Sorting Device Storage Before Branching Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sorting devices face issues with unequal distributions of objects between main conveyor lines, leading to unbalanced loads and incorrect sorting assignments when a large number of objects need to be transferred from one line to another without gaps in the flow.
Innovation Solution
Temporarily storing objects in storage devices located before the branching points, allowing for flexible storage and reintroduction into the main conveyor lines, and using a controller to manage gaps and optimize the sorting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If objects are fed continuously without gaps from one main conveyor line to another, then throughput is maintained, but unequal distributions cause incorrect sorting assignments and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device pre-stores objects before they reach the branching point, allowing the system to prepare for potential routing needs in advance. This preliminary storage action enables the detection device to determine sorting destinations without time pressure, ensuring accurate sorting assignments while maintaining continuous throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device acts as an intermediary buffer between the continuous object flow and the routing decision points. It decouples the continuous feeding process from the discrete routing decisions, allowing sorting accuracy to be improved without compromising throughput by providing a pause point for proper destination determination.
2Reliability
If storage time is increased to improve sorting accuracy, then fewer incorrect assignments occur, but system complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device is integrated into the existing conveyor system architecture, merging the storage function with the routing infrastructure. By combining storage with the branching point location, the system achieves extended storage capability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device utilizes the spatial dimension at the branching point area, where unused space naturally exists in the conveyor layout. This transforms a two-dimensional conveyor surface into a three-dimensional storage-routings system, increasing storage capacity without significantly expanding the system footprint or complexity.
3Volume of stationary object
If storage space is located after branching points, then space utilization is poor, but if located before branching points, then storage capacity and flexibility are improved
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning storage before the branching point, the system performs preliminary storage actions at the optimal location. This allows objects to be staged for routing decisions, maximizing the utility of storage space by placing it where it can most effectively influence routing outcomes rather than where space is merely abundant.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a sorting device for articles and to a method for sorting articles. The sorting device comprises at least two main conveyor lines, each conveying consecutively arranged articles in a direction of conveyance, at least two feeder devices, which respectively feed the articles to one of the main conveyor lines, at least two recognition devices each arranged in the direction of conveyance behind the feeder devices, which detect a sorting destination for each article, a plurality of sorting outlets arranged at the end of each main conveyor line, each assigned to sorting destinations, and to which the articles are transported according to their sorting destination. The sorting device further comprises at least two connecting conveyor lines, each branching off the main conveyor lines at branch points, each of which connecting two main conveyor lines, and by way of which the articles can be conveyed from one main conveyor line to another main conveyor line, and at least one storage device, in which articles can be stored temporarily. In order to improve upon conventional sorting devices, the storage device according to the invention feeds temporarily stored articles to one of the main conveyor lines in the direction of conveyance before at least one of the branch points.