Parcel Sorting Receptacle Rotation for Compact Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated parcel sorting systems face challenges with increased throughput demands due to rising e-commerce volumes, requiring more sorting passes and physical space, which can lead to package damage and increased handling resources.
Innovation Solution
A parcel sorting equipment with a sorting conveyor and control unit that utilizes a receptacle permutation device with a shaft and mechanical synchronization system to vertically rotate and position multiple receptacles under each sorting outlet, allowing for more logical outputs with a reduced physical footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of sorting outputs is increased to handle more destinations, then the sorting capacity is improved, but the physical footprint and handling resources required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a horizontal arrangement of sorting outputs to a vertical arrangement by rotating receptacles about a horizontal axis. Multiple receptacles are stacked vertically and rotated into position under the sorting outlet, effectively using the vertical dimension to increase sorting capacity without expanding the horizontal footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic movement of receptacles through vertical rotation about a horizontal axis. The receptacles are rotated from a storage position to a filling position under the sorting outlet and then to an evacuation position, enabling multiple receptacles to serve the same physical output location sequentially.
2Productivity
If the number of sorting outputs is increased to handle more destinations, then the sorting capacity is improved, but the handling resources required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacles are rotated dynamically between storage, filling, and evacuation positions. This dynamic positioning allows the system to maintain multiple active receptacles without requiring proportional increases in handling resources, as receptacles are automatically positioned and retrieved through the rotation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple receptacles share the same physical sorting output location through vertical rotation. A single physical output can serve multiple destinations by cycling through different receptacles, making the system more efficient and reducing the total number of physical outputs needed.
3Productivity
If throughput speed is increased to meet e-commerce volumes, then productivity is improved, but the risk of damaging packages increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous operation by having multiple receptacles in different phases of the rotation cycle. While some receptacles are being filled from the conveyor, others are being evacuated or are in the process of rotating into position, ensuring uninterrupted sorting flow without requiring excessive speed that could cause damage.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a parcel sorting equipment (1) for parcels (2) comprising a sorting conveyor (3), sorting outlets (4) distributed along said conveyor, and a control unit (7) capable of controlling the sorting conveyor to sort the parcels in the sorting outlets according to certain parcel sorting information. Each sorting outlet is arranged to store a plurality of sorting receptacles (6), each associated with parcel sorting information stored in the memory of the control unit. The equipment also includes, at each sorting outlet, a receptacle swapping device (8) comprising a shaft (8a) that rotates about a first horizontal axis of rotation (A1). The shaft is provided with supports (9), each designed to store and drive a parcel receptacle in vertical rotation about the first axis of rotation.