U.S. patent application number 11/658925 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-30 for separating distance for overlapping flat parcels in a vertical position.
This patent application is currently assigned to Siemens Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Oliver Kutzer, Hauke Luebben, Michael Schwarzbauer.
Application Number | 20090189332 11/658925 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34968994 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090189332 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schwarzbauer; Michael ; et
al. |
July 30, 2009 |
Separating Distance for Overlapping Flat Parcels in a Vertical
Position
Abstract
An apparatus for separating overlapping parcels in a vertical
position has separating sections arranged along a transport path
immediately behind one another, and a drive controller for the
separating sections. Drives of those separating sections, in which
the most advanced upstream parcel is located are stopped
immediately as soon as its front edge is detected in a reception
position and a slip-free further transport is securely guaranteed.
Number and length of the separating sections are selected in
accordance with the range of parcel lengths and the rated transport
speed so that a subsequent parcel located at a minimum gap distance
is not yet located in the upstream rearmost stopped separating
section. The drive of each stopped separating section is started
again as soon as the rear edge of the preceding parcel has left
this separating section or as soon as the subsequent parcel is
located before a free separating section.
Inventors: |
Schwarzbauer; Michael;
(Konstanz, DE) ; Luebben; Hauke; (Radolfzell,
DE) ; Kutzer; Oliver; (Radolfzell, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG;I-47, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
ALBISRIEDERSTRASSE 245
ZURICH
CH-8047
CH
|
Assignee: |
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Munich
DE
|
Family ID: |
34968994 |
Appl. No.: |
11/658925 |
Filed: |
May 27, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
May 27, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2005/005712 |
371 Date: |
January 30, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/10.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2513/512 20130101;
B65H 2513/514 20130101; B65H 2511/514 20130101; B65H 29/12
20130101; B65H 5/021 20130101; B65H 7/18 20130101; B65H 3/5246
20130101; B65H 2701/1313 20130101; B65H 7/125 20130101; B65H
2701/1916 20130101; B65H 2701/1311 20130101; B65H 2513/512
20130101; B65H 2220/02 20130101; B65H 2513/514 20130101; B65H
2220/02 20130101; B65H 2701/1311 20130101; B65H 2220/01 20130101;
B65H 2701/1313 20130101; B65H 2220/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/10.03 |
International
Class: |
B65H 7/02 20060101
B65H007/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 30, 2004 |
DE |
10 2004 037 422.8 |
Claims
1.-4. (canceled)
5. An apparatus for separating overlapping flat parcels in a
vertical position, comprising: a number of separately-driven
separating sections arranged along a transport path immediately
behind one another; and a drive controller for the separating
sections, wherein each separating section comprises: transport
belts for transporting parcels, a retaining element at a height
between the transport belts and operating with frictional force on
the parcels, and an array of sensors arranged along the transport
path and configured to detect front and rear edges of the parcels,
wherein separated parcels are accepted clamped into a transport
means and removed from the separating distance at a reception point
at a downstream flow end of the separating apparatus, wherein the
drive controller comprises a drive motor for each separating
section, and is configured so that the drive motor of those
separating sections, in which a frontmost downstream parcel is
located, is immediately stopped as soon as its front edge is
detected in the reception point, wherein number and length of the
separating sections are selected in accordance with a range of
lengths of the parcels and rated transport speeds so that a
subsequent parcel spaced at a minimum gap in each case is not yet
located in a rearmost downstream stopped separating section, and
wherein the drive motor of each stopped separating section is
restarted as soon as a rear edge of a previous parcel in each case
has left a current separating section or as soon as the subsequent
parcel in each case is located before a free separating
section.
6. The separating apparatus of claim 5, wherein downstream rear
deflection rollers of the transport belt have a center point,
wherein a distance between the center point and a separating
section upstream from it to the reception point corresponds to a
minimum parcel length plus a minimum gap between the parcels minus
a distance, which the parcels cover during braking from the
relevant rated speed to a standstill, or one acceleration from
standstill to the relevant rated speed.
7. The separating apparatus of claim 5, wherein deflection rollers
of the transport belts have a center point, wherein upstream from
the separating sections at the reception point at least one
separating section is arranged, for which a distance of the center
points corresponds to a minimum gap between the parcels minus a
distance covered by the parcels on braking from the relevant rated
speed to standstill or on acceleration from standstill to the
relevant rated speed, and distances of the center points of these
separating sections from adjacent deflection rollers of adjacent
separating sections at least correspond to a distance which the
parcels cover on braking from the relevant rated speed to
standstill or on acceleration from standstill to the relevant rated
speed, but at a maximum are not greater than the minimum parcel
length.
8. The separating apparatus of claim 5, wherein downstream rear
deflection rollers of the transport belts have a center point,
wherein a distance between the center points of the deflection
rollers arranged upstream of the separating sections adjacent
downstream to the separating sections of their deflection rollers
on the transport path corresponds to an amount of a minimum gap by
which the parcels are spaced from one another, minus a distance
covered by the parcels on braking from the relevant rated speed to
standstill or on acceleration from standstill to the relevant rated
speed from the reception point at least the length of a longest
parcels minus a minimum gap between the parcels reduced by the
braking or acceleration distance.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a separating distance for
overlapping flat parcels in a vertical position in accordance with
the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] Single-stage (U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,925, U.S. Pat. No.
2,941,653) and multistage (U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,441 A) separating
devices are known. With multistage separating devices the
individual stages of the separating device are separated spatially
from each other. These are belt drive groups arranged separately
after one another (U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,441 A).
[0003] The device known from U.S. Pat. No. 2,941,653 known
comprises a separating section, in which the parcels are also
accelerated and an acceleration section in which the parcels are
further accelerated, and in which in addition in the case of a
double transport one of the parcels is removed.
[0004] Transferring parcels between two transport sections over a
transfer gap at different transport speeds is known from FR 2 657
857 A1.
[0005] The way in which parcels can be passed between two transport
sections at different transport speeds without a transfer gap is
known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,925, U.S. Pat. No. 2,941,653 and
U.S. Pat. No. 1,858,320 respectively. In this context, arranging
individually supported deflection rollers of the transport belts of
two adjacent transport sections alternating in height on a common
axis is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,925 and from U.S. Pat. No.
1,858,320.
[0006] The position of the parcels is monitored in these known
devices with the aid of light barriers. With these solutions it is
difficult to separate parcels in a wide range of lengths with high
throughput and while keeping the load imposed to a low level.
[0007] A separating distance described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,764
B2 features two separately driven separating sections, but which
are far enough away from each other for even the large parcels not
to be able to be located simultaneously in both separating section
during transport. A reception point is also arranged here after
each separating section. The separating sections thus do not act
jointly on a parcel or a double extraction.
[0008] In addition a separating section is known from DE 102 12 024
Al with two separating sections following directly after one
another, which however are not separately controllable.
[0009] The object of the invention is to create a separating
distance for overlapping flat parcels in a vertical position with
which the parcels can also be separated in a large range of lengths
with high-throughputs at low loads.
[0010] In accordance with the invention the object is achieved by
the features of claim 1.
[0011] In this case the drive control for the separating sections
is designed so that the drive of those separating sections, in
which the most advanced upstream parcel is located in each case are
stopped immediately as soon as its front edge is detected in the
reception position and a largely slip-free further transport is
securely guaranteed. Number and length of the separating sections
are selected in accordance with the range of parcel lengths and the
rated transport speed so that subsequent parcel located at the
minimum gap distance is not yet located in the upstream rearmost
stopped separating section. The drive of each stopped separating
section is started again as soon as the rear edge of the preceding
parcel has left this separating section in each case or as soon as
the subsequent parcel in each case is located just before a free
separating section.
[0012] The stop/start process of the separating sections for
transporting the preceding parcel thus does not influence the
transport of the subsequent parcel in the separating distance,
which then without interruption and load moves with a small gap
from the preceding parcel up to the reception point.
[0013] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set down in
the subclaims.
[0014] To maintain the minimum, i.e. the optimum gap between the
parcels, it is advantageous for the short parcels for the gap from
the midpoint of the downstream rear deflection rollers of the
transport belts from the separating section at the reception point
of this corresponds to the minimum parcel length minus the minimum
gap between the parcels minus the distance covered by the parcels
on braking from the relevant rated speed to the value 0 or on
acceleration from standstill to the rated speed.
[0015] So that the subsequent parcels can follow the previous
parcels at a minimum distance it is advantageous, if upstream from
the separating section at the reception point at least one
separating section is arranged, for which the distance of the
center points of the deflection rollers of the transport belts on
the transport path corresponds to the minimum gap between the
parcels minus the distance covered by the parcels on braking from
the relevant rated speed to the value 0 or on acceleration from
standstill to the relevant rated speed. The gaps between the
centers of the deflection rollers of the transport belts of these
transport sections from the adjacent deflection rollers of the
adjacent transport sections correspond in this case at least to the
distance which the parcels cover on braking from the relevant rated
speed to the value 0 or on acceleration from standstill to the
relevant rated speed, but at their maximum are not greater than the
minimum parcel length.
[0016] To maintain the minimum, i.e. the optimum gap between the
parcels even with long parcels, it is advantageous for the gap
between the center points of the deflection rollers of the
separating sections arranged upstream adjoining the separating
section(s) downstream, of which the deflection rollers on the
transport path are spaced from each other by the value of the
minimum gap between the parcels minus the distance which the
parcels cover when braking from the relevant rated speed to the
value 0 or on acceleration from standstill to the relevant rated
speed, from the reception point correspond to at least the length
of the longest parcel minus the minimum gap reduced by the braking
or acceleration distance between the parcels.
[0017] The invention is explained below in an exemplary embodiment
with reference to the drawing.
[0018] The FIGURE shows
[0019] FIG. 1 a schematic overhead view of the rear part of the
separating distance.
[0020] A multistage separating device consist of an input area not
shown in which stacks of vertical parcels are fed automatically to
first separating units, e.g. vacuum-assisted extraction belts on
which the frontmost parcels are drawn off in each case and then fed
to further separating sections 12-13c of a separating distance.
This is necessary since the parcels are frequently located,
sometimes deliberately, at the start of the separating distance in
overlapped form as an overlapping flow of parcels and parcel flow
is then to be resolved into individual parcels moved with gaps
between them. Fixed retaining elements can be arranged on the side
opposite the removal or transport belt. These retaining elements
are however frequently not in a position to completely resolve the
overlapped flow. In FIG. 1 the rear part of the separating distance
is shown in an overhead view, with the retaining elements lying
opposite the separating elements on the transport path not being
shown for reasons of clarity.
[0021] Individually-supported deflection rollers 2 of the transport
belts 3, which are driven in the separating sections 12,13a in each
case by a drive motor 4.1, 4.2, are mounted between the two
separating sections 13a on a common shaft 1. The transfer gap in
the flow of the vertical parcels which are standing in the
transport path on an underfloor belt not shown to support transport
is reduced in this way to 0 mm. The arrangement allows an
absolutely impact-free parcel transfer to the subsequent separating
section 13a.
[0022] The different-height, preferably alternating arrangement of
the transport belts 3 in the separating sections 12, 13a means that
the retaining elements acting between the transport belts 3 must
change their vertical positions. Parcels 8, 9, which have hooked
onto holes or fastenings in each other, i.e. multiple removals,
can, as a result of the different gripping points of the retaining
elements on the parcels 8, 9, be released from each other more
easily.
[0023] If the belt transport is to be additionally assisted by
vacuum, statically arranged vacuum chambers 7 of the accepting
separating sections 12-13c in each case are advantageously arranged
close to the transition from the previous separating section. The
parcel 8,9 to be accelerated is pulled at an early stage in the
next upstream separating section by its vacuum chamber 7 onto its
transport belt 3 so that the carrying force is increased.
[0024] Each next upstream separating section has a higher transport
speed in relation to the preceding separating section, which
provides additional support for the separating process.
[0025] An array of sensors 11 with individual light barriers 11a-d
is arranged along the transport path, with which the positions of
the front and/or rear edges of the parcels 8,9 for triggering
switching signals for the drive motors are identified.
[0026] So that the parcels 8,9 are transferred with few
difficulties into the reception point 10, clamped between transfer
rollers 6, of which the opposing rollers are not shown, the
transfer rollers 6 are arranged so that they can rotate jointly on
a shaft with the rear deflection rollers 2 of the last separating
section 13c. So that the parcels are transported in the separating
distance with small gaps in the most protected manner possible,
operation is set up so that each subsequent parcel 8,9 is
transported without interruption at least through the upstream part
of the transport path up to the reception point. In this process
however overlaps of the parcels are also to be resolved where
possible. For this reason the first parcel is transported through
the separating sections 13a-c to parcel reception point 10 without
stopping. As soon as the light barrier 11d positioned directly over
the clamping point of the parcel transfer 10 is darkened by the
front edge of the parcel. the parcel 8,9 is gripped by the rollers
of the reception point 10 and all separating sections 13a-c in
which the first parcel is located are stopped (this is the
separating section 13c for the short parcel 9, for longer parcels
in addition the separating section 13b as well and for a very long
parcel 8 also the separating section 13a too). The first parcel is
now drawn out by the transfer rollers 6 of the reception point 10
against stationary transport belt 3. These additionally act as
retaining elements on the parcel transport side on any double
withdrawal which might occur.
[0027] Number, gaps and lengths of the separating sections 13a-c
are selected so that the subsequent parcel with "minimum gap"
distance in each case is not yet located in one of the stopped
separating sections 13. In this example, in relation to the
shortest and the longest parcel 9,8, this means: The distance
between center points of the deflection rollers 2 of the separating
sections 13c located on the transport path at the reception point
10 corresponds to the length of the shortest parcel 9 minus the
minimum gap between the parcels 8,9 minus the acceleration or
braking distance which is necessary to bring a parcel 8,9 from
standstill up to the relevant rated speed or from the rated speed
to a standstill. Before this there is a separating section 13b, of
which the center points of the deflection rollers 2 on the
transport path are at a distance of the value of the minimum parcel
gap minus the acceleration/braking distance from each other. The
center points of these deflection rollers 2 are at a distance from
the center points of the adjacent deflection rollers 2 of the
adjacent separating sections 13a, 13c of at least the amount of the
acceleration/braking distance. The distance between the center
points of these deflection rollers 2 must however also be smaller
than the length of the shortest parcel 9 to ensure its safe
transport.
[0028] If the front edge of the longest parcel 8 has reached the
reception point 10, the distance from the rear edge to the center
point of the rear deflection roller 2 on the transport path of the
separating sections 13a is the amount of the minimum parcel gap
minus the acceleration/braking distance.
[0029] If the difference between the shortest and the longest
parcel 9,8 is greater, a number of separating sections, for which
the distance between the center points 1 of the deflection rollers
2 on the transport is the amount of the minimum parcel gap minus
the acceleration braking distance, are arranged after one
another.
[0030] As soon as the rear edge of the preceding parcel leaves the
relevant separating sections 13a-c, which is detected by the light
curtains 11a-d the drive motors 4.2 to 4.5 of the relevant
separating sections are started again to transport the subsequent
parcel i.e. this enters moving separating sections. The drive
motors 4.2 to 4.5 ca also be started as soon as the subsequent
parcel 8, 9 is located shortly before a free separating section
13a, 13b, 13c.
[0031] If the start of the resolution of overlapping is determined
by the fact that the rear edge of the previous parcel is moving
more slowly than the transfer rollers 6 of the reception point 10,
and if this resolution is successful before the parcel transfer,
the gap between the front edge of the rear parcel of the overlap
and the rear edge of the front parcel of the overlap is monitored
with the aid of a timer unit (in the drive motor 4.5 of the
transfer rollers 6) and the sensor array 11. When the required gap
is achieved the separating sections 13a, 13b and 13c are started
again.
[0032] If the overlap is not separated before transfer of the
parcel in the reception point 10, a double withdrawal is occurring.
As soon as the rear edge of the overlap has then reached the
reception point 10, the separating sections 13a, 13b and 13c are
started again.
* * * * *