US 12,434,916 B2
Method for operating a conveyor for successive goods, and corresponding conveyor system
Lars Zeidlewicz, Emsdetten (DE)
Assigned to Dematic Logistics GmbH, Heusenstamm (DE)
Appl. No. 18/556,214
Filed by Dematic Logistics GmbH, Heusenstamm (DE)
PCT Filed Apr. 13, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/059931
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 19, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/223412, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 27, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 102021110132 (DE), filed on Apr. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0351797 A1, Oct. 24, 2024
Int. Cl. B65G 47/26 (2006.01); B65G 17/20 (2006.01); B65G 47/08 (2006.01); B65G 47/46 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 47/08 (2013.01) [B65G 17/20 (2013.01); B65G 47/46 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0208 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a conveyor, wherein the conveyor is an overhead conveyor having a chain and a chain drive, the chain defining fixed divisions and the distance between the goods is fixed by the goods cooperation with the chain, the method comprising the steps of:
feeding the goods onto the conveyor one after another;
discharging the goods at a predetermined location of the conveyor via a switch point; and
minimizing a distance between successive goods on the conveyor when successive goods are to be discharged at the same switch point or enlarging the distance between the successive goods on the conveyor such that it corresponds to a minimum discharge distance when the successive goods are not to be discharged at the same switch point,
wherein the goods having the same destination are introduced within a small distance of each other as a batch, whereas goods having a different destination are spaced apart from each other such that they can be discharged in a targeted manner and then together as a batch.