Method of identifying objects in a conveyor arrangement

Abstract

Method of identifying objects (9, 9C) in a conveyor arrangement (1), the conveyor arrangement (1) comprising, - a plurality of conveyor zones (2), each conveyor zone (2) is adapted to convey an object (9, 9C) from an inlet (I) of said conveyor zone (2) to an outlet (O) of said conveyor zone (2), - a plurality of presence sensors (5), each adapted to generate a sensor signal (S5, S9) indicating the presence or non-presence of an object (9) within a conveyor zone (2), the method comprising the following steps: - operating the conveyor arrangement (1), thereby conveying said objects (9, 9C) along the conveyor zones (2); - via at least one of said presence sensors (5), detecting the presence and determining the identity of said individual objects (9C).

Description

[0001] Method of identifying objects in a conveyor arrangement

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention refers to a method of identifying objects in a conveyor arrangement. In an embodiment the invention refers to a method of determining the neighboring relations in a conveyor arrangement.

[0004] DE 10 2019 135 620 A1 discloses a method for setting up a control system of a conveyor arrangement. The conveyor arrangement comprises a plurality of conveyor zone. Each conveyor zone comprises a conveyor drive for conveying goods through the respective conveyor zone. The controller controls the conveyor drives of the plurality of conveyor zones by the following steps: a) Placing a configuration object on one of the conveyor zones, the configuration object preferably having a marking; b) driving a conveyor drive, whereby the configuration object is conveyed through the conveyor zone to a conveyor zone adjacent thereto; c) detecting a movement of the configuration object occurring as a result of the conveying of the configuration object by means of a camera, in the field of view of which the configuration object is conveyed; d) creating a zone in the field of view of the image capture device, the zone being spanned by the path travelled by the configuration object through the conveyor zone as seen from the image capture device; e) associating the conveyor drive driven during the movement of the configuration object with the zone in the field of view of the image capture device; f) storing this assignment in a database.

[0005] PCT / EP2024 / 050660 discloses a method for planning a conveyor arrangement comprising the following steps: using an IT planning tool by a user; by using the IT planning tool, arranging representations of a plurality of conveyor zones in a manner, so that an inlet of an downstream conveyor zone is linked to an outlet of an upstream conveyor zone; within the IT planning tool defining a plurality of destinations; performing an automated analysis of the arranged representations; based on the performed automated analysis, automatically generating a destination look up table, in particular a plurality of individual destination look up tables, indicating a list of zones and / or destinations, which are located downstream of each of the outlets of the respective junction zones.

[0006] EP 3 222 564 A1 discloses a conveyor for conveying an object from a start position to a target place. The conveyor comprising: - a plurality of zones into which the conveyer is divided, the object being conveyed across the zones; - at least one object identifying device; and - an initial information transmitting unit transmitting a conveyance destination information of the object itself to any of the zones, each of the zones comprising: - a linear conveying zone that linearly conveys the object; - a conveying direction changing zone selecting a conveying direction of the object to send out the object in the selected conveying direction; - a conveyance destination storage unit temporarily storing the conveyance destination information; - an information receiving unit receiving the conveyance destination information from an upstream zone; and - an information transmitting unit transmitting the conveyance destination information to a downstream zone. The conveyor transfers the conveyance destination information from the upstream zone to the downstream zone with movement of the object across the zones.

[0007] DE 10 2010 037 601 A1 discloses a method for determining the sequence of a plurality of drives of a conveying device which are located one behind the other in a conveying direction. A drive transports a material to be conveyed in a respective partial region of the conveying device. The method comprises the steps of: a) activating a plurality of drives located one behind the other, b) conveying a configuration object with the aid of the activated drives; c) detecting a time sequence of when which drive emits a force which is suitable for conveying the configuration object, and d) determining the desired local sequence on the basis of said temporal sequence from step c).

[0008] It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved method for operating a conveyor arrangement and if applicable another method of determining the neighboring relations in a conveyor arrangement.

[0009] The invention comprises a method according to the main claim; embodiments are subject of the subclaims and the description.

[0010] The invention uses the presence sensors - in addition to the pure detection of presence or non-presence - also for determining the identification of an object. This in particular enabled by objects being adapted to interact with the presence sensors in a manner that the sensor signals generated by the presence sensor form an individual signal pattern, which is individual for each of the plurality of said objects. The plurality of individual switches between the signal: “there is an object" and “there is no object” form the induvial pattern.

[0011] In an embodiment the above invention can be used during normal operation of the conveyor. In such a embodiment in particular all conveyed objects are required to cooperate with the sensor in the specific manner to form the individual signal pattern.

[0012] In another embodiment there is made a differentiation between the normal operation mode and a configuration mode. In the normal operation mode, regular objects are conveyed which cannot cooperate in the described manner with the sensors, to form the individual pattern signals. However merely in a configuration mode (separate to the normal operation mode) a specific type of configuration objects are used which cooperate in the described manner.

[0013] After configuration, the configuration objects are not used anymore during normal operation mode.

[0014] The invention is in particular related to a conveyor arrangement which is adapted to convey an object from at least one feed-in station selectively to a selected destination from a plurality of destinations. The conveyor arrangement comprises; a plurality of conveyor zones, each conveyor zone is adapted to convey an object from an inlet of said conveyor zone to an outlet of said conveyor zone; a plurality of controllers, adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones; wherein said conveyor zones are arranged in a manner, that said object can be transferred from an outlet of an upstream conveyor zone to an inlet of a subsequent downstream conveyor zone. At least one of said conveyor zones is a junction zone having at least two outlets. A junction controller is adapted to control the junction zone in a manner so as to selectively convey said object through a selected outlet of the plurality of outlets of said junction zone.

[0015] The method comprising the following steps: providing a plurality of individual configuration objects; operating the conveyor arrangement, thereby conveying said configuration objects along the conveyor zones; detecting via the presences sensors the presence of each of said individual configuration objects sequentially in a number of said conveyor zones; determining from a sequence of detecting said individual configuration objects neighboring relations of the conveyor zones.

[0016] The objects, in particular the configuration objects, are adapted to interact with the presence sensors in a manner that the sensor signal generated by the presence sensor comprises an individual signal pattern individually for each of the plurality of said configuration objects. In particular the binary sensor signal generated by the presence sensor comprises over time an individual which is signal pattern individual for each of the plurality of said, in particular configuration, objects.

[0017] During the inventive method the fact is used that usually or nearly all of the zones are equipped with presences sensors, which are used during normal operation to binary detect the presence or non-presence of an object. Since the presence sensor are not adapted to distinguish the individual objects, the objects are prepared in a certain manner, so that the presence sensors issue individual signal patterns overt time upon interaction between the individual objects and the presence sensors. By this the flow of individual objects along the conveyor arrangement can be traced. In other words, the sequence of zones, which an individual object has passed, can be recorded, which is a basis for determining the neighboring relation of the zones within the conveyor arrangement.

[0018] In contrast to the number of presence sensors within a conveyor arrangement, usually only a few zones are equipped with an identification scanner, which during normal operation can detect and distinguish between individual objects. The evaluation of the signal received by the low number of identification scanners is not suitable for the determination of said neighboring relations.

[0019] A neighboring relation in particular comprises a dataset having at least: a first identification of a first conveyor zone; a second identification of a second conveyor zone; an information indicating if said second conveyor zone is directly located downstream or upstream of said first conveyor zone. In case that the zone to which the neighboring relation refers to is a junction zone, said neighboring relation may also comprise an information indicating which of the downstream located zones are attached to which of the plurality of outlets.

[0020] In particular said presence sensors are adapted to provide during normal operation via said presence signal a binary indication whether an object is present in a range of the presence sensor or not. In particular the presence sensors are not adapted to provide identification of an object during normal operation.

[0021] In an embodiment the presence sensor is a light barrier having a light source emitting a light beam and a light sensor detecting the light beam. The configuration object has a pattern, which is adapted to selectively stop and allow the light beam passing the object on it’s way from the light source to the light sensor depending on the position of the configuration object within the conveyor zone.

[0022] In a first embodiment the pattern is a reflective pattern allowing the light beam to be selectively reflected and not reflected by the configuration object. In particular the reflective pattern comprises alternating reflecting areas and not-reflecting areas.

[0023] In a second embodiment the pattern is an obstructing pattern allowing the light beam to selectively pass through the configuration object and pass not through the configuration object. In particular the obstructing pattern comprises alternating window areas and grid areas.

[0024] An example embodiment of the invention is described in more detail with the help of the figures; herein show fig. 1 a conveyor zone in perspective view having a first embodiment light barrier; fig. 2 a basic conveyor arrangement; fig. 3 schematic representations of different conveyor zones; fig. 4 the layout of a conveyor arrangement; fig. 5 a table showing neighboring relations of the conveyor arrangement of figure 4; fig. 6 a conveyor zone with an object on it along with the signal of the presence sensor generated during conveying the object, where the object is a) a conventional object during normal operation having an identification tag, b) a configuration object during configuration in a first embodiment, having a pattern generating a pattern in the signal of the presence sensor; fig. 7 a) a conveyor zone in perspective view having a second embodiment light barrier b) a conveyor zone with an object on it along with the signal of the presence sensor generated during conveying the object, where the object is a configuration object during configuration in a second embodiment, having a pattern generating a pattern in the signal of the presence sensor.

[0025] 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 motor- driven conveyor roller 3M, in particular motorized roller 3M. The motor-driven conveyor roller 3M is driven in particular by a three-phase motor arranged in the motorized conveyor roller 3M. Via one or more drive 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 motor-driven conveyor roller 3M. An object 9 is linearly conveyed from an inlet I to an outlet O along a conveying direction d.

[0026] By means of a presence sensor 5, the presence of a conveyed object 9 arranged within the conveyor zone 2 can be determined. The presence sensor 5 thereby generates a sensor signal S5, which is connected via a signal line (not shown) to a local zone controller 11 presented further below. In the present embodiment the presence sensor 5 is a light barrier. The light barrier has a light source 5a, emitting a light beam 5b. The light beam 5b crosses the conveyor zone 2 and is reflected by a reflector 5c located on the opposite side of the light source 5a, back in direction of the light source 5a. Attached to the same housing of the light sources 5a there is included a light sensor 5d, receiving the reflected light beam 5b. In case the light beam 5b is received by the light sensor 5d, no presence of an object is detected (value 0, see figure 6a). In case the light beam 5b is not received by the light sensor 5d, a presence of an object 9 is detected (value 1 , see figure 6a). The light beam 5b illustrates a sensor range of the presence sensor 5.

[0027] The conveyor rollers 3 and the presence sensor 5 are attached to a common support frame 6. The conveyor rollers 3 of several conveyor zones 2 can be attached to a common support frame 6.

[0028] The motor-driven conveyor rollers 3M are each controlled by at least one or a plurality of local zone controllers 11 . A single zone controller 11 can control the motor-driven conveyor rollers 3M of several conveyor zones 2. A plurality of local zone controllers 11 are arranged in a conveyor arrangement 1 (figure 2), which communicate with each other via a bus connection 13.

[0029] Figure 2 shows a basic conveyor arrangement 1 , where conveyor zones 2a... e as described previously are used. A plurality of zone controllers 11 control the operation of the conveyor zones 2. A PLC 14 (programmable logic control) may be provided to control the overall operation of the conveyor arrangement 1.

[0030] Scanners (not shown) may be arranged along the conveyor zones 2 and provide identification data relating to objects 9 passing the scanner in the conveyor zones 2. These identification data are sent via bus connection 13 to the PLC 14. The PLC 14 has access to an object data base (not shown), which provides destination data based on the identification of the objects 9. Based on the acquired data the PLC 14 provides operation instructions to a local zone controller 11 , how to handle the object 9, i.e. to which of the outlets O said object 9 is to be conveyed. For the proper operation it is not required that each conveyor zone is equipped with an own scanner for identifying the object located in each conveyor zone. As a consequence, some conveyor zones, usually one of the most upstream zones, are provided merely with a sensor for detecting merely the presence of an object 9, without identifying the object 9.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment as described in European patent application 22 180 381.0, no PLC or similar is required. Instead of a PLC the local zone controllers 11 are connected to a common higher-level object data broker, in particular via the bus connection 13, with which the local zone controllers are also connected to one another. The data broker provides destination data related to the identified objects 9 and the zone controllers 11 are adapted to control operation of the zones based on the provided destination data. For the purpose of the present invention the provision of a PLC is not required. In particular the local zone controllers 11 control the motor-driven conveyor rollers 3M in such a way that the successively approaching conveyed objects 9 do not collide with each other, which is usually called “zero pressure accumulation”. The control takes place in such a way that essentially only one conveyed object 9 is present per conveyor zone 2. However, slight overlaps may occur. For example, an upstream conveyed object 9b located on an upstream conveyor zone 2c may already enter a downstream conveyor zone 2d even though the downstream conveyed object 9a has not yet left this downstream conveyor zone 2d completely. 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 objects 9 do not touch and thus do not damage each other.

[0032] In the following course of the invention, reference is made to conveyor zones, using a schematic representation of said conveyor zones 2 as shown in figure 3. Here figure 3a represents schematically a conveyor zone 2 of figure 1 , which has one first inlet 11 and one first outlet 01 . No more inlets and outlets are provided. The conveyor zone 2 can also be curved or from other shape.

[0033] Figure 3b shows the representation of another conveyor zone 2 having an extended scope of operation. Here in addition to the conveyor zone 2 of figure 3a the conveyor zone 2 has an additional, second outlet 02. The object 9 can be conveyed selectively from said first inlet 11 to one of said first and second outlets 01 , 02. Optionally, the conveyor zone 2 has an additional, third outlet 03. In this option, the object 9 can be conveyed selectively from said first inlet 11 to one of said first, second and third outlets 01 , 02, 03.

[0034] As an example, said conveyor zone 2 of figure 3b can be formed by a conveyor zone 2 as shown in figure 1 , which additionally is provided with a transfer device as described with reference to figure 5 of EP 3 222 564 B1 (in this document and figure the transfer device has reference sign 20).

[0035] Figure 3c shows the representation of a conveyor zone 2 having an extended scope of operation. Here in addition to the conveyor zone 2 of figure 3a, the conveyor zone 2 has an additional second inlet I2. Objects 9 can be conveyed from one of said first and second inlets 11 , I2 to said first outlet 01.

[0036] The transfer device as described with reference to figure 3b may also be suitable to provide said additional second inlet I2.

[0037] Figure 3d shows the representation of a conveyor zone 2 having an extended scope of operation. Here in addition to the conveyor zone 2 of figure 1 the conveyor zone has an additional second inlet 12 and an additional second outlet 02 and is an example as a combination of the embodiments of figures 3b and 3c.

[0038] All conveyor zones 2 are controlled by a local zone controller 11 as shown in figure 1 or 2, in particular wherein one local zone controller 11 may be adapted to control the operation of more than one conveyor zone 2.

[0039] Reference is made to figure 4. Here a conveyor arrangement 1 is shown, which comprises a plurality of conveyor zones 2 as shown in figure 3. For better individualization, the conveyor zones are provided with indices 2a0 - 2a7, 2e - 2q, 2r0 - 2r9, 2s0 - 2s9.

[0040] The conveyor arrangement 1 comprises at least one feed-in station F1 , F2, where objects 9 can be put into the conveyor arrangement 1 . The feed-in station may be attached to an outlet of an upstream conveyor arrangement (not shown). Close to the feed-in stations an identification scanner 7 is provided detecting an identification tag 97 (see figure 1) of objects 9 to be conveyed during normal operation. The identification scanner 7 may be a barcode I QR- Code reader or an RFID reader, depending on the identification tag 97 attached to an object.

[0041] The conveyor arrangement 1 comprises a plurality of destinations D1 - D16, to which an object 9 can selectively be conveyed.

[0042] Most conveyor zones 2 are of the type shown in figure 3a, merely having one inlet and one outlet, e.g. zones 2a0 - 2a7, 2e - 2h, 2j - 2m, 2o - 2q.

[0043] Some zones 2 are junction zones of the type shown in figure 3b, having at least two different outlets, e.g. zones 2i, 2n, 2r1-2r3, 2r6- 2r8, 2s2 - 2s3, 2s6 - 2s8.

[0044] The conveyor zones 2 are controlled by a plurality of local tone controllers 11 a selection of which are shown in figure 4. Each of the zone controllers 11 are adapted to control at least one of the conveyor zones 2, which is exemplarily illustrated by lines L for controller 11 a.

[0045] Each of the conveyor zones 2 is equipped with a presences sensor 5 as shown in figure 1.

[0046] It is to be differentiated between the identification sensors 7 and the presence sensors 5. Usually, a presence sensor 5 is much cheaper than an identification sensor 7 and consequently the number of presence sensors 5 within a conveyor arrangement is significantly higher than the number of identification scanners 7 within said conveyor arrangement. During normal operation the signals S5 provided by the presences sensor 5 are not intended for identification of objects 9; instead the signals S5 merely provide a binary indication whether an object 9 is present in the sensor range or not The main task of a local zone controller 11 is to arrange conveying operation of the conveyor zone, thereby initiating starting or stopping the drive motors of the zones depending on the sensor signals S5 of the presence sensors 5. In case that the zone is a junction zone, it is another task to initiate, that the object is taking the correct outlet of the plurality of outlets 01 , 02, 03.

[0047] For finishing the installation of the conveyor arrangement 1 the controllers 11 are taught with at least parts of the layout of the conveyor arrangement 1 .

[0048] As an example and according to the disclosure of PCT / EP2024 / 050660 and PCT / EP2023 / 065597 it is necessary to know how the neighboring zones relate to each other, i.e. which zone is upstream and downstream of a particular zone and which downstream zone can be reached via which of several outlets.

[0049] The table shown in figure 5 shows the neighboring relations of the conveyor zones 2 in the conveyor arrangement 1 of figure 4. Each conveyor zone is listed in a data set in the columns “Zone ID”. For each listed zone the “upstream zones” and the “downstream zones” are indicated in the respective columns. In case that the listed conveyor zone is a junction zone, the data set comprises information, via which of the plurality of outlets 01 , 02, 03 the downstream conveyor zones can be reached. A conveyor zone, which is not a junction zone, has merely one outlet.

[0050] Conventionally, for determining the neighboring relation of the zones is described in DE 10 2019 135 620 A1 , wherein a configuration object is traveling along the zones. The movement of the object is recorded by an additional camera device.

[0051] PCT / EP2024 / 050660 uses a layouter tool to determine the neighboring relation.

[0052] In the following another method is presented, which could be used for determining the neighboring relation alternatively to the methods described in DE 10 2019 135 620 A1 or PCT / EP2024 / 050660.

[0053] In general, the method of determining the neighboring relation also includes the validation of a given neighboring relation, which was e.g. done previously with a method described in PCT / EP2024 / 050660 at the manufactured conveyor arrangement.

[0054] The main idea bases on the method of DE 10 2019 135 620 A1 using a configuration object, which is traveling along the conveyor arrangement. In general, the method of determining the neighboring relation also includes the validation of a given neighboring relation, which was e.g. done with a method described in PCT / EP2024 / 050660 at the manufactured conveyor arrangement.

[0055] Reference is now made to figure 6. In each of the figures 6a and 6b, an object 9 is shown traveling along a conveyor zone 2 (left side), where on the right side a diagram shows a sensor signal S5 over time t, which is caused by the object passing the presence sensor 5.

[0056] Conventionally (figure 6a), the object 9 causes a constant object signal S9, which corresponds to the length of the objects divided by the conveying speed v. The constant object signal S9 is not influenced by the graphical (e.g. barcode) identification tag 97.

[0057] Figure 6b shows the configuration object 9C used according to the present invention and the respective sensor signal S5, when passing the presence sensor 5.

[0058] In addition to the conventional object the configuration object 9C has an individual pattern 91 , attached in a manner to the configuration object 9C, that the pattern 91 interacts with the presence sensor 5. As stated above the presence sensor is of the type having a light source, a reflector and a light sensor.

[0059] The pattern is a reflective pattern 91 R comprising a plurality of reflective areas R and non- reflective areas N, which are arranged in an alternating manner one behind the other in the direction of travel d. When the configuration object 9C is passing the presence sensor 5 the configuration object 9C causes a configuration object signal S9C, comprising an individual signal pattern S91 , having a number of reflective signal areas SR and non-reflective signal areas SN. The reflective signal areas SR and non-reflective signal areas SN alternate over time t in the same manner, as reflective areas R and non-reflective areas N within the reflective pattern 91 alternate in the conveying direction d.

[0060] Said configuration object 9C traveling along the conveying arrangement 1 causes the same individual configuration object signal 9C at each presence sensor 5, which the configuration object 9C is passing.

[0061] So as an example: In case that a same individual configuration object signal S9C is detected by the presences sensor 5 in conveyor zone 2r0 after it has been detected by the presences sensor 5 in zone 2i, the neighboring relation is determined, that conveyor zone 2i is located upstream of zone 2r0 I that conveyor zone 2r0 is located downstream of conveyor zone 2i (see arrows P1 in figure 5). In addition, since the last object was conveyed by zone 2i left the zone 2i via outlet 02, the neighboring relation can be enhanced by the information, that outlets 02 of zone 2i leads to zone 2r0 (see arrows P2 in figure 5). The advantage of the present invention over DE 10 2019 135 620 A1 is, that for determining and identifying the objects 9 in each conveyor zone 2, merely the presence sensor 5 can be used, which are installed anyway as a part of the conveyor arrangement 1 . Even if the presence sensors 5 are during their main intentional operation not suitable to identify objects 9, these presences sensors 5 are used for determine the individual pattern 91 , the assessment of which leads to a traceability of individual configuration objects 9C traveling through the conveyor arrangement 1. For identifying the individual configuration objects 9C the conveyor zones 2 need not to be equipped with an identification scanner.

[0062] In cooperation with the presence sensors 5 the reflective areas R within said individual pattern 91 individually feigns the absence of an object 9 within the range of the presence sensor. By holding up a mirror the presence sensor 5 provides a signal S5, indicating the absence of an object 9, even if said configuration object 9C is still located within said sensor range. This leads to the individual signal pattern S91 generated by the presence sensor 5.

[0063] Such a feint cannot be achieved by simply varying the color of a pattern between black and white as in a usual barcode. A key enabler for the above method is the reflective area R within the reflective pattern 91 , which is required to have a reflective property, which is similar to the reflective property of the of the reflector 5c.

[0064] Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of a conveyor zone 2 within the conveyor arrangement 1 of figure 4 and the configuration object 9C. Here the light barrier 5 is of a different embodiment, wherein the light sensor 5d is arranged separately to the housing of the light source on the opposite side of the conveyor zone 2. Using a configuration object as shown in figure 6b would not lead to the intended result.

[0065] Therefore another configuration object 9C is used, which is shown in figure 7b. Instead of the reflective pattern, the configuration object has obstructing pattern 910, having a window areas W, letting the light beam 5b passing the configuration object 9C without occlusion. The window areas W are separated from each other by grid areas G, which prevent the light beam 5b passing the configuration object 9C. The effect on the presence signal S9C is the same as described with reference to figure 6b, where the presence signal has non-obstructed signals areas SR alternating with obstructed signal areas SN.

[0066] The configuration object 9C shown in figure 7b is also suitable to be used in interaction with the light barrier 5 shown in figure 1 . The configuration object 9C shown in figure 6b is not suitable to be used in interaction with the light barrier 5 shown in figure 7a. In another embodiment of the invention, the above principle of identifying an object in a conveyor arrangement is used during normal operation mode. Here all regular objects to be conveyed are provided with a pattern as described above for the configuration object.

[0067] This embodiment is minor suitable for the fields of postal parcels, since it would be expensive to provide all postal parcels with a reflective pattern at the correct position suitable to be detected by the light barrier. This embodiment is more suitable for use in a factory, e.g. in a assembly line, where workpieces are delivered in specific workpiece carriers. The workpieces are used for an assembly and as soon as the workpiece is taken out from the workpiece carrier, the workpiece carrier can be reused in the conveyor arrangement to perform a new conveying task. Here the workpiece carrier carrying the individual pattern are reused many times in the same conveying arrangement.

[0068] List of reference signs

[0069] 1 conveyor arrangement

[0070] 2 conveyor zone

[0071] 3 conveyor roller

[0072] 3M motor-driven conveyor roller

[0073] 4 drive connector

[0074] 5 presence sensor

[0075] 5a light source

[0076] 5b light beam

[0077] 5c reflector

[0078] 5d light sensor

[0079] 6 support frame

[0080] 7 identification scanner (e.g. barcode reader)

[0081] 9 object to be conveyed

[0082] 9C configuration object

[0083] 91 pattern

[0084] 91R reflecting pattern

[0085] 910 obstructing pattern

[0086] 97 identification tag

[0087] 91 individual reflective I obstructing pattern

[0088] 11 local zone controller

[0089] 12 local junction controller

[0090] 13 bus connection

[0091] 14 PLC

[0092] 16a zone table

[0093] 16b junction table

[0094] 17 destination look up table v conveying speed

[0095] B zone borderline

[0096] C conveyor

[0097] D destination

[0098] F feed-in station

[0099] I inlet

[0100] J junction

[0101] L line O outlet d conveying direction

[0102] S5 sensor signal (of presence sensor)

[0103] S9 constant object signal

[0104] S9C configuration object signal

[0105] S91 individual signal pattern

[0106] SR reflective signal area I non-obstructed signal area

[0107] SN non reflective signal area I obstructed signal area

[0108] R reflective area

[0109] W window area

[0110] N non-reflective area

[0111] G grid area

Claims

Claims1. Method of identifying objects (9, 9C) in a conveyor arrangement (1), the conveyor arrangement (1) comprising,- a plurality of conveyor zones (2), each conveyor zone (2) is adapted to convey an object (9, 9C) from an inlet (I) of said conveyor zone (2) to an outlet (O) of said conveyor zone (2),- a plurality of presence sensors (5), each adapted to generate a sensor signal (S5, S9) indicating the presence or non-presence of an object (9) within a conveyor zone (2), the method comprising the following steps:- operating the conveyor arrangement (1), thereby conveying said objects (9, 9C) along the conveyor zones (2);- via at least one of said presence sensors (5), detecting the presence and determining the identity of said individual objects (9C).

2. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that presence sensors (5) is adapted to provide during normal operation via said presence sensor signal (5aS5, S9) a binary indication whether an object (9, 9C) is present in a range (5b) of the presence sensor (5) or not.

3. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the presence sensor (5) is adapted to merely issue a binary sensor signal (S5), differentiating between a presence and a non-presence of an object passing the presence sensor (5).

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in addition to the presence sensors (5) the conveyor arrangement (1) comprises at least one an identification scanner (7), adapted to provide identification of an object passing said identification scanner (7).

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the objects (9C) are adapted to interact with the presence sensors (5) in a manner that the sensor signals (S5, S9) generated by the presence sensor (5) form an individual signal pattern (S91), which is individual for each of the plurality of said objects (9C).

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the presence sensor (5) is a light barrier having a light source (5a) emitting a light beam (5b) and a light sensor (5d) detecting the light beam (5b).

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the object (9C) has a pattern (91), which is adapted to selectively stop and allow the light beam (5b) passing the object on it’s way from the light source (5a) to the light sensor (5d) depending on the position of said object (9C) within the conveyor zone (2).

8. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the pattern is a reflective pattern (91 R) allowing the light beam (5b) to be selectively reflected and not reflected by the object (9C).

9. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the is reflective pattern (91) comprises alternating reflecting areas (R) and not- reflecting areas (W).

10. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the pattern (91) is an obstructing pattern (910) allowing the light beam (5b) to selectively pass through the object (9C) and pass not through the object (9C), in particular that the obstructing pattern (910) comprises alternating window areas (W) and grid areas (G).11 . Method of determining neighboring relations of conveyor zones in a conveyor arrangement (1), comprising a method according to any of the preceding claims, in particular a neighboring relation specifies, that the outlet (O) of a first conveyer zone (2a) is located upstream of inlet (I) of a a second conveyor zone (2b).

12. Method according to the preceding claim, the conveyor arrangement (1) further comprising,- a plurality of controllers (11 , 12), adapted to control the operation of the conveyor zones (2);- optionally an identification scanner (7), adapted to provide identification of an object (9) during normal operation in particular by scanning an identification tag (97) of said object (9); wherein said conveyor zones (2) are arranged in a manner, that said object (9) can be transferred from an outlet (O) of a, in particular direct, upstream conveyor zone (2) to an inlet (I) of a subsequent conveyor zone (2); wherein at least one of said conveyor zones (2) is a junction zone (2i .. 2s9) having at least two outlets (01 , 02, 03), in particular wherein a junction controller (12) is adapted to control the junction zone (2i .. 2s9) in a manner so as to selectively convey said object (9) through a selected outlet (O) of the plurality of outlets (01 , 02, 03) of said junction zone (2i .. 2s9); the method comprising the following steps:- providing a plurality of individual objects as configuration objects (9C);- operating the conveyor arrangement (1) in a configuration mode, thereby conveying said configuration objects (9C) along the conveyor zones (2);- detecting via the presence sensors (5) the presence of each of said individual configuration objects (9C) sequentially in a plurality of conveyor zones (2);- determining from a sequence of detecting said individual configuration objects (9C) neighboring relations of the conveyor zones (2).

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the presence sensors (5) are not adapted to provide identification of an object during normal operation but are adapted to provide identification of an object during configuration mode.

14. Method according to any of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that during normal operation, the object is a regular object (9) which is different to said configuration object (9C) andthat said regular object (9) is not adapted to interact with the presence sensors (5) in a manner that the sensor signals (S5, S9) generated by the presence sensor (5) form an individual signal pattern (S91), which is individual for each of said regular objects (9).

15. Method according to any of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the configuration object (9C) has a pattern which is adapted to interact with the presence sensors (5) in a manner that the sensor signals (S5, S9) generated by the presence sensor (5) form an individual signal pattern (S91), that the regular object (9) does not have a pattern which is adapted to interact with the presence sensors (5) in a manner that the sensor signals (S5, S9) generated by the presence sensor (5) form an individual signal pattern (S91).

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