WO2016192948A1

WO2016192948A1 - Stacking device

Info

Publication number: WO2016192948A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/060662
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Moser
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2015-06-03
Filing date: 2016-05-12
Publication date: 2016-12-08
Also published as: DE102015210305A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a stacking device (1) for flat parcels (28), in particular letters, comprising a stack compartment (80), a counter pressure mechanism (3), and a separating blade, wherein a) the stacking device (1) is designed to receive the parcels (28) in the form of an upright stack (8) in a stacking region (9) when the parcels (28) are automatically introduced into the stack compartment (80) from a sorting system using a filling device (10); and b) the separating blade can be moved along the stack (8) in a guided translational manner and can be lowered into the stack (8) in a rotative matter. The invention is characterized in that the separating blade (4) can be completely lowered behind the stack (8) in a filling device region (12) between the stack (8) and the filling device (10) even when the stack (8) has a fanned-out region (30) in the direction of the filling device (10). The invention relates to a method for emptying a stacking device (1), wherein the stack compartment (80) is emptied by lowering the separating blade behind the stack (8), even when the stack (8) has a fanned-out region (30), without an operator having to manually pull the stack (8) towards the filling device (10) by hand.

Description

description

Orrichtung stack The invention relates to the technical field of a Stapelvor ^¬ device for flat items of mail, such as letters.

Modern letter sorting systems already achieve very high peak throughputs today. The emptying of the stacking compartments for flat consignments into which the consignments are sorted must be safe and efficient in order to ensure smooth operation. Discharge is currently still frequently ^¬ fig manually, that is, the shipments are transferred manually from the stacking compartments in mail containers. The consignments are guided into the respective stacking compartments with the aid of a filling device. The mail items are held upright as a stack in a stacking area in stacking compartments by a separating knife (stacking support, paddle), which is fastened to a guide arranged laterally along the stack. The separating knife can be rotatively countersunk into the stack and is movable along the guide along the stack. First, the cutting blade is applied to the filling. During filling by means of the filling device, which comprises the stacking belt and the stacking spindle, the separating knife is displaced along the guide simultaneously with the stack that is being built up. The first consignment, which has been introduced into the stack area, lies with its flat side against the separating knife, which thus has the function of supporting the consignment stack. A lateral portion of a front surface of the last stacked consignment is pressed by a counter-pressure mechanism against the filling GE ^¬ and is applied to this. Because of this and because of their ^¬ schiedlicher broadcast formats and fillings have most recently been piled shipments of the stack towards a aufgefächer- th area for filling up. During emptying, the cutting knife is rotated upwards out of the stack and pushed forward at the filling device lowered into the pile. Thus, a part of the stack is separated from ^¬ and can be removed.

Due to a simple rotary attachment of the cutting knife to the side of the stack and along the

Stack arranged guide, the separation knife by design no longer be moved in the effective direction of the Gegendruckmecha ^¬ mechanism over the fanned out area as the lateral portion of the stack, which abuts the Befüll- device. An operator can not sting the cutter blade beyond the fanned-out area unless it prefers it with one hand. In this case, there is a Sicherheitsri ^¬ siko that the operator touches the filling at the discharge by hand. Since the operator needs both hands for this process and the cutting knife no longer supports the stack meanwhile, the handle of the Stapelvor ^¬ direction is cumbersome and there is a risk that the Sta ^¬ pel tilts it. The present invention is therefore based on the object to increase the security of stacking devices and / or to facilitate their operation. This object is achieved by the solutions described in the independent claims. According to one aspect, a stacking device for flat

Programs, in particular letters, presented that a Stapel ^¬ fold, a counter-pressure mechanism, and a separating knife summarizes. The stacking compartment comprises a stacking area which is provided for receiving a stack. The stacking device is configured to receive the flat items stacked upright in the stacking area in the case of automatic introduction of the items from a sorting installation into the stacking ^compartment . The counter pressure mechanism is ausgestal ^¬ tet, to push the stack in the direction of sorting against a loading filler and thereby hold up.

The cutting knife is translationally guided along the stack displaceable and rotatably retractable into the stack. The cutting knife is designed and so in the stacking device mon- that it can be retracted completely behind the stack in a filling device area between the stack and the filling device, even if the stack has a fanned-out area in the direction of the filling device.

According to a further aspect, a method for emptying the stacking device is described. In this case, the separating knife is sunk in the filling device area behind the stack in the effective direction of the counter-pressure mechanism, even if the stack has a fanned-out region in the direction of the filling device. Here, the stack must be held against the filling manually with ei ^¬ ner hand of an operator. According to one embodiment, the stacking device comprises a guide, along which the cutting knife is translatably displaceable along and above the stacking area. As a result, the separating knife can be moved to any point of the Stapelbe ^¬ rich.

According to a further embodiment, the guide is arranged above the stacking compartment or above the stacking area in the stacking compartment. This makes it possible to move the cutting blade along and above the stacking area a simple Konstrukti ^¬ on.

According to a further embodiment, the stack ^¬ device comprises a second back-pressure mechanism which presses the cutting blade when it is submerged in Befüllvorrichtungsbereich behind the stack against the stack. A second counterpressure, which can be generated by the second counterpressure mechanism, can be carried out, for example, by means of a pressure spring integrated into the guide. As a result, as soon as it has been sunk in the filling device area behind the stack, the separating knife presses together the fanned-out area.

According to a further embodiment, the separating knife is fastened with a hinge on the guide. A mobile one Part of the hinge is arranged such that a Klappbewe ^¬ supply of the separating knife is executed toward the filling device. This allows the cutting knife to be moved even better behind the fanned-out area.

According to a further embodiment, the counter ^¬ pressure mechanism comprises the cutting blade. This results in the advantage of a simplified construction of the stacking device.

According to a further embodiment, the Stapelvor ^¬ direction and the filling device are designed so that only a lateral portion of a filling device facing front surface of the stack is pressed by the counter-pressure mechanism against the filling and thus the stack has a fanned out area to the Beffevorrichtungsbereich. This has the advantage that the filling device keeps the stack upright. According to a further embodiment of a fastening of the cutting knife on the guide on one side of Stapelbe ^¬ Reich is disposed on the lateral portion will be ^¬. This has the advantage that the cutting knife can better grip behind the stack, even if it is highly diversified.

According to a further embodiment, the separating knife behind the stack is retractable, without the fanned Be ^¬ rich of the stack must first be pulled against the direction of action of the counter-pressure mechanism. As a result, the security for the operator of the stacking device is further increased.

According to a further embodiment, the stacking device comprises the filling device. As a result, the construction of stacking and filling device can be advantageously matched to one another. According to a further exemplary embodiment of the method, during the emptying, the front face of the stack not facing the filling device is not held upright by the separating knife, but manually with that hand of the operator which is not used for operating the separating knife. This is an undesirable tipping of the stack verhin ^¬ changed.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures, for example. Showing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a schematic

Representation of a stacking device filled with a stack of flat items according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a plan view of the stacking device of Figure 1. Figure 1 shows one with a stack 8 of flat mailings

28 filled stacking device 1, comprising a stacking tray 80, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The stacking compartment 80 comprises a stacking area 9, which is provided for receiving a stack 8. The broadcasts 28 are upright and closed stacked on one

The stacking device 1 comprises a counterpressure mechanism 3, which exerts a back pressure with a direction of action towards a filling device 10. The stacking compartment 80 is filled with the aid of the filling device 10. The stacking device 1 comprises the filling device 10. The stack 8 is supported by a guide blade 2 attached to a separating knife 4 and thereby kept upright during the filling. The Gegendruckmecha ^¬ mechanism 3 is integrated into the guide. 2 The counter-pressure mechanism 3 comprises the severing blade 4. This saves material and the counter-pressure mechanism 3 presses the separating ^blade 4 against the stack 8. Between the filling device 10 and the stack 8 there is a filling device region 12. The stacking device 1 and the filling device 10 are designed such that only a lateral portion 32 of a filling device 10 facing the front surface of the stack

8 is pressed by the counter-pressure mechanism 3 against the Befüllvorrich- device 10. As a result, the stack 8 has a fanned-out area 30 towards the filling device area 12. The lateral portion 32 thus abuts against the filling device 10. A diversification is also favored by different consignment fillings and formats. The fanned-out portion 30 of the stack 8 comprises the program 28, the WUR last filled into the stack 8 ^¬. Along the guide 2, the separating knife 4 is displaceable translationally along and above the stacking area 9. A lateral arrangement of the guide 2 at the height of the Empire Stapelbe- 9 permitted only complicated designs in order to achieve a Po ^¬ sitioning of the separating knife 4 on the fanned-out portion 30 out into the Befüllvorrichtungsbereich 12 inside. Thus, a pivot arm, to which the separating knife 4 is rotatably mounted above the stack 8, are fastened to the guide 2. Alternatively, the cutting blade 4 is attached to the guide 2 by a hinge 7. A movable part of the hinge 7 is arranged so that a Klappbewe ^¬ supply of the cutting knife 4 is executed back to the filling 10th If the guide 2 is arranged above the stacking tray 80 or above the stacking portion 9 in the stacking tray 80, this allows a particularly simple construction which requires neither hinge 7 nor gripping arm to move the cutting knife beyond the fanned out portion 30. Since the stack 8 is arranged within the stack area 9, this means that the guide 2 is arranged higher than the highest possible in the stack 8 standing broadcast 28. Even with an arrangement of the guide 2 above the stack area

9, the separating knife 4, as shown in Figure 1, are attached to the guide 2 with a hinge 7. This fastening allows the folding movement of the separating knife 4 toward the filling device 10 in addition to a rotary sinking of the separating knife 4 into the stack 8 and in addition to a translatory displacement along the guide 2 along the stack. When the separating knife 4 is sunk in the filling device 12 behind the stack 8, a second counter-pressure mechanism 5, which can also be integrated into the guide 2, presses the separating knife 4 against the filling device 10 against the stack 8 as far as an effective range of the counter-pressure mechanism 3.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the stacking device 1 of Figure 1. Behind the stack 8 is the Befüllvorrich- tung 10, which comprises a stacking belt 20, a stack roller 22 and arranged in a stack spindle portion 26 stack ^¬ spindle 24th The fastening 6 of the separating knife 4 on the guide 2 is integrally ^¬ arranged on one side of the stacking portion 9 on which the lateral portion 32 is located.

FIGS. 1 and 2 thus show a stacking device 1 for flat mailings 28, in particular letters, which comprises the stacking tray 80, the counterpressure mechanism 3, and the separating knife 4. The stacking compartment 80 comprises the stacking area 9, which is provided for receiving the stack 8. The stacking device 1 picks up the flat shipments 28 stacked upright in the stacking area 9 during an automatic introduction of the mailpieces 28 from a sorting installation into the stacking compartment 80. The counter-pressure mechanism 3 presses the stack 8 in the direction of the sorting system against the filling device 10 and thereby keeps it upright. The back pressure mechanism 3 can ^¬ example, be realized by means of a spring force. The

Separating blade 4 is translationally guided guided along the stack 8 and rotatably retractable into the stack. The separating knife 4 is designed and mounted in the stacking device 1 so that it can be lowered completely behind the stack 8 in the filling device region 12 between the stack 8 and the filling device 10, even if the stack 8 in the direction of the filling device 10 has a fanned out - has rich 30. A sinking of the separating knife 4 behind the stack 8 without further manipulation of the fanned-out region 30 of the stack 8 allows emptying of the Sta ^¬ pelvorrichtung 1 with reduced security risk that the Operator empties the filling device 10 with one hand. In addition, it reduces the risk ei ^¬ nes unwanted tipping of the stack 8 during Entlee ^¬ tion.

The stacking device 1 includes the second back-pressure mechanism 5. The second back-pressure mechanism presses the separation ^¬ knife 4 when it is submerged in Befüllvorrichtungsbereich 12 behind the stack 8 to the stack 8. A by the second counter-pressure mechanism 5 producible second back pressure is, for example, by an in the guide 2 inte ^¬ grated compression spring successful. The second counter-pressure ^mechanism 3 can, but does not have to, act even if that

Cutting knife 4 is not sunk. In an operation of the separating knife 4 during emptying of the stacking device 1, the cutting blade 4 is rotatably pivoted upward and thus initially loses its stack 4 supporting function, which can be taken over by a hand of the operator. The counter-pressure mechanism 3 causes the separating knife 4 to be displaced along the guide 2 towards the filling device 10. Subsequently, the separating knife 4 can be moved against the second counter-pressure further towards the Befüllvorrichtungsbereich 12. When the operator now lowers the severing blade 4 rotatively in the filling device area 12 behind the stack 8 and then releases it, the second counter-pressure ^mechanism 5 pushes the severing blade 4 towards the stack 8 to a point at which the stack 8 is at least partially in contact with the filling device 10 is applied. Thus, the second back pressure, not the operator, compresses the fanned area 30. Since the second counter-pressure mechanism 5 acts only up to the point at which the stack 8 rests at least partially on the filling device 10, the second counter-pressure ^mechanism 5 does not displace the stack 8 as a whole. The separating knife 4 can thus be inserted behind the fanned-out area 30 without having to first pull it against the filling device 10. A piercing of the separating knife 4 and pulling the fanned-out region 30 against the filling device 10 can be done manually, for example. The separating knife 4 can be lowered behind the stack 8, without the fanned-out region of the stack 8 having to be pulled against the effective direction of the counter-pressure mechanism 3 for this purpose. This reduces the risk of the operator touching the filling device 10 when emptying by hand.

The emptying of the stacking compartment 80 takes place, for example, in that the separating knife 4 is sunk in the filling device area 12 behind the stack 8 in the effective direction of the counterpressure mechanism 3, even if the stack 8 has a fanned-out area 30 in the direction of the filling device 10, without For this purpose, the stack 8 must be manually pulled against the filling device 10 with one hand of an operator. In this case, the security risk that the operator touches the filling device 10 while the method is being carried out by hand is reduced. During emptying, preferably, the front surface of the stack 8 not facing the filling device 10 is not held upright by the severing knife 4, but manually by the operator's hand, which is not used for operating the separating knife 4. Since no two hands but only one hand is erfor ^¬ sary for the operation of the cutting knife 4, the other hand is available for this. Otherwise, there is a risk that the stack 8 will tip over during emptying. Counter-pressure mechanism 3 and second counter-pressure mechanism 5 may comprise a scroll spring, a compression spring and / or other embodiments with and / or without spring forces. In order to move the separating knife 4 against the effective direction of the counter-pressure mechanisms 3 and the second counter-pressure mechanism 5, the operator must actively pull the separating knife against the direction of action respectively press. Reference sign list

1 stack orrichtung

2 leadership

3 counter pressure mechanism

4 cutter

5 second counterpressure mechanism

6 Fixing the cutting knife 4

7 hinge

8 piles

9 stack area

10 filling device

12 Filling device area

20 stacking belts

22 stacking roll

24 stacking spindle

26 Stack SpindleIdge

28 broadcast

30 fanned-out area

32 lateral section

80 stacking tray

Claims

claims

1. stacking device (1) for flat broadcasts (28), in particular letters, comprising a stacking tray (80), a counter-pressure mechanism (3), and a separating knife (4), wherein

a) the stacking compartment (80) comprises a stacking area (9) which is provided for receiving a stack (8);

b) the stacking device (1) is arranged at a au ^¬ matic introduction of the items (28) from a sorting anläge in the stacking compartment (80) the flats (28) stacked upright in the stack area (9) to take;

c) the counter-pressure mechanism (3) is configured to press the stack (8) in the direction of the sorting system against a filling device (10) and thereby to maintain it; and d) the separating knife (4) along the stack (8) guided translationally displaceable and rotatable in the stack (8) can be lowered;

characterized in that

the separating knife (4) is designed and mounted in the stacking device (1) such that it can be lowered completely behind the stack (8) between the stack (8) and the filling device (10) in a filling device region (12) even if the stack (8) has a fanned-out area (30) in the direction of the filling device (10).

2. stacking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by

a guide (2), along which the cutting knife is displaceable translationally along and above the stacking area (9).

3. stacking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that

the guide (2) above the stacking tray (80) or above the stacking area (9) in the stacking tray (80) is arranged.

4. stacking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by a second back-pressure mechanism (5) which, when it is the separator ^¬ diameter sunk in Befüllvorrichtungsbereich (12) behind the stack (8) against the stack (8) presses, wherein a through second back pressure mechanism (5) producible second back pressure, for example, by a in the guide (2) integrated pressure spring is feasible.

5. stacking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that

the separating knife with a hinge (7) on the guide (2) is fixed, wherein a movable part of the hinge (7) is arranged so that a folding movement of the cutting blade towards the filling device (10) is executable.

6. stacking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that

the counterpressure mechanism (3) comprises the separating knife (4).

7. stacking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that

the stacking device (1) and the filling device (10) are configured so that only a lateral subregion (32) of a front surface of the stack (8) facing the filling device (10) is pressed against the filling device (10) by the counterpressure mechanism (3). and thereby the stack (8) towards the Beffevorrichtungsbereich (12) has a fanned-out area.

8. stacking device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that

a fastening 6 of the separating knife 4 is arranged on the guide 2 on one side of the stacking area (9), on which the lateral portion (32) is located.

9. stacking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that

the separating knife (4) behind the stack (8) can be lowered without the fanned-out region (30) of the stack (8) for this purpose initially against the effective direction of the counter-pressure mechanism

(3) must be drawn.

10. stacking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the stacking device (1) comprises the filling device (10).

11. A method for emptying a stacking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the emptying of the stacking tray (80) by the separation ^¬ knife in the Befüllvorrichtungsbereich (12) behind the stack (8) in the direction of action the counter-pressure mechanism (3) ver ^¬ lowers, even when the stack (8) in the direction of the filling device (10) has a fanned-out portion 30 without the need for the stack (8) manually by an operator's hand (opposite to the filling 10).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that during the emptying not the filling device (10) facing the front surface of the stack (8) not from the cutting knife

(4) but manually held upright with the operator's hand that is not used to operate the cutting knife (4).