WO2007003336A1

WO2007003336A1 - Method and device for placing flat objects

Info

Publication number: WO2007003336A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/006304
Authority: WO
Inventors: Beat Fritsche; Armin Zimmermann
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2005-07-06
Filing date: 2006-06-29
Publication date: 2007-01-11
Also published as: DE102005031493A1; EP1899252A1; CN101213138A

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and a device for placing flat objects such as mailings from a first top position into a bottom tray which moves relative to said position in at least one direction of travel. The flat object is accommodated by means of an intermediate element before being transferred into the tray, the bottom of said intermediate element being horizontal or inclined relative to the direction of travel. In order to transfer the flat object to the tray, a conveying means of the bottom is driven in such a way that the side and a front edge of the transferred flat object land on a supporting plane or on or near a front wall of the tray, front being in relation to the direction of transfer. The transfer or placement of mailings between tracks of trays is thus substantially optimized.

Description

Method and device for depositing flat objects

The present invention relates to a method and a device for depositing flat objects according to the preamble of claims 1 and 10.

Flat objects, in particular items of different mass and surface are to be stored individually from pockets in containers located underneath, with pockets and containers moving at a differential speed to each other. In this case, a speed can also be zero. The objects are placed flat on the bottom of the container and aligned at least on one edge. This alignment is a prerequisite for a machine further processing as well as for a sequence sorting and the associated, subsequent manual handling by the postman.

The document EP 0 708 693 B1 describes a sorting device for consignments in which bags with consignments circulate via destination-assigned, locally fixed containers. According to the read destination addresses of the items they are stored in the associated container. The bags are always opened at a certain fixed position above the respective container. However, the optimum opening position at which shipments are placed in the container aligned with the front wall of the container in the direction of travel, but varies depending on transmission characteristics, such as different coefficients of friction between the programs and the bags, such as masses of the programs and how a variable discharge height by different container levels , which represents a compromise in a fixed transfer position, with the result of poor alignment of the broadcasts in the direction of movement.

The present invention is therefore based on the object, a transfer of flat objects from an upper Place in a lower storage compartment, which can move relative to each other to optimize.

This object is achieved by the measures specified in patent claims 1 and 10. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in further claims.

Starting from a method or from an associated device for depositing flat objects such as mail from a first upper position into a lower storage compartment-the term "up / down" means the vertical direction of gravity -, accordingly, the storage compartment is at least in a transport direction moved relative to the location, the following steps are carried out according to the invention:

- Before the transfer into the storage compartment of the flat object is received by means of an intermediate element whose bottom is horizontal or inclined to the transport direction,

at the end of the recording one side of the flat object is in contact with the ground,

- For the transfer of the flat object to the storage compartment a means of transport of the bottom is driven so that the side and a transfer direction front edge of the given flat object impinge on a storage level or on or near a front wall in the transferring wall of the storage compartment ,

In this case, the intermediate element can be moved relative to the location and / or to the storage compartment. In fact, in most cases, the lower storage compartment belongs to a container web which can be moved close to the horizontal direction and at which mailpieces are delivered from first upper cassette-shaped storage compartments which constitute the so-called upper location. For an exemplary illustration of the invention, the upper position and the lower storage compartment will be referred to below as first upper and second lower storage compartment, respectively. The first upper shelf is also often on an upper cassette track connected, which moves relative to the lower container track. Most often, the direction of transport of one or both webs is horizontal or slightly tilted, however, it may also vary along a web, for example for registration purposes of the mailpieces in a container or for guiding containers from an upper location to a lower location. In this case, corresponding tracks of intermediate elements at different height points or their bottom angle can also be adjusted.

It is advantageous in the method that the transmission (= flat object) is put into a selected motion by the drive of the floor, preferably in the form of an appropriate (for example sinusoidal) pulse for its deposition in the lower storage compartment. Thus, an edge and a side of the mail arrive on a desired edge or on the bottom of the lower storage compartment without objection, and this at the right time, because thanks to the means of transport of the intermediate element, the transfer in connection with the relative speed between him and the lower Tray is precisely controls. If the transfer is to be prevented at least temporarily, the intermediate element also plays the role of a buffer, e.g. by stopping or braking the means of transport. Due to the increased degree of freedom with respect to temporal and spatial sorting of the programs, the flexibility of the transfer substantially increases.

Due to the smallest possible adjustable angle of the soil to the transport direction remains - during the transfer - the shipment in an approximate horizontal or slightly inclined position, which allows an optimal landing direction of the shipment in the lower storage compartment. This means that the program hits a desired plane of the storage compartment without friction or sliding with this plane. This level corresponds to the highest free fill level of a possibly previous formed stack of the lower storage compartment. The inclination angle values can assume from zero to 90 degrees and adjusted according to selected parameters (shape, dimensions of the shipment or relative speeds of the storage compartment to the lower storage compartment or level in the storage compartment etc) and possibly readjusted. The setting of the angle can thus be carried out once according to predetermined program-dependent measures or shipment-dependent at each transfer. It is also desirable that the transmitted from the intermediate element consignment has a low relative speed with the lower storage compartment or its consignment stack, so that a nearly flat deposition of the shipment in the lower storage compartment and thus no gliding of the shipment is done on the stack. In most cases, furthermore, the lower storage compartment is slightly tilted, so that at least one edge of the local remote items is correctly and stably aligned with an edge of the storage compartment. This allows a better stack quality. The inclination of the bottom of the intermediate element must therefore also be adjusted taking into account the inclination of the lower storage compartment, in particular if the inclination of the lower storage compartment varies over a circulation path.

The drive of the floor can be realized in several simple ways, e.g. by means of a flat belt drive or several parallel flat or round belts. There is a start-stop operation available. An optional stopping device such as a flap may also be installed at the end (outlet) of the intermediate element. As a result, an edge of the mail can also be aligned correctly with this means.

For optimal guidance of the shipment to the bottom of the intermediate element from the upper storage compartment in the

Intermediate element, the flat object is directed or deflected, so that the front edge of the flat Object moves in the same direction as the drive direction of the soil. A vertical case of the shipment to the intermediate element is thus advantageously avoided or corrected. The corresponding guide is steep or concave advantage, so that no broadcast upsets occur during the transfer of the shipment.

An alternative to guide means of the shipment on the bottom of the intermediate member is to use dynamic means for variable inclination of the intermediate member relative to the transport direction such that from the beginning of the recording to the transfer of the angle between the ground and the transport direction is reduced. In other words, the consignment falling from the upper container is received in the now almost vertical intermediate element. For this, the intermediate element has stopping means such as a hook means for the lower (not flat) edge of the mail item. Subsequently, the angle of the bottom is adjusted to the previously correct value (close to the transport direction), so that the transfer according to the invention to the lower storage compartment takes place. After transfer, the intermediate element is returned in its vertical position to receive another shipment. As a result, the above-mentioned guide device is no longer needed.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, for example. Showing:

Figure 1: main process steps of the inventive storage of a shipment via an intermediate element.

FIG. 1 shows the main procedural steps of the filing of a mail item 2 according to the invention

Intermediate element 4 from a first upper storage compartment 1 (= upper position) in a second lower storage compartment 5. Both Storage compartments 1, 5 can move relative to one another in at least one horizontal direction (= transport direction selected here). In most cases, rows of storage compartments 1, 5 are used, which can be represented as upper and lower trains and can be moved relative to one another at a relative speed (eg via circulating lines, in which mailpieces are transmitted). Likewise, a horizontal row of intermediate elements 4 may be formed and may be in motion as a pusher train relative to one or both storage compartments 1, 5.

The arranged on the bottom 11 of the intermediate element 4 transport means has in this embodiment, a flat belt with rollers, which is driven to receive the shipment after its transfer from the first upper storage compartment 1. There is also a start-stop mechanism for the recorded program. An additional flap 10 at the tread portion end of the bottom 11 can also be used to hold the mail item 2 over its leading edge, especially if the mail item is e.g. because of your

Weight quickly arrives at the bottom 11 or / and the inclination of the bottom 11 to the horizontal direction should be a high value. The leading edge of the mail item can also be aligned with the flap 10 in conjunction with the drive of the tray 11. As a result, the front edge on the lateral edge 7 of the lower storage compartment 5 "precautionary" aligned before further transfer.

The upper storage compartment 1 is usually a bag, a cassette, a carrier, etc, which at an opening

Dropping the shipment 2 to a diverting 3 (steep and / or concave guide element) allows. The diverting element 3 is particularly required to secure a desired position / orientation of the falling consignment on the bottom of the nearest intermediate element 4. The fall of the front (and lower) edge of the shipment should be guided in the same direction as the further drive direction of the bottom 11 (see corresponding arrows).

In an alternative, guide means by a variable tilting of the intermediate element 4 relative to

Transport direction to be used such that is reduced from the beginning of the recording to the transfer of the angle between the bottom 11 and the transport direction, the intermediate element 4 has a rotation axis, about which for receiving from the upper container falling shipment 2 the

Intermediate element 4 is positioned vertically. In addition, the intermediate element 4 has stopping means such as hook means for the lower edge of the mail item. The hook means may be the flap 10. The inclination can also be set slightly below 90 degrees, so that the case of the program 2 in the vertical direction or the impact of the lower edge of the program 2 is damped with the hook. Subsequently, the inclination of the soil is adjusted to the hitherto correct value (close to the transport direction), so that the transfer according to the invention to the lower storage compartment 5 takes place. After the transfer, the intermediate element 4 is returned in its vertical position, so that another shipment is received. As a result, the above-mentioned guide device is no longer needed.

Now, a transfer of the program is planned in a lower storage compartment 5, the optional flap 10 opens and the transport is driven so that the transmission is transmitted, for example, a sinusoidal pulse movement in the drive direction of the bottom 11. The intensity of the pulse may depend on different parameters, such as the relative to the intermediate element 4 horizontal speed of the lower storage compartment 5 or its dimensions and / or level, the inclination of the lower storage compartment 5 and the targeted target plane by means of the storage compartment 5 below located and oblique support member 6, from the reach between the intermediate element 4 and the opening of the Lower tray 5, etc. It is also considered that the intensity of the pulse is not generated too abruptly by the drive of the soil, so that a minimum slip factor is secured between the ground and the shipment. For the storage of the shipment 2 is an optimal time to consider, which depends on the shipment acceleration, the way to the optimal impact point of the shipment to the bottom / stack of the lower tray 5 (which in turn depends on the level of the storage compartment 5). The amount of the impulse of the shipment is approximated from the

Difference speed between intermediate element 4 and lower storage compartment 5, divided by the cosine of the angle formed by the inclination of the bottom 11 of the intermediate element 4, calculated. So if the differential speed is low, the amount of the pulse is also chosen accordingly small. The inclination of the bottom 11 is chosen / adjusted small to the horizontal direction in practice, so that during the transfer of the flat object (= 2) in the lower storage compartment 5, the (flat) side of the flat object on the current filling level of the lower storage compartment. 5 with minimal or no friction hits. The main goal is that the front of the transmission 2 to the transfer or pulse direction after the impulse and the lower side of the program 2 with maximum accuracy, the lateral edge 7 and the

Level 9 of the lower storage compartment 5 meet at the end of the transfer. This minimizes friction between the side of a pre-stored program with the upcoming program 1, preferably completely avoided. The resulting stack of items is thereby optimally aligned on the side wall 7 and the bottom 8 of the lower storage compartment 5.

The recording from the upper storage compartment 1, the recording on the intermediate element 4, the introduction of the transfer and the transfer to the lower storage compartment 5 of programs 2 is gradually between the upper storage compartment 1, the Intermediate element 4 and the lower storage compartment 5 shown in Figure 1. All steps and their tripping times can be triggered / controlled by means of light cabinets in addition to the previously mentioned system parameters. However, mailing formats can be determined in a preliminary procedure and are available at the time of delivery. In this case, the light cabinets can be used as a trigger and according to known transmission parameters, the time of the transfer is determined, which was optimized empirically in a test phase.

Claims

claims

1. A method for depositing flat objects (2) from a first upper position (1) in a lower storage compartment (5), accordingly, the storage compartment (5) at least in one

Moving direction moves at a relative speed to the point (1),

- before being transferred to the storage compartment (5), the flat object is received by means of an intermediate element (4) whose bottom (11) is parallel or inclined to the direction of the relative velocity,

at the end of the take-up, one side of the flat object is in contact with the ground,

- For the transfer of the flat object to the storage compartment (5) a means of transport of the bottom (11) is driven such that the side and a transfer direction front edge of the given flat object on a storage level (9) or on or near a in the transferring direction front wall (7) of the storage compartment (5) impinge, characterized in that the transferred from the intermediate element flat object has a low relative speed with the lower storage compartment (5), so that a glide-free, almost planar deposition of the flat object in the lower storage compartment (5) happens.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate element moves relative to the point (1) and / or to the storage compartment (5).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for the transfer of the flat object to the storage compartment of the flat object in a selected via the drive of the soil movement, preferably in the form of a sinusoidal pulse is added, which depends on the inclination of the soil as well as the relative speed between the intermediate element and the storage compartment depends.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when passing to the storage compartment, the inclination of the bottom is selected small to the transport direction, such that during the transfer to the storage compartment, the side of the flat object to the current filling level of the second Tray with minimal friction hits.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the transport means of the intermediate element is driven in such a way that is stopped before the transfer of the flat object.

A method according to claim 5, characterized in that, when the flat object is stopped, an edge of the flat object is aligned in one direction (10).

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that means (6) are used for variable inclination of the intermediate element relative to the transport direction such that from the beginning of the recording to the transfer of the inclination of the soil is reduced to the transport direction.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that for receiving (3) of the flat object from the upper position in the intermediate element, the flat object is directed or deflected, so that the front edge of the flat object in the same direction moved as the drive direction of the transport.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the transport direction varies almost a horizontal course, in particular when the inclination of the lower storage compartment (5) varies over a circulation path, and the inclination of the bottom (11) of the intermediate element taking into account Inclination of the lower storage compartment (5) is adjusted.

10. An apparatus for depositing flat objects (2) from a first upper position (1) in a lower storage compartment (5), wherein the storage compartment (5) moves at least in a transport direction at a relative speed to the point (1) , - prior to transfer to the storage compartment (5) the flat

Object is received by means of an intermediate element (4) whose bottom (11) is parallel or inclined to the direction of the relative velocity,

- For the transfer of the flat object to the storage compartment (5) a means of transport of the bottom (11) is driven such that the side and a transfer direction front edge of the given flat object on a storage level (9) or on or near a in the surrendering

Toward the front wall (7) of the storage compartment (5), characterized in that the transferred from the intermediate element flat object has a low relative speed with the lower storage compartment (5), so that a glide-free, almost flat

Place the flat object in the lower storage compartment (5) happens.

11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the transport means comprises a belt.

12. The device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that at one end of the bottom, a lateral flap is arranged.