DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING ITEMS TO BE CONVEYED BETWEEN TWO CONVEYOR DEVICES AND A CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND A TRANSFER METHOD

Abstract

A transfer device for transferring items to be conveyed, such as flat goods, from a feed conveyor to conveyor spaces of an onward conveyor. The transfer device forms a stationary receiving space for at least one item to be conveyed, the receiving space being delimited at the bottom by a movable support element. The support element is movable via a displacing device between a support position, in which the at least one item to be conveyed lies flat on the support element, and a delivery position, in which the item to be conveyed falls, under the influence of gravity through a released transfer opening downwards, and onto a conveyor space of the onward conveyor that is displaced past below the receiving space.

Claims

1. A transfer device for transferring items to be conveyed, such as lying goods, from a feed conveyor to conveyor spaces of an onward conveyor, wherein the transfer device forms a stationary receiving space for at least one item to be conveyed, the receiving space being delimited at the bottom by a movable support element, and the support element being movable by means of a displacing device between a support position, in which the at least one item to be conveyed can lie flat on the support element, and a delivery position, in which the item to be conveyed can fall down by means of gravity through a released transfer opening onto a conveyor space of the onward conveyor that has been displaced past below the receiving space,

2. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the support element can be displaced linearly between the support position and the delivery position.

3. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the support element can be displaced laterally out of the support position and laterally back into the support position.

4. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the support element is a slide element.

5. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the support element is a flexible belt having a belt section forming a support surface for the item to be conveyed.

6. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the displacing device comprises at least one linear drive, such as a pneumatic cylinder, which can be activated by means of a control device, for executing the linear movement of the support element.

7. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device has a feed opening for laterally feeding the at least one item to be conveyed to the transfer device.

8. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the feed opening is arranged to the side of the support element in the support position, and the transfer device in particular has a stop opposite the feed opening for stopping the at least one item to be conveyed and being conveyed onto the support element.

9. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the feed opening is arranged above the support element located in the support position.

10. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the support element has an inclined support surface in the support position.

11. The transfer device according to claim 10, wherein the support element, in the support position, has a support surface inclined in the conveying direction of the onward conveyor.

12. A conveyor system containing a feed conveyor, an onward conveyor having a plurality of conveyor spaces that can be displaced along a conveyor track and containing a transfer device for transferring items to be conveyed from the feed conveyor to conveyor spaces of the onward conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the receiving space of the transfer device is arranged above the conveyor track of the onward conveyor, so that the item to be conveyed, in the delivery position, can fall by means of gravity through the released transfer opening downwards onto a conveyor space of the onward conveyor that has been displaced past below the receiving space.

13. The conveyor system according to claim 12, wherein the receiving space is arranged a maximum of 75 cm above a conveyor space of the onward conveyor located below the receiving space.

14. The conveyor system according to claim 12, wherein the onward conveyor is a conveyor of the following type: tray conveyor, such as tilt tray conveyor; cross-belt conveyor, or shoe conveyor.

15. The conveyor system according to claim 12, wherein the feed conveyor is designed for laterally feeding the items to be conveyed to the transfer device.

16. The conveyor system according to claim 12, wherein the feed conveyor for feeding the items to be conveyed to the transfer device has at least one conveyor component: transversely to the conveying direction of the onward conveyor and/or parallel to the conveying direction of the onward conveyor.

17. The conveyor system according to claim 12, wherein the feed conveyor contains an intermediate conveyor, such as a conveyor chute or belt conveyor.

18. The conveyor system according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of transfer devices are arranged along the conveyor track of the onward conveyor.

19. The conveyor system according to claim 12, wherein the conveyor system is a sorting system for the targeted distribution of items to be conveyed and the onward conveyor is a sorter.

20. The conveyor system according to claim 12, wherein a control device which, taking into account the fall height and the fall speed of the at least one item to be conveyed, during the transfer and taking into account the position and conveying speed of the conveyor spaces of the onward conveyor, is designed for the clock-synchronous transfer of items to be conveyed to conveyor spaces of the onward conveyor that are displaced past below the receiving space.

21. The conveyor system according to claim 12, wherein the conveyor system furthermore contains a delivery conveyor, such as a tilt tray conveyor or pocket conveyor, for delivering items to be conveyed to the feed conveyor.

22. The conveyor system according to claim 12, wherein a sensor device for detecting the occupancy or non-occupancy of the conveyor spaces of the onward conveyor that are displaced past the sensor device is arranged along the conveying track of the onward conveyor and in the conveying direction of the onward conveyor in front of the transfer device.

23. A method for transferring items to be conveyed by means of a conveyor system according to claim 12 from a feed conveyor to conveyor spaces of an onward conveyor which are displaced along a conveyor track, wherein at least one item to be conveyed is conveyed by the feed conveyor onto the support surface of the support element and lies flat thereon, and to transfer the at least one item to be conveyed to a conveyor space of the onward conveyor that is displaced past below the receiving space, the support element is displaced laterally away from the support position and into the delivery position via the displacing device, releasing a transfer opening, and the at least one item to be conveyed falls by means of gravity through the released transfer opening onto a conveyor space of the onward conveyor that is displaced past below the receiving space.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein via the control device, taking into account the fall height and the fall speed of the at least one item to be conveyed during the transfer and taking into account the position and conveying speed of the conveyor spaces of the onward conveyor, there is a clock-synchronous transfer of the items to be conveyed to conveyor spaces of the onward conveyor that are displaced past below the receiving space.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the items to be conveyed are delivered from the transfer conveyor to the onward conveyor by means of the control device depending on a free conveyor space on the onward conveyor detected by the sensor device.

26. The method according to any claim 23, wherein the items to be conveyed, in particular depending on a free conveyor space on the onward conveyor detected by the sensor device, are delivered from a delivery conveyor, such as tilt tray conveyors or pocket conveyors, to the feed conveyor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0096] The subject of the invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures. They each show schematically:

[0097] FIG. 1a: a side view of a conveyor system according to the invention according to a first embodiment variant;

[0098] FIG. 1b: a further side view of the conveyor system according to FIG. 1a;

[0099] FIG. 1c: a further side view of the conveyor system according to FIGS. 1a and 1b;

[0100] FIG. 2: a side view of the conveyor system according to FIGS. 1a to 1c having two transfer devices;

[0101] FIG. 3: a side view of the conveyor system according to FIGS. 1a to 1c having a delivery conveyor;

[0102] FIG. 4a: a side view of a conveyor system according to the invention according to a second embodiment variant;

[0103] FIG. 4b: a further side view of the conveyor system according to FIG. 4a;

[0104] FIG. 5a: a side view of a conveyor system according to the invention according to a third embodiment variant;

[0105] FIG. 5b: a further side view of the conveyor system according to FIG. 5a;

[0106] FIG. 6a: a side view of a conveyor system according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment variant;

[0107] FIG. 6b: a further side view of the conveyor system according to FIG. 6a;

[0108] FIG. 7a: a side view of a conveyor system according to the invention according to a fifth embodiment variant;

[0109] FIG. 7b: a further side view of the conveyor system according to FIG. 7a;

[0110] FIG. 8a: a side view of a further embodiment variant of a transfer device according to the invention;

[0111] FIG. 8b: a side view of a conveyor system according to the invention according to a sixth embodiment variant having a transfer device according to FIG. 8a; and,

[0112] FIGS. 9a to 9c: schematic illustrations of the functioning of the transfer device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0113] In principle, the same parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

[0114] To understand the invention, certain features are not shown in the figures or are only shown in a highly abstracted manner. The exemplary embodiments described below are merely examples of the subject matter of the invention.

[0115] FIG. 1 shows a conveyor system 1.1 according to the invention having a feed conveyor 40.1 in the form of a conveyor chute, a transfer device 20.1 and having an onward conveyor 10 in the form of a tilt tray conveyor.

[0116] The transfer device 20.1 includes a support element 21 in the form of a rigid slide element having a horizontal support surface for the flat support of an item 2 to be conveyed. Above the support element 21, the transfer device 20.1 forms a receiving space 22 for the item 2 to be conveyed. Accordingly, the support element 21 forms a delimitation of the receiving space 22 at the bottom.

[0117] The support element 21 is connected to a displacing device 25 including a pneumatic cylinder 26. The support element 21 is coupled to the cylinder piston 30 of the pneumatic cylinder 26. The hub movement of the cylinder piston 30 displaces the support element 21 in a linear, horizontal movement. Accordingly, the support element 21 can be displaced by means of the displacing device 25 or the pneumatic cylinder 26 between a support position P1, in which the item 2 to be conveyed lies flat on the support surface of the support element 21, and a delivery position P2, in which the support element 21 releases a transfer opening 23 downwards.

[0118] Corresponding valves 27, such as closing and opening valves, are provided for controlling the pneumatic cylinder 26. The valves are activated by a control device 3.

[0119] The receiving space 22 of the transfer device 20.1 is arranged above the conveyor track of the onward conveyor 10. The onward conveyor 10 is a tilt tray conveyor having a plurality of tilt trays 11 arranged one behind the other along the conveyor track. The conveyor trays 11 are linked to one another via a driven conveyor chain 12 guided in a guide channel 13. Accordingly, the conveyor trays 11 are displaced synchronously with one another and at constant distances from one another.

[0120] The tilt tray conveyor 10 is in particular a tilt tray sorter, by means of which items 2 to be conveyed are sorted or distributed according to certain criteria. For this purpose, the conveyor trays 11 of the tilt tray sorter 10 are guided through a delivery area in which a plurality of delivery points are arranged one behind the other along the conveyor track of the tilt tray conveyor 10 (not shown). The items 2 to be conveyed are delivered to the delivery points according to specific sorting or distribution criteria by tilting the conveyor trays 11. Such a tilt tray sorter is described, for example, in CH 710 851 A1.

[0121] To transfer an item 2 to be conveyed, the item to be conveyed 2 is conveyed via the conveyor chute 40.1 by means of gravity in the conveying direction F1 to the transfer device 20.1. The item 2 to be conveyed slides through a feed opening 29 arranged laterally from the support element 21 located in the support position P1 onto the support element 21 and lies flat on the support element in a delivery position P1. So that the item 2 to be conveyed cannot slide over the support element 21 in the conveying direction F1, the transfer device 20.1 contains a stop 24 opposite the feed opening and which stops the item 2 to be conveyed sliding onto the support element 21. The receiving space 22 is consequently delimited laterally, among other things, by the feed opening 29 and the stop 24.

[0122] The stop 24 can, for example, be a wall or a grid. In principle, with the exception of the feed opening 29, the receiving space 22 can be laterally delimited by delimiting elements or by an enclosure 28, such as struts, walls, grids.

[0123] The transfer of the item 2 to be conveyed to the onward conveyor 10 is controlled by the control device 3, which takes into account the fall height and the fall speed of the item 2 to be conveyed during the transfer and takes into account the position and conveying speed of the conveyor trays 11 of the onward conveyor 10, for a clock-synchronous transfer of the item 2 to be conveyed into a conveyor tray 11 of the onward conveyor 10 that is displaced past below the receiving space 22.

[0124] To transfer the item 2 to be conveyed, the support element 21 is displaced laterally in a linear movement L from the support position P1 into the delivery position P2 by retracting the cylinder piston 30 of the pneumatic cylinder 26. A transfer opening 23 is released downwards during this process, through which transfer opening the item 2 to be conveyed falls unguided and in free fall by gravity g downwards onto a conveyor tray 11 of the onward conveyor 10 be displaced past below the receiving space 22.

[0125] After the item 2 to be conveyed has been transferred to the onward conveyor 10, the support element 21 is again displaced back into the support position P1 by means of a linear counter-movement. A new item 2 to be conveyed can be conveyed into the receiving space 22 above the support element 21.

[0126] The conveyor system 1.1 further contains a sensor device 75 for detecting the occupancy or non-occupancy of the conveyor trays 11 of the onward conveyor 10 that have been displaced past the sensor device 75. The sensor device 75 is connected to the control device 3 and has an optical sensor for detecting items 2 to be conveyed lying on the conveyor trays 11. The control device 3 controls the transfer of the items 2 to be conveyed into the conveyor trays 11 of the onward conveyor 10 depending on the occupancy or non-occupancy of the conveyor trays 11 on the onward conveyor 10 determined by the sensor device 75. The control device 3 thus gives the release or the control signal for the transfer of an item 2 to be conveyed from the transfer device 20.1 to the onward conveyor 10 only if, at the time of the transfer, a free conveyor tray 11 is displaced past below the receiving space 22 of the transfer device 20.1.

[0127] FIG. 2 shows a conveyor system 1.2 as already described in connection with FIG. 1, but with the difference that here two transfer devices 20.1 are arranged one behind the other along the conveyor track of the onward conveyor 10. For example, items 2 to be conveyed can be transferred to the conveyor trays 11 of the onward conveyor 10 by means of the transfer devices 20.1 from various feed conveyors or delivery conveyors (not shown).

[0128] FIG. 3 shows a conveyor system 1.3 as already described above in connection with FIG. 1, but in combination with a delivery conveyor 50.1 in the form of a tilt tray conveyor. Similar to the onward conveyor 10 according to FIGS. 1a to 1c, the tilt tray conveyor 50.1 contains a plurality of conveyor trays 11 connected to one another via a driven conveyor chain 12. The conveyor chain 12 is guided in a guide channel 13. The items 2 to be conveyed to be transferred are delivered from the tilt tray conveyor 50.1 to the chute conveyor 40.1 by tilting the transport trays 11 to the side. The item 2 to be conveyed here slips from the conveyor tray 11 tilted to the side, onto the conveyor chute 40.1 and from there into the transfer device 20.1.

[0129] The conveying direction F0 of the delivery conveyor 50.1 runs transversely to the conveying direction F2 of the onward conveyor 10 in the area where the items 2 to be conveyed are delivered.

[0130] FIGS. 4a and 4b show a further embodiment variant of a conveyor system 1.4 according to the invention. The conveyor system 1.4 contains a delivery conveyor 50.1 as has already been described in connection with FIG. 3. According to the present embodiment variant, the items 2 to be conveyed are delivered via a chute to a feed conveyor 40.2 in the form of a belt conveyor. The belt conveyor 40.2 includes a conveyor belt 41, conveying the items 2 to be conveyed lying thereon in the conveying direction F1 to the transfer device 20.2.

[0131] The transfer device 20.2 substantially corresponds to the transfer device 20.1 already described in FIGS. 1a to 1c, however, with the difference that the feed opening 29 is not arranged to the side of the support element 21 but above the support element 21. The item 2 to be conveyed is also conveyed laterally, that is, from the side, to the transfer device 20.2, the item 2 to be conveyed falling at the end of the conveyor belt 41 due to gravity through the feed opening 29 arranged above the support element 21 and down into the receiving space 22 and consequently onto the support element 21 and lying flat thereon.

[0132] By releasing the transfer opening 23 downwards by means of the control device 3, as is described in detail in connection with FIGS. 1a to 1c, the item 2 to be conveyed falls onto a conveyor tray 11 of the onward conveyor 10, which is conveyed past below the receiving space 22. The onward conveyor 10 has also already been described above in connection with FIGS. 1a to 1c.

[0133] FIGS. 5a and 5b show a further embodiment variant of a conveyor system 1.5 according to the invention. The conveyor system 1.5 substantially corresponds to the conveyor system 1.4 according to FIGS. 4a and 4b, but with the difference that the delivery conveyor 50.2 is a pocket conveyor having conveyor pockets 51.

[0134] To release the items 2 to be conveyed from the conveyor pockets 51, the conveyor pockets 51 are tilted “upside down” at the delivery point via a link guide (not shown) so that the bottom of the pocket is raised and the pocket opening points downwards and the item 2 to be conveyed can slide out of the conveyor pocket 51 due to the force of gravity and can slide further via a chute onto the conveyor belt 41 of the feed conveyor 40.2. The emptying of the conveyor pockets of a pocket conveyor is described, for example, in the publications CH 713 082 A1 and CH 713 398 A1.

[0135] FIGS. 6a and 6b show a further embodiment variant of a conveyor system 1.6 according to the invention. The conveyor system 1.6 substantially corresponds to the conveyor system 1.1 according to FIGS. 1a to 1c, but with the difference that the support surface of the support element 21 is inclined. According to the present embodiment variant, the support surface of the support element 21 is inclined downwards towards the conveyor trays 11 counter to the conveying direction F2 of the onward conveyor 10. As a result, the rear section of the item 2 to be conveyed falling through the released transfer opening 23 downwards onto the conveyor tray 11 of the onward conveyor 10 first strikes the conveyor tray 11 and the item only then lies flat on the conveyor tray 11. This prevents a flat side of the item 2 to be conveyed from striking the conveyor tray 11, as is the case, for example, for a support element having a horizontal support surface.

[0136] FIGS. 7a and 7b show a further embodiment variant of a conveyor system 1.7 according to the invention. The basic structure of the conveyor system 1.7 corresponds to the conveyor system 1.4 according to FIGS. 4a to 4b. According to the present embodiment variant, the items 2 to be conveyed are also delivered by a delivery conveyor 50.1 in the form of a tilt tray conveyor via a chute to a feed conveyor 40.2 in the form of a belt conveyor having conveyor belt 41 and fed laterally in the conveying direction F1 to the transfer device 20.4 and delivered into the receiving space 22 of the transfer device 20.4 via a feed opening 29 arranged above the support element 21.

[0137] However, the present embodiment variant differs from that according to FIGS. 4a and 4b by an inclined support surface of the support element 21, the support surface in the present case being inclined downwards in the conveying direction F2 of the onward conveyor 10 towards the conveyor trays 11 of the onward conveyor 10. Furthermore, the support surface of the support element 21 is also inclined transversely to the conveying direction F2, the inclination pointing obliquely downwards in the feed direction F1.

[0138] As a result, a front corner of the item 2 to be conveyed falling through the released transfer opening 23 downwards onto the conveyor tray 11 of the onward conveyor 10 first strikes the conveyor tray 11 and the item only then lies flat on the conveyor tray 11.

[0139] Alternatively, the support surface of the support element can also be aligned horizontally transversely to the conveying direction of the onward conveyor. As a result, the front section of the item to be conveyed falling through the released transfer opening downwards onto the conveyor tray of the onward conveyor first strikes the conveyor tray and the item only then lies flat on the conveyor tray.

[0140] In both cases, a flat side of the item 2 to be conveyed is also prevented from striking the conveyor tray 11, for example, for a support element having a horizontal support surface.

[0141] According to the present embodiment variant, three transfer devices 20.4 having corresponding feed conveyors 40.2 are arranged along the conveyor track of the onward conveyor 10. The transfer devices increase the transfer capacity from the delivery conveyor 50.1 to the onward conveyor 10.

[0142] However, it can also be provided that the transfer devices 20.4 are each loaded with items 2 to be conveyed by different delivery conveyors.

[0143] Furthermore, the conveyor system 1.7 contains a delivery device 70 in the form of a conveyor chute having a collecting compartment for catching and holding back the items 2 to be conveyed delivered from the delivery conveyor 50.1 to the delivery device 70. The delivery device 70 serves to transfer particularly sensitive items 2 to be conveyed to the onward conveyor 10. The items 2 to be conveyed cannot be transferred by means of a transfer device 20.4, since the free fall of the items 2 to be conveyed from the transfer device 20.4 onto the conveyor trays 11 of the onward conveyor would damage or impair the items 2 to be conveyed.

[0144] Rather, an item 2 to be conveyed delivered via the delivery device 70 is retained in the associated collecting compartment and placed by hand on a conveyor tray 11 of the onward conveyor 10.

[0145] Incidentally, it is conceivable that a similar arrangement of feed conveyors 40.2 and transfer devices 20.4 and a further onward conveyor 10 is arranged on the other side of the delivery conveyor 50.1, so that the conveyor trays 11 of the delivery conveyor 50.1 for delivery of the items 2 to be conveyed can be tilted on the left or right side.

[0146] FIGS. 8a and 8b show a further embodiment variant of a transfer device 60, which differs significantly from the transfer devices described above.

[0147] The support element 61 is formed here by a support belt section of a flexible belt 64 delimiting the receiving space 62 towards the bottom in the support position P1. Deflection rollers 67 for deflecting the flexible belt 64 are arranged on both sides of the support belt section 61. Starting from the support belt section 61, the flexible belt 64 is deflected on both sides around the deflection rollers 67 and guided up to winding rollers 68.1, 68.2 arranged above the deflection rollers 67 and fastened to the winding rollers 68.1, 68.2.

[0148] The transfer device 60 also includes a drive 66 for driving the winding rollers 68.1, 68.2. Winding rollers 68.1, 68.2 and drive 66 are part of the displacing device 65 for displacing the support belt section 61 between a support position P1 and a delivery position P2.

[0149] The flexible belt 64 includes a further belt section forming a transfer opening 63. The flexible belt 64 can now be unwound and wound up in both directions via the drive 66 between a first winding roller 68.1 and a second winding roller 68.2, so that the support belt section 61 and consequently also the belt section having the delivery opening 63 can be displaced between a support position P1 below the receiving space 62 and a delivery position P2 to the side of the receiving space 62.

[0150] The support belt section 61 is thereby displaced laterally out of the support position P1 or laterally into the support position P1.

[0151] FIGS. 9a to 9c, based on the conveyor system 1.8, illustrate the functioning of the transfer device 60 even better. An item 2 to be conveyed is conveyed laterally into the receiving space 62 of the transfer device 60 and thus onto the support belt section 61 of the flexible belt 64 via a feed conveyor designed as a belt conveyor 40.2 via a lateral feed opening 69. The feed opening 69 is arranged on the face side of the flexible belt 64 or of the deflection rollers 67 or winding rollers 68.1, 68.2. That is, the feed opening 69 is arranged on one of the two sides of the receiving space 62, which is not traversed by the flexible belt 64.

[0152] The support belt section 61 of the flexible belt 64 is located below the receiving space 62 when the item 2 to be conveyed is received in the support position P1, so that the item 2 to be conveyed in the receiving space 62 lies flat on the support belt section 61.

[0153] To transfer the item 2 to be conveyed to an onward conveyor 10 (not shown) arranged below the receiving space 62, the support belt section 61 is displaced laterally out of the support position P1 and upward over the deflection roller 67 in the direction of the second winding roller 68.2. Furthermore, the belt section having the transfer opening 63 is displaced downwards and around the deflection roller 67 laterally into the delivery position P2 below the receiving space. This is done by unwinding a belt section of the flexible belt 64 from the first winding roller 68.1 and simultaneously winding up a corresponding belt section of the flexible belt 64 through the second winding roller 68.1.

[0154] Correspondingly, the belt section having the transfer opening 63 comes to lie below the receiving space 62 so that the item 2 to be conveyed can fall through the transfer opening 63 down onto the onward conveyor 10 (not shown).

[0155] After the item 2 to be conveyed has been transferred, the flexible belt 64 is again displaced in the opposite direction, so that the support belt section 61 is displaced this time in the opposite direction around the deflection roller 67 again laterally into the support position P1 below the receiving space 62. At the same time, the belt section having the transfer opening 63 is displaced laterally again out of the delivery position thereof below the receiving space 62 and around the deflection roller upwards in the direction of the first winding roller 68.1. This is done by repeating the unwinding and winding process, but this time in the opposite direction. The previously unwinding, first winding roller 68.1 is now the winding roller that is winding up and the previously winding, second winding roller 68.2 is now the unwinding winding roller 68.