Method and device for splitting-up a stream of piece goods

Abstract

For splitting-up a supply stream (2) of piece goods into a plurality of conveying away streams, the supplied objects (3) are guided onto a plurality of conveying away paths (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) in a predetermined splitting-up sequence. A device employed for this purpose comprises a supply means for serially supplying objects (3) to a split-up point (1) and for positioning the objects (3) for being taken over by holding means (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) in the split-up point (1). The device also comprises a plurality of conveying away systems, each one of which defines one of the conveying away paths. Of the conveying away systems advantageously each one comprises a closed-in-itself rail track (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) and holding means (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) movable along the rail track independently of one another and with variable distances between one another. The rail tracks (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) of the conveying away systems converge towards the split-up point (1), run through the split-up point (1) parallel to one another and diverge after the split-up point (1). The conveying away systems further comprise means for buffering holding means (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) upstream of the split-up point (1) and means for releasing holding means from the buffers (7.1, 7.2, 7.3) in a controlled manner. Furthermore, the conveying away systems comprise means for conveying holding means (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) through the split-up point (1) in a controlled manner and means for activating the holding means in the split-up point. For the splitting-up of the objects (3) positioned in the split-up point, a serial stream of holding means through the split-up point (1) is produced by controlled release of holding means (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) from the buffers (7.1, 7.2, 7.3) of the conveying away systems. In this stream of holding means, holding means belonging to different conveying away systems are arranged in a sequence corresponding to the splitting-up sequence for the objects (3).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.