Storage module for flat postal items with last-in/first-out operation

• US 20080056878A1
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Zimmermann, Armin, Schererz, Holger
• Application Number:
  US11/825,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20080056878A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/802
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/02 indicating an entity which is controlled, adjusted or changed by a control process, i.e. output
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/42265 by moving the surface supporting the pile of articles on edge, e.g. conveyor or carriage
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2513/20 Acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1916 Envelopes and articles of mail
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/06 the articles being piled on edge
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/18 Positively-acting mechanical devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/3072 by moving a surface supporting the pile of articles on edge, e.g. by using belts or carriages

Abstract

In order to reduce fault susceptibility of a stacking device for flat mailings, a stack of mailings is arranged between a stacking roll driven in a closed-loop or open-loop controlled manner and a stack support movable in a closed-loop or open-loop controlled manner such that a mailing is arranged in a vertical desired position relative to an under floor belt. An inclined position, deviating in relation to the desired position, of at least one of the mailings is detected by a detector device. The inclined position is corrected by a closed-loop controlled or open-loop controlled acceleration of at least one of the under floor belt and of the stack support.

Claims

1. A method of stacking flat mailings, comprising:

interpolating a stack of mailings between a stacking roll driven in a closed-loop or open-loop controlled manner and a stack support movable in a closed-loop or open-loop controlled manner, wherein a mailing is arranged in a desired position upright relative to an under floor belt;

detecting an inclined position of at least one of the mailings, said position deviating in relation to the desired position, by a detector device; and

correcting the inclined position by a closed-loop controlled acceleration of at least one of the under floor belt and the stack support.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired position of the mailing is perpendicular to the under floor belt.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an inclined position in which the mailing is tilted with a top edge toward the stacking roll is corrected by accelerating at least one of the under floor belt in a direction toward the stacking roll and the stack support toward the stacking roll.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an inclined position in which the mailing is tilted with a top edge away from the stacking roll is corrected by accelerating at least one of the under floor belt in a direction away from the stacking roll and the stack support toward the stacking roll.

5. The method of claims 1, wherein the stacking roll is stationary and the detector device comprises a sensor configured to measure a characteristic variable of the stack.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the characteristic variable represents at least one of a pressure of the stack on the sensor and a distance of the sensor to the stack.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the stacking roll is displaceable and the detector device comprises two sensors, by each of which a characteristic variable of the stack is measured.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the characteristic variables represent one of a pressure of the stack on the respective sensor and a distance of the respective sensor to the stack.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein one of the sensors of the detector device additionally records a stack pressure.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein viewed from the stacking roll, a conveyor plate is arranged behind the under floor belt and a part of the stack lies with narrow edges of the mailings on the under floor belt and a further part of the stack lies with the narrow edges of the mailings on the conveyor plate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the conveyor plate is configured as an inclined plane, wherein an end of the conveyor plate further from the stacking roll lies lower than an end closer to the stacking roll.

12. A stacking device for stacking flat mailings comprising:

a stacking roll;

a stack support movable in a closed-loop or open-loop controlled manner;

an under floor belt configured to be driven in a closed-loop controlled manner;

a controlling device; and

a detector device,

wherein between the stacking roll and the stack support a stack is entered in a supported manner such that a mailing is stacked with a desired position upright relative to the under floor belt;

an inclined position, deviating in relation to the desired position, of at least one of the mailings is detectable by the detector device, and

wherein the control device is connected to the under floor belt and the stack support such that the inclined position is correctable by means of an acceleration of at least one of the stack support and the under floor belt.

13. The stacking device of claim 12, wherein the desired position of the mailing is perpendicular to the under floor belt.

14. The stacking device of claim 12, wherein an inclined position in which the stack is tilted with a top edge of a mailing toward the stacking roll, is correctable by acceleration of at least one of the under floor belt in a direction toward the stacking roll and the stack support toward the stacking roll.

15. The stacking device of claim 12, wherein an inclined position in which the stack is tilted with a top edge of a mailing away from the stacking roll, is correctable by acceleration of at least one of the under floor belt in a direction away from the stacking roll and the stack support toward the stacking roll.

16. The stacking device of claim 12, wherein the stacking roll is stationary and the detector device comprises a sensor by which a characteristic variable of the stack can be measured.

17. The stacking device of claim 12, wherein the stacking roll is displaceable, and the detector device comprises two sensors by each of which a characteristic variable of the stack can be measured.

18. The stacking device of claim 12, wherein a stack pressure is detectable by one of the sensors of the detector device.

19. The stacking device of claim 12, wherein viewed from the stacking roll, a conveyor plate is arranged behind the under floor belt and a part of the stack lies on the under floor belt and a further part of the stack lies on the conveyor plate.

20. The stacking device of claim 12, wherein the conveyor plate is configured as an inclined plane, wherein an end of the conveyor plate further from the stacking roll lies lower than an end closer to the stacking roll.