Method and device for merging two flows of objects

Abstract

A method for transporting and merging two flows of objects, in particular flat mail items, includes providing each of the two object flows with at least two respective objects. The two object flows follow one another in each respective transport path. One transport path merges into the other transport path. The two objects transported on the merging transport path are pushed over one another before reaching the merging point in such a manner that, when viewed in the transport direction, they overlap at least partially. The two objects are transported to a merging point in this overlapping state, infiltrated into the other transport path between the two objects transported on the other transport path and continue to be transported on the other transport path.

1 . A method for transporting two flows of objects each having at least two respective objects following one another in each respective transport path, the method comprising the following steps:
 merging one transport path into the other transport path by bringing the objects transported on a merging transport path into another transport path at a merging point and continuing to transport the objects from the merging transport path in the other transport path;   pushing the two objects transported on the merging transport path over one another before reaching the merging point causing the two objects to be transported in an at least partially overlapping state as viewed in a transport direction; and   transporting the two objects on the merging transport path to the merging point in the at least partially overlapping state and infiltrating the two objects on the merging transport path into the other transport path between the two objects transported on the other transport path and continuing to transport the two objects from the merging transport path on the other transport path.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises pushing the two objects transported on the merging transport path over one another as viewed in the transport direction, resulting in a predetermined distance between front edges of the two objects transported on the merging transport path, as viewed in the transport direction. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the front edges of the two objects, after having been pushed over one another, lie on top of one another as viewed in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises separating the two objects transported in the at least partially overlapping state once again after the infiltrating step, forming a gap between the two objects as viewed in the transport direction. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises carrying out the step of pushing the two objects over one another by carrying out the following sub-steps:
 deflecting a preceding object from an old transport direction into a new transport direction and then stopping the preceding object;   continuing to transport a following object until it meets the stopped preceding object;   likewise deflecting the following object into the new transport direction; and   continuing to transport the two deflected objects in the new transport direction in the at least partially overlapping state.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises:
 measuring respective thicknesses of the two objects transported on the merging transport path;   only pushing the two objects over one another, if a sum of their two thicknesses is less than or equal to a predetermined thickness limit; and   otherwise infiltrating the two objects into the other transport path with a gap formed between them, if the sum of their two thicknesses is more than the predetermined thickness limit.   
     
     
         7 . A device for transporting two flows of objects, the device comprising:
 a plurality of conveyor devices forming a merging transport path and another transport path into which the merging transport path merges at a merging point;   said conveyor devices each being configured to transport a respective object flow containing at least two objects on each respective transport path and to bring the objects transported on the merging transport path into the other transport path and continue to transport the objects transported on the merging transport in the other transport path;   at least one stacking device configured to push the two objects transported on the merging transport path over one another before reaching the merging point by placing the objects on the merging transport path in an at least partially overlapping state as viewed in a transport direction; and   said conveyor devices transporting the objects from the merging transport path in the at least partially overlapping state to the merging point, infiltrating the objects from the merging transport path into the other transport path between the two objects transported on the other transport path and continuing to transport the objects from the merging transport path on the other transport path.   
     
     
         8 . The transport device according to  claim 7 , which further comprises a separator disposed in the other transport path for separating the at least two overlapping transported objects again.