AUTOMATED VERTICAL SORTING SYSTEM FOR ITEMS

Abstract

AUTOMATED VERTICAL SORTING SYSTEM FOR ITEMS The invention relates to a vertical sorting system for items (A) comprising: a rack (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) extending along a longitudinal direction and having a plurality of sorting levels (4), each sorting level (4) being configured to receive at least one sorting container (5); an automated sorting device (7) configured to move an item (A) from an item receiving level to a sorting level (4) and deposit it into a sorting container (5); and an automated evacuation device (9) configured to take a sorting container (5) from a sorting level (5) and move it to an evacuation level. Figure 2 is shown for the abstract.

Description

Title of the invention: AUTOMATED VERTICAL SORTING SYSTEM FOR ITEMS Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates generally to the field of intralogistics and particularly to an automated sorting system for items, for example in a warehouse. State of the art

[0002] In this field, systems for sorting parcels and other items are of particular importance, especially with the increase in electronic commerce.

[0003] Traditionally, sorting systems comprise a main conveyor line that receives the items to be sorted and distributes them to several secondary lines that receive the items from the main line and route them to their predetermined distribution stations. A typical example of such a system is a cross-belt sorting machine that includes a train of trolleys that moves in a closed circuit along loading stations, which are used to load the items to be sorted onto the trolleys, and unloading stations, where the items are unloaded and generally accumulated before delivery.

[0004] One problem with this type of sorting system is that they are very bulky due to the space occupied by the conveyors on the ground and the fact that the exit stations can be distributed on the outer periphery of the installation.

[0005] Another problem is that if maintenance is required on a component of the sorting machine, the entire line stops working, and the line can only start working again after repair.

[0006] The objective of the invention is therefore to provide an article sorting system with a reduced footprint while maintaining good sorting capacity, compared to known installations, and allowing for maintenance flexibility. Summary of the invention

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a vertical sorting system for articles comprising: • a shelving unit extending along a longitudinal direction and having a plurality of sorting levels, each sorting level being configured to receive at least one sorting container, • an automated sorting device configured to move an item from an item receiving level to a sorting level and deposit it into a sorting container, • an automated evacuation device configured to take a sorting container from a sorting level and move it to an evacuation level.

[0008] The arrangement of the sorting system in several stages makes it possible to significantly reduce the space occupied on the ground compared to known prior art sorting systems.

[0009] Advantageously, the system can include a plurality of automated sorting devices. This makes it possible to increase the sorting capacity on the one hand and, on the other hand, to increase the system's flexibility in the event of maintenance, particularly if they can operate independently of each other. Indeed, in the event of maintenance on one sorting device, at least one other sorting device remains available to continue the sorting operation.

[0010] Advantageously, the sorting system may further include a sorting aisle located on one side of the racking, said aisle being adjacent and parallel to the racking, the sorting device is configured to move in said sorting aisle.

[0011] For the purposes of the invention, the sorting aisle represents the three-dimensional space in which an automatically guided mobile robot can move horizontally and vertically.

[0012] Advantageously, the evacuation device is also configured to move within the sorting aisle. This results in a more compact system and increases the storage capacity for sorted items.

[0013] Advantageously, the sorting device can also be a disposal device. This allows for simplified control of the system by reducing the number of devices to be controlled.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the system may further comprise an evacuation aisle adjacent and parallel to the racking and arranged on the opposite side of the racking from the sorting aisle, the evacuation device being configured to move in said evacuation aisle. This has the advantage of avoiding congestion in the sorting aisle by reserving it solely for sorting and thus increasing the sorting rate.

[0015] Advantageously, the sorting device can be an automatically guided mobile robot (AMR) comprising climbing means capable of cooperating with complementary climbing means arranged in the sorting aisle, and transfer means for transferring the article to the sorting container.

[0016] Advantageously, the sorting system can include a plurality of automatically guided mobile robots as sorting means.

[0017] An AMR (Automatic Movement Reduction) system allows one or more items to be sorted to be transported from the receiving level (e.g., the ground) to the sorting level. Such an AMR can be adapted to quickly transport an item to be sorted to make sorting efficient. For example, it can be small in size, but large enough to transport an item (for example, a parcel) to be sorted, it can be lightweight for quick loading and unloading... etc.

[0018] Increasing the number of AMRs makes vertical sorting more efficient.

[0019] According to some embodiments, the evacuation device may be a trolley automatically guided distinct from an automatically guided mobile robot (AMR) and is adapted for the transport of sorting containers, said trolley comprising climbing means capable of cooperating with second complementary climbing means, arranged in the sorting aisle or the evacuation aisle, and gripping means for taking a sorting container to be moved.

[0020] The evacuation device can be specifically adapted for transporting sorting containers. On the one hand, evacuation requires a device large and robust enough to allow the loading of sorting containers (especially those loaded with sorted items), and on the other hand, the evacuation operation does not need to be carried out at the same speed as the sorting. Thus, it is possible to have a limited number of robust trolleys with simplified mechanics, just sufficient to transport a container, for example, from a sorting level to an evacuation level.

[0021] Thus, by combining in the sorting system, a plurality of light and fast AMRs adapted to ensure the sorting operation by transporting the articles to be sorted from the receiving level (the ground) to the sorting level, and on the other hand trolleys adapted to ensure the movement of sorting containers (especially when they are full), an efficient sorting system with reduced costs is obtained.

[0022] According to embodiments: • A sorting level may include a sorting track allowing the robot to move automatically guided within said sorting level from or towards a sorting container, • the sorting aisle may include a sorting well connecting said sorting track to the item receiving level, said sorting well including additional climbing means to allow the automatically guided robot to move in the well.

[0023] According to embodiments: • A sorting level may include a discharge track allowing for the movement of an automatically guided trolley within said sorting level to pick up or deposit a sorting container to be moved, • the evacuation aisle may include an evacuation shaft connecting said evacuation track to the item evacuation level, said evacuation shaft including second complementary climbing means to permit the movement of the automatically guided trolley in the evacuation shaft.

[0024] The invention also relates to a method for sorting articles implementing the sorting system as described above. Brief description of the figures

[0025] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description in relation to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, in which:

[0026] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a simplified example of a sorting system according to the invention, Viewed from the front.

[0027] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a first variant of the sorting system according to the invention, seen from the front.

[0028] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a second variant of the sorting system according to the invention, also seen from the front.

[0029] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a top view of the sorting system of [Fig.3].

[0030] In the following description, elements having an identical structure or analogous functions may be designated by the same references. Detailed description

[0031] The invention relates to a vertical sorting system for articles. Figure 1 schematically represents a front view of a first simplified example of a sorting system 1 according to the invention. The sorting system 1 comprises a three-dimensional rack 2a formed of a plurality of tiers 4, also called sorting levels. The rack 2a extends along the longitudinal direction X and comprises, at each sorting level 4, a sorting container 5. A sorting level 4 may also have a plurality of sorting containers along the longitudinal direction.

[0032] To ensure sorting operations, the system 1 includes an automated sorting device 7 configured to move an item A from an item receiving level, for example from the lowest level of the installation (ground level) and move it up to a sorting level 4 to deposit it in a sorting container 5.

[0033] The sorting device can have different forms, for example a shuttle, a robotic arm or an Automatically Guided Robot (AMR).

[0034] In the example of [Fig. 1], the sorting device 7 is an AMR that includes climbing means 7a, of a type known to those skilled in the art, for example, gears. The AMR 7 is configured to move in the sorting aisle 3 adjacent to the racking 2a. To allow vertical movement of the AMR, the aisle 3 may include climbing means, such as uprights 6 equipped with racks 6a. The AMR can rotate its gears, which will cooperate with the racks to allow it to move up or down.

[0035] The system of [Fig.1] may also include a second shelving 2b parallel to shelving 2a.

[0036] The sorting system 1 also includes an automated evacuation device configured to take a sorting container 5 (for example full) from a sorting level and move it to an evacuation level, or vice versa.

[0037] The evacuation device can have different forms, for example a shuttle, a manipulator or even an AMR 7 such as that used as a sorting device. According to preferred embodiments, the evacuation device can be an automatically guided trolley 9 adapted for moving the sorting containers 5 (see [Fig. 1], right).

[0038] In this case, the AMR 7s are reserved for sorting individual items and can be small in size and moved at high speeds to increase the sorting rate. Conversely, for removal, larger trolleys are required, and they can be few in number and moved at low speeds to preserve the integrity of the container being moved. This also reduces costs while increasing sorting performance.

[0039] In the example of [Fig.1] the evacuation of full containers can be done from the same sorting aisle 3.

[0040] However, according to preferred examples, such as that shown in [Fig. 2], a discharge aisle 8 parallel and opposite to the sorting aisle 3 can be added. In this case, the automatically guided trolley 9 is configured to move the sorting containers into the discharge aisle 8.

[0041] In the example in [Fig.2], the sorting system comprises 4 shelves 2a to 2d. In other examples not shown, it may comprise a larger number of shelves.

[0042] Figure 3 shows an example of an embodiment in which the sorting system 10 comprises: • a sorting level 40 which includes a track 31 allowing movement of the robot automatically guided in said sorting level 40 from or to the sorting container 50. In the example, the track 31 is arranged in the aisle 30. Advantageously, several sorting levels 40 may each include a track to allow movement in the sorting level. • the sorting aisle 30 includes a shaft 32 connecting the track(s) 31 to the item receiving level (e.g. the ground or the roof).

[0043] The track may, for example, include rails.

[0044] The well 32 includes climbing means 33 to allow the movement of the automatically guided robot 7.

[0045] Advantageously, the aisle 3 can include a plurality of shafts 32, for example, a first shaft 32 can be reserved for the ascent of the AMRs and a second shaft 32 reserved for their descent. The robots can thus ascend from one shaft and exit from another to increase performance.

[0046] Advantageously, the track height can be adapted to the height of the sorting container to facilitate the transfer of item A.

[0047] The robot may include means for transferring articles to the sorting container, for example a cross-belt type moving belt.

[0048] Advantageously, the transfer means can be adapted to the height of the container. For example, the robot can have a telescopic platform carrying the moving belt on which the item is placed.

[0049] The system of [Fig.3] may further include an evacuation aisle 80. The evacuation aisle may include an evacuation track 81 and a second shaft 82 connecting said track to the article evacuation level.

[0050] The second shaft includes additional climbing means 83 to allow the automatically guided carriage to move.

[0051] The climbing means arranged in the sorting aisle and / or in the evacuation aisle may include uprights fitted with racks. They may also include any other climbing means known to a person skilled in the art.

[0052] The invention also relates to an article sorting installation comprising an article sorting system as described above. In such an installation, the system can, for example, be arranged so that the lowest level is the ground. It can also be buried so that the ground is the highest level and can therefore correspond to the receiving and / or discharge level for articles.

[0053] The invention also relates to a method for sorting articles implementing the sorting system described above.

Claims

Demands

1. A vertical sorting system (1; 1'; 10) for items (A, A') comprising: • a rack (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d; 20a, 20b, 20c) extending in a longitudinal direction and having a plurality of sorting levels (4; 40), each sorting level (4; 40) being configured to receive at least one sorting container (5; 50), • an automated sorting device (7) configured to move an item (A, A') from an item receiving level to a sorting level (4; 40) and deposit it into a sorting container (5; 50), • an automated disposal device (7; 9) configured to pick up a sorting container (5; 50) from a sorting level (5; 50) and move it to a disposal level, and • a sorting aisle (3; 30) located on one side of the shelving (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d; 20a, 20b, 20c), said aisle being adjacent and parallel to the shelving (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d;20a, 20b, 20c), the sorting device (7) is configured to move in said sorting aisle (3; 30), • Characterized in that it further comprises an evacuation aisle (8; 80) adjacent and parallel to the racking (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d; 20a, 20b, 20c) and arranged on the opposite side of the racking relative to the sorting aisle (3; 30), the evacuation device (9) being configured to move in said evacuation aisle (8; 80).;

2. Sorting system (1; 1'; 10) according to claim 1, wherein the sorting device (7) is an automatically guided mobile robot (AMR) comprising climbing means (7a) capable of cooperating with complementary climbing means (6a; 33) arranged in the sorting aisle (3; 30), and transfer means for transferring the article (A) to the sorting container (5; 50).

3. Sorting system (1; 1'; 10) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the evacuation device (9) is an automatically guided trolley separate from an automatically guided mobile robot and is adapted for transporting sorting containers (5; 50), said trolley comprising climbing means capable of cooperating with second complementary climbing means (8a; 83), arranged in the sorting aisle (3; 30) or the evacuation aisle (8; 80), and gripping means for taking a sorting container (5; 50) to be moved.

4. Sorting system (10) according to any one of claims 2 or 3 wherein: • a sorting level (40) comprises a sorting track (31) enabling movement of the automatically guided robot (7) in said sorting level (40) from or to a sorting container (50), • the sorting aisle (30) comprises a sorting well (32) connecting said sorting track (31) to the item receiving level, said sorting well (32) comprising additional climbing means (33) to enable movement of the automatically guided robot (7) in the well (32).

5. Sorting system (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein: • a sorting level (40) includes an evacuation track (81) enabling movement of the automatically guided trolley (9) in said sorting level (40) to pick up or deposit a sorting container (50) to be moved, • the evacuation aisle (80) includes an evacuation well (82) connecting said evacuation track (81) to the item evacuation level, said evacuation well (82) including the second complementary climbing means (83) to enable movement of the automatically guided trolley in the evacuation well (82).

6. Method for sorting articles (A, A') implementing the sorting system (1; 1'; 10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

Images