Package Redistribution in Sorting Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for loading sorted packages into transport units in sorting stations are inefficient, often requiring manual loading and resulting in wasted space despite high technical effort.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves scanning packages to determine size measurements and sorting parameters, using a control device to optimize sorting sequences for space-saving loading, and employing a robot to load packages into transport units based on these optimized sequences, without temporary storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automated robot loading is used, then automation extent is improved, but loading efficiency and space utilization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control device calculates optimized sorting sequences in advance based on package dimensions and transport unit characteristics before the loading process begins. This preliminary optimization of the sorting sequence enables the robot to load packages in a space-efficient manner, achieving both automation and high loading efficiency simultaneously.
2Device complexity
If packages are loaded in traditional sequences, then loading process is simple, but space utilization in transport units deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control device changes the sorting sequence parameter based on package dimensions and transport unit characteristics. By dynamically adjusting the sequence in which packages are loaded, the system optimizes space utilization while maintaining a relatively simple automated loading process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If temporary storage is used, then package handling flexibility is improved, but processing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control device determines optimized sorting sequences in advance based on scanned package data, eliminating the need for temporary storage. This preliminary calculation of optimal sequences allows packages to be loaded directly into transport units in the most space-efficient order, reducing dwell time while maintaining handling flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for redistributing packages in a sorting station, in which the packages are delivered in a bundled manner in separate transport units to the sorting station, unloaded in the sorting station and transported successively to a scanning device in at least one transport sequence. The packages of the at least one transport sequence are scanned successively in accordance with the at least one transport sequence in order to detect respectively at least one size measurement and respectively at least one sorting parameter. The scanned packages are sorted in the at least one transport sequence in a sorting device on the basis of the at least one sorting parameter and divided into at least two parallel sorting sequences of packages. The packages of the parallel sorting sequences are successively loaded into different transport units by at least one robot in accordance with the sorting sequences and are transported away from the sorting station by the transport units. A control device determines at least two parallel, theoretical sorting sequences based on the at least one transport sequence and the at least one sorting parameter of the packages of the at least one transport sequence. The control device determines optimized sorting sequences to be loaded successively into the transport units in a space-saving manner based on the theoretical sorting sequences, based on the at least one size measurement of the packages of the theoretical sorting sequences and based on a loading algorithm. Only individual packages are removed from the transport sequence and/or from the sorting sequences and are reintroduced into the transport sequence and/or sorting sequences at another position in order to form the optimized sorting sequences determined by the control device. The packages are loaded into the transport units by the at least one robot in accordance with the optimized sorting sequences.