Healthspan selects Axiom's sorter to speed up despatch
August 1st 2011 When Healthspan urgently needed a
cost effective packet despatch system
it turned to Tamworth-based
sortation system specialists, Axiom.
Axiom designed and delivered a
cost effective solution within the
prescribed ten week window. The
system consists of induct conveyors
which deliver a consistent train of
regulated products to the sorter, and
a Series PR (popup roller) sorter
with 50 dual direction carriages. As
part of the contract Axiom designed
and installed all supporting system
controls and automation, software
and interfaces. The company also
provided training on the new
equipment, a spare parts package and
bi-annual servicing.
The system is based around several
operators manually loading product
that has been pre-labelled with a
customer shipping label onto induct
conveyors with the label facing
upwards.
On arrival at the sorter, the packets
are automatically scanned using an
overhead omni-directional barcode
reader. The barcode is forwarded to a
conveyor control server running a
Linux based sortation control system.
The server sends 'ship to' and weight
data to the sortation control PLC.
The packets are conveyed to 100
bespoke 'intelligent chutes' and bins
(mail sacks which are held in place
with supports).With just two
operators responsible for removing
full mail sacks and replacing them
with empty sacks, an integral
accumulation/buffer solution for the
packets was crucial.
Product is automatically tracked as
it travels through the sorter and
when it arrives at the correct
destination the system checks to
ensure there is free capacity in the
mail sack. This is done by embedding
the product weight into the barcode
so that the system can constantly
update sack weight. If the sack is full,
the product is diverted into a bespoke
chute capable of holding a similar
volume of product to the mail sack.
Once the mail sack has been emptied,
an automatic door opens and the
packets fall from the chute into the
sack. More articles from Axiom GB Ltd: | 
