Multi-stage inclined conveyor for unstacking mixed packages

Abstract

A multi-stage inclined conveyor for destacking mixed packages, characterized in that it comprises a multi-stage inclined conveyor, one or more sensors and a control unit, wherein the multi-stage inclined conveyor consists of at least two inclined conveyors arranged one behind the other and connected to each other, and the control unit is connected to one or more sensors and to each section of the multi-stage inclined conveyor.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present utility model relates to the technical field of logistics automation equipment, in particular a device for automatically separating stacked mixed packages into an unstacked state. State of the art

[0002] Mixed parcels in the express delivery industry are stacked after being unloaded from vehicles or opened. Subsequent processes such as automatic scanning or sorting require the parcels to be unstacked and not stacked. Currently, destacking is generally done manually, with employees spreading out and flattening the stacked parcels. However, mechanical methods exist that allow for a degree of automated destacking. For example, utility model no. CN 201821666590.1 describes a multi-stage inclined conveyor with special chutes, inclined sections, and horizontal sections, where the speed is gradually increased to achieve destacking.However, this method has two disadvantages: First, the stepwise speed increase requires a high speed of the discharge-climbing conveyor, making it unsuitable for low-speed discharge-climbing conveyors. Second, free separation destacking cannot be achieved for packages with high surface friction, which negatively impacts the final destacking rate. Content of the utility model

[0003] The purpose of the present utility model is therefore to provide a device for the automatic destacking of packages that ensures a high destacking rate even at low discharge speeds and also enables the processing of packages with high surface friction.

[0004] To achieve the aforementioned purpose, the following technical solution is used:

[0005] A multi-stage inclined conveyor for destacking mixed packages, wherein a multi-stage inclined conveyor comprises: one or more sensors and a control unit set up to execute a control procedure for the multi-stage inclined conveyor.

[0006] The multi-stage inclined conveyor consists of at least two interconnected inclined conveyors arranged in series, with an incline angle between 15 and 23 degrees. The exact number of stages can be determined according to the required discharge throughput. The incline angle is determined based on the friction of the conveyor belt and the average friction of the packages. The rule of thumb is to choose the largest possible angle, just large enough to ensure that all package types rest on the multi-stage inclined conveyor and do not slip. This ensures that the packages below the stacked packages rise with the multi-stage inclined conveyor, while the packages above slide freely down, thus achieving preliminary destacking. The mixed packages enter the multi-stage inclined conveyor from the bottom.

[0007] The sensors are mounted above the multi-stage conveyor and can detect the position of the packages on the conveyor. There can be one or more sensors, the only requirement being that all areas of the multi-stage conveyor are covered.

[0008] The control unit is connected to the sensors and all the conveyors of the multi-stage conveyor. The control unit can use the sensors to determine the position of the packages, send speed commands to all conveyors of the multi-stage conveyor, and independently control the speed of each individual conveyor.

[0009] The control system for the multi-stage conveyor takes the position of the packages as input and outputs the speed of each conveyor section as output. By dynamically adjusting the conveyor speed, a natural unstacking of the stacked packages is achieved. Specifically, the next conveyor section is accelerated at the junction when the stacked packages pass the junction of two adjacent conveyor sections of the multi-stage conveyor, and then decelerated again after passing the junction.

[0010] Compared to the prior art, the present utility model has the following advantages: 1. By dynamically adjusting the conveyor speed, the speed of the outbound conveyor can be equal to the speed of the inbound conveyor, making the system suitable for sorting systems with low-speed outbound conveyors. 2. By dynamically adjusting the conveyor speed, the speed difference between the front and rear conveyors can be increased, which is beneficial for destacking packages with high friction. Description of the attached drawings

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the present utility model are described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. Figure 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present utility model. Fig. Figure 2 is a flowchart of the control system for the multi-stage inclined conveyor. Fig. Figure 3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present utility model when stacked mixed packages are fed in. Fig. Figure 4 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present utility model when stacked mixed packages are fed in. Fig. Figure 5 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present utility model after the separation of stacked mixed packages. List of reference symbols 1 First section of the inclined conveyor; 2 Second section of the inclined conveyor; 3 Third section of the inclined conveyor; 4 Sensor; 5 Control unit; 6a Single package; 6b Bottom package in a stacked package group; 6c Top package in a stacked package group. Examples of implementation

[0012] The present utility model is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that the drawings represent only one embodiment and do not encompass all possible configurations. Those skilled in the art can derive further embodiments without significant creative effort, which also fall within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0013] Fig. Figure 1 shows a multi-stage inclined conveyor for destacking mixed packages, comprising a first section of the inclined conveyor 1, a second section of the inclined conveyor 2, a third section of the inclined conveyor 3, one or more sensors 4, and a control unit 5. The mixed packages 6 are fed into the first section of the inclined conveyor 1 and, after passing through the three sections of the inclined conveyor, are discharged from the third section of the inclined conveyor 3.

[0014] Fig. Figure 2 shows a control flowchart for the multi-stage inclined conveyor. Each section of the inclined conveyor is controlled according to this flowchart. For any given section, the system first checks whether there are packages in the subsequent section. If so, the current section is stopped to prevent any packages on the current section from entering the subsequent section and causing stacking. If there are no packages in the subsequent section, the operating speed of the current section can be set. If there are packages on the current section, the section runs at a slow speed to meet the requirements for low-speed package dispensing.If there are no packages on the current section of the conveyor, the system checks whether packages are present at the junction between this and the previous section. If packages are found at the junction, the current section of the conveyor runs at high speed. Due to the speed difference between the front and rear sections of the conveyor, combined with the sudden acceleration, the lower packages in the stacked, mixed bundle are transferred to the next section, while the upper packages remain near the junction or slide back into the previous section, awaiting further separation.

[0015] Fig. Figure 3 shows a typical destacking process: A package 6a is located on the third section of the inclined conveyor, which is running at low speed to discharge the package. There are no packages on the second section of inclined conveyor 2, but since there are packages on the subsequent section of inclined conveyor 3, the second section of the inclined conveyor is stopped. Packages are on the first section of inclined conveyor, moving at low speed. However, when the packages reach the junction between the first section of inclined conveyor 1 and the second section of inclined conveyor 2, they stop due to the standstill of the second section of inclined conveyor until package 6a is discharged from the third section of inclined conveyor 3.

[0016] Fig. Figure 4 shows the state after the output of packet 6a according to Fig. 3. Once the third section of conveyor 3 is empty and the second section of conveyor 2 is also empty, the second section of conveyor 2 runs at idle speed until the first section of conveyor 1 transports packages 6b and 6c to the junction between the first section of conveyor 1 and the second section of conveyor 2. As soon as packages 6b and 6c reach the junction, the second section of conveyor 2 immediately accelerates to high speed, giving package 6b a significant forward acceleration. Due to inertia, package 6c remains almost in its original position, allowing package 6b to be pulled out, thus completing the destacking process.If the friction between packages 6b and 6c is too high and complete destacking is not achieved, a further differential speed operation takes place at the junction between the second section of the inclined conveyor 2 and the third section of the inclined conveyor 3, which ensures the successful destacking process. Fig. Figure 5 finally shows a side view after the separation of stacked mixed packages. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] CN 201821666590.1

[0002]

Claims

[1] A multi-stage inclined conveyor for destacking mixed packages, characterized by that it comprises a multi-stage inclined conveyor, one or more sensors and a control unit, wherein the multi-stage inclined conveyor consists of at least two inclined conveyors arranged one behind the other and connected to each other, and the control unit is connected to one or more sensors and to each section of the multi-stage inclined conveyor. [2] The multi-stage inclined conveyor according to claim 1, characterized by , that the speed of each section of the inclined conveyor, which makes up the multi-stage inclined conveyor, can be controlled independently. [3] The multi-stage inclined conveyor according to claim 1, characterized by that at least one sensor can detect the position of packages on the inclined conveyor and that the number of sensors can be one or more.

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