JOINT RAILING ADJUSTMENT OF SEVERAL TRANSPORT DEVICES

Abstract

The invention relates, inter alia, to an installation comprising several transport devices for transporting objects through the installation, wherein the several transport devices are arranged distributed in the installation and each have at least one adjustable railing for setting the transport width. A sensor system is designed to monitor several monitoring regions that each extend along one of the several adjustable railings for person detection. A processing device is configured to operate the several transport devices for jointly adjusting the adjustable railings depending on the monitoring of the several monitoring regions via the sensor system. Advantageously, the installation can enable a safe and automated central adjustment of all rails of the installation.

Claims

1. An installation, comprising: a plurality of transport devices for transporting objects through the installation, wherein the plurality of transport devices are arranged distributed in the installation and each have at least one adjustable railing for setting the transport width; a sensor system that is configured to monitor a plurality of monitoring regions that each extend along one of the several adjustable railings for person detection; and a processing device that is configured to operate the several transport devices for jointly adjusting the adjustable railings depending on the monitoring of the several monitoring regions via the sensor system.

2. The installation according to claim 1, wherein the objects are containers.

3. The installation according to claim 1, wherein: the processing device is further configured to operate the adjustable railings for joint adjustment only when no person has been detected in the several monitoring regions by the sensor system.

4. The installation according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: the processing device is further configured to operate only those adjustable railings for joint adjustment, in the monitoring regions of which no person was detected by the sensor system; and the processing device is further configured to always operate only those adjustable railings for joint adjustment, in the monitoring regions of which no person is detected by the sensor system until finally all adjustable railings have been adjusted.

5. The installation according to claim 1, further having: at least one output device for outputting warning signals to the several monitoring regions, wherein the processing device is further configured to at least one of: operate the at least one output device to output a warning signal before and/or during the joint adjustment of the adjustable railings; and operate the at least one output device for outputting a warning signal when a person is detected in one of the several monitoring regions.

6. The installation according to claim 1, wherein: the processing device is further configured to stop the joint adjustment of the adjustable railings when a person is detected in one of the several monitoring regions via the sensor system during the joint adjustment.

7. The installation according to claim 1, wherein: the processing device is further configured to stop an adjustment during the joint adjustment of the adjustable railings.

8. The installation according to claim 7, wherein the processing device is further configured to stop the adjustment during the joint adjustment of the adjustable railings only for one of the adjustable railings in the monitoring region of which a person is detected by the sensor system during the joint adjustment, and to continue when it has been detected via the sensor system that the person has left the monitoring region of which the person is detected by the sensor system during the joint adjustment.

9. The installation according to claim 1, wherein: the processing device is further configured to operate the several transport devices for transporting the objects independently of the monitoring of the several monitoring regions via the sensor system.

10. The installation according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: the processing device is further configured to activate the sensor system for monitoring the several monitoring regions when the processing device receives an instruction for adjusting the adjustable railings; and the processing device is configured to deactivate the sensor system to terminate the monitoring of the several monitoring regions when a joint adjustment of the adjustable railings was concluded.

11. The installation according to claim 10, wherein the processing device is further configured to activate the sensor system for monitoring the several monitoring regions when the processing device receives the instruction for adjusting the adjustable railings from a user interface.

12. The installation according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: the sensor system has at least one of: at least one camera sensor device, at least one radar sensor device, at least one lidar sensor device, at least one thermal imaging camera sensor device, at least one laser sensor device, at least one LED sensor device, at least one distance sensor device, at least one motion sensor device, and at least one microphone; and the sensor system has at least one sensor device for each monitoring region.

13. The installation according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: the several transport devices are at least partially multi-lane, and the adjustable railings have adjustable lane railings of the multi-lane transport device/devices; and the adjustable railings have adjustable outer rails.

14. The installation according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: at least one of the sensor system and the processing device is configured such that an adjustment of the adjustable railings does not result in a person detection; and the several monitoring regions are arranged such that the adjustment of the adjustable railings does not result in the person detection; and the adjustable railings each have an adjustment region in which the adjustable railings are adjustable, and the monitoring regions are arranged such that they one of correspond to and cover the adjustment regions.

15. A method for operating the installation, according to claim 1 comprising: receiving, via a processing device, an instruction for adjusting adjustable railings of several transport devices which are arranged in a distributed manner in the installation; monitoring several monitoring regions that extend along the adjustable railings via a sensor system for person recognition; and operating the several transport devices for jointly adjusting the adjustable railings via the processing device depending on the monitoring of the several monitoring regions and in response to receiving the instruction.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of monitoring the several monitoring regions that extend along the adjustable railings via the sensor system for person recognition is in response to receiving the instruction.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the several transport devices for jointly adjusting the adjustable railings are operated via the processing device in such a way that at least one of: the adjustable railings are only operated for joint adjustment if no person was detected in the several monitoring regions via the sensor system; only those adjustable railings are operated for joint adjustment in whose monitoring regions no person was detected via the sensor system; and always only those adjustable railings are operated for joint adjustment in whose monitoring regions no person is detected via the sensor system, until all adjustable railings have been adjusted.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the several transport devices for jointly adjusting the adjustable railings are operated via the processing device in such a way that at least one of the joint adjustment of the adjustable railings is stopped when a person is detected in one of the several monitoring regions via the sensor system during the joint adjustment; and/or during the joint adjustment of the adjustable railings, an adjustment stops for that adjustable railing in the monitoring region of which a person is detected by the sensor system during the adjustment.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein during the joint adjustment of the adjustable railings, the adjustment stops temporarily for that adjustable railing in the monitoring region of which a person is detected by the sensor system during the adjustment, and continues when it has been detected via the sensor system that the person has left the monitoring region of which the person is detected by the sensor system during the joint adjustment.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising at least one of the following: operating the several transport devices for transporting objects via the processing device independently of the monitoring via the sensor system; activating the sensor system for monitoring the several monitoring regions via the processing device in response to receiving the instruction; deactivating the sensor system to conclude the monitoring of the several monitoring regions via the processing device in response to ending the joint adjustment of the adjustable railings; outputting a warning signal to the several monitoring regions via at least one output device at least one of before and during the joint adjustment of the adjustable railings; and outputting a warning signal via at least one output device when a person is detected in one of the several monitoring regions via the sensor system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

[0040] Further details and advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the FIGURE:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of an installation for labeling according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0042] FIG. 1 shows an installation 10, also referred to as an installation apparatus or installation configuration. The installation 10 has several transport devices 14, a sensor system 20 and a processing device 26. The installation 10 can furthermore have several processing devices 12 and/or at least one output device 24.

[0043] The installation 10 can preferably be an industrial installation for producing and/or processing objects. Particularly preferably, the installation 10 can be a container processing installation for processing containers.

[0044] The processing devices 12 can be designed depending on the particular type of installation 10. The processing devices 12 can preferably be designed as container processing devices.

[0045] For example, the processing devices 12 can have a container-producing device (e.g., container blowing machine), a coating device, a depalletizer, a rinsing device (e.g., with rinsing nozzles), a sterilizing device (e.g., with sterilization nozzles), a filling device (e.g., with filling valves), a closing device (e.g., with closing heads), a labeling device (e.g., with labeling assemblies), a printing device (e.g., with print heads), a pasteurization device, an adhesive container producing device (e.g., with adhesive application nozzles), a packaging device (e.g., with packing heads or film wrappers), and/or a palletizing device (e.g., with palletizing heads, sliding plates, or the like).

[0046] The transport devices 14 can convey objects through the installation 10. The transport devices 14 preferably support the objects on the floor side during transport. For example, the transport devices 14 can be designed at least partially as a belt conveyor, e.g., hinged slat chain conveyors or mat chain conveyors, or plate conveyors.

[0047] The transport devices 14 are preferably designed as linear conveyors. It is possible for the installation 10 to have additionally and/or differently designed transport devices such as transport stars (not shown in FIG. 1).

[0048] The transport devices 14 are arranged distributed in the installation 10. The transport devices 14 can be arranged separately and at a distance from one another. For example, two adjacent transport devices 14 can be spaced apart from one another by an interposed/intermediately arranged processing device 12.

[0049] The transport devices 14 can each be arranged between two processing devices 12. The transport devices 14 can each connect at least two processing devices 12 to one another. The transport devices 14 can transport objects between two processing devices 12 in each case.

[0050] The transport devices 14 can preferably be designed as container conveyors for conveying containers through the installation 10. The container conveyors can each connect at least two container processing devices to one another.

[0051] The transport devices 14 each have at least one adjustable railing 16 for setting the transport width. The railings 16 may have outer railings of the transport devices 14, as shown schematically in FIG. 1. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible for the transport devices 14 to be multi-lane and the railing 16 to be designed as internal railings/lane railings. It is also possible for the transport devices 14 to be single-lane or single-track.

[0052] The transport devices 14 preferably each have at least two adjustable railings 16 which are opposite one another and/or run parallel to one another.

[0053] The railings 16 can, for example, be rod-shaped, rail-shaped or plate-shaped. The railings 16 can extend along a transport path specified by the particular transport device 14 for the objects to be transported. The railings 16 can be at least partially straight and/or at least partially curved. The railings 16 can guide the objects laterally during transport.

[0054] The railings 16 can be adjustable transversely to a transport direction of the particular transport device 14. For example, the railings 16 can be adjustable transversely to a longitudinal axis of the particular transport device 14. The railings 16 are preferably horizontally adjustable. It is also possible for the railings 16 to be vertically adjustable.

[0055] During the adjustment of the railings 16 of a transport device 14, these can be moved toward one another, for example. For example, a total transport width or a transport lane width of the particular transport device 14 can thereby be reduced. During the adjustment of the railings 16, they can, on the other hand, be moved away from one another. For example, a total transport width or a transport lane width of the particular transport device 14 can thereby be increased.

[0056] An adjustment of the railing 16 can be effected by a drive device 18 of the particular transport device 14. The drive device 18 can be connected to drive the at least one railing 16 of the particular transport device 14. For example, the drive device 18 and the at least one railing 16 of the particular transport device 14 can be connected to one another via a gearbox. For example, the drive device 18 can be designed as an electric drive.

[0057] The sensor system 20 is designed to monitor several monitoring regions 22 for detecting people. Each monitoring region 22 can extend along at least one of the several railings 16. Preferably, the monitoring regions 22 can extend next to the railings 16 and/or the transport devices 14, e.g., to both longitudinal sides of the railings 16. Preferably, the monitoring regions 22 can be dimensioned such that they cover the adjustment regions of the railings 16. For example, each monitoring region 22 can surround one of the transport devices 14 or at least one railing 16.

[0058] The sensor system 20 can preferably have its own sensor device for each monitoring region 22, as shown in FIG. 1. However, it is also possible for a sensor device of the sensor system 20 to monitor, for example, several (e.g., adjacent) or all monitoring regions 22.

[0059] Person recognition can be performed, for example, by image recognition, motion detection, temperature detection, and/or acoustic detection. In person detection, it can be detected whether or not a person is present in one of the monitoring regions 22. It can preferably be detected in which monitoring regions a person is present and in which, not.

[0060] Person recognition can preferably be performed by the sensor system 20 and/or by the processing device 26. Preferably, the sensor system 20 and/or the processing device 26 is configured and/or the monitoring regions 22 are arranged such that an adjustment of the railing 16 does not lead to a false detection of a presence of a person.

[0061] The sensor system 20 can be designed in any way for monitoring the monitoring regions 22. For example, the sensor system 20 can have at least one camera sensor device, at least one radar sensor device, at least one lidar sensor device, at least one thermal imaging camera sensor device, at least one laser sensor device, at least one LED sensor device, at least one distance sensor device, at least one motion sensor device, and/or at least one microphone.

[0062] The at least one output device 24 can output warning signals to the monitoring regions 22. The warning signals can be acoustic and/or visual, for example. For example, the at least one output device 24 can have a display, a signal light, and/or a loudspeaker. An output device 24, the output of which is directed into the particular monitoring region 22, is preferably associated with each monitoring region 22. For example, the several output devices 24 can each be arranged in an edge and/or corner section of a particular monitoring region 22.

[0063] The processing device 26 is configured to operate the several transport devices 14 for jointly adjusting the railings 16. The joint adjustment is dependent on the monitoring for person detection in the monitoring regions 22 via the sensor system 20. During the joint adjustment, the railings 16 of the several transport devices 14 can be adjusted simultaneously or at least in a temporally overlapping manner. For the joint adjustment, the processing device 26 can, for example, correspondingly control the particular drive devices 18 or communicate with them.

[0064] The processing device 26 can, for example, take the form of a central control device, as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the processing device 26 can be formed, for example, by several decentralized control units which communicate with one another, e.g., one control unit per transport device 14.

[0065] The processing device 26 can be communicatively linked with the transport devices 14, the control system 20, the drive devices 18, and/or the railings 16. The communication link can be wireless or wired. Preferably, the processing device 26 can receive signals from the control system 20 and transmit signals to the drive devices 18.

[0066] In the following, it is explained by way of example how the installation 10 can be operated for jointly adjusting the railings 16.

[0067] First, the processing device 26 can receive an instruction for adjusting the railings 16 of the transport devices 14. The instruction can, for example, be received as a control command. The instruction can, for example, be received from a user interface of the installation 10. A user can have the user interface operated to output the instruction. Alternatively, the instruction can be received, for example, from an automatically running program for operating the installation 10.

[0068] Provided that the person detection in the monitored areas 22 indicates that no person is in the monitored areas 22, the processing device 26 can operate the railings 16 for joint adjustment in accordance with the received instruction.

[0069] The monitoring of the monitoring regions 22 via the sensor system 20 can be constantly active during operation of the installation 10. Preferably, the monitoring of the monitoring regions 22 via the sensor system 20 is then conditionally queried and/or evaluated by the processing device 26 when the railings 16 are to be adjusted, i.e., for example, if the processing device 26 receives the instruction for adjusting.

[0070] Alternatively, the monitoring of the monitoring regions 22 can be activated by the processing device 26 via the sensor system 20 if the processing device 26 the instruction for adjusting the railings 16. For example, the sensor system 20 can be activated from a standby mode or from a switched-off state. After the railing 16 has been adjusted, the sensor system 20 can preferably be deactivated, for example into a standby mode or a switched-off state.

[0071] If, on the other hand, the monitoring of the monitoring regions 22 results in a person being recognized in one of the monitoring regions 22, several (operating) options or possibilities for the processing device 26 exist in principle. For example, the processing device 26 can be configured such that none of the railings 16 is adjusted when a person has been detected in any of the monitoring regions 22. Alternatively or in another operating mode, the processing device 26 can be configured to operate only those railings of the several railings 16 for joint adjustment, in the monitoring regions 22 of which no person was detected. In a development, the processing device 26 can be configured to operate only those railings of the several railings 16 for joint adjustment, in the monitoring regions 22 of which no person is currently detected until all adjustable railings 16 have finally been adjusted.

[0072] The monitoring regions 22 can also be monitored further by the sensor system 20 during the adjustment of the railings 16. If a person is detected in one of the monitoring regions 22 during the adjustment, the processing device 26 can, for example, stop all adjustments of the railings 16. Alternatively or in another operating mode, the processing device 26 can only stop an adjustment, preferably temporarily, for that adjustable railing 16 in the monitoring region of which a person is detected via the sensor system 20 during the adjustment. In a development, the adjustment of this stopped railing 16 can then be continued if it has been recognized via the sensor system 20 that the person has left the relevant monitoring region 22.

[0073] Before and/or during the adjustment of the railings 16, the processing device 26 can operate the at least one output device 24 to output a warning signal. Alternatively or additionally, the processing device 26 can operate the at least one output device 24 to output a warning signal if a person is detected in one of the monitoring regions 22.

[0074] Any monitoring of the monitoring regions 22 preferably has no effect on a transport mode of the installation 10, in which the transport devices 14 transport objects such as containers, or is not activated at all. In other words, the processing device 26, e.g., before or after the joint adjustment of the railings 16, can operate the several transport devices 14 to transport objects independently of the monitoring of the monitoring regions 22 via the sensor system 20.

[0075] The invention is not limited to the preferred exemplary embodiments described above. Rather, a plurality of variants and modifications are possible which likewise make use of the inventive concept and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and the features of the dependent claims, irrespective of the claims to which they refer. In particular, the individual features of independent claim 1 are each disclosed independently of one another. In addition, the features of the dependent claims are also disclosed independently of all of the features of independent claim 1 and, for example, independently of the features relating to the presence and/or the configuration of the transport devices, the sensor system, and/or the processing device of independent claim 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0076] 10 Installation [0077] 12 Processing device [0078] 14 Transport device [0079] 16 Railings [0080] 18 Drive device [0081] 20 Sensor system [0082] 22 Monitored region [0083] 24 Output device [0084] 26 Processing device