DE19929985A1 - Parallel sorting separator for sorting e.g. boxes and crates also other objects provided with at least one double parallel feeding point - Google Patents

Abstract

The sorting unit is provided with at least one double parallel feeding point which can be loaded with objects using supply conveying belts or with the use of a stacker truck (3). Several parallel feeding points (1) can be connected in series and parallel, respectively according to the amount of goods (2) to be sorted also the sorting time available. The feeding points can be arranged with parallel running circular conveyor belts (4), which can be divided in to four drive segments (5) with respectively at least one servo drive with positioning.

Description

The invention relates to a distribution switch for order picking and sorting systems General cargo, such as boxes, barrels or the like in groups or stacks, e.g. B. on Pallets, containers to be transported or stored, with a loading area, a test station, a distribution point and a collection point, the being in groups or stacking of piece goods delivered to the test station at the test station classify specified characteristics and at the distribution point on the characteristics corresponding fields of the assembly point are to be delivered. The invention relates furthermore at least one method for sorting piece goods of a given type, where the piece goods are first classified in groups at the test station and then Groups of Sam corresponding to the characteristics in groups at the distribution point Melplatz be divided. A "group" in the present sense includes at least at least two piece goods (horizontally) next to each other and / or (vertically) one above the other.

Plants for sorting piece goods, especially on pallets or Transport roads or belts of stacked piece goods, such as beverage crates, Cardboard boxes etc. are z. B. used in the food and beverage industry. The incoming containers are checked according to various characteristics and divided up. For example, the containers themselves according to origin, labeling etc. divided; it is also checked whether the containers are full, whether they are the same or dissimilar goods, e.g. B. bottles are filled, whether the goods are safe, whether the Contain goods of the same type, etc.  

In existing sorting systems, the separation of incoming piece goods thereby achieved that the piece goods in a row in a row by a test station. In the test station, the piece goods are consecutively Examined piece by piece for the presence of certain characteristics. Everyone Such a test station is usually followed by one or more rejection systems, wel divide the piece goods according to the characteristics identified.

The general cargo sorted in this conventional manner, e.g. B. on Trans port bands or in buffers, pent up and when a predetermined one is reached Number of pieces forwarded with the help of another machine, for example on Pa Latvian stacked. Usually only one manipulator is provided because the General cargo come out of the buffer one after the other, i.e. one after the other from can be processed in a single manipulator.

A disadvantage of these known, in principle like a rail yard worker Order picking or sorting systems is the processing of the individual piece goods in one row at a time. This series operation requires a lot of time and on the other hand, a lot of space (for connecting machines and Senso in series ren as well as for the formation of the necessary buffer areas). Another in practice The problem that arises is that the detection systems we use serial testing must work relatively quickly when the production line performance should be sufficient. The fast work always leads to Errors that in turn can result in downtimes of the entire system.

The invention is based, the detection of certain features of the task accelerate delivered cargo without the corresponding sensors be impermissibly high, and at the same time sorting the piece goods accelerate according to the characteristics found, without the Platzbe may enlarge the picking or sorting system. Preferably everyone should Functions of the system, if necessary, starting with the unstacking via the Classifying or checking, sorting and dividing up to forwarding, in particular new batches to be carried out in a single unit.  

The solution according to the invention exists for the distribution switch mentioned at the beginning Type in which the general cargo delivered in groups to the task area classified at the test station according to specified characteristics and at the distribution point fields of the assembly point corresponding to the characteristics are divided, that each field of the collecting plate assigned to one of the specified characteristics zes as a separate track of a group of, preferably substantially parallel running, collecting tracks is formed that the distribution point at least one Distribution track running across the set of collecting tracks with one Sam each has exit to each collective track and that the characteristics at the test station correspondingly classified piece goods in their distribution track across the collection track ren are slidably mounted. Some improvements and further refinements gene of the invention are described in the subclaims.

In a system according to the invention, the piece goods of or lifted from a container by one or more optical, mechanical and / or acoustic sensors without the need for intermediate transports classified according to various criteria and sorted according to the criteria. The General cargo can then be broken down into or into new containers the criteria are collected or stacked. The invention achieves that the conventionally operating in the manner of a marshalling yard station with serial distribution by one station with parallel distribution each two or more general cargo is replaced at the same time. Often one is often sufficient Sensor or a sensor system for checking several features each one gan zen group of general cargo; however, for different directions (from above, from the side, etc.) special sensors are provided. According to the invention, the checking of the features is also not intended to be serial, piece by piece. Pieces one after the other, but in one position if possible, e.g. B. the test state on, with a single sensor system on the stack or on several piece goods table run at the same time.

If the piece goods are layered and stacked, e.g. B. on pallets, who delivered that is achieved by the invention that before and during stacking a sensory classification of the piece goods according to the respective characteristics  can be made and that the piece goods following the sensor result who is fed according to the characteristics already when stacking individual collecting tracks that can. Here, the sensors can preferably the path of the pallet and General cargo can be assigned when depalletizing. Can from the collection tracks the piece goods over the stacking devices assigned to the individual characteristics stacked directly on provided new containers / pallets without buffering become. The same applies to other forms of delivery and delivery, for example when used of conveyor belts. An essential advantage of the invention over the The prior art therefore consists in the high flexibility of the device with considerable Lich smaller design because several conventionally following one another (serial) Functions in a parallel connection can be carried out at the same time.

The solution according to the invention can also be used as a method for picking or Sorting of piece goods of the aforementioned type can be defined. In this case there is a solution in that the in rectangular groups, possibly in several over layers lying on top of each other, transported piece goods layer by layer for each individual piece goods are classified and that the classified result is saved as well as on the further transport of the individual piece goods as route tax tion is used.

Another, possibly alternative embodiment of the method is that the classification of the General cargo is made and that the general cargo follows this result the individual distribution and collection tracks are fed according to the characteristics.

A still further, possibly alternative embodiment of the method exists prefers in that the functions of delivering or unstacking, releasing, Classifying and distributing and, if necessary, re-stacking on the En de each stacking track can be run in the same system.

An essential feature of the order picking or sorting system according to the invention is seen in the fact that general cargo is not consecutive or serial, but in in the direction of transport side by side or in parallel. To this  Purpose, the device according to the invention has a task place - a so-called called double parallel posting space - on the at least two general cargo can be given up right away. Depending on the amount of available Picking or sorting time can be several such parallel task locations be connected in parallel or in parallel. The parallel task locations can be done using Rol len, chains or belts are driven, they should each have at least two pick up the piece goods in parallel and pass two piece goods at the same time to one can promote the right place.

The distribution switch according to the invention is intended to have several collecting tracks on which the General cargo divided according to the characteristics of interest own that. Preferably at least one collection track for general cargo should be be provided that do not meet any of the required characteristics. In this Faulty piece goods can be collected, for example. she will therefore referred to as an "error track". The error trace can be a manually driven rework station can be assigned. The general cargo, there one Have undergone repairs can be returned to a distribution track are, so that the reworked piece goods finally the respective Merk paint accordingly to be delivered to the collecting tracks. That way it is possible to repair piece goods without disturbing the main work and without min change the input speed ultimately in the system.

The piece goods are transported within the system according to the invention - with or without container and / or pallet - preferably with the help of rollers, Chains or bands. For pushing the piece goods onto the belt etc. NEN so-called pushers or positioning tapes are preferably used. Servo motors or incremental algae can also be used to position the piece goods be used.

The detection of the respective object or feature can be carried out within the Invention with the help of a camera or a color sensor in the area before opening push the piece goods onto the respective belt. The pusher or position kidney bands can preferably be coupled to the detection system in such a way  that every piece of goods according to logistical specifications exactly for handing over to the position the relevant anthology.

According to the unsorted, z. B. from input pallets or - belts, incoming general cargo after sorting new pallets or belts according to the number and / or quality of piece goods assign dynamically such that the highest possible throughput of the invent overall system is achieved. The assignment of the with new pallets of the same type to be filled, same edition points of the device. Eventually an assignment will be made accordingly the signals given by higher-level control systems.

Some are based on the schematic drawing of exemplary embodiments Details of the invention explained. Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a system according to the invention in plan view.

Figure 2 shows a system according to the invention with ausgebil detem distribution point as a roundabout.

Fig. 3 to 5 show further variations of the diverter according to the invention; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views of details of the diverter in plan view and side view.

Fig. 1 shows a distribution switch according to the invention of a commissioning or sorting animal system for piece goods 1 to 4 , which are stacked on a pallet 11, a feeder 12 are supplied. A pallet layer 13 is removed from the loading station 12 and fed to a test station 14 . At the test station 14 (or already at the task station 12 ) there is a sensor 15 which differentiates the piece goods contained in the respective pallet layer 13 according to their characteristics 1 to 4 . The piece goods are therefore designated with the numbers 1 to 4 . The classified piece goods 1 to 4 pass from the test station 14 via distribution outlets 16 to a distribution station 17 which has two distribution tracks 18 in FIG. 1. On the distribution tracks 18 , the piece goods 1 to 4 can be moved in the illustrated directions of movement 19 - separately for each track 18 - so that the eight piece goods 1 to 4 placed at the same time are mounted so as to be movable relative to one another in the directions 19 that the piece goods 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 can be moved in sequence to the exits to certain tracks of a collection point 20 . The collecting space 20 has in Fig. 1, four collecting tracks 21 to 24, the melausgang via a respective Sam are coupled to the Verteilplatz 17 25. In the preferred exemplary embodiment, the respective places 12 , 14 , 17 and 20 are each essentially in a horizontal plane. However, inclinations can be provided for who, for. B. to facilitate the feed of the individual piece goods.

For sorting - if necessary picking - of the piece goods 1 to 4 accordingly their characteristics and for distributing the piece goods onto the collecting track 21 to 24 predetermined for each piece goods by the test station 14 , the piece goods are moved relative to one another or relative to one another by shifting in the distribution tracks 18 the collecting tracks adjusted so that, for example, the piece goods 1 (as shown) come to cover with the collecting exit 25 to the collecting track 21 . These two piece goods 1 shown in the line of alignment of the collecting track 21 can then be transferred straight into the collecting track 21 . By actuating the rear distribution track 18 facing the test station 14 , the second piece goods 1 can also be aligned with the collecting track 21 and shifted there. By further moving the piece goods in the distribution lanes 18 , the piece goods 2 , 3 and 4 can be supplied to the corresponding collecting tracks 22 , 23 and 24 one after the other and transferred to the collecting point 20 via the associated collecting exit 25 .

At the exit of the collection point 20 , a forklift 26 can be provided, which receives the piece goods arriving in the transport direction separately for each collection track 21 to 24 and, in a characteristic manner, places them on a new pallet 28 . There are ent pallets 28 , each containing only piece goods 1 or only piece goods 2 , etc.

In principle, similar to that of FIG. 1, the diverter operates according to Fig. 2. Here, the conveyed piece goods to be sorted 1 to 4 with the help of a stacker, or a tape to the object position 12. The piece goods can also be delivered twice or multiple consecutively. Already on the task location 12 a sensor 15 is assigned, which detects the selection features of the piece goods; the task area is also a buffer area. The characteristics determined are saved for each piece goods and used to control the downstream elements of the system. Preferably, it should be ensured that from the respective position of the individual piece goods 1 to 4 , at least at least in the distribution point 17, it can be seen exactly to which track 21 to 24 of the collection point 20 the individual piece goods 1 to 4 is to be finally brought.

A special feature of the system according to FIG. 2 is that the distribution tracks 18 are designed as a roundabout (the term “circle” is not only meant geometrically, but generally as a closed line). Such a roundabout requires considerable performance in sorting and distributing. Only two parallel circular bands are shown. In principle, a single circular band would also suffice to achieve the object on which the invention is based. Likewise, three or more, preferably parallel, circular bands can be provided. The more circular bands there are, the greater the performance of the system.

The circular bands, that is, the distribution tracks 18 , are divided into at least four segments according to FIG. 2 when four adjacent piece goods of the feeder 12 are to be brought into a distribution track 18 at the same time. If two circular bands - as shown - are available, all eight general cargo of the task place 12 can be fed to the distribution point 17 at the same time. The direction of rotation of the circular bands is determined by the shortest distance to the relevant collecting track 21 to 24 . The circular bands can run against each other or with each other.

In principle, the piece goods can be discharged at any point on the circular belt (distribution track 18 ). According to FIG. 2 Sam are melausgänge 25 for the piece goods four and an error output 29 is provided. The collecting tracks 25 are followed by the collecting tracks 21 to 24 etc. as in FIG. 1. The fault output 29 ends in a fault collector 30 , in which those piece goods are combined which are faulty and / or do not fulfill any of the tested features 1 to 4 .

Fig. 3 shows a diverter according to the invention, in which the Verteilplatz joins 17 in the longitudinal direction of the pallet 11 to the object position 12. The Aufga beplatz 12 is also a test station and therefore equipped with a sensor 15 . According to FIG. 3, the two Verteilspuren 18 can at the same time or be supplied separately with piece goods from the feed space. The system according to FIG. 3 sits a fault collector 30 , on which an operator 31 can be used for after inspection or manual reworking. The usable piece goods can be placed by the operator on an auxiliary pallet 32 , with the aid of which the sorted but still usable piece goods can be returned (on the way 33 ) to the entrance, e.g. B. to task place 12 are to be brought.

According to FIG. 3, respectively provided at the respective output 34 of the collecting space 20 of the collecting tracks 21 to 24, a collection 35 (preferably transverse to the tracks 21 to 24 continuously). The tracks 21 to 24 are emptied one after the other onto the collecting belt 35 , each time a lock 36 is opened . The delivered piece goods are fed to a new pallet 28 .

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, similarly to FIG. 1, incoming piece goods are brought to a task location 12 on a pallet 11 (and classified there) and then, for. B. with the help of the positioning belts 37 and 38 , conveyed to conveyor belts 39 or rollers 40 of the distribution tracks 18 . With the help of the rollers 40 , the pallets (in this example according to five characteristics) can be brought in the direction of the collection point or in the direction of the tracks 21 ff of the collection point.

The situation in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5 is very similar to that in FIG. 4. Here, piece goods are presented in a pallet 11 in some way.

The pallet can be positioned on a lifting table ( Fig. 7) and transported in layers to the loading area. From there, the individual piece goods can be brought into the area of the distribution point 17 on continuous positioning belts 41 . The example here shows a distribution point 17 with four distribution tracks 18 ge. From Verteilplatz 17 get the piece goods such. B. with the help of rollers 40 , on the collection tracks 21 ff of the collection point 20th An error output 29 with error collector 30 is also provided in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5. At the end of each of the distribution tracks 21 to 24 , releasable locks 36 are positioned so that the tracks 21 to 24 can be emptied one after the other (as in FIG. 3).

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan view and elevation of he inventive sorting system shown schematically. A pallet 11 is placed on a lifting table 43 with the aid of a stacker 42 or the like. Already on the way to the lifting table 43 - ie before the arrival on the actual loading area - the pallet 11 can be checked from the sides with the help of a label sensor 44 . In this way a side pallet image, e.g. B. for five to six rows high and four columns wide. The measurement result, e.g. B. number, type and order of piece goods is taken into account in the further testing or classification.

The pallet 11 continues from the label recognition (sensor 44 ), preferably still on the stacker 42 , until it is placed on the lifting table 43 under the sensor 15 . With the help of the sensor 15 , each pallet layer 13 is individually from above, for. B. for completeness, type, color, type, etc. of the respective stored items examined. The measurement result determined in this way is - combined with the first - stored so that the test results remain assigned to the individual piece goods 1 to 4 at least until the piece goods in the specially provided for its characteristics when the individual pallet layer 13 is transported further Collection track of the collection point 20 ( Fig. 1 to 5) has arrived.

When a pallet is checked layer 13, it is with the aid of gripping arms 45, which lower above the top layer 13 and the film clamps, is lifted and placed on the object space 12th The preferably forming a frame around the pallet layer 13 gripper arms 45 are then released, raised and retracted, at the same time the lifting table 43 is to be raised by a layer thickness, so that the lower edge of the respective uppermost pallet layer 13 reaches the position required for the next step. The further processing or sorting of the piece goods takes place, for example, as in FIGS. 1 to 5. A re-sorting system with a fault collector 30 can also be provided in FIG. 6.

A distribution switch for piece goods is described, which has a task location, has a test station, a distribution point and a collection point and at which the general cargo delivered in groups to the test station to be classified according to specified characteristics and at the distribution point on the Fields corresponding to characteristics of the assembly point must be divided. To the Distribution speed without sacrificing quality and at the same time that for To reduce the space required, each one of the given Characteristics assigned field of the assembly point formed as a separate track and the distribution point becomes at least one across the set of collection tracks running distribution track with one collective exit to each collective track arranges in which the piece goods classified at the test station across to the Sam Melspuren are slidably mounted. The assignment according to the invention Individual previously classified general cargo with the collection tracks is done dynamically through software that also ensures that the individual general cargo is based on the because the shortest route to its collection track. In case of a high attack A type of piece goods, this type or characteristic can have two or more collecting tracks can be assigned.

Reference list

1

to

4th

General cargo

11

palette

12th

Task place

13

Pallet layer

14

Test station

15

sensor

16

Distribution outlet

17th

Distribution point

18th

Distribution track

19th

Direction of movement (

18th

)

20th

Assembly point

21

to

24th

Collection traces

25th

Group exit

26

Forklift

27

Direction of transport

28

palette

29

Error output

30th

Fault collector

31

Operator

32

Auxiliary pallet

33

Path (

32

)

34

Exit (

20th

)

35

Anthology

36

Lock

37

,

38

Positioning belts (

Fig.

4th

)

39

Conveyor belt

40

roll

41

Positioning goods (

5

)

42

Forklift

43

Lift table

44

Label sensor

45

Gripper arm

Claims (22)

1. Distribution switch for picking and sorting systems for piece goods ( 1 to 4 ), such as boxes, tons or similar in groups or stacks, z. B. on pallets ( 11 ) or conveyor belts, containers to be transported or stored, with egg nem task station ( 12 ), a test station ( 14 ), a distribution point ( 17 ) and a collection point ( 20 ), the in groups or Classify stacked goods ( 1 to 4 ) delivered to the test station ( 12 ) at the test station ( 14 ) according to specified characteristics and deliver them to the characteristics corresponding fields of the assembly point ( 20 ), characterized in that each one of the predefined characteristics associated field of the collection point ( 20 ) is formed as a separate track of a group of collection tracks ( 21 to 24 ) that the distribution point ( 17 ) at least one distribution track ( 18 ) transverse to the group of collection tracks ( 21 to 24 ), each with one Collective exit ( 25 ) to each collective track ( 21 to 24 ) and that the piece goods ( 1 to 4 ) classified according to the characteristics at the test station ( 14 ) in their distribution track ( 18 ) are slidably mounted transversely to the collecting tracks ( 21 to 24 ). 2. Distribution switch according to claim 1, characterized in that a sensor ( 15 ) or a sensor system for checking the features to be examined is assigned to a group, in particular a layer ( 13 ), of piece goods ( 1 to 4 ). 3. Distribution switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the collecting tracks ( 21 to 24 ) are substantially parallel to each other. 4. Distribution switch according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each collecting track ( 21 to 24 ) is approximately perpendicular to a distribution track ( 18 ). 5. Distribution switch according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the distribution point ( 17 ) has at least two mutually parallel distribution tracks ( 18 ). 6. Distribution switch according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the distribution point ( 17 ) space and thus a corresponding number of distribution tracks ( 18 ) for all in the task area ( 12 ) and / or test station ( 14 ) each contained cargo in unchanged mutual assignment has ( Fig. 5). 7. Distribution switch according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each distribution track ( 18 ) is assigned a distribution output ( 16 ) of the task and / or test station ( 12 , 14 ). 8. Distribution switch according to claim 7, characterized in that each distribution output ( 16 ) of the task and / or test station ( 12 , 14 ) is transverse to the main transport direction of the respective distribution track ( 18 ) ( Fig. 1). 9. Distribution switch according to claim 7, characterized in that each distribution outlet ( 16 ) of the task and / or test station ( 12 , 14 ) is equipped with means for conveying the piece goods ( 1 to 4 ) to a longitudinal end of a distribution track ( 18 ) ( Fig. 3 to 5). 10. Diverter switch according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the task area ( 12 ) also forms out as a test area ( 14 ) ( Fig. 3). 11. Distribution switch according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the feed station ( 12 ) is designed as a lifting table ( 43 ) for receiving a stack of superimposed general cargo layers ( 13 ) ( Fig. 7). 12. Distribution switch according to claim 11, characterized in that the lifting table ( 43 ) means ( 45 ) for individually lifting the cargo layers ( 13 ) are arranged. 13. Distribution switch according to at least one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that for transport within the distribution and / or collecting tracks ( 18 ; 21 to 24 ) and for transporting out of the tracks or into the tracks roles, Chains, bands and / or pushers are provided. 14. Distribution switch according to at least one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that straight distribution tracks ( 18 ) are provided. 15. Distribution switch according to at least one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the distribution tracks ( 18 ) are designed as closed paths of a roundabout ( Fig. 2). 16. Distribution switch according to at least one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that one or more optical, mechanical and / or acoustic sensors ( 15 ) for classifying the piece goods ( 1 to 4 ) are hen vorgese. 17. Distribution switch according to at least one of claims 1 to 16, characterized by the integration of a depalletizing part, a task area ( 12 ), egg nes test station ( 14 ), a distribution point ( 17 ), a collection point ( 20 ) and a re-palletizing part in one device . 18. Diverter switch according to at least one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that a fault collector ( 30 ), in particular in combination with the collection point ( 20 ) is provided for the collection of piece goods that do not meet any of the features specified. 19. Distribution switch according to claim 18, characterized in that the error collector ( 30 ) is a return ( 33 ) for post-processed cargo. 20. Process for distributing piece goods, such as boxes, crates or barrels which the piece goods are classified in groups at the test station and then Groups corresponding to the characteristics of the Collection point are divided, especially for the operation of the switch at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that that they are in rectangular groups, possibly in several, one above the other the layers, transported piece goods layer by layer with storage for every single general cargo can be classified and that the classified result is saved as well as on the further transport of the individual piece goods is used as path control. 21. Process for the distribution of piece goods, such as boxes, crates or bins which the piece goods are classified in groups at the test station and then Groups corresponding to the characteristics of the Collection point are divided, especially for the operation of the switch at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that that the classification before and during the loading at the task area tion of the piece goods and that the piece goods this result following the individual distribution and collection tracks according to the characteristics leads. 22. Processes for distributing piece goods, such as boxes, crates or bins which the piece goods are classified in groups at the test station and then Groups corresponding to the characteristics of the Collection point are divided, especially for the operation of the switch at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that that the functions of giving up, classifying and distributing as well as if necessary, stacking at the end of each stacking track in one and the same system be carried out.