TRANSPORT DEVICE HAVING A STORAGE DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a transport apparatus with a storage apparatus and to a corresponding transport apparatus with a storage apparatus. The method includes the following steps, providing the transport apparatus (1) with the storage apparatus (2) for storing transport units (3), including a plurality of transport units (3), a plurality of storage conveyors (4), and a feeding conveyor (5) to the storage conveyors. Furthermore, the transport apparatus includes an optical sensor (7) arranged at the feeding conveyor (5) and an evaluation electronics (8) connected to the optical sensor. The method also includes determining measurement data with the optical sensor (7) from a transport unit (3) moving past the optical sensor (7), and processing the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor (7) with the evaluation electronics (8) in order to determine the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit (3) moving past; and selecting a storage conveyor (4) for storing the transport unit (3) moving past on the basis of the determined spatial extent of the transport unit (3) moving past.

Claims

1. A method for operating a transport apparatus (1) with a storage apparatus (2), wherein the method includes the following steps: a. providing the transport apparatus (1) with the storage apparatus (2) for storing transport units (3), including a plurality of transport units (3), a plurality of storage conveyors (4) which are configured to store transport units (3), a feeding conveyor (5) which is connected to the storage conveyors (4) via a respective switch (6), at least one optical sensor (7) arranged at the feeding conveyor (5) in front of the switches (6), and an evaluation electronics (8) connected to the optical sensor; b. obtaining measurement data with the optical sensor (7) from a transport unit (3) moving past the optical sensor (7); c. processing the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor (7) with the evaluation electronics (8), wherein the processing includes the following step: i. evaluating the measurement data in order to determine the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit (3) moving past; and d. selecting a storage conveyor (4) for storing the transport unit (3) moving past on the basis of the obtained spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit (3) moving past.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation electronics (8) evaluates measurement points from the measurement data in order to determine the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit (3) moving past.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein, for processing the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor (7), the evaluation electronics (8) furthermore filters the measurement data in order to obtain measurement points at which an optical parameter lies above a definable threshold value.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the optical sensor (7) measures the measurement data substantially simultaneously at a plurality of points which lie in at least one plane (15) and each include a spatial distance between the passing transport unit and the optical sensor (7), and also the optical parameter.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the optical sensor (7) furthermore measures the optical parameter in the respective measurement point from a reflection of light at the transport unit (3) moving past.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the evaluation electronics (8) determines the spatial extent of the transport unit (3) in at least one dimension and/or the alignment of the transport unit (3) to the optical sensor (7) at the time the measurement data are determined, from the measurement points of the filtered measurement data using regression methods.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical sensor (7) two or more times determines measurement data from the transport unit (3) moving past, and the evaluation electronics (8) determines, in each case from the determined measurement data, a value for the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit (3) moving past and determines a mean value for the spatial extent based on the values.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation electronics (8) processes the optical measurement data obtained from the at least one optical sensor (7) in order to determine the spatial extent of the transport unit (3) moving past in a first dimension and in a second dimension, wherein the first dimension is substantially perpendicular to the second dimension.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transport unit (3) is moved past the optical sensor (7) at a substantially constant speed during the determination of the measurement data, and this speed corresponds to a conveying speed which is typical of the transport apparatus.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transport unit (3) moving past includes a carriage (9), on which a carrying unit (10) for carrying goods (13) to be transported is attached in a suspended manner, which carrying unit (10) is pivotable and/or rotatable.

11. A transport apparatus with a storage apparatus (2) for storing transport units (3), comprising: a plurality of transport units (3), a plurality of storage conveyors (4) which are set up to store transport units (3), a feeding conveyor (5) which is connected to the storage conveyors (4) via a respective switch (6), and a. at least one optical sensor (7) which is arranged at the feeding conveyor (5) and is configured to determine measurement data from a transport unit (3) moving past the optical sensor (7); and b. an evaluation electronics (8) which is connected to the optical sensor (7) and is configured to evaluate the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor (7) in order to determine the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit (3) moving past; and c. a controller (12) which is connected to the evaluation electronics (8) and is configured to select a storage conveyor (4) for storing the transport unit (3) on the basis of the determined spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit (3).

12. The transport apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the evaluation electronics (8) is furthermore configured to evaluate measurement points from the measurement data in order to determine the spatial extent in at least one dimension of the transport unit (3) moving past.

13. The transport apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the evaluation electronics (8) is furthermore configured, for processing the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor (7), to filter the measurement data in order to obtain measurement points at which an optical parameter lies in each case above a definable threshold value.

14. The transport apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the optical sensor (7) is configured to determine the measurement data substantially simultaneously in a plurality of points that lie in at least one plane and each include a spatial distance between the passing transport unit and the optical sensor (7), and also the optical parameter.

15. The transport apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the optical sensor (7) is furthermore configured in such a way as to determine, as optical parameters, an intensity or a polarization in the respective measurement point from the reflection of the light.

16. The transport apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the evaluation electronics (8) is configured to determine the spatial extent of the transport unit (3) in at least one dimension and/or the alignment of the transport unit to the optical sensor (7) at the time the measurement data are determined, from the measurement points of the selected measurement data using regression methods.

17. The transport apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the optical sensor (7) is arranged in such a way that an optical axis of the optical sensor (7) is aligned substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction.

18. The transport apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the optical sensor (7) is designed as 2D or 3D profile sensor, which in particular includes a light source and/or a detection unit.

19. The transport apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the transport units (3) each comprise a carrying unit (10), preferably a bag (10), for carrying goods (13) to be transported.

20. The transport apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the transport units (3) each include a carriage (9), on which the hanging carrying units (10) are each attachable so as to be pivotable and/or rotatable, wherein the carriage (9) is conveyable preferably in a hanging manner in the storage apparatus (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] Embodiments of the disclosure are explained in more detail using the following figures and the associated description. In the figures:

[0062] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a transport apparatus with a storage apparatus;

[0063] FIG. 2 shows a perspective and schematic illustration of an embodiment of an optical sensor at a feeding conveyor;

[0064] FIG. 3a shows a schematic illustration of a processing step of the evaluation electronics;

[0065] FIG. 3b shows a schematic illustration of another processing step of the evaluation electronics; and

[0066] FIG. 3c shows a schematic illustration of another processing step of the evaluation electronics.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0067] In order to illustrate the disclosure, preferred embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the figures.

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a transport apparatus 1 including a storage apparatus 2 with a feeding conveyor 5, a plurality of storage conveyors 4, a plurality of transport units 3 holding goods 13 to be transported, and a controller 12. In the shown embodiment, the storage apparatus 2 includes seven storage conveyors 4. The feeding conveyor 5 is connected to the storage conveyors 4 via switches 6. An optical sensor 7, which is set up to obtain measurement data of the transport units 3, is arranged at the feeding conveyor 5 in front of the switches 6. The evaluation electronics 8 connected to the optical sensor 7 is set up to evaluate measurement data obtained from the optical sensor 7 in order to determine the spatial extent of the transport unit 3 in particular in the conveying direction F. The spatial extent of a transport unit 3 in the conveying direction F is substantially determined by the respective goods 13 to be transported. The spatial extents of the transport units 3 can also be different transversely to the conveying direction F, but the spatial extent is substantially specified by the geometry of the bags 10 of the transport units 3 and is not or only insignificantly dependent on the goods 13 to be transported. The evaluation electronics 8 transmits the spatial extent of a transport unit 3 in the conveying direction F, which is conveyed past the optical sensor 7, to the controller 12, which selects, based on the obtained spatial extent, a storage conveyor 4 that has a free length greater than or equal to the determined spatial extent of the transport unit in the conveying direction F. In the embodiment shown, the optical sensor 7 is arranged laterally next to the feeding conveyor 5, but an arrangement of the optical sensor 7 below or above the feeding conveyor 5 is also conceivable. In this arrangement, the optical sensor 7 can alternatively or additionally determine measurement data of the transport unit 3 transversely to the conveying direction F, and the evaluation electronics 8 can alternatively or additionally determine from the measurement data the spatial extent of the transport unit 3 transversely to the conveying direction F.

[0069] The free lengths of the storage conveyors 4 are determined and continuously updated by the controller 12 from the length of the respective storage conveyors 4, the number of transport units 3 stored in the respective storage conveyors 4, and the associated spatial extents in the conveying direction F.

[0070] A reading apparatus (not shown) in the form of a barcode reader can also be arranged at the feeding conveyor 5 immediately after the optical sensor 7, which reading apparatus is set up to read an identification element of a transport unit 3 and to transmit the read identification to the controller 12. The controller 12 assigns the read identification to the spatial extent of the transport unit 3 obtained from the evaluation electronics 8. FIG. 1 shows a transport unit 3 in the feeding conveyor 5, which transport unit 3 is located in the measurement field 15 of the optical sensor 7. This situation is shown in detail in FIG. 2.

[0071] FIG. 2 shows the optical sensor 7 designed as 2D profile sensor, and a transport unit 3 moving past, which is located in the measurement field 15 of the optical sensor 7. In the embodiment shown, the measurement field 15 of the optical sensor 7 is a plane 15, which is aligned parallel to the conveying direction F and in which the reflection in individual points 14 is measured by the optical sensor 7. An optical axis Z of the optical sensor 7 is aligned substantially perpendicularly to the conveying direction F and lies in the plane of the measurement field 15. The evaluation electronics 8 also shown in FIG. 2 processes the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor 7 in order to determine the spatial extent of the transport unit 3 moving past.

[0072] Individual exemplary intermediate steps of the processing of the measurement data carried out by the evaluation electronics 8 are shown in FIGS. 3a to 3c. The measurement data here include the spatial distance between the optical sensor 7 and the transport unit 3 moving past at individual points 14, and also the intensity of the reflection of a light at each measurement point 14. This light is emitted by a light source installed in the optical sensor 7 for determining the measurement data, wherein the light source includes, for example, an LED or a laser. Furthermore, the optical sensor 7 includes a detection unit with, for example, a CCD (charge coupled device) or a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) detector.

[0073] The measurement data include a lateral profile of the transport unit 3 moving past. The measurement points 14 are plotted in FIGS. 3a to 3c by way of example in an orthogonal coordinate system, whose axes form the conveying direction F and the optical axis Z. The position of the optical sensor 7 is also indicated. The measurement field 15 of the optical sensor 7 lies in the plane 15 defined by the coordinate system.

[0074] As can be seen in FIG. 3a, the plane is dependent on the alignment of a reflecting surface of the transport unit 3. The larger the angle between the surface normal of the reflecting surface and the optical axis Z is, the smaller is the intensity of the reflection which is determined by the optical sensor 7 in the direction of the optical axis Z. With the alignment and configuration of the transport unit 3 shown, the intensity at the measured points on the side of the transport unit 3 facing the optical sensor 7 is higher than the intensity of the measured points on the front side of the transport unit 3.

[0075] The evaluation electronics 8 is set up to filter the measurement data obtained from the optical sensor 7 using an optical parameter; the result of this filtering can be seen in FIG. 3b by way of example. The optical parameter which is used to filter the measurement data is the previously described intensity, and so measurement points are obtained for which the optical parameter lies above a definable threshold value. In the present case, only measurement points from the side of the transport unit 3 facing the optical sensor 7 remain after the filtering.

[0076] The evaluation electronics 8 is also set up to determine the spatial extent of the transport unit 3 in the conveying direction F from the remaining measurement points. This determination is shown by way of example in FIG. 3c, wherein the evaluation electronics 8 determines a compensation line 16 using the measurement points by means of regression methods. The compensation line is characterized, among other things, by its length and its angle to the conveying direction F wherein the length of the compensation line 16 corresponds to the spatial extent of the transport unit 3 in the conveying direction F. Alternatively, or additionally, the evaluation electronics 8 can also be set up to determine the spatial extent of the transport unit 3 transversely to the conveying direction F, for example its height h, which can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0077] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the optical sensor 7 repeatedly determines measurement data from the transport unit 3 moving past. This allows the evaluation electronics 8 in each case to determine a value for the spatial extent in the conveying direction F of the transport unit 3 moving past from the determined measurement data. Moreover, the evaluation electronics 8 determines a mean value for the spatial extent based on the individual determined values for the spatial extent of the transport unit 3 in the conveying direction F. The determination of the mean value includes the formation of an arithmetic mean.

[0078] The transport unit 3 shown in FIG. 2 includes a carriage 9, hanging on which a carrying unit 10 for carrying goods 11 to be transported is attached so as to be pivotable and rotatable. The carrying unit 10 of the transport unit 3 is designed as a bag and is configured to swing and twist on the carriage while the transport unit 3 is moved past the optical sensor 7. The transport unit 3 is moving past the optical sensor 7 without braking, at a speed that corresponds to the typical conveying speed of the transport apparatus 1.

[0079] It should be noted that reference signs are equivalent across all figures and always indicate the same object.