EP0761322A1 - Method and device for sorting postal items using buffer receptacles at sorting outputs - Google Patents

Method and device for sorting postal items using buffer receptacles at sorting outputs Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0761322A1
EP0761322A1 EP96401899A EP96401899A EP0761322A1 EP 0761322 A1 EP0761322 A1 EP 0761322A1 EP 96401899 A EP96401899 A EP 96401899A EP 96401899 A EP96401899 A EP 96401899A EP 0761322 A1 EP0761322 A1 EP 0761322A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
receptacle
sorting
buffer
objects
sorting outlet
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Granted
Application number
EP96401899A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0761322B1 (en
Inventor
Patrick Hours
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Solystic SAS
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Alcatel Postal Automation Systems
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Publication of EP0761322A1 publication Critical patent/EP0761322A1/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
    • B07C3/02—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
    • B07C3/06—Linear sorting machines in which articles are removed from a stream at selected points
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
    • B07C3/008—Means for collecting objects, e.g. containers for sorted mail items
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S209/00—Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
    • Y10S209/90—Sorting flat-type mail
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S209/00—Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
    • Y10S209/911—Feed means supporting or guiding item moving under influence of gravity

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  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)

Abstract

A mail sorting station consists of a closed loop conveyor which moves single articles of mail in trays (3) to a number of final sort receptacles (7) under the direction of a microcomputer which receives information from sensors able to read addresses and measure mail thickness. The final sort receptacles (7) are normally supported on a base which allows them to be easily removed and replaced when full. Buffer receptacles (11) which may be opened and closed automatically are located immediately above them and adjusted in size to the speed of the conveyor.

Description

L'invention porte sur un dispositif de tri d'objets, comprenant un convoyeur qui dirige les objets à trier vers des réceptacles de sortie de tri associés à des sorties de tri correspondantes et où les objets triés sont stockés.An object sorting device includes a conveyor which directs the items to be sorted to sorting outlet receptacles associated with corresponding sorting outlets and where the sorted items are stored.

Un tel dispositif est destiné plus particulièrement au tri d'objets plats comme les articles de courrier du genre enveloppes ou analogues.Such a device is intended more particularly for sorting flat objects such as mail items such as envelopes or the like.

Avec un dispositif de tri d'articles de courrier du genre indiqué ci-dessus, lorsqu'un réceptacle de sortie de tri est plein, il convient de ne pas diriger temporairement les articles de courrier à trier vers la sortie de tri correspondante à ce réceptacle pendant le temps nécessaire à l'enlèvement du réceptacle plein et à la mise en place d'un réceptacle vide. Pendant ce temps, un certain nombre d'articles de courrier à trier, devant être dirigés vers cette sortie de tri, sont recyclés sur le convoyeur. Il en résulte une diminution non négligeable du débit du dispositif de tri, voire une saturation temporaire de celui-ci si le nombre d'articles de courrier recyclés devient trop important. Cette situation est encore plus critique au passage d'un plan de tri à un autre plan de tri car dans cette situation, c'est tous les réceptacles de sortie de tri qui doivent être remplacés par des réceptacles vides. Il est rappelé qu'un plan de tri correspond à une affectation précise des sorties de tri du convoyeur à des adresses de tri des articles de courrier. Il en résulte alors une indisponibilité de l'ensemble des sorties de tri du convoyeur pendant le temps nécessaire au remplacement de l'ensemble des réceptacles de sortie de tri.With a sorting device for mail items of the kind indicated above, when a sorting outlet receptacle is full, it is advisable not to temporarily direct the mail items to be sorted to the sorting outlet corresponding to this receptacle during the time necessary to remove the full receptacle and to install an empty receptacle. During this time, a certain number of mail items to be sorted, which must be sent to this sorting outlet, are recycled on the conveyor. This results in a significant reduction in the throughput of the sorting device, or even a temporary saturation thereof if the number of recycled mail items becomes too large. This situation is even more critical when switching from one sorting plan to another sorting plan because in this situation, it is all the sorting outlet receptacles which must be replaced by empty receptacles. It is recalled that a sorting plan corresponds to a precise assignment of sorting outlets of the conveyor to sorting addresses of mail items. This then results in the unavailability of all of the sorting outlets of the conveyor for the time necessary to replace all of the sorting out receptacles.

Le but de l'invention est de remédier à cet inconvénient.The object of the invention is to remedy this drawback.

Selon l'invention, le dispositif de tri d'objets comprend un réceptacle tampon à chaque sortie de tri, chaque réceptacle tampon d'une sortie de tri étant agencé pour stocker temporairement des objets triés et libérer, sur commande, ces objets stockés temporairement dans le réceptacle de sortie de tri correspondant. De la sorte, sur la base de la connaissance de l'état de remplissage des réceptacles de sortie de tri ou des réceptacles tampon, de la vitesse d'avance des objets sur le convoyeur et du temps nécessaire au remplacement d'un réceptacle de sortie de tri plein d'objets par un réceptacle vide, il est aisé de maintenir constant le débit du dispositif de tri lors d'un remplacement d'un ou plusieurs réceptacles de sortie de tri en dimensionnant correctement la capacité des réceptacles tampon.According to the invention, the device for sorting objects comprises a buffer receptacle at each sorting outlet, each sorting outlet buffer receptacle being arranged to temporarily store sorted objects and release, on command, these objects temporarily stored in the corresponding sorting outlet receptacle. In this way, based on the knowledge of the filling state of the sorting outlet receptacles or the buffer receptacles, the speed of advance of the objects on the conveyor and the time required to replace an outlet receptacle sorting full of objects by an empty receptacle, it is easy to maintain constant the flow rate of the sorting device when replacing one or more sorting output receptacles by correctly dimensioning the capacity of the buffer receptacles.

L'invention s'étend à un procédé pour trier des objets à l'aide d'un tel dispositif, selon lequel les réceptacles tampon sont normalement ouverts ou normalement fermés. Dans le premier cas, chaque objet trié délivré sur une sortie de tri transite à travers le réceptacle tampon de cette sortie de tri sans y être stocké sauf quand le réceptacle de sortie de tri correspondant doit être remplacé par un réceptacle vide. Dans le second cas, une certaine quantité d'objets triés est d'abord stockée temporairement dans chaque réceptacle tampon avant d'être transférée vers un réceptacle de sortie de tri correspondant. On obtient de la sorte une meilleure qualité de rangement des objets dans les réceptacles de sortie de tri, notamment quand il s'agit d'objets plats comme des articles de courrier, du fait qu'ils sont transférés en pile.The invention extends to a method for sorting objects using such a device, according to which the buffer receptacles are normally open or normally closed. In the first case, each sorted object delivered on a sorting outlet transits through the buffer receptacle of this sorting outlet without being stored there except when the corresponding sorting outlet receptacle must be replaced by an empty receptacle. In the second case, a certain quantity of sorted objects is first temporarily stored in each buffer receptacle before being transferred to a corresponding sorting outlet receptacle. A better quality of storage of the objects is thus obtained in the sorting outlet receptacles, in particular when it is a question of flat objects such as mail items, because they are transferred in a stack.

Un exemple de réalisation de l'invention est décrit plus en détail ci-après.An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below.

La figure 1 montre sous forme schématique un dispositif de tri d'articles de courrier selon l'invention qui comprend des réceptacles de sortie de tri et des réceptacles tampon.Figure 1 shows in schematic form a device for sorting mail items according to the invention which comprises sorting outlet receptacles and buffer receptacles.

Les figures 2 et 3 montrent plus en détail l'agencement des réceptacles de sortie de tri et des réceptacles tampon pendant le fonctionnement du dispositif selon l'invention.Figures 2 and 3 show in more detail the arrangement of sorting outlet receptacles and buffer receptacles during the operation of the device according to the invention.

Figure 1, le dispositif pour trier des articles de courrier comprend un convoyeur 1 qui dirige automatiquement des articles de courrier à trier tels que 2 vers des sorties de tri.Figure 1, the device for sorting mail items includes a conveyor 1 which automatically directs mail items to sort such as 2 to sorting outlets.

Le convoyeur est constitué d'une chaîne sans fin portant une série de godets 3 qui circulent suivant une boucle et selon une certaine direction d'avance indiquée par les flèches 4.The conveyor consists of an endless chain carrying a series of buckets 3 which circulate in a loop and in a certain direction of advance indicated by the arrows 4.

Chaque godet transporte un seul article de courrier et est alimenté au niveau d'une entrée du convoyeur où est placée une unité d'alimentation tel que 5. Sur la figure 1, on a représenté trois unités d'alimentation 5. Chaque unité d'alimentation 5 comprend généralement un dépileur automatique apte à singulariser une pile d'articles de courrier 6 en attente devant l'entrée correspondante du convoyeur.Each bucket carries a single item of mail and is fed at an entrance to the conveyor where is placed a feed unit such as 5. In Figure 1, there are shown three feed units 5. Each unit feed 5 generally includes an automatic destacker capable of singling out a stack of mail items 6 waiting in front of the corresponding entry of the conveyor.

Un réceptacle de sortie de tri 7 est associé à chaque sortie de tri. Sur la figure 1, on voit une pluralité de tels réceptacles de sortie. Un dispositif de tri d'articles de courrier comprend plusieurs dizaines de telles sorties de tri et donc de réceptacles 7 correspondant disposés le long du convoyeur, ici des deux côtés de la boucle.A sorting outlet receptacle 7 is associated with each sorting outlet. In Figure 1, there is a plurality of such outlet receptacles. A device for sorting mail items comprises several tens of such sorting outlets and therefore corresponding receptacles 7 arranged along the conveyor, here on both sides of the loop.

Au niveau de chaque unité d'alimentation 5, il est prévu un équipement 8 pour lire une adresse de tri sur chaque article de courrier singularisé à l'entrée du convoyeur. La lecture est réalisée par reconnaissance automatique de caractères ou de codes à barres par exemple. Une sortie de tri et donc un réceptacle de sortie de tri 7 est affecté à chaque adresse de tri et un système de supervision 9, du type micro-ordinateur, est connecté à l'équipement 8 et commande le convoyeur 1 et les godets 3 de manière que chaque godet 3 contenant un article de courrier, libère cet article de courrier au niveau de la sortie de tri correspondant à l'adresse de tri récupérée pour cet article de courrier afin que cet article de courrier soit stocké dans le réceptacle de sortie de tri correspondant à ladite sortie de tri.At each feed unit 5, equipment 8 is provided for reading a sorting address on each item of singularized mail at the entrance to the conveyor. Reading is carried out by automatic recognition of characters or bar codes for example. A sorting outlet and therefore a sorting outlet receptacle 7 is assigned to each sorting address and a supervision system 9, of the microcomputer type, is connected to the equipment 8 and controls the conveyor 1 and the buckets 3 of so that each well 3 containing a mail item, releases this mail item at the sorting outlet corresponding to the sorting address retrieved for this item mail so that this mail item is stored in the sorting outlet receptacle corresponding to said sorting outlet.

Par ailleurs, il est prévu aussi au niveau de chaque unité d'alimentation 5, un équipement 10 pour mesurer l'épaisseur de chaque article de courrier envoyé sur le convoyeur. Un tel équipement de mesure d'épaisseur est classique en soi. Le système de supervision 9 est connecté à l'équipement 10 pour surveiller, de façon prédictive éventuellement, le niveau de remplissage des réceptacles de sortie de tri 7 en comptabilisant les épaisseurs des articles de courrier stockés dans chaque réceptacle de sortie de tri.Furthermore, there is also provided at each feed unit 5, an equipment 10 for measuring the thickness of each item of mail sent on the conveyor. Such thickness measurement equipment is conventional in itself. The supervision system 9 is connected to the equipment 10 to monitor, possibly in a predictive manner, the filling level of the sorting outlet receptacles 7 by counting the thicknesses of the mail items stored in each sorting outlet receptacle.

Figure 2, on voit en coupe schématique suivant II-II sur la figure 1, le convoyeur 1 avec deux godets 3 situés respectivement des deux côtés de la boucle et contenant chacun un article de courrier 2 présenté sous la forme d'une enveloppe. Ces deux godets 3 sont positionnés chacun au niveau d'une sortie de tri et surplombent respectivement deux réceptacles de sortie de tri 7 correspondant chacun à une sortie de tri et où des articles de courrier triés 2 sont stockés. Chaque réceptacle 7 est par exemple normalement posé sur un socle (non représenté) pour être enlevé et remplacé (éventuellement automatiquement) par un autre réceptacle 7', notamment un réceptacle vide.Figure 2, we see in schematic section along II-II in Figure 1, the conveyor 1 with two buckets 3 located respectively on both sides of the loop and each containing a mail item 2 presented in the form of an envelope. These two buckets 3 are each positioned at a sorting outlet and respectively overhang two sorting outlet receptacles 7 each corresponding to a sorting outlet and where sorted mail items 2 are stored. Each receptacle 7 is for example normally placed on a base (not shown) to be removed and replaced (possibly automatically) by another receptacle 7 ', in particular an empty receptacle.

Selon l'invention, un réceptacle tampon 11 est prévu à chaque sortie de tri. Ces réservoirs tampon (11) sont montés sur une structure supportant le convoyeur 1 et les socles pour réceptacles 7. Sur la figure 2, chaque réceptacle tampon 11 est placé sous un godet 3 et au-dessus d'un réceptacle de sortie de tri 7. Chaque réceptacle tampon 11 est apte à stocker au moins temporairement une certaine quantité d'articles de courrier délivrée sur la sortie de tri au niveau de laquelle il est placé. Il a un fond 12 escamotable, par exemple un fond articulé en deux parties mobiles chacune autour d'un axe, susceptible d'être fermé pour le stockage comme indiqué ci-dessus et comme visible à droite sur la figure 2 ou ouvert pour libérer des articles de courrier dans le réceptacle de sortie de tri 7 correspondant comme visible à gauche sur la figure 2.According to the invention, a buffer receptacle 11 is provided at each sorting outlet. These buffer tanks (11) are mounted on a structure supporting the conveyor 1 and the bases for receptacles 7. In FIG. 2, each buffer receptacle 11 is placed under a bucket 3 and above a sorting outlet receptacle 7 Each buffer receptacle 11 is able to store at least temporarily a certain quantity of mail items delivered to the sorting outlet at which it is placed. It has a retractable bottom 12, for example a bottom articulated in two movable parts each about an axis, capable of being closed for storage as indicated above and as visible on the right in FIG. 2 or open to release mail items in the corresponding sorting outlet receptacle 7 as visible on the left in FIG. 2.

De préférence, chaque réceptacle tampon 11 est disposé à l'aplomb du réceptacle de sortie de tri 7 correspondant de façon que le transfert des articles de courrier du réservoir tampon vers le réservoir de sortie de tri correspondant se fasse sous l'action de la gravité ce qui contribue à simplifier l'agencement du convoyeur.Preferably, each buffer receptacle 11 is disposed vertically above the corresponding sorting outlet receptacle 7 so that the transfer of mail items from the buffer tank to the corresponding sorting outlet tank takes place under the action of gravity. which contributes to simplifying the arrangement of the conveyor.

Pour trier des articles de courrier avec un tel dispositif, le système de supervision 9 est programmé pour surveiller le niveau de remplissage de chaque réceptacle tampon 11 à partir des informations fournies par les équipements 8 et 10. Les réceptacles tampon 11 sont maintenus par le système de supervision dans une position normalement fermée comme montré à droite sur la figure 2. Les articles de courrier dirigés vers une sortie de tri sont d'abord stockés temporairement dans le réceptacle tampon de cette sortie de tri. Le système de supervision, sur détection d'un niveau de remplissage du réceptacle tampon en question proche de la saturation, commande l'ouverture du fond du réceptacle tampon pour libérer les articles de courrier stockés temporairement afin de les transférer vers le réceptacle de sortie de tri correspondant comme montré à gauche sur la figure 2. Les articles de courrier étant stockés à plat, tant dans le réceptacle tampon 11 que dans le réceptacle de sortie de tri 7, on obtient ainsi un meilleur rangement de ces articles de courrier dans le réceptacle 7 par un transfert en pile que par un transfert à l'unité. A noter que chaque réceptacle de sortie de tri 7 plein d'articles de courrier peut être remplacé par un réceptacle vide 7' pendant que le réceptacle tampon 11 correspondant se remplit sans que le débit du dispositif de tri soit affecté.To sort mail items with such a device, the supervision system 9 is programmed to monitor the filling level of each buffer receptacle 11 from information provided by the equipment 8 and 10. The buffer receptacles 11 are maintained by the system supervisor in a normally closed position as shown on the right in Figure 2. Mail items directed to a sorting outlet are first temporarily stored in the buffer receptacle of that sorting outlet. The supervision system, upon detection of a filling level of the buffer receptacle in question close to saturation, controls the opening of the bottom of the buffer receptacle to release the temporarily stored mail items in order to transfer them to the outlet receptacle of corresponding sorting as shown on the left in FIG. 2. The mail items being stored flat, both in the buffer receptacle 11 and in the sorting outlet receptacle 7, this gives better storage of these mail items in the receptacle 7 by a transfer in stack than by a transfer to the unit. Note that each sorting outlet receptacle 7 full of mail items can be replaced by an empty receptacle 7 'while the corresponding buffer receptacle 11 is filled without affecting the flow rate of the sorting device.

En variante sur la figure 3 montrant le convoyeur vu suivant la coupe schématique II-II, pour trier des articles de courrier avec le dispositif selon l'invention, le système de supervision 9 est programmé pour surveiller le niveau de remplissage de chaque réceptacle de sortie de tri 7 à partir des informations fournies par les équipements 8 et 10. Les réceptacles tampon 11 sont maintenus par le système de supervision dans une position normalement ouverte comme montré à gauche sur la figure 3. Les articles de courrier dirigés vers une sortie de tri traverse donc le réceptacle tampon de cette sortie de tri sans y être stockés. Le système de supervision, lorsqu'il détecte qu'un réceptacle de sortie de tri atteint un niveau de remplissage proche de la saturation, commande la fermeture du fond 12 du réceptacle tampon correspondant de manière que les articles de courrier dirigés vers cette sortie de tri soient stockés temporairement dans le réceptacle tampon comme montré à droite sur la figure 3. Pendant le stockage temporaire des articles de courrier dans le réceptacle tampon, le réceptacle de sortie de tri 7 correspondant plein d'articles de courrier est remplacé par un réceptacle vide 7' sans que le débit du convoyeur soit diminué.As a variant in FIG. 3 showing the conveyor seen in diagrammatic section II-II, for sorting mail items with the device according to the invention, the supervision system 9 is programmed to monitor the filling level of each outlet receptacle sorting 7 from the information provided by the equipment 8 and 10. The buffer receptacles 11 are maintained by the supervision system in a normally open position as shown on the left in FIG. 3. The items of mail directed towards a sorting outlet therefore passes through the buffer receptacle of this sorting outlet without being stored there. The supervision system, when it detects that a sorting outlet receptacle reaches a filling level close to saturation, orders the bottom 12 of the corresponding buffer receptacle to be closed so that the mail items directed to this sorting outlet are temporarily stored in the buffer receptacle as shown on the right in FIG. 3. During the temporary storage of the mail items in the buffer receptacle, the corresponding sorting outlet receptacle 7 full of mail items is replaced by an empty receptacle 7 'without the conveyor flow being reduced.

L'agencement du dispositif de tri d'articles de courrier avec des réceptacles tampon 11 selon l'invention permet de changer de plan de tri sans arrêter le fonctionnement du convoyeur ou diminuer son débit. Pour cela, il suffit que le système de supervision commande l'ouverture ou la fermeture des réceptacles tampon 11 de manière que les derniers articles d'un plan de tri courant soient stockés directement dans les réceptacles de sortie de tri 11 et que les premiers articles de courrier du plan de tri suivant soient stockés dans les réceptacles tampon 11. A l'issue du premier plan de tri, les réceptacles de sortie de tri 7 sont remplacés par des réceptacles vides et les réceptacles tampon sont ensuite déchargés dans ces réceptacles vides.The arrangement of the mail item sorting device with buffer receptacles 11 according to the invention makes it possible to change the sorting plan without stopping the operation of the conveyor or reducing its flow. For this, it suffices that the supervision system controls the opening or closing of the buffer receptacles 11 so that the last articles of a current sorting plan are stored directly in the sorting outlet receptacles 11 and that the first articles mail from the next sorting plan are stored in the buffer receptacles 11. At the end of the first sorting plan, the sorting outlet receptacles 7 are replaced by empty receptacles and the buffer receptacles are then unloaded into these empty receptacles.

Claims (5)

Un dispositif de tri d'objets, notamment des articles de courrier (2), comprenant un convoyeur (1) qui dirige les objets à trier vers des réceptacles de sortie de tri (7) associés à des sorties de tri correspondantes et où les objets triés sont stockés, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un réceptacle tampon (11) à chaque sortie de tri, chaque réceptacle tampon d'une sortie de tri étant agencé pour stocker temporairement des objets triés et libérer, sur commande, ces objets stockés temporairement dans le réceptacle de sortie de tri (7) correspondant.A device for sorting objects, in particular mail items (2), comprising a conveyor (1) which directs the objects to be sorted to sorting outlet receptacles (7) associated with corresponding sorting outlets and where the objects sorted are stored, characterized in that it comprises a buffer receptacle (11) at each sorting outlet, each buffer receptacle of a sorting outlet being arranged for temporarily storing sorted objects and releasing, on command, these temporarily stored objects in the corresponding sorting outlet receptacle (7). Le dispositif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel chaque réceptacle tampon (11) d'une sortie de tri comprend un fond escamotable (12) et est disposé à l'aplomb du réceptacle de sortie de tri (7) correspondant.The device according to claim 1, in which each buffer receptacle (11) of a sorting outlet comprises a retractable bottom (12) and is arranged directly above the corresponding sorting outlet receptacle (7). Le dispositif selon la revendication 2, comprenant: - des moyens d'alimentation (5) pour envoyer en série des objets à trier sur le convoyeur (1), - des moyens de traitement (8,10) pour récupérer, pour chaque objet envoyé sur le convoyeur, une information indicative d'une dimension de cet objet et une information indication de la sortie de tri vers laquelle l'objet doit être dirigé, - des moyens de supervision (9) pour surveiller le niveau de remplissage des réceptacles de sortie de tri (7) et des réceptacles tampon (11) à partir des informations récupérées par les moyens de traitement (8,10) et pour commander l'ouverture ou la fermeture du fond escamotable (12) de chaque réceptacle tampon (7) suivant le niveau de remplissage dudit réceptacle tampon (11) ou du réceptacle de sortie de tri correspondant (11). The device according to claim 2, comprising: - supply means (5) for sending objects to be sorted on the conveyor (1) in series, - processing means (8, 10) for recovering, for each object sent to the conveyor, information indicative of a dimension of this object and information indicating the sorting outlet to which the object is to be directed, - supervision means (9) for monitoring the filling level of the sorting outlet receptacles (7) and the buffer receptacles (11) from information recovered by the processing means (8,10) and for controlling the opening or closing of the retractable bottom (12) of each buffer receptacle (7) according to the filling level of said buffer receptacle (11) or of the corresponding sorting outlet receptacle (11). Un procédé pour trier des objets plats à l'aide d'un dispositif selon la revendication 3, consistant à commander les moyens de supervision (9) pour maintenir normalement ouvert le fond escamotable (12) de chaque réceptacle tampon (11) et pour fermer le fond escamotable (12) d'un réceptacle tampon (11) lorsque le niveau de remplissage du réceptacle de sortie de tri (7) correspondant atteint un niveau de proche saturation.A method for sorting flat objects using a device according to claim 3, comprising controlling the supervisory means (9) for keeping the retractable bottom (12) of each buffer receptacle (11) normally open and for closing the retractable bottom (12) of a buffer receptacle (11) when the filling level of the corresponding sorting outlet receptacle (7) reaches a level of near saturation. Un procédé pour trier des objets à l'aide d'un dispositif selon la revendication 3, consistant à commander les moyens de supervision (9) pour maintenir normalement fermer le fond escamotable (12) de chaque réceptacle tampon (11) afin d'y stocker temporairement des objets triés (2) et pour ouvrir le fond escamotable (12) d'un réceptacle tampon lorsque son niveau de remplissage atteint un niveau de proche saturation afin de transférer les objets stockés temporairement dudit réceptacle tampon (11) vers le réceptacle de sortie de tri (7) correspondant.A method for sorting objects using a device according to claim 3, comprising controlling the supervisory means (9) to keep the retractable bottom (12) of each buffer receptacle (11) normally closed in order to there temporarily store sorted objects (2) and to open the retractable bottom (12) of a buffer receptacle when its filling level reaches a level of near saturation in order to transfer the temporarily stored objects from said buffer receptacle (11) to the receptacle of corresponding sorting outlet (7).
EP96401899A 1995-09-08 1996-09-05 Method and device for sorting postal items using buffer receptacles at sorting outputs Expired - Lifetime EP0761322B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9510549 1995-09-08
FR9510549A FR2738506B1 (en) 1995-09-08 1995-09-08 DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SORTING MAIL ITEMS USING BUFFER RECEPTACLES OUT OF SORTING

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EP0761322A1 true EP0761322A1 (en) 1997-03-12
EP0761322B1 EP0761322B1 (en) 2000-12-06

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EP96401899A Expired - Lifetime EP0761322B1 (en) 1995-09-08 1996-09-05 Method and device for sorting postal items using buffer receptacles at sorting outputs

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US (1) US6126017A (en)
EP (1) EP0761322B1 (en)
CA (1) CA2185040A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69611128T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2153546T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2738506B1 (en)

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WO1999067031A3 (en) * 1998-06-19 2000-03-16 Siemens Ag Method and device for transferring flat mail items
WO1999067031A2 (en) * 1998-06-19 1999-12-29 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for transferring flat mail items
FR2783442A1 (en) * 1998-09-21 2000-03-24 Poste Postal packet multiple packet separator method having multiple containers holding packets vertical and lower V-shaped section with lower conveyor belt section base area detecting/separating packets.
WO2000016915A1 (en) * 1998-09-21 2000-03-30 La Poste Method for detecting multiple presence of objects in a sorting machine
US6561360B1 (en) 1999-03-09 2003-05-13 Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp. Automatic tray handling system for sorter
US7170024B2 (en) 1999-08-02 2007-01-30 Siemens Energy & Automation Delivery point sequencing mail sorting system with flat mail capability
US6501041B1 (en) 1999-08-02 2002-12-31 Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp. Delivery point sequencing mail sorting system with flat mail capability
US7982156B2 (en) 1999-08-02 2011-07-19 Siemens Industry, Inc. Delivery point sequencing mail sorting system with flat mail capability
US7589294B2 (en) 1999-08-02 2009-09-15 Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. Delivery point sequencing mail sorting system with flat mail capability
US6953906B2 (en) 1999-08-02 2005-10-11 Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp. Delivery point sequencing mail sorting system with flat mail capability
US6561339B1 (en) 1999-08-13 2003-05-13 Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp. Automatic tray handling system for sorter
US7156220B2 (en) 1999-08-13 2007-01-02 Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. Automatic tray handling system for sorter
US6907982B2 (en) 1999-08-13 2005-06-21 Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp. Automatic tray handling system for sorter
US7012211B2 (en) 2002-05-07 2006-03-14 Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp. Single pass sequencing assembly
US7723633B2 (en) 2003-07-31 2010-05-25 Lockheed Martin Corporation Sequencing system and method of use
WO2007083327A3 (en) * 2006-01-23 2007-11-15 Valka Ehf Apparatus and method for grading articles based on weight, and adapted computer program product and computer readable media
DE102009053051A1 (en) * 2009-11-16 2011-05-26 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Device and method for sorting objects
US8230141B2 (en) 2009-11-16 2012-07-24 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Apparatus and method for sorting items
US10160606B2 (en) 2014-08-29 2018-12-25 Mantissa Corporation Conveyor system wheel failure detection and remediation
US11259531B2 (en) 2015-03-02 2022-03-01 Valka Ehf Apparatus for processing and grading food articles and related methods
US11344036B2 (en) 2015-03-02 2022-05-31 Valka Ehf Apparatus for processing and grading food articles and related methods
US11357237B2 (en) 2015-03-02 2022-06-14 Valka Ehf Apparatus for processing and grading food articles and related methods
US10322438B2 (en) 2016-09-26 2019-06-18 Intelligrated Headquarters, Llc Fully validated material handling with shuttle container delivery system
US11897703B2 (en) 2019-05-07 2024-02-13 Valka Ehf Conveyor system and method
FR3105030A1 (en) * 2019-12-24 2021-06-25 Solystic Package sorting plant with a closed loop bucket conveyor
EP3842159A1 (en) * 2019-12-24 2021-06-30 Solystic Installation for sorting parcels with a bucket conveyor with closed loop

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DE69611128D1 (en) 2001-01-11
DE69611128T2 (en) 2001-05-17
ES2153546T3 (en) 2001-03-01
US6126017A (en) 2000-10-03
EP0761322B1 (en) 2000-12-06
FR2738506A1 (en) 1997-03-14
CA2185040A1 (en) 1997-03-09
FR2738506B1 (en) 1997-10-17

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