Method of mail sorting by shuttle trays of variable volume. RU patent 2504442.

FIELD: process engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to mail sorting. Proposed method comprises stacking the lain of edge into mail sorting machine distributor. Then said mail is displaced on edge at sorting conveyor to sorting outlet of said machine. Here, said stacked mail is loaded into loading intakes connected with said sorting outlets. The, mail sorted in sorting outlets are displaced therefrom into distributor compartment of sorting machine or into sorting compartment into another sorting machine to repeated sorting in said outlets. In compliance with this invention, mail is displaced between above described position by variable-volume shuttle trays in the steps that follow. Mail from sorting outlet is unloaded into shuttle tray including bottom wall for mail to rest on and rear wall arranged in perpendicular to said bottom wall to main stack to rest on. Front wall is positioned at tray bottom wall parallel with rear wall by approaching it to rear wall so that stack is pressed there between. Note here that said front wall is composed of the detachable plate to be positioned at tray bottom wall at several positions for large or smaller approach, still in position parallel with said wall. Shuttle tray filled with mail is set horizontally at one straight line with sorting machine distributor to remove aforesaid detachable plate to allow sliding of the mail to distributor plane.

EFFECT: lower labour input, higher quality of sorting.

6 cl, 3 dwg

The technical field to which the invention relates

The invention relates to a method of sorting mail, which the departure is placed in the foot on the edge compartment postal sorting machine, then postage move to the edge, the sorting conveyor and sent to the sorting outputs of the machine where they are placed in the foot on the edge of the boot receivers, respectively related to these sorting outputs, then departure, sorted by the sorting outputs, move from these sorting outputs in compartment machine or in compartment another sorting machine for re-sorting sorting outputs.

The level of technology

As a rule, the process of sorting on one or more machines contains several sorting passes, for example, to prepare parties for the postman. After one of the sorting pass departure, sorted by the sorting outputs, you must get back in the car for the implementation of the relevant another screening passage.

In the US 2002031284 the design with cells for postal sorting, in which the cells are installed suspended grid for loading on the edge of sorted correspondence. For processing of correspondence use trays containing removable dividers. However, this design with cells fulfil the function of a mail sorting machine with sorting conveyor, and in this document doesn't specify the steps to apply.

In the US 4643306 described input tray for correspondence, which contains separators made of metal, which makes it impossible to use the sorting conveyor.

In addition, in the patent document WO 9736805 described postal sorting machine with compartment, a sorting device and sorting outputs to the trays. To manipulate empty or filled with trays between sorting outputs a robot. According to presented variant of execution tray contains retained the hinged front wall, connected with a hinge with housing tray.

Finally, examples of boot receivers for sorting outputs described in the documents of US 2009028678, FR 2552743, FR 2667807. As a rule, each non-removable bootable receiver type drawer is installed in a compartment of a sorting machine output, and are in this boot the receiver of the shipment be moved in portable tray or cassette to send in compartment. At the level of compartment again departure should be selected in small batches in trays for placement in the foot on the edge of the conveyor belt compartment. All these operations processing with the purpose of their return back from the screening of outputs to compartment sorting machine are time consuming and require attention from the side of the machine operators. In addition, these operations are laborious manipulation. So, during the working day for the machine operator has to move several tons of correspondence, creating problems of ergonomics in those working posts. In addition, the foot shipments in portable trays can fall if they are not dense enough, that can lead to infringement of order in the sequence of processing and, consequently, to the necessity of additional operations for the ordering of items in the compartment.

Disclosure of the invention

The task of the invention consists in the elimination of the above shortcomings, through the development of alternative ways of mail sorting.

This problem is solved a method of sorting mail, which the departure is placed in the foot on the edge compartment postal sorting machine, then postage move to the edge, the sorting conveyor and sent to the sorting outputs of the machine where they are placed in the foot on the edge of the boot receivers, respectively related to these sorting outputs, then departure, sorted by the sorting outputs, move from these sorting outputs in compartment postal sorting machine or in compartment another mail sorting machine for re-sorting sorting outputs, wherein the movement of shipments between sorting outputs and compartment those shipments is treated with Shuttle trays with variable load capacity during the following stages: a) departure of sorting output loaded in a tray containing wall of the bottom upon which the departure in the foot on the edge and back wall, which is essentially perpendicular to the wall of the bottom and on which rests stop shipments on the edge, b) position the front wall of the wall of the bottom of the tray parallel to the back wall, bringing it closer to the back wall so to stop shipments was sandwiched between the back wall and the front wall of the tray, with the front wall is made in the form of plate, which is removable relative to the bottom and walls can be positioned on the wall of the bottom in several positions for a greater or lesser rapprochement with the back wall, while remaining parallel to the wall) a tray filled with the administration, shall establish, horizontally placing it on the same line with compartment the sorting machine, and remove the detachable front wall of the tray to move slide the mail plane compartment.

According private distinctive features of method according to the invention:

- the front wall of the Shuttle tray represents a flexible plate, the method includes a step movement of the front wall of the Shuttle tray on the sorting conveyor postal sorting machine between compartment and sorting output;

- Shuttle trays variable boot capacity is used as a boot receivers associated with sorting outputs;

- each removable front wall of the Shuttle tray positioned on the wall of the bottom of the Shuttle tray on the level of sorting out or removed from the hook tray at the level of compartment by means of automatic positioning system or withdrawal;

- method contains the stage of grouping several Shuttle trays on the movable bottom, forming a carousel, where the Shuttle trays can be moved in space around a closed path, passing on height;

- closed path has a rectangular shape.

The main idea of the invention is, thus, the use of Shuttle trays variable boot capacity with removable partitions instead of the usual portable trays with fixed partitions. According to the invention, these Shuttle trays variable boot capacity can be performed using the receivers of sorting output, for example, the type of a drawer, and, consequently, with the possibility of installation in the nests of sorting outputs, in particular, the type of drives or pavers in the foot. In particular, each of them you can perform with the ability to accommodate mobile props to hold the foot of shipments, classic for sorting outputs, type drives.

According to the invention, flexible interfaces for Shuttle trays have, for example, on the edge of the foot in compartment at the end of the first pass, the sorting of items. Them automatically dismantled and sent to the sorting outputs, as ordinary postal items. After this, the machine operator is sufficient to establish each partition in the Shuttle tray thus, in order to seal the foot of consignments loaded in a tray. After that, the Shuttle trays move from sorting outputs in the direction of compartment. The machine can be equipped with a system return Shuttle trays, made with the possibility to automatically move the tray from the sorting outputs to compartment. You can also use a cart or a similar tool for the transportation of several Shuttle trays simultaneously in the direction of compartment. At the level of compartment machine operator retrieves the queue from each tray flexible removable partition tray to upload content to the tray in compartment. After this partition can be placed in the form of a foot in compartment for their automated disassembly and referral to a sorting outputs.

Brief description of drawings

Distinctive features and advantages of the invention will be more obvious from the following description of the example to perform with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a very schematically presents the situation unloading, sorting outputs using the Shuttle trays in accordance with the invention;

Figure 1 shows a sorting output 1 postal sorting machine (not shown) the usual boot receiver type 2 drawer. This, of course, mail sorting machine contains tens of sorting outputs. Shuttle trays, marked position 3, shown in the figure on the side of the situation manipulation on the movable bottom of the 4. Each of them is shown in this case with the wall 3A bottom and with the back wall 3V. In this case, eight Shuttle trays 3 grouped on the movable bottom 4, forming the similarity of the holder in the form of a closed loop (shown as a rectangle), which is placed vertically and is designed as a carousel so that the Shuttle trays 3 you can move in space in a rectangular closed-loop positioning on the necessary height.

In the case illustrated in figure 1, departure, located in the form of the foot on the edge of receiver 2, remove the small batches and move the Shuttle tray 3. To the transaction empty Shuttle tray 3 can be submitted at a horizontal level (arrow N) receiver 2. As shown in figure 1, front side of postal items 5 in Shuttle tray 3 relies on the back wall 3V, but in this case, is held back by one or more removable partitions, labeled 3C.

Figure 2 Shuttle trays 3, shown in figure 1, presented before the compartment 6 sorting machine. In this case, the base 4 installed on the rotary support. For unloading the hook, tray 3, filled postal items 5, the operator first has a Shuttle tray 3, essentially combining its horizontal plane compartment 6. Then the operator removes the first removable partition 3C, takes a small batch of mail and moves them slip on a plane compartment 6. In one Shuttle tray 3, you can install multiple removable partitions 3C for the best deduction shipments 5 on the edge of the foot.

Figure 3 shows in the future of the Shuttle tray 3 variable boot capacity. In this case, it has the form of a parallelepiped consists of four interconnected walls and from removable wall or a partition 3C. On this, figure 3 shows two removable partitions 3C, located at back wall of the 3V. Each removable partition 3 is made in the form of plate, which can be mounted on the wall of the bottom of the tray using the mounting system, for example, type pin/row of holes. Inside the Shuttle tray is also shown prop 7 to hold the foot 5, made in the mobile in a Shuttle tray 3. This configuration corresponds tray 3, which is designed specially for installation instead of the receiver drive or deflector the foot of sorting output and which can be removed from the socket sorting output to move, as shown in figures 1 and 2.

For these Shuttle trays 3 can provide cover to install the stack each other after filling, in particular, for their truck transport. Preferably these Shuttle trays 3 can be run in such a way that they can be laid on top of each other in an empty form. They can be equipped with electronic identification labels like RFID.

Removable partitions 3C Shuttle trays 3 can be performed in the form of flexible slats, which can have a sorting conveyor sorting machine. Preferably the sorting machine can be equipped with automatic positioning system or remove the floppy partitions in the Shuttle tray 3, as at the level of sorting outputs, and at the level of compartment.

These Shuttle trays 3 variable boot capacity in accordance with the invention allow to optimize the processing shipments. Indeed, foot shipments can easily be sealed in the Shuttle tray 3 with the help of removable partitions, which ultimately enables them to transport the same volume of Shuttle tray 3 with the best coverage. Therefore, it allows to reduce costs and optimize the operating costs of the mail sorting machine.

1. A method of sorting mail, which the departure is placed in the foot on the edge compartment (6) postal sorting machine, then postage move to the edge, the sorting conveyor and sent to the sorting outputs (1) postal sorting machine, where they are loaded in the foot on the edge of the boot receivers, respectively related to these sorting outputs (1), then departure, sorted by the sorting outputs (1), move from these sorting outputs (1) in compartment (6) postal sorting machine or in compartment another mail sorting machine for re-sorting sorting outputs (1), wherein the movement of shipments between sorting outputs (1) and compartment (6) those shipments is treated with Shuttle trays (3) with variable load capacity during the following stages: a) unload the shipment of sorting out (1) in the Shuttle tray (3), containing wall (3A) the bottom, upon which departure in the foot on the edge, and the rear wall (3B), which is located on essentially perpendicular to the wall of the bottom of the (3A) and the that underpins the stop shipments on the edge, b) positioning the front wall (3C) on the wall (3A) of the bottom of the tray (3) parallel to the back wall (3V), bringing it closer to the back wall (3B) to stop shipments was sandwiched between the back wall (3V) and the front wall (3C) of the Shuttle tray (3), with the front wall (3C) is made in the form of plate, which is removable relatively wall (3A) the seabed and can be positioned on the wall (3A) of the bottom of the Shuttle tray (3) in several positions for a greater or lesser rapprochement with the back wall (3B), while remaining parallel to wall, C) establish a Shuttle tray (3), filled shipments, horizontally placing it on the same line with compartment (6) of the sorting machine, and remove the detachable front wall (3C) of the Shuttle tray (3) to move the slide mail plane cover (6).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the front wall (3C) of the Shuttle tray (3) represents the flexible plate, the method includes a step move to the anterior wall (3C) of the Shuttle tray (3) on the sorting conveyor postal sorting machine between compartment (6) and sorting output (1).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the Shuttle trays (3) variable boot capacity is used as a boot receivers associated with sorting outputs (1).

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each removable front wall (3C) of the Shuttle tray (3) positioning on the wall (3A) of the bottom of the Shuttle tray (3) at the level of sorting out (1) or removed from the hook tray (3) at the level of compartment (6) by means of automatic positioning system or removal.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein that contains the stage of grouping several Shuttle trays (3) on a mobile basis (4)to form the roundabout, where the Shuttle trays (3) can be moved in space around a closed path, passing by height.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the closed path has a rectangular shape.