EP0215469B1 - Installation for coding flat articles, such as mailing items - Google Patents

Installation for coding flat articles, such as mailing items Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0215469B1
EP0215469B1 EP86112760A EP86112760A EP0215469B1 EP 0215469 B1 EP0215469 B1 EP 0215469B1 EP 86112760 A EP86112760 A EP 86112760A EP 86112760 A EP86112760 A EP 86112760A EP 0215469 B1 EP0215469 B1 EP 0215469B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printer
conveyor
letters
optical reader
level
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
EP86112760A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0215469A1 (en
Inventor
Claude Pavie
Patrick Guebey
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.)
Compagnie Generale dAutomatisme CGA HBS SA
Original Assignee
Compagnie Generale dAutomatisme CGA HBS 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 Compagnie Generale dAutomatisme CGA HBS SA filed Critical Compagnie Generale dAutomatisme CGA HBS SA
Priority to AT86112760T priority Critical patent/ATE48248T1/en
Publication of EP0215469A1 publication Critical patent/EP0215469A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0215469B1 publication Critical patent/EP0215469B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
    • B07C3/20—Arrangements for facilitating the visual reading of addresses, e.g. display arrangements coding stations
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S209/00—Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
    • Y10S209/90—Sorting flat-type mail

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an installation for indexing flat objects, in particular postal mail as defined by the preamble of claim 1.
  • Such an installation is known, for example from document EP-A 2 0 148 487.
  • the postal mail is indexed to allow its sorting by automatic sorters during its transfer from its sender to its recipient, via the postal organization in charge of its routing.
  • the mail to be routed is usually indexed using routing indications allowing it to be sorted with a view to dispatching it to the distributing offices, or even using distribution indications enabling it to be sorted for its dispatch. distribution to recipients. These indications are registered in coded form, via printers, on the postal mail according to the addresses indicated by the senders.
  • the addresses are read either by human operators or by specialized optical readers. Specialized optical scanners usually do not have the adaptive capacity that human operators have, and the mail they agree to process must meet much more demanding standards.
  • the present invention therefore aims to optimize automatic coding by optical reader and manual coding by combining an optical reader at each manual coding station and by allowing variations in processing time as a function of input difficulties so as to offer optimal mail throughput, limiting the number of rejects due to non-reading and optimizing the work of human operators.
  • the indexing installation presented in FIG. 1 is intended to allow the recording of coded indications on flat objects, of the postal mail type and in particular letters, according to the written or printed inscriptions on these objects to specify the postal addresses of their respective recipients.
  • these coded indications are, for example, routing indexes or distribution indexations and they are presented on the letters in a form recognizable by sorting machines and by specialized personnel; their composition is therefore likely to vary according to the needs of the users and according to the writing and reading materials used, these are usually printed distinctive marks, of parallel bar type with determined spacing, or possibly alphanumeric inscriptions.
  • a printer 1 for example of the inkjet type, duly positioned along a conveyor 2 responsible for transferring the letters in the installation of indexing between a destacker magazine 3, where the letters to be indexed are stored, and a storage assembly, for example consisting of tampers not shown, receiving the indexed letters.
  • the unstacker magazine 3 is designed to contain a large number of postal envelopes, for example a thousand envelopes, which are stacked one against the other and which are capable of being extracted one after the other from one of the ends. of the unstacker magazines 3, designed for this purpose, as the example shown in FIG. 3 later shows.
  • a logic 0 conventionally organized around at least one processor commands, via a command link L1, the output of the letters one to one outside the destacker store 3.
  • Each letter travels from the unstacker magazine 3 to the storage assembly via the conveyor 2 conventionally constituted using movable elements, such as pulleys or drive belts, and fixed elements, guides or slides type, ensuring the movement of the letters one by one between the mobile and / or fixed elements, according to a determined route, each letter moving under the action of pulleys or belts bearing on at least one of its two faces .
  • movable elements such as pulleys or drive belts
  • fixed elements guides or slides type
  • An optical reader 4 is placed along the path of the conveyor 2 downstream of the destacker magazine 1 so as to see the letters coming out one by one from this destacker magazine separately, under the control of logic 0, to find the position of the inscriptions preexisting necessary for indexing and to read these inscriptions.
  • the optical reader 4 is of conventional structure and will only be briefly recalled here, its own structure having only an indirect connection with the present invention.
  • This optical reader conventionally comprises an arrangement intended to illuminate the surface to be read and a lens concentrating the light reflected by this surface on an optical sensor assembly usually composed using photodiodes.
  • This optical sensor assembly produces electrical signals, a function of the light it receives and transmits them to logic 0.
  • This logic compares the signals it receives from the optical sensor assembly with those contained in a character memory, not shown, which it comprises in order to translate, in the form of predetermined numerical combinations, the different characters recognized by comparison.
  • the images provided by the optical sensor are stored for the benefit of logic and possibly the manual coding station.
  • optical readers logic 0 is included, an example of such a reader being described in particular in European patent application 0063243.
  • the processing logic 0 may alternatively be external to the reader because of its coordination role for the installation, in particular with a view to solving the problems due to the parallel actions of the operator and the optical reader.
  • the optical reader 4 seeks to decipher the inscriptions which are necessary for indexing a letter when this letter passes in front of it on the conveyor 2 arranged for this purpose.
  • the latter comprises, for example, an opening forming a viewing window facing the optical sensor, so that the latter sees the letter face portion where the inscriptions to be read are likely to appear.
  • a switch 5 is placed downstream of the optical reader on the path of the conveyor 2, this switch 5 is intended to orient differently the letters for which the reader is able to make a decision after reading and those for which human intervention or more processing along with the optical drive are necessary, it also makes it possible to supply the human operator with letters if need be.
  • the optical reader 4 transmits letters to the manual coding station in a certain number of cases, for example when it is not able to determine the location of the inscriptions to be taken into account for various reasons linked for example to the abnormal positioning. of these inscriptions or that of insignificant inscriptions likely to lead to confusion.
  • the optical reader 4 transmits letters without going through the manual coding station either when it has read or as soon as the inscriptions are unambiguous, for example if the letter is already indexed, or even if the face of the letter examined is blank .
  • a first channel of the switch 5 therefore leads to the manual coding station 6, via a branch branch 2D1 of the conveyor 2 and a buffer store 7 in which are piled up the letters intended to be examined by a human operator serving said manual coding station.
  • the branch branch 2D1 is constituted like the branch 1 by a usual assembly not shown of pulleys and / or belts. drive holding the letters together and moving them one behind the other most often in an upright position.
  • the buffer magazine 7 is a destacker-stacker magazine preferably of the first-in-first-out type which will be explained below.
  • the manual coding station 6 is a conventional arrangement having a display unit 6A, in direct view or on screen, which allows an operator to look at at least one of the two sides of a letter in order to index it. using a 6B coding keyboard according to the inscriptions read on this letter.
  • the screen can optionally receive images read by the optical sensor of the reader and memorized for the benefit of the manual coding station.
  • the display unit 6A is possibly constituted by video equipment comprising a shooting camera supplying a display monitor not shown, in one embodiment, it essentially comprises a device making it possible to illuminate the letters to be coded, in isolation or in small groups, this device possibly being that of the optical reader, and of viewing them through a window provided on one of the edges of the branch 2D1 of the conveyor 2.
  • the keyboard 6B is a classic keyboard with keys preferably adapted ergonomically and in a specific manner to the indexing tasks to be performed, it is connected to the printer 1, via the processing logic 0 and two links L2 and L3, in view of it transmit the indexing orders, as does the optical reader 4 for the letters it processes.
  • the keyboard 6B also allows the human operator to activate the switch 5, via logic 0 and a control link L4, as does the optical reader 4.
  • a second channel of the switch 5 leads to a second switch 8, via a branch branch 2D2 of the conveyor 2.
  • the second switch 8 makes it possible to direct the letters it receives either to the buffer store 7, via a branch of 2D3 branch, either to the printer 1 via the 2D2 branch, it is normally controlled by the optical reader 4, via logic 0 and a command link L5, depending on the result of the read operations.
  • a double barrier 9 is inserted between switches 5 and 8 to retain one by one the letters transmitted on the branch branch 2D2, until the optical drive 4 has not completed its analysis.
  • the analysis carried out on a letter from the information gathered on one of its faces by the optical reader does not lead to one of the planned possibilities of indexing after a predetermined maximum time, the letter concerned is transmitted to the manual coding station for decryption.
  • the analysis of each letter no longer requires the presence of the letter in front of the optical reader 4 as soon as the indications provided by the optical sensor assembly of this reader, for this letter, are memorized.
  • this letter can be moved by the conveyor 2 towards the switch 5 and through it while the processing of the indications relating to said letter continues by means of the processor of the optical reader 4, which makes it possible to place without loss from time to time a new letter in front of this optical reader 4.
  • the double barrier 9, controlled by the optical reader 4, via the logic 0 and a link L6, makes it possible to delay by a first barrier element any letter transmitted on the branch of derivation D2, via the switch 5, as long as the processing indications relating to this letter is not completed by the processor of the optical reader 4 and that consequently the orientation of said letter towards the manual coding station 6 or towards the printer 1, via the second switch 8, n 'is not decided; a second barrier element located upstream of the first, also makes it possible to stop a letter which follows a letter stopped behind the first element.
  • the concerned ieu cannot be indexed, it is transmitted to the manual coding station 6; for this purpose it is oriented towards the buffer store 7, via the second switch 8 and the branch branch 2D3, otherwise it continues its transit through the branch branch 2D2 to the printer 1.
  • This printer 1 receives on the one hand the letters to be indexed coming from the optical reader 4 via the branch of bypass 2D2, on the other hand the letters to be indexed transmitted by the manual coding station 6, it is therefore supplied via d a conveyor junction device 10 to which the branch branch 2D2 and a branch branch 2D4 connected to the branch branches 2D1 and 2D3, via the buffer store 7 and the manual coding arrangement.
  • At least one of the two branches 2D2, 2D4, and here both have a barrier 11, 12 making it possible to temporarily delay a letter when it is transferred to the printer 1, so as to avoid any overlap of two letters coming simultaneously each on a different 2D2 or 2D4 branch.
  • the barriers 11 and 12 are controlled by logic 0, via selection links which are not shown, so as to prevent their simultaneous opening, priority being given to one of them, for example to the barrier 11.
  • all of the letters supplied by the destacker store pass through the printer 1 for indexing under the control of the optical reader 4 or of the manual coding station 6; in the case provided here, the printer does not index letters for which no indexing code could be found by the reader or the operator due to their abnormality.
  • FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment aiming to increase the compactness of the indexing installation, bearing in mind that the dimensions of a sorting assembly comprising such an installation are often large and therefore benefit from being reduced.
  • the indexing installation presented in FIG. 2 is characterized by an arrangement of these constituent elements on two floors making it possible to reduce the area occupied on the ground by the same amount, this being facilitated by the relatively low height required by these constituent elements which is linked to the usual dimensions of postal mail.
  • the indexing installation according to the invention comprises a printer 1 ′ having the same structure and same functions as printer 1, this printer 1 ′ is for example a TILJE model from the applicant company.
  • the printer is supplied with letters to be indexed from a 3 'unstacker magazine.
  • the magazine 3 ′ is of the so-called horizontal type, its practical arrangement is shown in FIG. 3 as well as in FIG. 7; in this latter embodiment, it has a bearing surface 13 of the letters 14 which slopes up towards the extraction end through which the letters are sent through the conveyor.
  • An optical reader 4 ' is placed at the outlet of the unstacker magazine 3' ( Figures 2 and 7) along the path of the conveyor 2 'connecting the outlet of the unstacker magazine 3' to the inlet of the printer 1 '.
  • optical reader 4 ′ is analogous to the optical reader 4 and will therefore not be described further.
  • 0 'processor logic ensures harmonious control of the various components in conjunction with the indications provided by the optical reader and by the manual coding arrangement.
  • a 5 'switch makes it possible to transmit by branch branches 2D1' and 2D2 'different the letters selected for processing by the optical reader 4' from those which are transmitted directly to the operator at his request.
  • the optical reader 4 ' has, like the optical reader 4 in the previous example, a window opening onto the conveyor 2' and allowing it to see one of the letter faces scrolling.
  • the window of the optical drive extends over a surface allowing a vertical row of photodiodes to read the letter as it scrolls horizontally.
  • This window not shown is laterally bordered by pulleys or letter drive belts and parallel to it is arranged a device capable of immobilizing a letter in front of the window and then restarting it on command.
  • the branch branch 2D1 ' taken by the letters directly transmitted to the operator, is directed towards a buffer store 7' in which come to pile up all the letters that the operator will analyze, these letters are indexed by means of a manual coding arrangement 6 'identical to the arrangement 6 mentioned above.
  • the buffer magazine 7 ′ includes a vertical level changer which makes it possible to lower the letters from the level where they have been processed hitherto, that is to say essentially by the optical reader 4 ′ , down to the lower level where they will be processed in particular by the printer 1 and by a sorting assembly 15.
  • the branch branch 2D2 ' is on the upper level like the optical reader 4', the branch 2D1 'and the buffer store 7', it is provided with a barrier 9 'having a role similar to that of barrier 9 it that is, to temporarily stop a letter and the one that follows. This judgment occurs in particular for letters whose reading is finished, but whose analysis of the indications is still in progress, in order to determine if the information necessary for indexing is obtained or if the intervention of an operator is necessary .
  • a switch 8 ′ similar to switch 8 in FIG.
  • the switch 8 ' directs the letter concerned towards the buffer store 7', via a junction device 17, identical to the junction device 10 of FIG. 1, this junction device 17 also being located at the upper level .
  • the level changer magazine 7 ′ feeds the manual coding arrangement 6 ′, allowing the operator to see two letters simultaneously, for example one above the other as shown in FIG. 7, one under review and one pending.
  • the manual coding arrangement 6 ' is connected to the printer by a 2D4' branch of the conveyor 2, via, a barrier 11 'and a junction device 10'.
  • the junction device 10 ′ also receives the letters descended from the upper level to this lower level by means of the level changer device 16.
  • the output of this level changer device 16 is connected for this purpose to a 2D5 branch of the conveyor which the unit to the junction device 10 ', via a barrier 12'.
  • the barriers 11 'and 12' have the same functions as the barriers 11 and 12 and are therefore produced and controlled in a similar manner.
  • the letters examined by the optical reader 4 ′ and / or by means of the manual coding arrangement 6 ′ are indexed by the printer when they pass through this printer, they are then sorted according to their indexing by the sorting assembly 15 which is for example provided with standard tampers, symbolized three in number in FIG. 7.
  • FIG. 3 makes it possible in particular to specify the constitution of an example of a 3 or 3 'unstacker magazine, of the so-called horizontal type.
  • the letters are stored in a single stack on a floor 13 with a slight slope rising towards the unstacking device proper located at the top right of FIG. 3.
  • the magazine is of the conventional type and comprises a floor 13 provided with longitudinal drive belts 18 with a rough or notched surface tending to cause the letters 14 placed vertically on the floor to be moved towards the unstacker device.
  • This floor 13 is bordered on one of its longitudinal edges by a jogging wall 19 against which the letters are aligned by one of their two lateral edges.
  • a pallet 20 is pressed against that of the two large letter faces which ends a packet of letters opposite the unstacker device and at the bottom of the packet in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7.
  • This pallet 20 (FIG. 3) is mobile, for example by sliding along a guide rod 21 which keeps it perpendicular to the jogging edge 19 and to the floor 13, it is driven by the belts 18 on which it rests by its lower end.
  • this destacker device combines a transverse suction box 22 at the end of the floor with a destacker drum 23, shown here opened by a tear off at its top; the drum laterally adjoins the box at the end of the floor near the jogging wall 19.
  • a perforated wall 24 of the suction box 22 is produced in parallel and facing the pallet 20, it allows the suction of the letter immediately adjacent, whose large facing face is pressed against it and against the destacker drum 23.
  • the latter has suction ports 25 in height on a part of its periphery and it internally comprises a suction nozzle 26 which is oriented so as to open parallel to the perforated wall 24 of the box so as to ensure a suction oriented from the magazine towards the inside of the drum when the suction orifices 25 pass in front of its opening.
  • the suction nozzle 26 is connected to a conventional pumping device by a solenoid valve controlled by logic 0 at the request of the optical reader or the operator; the suction device and the solenoid valve, of conventional structures are not shown in the figures.
  • the destacker drum 23 has a continuous rotary movement, here in the opposite direction to that of the hands of a watch, so as to drive, here to the right, the letters successively pressed against it by the suction box 22.
  • the drum 23 is placed under vacuum thanks to the solenoid valve and the passage of the orifices 25 of the drum in front of the nozzle causes a suction of the letter against these orifices which then entrain it in their rotational movement, until the moment when they pass beyond the nozzle opening 26.
  • the unstacked letter 14 is then conventionally driven by the conveyor which comprises for example two endless belts 27, 28 stretched between different shafts so that the two belts are parallel and pressed one on the other over part of their path, only two of these shafts 29, 30 being shown. Any letter coming between the shafts 29, 30 is entrained between the strands pressed against each other of the two bands 27, 28 due to the rotation of the shafts in the directions indicated in FIG. 3, at least some of these shafts being driven by a motor which is not shown.
  • the conveyor comprises for example two endless belts 27, 28 stretched between different shafts so that the two belts are parallel and pressed one on the other over part of their path, only two of these shafts 29, 30 being shown. Any letter coming between the shafts 29, 30 is entrained between the strands pressed against each other of the two bands 27, 28 due to the rotation of the shafts in the directions indicated in FIG. 3, at least some of these shafts being driven by a motor which is not shown.
  • FIG. 4 briefly recalls the constitution of a switch 5, placed between portions of conveyor which allow the letters to be transferred one by one, here by wedging between strands moving parallel, one against the other and in the same sense, of pairs of endless drive belts, on the letter path.
  • the letters arrive between the joined strands of two belts 33, 34 ending in the switch on two practically tangent shafts 35, 36 with parallel axes;
  • two receiving shafts 37, 38 practically tangent and with parallel axes, are placed here in alignment with the shafts 35, 36 on the other side of a flap 31 with an axis 32.
  • the shafts 37, 38 also carry belts endless 39, 40 ensuring by two of their joined strands a transfer of letters from the flap 31 on the branch branch, due to their respective movements.
  • Two receiving shafts 41, 42 with offset parallel axes form with the endless belts 43, 44 a second branch branch.
  • the flap 31 with a flat V-shaped cross section is mounted near the receiving shafts on an axis 32 parallel to the axes of these shafts; it is likely to take two positions alternately under the action of an electromechanical control mechanism not shown. In one of these two positions the upper face of the flap constitutes a passage allowing a letter leaving between the parallel and contiguous strands of the belts 33, 34 to go towards the zone where the belts 39, 40 meet, between the trees 37 and 38, in order to be caught therein and entrained by the contiguous parallel strands of the latter.
  • the underside of the flap 31 constitutes a passage against which a letter exiting between the parallel strands of the belts 33, 34 comes to pass to be placed against the strand of the belt 44 which is joined with the parallel strand of the belt 43, before being wedged between them for its transfer.
  • the barriers such as 9, 9 ′, 11,11 12, 12 ′ are of known type, an example is presented in FIG. 5, they are inserted between two conveyor portions formed here respectively by the pairs of belts 45, 46 and 47, 48 which lead to end shafts 49, 50, 51, 52 of parallel axes which are practically tangent two by two. These end shafts are arranged at a distance on either side of the barrier proper, so that any letter from between the practically contiguous parallel strands of the belts 45 and 46 is transmitted in a straight line between the practically parallel strands contiguous belts 47, 48 via a conveyor belt 53 placed under the letter path perpendicular to the axes of the end shafts. The letters are held in a position perpendicular to the conveyor belt by a guide piece 54 with parallel edges practically joining the end shafts 49, 50 to the end shafts 51, 52.
  • At least one and here two barrier arms 55, 56 are arranged on the letter path between the guide piece 54 and the end shafts 51 and 52.
  • the barrier arms 55, 56 are here mounted on a rotary bracket 57 d axis perpendicular to the plane of the conveyor belt 53. This allows alternately, under the control of an electro-mechanism 58, to place the arms 55, 56 in front of the outlet of the guide piece 54 upstream of the receiving end shafts 51 , 52 to block a letter, or to retract these arms 55, 56 out of the letter path.
  • junctions 10, 10 ′, 17 are of conventional structure in the matter, they are for example constituted in a manner analogous to the switch mentioned in connection with FIG. 4 the directions of rotation of the pulleys and therefore the movements of the belts being reversed.
  • the example of a destacker with level changer magazine shown in Figure 6 is intended to ensure, on the one hand, the creation of a small reserve for letters intended for processing by the operator, on the other hand, to ensure level loading. and simultaneously the presentation to the operator of the letters to be processed.
  • the conveyor part 2 concerned consists for example of two endless belts 59, 60 wound, at the buffer store 7 ', on two shafts 61, 62 rotating in opposite directions so that the parallel and contiguous strands of the belts 59, 60 which pass between them circulate to the buffer store 7 '.
  • These belts 59, 60 and the letters, which they transport, circulate at a level, called higher, in the frame 63 which contains them.
  • the buffer magazine 7 ′ is located at this same upper level and is constituted in a similar manner to the magazine presented in FIG. 3.
  • the letters are stored, perpendicular to a floor 64 provided with transverse drive belts 65, in abutment against a jogging wall 66 and in stack against a pallet 67 sliding on a guide rod 68 to which it is perpendicular.
  • the guide rod 68 is parallel to the drive belts 65.
  • the letters ejected from the trees 61, 62 by the belts 59, 60 slide at the head of the stack of letters under the action of an endless belt 69 stretched around trees 70, 71, 72 entrained in the same direction as the shaft 59.
  • the shaft 70 is located parallel and close to the shafts 61, 62 so that the belt strand closest to the magazine 7 ′ is in line with the parallel strands adjoining the belts 59,60 , which tends to stack any new letter emerging from between the trees on the stack of letters lying perpendicular to the floor 64 against the pallet 67.
  • shafts 70, 71 are offset so as to promote stacking.
  • the belt 69 is preferably provided with perforation 69A over a part of its length and a suction nozzle 73 is formed near the shaft 72 and the jogging wall 67 facing the magazine 7 'and the other side of the belt strand 69 which passes flush with the jogging wall.
  • This suction nozzle 73 which opens flush with the belt 69 on the height of this belt, is conventionally connected to a vacuum pump by means of a solenoid valve, these two elements not being shown here.
  • This letter pressed against the belt 69 is then driven towards at least one and here two pairs of parallel shafts 74, 75, 76, 77 joined two by two, between which it comes to pass; the first two shafts 74, 75 are motorized and tend to propel the letter in the direction of movement, unlike the two shafts 76, 77 following mounted mad which maintain the level of the letter pinched between them.
  • a second suction device 81 moves vertically for example on a second guide rod 82 so that the suction cup which it carries can be positioned immediately below that of the suction device 78, when the latter is in the extreme position in the center of the upper part of the window.
  • suction cup device 81 Since the suction cup device 81 is also connected to a vacuum pump and to a control valve which are not shown, the suction cup which it comprises comes to be pressed behind the letter placed in the upper position by the other suction cup device 78 and is moved by up and down to drive this letter to a lower level for which it is always visible and possibly takeable by the operator.
  • the letter located at the upper level is held in position either by the suction cup of the device 78 or by a system with conventional additional flap, not shown, supporting it; the letter located at the lower level is maintained by the suction cup of the device 81 in the low position or by another flap not shown.
  • the suction cup device 81 is then mounted in the high position so that its suction cup is pressed against the letter carried by the suction cup device 78, the vacuum of which is then canceled.
  • This suction cup device 78 then moves towards the trees 76, 77 to take the letter there which has just been unstacked outside the magazine 7 '.
  • the suction cup device 81 returns to the lower position where it positions the letter it has taken from the suction cup device 78. The latter then returns to its place in the central upper part of the window 80.
  • the conveyor belt 83 located at the lower level drives the letters it receives in the opposite direction with respect to the belts 59, 60 and the shafts 74, 75, it leads to a new portion of conveyor leading to the printer.
  • This portion here consists of two endless belts 84, 85 which wind around two shafts 86, 87 so as to come flush with the upper part of the conveyor belt 83 on which the letters pass.
  • the shape of the walls of the chute is arranged to maintain in vertical position any letter fallen on the carpet, the latter leads these letters between the parallel and contiguous strands of the belts 84, 85 so that the latter entrain them, under the 7 'magazine, towards the printer.
  • the window is also provided with rear walls which are not shown and front elements intended to guide the letters in their movement, said front elements comprising, for example, wires 88, 89 stretched vertically in the window frame 80 .
  • the level changing device 16 will not be described further since it is likely to be constituted by a chute connecting the upper level to the lower level between conveyor ports or by a level changer of the same principle as the one mentioned above.
  • sorting assembly 15 visible in FIGS. 2 and 7, will not be described further since it is conventional equipment in this field and which has only an indirect connection with the invention.

Abstract

A system for coding flat objects, in particular letters, comprises a manual coding station to enable a human operator to print coded indications on flat objects that a conveyor moves before him, using a printer. An optical addressing information reader on the upstream side of the manual coding station is adapted to control the printing of coded indications appropriate to information previously marked on the objects that it is able to recognize. A switching device on the path of the conveyor on the downstream side of the optical reader is used to route the objects to the printer from the optical reader either directly or via the manual coding station, where the operator controls the printing of coded indications appropriate to information previously marked on the objects marked on the objects that he is able to recognize.

Description

La présente invention concerne une installation d'indexation d'objets plats notamment de courrier postal telle que définie par le préambule de la revendication 1. Une telle installation est connue, par exemple à partir du document EP-A 2 0 148 487.The present invention relates to an installation for indexing flat objects, in particular postal mail as defined by the preamble of claim 1. Such an installation is known, for example from document EP-A 2 0 148 487.

De manière connue, le courrier postal est indexé pour permettre son tri par des trieuses automatiques lors de son transfert depuis son expéditeur jusqu'à son destinataire, via l'organisation postale chargée de son acheminement.In a known manner, the postal mail is indexed to allow its sorting by automatic sorters during its transfer from its sender to its recipient, via the postal organization in charge of its routing.

Le courrier à acheminer est usuellement indexé à l'aide d'indications d'acheminement permettant de le trier en vue de son expédition vers les bureaux distributeurs, ou encore à l'aide d'indications de distribution permettant de le trier en vue de sa distribution aux destinataires. Ces indications sont inscrites sous forme codée, par l'intermédiaire d'imprimantes, sur le courrier postal en fonction des adresses indiquées par les expéditeurs.The mail to be routed is usually indexed using routing indications allowing it to be sorted with a view to dispatching it to the distributing offices, or even using distribution indications enabling it to be sorted for its dispatch. distribution to recipients. These indications are registered in coded form, via printers, on the postal mail according to the addresses indicated by the senders.

La lecture des adresses s'effectue soit par l'intermédiaire d'opérateurs humains, soit encore par l'intermédiaire de lecteurs optiques spécialisés. Les lecteurs optiques spécialisés n'ont habituellement pas la capacité d'adaptation que les opérateurs humains possèdent et le courrier qu'ils acceptent de traiter doit respecter des normes beaucoup plus exigeantes.The addresses are read either by human operators or by specialized optical readers. Specialized optical scanners usually do not have the adaptive capacity that human operators have, and the mail they agree to process must meet much more demanding standards.

De plus, le temps de traitement alloué à ces lecteurs est identique pour toutes les lettres et le plus court possible pour des raisons de débit, ce qui a conduit à la mise en oeuvre de lecteurs rapides, complexes et donc coûteux, dont l'utilisation est partagée par plusieurs opérateurs.In addition, the processing time allocated to these readers is identical for all letters and as short as possible for reasons of throughput, which has led to the use of fast, complex and therefore expensive readers, the use of which is shared by several operators.

On connaît en outre, par le document TOSHIBA REVIEW No 118 Nov/Déc. 1978, pages 5 à 10, une installation d'indexation de courrier postal qui comporte un lecteur optique de codes postaux suivi d'un dispositif d'aiguillage qui permet de diriger les lettres soit directement vers une imprimante d'indexation, soit par un piste de codage manuel vers cette imprimante, l'aiguillage étant actionné en fonction de la lecture correcte des codes postaux par le lecteur optique.We also know from document TOSHIBA REVIEW No 118 Nov / Dec. 1978, pages 5 to 10, a postal mail indexing installation which includes an optical reader of postal codes followed by a routing device which makes it possible to direct letters either directly to an indexing printer, or by a track manual coding to this printer, the switch being activated according to the correct reading of the postal codes by the optical reader.

La présente invention a donc pour but d'optimiser le codage automatique par lecteur optique et le codage manuel en combinant un lecteur optique à chaque poste de codage manuel et en permettant des variations de temps de traitement en fonction des difficultés de saisie de manière à offrir un débit optimal de courrier, à limiter le nombre de rejets dus à une non-lecture et à optimiser le travail des opérateurs humains.The present invention therefore aims to optimize automatic coding by optical reader and manual coding by combining an optical reader at each manual coding station and by allowing variations in processing time as a function of input difficulties so as to offer optimal mail throughput, limiting the number of rejects due to non-reading and optimizing the work of human operators.

Ce but est atteint par l'installation telle que définie par la revendication 1.This object is achieved by the installation as defined by claim 1.

L'invention, ses caractéristiques et ses avantages sont précisés dans la description qui suit, en liaison avec les figures répertoriées ci-dessous.

  • La figure 1 présente un schéma synoptique d'une installation d'indexation selon l'invention.
  • La figure 2 présente un schéma synoptique d'une variante d'installation d'indexation selon l'invention.
  • La figure 3 présente un exemple de magasin dépileur pour installation d'indexation selon l'invention.
  • La figure 4 présente un exemple d'aiguillage pour installation d'indexation selon l'invention.
  • La figure 5 présente un exemple de barrière pour installation d'indexation selon l'invention.
  • La figure 6 présente un exemple de magasin dépileur associé à un changeur de niveau vertical pour installation d'indexation selon l'invention.
  • La figure 7 présente une vue extérieure d'une machine de tri selon l'invention.
The invention, its characteristics and its advantages are explained in the following description, in conjunction with the figures listed below.
  • Figure 1 shows a block diagram of an indexing installation according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 presents a block diagram of a variant of an indexing installation according to the invention.
  • FIG. 3 shows an example of a destacker magazine for an indexing installation according to the invention.
  • FIG. 4 shows an example of a switch for an indexing installation according to the invention.
  • FIG. 5 shows an example of a barrier for an indexing installation according to the invention.
  • FIG. 6 shows an example of a destacker magazine associated with a vertical level changer for an indexing installation according to the invention.
  • Figure 7 shows an exterior view of a sorting machine according to the invention.

L'installation d'indexation présentée figure 1 est destinée à permettre l'inscription d'indications codées sur des objets plats, de type courrier postal et notamment des lettres, en fonction des inscriptions écrites ou imprimées sur ces objets pour préciser les adresses postales de leurs destinataires respectifs. Comme indiqué plus haut ces indications codées sont, par exemple, des indexations d'acheminement ou des indexations de distribution et elles sont présentées sur les lettres sous forme reconnaissable par les machines de tri et par le personnel spécialisé ; leur composition est donc susceptible de varier selon les besoins des utilisateurs et selon les matériels d'écriture et de lecture mis en oeuvre, ce sont usuellement des marques distinctives imprimées, de type barres parallèles à espacement déterminé, ou éventuellement des inscriptions alphanumériques.The indexing installation presented in FIG. 1 is intended to allow the recording of coded indications on flat objects, of the postal mail type and in particular letters, according to the written or printed inscriptions on these objects to specify the postal addresses of their respective recipients. As indicated above, these coded indications are, for example, routing indexes or distribution indexations and they are presented on the letters in a form recognizable by sorting machines and by specialized personnel; their composition is therefore likely to vary according to the needs of the users and according to the writing and reading materials used, these are usually printed distinctive marks, of parallel bar type with determined spacing, or possibly alphanumeric inscriptions.

Ces indications codées sont imprimées selon les besoins sur les lettres à l'aide d'une imprimante 1, par exemple de type à jet d'encre, dûment positionnée le long d'un convoyeur 2 chargé du transfert des lettres dans l'installation d'indexation entre un magasin dépileur 3, où les lettres à indexer sont stockées, et un ensemble d'emmagasinage, constitué par exemple des tasseurs non figurés, recevant les lettres indexées.These coded indications are printed as necessary on the letters using a printer 1, for example of the inkjet type, duly positioned along a conveyor 2 responsible for transferring the letters in the installation of indexing between a destacker magazine 3, where the letters to be indexed are stored, and a storage assembly, for example consisting of tampers not shown, receiving the indexed letters.

Le magasin dépileur 3 est prévu pour contenir un nombre élevé de plis postaux, par exemple mille plis, qui sont empilés l'un contre l'autre et qui sont susceptibles d'être extraits l'un après l'autre d'une des extrémités du magasins dépileur 3, conçu à cet effet, ainsi que le montre ultérieurement l'exemple présenté en figure 3. Une logique 0 classiquement organisée autour d'au moins un processeur commande, via une liaison de commande L1, la sortie des lettres une à une hors du magasin dépileur 3.The unstacker magazine 3 is designed to contain a large number of postal envelopes, for example a thousand envelopes, which are stacked one against the other and which are capable of being extracted one after the other from one of the ends. of the unstacker magazines 3, designed for this purpose, as the example shown in FIG. 3 later shows. A logic 0 conventionally organized around at least one processor commands, via a command link L1, the output of the letters one to one outside the destacker store 3.

Chaque lettre transite du magasin dépileur 3 vers l'ensemble d'emmagasinage par l'intermédiaire du convoyeur 2 classiquement constitué à l'aide d'éléments mobiles, tels que des poulies ou des courroies d'entraînement, et d'éléments fixes, de type guides ou glissières, assurant le déplacement des lettres une à une entre les éléments mobiles et/ou fixes, selon un itinéraire déterminé, chaque lettre se déplaçant sous l'action des poulies ou des courroies prenant appui sur au moins une de ses deux faces.Each letter travels from the unstacker magazine 3 to the storage assembly via the conveyor 2 conventionally constituted using movable elements, such as pulleys or drive belts, and fixed elements, guides or slides type, ensuring the movement of the letters one by one between the mobile and / or fixed elements, according to a determined route, each letter moving under the action of pulleys or belts bearing on at least one of its two faces .

Un lecteur optique 4 est placé le long du trajet du convoyeur 2 en aval du magasin dépileur 1 de manière à voir passer séparément les lettres sortant une à une de ce magasin dépileur, sous le contrôle de la logique 0, pour trouver la position des inscriptions préexistantes nécessaires à l'indexation et pour lire ces inscriptions.An optical reader 4 is placed along the path of the conveyor 2 downstream of the destacker magazine 1 so as to see the letters coming out one by one from this destacker magazine separately, under the control of logic 0, to find the position of the inscriptions preexisting necessary for indexing and to read these inscriptions.

Le lecteur optique 4 est de structure classique et ne sera que brièvement rappelé ici, sa structure propre n'ayant qu'un rapport indirect avec la présente invention. Ce lecteur optique comporte classiquement un agencement destiné à éclairer la surface à lire et une lentille concentrant la lumière réfléchie par cette surface sur un ensemble capteur optique usuellement composé à l'aide de photodiodes. Cet ensemble capteur optique produit des signaux électriques, fonction de la lumière qu'il reçoit et les transmet à la logique 0.The optical reader 4 is of conventional structure and will only be briefly recalled here, its own structure having only an indirect connection with the present invention. This optical reader conventionally comprises an arrangement intended to illuminate the surface to be read and a lens concentrating the light reflected by this surface on an optical sensor assembly usually composed using photodiodes. This optical sensor assembly produces electrical signals, a function of the light it receives and transmits them to logic 0.

Cette logique compare les signaux qu'elle reçoit de l'ensemble capteur optique avec ceux que contient une mémoire de caractères, non figurée, qu'elle comporte afin de traduire, sous forme de combinaisons numériques prédéterminées, les différents caractères reconnus par comparaison. Les images fournies par le capteur optique sont mémorisées au profit de la logique et éventuellement du poste de codage manuel.This logic compares the signals it receives from the optical sensor assembly with those contained in a character memory, not shown, which it comprises in order to translate, in the form of predetermined numerical combinations, the different characters recognized by comparison. The images provided by the optical sensor are stored for the benefit of logic and possibly the manual coding station.

Ceci permet notamment à la logique de conserver une image à des fins de traduction, jusqu'à reconnaissance des caractères ou rejet, pendant un temps variable, la circulation des lettres sur le convoyeur n'étant pas interrompue en raison des possibilités d'aiguillage et d'arrêt momentané offertes par ledit convoyeur.This allows in particular the logic to keep an image for translation purposes, until recognition of the characters or rejection, for a variable time, the circulation of the letters on the conveyor not being interrupted because of the possibilities of routing and momentary stop offered by said conveyor.

Dans certains lecteurs optiques connus la logique 0 est incluse, un exemple d'un tel lecteur étant notamment décrit dans la demande de brevet européen 0063243.In certain known optical readers logic 0 is included, an example of such a reader being described in particular in European patent application 0063243.

La logique de traitement 0 peut alternativement être extérieure au lecteur en raison de son rôle de coordination pour l'installation, notamment en vue de régler les problèmes dus aux actions parallèles de l'opérateur et du lecteur optique.The processing logic 0 may alternatively be external to the reader because of its coordination role for the installation, in particular with a view to solving the problems due to the parallel actions of the operator and the optical reader.

Dans l'un et l'autre cas les moyens mis en oeuvre ne sont pas rappelés ici plus avant dans la mesure où ils sont bien connus de l'homme de l'art.In both cases the means used are not recalled here further insofar as they are well known to those skilled in the art.

Comme indiqué plus haut, le lecteur optique 4 cherche à déchiffrer les inscriptions qui sont nécessaires à l'indexation d'une lettre lors du passage de cette lettre devant lui sur le convoyeur 2 aménagé à cette effet. Ce dernier comporte par exemple une ouverture formant fenêtre de vision face au capteur optique, de manière que celui-ci voit la partie de face de lettre où sont susceptibles de figurer les inscriptions à lire.As indicated above, the optical reader 4 seeks to decipher the inscriptions which are necessary for indexing a letter when this letter passes in front of it on the conveyor 2 arranged for this purpose. The latter comprises, for example, an opening forming a viewing window facing the optical sensor, so that the latter sees the letter face portion where the inscriptions to be read are likely to appear.

Un aiguillage 5 est placé en aval du lecteur optique sur le trajet du convoyeur 2, cet aiguillage 5 est destiné à orienter différemment les lettres pour lesquelles le lecteur est apte à prendre une décision après lecture et celles pour lesquelles une intervention humaine ou un traitement plus long du lecteur optique sont nécessaires, il permet également d'alimenter l'opérateur humain en lettres si besoin est.A switch 5 is placed downstream of the optical reader on the path of the conveyor 2, this switch 5 is intended to orient differently the letters for which the reader is able to make a decision after reading and those for which human intervention or more processing along with the optical drive are necessary, it also makes it possible to supply the human operator with letters if need be.

Le lecteur optique 4 transmet des lettres vers le poste de codage manuel dans un certain nombre de cas, par exemple lorsqu'il n'est pas apte à déterminer l'emplacement des inscriptions à prendre en compte pour différentes raisons liées par exemple au positionnement anormal de ces inscriptions ou à celui d'inscriptions non significatives susceptibles de conduire à une confusion.The optical reader 4 transmits letters to the manual coding station in a certain number of cases, for example when it is not able to determine the location of the inscriptions to be taken into account for various reasons linked for example to the abnormal positioning. of these inscriptions or that of insignificant inscriptions likely to lead to confusion.

Le lecteur optique 4 transmet des lettres sans passer par le poste de codage manuel soit lorsqu'il a lu, soit dès que les inscriptions sont sans ambiguïté, par exemple si la lettre est déjà indexée, ou encore si la face de lettre examinée est vierge. Une première voie de l'aiguillage 5 conduit donc vers le poste de codage manuel 6, via une branche de dérivation 2D1 du convoyeur 2 et un magasin tampon 7 dans lequel viennent s'entasser les lettres destinées à être examinées par un opérateur humain desservant ledit poste de codage manuel.The optical reader 4 transmits letters without going through the manual coding station either when it has read or as soon as the inscriptions are unambiguous, for example if the letter is already indexed, or even if the face of the letter examined is blank . A first channel of the switch 5 therefore leads to the manual coding station 6, via a branch branch 2D1 of the conveyor 2 and a buffer store 7 in which are piled up the letters intended to be examined by a human operator serving said manual coding station.

La branche de dérivation 2D1 est constituée comme la branche 1 par un ensemble usuel non représenté de poulies et/ou de courroies. d'entraînement tenant les lettres entre elles et les déplaçant l'une derrière l'autre le plus souvent en position verticale.The branch branch 2D1 is constituted like the branch 1 by a usual assembly not shown of pulleys and / or belts. drive holding the letters together and moving them one behind the other most often in an upright position.

Le magasin tampon 7 est un magasin dépileur-empileur préférablement de type premier entré - premier sorti qui sera précisé plus loin.The buffer magazine 7 is a destacker-stacker magazine preferably of the first-in-first-out type which will be explained below.

Le poste de codage manuel 6 est un agencement classique disposant d'une unité de visualisation 6A, en vue directe ou sur écran, qui permet à un opérateur de regarder au moins l'une des deux faces d'une lettre afin de l'indexer à l'aide d'un clavier de codage 6B en fonction des inscriptions lues sur cette lettre.The manual coding station 6 is a conventional arrangement having a display unit 6A, in direct view or on screen, which allows an operator to look at at least one of the two sides of a letter in order to index it. using a 6B coding keyboard according to the inscriptions read on this letter.

L'écran peut éventuellement recevoir des images lues par le capteur optique du lecteur et mémorisées au profit du poste de codage manuel.The screen can optionally receive images read by the optical sensor of the reader and memorized for the benefit of the manual coding station.

L'unité de visualisation 6A est éventuellement constituée par un équipement vidéo comprenant une caméra de prise de vue alimentant un moniteur d'affichage non représentés, dans une forme de réalisation, elle comporte essentiellement un dispositif permettant d'éclairer les lettres à coder, isolément ou par petits groupes, ce dispositif pouvant être celui du lecteur optique, et de les visualiser à travers une fenêtre ménagée sur l'un des bords de la branche 2D1 du convoyeur 2.The display unit 6A is possibly constituted by video equipment comprising a shooting camera supplying a display monitor not shown, in one embodiment, it essentially comprises a device making it possible to illuminate the letters to be coded, in isolation or in small groups, this device possibly being that of the optical reader, and of viewing them through a window provided on one of the edges of the branch 2D1 of the conveyor 2.

Le clavier 6B est un classique clavier à touches préférablement adapté ergonomiquement et de manière spécifique aux tâches d'indexation à effectuer, il est relié à l'imprimante 1, via la logique de traitement 0 et deux liaisons L2 et L3, en vue de lui transmettre les ordres d'indexation, de même que le fait le lecteur optique 4 pour les lettres qu'il traite. Le clavier 6B permet également à l'opérateur humain d'actionner l'aiguillage 5, via la logique 0 et une liaison de commande L4, de même que le fait le lecteur optique 4.The keyboard 6B is a classic keyboard with keys preferably adapted ergonomically and in a specific manner to the indexing tasks to be performed, it is connected to the printer 1, via the processing logic 0 and two links L2 and L3, in view of it transmit the indexing orders, as does the optical reader 4 for the letters it processes. The keyboard 6B also allows the human operator to activate the switch 5, via logic 0 and a control link L4, as does the optical reader 4.

Une seconde voie de l'aiguillage 5 conduit vers un second aiguillage 8, via une branche de dérivation 2D2 du convoyeur 2. Le second aiguillage 8 permet d'orienter les lettres qu'il reçoit soit vers le magasin tampon 7, via une branche de dérivation 2D3, soit vers l'imprimante 1 par l'intermédiaire de la branche de dérivation 2D2, il est normalement commandé par le lecteur optique 4, via la logique 0 et une liaison de commande L5, en fonction du résultat des opérations de lecture.A second channel of the switch 5 leads to a second switch 8, via a branch branch 2D2 of the conveyor 2. The second switch 8 makes it possible to direct the letters it receives either to the buffer store 7, via a branch of 2D3 branch, either to the printer 1 via the 2D2 branch, it is normally controlled by the optical reader 4, via logic 0 and a command link L5, depending on the result of the read operations.

De plus une barrière double 9 est insérée entre les aiguillages 5 et 8 pour retenir une par une les lettres transmises sur la branche de dérivation 2D2, tant que le lecteur optique 4 n'a pas terminé son analyse.In addition, a double barrier 9 is inserted between switches 5 and 8 to retain one by one the letters transmitted on the branch branch 2D2, until the optical drive 4 has not completed its analysis.

Si l'analyse effectuée sur un lettre à partir des informations recueillies sur une de ses faces par le lecteur optique, ne conduit pas à une des possibilités prévues d'indexation au bout d'un temps maximal prédéterminé, la lettre concernée est transmise vers le poste de codage manuel pour déchiffrement.If the analysis carried out on a letter from the information gathered on one of its faces by the optical reader, does not lead to one of the planned possibilities of indexing after a predetermined maximum time, the letter concerned is transmitted to the manual coding station for decryption.

Selon une forme de réalisation de l'installation d'indexation proposée, l'analyse de chaque lettre ne nécessite plus la présence de la lettre devant le lecteur optique 4 dès que les indications fournies par l'ensemble capteur optique de ce lecteur, pour cette lettre, sont mémorisées. De ce fait cette lettre peut être déplacée par le convoyeur 2 vers l'aiguillage 5 et à travers lui pendant que le traitement des indications relatives à ladite lettre se poursuivent au moyen du processeur du lecteur optique 4, ce qui permet de venir placer sans perte de temps une nouvelle lettre devant ce lecteur optique 4.According to one embodiment of the proposed indexing installation, the analysis of each letter no longer requires the presence of the letter in front of the optical reader 4 as soon as the indications provided by the optical sensor assembly of this reader, for this letter, are memorized. As a result, this letter can be moved by the conveyor 2 towards the switch 5 and through it while the processing of the indications relating to said letter continues by means of the processor of the optical reader 4, which makes it possible to place without loss from time to time a new letter in front of this optical reader 4.

La barrière double 9, commandée par le lecteur optique 4, via la logique 0 et une liaison L6, permet de retarder par un premier élément de barrière toute lettre transmise sur la branche de dérivation D2, via l'aiguillage 5, tant que le traitement des indications relatives à cette lettre n'est pas terminé par le processeur du lecteur optique 4 et qu'en conséquence l'orientation de ladite lettre vers le poste de codage manuel 6 ou vers l'imprimante 1, via le second aiguillage 8, n'est pas décidée ; un second élément de barrière situé en amont du premier, permet également d'arrêter une lettre qui suit une lettre arrêtée derrière le premier élément.The double barrier 9, controlled by the optical reader 4, via the logic 0 and a link L6, makes it possible to delay by a first barrier element any letter transmitted on the branch of derivation D2, via the switch 5, as long as the processing indications relating to this letter is not completed by the processor of the optical reader 4 and that consequently the orientation of said letter towards the manual coding station 6 or towards the printer 1, via the second switch 8, n 'is not decided; a second barrier element located upstream of the first, also makes it possible to stop a letter which follows a letter stopped behind the first element.

En fin de traitement par le lecteur optique 4 si la ieüre concernée ne peut être indexée, elle est transmise vers le poste de codage manuel 6 ; en ce but elle est orientée vers le magasin tampon 7, via le second aiguillage 8 et la branche de dérivation 2D3, en cas contraire elle poursuit son transit par la branche de dérivation 2D2 vers l'imprimante 1.At the end of processing by the optical reader 4 if the concerned ieu cannot be indexed, it is transmitted to the manual coding station 6; for this purpose it is oriented towards the buffer store 7, via the second switch 8 and the branch branch 2D3, otherwise it continues its transit through the branch branch 2D2 to the printer 1.

Cette imprimante 1 reçoit d'une part les lettres à indexer provenant du lecteur optique 4 via la branche de dérivation 2D2, d'autre part les lettres à indexer transmises par le poste de codage manuel 6, elle est donc alimentée par l'intermédiaire d'un dispositif de jonction 10 du convoyeur auquel aboutissent la branche de dérivation 2D2 et une branche de jonction 2D4 reliée aux branches de dérivation 2D1 et 2D3, via le magasin tampon 7 et l'agencement de codage manuel.This printer 1 receives on the one hand the letters to be indexed coming from the optical reader 4 via the branch of bypass 2D2, on the other hand the letters to be indexed transmitted by the manual coding station 6, it is therefore supplied via d a conveyor junction device 10 to which the branch branch 2D2 and a branch branch 2D4 connected to the branch branches 2D1 and 2D3, via the buffer store 7 and the manual coding arrangement.

Au moins l'une des deux branches 2D2, 2D4, et ici les deux sont dotées de barrière 11, 12 permettant de retarder temporairement une lettre lors de son transfert vers l'imprimante 1, de manière à éviter tout chevauchement de deux lettres provenant simultanément chacune sur une branche 2D2 ou 2D4 différente.At least one of the two branches 2D2, 2D4, and here both have a barrier 11, 12 making it possible to temporarily delay a letter when it is transferred to the printer 1, so as to avoid any overlap of two letters coming simultaneously each on a different 2D2 or 2D4 branch.

En ce but les barrières 11 et 12 sont commandées par la logique 0, via des liaisons de sélection non figurées, de manière à empêcher leur ouverture simultanée, priorité étant donnée à l'une d'entre elles, par exemple à la barrière 11.For this purpose, the barriers 11 and 12 are controlled by logic 0, via selection links which are not shown, so as to prevent their simultaneous opening, priority being given to one of them, for example to the barrier 11.

Dans une forme de réalisation, l'ensemble des lettres fournies par le magasin dépileur transite par l'imprimante 1 pour indexation sous le contrôle du lecteur optique 4 ou du poste de codage manuel 6 ; dans le cas prévu ici l'imprimante n'indexe pas les lettres pour lesquelles aucun code d'indexation n'a pu être trouvé par le lecteur ou l'opérateur en raison de leur anormalité.In one embodiment, all of the letters supplied by the destacker store pass through the printer 1 for indexing under the control of the optical reader 4 or of the manual coding station 6; in the case provided here, the printer does not index letters for which no indexing code could be found by the reader or the operator due to their abnormality.

La figure 2 présente une variante de réalisation visant à augmenter la compacité de l'installation d'indexation, sachant que les dimensions d'un ensemble de tri comportant une telle installation sont souvent importantes et gagnent donc à être réduites.FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment aiming to increase the compactness of the indexing installation, bearing in mind that the dimensions of a sorting assembly comprising such an installation are often large and therefore benefit from being reduced.

L'installation d'indexation présentée figure 2 se caractérise par une disposition de ces éléments constitutifs sur deux étages permettant de réduire d'autant la surface occupée au sol, ceci étant facilité par le hauteur relativement faible exigée par ces éléments constitutifs qui est liée aux dimensions habituelles du courrier postal.The indexing installation presented in FIG. 2 is characterized by an arrangement of these constituent elements on two floors making it possible to reduce the area occupied on the ground by the same amount, this being facilitated by the relatively low height required by these constituent elements which is linked to the usual dimensions of postal mail.

De même que précédemment l'installation d'indexation selon l'invention comporte une imprimante 1' ayant même structure et même fonctions que l'imprimante 1, cette imprimante 1 ' est par exemple un modèle TILJE de la société demanderesse.As previously, the indexing installation according to the invention comprises a printer 1 ′ having the same structure and same functions as printer 1, this printer 1 ′ is for example a TILJE model from the applicant company.

L'imprimante l'est alimentée en lettres à indexer à partir d'un magasin dépileur 3'. Le magasin 3' est de type dit horizontal, sa disposition pratique est montrée en figure 3 ainsi qu'en figure 7 ; dans cette dernière réalisation, il présente une surface d'appui 13 des lettres 14 qui est en pente montante vers l'extrémité d'extraction par où les lettres sont envoyées à travers le convoyeur.The printer is supplied with letters to be indexed from a 3 'unstacker magazine. The magazine 3 ′ is of the so-called horizontal type, its practical arrangement is shown in FIG. 3 as well as in FIG. 7; in this latter embodiment, it has a bearing surface 13 of the letters 14 which slopes up towards the extraction end through which the letters are sent through the conveyor.

Un lecteur optique 4' est placé en sortie du magasin dépileur 3' (figures 2 et 7) le long du trajet du convoyeur 2' reliant la sortie du magasin dépileur 3' à l'entrée de l'imprimante 1'.An optical reader 4 'is placed at the outlet of the unstacker magazine 3' (Figures 2 and 7) along the path of the conveyor 2 'connecting the outlet of the unstacker magazine 3' to the inlet of the printer 1 '.

Le lecteur optique 4' est analogue au lecteur optique 4 et ne sera donc pas décrit plus avant. Une logique 0' à processeur, assure la commande harmonieuse des différents organes en liaison avec les indications fournies par le lecteur optique et par l'agencement de codage manuel.The optical reader 4 ′ is analogous to the optical reader 4 and will therefore not be described further. 0 'processor logic ensures harmonious control of the various components in conjunction with the indications provided by the optical reader and by the manual coding arrangement.

Comme précédemment un aiguillage 5' permet de transmettre par des branches de dérivation 2D1' et 2D2' différentes les lettres retenues pour traitement par le lecteur optique 4' de celles que sont transmises directement à l'opérateur à sa demande. En fait le lecteur optique 4' dispose, comme le lecteur optique 4 dans l'exemple précédent, d'une fenêtre s'ouvrant sur le convoyeur 2' et lui permettant de voir l'une des faces de lettre en défilement. A titre d'exemple la fenêtre du lecteur optique s'étend sur une surface permettant à une rangée verticale de photodiodes de lire la lettre au fur et à mesure de son défilement horizontal. Cette fenêtre non représentée est latéralement bordée par des poulies ou courroies d'entraînement de lettre et parallèlement à elle est disposée un dispositif susceptible d'immobiliser une lettre devant la fenêtre puis de la relancer sur commande.As before, a 5 'switch makes it possible to transmit by branch branches 2D1' and 2D2 'different the letters selected for processing by the optical reader 4' from those which are transmitted directly to the operator at his request. In fact, the optical reader 4 'has, like the optical reader 4 in the previous example, a window opening onto the conveyor 2' and allowing it to see one of the letter faces scrolling. For example, the window of the optical drive extends over a surface allowing a vertical row of photodiodes to read the letter as it scrolls horizontally. This window not shown is laterally bordered by pulleys or letter drive belts and parallel to it is arranged a device capable of immobilizing a letter in front of the window and then restarting it on command.

La branche de dérivation 2D1', empruntée par les lettres directement transmises à l'opérateur, est dirigée vers un magasin tampon 7' dans lequel viennent s'entasser toutes les lettres que l'opérateur va analyser, ces lettres sont indexées au moyen d'un agencement de codage manuel 6' identique à l'agencement 6 évoqué plus haut.The branch branch 2D1 ', taken by the letters directly transmitted to the operator, is directed towards a buffer store 7' in which come to pile up all the letters that the operator will analyze, these letters are indexed by means of a manual coding arrangement 6 'identical to the arrangement 6 mentioned above.

Dans la forme de réalisation évoquée ici, le magasin tampon 7' comporte un changeur de niveau vertical qui permet de descendre les lettres du niveau où elles ont été jusqu'ici traitées, c'est-à-dire essentiellement par le lecteur optique 4', jusqu'au niveau inférieur où elles seront traitées notamment par l'imprimante l'et par un ensemble de tri 15.In the embodiment mentioned here, the buffer magazine 7 ′ includes a vertical level changer which makes it possible to lower the letters from the level where they have been processed hitherto, that is to say essentially by the optical reader 4 ′ , down to the lower level where they will be processed in particular by the printer 1 and by a sorting assembly 15.

La branche de dérivation 2D2' est au niveau supérieur comme le lecteur optique 4', la branche 2D1' et le magasin tampon 7', elle est dotée d'une barrière 9' ayant un rôle analogue à celui de la barrière 9 c'est-à-dire d'arrêter temporairement une lettre et celle qui suit. Cet arrêt survient notamment pour les lettres dont la lecture est terminée, mais dont l'analyse des indications est encore en cours, en vue de déterminer si les informations nécessaires à l'indexation sont obtenues ou si l'intervention d'un opérateur est nécessaire. Dans la première hypothèse c'est-à-dire si les informations d'indexation ont été obtenues, un aiguillage 8', analogue à l'aiguillage 8 de la figure 1, oriente la lettre concernée vers un dispositif de changement de niveau 16 sous le contrôle de la logique 0' avertie par le lecteur optique 4', de manière à commander l'aiguillage 8' via une liaison L5', de même qu'il commande la barrière 9' et l'aiguillage 5 via respectivement des liaisons L6' et L4'.The branch branch 2D2 'is on the upper level like the optical reader 4', the branch 2D1 'and the buffer store 7', it is provided with a barrier 9 'having a role similar to that of barrier 9 it that is, to temporarily stop a letter and the one that follows. This judgment occurs in particular for letters whose reading is finished, but whose analysis of the indications is still in progress, in order to determine if the information necessary for indexing is obtained or if the intervention of an operator is necessary . In the first hypothesis, that is to say if the indexing information has been obtained, a switch 8 ′, similar to switch 8 in FIG. 1, directs the letter concerned towards a level change device 16 under control of the logic 0 'warned by the optical reader 4', so as to control the switch 8 'via a link L5', just as it controls the barrier 9 'and the switch 5 via respectively links L6 'and L4'.

Dans la seconde hypothèse l'aiguillage 8' oriente la lettre concernée vers le magasin tampon 7', via un dispositif de jonction 17, identique au dispositif de jonction 10 de la figure 1, ce dispositif de jonction 17 étant situé lui aussi au niveau supérieur.In the second hypothesis, the switch 8 'directs the letter concerned towards the buffer store 7', via a junction device 17, identical to the junction device 10 of FIG. 1, this junction device 17 also being located at the upper level .

Le magasin à changeur de niveau 7' alimente l'agencement de codage manuel 6', en permettant à l'opérateur de voir simultanément deux lettres par exemple l'une au dessus de l'autre comme représenté sur la figure 7, l'une en cours d'examen et l'autre en attente.The level changer magazine 7 ′ feeds the manual coding arrangement 6 ′, allowing the operator to see two letters simultaneously, for example one above the other as shown in FIG. 7, one under review and one pending.

L'agencement de codage manuel 6' est relié à l'imprimante par une branche 2D4' du convoyeur 2, via, une barrière 11' et un dispositif de jonction 10'. Le dispositif de jonction 10' reçoit également les lettres descendues du niveau supérieur à ce niveau inférieur par l'intermédiaire du dispositif changeur de niveau 16. La sortie de ce dispositif changeur de niveau 16 est reliée en ce but à une branche 2D5 du convoyeur qui l'unit au dispositif de jonction 10', via une barrière 12'. Les barrières 11' et 12' ont mêmes fonctions que les barrières 11 et 12 et sont donc réalisées et commandées de manière analogue.The manual coding arrangement 6 'is connected to the printer by a 2D4' branch of the conveyor 2, via, a barrier 11 'and a junction device 10'. The junction device 10 ′ also receives the letters descended from the upper level to this lower level by means of the level changer device 16. The output of this level changer device 16 is connected for this purpose to a 2D5 branch of the conveyor which the unit to the junction device 10 ', via a barrier 12'. The barriers 11 'and 12' have the same functions as the barriers 11 and 12 and are therefore produced and controlled in a similar manner.

Les lettres examinées par le lecteur optique 4' et/ou par l'intermédiaire de l'agencement de codage manuel 6' sont indexées par l'imprimante l'au moment de leur passage par cette imprimante, elles sont ensuite prétriées en fonction de leur indexation par l'ensemble de tri 15 qui est par exemple doté de tasseurs usuels, symbolisés au nombre de trois sur la figure 7.The letters examined by the optical reader 4 ′ and / or by means of the manual coding arrangement 6 ′ are indexed by the printer when they pass through this printer, they are then sorted according to their indexing by the sorting assembly 15 which is for example provided with standard tampers, symbolized three in number in FIG. 7.

Les différents éléments constitutifs de l'installation évoquée ci-dessus dont la structure n'a pas été précisée par référence à un appareil classique déterminé sont définis dans ce qui suit. La figure 3 permet en particulier de préciser la constitution d'un exemple de magasin dépileur 3 ou 3', de type dit horizontal.The various components of the installation mentioned above, the structure of which has not been specified with reference to a specific conventional device, are defined in the following. FIG. 3 makes it possible in particular to specify the constitution of an example of a 3 or 3 'unstacker magazine, of the so-called horizontal type.

Dans cet exemple de réalisation et ainsi que le montre aussi la figure 7, les lettres sont stockés en une pile unique sur un plancher 13 en légère pente montant vers le dispositif dépileur proprement dit situé en haut et à droite sur la figure 3.In this exemplary embodiment and as also shown in FIG. 7, the letters are stored in a single stack on a floor 13 with a slight slope rising towards the unstacking device proper located at the top right of FIG. 3.

Le magasin est de type classique et comporte un plancher 13 munie de courroies longitudinales d'entraînement 18 à surface rugueuse ou crantée tendant à faire déplacer vers le dispositif dépileur, les lettres 14 disposées verticalement sur le plancher. Ce plancher 13 est bordé sur une de ses rives longitudinales par une paroi de taquage 19 contre laquelle les lettres sont alignées par un de leurs deux bords latéraux.The magazine is of the conventional type and comprises a floor 13 provided with longitudinal drive belts 18 with a rough or notched surface tending to cause the letters 14 placed vertically on the floor to be moved towards the unstacker device. This floor 13 is bordered on one of its longitudinal edges by a jogging wall 19 against which the letters are aligned by one of their two lateral edges.

Une palette 20 vient se plaquer contre celle des deux grandes faces de lettre qui termine un paquet de lettres à l'opposé du dispositif dépileur et au bas du paquet dans l'exemple de réalisation montré figure 7. Cette palette 20 (figure 3) est mobile, par exemple par coulissement le long d'une tige guide 21 qui la maintient perpendiculaire à la rive de taquage 19 et au plancher 13, elle est entraînée par les courroies 18 sur lesquelles elle repose par son extrémité inférieure.A pallet 20 is pressed against that of the two large letter faces which ends a packet of letters opposite the unstacker device and at the bottom of the packet in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. This pallet 20 (FIG. 3) is mobile, for example by sliding along a guide rod 21 which keeps it perpendicular to the jogging edge 19 and to the floor 13, it is driven by the belts 18 on which it rests by its lower end.

Les lettres sont introduites en paquet contre la palette 20, celle-ci étant en position écartée du dispositif dépileur qui est lui-même situé transversalement en extrémité de plancher. Dans l'exemple de réalisation proposé, ce dispositif dépileur associe une boîte aspirante 22 transversale en extrémité de plancher à un tambour dépileur 23, montré ici ouvert par un arraché à son sommet ; le tambour jouxte latéralement la boîte en extrémité de plancher à proximité de la paroi de taquage 19.The letters are introduced in a package against the pallet 20, the latter being in the position separated from the destacker device which is itself located transversely at the end of the floor. In the proposed embodiment, this destacker device combines a transverse suction box 22 at the end of the floor with a destacker drum 23, shown here opened by a tear off at its top; the drum laterally adjoins the box at the end of the floor near the jogging wall 19.

Une paroi perforée 24 de la boîte aspirante 22 est réalisée parallèment et face à la palette 20, elle permet l'aspiration de la lettre immédiatement voisine, dont la grande face en regard vient se plaquer contre elle et contre le tambour dépileur 23. Ce dernier est doté d'orifices d'aspiration 25 en hauteur sur une partie de sa périphérie et il comporte intérieurement une buse d'aspiration 26 qui est orientée de manière à s'ouvrir parallèlement à la paroi perforée 24 de la boîte de manière à assurer une aspiration orientée du magasin vers l'intérieur du tambour lorsque les orifices d'aspiration 25 passent devant son ouverture. La buse d'aspiration 26 est reliée à un dispositif de pompage usuel par une électrovanne commandée par la logique 0 à la demande du lecteur optique ou de l'opérateur ; le dispositif d'aspiration et l'électrovanne, de structures classiques ne sont pas représentés sur les figures.A perforated wall 24 of the suction box 22 is produced in parallel and facing the pallet 20, it allows the suction of the letter immediately adjacent, whose large facing face is pressed against it and against the destacker drum 23. The latter has suction ports 25 in height on a part of its periphery and it internally comprises a suction nozzle 26 which is oriented so as to open parallel to the perforated wall 24 of the box so as to ensure a suction oriented from the magazine towards the inside of the drum when the suction orifices 25 pass in front of its opening. The suction nozzle 26 is connected to a conventional pumping device by a solenoid valve controlled by logic 0 at the request of the optical reader or the operator; the suction device and the solenoid valve, of conventional structures are not shown in the figures.

Le tambour dépileur 23 a un mouvement rotatif continu, ici de sens inverse de celui des aiguilles d'une montre, de manière à entraîner, ici vers la droite, les lettres successivement plaquées contre lui par la boîte aspirante 22. Pour dépiler une lettre, le tambour 23 est mis sous dépression grâce à l'électrovanne et le passage des orifices 25 du tambour devant la buse entraîne une aspiration de la lettre contre ces orifices qui l'entraînent alors dans leur mouvement de rotation, jusqu'au moment où ils passent au delà de l'ouverture de buse 26.The destacker drum 23 has a continuous rotary movement, here in the opposite direction to that of the hands of a watch, so as to drive, here to the right, the letters successively pressed against it by the suction box 22. To unstack a letter, the drum 23 is placed under vacuum thanks to the solenoid valve and the passage of the orifices 25 of the drum in front of the nozzle causes a suction of the letter against these orifices which then entrain it in their rotational movement, until the moment when they pass beyond the nozzle opening 26.

La lettre 14 dépilée est alors entraînée classiquement par le convoyeur qui comporte par exemple deux courroies sans fin 27, 28 tendues entre des arbres différents de manière que les deux courroies soient parallèles et plaquées l'une sur l'autre sur une partie de leur trajet, seuls deux de ces arbres 29, 30 étant représentés. Toute lettre venant se présenter entre les arbres 29, 30 est entraînée entre les brins plaqués l'un contre l'autre des deux bandes 27, 28 en raison de la rotation des arbres dans les sens indiqués sur la figure 3, au moins certains de ces arbres étant entraînés par un moteur non figuré.The unstacked letter 14 is then conventionally driven by the conveyor which comprises for example two endless belts 27, 28 stretched between different shafts so that the two belts are parallel and pressed one on the other over part of their path, only two of these shafts 29, 30 being shown. Any letter coming between the shafts 29, 30 is entrained between the strands pressed against each other of the two bands 27, 28 due to the rotation of the shafts in the directions indicated in FIG. 3, at least some of these shafts being driven by a motor which is not shown.

La figure 4 rappelle succinctement la constitution d'un aiguillage 5, placé entre des portions de convoyeur qui permettent de transférer les lettres une à une, ici par coincement entre des brins se déplaçant parallèlement, l'un contre l'autre et dans le même sens, de paires de courroies d'entraînement sans fin, sur le trajet des lettres. En ce but les lettres arrivent entre les brins joints de deux courroies 33, 34 aboutissant dans l'aiguillage sur deux arbres pratiquement tangents 35, 36 à axes parallèles ; deux arbres récepteurs 37, 38 pratiquement tangents et à axes parallèles, sont placées ici dans l'alignement des arbres 35, 36 de l'autre côté d'un volet 31 d'axe 32. Les arbres 37, 38 portent eux aussi des courroies sans fin 39, 40 assurant par deux de leurs brins joints un transfert de lettres à partir du volet 31 sur la branche de dérivation, en raison de leurs mouvements respectifs. Deux arbres récepteurs 41, 42 à axes parallèles décalés forment avec les courroies sans fin 43, 44 une seconde branche de dérivation.Figure 4 briefly recalls the constitution of a switch 5, placed between portions of conveyor which allow the letters to be transferred one by one, here by wedging between strands moving parallel, one against the other and in the same sense, of pairs of endless drive belts, on the letter path. For this purpose the letters arrive between the joined strands of two belts 33, 34 ending in the switch on two practically tangent shafts 35, 36 with parallel axes; two receiving shafts 37, 38 practically tangent and with parallel axes, are placed here in alignment with the shafts 35, 36 on the other side of a flap 31 with an axis 32. The shafts 37, 38 also carry belts endless 39, 40 ensuring by two of their joined strands a transfer of letters from the flap 31 on the branch branch, due to their respective movements. Two receiving shafts 41, 42 with offset parallel axes form with the endless belts 43, 44 a second branch branch.

Le volet 31 à section transversale en V applati est monté à proximité des arbres récepteurs sur un axe 32 parallèle aux axes de ces arbres ; il est susceptible de prendre alternativement deux positions sous l'action d'un mécanisme électromécanique de commande non figuré. Dans l'une de ces deux positions la face supérieure du volet constitue un passage permettant à une lettre sortant entre les brins parallèles et jointifs des courroies 33, 34 de se diriger vers la zone où se rejoignent les courroies 39, 40, entre les arbres 37 et 38, afin d'y être happée et entraînée par les brins parallèles jointifs de ces dernières.The flap 31 with a flat V-shaped cross section is mounted near the receiving shafts on an axis 32 parallel to the axes of these shafts; it is likely to take two positions alternately under the action of an electromechanical control mechanism not shown. In one of these two positions the upper face of the flap constitutes a passage allowing a letter leaving between the parallel and contiguous strands of the belts 33, 34 to go towards the zone where the belts 39, 40 meet, between the trees 37 and 38, in order to be caught therein and entrained by the contiguous parallel strands of the latter.

Dans la seconde de ces positions, en pointillé sur la figure 4, la face inférieure du volet 31 constitue un passage contre lequel une lettre sortant entre les brins parallèles des courroies 33, 34 vient passer pour se placer contre le brin de la courroie 44 qui est jointif avec le brin parallèle de la courroie 43, avant de se coincer entre eux pour son transfert.In the second of these positions, in dotted lines in FIG. 4, the underside of the flap 31 constitutes a passage against which a letter exiting between the parallel strands of the belts 33, 34 comes to pass to be placed against the strand of the belt 44 which is joined with the parallel strand of the belt 43, before being wedged between them for its transfer.

Les barrières telles 9, 9', 11,11 12, 12' sont de type connu, un exemple en est présenté figure 5, elles sont insérées entre deux portions de convoyeur constituées ici respectivement par les paires de courroie 45, 46 et 47, 48 qui aboutissent à des arbres d'extrémité 49, 50, 51, 52 d'axes parallèles qui sont pratiquement tangents deux à deux. Ces arbres d'extrémité sont disposés à distance de part et d'autre de la barrière proprement dite, de manière que toute lettre issue d'entre les brins parallèles pratiquement jointifs des courroies 45 et 46 soit transmise en droite ligne entre les brins parallèles pratiquement jointifs des courroies 47, 48 par l'intermédiaire d'un tapis roulant 53 placé sous le trajet de lettre perpendiculairement aux axes des arbres d'extrémité. Les lettres sont maintenues dans une position perpendiculaire au tapis roulant par une pièce guide 54 à bords parallèles joignant pratiquement les arbres d'extrémité 49, 50 aux arbres d'extrémité 51, 52.The barriers such as 9, 9 ′, 11,11 12, 12 ′ are of known type, an example is presented in FIG. 5, they are inserted between two conveyor portions formed here respectively by the pairs of belts 45, 46 and 47, 48 which lead to end shafts 49, 50, 51, 52 of parallel axes which are practically tangent two by two. These end shafts are arranged at a distance on either side of the barrier proper, so that any letter from between the practically contiguous parallel strands of the belts 45 and 46 is transmitted in a straight line between the practically parallel strands contiguous belts 47, 48 via a conveyor belt 53 placed under the letter path perpendicular to the axes of the end shafts. The letters are held in a position perpendicular to the conveyor belt by a guide piece 54 with parallel edges practically joining the end shafts 49, 50 to the end shafts 51, 52.

Au moins un et ici deux bras de barrière 55, 56 sont disposées sur le trajet de lettre entre la pièce guide 54 et les arbres d'extrémité 51 et 52. Les bras de barrière 55, 56 sont ici montés sur une potence 57 rotative d'axe perpendiculaire au plan du tapis roulant 53. Ceci permet alternativement, sous la commande d'un électro-mécanisme 58, de venir placer les bras 55, 56 devant la sortie dé la pièce guide 54 en amont des arbres d'extrémité récepteurs 51, 52 pour bloquer une lettre, ou d'escamoter ces bras 55, 56 hors du trajet de lettre.At least one and here two barrier arms 55, 56 are arranged on the letter path between the guide piece 54 and the end shafts 51 and 52. The barrier arms 55, 56 are here mounted on a rotary bracket 57 d axis perpendicular to the plane of the conveyor belt 53. This allows alternately, under the control of an electro-mechanism 58, to place the arms 55, 56 in front of the outlet of the guide piece 54 upstream of the receiving end shafts 51 , 52 to block a letter, or to retract these arms 55, 56 out of the letter path.

Les jonctions 10, 10', 17 sont de structure classique en la matière, elles sont par exemple constituées de manière analogue à l'aiguillage évoqué en liaison avec la figure 4 les sens de rotation des poulies et donc les mouvements des courroies étant inversés. L'exemple de magasin à dépileur à changeur de niveau présenté figure 6 est destiné à assurer d'une part la constitution d'une petite réserve pour les lettres destinées à être traitées par l'opérateur d'autre part à assurer le chargement de niveau et simultanément la présentation devant l'opérateur des lettres à traiter.The junctions 10, 10 ′, 17 are of conventional structure in the matter, they are for example constituted in a manner analogous to the switch mentioned in connection with FIG. 4 the directions of rotation of the pulleys and therefore the movements of the belts being reversed. The example of a destacker with level changer magazine shown in Figure 6 is intended to ensure, on the one hand, the creation of a small reserve for letters intended for processing by the operator, on the other hand, to ensure level loading. and simultaneously the presentation to the operator of the letters to be processed.

En ce but les lettres destinées à être mises en réserve sont transmises par le convoyeur 2 vers le magasin tampon 7'. La partie de convoyeur 2 concernée est constituée par exemple par deux courroies sans fin 59, 60 enroulées, au niveau du magasin tampon 7', sur deux arbres 61, 62 tournant en sens inverse de manière que les brins parallèles et jointifs des courroies 59, 60 qui passent entre eux circulent vers le magasin-tampon 7'. Ces courroies 59, 60 et les lettres, qu'elles transportent, circulent à un niveau, dit supérieur, dans le bâti 63 qui les contient. Le magasin tampon 7' est situé à ce même niveau supérieur et est constitué de manière semblable au magasin présenté figure 3. En particulier les lettres viennent se ranger, perpendiculairement à un plancher 64 muni de courroies transversales d'entraînement 65, en butée contre une paroi de taquage 66 et en pile contre une palette 67 coulissant sur une tige guide 68 à laquelle elle est perpendiculaire. La tige guide 68 est parallèle aux courroies d'entraînement 65.For this purpose, the letters intended to be placed in reserve are transmitted by the conveyor 2 to the buffer store 7 '. The conveyor part 2 concerned consists for example of two endless belts 59, 60 wound, at the buffer store 7 ', on two shafts 61, 62 rotating in opposite directions so that the parallel and contiguous strands of the belts 59, 60 which pass between them circulate to the buffer store 7 '. These belts 59, 60 and the letters, which they transport, circulate at a level, called higher, in the frame 63 which contains them. The buffer magazine 7 ′ is located at this same upper level and is constituted in a similar manner to the magazine presented in FIG. 3. In particular, the letters are stored, perpendicular to a floor 64 provided with transverse drive belts 65, in abutment against a jogging wall 66 and in stack against a pallet 67 sliding on a guide rod 68 to which it is perpendicular. The guide rod 68 is parallel to the drive belts 65.

Les lettres éjectées d'entre les arbres 61, 62 par les courroies 59, 60 viennent se glisser en tête de pile de lettres sous l'action d'une courroie 69 sans fin tendue autour d'arbres 70, 71, 72 entraînés dans le même sens que l'arbre 59. L'arbre 70 est situé parallèlement et à proximité des arbres 61, 62 de manière que le brin de courroie le plus proche du magasin 7' soit dans le prolongement des brins parallèles jointifs des courroies 59,60, ce qui tend à empiler toute nouvelle lettre sortant d'entre les arbres sur la pile de lettres reposant perpendiculairement au plancher 64 contre la palette 67.The letters ejected from the trees 61, 62 by the belts 59, 60 slide at the head of the stack of letters under the action of an endless belt 69 stretched around trees 70, 71, 72 entrained in the same direction as the shaft 59. The shaft 70 is located parallel and close to the shafts 61, 62 so that the belt strand closest to the magazine 7 ′ is in line with the parallel strands adjoining the belts 59,60 , which tends to stack any new letter emerging from between the trees on the stack of letters lying perpendicular to the floor 64 against the pallet 67.

De manière connue la disposition respective des arbres 70, 71 est décalée de manière à favoriser l'empilage.In known manner the respective arrangement of shafts 70, 71 is offset so as to promote stacking.

De plus, la courroie 69 est préférablement munie de perforation 69A sur une partie de sa longueur et une buse d'aspiration 73 est ménagée à proximité de l'arbre 72 et de la paroi de taquage 67 face au magasin 7' et de l'autre côté du brin de courroie 69 qui passe au ras de la paroi de taquage. Cette buse d'aspiration 73 qui s'ouvre au ras de la courroie 69 sur la hauteur de cette courroie, est classiquement reliée à une pompe à vide par l'intermédiaire d'un électrovanne ces deux éléments n'étant pas représentés ici.In addition, the belt 69 is preferably provided with perforation 69A over a part of its length and a suction nozzle 73 is formed near the shaft 72 and the jogging wall 67 facing the magazine 7 'and the other side of the belt strand 69 which passes flush with the jogging wall. This suction nozzle 73 which opens flush with the belt 69 on the height of this belt, is conventionally connected to a vacuum pump by means of a solenoid valve, these two elements not being shown here.

Lorsque l'opérateur désire extraire une lettre de la pile contenue dans le magasin 7', il commande l'électrovanne d'alimentation de la buse d'aspiration 73 qui aspire, via les perforations 72, la lettre située en extrémité du paquet contre la courroie 69.When the operator wishes to extract a letter from the stack contained in the magazine 7 ', he controls the solenoid valve for supplying the suction nozzle 73 which sucks, via the perforations 72, the letter situated at the end of the pack against the belt 69.

Cette lettre plaquée contre la courroie 69 est alors entraînée vers au moins une et ici deux paires d'arbres parallèles 74, 75, 76, 77 jointifs deux à deux, entre lesquels elle vient passer ; les deux premiers arbres 74, 75 sont motorisés et tendent à propulser la lettre dans le sens du déplacement, contrairement aux deux arbres 76, 77 suivants montés fous qui assurent le maintien à niveau de la lettre pincée entre eux.This letter pressed against the belt 69 is then driven towards at least one and here two pairs of parallel shafts 74, 75, 76, 77 joined two by two, between which it comes to pass; the first two shafts 74, 75 are motorized and tend to propel the letter in the direction of movement, unlike the two shafts 76, 77 following mounted mad which maintain the level of the letter pinched between them.

Un premier dispositif à ventouse 78 relié à une pompe à vide non figurée par un électrovanne non figurée, se déplace horizontalement par exemple sur une tige guide 79 de manière que la ventouse vienne se placer derrière et dans la zone centrale supérieure de toute lettre émergeant d'entre les arbres 75 et 76 de manière à l'extraire totalement et à la transporter dans la partie supérieure centrale d'une fenêtre 80 du bâti 63 à travers laquelle la lettre peut être vue et éventuellement prise par l'opérateur.A first suction device 78 connected to a vacuum pump not shown by a non-shown solenoid valve, moves horizontally for example on a guide rod 79 so that the suction cup comes to be placed behind and in the upper central zone of any letter emerging from 'between the shafts 75 and 76 so as to completely extract it and transport it in the central upper part of a window 80 of the frame 63 through which the letter can be seen and possibly taken by the operator.

Un second dispositif à ventouse 81 se déplace verticalement par exemple sur une seconde tige guide 82 de manière que la ventouse qu'il porte puisse venir se positionner immédiatement sous celle du dispositif à ventouse 78, lorsque celui-ci est en position extrême au centre de la partie supérieure de fenêtre.A second suction device 81 moves vertically for example on a second guide rod 82 so that the suction cup which it carries can be positioned immediately below that of the suction device 78, when the latter is in the extreme position in the center of the upper part of the window.

Le dispositif à ventouse 81 étant également relié à une pompe à vide et à une électrovanne de commande non figurées, la ventouse qu'il comporte vient se plaquer derrière la lettre placée en position supérieure par l'autre dispositif à ventouse 78 et est déplacé de haut en bas pour entraîner cette lettre à un niveau inférieur pour laquelle elle est toujours visible et éventuellement prenable par l'opérateur.Since the suction cup device 81 is also connected to a vacuum pump and to a control valve which are not shown, the suction cup which it comprises comes to be pressed behind the letter placed in the upper position by the other suction cup device 78 and is moved by up and down to drive this letter to a lower level for which it is always visible and possibly takeable by the operator.

En fonctionnement, deux lettres 14, 14' sont disposées l'une au-dessus de l'autre dans l'encadrement de la fenêtre 80. La lettre située au niveau supérieur est maintenue en position soit par la ventouse du dispositif 78 soit par un système à volet additionnel classique, non figuré, venant la soutenir ; la lettre située au niveau inférieur est maintenue par la ventouse du dispositif 81 en position basse ou encore par un autre volet non figuré.In operation, two letters 14, 14 'are arranged one above the other in the window frame 80. The letter located at the upper level is held in position either by the suction cup of the device 78 or by a system with conventional additional flap, not shown, supporting it; the letter located at the lower level is maintained by the suction cup of the device 81 in the low position or by another flap not shown.

Lorsque l'opérateur a fini de traiter le lettre inférieure il commande simultanément par le clavier 6 (figure 2, 7) le dépilage d'une nouvelle lettre à traiter et le transfert de la lettre située au niveau inférieur de la fenêtre vers l'imprimante. L'aspiration de la ventouse du dispositif 81 est supprimée, ou le volet éventuel est escamoté, de sorte que la lettre située au niveau supérieur descende verticalement par une goulotte non figurée jusqu'à un tapis roulant 83 courant sous la fenêtre.When the operator has finished processing the lower letter, he simultaneously controls the keyboard 6 (figure 2, 7) to unstack a new letter to be processed and transfer the letter located at the lower level of the window to the printer. . The suction of the suction cup of the device 81 is removed, or the possible flap is retracted, so that the letter located at the upper level descends vertically by a chute not shown to a conveyor belt 83 running under the window.

Le dispositif à ventouse 81 est alors monté en position haute de manière que sa ventouse vienne se plaquer sur la lettre portée par le dispositif à ventouse 78 dont la dépression est alors annulée. Ce dispositif à ventouse 78 se déplace alors vers les arbres 76, 77 pour y prendre la lettre qui vient d'être dépilée hors du magasin 7'.The suction cup device 81 is then mounted in the high position so that its suction cup is pressed against the letter carried by the suction cup device 78, the vacuum of which is then canceled. This suction cup device 78 then moves towards the trees 76, 77 to take the letter there which has just been unstacked outside the magazine 7 '.

Simultanément le dispositif à ventouse 81 revient en position inférieure où il positionne la lettre qu'il a prise du dispositif à ventouse 78. Ce dernier revient alors en place en partie supérieure centrale de la fenêtre 80.Simultaneously the suction cup device 81 returns to the lower position where it positions the letter it has taken from the suction cup device 78. The latter then returns to its place in the central upper part of the window 80.

Le tapis roulant 83 situé au niveau inférieur entraîne les lettres qu'il reçoit en sens inverse par rapport aux courroies 59, 60 et aux arbres 74, 75, il aboutit à une nouvelle portion de convoyeur conduisant vers l'imprimante. Cette portion est ici constituée de deux courroies sans fin 84, 85 venant s'enrouler autour de deux arbres 86, 87 de manière à venir affleurer la partie supérieure du tapis roulant 83 sur laquelle transite les lettres.The conveyor belt 83 located at the lower level drives the letters it receives in the opposite direction with respect to the belts 59, 60 and the shafts 74, 75, it leads to a new portion of conveyor leading to the printer. This portion here consists of two endless belts 84, 85 which wind around two shafts 86, 87 so as to come flush with the upper part of the conveyor belt 83 on which the letters pass.

La forme des parois de la goulotte, non représentée, est agencée pour maintenir en position verticale toute lettre tombée sur le tapis, ce dernier conduit ces lettres entre les brins parallèles et jointifs des courroies 84, 85 pour que celles-ci les entraîne, sous le magasin 7', vers l'imprimante.The shape of the walls of the chute, not shown, is arranged to maintain in vertical position any letter fallen on the carpet, the latter leads these letters between the parallel and contiguous strands of the belts 84, 85 so that the latter entrain them, under the 7 'magazine, towards the printer.

On notera également que la fenêtre est également munie de parois arrières non figurées et d'éléments avants destinés à guider les lettres dans leur déplacement lesdits éléments avant comprenant, par exemple, des fils 88, 89 tendus verticalement dans l'encadrement de la fenêtre 80.It will also be noted that the window is also provided with rear walls which are not shown and front elements intended to guide the letters in their movement, said front elements comprising, for example, wires 88, 89 stretched vertically in the window frame 80 .

Le dispositif de changement de niveau 16 ne sera pas décrit plus avant dans la mesure où il est susceptible d'être constitué par une goulotte reliant le niveau supérieur au niveau inférieur entre des portons de convoyeur ou encore par un changeur de niveau de même principe que celui évoqué ci-dessus.The level changing device 16 will not be described further since it is likely to be constituted by a chute connecting the upper level to the lower level between conveyor ports or by a level changer of the same principle as the one mentioned above.

De même l'ensemble de tri 15, visible en figure 2 et 7, ne sera pas décrit plus avant dans la mesure où c'est un équipement classique en ce domaine et qui n'a qu'un rapport indirect avec l'invention.Likewise, the sorting assembly 15, visible in FIGS. 2 and 7, will not be described further since it is conventional equipment in this field and which has only an indirect connection with the invention.

Claims (4)

1. A coding installation for marking flat objects, especially postal mail, operated to inscribe coded indications on these flat objects according to addressing inscriptions on the objects and equipped for this purpose with a manual coding station (6) permitting a human operator to inscribe coded indications by means of a printer (1) on these flat objects, which a conveyor (2) moves in front of him, said installation including an individual optical reader (4) for reading address inscriptions, which is located upstream side of the manual coding station (6) on the path of the conveyor (2) leading to the printer (1), and which is adapted to control the inscription of the coded indications on the flat objects by means of the printer according to the addressing inscriptions, which it recognizes, characterized in that a switching device (8) is located on the downstream side of the optical reader (4) on the path of the conveyor for routing the objects either directly towards the printer (1) or along a by-pass (2D3) via the manual coding station (6) to said printer, said switching device (8) being actuated for by-passing by the optical reader (4) in case of objects, whose indications have not been readable by said reader, and that the installation includes a second switching device (5) on the path of the conveyor towards the printer (1) between the optical reader (4) and the first switching device (8) in order to route the objects either towards the first switch (89 or towards the manual coding station (6) under control by the operator, and at least one first temporary stop barrier (9) on the path of the conveyor between the switching devices (5, 8), as well as two temporary stop barriers (11, 12) respectively on the upstream side of a third switching device (10) adapted to ensure the confluence of the flat objects towards the printer (1), on the upstream side of which it is located, one (12) of these two barriers being located on the direct path of the conveyor between the optical reader (4) and the printer (1) on the downstream side of the first switching device (8), and the other (11) of the two barriers being located on the path of the conveyor, which links the manual coding station (6) up with the third switching device (10).
2. A coding installation according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a temporary store (7) at the entry of the manual coding station (6).
3. A coding installation according to claim 2, characterized in that it includes at least two level changer devices (16A, 16B) allowing to feed the printer (1') with letters from an unstacker store (3') either on a first path (2D2', 2D5') passing face to the optical reader (4') situated on a first upper level, for rejoining the printer (1') situated on a second level via a first (16A) of the two level changer devices, or on a second path (2D1' or 2D2' and 2D4') coincident with the first one on the level of the optical reader (4') and of the printer (1'), said second path passing via the temporary store (7') and the second one (16B) of the two level changer devices on the upstream side of the manual coding station (6') for rejoining the printer (1') on the second level.
4. A coding installation according to claim 2, characterized in that it includes a level changer device (16B) adapted to hold simultaneously two letters, one above the other, through an access window (80) of the manual coding station (6) in the field of vision of the operator, and to move each of the letters in succession from one level to the other and in the reverse direction to the second level relative to the first.
EP86112760A 1985-09-18 1986-09-16 Installation for coding flat articles, such as mailing items Expired EP0215469B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT86112760T ATE48248T1 (en) 1985-09-18 1986-09-16 PLANT FOR MARKING FLAT OBJECTS, ESPECIALLY LETTER POST.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8513831A FR2587240B1 (en) 1985-09-18 1985-09-18 INSTALLATION FOR INDEXING FLAT OBJECTS, IN PARTICULAR FOR POSTAL MAIL
FR8513831 1985-09-18

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0215469A1 EP0215469A1 (en) 1987-03-25
EP0215469B1 true EP0215469B1 (en) 1989-11-29

Family

ID=9323015

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86112760A Expired EP0215469B1 (en) 1985-09-18 1986-09-16 Installation for coding flat articles, such as mailing items

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US4778062A (en)
EP (1) EP0215469B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE48248T1 (en)
AU (1) AU585392B2 (en)
DE (1) DE3667146D1 (en)
DK (1) DK445586A (en)
ES (1) ES2001970A6 (en)
FI (1) FI863761A (en)
FR (1) FR2587240B1 (en)
NO (1) NO863688L (en)
PT (1) PT83398B (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE48248T1 (en) 1989-12-15
US4778062A (en) 1988-10-18
DE3667146D1 (en) 1990-01-04
AU6279286A (en) 1987-03-19
DK445586A (en) 1987-03-19
ES2001970A6 (en) 1988-07-01
EP0215469A1 (en) 1987-03-25
AU585392B2 (en) 1989-06-15
FR2587240B1 (en) 1989-05-05
DK445586D0 (en) 1986-09-17
PT83398B (en) 1993-05-31
PT83398A (en) 1987-05-06
NO863688L (en) 1987-03-19
NO863688D0 (en) 1986-09-16
FR2587240A1 (en) 1987-03-20
FI863761A0 (en) 1986-09-17
FI863761A (en) 1987-03-19

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