Device for the omnidirectional conveying of flexible conveyed-material units

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveying system module (100) for the omnidirectional conveying of flexible conveyed-material units, in particular flexible conveyed material such as film packaging, comprising a largely rectangular carrier plate (2), wherein the carrier plate (2) can be connected to adjacent carrier plates (2') of further modules (110') or to a module carrier, and at least one omnidirectional conveying wheel (3) individually driven by a motor, wherein the omnidirectional conveying wheel (3) is not a ball or a roller with a smooth surface, wherein the carrier plate (2) has a cutout (4) through which the conveying wheel (3) protrudes upwardly with a height h beyond the conveying plane (B) formed by the carrier plate (2), wherein a plurality of conveying system modules (100) are designed and arranged such that in interaction they can move conveyed-material units in any direction above the conveying plane (B), wherein the carrier plate (2) has, in the border region of the cutout (4), an elevation (5) which is designed circumferentially with respect to the cutout (4), is fixed to the carrier plate and is dimensioned in terms of its height d, measured in the installed position between the surface of the carrier plate (2) as the bottom point and the upper edge (6) of the elevation (5) as the top point, such that d < h. The invention also relates to a corresponding conveying system (110) and to a ring component (8) for forming an elevation (5) according to the invention.

Description

[0001] Device for omnidirectional conveying of flexible material units

[0002] The invention relates to a device for omnidirectional conveying, in particular of flexible conveyed goods units in production environments and in logistics.

[0003] background

[0004] Especially with the ever-increasing popularity of online and mail-order business, and the growing importance of globally interdependent supply chains, logistics and the associated handling of parcels, bags, shipping containers, and other goods are becoming a highly technical and complex task. Modern conveyor systems are therefore an essential component of these material flow systems. A conveyor system generally consists of a plurality of different conveyor devices that interact with each other. These conveyor devices are typically many times larger than the object being conveyed, such as a conveyor belt with endless belts or a driven roller conveyor, on which a large number of objects can be placed and conveyed simultaneously.

[0005] In order to achieve greater variability at high conveying speeds, conveyor systems have been developed that can convey the materials in different directions and are also capable of rotating the materials. Such conveyor systems are also called omnidirectional conveyors. These are not conveyor systems that use a ball as the power-transmitting element. While such conveyors can convey in different directions, they are unreliable in the conveying direction imposed on the materials and are therefore very difficult to precisely control in relation to the conveying direction. The same applies to conveyor systems that use a roller as the conveying wheel, whereby the roller is mounted so that it can rotate in the conveying plane using an additional mechanism or drive.Here too, in addition to the significantly higher structural complexity required to enable the rotation of the individual rollers, control is cumbersome, inaccurate, and often limited in direction because the servomotors of the rotary drive can only be controlled sluggishly and inaccurately. An example of a conveyor system with omnidirectional conveyor wheels as described above, which is constructed either as a large conveyor table or as a modular conveyor system made up of conveyor units that are small in relation to the usual material to be conveyed, is known from DE 102012014181 A1. A central component of such omnidirectional conveyor systems are the individually driven omnidirectional conveyor wheels, also called omnidirectional wheels, which act as transport units and are mounted immovably to a carrier plate. In the case of omnidirectional wheels (also known as omnidirectional wheels or omniwheels), the running surface of the wheel consists of rollers orBarrel bodies whose axes of rotation are at an angle to the axis of rotation of the main wheel. This allows for low-friction relative movement of the wheel in the axial direction. The rollers are usually arranged at a right angle to the axis of rotation of the main wheel, as described in US 3789947 A, but there are also wheels with the rollers arranged at a 45° angle (also called Mecanum wheels). Therefore, unlike comparable conveyor units such as balls, rollers, or belts, omnidirectional conveyor wheels do not have a uniform, smooth surface. Instead, they have elements that move against each other during operation, namely the roller bodies on the carrier wheel. This design is very effective for conveying materials with bending-resistant, rather rigid bases or walls, such as cardboard packaging, trays, or rigid plastic packaging.The omnidirectional wheels are usually embedded in cutouts in a carrier plate or mounted on an open frame / rack, so that they protrude from the plane of the carrier plate or frame / rack. The rotational axis of the omnidirectional wheel is usually below the conveyor plane. The cutouts must be dimensioned so that the conveyor wheels can rotate freely and installation and removal is possible without great effort. Therefore, it is essential that a clearance or gap is maintained between the frame / rack or between the edge of the cutout and the conveyor wheel.

[0006] This design has proven to be very efficient and high-throughput for conveyed goods with a flat, largely rigid base. However, such omnidirectional conveyor wheel designs have occasionally proven problematic for flexible packaging such as shipping bags or pouches, especially thin-walled plastic bags. Such packaging is increasingly being used in modern logistics because it has a low dead weight and also offers significantly better space utilization relative to the transported goods. Furthermore, flexible packaging can be stacked more densely. These problems arise primarily with regard to the aspects of omnidirectional conveyor systems described below.On the one hand, when conveying flexible packaging with omnidirectional conveyor systems, the problem can arise that insufficient drive forces are transferred from the conveyor wheels to the very flexible materials if the contact area of ​​the simultaneously applied conveyor wheels becomes too small in relation to the total area of ​​the packaging.

[0007] On the other hand, the flexible packaging can be drawn into the conveyor system and become snagged or entangled there. This applies both to the gap between the carrier plate and the conveyor wheel and, to a lesser extent, to the rollers or barrels of the omnidirectional conveyor wheel itself, which move relative to the main conveyor wheel. Since the flexible packaging does not always maintain a stable shape on the carrier plate and can also exhibit creases or folds, such snagging occurs not only in the area of ​​the packaging ends but can also occur in central areas of the conveyed goods. In the vast majority of cases, however, this leads to a forced stop of the conveyor system, and the drawn-in shipping bags must be removed manually.

[0008] Several approaches have been proposed to solve these problems. A first approach would be to reduce the gap between the omnidirectional conveyor wheel and the carrier plate. This would have to be taken into account in terms of the conveyor wheel's assembly and serviceability. However, tests have shown that such a measure actually proved to be a hindrance, resulting in increased bag feeds, as they become caught even more quickly in the remaining, smaller gap.

[0009] Another approach to the alleged solution to the problem is described in CN 110683311 A. Free-running, non-driven support balls are provided in the carrier plate, which are intended to facilitate the movement of the bags across the gap between the conveyor wheels. This arrangement of support balls, although without mentioning any effect on shipping bags, is also described in DE 102012014181 A1. However, this approach also proved unsuccessful in tests. The pliable shipping bags were drawn in to the same extent and became entangled as in a conveyor system that does not have the passive support balls.

[0010] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device which makes it possible to efficiently transport even flexible conveying units using an omnidirectional conveying device, wherein the advantages of omnidirectional conveying systems, such as the ability to convey and rotate packaging simultaneously in one direction, to convey different packaging in a targeted manner in different directions, and to enable a very high throughput with extremely low space requirements, can still be maintained.

[0011] The object is achieved according to the invention by a device according to claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and the detailed description.

[0012] The subject matter of the present invention is a conveyor system module for the omnidirectional conveying of flexible conveyed goods units comprising a largely angularly designed carrier plate, wherein the carrier plate can be connected to adjacent carrier plates of further modules or to a module carrier, and at least one omnidirectional conveyor wheel driven individually by a motor, wherein the omnidirectional conveyor wheel is not a ball or roller with a smooth surface, wherein the carrier plate has a cutout through which the conveyor wheel projects upwards above the conveying plane B formed by the carrier plate with a height h, wherein a plurality of conveyor system modules are designed and arranged in such a way that they can cooperate to move conveyed goods units in any direction above the conveying plane B.

[0013] According to the invention, the carrier plate has a raised portion in the edge region of the cutout which is circumferential relative to the cutout, which is fixed to the carrier plate and whose height d, measured in the installed position between the surface of the carrier plate as the base point and the upper edge of the raised portion as the head point, is dimensioned such that d < h. In particular, it is a device for conveying flexible materials such as shipping bags, polybags, paper bags, padded shipping envelopes, film pouches and, above all, film-wrapped textiles, which are often repackaged with particularly thin-walled films. The device comprises a carrier plate which, on the one hand, serves as a frame and fastening element for the motors, control and communication elements, power supply and conveyor wheel(s), and, on the other hand, represents a flat support surface for the material units to be conveyed.The support plates of several modules can be configured together as a large-format table, spanning the entire omnidirectional conveyor system in both length and width. Likewise, the support plate can also be smaller than the usual shipping bag sizes and, for example, comprise only one, two, three, or four, or even multiple, conveyor wheels. In such a case, the entire conveyor system is composed of a multitude of such units or modules.

[0014] The carrier plate is preferably largely angular. This particularly characterizes the overall geometry of the outer edges of the carrier plate within the meaning of the invention, disregarding recesses, projections, or other deviations in the area of ​​the outer edges. Examples of suitable angular geometries are triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal.

[0015] This has the advantage that such a geometry can be more easily integrated into an overall system, for example with regard to the connection of feed and discharge lines for the conveyed material units. In the case of a small-sized carrier plate for a modular structure of the overall conveyor system, a largely angular carrier plate serves in particular to create a conveying plane that is as flat as possible together with the carrier plates of the adjacent modules. Therefore, a carrier plate geometry that allows a surface to be easily formed by placing the adjacent plate on top of it without interruptions, such as a triangular, square, pentagonal or hexagonal geometry, is particularly suitable. The carrier plate can preferably be made of metal or plastic. It is particularly preferably made of a bending-resistant metal sheet.The carrier plate can be connected to adjacent carrier plates of other modules and / or to a module carrier, creating an omnidirectional conveying system. The surface of the carrier plate forms the conveying plane B, on which the conveyed product units are moved and conveyed.

[0016] Particularly in the case of a carrier plate for a modular conveyor system structure, in which a module has between two and four, preferably three, conveyor wheels, the carrier plate comprises connecting devices in the region of its flanks for connecting to adjacent modules. These can be provided as plug-in connection devices, screw connection devices, projections, or screw holes for connecting pieces. In particular, the connecting devices can be designed to prevent accidental, impermissible alignment, for example, with complementary projections between flanks of a first and a second carrier plate, in that the first and second projections are designed in particular inversely to one another and thus provide a positive connection.

[0017] The device according to the invention further comprises at least one omnidirectional conveyor wheel individually driven by a motor. An omnidirectional conveyor wheel is a special type of wheel capable of moving in all directions within a plane. It consists of several small roller bodies arranged in a specific pattern on a driven carrier wheel to enable 360-degree movement within a plane. This type of wheel is frequently used in robotics and material handling because it offers high maneuverability and allows movement in tight spaces or easy cornering. It is important to note that the exact design and operation of an omnidirectional conveyor wheel can vary depending on the application. Examples of omnidirectional conveyor wheels include omnidirectional wheels, also called omniwheels, especially double omnidirectional wheels, and Mecanum wheels.An omnidirectional conveyor wheel is preferably a double omnidirectional wheel, particularly preferably a so-called omniwheel, or a multiple omnidirectional wheel. The omnidirectional conveyor wheel is not a ball or roller with a smooth or closed surface. According to the present invention, it is provided that each omnidirectional conveyor wheel is driven by its own drive motor. As a result, the conveyor wheels of a module and / or the conveyor wheels of adjacent modules can be driven differently or in the same way so that the goods to be conveyed can move freely in the conveying plane or above the conveying plane. It is further preferably provided that the omnidirectional conveyor wheel is mounted immovably in its orientation relative to the carrier plate. In the context of the present invention, the omnidirectional effect of the conveyor wheel is not achieved in particular by the wheel moving in its conveying direction orThis requires rotation, as is the case with many state-of-the-art systems of this type. The movement of the conveyor wheels relative to the horizontal plane of the carrier plate is usually too imprecise and cumbersome, and the control system proves to be complex and cumbersome. This would lead to a significant loss of conveyor performance. Rather, the effect is achieved through the special design as an omnidirectional wheel and the coordination with the other omnidirectional conveyor wheels of the conveyor system.

[0018] The support plate has a cutout through which the conveyor wheel protrudes upwards above the conveying plane B formed by the support plate with a height h. The height h is measured in the sense of the invention as the distance between the surface of the support plate as the base point and the upper edge or the highest point of the conveyor wheel as the head point.

[0019] The support plate has a raised portion in the edge area of ​​the cutout which is formed circumferentially relative to the cutout, which is fixed to the support plate and which is dimensioned in its height d, measured in the installed position between the surface of the support plate as the base point and the upper edge of the raised portion as the head point, such that d < h.

[0020] A protrusion in the sense of the present invention refers to a raised or protruding structure or surface fixed on the surface of the carrier plate. In other words, the protrusion is immobile in relation to the carrier plate. This prevents flexible materials to be conveyed from being drawn in and stuck in the transition area due to the relative movement of the protrusion to the carrier plate. The protrusion does not have to have a constant height, but can have different heights at different points on the circumference. This protrusion can in particular serve to guide and / or support the materials to be conveyed. The protrusion can have any geometry and can, for example, be shaped with a continuous or discontinuous gradient, or be angular or rounded in sections. The protrusion is formed in the edge area of ​​the conveyor wheel cutout of the carrier plate. In other words, the protrusion is on or in the area of ​​the conveyor wheel cutout.placed integrally in the carrier plate and thus forms a level difference between the conveying plane B determined by the surface of the carrier plate and the contact point of the conveyor wheel with the conveyed product unit. The elevation runs circumferentially to the cutout in the carrier plate for the conveyor wheel. The term circumferential is broadly defined in the sense of the present invention and includes not only shapes that completely enclose the circumference of the cutout, but also elevations that do not completely enclose or frame the cutout and thus do not form a closed ring. This therefore also includes, for example, designs that form an elevation on only three sides of an essentially rectangular cutout, but not on the fourth side, or which, for example, have smaller or larger missing areas of the entire circumference.

[0021] Overall, the elevation height (d) is smaller than the overhang height (h) of the conveyor wheel. This ensures that the conveyor wheel always protrudes above the upper edge of the elevation.

[0022] A conveyor system module for the omnidirectional conveying of conveyed goods units as described above makes it possible to convey even flexible goods units without them being drawn into the conveyor system and causing a jam. At the same time, it is ensured that the conveyor system transfers sufficient forces from the conveyor wheels to the flexible goods units to ensure efficient and continuous conveying. With an arrangement according to the present invention, the properties originally considered incompatible—reducing or eliminating the drawing of shipping bags into the conveyor system—and the efficient conveying performance of the shipping bags for omnidirectional conveying are thus combined, and the previously existing contradiction in addressing the problems is overcome.The raised portion provided according to the invention, particularly with its upper edge, prevents the flexible conveyed material units from being drawn into the non-closed surface of the conveyor wheels on the one hand and into the gap between the conveyor wheel and the edge of the cutout in the carrier plate on the other. At the same time, the contact pressure on the conveyor wheels is sufficiently high for the frictional engagement between the conveyed material unit and the wheel to achieve the desired propulsion.

[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, the height d is between 50% and 80% of the height h, preferably between 60% and 70% of the height h, and particularly preferably approximately 2 / 3 of the height h.

[0024] In the above-mentioned areas, there is an optimization of the prevention of the insertion of flexible shipping bags on the one hand and the propulsion effect of the conveyor wheels on the shipping bags on the other hand.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, the elevation is ramp-shaped with a continuous gradient, convex with a discontinuous gradient or step-shaped.

[0026] In general, the raised portion can have any geometry, from its base on the surface of the support plate to its top, which is preferably aligned with the edge of the cutout in the support plate for the conveyor wheel. The raised portion is preferably designed with a continuous gradient from base to top, resulting in a ramp-like profile. This allows the raised portion to guide the portion toward and away from the conveyor wheel without any avoidable additional hindrance to the movement of the conveyed material units. Furthermore, simple raised portion geometries are possible, which are easy to manufacture.In a design in which the head point is aligned with the edge of the cutout in the carrier plate for the conveyor wheel, the gap along the radial circumference of the conveyor wheel between the conveyor wheel and the cutout edge is smaller than the gap between the conveyor wheel and the head point of the elevation. This design can also be referred to as a collar-like configuration, a circumferential collar, or a crown-like configuration. Due to the change in the gap width, initially drawn-in areas of a shipping envelope or packaging bag can be released again by the movement of the conveyed material, thus achieving a supporting effect for the improved conveying of flexible conveyed product units.

[0027] In one embodiment of the invention, a horizontally extending end region or one or more radii is formed on the upper edge of the raised portion. This can advantageously influence the power transmission from the conveyor wheel to the conveyed material unit, since the contact surface of the flexible conveyed material unit assumes a defined, smooth profile due to the provision of the horizontally extending end region or one or more radii.

[0028] The horizontal end region of the elevation, for example, is between approximately 0.05 cm and 2.0 cm wide. The horizontal end region either runs circumferentially or, preferably, not entirely circumferentially, and in particular along a longitudinal extension of the elevation.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the elevation is formed integrally in the carrier plate.

[0030] In other words, this refers to a raised portion that is formed entirely from the material of the carrier plate through forming processes such as bending, deep drawing, hydroforming, etc. This advantageously results in a seamless transition from the flat areas of the carrier plate to the raised portion.

[0031] Alternatively, it is equally possible to form a raised portion integrated into the carrier plate, but from a different material, such as plastic, for example by injection molding.

[0032] In an alternative embodiment of the conveyor system module according to the invention, the elevation is designed as a ring that can be releasably fixed on the carrier plate.

[0033] In contrast to the previous embodiment, in which the elevation is formed integrally from the carrier plate, according to the alternative embodiment, it is designed as a detachably fixable, individual component, so that even existing conveyor modules installed in conveyor systems without elevations according to the invention can be adapted for conveying flexible material units by attaching the additional component. Such a subsequently attachable crown component is also called a retrofit component. In a further embodiment of the conveyor system module of the invention, a conveyor system module comprises two, three, four, or a plurality of individually driven conveyor wheels.

[0034] Particularly preferably, the conveyor system module is configured with three individually driven conveyor wheels aligned in a triangular arrangement. Reference is made in this regard to German patent applications DE 10 2012 014 181 and DE 10 2012 025 939. According to the invention, each cutout of the support plate has a raised portion in the edge region, which is circumferential relative to the cutout and whose height d, measured in the installed position between the surface of the support plate as the base point and the upper edge of the raised portion as the head point, is dimensioned such that d < h.

[0035] This makes it possible to assemble a modular omnidirectional conveyor system that can be quickly adapted to changing topology requirements and operates with very little space requirements. This system is easy to control due to the several, in particular three, individually driven conveyor wheels.

[0036] In this embodiment, the elevations are preferably each designed as a component that can be releasably fixed to the carrier plate.

[0037] In other words, the raised portion is designed as a clip-on or screw-on component that can be secured preferably in the area of ​​the flanks or corners, and more preferably in the edge area of ​​the conveyor wheel cutouts, of the carrier plate. In this configuration, the carrier plate can be designed as a flat, level plate, which simplifies production. The additionally attachable and detachably secured component can be manufactured from plastic as an injection-molded component or through simple additive manufacturing. In this way, existing conveyor modules can also be retrofitted for the conveyance of flexible materials.For the new production of conveyor system modules according to the invention, the design of the elevation as a detachably fixable component can, on the one hand, expand the usability, since the elevation component can be attached or removed depending on the nature of the materials being conveyed, and on the other hand, the module can be produced with very low additional costs, since no changes to the manufacture of the carrier plate are necessary. The elevation components are uniformly adapted to the cutouts in the carrier plate, which are always of the same size, and to the conveyor wheels, which are always the same, and can therefore be manufactured in series, which additionally saves costs. In the present embodiment, it is provided that, for example, a detachably fixable component is designed for only one cutout in the carrier plate.

[0038] Alternatively, in a preferred variant of the design, three elevations are formed as a coherent component that can be releasably fixed to the carrier plate.

[0039] For example, a detachably fixable component can also be formed in such a way that it provides two, three, four or a plurality of elevations in a connected component, the number of which is coordinated with the number of conveyor wheels per module. Preferably, the component has three elevations coordinated with the three intended conveyor wheels per module. For this purpose, the elevation areas can be connected, for example, with webs. Such a connected component can also have a base plate that can be placed on the actual carrier plate and fixed in place. The corresponding elevations are then formed from the base plate in the installed position in the edge area of ​​the cutouts in the carrier plate, in particular in one piece.

[0040] The component may be provided with tongues, tabs, clips, plug connections, cutouts or holes for fixing to the carrier plate.

[0041] The component is preferably made of metal or plastic, or a combination thereof. For example, the component's base body is made of metal, and sliding surfaces such as the base and / or tip are formed of or provided with a plastic that preferably has a lower coefficient of friction than the material of the base body. In particular, the component is manufactured from a plastic by injection molding or an additive process. Plastics with a low coefficient of friction can offer advantages here. Corresponding sheet metal attachments are also conceivable, which are produced by sheet metal forming processes such as bending, deep drawing, hydroforming, etc.

[0042] The invention further relates to a conveyor system for the omnidirectional conveying of units of conveyed goods, comprising a carrier plate and a plurality of omnidirectional conveyor wheels, each individually driven by a motor, wherein the omnidirectional conveyor wheels are not a ball or roller with a smooth surface, wherein the carrier plate has cutouts through which the conveyor wheels each protrude upwards above the conveying plane B formed by the carrier plate with a height h, wherein the plurality of conveyor wheels is arranged such that they can cooperatively carry out a movement of units of conveyed goods in any direction above the conveying plane B, wherein the carrier plate in the edge region of the cutouts has a respective elevation which is designed to be circumferential with respect to the cutout, which is fixed on the carrier plate and has a height d such thatin the installed position measured between the surface of the support plate as the base point and the upper edge of the elevation as the head point, is dimensioned such that d < h.,

[0043] This embodiment of the invention does not involve a modular design of an omnidirectional conveyor system with interacting conveyor modules that are dimensioned smaller than the conveyed product units. Rather, this embodiment of the invention relates to a conveyor system that is dimensioned larger than the conveyed product units, with a uniform carrier plate in which a plurality of omnidirectional conveyor wheels are arranged.

[0044] The above statements regarding the details of the conveyor wheels, the cutouts and the elevations located in the edge area of ​​the cutouts also apply accordingly to this design.

[0045] The invention also relates to the use of a conveyor system module according to the invention or a conveyor system according to the invention for conveying flexible units of conveyed goods, in particular goods packaged in shipping bags or foils, preferably textile goods. The invention further relates to a rim component designed for releasable fixation in the region of one or more cutouts of a carrier plate of a conveyor system module for the omnidirectional conveying of units of conveyed goods, comprising a largely angular carrier plate, wherein the carrier plate is connectable to adjacent carrier plates of further modules or to a module carrier, and at least one omnidirectional conveyor wheel driven individually by a motor, wherein the carrier plate has a cutout through which the conveyor wheel protrudes upwards above the conveying plane B formed by the carrier plate with a height h.wherein a plurality of conveyor system modules are designed and arranged such that they can cooperatively move units of conveyed goods in any direction above the conveying plane B, wherein the carrier plate has a raised portion in the edge region of the cutout, or of a conveyor system for the omnidirectional conveying of units of conveyed goods comprising a carrier plate and a plurality of omnidirectional conveyor wheels, each individually driven by a motor, wherein the carrier plate has cutouts through which the conveyor wheels protrude upwards above the conveying plane B formed by the carrier plate with a height h, wherein the plurality of conveyor wheels are arranged such that they can cooperatively move units of conveyed goods in any direction above the conveying plane B, wherein the carrier plate has a raised portion in the edge region of the cutout.

[0046] According to the invention, the ring component, after being fixed to the carrier plate, forms the elevation which is circumferential with respect to the cutout and which is dimensioned in its height d, measured in the installed position between the surface of the carrier plate as the base point and the upper edge of the elevation as the head point, such that its height d is smaller than the projection h of the conveyor wheels over the conveyor plane B formed by the carrier plate.

[0047] A rim component according to the invention partially or completely encloses the cutout for a conveyor wheel in a support plate and preferably has a basic shape corresponding to the conveyor wheel cutout in a support plate of a conveyor system module or a conveyor system. To form an elevation around the conveyor wheel cutout, the rim component comprises a flat base region that rests on the support plate and extends distally from the edge region of the cutout, as well as a rising or raised region that builds up vertically from the base region. In a preferred embodiment, the rim component is designed with a substantially triangular cross-section. This results in a continuous gradient of the rising or raised region towards the head point of the rim component, which can be arranged on the inner edge region of the rim component.In a preferred embodiment, although not mandatory, the head point of the elevation is positioned flush with the inner edge of the crown component, resulting in a roughly right-angled triangle cross-section for the crown component. Likewise, the head point, as the end point of the slope, can also be located in front of the inner edge area, so that a horizontally extending area adjoins the head point up to the inner edge of the crown component.

[0048] The height d of the ring component is dimensioned such that, in the installed position, it is smaller than the projection height h of the conveyor wheel above the conveying plane formed by the carrier plate. This ensures that sufficient power is transferred from the conveyor wheels to the conveyed product units to enable movement in any direction of the conveying plane.

[0049] In other words, the height d of the ring component is adjusted in relation to the projection height h of the conveyor wheel, which protrudes upwards from the conveyor plane through the cutout in the carrier plate.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment of the crown component according to the invention, the height d is between 50% and 80% of the height h, preferably between 60% and 70% of the height h, and is particularly preferably approximately 2 / 3 of the height h.

[0051] In other words, the raised portion is designed as a clip-on or screw-on crown component, which can preferably be fixed in the area of ​​the flanks or corners, and more preferably in the edge area of ​​the conveyor wheel cutouts, of the carrier plate. In this configuration, the carrier plate can be designed as a flat, level plate, which simplifies production. The additionally attachable and detachably fixable crown component can be manufactured from plastic as an injection-molded component or through simple additive manufacturing. In this way, existing conveyor modules can also be retrofitted for the conveyance of flexible materials.For the new production of conveyor system modules according to the invention, the design of the elevation as a detachably fixable ring component can, on the one hand, expand the usability, since the elevation component can be attached or removed depending on the nature of the materials being conveyed, and on the other hand, the module can be produced with very low additional costs, since no changes to the manufacturing of the carrier plate are necessary. The ring components are uniformly adapted to the cutouts in the carrier plate, which are always of the same size, and to the conveyor wheels, which are always the same, and can therefore be manufactured in series, which additionally saves costs. In the present embodiment, it is provided that, for example, a detachably fixable ring component is designed for only one cutout in the carrier plate.

[0052] Alternatively, in a preferred variant of the design, three elevations are formed as a coherent crown component that can be releasably fixed to the carrier plate.

[0053] For example, a detachably fixable crown component can also be formed in such a way that it provides two, three, four or a plurality of elevations in a connected crown component, the number of which is coordinated with the number of conveyor wheels per module. The crown component preferably has three elevations coordinated with the three provided conveyor wheels per module. For this purpose, the elevation areas can be connected, for example, with webs. Such a connected crown component can also have a base plate that can be placed on the actual carrier plate and fixed in place. The corresponding elevations are then formed from the base plate in the installed position in the edge area of ​​the cutouts in the carrier plate, in particular in one piece.

[0054] Tongues, tabs, clips, plug connections, cutouts or holes can be provided on the crown component for fixing to the carrier plate.

[0055] The rim component is preferably made of metal or plastic, or a combination thereof. For example, the rim component's base body is made of metal, and sliding surfaces such as the base and / or head are formed of or provided with a plastic that preferably has a lower coefficient of friction than the material of the base body. In particular, the rim component is manufactured from a plastic by injection molding or an additive process. Plastics with a low coefficient of friction can offer advantages here. Corresponding sheet metal attachments are also conceivable, which are produced by sheet metal forming processes such as bending, deep drawing, hydroforming, etc.

[0056] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. These show:

[0057] Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective top view of a conveyor system module according to the invention in one embodiment,

[0058] Fig. 2 shows a highly schematic cross-sectional view of a detailed section of a conveyor system module according to the invention,

[0059] Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective top view of a conveyor system module according to the invention in a further embodiment,

[0060] Fig. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a section of a conveyor system formed from a plurality of conveyor system modules according to the invention,

[0061] Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a crown component according to the present invention in one embodiment, and

[0062] Fig. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a crown component according to the present invention in a further embodiment.

[0063] Detailed description

[0064] The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be noted that various aspects are described, each of which can be used individually or in combination; that is, any aspect can be used with different embodiments of the invention, unless explicitly presented as a mere alternative.

[0065] Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity, reference will generally only be made to one entity in the following. Unless explicitly stated, the invention may also comprise several of the entities in question. Therefore, the use of the words "a," "an," and "another" is to be understood merely as an indication that at least one entity is used in a simple embodiment.

[0066] Figure 1 shows a highly schematic perspective top view of a conveyor system module 100 for the omnidirectional conveying of, in particular, flexible material units according to the present invention. The conveyor system module 100 comprises a largely angularly designed carrier plate 2, wherein the carrier plate 2 can be connected to adjacent carrier plates (2', not shown here) of further modules (110, not shown here) or to a module carrier. The conveyor system module 100 in the embodiment shown comprises three omnidirectional conveyor wheels 3, which are individually driven by a motor and are designed as double wheels. The conveyor wheels are omnidirectional conveyor wheels, in this case so-called omniwheels, each with a carrier wheel and roller bodies rotatably mounted thereon. Each conveyor wheel, here each double wheel, is individually driven, and the motors are individually controllable.The support plate 2 has a cutout 4 for each conveyor wheel 3, through which the conveyor wheel 3 projects upwards above the conveying plane B formed by the surface of the support plate 2 with a height h. Example dimensions for the height h are projections in the range between 5 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 7.5 mm and 25 mm. A plurality of identical conveyor system modules 100 is designed and can be arranged such that they can cooperate to move units of conveyed goods in any direction above the conveying plane B. In the edge region of the cutout 4, the support plate 2 has a raised portion 5. The raised portion 5 is circumferential with respect to the cutout 4 and, in the embodiment shown, completely enclosing it. It is formed from a releasably attachable ring component. The raised portion 5 is fixed to the support plate 2.The geometry of its central opening follows the geometry of the cutout 4, and the head point 6 of the elevation is aligned with the edge region of the cutout 4. The elevation 5 extends from the head point 6, sloping down to the surface of the carrier plate 2, forming a level difference with the conveying plane B. As shown in Figure 1, not all leg regions of the essentially rectangular elevation have the same gradient. In particular, the leg oriented toward the outer edge region of the carrier plate 2 has a greater gradient than the legs oriented toward the surface of the carrier plate 2.

[0067] According to the invention, the elevation 5 is dimensioned in such a way that its height d, measured in the installed position between the surface of the carrier plate 2 as the base point and the upper edge 6 of the elevation 5 as the head point, is d < h. The conveyor wheel 3 therefore always projects above the elevation 5. The gradients of the elevation are selected such that the elevation 5 continues to allow efficient movement of the conveyed goods units by the conveyor wheels. For example, the ratio of the height d of the elevation 5 to the projection height h of the conveyor wheel 3 is between 50% and 80% of the height h, preferably between 60% and 70% of the height h, and is particularly preferably approximately 2 / 3 of the height h. For example, the height d of the elevation can be between 2 mm and 25 mm, preferably between 3.5 mm and 15 mm.

[0068] Due to the curvature of the conveyor wheel 3, the elevation 5 in the edge area of ​​the cutout 4 results in the gap along the radial circumference of the conveyor wheel between the inner edge of the elevation 5 or between the head point 6 of the elevation 5 and the nearest point of the conveyor wheel 3 being larger than the gap between the cutout edge of the carrier plate 2 and the nearest point of the conveyor wheel 3. It has been observed that this circumstance contributes to the fact that particularly flexible conveyed goods such as film packaging or flexible shipping bags can initially be drawn into the gap in some areas, but then free themselves again due to the movement of the conveyor wheel 3, thus preventing jamming in the gap, which would lead to a standstill in the conveying process.

[0069] Figure 2 shows a highly schematic cross-sectional view along the line AA from Figure 1. The horizontally running carrier plate 2 is shown here in the area of ​​the cutout 4 through which the conveyor wheel 3 protrudes upwards above the surface of the carrier plate 2. The projection height h of the conveyor wheel 3 above the surface of the carrier plate 2 is shown and is measured from the surface of the carrier plate 2 as the base point to the highest point of the conveyor wheel 3 as the head point. The projection height h is smaller than the radius of the conveyor wheel 3 because the axis of the conveyor wheel 3 is arranged below the carrier plate. The holder for the axis of the conveyor wheel 3 is also shown schematically. In this illustration, the conveyor wheel 3 is only shown schematically as a wheel with a closed circumference, but the conveyor wheel 3 corresponds to the Omniwheel double wheel from Figure 1.The elevation 5 is essentially triangular in cross-section and has a height d, measured from the surface of the carrier plate 2 to its head point 6. In the embodiment shown, the head point is aligned with the edge of the cutout 4. This is not mandatory; in other embodiments, the head point can also be reached before the edge of the cutout 4, and a horizontally extending region adjoins the head point 6 in the direction of the inner edge of the elevation.

[0070] As shown in the illustration, the plates can be used as retrofit attachments. This means that all existing systems can be retrofitted with them. There are fittings along the outer edges that allow for interlocking with adjacent modules. Although the elevation 5 is shown as a solid ring in the simplified illustration shown here, the elevation can also be designed as a hollow body or as a lightweight component, in particular without the support surface on the surface of the support plate 2 occupying the entire width of the elevation.

[0071] Figure 3 shows a conveyor system module 100 according to the invention in a further embodiment. As in the embodiment of Figure 1, the module 100 has a substantially angular support plate 2 with three conveyor wheels 3, 3', 3" arranged at an angle to one another. Here, too, the conveyor wheels are designed as omniwheel double wheels and protrude from the conveying plane B formed by the surface of the support plate 2 through corresponding cutouts 4 in the support plate with a projection height h. In the edge region of each of the cutouts 4, a raised portion 5, 5', 5" is arranged circumferentially. The raised portion 5 is designed in a ring-like manner with non-identical leg regions. One leg region of the raised portion has a horizontally aligned region 7, so that on this leg, the head point 6 of the raised portion is not first reached in alignment with the inner edge of the raised portion. The leg regions of the raised portion 5 do not necessarily have the same pitch, as shown in Figure 3.Likewise, the gradient of the elevation 5 does not have to be continuous. Figure 4 shows, in a schematic cutout representation in a slightly perspective top view, a conveyor system formed from a plurality of conveyor system modules 100 according to an embodiment of the invention analogous to the embodiment in Figure 1. Each module 100 has a substantially square support plate 2, in which three omnidirectional conveyor wheels 3 are arranged such that they can cooperate to cause units of conveyed goods to move in any direction of the conveying plane. The conveyor wheels 3 are arranged in cutouts 4 in the support plate. In the edge region of each of the cutouts 4, an elevation 5 is provided, as already described above with regard to Figure 1.

[0072] In a further embodiment of the invention, a conveyor system can be constructed not modularly with interacting individual modules 100, but with a continuous carrier plate 2. In this case, the carrier plate has a corresponding plurality of conveyor wheels 3, each of which is surrounded by a circumferential elevation 5 as described above.

[0073] Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a ring component 8 according to the present invention. The ring component 8 has a substantially rectangular basic shape that extends around a central opening 12. The geometry of the opening 12 roughly replicates the shape of the corresponding cutout for a conveyor wheel in a carrier plate. In the edge region of the opening 12, the ring component has vertical edges 13. To form an elevation 5, the ring component 8 comprises circumferentially inclined sections, the outer edges of which rest on the surface of the carrier plate of a conveyor system module or a conveyor system. The inclined sections are designed with a continuous, but not identical, incline.The leg on the left side of the component shown, for example, is designed with a greater gradient than the other legs, so that the head point 6 of the elevation 5 is reached before the inner edge and is adjoined by a horizontal area 7. This provides additional support for a unit of conveyed goods, and folds or bumps previously formed in pliable conveyed goods are smoothed out. In the lower section, the ring component 8 has projections 11 for snapping into or engaging with the carrier plate. In addition, further projections or locking devices can be provided for connecting to carrier plates of adjacent modules. The ring component shown is preferably not solid but designed as a lightweight component, so that it is fixed to the carrier plate in particular by the projections 11 and the outer edges.In the installed position, a ring component 8 is mounted in the edge area of ​​a cutout for a conveyor wheel and improves the conveying of flexible materials, such as shipping bags or film packaging, while rigid packaging can continue to be conveyed equally well. This allows even mixed cohorts of materials to be moved safely and efficiently.

[0074] Figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a ring component 8a according to the invention. In contrast to the embodiment in Figure 5, the ring component 8a shown here has a base plate 9 which supports the elevations 5. The basic shape of the base plate 9 essentially follows the geometry of the carrier plate 2 of a conveyor system module and can be detachably fastened to it by resting on it and / or screwing it on it. The base plate 9 has projections 11 on its underside for engaging in the cutouts of the carrier plate of the conveyor system module. Corresponding to the cutouts in the carrier plate for the conveyor wheels, the ring component 8a has openings 12 through which the conveyor wheels can protrude upwards. The elevations 5 are formed circumferentially in the edge region of the openings and can be designed either as one piece with the base plate 9 or as an individual add-on ring.The illustrated design of the elevations 5 corresponds to the design of corresponding elevations in Figures 1 and 4. In particular, the elevations have a head point 6 aligned with the edge of the openings and sloped areas on the legs of the elevations, which are continuous in some sections, but have different dimensions in the edge area of ​​the base plate than in the leg areas facing the surface of the base plate. The base plate further comprises projections 10 on its outer edge areas, which enable the attachment of adjacent conveyor system modules.

[0075] With the illustrated ring components 8 and 8a, it is also possible to equip existing modules or conveyor systems to optimize the conveyance of flexible materials. The ring component 8 is designed for retrofitting around a single conveyor wheel, while a ring component 8a can be retrofitted in a single step to create a complete conveyor module, particularly one with three angularly arranged conveyor wheels.

Claims

Claims 1. Conveyor system module (100) for the omnidirectional conveying of flexible conveyed goods units, comprising a largely angularly designed carrier plate (2), wherein the carrier plate (2) can be connected to adjacent carrier plates (2') of further modules (110') or to a module carrier, and at least one omnidirectional conveying wheel (3) driven individually by a motor, wherein the omnidirectional conveying wheel (3) is not a ball or roller with a smooth surface, wherein the carrier plate (2) has a cutout (4) through which the conveying wheel (3) projects upwards above the conveying plane (B) formed by the carrier plate (2) with a height h, wherein a plurality of conveyor system modules (100) are designed and arranged such that they can cooperatively carry out a movement of conveyed goods units in any direction above the conveying plane (B), characterized in thatthat the support plate (2) has a raised portion (5) in the edge region of the cutout (4) which is formed circumferentially relative to the cutout (4), which is fixed to the support plate (2) and which is dimensioned in its height d, measured in the installed position between the surface of the support plate (2) as the base point and the upper edge (6) of the raised portion (5) as the head point, such that d < h.

2. Conveyor system module according to claim 1, wherein the height d is between 50% and 80% of the height h, preferably between 60% and 70% of the height h, and particularly preferably approximately 2 / 3 of the height h.

3. Conveyor system module according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the elevation (5) is ramp-shaped with a continuous gradient, convex with a discontinuous gradient or step-shaped.

4. Conveyor system module according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a horizontally extending end region (7) or one or more radii is formed on the upper edge of the elevation (5).

5. Conveyor system module according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the elevation (5) is formed integrally in the carrier plate (2).

6. Conveyor system module according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the elevation (5) is designed as a ring that can be releasably fixed on the carrier plate (2).

7. Conveyor system module according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a conveyor system module (100) comprises two, three, four or a plurality of individually driven conveyor wheels (3, 3', 3").

8. Conveyor system module according to claim 7, wherein the elevations (5, 5', 5") are each designed as a component (8) that can be releasably fixed to the carrier plate (2).

9. Conveyor system module according to claim 7, wherein three elevations (5, 5', 5") are designed as a coherent component (8a) which can be releasably fixed to the carrier plate (2).

10. Conveyor system module according to one of claims 8 to 9, wherein tongues, tabs, clips, plug connections, cutouts or bores are provided on the component (8) for fixing to the carrier plate (2).

11. Conveyor system module according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the component (8) is made of metal or a plastic or a combination thereof.

12. Conveyor system module according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein an omnidirectional conveyor wheel (3) is a double omnidirectional wheel, preferably a so-called omniwheel, or a multiple omnidirectional wheel.

13. Conveyor system (120) for the omnidirectional conveying of flexible conveyed goods units, comprising a carrier plate (2), and a plurality of omnidirectional conveying wheels (3, 3', 3", ...) each driven individually by a motor, wherein the omnidirectional conveying wheels (3) are not a ball or roller with a smooth surface, wherein the carrier plate (2) has cutouts (4, 4', 4", ...) through which the conveying wheels (3, 3', 3", ...) protrude upwards above the conveying plane (B) formed by the carrier plate (2) with a height h, wherein the plurality of conveying wheels (3, 3', 3", ...) are arranged in such a way that they cooperate to form a Movement of conveyed goods units in any direction above the conveying plane (B), characterized in that the carrier plate (2) has in the edge region of the cutouts (4, 4', 4", ....) in each case a raised portion (5, 5', 5", ....) which is designed to be circumferential relative to the cutout (4, 4', 4", ....), which is fixed to the carrier plate (2) and is dimensioned in its height d, measured in the installed position between the surface of the carrier plate (2) as the base point and the upper edge (6) of the raised portion (5) as the head point, such that d < h.

14. Use of a device according to one of claims 1 to 13 for conveying goods packaged in shipping bags or films, preferably textile goods.

15. Ring component (8, 8a) designed for releasable fixing in the region of one or more cutouts (5) of a carrier plate (2) of a conveyor system module (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12 or of a conveyor system (120) according to claim 13, characterized in that the ring component (8, 8a), after fixing on the carrier plate (2), forms a raised portion (5) which is circumferential relative to the cutout (4), which can be fixed on the carrier plate and which is dimensioned in its height d, measured in the installed position between the surface of the carrier plate (2) as the base point and the upper edge (6) of the raised portion (5) as the head point, such that its height d is smaller than the projection h of the conveyor wheels (3) above the conveying plane (B) formed by the carrier plate (2).

16. Crown component (8, 8a) according to claim 15, wherein the height d is between 50% and 80% of the height h, preferably between 60% and 70% of the height h, and particularly preferably approximately 2 / 3 of the height h.

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