EP1592523B1 - Sorting device for flat mail items - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sorting device which comprises a mail item buffer storage (1) having storage pouches (10), circulating in a conveying loop and moving past charge stations (7). Below straight handover sections of said conveying loops, circulating mail item containers (12), displaced in a conveying path and open to the top, are provided as the sorting terminal points. The mail items (11) are charged into the mail item containers (12) according to their read-out target addresses by controlled opening of the respective storage pouch (10) at that time at which the respective pouch arrives in the respective position above the associated mail item container (12). The conveying speeds of the mail item buffer storages (1) and of the mail item containers (12) and the lengths of the handover sections of the mail item buffer storage (1) located above the conveying path for the mail item containers (12) are defined in such a manner that during the period in which a mail item pouch (10) passes a handover section of a mail item buffer storage (1) every mail item container (12) has passed below said mail item pouch (10).

Description

The present invention relates to a sorting device for flat mailings with at least one input station, in each case a mail sorting device and a subsequent transport device for transporting the singulated mailings to process devices, such as e.g. Reader, barcode printer, passing to each have a loading station of a mail buffer, the mailer buffer consists of several circulating in a conveyor loop, moving past the loading stations storage pockets, which are loaded in the loading stations with the shipments.

For sorting of flat items, such as letters, postcards, large letters and the like according to the distribution information given on its surface, it is known to record these items in special bag-shaped containers to transport and deliver controlled.

Thus, from EP 0 608 161 A1 a sorting device is known, in which flat objects are transported by means of a channel-shaped, locally fixed feed device from the outside laterally into storage pockets. These circulating in a closed loop storage pockets are moved horizontally past the feeder and the consignments fall then by targeted opening of flaps according to the sorting rule in sorting container underneath. For safe introduction of the consignments into the moving storage pockets, either the consignments in the feeder device must have a very high transport speed, which can lead to damage when the consignments in the container are decelerated, or the speed of the storage pockets is very low or the containers are stationary during the transfer silent, which means a reduction in throughput of the machine.

For arranging in a particular order, a solution has been known (EP 820 818 A1), which uses a buffer consisting of in a conveyor loop with at least two semicircular conveyor sections on a conveyor rotating storage pockets, each receiving a shipment and this on command in the can deliver the actual filing. In this case, first all to be classified programs are housed in any order in the storage pockets of the cache. Then the items are removed from the storage pockets of the buffer and transferred to the shelves that they are in the latter in the order to be produced. The open-topped trays are located along the straight sections of the conveyor below the storage pockets.

In order to improve the introduction of the consignments into the storage pockets, according to WO 97/10904, the end section of the transport means of the feed device is designed to be pivotable so that during the introduction of the respective consignment this end section is swiveled in substantially the same direction and speed as the moving storage bag and is swung back after being introduced.

The throughput of these sorting devices is limited by the throughput of the circulating storage pockets. An increase in throughput can theoretically only be achieved by increasing the speed and / or reducing the pitch of the transport system of the storage pockets. But this is as described (shot into the storage pockets) only very limited possible.

Also known was a sorting device (EP 0 949 015 A2) having a plurality of input units, at least one mailing buffer memory with continuously circulating storage pockets, mailing containers as sorting end points which are filled from the lowest mail buffer and have an input buffer. and discharge device for consignment containers. It is possible to use fewer sorting endpoints than sorting destinations.

The invention has for its object to provide a sorting device with rotating storage pockets that deliver controlled shipments according to the read destination addresses to sorting stations, which has a higher throughput and with the effort for automatic change of the mail container and to measure their levels can be reduced ,

• Die Sendungsbehälter werden zu den Sendungen transportiertist es möglich, ohne Erhöhung der Transportgeschwindigkeiten durch Parallelisierung bei flexibler Anordnung den Durchsatz zu steigern. Es ist damit möglich, die Geschwindigkeit der Speichertaschen wesentlich zu reduzieren, wodurch die zur Verfügung stehende Zeit zum Lesen der Zieladressen bis zum Erreichen des ersten Übergabeabschnittes erhöht wird.

According to the invention the object is achieved by the features of claim 1.
In this case, the sorting device can have a plurality of mail item storage bins, each with a continuously circulating conveyor belt, arranged behind one another and moving past one or two loading bins. Below the straight transfer sections of the conveyor loops of the mailing buffer or storage are located in a transport path moving, continuously circulating, open-topped mailer as the destination addresses or destination address groups associated sorting. The consignments are unloaded into the consignment containers according to their read destination addresses by controllably opening the respective storage bag at the time when this bag is in a corresponding position above the associated consignment container. The container transport path has at least one infeed device for empty consignment containers and at least one outfeed device for filled consignment containers. The transport speeds of the mailer buffers and mailing containers, as well as the lengths of transfer sections of the orbits of the mailer buffers arranged above the transport path for the mailer containers for loading the mail containers, are determined such that, in the period of time in which a memory pocket transfers a transfer section of a mail buffer passes through each mailing container has moved under this storage bag. Through the new principle:

• The consignment containers are transported to the shipments, it is possible to increase without increasing the transport speeds by parallelization in a flexible arrangement throughput. It is thus possible to significantly reduce the speed of the storage pockets, thereby increasing the time available to read the destination addresses until reaching the first transfer section.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in the subclaims.

Thus, it is advantageous to improve the stack quality to tilt the storage pockets for receiving the items in a standing position against the transport direction of the mail item.
Likewise, it is advantageous to tilt the rotating mail containers in the same direction, so that an inclined bottom with one or two preferential stacking edges is formed.

If, during certain shipments, the destination address can not be read until the first transfer section has been reached, these storage pockets advantageously pass through a defined number of transfer sections and if the destination addresses could not yet be read during this time, these shipments are transferred to a shipment container for unread programs.

It is advantageous if the mailing containers transported directly beneath the transfer sections of the mailer buffers have the same transport direction as the storage pockets. This allows the stacking clean and defined.

In order to achieve particularly high throughputs, in an advantageous development, several transmission buffer memories are provided Förderschleifen each have two straight transfer sections and two semi-circular sections with the loading stations, arranged side by side. The transport path for the circulating mail container is meandering guided below the mail item buffer memory so that the mailing containers transported directly beneath the transfer sections of the mail item buffer memories each have the same transport direction as the storage pockets.

In a favorable embodiment, the storage pockets are open at the side and are guided with the open sides laterally past the end portions of the transport devices. As a result, the transport direction from the input station and the shipment orientation can be maintained up to the storage pocket.

It is also advantageous if the transport path for the mail item container has at least two narrow finger bands running at a fixed distance and for transporting the mail item containers into or out of the transport path, liftable transport rollers are arranged laterally from the transport path and between the finger bands. The largest direction component during insertion or removal runs perpendicular to the transport direction of the transport path. As a result, the infeed and outfeed of the mail container can be realized with little effort.

In a further advantageous embodiment, controllable stationary actuators for opening the storage pockets are arranged along the transfer sections of the mailer buffer memory. At the end of the transfer sections, a closing element is provided in each case.

In order to advantageously determine the height of the mailing stacks in the mail containers, the container is above the transport path after the transfer sections and before the device for feeding in and out of the mail container from the transport path arranged a sensor arrangement for determining the stack height. In contrast, a corresponding sensor had previously to be arranged at each terminal or a calculation of the stack height by means of the measured thicknesses of the individual consignments.

FIG 1

eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Sortiereinrichtung mit 3 Sendungspufferspeichern;

FIG 2

eine schematische seitliche Darstellung der Speichertaschen über den Sendungsbehältern;

FIG 3

eine schematische Darstellung einer Ein- und Ausschleusevorrichtung für Sendungsbehälter (Ansicht von unten).

Subsequently, the invention will be explained in more detail in an embodiment with reference to the drawing.
Show

FIG. 1

a schematic plan view of a sorting device with 3 transmission buffers;

FIG. 2

a schematic side view of the storage pockets on the consignment containers;

FIG. 3

a schematic representation of an input and output device for consignment containers (view from below).

As can be seen from FIG. 1, 3 transmission buffer memories 1 are arranged next to one another. Each program buffer memory 1 consists of continuously arranged in a conveyor loop continuously arranged, controlled downwards by opening mechanism dischargeable storage pockets for receiving the programs in a standing position. Each conveyor loop has two straight ones
Transfer sections and between them two semicircular sections. The storage pockets are laterally open to the outside, and at each semicircular portion of a conveyor loop is a loading station 7, are transported in the mailings individually through the side openings in the empty storage pockets. The loading stations 7 receive the items one at a time from an input unit 2, in which the items are separated from stacks of items by means of a mail item 3, aligned in an alignment line 4 and then to process devices, such as an address reader 5 or a barcode printer 6 for applying an identification code, past be transported by means of a transport device 8 to the loading station 7. At each semicircular portion of the conveyor loops of the mail item storage 1 shipments are introduced into the storage pockets, ie the system has 6 input units 2 and loading stations 7. Below the rotating storage pockets open-topped mail containers are moved as sorting points also continuously circulating on a transport path 9. This is done so that the consignment containers are transported directly under all straight transfer sections of the mail item buffer memory 1 with the same conveying direction as the storage pockets, ie the transport path runs meandering here. The transport speed of the mail container is set so that each mailing container is moved through under each storage bag during its passage through a transfer section. The speed of the storage pockets is therefore relatively low (eg 0.1 m / s) compared to the mail containers (eg 1 m / s), which has a favorable effect on the safe operation of the input units and the loading stations. As a result of the illustrated parallelization of the input processes of several mail buffer 1, which is not possible in the prior art with stationary terminals to the extent that the throughput of the sorter can be increased. Another advantage is that no longer mailing paths are needed after the address reader to provide the time needed to determine the address. Assuming that the diameter of the semicircular portions of the conveyor loops of the mailer storage 1 is 1 m, so after loading the storage bag would be available until their entry into the straight transfer section about 15 s. The basic structure of the mail item buffer memory 1 with the circulating storage pockets 10 and the unloading of the mail items 11 lying in the mail container 12 is shown in FIG. The direction of movement of the storage pockets 10 and the mail container 12 is indicated by the arrows. To measure the level of the mail container 12 and on this basis to ascertain when the filled mail container 12 must be discharged and replaced by an empty mail container 12, located above the transport path to the mail buffer 1 and before an input and output device 16, a sensor assembly 14 for measuring the stack height, eg as a laser sensor. If the maximum stack height has not yet been reached, then the respective mail container 12 passes through another circulation. If it is reached or exceeded, the discharge takes place.
The basic structure of the input and output device 16 is shown in FIG.

• Die Sendungsbehälter 12 können auch geneigt transportiert werden, so dass ein geneigter Boden mit einer oder zwei Vorzugsstapelkante(n) entsteht. Entsprechend kann auch der Sendungspufferspeicher 1 geneigt sein.

For better unloading in the direction of movement inclined backward storage pockets 10 of the program buffer memory 1 run in comparison to the mail containers 12 at a relatively slow speed. The number of storage pockets 10 required is determined by the throughput of the mail item separation device 3 and the time for a complete container circulation plus any necessary process times for the determination of the sorting destination. This ensures that each item 11 is held in the item buffer memory 1 until the item 12 associated with the destination address and sorting container 12 passes through the pocket 10.
The storage pockets 10 are formed so that they can be loaded with the separated items 11 from the side, and that they deliver the respective consignment 11 after operating a flap construction 13 as a pocket bottom gravity driven in the three spaced finger bands 17 passing mailing container 12 can. The flaps are equipped in this flap construction 13 with a lever of certain length, so that a timed operation, for example, depending on previously determined broadcasting property (eg thickness) done and the triggering time can be easily varied in terms of optimum stacking quality. Location and number of stationary actuators 15 for opening the storage pockets 10 (eg lifting magnets) is set that a timely triggering of each storage pocket 10 in combination with each passing mail container 12 is ensured.
The following further variants are possible or advantageous:

• The mail containers 12 can also be transported inclined so that an inclined bottom with one or two preferential pile edge (s) is formed. Accordingly, the transmission buffer memory 1 may be inclined.

In the infeed and outfeed device 16 for consignment container 12 are located between the individual finger bands 17 of the transport path 9 and laterally of the transport path 9 obliquely employees, driven rollers 18, which via a suitable actuator (eg pneumatically or electrically controlled lever) timed on the fingers the finger straps 17 can be raised and lowered so that they lift the currently located on the rollers 18 mail container 12, while maintaining the transport speed component of the finger straps 17, via the finger straps 17, move transversely to the finger straps 17 and thus introduce it into the stream Empty (empty container) or out of the stream (full container). To increase the process reliability additional mechanical guide devices can be used.
In order to have enough time for discharging also adjacent consignment container 12 available and to shorten the clearing time, two input and output devices 16 are provided. The ejected filled consignment containers 12 finally arrive at labeling modules 19 via a storage line, where they are provided with correspondingly printed labels for identification and identification (address area).

Claims (10)

1. Sorting device for flat mail items

   - with one or more input units (2), each featuring a mail item sorting device (3) and a subsequent transport device (8) for transporting the sorted mail items (11) past process devices (5, 6) to a loading station (7) of a mail item buffer receptacle (1),

   - with each mail item buffer receptacle (1) consisting of a number of consecutive storage pockets (10) circulating continuously in a conveyor loop and moved past one or more loading stations (7),

   - with empty storage pockets (10) being loaded with the individual mail items (11) in the loading stations (7),

   - and with mail item containers (12) open at the top moved on a transport path, which is also continuously circulating, below the straight transfer sections of the transport loops of the mail item buffer receptacle or receptacles (1) as sorting end points assigned to the destination addresses or destination address groups, in which the mail items (11) can be unloaded in accordance with their read address through controllable opening of the relevant storage pocket (10) at the time at which this storage pocket (10) is located in a corresponding position above the assigned mail item container (12) downwards in a horizontal position,

   - with the item container transport path (9) featuring at least one device (16) for feeding in empty mail item containers (12) and at least one device (16) for removing filled mail item containers (12).

   - and with the transport speeds of the mail item buffer receptacles (1) and the mail item containers (12) as well as the lengths of the transfer sections of the mail item buffer receptacle (1) arranged above the transport path (9) for the mail item containers (12) for loading the mail item containers (12) being defined so that, in the period of time in which a storage pocket (10) is passing through a transfer section of a mail item buffer receptacle (1), each mail item container (12) moves past below this storage pocket (10).
2. Sorting device in accordance with claim 1, in which the storage pockets (10) to accept the mail items (11) are inclined in a vertical position against the direction of transport of the mail item containers (12).
3. Sorting device in accordance with claim 2, in which the mail item containers (12) are inclined in the same direction as the storage pockets (10).
4. Sorting device in accordance with claim 1, in which the storage pockets (10) can be controlled so that if the destination address has not been read by the time at which the storage pocket (10) with this postal item (11) enters a transfer section for the first time, this storage pocket (10) passes through a defined number of transfer sections before it is to be opened, and if the destination address can then still not be read, the postal item (11) is taken out of this storage pocket (10) and placed in a mail item container (12) for non-read mail items (11).
5. Sorting device in accordance with claim 1, in which the mail item containers (12) transported directly below the transfer sections of the mail item buffer receptacle (1) have the same direction of transport as the storage pockets (10).
6. Sorting device in accordance with claim 1, in which a number of mail item buffer receptacles (1), of which the transport loops each feature two straight transfer sections and two semicircular sections with loading stations (7), are arranged next to one another, and the transport path (9) for the circulating mail item containers (12) below the mail item buffer receptacle (1) is routed in an S shape so that the mail item containers (12) transported along directly below the transfer sections of the mail item buffer receptacle (1) are each transported in the same direction as the storage pockets (10).
7. Sorting device in accordance with claim 1, in which for loading the storage pockets (10) in the loading stations (7) the side-opening storage pockets (10) are moved with their open sides sideways past the end sections of the transport devices (8).
8. Sorting device in accordance with claim 1, in which the transport path (9) for the mail item containers (12) features at least two narrow linked finger belts (17) running at a fixed distance next to each other, and for feeding the mail item containers (12) into the transport path (9) or removing them from it, controlled raisable or lowerable transport rollers (18) are arranged at the side of the transport path (9) and between the finger belts (17), with the largest directional component running on insertion or removal at right angles to the direction of transport of the transport path (9).
9. Sorting device in accordance with claim 1, in which controllable stationary actuators (15) for opening the storage pockets (10) are provided along the transport sections of the mail item buffer receptacles (1) and a closure element is provided in each case at the end of the transfer sections.
10. Sorting device in accordance with claim 1, in which a sensor arrangement (14) for determining the height of the stack is arranged above the transport path (9) of the mail item containers (12) after the transfer sections and before the device (16) for insertion and removal of the mail item containers (12) from the transport path (9).

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