Patent ID: 7611017

Claim:
Method of sorting containers ( 9 ), fed arranged in bundles ( 8 ) according to a matrix which are examined for affiliation with a sort, removed from the bundles ( 8 ) and, separated by sort, put into bundles ( 8 ) again, comprising a first step consisting in the examination of all the containers contained in a bundle in view of the determination of their respective sort (A, B, C or D), a second step wherein the result of said first test of the containers ( 9 ) for affiliation with a sort (A, B, C or D) is used to control a first robot ( 13 ) in such a way that this robot removes all the containers ( 9 ) of all the sorts from the bundle ( 8 ) together and puts them according to their specific sort on separate conveyors ( 4 ), each said separate conveyor being assigned to a specific sort, which second step is followed by a transfer of the containers ( 9 ) by means of the respective conveyors on which they have been put to a collection table ( 15 ) on which they are stored until enough containers ( 9 ) of a sort (A, B, C or D) have constituted a full matrix, characterized in that a second robot ( 16 ) removes all the containers ( 9 ) of said full matrix from the collection table ( 15 ) and puts them in a predetermined bundle ( 8 ), that said two separate conveyors ( 1 , 3 , 4 ) are extending parallel and are situated on the same level and that with n different sorts (A, B, C, or D) of containers ( 9 ), n conveyors ( 3 , 4 , 24 , 25 ) run parallel to each other at least from an unpacking device( 26 , 26 ′) to a packing device ( 27 ) and each robot ( 13 , 16 ) preferably scans two conveyors ( 3 , 4 , 24 , 25 ).