EP1984123B1 - Sorting installation - Google Patents

Abstract

A sorting installation (10) for sorting items has a holder (12) which is open at the front, having at least one sorting compartment (14) for accommodating sorted items and at least one partition element for subdividing the sorting compartment. At least one sorting compartment has a drawer (18) which can be pulled out of the holder at least partially in a pulling-out direction, and with at least one partition element configured as a separator (20, 21, 22), arranged parallel to the pulling-out direction, not fixed to the drawer and, when the drawer is moved out in the pulling-out direction, not moving along therewith; once moved out, the drawer is no longer subdivided by the least one separator.

Description

The present invention relates to a sorting system for sorting sorting pieces, in particular mail items, having a holding body open at the front, at least one sorting compartment in the holding body for receiving sorted sorting pieces and at least one separating element for subdividing the sorting compartment into sub-compartments.

Sorting systems are used in particular for the sorting of mail pieces. Known systems include, for example, a shelf-like body with shelf-like horizontal partitions that form sorting compartments. The individual sorting compartments are subdivided by fixed dividing walls so that individual lower compartments open to the front form.

The individual sub-subjects are assigned for the case of mail sorting, for example, individual Zustellbezirke. The user sorts the disorderly present post by delivery districts into the sub-compartments. After complete sorting he takes the mailpieces from the respective sub-subjects and puts them, for example, in the order of the delivery districts in his mail bag or another transport unit. The mail is already sorted in this way and can be taken out in the order of delivery districts from the transport unit and delivered.

Due to the fixed separating elements, the size of the individual sub-compartments is fixed. The postal service for different delivery districts, however, is usually different, so it happen can that the postal service of a delivery district does not fit into the sub-compartment intended for him.

When removing the mail from the individual sub-compartments and inserting into the transport unit or mail bag, the user must empty each tray and insert the items contained therein in the bag or transport unit. Each sub-compartment therefore requires a single access step.

A sorting system with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is made US 2004/0080105 A1 known.

Object of the present invention is to provide a sorting system that allows easy and time-saving sorting. This object is achieved with a sorting system with the features of claim 1. Subclaims are directed to preferred embodiments.

In the sorting system according to the invention, at least one sorting compartment has a pull-out drawer, which can be at least partially pulled out of the holding body, for example on telescopic rails. To limit the extract a corresponding stop can be provided so that the pull-out can not fall off when pulling out.

The sorting system according to the invention has at least one sorting compartment with a preferably open front, Ausziehlade. If a plurality of sorting compartments are provided, then advantageously all have an extracting pallet configured according to the invention. However, embodiments are also possible in which individual sorting compartments do not have a pull-out drawer and are therefore not configured according to the invention. Unless stated otherwise, the term "sorting compartment" is to be understood in the following as meaning a sorting compartment with a removal drawer designed according to the invention.

At least one separating element, which is provided for dividing the sorter with Ausziehlade is configured as parallel to the pull-out of the Ausziehlade arranged separator which is not firmly connected to the Ausziehlade and does not move when moving out of the Ausziehlade in the pull-out, so that the Ausziehlade after the moving out is no longer divided by the at least one separator. Thus, while in the non-extended state, the Ausziehlade forming the bin is divided by the separators into individual sub-compartments, the separators do not move when pulling out the Ausziehlade, so that the subdivision is canceled during the extraction process of the Ausziehlade. When pulled out, the sorting compartment forming Ausziehlade is therefore no longer divided.

The function is explained by the sorting of mailpieces. The user sorts the mail pieces into the discharge drawer divided by the separators, as long as it is divided by the separators. For example, the individual sub-compartments formed by the separators may be associated with individual mail delivery districts. After complete sorting of the mail, the user pulls out the pull-out to the front. The separators do not move with this pull-out movement, so that the subdivision into sub-compartments is canceled. Nevertheless, the postal items are sorted by delivery districts in the Ausziehlade. The mail pieces can now be pushed together by the user in the lateral direction and taken out in a single step from the Ausziehlade and inserted into the mail bag or the transport unit.

The removal of the sorting pieces from the Ausziehlade is therefore much less time-consuming, as if a larger number of individual subjects would have to be emptied.

The invention is particularly suitable for sorting mail pieces, for example, according to delivery districts of a postman. However, the invention can be used advantageously in all sorting processes in which sorting pieces have to be brought into a subdivision and are subsequently further processed in the order of this subdivision.

The invention proves to be particularly effective when several separators designed according to the invention are provided in a sorting compartment.

It is particularly advantageous if the pull-out drawer has no subdivision at all in the pulled-out state and, to that extent, a pull-out drawer corresponds to a sorting compartment. However, embodiments are also possible in which two or more sorting compartments are provided per Ausziehlade, the individual sorting compartments are in turn divided in the non-extended state of the Ausziehlade by the separators, but after the extraction is no longer subdivision. Thus, for stability reasons, for example, it may be advantageous if a pull-out drawer has a fixed center cheek in its center, so that a pull-out drawer has two sorting compartments on the right and left of the center cheek. Such a subdivision of a Ausziehlade into several sorting compartments may be useful, for example, even in very large Ausziehladen in which after removal of the Ausziehlade and insofar repeal of the separation into sub-compartments would result in a large non-compartment divided, the content would be difficult to handle when removing.

Such a center cheek which, in contrast to the separators join in the pull-out of the pull-out, can also be made displaceable. For example, depending on the requirements, it can be screwed in at different points on the pull-out drawer. So the total size of a bin is adjustable to the typical volume of a mailbag correspond to. It can also be provided several firmly anchored in the Ausziehlade or anchored center cheeks.

In order for the separators not to move along with the pull-out process of the pull-out drawer, it is advantageous to have guides or openings in the rear wall on the rear side of the pull-out drawer, through which the separators can slide when the pull-out drawer is pulled out. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the rear wall of the Ausziehlade slots, wherein the individual slots are designed such that a separator can slide through them. The number of guides or slots corresponds to at least the number of desired separators. Particularly flexible is an embodiment in which a larger number of guides or slots is provided at predetermined intervals, so that by selecting the guides or slots used, the number and spacing of the individual separators can be selected.

In a further development of this embodiment, the guides or slots are dimensioned such that they guide the separators. For this purpose, in particular the lateral extent of the guides or slots may be selected so that it substantially corresponds to the thickness of the individual separators, but without clamping them.

The guides or slots in the rear wall of the Ausziehlade determine the spatial orientation of the separators. Particularly space-economical is a vertical orientation of the separators, that is, a vertical orientation of the slots or guides. However, embodiments are also possible in which the guides or slots and thus the separators are aligned obliquely.

The slots in the rear wall of the Ausziehlade can have guide posts in an advantageous development, for example, are provided on the outside of the rear wall of the Ausziehlade and support the lateral support of the separators, especially when the Ausziehlade is pulled out. Such guide supports also serve to stabilize the slotted rear wall. They can be designed so that they increase the effective thickness of the rear wall, if the rear wall, for example, is thin-walled.

Particularly preferably, the separators are designed such that they can be removed from the sorting system. In this way, a user can use the separators according to needs and requirements in different numbers or different distances.

In order to ensure that the separators do not participate in the pull-out process of the pull-out tray, the separators are connected to the holding body or to an element fixedly connected to the holding body. In the case of detachable separators and this connection is designed detachable. The at least one separator has for this purpose at its pull-out in the Ausziehlade rear edge disposed on a hook, which cooperates with a retaining edge or support rod which is fixedly connected to the holding body, wherein the holding edge or support rod is aligned parallel to the rear wall of the Ausziehlade and in a Height is arranged, which corresponds to the altitude of the hook of a separator in its inserted state. If the hook is hooked to the support rod or the retaining edge, the separator can not move in the pull-out direction. When the pull-out drawer is pulled out, the hook holds the separator on the support bar or the holding edge so that the pull-out drawer moves without the separator and the separator loses its separation function. Preferably, the retaining edge or the support rod aligned horizontally and the hook of the separator points with its opening down. The hooking of the hook with the holding edge or the holding rod is then effected or supported by the gravity of the separator.

The term "hook" is intended here to generally denote elements which have a recess for gripping around the holding rod or the retaining edge.

The hook is on its outside and / or the support rod or the retaining edge is bevelled or rounded at the Ausziehlade facing side. In such an embodiment, when the separator and the holding bar or the holding edge move relative to one another, the hook slides on the holding edge or the holding bar until it can embrace the holding bar or the holding edge with its hook opening. In particular, in an embodiment in which the hook opening points downwards, the separator then falls downwards in such a way that the hook hooks onto the retaining edge or the retaining rod.

In such an advantageous embodiment, for example, proceed as follows. In the extended state of Ausziehlade the separators can be used in the Ausziehlade, for example, in the desired number and desired distance. They are held, for example, by the guides or slots at the rear of the Ausziehlade. The Ausziehlade is now inserted together with the separators in the holding body. At the end of the insertion process, the hooks of the separators hit the retaining bar or the retaining edge and move at least in the direction of the bevel rear area of the separators upwards. If the Ausziehlade further inserted, the hooks can engage around the support rod or the retaining edge, so that the raised separators fall down and the hooks engage with the holding rod or the retaining edge. In the pull-out direction, the separators are firmly fixed and can no longer move with the pull-out drawer. The sorting pieces can be sorted into the sub-compartments of the pull-out tray delimited by the separators. A moving out of the Ausziehlade after sorting the sorting done without moving the hooked separators so that they lose their separation function.

To support the separators, in particular to keep them in their spatial orientation, while the Ausziehlade is pulled out, can be provided to the holding body of the sorting fixed support in which the separators are used during the Ausziehprozesses the Ausziehlade. Preferably, this is a support in which slotted support brackets are provided for the separators. For example, the support may be provided in the region of the holding bar or the holding edge of the corresponding embodiment, and the slots may be aligned in a direction that corresponds to the desired spatial orientation of the separators.

A preferred development of this embodiment provides that the support has an adjustment mechanism that is configured to adjust the support brackets for the separators. Depending on the configuration, the adjustment mechanism for adjusting the angular orientation of the slots of the support can be parallel to the slots in the rear wall of the Ausziehlade and / or for accurately adjusting the slit position of the support with respect to the slots of the rear wall of the Ausziehlade.

For this purpose, for example, an adjusting screw can be provided with which the entirety of the slots of the support can be moved by a few millimeters with respect to the holding body. In an easy-to-use development, the adjustment screw is accessible from the side, for example, through a hole in the side wall of a body-like holding body.

It is particularly preferred if the individual separators in the Ausziehlade the sorting process are not only held by the guides or slots in the rear region of the Ausziehlade, so that during the sorting process with inserted Ausziehlade the separators are held several times firmly. For this purpose, in particular on each separator, a projection may be provided which engages in a corresponding projection receptacle in the Ausziehlade when the Ausziehlade is inserted and is released when pulling the Ausziehlade of the projection receptacle.

In the retracted state of the Ausziehlade the separators are supported in this way not only by the guides or slots in the rear region of the Ausziehlade and the optional support, but in addition of the engaging in the projection receptacles projections. In particular, this ensures that the separators do not change their position when one of the sub-compartments formed by the subdivision of the separators is overfilled.

Particularly advantageously, the projection is provided in the pull-out direction of the Ausziehlade front portion of the separator at the lower edge, wherein the projection receptacles are arranged in the bottom of the Ausziehlade in the front in the withdrawal direction corresponding area.

In order to ensure a disability-free sliding out of the projection of the at least one separator from the corresponding projection receptacle is provided in an advantageous development that the projection and / or the projection receptacle are tapered so that they slide when pulling the Ausziehlade each other. In particular, for example, the rearwardly facing edge of the projection, which is provided in the front region of a separator at its lower edge, may be corresponding bevelled or rounded.

If the at least one separator is to be held both by the projection received in the projection receptacle and by the slots in the rear side of the extraction recess, the distance of the projection of a separator from the edge of the separator lying in the pull-out direction of the extraction recess is greater than the distance of the projection receptacle from the rear wall of the Ausziehlade. In this way it is ensured that in the retracted state of the Ausziehlade, when the projection of the at least one separator engages in the projection receptacle, the separator engages in the rear area in a guide or a slot in the rear side of the Ausziehlade. The separator is safely stored in this way at least in two places.

In such an embodiment, the separators can be used as follows. First, the Ausziehlade is pulled out. The separators are inserted in the desired spacing and in the desired number with their respective projections in the projection receptacles of the Ausziehlade and inserted into the guides or slots in the rear side of the Ausziehlade. The Ausziehlade with the so-fixed separators is pushed back into the holding body.

The separators may be designed differently, for example as grid-like structures. Plates made of metal or plastic are particularly easy and comfortable to use.

The at least one separator may be formed of various materials, for example metal or plastic. Particularly simple and inexpensive to produce is a separator as a plastic injection molded part. A plastic separator also has sufficient flexibility to provide some tolerance to overfill of the sub-compartments formed by the separators.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Vorderseite einer Ausfüh- rungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Postsortieranlage,

Fig. 2

eine Ausziehlade einer erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform schräg von vorne,

Fig. 3

die Ausziehlade der Fig. 2 schräg von hinten,

Fig. 4

ein Detail der Ausziehlade mit unterschiedlichen eingesetzten Separatoren,

Fig. 5

einen Separator einer erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform,

Fig. 6

eine andere Ausgestaltung eines Separators einer erfindungs- gemäßen Ausführungsform,

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht von vorne auf ein Sortierfach einer erfin- dungsgemäßen Ausführungsform,

Fig. 8

eine Vergrößerung eines Details der in Fig. 7 dargestellten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 9

ein Detail der Ausziehlade der in Fig. 7 gezeigten Ausfüh- rungsform,

Fig. 10a bis 10c

den Bewegungsablauf beim Herausziehen der Aus- ziehlade einer erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform,

Fig. 11

eine Detailansicht während des Herausziehens der Ausziehla- de der in Fig. 7 dargestellten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 12

eine Detailansicht während des Herausziehens zu einem spä- teren Zeitpunkt,

Fig. 13

eine Detailansicht bei herausgezogener Ausziehlade, Fig. 14 eine Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Sortieranlage von hin- ten ohne Rückwand,

Fig. 15

ein Auflager einer erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform,

Fig. 16

einen Blick von hinten auf ein Detail einer erfindungsgemäßen Sortieranlage mit herausgenommenem Auflager,

Fig. 17

ein Blick von vorne in ein Sortierfach einer erfindungsgemä- ßen Sortieranlage im Bereich des Auflagers mit weggelassener Ausziehlade, und

Fig. 18

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Haltekörpers einer erfin- dungsgemäßen Ausführungsform.

The invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The figures show embodiments according to the invention for the mail item sorting. Showing:

Fig. 1

3 is a perspective view of the front side of an embodiment of a mail sorting system according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a Ausziehlade an embodiment of the invention obliquely from the front,

Fig. 3

the pull-out of the Fig. 2 diagonally from behind,

Fig. 4

a detail of the pull-out tray with different separators used,

Fig. 5

a separator of an embodiment according to the invention,

Fig. 6

another embodiment of a separator of an inventive embodiment,

Fig. 7

a front view of a sorting compartment of an inventive embodiment,

Fig. 8

an enlargement of a detail of the Fig. 7 illustrated embodiment,

Fig. 9

a detail of the pull-out of the in Fig. 7 shown embodiment,

Fig. 10a to 10c

the sequence of movements when pulling out the pull-out tray of an embodiment according to the invention,

Fig. 11

a detailed view during extraction of the Ausziehla- the in Fig. 7 illustrated embodiment,

Fig. 12

a detailed view during extraction at a later time,

Fig. 13

a detailed view with the pull-out drawer pulled out, Fig. 14 a view of a sorting system according to the invention from the rear without back wall,

Fig. 15

a support of an embodiment according to the invention,

Fig. 16

a view from the rear of a detail of a sorting system according to the invention with the support removed,

Fig. 17

a view from the front into a sorting compartment of a sorting system according to the invention in the area of the support with the removal drawer omitted, and

Fig. 18

a perspective view of a holding body of an inventive embodiment.

In the figures, similar elements are usually provided with the same reference numerals. If several identical elements can be seen in a figure, not all are necessarily marked with reference numerals.

In Fig. 1 If a sorting system 10 according to the invention is shown. It has a designed as a body holding body 12 in which a plurality of sorting compartments 14, 16 are located. In the embodiment shown, the second sorting compartment 14 is designed according to the invention from below. It has a pull-out drawer 18, which in Fig. 1 is shown in the pulled out state. It moves when pulling out on telescopic rails, which are not shown. The inventively designed sorting compartment 14 with the Ausziehlade 18 has separators 20. The details and the operation of the separators 20 and the Ausziehlade 18 of the sorting tray 14 will be explained in detail below.

The sorting system 10, which in Fig. 1 is shown has further subjects-16, which are arranged on shelves 17, but do not have a pull-out. These remaining compartments 16 will therefore not be described in detail.

The entire sorting system 10 is in the embodiment shown the Fig. 1 stored on a table 23.

In a manner to be described, the mailpieces are in each Ausziehlade 18 at each sorting step and thus lie on the floor of the Ausziehlade 18. Below the inventively designed sorting compartment 14, therefore, no shelf is necessary, as is necessary in the form of the shelves 17 in the other, not inventively designed sorting compartments 16.

Fig. 2 shows a view of a pull-out 18 obliquely from the front. It includes a bottom 24, side cheeks 26 and in this embodiment, a fixed center cheek 28. A rear wall 30 has a plurality of slots, three of which are exemplified by reference numeral 32. In the bottom 24 of the Ausziehlade projection receptacles 34 are provided in the form of openings in the front in the pull-out direction 52. The distance of the projection receptacles 34 from the rear wall 30 is designated by reference numeral 35. In Ausziehrichtung 52 front of the Ausziehlade 18 a pull-out handle 36 is provided at the bottom. The pull-out drawer is open towards the front. By skillful shaping and bracing in the bottom 24 of the Ausziehlade 18, the desired stability can be achieved.

Fig. 3 shows the same Ausziehlade diagonally from behind. Here it can be seen in particular that the slots 32 in the rear wall 30 laterally delimiting guide supports 38 which stabilize the rear wall 30 and increase their effective thickness.

Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of the Ausziehlade 18 with separators inserted. By way of example, three separators 20, 21 are shown, wherein different Shapes are selected that meet different requirements. For example, the shape of the separator 21 facilitates access to mailpieces in a sub-compartment formed by two adjacent separators, while separator 20 has higher stability.

The separators have in the front lower portion projections, which in Fig. 4 are not visible. For a separator 20, for example, shows Fig. 5 the shape of the projection 44. The separators 21 have corresponding projections. The projections 44 engage in the projection receptacles 34 and are hooked there. With the rear edge of the separator protrudes through a slot 32 in the rear wall 30 of the Ausziehlade 18. The distance 35 of the projection receptacles 34 of the rear wall 30 is smaller than the distance 49 of a projection 44 from the rear edge 43 of the separator ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). In this way it is ensured that the separator is secured in the Ausziehlade against tilting and lateral slipping.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show two exemplary embodiments for separators 20 and 22. While separator 20 is rounded in the front region, separator 22 is bevelled in the front region.

It can be seen that the downward-pointing projection 44 comprises a nose-shaped forwardly pointing extension. The pull-out 52 of the Ausziehlade 18 rear edge 45 of the projection 44 is chamfered. The distance of the projection 44 from the rear edge 43 of the separator is designated by the reference numeral 49.

At the rear edge of the separator 20, 22 is a hook 46 with a downwardly opening hook opening 48, the outside 47 is rounded.

The illustrated embodiments of the separators taper in their thickness upwards.

Fig. 7 shows a view from the front into the sorting compartment 14 when inserted into the holding body 12 Ausziehlade 18. Separators 20 are held in a manner to be described in the Ausziehlade in the projection receptacles 34 and the slots 32 of the rear wall 30.

Fig. 8 shows a detail of Fig. 7 , In particular, it can be seen here that the projection receptacles 34 are narrower in the region 40 lying in the pull-out direction 52, the dimensions being selected such that an inserted separator is held firmly in the narrow region 40.

On the front side of the bottom 24 of the Ausziehlade designations 42 may be appropriate, for example, denote the delivery districts or individual postal customers in the delivery districts.

Fig. 9 shows another view of a Ausziehlade 18 with separators 20, whose projections engage in the projection receptacles 34. Here, the Ausziehlade 18 is pulled out a small piece in the withdrawal direction 52, which corresponds approximately to the extent of the nose of a projection 44. Although the projections 44 still stuck in the projection receptacles 34, but their nose-shaped projections are no longer entangled in the narrow portion 40 of the projection receptacles. For this purpose, the dimension of the projection receptacles 34 is chosen accordingly.

Fig. 10a to 10c show in a schematic representation of how the Ausziehlade 18 and a separator 22 during the Ausziehprozesses the Ausziehlade 18 behave. In a manner to be described, the hook 46 of the separator 22 is hooked to a fixed support bar 50. The side cheek 26 lying in the figure at the front is here shown transparent for a better understanding, so that the separator 22 is visible.

Fig. 10a shows the state with retracted Ausziehlade 18th Fig. 10b shows the state at half pulled out in the pull-52 52 Ausziehlade 18. While in the position of the Fig. 10a the projection 44 of the illustrated separator 22 protrudes through the projection receptacle 34 in the bottom 24 of the Ausziehlade 18, it is in the half-extended state of the Fig. 10b on the floor 24 of the Ausziehlade 18. The separator 22 is therefore slightly inclined.

In Fig. 10c the state is shown with fully extended Ausziehlade 18. The separator 22 no longer projects through the rear wall 30 of the Ausziehlade 18 into its inner region, so that the Ausziehlade 18 is no longer divided by the separator 22. The separator 22 is held by the guide posts 38 of the rear wall 30 in its spatial orientation against lateral tilting or slipping.

The Fig. 11 to 13 show starting from the state of Fig. 7 the in Fig. 10 shown extraction process in a different perspective. In particular, the state corresponds to Fig. 7 is shown, the Fig. 10a , while Fig. 12 of the Fig. 10b and Fig. 13 of the Fig. 10c equivalent. Additionally shows Fig. 11 the state between the in 10a and 10b shown states in which the Ausziehlade 18 is already pulled out so far that the projection 44 slides out of the projection receptacle 34 out.

Fig. 14 shows a view from the rear of the sorting system, wherein the rear wall of the holding body 12 is removed. Shown is the state with inserted Ausziehlade 18 and the separators 20 which are held in slots 32 of the rear wall 30 of the Ausziehlade. It can be seen how the rear regions of the separators 20 protrude through the slots 32 of the rear wall 30. In the region of the holding rod 50, a support 54 is provided, which has a support carrier 56. Support supports 58 are provided on this support support, between which support supports in the form of slots 60 are located. The support extensions 58 rest on the holding rod 50 fixedly mounted in the holding body. The separators 20 protrude with the hooks 46 in the slots 60, the hook openings 48 engage around the support rod 50, as for example in the Fig. 10a to 10c is recognizable. Below the support 54, the lower portion of the rear wall 30 and the bottom 24 of the Ausziehlade 18 are visible from the rear. In particular, one recognizes the guide posts 38 which surround the slots 32 of the rear wall 30 in the lower area.

Fig. 15 shows an embodiment of a support 54. During Fig. 14 shows the support 54 from the rear, the embodiment of the Fig. 15 shown diagonally from the front. In particular, here the support receptacle 62 is visible, with the support 54 rests on the support rod 50. Reference numeral 63 denotes screw holes in which, for example, adjustment screws may be provided to adjust the lateral position of the support 54 on the support rod 50. For this purpose, corresponding adjusting screws are inserted into the screw holes 63, with the aid of which the support can be displaced and adjusted, for example, against the side walls of the holding body. The support is thus adjusted so that the slots 60 of the support 54 correspond to the slots 32 in the Ausziehlade 18.

Fig. 16 shows a view from the back to the sorting system. Here, the support 54 has been removed, so that the interaction of the hook 46 of the separators 20 with the support rod 50 can be seen. It can be seen that the hook 46 engage around the support rod 50.

Fig. 17 shows a view from the front into the rear of a inventively designed sorting compartment. The view is shown without Ausziehlade, so that the interaction of the support 54, the support rod 50 and the hook 46 of the separator 20 is clear. It can be seen how the support extensions 58 rest on the support rod 50. A separator 20 is located just in front of the support bar 50, ie in a state just before the hook 46 hooks into a slot 60 around the support bar 50.

In Fig. 18 a holding body of an embodiment is shown, which is designed for four superposed inventively designed sorting compartments 14. Screw holes 64 each serve to attach the telescopic rails of the respective Ausziehlade 18. Openings 66 are used to hold the support rods 50 of the respective sorting compartments. The opening for the handrail of the top bin is not visible.

In the following, possible dimensions for the individual elements are given, which, however, are only to be understood as examples.

The body 12 may, for example, have a width of about 50 cm or 100 cm at a depth of 35 cm. For a holding body, which can accommodate four sorting compartments according to the invention one above the other, as shown in FIG Fig. 18 For example, a height of about 130 cm is possible.

The support rods 50 made of steel, for example, have a diameter of 14 mm, for example. The height of the respective handrail 50 in the holding body 12 is in each case selected so that it corresponds to the position of the respective recess 48 of the hook 46 of a separator in the corresponding Ausziehlade.

The support 54 may be made of plastic.

The separators are formed for example by plastic plates of a length of about 35 cm and a height of about 21 cm. In the lower part, they have a thickness of 4 mm, which tapers towards the top, as well as in the FIGS. 5 and 6 is recognizable.

The Ausziehlade 18 is also made of plastic and has, for example, a volume of 3500 cm ³ .

The sorting system according to the invention is assembled as follows. In a holding body 12, as in Fig. 18 is shown, holding rods 50 are inserted into the holding rod receptacles 66. In the screw holes 64 telescopic rails, not shown, are mounted, carry the pull-out 18 and allow extraction of the pull-out to the front to a stop. In an embodiment according to the Fig. 1 a Ausziehlade 18 is provided only in the second bin 14 from below.

To each Ausziehlade 18 and each support rod 50, a support 54 is mounted, wherein the support seat 62 is placed on the support rod 50. The support 54 is supported, for example, against a rear wall of the holding body 12 and thus can not slip off the support rod 50. With the aid of the adjustment mechanism, not shown in the figures, taking advantage of the screw holes 63 in the support 54 (FIG. Fig. 15 ), the lateral position of the support 54 is adjusted so that the Slots 60 of the support 54 correspond to the slots 32 in the rear wall 30 of the Ausziehlade 18. In this way tolerances of the Ausziehlade 18 bearing telescopic rails are compensated. The adjustment screws, which are inserted into the adjusting screw holes 63 of the support 54, can clamp the support 54 against the side walls of the support body 12, for example.

In use, the user can proceed as follows. First, he selects, which distance the separators 20, 21, 22 should have from each other. The distance of the individual separators 20, 21, 22 is selected so that it corresponds approximately to the postal service individual delivery districts individually, so that the respective sub-compartment assigned to a delivery district between two separators can accommodate the typical mail volume of the corresponding delivery district. Different sub-compartments thus have - according to the typical mail volume of the delivery districts assigned to them - different widths and correspondingly different spacing between the separators delimiting them. The user then performs the initial loading of the pull-out tray 18 with separators 20, 21, 22. The Ausziehlade 18 is pulled out to about 80% of the maximum extract. The separators are used according to the desired distances, wherein the projections 44 are hooked into the selected projection receptacles 34 and the rear edges of the separators are guided into the corresponding slots 32 of the rear wall 30 of the Ausziehlade 18. It creates a state, as he for example in Fig. 4 is shown. The separators 20, 21, 22 are held firmly by the projections 44 in the projection receivers 34 and the slots 32. The Ausziehlade 18 is now inserted into the sorting compartment 14 to the rear, with the separators 20, 21, 22 move with the Ausziehlade 18 backwards. At the end of the insertion process, the hooks 46 meet with their rounded outer side 47 on the Retaining rod 50. The outer side 47 of the hook 46 slides on the support rod 50 upwards until the hook opening 48 is above the support rod 50. Then, the separator 20, 21, 22 falls down again, so that the hook 46 engages around the support rod 50, as shown for example in FIG Fig. 10 or Fig. 16 is recognizable. The hook 46 of the separator 20, 21, 22 is now in a slot 60 of the support 54 on the support rod 50, so that a movement of the separator in the withdrawal direction 52 is no longer possible.

Thus, the sorting box 14 is equipped for the special requirements of the user. In particular, sub-compartments are formed, which correspond in their width individually to the typical mail volume of individual delivery districts. As a rule, it is no longer necessary to change the position of the separators since the typical mail volume does not change. Optionally, however, the separators can be removed again by hand, by the engagement between the hook 46 and the support rod 50 is released.

In the state of the inserted Ausziehlade 18 with the mounted separators now the post can be sorted. Individual mailpieces are placed in sub-subjects corresponding to the delivery districts. After the mail is completely sorted into the individual sub-compartments, the Ausziehlade 18 is pulled out on the pull-out handle 36 in the withdrawal direction 52 to the stop of the telescopic rail again. The separators 20, 21, 22 remain hooked on the support rod 50 and thus lose up to the maximum extension of the pull-out 18 completely their function as separating elements. This is in Fig. 10 recognizable. While the separators 22 shown in FIG Fig. 10a are hooked to the support rod 50 and the pull-out is not extended, is in Fig. 10b the Ausziehlade pulled out in the withdrawal direction 52, whereas the separators 22 at the Haltestange 50 get hooked. Fig. 10c shows the state in which the Ausziehlade 18 is fully extended and the separators 22 no longer exercise their separation function in the Ausziehlade 18. The separators 22 are prevented from falling over by the guide posts 38 and the rearwardly bent upper end of the rear wall 30.

The extraction process is in the wake of Fig. 9 and Fig. 11 to 13 starting from the state of Fig. 7 again shown in detail. In Fig. 7 the projection 44 is still in the projection receptacle 34. In Fig. 9 the Ausziehlade 18 is already pulled out a piece, so that the nose-shaped projections of the projections 44 are no longer entangled in the projection receptacles 34. Fig. 11 shows how with further pulling out of the pull-out in the pull-out direction 52, the inclined rear edge 45 of the projection 44 supports the sliding out of the projection 44 of the separator 20 from the projection receptacle 34 so that the separator moves slightly upwards in the front region. Fig. 12 shows one of the Fig. 10b appropriate condition. Fig. 13 shows the pull-out drawer 18 in the fully extended state. It can be seen that the separators 20 no longer extend into the pull-out drawer 18, so that the pull-out drawer 18 is now completely devoid of any division (with the exception of an optionally provided central cheek 28).

The user can now intervene in the Ausziehlade and push the sorted mail either against a side wall 26 or the middle cheek 28 of the pull-18. The entire mail volume, which is associated with the Ausziehlade between a side wall and the center cheek 28, can be removed in one step and inserted in sorted form, for example, in the mail bag.

It is therefore not necessary to empty each individual sub-compartment of the sorting compartment assigned to a delivery area individually and to transfer its contents into the mailbag. The sorting process, in particular the removal process from the sorting bin, is thus considerably simplified and much shorter in terms of time than in the case of sorting bins without a take-out bin.

After removal, the Ausziehlade 18 is pushed back into the sorter 14, the separators 20, 21, 22 again assume their separation function and the projections 44 of the separators in the projection receptacles 34 in the bottom 24 of the Ausziehlade 18 get caught. The condition arises again, as he for example in Fig. 7 is shown, in which the Ausziehlade 18 is divided by the separators in lower compartments. The sorting plant is now ready for another sorting process.

The sorting system works mechanically and is therefore very cost effective and robust.

Bezueszeichenliste

10

sorting

12

Holding body, body

14

bin

16

bin

17

shelf

18

sliding shelf

20,21,22

separators

23

table

24

Bottom of the pull-out tray

26

side cheek

28

Center side

30

Rear wall of the pull-out drawer

32

Slots in the back wall

34

lead shots

35

Distance of the projection receptacles from the rear wall of the Ausziehlade

36

Extendable

38

guide posts

40

narrow area of the projection receptacles

42

Labelling

43

rear edge of the separator

44

head Start

45

bevelled edge of the projection

46

hook

47

rounded hook outside

48

hook hole

49

Distance of a projection from the rear edge of a separator

50

Handrail

52

pull-out

54

In stock

56

supporting carrier

58

Auflagerfortsatz

60

slot

62

support Support

63

Justierschraubloch

64

screw

66

Holding rod receiver

Claims (13)

1. A sorting installation (10) for the sorting of articles to be sorted, in particular items of mail, comprising

   - a holder (12) preferably made as a carcass and open to the front;

   - at least one sorting compartment (14, 16) in the holder (12) for the reception of sorted articles; and

   - at least one dividing member (20, 21, 22) for the division of the at least one sorting compartment (12) into subcompartments,

   wherein

   - at least one sorting compartment (14) includes a pull-out drawer (18) which can be pulled out at least partly from the holder (12) in a pulling-out direction (52) and which is preferably open to the front; and

   - at least one dividing member is designed as a separator (20, 21, 22) which is arranged parallel to the pulling-out direction (52), which is not fixedly connected to the pull-out drawer (18) and which does not move along in the pulling-out direction (52) on the moving out of the pull-out drawer (18) so that the pull-out drawer (18) is no longer divided by the at least one separator (20, 21, 22) after having been moved out,

   characterized in that

   - the at least one separator (20, 21, 22) has a hook (46) at its edge arranged at the rear in the pull-out drawer (18), the hook opening (48) of said hook preferably being directed downwardly;

   - a horizontal holding edge or holding rod (50) aligned parallel to the rear wall (30) of the pull-out drawer (18) is provided in the holder (12) and is arranged such that the hook (46) of the separator (20, 21, 22) can hook to it so that in the hooked in state the separator (20, 21, 22) cannot move in the pull-out direction (52) with the pull-out drawer (18); and

   - the hook (46) is rounded or chamfered at its outer side (47) and/or the holding rod or the holding edge is rounded or chamfered at the side facing the pull-out drawer (18) such that the hook (46) slides off at the holding edge or holding rod (50) when the at least one separator (20, 21, 22) and the holding rod (50) or the holding edge move relatively toward one another until the hook opening (48) can engage around the holding rod (50) or the holding edge.
2. A sorting installation in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the at least one pull-out drawer (18) includes, in the rear region, a plurality of guides, preferably by formation of a multiply slotted rear wall (30), with the individual guides or slots (32) being designed such that a separator (20, 21, 22) can slide through them.
3. A sorting installation in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the slots (32) in the rear wall (30) of the pull-out drawer (18) are dimensioned such that they can guide the at least one separator (20, 21, 22).
4. A sorting installation in accordance with one of the claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the slots (32) of the rear wall (30) of the pull-out drawer (18) include guide stubs (38) which effectively increase the thickness of the rear wall 30) in the region of the slots. (32).
5. A sorting installation in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one separator (20, 21, 22) can be removed.
6. A sorting installation in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized by a support (54) having at least one support mount (60), preferably of a slot type, for the at least one separator, with the support (54) being stationary with respect to the holder (12) and the at least one support mount (60) being designed such that it holds the at least one separator (20, 21, 22) in its spatial orientation on the pulling-out movement of the pull-out drawer (18).
7. A sorting installation in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that the support (54) has an adjustment mechanism which is designed to adjust the at least one support holder (60) such that, in this manner, the spatial alignment and/or the spatial position of the separator (20, 21, 22) supported by it is adopted.
8. A sorting installation in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the at least one separator (20, 21, 22) has a projection (44) which cooperates with a corresponding projection mount (34) in the pull-out drawer (18) such that the projection (44) is held in the projection mount (34) in the pushed-in state of the pull-out drawer (18) and is released from the projection mount (34) on the moving out of the pull-out drawer (18).
9. A sorting installation in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the projection (44) of the at least one separator (20, 21, 22) is provided in the region of the separator (20, 21, 22) at the front in the pulling-out direction (52) of the pull-out drawer (18), preferably at its lower edge.
10. A sorting installation in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the projection (44) of the at least one separator (20, 21, 22) and/or the corresponding projection mount is/are chamfered or rounded such that they slide off one another on the pulling out of the pull-out drawer (18).
11. A sorting installation in accordance with any one of the claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the spacing (49) of the projection (44) of the at least one separator (20, 21, 22) from the edge (43) of the separator (20, 21, 22) disposed at the rear in the pulling-out direction (52) of the pull-out drawer (18) is larger than the spacing (35) of the projection mount (34) from the rear wall (30) of the pull-out drawer (18) so that the at least one separator (20, 21, 22) projects through an opening or a slot (32) in the rear wall (30) of the pull-out drawer (18).
12. A sorting installation in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the at least one separator (3, 20, 21) is formed as an injection molded plastic part.
13. A mail sorting apparatus for the sorting of items of mail, in particular letters, using a sorting installation in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 12.

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