OBJECT SORTING SYSTEM WITH A SHOCK ABSORPTION DEVICE FOR A SORTING CONTAINER

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention falls within the field of sorting objects and relates more particularly to an installation for sorting objects such as parcels or packages. Previous technique

[0002] Object sorting facilities, such as parcel sorting facilities, typically include a sorting conveyor designed to convey parcels in a certain conveying direction and sorting outlets distributed below the sorting conveyor.

[0003] Each sorting outlet is equipped with a sorting receptacle in a loading position in which packages can be unloaded by gravity from the sorting conveyor according to certain sorting information.

[0004] The packages then undergo a free fall of several meters before reaching the sorting receptacle.

[0005] To address this problem, the sorting installation described in document FR3127204 proposes equipping the inside of each sorting receptacle with a shock-absorbing tray to significantly cushion the fall of the packages before they reach the sorting receptacles.

[0006] The diversity of shape and size of sorting receptacles requires adapting each shock absorber tray to the receptacle into which it must be inserted, generating significant costs, reducing the loading space in the sorting receptacle and complicating its extraction.

[0007] We have also observed for several years a constant increase in the volume of parcels processed and therefore an increase in the average volume of sorting receptacles.

[0008] This results in an increase in the height of the sorting receptacles, and consequently, in the drop height of the packages into the sorting receptacles.

[0009] Similarly, sorting facilities are now capable of sorting an increasingly wide range of parcels, from small, fragile parcels packed in bags to large, heavy cardboard boxes, inevitably leading to increasing risks of damage to the most fragile, and sometimes most expensive, parcels, such as electronic equipment.

[0010] This type of shock absorber is therefore not reliable enough to fill a large volume sorting receptacle or to reliably cushion packages that are heterogeneous in weight and size.

[0011] Another type of shock absorber designed to cushion the fall of packages into sorting receptacles is described in document WO-A-2012 / 123513. Summary of the invention

[0012] The objective of the invention is therefore to solve the aforementioned problems.

[0013] To this end, the invention relates to an object sorting installation comprising an object sorting conveyor designed to convey objects in a certain conveying direction and sorting outlets distributed under the sorting conveyor, each designed to receive a sorting receptacle in a loading position in which objects can be unloaded by gravity from the sorting conveyor according to certain sorting information, at least one sorting outlet comprising a shock-absorbing device designed to cushion the fall of packages into a sorting receptacle,characterized in that said shock-absorbing device comprises a mobile parcel receiving platform moving vertically between a high position in which the platform extends above the sorting receptacle and a low position in which the platform extends inside said receptacle, and in that the sorting installation comprises a central unit parameterized to control the movement of the platform between the low position and the high position as a function of at least one first numerical value representing a certain first level of filling of said receptacle with objects.

[0014] The idea behind the invention is to ensure good cushioning of objects falling into the sorting outlets while ensuring optimized filling in volume and time of the sorting receptacle.

[0015] The object sorting installation according to the invention may also have the following features: the sole is mobile in horizontal translation between the high position and a rear position in which the sole extends next to the receptacle, the central unit being parameterized to control the movement of the sole between the high position and the rear position as a function of at least one second numerical data representative of a certain second level of filling of said receptacle with objects greater than said certain first level of filling; the sole is inclined downwards; the sole forms a cushion with elastic properties; the shock-absorbing device includes a chassis that retracts vertically to allow the vertical translational movement of the sole; when the sole is in the lower position, the receiving sole extends in the lower part of the sorting receptacle between one-third of the height of the receptacle and half the height of the sorting receptacle;The vertical translational movement of the receiving platform follows predetermined steps stored in the central processing unit's memory; the damping device includes a retaining device positioned above the sorting receptacle, said retaining device being designed to retain objects placed on the platform when the platform moves horizontally towards the rear position so that the retained objects fall by gravity into the sorting receptacle; the damping device includes a safety gate designed to be deployed horizontally above the platform when no sorting receptacle is in the sorting outlet so as to prevent packages from falling under the safety gate; the damping device includes a manual control panel for the platform's movement, designed to override the central processing unit's control of the platform's movement. Brief presentation of the drawings

[0016] The present invention will be better understood and other advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description of an embodiment taken by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which: [ Fig.1 ] there figure 1 illustrates schematically an object sorting installation according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 illustrates schematically a damping device according to the invention; [ Fig.3 ] there figure 3 schematically illustrates a shock-absorbing device according to the invention before positioning a sorting receptacle in the loading position; Fig. 4 ] there figure 4 schematically illustrates a shock-absorbing device according to the invention equipped with a sorting receptacle; [ Fig. 5 ] there figure 5 schematically illustrates a shock-absorbing device according to the invention equipped with a sorting receptacle moved to a lowered position; Fig. 6 ] there figure 6schematically illustrates a shock-absorbing device according to the invention equipped with a sorting receptacle during loading; [ Fig. 7 ] there figure 7 schematically illustrates a shock-absorbing device according to the invention with a sole displaced upwards to continue loading a sorting receptacle with objects; Fig. 8 ] there figure 8 schematically illustrates a shock-absorbing device according to the invention with a sole displaced backwards to dislodge an object remaining on the sole; Fig. 9 ] there figure 9 schematically illustrates a shock-absorbing device according to the invention with a sole in a rear position to continue loading the sorting receptacle with objects; Fig. 10 ] there Figure 10 schematically illustrates a shock-absorbing device according to the invention with a full sorting receptacle ready to be emptied. Description of a method of implementation

[0017] The sorting installation 1 for objects 2 according to the invention shown in the figure 1 is particularly well suited for equipping a postal sorting center or a logistics platform.

[0018] By objects 2, we mean all types of objects such as parcels or packages, for example PPIs (for "Small International Packets") but also letters or any other object carrying sorting information and which can be processed in sorting facilities, such as postal or logistics facilities.

[0019] The sorting installation 1 for objects 2 according to the invention typically comprises a sorting conveyor 3 for objects 2 designed to convey the objects 2 in a certain conveying direction D1 and sorting outlets 4 distributed under the sorting conveyor 3 designed to receive each a sorting receptacle 5 in a loading position in which the objects 2 can be unloaded by gravity from the sorting conveyor 3 according to certain sorting information.

[0020] The information can be retrieved from a postal sorting address, a QR code, a barcode, or any other means affixed to the object 2.

[0021] The sorting installation 1 according to the invention has at least one sorting outlet 4 equipped with a shock-absorbing device 6 designed to cushion the fall of objects 2 into a sorting receptacle 5, as shown in the figures 2 to 10 .

[0022] Preferably, all 4 sorting outputs are each equipped with a shock-absorbing device 6.

[0023] Each shock-absorbing device 6 according to the invention comprises a receiving sole 7 for an object 2 movable in vertical translation, between a high position in which the sole 7 extends above the sorting receptacle 5, and a low position in which the sole 7 extends inside the sorting receptacle 5.

[0024] Without restricting the scope of the invention, the sole 7 may also be mobile in horizontal translation between the high position and a rear position in which the sole 7 extends next to the sorting receptacle 5.

[0025] By "next to the sorting receptacle", we mean that the sole 7 is not included in the ground area taken up by the sorting receptacle 5 seen from above.

[0026] The sole 7 according to the invention can also be inclined downwards so as to facilitate the fall of the objects 2 into the sorting receptacle 5 when they come into contact with the sole 7.

[0027] The greater the incline, the faster the objects will fall; conversely, the smaller the incline, the greater the cushioning.

[0028] The best compromise inclination ratio is between 15° and 20° relative to the horizontal.

[0029] The sole 7 may also be in the form of a mattress with elastic properties in order to cushion the fall of objects 2.

[0030] Positioning the mattress on the shock-absorbing device 6 and not in the sorting receptacle 5 allows maximum storage space to be retained in the sorting receptacles 5, especially when the mattress is moved into a rear position.

[0031] The mattress will, for example, be made of foam or latex, itself covered with a non-stick fabric.

[0032] To facilitate the vertical translational movement of the sole 7, the shock-absorbing device 6 will include, for example, a vertically retractable flexible frame 8a in which edges 14 connected to the sole roll up or roll down around an axis located above the receptacle.

[0033] Without restricting the scope of the invention, the shock-absorbing device 6 may also include a horizontally retractable frame 8b to allow horizontal translational movement of the sole 7.

[0034] The use of retractable frames here makes it possible to limit the footprint and to compact the sorting installation 1.

[0035] The sorting installation 1 according to the invention will also include a central unit 9 parameterized to control the movement of the sole 7 between the low position and the high position as a function of at least a first numerical data representative of a certain first level of filling of said sorting receptacle 5 in objects 2.

[0036] This first numerical data can be obtained using a fill sensor (optical or mechanical sensor, weight sensor, etc.).

[0037] The more the sorting receptacle 5 is filled, the more the central unit 9 commands the upward movement of the sole 7.

[0038] When the sorting receptacle 5 reaches a critical fill level, in the sense that the sole 7 in the high position prevents the loading of additional object 2 into the sorting receptacle 5, the central unit 9 can be configured to control the movement of the sole 7 between the high position and the rear position.

[0039] For this, the central unit 9 retrieves a second numerical data representative of a certain second level of filling of said sorting receptacle 5 in objects 2 greater than said certain first level of filling.

[0040] When this second numerical data is greater than a threshold value stored in the memory of the central unit 9, the central unit 9 commands the movement of the sole 7 to the rear position.

[0041] Without restricting the scope of the invention, the central unit 9 can be parameterized to control the movement of the sole 7 in the lower position so that the receiving sole 7 extends in the lower part of the sorting receptacle 5 between a first third of the height of the receptacle and the mid-height of the sorting receptacle 5.

[0042] The central unit 9 can also be configured to control the vertical translational movement of the receiving sole 7, following predetermined steps. For this purpose, the unit will store numerical data representing these different steps in its memory.

[0043] In order to facilitate the removal of objects 2 which would have remained on the sole 7 during unloading from the sorting conveyor 3, the shock-absorbing device 6 may include a retaining device 10 arranged above the sorting receptacle 5.

[0044] The retaining device 10, here a kind of comb, will be designed to retain the objects 2 arranged on the sole 7 when the latter moves in horizontal translation towards the rear position so that the retained objects 2 fall by gravity into the sorting receptacle 5.

[0045] It may also be provided that the shock-absorbing device 6 includes a safety hatch 11 designed to be deployed horizontally above the sole 7 when no sorting receptacle 5 is in the sorting outlet 4 so as to prevent objects 2 from falling under the safety hatch 11.

[0046] Finally, the shock-absorbing device 6 according to the invention may also be equipped with a control panel 12 for manual control of the movement of the sole 7 designed to take precedence over the control of the movement of the sole 7 by the central unit 9.

[0047] The control panel 12 will, for example, allow the opening / closing of the safety hatch 11 to be controlled.

[0048] Finally, we can also provide guide rails 13 on the ground to guide the insertion of the sorting receptacle 5 when it is inserted into the loading position.

[0049] The filling process of a sorting receptacle 5 according to the invention proceeds as follows. An empty sorting receptacle 5 is placed by an operator in a loading position in a free location under a sorting outlet 4, as shown in the diagrams. figures 3 And 4 .

[0050] The central unit 9 controls the movement of the sole 7 of the shock-absorbing device 6 into the lowered position and in the direction of arrow F1, see figure 5 Objects 2 are then loaded into the sort output 4 according to their sorting information, as shown in the figure 6 As seen on the figure 7, the more the filling of the sorting receptacle 5 increases, as represented by arrow F3, the more the sole 7 is moved upwards, as represented by arrow F2.

[0051] Once the fill level of a sorting receptacle 5 reaches the threshold value, the central unit 9 commands the movement of the sole 7 backwards, as indicated by arrow F4, to free up remaining space in the sorting receptacle 5 and release any objects 2 that would have remained on the sole 7, as shown in the diagram. figure 8 .

[0052] Object loading, arrow F3, can continue until the sorting receptacle reaches its maximum acceptable capacity, as shown on the figure 9 .

[0053] Once all the objects 2 have been loaded into the sorting receptacle 5, an operator retrieves the full sorting receptacle 5, represented by the OUT arrow. Figure 10 , to replace it with an empty sorting receptacle 5 in the loading position.

Claims

1. Facility (1) for sorting objects (2), comprising an object-sorting conveyor (3) designed to convey the objects in a certain conveying direction (D1) and sorting outlets (4) distributed under the sorting conveyor each designed to receive a sorting receptacle (5) in a loading position in which the objects can be discharged by gravity from the sorting conveyor according to certain sorting information, at least one sorting outlet comprises a damping device (6) designed to dampen the fall of the packages into a sorting receptacle, said damping device comprising a package-receiving base (7) movable in vertical translation between a high position in which the base extends above the sorting receptacle and a low position in which the base extends inside said receptacle, characterised in that the sorting facility comprises a central unit (9) configured to control the movement of the base between the low position and the high position according to at least one first digital data item representing a certain first filling level of said receptacle with objects.

2. Facility (1) for sorting packages (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the base is movable in horizontal translation between the high position and a rear position in which the base extends next to the receptacle, and in that the central unit is configured to control the movement of the base between the high position and the rear position according to at least one second digital data item representing a certain second filling level of said receptacle with objects that is greater than said certain first filling level.

3. Facility (1) for sorting packages (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the base is inclined downwardly.

4. Facility (1) for sorting packages (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base forms a mattress with elastic properties.

5. Facility (1) for sorting packages (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the damping device comprises a vertically retractable frame (8a) to enable the vertical translational movement of the base.

6. Facility (1) for sorting packages (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, when the base is in the low position, the receiving base extends in the lower part of the sorting receptacle between a first third of the height of the receptacle and the half-height of the sorting receptacle.

7. Facility (1) for sorting packages (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vertical translational movement of the receiving base is carried out in predetermined steps recorded in the memory of the central unit.

8. Facility (1) for sorting packages (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the damping device comprises a retaining device (10) disposed above the sorting receptacle, said retaining device is designed to retain the objects disposed on the base when the base moves in horizontal translation toward the rear position such that the retained objects fall by gravity into the sorting receptacle.

9. Facility (1) for sorting packages (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the damping device comprises a safety hatch (11) designed to be deployed horizontally above the base when no sorting receptacle is in the sorting outlet so as to prevent the packages from falling under the safety hatch.

10. Facility (1) for sorting packages (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the damping device comprises a console (12) for manually controlling the movement of the base designed to take over the control of the movement of the hearth base by the central unit.