A conveyor device with cross-belt conveyors
By mounting cross-belts in separate units with individual driving means and using connectors for power and data transfer, the complexity and downtime of cross-belt conveyors are reduced, facilitating easier maintenance.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- BOWE INTRALOGISTICS HOLDING BV
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-23
AI Technical Summary
Conveyor devices with multiple cross-belts and driving means are complex and prone to failure, leading to increased downtime.
Each cross-belt is mounted in a separate unit with its own driving means, allowing for easy removal and replacement without affecting other units, and connectors ensure seamless power and data transfer.
Reduces complexity and downtime by enabling quick servicing and maintenance of cross-belt conveyors.
Smart Images
Figure EP2026050770_23072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] A CONVEYOR DEVICE WITH CROSS-BELT CONVEYORS
[0002] The present invention relates to a conveyor device comprising: an endless track which follows a track path in a transport direction; a plurality of cross-belt carriers distributed in a closed loop along said track,
[0003] driving means for moving said plurality of cross-belt carriers along said track;
[0004] wherein each cross-belt carrier comprises a cross-belt conveyor, wherein said cross-belt conveyor comprises one or more endless cross-belts extending perpendicular to said transport direction so as to receive and support one or more objects on top of said cross-belts, and
[0005] wherein for each cross-belt of said cross-belt conveyor a driving means is provided for driving each cross-belt individually to discharge said one or more objects from said cross-belt conveyor in a lateral direction perpendicular to said transport direction.
[0006] Such a conveyor device is disclosed in WO 00 / 32502 Al. The cross-belt conveyor of this conveyor device is divided into a plurality of cross-belts with a mutual spacing between them. Each cross-belt may be individually driven, whereby different articles carried by the cross-belt conveyor may be loaded or unloaded independently. The cross-belt conveyor comprises driving means with driving belts for transmitting power from motors to each cross-belt.
[0007] Such a conveyor device with many belts and driving means is complex and prone to failure, which causes downtime of the conveyor device. The invention aims at an improved conveyor device, which can be serviced with more ease and speed, and / or which has a higher availability.
[0008] To this end, each of said cross-belts of said cross-belt conveyor is mounted in a separate cross-belt unit, which each cross-belt unit further comprises said driving means for driving said cross-belt, and wherein each cross-belt unit is releasably connected to and mounted on said cross-belt carrier in such a manner that each cross-belt unit with said cross-belt and said driving means can be individually removed from said cross-belt carrier by releasing the connection between said cross-belt unit and said cross-belt carrier and moving said cross-belt unit away from said cross-belt carrier in a directionwhich is perpendicular to said transport direction, while any adjacent cross-belt units remain connected to and mounted on said cross-belt carrier.
[0009] By providing separate removable units for each cross-belt with its driving means in it, which can easily be removed and replaced by another unit without affecting the other units on the carrier, the complexity of the device is reduced and / or the downtime for service is reduced.
[0010] In an embodiment, said cross-belt conveyor comprises a multitude of
[0011] said endless cross-belts extending side-by-side in a parallel manner.
[0012] In an embodiment, each cross-belt unit is provided with at least one cable connected to said driving means for providing power and / or data to said driving means, and with at least one connector to which each one of said at least one cable is connected, wherein each of said at least one connector is arranged to engage and connect to a corresponding connector on either the carrier or an adjacent
[0013] cross-belt unit, wherein said at least one connector and corresponding connector are arranged to mutually engage and connect by moving said cross-belt unit towards said cross-belt carrier in said direction which is perpendicular to said transport direction.
[0014] In an embodiment, each of said at least one connector is arranged to engage and connect to a corresponding connector on the carrier.
[0015] In an embodiment, the cross-belt unit comprises at least one leg which support the cross-belt unit on the cross-belt carrier, and the at least one connector of the cross-belt unit is arranged at the lower end of said leg.
[0016] In an embodiment, each of said at least one connector is arranged to engage and connect to a corresponding connector on an adjacent cross-belt unit.
[0017] In an embodiment, each of said at least one connector and said at least one corresponding connector is arranged on opposite lateral sides of the cross-belt unit, said lateral sides facing each other in the mounted state.
[0018] In an embodiment, said at least one connector and / or said at least one corresponding connector can be elastically deformed in the transport direction.
[0019] In an embodiment, said cables for providing data to said drivingmeans comprise CAT cables and the corresponding connectors are RJ45-type connectors.
[0020] In an embodiment, each cross-belt unit is provided with at least one first power cable connected to said driving means for providing power to said driving means and at least one second data cable connected to said driving means for providing data to said driving means.
[0021] In an embodiment, each cross-belt unit is releasably connected to and mounted on said cross-belt carrier by using a locking mechanism which is arranged to fix each cross-belt unit to said cross-belt carrier by blocking said movement in the perpendicular direction and to release said cross-belt unit from said cross-belt carrier by unblocking said movement in the perpendicular direction.
[0022] In an embodiment, said locking mechanism comprises a movable latch, preferably a pin, which in a first position is arranged to block said movement between the cross-belt unit and the cross-belt carrier, and in a second position is arranged to release said movement, wherein said latch is movable by operating means connected to said latch, which operating means comprises a gripping member which is positioned such that it can be engaged by a human hand to move said latch from the first to the second position while all the cross-belt units are mounted to the cross-belt carrier.
[0023] Preferably said latch or pin is biased towards the first position, for instance by means of a spring. In the preferred embodiment the gripping member is connected to the latch by means of a wire or cord. Preferably more than one latch of said unit is connected to one gripping member to be operated all at once. In the preferred embodiment near each outer end of the cross-belt one operating member is located for operating two latches each, so that four latches locking the unit can be released by two hands.
[0024] In an embodiment, each gripping member is located near an outer end of the related cross-belt at the lower side of the cross-belt.
[0025] Thereby the locking mechanism can be easily reached by users.
[0026] In an embodiment, said direction which is perpendicular to the transport direction is a direction which is perpendicular to a top surface of said cross-belt conveyors.
[0027] In other words, in the preferred embodiment the cross-belt units are arranged to be lifted upward in vertical direction from thecross-belt carrier when releasing the units.
[0028] The present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the drawings, where
[0029] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a part of a conveyor device; Fig. 2A shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a carrier of the conveyor device;
[0030] Fig. 2B shows a perspective view of the carrier wherein one cross-belt unit is detached;
[0031] Fig. 2C shows a cross-section of the carrier wherein one
[0032] cross-belt unit is detached;
[0033] Fig. 2D shows a perspective view of a detachable cross-belt unit; Fig. 2E shows a side view of a detachable cross-belt unit;
[0034] Fig. 2F shows a functional schematic view of the carrier;
[0035] Fig. 3A shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a carrier of the conveyor device;
[0036] Fig. 3B shows a perspective view of the carrier wherein one cross-belt unit is detached;
[0037] Fig. 3C shows a cross-section of the carrier wherein one
[0038] cross-belt unit is detached;
[0039] Fig. 3D shows respective cross-sections of two mutually engaging electrical connectors of two adjacent cross-belt units;
[0040] Fig. 3E shows a side view of a detachable cross-belt unit;
[0041] Fig. 3F shows a functional schematic view of the carrier;
[0042] Fig. 4 shows a functional schematic view of a third embodiment of a carrier of the conveyor device;
[0043] Fig. 5A shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a carrier of the conveyor device;
[0044] Fig. 5B shows a perspective view of the carrier wherein one cross-belt unit is detached;
[0045] Fig. 5C shows a perspective view of the carrier wherein all cross-belt units are removed;
[0046] Fig. 5D shows a top view of the carrier wherein one cross-belt unit is removed;
[0047] Fig. 5E shows a side view of the carrier wherein one cross-belt unit is removed; and
[0048] Fig. 5F shows a cross-section of two mutually engaging mechanical connectors of a cross-belt unit and the carrier.
[0049] With reference to figure 1, a conveyor device 120 for conveyingand sorting objects, has a track that forms a closed loop. The conveying and sorting track comprises straight sections as well as left and right curved sections (not shown). Not only horizontal conveying and sorting tracks can be formed, but also vertically ascending or descending sections, and even sections that intersect one another. Thereby it is possible to form conveying and sorting tracks that can be arranged in any desired way in the three-dimensional space.
[0050] The device 120 comprises a left hand first guide rail 138 and a right hand second guide rail 156, seen in the transport direction. The first guide rail 138 and the second guide rail 156 extend parallel to each other and are each formed as a tube, which has a circular cross-section.
[0051] Both the first guide rail 138 and the second guide rail 156 are secured in a base frame 149, comprising spaced apart upright poles 150 which are secured to the floor, a tube 151 which runs parallel to and centrally located under the guide rails 138, 156, and which is connected thereto by means of plate shaped, spaced apart connectors 152.
[0052] The device 120 comprises a multitude of carriers 126 which are guided along the conveying track. The carriers 126 may be interconnected by means of a hinged coupling so as to pull each other forward, or they may push each other forward. Driving means are provided to move the carriers 126 along the track at one or more locations, which driving means may be in the form of a linear motor.
[0053] Each carrier 126 comprises a cross-belt conveyor 170, comprising a multitude of cross-belt units 121 which are detachably secured on each traveling carrier 126 and each cross-belt unit 121 comprises a cross-belt 177 that can be driven in a transverse direction in relation to the transport direction. In the embodiments as shown each carrier 126 comprises 6 detachable cross-belt units 121. At both ends of the cross-belt conveyor 170 an upright wall 127 is attached to the carrier 126 which extends above the surface of the cross-belt conveyor 170 to prevent objects on the cross-belt conveyor 170 to fall off in the direction of transport.
[0054] Cross-belts 177 are guided in each case via a set of reversing rollers, with axles of rotation that extends in transport direction. The transverse drive of the cross-belts 177 of cross-belt units 121occurs by using driving means 271 inside the cross-belt units 121 that can be selectively caused to operate. These driving means 271 are schematically shown in figures 2F, 3F and 4.
[0055] The carriers 126 each comprise two first brackets 143 that are spaced apart from each other in the transport direction. These first brackets 143 are substantially C-shaped, seen in the transport direction, and extend around the guide rail 138 and each comprise three running rollers, the running rollers extend around the guide rail 138, seen in the transport direction. Thus, seen in the transport direction, running rollers.
[0056] Furthermore, the carriers 126 each comprise at least one second bracket 276 ( shown in figure 2B) which comprise two oppositely arranged running rollers which are mounted in the bracket 276 by means of rotational shafts which extend in parallel, whereby the rollers receive the second guide rail 156 between each other and are guided on this second guide rail 156.
[0057] The rollers may be provided with a rubber circumference or a rubber tyre for engaging the guide rails.
[0058] With reference to figures 2A-F, in a first embodiment a carrier 126 comprises a cross-belt conveyor 170, comprising six cross-belt units 121 which are detachably secured on the traveling carrier 126. Each cross-belt unit 121 comprises a cross-belt 177 that can be driven in a transverse direction in relation to the transport direction.
[0059] Cross-belts 177 are guided in each case via a set of reversing rollers, with axles of rotation that extends in transport direction.
[0060] The transverse drive of the cross-belts 177 of cross-belt units 121 occurs by using driving means 271 in the form of an electrical motor 271 inside each cross-belt unit 121 that can be selectively caused to operate and drive one of the reversing rollers. To that end each motor 271 is connected to an external drive control unit by means of data cables 203, 204, and to an external power source by means of power cables 206.
[0061] As shown in figure 2F, the data cables 203, 204 exiting each unit 121 are connected to the motor 271. Likewise, the power cable 206 exiting each unit 121 is connected to the motor 271.
[0062] Each motor 271 is connected to an external drive control unit by means of a data cable 204, and to an external power unit by means of a power cable 206.The outer end of each data cable 204 of one unit 121 is connected in series to the outer end of a data cable 203 of an adjacent unit 121, and the motors 271 are connected thereby in series. The outer end of each power cable 206 of one unit 121 is connected to the outer end of a power cable (not shown) in the carrier 126. For the two outer units 121 on each carrier 126 the outer ends of the cables at the outer ends of said unit 121 are connected to the outer ends of the corresponding cables of an adjacent outer unit 121 on the adjacent carrier 126 by means of further cables (not shown) between adjacent carriers 126.
[0063] The units 121 rest on the carrier 126 by means of four legs 201 which extend in downward direction from each unit 121, whereby the lower ends of the legs 201 rest on an upper surface of the carrier 126. The legs 201 are equipped with integrated cable ducts 202 for shielding of the cables 203, 204, 206, so that these cannot be damaged by the belt 177.
[0064] The bottom of each leg 201 is provided with a male connector 207, 208 through which the cables 203, 204, 206 can be connected to corresponding female connectors 217, 218 on the carrier 126. A pair of data connectors 207, 217 is designed as a downward facing male data plug 207 at the bottom of two of the legs 201 which is to be inserted in and connects to a corresponding upward facing female data port 217 on the carrier 126. A pair of power connectors 208, 218 is designed as a downward facing male plug 208 at the bottom of two of the legs 201 which is to be inserted in and connects to a corresponding upward facing female power port 218 on the carrier. Standard certified CAT cables may be used for the data cables 203, 204. The pairs of
[0065] RJ45-type connectors 207, 217 in this case do however not comprise the RJ45 standard locking clip, to minimize manual interaction when a unit 121 is removed from the carrier 126.
[0066] In order to connect the outer end of each data cable 204 of one unit 121 to the outer end of a data cable 203 of an adjacent unit 121, and the outer end of each power cable 206 of one unit 121 to the outer end of a power cable of an adjacent unit 121, the respective female connectors 217 on the carrier 126 are connected to each other. As shown in figure 2D, two mutually connected female connectors 217 are housed in one receiving member 219. The vertical central axes of adjacent female connectors 217, 218 in one receiving member 219 extendparallel to each other at a mutual distance in the transverse direction. The corresponding male connectors 207, 208 and their corresponding cables 203, 204, 206 are hence located on corresponding vertical axes (as shown in figure 2E). Thereby the necessary space between two adjacent cross belts 177 can be minimized to slightly more than the thickness of one cable.
[0067] With reference to figures 3A-F, in a second embodiment each motor 271 is connected to an external drive control unit by means of data connectors 307, 317 located on opposite sides of each unit 121, and to an external power source by means of power connectors 308, 318 located on opposite sides of each unit 121.
[0068] Figure 3F show the data connectors 307, 317 on each unit 121 which are connected to the motor 271 by means of internal wiring (not shown). Each unit 121 comprise a multitude of power connectors 308, 318 which are connected to the motor 271 and / or to the power connectors 307, 317 facing an adjacent unit 121 or an adjacent upright wall 127.
[0069] The data connector 307 of one unit 121 is facing towards and connected to a data connector 317 of an adjacent unit 121, and the motors 271 are connected thereby in series. The power connector of one unit 121 is facing towards and connected to the power connector 318 of an adjacent unit 121. For the two outer units 121 on each carrier 126 the data connectors 307, 317 at the outer ends of said unit 121 are facing towards and connected to corresponding connectors 307, 317 on the respective adjacent upright wall 127, and said connectors are connected to the corresponding connectors 307, 317 of the adjacent upright wall 127 on the adjacent carrier 126 by means of further cables (not shown) between adjacent carriers 126.
[0070] As shown in figure 3D, each pair of connectors 307, 317; 308, 318 comprises one connector 307, 308 acting as a port comprising a number ( for instance 8 as in an RJ45 connector for data) of elastically bendable, resilient parallel wires 321 which extend in an upward and outward direction from the side of the unit 121.
[0071] The other connector 317, 318 of said pair comprises a corresponding number of straight parallel pins 322 extending in vertical direction. When a unit 121 is mounted on the carrier 126 by moving the unit 121 downward, each resilient wire 321 of one unit 121 or upright wall 127 will face and contact a corresponding pin 322 ofan adjacent unit or upright wall 127, while the wire 321 is elastically bent towards its unit 121 to ensure a secure connection.
[0072] The units 121 rest on the carrier 126 by means of four legs 201 which extend in downward direction from each unit 121, whereby the lower ends of the legs 201 rest on an upper surface of the carrier 126.
[0073] Figure 4 shows a third embodiment which is mechanically similar to the first embodiment as shown in figures 2A-E, however in this embodiment the motors 271 are connected by the data cables to the respective drive control unit in a parallel circuit instead of in a series circuit.
[0074] Each motor 271 is connected to an external drive control unit by means of a data cable 204, and to an external power unit by means of a power cable 206.
[0075] The cables of the carrier 126 are connected to the corresponding cables on the adjacent carrier 126 by means of further cables (not shown) between adjacent carriers 126.
[0076] Similar to the first embodiment as shown in figures 2A-F, the bottom of ( in this case) two legs 201 are provided with a male connector 207, 208 through which the two respective cables 204, 206 can be connected to corresponding female connectors 217, 218 on the carrier 126. A pair of data connectors 207, 217 is designed as a downward facing male data plug 207 at the bottom of two of the legs 201 which is to be inserted in and connects to a corresponding upward facing female data port 217 on the carrier 126. A pair of power connectors 208, 218 is designed as a downward facing male plug 208 at the bottom of two of the legs 201 which is to be inserted in and connects to a corresponding upward facing female power port 218 on the carrier. Standard certified CAT cables may be used for the data cables 203, 204. The pairs of RJ45-type connectors 207, 217 in this case do however not comprise the RJ45 standard locking clip, to minimize manual interaction when a unit 121 is removed from the carrier 126.
[0077] With reference to figures 5A-F, in a fourth embodiment, which may be similar or the same as the first embodiment as shown in figures 2A-F, a locking and unlocking system for mounting and unmounting the units 121 on the carrier 126 is provided. This locking mechanism may also be used in the second and third embodiments as described above.
[0078] The carrier 126 comprises the cross-belt conveyor 170, comprisingsix cross-belt units 121 which are detachably secured on the traveling carrier 126. Each cross-belt unit 121 comprises a cross-belt 177 that can be driven in a transverse direction in relation to the transport direction. Cross-belts 177 are guided in each case via a set of reversing rollers, with axles of rotation that extends in transport direction.
[0079] The transverse drive of the cross-belts 177 of cross-belt units 121 occurs by using electrical motor 271 inside each cross-belt unit 121 that can be selectively caused to operate and drive one of the reversing rollers.
[0080] The units 121 rest on the carrier 126 by means of four legs 201 which extend in downward direction from each unit 121, whereby the lower ends of the legs 201 rest on an upper surface of the carrier 126.
[0081] To that end the carrier comprises spaced apart beams 501 extending mutually parallel in the transverse direction on which the legs 201 can rest. The female connectors 217, 218 of the first and third embodiments may be located under the beams 501, and the male connectors 207, 208 may be inserted through apertures 502 in the beams 501. The legs 201 are provided with thinner downward extensions 503 that fit through the apertures 502 when the unit 121 is moved downward onto the carrier 126, thereby fixating the location and orientation of the unit 121 in the horizontal directions.
[0082] In order to fixate the unit 121 on the carrier 126 in the vertical direction a locking and unlocking system is provided, which can be manually operated from the lateral sides of the cross-belt conveyors, seen in the transport direction of the conveyor device 120.
[0083] To that end, in this embodiment, each leg 201 can be vertically locked in the beam 501 by means of a latch mechanism 504. Each latch mechanism 504 comprises a latch in the form of a pin 505 which is movably mounted in the beam 501 at the inner side of the respective leg 201, such that the pin can move in the horizontal direction towards the leg 201. The leg 201 is provided with a hole 506 in which the pin 505 can move to lock vertical movement of the leg 201. The pin 505 is movably mounted in the beam 501 by means of a holder 507.
[0084] Inside the holder 507 a spring is provided that pushes against a central part of the pin 505 in order to bias the pin 505 towards the hole 506 so that the leg 201 stays vertically locked in the carrier126.
[0085] In order to unlock the pin 505, the back side of each pin 505 is connected to a pull cord 512 by means of a ring 509. One pull cord 512 in this example forms an endless loop which runs through a first ring 508 connected to a first pin 505 near one outer end of the cross-belt 177 on one lateral side of the cross-belt 177 ( seen in the lateral direction), then towards a second pin 505 on the opposite lateral side of the cross-belt 177 through a central ring 510 located between the two pins 505, then through a second ring 509 connected to the second pin 505, then back through the central ring 510, then through a pull ring 511, then back through the central ring 510, and then finally back towards the first ring 508, thereby closing the loop. Near the other outer end of the cross-belt 177 a second pull cord 512 connects the other two pins 505 with a pull ring 511 in the same manner. The pull rings 511 are located under the respective outer ends of the cross-belt 177 and outside the carrier 126, where the pull cord 512 runs from the central ring 510 inside of the carrier 126 through an aperture in the carrier 126 to the pull ring 511 outside the carrier 126.
[0086] In this manner, if the unit 121 needs to be mounted or removed, the legs 201 near one outer end of the cross-belt 177 can be unlocked by pulling the pull ring 511 outside the carrier 126 in horizontal direction, whereby the pins 505 are pulled inwards out of the holes 506 against the force of the springs inside the holder 507.
[0087] The invention has thus been described by means of preferred embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that this disclosure is merely illustrative. Various details of the structure and function were presented, but changes made therein, to the full extent extended by the general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed, are understood to be within the principle of the present invention. Features of the disclosed embodiments can be combined and / or mutually exchanged. In particular usable electrical power or data connectors can have many forms, and male / female connector pairs can be used in a mirrored way relative to the described embodiments.
[0088] The description and drawings shall be used to interpret the claims. The claims should not be interpreted as meaning that the extent of the protection sought is to be understood as that defined by the strict, literal meaning of the wording used in the claims, thedescription and drawings being employed only for the purpose of resolving an ambiguity found in the claims. For the purpose of determining the extent of protection sought by the claims, due account shall be taken of any element which is equivalent to an element specified therein. An element is to be considered equivalent to an element specified in the claims at least if said element performs substantially the same function in substantially the same way to yield substantially the same result as the element specified in the claims.
Claims
Claims1. A CONVEYOR DEVICE WITH CROSS-BELT CONVEYORS ( 120 ) comprising:an endless track (138, 156) which follows a track path in a transport direction;a plurality of cross-belt carriers (126) distributed in a closed loop along said track (138, 156),driving means for moving said plurality of cross-belt carriers (126) along said track (138, 156);wherein each cross-belt carrier (126) comprises a cross-belt conveyor, wherein said cross-belt conveyor (170) comprises one or more endless cross-belts (177) extending perpendicular to said transport direction so as to receive and support one or more objects on top of said cross-belts (177), andwherein for each cross-belt (177) of said cross-belt conveyor (170) a driving means (271) is provided for driving each cross-belt (177) individually to discharge said one or more objects from saidcross-belt conveyor (170) in a lateral direction perpendicular to said transport direction; wherein each of said cross-belts (177) of said cross-belt conveyor (170) is mounted in a separate cross-belt unit (121), which each cross-belt unit (121) further comprises said driving means for driving said cross-belt (177), and wherein each cross-belt unit (121) is releasably connected to and mounted on said cross-belt carrier (126) in such a manner that each cross-belt unit (121) with said cross-belt (177) and said driving means can be individually removed from said cross-belt carrier (126) by releasing the connection between said cross-belt unit (121) and said cross-belt carrier (126) and moving said cross-belt unit (121) away from said cross-belt carrier (126) in a direction which is perpendicular to said transport direction, while any adjacent cross-belt units (121) remain connected to and mounted on said cross-belt carrier (126).
2. The conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein said cros s-belt conveyor ( 170 ) comprises a multitude ofsaid endless cross-belts (177) extending side-by-side in a parallel manner.
3. The conveyor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein eachcross-belt unit (121) is provided with at least one cable (203, 204, 206) connected to said driving means (271) for providing power and / or data to said driving means (271), and with at least one connector (207, 208, 307, 308) to which each one of said at least one cable (203, 204, 206) is connected, wherein each of said at least one connector (207, 208, 307, 308) is arranged to engage and connect to a corresponding connector (217, 218, 317, 318) on either the carrier (126) or an adjacent cross-belt unit (121), wherein said at least one connector (207, 208, 307, 308) and corresponding connector (217, 218, 317, 318) are arranged to mutually engage and connect by moving said cross-belt unit (121) towards said cross-belt carrier (126) in said direction which is perpendicular to said transport direction.
4. The conveyor device according to claim 3, wherein each of said at least one connector (207, 208) is arranged to engage and connect to a corresponding connector (217, 218) on the carrier (126).
5. The conveyor device according to claim 4, wherein the cross-belt unit (121) comprises at least one leg (201) which support the cross-belt unit (121) on the cross-belt carrier (126), and the at least one connector (207, 208) of the cross-belt unit (121) is arranged at the lower end of said leg (201).
6. The conveyor device according to claim 3, wherein each of said at least one connector (307, 308) is arranged to engage and connect to a corresponding connector (317, 318) on an adjacent cross-belt unit (121).
7. The conveyor device according to claim 6, wherein each of said at least one connector (307, 308) and said at least one corresponding connector (317, 318) is arranged on opposite lateral sides of the cross-belt unit (121), said lateral sides facing each other in the mounted state.
8. The conveyor device according to any of the claims 6 or 7, wherein said at least one connector (307, 308) and / or said at least one corresponding connector (317, 318) can be elastically deformed in the transport direction.
9. The conveyor device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said cables for providing data to said driving means comprise CAT cables and the corresponding connectors are RJ45-type connectors.
10. The conveyor device according to any of the claims 3 to 9, wherein each cross-belt unit (121) is provided with at least one first power cable (206) connected to said driving means (271) for providing power to said driving means (271) and at least one second data cable (203, 204) connected to said driving means (271) for providing data to said driving means (271).
11. The conveyor device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each cross-belt unit (121) is releasably connected to and mounted on said cross-belt carrier (126) by using a locking mechanism which is arranged to fix each cross-belt unit (121) to said cross-belt carrier (126) by blocking said movement in the perpendicular direction and to release said cross-belt unit (121) from said cross-belt carrier (126) by unblocking said movement in the perpendicular direction.
12. The conveyor device according to claim 11, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a movable latch, preferably a pin (505), which in a first position is arranged to block said movement between the cross-belt unit (121) and the cross-belt carrier (126), and in a second position is arranged to release said movement, wherein said latch is movable by operating means connected to said latch, which operating means comprises a gripping member (511) which is positioned such that it can be engaged by a human hand to move said latch from the first to the second position while all the cross-belt units (121) are mounted to the cross-belt carrier (126).
13. The conveyor device according to claim 12, wherein each gripping member (511) is located near an outer end of the related cross-belt (177) at the lower side of the cross-belt (177).
14. The conveyor device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said direction which is perpendicular to the transport direction is a direction which is perpendicular to a top surface ofsaid cross-belt conveyors.