EP1923343B1 - Device for stacking mail articles - Google Patents

Device for stacking mail articles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1923343B1
EP1923343B1 EP07120508A EP07120508A EP1923343B1 EP 1923343 B1 EP1923343 B1 EP 1923343B1 EP 07120508 A EP07120508 A EP 07120508A EP 07120508 A EP07120508 A EP 07120508A EP 1923343 B1 EP1923343 B1 EP 1923343B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
rollers
inclination
support walls
mail items
conveyor belt
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
EP07120508A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1923343A1 (en
Inventor
Romain Pillard
Cyril Janot
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
Original Assignee
Neopost Technologies SA
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1923343A1 publication Critical patent/EP1923343A1/en
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Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H31/00—Pile receivers
    • B65H31/02—Pile receivers with stationary end support against which pile accumulates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/16—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by contact of one face only with moving tapes, bands, or chains
    • B65H29/18—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by contact of one face only with moving tapes, bands, or chains and introducing into a pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
    • B65H2301/421—Forming a pile
    • B65H2301/4214—Forming a pile of articles on edge
    • B65H2301/42144—Forming a pile of articles on edge by erecting articles from horizontal transport flushing with the supporting surface of the pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/1916—Envelopes and articles of mail

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a device for stacking mail items for a device for receiving mail items from a mail processing machine.
  • Mail processing machines conventionally comprise three main elements: a mailpiece feeder, a franking post of these mailpieces disposed at the output of the feeder (incorporating or not a weighing device) and disposed at the output from the franking station, a receiving device (stacker), for mail items previously franked at the franking station.
  • a receiving device stacker
  • these machines can frank mail items of any weight and any format and the receiving device must be able to receive and store properly all these mail items. That is why these devices are for the most part made up of a simple receptacle tray in which mail items of all sizes are stored flat and loose in a low capacity stack (about 100 envelopes of average thickness). , as and when they emancipate.
  • the present invention relates to a device for receiving mail items that overcomes these disadvantages and provides a vertical receipt envelopes regardless of their thickness.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a device as simple, compact and ergonomic as possible while maximizing the rate of useful length of the device.
  • a stacking device of mail items for a mailpiece receiving device comprising a conveyor belt for receiving and transporting these mail items from a franking station of a mailing machine.
  • mail processing device comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in staggered rows on a plurality of axes of rotation whose two ends are fixed between two support walls parallel and at least distant from the width of said conveyor belt.
  • said axes of rotation are fixed on the two support walls so that the peripheral surface of each of the rollers is arranged on the same straight support line inclined relative to the surface of said conveyor belt.
  • the inclination of this straight line of support can be variable between a minimum inclination and a maximum inclination according to the type of mail items processed. Said inclination can be between 45 and 70 °.
  • the device comprises three sets of rollers.
  • the device further comprises a horizontal plate fixed between the two support walls and having a comb shape with grooves whose number corresponds to the number of rollers present in said first series of rollers and a bottom plate also having a shape of comb with grooves whose number corresponds to the number of rollers present in said last series of rollers.
  • said bottom plate comprises a perpendicular flap provided with a groove in which can slide a clamping means secured for example of one of said support walls and whose locking defines a tilting position for said bottom plate.
  • a mail processing machine of the prior art is illustrated at the figure 3 .
  • This machine conventionally comprises, upstream downstream with respect to the direction of advance of the mail items: a mail piece feeder 10, a franking station 12 and disposed at the output of this franking station which can or not integrate a weighing module, a receiving device, or stacker 14, for franked mail items.
  • the receiving device is composed in a known manner of a motorized conveyor belt 14A for receiving and transporting mail items ejected one by one by the franking station arranged upstream, pressing elements (against-rollers 14B) for braking the envelopes thus ejected and an end plate 14C against which the mail items will come to accumulate on the wafer, that is to say in a vertical position facilitating their subsequent processing by postal machines automated processing .
  • All of these elements is placed on a worktable (not shown) to be readily available to an operator responsible for franking operations and post in general before this table.
  • a worktable not shown
  • Such a machine can free mail items of different formats, from the American format No. 5 (76.2mm * 127mm) to the European format b4 (250mm * 353mm) through the standard European format C6 / 5 (114mm * 229mm) and this up to a determined thickness, for example 16 mm, corresponding to the height of the insertion slot of the mail items in the franking station 12.
  • the end plate is replaced by a stacking device 20 comprising several superimposed series of rollers mounted idly on their respective axis of rotation.
  • These series of rollers are preferably interlaced, that is to say that the various rollers are arranged in staggered rows.
  • the radius of each of these rollers is of course less than the interaxial distance between two adjacent axes of rotation.
  • the device comprises three series of rollers 22, 24, 26 each comprising four rollers and whose two ends 28A, 28B; 30A, 30B; 32A, 32B of the axes of rotation 28, 30, 32 of these rollers are fixed between two support walls 34, 36 parallel and spaced at least from the width of the conveyor belt 14A.
  • the axes of rotation are fixed on the two support walls so that the peripheral surface of each of the rollers forming the three roller series is disposed on the same straight line inclined with respect to the surface of the conveyor belt and can thus form a rectilinear support for the first article of mail that will come to rest there and the following ones.
  • the inclination of this straight line support is not unique and fixed once for all but instead variable. Indeed, it can be modified between a maximum inclination of 70 degrees and a minimum inclination of 45 degrees depending on the type of mail items processed.
  • each of the rotation axes 28, 30, 32 of the series of rollers is slidable in two opposite vertical grooves 34A, 34B, 34C; 36A, 36B, 36C respectively practiced in each support wall 34, 36, the positioning of the axes of rotation along these grooves defining the inclination of the support line. So, in the up position as illustrated on the figure 1 , the inclination is substantially 70 degrees while in the down position as illustrated in FIG. figure 2 this inclination is substantially 45 degrees.
  • the junction of the device with the conveyor belt is performed by a substantially horizontal plate 38 fixed between the two support walls 34 and 36 and having a comb shape with grooves 38A whose number corresponds to the number of rollers present in the first series of rollers 22.
  • the device is also provided with a bottom plate 40 also having a comb shape with grooves 40A whose number corresponds to the number of rollers present in the last set of rollers 26 and whose inclination is adjustable.
  • this plate comprises a perpendicular flap 40B provided with a groove 40C in which can slide a clamping means, such as a bolt 42, secured for example to one of 34 support walls, the locking of the bolt defining the position of inclination adopted by the bottom plate.
  • the operation of the device according to the invention is now described with regard to the figure 2 .
  • the mail items are ejected flat one by one from the exit of the franking station on the entrance of the conveyor belt which will then lead them to its output. On this carpet, because of the high rate of postage, these mail items overlap in part thus forming a shell pattern.
  • the first mail piece 50 will be driven on the rollers of the stacking device. The fact that the rollers are mounted crazy allows to limit the coefficient of friction and ensure free recovery envelopes as they arrive.
  • the second item of mail 52 will do the same and stack on the first and so on for the following.
  • the conveyor belt can be arranged as shown in FIG. figure 3 it may equally well be arranged perpendicularly towards the front of the franking station as towards the rear, the stacking device of the invention being adapted to all these configurations.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
  • Pile Receivers (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)

Description

Domaine de l'inventionField of the invention

La présente invention se rapporte au domaine du traitement de courrier et elle concerne plus particulièrement un dispositif d'empilage d'articles de courrier pour un dispositif de réception d'articles de courrier d'une machine de traitement de courrier.The present invention relates to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a device for stacking mail items for a device for receiving mail items from a mail processing machine.

Art antérieurPrior art

Les machines de traitement de courrier comportent classiquement trois principaux éléments : un alimenteur en articles de courrier, un poste d'affranchissement de ces articles de courrier disposé en sortie de l'alimenteur (incorporant ou non un dispositif de pesée) et, disposé en sortie du poste d'affranchissement, un dispositif de réception (stackeur), pour les articles de courrier préalablement affranchis au poste d'affranchissement. Actuellement, ces machines peuvent affranchir des articles de courrier de tout poids et de tout format et le dispositif de réception doit donc pouvoir réceptionner et emmagasiner correctement tous ces articles de courrier. C'est pourquoi, ces dispositifs sont pour la plupart constitués d'un simple bac formant réceptacle dans lequel les articles de courrier de tous formats sont stockés à plat et en vrac en une pile de faible capacité (environ 100 enveloppes d'épaisseur moyenne), au fur et à mesure de leur affranchissement. Malheureusement, pour des cadences élevées, par exemple autour de 15 000 enveloppes par heure (soit environ 4 enveloppes par seconde), cette configuration oblige à des arrêts fréquents de la machine, et donc de l'affranchissement des articles de courrier, lorsqu'il s'agit de retirer les articles de courrier affranchis du réceptacle pour les mettre dans des caisses postales dont chacune possède une capacité de stockage de l'ordre de 500 enveloppes.Mail processing machines conventionally comprise three main elements: a mailpiece feeder, a franking post of these mailpieces disposed at the output of the feeder (incorporating or not a weighing device) and disposed at the output from the franking station, a receiving device (stacker), for mail items previously franked at the franking station. Currently, these machines can frank mail items of any weight and any format and the receiving device must be able to receive and store properly all these mail items. That is why these devices are for the most part made up of a simple receptacle tray in which mail items of all sizes are stored flat and loose in a low capacity stack (about 100 envelopes of average thickness). , as and when they emancipate. Unfortunately, for high speeds, for example around 15,000 envelopes per hour (about 4 envelopes per second), this configuration requires frequent stops of the machine, and therefore the franking of mail items, when This is to remove the mail items franked receptacle to put them in postal boxes, each of which has a storage capacity of the order of 500 envelopes.

Aussi, il est connu par le brevet US 5 464 317 un stackeur automatisé qui met en oeuvre un transporteur, du type tapis convoyeur à rubans, disposé en longueur ou perpendiculairement en sortie du poste d'affranchissement, et permettant un stockage par accumulation en position verticale des articles de courrier affranchis au moyen de deux vis sans fin disposées horizontalement. Ce dispositif qui en théorie permet un stockage de près de 500 enveloppes est relativement bien adapté aux enveloppes fines et souples mais au contraire à tendance à se bloquer avec les enveloppes épaisses qui ne peuvent prendre place entre les filets des vis sans fin et s'incurver sur la plaque d'extrémité. Il en résulte une accumulation essentiellement à plat de ces enveloppes réduisant le taux de longueur utile du stackeur de près de 50%.Also, he is known by the patent US 5,464,317 an automated stacker which implements a conveyor, of the conveyor belt type to ribbons, arranged in length or perpendicularly at the output of the franking station, and allowing storage by accumulation in the vertical position of franked mail items by means of two worm screws arranged horizontally. This device which in theory allows a storage of nearly 500 envelopes is relatively well adapted to the thin and flexible envelopes but on the contrary tends to hang with the thick envelopes which can not take place between the threads of the worm and curvature on the end plate. This results in essentially flat accumulation of these envelopes reducing the useful stacker length by up to 50%.

Objet et définition de l'inventionObject and definition of the invention

La présente invention a pour objet un dispositif de réception d'articles de courrier qui pallie ces inconvénients et offre une réception verticale des enveloppes quelle que soit leur épaisseur. Un but de l'invention est de réaliser un dispositif aussi simple, compact et ergonomique que possible tout en maximisant le taux de longueur utile du dispositif.The present invention relates to a device for receiving mail items that overcomes these disadvantages and provides a vertical receipt envelopes regardless of their thickness. An object of the invention is to provide a device as simple, compact and ergonomic as possible while maximizing the rate of useful length of the device.

Ces buts sont atteints par un dispositif d'empilage d'articles de courrier pour un dispositif de réception d'articles de courrier comportant un tapis convoyeur destiné à recevoir et à transporter ces articles de courrier depuis un poste d'affranchissement d'une machine de traitement de courrier, dispositif comportant une pluralité de rouleaux disposés en quinconce sur une pluralité d'axes de rotation dont les deux extrémités sont fixées entre deux parois support parallèles et distantes au moins de la largeur dudit tapis convoyeur.These objects are achieved by a stacking device of mail items for a mailpiece receiving device comprising a conveyor belt for receiving and transporting these mail items from a franking station of a mailing machine. mail processing device comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in staggered rows on a plurality of axes of rotation whose two ends are fixed between two support walls parallel and at least distant from the width of said conveyor belt.

Ainsi, avec cette configuration, il devient possible de stocker une quantité d'enveloppes correspondant réellement à la longueur utile du tapis convoyeur.Thus, with this configuration, it becomes possible to store a quantity of envelopes actually corresponding to the useful length of the conveyor belt.

De préférence, lesdits axes de rotation sont fixés sur les deux parois support de telle sorte que la surface périphérique de chacun des rouleaux soit disposée sur une même ligne droite de support inclinée par rapport à la surface dudit tapis convoyeur. L'inclinaison de cette ligne droite de support peut être variable entre une inclinaison minimale et une inclinaison maximale selon le type d'articles de courrier traités. Ladite inclinaison peut être comprise entre 45 et 70°.Preferably, said axes of rotation are fixed on the two support walls so that the peripheral surface of each of the rollers is arranged on the same straight support line inclined relative to the surface of said conveyor belt. The inclination of this straight line of support can be variable between a minimum inclination and a maximum inclination according to the type of mail items processed. Said inclination can be between 45 and 70 °.

De préférence, le dispositif comporte trois séries de rouleaux.Preferably, the device comprises three sets of rollers.

Avantageusement, le dispositif comporte en outre une plaque horizontale fixée entre les deux parois support et présentant une forme de peigne avec des rainurages dont le nombre correspond au nombre de rouleaux présents dans ladite première série de rouleaux et une plaque de fond présentant également une forme de peigne avec des rainurages dont le nombre correspond au nombre de rouleaux présents dans ladite dernière série de rouleaux.Advantageously, the device further comprises a horizontal plate fixed between the two support walls and having a comb shape with grooves whose number corresponds to the number of rollers present in said first series of rollers and a bottom plate also having a shape of comb with grooves whose number corresponds to the number of rollers present in said last series of rollers.

De préférence, ladite plaque de fond comporte un rabat perpendiculaire pourvu d'une rainure dans laquelle peut coulisser un moyen de serrage solidaire par exemple de l'une desdites parois support et dont le blocage définit une position d'inclinaison pour ladite plaque de fond.Preferably, said bottom plate comprises a perpendicular flap provided with a groove in which can slide a clamping means secured for example of one of said support walls and whose locking defines a tilting position for said bottom plate.

Brève description des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

Les caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront mieux de la description suivante, faite à titre indicatif et non limitatif, en regard des dessins annexés sur lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un dispositif de réception selon l'invention,
  • la figure 2 est une vue en coupe illustrant l'empilage des articles de courrier au niveau du dispositif de réception de la figure 1, et
  • la figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'une machine de traitement de courrier comportant un dispositif de réception de l'art antérieur.
The features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • the figure 1 is a perspective view of a receiving device according to the invention,
  • the figure 2 is a sectional view illustrating the stacking of mail items at the receiving device of the figure 1 , and
  • the figure 3 is a perspective view of a mail processing machine comprising a receiving device of the prior art.

Description détaillée d'un mode de réalisation préférentielDetailed description of a preferred embodiment

Une machine de traitement de courrier de l'art antérieur est illustrée à la figure 3. Cette machine comporte classiquement, d'amont en aval par rapport à la direction d'avancée des articles de courrier : un alimenteur en articles de courrier 10, un poste d'affranchissement 12 et, disposé en sortie de ce poste d'affranchissement qui peut ou non intégrer un module de pesée, un dispositif de réception, ou stackeur 14, pour les articles de courrier affranchis. Le dispositif de réception se compose de façon connue d'un tapis convoyeur motorisé 14A pour recevoir et transporter les articles de courrier éjectés un à un par le poste d'affranchissement disposé en amont, d'éléments presseurs (contre-rouleaux 14B) pour freiner les enveloppes ainsi éjectées et d'une plaque d'extrémité 14C contre laquelle les articles de courrier vont venir s'accumuler sur la tranche, c'est-à-dire dans une position verticale facilitant leur traitement ultérieur par des machines postales de traitement automatisé.A mail processing machine of the prior art is illustrated at the figure 3 . This machine conventionally comprises, upstream downstream with respect to the direction of advance of the mail items: a mail piece feeder 10, a franking station 12 and disposed at the output of this franking station which can or not integrate a weighing module, a receiving device, or stacker 14, for franked mail items. The receiving device is composed in a known manner of a motorized conveyor belt 14A for receiving and transporting mail items ejected one by one by the franking station arranged upstream, pressing elements (against-rollers 14B) for braking the envelopes thus ejected and an end plate 14C against which the mail items will come to accumulate on the wafer, that is to say in a vertical position facilitating their subsequent processing by postal machines automated processing .

L'ensemble de ces éléments est posé sur une table de travail (non représentée) pour être aisément à la disposition d'un opérateur chargé des opérations d'affranchissement et en poste en général devant cette table. Une telle machine peut affranchir des articles de courrier de différents formats, depuis le format américain N°5 (76,2mm*127mm) jusqu'au format européen b4 (250mm*353mm) en passant par le format européen standard C6/5 (114mm*229mm) et cela jusqu'à une épaisseur déterminée, par exemple 16 mm, correspondant à la hauteur de la fente d'introduction des articles de courrier dans le poste d'affranchissement 12.All of these elements is placed on a worktable (not shown) to be readily available to an operator responsible for franking operations and post in general before this table. Such a machine can free mail items of different formats, from the American format No. 5 (76.2mm * 127mm) to the European format b4 (250mm * 353mm) through the standard European format C6 / 5 (114mm * 229mm) and this up to a determined thickness, for example 16 mm, corresponding to the height of the insertion slot of the mail items in the franking station 12.

Selon l'invention, la plaque d'extrémité est remplacée par un dispositif d'empilage 20 comportant plusieurs séries superposées de rouleaux montés fous sur leur axe de rotation respectif. Ces séries de rouleaux sont de préférence entrelacées, c'est-à-dire que les différents rouleaux sont disposés en quinconce. Afin d'éviter tout contact entre les rouleaux de deux séries adjacentes ayant même parité (première et troisième, deuxième et quatrième, etc.) et qui se retrouve donc sur une même ligne du fait de cette disposition en quinconce, le rayon de chacun de ces rouleaux est bien entendu inférieur à la distance interaxe entre deux axes de rotation adjacents.According to the invention, the end plate is replaced by a stacking device 20 comprising several superimposed series of rollers mounted idly on their respective axis of rotation. These series of rollers are preferably interlaced, that is to say that the various rollers are arranged in staggered rows. In order to avoid any contact between the rolls of two adjacent series having the same parity (first and second third, second and fourth, etc.) and which is therefore found on the same line because of this staggered arrangement, the radius of each of these rollers is of course less than the interaxial distance between two adjacent axes of rotation.

Dans l'exemple illustré, le dispositif comporte trois séries de rouleaux 22, 24, 26 comportant chacune quatre rouleaux et dont les deux extrémités 28A, 28B ; 30A, 30B ; 32A, 32B des axes de rotation 28, 30, 32 de ces rouleaux sont fixées entre deux parois support 34, 36 parallèles et distantes au moins de la largeur du tapis convoyeur 14A. Les axes de rotation sont fixés sur les deux parois support de telle sorte que la surface périphérique de chacun des rouleaux formant les trois séries rouleaux soit disposée sur une même ligne droite inclinée par rapport à la surface du tapis convoyeur et puisse donc former un support rectiligne pour le premier article de courrier qui viendra y reposer et les suivants. En outre, l'inclinaison de cette ligne droite de support n'est pas unique et fixée une fois pour toute mais au contraire variable. En effet, elle peut être modifiée entre une inclinaison maximale de 70 degrés et une inclinaison minimale de 45 degrés selon le type d'articles de courrier traités.In the illustrated example, the device comprises three series of rollers 22, 24, 26 each comprising four rollers and whose two ends 28A, 28B; 30A, 30B; 32A, 32B of the axes of rotation 28, 30, 32 of these rollers are fixed between two support walls 34, 36 parallel and spaced at least from the width of the conveyor belt 14A. The axes of rotation are fixed on the two support walls so that the peripheral surface of each of the rollers forming the three roller series is disposed on the same straight line inclined with respect to the surface of the conveyor belt and can thus form a rectilinear support for the first article of mail that will come to rest there and the following ones. In addition, the inclination of this straight line support is not unique and fixed once for all but instead variable. Indeed, it can be modified between a maximum inclination of 70 degrees and a minimum inclination of 45 degrees depending on the type of mail items processed.

Plus précisément, chacun des axes de rotation 28, 30, 32 des séries de rouleaux peut coulisser dans deux rainurages vertical opposés 34A, 34B, 34C ; 36A, 36B, 36C pratiqués respectivement dans chaque paroi support 34, 36, le positionnement des axes de rotation le long de ces rainurages définissant l'inclinaison de la ligne de support. Ainsi, en position haute comme illustré sur la figure 1, l'inclinaison est sensiblement de 70 degrés alors qu'en position basse telle qu'illustrée à la figure 2, cette inclinaison est sensiblement de 45 degrés.More specifically, each of the rotation axes 28, 30, 32 of the series of rollers is slidable in two opposite vertical grooves 34A, 34B, 34C; 36A, 36B, 36C respectively practiced in each support wall 34, 36, the positioning of the axes of rotation along these grooves defining the inclination of the support line. So, in the up position as illustrated on the figure 1 , the inclination is substantially 70 degrees while in the down position as illustrated in FIG. figure 2 this inclination is substantially 45 degrees.

La jonction du dispositif avec le tapis convoyeur est effectuée par une plaque sensiblement horizontale 38 fixée entre les deux parois support 34 et 36 et présentant une forme de peigne avec des rainurages 38A dont le nombre correspond au nombre de rouleaux présents dans la première série de rouleaux 22. Pour les grandes enveloppes, le dispositif est aussi muni d'une plaque de fond 40 présentant également une forme de peigne avec des rainurages 40A dont le nombre correspond au nombre de rouleaux présents dans la dernière série de rouleaux 26 et dont l'inclinaison est réglable. Plus particulièrement, cette plaque comporte un rabat perpendiculaire 40B pourvu d'une rainure 40C dans laquelle peut coulisser un moyen de serrage, comme un boulon 42, solidaire par exemple de l'une 34 des parois support, le blocage du boulon définissant la position d'inclinaison adoptée par la plaque de fond.The junction of the device with the conveyor belt is performed by a substantially horizontal plate 38 fixed between the two support walls 34 and 36 and having a comb shape with grooves 38A whose number corresponds to the number of rollers present in the first series of rollers 22. For large envelopes, the device is also provided with a bottom plate 40 also having a comb shape with grooves 40A whose number corresponds to the number of rollers present in the last set of rollers 26 and whose inclination is adjustable. More particularly, this plate comprises a perpendicular flap 40B provided with a groove 40C in which can slide a clamping means, such as a bolt 42, secured for example to one of 34 support walls, the locking of the bolt defining the position of inclination adopted by the bottom plate.

Le fonctionnement du dispositif selon l'invention est maintenant décrit en regard de la figure 2. Les articles de courrier sont éjectés à plat un par un depuis la sortie du poste d'affranchissement sur l'entrée du tapis convoyeur qui va alors les entraîner vers sa sortie. Sur ce tapis, du fait de la cadence élevée d'affranchissement, ces articles de courrier se chevauchent en partie formant ainsi un motif en écaille. A l'extrémité du tapis convoyeur, le premier article de courrier 50 va être entraîné sur les rouleaux du dispositif d'empilage. Le fait que les rouleaux soient montés fous permet de limiter le coefficient de frottement et d'assurer une libre remontée des enveloppes au fur à mesure de leur arrivée. Le second article de courrier 52 va faire de même et s'empiler sur le premier et ainsi de suite pour les suivants.The operation of the device according to the invention is now described with regard to the figure 2 . The mail items are ejected flat one by one from the exit of the franking station on the entrance of the conveyor belt which will then lead them to its output. On this carpet, because of the high rate of postage, these mail items overlap in part thus forming a shell pattern. At the end of the conveyor belt, the first mail piece 50 will be driven on the rollers of the stacking device. The fact that the rollers are mounted crazy allows to limit the coefficient of friction and ensure free recovery envelopes as they arrive. The second item of mail 52 will do the same and stack on the first and so on for the following.

On notera que le maintien de la pile en position verticale peut être facilité par la présence de moyens de pression mobiles, par exemple des rouleaux 54 montés fous sur leur axe de rotation, qui reculent vers l'avant du tapis convoyeur en fonction de la formation de la pile.It should be noted that the maintenance of the stack in the vertical position can be facilitated by the presence of mobile pressure means, for example rollers 54 mounted idle on their axis of rotation, which recede towards the front of the conveyor belt according to the formation of the pile.

On notera de même, que si le tapis convoyeur peut être disposé comme illustré à la figure 3, il peut tout aussi bien être disposé perpendiculairement vers l'avant du poste d'affranchissement comme vers l'arrière, le dispositif d'empilage de l'invention étant adapté à toutes ces configurations.It will also be noted that if the conveyor belt can be arranged as shown in FIG. figure 3 it may equally well be arranged perpendicularly towards the front of the franking station as towards the rear, the stacking device of the invention being adapted to all these configurations.

Claims (8)

  1. Device for stacking mail items for a device for receiving mail items having a conveyor belt (14) designed to receive and to convey the mail items from a franking station (12) of a mail handling machine, said device being characterized by a plurality of rollers (22, 24, 26) disposed in staggered manner on a plurality of axles (28, 30, 32) whose ends (28A, 28B; 30A, 30B; 32A, 32B) are fixed to respective ones of two support walls (34, 36) between which the axles extend, which support walls are mutually parallel and are spaced apart by at least the width of said conveyor belt.
  2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said axles are fixed to the two support walls in a manner such that the peripheral surface of each of the rollers is disposed on a support straight line that is inclined relative to the surface of said conveyor belt.
  3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the inclination of said support straight line is variable from a minimum inclination to a maximum inclination depending on the type of mail item handled.
  4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said inclination lies in the range 45° to 70°.
  5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises three series of rollers.
  6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a horizontal plate (38) that is fixed between the two support walls and that is comb-shaped with notches (38A), the number of which notches corresponds to the number of rollers present in the first one of said series of rollers.
  7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an end-wall plate (40) that is also comb-shaped with notches (40A), the number of which notches corresponds to the number of rollers present in the last one of said series of rollers.
  8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said end-wall plate has a perpendicular folded-over leaf (40B) provided with a slot (40C) for slidably receiving clamping means (42) that are secured, for example, to one of said support walls, and that, when tightened, define an inclination position for said end-wall plate.
EP07120508A 2006-11-16 2007-11-12 Device for stacking mail articles Expired - Fee Related EP1923343B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0654935A FR2908757B1 (en) 2006-11-16 2006-11-16 DEVICE FOR STACKING MAIL ITEMS.

Publications (2)

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EP1923343A1 EP1923343A1 (en) 2008-05-21
EP1923343B1 true EP1923343B1 (en) 2013-01-02

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EP07120508A Expired - Fee Related EP1923343B1 (en) 2006-11-16 2007-11-12 Device for stacking mail articles

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US (1) US7766323B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1923343B1 (en)
FR (1) FR2908757B1 (en)

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FR2944269B1 (en) * 2009-04-09 2011-05-06 Neopost Technologies DEVICE FOR RECEIVING HIGH CAPACITY MAIL ARTICLES
JP6052255B2 (en) * 2014-09-16 2016-12-27 コニカミノルタ株式会社 Image forming apparatus

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1923343A1 (en) 2008-05-21
FR2908757B1 (en) 2009-02-13
US20080138188A1 (en) 2008-06-12
US7766323B2 (en) 2010-08-03
FR2908757A1 (en) 2008-05-23

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