Installation for sorting heterogeneous objects and its system for orderly unloading of objects into sorting receptacles

Abstract

The invention relates to an object sorting installation (1) comprising a sorting conveyor (3) designed to convey the objects sequentially, sorting outlets (4) distributed along the sorting conveyor, and sorting receptacles (5), each disposed under a sorting outlet in a loading position, designed to receive said objects by gravity from the sorting outlets in a predetermined loading order. Each sorting receptacle in the loading position has a bottom (6) inclined relative to the horizontal, and each sorting outlet is equipped with a retaining element (7) extending into the sorting receptacle when it is in the loading position to retain at least one object loaded into the receptacle, said retaining element being movable in translation parallel to said bottom along a certain filling direction (D1). Figure to be published: 2

Description

Title of the invention: Installation for sorting heterogeneous objects and its system for orderly unloading of objects into sorting receptacles Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of sorting heterogeneous objects and relates more particularly to a sorting installation suitable for sorting objects such as parcels, packages, letters, PPI, etc. Prior art

[0002] Today there are many sorting installations capable of sorting heterogeneous objects at high speed, such as parcels, packages, letters and PPL

[0003] This type of sorting installation, as described in document EP3797882, typically comprises a sorting conveyor designed to convey the objects in series, sorting outlets distributed along the sorting conveyor and sorting receptacles each arranged under a sorting outlet and designed to receive said objects in bulk by gravity from the sorting outlets according to a certain loading order.

[0004] The order of loading in a sorting receptacle, corresponding for example to the ordering of objects for a delivery round by the postman, is therefore lost when loading objects in bulk.

[0005] To overcome this problem, the bulk of objects is recovered afterwards by an operator to be manually reordered in a delivery receptacle according to the loading order.

[0006] However, there is now a need to reduce sorting times, limit the steps carried out manually which generate errors and preserve the integrity of objects as much as possible during their processing in the sorting installation. Summary of the invention

[0007] The objective of the invention is therefore to solve the aforementioned problems.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to an object sorting installation comprising a sorting conveyor designed to convey the objects in series, sorting outlets distributed along the sorting conveyor and sorting receptacles each arranged under a sorting outlet in a loading position designed to receive said objects by gravity from the sorting outlets according to a certain predetermined loading order, characterized in that each sorting receptacle in the loading position has a bottom inclined relative to the horizontal and in that each sorting outlet is equipped with a retaining element extending into the sorting receptacle when it is in the loading position to retain at least one object loaded in the sorting receptacle, said retaining element being movable in translation parallel to said bottom in a certain filling direction so as to dynamically store a stack of objects respecting said certain loading order.

[0009] The idea behind the invention is to maintain the ordering of the objects loaded into the sorting receptacles from the sorting outlets. The invention therefore consists of dynamically creating a stack of objects in a sorting receptacle without forcing insertion for each new object loaded and without releasing the pressure on the existing stack so that it does not collapse.

[0010] The object sorting installation according to the invention may also have the following particular features:

[0011] - the retaining element is movable between a high position in which it extends the sorting outlet for forming a receiving surface for an object to be loaded into the sorting receptacle and at least one lower position in which the retaining element is offset in the filling direction so that an object previously loaded into the sorting receptacle forms said receiving surface;

[0012] - the receiving surface extends the sorting outlet substantially in the same plane;

[0013] - the retaining element is in the form of a pallet which extends perpendicularly slightly in relation to the bottom of the sorting receptacle;

[0014] - a central unit configured to control the movement of the element of restraint in the filling direction before each object loading;

[0015] - the central unit is configured to control the movement of the element of retained in the filling direction from a digital data corresponding to the thickness of a next object to be loaded into the sorting receptacle;

[0016] - the sorting receptacle comprises an openwork side wall and in that the element of retainer is in the form of a comb complementary to the perforated side wall so that the retaining element is designed to comb the perforated side wall when it is moved in the filling direction out of the sorting receptacle in the loading position;

[0017] - the sorting receptacle is pivotally mounted on a carriage so that the sorting receptacle is designed to pivot between the loading position and an unloading position in which the bottom of the sorting receptacle is substantially horizontal;

[0018] - each sorting outlet includes a locking element designed to lock the trolley when the sorting receptacle is in the loading position and to release the trolley when the sorting receptacle is in the unloading position;

[0019] - each sorting receptacle includes a main opening on the top which extends in length and in that each sorting outlet comprises a frame designed to at least partially close the main opening of the sorting receptacle when it is in the loading position. Summary presentation of the drawings

[0020] The present invention will be better understood and other advantages will appear on reading the detailed description of an embodiment taken as a non-limiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

[0021] - [Fig.l] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an installation for sorting objects according to the invention;

[0022] - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates sorting outlets and receptacles sorting according to the invention including a sorting receptacle being installed under a sorting outlet;

[0023] - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates sorting outlets and receptacles sorting according to the invention, said sorting receptacles being installed under the sorting outlets in the loading position;

[0024] - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a sorting receptacle according to the invention in loading position with the retaining element outside the sorting receptacle;

[0025] - [Fig.5] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates a sorting receptacle according to the invention in the loading position with the retaining element in the high position;

[0026] - [Fig.6] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates a step 100 of the sorting process according to the invention;

[0027] - [Fig.7] [Fig.7] schematically illustrates a step 200 of the sorting process according to the invention;

[0028] - [Fig.8] [Fig.8] schematically illustrates a step 300 of the sorting process according to the invention;

[0029] - [Fig.9] [Fig.9] schematically illustrates a step 500 of the sorting process according to the invention;

[0030] - [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] schematically illustrates a step 600 of the sorting process according to the invention;

[0031] - [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] schematically illustrates a step 700 of the sorting process according to the invention; Description of an embodiment

[0032] The sorting installation 1 for objects 2 according to the invention shown in [Fig.l] is particularly well suited to equipping a postal sorting center or a logistics platform for processing heterogeneous objects.

[0033] By heterogeneous objects 2, we mean all types of objects such as parcels or packages, PPIs (for "Small International Packages") but also letters or flat objects or any other object carrying sorting information that can be processed in sorting installations.

[0034] The sorting installation 1 for objects 2 according to the invention more particularly comprises a sorting conveyor 3 designed to convey the objects 2 in series, sorting outlets 4 distributed along the sorting conveyor 3 and sorting receptacles 5 each arranged under a sorting outlet 4 in a loading position and each designed to receive said objects 2 by gravity from the sorting outlets 4 according to a certain predetermined loading order.

[0035] By predetermined loading order, it is meant that the objects 2 are sorted in the sorting outlets 4 according to a certain ordering defined by a sorting plan comprising the list of objects 2 to be sorted and the sorting outlets 4 in which they must be sorted.

[0036] The order of loading into a sorting receptacle 5 could, for example, correspond to an order of distribution of the objects for a postman's round.

[0037] Each sorting receptacle 5 according to the invention, as shown in Figures 1 to 12, has in the loading position a bottom 6 inclined relative to the horizontal so that the objects 2 can slide one by one from an end of the sorting receptacle facing upwards 5A to an end of the sorting receptacle facing downwards 5B.

[0038] Each sorting outlet 4 is also equipped with a retaining element 7, visible in FIGS. 2 to 12, designed to extend into the sorting receptacle 5 when it is in the loading position in order to retain at least one object 2 loaded in the sorting receptacle 5.

[0039] More particularly, the retaining element 7 may be in the form of a pallet which extends perpendicularly relative to the bottom of the sorting receptacle 5 so as to form a sort of dihedral and increase the stability of said at least one object 2 stored in the sorting receptacle 5.

[0040] Thus, since most of the objects 2 are flat, their storage on the bottom 6 of the sorting receptacle 5 is done on edge.

[0041] The retaining element 7 is also movable in translation parallel to said bottom 6 of the sorting receptacle 5 in a certain filling direction DI so as to dynamically store a stack of objects 2 respecting said predetermined loading order.

[0042] The progressive movement of the retaining element 7 in the filling direction DI allows a structured stacking of the objects 2 in the sorting receptacle 5 which respects the predetermined ordering.

[0043] The retaining element 7 thus prevents the formation of a bulk of objects 2 by preventing the uncontrolled sliding of the objects 2 towards the downward-facing end 5B of the sorting receptacle 5.

[0044] More particularly, the retaining element 7 may be movable between a high position, visible in [Fig.7], in which it extends the sorting outlet 5 to form a receiving surface SR for an object 2 to be loaded into the sorting receptacle 5 and at at least one low position, visible in [Fig.8], in which the retaining element 7 is offset in the filling direction DI so that an object 2 previously loaded into the sorting receptacle 5 forms said receiving surface SR.

[0045] It is understood that the retaining element 7 will have several low positions if several objects 2 are stored in the sorting receptacles 5.

[0046] This makes it possible to maintain a receiving surface SR for object 2 which facilitates the insertion of each new object 2 into the sorting receptacle 5 and limits the risks of stack tipping or damage to object 2 by crushing.

[0047] The receiving surface SR will thus allow the objects 2 to be inserted into the sorting receptacle 5 while maintaining the same spatial orientation as on the sorting conveyor 3.

[0048] Also, in order to control the loading speed of the objects 2 into the sorting receptacles 5, the receiving surface SR may extend the sorting outlet 5 substantially in the same plane P and therefore with the same slope.

[0049] The sorting installation 1 according to the invention may also comprise a central unit 8 configured to control the movement of the retaining element 7 in the filling direction DI before each loading of object 2.

[0050] The central unit 8 may also be configured to control the movement of the retaining element 7 in the filling direction DI from digital data corresponding to the thickness of a next object 2 to be loaded into the sorting receptacle 5.

[0051] For this, the central unit 8 may, for example, recover the digital data from a database of objects 2 already measured or recover the data directly from an object thickness sensor 2 placed on the sorting conveyor 3 or at the sorting outlet 5.

[0052] Thanks to the thickness data, the central unit 8 will be able to optimize the movement of the retaining element 7 in order to have a receiving surface SR which best extends the sorting outlet 5.

[0053] There is a need to recover the sorting receptacle 5 once loaded with objects 2.

[0054] For this, the retaining element 7 must be removed from the sorting receptacle 5 in the position of loading without damaging the stack of objects 2. The sorting receptacle 5 may in this case comprise an openwork side wall 9 and the retaining element 7 may be in the form of a comb complementary to the openwork side wall 9 so that the retaining element 7 will be designed to comb the openwork side wall 9 when it is moved in the filling direction DI out of the sorting receptacle 5, as shown in the figures

[0055] In the same way, the retaining element 7 can also be inserted into an empty sorting receptacle 5 in the loading position by passing through the perforated side wall. 9 and be placed in the high position in the filling direction Dl.

[0056] The sorting receptacle 5 may also be pivotally mounted on a carriage 10 so that the sorting receptacle 5 can pivot between the loading position and an unloading position in which the bottom 6 of the sorting receptacle 5 is substantially horizontal.

[0057] In the unloading position, the sorting receptacle 5 can be moved using the trolley 10 to be brought to conveyors.

[0058] The unloading position also makes it possible to present the stack to an operator in an ergonomic manner, the latter being able to access the sequence both in the order of insertion and in its reverse order.

[0059] Each sorting outlet 4 may also comprise a locking element 11 designed to lock the trolley when the sorting receptacle 5 is in the loading position and to release the trolley 10 when the sorting receptacle 5 is in the unloading position.

[0060] Similarly, guide elements 12 may be provided at each sorting outlet 4 in order to guide the positioning of a sorting receptacle 5 in the loading position.

[0061] The sorting receptacles 5 according to the invention will comprise, for example, a bottom wall whose bottom 6 is designed to store the objects in a stack, two side walls 13 which extend lengthwise and the perforated side wall 9 which extends widthwise.

[0062] Each sorting receptacle 5 will have a main opening OP on the top of the sorting receptacle 5 and a lateral opening OL which will face the perforated lateral wall 9.

[0063] With this type of sorting receptacle 5, each sorting outlet 4 may be equipped with a frame 14 designed to at least partially close the main opening OP of a sorting receptacle 5 in the loading position.

[0064] The frame 14 will thus prevent the objects 2 from tipping from the stack out of the sorting receptacle 5.

[0065] Each sorting receptacle 5 may also comprise a closing pallet 15 designed to close the lateral opening OL once the sorting receptacle 5 is sufficiently loaded with objects 2.

[0066] The closing pallet 15 also makes it possible to hold the stack of objects 2 on edge in the sorting receptacle 5 in the unloading position.

[0067] Furthermore, when the sorting receptacle 5 is extracted from its sorting outlet 4, the sorting sequence continues on the other sorting receptacles 5 in the loading position without stopping the sorting conveyor 3.

[0068] The sorting process using the sorting installation according to the invention therefore operates in the following manner:

[0069] At a step 100 shown in [Fig.6], an empty sorting receptacle 5 is brought onto a carriage 10 to be positioned under a sorting outlet 4 in a position of loading.

[0070] In a step 200 shown in [Fig.7], the retaining element 7 is moved in the filling direction DI to be inserted into the sorting receptacle 5 to the upper position to allow the insertion of a first object 2 into the sorting receptacle 5.

[0071] In a step 300 shown in [Fig. 8], the central unit 8 retrieves a thickness data of a second object 2 to be inserted into the sorting receptacle 5 in the loading order and controls the movement of the retaining element 7 in the filling direction DI so that the first inserted object 2 forms the receiving surface SR for the second object 2.

[0072] At a step 400, step 300 is repeated for each new object 2 to be inserted into the sorting receptacle 5 according to the loading order.

[0073] At a step 500 shown in [Fig.9], the sorting receptacle 5 is full, the retaining element 7 is moved in the filling direction DI out of the sorting receptacle 5 and the closing pallet 15 is positioned to close the side opening OL.

[0074] At a step 600 shown in [Fig. 10], the sorting receptacle 5 is moved using the carriage 10 still with the bottom 6 inclined.

[0075] At a step 700 shown in [Fig. 11], the sorting receptacle 5 is pivoted into the unloading position to be brought by carriage 10 to a conveyor.

Claims

Claims

1. Sorting installation (1) for objects (2) comprising a sorting conveyor (3) designed to convey the objects in series, sorting outlets (4) distributed along the sorting conveyor and sorting receptacles (5) each arranged under a sorting outlet in a loading position designed to receive said objects by gravity from the sorting outlets according to a certain predetermined loading order, characterized in that each sorting receptacle in the loading position has a bottom (6) inclined relative to the horizontal and in that each sorting outlet is equipped with a retaining element (7) extending into the sorting receptacle when it is in the loading position to retain at least one object loaded in the sorting receptacle, said retaining element being movable in translation parallel to said bottom in a certain filling direction (Dl) so as to dynamically store a stack of objects respecting said certain loading order.

2. An object sorting installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining element is movable between a high position in which it extends the sorting outlet to form a receiving surface (SR) for an object to be loaded into the sorting receptacle and at least one low position in which the retaining element is offset in the filling direction so that an object previously loaded into the sorting receptacle forms said receiving surface.

3. Object sorting installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the receiving surface extends the sorting outlet substantially in the same plane (P).

4. An object sorting installation according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the retaining element is in the form of a pallet which extends perpendicularly to the bottom of the sorting receptacle.

5. An object sorting installation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a central unit (8) configured to control the movement of the retaining element in the filling direction before each object loading.

6. An object sorting installation according to claim 5, characterized in that the central unit is configured to control the movement of the retaining element in the filling direction from a digital datum corresponding to the thickness of a next object to be load into the sorting receptacle.

7. An object sorting installation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sorting receptacle comprises an openwork side wall (9) and in that the retaining element is in the form of a comb complementary to the openwork side wall so that the retaining element is designed to comb the openwork side wall when it is moved in the filling direction out of the sorting receptacle in the loading position.

8. An object sorting installation according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sorting receptacle is pivotally mounted on a carriage (10) so that the sorting receptacle is designed to pivot between the loading position and an unloading position in which the bottom of the sorting receptacle is substantially horizontal.

9. An object sorting installation according to claim 8, characterized in that each sorting outlet comprises a locking element (11) designed to lock the carriage when the sorting receptacle is in the loading position and to release the carriage when the sorting receptacle is in the unloading position.

10. An object sorting installation according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each sorting receptacle comprises a main opening (OP) on the top which extends lengthwise and in that each sorting outlet comprises a frame (14) designed to at least partially close the main opening of the sorting receptacle when it is in the loading position.

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