MOBILE TRANSPORT CONTAINER FOR A SORTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPENING AND/OR CLOSING A TRANSPORT CONTAINER

Abstract

A transport container for a sorting device includes a support frame, a flap pivotally arranged on the frame, and an adjusting device which is coupled to the flap, to move the flap between a transport position for transporting an object and a dropping position for dropping the object. The adjusting device has a lever coupled to the flap. In order to be able to open and close the transport container reliably and to prevent the opened flap from swinging afterward, as well as to ensure as synchronous a movement of the flaps as possible in the case of several flaps, a cam plate rotatably mounted on the frame and having at least one guide surface is provided, on which the lever is guided during movement of the flap from the transport position into the dropping position and/or during an entire return movement from the dropping position into the transport position.

Claims

1. A transport container for a sorting device, the transport container comprising a support frame, at least one flap pivotably arranged on the support frame and an adjusting device which is coupled to the at least one flap in order to move the at least one flap between a transport position for transporting a piece good and a dropping position for dropping the piece good, wherein the adjusting device comprises at least one adjusting lever coupled to the at least one flap, wherein a cam plate rotatably mounted on the support frame and having at least one guide surface on which the at least one adjusting lever is guided during the entire movement of the at least one flap from the transport position into the dropping position and/or during an entire return movement from the dropping position into the transport position.

2. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flap comprises a first flap and a second flap, which are each arranged on the support frame so as to be pivotable about a swivel axis, wherein the at least one adjusting lever comprises a first adjusting lever associated with the first flap and a second adjusting lever associated with the second flap, and wherein the at least one guide surface comprises a first guide surface for guiding the first adjusting lever and a second guide surface for guiding the second adjusting lever.

3. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the cam plate is preloaded in a basic position by a tensioning element or a spring element, the at least one flap being in the transport position in the basic position of the cam plate.

4. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the cam plate is held in a basic position by a securing element, the at least one flap being in the transport position in the basic position of the cam plate.

5. The transport container according to claim 4, wherein a releasing element releases the securing element when the transport container moves past the releasing element in an intended transport direction, the releasing element being arranged on a transport path of the sorting device upstream of an unloading station at which the transport container discharges the transported piece good by moving the at least one flap into the dropping position and/or wherein the release element is designed as a movable pin and is movable from a passive normal position into an active functional position.

6. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one adjusting lever has a guide element, which during the entire movement of the at least one flap from the transport position into the dropping position and/or during a complete return movement from the dropping position into the transport position bears against the at least one guide surface.

7. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide surface is formed by a protrusion or a recess on a surface of the cam plate or on an outer circumference of the cam plate and/or wherein the at least one guide surface is part of a recess or an opening in the cam plate.

8. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide surface comprises a guide area and a holding area, the guide area being convexly curved and the holding area being of part-circular shape and set back with respect to the guide area, wherein a guide element arranged on the at least one adjusting lever rests against the guide area of the guide surface during movement of the at least one flap from the transport position into the dropping position and is located in the holding area of the guide surface in the dropping position.

9. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein a sliding block cooperates with a stop element arranged on the cam plate for moving the at least one flap back from the dropping position into the transport position.

10. The transport container according to claim 9, wherein the sliding block is arranged on a transport path of the sorting device downstream of an unloading station, at which the transport container drops the transported piece good by moving the at least one flap into the dropping position and/or wherein the stop element is arranged eccentrically on the cam plate.

11. The transport container according to claim 9, wherein the sliding block has a ramp with a stop surface which is inclined or curved relative to a horizontal plane and against which the stop element of the cam plate comes to rest, when the transport container moves past the cam plate in an intended transport direction and/or wherein the cam plate is set in rotation by interaction of the cam plate and the stop element when the transport container moves past the cam plate in an intended transport direction.

12. A sorting device comprising at least one transport container according to claim 1.

13. A method for opening and/or closing a transport container for a sorting device, the transport container comprising a support frame, at least one flap pivotably arranged on the support frame, and at least one adjusting lever which is coupled to the at least one flap, the method comprising: moving the at least one flap from a transport position for transporting a piece good into a dropping position for dropping the piece good or back, by rotating a cam plate rotatably mounted on the support frame and having at least one guide surface, the at least one adjusting lever being guided on the guide surface during the entire movement of the flap from the transport position into the dropping position and/or during the entire return movement from the dropping position into the transport position.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein for opening the transport container the cam plate, which is preloaded and/or locked in a basic position, is unlocked, as a result of which the cam plate is automatically set in rotation in a first direction of rotation and the at least one flap is moved from the transport position into the dropping position due to the coupling of the flap to the at least one adjusting lever and the guiding of the adjusting lever on the at least one guide surface.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein for closing the transport container, the cam plate is set in rotation in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation by a sliding block engaging on an eccentric stop element of the cam plate, and the at least one flap is moved from the dropping position into the transport position as a result of the coupling with the at least one adjusting lever and the guidance of the adjusting lever on the at least one guide surface.

16. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the sorting device is a split tray sorter.

17. The transport container according to claim 2, wherein the swivel axis is perpendicular to an intended transport direction.

18. The transport container according to claim 4, wherein the securing element is a preloaded latch.

19. The transport container according to claim 5, wherein the releasing element is movable by magnetic actuation from the passive normal position into the active functional position.

20. The transport container according to claim 6, wherein the guide element is a guide roller.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] These and other advantages and features of the invention are apparent from the example embodiment described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

[0032] FIG. 1A: Side view of a transport container according to the invention in a transport position T with the flaps closed, wherein the transport container includes an adjusting device and a cam plate, and the view of the transport container is shown facing an outside of the cam plate;

[0033] FIG. 1B: Side view of the transport container of FIG. 1A looking at an inner side of the cam plate;

[0034] FIG. 1C: Detailed view of the adjusting device of the transport container of FIG. 1A;

[0035] FIG. 1D: Detailed view of the adjusting device of the transport container in the viewing direction of FIG. 1B;

[0036] FIGS. 2A-2E: Illustration of the steps for opening the flaps of the transport container of FIGS. 1A and 1B from the transport position T (FIG. 2A) to a dropping position A (FIG. 2E), wherein the transport container is shown in a side view with the viewing direction of FIG. 1A;

[0037] FIGS. 3A-3E: Illustration of the steps for opening the flaps of the transport container of FIGS. 1A and 1B from the transport position T (FIG. 3A) to a dropping position A (FIG. 3E), wherein the transport container is shown in a side view with the viewing direction of FIG. 1B;

[0038] FIGS. 4A-4E: Illustration of the steps for closing the flaps of the transport container of FIGS. 1A and 1B from the dropping position A (FIG. 4A) back to the transport position T (FIG. 4E), wherein the transport container is shown in a side view with the viewing direction of FIG. 1A; and

[0039] FIGS. 5A-5E: Illustration of the steps for closing the flaps of the transport container of FIGS. 1A and 1B from the dropping position A (FIG. 5A) back to the transport position T (FIG. 5E), wherein the transport container is shown in a side view with the viewing direction of FIG. 1B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] FIGS. 1A and 1B show a preferred embodiment of a transport container according to the invention, with FIGS. 1A and 1B showing the transport container in a side view in different viewing directions and FIGS. 1C and 1D showing detailed representations of the adjusting device of the transport container. The viewing direction of FIGS. 1A and 1C is directed from the outside to the inside in a side view of the transport container, and the viewing direction of the illustrations of FIGS. 1B and 1D is directed in the opposite direction to this viewing direction, namely from the inside to the outside, i.e. rotated by 180° with respect to the viewing direction of FIGS. 1A and 1C.

[0041] The transport container shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B comprises a support frame 1 with a side wall shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 1A and 1B and two flaps 2, namely a first flap 2a and a second flap 2b, pivotably arranged on the support frame 1. The transport container is arranged to be movable along a transport path of a transport and sorting system in a transport direction R. The two flaps 2a, 2b, which are also referred to jointly below by the reference sign 2, are each hinged to the support frame 1 so as to be pivotable about swivel axes 7. The two flaps 2 can be pivoted between a transport position T shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and a dropping position A. In the transport position T, the two flaps 2 are at least approximately in a horizontal position and form a support surface for receiving a piece good S.

[0042] Each of the two flaps 2 is hingedly connected to an adjusting lever 4a, 4b associated with the respective flap 2a, 2b, wherein a first adjusting lever 4a is associated with the first flap 2a and a second adjusting lever 4b is associated with the second flap 2b. The adjusting levers 4a, 4b each comprise a longitudinal portion 4′ extending between an upper end and a lower end of the respective adjusting lever 4a, 4b, and a triangular guide portion 4″ formed on the respective longitudinal portion 4′ of the adjusting levers 4a, 4b. In the region of the upper end, the longitudinal section 4′ of each adjusting lever 4a, 4b has a straight elongated hole 20 running along the longitudinal section 4′. A pin 22 engages in this elongated hole 20, which pin 22 is attached to the underside of the flap 2a, 2b associated with the respective adjusting lever 4a, 4b. The pin 22 arranged on the underside of each flap 2a, 2b is further guided in an upper, curved elongated hole 21 of the support frame 1. At the lower end of the longitudinal section 4′ of each adjusting lever 4a, 4b, a guide pin 17 is further arranged which engages in a further, lower elongated hole 18 on the support frame 1. Through this arrangement, the first adjusting lever 4a is hingedly coupled to the first flap 2a and the second adjusting lever 4b is hingedly coupled to the second flap 2b.

[0043] A guide element in the form of a guide roller 11 is arranged at the corner of the triangular guide section 4″ of each adjusting lever 4a, 4b facing the cam plate 5 in FIG. 1B. The guide rollers 11 expediently have a noise-absorbing elastic surface on their outer circumference, for example a rubber or plastic coating.

[0044] Below the two flaps 2a, 2b, a cam plate 5 is arranged on the support frame 1 so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation 5A. For this purpose, the cam plate 5 contains a shaft 25 running along the axis of rotation 5A, which protrudes on the outside of the cam plate 5 above its surface. The axis of rotation 5A of the cam plate 5 runs parallel to the swivel axes 7 of the two flaps 2 and is at least approximately symmetrical to these two swivel axes 7. The cam plate 5 is approximately three-quarter-circular in shape and has a flattened section at the side as well as an outer side and an inner side, the outer side shown in FIG. 1A facing outwards laterally on the transport container and the inner side shown in FIG. 1B facing inwards. The cam plate 5 can also be designed as a circular plate. On the outside of the cam plate 5 shown in FIG. 1A, a stop element 13 in the form of a pin is arranged, which projects above the outside surface of the cam plate 5 and is eccentric to the axis of rotation 5A.

[0045] On its inner side, which can be seen in the view of FIG. 1B, the cam plate 5 has two recesses which are approximately banana-shaped and spaced apart from one another and whose side surfaces each form a guide surface 6a, 6b. Here, a first guide surface 6a is associated with the first adjusting lever 4a, which is hinged to the first flap 2a, and a second guide surface 6b is associated with the second adjusting lever 4b, which is hinged to the second flap 2b. The guide roller 11 of the first adjusting lever 4a is in contact with the first guide surface 6a of the cam plate 5 and, correspondingly, the guide roller 11 of the second adjusting lever 4b is in contact with the associated second guide surface 6b of the cam plate 5, as can be seen in FIGS. 1B and 1D.

[0046] The guide surfaces 6a, 6b are each composed of three sections, namely a first holding section 6″ positioned at the top of the first guide surface 6a and at the bottom of the second guide surface 6a in FIGS. 1B and 1D, an adjoining guide section 6′ and a further holding section positioned at the bottom of the first guide surface 6a and at the top of the second guide surface 6a in FIGS. 1B and 1D. The guide section 6′ is convexly curved and the holding sections 6″ are part-circular, in particular semicircular or three-quarter-circular, as can be seen in FIG. 1D. The first holding section 6″ is set back in relation to the adjoining curved guide section 6′.

[0047] A groove-shaped notch 16 is provided on the outer circumference of the cam plate 5. In the transport position T shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a securing element pretensioned by means of a spring element 15, which is designed as a latch 9 attached to the support frame 1 so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation 24, engages in the notch 16, as a result of which the cam plate 5 is held in a basic position, which is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

[0048] The cam plate 5 is pretensioned in the basic position by means of a tensioning or spring element 8. In the embodiment shown, the tensioning or spring element 8 is formed by an elastic band which is attached to the outside of the cam plate 5 at two eccentrically arranged attachment points and is guided under tension over the projecting shaft 25 of the cam plate 5.

[0049] The transport container shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B can be moved from the transport position T shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B to a dropping position A, as shown below with reference to FIGS. 2A-2E and FIGS. 3A-3E, in order to be able to drop a piece good S placed on the surface of the two flaps 2 in the transport position T at an unloading station of the transport and sorting system:

[0050] In the transport position T shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 3A, in which a piece good S is located on the upper side of the two closed flaps 2, the transport container is moved in the transport direction R along a transport path of the transport and sorting system. A release element 10 movable by an actuator not shown between a passive normal position and an active functional position is arranged on the transport path. When the release element 10 is in its active functional position, the release element 10 engages the transport way of the transport container along the transport path and comes into contact with the latch 9 when the transport container passes the release element 10, as shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 3B. As the transport container passes the release element 10, the downwardly projecting end portion of the latch 9 is pushed upward by the release element 10, causing the latch 9 to rotate and move out of the notch 16 on the outer circumference of the cam plate 5. As a result, the cam plate 5 is unlocked and starts rotating in a first direction of rotation due to the pretensioning of the cam plate 5 by the tensioning or spring element 8. The first direction of rotation is clockwise when viewed from FIG. 1A and counterclockwise when viewed from FIG. 1B.

[0051] FIG. 2C and FIG. 3C show an intermediate position in which the cam plate 5 has already moved by an angle of approx. 45° from its basic position. When the cam plate 5 rotates, the guide rollers 11 of the two adjusting levers 4a, 4b each roll on the associated guide surface 6a or 6b of the cam plate 5. The rotary movement of the cam plate 5 causes the guide section 4′ of the two adjusting levers 4a, 4b to move radially outwards in each case, as viewed from the cam plate 5, as a result of which the pins 22 on the underside of the two flaps 2a, 2b run downwards and outwards in the partially circularly curved elongated slot 21 on the one hand and downwards in the straight elongated slot 20 of the longitudinal section 4′ of the respectively associated adjusting lever 4a, 4b on the other hand. This moves the respective flap 2a, 2b from its closed position to an intermediate position, as shown in FIG. 2C and FIG. 3C.

[0052] When the cam plate 5 is further rotated to the end position shown in FIG. 2D and FIG. 3D, both flaps 2a, 2b are fully opened. In this end position of the flaps 2, which represents the dropping position A, the two flaps 2a, 2b are approximately in a vertical direction and the pins 22 on the underside of each of the flaps 2a, 2b rest against the lower/outer end of the curved elongated slot 21.

[0053] The guide rollers 11 of the first adjusting lever 4a and the second adjusting lever 4b have moved along the curved guide section 6′ of the first and second guide surfaces 6a, 6b, respectively, into the first holding section 6″ of these guide surfaces. In the end position of FIG. 2D and FIG. 3D, in which the two flaps 2a, 2b are in their dropping position A, the guide rollers 11 of the first adjusting lever 4a and of the second adjusting lever 4b are in contact with the first holding section 6″ of the first guide surface 6a and of the second guide surface 6b, respectively, as can be seen in FIG. 2D and FIG. 3D. During the movement of the two flaps 2a, 2b from their transport position T (which is shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 3A) to their dropping position A (which is shown in FIG. 2D and FIG. 3D), the guide rollers 11 of the first adjusting lever 4a and of the second adjusting lever 4b rest respectively on the associated guide surface 6a, 6b of the cam plate 5 and are thereby guided by the cam plate 5. As a result of the movement of the two flaps 2a, 2b from the closed position (transport position T according to FIG. 2A and FIG. 3A) to their open position (dropping position A, according to FIG. 2D and FIG. 3D), the piece good S resting on the upper side of the two flaps 2a, 2b in the transport position T falls downwards due to the force of gravity and is thereby dropped from the transport container into a collecting container located in an unloading station below the passing transport container, as shown in FIG. 2E and FIG. 3E. The two flaps 2 are held in the open position by their dead weight and by the bearing of the guide rollers 11 in the holding sections 6″ of the guide surfaces 6a, 6b.

[0054] While the piece good S is being discharged from the transport container, the transport container continues to move in the transport direction R along the transport path with the flaps 2a, 2b open. After the piece good S has been dropped at an unloading station, the transport container is returned from its dropping position A to its transport position T by closing the two flaps 2a, 2b. The closing of the flaps 2 is explained below with reference to FIGS. 4A-4E and FIGS. 5A-5E.

[0055] To close the flaps 2, a sliding block guide is provided on the transport path with a sliding block 12 that has a ramp with an inclined and/or curved stop surface 14. The sliding block 12 is arranged on the transport path downstream of one or each unloading station and projects into the transport path of the transport container to such an extent that the stop surface 14 of the sliding block 12 comes into contact with the stop element 13 of the cam plate 5 when the transport container moves past the sliding block 12 in the transport direction R, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A and FIGS. 4B and 5B. When the stop surface 14 of the sliding block 12 comes into contact with the stop element 13 of the cam plate 5, as shown in FIG. 4B and FIG. 5B, the cam plate 5 is set in rotation in a second direction of rotation. The second direction of rotation is opposite to the first direction of rotation when the flaps are opened and points counterclockwise in the view of FIG. 1A. The rotation of the cam plate 5 in the second direction of rotation causes the guide rollers 11 of the two adjusting levers 4a and 4b to roll on the respective associated guide surface 6a, 6b of the cam plate 5, as a result of which the adjusting levers 4a, 4b are raised and the two flaps 2a, 2b are pivoted upwards from their open position. FIG. 4B and FIG. 5B show an intermediate position of the two flaps 2a, 2b.

[0056] The cam plate 5 is rotated by the sliding block 12 in the second direction of rotation until it has reached its normal position. It is expedient for the sliding block 12 to then turn the cam plate slightly beyond its normal position, as shown in FIG. 4C and FIG. 5C. As soon as the cam plate 5 is in its basic position, the pretensioned latch 9 engages in the notch 16 on the outer circumference of the cam plate 5, locking the cam plate 5 in its basic position. In this position of the cam plate, the two flaps 2a, 2b are in their transport position T and the guide rollers of the two adjusting levers 4a, 4b each rest against the further holding section 6″ of the respective associated guide surface 6a, 6b, as shown in FIG. 4D and FIG. 5D. As a result, the flaps 2a, 2b coupled to the control levers 4a, 4b are held in their transport position T.

[0057] During the entire movement of the flaps 2a, 2b from the dropping position A (shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 5A) to the transport position T (shown in FIGS. 4D and 5D and FIGS. 4E and 5E), the guide rollers 11 of the two adjusting levers 4a, 4b are guided on the respective associated guide surface 6a, 6b of the cam plate 5. When the two flaps 2a, 2b are raised, the pins 22 arranged on the underside of the flaps are guided upwards in the curved elongated slot 21 of the support frame 1 until the two flaps 2a, 2b are in their closed position, in which the flaps have at least a substantially horizontal position and are ready to receive a piece good S (as shown in FIG. 4D and FIG. 5D). In the transport position T, the transport container can then be reloaded with a piece good S at a subsequent loading station in the transport direction R, as shown in FIG. 4E and FIG. 5E.

[0058] The transport container according to the invention enables safe and gentle opening and closing of the or each flap with a compact design consisting of few components and with low noise development. The or each flap can be opened by unlocking and rotating the cam plate within a very fast opening time of 150 ms or less, preferably within less than 100 ms. The flaps can be closed by means of the sliding block in a material-friendly manner over a longer closing time in the range of 300 ms to 500 ms, in particular between 400 ms and 450 ms. The closing time can be adjusted by the length of the sliding block 12, in particular by the extension of the guide surface 14 of the sliding block 12 along the transport direction R and/or by the inclination of the guide surface 14.