Method for gapping for sortation rate maximization

• US 20100012464A1
• Filed: 07/14/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Schiesser, Ricardo N., Ko, Clyde, Verploegen, Rhonda J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,201,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/460.100
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/08 Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/31 by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/844 the article-engaging elements being pushers transversally movable on the supporting surface, e.g. pusher-shoes

Abstract

The invention provides a method which minimizes the gaps between packages to the minimum required by the sorter. The gapping required to allow scanning the identification label(s) will be done first, then another gap adjustment (to reduce gaps) is done immediately after scanning. The induction control system requires inputs from additional sensors which are necessary to obtain certain package dimensions. This information (dimensions of the packages) is used by the control algorithm to calculate or select from a table based on package geometry, the minimum (or optimum) gaps required for scanning and by the sorter.

Claims

1. A method for induction of packages to a sorting machine, wherein each package has destination information on one surface thereof, comprising:

transporting a series of packages in spaced positions along an induction conveyor, which induction conveyor includes a series of conveyor segments disposed end to end each operable at different speeds;

measuring dimensions including length and width of each package on the induction conveyor;

associating in a computerized control system each package with its dimensions;

using the control system to determine spacing required between pairs of successive packages on the induction conveyor for entry into a scanning zone such that imaging scanners directed at a front surface of a package being scanned and at a rear surface of a package being scanned have a clear line of sight to destination information which may be present on either of such surfaces;

operating the conveyor segments supporting the package being scanned and packages ahead of and behind the package being scanned on the conveyor at variable speeds in order to obtain the required spacing;

imaging the front and rear surfaces of the package being scanned with the imaging scanners;

continuing to transport each package on the induction conveyor after scanning is completed;

operating conveyor segments downstream from the scanning zone to adjust spacing between successive packages to a spacing suited for induction to a sorting machine; and

then inducting a series of packages from the induction conveyor to the sorting machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sorting machine is a sliding shoe sorting machine that has a transport conveyor that receives a series of packages from the induction conveyor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the packages are transported through the scanning zone at speeds needed to create require spacing for imaging using the scanners, and the control system then operates the induction conveyor downstream from the scanning zone while adjusting the gaps to minimum gaps required by the sorter.