Coupling Device for Articulated Connection of Two Elements of a Conveying and/or Sorting Device, and Corresponding Conveying and/or Sorting Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021324902-A1
Application number	US-202117211096-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2021
Priority date	Mar 26, 2020
Publication date	Oct 21, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention concerns a coupling device (14) for articulated connection of two elements (12) of a device (10) for conveying and/or sorting piece goods, wherein the coupling device (10) connects together an end (24, 26) of each of the two elements (12) pivotably with respect to a rotational axis (20) in a plane to both sides (24, 26), and the two ends (24, 26) lie diametrically opposite each other in a neutral position.It is provided that the coupling device (14) is configured such that, starting from a respective central axis (28) of the two ends (24, 26), the rotational axis (20) on a pivot movement in the direction of the one side (24) lies on this one side (24) of the central axes (28), and on a pivot movement in the direction of the other side (26) lies on this other side (26) of the respective central axis (28).The invention furthermore concerns a corresponding device (10) for conveying and/or sorting piece goods.

First claim

1 . Coupling device ( 14 ) for articulated connection of two elements ( 12 ) of a device ( 10 ) for conveying and/or sorting piece goods, wherein the coupling device ( 10 ) connects together an end ( 24 , 26 ) of each of the two elements ( 12 ) pivotably with respect to at least one rotational axis ( 20 ) in a plane to both sides ( 24 , 26 ), and the two ends ( 24 , 26 ) lie diametrically opposite each other in a neutral position,
characterized in that the coupling device ( 14 ) is configured such that, starting from a respective central axis ( 28 ) of the two ends ( 24 , 26 ), the rotational axis ( 20 ) on a pivot movement in the direction of the one side ( 24 ) lies on this one side ( 24 ) of the central axes ( 28 ), and on a pivot movement in the direction of the other side ( 26 ) lies on this other side ( 26 ) of the respective central axis ( 28 ).

2 . Coupling device according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling device ( 14 ) is configured, for the different positions of the rotational axis ( 20 ),
to select these from two or more than two predefined positions, or to adjust these by shifting the rotational axis ( 20 ).

3 . Coupling device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the coupling device ( 14 ) has two coupling elements ( 30 , 32 ) which have identical lengths and are pivotable in opposite directions.

4 . Coupling device according to any of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the coupling device ( 14 ) is configured to form, with the two ends ( 16 , 18 ) of the elements ( 12 ), a four-bar linkage ( 42 ).

5 . Coupling device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the coupling device ( 14 ) comprises flexible coupling elements ( 44 ) which connect the two elements ( 12 ) pivotably together in the manner of a Jacob's ladder toy.

6 . Coupling device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the coupling device ( 14 ) has a double hinge ( 46 ) in the manner of a swing door hinge.

7 . Coupling device according to any of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the coupling device ( 14 ) is configured such that the spacing d of the two elements ( 12 ) when the two elements ( 12 ) are moved out of the neutral position is determined only by components of the coupling device ( 14 ) lying on the currently used rotational axis ( 20 ).

8 . Coupling device according to any of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the spacing A of the positions of the rotational axis ( 20 ) on a pivot movement to the one side ( 24 ) and to the other side ( 26 ) is greater than the length L of the coupling device ( 14 ) which determines the spacing between the ends ( 16 , 18 ) of the corresponding elements ( 12 ).

9 . Device ( 10 ) for conveying and/or sorting piece goods with
several elements ( 12 ) for handling the piece goods, and at least one coupling device ( 14 ) which pivotably connects together a respective two of the series-arranged elements ( 12 ), characterized in that the coupling device ( 14 ) or at least one of the coupling devices ( 14 ), preferably each of the coupling devices ( 14 ), is configured as a coupling device ( 14 ) according to any of the preceding claims.

10 . Device according to claim 9 , wherein the width B of the elements ( 12 ) substantially corresponds to the spacing A of the different positions of the rotational axis ( 20 ).

11 . Device according to claim 9 or 10 , wherein the device ( 10 ) is configured as a sorter, in particular a circular sorter.

Assignees

• Deutsche Post Ag

Inventors

• Grafe Wolfram
• Hartmann Bernd
• Loh Hillar

Classifications

• B07C99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• B65G35/00 Primary

  Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F16C11/04 Primary

  Pivotal connections (hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D) · CPC title

• B65G47/96

  Devices for tilting links or platform {(releasing load-carriers B65G47/38)} · CPC title

• B60D2001/005

  for carts, scooters or the like · CPC title