EP1088600B1 - Aligning device for document feeder - Google Patents

Description

Field of the art

The present invention relates exclusively to the field of mail processing and it concerns more particularly the feeders of documents.

Prior art

Feed modules (or feeders) of processing machines mail are well known. In addition to the selection and pick-up rollers documents and the transport rollers, these feeders all include a system to ensure proper positioning of mail items in for their capture by the selection and pick-up rolls (see for example GB 2146626, LU 82788 and JP 03162371). This positioning can be done from the back of the mail item, as shows US Pat. No. 5,203,263 to Ascom and in which FIG. 1 shows a rear jogging device 16. It can also be made by the side. US Patent 4,956,782 to Pitney Bowes discloses a mail processing package whose module feeding device comprises a lateral jogging device 53 for pressing the mail items against a referencing wall 59.

These lateral and rear jogging devices used alone in the aforementioned documents could certainly also be in combination to more precisely guide the mail items, especially to a post franking of the mail processing machine disposed downstream of the feeder.

The rear jogging device generally slides in a groove longitudinal, parallel to the scrolling direction of the articles of courier while the lateral jogging device generally slides a transverse groove, perpendicular to this direction of travel and to the reference wall of these articles.

• pour les grands formats, la zone de contact articles / dispositif de taquage peut se retrouver fortement décentrée par rapport à ces articles ; ce qui peut fausser l'alignement de ces articles par rapport à la paroi de mise en référence,
• pour les petits formats, le dispositif de taquage latéral tend à buter sur le dispositif de taquage arrière sans pouvoir remplir convenablement sa fonction de taquage ; en effet, compte-tenu de la rainure longitudinale, le dispositif de taquage arrière présente un certain encombrement nécessaire à un guidage et à un déliassage efficaces, et en général incompatible avec les plus petits formats.

However, one of these solutions does not take into account the different formats of mail items that can be positioned and guided in a conventional power supply module. Such positioning is particularly delicate because:

• for large formats, the contact area articles / jogging device may be highly off-center with respect to these articles; which can distort the alignment of these articles with respect to the reference wall,
• for small sizes, the lateral jogging device tends to abut on the rear jogging device without being able to properly perform its jogging function; indeed, given the longitudinal groove, the rear jogging device has a certain size necessary for effective guiding and disposing, and generally incompatible with smaller formats.

In addition, with the increasing development of machines digital franking, especially inkjet, is the problem crucial highly accurate positioning of the mail item to get an impression of sufficient quality, any defect in positioning and / or guiding in the power module, which is likely to cause postage printing of a quality postmark monetary policy is unacceptable.

Object and definition of the invention

The present invention relates to a jogging device for document feeder of a mail processing machine that allows a proper jogging of both small and large items, with rear and side jogging elements of reduced size. A goal of the invention is also to achieve this positioning quickly and facilitating the extraction of the lower articles (compared to a pile of mail). Another object of the invention is to allow taking into account of non-standard large format mail items, including larger than the width of the feeder.

These goals are achieved by a jogging device for a feeder of a mail processing machine, having a first stop of movable backward stitching in a scrolling direction of the articles of mail and a second movable side jog stop in one direction perpendicular to this running direction, each jogging stop can be moved in a respective groove, the device being such that the groove associated with said rear jogging stop is inclined at an angle α determined with respect to said direction of travel of the mail items, such that said backstop stop remains substantially centered on the mail article regardless of the format of this article.

Thus, the decentering of the backstop for large article formats mail is avoided and it becomes possible to tease properly in the area median of both small and large items.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rear jogging abutment presents a wedge shape with at least two successive slopes, a first slope with reduced inclination and a second slope with steep inclination, and preferably at three slopes with an additional incline-intermediate slope average. The first slope at a reduced inclination provides support for mail items while the second steep slope makes it easier to the extraction one by one (the deliassage) of these articles.

Advantageously, the rear jogging stop can also comprise a marker intended to be aligned with one of several marks previously engraved on the receiving platform of mail items and corresponding each to a standard format of mail items. By this marking, it is thus possible to ensure quick positioning of the backgauge as a function of the stack of mail items to be positioned on the platform. She can also have two template labels that identify two thicknesses specified thresholds of mail items each corresponding to a determined operation of adjusting the feeder. By this configuration of marking, a simple visual detection of thickness compared to these two thresholds is sufficient to set this feeder to handle batches of items mail of the corresponding thickness range.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rear jogging stop has a lower spar with at least one elastic element intended to cooperate with a cavity made in the longitudinal groove, such as to define a stop position for this stop.

Advantageously, the lateral jogging stop slides in its groove lateral associated via a slide. With this structure, it is possible to jog mail items whose dimensions in width are higher than those of the reception platform of these articles.

The lateral jogging abutment comprises a lower spar provided with less a first elastic element intended to cooperate with a cavity practiced in said slide, so as to define a stop position for this stop, and the slide is provided with at least one second elastic element intended to cooperate with a cavity made in the transverse groove, such as to define a stop position for this slide.

To allow differential movement of the slide and the spar, the second elastic element has a lower elasticity than the first elastic element.

According to a particular embodiment, the lateral jogging stop can include an automatic adjustment system for its positioning, in function of the width of the mail article, comprising at least one sensor of position and / or pressure fixed on an end portion of the abutment of lateral jogging for controlling under the action of a control circuit the moving a drive motor. As an alternative, this system of automatic adjustment can also include a calibrated spring system for maintain a substantially constant optimum clearance between an end portion of the lateral jogging stop and a pile of mail items referenced on the wall.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente en perspective un dispositif de taquage selon l'invention dans une première position de taquage,
• la figure 2 représente en perspective un dispositif de taquage selon l'invention dans une seconde position de taquage,
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessus illustrant deux positions extrêmes du dispositif de taquage selon l'invention,
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe selon le plan IV-IV de la figure 3,
• la figure 5 est une vue de dessus illustrant une position particulière dite en « portrait » du dispositif de taquage selon l'invention, et
• la figure 6 est une vue en coupe selon le plan VI-VI de la figure 5.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 represents in perspective a jogging device according to the invention in a first jogging position,
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a jogging device according to the invention in a second jogging position;
• FIG. 3 is a view from above illustrating two extreme positions of the jogging device according to the invention,
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view along plane IV-IV of FIG. 3,
• FIG. 5 is a view from above illustrating a particular "portrait" position of the jogging device according to the invention, and
• Figure 6 is a sectional view along the plane VI-VI of Figure 5.

detailed description

Figure 1 illustrates in perspective a module for receiving articles of a document feeder of a processing machine mail. This module 10 is arranged upstream of a selection module with take-up rolls of these mail items (see for example Figure 3). It conventionally comprises a platform 12 on which are stacked mail items, a reference wall 14 that closes a side of the platform and that defines a scroll direction for the articles of mail, and a jogging device to stomp the stack of mail items thus formed against the reference wall.

This jogging device comprises a first jogging stop back mobile 16 according to the scrolling direction of the mail items and a second lateral jogging stop 18 movable in one direction perpendicular to this scrolling direction. Each jogging stop can to be moved in a respective groove 20, 22 made in the platform 10.

According to the invention, the groove 20 of the rear jogging abutment 16 is inclined in relation to the running direction of the mail items, a angle α determined in such a way that the backward jogging remains substantially focused on the small size of mail items, regardless of format of these (see in particular Figure 3 which shows the positioning of these stops. for a minimum format (Fmini) and a maximum format (Fmaxi) admissible by the device). The angle of inclination of the groove is determined by doing the following: First, we optimize the volume of size of the rear jogging stop 16 in the extreme positions front (with respect to the scrolling of the articles) of back and side jogging, corresponding to articles of the minimum format (F mini), then, from these extreme positions of jogging, we identify and mark the different positions that can occupy the middle part of the rear jogging stop, respectively for different standardized formats of mail items, then the inclination α of the groove of the rear jaw stop is optimized by drawing - a line that goes as close as possible to all positions previously mentioned.

For formats of mail items with a European standard, either format C4 "landscape" (325 mm x 230 mm) in business card format (140 mm x 90 mm) passing through the C6 / 5 format (235 mm x 114 mm), this angle is in a range of 10 to 20 °, preferably 15 to 20 °.

These rear and side jog stops have volumes minimal size to occupy the extreme jogging position before, against each other, in their respective grooves, compatible with the minimum format (F mini) acceptable by the mail processing machine, to know the business card format (position in dotted lines in Figure 3). Thus, the width of the rear jogging stop is preferably substantially equal to that of a business card.

The rear jogging stop 16 has a wedge shape at least two successive slopes, one with reduced inclination 160 and the other inclined strong 162, providing a convenient positioning of the pile of articles of mail and necessary for an effective extraction of these articles in support before, supported and raised at the back, respectively for thick bundles important and weak. Preferably, this stop has the shape of a wedge to three successive slopes. Its upper part with a medium inclination 164 serves to withstand the weight of the pile of articles that leans on it. Its middle part to strong inclination 162 loosens the stack and as the upper part, allows to keep the articles in support before to facilitate the selection of the article lower by the take-up rollers of the feeder. Its low tilt part reduced 160, called heel keeps the efficiency of the selection. It continues to improve the departure of articles because, when the pile "collapses" with a decreasing thickness of the bundle, the articles remain in front support with a reduced angle of inclination but kept in relation to the platform of receiving 12 and the selection rollers.

When the stack is large, only a limited number of items are in support on this heel while almost all the weight of this pile is spread over the upper part, which facilitates the extraction of the lower articles.

According to another particularity of the invention, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, the receiving platform 12 has a plurality of engraved markers 24, 26, 28 capable of alignment with a mark 30 of the jogging stop rear 16, for a quick positioning of the latter according to predetermined formats of standard mail items. So the first benchmark 24 corresponds to a French C6 / 5 format, the second one to a No. 10 American format (242 mm x 105 mm) and the third marker 28 at a French format of type C4. This stop also has on its side face opposed to the reference wall 14 two template tags 32, 34 which find two threshold thicknesses of mail items (for example 8 and 16 mm) corresponding to two adjustment operations of the selection rollers located downstream and illustrated in Figure 3. By this marking configuration, a simple visual detection of thickness compared to these two thresholds identified is sufficient to set the feeder to handle batches of mail items from the corresponding thickness range.

FIG. 4 illustrates the means of displacement of the jogging stop rear 16 in its groove 20. For this purpose, the abutment comprises a spar lower 36 shaped "inverted T" provided with at least one leg or blade flexible 38 and adapted to slide cooperatively with a suitable clearance with this groove of complementary shape. This elastic element which ensures a catching of this side game when sliding can cooperate with a cavity 40 practiced in the groove 20 and intended to define a stop position, substantially at its open end, for the jogging stop back.

The means of displacement of the lateral jogging stop 18 in its groove 22 are illustrated in turn in Figure 6. This lateral stop includes a lower spar 42 also in the form of "inverted T" and provided with minus a first leg or flexible blade 44, this spar being mounted on a slide 46 in the form of a "U", itself having at least a second leg or flexible blade 48 and in which it can slide, and which slides itself in the transverse groove 22 of lateral jogging. The first elastic element 44 ensures a catch of lateral play during the sliding of spar 42 in the slideway 46, the catch of the vertical play being provided by a leaf spring 50 placed on the bottom of this slide. It cooperates further with a first cavity 52 made in slideway 46 and intended to define a stop position of the spar, substantially at the front end thereof (most close to the reference wall and corresponding to the blind end of the groove 22), for the lateral jogging stop. The second elastic element 48 ensures a catch of the lateral game during the sliding of the slide 46 in the transverse groove 22. It also cooperates with a second cavity 54 made in the groove 22 and intended to define a stopping position of the slide, substantially at the open end of the groove, for the lateral jogging stop. This second element has less elasticity that the first elastic member 44 to allow movement differential of the spar and the groove. Of course, it can be considered Intermediate stop positions by multiplying the number of cavities.

When the width of a mail item does not exceed that of the platform 12, thus remaining between the minimal formats Fmini and maximal Fmaxi allowable, only the spar 42 is urged to slide in the slide 46 which is held in locking position in the lateral groove by snapping the first blade 44 into the first cavity 52. By against, when the mail item in the maximum acceptable format is turned to 90 ° as shown in Figures 5 and 1, so with a transverse layout relative to the scrolling direction, in a configuration then known under the name of "portrait" mode, because of a lateral dimension of the article of mail superior to that of platform 12, it becomes necessary to make also slide the slide 46 to partially extract it from the groove 22. This is achieved simply by exerting greater traction on the side jogging stop 18 (necessary to overcome the resistance provided by the second elastic element whose elasticity is less than the first) of to disengage this slide 46.

An interesting variant of embodiment not illustrated is to provide the side jogging stop 18 of an automatic tone control system positioning according to the width of the mail item, by means of example of at least one position and / or pressure sensor fixed on the part end of the lateral jogging stop or on the platform, a control circuit and a drive motor. Pressure thresholds allow to refine the jog control, for example by moving back this jogging stop a few tenths of a millimeter after reaching a maximum permissible threshold pressure.

A more economical embodiment may include a spring system calibrated to maintain a substantially constant optimal support between the party end of the stop and the article stack referenced on the wall.

Claims (14)

1. Aligning device for a feeder of a mailing machine, comprising a first rear aligning guide (16) mobile in a direction of advance of the mail pieces and a second lateral aligning guide (18) mobile in a direction perpendicular to this direction of advance, each aligning guide being displaceable in a respective groove (20, 22), the device being such that the groove (20) associated with said rear aligning guide is inclined by a determined angle α with respect to said direction of advance of the mail pieces, with the result that said rear aligning guide remains substantially centred on the small dimension of the mail piece whatever the format of this piece (Fmini, Fmaxi).
2. The aligning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rear aligning guide (16) presents the shape of a wedge having at least two successive slopes, a first slope of slight inclination (160) and a second slope of steep inclination (162).
3. The aligning device according to claim 2, characterised in that the rear aligning guide (16) comprises three successive slopes with an additional slope of average intermediate inclination (164).
4. The aligning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rear aligning guide (16) comprises a mark (30) intended to be aligned with one of a plurality of marks (24, 26, 28) previously engraved on the tray (12) for receiving the mail pieces and each corresponding to a standard format of mail pieces.
5. The aligning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rear aligning guide (16) comprises two gauge labels (32, 34) which mark two determined threshold thicknesses of the mail pieces each corresponding to a determined operation of adjustment of the feeder.
6. The aligning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rear aligning guide (16) comprises a lower longitudinal member (36) provided with at least one elastic element (38) adapted to cooperate with a cavity (40) made in the longitudinal groove (20) so as to define a position of stop for this guide.
7. The aligning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the lateral aligning guide (18) slides in the groove (22) associated therewith via a slideway (44).
8. The aligning device according to claim 1, characterised in that said lateral aligning guide (18) comprises a lower longitudinal member (42) provided with at least one first elastic element (44) adapted to cooperate with a cavity (52) made in said slideway, so as to define a position of stop for this guide.
9. The aligning device according to claim 7, characterised in that said slideway (46) is provided with at least one second elastic element (48) adapted to cooperate with a cavity (54) made in the transverse groove (22), so as to define a position of stop for this slideway.
10. The aligning device according to claim 8 and Claim 9, characterised in that the second elastic element (48) presents less elasticity than the first elastic element (44).
11. The aligning device according to claim 1, characterised in that the lateral aligning guide (18) comprises a system for automatically adjusting its positioning as a function of the width of the mail piece.
12. The aligning device according to claim 11, characterised in that said automatic adjustment system comprises at least one position and/or pressure sensor fixed on an end part of the lateral aligning guide (18) in order to control the displacement of a drive motor under the action of a control circuit.
13. The aligning device according to claim 11, characterised in that said automatic adjustment system comprises a system of calibrated springs for maintaining a substantially constant optimal bearing between an end part of the lateral aligning guide (18) and a stack of mail pieces registered against the wall (14).
14. Feeder for mailing machine comprising an aligning device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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