EP0771298A1

EP0771298A1 - Device for separating and distributing articles, in particular mail

Info

Publication number: EP0771298A1
Application number: EP95924853A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Josef Raschke; Rudolf Schuster
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 1994-07-14
Filing date: 1995-07-11
Publication date: 1997-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2015-07-11
Also published as: US5785488A; WO1996002448A1; ATE173715T1; BR9508274A; CN1156986A; DE59504343D1; CA2194888A1; CN1066120C; EP0771298B1; JPH10502600A; AU2920795A

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/DE95/00908 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 14, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 14, 1997 PCT Filed Jul. 11, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96/02448 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 1, 1996The apparatus comprises a magazine (M) for the acceptance of the stacked unit load and for offering the unit load in an upper fetching position (A) of the stack, a guide profile (FP) of the magazine (M) that is at least approximately L-shaped in crossection and that is arranged inclined such that the unit load lies against both legs of the guide profile, and a rotor (R) that carries at least one suction grab (SG) that is adjustable in radial direction and swivellably arranged, and a conveyor (F) for the acceptance and further-transport of the separated unit load, whereby magazine (M), rotor (R) and conveyor (F) are aligned such relative to one another in terms of their spatial position that the suction grab (SG) can seize the unit load respectively offered in the fetching position (A) of the magazine (M) and transfer it to the conveyor (F) after a rotation of the rotor(R).

Description

description

Device for separating and transferring piece goods, in particular mail items

The machine-readable postcodes to be specified on postal items such as letters, postcards, small parcels and the like, as an identification number for a location, a delivery area, a mailbox or a bulk recipient, enable a quick mechanical distribution of the post. The incoming mail items are sorted, for example, with the aid of controllable general cargo carriers, each of which is loaded with a mail item in special loading places, and then deliver this mail item to a sorting container assigned to the respective zip code or a corresponding sorting compartment. Since the sorting containers or sorting compartments can be arranged on different levels, the piece goods carriers rotating on conveying devices may also have to be able to bridge different altitudes. After the mail item has been handed over to the assigned sorting container or the assigned sorting compartment, the empty general cargo carriers can be loaded again with a mail item when passing through a loading place. The general cargo carriers are loaded, for example, with the aid of a rotating impeller, the blades of which form cells which receive the individual cargo that has already been separated and arrives on a conveyor device and deliver it to the rotating general cargo carriers. The separation and transfer of the piece goods to the conveying device leading to the impeller must be carried out with a relatively high degree of accuracy adapted to the processing speed of the entire sorting device.

From DE-A-36 06 093 a device for separating and erecting folding boxes is known, which has a storage magazine for folding boxes, a removal device with rotating suction pads, an endless conveyor device with drivers and blow nozzles, which is on the side of the Funding Direction for inflating the conveyed cartons are arranged. The suction grippers pull the folding boxes one after the other in the direction of extension of the folding boxes from the magazine and transfer them to the conveyor device lying flat on an arcuate path. In order to guide the chains of the conveyor device and the folding boxes in the arcuate section, arcuately curved guide rails are assigned to the circulation path of the suction pads behind the magazine.

In the device described above, the magazine is inclined at an angle of approximately 45 ° to the horizontal and has a bottom, two side walls and two bars delimiting the front side, on which the stack of folding boxes is supported. The front end of the base is assigned a holding lug which can be moved up and down in cycles and which retains the folding box provided in a lower pick-up position of the magazine on its lower edge in the magazine. To remove the folding box provided in the lower pick-up position of the magazine, it is grasped by the suction grippers and pulled off the stack at an angle downwards over the holding lug and on the rods.

The invention specified in claim 1 is based on the problem of creating a fast and reliable device for separating and transferring piece goods to a conveying device which is also suitable for piece goods with different formats and different thicknesses. The device should also be particularly suitable for separating and transferring thin letters.

A device according to the invention can be used in public post offices or in the in-house mail centers of large companies for separating and transferring mail to a sorting device. In addition, a device according to the invention can also be used, for example, in storage systems or automatic picking systems for ^" comparable tasks are used in which stackable piece goods are to be separated and transferred to a conveyor.

The invention is based on the finding that a suction gripper which is radially adjustable and pivotable on a rotor can grip the piece goods provided in an upper pick-up position of a magazine and, after a corresponding rotation of the rotor, can transfer them to a conveyor device, provided the magazine , The rotor and the conveyor are aligned in relation to each other in their spatial position. The provision of the piece goods in an upper pick-up position on the one hand facilitates the pick-up by the suction gripper and on the other hand makes the removal of the piece goods from the magazine independent of the height and weight of the stack located in the magazine. For the reliability of the separation and the transfer, it is also of crucial importance that the piece goods are held securely by the suction gripper all the way between being picked up in the pick-up position of the magazine and being transferred to the conveying device, and in particular to one of shape and Mass of the piece-dependent litter can be dispensed with. In addition, the transport of the piece goods between the upper pick-up position of the magazine and the conveyor device can be supported by the action of gravity. The L-shaped guide profile enables simple and quick loading of the magazine with general cargo. By placing the piece goods on the two legs of the guide profile, stack formation is also possible with different sizes or formats of the piece goods. In addition, the system on the two legs of the guide profile in the upper pick-up position defines a location which is independent of the size or format of the piece goods and at which the suction gripper can grasp the piece goods provided. It should also be emphasized that the piece goods made available in the upper pick-up position are not subject to the pressure of the remaining stack, that piece goods with different thicknesses can also be separated by the upper pick-up position, and that the upper pick-up position also eliminates the need for retention mechanisms prone to malfunction, such as the retaining lugs known from DE-A-36 06 093.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

According to claim 2, an angle of approximately 90 ° between the two legs of the guide profile is preferred in view of the mostly rectangular shape of the piece goods.

The retaining device according to claim 3 enables a secure hold of the piece goods provided in the pick-up position of the magazine. On the other hand, however, the retention device does not impede the intentional removal of the piece goods provided in the pick-up position by the suction gripper.

The guide device according to claim 4 supports the transport of the piece goods gripped by the suction gripper between the pick-up position of the magazine and the conveying device.

The embodiment according to claim 5 enables a gentle and reliable further transport of the individual piece goods with simple means.

The embodiment according to claim 6 enables a flexible adaptation of the suction gripper to the surface to be gripped of the piece goods provided in the pick-up position of the magazine and to the transport level of the conveying device receiving the piece goods.

According to claim 7, two or more suction pads attached to the rotor make it possible to double or multiply the power of the entire device. If a suction gripper comprises two suction units, one suction unit can grasp the piece goods provided in the pick-up position of the magazine, while the second suction unit supports the torque and the pulling force of the suction gripper when removing the piece goods.

The embodiment according to claim 9 enables radial adjustment and tangential pivoting of a suction pad attached to the rotor with little effort. According to claim 10, a parallel guidance of the suction pad over two equally long articulated arms is preferred.

According to claim 11, a relative movement between the coupling and the rotor and thus the radial adjustment and tangential pivoting of the suction gripper can be controlled with relatively little effort via a cam mechanism.

The development according to claim 12 enables a further reduction of the effort through the use of a cam disc as a cam gear, it being particularly advantageous according to claim 13 if a roller attached to an angle lever of an articulated arm runs in a groove of the cam disc.

The embodiment according to claim 14 allows a particularly simple and precise adjustment of the suction pad to the pick-up position of the magazine with little effort. If, according to claim 15, the two articulated arms are stretched when a piece of goods is gripped in the pick-up position of the magazine, the removal of the respective piece of goods from the stack can be made considerably easier by a radial retraction of the suction pad when the red rotates further.

The development according to claim 16 brings about an increase in the speed of the suction gripper and thus an approximation of the speed by the larger radius of the extended articulated arms and by the stretching movement of the articulated arms themselves. speed of the piece goods to be delivered to the speed of the conveyor device receiving the piece goods.

The embodiment according to claim 17 enables a secure gripping of the piece goods in the pick-up position of the magazine.

The further development according to claim 18 enables a safe transfer of the piece goods to the conveyor, whereby this security can be further increased by the measures according to claims 19 and 20.

The embodiment according to claim 21 ensures a correct transfer of the piece goods to the conveyor. This further facilitates automatic recognition of a coding applied to the piece goods and further handling of the piece goods in the subsequent sorting device.

The development according to claim 22 enables the entire device for separating and transferring piece goods to be matched to a division of the conveyor device receiving the piece goods. When using, for example, two or three devices, only one every second or third division of the conveying device is then occupied by one device. In addition, the device can also be matched to an uneven division of a conveyor.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and will be described in more detail below.

Show it

FIG. 1 shows a device for separating and transferring mail shortly before the detection of a letter provided in a magazine, FIG. 2 shows the device according to FIG. 1 when the letter is detected,

FIG. 3 shows the device according to FIG. 1 when the letter is pulled out of the magazine,

FIG. 4 shows the device according to FIG. 1 shortly before the letter is handed over to a conveying device,

Figure 5 shows the suction gripper attached to a four-link chain of the device shown in Figures 1 to 4 and

Figure 6 shows a section through one of the articulated arms of the four-link chain shown in Figure 5.

FIG. 1 shows, in a highly simplified schematic representation, a device for separating and transferring mail item P to a conveyor device designated by F. The mail item P present here in the form of letters is recorded in the L-shaped guide profile FP of a magazine designated overall by M. The inclination of the guide profile FP which rises towards the conveying device F is chosen such that the stacked mail item P rests on both legs of the guide profile FP. The provision of the postal matter P in the magazine M for the separation takes place in an upper pick-up position A. A retaining device, designated overall by RE, which in the exemplary embodiment shown comprises two thin leaf springs attached to a holding rod, ensures the hold of the in the pick-up position A for the mail item P provided. A guide device FE is also attached to the guide profile FP and consists of a curved rod directed towards the conveyor device F and the function of which will be explained in more detail later. In order to grasp the mail item P provided in the pick-up position A, a suction gripper SG which is radially adjustable and tangentially pivotable is provided on a rotor R and which at the time shown in FIG. 1 is just approaching the pick-up position A. The rotor R attached to a fixed support T rotates clockwise at the speed n about the rotor axis RA, which is only indicated by a cross. The hose lines with which the suction gripper SG is connected to a vacuum source, not shown in the drawing, are designated by SL. The radial adjustability and the tangential pivoting of the suction gripper SG are made possible by a four-link chain, to the coupling K of which the suction gripper SG is attached. The coupling K is in turn attached to the rotor R by means of two articulated arms GA of equal length, the articulated arm GA shown in the top in FIG. 1 being rigidly connected to an angle lever WH. At its free end, this angle lever WH carries a roller RO which runs on the outer circumference of a cam disk labeled KS. The cam disc KS thus controls the radial adjustment and the tangential pivoting of the suction pad SG.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the conveyor device F receiving the separated postal matter P is a belt conveyor, the conveyor belt (not shown) of which moves at the speed u in the transport direction indicated by an arrow TR. On the conveyor belt in FIG. 1, cross ribs, which are only indicated by dash-dotted lines QR, create a division t for the reception and further transport of the mail item P. The speed u of the conveying device F and the speed n of the rotor R are matched to one another in such a way that the mail item P is transferred to the conveyor F at each division t or an integer multiple of the division t of the conveyor F. As already mentioned, the suction gripper SG is just approaching the upper pick-up position A of the magazine M at the time shown in FIG. 1. When the rotor R continues to rotate, the suction gripper SG then reaches the position shown in FIG. 2, in which the two Articulated arms GA are completely stretched. In addition, in this position the suction surface of the suction gripper SG is aligned parallel to the surface to be gripped of the postal item P provided in the upper collection position A. With this alignment of the suction pad SG brought about by the control of the cam disc KS, optimal conditions are created for the secure detection of the mail item P provided in the upper pick-up position A. To grasp the mail item P, two suction units of the suction gripper SG, designated SE, are connected to the vacuum source already mentioned via the two hose lines SL.

After the mail item P provided in the pick-up position A has been detected in FIG. 2, the rotor R rotates further and, in cooperation with the cam disc KS, causes a radial retraction and a tangential pivoting of the suction pad SG. In this process, which can be seen in FIG. 3, the mail item P gripped by the suction gripper SG is withdrawn radially and is drawn off between the retaining device RE and the remaining stack of the mail item P in the tangential direction and then with the support of the one already mentioned Guide device FE moves to conveyor device F.

FIG. 4 shows the position of the suction gripper SG which is gripped and slides down on the guide device FE

Postguts P shortly before the transfer to the conveyor device F. At the moment of transfer, the two articulated arms GA are again fully stretched. In addition, the suction surface of the suction gripper SG is aligned in the transfer position parallel to the transport plane of the conveying device F. By switching off the negative pressure applied via the two hose lines SL or by applying a slight positive pressure the suction units SE then detach the mail item P from the suction gripper SG and fall onto the conveyor device F in the correct position. The correct position transfer means an orientation of the mail item P transverse to the transport direction TR, as shown in FIG. 1 for the previous transfer process ¬ is. The speed of the mail item P is approximated to the speed u of the conveying device F when it is transferred.

The method of separating and transferring the mail item P described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 requires that the magazine M, the rotor R and the conveying device F are aligned in relation to one another in their spatial position. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide profile FP is inclined at an angle of 30 ° to

Transport direction TR adjusted and inclined to the horizontal transport plane of the conveyor F by an angle of approximately 15 ° to the rear. The rotor axis RA is oriented at an angle of 45 ° to the transport direction TR of the conveying device F and inclined to the transport plane of the conveying device F by an angle of 15 ° to the rear.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show in detail the attachment of the suction gripper SG to a four-link chain. As has already been mentioned in connection with FIG. 1, the four-link chain comprises two articulated arms GA of equal length and a coupling K, one of the articulated arms GA being rigidly connected to an angle lever WH. The angle lever WH has at its free end a roller RO which, in the exemplary embodiment shown here, does not run on the outer circumference but in a groove N of the cam KS.

The four-link chain comprises a total of four link pins GB1, GB2, GB3 and GB4, which are used in ball bearings KU of the two link arms GA. The two hinge pins GB1 and GB3 are non-rotatably connected to the rotor R, while the two hinge pins GB2 and GB4 are non-rotatably connected to the one by two stood mutually arranged flat pieces formed coupling K are connected.

The suction gripper SG has two plate-shaped suction units SE which are attached to an elbow WS and which are made of an elastic material and can grasp the mail item P by applying a negative pressure. The angle piece WS is connected to a U-shaped holder HA, which in turn is pivotally arranged on the joint pin GB2 of the four-link chain via ball bearings KU. The U-shaped holder HA and thus the entire suction gripper SG can therefore be pivoted about the articulated bolt GB2 relative to the coupling K. This pivoting movement, which can be carried out against the force of a leaf spring BF supported on the hinge pin GB2 and a pin ST, enables a corresponding resilient angle adjustment of the suction device when rigid mail item P is pulled out of the pick-up position A of the magazine M (compare FIGS. 1 to 4) gripper SG.

In the schematic illustration according to FIGS. 1 to 4, the rotor R carries a suction pad SG. To increase the throughput, the rotor R can carry, for example, four suction cups SG which are attached to the rotor in a uniform circumferential pitch with a uniform division t of the conveying device F. To adapt to an uneven pitch t of the conveying device F, the circumferential pitch of the four suction pads SG on the rotor R can also be, for example, 80 °, 100 °, 80 ° and again 100 °.

An operator loads the magazine M with stacks of the incoming mail item P. The feed of the mail item P, not shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in the direction of the pick-up position A of the magazine M, can be carried out, for example, by sheet-shaped swords, which in each case convey a stack of the mail item P upwards, swing out in an upper end position, downwards driven and then swung back into the guide profile FP the. For example, a light barrier arranged at the upper pick-up position A is suitable for controlling the feed.

The above-described device for separating and transferring mail item P leads to a rotating vane wheel, the cells formed by the individual vanes of which receive the mail item P arriving on the conveying device F and, after a corresponding rotation, to piece goods carriers rotating underneath deliver to a sorting facility. The circulating general cargo carriers then convey the mail item P, in turn, to sorting containers or sorting compartments assigned to the respective postcode.

Details of a suitable impeller can be found, for example, in patent application P 43 44 437.8. Details of a suitable sorting device are set out, for example, in patent applications P 43 23 564.6 and P 43 23 565.4.

Claims

claims

l. Device for separating and transferring piece goods, in particular mail items (P), to a conveyor (F) with

- a magazine (M) for receiving the stacked piece goods and for making the piece goods available in an upper pick-up position (A) of the stack,

- An at least approximately L-shaped guide profile (FP) of the magazine (M), which is arranged at an incline such that the piece goods rests on both legs of the guide profile (FP), and with

- A rotor (R) which has at least one suction gripper which is adjustable and pivotable in the radial direction

(SG) carries, where

- Magazine (M), rotor (R) and conveyor (F) are aligned in relation to one another in their spatial position in such a way that the suction gripper (SG) grips the piece goods provided in the pick-up position (A) of the magazine (M) and after rotation of the rotor (R) to the conveyor (F).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle between the two legs of the guide profile (FP) is approximately 90 °.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the magazine (M) is assigned a retaining device (RE) for the piece goods provided in the upper pick-up position (A).

4th Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that the magazine (M) is assigned a guide device (FE) for guiding the piece goods gripped by the suction gripper (SG) between the pick-up position (A) of the magazine (M) and the transfer position to the conveyor device (F).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the conveyor (F) is formed by a belt conveyor.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the suction gripper (SG) in the tangential direction is pivotally attached to the rotor (R).

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rotor (R) carries at least two suction pads (SG).

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a suction gripper (SG) comprises two suction units (SE).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the suction pad (SG) is attached to the coupling (K) of a four-link chain attached to the rotor (R).

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the coupling (K) is attached to the rotor (R) via two articulated arms of the same length (GA).

11. The device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the relative movement between the coupling (K) and the rotor (R) is controlled via a cam mechanism.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the cam mechanism is formed by a cam (KS).

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that in a groove (N) of the cam (KS) on a bell crank (WH) of an articulated arm (GA) mounted roller (RO) runs.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the cam (KS) is rotatably mounted on the carrier (T) of the rotor (R).

15. The device according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the two articulated arms (GA) are stretched when gripping a piece goods in the pick-up position (A) of the magazine (M).

16. The device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the two articulated arms (GA) are stretched during the transfer of the piece goods to the conveyor (F).

17. Device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the magazine (M) and the rotor (R) are aligned with each other in their spatial position such that the suction pad (SG) with its suction surface when gripping the piece goods is oriented at least approximately parallel to the surface of the piece goods to be gripped.

18th Device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the rotor (R) and the conveying device (F) are aligned in relation to one another in such a way that the suction gripper (SG) with its suction surface transfers the piece goods to the conveying device (F) at least approximately parallel to the transport plane of the conveying device ( F) is aligned.

19. Device according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the axis (RA) of the rotor (R) is oriented obliquely to the transport direction (TR) of the conveyor (F).

20. Device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the axis (RA) of the rotor (R) is inclined to the transport plane of the conveyor (F).

21. The device according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the magazine (M) and the conveyor (F) are aligned in relation to one another in their spatial position such that one on the transport direction (TR) of the conveyor (F) ori¬ dated, correct transfer of the piece goods to the conveyor (F) is guaranteed.

22. The device according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized gekennzeic net that the speed (u) of the conveyor (F) and the speed (s) of the rotor (R) are coordinated so that the transfer of the piece goods to the conveyor (F) with each division (t) or with an integer multiple of the division (t) of the conveyor (F).