Conveying storage device and method for operating the conveying storage device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10934103-B2
Application number	US-201816630846-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2018
Priority date	Jul 14, 2017
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a conveying storage device for containers, comprising: a first/second drivable conveyor which can convey containers on a first/second conveying surface in a first/second direction, the first and the second conveyor being positioned parallel to one another such that containers are transferable from the first to the second conveying surface; a transfer device, which is movable along the conveyor, for transferring containers from the first to the second conveying surface; a guide body which is movable along a region between the first and the second conveyor above the first and the second conveying surface; and a guide railing for guiding and separating containers, said guide rail extending at an angle to the second direction and above the second conveying surface. The guide railing is variable in length and cooperates with the guide body such that the length of the guide railing and the angle can be varied.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A conveying storage device for containers, comprising:
a first drivable conveyor which is adapted to convey containers on a first conveying surface in a first direction;
a second drivable conveyor which is adapted to convey containers on a second conveying surface in a second direction, wherein the first drivable conveyor and the second drivable conveyor are positioned parallel to one another such that containers are transferable from the first conveying surface to the second conveying surface, and wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other;
a transfer device, which is movable along at least one of the first drivable conveyor or the second drivable conveyor, for transferring containers from the first conveying surface ( 4 , 25 ) to the second conveying surface;
a guide body which is movable along a region between the first drivable conveyor and the second drivable conveyor above the first conveying surface and the second conveying surface; and
a guide railing for guiding and separating containers, which extends at an angle to the second direction and above the second conveying surface, wherein the guide railing is variable in length and cooperates with the guide body such that the length of the guide railing and the angle can be varied.

2. The conveying storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide railing is configured telescopically.

3. The conveying storage device of claim 2 , wherein the guide railing is configured rotatably about a first vertical axis and rotatably about a second vertical axis, wherein the first vertical axis is provided on the guide body, and wherein the second vertical axis is provided in a non-movable end region of the second drivable conveyor.

4. The conveying storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide railing is configured as a length-variable and tensioned band.

5. The conveying storage device of claim 4 , wherein a length-variation of the band takes place by winding up or unwinding the band, and wherein a tension of the band is achieved by means of at least one of a motor or a spring.

6. The conveying storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide body is configured to be variable in its width.

7. The conveying storage device of claim 6 , wherein a) the guide body is configured to be movable independently of the transfer device orb) the guide body is coupled to the transfer device and is configured to be movable together with the transfer device.

8. The conveying storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the first drivable conveyor and the second drivable conveyor are configured as linear conveyors.

9. The conveying storage device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first drivable conveyor or the second drivable conveyor each comprises a plurality of parallel, endless conveyor belts or slat-band chains, wherein the endless conveyor belts or the slat-band chains are each drivable individually.

10. The conveying storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer device extends substantially transversely across and above the first conveying surface.

11. The conveying storage device according to claim 10 , wherein the transfer device further extends substantially transversely across and above at least a portion of the second conveying surface.

12. The conveying storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the transfer device comprises an arcuate guide element or a straight guide element, wherein a drivable, endless conveyor belt extends over the arcuate guide element or the straight guide element, and wherein the drivable, endless conveyor belt is configured as a gripper chain or belt.

13. The conveying storage device according to claim 1 , wherein an elongated transition surface is arranged between the first conveying surface and the second conveying surface.

14. The conveying storage device according to claim 13 , wherein the elongated transition surface is configured as a third conveyor with a third conveying surface which is configured to be movable in the first direction and in the second direction.

15. The conveying storage device according to claim 14 , wherein the guide body is arranged on the third conveying surface and is movable by means of the third conveyor or wherein the guide body is supported on the third conveying surface by means of a roller.

16. The conveying storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a further guide railing for guiding containers, which extends above the first conveying surface and parallel to the first direction, wherein the further guide railing is configured to be variable in length, and wherein the further guide railing is configured to be laterally displaceable parallel to the first conveying surface and perpendicular to the first direction.

17. The conveying storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more drive motors for the first drivable conveyor, the second drivable conveyor, the transfer device, and the guide body.

18. The conveying storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one sensor device and at least one control device, wherein the at least one sensor device is configured to detect containers by means of one or more sensors, to generate corresponding sensor data and to transmit the sensor data to the at least one control device, which is adapted to control the first drivable conveyor, the second drivable conveyor, the transfer device, and the guide body.

19. The conveying storage device of claim 18 , wherein the control device is configured such that a movement of the transfer device on the basis of conveying speeds of at least one of the first conveyor or of the second conveyor takes place.

20. The conveying storage device of claim 18 , wherein a camera detects data of an occupancy state of at least one of a feeding or a discharging conveyor before or after the conveying storage device, and wherein the control device moves the transfer device on the basis of this data in such a way that a required storage capacity of the conveying storage device is provided.

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Meier Matthias
• Kilgenstein Torsten

Classifications

• B65G47/682 Primary

  from a single conveyor lane consisting of one conveyor or several adjacent conveyors · CPC title

• B65G2811/06

  Devices controlling the relative position of articles · CPC title

• B65G47/5131 Primary

  by relative displacement between conveyors or conveyor parts and bridging means therebetween · CPC title

• B65G2203/044

  Optical · CPC title

• B65G2203/0208

  relating to the transported articles · CPC title