EP0336333B1 - Dispositif de tri pour des systèmes de tri d'objets, en particulier d'enveloppes ou analogues - Google Patents

Dispositif de tri pour des systèmes de tri d'objets, en particulier d'enveloppes ou analogues Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0336333B1
EP0336333B1 EP89105805A EP89105805A EP0336333B1 EP 0336333 B1 EP0336333 B1 EP 0336333B1 EP 89105805 A EP89105805 A EP 89105805A EP 89105805 A EP89105805 A EP 89105805A EP 0336333 B1 EP0336333 B1 EP 0336333B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sorting device
ejector
actuator
sorted
flat member
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP89105805A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0336333A2 (fr
EP0336333A3 (en
Inventor
Mario Scata
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.)
Alcatel Lucent Italia SpA
Original Assignee
Alcatel Italia SpA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alcatel Italia SpA filed Critical Alcatel Italia SpA
Publication of EP0336333A2 publication Critical patent/EP0336333A2/fr
Publication of EP0336333A3 publication Critical patent/EP0336333A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0336333B1 publication Critical patent/EP0336333B1/fr
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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
    • B07C3/02—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
    • B07C3/08—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution using arrangements of conveyors
    • B07C3/082—In which the objects are carried by transport holders and the transport holders form part of the conveyor belts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a sorting device for systems designed to sort flat objects, particularly envelopes and the like, in which the device, loaded with the object to be sorted, is moved horizontally over a pre-established path along which a succession of collecting containers are arranged to receive the carried object which, upon command, is dropped into one of them.
  • Sorting systems of the above mentioned type are used in various fields and particularly in the field of bulky postal correspondence, to select and forward correspondence.
  • sorting systems of this kind consist essentially of a guide in the form of a monorail along which sorting mobile units are moved, each of said units having its motorization and control system and being capable to carry the objects to be sorted to an area where containers or bags are arranged to receive the sorted objects.
  • Each of said mobile units consists generally of a carriage constituted by a succession of vertical containing compartments each for housing a single object to be sorted.
  • Each of these compartments is in the form of an upperly open pigeon hole for charging the objects and is closed lowerly by a base wall openable on command for discharging the objects into underlying containers.
  • the objects to be sorted are coded at codification stations and then forwarded to a loading station where, following to a command from a programmed control unit, the objects are loaded each into a respective compartment.
  • Each compartment having reached the sorting area, passes above all containers arranged along its path and, when it arrives above the one corresponding to the desired destination for the carried object, the control unit operates the opening of the bottom wall and the object falls into the container.
  • the tray are arranged to be pivoted in a sorting unit and the object to be sorted, when the tray becomes sufficiently inclined, falls in an underlying container.
  • This sorting device has been design for sorting small parcels. The location at which the parcel falls and the orientation of the falling parcel are unimportant. So, this solution is not appropriate for flat objects which should be delivered in a precise location and with a definite orientation.
  • the main object of this invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks by providing a sorting device of the type referred to previously which allows to sort flat objects in an orderly manner, in a precise location and by giving them a definite orientation.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned type so as to be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and free from jamming.
  • 2 stands for a bracket, movable horizontally in a direction 10, to which a supporting flat member 1 is rigidly connected at its upper end in a reading-desk fashion i.e. inclined towards the direction of motion, so that its surface of maximum size has its normal vector inclined downwards and making an acute angle with the velocity vector, said angle being preferrably of 20° to 45°.
  • the supporting member 1 has a lower portion 8 bent backwards, substantially at right angle, so as to form a support for the object to be sorted.
  • bent portion 8 is curved concave upward.
  • the flat parts are made of, or coated with, antistatic, low friction material in order to help the sliding of sorted objects.
  • the object 9 to be sorted is slided on the ejector 3 and finds its support on the bent end 8 (see fig.3).
  • the hinge and the connection between the flat member and the bracket 2 are embodied in such a way as not to hamper the fitting in of the objects during loading phase, as can be seen in fig.1.
  • the ejector through actuating means 4,5, can be rotated, in a direction opposite to the motion, by an angle ⁇ , about the hinge 7 (see fig.2).
  • said actuating means consist of a lag 4 arranged at least on one of the ejector side edges, close to its lower end and of an actuator 5 rigidly connected to the fixed frame of the plant and, therefore, in a condition of relative motion with respect to the lag 4.
  • the actuator 5 which can be, for instance, electromagnetically or hydropneumatically driven, actuates a stop element 6 which moves from a backward rest position A to a forward position A′ in which latter it opposes the lag 4 in such a way to rotate backwards the ejector 3 through an angle ⁇ about the hinge 7.
  • the lag is sized and arranged in such a way that the angle ⁇ is so large as to make the sorting object to overcome the border of the support 8.
  • the actuator can be monostable (i.e. the stop-element 6, by means of a return spring, comes back automatically in its backwards position) or bistable (i.e. the element 6 comes back upon a command).
  • the coded object is inserted in the respective sorting device by sliding it on the ejector.
  • the control unit When the device arrives above the container corresponding to the desired destination for the carried object, the control unit operates the actuator 5 which moves forwards the stop element 6 which, in turn, opposes the lag 4 hence rotating the ejector 3 backwards by an angle ⁇ , the object is driven out of the support edge 8, and the longitudinal component of force of gravity makes it to slide into container (fig.2) where it lands with a certain inclination and falls down so maintaining the desired orientation of the leading edge.
  • the restoring of the ejector occurs automatically because of the normal component of the force of gravity as soon as the engagement between the lag and the stop element ceases either because the lag overcomes the stop element or because the stop element moves backwards, according to what is programmed for next incoming device.
  • the sorting device according to the invention is very simple both in its structure and in its operation and, hence, reliable.
  • the restoring occurs automatically due to gravity and therefore the return springs are eliminated along with any possibility of jamming.
  • the support bent end 8 may be, if necessary, provided with a silencer in order to further lower the noisiness level).
  • the slope of the flat member allows to transfer the object on further inclined surfaces in order to reach container or bag rows located at different levels.
  • systems built up of devices according to this invention are actuated by external means only and do not require independent motorization and control means.
  • the ejector 3 may be provided with curved extentions 11 at its sides in order to provide support for objects in the form of papers or floppy objects (see fig.4)
  • bracket 2 a plurality of devices can be mounted on bracket 2 thus increasing the compactness of the system.

Landscapes

  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Dispositif de tri pour des systèmes de tri d'objets, en particulier d'enveloppes et analogues, comprenant :
    - un bras (2) déplaçable horizontalement au-dessus d'un chemin pré-établi ;
    - un organe de support plat (1) raccordé audit bras (2) de manière à former un support pour l'objet à trier ;
    - des moyens de commande (5) pour faire sortir l'objet à trier du support, l'objet tombant alors dans un conteneur situé au-dessous sous l'effet de la gravité ; caractérisé en ce que :
    - ledit organe de support plat (1) a son extrémité supérieure rigidement raccordée audit bras (2), sa plus grande surface inclinée dans la direction de déplacement de telle façon que son vecteur normal soit incliné vers le bas en faisant avec le vecteur vitesse un angle aigu α, et une partie de l'extrémité inférieure (8) recourbée substantiellement à angle droit avec ladite plus grande surface dans une direction opposée à la direction de déplacement du dispositif de tri ;
    - le dispositif de tri comprend aussi un éjecteur en forme de plateau (3) dont une extrémité est raccordée par une charnière à ladite extrémité supérieure, ledit éjecteur se prolongeant vers le bas et chevauchant ladite plus grande surface dudit organe plat, quand il est en position d'équilibre stable grâce à l'action de la composante normale à cette surface de la force de gravité ; et
    - lesdits moyens de commande (4, 5) sont arrangés pour faire pivoter, sur commande, ledit éjecteur d'un angle aigu β par rapport à la position d'équilibre stable, de sorte que l'objet à trier, soutenu par ladite partie (8) de l'extrémité inférieure et reposant sur ledit éjecteur (3), soit conduit hors de ladite partie (8) de l'extrémité inférieure par ledit éjecteur tournant dudit angle aigu β et tombe dans le conteneur situé au-dessous.
  2. Dispositif de tri selon la revendication 1 caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de commande comprennent :
    - au moins une patte (4) disposée sur le bord dudit éjecteur et dépassant du périmètre dudit organe plat (1) ; et
    - un actionneur (5) raccordé rigidement à un bâti fixe du système de tri, ledit actionneur étant conçu pour déplacer, sur commande, un élément d'arrêt (6) depuis une position de repos (A) située en arrière jusqu'à une position avant (A') dans laquelle il vient en engagement avec ladite patte, de manière à faire pivoter ledit éjecteur dans une direction opposée à ladite direction de mouvement d'un angle β, faisant ainsi tomber l'objet trié dans le conteneur, ledit éjecteur revenant à sa position d'équilibre dès qu'un tel engagement cesse, soit parce que l'élément d'arrêt est déplacé en position arrière, soit parce qu'en poursuivant son déplacement, la patte dépasse l'élément d'arrêt.
  3. Dispositif de tri selon les revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit actionneur est actionné électromagnétiquement.
  4. Dispositif de tri selon les revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit actionneur est actionné pneumatiquement.
  5. Dispositif de tri selon les revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit actionneur est actionné de manière monostable.
  6. Dispositif de tri selon les revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit actionneur est actionné de manière bistable.
  7. Dispositif de tri selon les précédentes revendications, caractérisé en ce que ladite extrémité recourbée (8) dudit organe plat est recourbée de façon concave vers le haut.
  8. Dispositif de tri selon les précédentes revendications, caractérisé en ce que ledit éjecteur (3) est muni, sur ses côtés verticaux, de deux extensions recourbées (11), conçues pour fournir un support pour des objets souples.
  9. Dispositif de tri selon les revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit éjecteur présente des caractéristiques antistatiques et un faible facteur de frottement du fait du matériau à partir duquel il a été fabriqué ou des traitements qu'il a subis.
EP89105805A 1988-04-05 1989-04-03 Dispositif de tri pour des systèmes de tri d'objets, en particulier d'enveloppes ou analogues Expired - Lifetime EP0336333B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT20093/88A IT1217391B (it) 1988-04-05 1988-04-05 Dispositivo smistatore per impianti di smistamento di oggetti in particolare di plichi e simili
IT2009388 1988-04-05

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0336333A2 EP0336333A2 (fr) 1989-10-11
EP0336333A3 EP0336333A3 (en) 1990-03-14
EP0336333B1 true EP0336333B1 (fr) 1994-01-05

Family

ID=11163745

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89105805A Expired - Lifetime EP0336333B1 (fr) 1988-04-05 1989-04-03 Dispositif de tri pour des systèmes de tri d'objets, en particulier d'enveloppes ou analogues

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0336333B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE68911971T2 (fr)
IT (1) IT1217391B (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1275472B (it) * 1995-07-04 1997-08-07 Finmeccanica S P A Ora Finmecc Apparecchiatura per il caricamento di plichi su macchine smistatrici
WO2001051223A2 (fr) * 2000-01-11 2001-07-19 Span Tech Llc Systeme de tri automatise pour articles ou emballages codes, et procede associe
US6840384B2 (en) * 2002-10-01 2005-01-11 James D. Yurko Gate assembly for diverting articles and the like

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1987001311A1 (fr) * 1985-08-26 1987-03-12 Its-Intern Transport System A/S Machine de tri, en particulier pour petits colis

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FI59070C (fi) * 1979-11-16 1981-06-10 Rysti & Co Ab Sorteringsfoerfarande och -anlaeggning foer traevirke
US4688678A (en) * 1984-04-04 1987-08-25 G B Instruments, Inc. Sorter apparatus for transporting articles to releasing locations

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1987001311A1 (fr) * 1985-08-26 1987-03-12 Its-Intern Transport System A/S Machine de tri, en particulier pour petits colis

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0336333A2 (fr) 1989-10-11
IT1217391B (it) 1990-03-22
DE68911971T2 (de) 1994-07-07
IT8820093A0 (it) 1988-04-05
DE68911971D1 (de) 1994-02-17
EP0336333A3 (en) 1990-03-14

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