EP2303742A2

EP2303742A2 - Transfer device for mail

Info

Publication number: EP2303742A2
Application number: EP09780937A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Holger Schererz; Rolf-Peter Skrdlant; Bertram Wanner
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2008-07-22
Filing date: 2009-07-22
Publication date: 2011-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-22
Also published as: CA2731397A1; WO2010010126A3; WO2010010126A2; US20100032881A1; EP2303742B1; US8485522B2; DE102008034179A1; US20110180372A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a transfer device (2) for mail (8) comprising a transfer unit (4) with an output (24) for transferring the individual mail items (8) to a mail carrier (18) and comprising a transport device (10) for transporting the mail (8) to the output (24) in a transport direction (16), said transport device comprising two belts (12, 14) for holding on both sides and transporting the mail (8) and comprising a means for adjusting the distance between the belts (12, 14) to match the thickness of a mail item (8). In order to guarantee non-slip transport of the mail (8) even when the transfer unit (4) is accelerating, it is proposed that the means for adjusting is a belt rocker (32) that can pivot about an axis of rotation, the pivoting motion causing one of the belts (12, 14) to pivot and thus causing the distance thereof to the other belt (12, 14) to vary.

Description

description

Transfer device for postal items

The invention relates to a transfer device for postal items having a transfer unit, which has an output for transferring the separated postal items to a mail carrier and a transport device for transporting the mailpieces in a transport direction for delivery, the two belts for holding and transporting the mailpieces on both sides and a means for Adjusting the distance of the bands to each other to the thickness of a mail item comprises.

Mail, such as letters, large letters, postcards, sealed-in magazines, flat parcels and the like, are sorted in letter centers or large post offices in very large numbers according to their address and stored in a variety of containers. For this purpose, DE 10 2005 059 601 B3 discloses a sorting system in which the mail items are transported vertically on their longitudinal edges, standing in a transport direction, to a pocket rim passing transversely to the transport direction. The mail items are injected one after the other into the horizontally passing bags, wherein a very small time window for injecting a mail item into a passing pocket remains due to the high number of cycles and the high density of the conveyed mail stream.

In order to increase this time window somewhat, the consignment stream is transported in a loading arm to the pocket wreath, whose output, at which the mailpieces are transferred from the loading arm to the individual pockets, can be moved horizontally with the moved pockets. If a piece of mail has been shot into a pocket, the loading arm is moved back and the output is aligned to a following pocket.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer device with the mailpieces of various Thickness reliable in moving pockets of a consignee can be passed.

This object is achieved by a transfer device of the type mentioned above in which the means for adjusting the distance between the belts is a belt rocker pivotable about an axis of rotation, one of the belts is pivoted by its pivoting movement and thus variable in its distance from the other belt is. A metered pressure of the belt rocker, which is an essential parameter for achieving a satisfactory transport quality of the mail by the transport device with at most a small slip, can be easily achieved.

Adjusting the spacing of the bands to each other to the thickness of a currently transported mail piece can be achieved by adjusting the pivot angle from the outside, e.g. be achieved by a process means, or a self-adjustment mechanism of the band rocker. The band rocker may have a deflection roller, preferably directly at the output, which deflects the pivotable band, in particular at the outermost point of the band, ie where the band is furthest led to the program carrier. The deflection roller can be pivotable together with the deflected band about the axis of rotation of the band rocker arranged outside the deflection roller. The output may be a location on the transfer unit at which the mail items leave the transfer unit, for example by a launch or to a guided transfer to the adjacent mail carrier. The belts are preferably motor-driven endless belts. For further guidance of the mailpieces, the transfer unit can have an additional base strip on which the mailpieces stand during transport through the two strips on their longitudinal edges. The mailpieces can be mail of all kinds. The consignment carrier can be designed as a pocket wreath with encircling pockets.

To carry the output to the movement of the mail carrier the transfer unit expediently comprises a carry-along drive which is controlled by a process means. The output can be temporarily synchronized with a movement of the mail carrier, which is in particular transversely to the transport direction, wherein transversely below an angle between 70 ° and 110 ° degree is understood. After such a synchronized entrainment, the transfer unit can be swung back, with a high acceleration torque can act on the transfer unit and thus also on the entrained belt rocker due to the high number of cycles of the transported mail.

The transport device should be capable of transporting the mailpieces of very different thicknesses, even under large side accelerations, in particular up to 6 g, at least substantially without slippage. For this purpose, the band rocker comprises in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a compensating means, which counteracts an acceleration of the output both in the direction and against movement of the mail carrier a inertial closing or opening of the tapes. By completely or at least largely compensating for an inertia-related movement of the band rocker and thus one of the belts, it is possible to prevent the belts from closing or opening, ie moving toward one another or moving away from one another, during a strong acceleration of the transfer unit. Depending on the design of the compensating means or the transfer unit, any assignment of closing and opening to the direction of acceleration is possible.

The compensation means may be electronically controlled or self-regulating, for example by means of a sensor. Particularly simple and reliable is a counterweight, which counteracts by its own inertia of an inertial movement of the other components of the band rocker. The counterweight may be counterweight to the output side mass of the band rocker and be mounted with respect to the axis of rotation relative to the output. Advantageously, with the aid of a A rigid arm is connected to the output, so that dynamic movements are kept low.

The belt rocker is expediently arranged with its axis of rotation so that an acceleration-related movement of the belt rocker is compensated in an acceleration direction of the output transversely to the transport direction in whole or in part. The transfer unit, which can be designed as a loading arm, can be moved without a disadvantage transversely to the transport direction, whereby a high degree of freedom of movement relative to the mail carrier can be achieved.

A particularly good compensation of acceleration-related movements of the band rocker can be achieved if the center of gravity of the band rocker lies in the axis of rotation.

In order to keep a transport of a mail item between the belt slip-free as possible, it is necessary that the two bands are pressed against each other or against the mail item with a pressing force and thus keep them safely between them. This pressure force can be applied with one or more spring elements. Wear phenomena in connection with the pressing force can be counteracted if the pressure force of the belt rocker is achieved by the design of the tape running the band of the belt rocker. The strip running or belt running of the band of the band rocker is advantageously designed so that the force resultants of the belt drive form a force component which gives the band rocker a Andruckmoment. For this purpose, a clamping force of one of the bands, in particular the band associated with the band rock, exert a closing force on the band rocker. By a spring construction, an additional Schwingenandruck be applied.

In rare cases, it may happen that, for various reasons, a correct transfer of a mail item from the transport device to the mail carrier does not take place smoothly and the mail item in the region of the output between Shipment carrier and transfer unit gets stuck. As a result of the further movement of the mail carrier, which may not be stopped abruptly by its weight, the mail item is pulled further and may possibly drag the entire transfer unit with it, so that damage to the mail item and the transfer unit is imminent. In order to avoid this, the transfer device expediently comprises a release means for opening the belt rocker so that a mail item is released between the belts at the delivery. The mail piece can be transported on by the mail carrier without the transfer unit being pulled along. The bands are expediently spaced at least 10 cm apart with the band hinge open at the output.

When opening the band rocker, the pressing force, which is provided for holding the mail item in the transport device, to overcome. In order not to leave this overcoming to the mail item, the release means advantageously has a gearbox for opening the band rocker, to such an extent that a mail item is completely released in an area from the output to at least 30 cm counter to the transport direction in an acceleration direction of the output becomes. The acceleration direction is expediently the transport direction of the mail carrier. The transfer unit or its output can be accelerated, for example, in order to position the output on a subsequent pocket of the mail carrier without a mail item jammed in the mail carrier abutting the band rocker.

Advantageously, the opening is so far that the mail item can be moved in the direction of acceleration at least 50 cm far without contact with the belt rocker.

The release means advantageously comprises a motor drive for opening the band rocker. It can be a large force introduced at a high speed and the belt swing can be particularly fast and wide open become .

In order to ensure a rapid application of force to the belt rocker, the release agent is expediently connected without springs when opening with the belt rocker, so that a spring-free opening of the belt rocker takes place. In order to still allow a certain spring action of the band rocker in the regular operation of the band rocker, the band rocker is advantageously at a stationary release means, in particular to a point of the release means on the band rocker, a piece in a spring means swingable. By a Federandruck can be dispensed in the first phase of jamming a mailing opening of the belt rocker against the Federandruck until the belt rocker is opened actuarially beyond the initial deflection angle.

Conveniently, the band rocker comprises a spring element for pressing the bands against each other, for example, to support a belt-related pressure. If the band link is opened by a safety function, then this opening movement is opposite in direction to the spring pressure, so that the pressing, if necessary, takes place against the spring force and is thereby made more difficult. In order to avoid this, the spring on the transfer unit expediently engages in such a way that an opening movement of the release means causes a relaxation of the spring. An opening of the belt rocker to the safety function can be supported thereby.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment which is shown in the drawings.

Show it:

1 shows a transfer device with a movable

Transfer unit in a schematic plan view, 2 shows the transfer unit in a more detailed plan view and

3 shows the transfer unit from FIG. 2 with a completely opened band rocker.

1 shows a transfer device 2 in a schematic plan view. It comprises a transfer unit 4 in the form of a loading arm, which is movable relative to a stationary unit 6, in particular can be pivoted. The mobility is indicated by a dashed line, in which the transfer unit 4 is pivoted by 6 degrees to a normal position. In their basic position, mail items 8 are transported by a transport device 10, which has two circulating belts 12, 14, in a straight line in the transport direction 16 from the stationary unit 6 into the loading arm or the transfer unit 4. Depending on the pivot angle of the loading arm, the transport path is slightly angled in the area between the stationary unit 6 and the loading arm.

At a small distance from the transfer unit 4, a mail carrier 18 in the form of a pocket ring is arranged, which comprises a multiplicity of pockets or mail containers 20, which are arranged in the form of a train one behind the other and movably attached to one another. During operation of the transfer device 2, the mail carrier 18 moves in a carrier direction 22 that runs perpendicular to the transport direction 16 when the transfer unit 4 is not tilted. In the transfer unit 4 transported mail items 8 are successively injected into each one in a mail container 20, wherein the foremost end of the transfer unit 4 is synchronized in speed and position synchronized with the mailing container 20, in which the next postal item 8 is to be introduced.

When transferring a mail item 8 from the transfer unit 4 to the mail carrier 18, the mail item 8 leaves the transfer unit 4 at an output 24, which is from the frontmost Elements of the transfer unit 4 is formed. These elements can be, for example, two rollers 26, 28 with the two belts 12, 14. If the mail item 8 is stored completely in the desired mail item container 20, the transfer unit 4 is pivoted a little way back in the clockwise direction until the dispenser 24 is positioned relative to a following mail item container 20 so that a mail item 8 can be inserted into it.

The mail items 8 are transported at a speed of 2.5 m / s by the transport device 10 in the transport direction 16 and introduced into the mail containers 20, which move at a speed of 0.5 m / s perpendicular to the transport direction 16. Between the individual postal fertilizer 8 are small gaps, which allow the transfer unit 4 to align in their new position in front of a next mail container 20. This repositioning is done with a frequency of about 3 Hz. Here, in particular, the front part of the transfer unit 4 with the output 24 is greatly accelerated in an acceleration direction, which in the

Is substantially parallel or antiparallel to the support direction 22.

To a transport of different thickness mail items 8 between the bands 12, 14 and in particular between the

To allow rollers 26, 28, the roller 26 and with it the front part of the belt 14 relative to the roller 28 and the belt 12 is movably mounted. With an acceleration of the transfer unit 4, inertial forces act on the movable support, the roller 26 and the front part of the belt 14, by which a pressing force of the belt 14 against the currently transported mail item 8 would vary without corresponding counteraction. This would lead to a too strong or too weak pressure and thereby to a shipment damage or to a slip of the mail item 8 between the bands 12, 14th

To avoid this, the front roller 26 is part a belt rocker 32, with which a part of the belt 14 is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation 34. The front roller 26 is fixed to a rigid rocker arm 36 which is mounted in the axis of rotation 34 and at its end opposite the roller 26 carries a counterweight 38. The mass distribution of the band rocker 32 is in this case adjusted so that their center of gravity comes to lie in the axis of rotation 34.

In a pivoting movement of the transfer unit 4 about its axis of rotation 30 and an acceleration in or against the pivoting movement, the band rocker 32 is thereby dynamically balanced, so that cancel the inertial forces of the individual elements of the band rocker 32 and this even at high acceleration relative to the other parts of the Transfer unit 4, for example to the roller 28, remains dormant. A pressing force, with which the belt rocker 32 and with it the belt 14 is pressed in the direction of the belt 12, thereby remains at least substantially unaffected by the acceleration.

A pressing force of the belt rocker 32 in the direction of the belt 12 is achieved by an advantageous design of the belt run of the belt 14. The band 14 is tensioned with a force of about 300 N. With this force, the front roller 26 is pulled according to the arrow 40 to the rear. The direction of the arrow 40 is the direction of the bisecting line between the belt 14 deflected by the roller 26. The alignment of the rocker arm 36, that is to say the direction between the axis of rotation 34 and the axis of rotation of the roller 26, is now selected such that a Angle between the swing arm 36 and the connecting line between the axes of rotation and the force resulting from the arrow 40 results. As a result of this non-nesting of the axes of the rotary joints with the force resulting, a torque is exerted on the belt rocker 32 in the direction of the resultant force.

This torque causes a pressing force of the belt rocker 32 in the direction of the belt 12. The pressure force is for example between 10 and 20 N, depending on the angular position of the This is dependent on the thickness of the currently transported between the belts 12, 14 postal item 8. A effected by the pressing force closing the belt rocker 32 and thereby effected pinching the Postsen- fertil 8 between the belts 12, 14 can by a spring element be further strengthened.

In the region of the axis of rotation 34, a roller 42 is arranged, which deflects the belt 14 and whose axis of rotation is the axis of rotation 34. As a result, the distance of the belt 14 between the rollers 26, 42 is equal regardless of the angular position of the belt rocker 32. Due to the angle of the rocker arm 36 to the transport direction 16, however, the distance between the front roller 26 and a rear roller, not shown, or the axis of rotation 30 is reduced when closing the belt rocker 32. This reduces the tension of the belt 14 when the belt rocker 32 is closed Something which causes a reduction of the clamping force of the band 14 and thus the pressing force or the closing force of the band rocker 32. The opposite is an increase in the angle between the force generated by the arrow 40 and the swing arm 36 at a closing of the belt rocker 32, through which a pressing force and closing force of the belt rocker 32 is amplified. Depending on the design of the angle or the elasticity of the belt 14, these two opposing effects can be balanced, so that the closing force is independent of the closing angle of the belt rocker 32 or can be set in another advantageous form.

2 shows the transfer unit 4 in a more detailed view from above. Shown is the belt rocker arm 32 with its swing arm 36, the counterweight 38, its role 26 on the output 24 and its Andruckband 14. Also shown is a release means 44 with a motor drive 46 and a gear 48, which in a point 50 with a holder 52 is connected to the swing arm 36 is attached. The swing arm 36 is relatively small pivotable relative to the holder 52, as indicated on a bolt 54 in a slot 56. When stationary drive 46, the holder 52 is rigidly supported relative to the drive 46, wherein the swing arm 36 can swing a piece to adapt in its open position to different thicknesses of mail 8. By means of a spring 58 visible in FIG. 3, the band rocker 32 is pressed in the direction of its closed position in its position shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows the transfer unit 4 with the band rocker 32 completely open. In this position, the band rocker 32 is rotated by more than 90 ° to the closed position shown in FIG. 2, wherein the contact band 14 is 90 ° in its region facing the mail item 8 Degree is pivoted to its closed position shown in Figure 2. The spring 58 shown in Figure 3 is designed as a torsion spring and spirally wound around the axis of rotation 34, wherein the left-facing and visible in Figure 3 end of the spring 58 is shown only half way to the left to make the spring visible. The illustrated end would be mounted under correct representation under a bracket 60 and not visible in plan view.

3 shows the band rocker 32 when triggered safety function. A mail piece 8 has left with its front end, the output 24 and has partially entered into an interior 62 of a mail item 20. There, the mail item 8, for example, has jammed, so that it is not further introduced into the interior 62 in spite of a force caused by the belts 12, 14 feed force in the direction of the output 24 and thus in the mail container 20 inside. In the meantime, the entire mail carrier 18 is moved further in the carrier direction 22 and the output 24 is carried synchronized so that no or only little relative movement occurs between the inner space 62 and the output 24. By means of a sensor 64, for example an optical sensor 64, the gap between the output 24 and the mail carrier 18 is scanned, wherein the sensor 64 is connected to a processing means 66 and the processing means 66 monitors the gap and thus the insertion of the mail item 8 in the interior 62 , The process means 66 now recognizes that the optical measuring beam generated by the sensor 64, for example, is still interrupted and the mail item 8 has thus not yet been completely introduced into the relevant mail container 20.

At a later time, the transfer unit 4 reaches a position in which the synchronized entrainment with the mail carrier 18 is regularly stopped. This would cause the mail item 8 would be transported with its front end further in the carrier direction 22, wherein the output 24 rests or even returned in the opposite direction. In order to avoid damage to the mail item 8 and the transfer unit 4 caused thereby, the processing means 66 actuates the drive 46 so that the latter moves the gear unit 48 in accordance with an arrow 68. The gear 48 engages the holder 52, which is positively connected to the swing arm 36 and pulls it into its open position shown in Figure 3. The band rocker 32 is now open by the opening angle 70 to the closed position.

The e.g. 35 cm long mail item 8 is thereby completely released and can now be continued in the support direction 22 without touching the pressure belt 14 or another element of the belt rocker 32 and the transfer unit 4. The risk of damage to the mail item 8 or the transfer unit 4 is thereby greatly reduced. There now remains enough time to stop the mail carrier 18 and to clear the mailing jam without affecting elements of the transfer device 2.

When opening the band rocker 32 in its open position as shown in Figure 3 of the swing arm 36 through the Gear 48 moves against the spring force of the spring 58, which is further stretched at increasing opening angle 70. In another embodiment, the spring 58, which is provided for applying a pressing force of the belt rocker 32 on the between the belts 12, 14 transported mailing 8, are applied by another or alternative spring 72, in Figure 3 in shape a box is shown schematically between the swing arm 36 and the holder 52. The spring 72 pushes the rocker arm 36 away from the holder 52, so that in the closed position of the belt rocker 32 via the rocker arm 36 and the pressure belt 14 a pressing force on the mail item 8 between the belts 12, 14 is exercised.

If the drive 46 is actuated to open the band rocker 32, then the holder 52 can rotate a little counterclockwise, without the positive engagement with the rocker arm 36 engages. By this rotation, the spring 72 is first relaxed, so that the pressing force of the two bands 12, 14 is reduced against each other. In this action, the spring 72 also aids in the operation of the transmission 48 as it pushes toward its open position. Upon further pivoting of the holder 52 engages the positive connection between the holder 52 and the swing arm 36, so that the swing arm 36 is pulled into its open position. The spring 72 may in this case remain biased a bit far, so that the swing arm 36 is guided without play.

Claims

claims

1. Transfer device (2) for postal items (8) with a transfer unit (4), which has an output (24) for transferring the separated mailpieces (8) to a mail carrier (18) and a transport device (10) for transporting the mailpieces (8 ) in a transporting direction (16) for dispensing (24), the two belts (12, 14) for holding and transporting the mailpieces (8) on both sides and means for adjusting the distance of the belts (12, 14) from each other to the thickness a postal item (8), characterized in that the means for adjusting a pivotable about an axis of rotation rocker arm (32) is pivoted by the pivoting movement of one of the bands (12, 14) and so in its distance from the other band (12, 14) is variable.

2. Transfer device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the band rocker (32) pensationsmittel has a compensation, which in an acceleration of the

Output (24) both in the direction and against movement of the mail carrier (18) counteracts inertial closing or opening of the bands (12, 14).

3. Transfer device (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the compensation means is a counterweight (38).

4. Transfer device (2) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the direction of acceleration of the output (24) transversely to the transport direction (16).

5. Transfer device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the center of gravity of the band rocker (32) in the axis of rotation (34).

6. Transfer device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a clamping force of one of the bands (12) exerts a closing force on the band rocker (32).

7. Transfer device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a release means (44) for opening the belt rocker (32) so far that a mail item (8) between the belts (12, 14) released on the output (24) becomes.

8. Transfer device (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the release means (44) has a gear (48) for opening the belt rocker (32) so far up that a mail item (8) in a range of the

Output (24) to at least 30 cm against the transport direction in an acceleration direction of the output (24) is completely released.

9. transfer device (2) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the release means (44) has a motor drive (46) for opening the belt rocker (32).

10. transfer device (2) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the band rocker (32) to a point (50) of the release means (44) on the belt rocker (32) is a piece in a spring means swingable.

11. Transfer device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a spring (72) for pressing the bands (12, 14) against each other, wherein an opening movement of the release means (44) causes a relaxation of the spring (72).