EP3978149B1 - Device for sorting parcels with system for permutation of containers in vertical rotation in sorting output - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to parcel sorting equipment comprising a sorting conveyor, sorting outlets distributed along said conveyor and a control-command unit capable of controlling the sorting conveyor to sort the parcels in the sorting outlets according to of some sorting information.

Prior technique

Today, logistics platforms are equipped with automated parcel sorting systems in order to process parcels from many supply sources and distribute them to a large number of recipients.

The documents WO2018/115608 , US8919529 , US2019/329296 and EP3623061 describe in this regard automated parcel sorting equipment comprising a conveyor on which parcels to be sorted are conveyed and under which sorting outlets are distributed.

A control-command unit here controls the sorting conveyor to sort the parcels in the sorting outlets according to certain sorting information, here their destination address.

The current increase in the volume of purchases via e-commerce of small import packages, known as PPI, requires increasing the number of sorting passes and the throughput speed of the conveyors with the risk of damaging the packages.

At the same time, increasing the number of physical destinations on the same sorting plan requires increasing the number of sorting outlets and therefore the footprint of the installation.

Also, the greater the number of sorting outlets, the greater the handling means implemented to recover the packages will have to be.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to sorting equipment contributing to solving the problems mentioned above.

To this end, the subject of the invention is parcel sorting equipment comprising a sorting conveyor, sorting outlets distributed along said conveyor and a control-command unit capable of controlling the sorting conveyor to sort the parcels in the sorting outlets according to certain sorting information, each sorting outlet being arranged to store a plurality of sorting receptacles each associated with parcel sorting information in the memory of the control-command unit, characterized in that the equipment also comprises at each sorting outlet a receptacle permutation device comprising a rotatable shaft about a first horizontal axis of rotation, the shaft being provided with supports each designed to store and drive in vertical rotation around the first axis of rotation a receptacle for parcels, and in that the control-command unit controls the changeover device to immobilize a receptacle, whose parcel sorting information has associated in the memory of the control-command unit corresponds to the sorting information of a current parcel to be sorted, in a filling position in which the receptacle is positioned under the sorting outlet to receive a parcel.

• l'arbre comprend une pluralité de bras s'étendant depuis le premier axe de rotation et chaque bras comprend un des supports monté libre en rotation selon un second axe de rotation horizontal déporté par rapport au premier axe de rotation, chaque support étant monté en équilibre horizontal par rapport à l'axe de rotation déporté ;
• le dispositif de permutation comprend un système de synchronisation horizontale mécanique conçu pour synchroniser l'ensemble des supports en équilibre horizontal pendant leur rotation verticale selon le premier axe de rotation ;
• le système de synchronisation horizontale mécanique comprend un châssis sur lequel est monté mobile en rotation l'arbre selon le premier axe de rotation, un pignon de référence solidaire au châssis et partageant le premier axe de rotation avec l'arbre, un pignon de synchronisation solidaire au support et monté libre en rotation à l'extrémité de chaque bras selon le second axe de rotation, et des liaisons mécaniques reliant en rotation synchronisée les pignons de synchronisation au pignon de référence ;
• les liaisons mécaniques comprennent une liaison de synchronisation de type chaine ou courroie crantée reliant en série l'ensemble des pignons de synchronisation et une liaison de référence de type chaîne ou courroie crantée reliant le pignon de référence à un seul pignon de synchronisation ;
• les liaisons mécaniques comprennent des liaisons de référence de type chaîne ou courroie crantée reliant chaque pignon de synchronisation indépendamment au pignon de synchronisation ;
• les supports se présentent sous la forme de nacelles avec une paroi de fond conçue pour supporter un réceptacle, deux parois latérales et deux ouvertures en face avant et arrière conçues pour autoriser le déchargement d'un réceptacle par glissement ;
• le dispositif de permutation comprend un système de détection de position de réceptacle apte à déterminer quel réceptacle de la sortie de tri est en position de remplissage, l'unité de contrôle-commande comprenant en mémoire l'ordonnancement des réceptacles au niveau de chaque sortie de tri et, en réponse à la détection dudit système de détection, commande la rotation du dispositif de permutation pour placer en position de remplissage le réceptacle dont l'information de tri de colis correspond à l'information de tri du colis courant à trier ;
• le dispositif de permutation comprend un système de détection du niveau de remplissage de réceptacle en position de remplissage, et, en réponse au dépassement d'un certain seuil du niveau de remplissage du réceptacle, l'unité de contrôle-commande commande le déplacement du réceptacle dans une position d'évacuation agencée pour présenter le réceptacle à hauteur ergonomique ;
• chaque sortie de tri est équipée d'une trémie de remplissage qui s'étend vers le bas depuis le convoyeur vers un réceptacle en position de remplissage.

The parcel sorting equipment according to the invention can advantageously have the following characteristics:

• the shaft comprises a plurality of arms extending from the first axis of rotation and each arm comprises one of the supports mounted free to rotate along a second horizontal axis of rotation offset with respect to the first axis of rotation, each support being mounted in equilibrium horizontal with respect to the offset axis of rotation;
• the permutation device comprises a mechanical horizontal synchronization system designed to synchronize all of the supports in horizontal balance during their vertical rotation along the first axis of rotation;
• the mechanical horizontal synchronization system comprises a frame on which the shaft is rotatably mounted along the first axis of rotation, a reference pinion fixed to the frame and sharing the first axis of rotation with the shaft, a synchronization pinion fixed to the support and mounted free in rotation at the end of each arm along the second axis of rotation, and mechanical connections connecting in synchronized rotation the synchronization pinions to the reference pinion;
• the mechanical links comprise a chain or toothed belt type synchronization link connecting all of the synchronization sprockets in series and a chain or toothed belt type reference link connecting the reference pinion to a single synchronization pinion;
• the mechanical links comprise reference links of the chain or toothed belt type connecting each synchronization pinion independently to the synchronization pinion;
• the supports are in the form of nacelles with a bottom wall designed to support a receptacle, two side walls and two openings in the front and rear face designed to allow the unloading of a receptacle by sliding;
• the permutation device comprises a receptacle position detection system capable of determining which receptacle of the sorting outlet is in the filling position, the control-command unit comprising in memory the scheduling of the receptacles at the level of each outlet of sorting and, in response to the detection of said detection system, controls the rotation of the switching device to place in the filling position the receptacle whose parcel sorting information corresponds to the sorting information of the current parcel to be sorted;
• the switching device comprises a system for detecting the level of filling of the receptacle in the filling position, and, in response to the exceeding of a certain threshold of the level of filling of the receptacle, the control-command unit controls the movement of the receptacle in an evacuation position arranged to present the receptacle at an ergonomic height;
• each sorting outlet is equipped with a filling hopper which extends downwards from the conveyor towards a receptacle in the filling position.

The basic idea of the invention here is to have a greater number of so-called logical or potential sorting outputs than the number of physical sorting outputs. For this, each physical sorting outlet of the sorting equipment is equipped with several receptacles each associated with different sorting information.

A receptacle permutation system is also provided to move the receptacles of the sorting outlet in rotation and to position a single one in the filling position under the appropriate sorting outlet.

It will be understood for example that for a physical sorting outlet comprising four receptacles each associated with different parcel sorting information, there will be three more logic outputs than a simple physical sorting outlet provided with a single receptacle.

Thus, the sorting equipment according to the invention will be able to serve as many logic outputs as there are receptacles assigned to the physical sorting output and this for a footprint equivalent to that of conventional sorting equipment.

The invention consists on the one hand in reducing the footprint by proposing a system for permutation of tray with vertical rotation and on the other hand in keeping the receptacles horizontal during their vertical rotation using a mechanical horizontal synchronization system.

The receptacles are thus constantly kept horizontal despite the random distribution of the load flow of the packages in the receptacles.

Brief description of the drawings

• [Fig.1] La figure 1 est une représentation schématique d'un équipement de tri selon l'invention ;
• [Fig.2] La figure 2 est une représentation schématique de la face latérale gauche d'un dispositif de permutation selon l'invention ;
• [Fig.3] La figure 3 est une représentation schématique de la face latérale droite d'un dispositif de permutation selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• [Fig.4] La figure 4 est une représentation schématique de la face latérale droite d'un dispositif de permutation selon un second mode de réalisation de l'invention. Description détaillée

The present invention will be better understood and other advantages will appear on reading the description. detailed embodiments taken by way of non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

• [ Fig.1 ] The figure 1 is a schematic representation of sorting equipment according to the invention;
• [ Fig.2 ] The figure 2 is a schematic representation of the left side face of a switching device according to the invention;
• [ Fig.3 ] The figure 3 is a schematic representation of the right side face of a switching device according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• [ Fig.4 ] The figure 4 is a schematic representation of the right side face of a switching device according to a second embodiment of the invention. detailed description

The figure 1 represents sorting equipment 1 for parcels 2 according to the invention designed to equip a sorting center such as a logistics center for receiving and redistributing parcels 2.

The sorting equipment 1 of parcels 2 according to the invention comprises a sorting conveyor 3, here for example a loop conveyor which moves along a certain conveying direction D1, and sorting outlets 4 distributed along the conveyor of sorting 3.

The sorting conveyor 3 comprises pivoting plates 5 capable of pivoting to let the parcels 2 fall by gravity into the appropriate sorting outlets 4.

Each sorting outlet 4 is equipped with a plurality of receptacles 6 for parcels 2, the number of which may vary depending on the sorting information of parcels to be sorted, such as for example the number of destination addresses for parcels 2 to be sorted , the size of the packages, the weight of the parcels, mention of a customs declaration on the parcels, etc.

The receptacles 6 are for example in the form of trays open on the top, as shown in the figures 2 to 4 .

This type of receptacle 6 is particularly well suited to bulk filling with packages 2 of small size, called PPI.

The receptacles 6 are each associated with parcel sorting information 2 in the memory of a control-command unit 7 of the sorting equipment 1.

The control-command unit 7, as shown in the figure 1 , also includes in memory a sorting plan for the parcels 2 to be sorted which is defined from the distribution of all the receptacles 6 and the sorting outlets 4 within the sorting equipment 1 and from the information of sorting of all the parcels 2 to be sorted.

A permutation device 8 of the receptacles 6 shown on all of the figures 1 to 4 , is also provided at each sorting outlet 4 and comprises a shaft 8a rotatable along a first horizontal axis of rotation A1.

The shaft 8a is here provided with supports 9 each designed to store and drive in vertical rotation around the first axis of rotation A1 a receptacle 6 for parcel 2. The supports 9 are for example in the form of nacelles with a bottom wall PF designed to support a receptacle, two side walls PL and two openings on the front face and rear face designed to allow the unloading of a receptacle by sliding. Shaft 8a is also designed to move in the clockwise or counterclockwise, as represented by the arrow R1 on the figures 1 to 4 , and to immobilize after each rotation, a receptacle 6 in a filling position in which the receptacle 6 is arranged under the sorting outlet 4 to receive a parcel 2 and another receptacle in a discharge position in which this other receptacle 6 , represented in figure 2 , is placed at the height of an operator's arm to be evacuated manually or automatically by a shuttle robot.

Shaft 8a also includes a plurality of arms 8b extending from the first axis of rotation.

Each support 9 is here mounted free in rotation at one end of an arm 8b along a second horizontal axis of rotation A2 offset with respect to the first axis of rotation A1, each support 9 being mounted in horizontal equilibrium with respect to the second axis of rotation A2 deported.

The permutation device 8 also comprises a mechanical horizontal synchronization system 10 designed to synchronize all of the supports 9 in horizontal equilibrium during their vertical rotation along the first axis of rotation A1.

More particularly, the mechanical horizontal synchronization system 10 comprises here, by way of example, a frame 11 on which the shaft 8a is rotatably mounted along the first axis of rotation A1, a reference pinion 12 secured to the frame and sharing the first axis of rotation with the shaft 8a, a synchronization pinion 13 secured to the support 9 and mounted free in rotation at the end of each arm 8b along the second axis of rotation A2, and mechanical connections 14 connecting in synchronized rotation the synchronization pinions 13 to the reference pinion 12.

According to a first embodiment represented on the figure 2 and 3 , the mechanical links 14 are in the form of a synchronization link 14a of the chain or toothed belt type connecting in series all the synchronization sprockets 13 and of a reference link 14b of the chain or toothed belt type connecting the reference gear with a single synchronization gear.

According to a second embodiment shown in the figure 4 , the mechanical links 14 are only in the form of reference links 14b of the chain or toothed belt type connecting each synchronization pinion 13 independently to the reference pinion 12.

The control-command unit 7 is parameterized to control the switching device 8 on the basis of the sorting information of the parcels 2 to be sorted and of the sorting plan.

Thus, the unit 7 controls the permutation device 8 in order to place in the filling position a receptacle 6 whose parcel 2 sorting information associated with it corresponds to the sorting information of a current parcel 2 to be sorted. in sort output 4.

Advantageously, the switching device 8 here has a barrel-shaped structure clearly visible on the figures 1 to 4 .

It will therefore be understood that the increase in the number of receptacles per physical output increases the number of logic outputs, thereby favoring the reduction in the number of sorting passes on the sorting conveyor 3.

Also, in order to facilitate the transfer of the parcels 2 into the receptacles 6, each sorting outlet 4 is equipped with a filling hopper 15 which extends downwards, from the sorting conveyor 3 towards a receptacle 6 in the position of filling.

Advantageously, a fairing, here partially represented by the frame 11, may be provided around the changeover device in order to protect the operators during the recovery of a receptacle loaded with packages in the evacuation position.

In this case, an opening will be provided in the fairing at arm's length so that the operator can easily retrieve the receptacle loaded with packages.

As shown on the figure 1 , a position detection system 16 of receptacle 6 can also be fitted to switching device 8 in order to determine which receptacle 6 is in the filling position.

In this case, the control-command unit 7 includes in memory the scheduling of the receptacles 6 at the level of each sorting outlet 4 and, in response to the detection of said position detection system 16, controls the rotation R1 of the device permutation 8 to place the receptacle 6 in the filling position, the parcel sorting information of which corresponds to the current parcel 2 sorting information to be sorted.

The sorting equipment 1 according to the invention may also comprise a system for detecting the filling level 17 of the receptacle 6 when it is in the filling position.

Thus, in response to the exceeding of a certain threshold of the level of filling of the receptacle 6, the unit of control-command 7 controls the movement of the receptacle 6 in the evacuation position.

The drive in rotation R1 of the shaft is carried out using a motor 18 controlled step by step and a toothed belt.

Thus, when using the sorting equipment 1 according to the invention to sort a current package 2, the control-command unit 7 first interrogates the position detection system 16 of the receptacle 6 .

If the receptacle 6 whose parcel 2 sorting information corresponds to that of the parcel 2 to be sorted, the parcel 2 is evacuated in the receptacle 6.

If the parcel 2 sorting information does not match, the permutation system 8 moves the receptacles 6 in rotation R1 to position the receptacle 6 in the filling position with the corresponding parcel 2 sorting information.

If the switching device 8 does not have time to position the correct receptacle 6 in time, the parcel 2 is recirculated on the sorting conveyor 3.

Once the package 2 has been ejected, the control-command unit 7 then interrogates the system for detecting the filling level 17 of the receptacle 6.

If the receptacle 6 to receive the parcel 2 is full, the control-command unit 7 prohibits any evacuation of parcels 2 in this receptacle 6 and controls the switching device 8 to position the receptacle 6 in the evacuation position and allow its manual or automatic evacuation and its replacement by an empty receptacle 6.

Once the full receptacle 6 has been replaced by an empty one, the control-command unit 7 controls the rotation of the receptacles 6 to place the appropriate receptacle 6 in the filling position and allow the evacuation of the package 2.

Claims (10)

1. Device (1) for sorting parcels (2), comprising a sorting conveyor (3), sorting outlets (4) distributed along said conveyor and a control unit (7) which is capable of controlling the sorting conveyor for sorting the parcels in the sorting outlets on the basis of a certain piece of parcel sorting information, each sorting outlet being arranged to store a plurality of sorting receptacles (6) each associated with a piece of parcel sorting information in the memory of the control unit, characterized in that the device also comprises, at each sorting outlet, a device (8) for permutating receptacles comprising a shaft (8a) which is rotatable about a first horizontal axis of rotation (A1), the shaft being provided with supports (9) which are each designed to store and vertically rotate about the first axis of rotation a receptacle for parcels, and in that the control unit controls the permutation device for immobilizing a receptacle of which the piece of parcel sorting information associated in the memory of the control unit corresponds to the piece of information regarding sorting the current parcel to be sorted, into a filling position in which the receptacle is positioned under the sorting outlet for receiving a parcel.
2. Sorting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaft comprises a plurality of arms (8b) which extend from the first axis of rotation and in that each arm comprises one of said supports freely rotatably mounted about a second horizontal axis of rotation (A2) which is offset relative to the first axis of rotation, each support being mounted in horizontal equilibrium relative to the offset axis of rotation.
3. Sorting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the permutation device comprises a mechanical horizontal synchronization system (10) which is designed to synchronize all the supports in horizontal equilibrium during their vertical rotation about the first axis of rotation.
4. Sorting device according to claim 3, characterized in that the mechanical horizontal synchronization system comprises a frame (11) on which the shaft is rotatably mounted about the first axis of rotation, a reference pinion (12) secured to the frame and sharing the first axis of rotation with the shaft, a synchronization pinion (13) secured to the support and freely rotatably mounted at the end of each arm about the second axis of rotation, and mechanical connections (14) rotatably connecting the synchronization pinions to the reference pinion in a synchronized manner.
5. Sorting device according to claim 4, characterized in that said mechanical connections comprise a chain or toothed belt synchronization connection (14a) which connects in series all the synchronization pinions and a chain or toothed belt reference connection (14b) which connects the reference pinion to a single synchronization pinion.
6. Sorting device according to claim 4, characterized in that said mechanical connections comprise chain or toothed belt reference connections which connect each synchronization pinion independently to the synchronization pinion.
7. Sorting device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supports are in the form of nacelles having a bottom wall (PF) which is designed to support a receptacle, two side walls (PL) and two openings in the front face and the rear face which are designed to allow a receptacle to be unloaded by sliding.
8. Sorting device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the permutation device comprises a receptacle position detection system (16) which is capable of determining which receptacle of the sorting outlet is in the filling position, and in that the control unit comprises in the memory the scheduling of the receptacles at each sorting outlet and, in response to the detection of said detection system, controls the rotation of the permutation device for placing in the filling position the receptacle of which the piece of parcel sorting information corresponds to the piece of information regarding sorting the current parcel to be sorted.
9. Sorting device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a system for detecting the filling level (17) of the receptacle in the filling position, and in that in response to a certain threshold of the filling level of the receptacle being exceeded, the control unit controls the movement of the receptacle into a discharged position arranged to present the receptacle at an ergonomic height.
10. Sorting device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each sorting outlet is provided with a filling hopper which extends downward from the conveyor toward a receptacle in the filling position.

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