Transfer device and method for handling packing units
AssigneeTGW Logistics GmbH
InventorFlorian FORSTER
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure relates to a transfer device for handling packing units, comprising a gripping head with a base frame, on which a gripping module and a loading tongue module are mounted movably. The gripping module is movable relative to the loading tongue module in a lifting direction in order to lift the packing unit, such that the loading tongue module can extend beneath and support it.
Claims31
A transfer device for handling packing units, comprising a gripping head that has a base frame, a gripping module for lifting a packing unit, and a loading tongue module for supporting the packing unit, wherein the base frame defines a front plane and a rear plane and forms two side walls which extend between the front plane and the rear plane, the gripping module is mounted on the base frame so as to be movable in a lifting direction relative to the loading tongue and relative to the base frame, and the loading tongue is mounted on the base frame so as to be movable in an extending direction between a retracted initial position and an extended receiving position relative to the base frame and relative to the gripping module, characterized in that
- the gripping module has a plurality of gripping units of different gripping types, which are configured to contact a contact side of the packing unit and are alternately activatable, and in that the transfer device has a control system that is configured to acquire a grippability of the packing unit, to determine a gripping type based on the grippability that is suitable for lifting the packing unit, to select a gripping unit corresponding to the determined gripping type, and to initiate an activation of the selected gripping unit.
A transfer device for handling packing units, comprising a gripping head that has a base frame, a gripping module for lifting a packing unit, and a loading tongue module for supporting the packing unit, wherein the base frame defines a front plane and a rear plane and forms two side walls which extend between the front plane and the rear plane, the gripping module is mounted movably on the base frame in a lifting direction relative to the loading tongue and relative to the base frame, and the loading tongue is mounted movably on the base frame in an extending direction between a retracted initial position and an extended receiving position relative to the base frame and relative to the gripping module, characterized in that
- the gripping head has a clamping unit for fixing the packing unit which comprises two interacting clamping means which are mounted movably relative to one another on the base frame in order to generate a clamping force, wherein the at least one clamping means is movable between a stowed position and an operating position, wherein the front plane and the outer surfaces of the side walls facing away from one another delimit an interior space and the at least one clamping means is arranged completely in the interior space in the stowed position and at least partially outside the interior in the operating position.
A transfer device for handling packing units, comprising a gripping head that has a base frame, a gripping module for lifting a packing unit, and a loading tongue module for supporting the packing unit, wherein the base frame defines a front plane and a rear plane and forms two side walls which extend between the front plane and the rear plane the gripping module is mounted on the base frame so as to be movable in a lifting direction relative to the loading tongue and relative to the base frame, and the loading tongue is mounted on the base frame so as to be movable in an extending direction between a retracted initial position and an extended receiving position relative to the base frame and relative to the gripping module, characterized in that
- the loading tongue module comprises two loading tongues arranged next to one another, which along a side facing the respective other loading tongue have a lateral connecting contour with alternating protrusions and recesses, and the gripping head can be brought into a first configuration in which the loading tongues are arranged at a first spacing to one another and the connecting contours of the loading tongues engage with one another, and a second configuration in which the loading tongues are arranged at a second spacing to one another, wherein the second spacing is greater than the first spacing.
A method for handling a packing unit by a transfer device, wherein the transfer device comprises a gripping head which has a base frame, a gripping module for lifting a packing unit, and a loading tongue module to support the packing unit, comprising the steps:
- i) positioning of the gripping head in front of the packing unit;
- ii) gripping of the packing unit by the gripping module;
- iii) lifting of the packing unit by moving the gripping module relative to the base frame in a lifting direction, such that a gap is formed between the packing unit and a support upon which the packing unit rests;
- iv) support of the packing unit by the loading tongue by extending the loading tongue in an extending direction from a retracted initial position into an extended receiving position and inserting the loading tongue module into the gap, such that the loading tongue extends beneath the packing unit;
- v) lowering the packing unit onto the loading tongue by moving the gripping module relative to the base frame counter to the lifting direction in the direction of the loading tongue;
- vi) positioning of the packing unit on the loading tongue;
- wherein the step of positioning the packing unit on the loading tongue module comprises the following steps:
- provisioning at opposite sides of the packing unit of two interacting clamping means of a clamping unit mounted on the base frame;
- releasing the connection between the gripping unit and the contact side after the lowering of the packing unit;
- aligning and/or clamping of the packing unit between the clamping means by reducing a spacing between the clamping means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.