Intralogistic conveyor arrangement

Abstract

Intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1), adapted to convey an object (9) in a downstream conveying direction (d), the conveyor arrangement (1) comprising: - a plurality of conveyor zones (2), each conveyor zone (2) is adapted to convey an object (9) from an inlet (I) of said conveyor zone (2) to an outlet (O) of said conveyor zone (2), - a plurality of zone controllers (11), adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones (2), wherein each of the zone controllers (11) are adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones (2) in a manner, that in case that an occupying object (9f) is occupying a downstream conveyor zone (2f), a moving object upstream of said occupied zone (2f) is not transferred into said occupied zone (2f), in particular that the moving object may be stopped in a first empty zone (9e) upstream of said occupied zone (9f); wherein the zone controllers (11) are adapted to control the conveying speed (v1, v2, v1,5, v0,5) of said upstream moving object (9u,v,y,z,k,l,m,n,o) based on an occupancy status (OS) of said downstream conveyor zone (2f).

Description

[0001] Intralogistic conveyor arrangement

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention refers to an intralogistic conveyor arrangement.

[0004] An intralogistic conveyor arrangement is shown in WO 2024 / 149 872 A1 . Such a conveyor arrangement is optimized for postal parcels etc., wherein the objects are held at a distance to each other. Accordingly the objects are held separated in individual conveyor zones, where merely one parcel is located within one conveyor zone. The objects are driven at a standard speed, where the speed ensures accurate braking of an upstream object before hitting a stopped object downstream. The objects are conveyed at one single predefined speed level.

[0005] US 6,378,694 B1 shows a conveyor arrangement having a plurality of conveyor zones. One control means is adapted to adjust and control rotation speed of roller portion by controlling the drive of motor unit of each motor roller (col. 6, 1. 3 - 9 and figure 1). The control means is therefore a central controller with respect to all conveyor zones and has direct access control to all conveyor zones.

[0006] It is the object of the invention to improve the operation of an conventional conveyor arrangement.

[0007] This object is solved by a conveyor arrangement and a method according to the main claims; embodiments are subject of the subclaims and the description.

[0008] Accordingly the conveyors of the conveyor zones are adapted to adjust the speed based on an occupancy status of said downstream conveyor zone. In one aspect the operation can be optimized over the conventional solutions by increasing the speed; in another aspect the operation can be optimized over the conventional solutions by decreasing the speed.

[0009] Adjusting the conveying speed of a moving object thereby means, changing the speed levels , where the speed levels are different from a stop situation. So just providing a stop signal is not meant as adjusting the speed. The speed “Zero” is not to be understood as a conveying speed of a moving object.

[0010] In an embodiment during a high speed mode of operation the moving object is conveyed at a high speed. High speed thereby means, that a stopping distance, in particular under consideration of the possible deceleration, is larger than a length of a conveyor zone, in particular the first empty zone in front of said occupied zone. In other words: when traveling in high speed, stopping is not possible just within the length of said conveyor zone. This high speed enables high throughput and fast accumulation of objects within the conveyor zones. In particular in case that the occupancy status of said occupied downstream zone requires the object to be stopped upstream of the occupying object in particular in an empty zone upstream of said occupied zone, the speed of said object is reduced before said object is entering said empty zone. As stated before due to the high speed stopping cannot be performed just within the zone, where the object should be stopped; instead, the zones cooperate in a manner, that stopping is issued already in a more upstream zone than conventionally. In an embodiment the speed can thereby be reduced to a low speed level. The low speed level requires a stopping distance, which is smaller than the length of the conveyor zone. Accordingly, the object can again be stopped just within the empty zone, where it should come to a stop.

[0011] In particular the plurality of zone controllers are adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones in a decentralized manner. In an embodiment a downstream zone controller is controlling the operation of said downstream conveyor zone, and at least one upstream zone controller is controlling the operation of an upstream conveyor zone. The controllers are to be understood as separate to each other.

[0012] In an embodiment the controllers are adapted to cooperate in a manner that an occupancy status of the downstream conveyor zone is sent by said downstream zone controller; said occupancy status is received by said one of said separate upstream zone controller; said receiving upstream zone controller is adapted to adjust the speed of said moving object depending on said received occupancy status. Here said empty zone is in particular the first empty zone in front of said occupied zone. As a consequence, the upstream controller can individually and independently decide, which is the most efficient speed for optimizing the overall operation.

[0013] In an embodiment in case that a current occupancy status of said occupied downstream zone requires said moving object to be stopped in a zone upstream of the occupied zone, in particular under the assumption that the moving object continues to move at a constant speed, a forecast is generated, whether a future occupancy status of said occupied zone still requires said object to be stopped in a zone upstream of the occupied zone. Such a forecast enables the controllers to optimize the operation of the conveyor zones. Here the controllers are adapted to adjust, in particular reduce, the speed of said moving object based on that forecast.

[0014] In a situation where said forecast of said occupancy status of said occupied downstream zone requires the moving object to be stopped in an empty zone upstream of said occupied zone, the speed of said object may be reduced before said object is entering said empty zone.

[0015] In a situation where said forecast of said future occupancy status of said occupied downstream zone comes to the result, that an occupancy status is changing to an unoccupied situation within a period of time, the speed of said moving object may be adjusted depending on the period of time.

[0016] In main the effect of using said forecast may be comparable to a situation where a car driver is driving towards a red traffic light. In case that the driver knows at which point in time the traffic light is getting green again, the speed reduction can be optimized for this point in time. The later the speed reduction is started, the greater the speed reduction must be. Here an early speed reduction can be energy efficient thereby minimizing the overall speed reduction and avoiding unnecessary accelerations.

[0017] The inventive method comprising the step of providing a set of preferences via a configuring device in a manner so that an user can select one of said preferences by an user interaction. Thereby based on the selected preferences the conveyor arrangement is set into a condition to perform a conveying operation selectively in a way, so that either a fast accumulation of objects within the conveyor zones is optimized, or an overall throughput of objects within the conveyor zones is optimized.

[0018] In particular each of the zone controllers are adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones in a manner, that maximum one object is present in one conveyor zone.

[0019] In particular each conveyor zone comprises a drive motor, which provides an unitary drive force for the complete conveyor zone. Meaning that the set speed is always unitary within one conveyor zone. One conveyor zone may have a plurality of conveyor rollers, which are drive connected to each other and / or which are controlled with the same set speed. One conveyor zone may have one drive belt.

[0020] In particular each of the zone controllers are adapted to control a limited number of conveyor zones, in particular the limited number is max. 10 or 8 or 4 or 2.

[0021] A non-limiting example of the invention is described with respect to the figures; herein show fig. 1 an exemplary conveyor zone used within the invention; fig. 2 schematically diagram showing a) the speed over time, and b) the speed-over-distance of a slow moving object; fig. 3 schematically diagram showing a) the speed over time; and b) the speed-over-distance of a fast moving object; fig. 4 a conventional conveyor arrangement during operation in different situations along with a speed-over-distance-diagram; fig. 5 an inventive conveyor arrangement during operation in different situations along with a speed-over-distance-diagram; fig. 6 another inventive conveyor arrangement during operation in different situations along with a speed-over-distance-diagram; fig. 7 the inventive conveyor arrangement according to figure 6 during accumulation of several objects along with a speed-over-distance-diagram; fig. 8 another inventive conveyor arrangement during operation in different situations along with a speed-over-distance-diagram; fig. 9 another inventive conveyor arrangement during operation in different situations along with a speed-over-distance-diagram; fig. 10 a configuring device during the setting of preferences.

[0022] Figure 1 shows an exemplary conveyor zone 2, comprising several conveyor rollers 3 which are driven together. For this purpose, one of the conveyor rollers 3 is designed as a motorized roller 3M. The motorized roller 3M is driven in particular by a three-phase motor arranged in the motorized roller 3M. Via one or more connectors 4, e.g. a drive belt, the conveyor rollers 3 of a conveyor zone 2 are drive-connected to each other and are jointly driven by the motorized roller 3M. An object 9 is linearly conveyed from an inlet I to an outlet O.

[0023] In the embodiment shown here the conveyor rollers establish a conveyor surface on which the object is supported. In an another embodiment, a conveyor belt may be provided, on top of which the object is supported.

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

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

[0026] The motorized rollers 3M or, for other embodiments, any other drive driving the conveyor zones 2 are each controlled by at least one or a plurality of zone controllers 11 . A single zone controller 11 can control the motorized rollers 3M of several conveyor zones 2. Several such zone controllers 11 are arranged in a conveyor arrangement 1 which communicate with each other via a bus connection 13. The zone controller 11 may be incorporated into one of the conveyor rollers 3.

[0027] Figure 2 shows schematically the dynamics of a conveyed object 9. Hereby the object 9 is traveling at a first conveying speed v1 . In case the zone controller 11 decides to stop the conveyed object 9 at a stop issuing time to, after a particular reaction time, reduction of speed starts and after traveling along a first stopping distance dx1 the object comes to a standstill at first stop position x1 .

[0028] Figure 3 shows nearly the same as figure 2, where the object is traveling in a high speed mode HS at a second conveying speed v2, which is about as fast as the double of the first conveying speed v1 . It is needless to mention that a second stopping distance dx2 is increased tremendously compared to the first stopping distance of figure 2, so that the object comes to a standstill at second stop position x2 far behind the first stop position x1 .

[0029] Figure 4 shows the operation of a conventional (accumulation) conveyor arrangement 1 . There are several conveyor zones 2a-f arranged along a conveying direction, where objects 9 are traveling from a first upstream conveyor zone 2a to a sixth downstream conveyor zone 2f. Each conveyor zone if controlled by a zone controller 11a-f, where one controller 11 may control more than one conveyor zone 2.

[0030] Figure 4 shows the operation of a conventional conveyor arrangement 1. The zone controllers 11 control the motorized rollers 3M in such a way that the successively approaching conveyed goods 9 do not collide with each other, which is usually called “Zero pressure accumulation”. The control is performed in a manner that in main only one conveyed object 9 is present per conveyor zone 2. However, slight overlaps may occur. For example, an upstream conveyed object may already enter a downstream conveyor zone 2 from an upstream conveyor zone 2 even though a downstream conveyed object has not yet completely left said downstream conveyor zone 2. Among other things, the sensor signals S5 of the presence sensors 5 serve as input variables here, although it is ensured that the two conveyed object do not touch and thus do not damage each other.

[0031] In the example shown in figure 4, the sixth conveyor zone 2f is occupied by an occupying object 9f.

[0032] A conveyed object 9x is conveyed in an upstream second conveyor 2b at the first speed v1 (figure 4a). Since the third conveyor zone 2c is not occupied by an object the object 9x is further conveyed towards third conveyor zone 2c.

[0033] In the situation shown in figure 4a, the fifth conveyor zone 2e is the conveyor zone in front of (meaning directly before) the occupied sixth conveyor zone 2f. This is also called the first empty zone. When the presence of said conveyed object 9x within the first empty zone 2e is detected (e.g. by presence sensor 5e), stopping of the object 9x is initiated (figure 4b).

[0034] According to the dynamics shown in figure 2b, the object 9x comes to a standstill within a first stopping distance dx1 (figure 4c) measured from the position xO, where stopping was initiated. The object 9x comes to a standstill within the fifth conveyor zone 2e (= the first empty zone), right before entering the occupied sixth conveyor zone 2f (figure 4c).

[0035] Term definitions: Generally the position xO, where stopping is initiated, is referred to as the stop issuing position.

[0036] Figure 4d shows a comparative situation to figure 4c (therefore it is enclosed in square bracket [ ]) for the case, that the object 9x is traveling in a high speed mode HS at the second speed v2, with v2 = 2 x v1 , when entering the first empty (fifth) conveyor zone 2e in front of the occupied zone 2f. In case that the stopping of the object 9x would have been initiated when entering the first empty (fifth) conveyor zone 2e - in front of the occupied conveyor sixth conveyor zone 2f - the object 9x would nevertheless crash into the object 9f occupying the sixth conveyor zone 2f, due to the increased second stopping distance dx2 from the stop issuing position xO as presented in figure 3b.

[0037] Figure 4e) shows in solid lines the speed of the object 9x over the distance x, when regularly traveling at said first speed v1. Also shown in a dashed line is the course of the speed for the comparative situation of figure 4d, as soon as stopping is initiated in the conveyor zone 2e in front of the occupied zone 2f.

[0038] Term definitions: In general, the first speed v1 is a speed, at which the object can be stopped within one conveyor zone 2, in particular within the first empty zone, which is the conveyor zone in front of / directly before the occupied zone. Here a length L2 of said conveyor zone is not smaller than the first stopping distance dx1.

[0039] The second speed v2 is a speed which is too large, so that the object cannot be stopped within one conveyor zone 2, in particular within the first empty zone. Here a length L2 of a conveyor zone 2 is smaller than the second stopping distance dx2.

[0040] Starting from figure 5, the operation of an accumulation conveyor arrangement 1 according to the present invention.

[0041] Figure 5 shows operation of an accumulation conveyor arrangement 1 according to the present invention. There are several conveyor zones 2a-f arranged along a conveying direction d, where objects 9 are traveling from a first upstream conveyor zone 2a to a sixth downstream conveyor zone 2f. Each conveyor zone is controlled by a zone controller 11a-f, where one controller may control more than one conveyor zone 2.

[0042] The description regarding the hardware components of the conveyor arrangement according to figure 4 applies also for the inventive arrangement.

[0043] In the example shown in figure 5, the sixth conveyor zone 2f is the occupied zone, which is occupied by an object 9f.

[0044] Occupied means hereby, that said occupying object 9f located within the zone is in a nonmoving condition. The fifth conveyor zone 2e is the conveyor zone in front of the occupied zone 2f, consequently the fifth conveyor zone 2e is the first empty zone. In general, the empty zones are numbered in the upstream direction starting from the occupied zone. Accordingly, here the

[0045] - fifth conveyor zone 2e is the first empty zone,

[0046] - fourth conveyor zone 2d is the second empty zone,

[0047] - third conveyor zone 2c is the third empty zone,

[0048] - etc..

[0049] The controlling of speed is performed by the decentralized conveyor zone controls. Therefore an occupancy status OS of said occupied zone 2f is transmitted from a zone controller 11f controlling said occupied zone 2f, to any of the zone controllers 11a, 11e, controlling the conveyor zones upstream of the occupied zone, in particular to the zone controller, controlling the empty zones. The occupancy status OS is in particular communicated to the zone controller(s) controlling the upstream conveyor zone(s), in which a moving object is currently conveyed. At the same time, the occupancy status OS is communicated to the upstream controller(s), as soon as the status has changed from occupied to empty. Based on the occupancy status OS of the downstream conveyor zone(s), the controller(s) can independently adjust the speed of the object according to the requirements.

[0050] In all embodiments of the present application there is no central PLC required, which controls speed adjustment of all conveyor zones in a centralized manner.

[0051] An object 9y is conveyed in an upstream second conveyor 2b at the second speed v2 (figure 5a). As stated previously, for the stopping the object requires a second stopping distance dx2, which is larger than a length L2 of one conveyor zone 2, in particular the length L2 of the first empty zone 2e.

[0052] Since the second to the fifth conveyor zones 2b - 2e are not occupied by an object the object 9y is further conveyed in direction to the fourth conveyor zone 2d (figures 5b, 5c).

[0053] When the presence of the object 9y within the fourth conveyor zone 2d is detected, in particular by the fourth presence sensor 5d, stopping of the object 9y is initiated at the stop issuing position xO (figure 5c, 5f).

[0054] According to the dynamics shown in figure 3b, the object 9y is expected to come to a standstill after a second stopping distance dx2 from the stop issuing position xO, within the first empty (fifth) conveyor zone 2e (figure 5c and 5e), right before entering the occupied sixth conveyor zone 2f (figure 5e). During braking the object 9y is passing the complete fourth conveyor zone 2d, which is the second empty zone (figure 5d).

[0055] Due to the increased speed it is not possible to stop the object merely within the first empty zone 2e in front of the occupied conveyor zone 2f. In contrast to figure 4, stopping is initiated in a conveyor zone upstream of the first empty zone 2e. In the specific case, stopping is initiated in the second empty zone 2d. Depending on the speed of the object and the length of the conveyor zone, it may be required that object stopping may already be initiated in the third empty zone 2c or fourth empty zone 4b.

[0056] Figure 5f shows the speed of the object 9y over the distance x. When the object 9y enters the first empty zone 2e (figure 5e), the speed of the object is already significantly lower than the second speed v2. In particular the speed of the object conforms in main to the first speed v1 or is lower than the first speed v1 .

[0057] Figure 6 shows the operation of another accumulation conveyor arrangement 1 according to the present invention. The operation is based on the situation shown in figure 5. In the following merely the differences compared to the conveyor arrangement according to figure 5 are described. Also here, the sixth conveyor zone 2f is occupied by said occupying object 9f. When the presence of the object 9z in the third conveyor zone 2c is detected, a reduction of the conveying speed from the second speed v2 to the first conveying speed v1 is initiated (figure 6b).

[0058] According to the dynamics shown in figure 3b, the speed of the object 9z is in a first step reduced from the second speed v2 to the first speed v1 . When the object 9z passes the presence sensor 5d of the fourth conveyor zone 2d, which is the second empty zone, the speed is already significantly reduced, and conforms about to the first speed v1 . The object 9z is now continuously conveyed in a regular manner at the first speed v1 through the fourth conveyor zone 2d.

[0059] When the presence of the object 9z in the fifth conveyor zone 2e, which is the first empty zone, is detected, stopping of the object 9z is initiated at position xO (figure 6d).

[0060] According to the dynamics shown in figure 2b, the object 9z comes to a standstill after a first stopping distance dx1 from the stop issuing position xO. The object 9z comes to a standstill within the first empty (fifth) conveyor zone 2e (figure 6e).

[0061] Figure 6f shows the speed of the object 9z over the distance x.

[0062] The examples of figures 5 to 6 show a possibility to bring the object 9z as fast as possible into a stop condition prior to entering the occupied zone 2f. This enables fast accumulation of multiple objects within a limited area, which is illustrated in figure 7 for the different speeds v1 and v2.

[0063] Accordingly, the figures 5 to 6 show a conveyor which operates according to a first preference, where the aim is the efficient storage of objects by fast and efficient accumulation.

[0064] Figure 8 shows the operation of an accumulation conveyor arrangement 1 according to the present invention. There are several conveyor zones 2a-f arranged along a conveying direction d, where objects 9 are traveling from a first upstream conveyor zone 2a to a sixth downstream conveyor zone 2f. Each conveyor zone is controlled by a zone controller 11a-f, where one controller may control more than one conveyor zone.

[0065] The basic description regarding the hardware components of the conveyor arrangement according to the previous figures applies also for the inventive conveyor arrangement according to the following figures. In the situation shown in figure 8a, the fifth and sixth conveyor zone 2e, 2f are occupied zones, each is occupied by an object 9e, 9f. Therefore the fourth conveyor zone 2d is the first empty zone.

[0066] An object 9u is conveyed in an upstream first conveyor 2a in a high speed mode HS at the second speed v2 (figure 8a). Since the second to the fifth conveyor zones 2b - 2e are empty I not occupied by an object the object 9u is conveyed from the first conveyor zone towards the fourth conveyor zone 2d (figures 8a, 8b).

[0067] In figure 8b, the object 9f in the downstream sixth zone 2f, which is occupied, is accelerated and is about to leave the sixth conveyor zone 2f. Accordingly, object 9f is not occupying the sixth conveyor zone 2f anymore. As a consequence, also the object 9e occupying the fifth conveyor zone will shortly be accelerated so that it will shortly no longer occupy the fifth conveyor zone 2e. Based on the amended occupancy status OS of the downstream zone 2f, the controller 5e of the occupied fifth zone 2e can generate a forecast F, that the fifths zone 2e will be not occupied in several seconds, e.g. 3 seconds: This forecast F is sent to the upstream controls.

[0068] Based on said forecast F, the speed of the object 9u is now reduced to an intermediate speed v1 ,5, which may be larger than the first speed v1 but slower than the second speed v2. As a result the object 9u is expected to arrive at the conveyor zone located more downstream at a certain delay D. In figure 8d delay D is illustrated as a delay in the position.

[0069] The object 9u in dashed lines shows the position of the object 9u, in case that it would have continued to travel at the second speed v2. The object 9u in solid lines shows the position of the object 9u, as it travels with the intermediate speed v1 ,5. It is apparent that dashed object 9u’ would crash or nearly crash into the downstream object 9e, which was formerly occupying the fifth conveyor zone 2e.

[0070] Due to the speed reduction in combination with the forecast, the moving object 9u arrives at the formerly occupied zones 2e, 2f at a time, when those conveyor zones are no longer occupied. As can be seen in the figure 8d, the object can freely enter the formerly occupied zones, which would not be possible without the speed reduction. At the same time, it was not required to stop the object and the speed of said moving object was maintained still at a high level.

[0071] The delay D illustrates the effect of the speed reduction to the intermediate speed. Due to an anticipatory style of controlling, the object 9u can be conveyed at an increased speed without the necessity to be stopped. In particular the object again can be conveyed in the high speed mode HS. Overall throughput of the conveyor arrangement can be optimized.

[0072] Figure 9 shows operation of an accumulation conveyor arrangement 1 according to the present invention, based on the description of the embodiment of figure 8. There are several conveyor zones 2a-f arranged along a conveying direction d, where objects 9 are traveling from a first upstream conveyor zone 2a to a sixth downstream conveyor zone 2f. Each conveyor zone is controlled by a zone controller 11a-f, where one controller may control more than one conveyor zone.

[0073] In the example shown in figure 9, the fifth and sixth conveyor zones 2e, 2f are occupied zones, each occupied by one object 9e, 9f.

[0074] An object 9v is conveyed in an upstream first conveyor 2a at the second speed v2 (figure 9a). Since the second to the fourth conveyor zones 2b-d are not occupied by an object the object 9v is conveyed from the first conveyor zone towards the fourth conveyor zone 2d (figures 9a, 9b).

[0075] Contrary to figure 8b, in figure 9b, the object 9f in the downstream sixth occupied zone is not accelerated. That means, that object 9e and 9f continue to occupy the fifth and sixth conveyor zones 9e, 9f for an indefinite time. The fifth zone 2e therefore generates a forecast F, that the fifth zone will continue to be occupied for an unspecified period of time.

[0076] As a consequence, as long as the forecast F does not comprise a reliable perspective, that the occupied zone will become free within a certain period of time, it is assumed that the moving object 9v is required to stop in the fourth conveyor zone 2d, which is the first empty zone in front of the occupied fifth conveyor zone 2e.

[0077] The speed of the object 9v is therefore reduced to the level of a slow speed v0,5 which may be slower than the first speed v1 . As a result the object 9v would arrive at a downstream conveyor zones at a certain delay D.

[0078] In figure 9c the delay D is again illustrated with the help of a dashed object 9v’, representing the conveyed object 9v for the case, that it would have continued to travel with the second speed v2. It is apparent that the dashed object 9v’ would crash or nearly crash into the downstream object 9e, which is occupying the fifth conveyor zone 2e.

[0079] In figures 9c and 9d, after the speed reduction has been issued (see figure 9c), the occupying objects 9f and 9e are accelerated, so that these objects 9f, 9e do no longer occupy the formerly occupied fifth and sixth conveyor zones 2e, 2f. However the speed reduction was issued prior to the acceleration of the occupying objects 9e, 9f.

[0080] When the object 9v enters the conveyor zone 2d, which formerly was the first empty zone (see figure 9b), the object 9v is not required to stop, since formerly occupied downwards conveyor zone 9e is no longer occupied. In contrast, the object can be accelerated again to the second speed v2 and conveyed in the high speed mode HS (figure 9e).

[0081] In another situation, wherein the objects 9e, 9f would still occupy the conveyor zones 2e, 2f, when the conveyed object 9v reaches the first empty zone (here the fourth conveyor zone 2d) in front the of the occupied zone 2e, the conveyed object 9v will come to a standstill in said first empty zone conveyor zone 2d, analog to figure 6.

[0082] The aforementioned example of figure 9 shows: the slower the speed of an object, the higher is the likelihood, that a complete standstill is avoided. This is advantageous for achieving a high throughput in case that no anticipation is possible when the occupied zone will be free again.

[0083] In principle the examples of figure 8 and 9 show a possibility to increase overall throughput, because a standstill can be avoided or at least the number of standstills can be reduced. Here a second preference lies on efficient throughput by avoiding standstills of objects.

[0084] As apparent the examples of figure 8 and 9 along with the second preference lie in contrast to the example of figures 4 to 7 and the first preference:

[0085] The efficiency of throughput is

[0086] - reduced in the first preference,

[0087] - increased in the second preference.

[0088] The efficiency of object accumulation is

[0089] - reduced in the second preference,

[0090] - increased in the first preference.

[0091] As apparent from the above, different preferences result in different effects during conveying of objects within a conveyor assembly. In an embodiment, the present invention proposes now to provide the flexibility and easiness for an user in configuring the conveyor arrangement with respect to the preferred performance preferences. Here the conveyor arrangement supports an interactivity with an user, by which the preferences can set by a user input. Therefore figure 10 shows the screen of a configuring device 20, through which an user can set the preferences 21 a, b by said user interaction Ul. After the preferences 21 a, b are set, the conveyor arrangement 1 is adapted to convey the object according to the preferences 21 a, b.

[0092] The configuration can be part of a method of planning a conveyor arrangement 1 , which is described in more detail in European patent application EP23151253.4 (unpublished yet, including another patent application claiming it’s priority). Alternatively the configuring device 20 may be a computer which is connected to the zone controllers 11 during operation.

[0093] The situations described in the figures above can all be combined within one single conveyor arrangement 1.

[0094] List of reference signs

[0095] 1 conveyor arrangement

[0096] 2a... f conveyor zone

[0097] 3 conveyor roller

[0098] 3M motorized roller

[0099] 4 connector

[0100] 5 Presence sensor

[0101] 8 support frame

[0102] 9 object

[0103] 9k-y conveyed object

[0104] 9e, 9f occupying object

[0105] 11a...f zone controller

[0106] 13 bus connection

[0107] 20 configuring device

[0108] 21 a, b preference tO stopping issuing time t1 , t2 stopping time xO stop issuing position x conveying position x1 , x2 first, second stopping position dx1 , dx2 first, second stopping distance v conveying speed d conveying direction

[0109] D delay

[0110] I inlet of conveyor zone

[0111] O outlet of conveyor zone

[0112] L2 length of conveyor

[0113] HS high speed mode

[0114] OS occupancy status

[0115] F forecast

[0116] Ul user interaction

[0117] S5 sensor signal

Claims

Claims1. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1), adapted to convey an object (9) in a downstream conveying direction (d), the conveyor arrangement (1) comprising:- a plurality of conveyor zones (2), each conveyor zone (2) is adapted to convey an object (9) from an inlet (I) of said conveyor zone (2) to an outlet (O) of said conveyor zone (2),- a plurality of zone controllers (11), adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones (2), wherein each of the zone controllers (11) are adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones (2) in a manner, that in case that an occupying object (9f) is stopped within a downstream conveyor zone (2f), a moving object upstream of said occupying object (9f) is stopped before touching said occupying object, in particular that the moving object may be stopped in a first empty zone (9e) upstream of said occupied zone (9f); characterized in that the zone controllers (11) are adapted to control the conveying speed (v1 , v2, v1 ,5, v0,5) of said upstream moving object (9u,v,y,z,k,l,m,n,o) based on an occupancy status (OS) of said downstream conveyor zone (2f).

2. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the zone controllers (11) are adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones in a manner, that in a high speed mode (HS) of operation the moving object is conveyed at a high speed (v2), wherein the high speed (v2) requires a stopping distance (dx2), which is larger than a length (L2) of a conveyor zone (2e), in particular the first empty zone (2e) in front said occupied zone (2f).

3. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the zone controllers (11) are adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones in a manner,that in case that the occupancy status (OS) of said occupied downstream zone (2f) requires the object (9) to be stopped in an empty zone (2e) upstream of said occupied zone, the speed of said object is reduced before said object (9) is entering said empty zone (2e); in particular wherein said empty zone (2e) is the first empty zone in front of said occupied zone (2f).

4. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the speed of said object (9) is reduced to a low speed (v0,5; v1), where the low speed requires a stopping distance (dx1) which is smaller than a length (L2) of a conveyor zone (2e), in particular said empty zone (2e).

5. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that- a downstream zone controller (11 f) is controlling the operation of said downstream conveyor zone (2f),- at least one upstream zone controller (11a-e) separate to the downstream controller is controlling the operation of an upstream conveyor zone (2f), wherein the controllers are adapted to cooperate in a manner that- an occupancy status (OS) of the downstream conveyor zone (2f) is sent by said downstream zone controller (11 f),- said occupancy status (OS) is received by said one of said upstream zone controllers (11a-e); wherein said receiving upstream zone controller (11a-e) is adapted to adjust the speed of said moving object depending on said received occupancy status (OS).

6. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in case a current occupancy status (OS) of said occupied downstream zone (2f) requires said moving object (9) to be stopped in a zone upstream of the occupied zone, in particular under the assumption that the moving object continues to move at a constant speed, a forecast (F) is generated, whether a future occupancy status (OS) of said occupied zone (2f) still requires said object (9) to be stopped in a zone upstream of the occupied zone (2f),and the controllers are adapted to adjust, in particular reduce, the speed of said moving object based on that forecast (F).

7. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that in case that a forecast (F) of sad occupancy status (OS) of said occupied downstream zone (2f) requires the moving object (9) to be stopped in an empty zone (2e) upstream of said occupied zone, the speed of said object is reduced before said object (9) is entering said empty zone (2e).

8. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the two preceding claims, characterized in that in case that said forecast (F) of said future occupancy status (OS) of said occupied downstream zone (2f) leads to the result, that the occupancy status (OS) is changing to an unoccupied situation within a period of time, the speed of said moving object is adjusted depending on the period of time.

9. A method for configuring a conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the step of providing a set of preferences via a configuring device (20) (21 a, b) in a manner so that an user can select one of said preferences (21 a, b) by an user interaction (U I), wherein based on the selected preferences (21 a, b) the conveyor arrangement (1) is set into a condition to perform a conveying operation selectively in a way, so that- either a fast accumulation of objects within the conveyor zones is optimized,- or an overall throughput of objects within the conveyor zones is optimized.

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