Method for Operating a Palletizing Plant and Palletizing Plant

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a palletizing plant (5) which comprises a palletizing apparatus (10) for forming a layer stack (100) and at least one driverless transport vehicle (40) for transporting the layer stack (100). In the method, the driverless transport vehicle (40) is moved to a palletizing location (41) close to the palletizing apparatus (10) and a layer stack (100) is formed on the driverless transport vehicle (40). The driverless transport vehicle (40) remains at the palletizing location (41) during the formation of the layer stack (100). The invention also relates to a palletizing plant (5) which is set up to carry out the method according to the invention.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. A method for operating a palletizing plant which comprises a palletizing apparatus for forming a layer stack and at least one driverless transport vehicle for transporting the layer stack, wherein the driverless transport vehicle is moved to a palletizing location close to the palletizing apparatus and a layer stack is formed on the driverless transport vehicle, characterized in that the driverless transport vehicle remains at the palletizing location during the formation of the layer stack, wherein an energy store is charged while the driverless transport vehicle is located at the palletizing location and the driverless transport vehicle is moved away from the palletizing location to a removal location after the layer stack has been formed, and at the latter the layer stack is removed from the driverless transport vehicle or is removed with a transport aid from the driverless transport vehicle, wherein a plurality of layer stacks are formed simultaneously on a plurality of driverless transport vehicles in that, first of all, only one or a few layers are deposited on a first transport vehicle, then the first transport vehicle is moved into a standby location, a further transport vehicle is moved to the palletizing location, and one or a few layers are deposited on the further vehicle, until one of the layer stacks has reached a desired height.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that a transport aid, on which the layer stack is formed, is arranged on the driverless transport vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the layer stack is formed directly on the driverless transport vehicle.

16. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that after the driverless transport vehicle has been moved away from the palletizing location, a further driverless transport vehicle is moved from a standby location to the palletizing location and a layer stack is formed on the further driverless transport vehicle.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that an energy store of the further driverless transport vehicle is charged while the further driverless transport vehicle is located at the standby location.

18. A palletizing plant comprising: a palletizing apparatus for forming a layer stack; and at least one driverless transport vehicle for transporting the layer stack, wherein the palletizing plant is set up to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims.

19. The palletizing plant according to claim 18, wherein, close to the palletizing apparatus, at least one palletizing location is provided, at which a device for charging an energy store of the driverless transport vehicle is provided.

20. The palletizing plant according to claim 18, wherein a standby location is provided, at which a device for charging an energy store of the at least one driverless transport vehicle is located.

Description

FIGURES AND EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0042] The invention is explained in more detail in the following text on the basis of an advantageous exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures. The invention is not limited to this exemplary embodiment, however. The figures illustrate the subject matter of the invention only schematically. In the figures:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a palletizing plant, and

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the palletizing plant from FIG. 1.

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a palletizing plant 5. The palletizing plant 5 comprises a palletizing apparatus 10, which serves to form a layer stack 100 on a transport aid 105. The palletizing plant 5 furthermore comprises a plurality of driverless transport vehicles 40, wherein only one such driverless transport vehicle 40 is illustrated in the illustration shown. The driverless transport vehicles 40 serve to supply the transport aids 105 to the palletizing apparatus 10 and to take away transport aids 105 with layer stacks 100 formed thereon.

[0046] The palletizing apparatus 10 stands on a floor 12. The palletizing apparatus 10 comprises a lifting apparatus 20, which extends substantially in a vertical direction Z away from the floor 12. The lifting apparatus 20 is configured in the present case in the form of a column. The vertical direction Z extends at right angles to the floor 12 and at right angles to a longitudinal direction X. A transverse direction Y extends at right angles to the vertical direction Z and at right angles to the longitudinal direction X. The longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y thus extend parallel to the floor 12.

[0047] The palletizing apparatus 10 comprises a set-down apparatus 50, which is arranged on the lifting apparatus 20. The set-down apparatus 50 is movable in the vertical direction Z relative to the lifting apparatus 20. The set-down apparatus 50 is additionally movable in the longitudinal direction X between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position relative to the lifting apparatus 20. The set-down apparatus 50 is configured advantageously in the form of a set-down belt and comprises a circulating conveyor belt, which defines a transport face for transporting an article layer 15 in the longitudinal direction X.

[0048] The palletizing apparatus 10 also comprises a compressing apparatus 80, which is arranged on the lifting apparatus 20. The compressing apparatus 80 is movable in the vertical direction Z relative to the lifting apparatus 20. The compressing apparatus 80 serves to orient an article layer 15 that is located on the transport face of the set-down apparatus 50, and/or to subsequently orient the layer stack 100 formed.

[0049] The palletizing plant 5 furthermore comprises a feed apparatus 110. By means of the feed apparatus 110, article layers 15 are fed to the palletizing apparatus 10. In this case, first of all a plurality of individual products or piece goods are combined by the feed apparatus 110 into a stackable article layer 15, and the article layer 15 thus produced is subsequently transported further in the longitudinal direction X to the palletizing apparatus 10. It is also conceivable for a stackable article layer 15 to contain only one product or piece good.

[0050] In order to form a layer stack 100 on the transport aid 105, first of all an article layer 15 is transferred from the feed apparatus 110 onto the set-down apparatus 50, which is located in this case in the first longitudinal position. Subsequently, the set-down apparatus 50 is moved in the vertical direction Z to the height of the layer stack 100 that has already been formed. Subsequently, the set-down apparatus 50 is moved in the longitudinal direction X into the second longitudinal position. Thereupon, the compressing apparatus 80 is lowered in the vertical direction Z such that the article layer 15 located on the transport face of the set-down apparatus 50 is located between stops of the compressing apparatus 80. The situation described here is illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0051] Provided on the floor 12, beneath the compressing apparatus 80 in the vertical direction Z, is a palletizing location 41. Located at the palletizing location 41 is a driverless transport vehicle 40. The driverless transport vehicle 40 carries a transport aid 105, for example in the form of a pallet, on which a layer stack 100 is already located. The layer stack 100 comprises in this case a plurality of article layers 15 stacked on top of one another.

[0052] When the set-down apparatus 50 is moved in the longitudinal direction X into the first longitudinal position, the article layer 15 that is located between the stops of the compressing apparatus 80 is, as a result, set down on the layer stack 100 by the palletizing apparatus 10. The layer stack 100 that is located on the transport aid 105 subsequently comprises a further article layer 15.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the palletizing plant 5 illustrated in FIG. 1. In this case, the set-down apparatus 50 and the compressing apparatus 80 are not illustrated. Article layers 15 are not illustrated either. Furthermore, a driverless transport vehicle 40 and a transport aid 105 are not illustrated.

[0054] The abovementioned palletizing location 41 is located close to the palletizing apparatus 10. This means that the palletizing location 41 is located at a place where the palletizing apparatus 10, in order to form the layer stack 100, can set down article layers 15 on the transport aid 105 that is located at the palletizing location 41. The palletizing location 41 is located on the floor 12 and is arranged in a manner offset in the longitudinal direction X and in the transverse direction Y with respect to the lifting apparatus 20.

[0055] The palletizing location 41 is located in a manner offset in the longitudinal direction X with respect to the feed apparatus 110 in the present case. In the transverse direction Y, the palletizing location 41 is at least approximately aligned with the feed apparatus 110. An article layer 15 is thus transported only in the longitudinal direction X and in the vertical direction Z from the feed apparatus 110 to the transport aid 105 or the layer stack 100. It is therefore not necessary for the article layer 15 to be transported in the transverse direction Y by the palletizing apparatus 10.

[0056] Provided at the palletizing location 41 is a device (not illustrated here) for charging an energy store of a driverless transport vehicle 40. Said device is configured in the form of a charger with a corresponding energy transfer device.

[0057] A standby location 43 is also provided, which is located preferably in the immediate vicinity of the palletizing location 41. The standby location 43 is located on the floor 12 and is arranged in the present case in a manner offset in the transverse direction Y with respect to the palletizing location 41. In the longitudinal direction X the palletizing location 41 is aligned with the standby location 43. The standby location 43 can, however, also be arranged at other points, for example in a manner offset in the longitudinal direction X with respect to the palletizing location 41.

[0058] Also provided at the palletizing location 41 is a device (not illustrated here) for charging an energy store of a driverless transport vehicle 40. Said device is likewise configured in the form of a charger with a corresponding energy transfer device.

[0059] During operation of the palletizing plant 5, a driverless transport vehicle 40 is moved, if necessary with a transport aid 105, to the palletizing location 41. A layer stack 100 is then formed on the transport aid 105. During the formation of the layer stack 100, the driverless transport vehicle 40 remains at the palletizing location 41. In the process, the energy store of the driverless transport vehicle 40 is charged. A further driverless transport vehicle 40 with a further transport aid 105 is, in the meantime, located at the standby location 43. In the process, the energy store of the further driverless transport vehicle 40 is also charged.

[0060] Once the layer stack 100 has been fully formed on the transport aid 105, the driverless transport vehicle 40 is moved away from the palletizing location 41 and to a removal location 42. At the removal location 42, the layer stack 100 is then removed, together with the transport aid 105, from the driverless transport vehicle 40 and provided for onward transport, for example by means of a truck.

[0061] Immediately after the driverless transport vehicle 40 has left the palletizing location 41, the further driverless transport vehicle 40 is moved with the further transport aid 105 from the standby location 43 to the palletizing location 41. Then, a further layer stack 100 is formed on the further transport aid 105.

[0062] Immediately after the further driverless transport vehicle 40 has left the standby location 43, a further driverless transport vehicle 40 is moved with a further transport aid 105 to the standby location 43.

[0063] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described here and the aspects highlighted therein. Rather, a large number of modifications that lie within the capabilities of a person skilled in the art are possible within the scope defined by the claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0064] 5 Palletizing plant [0065] 10 Palletizing apparatus [0066] 12 Floor [0067] 15 Article layer [0068] 20 Lifting apparatus [0069] 40 Driverless transport vehicle [0070] 41 Palletizing location [0071] 42 Removal location [0072] 43 Standby location [0073] 50 Set-down apparatus [0074] 80 Compressing apparatus [0075] 100 Layer stack [0076] 105 Transport aid [0077] 110 Feed apparatus [0078] X Longitudinal direction [0079] Y Transverse direction [0080] Z Vertical direction