EP0870552B1 - Device for forming a closed stack of flat mail items - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for forming a closed stack of flat mail items on a consignment store, for multiple sorting operations on the same sorting machine are automatically taken over by the sorting compartments with emptying devices. The content of the sorting compartments is sequential, particularly in the case of sequence sorting Order to be sorted again.

According to EP 661106, sorting bins are arranged above the mail item storage / stacking bed. The items are pushed from the item storage for separation.

After the first sorting has taken place, the compartments are simultaneously emptied onto the consignment store. They are prevented from falling over at fixed intervals by cutting knives. The shipments from different sorting compartments are therefore not merged again, but instead remain in adjacent fixed sections. There is no compressed batch of mail. In the case of unevenly filled compartments, in particular lightly filled compartments, this can result fast and error-free separation cannot be guaranteed.

A solution also became known (Proceedings USPS Advanced Technology Conference, Washington D.C., Dec. 2. 1992, p. 1061-1074), with each sorting compartment a separate separation / extraction device assigned. The compartments are sorted one after the other after the first sorting emptied by the respective separation / deduction devices and the consignments are subjected to a second sorting process. The disadvantage here is the high expenditure on equipment.

Furthermore, from DE 195 45 716 C1 is a device for automatically loading the substance input a mail distribution system known. Here, on a supply and storage line existing consignments with the help of a conveyor belt and a separating knife at one speed V1 fed to a separating device. New shipments from a mail container get between two further swiveling ones by means of a loading module Cutting knife that feeds this stack at a speed V2> V1 to that on the feeder and Slide shipments located. The individual cutting knife pivots there and drives behind the other cutting knives with the new shipments. Then they swing another separating knife and move to the starting position to pick up a new batch of mail.

The emptying of adjacent compartments onto a consignment store in the sorted The order in which an entire stack is formed with a predetermined stack pressure is with this Solution not possible.

The invention specified in claim 1 is therefore based on the problem of a device create the consignments from separately emptied sorting compartments on a consignment store takes over and merges into a closed batch of consignments. So that should Prerequisites are created to separate the batches quickly and with few errors and subject to a new sorting.

By sequentially emptying the sorting compartments and transferring the items from the emptied ones Subjects and the formation of the entire stack by gradually adding the items the last emptied sorting bin to the previous stack becomes a closed overall stack generated by means of a separating device pulling off the foremost mail item can be separated safely and quickly.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are shown in the subclaims. In claims 2 and 3, two variants of stack formation are given. According to claim 2, the drives of the additional cutting knife are arranged side by side so that they can not overtake each other in the transfer movements. Therefore, the middle separating knife can and must move up to the outer additional separating knife, and after the middle separating knife has been swung in, the outer separating knife swings up and continues. So that mailings of the existing stack of mailings are not damaged when the middle cutting knife is swiveled in, according to the advantageous embodiment according to claim 8, the outer additional cutting knife is so double-walled that the middle cutting knife can move into the intermediate space when swiveling and damage to the mailings is avoided.
According to claim 3, the drives of the additional cutting knife are arranged separately from each other so that the additional cutting knife can overtake the transfer of the mail.
This saves pivoting movements compared to the first variant.
Claim 4 describes an advantageous transfer of the batch of mail.
According to the advantageous embodiment according to claim 5, the respective sorting compartment for the mail items to be taken over is opened by the pivoting-in process of the outer additional separating knife, as a result of which the solution can be designed with little effort.
The solution according to claim 6 is more complex, but it offers more options for taking over the consignments, including taking over several filled sorting bins at the same time.
It is also advantageous to constantly measure the batch pressure of the mail items on the mail item storage when assembling and / or separating the mail items and to keep them constant by moving the separating knife. This ensures high operational reliability.

In the following, the invention is illustrated using an exemplary embodiment explained in more detail on the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer Gangfolgesortierung mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung und nicht überholenden Trennmessern.

Fig. 2a-h

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung der verschiedenen Phasen bei der Übernahme der Sendungen und Bildung eines geschlossenen Stapels (nicht überholende Trennmesser).

Fig-3a-g

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung der verschiedenen Phasen bei der Übernahme der Sendungen und Bildung eines geschlossenen Stapels (überholende Trennmesser).

Show

Fig. 1

is a schematic perspective view of a sequence sorting with a device according to the invention and non-overtaking separating knives.

2a-h

a schematic perspective representation of the different phases in the acceptance of the mail items and formation of a closed stack (non-overtaking separating knife).

Fig 3a-g

a schematic perspective view of the different phases in the acceptance of the mail items and formation of a closed stack (overtaking separating knife).

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the consignment plane is inclined approximately 45 ° to the vertical. Below a row of distribution compartments 12 into which the items are sorted, additional rejection and overflow compartments 8, 9 are directed into the items that are rejected (e.g. bar code illegible, wrong sorting plan, gap too small, rejection after traffic jam) or the consignments after a distribution compartment 12 has filled up, there is a first consignment store 2, having an underfloor band and a sideband. These are at an angle of 90 ° to one another, store the batch of mail and guide it to a separating device 4 for separating and sorting in a further sorting process or a container as a removal point 10 for removing the mailings after the last sorting process has taken place. The mail store 2 also has separating knives for taking over the mail from the distribution compartments, forming a closed stack on the mail store 2 and supporting the transportation of the mail. A final separating knife can be manually swung into and out of the program store 2 and coupled in the swiveled-in state with the movement of the underfloor belt, and two further separating knives can be moved independently of the underfloor belt on linear drives parallel to the program store 2 and can be swiveled into the program store in a controlled manner and also swung out again , The linear drives are arranged one above the other, mutual overtaking of the additional cutting blades is not possible. The motion sequences are monitored by suitable sensors.
After the separation in the separation device 4, the items are distributed with the aid of a transport device consisting of deflection rollers 7 and driven cover belts between which the items are transported, an alignment section 5, a barcode reader as a feature scanning and reading device 6 and a distribution mechanism 12 supplied. Furthermore, the sorting machine has a second mailing memory 1, which is equipped with the mailings to be sorted in the first sorting process. The mail items are fed to the distribution compartments 12 via an assigned second separating device 3, likewise by means of the driven cover bands and deflection rollers 7 of the alignment section 5, the barcode reader 6.

1. Alle zu sortierenden Sendungen werden dem unteren Sendungsspeicher 1 zugeführt (automatisch oder manuell).

2. Sodann beginnt die Vereinzelung von diesem Sendungsspeicher 1 und die Sortierung in die Verteilfächer 12 (erster Sortiergang).

3. Sobald alle Sendungen sortiert sind, werden sie aus den Verteilfächem 12 in den oberen Sendungsspeicher 2 umgeladen.

4. Sodann beginnt die Vereinzelung von diesem Sendungsspeicher 2 und die Sortierung in die Sortierfächer 12 (zweiter Sortiergang).

5. Während dieses zweiten Sortiergangs ist der untere Sendungsspeicher 1 leer und kann bereits mit den Sendungen für die nächste Sortierung beladen werden, siehe Schritt 1.

6. Sobald der zweite Sortiergang abgeschlossen ist, werden die Sendungen wiederum in den oberen Sendungsspeicher 2 umgeladen.

7. Der erste Sortiergang der nächsten Sortierung kann nun sofort beginnen, siehe Schritt 2.

8. Während der erste Sortiergang der zweiten Sortierung läuft, wird die Maschine automatisch oder manuell entladen, das heißt die sortierten Sendungen im oberen Speicher werden entfernt.

Sorting with two sorting processes takes place as follows:

1. All items to be sorted are fed to the lower item memory 1 (automatically or manually).

2. Then the separation from this mail storage 1 begins and the sorting into the distribution compartments 12 (first sorting).

3. As soon as all items have been sorted, they are reloaded from the distribution compartments 12 into the upper item store 2.

4. Then the separation from this mail storage 2 begins and the sorting into the sorting compartments 12 (second sorting process).

5. During this second sorting process, the lower consignment store 1 is empty and can already be loaded with the consignments for the next sorting, see step 1.

6. As soon as the second sorting process has been completed, the mail items are again reloaded into the upper mail item storage 2.

7. The first sorting of the next sorting can now begin immediately, see step 2.

8. While the first sorting process of the second sorting is running, the machine is automatically or manually unloaded, ie the sorted items in the upper store are removed.

According to FIG. 2, the mailings are transferred from the sorting compartments for each compartment individually, starting with the last compartment on the emptying side. A channel is formed from the two pivotable and linearly separately movable separating knives P1, P2, which directs the stack of mail items of different widths from the sorting compartment 12 to the mail item storage 2.
The middle cutting knife P1 is moved linearly by means of a toothed belt and motor drive. The swiveling takes place via a moving gear motor. This separating knife P1 travels with the final separating knife P3 and the existing and compressed stack to the detected fill level and prevents the existing and compressed stack between the final separating knife P3 and it from falling over.
The outer, pivotable cutting knife P2 is driven like the cutting knife P1. Since the drive units are arranged close to one another, the two pivoting, separately driven cutting knives cannot overtake each other, so the middle cutting knife P1 always remains the middle cutting knife and can only travel to the outer cutting knife P2. So that the stack of mail items is not damaged when the middle separating knife P1 is pivoted into the outer separating knife P2, the outer separating knife P2 is so double-walled that the middle separating knife P1 can pivot into the outer separating knife P2. The stack of items is therefore not touched at all. The outer separating knife P2 always has a fixed division (sorting compartment width) up to the sorting compartment wall at the stacking point.
The outer separating knife P2 and the sorting compartments 12 are designed such that the bottom flap / baffle of the respective sorting compartment 12 is opened when the separating knife P2 is pivoted in.
The timing is now as follows:
Initial position:
The cutting knives P1, P2, P3 are in the basic position, ie all three are at the end of the system (tank side). The middle separating knife P1 is pivoted upwards and stands at the stacking point of the first sorting compartment 12 at the end of the machine on the container side. The outer swiveling separating knife P2 in the direction of the pull-off device is pivoted downward towards the mail store. The driver on the underfloor belt of the mail store is coupled to the final separating knife P3.

• Das mittlere Trennmesser P1, das Unterflurband und das Abschlußtrennmesser P3 fahren mit dem schon übernommenen Sendungsstapel bis zur beweglichen und dadurch den Sendungsstapel fixierenden Seitenwand des jeweiligen Sortierfaches. Das äußere Trennmesser P2 senkt sich an der festen Wand des Sortierfaches ab und öffnet dadurch dieses. Die Sendungen rutschen somit auf den Sendungsspeicher (Fig. 2a).
• das mittlere Trennmesser P1 schwenkt aus dem Sendungsstapel nach oben (Fig. 2b).
• Das mittlere Trennmesser P1 fährt zum äußeren Trennmesser P2 (Fig. 2c).
• Das mittlere Trennmesser P1 schwenkt zwischen den beiden Wänden des äußeren Trennmessers P2 nach unten (Fig. 2d).
• Das äußere Trennmesser P2 schwenkt nach oben und das Sortierfach schließt sich wieder (Fig. 2e).
• Das äußere Trennmesser P2 fährt zu festen Seitenwand des nächsten Sortierfaches (Fig. 2f).
• Das Unterflurband und das Abschlußtrennmesser P3 schieben den Sendungsstapel gemäß des gemessenen und einzuhaltenden Stapeldrucks an das mittlere Trennmesser P1 heran.
• Das mittlere Trennmesser fährt mit dem komprimierten Sendungsstapel an die bewegliche Seitenwand des nächsten Faches.
• Das äußere Trennmesser P2 senkt sich ab (Fig. 2g).
• Dieser Zyklus läuft bis zum letzten Sortierfach durch.

Emptying the sorting compartments:

• The middle separating knife P1, the underfloor belt and the final separating knife P3 travel with the stack of mail already taken up to the movable side wall of the respective sorting compartment, which thereby fixes the stack of mail. The outer cutting knife P2 lowers on the fixed wall of the sorting compartment and thereby opens it. The mail items thus slide onto the mail item storage (FIG. 2a).
• the middle separating knife P1 swings upwards from the stack of mail items (FIG. 2b).
• The middle cutting knife P1 moves to the outer cutting knife P2 (Fig. 2c).
• The middle separating knife P1 swings down between the two walls of the outer separating knife P2 (FIG. 2d).
• The outer cutting knife P2 swings up and the sorting compartment closes again (Fig. 2e).
• The outer cutting knife P2 moves to the fixed side wall of the next sorting compartment (Fig. 2f).
• The underfloor belt and the final separating knife P3 push the stack of mail towards the middle separating knife P1 in accordance with the measured and adhering stack pressure.
• The middle separating knife moves the compressed stack of mail to the movable side wall of the next compartment.
• The outer cutting knife P2 lowers (Fig. 2g).
• This cycle runs through to the last sorting bin.

• Das äußere Trennmesser P2 übernimmt die Position des mittleren Trennmessers P1.
• Das mittlere Trennmesser P1 schwenkt nach oben
• Das äußere Trennmesser P2 fährt mit Unterflurband, Sendungsstapel und Abschlußtrennmesser P3 unter dem mittleren Trennmesser P1 durch bis zur Vereinzelungsvorrichtung.
• Das äußere Trennmesser P2 schwenkt hoch und die Vereinzelungsvorrichtung startet, wobei Abschlußtrennmesser P3 und Unterflurband den Sendungsstapel gemäß der Vereinzelung nachschieben.

Preparation for separating the batch of items after taking over the last sorting compartment.

• The outer cutting knife P2 takes over the position of the middle cutting knife P1.
• The middle cutting knife P1 swings upwards
• The outer separating knife P2 travels with the underfloor belt, consignment stack and final separating knife P3 under the middle separating knife P1 to the separating device.
• The outer separating knife P2 swivels up and the separating device starts, the final separating knife P3 and the underfloor belt pushing the stack of mail according to the separating.

• Das äußere Trennmesser P2 schwenkt nach unten.
• Die Trennmesser und das Unterflurband fahren zurück in die Grundstellung.

Preparation of the next sorting process:

• The outer cutting knife P2 swings down.
• The cutting knife and the underfloor belt move back to the basic position.

• Das äußere Trennmesser P2 übernimmt die Position des mittleren Trennmessers P1 und das mittlere Trennmesser P1 schwenkt hoch.
• Der komprimierte Sendungsstapel fährt zurück, bis das Abschlußtrennmesser P3 vor dem Behälter steht.
• Der Operator schwenkt das Abschlußtrennmesser P3 hoch, hindert den Stapel von Hand am Umfallen und taucht mit dem Abschlußtrennmesser P3 um eine Behälterteilung versetzt wieder in den Stapel ein.
• Der Sendungsstapel kann nun in den Behälter geschoben werden.
• Das Unterflurband und die Trennmesser rücken den Stapel bis zur Behälterkante nach.

Emptying the consignment store:

• The outer cutting knife P2 takes over the position of the middle cutting knife P1 and the middle cutting knife P1 swings up.
• The compressed batch of mail drives back until the final separating knife P3 is in front of the container.
• The operator swings the end separating knife P3 up, prevents the stack from falling over by hand and dips back into the stack with the end separating knife P3 by one container division.
• The stack of items can now be pushed into the container.
• The underfloor belt and the cutting knife move the stack up to the edge of the container.

In Fig. 3, the drive units of the pivotable cutting knife are arranged so that they can overtake each other. One drive is located above and the other drive below the sorting compartments.
In the basic position, the final separating knife P3 and the first separating knife P1 with the drive arranged below the sorting compartments are pivoted into the mailing store and stand in front of the last compartment. The separating knife P2 with the upper drive unit is pivoted upwards and is on the fixed sorting compartment wall.

• Das Trennmesser P2 schwenkt nach unten und drückt die Bodenplatte /Prallwand auf. Die Sendungen dieses Faches rutschen auf den Sendungsspeicher (Fig. 3a).
• Das Trennmesser P1 schwenkt zwischen den Sendungen hoch (Fig. 3b).
• Das Trennmesser P1 fährt vor bis zur festen Wand des nächsten Sortierfaches (Fig. 3c).
• Das Trennmesser P2 rückt mit Abschlußtrennmesser, Unterflurband und Sendungsstapel bis zur beweglichen Wand des nächsten Faches. Die Bodenplatte/Prallwand des Sortierfaches, dessen Inhalt gerade übernommen wurde, kann sich dadurch wieder schließen (Fig. 3d).
• Trennmesser P1 schwenkt nach unten und öffnet die Bodenplatte/Prallwand, so daß die Sendungen des nächsten Sortierfaches auf den Sendungsspeicher rutschen (Fig. 3e).
• Trennmesser P2 schwenkt zwischen den Sendungen nach oben und fährt vor bis zur festen Wand des nächsten Sortierfaches usw..

Handing over:

• The cutting knife P2 swings down and presses on the base plate / baffle. The programs of this subject slide onto the program memory (Fig. 3a).
• The separating knife P1 swings up between the items (FIG. 3b).
• The cutting knife P1 moves up to the fixed wall of the next sorting compartment (Fig. 3c).
• The separating knife P2 moves up to the movable wall of the next compartment with the final separating knife, underfloor belt and consignment stack. The base plate / baffle of the sorting compartment, the content of which has just been adopted, can then close again (Fig. 3d).
• Cutting knife P1 swings down and opens the base plate / baffle so that the mail items of the next sorting compartment slide onto the mail item storage (Fig. 3e).
• Cutting knife P2 swings up between the items and moves up to the fixed wall of the next sorting compartment, etc.

With this takeover, too, the batch pressure is depleted.

Claims (8)

1. Arrangement for forming a continuous stack of flat items of mail, which are received from sorting compartments (12) arranged one beside the other and having emptying apparatuses, in a mail store (2) having an underfloor belt and a terminating separating blade (P3), in the case of which the terminating separating blade (P3) is coupled to the underfloor belt in terms of movement as the mail is transported, and the surface normals of the items of mail stacked in the sorting compartments (12) and received into the mail store (2) are oriented in the movement direction of the items of mail in the mail store (2), and in the case that

   additionally proivided are two further driven separating blades (P1, P2) which can be moved separately in linear fashion, can be displaced in the movement direction, for combining a mail stack with new items of mail, and can be pivoted into and out of the mail store (2),

   the contents of the sorting compartments (12) which are to be emptied one after the other in each case are accommodated between the additional pivoted-in separating blades (P1, P2), the spacings between which are adjusted in each case on the basis of the sensor-determined filling level of the sorting compartment or compartments (12) which is/are to be emptied at the current point in time, such that the items of mail which are to be received cannot exceed a certain oblique position,

   the items of mail which have already been received are always located between the terminating separating blade (P3), which is located downstream of the additional separating blades as seen in the transporting direction, and the respectively central separating blade (P1, P2) and, following each receiving operation, the central separating blade (P1, P2) is pivoted out in order for the previously received items of mail to be combined with newly received items of mail,

   the separating blades (P1, P2, P3) are then displaced such that the items of mail of the next compartment or compartments which is/are to be emptied can be received, and this operation is repeated until all the items of mail have been received from the sorting compartments.
2. Arrangement according to Claim 1, in the case of which the additional separating blades (P1, P2) are driven such that they do not overtake one another, and the operation of the sorted items of mail being received sequentially from the sorting compartments (12) takes place by the following steps being executed:

   receiving the items of mail and pivoting out the central separating blade (P1),

   displacing the pivoted-out central separating blade (P1) to the position of the outer additional separating blade (P2) and pivoting it in alongside or pivoting it into said separating blade (P2),

   pivoting out the outer additional separating blade (P2) and displacing it to the sensor-determined end position, remote from the terminating separating blade, of the items of mail which are to be received anew in each case from the sorting compartment (12),

   positioning the terminating separating blade (P3) and the central separating blade (P1) with the items of mail which have already been received so that the items of mail which are to be received anew can be received between the two additional separating blades (P1, P2),

   repeating the above procedure until all the items of mail have been received from the sorting compartments.
3. Arrangement according to Claim 1, in the case of which the additional separating blades are driven such that they can overtake one another, and the operation of the sorted items of mail being received sequentially from the sorting compartments (12) takes place by the following steps being executed:

   receiving the items of mail and pivoting out the central separating blade,

   displacing the pivoted-out central separating blade to the sensor-determined end position, remote from the terminating separating blade, of the items of mail which are to be received anew in each case from the sorting compartments,

   positioning the terminating separating blade and the previously front and now central separating blade with the items of mail which have already been received so that the items of mail which are to be received anew can be received between the two additional separating blades,

   repeating the above procedure until all the items of mail have been received from the sorting compartments.
4. Arrangement according to Claims 1-3, it being the case that, once all of the items of mail have been received from the sorting compartments (12) into the mail store (2), the entire mail stack is displaced to a separating apparatus (4), and then the additional separating blades (P1, P2) are pivoted out and the stack is separated by the stack being adjusted, by means of the underfloor belt and terminating separating blade (P3), such that the respectively foremost item of mail can be drawn off by the separating apparatus.
5. Arrangement according to Claims 1-3, in the case of which the additional separating blades and the emptying apparatuses of the sorting compartments are designed such that the respective sorting compartment for the items of mail which are to be received is opened by the pivoting-in operation of the respectively outer separating blade on the separating side.
6. Arrangement according to Claims 1-3, in the case of which the sorting compartment or compartments with the items of mail which are to be received is/are opened, with the additional separating blades pivoted in and ready for the receiving operation, by means of sensor-controlled opening mechanisms assigned to the sorting compartment, the contents of a plurality of sorting compartments located one beside the other only being received together when the sorting compartments are more or less full.
7. Arrangement according to Claims 1-4, in the case of which, for joining together and/or separating the items of mail in the mail store (2), the stack pressure is measured and is kept constant by the separating blades being displaced.
8. Arrangement according to Claims 1 and 2, in the case of which the outer additional separating blade (P2) is of double-walled design and the central separating blade (P1) can move into the interspace of the outer separating blade (P2) and then the outer double-walled separating blade (P2) can move upwards.

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