EP2382057B1 - Postal sorting machine including a manual feeding station - Google Patents

Postal sorting machine including a manual feeding station Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2382057B1
EP2382057B1 EP09801507A EP09801507A EP2382057B1 EP 2382057 B1 EP2382057 B1 EP 2382057B1 EP 09801507 A EP09801507 A EP 09801507A EP 09801507 A EP09801507 A EP 09801507A EP 2382057 B1 EP2382057 B1 EP 2382057B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
conveyor
sorting machine
mailpiece
feed station
manual feed
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Not-in-force
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EP09801507A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2382057A1 (en
Inventor
Stéphane Ambroise
Mathieu Bayon
Bernard Constant
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Solystic SAS
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Solystic SAS
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    • 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
    • B07C3/02—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a postal sorting machine comprising an automatic feeding station with an unstacking device, a manual feed station, and a sorting conveyor adapted to move postal items in series one behind the other. along a conveying direction.
  • the automatic feeding station is designed to automatically feed the conveyor from a stack of shipments.
  • the manual feed station is adapted to receive manually inserted shipments individually and place them in the conveyor.
  • Such a manual feed station allows to insert before, during or after the flow of the items automatically unstacked at the entrance of the machine, other so-called non-machinable or non-standard shipments.
  • These non-standard shipments are shipments that have, for example, too large dimensions, variable thickness or weight too large to be supported by an automatic unstacker. It may also be letters surrounded by tape or string.
  • Patent document is known US 5954330 such a machine in which the sorting conveyor moves the shipments on edge and the manual feed station is in the form of another conveyor ship on edge that converges to the sorting conveyor.
  • This solution has the disadvantage of occupying a non-negligible floor area and may require the establishment of additional devices to achieve the convergence of the stream of items which increases the cost of the sorting machine.
  • the object of the invention is therefore to provide a sorting machine with a manual feed station for non-machinable or non-standard shipments that does not have the disadvantages above.
  • the subject of the invention is a postal sorting machine comprising an automatic feed station with an unstacking device, a manual feed station, and a sorting conveyor adapted to move postal items in series. one behind the other along a conveying direction, the automatic feeding station being provided to automatically feed the conveyor from a stack of shipments, the manual feed station being adapted to receive individually inserted consignments and placing them in the conveyor, characterized in that the manual feed station comprises a protective cover forming a kind of tunnel above the conveyor, an insertion slot in the protective cover through which a shipment can be inserted into the tunnel, this slot being aligned vertically with a receiving space and taking care of a shipment in the conveyor which has the shape of a funnel.
  • the idea underlying the invention is to create a slot insertion of mail in the protective cover which is similar to a mailbox slot with dimensions adapted to receive a non-machineable shipment inserted in the slot according to a position on singing on the width.
  • This insertion slot may also be designed to vertically guide the inserted shipment so that it retains this position until it reaches the receiving space.
  • the edges of the insertion slot define a kind of vertical channel.
  • this channel may be formed by folding the falling edge of the sheet forming the cover on the periphery of the slot.
  • this funnel-shaped space has a bottom defined by a horizontal hearth on which the catch inserted into the slot falls on edge and sides defined by two conveying surfaces which are oriented relative to each other to converge in the conveying direction.
  • the conveying surfaces of this reception and handling space forming a sort of funnel may be two opposite bands mounted on pulleys, one of the two bands being engaged in the convergence zone with the other band. on a pulley axis movable relative to the sole and inclined relative to the vertical so that these two bands can pinch shipments of different thicknesses or shipments having a variation in thickness.
  • the inclination of the movable axis of this pulley can be of the order of 20 degrees while the receiving hearth can extend over a length of about 400 mm, the V shape defined on the floor by these two bands may have an angle of about 30 degrees.
  • This space for receiving and handling manually inserted mail can be interposed between the unstacking device and an image acquisition system for reading postal addresses and therefore its presence does not increase the footprint of the sorting machine. It will be understood that it can be an integral part in practice of the conveyor on edge of the unstacker.
  • This manual feed station can advantageously be part of a tilting (or tilting) station of large format shipments if the sorting machine is adapted more specifically to this category of items. It is known that for this category of items, it may be necessary to tilt them before their passage in the image forming system from a position on vertical edge to a position inclined relative to the vertical or a flat position to prevent them from collapsing on themselves.
  • a sorting machine 1 conventionally equipped with a feed inlet with an unstacking device 2 which feeds a sorting conveyor 3 in which the unstacked items are moved in series one behind the other .
  • This conveyor 3 has a conveyor part which is here interposed between the unstacker itself 2 and a image acquisition system 4 for automatic reading of postal addresses on the surface of shipments to direct shipments to sorting outlets.
  • a carousel 5 bucket 6 which serves to direct large format shipments to sorting outlets 7.
  • the automatic feeding station 8 conventionally comprises a conveyor belt 20 which moves with a pallet 21 along a jogging wall 22 to bring a stack of items P to a vertical unstacking face 23 perpendicular to the direction of rotation. moving the mail stack. Perforated strips 24 are also shown which, in cooperation with suction nozzles, separate the first item from the stack and direct it according to the direction of supply indicated by the arrow 31.
  • the manual feed station 9 comprises a hood 25 forming a kind of tunnel above the conveyor located downstream of the unstacking face 23 and in which the serial consignments are moved in a certain conveying direction (which corresponds here to the direction of the arrow 31).
  • a certain conveying direction which corresponds here to the direction of the arrow 31.
  • This slot is aligned vertically with a space of receiving in the conveyor so that a consignment which is inserted on edge in the slot can fall by gravity directly into the receiving space to be transported in the conveying direction in series with a stream of mail from the station of automatic unstacking 8.
  • the operator indicated by the reference OP placed as shown on the figure 2 is therefore at most ready automatic and manual feeding stations so that it can switch from one to another while minimizing these movements.
  • FIG 3 there is shown in detail the space for receiving and handling a shipment from the insertion slot 26.
  • This space is located here downstream of two opposed motorized wheels 30 called low pressure wheels which are arranged at the output of the unstacking face 23 of the automatic unstacking station 8. These two wheels 30 are thus pinching each item which is unstacked to move it according to the conveying direction indicated by the arrow 31.
  • P1 denotes a mailpiece on edge in position vertical coming from the unstacker which arrives at the point of nip between the two motorized wheels 30.
  • this receiving space of the manual feed station is indicated by the reference 34 and is an integral part of the conveyor on edge of the unstacker.
  • a shipment P2 that originates from the slot 26 (shown in broken lines) located vertically above the receiving space 34 is supported on edge in a vertical position.
  • the shipment P3 is moved by the edge conveyor but in an inclined position. It is therefore clear that this space 34 may be part of a tipping station of shipments.
  • this space 34 for receiving and taking care of the manual feed station has a funnel shape.
  • the bottom of the funnel is defined by a horizontal sole (not shown) on which falls the edge inserted into the slot inserted into the slot 26.
  • the sides of the funnel are defined by two conveying surfaces of the conveyor which are oriented relative to each other to converge towards each other in the horizontal plane at the exit of this space as visible on the figure 3 . These two surfaces can also be inclined relative to each other to converge towards each other in the vertical direction.
  • the two conveying surfaces are represented by two opposite strips 32 (or belts) and 33 engaged on pulleys or rollers such as 35.
  • the first band 32 extends here parallel to the conveying direction 31 while the second band 33 is oriented at an angle with respect to this direction 31 to define a second point of nip of the items which is located on the downstream side of the space 34 for receiving manually inserted items.
  • the pulley 35 disposed at the point of clamping of the strips 32 and 33 and on which the strip 33 is engaged is a pulley with an axis movable in the plane of the horizontal hearth and this axis is additionally mounted inclined with respect to this sole which gives the Tape 33 has an inclined orientation in the vertical direction to define the funnel shape of the space 34.
  • the angle of inclination of the axis of the pulley 35 may be for example about 20 degrees.
  • the pulley 35 As the pulley 35 is movable in the plane of the sole of the conveyor, it can be erased to take care of shipments of different thicknesses (a standard consignment sent by the unstacker 2 followed by a non-mechanizable shipment introduced into the slot 26 ) or shipments of varying thickness.
  • the flow of non-machinable mail items from the insertion slot can be separated from the flow of mail from the automatic feeding station.
  • shipments from the automatic feed station are all processed before or after manual insertion of non-machinable items.
  • each sorting outlet is then equipped with two bins to receive shipments of the bucket carousel.
  • the items sent to a sorting outlet are received in one or other of the bins depending on whether they come from the automatic feeding station or the manual insertion slot, which facilitates the sorting. Subsequent blending of shipments to form the postman's tour.

Landscapes

  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)

Description

L'invention concerne une machine de tri postal comprenant un poste d'alimentation automatique avec un dispositif de dépilage, un poste d'alimentation manuelle, et un convoyeur de tri adapté pour déplacer des envois postaux en série l'un derrière l'autre le long d'une direction de convoyage. Le poste d'alimentation automatique est prévu pour alimenter automatiquement en envois le convoyeur à partir d'une pile d'envois. Le poste d'alimentation manuel est adapté pour recevoir des envois insérés manuellement de façon individuelle et les placer dans le convoyeur.The invention relates to a postal sorting machine comprising an automatic feeding station with an unstacking device, a manual feed station, and a sorting conveyor adapted to move postal items in series one behind the other. along a conveying direction. The automatic feeding station is designed to automatically feed the conveyor from a stack of shipments. The manual feed station is adapted to receive manually inserted shipments individually and place them in the conveyor.

Un tel poste d'alimentation manuelle permet d'insérer avant, pendant ou après le flux des envois dépilés automatiquement en entrée de la machine, d'autres envois dits non mécanisables ou non standards. Ces envois non standards sont des envois qui présentent par exemple des dimensions trop importantes, une épaisseur variable ou un poids trop important pour être pris en charge par un dépileur automatique. Il peut s'agir aussi de lettres entourées d'un ruban adhésif ou d'une ficelle.Such a manual feed station allows to insert before, during or after the flow of the items automatically unstacked at the entrance of the machine, other so-called non-machinable or non-standard shipments. These non-standard shipments are shipments that have, for example, too large dimensions, variable thickness or weight too large to be supported by an automatic unstacker. It may also be letters surrounded by tape or string.

On connaît du document de brevet US-5954330 une telle machine dans laquelle le convoyeur de tri déplace les envois sur chant et le poste d'alimentation manuelle se présente sous la forme d'un autre convoyeur d'envois sur chant qui converge vers le convoyeur de tri. Cette solution présente l'inconvénient d'occuper une surface au sol non négligeable et peut nécessiter la mise en place d'appareils supplémentaires pour réaliser la convergence des flux d'envois ce qui augmente le coût de la machine de tri.Patent document is known US 5954330 such a machine in which the sorting conveyor moves the shipments on edge and the manual feed station is in the form of another conveyor ship on edge that converges to the sorting conveyor. This solution has the disadvantage of occupying a non-negligible floor area and may require the establishment of additional devices to achieve the convergence of the stream of items which increases the cost of the sorting machine.

Le but de l'invention est donc de proposer une machine de tri avec un poste alimentation manuelle pour des envois non mécanisables ou non standards qui ne présente pas les inconvénients ci-dessus.The object of the invention is therefore to provide a sorting machine with a manual feed station for non-machinable or non-standard shipments that does not have the disadvantages above.

A cet effet, l'invention a pour objet une machine de tri postal comprenant un poste d'alimentation automatique avec un dispositif de dépilage, un poste d'alimentation manuelle, et un convoyeur de tri adapté pour déplacer des envois postaux en série l'un derrière l'autre le long d'une direction de convoyage, le poste d'alimentation automatique étant prévu pour alimenter automatiquement en envois le convoyeur à partir d'une pile d'envois, le poste d'alimentation manuel étant adapté pour recevoir des envois insérés de façon individuelle et les placer dans le convoyeur, caractérisée en ce que le poste d'alimentation manuelle comprend un capot de protection formant une sorte de tunnel au dessus du convoyeur, une fente d'insertion dans le capot de protection à travers laquelle un envoi peut être inséré dans le tunnel, cette fente étant alignée verticalement avec un espace de réception et de prise en charge d'un envoi dans le convoyeur qui a la forme d'un entonnoir.For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a postal sorting machine comprising an automatic feed station with an unstacking device, a manual feed station, and a sorting conveyor adapted to move postal items in series. one behind the other along a conveying direction, the automatic feeding station being provided to automatically feed the conveyor from a stack of shipments, the manual feed station being adapted to receive individually inserted consignments and placing them in the conveyor, characterized in that the manual feed station comprises a protective cover forming a kind of tunnel above the conveyor, an insertion slot in the protective cover through which a shipment can be inserted into the tunnel, this slot being aligned vertically with a receiving space and taking care of a shipment in the conveyor which has the shape of a funnel.

On comprend donc que l'idée à la base de l'invention est de créer une fente d'insertion d'envois dans le capot de protection qui est analogue à une fente de boîte à lettres avec des dimensions adaptées pour recevoir un envoi non mécanisable inséré dans la fente selon une position sur chant sur la largeur. Cette fente d'insertion peut être également conçue pour guider verticalement l'envoi inséré de telle sorte qu'il conserve cette position jusqu'à ce qu'il atteigne l'espace de réception. Pour cela, on peut prévoir que les bords de la fente d'insertion définissent une sorte de canal vertical. Par exemple, ce canal peut être formé par un pliage en bord tombé de la tôle constituant le capot sur la périphérie de la fente.It is thus clear that the idea underlying the invention is to create a slot insertion of mail in the protective cover which is similar to a mailbox slot with dimensions adapted to receive a non-machineable shipment inserted in the slot according to a position on singing on the width. This insertion slot may also be designed to vertically guide the inserted shipment so that it retains this position until it reaches the receiving space. For this, it can be provided that the edges of the insertion slot define a kind of vertical channel. For example, this channel may be formed by folding the falling edge of the sheet forming the cover on the periphery of the slot.

Selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, cet espace en forme d'entonnoir a un fond défini par une sole horizontale sur laquelle vient tomber sur chant l'envoi inséré dans la fente et des côtés définis par deux surfaces de convoyage qui sont orientées l'une par rapport à l'autre pour converger selon la direction de convoyage.According to one embodiment of the invention, this funnel-shaped space has a bottom defined by a horizontal hearth on which the catch inserted into the slot falls on edge and sides defined by two conveying surfaces which are oriented relative to each other to converge in the conveying direction.

Les surfaces de convoyage de cet espace de réception et de prise en charge formant une sorte d'entonnoir (pyramide inversée) peuvent être deux bandes opposées montées sur des poulies, une des deux bandes étant engagée dans la zone de convergence avec l'autre bande sur une poulie à axe mobile par rapport à la sole et inclinée par rapport à la verticale de telle façon que ces deux bandes puissent pincer des envois d'épaisseurs différentes ou des envois présentant une variation d'épaisseur. A titre d'exemple, l'inclinaison de l'axe mobile de cette poulie peut être de l'ordre de 20 degrés tandis que la sole de réception peut s'étendre sur une longueur d'environ 400 mm, la forme en V définie sur la sole par ces deux bandes pouvant présenter un angle d'environ 30 degrés. Cet espace de réception et de prise en charge d'envois insérés manuellement peut être intercalé entre le dispositif de dépilage et un système d'acquisition d'images servant à la lecture d'adresses postales et donc sa présence n'augmente pas l'emprise au sol de la machine de tri. On comprendra qu'il peut faire partie intégrante en pratique du convoyeur sur chant du dépileur. Ce poste d'alimentation manuelle peut avantageusement faire partie d'un poste de basculement (ou d'inclinaison) d'envois grand format si la machine de tri est adaptée plus spécialement à cette catégorie d'envois. On sait que pour cette catégorie d'envois, il peut être nécessaire de les faire basculer avant leur passage dans le système de formation d'images d'une position sur chant verticale vers une position inclinée par rapport à la verticale ou une position à plat pour éviter qu'ils s'affaissent sur eux-mêmes.The conveying surfaces of this reception and handling space forming a sort of funnel (inverted pyramid) may be two opposite bands mounted on pulleys, one of the two bands being engaged in the convergence zone with the other band. on a pulley axis movable relative to the sole and inclined relative to the vertical so that these two bands can pinch shipments of different thicknesses or shipments having a variation in thickness. By way of example, the inclination of the movable axis of this pulley can be of the order of 20 degrees while the receiving hearth can extend over a length of about 400 mm, the V shape defined on the floor by these two bands may have an angle of about 30 degrees. This space for receiving and handling manually inserted mail can be interposed between the unstacking device and an image acquisition system for reading postal addresses and therefore its presence does not increase the footprint of the sorting machine. It will be understood that it can be an integral part in practice of the conveyor on edge of the unstacker. This manual feed station can advantageously be part of a tilting (or tilting) station of large format shipments if the sorting machine is adapted more specifically to this category of items. It is known that for this category of items, it may be necessary to tilt them before their passage in the image forming system from a position on vertical edge to a position inclined relative to the vertical or a flat position to prevent them from collapsing on themselves.

L'invention sera encore mieux comprise à la lecture de la description qui suit en relation avec les dessins. Cette description n'est donnée qu'à titre d'exemple indicatif et nullement limitatif de l'invention.

  • La figure 1 illustre schématiquement une vue en perspective partielle d'une machine de tri postal selon l'invention.
  • La figure 2 illustre une vue de dessus du dispositif de dépilage.
  • La figure 3 illustre une vue de dessus de la zone d'insertion manuelle.
The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows in relation to the drawings. This description is given as an indicative and non-limiting example of the invention.
  • The figure 1 schematically illustrates a partial perspective view of a postal sorting machine according to the invention.
  • The figure 2 illustrates a top view of the unstacking device.
  • The figure 3 illustrates a top view of the manual insertion area.

Sur la figure 1, on montre une machine de tri 1 selon l'invention équipée classiquement d'une entrée d'alimentation avec un dispositif de dépilage 2 qui alimente un convoyeur de tri 3 dans lequel les envois dépilés sont déplacés en série l'un derrière l'autre. Ce convoyeur 3 a une partie de convoyeur qui est ici intercalée entre le dépileur proprement dit 2 et un système d'acquisition d'images 4 pour la lecture automatique d'adresses postales à la surface des envois en vue de diriger les envois vers des sorties de tri. Sur la figure 1, en aval du système 4, on a représenté un carrousel 5 à godets 6 qui sert à diriger des envois grand format vers des sorties de tri 7.On the figure 1 , there is shown a sorting machine 1 according to the invention conventionally equipped with a feed inlet with an unstacking device 2 which feeds a sorting conveyor 3 in which the unstacked items are moved in series one behind the other . This conveyor 3 has a conveyor part which is here interposed between the unstacker itself 2 and a image acquisition system 4 for automatic reading of postal addresses on the surface of shipments to direct shipments to sorting outlets. On the figure 1 , downstream of the system 4, there is shown a carousel 5 bucket 6 which serves to direct large format shipments to sorting outlets 7.

Sur la figure 2, on montre plus en détail l'entrée de la machine de tri 1 et notamment le poste d'alimentation automatique 8 avec le dépileur 2 et le poste d'alimentation manuelle 9 qui fait partie intégrante du dispositif de dépilage 2.On the figure 2 , the entry of the sorting machine 1 and in particular the automatic feeding station 8 with the unstacker 2 and the manual feed station 9 which is an integral part of the unstacking device 2 are shown in more detail.

Le poste d'alimentation automatique 8 comprend classiquement un tapis de transport 20 qui se déplace avec une palette 21 le long d'une paroi de taquage 22 pour amener une pile d'envois P vers une face de dépilage 23 verticale perpendiculaire à la direction de déplacement de la pile d'envois. On a représenté également des bandes perforées 24 qui en coopération avec des buses d'aspiration viennent séparer le premier envoi de la pile et le diriger selon la direction d'alimentation indiquée par la flèche 31.The automatic feeding station 8 conventionally comprises a conveyor belt 20 which moves with a pallet 21 along a jogging wall 22 to bring a stack of items P to a vertical unstacking face 23 perpendicular to the direction of rotation. moving the mail stack. Perforated strips 24 are also shown which, in cooperation with suction nozzles, separate the first item from the stack and direct it according to the direction of supply indicated by the arrow 31.

Le poste d'alimentation manuelle 9 comprend un capot 25 formant une sorte de tunnel au-dessus du convoyeur situé en aval de la face de dépilage 23 et dans lequel les envois en série sont déplacés selon une certaine direction de convoyage (qui correspond ici à la direction de la flèche 31). On a représenté sur le dessus du capot 25 une fente allongée 26 s'étendant le long de la direction de convoyage 31 servant à l'insertion manuelle d'envois non mécanisables. Cette fente est alignée verticalement avec un espace de réception dans le convoyeur pour qu'un envoi qui est inséré sur chant dans la fente puisse tomber par gravité directement dans l'espace de réception afin d'être transporté selon la direction de convoyage en série avec un flux d'envois provenant du poste de dépilage automatique 8.The manual feed station 9 comprises a hood 25 forming a kind of tunnel above the conveyor located downstream of the unstacking face 23 and in which the serial consignments are moved in a certain conveying direction (which corresponds here to the direction of the arrow 31). There is shown on the top of the cover 25 an elongate slot 26 extending along the conveying direction 31 for the manual insertion of non-machinable items. This slot is aligned vertically with a space of receiving in the conveyor so that a consignment which is inserted on edge in the slot can fall by gravity directly into the receiving space to be transported in the conveying direction in series with a stream of mail from the station of automatic unstacking 8.

L'opérateur indiqué par la référence OP placé comme montré sur la figure 2 est donc au plus prêt des postes d'alimentation automatique et manuel de sorte qu'il peut passer de l'un à l'autre tout en minimisant ces déplacements.The operator indicated by the reference OP placed as shown on the figure 2 is therefore at most ready automatic and manual feeding stations so that it can switch from one to another while minimizing these movements.

Sur la figure 3, on a représenté en détail l'espace de réception et de prise en charge d'un envoi provenant de la fente d'insertion 26. Cet espace est situé ici en aval de deux roues motorisées 30 opposées dites roues basse pression qui sont disposées à la sortie de la face de dépilage 23 du poste de dépilage automatique 8. Ces deux roues 30 viennent donc pincer chaque envoi qui est dépilé pour le déplacer selon la direction de convoyage indiquée par la flèche 31. P1 désigne un envoi postal sur chant en position verticale provenant du dépileur qui arrive au point de pincement entre les deux roues motorisées 30.On the figure 3 , there is shown in detail the space for receiving and handling a shipment from the insertion slot 26. This space is located here downstream of two opposed motorized wheels 30 called low pressure wheels which are arranged at the output of the unstacking face 23 of the automatic unstacking station 8. These two wheels 30 are thus pinching each item which is unstacked to move it according to the conveying direction indicated by the arrow 31. P1 denotes a mailpiece on edge in position vertical coming from the unstacker which arrives at the point of nip between the two motorized wheels 30.

Sur la figure 3, cet espace de réception du poste d'alimentation manuelle selon l'invention est indiqué par la référence 34 et fait partie intégrante du convoyeur sur chant du dépileur. Dans cette zone, un envoi P2 qui provient de la fente 26 (indiquée en traits interrompus) située à l'aplomb de l'espace de réception 34 est pris en charge sur chant en position verticale. En sortie de cet espace 34, l'envoi P3 est déplacé par le convoyeur sur chant mais selon une position inclinée. On comprend donc que cet espace 34 peut faire partie d'un poste de basculement d'envois.On the figure 3 , this receiving space of the manual feed station according to the invention is indicated by the reference 34 and is an integral part of the conveyor on edge of the unstacker. In this area, a shipment P2 that originates from the slot 26 (shown in broken lines) located vertically above the receiving space 34 is supported on edge in a vertical position. At the exit of this space 34, the shipment P3 is moved by the edge conveyor but in an inclined position. It is therefore clear that this space 34 may be part of a tipping station of shipments.

Selon l'invention, cet espace 34 de réception et de prise en charge du poste d'alimentation manuelle a une forme en entonnoir.According to the invention, this space 34 for receiving and taking care of the manual feed station has a funnel shape.

En particulier, le fond de l'entonnoir est défini par une sole horizontale (non représentée) sur laquelle vient tomber sur chant l'envoi inséré dans la fente 26. Les côtés de l'entonnoir sont définis par deux surfaces de convoyage du convoyeur qui sont orientées l'une par rapport à l'autre pour converger l'une vers l'autre dans le plan horizontal en sortie de cet espace comme visible sur la figure 3. Ces deux surfaces peuvent également être inclinées l'une par rapport à l'autre pour converger l'une vers l'autre selon la direction verticale.In particular, the bottom of the funnel is defined by a horizontal sole (not shown) on which falls the edge inserted into the slot inserted into the slot 26. The sides of the funnel are defined by two conveying surfaces of the conveyor which are oriented relative to each other to converge towards each other in the horizontal plane at the exit of this space as visible on the figure 3 . These two surfaces can also be inclined relative to each other to converge towards each other in the vertical direction.

Sur la figure 3, les deux surfaces de convoyage sont représentées par deux bandes opposées 32 (ou courroies) et 33 engagées sur des poulies ou galets tels que 35. La première bande 32 s'étend ici parallèlement à la direction 31 de convoyage alors que la seconde bande 33 est orientée avec un angle par rapport à cette direction 31 pour définir un second point de pincement des envois qui se situe du côté aval de l'espace 34 de réception des envois insérés manuellement.On the figure 3 , the two conveying surfaces are represented by two opposite strips 32 (or belts) and 33 engaged on pulleys or rollers such as 35. The first band 32 extends here parallel to the conveying direction 31 while the second band 33 is oriented at an angle with respect to this direction 31 to define a second point of nip of the items which is located on the downstream side of the space 34 for receiving manually inserted items.

En plus, dans l'exemple de la figure 3, la poulie 35 disposée au point de pincement des bandes 32 et 33 et sur laquelle est engagée la bande 33, est une poulie à axe mobile dans le plan de la sole horizontale et cet axe est en plus monté de façon inclinée par rapport à cette sole ce qui confère à la bande 33 une orientation inclinée selon la direction verticale pour définir la forme en entonnoir de l'espace 34. L'angle d'inclinaison de l'axe de la poulie 35 peut être par exemple d'environ 20 degrés.In addition, in the example of figure 3 , the pulley 35 disposed at the point of clamping of the strips 32 and 33 and on which the strip 33 is engaged, is a pulley with an axis movable in the plane of the horizontal hearth and this axis is additionally mounted inclined with respect to this sole which gives the Tape 33 has an inclined orientation in the vertical direction to define the funnel shape of the space 34. The angle of inclination of the axis of the pulley 35 may be for example about 20 degrees.

On a représenté par 36 un guide rigide qui rabat le haut des envois vers la bande 32 quand ils arrivent dans l'espace 34.There is shown by 36 a rigid guide which folds the top of the shipments to the band 32 when they arrive in the space 34.

Bien sûr on peut également prévoir que la bande 32 soit orientée de façon inclinée en symétrie avec la bande 33 sans sortir du cadre de l'invention.Of course one can also provide that the band 32 is oriented inclined in symmetry with the band 33 without departing from the scope of the invention.

Comme la poulie 35 est mobile dans le plan de la sole du convoyeur, elle peut s'effacer pour prendre en charge des envois de différentes épaisseurs (un envoi standard envoyé par le dépileur 2 suivi d'un envoi non mécanisable introduit dans la fente 26) ou des envois d'épaisseur variable.As the pulley 35 is movable in the plane of the sole of the conveyor, it can be erased to take care of shipments of different thicknesses (a standard consignment sent by the unstacker 2 followed by a non-mechanizable shipment introduced into the slot 26 ) or shipments of varying thickness.

Alternativement à ce qui vient d'être décrit, le flux des envois postaux non mécanisables provenant de la fente d'insertion peut être séparé du flux des envois provenant du poste d'alimentation automatique. Dans ce cas, les envois provenant du poste d'alimentation automatique sont tous traités avant ou après l'insertion manuelle des envois non mécanisables. De préférence, chaque sortie de tri est alors équipée de deux casiers pour recevoir les envois du carrousel à godets. En fin de passe de tri, les envois dirigés vers une sortie de tri sont reçus dans l'un ou l'autre des casiers selon qu'ils proviennent du poste d'alimentation automatique ou de la fente d'insertion manuelle ce qui facilite le mélange subséquent des envois pour former la tournée du facteur.Alternatively to what has just been described, the flow of non-machinable mail items from the insertion slot can be separated from the flow of mail from the automatic feeding station. In this case, shipments from the automatic feed station are all processed before or after manual insertion of non-machinable items. Preferably, each sorting outlet is then equipped with two bins to receive shipments of the bucket carousel. At the end of the sorting pass, the items sent to a sorting outlet are received in one or other of the bins depending on whether they come from the automatic feeding station or the manual insertion slot, which facilitates the sorting. Subsequent blending of shipments to form the postman's tour.

Claims (5)

  1. A postal sorting machine (1) comprising an automatic feed station (8) with an unstacker device (2), a manual feed station (9), and a sorting conveyor (3) adapted to move mailpieces in series one behind another in a conveying direction (31), the automatic feed station (8) being designed to feed the conveyor (3) automatically with mailpieces from a stack of mailpieces, the manual feed station (9) being adapted to receive mailpieces inserted individually and to place them in the conveyor, said postal sorting machine being characterized in that the manual feed station (9) comprises a protective cover (25) forming a sort of tunnel over the conveyor, and an insertion slot (26) provided in the protective cover and through which a mailpiece can be inserted into the tunnel, said slot being in vertical alignment with a mailpiece receiving and handling space (34) for receiving and handling a mailpiece in the conveyor, which space is funnel-shaped.
  2. A sorting machine according to claim 1, wherein said funnel-shaped space has a bottom defined by a horizontal bed onto which the mailpiece inserted into the slot falls on edge, and sides defined by two conveying surfaces that extend relative to each other so as to converge in the conveying direction.
  3. A sorting machine according to claim 2, wherein the conveying surfaces of said mailpiece receiving and handling space that forms a sort of funnel are constituted by two opposite belts (32, 33) mounted on pulleys, one of the two belts being engaged, in the zone of convergence with the other belt, over a pulley having an axle that is mounted to move relative to the bed and that is inclined relative to the vertical.
  4. A sorting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the manual feed station (9) is interposed between the unstacker device (8) and an image acquisition device (4) serving to read postal addresses.
  5. A sorting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said manual feed station (9) is part of a mailpiece-tilting station for tilting each mailpiece from an on-edge vertical position to an inclined position in which it is inclined relative to the vertical.
EP09801507A 2008-12-23 2009-12-08 Postal sorting machine including a manual feeding station Not-in-force EP2382057B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0859047A FR2940150B1 (en) 2008-12-23 2008-12-23 POSTAL SORTING MACHINE WITH MANUAL POWER STATION
PCT/FR2009/052440 WO2010072937A1 (en) 2008-12-23 2009-12-08 Postal sorting machine including a manual feeding station

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2382057A1 EP2382057A1 (en) 2011-11-02
EP2382057B1 true EP2382057B1 (en) 2012-08-22

Family

ID=40796255

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09801507A Not-in-force EP2382057B1 (en) 2008-12-23 2009-12-08 Postal sorting machine including a manual feeding station

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US8267243B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2382057B1 (en)
AU (1) AU2009332839B2 (en)
DK (1) DK2382057T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2940150B1 (en)
PT (1) PT2382057E (en)
WO (1) WO2010072937A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1391320B1 (en) * 2008-10-29 2011-12-05 Azionaria Costruzioni Acma Spa BREAKDOWN DEVICE AT AT LEAST TWO FILE OF PRODUCTS POWERED ACCORDING TO ONE ROW.

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5421699A (en) * 1992-12-30 1995-06-06 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and apparatus for merging vertical documents with horizontal documents
IT1271801B (en) * 1994-12-27 1997-06-09 Savio Macchine Spa TRANSPORTATION DEVICE TO A FINAL STATION OF BULK TEXTILE ITEMS SELECTIVELY SUPPLIED BY AT LEAST TWO FEED STATIONS
US5954330A (en) * 1996-12-02 1999-09-21 Bell & Howell Postal Systems Inc. Method and apparatus for synchronizing a document feeder with a mail sorting conveyor
US6435331B1 (en) * 2001-03-16 2002-08-20 Lockheed Martin Corporation Dynamic gap establishing synchronous product insertion system
US7647684B2 (en) * 2003-12-08 2010-01-19 Siemens Industry, Inc. Method and apparatus for flat mail sorting preparation

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PT2382057E (en) 2012-10-30
FR2940150B1 (en) 2012-07-27
AU2009332839B2 (en) 2013-06-20
US20110186404A1 (en) 2011-08-04
DK2382057T3 (en) 2012-11-05
FR2940150A1 (en) 2010-06-25
WO2010072937A1 (en) 2010-07-01
AU2009332839A1 (en) 2011-06-23
US8267243B2 (en) 2012-09-18
EP2382057A1 (en) 2011-11-02

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