Patent EP-2441717-A1 (EP)
Title: Method for operating a transport device and transport device for implementing the method
Inventor: KELLER ROLAND
IPC: B65H43/08
Filed: 2011-10-07
Abstract: The method for operating a transport device (10) comprising identical transport units (15) arranged one after another in a transport direction, is claimed, where the transport units are able to pick up a product in post press processing and to transport the product along an intrinsically closed transport path between stations arranged on the transport path. First sensors (24) detect a position of a selected transport unit to identify an individual transport unit, and are arranged on the transport path as the transport units pass the first sensors and distributed over the transport path. The method for operating a transport device (10) comprising identical transport units (15) arranged one after another in a transport direction, is claimed, where the transport units are able to pick up a product in post press processing and to transport the product along an intrinsically closed transport path between stations arranged on the transport path. First sensors (24) detect a position of a selected transport unit to identify an individual transport unit, and are arranged on the transport path as the transport unit pass the first sensors and distributed over the transport path and subdivide the transport path into individual segments. The transport units are individually assigned in consecutive fixed serial numbers that are counted from a single starting point, where a starting point is defined by a specific arrangement of successive detectable transport units. The starting point coincides with one of a second of the successive detectable transport units and the last of the detectable transport units. A clock signal is generated during the movement of the transport units along the transport path by second sensors (23) arranged on the transport path through the transport device, where clock pulses of the clock signal are assigned to the transport unit and additionally used to identify the individual transport unit. A reference signal is generated as the first sensors pass through the selected transport unit, where the reference pulses from the reference signal are assigned to the selected transport units and correlated with selected clock pulses. The reference pulses and the selected clock pulses are correlated with each other and symmetrically located with respect to a common centre line. A clock cycle map of the transport device comprises compartments numbered in accordance with the numbered transport units of the transport device, in which an entry is activated when the corresponding transport unit picks up the product to be transported and in which an entry is inactivated when the corresponding transport unit gives up the transported product. The stations arranged on the transport path make access to the clock cycle map of the transport device and activate or inactivate corresponding entries, when the product is introduced into a transport unit or removed from the transport unit. The transport device is a gripper transporter, in which the transport units comprise a gripper to detachably hold the product and in which the grippers are fixed to a chain that is used to generate the clock signal. The selected or detectable transport units distributed uniformly along the transport path or the segments of the transport path are equally long. An independent claim is included for a transport device.