EP4021831A1

EP4021831A1 - Method and system for sorting positionally unstable items to be sorted

Info

Publication number: EP4021831A1
Application number: EP20764039.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Enenkel
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Koerber Supply Chain Logistics GmbH
Priority date: 2019-08-26
Filing date: 2020-08-18
Publication date: 2022-07-06
Also published as: EP3786088A1; WO2021037609A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system (2, 28, 36) for sorting items to be sorted (4a to 4d), comprising: a) a sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38) having a chain of receiving elements (12, 32, 40), wherein the receiving elements have individually controllable sorting elements (14, 52), with which an item to be sorted (4a to 4d) can be discharged from the conveying path (10) into a correspondingly logically assigned end position (6) according to its target destination; b) a number of end positions (6) that can be logically assigned target destinations; c) a feed device (18, 33, 42) for feeding the items to be sorted (4a to 4d) onto the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38); d) at least one detection means (20) with which the receiving element/s (12, 32, 40) claimed by the item to be sorted (4a to 4d) on the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38) can be assigned to the item to be sorted (4a to 4d); and e) a sorting controller (16) which is also designed to control the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38) and to control the sorting elements (14, 52) for at least one portion of the receiving elements (12, 32, 40) assigned to an item to be sorted (4a to 4d) in the above-mentioned manner in order to discharge the item to be sorted (4a to 4d) into the end position (6) logically assigned to said item to be sorted.

Description

Method and system for sorting unstable sorting pieces

The invention relates to a method and a system for sorting items to be sorted in terminals logically linked to their respective destination.

Large logistics centers with baggage, mail and / or parcel sorting systems, in which pieces of baggage, letters and / or large letters and / o the parcels are processed, are sold, for example, by Siemens Logistics GmbH.

In such logistics centers, pieces of luggage, letters, parcels or shipments (hereinafter referred to as sorting items) are separated from a store, e.g. a stack, on a separating device (material input), transported by a conveyor system along a conveyor path and implemented at several sorting exits for example, by sorting switches or cross-belt sorters or tilting devices, supplied to the respective target locations, such as, for example, target locations of a baggage sorting system in an airport. During the transport or sorting process, the items to be sorted are sorted into the target locations. For the sorting process, each target point is assigned a variable target code according to the sorting logic or according to the sorting process by means of a sorting / transport control. A variable destination code is also assigned to the items to be sorted and they are then sorted into a destination accordingly. Several destinations can also have the same destination code, for example in the case of destination addresses with a known high volume of mail. This is possible, for example. B. on when the capacity of a target location is insufficient to accommodate all items to be sorted for this target code.

With the high volume of small goods shipments, for which annual growth rates of more than 20% are forecast for the next few years, on the one hand the number of items to be sorted increases massively, while on the other hand the very often non-homogeneous packaging of these small goods shipments the sorting of these Sorted items generally referred to as unstable in position in comparison makes it much more demanding than a conventional cuboid package or parcel. For these small goods shipments, which mainly come from B2C e-commerce and have extremely heterogeneous and unstable packaging, the future share of the total volume of general cargo is estimated to be more than 50%.

Furthermore, as part of the automation of the sorting processes, the aim is to fully automate the process in accordance with the catchphrase “One Touch” to as many terminals as possible. In order to be able to avoid a multi-level or sequential sorting process that reduces throughput at this point, it is therefore necessary to be able to implement as many terminals as possible in the smallest possible space. This requirement, in turn, can only be achieved with sorting systems that allow the end points and the conveyor technology to be arranged over several levels and are therefore room-accessible.

So far, these new types of mailing formats have mainly been sorted with bomb-bay, tilt tray or shoe sorters. These types of sorters are so-called continuous conveyors with equally sized receiving sections for the goods to be sorted at a constant distance. The throughput of the sorting system is thus essentially defined by the size of the largest mail item to be sorted, which thus defines the size of the receiving area.

Cross-belt, roller or roller conveyor sorters are unsuitable for this task due to the positional and dimensional instability of the e-commerce items, as they lead to significant restrictions in the volume processed.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a method and a system for sorting items to be sorted in terminals logically linked to their destination, which is characterized by a high sorting capacity with high sorting quality even for items to be sorted that are unstable.

The object is achieved with regard to the method according to the invention by a method for sorting items to be sorted in with their Target destination logically linked end points solved, comprising the following process steps: a) Providing a sorting conveyor which comprises a chain of coherent receiving elements for the items to be sorted along a conveying path, at least some of these receiving elements comprising individually controllable sorting elements with which a sorting item according to its The target destination can be ejected from the conveying path to the correspondingly logically assigned terminal; b) placing the item to be sorted onto the sorting conveyor; c) Assigning the receiving element or elements used by the item to be sorted on the sorting conveyor to the item to be sorted; and d) conveying the item to be sorted along the conveying path and triggering the sorting elements for at least some of the receiving elements assigned in this way for the delivery of the item to be sorted into the end point logically assigned to this sorting item.

With regard to the system, these objects are achieved according to the invention by a system for sorting items to be sorted in end points logically linked to their target destination, comprising: a) a sorting conveyor which, along a conveying path, comprises a chain of interrelated receiving elements for the items to be sorted, at least one part this receiving elements comprises individually controllable sorting elements with which a sort item can be ejected from the conveying path according to its destination into the corresponding logically assigned end point; b) a number of terminals to which one or more target destinations can temporarily be logically assigned by a sorting control; c) a feeding device for feeding the items to be sorted onto the sorting conveyor; d) at least one detection means with which the receiving element or elements stressed by the item to be sorted on the sorting conveyor can be assigned to the item to be sorted; and e) the sorting control, which is further developed, to control the sorting conveyor for conveying the item to be sorted along the conveying path and the sorting elements for at least some of the receiving elements assigned to such a sorting item for delivering the To be sorted in the end place logically assigned to this piece to be controlled.

In this way, this solution is characterized by a flexible "pocket size" for receiving the items to be sorted, which is defined when the item to be sorted is placed into a virtual, always matching bag (virtual group of exception elements) by determining the receiving elements required by the item to be sorted ren can. Thus, the construction of technically comparatively easy to implement continuous conveyors is possible, which can achieve very high throughputs at a comparatively low conveying speed due to the constant gap between the items to be sorted on the sorting conveyor. In addition, the formation of the chains of receiving elements also allows the sorting conveyor to be able to curve to a certain extent, so that the sorting conveyor is also characterized over several levels with a high number of terminal locations that can be arranged as a result. Another advantage of this configuration is the possibility of comparatively simple topload loading of the sorting conveyor, since both the length of the item to be sorted and the gaps between two items to be sorted are variable and therefore no exact synchronization of the loading as with a constant pitch -Sorter is required.

As already described above, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the items to be sorted can be placed on the sorting conveyor at a predeterminable distance. This means that the distance between the items to be sorted can be adapted to the type and properties of the sorting conveyor and the operating conditions, such as the conveyor speed.

Especially with unstable items to be sorted, even with prior knowledge of the dimensions of the item to be sorted, it is not always possible in the Sortiersteue to determine exactly from the start how the item to be sorted will actually be deposited on the sorting conveyor after the task. It is therefore particularly advantageous if the assignment of the items to be sorted on the sorting conveyor claimed receiving elements is made only after giving up the sorting piece on the sorting conveyor.

In an expedient manner, detection means can be provided for this, with which the receiving elements stressed by the item to be sorted on the sorting conveyor can be detected. A camera can be used as a possible detection means, for example, the images of which are post-processed with software that determines which recording elements are at least partially covered by a sorting piece. To facilitate optical detection, the recording elements can, for example, also have clearly visible markings that are covered by a sorting item, for example, and are therefore no longer visible to the camera. Alternatively or additionally, the receiving means can have a capacitive and / or optical sensor with which the receiving elements stressed by the item to be sorted on the sorting conveyor can be detected.

So that an item to be sorted can then also be ejected from the sorting run at an end point, it can be provided in the sorting control that the receiving elements claimed by a sorting item form a logical receiving group and the sorting elements assigned to this logical receiving group can be triggered at the same time or with a time delay are. Here, for example, only the sorting elements of every second receiving element can be activated for this receiving group. What kind of concrete the absorber elements can be will be explained in more detail below.

A possible embodiment for a sorting conveyor can be achieved when the sorting conveyor is designed as a shoe conveyor and the sorting elements are designed as drop pins which can be moved perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sorting conveyor and protrude beyond a support surface formed by the receiving element. These ejector pins then push the item to be sorted to the side of the receiving elements in the desired terminal. The ejector pins can also be on both sides of the respective receiving element by means of a toothed belt driven by a small electric motor be moved towards, so that a dropping of the item to be sorted is also possible in end points arranged on both sides, which in turn enables a higher density of the end points. In addition, an arrangement of these ejector pins can be provided on both sides of the receiving elements, whereby it is also possible to be able to “pinch” an item to be sorted which has been identified as being particularly unstable during transport to the corresponding end point.

Another possible embodiment for a sorting conveyor can be achieved if the sorting conveyor is designed as a tilting sorter and the sorting elements are designed as tilting elements, each receiving element being assigned a tilting element with which the receiving element can be tilted about an axis running in the conveying direction. The tilt angle that can be achieved here can be up to 180 degrees in both tilt directions.

Alternatively, the sorting conveyor can also be designed as a pocket sorter and the sorting elements as bomb-bay elements, with each base of the receiving element being designed as a bomb-bay element with which the receiving element can be opened downwards and closed again after the item to be sorted has been successfully discarded .

A further advantageous alternative can arise for the sorting conveyor if the sorting conveyor is a pocket sorter and the receiving elements are at least two-part receiving elements suspended on one side of a conveyor and forming a V-shaped storage surface and the sorting elements are configured as a tilting mechanism, the tilting mechanism being the one from the part of the receiving element facing away from the suspension side can be pivotably dropped downward in a controllable manner about a tilting axis (essentially parallel to the direction of the conveying path).

The item to be sorted lies in the fold formed by the V-shape and simply falls down into the desired end point when the tilt mechanism is triggered. The advantage of this embodiment is that two pocket sorters can be operated in parallel, so that even two items to be sorted can be accommodated per unit length of the sorting conveyor. Thus results in a right and a left sorting line with a central suspension and a central drive in the conveying direction with a correspondingly doubled sorting performance.

Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are tert erläu in detail with reference to the drawing. It shows:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a detail from a shoe sorter;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a detail from the shoe sorter according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a detail from a tilting sorter;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a detail from the Kippsor ter according to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a detail from a bag sorter; and

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a detail from the pocket sorter according to FIG.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a detail from a system 2 for sorting sorting items 4a, 4b, 4c with unstable positions in terminal locations 6a to 6f that are logically linked to their destination. In this embodiment, the system 2 comprises a shoe sorter 8 which, along a conveying path 10, comprises a chain of contiguous receiving elements 12 for the items to be sorted 4a to 4c. The receiving elements are elastically coupled in the middle and can also overlap pen in the manner of a link guide in curved areas. In the present exemplary embodiment, each receiving element 12 has an individually controllable ejection pin 14 with which an item to be sorted according to its target destination is moved accordingly Logically assigned terminal 6a to 6f can be ejected from the conveying path 10.

Each ejector pin 14 can be moved in the direction of arrows 16 (see FIG. 2) transversely to the actual transport direction (arrow 10) by a toothed belt driven by a small motor (not shown here). The small electric motor is also provided with a small electronic unit by means of which the electric motor can be controlled individually and based on wireless communication with one or more receiving elements 12. For electrical supply Ver can be provided below the shoe sorter 8, a busbar not shown here. As an alternative to wireless communication, powerline communication would also be conceivable via this busbar.

In addition to the shoe sorter 8, a number of end points 6a to 6f are arranged, to which one or more target destinations are temporarily logically assigned in front of a sorting control 16. In addition, the system 2 has a feeding device 18 for feeding the items to be sorted 4a to 4c onto the shoe sorter 8. A camera 20 is also provided here as a detection means, with which the receiving element or elements 12 claimed by the respective sorting item 4a to 4c on the shoe sorter 8 can be assigned to the respective sorting item 4a to 4c. These assignments are made for a virtually formed group 22a, 22b, 22c of receiving elements 12, as shown in FIG. 2 for the items to be sorted 4a and 4c. The item to be sorted 4a occupies three receiving elements 12 and the item to be sorted 4c occupies six receiving elements 12 corresponding to its length.

The system 2 further includes the already mentioned sorting control 16, which is further designed to control the shoe sorter 8 for conveying the sorting pieces 4a to 4c along the conveying path 10. Next, the sorting control 16 also controls the ejector pins 14 or the small electric motors driving them, so that the ejector pins 14 for the group of items to be sorted assigned to the group of on receiving elements 12 for the delivery of the respective item to be sorted into the to control this sorting item logically assigned terminal 6a to 6f.

FIG. 2 schematically shows precisely this situation in a section from the system 2 according to FIG. 1 for the item to be sorted 4b. For the group 22b of two receiving elements 12, the two associated ejector pins 14 have just moved in the direction of the two arrows 24, whereby the sorting item 4b is pushed down from the shoe sorter 8 and sorted into the terminal 6d in a brief free fall (arrow 26) .

In this way, through the dynamic and virtual interconnection of the receiving elements 12, which are claimed by the item 4b as a support surface, to form the group 22b and the correspondingly fine granularity of the receiving elements 12 (length in the direction of conveyance in the range of a few centimeters), spatial “constant gap” Sorters can be realized which can serve a large number of compactly arranged end points with a very high throughput even at comparatively low conveying speeds (for example in the range of 1 to 2 m / sec).

FIG. 3 now shows this situation schematically using the example of a sorting system 28 with a tilting sorter 30 which is formed from a chain of coupled receiving elements 32 which together form a U-shaped channel for receiving items to be sorted 4a to 4d. A top load conveyor 33 conveys the sorting items 4a to 4d, which are sometimes very unstable depending on the packaging, onto the tilting sorter 30, which moves the sorting items 4a to 4d along the conveying path 10. Even if only one end point 6 is shown here by way of example, a large number of end points are provided along the tilt sorter 30, which here can also be arranged on both sides along the conveying path 10. Each receiving element 32 has a length of 5 cm - seen in conveying device 10 - and can be tilted by up to 180 ° on both sides by means of an electric motor-driven tilting mechanism (not shown here) around a centrally arranged tilt axis (see also arrow 34 in FIG 4). After the items to be sorted 4a to 4d have been placed on the tipping sorter 30, the camera 20 again records images of the items to be sorted 4a to 4d then lying on the tipping sorter. In the sorting control - as already described above - an evaluation of the images and a determination of the virtual groups of receiving elements 32, which are each acted upon by the items to be sorted 4a to 4d, are carried out. For each of these virtual groups, as the item to be sorted approaches the end point provided for this item to be sorted, the tilting mechanisms belonging to the respective group can be triggered by a corresponding command initiated by the sorting control 16, so that each item to be sorted is tipped into the corresponding end point can.

In the section shown in FIG. 4 from the system 28 according to FIG. 3, this situation is shown for the item to be sorted 4d, which is falling straight into the terminal 6 along an arrow 34.

For this purpose, the tilting mechanisms for the associated group of six receiving elements 32 were triggered, whereupon this group was tilted in the drawing at an angle of greater than 90 ° to the right side. Likewise, if the sorting control had been assigned accordingly, it would of course also have been possible to carry out this tilting movement to the left.

Another exemplary system 36 is shown schematically in FIG. 5 using a pocket sorter 38. This pocket sorter 38 offers with its receiving elements 40 a bench-like support surface for the items to be sorted 4a to 4d. The pocket sorter 38 has a centrally arranged suspension and the corresponding drive in the conveying direction 10, so that sorting items 4a to 4d can be placed on the receiving elements 40 on both sides of the pocket sorter 38 by a conveyor belt 42. In this drawing, a feed belt 42 for a right-hand sorting line 44 is shown only by way of example; analogously, this can also be provided for the sorting line 46 on the left.

The charging direction 48 provided here runs here at an angle of about 90 ° to the conveying direction of the game, for example Pocket sorter 38; however, much flatter angles could also be provided so that the items to be sorted can already be placed on the bag sorter 38 in the direction of the conveying path 10 with a speed component.

Here, too, the camera 20 again records the result of the loading process and a corresponding image or video analysis is used to determine the virtual groups of recording elements 40 which are each occupied by the items to be sorted 4a to 4d after loading. The receiving elements 40, which are constructed in two parts, form a V-shaped receiving surface for the animal pieces 4a to 4d. A first part 40a of the receiving elements 40 is directed more perpendicular (or only slightly inclined to the center), while the second part 40b of the receiving elements 40 is oriented more horizontally (or slightly outwardly inclined upwards) out (see cross-sectional view of a Receiving element at the lower edge of Figure 6). The second part 40b can also have molded knobs 50, which also hold more rounded sorting items (as shown for sorting item 4a) in a stable position at least on the receiving elements 40 until the respective sorting items 4a to 4d are dropped (these knobs 50 can also be used for the Receiving elements 12 and 32 may be provided in the other exemplary embodiments).

As shown at the bottom of FIG. 6, each receiving element 40 has an individually controllable tilting mechanism 52 serving as a sorting element with a corresponding wirelessly controllable control.

As shown in FIG. 6, the item to be sorted 4a is just falling into the end point 6b (see arrow 56). For this purpose, the tilting mechanisms of a group 22d comprising eight receiving elements have been triggered simultaneously, which leads to a common tilting (see arrow 54) of the respective second part 40b of the eight receiving elements 40 involved. For tilting, for example, two pins on the two outer receiving elements of this group 22d can be disengaged from the two receiving elements directly adjacent to group 22d and the tilting brakes (for example implemented electromagnetically) of the receiving elements of this group 22d can be released. In Figure 6 In addition, a further group of exception elements located further in the conveying direction 10 has been actuated for the dropping of a sorting item which is already located in the terminal 6c.

All of the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments have in common the inventive concept that the receiving elements occupied by the possibly very unstable and inhomogeneous sorting pieces on the respective sorters are determined dynamically according to the task and connected to virtual groups. The items to be sorted can be placed on the sorter at a constant distance and emptied into the end point corresponding to the destination known to the sorting control by triggering the corresponding sorting elements in groups (means for discharging from the sorting stream).

The systems shown are therefore characterized by a flexible "pocket size" for receiving the items to be sorted 4a to 4d, which can be defined when the item to be sorted is placed into a virtual bag (group) that is always suitable by determining the receiving elements required by the item to be sorted . Thus, the construction of technically comparatively easy to implement continuous conveyors is possible, which can achieve very high throughputs at a comparatively low conveyor speed due to the constant gap between the items to be sorted on the sorting conveyor. In addition, the formation of the chains of receiving elements also allows the sorting conveyor to be able to curve to a certain extent, so that these sorting conveyors are also distinguished over several levels with a high number of terminal locations that can be arranged as a result. Another advantage of this configuration is the possibility of comparatively simple topload loading of the sorting conveyor, since both the length of the sorting piece and the gaps between two sorting pieces are variable and thus no exact synchronization of the loading as with a constant pitch -Sorter is required.

Claims

A method for sorting items to be sorted (4a to 4d) in end points (6) logically linked to their target destination, comprising the following process steps: a) Providing a sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38) which runs a chain along a conveying path (10) of contiguous receiving elements (12, 32, 40) for the items to be sorted (4a to 4d), at least some of these receiving elements (12, 32, 40) comprising individually controllable sorting elements (14, 52) with which a sorting item ( 4a to 4d) can be discharged from the conveying path (10) according to its destination into the corresponding logically assigned terminal (6); b) placing the item to be sorted (4a to 4d) on the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38 _); c) assigning the receiving element (12, 32, 40) stressed by the item to be sorted (4a to 4d) on the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38) to the item to be sorted (4a to 4d); and d) conveying the item to be sorted (4a to 4d) along the conveying path (10) and triggering the sorting elements (14, 52) for at least one part of the receiving elements (12, 32, 40) assigned in this way for the delivery of the item to be sorted (4a to 4a) 4d) into the terminal (6) logically assigned to this sorting item (4a to 4d).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the items to be sorted (4a to 4d) are placed on the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38) at a predeterminable distance.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the assignment of a sorting item (4a to 4d) on the sorting animal conveyor (8, 30, 38) claimed receiving elements (12, 32,

40) is only carried out after the item to be sorted (4a to 4d) has been placed on the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38).

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that Detection means (20) are provided with which the receiving elements (12, 32, 40) claimed by the Sor animal piece (4a to 4d) on the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38) can be detected.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that a camera (20) is used as a detection means, the images of which are post-processed with software that determines which recording elements are at least partially covered by a sorting item.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the receiving means have a capacitive and / or optical sensor as the detection means, with which the receiving elements claimed by the sorting piece on the sorting conveyor can be detected.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the receiving elements (12, 32, 40) claimed by a sorting item (4a to 4d) form a logical receiving group (22a to 22d) and this logical receiving group ( 22a to 22d) allocated sorting elements (14, 52) can be triggered simultaneously or with a time delay.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sorting conveyor as a shoe conveyor (8) and the sorting elements as perpendicular to the conveying direction (10) of the sorting conveyor (8) be moveable ejector pins (14), which via one of the receiving element (12 , 32, 40) protrude formed support surface, are designed.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sorting conveyor is designed as a tilting sorter (30) and the sorting elements are designed as tilting elements, each receiving element (32) is assigned a tilting element with which the receiving element (32) is designed to be tiltable about an axis running in the conveying direction (10).

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sorting conveyor is designed as a pocket sorter and the sorting elements as bomb-bay elements, each bottom of the receiving element is designed as a bomb-bay element with which the Can be opened on receiving element downwards and can be closed again after successful dropping of the item to be sorted.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sorting conveyor as a pocket sorter (38) and the receiving elements (40) as at least two-part receiving elements (40) suspended on one side on a conveyor and forming a V-shaped storage surface and the sorting elements are designed as a tilting mechanism (52), the tilting mechanism (52) allowing the part (40b) facing away from the suspension side to fall down in a controllable manner so that it can pivot about a tilting axis.

12. System (2, 28, 36) for sorting items to be sorted (4a to 4d) in end points (6) logically linked to their target destination, comprising: a) a sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38) which runs along a conveying path ( 10) a chain of connected receiving elements (12, 32,

40) for the items to be sorted (4a to 4d), at least some of these receiving elements (12, 32, 40) comprising individually controllable sorting elements (14, 52) with which a item to be sorted (4a to 4d) according to its destination in the corresponding logically assigned terminal (6) can be ejected from the conveying path (10); b) a number of terminals (6) to which one or more target destinations can be logically assigned temporarily in front of a sorting control (16); c) a feeding device (18, 33, 42) for feeding the sorting pieces (4a to 4d) onto the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38); d) at least one detection means (20) with which the receiving element (12, 32, 40) stressed by the item to be sorted (4a to 4d) on the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38) can be assigned to the item to be sorted (4a to 4d) is; and e) the sorting control (16), which is further designed, to control the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38) for conveying the item to be sorted (4a to 4d) along the conveying path (10) and to control the sorting elements (14, 52) for at least to control part of the receiving elements (12, 32, 40) assigned to such a sorting item (4a to 4d) for dispensing the sorting item (4a to 4d) into the terminal (6) that is logically assigned to this sorting item.

13. System (2, 28, 36) according to claim 12, characterized in that the items to be sorted (4a to 4d) can be placed on the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38) at a predeterminable distance.

14. System (2, 28, 36) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the sorting control (16) interacts with the at least one detection means (20) in such a way that the assignment of a sorting piece (4a to 4d) the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38) claimed receiving elements (12, 32, 40) can only be removed after the sorting piece (4a to 4d) has been placed on the sorting conveyor (8, 30, 38).

15. System (2, 28, 36) according to one of the preceding claims 12 to 14, characterized in that a camera (20) is provided as the acquisition means, the images of which can be postprocessed with software that can determine which recording elements (12 , 32, 40) are at least partially covered by a sorting item (4a to 4d).

16. System (2, 28, 36) according to one of the preceding claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the recording means have a capacitive and / or optical sensor as the detection means, with which the of the Sorted items are detectable on the sorting conveyor claimed receiving elements.

17. System (2, 28, 36) according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the receiving elements (12, 32, 40) claimed by a sorting item (4a to 4d) form a logical receiving group (22a to 22d) bil and the absorber elements (14, 52) assigned to this receiving group (22a to 22d) can be triggered simultaneously or with a time delay.

18. System according to one of the preceding claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the sorting conveyor as a shoe conveyor (8) and the Absortierelemente as perpendicular to the conveying direction (10) of the sorting conveyor (8) be movable ejector pins (14), which have one of the Receiving element (12) protrude formed support surface, are designed.

19. System according to one of the preceding claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the sorting conveyor is designed as a tilting sorter (28) and the sorting elements are designed as tilting elements, each receiving element (32) being assigned a tilting element with which the receiving element (32) is around an axis extending in the conveying direction (10) is designed to be tiltable.

20. System according to one of the preceding claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the sorting conveyor is designed as a pocket sorter and the sorting elements are designed as bomb-bay elements, each bottom of the receiving element is designed as a bomb-bay element with which the Can be opened on receiving element downwards and can be closed again after successful dropping of the item to be sorted.

21. System according to one of the preceding claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the sorting conveyor as a pocket sorter (36) and the receiving elements (40) as at least one side suspended from a conveyor two-part a V-shaped support surface forming receiving elements (40) and the Absortierelemente are tet ausgestal ^¬ as a tilting mechanism (52), wherein the tilting mechanism (52) the side of the suspension part remote from (40b) of the two-part female member (40) controllable by a tilt axis pivotally drops down.