Sorting installation for parcels and method for sorting parcels

Abstract

A sorting installation for parcels uses an efficient sorting process based on properties of the parcels. The sorting installation has at least one parcel inlet and a parcel outlet that discharges sorted parcels for external transportation. A conveying mechanism transports the parcels to be sorted from the parcel inlet into a sorting area of the sorting installation. The sorting area has a sorting mechanism that sorts the multiplicity of parcels according to at least one item of parcel-related sorting information and removes them from the conveying mechanism at a transfer station. The sorting area also includes primary buffer stores, which receive and temporarily store parcels sorted by the sorting mechanism according to the parcel-related sorting information. The primary buffer stores are set up to be moved to the at least one transfer station depending on the at least one item of parcel-related sorting information.

Claims

1. A sorting installation for parcels, the sorting installation comprising: at least one parcel inlet configured to receive a multiplicity of parcels to be sorted; at least one parcel outlet configured to discharge sorted parcels from the sorting installation to external transport means; a conveying mechanism configured to transport the parcels to be sorted from the parcel inlet into a sorting area of the sorting installation; the sorting area having: a sorting mechanism configured to sort the multiplicity of parcels according to at least one item of parcel-related sorting information and to remove the parcels from said conveying mechanism at at least one transfer station of the sorting installation; and primary buffer stores each configured to receive at least one parcel sorted by said sorting mechanism according to the at least one item of parcel-related sorting information and to buffer the at least one parcel; said primary buffer stores being configured for movement to said at least one transfer station in accordance with the at least one item of parcel-related sorting information; and secondary buffer stores configured to receive sorted parcels from said primary buffer stores and to hold the sorted parcels until the sorted parcels are collectively further transported to one or more parcel outlets; and said primary buffer stores being configured to fetch at least some of the sorted parcels collectively from said secondary buffer stores and to collectively transport the sorted parcels to at least one of the parcel outlets.

2. The sorting installation according to claim 1, wherein said primary buffer stores comprise driverless transport vehicles and/or a GridSorter controlled by a control unit of the sorting installation.

3. The sorting installation according to claim 1, wherein said secondary buffer stores comprise a container freight station and/or a high-shelf warehouse.

4. The sorting installation according to claim 1, wherein said primary buffer stores are configured to transport at least a part of the sorted parcels collectively to at least one parcel outlet.

5. The sorting installation according to claim 4, wherein said primary buffer stores are configured to fetch at least a part of the sorted parcels collectively from secondary buffer stores and to transport the sorted parcels to at least one parcel outlet.

6. The sorting installation according to claim 1, wherein said secondary buffer stores are set up to transport at least a part of the sorted parcels collectively to at least one parcel outlet.

7. The sorting installation according to claim 1, comprising at least one sensor disposed to detect at least one item of parcel-related sorting information of each of the multiplicity of parcels.

8. The sorting installation according to claim 1, configured to have at least a part of the buffered parcels transported collectively to at least one of the parcel outlets in each case according to at least one item of parcel-related sorting information.

9. A method for sorting parcels in a sorting installation, comprising: receiving at a parcel inlet of the sorting installation a multiplicity of parcels to be sorted; transporting the parcels to be sorted on a conveying mechanism from the parcel inlet into a sorting area of the sorting installation; sorting the multiplicity of parcels with a sorting mechanism of the sorting area in accordance with at least one item of parcel-related sorting information and removing the parcels from the conveying mechanism at at least one transfer station of the sorting installation; receiving and buffering respective parcels that have been sorted by the sorting mechanism in accordance with the at least one item of sorting information in primary buffer stores; moving the primary buffer stores to the at least one transfer station depending on the at least one item of sorting information; and discharging the sorted parcels via at least one parcel outlet from the sorting installation to external transport means.

10. The method according to claim 9, which comprises using the primary buffer stores to transport at least a part of the sorted parcels collectively to at least one parcel outlet.

11. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises: receiving sorted parcels from the primary buffer stores in secondary buffer stores and holding the sorted parcels before the sorted parcels are collectively further transported to one or more parcel outlets; wherein the secondary buffer stores transport at least a part of the sorted parcels collectively to at least one parcel outlet; and/or wherein the primary buffer stores fetch at least a part of the sorted parcels collected at the second buffer stores and transport the sorted parcels to at least one parcel outlet.

12. The method according to claim 9, which comprises transporting a part of the buffered parcels collectively to at least one of the parcel outlets of the sorting installation in each case according to at least one item of parcel-related sorting information.

Description

(1) The characteristics, features and advantages of this invention described above as well as the manner in which these are achieved will become clearer and easier to understand in conjunction with the description of the exemplary embodiments given below, which are explained in greater detail with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(2) The sole FIGURE shows a schematic view of an inventive sorting system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(3) Shown in the FIGURE is an inventive sorting installation 1 for parcels 2. The sorting installation 1 comprises a parcel inlet 3, which is set up to receive a multiplicity of parcels 2 to be sorted into the sorting installation 1. The sorting installation 1 comprises at least one parcel outlet 4 (here three parcel outlets), which is set up to discharge sorted parcels 2 from the sorting installation 1 to external transport means 5 (shown here in a non-restrictive way as a truck).

(4) The sorting installation 1 moreover comprises a conveying mechanism 6, which is set up to transport the sorted parcels 2 from the parcel inlet 3 into a sorting area 7. The conveying mechanism 6 here also comprises an annular conveying mechanism in the sorting area 7.

(5) The sorting area 7 comprises at least one sensor 8, which is set up to detect at least one item of parcel-related sorting information of each of the multiplicity of parcels 2. As an alternative or in addition one or more items of parcel-related sorting information can be known beforehand and already be communicated when the parcel 2 is delivered to the sorting installation 1. The sensor or sensors 8 can also be arranged at other positions of the sorting installation 1.

(6) The parcel-related sorting information to be determined can for example comprise the following information:

(7) a destination address or a part thereof (zip code, street, street section etc.),

(8) a weight of the parcel 2,

(9) the dimensions of a parcel 2,

(10) a delivery type (e.g. standard delivery, express delivery, same-day delivery etc.).

(11) To this end one or more sensors 8, such as cameras, scanners, scales etc. can be arranged in the sorting area 7. The sensor or the sensors 8 can, as indicated here, be integrated into the conveying mechanism 6 and/or can be arranged next to it/above it.

(12) The sorting area 7 moreover comprises a sorting mechanism 9 (shown here by way of example as a robot arm), which is set up to sort the multiplicity of parcels 2 according to the at least one item of parcel-related sorting information and to remove them from the conveying mechanism 6 at at least one transfer station and supply them to primary buffer stores 10, 10a. The sorting mechanism 9 can comprise a cross-belt sorter, a tilt-tray sorter and/or a sliding shoe sorter. The sorting mechanism can however also be integrated partly or entirely into the conveying mechanism 6.

(13) The primary buffer stores 10, 10a are set up to receive at least one parcel 2 sorted by the sorting mechanism 9 according to the item of at least item of parcel-related information and to buffer it.

(14) The sorting installation 1 is set up to have a part of the buffered parcels 2 in each case transported collectively to one of the parcel outlets 4 according to at least one item of parcel-related sorting information.

(15) The primary buffer stores 10, 10A here comprise a driverless transport vehicle controlled by a control unit (not explicitly shown) of the sorting installation 1. The driverless transport vehicles comprise modular buffer storage media 11 in which the parcels 2 can be buffered and which e.g. can be discharged to a parcel outlet 2 or to another buffer store or can be removed from the driverless transport vehicle. The driverless transport vehicle can then be provided at another point in the sorting installation with a new empty modular buffer storage medium 11 in an automated manner.

(16) A GridSorter© can be integrated into the sorting mechanism 0 or the conveying mechanism 6, i.e. for example be located upstream of the driverless transport vehicles and thus serve as a buffer. At the same time a GridSorter© equally allows a number of parcels 2 for the same sorting destination to be loaded into a driverless transport vehicle, whereby their idle time is reduced. This increases the efficiency of the sorting installation 1.

(17) The sorting installation 1 here also comprises secondary buffer stores 12. The secondary buffer stores 12 are set up to receive sorted parcels 2 from the primary buffer stores 10, 10A and to hold them until they are collectively further transported to one or more parcel outlets 4. Here it is indicated that two primary buffers stores 10A have each unloaded their modular buffer storage medium 11 into a secondary buffer store 12. The modular buffer storage media 11 can be identical to modular buffer storage media 13 of the secondary buffer stores 12 (as indicated here) and or can differ from said media.

(18) The secondary buffer stores 12 can comprise a container freight station and/or a high-shelf warehouse. Shown in FIG. 1 are secondary buffer stores 12 in the form of three high-shelf warehouses, wherein the use of the same buffer storage media is advantageous in this case. If a container freight station is used, the secondary buffer storage media 13 can be freight containers and thus differ from the buffer storage media 11 of the primary buffer stores 10, 10A.

(19) Although the invention has been illustrated and described in greater detail by preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not restricted by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived herefrom by the person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(20) 1 Sorting installation

(21) 2 Parcel

(22) 3 Parcel inlet

(23) 4 Parcel outlet

(24) 5 Transport means

(25) 6 Conveying mechanism

(26) 7 Sorting area

(27) 8 Sensor

(28) 9 Sorting mechanism

(29) 10 Primary buffer store

(30) 10A Primary buffer store

(31) 11 Buffer storage medium

(32) 12 Secondary buffer store

(33) 13 Buffer storage medium