveyed. Each port is equipped with a data interface through which adjacent modules are directly data-connected to each other. No bus connection is provided between the modules. Modifications to the spatial relationship between the modules can be easily recognized by module control. The topography of the modules and changes in the topography can be automatically determined.
[0007] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005 / 065642 discloses a transport system that transports articles to a destination along a pre-defined transport route. The pre-defined transport route has a plurality of branching locations. The master controller sets a destination and a transport route associated with that destination for each article being transported. As a result, the local controller controls the branching locations based on the transport route provided by the master controller. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for controlling a conveyor device. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM
[0009] The present invention is solved by the invention of the independent claims, and the embodiments are the inventions described in the dependent claims and the specification.
[0010] According to the present invention, a central data broker is provided that provides item datasets to interested parties. The item datasets belong to the actual items being conveyed and sorted by the conveyor device. The data includes all kinds of values that support the operation of the local zone controller.
[0011] In particular, instead of giving explicit sorting instructions by a PLC, the sorting decision is made locally at the sorting controller with the help of data. Briefly, the item recognizes its destination and communicates the destination to the sorting controller via the item dataset. As a result, the sorting controller recognizes which path to take in the local sorting segment and sets the local sorting segment accordingly. Thus, the routing decision is made at the local level based on the item data, rather than by asking the central PLC for individual routing decisions.
[0012] In general, in the context of this description, it is necessary to distinguish between two types of sensors. On the one hand, a presence sensor provides only information on whether an item is present within the sensor's area. A presence sensor usually does not provide data related to the ID of the detected item. On the other hand, a scanner can provide identification data such as barcode or QR code (registered trademark) information.
[0013] The term "belong to" / "belonging" expresses the relationship between the actual conveyed item and the item dataset in a two-way manner. The item dataset thereby characterizes and provides detailed information about the conveyed item to which it belongs. The conveyed item is characterized by the item dataset to which it belongs.
[0014] When referring to a dataset, the term "dataset" does not always mean the complete dataset. For example, a particular sorting segment may not be interested in some of the values of the dataset. As a result, the controller may save only a selected part of the complete dataset, which is also considered a dataset.
[0015] In contrast to the prior art, the data broker provides only the destinations associated with specific articles. The decision of which route to take is made by the local zone controller. Therefore, there is no need to program a PLC (such as a master controller) using the zone and destination topology within the conveyor device.
[0016] Generally, the term routing condition is considered different from the term destination or destination information. With destination / destination information, the location where the article needs to be transported is indicated. The destination does not include information about the route to reach this destination. In contrast, routing conditions may include single information regarding the decision of the path or direction that needs to be executed at individual locations. Routing conditions do not include destination instructions.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0017] Non-limiting examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Figure 1 shows an exemplary conveyor zone 2 including a plurality of conveyor rollers 3 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 within the conveyor roller 3M. The conveyor rollers 3 of the conveyor zone 2 are drivingly connected to each other via one or more drive connectors 4 (e.g., drive belts) and are driven in cooperation by the motor-driven conveyor roller 3M. Articles are conveyed linearly from the inlet I to the outlet O.
[0019] The presence sensor 5 can determine the presence of the conveyed article 9 arranged in the conveyor zone. The presence sensor 5 does not need to cover the entire conveyor zone 2, and it is sufficient if the presence of the conveyed article 9 is detected by the presence sensor 5 within a partial area of the conveyor zone 2. The presence sensor 5 generates a sensor signal S5, and this sensor signal is connected to a zone controller 11 described later via a signal line (not shown). Presence detection can also be performed without an explicit sensor or derived from other raw data. For example, there is already an approach to derive the presence of a conveyed article on the conveyor zone from other data, such as the trend of the current intensity within the conveyor zone.
[0020] The conveyor roller 3 and the presence sensor 5 are attached to a common support frame 8. The conveyor rollers 3 of the plurality of conveyor zones 2 can be attached to a common support frame 8.
[0021] 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 of a plurality of conveyor zones 2. There are a plurality of such zone controllers 11, which are arranged in the conveyor device 1 (see FIG. 3 below) and communicate with each other via a bus connection 13.
[0022] The zone controller 11 controls the motor-driven conveyor rollers 3M so that the approaching articles 9 do not collide with each other. The control is basically carried out so that only one article 9 exists in each conveyor zone 2. However, slight overlap may occur. For example, even when the downstream article has not yet completely left this downstream conveyor zone, the upstream article may already have entered the downstream conveyor zone from the upstream conveyor zone. In particular, the sensor signal S5 of the presence sensor 5 functions here as an input variable to prevent two articles from contacting and damaging each other.
[0023] FIG. 13 shows a conventional conveyor device in which the aforementioned conveyor zones 2 are used. A plurality of zone controllers 11 control the operation of the zones 2 based on the overall control signal provided by the PLC 12.
[0024] Scanners installed along the zones provide identification data regarding the articles being conveyed. These identification data are transmitted to the PLC 12 via the data connection 13. The PLC can access an article database that provides destination data based on the identification of the article. Based on the acquired data, the PLC 12 provides an operation instruction regarding how to handle the article, that is, which exit to convey the article to, to the local zone controller 11.
[0025] In one embodiment, the zone controller 11 is connected, in particular via a bus connection 13, to a common upper-level article data broker 10, and the zone controllers 11 are also interconnected by this bus connection 13.
[0026] In the following description of the present invention, the conveyor zone is referred to using a schematic diagram of a conveyor zone as shown in FIG. 2. Here, FIG. 2 schematically represents the conveyor device of FIG. 10 and shows one first inlet I1 and one first outlet O1. No further inlets and outlets are provided. The conveyor zone may be curved.
[0027] FIG. 2b shows a representation of another conveyor zone 2b with an extended operating range. Here, in addition to the conveyor zone 2a of FIG. 2a, the conveyor zone 2b has an additional second outlet O2. The article 9 can be selectively conveyed from the first inlet I1 to either the first and second outlets O1, O2.
[0028] As an example, the conveyor zone of FIG. 2b can be formed by the conveyor zone shown in FIG. 1, and this conveyor zone is further provided with a transfer device 20 described with reference to FIG. 5 of European Patent No. 3222564.
[0029] FIG. 2c shows a view of a conveyor zone 2c with an extended operating range. Here, in addition to the conveyor zone 2a of FIG. 2a, the conveyor zone 2b has an additional second inlet I2. The article 9 can be conveyed from either the first inlet I1 or the second inlet I1 to the first outlet O1. Such a conveyor zone is known as a "merge".
[0030] The transfer device described with reference to FIG. 2b is also suitable for providing the additional second inlet I2.
[0031] FIG. 2d shows an illustration of the conveyor zone 2c with an extended operating range. Here, in addition to the conveyor zone 2a of FIG. 2a, the conveyor zone 2b has an additional second inlet I2 and an additional second outlet O2, which is an example combining the embodiments of FIGS. 2b and 2c.
[0032] All conveyor zones are controlled by the zone controller 11 as shown in FIG. 1. In particular, one zone controller device is configured to control the operation of multiple zones 2.
[0033] FIG. 3 shows an example of the conveyor device 1. The conveyor device 1 includes a plurality of conveyor zones 2 as described above. Through the conveyor zones 2, articles are selectively conveyed from at least one of the feed-in stations F1, F2 to one of the multiple destinations D1 - D9. The conveyor device includes conveyor zones 2a - d of various provided embodiments.
[0034] The functions of all conveyor zones 2 are controlled by the zone controller 11. In FIG. 3, only a part (not all) of the zone controller 11 is shown for clarity.
[0035] At least a part of the conveyor zones 2b, 2d has multiple outlets O1, O2. Hereinafter, such conveyor zones having at least two outlets are referred to as sorting zones 2b, 2d.
[0036] The zone controller 11 controls the sorting functions of the sorting zones 2b, 2d. Here, the zone controller 11 provides a clear instruction to the sorting zones 2b, 2d regarding through which of the multiple outlets O1, O2 the currently conveyed article 9 is to be conveyed.
[0037] For a more understandable explanation, identification numbers are additionally attached to a part of the sorting zones in FIG. 3. For example, refer to the sorting zones B1, B2, B3.
[0038] Figure 4 shows an exemplary lookup table 16. The lookup table 16 provides route information regarding individual sorting zones. In particular, the lookup table stores which exit of a particular conveyor zone leads to which destination within the conveyor device.
[0039] Hereinafter, this information independent of the individual articles to be conveyed is referred to as "routing conditions". As is clear from FIG. 3, articles moving to a particular destination need to pass through a plurality of sorting zones 2b, 2d. In each sorting zone, the article needs to be routed via one of a plurality of exits. The routing conditions are stored locally in the zone controller.
[0040] For example, all articles sent to destination D5 need to pass through sorting zones B1 and B2 in particular. In sorting zone B1, exit O1 is used, and in sorting zone B2, exit O2 is used (see also FIG. 2b). Each exit is marked with a solid arrow.
[0041] As another example, article 9 heading to destination D1 needs to pass through sorting zone B1, but does not need to pass through sorting zone B2. In sorting zone B1, exit O2 is used (see also FIG. 2b).
[0042] The lookup table in FIG. 4 reflects the above general routing conditions. Here, FIGS. 4a and 4b show two different embodiments of the lookup table. It is clear from these figures that there are many ways to provide routing conditions in such a table.
[0043] Therefore, based on the destination information linked to the article, the zone controller 11 can issue a signal to the relevant sorting zone, and as a result, the article is sorted to the correct exits O1, O2.
[0044] Figure 5 shows a flowchart of the procedure that occurs when conveying an article from the feed-in station F to the destination D.
[0045] In step S1, the article to be conveyed is fed into the conveyor device, for example, at the feed-in station 1. The zone controller 11a that controls the operation of the feed-in station F1 transmits the first message M1 to the article data broker 10 via the bus 13 (see FIG. 3). The zone controller 11 provides information in the message M1 that the article has been fed in. The message M1 also includes the ID of the feed-in station F1 (feedInID, see below) and the timestamp of the date and time of the feed-in event (conveyance time, see below).
[0046] In step 2, a new article data set 14 is established by the article data broker 10. The article data set 14 includes information about the article to be conveyed that was most recently supplied at the feed-in station F1. FIG. 6 shows an exemplary article data set 14 established in step S2.
[0047] The article data set 14 includes the following data values. Internal ID: An explicit unique internal identifier used to identify each article conveyed within the device. The identifier can be a counter corresponding to the position of all articles in a series to be conveyed. The explicit unique internal identifier can be replaced by the implicit internal identifier described below. Conveyance time: A timestamp indicating the calendar date (here 24.05.2022) and the date and time (here 16:11:13) when the article was fed into the feed-in station. Conveyance ID: A unique identifier that identifies the feed-in station (e.g., feed-in station F1) where the article was fed in. Label ID: A unique label identifier provided as machine-readable information on the article 9 itself. Usually, this label ID is provided on the article as a printed code such as a barcode or a QR code (registered trademark). In one embodiment, this label identifier is other than printed (e.g., an RFID code provided by an RFID tag attached to the article). Destination ID: A unique identifier that identifies the destination within the conveyor device to which the article is conveyed. Arrival time: A timestamp indicating the date and time when the article arrives at the destination. Weight: The weight of the article being conveyed.
[0048] Since only one article can be conveyed at a time at a single feed-in station for the combination of the conveyance time and the conveyance ID value, it implicitly provides a unique internal identifier. This combination can be used here and in all other steps within the scope of this description as an internal identifier instead of an explicit internal identifier.
[0049] In step 3, the article data broker 10 sends a second message M2 to all zone controllers 11 including the zone controller 11a of the feed-in station F1. In the second message M2, the first articles that have just been input via the feed-in station F1 are introduced to all zone controllers 11. The second message M2 includes a copy of the article data set referring to the article as shown in FIG. 6.
[0050] Between step S2 and step S3, most of the data fields are empty (i.e., filled with placeholders). In the subsequent process of the processing, the data fields are increasingly filled with data important for the subsequent transmission process.
[0051] Item 9 is then conveyed from the feed-in station F1 in the direction of the sorting zone B3. As a result, the first zone controller 11a that controls the feed-in station F1 where the item is feed-in provides internal identification information to the zone controller 11b of the subsequent conveyor zone. Thus, the subsequent controller 11b recognizes that the item data set "obj0000001" is linked to the next arriving item.
[0052] The subsequent zone controller 11b needs to execute routing determination. Therefore, the zone controller 11b analyzes the item data set of "obj0000001" that does not contain the values of "destination ID" and "label ID" and whose "weight" value is not set either. As a result, at present, it is unknown which item (from the outside) is obj0000001 and to which destination D it will be conveyed. Furthermore, the weight is also unknown.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 7, the controller 11b can access a look-up table including the routing conditions of the sorting zone B3. Since at least one of the label ID and the weight value is not available in the relevant item data set 14, the item needs to pass through the exit O2, and the exit O2 guides the item to the barcode scanner S and the weighing station W. As a result, in step S4, it is checked whether a predetermined value of the item data set is available, and based on this check, a sorting decision is made.
[0054] In step S5, as a result of the routing decision in step 4, the item is conveyed through the second exit O2 of the sorting zone B3, guiding the item to stations S and W, where one or more missing data of the item data set values can be obtained.
[0055] Therefore, in step S6 (see FIG. 5), the scanning station S and the weighing station W provide the label ID and the shortage value of the weight. In step S6, the zone controller 11c that controls the stations S and W also transmits a third message M3 including the label ID "987654321" and the weight "750 g", which are values related to the internal ID "obj0000001", to the article data broker 10.
[0056] Also, in step S6, the article data broker 10 adds the most recently acquired values to the article data set 14, and the updated article data set 14 is composed of values as shown in FIG. 8. The updated article data set 14 is transmitted as a new second message M2 by the article data broker 10.
[0057] In principle, the second message M2 can be regarded as a global notification message M2 in which the article data broker 10 transmits the updated article data set to a plurality of zone controllers in the device. Therefore, the second message M2 is transmitted to all the zone controllers via the network. The zone controller interested in the information regarding the article data set can receive the message and save the relevant data in the local memory for later use during control.
[0058] The second message M2 related to a specific article data set belonging to a specific article being conveyed can be broadcast by the article data broker 10 in various instances, for example, always when the article data set is updated at the article data broker 10, periodically, and / or in response to a request from the zone controller 11. As a result, the article data set is transmitted to the controller regardless of the actual conveyance operation.
[0059] During scanning, if destination information is provided on the item itself (for example, in a printed form on the item), the scanner also scans the destination information. The destination information may include an explicit delivery destination ID or may include implicit information providing a link to the delivery destination ID.
[0060] In step S7, destination information, particularly the delivery destination ID, is assigned to the item dataset 14. In one embodiment, the device conveyor can access a database 15 that provides a link between delivery destination IDs based on the label ID. As soon as the item data broker determines the delivery destination ID, a new second message M2 containing the updated item dataset is sent to all zone controllers 11 as shown in FIG. 9. Here, the item dataset also includes the value "D5" as the delivery destination ID. As a result, all zone controllers recognize that the associated item 9 needs to be conveyed to the selected destination D5.
[0061] In step S8, the item 9 is conveyed in the direction of the destination, thereby approaching one of the sorting zones B1, B2. The zone controllers 11d, 11e that control the operation of the sorting zones B1, B2 have already received the latest update of the item dataset in the new second message M2. When the associated item approaches each sorting zone, each zone controller 11d, 1e can control the sorting operation of the sorting zone so that the associated item is conveyed in the direction of the destination D5 as described above.
[0062] In step 9, the item is finally sorted to the destination D5 in the sorting zone B4 and finally sent to the destination D5. Also, the controller 11f that controls the sorting zone B4 operates using a lookup table as described above. Thus, the item is finally delivered to the destination D5.
[0063] When the item 9 is finally delivered to the correct destination by the sorting zone B4, the controller 11f that controls the previous last sorting zone of the destination sends a fourth message M4 to the item data broker 10.
[0064] The fourth message M4 includes time information indicating the time when the article was transferred to the correct destination D5. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10, the article data broker 10 updates the article data set 14 using the value of the destination time and transmits a new second message M2 including the updated article data set.
[0065] Here, the article data set 14 includes all relevant values related to the conveying / sorting operation. Thereby, since a value is set to the main value, the article data set includes a value clearly indicating that the sorting operation has been completed. In particular, a value indicating that the article has been delivered to the destination is set.
[0066] The article data set 14 related to the conveyed article 9 is no longer relevant to the operating components of the plurality of conveyor zones. In particular, as soon as the zone conveyor receives the updated second message M2, the article data set belonging to the conveyed article can be deleted from the local memory of the operating zone controller in order to clear the memory of the new article data set belonging to the next article to be conveyed.
[0067] Furthermore, it is not necessary to store all the article data sets transmitted by all the sorting controllers 2b, 2d. Each individual sorter controller can independently determine whether to store the broadcast article data set. Next, an example where storage is not required is shown.
[0068] According to the lookup 16 table of FIG. 4b, in sorting segment B1, all articles directed to destinations D1, D2, and D3 must pass through outlet O2. All other articles ("else") must pass through outlet O1. Since the routing conditions include default condition 16d for all other destinations, it is only important for sorting controller 11d to detect whether any article falls into a non-default case. The article dataset 14 shown in FIG. 9 indicates that the article belongs to destination D5, which, according to FIG. 5b, is covered by the default condition 16d. Sorting controller 11a is configured to sort unknown articles (for which no article dataset is provided) in the same way as articles that fall into the default case. As a result, unknown articles in sorter segment B1 are sorted at outlet O1 by sorting controller 11d. Therefore, in order to operate sorting segment B1 properly, the associated zone controller 11d that controls sorting segment B1 does not need to store the article dataset 14 as shown in FIG. 9.
[0069] The situation is different in the case of sort segment B2. Refer to the routing conditions on the right side of FIG. 4b. Here, destination D5 corresponds to the explicit routing condition and does not fall into the default case. As a result, the sort controller needs to recognize that articles belonging to the article dataset of FIG. 9 are sorted to outlet O2. Therefore, the article dataset 14 of FIG. 9 is essential for operation and is stored in sort controller 11f that controls sort segment B4.
[0070] FIG. 11 shows a part of the conveyor device of FIG. 3, with additional destination branches including additional destinations D10 to D12 inserted. To support the additional destinations, an additional sort segment B5 is also inserted to support the sorting operation between destinations D7 to D9 and the newly added destinations D10 to D12.
[0071] Due to the distributed structure of the conveyor device, only a simple database adaptation needs to be performed. The lookup table shown in Figure 4 is still valid because the default condition 16d already provides sufficient instructions to support the newly added destinations D10 - D12 in sorter segments B1 and B2. Here, the newly added destinations are completely covered by the default case 16d.
[0072] Here, the added sorter segment B5 needs to be configured by generating a new lookup table 16, as shown in Figure 12a or in an alternative form shown in Figure 12b.
[0073] No adaptation is required in the data blocker 12.
Explanation of Symbols
[0074] 1 Conveyor device 2a...d Conveyor zones 3 Conveyor roller 3M Electric roller 4 Connector 5 Presence sensor 8 Support frame 9 Item being conveyed 10 Item data blocker 11 Zone controller 12 Central programmable logic controller (PLC) 13 Bus connection 14 Item data set 15 Database 16 Lookup table I Entrance of the conveyor zone O Exit of the conveyor zone D Destination F Feed-in station S Scan station / Scanner W Weighing station
Claims
1. An intralogistical conveyor device (1) is configured to selectively transport articles (9) from at least one feed-in station (F) to a destination (D5) selected from a plurality of destinations (D1-D12), wherein the conveyor device (1) is A plurality of conveyor zones (2), each conveyor zone (2) configured to transport articles (9) from the entrance (I) of the conveyor zone (2) to the exit (O) of the conveyor zone (2), The system includes a plurality of zone controllers (11) configured to control the operation of the conveyor zone (2), The conveyor zone (2) is arranged so that the article (9) can be transferred from the exit (O) of the previous conveyor zone (2) to the entrance (I) of the next conveyor zone (2). At least one of the conveyor zones is a sorting zone (2b, 2d) having at least two outlets (O1, O2), The zone controller (11) that controls the sorting zones (2b, 2d) is a sorting controller (11b, 11d, 11e), Each sorting controller (11b, 11d, 11e) is configured to control the sorting zones (2b, 2d) so that the sorting zones (2b, 2d) selectively transport the items from the inlet to the selected outlet (O1, O2) from the at least two outlets (O1, O2). The intralogistical conveyor device (1) is equipped with an item data broker (10) connected to each zone controller (11) by data connection (13), The zone controller (11) is configured to receive an item data set (14) from the data broker (10) via a data connection (13), The item dataset (14) includes information about the transported items (9) to which it belongs. The intralogistical conveyor device (1) is characterized in that the zone controller (11) is configured to control the operation of the relevant zones, particularly sorting operations, based on the item data set (14) provided by the data broker (10).
2. In the intralogistical conveyor device (1) according to claim 1, The item data set (14) provided by the item data broker (10) includes destination information (destination ID) indicating a selected destination (D5) to which the related items are transported. The intralogistical conveyor device (1) is characterized in that the sorting controllers (11b, 11d, 11e) are configured to control the sorting zones (2b, 2d) based on the provided destination information in such a manner that the sorting zones (2b, 2d) transport the items to an exit connected to a selected destination (D5).
3. In the intralogistical conveyor device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The item dataset (14) does not include routing information indicating which of the multiple exits is used within each sorting operation, and / or The intralogistical conveyor device (1) is characterized in that the sorting controllers (11b, 11d, 11e) are configured to use only destination information (destination ID) from the item dataset (14) in order to control individual sorting operations, without using routing information provided by the dataset.
4. In the intralogistical conveyor device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The intralogistical conveyor device (1) is characterized in that the sorting controllers (11b, 11d, 11e) access routing conditions (16), in particular a lookup table (16), and the routing conditions (16) include information on which of the plurality of outlets leads to which destination.
5. In the intralogistical conveyor device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The intralogistical conveyor device (1) is characterized in that the routing condition (16) includes a default condition (16d) that is valid for destinations that are not specified ("other").
6. In the intralogistical conveyor device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The intralogistical conveyor device (1) is characterized in that the sorting controllers (11b, 11d, 11e) are configured to locally store the routing conditions (16) within the sorting controllers (11b, 11d, 11e).
7. In the intralogistical conveyor device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, at least one sorting controller (11a) is, Check the item dataset (14) associated with a specific item (9) with a specific missing value (weight; label ID), An intralogistical conveyor device (1) is characterized by being configured to control the sorting operation of sorting zones in such a way that, depending on the results of the check, items are directed to zones (S, W) where missing values (weight; label ID) can be obtained.
8. In the intralogistical conveyor device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The intralogistical conveyor device (1) is characterized in that the item data set (14) is transmitted by the data broker (10) to a plurality of zone controllers (2) in an omnidirectional manner, regardless of the location of the item (9) to which it belongs.
9. In the intralogistical conveyor device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The intralogistical conveyor device (1) is characterized in that the item data set (14) is transmitted by the data broker (10) to at least one zone controller (2) independently of the actual transport operation that references the items (9) to which it belongs.
10. In the intralogistical conveyor device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, the article data set (14) is: As soon as the aforementioned data item set is updated with new values, and / or At regular time intervals, and / or In response to a request from the zone controller, An intralogistical conveyor device (1) characterized in that data is transmitted to multiple zones by the data broker (10).
11. In the intralogistical conveyor device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The intralogistical conveyor device (1) is characterized in that the sorting controllers (11b, 11d, 11e) are configured to locally store the routing conditions (16) within the sorting controllers (11b, 11d, 11e), regardless of the actual location of the items to which they belong.
12. In the intralogistical conveyor device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The intralogistical conveyor system (1) is characterized in that the zone controller (11), in particular the sorting controllers (11b, 11d, 11e), are configured to check from the item data set (14) whether it is essential to save the item data set to support a subsequent sorting process, in particular whether the conveyor zone associated with the sorting controllers (110b, 11d) is on the path of items belonging to a selected destination.
13. In the intralogistical conveyor device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, If the previous check step led to a result and saving the item dataset is not essential to support the operation in the relevant segment, the controller (11) Selectively not saving the item dataset (14) to the local sorting controllers (11b, 11d), and / or An intralogistical conveyor device (1) characterized by deciding to selectively delete the item dataset from the local sorting controllers (11b, 11d).
14. In the intralogistical conveyor device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, In addition to the zone controller, the intralogistics conveyor (1) is characterized in that it does not include a central programmable logic controller (PLC) configured to control the sorting operation of the sorting zone.