Device for Transferring Articles and Conveyor System Comprising Said Device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for transferring a transport car which can be displaced on a track system from a first track section of the track system that is arranged on a first level, to a second track section of the track system that is arranged on a second level different from the first level. The device comprises at least one first and one second transfer carriage which can carry at least one respective transport car to be transferred and which can be displaced in opposite directions on two different levels. The invention further relates to a conveyor system for transporting articles.

1 . A device for transferring a transport car which can be moved on a track system from a first track section of the track system, which is arranged on a first level, to a second track section of the track system which is arranged on a second level different from the first level
 wherein   the device comprises at least one first transfer carriage and one second transfer carriage which can each carry at least one transport car to be transferred and which can be moved in opposite directions between two levels.   
     
     
         2 . The device of according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfer carriages can be moved in each case along a vertical guide track. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein, at least one of the transfer carriages has a carrying device for the transport car, which is mounted such that it can pivot about a pivot axis. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the pivot axis extends horizontally. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the transfer carriages can be moved horizontally. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the transfer carriages are guided by a carrying structure ( 1036 ;  2092 ) which can be moved horizontally. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the carrying structure runs in a horizontal guide track by means of rollers. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein vertical guide tracks for the transfer carriages comprise an upper section, a central section and a lower section and drive means are present by means of which the upper section and the lower section can be moved horizontally. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein that the drive means are arranged so that the transfer carriages can be moved horizontally independently of one another. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the vertical guide tracks comprise a first central section and a second central section which are arranged at a mutual spacing in the horizontal direction, wherein the upper section and the lower section of the vertical guide tracks can be moved in each case between a respective first position, in which these are aligned with the first central section, and a respective second position in which these are aligned with the second central section. 
     
     
         11 . A conveyor system for transporting articles comprising:
 a track system comprising a first track section, which is arranged on a first level, and a second track section, which is arranged on a second level different from the first level;   a plurality of driveable transport cars, by means of which at least one article can be moved on the track system in each case; and,   the transfer device of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         12 . A conveyor system according to  claim 11 , wherein the conveyor system is an electric overhead conveyor.