EP0631827A2 - Sorting equipment exit - Google Patents

Sorting equipment exit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0631827A2
EP0631827A2 EP94108992A EP94108992A EP0631827A2 EP 0631827 A2 EP0631827 A2 EP 0631827A2 EP 94108992 A EP94108992 A EP 94108992A EP 94108992 A EP94108992 A EP 94108992A EP 0631827 A2 EP0631827 A2 EP 0631827A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sorting
channel
drop
outlet
outlet according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP94108992A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0631827B9 (en
EP0631827A3 (en
EP0631827B2 (en
EP0631827B1 (en
Inventor
Jakob Sturzenegger
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SINOMEC AG
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SINOMEC AG
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Application filed by SINOMEC AG filed Critical SINOMEC AG
Publication of EP0631827A2 publication Critical patent/EP0631827A2/en
Publication of EP0631827A3 publication Critical patent/EP0631827A3/en
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Publication of EP0631827B2 publication Critical patent/EP0631827B2/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
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
    • B65H2404/60—Other elements in face contact with handled material
    • B65H2404/69—Other means designated for special purpose
    • B65H2404/692—Chute, e.g. inclined surface on which material slides by gravity
    • B65H2404/6922—Shaft-like element channel

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a sorting plant outlet with a vertical drop channel and with a guide channel adjoining it for guiding a sorting material dropped from a transport container into the drop channel into a collecting container.
  • Sorting systems are now widely used for in-house material transport and are used, for example, in libraries, hospitals, large mail order houses, publishers, in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry and in large photo laboratories. Since in most applications the goods to be sorted are made in such a way that if they fall freely from a certain height, the risk of damage cannot be ruled out, it is advisable not to design the sorting outlets simply as vertical chutes, but in such a way that the goods to be sorted are braked . Of course, this applies all the more to fragile items to be sorted, such as sound carriers.
  • EP-A-0 503 403 describes a sorting outlet of this type, in which the sorted goods are guided positively in the guide channel and are brought into a defined position for transfer to the collecting container.
  • the guide channel is designed as a closed channel which has a swirl and which rotates the sorted goods as they pass into the defined transfer position.
  • This sorting exit has proven itself in the case of sorting systems for sound carriers, such as music cassettes and compact dics, for books and for video cassettes.
  • a very important area of application for sorting systems are large photo laboratories, in which the systems are used for sorting and distributing job bags filled with photographic material. Although damage of this kind is very unlikely when it is falling, here too there is a desire not to let the order bags fall into the collecting container in an unordered manner, but to hand them over to the container in a defined position.
  • the reason for this desire is that if the bins fall into the bins, they are usually filled in a completely unordered manner, so that the capacity of the bins is only partially used. And this means that the full receptacles have to be exchanged for empty ones too quickly, so that an unnecessarily large number of receptacles are required, which have to be handled with unnecessarily much effort.
  • the sorting exit described in EP-A-0 503 403 is not necessarily suitable for processing photographic order bags and similar items to be sorted.
  • the reason for this is that modern sorting systems such as the SINOMEC SORTER-2 (SINOMEC - registered trademark of Sinomec AG) process over 8000 orders per hour, which means more than two sorting material discards per second. And this in turn means that the goods to be sorted must pass through the exits as quickly as possible so that there are no disruptions in them. This requirement can hardly be met if the sorting goods are guided positively in the closed channel described in EP-A-0 503 403.
  • the invention is now intended to provide a sorting plant outlet which, on the one hand, enables the collecting containers to be filled in an orderly manner and, on the other hand, enables the sorted goods to be passed as quickly as possible.
  • the drop channel opens into a deflecting part which forms part of the guide channel and consists of at least two deflecting surfaces which are inclined towards one another and towards the drop channel.
  • the dropped job bag falls freely in the drop channel, upright, strikes one of the deflecting surfaces and is thereby pivoted out of the cooking position into the flat position.
  • the job bag meets the next deflection surface and is stabilized and aligned and then glides in a stable transverse position to the collecting container and falls into it. In this way, one order pocket lies on the other in the collecting container, so that an orderly stack is formed.
  • Fig. 1 shows a front view of an outgoing module of a sorting system
  • Fig. 2 shows a side view of this module, based on Fig. 1 seen from the left.
  • the module comprises a frame 1 standing on the floor, which has at its head part a transport track 2 for box-like transport containers, the so-called sorting boxes 3.
  • Each sorting box 3 is equipped with a number of, for example, 18 compartments, each of which is intended to hold an article and has a bottom flap.
  • the transport track 2 is designed like a rail; 4 of the individual sorting outlets are arranged transversely to these drop channels between the rails.
  • the module 24 has such drop channels and sorting outlets.
  • the sorting boxes are coded and their position is determined by a sensor and tracked with a path clock so that an error-free sorting is guaranteed.
  • the collecting containers 5 can be formed by box-like containers or by carrying bags provided with specially shaped handles for easy removal and convenient handling.
  • the collecting containers 5 are arranged one above the other in three levels, including one with shelves 6 for the collecting containers 5 provided frame 7 is provided.
  • This frame can have an additional storage board 8 with compartments 9 for goods to be sorted manually, such as posters or oversized mailing bags, above the top row of collecting containers 5.
  • Each column of three collecting containers 5 placed one above the other is assigned a unit group with three sorting units forming a unit.
  • FIG 3 such a leaving group in the direction of view from the front, as shown in Fig. 1, the Fig. 4 to 6 each show two views of the three sorting outlets forming the leaving group S2, S1 and S3.
  • the first three drop channels within the module shown and the associated column of receptacles are numbered with corresponding indices 1 to 3 and designated by the reference numerals 41 to 43 and 51 to 53.
  • the sorting outlet S1 with the drop channel 41 thus supplies the collecting container 51, the sorting outlet S2 with the falling channel 42, the collecting container 52 and the sorting outlet S3 with the falling channel 43 the collecting container 53.
  • the order bags to be sorted reach the drop channel 4 upright in the drop channel and fall vertically downward through the differently high drop channels, the different length or height of the drop channels being due to the fact that the collecting containers 5 are arranged one above the other.
  • the drop channel 4 of each sorting outlet S1, S2, S3 merges at its lower end into a guide channel 10 which consists of a deflection part 11 and an outlet part 12, the latter having the shape of an inclined, flat-bottomed groove.
  • the deflecting part 11 is a very important element of the sorting process, because here the flat material to be sorted is turned from its upright position into the flat position and aligned with the collecting container.
  • the deflecting part 11 consists of several, as shown two or three, deflecting surfaces 13 which are inclined both towards one another and towards the drop channel.
  • the job bag thrown into the drop channel 4 falls freely downward and strikes a first inclined deflection surface 13, that is the deflection surface in FIGS. 4 and 5 that goes away from the left and in FIG. 6 the deflection surface that goes away from the right side wall.
  • the order pocket is rotated on the one hand about its axis lying in the direction of fall and thus more or less reaches the plane of the drawing, and on the other hand, due to the inclination of the deflecting surfaces towards the fall channel, is pivoted from the vertical into a plane angled to this.
  • the remaining deflection surfaces stabilize the position of the order pocket and align it with the outlet part 12.
  • the fact that three diverting surfaces are provided at the sorting outlet S3 is due to the high speed of the job pockets caused by the drop height when they arrive in the deflecting part.
  • the drop height also influences the inclination of the deflection part 11 between the drop channel 4 and the outlet part 12.
  • the angle ⁇ between the drop channel and the deflection part increases with increasing drop height, whereas the corresponding inclination of the outlet part 12 remains the same or decreases slightly. The angles are drawn true to size in FIGS. 4 to 6.
  • the sorting outlets are made of a suitable plastic, such as, for example, glass fiber-reinforced polyester, and are simply put together during assembly and fixed to corresponding counterparts of the frame 1 by means of suitable holding ribs.

Abstract

The sorting exit contains a vertical fall duct (4) and, following this, a guide duct (10) which leads to a collecting container. The fall duct (4) opens into a deflection part (11) which forms part of the guide duct (10) and consists of at least two deflection surfaces (13) inclined in relation to one another and to the fall duct. Preferably, the collecting containers are arranged in three planes one above the other and corresponding sorting exits (S1, S2, S3) are provided in the three planes. Use for sorting photographic order bags, the order bags being deposited in the collecting containers in an ordered stack. <IMAGE>

Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft einen Sortieranlagenabgang mit einem vertikalen Fallkanal und mit einem an diesen anschliessenden Führungskanal zur Führung eines aus einem Transportbehälter in den Fallkanal abgeworfenen Sortierguts in einen Auffangbehälter.The present invention relates to a sorting plant outlet with a vertical drop channel and with a guide channel adjoining it for guiding a sorting material dropped from a transport container into the drop channel into a collecting container.

Sortieranlagen sind heute für den innerbetrieblichen Materialtransport weit verbreitet und werden beispielsweise in Bibliotheken, Spitälern, Grossversandhäusern, Verlagen, in der Arzneimittel- und Kosmetikindustrie und in Foto-Grosslabors verwendet. Da in den meisten Anwendungsfällen das Sortiergut so beschaffen ist, dass bei freiem Herabfallen aus einer gewissen Höhe die Gefahr von Beschädigungen nicht ausgeschlossen werden kann, empfiehlt es sich, die Sortierabgänge nicht einfach als vertikale Fallschächte auszubilden, sondern so, dass eine Abbremsung des Sortierguts erfolgt. Dies gilt selbstverständlich erst recht für zerbrechliches Sortiergut, wie beispielsweise Tonträger.Sorting systems are now widely used for in-house material transport and are used, for example, in libraries, hospitals, large mail order houses, publishers, in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry and in large photo laboratories. Since in most applications the goods to be sorted are made in such a way that if they fall freely from a certain height, the risk of damage cannot be ruled out, it is advisable not to design the sorting outlets simply as vertical chutes, but in such a way that the goods to be sorted are braked . Of course, this applies all the more to fragile items to be sorted, such as sound carriers.

In der EP-A-0 503 403 ist ein Sortierabgang dieser Art beschrieben, bei dem das Sortiergut im Führungskanal positiv geführt ist und dabei in eine definierte Position zur Uebergabe an den Auffangbehälter gebracht wird. Der Führungskanal ist als ein einen Drall aufweisender geschlossener Kanal ausgebildet, der das Sortiergut beim Passieren in die definierte Uebergabeposition dreht. Dieser Sortierabgang hat sich bei Sortieranlagen für Tonträger, wie Musikkassetten und Compact Dics, für Bücher und für Videokassetten bestens bewährt.EP-A-0 503 403 describes a sorting outlet of this type, in which the sorted goods are guided positively in the guide channel and are brought into a defined position for transfer to the collecting container. The guide channel is designed as a closed channel which has a swirl and which rotates the sorted goods as they pass into the defined transfer position. This sorting exit has proven itself in the case of sorting systems for sound carriers, such as music cassettes and compact dics, for books and for video cassettes.

Ein sehr wichtiges Anwendungsgebiet für Sortieranlagen sind Foto-Grosslabors, in denen die Anlagen zum Sortieren und Verteilen von mit fotografischem Material gefüllten Auftragstaschen verwendet werden. Obwohl bei dieser Art von Sortiergut eine Beschädigung beim Herabfallen sehr unwahrscheinlich ist, besteht auch hier der Wunsch die Auftragstaschen nicht ungeordnet in den Auffangbehälter hineinfallen zu lassen, sondern sie diesem in einer definierten Position zu übergeben. Der Grund für diesen Wunsch liegt darin, dass beim blossen Hineinfallen in die Auffangbehälter diese in der Regel völlig ungeordnet gefüllt werden, wodurch die Aufnahmekapazität der Auffangbehälter nur teilweise ausgenützt wird. Und dies bedeutet, dass die vollen Auffangbehälter in zu rascher Folge gegen leere ausgetauscht werden müssen, so dass unnötig viele Auffangbehälter benötigt werden, die mit unnötig viel Aufwand gehandhabt werden müssen.A very important area of application for sorting systems are large photo laboratories, in which the systems are used for sorting and distributing job bags filled with photographic material. Although damage of this kind is very unlikely when it is falling, here too there is a desire not to let the order bags fall into the collecting container in an unordered manner, but to hand them over to the container in a defined position. The reason for this desire is that if the bins fall into the bins, they are usually filled in a completely unordered manner, so that the capacity of the bins is only partially used. And this means that the full receptacles have to be exchanged for empty ones too quickly, so that an unnecessarily large number of receptacles are required, which have to be handled with unnecessarily much effort.

Trotz dieser ähnlichen Anforderungen wie bei den Tonträgern ist der in der EP-A-0 503 403 beschriebene Sortierabgang für die Verarbeitung von fotografischen Auftragstaschen und ähnlichem Sortiergut nicht unbedingt geeignet. Der Grund dafür liegt darin, dass moderne Sortieranlagen wie der SINOMEC SORTER-2 (SINOMEC - eingetragenes Warenzeichen der Sinomec AG) über 8000 Aufträge pro Stunde verarbeiten, was mehr als zwei Sortiergutabwürfe pro Sekunde bedeutet. Und das bedeutet wiederum, dass das Sortiergut die Abgänge möglichst rasch passieren muss, damit es in diesen zu keinen Störungen kommt. Diese Forderung kann bei der positiven Führung des Sortierguts in dem in der EP-A-0 503 403 beschriebenen geschlossenen Kanal kaum erfüllt werden.Despite these similar requirements as for the sound carriers, the sorting exit described in EP-A-0 503 403 is not necessarily suitable for processing photographic order bags and similar items to be sorted. The reason for this is that modern sorting systems such as the SINOMEC SORTER-2 (SINOMEC - registered trademark of Sinomec AG) process over 8000 orders per hour, which means more than two sorting material discards per second. And this in turn means that the goods to be sorted must pass through the exits as quickly as possible so that there are no disruptions in them. This requirement can hardly be met if the sorting goods are guided positively in the closed channel described in EP-A-0 503 403.

Durch die Erfindung soll nun ein Sortieranlagenabgang angegeben werden, der einerseits ein geordnetes Füllen der Auffangbehälter und andererseits ein möglichst rasches Passieren des Sortierguts ermöglicht.The invention is now intended to provide a sorting plant outlet which, on the one hand, enables the collecting containers to be filled in an orderly manner and, on the other hand, enables the sorted goods to be passed as quickly as possible.

Diese Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäss dadurch gelöst, dass der Fallkanal in einen Teil des Führungskanals bildenden Umlenkteil mündet, der aus mindestens zwei gegeneinander und zum Fallkanal geneigten Umlenkflächen besteht.This object is achieved according to the invention in that the drop channel opens into a deflecting part which forms part of the guide channel and consists of at least two deflecting surfaces which are inclined towards one another and towards the drop channel.

Die abgeworfene Auftragstasche fällt also im Fallkanal frei nach unten, und zwar hochkant, trifft auf eine der Umlenkflächen und wird dadurch aus der Kochlage in die Flachlage geschwenkt. Dabei trifft die Auftragstasche auf die nächste Umlenkfläche und wird stabilisiert und ausgerichtet und gleitet dann in stabiler Querlage zum Auffangbehälter und fällt in diesen hinein. Auf diese Weise liegt im Auffangbehälter eine Auftragstasche auf der anderen, so dass ein geordneter Stapel gebildet wird.The dropped job bag falls freely in the drop channel, upright, strikes one of the deflecting surfaces and is thereby pivoted out of the cooking position into the flat position. The job bag meets the next deflection surface and is stabilized and aligned and then glides in a stable transverse position to the collecting container and falls into it. In this way, one order pocket lies on the other in the collecting container, so that an orderly stack is formed.

Nachfolgend wird die Erfindung anhand eines Ausführungsbeispiels und der Zeichnungen näher erläutert; es zeigt:

Fig. 1, 2
eine schematische Darstellung eines Moduls einer mit erfindungsgemässen Sortierabgängen ausgerüsteten Sortieranlage in zwei Ansichten,
Fig. 3
eine Ansicht einer aus drei Sortierabgängen bestehenden Abgangsgruppe; und
Fig. 4-6
eine Darstellung der einzelnen die Abgangsgruppen von Fig. 3 bildenden Sortierabgänge, jeweils in zwei Ansichten.
The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and the drawings; it shows:
1, 2
2 shows a schematic illustration of a module of a sorting system equipped with sorting outlets according to the invention,
Fig. 3
a view of a leaving group consisting of three sorting outlets; and
Fig. 4-6
a representation of the individual sorting outlets forming the outlet groups of FIG. 3, each in two views.

Fig. 1 zeigt eine Vorderansicht eines Abgangsmoduls einer Sortieranlage und Fig. 2 zeigt eine Seitenansicht dieses Moduls, bezogen auf Fig. 1 von links gesehen. Darstellungsgemäss umfasst das Modul ein auf dem Boden stehendes Gestell 1, welches an seinem Kopfteil eine Transportbahn 2 für schachtelartige Transportbehälter, die sogenannten Sortierboxen 3, aufweist. Jede Sortierbox 3 ist mit einer Anzahl von beispielsweise 18 Fächern ausgerüstet, von denen jedes zur Aufnahme eines Artikels vorgesehen ist und eine Bodenklappe aufweist. Die Transportbahn 2 ist schienenartig ausgebildet; zwischen den Schienen sind quer zu diesen Fallkanäle 4 der einzelnen Sortierabgänge angeordnet. In der Regel weist das Modul 24 derartige Fallkanäle und Sortierabgänge auf. Die Sortierboxen sind codiert und ihre Position wird durch einen Sensor bestimmt und mit einem Wegtakt verfolgt, damit eine fehlerfreie Sortierung gewährleistet ist.Fig. 1 shows a front view of an outgoing module of a sorting system and Fig. 2 shows a side view of this module, based on Fig. 1 seen from the left. According to the illustration, the module comprises a frame 1 standing on the floor, which has at its head part a transport track 2 for box-like transport containers, the so-called sorting boxes 3. Each sorting box 3 is equipped with a number of, for example, 18 compartments, each of which is intended to hold an article and has a bottom flap. The transport track 2 is designed like a rail; 4 of the individual sorting outlets are arranged transversely to these drop channels between the rails. As a rule, the module 24 has such drop channels and sorting outlets. The sorting boxes are coded and their position is determined by a sensor and tracked with a path clock so that an error-free sorting is guaranteed.

Genau dann, wenn ein einen Artikel mit einer bestimmten Adresse enthaltendes Fach einer Sortierbox 3 über dem Fallkanal des dieser Adresse zugeordneten Abgangs steht, wird die Bodenklappe des betreffenden Fachs geöffnet und der Artikel wird in den Fallkanal abgeworfen und gelangt über einen an den Fallkanal 4 anschliessenden Führungkanal zu einem der jeweiligen Adresse zugeordneten Auffangbehälter 5. Die Auffangbehälter 5 können durch schachtelartige Behälter oder durch mit speziell geformten Griffen für leichte Entnahme und bequeme Handhabung versehene Tragtaschen gebildet sein.Exactly when a compartment of a sorting box 3 containing an article with a specific address is above the drop channel of the outlet assigned to this address, the bottom flap of the relevant compartment is opened and the article is dropped into the drop channel and reaches a drop channel 4 connected to the drop channel Guide channel to a collecting container 5 assigned to the respective address. The collecting containers 5 can be formed by box-like containers or by carrying bags provided with specially shaped handles for easy removal and convenient handling.

Darstellungsgemäss sind die Auffangbehälter 5 in drei Etagen übereinander angeordnet, wozu ein mit Regalen 6 für die Auffangbehälter 5 versehenes Gestell 7 vorgesehen ist. Dieses Gestell kann oberhalb der obersten Reihe von Auffangbehältern 5 ein zusätzliches Ablagebrett 8 mit Fächern 9 für manuell zu sortierende Güter, wie beispielsweise Poster oder übergrosse Versandtaschen, aufweisen. Jeweils einer Kolonne von drei übereinander aufgestellten Auffangbehältern 5 ist eine eine Einheit bildende Abgangsgruppe mit drei Sortierabgängen zugeordnet.According to the illustration, the collecting containers 5 are arranged one above the other in three levels, including one with shelves 6 for the collecting containers 5 provided frame 7 is provided. This frame can have an additional storage board 8 with compartments 9 for goods to be sorted manually, such as posters or oversized mailing bags, above the top row of collecting containers 5. Each column of three collecting containers 5 placed one above the other is assigned a unit group with three sorting units forming a unit.

In Figur 3 ist eine solche Abgangsgruppe in der Blickrichtung von vorne, wie in Fig. 1, dargestellt, die Fig. 4 bis 6 zeigen jeweils zwei Ansichten der drei die Abgangsgruppe bildenden Sortierabgänge S₂, S₁ und S₃.In Figure 3, such a leaving group in the direction of view from the front, as shown in Fig. 1, the Fig. 4 to 6 each show two views of the three sorting outlets forming the leaving group S₂, S₁ and S₃.

In Fig. 1 sind die ersten drei Fallkanäle innerhalb des dargestellten Moduls und die zugehörige Kolonne von Auffangbehältern mit entsprechenden Indices 1 bis 3 numeriert und mit den Bezugszeichen 4₁ bis 4₃ beziehungsweise 5₁ bis 5₃ bezeichnet. Der Sortierabgang S₁ mit dem Fallkanal 4₁ beliefert also den Auffangbehälter 5₁, der Sortierabgang S₂ mit dem Fallkanal 4₂ den Auffangbehälter 5₂ und der Sortierabgang S₃ mit dem Fallkanal 4₃ den Auffangbehälter 5₃.In Fig. 1, the first three drop channels within the module shown and the associated column of receptacles are numbered with corresponding indices 1 to 3 and designated by the reference numerals 4₁ to 4₃ and 5₁ to 5₃. The sorting outlet S₁ with the drop channel 4₁ thus supplies the collecting container 5₁, the sorting outlet S₂ with the falling channel 4₂, the collecting container 5₂ and the sorting outlet S₃ with the falling channel 4₃ the collecting container 5₃.

Die zu sortierenden Auftragstaschen gelangen beim Abwurf in den Fallkanal 4 hochkant in diesen und fallen durch die verschieden hohen Fallkanäle vertikal nach unten, wobei die unterschiedliche Länge oder Höhe der Fallkanäle dadurch bedingt ist, dass die Auffangbehälter 5 übereinander angeordnet sind. Der Fallkanal 4 jedes Sortierabgangs S₁, S₂, S₃ geht an seinem unteren Ende in einen Führungskanal 10 über, der aus einem Umlenkteil 11 und aus einem Auslaufteil 12 besteht, wobei der letztere die Form einer geneigten, einen flachen Boden aufweisenden, Rinne hat. Der Umlenkteil 11 ist ein sehr wichtiges Element des Sortierabgangs, weil hier das flache Sortiergut aus seiner Hochkantlage in die Flachlage gedreht und auf den Auffangbehälter ausgerichtet wird.The order bags to be sorted reach the drop channel 4 upright in the drop channel and fall vertically downward through the differently high drop channels, the different length or height of the drop channels being due to the fact that the collecting containers 5 are arranged one above the other. The drop channel 4 of each sorting outlet S₁, S₂, S₃ merges at its lower end into a guide channel 10 which consists of a deflection part 11 and an outlet part 12, the latter having the shape of an inclined, flat-bottomed groove. The deflecting part 11 is a very important element of the sorting process, because here the flat material to be sorted is turned from its upright position into the flat position and aligned with the collecting container.

Wie den Fig. 3 bis 6 zu entnehmen ist, besteht der Umlenkteil 11 aus mehreren, darstellungsgemäss zwei oder drei, Umlenkflächen 13, die sowohl gegeneinander als auch zum Fallkanal geneigt sind. Die in den Fallkanal 4 abgeworfene Auftragstasche fällt frei nach unten und trifft auf eine erste schräg liegende Umlenkfläche 13, das ist in den Fig. 4 und 5 die von der linken und in Fig. 6 die von der rechten Seitenwand weggehende Umlenkfläche. Dadurch wird die Auftragstasche einerseits um ihre in der Fallrichtung liegende Achse gedreht und gelangt somit mehr oder weniger in die Ebene der Zeichnung, und andererseits, wegen der Neigung der Umlenkflächen zum Fallkanal, aus der Vertikalen in eine zu dieser abgewinkelte Ebene verschwenkt. Die restlichen Umlenkflächen bewirken eine Stabilisierung der Lage der Auftragstasche und richten diese auf den Auslaufteil 12 aus. Dass beim Sortierabgang S₃ drei Umlenkflächen vorgesehen sind, hat seinen Grund in der durch die Fallhöhe bewirkten hohen Geschwindigkeit der Auftragstaschen bei ihrem Eintreffen im Umlenkteil.As can be seen from FIGS. 3 to 6, the deflecting part 11 consists of several, as shown two or three, deflecting surfaces 13 which are inclined both towards one another and towards the drop channel. The job bag thrown into the drop channel 4 falls freely downward and strikes a first inclined deflection surface 13, that is the deflection surface in FIGS. 4 and 5 that goes away from the left and in FIG. 6 the deflection surface that goes away from the right side wall. As a result, the order pocket is rotated on the one hand about its axis lying in the direction of fall and thus more or less reaches the plane of the drawing, and on the other hand, due to the inclination of the deflecting surfaces towards the fall channel, is pivoted from the vertical into a plane angled to this. The remaining deflection surfaces stabilize the position of the order pocket and align it with the outlet part 12. The fact that three diverting surfaces are provided at the sorting outlet S₃ is due to the high speed of the job pockets caused by the drop height when they arrive in the deflecting part.

Die Fallhöhe beeinflusst auch die Neigung des Umlenkteils 11 zwischen Fallkanal 4 und Auslaufteil 12. Der Winkel α zwischen Fallkanal und Umlenkteil nimmt mit zunehmender Fallhöhe zu, wogegen die entsprechende Neigung des Auslaufteils 12 gleichbleibt oder leicht abnimmt. Die Winkel sind in den Fig. 4 bis 6 massgetreu eingezeichnet.The drop height also influences the inclination of the deflection part 11 between the drop channel 4 and the outlet part 12. The angle α between the drop channel and the deflection part increases with increasing drop height, whereas the corresponding inclination of the outlet part 12 remains the same or decreases slightly. The angles are drawn true to size in FIGS. 4 to 6.

Praktische Versuche haben gezeigt, dass die beschriebenen Sortierabgänge die gestellten Anforderungen problemlos erfüllen und auch bei höchster Verarbeitungsgeschwindigkeit störungsfrei arbeiten. Dabei bedeutet störungsfrei, dass weder Beschädigungen der Auftragstaschen noch Staus oder sonstige Störungen in den Sortierabgängen auftreten. Die Sortierabgänge sind aus einem geeigneten Kunststoff, wie beispielsweise glasfaserverstärktem Polyester hergestellt und werden bei der Montage einfach zusammengesteckt und mittels geeigneter Halterippen an entsprechenden Gegenstücken des Gestells 1 fixiert.Practical tests have shown that the sorting outlets described meet the requirements without any problems and work trouble-free even at the highest processing speed. Trouble-free means that neither damage to the order pockets nor traffic jams or other disturbances occur in the sorting outlets. The sorting outlets are made of a suitable plastic, such as, for example, glass fiber-reinforced polyester, and are simply put together during assembly and fixed to corresponding counterparts of the frame 1 by means of suitable holding ribs.

Claims (8)

Sortieranlagenabgang mit einem vertikalen Fallkanal und mit einem an diesen anschliessenden Führungskanal zur Führung eines aus einem Transportbehälter in den Fallkanal abgeworfenen Sortierguts in einen Auffangbehälter, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Fallkanal (4) in einen Teil des Führungskanals (10) bildenden Umlenkteil (11) mündet, der aus mindestens zwei gegeneinander und zum Fallkanal geneigten Umlenkflächen (13) besteht.Sorting plant outlet with a vertical drop channel and with a guide channel adjoining it for guiding a sorting material thrown from a transport container into the drop channel into a collecting container, characterized in that the drop channel (4) opens into a deflecting part (11) forming part of the guide channel (10) , which consists of at least two deflecting surfaces (13) inclined towards one another and towards the drop channel. Sortieranlagenabgang nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Führungskanal (10) im Anschluss an den Umlenkteil (11) einen Auslaufteil (12) von der Form einer Rinne mit flachem Boden aufweist.Sorting plant outlet according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide channel (10) following the deflection part (11) has an outlet part (12) in the form of a channel with a flat bottom. Sortieranlagenabgang nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Auffangbehälter (5) in mindestens zwei, vorzugsweise in drei Höhen angeordnet und dass Sortierabgänge (S) mit dem Auslaufteil (12) auf den entsprechenden Höhen und verschieden hohen Fallkanälen (4) vorgesehen sind, und dass jeweils drei Sortierabgänge (S₁, S₂, S₃) mit verschieden hohen Fallkanälen zu einer Abgangsgruppe zusammengefasst sind.Sorting plant outlet according to claim 2, characterized in that the collecting containers (5) are arranged in at least two, preferably in three heights, and in that sorting outlets (S) with the outlet part (12) are provided at the corresponding heights and differently high drop channels (4), and that three sorting exits (S₁, S₂, S₃) with different height drop channels are combined to form an outgoing group. Sortieranlagenabgang nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Umlenkteil (11) der beiden oberen Sortierabgänge (S₁, S₂) aus zwei und derjenige des unteren Sortierabgangs (S₃) aus drei Umlenkflächen besteht.Sorting system outlet according to claim 3, characterized in that the deflecting part (11) of the two upper sorting outlets (S₁, S₂) consists of two and that of the lower sorting outlet (S₃) consists of three deflection surfaces. Sortieranlagenabgang nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass an den Umlenkflächen (13) eine Drehung des Sortierguts um seine in Fallrichtung liegende Achse, eine Verschwenkung des Sortierguts aus seiner Vertikalebene heraus und eine Stabilisierung und Ausrichtung des Sortierguts auf den Auslaufteil (12) hin erfolgt.Sorting system outlet according to claim 4, characterized in that on the deflecting surfaces (13) the sorting material is rotated about its axis lying in the direction of fall, the sorting material is pivoted out of its vertical plane and the sorting material is stabilized and oriented towards the outlet part (12). Sortieranlagenabgang nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Führungskanal (10) unter einem schrägen Winkel (α) vom Fallkanal (4) abzweigt und die Form einer Rinne aufweist.Sorting plant outlet according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the guide channel (10) branches off from the drop channel (4) at an oblique angle (α) and has the shape of a channel. Sortieranlagenabgang nach den Ansprüchen 6 und 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der genannte Winkel (α) mit zunehmender Länge des Fallkanals (4) zunimmt.Sorting plant outlet according to claims 6 and 3, characterized in that the said angle (α) increases with increasing length of the drop channel (4). Sortieranlagenabgang nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dieser aus vorzugsweise glasfaserverstärktem Polyester hergestellt ist.Sorting plant outlet according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is made of preferably glass fiber reinforced polyester.
EP94108992A 1993-06-29 1994-06-13 Sorting equipment exit Expired - Lifetime EP0631827B9 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH194293 1993-06-29
CH1942/93 1993-06-29
CH01942/93A CH688127A5 (en) 1993-06-29 1993-06-29 Sorting.

Publications (5)

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EP0631827A2 true EP0631827A2 (en) 1995-01-04
EP0631827A3 EP0631827A3 (en) 1995-02-22
EP0631827B1 EP0631827B1 (en) 1998-09-02
EP0631827B2 EP0631827B2 (en) 2003-03-26
EP0631827B9 EP0631827B9 (en) 2004-03-03

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EP94108992A Expired - Lifetime EP0631827B9 (en) 1993-06-29 1994-06-13 Sorting equipment exit

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EP (1) EP0631827B9 (en)
AT (1) ATE170432T1 (en)
CH (1) CH688127A5 (en)
DE (1) DE59406806D1 (en)

Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1031386A1 (en) 1999-02-25 2000-08-30 Automatisme Nouveau Organisation Chute for evacuating articles in a sorting installation

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FR2425280A1 (en) † 1978-05-12 1979-12-07 Tissmetal Lionel Dupont Discharge chute for parcel sorting equipment - has reinforced plastics body with noise absorbent lining ending in opening with flap for vertical discharge
DE3013315A1 (en) † 1979-08-30 1981-03-26 Francesco San Macario Varese Canziani DEVICE FOR PROMOTING AND SORTING ITEMS
US4688678A (en) † 1984-04-04 1987-08-25 G B Instruments, Inc. Sorter apparatus for transporting articles to releasing locations
WO1988009224A1 (en) † 1987-05-26 1988-12-01 Slide Management Systems, Inc. Method and apparatus for unloading slide projector trays
EP0332590A1 (en) † 1988-03-07 1989-09-13 Start S.R.L. Apparatus for transferring workpieces from a workstation to another, in indexed positions
EP0424789A2 (en) * 1989-10-24 1991-05-02 SYSTEL INTERNATIONAL S.p.A. Sorting line for processing envelopes, particularly for photographic laboratories
EP0503403A1 (en) † 1991-03-08 1992-09-16 Sinomec Ag System for sorting and for distribution of objects according to their destination and usage of the system
EP0512363A1 (en) * 1991-05-03 1992-11-11 Compagnie Generale D'automatisme Cga-Hbs Device for pouring out and for stacking flat objects, in a container, in particular mail item out of a sorting machine
EP0521394A2 (en) † 1991-07-04 1993-01-07 ALCATEL ITALIA S.p.A. Sorting device in particular for systems using sorting pockets

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2115805A (en) † 1936-05-27 1938-05-03 Ibm Mail sorter
FR2365379A1 (en) * 1976-09-23 1978-04-21 Convoyeurs Sa Cie Fse Sorting machine chute in post office - rotates items descending under gravity through 90 degrees and has slide surface forming quarter of cylinder
FR2425280A1 (en) † 1978-05-12 1979-12-07 Tissmetal Lionel Dupont Discharge chute for parcel sorting equipment - has reinforced plastics body with noise absorbent lining ending in opening with flap for vertical discharge
DE3013315A1 (en) † 1979-08-30 1981-03-26 Francesco San Macario Varese Canziani DEVICE FOR PROMOTING AND SORTING ITEMS
US4688678A (en) † 1984-04-04 1987-08-25 G B Instruments, Inc. Sorter apparatus for transporting articles to releasing locations
WO1988009224A1 (en) † 1987-05-26 1988-12-01 Slide Management Systems, Inc. Method and apparatus for unloading slide projector trays
EP0332590A1 (en) † 1988-03-07 1989-09-13 Start S.R.L. Apparatus for transferring workpieces from a workstation to another, in indexed positions
EP0424789A2 (en) * 1989-10-24 1991-05-02 SYSTEL INTERNATIONAL S.p.A. Sorting line for processing envelopes, particularly for photographic laboratories
EP0503403A1 (en) † 1991-03-08 1992-09-16 Sinomec Ag System for sorting and for distribution of objects according to their destination and usage of the system
EP0512363A1 (en) * 1991-05-03 1992-11-11 Compagnie Generale D'automatisme Cga-Hbs Device for pouring out and for stacking flat objects, in a container, in particular mail item out of a sorting machine
EP0521394A2 (en) † 1991-07-04 1993-01-07 ALCATEL ITALIA S.p.A. Sorting device in particular for systems using sorting pockets

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1031386A1 (en) 1999-02-25 2000-08-30 Automatisme Nouveau Organisation Chute for evacuating articles in a sorting installation
FR2790250A1 (en) * 1999-02-25 2000-09-01 Automatisme Nouveau Organisati Discharge trough for separating conveyor has elastic deflector placed in duct to drive articles against guide wall
US6634485B1 (en) 1999-02-25 2003-10-21 Automatisme Nouveau Organisation Object evacuation chute, module incorporating such chutes and object sorting installation equipped therewith

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0631827B9 (en) 2004-03-03
DE59406806D1 (en) 1998-10-08
EP0631827A3 (en) 1995-02-22
EP0631827B2 (en) 2003-03-26
ATE170432T1 (en) 1998-09-15
EP0631827B1 (en) 1998-09-02
CH688127A5 (en) 1997-05-30

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