Mail and parcel centers profit from integrated, complete SICK solutions for identification and volume measurement for letters, small packages, parcels and bundle mail
Industry: Courier Express Parcel, Postal & Cargo
Itella, the Finnish mail and communication company (formerly Finnish Post) has invested in new sorting and recognition technology in four centers. As a first in this sector, all these centers combined sorting technologies for letters, small packages, parcels and bundles. The throughput of tote boxes for letters and flats is up to 5,000 units per hour and system. For small packages, parcels and bundles, the throughput is 10,000 units per hour for each system. To technically achieve the targeted throughput by integrating economical and service-related invoicing aspects market proven 1D and 2D code readers with integrated image capturing capabilities for further OCR processing and video coding including legal-for-trade volume measurement systems for larger objects was requested. All components needed to be integrated into the sorting system via a common control system. Permanent monitoring of the device and system functions and the option for remote diagnostics and maintenance had to be realized from a single source, together with the overall sensor-system combination.
Itella decided to acquire all the technology for the identification, volume measurement and system monitoring from a single source. The fundamental components of the SICK system combination in each sorting center are the 1D and 2D code reader cameras (ICR890) and the volume measurement system (VMS520). The code reader camera concurrently identifies and decodes the 1D and 2D codes on the objects and sends images to the OCR and video coding subsystems. The volume measuring systems for precise detection of the height, width, length and shape of sorting objects are calibrated and legal for trade. As such, they form the basis for precise invoicing of the services performed. Each complete system is connected to the system control unit by a controller (MSC800). Use of a tool for monitoring the system output and for remote maintenance (RDT400) guarantees the desired availability both for individual components and for the entire systems.
This is an application from SICK.
Tri-Phase Automation is a SICK distributor in Wisconsin.
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