EP4115994B1 - Agencements de tri destiné au tri des objets, ainsi que procédé correspondant - Google Patents

Agencements de tri destiné au tri des objets, ainsi que procédé correspondant Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4115994B1
EP4115994B1 EP21184871.8A EP21184871A EP4115994B1 EP 4115994 B1 EP4115994 B1 EP 4115994B1 EP 21184871 A EP21184871 A EP 21184871A EP 4115994 B1 EP4115994 B1 EP 4115994B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sorter
sorting
terminal
pouches
pouch
Prior art date
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EP21184871.8A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP4115994A1 (fr
EP4115994C0 (fr
Inventor
Thomas Wiesmann
Harald HANAWEG
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.)
Beumer Group GmbH and Co KG
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Beumer Group GmbH and Co KG
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.)
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Publication date
Application filed by Beumer Group GmbH and Co KG filed Critical Beumer Group GmbH and Co KG
Priority to EP21184871.8A priority Critical patent/EP4115994B1/fr
Priority to US18/576,465 priority patent/US20240326096A1/en
Priority to DE112022003477.7T priority patent/DE112022003477A5/de
Priority to DE202022002838.5U priority patent/DE202022002838U1/de
Priority to PCT/DE2022/100483 priority patent/WO2023280347A1/fr
Publication of EP4115994A1 publication Critical patent/EP4115994A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP4115994B1 publication Critical patent/EP4115994B1/fr
Publication of EP4115994C0 publication Critical patent/EP4115994C0/fr
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    • 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
    • B07C3/02—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
    • B07C3/08—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution using arrangements of conveyors
    • B07C3/082—In which the objects are carried by transport holders and the transport holders form part of the conveyor belts
    • B07C3/087—In which the objects are carried by transport holders and the transport holders form part of the conveyor belts the objects being taken up in transport files or holders which are not part of the conveyor belts
    • 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
    • B07C3/02—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
    • 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
    • B07C2301/00—Sorting according to destination
    • B07C2301/0083—Merging of mail pieces of different categories, e.g. letters with flats

Definitions

  • the invention is based on a sorting arrangement for sorting objects, in particular postal items, of different shapes, volumes and/or weights, the sorting arrangement having a flat sorter with a large number of load handling devices for objects to be sorted, which are moved along a sorting path of the flat sorter and for the Discharging an object resting on one of the load handling devices can be controlled individually in at least a first end point of the sorting arrangement.
  • the sorting arrangement also has a pocket sorter with a multiplicity of load-receiving means, designed as hanging pockets, for objects to be sorted.
  • Such a sorting arrangement is from DE 10 2018 219 583 B4 known.
  • the FR 2 940 151 A1 shows the merging of letters with standard letter mail, both types having been ejected beforehand into a respective separate sorting terminal.
  • Distribution centers in the courier-express-parcel (CEP) industry have the task of receiving parcels, parcels and other items of goods, in general shipments, within certain dimensions and weights and distributing them to shipping directions.
  • CEP distribution centers are not designed to process orders, but to distribute the delivered volume of parcels and other shipments as completely as possible within a defined time window, during the so-called shift.
  • the shipments arrive at the CEP distribution center uncorrelated in terms of time and using a wide variety of means of transport.
  • the shipments are not necessarily separated by size.
  • the shipments can be unloaded automatically, semi-automatically or manually.
  • Loosely loaded shipments can be placed immediately on the sorting system, while packaged shipments, which are delivered on pallets or in roller containers, for example, can only be placed on a sorter in the distribution center if there are staff for unloading and free capacity on the flat sorter and /or are available at a terminal.
  • the shipments are distributed after the shipment's address label, which contains the direction information, has been read.
  • the directional information forms predominantly the only sorting criterion obtained from an address database. During a shift, the assignment of the directions to the sorting end points is usually fixed, so that there is little scope for optimization in terms of personnel deployment, for example with regard to the walking routes.
  • the horizontal sorters used can be designed as closed loops (loop sorters) or in line form (line sorters). Both types mean that their number of load handling devices (LAM) on which the shipments are transported to the end points is small in relation to the distributed number of shipments per hour, with the ratio typically being less than 1:10.
  • LAM load handling devices
  • a 500 meter long parcel sorter can have 500 LAMs with a sorting capacity of 9,000 items per hour. This is due in particular to the comparatively high cost share of the LAMs in the overall lying sorter.
  • the distribution capacity of a lying sorter has its practical limits, which is usually around 10,000 to 20,000 items per hour.
  • several sorters are used, which usually eject into common terminals.
  • the relatively small number of LAMs means that a LAM can only be occupied by a shipment until it reaches the terminal for the first time and must be made available for a new occupancy after the shipment has been diverted to the terminal.
  • the sorter's sorting capacity would drop sharply if the shipments were held for longer periods of time for the purpose of temporary storage. A sorter is therefore not suitable or intended for temporarily storing mail items.
  • the terminals take over the function of temporarily storing the shipments that are sent in the same direction.
  • the shipments are collected at the terminal before a distribution center employee removes and loads them.
  • the loading can take place loosely in swap bodies or trucks, in roll containers, sacks or other containers.
  • Small shipments are often discharged directly into the means of transport, especially when small goods sorters are used. It is not possible to create a specific order for the shipments in the terminals according to a delivery list (stop list of the courier).
  • the number of terminals required results from the operative need, ie from the number of directions that are to be supplied by the distribution center.
  • the number and storage volume of the terminals determine the area required by the terminals in the distribution center and therefore have a significant impact on the size and cost of the building and the sorter that has to reach the terminals.
  • Terminals are usually located on the hall floor for operational reasons and compete with the rest of the logistic processing. They therefore represent a cost-intensive storage medium.
  • the sorting arrangement provides for the pocket sorter to have a pocket emptying system, from which the pockets are emptied into at least one second end point, which is different from the at least one first end point.
  • the invention is thus based on the finding that the sorting performance of the lying sorter can be increased with the aid of the buffer function of the pocket sorter, despite the buffer function not being present in the lying sorter. That's how it is, for example It is possible that only those objects to be sorted are fed to the lying sorter from the first end point which, for example, because of their dimensions, their weight or other properties, are not suitable for being served by the pocket sorter. This applies in particular to particularly large and/or bulky objects, which, however, based on experience, only represent 5 to a maximum of 10% of the shipment volume in the CEP area.
  • the sorting capacity of the lying sorter can be used exclusively to sort the aforementioned objects that cannot be processed by the pocket sorter, while the objects to be sorted by the pocket sorter that are occurring at the same time are emptied by the pocket sorter into the second terminal.
  • the latter can take place at different times and/or only after a request.
  • the objects can be kept in a buffer of the bag sorter until they are requested.
  • the second terminal can only be made available immediately before the request, for example at an unloading station of the pocket sorter, for the transfer of the objects from the pocket sorter to the second terminal. This reduces the utilization of the footprint of the distribution center and at the same time increases the sorting performance of the lying sorter, since it is no longer burdened with the objects sorted by the pocket sorter.
  • the sorting arrangement can also have a merger, with which the first and second terminals having the same sorting destination are merged.
  • the merging can include the merging of the sorting volumes of the first and the second terminal.
  • the volumes of the sorted objects of the two terminals are combined in one terminal to form a coherent volume or container.
  • the combination or merging of the sorting volumes of the first and second terminals does not necessarily and preferably does not mean that the two sorting volumes are combined into a single volume, are mixed or tilted into one another or are otherwise irreversibly combined without renewed sorting. Rather, it can preferably be provided that the sorting volumes of the first and the second terminal that have been brought together as part of the merging remain as separate sorting volumes even after the merging.
  • the terminals can each represent a lattice box, which have the same sorting destination and are brought together and for joint onward transport to the sorting destination or an intermediate station be loaded together, for example, on a transport vehicle.
  • the merging can also be the logical merging of two means of transport, for example two lattice boxes, so that they form a logical unit for onward transport.
  • the objects sorted by the first terminal which can have a larger individual volume and a greater individual weight compared to the sorted objects of the second terminal, can be arranged in the terminal below the sorted objects of the second terminal in order to ensure further transport that is gentle on the object of the sorted objects in the terminal.
  • the lying sorter can have a fixed number of load handling devices and preferably have a line sorter and/or a circulating sorter or be a line sorter or a circulating sorter.
  • an object to be sorted can either be introduced into the flat sorter or into the pocket sorter.
  • the object-specific selection criterion can be an object weight, an object volume, an object shape, an object dimension, an object shape, or an object target.
  • the sorting arrangement can have a dimensioning-weighing-scanning system for detecting the object-specific selection criterion.
  • the pocket sorter can have at least one pocket buffer, in which at least one group from a plurality of pockets of the pocket sorter are kept that have the same sorting destination, for example are intended to be emptied into the same second end point.
  • at least one group from a plurality of pockets of the pocket sorter are kept that have the same sorting destination, for example are intended to be emptied into the same second end point.
  • several of these groups are held in reserve in the pocket buffer.
  • At least two of the groups can differ from each other in that each group is assigned a different sorting target.
  • the bag buffer can have several buffer circuits arranged parallel to one another, from which the bags can be discharged individually or in groups. If the pocket buffer has several buffer circuits, provision can be made for the pockets with the same sorting destination to be held in the same buffer circuit of the pocket sorter.
  • the pockets in the buffer circuit do not have to have further sorting. In particular, it is not necessary for the pockets with the same sorting destination to be arranged consecutively in the buffer circuit and/or to have a sequencing. On the contrary, by selective ejection from the buffer circuit, it can be achieved that only the bags of the same group of bags with the same sorting destination are ejected from the buffer circuit.
  • the pockets of the same group of pockets with the same sorting destination can be fed directly to the second terminal as a compact group of pockets.
  • the bags within the bunch are in a random order.
  • sequencing of the pockets in the cluster can be provided, the pockets of the cluster can be subjected to sequencing. With the sequencing, which can be embodied as a sorting matrix, for example, the pockets within the group are brought into a preferred order.
  • sequencing is possible when the pockets of the same group are removed from the pocket buffer by the pockets being removed from the buffer circuit in the order of the desired sequence. Accordingly, the final sequence of the pockets is already produced when they are discharged from the buffer, so that a sorting matrix or other sequencing that follows the buffer can be saved.
  • this variant has the disadvantage that, particularly with long buffer circuits, the sorting performance is reduced due to the large number of complete circulations of the pockets that are required.
  • the pocket buffer has the advantage that the second terminal only has to be provided for the actual unloading of the buffer into the terminal and in particular not, as in the sorting arrangements known from the prior art, during the entire sorting process for each individual ejection of a shipment, for example a lying sorter.
  • the bag sorter can have a sequencing system for sorting the bags of the group discharged from the bag buffer so that they have a desired order, which is set up to bring the bags discharged from the buffer into an order in which they reach the end point are supplied.
  • the bags which are sorted according to their sorting destination and which are placed in a specific order as a result of the sequencing, form the so-called batch.
  • the pocket sorter has the property that the number of LAM, and therefore the pockets, can be scaled as desired.
  • the relatively low costs per LAM mean that the LAMs can also be used for intermediate storage and sequencing of the shipments in addition to the pure transport and sorting task.
  • the temporary storage can typically be built in a free space in a hall without occupying functional and cost-intensive floor space.
  • this sorting technology with a buffer and sequencing function allows the decoupling of logical sorting destinations (LAM unloading station) and physical end points.
  • the distribution of the objects to be sorted to the sorters of the sorting arrangement can be structured as follows, for example. Small shipments are automatically conveyed to load a load handling device of the pocket conveyor. Consignments that can be conveyed are divided into those that can be transported on both a lying sorter and a pocket sorter, and those that can only be sorted on a lying sorter.
  • Shipments that can be sorted using a lying sorter are routed directly to the respective first terminal.
  • the shipments that cannot be conveyed can be taken to an interim storage facility for manual distribution.
  • Shipments that are sorted by the pocket sorter can be buffered on it.
  • the temporary storage can take place in a dynamic buffer, which can consist of any number of pockets, for example, and thus ensures a high degree of flexibility.
  • the shipments can only be selectively ejected from the dynamic buffer and ejected to a pocket buffer (dynamic batch buffer) when a criterion for outsourcing occurs. This However, criteria are typically not limited to departure times, total volume of the sorted shipments with the same shipping destination, prioritization, weight classes, size classes and the like.
  • the pocket buffer (dynamic batch buffer) can have a presort.
  • the bag buffer can have several buffer circuits, with all bags that are to be supplied to the same second end point being held in the same buffer circuit until they are ejected from the buffer circuit as a group of bags with the same sorting destination, for example on request.
  • several groups of bags that are to be supplied to the same second end point or have the same sorting destination can be accommodated in each of the buffer circuits, ie. H. be buffered.
  • This pre-sorting in the pocket buffer can take place fully automatically using at least one criterion.
  • these criteria are not exclusively the departure time, an identification of the forwarding agent, the already mentioned total volume of the objects with the same shipping destination, a prioritization, a weight class, a size class and/or the like.
  • the intermediate storage which in the case of the horizontal sorter essentially takes place at the sorter end points, is carried out by the respective buffer in the case of the pocket sorter.
  • the buffer capacity or the capacity for accommodating additional bags can be expanded almost arbitrarily in the vertical height of the bag sorter. This makes valuable functional floor space available for other tasks and no longer occupied by buffer media (particularly terminals).
  • the arrangement described thus makes it possible to increase the sorting performance, to increase buffer capacities, to use the existing construction volume of a distribution center more intelligently and to reduce structural infrastructure requirements and to create sequences in the sorting in order to facilitate the downstream processes.
  • a method for sorting objects in particular mail items, of different shapes, volumes or weights is proposed that sorting a large number of objects to be sorted with one Recumbent sorter has in at least a first end point of the recumbent sorter.
  • the method also includes the sorting of a large number of objects to be sorted using a pocket sorter with a large number of load-receiving means, designed as hanging pockets, for objects to be sorted.
  • the method is characterized in that the pockets of the pocket sorter are emptied into at least one second end point that is different from the at least one end point, with the same sorting destination being assigned to these two end points.
  • the method can be carried out with a sorting arrangement of the type described above.
  • the method can preferably be carried out with a sorting arrangement of the type described above.
  • the method may include merging pairs from one of the first and one of the second terminal that are assigned the same sorting destination.
  • the method can also include determining an object-specific selection criterion for each of the plurality of objects to be sorted, the objects to be sorted being introduced into the flat sorter or into the pocket sorter depending on the determined object-specific selection criterion.
  • Determining the object-specific selection criterion can include determining an object weight, an object dimension or an object volume and comparing an object weight determined in the process, an object dimension determined in the process, or an object volume determined in the process with a respectively permissible range of values for introducing it into the pocket sorter.
  • the object to be sorted can be introduced into the lying sorter or ejected for manual sorting.
  • the method may include buffering a plurality of the pockets of the pocket sorter intended to be emptied into the same second terminal before the pockets are fed to the second terminal as a compact lump of pockets and the objects received in the pockets are emptied into the second terminal simultaneously or in a continuous sequence.
  • the method may further include sequencing the pockets of the cluster after the buffering and before the pockets are emptied into the terminal, so that the pockets of the cluster are placed in a specific order in which they are fed to the second terminal.
  • the sequencing forms a pocket batch of pockets with the same sorting goal from the bunch of pockets consisting of unsorted pockets with respect to their order and with the same sorting goal, which have a certain order to one another beyond the properties of the bunch of pockets.
  • the objects to be sorted can be sorted directly into their assigned first end point by the lying sorter.
  • the objects to be sorted by the pocket sorter can only be sorted into their assigned second end point after being introduced into the pocket sorter when a selection criterion for the consolidated selection of all objects introduced into the pocket sorter and assigned to the same terminal point is reached or a selection command is generated.
  • the method can also include summing up at least one physical variable, preferably a weight and/or a volume, of all objects to be sorted that are assigned to the same terminal and have been introduced into the pocket sorter, with these objects to be sorted being emptied into the second terminal, when a threshold value for the physical measurement variable is reached.
  • at least one physical variable preferably a weight and/or a volume
  • the figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a sorting material feed for a sorting arrangement according to the invention.
  • an object to be sorted is fed into either the flat sorter 1 or the pocket sorter 5 depending on an object-specific selection criterion.
  • the object-specific selection criterion can be, for example, an object weight, an object volume, an object dimension or an object target.
  • the sorting arrangement or the sorted goods feed shown can have a dimensioning weighing scanning system 9 for detecting the object-specific selection criterion.
  • particularly bulky or heavy objects can be recognized as such by the Dimensioning Weighing Scanning System 9 and introduced into the lying sorter 1, in particular placed on one of the load handling devices 2 of the lying sorter 1 or inserted therein.
  • the horizontal sorter can be, for example, a cross-belt sorter that is sufficiently known from the prior art.
  • Light objects in particular, which are not suitable for transport via the lying sorter 1 can be recognized as such by the dimensioning weighing scanning system 9 and ejected in the direction of the pocket sorter 5 .
  • these objects can be transferred to an automatic feeder 11 of the pocket sorter 5, in which the objects are placed in a pocket that forms the load-carrying means 2 of the pocket sorter.
  • another Dimensioning Weighing Scanning System 9 can be connected directly upstream of the automatic feeder 11, for example to prevent the automatic feeder from being blocked, or to check the dimensions, weights or the like of a number of objects that are placed in the same pocket summed up in order to achieve an optimized pocket filling.
  • the pocket sorter 5 also has a manual small-goods feed 10, which allows the manual insertion of objects that cannot be sorted automatically or that can be introduced into the sorting arrangement.
  • FIG. 2 An example sorting arrangement is in figure 2 shown. This can be used, for example, in a distribution center in the CEP industry, where it has the task of receiving parcels, packages and other items, generally called shipments, within certain dimensions and weights and distributing them to shipping directions.
  • the CEP distribution center does not process orders, but rather distributes the volume of items delivered as completely as possible within a defined time window, during the so-called shift.
  • the shipments arrive in various means of transport without any time correlation.
  • the shipments can already be separated according to size, but do not have to be.
  • the shipments can be unloaded automatically, semi-automatically or manually.
  • Loosely loaded shipments are immediately placed on the sorting system, while packaged shipments, e.g. on pallets or in roll containers, can be placed on the sorter if staff and free capacity are available on the sorter.
  • packaged shipments e.g. on pallets or in roll containers
  • sorters in its distribution center that are tailored to the product range.
  • the shipments are distributed after the electronic reading of the address label, which contains the direction information.
  • the directional information forms the predominantly sole sorting criterion, which is obtained from an address database. During a shift, the assignment of the directions to the terminals 4 is usually fixed, so that there is little scope for optimization with regard to personnel deployment (walking distances, etc.).
  • the horizontal sorter 1 is usually designed as a closed loop (loop) or in the form of a line as a so-called line sorter. What both types have in common is that the number of load handling devices 2 on which the shipments or objects to be sorted are transported to the terminals is small in relation to the distributed number of shipments per hour, typically less than 1:10. For example, a 500 m long parcel sorter can have 500 load handling devices 2 with a distribution capacity of 9000 shipments per hour. The reason for this lies, among other things, in the comparatively high cost share of the load handling device 2 in the entire lying sorter 1.
  • the distribution capacity of a flat sorter has its practical limits at around 10,000 to 20,000 pieces per hour. In order to achieve higher performance within a distribution center, several sorters must therefore be used, which usually eject into common terminals 4.
  • the relatively small number of load handling devices 3 has the consequence that a load handling device 2 is intended to be occupied by a shipment only from the task to the terminal 4, and after the shipment has been ejected to the terminal 4 is again available for a new allocation. Otherwise the distribution performance of the lying sorter 1 drops significantly.
  • a lying sorter 1 is therefore not suitable for temporarily storing mail items.
  • Terminals 4 assume the function of temporarily storing the shipments that have the same shipping direction. For operational reasons, the shipments are collected in terminal 4 before an employee picks them up and loads them. Loading can be done loose in swap bodies or trucks, roll containers, sacks or containers. Small shipments are often discharged directly into the means of transport, especially when small goods sorters are used. A specific order of the shipments in the terminals 4 according to a delivery list (stop list of the parcel carrier) cannot be generated. The number of terminals results from the operational need, how many directions are supplied from the relevant distribution center.
  • the number and the storage volume of the terminals 4 determine the space requirement of the terminals 4 in the distribution center and therefore have a significant influence on the size and the costs of the building and the sorter 1, which must reach all terminals 4.
  • the terminals 4 are usually located on the floor of the hall for operational reasons and compete with the rest of the logistic processing. They therefore represent a cost-intensive storage medium.
  • the emptying of the terminals 4 and the loading of the shipments is mainly done by people. In addition to the actual loading activity, there are also unproductive routes to get to a full terminal 4 and to empty it. If full terminals 4 are not emptied immediately, the shipments intended for these terminals 4 remain on the sorter 1 and reduce the distribution capacity.
  • the in figure 2 shown sorting arrangement according to the invention before a combination of a lying sorter 1 and a pocket sorter 5, it being possible in particular to shift the intermediate storage capacity from the terminals 4 to the pocket sorter.
  • pocket sorters 5 are inherently particularly well suited to arranging essential functional assemblies, such as a pocket buffer 7 or a sequencing 8, in a vertical arrangement one above the other, the pocket sorter has a comparatively smaller footprint while retaining at least the functionality of the flat sorter.
  • pocket sorters 5 offer the property that the number of load handling devices 2, and therefore pockets, can be scaled almost as desired. In addition, there are relatively low costs per load handling device 2, so that a functional expansion of the pocket sorter 5 is possible without significant additional costs. In addition to the pure transport and sorting task, the pocket sorter also offers the previously mentioned essential functions of buffering and sequencing of mail items, which a flat sorter can only provide to a limited extent or not at all.
  • the intermediate buffering in the bag sorter 5 can typically be installed in a free space of a hall due to the suspended arrangement of the load handling devices 2 . Since no access to the system is required, this assembly can be realized in the vertical direction above the hall floor without occupying functional and cost-intensive floor space. Furthermore, the use of a pocket sorter with its buffering and sequencing function allows a decoupling of logical sorting destinations (LAM unloading stations) and physical end points. This also creates significant savings potential in the infrastructure of a distribution center.
  • LAM unloading stations logical sorting destinations
  • the automatic sorting processes can be structured as follows, for example. Small shipments are automatically conveyed to load a load handling device 2 of the pocket sorter 5 . Conveyable shipments are divided into those that can be transported both on a lying sorter 1 and on a pocket sorter 5, and those that can only be sorted on a lying sorter 1. Shipments that pass through a lying sorter 1 are routed directly to the respective terminal 4. The same applies to the manually handled, non-conveyable shipments, which are manually brought directly to the terminal 4 or wait in a manual intermediate storage for the respective distribution.
  • a pocket buffer 7.1 can be provided for this purpose.
  • this pocket buffer 7.1 is designed as a dynamic buffer, which can consist of any number of load handling devices 2, here pockets, and thus ensures the greatest possible flexibility. Only when at least one outsourcing criterion is met are the mailings in question directed out of the pocket buffer 7.1 in a targeted manner.
  • this criterion is typically not limited to a departure time, a volume calculation, a prioritization, a weight class, a size class, but it can also be another criterion that can be used for sorting.
  • the sorting performance can be increased via a further buffer.
  • This pre-sorting can be carried out fully automatically based on various criteria.
  • the criteria will typically be, but are not limited to, at least one of departure time, carrier, volume calculation, prioritization, weight class, size class, but can be any other criteria by which to classify.
  • the load-carrying means 2 are transported in the established sequence to one or more unloading stations 6, which can be designed as bag emptying. These unloading stations 6 can be designed both for manual emptying and for fully automatic emptying of the load handling device 2 . Subsequently, if necessary, the consolidation of the fully automatic from the Load handling devices 2 separate shipments with the manually separated shipments. A further consolidation can take place between the mailpieces that have been sorted via the pocket sorter 5 and the mailpieces sorted with the help of the flat sorter 1 .
  • consolidation within the meaning of the invention does not generally require the mail items to be reunited, and therefore to form a uniform sorting volume.
  • the mail items are combined with one another in a single unloading station, for example tilted together.
  • different terminals 4 which have the same sorting destination but have been loaded by different sorters, for example by the flat sorter 1 on the one hand and by a pocket sorter 5 on the other hand, can be brought together in order to be loaded uniformly, for example onto the same transport vehicle, without the items being transported both terminals 4, for example both lattice boxes, are mixed together.
  • employee productivity can be increased since distances between the terminals 4 are reduced by the goods being transported to the employee.
  • the employee no longer has to go to terminal 4.
  • the load handling means 2 of the pocket sorter 5 can be buffered and sequenced, for which purpose the pocket buffer 7.1 already mentioned and the sequencing 8 can be provided. Due to the buffering and sequencing, the load-carrying means 2 can offer precisely those shipments to an employee at a specific time that are also required for loading at this point in time. As a result, it is no longer necessary for many terminals 4 to be open at the same time in order to be filled sporadically over the course of an entire shift.
  • This buffering which in the case of the horizontal sorter 1 essentially occurs at the end points 4, takes over the at least one pocket buffer 7.1 in the case of the pocket sorter 5.
  • valuable functional floor space is available for other tasks and is no longer occupied by buffer media, in particular by terminals 4 .
  • the figure 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a pocket sorter 5 according to the invention.
  • the pocket sorter 5 has a dynamic buffer 14, into which the pockets 2.1 are introduced after they have been loaded and stored until there is a request.
  • the dynamic buffer 14 has in particular the function of loading the first pocket buffer 7.1, which is designed as a dynamic batch buffer, with additional pockets 2.1 to be sorted to the extent that the sorting performance of the first pocket buffer 7.1 is optimized.
  • the first pocket buffer 7.1 has a limited sorting performance and scalability.
  • the first pocket buffer 7.1 has a plurality of buffer circuits 12 arranged parallel to one another.
  • the buffer circuits 12 each have a discharge 13, which combine downstream (cf figures 4 and 5 ). Provision is made for those bags 2.1 which form a group of bags 2.1 which have the same sorting destination, and therefore an assignment to the same end point 4, to be kept in the same buffer circuit 12.
  • a pre-sorting takes place, although several of the previously described groups of pockets 2.1 are kept available for each buffer circuit 12.
  • the bags 2.1 which are assigned to the same group and therefore have the same sorting destination, can be ejected from the buffer circuit 12 into the connected discharge 13.
  • the bags 2.1 of the same group can be ejected in such a way that, after being ejected, they form a compact group of bags 2.1 of the same group, and are therefore of the same type in relation to their sorting destination. This is in figure 4 shown.
  • the homogeneous groups can in accordance with the embodiment figure 4 are fed to a terminal 4 in question according to their sorting destination.
  • the bags 2.1 are separated according to their groups or sorting destinations in a sorting matrix 8, to which the bags 2.1 are fed via the ejection port 13 after being discharged. Like in the figure 5 can be seen, the several complete groups of pockets 2.1 of the same sorting destination are supplied to the sorting matrix 8 in a random order.
  • the bags 2.1 leave the sorting matrix 8 sorted, ie as a compact group of bags 2.1, with all bags 2.1 assigned to a group of bags with the same sorting destination being ejected from the sorting matrix 8 in immediate succession.
  • the sorting matrix 8 can be set up to also produce a sequence of the pockets 2.1 within the same group in addition to the sorting purity, thus to generate a sequencing of the pockets 2.1.
  • This sequencing can be provided, for example, in order to achieve a further sorting stage in a mail distribution center, for example sorting into a smaller range of postcodes.
  • the number of mail items that can be sorted per unit of time is thus increased. Buffer capacities are increased and the space in a distribution center is used more efficiently, especially vertically. This reduces structural infrastructure requirements and the use of the pocket sorter 5 creates a sequencing during sorting, which simplifies downstream processes.

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  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)

Claims (21)

  1. Dispositif de tri pour le tri d'objets, plus particulièrement d'envois postaux, de formes, de volumes et/ou de poids différents, dans lequel le dispositif de tri comprend un trieur horizontal (1) avec une pluralité de moyens de levage (2) pour les objets à trier, qui sont déplacés le long d'une trajectoire de tri (3) du trieur horizontal (1) et qui peuvent être contrôlés individuellement pour l'évacuation d'un objet posé dans au moins une première station terminale (4) du dispositif de tri, dans lequel le dispositif de tri comprend un trieur de sacs (5) avec une pluralité de moyens de levage (2) conçus comme des sacs suspendus (2.1) pour les objets à trier, caractérisé en ce que le trieur de sacs (5) comprend un dispositif de vidage de sacs (6) grâce auquel les sacs (2.1) sont vidés dans au moins une de l'au moins une deuxième station terminale (4) différente de la première station terminale (4), dans lequel, à ces deux stations terminales (4), est attribuée la même destination de tri.
  2. Dispositif de tri selon la revendication 1, qui comprend un dispositif de regroupement avec lequel au moins une des premières stations terminales (4) et au moins une des deuxièmes stations terminales (4), qui présentent la même destination de tri, sont regroupées.
  3. Dispositif de tri selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le trieur horizontal (1) comprend un nombre fixe de moyens de levage (2) et comprend de préférence un trieur linéaire et/ou un trieur circulaire ou bien un trieur linéaire ou un trieur circulaire.
  4. Dispositif de tri selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel, en fonction d'un critère de sélection spécifique à l'objet, un objet à trier est introduit soit dans le trieur horizontal soit dans le trieur de sacs et le critère de sélection spécifique à l'objet est un poids de l'objet, un volume de l'objet, une forme d l'objet, une dimension de l'objet ou une destination de l'objet, dans lequel le dispositif de tri comprend de préférence, pour la saisie du critère de sélection spécifique à l'objet, un système de mesure-pesage-balayage.
  5. Dispositif de tri selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le trieur de sacs (5) comprend au moins un tampon de sacs (7.1) avec au moins un circuit tampon (12), dans lequel une pluralité de sacs (2.1) du trieur de sacs (5), qui sont destinés à être vidés dans la même deuxième station terminale (4), sont retenus.
  6. Dispositif de tri selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la pluralité de sacs (2.1) sont attribués à au moins un groupe et de préférence à plusieurs groupes, dans lequel, pour chaque groupe, les sacs (2.1) du groupe sont destinés à être vidés dans la même station terminale (4).
  7. Dispositif de tri selon la revendication 5 ou 6, dans lequel le tampon de sacs (7.1) comprend plusieurs circuits tampons (12) branchés parallèlement entre eux, avec une évacuation (13), dans lequel les circuits tampons (12) sont conçus pour l'évacuation individuelle ou par groupes des sacs (2.1).
  8. Dispositif de tri selon l'une des revendications 5 à 7, dans lequel la pluralité de sacs (2.1) du même groupe ou de plusieurs groupes, sont introduits dans la deuxième station terminale (4) sous la forme d'un ensemble compact de sacs (2.1).
  9. Dispositif de tri selon l'une des revendications 5 à 8, dans lequel le trieur de sacs (5) est conçu pour créer, grâce une évacuation séquencée des sacs (2.1) hors du tampon de sacs (7.1), un ensemble compact de sacs (2.1) avec une séquence déterminée et pour introduire l'ensemble dans la deuxième station terminale (4).
  10. Dispositif de tri selon l'une des revendications 5 à 8, dans lequel le trieur de sacs (5) comprend, pour la création d'une séquence de sacs (2.1), un dispositif de séquençage (8), disposé en aval du tampon de sacs (7.1), qui est conçu pour amener les sacs (2.1) du même groupe, évacués du tampon de sacs (7), dans un ordre dans lequel ils sont introduits dans la deuxième station terminale (4).
  11. Procédé pour le tri d'objets, plus particulièrement d'envois postaux, de formes, de volumes et/ou de poids différents, dans lequel le procédé comprend le tri d'une pluralité d'objets à trier avec un trieur horizontal (1) dans au moins une première station terminale (4) du trieur horizontal (1), dans lequel le procédé comprend le tri d'une pluralité d'objets à trier avec un trieur de sacs (5) avec une pluralité de moyens de levage (2), conçus sous la forme de sacs suspendus (2.1), pour les objets à trier, caractérisé en ce que le procédé comprend le vidage des sacs (2.1) du trieur de sacs (5) dans au moins une deuxième station terminale (4) différente de la première station terminale (4), dans lequel,à ces deux stations terminales (4), a été attribuée la même destination de tri.
  12. Procédé selon la revendication 11, qui comprend la consolidation de paires d'une des premières et d'une des deuxièmes stations terminales (4), auxquelles est attribuée la même destination de tri.
  13. Procédé selon la revendication 11 ou 12, qui comprend la détermination d'un critère de sélection spécifique à l'objet, pour chacun de la pluralité d'objets à trier, dans lequel, en fonction du critère de sélection spécifique à l'objet déterminé, les objets à trier, sont introduits dans le trieur horizontal (1) ou le trieur de sacs (5).
  14. Procédé selon la revendication 11 ou 12, dans lequel la détermination d'un critère de sélection spécifique à l'objet comprend la détermination d'une destination de l'objet, d'un poids de l'objet, d'une forme de l'objet, d'une dimension de l'objet ou d'un volume de l'objet et la comparaison du critère de sélection spécifique à l'objet ainsi déterminé avec une plage de valeurs admissibles pour l'introduction dans le trieur de sacs (5).
  15. Procédé selon la revendication 14, dans lequel, dans le cas où le critère de sélection spécifique à l'objet déterminé se trouve hors des plages de valeurs admissibles pour l'introduction dans le trieur de sacs (5), l'objet à trier est introduit dans le trieur horizontal (1) ou est évacué pour un tri manuel.
  16. Procédé selon la revendication 11 à 15, qui comprend la mise en tampon de plusieurs groupes d'une pluralité de sacs (2.1) du trieur de sacs (5), dans lequel les sacs d'un même groupe sont destinés à être vidés dans la même deuxième station terminale (4), dans lequel le procédé comprend l'évacuation de plusieurs groupes, dans lequel les sacs (2.1) des groupes évacués sont introduits dans un ordre quelconque d'un dispositif de séquençage (8), de préférence une matrice de tri.
  17. Procédé selon la revendication 16, dans lequel les sacs (2.1) des groupes introduits dans le dispositif de séquençage (8) sont évacués par le dispositif de séquençage (8) dans un ordre les uns par rapport aux autres hors du dispositif de séquençage (8), dans lequel les sacs d'un même groupe sont disposés de manière immédiatement consécutive.
  18. Procédé selon la revendication 17, dans lequel, après l'évacuation, chacun des groupes de sacs (2.1) est introduit sous la forme d'un ensemble compact de sacs (2.1) dans la deuxième station terminale (4) et, de préférence, les objets logés dans le sacs (2.1) sont vidés simultanément ou dans un ordre continu dans la deuxième station terminale (4).
  19. Procédé selon la revendication 18, qui comprend, avant le vidage des sacs (2.1) dans la deuxième station terminale (4), un séquençage supplémentaire des sacs (2.1) d'un même groupe, dans lequel les sacs (2.1) d'un même groupe sont amenés les uns vers les autres dans un ordre déterminé, dans lequel ils sont introduits dans la deuxième station terminale (4).
  20. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 11 à 19, dans lequel les objets à trier sont triés par le trieur horizontal (1) directement dans leur première station terminale (4) attribuée, dans lequel les objets à trier ne sont triés par le trieur de sacs (5) après l'introduction dans le trieur de sacs (5) dans leur deuxième station terminale (4) attribuée que lorsqu'un critère de diffusion pour la diffusion consolidée de l'ensemble des objets introduits dans le trieur de sacs (5) et attribués à la même station terminale (4) est atteint ou lorsqu'une instruction de diffusion est générée.
  21. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 11 à 20, qui comprend l'addition d'au moins une grandeur physique, de préférence un poids et/ou un volume, de l'ensemble des objets attribués à la même station terminale (4) et à trier, qui ont été introduits dans le trieur de sacs (5), dans lequel ces objets à trier sont vidés dans la deuxième station terminale (4) lorsqu'une valeur seuil pour la grandeur de mesure physique est atteinte.
EP21184871.8A 2021-07-09 2021-07-09 Agencements de tri destiné au tri des objets, ainsi que procédé correspondant Active EP4115994B1 (fr)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21184871.8A EP4115994B1 (fr) 2021-07-09 2021-07-09 Agencements de tri destiné au tri des objets, ainsi que procédé correspondant
US18/576,465 US20240326096A1 (en) 2021-07-09 2022-07-06 Sorting arrangement for sorting objects and a corresponding method
DE112022003477.7T DE112022003477A5 (de) 2021-07-09 2022-07-06 Sortieranordnung für die sortierung von objekten sowie ein entsprechendes verfahren
DE202022002838.5U DE202022002838U1 (de) 2021-07-09 2022-07-06 Sortieranordnung für die Sortierung von Objekten
PCT/DE2022/100483 WO2023280347A1 (fr) 2021-07-09 2022-07-06 Configuration de tri pour trier des objets, et procédé correspondant

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EP21184871.8A EP4115994B1 (fr) 2021-07-09 2021-07-09 Agencements de tri destiné au tri des objets, ainsi que procédé correspondant

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EP4115994A1 (fr) 2023-01-11
DE112022003477A5 (de) 2024-10-17
DE202022002838U1 (de) 2023-10-13
US20240326096A1 (en) 2024-10-03
WO2023280347A1 (fr) 2023-01-12
EP4115994C0 (fr) 2023-06-07

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