EP2213598A1 - Mail processing machine equipped with means for jogging mail articles against referencing walls - Google Patents

Mail processing machine equipped with means for jogging mail articles against referencing walls Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2213598A1
EP2213598A1 EP09305094A EP09305094A EP2213598A1 EP 2213598 A1 EP2213598 A1 EP 2213598A1 EP 09305094 A EP09305094 A EP 09305094A EP 09305094 A EP09305094 A EP 09305094A EP 2213598 A1 EP2213598 A1 EP 2213598A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
processing machine
mail
mail processing
machine according
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP09305094A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2213598B1 (en
Inventor
Werner Brunnhuber
Martin Lasinger
Robert Stahl
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
Application filed by Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Priority to EP09305094A priority Critical patent/EP2213598B1/en
Priority to US12/695,761 priority patent/US8186500B2/en
Publication of EP2213598A1 publication Critical patent/EP2213598A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2213598B1 publication Critical patent/EP2213598B1/en
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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
    • B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/02—Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
    • B65H3/04—Endless-belt separators
    • B65H3/042—Endless-belt separators separating from the bottom 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
    • B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
    • B65H5/02—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains
    • B65H5/021—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains by belts
    • B65H5/026—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains by belts between belts and stationary pressing, supporting or guiding elements forming a transport nip
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
    • B65H2404/50—Surface of the elements in contact with the forwarded or guided material
    • B65H2404/56—Flexible surface
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
    • B65H2404/50—Surface of the elements in contact with the forwarded or guided material
    • B65H2404/56—Flexible surface
    • B65H2404/561—Bristles, brushes
    • 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 in particular to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a mail processing machine comprising means for jogging mail items against the different referencing walls of a mail processing machine. .
  • the devices for transporting mail items used in mail processing machines are well known. They are conventionally formed of several drive members such as rollers (rollers) or conveyor belts traversing a tray receiving mail items and controlled by a suitable kinematic to convey these items downstream along a transport way. Such a transport device is found at different stations of the mail processing machine.
  • drive members including motorized conveyor belts
  • motorized conveyor belts have for sole and unique function to ensure the conveyance of mail items along the transport path of the mail processing machine.
  • the belts being smooth, there is often a slip which can cause a defect of conveying or a skewing of mail items.
  • the present invention therefore relates to a mail processing machine whose conveyor belts are improved to overcome slippage and also be able to tug the mail items against the referencing walls of the mail processing machine.
  • a mail processing machine comprising a longitudinal referencing wall, characterized in that it comprises a conveyor belt and jogging of mail articles formed of a continuous strip having two opposite faces of which an inner face having a serration adapted to cooperate with driving gears of said belt and an outer face having a plurality of flexible strips spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, the free ends of said flexible strips providing support for said articles; mail during transport.
  • said free ends of said flexible strips further provide a jogging of said mail items against said top reference wall.
  • the mail items are no longer in direct contact with a rigid drive band but with the ends of flexible strips that provide both a sliding-free transport function and a jogging function against a wall superior referencing.
  • said flexible strips are inclined by a determined angle ⁇ .
  • the impression on said belt of said inclined flexible leaflet is at most equal to the width of a tooth of said serration.
  • this belt can be made integrally of a single material such as rubber or silicone or in two parts, said continuous band comprising the serration being constituted by a first material and said flexible strips being made of a second material different from the first.
  • Said second material is a material meeting the technical specifications for conveying said mail items, for example polyurethane.
  • said flexible strips are fixed on the outer face of said continuous strip whose inner face comprises the serration, glue or any other means of attachment appropriate to the nature of the materials used.
  • each of said flexible strips is mounted facing a tooth of said serration.
  • the figure 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a mail processing machine of the prior art.
  • This machine conventionally comprises from upstream to downstream (with respect to the direction of movement of the mailpieces through the machine) at least: a feed station for mailpieces 10 provided with a receiving plate 10A on which are placed in a compact stack, homogeneous or not (depending on whether these items are of the same size or not), the mail items 12 to print; a selection station 14 for extracting one by one from the bottom of the stack the mail items to be printed; and a printing station 16 for printing a postal imprint on the selected mail article.
  • this machine can also include for example a station for weighing mail items and downstream include a station for receiving mail items franked.
  • the feed station 10 is conventionally formed of a plurality of drive members, for example three parallel and motorized belts 18 as illustrated, passing through the receiving tray 10A of mail items and controlled by a suitable kinematics (Not shown) for conveying mail items downstream along a transport path of mail items traversing this machine.
  • the same drive members are also present all along the transport path of these mail items and in particular upstream of the printing station 16.
  • each of the belts 18 intended to be mounted on two motorized gears 20A, 20B enabling the belt to be driven, whatever its position in the mail processing machine, consists of a continuous strip having two opposite faces having each a distinct structure.
  • the first face, or internal face 18A, in direct contact with these gears is provided with a serration 22 adapted to ensure a connection gears / belt sufficiently strong for a drive without slip.
  • the second face, or outer face 18B comprises a plurality of flexible strips 24 spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance adapted to the format of the processed mail items, for example 50mm for C5 / C6 standard size mailpieces and DL, and each of the free ends of which constitute a support part for the mailpieces which will rest on these lamellae during their transport while at the same time providing a jogging function against an upper referencing wall. More particularly, the distance between two adjacent lamellae is determined to ensure at least a contact of three of the free ends of these lamellae with the article of mail. On the other hand, there is no maximum limit and, in the extreme, it could be envisaged that these strips are almost side by side and then constituted by brushes formed of adjacent tufts of hair.
  • each of the flexible strips 24 is mounted opposite a tooth of the serration so as to ensure a better rigidity of the belt.
  • the thickness and height of these lamellae essentially depends on the format and the thickness of the mail items transported and, for standard formats of mail items, is for example respectively 2mm and 20mm.
  • the belt is made integrally in a single extruded element in a single material such as rubber or silicone, the level of flexibility of the lamellae depending on their height and thickness.
  • these flexible strips may also be made of a material different from the material constituting the serrated part of the strip, for example a polyurethane, and then chosen specifically according to the technical specifications of drive (friction, abrasion, hardness, elasticity) expected for conveying mail items.
  • the flexible strips are then fixed on the outer face of the serrated strip by glue or any other means of attachment appropriate to the nature of the materials used.
  • the mailpieces are no longer in contact with a relatively rigid smooth strip because of its necessary connection with the motorized gears but with a more flexible support formed of flexible strips which allows a better adhesion an absence slipping mail items during their conveyance.
  • this flexibility makes it possible to ensure a vertical jog against the upper wall 30 of referencing of the mail processing machine and thus a better compensation of the variations of thickness, as will be explained further with regard to the figure 3 .
  • FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate another embodiment of the conveyor belt and jogging in which the flexible strips 24 are no longer straight (that is to say perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the belt) but are inclined at an angle determined ⁇ relative to this perpendicular direction, for example 30 °, so as to also provide a jogging function against the longitudinal wall 32 reference.
  • the impression on the belt of the slat thus inclined is at most equal to the width of a tooth of the serration to maintain sufficient rigidity of the belt during its rotation.
  • the vertical jogging function provided by the belt is now illustrated with reference to the figure 3 which shows a partial section at the printing station of a mail processing machine. It may be noted that at this level, more precisely upstream of the printing means 16, the mailpieces are pressed against the upper referencing wall 30 by the flexible strips which press the mail article against this wall. These slats are more or less inclined and therefore more or less stretched depending on the thickness of the mail piece and friction forces existing between these slats and the mail piece being greater than those existing between the mail item and the reference metal wall, the mail piece can then be driven without slipping.
  • the invention may find application to the transport of all flat objects, paper, newspapers or the like provided that the weight of these objects n it does not cause the flexible slats to crush, thus causing them to lose their vertical jogging function.

Abstract

The machine has a transport and jogging motorized belt (18) formed by a continuous band whose internal face has a serration cooperating with drive pinions (20B) of the belt. An external face of the band includes flexible plates (24) spaced away from a predetermined distance with respect to each other. Free ends of the plates support flat objects i.e. post articles (12), during transporting of the objects. The belt is formed from a single material e.g. rubber and silicone. The serration is made of a material e.g. rubber and silicone, and the flexible plates are made of polyurethane.

Description

Domaine de la techniqueField of the art

La présente invention se rapporte notamment au domaine du traitement de courrier et elle concerne plus particulièrement une machine de traitement de courrier comportant des moyens permettant le taquage d'articles de courrier contre les différentes parois de mise en référence d'une machine de traitement de courrier.The present invention relates in particular to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a mail processing machine comprising means for jogging mail items against the different referencing walls of a mail processing machine. .

Art antérieurPrior art

Les dispositifs de transport d'articles de courrier mis en oeuvre dans les machines de traitement de courrier sont bien connus. Ils sont classiquement formés de plusieurs organes d'entraînement tels que des rouleaux (galets) ou des courroies de transport traversant un plateau de réception des articles de courrier et commandés par une cinématique appropriée pour convoyer ces articles vers l'aval le long d'un chemin de transport. On trouve un tel dispositif de transport à différents postes de la machine de traitement de courrier.The devices for transporting mail items used in mail processing machines are well known. They are conventionally formed of several drive members such as rollers (rollers) or conveyor belts traversing a tray receiving mail items and controlled by a suitable kinematic to convey these items downstream along a transport way. Such a transport device is found at different stations of the mail processing machine.

Ces organes d'entrainement, notamment les courroies de transport motorisées, ont pour seule et unique fonction d'assurer le convoyage des articles de courrier le long du chemin de transport de la machine de traitement de courrier. En outre, les courroies étant lisses, il se produit souvent un glissement qui peut entraîner un défaut de convoyage ou une mise en travers des articles de courrier.These drive members, including motorized conveyor belts, have for sole and unique function to ensure the conveyance of mail items along the transport path of the mail processing machine. In addition, the belts being smooth, there is often a slip which can cause a defect of conveying or a skewing of mail items.

Les inventeurs en cherchant à résoudre ce problème de glissement ont alors découvert que moyennement une modification de la structure des courroies lisses standards, ils pouvaient en plus de résoudre ce problème leur faire assurer une fonction supplémentaire et nouvelle de taquage des articles de courrier contre les parois de mise en référence de la machine de traitement de courrier, tant verticale que longitudinale.The inventors in seeking to solve this sliding problem then discovered that moderately a modification of the structure of the standard smooth belts, they could in addition to solve this problem make them provide an additional and new function of jogging mail items against the walls. referencing the mail processing machine, both vertical and longitudinal.

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

La présente invention a donc pour objet une machine de traitement de courrier dont les courroies de transport sont perfectionnées pour vaincre le glissement et pouvoir en outre également taquer les articles de courrier contre les parois de mise en référence de la machine de traitement de courrier.The present invention therefore relates to a mail processing machine whose conveyor belts are improved to overcome slippage and also be able to tug the mail items against the referencing walls of the mail processing machine.

Ce but est atteint avec une machine de traitement de courrier comportant une paroi longitudinale de mise en référence, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte une courroie de transport et de taquage d'articles de courrier formée d'une bande continue ayant deux faces opposées dont une face interne comportant une dentelure apte à coopérer avec des pignons d'entrainement de ladite courroie et une face externe comportant une pluralité de lamelles flexibles espacées les unes des autres d'une distance prédéterminée, les extrémités libres desdites lamelles flexibles assurant un support desdits articles de courrier lors de leur transport.This object is achieved with a mail processing machine comprising a longitudinal referencing wall, characterized in that it comprises a conveyor belt and jogging of mail articles formed of a continuous strip having two opposite faces of which an inner face having a serration adapted to cooperate with driving gears of said belt and an outer face having a plurality of flexible strips spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, the free ends of said flexible strips providing support for said articles; mail during transport.

Lorsque la machine de traitement de courrier comporte en outre une paroi supérieure de mise en référence, lesdites extrémités libres desdites lamelles flexibles assurent en outre un taquage desdits articles de courrier contre ladite paroi supérieure de mise en référenceWhen the mail processing machine further comprises a top referencing wall, said free ends of said flexible strips further provide a jogging of said mail items against said top reference wall.

Ainsi, par cette structure simple, les articles de courrier ne sont plus en contact direct avec une bande d'entraînement rigide mais avec les extrémités de lamelles flexibles qui assurent à la fois une fonction de transport sans glissement et une fonction de taquage contre une paroi supérieure de mise en référence.Thus, by this simple structure, the mail items are no longer in direct contact with a rigid drive band but with the ends of flexible strips that provide both a sliding-free transport function and a jogging function against a wall superior referencing.

Selon un mode de réalisation particulier permettant en outre d'assurer un taquage desdits articles de courrier contre ladite paroi longitudinale de mise en référence, lesdites lamelles flexibles sont inclinées d'un angle déterminé θ.According to a particular embodiment, which also makes it possible to jog said articles of mail against said longitudinal reference wall, said flexible strips are inclined by a determined angle θ.

De préférence, l'empreinte sur ladite courroie de ladite lamelle flexible inclinée est au plus égale à la largeur d'une dent de ladite dentelure.Preferably, the impression on said belt of said inclined flexible leaflet is at most equal to the width of a tooth of said serration.

Selon le mode de réalisation envisagé, cette courroie peut être réalisée de façon monobloc en un matériau unique tel que du caoutchouc ou de la silicone ou encore en deux parties, ladite bande continue comportant la dentelure étant constituée en un premier matériau et lesdites lamelles flexibles étant constituées en un second matériau différent du premier.According to the embodiment envisaged, this belt can be made integrally of a single material such as rubber or silicone or in two parts, said continuous band comprising the serration being constituted by a first material and said flexible strips being made of a second material different from the first.

Ledit second matériau est un matériau répondant aux spécifications techniques de convoyage desdits articles de courrier, par exemple du polyuréthane.Said second material is a material meeting the technical specifications for conveying said mail items, for example polyurethane.

Avantageusement, lesdites lamelles flexibles sont fixées sur la face externe de ladite bande continue dont ladite face interne comporte la dentelure, par colle ou tout autre moyen de fixation approprié à la nature des matériaux employés.Advantageously, said flexible strips are fixed on the outer face of said continuous strip whose inner face comprises the serration, glue or any other means of attachment appropriate to the nature of the materials used.

De préférence, chacune desdites lamelles flexibles est montée en regard d'une dent de ladite dentelure.Preferably, each of said flexible strips is mounted facing a tooth of said serration.

Brève description des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

L'invention sera mieux comprise au vu de la description détaillée qui va suivre accompagnée par des exemples illustratifs et non limitatifs en regard des figures suivantes sur lesquelles :

  • la figure 1 montre en perspective un premier exemple de réalisation d'une courroie de transport formant dispositif de taquage selon l'invention,
  • la figure 1A est une vue de détail de la courroie de la figure 1,
  • les figures 2A et 2B sont des vues de détail d'un second exemple de réalisation d'une courroie de transport formant dispositif de taquage selon l'invention,
  • la figure 3 est une vue en coupe partielle au niveau des moyens d'impression du dispositif de taquage selon l'invention, et
  • la figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'une machine de traitement de courrier de l'art antérieur.
The invention will be better understood in view of the following detailed description accompanied by illustrative and nonlimiting examples with reference to the following figures in which:
  • the figure 1 shows in perspective a first embodiment of a transport belt forming a jogging device according to the invention,
  • the Figure 1A is a detail view of the belt from the figure 1 ,
  • the Figures 2A and 2B are detailed views of a second exemplary embodiment of a transport belt forming a jogging device according to the invention,
  • the figure 3 is a partial sectional view at the printing means of the jogging device according to the invention, and
  • the figure 4 is a perspective view of a mail processing machine of the prior art.

Description détaillée de modes de réalisationDetailed description of embodiments

La figure 4 illustre un exemple de réalisation d'une machine de traitement de courrier de l'art antérieur. Cette machine comporte classiquement d'amont en aval (par rapport au sens de déplacement des articles de courrier au travers de la machine) au moins: un poste d'alimentation en articles de courrier 10 muni d'un plateau de réception 10A sur lequel sont placés en une pile compacte, homogène ou non (selon que ces articles sont de même dimension ou non), les articles de courrier 12 à imprimer ; un poste de sélection 14 pour extraire un à un par le dessous de la pile les articles de courrier à imprimer ; et un poste d'impression 16 pour imprimer une empreinte postale sur l'article de courrier ainsi sélectionné.The figure 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a mail processing machine of the prior art. This machine conventionally comprises from upstream to downstream (with respect to the direction of movement of the mailpieces through the machine) at least: a feed station for mailpieces 10 provided with a receiving plate 10A on which are placed in a compact stack, homogeneous or not (depending on whether these items are of the same size or not), the mail items 12 to print; a selection station 14 for extracting one by one from the bottom of the stack the mail items to be printed; and a printing station 16 for printing a postal imprint on the selected mail article.

Selon son degré de sophistication, cette machine peut aussi intégrer par exemple un poste de pesée des articles de courrier et comporter en aval un poste de réception des articles de courrier affranchis.Depending on its degree of sophistication, this machine can also include for example a station for weighing mail items and downstream include a station for receiving mail items franked.

Plus particulièrement, le poste d'alimentation 10 est formé classiquement d'une pluralité d'organes d'entraînement, par exemple trois courroies parallèles et motorisées 18 comme illustré, traversant le plateau de réception des articles de courrier 10A et commandés par une cinématique appropriée (non représentée) pour convoyer les articles de courrier vers l'aval le long d'un chemin de transport des articles de courrier traversant cette machine. Des mêmes organes d'entraînement sont aussi présents tout le long du chemin de transport de ces articles de courrier et notamment en amont du poste d'impression 16.More particularly, the feed station 10 is conventionally formed of a plurality of drive members, for example three parallel and motorized belts 18 as illustrated, passing through the receiving tray 10A of mail items and controlled by a suitable kinematics (Not shown) for conveying mail items downstream along a transport path of mail items traversing this machine. The same drive members are also present all along the transport path of these mail items and in particular upstream of the printing station 16.

Selon l'invention, et comme l'illustre la figure 1, chacune des courroies 18 destinées à être montées sur deux pignons motorisés 20A, 20B permettant un entraînement de la courroie, qu'elle que soit sa position dans la machine de traitement de courrier, est constituée d'une bande continue ayant deux faces opposées présentant chacune une structure distincte. La première face, ou face interne 18A, en prise directe avec ces pignons est pourvue d'une dentelure 22 apte à assurer une liaison pignons/courroie suffisamment résistante pour un entraînement sans glissement. La seconde face, ou face externe 18B, comporte une pluralité de lamelles flexibles 24 espacées les unes des autres d'une distance prédéterminée adaptée au format des articles de courrier traités, par exemple 50mm pour des articles de courrier de formats standards C5/C6 et DL, et dont chacune des extrémités libres constituent une partie de support pour les articles de courrier qui vont reposer sur ces lamelles pendant leur transport tout en assurant en même temps une fonction de taquage contre une paroi supérieure de mise en référence. Plus particulièrement, la distance entre deux lamelles adjacentes est déterminée pour assurer au minimum un contact de trois des extrémités libres de ces lamelles avec l'article de courrier. Il n'y a pas, par contre, de limite maximum et, à l'extrême, on pourrait envisager que ces lamelles soient quasi cote à cote et constituées alors par des brosses formées de touffes de poils adjacentes.According to the invention, and as illustrated by figure 1 , each of the belts 18 intended to be mounted on two motorized gears 20A, 20B enabling the belt to be driven, whatever its position in the mail processing machine, consists of a continuous strip having two opposite faces having each a distinct structure. The first face, or internal face 18A, in direct contact with these gears is provided with a serration 22 adapted to ensure a connection gears / belt sufficiently strong for a drive without slip. The second face, or outer face 18B, comprises a plurality of flexible strips 24 spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance adapted to the format of the processed mail items, for example 50mm for C5 / C6 standard size mailpieces and DL, and each of the free ends of which constitute a support part for the mailpieces which will rest on these lamellae during their transport while at the same time providing a jogging function against an upper referencing wall. More particularly, the distance between two adjacent lamellae is determined to ensure at least a contact of three of the free ends of these lamellae with the article of mail. On the other hand, there is no maximum limit and, in the extreme, it could be envisaged that these strips are almost side by side and then constituted by brushes formed of adjacent tufts of hair.

De préférence, et comme l'illustre la figure 1A, chacune des lamelles flexibles 24 est montée en regard d'une dent de la dentelure de façon à assurer une meilleure rigidité de la courroie. L'épaisseur et la hauteur de ces lamelles dépend essentiellement du format et de l'épaisseur des articles de courrier transportés et, pour des formats standards d'articles de courrier, est par exemple respectivement de 2mm et de 20mm.Preferably, and as illustrated by Figure 1A each of the flexible strips 24 is mounted opposite a tooth of the serration so as to ensure a better rigidity of the belt. The thickness and height of these lamellae essentially depends on the format and the thickness of the mail items transported and, for standard formats of mail items, is for example respectively 2mm and 20mm.

Classiquement, la courroie est réalisée de façon monobloc en un seul élément extrudé en un matériau unique tel que du caoutchouc ou de la silicone, le niveau de flexibilité des lamelles dépendant alors de leur hauteur et de leur épaisseur. Toutefois, ces lamelles flexibles peuvent aussi être réalisées dans un matériau différent du matériau constituant la partie dentelée de la bande, par exemple un polyuréthane, et choisi alors spécifiquement en fonction des spécifications techniques d'entraînement (frottement, abrasion, dureté, élasticité) attendues pour le convoyage des articles de courrier. Dans cette configuration, les lamelles flexibles sont alors fixées sur la face externe de la bande dentelée par colle ou tout autre moyen de fixation approprié à la nature des matériaux employés.Conventionally, the belt is made integrally in a single extruded element in a single material such as rubber or silicone, the level of flexibility of the lamellae depending on their height and thickness. However, these flexible strips may also be made of a material different from the material constituting the serrated part of the strip, for example a polyurethane, and then chosen specifically according to the technical specifications of drive (friction, abrasion, hardness, elasticity) expected for conveying mail items. In this configuration, the flexible strips are then fixed on the outer face of the serrated strip by glue or any other means of attachment appropriate to the nature of the materials used.

Ainsi, avec l'invention, les articles de courrier ne sont plus en contact avec une bande lisse relativement rigide du fait de sa nécessaire liaison avec les pignons motorisés mais avec un support plus souple formé de lamelles flexibles qui permet par une meilleure adhérence une absence de glissement des articles de courrier lors de leur convoyage. En outre et surtout, cette flexibilité permet d'assurer un taquage vertical contre la paroi supérieure 30 de mise en référence de la machine de traitement de courrier et donc une meilleure compensation des variations d'épaisseur, comme il sera explicité plus avant en regard de la figure 3.Thus, with the invention, the mailpieces are no longer in contact with a relatively rigid smooth strip because of its necessary connection with the motorized gears but with a more flexible support formed of flexible strips which allows a better adhesion an absence slipping mail items during their conveyance. In addition and above all, this flexibility makes it possible to ensure a vertical jog against the upper wall 30 of referencing of the mail processing machine and thus a better compensation of the variations of thickness, as will be explained further with regard to the figure 3 .

Les figures 2A et 2B illustrent un autre exemple de réalisation de la courroie de transport et de taquage dans lequel les lamelles flexibles 24 ne sont plus droites (c'est-à-dire perpendiculaire à la direction d'avancement de la courroie) mais sont inclinées d'un angle déterminé θ par rapport à cette direction perpendiculaire, par exemple 30°, de façon à assurer également une fonction de taquage contre la paroi longitudinale 32 de mise en référence. De préférence, l'empreinte sur la courroie de la lamelle ainsi inclinée est au plus égale à la largeur d'une dent de la dentelure pour conserver une rigidité suffisante de la courroie lors de sa rotation.The Figures 2A and 2B illustrate another embodiment of the conveyor belt and jogging in which the flexible strips 24 are no longer straight (that is to say perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the belt) but are inclined at an angle determined θ relative to this perpendicular direction, for example 30 °, so as to also provide a jogging function against the longitudinal wall 32 reference. Preferably, the impression on the belt of the slat thus inclined is at most equal to the width of a tooth of the serration to maintain sufficient rigidity of the belt during its rotation.

La fonction de taquage vertical assurée par la courroie est maintenant illustrée en regard de la figure 3 qui montre une coupe partielle au niveau du poste d'impression d'une machine de traitement de courrier. On peut noter qu'à ce niveau, plus précisément en amont des moyens d'impression 16, les articles de courrier sont taqués contre la paroi supérieure de mise en référence 30 par les lamelles flexibles qui plaquent l'article de courrier contre cette paroi. Ces lamelles sont plus ou moins inclinées et donc plus ou moins tendues selon l'épaisseur de l'article de courrier et les forces de friction existant entre ces lamelles et l'article de courrier étant supérieures à celles existantes entre l'article de courrier et la paroi métallique de mise en référence, l'article de courrier peut alors être entraîné sans glissement.The vertical jogging function provided by the belt is now illustrated with reference to the figure 3 which shows a partial section at the printing station of a mail processing machine. It may be noted that at this level, more precisely upstream of the printing means 16, the mailpieces are pressed against the upper referencing wall 30 by the flexible strips which press the mail article against this wall. These slats are more or less inclined and therefore more or less stretched depending on the thickness of the mail piece and friction forces existing between these slats and the mail piece being greater than those existing between the mail item and the reference metal wall, the mail piece can then be driven without slipping.

Bien entendu, on aura noté que si dans la description précédente, référence est faite essentiellement à des articles de courrier, l'invention peut trouver application au transport de tous objets plats, papier, journaux ou analogue sous réserve que le poids de ces objets n'entraine pas un écrasement des lamelles flexibles leur faisant alors perdre leur fonction de taquage vertical.Of course, it will be noted that if in the above description, reference is made essentially to mail items, the invention may find application to the transport of all flat objects, paper, newspapers or the like provided that the weight of these objects n it does not cause the flexible slats to crush, thus causing them to lose their vertical jogging function.

Claims (11)

Machine de traitement de courrier comportant une paroi longitudinale (32) de mise en référence, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte une courroie de transport et de taquage formée d'une bande continue ayant deux faces opposées dont une face interne (18A) comportant une dentelure (22) apte à coopérer avec des pignons (20A, 20B) d'entrainement de ladite courroie et une face externe (18B) comportant une pluralité de lamelles flexibles (24) espacées les unes des autres d'une distance prédéterminée, les extrémités libres desdites lamelles flexibles assurant un support desdits articles de courrier lors de leur transport.Mail processing machine having a longitudinal reference wall (32), characterized in that it comprises a conveyor belt and jogging belt formed of a continuous strip having two opposite faces, an inner face (18A) having a serration (22) adapted to cooperate with driving gears (20A, 20B) of said belt and an outer face (18B) having a plurality of flexible strips (24) spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, the ends free of said flexible strips providing support for said mail items during transport. Machine de traitement de courrier selon la revendication 1, comportant en outre une paroi supérieure (30) de mise en référence, caractérisée en ce que lesdites extrémités libres desdites lamelles flexibles assurent en outre un taquage desdits articles de courrier contre ladite paroi supérieure de mise en référence.A mail processing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a top referencing wall (30), characterized in that said free ends of said flexible blades further provide a jogging of said mailpieces against said top wall of delivery. reference. Machine de traitement de courrier selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que lesdites lamelles flexibles sont inclinées d'un angle déterminé θ pour en outre assurer un taquage desdits articles de courrier contre ladite paroi longitudinale de mise en référence.Mail processing machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said flexible slats are inclined at a given angle θ to further ensure a jogging of said mail items against said longitudinal referencing wall. Machine de traitement de courrier selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que l'empreinte sur ladite courroie de ladite lamelle flexible inclinée est au plus égale à la largeur d'une dent de ladite dentelure.Mail processing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the impression on said belt of said inclined flexible blade is at most equal to the width of a tooth of said serration. Machine de traitement de courrier selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ladite courroie est réalisée de façon monobloc en un matériau unique.Mail processing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said belt is made integrally of a single material. Machine de traitement de courrier selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que ledit matériau unique est du caoutchouc ou de la silicone.Mail processing machine according to claim 5, characterized in that said single material is rubber or silicone. Machine de traitement de courrier selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ladite courroie est réalisée en deux parties, ladite bande continue comportant la dentelure étant constituée en un premier matériau et lesdites lamelles flexibles étant constituées en un second matériau différent du premier.Mail processing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said belt is made in two parts, said continuous strip comprising the serration being made of a first material and said flexible strips being made of a second material different from the first. Machine de traitement de courrier selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que ledit second matériau est un matériau répondant aux spécifications techniques de convoyage desdits articles de courrier.Mail processing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that said second material is a material meeting the technical specifications for conveying said mail items. Machine de traitement de courrier selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que ledit premier matériau est du caoutchouc ou de la silicone et ledit second matériau est du polyuréthane.Mail processing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that said first material is rubber or silicone and said second material is polyurethane. Machine de traitement de courrier selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que lesdites lamelles flexibles sont fixées sur la face externe de ladite bande continue dont ladite face interne comporte ladite dentelure par colle ou tout autre moyen de fixation approprié à la nature des matériaux employés.Mail processing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that said flexible strips are fixed on the outer face of said continuous strip whose inner face comprises said indentation by glue or any other means of attachment appropriate to the nature of the materials used. Machine de traitement de courrier selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que chacune desdites lamelles flexibles est montée en regard d'une dent de ladite dentelure.Mail processing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said flexible strips is mounted opposite a tooth of said serration.
EP09305094A 2009-01-30 2009-01-30 Mail processing machine equipped with means for jogging mail articles against referencing walls Active EP2213598B1 (en)

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EP09305094A EP2213598B1 (en) 2009-01-30 2009-01-30 Mail processing machine equipped with means for jogging mail articles against referencing walls
US12/695,761 US8186500B2 (en) 2009-01-30 2010-01-28 Machine for handling flat articles

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CN113734715B (en) * 2021-09-23 2023-05-26 北京中车重工机械有限公司 Conveying line

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EP0645327A1 (en) * 1993-09-27 1995-03-29 Compagnie Generale D'automatisme Cga-Hbs Hopper for placing flat objects at disposal and separating device having such a hopper
WO1995018054A1 (en) * 1993-12-30 1995-07-06 Faltex Ag Method of continuously feeding flat articles from a stack
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US8186500B2 (en) 2012-05-29
US20100213034A1 (en) 2010-08-26

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