Cross-belt sorting machine

Abstract

A cross-belt sorter (1) adapted to sort objects (9) to one of a plurality of discharge stations (14); the cross-belt sorting machine (1) comprises a plurality of cross-belt vehicles (11); the cross belt vehicle (11) can move on a circumferentially closed conveying track (13) in the conveying direction (R); the cross belt vehicle (11) comprises a cross belt (12); wherein the crossing belt (12) provides a conveying surface for supporting an object (9) to be conveyed; the cross-belt (12) can be moved relative to the cross-belt vehicle (11) in a transverse direction (Q) transverse to the conveying direction (R); the cross-belt sorter (1) is adapted to selectively transfer the objects (9) from the conveyed vehicle (11) to one of a plurality of discharge stations (14) by selectively driving the cross-belt (12) in a transverse direction (Q); wherein, in order to drive the cross-belt (12), the cross-belt vehicle (11) has a drive wheel (41) adapted to engage with a friction lever (31); the invention relates to a cross-belt sorter (1) comprising a friction lever (31) which is fixedly positioned along a track (13) and which can be transferred between a drive position and a disengaged position, characterized in that the cross-belt sorter (1) is adapted to vary the actuation positions (Y0, Y1, Y2) within the range of said friction lever (31).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cross-belt sorting machine.

[0002] A general cross-belt sorting machine is shown in US 6,273,268 B1 (refer to this document in this paragraph). The cross-belt sorting machine includes a plurality of cross-belt carts which are movable in a conveying direction on a circumferentially closed conveying track. The cross-belts on the cross-belt carts provide a conveying surface for supporting objects to be conveyed. The cross-belts are movable relative to the cross-belt carts in a transverse direction to the conveying direction. In order to drive the cross-belts, the cross-belt carts have drive wheels adapted to be selectively engaged by friction bars. Here, the movement of the cross-belts is achieved by means of friction bars mounted at fixed positions on the travel path, which friction bars can be transferred between a drive position and a disengaged position. A return spring ( Figure 5 , reference numeral 40) acts on the friction bar to bring it into the disengaged position (col. 3, lines 61-67; col. 6, lines 2-6; claim 9). In the drive position, the friction bar contacts the drive wheel on the cross-belt vehicle, resulting in a drive movement of the drive wheel. The drive wheel is connected to the cross-belt, resulting in a drive operation of the cross-belt. The friction bar is actuated to the drive position by an electric or pneumatic actuator overcoming the spring force.

[0003] US2009 / 0057100 A1 discloses a cross-belt sorting machine, in which a drive wheel is always in contact with a fixed friction bar. A switchable clutch is provided on the cross-belt cart. The clutch can be selectively switched between an open state and a closed state. In the closed state, the clutch provides a drive connection between the drive wheel and the cross-belt in order to selectively sort the objects to be conveyed to one of the discharge stations. In the open state, the drive connection is interrupted, so that the objects remain on the cart.

[0004] CN 105 417 109A discloses a courier sorting machine, which comprises a frame and a plurality of carts. The machine has a cart drive device, which comprises a worm, a cam and a worm drive device. The cam is spirally fixed on the worm.

[0005] JP 2005 324902A discloses an automatic belt sorting device that uses sensors to measure the external shape, color, and presence of defects of agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables, and sorts them according to predetermined standards. A driving wheel for belt driving connected to a roller through a gear mechanism is rotatably arranged in a direction perpendicular to the roller axis, and the sensor is located below the flow line along which the driving wheel moves. A plurality of track members are provided, which are driven up and down in response to a signal, and by pushing the track member upward in a direction in which the track member contacts the driving wheel, the belt is rotated and placed as a separate conveying mechanism moves.

[0006] Typically, cross-belt sorters use frictional contact between the cross-belt and the objects to accelerate the objects in the lateral direction. Delay effects should be taken into account. These delay effects depend on the size, weight and surface of the conveyed objects. In contrast to cross-belt sorters, some sorters use pusher shoes that actively push the objects in the lateral direction, see for example US 10,640,302 B2. Figure 1 The pusher shoe in 16. Due to the positive push contact, this shoe sorter has no delay effect.

[0007] All of the sorters described above require discrete devices to activate the movement of the cross belts that are fixedly positioned along the conveyor track. The fixed devices are constructed somewhat like hard programming of the conveyor functions, thus preventing any dynamic and / or fine tuning of the sorter behavior.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved sorting machine, in particular with regard to adjustability.

[0009] The invention comprises a cross-belt sorter and a method according to the main claim; embodiments are subject of the subclaims and the description.

[0010] In the cross-belt sorter of the invention, the objects to be conveyed are accelerated in the transverse direction, in particular only by the frictional contact between the cross-belt and the objects. Therefore, no shoe is provided which actively pushes the objects in the transverse direction.

[0011] The friction bar is fixedly positioned along the track. This means that the driven position of the friction bar cannot be changed during normal operation. However, the fixed position along the track allows for transfer between the driven position and the disengaged position.

[0012] When the friction bar is in the disengaged position, the driving wheel passing through the friction bar is not driven by the friction bar. When the friction bar is in the driving position, the driving wheel is driven by the friction bar.

[0013] In particular, the drive wheel is permanently connected to the cross-belt, in particular in such a way that driving the drive wheel via the friction rod will result in driving the cross-belt.

[0014] In particular, a rearward position along the track is a position that the vehicle passed at an earlier point in time than the forward position; in other words: the forward position is downstream of the rearward position.

[0015] Fixed positioning along the track means that the drive position in the track direction is not modified, in particular the position of the fixed components is not changed during normal operation; during installation and maintenance the position can be adjusted.

[0016] The advantage of the cross belt sorter of the invention is that the operating characteristics can be optimized during operation. Compared with the prior art, the activation position can be modified to adapt the cross belt sorter to various frameworks or changing requirements without having to reposition the overall position of the friction bar at all.

[0017] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein:

[0018] Figure 1 shows a top view of a cross belt sorter;

[0019] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 Cross belt car edge of the cross belt sorter Figure 1 Sectional view along midline II-II;

[0020] Figure 3 shows a top view of a portion of a cross-belt sorter according to the prior art in different situations;

[0021] Figure 4 shows top views of a portion of a cross belt sorter according to a comparative embodiment in different situations;

[0022] Figure 5 shows top views of a portion of the cross belt sorter of the present invention in different situations in the first embodiment;

[0023] Figure 6 shows top views of a portion of the cross belt sorter of the present invention in different situations in the second embodiment;

[0024] Figure 7 A top view of a portion of the cross belt sorter of the present invention in different situations in the third embodiment is shown;

[0025] Figure 8 A schematic diagram showing the relationship between vehicle speed and actuation position in the cross belt sorter of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 1 A cross-belt sorter 1 is shown. The cross-belt sorter 1 comprises a plurality of cross-belt cars 11 which travel circumferentially along a closed track 13 in a conveying direction R. A cross-belt 12 is arranged on top of each car 11. The top surface of the cross-belt 12 provides a conveying surface for supporting the objects 9 to be conveyed.

[0027] A plurality of unloading stations 14 are provided at which objects 9 can be selectively removed from the cross-belt car 11 and conveyed to an unloading area 14 arranged laterally of the cross-belt car 11. For this purpose, the cross-belt 12 is arranged to move on the cross-belt car 11 in a transverse direction Q transverse to the conveying direction R. The central controller 2 controls the operation of the different actuators in the cross-belt sorter 1.

[0028] Figure 2 The mechanism for driving the cross belt 12 is shown. Figure 1 ) is provided with an actuator device 3 having a friction rod 31. The friction rod 31 can be transferred between a drive position and a disengaged position. The actuator device 3 is arranged to transfer the friction rod 31 between the drive position and the disengaged position. In order to modify the position of the friction rod 31, the actuator device 3 has an actuator 32, for example a pneumatic or electromechanical actuator.

[0029] In the driving position, the friction bar 31 is in frictional contact with the drive wheel 41 on the cross belt vehicle 11. Now, due to the relative movement of the drive wheel 41 along the conveying direction R, the friction bar 31 causes the drive wheel 41 to rotate.

[0030] By means of a permanent drive connection 43 (shown only schematically), the drive wheel 41 is connected to a drive roller 42 which drives the cross belt 12. Thus, rotation of the drive wheel 41 results in a driven movement of the cross belt 12 on top of the car 11 in a transverse direction Q.

[0031] In particular, in this case, "permanently" means that the rotation of the drive wheel 41 always results in a driving force at the cross belt 12. For the opposite direction, a freewheel mechanism can be provided, which prevents the cross belt 12 from driving the drive wheel 41.

[0032] In the disengaged position, when no driving force is provided to the cross-belt 12 , the friction bar 31 is not in frictional contact with the drive wheel 41 , so that the object 9 located on top of the cross-belt 12 maintains its position within the cross-belt vehicle 11 .

[0033] Finally, the cross-belt 12 is driven by a drive roller 42 which is permanently connected to the drive wheel 41 and the cross-belt 12 , so that the rotation of the drive wheel 41 automatically causes the movement of the cross-belt 12 .

[0034] Figure 3 Two actuator devices 3a, 3b of the prior art are shown. Each actuator device 3a, 3b is assigned to a separate unloading destination among the plurality of unloading destinations 14a, 14b. The first actuator device 3a is in a passive state and the associated friction rod 31 is in a disengaged position. With the aid of the dotted auxiliary line L, it is obvious that the first friction rod 31 of the first actuator device 3a will not contact the drive wheel 41 when the drive wheel 41 passes the friction rod 31. In contrast, the second actuator device 3b is in an active state and the associated friction rod 31 is in a driving position. With the aid of the dotted auxiliary line L, it is obvious that the first friction rod 31 will contact the drive wheel 41 ( Figure 3 b, 3c).

[0035] The friction rod 31 includes a main portion 31m and an approach ramp 31r.

[0036] Figure 3 a shows a first phase when in the drive position (of the second actuator device 3b) the drive wheel 41 is still at a distance from the friction rod 31. Thereby, the friction rod 31 protrudes into the path of the drive wheel 41.

[0037] The friction rod 31 and the drive wheel 41 are adapted to each other so that when the drive wheel 41 passes the friction rod 31 in the driving position, the drive wheel 41 initially contacts the approach ramp 31r in the second stage ( Figure 3 b).

[0038] In the second stage, the approach ramp 31r is used to guide the drive wheel 41 when it contacts the friction rod 31. Now, the drive wheel 41 pushes the friction rod 31 back in the direction of the disengaged position. In particular, due to a certain elasticity and slippage, the drive wheel 41 has the opportunity to start rotating smoothly during the second stage.

[0039] After the first contact between the drive wheel 41 and the friction rod 31, the actuation force FA between the drive wheel and the friction rod (here, approaching the ramp 31r) increases smoothly.

[0040] In the subsequent third stage, the drive wheel 41 contacts the main portion 31m ( Figure 3 c). Now, the actuation force FA has substantially reached its maximum level, and the friction bar 31 provides full frictional contact with the drive wheel 41, resulting in very low or no slip between the friction bar 31 and the drive wheel 41. In particular, the full frictional contact provides the full driving force to the drive wheel 41 and the cross belt 12 only when the drive wheel 41 contacts the main portion 31m.

[0041] As a result, as long as the drive wheel 41 needs to first contact the approach ramp 31r, the position of the approach ramp 31r defines the starting position and the position where the drive wheel 41 can be driven. Therefore, the starting position also defines the following actuation position Y0, in which the actuation force FA has reached substantially the full amount.

[0042] When the drive wheel 41 reaches the frontmost actuation position Y0 of the friction bar main part 31m, the drive wheel 41 is driven at full speed, thereby driving the cross belt 12 for each discharge destination 14 at full speed. The frontmost actuation position Y0 is in a fixed relationship with the associated discharge destination 14a, 14b. Therefore, the actuation position Y0 defines a fixed relationship with the position at which the object 9 is moved in the transverse direction Q (see Figure 1 ) (can be anywhere close to a ramp).

[0043] In accordance with Figure 3 In the embodiment of , it is essential that the drive wheel 41 initially contacts the friction rod 31 near the ramp 31r so that the drive wheel 41 can be smoothly accelerated. As a comparative example, Figure 4 Shown in accordance with Figure 3 For comparison reasons, the access ramp 31r is omitted; instead, the main part 31m is designed to be longer.

[0044] Figure 4 The first stage shown in a is similar to Figure 3 Here, in the first stage, the driving wheel 41 is at a certain distance from the friction rod 31 of the second actuator device 3b. Figure 3 In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the friction rod 31 of the second actuator device 3 b is in the disengaged position in the first stage.

[0045] In the case of not approaching the ramp 31r, the driving wheel 41 needs to be in an initial overlapping state with the friction rod 31, such as Figure 4 Otherwise, the driving wheel 41 will strongly hit the front edge, resulting in a heavy and unreasonable travel.

[0046] Only when the driving wheel 41 has begun to pass the friction rod 31, the friction rod 31 can be transferred to the driving position to hit the driving wheel 41 with a larger stroke ( Figure 4 c). This initially causes the friction rod 31 to suddenly and violently hit the drive wheel 41 and the bearing of the drive wheel 41, resulting in a low service life. In order to avoid the stress, the present application provides an improvement idea with the help of the following figures.

[0047] Figure 5 The actuator device 3 is shown in different cases, which can replace Figure 3 Each actuator device 3a, 3b shown in FIG.

[0048] Here, each actuator 32 of the actuator device 3 has a plurality of sub-actuators 321-324. The friction rod 31 is flexible, has a certain elasticity, and is suitable for changing its shape. The actuator 32 (here, the sub-actuators 321-324 of the actuator 32) is suitable for changing the shape of the friction rod 31.

[0049] Thus, the actuator 32 selectively pushes selected portions 33 of the friction rod 31 to the driven position, while other portions 33 may remain in the disengaged position.

[0050] exist Figure 5 In a, the sub-actuators 321-324 of the actuator 32 act as Figure 3 The actuator 32b shown in FIG. 1 is engaged and the friction rod 31 is fully pushed to the driving position. Figure 5In the case of a, the drive wheel 41 is driven at the frontmost drive position Y0, and an approach ramp 31r is provided at the frontmost drive position Y0, thereby providing Figure 3 The arrangement has the same effect.

[0051] exist Figure 5 In FIG. 1 , the first portion of the friction rod 31 is held in the disengaged position, and the remaining subsequent portion is pushed by the actuator 32 to be in the driving position. Therefore, the actuation position Y1 at which the drive wheel 41 is driven by the friction rod 31 is moved backward by a position shift dY in the conveying direction. The flexible friction rod also provides an approach ramp 31r in front of the actuation position Y1, which provides a smooth ramp rise with the same actuation force FA as in front of the actuation position Y0.

[0052] Figure 5 c. Here, the other part 33 of the friction rod 31 is held in the disengaged position, while the remaining follower part 33 is pushed by the actuator 32 to be in the driving position. Therefore, the actuation position Y2 where the drive wheel 41 is driven by the friction rod 31 is moved backward by another position shift dY in the conveying direction. The flexible friction rod 31 also provides an approach ramp 31r in front of the actuation position Y2, which provides a smooth ramp rise of the actuation force FA that is the same as in front of the above-mentioned actuation positions Y1 and Y0.

[0053] The friction rod 31 is made of an elastic material, and in particular, the friction rod 31 is a spring steel plate or a hard rubber plate.

[0054] Figure 6 An alternative embodiment is shown. The friction lever 31 has a plurality of individual parts 33, each of which comprises an individual cam 36 arranged in the direction of the drive wheel 41. Each part 33 is selectively actuated by a dedicated sub-actuator 321-324 and can be individually shifted between a drive position and a disengaged position.

[0055] In case two or more adjacent cams 36 are in the drive position, the cams 36 forming the portion 33 establish a common friction bar 31 in the drive position.

[0056] Here, each section 33 is provided with its own approach ramp 31r. Therefore, regardless of the selection of the section 33 to be kept in the drive position, the drive wheel 41 will always hit the associated cam 36 at the corresponding approach ramp 31r, thereby causing a smooth increase in the actuation force FA.

[0057] Figure 6 a shows a situation where all cams 36 are in the disengaged position.

[0058] Figure 6b shows the situation where all parts 33 are kept in the driving position. The full actuation force which increases smoothly will be at the actuation position Y0. The drive wheel 41 will contact the approach ramp 31r at the first cam 36 to increase the actuation force FA smoothly before the actuation position Y0.

[0059] Figure 6 c shows the situation where the first cam 36 is in the disengaged position and all other cams 36 are kept in the driving position. The smoothly increasing full actuation force FA will be at the actuation position Y1. The drive wheel 41 will contact the approach ramp 31r at the second cam 36 to smoothly increase the actuation force FA before the actuation position Y1.

[0060] The friction lever 31 is formed by a plurality of individual cams 36 arranged in the direction of the drive wheel 41. Each cam 36 is selectively actuated by a dedicated sub-actuator 321-324 and can be individually shifted between a drive position and a disengagement position.

[0061] Figure 7 Shown based on Figure 4 Therefore, reference is made to the alternative embodiment of the comparative example. Figure 4 The characteristics described also apply to Figure 7 Embodiment of the invention.

[0062] like Figure 4 As shown, the access ramp 31r is not required (but in any case, it is also feasible to have the access ramp 31r). The actuator device 3 comprises a damper 34. The damper 34 damps the movement of the friction rod 31 during the transition from the disengaged position to the driven position. Figure 7 a shows the friction rods 31 of the two actuator devices 3a, 3b in the disengaged position.

[0063] In the subsequent sorting operation, the passing drive wheel 41 will be accelerated by the friction rod 31 of the second actuator device 3b. Figure 7 b shows the situation where the driving wheel 41 has passed the friction rod 31 of the second actuator device 3b. Now, the actuator 32b is operated and pushes the friction rod 31 to the driving position. Here, the damper 34 provides a damping force FD, which hinders the friction rod 31 from quickly transferring to the driving position.

[0064] Initially, the actuator 32b compresses the spring 35 located between the actuator 32 and the friction rod 31. Instead of directly transferring the friction rod 31 to the drive position by the actuator 32b, the spring 35 provides a main spring force FS that continuously pushes the friction rod 31 to the drive position against the damping force FD without being forced into the drive position.

[0065] As a result, the friction rod 31 is smoothly transferred to the driving position at the transfer speed vt, so that the actuation force FA is mainly in the direction of Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the same way as in the embodiment of Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the transfer speed vt in the prior art embodiment is much greater and the transfer occurs in a much shorter time, resulting in an unsteady transfer some time before the drive wheel 41 passes the friction rod 31).

[0066] The interacting spring 35 and damper 34 form a speed control mechanism to control the speed, in particular the speed profile, by which the friction rod 31 is transferred to the drive position. The actuator 32 may be part of the speed control mechanism.

[0067] Therefore, by changing the time when the actuator 32b is operated and starts to compress the spring 35, the actuation position Y1 that provides the full actuation force FA can be easily controlled. Therefore, the actuation position Y1 can be modified at will within a certain range of influence of the actuator device 3 without the need for structural adjustments to the actuation position of the friction rod 31 (see above). Figure 3 ).

[0068] Finally, in Figure 7 In c, the friction lever 31 is completely located in the driving position, so that a complete friction contact between the friction lever 31 and the driving wheel 41 is established at the actuating position Y1.

[0069] Figure 8 Here "v" defines the speed at which the vehicle 11 travels along the track 13 (see Figure 1 ).

[0070] In the use of the sorting machine 1 of the present invention, the travel speed v of the sorting vehicle 11 can be adjusted. The travel speed v is linearly related to the maximum number of objects 9 that can be sorted per hour. For example, at a travel speed of 2.0 m / s, a maximum of 4000 objects 9 can be sorted per hour ("o / h"); therefore, at a travel speed v of 1.0 m / s, a maximum of 2000o / h can be sorted.

[0071] The sorting machine 1 is adapted to be driven under different capacity conditions. During the Christmas trade period, the user of the sorting machine 1 needs to sort 6000 objects per hour, so the vehicle 11 needs to run at a travel speed v of 3 m / s. During the summer recession, the user only needs to sort 2000 objects per hour, so the vehicle 11 needs to run at a travel speed v of 1 m / s.

[0072] In order to sort the objects 9 correctly into the unloading station 14, the starting point for accelerating the objects depends on the travel speed v of the vehicle 11. In order to reach the correct unloading station 14, at high vehicle travel speeds v, the objects 9 need to be accelerated earlier than at low vehicle travel speeds.

[0073] Therefore, in order to properly sort the objects 9 at a travel speed v of 1.0 m / s, the exemplary trigger shift dY should be set to 1.2 m, while at a travel speed v of 3.0 m / s, the exemplary trigger shift dY should be set to 0.2 m. In other words: at a travel speed v of 3.0 m / s, the clutch 5 will be closed at an actuation position 1.0 m ahead of / earlier than the position where the clutch 5 is closed at a travel speed v of 1.0 m / s.

[0074] Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 A top view of a part of the sorting machine in the region of the friction bars 31 is shown. Only the drive wheels 41 of the car 11, the actuator device 3 with the friction bars 31 and the discharge station 14 are shown schematically here. For a better view of these components, other parts of the car 11 and the cross belt 12 are not shown.

[0075] Reference Symbols List

[0076] 1 Cross belt sorter

[0077] 2Central Controller

[0078] 3.3a,3b Actuator device

[0079] 9 Objects to be transported

[0080] 11 Cross belt car

[0081] 12 Cross straps

[0082] 13 Track

[0083] 14, 14a, 14b unloading station

[0084] 31 Friction rod

[0085] 31r Approach ramp

[0086] 31m Friction rod main part

[0087] 32, 32a, 32b actuator (32 is not shown in the figure)

[0088] 321-324 Sub-actuator

[0089] 33 parts

[0090] 34 Damper

[0091] 35 Spring

[0092] 36 Cam

[0093] 41 driving wheel

[0094] 42 drive roller

[0095] 43 Drive connector

[0096] FS damping force

[0097] FA Actuation Force

[0098] FD Damping Force

[0099] FS Spring force

[0100] R Conveying direction

[0101] Q Horizontal direction

[0102] L Auxiliary Line

[0103] P-Path

[0104] Y0, Y1, Y2 actuation positions

[0105] dY position shift

[0106] v Cross-belt vehicle travel speed

[0107] vt The transfer speed of the friction rod.

Claims

1. A cross-belt sorter (1) adapted to sort objects (9) to one of a plurality of discharge stations (14); The cross-belt sorting machine (1) comprises a plurality of cross-belt vehicles (11); The cross belt vehicle (11) is capable of moving along a conveying direction (R) on a circumferentially closed conveying track (13); The cross-belt vehicle (11) comprises a cross-belt (12); in, The cross belt (12) provides a conveying surface for supporting the object (9) to be conveyed; The cross belt (12) is movable relative to the cross belt vehicle (11) in a transverse direction (Q) transverse to the conveying direction (R); The cross-belt sorter (1) is adapted to selectively transfer the objects (9) from the transport vehicle (11) to one of the plurality of discharge stations (14) by selectively driving the cross-belt (12) in the transverse direction (Q); wherein, in order to drive the cross-belt (12), the cross-belt vehicle (11) has a driving wheel (41) adapted to engage with a friction rod (31); The friction rod (31) is fixedly positioned along the track (13) and can be transferred between a driving position and a disengaging position. It is characterized in that The cross-belt sorter (1) is suitable for changing the actuation position (Y0, Y1, Y2) within the range of the friction bar (31).

2. A cross-belt sorter (1) according to the preceding claim, It is characterized in that When activated, the cross-belt sorter (1) is adapted such that the friction bar (31) provides an increased actuation force (FA) between the friction strip (31) and the drive wheel (41) in a defined manner.

3. A cross-belt sorter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The increased actuation force (FA) is provided by an approach ramp (31r) in front of the main portion (31m) of the friction rod (31); In particular, the increased actuation force (FA) is generated when the drive wheel (41) initially contacts the approach ramp (31r) and subsequently contacts the main portion (31m).

4. A cross-belt sorter (1) according to the preceding claim, It is characterized in that The cross-belt sorter (1) is adapted so that the position of the access ramp (31r) along the track (13) can be varied during normal operation.

5. A cross-belt sorter (1) according to the preceding claim, It is characterized in that The friction rod (31) has a plurality of sections (33) that can be individually transferred to the drive position, Wherein, the position of the approach ramp (31r) that initially contacts the drive wheel (41) is defined according to the selection of the portion (33) that is transferred to the drive position.

6. A cross-belt sorter (1) according to the preceding claim, It is characterized in that The plurality of sections (33) are integrally formed from a single flexible friction rod (31).

7. The cross belt sorter (1) according to claim 5, It is characterized in that The plurality of parts (33) are formed by separate part components, in particular cam (36) components.

8. A cross-belt sorter (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The increased actuation force (FA) is provided by the actuator (32) and the speed control mechanism (34, 35), The speed control mechanism (34, 35) is adapted to control a transfer speed (vt) of transferring the friction rod (31) to the drive position.

9. A cross-belt sorter (1) according to the preceding claim, It is characterized in that The speed control mechanism (34, 35) comprises a damper (34), The damper (34) is adapted to provide a damping force (FD) to counteract the transfer of the friction rod (31) to the drive position; Therein, the damping force (FD) depends on the transfer speed (vt) in such a way that a larger transfer speed (vt) leads to a larger damping force (FD).

10. A method of operating a cross belt sorter (1), The cross-belt sorting machine (1) comprises a plurality of cross-belt vehicles (11); The cross belt vehicle (11) moves along a conveying direction (R) at a travel speed (v) on a circumferentially closed conveying track (13); The cross-belt vehicle (11) comprises a cross-belt (12); in, The cross belt (12) provides a conveying surface for supporting the object (9) to be conveyed; The cross belt (12) is selectively movable relative to the cross belt vehicle (11) in a transverse direction (Q) transverse to the conveying direction (R); The cross-belt sorter (1) selectively transfers the object (9) from the transport vehicle (11) to one of a plurality of discharge stations (14) by selectively driving the cross-belt (12) in the transverse direction (Q); The cross belt (1) is driven by a driving wheel (41), and the driving wheel (41) is selectively driven by a friction rod (31) at an actuating position (Y0, Y1, Y2). wherein the friction rod (31) is fixedly positioned along the track (13) and selectively transfers between a drive position and a disengagement position, The method comprises the following steps: In particular, during normal operation of the cross-belt sorter (1), the sorting characteristics of the cross-belt sorter (1) are modified, The actuation position (Y0, Y1, Y2) of a selected friction rod (31) is thereby adjusted without modifying the position of the friction rod (31) along the track (13).

11. The method according to the preceding claim, in, Modifying the sorting characteristics comprises modifying the travel speed (v) of the cross belt vehicle (11); Thereby, the actuation position (Y0, Y1, Y2) is modified according to the modified travel speed (v).

12. The method according to the preceding claim, in, The actuation positions (Y0, Y1, Y2) - shifting to a more forward position along the track (13) in case the travel speed (v) is reduced, - shifting to a further rearward position along the track (13) in case the travel speed (v) increases.

13. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, for operating a cross-belt sorter (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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