EP0650911A1 - Apparatus and method for detection of overlapping flexible and flat objects - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for detection of overlapping flexible and flat objects Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0650911A1
EP0650911A1 EP94112015A EP94112015A EP0650911A1 EP 0650911 A1 EP0650911 A1 EP 0650911A1 EP 94112015 A EP94112015 A EP 94112015A EP 94112015 A EP94112015 A EP 94112015A EP 0650911 A1 EP0650911 A1 EP 0650911A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mail
transport route
items
mail items
deflection
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Granted
Application number
EP94112015A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0650911B1 (en
Inventor
Gerhard Goldkuhle
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Siemens AG
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Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
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    • 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
    • B65H7/06—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 responsive to presence of faulty articles or incorrect separation or feed
    • B65H7/12—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 responsive to presence of faulty articles or incorrect separation or feed responsive to double feed or separation
    • B65H7/125—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 responsive to presence of faulty articles or incorrect separation or feed responsive to double feed or separation sensing the double feed or separation without contacting the articles

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device and a method for the detection of overlaps of bendable flat mail items according to the preamble of patent claims 1 and 9, respectively.
  • the undetected double deductions are of particular importance because they can increase the misdistribution rate due to reading errors in the automatic address recognition or incorrect keying in when entering addresses manually.
  • overlapping mail items can increase the mechanical susceptibility to malfunction of mail distribution systems.
  • detected double feeds can be treated as reject items, thus avoiding misdistribution and mechanical malfunctions.
  • the problems arising from double deduction errors can also be reduced by identifying overlapping of the mail items.
  • tracks that can be optically scanned on the front and / or rear of the consignment surface, if possible over the entire consignment length can be applied to the consignment surface by rolling up or spraying on bars, bar codes or other patterns.
  • Consignment overlaps can be determined later by optical scanning of these tracks, since partial overlaps are missing or line jumps occur. With these methods, it is necessary to pre-treat the shipments in a first step, i.e. with traces. In a second step after further separation, e.g.
  • a disadvantage of this method is that a high mechanical effort has to be made in order to walk or bend the mail items to determine possible track interruptions. It is also disadvantageous that the identification lines may only be applied in the areas of the mail items that are not covered by transport belts, since otherwise the surface of the mail items and the transport belts will be smeared.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for detecting overlaps of flexible flat mail items.
  • the invention is based on temporarily deflecting movable sections of the shipment perpendicular to the direction of conveyance and detecting the presence of overlapping sections of the shipment by evaluating the snapback behavior of the shipments.
  • the analysis of the snap back behavior of the items can be done in different ways.
  • the detection of overlapping mail sections can be carried out by taking measurements of the temporary distance between the trailing edges of the deflected mail sections.
  • detection can also be carried out by measuring changes in capacitance when an oscillator is detuned, or by sensing the pressure exerted by the tear-off edges after the snapback.
  • the invention advantageously provides extensive independence in the detection of overlaps from the surface condition of the mail items. Therefore, in the solution according to the invention, stickers, brands, edge bands or windows are also incorrectly identified as indicators of overlaps.
  • the shipment sections can be deflected perpendicularly to the conveying direction on the front of the shipment or on the back of the shipment. For a comprehensive detection of overlaps, it is advantageous to deflect the movable consignment sections perpendicularly to the conveying direction both on the consignment side and on the consignment side and to evaluate the rapid response of the consignments for each of these deflection types.
  • deflection elements are arranged on opposite sides of the transport route in order to deflect the mail items both on the front side of the mail item and on the back side of the mail item.
  • the detection device for detecting overlaps has an illumination device for generating light bundles and at least two optical receivers, the light bundles being focused on the area in which the transmission sections are temporarily deflected and the optical receivers opposite sides of the transport route are arranged such that the incidence of light into the optical receiver is interrupted at the same time only when deflecting mail items with overlapping sections.
  • the transport path 1 has two transport belts 2, 3, which are guided over a letter plate 4.
  • the drive and guide elements usually used to drive and guide the transport belts are not shown for the sake of simplicity.
  • the flat broadcasts i.e. Long letters, letters and postcards of various formats are usually conveyed standing on their long edge in the transport route.
  • the conveyor belts cover only a small section of the entire surface of the shipment, so that larger sections of the shipment protrude above and below the conveyor belts.
  • the invention also relates to transport routes in which the mailings are conveyed in a manner other than with two transport belts, as long as it is only ensured that the mailpieces protrude over an edge against which the mailpiece sections can be deflected.
  • the mail deflection element 6 is preferably rod-shaped and arranged laterally offset from the transport route. It protrudes into the transport path, so that a conveyed letter, as soon as it reaches the region of the transport path into which the deflection element projects, is forcibly deflected in the sections projecting beyond the transport belts.
  • the deflection element forms an obtuse angle ⁇ with the transport direction, so that a slow, gentle deflection of the relevant shipment sections.
  • the distance of the end of the deflection element on the side of the shipment from the plane of transport of the items determines the maximum deflection of the portions of the item, which can thus be adapted to the bending properties of the items.
  • the deflection element is fastened to a carrier 7, so that the element is arranged at a sufficient distance from the edge of the conveyor belts, above the conveyor belts.
  • a maximum permissible deflection force can be achieved by rotating the deflection element with any counterforce.
  • Optical receivers 9, 10 are arranged on opposite sides of the transport route.
  • an illumination device is arranged, which emits light beams in the direction of the optical receivers.
  • Halogen lamps, LEDs or other quickly switchable light sources are preferably used for this, so that the light beams are emitted with a pulse sequence between 10 and 100 kHz.
  • the lighting device and the optical receivers are electrically connected to evaluation electronics, not shown, which control and monitor the emission and reception of the light beams.
  • evaluation electronics not shown, which control and monitor the emission and reception of the light beams.
  • an arbitrarily high alternating voltage gain is used in the receiving part of the device.
  • the device works as follows: As long as no mail is deflected, none of the light beams that are emitted in the direction of the optical receivers 9, 10 are interrupted. As soon as a shipment is deflected, the light beam received by the optical receiver 9, which is arranged on the side into which the shipment is deflected, is first interrupted. If it is a single deduction, i.e. a non-overlapping consignment, the interruption of this bundle of light is then canceled, i.e. as soon as the temporarily deflected portion of the consignment has snapped back, and during a time interval that depends on the transport speed of the consignments, in the direction of the optical one Receiver 10 emitted bundles of light interrupted by the now receded section of the program.
  • the light beam emitted in the direction of the optical receiver 10 is interrupted by the overlapping shipment.
  • the second shipment is still in the region of the deflection element 6, so that the section projecting over the edge of the conveyor belt is deflected out and the light beam emitted in the direction of the optical receiver 9 is likewise interrupted.
  • FIG. 2 shows a top view of the configuration for an overlapping pair of mail items D1, D2. Since at the point in time at which the first shipment D1 has already been conveyed out of the area of the deflection element 6, so that the rear edge of the shipment D1 has flipped back and the light beam emitted in the direction of the photoreceptor 10 is interrupted, a section of the shipment D2 is still is deflected, the beam that is emitted in the direction of the photo receiver 9 is still interrupted. The result is an interruption in both light beams.
  • the deflection element 6 there are an upper and a lower transmission. So that a detection of overlaps is possible according to the method described above, it is necessary for the lower mail item to have a section which is not covered or overlapped by the upper mail item, so that this section is deflected after the upper mail item has not is deflected more. Therefore, in order to detect as many overlaps as possible, it is advantageous to provide two deflection elements offset one behind the other, each with associated optical receivers, so that the mail items are successively in opposite directions, i.e. are deflected on the front side of the shipment as well as on the back of the shipment, and in each of these types of deflection, the quick-response behavior of the shipments is evaluated.
  • FIG. 3 shows a top view of a preferred embodiment in which, after the items have been separated in a double separating device 12, the items in the transport route 1 are first led to a first deflection element 61 and then to a second deflection element 62.
  • the illumination device 111 and the optical receivers 91 and 101 are assigned to the deflection element 61.
  • the illumination device 112 and the optical receivers 92 and 102 are assigned to the deflection element 62.
  • the mail items are deflected both on the front side and on the back side of the mail item.

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  • Controlling Sheets Or Webs (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)

Abstract

For the detection of overlapping flexible and flat items of mail in a transport path for the sequential conveyance of items of mail standing on their edges, the transport path being constructed such that at least one section of each item of mail can be moved at right angles to the conveying direction, at least one deflection element is arranged on the transport path, by means of which deflection element the movable sections of the items of mail are deflected temporarily by a predetermined amount at right angles to the conveying direction during the conveyance in the transport path. A detection device is provided to detect the presence of overlapping sections of items of mail on the basis of the recoil behaviour of the items of mail. <IMAGE>

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf eine Vorrichtung und ein Verfahren zur Erkennung von Überlappungen von biegbaren flachen Sendungen gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Patentanspruchs 1 bzw. 9.9. The invention relates to a device and a method for the detection of overlaps of bendable flat mail items according to the preamble of patent claims 1 and 9, respectively.

Vorrichtungen und Verfahren zur Vereinzelung von flachen Sendungen sind beispielsweise bekannt aus der EP 0 142 538. Ein bei Vereinzelungsvorrichtungen auftretendes Problem besteht in sogenannten Doppelabzugsfehlern, die sich daraus ergeben, daß zusätzlich zu der von einem Stapel abzuziehenden Sendung eine weitere Sendung mit abgezogen wird. Ursachen hierfür können sein, daß die Reibmitreißkraft zwischen vorderster Sendungen in einem Stapel und der zweiten Sendung zu groß ist, oder, daß aufgrund einer nicht ausreichenden gleichmäßigen Ausrichtung der Vorderkanten der Sendungen die zweitvorderste Sendung im Stapel vorsteht und zu früh abgezogen wird.Devices and methods for separating flat mail items are known, for example, from EP 0 142 538. One problem that occurs with separating devices consists in so-called double deduction errors which result from the fact that in addition to the mail item to be deducted from a stack, a further mail item is also deducted. The reasons for this may be that the frictional drag force between the foremost mail items in a stack and the second mail item is too great, or that the second foremost mail item in the stack protrudes and is pulled off too early due to an insufficiently uniform alignment of the front edges of the mail items.

In Briefverteilanlagen sind die nicht erkannten Doppelabzüge von besonderer Bedeutung, da diese die Fehlverteilungsrate durch Lesefehler der automatischen Anschriftenerkennung oder durch Fehleintastungen bei manueller Anschrifteneingabe erhöhen können. Gleichzeitig können aufgrund von Doppelabzugsfehlern sich überlappende Sendungen die mechanische Störanfälligkeit der Briefverteilanlagen erhöhen. Dagegen können erkannte Doppeleinzüge als Reject-Sendungen behandelt und so Fehlverteilungen und mechanische Störungen vermieden werden.In letter distribution systems, the undetected double deductions are of particular importance because they can increase the misdistribution rate due to reading errors in the automatic address recognition or incorrect keying in when entering addresses manually. At the same time, due to double deduction errors, overlapping mail items can increase the mechanical susceptibility to malfunction of mail distribution systems. In contrast, detected double feeds can be treated as reject items, thus avoiding misdistribution and mechanical malfunctions.

Alternativ oder jedenfalls ergänzend zu dem Versuch, die Doppelabzugsrate noch weiter zu reduzieren, können die durch Doppelabzugsfehler entstehenden Probleme auch durch die Identifizierung von Überlappungen der Sendungen vermindert werden. Um Sendungsüberlappungen zu identifizieren, kann man durch Aufrollen oder Aufspritzen von Strichen, Barcodes oder anderen Mustern möglichst über die gesamte Sendungslänge front- und/oder rückseitig optisch abtastbare Spuren auf die Sendungsoberfläche aufbringen. Sendungsüberlappungen lassen sich durch optische Abtastung dieser Spuren später feststellen, da bei Überlappungen Teilstriche fehlen oder Liniensprünge auftreten. Bei diesen Verfahren ist es erforderlich, die Sendungen in einem ersten Schritt vorzubehandeln, d.h. mit Spuren zu versehen. In einem zweiten Schritt nach neuerlicher Vereinzelung, z.B. für das Feinverteilen von Briefsendungen, lassen sich Sendungsüberlappungen dann identifizieren. Fehlverteilungen aufgrund von Überlappungen im ersten Durchlauf einer Briefverteilanlage vor der Aufbringung der Spuren können auf diese Weise jedoch nicht identifiziert werden. Nachteilig ist bei diesem Verfahren auch, daß, um die Sendungen zum Ermitteln von eventuellen Spurenunterbrechungen zu walken oder zu beugen, ein hoher mechanischer Aufwand getrieben werden muß. Außerdem ist nachteilig, daß die Erkennungsstriche nur in den Bereichen der Sendungen aufgebracht werden dürfen, die nicht von Transportriemen abgedeckt werden, da sonst die Oberfläche der Sendungen und die Transportriemen verschmiert werden.As an alternative or in any case in addition to the attempt to reduce the double deduction rate even further, the problems arising from double deduction errors can also be reduced by identifying overlapping of the mail items. In order to identify consignment overlaps, tracks that can be optically scanned on the front and / or rear of the consignment surface, if possible over the entire consignment length, can be applied to the consignment surface by rolling up or spraying on bars, bar codes or other patterns. Consignment overlaps can be determined later by optical scanning of these tracks, since partial overlaps are missing or line jumps occur. With these methods, it is necessary to pre-treat the shipments in a first step, i.e. with traces. In a second step after further separation, e.g. for the fine distribution of letters, mail overlaps can then be identified. However, incorrect distributions due to overlaps in the first pass of a mail distribution system before the tracks are applied cannot be identified in this way. A disadvantage of this method is that a high mechanical effort has to be made in order to walk or bend the mail items to determine possible track interruptions. It is also disadvantageous that the identification lines may only be applied in the areas of the mail items that are not covered by transport belts, since otherwise the surface of the mail items and the transport belts will be smeared.

Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung ist die Angabe einer Vorrichtung und eines Verfahrens zum Erkennen von Überlappungen von biegbaren flachen Sendungen.The object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for detecting overlaps of flexible flat mail items.

Die erfindungsgemäße Lösung dieser Aufgabe ist durch die Merkmale der Patentansprüche 1 und 9 gegeben. Die weiteren Ansprüche beinhalten vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen der Erfindung.The achievement of this object is given by the features of claims 1 and 9. The further claims contain advantageous developments of the invention.

Die Erfindung beruht darauf, für jede Sendung bewegbare Sendungsabschnitte temporär senkrecht zur Förderrichtung auszulenken und durch Auswertung des Rückschnellverhaltens der Sendungen das Vorliegen von überlappenden Sendungsabschnitten zu detektieren.The invention is based on temporarily deflecting movable sections of the shipment perpendicular to the direction of conveyance and detecting the presence of overlapping sections of the shipment by evaluating the snapback behavior of the shipments.

Bei gegebener mechanischer Anordnung für die Auslenkung und das Zurückschnellenlassen von Sendungsabschnitten kann die Auswertung des Rückschnellverhaltens der Sendungen in unterschiedlicher Weise erfolgen. Insbesondere kann die Detektion von überlappenden Sendungsabschnitten dadurch erfolgen, daß Messungen des temporären Abstands der Hinterkanten der ausgelenkten Sendungsabschnitte erfolgen. Die Detektion kann aber auch durch die Messung von Kapazitätsveränderungen bei Verstimmung eines Oszillators, oder durch das Sensorieren von Druck, den die Abrißkanten nach dem Zurückschnellen ausüben, erfolgen.Given the mechanical arrangement for deflecting and allowing parts of the mail item to snap back, the analysis of the snap back behavior of the items can be done in different ways. In particular, the detection of overlapping mail sections can be carried out by taking measurements of the temporary distance between the trailing edges of the deflected mail sections. However, detection can also be carried out by measuring changes in capacitance when an oscillator is detuned, or by sensing the pressure exerted by the tear-off edges after the snapback.

Vorteilhaft ergibt sich durch die Erfindung eine weitgehende Unabhängigkeit bei der Erkennung von Überlappungen von der Oberflächenbeschaffenheit der Sendungen. Daher werden bei der erfindungsgemäßen Lösung auch nicht Aufkleber, Marken, Umleimer oder Fenster fälschlicherweise als Indikatoren von Überlappungen identifiziert.The invention advantageously provides extensive independence in the detection of overlaps from the surface condition of the mail items. Therefore, in the solution according to the invention, stickers, brands, edge bands or windows are also incorrectly identified as indicators of overlaps.

Andererseits ist es nicht erforderlich, Spuren auf die Oberfläche der Sendungen aufzubringen. Bei bereits bestehenden Briefverteilanlagen ist eine Nachrüstung einfach möglich.On the other hand, it is not necessary to leave traces on the surface of the mail items. Retrofitting is easy with existing mail distribution systems.

Die Auslenkung der Sendungsabschnitte kann senkrecht zur Förderrichtung sendungsfrontseitig oder sendungsrückseitig erfolgen. Für eine umfassende Erkennung von Überlappungen ist es vorteilhaft, die bewegbaren Sendungsabschnitte sowohl sendungsfrontseitig als auch sendungsrückseitig senkrecht zur Förderrichtung auszulenken und für jede dieser Auslenkungsarten das Rückschnellverhalten der Sendungen auszuwerten.The shipment sections can be deflected perpendicularly to the conveying direction on the front of the shipment or on the back of the shipment. For a comprehensive detection of overlaps, it is advantageous to deflect the movable consignment sections perpendicularly to the conveying direction both on the consignment side and on the consignment side and to evaluate the rapid response of the consignments for each of these deflection types.

Bei einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung sind Auslenkungselemente auf entgegengesetzten Seiten der Transportstrecke angeordnet, um die Sendungen sowohl sendungsfrontseitig als auch sendungsrückseitig auszulenken.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, deflection elements are arranged on opposite sides of the transport route in order to deflect the mail items both on the front side of the mail item and on the back side of the mail item.

Bei einer weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung weist die Detektionseinrichtung zum Detektieren von Überlappungen eine Beleuchtungseinrichtung zur Erzeugung von Lichtbündeln und mindestens zwei optische Empfänger auf, wobei die Lichtbündel auf den Raumbereich, in dem die temporäre Auslenkung der Sendungsabschnitte erfolgt, fokussiert sind und die optischen Empfänger auf entgegengesetzten Seiten der Transportstrecke derartig angeordnet sind, daß nur bei Auslenkung von Sendungen mit überlappenden Abschnitten um den vorgegebenen Betrag der Lichteinfall in die optischen Empfänger gleichzeitig unterbrochen wird.In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the detection device for detecting overlaps has an illumination device for generating light bundles and at least two optical receivers, the light bundles being focused on the area in which the transmission sections are temporarily deflected and the optical receivers opposite sides of the transport route are arranged such that the incidence of light into the optical receiver is interrupted at the same time only when deflecting mail items with overlapping sections.

Im folgenden wird die Erfindung anhand von Zeichnungen genauer erläutert. Dabei zeigen

Fig. 1
eine perspektivische Darstellung einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung,
Fig. 2
eine Draufsicht der bevorzugten Ausführungsform,
Fig. 3
eine Draufsicht einer weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsform.
The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Show
Fig. 1
2 shows a perspective illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention,
Fig. 2
a top view of the preferred embodiment,
Fig. 3
a plan view of a further preferred embodiment.

In Fig. 1 weist die Transportstrecke 1 zwei Transportriemen 2, 3 auf, die über einer Brieflaufplattee 4 geführt werden. Die üblicherweise zum Antrieb und zur Führung der Transportriemen eingesetzten Antriebs- und Führungselemente sind zur Vereinfachung nicht mit abgebildet. Ebenso fehlt eine Darstellung der Abzugseinrichtung, von der die Sendungen, bevor sie in die Transportstrecke eingespeist werden, von einem Stapel abgezogen worden sind. Zum Aufbau und zur Funktionsweise solcher Abzugseinrichtungen wird auf die DE 43 13 850 verwiesen.In Fig. 1, the transport path 1 has two transport belts 2, 3, which are guided over a letter plate 4. The drive and guide elements usually used to drive and guide the transport belts are not shown for the sake of simplicity. Likewise, there is no representation of the take-off device from which the items have been drawn off from a stack before they are fed into the transport route. For the structure and operation of such extraction devices, reference is made to DE 43 13 850.

Die flachen Sendungen, d.h. Langbriefe, Briefe und Postkarten verschiedener Formate werden üblicherweise auf ihrer Längskante stehend in der Transportstrecke gefördert. Dabei decken die Transportbänder nur einen geringen Abschnitt der gesamten Sendungsoberfläche ab, so daß größere Abschnitte der Sendungen über und unter die Transportbänder ragen. Es ist zu betonen, daß die Erfindung auch Transportstrecken betrifft, bei denen die Förderung der Sendungen auf andere Weise als mit zwei Transportriemen erfolgt, solange nur gewährleistet ist, daß die Sendungen über eine Kante ragen, gegen die die Sendungsabschnitte ausgelenkt werden können.The flat broadcasts, i.e. Long letters, letters and postcards of various formats are usually conveyed standing on their long edge in the transport route. The conveyor belts cover only a small section of the entire surface of the shipment, so that larger sections of the shipment protrude above and below the conveyor belts. It should be emphasized that the invention also relates to transport routes in which the mailings are conveyed in a manner other than with two transport belts, as long as it is only ensured that the mailpieces protrude over an edge against which the mailpiece sections can be deflected.

Das Sendungsauslenkungselement 6 ist vorzugsweise stabförmig ausgebildet und seitlich zur Transportstrecke versetzt angeordnet. Es ragt in die Transpotstrecke hinein, so daß ein geförderter Brief, sobald er den Bereich der Transportstrecke, in den das Auslenkungselement hineinragt, erreicht, in den über die Transportbänder hinausragenden Abschnitten zwangsweise ausgelenkt wird. Vorzugsweise bildet das Auslenkungselement einen stumpfen Winkel α mit der Transportrichtung, so daß eine zeitlich langsame, schonende Auslenkung der betreffenden Sendungsabschnitte erfolgt. Der Abstand des sendungsseitigen Endes des Auslenkungselements von der Transportebene der Sendungen bestimmt die maximale Auslenkung der Sendungsabschnitte, die damit den Biegeeigenschaften der Sendungen angepaßt werden kann. Das Auslenkungselement ist an einem Träger 7 befestigt, so daß das Element in einem ausreichenden Abstand von der Kante der Transportbänder, oberhalb der Transportbänder angeordnet ist. Um Beschädigungen der Sendungen zu vermeiden, ist es vorteilhaft, eine Befestigung des Auslenkungselements derart vorzusehen, daß eine vorgegebene maximale Auslenkungskraft nicht überschritten wird.The mail deflection element 6 is preferably rod-shaped and arranged laterally offset from the transport route. It protrudes into the transport path, so that a conveyed letter, as soon as it reaches the region of the transport path into which the deflection element projects, is forcibly deflected in the sections projecting beyond the transport belts. Preferably, the deflection element forms an obtuse angle α with the transport direction, so that a slow, gentle deflection of the relevant shipment sections. The distance of the end of the deflection element on the side of the shipment from the plane of transport of the items determines the maximum deflection of the portions of the item, which can thus be adapted to the bending properties of the items. The deflection element is fastened to a carrier 7, so that the element is arranged at a sufficient distance from the edge of the conveyor belts, above the conveyor belts. In order to avoid damage to the mail items, it is advantageous to provide attachment of the deflection element in such a way that a predetermined maximum deflection force is not exceeded.

Eine maximal zulässige Auslenkungskraft kann durch eine drehbare Aufhängung des Auslenkelements mit jeder Gegenkraft erreicht werden.A maximum permissible deflection force can be achieved by rotating the deflection element with any counterforce.

Optische Empfänger 9, 10 sind auf gegenüberliegenden Seiten der Transportstrecke angeordnet. Am sendungsseitigen Ende des Auslenkungselements 6 ist eine Beleuchtungseinrichtung angeordnet, die Lichtbündel in Richtung auf die optischen Empfänger emittiert. Vorzugsweise werden hierfür Halogenlampen, LEDs oder andere schnell schaltbare Lichtquellen verwendet, so daß die Lichtbündel mit einer Impulsfolge zwischen 10 und 100 kHz emittiert werden. Die Beleuchtungseinrichtung und die optischen Empfänger sind elektrisch mit einer nicht näher dargestellten Auswerteelektronik verbunden, die die Emission und das Empfangen der Lichtbündel steuert und überwacht. Um die Störsicherheit der Vorrichtung gegen Umwelteinflüsse zu erhöhen, wird neben einer Impulsfolgefrequenz zwischen 10 und 100 kHz eine beliebig hohe Wechselspannungsverstärkung im Empfangsteil der Einrichtung eingesetzt.Optical receivers 9, 10 are arranged on opposite sides of the transport route. At the end of the deflection element 6 on the transmission side, an illumination device is arranged, which emits light beams in the direction of the optical receivers. Halogen lamps, LEDs or other quickly switchable light sources are preferably used for this, so that the light beams are emitted with a pulse sequence between 10 and 100 kHz. The lighting device and the optical receivers are electrically connected to evaluation electronics, not shown, which control and monitor the emission and reception of the light beams. In order to increase the interference immunity of the device against environmental influences, in addition to a pulse repetition frequency between 10 and 100 kHz, an arbitrarily high alternating voltage gain is used in the receiving part of the device.

Die Arbeitsweise der Vorrichtung ist folgendermaßen:
Solange keine Sendung ausgelenkt wird, wird keines der Lichtbündel, die in Richtung der optischen Empfänger 9, 10 emittiert werden, unterbrochen. Sobald eine Sendung ausgelenkt wird, wird zunächst das Lichtbündel, das vom optischen Empfänger 9, der auf der Seite angeordnet ist, in die die Sendung ausgelenkt wird, empfangen wird, unterbrochen. Handelt es sich um einen Einfachabzug, d.h. eine nicht überlappende Sendung, wird anschließend, d.h. sobald der temporär ausgelenkte Sendungsabschnitt zurückgeschnellt ist, die Unterbrechung dieses Lichtbündels aufgehoben und während eines Zeitintervalls, das von der Transportgeschwindigkeit der Sendungen abhängig ist, das in Richtung auf den optischen Empfänger 10 emittierte Lichtbündel durch den inzwischen zurückgeschnellten Sendungsabschnitt unterbrochen. Handelt es sich dagegen um eine Sendung, die mit einer zweiten Sendung überlappt ist, so erfolgt eine Unterbrechung des in Richtung auf den optischen Empfänger 10 emittierten Lichtbündels durch die überlappende Sendung. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt ist jedoch auch die zweite Sendung, noch im Bereich des Auslenkungselements 6, so daß der über die Kante des Transportbandes ragende Abschnitt herausgelenkt wird und das in Richtung auf den optischen Empfänger 9 emittierte Lichtbündel ebenfalls unterbrochen wird.The device works as follows:
As long as no mail is deflected, none of the light beams that are emitted in the direction of the optical receivers 9, 10 are interrupted. As soon as a shipment is deflected, the light beam received by the optical receiver 9, which is arranged on the side into which the shipment is deflected, is first interrupted. If it is a single deduction, i.e. a non-overlapping consignment, the interruption of this bundle of light is then canceled, i.e. as soon as the temporarily deflected portion of the consignment has snapped back, and during a time interval that depends on the transport speed of the consignments, in the direction of the optical one Receiver 10 emitted bundles of light interrupted by the now receded section of the program. If, on the other hand, it is a shipment that is overlapped with a second shipment, the light beam emitted in the direction of the optical receiver 10 is interrupted by the overlapping shipment. At this point in time, however, the second shipment is still in the region of the deflection element 6, so that the section projecting over the edge of the conveyor belt is deflected out and the light beam emitted in the direction of the optical receiver 9 is likewise interrupted.

In Fig. 2 ist in Draufsicht die Konfiguration bei einem überlappenden Sendungspaar D1, D2 gezeigt. Da zu dem Zeitpunkt, bei dem die erste Sendung D1 bereits aus dem Bereich des Auslenkungselements 6 gefördert worden ist, so daß die Hinterkante der Sendung D1 zurückgeschnellt ist und das in Richtung auf den Fotoempfänger 10 emittierte Lichtbündel unterbrochen ist, ein Abschnitt der Sendung D2 noch ausgelenkt wird, wird auch das Strahlenbündel, das in Richtung auf den Fotoempfänger 9 emittiert wird, noch unterbrochen. Das Ergebnis ist eine Unterbrechung beider Lichtbündel.2 shows a top view of the configuration for an overlapping pair of mail items D1, D2. Since at the point in time at which the first shipment D1 has already been conveyed out of the area of the deflection element 6, so that the rear edge of the shipment D1 has flipped back and the light beam emitted in the direction of the photoreceptor 10 is interrupted, a section of the shipment D2 is still is deflected, the beam that is emitted in the direction of the photo receiver 9 is still interrupted. The result is an interruption in both light beams.

Wenn zwei Sendungen sich überlappen, wird im Bereich der Überlappung der Sendungen eine Doppelschicht aus den betreffenden Sendungsabschnitten gebildet. In bezug auf das Auslenkungselement 6 gibt es eine obere und eine untere Sendung. Damit eine Erkennung von Überlappungen nach dem oben geschilderten Verfahren möglich ist, ist es erforderlich, daß die untere Sendung einen Abschnitt aufweist, der von der oberen Sendung nicht abgedeckt bzw. überlappt wird, so daß die Auslenkung dieses Abschnitts erfolgt, nachdem die obere Sendung nicht mehr ausgelenkt wird. Um daher möglichst viele Überlappungen zu erkennen, ist es vorteilhaft, zwei hintereinander versetzte Auslenkungselemente mit jeweils zugeordneten optischen Empfängern vorzusehen, so daß die Sendungen nacheinander in entgegengesetzte Richtungen, d.h. sendungsfrontseitig als auch sendungsrückseitig ausgelenkt werden, und bei jeder dieser Auslenkungsarten das Rückschnellverhalten der Sendungen auszuwerten.If two programs overlap, a double layer is formed from the relevant program sections in the region of the program overlap. With regard to the deflection element 6, there are an upper and a lower transmission. So that a detection of overlaps is possible according to the method described above, it is necessary for the lower mail item to have a section which is not covered or overlapped by the upper mail item, so that this section is deflected after the upper mail item has not is deflected more. Therefore, in order to detect as many overlaps as possible, it is advantageous to provide two deflection elements offset one behind the other, each with associated optical receivers, so that the mail items are successively in opposite directions, i.e. are deflected on the front side of the shipment as well as on the back of the shipment, and in each of these types of deflection, the quick-response behavior of the shipments is evaluated.

Fig. 3 zeigt in Draufsicht eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform, bei der nach einer Vereinzelung der Sendungen in einer Doppelvereinzelungsvorrichtung 12 die Sendungen der Transportstrecke 1 zunächst zu einem ersten Auslenkungselement 61 und anschließend zu einem zweiten Auslenkungselement 62 geführt werden. Dem Auslenkungselement 61 sind die Beleuchtungseinrichtung 111 und die optischen Empfänger 91 und 101 zugeordnet. Dem Auslenkungselement 62 sind die Beleuchtungseinrichtung 112 und die optischen Empfänger 92 und 102 zugeordnet. Bei dieser Ausführungsform werden die Sendungen sowohl sendungsfrontseitig als auch sendungsrückseitig ausgelenkt.3 shows a top view of a preferred embodiment in which, after the items have been separated in a double separating device 12, the items in the transport route 1 are first led to a first deflection element 61 and then to a second deflection element 62. The illumination device 111 and the optical receivers 91 and 101 are assigned to the deflection element 61. The illumination device 112 and the optical receivers 92 and 102 are assigned to the deflection element 62. In this embodiment, the mail items are deflected both on the front side and on the back side of the mail item.

Claims (12)

Vorrichtung zum Erkennen von Überlappungen von biegbaren flachen Sendungen in einer Transportstrecke zur sequentiellen Förderung der auf einer ihrer Kanten stehenden Sendungen, wobei die Transportstrecke derart ausgebildet ist, daß mindestens ein Abschnitt jeder Sendung senkrecht zur Förderrrichtung bewegbar ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß - mindestens ein Auslenkungselement an der Transportstrecke angeordnet ist, durch das die bewegbaren Sendungsabschnitte senkrecht zur Förderrichtung temporär um einen vorgegebenen Betrag während der Förderung in der Transportstrecke ausgelenkt werden, - eine Detektionseinrichtung vorgesehen ist, um aufgrund des Rückschnellverhaltens der Sendungen das Vorliegen von überlappenden Sendungsabschnitten zu detektieren. Device for detecting overlaps of bendable flat mail items in a transport route for the sequential conveyance of the mail items standing on one of their edges, the transport route being designed in such a way that at least a section of each mail item can be moved perpendicular to the conveying direction, characterized in that at least one deflection element is arranged on the transport route, by means of which the movable mail sections are temporarily deflected perpendicular to the conveying direction by a predetermined amount during the conveyance in the transport route, - A detection device is provided to detect the presence of overlapping sections of the mail due to the rapid response behavior of the mail. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Transportstrecke Transportbänder aufweist, zwischen denen die flachen Sendungen geführt werden.Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport route has conveyor belts between which the flat mail items are guided. Vorrichtung nach Ansprüchen 1 - 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß Auslenkungselemente auf entgegengesetzten Seiten der Transportstrecke angeordnet sind.Device according to claims 1-2, characterized in that deflection elements are arranged on opposite sides of the transport route. Vorrichtung nach Ansprüchen 1 - 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Detektionsrichtung eine Beleuchtungseinrichtung zur Erzeugung von Lichtbündeln und mindestens zwei optische Empfänger aufweist, wobei die Lichtbündel auf den Raumbereich fokussiert sind, in dem die temporäre Auslenkung der Sendungsabschnitte erfolgt, die optischen Empfänger entlang der Transportstrecke derart angeordnet sind, daß nur bei Auslenkung von Sendungen mit überlappenden Abschnitten um den vorgegebenen Betrag der Lichteinfall in die optischen Empfänger gleichzeitig unterbrochen wird.Device according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the detection direction has an illumination device for generating light bundles and at least two optical receivers, the light bundles being focused on the spatial area in which the temporary deflection of the mailpiece sections takes place, the optical receivers along the transport route are arranged in such a way that the incidence of light into the optical receiver is interrupted at the same time only when deflecting mail items with overlapping sections. Vorrichtung nach Ansprüchen 1 - 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die optischen Empfänger auf entgegengesetzten Seiten der Transportstrecke angeordnet sind.Device according to claims 1-4, characterized in that the optical receivers are arranged on opposite sides of the transport route. Vorrichtung nach Ansprüchen 4 - 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jedes Auslenkungselement einen schräg in den Bereich der Transportstrecke ragenden Teil aufweist, an dessen sendungsseitigem Ende die Beleuchtungseinrichtung angeordnet ist.Apparatus according to claims 4-5, characterized in that each deflection element has a part projecting obliquely into the region of the transport route, on the end of the transmission side the lighting device being arranged. Vorrichtung nach Ansprüchen 4 - 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Beleuchtungseinrichtung Lichtbündel mit einer Impulsfolge zwischen 10 und 100 kHz emittiert.Device according to claims 4-6, characterized in that the lighting device emits light beams with a pulse sequence between 10 and 100 kHz. Vorrichtung nach Ansprüchen 1 - 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jedes Auslenkungselement derart befestigt ist, daß maximal eine vorgegebene Auslenkungskraft auf die Sendungen ausgeübt wird.Device according to claims 1-7, characterized in that each deflection element is fastened in such a way that a maximum of a predetermined deflection force is exerted on the mail items. Verfahren zum Erkennen von Überlappungen von biegbaren flachen Sendungen, die sequentiell auf einer ihrer Kanten stehend in einer Transportstrecke gefördert werden, wobei die Förderung der Sendungen in der Transportstrecke derart erfolgt, daß mindestens ein Abschnitt jeder Sendung senkrecht zur Förderrichtung gegenüber einer Kante bewegbar ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein bewegbarer Abschnitt jeder Sendung senkrecht zur Förderrrichtung temporär ausgelenkt wird, und daß zum Erkennen des Vorliegens von überlappenden Sendungsabschnitten eine Auswertung des Rückschnellverhaltens der Sendungen erfolgt.Method for recognizing overlaps of bendable flat mail items which are conveyed sequentially standing on one of their edges in a transport route, whereby the mail items are conveyed in the transport route in such a way that at least a section of each mail item can be moved perpendicular to the conveying direction with respect to an edge characterized in that a movable section of each consignment is temporarily deflected perpendicular to the direction of conveyance, and that in order to recognize the presence of overlapping consignment sections, an evaluation of the return behavior of the consignments is carried out. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Auslenkung sendungsfrontseitig oder sendungsrückseitig erfolgt.Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the deflection takes place at the front or at the rear of the shipment. Verfahren nach Ansprüchen 9 - 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Auslenkung sowohl sendungsfrontseitig als auch sendungsrückseitig erfolgt.Method according to claims 9-10, characterized in that the deflection takes place both on the front side of the mail item and on the back side of the mail item. Verfahren nach Ansprüchen 9 - 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Förderung in der Transportstrecke durch Transportbänder erfolgt, zwischen denen die flachen Sendungen geführt werden, wobei die Sendungen direkt an oder in der Nähe der Riemenober- oder -unterkante ausgelenkt werden.Method according to claims 9-11, characterized in that the conveying in the transport route takes place by conveyor belts between which the flat mail items are guided, the mail items being deflected directly at or near the top or bottom edge of the belt.
EP94112015A 1993-10-29 1994-08-02 Apparatus and method for detection of overlapping flexible and flat objects Expired - Lifetime EP0650911B1 (en)

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DE4337004A DE4337004A1 (en) 1993-10-29 1993-10-29 Device and method for detecting overlaps of flexible flat mail items

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DE59407384D1 (en) 1999-01-14
US5560598A (en) 1996-10-01
ATE173999T1 (en) 1998-12-15
CN1109439A (en) 1995-10-04
EP0650911B1 (en) 1998-12-02
JPH07172628A (en) 1995-07-11

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