WO2022253555A1

WO2022253555A1 - Vehicle system for handling of roller tables

Info

Publication number: WO2022253555A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/063039
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfred SCHÜTZ; Pascal SCHÜTZ
Original assignee: Dimos Maschinenbau Gmbh
Priority date: 2021-05-31
Filing date: 2022-05-13
Publication date: 2022-12-08
Also published as: DE102021114023A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle system (100) for handling roller tables (1), which comprise a plurality of rollers (7) arranged parallel to one another and each rotatable about their central longitudinal axis, having a base vehicle (8) which comprises a steering system and a travel drive and is designed for driving under a roller table (1). The base vehicle (8) comprises a lifting device (13) for lifting the roller table (1) and a rotary drive device for rotationally driving at least one of the rollers (7) of the roller table (1).

Description

Vehicle system for handling roller tables

The invention relates to a vehicle system for handling roller tables, which comprise a plurality of rollers arranged parallel to one another and each rotatable about their central longitudinal axis. Such roller tables are segments of roller conveyors with which counter stands can be transported via an array of rollers. Roller conveyors are used, for example, for sorting, distributing and storing piece goods.

Depending on the weight of the piece goods, the rollers are made of metal or plastic and can have different widths adapted to the respective piece goods.

One area of use for such roller tables is, for example, a cargo handling system at an airport. In this case, the piece goods are usually standardized containers or pallets, which are also collectively referred to in the technical world as “unit load devices” (“ULDs”). The dimensions of the roller tables are usually adapted to the dimensions of the ULDs.

To promote ULD's a variety of roller tables to roller conveyors are usually put together in a cargo handling system, then on the ULD's can be pushed or pulled manually or with the help of motor-driven aids.

In order to eject ULDs from a roller conveyor, it is regularly necessary to move individual roller tables, if necessary with the ULD on them. For this purpose, industrial trucks are regularly used, for example forklifts, which are usually operated in an operator-controlled manner.

A vehicle system for handling a roller table is known from US 2012/0315117 A1. It includes a base vehicle designed as a lift truck, with which the roller table can be driven under and lifted.

At a medium-sized airport, the mass moved with a cargo handling system per year is typically up to 200,000 tons. There is therefore a need for a vehicle system for handling roller tables, with which the sorting, distribution and storage of general cargo, for example ULD's, is simplified.

This object is achieved by a vehicle system having the features of claim 1. Preferred developments of this vehicle system are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The vehicle system according to the invention comprises a basic vehicle that includes a steering system and a drive system and is designed to be suitable for driving under a roller table. The dimensions of the base vehicle are preferably adapted to those of the roller table in such a way that the base vehicle does not protrude laterally beyond the outer contours of the roller table when driven under the roller table, but extends over as large a part as possible of the bearing surface formed by the top of the roller table.

In addition, the base vehicle includes a lifting device for lifting the roller table and a rotary drive device for rotating at least one of the rollers of the roller table. Due to this configuration of the base vehicle of the driving tool system according to the invention, the base vehicle can be placed completely under its upper side, which forms the support surface, for handling a roller table. With the lifting device, the roller table can be lifted and thus relocated at the freight transhipment site. If the dimensions of the base vehicle, as preferred, are chosen so that it does not protrude laterally beyond the roller table when driven under, the best possible maneuverability of the roller table can be achieved.

With the help of the base vehicle, the roller table can be moved with or without an object on it, e.g. a ULD. Due to the rotary drive device for rotary drive of at least one of the rollers of the roller table, the object can be shifted by activating the rotary drive device on the roller table without requiring manual intervention or additional technical means. It is thus possible with the vehicle system according to the invention to move a roller table into a transfer position in which an object is transferred to the roller table, for example from a transfer station. By means of the rotary drive, for example, the object can be shifted to a central position on the roller table. If necessary, the roller table with the object on it can now be moved to a different position using the vehicle system according to the invention, for example to a position in which the object is delivered to a delivery station. The displacement of the object is in turn possible with the help of the rotary drive device.

It is already clear from the above explanations that with the aid of the vehicle system according to the invention, a freight handling system which has roller conveyors that include roller tables can be designed much more flexibly with regard to the transport options for objects such as ULDs. In particular, it is possible to move an object transversely to the direction of the roller conveyor by moving a roller table carrying the object using a base vehicle. If, as is preferred, the base vehicle does not protrude laterally beyond the roller table, aisles between the roller conveyors can be made particularly narrow. This allows the usual way in a cargo handling system limited space both in terms of possible storage capacities, as well as in terms of freight handling capacities.

It is also possible to position the base vehicle in such a way that it is located under a part of each of two adjacent roller tables. Although it is then regularly not possible to transport both roller tables at the same time. However, in order to shift a load from one roller table to another, rollers of both adjacent roller tables can be driven using the rotary drive device of the base vehicle.

In principle, the rotary drive device can be formed in any manner that enables rotary drive of at least one of the rollers when the base vehicle is in a position in which it travels under a roller table. One or more circulating belts are mentioned as an example, which rest on one or more of the rollers and whose direction of displacement is aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal extent of the rollers. However, a further development of the vehicle system according to the invention is preferred, in which the rotary drive device comprises at least one, preferably a plurality of friction rollers that can be driven in rotation.

As is particularly preferred, the friction rollers can immediately form the lifting device of the base vehicle or at least be part of it if they are arranged in the base vehicle such that they can be displaced in height. All friction rollers are then preferably between a lower position, within which they are in a retracted position and do not or only slightly project beyond the top of the base vehicle, and a lifting position, in which they protrude from the top of the base vehicle and pass through the roller table when driven under Raise plant on preferably two roles, are relocated.

In order to reduce the risk of the roller table shifting relative to the base vehicle, which is particularly increased when the rotary drive device is activated, the base vehicle preferably comprises an activatable fixing element, by means of which the position of the roller table relative to the base vehicle can be fixed. The fixing element can be, for example, one or more extendable fixing act xierstifte, for example.

The vehicle system according to the invention is also particularly well suited for handling roller tables on which there are heavy loads if, as is preferred, the base vehicle has four or more wheels and the steering is designed as a multi-way steering system. With a higher carrying capacity of the base vehicle due to the multi-wheel design, the multi-way steering, in which all wheels are preferably designed to be steerable, particularly preferably according to different steering programs, which, for example, optionally allow cornering, transverse, diagonal or carousel driving, the maneuverability is also one four- or multi-wheel base vehicle is not restricted.

With a view to improving traction and being able to drive the base vehicle safely even on uneven ground, it is advantageous if the drive system of the base vehicle is designed in such a way that it drives at least two of the wheels, preferably all of the wheels. In particular, if the base vehicle is provided for transporting roller tables for loads that have a comparatively low mass, the drive can also be designed in such a way that it only drives a single wheel.

The base vehicle can be designed to be controlled by operating personnel, for example using a wireless remote control. It is particularly preferred, however, if the base vehicle is designed as a vehicle that can be operated in a self-steering manner. For this purpose, the base vehicle can include, for example, means of orientation that make it possible to record its position in the cargo handling area. Cameras provided on the base vehicle can be mentioned as an example, which allow its respective position to be determined by recognizing structures on the floor in the cargo handling area. Satellite or coordinate-based systems are also mentioned, such as are known for realizing the self-steering of vehicles. If the base vehicle is operated in a self-controlling manner, a specific displacement and actuation sequence of roller tables can be or will be defined and cargo handling can thus take place automatically. Nevertheless, a development of the vehicle system according to the invention is particularly preferred, in which it comprises a driver-controlled operating unit with a chassis having its own drive and steering system, which can be functionally coupled to the base vehicle for driver-controlled actuation. During operation of the vehicle system according to the invention, on the basis of this further development, an operating unit can be driven, for example together with an operating person traveling with, to a specific base vehicle for the purpose of hitching the hitch. During this process, the steering and drive control of the operating unit can be both self-controlled and controlled by the operator. After the coupling process, the steering and drive control then takes place, preferably by the operator. You can then drive the base vehicle to any desired location, possibly with the roller table carried by it and possibly with an object located thereon.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the operating unit is not only functionally coupled to the base vehicle, so that driver-controlled actuation of the base vehicle is possible, but is also designed to be mechanically coupled.

It is particularly preferred if the running gear of the operating unit is designed such that it can be raised relative to the base vehicle when it is mechanically coupled to the base vehicle. Due to this measure, it is achieved that after the mechanical coupling and the lifting of the operating unit, the Len effect and the drive of the same can be switched inoperative. When the control unit is coupled, it is then no longer necessary to synchronize the steering and drives of the base vehicle and the control unit, which would increase the technical complexity; instead, operator-controlled operation of the base vehicle only requires its drive and its steering .

The vehicle system according to the invention is also suitable for a handy rule of roller tables that have additional rollers whose central longitudinal axes are transverse, usually perpendicular to the central longitudinal axes of the rollers, in order to be able to shift a load in two mutually transverse directions on the roller table. The base vehicle then needs to change the shift direction be rotated, for which purpose it is regularly shifted out under the roller table, rotated by 90° and shifted back under the roller table in order to be able to drive either the rollers or the other rollers of the roller table in rotation.

In order to be able to avoid the process of shifting out, rotating and shifting back under the roller table, one embodiment of the base vehicle provides a rotary drive device for rotating at least one other roller of a roller table, the central longitudinal axis of which is at an angle that is preferably 90° to the Central longitudinal axis of the roles is, runs.

For this purpose, the rotary drive device particularly preferably comprises at least one further friction roller which can be driven in rotation about an axis of rotation and which is aligned at an angle which is preferably 90° to the axis of rotation of the friction roller.

The lifting device is preferably designed here in such a way that the at least one friction roller and the at least one further friction roller can be raised.

The lifting device is particularly preferably designed in such a way that only the friction rollers of one orientation can be in the raised position.

The invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which - purely schematically - an embodiment of a vehicle system according to the invention he is in different operating states is Darge. Show it:

1 shows a base vehicle of the vehicle system according to the invention at the beginning of the process of driving under a roller table;

Fig. 2 shows the base vehicle as it progressively drives under the roller table;

3 shows the base vehicle when the roller table is completely under the vehicle; FIG. 4 shows the base vehicle when the roller table is completely under it at the beginning of a lifting process; FIG.

5 shows the base vehicle with the roller table completely raised;

6 shows a base vehicle located below a roller table with an approaching control unit before coupling to the base vehicle;

7 shows the operating unit after coupling to the base vehicle in an enlarged detail view;

FIG. 8 shows the operating unit coupled to the base vehicle in the raised state of the operating unit in a view corresponding to FIG. 7;

9 shows a scenario of a base vehicle driving under a roller table with a coupled operating unit, adjacent to a transfer station in which an object is shifted from the transfer station to the roller table;

FIG. 10 shows the scenario corresponding to FIG. 9 with the object completely shifted onto the roller table;

11 shows a scenario in which the roller table with the object on it is transported in an operator-controlled manner by means of the base vehicle with a coupled operating unit;

12 shows the roller table displaced with the aid of the base vehicle with an object on it after the operating unit has been uncoupled;

13 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a base vehicle of the vehicle system according to the invention in a perspective view; such as FIG. 14 shows the exemplary embodiment of the base vehicle according to FIG. 13 in a view according to FIG. 13 from above.

The exemplary embodiment of a vehicle system according to the invention (vehicle system 100) designated as a whole in the drawing is used for handling roller tables 1. Such a roller table can be part of a roller conveyor 2, which, for example, comprises several identically designed roller tables, which are set up next to one another in a row are.

The roller table 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a rectangular frame 3 which is at a distance A above a base U via four legs 4 provided in the corner regions. Between side rails 5 and parallel thereto intermediate rails 6 are perpendicular to the side and intermediate rails 5, 6 aligned and thus arranged parallel to each other Rol len 7 are provided, each of which is freely rotatable about its central longitudinal axis.

The vehicle system 100 for handling such roller tables comprises a base vehicle 8, which has a steering system for steering four wheels (not visible in the drawing) and a travel drive, with which at least one of the wheels can be driven in rotation.

The base vehicle comprises a chassis 9 with a cover plate 10 located thereon, the surface of which runs parallel to the ground. The surface of the cover plate 10 is at a height H above the ground U, which is smaller than the distance A. The chassis 9 of the base vehicle 8 and the cover plate 10 also have a rectangular plan, but this is beveled in the corner areas. The side lengths of the floor plan are selected in such a way that the base vehicle 8 can drive under the roller table 1 . In the area of the chamfered corners of the chassis 9, personal safety sensors 11 are provided, which are suitable for braking the base vehicle 8, if necessary to a standstill, in a predetermined area around the base vehicle to avoid a collision when a person (or another obstacle) is detected. The personal protection sensors can include, in particular, laser scanners, time-of-flight cameras, radar or ultrasonic sensors. The base vehicle also includes a plurality of rotationally drivable friction rollers 12. Their directions of rotation are all parallel to one another and aligned in such a way that they run parallel to the central longitudinal axes of the rollers 7 when the base vehicle is under the roller table 1.

The friction rollers 12 together form a direction of rotation device for rotating the rollers 7.

The friction rollers 12 are in the operational states shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in positions in which they do not protrude from the cover plate 10.

The friction rollers 12 are mounted in the chassis of the base vehicle in such a way that they can be displaced between the retracted position shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and the upwardly extended position shown in FIG. As is evident from the sequence of FIGS. 1 to 3, the friction rollers 12 are in the retracted state during the process of driving under the roller table 1. After the complete driving under the friction rollers are moved to their position protruding from the top plate, whereby they lead to the raising of the entire roller table 1 due to their contact with one of the rollers 7 . The friction rollers thus form part of a lifting device 13 for lifting the roller table 1.

Two fixing elements 15 form another part of the lifting device Fixing position are relocatable.

As can be seen by comparing FIGS. 4 and 5, the FIG. 4 bolts 15 precede the friction rollers 12 during the lifting process. They thus serve to fix the roller table 1 relative to the base vehicle 8 even during the lifting process, in particular against relative lateral displacements. The friction rollers 12 can be driven in rotation, so that they can also be rotated by their contact with rollers 7 and an object located on the rollers 7 can be displaced on the roller table.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the vehicle system according to the invention, the base vehicle 8 is designed as a vehicle that can be operated in a self-driving mode. By means of suitable measures that are known per se from industrial trucks, it is thus possible to operate the vehicle system 100 in such a way that the base vehicle automatically takes the measures required for the desired handling of the roller tables, i. H. carried out without operator intervention.

However, the exemplary embodiment of the vehicle system 100 according to the invention shown in the drawing also includes a driver-controlled operating unit 16. It has a chassis 17 with its own drive and its own steering system, so that it can be steered and driven independently of the base vehicle. The operating unit 16 and the base vehicle 8 are designed in such a way that the operating unit 16 can be mechanically coupled to the base vehicle 8 .

The steering and the drive of the operating unit are designed to be activatable by an operator. In addition, it is possible to design the vehicle system 100 in such a way that the operating unit automatically moves into the position in which the mechanical coupling process takes place.

Fig. 6 shows the operating unit 16 approaching the base vehicle 8, Fig. 7 shows the operating unit 16 coupled to the base vehicle 8 in an enlarged side view.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the operating unit 16 is designed in such a way that the chassis 17 can be raised relative to the subsurface U, so that the wheels of the operating unit are at a distance from the subsurface U. In this state, the operating unit 16 is also functionally connected to the base vehicle. The friction rollers 12, the steering and the drive of the base vehicle 8 can then be actuated via the operating unit 16, so that - as in Fig. 9 and 10 is shown - an object 18 by driving the friction rollers 12 on the Rol lentisch 1 is displaceable. Due to the steering and drive actuation of the base vehicle 8, the roller table 1 with the object 18 on it can be moved under operator control. If the roller table 1 is in a desired end position, the vehicle system is available for handling another roller table 1.

A further exemplary embodiment of a base vehicle 8' of the vehicle system according to the invention is shown in FIGS. Only the differences from the base vehicle 8 described above will be explained below.

The further exemplary embodiment of the base vehicle 8' comprises, in addition to the friction rollers 12, further friction rollers 12', the design and function of which correspond to the friction rollers 12 and the directions of rotation of which in turn all run parallel to one another, but rotated by an angle of 90° to the directions of rotation of the friction rollers 12 Due to this configuration, this base vehicle 8' can be used in particular with roller tables which comprise two rollers which are arranged rotated from one another by 90°, so that a load can be displaced in directions perpendicular to one another, depending on the drive of the rollers.

For this purpose, the friction rollers 12 and the additional friction rollers 12' are mounted in the chassis of the base vehicle in such a way that they can both be moved between the retracted position and the upwardly extended position, such that either the friction rollers 12 and the additional friction rollers 12' are in are in the retracted position, or either the friction rollers 12 or the further friction rollers 12' are in the upwardly extended position. As a result, by alternately raising or lowering the friction rollers 12 and the other friction rollers 12' with the help of this further exemplary embodiment of the base vehicle, loads can be shifted to one another in mutually perpendicular directions X, Y on correspondingly designed roller tables, without the base vehicle 8' having to be moved relative to the roller table must be rotated. reference list:

100 vehicle system

1 roller table

2 roller conveyors

3 frames

4 legs

5 side rails

6 intermediate bars 7 rollers

8, 8' base vehicle

9 chassis

10 cover plate 11 personal protection sensors

12, 12' friction rollers

13 lifting device

14 fixing elements

15 fixing bolts

16 control panel

17 landing gear

18 item

A distance

H height

U underground

X, Y directions

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Vehicle system (100) for handling roller tables (1), which comprise a plurality of rollers (7) arranged parallel to one another and each rotatable about their central longitudinal axis, with a base vehicle (8) comprising steering and a travel drive, which is used to drive under a roller table (1) is suitably designed, the base vehicle (8) having a lifting device (13) for lifting the roller table (1) and a rotary drive device for rotary drive at least one of the rollers (7) of the roller table (1).

2. The vehicle system according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary drive device comprises at least one friction roller (12) that can be driven in rotation.

3. Vehicle system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lifting device (13) comprises at least one height-displaceable arranged friction roller.

4. Vehicle system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base vehicle (8) comprises at least one activatable fixing element (14), by means of which the relative position of the roller table (1) to the base vehicle (8) can be fixed.

5. Vehicle system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the base vehicle (8) comprises four or more wheels and the steering is designed as a multi-way steering.

6. Vehicle system according to claim 5, characterized in that the traction drive is designed to drive at least two of the wheels of the base vehicle (8).

7. The vehicle system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the base vehicle (8) is designed as a driving tool that can be operated automatically.

8. Vehicle system according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the vehicle system (100) comprises a driver-controlled operating unit (16) with a chassis (17) which has its own drive and steering system and which is connected to the base vehicle (8th ) which can be functionally coupled for driver-controlled actuation.

9. The vehicle system according to claim 8, characterized in that the operating unit (16) can be mechanically coupled to the base vehicle (8).

10. The vehicle system according to claim 9, characterized in that the running gear (17) of the operating unit (16) in the mechanically coupled state to the base vehicle (8) is capable of being raised relative to the base vehicle (8).

11. Vehicle system according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the base vehicle (8) has a rotary drive device for rotary drive of at least one further roller of a roller table, the central longitudinal axis of which is at an angle which is preferably 90° to the central longitudinal axis of the rollers (7 ) is, runs.

12. The vehicle system according to claim 11, characterized in that the rotary drive device comprises at least one additional friction roller (12′) which can be driven in rotation about an axis of rotation and which is aligned at an angle which is preferably 90° to the axis of rotation of the friction roller 12.

13. Vehicle system according to claim 12, characterized in that the lifting device (13) is designed in such a way that the at least one friction roller (12) and the at least one further friction roller (12') can be raised.

14. Vehicle system according to claim 13, characterized in that the lifting device (13) is designed such that only the at least one friction roller (12) or the at least one further friction roller (12') can be in a raised position.