EP0167091B1 - Separating device for flat articles - Google Patents

Separating device for flat articles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0167091B1
EP0167091B1 EP85107855A EP85107855A EP0167091B1 EP 0167091 B1 EP0167091 B1 EP 0167091B1 EP 85107855 A EP85107855 A EP 85107855A EP 85107855 A EP85107855 A EP 85107855A EP 0167091 B1 EP0167091 B1 EP 0167091B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
spacing
take
article
taken
corrected
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Expired
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EP85107855A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0167091A1 (en
Inventor
Hanno Dr.-Ing. Gillmann
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Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
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Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
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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
    • B07C1/00—Measures preceding sorting according to destination
    • B07C1/02—Forming articles into a stream; Arranging articles in a stream, e.g. spacing, orientating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
    • B65H7/02—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors
    • B65H7/14—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors by photoelectric feelers or detectors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/20—Location in space
    • B65H2511/22—Distance
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2553/00—Sensing or detecting means
    • B65H2553/40—Sensing or detecting means using optical, e.g. photographic, elements
    • B65H2553/41—Photoelectric detectors
    • B65H2553/416—Array arrangement, i.e. row of emitters or detectors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/1916—Envelopes and articles of mail

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a separating device according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
  • a first sensing device is arranged between the stack exit and the conveyor rollers, which feeds the mail items each into the detection range of a pair of continuously driven conveyor rollers. This is followed by a second sensing device at a predetermined distance.
  • a control circuit controls the drive of the fume cupboard as a function of the signals from the sensing devices.
  • Both sensing devices form measuring sections running along the conveying path, the output signals of which are a measure of the partial section of the relevant measuring section which is covered by the leading edge of the mail item to be delivered or by the reference edge of the previously delivered mail item.
  • the control circuit is designed in such a way that the drive of the take-off device starts as soon as the section of the second measuring section covered by the reference edge of the previously delivered item has become the same size as the section by which the item to be delivered protrudes into the first measuring section.
  • the sensing devices preferably consist of light barriers.
  • the known separating device triggers a deduction if it is determined with the aid of the sensing devices (light barriers) that a predetermined minimum distance has been reached between the rear edge of the leading mail item and the front edge of the subsequent mail item.
  • This predetermined minimum distance must be specified in practice so that the separating device downstream devices, for. B. a letter sorting device can process as many items as possible per time unit. Trouble-free processing requires compliance with minimum gaps between consecutive consignments.
  • the invention is based on the object, in a generic device, to approximate the mean value of the trigger gaps actually achieved as closely as possible to the minimum gap in order to largely achieve a maximum deduction performance.
  • the gap enlargement caused by the respective acceleration process should therefore be avoided.
  • the trigger control triggers a deduction if a gap is determined which corresponds to the desired target minimum gap minus a specification for the acceleration path.
  • the deviation of the gap achieved from the target gap after deduction has been established and the specification for the acceleration path for the subsequent trigger starts is corrected.
  • changes in the acceleration behavior caused by the drive system of the take-off device and / or the separating properties of the items to be separated are automatically corrected; the system adjusts itself.
  • the length of the preceding program can be measured and the gap to the subsequent program can be controlled as a function thereof. This is interesting if higher transport speeds are used in subsequent facilities of the system (e.g. in sorting facilities) and an almost constant gap is to be achieved there regardless of the length of the shipment.
  • the trigger control is expediently carried out using a microprocessor which continuously queries the state of the light barriers and uses this in its program to calculate the desired trigger times and to trigger the trigger.
  • the same device can also be used when control at constant leading edge spacing is desired.
  • FIG. 1 is fixedly mounted, but a shaft 20, on which a roller 21 is attached, is freely rotatable.
  • the shaft 20 also serves for the pivotable mounting of a rocker arm 22, which carries the axis 23 of a further roller (pull-off roller) 24.
  • a take-off belt 25 is guided as a separating member, the outer surface of which has a high coefficient of friction.
  • the rocker arm 22 is supported by a schematically indicated spring 26, so that its respective position depends on the pressing force of the stack of mail items, of which the foremost mail item 1 'is shown when it is pulled off.
  • the free end of the rocker 22 acts on a microswitch, not shown. If the pressure force of the stack is too low, the microswitch closes a normally closed contact, whereby a gear motor (not shown) is switched on. At the end of the stack, this drives a supporting wall in the direction of the take-off roller 24 until after said position of the rocker corresponding to the intended pressing force the said break contact switches off again.
  • the shaft 20 is controlled by a motor (not shown) that runs continuously during operation by means of a clutch and brake, that is to say intermittently, in the direction of the arrow - dashed in the illustration of the roller 20.
  • Clutch and brake are arranged so that the shaft 20 in the presence of a control signal based on FIG. 2 control circuit 60, explained in more detail, is connected to the drive and, in the absence of the control signal, is braked while disconnecting this connection.
  • a drive amplifier for this drive is designated by 30.
  • edges (leading edges) of the mail items in the stack pointing in the conveying direction lie more or less close to a stop wall 40, which leaves a gap (stack exit) allowing the mail items to pass through to the take-off belt 25.
  • conveyor rollers 43 and 44 Arranged in the conveying path of the mail items is a pair of continuously driven conveyor rollers 43 and 44, by means of which the mail items are forcibly conveyed as soon as they have reached their detection area.
  • These conveyor rollers also serve here as deflection rollers of conveyor belts 48 and 49 which are guided in the conveying direction around further deflection rollers 50 and 51. While the driven conveyor roller 43 is fixed, the conveyor roller 44 is flexible in a known manner, for. B. on a pivotable lever, but this is not shown in the drawing for the sake of simplicity.
  • a measuring path 71/71 ' is then arranged along the conveying path of the mail items at the stack exit (stop wall 40).
  • This measuring section is designed in such a way that its output signals are a measure of the partial section of the measuring section concerned that is swept from the front edge of the mail item 1 'to be delivered or from the reference edge (rear edge) of the previously delivered mail item 1 ".
  • the measuring section 71/71 ' is formed by seven successive light barriers, the light receivers of which are designated by the reference numeral 71 and their associated light sources by 71'. Photodiodes or phototransistors are used as light receivers.
  • a light barrier 73/73 '(with light sources 73') monitoring the detection area of the conveyor rollers 43 and 44 is provided.
  • This light barrier 73/73 ' is the last light barrier in the row of light barriers, it triggers the stop of the take-off belt 25 when the front edge of the mail item delivered has reached the conveyor belts 48, 49.
  • FIG. 2 schematically shows details from FIG. 1.
  • Essential for the control circuit 60 is a microprocessor, which evaluates the light barrier signals and determines the respective positions of the programs 1 ′ and 1 ′′ from the light / dark signals.

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf eine Vereinzelungseinrichtung gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Patentanspruchs 1.The invention relates to a separating device according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Bei einerz. B. aus der DE-PS 26 13 261 und dem Zusatz-Patent DE-PS 27 12 907 bekannten Einrichtung dieser Art zur aufeinanderfolgenden Abgabe von vereinzelten Briefsendungen aus einem Stapel mit einem dauernd mit der jeweils vordersten Sendung in Eingriff stehenden, gesteuert umlaufenden Abzugsorgan, welches die Sendungen jeweils bis in den Erfassungsbereich eines Paares von dauernd angetriebenen Förderrollen vorschiebt, ist zwischen dem Stapelausgang und den Förderrollen eine erste Fühleinrichtung angeordnet. Dieser folgt ein einem vorgegebenen Abstand eine zweite Fühleinrichtung. Eine Steuerschaltung steuert in Abhängigkeit von den Signalen der Fühleinrichtungen den Antrieb des Abzugsorgans. Beide Fühleinrichtungen bilden hierbei entlang des Förderweges verlaufende Meßstrecken, deren Ausgangssignale ein Maß für die von der Vorderkante der abzugebenden Sendung bzw. von der Bezugskante der zuvor abgegebenen Sendung überstrichene Teilstrecke der betreffenden Meßstrecke sind. Die Steuerschaltung ist so ausgebildet, daß der Antrieb des Abzugsorgans jeweils einsetzt, sobald die von der Bezugskante der zuvor abgegebenen Sendung überstrichene Teilstrecke der zweiten Meßstrecke gleich groß geworden ist wie die Teilstrecke, um die die abzugebende Sendung in die erste Meßstrecke hineinragt. Vorzugsweise bestehen die Fühleinrichtungen aus Lichtschranken.At one. B. from DE-PS 26 13 261 and the additional patent DE-PS 27 12 907 known device of this type for the successive delivery of individual mail items from a stack with a constantly engaged with the foremost mail, controlled rotating extractor, a first sensing device is arranged between the stack exit and the conveyor rollers, which feeds the mail items each into the detection range of a pair of continuously driven conveyor rollers. This is followed by a second sensing device at a predetermined distance. A control circuit controls the drive of the fume cupboard as a function of the signals from the sensing devices. Both sensing devices form measuring sections running along the conveying path, the output signals of which are a measure of the partial section of the relevant measuring section which is covered by the leading edge of the mail item to be delivered or by the reference edge of the previously delivered mail item. The control circuit is designed in such a way that the drive of the take-off device starts as soon as the section of the second measuring section covered by the reference edge of the previously delivered item has become the same size as the section by which the item to be delivered protrudes into the first measuring section. The sensing devices preferably consist of light barriers.

Mit anderen Worten löst die bekannte Vereinzelungseinrichtung einen Abzug aus, wenn mit Hilfe der Fühleinrichtungen (Lichtschranken) festgestellt ist, daß zwischen der Hinterkante der vorlaufenden Sendung und der Vorderkante der nahfolgenden Sendung ein vorgegebener Mindestabstand erreicht ist.In other words, the known separating device triggers a deduction if it is determined with the aid of the sensing devices (light barriers) that a predetermined minimum distance has been reached between the rear edge of the leading mail item and the front edge of the subsequent mail item.

Dieser vorgegebene Mindestabstand muß in der Praxis so vorgegeben sein, daß der Vereinzelungseinrichtung nachgeschaltete Einrichtungen, z. B. eine Briefsortiereinrichtung, pro Zeiteinheit möglichst viele Sendungen verarbeiten kann. Eine störungsfreie Verarbeitung erfordert die Einhaltung von Mindestlücken zwischen aufeinanderfolgenden Sendungen.This predetermined minimum distance must be specified in practice so that the separating device downstream devices, for. B. a letter sorting device can process as many items as possible per time unit. Trouble-free processing requires compliance with minimum gaps between consecutive consignments.

Nachteilig auf die tatsächliche Einhaltung dieser Mindestlücken wirken sich die unterschiedlichen mechanischen Eigenschaften von nicht völlig, z. B. in Dimension, Gewicht und Oberflächenrauhigkeit, miteinander übereinstimmenden Sendungen aus, dadurch den Beschleunigungsvorgang durch Auslösung ihres Abzuges vom Stapel bei derartig unterschiedlichen Sendungen - die in der Praxis die Mehrzahl sind - Lückenvergrößerungen gegenüber der optimalen Mindestlücke die Folge sind und daraus resultierend eine Verminderung der Verarbeitungsleistung pro Zeiteinheit.The actual mechanical compliance of these minimum gaps has the disadvantage that the different mechanical properties of not completely, for. B. in dimension, weight and surface roughness, matching consignments, thereby accelerating the process by triggering their deduction from the stack in such different consignments - which in practice are the majority - widening gaps compared to the optimal minimum gap and resulting in a reduction in the Processing performance per unit of time.

Der Erfindung, deren Lösungsmerkmale dem Patentanspruch 1 entnehmbar sind, liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, bei einer gattungsgemäßen Einrichtung den Mittelwert der tatsächlich erreichten Abzugslücken möglichst dicht an die Mindestlücke anzunähern, um so eine maximale Abzugsleistung weitgehend zu erreichen. Es soll also die durch den jeweiligen Beschleunigungsvorgang entstehende Lückenvergrößerung vermieden werden.The invention, the solution features of which can be found in patent claim 1, is based on the object, in a generic device, to approximate the mean value of the trigger gaps actually achieved as closely as possible to the minimum gap in order to largely achieve a maximum deduction performance. The gap enlargement caused by the respective acceleration process should therefore be avoided.

Die Vorteile der Erfindung sind demnach hauptsächlich darin zu sehen, daß eine gleichmäßigere Lücke entsteht, deren Mittelwert dichter an der eingestellten Mindestlücke liegt. Damit ergibt sich eine höhere mittlere Abzugsleistung, ohne an die nachfolgenden Einrichtungen, z. B. Sortiereinrichtungen, höhere Anforderungen zu stellen.The advantages of the invention are therefore primarily to be seen in the fact that a more uniform gap is created, the mean value of which is closer to the set minimum gap. This results in a higher average deduction, without the subsequent facilities, for. B. sorting devices to make higher demands.

Bei der erfindungsgemäßen Lösung löst die Abzugssteuerung einen Abzug aus, wenn eine Lücke festgestellt wird, die der gewünschten Soll-Mindestlücke abzüglich einer Vorgabe für den Beschleunigungsweg entspricht.In the solution according to the invention, the trigger control triggers a deduction if a gap is determined which corresponds to the desired target minimum gap minus a specification for the acceleration path.

In weiterer Ausgestaltung der Erfindung wird die Abweichung der erreichten Lücke von der Soll-Lücke nach erfolgtem Abzug festgestellt und die Vorgabe für den Beschleunigungsweg für die nachfolgenden Abzugs-Starts korrigiert. Dadurch werden Veränderungen im Beschleunigungsverhalten, bedingt durch das Antriebssystem der Abzugseinrichtung und/oder die Vereinzelungseigenschaften der zu vereinzelnden Sendungen automatisch korrigiert; das System stellt sich selbst nach.In a further embodiment of the invention, the deviation of the gap achieved from the target gap after deduction has been established and the specification for the acceleration path for the subsequent trigger starts is corrected. As a result, changes in the acceleration behavior caused by the drive system of the take-off device and / or the separating properties of the items to be separated are automatically corrected; the system adjusts itself.

Außerdem kann gemäß einer Weiterbildung der Erfindung die Länge der vorlaufenden Sendung gemessen und davon abhängig die Lücke zur nachfolgenden Sendung gesteuert werden. Dies ist interessant, wenn in nachfolgenden Einrichtungen der Anlage höhere Transportgeschwindigkeiten verwendet werden (z. B. in Sortiereinrichtungen) und dort eine annähernd konstante Lücke unabhängig von der Sendungslänge erreicht werden soll.In addition, according to a further development of the invention, the length of the preceding program can be measured and the gap to the subsequent program can be controlled as a function thereof. This is interesting if higher transport speeds are used in subsequent facilities of the system (e.g. in sorting facilities) and an almost constant gap is to be achieved there regardless of the length of the shipment.

Die Abzugssteuerung erfolgt zweckmäßigerweise unter Verwendung eines Mikroprozessors, der den Zustand der Lichtschranken laufend abfragt und daraus in seinem Programm die gewünschte Abzugszeitpunkte errechnet und den Abzug auslöst.The trigger control is expediently carried out using a microprocessor which continuously queries the state of the light barriers and uses this in its program to calculate the desired trigger times and to trigger the trigger.

Dieselbe Einrichtung kann auch verwendet werden, wenn eine Steuerung auf konstanten Vorderkantenabstand erwünscht ist.The same device can also be used when control at constant leading edge spacing is desired.

Anhand der Zeichnungen wird die Erfindung in Beispielsfällen nunmehr näher erläutert.The invention will now be explained in more detail in exemplary cases with reference to the drawings.

Gemäß FIG. 1 ist fest gelagert, aber frei drehbar eine Welle 20 vorgesehen, auf der eine Rolle 21 befestigt ist. Die Welle 20 dient außerdem zur schwenkbaren Lagerung einer Schwinge 22, die die Achse 23 einer weiteren Rolle (Abzugsrolle) 24 trägt. Um die Rolle 21 und die Abzugsrolle 24 ist als Vereinzelungsorgan eine Abzugsband 25 geführt, dessen Außenfläche einen hohen Reibwert aufweist.According to FIG. 1 is fixedly mounted, but a shaft 20, on which a roller 21 is attached, is freely rotatable. The shaft 20 also serves for the pivotable mounting of a rocker arm 22, which carries the axis 23 of a further roller (pull-off roller) 24. Around the roller 21 and the take-off roller 24, a take-off belt 25 is guided as a separating member, the outer surface of which has a high coefficient of friction.

Die Schwinge 22 ist durch eine schematisch angedeutete Feder 26 abgestützt, so daß ihre jeweilige Stellung von der Andruckkraft des Sendungsstapels abhängt, von dem die vorderste Sendung 1' bei ihrem Abzug gezeigt ist. Das freie Ende der Schwinge 22 wirkt auf einen nicht gezeigten Mikroschalter ein. Ist die Andruckkraft des Stapels zu gering, dann schließt ein Ruhekontakt des Mikroschalters, wodurch ein nicht gezeigter Getriebemotor eingeschaltet wird. Dieser treibt am Stapelende eine Stützwand so lange in Richtung auf die Abzugsrolle 24 an, bis nach Erreichen der der vorgesehenen Andruckkraft entsprechenden Stellung der Schwinge der genannte Ruhekontakt wieder ausschaltet.The rocker arm 22 is supported by a schematically indicated spring 26, so that its respective position depends on the pressing force of the stack of mail items, of which the foremost mail item 1 'is shown when it is pulled off. The free end of the rocker 22 acts on a microswitch, not shown. If the pressure force of the stack is too low, the microswitch closes a normally closed contact, whereby a gear motor (not shown) is switched on. At the end of the stack, this drives a supporting wall in the direction of the take-off roller 24 until after said position of the rocker corresponding to the intended pressing force the said break contact switches off again.

Die Welle 20 wird durch einen nicht dargestellten, während des Betriebes dauernd laufenden Motor mittels einer Kupplung und Bremse steuerbar, also intermittierend, in Richtung des - in der Abbildung der Rolle 20 - gestrichelten Pfeiles angetrieben. Kupplung und Bremse sind so angeordnet, daß die Welle 20 beim Vorliegen eines Steuersignals einer anhand FIG. 2 näher erläuterten Steuerschaltung 60 mit dem Antrieb verbunden und beim Fehlen des Steuersignals unter Trennung dieser Verbindung abgebremst wird.The shaft 20 is controlled by a motor (not shown) that runs continuously during operation by means of a clutch and brake, that is to say intermittently, in the direction of the arrow - dashed in the illustration of the roller 20. Clutch and brake are arranged so that the shaft 20 in the presence of a control signal based on FIG. 2 control circuit 60, explained in more detail, is connected to the drive and, in the absence of the control signal, is braked while disconnecting this connection.

Mit 30 ist ein Ansteuerverstärker für diesen Antrieb bezeichnet.A drive amplifier for this drive is designated by 30.

Die in Förderrichtung weisenden Kanten (Vorderkanten) der im Stapel befindlichen Sendungen liegen mehr oder weniger dicht an einer Anschlagwand 40 an, die zum Abzugsband 25 einen den Durchtritt der Sendungen ermöglichenden Spalt (Stapelausgang) freiläßt.The edges (leading edges) of the mail items in the stack pointing in the conveying direction lie more or less close to a stop wall 40, which leaves a gap (stack exit) allowing the mail items to pass through to the take-off belt 25.

Im Förderweg der Sendungen ist ein Paar von dauernd angetriebenen Förderrollen 43 und 44 angeordnet, durch die die Sendungen zwangsweise weitergefördert werden, sobald sie in ihren Erfassungsbereich gelangt sind. Diese Förderrollen dienen hier außerdem als Umlenkrollen von Förderbändern 48 und 49, die in Förderrichtung um weitere Umlenkrollen 50 und 51 geführt sind. Während die angetriebene Förderrolle 43 fest gelagert ist, ist die Förderrolle 44 in bekannter Weise nachgiebig, z. B. auf einem schwenkbaren Hebel, gelagert, was aber in der Zeichnung der Einfachheit halber nicht dargestellt ist.Arranged in the conveying path of the mail items is a pair of continuously driven conveyor rollers 43 and 44, by means of which the mail items are forcibly conveyed as soon as they have reached their detection area. These conveyor rollers also serve here as deflection rollers of conveyor belts 48 and 49 which are guided in the conveying direction around further deflection rollers 50 and 51. While the driven conveyor roller 43 is fixed, the conveyor roller 44 is flexible in a known manner, for. B. on a pivotable lever, but this is not shown in the drawing for the sake of simplicity.

Entlang des Förderweges der Sendungen ist anschließend an den Stapelausgang (Anschlagwand 40) eine Meßstrecke 71/71' angeordnet. Diese Meßstrecke ist so ausgebildet, daß ihre Ausgangssignale ein Maß für die von der Vorderkante der abzugebenden Sendung 1' bzw. von der Bezugskante (Hinterkante) der zuvor abgegebenen Sendung 1" überstrichene Teilstrecke der betreffenden Meßstrecke sind.A measuring path 71/71 'is then arranged along the conveying path of the mail items at the stack exit (stop wall 40). This measuring section is designed in such a way that its output signals are a measure of the partial section of the measuring section concerned that is swept from the front edge of the mail item 1 'to be delivered or from the reference edge (rear edge) of the previously delivered mail item 1 ".

Beim gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel ist die Meßstrecke 71/71' durch sieben aufeinanderfolgende Lichtschranken gebildet, deren Lichtempfänger mit dem Bezugszeichen 71 und deren zugehörigen Lichtquellen mit 71' bezeichnet sind. Als Lichtempfänger werden Fotodioden oder Fototransistoren verwendet.In the exemplary embodiment shown, the measuring section 71/71 'is formed by seven successive light barriers, the light receivers of which are designated by the reference numeral 71 and their associated light sources by 71'. Photodiodes or phototransistors are used as light receivers.

Außerdem ist eine den Erfassungsbereich der Förderrollen 43 und 44 überwachende Lichtschranke 73/73' (mit Lichtquellen 73') vorgesehen.In addition, a light barrier 73/73 '(with light sources 73') monitoring the detection area of the conveyor rollers 43 and 44 is provided.

Diese Lichtschranke 73/73' ist in der Zeile der Lichtschranken die letzte Lichtschranke, sie löst den Stop des Abzugsbandes 25, wenn die Vorderkante der abgegebenen Sendung die Transportbänder 48, 49 erreicht hat.This light barrier 73/73 'is the last light barrier in the row of light barriers, it triggers the stop of the take-off belt 25 when the front edge of the mail item delivered has reached the conveyor belts 48, 49.

FIG. 2 zeigt schematisch Einzelheiten aus FIG. 1.FIG. 2 schematically shows details from FIG. 1.

Wesentlich für die Steuerschaltung 60 ist ein Mikroprozessor, der die Lichtschrankensignale auswertet und aus den Hell/Dunkel-Signalen die jeweiligen Positionen der Sendungen 1' und 1" ermittelt. Mittels der in ihm daraus entsprechend der Erfindung und ihren Weiterbildungen verknüpften Signale aus seinem Programm- und Datenspeicher werden die Steuersignale für den Sendungsabzug gewonnen.Essential for the control circuit 60 is a microprocessor, which evaluates the light barrier signals and determines the respective positions of the programs 1 ′ and 1 ″ from the light / dark signals. By means of the signals from its program linked therefrom in accordance with the invention and its further developments. and data storage, the control signals for the shipment deduction are obtained.

Claims (4)

1. Singling equipment for the feeding of flat articles (1', 1") from a stack to a conveyor, in particular letter consignments, with a control circuit (60) for the control of the take-off in dependence on the spacing of the article (1'), which is to be taken off, from the front edge or rear edge of the article (1"), which has already been taken off, and for the determination of this spacing by a measuring section (71, 71'), which is arranged downstream of the stack outlet (40) and extends along the conveying path and the output signals of which are fed to the control circuit (60), wherein the measuring section (71, 71'), consists of a series of light barriers and, in a given case, of a pulse generator, the cyclic rate of which is dependent on the movement of the conveyor, characterised thereby, that the control circuit (60) displays means, by which the respective spacing measurement result is corrected by a bias value which is dependent on the acceleration path of the article (1'), which is to be taken off, and by which the take-off is initiated when the magnitude of the thus corrected spacing measurement result corresponds to a target spacing value.
2. Singling equipment according to claim 1, characterised thereby, that the spacing attained during the take-off is compared with the desired spacing, that the bias value in the case of deviation is corrected by an amount derived from the deviation and that this thus corrected bias value is used for the determination of the take-off instant for the succeeding article (1').
3. Singling equipment according to claim 2, characterised thereby, that for the spacing measurement for the correction of the bias value, only such take-off operations are evaluated as in which the article (1'), which is to be taken off, darkens at least one of the light barriers (71, 71') at the instant of the take-off or earlier.
4. Singling equipment according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised thereby, that the target spacing value is varied in dependence on the length of the article (1"), which has just been taken off, the target spacing value preferably being reduced with increasing length.
EP85107855A 1984-07-03 1985-06-25 Separating device for flat articles Expired EP0167091B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3424397 1984-07-03
DE19843424397 DE3424397A1 (en) 1984-07-03 1984-07-03 SINGLE DEVICE FOR FLAT OBJECTS

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0167091A1 EP0167091A1 (en) 1986-01-08
EP0167091B1 true EP0167091B1 (en) 1989-03-15

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EP85107855A Expired EP0167091B1 (en) 1984-07-03 1985-06-25 Separating device for flat articles

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US (1) US4691912A (en)
EP (1) EP0167091B1 (en)
DE (2) DE3424397A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US4691912A (en) 1987-09-08
EP0167091A1 (en) 1986-01-08
DE3424397A1 (en) 1986-01-09
DE3568718D1 (en) 1989-04-20

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