Conveyor arrangement with regerative power levelling

Abstract

Conveyor arrangement (1), adapted to convey an object (9), 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 (1) of said conveyor zone (2) to an outlet (0) of said conveyor zone (2), each conveyor zone (2) is provided with a drive unit (3M), each drive unit (3M) is adapted to transform electrical power into mechanical power required for conveying said objects (9); - a plurality of, in particular at least two, power supply devices (21) adapted to supply electric power (P21) to the drive units (3M); - in particular at least one controller (10, 11) adapted to control operation of said conveyor zones (2); the conveyor arrangement (1) further comprising a power supply network (20), comprising - the plurality of power supply devices (21); - the plurality of drive units (3M); - at least one power supply line (23) connecting the plurality of power supply devices (21) with the plurality of drive units (3M).

Description

[0001] Conveyor arrangement description The invention refers to a conveyor arrangement.In a conventional conveyor arrangement, e.g. shown in US 7,996,104 B2, a plurality of5 conveyor zones are provided. A plurality of local zone controllers control the operation of thezones based on overall control signals provided by a central programmable logic controller (PLC). Thereby the local zone controller provides start / stop signals and speed control of a motorized roller according to messages from the PLC. Scanners provided along the zones provide identification data relating to objects to be 10 conveyed. These identification data are sent via a data connection to the PLC. The 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 alocal zone controller, how to handle said object, i.e. to which of the outlets said object is tobe conveyed. Consequently the routing decisions for individual objects are done within the15 PLC and are provided to the zone controllers. The zone controllers control the zone actuatorsin accordance with the provided routing decisions. WO 2023 / 247237 A1 discloses a conveyor arrangement having a plurality of conveyor zones.Each conveyor zone has a drive unit, in particular a motorized roller. The motorized roller isdriven controlled by a zone controller. 20 WO 2019 / 110841 A1 discloses a control unit, which can be used to control the conveyor rollers in a conveyor arrangement. Here two separate power supplies are provided. A first power supply provides power for the control systems; a second power supply provides the operating power, which is required to operate the drive units, such as drive motors actually operating the conveyor arrangement. The present invention is concerned with the power25 supply required for operating the drive units.Conventionally, several drive units are connected to one power supply device. This power supply device needs to be dimensioned in a way, that always enough power is available for all possible operating situations. This results in an oversizing of the power supply, which leads toincreased costs. 30 It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved conveyor arrangement. The object of the invention is solved by the subject of the independent claims; embodiments aresubject of the subclaims and the description. -1 -2025061824024PWO text

[0002] A main aspect of the invention is to provide a power supply network, where a plurality of power supply devices provide a plurality of conveyor zones with electric power. The power supplied is thereby used in particular to provide a conveyor drive with sufficient electric power, so that theconveyor drive can drive the conveying operation. 5Each drive unit is thereby connected to said plurality of power supply devices, so that anyincreased or reduced demand for power can be levelled by the plurality of power supplydevices or by other drive units. In particular if any drive unit is operated in a regenerative mode, the chances are increased that power resulting from said regenerative mode can beused to drive any other drive unit within the network. As an example, the drive unit is a 10 motorized conveyor roller. In addition, due to the increased number of components connected with each other, lessreserve must be planned in the design, so that in sum a lower amount of peak power capacity needs to be provided within the conveyor arrangement. In principle, the following benefits results from the use of a power supply network compared to15 separate power supply groups: Operational safety: Sharing an electrical load between several power supply devices reducesthe risk of overload. If one unit fails or is overloaded, this does not affect the entire network. Accordingly, less power reserve needs to be provided in the overall system.Maintenance and servicing: With many power supply devices, maintenance and servicing work 20 can be carried out at individual points without affecting the entire operation; maintenance and servicing work may be done during the running operation. Flexibility: The more power supply devices are connected, the more flexibly the system can react to changes. New units can be added or existing units modified without jeopardizing the overall system. 25 To level the amount of power provided by each power supply device, the power supply devices are controlled in a manner, so that the voltage supplied by each power supply unit depends on the power which is supplied by said power supply device. The more power a power supply device provides, the lower the output voltage it supplies. This results in adecentralized levelling of the power supply devices in a manner, that all power supply device30 provide more or less the same power. The power supply network is in particular planned with the help of an IT planning tool. The IT planning tool supports a human planner to provide a most efficient conveyor arrangement,- 2 -2025061824024PWO text

[0003] where the number of required power supply devices matches the demand. Accordingly, thenumber of power supply devices is reduced compared to a conventional conveyor arrangement, thereby reducing component and installation costs. In particular said conveyor zones are arranged in a manner, that said object can be transferred 5 from an outlet of an upstream conveyor zone to an inlet of a downstream conveyor zone. Anon-limiting example of the invention is described with respect to the figures; herein shows:fig.1 an exemplary conveyor zone used within the inventive arrangement;fig.2 schematically a embodiments of conveyor zones having different inlet / outletconfigurations;10 fig.3 schematically a conventional conveyor arrangement;fig.4 schematically the power consumption of a conveyor zone during different typical situations of operation; fig.5 schematically a conveyor arrangement according to the invention;fig.6 two diagram of the output voltage of a power supply device in different15 configurations; fig.7 two diagrams according to figure 6a showing the power supply of two power supplydevices during a balancing situation; fig.8 schematically a basic structure of a power supply device;fig.9 a comparative example not according to the invention;20 fig.10 several diagrams showing the availability of voltages depending on the position;fig.11 a personal computer, on which an IT planning tool is running for planning aconveyor arrangement according to the present invention; fig 12 a connection of the power supply devices if the inventive conveyor arrangementaccording with a public power grid;25 fig 13 the structure of a drive unit in relation to a motorized roller.Figure 1 shows an exemplary conveyor zone 2, comprising several conveyor rollers 3 whichare driven together. For this purpose, one of the conveyor rollers 3 is designed as a motorized roller 3M, which is driven by a drive unit 3U. 30 Reference is now made to figure 13a showing the overall structure of the drive unit 3U. Eachdrive unit 3U has a drive motor 3D, which is a three-phase motor. The drive unit 3U comprisesalso a frequency converter 3F, which converts a direct current voltage provided via a powerline 23, into a three-phase voltage, which is the input voltage of the cols within the drive motor35 3D (figure 13a).- 3 -2025061824024PWO text

[0004] In some embodiments the motorized roller 3M comprises the electric drive 3D and thefrequency converter 3F of the drive unit 3U (figure 13b).In another embodiment, the motorized roller 3M comprises merely the drive motor 3D of the drive unit 3U. Here the frequency converter 3F is located outside of the motorized roller 3M5 (figure 13c). In this case the frequency converter may be within a zone controller 11 orseparate to the zone controller. The motorized roller 3M is driven in particular by said three-phase motor arranged in themotorized roller 3M. Via one or more drive connectors 4, e.g. a drive belt, the conveyor rollers3 of a conveyor zone 2 are drive-connected to each other and are jointly driven by the10 motorized roller 3M. An object is linearly conveyed from an inlet I to an outlet O.By means of a presence sensor 5, the presence of a conveyed object 9 arranged on theconveyor zone can be determined. The presence sensor 5 does not have to cover the entireconveyor zone 2; it is sufficient if the presence of a conveyed object 9 within a partial area ofthe conveyor zone 2 is detected by the presence sensor 5. The presence sensor 5 thereby15 generates a sensor signal S5, which is transmitted via a signal line (not shown) to a zone controller 11, as described below. Presence detection can also be performed without anexplicit sensor and can be derived from other raw data. For example, there are already approaches to derive the presence of a conveyed object 9 on the conveyor zone 2 from otherdata, e.g. from the course of the current intensity in a conveyor zone 9.20 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. The motorized rollers 3M are each controlled by at least one or a plurality of zone controllers11. A single zone controller 11 can control the motorized rollers of several conveyor zones 2.25 Several such zone controllers 11 are arranged in a conveyor arrangement 1 (see below infigure 3), which communicate with each other via a data connection 13.The zone controllers 11 control the motorized rollers 3M in such a way that the successivelyapproaching conveyed objects 9 do not collide with each other. The control takes place insuch a way that essentially only one conveyed object 9 is present per conveyor zone 2.30 However, slight overlaps may occur. For example, an upstream conveyed object 9 mayalready enter a downstream conveyor zone from an upstream conveyor zone even though adownstream 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 -4 -2025061824024PWO text

[0005] here, although it is ensured that the two conveyed objects 9 do not then touch and thusdamage each other. The term “controlling a motorized roller” comprises in particular “controlling the operation of the drive motor 3D of a motorized roller 3U and / or controlling the operation of the frequency5 converter 3F of the of the drive unit comprising the drive motor 3D of said motorized conveyor roller 3M, which automatically leads to a respective operation of the motorized roller 3M. In the following course of the invention, reference is made to conveyor zones 2, using aschematic representation of said conveyor zone as shown in figure 2. Here figure 2a represents schematically a conveyor zone 2a, showing one first inlet I1 and one first outlet O1.10 No more inlets and outlets are provided. The conveyor zone can be curved. 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 O2. The object 9 can be conveyed selectively from said first inlet I1 to one of said first and second outlets O1, O2.Co 15 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 as described with reference to figure 5 of EP 3222564 B1. 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 2c has an20 additional second inlet I2. Objects 9 can be conveyed from one of said first and second inlets I1, I2 to said first outlet O1. Such conveyor zones are also known as “a merge”.The transfer device as described with reference to figure 2b may be suitable also to provide said additional second inlet I2. Figure 2d shows the representation of a conveyor zone 2d having an extended scope of25 operation. Here in addition to the conveyor zone 2a of figure 2a the conveyor zone 2d has anadditional second inlet I2 and an additional second outlet O2 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 11 may be adapted to control the operation of more than one30 zones 2. -5 -2025061824024PWO text

[0006] The motorized roller 3M is powered by a power supply device 21 (see figure 1). The powersupply device 21 has a mains cable 22C with a mains plug 22P, which can be plugged into astandard socket (e.g. 230V or 400V, not shown). The motorized roller 3M is connected to thepower supply device 31 by a power supply line 23. 5 Here the power supply is illustrated in main independent from the zone controller. It is commonly used within the industry, that the power supply from the power supply device 21 iswired through the zone controller 11 to the motorized rollers 3M. However, the wiring here is ofminor relevance for the present invention. Figure 3 and 5 are described together, where figure 3 shows a conventional conveyor10 arrangement 1 and figure 5 shows a conveyor arrangement 1 according to the presentinvention. The differences between the two embodiments are highlighted separately. The conveyor arrangement 1 comprises a plurality of conveyor zones 2 as described above.The plurality of zone controllers 11 control the operation of the conveyor zones 2 based onoverall control signals or object information provided by a central control 10. Due to a better15 visibility only a few (not all) zone controllers 11 are shown in figure 3. Via the conveyor zones 2 objects may be conveyed from at least one feed F in station selectively to one of a plurality of destinations. The conveyor arrangement 1 comprises conveyor zones 2a-d of different embodiments. Scanners (not shown) located along the conveyor zones 11 provide identification data relating20 to objects to be conveyed. These identification data are sent via data connection 13 to the central control 10. Central control 10 may have access to a warehouse data management system (not shown), 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 zone controllers 11, how to handle the object 9, i.e. to which of the outlets said25 object is to be conveyed or, at a higher level, which object 9 has to be conveyed to whichdestination. The central control 10 is to be understood in a broad way. In an embodiment the centralcontrol provides control commands to the actuators in the zones in real time. In another embodiment the central control 10 is a data providing entity which provides just in time data30 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. -6 -2025061824024PWO text

[0007] At least some of the conveyor zones 2b, 2d have more than one outlets O1, O2. In the following such conveyor zones having at least two outlets are called sorting zones 2b, 2d. 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 5 outlets O1, O2 a currently conveyed object 9 is to be conveyed. In the conventional conveyor arrangement of figure 3, the motorized rollers 3M of each zones2 are connected via a power supply line 23 to exactly one power supply device 21. Figure 12 shows the connection of the power supply devices 21 in more details. At an power input side each power supply devise 21 has a mains cable 22 with a plug 22P. The plug 22P10 of the mains cable is plugged into a mains socket 41 of a public power grid 40. The publicpower grid provides power an a alternating current (AC) voltage, e.g. of 230V or 400V, which is the input voltage U22 of the power supply device 21. At an output side of the power supply devices 21, a conveyor power grid 27 is provided, whichprovides the plurality of drive units 3U with a predefined direct current voltage (DC) output15 voltage U21. The predefined direct current voltage remains constant during operation (forsmall deviations within the constant voltage U3M see below figures 6 and 7). As aconsequence, a plurality of power supply devices 21 deliver power into the same direct current (DC) conveyor power grid 27. Figure 4 shows a typical power consumption of a motorized roller 3M during typical operation20 of a conveyor zone, which is valid for the conventional and the inventive embodiment fordifferent cases C1, C2, C3. In a first case C1, no object or an object of low weight is located inthe zone; in the second and third case C2, C3 an object of high weight is located on theconveyor zone and is therefore accelerated and decelerated according to the speed of themotorized roller.25 All cases C1, C2, C3 comprises three phases I, II, III.A first phase I is an acceleration phase. Here the drive motor of a motorized roller isaccelerated from zero to a nominal speed. An acceleration peak PI in the power consumptionis caused by the power required for accelerating the moving components in the rollers and - ifapplicable - the object located within the conveyor zone of said roller. The acceleration peak PI30 is in particular dependent on the mass to be accelerated. Accordingly the acceleration peak PI is in the second and third cases C2, C3 larger than for the first case C1. -7 -2025061824024PWO text

[0008] In a second phase II the rollers are driven at constant speed. The power is used tocompensate frictional losses within the rollers. The weight of the object located within the conveyor zone is of minor relevance with respect to power consumption, so that the powerconsumption for the second phase II is in main the same for all three cases C1, C2, C3. 5In a third phase III, the rollers are decelerated, which leads to a stopping of the rollers and theobject located in the zone. In the cases C1 and C2 the power is merely switched off, so thatthe rollers roll out, without any significant power consumption. In case C3, the motorized roller3M provides a brake torque, to achieve a fast stop of the object. Here drive motor of the motorized roller is switched into regenerative mode of operation, in which kinetic energy is10 converted into electrical energy. Accordingly a deceleration peak PIII in the negative P-range is given. It is apparent that each of the motor-driven rollers needs to be connected to a power supply device 21, which can deal with the peaks which can occur during the operation. As a comparative example: If exactly the drive unit of one motorized roller 3M would be15 connected to exactly one dedicated power supply device 21 (this competitive example is shown in figure 9), the power supply device must be designed in way to reliably support thepower peaks occurring within the connected device at any time. Accordingly the power supplydevice is designed to support a power consumption significantly exceeding the average power consumption of said motorized roller. Also the power generated by deceleration peak during20 phase PIII in case C3 can not be used by any other motorized roller. So in the comparativeexample the sum of all power supply devices provide least the capacity, which conforms to the number of motorized rollers multiplied with the peak power – without any synergy effects withother rollers given. In the conventional embodiment of figure 3 several motorized rollers 3M are connected via a25 power line 23 with one power supply device 21, constituting a power supply group 29. Accordingly each power supply group 29 has exactly one power supply device 21 connected to a plurality of motorized rollers 3M. Here, electric power generated by the power peak P3 in the negative P-range of a first motordriven roller is used to power a second motorized roller in another zone via the power supply30 line 23 connecting the two motorized rollers 3M. An additional advantage is, that thedimensioning the power supply device 21 can be done under the assumption, that it is very unlikely, that all rollers are operated at the same time with the peak power. As consequence, the power supply device 21 is dimensioned in a way, that its capacity is smaller than the- 8 -2025061824024PWO text

[0009] number of motorized rollers multiplied with the peak power – here a certain synergy effect isgiven. In the inventive embodiment of figure 5, there is provided a power supply network 20. This power supply network 20 comprises a plurality of power supply devices 21 and a plurality of 5motorized rollers 3M, which are all connected to each other by the power supply line 23.The above advantages of the conventional embodiment (figure 3) over the comparativeexample (figure 9) are preserved and further enhanced, so that the positive synergy effect is increased in relation to the conventional embodiment. The likelihood, that the regenerative power of the deceleration peak P3 can be used in another motorized roller 3M is increased by10 the number of other motorized rollers connected to each other. Also the risk, that all rollers areoperated in the peak mode is tremendously decreased. That leads to the advantage that the dimensioning of the power supply devices can be additionally reduced compared to the conventional embodiment, because the sum of power provided by the power supply devices can be far less than the sum of all peak powers of all connected motorized rollers.15 Figure 6a and 6b each comprises a diagram showing the output voltage U21 of the powersupply device 21 in relation to the power P21 actually supplied by said power supply device 21. Within a nominal operating range N the output voltage U21 is depending on the power P21 actually supplied by the power supply device 21. The power supply device 21 is therebycontrolled in a manner, so that the power supply device 21 provides less output voltage U2120 the more power P21 is supplied. In an embodiment as shown in figure 6, decreasing theoutput voltage U21 may start from a threshold power value Pt, which is larger than Zero. Figure 7 shows an actual state of two power supply devices 21a, 21b, initially supplying different amount of power P21 (marked with an x on the characteristic line). Accordingly, thefirst power supply device 21a, which supplies a lower amount of power than the second power25 supply device 21b, pushes power with a higher output voltage U21 into the network than saidsecond power supply device 21b. That leads to the effect, that amount of power supplied bythe first power supply device 21a is increasing (see arrow A) and the amount of power supplied by the second power supply device 21b is decreasing (see arrow B), so that finally both power supply devices 21a, 21b providing the same power are working at identical30 working points (marked with a dot). Consequently, the power supply devices 21 are adapted towork in a self-balancing way. The output voltage U21 is varied within an input voltage range U3M of the motorized roller. Asan example, the motorized roller is nominally operated at input voltage of 48V, but themotorized roller is designed to work properly within a input voltage range U3M e.g. between- 9 -2025061824024PWO text

[0010] 47V and 49V. Even if the power supply devices 21 provide output power at a slightly voltagelevel, this voltage U21 is still considered as a constant output voltage. Figure 8 shows schematically an exemplary structure of an exemplary power supply device 21. The power supply device 21 has a voltage converter 25 in particular rectifier converting a5 two- or three-phase or any other input voltage U22, in particular net voltage 230V or 400V),received via the connecting mains cable 22 and converts it into the direct current voltage provided via the power supply line 23 to the drive units. The operation of the motor voltage converter 25 is controlled by a controller 26 of the power supply device. The controller 26controls operation of the voltage converter 25 in a manner, that the power supply device 2110 supplies power according to the diagram of figure 6. Figure 10 shows three simplified diagrams, indicating the available voltage U(x) depending on aposition x in a simplified power supply network 20as shown below respective the diagrams.In the power supply network 20 the position x of the power consumers, here drive units 3Urelative to the power supply devices 21 is shown. The diagram shows thereby, that the voltage15 availability is depending on the distance, which can be derived from the position x. Here it is considered, that the available voltage U(x) is reduced due to losses in the power lines 23 (thisis illustrated by the slightly angled sections in the diagram). Also each of the drive units 3Ucauses a loss in the available voltage in the power line 23 behind each consumer (this isillustrated by the steps in the in the diagram). 20 Accordingly; the larger the distance of a certain position x and the more drive units 3U are located between said certain position x and the next power supply device 21, the lower theavailable voltage is at said certain position x. Figure 10a shows a diagram of an exemplary power supply network 20, where the individual power supply devices 21 are located quite near to each other. Accordingly, there is a high25 density of power supply devices 21. The result is, that all drive units 3U are supplied withsufficient voltage. Figure 10b shows a diagram of an exemplary power supply network 20, where the individualpower supply devices 21 are located quite far away from each other. Accordingly, there is a low density of power supply devices 21. The result is, that at least some drive units 3U are30 supplied with a voltage below a voltage limit U* (these drive units 3U are painted with blackfilling). Accordingly, there is an increased risk, that qt least sometimes these drive units 3U arenot provided with sufficient voltage in particular under the assumption, that the output voltageof the power supply device may be reduced in some situations according to figure 6. -10 -2025061824024PWO text

[0011] Figure 10c shows a diagram of an exemplary power supply network 20, where the individual power supply devices 21 are located in a balanced way from each other. Accordingly, there is abalanced density of power supply devices 21. The result is, that all drive units 3U aresupplied with at least sufficient voltage at the voltage limit U*. Accordingly, there is no risk, that 5these consumer are not provided with sufficient voltage even under the assumption, that theoutput voltage of the power supply device may be reduced in some situations according to figure 6. Accordingly, figure 10c shows the most cost-efficient configuration, without posing any risks, that any consumer fails due to low power supply. 10 Figure 11 shows a PC, on which a IT planning tool 30 is running. Here the user has the possibility to plan the conveyor arrangement, thereby placing individual conveyor zones 2 including the motorized rollers and / or drive units 3U ) to form said arrangement 1.For more basic information of the functionality of such an IT planning tool 30, reference ismade to International patent application WO 2024 / 149872 A1.15 In addition the user can select and place several power supply devices 21 into the conveyor arrangement 1 by means of a user interaction UI. An efficiency analysis of the power supplynetwork 20 is automatically performed at this stage. Based on the information in the generatedlayout shown in the display of figure 11, all data are available based on which a diagramanalog to figure 11 can be generated. Accordingly, it can be determined in an automated step,20 whether the conditions according to the planned layout are similar to any of the situationsillustrated in one of figure 11a, 11b or 11c. In particular it can be determined automatically whether -there are too many power supply devices 21 planned close to each other (according to figure10a);25 - there are too few power supply devices 21 planned close to each other (according to figure10b); -there are power supply devices 21 planned in an optimized way (according to figure 10c).The determination can be done by considering the planning data of the conveyor arrangement as available within the IT planning tool 30. Here the conveyor zones and their respective30 consumers are known as well as the position of theses devices, from which a cable length can be determined; the cable length again is a basic information for determining a loss in the available voltage at a certain position. From this, the voltage drop at each relevant position can be calculated, forming the basis for evaluating the efficiency.. -11 -2025061824024PWO text

[0012] Based on that determination, the IT planning may be adapted to change a planned position ofan individual power supply device and to repeat the above steps in an iterative manner. As a consequence, an optimized number and optimized positions of power supply devices can be determined automatically. -12 -2025061824024PWO text

[0013] List of reference signs 1 conveyor arrangement2a...d conveyor zone3 conveyor roller3U drive unit3M motorized roller3F frequency converter3D electric motor4 connector 5 presence sensor 8 support frame 9 conveyed object10 central control11 zone controller13 data connection, in particular bus connection20 power supply network21 power supply device22 mains cable22P plug of mains cable23 power supply line25 voltage converter (rectifier)26 controller of power supply device27 conveyor power grid (direct current)30 IT planning tool40 public power grid (alternating current)41 mains socketU22 input voltage of power supply device / net voltageU21 output voltage of power supply deviceU* voltage limitU3M input voltage range of drive unitP21 output power supplied by the power supply devicePt threshold power value- 13 -2025061824024PWO text

[0014] N nominal operating rangex positionUI user interaction- 14 -2025061824024PWO text

Claims

Claims1. Conveyor arrangement (1), adapted to convey an object (9),the conveyor arrangement (1), comprising, -a plurality of conveyor zones (2), each conveyor zone (2) is adapted to convey anobject (9) from an inlet (I) of said conveyor zone (2) to an outlet (O) of saidconveyor zone (2), each conveyor zone (2) is provided with a drive unit (3M), each drive unit (3M) is adapted to transform electrical power into mechanical power required for conveying said objects (9); -a plurality of, in particular at least two, power supply devices (21) adapted to supplyelectric power (P21) to the drive units (3M);- in particular at least one controller (10, 11) adapted to control operation of saidconveyor zones (2); characterized by a power supply network (20), comprising -the plurality of power supply devices (21);- the plurality of drive units (3M);- at least one power supply line (23) connecting the plurality of power supply devices(21) with the plurality of drive units (3M).

2. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim,characterized in that within said power supply network (20) each of the plurality of power supplydevices (21) are connected with each of the plurality of drive units (3M).

3. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims,characterized in that the power supply units (21) are controlled in a manner, so that within a nominal operating range (N) the output voltage (U21) of each power supply device (21) is depending on the output power (P21) supplied by the power supply device (21);4. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim,characterized in that, in particular starting from a threshold power value (Pt), the output voltage (U21) is reduced as the supplied power (P21) is increasing.- 15 -2025061824024PWO text5. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims,characterized in that in a regenerative mode a first drive unit (3M) is adapted to convert mechanicalpower into electrical power; that at the same time a second drive unit (3M) is adapted to convert mechanical powerinto electrical power; thereby using the power converted from the first drive unit (3M), that the power supply network (20) is adapted to transmit the electrical power from thefirst drive unit to the second drive unit via the power supply line (23).

6. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims,characterized in that said power supply device (21) has a voltage converter (25) adapted to convert an input voltage (U22), in particular received by a mains cable (22), into a to an output voltage (U21) in a controlled manner. in particular the power supply device (21) has a controller (26) adapted to control an output voltage (U22) depending on the supplied power (P21) supplied.

7. Method of operating a conveyor arrangement (1) according to any claims 1 to 6,characterized by the ongoing steps of -determining the output power (P21) provided by said power supply devices (21);- adapting the output voltage (U21) based on the determined power (P21) supplied bysaid power supply device (21).

8. Method of according to the preceding claim, characterized in that adapting the output voltage (U21) is performed in a manner, that the more output power is provided by said power supply device (21) the output voltage (U21) isreduced, in particular starting above a threshold power value (Pt).

9. Method of planning a conveyor arrangement (1) according any of to claims 1 to 6,the method comprising the following steps; -providing an IT planning tool (30);- planning said conveyor arrangement (1) having a plurality of conveyor drive units(3M), by means of said IT planning tool (30), thereby defining the position (x) of saiddrive units (3M) relative to each other; -planning said power supply network (20) by means of said IT planning tool (30),thereby defining a number and position of said power supply devices (21) relative to said drive units (3M).- 16 -2025061824024PWO text10. Method of according to the preceding claim,characterized in that that the IT planning tool (30) performs a determination step, thereby determining whether the number and position of the planned power supply devices (21) is sufficient to reliably provide the drive units (3M) with sufficient voltage.

11. Method of according to claim 9 or 10,characterized in that that the IT planning tool performs an optimization step, thereby amending thenumber and / or positions of the planned power supply devices (21) into a configuration,so that the power supply network is adapted to reliably provide the drive units (3M) within said conveyor arrangement (1) with sufficient voltage.

12. Method of according to claim 10 or 11,characterized in that said determination step and / or said optimization step considering an expected loss of voltage caused by a distance (dx) between a planned position of a plurality of drive units (3M) within the conveyor arrangement and the position of said planned power supply devices (21).

13. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to any of claims 1 to 12,characterized in that on a power input side, each power supply device (21) is connected to an alternating current (AC) power grid (40); that on a power output side, each power supply device (21) is connected to a direct voltage (DC) conveyor power grid (27), through which frequency converter (3F) of saiddrive units (3U) are provided with drive power;in particular each power supply device (21) comprises a power rectifier (25) converting an alternating voltage into a direct voltage14. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim,characterized in that the plurality of power supply devices (21) supply the same direct current (DC) conveyor power grid (27) with power.

15. Conveyor arrangement (1) according to the preceding claim,characterized in -17 -2025061824024PWO textan output voltage (U21) of the power supply devices (27) remains at a constant levelduring operation. -18 -2025061824024PWO text

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