Device for merging two piece goods streams arranged at different heights

Abstract

Device for merging at least two piece goods streams arranged at different heights, with an upper feed channel for receiving packages from an upper piece goods stream, and a lower feed channel for receiving packages from a lower piece goods stream, the feed channels extending between a first vertical plane and a parallel second vertical plane, whose distance from each other corresponds to a total channel width, the upper feed channel having a first conveying surface between a first side panel running in the first vertical plane, and a second side panel, the second side panel running in the second vertical plane at least on an upstream-side final section, and a second conveying surface, which downstream joins the first conveying surface adjacent to a third side panel running in the first vertical plane and has a width, which is less than half the total channel width, wherein the second conveying surface loosely ends on a side panel running parallel to the first vertical plane at a vertical distance above the lower feed channel, the lower feed channel having a third conveying surface, which is bordered by a fourth side panel running in the second vertical plane and by a fifth side panel, wherein a width of the third conveying surface at a downstream-side end of the lower feed channel corresponds to the total channel width less the width of the second conveying surface.

Claims

1. Device for merging at least two piece goods streams arranged at different heights, with an upper feed channel for receiving packages from an upper piece goods stream, and a lower feed channel for receiving packages from a lower piece goods stream, the feed channels extending between a first vertical plane and a parallel second vertical plane, whose distance from each other corresponds to a total channel width, the upper feed channel having a first conveying surface between a first side panel, running in the first vertical plane, and a second side panel, the second side panel running in the second vertical plane at least on an upstream-side final section, and a second conveying surface, which downstream joins the first conveying surface adjacent to a third side panel running in the first vertical plane and has a width, which is less than half the total channel width, wherein the second conveying surface, loosely ends on a side panel running parallel to the first vertical plane at a vertical distance above the lower feed channel, the lower feed channel having a third conveying surface, which is bordered by a fourth side panel running in the second vertical plane and by a fifth side panel, wherein a width of the third conveying surface at a downstream-side end of the lower feed channel corresponds to the total channel width less the width of the second conveying surface.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second side panel runs completely in the second vertical plane.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second side panel runs acutely to the second vertical plane and originating from the second vertical plane can extend toward the second conveying surface.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first conveying surface has a downstream-side final section arranged between the second side panel and the side edge, which is located at a vertical distance above the lower feed channel.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fifth side panel runs from an initial position located in the first vertical plane to an end position arranged vertically at the side edge of the second conveying surface.

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fifth side panel has a transition section running acutely to the first vertical plane and a joining guidance section running parallel to the first vertical plane, whose distance from the first vertical plane corresponds to the width of the second conveying surface.

7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first conveying surface is arranged perpendicularly to the first and second vertical plane.

8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second conveying surface is arranged perpendicularly to the first vertical plane or sloping diagonally at an angle to the first vertical plane.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that a sub-section of the first conveying surface, which originating from the first vertical plane as the same width as the second conveying surface, is arranged either perpendicularly to the first vertical plane or sloping diagonally at an angle to the first vertical plane.

10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the third conveying surface is arranged perpendicularly to the vertical planes.

11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a downstream-side final section of the second conveying surface is arranged at the same height as a downstream-side final section of the third conveying surface.

12. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a discharge channel for receiving packages from the upper feed channel and from the lower feed channel extends between the vertical planes, has a fourth conveying surface running perpendicularly to the vertical planes.

13. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that in each case the first conveying surface and/or so far as available, the sub-section of the first conveying surface and/or the second conveying surface and/or the third conveying surface and/or the fourth conveying surface is formed as a sliding surface, sliding metal sheet, chute, driven or passive roller track or band- or belt-conveyor.

14. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first conveying surface, so far as available the sub-section of the first conveying surface and the second conveying surface have a downward gradient.

15. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is associated with an upper sorting device and a lower sorting device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a device according to the invention in the form of a terminal adjacent to an upper and a lower sorting device,

(2) FIG. 2 shows a plan view onto the device,

(3) FIG. 3 shows a cutaway view along line III-III in FIG. 1,

(4) FIGS. 4 to 6 show perspective views of the device from different directions,

(5) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 of an alternative embodiment,

(6) FIG. 8 shows a further perspective view of the embodiment according to FIG. 7, and

(7) FIG. 9 shows a cutaway view along line IX-IX in FIG. 8, wherein packages are additionally illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) Initially a first embodiment of the invention is described on the basis of FIGS. 1 to 6. The inventive device in the form of a terminal 2 serves to receive packages from at least two-piece goods streams arranged at different heights or also vertically above one another, which are designated in FIG. 1 with 4 and 6 and are designed as sorting devices by way of example. In place of one or both sorting devices any conveying system or device could be present to create piece goods streams, wherein individual packages are conveyed on two tracks, which are to be combined into a single conveyed goods stream. In the illustrated embodiment an upper sorting device 4 is arranged vertically above a lower sorting device 6, the conveying directions of which run horizontally, perpendicularly to the drawing plane. The sorting devices can be formed for example as crossbelt sorters, wherein a load receiving device which can be driven transversely to the conveying direction is located on a driving car or a sorter element in each case, with which individual packages can be unloaded at the terminal 2 horizontally and transversely to the conveying direction. Usually a number of terminals are arranged, seen in the conveying direction, one behind the other adjacent to the sorting devices, wherein the sorting operation takes place with selection of a specific terminal. In each case a terminal and in particular terminal 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 is located between two vertical planes spaced apart, a first vertical plane 8 and a second vertical plane 10 located therefrom at a distance T, which is also called total channel width of the terminal. The vertical planes 8, 10 are preferably arranged perpendicularly to the conveying directions of the sorting devices 4, 6.

(9) The fundamental structure of the terminal 2 forming a sorting element is clearest from the perspective views in accordance with FIGS. 4 to 6. The terminal 2 possesses an upper feed channel 12 for receiving packages from the upper sorting device 4 and a lower feed channel 14 for receiving packages from the lower sorting device 6. The upper feed channel 12 has a first conveying surface 16, which is bordered by a first side panel 18 running in the first vertical plane 8 and by a second side panel 20 running in the second vertical plane 10. Furthermore, the upper feed channel 12 joining the first conveying surface 16 has a second conveying surface 24, which is bordered by a third side panel 26 running in the first vertical plane 8. The third side panel 26 can directly join the first side panel 18. The second conveying surface 24 has a side edge 28, on which it loosely ends. The side edge 28 runs parallel to the first connecting plane 8 and has a distance a therefrom, which corresponds to a width of the second conveying surface 24 and is less than half the total channel width T. The first conveying surface 16 has a width, which corresponds to the total channel width T and has a downstream-side final section 30 between the second side panel 20 and the side edge 28 of the second conveying surface 24, which ends at a vertical distance above the lower feed channel 14.

(10) The first side panel 18 and the second side panel 20 end with upstream-side final sections 18a, 20a in each case at a distance from an upstream-side final section 32 of the first conveying surface 16, in order to enable packages unloaded transversely to the conveying direction from the upper sorting device 4 to pass through a curved trajectory which is expedient for higher conveying and unloading speeds.

(11) The upstream-side final section 32 of the first conveying surface 16 is arranged directly adjacent to the upper sorting device 6 when the terminal is used, as the side view according to FIG. 1 shows.

(12) The lower feed channel 14 has a third conveying surface 36, which is bordered by a fourth side panel 38 running in the second vertical plane 10 and a fifth side panel 40. The fifth side panel 40 runs from an initial position, located in the first vertical plane 8, to a final position located vertically under the side edge 28 of the second conveying surface 24, wherein it has a transition section 42 running acutely to the first vertical plane 8 and a guidance section 44 joining it, running parallel to the first vertical plane 8, whose distance from the first vertical plane corresponds to the width of the second conveying surface 24. The fourth side panel 38 and the fifth side panel 40 begin at a distance from an upstream-side final section 46 of the third conveying surface 36, which is located adjacent to the lower sorting device 6, as FIG. 1 also shows, in order, as described above with respect to the first and second side panel of the first conveying surface 16, to render advantageous unloading of the packages possible.

(13) A downstream-side final section 48 of the third conveying surface 36 is located at the same height and directly adjacent to a downstream-side final section 50 of the second conveying surface 24, wherein a discharge channel 52 with a fourth conveying surface 54 joins the second conveying surface 24 and the third conveying surface 36 and/or their downstream-side final sections 48, 50. The fourth conveying surface 54 extends over the full width or the total channel width T of the terminal 2, between the vertical planes 8, 10 and between side panels running therein, which can join the third and fourth side panels 26, 38 of the second and third conveying surfaces 24, 36 without gaps.

(14) FIG. 3 in a cutaway view describes how packages, which can be wider than half the width or half the total channel width of the terminal 2, can be easily unloaded from the sorting devices on the upper feed channel and the lower feed channel. FIG. 3 at the top of the illustration shows a package 60, which is located on the second conveying surface 24 lying against the third side panel 26, wherein it laterally projects due to its width over the second conveying surface 24 and its side edge 28. Correspondingly FIG. 3 in the lower part of the illustration shows a packager 62 on the third conveying surface 36, wherein its width and/or the distance from each other of the fourth and fifth side panels 38, 40 is greater than half the total channel width T. FIG. 3 also shows that the side edge 28 of the second conveying surface 24 is located vertically above the fourth side panel 38 of the third conveying surface 36. The plan view in accordance with FIG. 2 likewise clearly shows the width dimensions of the first conveying surface 16, the second conveying surface 24 and the third conveying surface 36, as well as the discharge channel 52 with the fourth conveying surface 54.

(15) FIGS. 7 to 9 describe a second embodiment, wherein by contrast to the embodiment described above the second conveying surface 24 and a sub-section 16 of the first conveying surface 16 do not run perpendicularly to the vertical planes 8, 10 but, originating from the first conveying surface 16 and/or the plane defined thereby, are arranged diagonally sloping toward the first vertical plane 8. FIG. 9 by way of example shows an arrangement, wherein the second conveying surface 24 and the sub-section 16 of the first conveying surface run sloping toward the first vertical plane 8 at an angle of approx. 15 in relation to the first conveying surface 16. Furthermore FIGS. 7 to 9 show that the first side panel 18 and the third side panel 26 can also be arranged at an angle to the first vertical plane 8, so that they run orthogonally to the diagonally running second conveying surface 24 and to the sub-section 16 of the first conveying surface 16. As FIG. 9 shows, packages, which are frequently square in shape, can then be conveyed particularly advantageously.