EP4221903A1 - Machine de tri - Google Patents

Machine de tri

Info

Publication number
EP4221903A1
EP4221903A1 EP21786185.5A EP21786185A EP4221903A1 EP 4221903 A1 EP4221903 A1 EP 4221903A1 EP 21786185 A EP21786185 A EP 21786185A EP 4221903 A1 EP4221903 A1 EP 4221903A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tray
postal item
elevator
sorting
postal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP21786185.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Preben Pedersen
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.)
Treco AS
Original Assignee
Treco AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Treco AS filed Critical Treco AS
Publication of EP4221903A1 publication Critical patent/EP4221903A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
    • B07C3/02—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution

Definitions

  • the present disclosure generally relates to a sorting machine. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a sorting machine for automatically sorting postal items.
  • Postal sorting machines load a number of postal items and then output the postal items in a delivery order so that the mailman/mail woman has a stack of mail in the correct order for deliveries. This saves a lot of time during the delivery.
  • a first type of machine is a multiple pass sorting machine where the post is sorted in multiple passes similar to a linked list in a software program. This reguires a fast machine as it would otherwise take a long time to complete the sorting operation.
  • Another type of machine is known as a single pass machine.
  • the machine reads in the postal items in a first operation and stores the individual post items in individual bins and remembers which bins have which postal items. Once all the postal items have been loaded into the individual bins, the machine ejects the postal items from the bins in the correct order.
  • This type of machine reguires a number of bins which is egual to the number of unigue addresses on the postal items in the sorting operation. If there are 200 different postal addresses, 200 bins are needed.
  • These types of machines are typically slower machines as the machine has to move the postal items into individual bins and then eject the post from the bins in a specific order.
  • One example of such an automatic single pass postal sorting machine is described in W003095114.
  • a first aspect of the current invention is to provide an automatic postal sorting machine which is faster than the prior art machines.
  • a second aspect of the current invention is to provide an automatic postal sorting machine which is more robust than the prior art machines.
  • the sorting machine automatically sorts a plurality of postal items and includes a plurality of sorting modules.
  • Each sorting module includes an elevator assembly and an input conveyor.
  • the elevator assembly has an elevator frame, an elevator cabin movably supported by the elevator frame, a plurality of trays arranged as a vertical stack of trays inside the elevator cabin, and an elevator mechanism arranged to move the elevator cabin up and down in a vertical direction relative to the elevator frame.
  • each tray is adapted to be displaced with respect to the elevator cabin between a first position and a second position, the first position being inside the elevator cabin and the second position being at least partially outside the elevator cabin in a horizontal direction.
  • the input conveyor is arranged at a fixed vertical position with respect to the elevator assembly.
  • the elevator mechanism is arranged to selectively bring at least one tray into a vertical alignment with said input conveyor to facilitate a transport of a postal item disposed on the input conveyor to the tray which is in vertical alignment with the input conveyor.
  • the sorting machine is arranged to transfer a postal item from the input conveyor to the vertically aligned tray by first moving said tray outside the elevator cabin to the second position where the tray is disposed, at least partly, beneath an upper surface of the input conveyor, and subsequently simultaneously operating the input conveyor and displacing the tray in a direction of movement of the input conveyor to the first position such that a postal item leaves the input conveyor and is deposited on the tray while the postal item is travelling in the same direction as the tray.
  • the sorting module includes a flap member disposed outside the elevator cabin and adapted to be displaced between an engaged position and a free position.
  • the flap member In the engaged position, the flap member is adapted to be located behind a postal item disposed inside the tray, when the tray is arranged at the second position to facilitate a removal of the postal item from the tray.
  • the flap member In the free position, the flap member is disposed away from the tray.
  • the tray is moved to the second position, the flap member is displaced to the engaged position to arrange the flap member behind the postal item stored inside the tray, and the tray is pushed back to the first position. Further, an engagement of the flap member with the postal item facilitates the removal of the postal item from the tray when tray is pushed to the first position. In this way, the flap member itself does not have to be displaced in a large horizontal distance. This again optimizes the speed of the machine and reduces the need for many different actuators.
  • the flap member includes a plurality of flaps and the tray includes a rear wall comprising a plurality of openings to facilitate an insertion of the plurality of flaps inside the tray when the flap member is arranged in the engaged position.
  • the plurality of flaps engages with the postal item stored inside the tray when the tray is moved from the second position to the first position to remove the postal item from the tray.
  • each sorting module includes an output conveyor to receive a postal item removed from the tray.
  • the output conveyor is adapted to hold a first postal item in a first buffer position and a second postal item in a second buffer position.
  • the output conveyor includes a first portion and a second portion extending outwardly from the first portion and arranged at an inclination relative to the first portion.
  • a postal item In the first buffer position, a postal item is disposed on the first portion, and in the second buffer position, a postal item is disposed on the second portion.
  • the angle between the first and second portions is greater than 5 degrees, greater than 10 degrees or greater than 15 degrees.
  • each sorting module includes a linear actuator adapted to pull the tray out of the elevator cabin and push the tray back into the elevator cabin and thereby move the tray between the first position and the second position.
  • each tray includes an engagement structure defining a recess
  • the linear actuator includes a hook member adapted to engage with the engagement structure to pull the tray out of the elevator cabin.
  • the hook member and the recesses in the trays are arranged such that the hook member passes through the recesses of the trays as the trays are moved in the vertical direction. In this way, the hook member can be located at a stationary position while the trays move up and down. When a tray is stopped in the correct position, the hook member is already engaged with the recess and the hook member can then be pulled out by the linear actuator to pull the tray out.
  • a separate “hook engaging” motion and actuator is not required.
  • the sorting machine further includes a transport conveyor having a plurality of transport belts, one transport belt associated with each sorting module.
  • the plurality of transport belts are adapted to pivot between a horizontal position and a pivot position.
  • the transport belts are arranged in-line when located at the horizontal position.
  • each of the transport belts is moveable to a pivot position to transport a postal item from the transport conveyor to a sorting module associated with the transport belt.
  • a sorting machine for automatically sorting a plurality of postal items having a plurality of sorting modules.
  • Each sorting module includes an elevator assembly and an output conveyor.
  • the elevator assembly has an elevator frame, an elevator cabin movably supported on the elevator frame, a plurality of trays arranged as a vertical stack of trays inside the elevator cabin and adapted to store one or more of the postal items, and an elevator mechanism arranged to move the elevator cabin up and down in a vertical direction relative to the elevator frame.
  • each tray is adapted to be displaced with respect to the elevator cabin between a first position and a second position, the first position being inside the elevator cabin and the second position being at least partially outside the elevator cabin.
  • the output conveyor is adapted to receive a postal item from the tray when the tray moves from the second position to the first position. Also, the output conveyor is adapted to be able to hold a postal item in a first buffer position and another postal item in a second buffer position.
  • a sorting machine for automatically sorting a plurality of postal items and having a plurality of sorting modules.
  • Each sorting module includes an elevator assembly and a flap member.
  • the elevator assembly has an elevator frame, an elevator cabin movably supported on the elevator frame, a plurality of trays arranged as a vertical stack of trays inside the elevator cabin, and an elevator mechanism arranged to move the elevator cabin up and down in a vertical direction relative to the elevator frame.
  • Each tray is adapted to be displaced with respect to the elevator cabin between a first position and a second position, the first position being inside the elevator cabin and the second position being at least partially outside the elevator cabin in a horizontal direction.
  • the flap member is disposed outside the elevator cabin and is adapted to be displaced between an engaged position and a free position.
  • the sorting machine removes a postal item from the tray by first moving the tray to the second position, then displacing the flap member to the engaged position to arrange the flap member behind the postal item stored inside the tray, and subsequently pushing the tray back to the first position. The postal item is removed due to an engagement of the flap member with the postal item when tray is pushed to the first position.
  • a sorting machine for automatically sorting a plurality of postal items and having a plurality of sorting modules.
  • Each sorting module includes an elevator assembly and a flap member.
  • the elevator assembly has an elevator frame, an elevator cabin movably supported on the elevator frame, a plurality of trays arranged as a vertical stack of trays inside the elevator cabin, and an elevator mechanism arranged to move the elevator cabin up and down in a vertical direction relative to the elevator frame.
  • Each tray is adapted to be displaced with respect to the elevator cabin between a first position and a second position, the first position being inside the elevator cabin and the second position being at least partially outside the elevator cabin in a horizontal direction.
  • the flap member is disposed outside the elevator cabin and is adapted to be displaced between an engaged position and a free position.
  • the flap member includes at least one flap and the tray includes a rear wall defining at least one opening to facilitate an insertion of the at least one flap into the tray.
  • the at least one flap In the engaged position, the at least one flap is adapted to be located behind a postal item stored inside the tray, when the tray is arranged at the second position, and in the free position, the at least one flap is disposed away from the tray.
  • the at least one flap engages with the postal item stored inside the tray to remove the postal item from the tray when the tray is moved from the second position to the first position.
  • a sorting machine for automatically sorting a plurality of postal items having a plurality of sorting modules.
  • Each sorting module includes an elevator assembly and a linear actuator.
  • the elevator assembly has an elevator frame, an elevator cabin movably supported on the elevator frame, a plurality of trays arranged as a vertical stack of trays inside the elevator cabin, and an elevator mechanism arranged to move the elevator cabin up and down in a vertical direction relative to the elevator frame.
  • Each tray is adapted to be displaced with respect to the elevator cabin between a first position and a second position, the first position being inside the elevator cabin and the second position being at least partially outside the elevator cabin in a horizontal direction.
  • each tray includes an engagement structure defining a recess
  • the linear actuator includes a hook member adapted to engage with the engagement structure to pull the tray out of the elevator cabin.
  • the recesses of the trays arranged inside the elevator cabin are disposed in-line with each other such that the hook member passes through the recesses of the trays as the trays are moved up and down along the vertical direction.
  • Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a sorting machine according to an embodiment of the current invention.
  • Figure 2 shows a top view of the sorting machine of figure 1 .
  • Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of a transport conveyor of the sorting machine of figure 1 depicting one transport belt of the transport conveyor in a pivot position according to an embodiment of the current invention.
  • Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a sorting module of the sorting machine according to an embodiment of the current invention. It should be noted that the sorting module of figures 4-11 has the output conveyor arranged mirrored with respect to the sorting modules of figures 1-3.
  • Figure 5 shows a rear perspective view of the sorting module of figure 4.
  • Figure 6 shows a top perspective view of the sorting module of figure 4 with some elements removed to illustrate details of the input conveyor.
  • Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the sorting module of figure 4 depicting a tray arranged at the second position and a flap member disposed in an engaged position and located behind the tray.
  • Figure 8 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the sorting module of figure 4 depicting the flap member disposed in a free position.
  • Figure 9 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the sorting module of figure 4 depicting a hook member arranged in a recess of the tray.
  • Figure 10 shows an enlarged view of a portion of a stack of trays of the sorting module of figure 4.
  • Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the sorting module of figure 4 with different elements removed to illustrate an output conveyor having a first portion and a second portion. Detailed description of the embodiments
  • the sorting machine 100 comprises six essentially identical sorting modules 102, but other embodiments could be provided with more or less sorting modules.
  • the sorting machine 100 includes a plurality of sorting modules 102 arranged linearly in a row, a transport conveyor 104 extending substantially parallel and along the length of the row of sorting modules, a loading conveyor 106 for delivering the plurality of postal items 200 to the transport conveyor 104, and an input station 108 for loading the postal items 200 on the loading conveyor 106.
  • the input station 108 may include a robotic gripper (not shown) adapted to pick postal items 200 one by one from an input stack of postal items and position the postal items 200 one by one on the loading conveyor 106.
  • a robotic gripper (not shown) adapted to pick postal items 200 one by one from an input stack of postal items and position the postal items 200 one by one on the loading conveyor 106.
  • an operator may manually placed the postal items 200, one by one, on the loading conveyor 106.
  • the sorting machine 100 may further include a scanner 110 to scan an upper surface of each postal item 200 disposed on the loading conveyor 106 to identify/determine an address to which the postal item 200 is to be delivered.
  • the scanner 110 such as, a camera
  • the scanner 110 is adapted to take a photograph of the upper surface of the postal item 200 and then analyse the photograph to determine the correct address via a computer vision system.
  • the scanner 110 may use standard text recognition systems to extract correct address associated with the postal item 200.
  • the scanner 110 may not be able to recognize the address written on the postal item 200.
  • the postal item 200 continues into the machine and is stored in a bin as will be described later in this specification.
  • the image taken by the camera is then shown to a human operator.
  • the human operator can read the address and type in the correct address.
  • the correct address is then assigned to the postal item 200 stored in the machine for proper sorting.
  • the loading conveyor 106 is adapted to move/convey each postal item 200 to the transport conveyor 104.
  • the transport conveyor 104 extends along a width of all the sorting modules 102 of the sorting machine 100, and is adapted to deliver the postal items to any one of the sorting modules 102.
  • the transport conveyor 104 may include a plurality of individual transport belts 112 arranged between a first longitudinal end 114 and a second longitudinal end 116 of the transport conveyor 104.
  • Each transport belt 112 includes a frame 120 (best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) and a belt 122 (best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) supported by the frame 120 and adapted to move relative to the frame 120.
  • each transport belt 112 is associated with a single sorting module 102 and facilitates the delivery of the postal items 200 to the associated sorting module 102. Moreover, each transport belt 112 is adapted to move/pivot between a horizontal position (shown in FIG. 3) and a pivot (i.e. inclined) position (shown in FIG. 3). In the horizontal position, the transport belts 112 facilitates a transfer/conveyance/transport of the postal items 200 to a next/adjacent/neighbouring transport belt 112, while in the pivot position the transport belts 112 enables a delivery of the postal items 200 to the associated sorting modules 102.
  • each of the transport belts 112 when arranged/disposed in the pivot position, is located at an inclination relative to the direction of movement of the transport conveyor 104 and defines an opening 124 (shown in FIG. 3) through which the postal items 200 fall onto the associated sorting module 102.
  • a controller may control a movement of the transport belts 112 to the horizontal position and to the pivot position to enable a transport of the postal items 200 to the desired sorting modules 102 to facilitate a correct sorting of the postal items 200.
  • the transport belt 112 may be supported on the associated sorting module 102, and may be supported by a bracket 126 extending substantially perpendicularly from an elevator frame 128.
  • the transport belt 112 may be pivotally coupled to the bracket 126 and may pivot about a pivot axis 130 to move between the horizontal position and the pivot position.
  • the pivot axis is located at the downstream side of the sorting module, so that when the transport belt is pivoted to the pivot position, the opening is arranged at the upstream side of the sorting module.
  • the sorting module 102 includes an input conveyor 140 (best shown in FIG. 6) disposed beneath the associated transport belt 112 to receive the postal items 200 from the transport conveyor 104, an elevator assembly 142 adapted to receive the postal items 200 from the input conveyor 140, and an output conveyor 144 for receiving the postal items 200 from the elevator assembly 142.
  • the input conveyor 140 is adapted to receive the postal items 200 from the transport conveyor 104 and move in a direction ‘B’ that is substantially perpendicular to the movement of the transport conveyor 104. As shown, the input conveyor 140 is adapted to move the postal items 200 towards the elevator assembly 142.
  • the input conveyor 140 includes a first longitudinal end 146 disposed distally from the elevator frame 128, a second longitudinal end 148 disposed proximally to the elevator frame 128, a first portion 150 and a second portion 152.
  • the first portion 150 and the second portion 152 may be separated by a virtual line 154 such that the first portion 150 may extend from the first longitudinal end 146 to the second portion 152, while the second portion 152 may extend from the first portion 150 to the second longitudinal end 148.
  • first portion 150 is arranged/located directly below the associated transport belt 112, while the second portion 152 may be located at an offset from the transport belt 112.
  • the input conveyor 140 is supported on the bracket 126 and the second longitudinal end 148 is disposed at a distance from the elevator frame 128, such that a longitudinal gap 156 is defined between the input conveyor 140 and the elevator frame 128.
  • the input conveyor 140 is adapted to hold a single postal item 200 in two buffer positions 200a, 200b.
  • the postal item 200 drops from the transport conveyor 104 and rests on the input conveyor 140 in a first buffer position 200a. Accordingly, in the first buffer position 200a, the postal item 200 is disposed directly beneath the transport belt and on the first portion 150, while in a second buffer position 200b, the postal item 200 is arranged on the second portion 152 of the input conveyor 140. Accordingly, in the second buffer position 200b, the postal item 200 is located proximate to the elevator assembly 142 relative to the first buffer position 200a. In this manner, the input conveyor 140 is adapted to hold two postal items 200 simultaneously.
  • a length of the input conveyor 140 may be twice a width of the transport belt 112. From the second buffer position 200b, the postal item 200 moves/falls into a tray 164 of the elevator assembly 142 as described in more detail below.
  • two separate conveyors may be provided in line with each other. To optimize the sorting speed of the machine, when a postal item is dropped onto the first portion, the input conveyor will activate and move the postal item to the second portion in order to make the first portion available for a new postal item.
  • the elevator assembly 142 includes the elevator frame 128 extending upwardly from a ground surface, an elevator cabin 162 movably supported on the elevator frame 128 and adapted to move vertically up and down along a height of the elevator frame 128, a plurality of trays 164 arranged/arrayed/stacked vertically within the elevator cabin 162, and an elevator mechanism 166,168 (shown in FIG. 5) adapted to move the elevator cabin 162 up and down in the vertical direction relative to the elevator frame 128.
  • the elevator mechanism may be a chain or belt 166 connected to the elevator cabin 162 and adapted to move the elevator cabin 162 in the vertical direction.
  • the elevator mechanism may include an electric motor 168 (shown in FIG. 5) to operate the chain or the belt 166.
  • each tray 164 is adapted to have a first position (best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) inside the elevator cabin 162 and a second position (best shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) outside the elevator cabin 162.
  • the tray 164 is moved in a horizontal direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the input conveyor 140.
  • the tray 164 is arranged distally from the elevator cabin 162 and at least partly beneath the input conveyor 140.
  • the sorting module 102 may include a tray displacing mechanism 170 extending substantially perpendicular to the elevator frame 128 and disposed outside the elevator cabin 162.
  • the tray displacing mechanism 170 is supported by the bracket 126 and may extend from the elevator cabin 162 to the input conveyor 140 such that a portion of the tray displacing mechanism 170 is located directly beneath/below the input conveyor 140.
  • the tray displacing mechanism 170 includes a pair of rails (best shown in FIG.
  • a first rail 172 and a second rail 174 disposed spaced apart and substantially parallel to the first rail 172, defining a cavity 176 (shown in FIG. 9) therebetween.
  • the tray 164 is supported on the rails 172, 174, and slides relative to the rails 172, 174.
  • the tray displacing mechanism 170 may include a linear actuator 177 to pull the tray 164 out of the elevator cabin 162 to the second position and push the tray 164 inside the elevator cabin 162 to the first position.
  • the linear actuator 177 may include a hook member 178 and a drive belt 179 connected to the hook member 178 and adapted to move the hook member 178 in a horizontal direction along a length of one of the rails, for example, the first rail 172.
  • the hook member 178 is adapted to engage with the tray 164 when the tray is disposed in the first position and aligned with the rails 172, 174, and is adapted to pull the tray 164 outside the elevator cabin 162.
  • the hook member 178 may include an L shape having a first member 180 connected/attached to the belt 179 and a second member 182 extending substantially perpendicular to the first member and adapted to engage with the tray 164 to pull the tray 164, disposed in the first position, outside the elevator cabin 162. Further, the second member 182 remains in engagement with the tray 164 when the tray 164 is moved between the first position and the second position.
  • each tray 164 includes a base 184, front end 186, a rear end 188, a rear wall 190 arranged at the rear end 188, and two side walls 192, 194.
  • the rear wall 190 and the sidewalls 192, 194 extend substantially perpendicular to the base 184 and together define a tray chamber 196 to receive and store one or more postal items 200.
  • the tray 164 includes a front opening 198 through which the postal item 200 from the tray 164 is discharged.
  • the rear wall 190 defines a plurality of openings 202 (herein after referred to as rear openings 202) extending along an entire height of the rear wall 190 from the base 184 of the tray 164.
  • the rear openings 202 facilitate an insertion or extension of a flap member 210 (shown in FIGS. 6 to 9) inside the tray 164 to cause a removal of the postal item 200 from the tray chamber 196 through the front opening 198 when the tray 164 is pushed back into the elevator cabin 162.
  • the tray 164 may include a plurality of ridges 212 or protrusions extending upwardly from the base 184. Owing to the ridges 212, the postal item 200 stored inside the tray chamber 196 remains lifted off the base 184 of tray 164, enabling an easy removal of the postal item 200 from the tray 164 since a contact area between the tray 164 and the postal item 200 will be smaller.
  • the tray 164 may include an engagement structure 214 connected to the sidewall 192 and extending outwardly, in width-wise direction, of the tray 164.
  • the engagement structure 214 may be disposed outside the elevator cabin 162 when the tray 164 is at the first position, and may be arranged proximate to the front end 186 of the tray 164.
  • the engagement structure 214 may be a horizontally disposed II shaped structure and may define a recess 216 to receive the second member 182 of the hook member 178.
  • the second member 182 of the hook member 178 is adapted to engage with the engagement structure 214 to pull the tray 164 out of the elevator cabin 162.
  • the recesses 216 of the trays 164 arranged inside the elevator cabin 162 are vertically inline with each other. Accordingly, the second member 182 (i.e. the hook member 178) remains disengaged from the trays 164 and passes through the recesses in the trays 164 as the elevator cabin 162 moves up and down. In this manner, the hook member 178 remains stationary while the trays 164 move up and down.
  • the tray 164 can be quickly moved out of the elevator cabin 162 by actuating the drive belt 179.
  • the second member 182 of the hook member 178 engages with the engagement structure 214 and pulls the tray 164 outside the elevator cabin 162.
  • the second member 178 of the hook member 178 remains in engagement with the engagement structure 214 when the tray 164 is disposed at the second position, and pushes the tray 164 to the first position when the drive belt 179 is moved towards the elevator assembly 128.
  • the sorting module may include an alignment block 218 disposed proximate to an upper end of the elevator frame 128 and above the tray displacing mechanism 170.
  • the alignment block includes a curved surface 219 facing front ends 186 of the trays 164 arranged inside the elevator cabin 162.
  • the alignment block 218 is arranged such that as the trays 164 move up and down with the elevator cabin 162, front edges of the trays 164 may come into contact with the curved surface 219 of alignment block 218 and are pushed into the elevator cabin 162 into the proper position. In this way, it is ensured that the trays 164 while moving up and down will be in the correct position so that the engagement structure 214 of the tray 164 does not come into conflict with the hook member 178.
  • the sorting module 102 includes the flap member 210 that is arranged outside the elevator cabin 162 and adjacent to the front end 186 of the tray 164 when the tray 164 located at the first position.
  • the flap member 210 is adapted to displace, for example, rotate between an engaged position (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) and a free position (shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9).
  • the flap member 210 In the engaged position, the flap member 210 extends vertically downwardly and may be disposed substantially parallel to front edges of the trays 164, while in the free position, the flap member 210 may be disposed at an inclination relative to the horizontal and vertical direction.
  • the flap member 210 in the engaged position, is adapted to contact/engage with the postal item 200 stored inside the tray chamber 196 when the tray 164 is pushed back inside the elevator cabin 162, while in the free position, the flap member 210 is disposed away from the tray 164 such that the tray 164 can be pushed into the elevator cabin 162 without having the flap member 210 come into contact with a postal item 200 stored in the tray 164. Also, in the engaged position, the flap member 210 is adapted to be located behind a postal item 200 disposed inside the tray 164, when the tray 164 is arranged at the second position to facilitate a removal of the postal item 200 from the tray 164.
  • the flap member 210 may include a plurality of flaps 220 (best shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8) arrayed linearly and disposed spaced apart from each other.
  • the flaps 220 In the engaged position of the flap member 210, the flaps 220 extend vertically downwardly and may extend substantially parallel to the rear wall 190 of the tray 164, while in the free position, the flaps 220 may extend at an inclination relative to the vertical and are disposed away from the tray 164.
  • the plurality of flaps 220 may be aligned with the plurality of rear openings 202 (as shown in FIG. 6 and 7) to facilitate an insertion of the flaps 220 inside the tray chamber 196 though the rear openings 202.
  • the flaps 220 are arranged behind the rear wall 190 of the tray 164 so that the flaps 220 enter the tray chamber 196 through the rear openings 202 and push the postal item 200 out of the tray 164 when the tray 164 is moved back inside the elevator cabin 162.
  • the postal item 200 that is removed from the tray falls onto the output conveyor 144.
  • the flaps 220 may be arranged such that bottom edges 222 of the flaps 220 are located above an inner bottom surface 224 of the tray 164 located in the second position, but below upper surfaces 226 of the ridges 212 of the tray arranged at the second position.
  • the output conveyor 144 extends below the tray displacing mechanism 170 and is adapted to receive a postal item 200 discharged from the tray 164. Further, the output conveyor 144 is attached or coupled to the bracket 126. The output conveyor 144 is adapted to convey/transport the postal items 200 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the input conveyor 140. In an embodiment, the output conveyor 144 is adapted to move the postal items 200 along the width wise direction of the sorting module 102. As shown in FIG.
  • the output conveyor 144 includes a first portion 230 arranged beneath the tray displacing mechanism 170 and is adapted to receive the postal item 200 falling from the tray 164 through the cavity 176, and a second portion 240 connected to the first portion 230 and extending outwardly and downwardly from the first portion 230.
  • the second portion 240 may extend at an inclination relative to the first portion 230 and may extend outwardly of the bracket 126 to facilitate a positioning of the second portion 240 beneath/below a first portion 230 of an output conveyor 144 of an adjacent/neighbouring sorting module 102.
  • the first portion 230 and the second portion 240 may be substantially parallel and inline to each other, and/or may include two separate belts, instead of a single belt as in the current embodiment.
  • the first portion 230 may include a first belt 232 to transport the postal items 200 to the second portion 240
  • the second portion 240 may include a second belt 242 to transport the postal items 200 received from the first belt 232 to an output belt 250 (shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) of the sorting machine 100.
  • the output conveyor 144 is adapted to hold a single postal item 200 in two positions, for example, a first buffer position and a second buffer position. In the first buffer position, the postal item 200 is disposed on the first portion 230, while the postal item 200 is stored/disposed on the second portion 240 in the second buffer position. In this manner, the output conveyor 144 is adapted to hold two postal items 200 simultaneously.
  • the output conveyor 144 may include a gate 244 movable between a closed position and an open position and arranged at a distal end of the output conveyor 144. In the closed position, the gate 244 prevents a transportation of the postal item 200 from the second portion 240 to the output belt 250, while in the open position, the gate 244 allows a transport of the postal item 200 from the second portion 240 to the output belt 250. It may be appreciated that an opening and a closing of the gate 244 and movement of the second belt 242 may be controlled by a controller of the postal sorting machine 102 to facilitate an ejection of the postal items 200 from the sorting machine 100 in correct and desired order. In one embodiment (not shown), a single belt is arranged at an inclination and is provided with two separately operatable gates, one gate at the end of the second portion 240 and one gate between the first portion 230 and the second portion 240.
  • the output belt 250 of the sorting machine 100 is adapted to receive the postal items 200 from each of the sorting modules 102, and extend along a width of each of the sorting modules 102. It may be envisioned that the output belt 250 is arranged/mounted beneath the second portions 240 of the output conveyors 144 of each of the sorting modules 102 to enable a receipt of the postal items 200 from each of the sorting modules 102. Further, the sorting machine 100 includes an output station 260 to receive the postal items 200 from the output belt 250 in a correct and desired order.
  • a stack of unsorted postal items 200 is brought to the sorting machine 100, and is positioned proximate to the input station 108. Thereafter, the postal items 200 are placed on the loading conveyor 106 one by one.
  • a robotic gripper may lift the unsorted postal items 200 and put the postal items 200 on the loading conveyor 106 one by one.
  • a person may add the postal items 200, one at a time, to the loading conveyor 106. It may be appreciated that postal items 200 are placed on the loading conveyor 106 with the address facing up. Subsequently, each postal item 200 passes through the scanner 110 where the address marked on each postal item 200 is photographed and then analysed to determine the correct address of delivery.
  • the address is determined using text recognition techniques known in the art.
  • the address written on one or more of the postal items 200 may not be determined accurately by the controller.
  • Such postal items 200 are still stored in the sorting machine 100 and a human operator can later on read the address via a photograph of the postal item and type in the correct address. As the location of the postal item is known to the controller (as described below), the correct address can then be associated with the postal item for proper sorting.
  • the loading conveyor 106 transports the postal items 200 to the transport conveyor 104 that transfers the postal items 200 to various sorting modules 102.
  • the individual transport belts 112 are hinged/pivoted to the pivot position to cause a drop of the postal items 200 onto the associated sorting modules 102. It may be appreciated that only a single postal item 200 is dropped/transferred to one sorting module 102 at a time. Also, when the transport belt 112 swings/pivots up to the pivot position, the postal item 200 falls down onto the input conveyor 140 running perpendicular to the transport belt 112. In this manner, the postal items are received by various input conveyors 140 of the various sorting modules 102.
  • the input conveyor 140 can hold two postal items 200 simultaneously, one on the first portion 150 and one on the second portion 152. Any postal item 200 from the transport conveyor 104 first falls on to the first portion 150, i.e., in the first buffer position 200a. After receiving the postal item 200, the input conveyor 140 is rotated/moved in the direction ‘B’ to move the postal item 200 to the second portion 152, i.e. the second buffer position 200b. Thereafter, the input conveyor 140 is stopped, and a second postal item 200 is allowed to fall on the input conveyor 140 from the transport conveyor 104. In this manner, the input conveyor 140 can store up to two postal items 200 at a time.
  • an empty tray 164 is moved out of the elevator cabin 162.
  • the elevator mechanism may move the elevator cabin 162 up and down to bring one of the empty tray 164 in the first position such that the empty tray is horizontally aligned with the tray displacing mechanism 170.
  • the empty tray 164 is also vertically aligned with the input conveyor 140.
  • the second member 182 of the hook member 178 is arranged inside the recess 216 of the empty tray 164.
  • the drive belt 179) is moved, causing the engagement of hook member 178 with the engagement structure 214, and enabling a pulling of the empty tray 164 outside the elevator cabin 162.
  • the drive belt 179 is operated/moved until the empty tray 164 reaches the second position. In the second position, at least a portion of the tray 164 is arranged directly below/beneath an upper surface of the second portion 152 of the input conveyor 140. After the empty tray 164 is arranged at the second position, the sorting machine 100 simultaneously starts and moves the input conveyor 140 and the empty tray 164 in the direction ‘B’ towards the elevator cabin.
  • Movements or speeds of the input conveyor 140 and the drive belt 179, and hence the empty tray 164, is controlled such that the postal item 200 located on the input conveyor 140 leaves the input conveyor and is deposited inside the tray 164. In such a case, the postal item 200 travels in the direction of travel of the empty tray 164.
  • the input conveyor 140 and the empty tray 164 are moved at the same speeds so the postal item 200 stored in the second buffer position falls properly inside the moving empty tray 164.
  • the speed of the empty tray 164 is less than 25% slower or less than 25% faster than the speed of the input conveyor 140.
  • the two or more postal items can be stored in the same tray.
  • the above described method of adding the postal item to the tray will ensure that the second postal item is laid nicely on top of the first item, without any risk of the postal items getting into conflict with each other.
  • the tray 164 Upon receiving the postal item 200 inside the tray 164, the tray 164 is pushed fully back inside the elevator cabin 162 by continuing to move the tray 164 in the direction ‘B’, while the input conveyor 140 is stopped after the discharge of the postal item 200 from the second portion 152. Once the tray 164 having the postal item 200 is pushed back inside the elevator cabin 162, the elevator 166 moves the elevator cabin 162 up or down to position a new empty tray 164 aligned with the input conveyor.
  • all the postal items 200 are stored in various trays 164 of the various sorting modules 102. It may be appreciated that the controller of the sorting machine 100 records the locations of the storage of all the postal items 200. After loading the postal items 200 in the trays 164 is complete, the controller can then find the best delivery route and starts to eject the postal items 200 from the trays 164 according to the optimal delivery order. To eject a postal item 200 from a tray 164 disposed inside the elevator cabin 162, the tray 164 is vertically moved by the elevator mechanism such that the tray 164 is in alignment with the tray displacing mechanism 170.
  • the tray 164 is now in the first position and aligned with tray sliding mechanism 170 such that the second member 182 of the hook member 178 is disposed in the recess 214 of the engagement structure 214. Thereafter, the drive belt 179, and hence the linear actuator 177, is moved in a direction towards the input conveyor 140 to facilitate a pulling of the tray 164 having the postal item 200 out of the elevator cabin 162 by the hook member 178.
  • the flap member 210 is rotated to the engaged position from the free position. Accordingly, the flap member 210, and hence the flaps 220, are positioned in a vertically downward direction behind the rear wall 190 of the tray 164.
  • the flaps 220 are inline or aligned with the rear openings 202.
  • the flap member 210 and hence the flaps 220, enters the tray 164 through the rear openings 202 upon rotation/displacement of the flap member 210 to the engaged position.
  • the flap member 210 is positioned proximate to the rear wall 190 and behind the postal item 200 stored inside the tray 164.
  • the drive belt 179 is started and moved towards the elevator cabin 162 in the direction ‘B’ to push the tray 164 inside the elevator cabin 162.
  • the postal item 200 contacts the flap member 210, restricting the movement of postal item 200 in the direction ‘B’ along with the tray 164, causing the postal item 200 to be pushed out of tray 164 through the front opening 198 and fall down from the tray 164. In this manner, the postal item 200 is discharged from the tray 164 and falls on the output conveyor 144 through the cavity 176.
  • the first portion 230 of the output conveyor 144 receives the postal item 200 falling from the tray 164.
  • the postal item 200 is then transferred to the second portion 240 of the output conveyor 144 by moving the first belt 232 of the first portion 230.
  • the output conveyor 144 can hold/store a postal item 200 in two positions, the first buffer position on the first portion 230 and the second buffer position on the second portion 240. Due to the movement of the postal item 200 to the second portion 240, the first portion 230 is ready to receive another postal item 200 from the elevator cabin 162.
  • the sorting machine 100 may keep operating the elevator cabin 162, the trays 164, the tray displacing mechanism 170, and the flap member 210 to discharge/deliver another postal item 200 to first portion 230 of the output conveyor 144, while one postal item 200 is waiting to be ejected from the second portion 240 of the output conveyor 14. Thereby, the sorting machine 100 facilitates a faster sorting and discharge of the postal items 200.
  • the postal item 200 stored on the second portion 240, i.e., in the second buffer position, of the output conveyor 144 is moved to the output belt 250 by opening the gate 244 and moving the second belt 242. It may be envisioned that the postal item 200 is stored on the second portion 240, i.e. in the second buffer position, to deliver the postal item 200 in the correct order on the output belt 250. Accordingly, the controller may keep a record of all the postal items 200 being delivered to the output belt 250 by all the sorting modules 102, and starts the second belts 242 of the sorting modules 102 such that the postal items 200 are arranged on the output belt 250 in a desired sequence/order.
  • the output belt 250 transports the postal items 200 in the correct sequence to the output station 260. At the output station 260, the postal items 200 are bundled into a stack by a worker and transferred to a delivery station.

Landscapes

  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)

Abstract

Machine de tri pour le tri automatique d'une pluralité d'articles postaux, comprenant une pluralité de modules de tri. Chaque module de tri comprend un ensemble monte-charge et un transporteur d'entrée. Le module de tri comporte une structure de monte-charge, une cabine de monte-charge, une pluralité de plateaux agencés à l'intérieur de la cabine du monte-charge, et un mécanisme de monte-charge conçu pour déplacer la cabine du monte-charge vers le haut et vers le bas. Chaque plateau est conçu pour présenter une première position et une seconde position, la première position se situant à l'intérieur de la cabine du monte-charge et la seconde position se situant à l'extérieur de la cabine du monte-charge. De plus, la machine de tri transfère l'article postal du transporteur d'entrée au plateau en déplaçant d'abord le plateau à l'extérieur de la cabine du monte-charge vers la seconde position, puis en déplaçant simultanément le transporteur d'entrée et le plateau dans la même direction pour permettre à l'article postal de tomber du transporteur d'entrée sur le plateau.
EP21786185.5A 2020-10-01 2021-09-29 Machine de tri Pending EP4221903A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DKPA202070668 2020-10-01
PCT/EP2021/076791 WO2022069543A1 (fr) 2020-10-01 2021-09-29 Machine de tri

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4221903A1 true EP4221903A1 (fr) 2023-08-09

Family

ID=80949761

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21786185.5A Pending EP4221903A1 (fr) 2020-10-01 2021-09-29 Machine de tri

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4221903A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2022069543A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6555776B2 (en) * 2001-04-02 2003-04-29 Lockheed Martin Corporation Single feed one pass mixed mail sequencer
EP1513624A1 (fr) 2002-05-07 2005-03-16 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Ensemble et procede de tri par passage unique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2022069543A1 (fr) 2022-04-07

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