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
  • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
  • B07C5/36—Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G1/00—Storing articles, individually or in orderly arrangement, in warehouses or magazines
  • B65G1/02—Storage devices
  • B65G1/04—Storage devices mechanical
  • B65G1/0492—Storage devices mechanical with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G1/00—Storing articles, individually or in orderly arrangement, in warehouses or magazines
  • B65G1/02—Storage devices
  • B65G1/04—Storage devices mechanical
  • B65G1/137—Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
  • B65G1/1373—Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed for fulfilling orders in warehouses
  • B65G1/1378—Storage devices mechanical with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed for fulfilling orders in warehouses the orders being assembled on fixed commissioning areas remote from the storage areas
• • 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
  • B07C2501/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material to be sorted
  • B07C2501/0063—Using robots

Definitions

• the invention generally relates to the field of intralogistics and particularly relates to an automated sorting system for articles, for example in a warehouse. 0 State of the art
• sorting systems for parcels and other items are of particular importance, especially with the increase in e-commerce.
• sorting systems include a main conveyor line which receives the articles to be sorted and distributes them on several secondary lines which receive the articles from the main line and convey them to their predetermined distribution stations.
• a typical example of such a system is a sorting machine of the cross-belt type (cross-belts) which comprises a train of carriages which moves in a closed circuit along loading stations, which are intended to load onto the trolleys for items to be sorted, and unloading stations, where items are unloaded and generally stocked before delivery. 5
• cross-belts cross-belts
• a problem with this type of sorting system is that they are very bulky due to the space occupied by the floor conveyors and the fact that the exit stations can be distributed around the outer periphery of the installation. Another problem is that if a component of the sorting machine requires maintenance, the whole line ceases to operate, and the line can only start operating again after repair.
• the objective of the invention is therefore to propose a system for sorting articles having a reduced footprint on the ground while maintaining a good sorting capacity, compared to known installations and allowing flexibility for maintenance.
• the invention relates to a vertical sorting system for articles comprising: a rack extending in a longitudinal direction and having a plurality of sorting levels, each sorting level being configured to receive at least one sorting container , an automated sorting device configured to move an item from an item receiving level to a sorting level for depositing it in a sorting container, an automated removal device configured to pick up a sorting container from a sorting level and to move it to a disposal level.
• the arrangement of the sorting system in several floors makes it possible to significantly reduce the space occupied on the ground compared to the sorting systems known from the state of the art.
• a sorting container is generally referred to as a "chute" by those skilled in the art.
• the sorting system proposed here should be distinguished from a simple sequencing system, for example in an order picking system.
• the system can comprise a plurality of automated sorting devices. This makes it possible to increase the sorting capacity on the one hand and on the other hand to increase the flexibility of the system in the event of maintenance, in particular if they can operate independently of each other. Indeed, in case of maintenance of a sorting device, at least one other sorting device remains available to continue the sorting operation.
• the sorting system may further comprise a sorting aisle located on one side of the shelving, said aisle being adjacent and parallel to the shelving, the sorting device is configured to move in said sorting aisle.
• the sorting aisle represents the three-dimensional space in which an automatically guided mobile robot can move horizontally and vertically.
• the evacuation device is also configured to move in the sorting aisle. This allows for a more compact system and increases the storage capacity of sorted items.
• the sorting device can also be an evacuation device. This makes it possible to have simplified control of the system by reducing the number of devices to be controlled.
• the system can further comprise an evacuation aisle adjacent and parallel to the shelving and arranged on the other side of the shelving with respect to the sorting aisle, the evacuation device being configured to move in said evacuation aisle.
• the sorting device can be an automatically guided mobile robot (AMR) comprising climbing means capable of cooperating with complementary climbing means arranged in the sorting aisle, and transfer means for transferring the article to the sorting container.
• AMR automatically guided mobile robot
• the sorting system can comprise a plurality of automatically guided mobile robots as sorting means.
• An AMR makes it possible to transport one or more items to be sorted from the reception level (eg the floor) and move it to the sorting level.
• Such an AMR can be adapted to rapidly transport an item to be sorted to make sorting efficient.
• it can be of small size, but sufficient to transport an article (for example parcel) to be sorted, it can be light to go up and down quickly, etc.
• Multiplying the number of AMRs makes vertical sorting more efficient.
• the evacuation device can be an automatically guided carriage distinct from an automatically guided mobile robot (AMR) and is suitable for transporting sorting containers, said carriage comprising climbing means capable of cooperating with second complementary climbing means, arranged in the sorting aisle or the evacuation aisle, and gripping means for taking a sorting container to be moved.
• AMR automatically guided mobile robot
• the evacuation device can be specifically adapted to the transport of sorting containers.
• the evacuation requires a sufficiently large and robust device to allow sorting containers to be loaded (in particular loaded with sorted articles), and on the other hand the evacuation operation does not need to be done at the same speed as sorting.
• it is possible to have a limited number of robust trolleys, but with a simplified mechanics just sufficient to transport a container, for example, from a sorting level to an evacuation level.
• a sorting level can include a sorting track allowing movement of the robot automatically guided in said sorting level from or to a sorting container,
• the sorting aisle may include a sorting shaft connecting said sorting track to the level for receiving articles, said sorting shaft comprising complementary climbing means to allow movement of the automatically guided robot in the shaft.
• a sorting level can include an evacuation track allowing movement of the trolley automatically guided in said sorting level to pick up or drop off a sorting container to be moved,
• the evacuation aisle may comprise an evacuation shaft connecting said evacuation track to the level for evacuation of articles, said evacuation shaft comprising the second complementary climbing means to allow the movement of the trolley automatically guided in the evacuation well.
• the invention also relates to a method for sorting articles implementing the sorting system as described above. Brief description of figures
• Figure 1 shows a simplified example of a sorting system according to the invention, seen from the front.
• FIG.2 shows a first variant of the sorting system according to the invention, seen from the front.
• FIG.3 shows a second variant of the sorting system according to the invention, also seen from the front.
• FIG.4 shows a top view of the sorting system of Figure 3.
• FIG. 1 schematically represents a front view of a first simplified example of sorting system 1 according to the invention.
• the sorting system 1 comprises a three-dimensional shelving 2a formed of a plurality of floors 4, also called sorting levels.
• the shelving 2a extends along the longitudinal direction X and comprises at each sorting level 4 a sorting container 5.
• a sorting level 4 can also have a plurality of sorting containers along the longitudinal direction.
• the system 1 comprises an automated sorting device 7 configured to move an article A from an article reception level, for example from the lowest level of the installation (ground level) and move it to a sorting level 4 to deposit it in a sorting container 5.
• the sorting device can have different shapes, for example a shuttle, a robotic arm or an Automatically Guided Robot (AMR).
• AMR Automatically Guided Robot
• the sorting device 7 is an AMR which includes climbing means 7a, of a type known to those skilled in the art, for example toothed wheels.
• the AMR 7 is configured to move in the sorting aisle 3 adjacent to the rack 2a.
• the aisle 3 may include climbing means, such as uprights 6 fitted with racks 6a.
• the AMR can rotate its toothed wheels which will cooperate with the racks to allow the latter to go up or down.
• the system of FIG. 1 may also comprise a second shelving 2b parallel to the shelving 2a.
• the sorting system 1 also comprises an automated evacuation device configured to take a sorting container 5 (for example full) from a sorting level and move it to an evacuation level, or vice versa.
• an automated evacuation device configured to take a sorting container 5 (for example full) from a sorting level and move it to an evacuation level, or vice versa.
• the evacuation device can have different shapes, for example a shuttle, a manipulator or else an AMR 7 such as that used as a sorting device.
• the evacuation device can be an automatically guided trolley 9 suitable for moving the sorting containers 5 (see Fig. 1, right).
• the AMR 7s are reserved for sorting individual items and can be reduced in size and moved at high speeds to increase the rate of sorting.
• the evacuation it is necessary to have large carriages, and can be in small numbers and moved at low speed to preserve the integrity of the moved container. This also reduces costs while increasing sorting performance.
• the evacuation of the full containers can be done from the same sorting aisle 3.
• an evacuation aisle 8 parallel and opposite to the sorting aisle 3 can be added.
• the automatically guided trolley 9 is configured to move the sorting containers into the evacuation aisle 8.
• the sorting system comprises 4 shelves 2a to 2d. In other examples not shown, it may include a larger number of shelves.
• FIG 3 shows an example embodiment in which the sorting system 10 comprises:
• sorting level 40 which comprises a track 31 allowing movement of the robot automatically guided in said sorting level 40 from or towards the sorting container 50.
• the track 31 is arranged in the aisle 30.
• several sorting levels 40 can each comprise a track to allow movement within the sorting level.
• the sorting aisle 30 comprises a shaft 32 connecting the track(s) 31 to the item reception level (for example the ground or the roof).
• the track can for example comprise rails.
• the well 32 includes the climbing means 33 to allow the movement of the automatically guided robot 7.
• the aisle 3 can comprise a plurality of wells 32, for example a first well 32 can be reserved for the ascent of the AMRs and a second well 32 reserved for their descent. Robots can thus climb up from one well and exit from another to increase performance.
• the height of the track can be adapted to the height of the sorting container to facilitate the transfer of article A.
• the robot may include means for transferring items to the sorting container, for example a cross-type mobile belt (cross-belt).
• a cross-type mobile belt cross-belt
• the transfer means can be adapted to the height of the container.
• the robot may have a telescoping platform carrying the movable belt on which the article is placed.
• the system of Figure 3 may further include an evacuation aisle 80.
• the evacuation aisle may include an evacuation track 81 and a second shaft 82 connecting said track to the item evacuation level.
• the second shaft comprises complementary climbing means 83 to allow movement of the automatically guided carriage.
• the climbing means arranged in the sorting aisle and/or in the evacuation aisle may comprise uprights provided with racks. They can also include any other means of climbing known to those skilled in the art.
• the invention also relates to an article sorting installation which comprises an article sorting system as described above.
• the system can for example be arranged so that the lowest level is the ground. It can also be buried so that the ground is the highest level and can therefore correspond to the level of reception and/or the level of evacuation of articles.
• the invention also relates to a method for sorting articles implementing the sorting system described above.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
• Discharge Of Articles From Conveyors (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=80933849

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

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Citations (1)

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• 2021
  • 2021-12-23 FR FR2114353A patent/FR3131232B1/fr active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-12-13 EP EP22835730.7A patent/EP4452529A1/fr active Pending
  • 2022-12-13 CN CN202280088752.0A patent/CN118475415A/zh active Pending
  • 2022-12-13 CA CA3241175A patent/CA3241175A1/fr active Pending
  • 2022-12-13 US US18/721,495 patent/US20250058361A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-12-13 KR KR1020247024572A patent/KR20240128041A/ko active Pending
  • 2022-12-13 AU AU2022423896A patent/AU2022423896A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-12-13 JP JP2024538016A patent/JP2024545317A/ja active Pending
  • 2022-12-13 WO PCT/EP2022/085512 patent/WO2023117565A1/fr not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (1)

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