EP1663528B1 - Device for the sorting of flat mailings - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for sorting flat items with on a transport path in two planes rotating pockets for each one consignment, which are emptied controlled according to the read target address and the sorting plan.

According to the state of the art for sorters with circulating pockets ( EP 0 708 693 B1 . EP 0 820 818 A1 ), the shipments are loaded into the pockets at one point. The circulating bags are opened as soon as the shipment has reached a designated terminal. The bags then continue to run empty until they reach the loading point, where they are loaded again with a new shipment. Thus, the pockets leave large distances empty, which reduces the throughput of the sorter. Therefore, it would be cheaper, for example, to provide a loading point after each half-round, resulting in a reduction in the distances traveled empty pockets result. Although this is known per se when sorting packages with tilt tray sorters, it was not used in the sorting of flat items, since the feeding of items to different locations is too costly for a feeder, or an operator would be necessary for each loading location (feeder area). Even when circulating in two levels, a loading point is only provided at one point ( EP 0 708 693 B1 ). The loading after half the total circulation would be possible at this location in the other level, but due to the high cost of loading in two levels connected with space problems, this was not realized. Also, the loading of a buffer memory with buffer bags that rotate in a plane, this is not possible.

In the context, the EP-A-0 638 501 a device for sorting flat items on one Transport path in two levels rotating pockets for each one program, which are emptied controlled according to the read destination address and the sorting plan, wherein the total circulation in the pocket ring is carried out in several sub-loops, the level transitions for each sub-loop in the interior of the entire run are adjacent.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for sorting flat broadcasts on a circulating in two levels pockets, which can be increased without increased manpower and with little additional equipment expense either throughput at the same rotational speed, or at the same Throughput either the orbital speed and / or the number of pockets can be reduced. It should also be possible to load from a buffer memory with buffer bags that rotate in a plane.

According to the invention the object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

This special guidance of the transport path makes it possible to arrange several loading stations adjacent to each other on the lower level, although they feed one another around a circulation loop into the circulation. This allows the operation of the loading stations or input areas with minimal use of surgeon.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are shown in the subclaims.

Thus, a buffer memory with circulating buffer pockets is advantageously provided between the two levels of the circulating pockets, which can be fed by one or more input stations with separating devices and subsequent reading devices and whose controlled emptied buffer bags transfer the mailings in the Taschenbeladestationen. This makes it possible to have the broadcasts from one or more Separation devices regardless of the emptying process of the pockets to sort feed.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to provide in front of the bag loading stations in the transport direction unloading stations for additional rejection of shipments in the planar course of the pocket ring, so that possibly at the Taschenbeladestationen more bags are empty.

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

FIG 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Sortieren nach der Verteilreihenfolge mit Beladen eines in Abschnitte unterteilten Sammelbandes,

FIG 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung zum Sortieren mit zwei Ebenen und einer Faltung,

FIG 3

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung zum Sortieren mit zwei Ebenen und zwei Faltungen.

Show

FIG. 1

a schematic side view of a device for sorting according to the distribution order with loading a sectioned collection band,

FIG. 2

a perspective view of the device for sorting with two levels and a folding,

FIG. 3

a perspective view of the device for sorting with two levels and two folds.

In this example, the broadcasts are sorted into a plurality of terminals associated with the destination addresses located along the straight sections below the rounds.

The mail items 4 are first singulated in a known manner in a singling device 1 from a stack. Then, the receiver addresses of the programs 4 are recorded and determined in a reading device, not shown. The read programs 4 are then passed to a buffer memory device 2. There, each item 4 is transported via a loading station in a circumferential buffer bag 3, said buffer bags 3 to a circulating Conveyor controlled coupled and controlled by the conveyor can be decoupled and the transfer takes place in the coupled state.

If several separating devices 1 are provided for throughput reasons, the mailings 4 from each separating device 1 are transported into the buffer bags 3 via a separate loading station.

Due to the buffer capability, both a non-constant input current from the singulation devices 1 and an output current which is not synchronous with the input current and / or not constant can be further processed. The buffer bags 3 can be opened in a controlled manner down to deliver the mail items 4 to empty pockets 6 of another, including circumferential pocket ring 5. Here, the pockets 6 are firmly connected to the rotating conveyor. The pocket ring 5 and the buffer bags 3 run in the same direction.

The sorting of the shipments 4 according to the current sorting plan is done by the shipments 4 controlled by opening the pockets bottoms of the pockets 6 fall down into the sorting 7.

In order to accommodate the device for sorting on the smallest possible base area, the pocket ring 5 passes through two levels. Parts of the pocket ring 5 are folded over each other about horizontal axes. The pocket ring 5 then has, in principle, the course of horizontal eights which have been folded into their nodes and are covered there by the buffer memory device 2. The actuators for opening the pockets 6 of the pocket ring 5 can be arranged in a stationary manner.

According to FIG. 2 In the case of two adjacent level transitions, a 540 ° deflection takes place over the interior of the system. Evident are outside the sorting points not shown because of the clarity side by side two Taschenbeladestationen 10 with outputs of the buffer memory device 2 for loading the pockets 6 on the lower level, unloading stations 11 for additional removal of mail items 4 from the pockets 6 according to certain sorting criteria, which are arranged in front of the loading stations 10, so that possibly more pockets 6 are empty at the loading stations 10, a Loading station 12 for loading the buffer bags with the items from the singulator 1 and an output 13 of the buffer memory device 2 for discharging separated items.

In FIG. 3 a sorting device with double folding is shown. The deflections with the level transitions are also arranged inside the circuit next to each other, the outer deflections are due to the change to the other side by 540 ° and the inner deflections, in which the programs continue on the same page, done by 360 °. In this case, a pocket loading station 10 is provided in the lower level after every 1/4 of the total circulation, the four loading stations are adjacent (two on each side). In these examples, the programs in the bends in the same direction, but this is not mandatory.

Claims (3)

1. Device for the sorting of flat mail items comprising pouches (6) for individual mail items (4), circulating on a conveyor belt on two levels, the emptying of which may be controlled in accordance with the read target address and the sorting plan, the total circulation in the pouch ring (5) being carried out in a plurality of partial loops, and the level transitions for each partial loop being positioned adjacent to one another within the total circulation, characterized in that at each level transition the conveyor belt is diverted inwards and in that pouch loading stations (10) are arranged adjacently for each partial loop on the lower level.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that there is provided between the two levels of the circulating pouches (6) a buffer device (2) which has circulating buffer pouches (3) and which may be fed by one or more feeder stations with separating devices (1) and subsequent reading devices and of which the buffer pouches (3), which may be controllably emptied, transfer the mail items to the pouch loading stations (10).
3. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that unloading stations (11) for the additional removal of mail items (4) are arranged before the pouch loading stations (10) in transport stations in the planar extension of the pouch ring (10).

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