Patent ID: 6793063
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: B07C

Abstract:
Process for merging batches of objects (L1, L2), each previously ordered according to a certain classification of the objects (A), so as to constitute a single batch of objects ordered according to said classification, in which process said batches are loaded in destacking units (D1, D2) which deliver said objects in series and in which each object destacked from a destacking unit travels past a device (DL1, DL2) for reading a classification cue of said object to be transferred to a conveyor (CS) linked to said destacking units in a such a way that the objects exit the conveyor in series according to the order corresponding to said classification, wherein said objects destacked from a destacking unit (D1, D2) are transferred to said conveyor (CS) through at least a first (M11, M21) and a second (M12, M22) dynamic-storage magazine linked and associated to said destacking unit, said destacked objects moving in series into each dynamic-storage magazine around a storage loop, in that a control/command unit (U) controls each destacking unit (D1, D2) and the first and second dynamic-storage magazine (M11, M12; M21, M22) associated to said destacking unit for loading said first dynamic-storage magazine (M11, M21) with a certain number of first ordered objects destacked from said destacking unit and for loading said second dynamic-storage magazine (M12, M22) with a certain amount of following ordered objects destacked from said destacking unit, and in that said control/command unit (U) analyses the classifying cues for the objects pending in the dynamic-storage magazines to cause said first dynamic-storage magazine (M11, M21) associated to a destacking unit to be emptied to said conveyor before said second dynamic-storage magazine (M12, M22) associated to said destacking unit to be emptied to said conveyor, the loading and the emptying of said dynamic-storage magazines being repeated until said destacking units are completely emptied.