Sorting device for flat, letter-like postal items

Details Sorting device for flat, letter-like postal items Sorting device for flat, letter-like postal items

2000-06-28

2001-08-21

Bidwell, James R. (Department: 3651)

Conveyors: power-driven

Conveyor arrangement for selecting among plural sources or...

By loading or unloading section at selected one of a...

C198S468900, C209S900000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06276509

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a sorting device for flat letter-like postal matter, whereby output stations with containers for accepting the sorted postal matter are arranged in series along a sorting path of the sorting device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For example, EP-C-0 708 691 discloses such a device. It describes and shows a sorting device, whereby endlessly rotating sorting compartments pass through a plurality of sorting paths arranged parallel to one another, on top of one another and in series. Below the sorting compartments in a, the acceptance containers for the sorted postal matter are arranged in series along the sorting paths. To replace the full containers with empty ones, a conveying path is provided between the two sorting paths of respectively one story, wherein the filled containers are transported in the direction of the sorting paths relative to the front of the sorting device. This ensues in that the full container, proceeding from the outside of the apparatus, is manually pushed onto the conveyor toward the back. The empty containers are also supplied by means of conveyors, which are arranged on the outside of the sorting device along the container rows. Thus, the empty containers are made available along the entire sorting path and can be inserted into the gap that has become free with small manual outlay.
Sorting devices of the company CGA (Alcatel) also comprise a conveying path for transporting off the full containers; however, this conveying path is guided along the outside of the sorting device. An operating cart moves below the container rows and is provided with a transfer device by means of which the full containers are placed upon the conveying path. Besides, the operating cart can accept a limited number of empty containers and, by means of a lifting device, can automatically insert them into the output station that has become free.
Further, WO 97/09132 A1 discloses a sorting device, whereby not only the filled containers but also the empty containers are transported on a conveying path and whereby a transfer device can be moved along the sorting path, which transfer device is provided with transfer means for purposes of automatically inserting the containers into the output stations and for purposes of automatically taking the containers from the output station in the conveying path.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based an object of reducing the manufacturing and operating outlay for the sorting device.
In accordance with the present invention, it is thereby possible, for all changing processes, to provide only one common conveying path for both sorting paths. This reduces the device outlay and the space outlay. The operating staff must observe and operate only one path.
In an embodiment, the present invention comprises a sorting device for flat letter-like postal matter that comprises at least one conveying path, a sorting path, a further sorting path, at least one transfer device and a plurality of output stations. The output stations include a plurality of containers for accepting sorted postal matter. The containers are arranged in a series along the sorting path. The filler containers can be taken from the output stations and transported off of the sorting device. The output stations that have become free of containers can be equipped with empty containers and the at least one conveying path is capable of supplying or, respectively, transporting the empty containers off of the sorting device or, respectively, the full containers off of the sorting device. The at least one conveying path also extends along the output stations. Therefore, both filled containers and empty containers can be transported in the conveying path. The at least one transfer device can be moved along the sorting path. The transfer device comprises a transfer means for purposes of automatically transferring containers from the conveying path to the output station or, respectively, for transferring containers from the output station to the conveying path. The sorting path and the further sorting path are arranged parallel to one another with the conveying path extending therebetween. The transfer means is operable for both the sorting path and the further sorting path.
In an embodiment, the transfer means comprises at least one telescopic boom for operating on the container row disposed in the sorting path and the further sorting path.
In an embodiment, the transfer device can be moved between the two sorting paths.
In an embodiment, a free intermediate space is disposed between the two sorting paths and wherein the transfer means is fashioned as at least one narrow grab arm which can be linearly moved into the free intermediate space. The grab arm comprises a grab means for grabbing the containers.
In an embodiment, the free intermediate space is disposed between the sorting components and the containers that are situated in the output stations and wherein the grab arm is moved into the free intermediate space and further wherein the grab means is adjustable such that the grab means can be moved laterally past the containers without contacting the containers.
In an embodiment, the grab arm is a boom that can be telescopically extended.
In an embodiment, the telescopic grab arm can be moved between the sorting path and the further sorting path and wherein the grab arm and grab means are fashioned for purposes of inserting and withdrawing empty containers or, respectively, filled containers from the sorting path and the further sorting path.
In an embodiment, the transfer device is provided with a lifting means for purposes of lifting the containers.
In an embodiment, the lifting means comprises finger-like grab means and wherein the containers comprise grab shapes for engaged by the finger-like grab means.
In an embodiment, all transfer processes can be carried out by means of one and the same transfer means.
In an embodiment, it is possible to carry out all changing processes at a sorting level with one single transfer device, so that a low manufacturing outlay is required.
In an embodiment, the work space required for the automatic container change is reduced to a minimum. It is thereby possible to arrange the transfer device in the tight lane between the two sorting paths and to keep the outsides of the sorting device correspondingly open.
It is particularly advantageous that the actual sorting path with the rotating sorting compartments and the output stations lying therebelow need not be modified for the engagement of the transfer means. It is thereby possible to fashion the sorting device, without significant reconstructions, for the manual container change or the automatic container change depending on the desire of the customer. As a result of the small spatial requirement for the transfer device and for the changing processes, it is also possible to arrange two transfer devices in two stories lying on top of one another and to allocate respectively two sorting stories lying on top of another sorting device.
In an embodiment, only one grab arm is required, which is directed toward the center of the container. The grab arm can be kept particularly slim, since it is telescopically fashioned. It is thereby possible to keep the intermediate space between the sorting compartments and the containers correspondingly narrow.
In an embodiment, the telescopic arm can be extended toward both sides in the same way and therefore has access to both container rows.
In an embodiment, it is possible to grab and lift the containers in a simple way. The finger-like grab means can be pivoted so strongly that they remain within the contour of the grab arm in the open state. Therefore, they are pushed past the container in a contactless manner when the grab arm extends. After the grab arm has been extended up to its end position, the grab means can be pivoted out up to a point at which they engage behind the container and lift the container at the corresponding grab shapes without additional mechanical means being necessary for the lifting process.

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