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 7,915,557 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Joseph C
• Application Number:
  US12/383,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20090242465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 209/552, 209/559, 209/583, 209/584, 209/900, 209/939
• US Class Current: 209/583
• 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 provided. 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. A method for synchronizing distribution information of a sorting stock with 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;

assigning unequivocally the distribution 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,

transporting the sorting stock to an unloading station by the sorter element; and

unloading the sorting stock at the unloading station where distribution takes place based upon the distribution information.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first image of the support of the sorter element is prepared in front of the laying-down station.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second image of the support of the sorter element is prepared behind the laying-down station.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, 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.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second image of the support of the sorter element is prepared behind the laying-down station.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, 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.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, 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.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, 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.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, 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.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distribution information comprises an address assigned to the sorting stock.

11. A sorting and distribution system, comprising:

an arrangement for synchronizing distribution information of a sorting stock having with 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;

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; and

an unloading station, the sorting stock being transported to the unloading station by the sorter element, wherein the sorting stock is unloaded at the unloading station where distribution takes place based upon the distribution information,

wherein the distribution information of the sorting stock, known before the sorting stock is laid onto the support of the sorter element, is assigned unequivocally to the sorter element which is recognized as fed with the sorting stock.

12. The sorting and distribution system as claimed in claim 11, 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.

13. The sorting and distribution system as claimed in claim 11, 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.

14. The sorting and distribution system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sorter element is part of a circular, linear, transverse-belt or tilting-tray sorter.

15. The sorting and distribution system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sorter element is part of a circular, linear, transverse-belt or tilting-tray sorter.

16. The sorting and distribution system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sorter element is part of a circular, linear, transverse-belt or tilting-tray sorter.

17. The sorting and distribution system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the distribution information comprises an address assigned to the sorting stock.