EP2225049A2 - Method for sorting postal items using a process for sorting outputs dynamic allocation - Google Patents

Method for sorting postal items using a process for sorting outputs dynamic allocation

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Publication number
EP2225049A2
EP2225049A2 EP08865507A EP08865507A EP2225049A2 EP 2225049 A2 EP2225049 A2 EP 2225049A2 EP 08865507 A EP08865507 A EP 08865507A EP 08865507 A EP08865507 A EP 08865507A EP 2225049 A2 EP2225049 A2 EP 2225049A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sorting
conveyor
logical
bins
tray
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP08865507A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2225049B1 (en
EP2225049B2 (en
Inventor
Lionel Faivre
Bruno Cartal
Frédéric BADIER
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Solystic SAS
Original Assignee
Solystic SAS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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Application filed by Solystic SAS filed Critical Solystic SAS
Publication of EP2225049A2 publication Critical patent/EP2225049A2/en
Publication of EP2225049B1 publication Critical patent/EP2225049B1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for sorting mail items on N sorting destinations of a sorting plan with a sorting machine comprising a conveyor of items that serves M sorting outlets each provided with a storage bin for mailings removable container handled by a conveyor of bins.
  • the invention applies more particularly to the sorting of mail items of the "large format" type on bucket carousel sorting machines, but the invention can be applied to the sorting of other postal items. These machines have a significant amount of space.
  • the aim of the invention is to reduce this congestion by proposing a sorting method according to which, in the sorting plane, the M sorting outlets are associated with only a subset of the N logical destinations.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a method for sorting simple postal items and which preserves the operational flow of a bucket carousel of a sorting machine, which uses a sub-sized sorting machine of small size, that is to say, the number of sorting outlets is less than the number of destinations of the shipments.
  • the subject of the invention is therefore a method for sorting mail items on N sorting destinations with a sorting machine comprising a mail conveyor which serves M sorting outlets each provided with a sorting container. storage of removable items handled by a conveyor of bins, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
  • the process according to the invention may have the following particularities
  • the storage tank extracted from said certain sorting outlet is recirculated on a closed loop path of the container conveyor and in which the items corresponding to said other logical destination are recirculated on a closed loop path of the conveyor of shipments;
  • a first subset of the sorting outputs is associated with a first subset of the N logical destinations and a second subset of the sorting outputs is associated with a second subset of the N logical destinations, and in which if detects that a logical destination of the second set of logical destinations is in a state of overbooking, dynamically allocating to this overbooked logical destination a certain sorting output which is part of the first subset of sorting outputs; said certain sorting output is chosen by considering the instantaneous or provisional occupation of the sorting outlets;
  • the method is provided for sorting items of the large format type, in which a bucket carousel is used to move the items along the sorting outlets.
  • the idea underlying the invention is therefore to dynamically allocate the sorting outputs to the logical destinations and to perform a tray change on a sorting output dynamically allocated to a logical destination, the tray extracted from this output sorting is put on a waiting loop of the ferry conveyor.
  • the dynamic allocation and the tray change can be fast enough to prevent shipments destined for a logical destination dynamically over-serviced to travel the entire waiting loop of the delivery conveyor.
  • the bins extracted from the dynamically allocated sorting outlets may be partially filled bins that during the sorting process may return to a sorting output dynamically allocated to still store shipments. There is then a recycling of partially filled bins in the sorting outlets of the machine.
  • the method according to the invention is more particularly applicable to the sorting of large format items on a conveyor conveyor of the carrousel type with buckets.
  • the advantage of the method according to the invention is that it makes it possible to use a sorting machine whose dimensioning is optimized with respect to the number of destinations of the items to be sorted.
  • this method makes it possible to optimize the filling the bins, that is to say to leave the bins of the machine only when they are full.
  • FIG. 1 shows very schematically a bucket carousel postal sorting machine according to the invention in a first operating state.
  • Figure 2 shows very schematically the postal sorting machine in a second operating state.
  • Figure 3 shows very schematically the postal sorting machine in a third state of operation.
  • Figure 4 shows very schematically the postal sorting machine in a fourth operating state.
  • Figure 5 shows very schematically the postal sorting machine in a fifth state of operation.
  • Figure 6 shows very schematically the postal sorting machine in a sixth state of operation.
  • FIG. 7 is a flow chart which illustrates the main steps of the method for sorting items according to the invention with a sorting machine as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.
  • sorting machine 1 with two feed inlet with 480 physical sorting outlets to sort 600 logical destinations of a sorting plan.
  • Each logical destination can correspond to several distribution points of a postman's tour.
  • the sorting process according to the invention is particularly effective in the situation described hereinafter but it can also operate with a single group of 600 logical destinations assigned to the 480 physical sorting outlets of the sorting machine 1. There is also in this case a number of sorting outputs smaller than the number of logical destinations to process on the machine.
  • the sorting machine 1 for sorting postal items thus comprises two feed input lines 2 with automatic unstacking devices supplying a conveyor of items 3 of the carousel type. with buckets. Each bucket is here arranged to move one shipment at a time.
  • each item goes into a reading and recognition device automatic address by OCR for example (not shown).
  • OCR optical character recognition
  • each item is injected into a cup of the carousel 3, the cups of the carousel circulating in a closed loop path above the physical sorting outlets of the machine 1 (not referenced) which are distributed here on two opposite sides of the machine 1.
  • the carousel 3 is designed to allow, therefore, shipments to be recirculated on a waiting loop 4 temporarily.
  • the shipping conveyor 3 is controlled by a control / command unit 7.
  • Each sorting outlet is provided with a storage bin 5 for shipments.
  • the storage capacity of each tray is about fifty shipments.
  • the bins 5 of the sorting outlets are removable and interchangeable bins.
  • the sorting machine 1 also comprises a tray conveyor 6 for transporting trays along the sorting outlets.
  • This tray conveyor 6 is able to load and unload a tray 5 at each sorting outlet.
  • This tray conveyor 6 is furthermore arranged to follow, along the sorting outlets, a path 8 in a closed loop, which makes it possible to temporarily recirculate (wait) partially filled containers on a waiting loop as described below.
  • FIG. 1 it can be seen that the closed loop path 8 of the bins conveyor 6 passes to the front and rear of the sorting outlets of the machine so that the bins enter and leave each sort outlet as in a "FIFO"("First In, First Out", that is, the first entry in the sorting output is the first output).
  • FIFO First In, First Out
  • the conveyor of bins 6 here comprises two so-called external ferry conveyor sections 9a, 9b (also called OTAC for "Outside Tray Accumulation Conveyor”) respectively connected to two so-called internal ferry conveyor sections 10a, 10b (also called ITAC for "Inside Tray Accumulation Conveyor”) by via input or output tray transfer devices 1 1a, 11b, 12a, 12b (also called ITD for "Input Transfer Device” or OTD for "Output Transfer Device”).
  • OTAC External Transport Conveyor
  • ITAC Internal Tray Accumulation Conveyor
  • the conveyor sections 9a, 9b therefore run along the front side of the sort discharge outlets while the conveyor sections 10a, 10b run along the rear side of the sorting outlets.
  • the bin conveyor 6 is also driven by the unit 7.
  • the sorting of each shipment is made from the sorting plane in which each sorting output of the machine is associated with a logical destination derived from the postal address automatically read on the surface of the shipment.
  • the sorting plan can be seen as an association table stored in the unit 7 which associates a logical destination with a distribution point (for example a postal address), the logical destination being moreover associated in machine memory with a sorting outlet which allows the unit 7 to control the conveyors of items 3 and bins 6.
  • the allocation (or assignment) of a sorting output to a logical destination for a shipment is done dynamically, that is to say while the sending flows in the conveyor of items 3.
  • the thickness of the items can be measured in the sorting machine to anticipate the fill level of sort output bins and to calculate bin replacement requests based on a fill level limit.
  • the unit 7 can therefore associate the shipment with a logical destination and normally a sorting outlet. Since the sort plan requires 600 logical destinations, and the sorting units only have 480 physical outputs, the association of a logical destination to a physical sorting output is not a one-to-one association but an association dynamic that does not exist during a whole sorting pass and can therefore move from one physical sort output to another during this pass.
  • a first input 2 of the machine with sendings intended for group A of logical destinations indicated in FIG. 1 is used.
  • 300 physical sorting outputs are used to start a password. sorting with group A. These sorting outlets have empty trays at the start.
  • the other power input of the machine is not used with sendings to group B of logical destinations.
  • the bins of the outputs of group A are therefore filled as and when the shipments of group A in the conveyor 6.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the operating state of the sorting machine at this stage of the sorting process by showing in rectangles with hatching on the right the partially filled sorting outlets 5 associated with group A and in empty rectangles sorting outlets 5 associated with no logical destination.
  • the bins 5 in the conveyor 6 can be identified and tracked by the unit 7 via machine readable codes, such as barcodes.
  • machine readable codes such as barcodes.
  • Figure 2 shows an operating state of the sorting machine 1 during a first phase of simultaneous sorting of shipments for groups A and B of logical destinations, the shipping conveyor 3 being fed at the same time from the two inputs 2 of the machine. At this time, shipments also fill the sorting outlets associated with the logical destinations of Group B.
  • Figure 2 there is shown a set of bins 5 partially filled with shipments associated with Group B logical destinations that are illustrated by a rectangle with a hatch on the left.
  • the unit 7 can control the activity or the instantaneous occupation of the physical sorting outlets.
  • unit 7 may, for example, choose a physical output associated with group A of logical destinations which has the lowest occupancy and therefore control the conveyor of bins. 6 so that it replaces the partially full container of this sorting outlet with an empty container able to receive the items to be sorted for this overbooked destination.
  • the partially filled tank of this sorting outlet is thus removed on the outer conveyor section 9a, 9b and the empty tank is fed by the inner conveyor section 10a, 10b.
  • This sorting output can be selected for example according to the number of expected shipments it must receive, for example the number of shipments present in the conveyor 3 and which are intended for it according to the sorting plan.
  • the selection criterion is the exit with the lowest occupancy. We can therefore have to change several partially filled bins by several empty bins in the sorting outlets.
  • Figures 3 and 4 show operating states of the machine 1 where partially filled tanks associated with the group A circulate in the conveyor 6 with empty trays. In order to avoid creating space on the inner conveyor section 10a, 10b, the bins reaching the downstream end of the inner conveyor section 10a, 10b are transferred onto the outer conveyor section 9a, 9b by the transfer of bins 12a, 12b.
  • empty bins can be transferred on the conveyor section 9a, 9b when they reach the downstream end of the conveyor section 10a, 10b and partially filled bins can be transferred on the conveyor section 9a, 9b either at the following unloading sorting outlet when they are replaced by another tray, or when they reach the downstream end of the inner conveyor section 10a, 10b.
  • Figure 5 shows the state of the machine during a recycling of empty bins and partially filled bins on the outer conveyor section 9a, 9b during the sorting process.
  • bins partially filled in with group A, partially filled bins associated with group B and empty bins run along closed loop path 8 and partially filled bins are recycled to the sorting outlets by unit 7, which is shown in Figure 6.
  • a limited amount of empty bins are accepted on the inner conveyor section 10a, 10b.
  • additional empty bins coming for example from an infeed conveyor system or ICS (Infeed Conveyor System) are put on hold in a reserve of empty bins. This makes it possible to maintain a fluid circulation of bins inside the conveyor 6 and to prepare a rapid change of bins in the sorting outlets by keeping a local stock of empty bins on the bins storage conveyor.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates the main steps of the dynamic allocation process according to the invention.
  • step 20 the unit 7 automatically determines the mailing address for a current mail entering the sorting machine and therefore a logical destination that corresponds to this mailing address in the sorting plan.
  • step 21 the unit 7 checks whether this logical destination is a logic destination in overbooking. If the logical destination is not overbooked, the unit 7 controls the conveyor 6 in step 22 to direct the sending to a sorting outlet of the machine 1 identified in the sorting plane for storage in a bin 5.
  • the unit 7 determines in step 23, starting from the instantaneous or predicted occupation levels of the sorting outlets of the machine, an output to reassociate, for example the sort out with the lowest occupancy
  • the sorting plan in memory in the sorting machine is then updated dynamically in step 24 to associate the logical destination which is overbooked with the lowest occupancy sorting output which was determined in step 23.
  • step 24 the logical destination that was previously associated with this sorting output has passed into a state of overbooking in the sorting plan so that the items present, if any, in the conveyor 3 having this logical destination. are then recirculated by the unit 7 in the waiting loop of the conveyor 3 (the unit 7 therefore suspends the unloading of these items in a storage bin).
  • the unit 7 also controls the tray conveyor 6 to unload the tray sorting outlet, if necessary partially full, and replace it with a replacement tray, if necessary an empty tray, in which the current shipment may be unloaded at step 22.
  • the replacement tray may be also be a tray already partially full in the case where this tray has already been recycled during the sorting process.
  • the unit 7 must make this change of bins in a sorting outlet in advance of the arrival of the items in the sorting outlet and the items to be directed to this sorting outlet can be recirculated on the waiting loop 4 before being unloaded in the sorting outlet.
  • the management of the bins on the conveyor 6 may require identification of the bins and tracing of the bins along the conveyor 8 in a manner known per se.

Landscapes

  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
  • Pile Receivers (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for sorting postal items for N sorting destinations using a sorting machine that comprises an item conveyor (3) that serves M sorting outputs each provided with a removable item storage tray (5) handled by a tray conveyor (6), M being smaller than N, wherein said method comprises detecting (21) if a current postal item to be sorted has a so-called over-booked logic destination that is not associated with a sorting output, and dynamically allocating (24) to said over-booked logic destination a certain sorting output occupied by another logic destination. In this kind of sorting, the method comprises carrying out a tray change (25) and placing in standby, on a loop of the tray conveyor, the tray that was extracted from the sorting output.

Description

Procédé pour trier des envois postaux en utilisant un processus d'allocation dynamique de sorties de tri Method for sorting postal items using a process of dynamic allocation of sorting outlets
L'invention concerne un procédé pour trier des envois postaux sur N destinations de tri d'un plan de tri avec une machine de tri comportant un convoyeur d'envois qui dessert M sorties de tri munies chacune d'un bac de stockage d'envois amovible manipulé par un convoyeur de bacs.The invention relates to a method for sorting mail items on N sorting destinations of a sorting plan with a sorting machine comprising a conveyor of items that serves M sorting outlets each provided with a storage bin for mailings removable container handled by a conveyor of bins.
L'invention s'applique plus particulièrement au tri d'envois postaux du type « grand format » sur des machines de tri à carrousel à godets, mais l'invention peut s'appliquer au tri d'autres envois postaux. Ces machines ont un encombrement assez important.The invention applies more particularly to the sorting of mail items of the "large format" type on bucket carousel sorting machines, but the invention can be applied to the sorting of other postal items. These machines have a significant amount of space.
Le but de l'invention est de réduire cet encombrement en proposant un procédé de tri selon lequel dans le plan de tri, les M sorties de tri sont associées à un sous-ensemble seulement des N destinations logiques. Le but de l'invention est de proposer un procédé de tri d'envois postaux simple et qui préserve le débit opérationnel d'un carrousel à godets d'une machine de tri, qui utilise une machine de tri sous-dimensionnée de faible encombrement, c'est-à-dire dont le nombre de sorties de tri est inférieur au nombre de destinations des envois. A cet effet, l'invention a donc pour objet un procédé pour trier des envois postaux sur N destinations de tri avec une machine de tri comportant un convoyeur d'envois qui dessert M sorties de tri munies chacune d'un bac de stockage d'envois amovible manipulé par un convoyeur de bacs, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend les étapes suivantes :The aim of the invention is to reduce this congestion by proposing a sorting method according to which, in the sorting plane, the M sorting outlets are associated with only a subset of the N logical destinations. The object of the invention is to provide a method for sorting simple postal items and which preserves the operational flow of a bucket carousel of a sorting machine, which uses a sub-sized sorting machine of small size, that is to say, the number of sorting outlets is less than the number of destinations of the shipments. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is therefore a method for sorting mail items on N sorting destinations with a sorting machine comprising a mail conveyor which serves M sorting outlets each provided with a sorting container. storage of removable items handled by a conveyor of bins, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
- détecter qu'un envoi courant à trier a une certaine destination logique dite en surréservation qui n'est pas associée à une sortie de tri, - en réponse à cette détection, allouer de façon dynamique à cette destination logique en surréservation une certaine sortie de tri de la machine qui est occupée par une autre destination logique, effectuer dans ladite certaine sortie de tri un changement de bacs de stockage et mettre en attente sur une boucle du convoyeur de bacs le bac extrait de ladite certaine sortie de tri.detecting that a current item to be sorted has a certain so-called overbooked logical destination which is not associated with a sorting output; in response to this detection, dynamically allocating to this overbooked logical destination a certain output of sorting the machine which is occupied by another logical destination, perform in said certain sorting outlet a change of storage bins and put on a loop of the tray conveyor the tray extracted from said certain sorting outlet.
Le procédé selon l'invention peut présenter les particularités suivantesThe process according to the invention may have the following particularities
- le bac de stockage extrait de ladite certaine sortie de tri est mis en recirculation sur un trajet en boucle fermée du convoyeur de bacs et dans lequel les envois correspondant à ladite autre destination logique sont mis en recirculation sur un trajet en boucle fermée du convoyeur d'envois ;the storage tank extracted from said certain sorting outlet is recirculated on a closed loop path of the container conveyor and in which the items corresponding to said other logical destination are recirculated on a closed loop path of the conveyor of shipments;
- on associe un premier sous-ensemble des sorties de tri à un premier sous- ensemble des N destinations logiques et on associe un second sous-ensemble des sorties de tri à un second sous-ensemble des N destinations logiques, et dans lequel si on détecte qu'une destination logique du second ensemble de destinations logiques est dans un état de surréservation, on alloue de façon dynamique à cette destination logique en surréservation une certaine sortie de tri qui fait partie du premier sous-ensemble de sorties de tri ; - ladite certaine sortie de tri est choisie en considérant l'occupation instantanée ou prévisionnelle des sorties de tri ;a first subset of the sorting outputs is associated with a first subset of the N logical destinations and a second subset of the sorting outputs is associated with a second subset of the N logical destinations, and in which if detects that a logical destination of the second set of logical destinations is in a state of overbooking, dynamically allocating to this overbooked logical destination a certain sorting output which is part of the first subset of sorting outputs; said certain sorting output is chosen by considering the instantaneous or provisional occupation of the sorting outlets;
- le procédé est prévu pour trier des envois du type grand format, dans lequel on utilise un carrousel à godets pour déplacer les envois le long des sorties de tri.the method is provided for sorting items of the large format type, in which a bucket carousel is used to move the items along the sorting outlets.
L'idée à la base de l'invention est donc d'allouer de façon dynamique les sorties de tri aux destinations logiques et de réaliser un changement de bacs sur une sortie de tri allouée dynamiquement à une destination logique, le bac extrait de cette sortie de tri étant mis sur une boucle d'attente du convoyeur de bacs. L'allocation dynamique et le changement de bac peuvent être suffisamment rapides pour éviter que les envois destinés à une destination logique mise dynamiquement en surréservatioπ parcourent toute la boucle d'attente du convoyeur d'envois. Les bacs extraits des sorties de tri allouées dynamiquement peuvent être des bacs partiellement pleins qui au cours du processus de tri peuvent revenir dans une sortie de tri allouée dynamiquement pour stocker encore des envois. On a alors un recyclage de bacs partiellement pleins dans les sorties de tri de la machine. Le procédé selon l'invention s'applique plus particulièrement au tri d'envois grand format sur un convoyeur d'envoi du type carrousel à godets. L'avantage du procédé selon l'invention est qu'il permet d'utiliser une machine de tri dont le dimensionnement est optimisé par rapport au nombre de destinations des envois à trier. En outre, ce procédé permet d'optimiser le remplissage des bacs, c'est-à-dire de ne sortir des bacs de la machine que lorsqu'ils sont pleins.The idea underlying the invention is therefore to dynamically allocate the sorting outputs to the logical destinations and to perform a tray change on a sorting output dynamically allocated to a logical destination, the tray extracted from this output sorting is put on a waiting loop of the ferry conveyor. The dynamic allocation and the tray change can be fast enough to prevent shipments destined for a logical destination dynamically over-serviced to travel the entire waiting loop of the delivery conveyor. The bins extracted from the dynamically allocated sorting outlets may be partially filled bins that during the sorting process may return to a sorting output dynamically allocated to still store shipments. There is then a recycling of partially filled bins in the sorting outlets of the machine. The method according to the invention is more particularly applicable to the sorting of large format items on a conveyor conveyor of the carrousel type with buckets. The advantage of the method according to the invention is that it makes it possible to use a sorting machine whose dimensioning is optimized with respect to the number of destinations of the items to be sorted. In addition, this method makes it possible to optimize the filling the bins, that is to say to leave the bins of the machine only when they are full.
La présente invention sera mieux comprise et d'autres avantages apparaîtront à la lecture de la description détaillée d'un mode de réalisation pris à titre d'exemple nullement limitatif et illustré par les dessins annexés, dans lesquels : la figure 1 montre très schématiquement une machine de tri postal à carrousel à godets selon l'invention dans un premier état de fonctionnement.The present invention will be better understood and other advantages will appear on reading the detailed description of an embodiment taken by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the attached drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows very schematically a bucket carousel postal sorting machine according to the invention in a first operating state.
La figure 2 montre très schématiquement la machine de tri postal dans un second état de fonctionnement.Figure 2 shows very schematically the postal sorting machine in a second operating state.
La figure 3 montre très schématiquement la machine de tri postal dans un troisième état de fonctionnement.Figure 3 shows very schematically the postal sorting machine in a third state of operation.
La figure 4 montre très schématiquement la machine de tri postal dans un quatrième état de fonctionnement. La figure 5 montre très schématiquement la machine de tri postal dans un cinquième état de fonctionnement.Figure 4 shows very schematically the postal sorting machine in a fourth operating state. Figure 5 shows very schematically the postal sorting machine in a fifth state of operation.
La figure 6 montre très schématiquement la machine de tri postal dans un sixième état de fonctionnement.Figure 6 shows very schematically the postal sorting machine in a sixth state of operation.
La figure 7 est un organigramme qui illustre les étapes principales du procédé pour trier des envois selon l'invention avec une machine de tri telle représentée sur les figures 1 à 6.FIG. 7 is a flow chart which illustrates the main steps of the method for sorting items according to the invention with a sorting machine as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.
Dans la description qui suit du processus de tri selon l'invention, on considère qu'on utilise une machine de tri 1 à deux entrée d'alimentation avec 480 sorties de tri physiques pour trier 600 destinations logiques d'un plan de tri. Chaque destination logique peut correspondre à plusieurs points de distribution d'une tournée du facteur.In the following description of the sorting process according to the invention, it is considered that we use a sorting machine 1 with two feed inlet with 480 physical sorting outlets to sort 600 logical destinations of a sorting plan. Each logical destination can correspond to several distribution points of a postman's tour.
On considère que 300 sorties physiques de la machine sont associées dans le plan de tri à un premier groupe de 300 destinations logiques tandis que les 180 autres sorties de tri de la machine sont associées à une partie seulementIt is considered that 300 physical outputs of the machine are associated in the sorting plane with a first group of 300 logical destinations while the other 180 sorting outputs of the machine are associated with only one part
(180 destinations logiques) des destinations logiques d'un second groupe de(180 logical destinations) logical destinations of a second group of
300 destinations logiques lequel constitue une autre machine de tri virtuelle.300 logical destinations which constitutes another virtual sorting machine.
On a donc ici avec les deux groupes de destination logiques disjoints en quelque sorte deux machines de tri virtuelles qui exploitent deux sous- ensembles disjoints de sorties de tri de la machine de tri 1 désignés par A et B sur les figures 1 à 6.Thus, here we have with the two logical destination groups disjoint somehow two virtual sorting machines which exploit two disjoint subsets of sorting outlets of the sorting machine 1 designated by A and B in Figures 1 to 6.
Le processus de tri selon l'invention est particulièrement efficace dans la situation décrite ci-après mais il peut aussi fonctionner avec un seul groupe de 600 destinations logiques affectées aux 480 sorties de tri physiques de la machine de tri 1. On a également dans ce cas un nombre de sorties de tri plus petit que le nombre de destinations logiques à traiter sur la machine.The sorting process according to the invention is particularly effective in the situation described hereinafter but it can also operate with a single group of 600 logical destinations assigned to the 480 physical sorting outlets of the sorting machine 1. There is also in this case a number of sorting outputs smaller than the number of logical destinations to process on the machine.
Sur la figure 1 , la machine de tri 1 pour trier des envois postaux, plus particulièrement des envois grand format, comprend donc deux lignes d'entrée d'alimentation 2 avec des dispositifs de dépilage automatique alimentant un convoyeur d'envois 3 du type carrousel à godets. Chaque godet est ici agencé pour déplacer un seul envoi à la fois. En sortie des dispositifs de dépilage 2, chaque envoi passe dans un dispositif de lecture et de reconnaissance automatique d'adresse par OCR par exemple (non représenté). En sortie des dispositifs de lecture d'adresses, chaque envoi est injecté dans un godet du carrousel 3, les godets du carrousel circulant selon un trajet en boucle fermée au-dessus des sorties de tri physiques de la machine 1 (non référencées) qui sont réparties ici sur deux côtés opposés de la machine 1 . Le carrousel 3 est conçu pour permettre par conséquent à des envois d'être mis en recirculation sur une boucle d'attente 4 de façon temporaire. Le convoyeur d'envois 3 est piloté par une unité 7 de contrôle/commande.In FIG. 1, the sorting machine 1 for sorting postal items, more particularly large format items, thus comprises two feed input lines 2 with automatic unstacking devices supplying a conveyor of items 3 of the carousel type. with buckets. Each bucket is here arranged to move one shipment at a time. At the output of the unstacking devices 2, each item goes into a reading and recognition device automatic address by OCR for example (not shown). At the output of the address reading devices, each item is injected into a cup of the carousel 3, the cups of the carousel circulating in a closed loop path above the physical sorting outlets of the machine 1 (not referenced) which are distributed here on two opposite sides of the machine 1. The carousel 3 is designed to allow, therefore, shipments to be recirculated on a waiting loop 4 temporarily. The shipping conveyor 3 is controlled by a control / command unit 7.
Chaque sortie de tri est munie d'un bac 5 de stockage pour les envois. La capacité de stockage de chaque bac est d'une cinquantaine d'envois environ. Les bacs 5 des sorties de tri sont des bacs amovibles et interchangeables.Each sorting outlet is provided with a storage bin 5 for shipments. The storage capacity of each tray is about fifty shipments. The bins 5 of the sorting outlets are removable and interchangeable bins.
Comme représenté sur la figure 1 , la machine de tri 1 comporte également un convoyeur de bacs 6 prévu pour transporter des bacs le long des sorties de tri. Ce convoyeur de bacs 6 est apte à charger et décharger un bac 5 à chaque sortie de tri. Ce convoyeur de bacs 6 est en outre agencé pour suivre le long des sorties de tri un trajet 8 en boucle fermée ce qui permet une mise en recirculation (en attente) temporaire de bacs partiellement remplis sur une boucle d'attente comme décrit plus loin.As shown in Figure 1, the sorting machine 1 also comprises a tray conveyor 6 for transporting trays along the sorting outlets. This tray conveyor 6 is able to load and unload a tray 5 at each sorting outlet. This tray conveyor 6 is furthermore arranged to follow, along the sorting outlets, a path 8 in a closed loop, which makes it possible to temporarily recirculate (wait) partially filled containers on a waiting loop as described below.
Sur la figure 1 , on voit que le trajet 8 en boucle fermée du convoyeur de bacs 6 passe à l'avant et à l'arrière des sorties de tri de la machine de sorte que les bacs entrent et sortent de chaque sortie de tri comme dans une « FIFO » (« First In, First Out », c'est-à-dire la première entrée dans la sortie de tri est la première sortie). Plus particulièrement, le convoyeur de bacs 6 comprend ici deux tronçons de convoyeur de bac dits extérieurs 9a, 9b (encore appelé OTAC pour « Outside Tray Accumulation Conveyor ») reliés respectivement à deux tronçons de convoyeur de bac dits intérieurs 10a, 10b (encore appelé ITAC pour « Inside Tray Accumulation Conveyor ») par l'intermédiaire de dispositifs de transfert de bacs d'entrée ou de sortie 1 1a, 11 b, 12a, 12b (encore appelé ITD pour « Input Transfer Device » ou OTD pour « Output Transfer Device »).In FIG. 1, it can be seen that the closed loop path 8 of the bins conveyor 6 passes to the front and rear of the sorting outlets of the machine so that the bins enter and leave each sort outlet as in a "FIFO"("First In, First Out", that is, the first entry in the sorting output is the first output). More particularly, the conveyor of bins 6 here comprises two so-called external ferry conveyor sections 9a, 9b (also called OTAC for "Outside Tray Accumulation Conveyor") respectively connected to two so-called internal ferry conveyor sections 10a, 10b (also called ITAC for "Inside Tray Accumulation Conveyor") by via input or output tray transfer devices 1 1a, 11b, 12a, 12b (also called ITD for "Input Transfer Device" or OTD for "Output Transfer Device").
Les tronçons de convoyeur 9a, 9b longent donc le côté avant de déchargement en bac des sorties de tri tandis que les tronçons de convoyeur 10a, 10b longent le côté arrière de chargement en bac des sorties de tri. Le convoyeur de bacs 6 est également piloté par l'unité 7.The conveyor sections 9a, 9b therefore run along the front side of the sort discharge outlets while the conveyor sections 10a, 10b run along the rear side of the sorting outlets. The bin conveyor 6 is also driven by the unit 7.
Le tri de chaque envoi, c'est-à-dire le transport de l'envoi depuis une entrée d'alimentation 2 jusque dans un bac de sortie de tri 5 se fait à partir du plan de tri dans lequel chaque sortie de tri de la machine est associée à une destination logique dérivée de l'adresse postale lue automatiquement sur la surface de l'envoi. Le plan de tri peut être vu comme une table d'association mise en mémoire dans l'unité 7 qui associe à un point de distribution (par exemple une adresse postale) une destination logique, la destination logique étant par ailleurs associée en mémoire machine à une sortie de tri ce qui permet à l'unité 7 de contrôler les convoyeurs d'envois 3 et de bacs 6. Selon l'invention, l'allocation (ou affectation) d'une sortie de tri à une destination logique pour un envoi se fait de façon dynamique, c'est-à-dire pendant que l'envoi circule dans le convoyeur d'envois 3. En plus de cette allocation dynamique, l'épaisseur des envois peut être mesurée dans la machine de tri pour anticiper le niveau de remplissage des bacs de sortie de tri et pour calculer des demandes de remplacement de bac basée sur une limite de niveau de remplissage.The sorting of each shipment, that is to say the transport of the shipment from a feed inlet 2 to a sorting outlet 5 is made from the sorting plane in which each sorting output of the machine is associated with a logical destination derived from the postal address automatically read on the surface of the shipment. The sorting plan can be seen as an association table stored in the unit 7 which associates a logical destination with a distribution point (for example a postal address), the logical destination being moreover associated in machine memory with a sorting outlet which allows the unit 7 to control the conveyors of items 3 and bins 6. According to the invention, the allocation (or assignment) of a sorting output to a logical destination for a shipment is done dynamically, that is to say while the sending flows in the conveyor of items 3. In addition to this dynamic allocation, the thickness of the items can be measured in the sorting machine to anticipate the fill level of sort output bins and to calculate bin replacement requests based on a fill level limit.
Lorsque l'adresse postale d'un envoi a été reconnue automatiquement, l'unité 7 peut donc associer à l'envoi une destination logique et normalement une sortie de tri. Puisque le plan de tri nécessite 600 destinations logiques, et que les unités de tri n'ont que 480 sorties physiques, l'association d'une destination logique à une sortie de tri physique n'est pas une association une à une mais une association dynamique qui n'existe pas pendant toute une passe de tri et qui peut donc se déplacer d'une sortie de tri physique à une autre pendant cette passe.When the mailing address of a shipment has been recognized automatically, the unit 7 can therefore associate the shipment with a logical destination and normally a sorting outlet. Since the sort plan requires 600 logical destinations, and the sorting units only have 480 physical outputs, the association of a logical destination to a physical sorting output is not a one-to-one association but an association dynamic that does not exist during a whole sorting pass and can therefore move from one physical sort output to another during this pass.
Au début d'une passe de tri, on considère qu'on utilise une première entrée 2 de la machine avec envois destinés au groupe A de destinations logiques indiquées sur la figure 1. On utilise donc 300 sorties de tri physiques pour démarrer une passe de tri avec le groupe A. Ces sorties de tri sont pourvues de bacs vides au départ. A ce stade, on n'utilise pas l'autre entrée d'alimentation de la machine avec des envois destinés au groupe B de destinations logiques.At the beginning of a sorting pass, it is considered that a first input 2 of the machine with sendings intended for group A of logical destinations indicated in FIG. 1 is used. Thus, 300 physical sorting outputs are used to start a password. sorting with group A. These sorting outlets have empty trays at the start. At this point, the other power input of the machine is not used with sendings to group B of logical destinations.
Les bacs des sorties du groupe A se remplissent donc au fur et à mesure du passage des envois du groupe A dans le convoyeur 6.The bins of the outputs of group A are therefore filled as and when the shipments of group A in the conveyor 6.
La figure 1 illustre l'état de fonctionnement de la machine de tri à ce stade du processus de tri en montrant dans des rectangles avec des hachures à droite les bacs de sortie de tri 5 partiellement remplis associés au groupe A et dans des rectangles vides les bacs de sorties de tri 5 associés à aucune destination logique. Sur les tronçons de convoyeur intérieurs 10a, 10b, on a également représenté des bacs vides 5 (par un rectangle blanc) qui circulent à l'arrière des sorties de tri selon le sens illustré par les flèches.FIG. 1 illustrates the operating state of the sorting machine at this stage of the sorting process by showing in rectangles with hatching on the right the partially filled sorting outlets 5 associated with group A and in empty rectangles sorting outlets 5 associated with no logical destination. On the inner conveyor sections 10a, 10b, there is also represented empty trays 5 (by a white rectangle) which flow at the rear of the sorting outlets in the direction illustrated by the arrows.
Les bacs 5 dans le convoyeur 6 peuvent être identifiés et suivis par l'unité 7 par l'intermédiaire de codes lisibles par machine, tels que des codes barres. Lorsqu'un premier bac contenant des envois destinés à être triés sur le groupe B de destinations logiques entre dans la machine 1 au niveau d'un dispositif de lecture d'adresse par exemple, des envois à trier sur le groupe A de destinations logiques sont toujours en train d'être dirigés vers les bacs partiellement remplis correspondant au groupe A. Pour les envois destinés au groupe B, on a seulement 180 destinations logiques qui sont associées dans le plan de tri à 180 sorties physiques restantes de la machine 1 lesquelles ne sont pas utilisées pour trier les envois du groupe A. La figure 2 montre un état de fonctionnement de la machine de tri 1 pendant une première phase de tri simultané des envois destinés aux groupes A et B de destinations logiques, le convoyeur d'envois 3 étant alimenté en même temps depuis les deux entrées 2 de la machine. A ce moment là, des envois viennent également remplir les bacs de sortie de tri associés aux destinations logiques du groupe B. Sur la figure 2, on a représenté un ensemble de bacs 5 partiellement remplis d'envois associés au groupe B de destinations logiques qui sont illustrés par un rectangle avec une hachure à gauche.The bins 5 in the conveyor 6 can be identified and tracked by the unit 7 via machine readable codes, such as barcodes. When a first bin containing items intended to be sorted on the group B of logical destinations enters the machine 1 at an address reading device for example, items to be sorted on the group A of logical destinations are always in the process of being directed to partially filled bins corresponding to group A. For consignments intended for group B, there are only 180 logical destinations which are associated in the sorting plan with 180 remaining physical outputs of the machine 1 which do not are not used to sort the group A shipments. Figure 2 shows an operating state of the sorting machine 1 during a first phase of simultaneous sorting of shipments for groups A and B of logical destinations, the shipping conveyor 3 being fed at the same time from the two inputs 2 of the machine. At this time, shipments also fill the sorting outlets associated with the logical destinations of Group B. In Figure 2, there is shown a set of bins 5 partially filled with shipments associated with Group B logical destinations that are illustrated by a rectangle with a hatch on the left.
Il arrive un moment où un premier et puis d'autres envois à trier sur le groupe B de destinations logiques sont présents dans le convoyeur 3 et ne peuvent pas être triés du fait que leur destination logique de tri n'est pas associée à une sortie de tri effective dans le plan de tri, puisque le nombre de sorties de tri est insuffisant pour les 600 destinations logiques. Ce ou ces destinations logiques sont donc dans un état dit de surréservation ce qui est détecté par l'unité 7. En réponse à la détection d'une destination logique en état de surréservation (un ou plusieurs envois sont présents dans le convoyeur 3 et ont une destination logique qui n'est pas actuellement associée à une sortie de tri de la machine), l'unité 7 entreprend un processus d'allocation dynamique de sorties de tri physiques.There comes a time when a first and then other shipments to be sorted on group B logical destinations are present in the conveyor 3 and can not be sorted because their logical destination sorting is not associated with an effective sorting output in the sorting plan, since the number of sorting outlets is insufficient for the 600 logical destinations. This or these logical destinations are therefore in a so-called overbooking state which is detected by the unit 7. In response to the detection of a logical destination in overbooking state (one or more items are present in the conveyor 3 and have a logical destination which is not currently associated with a sorting output of the machine), the unit 7 undertakes a dynamic allocation process of physical sorting outlets.
Dans ce processus d'allocation dynamique, l'unité 7 peut contrôler l'activité ou l'occupation instantanée des sorties de tri physiques. Quand un envoi à trier sur le groupe B de destinations logiques a une destination logique en surréservation, l'unité 7 peut par exemple choisir une sortie physique associée au groupe A de destinations logiques qui présente la plus faible occupation et donc commander le convoyeur de bacs 6 pour qu'il remplace le bac partiellement plein de cette sortie de tri par un bac vide apte à recevoir les envois à trier pour cette destination en surréservation. Le bac partiellement plein de cette sortie de tri est donc enlevé sur le tronçon de convoyeur extérieur 9a, 9b et le bac vide est amené par le tronçon de convoyeur intérieur 10a, 10b.In this dynamic allocation process, the unit 7 can control the activity or the instantaneous occupation of the physical sorting outlets. When a consignment to be sorted on group B of logical destinations has a logical destination in overbooking, unit 7 may, for example, choose a physical output associated with group A of logical destinations which has the lowest occupancy and therefore control the conveyor of bins. 6 so that it replaces the partially full container of this sorting outlet with an empty container able to receive the items to be sorted for this overbooked destination. The partially filled tank of this sorting outlet is thus removed on the outer conveyor section 9a, 9b and the empty tank is fed by the inner conveyor section 10a, 10b.
Cette sortie de tri peut être sélectionnée par exemple en fonction du nombre d'envois prévisible qu'elle doit recevoir, par exemple le nombre d'envois présents dans le convoyeur 3 et qui lui sont destinés selon le plan de tri. Le critère de sélection est celui de la sortie ayant la plus faible occupation. On peut donc avoir à changer plusieurs bacs partiellement pleins par plusieurs bacs vides dans les sorties de tri. Les figures 3 et 4 montrent des états de fonctionnement de la machine 1 où des bacs partiellement pleins associés au groupe A circulent dans le convoyeur 6 avec des bacs vides. Dans le but de ne pas créer d'encombrement sur le tronçon de convoyeur intérieur 10a, 10b, les bacs atteignant l'extrémité avale du tronçon de convoyeur intérieur 10a, 10b sont transférés sur le tronçon de convoyeur extérieur 9a, 9b par le dispositif de transfert de bacs 12a, 12b. Ainsi, des bacs vides peuvent être transférés sur le tronçon de convoyeur 9a, 9b lorsqu'ils atteignent l'extrémité aval du tronçon de convoyeur 10a, 10b et des bacs partiellement pleins peuvent être transférés sur le tronçon de convoyeur 9a, 9b soit à la suite d'un déchargement de sortie de tri lorsqu'ils sont remplacés par un autre bac, soit lorsqu'ils atteignent l'extrémité aval du tronçon de convoyeur intérieur 10a, 10b.This sorting output can be selected for example according to the number of expected shipments it must receive, for example the number of shipments present in the conveyor 3 and which are intended for it according to the sorting plan. The selection criterion is the exit with the lowest occupancy. We can therefore have to change several partially filled bins by several empty bins in the sorting outlets. Figures 3 and 4 show operating states of the machine 1 where partially filled tanks associated with the group A circulate in the conveyor 6 with empty trays. In order to avoid creating space on the inner conveyor section 10a, 10b, the bins reaching the downstream end of the inner conveyor section 10a, 10b are transferred onto the outer conveyor section 9a, 9b by the transfer of bins 12a, 12b. Thus, empty bins can be transferred on the conveyor section 9a, 9b when they reach the downstream end of the conveyor section 10a, 10b and partially filled bins can be transferred on the conveyor section 9a, 9b either at the following unloading sorting outlet when they are replaced by another tray, or when they reach the downstream end of the inner conveyor section 10a, 10b.
La figure 5 montre l'état de la machine lors d'un recyclage de bacs vides et de bacs partiellement pleins sur le tronçon de convoyeur extérieur 9a, 9b pendant le processus de tri. Finalement, il arrive que dans le convoyeur d'envois 3, on ait des envois qui doivent être triés sur une destination logique du groupe A qui est passée en surréservation. Le processus d'allocation dynamique qui est réalisé nécessite alors que le bac partiellement plein qui a déjà été utilisé pour recevoir les envois associés à cette destination logique en surréservation revienne dans une sortie de tri, celle qui, à un instant donné, présente la plus faible occupation. Ce bac partiellement plein peut donc être chargé dans une des sorties de tri associées au groupe B. A partir de ce moment, des bacs partiellement pleins associés au groupe A, des bacs partiellement pleins associés au groupe B et des bacs vides tournent le long du trajet en boucle fermée 8 et les bacs partiellement pleins sont recyclés dans les sorties de tri par l'unité 7, ce qui est montré par la figure 6. Afin de ne pas surcharger le convoyeur de bacs 6, ce qui pourrait ralentir le processus de recyclage des bacs, une quantité limitée de bacs vides sont acceptés sur le tronçon de convoyeur intérieur 10a, 10b. Une fois cette limite atteinte, des bacs vides supplémentaires venant par exemple d'un système de convoyeur d'entrée ou ICS (Infeed Conveyor System), sont mis en attente dans une réserve de bacs vides. Ceci permet de garder une circulation fluide de bacs à l'intérieur du convoyeur 6 et de préparer un changement de bacs rapide dans les sorties de tri en gardant un stock local de bacs vides sur le convoyeur de stockage de bacs.Figure 5 shows the state of the machine during a recycling of empty bins and partially filled bins on the outer conveyor section 9a, 9b during the sorting process. Finally, it happens that in the conveyor of items 3, there are shipments that must be sorted on a logical destination group A which has gone overbooked. The dynamic allocation process that is performed then requires that the partially full container that has already been used to receive shipments associated with this overbooked logical destination be returned to a sorting outlet, the one which, at a given moment, presents the most low occupation. This partially filled container can therefore be loaded into one of the sorting outlets associated with group B. From this moment, bins partially filled in with group A, partially filled bins associated with group B and empty bins run along closed loop path 8 and partially filled bins are recycled to the sorting outlets by unit 7, which is shown in Figure 6. In order not to overload the tray conveyor 6, which could slow down the recycling process bins, a limited amount of empty bins are accepted on the inner conveyor section 10a, 10b. Once this limit is reached, additional empty bins coming for example from an infeed conveyor system or ICS (Infeed Conveyor System), are put on hold in a reserve of empty bins. This makes it possible to maintain a fluid circulation of bins inside the conveyor 6 and to prepare a rapid change of bins in the sorting outlets by keeping a local stock of empty bins on the bins storage conveyor.
Le recyclage des bacs associés au groupe A et au groupe B continue jusqu'à la fin de la passe de tri.The recycling of the bins associated with group A and group B continues until the end of the sorting pass.
La figure 7 illustre les principales étapes du processus d'allocation dynamique selon l'invention.Figure 7 illustrates the main steps of the dynamic allocation process according to the invention.
A l'étape 20, l'unité 7 détermine automatiquement l'adresse postale pour un envoi courant entrant dans la machine de tri et donc une destination logique qui correspond à cette adresse postale dans le plan de tri.In step 20, the unit 7 automatically determines the mailing address for a current mail entering the sorting machine and therefore a logical destination that corresponds to this mailing address in the sorting plan.
A l'étape 21 , l'unité 7 contrôle si cette destination logique est une destination logique en surréservation. Si la destination logique n'est pas en surréservation, l'unité 7 commande le convoyeur 6 à l'étape 22 pour diriger l'envoi vers une sortie de tri de la machine 1 identifiée dans le plan de tri pour un stockage dans un bac 5.In step 21, the unit 7 checks whether this logical destination is a logic destination in overbooking. If the logical destination is not overbooked, the unit 7 controls the conveyor 6 in step 22 to direct the sending to a sorting outlet of the machine 1 identified in the sorting plane for storage in a bin 5.
Si maintenant la destination logique de l'envoi courant est en surréservation à l'étape 21 , l'unité 7 détermine à l'étape 23, à partir des niveaux d'occupation instantanée ou prévisionnelle des sorties de tri de la machine, une sortie à réassocier, par exemple la sortie de tri ayant la plus faible occupationIf now the logical destination of the current shipment is overbooked in step 21, the unit 7 determines in step 23, starting from the instantaneous or predicted occupation levels of the sorting outlets of the machine, an output to reassociate, for example the sort out with the lowest occupancy
(ce niveau d'occupation peut correspondre à un taux de remplissage du bac). Le plan de tri en mémoire dans la machine de tri est alors mis à jour dynamiquement à l'étape 24 pour associer la destination logique qui est en surréservation avec la sortie de tri de plus faible occupation qui a été déterminée à l'étape 23.(This level of occupancy may correspond to a bin fill rate). The sorting plan in memory in the sorting machine is then updated dynamically in step 24 to associate the logical destination which is overbooked with the lowest occupancy sorting output which was determined in step 23.
En même temps dans l'étape 24, la destination logique qui était associée auparavant à cette sortie de tri est passée dans un état de surréservation dans le plan de tri de sorte que les envois présents le cas échéant dans le convoyeur 3 ayant cette destination logique sont alors mis en recirculation par l'unité 7 dans la boucle d'attente du convoyeur 3 (l'unité 7 suspend donc le déchargement de ces envois dans un bac de stockage).At the same time in step 24, the logical destination that was previously associated with this sorting output has passed into a state of overbooking in the sorting plan so that the items present, if any, in the conveyor 3 having this logical destination. are then recirculated by the unit 7 in the waiting loop of the conveyor 3 (the unit 7 therefore suspends the unloading of these items in a storage bin).
A l'étape 25, l'unité 7 commande également le convoyeur de bacs 6 pour décharger la sortie de tri du bac, le cas échéant partiellement plein, et le remplacer par un bac de remplacement, le cas échéant un bac vide, dans lequel l'envoi courant pourra être déchargé à l'étape 22. Le bac de remplacement peut être également un bac déjà partiellement plein dans le cas où ce bac a déjà été recyclé pendant le processus de tri.In step 25, the unit 7 also controls the tray conveyor 6 to unload the tray sorting outlet, if necessary partially full, and replace it with a replacement tray, if necessary an empty tray, in which the current shipment may be unloaded at step 22. The replacement tray may be also be a tray already partially full in the case where this tray has already been recycled during the sorting process.
Bien entendu, l'unité 7 doit réaliser ce changement de bacs dans une sortie de tri de façon anticipée à l'arrivée des envois dans la sortie de tri et les envois destinés à être dirigés vers cette sortie de tri peuvent être mis en recirculation sur la boucle d'attente 4 avant d'être déchargés dans la sortie de tri. Par ailleurs, la gestion des bacs sur le convoyeur 6 peut nécessiter une identification des bacs et un traçage des bacs le long du convoyeur 8 de manière connue en soi. Of course, the unit 7 must make this change of bins in a sorting outlet in advance of the arrival of the items in the sorting outlet and the items to be directed to this sorting outlet can be recirculated on the waiting loop 4 before being unloaded in the sorting outlet. In addition, the management of the bins on the conveyor 6 may require identification of the bins and tracing of the bins along the conveyor 8 in a manner known per se.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1/ Procédé pour trier des envois postaux sur N destinations de tri avec une machine de tri comportant un convoyeur d'envois (3) qui dessert M sorties de tri munies chacune d'un bac (5) de stockage d'envois amovible manipulé par un convoyeur de bacs (6), caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend les étapes suivantes :1 / A method for sorting mail items on N sorting destinations with a sorting machine comprising a mail conveyor (3) serving M sorting outlets each provided with a tray (5) for storing removable items handled by a conveyor of bins (6), characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
- détecter (21 ) qu'un envoi courant à trier a une certaine destination logique dite en surréservation qui n'est pas associée à une sortie de tri,detecting (21) that a current item to be sorted has a certain so-called overbooked logical destination which is not associated with a sorting output,
- en réponse à cette détection, allouer (24) de façon dynamique à cette destination logique en surréservation une certaine sortie de tri de la machine qui est occupée par une autre destination logique, effectuer (25) dans ladite certaine sortie de tri un changement de bacs de stockage et mettre en attente sur une boucle (8) du convoyeur de bacs (6) le bac extrait de ladite certaine sortie de tri.in response to this detection, dynamically allocating (24) to this overbooked logical destination a certain sorting output of the machine which is occupied by another logical destination, performing (25) in said certain sorting output a change of storage bins and put on a loop (8) of the tray conveyor (6) the tray extracted from said certain sorting outlet.
2/ Procédé selon la revendication 1 , dans lequel le bac de stockage extrait de ladite certaine sortie de tri est mis en recirculation sur un trajet en boucle fermée (8) du convoyeur de bacs (6) et dans lequel les envois correspondant à ladite autre destination logique sont mis en recirculation sur un trajet en boucle fermée (4) du convoyeur d'envois (3). 3/ Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel on associe un premier sous-ensemble des sorties de tri à un premier sous-ensemble (A) des N destinations logiques et on associe un second sous-ensemble des sorties de tri à un second sous-ensemble (B) des N destinations logiques, et dans lequel si on détecte qu'une destination logique du second ensemble (B) de destinations logiques est dans un état de surréservation, on alloue de façon dynamique à cette destination logique en surréservation une certaine sortie de tri qui fait partie du premier sous-ensemble (A) de sorties de tri.2 / A method according to claim 1, wherein the storage tank extracted from said certain sorting outlet is recirculated on a closed loop path (8) of the bins conveyor (6) and in which the shipments corresponding to the other logical destination are recirculated on a closed loop path (4) of the shipping conveyor (3). 3 / A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a first subset of the sorting outputs is associated with a first subset (A) of the N logical destinations and a second subset of the sorting outputs is associated with a second subset (B) of the N logical destinations, and wherein if it is detected that a logical destination of the second set (B) of logical destinations is in a state of overbooking, dynamically allocates to this logic destination in overbooking a certain sorting outlet which is part of the first subset (A) of sorting outlets.
4/ Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ladite certaine sortie de tri est choisie en considérant l'occupation instantanée ou prévisionnelle des sorties de tri.4 / A method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said certain sorting outlet is chosen by considering the instantaneous or predictive occupation of the sorting outlets.
5/ Procédé selon l'une des revendications précédentes, pour trier des envois du type grand format, dans lequel on utilise un carrousel à godets (3) pour déplacer les envois le long des sorties de tri. 5 / A method according to one of the preceding claims, for sorting shipments of the large format, in which a bucket carousel (3) is used to move the items along the sorting outlets.
EP08865507.1A 2007-12-13 2008-12-12 Method for sorting postal items using a process for sorting outputs dynamic allocation Not-in-force EP2225049B2 (en)

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US99697207P 2007-12-13 2007-12-13
PCT/FR2008/052292 WO2009081008A2 (en) 2007-12-13 2008-12-12 Method for sorting postal items using a process for sorting outputs dynamic allocation

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EP2225049B1 EP2225049B1 (en) 2011-09-14
EP2225049B2 EP2225049B2 (en) 2014-09-10

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AT (1) ATE524246T1 (en)
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US8504192B2 (en) 2013-08-06
EP2225049B1 (en) 2011-09-14
WO2009081008A3 (en) 2009-08-20
US20100318216A1 (en) 2010-12-16
ES2372161T5 (en) 2014-11-13
WO2009081008A2 (en) 2009-07-02
ATE524246T1 (en) 2011-09-15
ES2372161T3 (en) 2012-01-16
EP2225049B2 (en) 2014-09-10

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