EP0646421B1 - Improved apparatus for identifying and continuously weighing a parcel having a label with a bar code set - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an installation for identifying and weighing continuous a moving parcel, the label of which presents a set barcode. It also relates to a plurality of installations of the type in question, each linked to a central management unit intended to sort, locate, reference and manage packages in a sorting center.

We have long known how to identify packages with labels bar code. It is known to scroll these packages on conveyor belts where you read the barcode using a hand gun connected to a unit processing this information to take each of these parcels under management. Although widely used, this technique is still considered too slow for modern sorting centers and too expensive, especially since it permanently requires one person per installation or processing chain.

• une succession d'au moins trois tapis convoyeurs sans fin commandés par des moteurs, respectivement :
  • un premier convoyeur entraíné en mouvement sur lequel on dépose le colis à identifier et à peser,
  • un second convoyeur associé au plateau d'une balance apte à mesurer le poids du colis posé sur ce second convoyeur,
  • un troisième convoyeur pour extraire le colis identifié et pesé;
• une tête de lecture de code à barres disposée au dessus de la zone de sortie du premier convoyeur et d'entrée du second convoyeur, ladite tête de lecture transmettant les informations lues sur l'étiquette à une unité électronique de traitement et de commande, reliée également à la balance;
• une pluralité de cellules aptes à détecter la présence ou le passage du colis à identifier, connectées à l'unité de traitement et de commande, lesdites cellules étant disposées respectivement à l'entrée du premier convoyeur pour commander sa mise en route, à l'entrée du second convoyeur pour déclencher la tête de lecture et pour stopper ledit second convoyeur, lorsque le colis occulte la troisième cellule située à la sortie du second convoyeur, et enfin une cellule générée par le moteur du deuxième convoyeur pour permettre la pesée du colis à l'arrêt.

In document FR-A-2 649 815, the Applicant has described an installation of the type in question comprising:

• a succession of at least three endless conveyor belts controlled by motors, respectively:
  • a first conveyor driven in movement on which the package to be identified and weighed is placed,
  • a second conveyor associated with the platform of a scale capable of measuring the weight of the package placed on this second conveyor,
  • a third conveyor to extract the identified and weighed package;
• a bar code reading head disposed above the exit zone of the first conveyor and entry of the second conveyor, said reading head transmitting the information read on the label to an electronic processing and control unit, connected also on the scales;
• a plurality of cells capable of detecting the presence or passage of the package to be identified, connected to the processing and control unit, said cells being arranged respectively at the entrance to the first conveyor to control its start-up, at the input of the second conveyor to trigger the read head and to stop said second conveyor, when the package obscures the third cell located at the outlet of the second conveyor, and finally a cell generated by the motor of the second conveyor to allow the weighing of the package to the stop.

Although successfully used, this installation remains complex on the electronic plan, but above all is capped in performance, since the weighing operation is carried out when stopped.

The invention overcomes these drawbacks. It aims to install the faster, more reliable, easier to automate, requires no personnel during operation, and allows reading the weighing on the fly, which consequently authorizes higher rates.

• une succession d'au moins trois tapis convoyeurs sans fin commandés par des moteurs, respectivement :
  • un premier convoyeur entraíné en mouvement sur lequel on dépose les colis à identifier et à peser,
  • un second convoyeur associé au plateau d'une balance apte à mesurer le poids du colis sur ce second convoyeur,
  • un troisième convoyeur pour extraire le colis identifié et pesé,
• une tête de lecture de code à barres disposée au-dessus de la zone de sortie du premier convoyeur et d'entrée du second convoyeur, ladite tête de lecture transmettant les informations lues sur l'étiquette à une unité électronique de traitement et de commande, reliée également à la balance;
• une pluralité de cellules aptes à détecter la présence ou le passage du colis à identifier, connectées à l'unité de traitement de commande,

caractérisée:

• en ce qu'elle présente au voisinage de l'interstice entre le premier et le deuxième convoyeurs :
  • un premier ensemble de cellules disposées dans un plan parallèle au plan d'avancement du colis, aptes à déterminer la largeur et la longueur du colis, et à arrêter la progression du premier convoyeur lorsque le colis cesse de traverser le faisceau issu de l'ensemble de cellules, de manière à ce qu'on ait qu'un seul colis à la fois sur le second convoyeur,
  • un second ensemble de cellules orthogonal au premier, aptes à détecter la hauteur du colis,
  et à transmettre ces informations à l'unité de traitement,
• en ce que le plateau de la balance mesure à la volée le poids du colis qui avance sur le deuxième convoyeur et transmet ces informations à l'unité de traitement et de commande ;
• et en ce que le second et le troisième convoyeurs sont entraínés en permanence et en synchronisme.

This improved system for continuously identifying and weighing a package whose label has a set of bar codes, including:

• a succession of at least three endless conveyor belts controlled by motors, respectively:
  • a first conveyor driven in movement on which the packages to be identified and weighed are deposited,
  • a second conveyor associated with the platform of a scale capable of measuring the weight of the package on this second conveyor,
  • a third conveyor to extract the identified and weighed package,
• a bar code reading head disposed above the exit zone of the first conveyor and entry of the second conveyor, said reading head transmitting the information read on the label to an electronic processing and control unit, also connected to the scale;
• a plurality of cells capable of detecting the presence or passage of the package to be identified, connected to the order processing unit,

characterized :

• in that it presents in the vicinity of the gap between the first and the second conveyors:
  • a first set of cells arranged in a plane parallel to the plan for advancing the package, capable of determining the width and the length of the package, and of stopping the progression of the first conveyor when the package ceases to cross the beam from the assembly cells, so that there is only one package at a time on the second conveyor,
  • a second set of cells orthogonal to the first, capable of detecting the height of the package,
  and to transmit this information to the processing unit,
• in that the scale platform measures on the fly the weight of the package advancing on the second conveyor and transmits this information to the processing and control unit;
• and in that the second and third conveyors are driven continuously and synchronously.

In other words, the invention relates to an improved installation of the type in question, in which the package identified is weighed on the fly while ensuring that there is only one package at a time on the second conveyor which advances in synchronism with the third, while the first ceases to move forward when the package has entered the second conveyor.

• le second ensemble apte à déterminer la hauteur du colis comprend une cellule (65) disposée en parallèle avec les cellules (60,61,62), destinée à arrêter la progression du convoyeur (10) lorsque le colis (1) a fini de traverser le faisceau de cellules ;
• la sortie du troisième convoyeur présente une cellule dont le faisceau est parallèle au plan du convoyeur, destiné à détecter les bourrages en aval de la sortie du troisième convoyeur, et à transmettre cette information à l'unité de traitement pour commander l'arrêt des convoyeurs en cas de bourrage ;
• l'unité de traitement commande l'arrêt de l'installation, lorsque l'étiquette est mal lue ou lorsque le poids du colis est mal défini ;
• la tête de lecture des codes à barres est une tête laser fixe à balayage mono directionnel ;
• l'installation comporte également un pistolet manuel de lecture du code à barres relié à l'unité de traitement et de commande. permettant une intervention en cas de défaut de lecture automatique.

Advantageously, in practice:

• the second assembly capable of determining the height of the package comprises a cell (65) arranged in parallel with the cells (60,61,62), intended to stop the progression of the conveyor (10) when the package (1) has finished crossing the cell bundle;
• the outlet of the third conveyor has a cell whose beam is parallel to the plane of the conveyor, intended to detect jams downstream of the outlet of the third conveyor, and to transmit this information to the processing unit to control the stopping of the conveyors in the event of a jam;
• the processing unit controls the stopping of the installation, when the label is poorly read or when the weight of the package is poorly defined;
• the bar code reading head is a fixed laser head with mono directional scanning;
• the installation also includes a manual bar code reading gun connected to the processing and control unit. allowing intervention in the event of an automatic reading fault.

The manner in which the invention can be realized and the advantages which will result, will emerge better from the example of embodiment which follows to using the attached figures.

Figure 1 is a side view of an installation according to the invention, shown front view in Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a simplified schematic representation of this installation, while FIG. 4 is a detailed top view of the exit zone of the first conveyor and entry of the second conveyor.

The facility aims to continuously identify and weigh a designated package by the general reference (1), which comprises a front face (2), a face rear (3), a top (4) carrying a label (5) with a code system bars (6).

• le département où doit être livré le colis,
• le mode de paiement du client, par exemple s'il paie :
  • au forfait,
  • au coup par coup,
  • pour des colis réguliers,
  • par paiement comptant, .. ;
• le numéro de compte du client,
• le numéro de récépissé du type de transport.

In known manner, this bar code presents a plurality of parallel bars carrying in order for example:

• the department where the package must be delivered,
• the customer's payment method, for example if he pays:
  • fixed price,
  • one by one,
  • for regular packages,
  • by cash payment, ..;
• the customer's account number,
• the type of transport receipt number.

The installation comprises a first conveyor (10) consisting of an endless belt proper (11) unwinding between two rollers parallel, respectively idler (12) and motor (13). The drive roller (13) is rotated by a motor (14) through the chain (15). This conveyor (10) is advantageously of the vulcanized belt type likely to be driven at speeds of several tens of meters per minute. This inlet conveyor (10) is intended to receive packages (1) at identify and weigh, which are deposited in any suitable manner, especially on the fly.

Immediately after this first conveyor (10), there is a second conveyor (20), also formed of an endless belt (21), the length and the tension of which can be adjusted in a known manner by a tensioner (22). In order to minimize the gap (I) between the outlet (13) of the first conveyor (10) and the inlet (23) of the second conveyor (20), the inlet (23) is shaped like a saber , so that the two upper belts (11,21) are also close to each other and are arranged in the same plane. The second conveyor (20) takes place between several idle rollers (22,24,25,26) and a driving roller (27) driven by a motor (28) and an appropriate chain (29). In known manner, the second conveyor (20) which is associated with a balance (30), for example of the " Mettler - FC 300 " type (registered trademark Mettler), comprises four weighing points which transmit the information detected by connections ( 31) to a display member (32) enabling the weight of the package (1) to be read clearly. This type of assembly advantageously makes it possible to carry out weighing on the fly.

Just above the gap (I), between the exit (13) of the first conveyor (10) and the inlet (24) of the second conveyor (20), there is a conventional read head (40), fitted with a fixed scanning laser head unidirectional - for example of the ACCU-SORT type 55 with 9000 DRX decoder, distributed by VISOLUX - emitting a beam orthogonal to the conveyor advancement plan (10,20), just above and slightly downstream of the inlet (24) of the second conveyor (20). The information read by the head (40) is transmitted in a known manner by connections (41) to a decoder (42) which, by connections (43), in turn transmits to a processing and control unit (44), which can be a microcomputer with its monitor screen (45) and its keyboard control (46), or a central computer intended, as in the most facilities, to manage the sorting center.

In practice, the read head (40) is placed in a fairing (47) mounted on a bracket (48) arranged in the vicinity of the gap (I) and at side of the second conveyor (20) (see Figure 2).

The operating or reading elements (32,45,46) are placed in a cabinet (50) with all other connections.

According to a first characteristic of the invention, the installation has in the gap (I), between the outlet (13) of the first conveyor (10) and the inlet (24) of the second (20) (see Figure 4), three cells photoelectric respectively (60,61,62) arranged in the same plane horizontal parallel to the advancement plane of the belts (11,21), and arranged at the edges (60,62) of the two belts and in the middle of the gap (I). These three cells (60-62), emit a vertical beam directed upwards, i.e. towards the gallows (47).

According to another characteristic of the invention, always at near the outlet (13), the installation includes a second set of three photocells arranged vertically, respectively (65,66,67), emitting a beam in a plane orthogonal to the direction advancement of the carpet (11,21). The first cell (65) most arranged near the carpet (11), is intended to sweep said carpet (11) parallel to the latter, so as to detect the presence of the packages. However, the two other cells (66.67) are intended to detect the height of these packages.

As cells, cells of the "MLV 40" type are advantageously used, sold by ELCOWA under the brand name "VISOLUX" .

When the first horizontal assembly (60,61,62) and the cell (65) detect the presence of a package (1), this is triggered by connections suitable via control cabinet (50), read head (40) and more precisely the beam emission which will therefore read the bar code (6).

When the package (1) has finished crossing the gap (I), it is therefore found on the mat (20). At this time, the motor (14) stops the advancement of the conveyor (10). The belt (20) continuing to advance under the effect of the engine (28), only one package is on this second conveyor (20), which allows weigh on the fly with the balance (30) and display the weight in (32). This information read in clear on the screen (32) is also transmitted by connections to the management and processing unit (44).

At this time, we therefore have for the package (1), read the barcode by the reader (40) at the gap (I), and determined its weight by the balance (30). The package continues to advance until the exit of the second conveyor (20) to pass on the third conveyor designated by the general reference (70). This third conveyor also consists of a endless belt (71), is arranged slightly below the plane of the second mat (21) so as to ensure the transfer of the package. Like the conveyor (10), the third conveyor (70) takes place between a roller input idler (72) and an output motor roller (73) driven by the motor (74) by means of the chain (75). A crazy middle roller (76) facilitates the passage from the second conveyor (20) to the third (70), while by creating a gap between the two that allows access to the different rollers (27,72 ..).

According to another characteristic of the invention, the two motors (28) and (74) are continuously and synchronously trained and preferably at the same speed.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the outlet (73) of the third conveyor (70), has a photoelectric cell (80) analogous to the previous cells, which emits a ray sweeping the top endless belt (71). This cell (80) is essentially intended for detect jams that could occur downstream of the third conveyor (70), for example on roller tables intended for forward the identified and weighed packages to the main roller table of loading. When a package remains at this exit (73), after a certain time delay, the beam path of the cell (80) being interrupted, this cell (80) sends an order via connections suitable for the processing and control unit (44) which then stops the operation of all engines (14,28,74). However, as soon as the parcels which park at the exit (73), leave the third conveyor (70), the beam from cell (80) is released and installation restarts.

The installation can therefore operate without human intervention particular, except for loading the package (1) on the first conveyor (10).

Thanks to the permanent display on the screens (32,45) and the keyboard (46), the operator can intervene if necessary or in the event of an incident. Likewise, thanks to the keyboard (46), the operator can correct or enter new data in the installation.

If for some reason the reader (40) cannot read or has incorrectly read the bar code (6), the installation stops, more precisely the conveyor (20). The operator then uses the manual reading gun (90), which by a connection (91) is connected to the processing unit (44). Once the reading carried out manually, the unit (44) which received this information, sends the restart command command.

If for any reason the scale (30) cannot determine the weight of the package, for example because it is too large, the conveyor (20) stops and the operator can measure the stopped weight which is displayed in (32). Simultaneously, the weight read is transmitted to the unit of processing (44) and command, which sends an impulse at this time restarting the conveyor (20).

The installation according to the invention makes it possible to process a package every five seconds. In practice, the speed of the installation is not limited by the read head (40) or the on-the-fly weighing member (30), but in the case progress of loading on (10) and unloading of (70) and the quality of fixed barcodes.

• la simplicité d'investissement,
• la fiabilité mécanique,
• la possibilité d'être automatisée,
• la rapidité de traitement des colis,
• les faibles besoins en personnel, donc la réduction des coûts.

The installation according to the invention has many advantages compared to those known to date. We can cite :

• simplicity of investment,
• mechanical reliability,
• the possibility of being automated,
• speed of parcel processing,
• low staff requirements, thus reducing costs.

It can be used for sorting all parcels of all kinds.

Claims (4)

1. Improved machine for the continuous identification and weighing of a package (1) whose label (5) carries a bar code module (6), comprising:

   a succession of at least three endless conveyors (10, 20, 70) driven by motors (14, 28, 74), as follows:

   a first driven conveyor (10) on which the packages are deposited for identification and weighing,

   a second conveyor (20) connected to the pan of a balance (30) for measuring the weight of the package laid on this second conveyor (20),

   and a third conveyor (70) for removing the identified and weighed package,

   a bar code read head (40) located above the head end (13) of the first conveyor (10) and the tail end (24) of the second conveyor (20), the said read head (40) sending the information read from the label (5) to an electronic processing and control unit (44) which is also connected to the balance (30);

   and a plurality of cells (60-67, 80) connected to the processing and control unit (44) for detecting the presence or passage of the package that is to be identified,

   characterized:

   in that it comprises in the vicinity of the gap (I) between the first conveyor (10) and the second (20):

   a first group of cells (60, 61, 62) arranged in a plane parallel to the plane of advance of the package, for determining the width and length of the package and stopping the first conveyor (10) when the package has completed its passage through the beam emitted by this group of cells (60, 61, 62), so that there is only one package at a time on the second conveyor (20), and a second group (65, 66, 67) at right angles to the first, for determining the height of the package,

   and for sending all this information to the processing unit (44);

   in that the pan of the balance (30) measures the weight of the package (1) without interrupting its motion as it advances on the second conveyor (20) and sends this information to the processing unit (44);

   and in that the second (20) and third (70) conveyors are driven permanently and synchronized with each other.
2. Machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second group for determining the height of the package includes one cell (65) arranged in parallel with the cells (60, 61, 62) in order to stop the conveyor (10) when the package (1) has completed its passage through the beam of the cells.
3. Machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the head (73) of the third conveyor (70) comprises a cell (80), whose beam is parallel to the plane (71) of the third conveyor (70), and whose purpose is to detect blockages at the head (73) of the third conveyor (70) and supply this information to the processing unit (44) so that the output conveyor (20) is stopped.
4. Machine according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the processing unit (44) stops the machine when the label is misread or when the weight of the package is poorly defined.

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