System and method for filling, removing and transporting containers

• US 7,304,260 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Maler, Wilhelm, Boller, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hageman; Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/668,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20040074561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 209/584, 209/900, 209/509, 209/702, 209/706, 414/280, 198/370.01, 198/370.02, 198/370.03, 198/370.07, 198/370.09, 198/468.11
• US Class Current: 209/584
• 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: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for automatically transporting receiving containers for sorted products. The containers are filled with the sorted products along a sorting stretch at individual, similar target stations, and automatically transported by means of a transport device after being filled. A full receiving container for sorted products is thus lowered, after a transport command has been triggered, by means of a transport device beneath a target station. The container is then placed on the transport device, if the device is not already occupied by a receiving container. The receiving container is then transported away from the target station by means of the transport device.

Claims

1. A method for filling, removing, and transporting a receiving container for sorted items, a number of which are filled along a sorting path with sorted items at individual destination points, the sorting items being of the same type, and alter filling are transported away from the destination points by way of a transport facility, comprising the steps of:

placing an empty receiving container on an upper surface of a holder;

inserting the empty receiving container and the holder on a guide beneath a destination point;

withdrawing the receiving container and the holder at least once for filling with sorted items so that the receiving container is removed from beneath the destination point during filling, a withdrawing direction being crosswise with respect to a sorting path direction and opposite to an insertion direction;

reinserting the container and holder after the filling so that the container is positioned beneath the destination point;

raising the container from the holder in response to a control command, the raising being performed by a lift;

withdrawing the holder in an opposite direction to an insertion direction;

lowering the receiving container via the lift onto the transport facility situated beneath the destination point;

transporting the receiving container away from the destination point via the transport facility; and

moving the lift into an idle position.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of replacing the container with another container at the destination point.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

prior to the step of lowering, determining if a space below the container is occupied, and

if the space is occupied, not performing the step of lowering.