Separating Distance for Overlapping Flat Parcels in a Vertical Position

Abstract

An apparatus for separating overlapping parcels in a vertical position has separating sections arranged along a transport path immediately behind one another, and a drive controller for the separating sections. Drives of those separating sections, in which the most advanced upstream parcel is located are stopped immediately as soon as its front edge is detected in a reception position and a slip-free further transport is securely guaranteed. Number and length of the separating sections are selected in accordance with the range of parcel lengths and the rated transport speed so that a subsequent parcel located at a minimum gap distance is not yet located in the upstream rearmost stopped separating section. The drive of each stopped separating section is started again as soon as the rear edge of the preceding parcel has left this separating section or as soon as the subsequent parcel is located before a free separating section.

1 .- 4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus for separating overlapping flat parcels in a vertical position, comprising:
 a number of separately-driven separating sections arranged along a transport path immediately behind one another; and   a drive controller for the separating sections,   wherein each separating section comprises:
 transport belts for transporting parcels, 
 a retaining element at a height between the transport belts and operating with frictional force on the parcels, and 
 an array of sensors arranged along the transport path and configured to detect front and rear edges of the parcels, 
   wherein separated parcels are accepted clamped into a transport means and removed from the separating distance at a reception point at a downstream flow end of the separating apparatus,   wherein the drive controller comprises a drive motor for each separating section, and is configured so that the drive motor of those separating sections, in which a frontmost downstream parcel is located, is immediately stopped as soon as its front edge is detected in the reception point,   wherein number and length of the separating sections are selected in accordance with a range of lengths of the parcels and rated transport speeds so that a subsequent parcel spaced at a minimum gap in each case is not yet located in a rearmost downstream stopped separating section, and   wherein the drive motor of each stopped separating section is restarted as soon as a rear edge of a previous parcel in each case has left a current separating section or as soon as the subsequent parcel in each case is located before a free separating section.   
   
   
       6 . The separating apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein downstream rear deflection rollers of the transport belt have a center point, wherein a distance between the center point and a separating section upstream from it to the reception point corresponds to a minimum parcel length plus a minimum gap between the parcels minus a distance, which the parcels cover during braking from the relevant rated speed to a standstill, or one acceleration from standstill to the relevant rated speed. 
   
   
       7 . The separating apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein deflection rollers of the transport belts have a center point, wherein upstream from the separating sections at the reception point at least one separating section is arranged, for which a distance of the center points corresponds to a minimum gap between the parcels minus a distance covered by the parcels on braking from the relevant rated speed to standstill or on acceleration from standstill to the relevant rated speed, and distances of the center points of these separating sections from adjacent deflection rollers of adjacent separating sections at least correspond to a distance which the parcels cover on braking from the relevant rated speed to standstill or on acceleration from standstill to the relevant rated speed, but at a maximum are not greater than the minimum parcel length. 
   
   
       8 . The separating apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein downstream rear deflection rollers of the transport belts have a center point, wherein a distance between the center points of the deflection rollers arranged upstream of the separating sections adjacent downstream to the separating sections of their deflection rollers on the transport path corresponds to an amount of a minimum gap by which the parcels are spaced from one another, minus a distance covered by the parcels on braking from the relevant rated speed to standstill or on acceleration from standstill to the relevant rated speed from the reception point at least the length of a longest parcels minus a minimum gap between the parcels reduced by the braking or acceleration distance.