Sorting system and method for sorting products

Abstract

The invention relates to a sorting system for sorting products, comprising a central control server, a conveyor, a movable continuous combination of elongated carriers and pusher bodies, a product supply device, each combination further being provided with a pusher body moving device having a drive device for moving the pusher body along the carrier, wherein the sorting system is provided with a controller for each combination or each group of combinations, wherein the central control server and the controllers are configured to ensure that in operation the supply device and the conveyor are controlled in such a way that the carrier associated with not more than and not less than one intermediate combination located between two successive products is not influenced by the two successive products, thus causing its pusher body moving device to move the pusher body to a position in which it is located within the width of the two successive products.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sorting system for sorting products and a method for using the sorting system. Background Technology

[0002] A system of this type is described in international patent application WO 2021 / 037610 A1. The system uses a combination of an elongated carrier extending transversely to the transport direction and a separately controllable actuator body capable of moving along the carrier. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention aims to improve the efficiency and reliability of sorting systems of this type, and for this purpose provides a sorting system for sorting products according to the invention, the sorting system comprising: - Central control server, - A conveyor having multiple consecutive combinations of an elongated carrier and a pusher body, capable of moving in a direction of travel along a path with multiple sorting positions. - A supply device, controlled by a central control server, for supplying continuous products to be sorted one after another to the conveyor.

[0004] Each assembly is also provided with a pusher body moving device, which is equipped with a drive device for moving the pusher body along the carrier in the sorting direction, thereby using the pusher body to push the products carried by the carrier, the sorting direction extending perpendicular to the moving direction.

[0005] The sorting system provides a controller for each combination or group of combinations, which is operatively connected to the combination or group of combinations and configured to receive destination information from a central control server relating to the sorting position where the products to be sorted should be pushed away from the conveyor, and to control the drive units of one or more combinations involved for this purpose.

[0006] The central control server and controller are configured to ensure that the supply device and conveyor are controlled in operation in such a way that the carrier associated with no more than one intermediate combination located between two consecutive products is not affected by the two consecutive products, and the actuator body moving device of the intermediate combination moves the actuator body along the carrier to a position where the actuator body is located within the width of the two consecutive products.

[0007] The advantage of this invention is that, by means of the above-described method, it ensures that the carrier associated with no more than one and no less than one intermediate combination located between two consecutive products is not affected by the two consecutive products, and that the pusher body moving device of the intermediate combination moves the pusher body along the carrier to a position where the pusher body is located within the width of the two consecutive products. Using the system and method according to the invention, on the one hand, high sorting capacity can be achieved, wherein a large number of products can be sorted per unit time, which improves the efficiency of the system; on the other hand, it prevents or at least reduces the possibility that products (including, in each case, relatively unstable products such as bagged products) may cause displacement while moving the product on the conveyor to the sorting position, or at least move on the conveyor in an undesirable and uncontrolled manner. As a result, the reliability of the system and method according to the invention is also very high.

[0008] A feature included in this specification and claims is that the intermediate assembly pusher body moving device moves the pusher body along the carrier to a position where the pusher body is located within the width of the two consecutive products. This means that, in the context of this patent application, the pusher body is subsequently located between the two consecutive products. In other words, having this feature means that, viewed along the sorting direction, the two consecutive products extend together above a portion of the carrier carrying the two products, wherein the pusher body of the intermediate assembly is located within the same portion. For example, if the two consecutive products extend together along the sorting direction on a portion of the carrier between the minimum and maximum distances from its first end (e.g., between 25% and 75% of the length of the carrier from its first end), then the pusher body of the intermediate assembly is therefore also located within the same portion. Thus, the width of the product is its maximum dimension in its sorting direction.

[0009] In one embodiment, the sorting system may include a sensing element such as a phototube (or a vision system in a more advanced embodiment) that is at least operably connected to a central control server and provides information about the position of products on the supply device, on which the control of the supply device and conveyor is performed, thereby ensuring at least in operation that the supply device and conveyor are controlled in such a way that the carrier associated with no more than one and no less than one intermediate combination located between two consecutive products is not affected by the two consecutive products.

[0010] In one embodiment, the sorting system may include sensing elements, such as a vision system, operably connected to a central control server and the controller. To ensure that the intermediate assembly's pusher body moving device moves along the carrier to a position where the pusher body is located within the width of two consecutive products, the sorting system is configured to: use the sensing elements to determine the width of the two consecutive products, and based on this, determine the position of the pusher body within the width of the two consecutive products, thereby moving the pusher body to that position. The two consecutive products are used to determine a carrying area in the sorting direction based on their dimensions in the sorting direction, the carrying area being located between a minimum and a maximum distance from the head end of the carrier in the sorting direction, wherein the pusher body of the intermediate assembly is located within the carrying area if it is moved to the position where the pusher body is located within the width of the two consecutive products.

[0011] In one embodiment, a central control server and / or controller is configured to control the pusher body movement in such a way that: the intermediate pusher body, together with the first of two consecutive products, moves along the sorting direction of the first product while pushing the first product away from the conveyor at a first sorting position; then, the pusher body moves in the opposite direction, i.e., in the direction opposite to the sorting direction of the first product; and then, together with the second of two consecutive products, moves along the sorting direction of the second product while pushing the second product away from the conveyor at a downstream second sorting position. This provides more reliable sorting of the second product.

[0012] In one embodiment, a central control server is configured to associate a set of consecutive combinations with each product to be sorted based on at least one characteristic of each product to be sorted, for pushing the products involved off the conveyor according to destination information, via pusher bodies associated with each combination of associated combinations at the sorting location, wherein each combination observed in the transport direction includes a front pusher body, a rear pusher body, and at least two intermediate pusher bodies, and wherein the rear pusher body associated with the front product of two consecutive products and the front pusher body associated with the rear product of two consecutive products are the same pusher body, which belongs to the intermediate combination.

[0013] In one embodiment, the central control server and / or controller is configured to ensure that, during the process of pushing products off the conveyor at the sorting location, the rear pusher body and the front pusher body associated with the associated group combination move before their respective adjacent intermediate pusher bodies associated with the associated group combination. As a result, the products to be sorted are largely guided by the front and rear pusher bodies, making sorting more reliable.

[0014] In one embodiment, at least one characteristic of the product to be sorted includes at least one size of the product to be sorted, for example, preferably the maximum size in the direction of movement.

[0015] In one embodiment, at least one characteristic of the product to be sorted includes at least one orientation in which the product is positioned on the conveyor. Therefore, the location at the sorting position that pushes the product away from the pusher body of the conveyor can be effectively matched with the product's orientation.

[0016] In one embodiment, when viewed along the direction of movement, the size of the actuator body is larger than the size of the associated carrier.

[0017] In one embodiment, the elongated carrier comprises a plurality of (preferably up to three) parallel elongated carrier portions joined together. In one embodiment, the plurality of carrier portions joined together are pivotable about corresponding pivot axes perpendicular to the direction of movement and thus parallel to the carrier portions. In this case, viewed along the direction of movement, the combined pusher body preferably extends above all of the plurality of carrier portions.

[0018] In one embodiment, the sorting system provides a controller for each assembly, which is operatively connected to the assembly and configured to receive destination information from a central control server relating to the sorting position where the products to be sorted should be pushed off the conveyor, and to control the drive mechanism of the assembly involved for this purpose. This makes the system largely modular.

[0019] In one embodiment, the path is a straight line.

[0020] The present invention also relates to a method using a sorting system according to the invention, the method comprising the following steps: - A supply device is used to sequentially supply a continuous stream of products to be sorted onto the conveyor, with the products being carried by a carrier. This involves using a central control server and controller: - The supply device and conveyor are controlled in such a way that the carrier associated with no more than one intermediate combination located between two consecutive products is not affected by the two consecutive products, and - The intermediate assembly's actuator body moving device moves the actuator body along the carrier to the position where the actuator body is located within the width of the two consecutive products.

[0021] The method also includes the following steps: - Based on destination information from the central control server related to the corresponding sorting position where continuous products should be pushed off the conveyor, the controller is used to carry a combination of two products and control the drive unit involved in the combination in such a way that the products are pushed off the conveyor at the corresponding sorting position.

[0022] In one embodiment of the method, in order to move the pusher body along the carrier to a position where the pusher body is located within the width of two consecutive products using the pusher body moving device of the intermediate combination, the aforementioned sensing element, particularly when implemented as the vision system and preferably also operably connected to the controller, is used to determine the width of the two consecutive products or, in a more advanced embodiment, the contour. Based on this, the position of the pusher body within the width of the two consecutive products is then determined in order to move the pusher body to the position.

[0023] The preferred embodiments described in the context of the system according to the invention can be similarly applied to the method according to the invention, and vice versa. The advantages of the system according to the invention are similarly applicable to the method according to the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0024] This specification will now be explained in more detail with reference to the following highly schematic accompanying drawings, through a description of preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein: Figure 1 A top view of a preferred embodiment of the sorting system according to the present invention is shown; Figure 2 It shows that observation along the direction of movement belongs to the category of... Figure 1 The combination of systems; and Figures 3a to 3f The diagram, presented in top view form, illustrates the various continuous states related to product sorting. Figure 1 It is part of the system. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Figure 1A sorting system 1 for sorting products is shown schematically. Five arbitrary products, A, B, C, D, and E, are shown in the figure as an example. System 1 has a conveyor 2 with multiple consecutive assemblies 11 moving along path 6 in the direction of movement 3. Each consecutive assembly 11 includes: an elongated carrier 12, also referred to as a slat; and a pusher body 13 configured as a pusher shoe. The carriers 12 extend parallel to each other and perpendicular to the direction of movement 3, and are arranged to carry products to be sorted. Multiple sorting positions are provided along path 9 (two sorting positions 8a and 8b in the example according to this figure). Although the sorting positions are located on the same longitudinal side of the conveyor in the figure, they may also be located on opposite longitudinal sides, or they may be located on two longitudinal sides.

[0026] Conveyor 2 is circular and is typically driven by at least one conveyor drive. In the accompanying drawings (viewed along the direction of movement 3), only a finite length of the conveyor is shown; however, in practice, the length of the conveyor can be tens or hundreds of meters. Assembly 11 typically moves within the loop, where the upper portion of the loop is shown, in which the assembly can carry products. The lower return portion of the loop is not shown, but travels against the direction of movement from the downstream end of the conveyor back to the upstream end. Path 6 can be a straight line as shown, but may also include non-straight sections such as bends. At the upstream and downstream ends of the conveyor, the assembly travels along the arched sections of the loop. Each carrier is connected at its ends by a chain, which also travels along the circular loop. The chain is engaged by gears at least located at the arched sections of the closed loop. At least some of these gears are driven by the aforementioned conveyor drive. The principle of the drive for the assembly of carriers and pusher bodies is familiar to those skilled in the art and therefore requires no further detailed description. For illustration, reference may be made to, for example, patents with publication numbers EP 559303 A2 and EP 2346755 A1. Furthermore, reference may be made to patent publication number WO 2009 / 067110 A2, which describes a variation of a sorting device having a combination of a carrier and a pusher body, wherein chains are not used to connect the carriers together. For example, the present invention is also applicable to this type of sorting device.

[0027] System 1 has a central control server 50. In addition, System 1 has a supply device 9 at the upstream end of conveyor 2, controlled by the central control server 50, for continuously supplying the conveyor 2 with a series of products to be sorted, such as products A to E.

[0028] exist Figure 1 In this context, some of the many consecutive combinations are only provided with reference numerals. See also: Figure 2 , Figure 2Individual assembly 11 is shown. Each assembly 11 also includes a pusher body moving device 14, which is equipped with a drive device 17 for moving the pusher body 13 along the carrier 12 in a sorting direction 4 perpendicular to the movement direction 3, thereby pushing the pusher body 13 toward the product carried by the carrier 12. Viewed along the movement direction, the size of the pusher body 13 is larger than the size of the associated carrier 12. Figure 2 As can be seen, in this case, the main body of the actuator also extends along the side of the carrier 12.

[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, the actuator body moving device 14 can be configured as a spindle driver, which includes a spindle 15 rotatable about a rotation axis 19, along which a spindle nut 16 is movable, and the spindle nut is connected to the actuator body 13. In this case, the drive device 17 is an electric motor connected to the spindle 15 by means of a right-angle transmission 18. The spindle is suspended in a bearing 29 located at the end opposite to the motor. In the context of the invention, other embodiments of the actuator body moving device and drive device are also possible, such as a drive device configured as a servo motor that drives the actuator body moving device configured as a belt drive, wherein the actuator body is connected to the belt of the belt drive.

[0030] The sorting system is equipped with a controller 39 for each assembly 11, which is operatively connected to the assembly 11 and configured to: receive destination information from a central control server 50 relating to the sorting positions 8a, 8b where the products to be sorted should be pushed away from the conveyor 2; and control the drive unit of the assembly involved for this purpose. In this example, the controller 39 is attached to the right-angle drive unit 18. However, the location of the controller on the assembly can be freely chosen, for example, depending on the design constraints of the conveyor assembly and surrounding components.

[0031] The controller 39 is configured at least to receive (e.g., directly from the central control server 50) information relating to the sorting position of the product to be sorted, which should be pushed away from the associated carrier, and to the position of the combination observed at least along the direction of movement in the sorting path, and to control the associated drive unit 17. To provide information relating to the position of the combination observed along the direction of movement, for example, the central control server of the sorting system may transmit a signal of a specific frequency, received by the controllers of all or at least all combinations within the sorting path, the signal representing the distance traveled by the combination in the direction of movement since a previous signal. The controller may also be configured with ROM and / or RAM memory to store the information relating to the sorting position and to determine the longitudinal position of the pusher body relative to the associated carrier. For example, the determination of the longitudinal position may be based on feedback from the drive unit, such as based on an encoder. Data transmission between the central control server and the controller 39 may be wireless, for example, via a so-called leaky coaxial cable system, wherein the leaky coaxial cable extends along the path or at least a relevant portion thereof.

[0032] The central control server 50 and controller 39 are configured to ensure that, during operation, the supply device 9 and conveyor 2 are controlled in such a way that the carrier 12 associated with no more than and no less than one intermediate combination 11 located between two consecutive products is unaffected by the two consecutive products. For this purpose, sensing elements such as phototubes (or, in more advanced embodiments, a vision system) may be provided, which are at least operably connected to the central control server and provide information about the position of the products on the supply device, such that the control of the supply device 9 and conveyor 2 is based on this. Referring to the various combinations 11, as shown in the figures, each combination is located between two consecutive products, unaffected by the products. As an example: between products E and D, there is only a single combination, on which neither product E nor product D is located. The central control server 50 and controller 39 are also configured to ensure that the pusher body moving device 14 of each intermediate combination 11 moves the pusher body 13 along the carrier 12 to a position where the pusher body 13 is located within the width of the two consecutive products. Figure 1 In the figures, only these corresponding actuator bodies 13 are given reference numerals. For example, the actuator body 13 between products B and A is shown located at the width b of product B. B (That is, within the maximum dimension in sorting direction 4), it is also located within the width b of product A. A Inside.

[0033] To carry a combination of two consecutive products, a controller 39 is used to control the drive unit of the combination involved in such a way that the products are pushed off the conveyor at the corresponding sorting positions, based on destination information from the central control server 50 related to the sorting positions where the consecutive products should be pushed off the conveyor. Figures 3a to 3c The method steps are shown, wherein the pusher body carrying the combination of products A pushes product A in such a way that it is pushed away from the conveyor at sorting position 8a. Figure 3e and Figure 3f In a similar manner, product B is pushed away from conveyor 2 at sorting location 8b.

[0034] Then, as an example described based on combination 11 between products A and B, the central control server 50 and / or controller 39 are further configured to move the pusher body moving device 14 of the intermediate combination 11 in such a way that, during the pushing of the first product A away from the conveyor 2 at the first sorting position 8a, the pusher body 13 moves together with the first product A of the two consecutive products A, B in the sorting direction 4 of the first product A (see...). Figure 3b The components and actuator bodies involved are marked with reference numerals, and for similar cases regarding product B, see also [reference needed]. Figure 3f ), and the actuator body 13 then moves in the opposite direction (see Figure 3c and Figure 3d Thus, during the process of pushing the second product B away from the conveyor 2 at the second sorting position B downstream, the pusher body 13 moves together with the second product B of the two consecutive products A and B in the sorting direction 4 of the second product B. Figure 3c and Figure 3d As shown, the movement in the opposite direction extends at least to a position within the width of the second product B (see Figure 1). Figure 3c However, it can also be used alternatively to move to a location beyond product B (see product B). Figure 3d This may depend on the geometry of product B and the method of pushing the product to the sorting position. For example, in the case of sorting at an angle (i.e., sorting with a change in product orientation), it may be advantageous to move the corresponding intermediate pusher body beyond the second product, because in this case, as Figure 3e As shown, this may help push the second product away from the conveyor. The extent of the movement in the opposite direction also depends on when the second product should be sorted. If this occurs at a sorting location directly downstream, it is conceivable to move the pusher body back to a position within the width of the second product B, rather than moving it back to a position beyond product B.

[0035] The central control server 50 is also configured to associate a set of consecutive combinations with each product to be sorted, based on at least one characteristic of each product to be sorted, such as at least one size of the product to be sorted (e.g., the maximum size of the product in the direction of movement), to push the associated product off the conveyor by means of a pusher body associated with each set of combinations at the sorting location, according to destination information. Each set of combinations, viewed along the transport direction, includes a front pusher body, a rear pusher body, and at least two intermediate pusher bodies, and wherein the rear pusher body associated with the front product in two consecutive products and the front pusher body associated with the rear product in two consecutive products are the same pusher body, which belongs to the intermediate combination. In the example of products A and B discussed with intermediate combination 11 and its pusher body 13, the pusher body is therefore associated with the rear pusher body associated with product A in a set of combinations and simultaneously with the front pusher body associated with product B in a set of combinations. At least one of the above characteristics of the product to be sorted may include: the product to be sorted being positioned in at least one orientation on the conveyor, for example, the orientation of the product’s rotational position about a vertical axis as seen in the top view.

[0036] The central control server and / or controller can also be configured to ensure that, during the process of pushing products off the conveyor from the sorting location, the rear pusher body and the front pusher body associated with the associated group combination move before their respective adjacent intermediate pusher bodies associated with the associated group combination. This is illustrated in the example of products A and B discussed with intermediate combination 11 and its pusher body 13.

Claims

1. A sorting system for sorting products, comprising: Central control server A conveyor having multiple consecutive combinations of elongated carrier bodies and pusher bodies, capable of moving in a direction of movement along a path provided with multiple sorting positions, wherein the carrier bodies extend parallel to each other and perpendicular to the direction of movement, and are arranged to carry products to be sorted. A supply device, controlled by the central control server, is used to supply the continuous products to be sorted one after another to the conveyor. Each assembly also includes a pusher body moving device, which is equipped with a drive mechanism for moving the pusher body along the carrier in the sorting direction, thereby using the pusher body to push the products carried by the carrier, the sorting direction extending perpendicular to the moving direction. The sorting system includes a controller for each combination or group of combinations, the controller being operatively connected to the combination or group of combinations and configured to: receive destination information from the central control server relating to the sorting position where the products to be sorted should be pushed away from the conveyor; and control the drive units of one or more combinations involved for this purpose. The central control server and the controller are configured to ensure that the supply device and the conveyor are controlled in operation such that the carrier associated with no more than one intermediate combination between two consecutive products is not affected by the two consecutive products, and the pusher body moving device of the intermediate combination moves the pusher body along the carrier to a position where the pusher body is located within the width of the two consecutive products.

2. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein, The central control server and / or the controller are configured to control the pusher body moving device in such a way that: the pusher body of the intermediate assembly, together with the first product of the two consecutive products, moves along the sorting direction of the first product while pushing the first product away from the conveyor at a first sorting position; then, the pusher body moves in the opposite direction; and then, together with the second product of the two consecutive products, moves along the sorting direction of the second product while pushing the second product away from the conveyor at a downstream second sorting position.

3. The sorting system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The central control server is configured to associate a set of consecutive combinations with each product to be sorted based on at least one characteristic of each product to be sorted, for pushing the product in question off the conveyor according to the destination information, through a pusher body associated with each associated combination at the sorting location, wherein each combination, viewed along the direction of movement, includes a front pusher body, a rear pusher body, and at least two intermediate pusher bodies, and wherein the rear pusher body associated with a first product of the two consecutive products and the front pusher body associated with a second product of the two consecutive products are the same pusher body, the pusher body belonging to the intermediate combination.

4. The sorting system according to claim 3, wherein, The central control server and / or the controller are configured to ensure that, during the process of pushing a product away from the conveyor at the sorting location, the rear pusher body and the front pusher body associated with the associated group combination move before their respective adjacent intermediate pusher bodies associated with the associated group combination.

5. The sorting system according to claim 3, wherein, The at least one characteristic of the product to be sorted includes at least one size of the product to be sorted.

6. The sorting system according to claim 3, wherein, The at least one characteristic of the product to be sorted includes: the product to be sorted is positioned on the conveyor in at least one orientation.

7. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein, The size of the actuator body, as observed along the direction of movement, is larger than the size of the associated carrier.

8. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein, The sorting system provides a controller for each assembly, the controller being operatively connected to the assembly and arranged to receive destination information from the central control server relating to the sorting position where the product to be sorted should be pushed away from the conveyor, and to control the drive unit of the assembly for this purpose.

9. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein, The sorting system includes sensing elements that are at least operably connected to the central control server and provide information about the position of products on the supply device, thereby controlling the supply device and the conveyor to ensure that the supply device and the conveyor are controlled in operation such that the carrier associated with no more than one intermediate combination between two consecutive products is not affected by the two consecutive products.

10. The sorting system according to claim 1, wherein, The sorting system includes sensing elements operably connected to the central control server and the controller, wherein, in order to ensure that the pusher body moving device of the intermediate assembly moves the pusher body along the carrier to a position where the pusher body is located within the width of the two consecutive products, the sorting system is configured to: use the sensing elements to determine the width of the two consecutive products, so as to determine the position of the pusher body within the width of the two consecutive products, thereby moving the pusher body to the position.

11. A method for using a sorting system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: Using the aforementioned supply device, a continuous stream of products to be sorted is supplied to the conveyor one after another, with the products to be sorted being carried by a carrier. The central control server and the controller are used in this process. The supply device and the conveyor are controlled in such a way that the carrier associated with no more than one intermediate combination located between two consecutive products is not affected by the two consecutive products, and The intermediate assembly's actuator body moving device moves the actuator body along the carrier to a position where the actuator body is located within the width of the two consecutive products. The method further includes the following steps: The controller is used to carry the combination of the two consecutive products based on destination information from the central control server related to the corresponding sorting position where the continuous products should be pushed off the conveyor, and to control the drive device of the combination, the drive device of the combination being involved in the manner in which the products are pushed off the conveyor at the corresponding sorting position.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising: In order to push one of the products away from the conveyor at the corresponding sorting position, the controller connected to the intermediate assembly, which is located directly in front of the product in the direction of movement, is used; the pusher body of the intermediate assembly is moved against the sorting direction such that the pusher body is outside the width of the product.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein, To push the product away from the conveyor, the method includes: At least based on the characteristics of the products to be sorted, a set of consecutive combinations is associated with the products to be sorted, wherein, viewed along the direction of movement, the combination of associated groups includes: a front pusher body, a rear pusher body, and at least two intermediate pusher bodies. With the aid of at least one controller, destination information relating to the sorting position where the product to be sorted should be pushed away from the conveyor is received. By means of the at least one controller, the combination of the associated groups is controlled such that at the sorting position, the pusher body associated with the combination of the associated groups pushes the product to be sorted away from the conveyor, wherein, during the pushing away, viewed along the sorting direction, the rear pusher body and the front pusher body move before their respective adjacent intermediate pusher bodies.

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