Overhead-conveying transport bag and method for automatically unloading the transport bag

An overhead-conveying transport bag for automatically unloading a loaded piece good includes a basic structure as well as a separate receiving device, which is arranged adjacent thereto. Unloading of the transport bag is performed through one of the front sides of the basic structure which is open and at least the lateral sides of the receiving device are formed such that the base is liftable into an unloading position of the transport bag, in which the base is lifted into the bottom of the basic structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new overhead-conveying transport bag for automatically unloading a loaded piece good, to an overhead-conveying system as well as to a method for automatically unloading.

RELATED PRIOR ART

The German patent application DE 10 2008 061 685 A1 discloses a transport bag of an overhead-conveying system, which is loaded automatically by means of a loading station. The transport bag comprises a stable support wall and a base-side wall, wherein the base-side wall is made of a flexible material, e.g. of a stable fabric or a stable web. The support wall, which is intrinsic rigid, comprises a support frame. The transport bag is open laterally.

A drawback of the transport bag is to be seen in that the loaded piece goods can drop laterally during travel through the conveying system. Another drawback is to be seen in that the transport bags cannot be unloaded automatically. Unloading is conducted by rotating the transport bag upside down so that the loaded piece good falls out of an opening, which is defined by a circumferential handle in the top side of the transport bag. Under certain circumstances, the piece goods can be damaged due to the fall.

The document DE 10 2004 018 569 A1 discloses a collecting device for collecting objects in a sorting manner, as well as a conveying device for transporting the collecting device.

The document DE 128 087 discloses a transport bag of letter-sorting machines.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a transport bag which can unload piece goods, which are loaded, automatically and without damage and in which loaded piece goods are transportable in a captive manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention it is disclosed an overhead-conveying transport bag for automatically unloading a loaded piece good comprising a basic structure as well as a separate receiving device, which is arranged adjacent thereto; wherein the basic structure comprises a top side, a bottom, lateral sides, and front sides; wherein the receiving device comprises a base, a top side, front sides, and lateral sides; wherein the unloading of the transport bag is performed through one of the front sides of the basic structure which is open, wherein an opposite front side preferably is open as well; wherein the bottom of the basic structure couples to the top side of the receiving device for defining a receiving space beneath the basic structure, and wherein the bottom of the basic structure, in particular in a non-loaded state (FIG. 1) of the transport bag, is open, wherein the top side of the receiving device is open in the non-loaded state of the transport bag; wherein at least the lateral sides of the basic structure, the lateral sides of the receiving device, and the base of the receiving device are closed; and wherein at least the lateral sides of the receiving device are formed such that the base is liftable into an unloading position (FIG. 2B) of the transport bag, in which the base is lifted into the bottom of the basic structure, characterized in that the transport bag respectively comprises a retaining device extending in the region of the front sides at least along a transition between the basic structure and the receiving device. The lateral sides of the receiving device can be flexible.

The retaining device prevents that the loaded piece goods can laterally fall out of the transport bag while the transport bag is transported along the overhead conveyor. As soon as the transport bag has reached an unloading point, the receiving device, or the base thereof, can be lifted such that a pusher can be inserted laterally into the bag for horizontally pushing out the piece good. Hence, the piece good does not fall, but is unloaded “softly”. Thereby, the piece good cannot be damaged. The transport is safe.

In this manner, an automatic unloading is basically possible. Manual action is required only in case of additional working steps (packaging, labeling, etc.). Preferably, target containers (also cartons, trays, palettes, etc.) can be loaded directly without the need to use human work force.

With a preferred embodiment, the basic structure is a parallelepiped, and preferably even an ashlar or cube. If a parallelepiped is selected for the basic structure a frame for the basic structure can be constructed easily, which in turn ensures the stability of shape of the basic structure. In particular, the stability of shape can be important for the unloading process, since the pusher interacts with the cross section of the basic structure in this case. For achieving high efficiency, the cross section of the pusher is substantially selected as big as the cross section of the basic structure into which the pusher is inserted.

Further, it is advantageous to form the bag such that a cross section of the basic structure along the front sides remains unchanged during a transport process and an unloading process.

With another preferred embodiment, the front sides of the receiving device are closed. The front sides can be additionally flexible.

In this case, the front sides of the receiving device are also part of the retaining device and prevent an unintentional lateral unloading of the bag, in particular during a transport of the bag through an overhead-conveying system.

In particular, closed sides of the transport bag are covered by a fabric.

The wrapping of the basic structure of the receiving device in a circumferential direction by a length of material can be handled without bigger technical efforts. The circumferential wrapping prevents falling of the piece goods while the transport bag is moved within the overhead-conveying system.

Preferably, the base of the receiving device is formed of a rigid material. In this case, the base is plane and ensures in this manner that the to-be-unloaded piece good stands on a flat area, if the base of the receiving device is lifted by the lifting device through the unloading position. In this case, the to-be-unloaded piece good is located at the level of the base of the basic structure and can leave the interior35of the basic structure without collision, i.e. there is no collision between the to-be-unloaded piece good and the retaining device.

In this context, it is particularly advantageous if the area of the base substantially equals the area of the base of the basic structure.

If both of the areas substantially have the same size, i.e. if they are congruent, the to-be-unloaded piece good cannot get jammed in a gap between the base and the bottom of the basic structure, and thus prevents an automatic unloading.

With another preferred embodiment, at least lower edges of the front sides of the basic structure, or upper edges of the front sides of the receiving device, respectively are defined by a strut, preferably by a wire strut or carbon strut.

In this case, the front sides of the receiving device are open. Lateral falling is only prevented by the struts. The weight of the bag is reduced thereby. Thereby, the manufacturing of the bag is facilitated.

Further, it is preferred that at least all of the edges of the basic structure are defined by struts being connected to each other, which define a frame, which is preferably covered by a material, such that the material surrounds, in terms of a length of material, the top side of the basic structure, the lateral sides of the basic structure, the lateral sides of the receiving device and the base of the receiving device, and such that the material sags in the region of the receiving device in a non-loaded state of the transport bag.

Further, according to a second aspect it is disclosed an overhead-conveying system comprising: a transport bag in accordance with one of the preceding claims; and an unloading station; wherein the unloading station comprises a lifting device and a pushing device; wherein the lifting device is configured to lift the base of the receiving device of the transport bag, which is loaded with at least one piece good if the transport bag is located in an unloading position, in a vertical direction such that the at least one piece good can be pushed out horizontally by means of the pushing device through one of the front sides of the basic structure of the transport bag; and wherein the pushing device comprises a pusher which engages an interior of the basic structure, where the at least one piece good is located if the base is lifted, through the other front side of the basic structure.

Further, it is advantageous if the unloading station further comprises at least one fixing device.

The fixing device can fix the transport bag in the unloading position such that the pusher can be inserted into the interior of the transport bag without collisions.

In another advantageous embodiment the overhead-conveying system further comprises a work station, which is arranged directly adjacent to the unloading station and which comprises a working surface, which is orientated horizontally and which is substantially flash-coupled to the bottom of the transport bag.

In this manner it is prevented that the unloaded piece goods fall out of the bag. The piece goods are laterally pushed in a “soft” manner and are not damaged due to the automatic unloading.

In particular, the overhead-conveying system can comprise a target location, where an order-load support can be positioned such that an upper opening edge of the order-load support is substantially flush-coupled to the bottom of the transport bag.

Further, it is advantageous if the target location is part of a conveying system, which transports the order-load support.

Finally, according to third aspect it is disclosed by a method for automatically unloading an overhead-conveying transport bag, comprising the steps of: positioning the transport bag, which is loaded with at least one piece good, in an unloading position; automatically lifting a receiving device of the transport bag by means of a lifting device such that a base of the receiving device is located at a height of an open bottom of a basic structure of the transport bag; and automatically pushing the at least one piece good out of the transport bag by means of a pushing device in that a pusher of the pushing device is inserted through a front side of the basic structure into an interior of the basic structure and laterally pushes out the at least one piece good through an oppositely arranged open front side of the basic structure.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description of the Figures, identical units, components, features, or the like will be designated by the identical reference numerals. Modified objects will be designated by modified reference numerals.

InFIG. 1a first embodiment of an overhead-conveying transport bag10in accordance with the present invention is shown in a perspective view, which is transported along a longitudinal direction X and which is loaded and unloaded in a transversal direction Z. The overhead-conveying transport bag10is hereinafter also designated briefly as “transport bag10” or “bag10”.

The transport bag10comprises a (not shown) mounting device12, for example a (not shown) hook14. Further, the transport bag10comprises a basic structure16and a receiving device18arranged adjacent thereto.

The basic structure16comprises a top side20, a bottom22, a frontal front side24, a rear front side26, as well as lateral sides28. The receiving device18comprises a top side30, front sides31, a base32, as well as lateral sides34.

Preferably, the basic structure16has the shape of a parallelepiped. A parallelepiped represents a geometrical structure which is limited by six congruent (identical) parallelograms in a pairwise manner, which are arranged in parallel planes. The parallelepiped has12edges, respectively four of which are extending in parallel and have the same length. An ashlar and a cube are special shapes of the parallelepiped. InFIG. 1, an ashlar is exemplarily shown for both the basic structure16and the receiving device18.

An interior35of the basic structure16substantially corresponds to the volume of the ashlar of the basic structure16.

The edges of the basic structure16can be defined by short horizontal struts38and long horizontal struts40in the region of the top side20and/or the bottom22, which are connected to each other at least in the horizontal plane (XZ). Further, vertically orientated edges of the basic structure16can be realized by vertical struts42defining a rigid (basic) frame36, if all of the struts38to42are connected to each other. The frame36can be formed, for example, in terms of a wire frame or a carbon frame.

The receiving device18can additionally, or alternatively, comprise a plate44, which is preferably continuously plane, as a base32. Alternatively, the base32can be formed by a frame46, which can be formed by short struts48along the front sides31, and long struts50, which are connected thereto, along the lateral sides34. The top side30of the receiving device18preferably is congruent to the bottom22of the basic structure16and preferably is substantially congruent to the base32of the receiving device18.

InFIG. 1, the transport bag10is shown in a non-loaded state. The receiving device18defines in the non-loaded state of the bag10a separate receiving space51beneath the basic structure16, which is not formed by a sagging base of the basic structure16. The base, and the bottom respectively, of the basic structure16are open. The lateral sides34of the receiving device18can be formed in terms of the bellow52for allowing to compress and tear apart the lateral sides34along the vertical direction Y, as indicated by means of a double arrow54inFIG. 1.

The lateral side wall28-1, which is depicted at the left inFIG. 1, and the lateral side wall28-2, which is depicted at the right ofFIG. 1, of the basic structure16are preferably closed for preventing a loading good from falling out of the transport bag10in the longitudinal direction X, if the bag10is in a loaded state. Typically, the transport bag10is transported in the longitudinal direction X along the overhead conveyor. The lateral sides34and the base32of the receiving device18are also closed. Preferably, also the top side20of the basic structure16is closed.

A “closed” configuration means that the loading good, in a loaded state of the transport bag10, cannot fall out of the transport bag10due to the transport movement. For example, in order to prevent the loading good from falling out in the transversal direction Z, at least along the connecting line (transition line) between the basic structure16and the receiving device18a retaining device is to be provided in the region of the front sides24,26, and31. InFIG. 1, the receiving device is implemented by the short horizontal struts38of the bottom22of the basic structure16. These short struts38prevent the loading good from falling out in the transversal direction Z at both the frontal front side24and the rear front side26, even if the front sides24,26, and31are open, as will be hereinafter explained in more detail in the context of theFIGS. 2A and 2B.

Struts38and40which are arranged at the same level (without the vertical struts42) as well as preferably the struts48and50can respectively form a rectangular frame46. These frames46can be wrapped in a circumferential direction of the bag10, i.e. externally around the front sides24,26, and31, exemplarily by a length of material so that the front sides24,26and31remain open. The total front sides, which result from the front sides24and31, or26and31, in this case are separated from each other only by the short struts38of the central frame46. In this case, the base32can be supported additionally by a plate44, which can be inserted into the lower frame46flatly.

In theFIGS. 2A and 2B, sectional views are shown along a line II-II ofFIG. 1through a loaded transport bag10, which is formed in accordance withFIG. 1. InFIG. 2A, the transport bag10is shown in a transport position. InFIG. 2Bthe transport bag10is shown in an unloading position. InFIGS. 2A and 2B, the transport bag10is shown comprising the mounting device12in terms of an exemplary hook14.

Further, in theFIGS. 2A and 2B, respectively one lifting device56is shown, which can comprise, for example, a (lifting) cylinder58and a platform60for moving a piece good62, which is loaded into the transport bag10, in the vertical direction Y from the transport position ofFIG. 2Ainto the unloading position ofFIG. 2B, as indicated by means of an auxiliary arrow55. The base32is moved from an—arbitrarily selected—height0to a height h1, at which the bottom22of the basic structure16is arranged. The transport bag10has a total height h2in the transport position and a total height h2-h1in the unloading position. In the unloading position ofFIG. 2B, the to-be-unloaded piece good62stands flatly on the base32. The platform60is preferably formed flatly, however it can also be formed, for example, in terms of a grid or a comb.

In the unloading position ofFIG. 2B, the lateral sides34-1and34-2of the receiving device18are compressed and are hanging preferably laterally to the outside, as shown. The elongation of the lateral side walls28-1and28-2of the basic structure16is not influenced by the lifting movement55, i.e. a cross section of the basic structure16in the vertical plane xy preferably remains unchanged, in order to allow an interaction of the transport bag10with a pushing device, which will be explained below, for laterally unloading the piece good62(i.e. through the front sides24or26).

As long as the compressed lateral side walls34-1and34-2of the receiving device18are not colliding with the pushing device during a lateral unloading of the piece good62, i.e. there is no collision, the compressed side walls34-1and34-2can also be facing, at least partially, the interior35of the basic structure16.

With reference toFIG. 3a front side of another transport bag10′ in accordance with the present invention is shown. With the transport bag10′ the receiving device18′ is formed such that the front sides31preferably are closed and that the lateral side walls34′ thereof and the base32′ are arranged seamlessly adjacent to each other. This can be achieved by generally allowing the length of the material, which was mentioned in the context ofFIG. 1, to sag in the non-loaded state of the bag10′ beneath the basic structure16′, which otherwise is typically pulled tightly over the bottom22of prior art transport bags. In this case, the receiving device18′ sags such that a piece good62cannot laterally fall out of the transport bag10′. Typically, always only one piece good62is transported by a transport bag10or10′.

Then, a lifting device56can move the loose flexible base32′, which preferably does not comprise a frame46, to the level h1′ of the bottom22of the basic structure16, in particular if at least the receiving device18′ is formed by a fabric, or a material64.

With reference toFIG. 4, another embodiment of a transport bag10″ of the invention is shown.

The transport bag10″ is different to the transport bags10′ ofFIGS. 1 and 2as well as to the transport bag10′ ofFIG. 3in that the receiving device18″ is formed differently. In the present case, the receiving device18″ is formed by plate-like strips66-1to66-n(n is an arbitrary integer), which are connected to each other along the transversal direction Z and which are foldable like a bellow, for example, in the longitudinal direction X if the (presently not shown) lifting device56is operated in the vertical direction Y.

Further, inFIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, one pushing device74is indicated, which can comprise a shield-like pusher74, which in turn is movable in an oscillating manner by means of a pneumatically or hydraulically operated cylinder78in the transversal direction Z. The area of the pusher76preferably is substantially as large as the cross section of the basic structure16in the horizontal plane XY. The pusher76can be inserted into the interior35of the basic structure16of the transport bag10,10′, or10″ from the rear front side26if it is located in the unloading position, i.e. if the lifting device56has lifted the base32,32′, or32″ to the level of the bottom22of the basic structure16. In this case, the piece good62can be pushed out—without collision—through the frontal front side24(cf.FIG. 1), namely in a horizontal direction, wherein the piece good62does not fall in the direction Y, as it will be explained in more detail below. As a matter of fact, the unloading process can also be conducted in the inverted direction. The selection of the direction Z as the unloading direction is purely arbitrary and could be replaced by any other orientation.

InFIG. 5, a perspective view of an overhead-conveying system80having a (manual) work station82is shown, where an operator84can work at a working surface86, which is preferably arranged hip-high.

InFIG. 5, an order-load support88such as a container90is additionally shown at a target location91, which is arranged directly adjacent to the work station82. The work station82is arranged directly adjacent to an unloading station94, which is supplied with transport bags10of the above-described type by means of an (overhead conveying) rail system92.

The unloading station94can comprise one or more fixing devices96for retaining the transport bags10during an unloading process in a predetermined position. The unloading station94comprises a lifting device56and a pushing device74. The lifting device56acts along the vertical direction (direction Y). The pushing device74acts along the horizontal direction (e.g. transversal direction Z), as described above.

The work station82can further comprise a displaying device, such as a screen or the like, as well as an input device, such as a keyboard or a mouse, for communicating with a (not shown) superordinated warehouse-management system (software and/or hardware).

The operator84loads (automatically unloaded) piece goods82manually from the working surface86into the container90. The piece goods62are transported, preferably individually, (in a hanging manner) via the rail system92to the work station82by means of the transport bags10. The unloading station94lifts by means of the lifting device56thereof the base32of the receiving device18in a first step to the level of the bottom22of the basic structure16so that the pushing device74can be moved with its pusher76through the rear front side26into the interior35of the basic structure16in order to horizontally push out the loaded piece good62through the frontal front side24. Since the working surface86, which is preferably orientated horizontally, is arranged at the level of the bottom22of the transport bag10, the piece good62does not fall—as it typically does in the prior art—but is pushed laterally out of the transport bag10“softly”.

FIG. 6shows a perspective view of another overhead-conveying system80, which in turn comprises a rail system92as well as an unloading station94, wherein the unloading station94is merely indicated by means of dashed lines. Instead of pushing the piece goods62out of the transport bags10onto a working surface86, the piece goods62are pushed at the height of an upper opening edge98into an order-load support88. The order-load support88is, in the present case, exemplarily shown in terms of a carton100which can be transported via the conveying system102to a target location91′. The conveying system102can extend below the working surface86of another work station82′, where piece goods62can be manipulated, if necessary. InFIG. 6, a roller conveyor104is shown exemplarily.

With reference toFIGS. 7A and 7B, a front view (FIG. 7A) and a side view (FIG. 7B) of another modified transport bag10′″ including an unloading station94′ is shown.

The transport bag10′″ is formed of several parts and comprises, for example, a first basic structure16-1and a second basic structure16-2, which in the present case are exemplarily formed like cubes. Each of the basic structures16-1and16-2is in communication with a corresponding receiving device18-1and18-2, respectively, which can be lifted along the vertical direction Y by means of a lifting platform60-1and60-2to the level of the respective base22-1and22-2, respectively.

For this purpose, the lifting devices56-1and56-2are moved beneath the bases32-1and32-2of the receiving devices18-1and18-2in the transversal direction Z, as indicated inFIG. 7Bby means of an auxiliary arrow106. At the same time, the pushing devices74-1and74-2can be brought into position in front of the front sides26due to these movements106. It is clear that both the lifting devices56-1and56-2as well as the pushing devices74-1and74-2can be configured movable and respectively separated from each other.

The lifting platforms60-1and60-2can be lifted and lowered, as indicated by means of auxiliary arrows108. The pushers76′ and76of the pushing devices74-1and74-2can be extended and retracted in the transversal direction Z, as indicated by means of auxiliary arrows110. The pusher76, which is shown in the upper part ofFIG. 7B, can be extended and retracted in the transversal direction Z relative to the lifting device56-2. An extended state is indicated inFIG. 7Bby means of dashed lines, wherein the pusher76has been moved along an auxiliary arrow112.

The pusher76is formed like a plate, but can also be formed, for example, like a comb, as shown for the pusher76′. With a comb-like or similar embodiments, it is not necessarily required that the rear front side26of the basic structure16is open. The rear front side26can comprise (not shown) slots in this case, through which the pusher76′ reaches.

The perspective view ofFIGS. 8A to 8Cshows another transport bag10′″ (FIG. 8A), which comprises a receiving device18″ (FIG. 8B) having rigid side walls34′ and a basic structure16″ (FIG. 8C).

The transport bag10′″ is shown inFIG. 8Abriefly before reaching an unloading position thereof. The receiving device18″ is lifted by means of a (not shown) lifting device56. The receiving device18″ can be formed as a pushing box120, which comprises a rigid base32and rigid lateral sides34′-1and34′-2. The lateral sides34′ and the base32are arranged perpendicularly to each other. The lateral sides34′ respectively comprise a collar122, which is provided oppositely in parallel to the base32at the lateral sides34′ for interacting with a further collar124, which is provided at the basic structure16″. The additional collars124-1and124-2extend at the height of the bottom22of the basic structure16″ in a horizontal direction at the outer surface of the lateral sides28-1and28-2and are orientated perpendicularly to the lateral sides28. In the present case, the front sides31′ are part of the basic structure16″ and extend, in terms of a retaining device, along the front sides24and26vertically upward. The (closed and rigid) front sides31′ are required by the open front sides24and26. It is clear that the pushing box120can also have other shapes. The front sides31′ can also be part of the pushing box120, wherein the front sides31′ are configured movable relative to the base32.

With reference toFIG. 9, a flow chart of a method200for automatically unloading a loaded transport bag10is shown.

In a first step S10, the loaded transport bag10is positioned in an unloading position. This means that the transport bag10is positioned relative to an unloading station94such that the pusher76of the pushing device74can reach into the interior35of the basic structure and the lifting device56can lift the base32to the level of the bottom22.

Then, in a step S12the base32of the receiving device18is automatically lifted by means of the lifting device56to the level of the (open) bottom22of the basic structure16. In this manner, the piece good(s)62are lifted into the interior35of the basic structure16and do no longer collide with the retaining device, as it can be realized exemplarily by closed flexible front sides31of the receiving device18or by the struts38of the basic structure16in the region of the bottom22.

If the piece good(s)62are lifted to the level of the bottom22of the basic structure16, the piece good(s)62can be automatically pushed in the horizontal direction by means of the pusher76of the pushing device74.

Then, the method of the invention ends.

The receiving device is preferably formed such that the cross section of the basic structure16remains as unchanged as possible during a change of the transport bag10from the transport position (FIG. 2a) to the unloading position (FIG. 2B) for ensuring an interaction with the pushing device74without collision.

The transport bag10can be configured foldable, as indicated inFIG. 4. InFIG. 4, the transport bag10″ can be folded in the vertical direction Y by rotating the top side20of the basic structure16, which can also be formed in terms of a plastic plate68, onto the left lateral side28-1around a pivotal axis70, as indicated by means of an auxiliary arrow72. The right lateral side28-2of the basic structure16′ is also folded onto the left lateral side27-1. In this context, the bottom22is rotated into a vertical orientation Y and contacts a lower region of the right lateral side28-2.

The transport bag10is preferably formed in mirror symmetry, so that it can be unloaded in a horizontal direction from both left and right. This facilitates the handling of the transport bags10because they do not need to be orientated specifically in relation to the rail system92.

Further, it is clear that the loaded piece goods62can also be pushed horizontally to a (not shown) chute, wherein the chute can have an arbitrary angle relative to a horizontal orientation (plane XZ).

Additionally, it is clear that the term “closed sides” means any structure which prevents the piece good62from falling out of the transport bag10.

An order-load support is to be understood as a load support (such as a palette, tray, container, carton, or the like) which is loaded in accordance with a picking order for being sent to a customer.

The description of the figures above is in general line with regard to the selection of the orientations of the coordinate system with the designations which are typically used in the field of (intra) logistic so that the longitudinal direction is designated by X, the depth by Z, and the (vertical) height by Y.

Further, identical parts and features are provided by the same reference numerals. The disclosures contained in the description can be roughly transferred to identical parts and features having the same reference numerals. Position and orientation indication (such as “above”, “below”, “lateral”, “longitudinal”, “transversal”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, or the like) relate to the directly described figure. If the position or orientation is changed, the indications are roughly to be transferred to the new position and orientation.