EP1861327B1 - Pile transfer device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

In a mail processing system, a support element has a flat floor with elements spaced from each other so that a comb-type or fork-type structure is produced, wherein the elements have front section extending upwards. A first transport device has a number of bands equipped with sectional separators, which are spaced from one another. To transfer piled postal items from the support element to the first transport device the floor is aligned with the transport device, and the floor and the transport device are interlocked, so that at least a part of one of the bands extends between the elements.

Description

The invention relates generally to a system for processing mailpieces, and more particularly to a device for sorting flat mailings according to a definable sequence of recipient addresses associated with delivery points.

Postal distribution centers process millions of postal items daily to prepare them for delivery to individual recipient addresses. The term "mailing" includes letters, magazines and journals, book broadcasts and other flat mailings. For example, before a postman begins delivering, a mail processing system at a mail distribution center sorts the mailpieces. One task of the postman is to arrange the mailpieces in the order of their delivery in order to achieve efficient delivery.

A mail processing system is highly automated to handle the number of daily mailings. The mail processing system may include a system that processes the mailpieces and packages them for delivery points and shuffles those volumes (also called DPP system, where DPP stands for Delivery Point Packaging). The processing includes, among other functions, the separation of the mailpieces, the reading of their recipient addresses, the grouping and the sequence sorting according to their recipient addresses. Such mail processing systems should generally work efficiently and reliably while avoiding excessive use of mail to avoid damaging or minimally damaging the mail.

A solution has been found for sorting mailpieces in a particular order ( EP 820 818A1 ), which is a cache used, which consists of pockets or similar elements, each of which can record a program and submit it to a control command in the actual storage compartment again. In this case, first all to be classified programs are housed in any order in the pockets of the cache. Then the items are removed from the pockets of the buffer and transferred to the storage compartments that they are in the latter in the order to be produced. Each shipment has its own storage. The sorting is done with two rounds of the pockets of the cache, one round for filling the pockets, another for emptying the pockets.

For this purpose, however, a large number of storage compartments is necessary, each of which must be equipped with a control mechanism that causes the transfer of the shipment from the right pocket of the cache.

Also known was a corresponding solution, in which several consignments are stacked ordered in the shelves. The delivery of the shipments from the containers in the trays takes place in several rounds, wherein the order of the shipments in each tray of the sequence of the addresses of the items located in the respective shipments associated delivery points ( DE 199 43 362 A1 ).

From the US 3,573,748 a device is known in which programs are discharged from fixed pockets on a sectioned output conveyor, and from the US 5,462,268 A a device is known in which shipments of circulating bags are emptied into containers and thus into sections of a conveyor.

From the WO 2005/025763 A1 is a process description for the sequence sorting with a sorting system with a cache known. This is an efficient processing shipment volumes that may be greater than the storage capacity of the cache.

Out EP 0 274896 a device for dispensing handkerchiefs is known, which are transferred from a carrier element to a transport device. The support member has a flat bottom with spaced-apart elements.

Out US 5,358,229 a device for picking up and delivering flat objects is known in a packaging machine with a substantially horizontally extending conveyor. A buffer storage is arranged above the conveyor, from which the articles are taken in succession by the conveyor.

The invention has for its object to provide an apparatus and method for transferring stacked shipments, in which the shipments are processed efficiently and with increased throughput. This object is achieved by the features specified in the independent claims 1 and 4. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims. Some aspects of the examples are not directly directed to the claimed invention, but are useful to the overall understanding of the claimed invention.

According to one example, below a contiguous part of the intermediate store designated as covering area, an output conveyor device which moves at a relative speed for receiving the items from the intermediate store for further transport of the items to a stacker is arranged. The transport speed of the output conveyor is tuned to the transport speed of the buffer so that each portion of the output conveyor has passed through each memory location of the buffer at least once during its movement along the coverage area and the mailings from the memory locations of the buffer are thus dumped onto the output conveyor in accordance with the read receiver addresses be that they leave the output conveyor in the stacker in the specified sequence of recipient addresses. Thus, the device has at least one output.

In order for the items to be safely next to or on top of each other, it is advantageous to subdivide the output conveyor into sections with webs, for example, to use a section conveyor or individual carriers (trays, trays).

In order to be able to process non-constant incoming mail streams without loss of sorting performance as well as singling streams with a constant gap between mailings, a buffer memory device for receiving the read mailings is advantageously arranged between the reading device (s) and the intermediate buffer. The read programs are loaded in each case in the loading station for the buffer memory in the buffer pockets, which deliver the programs in at least one output to empty storage locations of the sorting buffer and which can be coupled in a further advantageous embodiment of a circulating, endless conveyor and decoupled from the conveyor , During transfer, the buffer pockets of the buffer memory device are coupled to the conveyor and the transferring buffer memory runs in the same direction at the same speed positioned to the storage location to be loaded.

It is also advantageous if the temporary storage and the output conveyor rotate in opposite directions, so that the speed of the output conveyor can be kept relatively low.

In order to combine the items from the intermediate store with further items / items, devices for loading with further items to be distributed to the respective recipient addresses are arranged on the portions assigned to the recipient addresses via the parts of the output conveyor outside the coverage area.

To ensure that the mailings are directed to the output part only to the maximum intended height, sensors for measuring the mailing thicknesses are provided. If the total height of the consignments assigned to a delivery point exceeds a limit value, the adjacent areas can also be loaded with consignments of the same delivery point as required.

It can be loaded into a portion of the output conveyor for delivery of the output conveyor and several shipments of different, but adjacent delivery points for optimal use.

In this case, the shipment volumes must lie one above the other in the fixed sequence of the delivery points in the sections of the output conveyor.

So that the overlap area is as large as possible with respect to the base area, it is advantageous to arrange the exit conveyor under a part of the buffer in a U-shape.

It is also advantageous if the buffer and / or the buffer memory have at least one loading and unloading station for the additional removal of mail items from the storage locations according to certain sorting criteria outside the coverage area. This makes it possible, in addition to sorting, also to carry out the separation of items according to specific criteria.

In order to keep the base area of the device as small as possible, it is advantageous to guide the portion of the buffer beyond the coverage area and not under the unloading stations of the buffer into an additional plane extending above the level of the buffer reservoir or below the level of the exit conveyor is located, with the programs in both planes can rotate in the same direction.

It is particularly advantageous if the height-overcoming deflection of the buffer takes place in the interior of the buffer memory.

In addition to a first device there is provided a second ordering device rotated 180 ° about the vertical axis with respect to the first device, with which the part of the buffer not above the output conveyor is different in relation to the corresponding part of the first device Level is located. Thus, both devices can be nested in one another, whereby the required footprint is almost halved compared to a separate lineup.

In order to spare the deliverer manual work, it is advantageous to provide a means for portioning between the output conveyor and stacking device, in which the associated items are packed for each delivery point before stacking in bags or bags or provided with banderoles or with small flags.

• FIG 1 eine schematische Übersicht eines Systems zum Sortieren von Postsendungen,
• FIG 2 eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Ordnen nach der Verteilreihenfolge mit Beladen des Zwischenspeichers,
• FIG 3 eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung mit Beladen der in Abschnitte unterteilten Ausgangsfördereinrichtung,
• FIG 4 eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Vorrichtung zum Ordnen,
• FIG 5 eine schematische Darstellung des Funktionsprinzips anhand der schematischen Draufsicht,
• FIG 6 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Ordnen mit mehreren Ebenen,
• FIG 7 eine perspektivische Darstellung zweier ineinander geschachtelter Vorrichtungen zum Ordnen,
• FIG 8 eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Ordnen mit zwei Ausgängen,
• FIG 9 eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Ordnen mit einem längenreduzierten Übergang eines Zwischenspeichers von einer Ebene auf eine andere,
• FIG 10 eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Ordnen mit einem längenreduzierten Übergang eines Zwischenspeichers von einer Ebene auf eine andere,
• FIG 11a FI 11c schematische Draufsichten auf verschiedene Beispiele mit einem längenreduzierenden Übergang,
• FIG 12a - FIG 12c ein Beispiel einer Implementierung der in FIG 10 dargestellten Anordnungen in einem Sortiersystem,
• FIG 13a - FIG 13e eine schematische Darstellung der Verwendung von zwei Sets Briefbehältern,
• FIG 14 und FIG 15 ein schematisches Beispiel eines Briefbehältnis,
• FIG 16 eine schematische Darstellung eines Beispiels einer Vorrichtung zum Ordnen mit zwei Sortiereinrichtungen,
• FIG 17 einer detaillierten Darstellung der Vorrichtung aus FIG 16,
• FIG 18 eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Vorrichtung zum Ordnen mit einer Verarbeitung von unadressierten Sendungen, und
• FIG 19 - FIG 21b ein schematisches Ausführungsbeispiel einer kammartigen Entnahmevorrichtung.

Show it:

• FIG. 1 a schematic overview of a system for sorting mailpieces,
• FIG. 2 a schematic side view of a device for sorting according to the distribution order with loading of the buffer,
• FIG. 3 a schematic side view of an apparatus with loading of the sectioned output conveyor,
• FIG. 4 a schematic plan view of a device for organizing,
• FIG. 5 a schematic representation of the principle of operation with reference to the schematic plan view,
• FIG. 6 a perspective view of a device for ordering with multiple levels,
• FIG. 7 a perspective view of two nested devices for organizing,
• FIG. 8 a schematic representation of a device for ordering with two outputs,
• FIG. 9 a schematic representation of a device for ordering with a reduced-length transition of a cache from one level to another,
• FIG. 10 a schematic representation of a device for ordering with a reduced-length transition of a cache from one level to another,
• FIG 11a FIG. 11c shows schematic top views of various examples with a length-reducing transition, FIG.
• FIG 12a - FIG 12c an example of an implementation of the in FIG. 10 arrangements shown in a sorting system,
• FIG. 13a - FIG. 13e a schematic representation of the use of two sets of letterboxes,
• FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 a schematic example of a letterbox,
• FIG. 16 a schematic representation of an example of a device for sorting with two sorting devices,
• FIG. 17 a detailed representation of the device FIG. 16 .
• FIG. 18 a schematic representation of an embodiment of an apparatus for ordering with a processing of unaddressed broadcasts, and
• FIG. 19 - FIG. 21b a schematic embodiment of a comb-like removal device.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of an example of a system for sorting mail. The overview shows the basic processes and the functional relationships within the system. These processes and relationships are in FIG. 1 by function blocks for processing unaddressed items ADS, a large letter processing (Flats) FS, a letter processing LS and a packing function PS illustrated. However, one skilled in the mail sorting field recognizes that the system may include other functional blocks, such as for reading and recognizing address fields. In addition, the division into these function blocks is here to simplify the description, and the functions in a concrete embodiment are to be otherwise divided or functions are shared can be.

The function block for processing unaddressed items ADS, for example, processes mailings that are delivered by different major customers directly to the mail distribution center. For example, the advertising mailings of a major customer can be delivered on pallets. The ADS function block processes the batches into batches, with each batch to be processed containing the mailings of various major customers. At the end of processing, for each postman, e.g. a large number of commercials of major customer A and a large number of commercials of large customer B have been isolated and introduced according to the recipient addresses in the further processing.

The function block of the large letter processing FS sorts flat large letters according to the order of their delivery. This includes u.a. reading the recipient's address, loading the large letters on a device for sorting and the actual sorting process. At the end of the processing, the large letters for each post office floor have been indexed according to their recipient addresses and merged with the unaddressed items per delivery point.

The function block of the letter processing LS also sorts smaller letters according to the order of their delivery. Also included in this processing is, among other things, reading the recipient's addresses or identification code applied in previous processing, loading to an ordering device, and the actual sorting process. At the end of the processing, the letters for each post office floor have been placed in the order of passage according to their recipient addresses and merged with the unaddressed items and the large letters per delivery point.

The functional block of the packaging PS packages the sorted consignments per delivery point, for example with a plastic film wrapping. Each package volume of a delivery point packaged in this way is allocated to the respective postman in the sequence of his delivery route in containers.

Sorting each shipment type places different demands on the system, for example, in terms of throughput. Characteristic of the in FIG. 1 illustrated system is that it can be used for sorting different types of shipments. Depending on the version, the system allows these items to be sorted separately, then combined and packed per delivery point.

The functional block of the large-scale processing FS is FIG. 2 - FIG. 8 described in more detail. As in the example of FIG. 2 4, the mail items 4 are first singulated in a known manner in a singulator 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 shipment 4 is conveyed via a loading station in, for example, a circulating buffer bag 3, these buffer bags 3 advantageously after loading again controlled to a rotating conveyor can be coupled and controlled decoupled from the conveyor and the transfer to the buffer in the coupled state can be done.

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 singulating devices 1 and an output current which is not synchronous with the input current and / or not constant can be further processed. In addition, the processing of separation streams with a constant gap between the programs is possible. The buffer bags 3 can be opened in a controlled manner down to deliver the mail items 4 to empty storage locations, for example, pockets 6 of another circulating intermediate storage 5. Here, the pockets 6 are firmly connected to the rotating conveyor.

The buffer 5 has a plurality of storage locations into which the mailings 4 can be transferred. The storage locations can be configured as pockets 6, sorting compartments or other such carrier elements. In the following, the storage locations are referred to as pockets 6 without limiting the protection area. The storage locations can be loaded and unloaded. The buffer and the buffer bags 3 run in the same direction.

The orders of the shipments 4 according to the agreed sequence of delivery points takes place by the shipments 4 controlled by opening the pockets bottom of the pockets 6 down on a counter to the buffer 5 with its upper tower rotating, divided into at least logical sections output conveyor 7 fall.

In this case, the output conveyor 7 is arranged in U-shaped plan below the buffer, d. H. the buffer 5 is longer than the output conveyor 7.

The transport speeds are coordinated so that each section 8 of the output conveyor 7 has passed through each pocket 6 of the buffer 5 once during its movement along the overlap area with the buffer 5. There may be several shipments 4 in one section 8 are loaded to a maximum overall height, which ensures safe transport and safe stacking behavior (sh).
The Ausgangsfördereirlrichtung 7 may also be pre-occupied by other sorting or input devices for all or special receiver with broadcasts.

At the end of the output conveyor 7 is a stacking device for receiving the stacked items 4 in the specified sequence in container 9. Between output conveyor 7 and stacking device, a device for portioning can be arranged in the matching consignments of a delivery point before stacking in bags and Bags are packed or provided with banderoles or small flags. According to the position of the container 9, the mail items 4 can be stacked in the container 9 in an upright or lying position. The mail items 4 are loaded on the exit conveyor 7 so that they leave it in the appropriate sequence. If consignments 4 of different, but adjacent delivery points loaded in a section 8, they must be in the specified sequence of delivery points on top of each other, but then can not be packed per delivery point.

For explanation, the sequence is in FIG. 5 set forth in a simple example.

The consignments 4 (5) located in the buffer 5 FIG. 5a ) should place in a container in order from top to bottom blue, red, green, purple according to 5g be filed. Latch 5 and output conveyor 7 move in opposite directions.

First, the mail marked purple is deposited in a section of the exit conveyor 7 (FIG. FIG. 5b ). Is then located the green marked program 4 above this section, it will be placed on the program purple ( FIG. 5c ) and the shipment 4 marked blue runs past this section because it is the last shipment in sequence and will be unloaded into the following section ( FIG. 5d ).

In FIG. 5e the consignment has reached the red section with the two consignments purple, green and is unloaded as the highest consignment. This was done on condition that the previously measured transmission thicknesses allow the filing of the three broadcasts into one section. Subsequently, in the stacking device, the mailings 4 are stacked in the desired order in a container ( FIG. 5f ).

In order to accommodate the device for arranging on the smallest possible base area, the buffer 5 can pass through two levels.

The non-overlapping the output conveyor 7 part of the latch 5 is foldable about a horizontal axis above or below the overlapping part: The latch 5 has in principle the course of a lying eight, which was folded in its node and is included there by the buffer memory device 2 , The actuators for opening the pockets 6 of the buffer 5 can be arranged stationary with constant synchronization between buffer 5 and output conveyor 7. A folding can also be done horizontally.

In order to keep the system as compact as possible FIG. 6 at the level transition, a 540 ° deflection over the interior of the system. Evident outside the coverage area are outputs 10 of the buffer memory device 2 for loading the pockets 6, unloading stations 11 for the additional removal of mailings 4 from the pockets 6 according to certain sorting criteria, a loading station 12 for loading the buffer bags with the items from the singulator 1 and an output 13 of the buffer memory 2 for discharging separated items.

If a second single installation B is rotated around its vertical axis by 180 ° and its part of the intermediate store 5 not covering the exit conveyor 7 is folded in the opposite direction, both installations A and B can be folded as shown in FIG FIG. 7 are shown, are merged into each other, which is then in a system, the additional level of the buffer 5 above the level of the buffer memory device 2 and in the other system below the level of the buffer memory device 2. As a result, only a small footprint is needed.

FIG. 8 shows schematically another example that provides an increased throughput, but still requires a minimum footprint. This example has more than one output conveyor 7 and thus more than one output. An output conveyor 7 can be designed as a transport path or as a closed transport loop with individual sections 8 (section conveyor) or a plurality of jointly transported carrier elements (trays, trays). At its end (or exit), each output conveyor 7 is coupled, for example, to a container 9. Between output conveyor 7 and stacking device, a device for portioning can also be arranged in this example, in which the associated consignments of a delivery point are packed in bags and bags prior to stacking or provided with banderoles or small flags. In the example shown, the throughput is increased in proportion to the number of output conveyor 7, for example, it is doubled in the embodiment shown here.

Im in FIG. 8 As shown in the example of the device, the buffer 5 operates two output conveyors 7. As can be seen from the side view shown, the output conveyors 7 are arranged one above the other on two levels, wherein FIG. 8 the upper one is # 2 and the lower one is # 1. The buffer 5 has an upper part 5a which extends over a part of the upper output conveyor 7 and a lower part which extends over a part of the lower output conveyor 7. A connecting part 5c connects the upper and lower output conveyors 7. At the end of each output conveyor 7, ie also each level, there is a stacking device for receiving the mailings 4 in the specified sequence in container 9, as already described above.

The connecting part 5c is designed in one example in the form of a vertical transition. This transition may in one embodiment be a space curve on which the pockets 6 of the buffer 5 move to move between the upper part 5a and the lower part 5b. An example of a space curve is in FIG. 9 shown and explained in more detail.

It is understood that in another example, the output conveyors 7 may also be arranged side by side. The buffer 5 also has parts which each extend over part of an output conveyor 7. The parts of the buffer 5 are also connected by a connecting part in this embodiment.

Regardless of the way in which the output conveyors 7 are arranged, ie side by side or one above the other, this example generally allows for increased throughput. However, the example also makes it possible to reduce the speed of the output conveyors 7, for example, in proportion to the number of output conveyors 7. The throughput of each output conveyor 7 can thus be adapted to the maximum throughput of a subsequent packaging or stacking device, for example by means of a combination of throughput increase and speed reduction.

Also in this example, there is a portion of the buffer 5 which does not overlap with the underlying output conveyor.

For cache-based sorting systems with moveable bins as part of the exit conveyor, performance can be increased through the use of multiple exit conveyors. One aspect of the present application relates to a required length-reduced transition of the intermediate storage from one level to another. As a result, two output conveyors can be arranged one above the other instead of side by side, resulting in a reduced area requirement.

The achievable performance of the sorting system is dependent on the degree of overlap between the buffer and the output conveyor. This degree of overlap is reduced by the length of the deflection, from which its importance for the performance of the system is derived.

The possible use of a helical line results in a longer route as a function of the point of articulation of the traction means against the carrier element (for example a pocket). In addition, its production is more complicated.

The proposed reduced-length transition consists of a sequence of three plane curves, typically 90 °, and subsequent rotation of the support elements. In one example, the carrier elements are pockets. The incoming and outgoing route are parallel. The first planar curve is around a vertical axis followed by a plane curve about a horizontal axis. The subsequent vertical movement of the bag is used to adapt the route to the height to be overcome. This is followed by a plane curve around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the first curve. The transition is completed by a rotation of the bag by 90 ° about its direction of movement.

There is only a slight relative movement between the goods in the bag and the bag walls, if the storage of goods in the bag is already done near the inside of the bag. Otherwise, the good is aligned with respect to this inside wall. An interim change of the side wall, with respect to which the good wants to align, does not arise during the entire level transition.

• Reduzierte Länge im Vergleich zu einer Schraubenlinie ermöglicht einen höheren Systemdurchsatz
• Die Ausrichtung der Güter an der Tascheninnenseite ist systemimmanent.
• Die kompakte Umlenkung verbindet sich vorteilhaft mit der Verwendung eines Pufferspeichers mit zwei Beladestationen des Zwischenspeichers nach ungefähr seiner halben Umlaufzeit ("1+1"-Belademodus).
• Einfachere Ausführung möglich.

The measures described for the level transition, consisting of a sequence of plane curves and a final rotation of the pocket, allows the following advantages:

• Reduced length compared to a helix allows for higher system throughput
• The orientation of the goods on the inside of the bag is systemic.
• The compact diverter advantageously combines with the use of a buffer memory with two loading stations of the buffer after approximately half its round trip time ("1 + 1" load mode).
• Simpler execution possible.

In FIG. 9 the vertical transition of the cache is shown in more detail. The black line 100 indicates the locations of the articulation points of the pockets on the traction means. The location of these articulation points allows minimal deflection radii for the pocket composite and therefore a minimized length for the plane transition. FIG. 9 also shows the two routes 111 and 113 in the lower horizontal plane 102. The location of a second level parallel to the plane 102 is determined by the arrow 104. The transition of each pocket conveyor line from one plane to the other takes place through a series of 90 ° curves. The pockets are attached to the traction means in the area of the line 100 with respect to which the movement of the pockets is described. Along the line 111 in the direction of the arrow 132, the pockets initially make a 90 ° curve in the plane 102 as shown by arrow 106. Subsequently, another 90 ° curve is carried out, whereby the pockets are deflected from the first plane 102 into the second plane parallel thereto, represented by the arrow 108. The pocket then moves vertically until shortly before reaching the second horizontal plane, the it reaches 110 after another, third 90 ° deflection. Finally, a first 90 ° rotation 112 takes place about the direction of movement 130, in which they then continue. The second route 113 is performed equivalently in the opposite direction.

Start direction for subsequent explanation should be the arrow 134. First, the pockets pass through a second 90 ° rotation 114 about their direction of travel, followed by a sixth 90 ° curve 116 about a horizontal axis in the plane parallel to plane 102. The pockets then overcome the height difference between the two horizontal planes along the plane 104 and open into the horizontal plane 102 through a seventh 90 ° turn 118. This is followed by an eighth 90 ° curve 120, after which the pockets continue in the direction 136. The preparation of an equal distance of the two routes to each other as in the upper level can be achieved by a subsequent combination of a flat right and a left turn. According to this arrangement, the above advantages result.

The described arrangement also advantageously allows the use of an annular buffer memory 122, see FIG. 10 , This is loaded at the point 123 and delivers the goods in two places 124 in the cache. there The pockets between these two places need about half of their total cycle time.

FIGS. 11a-11c show the top view of various examples. While FIG 11a does not contain a buffer memory FIG. 11b one and FIG 11c two buffers on. In both cases, two transfer points from the buffer memory to the buffer are respectively realized to generate a "1 + 1" charging mode. All figures share the same numbering of elements.

FIG 12a - FIG 12c show the implementation of in FIG. 10 shown arrangements in a sorting system. The scalability of the system is within the scope of conventional design measures and does not limit the scope of protection.

FIGS. 13a-13f illustrates another aspect of the in FIG. 1 illustrated system. Caching-based machines are less suitable for processing letters, because compared to a shroud system (pinch-belt system), the transport takes place through a buffer with a significantly reduced throughput. Because of this, a separate letter processing unit is proposed which has two tasks to accomplish. One task is to sort the letters of a delivery point into a sort bin as the last thread sequencing subprocess. The second task is to deliver this letter volume per delivery point to the output conveyor system. This example therefore relates to these two tasks.

So far, no cache based sorting system for large letters (flats) has become known that processes letters in a separate subsystem.

The output conveyors 7 serve not only for uniting the mail items from the buffer 5 but also for association with letters. For this purpose, sorting compartments for letters are arranged above the intermediate storage 5 in such a way that an output conveyor 7 moves below the sorting compartments. Each bin is assigned to a delivery point.

A loading device fills the sorting compartments for letters independently of and separately from the buffer 5. The number of sorting compartments is selected such that the second or last pass of a multistage sorting process to the in FIGS. 13a-13f shown device can be transmitted.

After all the letters for the sorting compartments have been transferred to them, the sorting compartments are emptied, in which their content is transferred to the moving under them output conveyor 7.

FIGS. 13a-13f show a schematic DPP system with two vertically arranged output conveyors. This DPP system is based on a cache 5 as described above. In the embodiment shown, the DPP system has a group of bins on each of the two levels. An output conveyor is located below each of the sorting compartments.

The procedure described, a suitably adapted subsystem for processing letters offers i.a. the advantages that a high performance is achieved, since for the letter processing, the processing device of the large letters is bypassed.

FIGS. 13a-13f illustrate another aspect of the in FIG. 1 illustrated system. For this purpose, the subsystem described above is arranged to solve two tasks, namely to fill separate sorting compartments for letters as part of a sorting process, the deliveries being for a delivery point be assigned to a bin, and the stacks are transferred per bin on an output conveyor. In one example, a large group of bins is used for this purpose. If there are two levels, each level is assigned a second group of bins. To allow for continuous operation, the groups are alternately filled and unloaded, that is, while a group of bins is being filled, the associated alternative group of bins is dumped by handing over the letters to the exit conveyor.

Thus, in the example shown, two groups of bins are used. In FIGS. 13a-13f These groups are called Bin Set 1 and Bin Set 2. In these figures, the time sequence of the transfer to the exit conveyor 7 (ie, the emptying of the bins) and the filling of the bins is exemplified for one level. Above the illustrated bins are in FIGS. 13b-13f Lines are shown for the respective status of a set, showing the status of the first set (Status Bin Set 1) above the status of the second set (Status Bin Set 2).

FIGS. 13a-13f show in each case two alternately arranged sets of bins, which are designated here for description as red (R) and blue (B). Each set of bins contains 30 bins labeled R1 - R30 and B1 - B30, respectively. For clarity, the sets are located above the exit conveyor 7 which moves from left to right. The arrangement of the letter containers should take place in the direction of the letter transport in decreasing order (here from the left (R30, B30) to the right (R1, B1) decreasing). Higher bin numbers are associated with higher delivery point numbers for groups of 30 delivery points.

FIG. 13a illustrated in line LI below the output conveyor 7 whose position in which the contents of the bin R30 is transferred to the output conveyor 7. In FIG. 13b , Line L2, the output conveyor 7 has moved to the right and was loaded with the contents of the bins R1 - R29, so that the content of 30 bins R1 - R30 is located on the output conveyor 7. The first set is thus in the transfer status during a time of, for example, 22 seconds. When the transfer begins, all shipments assigned to this group of delivery points must have already been sorted into the bins. Corresponding FIG. 13c the first set is then in the loading status, for example for 25 s.

FIG. 13d shows in line L3 that about 9 seconds after all the red bins R1 - R30 have been emptied, the blue bins B1 - B30 of the output conveyor 7 is started to be handed over. The blue containers are therefore in transfer status until all blue bins B1 - B30 are emptied (line L4). Corresponding FIG. 13e is that the second set afterwards in the loading status, for example, for 25 s.

FIGS. 13f-13g illustrate in lines L5, L6 that the in FIGS. 13a-13e Repeat the transfer operations of the two sets shown. In one example, for a set, the time between two transfers is 39 seconds. FIG. 13f and 13g also illustrate that in the example shown, a pause in the separation module for letters may arise, for example, when the first set was loaded, the break is until the second set is started to load a few seconds, for example about 4-6 s. However, this separation break does not reduce the throughput of the system, since this is due to the output conveyors.

The method described above grants a maximum time for refilling, ie for a given throughput of the output conveyor, a maximum pause of the singulation module. This can be considered as a safety reserve, to be able to process also above-average shipment volumes per set. The example described is based on the use of only two sets of bins that are alternately filled and emptied.

FIGS. 14-15 illustrate another aspect of the in FIG. 1 illustrated system.

The presented sorting compartment includes the following characteristics for the additional transfer to the output conveyor. The device consists of a shelf, which can fold down and thereby opens the bin. This floor can be driven in its fulcrum at the top by a resting on the top of the stack rocker arm and be resettable by a spring force. The shelf is provided with a powered outer belt for actively accelerating the stack of letters, supported by gravity. In addition, a driven pulley on the top of the stack may assist in accelerating the stack. To ensure edge alignment of the stack, the stacking tray may be inclined accordingly. A corner alignment can be achieved by an additional inclination of the stacking tray. The proposed solution makes it possible to automatically transfer a stack of letters to an exit conveyor situated below the stacking compartment. Due to the kinematic conditions, a larger angle of the stacking tray bottom advantageously arises during stack transfer than during the stacking process into the stacking compartment.

The proposed stacker will be discussed in more detail FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 described. As in FIG. 14 The document stream 102 discharged from the main stream, indicated by the arrow 102, ends in the stacking compartment 100. A finger lever 108 with a driving roller 110 rotates about the pivot point 114 as part of the crossover 106 according to FIG Level in the stacking compartment and the angle of the shelf. The roller 110 located on the drag lever is provided with a frictional contact surface with respect to the letters, so that in the driven case the letters are accelerated. The roller drive 110 and the driven rotation of the finger lever are known in the art.

The stacker includes a bottom 116 having a bottom flange 118 which is driven by one or both pulleys. The design is a choice of a designer. The axis of a steering roller also serves as a fulcrum 120 of the bottom 116, by which this can pivot up and down. The bin 100 further consists of a front wall 124 and a rear wall 122, between which the bottom is arranged. All three walls thus form the sorting compartment for receiving letters.

Below the sorting compartment is a conveyor which, in one example, may consist of individual trays 126 with large letters already deposited thereon and unaddressed items. The conveyor moves from left to right according to the indicated arrow 130. The bin 100 is stationary, it is not moved. Its number depends on a chosen construction. The object of the device described above is the delivery of letters 104 from their bin 100 to the conveyor 126 on which large letters and other mailings 128 may already be located for this delivery point.

The process of merging is over FIG. 15 seen. The bin bottom 116 is pivoted about its pivot point 120 down, so that a gap 132 between it and the front wall 124 is formed. The underfloor belt 118 and the roller 110 are then driven in the same direction, so that the letters deposited through the gap 132 on the shipments 128 of the conveyor below the sorting conveyor become. How out FIG. 15 it can be seen that rotates the roller 110 counterclockwise 136, while the underfloor belt 118 rotates clockwise 138. The simultaneous movement of roller 110 and underfloor belt 118 accelerates the letters 104 from their sorting compartment 100 through the gap corresponding to the arrow 134. The activation required for this purpose is known to the person skilled in the art.

For caching-based sorting systems, the basic problem is that the number of mailings to be sorted in a sequence may exceed the number of usable storage units. This failure situation, which is critical for every sequence sorting, can be according to the invention WO 2005/025763 A1 be solved by generating sufficiently small batches with contiguous areas of delivery points. Characteristic of this process is that an initially separated shipment volume, which must be processed in one or more separate process steps, is minimized.

Another form describes an arrangement that only requires the reloading of a buffer with the separated shipment volume, but not the repeated separation of the programs. There is no known arrangement or machine in which not the entire shipment volume must be processed again. In addition, knowledge of the volume distribution over the delivery points is necessary in such a tree-sort method.

The arrangement consists of two largely mirror-image machines accordingly FIG. 1 , which are arranged laterally offset from one another. Each of the two machines corresponds to the system FIG. 1 , extended by a singulator and loader of unaddressed mail to one or more output conveyors the overlap area of latches and output conveyors.

In order to minimize the total area requirement of this double arrangement, the course of the buffer, intermediate storage and output conveyors is mirrored in an axisymmetric manner, whereas the clockwise circulation orientations are retained.

As in FIG. 16 2, the two machines 100 and 102 may be connected to each other via one or more conveyors in the area of the buffer 104 or reservoir 104, as described in more detail in FIG FIG. 16 shown. The standalone link conveyor 106 logically connects the machine 102 to the machine 100 in the buffers 108a and 108b of both machines. In the non-hatched areas, the buffer 108a passes beneath other conveyors. The connection conveyor is loaded in a region 110b from the buffer memory and a non-visible underlying region from the buffer of machine 102 and in the region 110b from the buffer memory of machine 102. The connection conveyor is unloaded into the buffer 108a of machine 100 in region 110a. The two loading areas from the buffer (110b and invisible the second) are located immediately before the two loading stations 112a and X (hidden) of the buffer of machine 102 through the buffer memory 108b.

Thus, the shipment volume, which is not included in the batch size to be processed by the machine with contiguous range of delivery points, can be automatically loaded into the buffer memory 108a of another machine 100 without an additional singulation process. This shipment volume is then further processed on this machine 100.

The letter volume associated with this finishing process is automatically redirected from the letter 102 separating device of machine 102 to the letter processing system of machine 100 using a corresponding crossing unit.

• Weitgehende spiegelbildliche Streckenführung in beiden Maschinen ermöglicht einen minimierten Flächenbedarf bei unveränderten Subsystemen.
• Nebeneinander angeordnete Vereinzelungs- und Beladeeinrichtungen für unadressierte Sendungen erlauben eine bessere Nutzung der Bediener.
• Eine oder mehrere logistische Verbindungsfördereinrichtungen zwischen den Maschinen ermöglicht die Verarbeitung auch von Batchgrößen, die größer als die Speicherkapazität des Zwischenspeichers sind ohne einen zusätzlichen Verarbeitungsprozess.
• Die günstigste Verbindung von Maschine 102 zu 100 übernimmt die Sendungen aus dem Zwischenspeicher von Maschine 102 jeweils kurz vor den beiden Beladebereichen des Zwischenspeichers sowie aus dem Pufferspeicher von Maschine 102 kurz vor dem Beladebereich des Pufferspeichers und gibt sie in den Pufferspeicher von Maschine 100 kurz vor dem Beladebereich des Pufferspeichers wieder ab.
• Die günstigste Ausbildung einer Verbindungsfördereinrichtung ermöglicht eine funktional vergleichbare logistische Verkettung zusätzlich von Maschine 100 nach Maschine 102.
• Die notwendige Vernetzung der beiden Briefvereinzelungsmodule mit den beiden Briefsortier-Subsystemen der beiden Maschinen lässt zudem eine Briefsortieranlage mit der doppelten Anzahl an verfügbaren Briefsortierfächern entstehen bei gleichzeitiger Verdopplung des Durchsatzes im Vergleich zur Einzelmaschine. Dies ist von großer Bedeutung für zeitlich vorgelagerte Brief-Sortierprozesse, beispielsweise dem ersten Sortierdurchgang innerhalb eines Gangfolgesortierprozesses.

The volume of unaddressed mail items associated with this further processing is no longer singled out by the corresponding machine 102 but by machine 100. For this reason, the two devices are arranged side by side.
The described arrangement consisting of two logically coupled machines has the following properties:

• Extensive mirror-image routing in both machines enables a minimized space requirement with unchanged subsystems.
• Side-by-side separating and loading devices for unaddressed mailings allow better use of the operators.
• One or more logistical link conveyors between the machines also allow processing of batch sizes greater than the buffer's storage capacity without an additional processing process.
• The most favorable connection of machine 102 to 100 takes over the programs from the intermediate storage of machine 102 in each case shortly before the two loading areas of the intermediate store as well as from the buffer store of machine 102 shortly before the loading area of the buffer store put them back into the buffer of machine 100 just before the loading area of the buffer.
• The most favorable embodiment of a connection conveyor device allows a functionally comparable logistical linking additionally from machine 100 to machine 102.
• The necessary networking of the two letter separating modules with the two letter sorting subsystems of the two machines also results in a letter sorting system with twice the number of available letter sorting bins while doubling the throughput compared to the single machine. This is of great importance for chronologically upstream letter sorting processes, for example the first sorting pass within a sequence sorting process.

FIG. 18 illustrates another aspect of the in FIG. 1 illustrated system.

FIG. 18 shows a schematic representation of an example of an apparatus for organizing unaddressed broadcasts. The device shown has a station in which the unaddressed broadcasts are generally supplied as a stack manually or by a loading device to the individual conveyor elements of the output conveyor 7. In a certain section of the output conveyor 7, a number of output points are arranged along this, in which the unaddressed transmissions are transferred. In one example, there may be 40 dispensers. If each postman is assigned an issuing office, you can use this Outgoing conveyor the broadcasts are presorted to 40 postmen. The individual dispensing stations can each be connected via a further active or passive transport system (eg conveyor belt or chute) arranged at right angles to the exit conveyor 7 with corresponding containers for receiving the stacks or an area by correspondingly processing and packaging these stacks for automatic separation become.

Depending on the nature of the output conveyor 7, the transfer to the delivery location takes place either almost vertically or almost horizontally. Depending on the version, the transfer can be carried out ballistically. The unaddressed mailing stacks on the output conveyor 7 can be transferred horizontally by a controlled by a control mechanism mechanism in the respective issuing office or they are transferred vertically into an underlying issuing office. If the consignment stacks are located on individual trays or trays, the control device rotates, for example, in each case a carrier so that the consignment stack slips counter to the direction of movement of the carrier when it is above the desired dispensing point. At the end of processing, each type of commercial mail is assigned to a postman, i. each postman is e.g. a large number of commercials of major customer A and a variety of commercials of major customers B assigned.

The processing of unaddressed transmissions can be done in a device with an output ( FIG. 2 - FIG. 7 ) or with two outputs ( FIG. 8 ) be applied. It is understood that in a two-output structure, the unaddressed broadcasts can also be arranged at a higher throughput or for more output points.

To unload hitherto known tray conveyor for flat consignments, the tray is tilted and the material slip by gravity from the tray into a target location.

The goods to be sorted can be fed to the tilting tray individually or as a stack.

In the case of the OMP, consignment batches are collected on a tray conveyor and then fed to an extraction unit.

The shells are inclined in the conveying direction, so that an optimal stacking pattern (orientation along the bound side of the mailings) results when dropped from a Taschesorter.

To achieve a continuous emptying of the trays at high conveying speed without significantly reducing the stack quality for subsequent packaging processes, tilt trays are unsuitable. To the side tipping shells would lead to the significant deterioration of the stack image due to the undefined slip.

A solution for an active and defined removal of shipments of tilting cups is not known.

• Die Transportschalen sind in Förderrichtung gekippt. Dies Führt zur gewichtskraftgesteuerten Ausrichtung auf die gebundene Kante:
• Die Transportschalen weisen eine Anschlagskante (gebundene Kante der Sendungen) zur definierten Ausrichtung der Sendungen;
• Die Transportschalen weisen Vertiefungen auf oder sind als Gabel ausgeführt;
• Der Trägerwagen der Schalen fährt beim Entladen entlang einer nach unten gekrümmten Kreisbahn und unter Drehung der Schalen, sodass gabelförmige schmale Transportriemen unter den Sendungsstapel fahren können und den Sendungsstapel kontinuierlich übernehmen; und
• Die übernehmenden Transportriemen sind als Abschnittsförderer ausgebildet und führen den Sendungsstapel einer Verpackungseinheit zu.

The above problem is solved by the following technical features:

• The transport shells are tilted in the conveying direction. This results in weight-controlled alignment on the bound edge:
• The transport shells have a stop edge (bound edge of the items) for the defined orientation of the items;
• The transport trays have depressions or are designed as a fork;
• The carrier car of the shells moves during unloading along a curved downward circular path and with rotation of the shells, so that fork-shaped narrow conveyor belt can drive under the stack of mail and take over the stack of mail continuously; and
• The taking over transport belts are designed as section conveyors and feed the shipment stack to a packaging unit.

The main advantage of the present solution is the continuous, jerk-free and guided transfer of mailings and mailing stacks from one tray conveyor to another at high speed.

FIG. 19 . FIG. 20a . FIG. 20b . 21a and FIG. 21b show a schematic embodiment of a comb-like removal device for transporting stacked shipments. The device has a support member having a plurality of spaced-apart members extending along a floor to form a comb or fork-like structure, the members having upwardly extending front portions. The apparatus also has a first transport having segmented bands spaced from each other so as to fit between the spaced members.

In one embodiment, there is a further transport means disposed above the first transport means and wherein the section dividers are spaced apart along each band, the spacings being longer than the longest length of a shipment.

For transferring stacked mail items from a carrier element to a first transport device, the bottom is aligned with the transport device. The floor and the transport device interlock, so that at least a part of one of the bands extends between the elements.

The embodiments described above can of course be varied by a person skilled in the art according to the specific conditions. Does a separating device z. B. not the required throughput, so several separation facilities 1 can feed the buffer bags 3 parallel.

Claims (6)

1. Method for transferring piled postal items from a support element to a first transport device, with the support element essentially having a flat floor with elements spaced apart from each other so that a comb-type or fork-type structure is produced, with the elements having front sections extending upwards, and with the first transport device having a number of bands equipped with sectional separators, which are spaced apart from one another, with the method featuring the following steps:

   - alignment of the floor with the transport device, and

   - interlocking of the floor and the transport device, characterised in that at least a part of one of the bands extends between the elements.
2. Method according to claim 1, with the sectional separators along each band being spaced apart from each other, with the distances being longer than the longest length of a postal item.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, with the items being postal items.
4. Device for transporting piled postal items, which features:

   - a support element which has a plurality of elements spaced from each other which extend along a floor, so that a comb-type or fork-type structure is produced; with the elements having front sections extending upwards; and

   - a first transport device, which has bands provided with sectional separators which are spaced from each other

   characterised in that the bands are spaced apart from one another such that they fit between the spaced elements.
5. Device according to claim 4, in which a further transport device is also present, with the further transport device being arranged above the first transport device and for which the sectional separators are spaced apart from each other along each belt, with the spaces being longer than the longest length of a postal item.
6. Device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, with the device being a device for transporting piled postal items.

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