Conveyor device for the distanceless and pressureless, or low-pressure, accumulation of objects, and operating method therefor

32:

• A method for accumulating objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) in an accumulation area (SB) of a conveying device (1) in the form of object blocks (B, Ba, Bb), which comprise multiple objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) moved at a common speed, comprising the steps:
• detecting an object rear edge (KHO1) of a first object (O1) at a first measuring position (PMess1) by means of a first measuring device (L1), wherein the first object (O1) is moved past the first measuring position (PMess1) downstream in a conveying direction by driven conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) of the conveying device (1) and wherein the object rear edge (KHO1) of the first object (O1) is located upstream of an object front edge (KVO1) of the first object (O1),
• detecting an object front edge (KVO2) of a second object (O2), which follows the first object (O1) upstream, at the first measuring position (PMess1) by means of the first measuring device (L1), wherein the second object (O2) is moved past the first measuring position (PMess1) downstream in the conveying direction by the driven conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) and wherein the object front edge (KVO2) of the second object (O2) is located down-stream of an object rear edge (KHO2) of the second object (O2),
• moving the first object (O1) to a stop position (PStop), which is located downstream of the first measuring position (PMess1) in the conveying direction, and stopping the first object (O1) with its object rear edge (KHO1) at its stop position (PStop) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L), wherein a current position of the first object (O1), between the first measuring position (PMess1) and its stop position (PStop), is determined with the aid of rotation signals from the drives (M) of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L),
• wherein
• for the second object (O2), a continuous curve of a speed reduction of a target speed (vSoll) is calculated by a controller (5), wherein the calculated stop position (PStop) of the object front edge (KVO2) of the second object (O2) is located at the position of the object rear edge (KHO1) of the stopped first object (O1), or between the object front edge (KVO1) of the stopped first object (O1) and the object rear edge (KHO1) of the stopped first object (O1), and
• the second object (O2) is moved and stopped with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) using the calculated speed reduction, wherein a current position of the second object (O2), between the first measuring position (PMess1) and its stop position (PStop), is determined with the aid of rotation signals from the drives (M) of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L), and
• the calculation of the speed reduction
• a) is based on a virtual object rear edge (GHO1) of the first object (O1), which is located downstream of a physical object rear edge (KHO1) of the first object (O1), and/or
• b) is based on a virtual object front edge (GVO2) of the second object (O2), which is located upstream of a physical object front edge (KVO2) of the second object O2,
• or
• c) is based on a virtual object rear edge (GHO1) of the first object (O1), which is located upstream of a physical object rear edge (KHO1) of the first object (O1), and/or
• d) is based on a virtual object front edge (GVO2) of the second object (O2), which is located downstream of a physical object front edge (KVO2) of the second object (O2).

42:

• The method according to claim 32, wherein
• the first object (O1), when being stopped at its stop position (PStop) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L), is stopped with its object rear edge (KHO1) at an up-stream zone rear edge (KHZ1) of a first zone (Z1) of multiple independently drivable zones (Za . . . Zg) of the conveying device (1) in the accumulation area (SB),
• the second object (O2) is moved towards the first object (O1) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) and
• the first object (O1) and the second object (O1), after the second object (O2) has been driven against the first object (O1), become part of an object block (B, Ba, Bb) which is moved downstream in the conveying direction (1) at a common actual speed with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L), and wherein
• the object block (B, Ba, Bb) is stopped with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) when it reaches, with its block rear edge (KHB), the zone rear edge (KHZ1) of a zone (Za . . . Zg) following downstream, wherein a current position of the block rear edge (KHB) is determined with the aid of rotation signals from the drives (M) of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L).

43:

• A method for accumulating objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) in an accumulation area (SB) of a conveying device (1) in the form of object blocks (B, Ba, Bb), which comprise multiple objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) moved at a common speed, comprising the steps:
• detecting an object rear edge (KHO1) of a first object (O1) at a first measuring position (PMess1) by means of a first measuring device (L1), wherein the first object (O1) is moved past the first measuring position (PMess1) by driven conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) downstream in a conveying direction and wherein the object rear edge (KHO1) of the first object (O1) is located upstream of an object front edge (KVOi) of the first object (O1),
• detecting an object front edge (KVO2) of a second object (O2), which follows the first object (O1) upstream, at the first measuring position (PMess1) by means of the first measuring device (L1), wherein the second object (O2) is moved past the first measuring position (PMess1) downstream in the conveying direction by the driven conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) and wherein the object front edge (KVO2) of the second object (O2) is located down-stream of an object rear edge (KHO2) of the second object (O2),
• moving the first object (O1) to a stop position (PStop), which is located downstream of the first measuring position (PMess1) in the conveying direction, and stopping the first object (O1) with its object rear edge (KHO1) at its stop position (PStop) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L), wherein a current position of the first object (O1), between the first measuring position (PMess1) and its stop position (PStop), is determined with the aid of rotation signals from the drives (M) of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L),
• wherein
• the first object (O1), when being stopped at its stop position (PStop) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L), is stopped with its object rear edge (KHO1) at an upstream zone rear edge (KHZ1) of a first zone (Z1) of multiple independently drivable zones (Za . . . Zg) of the conveying device (1) in the accumulation area (SB),
• the second object (O2) is moved towards the first object (O1) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) and
• the first object (O1) and the second object (O1), after the second object (O2) has been driven against the first object (O1) or after the second object (O2) has a predefinable distance (xf . . . xi) to the first object (O1), become part of an object block (B, Ba, Bb) which is moved downstream in the conveying direction (1) at a common actual speed with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L), and wherein
• the object block (B, Ba, Bb) is stopped with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) when it reaches, with its block rear edge (KHB), the zone rear edge (KHZ1) of a zone (Za . . . Zg) following downstream or when it is positioned with its block rear edge (KHB) at a distance downstream of one of said zone rear edges (KHZ1) which corresponds to less than or equal to a desired distance (xf . . . xi) to a following object (Oa . . . Oj), wherein a current position of the block rear edge (KHB) is determined with the aid of rotation signals from the drives (M) of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L).

54:

• The method according to claim 42, wherein it comprises multiple operating modes selectable from the group of:
• (a) a method wherein all objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) are stopped successively in time in the same zone (Zg, Z1), said zone (Zg) being arranged in particular directly behind a measuring area (MB) containing the first measuring device (L1);
• (b) a method wherein the objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) are stopped in different zones (Z1 . . . Z2, Za . . . Zg), in particular starting at the downstream end of the accumulation area (SB);
• (c) a method wherein all objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) are stopped successively in time in the same zone (Zg, Z1), said zone (Zg) being arranged in particular directly behind a measuring area (MB) containing the first measuring device (L1), in combination with a method wherein an object (Oa) leading in the accumulation area (SB) does not become part of an object block (B, Ba, Bb) or is isolated therefrom;
• (d) a method wherein the objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) are stopped in different zones (Z1 . . . Z2, Za . . . Zg), in particular starting at the downstream end of the accumulation area (SB), in combination with a method wherein an object (Oa) leading in the accumulation area (SB) does not become part of an object block (B, Ba, Bb) or is isolated therefrom;
• between which switching is possible.

55:

• A conveying device (1) for a conveyor system for accumulating objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) in an accumulation area (SB) in the form of object blocks (B, Ba, Bb), which comprise multiple objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) moved at a common speed, comprising:
• driven conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) for transporting the objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj),
• a first measuring device (L1) for detecting an object front edge (KVO, KVO1, KVO2) and an object rear edge (KHO, KHO1, KHO2) of the objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) at a first measuring position (PMess1), wherein the object front edge (KVO, KVO1, KVO2) is located downstream of the object rear edge (KHO, KHO1, KHO2) of the object (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) in the conveying direction, and
• a controller (5) which is configured for controlling drives (M) of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) according to a predefined target movement of the objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj), for moving a first object (O1) to a stop position (PStop) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L), said stop position being arranged downstream of the first measuring position (PMess1) in the conveying direction, to stop the first object (O1) with its object rear edge (KHO1) at its stop position (PStop), and to determine a current position of the first object (O1) between the first measuring position (PMess1) and its stop position (PStop) with the aid of rotation signals from the drives (M) of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L),
• wherein
• the controller (5) is further configured for
• calculating a continuous curve of a speed reduction of a target speed (vsoll) for a second object (O2), wherein the calculated stop position (PStop) of the object front edge (KVO2) of the second object (O2) is located at the position of the object rear edge (KHO1) of the stopped first object (O1), or between the object front edge (KVO1) of the stopped first object (O1) and the object rear edge (KHO1) of the stopped first object (O1), and
• controlling the drives (M) of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) according to the calculated curve of the speed reduction, stopping the second object (O2) behind the first object (O1) using the calculated speed reduction and determining a current position of the second object (O2), between the first measuring position (PMess1) and its stop position (PStop), with the aid of rotation signals from the drives (M) of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L), wherein
• the calculation of the speed reduction
• a) is based on a virtual object rear edge (GHO1) of the first object (O1), which is located downstream of a physical object rear edge (KHO1) of the first object (O1), and/or
• b) is based on a virtual object front edge (GVO2) of the second object (O2), which is located upstream of a physical object front edge (KVO2) of the second object O2,
• or
• c) is based on a virtual object rear edge (GHO1) of the first object (O1), which is located upstream of a physical object rear edge (KHO1) of the first object (O1), and/or
• d) is based on a virtual object front edge (GVO2) of the second object (O2), which is located downstream of a physical object front edge (KVO2) of the second object (O2) . . .

56:

• The conveying device (1) according to claim 55, wherein the controller (5) is further configured for
• stopping the first object (O1), when being stopped at its stop position (PStop), with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) with its object rear edge (KHO1) at an up-stream zone rear edge (KHZ1) of a first zone (Z1) of multiple independently drivable zones (Za . . . Zg) of the conveying device (1) in the accumulation area (SB),
• moving the second object (O2) towards the first object (O1) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) and
• moving the first object (O1) and the second object (O1), after the second object (O2) has been driven against the first object (O1), downstream in the conveying direction at a common actual speed as an object block (B, Ba, Bb) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L),
• stopping the object block (B, Ba, Bb) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) when it reaches, with its block rear edge (KHB), the zone rear edge (KHZ1) of a zone (Za . . . Zg) following downstream, and
• determining a current position of the block rear edge (KHB) with the aid of rotation signals from the drives (M) of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L).

57:

• A conveying device (1) for a conveyor system for accumulating objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) in an accumulation area (SB) in the form of object blocks (B, Ba, Bb), which comprise multiple objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) moved at a common speed, comprising:
• driven conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) for transporting the objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj),
• a first measuring device (L1) for detecting an object front edge (KVO, KVO1, KVO2) and an object rear edge (KHO, KHO1, KHO2) of the objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) at a first measuring position (PMess1), wherein the object front edge (KVO, KVO1, KVO2) is located downstream of the object rear edge (KHO, KHO1, KHO2) of the object (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj) in the conveying direction, and
• a controller (5) which is configured for controlling drives (M) of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) according to a predefined target movement of the objects (O, O1 . . . O3, Oa . . . Oj), for moving a first object (O1) to a stop position (PStop) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L), said stop position being arranged downstream of the first measuring position (PMess1) in the conveying direction, to stop the first object (O1) with its object rear edge (KHO1) at its stop position (PStop), and to determine a current position of the first object (O1) between the first measuring position (PMess1) and its stop position (PStop) with the aid of rotation signals from the drives (M) of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L),
• wherein
• the controller (5) is further configured for
• stopping the first object (O1), when being stopped at its stop position (PStop), with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) with its object rear edge (KHO1) at an up-stream zone rear edge (KHZ1) of a first zone (Z1) of multiple independently drivable zones (Za . . . Zg) of the conveying device (1) in the accumulation area (SB),
• moving the second object (O2) towards the first object (O1) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) and
• moving the first object (O1) and the second object (O1), after the second object (O2) has been driven against the first object (O1) or after the second object (O2) has a pre-definable distance (xf . . . xi) to the first object (O1), downstream in the conveying direction at a common actual speed as an object block (B, Ba, Bb) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L),
• stopping the object block (B, Ba, Bb) with the aid of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L) when it reaches, with its block rear edge (KHB), the zone rear edge (KHZ1) of a zone (Za . . . Zg) following downstream or when it is positioned with its block rear edge (KHB) at a distance downstream of one of said zone rear edges (KHZ1) which corresponds to less than or equal to a desired distance (xf . . . xi) to a following object (Oa . . . Oj), and
• determining a current position of the block rear edge (KHB) with the aid of rotation signals from the drives (M) of the conveyor elements (2, 2M, 2L).