EP0827786A1 - Method and device for controlling an arrangement distributing articles to be sorted to physical destinations - Google Patents

Abstract

The sorting machine has the letter items moved along a track by grips and with address data on each item read by the control. The letter items are each provided with a destination with the final sort into a variable capacity store formed by several sites. This enables the sorter to cope with varying amounts of mail for each destination without having maximum capacity bins for each address. The sorter is capable of handling different thickness of letter and can be used to sort any type of flat item with destination codes.

Description

The invention relates to a method for control one for distributing items to be sorted to physical ones Target serving device that has a number of lengthways of a conveyor path that can be transported past the physical destination Pick-up elements for one item each and at least one feed conveyor through which the items to be sorted can be transferred to the receiving elements, one of which is provided on the individual items to be sorted Information record, the meaning of each corresponds to an address and records the item to be sorted in Dependence on the recorded information record from his Pick-up element when it is transported past selectively to a of the physical target locations, and to a control device suitable for carrying out this method.

Such for distributing items to be sorted on physical Devices serving target locations are, for example in post offices to sort letters by delivery district or used by recipient locations. The control of this Devices traditionally rely on each of the Delivery districts or recipient locations by which sorting takes place each assigned one of the physical target locations is. As a result, the items forming the items to be sorted collect Letters to the delivery districts or recipient locations assigned physical destinations in the course of the sorting process at, which ultimately causes the entire sorting process subject letters by delivery district or recipient location sorted at these physical target locations and can be removed there for further processing.

However, in most applications the Throughput, d. H. the amount of data to be transferred per unit of time Sorted goods, different from destination to destination. These throughputs also change depending on the material to be processed. For example, in the application sorting letters for a specific one Delivery district or a specific destination Amount of letters over a year in fluctuations are unpredictable. Because of the fixed assignment of the physical target locations as a result of these fluctuations, the particularly large ones fall Throughputs at changing destinations, which means that possibly the spatial one for rapid further processing least favorable physical destination has to absorb the greatest throughput. It can also happen that because of this fixed assignment, target locations are occupied which have very little or no throughput while other target locations by a very high Throughput can be filled very quickly and waiting times for one Frequent emptying of the filled destinations accepted Need to become.

The invention has for its object a method to create the type mentioned, in which the assignment the physical target points to the changing circumstances the sorting process is adjusted, and one for execution specify suitable control device of the method.

With regard to the tax procedure, this task does solved that each Sortiergutstück one in a predetermined Depending on the recorded information set logical destination assigned and the physical Destination to which the one assigned to this logical destination Sortiergutstück is given, depending on during values of the throughputs determined during the course of the process Sorted goods assigned by the logical destination points is determined.

In the solution according to the invention Capture of the address of the destination at one empty receiving element to be handed over to sorting goods Information set the sorting item first only one logical destination assigned. That this assignment determining dependency between the information sets and the logical destination, for example in the form of a Sort table, specified. In such a sort table is for example when sorting by delivery area for each set of information representing an address and the responsible Data record representing delivery district as logical Destination specified. If the recording of the information record a piece of sorted goods is not possible due to lack of legibility is or the recorded information record in the sort table is not included, there is also a specific one for this logical destination assigned.

In this way everyone is finally in the receiving elements transferred sorting goods exactly a logical Assigned to destination. To determine the physical Target locations to which those assigned to the logical target locations Sorted goods from the receiving elements at their Delivered past the physical destination the throughputs of sorted goods for the different logical destinations. In the simplest Case it can be the numbers of the logical Sorted items assigned to target locations per time unit act. For items of different sizes that can be sorted but also more sophisticated investigations are carried out, for which the value of the throughput is also at least, for example a dimension is taken into account. In dependence of the determined for the various logical target points The throughput values then become the physical target points to which those assigned to the logical target locations are determined Sorted goods when the receiving elements are transported past be delivered. For example, for the logical destination having the greatest throughput value a particularly convenient physical location from which a rapid removal of the dispensed goods for further processing is possible. This determination of the physical target locations is made during of the process sequence in accordance with the changes that occur of throughput values changed. It goes without saying that with this change only such physical Target locations may be redetermined in which there is no Sorted goods delivered before the change is located, d. H. just those physical targets that are empty. Compliance This condition can be monitored by Realize the filling status of the target points easily.

This determination is required at the start of a sorting process the start-up time of the physical target points, while which only fills the receiving elements, but does not empty them can be. This start-up time is therefore due to the absorption capacity the device, i.e. by the number of Available recording elements, limited. Instead of that first determination of the physical target locations during this start-up time, but can also be done with a predetermined Determination of the physical target locations, for example be chosen according to empirical criteria could be started, which is an immediate emptying of the Allows receiving elements. This predetermined provision is then determined in accordance with the further course of the procedure Throughput values changed.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention The method provides that the value of the throughput from a logical destination assigned to sorted items the sum of the measured along a given spatial direction Thicknesses of this logical destination during one Sorted items assigned to the time unit is determined. This type of throughput determination is particularly suitable for sorting letters that are at the physical destinations with their main surfaces placed against each other , with the main surface being horizontal, for example extends. The sum accumulated during a unit of time this thickness corresponds to that per unit of time the physical target location building stack height and delivers a measure of how fast this physical Destination must be cleared.

The simplicity of the measurement or detection process is used it that the thickness in further refinements of the method in each case before the sorting goods are handed over to the receiving element is measured and / or that on the sorted goods intended information set before it is handed over to the receiving element is detected.

Such a configuration has a considerable advantage of the method in which it is provided that for one compared to other logical destinations high throughput logical destination more than one physical destination is determined. Because of the high Throughput will be the physical destination that is affected by with the items to be sorted assigned to the logical destination occupied receiving elements along the conveyor path first is reached, filled relatively quickly and after The maximum filling quantity is blocked. As for this logical Destination of high throughput along the conveying path determines at least one further physical destination , the relevant sorting items can still be used without Interruption given to this further physical destination will. In the meantime, the previously filled maximum physical destination is cleared and unlocked again, so that they are again available for receiving items to be sorted stands. This is exemplary for two physical target points The process described can also be cyclical for carried out a higher number of physical target locations will.

According to another aspect of the invention, that Methods are also carried out in such a way that one low compared to other logical target locations Sorted goods assigned to throughput having logical destination for a period of time in their Recording elements are kept and logical for this Target location no physical during this dwell time Destination is determined. The low throughput means that only a few of these logical destination points per unit of time assigned items to be sorted in the along the conveyor path transported receiving elements are inserted. This one Sorted goods therefore only occupy a few receiving elements, you can without disturbing the handover and delivery operations of the remaining recording elements linger for a while, so that it during this dwell is not required for logical destination in question is a physical destination to determine. This means that there are more physical target points for the higher throughput logical destinations to disposal.

In the context of the invention it is also provided that the assignment determined by the given dependency logical target points newly specified during the course of the process and for which the items to be sorted under the new predetermined dependency on the basis of the recorded information records assigned logical target locations physical target locations be determined from the amount of those under the previously predetermined dependency certain physical target points be removed.

This procedure leads to reduced performance avoided, which occur, for example, when from one type of sorting operation to another for example, sorting by recipient locations on sorting by delivery districts. In the former The sorting mode contains the specified dependency representing sorting table the assignment between the possible information records of the items to be sorted and the the logical destinations representing recipient locations, while in the second way the sorting table the assignment between the possible information records and the delivery districts included as logical destinations. Without that Precautions provided according to the invention is at the transition from one type of sorting operation to another required, first all according to the sort table of the first Type of items to be sorted from the receiving elements to deliver to the physical target locations. Only when all receiving elements and then all target points are emptied can be started to sort items to pass the pickup elements under the sort table of the second type are to be sorted. This emptying process proves to reduce performance because, despite the As the emptying process progressively decreased throughputs the procedure for picking up additional items to be sorted is not ready.

Since in the method according to the invention the decrease in Throughputs can be detected according to this decrease little by little physical target points for the sorting operation of the first kind were deducted and intended for the with increasing throughput starting sorting operation of the of the second type. So that's a seamless change between the sorting companies of the first and second type possible without noticeable drop in performance. It it goes without saying that the sorting operation of the first type deducted and assigned to the sorting operation of the second type physical destinations are empty before reallocation must what by a level monitoring of the physical Target locations can be easily ensured.

One for carrying out the method according to the invention suitable control device for a for the distribution of Device for sorting goods to physical target locations, which a number of along a conveyor path to the physical target locations of transportable receiving elements for one piece of sorted goods, at least one feed conveyor, through which the items to be sorted to the receiving elements are transferable, a device for detecting on the to be transferred from the feed conveyor to the receiving elements Sorted items provided information sets, their meaning corresponds to one address each, and one when the receiving elements are transported past for the delivery of the items to be sorted actuable to the physical target points Has device that depends on the control device from the recorded information records to the selective one Delivery of the items to be sorted to the physical destination is actuated, is characterized according to the invention in that the control device is a logical one for the items to be sorted Target locations according to a predetermined dependency on the detected ones Institution assigning information records, one values of the throughputs assigned by the logical target locations Sorting items and a physical Target points to which the logical target points assigned items to be sorted, depending from the determined values of the throughputs Has facility.

In addition to expedient embodiments, which in the claims 9 to 12 are indicated, in particular the expediency to mention an embodiment in which provided is that the control device for reprogramming the first memory area of the logical target locations Has device serving device. So that can in a simple way the dependency between the possible Changed information records and the logical destination points, in particular the type of sorting table can be changed.

Finally, it is because of the effects caused by the invention dynamic determination or assignment of the physical Target locations expedient to design the device in such a way that each physical destination is one from the controller controlled visual display is assigned on the one representing the associated logical destination Information is displayed. The user becomes everyone Time displayed, which sorting items are currently on each physical destination.

Fig. 1 (a) und (b)

eine schematische Ansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Verteilen von Sortiergutstücken von der Seite bzw. von oben,

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt durch die Vorrichtung gemäß der Linie II-II von Fig. 1 (a), und

Fig. 3

eine ausschnittsweise Detaildarstellung der Vorrichtung von Fig. 1 in seitlicher Ansicht.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention result from the following description, in which an exemplary embodiment is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. It shows:

1 (a) and (b)

1 shows a schematic view of a device for distributing items to be sorted from the side or from above,

Fig. 2

a cross section through the device along the line II-II of Fig. 1 (a), and

Fig. 3

a detail of the device of FIG. 1 in a side view.

A device 10 shown in the drawing for Distributing sorting items in the form of letters points according to Fig. 1 pocket-shaped receiving elements 12, which in the 2 and 3 are shown in more detail. The receiving elements 12 are at a constant mutual distance one after the other along an endless path along a conveyor path 14 guided conveyor 16 suspended, whereby the receiving elements 12 transported along this conveyor path 14 will.

Along a section 18 shown on the left in FIG. 1 of the conveyor path 14 are loading stations 20, 22 with arranged the conveyor path 14 effective feeders 24, of each of which is a sorting item 26, namely a Letter to a person transported past the relevant feed conveyor 24 Receiving element 12 is passed. The receiving elements 12 will continue to be transported by section 18 into an upper one shown in FIG. 1 (a) Section 28 of the conveyor path 14 is raised and there a number of arranged along the upper portion 28 physical target points 30 to which the items to be sorted are released from the receiving elements 12, transported past. The conveyor path 14 then passes through the receiving elements 12 a turning section 32 and goes into a lower one Section 34, along which also a number of physical Target points 30 is arranged. Then the runs through Conveyor path 14 a turning section 36, to which a lower Section 38 follows, along which again a number of physical Target locations 40 is arranged. The funding route 14 then continues in a turning section 42 and rises to an upper section 44 along that as well a number of physical target locations 40 are arranged is. Following this, the conveyor path 14 returns in one Vertical curve forming section 46 to which the loading stations 20, 22 having section 18. How from 1, the upper sections 28 run and 44 in a horizontal plane while the lower sections 34 and 38 in an underlying horizontal plane extend.

The shape of the conveying path 14 shown in FIG. 1 is only an example. Any form of conveying path 14 is suitable, in which the receiving elements 12 on the feed conveyors 14 and transported past the physical target locations 30, 40 will.

From Figs. 2 and 3 it appears that the at one of its ends pocket-shaped receiving elements suspended from the conveyor element 16 12 at its opposite end with a Flap 48 are provided, which in each case by spring force Receiving element 12 closed position excited is, this flap 48, as in Fig. 3 in the receiving element 12 ', but also in an open position can be pivoted. For this purpose, the flap 48 a side not shown in its details Lever on the length when transporting the receiving element 12 of the conveyor path 14 on a schematically shown in Fig. 2 stationary delivery device 50 passes by at its Actuates an opening cam on which the operating lever runs up and thereby opens the flap 48 becomes. In contrast, the receiving element 12 runs in the extended state State of the opening cam past the delivery device, without opening the flap 48.

Each of the physical destinations 30, 40 is one such delivery device 50 assigned. Through the above it is described operation of the dispenser 50 possible, the flaps 48 of the receiving elements 12 during their Transport past the physical target locations 30, 40 selectively open and thereby the in the receiving elements 12th transported items to be sorted by gravity deliver the relevant physical destination.

2 that the lower one Section 38 and the upper section 44 area the device 10, the physical target locations 40 each a collecting container 52 are fitted to which the items to be sorted are released from the receiving elements 12. The removal the filled collecting container 52 and the feeder empty Collecting container 52 is used by a handling robot 54 which along a double arrow 56 shown in Fig. 1 (b) the sections 38, 44 is movable and also vertically along a double arrow 58 shown in Fig. 1 (a) is movable, which means that it runs along all of these sections 38, 44 access physical target locations 40 can. The handling robot 54 is also a 1 schematically indicated belt conveyor 60, through which the further transport of the collecting containers 52 to and from the area of the device 10.

In the upper section 28 and the lower section 34 area of the device 10 are the physical Target locations as shown in FIG. 3 in the Formed from stationary compartments to which the items to be sorted are released from the receiving elements 12. In Fig. 2 shows that in this case the emptying of the physical Target locations 30 manually by an operator 62 takes place.

The device 10 is by a in the drawing Microcomputerized control device, not shown controlled by a method that to that described below Operating procedure leads:

Each item 26 to be sorted is with an information record provided, which is in the described embodiment around the letter forming the item to be sorted Attached recipient address, which is a street address, a Contains postcode and location information. These sets of information are fed to the items to be sorted Feeding stations 20 are detected in that they are automatic by means of a connected to the control device Scanners can be read. In contrast, takes place at the loading stations 22 manual entry of the information records by operators who match the information records Enter data in the control device.

If in this way the information record of a sorting item 26 is detected, it is from the feeder concerned 24 to that which has just been transported past this feed conveyor 24 Pass receiving element 12. For identification of the receiving element 12 receiving the item 26 to be sorted the control device enters the relative position between one together with the receiving elements 12 along the conveyor path 14 moving brand and one passing by Signal detecting stationary sensor.

Based on this identification of the receiving elements 12 and the recorded data records of the items to be sorted contained therein 26, the control device maintains a logical one Image of all recording elements 12 and the information sets of the items to be sorted therein. Furthermore, in a sort table is stored in a first memory area, which is an association between all possible occurring Reproduces information sets and logical destinations. The latter correspond, for example, to delivery districts, if sorted by such, or recipient locations if sorted by such. There is also at least one logical Target location provided, which is assigned to all items to be sorted whose information records are illegible or that are not provided with an information record at all.

Because of this expressed in the first memory area Dependency between the information sets and the logical control points assigns the control device in the in logical image stored in a large memory area of the receiving elements 12 each identified receiving element 12 the the information set of the Sorted good 26 assigned logical destination. Of the the first and the second memory area therefore form a component a device provided in the control device to assign the logical target points.

This process of assigning the logical destinations previous transfer of the Sortiergutstücke 26 in the Receiving elements 12 is in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 thereby particularly easy to carry out that that in the upper section 44 from the conveyor 16 after hanging receiving elements 12 due to the passage through the section 46 forming the vertical curve in which the Feeding stations 20, 22 having section 18 of the conveyor 16 protrude from the top so that their through the flap 48 faces the closed opening upwards. Consequently the flaps 48 only need in the area of the feed conveyor 24 to be opened in a manner similar to that by means of the delivery device 50 is the case, whereby the feed conveyor 24 the items to be sorted 26 from above into the receiving elements 12 can introduce.

There is one in the area of each loading station 20, 22 Measuring device provided during by the feeders 24 effected transfer of the sorted items 26, namely of the letters whose perpendicular to the main plane of the letters Determines thickness dimension and in one in the control device envisaged facility for each logical Target the measured thickness of this logical target assigned on the basis of the recorded information records Sorted goods added up over a certain time unit. This summed up value represents in volume terms the throughput of the logical destination concerned assigned items 26 to be sorted.

Another device of the control device determines for each logical target point that physical target point 30, 40, at that of the logical destination concerned assigned items 26 from the receiving elements 12 are delivered. Once the physical destination is determined, this device gives an actuation signal for the opening cam on the relevant physical Dispensing device 50 arranged at destination 30, 40 from when a receiving element 12 transports past the one assigned to the relevant logical destination Sorting good 26 contains. The determination of the physical Target points 30, 40 take place depending on the values of the Throughput. For example, the maximum throughput value logical target location having that assigned physical target location 40 to which the handling robot 54 can access in the shortest access time, while the remaining physical target locations 40 in the further Ranking of these access times can be assigned. Also can have a particularly high logical throughput Destination several physical target locations 30, 40 are assigned, with completely filled target locations blocked by blocking the dispenser 50 and instead, for example in cyclical order, the Dispensers 50 of the remaining assigned physical Target points 30, 40 are operated, in this cycle the respective filled physical target locations 30, 40 by the operator 62 or the handling robot 54 be emptied so that they can be used again for the dispensing process To be available.

Specifically, it shows the physical target locations 30, 40 determining device a third memory area in which the dynamically changing over time Assignment between the logical target locations and the physical Target locations 30, 40 are each saved. In This third memory area can also be used for any physical Destination 30, 40 be set a flag that signals the availability for a new determination, by indicating in particular that this physical destination 30, 40 is empty, which is indicated by appropriate monitoring of the physical target locations 30, 40 is made possible.

There is one at each of the physical target locations 30, 40 arranged in the drawing display, not shown. This visual display is controlled by the control device in such a way that information is displayed on it which is assigned to this physical destination 30, 40 displays logical destination. For example a clear text display when sorting according to delivery districts of the delivery district.

The first storage area of the logical destination device to be assigned is by means of a in the control device provided facility reprogrammable, whereby for example, the sort table stored in it a new sort table can be replaced. It is too possible to have more than one sort table in the first memory area and save the sorting process with a toggle command from one sort table to another sort table switch. This means that after the toggle command the total number of items to be sorted 26 to which the logical ones Destinations below the one applicable before the switchover command Sort table have been assigned to decrease rapidly by these items to be sorted from the receiving elements 12 to the corresponding physical target locations 30, 40 delivered be, while on the free receiving elements 12th only such sorting items 26 are handed over again, which the logical destinations after the switch command applicable sort table. The control device correspondingly reduced those for those before Switch command specified logical target locations physical target locations 30, 40 and assigns them free physical target points 30, 40 gradually under the logical table now assigned to the applicable sort table Target points too. This can be done without any significant reduction in performance from one sort table to another sort table be passed over.

Claims (14)

Method for controlling a device serving to distribute items to be sorted to physical target locations, which has a number of receiving elements that can be transported past a physical path to the physical target locations for one item of sorting goods and at least one feed conveyor, through which the items to be sorted can be transferred to the receiving elements, in which Each of the information sets provided on the individual items to be sorted, the meaning of which corresponds to an address, is recorded and the item of sort is selectively delivered from its receiving element to one of the physical target locations as it is transported past it, as a function of the information item recorded, characterized in that each item of sort is one in one predetermined dependency on the recorded information record assigned to certain logical destination and the physical destination to which the sorting guide assigned to this logical destination t piece is output, is determined as a function of the throughput values determined during the course of the process by the items to be sorted assigned to the logical target locations. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the value of the throughput of items to be sorted allocated to a logical destination is determined by the sum of the thicknesses of the items to be sorted assigned to this logical destination during a time unit along a predetermined spatial direction. Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that the thickness is measured in each case before the item to be sorted is transferred to the receiving element. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the information set provided on the item to be sorted is recorded in each case before its transfer to the receiving element. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that more than one physical target point is determined for a logical target point which has a high throughput in comparison to other logical target points. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the items to be sorted which are assigned to a logical target point which has a low throughput in comparison to other logical target points are kept in their receiving elements for the duration of a dwell time and no physical target point for this logical target point during this dwell time is determined. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the assignment of the logical target locations determined by the predetermined dependency is newly specified during the course of the method and for the logical target locations assigned to the items to be sorted under the newly specified dependency on the basis of the recorded information records which are taken from the set of physical target locations determined under the previously specified dependency. Control device for a device (10) for distributing items to be sorted (26) to physical target points (30, 40), each comprising a number of receiving elements (12) that can be transported past the physical target points (30, 40) along a conveying path (14) a piece of sorted goods (26), at least one feed conveyor (24), through which the pieces of sorted goods (26) can be transferred to the receiving elements (12), a device for detecting items to be transferred from the feed conveyor (24) to the receiving elements (12) Sorted items (26) provided information sets, the meaning of which corresponds to an address, and a device (50) which can be actuated by the control device when the receiving elements (12) are transported past to deliver the sorted items (26) to the physical target locations (30, 40) as a function of the recorded information records for the selective delivery of the items to be sorted (26) to the physical destination len (30, 40) is actuated, characterized in that the control device assigns a device to the sorting items (26) logical target locations according to a predetermined dependency on the recorded information records, a device for determining the throughput values assigned to the logical target items sorting items (26) and a device determining the physical target points (30, 40) to which the items to be sorted (26) assigned to the logical target points are delivered as a function of the determined throughput values. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterized in that the device which assigns the logical target points has a first memory area in which the predetermined dependency between all possible information sets and the logical target points is stored and from which the respectively assigned logical target point is read out for each information set detected , as well as a second memory area in which the read-out logical destination assigned to the sorting good (26) transferred to it is stored for each receiving element (12). Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the device determining the physical target locations (30, 40) has a third memory area in which the association between the logical target locations and the physical target locations (30, 40) is stored. Device according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the device determining the values of the throughputs has a device for measuring the thicknesses of the individual items to be sorted (26) to be transferred to the receiving elements along a predetermined spatial direction and a device for summing the measured thicknesses the sorting item (26) assigned to each logical destination has a device serving for a specific time unit. Device according to one of Claims 8 to 11, characterized in that, in response to an external changeover command, the device which assigns the logical target points carries out the assignment according to another predetermined dependency and the device which determines the physical target points (30, 40) for the device according to the other dependency assigned logical target locations takes physical target locations (30, 40) from the set of physical target locations (30, 40) determined under the dependency specified before the switchover command. Device according to one of Claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the control device has a device which is used for reprogramming the first memory area of the device which assigns the logical destination points. Device according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that each physical destination (30, 40) is assigned a visual display controlled by the control device, on which information representing the respectively associated logical destination is displayed.

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