Intralogistic conveyor arrangement

Abstract

Intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1), adapted to convey an object (9) from at least one feed in station (F) selectively to a selected destination (D5) from a plurality of destinations (D1-D12), the conveyor arrangement (1), comprising, - a plurality of conveyor zones (2), each conveyor zone (2) is adapted to convey an object (9) from an inlet (I) of said conveyor zone (2) to an outlet (O) of said conveyor zone (2), - at least one controller (10, 11) adapted to control operation of said conveyor zones (2); wherein said conveyor zones (2) are arranged in a manner, that said object (9) can be transferred from an outlet (O) of a previous conveyor zone (2) to an inlet (I) of a subsequent conveyor zone (2); wherein at least one controller (10), in particular a central controller (10), is connected or connectable to a warehouse data management system (15), and adapted to receive downstream information containing data related to said objects, characterized by a configurable translator (17) adapted to - receive a warehouse output message (15O) provided by said warehouse data management system (15), - isolate said downstream information (objID, destID, weight) from said warehouse output message (15O), - provide said isolated downstream information (objID, destID, weight) to said controller (10), in particular within a control input message (I10).

Description

[0001] Intralogistic conveyor arrangement

[0002] Description

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

[0004] In a conventional intralogistic conveyor arrangement, e.g. shown in US 7,996,104 B2, a plurality of conveyor zones are provided. A plurality of local zone controllers control operation of the zones based on overall control signals provided by an central programmable logic controller (PLC). Thereby the local zone controller provides start / stop and speed control of a motorized roller according to messages from the PLC.

[0005] Scanners provided along the zones provide identification data relating to objects to be conveyed. These identification data are sent via data connection to the PLC. PLC has access to an object data base, which provides destination data based in the identification of the objects. Based on the acquired destination data the PLC provides operation instructions to a local zone controller, how to handle said object, i.e. to which of the outlets said object is to be conveyed. Consequently the routing decisions for individual objects are done within the PLC and are provided to the zone controllers. The zone controllers control the zone actuators in accordance with the provided routing decisions.

[0006] US 2002 / 0045969 A1 discloses an apparatus for sorting units of material. A central sort logic processor, e.g. a PLC, is provided which multicasts an output signal through the a network bus to a plurality of actuators. The actuators are controlled directly by the central sort logic processor.

[0007] WO 2023 / 247237 A1 discloses an intralogistic conveyor arrangement, adapted to convey an object from a feed in station selectively to a selected destination from a plurality of destinations. An object data broker is connected to each of zone controller. The zone controllers receive object data sets from said data broker and control operation, in particular sorting operation, of the related zone based on said provided object data sets.

[0008] EP 4 112 505 A1 discloses an article conveyance sorting apparatus. A distributing section distributes an article in a first direction or a second direction based on a first distribution control signal or a second distribution control signal corresponding to a distinguishing result of the article distinguished based on article information. A first conveyance section receives the article distributed in the first direction, and conveys the article based on a first conveyance control signal toward a tray of a first type among a plurality of trays sequentially conveyed. A second conveyance section receives the article distributed in the second direction, and conveys the article based on a second conveyance control signal toward a tray of a second type among the plurality of trays sequentially conveyed. A conveyance sorting section conveys the plurality of trays including the tray of the first type and the tray of the second type, and sorts each of articles conveyed by the plurality of trays to a designated sorting destination based on a sorting control signal. US 2023 / 202761 A1 discloses a conveyor system comprising a chain including a plurality of links that are coupled together in a loop and hinge with respect to each other at hinge points.

[0009] EP 3 982 223 A1 discloses a method for manufacturing a conveyance device comprising: a host controller and a plurality of conveyance units each including an individual controller that controls each of the conveyance units.

[0010] JP 2021 528338 A, also published as WO 2020 / 002043 A1 discloses a conveyor device comprising a drive unit, a connection interface configured for analog signal transmission, and a drive control module connected to the drive unit and to the connection interface via signal technology.

[0011] US 2018 / 162652 A1 discloses an integrated software system and method that controls the design, emulation, testing and production activities of a conveyor based system. In embodiments, the control system implements an object-oriented like environment into a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) system and uses its software to define and control the operation of the PLC dynamically from a computer.

[0012] US 2018 / 086567 A1 discloses a conveying device for conveying objects comprising a plurality of conveyor segments. Each conveyor segment has a control unit for controlling the conveyor drive, and a bus communication, wherein each control unit is connected to the bus communication. Each control unit has a microprocessor for processing control signals, a first electronic memory connected to the microprocessor, in which a first control configuration is stored, and a second electronic memory in which a second control configuration is stored. The microprocessor is adapted to control the conveyor drive in a first operating mode with the control configuration stored in the first memory, to load the second control configuration from the second memory into the first memory when a configuration change command is received, and to control the conveyor drive in a first operating mode with the control configuration stored in the first memory.

[0013] Conventionally, the above arrangements receive object information from a warehouse data management system; based on the received information, the objects are conveyed to a predefined destination. Also the arrangement provide information to the warehouse data management system, in particular comprising confirmations, that certain objects are delivered to a certain destination. There is no communication standard for the exchange of information between the conveying arrangement and the warehouse data management system.

[0014] It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved conveyor arrangement. In particular, object of the invention is to simplify the commissioning of a conveyor arrangement under consideration of the usage of subsystems provided by different suppliers, which are not matched to each other by default.

[0015] The object of the invention is solved by the subject of the independent claims; embodiments are subject of the subclaims and the description.

[0016] According to the present invention there is provided a translator between a control of the conveyor arrangement and the warehouse data management system. The translator is in particular adapted to provide the control as well as the warehouse data management system with the particular information, which is required by the respective receiving entity.

[0017] A warehouse data management system is considered as a data providing entity, which provides data relevant for the conveying operation. The relevant data may comprise object data such as identification data, routing data, destination data and / or other data containing specifications of the objects and the conveying process. IN certain embodiments, the warehouse data management system may have an overall data overview of the objects and their positions within the conveyor arrangement. The warehouse data management system may be a PLC.

[0018] The translator is in particular a configurable translator.

[0019] The translator is thereby adapted to translate the information from a first syntax into second syntax, which is different to the first syntax. The first syntax is in particular a first digital syntax and the second syntax is in particular a second digital syntax.

[0020] The translator is thereby configurable so that a user can configure the translator according the used syntax. In an embodiment such a configuration can be stored for later usage; also a prestored configuration from an earlier installation can be reused again.

[0021] The warehouse data management system may be a component of the inventive conveyor arrangement.

[0022] The inventive method may further include the features which are disclosed or claimed in relation to the inventive conveyor arrangement. In this case the apparatus features introduced with “adapted to” may be rephrased to method step features. A non-limiting example of the invention is described with respect to the figures; herein show fig. 1 shows an exemplary conveyor zone used within the inventive arrangement; fig. 2 schematically a embodiments of conveyor zones having different inlet I outlet configurations; fig. 3 schematically an inventive conveyor arrangement; fig. 4 schematically the communication between a central control of the inventive arrangement of figure 3 with a warehouse data management system; fig. 5 - 8 a configurator of the inventive arrangement in different situations during configuration.

[0023] 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. The motor-driven conveyor roller 3M is driven in particular by a three-phase motor arranged in the 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 is linearly conveyed from an inlet I to an outlet O.

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

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

[0026] The motor-driven conveyor rollers 3M are each controlled by at least one or a plurality of zone controller 11. A single zone control 11 can control the motor-driven conveyor rollers of several conveyor zones 2. Several such zone controllers 11 are arranged in a conveyor arrangement 1 (see below in figure 3), which communicate with each other via a bus connection 13.

[0027] The zone controllers 11 control the motor-driven conveyor rollers 3M in such a way that the successively approaching conveyed goods 9 do not collide with each other. 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 material may already enter a downstream conveyor zone from an upstream conveyor zone even though a downstream conveyed material has not yet left this downstream conveyor zone 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 goods do not then touch and thus damage each other.

[0028] In the following course of the invention, reference is made to conveyor zones, using a schematic representation of said conveyor zone as shown in figure 2. Here figure 2a represents schematically a conveyor zone 2a, showing one first inlet 11 and one first outlet 01. No more inlets and outlets are provided. The conveyor zone can be curved.

[0029] Figure 2b shows the representation of another conveyor zone 2b having an extended scope of operation. Here in addition to the conveyor zone 2a of figure 2a the conveyor zone 2b 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. Co

[0030] As an example, said conveyor zone of figure 2b can be formed by a conveyor zone as shown in figure 1, which additionally is provided with a transfer device 20 as described with reference to figure 5 of EP 3222 564 B1.

[0031] Figure 2c shows the representation of a conveyor zone 2c having an extended scope of operation. Here in addition to the conveyor zone 2a of figure 2a, the conveyor zone 2b has an additional second inlet I2. Objects 9 can be conveyed from one of said first and second inlets 11, 11 to said first outlet 01. Such Conveyor zones are also known as “a merge”.

[0032] The transfer device as described with reference to figure 2b may be suitable also to provide said additional second inlet I2.

[0033] Figure 2d shows the representation of a conveyor zone 2c having an extended scope of operation. Here in addition to the conveyor zone 2a of figure 2a the conveyor zone 2b has an additional second inlet I2 and an additional second outlet 02 and is an example as a combination of the embodiments of figures 2b and 2c. All conveyor zones are controlled by a zone controller 11 as shown in figure 1 , in particular wherein one zone controller device may be adapted to control the operation of more than one zones 2.

[0034] Figure 3 shows an inventive conveyor arrangement having a plurality of conveyor zones as described above. The plurality of zone controllers 11 control operation of the zones 2 based on overall control signals or object information provided by a central control 10. Due to a better visibility only a few (not all) zone controllers 11 are shown in figure 3. Via the conveyor zones 2 objects are conveyed from at least one feed in station F1, F2 selectively to one of a plurality of destinations D1-D9. The conveyor arrangement comprises conveyor zones 2a-d of different embodiments provided.

[0035] Scanners 5 located along the zones provide identification data relating to objects to be conveyed. These identification data are sent via data connection 13 to central control 10. Central control 10 has access to a warehouse data management system 15, which provides destination data and other relevant information for the identified objects. Based on the acquired data the central control 10 provides operation instruction to a zone controllers 11, how to handle the object, i.e. to which of the outlets said object is to be conveyed or, at a higher level, which object has to be conveyed to which destination.

[0036] At least some of the conveyor zones 2b, 2d have more than one outlets 01, 02. In the following such conveyor zones having at least two outlets are called sorting zones 2b, 2d.

[0037] Zone controller 11 controls the sorting functionality of the sorting zones 2b, 2d. Here the zone controller 11 provides clear instructions to the sorting zone 2b, 2d, via which of the plurality of outlets 01, 02 a currently conveyed object 9 is to be conveyed.

[0038] Between the warehouse data management system 15 and the central control 10, a significant system border B is present. Traditionally, on the one side, warehouse data management solutions are provided by specialized services providers with are different to the providers of conveying solutions on the other side. On both sides of the system border B, there are integrated solutions available, however connecting the both sides is always an individual task.

[0039] The invention now provides a configurable translator 17 in the communication path between the central control 10 and the warehouse data management system 15.

[0040] The functionality of said translator 17 is shown in more detail in figure 4.

[0041] The warehouse data management system 15 provides messages as a warehouse output message 015. This warehouse output message 015 contains on the one hand information which is relevant for the central control controller and information on the other hand which is not relevant for the central control.

[0042] As an example, the central control 10 requires an identification of a destination, to which an individual object should be conveyed to, and a weight of said object. To obtain the required information the central control 10 provides a control output message 010, which contains a request for information. The control output message may also contain an information, that a certain object has been delivered to a certain destination.

[0043] Exemplary embodiments of the output messages 015, 010 are show in figure 4. By default, the warehouse data management system 15 cannot understand the control output message 010 and the central control 10 cannot understand the warehouse output message 015.

[0044] Any information which is provided by the control 10 and intended to the warehouse data management system 15 is referred to as an upstream information. Any information which is provided by the warehouse data management system 15and is intended to the central control 10 is referred to as a downstream information.

[0045] The example of the warehouse output message 015 contains an arbitrary character string. Most of the characters may be of no relevance in terms of the present invention. For the particular relevance are the characters “10000317” followed by the introducing characters “_ID_”. These characters denote the identification of certain object and at the same side introduces other features related to this particular object, which are transmitted by the string.

[0046] Another character string as shown below contains following string “_w_ “ introducing the string “001499”, which is the indication of the weight (1499 grams) of the identified object introduced before.

[0047] This is a very basic method of communicating features related to a certain object. In particular the information can also be transmitted in an encrypted way. Other warehouse data management systems use different ways of communicating the relevant information required by the central control 10 of the conveyor arrangement 1.

[0048] The translator 17 can receive the warehouse output message 015 from the warehouse data management system 15 and can isolate the relevant information and provide the isolated information within a second input message 110 to the central control 10. In the control input message 110, the information is provided in a manner, which can be understood by the central control 10. To adapt the arrangement 1 for the communication with any of a plurality of different warehouse data management systems 15 the translator 17 is configurable with the help of a configurator 17C.

[0049] For configuring, the configurator 17C comprises a user interface shown in figure 5 to 8.

[0050] Figure 5 shows the way of configuring said translator 17 by means of said configurator 17C. Here a graphical interface is shown with several input and selection windows, by which a user can provide the details on how to interpret the warehouse output message 015 and to provide the relevant information to the central control by the control input message 110.

[0051] In a first step S1 the user defines a value to be determined from the warehouse output message 015, here the user selects the value “objID”, which is the identification for a certain object.

[0052] In a second step S2 the user defines where to find said information for said value in the warehouse output message 015. As an example the user identifies an absolute position within the string (here the position of the terms “_d_”), along with a relative position where the information can be found in relation to the absolute position (number of characters after said absolute position).

[0053] In a third step S3 the user defines, how to transform the information found in the warehouse output message 015 to obtain the required value (e.g. in the present example by simply converting a number of characters into a text format value).

[0054] Figure 6 shows in main the same steps for configuring the way of obtaining the values for the weight from the warehouse output message 015.

[0055] Figure 7 shows a way of configuring the translator 17 by means of the configurator 170, so that the translator 17 is adapted to generate a warehouse input message containing a request for information of the central control 10.

[0056] The configurator provides a string input field F15. For each request for information, the user can construct the warehouse input message 115 based on fixed components and variable components. Same applies also for message, which contain information to the warehouse data management system, such as a confirmation, that an individual object has been delivered to the intended destination. Figure 8 shows a functionality of the configurator, to store the configuration as above in a data file. Such a stored configuration can be used by loading it into another arrangement instead of establishing said configuration again.

[0057] The central control is to be understood in a broad way. It an embodiment the central control provides control commands to the actuators in the zones in real time. In another embodiment the central control is a data providing entity which provides just in time data based on which the zone controllers provide real time control commands to the actuators in the zones. A data broker according to PCT / EP2023 / 065597 is to be considered as a central control 10.

[0058] List of reference signs

[0059] 1 conveyor arrangement

[0060] 2a...d conveyor zone

[0061] 3 conveyor roller

[0062] 3M motorized roller

[0063] 4 connector

[0064] 5 presence sensor

[0065] 8 support frame

[0066] 9 conveyed object

[0067] 10 central control

[0068] 11 zone controller

[0069] 13 bus connection

[0070] 15 warehouse data management system

[0071] 17 translator

[0072] I inlet of conveyor zone

[0073] O outlet of conveyor zone

[0074] D destination

[0075] F feed in station

[0076] S scanning station I scanner

[0077] W weighing station

[0078] 015 warehouse output message

[0079] 010 control output message

[0080] 115 warehouse input message

[0081] 110 control input message

[0082] F15 input field

[0083] P1..3 prestored translator configuration

[0084] Ul user interface

Claims

Claims1. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1), adapted to convey an object (9), in particular from at least one feed in station (F) selectively to a selected destination (D5) from a plurality of destinations (D1-D12), the conveyor arrangement (1), comprising,- a plurality of conveyor zones (2), each conveyor zone (2) is adapted to convey an object (9) from an inlet (I) of said conveyor zone (2) to an outlet (O) of said conveyor zone (2),- at least one controller (10, 11) adapted to control operation of said conveyor zones (2); wherein said conveyor zones (2) are arranged in a manner, that said object (9) can be transferred from an outlet (O) of a previous conveyor zone (2) to an inlet (I) of a subsequent conveyor zone (2); wherein at least one controller (10), in particular a central controller (10), is connected or connectable to a warehouse data management system (15), and adapted to receive downstream information containing data related to said objects, characterized by a translator (17), in particular a configurable translator, adapted to- receive a downstream information (objID, destID, weight) from said warehouse data management system (15), in particular within a warehouse output message (150);- provide said downstream information (objID, destID, weight) to said controller (10), in particular within a control input message (110).

2. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in- that the translator is adapted to isolate said downstream information (objID, destID, weight) from said warehouse output message (150),- provide said isolated downstream information (objID, destID, weight) to said controller (10), in particular within said control input message (110).

3. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said downstream information comprising- identification data (objID) indicating the identity of an object, and / or- data identifying a destination (destID), to which an object is to be conveyed to, and / or- a weight information (weight) indicating the weight of an object.

4. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said translator is adapted to provide said downstream information, in particular within the control input message (110), in a different syntax than said downstream information was provided within the warehouse output message (015).

5. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in wherein at least one controller (11), in particular said central controller (11), is adapted to provide an upstream information intended for said warehouse data management system (15), wherein the said translator (17) is adapted to- receive said upstream information (request_destination, request weight, confirm_delivery), in particular within said control output message (010), from said control (10),- provide said isolated upstream information (request_destination, request weight, confirm_delivery) to said warehouse data management system (15) in a warehouse input message (115).

6. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim; characterized in that the translator (17) is adapted to receive a control output message from said control (10) and to isolate said upstream information (request_destination, request weight, confirm_delivery) from said control output message (010).

7. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said upstream information comprising- request for providing an identification data (objID) indicating the identity of an object, and / or- request for providing data identifying a destination (destID), to which an object is to be conveyed to, and / or- request for providing a weight information (weight) indicating the weight of an object; and / or- a confirmation, that an object has beedn delivered in particular contiaining an information relating to an individual destination, to which the object has been delivered.

8. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the claims 5 to 7, characterized in that said translator is adapted to provide said upstream information within the warehouse input message (115) in a different syntax than the information was provided within the control output message (010).

9. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by a configurator (17C), the configurator (17C) is adapted to provide a user interface (III), wherein the user interface (III) is adapted to receive user input, the configurator (17C) is adapted to configure the configurable translator (17) based on the user input in a manner, so that the translator is set into a condition to provide the downstream information provided in the warehouse output message (015) to the control (10), and / or the upstream information provided by the control (10) to the warehouse data management system (15).

10. Intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the user interface (III) is a graphical user interface.

11. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the configurator (17C) is adapted to safe a configuration created by means of said user input as a prestored configuration.

12. I ntralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the translator is adapted to be configured by selecting a prestored configuration out of a plurality of prestored configurations.

13. Intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said conveyor zones is a sorting zone (2b, 2d) having at least two outlets (01 , 02), wherein a zone controller (11) controlling a sorting zone (2b, 2d) is a sorting controller (11b, 11d, 11e), wherein each sorting controller (11b, 11d, 11e) is adapted to control the sorting zones (2b, 2d) in a manner so that said sorting zone (2b, 2d) conveys said object selectively from an inlet to a selected outlet (01, 02) from said at least two outlets (01, 02).

14. Intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by a warehouse data management system (15); wherein the at least one controller (10), in particular a central controller (10), is connected to said warehouse data management system (15), and the at least one controller (10) is adapted to receive downstream information containing data related to said objects; in particular wherein the least one controller (11) is adapted to provide upstream information intended for said warehouse data management system (15).

15. Method of operating an intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1), the intralogistic conveyor arrangement (1) is adapted to convey an object (9), in particular from at least one feed in station (F) selectively to a selected destination (D5) from a plurality of destinations (D1-D12), the conveyor arrangement (1), comprising,- a plurality of conveyor zones (2), each conveyor zone (2) is adapted to convey an object (9) from an inlet (I) of said conveyor zone (2) to an outlet (O) of said conveyor zone (2),at least one controller (10, 11) adapted to control operation of said conveyor zones (2); wherein said conveyor zones (2) are arranged in a manner, that said object (9) can be transferred from an outlet (O) of a previous conveyor zone (2) to an inlet (I) of a subsequent conveyor zone (2); wherein at least one controller (10), in particular a central controller (10), is connected to a warehouse data management system (15) and receives downstream information containing data related to said objects, characterized in that a, in particular configurable, translator (17)- receives a downstream information (objID, destID, weight) from said warehouse data management system (15), in particular within a warehouse output message (150);- provides said downstream information (objID, destID, weight) to said controller (10), in particular within a control input message (110);

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