Conveying system, in particular a transport system

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveying system, wherein: the conveying system has mobile parts arranged one behind another along a travel section; a barcode is arranged on the bottom of the conveying system; in each case a first barcode reader and a second barcode reader are fastened to the underside of a first mobile part; the conveying system has a rotary table in the travel section by means of which the orientation of the first mobile part can be changed by an angle of rotation such that the first mobile part moves along either in a first orientation or in a second orientation with respect to the travel section; and the barcode passes into the sensitive region of the first barcode reader when the first mobile part having the first orientation is moving past and the barcode is thus detectable and / or detected and the barcode is spaced apart from the sensitive region of the second barcode reader, wherein the barcode passes into the sensitive region of the second barcode reader when the first mobile part having the second orientation is moving past and the barcode is thus detectable and / or detected and the barcode is spaced apart from the sensitive region of the first barcode reader.

Description

[0001] Conveyor system, in particular transport system

[0002] Description:

[0003] The invention relates to a conveying system, in particular a transport system.

[0004] It is generally known that a conveying system, in particular a transport system, has mobile parts on which an object can be picked up and transported from a first track position to a second track position.

[0005] From DE 102020 004 463 A1, a method for operating a system with a first and further mobile units and a stationary control system is known as the closest prior art.

[0006] From DE 102020 004 261 A1 a system with a handset that can be moved along a coding area is known.

[0007] A system is known from DE 102019 003 374 A1.

[0008] A system comprising plant, objects and mobile units is known from DE 102019 000 903 A1.

[0009] The invention is therefore based on the objective of further developing a conveying system, in particular a transport system, whereby flexible operation should be made possible.

[0010] According to the invention, the problem is solved in the conveying system according to the features specified in claim 1.

[0011] Key features of the invention for the conveyor system, in particular transport system, are that the conveyor system has mobile parts arranged one behind the other along a travel path, in particular conveyor path, wherein a barcode is arranged on the bottom of the conveyor system, in particular to the side of the travel path, in particular in a stationary manner.

[0012] ISI \ EIDOPAT 03.07.2025 wherein a first barcode reader and a second barcode reader are each attached to the underside of a first handset, wherein the conveyor system has a turntable in the travel path by which the orientation of the first handset can be changed by a rotation angle, in particular of 90°, so that the first handset moves along the travel path either in a first orientation or in a second orientation, wherein the barcode, when the first handset in the first orientation moves past, enters the sensitive area, in particular the field of view, of the first barcode reader and is thus detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced away from the sensitive area of ​​the second barcode reader, wherein the barcode, when the first handset in the second orientation moves past, enters the sensitive area, in particular the field of view,of the second barcode reader and is therefore detectable and / or is detected and the barcode is spaced away from the sensitive area of ​​the first barcode reader.

[0013] A key advantage is that only one of the two barcode readers detects the barcode at any given time. Therefore, the orientation alone determines which reader detects the barcode. Consequently, the vehicle's orientation is determined by which reader detects the barcode. This contributes to flexible operation of the system, as the working height can be adjusted based on the orientation without requiring a central computer.

[0014] Important features of the conveyor system, in particular the transport system, are that the conveyor system has mobile units arranged one behind the other along a travel path, in particular the conveyor path, wherein a barcode is arranged on the bottom of the conveyor system, in particular on the side of the travel path, in particular in a stationary position, wherein a first barcode reader and a second barcode reader are attached to the underside of each first mobile unit, wherein the conveyor system has a rotary table in the travel path, by which the orientation of the first mobile unit can be changed by a rotation angle, in particular of 90°, so that the first mobile unit moves along the travel path either in a first orientation or in a second orientation, wherein the barcode is displayed at the position of the first mobile unit in the travel path that corresponds to the first orientation.where the first barcode reader is at the shortest distance to the barcode, is located in the sensitive area, in particular in the field of view, of the first barcode reader and is therefore detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced away from the sensitive area of ​​the second barcode reader, wherein the barcode is at that path position of the first handset having the second orientation, where the second barcode reader is at the shortest distance to the barcode, is located in the sensitive area, in particular in the field of view, of the second barcode reader and is therefore detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced away from the sensitive area of ​​the first barcode reader.

[0015] The advantage here is that only one of the two barcode readers detects the barcode at any given time. Therefore, the orientation alone determines which barcode reader detects the barcode. Thus, the vehicle's orientation is determined by which barcode reader detects the barcode.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment, the first barcode reader is positioned at a distance from the center point and / or the center of gravity of the first handset. It is advantageous that the barcode is located outside the sensitive area of ​​the first barcode reader, while the barcode is located within the sensitive area of ​​the second barcode reader.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the second barcode reader is spaced apart from the first handset. The advantage here is that the barcode is located outside the sensitive area of ​​the second barcode reader, while the barcode is located within the sensitive area of ​​the first barcode reader.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment, the mobile components are transported along the travel path by rollers, which are arranged, particularly stationary, on the floor of the conveyor system and driven, particularly by, electric motors. An advantage of this is that cost-effective driving is achievable, with the mobile components not having their own drive.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the mobile units are guided by guide elements arranged on the ground, particularly stationary, and especially laterally along the travel path. The advantage here is that the mobile units can be guided along the travel path cost-effectively.

[0020] In a preferred design, each of the mobile units rests on the rollers with a plate-shaped base. The advantage here is that the mobile units have no drive of their own, thus enabling cost-effective transport of the objects.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment, each of the mobile units has a lifting mechanism with which an object picked up by the mobile unit, in particular a vehicle body, can be moved to different vertical positions. It is advantageous that the operator can work on the object, in particular the vehicle body, at a different working height on the front than on the side, in particular the side panel or door side. The operator preferably stands to the side of the travel path.

[0022] In an advantageous embodiment, the handset has a control unit designed such that, depending on whether the barcode is detected in the sensitive area of ​​the first or the second sensor, the object is moved to a different vertical position, in particular a different working height. It is advantageous that the orientation can be determined and acted upon based on barcode detection.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment, the handset comprises a controller, wherein the controller is configured such that a signal is sent contactlessly from the handset's controller to a stationary controller of the rotary table, particularly depending on barcode detection, and the rotary table orients the handset accordingly. It is advantageous that, after barcode recognition, the desired orientation is determined and the corresponding information is transmitted to the rotary table's controller.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment, the control unit of the mobile device, to which the two barcode readers are connected, is a safety-oriented control unit. An advantage of this is that increased safety can be achieved. Further advantages arise from the dependent claims. The invention is not limited to the combination of features of the claims. For those skilled in the art, further meaningful combinations of claims and / or individual claim features and / or features of the description and / or the figures will become apparent, in particular from the problem statement and / or the problem arising from a comparison with the prior art.

[0025] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to schematic illustrations:

[0026] Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of a conveying system according to the invention for mobile parts, in particular skilletts.

[0027] Figure 2 shows a schematic top view of the underside of one of the handsets 1.

[0028] Figure 3 schematically illustrates a change in the orientation of the mobile units 1 caused by a rotary table 30.

[0029] As shown in the figures, the conveying system, in particular transport system, has mobile parts 1 arranged one behind the other along a travel path, in particular conveying path, which are conveyed along the travel path by rollers arranged on the ground and driven by electric motors and are guided by lateral guide means arranged on the ground.

[0030] An object 3, in particular a vehicle body, is mounted on a lifting mechanism which is driven by an electric motor and arranged on the respective mobile unit 1. Thus, the working height is adjustable.

[0031] At a first position along the track, there is a rotary table 30 which rotates the orientation of the mobile units 1 by 90° when it is controlled accordingly. The track is a closed curve and has corners at which corner converters 31 are arranged. These change the direction of movement of the mobile units 1 by an angle of, for example, 90°, but do not change the orientation of the mobile unit 1, in particular relative to the conveyor system.

[0032] Barcodes, particularly stationary ones, are arranged along the route. Each of the handsets 1 has two barcode readers 20, which are connected to a controller, particularly a safety controller.

[0033] Preferably, the barcode readers 20 are arranged on the underside of the handset, with a first of the two barcode readers 20 arranged on a first side of the handset 1, in particular, arranged off-center, and a second of the two barcode readers 20 arranged on a second side of the handset 1, in particular, arranged off-center. The first side is the front in the direction of travel, and the second side is a side adjoining the first side, in particular, not the underside, not the top, and not the back.

[0034] The barcode is attached along the route to the side of the mobile unit 1 as it passes the barcode, so that at least one of the two barcode readers 20 detects this barcode directly, i.e. at a distance that is smaller than a first threshold value, in particular maximum distance.

[0035] When the handset 1 is rotated 90° while passing through the turntable 30, the second barcode reader 20 reaches the position of the first barcode reader 20. The first reader is therefore below the threshold for distance to the barcode code, enabling direct detection of the barcode by the second sensor. However, after leaving the turntable, the first sensor is at a distance greater than the first threshold, specifically the maximum distance. This is because the side length of the first sensor is shorter than the side length of the second sensor.

[0036] Preferably, the handset has a cuboid outer circumference.

[0037] The off-center placement of the two sensors results in improved safety.

[0038] Each sensor monitors a specific area of ​​the room, i.e., a sensitive area.

[0039] Preferably, the two sensors are arranged on the underside of the handset in such a way that the barcode is located in only one of the two sensitive areas. This is because the two sensitive areas are spaced apart from each other.

[0040] The conveyor system is preferably used in automobile manufacturing. Here, components are successively mounted onto a vehicle body. However, since the operator is preferably positioned to the side of the conveyor track, particularly the driving track, the invention facilitates access to the front or rear of the automobile. This simplifies the assembly of the automobile. In further embodiments of the invention, the signals from the two barcode readers are fed to a safety controller, in particular a safety-related controller. This allows for an increased level of safety.

[0041] Reference symbol list

[0042] 1 Handset, especially Skillett 2 Hoist

[0043] 3. Object, in particular vehicle body

[0044] 20 barcode readers

[0045] 30 Rotary table

[0046] 31 lateral guide 32 corner converter

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Conveyor system, in particular transport system, wherein the conveyor system has mobile units arranged one behind the other along a travel path, in particular conveyor path, characterized in that a barcode is arranged on the bottom of the conveyor system, in particular on the side of the travel path, in particular in a stationary position, wherein a first barcode reader and a second barcode reader are attached to the underside of each first mobile unit, wherein the conveyor system has a rotary table in the travel path, by which the orientation of the first mobile unit can be changed by an angle of rotation, in particular of 90°, so that the first mobile unit moves along the travel path either in a first orientation or in a second orientation, wherein the barcode is read when the first mobile unit, having the first orientation, moves past the sensitive area, in particular into the field of vision.the first barcode reader and is thus detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced away from the sensitive area of ​​the second barcode reader, wherein the barcode, when the first handset with the second orientation moves past, enters the sensitive area, in particular the field of view, of the second barcode reader and is thus detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced away from the sensitive area of ​​the first barcode reader.

2. Conveyor system, in particular transport system, wherein the conveyor system has mobile units arranged one behind the other along a travel path, in particular conveyor path, characterized in that a barcode is arranged on the bottom of the conveyor system, in particular on the side of the travel path, in particular in a stationary position, wherein a first barcode reader and a second barcode reader are attached to the underside of each first mobile unit, wherein the conveyor system has a rotary table in the travel path, by which the orientation of the first mobile unit can be changed by an angle of rotation, in particular of 90°, so that the first mobile unit moves along the travel path either in a first orientation or in a second orientation, wherein the barcode is read at the position of the first mobile unit in the travel path where the first barcode reader has the smallest distance to the barcode.in the sensitive area, in particular in the field of view, of the first barcode reader and is therefore detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced away from the sensitive area of ​​the second barcode reader, wherein the barcode is in the sensitive area, in particular in the field of view, of the second barcode reader at the path position of the first handset exhibiting the second orientation, in which the second barcode reader has the smallest distance to the barcode, and is therefore detectable and / or is detected, and the barcode is spaced away from the sensitive area of ​​the first barcode reader.

3. Conveyor system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first barcode reader is spaced apart from the center point and / or the center of gravity of the first handset and / or that the second barcode reader is spaced apart from the center point and / or the center of gravity of the first handset.

4. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile parts are each conveyed along the travel path by rollers arranged, in particular stationary, on the floor of the conveyor system and driven, in particular powered, by electric motors.

5. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile parts are guided by guide means arranged on the ground, in particular stationary, in particular laterally along the travel path.

6. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the mobile parts rests on the rollers with a plate-shaped base body.

7. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the mobile parts has a lifting mechanism with which an object picked up by the mobile part, in particular a vehicle body, can be brought to different vertical positions.

8. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile unit has a control system which is designed such that, depending on whether the barcode is detected in the sensitive area of ​​the first sensor or the second sensor, the object is brought to a different vertical position, in particular working height.

9. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile unit has a control unit, wherein the control unit is designed such that a signal from the control unit of the mobile unit is sent contactlessly to a stationary control unit of the rotary table, in particular depending on the detection of the barcode, and the rotary table causes the orientation of the mobile unit depending on the signal.

10. Conveyor system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control of the mobile unit to which the two barcode readers are connected is a safety-oriented control.

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