EP0195348B1 - Flat objects separator - Google Patents

Flat objects separator Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0195348B1
EP0195348B1 EP86103206A EP86103206A EP0195348B1 EP 0195348 B1 EP0195348 B1 EP 0195348B1 EP 86103206 A EP86103206 A EP 86103206A EP 86103206 A EP86103206 A EP 86103206A EP 0195348 B1 EP0195348 B1 EP 0195348B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
objects
outlet
conveyor
separator
transport conveyor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP86103206A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0195348A1 (en
Inventor
Marek Krasuski
Michel Serruya
Pierre Milet
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SMH Alcatel SA
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SMH Alcatel SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SMH Alcatel SA filed Critical SMH Alcatel SA
Publication of EP0195348A1 publication Critical patent/EP0195348A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0195348B1 publication Critical patent/EP0195348B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B65H3/52—Friction retainers acting on under or rear side of article being separated
    • B65H3/5207—Non-driven retainers, e.g. movable retainers being moved by the motion of the article
    • B65H3/523—Non-driven retainers, e.g. movable retainers being moved by the motion of the article the retainers positioned over articles separated from the bottom of the pile
    • B65H3/5238—Retainers of the pad-type, e.g. friction pads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
    • B65H3/06—Rollers or like rotary separators
    • B65H3/063—Rollers or like rotary separators separating from the bottom of pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/1916—Envelopes and articles of mail

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to flat object destackers intended to take the objects placed in a stack in a store and to deliver them separated from each other to a transport mechanism. It applies in particular to mail processing machines and in particular to franking machines for the introduction of envelopes one after the other into these machines.
  • the operations linked to the franking operation concerned above essentially consist of moistening the envelope flaps, closing the envelopes and then franking them. These operations are carried out during the movement on a transport mechanism of the envelopes taken from a store and delivered one after the other by an unstacker supplying the transport mechanism.
  • the envelopes are advantageously driven flat on the transport mechanism on which the flaps of the envelopes overflow, fall freely and are guided against a damper placed under the transport mechanism. It is therefore advantageous for the unstacking of the envelopes to allow direct positioning of the envelopes flat on the transport mechanism.
  • the envelopes are stored in a stack in a store.
  • a horizontal transport conveyor partially overflowing under the stack of envelopes in the magazine ensures by friction the exit of the envelopes from the magazine and their drive towards a processing machine.
  • a separating roller positioned above the transport conveyor, near the outlet of the store envelopes, and driven in rotation to exert on the envelopes a force of direction opposite to that of the force exerted by the transport conveyor, ensures the separation of envelopes arriving superimposed on its level.
  • An envelope retaining element, placed above the transport conveyor, between the separating roller and the envelope outlet makes it possible to limit the number of envelopes leaving the store simultaneously. Downstream of the separating roller, the envelopes are driven at a higher speed than that of drive during their exit from the store-and their separation, to accentuate the pitch between successive envelopes delivered to a subsequent processing machine and thereby contribute upon their separation.
  • the retaining element and the separating roller are held elastically above the transport conveyor.
  • the retaining element forms a rounded "heel" on the lower part of the envelope outlet, presenting a rough or serrated surface for retaining the superimposed envelopes, and the legs, extending above the transport conveyor, between which the separating roller comes to nest.
  • This retaining element is slidably mounted on a support fixed in front of the outlet of the magazine and is urged towards the transport conveyor by springs mounted between the support and this retaining element.
  • the transport conveyor is formed by toothed belts which cooperate with both of the legs of the retaining element - and a central belt which cooperates with the separating roller.
  • This mechanism is complex, in addition, it requires mounting of one and the other of the supports of the retaining element and of the separating roller respectively by suitably nesting the separating roller in the legs of the retaining element while taking into account the thickness of the type of envelopes to be separated from each other. Furthermore, when a single envelope arrives at the separating roller, it undergoes on its two faces of the opposite forces which can cause its damage. Such possible damage to the envelopes can also cause damage to the folds contained therein when these envelopes are loaded.
  • the present invention therefore aims. to make a destacker with a very simple structure, easily adjustable if necessary, making it possible to separate objects with optimal performance whatever their length and thickness.
  • the present invention therefore relates to a destacker of flat objects comprising a storage magazine in the stack of said objects having an exit of objects at the bottom of the stack, an object transport conveyor constituted by a series of rollers driven in rotation disposed under the object outlet and on either side of said outlet, an object separating means disposed downstream of said object outlet and mounted resiliently above said transport conveyor, a retaining element for objects disposed between said object outlet and said separating means and resiliently mounted above said transport conveyor, as known from document GB-A-2057404, which is characterized in that said retaining element consists of at least one tongue flexible terminal carried by a part defining, on the one hand, substantially on the height of said object outlet, an inclined rigid deflector flap extending said outlet and the end of which is substantially tangential to one of the rollers of said transport conveyor, and constituting an inclined presser with a smooth surface on said objects of said tongue which overflows on said flap and falls back on said conveyor upstream of said separating means and, on the other hand, above said outlet of objects, an
  • said deflector flap equipped with said retaining element and said piece forming the shoe are both mounted on the same support carrying said first and second axes, around which they pivot respectively, and form a pre-adjusted assembly attached and held in front of said output of objects.
  • a depiler is shown schematically according to the present invention.
  • a stack of flat objects in particular a stack of envelopes loaded with their respective folds and not yet closed.
  • the stack of objects is stored in a magazine 2 from which the objects are picked up through an object outlet 3, at the bottom of the stack, then are delivered flat separated from each other.
  • the magazine 2 has a first side wall 4 opposite the outlet for objects 3, simply sketched in the figure, and a second side wall 5, delimiting the outlet 3, having their internal faces profiled by being generally both inclined to the vertical, to favor this staging of objects.
  • the internal face of the wall 4 forms on its height a slightly convex sliding ramp, on which are guided by one of their small edges the objects which slide towards the exit 3.
  • This wall 4 has, in addition, a terminal foot 6, connected to the sliding ramp by forming an inclined slope on the horizontal, towards the exit. This foot 6 constitutes a part of the bottom of the store, it is not adjacent to the outlet of the objects.
  • the internal face of the wall 5 has substantially the same inclination as that of the wall 4; it is slightly concave and forms above the outlet 3 an oblique retaining stop for the objects.
  • a horizontal conveyor 7 for transporting objects is mounted on either side of the outlet 3 for the objects. Upstream of this outlet, it constitutes with the base 6 the bottom of the store; the stacked and staggered objects rest on the upper surface of the foot of this upstream part of the conveyor, the end of which, opposite the foot, is substantially in line with the foot.
  • the transport conveyor 7 is constituted by a series of rollers, such as 8, mounted under a table 9 extending at least along the length of the destacker and on which downstream of the outlet of objects 3 from the store is defined the outlet 10 of the destacker.
  • the side wall 4 and its foot 6 rest on this table and are fixed to it while being adjustable relative to the wall 5.
  • the rollers 8 of the transport conveyor 7 have their periphery flush slightly above the level of the table 9 to through slots not referenced therein.
  • the first roller 8, internal to the store, has its highest zone substantially in the extension of the slope defined by the upper surface of the foot 6.
  • the rollers 8 are coupled to each other and to a drive motor 11.
  • the axes 12 of the rollers 8 carry first pinions 13 engaged, two by two, on second pinions 14.
  • One of the second terminal pinions is coupled to the motor 11.
  • This latter coupling has been shown, for clarity of the figure, produced by a transmission belt 15 mounted between a roller 16 carried by the drive shaft and a return roller 17 whose axis carries a drive pinion 18 engaged on the second terminal pinion.
  • the directions of rotation of the pinions and rollers are given by arrows not identified, made on these elements.
  • rollers 8 are rubber rollers or rubberized rollers at their periphery, in order to have a high coefficient of friction with the objects, greater than that of the objects between them. They are also advantageously each carried on their axis 12 by means of a freewheel not shown, integral with the first corresponding pinion 13. For ease of representation and clarity of the figure, only the peripheral contours of the rollers 8 and various gables have been illustrated schematically.
  • the outlet 10 of the destacker is separated from the outlet 3 of objects from the store by a distance substantially equal to the minimum length of the objects to be unstacked. Between these outputs 3 and 10 are mounted, one after the other, an object separator assembly 20 and an object extraction means 50.
  • This object separator assembly 20 is an assembly pre-assembled on a support 21 and attached on the side wall 5 of the store on which it is fixed, in its upper part, as shown.
  • This assembly 20 essentially comprises a part 30 whose lower part defines an element for retaining superimposed objects elastically mounted and adjustable followed by a part 40 whose lower part forms a separation pad also elastically mounted and adjustable which cooperate with two rollers 8 of the transport conveyor 7 downstream of the outlet 3.
  • the part 30 has an arcuate shape which substantially matches the profile of the end part of the side wall 5 which delimits the outlet of objects 3, in front of which it is held by the support 21. On either side of this end part side wall 5, it defines a rigid deflector flap 31 on the outlet of objects 3, above the conveyor 7, and a curved arm 32 in the general shape of C for the proper maintenance of the deflector flap facing the conveyor.
  • the end of the rigid deflector flap 31 ends substantially tangentially against the roller 8 of the conveyor 7, with which it cooperates.
  • This end of the deflector flap forms a plurality of end teeth 33 spaced from each other and slightly bent upwards.
  • the arched base portions of this tooth partially overlap in pairs in the corresponding roller 8, having for their effect slightly deeper grooves, not shown.
  • Flexible terminal tongues 34 belonging to a flexible strip 35 attached to the reverse of the deflector flap 31, protrude between the teeth of each pair in the groove of the roller 8 concerned.
  • the inclined deflector flap which extends the outlet 3 has a smooth surface, it forms an inclined presser with low coefficient of friction on the objects.
  • the flexible end tabs which overflow and fall back onto the roller form an object retaining element associated with the presser carrying them.
  • the end of the C-shaped arm 32 is pivotally mounted on a fixed axis 36 carried by the support 21, by a retaining lug 37. Its end part is, moreover, stressed by a spring 38 wound on the axis 36 and having its terminal strands applied on either side of the axis 36 against the arm 32 and a holding pin 39.
  • This pivoting arm 32 thus ensures the elastic return of the end of the deflector flap towards the conveyor 7.
  • the part forming the separating pad 40 is carried by a lever arm 41, by means of a hooking lug 42 for the shape of roller which has been given to it.
  • a lever arm 41 pivotally mounted on a fixed axis 43 carried by the support 21, by another holding lug 44.
  • This same end portion of the lever arm 41 is further stressed by a spring 45 wound on the axis 43 and having its end strands applied in support on either side of the axis 43 on the lever arm and a retaining lug 46.
  • a cutout 47 in the C-arm 32 of the element retaining 30 allows the passage of the terminal strand of the spring 45, other than that bearing on the lever arm 41.
  • the part forming the separating pad 40 opposite the roller 8 concerned is advantageously made of rubber, to have a high coefficient of friction with the objects.
  • it has been illustrated in the form of a roller, it can have another shape by simply having a concavity on the side of the deflector flap and a friction surface for the objects facing the roller 8.
  • the part 30 forming a presser and retaining element 30 and the part forming the separating pad 40 are mounted in a preset assembly 20 on the support 21.
  • the C-arm 32 carries a hole in which is mounted an adjustment screw 48 capable of coming into abutment on a fixed element carried by the support 21, here on the fixed axis 43 of pivoting of the lever arm 41 ; this screw 48 makes it possible to adjust the position of the end of the flap against the conveyor, therefore its distance from the conveyor.
  • the lever arm 41 of the part forming the separating pad 40 also has a hole on its end, opposite to that stressed by the spring 45 and which comes to cross the C-arm 32 by a suitable cut 47 'in this C-arm; an adjustment screw 49 is mounted in this hole in the arm 41 and abutted against a fixed element carried by the support, here on the fixed pivot axis 36, to ensure against the effect of the spring 45 a adjusting the position of the part forming the shoe 40 against its roller 8.
  • the object extraction means 50 supplies the outlet 10 of the destacker with objects separated from each other. It is constituted by a roller 51 mounted idle or driven on its axis under the table 9, above which its periphery is exposed through a suitable slot, and a drive or return roller 52 carrying a drive belt 53.
  • the belt 53 and the roller 51 are biased relatively one against the other to ensure between them the gripping of objects from the separator assembly 20.
  • the belt 53 is further driven at a linear speed greater than that of the objects at the separator element.
  • the motor 11 for driving the conveyor rollers 7 can drive this roller 52 and, if necessary, the roller 51, by means of suitable coupling means.
  • This extraction means 50 is also associated with a device for detecting the setting of one of the objects between the roller 51 and the belt 53; this detection device consists of a light cell 55 and a photodetector 56 mounted on either side of the path of the objects just downstream of the zone of tangency between the belt 53 and the roller 51, being slightly set back on the edge of the belt 53. As soon as the edge of an object is pinched in the extraction means and arrives under the cell 55 the photodetector detects taking of the object by the extraction means.
  • This photodetector is connected to a device 60 for controlling the drive of the rollers 8 of the conveyor 7, which for this purpose is coupled to an electromagnetic clutch 61 mounted on the motor shaft 11.
  • This control device 60 may include a fixed or adjustable delay controlling the drive stop of the rollers 8 as soon as an object pickup detection is ensured and this for a fixed or adjusted duration for obtaining a desired pitch between successive objects at the exit 10, compatible with the treatment or treatments to be carried out downstream of the outlet 10.
  • this destacker makes it a device which on the mechanical level is very simple, of reduced bulk and is preset, with an adjustment adjustment possible, and which on the technical level is adapted to the unstacking of objects whatever their length and thickness.

Description

La présente invention porte sur les dépileurs d'objets plats destinés à prélever les objets disposés en pile dans un magasin et à les délivrer séparés les uns des autres à un mécanisme de transport. Elle s'applique notamment aux machines de traitement de courrier et en particulier aux machines à affranchir pour l'introduction d'enveloppes les unes à la suite des autres dans ces machines.The present invention relates to flat object destackers intended to take the objects placed in a stack in a store and to deliver them separated from each other to a transport mechanism. It applies in particular to mail processing machines and in particular to franking machines for the introduction of envelopes one after the other into these machines.

Dans les installations de traitement automatique de courrier, après mise des plis sous enveloppes, les opérations liées à celle d'affranchissement concernée ci-dessus consistent essentiellement à venir humecter les rabats d'enveloppes, à fermer les enveloppes puis les affranchir. Ces opérations sont effectuées au cours du déplacement sur un mécanisme de transport des enveloppes prélevées d'un magasin et délivrées les unes à la suite des autres par un dépileur alimentant le mécanisme de transport. Pour humecter leurs rabats, de manière connue, les enveloppes sont avantageusement entraînées à plat sur le mécanisme de transport sur lequel les rabats des enveloppes viennent déborder, retombent librement et sont guidés contre un humecteur placé sous le mécanisme de transport. Il est donc avantageux que le dépilage des enveloppes permette le positionnement direct à plat des enveloppes sur le mécanisme de transport.In automatic mail processing installations, after placing the envelopes in envelopes, the operations linked to the franking operation concerned above essentially consist of moistening the envelope flaps, closing the envelopes and then franking them. These operations are carried out during the movement on a transport mechanism of the envelopes taken from a store and delivered one after the other by an unstacker supplying the transport mechanism. To wet their flaps, in a known manner, the envelopes are advantageously driven flat on the transport mechanism on which the flaps of the envelopes overflow, fall freely and are guided against a damper placed under the transport mechanism. It is therefore advantageous for the unstacking of the envelopes to allow direct positioning of the envelopes flat on the transport mechanism.

Pour cette opération d'humectage et les suivantes, il est par contre impératif que les enveloppes arrivent séparées les unes des autres sur le mécanisme de transport. Le dépileur doit en conséquence assurer efficacement cette séparation, quelle que soit la longueur des enveloppes mais également quels que soient l'épaisseur et le poids des enveloppes chargées de leurs plis, tout en tenant compte du problème posé par l'adhérence variable entre les enveloppes successives dans leur pile.For this moistening operation and the following, it is however imperative that the envelopes arrive separated from each other on the transport mechanism. The destacker must therefore effectively ensure this separation, whatever the length of the envelopes but also regardless of the thickness and the weight of the envelopes loaded with their folds, while taking into account the problem posed by the variable adhesion between the envelopes. successive in their stack.

On connaît, notamment par le brevet américain n° 1955066, un dépileur répondant à ces objectifs. Dans ce dépileur, les enveloppes sont stockées en pile dans un magasin. Un convoyeur horizontal de transport débordant en partie sous la pile d'enveloppes dans le magasin assure par friction la sortie des enveloppes du magasin et leur entraînement vers une machine de traitement. Un galet séparateur, positionné au-dessus du convoyeur de transport, au voisinage de la sortie des enveloppes du magasin, et entraîné en rotation pour exercer sur les enveloppes une force de sens opposé à celui de la force exercée par le convoyeur de transport, assure la séparation d'enveloppes arrivant superposées à son niveau. Un élément de retenue d'enveloppes, disposé au-dessus du convoyeur de transport, entre le galet séparateur et la sortie d'enveloppes permet de limiter le nombre d'enveloppes sortant simultanément du magasin. En aval du galet séparateur, les enveloppes sont entraînées à vitesse supérieure à celle d'entraînement au cours de leur sortie du magasin-et de leur séparation, pour accentuer le pas entre enveloppes successives délivrées à une machine de traitement ultérieur et par là même contribuer à leur séparation.Known, in particular by American patent n ° 1955066, a destacker meeting these objectives. In this destacker, the envelopes are stored in a stack in a store. A horizontal transport conveyor partially overflowing under the stack of envelopes in the magazine ensures by friction the exit of the envelopes from the magazine and their drive towards a processing machine. A separating roller, positioned above the transport conveyor, near the outlet of the store envelopes, and driven in rotation to exert on the envelopes a force of direction opposite to that of the force exerted by the transport conveyor, ensures the separation of envelopes arriving superimposed on its level. An envelope retaining element, placed above the transport conveyor, between the separating roller and the envelope outlet makes it possible to limit the number of envelopes leaving the store simultaneously. Downstream of the separating roller, the envelopes are driven at a higher speed than that of drive during their exit from the store-and their separation, to accentuate the pitch between successive envelopes delivered to a subsequent processing machine and thereby contribute upon their separation.

Dans ce dépileur l'élément de retenue et le galet séparateur sont maintenus élastiquement au-dessus du convoyeur de transport. L'élément de retenue forme un "talon" arrondi sur la partie basse de la sortie des enveloppes, présentant une surface rugueuse ou dentelée pour la retenue des enveloppes superposées, et des pattes, s'étendant au-dessus du convoyeur de transport, entre lesquelles le galet séparateur vient s'imbriquer. Cet élément de retenue est monté coulissant sur un support fixé devant la sortie du magasin et est sollicité vers le convoyeur de transport par des ressorts montés entre le support et cet élément de retenue.In this destacker the retaining element and the separating roller are held elastically above the transport conveyor. The retaining element forms a rounded "heel" on the lower part of the envelope outlet, presenting a rough or serrated surface for retaining the superimposed envelopes, and the legs, extending above the transport conveyor, between which the separating roller comes to nest. This retaining element is slidably mounted on a support fixed in front of the outlet of the magazine and is urged towards the transport conveyor by springs mounted between the support and this retaining element.

Sous l'élément de retenue, le convoyeur de transport est formé par des courroies crantées qui coopèrent avec l'une et l'autre des pattes de l'élément de retenue-et une courroie centrale qui coopère avec le galet séparateur.Under the retaining element, the transport conveyor is formed by toothed belts which cooperate with both of the legs of the retaining element - and a central belt which cooperates with the separating roller.

Ce mécanisme est complexe, de plus, il nécessite un montage de l'un et l'autre des supports de l'élément de retenue et du galet séparateur respectivement en venant imbriquer convenablement le galet séparateur dans les pattes de l'élément de retenue tout en tenant compte de l'épaisseur du type d'enveloppes à séparer les unes des autres. Par ailleurs lorsqu'une seule enveloppe arrive au niveau du galet séparateur, celle-ci subit sur ses deux faces des forces opposées pouvant entraîner son endommagement. Un tel endommagement possible des enveloppes peut aussi provoquer l'endommagement des plis qui y sont contenus lorsque ces enveloppes sont chargées.This mechanism is complex, in addition, it requires mounting of one and the other of the supports of the retaining element and of the separating roller respectively by suitably nesting the separating roller in the legs of the retaining element while taking into account the thickness of the type of envelopes to be separated from each other. Furthermore, when a single envelope arrives at the separating roller, it undergoes on its two faces of the opposite forces which can cause its damage. Such possible damage to the envelopes can also cause damage to the folds contained therein when these envelopes are loaded.

La présente invention a donc pour but. de réaliser un dépileur de structure très simple, aisément ajustable si besoin est, permettant de séparer avec des performances optimales des objets quelles que soient leur longueur et leur épaisseur.The present invention therefore aims. to make a destacker with a very simple structure, easily adjustable if necessary, making it possible to separate objects with optimal performance whatever their length and thickness.

La présente invention a donc pour objet un dépileur d'objets plats comportant un magasin de stockage en pile desdits objets présentant une sortie d'objets au bas de la pile, un convoyeur de transport d'objets constitué par une série de rouleaux entraînés en rotation disposés sous la sortie d'objets et de part et d'autre de ladite sortie, un moyen séparateur d'objets disposé en aval de ladite sortie d'objets et monté élastiquement au-dessus dudit convoyeur de transport, un élément de retenue d'objets disposé entre ladite sortie d'objets et ledit moyen séparateur et monté élastiquement au-dessus dudit convoyeur de transport, comme connu du document GB-A-2057404, qui est caractérisé en ce que ledit élément de retenue est constitué par au moins une languette souple terminale portée par une pièce définissant, d'une part, sensiblement sur la hauteur de ladite sortie d'objets, un volet déflecteur rigide incliné prolongeant ladite sortie et dont l'extrémité est sensiblement tangentielle à l'un des rouleaux dudit convoyeur de transport, et constituant un presseur incliné à surface lisse sur lesdits objets de ladite languette qui déborde sur dudit volet et retombe sur ledit convoyeur en amont dudit moyen séparateur et, d'autre part, au-dessus de ladite sortie d'objets, un bras arqué sensiblement en forme de C dont la partie terminale à l'opposé de la languette est montée pivotante sur un premier axe fixe et est sollicitée par un premier ressort de rappel vers ledit convoyeur, en ce que ledit moyen séparateur est constitué par une autre pièce, dont la partie en regard du convoyeur forme un patin séparateur, porté par un bras de levier dont une partie terminale est montée pivotante sur un second axe fixe et sollicitée par un deuxième ressort de rappel vers ledit convoyeur et en ce qu'il comporte, en outre, un moyen d'extraction d'objets séparés disposé en aval dudit moyen séparateur et un moyen de détection de prise d'objet par ledit moyen d'extraction commandant l'arrêt dudit convoyeur de transport à chaque détection de prise d'objet par ledit moyen d'extraction.The present invention therefore relates to a destacker of flat objects comprising a storage magazine in the stack of said objects having an exit of objects at the bottom of the stack, an object transport conveyor constituted by a series of rollers driven in rotation disposed under the object outlet and on either side of said outlet, an object separating means disposed downstream of said object outlet and mounted resiliently above said transport conveyor, a retaining element for objects disposed between said object outlet and said separating means and resiliently mounted above said transport conveyor, as known from document GB-A-2057404, which is characterized in that said retaining element consists of at least one tongue flexible terminal carried by a part defining, on the one hand, substantially on the height of said object outlet, an inclined rigid deflector flap extending said outlet and the end of which is substantially tangential to one of the rollers of said transport conveyor, and constituting an inclined presser with a smooth surface on said objects of said tongue which overflows on said flap and falls back on said conveyor upstream of said separating means and, on the other hand, above said outlet of objects, an arcuate arm substantially in the shape of a C, the terminal part opposite the tongue is pivotally mounted on a first fixed axis and is urged by a first return spring towards said conveyor, in that said separating means is constituted by another part, the part of which facing the conveyor forms a separating pad, carried by an arm lever of which an end portion is pivotally mounted on a second fixed axis and urged by a second return spring towards said conveyor and in that it further comprises an extraction means separate objects disposed downstream of said separating means and an object pickup detection means by said extraction means controlling the stopping of said transport conveyor each time an object pickup detection by said extraction means.

Selon une particularité du dépileur ledit volet déflecteur équipé dudit élément de retenue et ladite pièce formant le patin sont montés tous deux sur un même support portant lesdits premier et second axes, autour desquels ils pivotent respectivement, et forment un ensemble préréglé rapporté et maintenu devant ladite sortie d'objets.According to a feature of the destacker, said deflector flap equipped with said retaining element and said piece forming the shoe are both mounted on the same support carrying said first and second axes, around which they pivot respectively, and form a pre-adjusted assembly attached and held in front of said output of objects.

Les avantages de la présente invention ressortiront de la description d'un mode de réalisation donné à titre d'exemple dans la figure unique du dessin ci-annexé.The advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of an embodiment given by way of example in the single figure of the attached drawing.

Dans cette figure, on a représenté schématiquement un dépileur selon la présente invention. On y a désigné sous la référence 1, une pile d'objets plats, en particulier une pile d'enveloppes chargées de leurs plis respectifs et non encore fermées. La pile d'objets est stockée dans un magasin 2 à partir duquel les objets sont prélevés à travers une sortie d'objets 3, au bas de la pile, puis sont délivrés à plat séparés les uns des autres.In this figure, a depiler is shown schematically according to the present invention. There has been designated under the reference 1, a stack of flat objects, in particular a stack of envelopes loaded with their respective folds and not yet closed. The stack of objects is stored in a magazine 2 from which the objects are picked up through an object outlet 3, at the bottom of the stack, then are delivered flat separated from each other.

Dans le magasin 2 du dépileur les objets sont empilés de manière étagée. A cet effet, le magasin 2 comporte une première paroi latérale 4 à l'opposé de la sortie d'objets 3, simplement esquissée dans la figure, et une deuxième paroi latérale 5, délimitant la sortie 3, ayant leurs faces internes profilées en étant d'une manière générale toutes deux inclinées sur la verticale, pour favoriser cet étagement des objets. La face interne de la paroi 4 forme sur sa hauteur une rampe de glissement légèrement convexe, sur laquelle sont guidés par l'un de leurs petits bords les objets qui glissent vers la sortie 3. Cette paroi 4 présente, en outre, un pied terminal 6, relié à la rampe de glissement en formant une pente inclinée sur l'horizontale, vers la sortie. Ce pied 6 constitue une partie du fond du magasin, il est non adjacent à la sortie des objets. La face interne de la paroi 5 a sensiblement la même inclinaison que celle de la paroi 4 ; elle est légèrement concave et forme au-dessus de la sortie 3 une butée oblique de retenue pour les objets.In magazine 2 of the destacker the objects are stacked in a tiered manner. To this end, the magazine 2 has a first side wall 4 opposite the outlet for objects 3, simply sketched in the figure, and a second side wall 5, delimiting the outlet 3, having their internal faces profiled by being generally both inclined to the vertical, to favor this staging of objects. The internal face of the wall 4 forms on its height a slightly convex sliding ramp, on which are guided by one of their small edges the objects which slide towards the exit 3. This wall 4 has, in addition, a terminal foot 6, connected to the sliding ramp by forming an inclined slope on the horizontal, towards the exit. This foot 6 constitutes a part of the bottom of the store, it is not adjacent to the outlet of the objects. The internal face of the wall 5 has substantially the same inclination as that of the wall 4; it is slightly concave and forms above the outlet 3 an oblique retaining stop for the objects.

Un convoyeur horizontal 7 de transport d'objets est monté de part et d'autre de la sortie 3 des objets. En amont de cette sortie, il constitue avec le pied 6 le fond du magasin ; les objets empilés et s'étageant reposent sur la surface supérieure du pied de cette partie amont du convoyeur dont l'extrémité, en regard du pied, est sensiblement dans le prolongement du pied.A horizontal conveyor 7 for transporting objects is mounted on either side of the outlet 3 for the objects. Upstream of this outlet, it constitutes with the base 6 the bottom of the store; the stacked and staggered objects rest on the upper surface of the foot of this upstream part of the conveyor, the end of which, opposite the foot, is substantially in line with the foot.

Le convoyeur de transport 7 est constitué par une série de rouleaux, tels que 8, montés sous une table 9 s'étendant au moins sur la longueur du dépileur et sur laquelle en aval de la sortie d'objets 3 du magasin est définie la sortie 10 du dépileur. La paroi latérale 4 et son pied 6 reposent sur cette table et y sont fixés tout en étant ajustables par rapport à la paroi 5. Les rouleaux 8 du convoyeur de transport 7 ont leur périphérie affleurant légèrement au-dessus du niveau de la table 9 à travers des fentes non référencées qui y sont prévues. Le premier rouleau 8, interne au magasin a sa zone la plus haute sensiblement dans le prolongement de la pente définie par la surface supérieure du pied 6.The transport conveyor 7 is constituted by a series of rollers, such as 8, mounted under a table 9 extending at least along the length of the destacker and on which downstream of the outlet of objects 3 from the store is defined the outlet 10 of the destacker. The side wall 4 and its foot 6 rest on this table and are fixed to it while being adjustable relative to the wall 5. The rollers 8 of the transport conveyor 7 have their periphery flush slightly above the level of the table 9 to through slots not referenced therein. The first roller 8, internal to the store, has its highest zone substantially in the extension of the slope defined by the upper surface of the foot 6.

Les rouleaux 8 sont couplés les uns aux autres et à un moteur d'entraînement 11. A cet effet les axes 12 des rouleaux 8 portent des premiers pignons 13 en prise, deux par deux, sur des seconds pignons 14. L'un des seconds pignons terminal est couplé au moteur 11. Ce dernier couplage a été représenté, pour la clarté de la figure, réalisé par une courroie de transmission 15 montée entre un galet 16 porté par l'arbre moteur et un galet de renvoi 17 dont l'axe porte un pignon d'entraînement 18 en prise sur le second pignon terminal. Les sens de rotation des pignons et des rouleaux sont donnés par des flèches non repérées, faites sur ces éléments. Lorsque les rouleaux 8 sont entraînés, ceux internes au magasin assurent l'avance de l'objet qu'ils supportent avec le pied, ou de plusieurs objets plus ou moins superposés, à travers la sortie 3 d'objets.The rollers 8 are coupled to each other and to a drive motor 11. For this purpose the axes 12 of the rollers 8 carry first pinions 13 engaged, two by two, on second pinions 14. One of the second terminal pinions is coupled to the motor 11. This latter coupling has been shown, for clarity of the figure, produced by a transmission belt 15 mounted between a roller 16 carried by the drive shaft and a return roller 17 whose axis carries a drive pinion 18 engaged on the second terminal pinion. The directions of rotation of the pinions and rollers are given by arrows not identified, made on these elements. When the rollers 8 are driven, those internal to the store ensure the advance of the object which they support with the foot, or of several more or less superimposed objects, through the outlet 3 of objects.

Ces rouleaux 8 sont des rouleaux en caoutchouc ou des rouleaux caoutchoutés à leur périphérie, pour présenter un coefficent de frottement élevé avec les objets, supérieur à celui des objets entre eux. Ils sont, en outre, avantageusement chacun porté sur leur axe 12 au moyen d'une roue libre non représentée, solidaire du premier pignon correspondant 13. Pour la facilité de représentation et la clarté de la figure, seuls les contours périphériques des rouleaux 8 et des divers pignons ont été illustrés schématiquement.These rollers 8 are rubber rollers or rubberized rollers at their periphery, in order to have a high coefficient of friction with the objects, greater than that of the objects between them. They are also advantageously each carried on their axis 12 by means of a freewheel not shown, integral with the first corresponding pinion 13. For ease of representation and clarity of the figure, only the peripheral contours of the rollers 8 and various gables have been illustrated schematically.

La sortie 10 du dépileur est séparée de la sortie 3 d'objets du magasin d'une distance sensiblement égale à la longueur minimale des objets à dépiler. Entre ces sorties 3 et 10 sont montés à la suite l'un de l'autre, un ensemble séparateur d'objets 20 et un moyen d'extraction d'objets 50.The outlet 10 of the destacker is separated from the outlet 3 of objects from the store by a distance substantially equal to the minimum length of the objects to be unstacked. Between these outputs 3 and 10 are mounted, one after the other, an object separator assembly 20 and an object extraction means 50.

Cet ensemble 20 séparateur d'objets est un ensemble prémonté sur un support 21 et rapporté sur la paroi latérale 5 du magasin sur laquelle il est fixé, dans sa partie haute, ainsi que représenté. Cet ensemble 20 comporte essentiellement une pièce 30 dont la partie inférieure définit un élément de retenue d'objets superposés monté élastiquement et réglable suivie d'une pièce 40 dont la partie inférieure forme un patin de séparation également monté élastiquement et réglable qui viennent coopérer avec deux des rouleaux 8 du convoyeur de transport 7 en aval de la sortie 3.This object separator assembly 20 is an assembly pre-assembled on a support 21 and attached on the side wall 5 of the store on which it is fixed, in its upper part, as shown. This assembly 20 essentially comprises a part 30 whose lower part defines an element for retaining superimposed objects elastically mounted and adjustable followed by a part 40 whose lower part forms a separation pad also elastically mounted and adjustable which cooperate with two rollers 8 of the transport conveyor 7 downstream of the outlet 3.

La pièce 30 a une forme arquée venant sensiblement épouser le profil de la partie terminale de la paroi latérale 5 qui délimite la sortie d'objets 3, devant laquelle elle est maintenue par le support 21. De part et d'autre de cette partie terminale de la paroi latérale 5, elle définit un volet déflecteur rigide 31 sur la sortie d'objets 3, au-dessus du convoyeur 7, et un bras courbé 32 en forme générale de C pour le maintien convenable du volet déflecteur en regard du convoyeur.The part 30 has an arcuate shape which substantially matches the profile of the end part of the side wall 5 which delimits the outlet of objects 3, in front of which it is held by the support 21. On either side of this end part side wall 5, it defines a rigid deflector flap 31 on the outlet of objects 3, above the conveyor 7, and a curved arm 32 in the general shape of C for the proper maintenance of the deflector flap facing the conveyor.

L'extrémité du volet déflecteur rigide 31 aboutit sensiblement tangentiellement contre le rouleau 8 du convoyeur 7, avec lequel il coopère. Cette extrémité du volet déflecteur forme une pluralité de dents terminales 33 distantes les unes des autres et légèrement recourbées vers le haut. Les portions bases arquées de cet dents s'imbriquent en partie par paires dans le rouleau 8 correspondant, présentant à leur effet des gorges légèrement plus profondes, non illustrées. Des languettes terminales souples 34, appartenant à une bande souple 35 rapportée sur le revers du volet déflecteur 31, viennent déborder entre les dents de chaque paire dans la gorge du rouleau 8 concerné.The end of the rigid deflector flap 31 ends substantially tangentially against the roller 8 of the conveyor 7, with which it cooperates. This end of the deflector flap forms a plurality of end teeth 33 spaced from each other and slightly bent upwards. The arched base portions of this tooth partially overlap in pairs in the corresponding roller 8, having for their effect slightly deeper grooves, not shown. Flexible terminal tongues 34, belonging to a flexible strip 35 attached to the reverse of the deflector flap 31, protrude between the teeth of each pair in the groove of the roller 8 concerned.

Le volet déflecteur incliné qui prolonge la sortie 3 est à surface lisse, il forme un presseur incliné à faible coefficient de frottement sur les objets. Les languettes terminales souples qui débordent et retombent sur le rouleau forment un élément de retenue des objets associé au presseur qui les portent.The inclined deflector flap which extends the outlet 3 has a smooth surface, it forms an inclined presser with low coefficient of friction on the objects. The flexible end tabs which overflow and fall back onto the roller form an object retaining element associated with the presser carrying them.

L'extrémité du bras en C 32 est montée pivotante sur un axe fixe 36 porté par le support 21, par une patte de maintient 37. Sa partie terminale est, en outre, sollicitée par un ressort 38 enroulé sur l'axe 36 et ayant ses brins terminaux appliqués de part et d'autre de l'axe 36 contre le bras 32 et un tenon de maintien 39. Ce bras pivotant 32 assure ainsi le rappel élastique de l'extrémité du volet déflecteur vers le convoyeur 7.The end of the C-shaped arm 32 is pivotally mounted on a fixed axis 36 carried by the support 21, by a retaining lug 37. Its end part is, moreover, stressed by a spring 38 wound on the axis 36 and having its terminal strands applied on either side of the axis 36 against the arm 32 and a holding pin 39. This pivoting arm 32 thus ensures the elastic return of the end of the deflector flap towards the conveyor 7.

La pièce formant le patin séparateur 40, représentée sous forme d'un galet dans le dessin, est portée par un bras de levier 41, au moyen d'une patte d'accrochage 42 pour la forme de galet qui lui a été donnée. L'une des extrémités de ce bras de levier est également montée pivotante sur un axe fixe 43 porté par le support 21, par une autre patte de maintien 44. Cette même partie terminale de bras de levier 41 est en outre sollicitée par un ressort 45 enroulé sur l'axe 43 et ayant ses brins terminaux appliqués en appui de part et d'autre de t'axe 43 sur le bras de levier et un tenon de maintien 46. Une découpe 47 dans le bras en C 32 de l'élément de retenue 30 permet le passage du brin terminal du ressort 45, autre que celui en appui sur le bras de levier 41.The part forming the separating pad 40, shown in the form of a roller in the drawing, is carried by a lever arm 41, by means of a hooking lug 42 for the shape of roller which has been given to it. One of the ends of this lever arm is also pivotally mounted on a fixed axis 43 carried by the support 21, by another holding lug 44. This same end portion of the lever arm 41 is further stressed by a spring 45 wound on the axis 43 and having its end strands applied in support on either side of the axis 43 on the lever arm and a retaining lug 46. A cutout 47 in the C-arm 32 of the element retaining 30 allows the passage of the terminal strand of the spring 45, other than that bearing on the lever arm 41.

La pièce formant le patin séparateur 40 en regard du rouleau 8 concerné est avantageusement réalisée en caoutchouc, pour présenter un coefficient de frottement élevé avec les objets. Bien qu'elle ait été illustrée sous la forme d'un galet, elle peut avoir une autre forme en présentant simplement une concavité du côté du volet déflecteur et une surface du frottement pour les objets en regard du rouleau 8.The part forming the separating pad 40 opposite the roller 8 concerned is advantageously made of rubber, to have a high coefficient of friction with the objects. Although it has been illustrated in the form of a roller, it can have another shape by simply having a concavity on the side of the deflector flap and a friction surface for the objects facing the roller 8.

Ainsi qu'illustré, avantageusement la pièce 30 formant presseur et élément de retenue 30 et la pièce formant le patin séparateur 40 sont montées en un ensemble préréglé 20 sur le support 21. Sur ce support 21, elles présentent avantageusement un ajustement possible individuel de leur positionnement élastique au-dessus de leurs rouleaux 8 associés. A cet effet, le bras en C 32 porte un trou dans lequel est montée une vis de réglage 48 susceptible de venir en butée sur un élément fixe porté par le support 21, ici sur l'axe fixe 43 de pivotement du bras de levier 41 ; cette vis 48 permet de régler la position de l'extrémité du volet contre le convoyeur donc sa distance par rapport au convoyeur. De manière similaire, le bras de levier 41 de la pièce formant le patin séparateur 40 présente aussi un trou sur son extrémité, opposée à celle sollicitée par le ressort 45 et qui vient traverser le bras en C 32 par une découpe convenable 47' dans ce bras en C ; une vis de réglage 49 est montée dans ce trou du bras 41 et mise en butée contre un élément fixe porté par le support, ici sur l'axe fixe 36 de pivotement, pour assurer à l'encontre de l'effet du ressort 45 un réglage de la position de la pièce formant le patin 40 contre son rouleau 8.As illustrated, advantageously the part 30 forming a presser and retaining element 30 and the part forming the separating pad 40 are mounted in a preset assembly 20 on the support 21. On this support 21, they advantageously have an individual possible adjustment of their elastic positioning above their associated rollers 8. To this end, the C-arm 32 carries a hole in which is mounted an adjustment screw 48 capable of coming into abutment on a fixed element carried by the support 21, here on the fixed axis 43 of pivoting of the lever arm 41 ; this screw 48 makes it possible to adjust the position of the end of the flap against the conveyor, therefore its distance from the conveyor. Similarly, the lever arm 41 of the part forming the separating pad 40 also has a hole on its end, opposite to that stressed by the spring 45 and which comes to cross the C-arm 32 by a suitable cut 47 'in this C-arm; an adjustment screw 49 is mounted in this hole in the arm 41 and abutted against a fixed element carried by the support, here on the fixed pivot axis 36, to ensure against the effect of the spring 45 a adjusting the position of the part forming the shoe 40 against its roller 8.

Le moyen d'extraction des objets 50 alimente la sortie 10 du dépileur en objets séparés les uns des autres. Il est constitué par un galet 51 monté fou ou entraîné sur son axe sous la table 9, au-dessus de laquelle sa périphérie affleure à travers une fente convenable, et un galet moteur ou de renvoi 52 portant une courroie d'entraînement 53. La courroie 53 et le galet 51 sont sollicités relativement l'un contre l'autre pour assurer entre eux le pincement des objets issus de l'ensemble séparateur 20. La courroie 53 est en outre entraînée à vitesse linéaire supérieure à celle des objets au niveau de l'élément séparateur. Le moteur 11 d'entraînement des rouleaux du convoyeur 7 peut assurer l'entraînement de ce galet 52 et, le cas échéant, du galet 51, par l'intermédiaire de moyens de couplage convenables.The object extraction means 50 supplies the outlet 10 of the destacker with objects separated from each other. It is constituted by a roller 51 mounted idle or driven on its axis under the table 9, above which its periphery is exposed through a suitable slot, and a drive or return roller 52 carrying a drive belt 53. The belt 53 and the roller 51 are biased relatively one against the other to ensure between them the gripping of objects from the separator assembly 20. The belt 53 is further driven at a linear speed greater than that of the objects at the separator element. The motor 11 for driving the conveyor rollers 7 can drive this roller 52 and, if necessary, the roller 51, by means of suitable coupling means.

A ce moyen d'extraction 50 est en outre associé un dispositif de détection de prise de l'un des objets entre le galet 51 et la courroie 53 ; ce dispositif de détection est constitué par une cellule lumineuse 55 et un photodétecteur 56 montés de part et d'autre du chemin des objets juste en aval de la zone de tangence entre la courroie 53 et le galet 51, en étant légèrement en retrait sur le bord de la courroie 53. Dès que le bord d'un objet est pincé dans le moyen d'extraction et arrive sous la cellule 55 le photodétecteur détecte la prise de l'objet par le moyen d'extraction.This extraction means 50 is also associated with a device for detecting the setting of one of the objects between the roller 51 and the belt 53; this detection device consists of a light cell 55 and a photodetector 56 mounted on either side of the path of the objects just downstream of the zone of tangency between the belt 53 and the roller 51, being slightly set back on the edge of the belt 53. As soon as the edge of an object is pinched in the extraction means and arrives under the cell 55 the photodetector detects taking of the object by the extraction means.

Ce photodétecteur est relié à un dispositif 60 de commande d'arrêt d'entraînement des rouleaux 8 du convoyeur 7, qui à cet effet est couplé à un embrayage électromagnétique 61 monté sur l'arbre du moteur 11. Ce dispositif de commande 60 peut comporter une temporisation fixe ou réglable commandant l'arrêt d'entraînement des rouleaux 8 dès qu'une détection de prise d'objet est assurée et ceci pendant une durée fixe ou ajustée pour l'obtention d'un pas souhaité entre objets successifs à la sortie 10, compatible avec le ou les traitements à effectuer en aval de la sortie 10.This photodetector is connected to a device 60 for controlling the drive of the rollers 8 of the conveyor 7, which for this purpose is coupled to an electromagnetic clutch 61 mounted on the motor shaft 11. This control device 60 may include a fixed or adjustable delay controlling the drive stop of the rollers 8 as soon as an object pickup detection is ensured and this for a fixed or adjusted duration for obtaining a desired pitch between successive objects at the exit 10, compatible with the treatment or treatments to be carried out downstream of the outlet 10.

Ainsi seul l'objet dont le bord avant est pincé dans le moyen d'extraction est entraîné par ce moyen d'extraction sur la sortie 10 du dépileur. La vitesse d'extraction choisie supérieure à celle de transport des objets pour leur prélèvement du magasin et leur éventuelle séparation favorise le dégagement de ce seul objet et par là même accentue l'effet de séparation obtenu en amont par l'ensemble 20.Thus only the object whose front edge is pinched in the extraction means is driven by this extraction means on the outlet 10 of the destacker. The extraction speed chosen which is greater than that of transporting the objects for their removal from the store and their possible separation promotes the release of this single object and thereby accentuates the separation effect obtained upstream by the assembly 20.

L'agencement de ce dépileur, selon l'invention, en fait un dispositif qui sur le plan mécanique est très simple, d'encombrement réduit et se présente préréglé, avec un ajustement du réglage possible, et qui sur le plan technique est adapté au dépilage d'objets quelles que soient leur longueur et leur épaisseur. Bien que l'invention ait été décrite en regard du mode de réalisation donné dans le dessin ci-annexé, il est évident que l'on peut y apporter des modifications de détail et/ou remplacer certains moyens par d'autres techniquement équivalents, sans sortie du cadre de celle-ci telle que défini dans la revendication 1.The arrangement of this destacker, according to the invention, makes it a device which on the mechanical level is very simple, of reduced bulk and is preset, with an adjustment adjustment possible, and which on the technical level is adapted to the unstacking of objects whatever their length and thickness. Although the invention has been described with reference to the embodiment given in the appended drawing, it is obvious that it is possible to make detailed modifications and / or replace certain means with others that are technically equivalent, without out of the scope thereof as defined in claim 1.

Claims (7)

1. A device for unstacking flat objects, said device comprising a magazine (2) for storing a stack of said objects and having an object outlet (3) at the bottom of the stack, a transport conveyor (7) for the objects constituted by a series of rolls (8) which are driven in rotation and which are disposed beneath the object outlet (3) and on either side thereof, an object separator means disposed downstream from said object outlet (3) and resiliently mounted above said transport conveyor (7), an object retainer element (34) disposed between said object outlet (3) and said separator means, and resiliently mouted above said transport conveyor (7), the device being characterized in that said retainer element is constituted by at least one flexible end tongue (34) carried by a part (30) which defines on the one hand an inclined rigid deflector flap (31) substantially at the same height as said object outlet (3) and extending said outlet (3) having an end which is substantially tangential to one of the rolls of said transport conveyor (7), and constituting an inclined smooth surface presser against said objects, said flap being equipped with said tongue (34) which overhangs said flap (31) and falls onto said conveyor upstream from said separator means (40), and which defines, on the other hand, a substantially C-shaped arcuate arm (32)'above said object outlet and having a terminal portion opposite to the tongue (34) which is pivotally mounted about a first fixed shaft (36) and is urged by a first return spring (38) towards said conveyor (7), that said separator means (40) is constituted by another part whose portion facing the conveyor constitues a separator shoe (40) carried by a lever arm (41) having one end portion pivotally mounted about a second fixed shaft (43) and urged by a second return spring (45) towards said conveyor, and that it additionally comprises an extractor means (50) for extracting separated objects, this means being disposed downstream from said separator means, and a detector means (55, 56) for detecting an object engaged by said extractor means (50), this means controlling the stopping of said transport conveyor (7) on each occasion that an object is detected as being engaged in said extractor means.
2. An unstacking device according to claim 1, characterized in that said part (30) carrying the retaining element (34) and the deflector flap (31) and said part constituting the separator shoe (40) are both mounted on the same support (21) carrying their said first and second shafts (36, 43) about which they pivot respectively, and form a pre-adjusted add-on assembly which is held in front of said object outlet (3) and above said transport conveyor.
3. An unstacking device according to claim 2, characterized in that said arms (32, 41) are individually equipped with means (48, 49) for adjusting the resilient position of said deflector flap (31) and of said terminal retaining element (34) and of said part constituting the separator shoe (40) against said transport conveyor.
4. An unstacking device according to claim 3, characterized in that said individual adjustment means are each constituted by a screw (48, 49) mounted through a hole in the corresponding arm (32, 41) and put into abutment against a fixed element (43, 36) carried by said support (21).
5. An unstacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each of said first and second springs (38, 45) is mounted about the corresponding fixed pivot shaft (36, 43) and presses on either side of said pivot shaft against the corresponding pivot arm (32, 41) and a fixed retaining peg (39, 46).
6. An unstacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said storage magazine (2) has firstly a side wall (5) delimiting said object outlet (3) constituting an abutment inclined relative to the vertical for said objects, and an opposite side wall (4) constituting a sliding slope substantially parallel to said abutment, and secondly, on the bottom of the magazine, upstream from said transport con-, veyor, a terminal portion (6) constituting a slope inclined to the horizontal towards said object outlet (3).
7. An unstacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said extractor means (50) is disposed at a distance from said object outlet (3) from the magazine, which distance is less than the minimum length of the objects.
EP86103206A 1985-03-13 1986-03-11 Flat objects separator Expired EP0195348B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8503685 1985-03-13
FR8503685A FR2578808B1 (en) 1985-03-13 1985-03-13 FLAT OBJECT DRIVER.

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Publication Number Publication Date
EP0195348A1 EP0195348A1 (en) 1986-09-24
EP0195348B1 true EP0195348B1 (en) 1988-08-17

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DE (1) DE3660537D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2578808B1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2578808A1 (en) 1986-09-19
US4718809A (en) 1988-01-12
FR2578808B1 (en) 1987-12-11
DE3660537D1 (en) 1988-09-22
EP0195348A1 (en) 1986-09-24

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