EP2085152A1 - Method and device for sorting flat objects during multiple sorting runs - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves passing flat objects through a sorting system with output devices (AE). Identifications of target points are determined during passing of the objects. The objects are distributed on the output devices during passing, by the system such that the system passes out each object in the respective output devices, which are assigned to the target points. The objects are combined to a stack, where the objects of the stack are provided with the identifications and are partially overlapped. The stack is transported to one of the output devices and is passed-out in the output device. An independent claim is also included for a sorting system for sorting flat objects, including output devices.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for sorting a set of flat objects, in particular postal items.

A method having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a device having the features of the preamble of claim 15 are made EP 1425113 B1 and US 2004/0182759 A1 as well as out DE 10 2004 035 365 A1 known. Both documents describe how postal items are sorted according to a predetermined distribution order in a sorting system and in this case each item of mail passes through the sorting system several times. After each but the last run, the mailings are returned to the sorting system.

In EP 1425113 B1 and US 2004/0182759 A1 It will be further described how to generate a sorting plan which determines which items are to be dumped into which output devices.

In US 2005/0218046 A1 It is proposed to generate a separate sorting plan for each run ("pass") and to use it for the respective pass. The first sorting plan distinguishes several delivery point groups and the mailings for these groups are output in different output devices.

In EP 0999902 B1 and US 6566620 B1 Both a presort plan and multiple end sort plans are used. Each mail item is first sorted according to the pre-sorting plan, fed again to the sorting system, and then sorted according to one of the end sorting plans and output to an output device.

To save space, in EP 0654309 B1 and DE 69326617 T2 proposed that a sorting system for mail each a plurality of mail items to a stack summarizes. The mailpieces of a stack at least partially overlap and the stack is transported as a whole. Each such stack is generated by an accumulation device. Before stacking, a reader reads sorting information on the mailpiece. Depending on the respective sorting information, a mail item is diverted to one of the stack-forming devices.

• DE 10 2004 033 564 B3 und US 20070090027 A1 ,
• DE 10 2004 056 696 B4 und US 2008/0087582 A1 ,
• WO 2006/100598 A1 ,
• US 2004/0261366 A1
• DE 10 2005 055 763 B3 und WO 2007/057078 A1 .
  Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Verfahren mit den Merkmalen des Oberbegriffs des Anspruchs 1 und eine Vorrichtung mit den Merkmalen des Oberbegriffs des Anspruchs 15 bereitzustellen, bei denen für den zweiten Sortierlauf bei gleicher Anzahl möglicher Zielpunkte weniger Ausgabeeinrichtungen benötigt werden als bei bekannten Verfahren und dennoch ermöglicht wird, dass alle Gegenstände gemäß einer vorgegebenen Reihenfolge unter den Zielpunkten in die im zweiten Sortierlauf verwendete mindestens eine Ausgabeeinrichtung ausgeschleust sind.
  Die Aufgabe wird durch eine Vorrichtung mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 1 und ein Verfahren mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 15 gelöst. Vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen sind in den Unteransprüchen angegeben.

Devices and methods for sorting mailpieces in several sorting runs are also known from the following publications:

• DE 10 2004 033 564 B3 and US 20070090027 A1 .
• DE 10 2004 056 696 B4 and US 2008/0087582 A1 .
• WO 2006/100598 A1 .
• US 2004/0261366 A1
• DE 10 2005 055 763 B3 and WO 2007/057078 A1 ,
  The invention has for its object to provide a method having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus having the features of the preamble of claim 15, in which for the second sorting run with the same number of possible target points fewer output devices are required than in known methods and nevertheless it is made possible that all objects are ejected according to a predetermined order among the target points into the at least one output device used in the second sorting pass.
  The object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 15. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

By solution, a set of flat objects is sorted. Each item of this lot, each with a label a destination to which the object is to be transported provided.

Each of these items passes at least twice through a sorting system with multiple dispensers.

• Sie ermittelt die Zielpunkt-Kennzeichnung des Gegenstands.
• Sie schleust den Gegenstand in jeweils eine der Ausgabeeinrichtungen aus.
• Hierbei verteilt die Sortieranlage die Gegenstände auf mehrere Ausgabeeinrichtungen. Dies macht die Sortieranlage dergestalt, dass sie jeden Gegenstand in diejenige Ausgabeeinrichtung ausschleust, die dem jeweiligen Zielpunkt des Gegenstands zugeordnet ist.
• Jeder Gegenstand wird nach dem ersten Durchlauf der jeweiligen Ausgabeeinrichtung entnommen und erneut der Sortieranlage zugeführt.
• Beim erneuten Zuführen wird eine Vermischung von Gegenständen aus verschiedenen Ausgabeeinrichtungen vermieden und die Gegenstände gemäß einer vorgegebenen ZuführReihenfolge unter den beim ersten Sortierlauf verwendeten Ausgabeeinrichtungen zugeführt werden.

When an article passes through the sorting system in the first sorting pass, this sorting system performs the following steps:

• It determines the destination mark of the item.
• It expels the article in each one of the output devices.
• Here, the sorting system distributes the objects to a plurality of output devices. This makes the sorting system to eject each item into the output device associated with the respective destination of the item.
• Each article is removed after the first pass of the respective output device and fed again to the sorting system.
• Upon re-feeding, mixing of articles from various dispensers is avoided and the articles are fed in accordance with a predetermined feeding order among the dispensers used in the first sorting pass.

• Sie ermittelt die Zielpunkt-Kennzeichnung des Gegenstands.
• Sie fasst alle Gegenstände, die mit Kennzeichnungen desselben Zielpunkts versehen sind, zu jeweils mindestens einem Stapel zusammen.
• Dieses Zusammenfassen geschieht dergestalt, dass jeder Stapel mehrere Gegenstände umfasst und die Gegenstände jedes Stapels sich wenigstens teilweise überlappen. Jeder Stapel besteht ausschließlich aus Gegenständen, die mit Kennzeichnungen desselben Zielpunkts versehen sind. Kein Stapel umfasst also zwei Gegenstände mit Kennzeichnungen verschiedener Zielpunkte.
• Falls an einen Zielpunkt nur ein Gegenstand oder gar kein Gegenstand zu transportieren ist, so bildet die Sortieranlage keinen Stapel für diesen Zielpunkt, sondern transportiert den Gegenstand einzeln weiter.
• Die Sortieranlage transportiert jeden dergestalt gebildeten Stapel zu einer der Ausgabeeinrichtungen und schleust den Stapel in diese Ausgabeeinrichtung aus.

When an object in the second sorting pass through the sorting system, this sorting system performs the following steps:

• It determines the destination mark of the item.
• It combines all the items that are labeled with the same destination into at least one stack.
• This summarization is done in such a way that each stack comprises several objects and the objects each Stack overlap at least partially. Each stack consists solely of items that are labeled with the same destination. So no stack contains two items with markings of different target points.
• If only one object or no object is to be transported to a destination point, the sorting system does not form a stack for this destination point, but rather transports the object one by one.
• The sorting system transports each stack formed in this way to one of the output devices and discharges the stack into this output device.

Each flat object extends in an object plane. Because the items are combined into stacks in the second sorting pass, less space is needed for the second sorting pass. Because a stack takes during transport less space during transport in a transport direction parallel to the object levels of the items in the stack, as if the objects would be transported one behind the other and spaced.

The items usually go through the sorting system in the second sorting sequence in succession. If a stack contained objects for different target points, subsequent objects would have to be pushed for one of these target points between already stacked objects, so that after the second sorting out a predetermined sequence is maintained below the target points. Or objects for the same target point would have to be cached, so that in one stack, the order is adhered to under target points, which requires space and additional equipment.

In the second sorting run, dispensing devices are thus saved in that objects in the sorting system are combined in stacks, instead of forming stacks only after emptying. The sorting system is capable of objects successively supply a first and a further stack and then auszuschleusen these two stacks in the same output device. Without the invention, two output devices would be needed.

In the known methods, the sorting system can, if it ejects the objects in the first sorting pass in N1 output devices and in the second sorting pass in N2 output devices, sort a maximum of N1 * N2 different target points. By contrast, the method according to the invention enables a sorting on more than N1 * N2 different target points.

This advantage is achieved because the objects are combined with the same target point prior to the discharge to at least one stack and this stack consists exclusively of objects with labels of the same target point. The stacks take up less space than non-stacked items. Instead of collecting objects only after the second sorting pass in a predetermined order among in the dispensers, articles of the invention can be stacked into stacks by the invention before discharging and then eject various stacks into the same dispenser, with the predetermined order among the destination points determines the order in which the batches are ejected to the same output device.

In one embodiment, in the second pass, the sorting system discharges all articles one after the other into the same output device. This output device can at the same time be the one that is the first one in the feed order, which is emptied after the first sorting pass and therefore is the first one free again. This embodiment saves dispensing devices because only a single dispenser is used in the second sorting pass.

In one embodiment, at least one output device is used in both sorting runs. The sorting system discharges at least one stack into a second pass those output devices (AE-1) from which it has ejected at least one object in the first pass.

In a further development of this embodiment, that output device is used in both sorting runs, which is emptied after the first sorting pass as the first and therefore is available as the first again for discharging. The sorting system removes all objects that it has discharged in the first sorting pass in the first output device of the feed order, in the second sorting run in this output device.

As already stated, in the second sorting pass several objects which are provided with identifications of the same destination point are combined to form at least one stack. The summary of items with identifiers of the same destination is preferably aborted when at least one of the following two events has occurred:

• Ein Parameter eines bislang gebildeten Stapels erreicht eine vorgegebene Schranke.
  Diese Schranke wird vorzugsweise abhängig von Randbedingungen vorgegeben, die die Sortieranlage stellt, z. B. von der Transporteinrichtung, die jeden Stapel zu jeweils einer Ausgabeeinrichtung schleust. Der Stapel darf insbesondere nicht dicker sein als eine vorgegebene Dicken-Schranke.
  In einer Ausgestaltung wird die Dicke jedes Gegenstands gemessen. In einer anderen Ausgestaltung wird eine durchschnittliche Dicke jedes Gegenstands verwendet, und aus der Dicken-Schranke wird eine Anzahl-Schranke abgeleitet. Die Zusammenfassung von Gegenständen zu einem Stapel wird spätestens dann beendet, wenn die Anzahl der Gegenstände im Stapel die Anzahl-Schranke erreicht hat.

- For this target point, each item is marked with this target point in one of the previously formed stack. In other words, every item that now passes through the sorting system in the second sorting pass is to be transported to another destination point and therefore to be discharged either alone or in another stack.

• A parameter of a stack formed so far reaches a predetermined limit.
  This barrier is preferably specified depending on boundary conditions, which sets the sorting system, z. B. of the transport device, which passes each stack to a respective output device. In particular, the stack must not be thicker than a predetermined thickness barrier.
  In one embodiment, the thickness of each article is measured. In another embodiment, an average Thickness of each article used, and from the thickness barrier a number barrier is derived. The summary of items in a stack is terminated at the latest when the number of items in the stack has reached the number limit.

So it is possible that the items are distributed with labels of the same destination on several stacks, z. B. because a single stack can not be ejected. Preferably, these multiple stacks are discharged immediately after one another in the same output device, so that there is no stack with objects of other markings between two such stacks. For different objects with markings of the same destination can be transported together to this common destination.

Preferably, the sorting system comprises a plurality of stacking devices. Each destination is assigned at least one stacking device. In the second sorting pass, the sorting system transports each item to a stack forming device associated with the destination of that item. The stacking device gathers all the supplied articles provided with labels of the same target point and fed to the stack forming device into at least one stack. It is possible that items for the same target point will be split into multiple stacks. The stacking device terminates this summary of items to at least one stack as soon as it is determined that in the second sorting pass no further item with an identification of this target item will follow more.

Preferably, in the first sorting pass, it is counted for each destination point how many objects are provided with markings of this destination point. This information is stored and used in the second sort pass to complete the stacking as just described.

Preferably, a sorting plan assigns an output device to each destination point for the first sorting pass. In one embodiment, the stack-forming devices are assigned to the destination points in such a way that those destination points to which the same output device is assigned in the first sorting pass are divided into different stack-forming devices in the second sorting pass.

As already stated, after the first sorting run, the articles are returned to the sorting installation in accordance with a feed order under the output devices. First of all, therefore, the objects are returned from a first output device to the sorting system. Each of these items is transported to the stacker associated with the destination of that item. The stacking devices combine the articles from the first dispenser into stacks, as far as several items are to be transported to the same destination. These stacks are ejected. Thereafter, the stackers are available to stack the articles from the second output device, and so on.

The flat objects are z. As mail or luggage items of travelers or cargo or even flat objects that are to be transported within a production facility to various production lines, or even flat food.

Fig. 1

schematisch Bestandteile der Sortieranlage beim ersten Sortierlauf;

Fig. 2

schematisch Bestandteile der Sortieranlage beim zweiten Sortierlauf;

Fig. 3

einen Sortierplan für die Sortieranlage von Fig. 1 und Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

schematisch eine Stapelbildungseinrichtung.

In the following, the invention will be shown with reference to an embodiment. Showing:

Fig. 1

schematically components of the sorting system at the first sorting pass;

Fig. 2

schematically components of the sorting system in the second sorting run;

Fig. 3

a sorting plan for the sorting system of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 4

schematically a stack forming device.

In the exemplary embodiment, the flat objects are flat mailings, z. As letters, postcards or magazines. Each mail item is provided with a marking of a delivery address or another delivery point to which this item of mail is to be transported. This marking is attached in one embodiment on the mail item itself. In another embodiment, the identification is stored in a database and is assigned to the mailpiece. These delivery points act as the target points of the items.

Each mail item to be transported passes through the same sorting system at least twice - that is, in two sorting runs. Fig. 1 schematically shows components of the sorting system in the first sorting run. Fig. 2 schematically shows components of the sorting system in the second sorting run.

This sorting system has several output devices AE-1, ..., AE-4, AE for discharging mailpieces. An output device may, for. B. comprise a support surface for a container, and the mailpieces are thereby discharged into the output device, that the sorting plant spends them in a container on the support surface. Or the output device has the form of an output tray into which the sorting system discharges mailpieces. It is also possible that the dispensing device comprises a dispensing point and a container, the container is temporarily connected to the dispensing point and the sorting device fills this container. The filled container is removed and replaced with an empty container.

In Fig. 1 For example, four output devices AE-1, AE-2, AE-3 and AE-4 are shown. These will be after the first one Sorting with the help of containers Beh-1, Beh-2, Beh-3 and Beh-4 emptied.

In exceptional cases, a mail item only passes through the sorting system once. Such an exceptional case occurs when the mailpiece is addressed to a recipient of numerous mailpieces and a separate output device is reserved for this recipient. An exceptional case is also present if, during the first pass of a mail item, it is ascertained that this mail item is not machine-capable, ie. H. the sorting system can not process this mail item by machine.

All other mailings pass through the sorting facility twice, because they are placed below the delivery addresses by sorting into a predetermined delivery point sequence and because there are many more possible delivery addresses than delivery facilities. Therefore, it is not possible to provide a separate output device for each delivery address. In the exemplary embodiment, the sorting system can only eject a mail item in such a way that the mail item arrives behind an already discharged item, but not between two previously selected mailpieces.

• mindestens eine Zuführeinrichtung ZE ("Stoffeingabe", "feeder") mit einer Ausrichtvorrichtung Ausr und einem Vereinzeler Ve,
• ein Lesegerät mit einer Kamera K,
• die bereits erwähnten Ausgabeeinrichtungen,
• eine Transporteinrichtung mit einer Förderstrecke FS und einem speziellen Transportpfad Tp, der zu einer gekennzeichneten Ausgabeeinrichtung AE führt, und
• eine Auswerteeinheit AW mit einem Datenspeicher DB.

The sorting system comprises the following components:

• at least one feed device ZE ("material input", "feeder") with an alignment device Ausr and a separator Ve,
• a reader with a camera K,
• the already mentioned output devices,
• a transport device with a conveyor line FS and a special transport path Tp, which leads to a marked output device AE, and
• an evaluation AW with a data memory DB.

On a conveyor belt of the feeder ZE, a stack of mail items is repeatedly placed. This pile comes z. B. from another sorting system or a post office or from a mailbox. The conveyor belt transports the stack in a feed direction ZR first to the alignment device Ausr and then to the separator Ve. This separator Ve pulls each mail piece of the stack individually, in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction ZR.

The transport device transports each mail item in succession to different processing devices of the sorting system. Preferably, the transport means comprises a system of driven conveyor belts. Each two conveyor belts clamp an upright mail piece - or even a stack of outright mail pieces that partially overlap - temporarily between them and transport the mail piece or the stack, with the two conveyor belts rotate at the same speed. The transport device may additionally comprise underfloor conveyor belts on which the mailpieces are located.

The camera K of the reader generates a computer-accessible image of each mail item. This image contains an image of the delivery address label. The evaluation unit AW of the reader initially attempts to automatically read the delivery address by "finding and evaluating the image of the delivery address marking by means of" optical character recognition ". If this is not successful, the image of the mail item is transmitted to a video coding station VCS, and an editor gives the delivery address - or at least a part, eg. For example, the postal code - a.

The sorting system discharges each mail item depending on the recognized delivery address into one of the output devices AE-1, AE-2, AE-3, AE-4, AE. This comprises the step that the transport device transports the mail item to the respective output device. The mailing is in the example of Fig. 1 initially transported in the first sorting on the conveyor line FS. Depending on the delivery address, one of the four skip turnouts AS-1, AS-2, AS-3 and AS-4 feeds the mail onto one of the four skip transport paths AT-1, AT-2, AT-3, AT-4. The mail item reaches the output device AE-1, AE-2, AE3 or AE-4 via the respective discharge transport path.

As already mentioned, each mail item goes through the sorting system at least twice. In the exemplary embodiment, the first sort pass ("first pass") is completely completed before the second sorting pass begins.

• für jede mögliche Zustelladresse die Ausgabeeinrichtung, in der die Postsendungen an diese Zustelladresse im ersten Sortierlauf auszuschleusen sind,
• eine Zuführ-Reihenfolge unter den Ausgabeeinrichtungen, die festlegt, in welcher Reihenfolge die Ausgabeeinrichtungen zu entleeren und die Postsendungen aus dieser Ausgabeeinrichtung wieder der Sortieranlage zuzuführen sind,
• für jede Ausgabeeinrichtung und für die Zustelladressen, die dieser Ausgabeeinrichtung zugeordnet sind, jeweils eine Ausschleusungs-Reihenfolge, die im zweiten Sortierlauf berücksichtigt wird, und
• eine Zuordnung von Zustelladressen zu Stapelbildungseinrichtungen, die weiter unten erläutert wird.

The sorting system evaluates a computer-available sorting plan. This sorting plan specifies at least the following:

• for each possible delivery address, the output device in which the mailpieces are to be removed to this delivery address in the first sorting pass,
• a feed order among the output devices, which determines in what order the emptying devices are to be emptied and the mailpieces from this dispensing device are to be returned to the sorting system,
• for each output device and for the delivery addresses, which are assigned to this output device, each an ejection order, which is taken into account in the second sorting run, and
• an assignment of delivery addresses to stackers, which will be explained below.

Fig. 3 shows a sorting plan for the sorting system of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 , In this example, 16 possible delivery addresses ZA-1, ..., ZA-16 are distinguished. The lines assign each of these 16 delivery addresses each an output device for the first sorting run. For example, the delivery addresses ZA-5, ZA-6, ZA-7 and ZA-8 are each assigned to the output device AE-2. In addition, this sorting schedule sets the order of feed AE-1, then AE-2, then AE-3 and then AE-4 among the output devices.

For the second sorting run the sorting plan of Fig. 3 following expulsion order:

The mail items which were rejected in the first sorting pass in AE-1 are discharged in the discharge order ZA-1, ZA-2, ZA-3, ZA-4.

After the two sorting runs, the mailpieces are sorted according to their delivery addresses in such a way that the delivery order among the output devices and at the delivery addresses of an output device the discharge order of the sorting plan is maintained.

The sorting plan of Fig. 3 causes the mail items after the second sorting pass in the global distribution order ZA-1, ZA-2, ..., ZA-16 are discharged.

In one embodiment, all mail items in the second sorting pass are discharged into the same marked output device AE. This embodiment facilitates the removal of the discharged mailpieces. Because a marked output device AE needs to be emptied only when a predetermined level is reached. Until then, the sorting system can perform the second sorting automatically, without a full output device interrupts the process. It is also possible to empty the marked output device AE before, z. B. if all mail items of the amount to a predetermined delivery area, which consists of multiple delivery addresses have been discharged into the marked output device AE and the transport to this delivery area should begin immediately.

In the first sorting run, the mail items pass through the sorting system in an unpredictable order among the delivery addresses. The mailings come z. B. from other sorting systems or from mailboxes or from collection points, eg. B. post offices. In both sorting runs all mail items are processed in one set, z. For example, all mail, which are delivered in a given time period and a given area.

In the exemplary embodiment, during the first sorting run, the sorting system generates in each case one data record for each mail item which has passed through the sorting system in the first sorting pass. After completing the first sorting run, the sorting system therefore "knows" for each delivery address how many postal items are to be transported to this delivery address.

In one embodiment, the sorting system, by evaluating the stored information for each delivery address, counts how many items of mail to this delivery address go through the sorting system in the first sorting pass.

Alternatively or instead, the thickness of each mail item is measured in a modification. For each delivery address, the sorting system adds the thicknesses of the mailpieces to this delivery address. After completion of the first sorting run, the sorting system "knows" how thick the mailpieces are at this delivery address.

The numbers or the total thicknesses of the stacks used the sorting in the second sorting to avoid the generation of thick stacks and thus the occurrence of congestion in the conveyor. It is also possible to directly measure the thickness of each stack.

In order to empty the dispensers and return the mail to the feeder, in one embodiment, a transfer bridge is used. Such a transfer bridge is z. B. off EP 0634957 B1 , out DE 4236507 C1 and from EP 1608470 B1 known. It is also possible to manually empty each output device and the mail z. B. to transport in containers to the feeder.

Just as in the first pass, the mailings also pass through the feeder during the second pass. The mail are isolated. Subsequently, the sorting system determines the respective delivery address of each mail item.

It would be very inconvenient if the reader again had to read the delivery address during the second sorting run. The classic approach to avoid this is that the sorting system prints a coding of the delivery address on the mailpiece in the first sorting run, z. B. in the form of a bar pattern ("bar code"). During the second sorting run, the sorting system reads this bar pattern. Each additional sorting system, through which the mailpiece runs again, reads this bar pattern.

Often, however, it is not desired that a postal item is provided with a line pattern. An agreement by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) stipulates that cross-border mailings are not provided with a bar pattern, because different postal service providers usually use different systems of coding.

Therefore, in the embodiment, a method is used, which has become known under the name "Fingerprint" or "Virtual ID" and z. In DE 4000603 C2 and EP 1222037 B1 and that allows the sorter to determine the delivery address read on the first pass without the use of a stroke pattern without reading it again and without printing a bar pattern.

• Abmessungen der Postsendung,
• die Verteilung von Grauwerten und/oder Farbtönen auf einer Oberfläche der Postsendung,
• die Lage und Abmessung des Freimachungsvermerks,
• die Lage und Größe des Adressblocks und/oder der Angaben zum Absender sowie
• Parameter der Zustelladresse, z. B. die Postleitzahl.

In the exemplary embodiment, various features of a mail item are predefined, which can be measured from the outside, while the mail item passes through the sorting system. Examples of such features are

• Dimensions of the item of mail,
• the distribution of gray values and / or hues on a surface of the mail piece,
• the location and dimensions of the franking mark,
• the location and size of the address block and / or details of the sender as well
• Parameters of the delivery address, eg. For example, the postcode.

• eine eindeutige Kennung der Postsendung,
• die Zieladresse, die die erste Sortieranlage gelesen hat, sowie
• optional weitere Parameter der Postsendung, z. B. ihr Gewicht oder ihre Frankierung.

In the exemplary embodiment, the sorting system has a data memory DB. As soon as a mail item passes through the sorting system for the first time, the evaluation unit AW generates a data record for this mail item and stores it in the central database. This record includes

• a unique identifier of the item of mail,
• the destination address that the first sorting system has read, as well as
• optionally further parameters of the mailing, z. For example, their weight or their franking.

The identifier distinguishes the mail item from all other mail items that pass through the sorting system within a certain period of time. The period is z. For three hours.

The sorting system measures the value that this feature assumes for this mail item on the first pass for each mail item that passes through the sorting system, and for any given feature. As a result, the sorting system generates a feature vector for the mail item during the first pass. For N features, this feature vector consists of N feature values. In addition to the delivery address, the data record for the mailing also includes the feature vector.

Whenever the mail item again passes through a sorting system, this sorting system again measures for each feature the respective value that the feature assumes for this mail item. As a result, the sorting system likewise generates a feature vector for the mailpiece, which consists of N feature values. This second feature vector is compared with the feature vectors of data records which are stored in the data memory DB. This will be the record found, which was generated during the first pass of the mailpiece through the sorting system and comes from the same postal item. The sorting system uses the delivery address of this data set as the delivery address to which this item of mail is to be transported.

Each mail item is subsequently transported by the sorting system to a special transport path Tp during the second pass. The steps to determine the reading result and to transport the mail piece may overlap in time. In one embodiment, the sorting system activates this transport path Tp specifically for the second sorting pass, while it is not used for the first sorting pass. The transport path Tp leads in the exemplary embodiment to the one marked output device AE, which is used in the second sorting run.

It is possible that the marked output device AE, to which the transport path Tp leads, is that output device AE-1 which is emptied first according to the feed order after the first sorting pass. The first output device AE-1 = AE is thus used in both sorting runs. The emptying of the first output device AE-1 is completed before the stacks are again discharged with the mail from this output device AE-1 in the second sorting run. Therefore, this output device AE-1 = AE can be used both in the first and in the second sorting pass.

In the transport path, a plurality of stackers SB-1, SB-2, SB-3, SB-4 are provided. Each stacker is assigned by the sorting plan multiple delivery addresses. The delivery addresses to which the same sorting device is assigned for the first sorting pass are in a first embodiment assigned in pairs to different stacking devices, that is to say not two of these infeed addresses the same stacking device. The rejection order, the sorting plan for the delivery addresses of the same output device and for the second sorting run is equal to the order among the stackers for these delivery addresses. The skip sequence thus determines the sequence among the stackers.

In the second sorting pass, first those mail items pass through the sorting system, which was removed after the first sorting pass from that output device AE-1 which occurs first in the feed order. As just stated, the sorting system determines the delivery address of each of these mail items from AE-1. Depending on the delivery address, the sorting system determines the stack formation device for this mail item. In the first embodiment, the sorting system comprises so many stacking devices that two mailpieces from AE-1, which are to be transported to different destination addresses, get to two different stacking devices, because each stacking device is assigned only one such destination address, in the first sorting pass AE-1 assigned. This case is going through Fig. 3 illustrated. The sorting system discharges the mail item at this stacking device into the transport path Tp.

In a second embodiment, there are not enough stacking devices. In this second embodiment, therefore, at least one stacking device SB-z is assigned at least two different destination addresses ZA-x, ZA-y, which are both assigned in the first sorting pass AE-1. The stack forming device SB-z initially forms one or more stacks for all mailpieces with the destination address ZAx. The sorting system "knows" when all mail items having the destination address ZA-x have passed through this stack-forming device SB-z. As soon as this is the case, the sorting system discharges the stacks of mail items to the destination address ZA-x. The stack forming device SB-z is then available for the mail items to the destination address ZA-y. If a mail item to the destination address ZA-y has already reached the conveyor line FS, before all mail items to the delivery address ZA-x in the second sorting pass the stack formation device SB-z have passed through, so the mail item is temporarily stored to the destination address ZA-y, for example by passing through a loop of the conveyor line FS until the stack forming device SB-z has become free again.

In both cases, each stack forming device initially combines all the mailpieces to a destination address to one or more stacks before this stacking device summarizes mailpieces to other destination addresses to form a stack. The stacks of mail items to the same destination address are ejected immediately after one another into the transport path, ie without a stack of mail items being pushed to other destination addresses between two stacks with the same destination address.

As explained above, after the first sorting pass for each destination address, the sorting system "knows" how many mailpieces are to be sorted to this destination address. For this purpose, the sorting system accesses the stored information. The sorting system counts in the second sorting pass for each sorting run, how many mail items that stacking device has reached and passed through, which are respectively assigned to this destination address. If all the mail items have reached the respective stack formation device at a destination address, the stack formation device concludes the summary of the mailpieces for this destination address and ejects the stack or the stacks into the transport path Tp. This embodiment ensures that each stack consists exclusively of mail items that are to be transported to the same destination address.

After all mail items from the first output device AE-1 have passed through the sorting system, first those mail items pass through the sorting system which was removed after the first sorting run from that output device AE-2 which occurs second in the feed order, and so on.

As stated above, after the first sorting pass for each destination address, the sorting system "knows" how many mailpieces are available for this destination address and are passed through the sorting in the second sorting. Therefore, in the second sorting pass for each destination address, the sorting system "knows" when all the mailpieces for this destination address have been returned to the sorting system. As soon as

• eine erste Fördervorrichtung FV-1 mit den beiden angetriebenen Endlos-Förderbändern F7 und F8,
• eine zweite Fördervorrichtung FV-2 mit den beiden angetriebenen Endlos-Förderbändern F5 und F6,
• eine dritte Fördervorrichtung FV-3 mit den beiden angetriebenen Endlos-Förderbändern F1 und F4 und
• eine vierte Fördervorrichtung FV-4 mit den beiden angetriebenen Endlos-Förderbändern F2 und F3.

Fig. 4 schematically shows the stacker SB-1 with a stacker. In this example, the following conveyors are shown:

• a first conveyor FV-1 with the two driven endless conveyor belts F7 and F8,
• a second conveyor FV-2 with the two driven endless conveyor belts F5 and F6,
• a third conveyor FV-3 with the two driven endless conveyor belts F1 and F4 and
• a fourth conveyor FV-4 with the two driven endless conveyor belts F2 and F3.

The first conveyor FV-1 belongs to the in-going discharge transport path AT-1 of FIG Fig. 2 , The second conveyor FV-2 is a component of the first stacker SB-1. The third conveyor FV-3 and the fourth conveyor FV-4 are in the transport path Tp.

In the transport path Tp is already a succession of mail, preferably in the form of more small stacks, between each of which a gap occurs. These small stacks come from other stacking devices, the mailpieces of these other small stacks were introduced via other discharge transport paths.

The small stack from the stacker SB-1 is to be slid into a gap between other stackers in the transport path Tp. In the transport path Tp and individual mail items are transported, z. B. because they are too thick to be summarized into a small pile.

• die einzelne Postsendung Ps-3,
• den Kleinstapel mit Ps-1 und Ps-2 und
• den Kleinstapel St-1.

In the example of Fig. 4 are located in the transport path Tp a small stack St-1 and a single mail item Ps-3. After all small stacks have been formed with mail to the respective delivery addresses, the sorting system transported in succession in the transport direction T.

• the single mailing Ps-3,
• the small stack with Ps-1 and Ps-2 and
• the small pile St-1.

The two mail items Ps-1 and Ps-2 are previously combined to form a small stack and to be transported between the small stack St-1 and the other mail item Ps-3. After the transfer, the mail items are to be transported in such a way that a distance occurs between the mail item Ps-3 and the small stack with the mail items Ps-1 and Ps-2 as well as between the small stack and the further small stack St-1.

With the aid of a light barrier in the inaugural discharge transport path AT-1, the length of the first small stack to be introduced is additionally determined. If this length of the small stack has reached a predetermined length limit, a further stack is preferably formed.

In the following, the work of the stacker SB-1 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG Fig. 4 described.

The stacker SB-1, which in Fig. 4 is shown, comprises the conveyor belts F5 and F6 and the rollers about which these two conveyor belts F5 and F6 are guided. The entering discharge transport path AT-1 is formed among others by the conveyor belts F7 and F8. This transport path leads to a further transport path, namely the transport path Tp to the marked output device AE, which comprises the conveyor belts F1, F2, F3 and F4 and in which there is already a small stack St-1.

In one embodiment, the mailpieces are deflected as they pass through the stacker SB-1. The transport direction in which they are transported, so is changed by an angle α, which is preferably between 30 degrees and 60 degrees, z. B. it is equal to 45 degrees.

A leading mail item Ps-1 is transported by a first conveying device FV-1 (endless conveyor belt and counter-conveying element) in the old transporting direction T_old, namely until the mail item Ps-1 is picked up by a second conveying device FV-2 , This first conveyor FV-1 comprises in the example of Fig. 4 the conveyor belts F7 and F8. A second conveyor FV-2 comprises the conveyor belts F5 and F6. The second conveying device FV-2 deflects the mail item Ps-1 by the angle α in the new conveying direction and still transports the mail item Ps-1 so that it is no longer caught by the first conveying device FV-1 (with F7 and F8) becomes. Subsequently, the second conveying device FV-2 stops or slows down the further transport of the preceding mail item Ps-1. For this it is necessary that the mail item Ps-1 is no longer taken from the first conveyor FV-1, because otherwise they would be upset by the two conveyors FV-1 and FV-2.

The first conveying device FV-1 transports a subsequent mail item Ps-2 until it obliquely meets the stopped leading mail item Ps-1. The leading mail item Ps-1 is located in front of an endless conveyor belt F6 of the second conveyor device FV-2 during stopping, as seen in the old transport direction T_old. As a result, the impinging subsequent mail item Ps-2 does not bend the stopped leading mail item Ps-1 upon impact, but is deflected because the first conveyor FV-1 continues to transport the following mail item Ps-2 in the old transport direction T_old until the second conveyor device FV-2 has taken the subsequent mailing Ps-2.

The second conveyor FV-2 summarizes the leading and the subsequent mailing. These overlap now at least partially. As a result, a small stack consisting of the preceding mail item Ps-1 and the subsequent mail item Ps-2 is formed. The stacking device SB-1 transports this small stack later in the new transport direction T away, the second conveyor FV-2 further transporting the small stack with Ps-1 and Ps-2.

The mail items are generally rectangular and therefore each have a - seen in the transport directions T_alt and T - front edge. By means of a light barrier Li in the incoming transport path AT-1 is measured, at which time the leading edge of the leading mail piece Ps-1 and at which time the subsequent mail item Ps-2 passes the light barrier Li. The transport speeds of the two conveyors FV-1, FV-2 are controlled and are therefore also known. The second conveyor FV-2 transports the leading mail item Ps-1 in the new transport direction so far that its front edge is in a defined position when the trailing edge is no longer caught by the first conveyor FV-1. The point at which the leading edge of the subsequent mail item strikes the stopped leading mail item Ps-1 therefore has a known and adjustable minimum distance from the leading edge of the leading mail item Ps-1. This distance is preferably as small as possible, so that the total length of the small stack is as small as possible.

Preferably, the light barrier Li in the incoming transport path AT-1 also measures the times at which the trailing edges of the two mailings Ps-1 and Ps-2 pass the light barrier Li. From this information and the transport speed of the first conveyor Fv-1 and the above-mentioned distance between the leading edge of the leading mail piece Ps-1 of the impact site becomes the total length of the now formed small stack with Ps-1 and Ps-2 calculated.

The sorting system performs the just described formation of stacks first for all mail items which were taken after the first sorting pass of the first output device AT-1. The sorting system determines when this stack formation for the mailpieces of the first output device AE-1 is completed. All of these mail items are now distributed to the stacks on the stackers SB-1, ..., SB-4. It is of course possible that a stack only consists of a single mail item, because only a single mail item of the quantity is to be transported to this delivery address. It is also possible that there is no mail item at all at a stacking device because no mail item is to be transported to the assigned delivery address.

After the sorting system has completed the stack formation for the mailpieces from the first output device AE-1, the sorting system transports the stacks along the transport path Tp. This transport path Tp is also preferably formed by a system of driven conveyor belts. Each stack is temporarily clamped between each two conveyor belts, which rotate at the same speed, and thereby transported. In the example of Fig. 4 the conveyors FV-3 and FV-4 of the transport path Tp can be seen.

Preferably, the distance between two opposite rollers around which the two conveyor belts are guided, changeable, z. B. by a roll can be moved perpendicular to the transport direction. This adjusts the spacing to stack thicknesses that vary from small pile to small pile.

The order in which the sorting system transports the stacks along the transport path Tp is equal to the discharge order for the delivery addresses of these stacks specified by the sorting plan. Get in this order the stacks to the designated output device AE and are discharged in this order in this output device AE. After the discharge, the stacks are in the discharge order in the output device AE.

The sorting system preferably inserts a separating element between two stacks of mail items at different delivery addresses, for B. a separation card. This separating element differs visually and / or by its dimensions from the mailpieces and marks in the marked output device AE, the boundary between the two stacks.

In Fig. 2 a memory Tk for separation cards is shown. The separation cards are introduced directly into the memory Tk or via the feeder ZE and the conveyor line FS, a special diverter switch and a special discharge transport path leading to the memory Tk.

In a variant, two labeled output devices are used for the second sorting pass. Two transport paths lead to these two output devices. The stackers are divided into these two transport paths, in such a way that the order is kept. The stacking means for the first half of the skip order are in the first transport path, those for the second half in the second transport path. The stacks are in turn discharged according to the ejection order in the two output devices.

In one embodiment of this modification, the first output device AE-1 of Fig. 1 reused in the second sorting pass as the first designated output device. The other marked output device is an additional output device AE, which is used only in the second, but not in the first sorting pass. For the first marked output device AE-1, a first transport path Tp-1 leads to the second marked output device AE a second transport path Tp-2. The stacking devices are divided between the two transport paths. After the first sorting run, first the mail items from the first output device AE-1 are returned to the feed device ZE. The first output device AE-1 is then empty again, as is the output device AE. In the second sorting pass, the sorting system combines these mailpieces into small stacks and discharges them via the two transport paths Tp-1 and Tp-2 into the two output devices AE-1 and AE.

After all mail items have been removed from the first output device of the feed order and returned to the feeder ZE, the same is carried out with the mailpieces of the second output device AE-2. The sorting system begins to form the stacks for the mail items from the second output device AE-2. It starts at the earliest at the time at which it has ejected the stacks of the mail items which originate from the first dispensing device into which at least one designated dispensing device has been completed, that is to say the second sorting run has been completed for these mailpieces and these mailpieces no longer exist in the dispenser at least one transport path.

It is not necessary to empty the marked output device AE before it has reached a predetermined level. Only after reaching this level, the designated output device AE is to be emptied. In particular, it is possible to collect mail items in the output device AE, which have been discharged after the first sorting run in different output devices.

In the embodiment just described, each destination address is associated with a stacker. It is possible, however, that not all mail can be summarized to a destination address to a single stack, for example, because their dimensions are too different. Therefore, in an alternative embodiment, each destination address associated with a plurality of stacking devices, for example, a stacker for mailings with standard dimensions ("letters") and one for large mailings ("flats").

A measuring device measures the respective dimension of each mail item during the first sorting pass. These dimensions are stored in the data record via the mailpiece. In the second sorting pass, the destination address and the dimension of the mailpiece are determined by read access to the data record, and the mailpiece is transported depending on its dimension to one or the other associated stack forming device. As a result, the stack formation device in the second sorting pass generates stacks of standard letters and stacks of large letters. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS reference numeral importance AE-1, AE-2, ... Output devices for the first sorting run AE characterized output device for the second sorting pass AS-1, ..., AS-4 Discharge turnouts in the conveyor line FS AT-1, ..., AT-4 Ausschleusungs transport paths suff Alignment device of the feeder ZE AW Evaluation unit of the reader Beh Container with which the designated dispenser AE is emptied Beh-1, Beh-2 Container with which the output devices AE-1, AE-2, ... are emptied DB Data memory of the evaluation unit FS Conveyor line from the separator Ve to the discharge points AS-1, ..., AS-4 K Camera of the reader SB-1, ..., St-4 Stackers tk Memory for separation cards tp Transport path to the marked output device AE, is used only in the second sorting pass VCS video coding Ve Separator of feeder ZE ZE feeding ZR Feeding direction in which mailpieces are fed to the Ve-reinzeler T_alt Old transport direction (along the rejection transport path AT-1)

Claims (17)

Method for sorting a set of flat objects, wherein
each object of the set is provided with an identification of a destination (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) to which the object is to be transported,
each article at least twice passes through a sorting system with several output devices (AE-1, ..., AE-4, AE) and
the sorting system determines the target point marking of the object in each pass of an object and ejects the object depending on the determined target point marking into respectively one of the output devices (AE-1, ..., AE-4, AE),
wherein the sorting system in the first sorting run the objects on a plurality of output devices (AE-1, ..., AE-4) distributed so that it ejects each item in that output device (AE-1, ..., AE-4), the associated with the respective target point (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) of the object,
each article after the first pass of the respective output device (AE-1, ..., AE-4) removed and fed back to the sorting system,
wherein the articles are fed to the sorting system in such a way,
in that a mixing of objects from different output devices (AE-1,..., AE-4) is avoided during feeding and the articles are processed according to a predetermined feed order among the output devices (AE-1, ..., AE-4),
characterized in that
the sorting system during the second sorting pass all objects which are provided with identifications of the same target point (ZA-1, ZA-2,...) are combined into at least one stack in such a way that each stack comprises several objects,
all objects of a stack are provided with identifications of the same destination and
the objects of each stack at least partially overlap, and - Each stack thus formed transported to one of the output devices (AE-1, ..., AE-4, AE) and discharged into this output device (AE). Method according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the sorting system for a target point (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) when an object is the only continuous article provided with an identification of that target point (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) .
in the second sorting pass, this article is transported at a distance from the other objects to an output device (AE) and discharged into this output device (AE). A method according to claim 1 or claim 2,
characterized in that
the sorting system uses a sorting plan in the second sorting run,
the sorting plan - For each possible target point of an object in each case at least one output device and for each output device which uses the sorting system in the second sorting pass, in each case one destination point sequence among the destination points, to which this output device is assigned,
determines
the sorting system in the second sorting pass out the stacks according to the sorting plan in such a way that - is located after the discharge of each stack in the specified by the sorting plan output device and - In each output device, the stacks are arranged in the predetermined by the sorting plan destination order. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that
the sorting plant in the second sorting pass
either ascertains that at most one object to be sorted is provided with an identification of this target point (ZA-1, ZA-2,...),
or - the occurrence of the event determines that each item with an identification of this target item (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) is contained in one of the previously formed stacks, and - after occurrence of this event, the merging of objects with markings of this target point (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) terminated at least one stack and triggers the transport of each of these previously formed stack to the respective output device. Method according to claim 4,
characterized in that
the sorting system stores for each destination point (ZA-1, ZA-2,...) the information as to how many objects with a marking of this destination point (ZA-1, ZA-2,...) have passed through the sorting system in the first sorting pass , and used this stored information in the second sort pass to make the determinations. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized in that - First, the sorting system in the second pass, all objects that it has discharged in the first pass in the same output device (AE-1), ejects and - Subsequently, the objects from the subsequent in the feed order output device (AE-2) are fed to the sorting system. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that
the sorting plant in the second pass generates at least a first stack, which consists of objects with markings of a first target point, generates at least one further stack, which consists of objects with identifications of another destination, and - The two stacks successively in the same output device (AE) ausschleust. Method according to claim 7,
characterized in that
the sorting plant in the second pass
eject all stacks into this one output device (AE). Method according to claim 7,
characterized in that
the first stack is generated by a first stacker (SB-1) associated with the first target point,
the at least one further stack is generated by a further stack formation device (SB-2,..., SB-4) which is assigned to the further destination point,
the sorting plant in the second sorting pass
all objects, which are provided with an identification of the first or the at least one further destination point, transported by means of a conveyor line (FS), each article, which is provided with an identification of the first destination, from the conveyor line (FS) into the first stacking device ( SB-1) and any item that is provided with an identification of the other destination point, from the conveyor line (FS) in the further stacking device (SB-2, ..., SB-4) redirects. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized in that
the sorting plant in the second sorting pass - the merging of objects with labels of the same target point (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) to a stack terminated when a parameter of the stack reaches a predetermined limit, and - further objects with an identification of this target point (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) summarized into a second stack. Method according to claim 10,
characterized in that
the sorting system - for each target point (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) counts how many objects are marked with this target point (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...), and - As a parameter of the stack, the number of objects of the stack and used as a limit a maximum number. Method according to claim 10 or claim 11
characterized in that
if, during the second sorting pass, the sorting system divides those objects which are provided with identifications of the same destination point into several stacks,
the sorting system ejects all these stacks in succession into the same output device. Method according to claim 12,
characterized in that
is used as a parameter of the stack whose thickness and the sorting system measures the thickness of each item before this item becomes part of a stack, and for each target point (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) the thicknesses of the items with an identification of this Target point (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) added Method according to one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized in that
the sorting system for each item measures what value a given physical parameter will take for that item, and in the second sorting run, the articles are combined into stacks, - That the measured parameter values of the objects of a stack are each in a predetermined range of values. Sorting system for sorting a set of flat objects, wherein
each article of the set is provided with an identification of a destination (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) to which the article is to be transported, and;
the sorting system - Has a plurality of output devices (AE-1, ..., AE-4, AE) and it is designed so that each article passes through the sorting system at least twice, wherein the sorting system is configured to be in each pass of an item - to determine the destination marking of the item and - to eject the object depending on the determined destination marking in each case one of the output devices (AE-1, ..., AE-4, AE), - In the first sorting run, the sorting system distributes the articles onto a plurality of output devices (AE-1, ..., AE-4) in such a way that each object discharges into the output device (AE-1, ..., AE-4) associated with the respective target point (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) of the object, wherein the sorting system is further configured to - each item is taken after the first pass of the respective output device (AE-1, ..., AE-4) and fed back to the sorting system, - Where the items of the sorting system are supplied in such a way that when feeding a mixing of objects from different output devices (AE-1, ..., AE-4) is avoided and used the articles according to a predetermined feed order among those used in the first sorting Output devices (AE-1, ..., AE-4) are supplied, characterized in that
the sorting system continues to be configured for the second sorting pass - to combine all the items marked with identifications of the same destination (ZA-1, ZA-2, ...) into at least one stack in such a way that:
each stack comprises several items,
all objects of a stack are provided with identifications of the same destination and
the objects of each stack at least partially overlap, and - To transport each stack thus formed to one of the output devices (AE-1, ..., AE-4, AE) and auszuschleusen in this output device (AE). Sorting plant according to claim 15,
characterized in that
the sorting system additionally a first stacking device (SB-1) and at least one further stack forming device (SB-2, ..., SB-4)
includes,
the first stacking device (SB-1) is configured to combine in the second sorting pass the articles, which are provided with an identification of a first destination point, to form at least one first stack,
the further stack forming device (SB-2, ..., SB-4) is designed to, in the second sorting run, provide the articles with an identification of a further destination point are to summarize at least one more stack,
the sorting system is designed to discharge the at least one first stack and the at least one further stack into the same output device (AE). Sorting system according to claim 16,
characterized in that
the sorting system additionally a conveyor line (FS), a first discharge device (AS-1, AT-1), at least one further discharge device (AS-2, AT-2, AS-3, AT-3, AS-4, AT-4), a transport path (Tp)
includes,
the sorting system is designed to transport all objects, which are provided with an identification of the first or the at least one further destination in the second sorting run, by means of the conveyor line (FS),
the first outfeed device (AS-1, AT-1) is designed to divert each object, which is provided with an identification of the first destination point, from the conveyor line (FS) into the first stacker device (SB-1) in the second sorting pass .
the further discharge device (AS-2, AT-2, AS-3, AT-3, AS-4, AT-4) is designed to, in the second sorting pass, each article which is provided with an identification of the further destination point, from the conveyor line (FS) in the further stacking device (SB-2, ..., SB-4) redirect
the sorting system is designed to eject the two stacks successively into the same output device (AE) by means of the transport path (Tp).

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