Device for Load Transfer

Abstract

The invention relates to a device comprising a stationary transfer station (3) and a trailer train (1) comprising at least one trailer-train trailer (2), for transferring loads (L) from the trailer-train trailer (2) into the stationary transfer station (3), the trailer-train trailer (2) being provided with a continuous conveyor (25) driven by a motor (27), for receiving the load (L). The motor (27) of the continuous conveyor (25) of the trailer-train trailer (2) is powered by a battery (6) of the trailer train (1). Another continuous conveyor (30) driven by another motor (32) is arranged in the transfer station (3), for receiving the load (L), the other motor (32) of the other continuous conveyor (30) being powered in the transfer station (3) in a pre-determined handling position by the battery (6) of the trailer train (1).

Claims

1. A device comprising, a stationary transfer station; and a trailer train comprising at least one trailer-train trailer for a transfer of loads from the trailer-train trailer into the transfer station, wherein the trailer-train trailer is provided with a continuous conveyor driven by a motor to receive the load, wherein the motor of the continuous conveyor of the trailer-train trailer is fed by a battery of the trailer train, wherein an additional continuous conveyor to receive the loads are driven by an additional motor located in the transfer station, and wherein a predetermined handling position the additional motor of the additional continuous conveyor in the transfer station is fed by the battery of the trailer train.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one contact is provided on the transfer station with which, in the predetermined handling position, at least one switch contact of the trailer-train trailer that is in connection with the battery of the trailer train is connected and thereby closes a circuit to supply power to the additional motor of the additional continuous conveyor on the transfer station.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein, on the transfer station, a sensor device is provided to detect the predetermined handling position of the trailer-train trailer.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the trailer train has a tractor vehicle and a battery of the tractor vehicle takes over power supply to the motor of the continuous conveyor of the trailer-train trailer and power supply of the additional motor of the additional continuous conveyor on the transfer station.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the contact of the transfer station is located on a floor B.

6. The device according to of claim 2, wherein the contact of the transfer station is attached to a stationary rail.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the sensor device is attached to the stationary rail.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein in the contact of the transfer station is attached to the transfer station.

9. The device according to claim 2, wherein the trailer-train trailer is provided with two switch contacts at a horizontal distance from each other, which are reversible to reverse a direction of rotation of the additional motor the continuous conveyor of the transfer station.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein, in the handling predetermined position, the continuous conveyor of the trailer-train trailer driven by the motor is oriented at a same height as the additional continuous conveyor of the transfer station.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the continuous conveyor the trailer-train trailer is in the form of a conveyor belt, a roller conveyor, or a chain conveyor.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the additional continuous conveyor of the transfer station is in the form of a conveyor belt, a roller conveyor, or a chain conveyor.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the trailer-train trailer comprises a lift table which is provided with the continuous conveyor.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the lift table is provided with a contact.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein a height of the lift table relative to a chassis of the trailer-train trailer is adjusted by a lifting mechanism.

16. The device according to claim 13, wherein, in the predetermined handling position when the lift table is lowered, the switch contact of the trailer-train trailer that is connected to the battery of the trailer train strikes the contact of the transfer station.

17. The device according to claim 13, wherein the trailer-train trailer has a support frame that supports the lift table.

18. The device according to claim 2, wherein the trailer-train trailer has a support frame provided with a chassis, wherein the support frame is provided with the continuous conveyor.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein a height of the switch contact located on the support frame is adjustable, and the height is adjusted by a lifting mechanism relative to the support frame the trailer-train trailer.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the switch contact is located on a bracket, a height of which is adjusted by the lifting mechanism, wherein the bracket is provided with a support device.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the bracket is located laterally on the continuous conveyor and, in the raised position, projects above a level of the continuous conveyor.

Description

[0029] Additional advantages and details of the invention are explained in greater detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying schematic figures, in which

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention,

[0031] FIG. 2 is a diagonal view in perspective of a system with, in this case, four transfer stations arranged one behind the other corresponding to the first embodiment of the device according to the invention,

[0032] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a transfer device corresponding to the first embodiment of the device according to the invention without a load,

[0033] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of a trailer-train trailer of the first embodiment of the device according to the invention in the handling position with open contacts,

[0034] FIG. 5 is an illustration corresponding to FIG. 4 with closed contacts,

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a trailer-train trailer according to a second embodiment of the device according to the invention with open contacts,

[0036] FIG. 7 shows a trailer-train trailer according to FIG. 6 with closed contacts,

[0037] FIG. 8 is a detail of FIG. 6 in an enlarged illustration,

[0038] FIG. 9 is a detail of FIG. 7 in an enlarged illustration,

[0039] FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of the second embodiment of the device according to the invention with open contacts and

[0040] FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of the second embodiment of the device according to the invention with closed contacts.

[0041] The device according to the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 11 is explained below on the basis of the example of a trailer train 1 with at least one trailer-train trailer 2, whereby a load L such as a pallet or a mesh box for example is to be transferred from a trailer-train trailer 2 of the trailer train 1 in the x direction (transverse direction of the trailer-train trailer 2) to a stationary transfer station 3 or in the opposite direction x from the stationary transfer station 3 to the trailer-train trailer 2 of the trailer train 1.

[0042] The trailer train 1as illustrated in FIG. 2has a tractor vehicle 5 which is provided with a battery 6. The tractor vehicle 5 has a battery-powered electrical drive system with an electric traction drive, whereby the battery 6 is preferably in the form of a traction battery that powers the traction drive of the tractor vehicle 5.

[0043] As shown by the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 and the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 11, the trailer-train trailer 2 has a support frame 10, which can be in the shape of an E or a C when viewed from overhead.

[0044] The support frame 10 in the illustrated exemplary embodiments can be moved on two wheels 11 on the floor B of a plant building, for example, whereby the two wheels 11, together with a rigid axle 12, are part of the chassis 13 of the trailer-train trailer 2.

[0045] The support frame 10 is provided with a continuous conveyor 25. The continuous conveyor 25 is driven by an electric motor 27. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the continuous conveyor 25 is in the form of a conveyor belt 26. Alternatively, the continuous conveyor 25as in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 11can be formed by a roller conveyor that is driven by the electric motor 27.

[0046] The electric motor 27 of the continuous conveyor 25, for its power supply, is connected with the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle 5.

[0047] The stationary transfer station 3 is provided with an additional continuous conveyor 30 which is driven by an additional electric motor 32. The additional continuous conveyor 30 can be of the form of a roller conveyor 31, a conveyor belt or a chain conveyor.

[0048] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the support frame 10 is in the form of a lift table 20, which can be raised and lowered relative to the chassis 13 by means of at least one lifting mechanism 21.

[0049] On the trailer-train trailer 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the lift table 20 and with it the continuous conveyor 25 can be lowered by means of the lifting mechanisms 21 in the vertical direction y to the height of the stationary transfer station 3.

[0050] The lifting mechanisms 21 are preferably of the form of electrical lifting mechanisms which are supplied with power by the battery 6 of the traction vehicle 5.

[0051] For the electrical power supply of the electric motor 27 of the continuous conveyor 25, and/or of the lifting mechanisms 21, the trailer train trailers 2 are connected with the battery 6 of the traction vehicle 5 by means of a connection cable 28.

[0052] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, attached to the stationary transfer station 3 is a stationary rail 40, which consists of an angled bracket 42. On the vertical wall 44 of the bracket 40 there are two sensors 46 separated horizontally from each other, which in a predetermined handling position of the trailer-train trailer 2 by means of mated sensors (not shown) determine the precise handling position of the trailer-train trailer 2 in which the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer-train trailer 2 must be oriented in relation to the additional continuous conveyor 30 of the stationary transfer station 3.

[0053] The trailer-train trailer 2 is provided in the vicinity of the rail 40 with two live contacts 52 which are connected with the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle 5.

[0054] Fastened to the horizontal leg 48 of the bracket 42 at some distance from each other are two contacts 50 of the stationary transfer station 3, which are connected with the additional motor 32 of the additional continuous conveyor 30 of the stationary transfer station 3.

[0055] The contacts 52 are located on the support frame 10 of the trailer-train trailer 2 so that when the lift table 20 is lowered these contacts come into contact with the two contacts 50 of the transfer station 3. Preferably the contacts 52 of the trailer-train trailer 2 are formed by switch contacts.

[0056] When the trailer-train trailer 2 of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 has reached the transfer station 3 showed in FIG. 4, the two sensors 46 determine the position of the trailer-train trailer 2, which can still be corrected, until the predetermined handling position of the trailer-train trailer 2 relative to the stationary transfer station 3 with its continuous conveyor 30 has been reached. In response to a command from the trailer-train side, which can be given, for example, by a driver of the tractor vehicle 5 or can also be transmitted automatically, the lifting mechanisms 21 receive a signal to lower the lift table 20 until the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer-train trailer 2 has been lowered to the same height as the continuous conveyor 30 of the transfer station 3, so that in the predetermined handling position the load L can be transferred on the same level (y=0) from the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer-train trailer 2 to the continuous conveyor 30 of the transfer station 3 or from the continuous conveyor 30 of the transfer station 3 to the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer-train trailer 2. When the lift table 20 is lowered, the two contacts 52 of the trailer-train trailer that are in a connection with the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle 5 come into contact with the contacts 50 of the stationary transfer station 3. After a brief delay of approximately half a second, which is to prevent arcing, the trailer-side contact 52 is supplied with current from the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle 5, so that the current for the power supply the additional motor 32 of the additional continuous conveyor 30 of the stationary transfer station 3 is closed, which is thereby fed by the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle 5 and drives the continuous conveyor 30. By means of the motor 27, which is also fed by the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle 5, the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer-train trailer 2 is also driven accordingly.

[0057] For the delivery of a [load] L from the trailer-train trailer 2 to the stationary transfer station 3, the motors 27, 32 are operated so that the load is displaced in the direction x (see FIG. 1) at the same height from the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer-train trailer 2 to the continuous conveyor 30 of the transfer station 3. Accordingly, to receive a [load] L from the transfer station 3 onto the trailer-train trailer 2, the motors 27, 32 are operated so that the load is displaced in the direction x (see FIG. 1) at the same height from the continuous conveyor 30 of the transfer station 3 onto the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer-train trailer 2.

[0058] When the sensors 46 detect an erroneous position that differs from the correct handling position of the trailer-train trailer 2, the contact 52 remains de-energized so that the power supply of the motor 32 remains interrupted.

[0059] The support frame 10as illustrated in FIG. 1can also have, on the opposite longitudinal side, at least one contact 52 so that the described load transfer or load acceptance can also be carried out when the trailer-train trailer 2 is driven into the transfer station 3 in the reverse position.

[0060] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated and FIGS. 6 to 11, the trailer-train trailer 2 has a rigid support frame 10 that is provided with the chassis 13, which support frame 10 is provided with the continuous conveyor 25. The trailer-train trailer 2 illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 11 is therefore in the form of a rigid trailer-train trailer 2 without a lift table.

[0061] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 11, the stationary transfer station 3 is provided with two sensors 46 at a horizontal distance from each other which, in a predetermined handling position of the trailer-train trailer 2, detect the correct handling position of the trailer-train trailer 2 by means of mating sensors (not shown), in which position the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer-train trailer 2 must be oriented with respect to the additional continuous conveyor 30 of the stationary transfer station 3.

[0062] The trailer-train trailer 2 illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 11 is provided with at least one live contact 52 which is connected with the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle 5.

[0063] The contact 52 is located in a vertically adjustable manner of the support frame 10 and its height can be adjusted by means of a lifting mechanism (not illustrated in any further detail) relative to the support frame 10 of the trailer-train trailer 2.

[0064] The lifting mechanism is preferably in the form of an electrical lifting mechanism that is supplied with power by the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle 5.

[0065] The trailer-train trailer 2 illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 11 is connected by means of a connecting cable with the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle 5 for the electrical supply of the electric motor 27 of the continuous conveyor 25 and/or of the lifting mechanism for the contacts 52.

[0066] The stationary transfer station of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 11 is provided with two contacts located at some distance from each other which are connected with the additional motor 32 of the additional continuous conveyor 30 of the stationary transfer station 3.

[0067] The contact 52 of the trailer tractor-trailer 2 is preferably located on a bracket 60, the height of which can be adjusted by means of the lifting mechanism. The bracket 60 in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 11 is also provided with a support device 61, such as a support roller 62, for example, to support the trailer tractor-trailer 2 on the floor B.

[0068] The bracket 60 is preferably located laterally on the continuous conveyor 25 and projects with its upper edge in the raised position, which is illustrated in FIGS. 6, 8 and 10, beyond the height of the continuous conveyor 25.

[0069] The contact 52 is located on the bracket 60 of the trailer-train trailer 2 such that when the bracket 60 is lowered, it comes into contact with the two contacts 50 of the transfer station 3. Preferably the contact 52 of the trailer tractor-trailer 2 is formed by a switching plate.

[0070] When the trailer-train trailer 2 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 11 has arrived in the transfer station 3 illustrated in FIGS. 6, 8 and 10, the two sensors 46 determine the position of the trailer-train trailer 2, which can still be corrected, until it has reached the predetermined handling position of the trailer-train trailer 2 relative to the stationary transfer station 3 with its continuous conveyor 30. In response to a command from the trailer-train side, which can be given, for example, by a driver of the tractor vehicle 5 or can be issued automatically, the lifting mechanism receives a signal to lower the bracket 60 so that the contact 52 connected with the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle 5 of the trailer-train trailer 2 which is located on the bracket 60 comes into contact with the contacts 50 of the stationary transfer station 3, as illustrated in FIGS. 7, 9 and 11. The support element 61 that is formed by the support roller 62 also comes into contact with the floor B to stabilize the trailer-train trailer 2. After a brief delay of approximately half a second, which is to prevent arcing, the trailer-side contact 52 is supplied with current from the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle 5 so that the circuit to supply power to the additional motor 32 of the additional continuous conveyor 30 of the stationary transfer station 3 is closed, which is thereby fed by the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle 5 and drives the continuous conveyor 30. By means of the motor 27 which is also fed by the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle 5 the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer-train trailer 2 is driven correspondingly.

[0071] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 11, the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer-train trailer 2 is positioned at the same height as the continuous conveyor 30 of the transfer station 3, so that in the specified handling position the load L can be transferred on the same level from the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer-train trailer 2 to the continuous conveyor 30 of the transfer station 3 or from the continuous conveyor 30 of the transfer station 3 to the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer-train trailer 2.

[0072] For the delivery of a [load] L from the trailer-train trailer 2 to the stationary transfer station 3, the motors 27, 32 are operated so that the displaced is pushed on the same level from the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer tray trailer 2 onto the continuous conveyor 30 of the transfer station 3. Correspondingly, for the acceptance of a [load] L from the transfer station 3 onto the trailer-train trailer 2, the motors 27, 32 are operated so that the load is displaced on the same level from the continuous conveyor 30 of the transfer station 3 onto the continuous conveyor 25 of the trailer-train trailer 2.

[0073] When the sensors 46 identify an erroneous position that differs from the correct handling position of the trailer-train trailer 2, the contact 52 remains de-energized so that the power supply to the motor 32 remains interrupted.

[0074] The invention results in the following advantages:

[0075] Because the additional motor 32 of the additional continuous conveyor 30 of the stationary transfer station 3 is fed by the battery 6 of the tractor vehicle of the trailer train 1 for the delivery or acceptance of a load, the stationary transfer station 3 does not need an electrical connection and therefore no power connection to a power network of the building in which the stationary transfer station 3 is located. That results in a high degree of flexibility in the location of the stationary transfer station 3 and the installation site of the stationary transfer station 3 can be changed in a simple matter because the stationary transfer station 3 does not need a separate power connection to a power network of the building and therefore when there is a change in the installation location, no additional installation effort or expense is required for the power connection of the motor 32 of the continuous conveyor 30 of the transfer station 3 the power network of the building.