EP0836535A1 - Machine for sorting objects such as postal envelopes - Google Patents
Machine for sorting objects such as postal envelopesInfo
- Publication number
- EP0836535A1 EP0836535A1 EP96924038A EP96924038A EP0836535A1 EP 0836535 A1 EP0836535 A1 EP 0836535A1 EP 96924038 A EP96924038 A EP 96924038A EP 96924038 A EP96924038 A EP 96924038A EP 0836535 A1 EP0836535 A1 EP 0836535A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- envelopes
- conveyor
- belts
- envelope
- machine according
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
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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
- B07C3/06—Linear sorting machines in which articles are removed from a stream at selected points
-
- 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
- Y10S209/902—Froth flotation; phosphate
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a sorting machine for flat objects, of the mail envelope type for example; the sorting operation 5 is carried out according to criteria attached to the nature of these objects: indexing code, morphology, any marks, or according to a simple count.
- the present invention relates more particularly to a sorting machine intended in particular for the work of preparation and scheduling of letter carrier tours.
- the present invention provides a sorting machine, of the office equipment type, aiming more particularly at improving the quality of service, productivity, by means of automation of mail processing tasks.
- This machine can respond in particular for example in screening applications and classification of small type letters forming between 90 x 140 mm - 1165 x 235 mm with a maximum thickness of 7 mm.
- Mail sorting can be done by means of the indexing code affixed to the envelope in the form of fluorescent sticks, and according to the conventional principles of exploded sorting and reverse sorting.
- the machine according to the invention has a versatile character. It can in fact accommodate sorting and selection criteria adapted to other types of objects than simple mail, such as objects of the sort bundle of checks or documents 5 of all kinds likely to be inserted in complement to the postman's tour.
- the machine according to the invention also benefits, due to its destination, a compact architecture and a particularly ergonomic layout to facilitate the operator's work.
- This machine generally comprises:
- a magazine for accommodating for example a stack of envelopes to be sorted, - an extraction head which picks up one by one said envelopes at one of the ends of the stack, - a conveyor interposed between said extraction head and the boxes for receiving sorted envelopes, - a device for locating or reading the sorting criterion, that is to say most often the indexing code, - a system of referrals for directing the envelopes towards said boxes for reception according to their indexing and - a control station.
- This machine being more particularly intended for the preparation and scheduling of distribution rounds, it adopts a particular architecture and it comprises in particular, arranged in a compact and ergonomic form, within the normal volume of intervention of an operator:
- a set of boxes for receiving the sorted envelopes for receiving the sorted envelopes, the number of which is sufficient for the preparation of a tour, which boxes are arranged in a display case, one after the other, horizontally and on several levels, above the level from the store and slightly set back so as to allow convenient recovery of the sorted envelopes located in said boxes, for example in order to position them again in the store for a new sorting sequence, which boxes are by elsewhere fed by means of a conveyor whose path is such that the sorted envelopes are inserted into said boxes in an orientation which corresponds to that which they occupy in the store at the start of said conveyor.
- the machine comprises:
- a conveyor whose speed can be adjustable, which allows the routing of the envelopes in the direction of their width, between the store where they are in stack and their receiving boxes and, - means of reading the indexing code according to a parallel mode taking into account the fact that the indexing sticks are oriented in the same direction as that of the displacement of said envelopes.
- the reading system in parallel mode perfectly accommodates very high rates, due in particular to the very rapid entry of the indexing code as a whole.
- This conveying mode also makes it possible to achieve the degree of compactness necessary for a machine intended for offices.
- the system for reading the indexing code of the envelopes comprises: a source of excitation of the fluorescence of the rods which are arranged on the address side of the envelope, which source consists of a light box of the halogen lamp type, fitted with filters to limit the radiation emitted to the useful spectrum, - means in the form of a bundle of optical fibers for carrying out the anamorphosis between the circular outlet of said light box and a lighting zone arranged at the level of a reading window arranged on the conveyor and whose dimensions correspond at least to those of the frame containing said rods on the envelope, - a camera comprising a CCD strip of several hundred pixels and in particular of pixels of the type elongated in the direction of movement of the rods and whose length is of the order of three times the width.
- the reading system comprises means for self-detection of the presence of an envelope in the reading window, which means preferably consist of a fixed screen disposed at said window, behind the line conveyor, which screen supports a reflector which, illuminated by the source of excitation of the rods of the envelopes, gives an image which testifies to the absence or the presence of an envelope, and allows the triggering of the reading of the code, if applicable.
- the screen comprises at least one light-emitting diode, the image of which is picked up by the camera in the absence of an envelope.
- This self-detection system also makes it possible to give information on the morphology of the envelope or of the object, that is to say its height, and makes it possible to perform a sorting according to a height criterion.
- the screen comprises two light-emitting diodes, spaced transversely. This feature makes it possible to detect the position of the envelopes in the conveyor when they pass in front of the camera. The processing of the information in question automatically directs the uncertain envelopes to a rejection or recycling box.
- the use of several light-emitting diodes arranged transversely in front of the camera can allow a selection of objects, envelopes or the like according to a length criterion.
- the machine comprises a system for monitoring and controlling the mechanisms, which operates according to a data transmission mode in standard digital form, which system comprises: computer means for memorizing the sorting plan c ' that is to say of the destination of the objects, envelopes or the like, according to the selection criterion, which destination corresponds to a box for receiving on the machine, computer means for processing information coming from the read head of the code , with a view to assigning a sanction to the object and in particular to the envelope, according to its code, that is to say assigning it a destination materialized by a reception box, and this as soon as it passes in front of said head of reading, computer means making it possible to convert said sanction and in particular the number of the reception box, into the distance to be traveled to reach said box,
- a pulse generator of the optical encoder type associated with the envelope conveying system which makes it possible to establish the distances traveled
- a device for triggering the countdown of the pulses, of the photoelectric cell type located slightly downstream of the read head
- a - comparator device which allows the implementation of the switch to the appropriate box, when the number of counted pulses corresponds to that which allows. to reach said box according to the sanction attributed to the envelope.
- the control and command system of the machine has the advantage of considerably simplifying the process of routing the envelopes to their receiving boxes, and this simplification is linked to the compactness of the machine and in particular to the relatively short distance which is scanned by the envelopes after reading their code.
- the risks of variation between the theoretical distances calculated by the computer, and the actual distances traveled by the envelopes are therefore particularly limited.
- the general architecture of the machine also allows easy handling of letter packets, both for packages to be inserted into the store and for packages already sorted in order to put them back in the store.
- the arrangement of the reception boxes also makes it possible, during successive sorting operations, to position the packets already sorted easily, without risk of error.
- the dimensions of the machine can be chosen according to the needs.
- the boxes for receiving the sorted envelopes can extend over several levels, two or three for example and their number, in horizontal, can, thanks to a certain modularity of the machine, be from 10 to 30 for example. There are thus 20 to 90 reception boxes depending on the case.
- the store according to the invention comprises - a support surface on which rests a large side of each object, of each envelope , and - a base or reference plane, which is arranged on the bank, and on which rests a small side of the envelope, which planes form a dihedron whose edge is horizontal, which dihedron is inclined so as to tend to to match the average diagonal of the spectrum of the envelopes, which starts from the edge of said dihedral, with the vertical.
- This store has the advantage of allowing a natural positioning of the envelopes or objects to be classified on the two reference planes; these envelopes tend to take support on these two planes simply because of their weight.
- the store has a length such that it can accommodate at least the equivalent of a postman's tour, that is to say approximately 1,500 mail envelopes.
- the store preferably extends over most of the machine, under the receiving boxes. But it can also include a part which is static, where the envelopes are simply placed on standby, and a dynamic part, where the envelopes are moved towards the extraction head.
- This dynamic store consists of: - endless belts of conveyor belts, mounted on free rollers and of which the active strands constitute the walls of the base and support planes, and - of a pusher guided on a rail parallel to said belts which tends to automatically advance said active strands and the stack of envelopes towards the extraction head, which pusher is associated with means which maintain a substantially constant pressure between the stack and the envelope extraction head.
- the means for actuating the pusher consist of a traction cable which is anchored at one of its ends to said pusher and which is provided, at its other end, with a heavy body which moves vertically, which heavy body comprises a first mass which moves vertically over a stroke which corresponds to half that of the pusher, and a multitude of small masses spaced vertically on the end strand of the traction cable between said first mass and a rest surface on which they are deposited as the length of the stack of envelopes decreases in the magazine.
- the quality of the sorting operation also depends on the regularity of the train of envelopes conveyed towards the read head.
- This train of envelopes is made at the exit of the store by means of the extraction head, and can reach a rate of 20 envelopes per second.
- the envelopes can be extracted at either end of the magazine. Insofar as the envelopes keep the same direction in the store, unstacking is carried out either on the front or on the back of the envelope. The unstacking on the back of the envelopes makes it easier to detect and deal with curling phenomena by orienting the envelopes concerned towards boxes reception centers from where they will then be reprocessed.
- the extraction head comprises a motorized and perforated endless band which emerges in a suction window arranged at the level of the wall constituting the end of the magazine, which window is located upstream of the conveyor in such a way that the distance between the active upper part of the window where the suction effect of the envelope begins, and the zone where the gripping of the envelope carried by said perforated strip takes place, is less than the minimum dimension envelopes according to the direction of their extraction from the magazine by said perforated strip.
- the envelopes are taken care of at the exit of the extraction head, by gripping and energetically by means of the active strands of a pair of belts which form part of the conveyor, which belts are arranged. in the extension of the perforated strip of the extraction head, forming a sort of funnel centered on the median axis of the said strip in the direction of travel, to maintain the alignment of the envelopes when they are removed from the magazine and avoid a torque effect, that is to say a tilting or pivoting of said envelopes.
- the perforated strip of the extraction head cooperates with a segregating member disposed at the downstream end of the magazine, which member comprises a drawer which is mobile, guided in a direction which corresponds to the direction of movement of the stack, which drawer is integral with a support mounted in the bottom of the store and it comprises: - a plate-shaped stop which extends in the bottom of the store, located slightly below the envelope support plane,
- the endless belt perforated from the extraction head has a length greater than the perimeter of said head so as to allow it to pass around the head in order to facilitate its change or replacement, which strip is stretched and guided on rollers along a U-shaped path, the roller ensuring its guidance in the bottom of the U being removable to release said strip, after release of the tensioning device.
- the line for conveying the envelopes consists of:
- a first conveyor arranged downstream of the extraction head, which takes care of said envelopes at the outlet of said head and in which these envelopes move along a line which is situated in a plane parallel to the base plane of the magazine
- a second conveyor arranged behind and in the space of the magazine, constituting a twist module and which passes the envelopes of a displacement in a plane parallel to the base plane of the magazine, to a displacement in a plane which is vertical and parallel to the front of the machine
- a switch and distribution conveyor which has a vertical portion on said side of the machine and then extends horizontally, on the front of said machine, to feed at least one of the horizontal lines of receiving boxes, which conveyors are generally made up, with the exception of the twisting conveyor, of several belts distributed over the width of the machine, guided on rollers or rollers of small diameter in the rectilinear portions and on drums of small diameter in changes of direction, which belts allow the envelopes to be transported by pinching between the active strands of two belts arranged facing each other forming on either side of the path of said envelopes an internal wall and an external wall, the spacing transverse between the belts being less than the dimension of the long side of the smallest envelope, to allow the routing of said envelopes in the machine, across their width.
- each conveyor preferably comprises non-extendable driving belts while the accompanying belts are made of a more flexible material so as to absorb possible variations in the thickness of the envelopes, without disturbing their drive, which drive belts are preferably placed inside the curves to limit the tensile and deformation forces on the back of the envelopes.
- the conveyor line of the first conveyor comprises: - an internal wall made up of endless belts, spaced and stretched between 'a downstream inlet roller located under the extraction head, and a downstream roller located at level of the twist module passing over a drum, one of the belts being located in the extension of the perforated strip of said head, and, - an external wall made up on the one hand, of endless belts arranged opposite -vis those of the outer wall and which are stretched between only said drum and a downstream roller, and on the other hand, a simple endless belt, arranged in the extension of the perforated strip of said head, vis-a-vis screw of the internal wall belt, stretched between said drum and an upstream roller located at the level of the extraction head under the end of the magazine.
- the twisting module consists of an endless belt of circular section of small diameter, interposed between the first conveyor and the intermediate conveyor, so as to form a continuity, which belt is supported by rollers and cooperates with pressure members constituting one of the walls of the guide path, which members are in the form of rollers of flexible material, pressed on said belt at the level of said rollers, the belt and flexible rollers assembly providing guidance and the longitudinal maintenance of the envelopes, on the side of their base edge, the other side of said envelopes being simply guided by means of smooth fixed rails interposed between the downstream of the first conveyor and the upstream of the intermediate conveyor.
- the intermediate conveyor extends between the twist module and the switch conveyor and comprises, on its route, according to one of the embodiments, a reseating device cooperating with the side corresponding to the base edge of the envelope, which device consists of a wall perpendicular to the plane of circulation of the envelopes, disposed on the side of the edge belts of said intermediate conveyor, which retouching wall has an upstream part which converges towards said belts and a downstream part strictly parallel to said 0 edge belts so as to progressively straighten said envelopes incidentally disposed at an angle in said conveyor, which movement of rectification being made possible by a possibility of pivoting of said envelopes while they are pinched between
- the retouching wall is either made up of a simple sheet metal, or made up of an endless band which progresses at the same speed as the envelopes.
- the jogging device is arranged upstream of the twisting module, incorporated in the first conveyor, in its downstream part.
- the routing conveyor 0 comprises a primary routing to supply two conveying and distribution lines, which lines are superimposed, parallel to each other and extend on the front to supply two levels of reception boxes, which switch
- 35 upstream primary is arranged in the lateral vertical part of the machine, on the side of the extraction head and includes: - a rectilinear track in the extension of the downstream part of the intermediate conveyor line, to feed the upper conveyor and distribution line and, - a slightly inclined track, oriented towards the lower conveyor and distribution line, the orientation towards the lower line is effected by means of a deflecting member constituting the switch, which member is actuated by suitable means of the electromagnet type.
- the switching conveyor is divided into three lines for conveying and distributing the envelopes, which lines are horizontal, superimposed, each in correspondence with a series of boxes; which lines are supplied by means of two primary switches arranged in the vertical branch of the conveyor.
- each conveying and distribution line comprises: - endless belts spaced transversely, forming the upper wall, tensioned and guided by means of rollers and, - endless belts defining the lower wall, guided on rollers, which lower belts are separated by windows to allow the passage of envelopes whose dimensions are adapted to the size of the latter, which envelopes are oriented towards the appropriate receiving boxes by means of a switching device called after deflector, which deflects the envelope from its normal horizontal rectilinear path to orient it downwards, guided first by a deflector in the form of a fixed plate, then then by a flap which on the one hand, accompanies the envelope into the corresponding box and, on the other hand, contributes to the formation of an ordered, or sequenced, stack in said box.
- each deflector is arranged opposite the line diverted with respect to the straight conveying line; it is operated by means of an electromagnet and comprises a wall which is movable around an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of the envelopes, between an inactive deflection position which allows the envelopes to follow a straight path and an active position 0 of deflection which inflicts a change of direction on the envelopes, which wall of the deflector consists of the upstream face of parts of low inertia which are arranged transversely, over the width of the conveyor, between the belts.
- the pivot axis of the deflector is arranged downstream of its deflection wall, above the line for conveying the envelopes. It is practically centered in a plane which forms with the deflection wall, when it is 0 in the active position, a dihedral whose edge is on the conveying line and whose bisector plane corresponds to said horizontal conveying line; this position of the pivot axis avoids upon impact of the shell on said wall 5 cause a torque whose effect would be to counteract the movement of said deflector.
- This axis is also positioned so as to allow a rapid return of the deflector to the inactive position as soon as the front edge of the envelope is supported by the fixed deflector 0, which rapid return is possible thanks to the absence of return effort. of the deflector.
- this box intended to accommodate rejects; this box is arranged for example at the end of the conveyor line. This eliminates the risk of pollution and error in the box where the previous envelope was directed.
- the flap of each receiving box is articulated at its upper part by means of an axis disposed below the level of the fixed deflector and below the upper part of said flap to give the latter , during the impact of the envelope at the level of said upper part, a pulse which causes the pivoting of said flap around its axis so as to tend to cause a rapid straightening of the envelope dispatched towards the bottom of the box, thus immediately creating a space between said envelope and the flap to accommodate the next envelope which is thus positioned in an orderly or sequenced manner, in the box at the rear of the previous envelope, without the risk of being inserted inside of the pile that is formed in the box in question.
- the external belts of the distribution channels are guided at their downstream end by means of a tensioning device, which device is disengageable so as to leave sufficient slack between the external and internal belts to facilitate interventions during jamming or other incidents.
- the external belts of the distribution channels are pressed against the internal belts by means of rollers disposed between the guide rollers of said internal belts, so as to initiate a movement which tends to raise the front of the envelopes and facilitates the crossing of the switch windows, which pressure rollers are preferably joined two by two by arms forming a sort of bogie articulated on the axis of a roller which supports the inactive strand of the external belt.
- the boxes for receiving the sorted envelopes are arranged in the form of baskets, which baskets are carried by consoles which allow their removal directly from the front, each basket comprising for example five boxes and each box corresponding to a handful of the order of 120 envelopes, the baskets preferably being two in number for each level and each level comprising, in addition to the baskets, an additional fixed box to accommodate the rejection of sorting; this additional box being placed at the end of the conveyor and distribution line.
- FIG. 1 shows, in perspective and schematically, the sorting machine according to a first embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 2 shows, schematically and in section, the machine of Figure 1, and in particular the path of the envelopes in this machine;
- FIG. 3 shows the control and command system of the machine
- - Figure 4 shows, on a screen, the image of the indexing code
- FIG. 5 represents a very enlarged portion of the CCD strip of the camera
- FIG. 6 shows, schematically, the organs of the machine, and in particular the organs arranged in the lower box of this machine;
- - Figure 7 shows schematically according to 7- 7, a view in the cutting of the casing forming the lower part of the machine;
- - Figure 8 shows, schematically, the end of the magazine, the extraction head and the magazine;
- - Figure 9 is an enlarged schematic view, according to 9-9 showing the extraction head;
- FIG. 11 is a sectional view along 11-11 of the segregating member
- FIG. 12 is a view along 12-12 of Figure 8 showing the extraction head and the first conveyor;
- FIG. 13 is a view along 13-13 of Figure 8 showing the extraction head and the first conveyor;
- FIG. 14 shows, schematically, the organs of the upper part of the machine
- FIG. 16 shows the end of a conveyor and distribution line
- FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of the machine in which the unstacking is carried out by the back of the envelopes
- Figure 18 shows a variant of Figure 17 to show the possibility of modularizing the machine to increase its capacity
- FIG. 19 shows the organs arranged in the lower box of the machines illustrated in Figures 17 and 18;
- FIG. 20 shows, in more detail, an alternative embodiment of the jogging device.
- the machine shown in Figure 1 consists of a base 1 comprising the main organs, surmounted by a body 2 open on the front.
- the dimensions of this machine correspond to those of an office machine: the base 1 has a height which corresponds to a normal table height, that is to say of the order of 90 cm; the total height of the machine being of the order of 1 m 80 to 2 m and the width of the order of 2 m. It can also be mounted on casters to be more easily movable.
- This machine is arranged to make its various manipulable organs available to the operator in its normal intervention volume.
- This store 5 is dimensioned so as to be able to accommodate horizontally, at least one stack of envelopes which corresponds to a normal round of postman, that is to say a stack of the order of 1,500 folds or envelopes.
- envelopes are for example of the conventional small mechanizable format type whose dimensions range from 90 x 140 mm to 165 x 235 mm.
- This store can also accommodate, apart from the envelopes, various flat objects such as checks or documents whose format corresponds to that of the envelopes and whose thickness is limited to a maximum of the order of 7 mm.
- the length of the magazine is at least 1 to 1.2 m for example.
- the control station or console 6 also includes a control screen 8, on which the operator can follow the selection of his sorting or other programs.
- the extraction head 9 housed in the upper part of the base 1. This extraction head makes it possible to drive the envelopes 3 arranged one by one. batteries in the magazine 5 to convey them, by means of a conveyor 10, to the receiving boxes 11 arranged in the body 2, above the store 5.
- the envelopes 3 are sent to the reception boxes 11 and they are positioned in said boxes in a pre-established order, according to their indexing code, which code is read by means of a read head 12 arranged, as shown in FIG. 1, at the lower part of the rising lateral branch of the conveyor 10, under the extraction head 9.
- the envelopes 3 are positioned in a certain way in the magazine 5. It is noted that the front face of these envelopes is oriented towards the extraction head 9.
- the path traveled by these envelopes 3, by means of the conveyor 10, is such that, in boxes 11, the envelopes 3 retain the same orientation and the same package or stack structure as in store 5.
- the operator who, for example, prepares his round has packages in boxes 11, which are ordered and which can be repositioned in the magazine 5, in the order of the boxes 11, to carry out a new sorting operation such as for example a reverse sorting operation, this with total security and, moreover, a guarantee of good positioning of the envelopes in the magazine since the envelopes 3 have, at the level of the packages arranged in the boxes 11, an alignment which corresponds to that which they occupy in the magazine 5.
- the machine shown in Figure 1 has two levels of boxes 11 which extend horizontally, above and behind the magazine 5. These boxes are grouped by five forming baskets; each level comprises two baskets and, at the end, to the right in the figure, there are rejection boxes 11 'which receive the unclassifiable envelopes or errors due to incidents during sorting.
- Each of the levels of boxes is supplied by the conveyor 10 and in particular, from a primary switch 13, by conveyor and distribution lines 14 and 15 which are each located above the corresponding boxes. These two lines are parallel to each other, also horizontal. Line 14 is located below line 15.
- envelopes 3 are positioned in the magazine 5 in a particular way. Their large lower side is positioned on a support plane 16 and the short side is positioned on a base or reference plane 17 which is arranged on the bank, that is to say on the side of the front of the base 1.
- the two planes 16 and 17 are orthogonal; they form a dihedral whose edge 18 is horizontal and parallel to the front plane of the machine. This dihedral is inclined to position the envelopes 3 in such a way that their diagonal which starts from the edge 18 of the dihedral, is substantially in a vertical position.
- the angle of the support plane 16 with the vertical is of the order of 37 °, between 30 and 40 °.
- the conveyor 10 which transfers the envelopes to the boxes 11, moves said envelopes along an axis which is in a vertical plane, corresponding to the front plane of the machine.
- the envelopes undergo a sort of straightening in a particular conveyor hereinafter called the twisting module.
- This twisting module 19 imposes a movement which makes it possible to pass the envelopes from their displacement plane parallel to the base plane 17, to a vertical displacement plane.
- the twisting module makes it possible to rotate the envelopes from the side of their base edge 20, that is to say from the side of their edge which is supported on the base plane 17.
- This base edge 20 is found , in boxes 11, on the operator's side. All the envelopes 3 are aligned along their base edge 20 throughout the circuit which they carry out by means of the conveyor 10, inside the machine.
- the operator is content to take a packet of sorted envelopes, placed in a box 11 and to lower it into the magazine 5 without having to remodel the packet since the packet picked up in box 11 is is in a configuration identical to that which it occupies in store 5.
- Figure 2 in the lower part of the box 1, a device 22 which allows to perform the automatic retacking of the envelopes.
- This device 22 which also appears in phantom in Figure 1, realigns the base edge 20 of the envelopes 3 with the plane in which they move.
- the sorting machine also has a relatively small overall size. This depth is approximately twice the length of the largest envelope.
- FIG. 3 represents the different means which enter the machine control system and whose purpose is to correctly route the envelopes according to their indexing code.
- sorting on a machine is carried out using IT resources which, from a previously stored sorting plan, allow envelopes to be oriented, according to their indexing code, to reception boxes whose numbers are associated with said sorting plan.
- the microcomputer 23 is associated with a control and command module 24. It makes it possible to prepare and it stores in memory all the sorting plans capable of being exploited on the machine. To prepare his round, the operator chooses his plan on the console of the control station 6 and, when he starts the sorting session, the envelopes leave the store 5 one by one, pass in front of the code reader 12, see each other assign by the computer processing system, a sanction that allows them to achieve the appropriate reception box 11, the number of which corresponds to the sorting plan. Any anomaly detected during the reading of the code, can cause an orientation of the incriminated envelope towards the rejection box 11 '.
- the sorting plans are drawn up on the microcomputer 23. They consist, for example, of a table for converting the different ranges of combinations of the streets and the numbers into at least as many directions as there are reception boxes 11.
- the envelopes 3 circulate in the machine in the direction of their width, parallel to their short sides, driven by the conveyor 10. This feature of the treatment in the width direction allows, compared to a treatment in the sense of length, improve machine performance and end up with a small machine.
- the lengthwise dimension is also smaller, which makes it possible to optimize the architecture of the machine.
- This device comprises a camera 25 which collects, overall, the image of the indexing code consisting of fluorescent sticks 26 normally arranged in the lower right part of the front of the envelope.
- the envelopes 3 progress upside down, their support edge lower 21 arranged in front.
- the camera 25 captures the image of a reflector 27, arranged on a fixed screen 28 located behind the conveyor 10.
- provision may be made to have at least one light-emitting diode 29, in the line of sight of the camera 25, to detect, in the same way as with the reflector 27, the presence or absence an envelope.
- This mode of detecting the presence of an envelope also makes it possible, with appropriate computer means, to determine the size of the envelopes or of the objects in the direction of their travel in front of the camera 25, as well as the interval between two envelopes.
- the use of several diodes arranged transversely can also make it possible to determine the transverse dimension of an envelope or an object and also to use this information as a sorting criterion.
- the camera 25 permanently captures the image of an area 30 which is illuminated by means of a source of excitation of the fluorescence of the rods 26 and of the reflector 27 as appropriate.
- This excitation source consists of a light box comprising a low-power halogen lamp 31.
- This halogen lamp 31 is provided a filter 32 to restrict the radiation emitted to the useful spectrum.
- the radiation reaches zone 30 by means of a bundle of optical fibers 33 to produce, by appropriate optical means 34, a rectangular lighting zone whose dimensions are appropriate to those of the frame in which the code of indexing.
- This frame is of the order of 120 mm transversely and 5 to 6 mm in height.
- the sticks are read in the direction of their height which corresponds to the direction of travel of the envelopes 3 in front of the camera 25.
- the camera 25 generally captures the image of the code by means of a CCD bar.
- this bar is 512 pixels in size. It is partially represented in FIG. 5.
- Each pixel 36 has an elongated shape; its height A is equal to three times the width B, so as to obtain a gain in illumination.
- the pixels being oriented in the direction of the scrolling of the sticks, this gain in terms of image capture makes it possible to use a low-power halogen lamp.
- the choice of a CCD strip comprising 512 pixels makes it possible, having regard to the dimensions of the frame in which the rods 26 fit, to have 7 pixels for a stick pitch at the level of the indexing code on the envelope 3.
- FIG. 3 also represents, in the form of a block diagram, the means which make it possible, from reading the code, to actuate a switch such as for example the primary switch 13 which directs the envelopes on one of the lines of distribution 14 or 15, FIG. 1.
- This turnout 13, which is identical to those encountered on lines 14 and 15, includes a deflecting member 37 which will be detailed below in connection with FIG. 16. This deflecting member is mounted on an axis 38 maneuvered at. from a crank 39.
- the control and command module 24 includes a reading card 40 which makes it possible to decipher the indexing code read by the camera 25.
- Computer means 41 attribute a penalty to the envelope whose code has just been deciphered by comparing this code with the previously stored sorting plan.
- Computer means 42 establish a conversion between the sanction allocated, that is to say the number of the reception box which is responsible for receiving said envelope, and the distance that this envelope must travel from a predetermined point, to reach, the switch that corresponds to this box. This distance is small enough to avoid variations between the theoretical positioning and the actual positioning of the envelope; which variations are inherent in the conveyor system.
- the envelope 3 is detected by means of a photoelectric cell 43 which triggers a count of pulses, which pulses come from a generator 44 of the encoder type with optical cell, which emits pulses by to a coded wheel 45 driven in rotation by the conveyor 10.
- a counter 46 totals the pulses and, by means of a comparator device 47, the number of pulses counted is compared with the distance that the letter incriminated must travel to reach the reception box assigned to him. This distance is counted in pulses at the computer means 42.
- the comparator 47 gives the command to the control device 48 to actuate an electromagnet 49 which makes it possible to position the switch 13 and in particular its deflecting member 37, in order to orient the envelope towards the box which is intended for it.
- the sorting speed can reach 65,000 letters per hour depending on the distance chosen between the envelopes.
- FIG. 6 schematically represents the lower part of the machine which corresponds to the base 1.
- This base 1 comprises the magazine 5, the lower part of the conveyor 10 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, as well as the control module 6 which overhangs the keyboard 7.
- the store 5 is shown in more detail. also in the other figures. It should be noted here that the positioning of the support planes 16 and base 17 is different in Figure 6 from that found in the other figures and in particular Figures 2 and 7. This representation has been adopted so as to show in a simple way, the different parts of the machine.
- the envelopes 3 are positioned in the magazine 5 on two endless belts of conveyor belts, these endless bands 50 are guided at each of their ends on rollers 51 which are free.
- the bands 50 are driven directly by the pusher 52 which is responsible for driving the stack 4 towards the extraction head 9.
- the pusher 52 is guided on a rod 53 which is parallel to the bands 50 of the conveyor belts . It is movable under the effect of a traction cable 54, one end 55 of which is secured to the pusher 52 and the other end of which is secured to a heavy body 56.
- the cable 54 is wound on a return pulley 57 disposed at the end of the magazine which is situated on the side of the extraction head 9 and it returns towards the other end of the magazine, guided by a deflection pulley 58, as far as the heavy body 56.
- a muffle 59 can be interposed between the body 59 and the reference 58.
- the mass 56 is completed by a multitude of small additional masses 60, spaced apart from one another, and fixed on the end 61 of the traction cable. These masses 60 are deposited on the bottom 62 of the base 1, as the pusher 52 advances and stack one on the other thus reducing the tensile force on the cable 54. The various masses 60 and the body 56 are guided in a vertical chimney 63 which extends under the pulley 58 to the bottom 62 of the base.
- the extraction head 9 is disposed at the end wall 65 of the magazine 5. It comprises a perforated endless strip 66 which is guided on the rollers detailed below and, behind said strip
- the extraction head 9 will be detailed later. Due to the vacuum, the first envelope of the magazine sticks to the perforated strip 66 which drives it towards the conveyor system and in particular towards a first conveyor 69 which takes care of each envelope 3 at the outlet of the head. extraction.
- This first conveyor 69 drives the envelopes 3 along a conveying path or line determined by endless belts
- the belt 71 which is unique, as detailed below in connection with Figures 8, 12 and 13, is wound on a roller 77 not visible in Figure 6, located under the end of the magazine 5 and on the drum 73.
- the belts 72 located on either side of the belt 71, are also wound on the drum 73 and on a downstream roller 78 situated above the roller 75.
- the envelopes 3 are pinched between the external belts 71 and 72 and the internal belts 70.
- the roller 74 is positioned relative to the roller 77 and to the drum 73, to exert pressure on the belt 71 and ensure an energetic takeover of the envelope which passes almost instantaneously from a speed V1 which corresponds to the speed of extraction of the perforated strip 66 from the extraction head 9, to a speed V2 which corresponds to that of the conveyor and which is of the order of three times said speed V1.
- the nipping of the envelopes is also accentuated in the portion between the drum 73 and the downstream rollers 75 and 76 by means of a roller 79.
- the conveying system identified 10 in the figures are also accentuated in the portion between the drum 73 and the downstream rollers 75 and 76 by means of a roller 79.
- This twisting module 19 comprises an endless belt 80 whose section is circular and of small diameter.
- This belt is wound on the roller 75 of the first conveyor and on a downstream roller 81 situated at the same level as the roller 75. Between these two rollers 75 and 81, the belt is guided by rollers 82 which are aligned horizontally and which which define the inner wall of the conveyor line. Above and opposite these rollers 82, there are rollers 83 made of flexible material. The purpose of these rollers 83 is to press the envelopes 3 on the belt 80 during their rotation or straightening which is manifested by a sort of winding around said belt so as to pass them from the conveying plane which is parallel to the base plane 17, to the vertical conveying plane.
- Figure 6 is schematic and shows in elevation the extraction head 9, the first conveyor 69 and the twist module 19. These elements are in fact arranged on an inclined plane as detailed below.
- the twist module 19 is interposed between the first conveyor 69 and an intermediate conveyor 84 to allow the envelopes 3 to pass from one plane to another.
- the envelopes are pinched and kept applied to the belt 80 on the side of their base edge 20 by means of the rollers 83.
- the other side of the envelopes is guided by means of rails smooth interposed ... between the downstream of the first conveyor 69 and the upstream of the intermediate conveyor 84. These rails do not appear in FIG. 6.
- the intermediate conveyor 84 has belts 85 transversely spaced which constitute, for their active strand, the internal wall of the conveyor line and belts 86 arranged opposite said belts 85.
- the active strand of these belts 86 constitutes the outer wall of the conveyor line.
- the belts 85 cooperate with a tensioning and motorization system 87 and are guided between the roller 81 on which the belt 80 of the twist module is wound up so that the internal wall of the conveyor line is continuous from the upstream roller 74 from the first conveyor 69 to the downstream roller 88 placed at the level of the reading window 89.
- the changes of direction on the conveyor line are carried out by means of the drums 90, 91 and 92 successively.
- the portion of the conveyor line located between the drums 73 and 90 is located under the magazine 5, towards the bottom of the base.
- the drums 91 and 92 are located at the bottom of the base 1, also towards the rear.
- the belts constituting the internal and external walls are arranged facing each other. opposite to pinch the envelopes.
- This technique is a technique conventionally used for conveying flat objects.
- a roller or roller 95 is, for this purpose, disposed between the drums 90 and 91.
- the horizontal portion of the conveying line, between the drums 91 and 92 is used to carry out a re-driving operation, that is to say a operation which aligns or realigns the base edge 20 of the envelopes 3.
- This jogging device 22 is in fact essentially constituted by a wall perpendicular to the plane of movement of the envelopes which, for its upstream portion, converges towards the conveyor belts and which is parallel to the direction of travel of the envelopes for its downstream portion.
- This jogging device 22 is shown in thin dashed lines. Note, over the length of this re-tracking device, rollers 96 which hold the active strands of the external belts 86. It is also noted, arranged at mid-length of the re-tracking device 22, and above the conveyor line, a roller 97 which lifts the active strand or strands of the belts 85 disposed towards the bottom of the base 1.
- the envelope is kept pinched between the edge belts 85 and 86 located towards the front of the base, on the side of the re-tapping device while they are free, that is to say not pinched by the belts arranged towards the rear.
- the edge 20 of the envelope can be reset parallel to the direction of travel by means of a pivoting movement of said envelope between the edge belts.
- This pivoting movement takes place at a roller 98 which exerts pressure on the active strands of the edge belts 86 and 87, downstream of the jogging device 22.
- the window 89 at which the indexing code is read, is arranged between the downstream roller 88 of the belts 85 and the upstream roller 100 of the switching conveyor 101.
- the space between these two rollers 88 and 100 is less than the smallest width of the envelopes.
- This window 89 makes it possible to expose the envelope and in particular its indexing code, to the camera
- the light source 34 which excites the fluorescence of the rods
- the photoelectric cell 43 which detects the passage of an envelope after reading its indexing code. This cell 43 is located a short distance above the window 89.
- the switch conveyor 101 has belts 102 whose active strands constitute the internal wall of the conveyor line and belts 103 whose active strands constitute the external part.
- the belts 103 are wound, at their lower part, on a roller 104, disposed above the downstream roller 94 of the intermediate conveyor 84.
- a diverter 37 which makes it possible to orient the envelopes towards the conveyor and distribution line 14. In its inactive position, the diverter 37 lets the envelopes spin in a rectilinear fashion, towards the conveyor and distribution line 15.
- This deflector 37 corresponds to those encountered on the switches of lines 14 and 15.
- FIG. 7 represents, in a more detailed manner, the magazine 5 and its pusher 52, the drive means of which are arranged in the box 1.
- the structure of this store 5 mainly consists of two conveyor belts 50, the upper strands of which constitute one the support plane 16 and the other the base plane 17 as shown in Figure 2. These carpets are arranged on either side of the vertical axis 105 which passes through the edge 18 of the dihedral formed by the planes 16 and 17. It is also noted in this figure, that the diagonals of the envelopes 3 are situated practically on this axis 105.
- partition 106 in the form of a suitably folded sheet metal which comprises, near the bottom of the dihedral, an edge 107 on which the envelopes, incidentally badly positioned, can bear, when they are placed in the store 5.
- the pusher 52 is guided on the rod 53 which extends above one of the conveyor belts 50.
- This rod 53 is located substantially in the center of the base 1, at its upper part.
- the pusher 52 comprises, on its rear part, that is to say on the side opposite to the envelopes 3, pads 108 and 109 which bear on the conveyor belts 50. These two pads are ballasted and are responsible for driving the conveyor belts 50 as the pusher 52 moves under the effect of the masses 56 and 60.
- the masses 56 and 60, integral with the cable 54, are guided in the chimney 63 which extends vertically from the bottom 62 of the base 1.
- the envelope circulation area 3 inside the machine also appears on the figure 7. This zone corresponds to the size and in particular to the maximum length of the envelopes to be sorted.
- the jogging device 22 consisting of a vertical wall 110 and, of two horizontal walls 111 arranged on either side of the edge belts of the intermediate conveyor 84.
- the roller 97 responsible for spreading the 0 belt 85 relative to the belt 86, to allow a righting movement of the envelopes by rotation between the belts 85 and 86 located on the shore.
- the foam roller 98 which presses the edge belts, is also shown. It is located at the downstream part of the jogging device.
- the drive of the different conveyors and in particular of the first conveyor 70, the twist module 19, the intermediate conveyor 84 and the switch conveyors 101, is carried out from a single electric motor 112 arranged in the base 1
- This electric motor 112 is located behind the extraction head and all of the drive devices for the various conveyors are grouped in a space 113 located at the rear of the machine. 5
- FIGS. 8 to 13 relate to the unstacking head and the evacuation of the envelopes by the first conveyor 69.
- This unstacking head 9 comprises an endless belt or strip 66 perforated, guided on rollers and in particular on rollers 120 and 121 which define a suction window 122. Behind these two rollers 120 and 121, there is the suction chamber 67 connected by a pipe 123, to the suction turbine 68 shown in FIG. 6. At the suction window 122, the perforated strip 66 is arranged in a plane parallel to the plane of the envelopes 3, perpendicular to the edge 18 of the dihedral forming the magazine 5 and to the direction of advancement of these envelopes in said magazine .
- This suction window 122 is arranged in the wall 65 which constitutes the end of the magazine 5. It appears from the front, FIG. 9, in an opening 124 made in the wall 65. The width of this window 122 corresponds to the width of the perforated strip 66 and its height is slightly less than the distance E between the rollers 120 and 121 which are arranged upstream and downstream of this window.
- the perforated strip 66 is guided along a rectilinear path in the same plane as that of said window to a roller 125 whose axis is located substantially at the same level as the axis of 'rollers 51 of the belt conveyor 50, which conveyor belt corresponds to the bearing plane 16 of the envelope 3 in the store.
- the strip 66 extends at right angles away from the magazine 5, to a roller 126 which constitutes the drive roller.
- Another roller 127 guides the strip upstream of the roller 120. Upstream of the roller 127 there is a roller 128 which cooperates with a tensioning device 129 of the strip.
- the tensioning device 129 of the gas spring type is articulated on the axis 130 of the roller 128 and on the end of a connecting rod 131 which is articulated on the axis 132 of the roller 127.
- the axis 133 interposed between the jack 129 and the connecting rod 131 is supported on a fixed support 134 which allows a bracing of said jack 129 and the connecting rod 131 and a holding of the two in this active position of tension of the strip thanks to the roller 128.
- roller 135 which is disposed behind the suction chamber 67. This roller 135 gives the strip 66 a U-shaped path; they are located at the bottom of the U.
- This ' feature allows, by a simple disassembly of the axis 136 of the roller 135, to release a certain length of the strip 66, sufficient to allow this strip to be passed easily around 0 of the extraction head 9 whose rollers 125 to 128 constitute the periphery.
- This feature facilitates changes or other interventions on the perforated strip 5.
- the envelopes 3 are retained in the magazine 5 by means of a segregating member 140 which appears in more detail in FIGS. 10 and 11.
- the segregating member 140 appears, in active position 0 in a section aa of the Figure 11 and in the inactive position, raised, along a section bb of the same figure 11.
- This ségrégateur member consists of a plate-shaped stop 141 which extends at ⁇ the end of the magazine 5, to seal the space between the end of said magazine and in particular the conveyor belt 50 corresponding to the plane support 16, and the perforated strip 66.
- This stop 141 is secured to a drawer 142 which is supported by a support 143 0 secured to the bottom 106 of the store.
- the support 143 is integral with the bottom 106 by means of a piece 144 fixed on the said bottom, FIG. 9. It is articulated around an axis 145 which is parallel to the support plane 16 and perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the envelopes in store 5.
- the segregating member 140 can pivot around the axis 145 to free the space at the end of the magazine and allow an operator to perform all intervention such as for example cleaning operations or adjustment.
- the drawer 142 is movable relative to its support 143. It comprises a pair of guides 146 perpendicular to the axis 145. These guides 146 are arranged, fig. 11, on either side of a spring-like elastic member 147 which allows the drawer 142 to be pressed permanently towards the strip 66, to place the stop 141 in light contact with the strip 66, with a low pressure.
- This pressure is chosen to allow automatic retraction of the stop 141 when the strip
- the stop 141 has the task of retaining the following envelope.
- This tongue is flexible, made of a material with a high coefficient of friction, of the latex type. Its mission is to retain the envelopes and in particular those which incidentally have been carried away by the first envelope which is glued by suction to the strip 66.
- This tongue 148 is arranged in a cavity of the drawer 142. It is in the form of a flexible bar immobilized by means of a pushpin 149 which is shown on the segregating member in its raised position.
- the stop plate 141 is slightly curved downwards at its end situated on the side of the strip 66, forming a sort of spoiler which accompanies the movement of folding at the square of the tongue 148.
- This tongue extends over 1 or 2 cm under plate 141.
- the envelopes are taken in by the first conveyor 69.
- This first conveyor comprises belts 70 which form, in the machine, the internal wall of the line for conveying the envelopes, and belts 71 and 72 which form the external wall.
- This conveyor 69 performs a change of direction at 90 °, by means of a drum 73.
- the belt 70 is stretched between an upstream roller 74 and a downstream roller 75, and its active strand is wound on the drum 73.
- the belt 71 is stretched between the drum 73 and a roller 77 arranged under the segregating member 140 at the downstream end of the magazine.
- the belt 72 extends between the drum 73 and a downstream roller 78 placed opposite the downstream roller 75 of the belt 70.
- the active strands of the belts 70 and 71 form, under the unstacking head 9, directly in the alignment of the window 122, a sort of funnel 155 at the bottom of which the envelopes are vigorously pinched between the active strands of said belts 70 and 71 arranged opposite one another.
- the belt 71 is unique and it is arranged opposite one of the belts 70 which are wound on the roller 74, and in particular of the belt marked 70 (1).
- the belt 71 has a width substantially greater than that of the other belts.
- the belt 70 which is opposite the belt 71 has a width identical to that of the latter. This width is substantially greater than the width of the other belts 70 arranged on either side, that is to say arranged on the side of the base edge 20 of the envelopes and, on the other side of the envelopes.
- the segregating member 140 and the portion of belt 66 which drives the envelopes can be seen.
- the belt 71 is located in the same alignment as the perforated belt 66, as well as the segregating member 140, to avoid, when the envelopes are taken over by the conveyor 69 to exercise a torque which would tend to put said envelopes crosswise relative to their ⁇ direction of advance.
- the linear speeds of the perforated strip 66 and the belts of the conveyor 69 are different. These speed differences, in a ratio of the order of 3, make it possible to create an interval between two consecutive envelopes.
- the distance D between the upper part 156 of the window 122 and the bottom of the funnel 155 is chosen so as to be less than the minimum height h of the envelopes 3 to be sorted. This distance constraint D allows the suction window 122 to be released at a constant speed which corresponds to the speed V2_ of the conveyor 69.
- the window 122 is released over part of its height E or its entire height, the envelope next is pressed against the perforated strip 6 and it is in turn driven towards the funnel 155 of the conveyor 69.
- Figure 10 that the window and in particular its upper edge 156, is located at a distance dj_ of the support plane 16.
- This elevation of the window 122 relative to the support plane 16 allows to benefit from any the suction at the level of said window even when the envelope is not placed on the support surface 16 due to poor positioning. This feature allows tolerating an imprecision of the envelopes in the magazine and avoiding the suction of two envelopes.
- the distance dj_ is imposed by the dimensions of the window 122, the surface of which is chosen to offer sufficient adhesion and allow precise extraction of the envelopes from the stack. This distance dj_ also depends on the safety coefficient which is granted to take account of a imprecise positioning of envelopes in the magazine.
- the distance d_2_ between the bearing surface 16 and the bottom of the funnel 155 depends on àj_ and on the height h_ of the envelopes to be unstacked. This height h_ is of the order of 90 mm for conventional small format envelopes.
- the window 122 is placed above the support plane 16, at a distance d which corresponds to D1_ - E, where E corresponds to the height of the window 122.
- This distance d_ makes it possible to take account, as indicated above, of d 'possible defects in the positioning of the envelopes relative to the support plane 16. That is to say, an envelope that will be moved away from the support plane 16 by a distance equal to d_ may still benefit from all the surface of the suction window 122, that is to say a height E, to be gripped by the perforated strip 66 with the maximum pressure.
- the variations in positioning of the support edge of the envelopes 3, in this space d in fact only causes an increase in the interval between two consecutive envelopes.
- a positioning defect dj_ of a support edge of an envelope 3 ', shown in FIG. 10, relative to the support surface 16, causes a variation in interval which corresponds substantially to this offset d_' multiplied by ratio of the speeds between that of the conveyor 69 and that of the perforated strip 66.
- the interval between two consecutive envelopes is constant. It depends on the geometrical positioning of the components and on the speed ratio between the conveyor and the perforated strip of the extraction head.
- FIGS. 12 and 13 shown partially, the motor member 161 which drives, via the roller 126, the perforated strip 66.
- FIG. 14 schematically represents the upper part of the machine and in particular the conveying and distribution lines 14 and 15 which make it possible to route the envelopes or the like according to their indexing code, to the boxes 11 appropriate.
- the conveyor lines 14 are located above the magazine 5 which is represented in the form of a simple rectangle.
- the boxes 11 are grouped into baskets 165, which baskets rest on consoles 166 which allow their extraction from the machine, in a practical manner.
- the conveying line 15, located at the upper part of the machine, comprises an upper wall formed by the belts 103 which take over from the intermediate conveyor 85. These belts 103 start at an upstream roller 104 visible in FIG. 6, arranged above the roller 94 of the intermediate conveyor.
- These belts are driven by a drive roller 167 located at the upstream roller 104 and are guided on pressure rollers 171 for the straight portions and, at the top of the machine, on a drum 172 which allows a change of direction at right angles.
- the end of these belts 103 is wound on a downstream roller 173 which is associated with a tensioning device detailed below in connection with FIG. 16.
- the lower wall of the line for conveying the branch 15 comprises several belts.
- a first belt 174 which extends first of all from the primary switch 13 and in particular an upstream roller 175 of small diameter, up to a downstream roller 176 located after the drum 172.
- This downstream roller 176 determines with the roller along 177 a window 178 which can be described as a switching window, at the level of which the envelopes are possibly deviated from their rectilinear path, by switches 13 ', to reach a box 11 according to their destination.
- Each box 11 is located opposite a switching window 178, positioned below in an offset manner downstream.
- each window 178 there is a deflection member 37.
- this deflection member directs the envelope to a deflector 183 which is fixed and inclined at an angle of approximately 45 °.
- the deflector 183 is extended by a flap 184 which extends below as far as box 11. All of these elements will also be described in more detail in connection with FIG. 16.
- the conveying and distribution line 14 comprises, for its upper wall, endless belts 185 which extend between an upstream roller 186 of small diameter located at the level of the primary switch 13 in the vertical branch of the conveyor 101.
- the belt 185 passes over a drum 187 and extends to the end of the machine, on a roller 188 which also cooperates, with a tensioning device detailed below in FIG. 16.
- the vertical part of the conveyor 101 has belts 102 which are wound on the drum 187 of the conveyor line 14.
- the active strands of the belts 102 are pressed against the active strands of the belts 185 by means of the upstream roller 186 which determines the conveyor line inlet 14.
- FIG. 15 shows in more detail, the primary switch 13.
- This switch originates at the level of the roller 189 which initiates, thanks to the roller 186, a kind of crow's feet. It is at the level of this roller 189 situated just below the level of the deflector 37, that the active strands of the belts 102 and 103 separate to supply the two distribution lines 14 and 15.
- the new conveyor and line. distribution 14 consists of the belts 185 which form the upper wall, and the upper part of the belts 102 which are then extended by a succession of belts 180.
- the conveyor and distribution line 15 is constituted by the belts 103 which form the wall upper and by belts 174 which are extended by a succession of belts 180 to form the internal lower wall.
- FIG 16 shows in more detail, ' the end of the conveyor line 14 for example.
- basket 165 which is placed on a console 166.
- envelopes 3 there are some envelopes 3.
- rejection box 11 ' which is a fixed box in which the envelopes 3 are sent which have not found an allocation in the different boxes 11 for one reason or another.
- the envelopes 3 arrive by being pinched between the active strands of the belts 185 for the external upper wall and 180 for the internal lower wall.
- the path of the envelopes 3 between the upper and lower active strands of the belts is substantially rectilinear. It is in fact noted that in order to pass through the window 178, the envelope is oriented upwards, pressed against the active strand of the belts 185 by means of the rollers 181 which exert pressure on the active strands, between the pairs of rollers 177 and 179 that separate two consecutive windows 178.
- two consecutive rollers 181 are centered on the same arm which forms a sort of dihedral or bogie 190 articulated at its angular part at the level of the axis of the rollers 182 which keep the inactive strand of the belts 185.
- This bogie-shaped arrangement simplifies the assembly of the pressure rollers 181 without compromising their effectiveness.
- the envelopes 3 are deflected by means of the deflecting member 37 which is actuated by means of an electromagnet 49.
- the deflecting member 37 is "mounted on an axis 38 which is horizontal and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the envelopes in the conveyor line. This axis is connected by a crank 39 to a rod 191 which is operated by means of the electromagnet 49.
- This electromagnet is of the monostable type, the return is effected by means of a spring 192.
- the deflector 37 has a wall 193 which is interposed in the horizontal conveyor line making an angle of the order of 45 °, to deflect an envelope which presents itself and orient it towards the deflector 183 which is slightly set back but parallel to the wall 193.
- the wall 193 is disposed upstream of the axis 38 of the deflector and that it occupies, at rest, a vertical position, perpendicular to the horizontal line of displacement of the envelopes.
- the deflectors 37 are arranged above the active strand of the belts 185 at a sufficient distance so as not to obstruct the passage of the thickest envelopes.
- the axis 38 of the deflector is disposed above the conveyor line, downstream of the wall 193 of the deflector. This axis 38 is located in a plane which forms with the plane of the wall 193, when it is in its active position, a dihedral whose edge corresponds to the intersection of said wall 193 with the horizontal conveying plane and whose the bisector plane corresponds to this horizontal conveying plane.
- This feature makes it possible to transmit the forces and shocks due to the impact of the envelope 3 when it strikes the wall 193, directly towards the axis 38, canceling out any torque effect at the time of the impact.
- downstream end 194 of the wall 193 is positioned so that it is located slightly behind the perpendicular launched from the axis of the shaft 38 on the casing 3 which is "deflected by the deflector.
- the deflector 183 has an entry edge
- This deflector is inclined at an angle of approximately 45 ° and extends below the idle strand level of belts 180.
- the envelope 3 is taken up by the flap 184 which guides it so that it takes its place in box 11, in an orderly manner.
- the belts 185 of the conveyor line 14 are guided at their upstream end on a roller 188.
- This roller 188 is mounted on a connecting rod 201 which is articulated on an axis 202 integral with the frame.
- a cylinder 203 of the gas type, is interposed between the roller 188 and an axis 204 secured to the machine. The pivoting of the connecting rod 201 around its axis 202 to a position where it is braced by the jack 203 on a stop 205 of the frame of the machine.
- the tensioning device described for the line conveyor 14 is identical to that which is arranged at the downstream end of the conveyor line 1.
- FIG. 17 represents an alternative embodiment of the machine for which the number of receiving boxes 11 is greater.
- the boxes are distributed over three levels instead of two levels, and the length of each level is greater than that of the machine shown in Figure 1.
- the control station 6 and the extraction head 9 are arranged in reverse with respect to the machine described above.
- the control station is located on the same side as the vertical part of the conveyor belt which is located on the left side of the machine.
- the extraction head is located to the right of the magazine and the machine and the envelopes are taken from their backs and not from their fronts as before. This feature improves the handling of curling incidents during the unstacking operation.
- the store extends over a greater width, under the receiving boxes 11.
- This store comprises a dynamic part 5 identical to that described above and a static part 210 consisting of a simple sheet bent at right angles and placed in the extension of the dynamic store 5.
- the operator thus has a large capacity for storing envelopes, storage and preparation.
- the assembly constituted by the dynamic magazine 5 and the extraction head 9 constitutes a kind of module.
- This modularity allows the development of machines with even greater capacity as shown in Figure 18.
- the machine can be extended by means of an additional module which includes the assembly constituted by the dynamic store 5 and the extraction head 9.
- the static store 210 s "extends over a large part of the machine under the accommodation compartments 11. The operator thus has a very important place to deposit its packages or batteries.
- FIG. 19 schematically represents the arrangement and arrangement of the lower part of the machines according to the variants of FIGS. 17 and 18. This FIG. 19 is in fact a variant of the preceding FIG. 6 and the references and similar provisions have been kept.
- the left part of the machine is unchanged as are the conveyors which supply the different levels of reception cases 11.
- the modifications come from the fact that the extraction head 9 is placed to the right of the dynamic magazine 5.
- the magazine itself is unchanged. It is always in the form of an inclined horizontal dihedral.
- the pusher 52 moves the envelopes from left to right to bring them towards the perforated endless belt 66, at the level of the suction window 122.
- the envelopes are taken up by the first conveyor 69 which comprises, in its part downstream, the jogging device 22.
- the envelopes are then straightened in the twisting module 19 and taken up by the intermediate conveyor 84 which brings them to the read head made up in particular of the camera 25.
- the jogging device 22 has a wall perpendicular to the envelope routing plane, which consists of an endless band 212 whose active strand moves at the same speed as the belts 70 and 72 of the first conveyor.
- This endless strip 212 is guided by means of rollers which are arranged in pairs in planes forming a dihedral. Between the upstream roller 213 and the central roller 214, the active strand 215 converges towards the conveyor belts. Between the central roller 214 and the downstream roller 216, the active strand 217 is parallel to the routing corridors.
- the envelopes 3 are slightly pinched between the belts 70 ", 72.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR9508022 | 1995-06-08 | ||
FR9508022A FR2735995B1 (en) | 1995-06-29 | 1995-06-29 | MAIL-SORTING OBJECT-SORTING MACHINE |
PCT/FR1996/001011 WO1997001398A1 (en) | 1995-06-29 | 1996-06-28 | Machine for sorting objects such as postal envelopes |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0836535A1 true EP0836535A1 (en) | 1998-04-22 |
EP0836535B1 EP0836535B1 (en) | 2000-05-10 |
Family
ID=9480648
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP96924038A Expired - Lifetime EP0836535B1 (en) | 1995-06-29 | 1996-06-28 | Machine for sorting objects such as postal envelopes |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5998753A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0836535B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE192674T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69608274T2 (en) |
FR (1) | FR2735995B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1997001398A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2776408B1 (en) * | 1998-03-20 | 2002-10-31 | Ber Sarl | CARD READING DEVICE, ESPECIALLY ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS |
US6365862B1 (en) * | 1999-07-30 | 2002-04-02 | Siemens Electrocom, L.P. | Ergonomic method for sorting and sweeping mail pieces |
US6977353B1 (en) | 1999-08-31 | 2005-12-20 | United States Postal Service | Apparatus and methods for identifying and processing mail using an identification code |
US7081595B1 (en) | 1999-08-31 | 2006-07-25 | United States Postal Service | Apparatus and methods for processing mailpiece information in a mail processing device using sorter application software |
US6894243B1 (en) * | 1999-08-31 | 2005-05-17 | United States Postal Service | Identification coder reader and method for reading an identification code from a mailpiece |
US6379363B1 (en) | 1999-09-24 | 2002-04-30 | Walter Lorenz Surgical, Inc. | Method and apparatus for reattachment of a cranial flap using a cranial clamp |
FR2810491B1 (en) * | 2000-06-20 | 2002-12-13 | Mannesmann Dematic Postal Automation Sa | VIDEO CODING STATION FOR AUTOMATIC SORTING OF POSTAL OBJECTS |
GB2370823B (en) * | 2001-01-09 | 2004-09-22 | Post Office | An improved sorting system |
US6960244B2 (en) * | 2001-12-17 | 2005-11-01 | American Safe Air, Inc. | System and method for removing contaminates from the air in a mail-sorting room |
WO2006088346A1 (en) * | 2005-02-16 | 2006-08-24 | Koninklijke Tpg Post B.V. | Sorting center and method for sorting and combining mail and a sorting cabinet and buffer assembly for use therein |
US20080035866A1 (en) * | 2006-07-07 | 2008-02-14 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Mail imaging system with UV illumination interrupt |
US20080013069A1 (en) * | 2006-07-07 | 2008-01-17 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Synchronization of strobed illumination with line scanning of camera |
US20080012981A1 (en) * | 2006-07-07 | 2008-01-17 | Goodwin Mark D | Mail processing system with dual camera assembly |
US20080049972A1 (en) * | 2006-07-07 | 2008-02-28 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Mail imaging system with secondary illumination/imaging window |
US7855348B2 (en) * | 2006-07-07 | 2010-12-21 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Multiple illumination sources to level spectral response for machine vision camera |
DE102006057266B4 (en) * | 2006-11-23 | 2011-03-24 | SSI Schäfer Noell GmbH Lager- und Systemtechnik | Sorting and distribution system and picking system with such a system |
US20110117813A1 (en) * | 2009-11-13 | 2011-05-19 | Mattel, Inc. | Toy Vehicle Play Set |
WO2012118801A2 (en) * | 2011-02-28 | 2012-09-07 | Engineering Innovation, Inc. | Sorting machine |
US9475652B2 (en) | 2013-06-06 | 2016-10-25 | Wheel Recoverey Systems, LLC | Core wheel processing system and method |
US9475096B2 (en) | 2013-06-06 | 2016-10-25 | Wheel Recovery Systems, LLC | Core wheel processing system and method |
Family Cites Families (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2894626A (en) * | 1956-04-12 | 1959-07-14 | Nederlanden Staat | Packet position detecting system |
US3231264A (en) * | 1961-02-27 | 1966-01-25 | Moscovskaya Pechatnaya Fabrica | Sheet separating and handling apparatus |
GB1207578A (en) * | 1967-02-04 | 1970-10-07 | Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co | Reading and conveying apparatus for recording media such as envelopes and post cards |
GB1374093A (en) * | 1971-12-15 | 1974-11-13 | Masson Scott Thrissell Eng Ltd | Apparatus for sorting and handling mail |
US3791516A (en) * | 1972-01-10 | 1974-02-12 | Pitney Bowes Inc | Batch ticket reader |
FR2181523B1 (en) * | 1972-04-27 | 1979-03-30 | Bertin & Cie | |
SU841693A1 (en) * | 1978-06-08 | 1981-06-30 | Специальное Проектно-Конструкторскоебюро Министерства Связи Cccp | Machine for sorting and searching flat objects |
US4328962A (en) * | 1979-06-15 | 1982-05-11 | Bell & Howell Company | Mail sorting machine |
JPS57190685A (en) * | 1981-05-19 | 1982-11-24 | Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co | Sorter for letter mail |
US4509735A (en) * | 1982-07-26 | 1985-04-09 | Bell & Howell Company | Variable width envelope feeder |
DE3922045C2 (en) * | 1989-07-05 | 1998-04-30 | Siemens Ag | Device for guiding and receiving flat objects such as letters |
US5143225A (en) * | 1990-03-27 | 1992-09-01 | Bell & Howell Company | Carrier sequenced bar code sorter for documents |
JPH07185472A (en) * | 1993-12-28 | 1995-07-25 | Hitachi Ltd | Paper sheet dividing apparatus |
US5755336A (en) * | 1995-05-03 | 1998-05-26 | Nale, Inc. | Optical sorter, tracker and reader |
-
1995
- 1995-06-29 FR FR9508022A patent/FR2735995B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1996
- 1996-06-28 WO PCT/FR1996/001011 patent/WO1997001398A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1996-06-28 AT AT96924038T patent/ATE192674T1/en active
- 1996-06-28 US US08/981,485 patent/US5998753A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1996-06-28 DE DE69608274T patent/DE69608274T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-06-28 EP EP96924038A patent/EP0836535B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO9701398A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
FR2735995A1 (en) | 1997-01-03 |
DE69608274T2 (en) | 2001-01-04 |
WO1997001398A1 (en) | 1997-01-16 |
US5998753A (en) | 1999-12-07 |
DE69608274D1 (en) | 2000-06-15 |
EP0836535B1 (en) | 2000-05-10 |
FR2735995B1 (en) | 1997-09-12 |
ATE192674T1 (en) | 2000-05-15 |
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