GEBHARDT sorting solutions - the Guide

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Sorting solutions

Everything you need to know can be found here

Find out what sorting solutions are all about, what areas of application there are and read how mechanics and digitisation can go hand in hand in one solution.

 

GEBHARDT SpeedSorter® - website product information

THEORY

What is it all about?

Sorting unit loads

The term sorting is used in different contexts. In logistics, the sorting of unit loads is the assignment of logistics units such as goods, containers or packages from a disordered total quantity to logical destinations according to certain criteria (for example, postal code). [VDI3619, P. 3]

 

Sorting systems

General cargo sorting systems are systems or equipment for identifying general cargo arriving in an unordered sequence on the basis of predetermined distinguishing features and for distributing it to destinations determined according to the respective requirements. [VDI3619, P. 29]

 

Sorter

Conveyor system that technically realizes the distribution of goods to the terminals according to the sorting carried out after identification in the computer. It consists of the infeed, the distribution conveyor and the trminal. [VDI3619, P. 2]

 

Importance of sorting solutions

The sorting process is a central component of internal logistics in many companies. These are mostly heterogeneous goods, i.e. products with different dimensions and weights. The economy, commercial enterprises and logistics companies (postal services) require automated and efficient sorting technology / sorting systems to maintain delivery reliability, i.e. the on-time delivery of their products.

In the future, sorting systems will not only be used in large logistics centres, but will also play an increasingly interesting role for many smaller distribution centres. Even today, internal logistics is unimaginable without the use of automated conveyor and sorting systems. In many places, the labour- and cost-intensive manual sorting process is replaced by automated high-performance sorting. Increased interest in high performance sorting systems can be found (besides the manufacturing industry) especially in the logistics centres of the CEP sector. Due to the booming online trade / e-commerce, the worldwide parcel volume as well as the buying behaviour and expectations of the customers (e.g. same-day-delivery) have strongly increased in the past years.

 

Abandonment of sorting systems

A sorting plant fulfils the functional areas of feeding, preparation, identification, sorting and removal of goods (see figure).

 

 

In terms of material flow, the inbound interface to the sorting system is understood by the term supply. It consists of either continuous or discontinuous conveyors. Here the goods to be sorted are coded, weighed, measured and assigned.

The next step is to merge the different conveyor flows, as well as to separate the goods and align them on the conveyor system.

The assignment of the goods to the correct end point is carried out in the third step of identification. Here the identification code must be recognised and assigned to the correct terminal.

Sorting is ultimately technically implemented by the sorter, which allocates the sorted goods to the respective end point. The sorter itself consists of an infeed, a distribution conveyor, and an end point.

The removal marks the last process step within a sorting system. The sorted goods are manually or automatically removed from the end point - from here they are transported to the packaging area.

 

Classification of the different types of sorting technology

Essentially, sorting systems are classified according to their throughput capacity and their orientation (vertical / horizontal). Basically, sorting systems can be classified into three performance ranges - the lower performance range (1,000 to 4,000 goods/h), the medium performance range (4,000 to 10,000 goods/h) and the high performance range with over 10,000 goods per hour.

In the past, there only existed the error-prone manual sorting. In the 1950s, one began on mechanising and automating the sorting process. As a result, capacities of less than 1,000 sorted goods per hour were achieved. In the mid-1960s, so-called diverters and pushers came onto the market, with which capacities could be increased fourfold, enabling an output of 1,000 to 4,000 goods to be sorted per hour. The medium capacity range was realized in the 1970s by rotary arm sorters and pop-up sorters, which enabled up to 8,000 sortings per hour. With the market entry of the so-called Bombay and Slideshoesorters, a capacity of over 8,000 items per hour was achieved for the first time in the mid-1980s. Today, up to 20,000 goods per hour can be sorted and moved in the high performance sorting area. This is realised by high-performance, innovative crossbelt and tilt tray sorters. It is possible to sort goods with a great variety of dimensions, shape and weight.

 

 

The tilt tray sorter consists of individual articulated crawler tracks that run on a closed rail system. The bogies are equipped with tiltable trays that pick up the unit loads. The use of tilt tray sorters is a recurring problem, as the different discharge parabolas of all materials conveyed have to be taken into account. The various packaging materials with high coefficients of friction (especially polybags) are not tipped evenly.

In crossbelt sorters the crossbelt carriers are connected to each other on a circulating sorting circuit and are driven by a pull chain. On each carrier there is a belt conveyor, which is arranged transverse to the conveying direction. The belt conveyors are driven at corresponding target points in order to convey the sorted material in both directions orthogonally defined. Due to the fast and reliable discharge of the material to be conveyed, the end points can be made comparatively narrow.

PRACTICE

Application areas of the sorting technology

General cargo sorting systems are not only used in larger distribution centres. Almost all industrial value-added processes require the sorting of unit loads at certain points of the internal material flow. Standard sorting systems are mainly used in production systems, distribution systems with warehousing and order picking, cross-docking of retail and CEP services and letter sorting. In addition, other typical areas of application for high-performance sorting systems can be found in the following industries:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Food
• Fashion and textiles
• Postal and parcel services
• Returns
• E-Commerce
• Mail order business
• Omnichannel

Packaged food products such as clothing, plastic containers, cartons, shipping bags and multimedia products can be handled using appropriate sorting technology. The respective carrier depends on the dimensions of the goods to be sorted.  

Learn more about the application in practice in our blog post.

FUTURE

Mechanical meets Digital

GEBHARDT is a pioneer in the application of the latest technologies and stands for innovation and digital progress. The new GEBHARDT crossbelt sorting solution combines mechanics with digitalisation - mechanical meets digital becomes reality here. The robust, innovative and powerful technology in combination with an intelligent control system makes it possible to meet the growing challenges on the market. Due to the modular construction and a tailor-made layout, the linking of the areas of goods receipt - warehouse - picking and dispatch is easily possible by integrating the GEBHARDT crossbelt sorter in a logistics system. Thanks to comprehensive sensor technology for digital data acquisition, the data and information obtained in the sorting process can be used to increase productivity.

Read an outlook from Marco Gebhardt about the innovative networking of the mechanical and digital components of our GEBHARDT crossbelt sorter.

 

A future-proof solution

The plant condition of the new GEBHARDT SpeedSorter® is continuously monitored. The data of the condition monitoring is used for preventive maintenance by forecasting the failure time of individual sorter components through the application of intelligent algorithms and the analysis of various operating parameters. By constantly monitoring chain elongation, predictions can be made about wear and failure times of drive chains and sprockets. All messages can be visualized or processed further, as all sensors and controls are networked with each other. At the same time, the messages can be visualised and appropriate countermeasures initiated via colour coding on the LED strip of the drive module concerned. Thanks to the monitoring of the filling level of the oil cartridge of the lubrication system and a corresponding level warning, the timely replacement of the oil cartridge and thus the continuous lubrication of the drive chain is ensured. Due to constant monitoring of all critical elements (flaps, drive technology, sensor technology), faults are detected at an early stage and can be eliminated more quickly thanks to a detailed display. Automatic mechanisms in case of errors, such as switching off the system, provide additional protection for the components of the sorter. Due to the constant pressure monitoring of the pneumatic elements, faults are detected and reported at an early stage. If the corresponding fault messages are not remedied in time by the operating personnel, the GEBHARDT crossbelt sorter is automatically switched off - the operational safety and availability is significantly increased. In addition to the continuous monitoring of the chain elongation, the GEBHARDT SpeedSorter® also has an innovative pneumatic chain tensioning system. The drive chain maintains the set chain tension and manual re-tensioning is not necessary. All malfunctions are recorded and reported by sensors, whereupon the error can be eliminated or the system can be shut down automatically. By mapping the new GEBHARDT crossbelt sorter as a digital twin, system expansions as well as commissioning and maintenance processes can be virtually mapped and simulated. By using a digital twin, the software can be tested more effectively in-house. This improves the quality of the software and the commissioning time as well as later extensions can be reduced significantly.