US 2026/0109559 A1 · DRIVERLESS TRANSPORT SYSTEM INCLUDING PASSIVE TRANSFER STATION FOR COUPLING TO CONTINUOUS CONVEYORS

Abstract

A DTS and a method for exchanging transport items between a DTV and a transfer station. The driverless transport system, DTS, has at least one ramp-like transfer station configured to exchange a transport item with a continuous conveyor horizontally couplable thereto; and a driverless transport vehicle (DTV) for transporting the transport item from and/or to the at least one transfer station; wherein the DTV has a load-handling device forming a flat transport surface on which the transport item rests during a transport travel, wherein the load-handling device, in an end portion thereof, comprises at least one finger member switchable between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein the at least one finger member in the raised position protrudes from the transport surface; wherein each of the transfer stations consists (exclusively) of an inclined non-driven multi-track transfer conveyor which is configured to be meshingly underpassed by the DTV such that: in case, while the transport item rests on the transfer conveyor, the transport item is received by the DTV from the transfer conveyor by the DTV exiting the transfer conveyor and the at least one finger member being in the raised position; and in case, while the transport item rests on the transfer conveyor, the transport item is delivered by the DTV to the continuous conveyor by the DTV entering the transfer conveyor and the at least one finger member being in the raised position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A driverless transport system, DTS, comprising:

at least one ramp-like transfer station configured to exchange a transport item with a continuous conveyor horizontally couplable thereto;
and
a driverless transport vehicle, DTV, for transporting the transport item from and/or to the at least one transfer;
wherein the DTV comprises a load-handling device forming a flat transport surface on which the transport item rests during a transport travel, wherein the load-handling device has, in an end portion thereof, at least one finger member which is switchable between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein the at least one finger member, in the raised position, protrudes from the transport surface;
wherein each of the transfer stations consists of an inclined non-driven multi-track transfer conveyor being configured to be meshingly underpassed by the DTV so that:
in case, while the transport item rests on the transfer conveyor, the transport item is received by the DTV from the transfer conveyor by the DTV exiting the transfer conveyor and the at least one finger member being in the raised position;
and
in case, while the transport item rests on the transfer conveyor, the transport item is delivered by the DTV to the continuous conveyor by the DTV entering the transfer conveyor and the at least one finger member being in the raised position.

5 more elements

A method for exchanging a transport item between a driverless transport vehicle, DTV, and a continuous conveyor via a ramp-like transfer station consisting of a non-driven inclined transfer conveyor, wherein the transfer station and the DTV are configured to meshingly exchange the transport item while the DTV either enters the transfer station or exits the transfer station, wherein the DTV has a load-handling device, LHD, comprising at its downstream end at least one finger member which, in a raised position, protrudes from a flat transport surface defined by the LHD and, in a lowered position, is positioned below the transport surface;

comprising the steps of:
in case of delivering the transport item from the DTV to the continuous conveyor:
meshingly entering the transfer station, by the loaded DTV, parallel to the transfer conveyor until the DTV has completely pushed the transport item onto the transfer conveyor;
subsequently, by the DTV, exiting the transfer station while the at least one finger member is in the lowered position and the transport item rests on the transfer conveyor;
and
subsequently, by the DTV, meshingly entering the transfer station again while the at least one finger member is in its raised position until the transport item has been completely pushed, by the at least one finger member, onto the continuous conveyor;
or
in case of receiving the transport item from the continuous conveyor by the DTV:
conveying the transport item, by the continuous conveyor, from the continuous conveyor onto the transfer conveyor of the transfer station;
stopping the transport item on the transfer conveyor;
then meshingly entering the transfer station by the empty DTV while the at least one finger member is in the lowered position until the at least one finger member is positioned behind a rear edge of the transport item and a front edge rests on the LHD;
then moving the at least one finger member from the lowered position into the raised position;
and
finally meshingly exiting the transfer station, by the DTV, so that the at least one finger member, in its raised position, pulls the transport item off the transfer conveyor.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Driverless transport system including passive transfer station for coupling to continuous conveyors

Life of this patent

Driverless transport system including passive transfer station for coupling to continuous conveyors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20