Sorting Station Package Loading Using Parallel Sequences and One Robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for loading sorted packages into transport units at sorting stations are inefficient, often requiring manual loading and resulting in wasted space despite technical aids.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves scanning packages to detect sorting parameters, sorting them into parallel sequences, and using a common robot to load them into transport units based on optimized sequences determined by a control device, considering both sorting parameters and loading states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual loading is used to load packages into transport units, then loading accuracy and speed are improved, but automation level deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control device determines an optimized loading sequence in advance based on sorting parameters and loading states before the actual loading process. This preliminary optimization enables the robot to load packages efficiently without requiring manual intervention during the loading operation, thus maintaining high productivity while achieving full automation.
2Extent of automation
If traditional loading methods are used, then automation is achieved, but space utilization in transport units deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control device continuously monitors the loading state of transport units and uses this feedback information to dynamically determine the optimized loading sequence. This feedback mechanism ensures that packages are loaded in an order that maximizes space utilization, with the control device adjusting the sequence based on real-time loading conditions while maintaining automated operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If packages are sorted into multiple parallel sequences, then sorting capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single control device is designed to manage multiple parallel sorting sequences and determine optimized loading sequences for packages across all sequences. This universal control approach enables the system to handle complex multi-sequence sorting operations without proportionally increasing hardware complexity, as the control device performs multiple functions including sequence management, optimization calculation, and coordination of the loading process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for redistributing packages in a sorting station is described and illustrated. In order to enable a further increased efficiency of sorting stations with reasonable effort, it is provided that the packages are scanned successively in at least one transport sequence in order to respectively detect at least one sorting parameter in accordance with the at least one transport sequence, that 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 are divided into at least two parallel sorting sequences of packages, that the packages of the parallel sorting sequences are loaded one after the other into at least one transport unit with at least one common robot in accordance with the sorting parameters, that a control device determines an optimized loading sequence for the at least one common robot based on the at least one sorting parameter of the packages of the at least two parallel sorting sequences and, preferably, based on at least one loading state of the at least one transport unit, and that the packages are loaded into the at least one transport unit by the at least one common robot in accordance with the optimized loading sequence.