Sorting system and method for operating the same

Abstract

A sorting system and a corresponding control method, the sorting system comprising a central controller, a sorting section with a variable controllable conveying speed, at least two feed sections to the inlet of the sorting section and a monitoring mechanism in the inlet, wherein the monitoring mechanism is designed and connected to the central controller so as to detect incoming items and to query, for the detected items, a speed stored for controlling the conveying speed of the sorting section and to use it for its control.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sorting system according to claim 1 or 4 and a method of operating the sorting system. Background Technology

[0002] Sorting systems are an essential component of distribution centers, warehouses, and more generally, inter-company logistics. Despite the vast quantities of various items to be handled, these sorting systems have achieved high throughput.

[0003] In particular, so-called shoe sorters can achieve high-speed sorting of items. These shoe sorters are especially suitable for rectangular items or boxes with relatively similar shapes because they are less likely to tip over or tilt. However, due to the acceleration and deceleration forces generated, the transported items or objects may still tip over.

[0004] Therefore, sorting machines must manipulate objects slowly so that the resulting acceleration does not cause them to tip over. However, this necessitates reduced throughput, especially when handling large quantities of diverse products, because, for example, the items most prone to tipping over determine the minimum processing speed for all items simultaneously located on the same conveyor path of the sorting machine.

[0005] Such "slip-shoe" sorting machines are known, for example, from US 7,562,761 B2 or EP 2 470 459 B1. WO 2016 / 010766A1 describes the use of the feeder and its control. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In this context, the object of the present invention is to provide a sorting system and a method of operating thereof that, by comparison, allows for higher throughput.

[0007] This objective is achieved by the sorting system given in claim 1 or the method according to claim 10. Advantageous designs are derived from the dependent claims and the specification.

[0008] According to the present invention, if an incoming item is detected and the central controller queries the stored speed for controlling the conveying speed of the sorting section for the detected item, the item can be conveyed at a speed suitable for the item, thereby optimizing throughput.

[0009] The appropriate conveyor speed on the sorting section is preferably determined based on the item itself and stored in the database of the central control system (WMS). This can be done, for example, once during the teaching process for each item coded with the same EAN. Relevant product characteristics may also already exist in the database.

[0010] Specifically, the tipping stability of an item at a given speed is used as a measure of possible conveying speeds. Tilting stability also plays a role in determining and specifying possible acceleration values ​​to achieve speeds. As a measure of tipping stability, the tipping angle is considered, the angle from which the item tipps over or exceeds the tipping point. The larger the tipping angle, the more stable the item. Tilting stability can also be determined empirically, for example, on the facility itself or in a suitable testing setup simulating handling on a sorting machine (e.g., a slip-on sorter). Tilting stability can also be determined computationally based on the known dimensions and center of gravity information of the item.

[0011] In addition to tipping stability, other item characteristics can be considered for conveyor speed control, such as the fragility, surface quality, coefficient of friction, integrity, and stability of the packaging. This means that the contents of the packaging may fall or protrude, the packaging may be damaged, adhesive joints may loosen, caps may protrude, and the packaging may change shape. These properties can also be determined empirically, similar to those described above, either on the facility itself or in a suitable testing setup, simulating handling on a slip-on sorter.

[0012] Therefore, items are introduced into sorting sections in groups, which have very similar or identical maximum conveyor speeds determined by the characteristics of the items. For this purpose, conveyor speed groups are stored in a central controller or database, and each item is grouped into one of these groups.

[0013] It has been recognized, for example, that easily tipped-over objects account for only a few percent (e.g., only 1 to 2%) of the total inventory transported through the sorting section each day. Therefore, when these easily tipped-over objects are handled in groups, the speed of the sorting section of the sorting system can be reduced only during that operation, otherwise it operates at a higher speed. This allows for a significant increase in speed.

[0014] The terms "item" or "object" include, for example, a single item, a container, etc. Preferably, the sorting section has multiple sorting parts that can be controlled independently of each other in terms of conveying speed. This allows for customized control of the conveying speed of each part for the corresponding group, rather than changing the conveying speed only when all items in a previous or subsequent group with different conveying speed specifications have passed through the entire sorting section.

[0015] If the feed section is connected to the supply depot, and items with the same or similar conveying speed are supplied to the feed section in groups from the supply depot, then grouping can be done when the items are supplied (i.e., at an earlier point in time).

[0016] The present invention also relates to a corresponding method for operating a sorting system having a sorting section having a conveying speed variably controllable by a central controller and being equipped with a monitoring mechanism for the sorting section, wherein the monitoring mechanism is arranged in front of the sorting section and detects incoming items, and the monitoring mechanism notifies the central controller of the result, which, for example, adjusts the conveying speed of the sorting section to such a speed that the item is conveyed as long as it is located on the sorting section, based on the detected item.

[0017] In other words, the conveyor speed stored in the central controller is used to control the conveyor speed of the sorting section when the items are on the sorting section.

[0018] If a monitoring device is placed in front of the sorting section and detects incoming items, and the monitoring device exchanges results with the central controller, and the central controller controls the conveyor speed of the sorting section to the conveyor speed when the items are on the sorting section based on the detected items and using the conveyor speed stored in the central controller, the conveyor speed can be adjusted to optimize the items.

[0019] Advantageously, items with similar or identical storage conveying speeds are fed into sorting sections in groups, so that groups or queues of items with similar or identical speed levels are transported together in these sorting sections to achieve a speed advantage.

[0020] Therefore, it is also feasible to incorporate the feed section into the control of the conveying speed. This is particularly advantageous for avoiding backlog.

[0021] To determine the conveying speed, product characteristics such as fragility, surface quality, coefficient of friction, packaging integrity and stability, and tipping stability can be considered. Tipping stability is particularly preferred (see above).

[0022] Preferably, the items are sorted according to conveyor speed groups before entering the sorting section.

[0023] Ideally, the delivery speed group is already taken into account when supplying items from the replenishment warehouse.

[0024] If the number of items in the conveyor group provided by the replenishment warehouse is greater than the average required quantity, a high throughput advantage can be achieved because these items only need to move once or fewer times along the sorting section at a potentially slower conveyor speed, thus rarely "blocking" or slowing it down. Further optimizations can be achieved over time; for example, more items from the tipping stabilization group can be supplied from the replenishment warehouse simultaneously than is typically needed.

[0025] In other words, more items than needed at a given time are fed together simultaneously because these items will be needed later, for example, throughout the day, so the grouping only needs to be done once. To cache or temporarily store such "surplus" items, a separate temporary warehouse can be set up at the exit of the sorting section, or a larger temporary warehouse can be set up as well.

[0026] Preferably, when occupying the feed section, consideration is given to placing items with the same conveying speed group on the same feed line as much as possible. Particularly preferred is to place items with the same tilting stability group on the same feed line as much as possible.

[0027] The sorting section is preferably a slipper-type sorter, or a slipper-type sorter with a central linear sorting section and multiple feed lines and multiple delivery sections.

[0028] The control of the conveying speed of the sorting section can also be extended to the delivery section and the adjacent conveying sections, so that there is no backlog in these conveying sections.

[0029] The sorting section itself can be controlled at a corresponding conveying speed for an item or a group of items until they must leave the sorting section as a whole, according to calculations. Sensor-supported monitoring (e.g., outgoing monitoring) is also conceivable to determine that all items have actually left the sorting section, allowing for more optimized adjustments to the conveying speed in time. This allows for advance changes to the conveying speed if, for example, all items in a group have already left the sorting section via outgoing conveying at the beginning.

[0030] The sorting section can also be divided into sub-segments with adjustable speed, so that the conveying speed of these sub-segments can be changed individually after the items leave.

[0031] This invention can also be used in material handling systems, such as distribution centers or distribution warehouses, which include: a parcel buffer; an automatic palletizer for loading parcels onto a loading mechanism in a loading mode based on an order including the parcels; a controller programmed with a loading mode generator to determine the loading mode and generate commands for the automatic palletizer to place the parcels onto the loading mechanism according to the loading mode, wherein the loading mode is selected to satisfy a predetermined minimum stability for the parcel or a group of parcels; and a parcel transport mechanism connected to the controller for sequentially transporting the parcels from the parcel buffer to the automatic palletizer for loading the loading mechanism using the selected loading mode.

[0032] The sorting system can be arranged between the replenishment warehouse and the parcel buffer. Therefore, the sorting system is preferably a linear sorter, such as a slip-shoe sorter, which supplies single-level racking equipment from the replenishment warehouse through multiple feed sections and supplies single-level racking equipment to temporary warehouses, especially multi-aisle racking warehouses and multi-level racking warehouses, through multiple delivery sections.

[0033] Therefore, it is particularly appropriate to "supply" (outsource) temporary warehouses with more replenishment than is required on average over time in order to optimize sorting segment occupancy in terms of speed (see above). This is especially true for items that require low speeds in terms of tipping stability, as they would otherwise continuously slow down the entire system.

[0034] It can be advantageous to group multiple feed sections together and allow them to enter a central feed section, which in turn leads to the sorting section itself. Multiple feed sections can be used on a zipper principle to introduce items with similar conveying characteristics "together" from adjacent feed sections.

[0035] This system can be used for packaged and unpackaged items, as well as items inside or on top of loading aids such as pallets or containers.

[0036] When using a tray, it is preferable to place items in the middle or far side of the slipper's working part beforehand, so that the items are not easy to tip over, and even if they do tip over on the tray, they will not fall off. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Further details of the present invention are derived from the following description of embodiments based on the accompanying drawings, wherein,

[0038] Figure 1 The determination of rollover stability is illustrated by the rollover angle;

[0039] Figure 2 This is a schematic block diagram of the sorting system according to the present invention in a supply warehouse;

[0040] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A partial schematic 3D view; and

[0041] Figure 4 It is an operation flowchart. Detailed Implementation

[0042] In an introductory and illustrative manner, the characteristics of the product used, namely, the stability of the item when tipped over, are discussed first. For this purpose, refer to... Figure 1First, consider item A (Example I). The item is wider than it is tall, so it is placed "flat" and with a low center of gravity on the conveyor (represented by the dashed line F). In order for the item to move around the tipping point P until it tipps over, item A must rotate around the tipping point P by a relatively large tipping angle α until the center of gravity is correspondingly shifted far beyond the tipping point P.

[0043] Conversely, in example (II), item A* is taller than it is wide and has a higher center of gravity when placed on the conveyor (represented by the dashed line F). In order for item A* to move around the tipping point P to tip over, item A* must rotate around the tipping point P by a relatively small tipping angle α (approximately 30-45 degrees).

[0044] In order to move the corresponding items to the corresponding tilt angle, a certain force F is required. This force is particularly affected by positive or negative acceleration and is directly related to the conveying speed.

[0045] It can be seen that this tilt angle is suitable for classifying items in terms of tilt stability and, consequently, conveying speed.

[0046] During the teaching process, each EAN-coded item is similarly rotated around its corresponding tipping point P until it tipps over, and the determined angle is assumed to be the tipping angle α.

[0047] The tilt angle α, determined in this way during the teaching process, is stored in a database that can be accessed by the central controller.

[0048] The grouping in terms of conveyor speed is based on a tilt angle α determined in this way. The control in the system described below is accordingly designed to store this tilt stability value for each item or EAN-coded item in a database and convert them into the item's conveyor speed or to group items based on this. Thus, it is advantageous to form 3 to 5 conveyor speed groups to simplify control.

[0049] Figure 2 and Figure 3 A distribution center 1 with such a superior control unit 100 is shown, which is fed a set of conveyor speeds for each item or EAN-coded item, stores these values ​​in a database, and converts them into the conveyor speed of the item or groups the items based on this.

[0050] Data was collected during teaching process 101, in which the tipping stability values ​​of the items were manually determined using standardized specifications with technical support (see above).

[0051] System 1 is used for order fulfillment (for allocation), including automatically stacking mixed items on carriers (pallets or trolleys) in a predetermined, calculated spatial layout to form stacks of mixed packages according to orders.

[0052] The system includes:

[0053] - Receiving unit 2, used to receive a tray with packages or items to be replenished;

[0054] - Storage unit 3, used to store the received tray;

[0055] - More than one depalletizing unit 4 for depalletizing packages or items from receiving trays from storage units;

[0056] - More than one pallet unit 5 for loading separate destapled items onto pallets, wherein each pallet carries a single item;

[0057] - At least one linear sorting unit 6, for accommodating all pallets from each pallet unit, with:

[0058] -Main conveyor 8;

[0059] - Multiple feeders 7, one for each pallet unit 5, which lead to the main conveyor 8;

[0060] - Multiple delivery units 9 are used to unload pallets from the main conveyor 8 to the buffer storage 10;

[0061] - Buffer storage 10 for temporary storage of pallets obtained from delivery unit 9, having at least two multi-level, longitudinally extending warehouse racks, which are laterally separated by aisle 11;

[0062] - More than one palletizer feeder 12, which originates from the load lifting device of at least one channel 11, and each palletizer feeder 12 has at least one pallet unloading unit 13 for unloading items from the pallet;

[0063] - More than one palletizing unit 14 for stacking mixed items in a predetermined spatial arrangement on a base to form a stack of mixed items according to a distribution order, the stack being supplied with items from at least one pallet unloading unit 13.

[0064] Completed order pallets are transported to the pallet order sequence buffer 15, and then further transported to the pallet shipping area 16.

[0065] The teaching process for determining the conveying speed group of items occurs during the receiving process in receiving unit 2. The results are then stored in the database.

[0066] Storage unit 3, used to store the received pallets, is a high-bay warehouse that is operated by a conveyor from the receiving unit and has automated racking operation equipment that operates in the aisles to store and unload pallets based on warehouse control instructions.

[0067] The removed pallets containing the required items are transported to the designated depalletizing unit, where the pallets are automatically peeled off, then depalletized individually or manually with machine support, and placed individually on a conveyor belt or directly on a pallet on the conveyor.

[0068] After the items are separated, their identification (reading the EAN code) and orientation can be checked, and if necessary, they can be reoriented by rotation and / or tilting devices before they reach the corresponding pallet unit 5.

[0069] This can be done by at least one or more of the following groups A and / or B.

[0070] Group A may include:

[0071] - Fully automatic depalletizing unit 4A, used to push up and separate items from received pallets; or

[0072] - Automatic and manual (machine-assisted) depalletizing unit 4B, and separation of items from received pallets; and

[0073] - One or more pallet units 5 for loading separate, destacking items onto pallets, wherein in this embodiment each pallet carries a single item.

[0074] Group B may include one or more combined depalletizing and palletizing units 4C for manually or machine-assisted depalletizing items from received pallets and loading separate items individually onto pallets, such that each pallet carries only a single item (in this embodiment). Alternatively, two or more items may be placed on a single pallet.

[0075] In pallet unit 5, items fall from the upper parallel and aligned conveyor onto the pallet and then onto the synchronized, parallel and aligned lower conveyor.

[0076] When using two sizes of pallets, this type of pallet unit has two staggered pallet conveyor belts below the parcel conveyor, which allow parcels to be placed onto the appropriate pallet according to their size. When using full-size and half-size pallets, as described above, one conveyor is used for each pallet size.

[0077] High throughput can be reliably achieved by using pallets in subsequent facility sections.

[0078] The pallets used consist of two parts, which enables reliable transport and easy unloading. They consist of a frame and a movable base plate within the frame, as described in DE 10 2008 026 326 A1.

[0079] When items are transferred to pallet unit 5 (for loading items onto the pallet), pre-grouping can be performed after identification using the EAN code read from the first monitoring unit 21 and the conveying speed group determined from the database (see above). Thus, items with similar conveying speeds eventually arrive at the same pallet unit 5 and, after pallet loading, arrive at the same feed line or inlet 7.

[0080] Pallets loaded with individual items are sent from pallet units 5 to stacking feeders 7, which guide the pallets onto the main conveyor 8 of the (linear) sorting unit 6. The feeders 7 may be dedicated to each pallet unit (or a combination of depalletizing and palletizing units) or may be shared by premixing lines from pallet units 5 (or a combination of depalletizing and palletizing units).

[0081] When items are removed from or fed into the sorting section or the gap-forming section 8A ahead, they are ultimately grouped into groups with the same conveying speed grouping level, if necessary. Therefore, all items within the gap-forming section 8A have the same maximum conveying speed, allowing for optimal acceleration and conveying at the same maximum speed to the delivery section 8B for processing. Based on the aforementioned identification and pre-grouping of the items, the control system 100 knows the order and position of the items in the feeding section 7, and can therefore control the feeding accordingly, ensuring that items from different inlet lines are fed sequentially at the same speed level, thus landing successively (in piles) on the sorting section.

[0082] For safety, a second monitoring unit can be installed in the inlet 22 of the gap forming section 8A, which compares and verifies the received data with the read EAN code and the database.

[0083] Therefore, the items can be transported and delivered at the optimal conveying speed for sorting.

[0084] After being fed in, the pallet enters the gap forming section 8A, which is designed to make the gap between the pallets uniform, thus improving the feeding effect in the feeding section 8B.

[0085] The feed section 9 in the feed section 8B of the high-speed linear sorting unit is a slat and shoe type, as basically described in EP 0 484150A1.

[0086] The return section 17 is located behind the delivery section 9 so that pallets that were not delivered due to overload, errors, etc. can be re-delivered.

[0087] The return section 17 includes a conveyor 18, which returns to the stacking feed section 7.

[0088] To further guide the pallets to this section, i.e., to control the passage of the delivery section, an identification unit for detecting items with incorrect dimensions (especially height) is installed in the pallet unit before the delivery section. Alternatively, such "problematic" pallets can first be stored in buffer storage 10 and then transferred to delivery unit 19, also included in return section 17, to process items that are discharged (e.g., due to size discrepancies) and require manual rework or verification before being delivered.

[0089] Therefore, the delivery unit 19 also processes the items delivered during pallet processing via a section directly connected to the pallet unit 5. Following the delivery unit, another identification unit 20 is installed to check the dimensions of the reprocessed items on the pallet before they re-enter the infeed section 7.

[0090] In the current situation, all items in a group or conveying speed group are conveyed at a conveying speed based on tilt stability, starting from the feeding from the inlet 7 to the outlet 9 and the subsequent section leading to the buffer storage 10. Once the items leave the section leading to the buffer storage 10, they begin to be conveyed at different speeds, controlled in a similar manner based on the tilt stability of the next item or subsequent group of items.

[0091] The delivery unit 9 supplies the path leading to the buffer storage 10. Specifically, each path supplies the two entrance elevators 10A of the same channel 11 in the buffer storage 10. Alternatively, channel 11 may also be served by a single entrance elevator 10A.

[0092] The conveyor for transporting pallets from the delivery section 9 to the aforementioned load-bearing mechanism is designed such that it connects each sorter unloading section (the section after delivery) to two entrance elevators 10A in each aisle. This also allows large pallets to rotate from the short side rails to the long side rails for space-saving storage.

[0093] For example, if the conveyor used to transport pallets to a particular aisle is overloaded, the warehouse management controller can redirect the pallets to an alternative aisle 11 so that they can be introduced, for example, into an adjacent storage aisle.

[0094] If necessary, the tray can be redirected to the destination channel 11 by transferring the tray between channels as shown by arrow 10C.

[0095] The buffer storage 10 includes several multi-level, longitudinally extending warehouse racks 10B, which are laterally separated by aisles 11.

[0096] The buffer storage 10 has input and output conveyor connections on different layers and for different functions on each layer. One layer contains the inflow from the feeder 9 of the sorting unit 6 to the inlet elevator 10A. One or two layers contain the combined and sequential output flows to the palletizing units, depending on the number of palletizing units. On another layer, the output flows unrelated to the palletizing units are handled, i.e., empty pallet stacking is processed.

[0097] The racking warehouse consists of several multi-level, longitudinally extending double-deep racks 10B, separated by aisles 11. On each level, a shuttle (such as a racking operation device) has guide rails extending along the length of the aisle and passing through at least two entrance lifts 10A, each with a liftable and lowerable transport platform for raising or lowering pallets. Entrance lifts 10A are integrated into each rack 10B. Guide rails are arranged on each level to allow the shuttle full access to the warehouse racking and each entrance lift, by arranging the guide rails to extend along the aisle and pass through the entrance lifts. The shuttle is designed to transport pallets between storage locations within the warehouse racking and the entrance lifts 10A.

[0098] To address this issue, an exchange buffer conveyor is installed on one side of each entrance elevator 10A. The other side of each entrance elevator 10A is connected to a conveyor for transferring pallets to and from the entrance elevator.

[0099] Each aisle has four load-lifting devices or elevators 10A. Correspondingly, there are two entrance elevators and two exit elevators. The two entrance elevators are located on opposite sides of aisle 11, and the two exit elevators are located on the same side of aisle 11. Therefore, a conveyor connected to an exit elevator located on the same side of the aisle bypasses another exit elevator and an entrance elevator. The conveyors are arranged on different levels of the warehouse racking 10B.

[0100] The shuttle is a single-level shuttle with a load handling area served by a load handling unit in the form of a telescopic arm that extends to both sides of the aisle and includes multiple finger-like parts that can move between engaging and non-engaging directions to individually contact pallets for push / pull operations. The telescopic arm provides a working area that is twice as deep.

[0101] The corresponding guide rails not only form the travel surface of the rack operating equipment, but can also be used for energy transmission (e.g., power transmission via current collectors) and / or the transmission of control signals and information signals (e.g., transmission via current collectors, where the signals are modulated in the current, see EP 2 591 559 A1).

[0102] The size of the shuttle's load-bearing area allows it to support / carry one large full-size pallet or two small half-size pallets. When transporting two half-size pallets, the load-bearing mechanism can move both pallets together, i.e., simultaneously.

[0103] Due to its design, the shuttle warehouse can perform order consolidation and sorting in addition to caching. This means that all items for a specific order can be merged and stored in a dedicated channel, and then unloaded to the palletizer in a predetermined order to achieve optimal stacking structure.

[0104] Sorting is achieved by using a shuttle and an output elevator to sort the packages on the unloading line leading to the palletizer feed section 12.

[0105] One or two channels 11 are connected to each palletizing unit 14 via pallet unloading unit 13 and palletizer feed section 12.

[0106] The pallet unloading unit 13 also includes an alignment and orientation section to align and orient (rotate) the pallet before actual unloading occurs, which allows the items on the pallet to be pre-aligned.

[0107] In order to unload itself (unload items from the tray), the unloader raises the loose bottom of the tray within the frame to the height of the edge and pushes the items sideways down.

[0108] The pallet unloading unit 13 also includes the handling of empty pallets. This involves forming stacks of empty pallets and forwarding them to the pallet unit or storing them in a buffer memory, as described above.

[0109] After unloading from the unit, the unloaded items are conveyed to a palletizer of more than one palletizing unit 14 to stack the mixed items on the base according to a predetermined spatial layout to form a stack of mixed items according to the order.

[0110] The stacker crane 14 is designed either fully automatic or manually, and provides machine support for the manual process. Such a fully automatic stacker crane can be implemented as described in WO 2014 / 005895 A1.

[0111] The order in which items are delivered to the palletizer is determined based on order information and preferences (such as store layout), and is calculated by a software module for warehouse management. This software module is responsible for virtually configuring the final stacking layout to be palletized based on the items in the corresponding order.

[0112] The stacker crane 14 includes a wrapping unit for ensuring the safe transport of finished product pallets by wrapping them with stretch film.

[0113] Use conveyors or AGVs to bring finished product pallets to the transport and loading area 16 or, alternatively, to the buffer area 15.

[0114] like Figure 4 As shown, the process of grouping items according to conveying speed and controlling the conveyor speed in the control system based on this can be described step by step as follows:

[0115] 1. When a new item is stored or delivered for the first time, a teaching process is performed to determine tipping stability based on experience and the tipping angle. This can be omitted if the item is already known.

[0116] Based on these determined tilt stability values ​​(angles, see above), the conveyor speed groups are classified and stored in the corresponding database entries for the items in a retrievable manner.

[0117] 2. If the items in the temporary warehouse run out and need to be replenished, a replenishment order can be triggered to remove the required quantity of the corresponding items from the replenishment warehouse.

[0118] 3. Consider the transport speed group for the items to be replenished.

[0119] 4. If items are in a slower conveyor speed group because they are easy to tip over, the quantity can be increased when replenishing to reduce the frequency of replenishment.

[0120] 5. Then, the corresponding pallets are removed from the overhead warehouse, the calculated quantity of items is unstacked, and conveyed to pallet unit 5. The items on the pallets are then introduced into the same feeder 7. In this way, items grouped at the same conveying speed are grouped into the same feeder.

[0121] 7. Therefore, when it is the pallet's turn, these pallets can then be successively sent into the sorting section.

[0122] 8. Therefore, when items are fed from the infeed section 7 to the sorting section 8, groups of items with the same conveying speed are conveyed at the same conveying speed, and the conveying is carried out when the items are sent out from the outfeed section 9 and on the route to the buffer storage 10.

[0123] Then the process starts again.

Claims

1. A sorting system, comprising a central controller, a sorting section with a variable and controllable conveying speed, at least two feed sections leading to the entrance of the sorting section, and a monitoring mechanism at the entrance, wherein, The monitoring mechanism is designed and connected to the central controller to detect incoming items, and the central controller queries the stored speed for controlling the conveying speed of the sorting section for the detected items, and uses it for its control. The feature is that the conveying speed of the sorting section can be controlled based on tipping stability or other item properties stored with respect to the detected items, including the fragility of the packaging, surface quality, coefficient of friction, integrity, and stability.

2. The sorting system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sorting section has multiple sorting parts, which can be independently controlled in terms of conveying speed.

3. The sorting system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The feed section is connected to the supply warehouse, from which items with the same or similar conveying speeds are supplied in groups to the feed section.

4. A method for operating and controlling a sorting system, the sorting system having a sorting section and a monitoring mechanism for said sorting section, the sorting section having a conveying speed that can be variably controlled by a central controller, wherein, The monitoring mechanism is positioned in front of the sorting section and detects incoming items. The monitoring mechanism exchanges the results with the central controller, and the central controller, based on the detected items, uses a conveying speed stored in the central controller to control the conveying speed of the sorting section to such a speed when the items are on it. The sorting section can be controlled in terms of conveying speed based on tipping stability or other item properties stored with respect to the detected items, including the fragility of the packaging, surface quality, coefficient of friction, integrity, and stability.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Items with similar or identical storage conveyor speeds are introduced into the sorting section in groups.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, To determine the conveying speed, the product characteristics of the article and its tipping stability are taken into consideration. The product characteristics of the article include the fragility of the packaging, surface quality, coefficient of friction, integrity, and stability.

7. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, Before entering the sorting section, the items are sorted according to the conveyor speed group.

8. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The delivery speed group was already taken into account when supplying items from the supply depot.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, At the same time, the supply depot provides items at a rate higher than the average required for delivery.

10. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The occupancy of the feed section on the sorting section is taken into account, so that items of the same conveying speed group are located on the same feed section as much as possible.

11. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, When using a pallet, when placing the item on the pallet, the item should be pre-positioned in the middle or far side of the sorting machine's working area so that the item is not easily tipped over, and will not fall off even if it does tip over on the pallet.

Images