Abstract:
A transport bag ( 15 ) for transporting and/or storing articles comprises a front wall ( 21   b ) and a back wall ( 21   a ) that are flexibly connected to one another via a bottom section ( 21   c ) so as to be movable back and forth between a first configuration in which the front wall and back wall form an upwardly open bag that can be filled from above, and a second configuration in which the front wall and back wall lie closely alongside one another and form a bag that is folded together, wherein the back wall ( 21   a ) is extended upward above and beyond the height of the front wall ( 21   b ) with a support section ( 15   a ) for fastening the transport bag ( 15 ) to a transport device ( 10.2 ). Easy filling and emptying of the transport bag ( 15 ) is achieved by providing an opening ( 16, 19, 20 ) that automatically brings the transport bag ( 15 ) into the first configuration and keeps the transport bag there, and allows a deliberate shift from the first configuration into the second configuration.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Swiss Patent Application 01386/2015, filed 24, Sep. 2015, Swiss, the priority document corresponding to this invention, to which a foreign priority benefit is claimed under Title 35, United States Code, Section 119, and their entire teachings are incorporated, by reference, into this specification. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of transport technology, and pertains to a transport bag according to the preamble of claim  1 , as well as a transport device comprising said transport bag. 
         [0004]    Discussion of Related Art 
         [0005]    In automated warehouses, expansive production facilities, and more generally in the transport of goods, it is necessary for conveyed items or goods to be accommodated in suitable conveyed item containers—in particular, transport bags, which must then be transported, for example, via a suspended conveyor device to the destination therefor and unloaded there. For this purpose, diverse conveyed item containers or transport bags and associated suspended conveyor devices or transport devices have previously been developed and designed. 
         [0006]    DE 10 2012 212 518 A1 discloses a conveyed item container for transporting conveyed items in a suspended conveyance device, wherein the conveyed item container is configured as a suspended bag having two side wall elements that delimit a conveyed item receiving region therebetween, are connected to one another via a flap hinge assembly and can be folded about a folding axis in order to open and close the suspended bag, and having a suspension means for suspending from a suspended conveyor device, characterized in that at least one first one of the two side wall elements has a frame and a conveyed item position-fixing element which is held by the frame and is intended and adapted in order to exert on the conveyed item a force counteracting a slipping of the conveyed item from the position thereof in the suspended bag or/and form a multi-sided barrier counteracting a slipping of the conveyed item from the position thereof in the suspended bag, with a suspended bag that is closed and loaded with a conveyed item. 
         [0007]    Document DE 10 2011 101 987 A1 describes a transport bag for conveying a conveyed item in a conveyance system, in particular, a suspended conveyance system, with a support part that is configured for accommodation on a conveyance line of the conveyance system, with an auxiliary loading means, wherein the auxiliary loading means has a closure flap having a handling tab comprising a clamping section, wherein the support part has a clamping device comprising a clamping lever that can be displaced between a holding position, in which a holding force acts on the clamping section, and a release position, and wherein the clamping lever is coupled to the clamping section in the holding position in such a manner that the weight of the accommodated conveyed item increases the holding force. 
         [0008]    Document DE 10 2004 018 569 A1 discloses a collecting device for accommodating objects, in particular, articles of clothing, in sorted collection of objects, characterized by a collection hag having essentially one frame structure provided with a take-up element that can be integrated into a conveyance device, and a bag pouch suspended from the frame structure, wherein the take-up element and the frame structure are pivotable relative to one another about an axis lying transverse to the direction of conveyance, and wherein the bag pouch is opened when the frame structure is arranged horizontally and the bag pouch is folded together and essentially closed when the frame structure is arranged vertically. 
         [0009]    Document DE 20 2012 012 331 U1 discloses a conveyed item container for transporting a conveyed good in a suspended conveyance device, wherein the conveyed item container is configured as a suspended bag having a conveyed good accommodation region delimited on one side by a side wall element and having a suspension means for suspension from a suspended conveyance device, wherein the suspension means is fastened to the side wall element so as to be pivotable about a pivoting device defining a pivot axis, characterized in that the conveyed item accommodation region is delimited on another side by a conveyed item fixation element, wherein the conveyed item position fixation element is connected to the suspension means in such a manner that when the suspension means is pivoted relative to the side wall element from a transport position into an opening position, the conveyed item position fixation element can be removed from the side wall element so as to open the conveyed item accommodation region. 
         [0010]    Document U.S. Pat. No. 8,490,774 B2 discloses a loading station for transport bags transported in an overhead conveyor system, which loading system comprises an upper supply rail for the transport bags, a vertical conveyor which adjoins the supply rail for moving the transport bags into a lower loading position, a device for opening the transport bags in the loading position, and a lower discharge rail which adjoins the vertical conveyor for discharging the transport bags from the loading position. 
         [0011]    Document EP 2 708 478 A1 describes a carrier bag for a suspended conveyor device for the hanging transport of objects, comprising a holding frame, a bag pouch which hangs from the holding frame and by which objects to be transported can be received, and a suspension member which is connected to the holding frame and by means of which the carrier bag can be suspended from the suspended conveyor device, so as to be transported by the suspended conveyor device in a suspended way, characterized in that the bag pouch comprises a first and second pouch portions each comprising a first pouch end portion connected to the holding frame and a second pouch end portion turned away from the holding frame, wherein the second pouch end portions are connected to each other by a hinge mechanism which can be brought into an unloading position in which the second pouch end portions are arranged at a distance from each other, so that the bag pouch is provided with an outlet opening formed between the second pouch end portions for emitting objects, and which can be brought into a loading position in which the second pouch end portions arc arranged adjacent to each other, so that the outlet opening is closed and the bag pouch can receive objects. 
         [0012]    Usually, the previously proposed transport bags are designed either so as to be rigid and permanently open, or so as to close automatically as soon as the transport bags are filled or aligned with the force of gravity. 
         [0013]    As a consequence thereof, the transport bags either are not compressed in a space-saving manner when not in use, or must be kept open with considerable effort when loaded and unloaded. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a transport bag that automatically transitions into and remains in the open state, but, at the same time, can be folded together so as to save space when not in use. 
         [0015]    The present invention also addresses the problem of providing a transport device comprising said bag. 
         [0016]    The problems are solved by the features of claims  1  and  17 . 
         [0017]    The transport bag according to the invention for transporting and/or storing articles comprises a front wall and a back wall that are flexibly connected to one another via a bottom section so as to be movable back and forth between a first configuration in which the front wall and back wall form an upwardly open bag that can be filled from above, and a second configuration in which the front wall and back wall lie closely alongside one another and form a bag that is folded together, wherein the back wall is extended upward above and beyond the height of the front wall with a support section for fastening the transport bag to a transport device. 
         [0018]    The transport bag is characterized in that an opening and opening means are provided that automatically bring the transport bag into the first configuration and keep the transport bag there, and that allow a deliberate shift from the first configuration into the second configuration. 
         [0019]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the opening means comprise an opening bracket that connects the back wall and the front wall to one another and is mounted so as to be pivotable on the back wall and on the front wall respectively in such a manner as to be pivoted, originating from the second configuration, from an inclined second position into a less inclined first position due to the intrinsic weight thereof, thereby bringing the transport bag into the first configuration and keeping the transport bag there. 
         [0020]    The opening bracket may then be guided outward around the transport bag and mounted onto the outside of the back wall and outside of the front wall, respectively, so as to be pivotable in a transverse tunnel loop. 
         [0021]    The opening bracket may be configured as a rectangular, dimensionally stable metal bracket. The metal bracket must then be sufficiently hard to fulfill the automatic opening function through the intrinsic weight, due to the force of gravity. The dimensional stability of the opening bracket ensures that the front and back walls of the transport bag are not displaced laterally relative to one another, but rather can only be moved onto one another or away from one another. 
         [0022]    A round cross-section of the metal bracket may advantageously enhance the mobility of the opening bracket in the tunnel loops. 
         [0023]    The opening bracket may be mounted so as to be vertically mobile in the tunnel loops. The movement of the bracket can then be more readily adapted to different states of fullness of the transport bag. 
         [0024]    In particular, one of the tunnel loops may be configured so as to be foldable about a horizontal axis, in order to allow additional freedom of movement for the opening bracket. 
         [0025]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the transport hag is closed laterally by side walls, and has a bottom as the bottom section. 
         [0026]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the transport bag maybe opened downward, wherein means for closing this opening are provided. 
         [0027]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the transport bag is closed laterally by side walls, and has a bottom as the bottom section, wherein the bottom of the transport bag is configured so as to be hinged downward, and wherein one or more closure tabs with which the bottom can be fixed in the closed state is/are provided. In particular, the bottom may be pivotably articulated at the lower edge of the front side. The closure tabs, which may advantageously be configured as a hook-and-loop fastener, are attached, in particular, to the free longitudinal edge of the bottom and are folded against the back wall in order to close from the outside. The closure tabs may, however, also be attached to the lower edge of the back wall, and are then folded against the bottom in order to close from below. 
         [0028]    Alternatively thereto, however, the transport bag may also be formed of a laterally open loop that forms a bottom section in the lower region. 
         [0029]    Herein, retaining straps may be provided on opposite sides in the region above the opening bracket, the retaining straps connecting the front and back walls of the loop and delimiting the pivoting movement of the opening bracket. 
         [0030]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the transport bag has a protective, in particular, shock-absorbing, cover layer on the front wall and/or on the back wall. This protects articles transported in the bag against shocks if there are collisions between a plurality of transport bags in a railbound transport device. The cover layers may additionally also have an insulating effect. 
         [0031]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the transport bag is fitted with an information carrier that can be read from the exterior. This may be, for example, an optically readable information carrier such as a label having a barcode or QR code, or an information carrier that can be wirelessly, electronically read out, such as an MID. If the carrier can be read in and read out, then information about the transported bag contents can be stored thereon. 
         [0032]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the support section of the transport bag is provided with at least one fastening opening. The fastening opening may be used to suspend or bolt the transport bag, either stationarily or removably on a transport device (a carriage). 
         [0033]    Two grommets that are at the same height and are spaced apart from one another may be provided as fastening openings. If the bag is fastened with the aid of the two grommets, the bag will also remain positionally stable in a transport device. 
         [0034]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the transport bag is made out of a flexible, in particular, fabric-reinforced, material. One example for this is an externally smooth, plastic-coated fabric, such as is used in different thicknesses, for example, for truck tarpaulins. However, it is also possible to use an uncoated fabric, a mesh, or a film as the bag material. 
         [0035]    The transport device according to the present invention having one or more transport bags according to the present invention is characterized in that the transport bag(s) can be moved along a transport path while suspended with the support section on a carriage in a running rail or on a transport chain. 
         [0036]    According to one embodiment of the transport device according to the present invention, the transport bag(s) is (are each) fastened to the carriage or to the transport chain at least two points that are spaced apart horizontally from one another. 
         [0037]    The transport bag may then be removably fastened at the at least two points that are horizontally spaced apart from one another via a fastening device on the carriage or on the transport chain. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0038]    The present invention shall be described in greater detail below through embodiments, in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0039]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a transport device according to the invention, comprising a carriage guided in a running rail, onto which a transport bag according to an embodiment of the invention is fastened by threaded connection, via a fastening device; 
           [0040]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a side view of the transport device shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a front view of another embodiment of a transport device according to the invention, comprising a carriage guided in a running rail, from which a transport bag according to an embodiment of the invention is removably suspended via a fastening device; 
           [0042]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a side view of the transport device shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a side view of a step of the opening of a transport bag according to an embodiment of the invention, illustrating a closed (completely folded together) bag; 
           [0044]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a side view of a step of the opening of a transport bag according to an embodiment of the invention, illustrating an open bag; 
           [0045]      FIG. 3C  illustrates a side view of a step of the opening of a transport bag according to an embodiment of the invention, illustrating a bag that has been opened as far as possible; 
           [0046]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a space-saving mounting of bags that are not in use; 
           [0047]      FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of a transport bag according to the invention, which is configured in the manner of a laterally open loop; 
           [0048]      FIG. 6A  illustrates an embodiment of a transport bag according to the invention, with which the front side is covered with a protective cover layer; 
           [0049]      FIG. 6B  illustrates an embodiment of a transport bag according to the invention, with which the front and back sides are covered with a protective cover layer; 
           [0050]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of a bag according to  FIG. 3 , filled with a package; 
           [0051]      FIG. 8  illustrates the possibility of suspending a single transport bag according to  FIG. 3  with or without filling on wall hooks; 
           [0052]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a transport device according to the invention, which works with a transport chain that is guided in a guide rail; and 
           [0053]      FIG. 10A  illustrates a transport bag according to another embodiment of the invention, with a hinged bottom for simplified emptying in the closed state. 
           [0054]      FIG. 10B  illustrates a transport bag according to another embodiment of the invention, with a hinged bottom for simplified emptying in the opened state. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0055]      FIG. 1  depicts two side views ( FIG. 1 a    and  FIG. 1 b   ) of an embodiment of a transport device  10  according to the present invention, with a carriage  12  guided in a running rail  11 . The carriage  12 , which is guided horizontally and vertically on the running rail  11 , has attached on the bottom thereof a fastening device  13  that comprises two vertical connecting rods  13   a  and  13   b  [and]a cross-member  13   c  that is fastened to the ends thereof. 
         [0056]    Above an accommodation space thereof in the extension of a back wall, a transport bag  15  according to an embodiment of the present invention has a support section  15   a  in which two openings (grommets  18   a,    18   b  in  FIG. 2 ) that are horizontally spaced apart from one another are arranged at the same height. The transport bag  15  is bolted (bolt fastenings  14  or  14   a  and  14   b ) by means of these openings to the angled ends of the cross-member  13   c,  and thus is fixedly connected to the carriage  12 .  FIG. 1 a    also depicts an opening bracket  16  that is arranged on the transport bag  15  and, as shall be described in greater detail hereinbelow, plays a crucial role for the functioning of the transport bag  15 . 
         [0057]    Should the transport bag  15  be removably suspended from, instead of fixedly bolted to, the carriage  12 , then the transport device  10 . 1  in  FIG. 2  can be considered as an embodiment. Here, a fastening device  17 , which is comparable to the fastening device  13  from  FIG. 1 , is attached to the carriage  12  that moves along the running rail  11 , the fastening device  17  in turn comprising two vertical connecting rods  17   a  and  17   b  and a cross-member  17   c  that is fastened to the ends thereof. Arranged at the ends of the cross-member  17   c  are support hooks  17   d  and  17   e,  which, in this case, are vertically oriented, and in which the transport bag  15  can be removably suspended with the grommets  18   a  and  18   b  of the support section  15   a.    
         [0058]      FIG. 9  depicts a similar transport device  10 . 2 , with a suspendable transport bag  15 . Here, a transport chain  31  equipped with rollers runs in a largely enclosed guide rail  34 . The fastening device  33  respectively attached to a chain link  32  of the transport chain  31  is provided in turn with hooks for suspending the transport bag  15  at the ends. 
         [0059]    The function of the opening bracket  16  on the transport bag  15  is visible, in particular, in  FIG. 3 , which illustrates different phases of the opening in corresponding partial figures (a) to (c). 
         [0060]    As can be seen in  FIG. 3( c ) , the transport bag  15  of this embodiment has a back wall  21   a  that is extended upward through the support section  15   a,  as well as a front wall  21   b,  side walls  21   d,  and a bottom  21   c.  A rectangularly curved opening bracket  16  that encompasses the transport bag  15  from the outside is pivotably mounted with considerable vertical clearance onto the back wall  21   a  and onto the front wall  21   b,  in corresponding transversely extending tunnel loops  19 . In this example, the front tunnel loop  20  arranged on the front wall  21   b  is fixedly connected to the front wall  21   b  so as to be unable to fold over. In contrast thereto, the rear tunnel loop  19  arranged on the back wall  21   a  is attached to the back wall  21   a  so as to be able to fold over a horizontal axis, as shown by a comparison of  FIG. 3( c ) , in which the tunnel loop  19  is folded upward, with  FIG. 3( b ) , in which the tunnel loop  19  is folded downward. The horizontal folding axis is formed by a fastening seam  19   a,  with which the tunnel loop  19  is fastened to the back wall  21   a.    
         [0061]    In  FIG. 3( b ) , the transport bag  15  is opened in order to be filled or emptied by an automatic pivoting of the opening bracket  16  under the force of gravity. In this state, the transport bag  15  can readily accommodate a package  28  or different filling material, as illustrated by way of example in  FIG. 7 , and then transported. In special cases, the bottom  21   c  may also be configured so as to be hinged downward or otherwise openable in order for a filled transport bag to be directly emptied downward. 
         [0062]    The opening bracket  16  is then pivoted, for example, from a sharply inclined second position depicted in FIG. ( 3   a ) into a less inclined first position. The opening bracket may be moved from this first position back into the second position when a force is applied to the front side  21   b  of the transport bag  15  in accordance with the arrows marked in  FIG. 3( b ) . 
         [0063]    In  FIG. 3( c ) , the transport bag  15  is opened as far as possible, for example, by a filling material located in the bag—i.e., the back wall  21   a  and the front wall  21   b  are removed the maximum distance apart from one another. The bottom  21   c  of the transport bag  15  is spread out horizontally, and the side walls  21   d,  which can be folded inwards, are folded out, while the filling opening of the transport bag  15  that lies above is opened to the maximum extent. The opening bracket  16  is substantially horizontal in this state. This is possible because the lower tunnel loop  19  is fastened to the back wall  21   a  so as to be foldable over. 
         [0064]    If, now, the front wall  21   b  is displaced by external pressure (arrows) in a parallel manner relative to the back wall  21   a,  in accordance with  FIG. 3( b ) , then the opening bracket  16  folds upward in the clockwise direction against the force of gravity, until the opening bracket finally reaches the almost-vertical position shown in  FIG. 3( a ) . In  FIG. 3( a ) , then, the transport bag  15  is folded together and is thus reduced to the minimum thickness thereof. The transport bag then fits into a narrow gap between two adjacent walls, as depicted in  FIG. 3( a ) . If these delimitations can be removed again, then the opening bracket  16  automatically folds back into the opening position illustrated in  FIG. 3( b )  because of the force of gravity, and thus the transport bag  15  opens. 
         [0065]    The opening bracket  16  and the mounting thereof on the front and back walls make it thus possible for the transport bag  15  to open automatically, if no other external forces are acting, so that the transport bag  15  can be filled or emptied in a particularly easy manner. 
         [0066]    If the (plurality of) transport bags  15  of a transport device are not needed, then the transport bags can be stored or kept available in a space-saving manner by simply being pushed together into a (horizontal) stack of bags  22 , in accordance with  FIG. 4 . The opening brackets  16  of the individual transport bags  15  are then pivoted into an approximately vertical position. Adjacent opening brackets  16  can be prevented from disturbing one another due to the arrangement and storage of the opening brackets  16 . 
         [0067]    In the simplest case, an independent bottom and independent side walls can be omitted in the transport bag. This is the case in the embodiment in  FIG. 5 , where the transport bag  15 . 1  is configured in the form of a (laterally open) loop  23 . Taking the place of the bottom here is a bottom section  23   a  that is formed by the lower, rounded end of the loop  23 . Because the sides are open, the transport bag  15 . 1  can be laterally filled and/or emptied. So that, due to the missing side walls in this case, the opening bracket  16  does not automatically pivot completely down and so that the transport bag  15 . 1  closes, the pivoting range is limited by the provision of retaining straps  35  that connect the walls to one another, on opposite sides in the region above the opening bracket  16  between the front wall and the back wall, the retaining straps tightening when the opening bracket  16  is pivoted from the sharply inclined second position into the less inclined first position, and thus limiting the pivoting range. 
         [0068]    When a plurality of (filled) transport bags of the type depicted in  FIG. 3  are moved in a transport device  10  according to  FIG. 1  independently of one another on the running rail  11 , it may readily occur that the transport bags run up against one another at a stagnation point, thus causing the front and back walls to collide with one another. If the filling material is sufficiently hard, then this event may result in the occurrence of greater forces that may damage the transport bags and/or the filling material thereof under certain circumstances. In such a case, it is advantageous if each transport bag  15 . 2  or  15 . 3  has a protective, in particular, shock-absorbing, cover layer  24  or  25  on the front wall  21   b  and/or the back wall  21   a, in accordance with  FIG. 6( a )  or  6 ( b ). Such a cover layer may be composed of a flexible foam material, a woven or knitted fabric, a bubble wrap, or distributed air pockets, or the like. 
         [0069]    It would also be possible to make it possible to identify each transport bag itself and/or the respective contents thereof For this purpose, the transport bag  15 . 2  or  15 . 3  may be equipped with an externally readable information carrier  26  or  27 , in accordance with  FIG. 6 . This may be, for example, an optically readable information carrier such as a label having a barcode or QR code or the like, or an information carrier that can be wirelessly, electronically read out, such as an RFID. Only if the information carrier  26 ,  27  is readable can the respective transport bag  15 . 2  or  15 . 3  be clearly identified therewith. If the information carrier can be read in and read out, then, additionally or alternatively, information about the transported bag contents can be stored thereon. 
         [0070]    In accordance with  FIG. 10 , it would also be possible to provide a. transport bag  15 . 4  which has a downwardly hinged bottom  21   c,  in particular, for the purpose of simplified and possibly automated emptying.  FIG. 10( a )  illustrates the transport bag  15 . 4  in the closed state, while  FIG. 10( b )  illustrates the transport bag in the opened state. In the embodiment depicted, the bottom  21   c  is pivotably articulated with the front longitudinal edge thereof at the lower edge of the front wall  21   b.  Attached to the lower longitudinal edge of the bottom  21   c  are (one, or a plurality distributed along the edge) closure tabs  36  that form a hook-and-loop fastener (along with a corresponding counterpart on the back wall  21   a ). In the closed state ( FIG. 10( a ) ), the closure tabs  36  are folded against the back wall  21   a  and fixed by the hook-and-loop fastener effect. If the closure tabs  36  are released from the back wall  21   a,  the bottom  21   c  can be opened downward ( FIG. 10( b ) ). It shall be readily understood that, conversely, the closure tabs could also be fastened to the back wall ( 21   a ). It shall also be readily understood that the bottom  21   c  could also be pivotably articulated at the lower edge of the back wall  21   a.  Apart from the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 10 , it is generally advantageous to have a transport bag that can be opened downward, and on which means for closing this opening are provided. 
         [0071]    Finally, it would also be possible to suspend a single transport bag  15  (with or without filling) on the wall hooks  30  of a wall  29 , in accordance with  FIG. 8 , in order to separately temporarily store the bag as such, or the filling thereof.