EP1663525B1 - Device for combining manually handled flat postal items with a flow of postal items sorted automatically according to their order of distribution - Google Patents

Device for combining manually handled flat postal items with a flow of postal items sorted automatically according to their order of distribution Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1663525B1
EP1663525B1 EP04764903A EP04764903A EP1663525B1 EP 1663525 B1 EP1663525 B1 EP 1663525B1 EP 04764903 A EP04764903 A EP 04764903A EP 04764903 A EP04764903 A EP 04764903A EP 1663525 B1 EP1663525 B1 EP 1663525B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
compartments
postal items
distribution
station
containers
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Expired - Fee Related
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EP04764903A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1663525A1 (en
Inventor
Wolf-Stephan Wilke
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Siemens AG
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Siemens AG
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
    • B07C3/02—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
    • B07C3/06—Linear sorting machines in which articles are removed from a stream at selected points
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1, such as from US-A-3,573,748 known. In the finest sorting of shipments, these are sorted by delivery points in the distribution order.
  • the invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for automatically merging manually processed flat shipments with a stream automatically sorted by the distribution order shipments, with which the necessary manual effort is reduced.
  • the object is achieved by the features of claim 1.
  • movable containers are provided which rotate in a closed transport path and each having a plurality of controlled downwardly open compartments for each one program.
  • the subjects are only emptied when the containers are in stationary sorting stations in rest position and the automatic emptying takes place on the delivery points associated sections according to the recognized destination address of the items.
  • After the emptying of a container this is mobile to a loading station in which the subjects are filled with broadcasts, the subjects are associated with the items corresponding to the respective destination address the delivery points of the distribution order and this assignment is transmitted to a device for controlled opening of the compartments , This largely relieves the deliverer of manual sorting tasks.
  • the sections are inclined obliquely rearwardly to the transport direction of the section conveyor belt.
  • the transport path of the container is designed so that a fixed number of loaded containers are held before loading station and / or in front of the / the sorting / s in a storage position until the respective Station is free.
  • the loading station is provided for manually loading the compartments and has a coding device for manually inputting the delivery addresses.
  • the loading station has a compartment wall for manual pre-sorting of the programs before loading the compartments.
  • the common address for each pre-sorted distribution section is given before the beginning of the subject loading by the machine control to comply with the automatically sorted shipment stream associated execution order. Thus, only the house numbers have to be coded.
  • a section conveyor 1 carries mail items 2 (in each section, items of delivery are located) in the order of distribution from left to right to a collecting station, not shown, in which the mail items are then collected in containers in the order of distribution.
  • a collecting station In front of this collection station there may still be a packing station in which the consignments of a delivery point are packed or bundled.
  • the mail items 2 were placed in the sections of the section conveyor belt 1 as a result of an automatic sorting process.
  • the transport path 5 runs counter-rotating container 3 with several compartments 4 for each a narrow shipment in an upright position.
  • several containers 3 which move asynchronously. This can be done by each container 3 has its own drive which is controlled independently of the drives of the other container 3 or it runs an endless conveyor continuously to which the containers are controlled on and decoupled, for example, at certain waiting positions or by a stationary container 3.
  • the respective container 3 If the respective container 3 has been completely emptied in its sorting station 6 and is prevented from moving on by a container 3 located in front of it, it is fed via the circulating transport path 5 to a loading station 9, in which it is stopped in the loading position and loaded manually.
  • the coding of the respective program 8 by the operator i. he inputs the data of the read delivery address (destination address) in a coding device (keyboard) 11. From this data, the delivery point is then determined automatically by means of a file in which the destination addresses are assigned the delivery points and optionally their order in the distribution order.
  • the delivery point is then assigned to the respective compartment 4, transmitted to the means for controlled opening of the compartments 4, which controls the unloading of the compartments 4 in the sorting position 6 on the sections of the section conveyor belt 1.
  • This device also has the information which conveyor belt section is assigned to which delivery point so that the corresponding compartment 4 is then opened when the passing conveyor belt section is below it.
  • the consignments 8 are presorted in a compartment wall 10 into distribution areas (e.g., streets). If the consignments 8 of a certain distribution area are to be loaded into the compartments of the container, then this distribution area is indicated by a display that is controlled by the machine control and only the house number must be encoded when loading. Both in front of the loading station 9 and in front of the sorting position (s) 6, the containers 3 can remain in storage positions until their picking up in the following station 9, 6 is possible.
  • the device is located on the section conveyor belt 1 in the transport direction after the sorter, which automatically occupies the section conveyor belt 1.
  • the only manually processable programs 8 are in the respective section at the top.
  • the device To arrange in front of the sorter, so that the manually processable programs 8 are lowermost.
  • the container 3 has a plurality of narrow, obliquely arranged - in the transport direction of the section conveyor belt 1 to the rear inclined - fan 4, in which the programs are 8 on their narrow sides.
  • Each compartment 4 has a downwardly pivotable bottom 13 to which an outwardly guided lever is attached.

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  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Discharge Of Articles From Conveyors (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruches 1, wie z.B aus US-A-3,573,748 bekannt.
In der feinsten Sortierung von Sendungen werden diese nach Zustellpunkten in der Verteilreihenfolge sortiert.The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1, such as from US-A-3,573,748 known.
In the finest sorting of shipments, these are sorted by delivery points in the distribution order.

Bei allen bisher bekannten Automatisierungslösungen zum Sortieren nach der Verteilreihenfolge ( DE 199 43 362 A1 ), bei denen auch ein Zusammenfügen von Sendungsströmen oder - stapeln erfolgt ( DE 198 29 484 C1 , WO 2004/007 102 A1 ), ist jedoch immer ein Teil der Sendungen auf Grund ihrer Beschaffenheit (Abmessungen, Steifigkeit) nur manuell verarbeitbar. Sie können also nicht maschinell in den Sendungsstapel eingefügt werden. Dies erfolgt dann durch den Zusteller. Die Gründe hierfür liegen im wesentlichen in den Formateigenschaften. Werden diese Sendungen nicht in das "Päckchen" pro Zustellpunkt oder wenigstens an richtiger Stelle im Stapel mit eingefügt, so ist die während der Zustellung erzielbare Zeitersparnis wiederum geringer, da der Zusteller neben dem "Päckchen"-Stapel einen zweiten Stapel mit manuellen Sendungen zu verarbeiten hat.
Da die Automatisierungslösungen sich i.a. in einem Sortierzentrum befinden, kann ein automatisches Hinzufügen dieser manuellen Sendungen zu einem maschinell erzeugten Sendungsstrom oder -stapel i.d.R. nicht durch den Zusteller erfolgen. Sofern manuell verarbeitbare Sendungen zu einem maschinell in Verteilreihenfolge sortierten Sendungsstapel hinzugefügt ("gemergt") werden mussten, so wurde der maschinell in Verteilreihenfolge sortierte Sendungsstapel häufig ebenfalls durch den Zusteller nochmals manuell in die gleichen Fächer, in die auch die manuellen Sendungen sortiert wurden, sortiert. Dieser Prozess ist jedoch sehr aufwändig.In all previously known automation solutions for sorting according to the distribution order ( DE 199 43 362 A1 ), in which an aggregation of broadcast streams or - stacking takes place ( DE 198 29 484 C1 . WO 2004/007 102 A1 ), however, is always a part of the shipments due to their nature (dimensions, stiffness) only manually processed. So they can not be inserted into the shipment stack by machine. This is done by the delivery agent. The reasons for this are essentially in the format properties. If these shipments are not inserted in the "parcel" per delivery point or at least in the correct place in the stack, the time savings achievable during delivery are again lower because the deliverer processes a second stack of manual shipments in addition to the "parcel" stack Has.
Since the automation solutions are generally located in a sorting center, an automatic addition of these manual shipments to a machine-generated shipment stream or stack can generally not be carried out by the deliverer. If manually processable consignments had to be added ("merged") to a consignment stack sorted mechanically in a distribution order, then the consignment batch was automatically sorted manually into the same compartments in which the manual consignments were sorted , However, this process is very time-consuming.

Der Erfindung liegt daher die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine Vorrichtung zum automatischen Zusammenführen manuell verarbeitbarer flacher Sendungen mit einem Strom automatisch nach der Verteilreihenfolge sortierter Sendungen zu schaffen, mit welcher der notwendige manuelle Aufwand reduziert wird.The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for automatically merging manually processed flat shipments with a stream automatically sorted by the distribution order shipments, with which the necessary manual effort is reduced.

Erfindungsgemäß wird die Aufgabe durch die Merkmale des Anspruches 1 gelöst.
Über einem Teil des angetriebenen Abschnittsförderbandes, auf das die Sendungen in der Verteilreihenfolge automatisch abgelegt werden, sind bewegliche Behälter vorgesehen, die in einer geschlossenen Transportbahn umlaufen und die jeweils mehrere, gesteuert nach unten zu öffnende Fächer für jeweils eine Sendung aufweisen. Die Fächer sind nur entleerbar, wenn sich die Behälter in ortsfesten Sortierstationen in Ruhestellung befinden und die automatische Entleerung auf die den Zustellpunkten zugeordneten Abschnitte entsprechend der erkannten Ziel anschrift der Sendungen erfolgt. Nach Beendigung der Leerung eines Behälters ist dieser zu einer Beladestation fahrbar, in der die Fächer mit Sendungen gefüllt werden, die Fächer mit den Sendungen entsprechend der jeweiligen Zielanschrift den Zustellpunkten der Verteilreihenfolge zugeordnet werden und diese Zuordnung an eine Einrichtung zum gesteuerten Öffnen der Fächer übertragen wird. Damit wird der Zusteller von manuellen Sortieraufgaben weitgehend entlastet.According to the invention the object is achieved by the features of claim 1.
About a portion of the driven section conveyor on which the mail items are automatically stored in the distribution sequence, movable containers are provided which rotate in a closed transport path and each having a plurality of controlled downwardly open compartments for each one program. The subjects are only emptied when the containers are in stationary sorting stations in rest position and the automatic emptying takes place on the delivery points associated sections according to the recognized destination address of the items. After the emptying of a container this is mobile to a loading station in which the subjects are filled with broadcasts, the subjects are associated with the items corresponding to the respective destination address the delivery points of the distribution order and this assignment is transmitted to a device for controlled opening of the compartments , This largely relieves the deliverer of manual sorting tasks.

Vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen der Erfindung sind in den Unteransprüchen dargelegt.
So ist es für eine aufwandsarme Ausführung vorteilhaft, wenn jedes eine Sendung in aufrechter Position aufnehmende Fach einen zu öffnenden Boden aufweist, dessen Öffnung in der Sortierstation des Behälters zum Ausschleusen der Sendung durch örtlich feste Stellorgane erfolgt, die an entsprechende Öffnungsmechanismen der Fächer angreifen.Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in the subclaims.
Thus, it is advantageous for a low-effort execution, if each a shipment in upright receiving compartment has a bottom to be opened, the opening in the sorting of the container for discharging the shipment by locally fixed actuators attacking corresponding opening mechanisms of the subjects.

Um ein definiertes Gleiten der Sendungen in die Abschnitte des bewegten Abschnittsförderbandes zu gewährleisten, ist es vorteilhaft, wenn die Fächer zur Transportrichtung des Abschnittsförderbandes schräg nach hinten geneigt sind.In order to ensure a defined sliding of the mail items into the sections of the moving section conveyor belt, it is advantageous if the sections are inclined obliquely rearwardly to the transport direction of the section conveyor belt.

Vorteilhaft ist es auch, in Transportrichtung der Behälter nach den Sortierstationen ortsfeste Stellorgane zum Schließen der Fächer anzuordnen, wodurch der technische Aufwand für den Öffnungs- und Schließmechanismus der Fächer reduziert werden kann.It is also advantageous to arrange stationary actuators for closing the compartments in the transport direction of the containers after the sorting stations, whereby the technical outlay for the opening and closing mechanism of the compartments can be reduced.

Damit der Belade- von dem Entladevorgang der Behälter entkoppelt werden kann, ist die Transportbahn der Behälter so ausgebildet, dass eine festgelegte Anzahl von beladenen Behältern vor Beladestation und/oder vor der/den Sortierstation/en in einer Speicherposition solange gehalten werden, bis die jeweilige Station frei wird.So that the loading of the unloading process of the container can be decoupled, the transport path of the container is designed so that a fixed number of loaded containers are held before loading station and / or in front of the / the sorting / s in a storage position until the respective Station is free.

Vorteilhaft ist es auch, wenn die Beladestation zum manuellen Beladen der Fächer vorgesehen ist und eine Kodiereinrichtung zum manuellen Eingeben der Zustellanschriften aufweist.It is also advantageous if the loading station is provided for manually loading the compartments and has a coding device for manually inputting the delivery addresses.

Um den Online-Kodieraufwand zu reduzieren, besitzt die Beladestation eine Fachwand zum manuellen Vorsortieren der Sendungen vor dem Beladen der Fächer. Die gemeinsame Adressangabe für jeden vorsortierten Verteilabschnitt wird dabei vor Beginn des Fachbeladens durch die Maschinensteuerung vorgegeben, um die zum automatisch sortierten Sendungsstrom zugehörige Abarbeitungsreihenfolge einzuhalten. Somit müssen nur noch die Hausnummern kodiert werden.In order to reduce the online coding effort, the loading station has a compartment wall for manual pre-sorting of the programs before loading the compartments. The common address for each pre-sorted distribution section is given before the beginning of the subject loading by the machine control to comply with the automatically sorted shipment stream associated execution order. Thus, only the house numbers have to be coded.

Vorteilhaft ist es ebenfalls, zur Vermeidung von Eingabefehlern die aktuell einzugebenden Verteilbereiche auf Displays am Beladeplatz und an den Fächern der Fachwand anzuzeigen.It is also advantageous, in order to avoid input errors, to display the distribution areas currently to be entered on displays at the loading location and at the compartments of the compartment wall.

Anschließend wird die Erfindung anhand der Zeichnung in einem Ausführungsbeispiel erläutert.Subsequently, the invention will be explained with reference to the drawing in an embodiment.

Dabei zeigen

FIG 1
eine schematische Draufsicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,
FIG 2
eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Behälters in einer Sortierstation.
Show
FIG. 1
a schematic plan view of a device according to the invention,
FIG. 2
a schematic side view of a container in a sorting station.

Wie in FIG 1 dargestellt, transportiert ein Abschnittsförderband 1 Sendungen 2 (in jedem Abschnitt befinden sich Sendungen eines Zustellpunktes) in der Verteilreihenfolge von links nach rechts zu einer nicht dargestellten Sammelstation, in der die Sendungen dann in Behältern in der Verteilreihenfolge gesammelt werden. Vor dieser Sammelstation kann sich noch eine Packstation befinden, in der die Sendungen eines Zustellpunktes verpackt oder gebündelt werden.As shown in FIG. 1, a section conveyor 1 carries mail items 2 (in each section, items of delivery are located) in the order of distribution from left to right to a collecting station, not shown, in which the mail items are then collected in containers in the order of distribution. In front of this collection station there may still be a packing station in which the consignments of a delivery point are packed or bundled.

Die Sendungen 2 wurden im Ergebnis eines automatischen Sortierprozesses in die Abschnitte des Abschnittförderbandes 1 gelegt. Über einem Teil des Abschnittförderbandes 1 verläuft die Transportbahn 5 gegenläufig umlaufender Behälter 3 mit mehreren Fächern 4 für jeweils eine schmale Sendung in aufrechter Position. In einem Verlauf befinden sich mehrere Behälter 3, die sich asynchron bewegen. Dies kann erfolgen, indem jeder Behälter 3 einen eigenen Antrieb besitzt, der unabhängig von den Antrieben der anderen Behälter 3 ansteuerbar ist oder es läuft ein endloses Fördermittel kontinuierlich um, an das die Behälter gesteuert an- und abkoppelbar sind, z.B. an bestimmten Wartepositionen oder durch einen ruhenden Behälter 3. In Sortierstationen 6 über dem Abschnittsförderband 1 werden die mit Sendungen 8, die in Sortierern nicht automatisch verarbeitbar sind, gefüllten Behälter 3 gestoppt und dann entsprechend der bekannten Zuordnung der Abschnitte des Abschnittsförderbandes 1 zu den Zustellpunkten und ihrer bekannten Zustelladresse auf die entsprechenden Abschnitte geleert, was nachfolgend noch näher erläutert wird.The mail items 2 were placed in the sections of the section conveyor belt 1 as a result of an automatic sorting process. Over a portion of the section conveyor belt 1, the transport path 5 runs counter-rotating container 3 with several compartments 4 for each a narrow shipment in an upright position. In a course are several containers 3, which move asynchronously. This can be done by each container 3 has its own drive which is controlled independently of the drives of the other container 3 or it runs an endless conveyor continuously to which the containers are controlled on and decoupled, for example, at certain waiting positions or by a stationary container 3. In sorting stations 6 on the section conveyor belt 1 with the shipments 8, which are not automatically processed in sorters, filled container 3 stopped and then according to the known assignment of the sections of the section conveyor belt 1 to the delivery points and their known delivery address on the corresponding sections emptied, which will be explained in more detail below.

Ist der jeweilige Behälter 3 in seiner Sortierstation 6 komplett geleert worden und wird durch einen davor befindlichen Behälter 3 nicht am weiterfahren behindert, so wird er über die umlaufende Transportbahn 5 einer Beladestation 9 zugeführt, in der er in der Beladeposition gestoppt und manuell beladen wird. Beim Beladen erfolgt auch das Kodieren der jeweiligen Sendung 8 durch den Operateur, d.h. er gibt die Daten der gelesenen Zustellanschrift (Zieladresse) in einer Kodiereinrichtung (Tastatur) 11 ein. Aus diesen Daten wird dann mit Hilfe einer Datei, in der den Zieladressen die Zustellpunkte und optional deren Ordnung in der Verteilreihenfolge zugeordnet ist, der Zustellpunkt automatisch ermittelt. Der Zustellpunkt wird dann dem jeweiligen Fach 4 zugeordnet, an die Einrichtung zum gesteuerten Öffnen der Fächer 4 übertragen, die das Entladen der Fächer 4 in der Sortierposition 6 auf die Abschnitte des Abschnittförderbandes 1 steuert. Diese Einrichtung hat auch die Angaben, welcher Förderbandabschnitt welchem Zustellpunkt zugeordnet ist, damit das entsprechende Fach 4 dann geöffnet wird, wenn sich der vorbeibewegte Förderbandabschnitt unter ihm befindet. Um den Kodieraufwand für jede Sendung 8 möglichst gering zu halten, werden die Sendungen 8 in einer Fachwand 10 in Verteilbereiche (z.B. Straße) vorsortiert. Sollen die Sendungen 8 eines bestimmten Verteilbereiches in die Fächer des Behälters geladen werden, so wird dieser Verteilbereich durch ein Display, das von der Maschinensteuerung angesteuert wird, angezeigt und es muss beim Laden nur noch die Hausnummer kodiert werden. Sowohl vor der Beladestation 9 als auch vor der/den Sortierposition/en 6 können die Behälter 3 in Speicherpositionen verharren, bis ihre Aufnahme in der folgenden Station 9,6 möglich ist.If the respective container 3 has been completely emptied in its sorting station 6 and is prevented from moving on by a container 3 located in front of it, it is fed via the circulating transport path 5 to a loading station 9, in which it is stopped in the loading position and loaded manually. During loading, the coding of the respective program 8 by the operator, i. he inputs the data of the read delivery address (destination address) in a coding device (keyboard) 11. From this data, the delivery point is then determined automatically by means of a file in which the destination addresses are assigned the delivery points and optionally their order in the distribution order. The delivery point is then assigned to the respective compartment 4, transmitted to the means for controlled opening of the compartments 4, which controls the unloading of the compartments 4 in the sorting position 6 on the sections of the section conveyor belt 1. This device also has the information which conveyor belt section is assigned to which delivery point so that the corresponding compartment 4 is then opened when the passing conveyor belt section is below it. In order to minimize the coding effort for each consignment 8, the consignments 8 are presorted in a compartment wall 10 into distribution areas (e.g., streets). If the consignments 8 of a certain distribution area are to be loaded into the compartments of the container, then this distribution area is indicated by a display that is controlled by the machine control and only the house number must be encoded when loading. Both in front of the loading station 9 and in front of the sorting position (s) 6, the containers 3 can remain in storage positions until their picking up in the following station 9, 6 is possible.

Gemäß FIG 1 befindet sich die Vorrichtung an dem Abschnittsförderband 1 in Transportrichtung nach dem Sortierer, die das Abschnittsförderband 1 automatisch belegt. Dadurch liegen die nur manuell verarbeitbaren Sendungen 8 im jeweiligen Abschnitt zuoberst. Natürlich ist es auch möglich, die Vorrichtung vor dem Sortierer anzuordnen, so dass die manuell verarbeitbaren Sendungen 8 zuunterst liegen.According to FIG. 1, the device is located on the section conveyor belt 1 in the transport direction after the sorter, which automatically occupies the section conveyor belt 1. As a result, the only manually processable programs 8 are in the respective section at the top. Of course it is also possible to use the device To arrange in front of the sorter, so that the manually processable programs 8 are lowermost.

In FIG 2 ist das Entleeren der Behälter 3 in der Sortierstation 6 näher dargestellt. Der Behälter 3 weist mehrere schmale, schräg angeordnete - in Transportrichtung des Abschnittsförderbandes 1 nach hinten geneigte - Fächer 4 auf, in denen die Sendungen 8 auf ihren Schmalseiten stehen. Jedes Fach 4 besitzt einen nach unten schwenkbaren Boden 13, an dem ein nach außen geführter Hebel angebracht ist. Wenn der Behälter 3 in der Sortierposition angekommen ist, wird er abgestoppt. Unterhalb jedes seitlich aus dem Behälter 3 herausragenden Hebels ist ein örtlich fester Öffnungsmechanismus 12 (z.B. ein Hubmagnet) angeordnet. Unter dem Behälter 3 bewegt sich das im Sortierer beladene Abschnittsförderband 1 nach rechts in Pfeilrichtung. Läuft gerade unter einem Fach 4 ein Abschnitt vorbei, der die gleiche Zustellpunktzuordnung wie die Sendung 8 in diesem Fach 4 aufweist, so drückt der bewegliche Teil des Öffnungsmechanismus 12 von unten gegen den Hebel und bewirkt ein Nachuntenschwenken des Bodens 13, so dass die Sendung 8 auf diesen Abschnitt fällt. Damit dies definiert mit einem guten Stapelbild geschieht, sind die Fächer 4 so geneigt, dass die Sendungen 8 in den Abschnitt gleiten. Sobald der Behälter 3 komplett leer ist, wird er weitertransportiert entgegen der Transportrichtung des Abschnittsförderbandes 1, was auch in Transportrichtung möglich ist, und läuft an einem örtlich festen Schließer 14 vorbei, der bewirkt, dass alle Hebel in die ursprüngliche Lage gedrückt werden, d.h. dass der Boden 13 nach oben schwenkt und somit alle Fächer 4 wieder geschlossen sind.In FIG 2, the emptying of the container 3 in the sorting station 6 is shown in more detail. The container 3 has a plurality of narrow, obliquely arranged - in the transport direction of the section conveyor belt 1 to the rear inclined - fan 4, in which the programs are 8 on their narrow sides. Each compartment 4 has a downwardly pivotable bottom 13 to which an outwardly guided lever is attached. When the container 3 has arrived in the sorting position, it is stopped. Underneath each lever projecting laterally out of the container 3, a locally fixed opening mechanism 12 (for example a lifting magnet) is arranged. Under the container 3, the loaded in the sorter section conveyor belt 1 moves to the right in the direction of arrow. Run just below a tray 4 a section over, which has the same Zustellpunktzuordnung as the program 8 in this compartment 4, the movable part of the opening mechanism 12 presses from below against the lever and causes a Downuntenschwenken the bottom 13, so that the consignment falls on this section. In order for this to happen with a good stacking image, the trays 4 are inclined so that the mailings 8 slide into the section. As soon as the container 3 is completely empty, it is transported further counter to the transport direction of the section conveyor belt 1, which is also possible in the transport direction, and passes by a locally fixed closer 14, which causes all the levers to be pressed into the original position, i. that the bottom 13 pivots upwards and thus all compartments 4 are closed again.

Claims (8)

  1. Device for merging manually processable flat postal items (8) with a flow of postal items (2) sorted automatically according to the order of distribution in a sorter and deposited on a section conveyor belt (1), which transports the postal items (2, 8) in the sections to a collecting station, where the postal items (2) are combined in the order of distribution,
    characterised in that
    - movable containers (3) are provided above part of the section conveyor belt (1), said movable containers (3) circulating in a closed transport loop (5) and each having a number of compartments (4), which can be opened downwards in a controlled manner, each for one postal item (8),
    - it only being possible to empty the compartments (4) when the containers (3) are in a rest position in a sorting station (6)
    - and with automatic emptying to the sections assigned to the delivery points taking place according to the recognised destination address of the postal items (8),
    - and when a container (3) has been completely emptied, it can be moved to a loading station (9), where the compartments (4) are filled with postal items (8),
    - with the compartments (4) containing the postal items (8) being assigned to the delivery points in the order of distribution according to the respective destination address and this assignment being transmitted to a facility for opening the compartments (4) in a controlled manner.
  2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that every compartment (4) receiving a postal item (8) in an upright position has a base (13) that can be opened, the opening of which takes place in the sorting station (6) to guide out the postal item (8) by means of control units (12) in fixed positions, which engage with corresponding opening mechanisms of the compartments (4).
  3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the compartments (4) are inclined obliquely backwards in relation to the transport direction of the section conveyor belt (1).
  4. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that fixed control units (14) for closing the compartments are disposed after the sorting stations (6) in the transport direction of the containers (4).
  5. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the transport loop (5) of the containers (4) is configured such that a specified number of loaded containers (4) is held in a storage location before the loading station (9) and/or before the sorting station(s) (6), until the respective station (6, 9) becomes free.
  6. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the loading station (9) is provided for manual loading of the compartments (4) and has a coding facility (11) for inputting the delivery addresses manually.
  7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that the loading station (9) has a wall of compartments (10) so that the postal items (8) can be presorted manually before the compartments (4) are loaded and the address data for each presorted distribution area is input before the compartments are loaded with the postal items (8) of this section.
  8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that display units are provided at the loading point and on the compartments in the wall of compartments (10), to indicate the distribution section currently being loaded.
EP04764903A 2003-09-16 2004-09-07 Device for combining manually handled flat postal items with a flow of postal items sorted automatically according to their order of distribution Expired - Fee Related EP1663525B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10342804A DE10342804B3 (en) 2003-09-16 2003-09-16 Apparatus for merging manually processable flat shipments with a stream automatically according to the distribution order of sorted shipments
PCT/EP2004/009960 WO2005035146A1 (en) 2003-09-16 2004-09-07 Device for combining manually handled flat postal items with a flow of postal items sorted automatically according to their order of distribution

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1663525A1 EP1663525A1 (en) 2006-06-07
EP1663525B1 true EP1663525B1 (en) 2007-11-07

Family

ID=34305814

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04764903A Expired - Fee Related EP1663525B1 (en) 2003-09-16 2004-09-07 Device for combining manually handled flat postal items with a flow of postal items sorted automatically according to their order of distribution

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1663525B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2007504940A (en)
KR (1) KR20060090973A (en)
CN (1) CN100591432C (en)
DE (2) DE10342804B3 (en)
WO (1) WO2005035146A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102010022082A1 (en) 2009-06-26 2010-12-30 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for sorting objects by means of storage areas

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7414219B2 (en) * 2004-10-19 2008-08-19 Pitney Bowes Inc. System and method for grouping mail pieces in a sorter
DE102006029732B3 (en) * 2006-06-28 2007-09-06 Siemens Ag Method for bringing together manually processed flat transmissions, involves pre-sorting manually processed transmissions corresponding to route sections and afterwards sorting in area corresponding to respective route sections
DE102006041253A1 (en) * 2006-09-02 2008-03-13 Siemens Ag Sorting system and method for sorting letters and large letters
DE102009020664A1 (en) 2009-05-11 2010-11-25 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for sorting various objects
DE102012211211A1 (en) 2011-10-11 2013-04-11 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method for sorting several objects e.g. postal letters according to predetermined sorting criterion, involves inserting objects at nominal position of last inserted sequence of objects, to generate total sequence of sorted objects
CN102962206B (en) * 2012-11-30 2014-12-10 深圳市络道科技有限公司 Flat mail sorting system
CN103920649A (en) * 2014-04-15 2014-07-16 湖州吴兴灵动机电设备制造厂 Fully-automatic sorting machine
DE102015200618A1 (en) 2015-01-16 2016-07-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Sorting apparatus and method for sorting pieces

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US3573748A (en) * 1969-02-24 1971-04-06 Ibm Postal system
IT1112786B (en) * 1979-04-19 1986-01-20 Elsag MACHINE FOR SORTING OBJECTS TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS, PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR VOLUMINOUS POSTAL CORRESPONDENCE
DE19829484C1 (en) * 1998-07-01 1999-11-11 Siemens Ag Sorting system combining three stacks of paper into one
DE19943362A1 (en) * 1999-09-10 2001-03-22 Siemens Ag Device and method for arranging flat items
GB2390590A (en) * 2002-07-12 2004-01-14 Consignia Plc Merging apparatus and method, re-introduction of initially rejected items back into a sequence of items

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102010022082A1 (en) 2009-06-26 2010-12-30 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for sorting objects by means of storage areas
US8374720B2 (en) 2009-06-26 2013-02-12 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and apparatus for sorting articles by way of storage regions

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2007504940A (en) 2007-03-08
CN100591432C (en) 2010-02-24
WO2005035146A1 (en) 2005-04-21
DE10342804B3 (en) 2005-04-14
DE502004005450D1 (en) 2007-12-20
CN1845800A (en) 2006-10-11
KR20060090973A (en) 2006-08-17
EP1663525A1 (en) 2006-06-07

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