Method and arrangement for synchronizing the distribution information of sorting stock with the information relating to a sorter element loaded with this sorting stock

• US 20090242465A1
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korber Supply Chain Logistics GmbH (Korber AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Tanz, Torsten
• Granted Patent: US 7,915,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/509
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/08 using arrangements of conveyors transport of sheets B65H; transport in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

A method and an arrangement for synchronizing distribution information of a sorting stock are disclosed. The sorting stock has information relating to a sorter element of a sorter loaded with the sorting stock. The sorter element is moved, together with a plurality of further sorter elements, on a path closed on itself past a laying-down station where the sorting stock is laid onto the support of this sorter element. The occupancy of the sorter element is recognized by an image comparison and the information known before the laying-down relating to the sorting stock is assigned unequivocally to the sorter element recognized as fed.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A method for synchronizing distribution information of a sorting stock, the sorting stock having information relating to a sorter element of a sorter, the sorter element being loaded with the sorting stock, comprising:

moving the sorter element together with a plurality of successive further sorter elements on a path closed on itself past a laying-down station;

laying down the sorting stock onto a support of the sorter element;

preparing a first image of the support of the sorter element passing the laying-down station before the sorting stock is laid onto the sorter element;

preparing a second image of the support of the sorter element passing the laying-down station after the sorting stock is laid onto the sorter element;

comparing the first and second image of the sorter element;

recognizing an occupancy by the comparing of the first and second image of the sorter element; and

assigning unequivocally the information relating to the sorting stock known before the laying-down of the sorting stock to the sorter element which is recognized as fed with the sorting stock.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first image of the support of the sorter element is prepared in front of the laying-down station.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second image of the support of the sorter element is prepared behind the laying-down station.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second image of the support of the sorter element is prepared behind the laying-down station.

14. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein in addition to the first image and the second image, the image region of the laying-down station itself is incorporated into the image comparison.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein in addition to the first image and the second image, the image region of the laying-down station itself is incorporated into the image comparison.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein in addition to the first image and the second image, the image region of the laying-down station itself is incorporated into the image comparison.

17. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein an image is prepared of a region which comprises the laying-down station and at least one sorter element positioned in front of and behind the laying-down station, and wherein the image is broken down for image comparison into subregions comparable with one another.

18. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the laying down of the sorting stock is manually, and the information relating to the laid-down sorting stock is transferred by linguistic input and is assigned to the respective sorter element.

19. A sorting and distribution system, comprising:

an arrangement for synchronizing distribution information of a sorting stock having information relating to a sorter element which is loaded with the sorting stock;

a path which is closed on itself, the sorter element being moved together with a plurality of successive further sorter elements on the path;

a laying-down station, the sorter element and the plurality of successive further sorter elements being moved past the laying-down station and the sorting stock being laid onto the support of the sorter element; and

a first camera configured to detect a region of the laying-down station and of the sorter element adjacent upstream and configured to prepare a first image of the support of the sorter element.

20. The sorting and distribution system as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

a second camera configured to prepare a second image of the support of the sorter element positioned downstream of the laying-down station, wherein the first image and the second image are compared with one another.

21. The sorting and distribution system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first camera is configured to detect the region of the laying-down station and of the sorter element adjacent upstream and downstream, wherein the first image of the first camera is broken down into at least two subimages.

22. The sorting and distribution system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the sorter element is part of a circular, linear, transverse-belt or tilting-tray sorter.

23. The sorting and distribution system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the sorter element is part of a circular, linear, transverse-belt or tilting-tray sorter.

24. The sorting and distribution system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the sorter element is part of a circular, linear, transverse-belt or tilting-tray sorter.