Sorting device for flat, letter-like postal items

• US 6,276,509 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2000
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Reinerth, Fridtjof, Schuster, Rudolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R.
• Application Number:
  US09/582,537
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 198/359, 198/890, 198/468.01, 198/468.2, 198/468.6, 198/468.9, 198/602, 198/370.02, 209/900, 209/509, 209/584, 414/267, 414/280
• US Class Current: 198/370.02
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/008 Means for collecting objects, e.g. containers for sorted mail items pile receivers in general B65H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/082 In which the objects are carried by transport holders and the transport holders form part of the conveyor belts conveyors with carriers B65G47/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

A sorting device is provided with output stations for containers along a sorting path, which containers accept the sorted unit load. A conveying path extends next to the container row, on which conveying path the empty containers are supplied and the full containers are transported off. A transfer device can be moved via the conveying path and is provided with a telescopic boom for the automatic container change between the output stations and the conveying path.

Claims

1. A sorting device for flat letter-like postal matter, comprising:

at least one conveying path,

a sorting path,

a further sorting path,

at least one transfer device and a plurality of output stations having a plurality of containers for accepting sorted postal matter, the plurality of containers being arranged in a series along at least one of the sorting path and the further sorting path,

one output station extending beneath each of the sorting path and further sorting path, filled containers being capable of being taken from the output stations and transported off of the sorting device and the output stations that have become free of containers being capable of being filled with empty containers and the at least one conveying path is capable of supplying or, respectively, removing empty containers or, respectively, supplying or removing full containers,

the at least one conveying path extending along the output stations, filled containers and empty containers being transported in the conveying path and,

the at least one transfer device being moved along the sorting path and the further sorting path, the transfer device including a transfer means for automatically transferring containers from the sorting path and further sorting path to the conveying path and to the output stations or, respectively, for purposes of transferring containers from the output stations to the conveying path,

the sorting path and the further sorting path being arranged parallel to one another,

the conveying path extending between the sorting path and the further sorting path, and

the transfer means being operable for both rows of containers disposed in the sorting path and the further sorting path.

2. A sorting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transfer device comprises at least one telescopic boom for operating on container rows disposed in the sorting path and the further sorting path.

3. A sorting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transfer device is constructed to be capable of being moved between the sorting path and the further sorting path.

4. A sorting device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

means defining a free intermediate space disposed between the sorting path and the further sorting path,

the transfer means includes at least one narrow grab arm which is movable linearly along the free intermediate space, the grab arm includes a grab means for grabbing containers disposed in at least one of the sorting path and the further sorting path.

5. A sorting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the free intermediate space is disposed between the sorting path and the further sorting path, the sorting path and further sorting path pass through the output station, the grab arm is moved into the free intermediate space, and the grab means is adjustable such that the grab means is capable of being moved laterally past the containers without contacting the containers.

6. A sorting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the grab arm is a boom that is telescopically extendable.

7. A sorting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the telescopic grab arm can be moved between the sorting path and the further sorting path and wherein the grab arm and the grab means are fashioned for purposes of inserting and withdrawing empty containers or, respectively, filled containers from both the sorting path and the further sorting path.

8. A sorting device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transfer device includes a lifting means for lifting the containers.

9. A sorting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lifting means includes finger-like grab means, and the containers comprise grab shapes for being engaged by the finger-like grab means.