U.S. patent application number 13/992883 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-26 for container with a rotary device, and method of rotation.
This patent application is currently assigned to SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT. The applicant listed for this patent is Wolf-Stephan Wilke, Armin Zimmermann. Invention is credited to Wolf-Stephan Wilke, Armin Zimmermann.
Application Number | 20130247523 13/992883 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45401051 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130247523 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilke; Wolf-Stephan ; et
al. |
September 26, 2013 |
CONTAINER WITH A ROTARY DEVICE, AND METHOD OF ROTATION
Abstract
A container has a rotary device for rotating an article in the
container, in particular a stack of flat items of mail. The
container contains a base, a supporting side wall and a further
side wall. The rotary device has a first sheet-like retaining
element and a second sheet-like retaining element. These two
retaining elements are connected mechanically to one another. In a
filling position of the rotary device, the first retaining element
rests on the supporting side wall, and the second retaining element
is located on the base. In a raising position, the first retaining
element is located on the base. An article located in the container
then rests on the first retaining element. An article can be moved
into the container when the rotary device is located in the filling
position. The rotary device is then transferred into the raising
position, this action rotating the article.
Inventors: |
Wilke; Wolf-Stephan;
(Konstanz, DE) ; Zimmermann; Armin; (Konstanz,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wilke; Wolf-Stephan
Zimmermann; Armin |
Konstanz
Konstanz |
|
DE
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
MUENCHEN
DE
|
Family ID: |
45401051 |
Appl. No.: |
13/992883 |
Filed: |
December 8, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
December 8, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2011/072182 |
371 Date: |
June 10, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/473 ;
220/86.1; 53/249 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 5/04 20130101; B65D
83/005 20130101; B65D 25/02 20130101; B65B 35/58 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/473 ;
220/86.1; 53/249 |
International
Class: |
B65B 35/58 20060101
B65B035/58; B65B 5/04 20060101 B65B005/04; B65D 25/02 20060101
B65D025/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 9, 2010 |
DE |
102010062688.0 |
Claims
1-9. (canceled)
10. A container, comprising: a base; a supporting side wall; at
least one further side wall, said base, said supporting side wall
and said at least one further side wall enclosing an enclosed space
for receiving at least one article; a rotary device for rotating
the article disposed in the enclosed space, said device containing
a first sheet-shaped retaining element and a second sheet-rotary
shaped retaining element, said first and second sheet-shaped
retaining elements connected mechanically to one another, said
rotary device can be set to a filling position and as a result the
container set to a filling state, then, when said rotary device is
in the filling position, said first sheet-shaped retaining element
rests on said supporting side wall, said second sheet-shaped
retaining element lies on said base and said first and second
sheet-shaped retaining elements delimit an area within the enclosed
space; wherein the article can be moved into said area such that
the article lies on said second sheet-shaped retaining element;
said rotary device can be transferred from the filling position
into a raising position and as a result the container can be
transferred from the filling state to a raising state; and then,
when said rotary device is in the raising position, said first
sheet-shaped retaining element lies on said base and the article
disposed in the enclosed space rests on said first sheet-shaped
retaining element.
11. The container according to claim 10, wherein: said rotary
device additionally contains an actuating element, said actuating
element is connected mechanically to said second sheet-shaped
retaining element; and the container is configured such that
pulling on said actuating element effects a transfer of the
container from the filling position into the raising position.
12. The container according to claim 10, wherein said rotary device
has an articulated mechanical connection between said first and
second sheet-shaped retaining elements and said first and second
sheet-shaped retaining elements are pivotably connected to one
another by means of said articulated mechanical connection.
13. The container according to claim 10, further comprising a guide
device connecting said first sheet-shaped retaining element
mechanically to said supporting side wall such that said first
sheet-shaped retaining element can be moved parallel to a plane of
said supporting side wall toward said base and away from said base;
further comprising and end stop; and wherein said first
sheet-shaped retaining element can be pivoted relative to said
supporting side wall, but movement of said first sheet-shaped
retaining element away from said supporting side wall is prevented,
and said end stop limits the movement of said first sheet-shaped
retaining element toward said base when said rotary device is being
transferred into the raising position parallel to said supporting
side wall.
14. The container according to claim 10, wherein said rotary device
has a spacer element connected to said first sheet-shaped retaining
element and when said rotary device is in the raising position,
said spacer element is disposed between said first sheet-shaped
retaining element and said base.
15. The container according to claim 10, further comprising an
arresting element, when said rotary device is disposed in the
filling position, said arresting element connecting said first
sheet-shaped retaining element to said supporting side wall and
prevents said rotary device from being transferred into the raising
position.
16. The container according to claim 10, wherein: said at least one
further side wall is disposed such that the article in said
enclosed space is disposed between said supporting side wall and
said further side wall; and the container is configured such that
when said rotary device is disposed in the raising position, said
second sheet-shaped retaining element leans on said further side
wall and is supported by said further side wall.
17. A processing system, comprising: at least one container,
containing: a base; a supporting side wall; at least one further
side wall, said base, said supporting side wall and said at least
one further side wall enclosing an enclosed space for receiving at
least one article; a rotary device for rotating the article
disposed in the enclosed space, said rotary device containing a
first sheet-shaped retaining element and a second sheet-shaped
retaining element, said first and second sheet-shaped retaining
elements connected mechanically to one another, said rotary device
can be set to a filling position and as a result the container set
to a filling state, then, when said rotary device is in the filling
position, said first sheet-shaped retaining element rests on said
supporting side wall, said second sheet-shaped retaining element
lies on said base and said first and second sheet-shaped retaining
elements delimit an area within the enclosed space; wherein the
article can be moved into said area such that the article lies on
said second sheet-shaped retaining element; said rotary device can
be transferred from the filling position into a raising position
and as a result the container can be transferred from the filling
state to a raising state; and then, when said rotary device is in
the raising position, said first sheet-shaped retaining element
lies on said base and an article disposed in the enclosed space
rests on said first sheet-shaped retaining element; an ejection
device for moving the article into said container; a transport
device for transporting said container to said ejection device; and
a checking device for checking automatically whether said rotary
device of said container is disposed in the filling position or not
during transport to said ejection device.
18. A method for rotating an article using a container containing a
base, a supporting side wall, at least one further side wall and a
rotary device with a first sheet-shaped retaining element and a
second sheet-shaped retaining element, the first and second
sheet-shaped retaining elements are connected mechanically to one
another, the method comprises the steps of: moving the article into
an enclosed space being enclosed by the supporting side wall, the
further two side wall and the base; rotating the article disposed
in the enclosed space; moving the rotary device to a filling
position and as a result the container is moved to a filling state,
wherein in the filling position, the second sheet-shaped retaining
element lies on the base and the first sheet-shaped retaining
element leans on the supporting side wall; moving the article into
the enclosed space such that the article lies on the second
sheet-shaped retaining element; and exerting a pulling force on the
second sheet-shaped retaining element, wherein a direction of a
pulling movement points vertically upward or obliquely away from
the supporting side wall, and due to the pulling movement the
rotary device is moved from the filling position into a raising
position and as a result the container is moved from the filling
state into a raising state, wherein in the raising position the
first sheet-shaped retaining element lies on the base and the
article lies on the first sheet-shaped retaining element.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a container with a rotary device
for rotating an article in the container, in particular a stack of
flat items of mail, and to a method for rotating an article in a
container.
[0002] A container having the features of the preamble to claim 1
and a method having the features of the preamble to claim 9 are
known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,505.
[0003] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,505, a sorting apparatus having a
plurality of containers is described. Each container has one "tray
inlet 17". This "tray inlet 17" is able to hold and rotate flat
articles.
[0004] In U.S. Pat. No. 7,766,171 B2, a "storage tray" is described
which is able to receive items of mail from a sorting outlet of a
sorting machine. The sorting machine has a carousel 20 with
"buckets 18" and a plurality of "storage trays 30" below the
"sorting outlets", cf. FIG. 3. Each container 30 has four side
walls 32. A "landing wall 34" and a "jogging wall 36" are arranged
on the base 38 of the container 30. The "landing wall 34" is
steeply inclined at an acute angle .alpha. to the base 38. The
"jogging wall 36" is steeply inclined at an obtuse angle .gamma. to
the base 38. The "jogging wall 36" has in one embodiment a first
segment 36a which is connected to the "landing wall 34", a second
segment 36b and a third segment 36c which rests on the upper end of
a side wall 32. The second segment 36b is bent relative to the
first segment 36a and the third segment 36c relative to the second
segment 36b. During sorting, each bucket 18 containing an item of
mail 16 is moved to a position above the container 30. In the
container 30, a stack of items of mail is created, the items of
mail of the stack resting on the "landing wall 34" and abutting
with their bottom edges against the "jogging wall 36". In one
embodiment, notches ("hand holds 42") are recessed into two side
walls 32 in order to transport the container 30.
[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a container having
the features of the preamble to claim 1 and a method having the
features of the preamble to claim 9, which enable use of a
container of a mechanically simple design and rotation of an
article in the container with minimal expenditure of force.
[0006] The object is achieved by a container having the features of
claim 1 and in a method having the features of claim 9.
Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.
[0007] The container according to the solution has [0008] a base,
[0009] a rotary device, [0010] a supporting side wall and [0011] at
least one further side wall, preferably a plurality of further side
walls.
[0012] The at least two side walls and the base enclose a space for
receiving at least one article.
[0013] The rotary device comprises [0014] a first sheet-like
retaining element and [0015] a second sheet-like retaining
element.
[0016] These two retaining elements are connected mechanically to
one another. Each sheet-like retaining element extents in one
retaining plane and is designed such that an article to be retained
cannot penetrate the sheet-like retaining element.
[0017] The rotary device can be moved into a filling position. The
container is then in a filling state. The two retaining elements
delimit an area of the enclosed space. If the rotary device is
located in the filling position and consequently the container in
the filling status, then an article can be placed or otherwise
moved into the delimited area of the enclosed space.
[0018] The rotary device can be moved from the filling position
into a raising position while the article is located fully or at
least partially in the enclosed space. Movement into the raising
position moves the container from the filling state into a raising
state. The base and the side walls enclose both in the filling
state and in the raising state a space in which the article is
located fully or at least partially and in which the article is
retained.
[0019] Prior to rotation, the rotary device is located in the
filling position and as a result the container is in the filling
state, and the article lies on the second retaining element. The
first retaining element leans on the supporting side wall or is
otherwise held by the supporting side wall. The second retaining
element lies on the base or is otherwise supported by the base.
[0020] The container according to the solution can be transferred
from the filling state into the raising state by pulling on the
second retaining element. Pulling on the second retaining element
causes the second retaining element to be pulled away from the
supporting side wall. The first retaining element is connected
mechanically to the second retaining element and is therefore
pulled with it. The weight of the article presses the first
retaining element downward, and does so for a period that overlaps
with the pulling on the second retaining element. The two edges of
the two retaining elements in which the two retaining elements are
connected to one another slide during transfer into the raising
state over the base of the container. The second retaining element
is moved by the pulling from a horizontal position into a vertical
or inclined position. The first retaining element reaches a
position in which the first retaining element lies on the base.
These changes in position of the two retaining elements contribute
toward transferring the container from the filling state into the
raising state and by this means rotating the article in the
container.
[0021] The container according to the solution and the rotary
device according to the solution make it possible, with less
expenditure of force than in known containers and methods, to
rotate an article which is located in the space which is enclosed
by the at least two side walls and the base.
[0022] For rotation, it is not necessary to grip the first
retaining element or the article itself. The rotation can be
effected exclusively by pulling on the second retaining element. It
is not necessary for a worker or an automatic handling machine to
intervene in the enclosed space in order to move the rotary device
from the filling position into the raising position. The article
can instead be rotated by an actuation which intervenes exclusively
outside the enclosed space.
[0023] In this way, even an article that is difficult to grip, e.g.
a stack of flat objects or a deformable article or an article with
a smooth surface, can be rotated in the container. An article can
be rotated in the container even in confined spaces.
[0024] During rotation, the center of gravity of the article is
often located close to the rotational axis about which the article
is being rotated. In this case, in particular, the invention means
that only a small torque has to be applied in order to move the
rotary device according to the solution from the filling position
into the raising position. The weight of the article to be rotated
assists the rotational movement rather than opposing it. The
rotation can be carried out quickly.
[0025] During rotation in the container, the article is held
constantly by at least one retaining element, normally by both
retaining elements simultaneously. This reduces the risk of the
article falling over or breaking up into its component parts, which
might otherwise occur particularly where the article is a stack of
flat objects.
[0026] The invention spares the need for a worker or an automatic
handling machine to grip an article in the container according to
the solution directly in order to rotate it. This can often be
difficult, e.g. because the article is fragile, is a stack of flat
objects or leans directly on a side wall of the container and there
is little or no space between the article and this side wall. It is
not necessary to reach between the article and this side wall.
Thanks to the invention, the article can instead be rotated by
exerting a pulling force on the second retaining element,
preferably approximately parallel to the retaining plane of the
second retaining element. This pulling force is small in comparison
with the weight of the article in the container, in particular
because the force due to the weight of the article makes the
rotation easier and not harder. In order for this pulling force to
be exerted, neither a worker nor an automatic handling machine
needs to reach into the container.
[0027] The invention spares the need for ripples or grooves to be
recessed into the supporting side wall in order to create notches
so as to create an intermediate space between a side wall and the
article and thereby to grip the article to be rotated. This avoids
creating an unusable space on a side wall.
[0028] Furthermore, thanks to the invention, it is not necessary to
recess notches into the base or into a side wall. In this way, the
container can be produced in a mechanically simpler fashion.
[0029] The device according to the solution avoids the need to
compress an article in the container according to the solution for
the purposes of rotation in order to hold the article by means of
increased friction. This compression would make it necessary for a
large force to be exerted, which could result in damage to the
article.
[0030] Thanks to the invention, it is not necessary to recess
openings into the base of the container through which an actuating
element is pushed, e.g. with pins, which actuating element then
grips an article in the enclosed space through the base and rotates
it.
[0031] Thanks to the invention, existing containers without rotary
devices can continue to be used. The rotary device according to the
solution can be placed or inserted into an existing container. An
existing container needs to be modified only slightly or not at all
in order to be able to effect the rotation according to the
solution. This advantage is particularly of benefit where a
multiplicity of containers have already been procured and are to
continue to be used. This is often the case e.g. with postal
service providers or logistics service providers or other carriers
because the carriers do not wish to modify tried and tested
transport processes.
[0032] The invention does not specify any dimensions for the
container which is used. Rather, the rotary device according to the
solution can be adapted to articles to be rotated and/or to
existing containers. The device according to the solution can
therefore be adapted e.g. to existing sorting machines and
transport vehicles without a machine or a vehicle having to be
modified.
[0033] Throughout rotation, the article--or at least a considerable
part of the article--is located in the enclosed space. This
prevents the article from falling out of the container during
rotation.
[0034] The invention renders it superfluous to remove the article
from the container and to tip it into another container or
otherwise move it to this other container for the purposes of
rotation. Rather, the article remains in the same container during
rotation and is also in the same container thereafter. This reduces
the risk that the article will be damaged during rotation. Thanks
to the invention, it also becomes superfluous to use for
transporting an article a succession of different types of
containers in which the article lies in different positions. The
invention consequently saves on containers and storage space for
unused containers and on a reloading step.
[0035] The invention can be used for rotating a stack of flat
articles, e.g. flat items of mail. These articles may have
different dimensions and different flexural rigidities and be
connected mechanically to one another either by friction alone or
not at all. Because the two retaining elements support the stack
during rotation, the risk that the stack will fall apart during
rotation is reduced.
[0036] The first sheet-like retaining element extends in a first
retaining plane, the second sheet-like retaining element in a
second retaining plane. An angle always occurs between these two
retaining planes. In one embodiment, this angle is greater than or
equal to 90 degrees when the rotary device is located in the
filling position. The angle is preferably equal to the angle
between the base and the supporting side wall. When the rotary
device is located in the raising position, then the angle between
the two retaining elements is preferably also greater than or equal
to 90 degrees.
[0037] The two sheet-like retaining elements are preferably
connected to one another in an articulated manner. The distance
between the supporting side wall and the opposite side wall is less
than the extension of the two retaining elements when the two
retaining elements are in a position in which the two sheet-like
retaining elements lie in the same plane. The two retaining
elements cannot therefore assume this position in the container,
because the side walls prevent this.
[0038] Because of the articulated connection, the first retaining
element can be rotated or otherwise pivoted relative to the second
retaining element. Also, the first retaining element touches the
supporting side wall during transfer of the rotary device into the
raising position because the force of gravity pushes the first
retaining element downward and thus against the supporting side
wall. This embodiment reduces the risk that a retaining element
will jam in the interior of the container. Furthermore, the
embodiment reduces the risk that the first retaining element will
be moved away from the supporting side wall and a gap between an
article in the container and a side wall will be formed which
extends between the first retaining element and the supporting side
wall and through which an article in the container may fall
downward, instead of being rotated.
[0039] The articulated connection also reduces the mechanical
loading between the two retaining elements significantly in
comparison to a rigid connection. A rigid connection could be
damaged during rotation due to the weight of an article in the
container.
[0040] It is, however, also possible to connect the two retaining
elements rigidly to one another, e.g. in such a way that the two
retaining elements--viewed in a direction parallel to the
base--form a V. The angle between the arms of this V is preferably
greater than 90 degrees. This embodiment enables a particularly
simple mechanical design. The two retaining elements can be
manufactured together in one piece. It is possible additionally to
connect the two rigidly connected retaining elements stably to one
another by means of a connecting element.
[0041] Each retaining element is preferably embodied as a rigid
element.
[0042] In one embodiment, the two retaining elements are connected
mechanically to one another but not to the container. More
precisely, the two retaining elements are connected mechanically
neither to a side wall nor to the base. The two retaining elements
can therefore be removed from the empty container and inserted into
an empty container. This embodiment makes it possible without any
further mechanical modification to make an existing empty container
with base and side walls into a container according to the solution
by placing the two retaining elements into the empty container such
that the rotary device produced thereby is located in the filling
position.
[0043] Seen in a viewing direction parallel to the base and facing
the supporting side wall, the first retaining element and/or the
second retaining element may be nearly as wide as the base or
significantly narrower than the base such that a gap is formed
between another side wall and the retaining element. This gap is
preferably so narrow that an article to be rotated cannot fall from
the retaining element down on to the base. The two retaining
elements may be of equal width and length or of differing width or
of differing length.
[0044] In one embodiment, a spacer element is fastened to the first
retaining element. If the rotary device is located in the raising
position, then the spacer element causes a gap to be formed between
the base and the first retaining element. The spacer element is
preferably arranged such that the first retaining element is
steeply inclined such that an article on the first retaining
element slides toward the second retaining element.
[0045] In one embodiment, the container also has a guide device.
This guide device connects the first retaining element to the
supporting side wall and prevents it from being possible for the
first retaining element to be moved away from the supporting side
wall. In particular, this guide device prevents a pulling force on
the second retaining element from causing the first retaining
element to be pulled away from the supporting side wall. This
prevents a gap from forming between the supporting side wall and
the first retaining element. An article in the container could fall
down through such a gap without being rotated.
[0046] The guide device preferably guides an end of the first
retaining element such that this end can be moved back and forth
along a linear path only, e.g. only up and down. The guide device
has at least one end stop which limits and preferably dampens the
movement of the retaining element end at one end of the path.
[0047] A spacer element is preferably attached to the first
retaining element. When the rotary device is in the raising
position, this spacer element causes a gap to form between the base
and the first retaining element and the first retaining element not
to lie flat on the base because of the spacer element. As a result,
the first retaining element can be gripped more easily in order, by
pulling on the first retaining element, to move the rotary device
back to the filling position after removal of the rotated article.
This makes it easier to move the container back to the filling
position after removal of the article by pulling vertically or
obliquely upwards on the first retaining element. The spacer
element is in one embodiment additionally designed as a damping
element and is arranged such that the first retaining element is
located between the article and the spacer element. As a result,
the spacer element dampens the impact of the first retaining
element on the base during rotation.
[0048] At least one spacer element, which creates a gap between the
second retaining element and the base when the rotary device is
located in the filling position, can also be arranged on the second
retaining element.
[0049] The container preferably has an arresting element. This
arresting element connects the first retaining element to the
supporting side wall and prevents the rotary device from being
transferred unintentionally from the filling position to the
raising position, including when the second retaining element is
being pulled. Only after this arresting device has specifically
been released can the rotary device be transferred to the raising
position. An arresting body of this arresting element can be
fastened to the supporting side wall or to the first retaining
element and engages in a corresponding notch on the first retaining
element or the supporting side wall.
[0050] In one embodiment, the second retaining element is connected
in an articulated manner to a handle. In order to transfer the
rotary device from the filling position to the raising position, it
suffices to pull on the handle, preferably approximately parallel
to the retaining plane of the second retaining element. It is not
necessary to touch a retaining element itself. This embodiment
makes it possible to embody the second retaining element with a
smooth surface and without a notch. The handle is preferably
arranged such that the handle is constantly located outside the
enclosed space.
[0051] In one embodiment, the first retaining element is
correspondingly equipped with a further handle. Pulling on this
further handle causes, after removal of an article from the
container, the rotary device to be moved back from the raising
position into the filling position without the first retaining
element having to be touched for this purpose.
[0052] In one embodiment, the container is open at the top, and an
article can be moved into the enclosed space from above when the
container is located in the filling state and the rotary device is
located in the filling position. In one embodiment, the container
has a lateral opening, e.g. in that one side wall is omitted. The
article can be moved into the enclosed space by means of a
horizontal movement.
[0053] The side walls may stand vertically on the base or else
obliquely such that the container standing on the base tapers
toward the bottom.
[0054] In one embodiment, two containers according to the solution
may be stacked one above the other such that the one container, as
the upper container, is placed from above into the other container.
As a result, the two containers take up little space. However, this
works in one embodiment only when the lower container is empty,
i.e. no article is located in the enclosed area, and its rotary
device is located in the filling position and the first retaining
element is then leaning on the supporting side wall. The upper
container is placed on the rotary device and then stands on the
second retaining element. If on the other hand the rotary device is
located in the raising position, then the upper container cannot be
placed into the lower container. This embodiment enables a rapid
check to be made of whether a container is in the filling state or
not. It is also possible to place another container on to a
container according to the solution.
[0055] The container can be used e.g. for a sorting machine to move
a plurality of flat objects into the container consecutively while
the container is located in the filling state. The article planes
of the flat objects are arranged in this case parallel to the base,
and the flat objects form a stack in the container, the stack lying
on the base and growing away from the base when further articles
are moved into the container. This stack is rotated by means of the
rotary device according to the solution. After rotation, the rotary
device is located in the raising position, and the container is
located in the raising state. The flat objects lean on the first
retaining element and/or a side wall of the container and stand on
the base of the container. It is possible to search for, grip and
remove from the container an individual object in the stack rotated
in this manner or else to insert a further flat object into the
stack at a defined point.
[0056] It is also possible conversely to create in the container a
stack of flat objects standing upright, while the container is
located in the filling state, e.g. by pushing these objects
horizontally onto the base of the container and between the
supporting side wall and the opposite side wall. The container is
then moved into the raising state, as a result of which the flat
objects are transferred into a lying position.
[0057] In one embodiment, at least one container according to the
solution belongs to an arrangement which further comprises an image
recording device and an image evaluation unit. The image recording
device produces at least one image of the container which can be
computer-evaluated, the imaging direction preferably running
approximately parallel to the plane of the container base. The
image evaluation unit evaluates automatically the image of the
container which can be computer-evaluated and decides automatically
whether the container is currently located in the filling state or
in the raising state. In order to reach this decision, a check is
made of whether a sufficiently large part of the container projects
upward above a side wall or a lateral silhouette of the
container--the container is not then in the filling state--or
whether such a part does not project--the container is then in the
filling state. It is possible in addition to produce a recording
from above in an imaging direction that is perpendicular to the
base.
[0058] The decision is used e.g. in order to fill only those
containers which are currently located in the filling state and in
order to eject other containers. This prevents an article from
being moved into a container which is not currently located in the
filling state.
[0059] The invention will be described below with reference to an
exemplary embodiment.
[0060] FIG. 1 shows the container according to the solution of the
exemplary embodiment with the rotary device in the filling
position, further items of mail being moved from above into the
container
[0061] FIG. 2 shows the completely filled container with the rotary
device in the filling position, the handle on the second retaining
element having already been rotated and the arresting element about
to be released,
[0062] FIG. 3 shows the container with the rotary device during
transition from the filling position to the raising position, the
arresting element being released and a pulling movement being
exerted on the handle,
[0063] FIG. 4 shows the container at a later point during
transition of the rotary device to the raising position,
[0064] FIG. 5 shows the container with the rotary device in the
raising position, the items of mail of the stack in the container
being raised and the first retaining element lying on the base and
the second element resting on the opposite side wall.
[0065] In the exemplary embodiment, a plurality of containers
according to the solution are used in order to transport flat items
of mail (standard letters, large letters, postcards, catalogs,
etc.). The items of mail are sorted by a sorting machine according
to a predefined sort characteristic and distributed among the
containers. This sort characteristic is normally the delivery
address to which an item of mail is to be transported, or a
delivery region to which this delivery address belongs.
[0066] The sorting machine has a plurality of sorting outlets. For
each item of mail, it is measured or otherwise determined what
value the sort characteristic assumes for this item of mail.
Depending on the sort-characteristic value determined, a sorting
outlet is selected for the item of mail. The item of mail is
ejected into the selected sorting outlet. In the selected sorting
outlet, the item of mail slides from above or else in a vertical
movement into a container according to the solution. A container
which is filled up to a predefined limit with items of mail to be
sorted is replaced by an empty container.
[0067] A plurality of containers, which are in a filling state
described below, i.e. the respective rotary device is in a filling
position, are fed to the sorting machine. A measuring device checks
whether each fed container is actually in the filling state and is
empty. For example, an image recording device creates at least one
computer-accessible image of the container from the side. An image
evaluation unit evaluates this image and checks whether a retaining
element projects above the top edge of a side wall of the container
or not. If it is discovered that a retaining element projects above
the top edge, then it is decided that the container is not in the
filling state, and it is moved to a processing station, e.g. by a
conveyor belt transporting the container there. In the processing
station, the rotary device of this container is moved manually or
automatically to the filling position. In order to check whether a
container is actually empty, in one embodiment an image of the
container which can be computer-evaluated is generated from above,
and it is checked automatically whether in the image an object can
be seen on the base.
[0068] The sorting machine moves into each container which is in
the filling state a plurality of items of mail such that, after
being moved, the items of mail lie horizontally in the container.
The article plane of each flat item of mail thus extends
horizontally and therefore parallel to the base of the container in
each case.
[0069] After filling, the side walls of the container limit any
movement of the flat items of mail in their respective article
planes. The stack lies at the bottom of the container such that the
center of gravity of the container is low. This makes the filled
container secure when it is being transported e.g. in a transport
vehicle, and it cannot tip over.
[0070] At a later point in time, a processor, e.g. a mail delivery
person, should be able to search for individual items of mail in
this container and to remove each item of mail found, for example
all items of mail for a certain recipient, from the container. In
order for this to be possible, it is necessary for the items of
mail to be located in a vertical or obliquely inclined position in
the container, i.e. no longer in the lying position. The stack can
then be "fingered through" quickly. The items of mail must thus be
rotated and moved into this vertical or inclined position. This
rotation of the stacked items of mail should be carried out in such
a way that the items of mail are not damaged or bent during the
rotation. Furthermore, the same container should be used both
during the sorting and during the subsequent processing by the
processor, i.e. saving a step in which stacked items of mail are
reloaded from one container into another container and are rotated
during reloading. It should not be necessary to have to use an
automatic handling machine to raise the items of mail. Thanks to
this invention, these three aims are achieved.
[0071] In the exemplary embodiment, the container according to the
solution has [0072] a rectangular base, [0073] at least three,
preferably four, side walls which are rigidly connected to the
base, and [0074] an opening at the top.
[0075] The base and the side walls enclose a space for receiving a
stack of items of mail.
[0076] FIG. 1 shows a container according to the solution with the
rotary device in the filling position. Shown in the drawing is the
container Beh standing on the level support Aufl. This container
Beh has the following integral components: [0077] a base Bo, which
is perpendicular to the drawing plane of FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, [0078] a
supporting side wall Abs-Sw with top edge OK-Abs, [0079] a side
wall Sw-geg, located opposite the supporting side wall Abs-Sw, with
top edge OK-geg, [0080] two further side walls, which lie in the
drawing planes of FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 and of which only the top edge
OK of one side wall is indicated, [0081] a first retaining element
HE.1, which in FIG. 1 leans flat against the supporting side wall
Abs-Sw, [0082] a second retaining element HE.2, which in FIG. 1
lies flat on the base Bo, [0083] a mechanical articulated
connection Gel between the first retaining element HE.1 and the
second retaining element HE.2, [0084] an actuating element BE with
a handle Gri and a connecting element Verb, [0085] a further
mechanical articulated connection Gel.1 between the second
retaining element HE.2 and the connecting element Verb, [0086] a
spacer element Abs and [0087] an arresting element Arr.
[0088] The side walls Abs-Sw, Sw-geg shown and each further side
wall stand approximately vertically on the base Bo. It is possible
for the container Beh to expand upwardly, that is, away from the
base Bo, i.e. for the side walls Abs-Sw, Sw-geg to be inclined
slightly outwardly. In the exemplary embodiment, the two further
side walls are longer than the supporting side wall Abs-Sw and the
opposite side wall Sw-geg, such that pulling in the longitudinal
direction of the container causes the container to be transferred
into the raising state.
[0089] The base Bo and the side walls Abs-Sw, Sw-geg enclose an
approximately cuboidal space into which an article, i.e. in the
exemplary embodiment a stack of flat items of mail in each case,
can be moved. The items of mail are moved by the sorting machine
either from above through the opening into the container Beh, the
items of mail sliding into the container Beh due to the force of
gravity, or a side wall is omitted, and the items of mail are moved
into the container Beh through the omitted side wall and in this
case transported horizontally.
[0090] The three or four side walls of the container Beh all extend
to the height of the top edge OK. A hook Hak is attached to the
handle Gri. This hook Hak prevents the actuating element BE from
falling into the container Beh when the container Beh is in the
filling state. In fact, the hook Hak holds the handle Gri firmly to
the opposite side wall Sw-geg.
[0091] In the exemplary embodiment, each retaining element HE.1,
HE.2 has the shape of a rigid rectangle. Each rigid rectangle
preferably has rounded edges and/or rounded corners in order to
reduce the risk of injury or of jamming.
[0092] In the container Beh there is already a stack St.1 of items
of mail lying horizontally. These items of mail are approximately
aligned with the first retaining element HE.1. Three further items
of mail which form a stack St.2 are moved, in the situation shown
in FIG. 1, into the container Beh from above in a stacking
direction SR. The items of mail of the stack St.2 which also lie
horizontally slide vertically down into the stacking direction SR
toward the stack St.1 already located in the container Beh. The
container Beh stands on the support Aufl. The two stacks St.1 and
St.2 together form a single stack in the container Beh.
[0093] The base BO is approximately rectangular, and it may have
rounded corners. As a result, two shorter side walls and two longer
side walls are formed. The one shorter side wall is connected to
the rotary device described below and is therefore referred to
below as the supporting side wall Abs-Sw, because it supports the
first retaining element HE.1.
[0094] In one embodiment, a guide device is recessed into this
supporting side wall Abs-Sw, this guide device comprising in the
exemplary embodiment a rail and an upper and a lower end stop. The
two end stops limit the rail and therewith the movement of an
object in the rail. The lower end stop is located close to the base
Bo, the upper end stop close to the top edge OK-Abs of the
supporting side wall Abs-Sw.
[0095] The container Beh according to the solution has a rotary
device. This rotary device comprises: [0096] the first sheet-like
retaining element HE.1, [0097] the second sheet-like retaining
element HE.2, [0098] the articulated connection Gel between the two
retaining elements HE.1 and HE.2, [0099] the further articulated
connection Gel.1 between the second retaining element HE.2 and the
connecting element Verb and [0100] the actuating element BE with
the handle Gri and the connecting element Verb.
[0101] The connecting element Verb connects the handle Gri in an
articulated manner to the second retaining element He.2. The sum of
the extensions of the two retaining elements He.1, HE.2 in the
drawing planes of FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 is greater than the distance
between the supporting side wall Abs-Sw and the opposite side wall
Sw-Geg, i.e. greater than the dimension of the base Bo in the
drawing planes of FIG. 1 to FIG. 5.
[0102] There is in each case an articulated connection both between
the handle Gri and the connecting element Verb and between the
connecting element Verb and the second retaining element HE.2. The
two retaining elements HE.1, HE.2 are connected to one another
articulatedly, in particular rotatably. The articulated connection
Gel between the two retaining elements HE.1, HE.2 is embodied e.g.
as a hinge. The further mechanical articulated connection Gel.1 is
also embodied e.g. as a hinge. The two hinges Gel, Gel.1 enable
rotation of the connected elements about an axis of rotation which
is perpendicular to the drawing planes of FIG. 1 to FIG. 5. Seen in
a viewing direction perpendicular to the drawing plane of FIG. 1 to
FIG. 5, the two retaining elements HE.1, HE.2 form a V. The angle
between these arms HE.1, HE.2 of the V can be changed thanks to the
articulated connection Gel. The angle between the second retaining
element HE.2 and the connecting element Verb can also be changed
thanks to the further articulated connection Gel. 1, in particular
against the force of a spring.
[0103] It is possible for a spring to act on the two retaining
elements HE.1, HE.2 and to try to enlarge the angle between the two
retaining elements HE.1, HE.2 and thereby move the two retaining
elements HE.1, HE.2 into a position in which the two retaining
elements HE.1, HE.2 extend in the same plane.
[0104] However, because the two retaining elements HE.1, HE.2 are
located in the container Beh with the side walls Abs-Sw, Sw-geg,
such a position of the retaining elements HE.1, HE.2 is not
possible. As a result, the first retaining element HE.1 is pressed
against the supporting side wall Abs-Sw. A stack of items of mail
folds the two retaining elements HE.1, HE.2 together against the
force of this spring and reduces the angle.
[0105] The first retaining element HE.1 has two edges which are
perpendicular to the drawing planes of FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, namely, in
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a top edge and a bottom edge. Close to the top
edge the spacer element Abs is connected to the first retaining
element HE.1. This top edge is located close to the supporting side
wall Abs-Sw. It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the spacer element Abs
is mounted on the surface of the first retaining element HE.1
facing the supporting side wall Abs-Sw. It is possible for a guide
device, e.g. a channel or rail, to prevent the spacer element Abs
from being moved laterally, i.e. perpendicular to the drawing plane
of FIG. 1 to FIG. 5.
[0106] The other, bottom, edge of the first retaining element HE.1
is articulatedly connected to the second retaining element HE.2, or
more accurately, to an edge of the second retaining element HE.2.
In the exemplary embodiment, a hinge Gel is located between the
bottom edge of the first retaining element HE.1 and the one edge of
the second retaining element HE.2. The second retaining element
HE.2 can as a result be rotated relative to the first retaining
element HE.1. The spacer element Abs of the first retaining element
is embodied such that the first retaining element HE.1 can not only
move up and down, but also be rotated relative to the supporting
side wall Abs-Sw.
[0107] In another embodiment, at least one flexible band is
connected flush with the two retaining elements HE.1, HE.2. The
longitudinal axis of this band is located in the drawing planes of
FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 and holds the two retaining elements HE.1, HE.2
together such that between the two retaining elements a gap having
a predefined maximum width forms and the first retaining element
HE.1 can be rotated relative to the second retaining element HE.2.
For example, the band is connected in the manner of a U to each
retaining element HE.1, HE.2 in two flat areas in each case. In one
embodiment, the band additionally forms a loop which can be pulled.
This loop functions as a handle of the rotary device. It is
possible for a plurality of parallel bands to be provided. The band
or bands are preferably connected flush with the two retaining
elements HE.1, HE.2 and produce the articulated connection of these
two retaining elements HE.1, HE.2.
[0108] The connecting element Verb is movably connected by means of
the further articulated connection Gel.1 to the other edge of the
second retaining element HE.2. The second retaining element HE.2 is
thus delimited on the one side by the further mechanical
articulated connection to the connecting element Verb and on the
other side by the articulated connection Gel to the first retaining
element HE.1. The first retaining element HE.1 is delimited on the
one side by this articulated connection Gel. In one embodiment,
which is shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the other, in FIG. 1 top, edge
of the first retaining element HE.1 can be moved freely.
[0109] In an alternative embodiment, the container Beh also has a
guide device with a rail. This guide device is recessed into the
supporting side wall Abs-Sw. The guide device has an upper and a
lower end stop. The upper end stop is located close to the top edge
OK-Abs and the lower end stop close to the base Bo. A fastening
element of the first retaining element HE.1 slides up and down in
this rail, in particular between the upper end stop and the lower
end stop. The fastening element prevents the first retaining
element HE.1 from being pulled away from the supporting side wall
Abs-Sw or moved horizontally. If the container Beh is located in
the filling position, then the fastening element is located at the
upper end stop. During the transition from the filling position to
the raising position, the fastening element slides in the guide
device down to the lower end stop.
[0110] The first retaining element HE.1 has in this other
embodiment a fastening element. This fastening element is recessed
into the rail of the guide device and can slide back and forth in
this guide device up and down between the two end stops. The guide
device and the fastening element prevent the first retaining
element HE.1 from being pulled away from the supporting side wall
Abs-Sw.
[0111] In one embodiment, an arresting element Arr on the first
retaining element HE.1 prevents the first retaining element HE.1
from slipping downward in an unwanted manner. The arresting element
Arr thus holds the first retaining element HE.1 firmly in the
uppermost possible position on the supporting side wall Abs-Sw. A
hook-shaped arresting body of the arresting element Arr in the
arresting position is shown in FIG. 1. This arresting body engages
in a corresponding notch in the supporting side wall Abs-Sw.
[0112] The rotary device can prior to filling be moved into a
filling position and after filling be transferred from this filling
position into a raising position. In this way, the container Beh is
in a filling state prior to filling and in a raising state after
rotation. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the
container Beh has no guide device, and the components of the rotary
device are arranged in the filling position (cf. FIG. 1) as
follows:
[0113] The free edge of the first retaining element HE.1 with the
spacer element Abs is located close to the top edge OK-Abs of the
supporting side wall Abs-Sw. The first retaining element HE.1 is
arranged approximately parallel to the supporting side wall Abs-Sw,
in particular such that the spacer element Abs is on top and the
articulated connection Gel between the first retaining element HE.1
and the second retaining element HE.2 is located close to the base
Bo. The first retaining element HE.1 leans on the supporting side
wall Abs-Sw. An opening Off is recessed into the supporting side
wall Abs-Sw. The spacer element Abs and the arresting body of the
arresting element Arr project through this opening Off.
[0114] The second retaining element 24 lies on the base Bo of the
container Beh. The connecting element Verb to the handle Gri lies
on the base Bo or leans on or lies on the opposite side wall
Sw-geg, i.e. on that side wall which is located opposite the
supporting side wall Abs-Sw. In this filling position of the rotary
device, the sorting machine can move flat items of mail in a lying
position into the container Beh. The items of mail in the container
Beh form a stack which lies on the second retaining element HE.2
and is aligned on one side with the first retaining element
HE.1.
[0115] In the exemplary embodiment, the sorting machine emits a
signal once it has ejected all the items of mail which are to be
moved into this container Beh. The container Beh is now filled. The
stack of flat items of mail in the container Beh functions in the
exemplary embodiment as the article to be rotated. In one
embodiment, the container Beh is removed from the sorting machine
and placed on the level support surface Aufl. The container Beh
remains initially in the filling position.
[0116] FIG. 2 shows the filled container Beh with a stack St of
lying items of mail. The stack St from FIG. 2 comprises the stacks
St.1, St.2 from FIG. 1. It is shown that the handle Gri has now
been moved into a vertical position in which it is possible to grip
the handle Gri and exert a pulling movement. An arrow in the
opening Off indicates how the arresting element is deliberately
released, namely by a rotating movement. In the exemplary
embodiment, a processor pulls on the handle Gri and first releases
the arresting element Arr.
[0117] The rotary device is now moved from the filling position
into a raising position. To do this, the arresting element Arr is
in one embodiment released. As a result, in the embodiment with the
guide device the fastening element of the first retaining element
HE.1 is able to slide downward in the rail.
[0118] A processor or else an automatic handling machine pulls on
the handle Gri of the actuating element BE. The handle Gri is
pulled horizontally or obliquely upward away from the supporting
side wall Abs-Sw. This pulling movement and the weight of the items
of mail of the stack St which are located in the container Beh
cause in the embodiment with the guide device the fastening element
of the first retaining element HE.1 to slide downward in the rail
of the guide device. In the embodiment which is shown in FIG. 1 to
FIG. 5, pulling on the handle Gri, in conjunction with the high
flexural rigidity of the two retaining elements HE.1, HE.2 and the
articulated connection Gel between these two retaining elements
HE.1, HE.2, causes the first retaining element HE.1 to slide
downward and the free edge of the first retaining element HE.1 to
slide along the supporting side wall Abs-Sw in the process. The
spacer element Abs causes a gap to be formed between the first
retaining element HE.1 and the supporting side wall Abs-Sw.
[0119] This spacer element Abs slides along the supporting side
wall Abs-Sw.
[0120] The articulated connection Gel between the first retaining
element HE.1 and the second retaining element HE.2 slides across
the base Bo of the container Beh such that the distance between the
supporting side wall Abs-Sw and the articulated connection
increases. The articulated connection Gel is thus moved toward the
opposite side wall Sw-geg. The stack St with the items of mail
continues to rest on the second retaining element HE.2 and is
aligned with the first retaining element HE.1.
[0121] The free edge of the second retaining element HE.2--that is
the edge to which the connecting element Verb is articulatedly
fastened--reaches the opposite side wall Sw-geg. By pulling on the
handle Gri, this free edge is pulled vertically or obliquely upward
along the side wall Sw-geg. As a result, the second retaining
element HE.2 moves from the previously horizontal position into an
inclined position and rests against the opposite side wall Sw-geg.
Due to the articulated connection, the first retaining element HE.1
is also pulled and moves from the initially vertical position into
an inclined or approximately horizontal position close to the base
Bo.
[0122] FIG. 3 shows the container Beh and the rotary device during
the transition from the filling position into the raising position.
The handle Gri is pulled vertically or obliquely upward in the
direction of the arrow. The arresting element Arr and the spacer
element Abs have slid out of the opening Off. The first retaining
element HE.1 with the spacer element Abs rests obliquely on the
supporting side wall Abs-Sw. The second retaining element HE.2
rests with the one edge on the base Bo and leans with the other
edge on the opposite side wall Sw-geg. Only the articulated
connection Gel touches the base Bo. The angle between the surfaces
of the two retaining elements HE.1, HE.2 is now less than 90
degrees, whereas the angle in the filling position is greater than
90 degrees. The retaining elements HE.1, HE.2 adapt thereby to the
geometry of the container Beh. The arresting body of the arresting
element Arr and the spacer element Abs slide out of the opening
Off.
[0123] FIG. 4 shows a continuation of the transition from the
filling position into the raising position. The second retaining
element HE.2 has slid further to the right. The right edge of the
second retaining element HE.2 in FIG. 4, to which edge the
connecting element Verb is fastened, has slid beyond the top edge
OK-geg of the opposite side wall Sw-geg. The first retaining
element HE.1 has temporarily lost its contact with the supporting
side wall Abs-Sw and rotates downward until the spacer element Abs
hits the base Bo. An arrow indicates this direction of rotation.
The stack St with the items of mail rests with the bottom edges of
the items of mail on the first retaining element HE.1, and the
stack St leans on the second retaining element HE.2. The angle
between the surfaces of the two retaining elements HE.1, HE.2 has
increased again.
[0124] These movements of the two retaining elements HE.1, HE.2 are
terminated at the latest when in the embodiment with the guide
device the fastening element of the first retaining element HE.1
reaches the lower end stop. In the embodiment with the spacer
element Abs on the first retaining element HE.1, the movements of
the two retaining elements HE.1, HE.2 are terminated when the
spacer element Abs strikes the base Bo. The stack St with the items
of mail now stands on the inclined or approximately horizontal
first retaining element HE.1 and rests on the inclined second
retaining element HE.2. As a result, the items of mail are
approximately raised upright.
[0125] FIG. 5 shows the container Beh and the rotary device in the
raising position. The spacer element Abs has reached the base Bo.
The first retaining element HE.1 lies on the base Bo. The spacer
element Abs causes the first retaining element HE.1 to be inclined
slightly. This inclination makes it hard for the rotated stack St
to tip over. The second retaining element HE.2 rests on the
opposite site wall Sw-geg and is also held by the articulated
connection Gel with the first retaining element HE.1. The
connecting element Verb and the handle Gri are located outside the
container Beh and hang down. The items of mail of the stack St are
raised at an incline. In this position it is possible to "finger"
through the stack St and to search for a particular item of mail in
the stack St.
TABLE-US-00001 List of reference characters Reference character
Meaning Abs Spacer element of the first retaining element HE.1 Arr
Arresting element of the first retaining element HE.1 Aufl Support
on which the container Beh stands BE Actuating element with handle
Gri and connecting element Verb Abs-Sw Supporting side wall Beh
Container Bo Base of the container Beh Gel Articulated connection
between the first retaining element HE.1 and the second retaining
element HE.2 Gel.1 Further mechanical articulated connection
between the second retaining element HE.2 and the connecting
element Verb Gri Handle of the actuating element BE Hak Hook on the
handle Gri HE.1 First retaining element HE.2 Second retaining
element OK Top edge of a further side wall of the container Beh
OK-Abs Top edge of the supporting side wall Abs-Sw OK-geg Top edge
of the opposite side wall Sw-geg Off Opening in the supporting side
wall Abs-Sw SR Stacking direction in which flat items of mail are
moved into the container Beh from above St.1 Stack already formed
in the container Beh St.2 Stack comprising items of mail which are
additionally being introduced into the container Sw-geg Side wall
of the container Beh opposite the supporting side wall Abs-Sw Verb
Connecting element of the actuating element BE
* * * * *