EP2325120B2 - Device for selecting mail articles with multiple pivoting catches - Google Patents

Device for selecting mail articles with multiple pivoting catches Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2325120B2
EP2325120B2 EP10188139.9A EP10188139A EP2325120B2 EP 2325120 B2 EP2325120 B2 EP 2325120B2 EP 10188139 A EP10188139 A EP 10188139A EP 2325120 B2 EP2325120 B2 EP 2325120B2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
selector
fingers
mailpiece
length
adjacent
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.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP10188139.9A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2325120B1 (en
EP2325120A1 (en
Inventor
Romain Pillard
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
Neopost Tech BV
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Neopost Technologies SA
Neopost Tech BV
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Application filed by Neopost Technologies SA, Neopost Tech BV filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Publication of EP2325120A1 publication Critical patent/EP2325120A1/en
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Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07BTICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00467Transporting mailpieces
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65HHANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/02Separating articles from piles using friction forces between articles and separator
    • B65H3/06Rollers or like rotary separators
    • B65H3/063Rollers or like rotary separators separating from the bottom of pile
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65HHANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H3/00Separating articles from piles
    • B65H3/46Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
    • B65H3/56Elements, e.g. scrapers, fingers, needles, brushes, acting on separated article or on edge of the pile
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65HHANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2404/00Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
    • B65H2404/60Other elements in face contact with handled material
    • B65H2404/62Transversely-extending bars or tubes
    • B65H2404/623Transversely-extending bars or tubes gate arrangement
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65HHANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/19Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/1916Envelopes and articles of mail

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a mail item selection device implemented in an automatic feeder module, or feeder, a postage meter franking machine.
  • a franking machine must be adapted to receive different types of mail items such as documents, folds or envelopes having greater or lesser thicknesses, typically from 0.1 mm to 20 mm.
  • it often has upstream of an automatic power supply module, in particular for conveying these mail items at different speeds and usually comprising means for receiving / stacking, selecting, transporting and possibly closing these items. mail items.
  • the selection means which conventionally comprise a fixed inclined die cooperating with opposed selection rollers in order to select mail items one by one and transport them downstream, must be able to avoid double passes in order to avoid that the postage calculated is wrong or that the mail item is not franked.
  • the die is replaced by an inclined belt whose rotation drives the mail items to the selection rollers.
  • the present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages resulting from the passage of duplicate envelopes by proposing a device for selecting mail items for franking machine feeder that can prohibit such a double pass.
  • the variation of length of the selection fingers can delay the arrival of the thicker than the thinnest and therefore avoid double-crossing.
  • said adjacent selection fingers of different lengths also have an angle of inclination with respect to the vertical, the angle of inclination being greater when said length is greater or again, a different restoring force, said restoring force being all the more important that said length is small.
  • said die has at least two adjacent series of adjacent selection fingers so that said mail piece is brought into contact with at least two selection fingers of the same length of each of said at least two series.
  • said adjacent selection fingers of different length also have an angle of inclination with respect to the different vertical, said angle of inclination being all the greater as its length is important or comprise a different restoring force, said restoring force being all the more important that said length is small.
  • said length of a selection finger is even larger than said selection finger is closer to a reference surface of said mail items.
  • the selection finger having a smaller length has an angle of inclination with respect to the vertical equal to zero.
  • the invention also relates to a mailpiece feeder for a postage meter comprising a mail item selection device as mentioned above.
  • an automatic mailing material feeding module conventionally comprises a feed zone formed essentially of a tray 10 intended to receive a stack of mail items and comprising first transport rollers 12 for driving these mail items to the downstream (and against a referencing wall 14) at a separation zone comprising a selection device 16 in which these mail items are extracted one by one from the stack of articles.
  • Second transport rollers (referenced 18 on the Figures 3 and 4 ) are generally provided at the exit of this separation zone for conveying the mail items thus extracted downstream.
  • the device for selecting mail items is not conventionally constituted of a fixed inclined die (a fixed-tooth comb) or of an inclined belt, as described in the patent cited in the preamble, cooperating with a plurality of opposed selection rollers to select a mail piece and a single one and carry it downstream but, unlike a die that can be described as mobile or dynamic in that it comprises a plurality of fingers 20A-20D, 22A-22D, 24A-24D each independently articulated around a common axis of rotation 26 and which, when passing mail items on the selection rollers, each pivot against a resilient return means, for example a tension spring 28 whose one end is integral with the selection finger and the other is supported on a frame portion 30 of the selection device.
  • a tension spring it is understood that a torsion spring or compression spring could also be suitable, subject to a spring attachment configuration to the spring. different frame, or any other similar means of return.
  • Each selection finger 20A-24D which may be made of an elastomer material having a very high coefficient of friction to ensure the best possible contact with the mail piece or a ceramic material which is of interest relative to the elastomer to not wear and not leave marks on the mail items, has a different length depending on its position relative to the referencing wall 14.
  • the inclination can also be different and grow in proportion to the length so that the vertical selection finger (thus at inclination equal to zero) is the smallest and the longest inclined selection finger.
  • the inclination may be identical but then the restoring force of the springs 48 is different, the shortest finger being subjected to the largest force, the longest to the weakest force .
  • the selection finger 20A closest to this reference wall is the one of greater length (it comes to tangent the selection rollers) and possibly greater inclination (about 60 ° relative to the vertical).
  • the finger 20B adjacent thereto has a possibly shorter length and inclination, typically a reduced length of 20% and an inclination of about 45 ° relative to the vertical.
  • the finger 20C adjacent to the finger 20B has a length and an inclination possibly even smaller, typically a length reduced by 40% compared to that of greater length and an inclination of about 30 ° relative to the vertical .
  • the finger 20D of smaller length and adjacent to the finger 20C has a still shorter length and inclination, typically a length reduced by 60% compared to the longer length and a lack of inclination (inclination of 0 °) compared to the vertical.
  • this first series of four selection fingers is followed by a second of four other similar fingers 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D and then a third of four other identical fingers 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D.
  • this configuration is in no way limiting and a greater or lesser number of sets of fingers is possible, one to four, for example, as a different number, identical or not, finger by series, two to five for example.
  • the die of the invention will comprise only two fingers of different length and possibly different inclination (unless the restoring forces of these two fingers are different).
  • the width of these fingers must be sufficient to ensure a good grip of the mail piece and will typically be about 2/3 of the width of a mail piece in international format C6.
  • the longest finger which is also closest to the referencing wall should be disposed at a distance from this wall sufficient to allow a good grip of a mail piece format business card.
  • the first and second series each having two fingers of different length and inclination thus forming a set of four fingers selection.
  • they are always in contact with at least two fingers of selection of the same length and inclination, which is the case with two sets of fingers having the same number of selection fingers.
  • the two longer fingers will pivot against their respective spring while the second fingers will be only beyond a predetermined mailpiece thickness range defined by the difference in length and length. tilt with the longest fingers.
  • the gap between the small fingers and large fingers it is possible for example to distinguish two thicknesses of mail items so that the pivoting of the two longest fingers by a mail piece having a very small thickness for example between 0 and 0.5 mm, will not cause a rise of short fingers, unlike a mail piece having a greater thickness up to the maximum thickness of 20 mm.
  • the operation of the selection device according to the invention illustrated mainly with regard to Figures 3 and 4 is the next.
  • the mailpieces to be treated being arranged in bulk on the feed tray 10, for very thin mailpieces, that is to say less than 0.5 mm, most of the selection work is done by the longer fingers 20A, 22B (and 24A if the width of the mail piece requires it), the adjacent fingers 20B, 22B (and also 24B according to the width of the mailpiece) avoiding if necessary the possible double passages.
  • the article of mail will not only lift the longest fingers but also those immediately adjacent, the others selection fingers 20C, 22C (and 24C if the width of the mail piece requires it) avoiding if necessary the possible double passages.
  • these other selection fingers will also be active while the last selection fingers 20D, 22D (and still 24D depending on the width of the article of mail) will only be raised for mail items of large thickness, that is to say greater than 6 mm.
  • At least the two longest fingers 20A, 22A are enabled for the smallest mail item format, that is, an international format (ISO 216) of CV business cards, whereas at the minus three fingers 20A, 20B, 20C; 22A, 22B, 22C of each of the first and second series can be activated according to the thickness of the mail piece for an international format C6 or C6 / 5.
  • an international C5 mail piece it is at least two fingers 20A, 20B; 22A, 22B; 24A, 24B of each of the first, second and third series that can be activated and for an international format mail item C4, it is the set of fingers 20A-24D that can be activated according to its thickness.
  • the present invention it is possible to automatically process mail items of different thicknesses without selecting, by a specific lever, a particular mode of operation as practiced by many devices of the prior art.
  • the different length of the selection fingers makes it possible to impose a variable pressure on the mailpieces according to their thickness because the larger a mail item is, the more it will be in contact with a large number of selection fingers, so that the strain on him will be higher and higher, which ensures a successful selection process.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)

Description

Domaine de la techniqueField of the art

La présente invention se rapporte au domaine du traitement de courrier et elle concerne plus particulièrement un dispositif de sélection d'articles de courrier mis en oeuvre dans un module d'alimentation automatique, ou alimenteur, d'une machine à affranchir les articles de courrier.The present invention relates to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a mail item selection device implemented in an automatic feeder module, or feeder, a postage meter franking machine.

Art antérieurPrior art

Classiquement, une machine à affranchir doit être adaptée pour recevoir différents types d'articles de courrier tels que des documents, plis ou enveloppes présentant des épaisseurs plus ou moins importantes, typiquement de 0,1 mm à 20 mm. Pour cela, elle dispose souvent en amont d'un module d'alimentation automatique permettant notamment le convoyage de ces articles de courrier à différentes vitesses et comportant usuellement des moyens pour la réception/empilement, la sélection, le transport et éventuellement la fermeture de ces articles de courrier.Conventionally, a franking machine must be adapted to receive different types of mail items such as documents, folds or envelopes having greater or lesser thicknesses, typically from 0.1 mm to 20 mm. For this, it often has upstream of an automatic power supply module, in particular for conveying these mail items at different speeds and usually comprising means for receiving / stacking, selecting, transporting and possibly closing these items. mail items.

Notamment, les moyens de sélection qui comportent classiquement une filière inclinée fixe coopérant avec des rouleaux de sélection opposés pour sélectionner un à un les articles de courrier et les transporter vers l'aval, doivent être en mesure d'éviter les doubles passages de façon à éviter que l'affranchissement calculé ne soit erroné ou que l'article de courrier ne soit pas affranchi. Dans le brevet US 5, 431, 385 la filière est remplacée par une courroie inclinée et dont la rotation entraine les articles de courrier vers les rouleaux de sélection.In particular, the selection means, which conventionally comprise a fixed inclined die cooperating with opposed selection rollers in order to select mail items one by one and transport them downstream, must be able to avoid double passes in order to avoid that the postage calculated is wrong or that the mail item is not franked. In the patent US 5, 431, 385 the die is replaced by an inclined belt whose rotation drives the mail items to the selection rollers.

Ces systèmes donnent globalement satisfaction lorsque la pile d'articles de courrier est homogène c'est-à-dire de même dimension et épaisseur ou disposée du plus épais au moins épais de telle sorte que le plus épais soit sur le dessous de la pile. Par contre, lorsque la pile n'est pas homogène et que, par exemple, un article de courrier épais recouvre (fait suite à) un de plus petite épaisseur alors c'est cet article le plus épais qui sera d'abord en prise avec la filière et non le plus mince, ce qui entrainera fréquemment un double passage.These systems are generally satisfactory when the stack of mail items is homogeneous that is to say of the same size and thickness or arranged from the thickest to the least thick so that the thickest is on the underside of the stack. On the other hand, when the battery is not homogeneous and that, for example, a thick mail article covers (follows) a smaller thickness then it is this thicker article that will first be engaged with the die and not the thinnest, which will often lead to a double pass.

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

La présente invention a pour but de pallier les inconvénients résultant du passage en double des enveloppes en proposant un dispositif de sélection d'articles de courrier pour alimenteur de machine à affranchir qui puisse interdire un tel double passage.The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages resulting from the passage of duplicate envelopes by proposing a device for selecting mail items for franking machine feeder that can prohibit such a double pass.

Ces buts sont atteints par un dispositif de sélection d'articles de courrier conformément à la revendication 1.These objects are achieved by a mail item selection device according to claim 1.

Ainsi, lorsqu'un article épais recouvre un plus mince, la variation de longueur des doigts de sélection permet de retarder l'arrivée du plus épais par rapport au plus mince et donc d'éviter tout double passage.Thus, when a thick article covers a thinner, the variation of length of the selection fingers can delay the arrival of the thicker than the thinnest and therefore avoid double-crossing.

De préférence, dans une position initiale de repos, lesdits doigts de sélection adjacents de longueur différente comporte également un angle d'inclinaison par rapport à la verticale différent ledit angle d'inclinaison étant d'autant plus important que ladite longueur est grande ou, bien encore, une force de rappel différente, ladite force de rappel étant d'autant plus importante que ladite longueur est petite.Preferably, in an initial rest position, said adjacent selection fingers of different lengths also have an angle of inclination with respect to the vertical, the angle of inclination being greater when said length is greater or again, a different restoring force, said restoring force being all the more important that said length is small.

Avantageusement, ladite filière comporte au moins deux séries adjacentes de doigts de sélection adjacents de sorte que ledit article de courrier est mis en contact avec au moins deux doigts de sélection de même longueur de chacune desdites au moins deux séries.Advantageously, said die has at least two adjacent series of adjacent selection fingers so that said mail piece is brought into contact with at least two selection fingers of the same length of each of said at least two series.

Pour chacune desdites au moins deux séries, lesdits doigts de sélection adjacents de longueur différente comportent également un angle d'inclinaison par rapport à la verticale différent, ledit angle d'inclinaison étant d'autant plus grand que sa longueur est importante ou bien comportent une force de rappel différente, ladite force de rappel étant d'autant plus importante que ladite longueur est petite.For each of the at least two series, said adjacent selection fingers of different length also have an angle of inclination with respect to the different vertical, said angle of inclination being all the greater as its length is important or comprise a different restoring force, said restoring force being all the more important that said length is small.

Avantageusement, ladite longueur d'un doigt de sélection est d'autant plus grande que ledit doigt de sélection est plus proche d'une surface de mise en référence desdits articles de courrier.Advantageously, said length of a selection finger is even larger than said selection finger is closer to a reference surface of said mail items.

De préférence, le doigt de sélection ayant une plus petite longueur comporte un angle d'inclinaison par rapport à la verticale égal à zéro.Preferably, the selection finger having a smaller length has an angle of inclination with respect to the vertical equal to zero.

L'invention concerne aussi un alimenteur en articles de courrier pour machine à affranchir comportant un dispositif de sélection d'articles de courrier tel que précité.The invention also relates to a mailpiece feeder for a postage meter comprising a mail item selection device as mentioned above.

Brève description des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

D'autres 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 mode de réalisation préférentiel du dispositif de sélection d'articles de courrier selon l'invention,
  • la figure 2 est une vue de dessus du dispositif de sélection préférentiel de la figure 1,
  • la figure 2A est un écorché montrant une variante minimaliste du dispositif de sélection selon l'invention, et
  • les figures 3 et 4 montrent le dispositif de sélection préférentiel de la figure 1 respectivement dans une position initiale de repos et une position ultérieure de sélection d'un article de courrier.
Other 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 preferred embodiment of the mail item selection device according to the invention,
  • the figure 2 is a top view of the preferred selection device of the figure 1 ,
  • the Figure 2A is a skinned showing a minimalist variant of the selection device according to the invention, and
  • the Figures 3 and 4 show the preferential selection device of the figure 1 respectively in an initial position of rest and a subsequent position of selection of a mail item.

Description détaillée d'un mode de réalisation préférentiel de l'inventionDETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Comme le montrent les figures 1 et 2, un module d'alimentation automatique en articles de courrier comporte classiquement une zone d'alimentation formée essentiellement d'un plateau 10 destiné à recevoir une pile d'articles de courrier et comportant des premiers rouleaux de transport 12 pour entraîner ces articles de courrier vers l'aval (et contre une paroi de mise en référence 14) au niveau d'une zone de séparation comportant un dispositif de sélection 16 dans lequel ces articles de courrier sont extraits un par un de la pile d'articles. Des seconds rouleaux de transport (référencés 18 sur les figures 3 et 4) sont en général prévus en sortie de cette zone de séparation pour convoyer les articles de courrier ainsi extraits vers l'aval.As shown by Figures 1 and 2 , an automatic mailing material feeding module conventionally comprises a feed zone formed essentially of a tray 10 intended to receive a stack of mail items and comprising first transport rollers 12 for driving these mail items to the downstream (and against a referencing wall 14) at a separation zone comprising a selection device 16 in which these mail items are extracted one by one from the stack of articles. Second transport rollers (referenced 18 on the Figures 3 and 4 ) are generally provided at the exit of this separation zone for conveying the mail items thus extracted downstream.

Conformément à l'invention, le dispositif de sélection d'articles de courrier n'est pas constitué classiquement d'une filière inclinée fixe (un peigne à dents fixes) ou d'une courroie inclinée, comme décrit dans le brevet cité en préambule, coopérant avec plusieurs rouleaux de sélection opposés pour sélectionner un article de courrier et un seul et le transporter vers l'aval mais, au contraire d'une filière qui peut être qualifiée de mobile ou dynamique en ce sens qu'elle comporte une pluralité de doigts de sélection 20A-20D, 22A-22D, 24A-24D articulés chacun indépendamment autour d'un axe de rotation commun 26 et pouvant, lors du passage des articles de courrier sur les rouleaux de sélection, pivoter chacun à l'encontre d'un moyen de rappel élastique, par exemple un ressort de traction 28 dont une extrémité est solidaire du doigt de sélection et l'autre est en appui sur une partie de bâti 30 du dispositif de sélection. On notera que s'il a été fait référence à titre d'exemple à un ressort de traction, il est bien entendu qu'un ressort de torsion ou de compression pourrait aussi convenir, sous réserve d'une configuration d'attache du ressort au bâti différente, ou encore tout autre moyen de rappel analogue.According to the invention, the device for selecting mail items is not conventionally constituted of a fixed inclined die (a fixed-tooth comb) or of an inclined belt, as described in the patent cited in the preamble, cooperating with a plurality of opposed selection rollers to select a mail piece and a single one and carry it downstream but, unlike a die that can be described as mobile or dynamic in that it comprises a plurality of fingers 20A-20D, 22A-22D, 24A-24D each independently articulated around a common axis of rotation 26 and which, when passing mail items on the selection rollers, each pivot against a resilient return means, for example a tension spring 28 whose one end is integral with the selection finger and the other is supported on a frame portion 30 of the selection device. Note that if reference has been made by way of example to a tension spring, it is understood that a torsion spring or compression spring could also be suitable, subject to a spring attachment configuration to the spring. different frame, or any other similar means of return.

Chaque doigt de sélection 20A-24D, qui peut être constitué en un matériau élastomère présentant un coefficient de frottement très élevé pour assurer le meilleur contact possible avec l'article de courrier ou encore un matériau céramique qui présente l'intérêt par rapport à l'élastomère de ne pas s'user et de ne pas laisser de marques sur les articles de courrier, comporte une longueur différente selon sa position par rapport à la paroi de mise en référence 14. L'inclinaison peut aussi être différente et croitre en proportion de la longueur de sorte que le doigt de sélection vertical (donc à inclinaison égale à zéro) est le plus petit et le doigt de sélection le plus incliné le plus long. Dans un mode de réalisation alternatif non représenté, l'inclinaison peut être identique mais alors la force de rappel des ressorts 48 est différente, le doigt le plus court étant soumis à la force la plus importante, le plus long à la force la plus faible.Each selection finger 20A-24D, which may be made of an elastomer material having a very high coefficient of friction to ensure the best possible contact with the mail piece or a ceramic material which is of interest relative to the elastomer to not wear and not leave marks on the mail items, has a different length depending on its position relative to the referencing wall 14. The inclination can also be different and grow in proportion to the length so that the vertical selection finger (thus at inclination equal to zero) is the smallest and the longest inclined selection finger. In an alternative embodiment not shown, the inclination may be identical but then the restoring force of the springs 48 is different, the shortest finger being subjected to the largest force, the longest to the weakest force .

Ainsi, le doigt de sélection 20A le plus proche de cette paroi de mise en référence est celui de plus grande longueur (il vient tangenter les rouleaux de sélection) et éventuellement de plus grande inclinaison (environ 60° par rapport à la verticale). Le doigt 20B qui lui est adjacent présente une longueur et une inclinaison éventuellement moindre, typiquement une longueur réduite de 20% et une inclinaison de l'ordre de 45° par rapport à la verticale. De même, le doigt 20C adjacent au doigt 20B présente une longueur et une inclinaison éventuellement encore moindre, typiquement une longueur réduite de 40% par rapport à celui de plus grande longueur et une inclinaison de l'ordre de 30° par rapport à la verticale. Enfin, le doigt 20D de plus petite longueur et adjacent au doigt 20C présente une longueur et une inclinaison encore moindre, typiquement une longueur réduite de 60% par rapport à celui de plus grande longueur et une absence d'inclinaison (inclinaison de 0°) par rapport à la verticale. Dans l'exemple illustré, cette première série de quatre doigts de sélection est suivie par une deuxième de quatre autres doigts semblables 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D puis encore d'une troisième de quatre autres doigts identiques 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D.Thus, the selection finger 20A closest to this reference wall is the one of greater length (it comes to tangent the selection rollers) and possibly greater inclination (about 60 ° relative to the vertical). The finger 20B adjacent thereto has a possibly shorter length and inclination, typically a reduced length of 20% and an inclination of about 45 ° relative to the vertical. Similarly, the finger 20C adjacent to the finger 20B has a length and an inclination possibly even smaller, typically a length reduced by 40% compared to that of greater length and an inclination of about 30 ° relative to the vertical . Finally, the finger 20D of smaller length and adjacent to the finger 20C has a still shorter length and inclination, typically a length reduced by 60% compared to the longer length and a lack of inclination (inclination of 0 °) compared to the vertical. In the illustrated example, this first series of four selection fingers is followed by a second of four other similar fingers 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D and then a third of four other identical fingers 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D.

Bien entendu, cette configuration n'est aucunement limitative et un nombre plus ou moins important de séries de doigts est envisageable, une à quatre par exemple, comme un nombre différent, identique ou non, de doigt par série, deux à cinq par exemple. Ainsi, dans une configuration minimaliste illustrée à la figure 2A, la filière de l'invention comportera seulement deux doigts de longueur différente et éventuellement d'inclinaison différente (à moins que les forces de rappel de ces deux doigts ne soient différentes). La largeur de ces doigts devra être suffisante pour assurer une bonne prise de l'article de courrier et sera classiquement de l'ordre de 2/3 de la largeur d'un article de courrier au format international C6. En outre, le doigt le plus long qui est aussi le plus proche de la paroi de mise en référence devra être disposé à une distance de cette paroi suffisante pour permettre une bonne prise d'un article de courrier au format carte de visite. Toutefois, à cette configuration, il sera préféré une configuration avec deux séries de doigts de sélection, les première et seconde séries comportant chacune deux doigts de longueur et inclinaison différentes formant ainsi un ensemble de quatre doigts de sélection. En effet, afin d'éviter une mise en biais des articles de courrier, il est préférable que ceux-ci soient toujours en contact avec au moins deux doigts de sélection de même longueur et inclinaison, ce qui est le cas avec deux séries de doigts comportant le même nombre de doigts de sélection. Les deux doigts de plus grande longueur pivoteront à l'encontre de leur ressort respectif alors que les seconds doigts ne le seront qu'au delà d'une plage d'épaisseur d'articles de courrier prédéterminée définie par la différence de longueur et d'inclinaison avec les doigts les plus longs. Ainsi, par le décalage existant entre les petits doigt et les grands doigts, il est possible par exemple de distinguer deux épaisseurs d'articles de courrier de sorte que le pivotement des deux doigts les plus longs par un article de courrier ayant une épaisseur très faible, par exemple comprise entre 0 et 0,5 mm, ne provoquera pas une levée des doigts courts, au contraire d'un article de courrier ayant une épaisseur plus importante pouvant aller jusqu'à l'épaisseur maximale de 20 mm.Of course, this configuration is in no way limiting and a greater or lesser number of sets of fingers is possible, one to four, for example, as a different number, identical or not, finger by series, two to five for example. So, in a minimalist configuration illustrated at the Figure 2A the die of the invention will comprise only two fingers of different length and possibly different inclination (unless the restoring forces of these two fingers are different). The width of these fingers must be sufficient to ensure a good grip of the mail piece and will typically be about 2/3 of the width of a mail piece in international format C6. In addition, the longest finger which is also closest to the referencing wall should be disposed at a distance from this wall sufficient to allow a good grip of a mail piece format business card. However, in this configuration, it will be preferred a configuration with two sets of selection fingers, the first and second series each having two fingers of different length and inclination thus forming a set of four fingers selection. Indeed, in order to avoid biasing the mail items, it is preferable that they are always in contact with at least two fingers of selection of the same length and inclination, which is the case with two sets of fingers having the same number of selection fingers. The two longer fingers will pivot against their respective spring while the second fingers will be only beyond a predetermined mailpiece thickness range defined by the difference in length and length. tilt with the longest fingers. Thus, by the gap between the small fingers and large fingers, it is possible for example to distinguish two thicknesses of mail items so that the pivoting of the two longest fingers by a mail piece having a very small thickness for example between 0 and 0.5 mm, will not cause a rise of short fingers, unlike a mail piece having a greater thickness up to the maximum thickness of 20 mm.

Le fonctionnement du dispositif de sélection selon l'invention illustré principalement en regard des figures 3 et 4 est le suivant. Les articles de courrier à traiter étant disposés en vrac sur le plateau d'alimentation 10, pour les courriers de très faible épaisseur, c'est-à-dire inférieure à 0,5 mm, l'essentiel du travail de sélection est effectué par les doigts les plus longs 20A, 22B (et 24A si la largeur de l'article de courrier le nécessite), les doigts adjacents 20B, 22B (et aussi 24B selon la largeur de l'article de courrier) évitant si nécessaire les éventuels doubles passages. Pour les courriers de faible épaisseur, c'est-à-dire dont l'épaisseur est comprise entre 0,5 et 2 mm, l'article de courrier va non seulement soulever les doigts les plus longs mais aussi ceux immédiatement adjacents, les autres doigts de sélection 20C, 22C (et 24C si la largeur de l'article de courrier l'exige) évitant si nécessaire les éventuels doubles passages. Enfin, pour les articles de courrier d'épaisseur standard, typiquement compris entre 2 et 6 mm, ces autres doigts de sélection seront aussi actifs alors que les derniers doigts de sélection 20D, 22D (et encore 24D selon la largeur de l'article de courrier) ne seront soulevés que pour des articles de courrier de forte épaisseur, c'est-à-dire supérieur à 6 mm. En outre, du fait de l'inclinaison croissante selon leur longueur de chacun des doigts de sélection, un article de courrier plus épais recouvrant un article plus fin ne pourra en aucun cas être sélectionné avant ou avec cet article plus fin et donc occasionner un double passage (le passage des deux articles fin et épais en même temps).The operation of the selection device according to the invention illustrated mainly with regard to Figures 3 and 4 is the next. The mailpieces to be treated being arranged in bulk on the feed tray 10, for very thin mailpieces, that is to say less than 0.5 mm, most of the selection work is done by the longer fingers 20A, 22B (and 24A if the width of the mail piece requires it), the adjacent fingers 20B, 22B (and also 24B according to the width of the mailpiece) avoiding if necessary the possible double passages. For thin mail, that is to say with a thickness between 0.5 and 2 mm, the article of mail will not only lift the longest fingers but also those immediately adjacent, the others selection fingers 20C, 22C (and 24C if the width of the mail piece requires it) avoiding if necessary the possible double passages. Finally, for mail items of standard thickness, typically between 2 and 6 mm, these other selection fingers will also be active while the last selection fingers 20D, 22D (and still 24D depending on the width of the article of mail) will only be raised for mail items of large thickness, that is to say greater than 6 mm. In addition, because of the increasing inclination according to their length of each of the selection fingers, a thicker mail article covering a thinner article can in no way be selected before or with this article finer and therefore cause a double passage (the passage of two fine and thick articles at the same time).

Cette action différentiée selon l'épaisseur des articles de courrier évite une usure prématurée des doigts de sélection non concernés qui, sans cette configuration, seraient soumis à des chocs répétés avec tous les articles de courrier, de même qu'elle évite également un froissement des articles de courrier les plus fragiles, comme les enveloppes à fenêtre.This differentiated action according to the thickness of the mailpieces avoids premature wear of the non-affected selection fingers which, without this configuration, would be subjected to repeated shocks with all the mailpieces, as well as to avoid wrinkling of the mailpieces. the most fragile mail items, such as window envelopes.

On notera que comme il a été indiqué précédemment et comme cela apparaît plus précisément dans l'exemple de la figure 2, au moins les deux doigts les plus longs 20A, 22A sont activés pour le format d'articles de courrier le plus petit, c'est-à-dire un format international (ISO 216) de cartes de visite CV alors que qu'au moins trois doigts 20A, 20B, 20C ; 22A, 22B, 22C de chacune des première et deuxième séries peuvent être activés selon l'épaisseur de l'article de courrier pour un format international C6 ou C6/5. Pour un article de courrier au format international C5, c'est au moins deux doigts 20A, 20B; 22A, 22B; 24A, 24B de chacune des première, deuxième et troisième séries qui peuvent être activés et pour un article de courrier au format international C4, c'est l'ensemble des doigts 20A-24D qui peuvent être activés selon son épaisseur.It will be noted that as indicated previously and as it appears more precisely in the example of the figure 2 at least the two longest fingers 20A, 22A are enabled for the smallest mail item format, that is, an international format (ISO 216) of CV business cards, whereas at the minus three fingers 20A, 20B, 20C; 22A, 22B, 22C of each of the first and second series can be activated according to the thickness of the mail piece for an international format C6 or C6 / 5. For an international C5 mail piece, it is at least two fingers 20A, 20B; 22A, 22B; 24A, 24B of each of the first, second and third series that can be activated and for an international format mail item C4, it is the set of fingers 20A-24D that can be activated according to its thickness.

Ainsi, avec la présente invention, il est possible de traiter automatiquement des articles de courrier de différentes épaisseurs sans sélectionner, par un levier spécifique, un mode de fonctionnement particulier comme le pratique beaucoup des dispositifs de l'art antérieur. En outre, la longueur différente des doigts de sélection permet d'imposer une pression variable sur les articles de courrier selon leur épaisseur car plus un article de courrier sera épais et plus il sera en contact avec un nombre élevé de doigts de sélection de sorte que la contrainte exercée sur lui sera de plus en plus élevée, ce qui permet de garantir un processus de sélection performant.Thus, with the present invention, it is possible to automatically process mail items of different thicknesses without selecting, by a specific lever, a particular mode of operation as practiced by many devices of the prior art. In addition, the different length of the selection fingers makes it possible to impose a variable pressure on the mailpieces according to their thickness because the larger a mail item is, the more it will be in contact with a large number of selection fingers, so that the strain on him will be higher and higher, which ensures a successful selection process.

Claims (9)

  1. A mailpiece selector device comprising a guide (16) co-operating with at least one opposing selector roller (12) to separate mailpieces one-by-one from a stack of mailpieces and to transport them downstream, characterized in that said guide has at least two adjacent selector fingers (20A-20D, 22A-22D, 24A-24D) having different lengths, and each of said selector fingers pivots independently from the other(s) about a common pivot axis (26) and against respective associated resilient return means (28), the different length of said selector fingers allowing to enforce a variable pressure on said mailpieces according to their thickness, such that more than a mailpiece is thick it is in contact with a high number of selector fingers and the strain exerted on him is then more and more strong.
  2. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 1, characterized in that, in an initial rest position, said adjacent selector fingers having different lengths also have different angles of inclination relative to the vertical, the longer said length the larger said angle of inclination.
  3. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 1 ,characterized in that said adjacent selector fingers having different lengths have different return forces, the shorter said length the larger said return force.
  4. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 1, characterized in that said guide has at least two adjacent series of adjacent selector fingers so that said mailpiece is put into contact with at least two same-length selector fingers of respective ones of said at least two series.
  5. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 4, characterized in that, for each of said at least two series, said adjacent selector fingers having different lengths also have different angles of inclination relative to the vertical, the longer the length of the finger the larger said angle of inclination.
  6. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 5, characterized in that the selector finger having the shortest length has an angle of inclination relative to the vertical that is equal to zero.
  7. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 4, characterized in that, for each of said at least two series, said adjacent selector fingers having different lengths have different return forces, the shorter said length the larger said return force.
  8. A mailpiece selector device according to claim 4, characterized in that, for each of said at least two series, the closer a selector finger is to a referencing surface (14) for said mailpieces the larger the length of said selector finger.
  9. A mailpiece feeder for a franking machine, which feeder comprises a mailpiece selector device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
EP10188139.9A 2009-10-28 2010-10-20 Device for selecting mail articles with multiple pivoting catches Not-in-force EP2325120B2 (en)

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FR0957575A FR2951847B1 (en) 2009-10-28 2009-10-28 DEVICE FOR SELECTING PIVOTING MULTIPLE FINGER MAIL ARTICLES.

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EP2325120B1 (en) 2014-12-31
FR2951847B1 (en) 2011-12-09
EP2325120A1 (en) 2011-05-25
US20110123307A1 (en) 2011-05-26
US8511673B2 (en) 2013-08-20

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