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ACS Courier
ACS Courier S.A. is the leading company in the domestic
courier marketplace, by providing first-class courier
services in competitive prices, within Greece and for all
international shipments and worldwide destinations.
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The Parcel Sorting System
ACS worked together with Kinematik to materialize a sorter
solution to fit exactly the needs of its Athens sortation hub.
Due to the fact that the sorter was to be fitted to an existing
facility, there were substantial limitations of both space
and installation duration.
Designed from the beginning, a pop-up roller sorter was
selected. Build into modules, transportation and installation
was completed in a weekend.
Moreover, to keep costs down a synchronized feed
conveyor was realized by retrofitting existing supply
conveyors. Both the retrofitted sorter feed conveyor and
the DWS (dimensioning, weighing, scanning) system were
integrated into the sorter system. Finally, sortation data
are exchanged with the customers IT system by Kinematik
Sorter Control Station (KSCS).
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Sorter System Operation Description
Packages are unloaded on the loading conveyors, which
transport them to the gap creator conveyors, making sure
that the packages have the necessary distances with each
other to be identified correctly from the DWS system. After
identification the packages enter the sorter. Depending on
the chute that each package will exit, the sorter aligns the
packages to left or the right of the sorter conveyor. Finally
when the package reaches the exiting chute, the sorter
using a pop-up roller mechanism diverts the package to
the destined chute.
Heavier, larger and generally unsortable packages are
conveyed on the bidirectional belt conveyor line located
under the sorter. The bidirectional conveyor line is used
also as a sorter loop.
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The Solution
• Pop-up roller sorter build from 5 modules, having 20
exiting chutes + 1 for overflow.
• Bidirectional belt conveyor line for unsortable items,
acting also as a loop
• Retrofitting supply and gap creating conveyors in order
to be synchronized with sorter feed conveyors
• Integration with the DWS system
• Engineering, Automation, Integration, Data Exchange
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Handling Ability
Capable of handling a wide range of products, such as
cartons, boxes, totes, packages etc. Sorting capacity
reaches 2500 units per hour.
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Reliable and Accurate
Having sensors along the sorter and at the chutes, and
due to the advanced sorting algorithm, the system can
accurately track each package during sortation process
and eliminates missorting.
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Compact
The system has a very small footprint, for the best utilization
of space. The secondary bidirectional line is placed under
the sorter.
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Flexible
The sorter can run various sortation senarios, which can
instantly change. Chute exit reassigning can be also easily
performed.
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Simple Use
The sortation system is controlled through an operator
panel that signals alarms and warnings, allowing
instant troubleshooting. Communication with customers
IT is controlled from the Kinematik Sorter Control
Station. Signalling lamps with beepers located near the
chutes are used to notify when a chute is full, increasing
productivity.
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Safety
Personel and equipment safety is guarded with pull-rope
switches along the conveyors and emergency buttons.
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Modular Design
Consists of easily assembled submodule parts, which
provide extra flexibility. Due to its modular and failsafe
design, each part can be easily accessed and replaced,
offering minimum downtime.
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Minimum Maintenance
The system was designed especially to require the
minimum maintenance consisting of top quality materials
and equipment.
Based on the easy to assemble and troubleshoot
philosophy, all the electrical connections are pluggable and
each conveyor or exiting mechanisms can be disassembled
in a few minutes ensuring reduced downtimes.
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