Device and method for sorting by means of a storage region and a sorting region

摘要

Objects are sorted according to predetermined groups of sorting feature values. In particular, postal items are sorted according to groups of delivery addresses. A sorting system sorts the objects into a sequence so that all objects with sorting feature values belonging to the same predetermined value group are situated one directly behind another in this sequence. The sorting system has x1 storage subregions, x2 sorting subregions and a sorting plan. The objects are apportioned to the x1 storage subregions. For each storage subregion, an apportionment step is then carried out, in which the objects from this storage subregion are apportioned to the x2 sorting subregions. The apportionment steps are performed one after the other. Each apportionment step, is followed by a sorting and output step for each sorting subregion, in which the objects from this sorting subregion are brought into a sequence in accordance with the sorting feature values and this sequence is output.

主权项

1. A method of sorting articles in accordance with a predetermined sorting feature, wherein the sorting feature for each article assumes one value respectively, the method comprising:
apportioning the sorting feature values that occur to predetermined z≧2 value groups of sorting feature values such that each sorting feature value belongs to exactly one value group; providing a sorting system sorting with:
a storage region having X1 >=2 storage subregions;a sorting region having x2 >=2 sorting subregions;where x1*x2≧z; anda computer-accessible sorting plan which assigns to each value group:
one storage subregion respectively; andone sorting subregion respectively; carrying out the following steps for each article to be sorted: measuring the value group to which the sorting feature value of the given article belongs; and transporting the article into that storage subregion which the sorting plan assigns to that value group to which the sorting feature value of the article belongs; carrying out an apportionment step for each storage subregion consecutively, wherein execution of the apportionment steps is completed once all articles to be sorted have been transported into the storage region and have been apportioned to the storage subregions; during the apportionment step for a storage subregion,
transporting all articles out of this storage subregion to the sorting region; andapportioning the articles transported to the sorting region to the x2 sorting subregions such that each article is transported into that sorting subregion which the sorting plan assigns to that value group to which the sorting feature value of the article belongs; carrying out the apportionment steps such that:
during apportionment to the sorting subregions mixing of articles from different storage subregions is prevented, andall articles, whose sorting feature values belong to the same value group, are located in the same sorting subregion after an apportionment step; andafter each apportionment step for each sorting subregion a sorting and output step is carried out; and wherein in a sorting and output step for a sorting subregion, all articles in this sorting subregion:
are placed into a given sequence such that those articles whose sorting feature values belong to the same value group occur immediately one after the other in the given sequence; andare transported from the sorting subregion in the given sequence.