Sorting system for sorting packages into bags

Abstract

A sorting conveyor and bagging device for selectively placing packages in a bag through a collapsible opening located within the bag itself or within a sleeve projecting from the mouth of the bag. A slider is positioned between the bags at the end of a chute. An actuator slides the slider along a rail to selectively open an opening to one bag and position the opening to receive a package from the chute, while the opening of the other bag is closed and set aside.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to power-driven conveyors, and more particularly to a sorting conveyor for sorting packages into multiple bags during multiple discharges. Background Art

[0002] In various industries, such as in package and parcel handling, sorting conveyors are used to sort packages to assigned destinations, such as bags. Typically, packages are unloaded from a main sorting conveyor onto a chute leading to a bag at the assigned destination. If many sorting destinations are required, then the main sorting conveyor can be long and occupy a significant floor area. Summary of the Invention

[0003] One version of a bagging device embodying features of the present invention includes a pair of slide rails and a slider that is movable along the slide rails and attachable to two bags. An actuator causes the slider to slide along the slide rails in a first direction to open an opening to a first one of the bags and close an opening to a second one of the bags, and to cause the slider to slide along the slide rails in an opposite second direction to open an opening to the second one of the bags and close an opening to the first one of the bags.

[0004] One version of a sorting system embodying features of the present invention includes a first destination bag and a second destination bag, and a bagging device. The bagging device includes a first slide rail and a second slide rail, and a slider that is movable along the first and second slide rails and attachable to the first destination bag and the second destination bag. An actuator coupled to the slider causes the slider to slide along the first and second slide rails in a first direction to open an opening to the first destination bag and close an opening to the second destination bag, and to cause the slider to slide along the first and second slide rails in an opposite second direction to open an opening to the second destination bag and close an opening to the first destination bag. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] Figure 1 An isometric view of one version of a sorting conveyor embodying features of the present invention in a bagging device for selectively sorting packages from a chute to assigned destination bags.

[0006] Figure 2A and Figure 2B A side view of the bagging device shown in two sorting positions. Figure 1 of the bagging device.

[0007] Figures 3A to 3E An isometric view depicting the sequence of steps taken to remove a full bag from the bagging device of Figure 1 the bagging device.

[0008] Figure 4 An isometric view of a latch mechanism for a slide rail in a bagging device for connecting and disconnecting so that a filled bag can be removed and replaced with an empty bag. Figure 1

[0009] Figure 5 An enlarged view of a load sensor on the slide rail for detecting the conveyance of a package to a destination bag.

[0010] Figure 6 For Figure 1 A block diagram of a control system for a sorting conveyor.

[0011] Figure 7 For Figure 1 A bagging device and Figure 5 A flowchart of program steps executed by a controller that can be used with the load sensor to monitor a sorting operation.

[0012] Figure 8 An isometric view of another version of a bagging device embodying the features of the present invention, the bagging device including a motorized rack and pinion actuator.

[0013] Figure 9 For Figure 8 An enlarged view of a part of the bagging device where one of the bags is removed.

[0014] Figure 10 For Figure 8 An enlarged view of another version of the bagging device as in

[0015] Figure 11 For Figure 8 An isometric view of another version of the bagging device as in

[0016] Figure 12 For Figure 11 An enlarged view of the upper part of the bagging device.

[0017] Figure 13A And Figure 13B For Figure 11 An enlarged view of a locking pin in the locked and unlocked positions in the bagging device.

[0018] Figure 14 For Figure 11 An isometric view of the bagging device mounted on a rotatable platform as in

[0019] Figure 15 For Figure 14 An enlarged view of the rotatable platform.

[0020] Figure 16An isometric view of another version of the bagging apparatus embodying the features of the present invention, the bagging apparatus including a collapsible bag sleeve.

[0021] Figure 17 For Figure 16 exploded view of the upper portion of the bagging apparatus of.

[0022] Figure 18 For Figure 16 exploded view of the lower portion of the bagging apparatus of.

[0023] Figures 19A to 19C An isometric view of another version of the bagging apparatus shown in a first transition position and a second sorting position embodying the features of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 20 For Figures 19A to 19C enlarged isometric view of the slider assembly of.

[0025] Figures 21A to 21C An isometric view depicting the sequence of steps taken to remove a filled bag from the Figures 19A to 19C bagging apparatus of. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In Figure 1 shown is a portion of a sorting system embodying the features of the present invention. The sorting system includes a main sorting conveyor 10, which can be implemented as a powered roller conveyor, a shoe sorter, or a conveyor belt for advancing packages along a main conveying direction 12. By a conventional diverting mechanism suitable for use with the type of sorting conveyor being used, selected packages P are diverted from the main sorting conveyor 10 onto a chute 14 in the direction of arrow 13. Examples of conventional diverting mechanisms include shoes, pusher, cross-belt, rotary sorters, and activated roller conveyors, such as the Series 7000 activated roller conveyor manufactured and sold by Intralox, LLC of Harahan, Louisiana, USA.

[0027] Packages P that are to be assigned a destination in either of bags B1, B2 are diverted from the main conveyor 10 onto the chute 14. Packages that are to be assigned to other destinations along the main sorting conveyor 10 are diverted onto the chute at those sorting positions and into the assigned bags.

[0028] Also as Figure 2A and Figure 2BAs shown, bags B1 and B2 each have a bag mouth 16 bounded by an edge 18. The edge 18 has two opposite flat sides 20, 21 connected by two folded sides 22, 23, which enables the bags to be folded. Bags B1 and B2 are suspended on a pair of sliding rails in the form of tracks or guide rails 24, 25 in the bagging device. The holes 26, 27 in the flat sides 20, 21 of the bag edge 18 slidably receive the guide rails 24, 25. The guide rails 24, 25 are parallelly supported in a horizontal plane by upright posts 28 standing from the floor.

[0029] A slider 30 in the bagging device is slidably mounted on the guide rails 24, 25 between the edges 18 of the two bags B1 and B2. Specifically, the slider 30 is mounted between the flat side 21 of the first bag B1 and the flat side 20 of the second bag B2. The slider 30 is attached to an arm 32 of an actuator 34 (such as a linear actuator), and the arm 32 is attached to the bottom side of the chute 14 at one end. The slider 30 is also attached to the bags B1 and B2. The actuator 34 slides the slider 30 along the guide rails 24, 25 in a first direction to a first position, as Figure 2A shown, in which first position, the bag mouth 16 of the first bag B1 is opened and an opening into the first bag is formed, and in which first position, the bag mouth of the second bag B2 is closed, and slides the slider 30 along the guide rails 24, 25 in an opposite second direction to a second position, as Figure 2B shown, in which second position, the bag mouth of the second bag is opened and an opening into the second bag is formed, and in which second position, the bag mouth of the first bag is closed. In Figure 2A this, the package P assigned to the destination bag B1 slides down the chute 14 into the opened bag B1. In Figure 2B this, the package P' assigned to the destination bag B2 slides down the chute 14 into the opened bag B2.

[0030] In the first position, the slider 30 and the first flat side 21 of the first bag B1 are directly below the lower end 36 of the chute 14. In the second position, the slider 30 and the flat side 20 of the edge of the second bag B2 are outside the lower end 36 of the chute 14. In both positions, the other flat side 20 of the first bag B1 and the other flat side 21 of the second bag B2 remain in place on the guide rails 24, 25. In this way, the actuator 34 acting on the slider 30 opens one bag while closing the other bag, and positions the bag mouth of the opened bag to receive the package leaving the chute 14.

[0031] Figures 3A to 3E depicts the order of removing the bags from the guide rails. As Figure 3AAs shown, the bag B1 to be removed is first disconnected from the slider 30. The connecting member may be formed by a hook 38 extending through a hole 40 in the slider 30 on the edge 18 of the bag, but other connecting members may be used, such as a buckle on the slider and a mating buckle on the edge 18 of the bag.( Figure 3A A stop 42 (a dip in the guide rail) is also shown, which acts as a retainer for loosely holding the outer flat side 20 of the edge 18 of the first bag B1 in place. In Figure 3B , the guide rails 24, 25 are pulled from the struts 28 at the outer end of the bag support assembly. As Figure 4 shown, the top end 44 of each strut 28 has a narrow-diameter stud 46 with a spherical locking pin 48 received in the hollow ends of the guide rails 24, 25. As Figure 3C shown, with the guide rails 24, 25 supported by the struts 28, the bag B1 slides outwards along the guide rails until the bag B1 leaves the ends of the guide rails. Once the bag B1 has left the guide rails 24, 25, the bag B1 can be taken away, as Figure 3D shown. The removal of the second bag B2 is similarly achieved, as Figure 3E shown. To replace the bag, reverse the process.

[0032] The sorting conveyor is controlled by a controller 54 (e.g., a programmable logic controller or other processor or programmable computer), as Figure 6 shown. The controller that executes program steps in its program memory receives package identification data from a scanner 56 that scans all packages. The controller 54 assigns each package to a destination bag based on this data. Position sensors 58 along the main sorting conveyor provide position information that enables tracking of each package to the controller 54. Based on weight signals sent to the controller 54 by load sensors 50 located at the chutes, the controller detects packages being conveyed to the bags and confirms correct conveyance, reports mis-sorting (sorting a package to the wrong destination bag), reports non-conveyed packages, and reports full bags. The controller 54 notifies the operator of these operational issues via a monitor 62 or via indicator lights, audible alarms, or other warnings. The controller 54 also controls motors 60 that drive the main conveyor and the slider actuator 34 at each chute.

[0033] Packages may be sorted to the wrong destination bag. Figure 5A load sensor 50 is shown mounted to a plate 52 which is slidably attached to a guide rail 24 at its top end. The other end of the plate 52 is stationary. When a package lands in the open bag B1, the guide rail 24 deflects downward against the load sensor 50 which then reports the increased weight of the bag B1 to indicate that a package has been received in one of the bags. The load sensor 50 reports the weight to a sorting conveyor controller which interprets the weight increase as a package detection. And with knowledge of the assigned package destination, the status of the slider at each chute, and the position of each assigned bag, the controller can determine if a package has been mis-sorted. The load sensor can be attached to each guide rail or only to one guide rail.

[0034] The program steps that the controller executes in the program memory to detect and report mis-sorted packages are shown in Figure 7 The weight signal from the load sensor (which continuously monitors the bags) is used by the controller to detect when a package has been received in a bag. When a package is detected, the controller then determines if the package has been mis-sorted, i.e., delivered to the wrong bag, as described in the previous paragraph. If it is determined that the package has been delivered to the wrong destination bag, the controller notifies the operator via an indicator light, a message or indication on a display, an alarm, or other warning that there is a mis-sorted package in the bag. Otherwise, the controller confirms that the package has been delivered to the correct destination bag and accumulates the weight of the bag. In either case, the controller then determines if the accumulated weight of the bag exceeds a maximum weight value. If it exceeds the maximum weight value, the controller notifies the operator that the bag is full so that the bag can be replaced with an available empty bag and the controller then resets the accumulated weight of the replacement bag to zero. If a package was expected to have been delivered but the load sensor does not detect the package at the expected destination bag, the controller notifies the operator that the package was not delivered. If no package is detected and delivered and no package is expected, the controller does not send a warning.

[0035] In Figure 8 Another version of the bagging device is shown. The bagging device 140 differs from the Figure 1 bagging device in that a motorized rack and pinion actuator is used instead of a linear actuator. The rack and pinion actuator includes a rack 142 attached to a slider 144 at one end. A pinion 146 on the shaft of a motor 148 meshes with the rack 142. Rotation of the shaft of the motor and the pinion 146 causes the rack 142 and the slider 144 to translate along its slide rail 150 to open and close the opening to bags B1, B2. A similar motorized rack and pinion actuator can be attached to the other side of the slider 144. For example, the motor 148 is supported by a motor mount 149 hanging on a chute 14.

[0036] An alternative member for removably attaching the bag B to the slider 152 is shown in Figure 9 and Figure 10 . In Figure 9 , spring gates 154 that are laterally spaced apart on two faces of the slider 152 are used instead of the hooks shown in Figure 3A to attach the edge 156 of the bag to the slider. The spring gate 154 has a lower pivot end 158 and an upper free end 159 that is biased against the slider 152 by a spring. The gate 154 extends through an eyelet in the edge 156 of the bag. The spring gate 154 is easily opened under the action of a slightly outward pressure to facilitate the installation and removal of the bag. Instead of the spring gate, a spring latch 160 that passes through an eyelet of the bag is used to releasably attach the bag B to the slider 152 in Figure 10 . A hook 162 that hangs from the spring latch 160 hooks the eyelet of the bag to hold the bag B.

[0037] Figure 11 shows a bagging device 164 having a wheeled platform 166 that rotates the resulting bag cart to facilitate the insertion and removal of the bag. The platform 166 has casters 168 at each corner.

[0038] As shown in Figure 12 , a locking lever 170 is located on top of the slider 152, and actuators 172 are attached to the locking lever 170 at each end. The bolt 174 has a non-threaded shank between the bolt head and the opposite threaded end. The bolt 174 extends through a non-threaded through hole in the center of the top of the locking lever 170 and is screwed into a threaded hole in the center of the top of the slider 152. In this way, the slider 152, the bolt 174, and the bags B1, B2 can rotate relative to the locking lever 170 on the casters 168, as shown in Figure 11 , to facilitate bag replacement.

[0039] A locking pin 176 extends through a hole in the locking lever 170 and into an alignment hole in the top of the slider 152 to prevent the slider from rotating relative to the locking lever during normal operation of the bagging device. When the bag B must be replaced, the operator lifts the locking pin 176 from the locked position shown in Figure 13A to the unlocked position shown in Figure 13B by means of the handle 178 of the locking pin 176. A spring 180 that is curled around a hook portion between a spring seat 182 formed on the bottom surface of a U-shaped pin support 184 that is fastened to the top of the locking lever 170 and a spring retainer stud 186 biases the locking pin to the locked position in Figure 13AThe locking position in. To unlock the slider 152 from the locking lever 170, the operator pulls the handle 178 upward against the spring pressure to lift the end of the locking pin 176 from the hole in the slider, so that the bagging device can be rotated to approach the bag.

[0040] Instead of having Figure 11 casters in, Figure 14 the bagging device 190 of is casters-free. The strut 192 of the bagging device 190 is mounted to the lower platform 194, which has a pivot pin 196 extending downward centrally from its bottom side, as Figure 15 shown in. The pivot pin 196 is received in a bearing block 198 mounted to the floor. The bearing block 198 supports the bagging device 190 and allows it to rotate for bag replacement.

[0041] In Figure 16 another version of the bagging device 200 is shown. One difference from the previously described bagging device is that sleeves S1, S2 are inserted between the chute 14 and the bags B1, B2. The upper edge 202 of the sleeve is attached to the slider 204 and is attached to the slide rail 206 through the eyelet 208. The sleeves S1, S2 extend downward from their edge 202 and extend into the bag mouths of the bags B1, B2. The bag mouths of the bags B1, B2 can be kept permanently open, while the bag mouths 210 of the sleeves S1, S2 act as foldable openings to the bags.

[0042] As Figure 17 shown in, the slider 204 is attached to an actuator 212, which moves the slider and the upper edge 202 of the sleeves S1, S2 along two rod-shaped tracks 214 that form the slide rail. The tracks 214 are attached to a track support 216 mounted to the bottom of the chute 14 at their ends. The tracks 214 are also supported by the slider 204 and its attachment to the actuator 212. Sleeve stops 218 in the form of pairs of rings spaced along the length of the track 212 define the translation range of the sleeves S1, S2 along the track between each pair. And the outer edges of the sleeves S1, S2 are held between the stops 218 of each pair of rings, and the stops 218 act as sleeve holders. An annular magnet 220 around the eyelet 222 in the slider 204 attracts an iron-containing metal ring 224 around the eyelet in the edge 202 of the sleeve to hold the sleeves S1, S2 to the slider. When the slider 204 is moved back and forth on the slide rail 214, the slider 204 opens one sleeve while closing the other, so that the package dropped into the open sleeve is placed in the associated bag.

[0043] The bags B1, B2 are supported in a bag holder 226, as Figure 18As shown. The bag support 226 has four struts 228, each strut 228 having a hook 230 at the top. The bags B1, B2 are hung on the outside thereof at the hooks 230 received in the eyelets 232 in the edge 234 of the bag. The central bag support 236 has struts 238 mounted to the lower platform 240. The bag support 236 has hooks 242 on each side, and the inner edges of the bags B1, B2 are hooked to the hooks 242 via eyelets. Casters 244 can be attached to the bottom of the platform 240 to facilitate movement of the bag support.

[0044] In Figure 19A shown is another version of the bagging device for placing packages in bags. The bagging device includes a bag support assembly 74 and a cart 70 constructed of tubular members. The cart 70 has casters 72 in contact with the floor at the bottom. The bag support assembly 74 is located at the upper end of the cart 70, and the bag support assembly 74 supports two bags B1, B2 on opposite sides of the slider 76. The bag support assembly 74 includes a slider 76, a coil spring 78, and a sliding actuator assembly 84. The coil spring 78 is attached at one end to a post 80 located at the top of the cart 70 and at the other end to the outside of the edge 82 lining the top of the bags B1, B2. The sliding actuator assembly 84 selectively moves the slider to open and close the bags.

[0045] Figures 19A to 19C illustrates the order of placing the first package P in the first bag B1 and then the second package P' in the second bag B2. In Figure 19A shown, the slider 76 is shown in a first position at the end of its translation range to close the second bag B2 and open the mouth of the first bag B1, such that the inner side 86 of the edge 82 of the first bag is located below the lower end 88 of the chute 90 to receive the package P. Figure 19B shown is the slider 76 in a transitional position when sliding to a second position to close the first bag B1 and open the second bag B2, thereby receiving the package P' from the chute 90, as Figure 19C shown. The coil spring 78 attached at one end to the post 80 is attached at the other end to the outside of the edge 82 of the bags B1, B2 via a hook 98 passing through an eyelet 92 in the edge. The spring 78 exerts a force that biases the outside of the bags B1, B2 away from the slider 76, which helps to keep the bags open during package placement. Hooks 94 on the cart 70 are hooked to loops 96 attached to the sides of the bags B1, B2 to provide primary support for the bags.

[0046] In Figure 20Details of the slider 76 and the sliding actuator assembly 84 are shown. The slider 76 is a plate that has a pair of hooks 98 on each side of the plate for hooking into the holes of the bag such that the inner edge of the bag moves with the slider plate. The upper stud 100 and the lower stud 102 project laterally outward from opposite sides of the slider 76. The T-shaped guides 104, 106 support the slider 76. The crossbars 105 of the guides 104, 106 have horizontal slots 108 in which the upper stud 100 is received. The horizontal slots 100 in the crossbars 105 form slide rails that define the translational range for the top end of the slider plate 76. The posts 110 of the T-shaped guides 104, 106 have vertical slots 112 that receive the lower stud 102 of the slider 76 and allow the slider to tilt freely as the plate translates along the horizontal slot 108. The linear actuator 114 has an extension arm 116 that is attached to the upper stud 100 by a coupling 118.

[0047] As Figure 19C shown, the actuator 114 is attached to the cart 70 by holding a loop 120 at the top of an outwardly curved upright tubular member 122. In Figure 19A it, the arm 116 of the actuator is shown extended to open the mouth of the first bag B1 and close the mouth of the second bag B2. In Figure 19C it, the arm 116 of the actuator is shown retracted to open the second bag B2 and close the first bag B1. As Figure 19B and Figure 20 seen, retaining rings 124, 126 on the outer sides of the T-shaped guide 104 that is attached to the horizontal member 128 of the cart 70 hold the guide in place.

[0048] Figures 21A to 21C Shows how the bags B1, B2 are removed from the cart 70. First, the coil spring 78 is unhooked from the holes 92 in the edge 82 of the bag. Subsequently, the end doors 130, 132 that are attached to the side frames of the cart at hinges are swung open, as Figure 21A shown. Next, the first bag B1 (which is outside the chute 90) is unhooked from the slider plate 76 and removed through the open doorway at the end of the cart 70, as Figure 21B shown. As Figure 21C shown, the cart 70 then rotates 180° or as much as possible to approach the second bag B2 and remove it through the other open end. By performing the removal steps in reverse, replacement bags are installed in the cart.

[0049] Although the present invention has been described with reference to several exemplary versions, other versions are possible. For example, the actuator in any of the versions may be implemented as a linear actuator (e.g., pneumatic, hydraulic, or electromagnetic actuator), as a rack and pinion actuator, or by other equivalent means capable of translating a slider along a slide rail. As another example, various bagging devices may attach a bag or sleeve to the slide rail by means of a hook, spring door, spring latch, magnetic attraction, or any attachment, making bag replacement easy. And the term "package" generally refers to any conveyable object, such as a packet, carton, box, and parcel. And other features shown in some bagging devices may be used in other bagging devices. Thus, as these examples show, the scope of the claims is not meant to be limited to the exemplary versions disclosed in detail.

Claims

1. A bagging device, comprising: A pair of slide rails; A slider that can move along the slide rails and can be attached to two bags; An actuator coupled to the slider to slide the slider along the slide rails in a first direction to open an opening into a first one of the bags and close an opening into a second one of the bags, and to slide the slider along the slide rails in an opposite second direction to open the opening into the second one of the bags and close the opening into the first one of the bags; Wherein the slide rails include a first rail and a second rail that extend through the slider and are adapted to extend through the edges of the bags, and the actuator slides the slider along the first rail and the second rail.

2. The bagging device according to claim 1, wherein, The slider has studs protruding from opposite lateral sides of the slider, and the slide rails include a first guide and a second guide having slots for receiving the studs.

3. The bagging device according to claim 2, wherein, The bagging device includes a spring attached to the bag to bias one side of the opening of the bag away from the slider.

4. The bagging device according to claim 1, wherein, The first rail and the second rail each have a first stop and a second stop at spaced positions along the length of the rail to hold the side of the bag opposite the slider.

5. The bagging device according to claim 1, wherein, The bagging device includes struts attached at each end of the first rail and the second rail to support the rails in parallel, wherein the struts are detachable for sliding a bag onto or off the first rail and the second rail.

6. The bagging device according to claim 1, wherein, The slider can be attached to the bag by a hook, a spring door, a spring latch, or magnetic attraction.

7. The bagging device according to claim 1, wherein, The bagging device includes a locking lever on top of the slider and a pivot pin extending through the locking lever and fixed to the slider to allow the slider to rotate relative to the locking lever.

8. The bagging device according to claim 7, wherein, The bagging device includes a locking pin fixed to the locking lever and capable of extending into the slider to be in a locked position to prevent the slider from rotating relative to the locking lever, and capable of retracting from the locking lever to be in an unlocked position to allow the slider to rotate relative to the locking lever.

9. The bagging device according to claim 1, wherein, The actuator is a linear actuator.

10. The bagging device according to claim 1, wherein, The actuator is a motorized rack and pinion.

11. The bagging device according to claim 1, wherein, The bagging device includes a sleeve attached to the slider and forming an opening into the bag.

12. A sorting system for sorting packages, comprising: A first destination bag and a second destination bag, each having an opening; A bagging device, the bagging device including: A first slide rail and a second slide rail; A slider that can move along the first slide rail and the second slide rail and can be attached to the first destination bag and the second destination bag; An actuator coupled to the slider to slide the slider along the first slide rail and the second slide rail in a first direction to open the opening to the first destination bag and close the opening to the second destination bag, and to slide the slider along the first slide rail and the second slide rail in an opposite second direction to open the opening to the second destination bag and close the opening to the first destination bag; Wherein, the opening to the first destination bag and the opening to the second destination bag have edges around the bag mouth, and the first slide rail and the second slide rail include a first track and a second track extending through the slider and the edges of the first destination bag and the edges of the second destination bag, and the actuator slides the slider along the first track and the second track.

13. The sorting system according to claim 12, wherein, The slider extends from a first end to a second end in width and from a first side adjacent to the first destination bag to a second side adjacent to the second destination bag in thickness, and the actuator includes a first linear actuator and a second linear actuator having arms, and distal ends of the arms are attached to the second side of the slider at the first end and the second end.

14. The sorting system according to claim 12, wherein, Each of the first track and the second track has a first retainer and a second retainer at spaced positions along the length of the track, the first retainer holding a portion of the edge of the opening of the first destination bag on the side of the edge opposite the slider, and the second retainer holding a portion of the edge of the opening of the second destination bag on the side of the edge opposite the slider.

15. The sorting system according to claim 14, wherein, Each of the first retainer and the second retainer is a stop in the first track or the second track.

16. The sorting system according to claim 14, wherein, Each of the first retainer and the second retainer is a pair of loops received on the first track or the second track to hold the edge.

17. The sorting system according to claim 12, wherein, The sorting system includes struts attached to each end of the first slide rail and the second slide rail to support the first slide rail and the second slide rail in parallel, wherein the struts are detachable for sliding the first destination bag and the second destination bag onto or off the first slide rail and the second slide rail.

18. The sorting system according to claim 12, wherein, The sorting system includes a chute descending from an upper end to a lower end, the chute being positioned to allow a package to fall through the opening into the first destination bag and the second destination bag.

19. The sorting system according to claim 12, wherein, The sorting system includes a load sensor mounted to the first slide rail or the second slide rail to detect the placement of a package in the first destination bag or the second destination bag.

20. The sorting system according to claim 19, wherein, The sorting system includes a controller that assigns each package to one of the first destination bag and the second destination bag and receives a signal from the load sensor indicating that the package is being conveyed to the first destination bag or the second destination bag, wherein the controller notifies the operator whether the package has been mis-sorted.

21. The sorting system according to claim 19, wherein, The sorting system includes a controller that receives a signal from the load sensor indicating the weight of each package conveyed to the first destination bag or the second destination bag, accumulates the total weight of the first destination bag or the second destination bag, compares the accumulated weight with a maximum weight value, and notifies the operator that the destination bag is full if the accumulated weight exceeds the maximum weight value.

22. The sorting system according to claim 12, wherein, The sorting system includes a first sleeve and a second sleeve that are attached to the slider and extend into the first destination bag and the second destination bag to form the openings into the first destination bag and the second destination bag.

23. The sorting system according to claim 22, wherein, The sorting system includes a bag support that is between the first destination bag and the second destination bag and below the slider that supports the first destination bag and the second destination bag.

24. The sorting system according to claim 12, wherein, The bagging device is rotatable.

25. The sorting system according to claim 12, wherein, The slider has studs protruding from opposite lateral sides of the slider, and the first slide rail and the second slide rail include a first guide and a second guide that have slots for receiving the studs.

26. The sorting system according to claim 25, wherein, The bagging device includes a spring that is attached to the openings of the first destination bag and the second destination bag to bias the sides of the openings of the first destination bag and the second destination bag opposite the slider away from the slider.

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