DE102011003085A1 - Stacking device with a sloping stop element for flat objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a stacking device for stacking flat objects (Ps), in particular flat mail items. Each object (Ps) extends in an object plane and each has a front edge. The stacking device comprises a stacking compartment and a transport device. The stacking compartment comprises a stacking support, a base, a stop element (Ans), a stop surface which extends in a stop surface plane (Af-E), and a delimiting element. The stop surface plane (Af-E) is inclined to the vertical in such a way that an angle (α) smaller than 90 degrees occurs between the stop surface plane (Af-E) and the floor plane (Bo-E). The stacking device creates a stack of approximately vertical objects. The transport device transports each item to be stacked to the stacking compartment. Each object stands vertically on the floor (Bo), and the front edge (VK) of the object (Ps) points towards the stop element (Ans). When an object (Ps) hits the stop element (Ans), an upper area (corner) of the front edge (VK) first hits this stop surface. There is a distance (dist) between a lower area of the front edge (VK) and the stop surface (Af).

Description

The invention relates to a stacking device for flat objects, in particular for mail.

A flat mail sorting system or also for bills in which the invention is used has a plurality of sorting outlets and generates in each sorting outlet in each case a stack of flat, upright articles. This batch is taken from the sorting output and processed further.

A stacking device with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is made US 5,960,963 known.

In US 5,960,963 For example, an apparatus and a method for sorting flat mail items are described. The device has several sorting outputs ("bins 22 ") And generated in each sorting output 22 each a stack of upright mail. A mailing ("mail piece 100 ") Is by means of a pivotable Umlenkzunge (" gate 44 ") From a main transport path 42 discharged and into a sorting exit 22 diverted. The mailing 100 standing at the plate 46 along slants on a pile that is already in sorting exit 22 is formed. The object planes of the objects of this stack are parallel to each other and parallel to the plane of a paddle 34 ", So a stack support. This pile support 34 is displaced by the growing stack against the force of a spring in a direction perpendicular to the object planes. The transport of the additional stacked mail item 100 ends at the latest at a stop wall ("registration wall 28 "), At which the leading edges of the upright mail items are aligned.

In US Pat. No. 6,481,712 B1 a stacking device with a displacement device is also described. This stacking device stacks flat upright mailpieces and transports these mailings between a delimiting element ("lead-in guide plate 140 ") And a stack support. The displacement device comprises a plurality of spring-mounted fingers ("kicker fingers 194a " 194b . 194c "). These fingers 194a . 194b . 194c rotate a mail piece during stacking from the delimiter 140 away and onto the stack support too.

The invention has for its object to provide a stacking device with the features of the preamble of claim 1, which leads to a stack with stacked objects that rest on the ground without being twisted against each other.

The object is achieved by a stacking device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

The solution according to stacking device is designed for stacking stackable objects. Each item to be stacked extends in each item level. Each article to be stacked has a leading edge in each case.

• – ein Stapelfach und
• – eine Transport-Einrichtung.

The solution according stacking device comprises

• - a stacking tray and
• - a transport facility.

• – eine Stapelstütze,
• – einen Boden, der sich in einer Boden-Ebene erstreckt,
• – ein Anschlagelement mit einer Anschlagfläche und
• – ein Begrenzungselement.

The stacker includes

• A stack support,
• A floor extending in a floor plane,
• - A stop element with a stop surface and
• A limiting element.

The stop surface extends in a stop surface plane. Between this stop surface level and the ground level, an angle occurs. This angle is less than 90 degrees, so that the stop surface plane is inclined to the vertical.

The stacking device is configured to generate in the stacking tray a stack of approximately perpendicular objects. The stacking support is arranged as follows: An already produced stack lies on the stacking support. The stack is located between the stack support and the boundary element.

• – die Gegenstands-Ebene des Gegenstands während des Transports senkrecht auf dem Boden steht und
• – der Gegenstand zwischen dem Begrenzungselement und der Stapelstütze oder zwischen dem Begrenzungselement oder einem bereits gebildeten und an der Stapelstütze lehnenden Stapel hindurch auf das Anschlagelement zu transportiert wird.

The transport device is configured to transport each object to be stacked on the stop element. This transport happens so that

• The article plane of the article is perpendicular to the ground during transport and
• - The object between the limiting element and the stack support or between the limiting element or an already formed and leaning against the stack support stack is transported to the stop element.

The front edge of the article is turned around during transport to the stop element.

The stop surface plane is inclined to the vertical. Therefore, first, an upper portion of the leading edge of an item to be stacked strikes the stop surface. Between a lower portion of this leading edge and the abutment surface occurs at the moment of impingement on a distance. Preferably, the stacking device is configured such that the article is transported to the stop element so that the article only touches an already formed stack when the article has already hit the stop element. This avoids that the moving object gets caught with an object of the stack. In addition, the article is allowed to slide into the stacking device without being caught by the transporting device. This allows a mechanically simple transport device.

The stop surface is inclined according to the solution against the vertical. If an object whose leading edge is approximately perpendicular hits the abutment element, the following is caused: The inertia of the article further moves the article toward the abutment element. At the same time the abutment surface of the stop element stops the article in an upper region of the front edge, while between the lower region of the front edge and the stop surface still occurs a distance. This creates a shear force that is opposite to the direction of transport of the article. If the article is not completely firmly clamped during transport, this shearing force also causes the article to be rotated about a horizontal axis of rotation which is perpendicular to the transport direction. This rotational movement aligns the article at a bottom of the stacking device. In addition, the shearing force causes deformation of the article, thereby taking kinetic energy from the article during the stopping process.

The solution according stacking device thus results in that a stack is created with objects whose lower edges are aligned at the bottom of the stacking device.

It is possible, but not necessary, to align these objects by means of a vibrating device or a freewheeling track at their lower edges. The invention saves the need to provide such a device for alignment. The alignment can be achieved rather with a static and mechanically simple structure, namely the obliquely arranged stop element with the stop surface.

In the following the invention will be described with reference to an embodiment. Showing:

1 schematically a sorting plant, in which the invention is used, in plan view,

2 the sorting device according to the invention in plan view with a mail item that is still taken by the transport device,

3 the sorting device of 2 in the situation in which the item of mail to be stacked is no longer caught by the transport device but slides along the deflection wall,

4 the sorting device of 3 in the situation in which the mail piece is completely stacked and a space for another mailing has been formed between the deflecting wall and the stack, and

5 the stacking tray with the oblique stopper element in side view at the moment in which a mail item with a corner impinges on the stop face.

In the exemplary embodiment, at least one inventive stacking device is used as part of a sorting system for flat mail items. This sorting plant comprises several sorting outputs in the form of stacking compartments. At least one stacking compartment, preferably each stacking compartment used, in the exemplary embodiment in each case comprises a solution-type stacking device.

• – Die Sortieranlage ermittelt die jeweilige Zustelladresse.
• – Die Sortieranlage wählt ein Sortierfach für diese Postsendung aus. Hierfür wendet die Sortieranlage einen rechnerverfügbaren Sortierplan an, der jeder Zustelladresse ein Sortierfach zuordnet.
• – Die Sortieranlage transportiert die Postsendung zum ausgewählten Sortierfach.

Each mail item is provided with one delivery address to which this item is to be transported. The sorting system carries out the following steps for all mailpieces:

• - The sorting system determines the respective delivery address.
• The sorting system selects a sorting compartment for this mail item. For this purpose, the sorting system uses a computer-available sorting plan, which assigns a sorting bin to each delivery address.
• The sorting system transports the mail item to the selected sorting compartment.

The sorting system performs at least one sorting pass. In each sorting run, the respective mailpieces to be sorted are fed to a sorting installation ("feeder"). A separator ("singulator") generates a sequence of mutually spaced mailpieces, which are preferably transported upright through the sorting system. In this case, the mail items pass through a main transport path. An output transport path branches off from this main transport path for each sorting bin. A switch diverts each mail item to be sorted into the output transport path to the selected bin. In the main transport path and in the respective output transport path, the mailpieces are transported upright. The sorting system discharges each item of mail upright into the selected sorting compartment. As a result, a stack of upright mail items is formed in each sorting bin.

• – eine Zuführ-Einrichtung („feeder”) ZE mit einem Vereinzeler („singulator”),
• – eine Kamera Ka, die jeweils mindestens ein rechnerverfügbares Abbild von einer Postsendung erzeugt,
• – eine Bildauswerteeinheit Bae, die in einem rechnerverfügbaren Abbild die dargestellte Zustelladresse entziffert,
• – einen Datenspeicher Ds-Sp mit einem rechnerverfügbaren Sortierplan,
• – eine Auswahleinheit AE,
• – eine Ausschleus-Einrichtung Aus und
• – beispielhaft fünf Sortierausgänge in Form von fünf lösungsgemäßen Sortierfächern Sf.1, ..., Sf.5.

1 schematically shows a sorting system SAnl for standard letters in a plan view. This sorting system SAnl comprises

• A feeder ZE with a singulator,
• A camera Ka, which in each case generates at least one computer-accessible image of a mail item,
• An image evaluation unit Bae, which deciphers the illustrated delivery address in a computer-accessible image,
• A data store Ds-Sp with a computer-available sorting plan,
• A selection unit AE,
• - an ejection facility Off and
• - By way of example, five sorting outputs in the form of five sorting bins Sf.1, ..., Sf.5.

Depending on the decoded delivery address and the stored sorting plan, the selection unit AE selects a sorting output Sf.1,... For each mailpiece. The rejection device Aus empties each mail item into the respectively selected sorting tray Sf.1, ... from.

In 1 Data flows are shown with dashed lines.

The sorting system has a transport device in the form of a shroud system ("pinch-belt system"). This shroud system consists of a sequence of endless conveyor belts, which are each guided by at least two rollers, preferably by three rollers and conveyor rollers, which are mounted about a respective vertical axis or shaft. Each roller sits on a vertical shaft. One roller per endless conveyor belt is driven ("driven roller"), the remaining rollers of this conveyor belt are "idler rollers". Each mail item is clamped between at least two endless conveyor belts and / or one endless conveyor belt and at least one conveyor roller, while the mail item is transported along the main transport path and the output transport path. The two endless conveyor belts and possibly the conveyor rollers rotate at the same speed and thereby transport upright mailpieces.

• – ein Anschlagelement Ans,
• – eine Fachwand FW,
• – eine Stapelstütze in Form eines Paddels Pa,
• – eine Führungs-Einrichtung FE für das Paddel Pa,
• – ein Unterflur-Förderband U-Fb, das um zwei Rollen Ro.1, Ro.2 herumgeführt ist,
• – ein Begrenzungselement in Form einer Umlenkwand UW mit zwei schrägen Abschnitten Ab.1, Ab.2,
• – drei Rotationselemente Rot.1, Rot.2, Rot.3, die um drei senkrechte Wellen W.1, W.2, W.3 drehbar gelagert sind,
• – drei Antriebe An.1, An.2, An.3 für die drei Wellen W.1, W.2, W.3,
• – einen Antrieb An.U für das Unterflur-Förderband U-Fb und
• – einen Boden Bo.

A stacking compartment with a stacking device according to the invention will be described below. 2 schematically shows this stacking tray Sf in a plan view with an already formed stack St and another stacked mail item Ps. This stacking tray Sf comprises:

• A stop element Ans,
• A compartment wall FW,
• A stack support in the form of a paddle Pa,
• A guide device FE for the paddle Pa,
• An underfloor conveyor belt U-Fb guided around two rollers Ro.1, Ro.2,
• A boundary element in the form of a deflection wall UW with two oblique sections Ab.1, Ab.2,
• Three rotational elements Rot.1, Rot.2, Rot.3, which are rotatably mounted about three vertical waves W.1, W.2, W.3,
• - three drives An.1, An.2, An.3 for the three shafts W.1, W.2, W.3,
• - an An.U drive for the underfloor conveyor belt U-Fb and
• - a floor Bo.

• – eine Endlos-Förderbahn Fb.1, das um zwei senkrecht gelagerte Rollen oder Wellen herumgeführt ist, und
• – drei Förderrollen FR.1, FR.2, FR.3.

In 2 to 4 Furthermore, an exemplary transport device TE is shown, which transports a mail item Ps to the stacking tray Sf. This transport device TE comprises the following components:

• - An endless conveyor track Fb.1, which is guided around two vertically mounted rollers or shafts, and
• - three conveyor rollers FR.1, FR.2, FR.3.

A light barrier comprises a transmitter Se in the form of a light source emitting a light beam LS, and a receiver Em incident on the light beam LS - unless the light beam LS is interrupted by a mail item Ps. The receiver A transmits signals to a control unit SE. This control unit SE controls the actuators An.1, An.2, An.3, An.U. The light barrier is located at the entrance of the stacking tray Sf. The light beam LS from the transmitter Se is interrupted by a stacked mail item Ps as it slides past the transmitter Se, and otherwise applies to the receiver Em.

5 schematically shows the stop element Ans in a side view. The bottom Bo and the stacking direction SR are perpendicular to the plane of 5 , The stop element Ans comprises a rod-shaped abutment support Sb, which is fixedly connected to the bottom Bo, and a stop surface AF, which is fixedly connected to the rod Sb. The stop surface Af extends in a stop surface plane Af-E. The stop surface Af is configured as an elastic and therefore damping coating of the rod Sb and z. B. rubber, to dampen the impact of an object on the stop element Ans. The bottom Bo extends in a ground plane Bo-E, which is perpendicular to the plane of drawing 5 stands. An angle α occurs between the abutment surface plane Af-E and the ground plane Bo-E. This angle α is less than 90 degrees. Preferably, the angle α is between 80 and 86 degrees, ie the abutment surface plane is inclined by 4 to 10 degrees with respect to the vertical. The compartment wall FW is spaced from the stop element Ans.

In the following, the operation of the stacking device will be explained.

The transport device TE transports a mail item Ps upright to the stacking tray Sf, in a transporting direction TR. In the example of 2 the leading edge Vk of the mail item Ps has already reached the stacking tray St. The mail item Ps interrupts the light beam LS.

At the stack support Pa, a stack St of already stacked mail is leaning against it. By stacking another mail item Ps, this stack St grows in a stacking direction SR. The underfloor conveyor belt U-Fb is mechanically connected in the embodiment with the stack support Pa and moves the stack support Pa stepwise in the stacking direction SR.

In the exemplary embodiment, the transport device TE grips a mail item Ps only until the front edge Vk of the mail item Ps reaches the stacking tray Sf. The clamping of the mail item Ps has already ended before the trailing edge of this mail item Ps has passed the light barrier with the light beam LS. The mail item Ps then slides only on the stop element Ans due to their inertia.

The mail item Ps slides between the deflection wall UW and the already formed stack St through to the stop element Ans. The rotation elements Rot.1, Rot.2, Rot.3 are rotated in such a way that the rotation elements Rot.1, Rot.2, Rot.3 do not hinder the movement of the sliding mail item Ps. 3 Fig. 11 shows a situation in which the leading edge Vk of the mail item Ps slides along the inclined portion Ab.1, thereby rotating the mail item Ps. Between the end of the deflection UW and the already formed stack St a gap Sp is formed.

4 shows the situation after the leading edge Vk of the mail item Ps has hit the stop element Ans. The mail item Ps is now the foremost mail item of the stack which leans against the stacking tip Pa. The underfloor conveyor belt U-Fb has transported the stack support Pa further to the right. Between the now stacked mail item Ps and the deflection wall UW, a space Ra has emerged, in which a further mail item Ps.1 is transported. The three rotation elements red.1, red.2, red.3 prevent the stack St from tipping over and filling the space Ra. In the situation, the 4 shows, the further einzustapelnde mail piece Ps.1 is still taken by the transport device TE. The further mail item Ps.1 is then stacked just like the mail item Ps.

As in 2 to 4 can be seen, occurs between the mail piece Ps and the already formed stack St always a distance. The mail item Ps thus does not slide over the surface of the foremost mail item of the stack St. This prevents the item of mail Ps from becoming entangled with a mailpiece of the stack St. Rather, the mail item slides along the deflection wall UW. This baffle UW has a smooth surface. Because the mail piece Ps slides along a smooth surface and not on another mail piece with unknown properties, it is allowed that the transport means TE does not reach into the stack tray Sf. Rather, the mail item slides alone in the stacking tray Sf due to the kinetic energy.

5 illustrates the effect of the inventive stop element Ans. The mail item Ps hits with its front edge Vk on the stop surface Af. 5 shows the moment in which the leading edge Vk first touches the stop surface Af.

The stop surface plane Af-E is inclined by about 4 to 10 degrees from the vertical. Therefore, between the ground plane Bo-E and the abutment surface plane Af-E, an angle α which is smaller than 90 degrees and in the embodiment is between 80 degrees and 86 degrees occurs. Because of this inclination of the abutment surface Af, only an upper region of the front edge Vk strikes the abutment surface Af, namely first the front upper corner corner of the postal item Ps. The postal item Ps is deformed in the front upper region. Between a lower portion of the front edge Vk and the abutment surface Af enters a distance dist. The inclination of the abutment surface Af against the vertical and the distance dist are in 5 exaggerated.

The fact that only an upper portion of the leading edge Vk is incident on the abutment surface, and the damping effect of the elastic abutment surface Af absorbs kinetic energy from the mail item Ps. At the same time, a distance dist between a lower portion of the leading edge Vk and the abutment surface Af.

The inertia of the mail item Ps endeavors to move the mail item Ps further towards the stop element Ans. At the same time, the upper region of the front edge Vk has already hit the stop element Ans. This creates a shearing force acting on the mail item Ps. This shearing force causes the mail item to be rotated around a rotation axis DA in the direction of rotation DR. As a result, a mail item Ps which is as in 5 indicated is tilted, aligned with its lower edge on the ground Bo. In addition, the inclined against the vertical stop surface Af, that the kinetic energy is taken from the mail item Ps.

Because each individual mail item is aligned with the impact element Ans on the ground Bo on impact, a stack is formed with aligned mailpieces. The stop element Ans also protrudes from the compartment wall FW. Therefore, the stack St has a distance from the compartment wall FW. This causes the stack does not touch the compartment wall FW and not a mail item in the stack in front of the compartment wall FW is kinked. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS reference numeral importance α Angle between the ground level Bo-E and the abutment area level Af-E Ab.1, Ab.2 oblique sections of the baffle UW AE Selection unit, selects a bin for each mail item af Stop surface of the stop element Ans Af-E Stop surface plane of the stop surface Af An.1, An.2, ... Drives for the shafts W.1, W.2 ans Stop element with the stop surface Af and the rod-shaped element Sb An.U Drive for the roller Ro.1 of the underfloor conveyor belt U-Fb Bae image evaluation Bo Bottom of stacking tray Sf Bo-E Soil Bo floor level of stacking tray Sf THERE Rotary axis about which the mail item Ps is rotated when hitting the stop surface Af dist Distance between the lower portion of the leading edge Vk of the mail item Ps and the abutment surface Af at the moment of impact DR Direction of rotation around which the mail item Ps is rotated at the moment of impact Ds-Sp Data store for the computer-accessible sort plan Eck front upper corner of the mail item Ps, first encounters the stop element Ans EM Receiver, measures the impact of a light beam LS from the transmitter Se Fb.1 Endless conveyor belt of the transport device TE FE Guide device for the pile support Pa FR.1, FR.2, ... Conveyor rollers of the transport device TE FW Tray wall of stacking tray Sf ka camera LS Light beam from the transmitter Se, hits the receiver EM or is interrupted by a mail item Ps. Pa Stacking support in the form of a sliding paddle ps stacked mail item PS.1 further einzustapelnde mailing Ro.1, Ro.2 Rolls around which the underfloor conveyor belt U-Fb is guided Red.1, red.2, ... Rotational elements in the deflection wall UW SAnl Sorting system for flat postal items sb rod-shaped stop support of the stop element Ans se Transmitter emits a light beam LS SE Control unit of the stacking device Sf.1, Sf.2, ... Sorting bins of the sorting plant SAnl SR Stacking direction in which the stack St grows and in which the stack support Pa is moved TE Transport equipment with the endless conveyor belt Fb.1 and the conveyor rollers FR.1, FR.2, ... TR Transport direction, in which the mail item Ps is transported to the stop element Ans U-Fb Underfloor conveyor belt of stacking tray Sf UW Baffle of stacking tray Sf W.1, W.2 Shafts around which the rotary elements Rot.1, Rot.2 are rotatably mounted ZE Feeder with the singulator

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 5960963 [0003, 0004]
• US 6481712 B1 [0005]

Claims (4)

Stacking device for stacking stackable articles (Ps, Ps.1), each article (Ps) - extending in each one object plane and - each having a front edge (Vk), the stacking device - a stacking tray (Sf) and - a Transport device (TE), comprising the stacking tray (Sf) - a stack support (Pa), - a bottom (Bo) extending in a ground plane (Bo-E), - a stop element (Ans) with a Stop surface (Af) and - a limiting element (UW), wherein the stacking device is adapted to produce in the stacking tray (Sf) a stack (St) of approximately perpendicular objects, the stack support (Pa) is arranged so that - a already generated stack (St) is located on the stack support (Pa) and - the stack (St) is located between the stack support (Pa) and the boundary element (UW), the transport device (TE) is designed to each object to be stacked (Ps) so to transportie - the article plane of the object (Ps) is perpendicular to the ground (Bo) during transport, and - the object (Ps) between the delimiting element (UW) and the stacking support (Pa) or an already formed one and at the Stacking support (Pa) lying stack (St) is transported to the stop element (Ans), wherein the front edge (Vk) of the object (Ps) is turned during transport to the stop element (Ans), characterized in that - the stop surface ( Af) extends in a stop surface plane (Af-E), - an angle (α) occurs between the stop surface plane (Af-E) and the bottom plane (Bo-E), which is smaller than 90 degrees, - So that first an upper portion (corner) of the front edge (Vk) of a einzustapelnden article (Ps) hits the stop surface (Af) and between a lower portion of the front edge (Vk) and the stop surface (Af) at the moment of impact a distance (dist) occurs. Stacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that The stacking device (Sf) has a distance-generating device (Rot.1, Rot.2, Rot.3), - The distance generating means (Red.1, Red.2, Rot.3) is adapted to generate a distance between an already generated stack (St) and the limiting element (UW), and - The stacking device (Sf) is designed so that a einzustapelnder object (Ps) between the limiting element (UW) and the stack (St) moves through until the object (Ps) on the stop surface (Af). Stacking device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that The abutment surface (Af) is designed as a damping element, - That the stop surface (Af) attenuates the impact of a einzustapelnden article (Ps) on the stop element (Ans). Stacking device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the angle (α) between the abutment surface plane (Af-E) and the ground plane (Bo-E) is between 80 degrees and 86 degrees.

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