WO2005035146A1 - Device for combining manually handled flat postal items with a flow of postal items sorted automatically according to their order of distribution - Google Patents

Device for combining manually handled flat postal items with a flow of postal items sorted automatically according to their order of distribution Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005035146A1
WO2005035146A1 PCT/EP2004/009960 EP2004009960W WO2005035146A1 WO 2005035146 A1 WO2005035146 A1 WO 2005035146A1 EP 2004009960 W EP2004009960 W EP 2004009960W WO 2005035146 A1 WO2005035146 A1 WO 2005035146A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
compartments
station
containers
distribution
loading
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2004/009960
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Wolf-Stephan Wilke
Original Assignee
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft filed Critical Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority to JP2006525741A priority Critical patent/JP2007504940A/en
Priority to EP04764903A priority patent/EP1663525B1/en
Priority to DE502004005450T priority patent/DE502004005450D1/en
Publication of WO2005035146A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005035146A1/en

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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
    • B07C3/06—Linear sorting machines in which articles are removed from a stream at selected points
    • 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

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device for the automatic merging of manually processable flat mail items with a stream of mail items sorted automatically according to the distribution sequence, with which the necessary manual effort is reduced.
  • Movable containers are provided over part of the driven section conveyor belt, on which the mailings are automatically deposited in the distribution sequence, which circulate in a closed transport path and which each have a plurality of compartments which can be opened downwards for each mailpiece.
  • the compartments can only be emptied if the containers are in the stationary position in stationary sorting stations and the automatic emptying onto the sections assigned to the delivery points takes place in accordance with the recognized destination address of the mail items.
  • the emptying of a container After the emptying of a container, it can be moved to a loading station, in which the compartments are filled with mail items, the compartments with the mail items are assigned to the delivery points of the distribution sequence in accordance with the respective destination address, and this assignment to a device for controlled opening of the compartments is transmitted. This largely relieves the deliverer of manual sorting tasks.
  • each compartment receiving a mail item in an upright position has a bottom that can be opened, the opening of which in the sorting station of the container is carried out by locally fixed actuators that attack corresponding opening mechanisms of the compartments ,
  • the compartments are inclined obliquely backwards in relation to the transport direction of the section conveyor belt.
  • the transport path of the containers is designed such that a fixed number of loaded containers are kept in a storage position in front of the loading station and / or in front of the sorting station / s until the respective station becomes free.
  • the loading station is provided for manually loading the compartments and has a coding device for manually entering the delivery addresses.
  • the loading station has a compartment wall for manual pre-sorting of the fertilizers before loading the compartments.
  • the common address information for each pre-sorted distribution section is specified by the machine controller before the start of the specialist loading in order to comply with the processing sequence associated with the automatically sorted mail flow. So only the house numbers have to be coded.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a device according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a container in a sorting station.
  • a section conveyor belt 1 transports consignments 2 (there are consignments of a delivery point in each section) from left to right in the distribution sequence to a collection station (not shown), in which the packages are then collected in containers in the distribution sequence become.
  • a packing station can be located in front of this collecting station, in which the items of a delivery point are packed or bundled.
  • the mail items 2 were placed in the sections of the section conveyor belt 1.
  • the conveyor track 5 runs in opposite directions, container 3 with a plurality of compartments 4, each for a narrow shipment in an upright position.
  • container 3 with a plurality of compartments 4, each for a narrow shipment in an upright position.
  • container 3 there are several containers 3 that move asynchronously. This can be done in that each container 3 has its own drive, which can be controlled independently of the drives of the other containers 3, or an endless conveying means circulates continuously, to which the containers can be connected and disconnected in a controlled manner, for example at certain waiting positions or by a stationary container 3.
  • the containers 3 filled with mail items 8 that cannot be processed automatically in sorters are stopped and then according to the known assignment of the sections of the section conveyor belt 1 to the delivery points and their known delivery address emptied to the corresponding sections, which is explained in more detail below. If the respective container 3 in its sorting station 6 has been completely emptied and is not prevented from moving further by a container 3 located in front of it, it is fed via the circulating transport path 5 to a loading station 9, in which it is stopped in the loading position and loaded manually becomes.
  • the respective shipment 8 is also encoded by the operator, ie he enters the data of the delivery address (destination address) read in a coding device (keyboard) 11.
  • the delivery point is then automatically determined with the aid of a file in which the delivery addresses are assigned to the destination addresses and optionally their order in the distribution order.
  • the delivery point is then assigned to the respective compartment 4, transmitted to the device for the controlled opening of the compartments 4, which controls the unloading of the compartments 4 in the sorting position 6 onto the sections of the section conveyor belt 1.
  • This device also has the information as to which conveyor belt section is assigned to which delivery point, so that the corresponding compartment 4 is opened when the conveyor belt section moved past is below it.
  • the shipments 8 are pre-sorted in a partition 10 in distribution areas (eg street).
  • this distribution area is shown on a display which is controlled by the machine control and only the house number has to be coded when loading. Both in front of the loading ation 9 and in front of the sorting position (s) 6, the containers 3 can remain in storage positions until they can be picked up in the following station 9, 6.
  • the device is located on the section conveyor belt 1 in the transport direction after the sorter, which the section conveyor belt 1 automatically occupies.
  • the mailings 8 that can only be processed manually are at the top in the respective section.
  • the emptying of the containers 3 in the sorting station 6 is shown in more detail in FIG.
  • the container 3 has a plurality of narrow, obliquely arranged compartments 4, which are inclined rearward in the transport direction of the section conveyor belt 1, in which the items 8 are located on their narrow sides.
  • Each compartment 4 has a bottom 13 which can be pivoted downwards and to which an outwardly directed lever is attached.
  • a locally fixed opening mechanism 12 e.g. a lifting magnet
  • the section conveyor belt 1 loaded in the sorter moves to the right in the direction of the arrow.
  • the movable part of the opening mechanism 12 presses against the bottom from below and causes the bottom 13 to pivot downward, so that the Program 8 falls on this section.
  • the compartments 4 are inclined so that the mail items 8 slide into the section.
  • the container 3 is transported further against the transport direction of the section conveyor belt 1, which is also possible in the transport direction, and runs past a locally fixed closer 14, which causes all levers to return to their original position be pressed, ie that the bottom 13 pivots up and thus all compartments 4 are closed again.

Landscapes

  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Discharge Of Articles From Conveyors (AREA)

Abstract

According to the invention, movable containers (3) are provided above a section of a section conveyor belt (1) onto which postal items are deposited in the order of distribution. Said containers revolve in a closed transport loop (5) and have a plurality of compartments (4) for one postal item (8) each that can be opened downwardly in a controlled manner. Said compartments (4) can only be emptied when the containers (3) are in a rest position in a sorting station (6). The automatic emptying onto the sections associated with the delivery destinations is carried out in accordance with the recognized destination address of the postal items (8). Once a container (3) is emptied, it is taken to a charging station (9) where the compartments (4) are filled with postal items (8), the compartments (4) containing the postal items (8) are associated with the delivery destinations in accordance with the respective destination address and this association is transmitted to a device for opening the compartments (4) in a controlled manner.

Description

Beschreibungdescription
Vorrichtung zum Zusammenführen manuell verarbeitbarer flacher Sendungen mit einem Strom automatisch nach der Verteilreihen- folge sortierter SendungenDevice for merging manually processable flat mail items with a stream of mail items sorted automatically according to the distribution order
Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruches 1.The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.
In der feinsten Sortierung von Sendungen werden diese nach Zustellpunkten in der Verteilreihenfolge sortiert.In the finest sorting of shipments, they are sorted according to delivery points in the distribution order.
Bei allen bisher bekannten Automatisierungslösungen zum Sortieren nach der Verteilreihenfolge (DE 199 43 362 AI) , bei denen auch ein Zusammenfügen von Sendungsströmen oder - stapeln erfolgt (DE 198 29 484 Cl, WO 2004/007 102 AI), ist jedoch immer ein Teil der Sendungen auf Grund ihrer Beschaffenheit (Abmessungen, Steifigkeit) nur manuell verarbeitbar. Sie können also nicht maschinell in den Sendungsstapel eingefügt werden. Dies erfolgt dann durch den Zusteller. Die Grün- de hierfür liegen im wesentlichen in den Formateigenschaften. Werden diese Sendungen nicht in das „Päckchen" pro Zustell- punkt oder wenigstens an richtiger Stelle im Stapel mit eingefügt, so ist die während der Zustellung erzielbare Zeitersparnis wiederum geringer, da der Zusteller neben dem „Päck- chen"-Stapel einen zweiten Stapel mit manuellen Sendungen zu verarbeiten hat.However, in all previously known automation solutions for sorting according to the distribution sequence (DE 199 43 362 AI), in which a consignment of mail streams or stacks is also put together (DE 198 29 484 Cl, WO 2004/007 102 AI), is always part of the Consignments can only be processed manually due to their nature (dimensions, rigidity). This means that they cannot be automatically inserted into the batch of items. This is then done by the deliverer. The main reason for this is the format properties. If these mail items are not included in the "parcel" per delivery point or at least in the correct place in the stack, the time saving that can be achieved during delivery is again less, since the deliverer also has a second stack in addition to the "parcel" stack has to process manual shipments.
Da die Automatisierungslδsungen sich i.a. in einem Sortierzentrum befinden, kann ein automatisches Hinzufügen dieser manuellen Sendungen zu einem maschinell erzeugten Sendungs- ström oder -Stapel i.d.R. nicht durch den Zusteller erfolgen. Sofern manuell verarbeitbare Sendungen zu einem maschinell in Verteilreihenfolge sortierten Sendungsstapel hinzugefügt („gemergt") werden mussten, so wurde der maschinell in Verteilreihenfolge sortierte Sendungsstapel häufig ebenfalls durch den Zusteller nochmals manuell in die gleichen Fächer, in die auch die manuellen Sendungen sortiert wurden, sortiert. Dieser Prozess ist jedoch sehr aufwändig. Der Erfindung liegt daher die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine Vorrichtung zum automatischen Zusammenführen manuell verarbeitbarer flacher Sendungen mit einem Strom automatisch nach der Ver- teilreirαenfolge sortierter Sendungen zu schaffen, mit welcher der notwendige manuelle Aufwand reduziert wird.Since the automation solutions are generally located in a sorting center, these deliveries cannot usually be added automatically to a machine-generated mail flow or batch by the deliverer. If manually processable consignments had to be added ("merged") to a batch of consignments sorted mechanically in the order of distribution, the batch of consignments sorted mechanically in the order of distribution was often again manually sorted into the same compartments into which the manual consignments were also sorted by the deliverer However, this process is very complex. The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device for the automatic merging of manually processable flat mail items with a stream of mail items sorted automatically according to the distribution sequence, with which the necessary manual effort is reduced.
Erfindungsgemäß wird die Aufgabe durch die Merkmale des Anspruches 1 gelöst . Über einem Teil des angetriebenen Abschnittsfόrderbandes, auf das die Sendungen in der Verteilreihenfolge automatisch abgelegt werden, sind bewegliche Behälter vorgesehen, die in einer geschlossenen Transportbahn umlaufen und die jeweils mehrere, gesteuert nach unten zu öffnende Fächer für jeweils ei- ne Sendung aufweisen. Die Fächer sind nur entleerbar, wenn sich die Behälter in ortsfesten Sortierstationen in Ruhestellung bef nden und die automatische Entleerung auf die den Zustellpunkten zugeordneten Abschnitte entsprechend der erkannten Zielanschrift der Sendungen erfolgt. Nach Beendigung der Leerung eines Behälters ist dieser zu einer Beladestation fahrbar, in der die Fächer mit Sendungen gefüllt werden, die Fächer mit den Sendungen entsprechend der jeweiligen Zielanschrift den Zustellpunkten der Verteilreihenfolge zugeordnet werden und diese Zuordnung an eine Einrichtung zum gesteuer- ten Öffnen der Fächer übertragen wird. Damit wird der Zusteller von manuellen Sortieraufgaben weitgehend entlastet.According to the invention the object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Movable containers are provided over part of the driven section conveyor belt, on which the mailings are automatically deposited in the distribution sequence, which circulate in a closed transport path and which each have a plurality of compartments which can be opened downwards for each mailpiece. The compartments can only be emptied if the containers are in the stationary position in stationary sorting stations and the automatic emptying onto the sections assigned to the delivery points takes place in accordance with the recognized destination address of the mail items. After the emptying of a container, it can be moved to a loading station, in which the compartments are filled with mail items, the compartments with the mail items are assigned to the delivery points of the distribution sequence in accordance with the respective destination address, and this assignment to a device for controlled opening of the compartments is transmitted. This largely relieves the deliverer of manual sorting tasks.
Vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen der Erfindung sind in den Unteransprüchen dargelegt. So ist es für eine aufwandsarme Ausführung vorteilhaft, wenn jedes eine Sendung in aufrechter Position aufnehmende Fach einen zu öffnenden Boden aufweist, dessen Öffnung in der Sortierstation des Behälters zum Ausschleusen der Sendung durch örtlich feste Stellorgane erfolgt, die an entsprechende Öff- nungsmeclαanismen der Fächer angreifen. Um ein definiertes Gleiten der Sendungen in die Abschnitte des bewegten Abschnittsförderbandes zu gewährleisten, ist es vorteilhaft, wenn die Fächer zur Transportrichtung des Abschnittsfδrderbandes schräg nach hinten geneigt sind.Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the subclaims. Thus, it is advantageous for a low-effort design if each compartment receiving a mail item in an upright position has a bottom that can be opened, the opening of which in the sorting station of the container is carried out by locally fixed actuators that attack corresponding opening mechanisms of the compartments , In order to ensure a defined sliding of the mail items into the sections of the moving section conveyor belt, it is advantageous if the compartments are inclined obliquely backwards in relation to the transport direction of the section conveyor belt.
Vorteilhaft ist es auch, in Transportrichtung der Behälter nach den Sortierstationen ortsfeste Stellorgane zum Schließen der Fächer anzuordnen, wodurch der technische Aufwand für den Öffnungs- und Schließmechanismus der Fächer reduziert werden kann .It is also advantageous to arrange fixed actuators for closing the compartments in the transport direction of the containers after the sorting stations, as a result of which the technical outlay for the opening and closing mechanism of the compartments can be reduced.
Damit der Belade- von dem Entladevorgang der Behälter entkoppelt werden kann, ist die Transportbahn der Behälter so ausgebildet, dass eine festgelegte Anzahl von beladenen Behäl- tern vor Beladestation und/oder vor der/den Sortierstation/en in einer Speicherposition solange gehalten werden, bis die jeweilige Station frei wird.So that the loading process can be decoupled from the unloading process of the containers, the transport path of the containers is designed such that a fixed number of loaded containers are kept in a storage position in front of the loading station and / or in front of the sorting station / s until the respective station becomes free.
Vorteilhaft ist es auch, wenn die Beladestation zum manuellen Beladen der Fächer vorgesehen ist und eine Kodiereinrichtung zum manuellen Eingeben der Zustellanschriften aufweist.It is also advantageous if the loading station is provided for manually loading the compartments and has a coding device for manually entering the delivery addresses.
Um den Online-Kodieraufwand zu reduzieren, besitzt die Beladestation eine Fachwand zum manuellen Vorsortieren der Sen- düngen vor dem Beladen der Fächer. Die gemeinsame Adressangabe fü-tr jeden vorsortierten Verteilabschnitt wird dabei vor Beginn des Fachbeiadens durch die Maschinensteuerung vorgegeben, um die zum automatisch sortierten Sendungsstrom zugehörige Abarbeitungsreihenfolge einzuhalten. Somit müssen nur noch die Hausnummern kodiert werden.In order to reduce the online coding effort, the loading station has a compartment wall for manual pre-sorting of the fertilizers before loading the compartments. The common address information for each pre-sorted distribution section is specified by the machine controller before the start of the specialist loading in order to comply with the processing sequence associated with the automatically sorted mail flow. So only the house numbers have to be coded.
Vorteilhaft ist es ebenfalls, zur Vermeidung von Eingabefehlern die aktuell einzugebenden Verteilbereiche auf Displays am Beladepiatz und an den Fächern der Fachwand anzuzeigen.It is also advantageous, in order to avoid input errors, to show the distribution areas currently to be entered on displays on the loading place and on the compartments of the compartment wall.
Anschließend wird die Erfindung anhand der Zeichnung in einem Ausfüb-rungsbeispiel erläutert. Dabei zeigen FIG 1 eine schematische Draufsicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, FIG- 2 eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Behälters in einer Sortierstation.The invention is then explained in an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. 1 shows a schematic top view of a device according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a container in a sorting station.
Wie in FIG 1 dargestellt, transportiert ein Abschnittsfδrder- band 1 Sendungen 2 (in jedem Abschnitt befinden sich Sendun- gen eines Zustellpunktes) in der Verteilreihenfolge von links nach rechts zu einer nicht dargestellten Sammelstation, in der die Sendungen dann in Behältern in der Verteilreihenfolge gesammelt werden. Vor dieser Sammelstation kann sich noch eine Packstation befinden, in der die Sendungen eines Zustell- punktes verpackt oder gebündelt werden.As shown in FIG. 1, a section conveyor belt 1 transports consignments 2 (there are consignments of a delivery point in each section) from left to right in the distribution sequence to a collection station (not shown), in which the packages are then collected in containers in the distribution sequence become. A packing station can be located in front of this collecting station, in which the items of a delivery point are packed or bundled.
Die Sendungen 2 wurden im Ergebnis eines automatischen Sortierprozesses in die Abschnitte des Abschnittförderbandes 1 gelegt. Übe-ir einem Teil des Abschnittförderbandes 1 verläuft die Transporrtbahn 5 gegenläufig umlaufender Behälter 3 mit mehreren Fächern 4 für jeweils eine schmale Sendung in aufrechter Position. In einem Verlauf befinden sich mehrere Behälter 3, die sich asynchron bewegen. Dies kann erfolgen, indem jeder Behälter 3 einen eigenen Antrieb besitzt, der unab- hängig von den Antrieben der anderen Behälter 3 ansteuerbar ist oder es läuft ein endloses Fördermittel kontinuierlich um, an das die Behälter gesteuert an- und abkoppelbar sind, z.B. an bestimmten Wartepositionen oder durch einen ruhenden Behälter 3. In Sortierstationen 6 über dem Abschnittsförder- band 1 werden die mit Sendungen 8, die in Sortierern nicht automatisch verarbeitbar sind, gefüllten Behälter 3 gestoppt und dann entsprechend der bekannten Zuordnung der Abschnitte des Abschnittsförderbandes 1 zu den Zustellpunkten und ihrer bekannten Zustelladresse auf die entsprechenden Abschnitte geleert, was nachfolgend noch näher erläutert wird. Ist der jeweilige Behälter 3 in seiner Sortierstation 6 komplett geleert worden und wird durch einen davor befindlichen Behälter 3 nicht am weiterfahren behindert, so wird er über die umlaufende Transportbahn 5 einer Beladestation 9 zuge- führt, in der er in der Beladeposition gestoppt und manuell beladen wird. Beim Beladen erfolgt auch das Kodieren der jeweiligen Sendung 8 durch den Operateur, d.h. er gibt die Daten de-tr gelesenen Zustellanschrift (Zieladresse) in einer Kodiereinrichtung (Tastatur) 11 ein. Aus diesen Daten wird dann mit Hilfe einer Datei, in der den Zieladressen die Zustellpunkte und optional deren Ordnung in der Verteilreihenfolge zugeordnet ist, der Zustellpunkt automatisch ermittelt. Der Zustellpunkt wird dann dem jeweiligen Fach 4 zugeordnet, an die Einrichtung zum gesteuerten Öffnen der Fächer 4 übertra- gen, die das Entladen der Fächer 4 in der Sortierposition 6 auf die Abschnitte des Abschnittförderbandes 1 steuert. Diese Einrichtung hat auch die Angaben, welcher Förderbandabschnitt welchem Zustellpunkt zugeordnet ist, damit das entsprechende Fach 4 dann geöffnet wird, wenn sich der vorbeibewegte För- derbandabschnitt unter ihm befindet. Um den Kodieraufwand für jede Sendung 8 möglichst gering zu halten, werden die Sendungen 8 in einer Fachwand 10 in Verteilbereiche (z.B. Straße) vorsortiert. Sollen die Sendungen 8 eines bestimmten Verteil- bereich.es in die Fächer des Behälters geladen werden, so wird dieser Verteilbereich durch ein Display, das von der Maschinensteuerung angesteuert wird, angezeigt und es muss beim Laden nur- noch die Hausnummer kodiert werden. Sowohl vor der Belades ation 9 als auch vor der/den Sortierposition/en 6 können die Behälter 3 in Speicherpositionen verharren, bis ihre Aufnahme in der folgenden Station 9 , 6 möglich ist.As a result of an automatic sorting process, the mail items 2 were placed in the sections of the section conveyor belt 1. About a part of the section conveyor belt 1, the conveyor track 5 runs in opposite directions, container 3 with a plurality of compartments 4, each for a narrow shipment in an upright position. In a course there are several containers 3 that move asynchronously. This can be done in that each container 3 has its own drive, which can be controlled independently of the drives of the other containers 3, or an endless conveying means circulates continuously, to which the containers can be connected and disconnected in a controlled manner, for example at certain waiting positions or by a stationary container 3. In sorting stations 6 above the section conveyor belt 1, the containers 3 filled with mail items 8 that cannot be processed automatically in sorters are stopped and then according to the known assignment of the sections of the section conveyor belt 1 to the delivery points and their known delivery address emptied to the corresponding sections, which is explained in more detail below. If the respective container 3 in its sorting station 6 has been completely emptied and is not prevented from moving further by a container 3 located in front of it, it is fed via the circulating transport path 5 to a loading station 9, in which it is stopped in the loading position and loaded manually becomes. When loading, the respective shipment 8 is also encoded by the operator, ie he enters the data of the delivery address (destination address) read in a coding device (keyboard) 11. From this data, the delivery point is then automatically determined with the aid of a file in which the delivery addresses are assigned to the destination addresses and optionally their order in the distribution order. The delivery point is then assigned to the respective compartment 4, transmitted to the device for the controlled opening of the compartments 4, which controls the unloading of the compartments 4 in the sorting position 6 onto the sections of the section conveyor belt 1. This device also has the information as to which conveyor belt section is assigned to which delivery point, so that the corresponding compartment 4 is opened when the conveyor belt section moved past is below it. In order to keep the coding effort for each shipment 8 as low as possible, the shipments 8 are pre-sorted in a partition 10 in distribution areas (eg street). If the consignments 8 of a specific distribution area are to be loaded into the compartments of the container, this distribution area is shown on a display which is controlled by the machine control and only the house number has to be coded when loading. Both in front of the loading ation 9 and in front of the sorting position (s) 6, the containers 3 can remain in storage positions until they can be picked up in the following station 9, 6.
Gemäß FIG 1 befindet sich die Vorrichtung an dem Abschnittsförderband 1 in Transportrichtung nach dem Sortierer, die das Abschnittsförderband 1 automatisch belegt. Dadurch liegen die nur manuell verarbeitbaren Sendungen 8 im jeweiligen Abschnitt zuoberst. Natürlich ist es auch möglich, die Vorrich- tung vor dem Sortierer anzuordnen, so dass die manuell verar- beitbaren Sendungen 8 zuunterst liegen.According to FIG. 1, the device is located on the section conveyor belt 1 in the transport direction after the sorter, which the section conveyor belt 1 automatically occupies. As a result, the mailings 8 that can only be processed manually are at the top in the respective section. Of course, it is also possible to to be arranged in front of the sorter so that the manually processable items 8 are at the bottom.
In FIG 2 ist das Entleeren der Behälter 3 in der Sortiersta- tion 6 näher dargestellt. Der Behälter 3 weist mehrere schmale, schräg angeordnete - in Transportrichtung des Abschnittsförderbandes 1 nach hinten geneigte - Fächer 4 auf, in denen die Sendungen 8 auf ihren Schmalseiten stehen. Jedes Fach 4 besitzt einen nach unten schwenkbaren Boden 13, an dem ein nach außen geführter Hebel angebracht ist. Wenn der Behälter 3 in der Sortierposition angekommen ist, wird er abgestoppt. Unterhalb jedes seitlich aus dem Behälter 3 herausragenden Hebels ist ein örtlich fester Öffnungsmechanismus 12 (z.B. ein Hubmagnet) angeordnet. Unter dem Behälter 3 bewegt sich das im Sortierer beladene Abschnittsförderband 1 nach rechts in Pfeilrichtung. Läuft gerade unter einem Fach 4 ein Abschnitt vorbei, der die gleiche Zustellpunktzuordnung wie die Sendung 8 in diesem Fach 4 aufweist, so drückt der bewegliche Teil des Öffnungsmechanismus 12 von unten gegen den He- bei und bewirkt ein Nachuntenschwenken des Bodens 13, so dass die Sendung 8 auf diesen Abschnitt fällt. Damit dies definiert mit einem guten Stapelbild geschieht, sind die Fächer 4 so geneigt, dass die Sendungen 8 in den Abschnitt gleiten. Sobald der- Behälter 3 komplett leer ist, wird er weitertrans- portiert entgegen der Transportrichtung des Abschnittsfδrder- bandes 1, was auch in Transportrichtung möglich ist, und läuft an einem örtlich festen Schließer 14 vorbei, der bewirkt, dass alle Hebel in die ursprüngliche Lage gedrückt werden, d.h. dass der Boden 13 nach oben schwenkt und somit alle Fächer 4 wieder geschlossen sind. The emptying of the containers 3 in the sorting station 6 is shown in more detail in FIG. The container 3 has a plurality of narrow, obliquely arranged compartments 4, which are inclined rearward in the transport direction of the section conveyor belt 1, in which the items 8 are located on their narrow sides. Each compartment 4 has a bottom 13 which can be pivoted downwards and to which an outwardly directed lever is attached. When the container 3 has reached the sorting position, it is stopped. A locally fixed opening mechanism 12 (e.g. a lifting magnet) is arranged below each lever protruding laterally from the container 3. Under the container 3, the section conveyor belt 1 loaded in the sorter moves to the right in the direction of the arrow. If a section passes just below a compartment 4 and has the same delivery point assignment as the consignment 8 in this compartment 4, the movable part of the opening mechanism 12 presses against the bottom from below and causes the bottom 13 to pivot downward, so that the Program 8 falls on this section. To ensure that this is done with a good stack image, the compartments 4 are inclined so that the mail items 8 slide into the section. As soon as the container 3 is completely empty, it is transported further against the transport direction of the section conveyor belt 1, which is also possible in the transport direction, and runs past a locally fixed closer 14, which causes all levers to return to their original position be pressed, ie that the bottom 13 pivots up and thus all compartments 4 are closed again.

Claims

Patentansprüche claims
1. Vorrichtung zum Zusammenführen manuell verarbeitbarer flacher Sendungen (8) mit einem Strom in einem Sortierer automatisch nach der Verteilreihenfolge sortierter, auf einem Abschnittsförderband (1) abgelegter Sendungen (2) , welches die Sendungen (2,8) in den Abschnitten zu einer Sammelstation transportiert, in der die Sendungen (2) in der- Verteilreihenfolge zusammengefasst werden, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t, - dass über einem Teil des Abschnittsförderbandes (1) bewegliche Behälter (3) vorgesehen sind, die in einer geschlossenen Transportbahn (5) umlaufen und die jeweils mehrere gesteuert nach unten zu öffnende Fächer (4) für jeweils eine Sendung (8) aufweisen, - wobei die Fächer (4) nur entleerbar sind, wenn sich die Behälter (3) in einer Sortierstation (6) in Ruhestellung befinden - und wobei die automatische Entleerung auf die den Zu- stellpunkten zugeordneten Abschnitte entsprechend der erkannten Zielanschrift der Sendungen (8) erfolgt, - und dass nach Beendigung der Leerung eines Behälters (3) dieser zu einer Beladestation (9) fahrbar ist, in der die Fächer (4) mit Sendungen (8) gefüllt werden, - wobei die Fächer (4) mit den Sendungen (8) entsprechend der jeweiligen Zielanschrift den Zustellpunkten der Verteilreihenfolge zugeordnet werden und diese Zuordnung an eine Einrichtung zum gesteuerten Öffnen der Fächer (4) übertragen wird.1. Device for merging flat items (8) that can be processed manually with a stream in a sorter, items (2) automatically sorted according to the distribution order and placed on a section conveyor (1), which items (2, 8) in sections to a collecting station transported, in which the mailings (2) are combined in the distribution order, characterized in that - above a part of the section conveyor belt (1) there are movable containers (3) which circulate in a closed transport path (5) and which each control several have compartments (4) that can be opened downwards for each consignment (8), - the compartments (4) can only be emptied when the containers (3) are in a rest position in a sorting station (6) - and wherein the automatic emptying to the sections assigned to the delivery points in accordance with the recognized destination address of the mail items (8), - and that after Completion of the emptying of a container (3) which can be moved to a loading station (9) in which the compartments (4) are filled with mail items (8), - the compartments (4) with the mail items (8) corresponding to the respective target address the delivery points of the distribution order are assigned and this assignment is transmitted to a device for controlled opening of the compartments (4).
Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n - z e l e h n e t, dass jedes eine Sendung (8) in aufrechter Position aufnehmende Fach (4) einen zu öffnenden Boden (13) aufweist, dessen Öffnung in der Sortierstation (6) zum Ausschleusen der Sendung (8) durch örtlich feste Stellorgane (12) erfolgt, die an entsprechende Öff- nungsmechanismen der Fächer (4) angreifen.Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each compartment (4) receiving a shipment (8) in an upright position has a bottom (13) that can be opened, the opening of which in the sorting station (6) for discharging the shipment (8) locally fixed actuators (12), which are connected to corresponding opening attack mechanisms of the subjects (4).
3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, d a d u r c h g e k e n n - z e i c h n e t, dass die Fächer (4) zur Transportrich- tung des Abschnittsförderbandes (1) schräg nach hinten geneigt sind.3. The device as claimed in claim 2, so that the compartments (4) are inclined obliquely backwards to the direction of transport of the section conveyor belt (1).
4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t, dass in Transportrichtung der Behäl- ter (4) nach den Sortierstationen (6) ortsfeste Stellorgane (14) zum Schließen der Fächer angeordnet sind.4. The device according to claim 1, which also means that, in the transport direction of the containers (4) after the sorting stations (6), stationary adjusting members (14) are arranged to close the compartments.
5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t, dass die Transportbahn (5) der Behäl- ter (4) so ausgebildet ist, dass eine festgelegte Anzahl von beladenen Behältern (4) vor der Beladestation (9) und/oder vor der/den Sortierstation/en (6) in einer Speicherposition solange gehalten werden, bis die jeweilige Station (6,9) frei wird.5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport path (5) of the container (4) is designed such that a predetermined number of loaded containers (4) in front of the loading station (9) and / or in front of the / the sorting station / s (6) are held in a memory position until the respective station (6,9) becomes free.
6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t, dass die Beladestation (9) zum manuellen Beladen der Fächer (4) vorgesehen ist und eine Kodiereinrichtung (11) zum manuellen Eingeben der Zustellanschrif- ten aufweist.6. The device according to claim 1, so that the loading station (9) is provided for manual loading of the compartments (4) and has a coding device (11) for manually entering the delivery addresses.
7. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t, dass die Beladestation (9) eine Fach- wand (10) zum manuellen Vorsortieren der Sendungen (8) vor dem Beladen der Fächer (4) besitzt und die Adressangaben für jeden vorsortierten Verteilbereich vor Beginn des Fachbeiadens mit den Sendungen (8) dieses Abschnittes eingegeben werden.7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the loading station (9) has a compartment wall (10) for manual pre-sorting of the mail items (8) before loading the compartments (4) and the address information for each pre-sorted distribution area before the start of the Fachbeiadens can be entered with the shipments (8) of this section.
8 Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t, dass am Beladepiatz und an den Fächern der- Fachwand (10) Displays vorgesehen sind, die den aktuell zu beladenden Verteilabschnitt anzeigen. 8 Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that on the loading place and on the subjects der- Fachwand (10) displays are provided which show the distribution section currently to be loaded.
PCT/EP2004/009960 2003-09-16 2004-09-07 Device for combining manually handled flat postal items with a flow of postal items sorted automatically according to their order of distribution WO2005035146A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2006525741A JP2007504940A (en) 2003-09-16 2004-09-07 A merger that combines a manually processed flat shipment with a stream of shipments automatically sorted according to a distribution sequence
EP04764903A EP1663525B1 (en) 2003-09-16 2004-09-07 Device for combining manually handled flat postal items with a flow of postal items sorted automatically according to their order of distribution
DE502004005450T DE502004005450D1 (en) 2003-09-16 2004-09-07 APPARATUS FOR COMBINING MANUALLY PROCESSABLE FLAT TRANSMISSIONS WITH A CURRENT AUTOMATICALLY ACCORDING TO THE DISTRIBUTION SERIES OF SORTED TRANSMISSIONS

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10342804A DE10342804B3 (en) 2003-09-16 2003-09-16 Apparatus for merging manually processable flat shipments with a stream automatically according to the distribution order of sorted shipments
DE10342804.6 2003-09-16

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WO2005035146A1 true WO2005035146A1 (en) 2005-04-21

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EP (1) EP1663525B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2007504940A (en)
KR (1) KR20060090973A (en)
CN (1) CN100591432C (en)
DE (2) DE10342804B3 (en)
WO (1) WO2005035146A1 (en)

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EP1649940A3 (en) * 2004-10-19 2006-06-14 Pitney Bowes, Inc. Method for grouping mail pieces in a sorter
US8035053B2 (en) 2006-09-02 2011-10-11 Siemens Ag Sorting installation and sorting method for letters and large letters

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DE102006029732B3 (en) * 2006-06-28 2007-09-06 Siemens Ag Method for bringing together manually processed flat transmissions, involves pre-sorting manually processed transmissions corresponding to route sections and afterwards sorting in area corresponding to respective route sections
DE102009020664A1 (en) 2009-05-11 2010-11-25 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for sorting various objects
DE102010022082A1 (en) 2009-06-26 2010-12-30 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for sorting objects by means of storage areas
DE102012211211A1 (en) 2011-10-11 2013-04-11 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method for sorting several objects e.g. postal letters according to predetermined sorting criterion, involves inserting objects at nominal position of last inserted sequence of objects, to generate total sequence of sorted objects
CN102962206B (en) * 2012-11-30 2014-12-10 深圳市络道科技有限公司 Flat mail sorting system
CN103920649A (en) * 2014-04-15 2014-07-16 湖州吴兴灵动机电设备制造厂 Fully-automatic sorting machine
DE102015200618A1 (en) * 2015-01-16 2016-07-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Sorting apparatus and method for sorting pieces

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DE19943362A1 (en) * 1999-09-10 2001-03-22 Siemens Ag Device and method for arranging flat items

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EP1649940A3 (en) * 2004-10-19 2006-06-14 Pitney Bowes, Inc. Method for grouping mail pieces in a sorter
US7414219B2 (en) 2004-10-19 2008-08-19 Pitney Bowes Inc. System and method for grouping mail pieces in a sorter
US8035053B2 (en) 2006-09-02 2011-10-11 Siemens Ag Sorting installation and sorting method for letters and large letters

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1845800A (en) 2006-10-11
EP1663525A1 (en) 2006-06-07
CN100591432C (en) 2010-02-24
DE10342804B3 (en) 2005-04-14
JP2007504940A (en) 2007-03-08
DE502004005450D1 (en) 2007-12-20
KR20060090973A (en) 2006-08-17
EP1663525B1 (en) 2007-11-07

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