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

Definitions

• Telescopic support device for storage bins for postal items
• the invention relates to a telescopic support device for storage bins and in particular storage bins for postal items taken from sorting outlets of a postal sorting machine.
• These postal items can be letters or other flat objects of small or large format.
• the sorting outlets comprise storage members known as stackers in which sorted postal items are stored in stack on edge. These postal items are then manipulated by an operator from a sorting output stacker to be transferred in stacking order to a corresponding storage bin.
• a postal sorting machine comprises a feed inlet in which postal items are loaded in a stack, an unstacker for placing in series on the edge of the items, a device for automatically reading the destination address by OCR ( "Optical Characters Recognition") and a conveyor and sorting device that directs each mailpiece whose distribution address is automatically recognized to a particular sorting outlet corresponding to this distribution address.
• OCR "Optical Characters Recognition”
• the postal items are therefore grouped together during a first sorting pass.
• the items grouped in each sorting output must be placed in a certain order at the input of the sorting machine (or another sorting machine) for a second pass of the sorting process.
• To carry out this manipulation use is made of mail storage bins as described in patent US 2007/0056885.
• the mail sorting machine described in the above document is illustrated very schematically in FIG. 1.
• the sorting machine 1 comprises, in two superimposed rows, upper sorting output stackers 2 in which items 4 and 4 are stored. lower sorting output stackers 3 in which are stored items 5.
• the stackers 2 and 3 are offset vertically so as to clear an access space stackers 3 of the lowest level to facilitate handling the shipments 5 in these stackers 3.
• below each stacker 3 of the lowest level are placed two storage bins of items 7 and 8 which are mounted on a telescopic support device 6 able to extend horizontally in such a manner as to render accessible these two bins (as with a drawer) for filling with shipments and their movement to a tray conveyor (not shown).
• the tray 7 which is the most forward in this kind of drawer is intended to be filled with the shipments 5 of the stacker 3 of the lowest level while the tray 8 which is the rearmost in this drawer is intended for receive shipments 4 from stacker 2 of the highest level.
• the tray support device 6 is therefore extensible in a horizontal plane between a first retracted position (shown in solid lines) in the sorting machine and a second extended position (illustrated in short broken lines). out of the sorting machine.
• a telescopic support device of bins has the disadvantage of occupying in its extended position a large space on the ground.
• this known arrangement has the disadvantage of requiring the operator to a very wide and therefore very tiring movement between the stackers 2 of the highest level and the storage bins 8 which are practically on the ground. This arrangement therefore does not satisfactorily meet a workstation ergonomics satisfactory for certain individuals.
• the object of the present invention is to overcome this drawback by proposing a telescopic support device for storage bins to achieve a more satisfactory ergonomics of the workstation capable of facilitating the manipulation of operators and to reduce the efforts devoted to the handling of the bins.
• the invention relates to a telescopic support device for a tray, characterized in that it comprises a first slide with a first slide on which the tray rests and a second slide with a second slide, the first slide being articulated in rotation on the second slide.
• a device may advantageously be arranged between two stacked stackers such as stackers 2 and 3 in FIG. 1.
• the telescopic support device according to the invention may also have the following particulars: - There is provided an adjustable means of limiting the angular movement between the first slide and the second slide;
• said means for limiting the deflection is a cable
• a means is provided for locking the displacement of the second slider in the second slider when the first slider is in a position inclined with respect to the second slider;
• said locking means is a rocker lever which is in a non-locking retracted position when the first slide is folded over the second slide and which is in a locking position when the first slide is in an inclined position relative to the second slide.
• the invention therefore extends to a postal sorting machine provided with a plurality of such telescopic support devices associated respectively with a plurality of sorting outlets.
• the trays may be, in the retracted position of the telescopic support devices, set back from the two rows of sorting outlets in a horizontal direction.
• the telescopic support devices may have a second slide that is inclined relative to the horizontal.
• Each telescopic support device may comprise an angled sheet fixed to the first slide of said support device, this angled plate forming a horizontal bridge at the interface between a tank and a sorting outlet which is at the base of the tank when the support device is in an extended position.
• Figure 1 schematically illustrates a partial sectional view of a sorting machine according to the prior art.
• Figure 2 schematically illustrates a partial sectional view of a sorting machine equipped with the telescopic support device according to the invention in the retracted position.
• FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a partial sectional view of a sorting machine equipped with the telescopic support device according to the invention in extended position.
• FIG. 2 shows the sorting outlets of a sorting machine 21 equipped with a telescopic support device according to the invention.
• the machine of sorting 21 comprises on two superimposed rows of upper sorting output stackers 22 disposed above lower sorting output stackers 23, each upper stacker 22 being aligned substantially vertically with a lower stacker 23.
• the sorting outlets are assimilated to sort output stackers.
• two stacks of postal items 24 and 25 are respectively stored on edge in the stackers 22 and 23.
• a telescopic support device 26 is arranged vertically between an upper stacker 22 and a lower stacker 23 superimposed.
• the telescopic support device 26 thus disposed is able to move an upper storage bin 27 as close as possible below the upper stacker 22, thus facilitating the work of the operator while limiting the risks of falling mail items during the transfer of the stack of items 24 to the upper tray 27.
• a lower storage bin 28 is placed immediately below the lower stacker 23.
• the telescopic support device 26 is illustrated in Figure 2 in a retracted position in the sorting machine 21, that is to say in withdrawal sorting stack stackers.
• this retracted position makes it possible to offset the storage container 27 vertically relative to the stackers 22 and 23, thus clearing an access space to the stack of items 25 of the lower stacker 23.
• the operator can then pull the storage bin 28 out of the sorting machine 21 while staying as close to the lower stacker 23 for a safe transfer of postal items.
• the telescopic support 26 comprises for example a first slide 30A sliding in a first slide 30B disposed above a second slide 31A sliding in a second slide 31B.
• slide means a mechanical piece sliding in a slideway to make a movement straight.
• the first slide 3OB is articulated in rotation on the second slide 31A for example by means of a pivot connection 32.
• the pivot link 32 connects by for example, the ends in the direction of the arrow 33 of the second slide 31A with the first slide 30B.
• a telescopic support 26 thus formed is able to extend longitudinally towards the outside of the sorting machine 21 in the direction of the arrow 33.
• the first slider 30A is equipped with an angled sheet 34 which extends towards the back from the top edge of the storage bin. As detailed with reference to FIG. 3, the bent sheet forms a horizontal bridge at the interface between the tray 27 and the upper stacker 22.
• An action of traction of the operator on a handle (not shown) of the storage bin 27 causes an extension of the telescopic support 26 and thus a movement of the tray in the direction of the arrow 33.
• the telescopic support 26 moves from a position retracted in the sorting machine 21, shown in FIG. 2, to an extended position outside the machine 21, illustrated in FIG. 3. This transition takes place in two steps.
• the first step consists of a translational movement respectively of the sliders 30A and 31A with respect to the sliders 30B and 31B. This results in an extension in a telescopic manner in the direction of the arrow 33.
• the tray 27 is in a position out of the sorting machine 21, that is to say that the tray 27 is found in a position symmetrically opposite to the retracted position with respect to an axis formed by the stackers 22 and 23 .
• the first step is followed by a second natural tipping step of the tray 27.
• the weight of the tray 27 solidly drives the first slide 30A and the first slide 30B in rotation relative to the second slide 31B and the slider 31 A, the second slider 31 B being fixed to the frame of the sorting machine 21.
• the first slider 30A and the first slider 30B are integral in rotation, that is to say they are subject to the same switchover during the second step.
• the telescopic support 26 is in the position shown in FIG. 3.
• the lengths of extension of the slides and slides and their inclination are calculated so that the storage bin 27 in the extended position is positioned at the most. near the upper stacker 22 without being in contact with the lower stack of shipments
• the telescopic support device 26 is shown in extension in its position outside the machine 21.
• the angular displacement of the slide 30B relative to the slide 31A is limited for example by means of a cable 36, one end of which is fixed to the slide 30B and the other end to the slide 31A.
• the angle of inclination ⁇ of the slide 30B relative to the slide 31A can therefore be adjusted according to the length of the cable used. According to the inclination, the storage tank goes down more or less, thus adapting to different morphologies of operators. For example, the angular travel can be adjusted to the size of the operator. The manipulations of the operator are facilitated and its efficiency is improved.
• the occupied space corresponds only to the length of a tray.
• the bent plate 34 which is fixed to the first slider 30A is a bridge between the upper stacker 22 and the upper edge of the storage bin 24. This arrangement prevents the fall of the postal items handled by package of 1 stacker to the tray, thus preserving the sequence of shipments resulting from the first sorting pass.
• the packets of items can be brought into the tray 27 by sliding on the deck 34.
• the telescopic support 26 comprises a translation locking means 35 rotatably attached to the second slide 31A.
• This locking means for example in the form of a rod, functions as a rocker lever whose one end is in contact with the first slide 30B and whose other end is provided with a hook intended to fit into an opening formed in the second slide 31 B.
• the first slide 30B bears on the end of the locking means 35.
• the hook is disengaged from the opening and the second slide 31A can move. in translation relative to the second slide 31 B.
• the first slide 30A releases the end of the locking means 35 causing the tilting of the lever by gravity.
• the hook engages in the opening of the second slide 31 B. In this position of the locking means 35, the translational movement of the second slide 31A relative to the second slide 31 B is blocked.
• the telescopic support can not be returned inside the sorting machine 21 to the retracted position without the operator first rotating the first slider 30A and of the first slide 30B relative to the second slide 31A and the second slide 31B.
• the locking means 35 thus prevent the operator from retracting the telescopic support while the first slide 30B is always in an inclined position, and therefore to hit the lower pile 25.
• the telescopic support 26 could not be retracted into a confined space inside the sorting machine with the inclined slide 3OB since this confined space is provided for n ' occupy height only the space required for the passage of the ferry.
• the locking means therefore forces the operator to make a transition in two necessarily successive steps to move from the extended position shown in FIG. 3 to the retracted position illustrated in FIG.
• the operator lifts the storage bin 27 which tilts around the pivot connection 32 so that the slides 30A and 31A and the slides 30B and 31B are parallel. With this tilting the first slide 30B comes into contact with the locking means 35 which in turn switches. The hook is disengaged from the opening releasing the translational movement of the second slider 31A relative to the second slider 31B.
• the first step is followed by a second step in which the operator pushes the telescopic support towards the inside of the sorting machine 21 in the opposite direction of the arrow 33.
• the effort of the operator results by a translation movement respectively of the sliders 30A and 31A with respect to the sliders 30B and 31B. This results in a telescopic retraction of the support device.
• the telescopic support 26 is in the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 2.
• another locking means (not shown) blocks the storage bin in the retracted position.
• This locking means is unlocked by a simple traction of the operator in the direction of the arrow 33.
• the telescopic support is slightly inclined which has the advantage of stamping the postal items against the front wall of the storage bin.

Landscapes

• Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
• Pile Receivers (AREA)
• Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
• Collation Of Sheets And Webs (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)
• Supports Or Holders For Household Use (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=38704123

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (12)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (5)

Family Cites Families (28)

• 2007
  • 2007-05-25 FR FR0755256A patent/FR2916428B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2008
  • 2008-05-22 WO PCT/FR2008/050884 patent/WO2008149032A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2008-05-22 DE DE602008001984T patent/DE602008001984D1/de active Active
  • 2008-05-22 AU AU2008259657A patent/AU2008259657B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2008-05-22 AT AT08805829T patent/ATE475491T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-05-22 PT PT08805829T patent/PT2152439E/pt unknown
  • 2008-05-22 US US12/279,239 patent/US7959013B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-05-22 ES ES08805829T patent/ES2348007T5/es active Active
  • 2008-05-22 CN CN2008800175348A patent/CN101678403B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-05-22 EP EP08805829.2A patent/EP2152439B2/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2008-05-22 JP JP2010508887A patent/JP5110665B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-05-22 CA CA2687967A patent/CA2687967C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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