Transfer device for product carriers with holding means

1. A transfer device ( 1 ) for the separated transfer of product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 c ′, 2 d ′) with holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 c ′, 21 d ′) to an overhead conveyor, the transfer device ( 1 ) comprising:

a helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′) forming a conveying section (F) for the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 a ′- 21 f ′) with a conveying portion (FF) and a transfer portion (FU), wherein the conveying section (F) in the conveying portion (FF) following a linear path and in the transfer portion (FU) following a transversely curved path superimposed on the linear path, wherein the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′) ends in the transfer portion (FU) in an eccentrically arranged guide tongue ( 111 ), which has a tapering cross-section as compared to the cross-section of the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′) in the conveying portion.

2. The transfer device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′) comprises in the transfer portion (FU) a helical transfer thread ( 112 , 112 ′) with a anticlastic surface, wherein the conveying section (F) in the transfer portion (FU) lies in the anticlastic, such that the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 a ′- 21 f ′) follow a transversely curved path superimposed on a linear path.

3. The transfer device ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the surface of the helical transfer thread ( 112 , 112 ′) comprises a saddle surface with a helical main direction.

4. The transfer device ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the helical transfer thread ( 112 , 112 ′) has a helix depth (w) which is greater than half the core diameter (d) of the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′) in the conveying portion (FF).

5. The transfer device ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′) changes over continuously from the conveying portion (FF) into the helical transfer thread ( 112 , 112 ′) in the transfer portion (FU).

6. A conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) for conveying product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 a ′- 2 f ′) with holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 a ′- 21 f ′), the conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) comprising:

a transfer device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ;

an overhead conveyor ( 3 , 3 ′) with a plurality of transport units ( 31 ; 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′) for the product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 a ′- 2 f ′), wherein the transport units ( 31 ; 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′) comprise engagement means ( 311 ) for the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 a ′- 21 f ′) of the product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 a ′- 2 f ′); and

a transfer region (T, T′), in which the product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 a ′- 2 f ′) are transferred from the transfer device ( 1 ) to the overhead conveyor ( 3 , 3 ′).

7. The conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) according to claim 6 , wherein the overhead conveyor ( 3 , 3 ′) comprises in the transfer region (T, T′) a conveying section (FH) which is arranged parallel to the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′).

8. The conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) according to claim 6 , wherein the overhead conveyor ( 3 , 3 ′) comprises a running rail ( 32 , 32 ′), wherein the transport units ( 31 ; 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′) are carriages conveyed at a variable distance from one another on the running rail ( 32 , 32 ′).

9. The conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) according to claim 6 , wherein the conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) comprises a control, which controls the transfer of the product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 a ′- 2 f ′) from the transfer device ( 1 ) to the overhead conveyor ( 3 , 3 ′).

10. The conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) according to claim 9 , wherein the conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) comprises a first drive unit ( 101 ) for driving the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′) and a second drive unit ( 102 ) for driving the transport units ( 31 ; 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′) in the transfer region (T, T′), wherein the first drive unit ( 101 ) and the second drive unit ( 102 ) are controlled by the control in such a way that a transport unit ( 31 ; 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′) is made available in the transfer region (T, T′) each time during transfer of a holder of the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 c ′, 21 d ′) from the transfer device ( 1 ) to the overhead conveyor ( 3 , 3 ′).

11. The conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) according to claim 9 , wherein the control synchronizes the conveying speed of the transport units ( 31 ; 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′) with the conveying speed of the product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 c ′, 2 d ′) during the transfer.

12. The conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) according to claim 9 , wherein the control is configured to control the number of product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 c ′, 2 d ′) transferred per transport unit ( 31 ; 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′) in the transfer region (T, T′).

13. The conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) according to claim 9 , wherein a first sensor ( 103 ) connected to the control is arranged on the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′), which sensor can detect holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ) of the product carrier ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 a ′- 2 f ′) on the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′).

14. The conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) according to claim 13 , wherein a barrier element ( 104 , 104 ′) is arranged between an accumulating section of the overhead conveyor ( 3 , 3 ′) and the transfer region (T, T′), which barrier element is connected to the control for the release of one transport unit ( 31 ; 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′) each time when a holder of the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 a ′- 21 f ′) is detected on the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′) by the first sensor ( 103 ).

15. The conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) according to claim 14 , wherein the first sensor is configured to detect undesired holders ( 21 a ′, 21 b ′, 21 e ′, 21 f ′) of product carriers ( 2 a ′, 2 b ′, 2 c ′, 2 f ′) on the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′), wherein the control is constituted to activate the barrier element ( 104 ′) when undesired holders ( 21 a ′, 21 b ′, 21 e ′, 21 f ′) are detected, in such a way that the transport units ( 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′) are accumulated in the accumulating section.

16. The conveyor system ( 10 ′) according to claim 6 , wherein the conveyor system ( 10 ′) comprises a catch rail ( 4 ) for removing product carriers ( 2 a ′, 2 b ′, 2 e ′, 2 f ′) with undesired holders ( 21 a ′, 21 b ′, 21 e ′, 21 f ′), wherein the catch rail ( 4 ) is arranged in the transfer region (T′) in such a way that product carriers ( 2 a ′, 2 b ′, 2 e ′, 2 f ′) are transferred from the transfer device to the catch rail ( 4 ) if no transport unit is made available in the transfer region (T′).

17. The conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′) according to claim 6 , wherein a second sensor is arranged downstream of the transfer region (T, T′), said second sensor being configured to determine the number of holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 c ′, 21 d ′) in a given engagement means ( 311 ) of the transport unit ( 31 ; 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′).

18. A method for operating a conveyor system ( 10 , 10 ′), comprising the steps of:

i) providing a transfer device ( 1 ) for the separated transfer of product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 c ′, 2 d ′) with holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 c ′, 21 d ′) to an overhead conveyor, the transfer device ( 1 ) comprising: a helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′) forming a conveying section (F) for the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 a ′- 21 f ′) with a conveying portion (FF) and a transfer portion (FU), wherein the conveying section (F) in the conveying portion (FF) following a linear path and in the transfer portion (FU) following a transversely curved path superimposed on the linear path, wherein the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′) ends in the transfer portion (FU) in an eccentrically arranged guide tongue ( 111 ), which has a tapering cross-section as compared to the cross-section of the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′) in the conveying portion;

ii) providing an overhead conveyor ( 3 , 3 ′) with a plurality of transport units ( 31 , 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′) for the product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 a ′- 2 f ′), wherein the transport units ( 31 , 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′) comprise engagement means ( 311 ) for the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 a ′- 21 f ′) of the product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 a ′- 2 f ′);

iii) providing a transfer region (T, T′), in which the product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 a ′- 2 f ′) are transferred from the transfer device ( 1 ) to the overhead conveyor ( 3 , 3 ′);

iv) conveying the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 a ′- 21 f ′) of the product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 a ′- 2 f ′) on the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′) of the transfer device ( 1 );

v) transferring the product carriers ( 2 a - 2 e ; 2 c ′, 2 d ′) from the transfer device ( 1 ) to the overhead conveyor ( 3 , 3 ′) in the transfer region (T, T′), wherein the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 c ′, 21 d ′) are conveyed in a controlled manner during the transfer into the engagement means ( 311 ) of a transport unit ( 31 ; 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′), wherein the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 a ′- 21 f ′) lie in the transfer portion (FU) of the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′) on a support point (AP) on the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′), which diverges from the vertical plane defined by the longitudinal axis of the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′), such that a portion ( 211 ) of the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 a ′- 21 f ′) projects in a transverse direction (A), orientated towards the overhead conveyor ( 3 , 3 ′), beyond the cross-sectional area of the helical conveyor ( 11 , 11 ′).

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 c ′, 21 d ′) are conveyed in a controlled manner during the transfer in such a way that a portion ( 211 ) of the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 c ′, 21 d ′) projects in each case into the engagement means ( 311 ) of a transport unit ( 31 ; 31 ′, 31 a ′, 31 b ′), before the holders ( 21 , 21 a - 21 e ; 21 c ′, 21 d ′) leaves the transfer device ( 1 ) and is transferred to the overhead conveyor ( 3 , 3 ′).