Vertical conveyor and method for conveying a material to be conveyed by means of the vertical conveyor

Abstract

A vertical conveyor which is suitable for heavy loads and has a high conveying capacity comprises a conveying drive which comprises in each case a vertical conveying drive (5a, 5b) for moving the at least one conveying vehicle (8) in a vertical conveying direction (V) along the upwardly running vertical conveying route (4a) and the downwardly running vertical conveying route (4b), and further comprises a transverse conveying drive (5c, 5d) for moving the at least one conveying vehicle (8) in a transverse conveying direction (Q) along the upper transverse conveying route (4d) and lower transverse conveying route (4c), wherein the vertical conveying drive (5a) for the upwardly running vertical conveying route (4a) and the vertical conveying drive (5b) for the downwardly running vertical conveying route (4b) are configured as a form-fitting conveying drive, having a station drive part (7) which is arranged along the upwardly running vertical conveying route (4a) and the downwardly running vertical conveying route (4b), and having a vehicle drive part (6) on the at least one conveying vehicle (8), wherein the vehicle drive part (6) of the at least one conveying vehicle (8) interacts in a form-fitting manner with the station drive part (7) in the region of the station drive part (7), and the vehicle drive part (6) or the station drive part (7) is driven in order to move the conveying vehicle.

Description

[0001] Vertical conveyor and method for conveying a material with the vertical conveyor

[0002] The present invention relates to a vertical conveyor for connecting two vertically separated conveyor levels. The vertical conveyor has a vertical conveyor line connecting the two conveyor levels, and the vertical conveyor is designed to transport at least one conveyor vehicle. The invention also relates to a method for conveying a material to be conveyed using such a vertical conveyor.

[0003] For the continuous transport of materials, vertical conveyors are known, which use a circulating, endless conveyor belt to overcome a large height difference. An example of such a vertical conveyor can be found in WO 2019 / 192983 A1. Such vertical conveyors are used, for example, in mines where continuous transport of lumpy materials is required. However, such vertical conveyors are not suitable for discontinuous goods transport, where a material only needs to be transported from time to time. Furthermore, a conveyor belt can only transport small materials, not large parts.

[0004] In a goods transport system, it is sometimes the case that there are essentially horizontal conveyor levels that are separated in height. The conveyor levels are connected to each other via a vertical conveyor to enable goods to be exchanged between the conveyor levels. One example of this is US 5,064,331 A, in which a linear motor is used as a vertical conveyor. However, a linear motor has the disadvantage that the conveyor height is limited due to static constraints and the operation of the linear motor is inefficient, especially with heavy loads. Apart from that, on a vertical conveyor with a linear motor, only one slider can be moved on one stator of the linear motor. This significantly limits the conveyor capacity, because with such a vertical conveyor a certain quantity of goods (depending on the slider's capacity) can now be moved up or down at the same time. A linear motor also has a safety problem.In the event of a power failure, it is important to ensure that the linear motor's slider does not fall down. Therefore, a linear motor always requires complex braking and safety systems for the slider to prevent this. This also makes a linear motor very complex to implement.

[0005] There is therefore a need for a vertical conveyor that is suitable for transporting heavy loads, has a high conveying capacity, and can still be operated safely and energy-efficiently. This object is achieved according to the invention with a vertical conveyor according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 9.

[0006] The revolving vertical conveyor according to the invention enables high conveying capacity because it can move a large number of conveyor vehicles simultaneously. The positive-locking conveyor drive allows even heavy loads to be moved, and this is also energy-efficient. The positive-locking drive also increases safety, because the positive locking mechanism makes it easy to prevent a conveyor vehicle from falling in the event of a power failure.

[0007] Particularly advantageous is the rack and pinion drive system for the vertical conveyor line, with a rack and cooperating gears, for the upstream vertical conveyor line and the downstream vertical conveyor line. It is equally advantageous to arrange the gears either stationary and the rack on the conveyor vehicle, or conversely, the gears on the conveyor vehicle and the rack stationary. Such a rack and pinion drive also has the advantage that the gears can be driven individually, allowing the speed of the conveyor vehicles to be individually adjusted and even stopping individual conveyor vehicles, for example, for loading or unloading.

[0008] Another advantage is that the upper cross conveyor drive and / or the lower cross conveyor drive are designed as rack and pinion drives. This provides a uniform drive concept for the entire conveyor vehicle circuit, which the vertical conveyor also simplifies.

[0009] With a rack on the conveyor vehicle, the direction of movement of the conveyor vehicle can be easily changed between vertical and transverse conveying directions by pivoting the rack on the conveyor vehicle around a rotation axis. Depending on the orientation of the rack, the conveyor vehicle can be moved in either the vertical or transverse conveying direction. Alternatively, differently aligned racks can be provided on the conveyor vehicle for this purpose.

[0010] If the conveyor drive is located on both sides of the conveyor vehicle, symmetrical loading of the conveyor vehicle is achieved. At the same time, larger loads can be moved and the forces acting on the individual drives are reduced.

[0011] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 3, which illustrate advantageous embodiments of the invention by way of example, schematically, and not by way of limitation. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a vertical conveyor according to the invention, Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a conveyor vehicle of the vertical conveyor, and Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a vertical conveyor according to the invention.

[0012] In connection with a vertical conveyor 1 according to the invention, information such as height, top, bottom, up or down in the direction of the acting gravity are to be understood.

[0013] The invention relates to a vertical conveyor 1 for connecting two vertically separated conveyor levels 2a, 2b with a vertical conveyor line 3 that connects the conveyor levels 2a, 2b in the vertical direction. Figure 1 shows an advantageous embodiment of the vertical conveyor 1.

[0014] The conveyor levels 2a, 2b are essentially arranged horizontally, but this is not a necessary requirement.

[0015] The conveying direction H in the conveying planes 2a, 2b (indicated by the arrow) is transverse to the vertical conveying direction V on the vertical conveyor 1, i.e., for example, horizontally or at a specific angle to the vertical conveying direction V, preferably an angle of 90° ± 45°. The vertical conveying direction V is essentially in or opposite to the direction of the acting gravity (i.e., in or opposite to the vertical direction).

[0016] In the vertical conveyor 1, a plurality of conveyor vehicles 8 are moved in a circular motion by a conveyor drive 5(a, b, c, d). "Circular motion" means that the conveyor vehicles 8 are moved in a circle, whereby the vertical conveyor 1 has a downward vertical conveyor path 4b and an upward vertical conveyor path 4a. The vertical conveying directions V on the two vertical conveyor paths 4a, 4b are opposite. A conveyor vehicle 8 is moved on the upward vertical conveyor path 4a from a lower conveyor level 2b toward the upper conveyor level 2a, and on the downward vertical conveyor path 4b, it is moved in the opposite direction, i.e., from the upper conveyor level 2a toward the lower conveyor level 2b.

[0017] In the area of ​​the upper conveyor level 2a and the lower conveyor level 2b, there is a cross conveyor line 4c, 4d, each connecting the ascending vertical conveyor line 4a and the descending vertical conveyor line 4b. The ascending vertical conveyor line 4a, the descending vertical conveyor line 4b, the upper cross conveyor line 4d, and the lower cross conveyor line 4c thus form the circulating conveyor line of the vertical conveyor 1. The ascending vertical conveyor line 4a and the descending vertical conveyor line 4b are essentially vertically aligned. A cross conveyor line 4c, 4d is preferably essentially horizontally aligned, but depending on the design of the vertical conveyor 1, can also be aligned at an angle of 90° ± 60° to the vertical (vertical direction).

[0018] The conveyor drive 5 consists of vertical conveyor drives 5a, 5b in the area of ​​the upward vertical conveyor line 4a and the downward vertical conveyor line 4b and of cross conveyor drives 5c, 5d in the area of ​​the cross conveyor lines 4c, 4d.

[0019] The vertical conveyor drive 5a, 5b is designed as a positive-locking drive in the area along the upstream vertical conveyor line 4a and the downstream vertical conveyor line 4b. Preferably, a cross conveyor drive 5b is also designed as a positive-locking drive. The vertical conveyor drive 5a, 5b consists of a vehicle drive part 6 and a station drive part 7, which interact in a positive-locking manner to move a conveyor vehicle 8. At least one vehicle drive part 6 is arranged on each conveyor vehicle 8. The station drive part 7 is arranged at least along the upstream vertical conveyor line 4a and the downstream vertical conveyor line 4b. Preferably, the station drive part 7 is also arranged along the upper cross conveyor line 4d and the lower cross conveyor line 4c in order to form a cross conveyor drive 5c, 5d in cooperation with the vehicle drive part 6.In this case, the vehicle drive parts 6 could also be used for the transverse conveyor drive 5c, 5d. In the preferred embodiment, the vertical conveyor drive 5 and the transverse conveyor drive 5a, 5b are of identical design.

[0020] Either the vehicle drive part 6 is driven, i.e. moves, and interacts with a stationary station drive part 7, or the station drive part 7 is driven, i.e. moves, and interacts with a non-driven vehicle drive part 6 on the conveyor vehicle 8 for moving the conveyor vehicle 8.

[0021] During operation of the vertical conveyor 1, the vehicle drive parts 6 of the conveyor vehicles 8 moving along the upstream vertical conveyor line 4a and the downstream vertical conveyor line 4b always interact with at least one station drive part 7. Thus, in this area, there is always positive contact between the vehicle drive part 6 and the station drive part 7, whereby the positive vertical conveyor drive 5 is realized in this area. Due to the positive contact, a conveyor vehicle 8 cannot simply fall downwards, even in the event of a failure of the drive of the moving part of the vertical conveyor drive 5, but is held in place by the positive connection. For this to happen, only the driven part of the vertical conveyor drive 5 would have to be blocked in the event of a drive failure.If a cross conveyor drive 5c, 5d is also designed as a positive-locking drive, then during operation of the vertical conveyor 1 the vehicle drive parts 6 of the conveyor vehicles 8 moved along the respective cross conveyor drive 5c, 5d always interact in a positive-locking manner with at least one station drive part 7.

[0022] A vehicle drive part 6 is preferably arranged laterally on a conveyor vehicle 8 in a direction of movement of the conveyor vehicle 8, which corresponds to the vertical conveying direction V or transverse conveying direction Q. This also enables a symmetrical arrangement of vehicle drive parts 6 on both sides of a conveyor vehicle 8 (as shown in Fig. 2), which is advantageous for the mechanical loading of the conveyor vehicle 8, enables higher movable loads, and also reduces the effective drive forces in a positive drive.

[0023] A vertical conveyor drive 5a, 5b is preferably designed as a rack and pinion drive. A transverse conveyor drive 5c, 5d is also preferably designed as a rack and pinion drive. For this purpose, a rack 10 can be arranged on each conveyor vehicle 8 as the vehicle drive part 6 (as in Fig. 1). As the station drive part 7, a plurality of gears 11 are arranged spaced apart from one another in the respective area of ​​the rack and pinion drive in the respective direction of movement of the conveyor vehicle 8 (as in Fig. 1). The entire conveyor drive 5 is preferably designed as a rack and pinion drive, as shown in Fig. 1.

[0024] Alternatively, an alternative drive for a conveyor vehicle 8 can be provided for a cross conveyor drive 5c, 5d, for example a chain conveyor or a conveyor belt. A passive drive would also be conceivable for a cross conveyor drive 5c, 5d. With such a passive drive, a conveyor vehicle 8 is moved onto the upper cross conveyor route 4d using the vertical conveyor drive 5a of the upward vertical conveyor route 4a. This conveyor vehicle 8 pushes another conveyor vehicle 8 located in the upper cross conveyor route 4d in the direction of the downward vertical conveyor route 4b. The conveyor vehicles 8 in the upper cross conveyor route 4d are thus pushed further by the upward vertical conveyor drive 5a, so that no active drive needs to be provided in the area of ​​the cross conveyor route 4d. Such a passive drive can also be provided for the lower cross conveyor route 4c.In this case, conveyor vehicles 8 are pushed with the vertical conveyor drive 5b of the downward vertical conveyor line 4b onto the lower cross conveyor line 4c, so that the conveyor vehicles 8 are pushed on the lower cross conveyor line 4c in the direction of the upward vertical conveyor line 4a.

[0025] The gears 11 are driven for this purpose and rotate during operation of the vertical conveyor 1. This moves a conveyor vehicle 8 further depending on the direction of rotation of the gears 11 through the interaction with the racks 10 on the conveyor vehicle 8. Alternatively, the rack and pinion drive could also be designed the other way around, i.e. with at least one driven gear 11 as the vehicle drive part 6 on the conveyor vehicle 8 and a rack 10 that is stationary on the vertical conveyor in the area of ​​the rack and pinion drive, for example in the area of ​​the vertical conveyor lines 4a, 4b and possibly also in the area of ​​the transverse conveyor lines 4c, 4d. In this case, a gear drive, for example an electric motor or servomotor (possibly also with a drive gear), would also have to be provided on the conveyor vehicle 8. Such a design is shown in Fig. 3, although only a few gear drives 13 are shown in Fig. 3.

[0026] The speed of the conveyor vehicles 8 can be controlled via the rotational speed of the gears 11. The speed can also vary in different areas of the conveyor line, and the conveyor vehicles 8 can also be stopped as needed, particularly in the area of ​​the conveyor levels 2a, 2b. The gears 11 can also be driven independently of one another for this purpose.

[0027] A rack and pinion drive also enables position control of the conveyor vehicles 8 in the area of ​​a rack and pinion drive, which can be realized particularly advantageously with a servo motor as a drive for a gear wheel 11, because a servo motor has an integrated angle sensor that can be used for position control.

[0028] A positive-locking drive could also be implemented with an endless positive-locking conveyor, such as a toothed belt or a chain, as the driven part of the positive-locking drive. For example, a toothed belt could be provided as the station drive part 7 in the area of ​​the upper or lower cross conveyor track 4c, 4d. The circulating positive-locking conveyor can then interact with a rack 10 as the vehicle drive part 6 or with a gear 11 as the vehicle drive part 6. For this purpose, the positive-locking conveyor can be driven and rotate in a circle. However, it would also be conceivable to drive a gear on the conveyor vehicle 8, which interacts with the endless positive-locking conveyor.

[0029] In the case of a driven vehicle drive part 6 on the conveyor vehicle 8, a power supply, usually an electrical power supply, is also required on the conveyor vehicle 8. An electrical power supply could be implemented in a known manner using a sliding contact, wherein a current collector on the conveyor vehicle 8 rests against a conductor rail in order to transfer electrical energy to the conveyor vehicle 8. However, contactless energy transmission, for example inductive or capacitive energy transmission, is also conceivable in principle. An electrical energy storage device could also be provided on the conveyor vehicle 8. Self-generation by the conveyor vehicle 8 would also be conceivable. For example, electrical energy could be generated by the movement of the conveyor vehicle 8 via a generator.

[0030] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the station conveyor 20a, 20b is designed as a rack and pinion conveyor. For this purpose, a rack 10 is provided on the conveyor vehicle 8. The gears 11 are rotatably mounted on a stationary component of the vertical conveyor 1 (indicated in Figure 2). The gears 11 interact with a rack 10 of a conveyor vehicle 8. The rotation of the gears 11 causes the conveyor vehicle 8 to move in the direction of travel.

[0031] In the case of a rack and pinion drive in a cross conveyor drive 5c, 5d with a rack 10 on the conveyor vehicle 8, an additional rack 10 would have to be provided on the conveyor vehicle 8, which is aligned in the cross conveyor direction Q, for example horizontally. Alternatively, the rack 10 can be arranged on the conveyor vehicle 8 so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation 12 normal to the vertical conveyor direction V and the cross conveyor direction Q, as shown in Fig. 2. In this case, the rack 10 is rotated by 90° around the axis of rotation 12 in the area of ​​the upper cross conveyor drive 5d and / or in the area of ​​the lower cross conveyor drive 5c. This changes the orientation of the rack 10 and also the direction of movement of the conveyor vehicle 8 when its rack 10 engages with a gear 11.

[0032] A conveyor level 2a, 2b of the vertical conveyor 1 could also have several platforms arranged one above the other, with each platform being able to load or unload material onto the conveyor vehicle 8. For loading or unloading in a conveyor level 2a, 2b, the conveyor vehicle 8 is preferably positioned in the vertical conveyor 1. However, the conveyor vehicle 8 could also be moving.

[0033] In the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 3, the vertical conveyor 1 is integrated into an underground goods transport facility. The lower conveyor level 2b is arranged underground and the vertical conveyor 1 in a shaft 20. The lower conveyor level 2b is provided in a tunnel 21, along which transport vehicles 22 are moved. The tunnel 21 is, for example, part of a large logistics network that connects many locations, e.g., cities. Access to this logistics network is via access points, with a vertical conveyor 1 according to the invention being arranged at at least one access point. At the upper end of the vertical conveyor 1 shown, the upper conveyor level 2a is divided into several platforms, with goods 23 being able to be delivered to and removed from each platform as conveyed goods, e.g., by means of delivery vehicles or trucks.The vertical conveyor 1 is preferably configured to stop a conveyor vehicle 8, at least as needed, at each platform to enable loading or unloading of goods. Delivered goods 23 are transported by the vertical conveyor 1 to the lower conveyor level 2b and moved there along the tunnel 21. Discharged goods 23 come from the lower conveyor level 2b and are transported away from the vertical conveyor 1, for example, by delivery truck or lorry. Of course, not every conveyor vehicle 8 moving on the vertical cableway 4 needs to transport a good 23.

[0034] To convey an item 23 from the lower conveyor level 2b upwards, a conveyor vehicle 8 with the vertical conveyor 1 is brought to the level of the lower conveyor level 2b and, preferably, stopped. A transport vehicle 22 with an item 23 or only one item 23 is moved into the conveyor vehicle 8, for example by a self-propelled transport vehicle 22 or a transport vehicle conveyor (not shown). The vertical conveyor 1 then moves the conveyor vehicle 8 with the transport vehicle 22 or with the item 23 alone in an upward direction to the upper conveyor level 2a. The transport of an item 23 from top to bottom essentially occurs in the opposite direction.

[0035] To guide the conveyor vehicles 8 in the ascending vertical conveyor line 4a and / or descending vertical conveyor line 4b, a guide device 24, such as a guide rail, can be provided on a stationary component of the vertical conveyor 1, for example in the shaft 20 (as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). A guide part 25, such as a guide roller, is arranged on the conveyor vehicles 8, which cooperates at least in sections with a guide device 24 to guide the conveyor vehicle 8; for example, the guide roller rolls on the guide rail. A guide device 24 can also be provided in the area of ​​the upper and / or lower transverse conveyor lines 4c, 4d, which cooperates at least in sections with a guide part 25 of the conveyor vehicle 8 to guide the conveyor vehicle 8.

Claims

Patent claims 1 . Vertical conveyor for connecting two conveyor levels (2a, 2b) separated from each other in height, wherein the vertical conveyor (1) has an ascending vertical conveyor track (4a) and a descending vertical conveyor track (4b) which connect the two conveyor levels (2a, 2b) to each other, and the ascending vertical conveyor track (4a) and descending vertical conveyor track (4b) are each connected to each other in the region of the upper and lower ends of the vertical conveyor (1) by a transverse conveyor track (4c, 4d), wherein the vertical conveyor (1) is designed for the circulating transport of at least one conveyor vehicle (8), characterized in that a conveyor drive is provided on the vertical conveyor (1),wherein the conveyor drive comprises a vertical conveyor drive (5a) for moving the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) in a vertical conveying direction (V) along the ascending vertical conveyor line (4a) and a vertical conveyor drive (5b) for moving the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) in a vertical conveying direction (V) along the descending vertical conveyor line (4b), and the conveyor drive further comprises a transverse conveyor drive (5d) for moving the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) in a transverse conveying direction (Q) along the upper transverse conveyor line (4d) and a transverse conveyor drive (5c) for moving the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) in a transverse conveying direction (Q) along the lower transverse conveyor line (4c), and that the vertical conveyor drive (5a) for the ascending vertical conveyor line (4a) and the vertical conveyor drive (5b) for the descending vertical conveyor line (4b) are designed as positive-locking conveyor drives, with a station drive part (7),which is arranged along the ascending vertical conveyor line (4a) and the descending vertical conveyor line (4b), and with a vehicle drive part (6) on the at least one conveyor vehicle (8), wherein the vehicle drive part (6) of the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) cooperates positively with the station drive part (7) in the region of the station drive part (7) and the vehicle drive part (6) or the station drive part (7) is driven to move the conveyor vehicle.

2. Vertical conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical conveyor drive (5a) for the ascending vertical conveyor line (4a) and the vertical conveyor drive (5b) for the descending vertical conveyor line (4b) are designed as rack and pinion drives, wherein a plurality of driven gear wheels (11) are rotatably arranged on a stationary component of the vertical conveyor (1) and along the ascending vertical conveyor line (4a) and the descending vertical conveyor line (4b) as the station drive part (7), and wherein a Rack (10) is provided and that the gears (11) rotate during operation of the vertical conveyor (1).

3. Vertical conveyor according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper cross conveyor drive (5d) and / or the lower cross conveyor drive (5c) is designed as a rack and pinion drive, wherein a plurality of driven gears (11) are rotatably arranged on a stationary component of the vertical conveyor (1) and along the upper cross conveyor path (4d) and / or along the lower cross conveyor path (4c) as the station drive part (7) of the upper cross conveyor drive (5d) and / or the lower cross conveyor drive (5c), and that a rack and pinion (10) as the vehicle drive part (6) of the at least one conveyor (8) in the region of the station drive part (7) of the upper cross conveyor drive (5d) and / or the lower cross conveyor drive (5c) is connected to the gears (11) of the upper cross conveyor drive (5d) and / or the lower cross conveyor drive (5c) for moving the conveyor vehicle (8) in the cross conveyor direction (Q). Cooperation.

4. Vertical conveyor according to claim 3, characterized in that the rack (10) is arranged on at least one conveyor vehicle so as to be pivotable about a rotational axis (12) normal to the vertical conveying direction (V) and transverse conveying direction (Q), and in that the rack (10) is pivotable through an angle in the region of the transition from a vertical conveyor drive (5a, 5b) to a transverse conveyor drive (5c, 5d) in order to change an orientation of the rack (10) from the vertical conveying direction (V) to the transverse conveying direction (Q), or the rack (10) is pivotable through an angle in the region of the transition from a transverse conveyor drive (5c, 5d) to a vertical conveyor drive (5a, 5b) in order to change an orientation of the rack (10) from the transverse conveying direction (Q) to the vertical conveying direction (V), so that the rack (10) in the region of the vertical conveyor paths (4a, 4b) is oriented with the gear wheels (11) along the respective vertical conveyor route (4a,4b) and in the area of ​​the cross conveyor lines (4c, 4d) with the gear wheels (11) along the respective cross conveyor line (4c, 4d)., 5. Vertical conveyor according to claim 3, characterized in that a rack (10) aligned in the vertical conveying direction (V) and a rack (10) aligned in the transverse conveying direction (Q) are arranged on the at least one conveyor vehicle (8), wherein the rack (10) aligned in the vertical conveying direction (V) interacts with the gears (11) along the respective vertical conveying path (4a, 4b) and the rack (10) aligned in the transverse conveying direction (Q) interacts with the gears (11) along the respective transverse conveying path (4c, 4d).

6. Vertical conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical conveyor drive (5a) for the upward vertical conveyor line (4a) and the vertical conveyor drive (5b) for the descending vertical conveyor line (4b) is designed as a rack and pinion drive, wherein a rack (10) is arranged stationary along the ascending vertical conveyor line (4a) and the descending vertical conveyor line (4b) as the station drive part (7), and wherein a driven gear (11) is arranged rotatably mounted on at least one conveyor vehicle (8) as the vehicle drive part (6), and that the gear (11) rotates during operation of the vertical conveyor (1).

7. Vertical conveyor according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper cross conveyor drive (5d) and / or the lower cross conveyor drive (5c) is designed as a rack and pinion drive, wherein a rack (10) is arranged along the upper cross conveyor path (4d) and / or along the lower cross conveyor path (4c) as the station drive part (7) of the upper cross conveyor drive and / or the lower cross conveyor drive (5c), and in that the gear wheel (11) of the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) cooperates in the region of the station drive part (7) of the upper cross conveyor drive (5d) and / or the lower cross conveyor drive (5c) with the rack and pinion of the upper cross conveyor drive (5d) and / or the lower cross conveyor drive (5c) to move the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) in the cross conveyor direction (Q).

8. Vertical conveyor according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in the direction of movement of the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) on both sides of the conveyor vehicle (8) a station drive part (7) and a vehicle drive part (6), which each interact with each other in a form-fitting manner, are provided.

9. Method for moving at least one conveyor vehicle (8) between two conveyor levels (2a, 2b) separated in height from one another with a vertical conveyor (1), wherein the vertical conveyor (1) has an ascending vertical conveyor track (4a) and a descending vertical conveyor track (4b) which connect the two conveyor levels (2a, 2b) to one another, and the ascending vertical conveyor track (4a) and descending vertical conveyor track (4b) are each connected to one another in the region of the upper and lower ends of the vertical conveyor (1) by a transverse conveyor track (4c, 4d), characterized in that the vertical conveyor (1) moves the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) with a respective vertical conveyor drive (5a, 5b) along the ascending vertical conveyor track (4a) and the descending vertical conveyor track (4b) in a vertical conveying direction (V), and the vertical conveyor (1) moves the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) with a respective transverse conveyor drive (5c,5d) along the upper cross conveyor line (4d) and the lower cross conveyor line (4c) in a cross conveyor direction (Q), and that for moving the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) along the upward vertical conveyor line (4a) and the downward vertical conveyor line (4b), a station drive part (7) of the respective vertical conveyor drive (5a, 5b), interacts positively with a vehicle drive part (6) on at least one conveyor vehicle (8), wherein the vehicle drive part (6) or the station drive part (7) is driven to move the conveyor vehicle (8).

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that a plurality of gear wheels (11) arranged rotatably on a stationary component of the vertical conveyor (1) and along the upward vertical conveyor path (4a) and the downward vertical conveyor path (4b) are driven to rotate as the station drive part (7) of the vertical conveyor (1), and at least one rotating gear wheel (11) for moving the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) in the vertical conveying direction (V) cooperates with a rack (10) arranged on the at least one conveyor vehicle (V) as the vehicle drive part (6).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that as a station drive part (7) of the upper cross conveyor drive (5d) and / or the lower cross conveyor drive (5c) a plurality of driven gear wheels (11) arranged rotatably on a stationary component of the vertical conveyor (1) and along the upper cross conveyor drive (5d) and / or the lower cross conveyor drive (5c) are driven to rotate and at least one of these rotating gear wheels (11) cooperates with a rack (10) arranged on the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) as a vehicle drive part (6) for moving the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) in the cross conveyor direction (Q).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the rack (10) on at least one conveyor vehicle (8) is rotated about an axis of rotation (12) normal to the vertical conveying direction (V) and transverse conveying direction (Q) in the region of the transition from a vertical conveyor drive (5a, 5b) to a transverse conveyor drive (5c, 5d) by an angle in order to change an orientation of the rack (10) from the vertical conveying direction (V) to the transverse conveying direction (Q), or the rack (10) is rotated by an angle in the region of the transition from a transverse conveyor drive (5c, 5d) to a vertical conveyor drive (5a, 5b) in order to change an orientation of the rack (10) from the transverse conveying direction (Q) to the vertical conveying direction (V), so that the rack (10) in the region of one of the vertical conveyor paths (4a, 4b) is aligned with the gear wheels (11) along this vertical conveyor path (4a, 4b) and in the area of ​​one of the cross conveyor lines (4c,4d) interacts with the gears (11) along this cross conveyor path (4c, 4d).

13. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that a gear wheel (11) rotatably arranged on the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) is driven to rotate as the vehicle drive part (6) and the rotating gear wheel (11) is used to move the at least a conveyor vehicle (8) in the vertical conveying direction (V) cooperates with a rack (10) arranged stationary along the ascending vertical conveyor path (4a) and the descending vertical conveyor path (4b) as the station drive part (7) of the respective vertical conveyor drive (5a, 5b).

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the gear wheel (11) rotatably arranged on the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) for moving the at least one conveyor vehicle (8) in the transverse conveying direction (Q) cooperates with a rack (10) arranged stationary along the upper transverse conveyor path (4d) and / or along the lower transverse conveyor path (4c) as the station drive part (7) of the upper transverse conveyor drive (5d) and / or the lower transverse conveyor drive (5c).

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