CN117302928A - Conveyor system and method for conveying and adjusting the positioning and/or spacing of conveyed articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A conveyor system for conveyed articles, particularly for packages and packaging, is disclosed. The conveyor system includes: at least one transmitter device comprising at least one cluster module; and at least one control unit connected to the conveyor device. The conveyor system has an upper control system connected to the at least one control unit in accordance with control techniques such that positioning of conveyed articles and/or adjustment of spacing between adjacent conveyed articles occurs on the basis of control commands from the control system.

Description

Conveyor system and method for conveying and adjusting the positioning and/or spacing of conveyed articles

Technical Field

The present invention relates to conveyor systems for conveyed articles, particularly packages and parcels, and to methods for conveying and adjusting the positioning and/or spacing of conveyed articles.

Background

The principle of a cluster unit based transmitter device is known from the prior art. It enables to efficiently and accurately control horizontally conveyed goods by using a driven cluster unit such as a roller or an omni-wheel. The driven cluster unit is configured to convey conveyed articles on the conveyor system and generate a driving force transmitted to the cluster unit by contact pressure of the articles.

By rotating and/or pivoting the cluster unit, the direction and orientation of movement of the conveyed articles can be controlled, allowing for high flexibility in handling different articles and materials. This principle of conveyor technology is used in many industries such as logistics, manufacturing and packaging to ensure efficient material movement.

There are two types of cluster units commonly used in conveyor systems. These are rollers and omni wheels. Rollers are generally cheaper than undirected wheels, making them a more cost-effective option for many applications. Rollers are generally more durable and can handle heavier loads than undirected wheels, thereby qualifying them as a good choice for applications requiring heavy handling. The rollers are also simpler and less complex than omni-wheels, making them easier to install, maintain and repair. However, the rollers move in only one direction, which limits their maneuverability compared to omni wheels. This may make steering around corners or obstacles more difficult and result in lower precision and accuracy than omni-wheels. The rollers may also require more maintenance to ensure that they continue to function properly, especially in applications requiring heavy use or severe operating conditions. In addition, the rollers may not be able to reach the same speed as the omni-wheel, especially in applications requiring quick and accurate handling. Omni-wheels, on the other hand, offer many advantages in terms of maneuverability and flexibility. However, there are also some potential disadvantages such as higher cost, lower load bearing capacity, and complexity compared to rollers. In addition, because omni-wheels are more complex than conventional wheels or rollers, they may be more susceptible to wear or damage over time, which may result in higher maintenance and repair costs and downtime. Despite these potential drawbacks, the flexibility and maneuverability of the omni-wheel can offer significant advantages in many applications, especially in situations where the conveyor system must handle a wide range of materials or navigate around obstacles.

The clustered-unit based conveyor system is capable of handling both light and heavy goods with high accuracy and efficiency. It is easy to operate and requires minimal maintenance, making it a cost-effective solution for many companies. In addition, it can be automated by integrating sensors and control systems to further improve material flow and increase productivity.

It should be noted, however, that in the case of relatively light unit loads, the contact pressure may be too low and thus the frictional grip may be too low to exert sufficient entrainment force on the conveyed material. The increase in transfer capacity and correspondingly in transfer speed results in higher inertial forces and even aerodynamic effects, which counteract frictional adhesion and make it even more difficult to achieve sufficient entrainment forces.

In particular in the case of flexible and pliable conveyed goods, such as clothing or foil goods, poor static friction may occur on the driven cluster unit due to uneven contact surfaces. These goods do not rest exclusively on the protruding cluster units, but also on the contact surfaces between the cluster units. As a result, the weight of the conveyed article is unevenly transferred to the clustered units, which may weaken the static friction and result in improper movement and positioning of the article.

However, there is a growing need to transfer light and flexible transferred goods, such as clothing packed in plastic sleeves, without resorting to the intervention of clustered unit diverters, such as roller diverters, especially in mail order businesses. It is therefore also important that these conveyed goods be reliably and efficiently guided in the desired direction using the cluster-unit diverters.

In addition, efficient delivery and sorting of packages is also important, as the mail order and e-commerce industries have grown rapidly in recent years. By using an automated conveyor system with sorting equipment, packages and packages can be transported from one location to another efficiently and quickly. This saves time and cost, improves productivity and reduces potential sources of errors that can occur in manual processes.

An example of a roller diverter for sorting conveyed goods, such as packages, is described in DE 39 10 524 C2. The roller reverser consists of a number of driven rollers extending over the entire width of the conveyor track and arranged transversely to the conveying direction. The rollers are rotatably mounted by the individual on the side plates and can deflect conveyed articles from their conveying direction by rotation. This type of roller reverser is particularly suitable for the turning point.

US 3,254,752 also describes a roller diverter placed on a branch conveyor. This enables the article to be directed onto one of two downstream conveyor tracks.

In WO 2015/200460 A1, a plate-shaped roller assembly is described, wherein the rollers can be pivoted about an axis arranged perpendicular to the conveying plane via a gear drive. The associated transfer diverters are comprised of a plurality of roller assemblies arranged in rows and columns that are recessed into the transfer surface. A roller diverter of this type is particularly suitable for use in the following conveyor system: wherein accurate and reliable sorting of the conveyed goods is important.

The disclosure of DE102021107088A1 relates to a conveyor system for sorting and conveying material units conveyed with a special conveying material drive. These drives can move the units in any direction within the transport plane and are individually driven and controlled. The system may include a plurality of drive modules, non-parallel or orthogonal axes of rotation, and various detection and target location determination devices. The method comprises the following steps: parting the detection of the transported material units; determining target positioning; and controlling the movement of the units using the conveyed material drives to achieve the sorted arrangement in the subsequent conveyor sections. In addition, other steps may be performed, such as deciding on the need for movement and calculating the direction and intensity of movement.

CN217550478U discloses a logistics package delivery system. The system receives packages, measures and scans their information, sorts and buffers them, and then moves them in the desired direction. Special mechanisms exist such as a console that can change the orientation of the package. The console has a support, control mechanism and roller bearings to ensure smooth operation of the sorting. There are also different structures for separating and moving packages, including conveyor belts and drive rollers.

EP4079660A1 describes a sorting and transport module for handling packages with a roller assembly rotatable in any direction in a sorting and transport plane. The module has: first and second drive means controlling rotation of the roller and the roller assembly, respectively, to allow the package to move forward. The module may have four roller assemblies, the rotation of which is controlled by gears and motors. The module may be housed in a box-shaped housing and a plurality of modules may be arranged side by side to form a sorting and transportation line.

DE102012014181A1 describes an omni-directional transmitter system module comprising at least two omni-directional cluster units (i.e. omni-wheels) with individually driven transmission wheels arranged at a non-zero angle to each other. The module may have three cluster units arranged side by side without parallel action directions. The transfer wheel may be arranged in the centre of the sides of an equilateral triangle, wherein the direction of motion is at 90 ° to the sides of the triangle or at a non-zero angle to the associated sides. The system may be plug-in and modular with a control device connected to the drive motor. A passive transmitter system module may also be included and the system may be arranged in groups of two or three units with non-orthogonal directions of action.

US 10,569,976 B2 describes a transport system for motor vehicles that transports trays and containers by means of an internal omni-directional conveyor system. The system comprises: a weight sensor and an infrared sensor for identifying available storage space in the cargo area; and a computing device for computing a destination based on the weight of the vehicle and the desired route. An external conveyor system with lifting ramps is used to move the trays or containers into the vehicle. The internal conveyor system picks up the tray or container and delivers it to the destination based on instructions from the computer device. The disclosure also includes methods for automatically moving trays and containers within a transport vehicle and intelligent storage containers suitable for use in a transport vehicle or train.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the task, the present invention is directed to the following solutions: in this solution at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art is counteracted in at least some areas and the solution enables an efficient transfer solution that is optimized for the various transfer elements.

This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims.

In addition to taking into account the disadvantages of the prior art, a simpler and cheaper maintenance of the entire transport system is also conceivable, and the transport density is also to be improved as much as possible.

The solution according to the invention has a conveyor system for conveyed goods, in particular for packages and parcels. The conveyor system includes: at least one transmitter device comprising at least one cluster module; and at least one control unit connected to the conveyor device. The conveyor system has an upper control system connected to the at least one control unit in accordance with control techniques such that positioning of conveyed articles and/or adjustment of spacing between adjacent conveyed articles occurs on the basis of control commands from the control system.

As mentioned, the positioning of the conveyed articles and/or the adjustment of the spacing between adjacent conveyed articles may be made on the basis of control commands from the control system.

The positioning of conveyed articles and the adjustment of the spacing between adjacent conveyed articles may occur based on control commands from a control system.

The positioning of the conveyed articles or the adjustment of the spacing between adjacent conveyed articles may occur on the basis of control commands from the control system. The at least one control unit may be coupled to at least one computer unit, wherein the at least one computer unit receives control commands from the control system. Thus, the transfer process can be initiated and controlled from the top layer. The computer unit and the control unit form a further layer and cooperate with the control system, but may also act autonomously.

The at least one computer unit may be configured to: the positioning of the conveyed goods and/or the spacing between adjacent conveyed goods is determined in an optimized manner based on the size and/or content of the transport element, which enables a more efficient conveying process.

The computer unit may be configured to: the positioning of the conveyed goods and the spacing between adjacent conveyed goods are determined or calculated in an optimized manner on the basis of the dimensions and/or the content of the transport element.

The computer unit may be configured to: the positioning of the conveyed articles or the spacing between adjacent conveyed articles is determined or calculated in an optimized manner based on the size and/or content of the transport element.

The determination or calculation may be based on the size or content of the transport element. However, the determination may also be made on the basis of the size and content of the transport element.

In one embodiment, the transfer and the adjustment of the positioning and/or spacing of the transferred items takes place by the at least one control unit, which sends control commands to the cluster module.

In another embodiment, the adjustment of the positioning and/or spacing of the conveyed articles takes place without control commands from the control unit by the cluster modules exchanging simple commands and instructions with each other. The cluster module uses minimal logic for this purpose.

In another embodiment, the control unit acts independently of the control system. This may be the case for simple transport and transfer tasks or where the tasks are already known. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) may also be provided, since then a self learning system (so-called "machine learning") may be used to further optimize the transfer process.

The conveyor system includes: at least one sensor unit designed to detect the positioning and/or orientation of at least one conveyed product. The solution according to the invention offers a number of advantages. By using a sensor unit and a control unit, the conveyor system may be made flexible and adaptable to ensure optimal alignment and spacing of the conveyed articles. This may result in a more efficient and faster transfer of the transferred goods, which in turn results in higher productivity and less downtime. In addition, the conveyor system is also easy to maintain and repair, since the sensor unit and the control unit allow to quickly and accurately identify any problems.

The sensor unit and the communication unit of the drive unit may be wired or wireless.

It is advantageous to adjust the alignment of the conveyed goods, such as packages or parcels, and thus optimize their optimal alignment in accordance with the dimensions of the transport element. As the size of the transport element, the person skilled in the art thinks of, for example, an opening (e.g. of a transport bag) of the transport element.

By optimizing the alignment of the conveyed articles, malfunctions and operational failures can be avoided, resulting in higher conveying density and efficiency of the overall conveying system. In addition, the utilization rate of the conveying member can be optimized by finely arranging the conveyed commodity in the conveying member. This can be achieved by optimized alignment and spacing. In addition, the optimized spacing may also contribute to uniform and weight-optimized utilization of the conveyor system.

Finally, the conveyor system may also be optimized for the loading state of the cluster units. That is to say which of the conveyed goods should be conveyed in the transport element, so that the transport element is loaded in an optimized manner. To achieve this, various conveyed articles may be rotated, accelerated, stopped, or otherwise affected in a comparable manner.

The solution according to the invention can be supplemented or further improved by the following further embodiments, each of which is itself advantageous.

According to one embodiment, there is provided: the at least one sensor unit is designed to detect the positioning of at least one conveyed article.

This is important in order to be able to adjust the spacing between adjacent transport elements. This allows not only an optimal utilization of the transport elements but also an efficient use of the available conveying space. Additionally, location detection may also help ensure that conveyed goods are transported in a particular order, which may be important in sorting packages or other goods.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one sensor unit may detect an orientation of the at least one conveyed article. Adjusting the orientation is particularly advantageous for achieving an optimal feed positioning of the conveyed material at the opening of the conveyor element. Furthermore, the possibility of adjusting the orientation of the conveyed articles on the conveyor device may help to avoid collisions between adjacent conveyed articles and thus reduce upsets.

Furthermore, the ability to adjust the spacing and orientation of the conveyed articles means: different types of transport elements can be used efficiently to transport different types of transported goods. This increases the flexibility of the conveyor system and enables an efficient handling of transport tasks.

According to another embodiment, there is provided: the at least one cluster module includes at least one cluster unit.

Advantageously, if the cluster module contains more than one cluster unit, a higher headroom is achieved when handling the conveyed goods. The decision on the proper number and design of cluster modules depends on various factors such as the size, weight, and shape of the goods being transported. It is also possible to equip the cluster modules with a rail system so that at least one cluster unit integrated in a cluster module can be moved horizontally. Alternatively or additionally, the integrated cluster unit may also be vertically movable. This has the following advantages: the distance between adjacent clustered units can be adjusted, thereby making the overall solution more flexible and enabling it to be adapted to the shape of the conveyed goods.

A cluster module with cluster units can be similarly mapped to a vector field and individual cluster units can be controlled separately so that the transferred material can be optimally transported, moved, offset or rotated.

Advantageously, the cluster unit is designed as a sphere. Furthermore, the cluster unit may be designed as a roller or an omni wheel. In addition, each cluster unit may be designed to be either drivable or undriven.

Additionally and alternatively, each cluster unit may be switchable between drivable or undriven.

It is advantageous to use balls as cluster units instead of rollers or omni wheels. The balls provide greater maneuverability and flexibility in conveyor system applications as compared to rollers or omni wheels. They can rotate freely in all directions, allowing almost frictionless travel through tight turns and around obstacles such as other conveyed materials. In addition, the balls may distribute weight more evenly than rollers or wheels, resulting in less wear on the conveyor system. This in turn may result in longer conveyor system life and lower maintenance costs.

The use of balls instead of rollers or wheels may also help reduce noise and vibration, which is especially beneficial in applications requiring a quiet or low vibration environment. Furthermore, the balls are advantageous in that they do not need to be pivoted to allow the transferred material to approach them without additional friction. This is not the case for the other two design variants for the roller and omni wheel, since these are only bilaterally symmetrical.

The fact that the balls are ball symmetric presents a wide range of advantages, especially with respect to a large number of clustered units and/or clustered modules working together. For example, it is possible to keep at least some of the cluster units passive and to drive only the relevant cluster units. This flexibility is particularly advantageous when transporting larger materials requiring a less small distance between clustered units. This solution may save energy and increase the efficiency of the conveyor system.

The spheres are particularly advantageously made of polyamide, stainless steel and ceramic. The polyamide spheres have a smooth and hard surface, which enables smooth movement and low friction, which in turn contributes to an energy efficient conveyor system. In addition, polyamide spheres have a high resistance to wear and a high load bearing capacity, which ensures a long service life of the conveyor system. Stainless steel balls are resistant to corrosion and wear, while ceramic balls have high hardness and wear resistance. The choice of the optimal material depends on the specific requirements of the conveyor system application, such as the environment in which the conveyor system is operated, the loading capacity of the balls and the required mobility.

In addition, the surface of the ball may be rubberized, which helps the conveyor system to run quieter and with less vibration. Rubber has a high damping capacity, which means that it can absorb vibrations and noise. The rubber coating on the ball surface can optimize friction between the ball and other surfaces, which contributes to friction-optimized movement and more energy efficient operation of the conveyor system. In addition, the rubber coating may help the ball to have better adhesion to the conveying surface, thereby preventing slippage or slip.

However, the cluster unit is constituted not only by an upper portion in contact with the conveyed article but also by a driving portion in which the upper portion is provided in motion. The driving part may have different designs. For example, it may be made up of classical mechanical components such as gears, belts and bearings. However, this design is complex, expensive, difficult to maintain and prone to failure.

For this reason it is advantageous to replace classical solutions with magnetic coupling systems. The magnetic coupling system is composed of two magnet sets, one on the drive shaft of the motor and one on the hub of the upper part of the cluster unit. The magnets are arranged such that they attract each other but are separated by a small gap. When the motor rotates, it creates a moving magnetic field that rotates the upper portion.

By using a magnetic coupling system it is possible to find a cost-effective and very efficient solution, since there is no physical/mechanical contact between the motor and the upper part, resulting in less friction and wear on the components. Such a system can be used for any upper part, regardless of its geometry.

A series of permanent magnets may be embedded in the upper portion of the cluster unit according to a precise pattern. The magnets will be arranged in a circular pattern so that the polarity alternates and allows rotation about one axis. To achieve rotation about the other two axes, additional magnets may be added at right angles to the first set, creating a three-dimensional magnetic field.

To drive the magnetic coupling system, a motor may be mounted inside the upper part, wherein a magnetic ring is attached to the drive shaft of the motor. Alternatively or additionally, the drive may be mounted on a base or platform below the top using a magnetic ring. The magnetic ring will be arranged to align with the magnetic pattern on the underside of the hemisphere, allowing rotation about all three axes.

Another solution that may be used is a gimbal mechanism. A gimbal is a collection of two or three rings placed at right angles to each other, each ring being able to rotate independently about its own axis. By connecting the hemispherical shell to the gimbal mechanism, it is possible to achieve rotation about all three axes. The gimbal mechanism may be driven by a motor attached to each ring, each motor driving rotation of the corresponding ring.

According to another embodiment, there is provided: the at least one transmitter device includes a plurality of cluster modules. In addition, each of these cluster modules may be implemented as a ball, roller, or omni-wheel module.

An advantage of this solution is the possibility to combine different cluster modules. For example, it is possible to divide the conveyor in two halves, wherein the first half is equipped with ball modules and the second half is equipped with roller modules. With this solution, the various advantages of two cluster modules can be used in one transmitter device.

In addition, cluster modules of different sizes or materials may be combined to meet the requirements of the conveyed goods. Another option is to use cluster modules with different load capacities in order to be able to transport heavy goods without any problems.

In addition, the use of different cluster modules also provides for greater flexibility in the design of the transport system. For example, particular cluster modules may be easily substituted or added as needed to optimize transfer efficiency.

Another possibility is to combine different cluster modules within a single cluster module, thereby enabling the transportation of goods with different requirements. For example, the cluster module may be equipped with both balls and rollers to ensure optimal transfer of different goods.

According to another embodiment, there is provided: the at least one transmitter device includes a plurality of cluster modules. Furthermore, each of these cluster modules may be individually controlled by the at least one control unit.

Those skilled in the art recognize the advantages of this solution. For example, the alignment of several conveyed articles on the conveyor may be individually adjusted. The same applies to the adjustment of the distance between adjacent conveyed articles, which may become larger or smaller or alternatively result in certain patterns. From this it follows that: this solution increases the transport density of the conveyor system, which results in improved efficiency.

In addition, better load distribution on the transport equipment can be achieved by controlling the transport modules individually. This is particularly important for heavy or unevenly distributed goods in order to avoid overloading the conveyor and to extend the service life of the system. In addition, individual control of the cluster module may help ensure that the conveyed goods are transported in a particular order, which may be important in sorting packages or other goods.

According to another embodiment, there is provided: the at least one cluster module includes a plurality of cluster units. Furthermore, each of these cluster units may be individually controlled by the at least one control unit.

This embodiment is even further than the previous embodiment and offers the advantage of individual control of the cluster units within the cluster module. This further increases the flexibility of the conveyor system, which may play an important role, especially in case of large distances between individual cluster units.

Individual control of each cluster unit within the cluster module also allows for meeting specific requirements for delivering specific goods. For example, the rotational speed or cadence of the clustered units may be adjusted to protect fragile or sensitive merchandise. Likewise, individual control can help avoid bottlenecks in the conveyor system and optimize material flow. Another possible application is the targeted separation of different conveyed goods to achieve efficient sorting.

According to another embodiment, the sensor unit is designed as an optical sensor. The optical sensor may be designed in different forms. For example, the optical sensor may be a camera. In addition, the optical sensor may collect various types of information related to the conveyed article. For example, it is possible to use an optical sensor to collect a barcode or QR code on a conveyed article. This information can then be used by the control unit of the conveyor system to specifically transport the conveyed goods to the desired destination.

Another option is to use an optical sensor to detect the color. This enables the conveyor system to automatically detect, for example, different package types or sizes and dispose of them accordingly.

According to another embodiment, there is provided: the at least one control unit may be coupled to at least one computer unit.

The at least one computing unit may be, for example, a computer or a calculator. However, other forms are possible, such as a server or cloud system. Furthermore, the computer unit contains relevant software.

Finally, the computer unit may also be connected to other systems within the conveyor network to ensure smooth flow of information and efficient control of the entire conveyor system. For example, the computer unit may be connected to a warehouse management system or material flow computer to monitor and optimize the inventory of the conveyed goods in real-time.

According to another embodiment, the at least one computer unit is designed to: an optimized alignment of the conveyed articles is determined or calculated based on the dimensions. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one computer unit may be designed to: an optimized spacing between adjacent conveyed articles is calculated. Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, both the optimized alignment and the optimized spacing may be calculated based on the content of the transport element.

This solution enables trouble-free and efficient loading of transport elements with the goods transported. In addition, possible damage and wear of the transport elements due to improper alignment of the conveyed articles can be reduced. This may be the case, for example, if the transport element is in contact with a sharp edge of the conveyed article. Proper alignment and spacing of the conveyed articles may also reduce the risk of the conveyed articles not being properly loaded into the transport element. This can be done in two ways.

First, the transport element is not loaded with the conveyed material, as it does not fit into the opening of the transport element. This may result in possible damage to the conveyed material. Second, the transport elements are loaded but not optimized. This means: the transport element may transport less material to be transported, resulting in a lower transport density of the conveyor system. As mentioned above, the risk of these two situations occurring is minimized by this embodiment.

According to another embodiment, there is provided: the alignment of the conveyed articles and alternatively or additionally the adjustment of the spacing may be performed by the at least one control unit.

The at least one control unit may be designed, for example, as a programmable logic controller. Furthermore, this should be connected to the conveyor device.

In addition, other sensors (such as weight or volume sensors or profile sensors) may also be integrated into the conveyor system to enable even more accurate and efficient control of conveyed articles. These sensors may for example be used to determine the weight and volume of the conveyed goods in order to determine the optimal number of conveyed goods in the transport element and thus avoid overload or underrun of the transport element.

In addition, the at least one control unit may also be connected to a warning system in order to trigger an alarm in case of malfunction or failure in the conveyor system, thereby enabling a quick correction of the problem. Integration of remote control or automatic fault detection and correction is also possible and advantageous.

According to another embodiment, at least one feeding station is arranged on the at least one conveyor device.

These feed stations are used to load transport elements, such as transport packages, with the conveyed goods that are sorted, aligned, and rejected. In addition, the conveyor may deliver conveyed articles to a plurality of feed stations positioned along the conveyor to further improve efficiency.

Furthermore, it is also important to ensure that the optimally aligned conveyed material is properly delivered into the transport element. This can be done by means of a chute element, which can be designed as a tilting platform. Furthermore, the platform may allow the conveyed goods to be discharged directly from the conveying device into the transport element. This is advantageous in that it allows a simpler construction and thus can reduce costs.

According to another embodiment, there is provided: at least one accumulation station is disposed on the at least one conveyor apparatus.

It is particularly advantageous to provide the conveyor with an accumulation or buffer station. Such stations are directed to conveyed articles that are not conveyed by the conveyor to the at least one feed station for various reasons.

The accumulation station may, for example, be designed as a collection container or an intermediate storage facility. This ensures that the conveyed material can be further controlled and processed without delay. The accumulation station may also help to avoid bottlenecks in the conveyor system and ensure that the conveyor process runs smoothly. In addition, the accumulation station may help ensure that the conveyed articles are ordered so that they may be subsequently forwarded in the correct sequence and without delay. Another advantage of the accumulation station is that: it reduces the need for manual intervention by providing an automated intermediate solution for storing the conveyed goods in a controlled and secure manner until they can be further processed.

According to another embodiment, there is provided: the conveyor system is equipped with a marking device.

The marking device may be, for example, a printer or a stamping device. However, other possibilities are also possible, such as color markers, labeling machines or laser markers. The marking device is used to mark the conveyed goods on the conveyor device and thus enables a clear identification, which is important for the conveying process.

According to another embodiment, there is provided: the marking device designates at least one conveyed article with an identification means. Alternatively or additionally, at least one conveyed item may be specified with an alignment code. The alignment code may be visibly, invisibly, or removably applied.

It is also advantageous to print and/or apply adhesive to the conveyed article before it is introduced into the conveyor system, as this can then be directly processed.

The optical system constituted by the camera for tracking the positioning of the conveyed product may be replaced by a code-based system. This is particularly advantageous because code-based systems are less complex and less expensive than cameras. The solution is to apply an identification means to each conveyed item, which allows a more accurate tracking of each conveyed item. Further, the identification means may be, for example, a bar code, a QR code or an RFID tag.

Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to print or mark an alignment code on at least one conveyed article, which may serve as a reference for its positioning and/or rotation. Furthermore, the code may be discernable by the sensor of the conveyor system, and thus also by the conveyed material and/or its positioning. Furthermore, it is advantageous to control the cluster units based on this information in such a way that a desired orientation of the conveyed material is achieved.

Various options may be considered as sensors. For example, it is possible to use a photoelectric sensor to detect edges and/or patterns of the code and to determine or calculate the rotation based on the positioning of the edges and/or patterns.

The photoelectric sensor may be placed above or below the conveyor and the conveyed article with the alignment code is directed by the light beam. The sensor detects the code by interruption of the light beam by the code. Once the sensor has detected alignment of the alignment code, it may send a signal to the computer unit and/or the control unit for processing. The correction signal may then be sent to the relevant cluster unit so that the orientation of the transferred material may be adjusted accordingly. This ensures that the conveyed material is rotated to the desired orientation before reaching the next step in the conveying process.

Another advantage of this system is that: it is more reliable and robust in that it does not rely on visual detection, which may be affected by lighting conditions, orientation of the conveyed article, or other factors. One skilled in the art may, among other factors, envisage deformation of the conveyed material that would, for example, make accurate orientation detection by a camera difficult.

According to another embodiment, there is provided: the identification means is an alignment code.

The identification means may comprise or comprise the size or the size of the conveyed product, preferably in a code.

It is particularly advantageous to also use an alignment code on each conveyed article to track the conveyed article throughout the supply chain instead of the identified device. This will bring together improved feed chain efficiency and also make the whole conveyor system inexpensive, since for package tracking it will not be necessary to use separation techniques. Furthermore, it is also possible to use only an orientation code to detect the orientation of the conveyed article but use an identification device (e.g., QR code) simultaneously with printing the code. This will also lead to higher efficiency and lower costs, since the solution will not require complex optical systems.

The printed alignment codes may be simple black and white or gray scale checkers. This type of pattern consists of alternating black and white or gray scale squares, and the size and spacing of the squares can be adjusted to accommodate a range of resolutions and sensitivities. One advantage of using a checkered pattern is: it can be easily created and printed using standard printing techniques and can be easily detected by a variety of optical sensors including cameras, scanners and bar code readers. In addition, alternating black and white or gray scale squares provide a high contrast pattern that is easily discernable even in low light conditions.

It would also be possible to equip the alignment code pattern with different features to achieve improved detection and accuracy. Reference marks may be added to the pattern to improve detection accuracy, while color patterns may provide additional information and high contrast patterns. Increasing the resolution of the pattern may also result in higher accuracy and sensitivity. The use of patterns with unique features (such as curved or non-rectangular shapes) may also improve detection accuracy, but may be more difficult to create and print than simple checkered patterns.

According to another embodiment, there is provided: the orientation of the conveyed article may be detected by means of the sensor unit as the orientation of the housing of the conveyed article. Alternatively or additionally, the orientation of the alignment code may be detected by means of the sensor unit.

The advantages of this embodiment have been described above. However, it should be mentioned that by detecting the orientation of the conveyed goods or alignment codes by means of the sensor unit, accurate control and management of the conveying process is made possible. In this way, possible malfunctions and operational failures can be avoided, resulting in improved efficiency and productivity of the conveyor system. In addition, precise alignment and control of the conveyed articles may reduce possible damage to the articles.

The detection device may detect the size of the conveyed article. The recorded values may be specified or encoded as or in the identification means.

The solution according to the invention also has a method for conveying and adjusting the positioning or orientation and alternatively or additionally the spacing of conveyed goods, in particular packages and parcels, preferably with at least one conveyor system. The method includes a capturing step in which the location and/or orientation of the conveyed article is detected. In a second step, a determination of the orientation and/or spacing between adjacent conveyed articles is performed by the computer unit. The third step comprises adjusting, by at least one cluster module controlled by the control unit and comprising at least one cluster unit, the orientation and/or spacing between adjacent conveyed articles. Finally, in a fourth step, the transport element is loaded with the at least one conveyed article in the optimized orientation. Advantageously, the process also optimizes the spacing between adjacent conveyed articles.

The at least one cluster unit may be rotated about at least one of its axes by means of a drive, which may be realized by a simple structure. It is particularly advantageous to increase the flexibility of the conveyor system if the at least one cluster unit can rotate around several axes. Furthermore, the rotational speed may be adjusted, for example in accordance with the conveyed material.

The cluster units may communicate or exchange information with additional or adjacent cluster units. This may occur without control commands from the control unit. In this way, group movement can be implemented similarly to vector fields.

The identification means of the conveyed goods and the data element of the transport element may be linked to each other. This makes assignment, handling and separation easier. Thus, for example, the control system knows which of the conveyed goods is in which transport package.

The following table shows other embodiments and aspects according to the present disclosure.

I. Method for conveying and adjusting the positioning and/or spacing of conveyed goods, in particular packages and parcels, with at least one conveying device having a cluster module, preferably for a hanging conveyor, in particular a bag hanging conveyor, comprising at least the following steps: capturing the location and/or position of the conveyed article; determining, by the computer unit, an alignment and/or spacing between adjacent conveyed articles; adjusting, by at least one cluster module having at least one cluster unit controlled by a control unit, alignment and/or spacing between adjacent conveyed articles; and further processing the aligned conveyed articles.

A conveyor system as described wherein the conveyor apparatus comprises a plurality of cluster modules configured to be positioned directly downstream of the delivery station of the hanging conveyor.

The conveyor system as described in aspect II wherein the cluster module as a diverter can determine and/or affect further conveyance of conveyed articles in different directions.

The solution according to the invention can be supplemented and further improved by the following further embodiments, each of which is itself advantageous.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that all described embodiments can be implemented in accordance with the invention in embodiments of the invention, provided that they are not explicitly mutually exclusive.

Hereinafter, the present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to specific examples of embodiments and drawings, but is not limited to these examples.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art from a study of these specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Examples of embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following figures, in which like reference numerals identify similar or analogous elements.

It shows that:

Fig. 1a: a schematic representation of a logistics chain with processing by a conveyor system whereby transfer to conveyor packets occurs;

fig. 1b: another schematic representation of the logistics chain with the processing by the conveyor system, whereby the transfer takes place in a tray sorter;

fig. 2: a schematic side view of a conveyor system according to the invention;

fig. 3a-b: a conveyor apparatus in schematic top view with designated conveyed articles and a feed station;

fig. 4a-b: conveyor apparatus in schematic top view with different orientations and conveyed goods in objects;

fig. 4c: a conveying device in schematic top view with different orientations and designated conveyed goods in objects;

fig. 5a-5d: a conveyor device having a cluster module and conveyed articles;

fig. 6a-c: cluster modules in various orientations and schematic perspective views;

fig. 7a: a conveyor apparatus having conveyed articles with alignment codes in schematic top view;

fig. 7b: a roller unit with a drive in schematic side view;

fig. 7c: a roller unit in schematic top view;

fig. 7d: schematic side view of an omni-wheel cluster unit;

Fig. 7e: an omni-wheel cluster unit in schematic top view;

fig. 7f: a driven omni-directional cluster unit with a driver in schematic side view;

fig. 8a: a cluster module in schematic perspective view with roller cluster units aligned with respect to different axes;

fig. 8b: a cluster module with ball cluster units according to the invention in a schematic top view;

fig. 8c: a driven rubberized ball cluster unit with a driver in schematic side view;

fig. 9a-b: a cluster module with a ball cluster unit according to the invention in a schematic top view, changing the direction and orientation of the conveyed goods;

fig. 10a-b: driven (i.e., active and passive) ball cluster units according to the invention in schematic side view;

fig. 10c: a cluster module consisting of ball cluster units according to the invention in a schematic top view;

fig. 11a-b: vector fields with different flow directions to illustrate the control of the cluster modules;

fig. 12: a schematic representation of a method for conveying and adjusting the orientation and spacing of conveyed articles; and

fig. 13: representation of a delivery station comprising a hanging conveyor (in particular a packet hanging conveyor) with a cluster module and a conveyor system of different conveyed goods.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1a shows a schematic diagram of a logistics chain 100 with a process 110 performed by an overall conveyor system. The logistics chain 100 includes forwarding incoming transport 102 and forwarding outgoing transport 104. The processing 110 of the conveyed articles is carried out by the overall conveyor system, and in particular by the conveyor system according to the invention. On the input side, delivery 111 occurs with simultaneous possible storage 112. Thereafter, a transfer 113 takes place, which is preferably carried out horizontally. This is followed by alignment and identification 114 of the conveyed articles, wherein the alignment and spacing of the conveyed articles is adjusted. The conveyed goods are forwarded by transferring 115 to a transport element, such as a conveyor packet or a hanging conveyor packet. These may be temporarily stored in the buffer 116 or fed directly to the order related sorting 117 before the conveyed goods arrive at the corresponding delivery or shipment point 118. This is followed by forwarding outgoing transport 104.

Fig. 1b shows another schematic representation of an alternative logistics chain 100 with a process 110 performed by an overall conveyor system. The logistics chain 100 again includes forwarding incoming traffic 102 and forwarding outgoing traffic 104. The processing 110 of the conveyed articles is carried out by the overall conveyor system and in particular by the conveyor system according to the invention. On the input side, delivery 111 occurs with simultaneous possible storage 112. Thereafter, a transfer 113 takes place, which is preferably carried out horizontally. This is followed by alignment and identification 114 of the conveyed articles, wherein the alignment and spacing of the conveyed articles is adjusted. By transferring 119 to the switching classifier, the conveyed articles are forwarded to the order related classification 117 before reaching the corresponding delivery point or shipping station 118. From there, forwarding outgoing transport 104 occurs.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a conveyor system 7 according to the invention for use in a logistics chain 100. Shown are the conveyed goods 1 and special packages 10 which are located on the conveyor device 6 and move from left to right, in particular the conveyor device 6 is constituted by a cluster module 5 with a cluster unit 3.

The articles 1 conveyed may be goods, packages, wrappers 10, foiled goods, bags, pouches, boxes, letters and all items to be conveyed in a logistics.

Each article 1 and package 10 being transported has an identification means 11. One conveyed article 1 and one wrapping 10 are both located in the accumulation station 9. A plurality of sensor units 8 including cameras are mounted on the conveyor device 6. The identification device 12 comprising a plurality of components is used to read and determine the identification means 11 before forwarding the conveyed goods 1 and packages 10 to the transport elements 4, 81 (such as the conveyor package 81) via the ramp or chute 631.

The sensor unit 8 may be designed with a camera, but this is costly. In alternative embodiments, the sensor unit 8 may comprise an ultrasonic sensor, a light barrier, an RFID reader, a QR code or bar code reader, etc., instead of or in addition to this.

The conveyed articles 1, 10 are conveyed from the left onto the conveyor belt 612 in the conveying direction F. In the example shown, the articles are fed via at least two conveyors for flat articles 613'. By selectively stopping, braking and starting these conveyors for flat articles 613', articles 1, 10 can be parked temporarily, whereby a buffer memory for the article unit can be realized.

The light barrier device 654 transverse to the conveying direction detects packages 10 arriving at the conveyor 612. The position of the packages 10 on the conveyor belt 612 and the longitudinal extension in the conveying direction can be determined taking into account the conveying speed of the conveyor belt 612. This allows for the correct positioning of the package 10 at the identification location 659 of the first identification module 65.

The identification device 12 may be designed as a QR code or an RFID reader unit. The RFID reader unit has an RF transmitter 651 and an RF receiver 652, both arranged below the feeder module 61. In an alternative embodiment, the identification module 65 detects the identification means 11, the identification means 11 may be implemented as an alignment code.

The various components, sub-units and modules of the conveyor device 7 are connected to the control unit 2 and the computer unit 13. The computer unit 13 is connected to a superordinate control system 20. The components, sub-units and modules of the conveyor device 7 are controlled by the control unit 2 and transmit data to the control unit 2 and the computer unit 13. The control unit 2 receives control commands from the control system 20. The computer unit 13 has a database on which, for example, a logical link between the transport container and the commodity unit can be stored. Based on the measurement results and/or data read-in from the sensor unit 8 and the evaluation by the computer unit 13, the cluster module 5 and the cluster unit 3 are controlled by the control unit in such a way that: the conveyed goods 1 and the packages 10 are aligned in a targeted manner and the distance between adjacent conveyed goods 1, 10 is adjusted in an optimized manner.

The conveyed material 1 then slides on chute 631 into hanging conveyor pocket 81 of hanging conveyor system 91. Swiss patent application CH001030/2022 discloses an apparatus and method for loading hanging conveyor pockets.

In a particular embodiment, the identification means 11 of the conveyed material 1, 10 can be linked to the data element 83 of the transport element 4, 81. Those skilled in the art will also understand this as "wedding". Thus, a subsequent simple disassembly and separation of the conveyed articles 1, 10 from the transport elements 4, 81 is made possible.

The suspended conveyor packet 81 is transferred from the closed state (not shown) to the open fill state by the classification module 64. While the empty hanging conveyor packet 81, which is already in the intended-to-fill orientation, is being conveyed while hanging from the track 911, the bottom of the hanging conveyor packet is lifted by the sequence of roller-type actuators 642, leaving the hanging conveyor pocket open. The actuator 642 stops and releases the packet. The transverse stop 641 stabilizes the hanging conveyor packet horizontally transverse to the direction of conveyance of the hanging conveyor system. The hanging conveyor packet is stopped by means of another stopping element and fixed relative to the track 911. The hanging conveyor package is now in a filled state. The conveyed articles 1, 10 may be introduced into a hanging conveyor pack 81. After filling, the stop element again releases the hanging conveyor packet 81. The filled hanging conveyor packet 81 is further conveyed in the hanging conveyor system 91 and the next empty hanging conveyor packet is moved in for filling.

The hanging conveyor packet 81 is brought into an open position by a guide track 644 arranged along the conveying path of the hanging conveyor system. The transport packets of the hanging conveyor packet 81 hanging from the cradle 86 have readable data elements 83 at the upper end that allow identification of the hanging conveyor packet 81. In the example shown, the data element is designed as an optically readable data element, for example as a bar code or QR code. The transport container data element 83 can be read by an optical reading unit 663. Alternatively, the data element 83 may also be implemented as an RFID element readable by an RFID reader unit.

Figures 3a-b show a conveying apparatus with a designated conveyed material piece in a schematic top view.

Fig. 3a shows a conveyor apparatus 6 with a package 10, a feeding station 15, and two transfer points or transfer stations 17 to a hanging conveyor system, which transfer points or transfer stations 17 are arranged on the same side. A sensor unit 8 in the form of a camera is arranged above the conveyor device 6. The transfer stations 17 differ in their distance from the conveyor apparatus 6.

Fig. 3b shows the conveyor apparatus 6, also with a wrapping 10, a feeding station 15 and three transfer stations 17, two of which are located on the same side and the other transfer station 17 is arranged on the other side of the conveyor apparatus 6 for space reasons. Logistical advantages can be achieved by arranging transfer stations 17 accordingly. The forward transfer may be performed horizontally and/or suspended.

The feeding station 15 may feed the conveyed articles 1 either lying down (e.g. with a conveyor belt) or hanging up with a bag or hanging conveyor.

Figures 4a-c illustrate a transfer device in a schematic top view with different orientations and transferred goods in objects.

Fig. 4a shows a transmitter device 6 with a cluster module 5. The 12 cluster modules 5 form here units, three units being arranged one behind the other. A sensor unit 8 with a camera is located above the conveyor device 6 and the control unit 2 enables alignment of the conveyed articles 1. The control unit 2 is connected to a control system 20 (not shown). On the left side, above the feed station 15, the first camera 8.1 detects conveyed articles 1 orthogonal to the conveying direction. In the first unit of the conveyor device 6, the conveyed articles 1 are again slightly aligned and inspected by the second camera 8.2 in the second section before being aligned parallel to the conveying direction and longitudinally in the third section by means of the third unit of the conveyor device 6. The third camera 8.3 checks the correct alignment of the conveyed goods 1 at the removal point or transfer station on the right side.

In fig. 4b, two conveyed articles 1 enter the first unit of the conveyor 6 almost in parallel. These are now aligned and brought into sequence. After detection by the first camera 8.1, the two conveyed articles 1 are brought into sequence in the first unit of the conveyor device 6, whereby one conveyed article 1 is slightly slowed down or braked and alignment takes place.

Fig. 4c shows a schematic top view of a conveyor apparatus 6 with a designated conveyed article in different orientations and spacings. The transmitter device 6 has two units of cluster modules 5, with a total of 24 cluster modules 5. The first camera 8.1 establishes the positioning of the conveyed articles 1 such that alignment can be performed by means of the two units of the cluster module 5 before the conveyed articles 1 are fed to the transfer station 17 to the hanging conveyor system 91. At the transfer station 17 a stop element is arranged at the arrow. The conveyed goods 1 are eventually fed to an open package. The conveyed goods 1 have identification means 11. The identification means 11 may be designed as a QR code in order to provide a simple and fast assignment and identification. Alternatively and additionally, RFID codes, bar codes, etc. may be provided.

Fig. 5a-d show a transmitter device 6 with 16 cluster modules 5 as a single unit. Various functions of the conveyor device 6 are shown. The alignment, movement, offset, spacing and rotation of the conveyor goods 1 are carried out by means of the conveyor apparatus 6.

Swiss patent application CH000788/2022, month 29 of 2022, discloses a conveyor system having an apparatus for diverting horizontally conveyed articles.

In fig. 5a, the central conveyed article 1 is moved forward at an angle such that it is moved or displaced laterally.

In fig. 5b, the conveyed article 1 is moved diagonally forward so that it can be transported further in the center.

In fig. 5c, two closely spaced conveyed articles 1 are brought to a defined distance apart. This is accomplished by further transporting one conveyed article 1 while the other is decelerating as it moves forward.

Fig. 5c shows how the conveyed goods oriented orthogonally to the conveying direction are rotated by approximately 90 ° by means of the cluster module 5 of the conveying device 6 for then further transport in the conveying direction.

Fig. 6a-c show a transmitter device 6 with 16 cluster modules 5 and various driving options or directions. More or fewer cluster modules 5 may be arranged and driven, depending on the task. Each cluster module 5 has a plurality of cluster units 3. In addition, each cluster module 5 is rotatable in a plane.

In fig. 6a, all the cluster units 3 of the cluster module 5 are aligned in the transport direction.

In fig. 6b, the cluster module 5 is aligned with the cluster unit 3 being offset by approximately 45 ° in one direction.

In fig. 6c, the cluster module 5 is aligned with the cluster unit 3 being offset by approximately 45 ° in the other direction.

Fig. 7a shows a schematic top view of the conveying device 6 with conveyed goods 1 and identification means 11 and alignment code 16. On the conveyor device 6, the conveyed articles 1 are moved to the print head 19. By means of the sensor unit 8 and the control unit 2, the conveyed goods 1 are fed to the marking device 14 without the identification means 11, the alignment label or the alignment code 16. The print head 19 of the marking device 14 prints the identification means 11 and/or the alignment code 16 on the conveyed article 1.

These then continue to be moved on the other side and run back as conveyed goods 1' with identification means 11 and alignment code 16. The sensor unit 8 monitors the conveyed goods 1, 1'. The positioning and orientation of a piece of conveyed commodity 1 can be detected by means of the sensor unit 8 as the orientation of its housing and/or the orientation of the alignment code 16 and can be corrected by means of the cluster module 5. The position of the conveyed article 1 can be detected by means of the sensor unit 8 as the position of the outer shell of the conveyed article 1 and/or the position of the alignment code 16.

Fig. 7b shows a roller cluster unit 70 of the roller cluster module 5b with a drive element in a schematic side view. The roller 72 is rubberized or coated on the surface. The coating is preferably an adhesive so that non-slippery and secure transport of the conveyed goods 1 can take place. In a preferred embodiment, the coating is selected to ensure good adhesion and grip of the conveyed article 1. The roller cluster unit 70 is driven by a gear 78 or alternatively by a belt element. The drive is an electric drive 79, for example a servo motor or a stepper motor. The electric drives 79 of the roller cluster module 5b may be in both directions such that the rollers 72 rotate and stop to the left and to the right, which may be important for the braking effect.

Fig. 7c shows the roller cluster unit 70 of fig. 7b in a schematic top view. The coated roller 72 can rotate about two axes and thus enable the conveyed article 1 to advance or be conveyed in all directions of the plane.

Fig. 7d illustrates an omni-wheel cluster unit 75 having a plurality of roller blocks 76 mounted at a specific angle (such as 90 deg.) to the main wheel unit 77 so that it can be moved in any direction, including sideways, without the need for complex steering mechanisms.

Fig. 7e illustrates a full side wheel cluster unit 75, which can rotate around two axes. In addition, the individual roller blocks 76 may rotate about an axis. All this allows a high degree of flexibility in the movement and transportation of the conveyed articles 1 in the conveyor device 6. Alternatively or additionally, the omni-wheel cluster unit 75 may rotate about at least two axes. This provides greater stability and balance, particularly when carrying heavy conveyed articles 1. The ability to rotate about multiple axes helps to more evenly distribute the weight of the conveyed article 1, thereby reducing the risk of tipping or unbalance.

Fig. 7f illustrates an all-sided gear cluster unit 75, which is driven by a gear 78 or by means of belt element(s). The drive is an electrical drive 79, which may be a stepper motor, for example. The gear 78 or belt element(s) transmit the power of the electric drive 79 to the full-side wheel cluster unit 75, which includes a plurality of rotatable roller blocks 76. These roller blocks 76 are arranged to rotate in all directions to provide optimal maneuverability of the omni wheel cluster unit 75.

In fig. 8a, a roller cluster module 5b with a roller cluster unit 70 in various orientations is shown in a schematic perspective view. The roller cluster module 5b comprises four roller cluster units 70 with rollers 72. The pivoting or orientation of the roller cluster modules 5b to 90 deg. and 45 deg. of each side is shown. The orientation of the roller cluster modules 5b may be at any angle, providing flexibility to the conveyor system.

In fig. 8b, a ball cluster module 5a with a ball cluster unit 80 according to the invention is shown in a schematic top view. A ball cluster module 5a with five ball cluster units 80 is shown whereby four are transported or rotated in the same direction and one centrally arranged ball cluster unit 80 is rotated orthogonally. This may be used for speed reduction. The number of ball cluster units 80 in the ball cluster module 5a may be different and to be adapted to the transfer task.

Fig. 8c shows a driven rubberized ball cluster unit 80 in a schematic side view. The surface of the ball 82 is rubberized or coated here. The coating is preferably an adhesive so that the conveyed goods 1 can be transported with good grip and securely. The coating is selected in such a way that: ensuring good adhesion and grip of the conveyed article 1. By virtue of the ball driver 84 driving the ball 82, the ball driver 84 can be designed to swivel.

Fig. 9a-b show a ball cluster module 5a according to the invention with a ball cluster unit 80 in a schematic top view, whereby the direction and orientation of the conveyed material 1 is changed. It is possible to serve, for example, the discharge of conveyed goods 1.

In fig. 9a, the conveyed article 1 is rotated or swiveled over the ball cluster module 5a by approximately 90 °, and then the conveyed article 1 is further conveyed in the longitudinal direction.

In fig. 9b, the conveyed goods 1 are conveyed further by means of the ball cluster module 5a in the transverse direction by approximately 90 °.

Fig. 10a-b show a schematic side view of a driven active and passive ball cluster unit 80 according to the invention. During driving, the driving disc 90 is pressed against the ball 82 and drives the conveyed article 1.

Fig. 10a shows the sliding of the ball 82, wherein the drive pulley 90 does not contain the ball 82.

Fig. 10b shows a ball cluster unit 80 with driven balls 82, and the balls 82 are in contact with a rotary drive disc 90. When the ball is not being driven, the drive disk 90 is dropped and the ball 82 is in the coasting mode. The surface of the ball 82 preferably matches the surface of the drive disk 90 so that a gripping actuator is provided.

In fig. 10c, a ball cluster module 5a made up of ball cluster units 80 according to the invention is shown in a schematic top view. Four ball cluster units 80 or nine ball cluster units 80 form a driving unit. Each ball cluster unit 80 may be individually controlled by the control unit 2. The ball cluster units 80 may also be linked to each other in the following manner: a control command from the control unit 2 is not necessary. One touch sensor may be arranged per ball cluster unit 80. This can be designed, for example, as a weight sensor, an ultrasonic sensor or a detection sensor.

Once the sensor of the ball cluster unit 80 detects the transferred material 1, the information can be passed on to the next or adjacent ball cluster unit 80, all without the control unit 2. Thus, one type of wave motion similar to the La-Ola wave can be performed. The cluster modules 5, 5a, 5b and the associated cluster units can be made almost passive.

This would be advantageous for energy efficiency. Thus, when the conveyed article 1 is detected or noticed by an adjacent clustered unit or its sensor, the clustered unit will only drive or cause a short spin. For example, information may be transferred as an information wave to every second, third, etc. The cluster unit creates certain patterns or vector fields.

Fig. 11a-b show vector fields with different flow directions to illustrate the control of the cluster modules 5, 5a, 5b and the cluster units 3, 70, 80.

Fig. 11a shows a change of direction, while fig. 11b shows a rotation.

If a differentiable function is present, the vector field is referred to as a gradient field. The two-dimensional vector field g can be described as follows: g (x, y) =2 (x, -y) for all

The vector field is the gradient field of function f:wherein the method comprises the steps of

f(x,y)＝x ² -y ² For all of

Described differently, a vector field is a mathematical representation of a physical field having magnitude and direction at each spatial point. In this case vector fields are used to model the motion of the conveyed goods 1 in order to optimize the control of the cluster modules 5, 5a, 5b, 5c and the cluster units 3, 70, 75, 80.

By using Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, such as machine learning and neural networks, the vector field can be optimized in such a way as to improve the direction of material flow. The AI system can learn how to optimally move the cluster modules 5, 5a, 5b, 5c and the cluster units 3, 70, 75, 80 to ensure an optimal flow. These may take into account various process parameters such as weight, speed, position and orientation and, in addition, the spacing of the conveyed article 1 from other conveyed articles 1 may also be considered to increase flow and capacity. Finally, it should also be considered whether a type of cluster module 5, 5a, 5b, 5c and cluster unit 3, 70, 75, 80, e.g. spherical geometry or omni-directional geometry, is used.

To optimize the vector field, the AI system should be trained with process data that takes into account different process parameters and conditions. This will make the system more robust and reliable to use in different scenarios. Thereafter, the AI system may be able to discern different patterns and trends and make predictions regarding how best to adjust the flow direction of the conveyed article 1. For process data collection, various sensors (such as cameras, ultrasonic sensors, or laser scanners) may be used to collect important information about the location, movement, and orientation of the conveyed article 1.

The AI system can be used both offline and online. This means: it can be used not only for offline optimization of the flow direction of conveyed goods 1, but also for real-time process changes. By continuously optimizing the vector field in real time, the AI system can respond to changes in the number, positioning, and other process parameters of the conveyed articles 1 and adjust the movement of the cluster modules 5, 5a, 5b, 5c and the cluster units 3, 70, 75, 80 to maintain optimal conveyed article flow and increase the capacity of the flow.

It is advantageous not to transmit the amount of process data directly to the control system 20 so as not to overload the data traffic or keep it low. Thus, processing by one or more local computer units 13 is preferred.

Fig. 12 shows a schematic representation of a method for conveying and adjusting the positioning and spacing of conveyed articles 1. In a first step S1, capturing of the positioning of the conveyed article 1 takes place. Alternatively or additionally, the positioning of the conveyed goods 1 is captured in a second step S2. Steps S1 and S2 may be performed simultaneously or nearly simultaneously. In a third step S3, the determination of the orientation of the conveyed article 1 is performed by the computer unit 13. Alternatively or additionally, in a fourth step S4, the spacing between adjacent conveyed articles 1 is determined or calculated by the computer unit 13. Steps S3 and S4 may also be performed simultaneously or nearly simultaneously. In step S5, an adjustment of the orientation of the conveyed goods 1 is performed by the cluster module 5, 5a, 5b having the cluster unit 3, 70, 80 controlled by the control unit 2. Alternatively or additionally, in a sixth step S6, the cluster modules 5, 5a, 5b controlled by the control unit 2 adjust the spacing between adjacent conveyed articles 1. This is done by means of the cluster units 3, 70, 80, the cluster units 3, 70, 80 being rotated about at least one of their axes by means of a drive. Steps S5 and S6 may also be performed simultaneously or nearly simultaneously. In a seventh step S7, loading of the transport element 4 (e.g. the hanging conveyor packet 81) with the conveyed article 1 or several conveyed articles 1 takes place.

Fig. 13 shows a representation of a delivery station 30 comprising a hanging conveyor (in particular, a packet hanging conveyor) with a cluster module 5 and a conveyor device 6 of conveyed articles 1, 10. The cluster modules 5 (also referred to as alignment modules) of the conveyor apparatus 6 are placed directly behind the ramp or chute 631 of the delivery station. The chute 631 leads to the cluster module 5, on top of which cluster module 5 a camera 8 is arranged for positioning detection. The conveyed article 1 and wrap 10 (i.e., items such as unit loads) receive a rotating impulse after discharge from the pack 81 on chute 631, which results in any orientation of the discharged items. Angular momentum may be affected by the inclination and/or side edges of chute 631.

The subsequent conveying device 6 with the cluster module 5 may again give the conveyed goods 1 a "new" orientation, whereby this "new" orientation facilitates the subsequent further processing.

Alternatively or additionally, alignment or correction of the conveyed article 1 and/or package 10 may also occur later during further processing.

Furthermore, the conveyor device 6 may be used with the cluster module 5 to distribute incoming goods 1, 10 to different conveying paths 32a, 32b, 32c, i.e. thus functions like a diverter or a switch. As shown, the conveyed article 1 may be conveyed straight forward 32a, to the left 32b, or to the right 32 c. Precise alignment can also be achieved by means of the cluster module 5.

The advantages of the fast delivery station can be combined with the fast cluster module 5 as a diverter. In this way, the conveyed goods 1 and packages 10 can be quickly and accurately distributed for further processing, such as commissioning or packaging.

A conveyor system for conveying and adjusting the positioning and spacing of conveyed articles is disclosed. It goes without saying that many further embodiments are conceivable to the person skilled in the art on the basis of the described exemplary embodiments.

Claims (27)

1. Conveyor system (7) for conveyed goods (1), in particular for packages and parcels, comprising:

-at least one transmitter device (6) comprising at least one cluster module (5); and

at least one control unit (2) connected to the conveyor device (6),

wherein the conveyor system (7) has an upper control system (20) connected to the at least one control unit (2) in accordance with a control technique such that the positioning of the conveyed articles (1) and/or the adjustment of the spacing between adjacent conveyed articles (1) takes place on the basis of control commands of the control system (20).

2. The conveyor system (7) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one control unit (2) is coupleable to at least one computer unit (13), wherein the at least one computer unit (13) receives control commands from the control system (20).

3. Conveyor system (7) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one computer unit (13) is designed to: the positioning of the conveyed goods (1) and/or the spacing between adjacent conveyed goods (1) is determined in an optimized manner on the basis of the dimensions and/or the content of the transport elements (4, 81).

4. Conveyor system (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning and/or adjustment of the spacing of the conveyed goods (1) takes place by means of the at least one control unit (2).

5. Conveyor system (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning and/or adjustment of the spacing of conveyed goods (1) takes place without control commands from the control unit (2).

6. Conveyor system (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (2) is controlled independently of the control system (20).

7. Conveyor system (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one conveyor device (6) comprises a plurality of cluster modules (5).

8. Conveyor system (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one cluster module (5) comprises a cluster unit (3, 70, 80).

9. Conveyor system (7) according to claim 8, characterized in that the cluster unit (3, 70, 80) comprises balls (80) designed to be drivable or not.

10. Conveyor system (7) according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the cluster unit (3, 70) comprises: a roller (72) or an omni-wheel, which is designed to be drivable or non-drivable.

11. Conveyor system (7) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the cluster units (3, 70, 80) are individually controllable depending on the adjacent cluster units (3, 70, 80) and/or control commands are received by means of the control unit (2) on the basis of measurement results and/or data reading in order to adjust the positioning of the conveyed goods (1) and/or the spacing between adjacent conveyed goods (1).

12. Conveyor system (7) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the cluster unit (3, 70, 80) has a surface coating, preferably rubberized.

13. Conveyor system (7) according to one of the claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the at least one cluster module (5) comprises a plurality of cluster units (3, 70, 80), and that each of the cluster units (3, 70, 80) is individually controllable by the at least one control unit (2).

14. Conveyor system (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the cluster modules (5) is designed as a ball cluster module (5 a) or a roller cluster module (5 b) or an omni-wheel cluster module (5 c).

15. Conveyor system (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one feeding station (15) and at least one transfer station (17) are arranged on the at least one conveyor device (6).

16. Conveyor system (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one accumulation station (9) is arranged on the at least one conveyor apparatus (6).

17. Conveyor system (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor system (7) comprises a marking device (14).

18. Conveyor system (7) according to claim 17, characterized in that the marking device (14) designates at least one conveyed article (1) with an identification means (11) and/or an alignment code (16).

19. Conveyor system (7) according to one of claims 17 and 18, characterized in that the identification means (11) is the alignment code (16).

20. Conveyor system (7) according to one of the preceding claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the orientation of the conveyed goods (1) is detectable as the orientation of the casing of the conveyed goods (1) and/or the orientation of the alignment code (16).

21. Conveyor system (7) according to one of the preceding claims 17 to 20, characterized in that the positioning of the conveyed goods (1) is detectable as the positioning of the casing of the conveyed goods (1) and/or the positioning of the alignment code (16).

22. Conveyor system (7) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor system (7) comprises: at least one sensor unit (8) designed to detect the position and/or location of at least one conveyed article (1).

23. Conveyor system (7) according to claim 22, characterized in that the sensor unit (8) comprises an optical sensor.

24. Method for conveying and adjusting the positioning and/or spacing of conveyed goods (1), in particular packages and parcels, preferably with at least one conveyor system (7) according to one or more of claims 1 to 23, the method comprising at least the following method steps:

-capturing the location and/or position of the conveyed goods (1);

-determining, by the computer unit (13), the alignment and/or spacing between adjacent conveyed articles (1);

-adjusting the alignment and/or spacing between adjacent conveyed articles (1) by at least one cluster module (5) controlled by the control unit (2) and comprising at least one cluster unit (3, 70, 80); and

-loading the transport element (4, 81) with the conveyed goods (1).

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that the at least one cluster unit (3, 70, 80) is rotated about at least one of its axes by means of a drive (84).

26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the at least one cluster unit (3, 70, 80) communicates with further cluster units (3, 70, 80).

27. Method according to one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that the identification means (11) of the conveyed goods (1, 10) and the data element (83) of the transport element (4, 81) are linked.