Piece goods separating apparatus
AssigneeCarefusion Germany 326 GmbH
InventorChristoph Hellenbrand
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for separating piece goods to be stored in an automated storage facility are provided. At least two bearing surfaces for receiving piece goods are engaged with a conveying system for filling the bearing surfaces with piece goods, the conveying system having transfer surfaces dedicated to the bearing surfaces. The bearing surfaces may be filled with piece goods separately from one another. A control unit is coupled to the conveying system and a detection device is coupled to the control unit for detecting the position, orientation, and package data of the piece goods. A handling mechanism is also coupled to the control unit for gripping piece goods from the bearing surfaces and depositing the piece goods on a transfer device.
Claims20
An apparatus for separating piece goods to be stored in an automated storage facility, comprising:
- at least two parallel bearing surfaces configured to receive piece goods;
- a conveying system configured to provide the piece goods to the bearing surfaces, the conveying system comprising:
- one or more transfer surfaces dedicated to the bearing surfaces and configured to transfer the piece goods to the bearing surfaces;
- and
- a number of conveyors corresponding to the number of bearing surfaces, wherein a transfer surface is disposed on each conveyor, the conveyors configured to provide the bearing surfaces with the piece goods separately from one another;
- a control unit coupled to the conveying system, the control unit configured to actuate the conveying system for a targeted provision of the piece goods to the bearing surfaces, the control unit operating to time-coordinate the number of conveyors with one another so that gripping, conveying, and detecting of piece goods associated with one of the number of conveyors are carried out consecutively in relation to gripping, conveying, and detecting of other piece goods associated with the remaining number of conveyors;
- a detection device coupled to the control unit, the detection device detecting a position, an orientation, and package data of the piece goods;
- and
- a handling mechanism coupled to the control unit, the handling device gripping the piece goods on the bearing surfaces and depositing the piece goods on a transport device.
A method for separating piece goods using a piece goods separating apparatus, the method comprising:
- providing a conveying system with piece goods, the conveying system comprising first and second conveyors corresponding to first and second bearing surfaces respectively, first and second transfer surfaces respectively disposed on the first and second conveyors, the first and second conveyors configured to provide the first and second bearing surfaces with the piece goods separately from one another;
- via the first conveyor:
- moving first piece goods onto the first bearing surface by the conveying system;
- determining the position and orientation of the first piece goods on the first bearing surface;
- gripping the first piece goods from the first bearing surface by a handling mechanism;
- conveying the first piece goods to a detection device;
- reading, by the detection device, data of the first piece goods;
- depositing the first piece goods on a transport device by the handling mechanism;
- and
- via the second conveyor:
- moving second piece goods onto the second bearing surface by the conveying system;
- determining the position and orientation of the second piece goods on the second bearing surface;
- gripping the second piece goods from the second bearing surface by a handling mechanism;
- conveying the second piece goods to the detection device;
- reading, by the detection device, data of the second piece goods;
- and
- depositing the second piece goods on the transport device by the handling mechanism,
- wherein steps of the first and second conveyors are time-coordinated with one another such that the gripping, conveying, and reading of the first piece goods are carried out consecutively in relation to the gripping, conveying, and reading of the second piece goods.
A device for separating piece goods, comprising:
- a plurality of parallel bearing surfaces configured to receive piece goods;
- a conveying system configured to provide the piece goods to the plurality of bearing surfaces, the conveying system comprising:
- a separate conveyor associated with each of the plurality of bearing surfaces;
- a transfer surface disposed on each separate conveyor, wherein the conveyors are configured to provide the plurality of bearing surfaces with the piece goods separately from one another;
- a control unit configured to control a targeted provision of the piece goods to the plurality of bearing surfaces, the control unit operating to time-coordinate the number of conveyors with one another so that gripping, conveying, and detecting of piece goods associated with one of the number of conveyors are carried out consecutively in relation to gripping, conveying, and detecting of other piece goods associated with the remaining number of conveyors;
- a detection device detecting at least one of a position, an orientation, and package data of the piece goods;
- and
- a handling mechanism gripping and depositing the piece goods on a transport device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.