Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H31/00—Pile receivers
  • B65H31/04—Pile receivers with movable end support arranged to recede as pile accumulates
  • B65H31/06—Pile receivers with movable end support arranged to recede as pile accumulates the articles being piled on edge
• • 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
  • B07C3/008—Means for collecting objects, e.g. containers for sorted mail items
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
  • B65H29/38—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by movable piling or advancing arms, frames, plates, or like members with which the articles are maintained in face contact
  • B65H29/40—Members rotated about an axis perpendicular to direction of article movement, e.g. star-wheels formed by S-shaped members
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
  • B65H29/52—Stationary guides or smoothers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/30—Orientation, displacement, position of the handled material
  • B65H2301/32—Orientation of handled material
  • B65H2301/321—Standing on edge
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
  • B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
  • B65H2301/421—Forming a pile
  • B65H2301/4214—Forming a pile of articles on edge
• • 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
  • B65H2404/10—Rollers
  • B65H2404/11—Details of cross-section or profile
  • B65H2404/111—Details of cross-section or profile shape
  • B65H2404/1114—Paddle wheel
• • 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
  • B65H2404/60—Other elements in face contact with handled material
  • B65H2404/63—Oscillating, pivoting around an axis parallel to face of material, e.g. diverting means
• • 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
  • B65H2404/60—Other elements in face contact with handled material
  • B65H2404/65—Other elements in face contact with handled material rotating around an axis parallel to face of material and perpendicular to transport direction, e.g. star wheel
  • B65H2404/652—Other elements in face contact with handled material rotating around an axis parallel to face of material and perpendicular to transport direction, e.g. star wheel having two elements diametrically opposed
• • 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
  • B65H2404/60—Other elements in face contact with handled material
  • B65H2404/69—Other means designated for special purpose
  • B65H2404/693—Retractable guiding means, i.e. between guiding and non guiding position
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
  • B65H2511/50—Occurence
  • B65H2511/51—Presence
  • B65H2511/514—Particular portion of element
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
  • B65H2513/40—Movement
• • 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
  • B65H2701/13—Parts concerned of the handled material
  • B65H2701/131—Edges
  • B65H2701/1313—Edges trailing edge
• • 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

• Device for stacking flat objects on edge and postal sorting machine equipped with at least one such device
• the invention relates to a device for stacking flat objects on edge and a postal sorting machine equipped with at least one such stacking device.
• a flat object designates in particular, but not exclusively, a postal item.
• the postal items capable of being stacked thanks to the device of the invention, may have variable dimensions, but also variable mechanical characteristics, particularly as regards their rigidity.
• This mailing can be, among other things, a simple letter, a magazine, an envelope with or without window, a newspaper, or a catalog presented in a plastic envelope or paper, with or without bellows.
• a stacking device can be used in particular in postal sorting facilities, for example to form a buffer receptacle of mail items at each sorting outlet of the installation.
• a sorting machine conventionally comprises a feed inlet with a magazine, as well as a destacker for the serial production on the edge of postal items. The latter are then usually conveyed to an acquisition system, then directed to sorting outlets aligned next to each other.
• a stacking device such as that targeted by the invention, equips each of these sorting outlets.
• this stacking device defines an area of variable size, allowing the reception of the stack of objects accumulating in a longitudinal direction. This area is bordered transversely by a shore, called jogging, against which abut the objects of the stack. Moreover, the front end of this stack bears against a pallet, movable longitudinally under the effect of the accumulation of objects. This palette exerts a return force on the latter, allowing the objects to be held in their singing position.
• the objects are supported, by their song, on a support range, along which they slide as and when they accumulate.
• a rotary actuator is set in motion upon the arrival of each object towards the receiving area.
• the Applicant has marketed, under the reference "Virgule Equi regardse” (article no. 285590), a stacking device whose actuator comprises a hub, from which several couples of pins extend.
• the lugs of the same pair are arranged symmetrically at 180 ° relative to each other. In use the lugs create, periodically, a longitudinal thrust force, either directly on the pallet when the first objects arrive, or on the stack being formed.
• This known stacking device is quite well suited in the case of letter processing, which is also confirmed by the commercial success it enjoys. However, it does not respond satisfactorily to the need to stack on edge other types of flat objects. These may be for example soft folds and not rigid, such as those presented in plastic packaging, or those with fragile flaps.
• the publication US 2003/127 509 describes a bank note management machine capable of collecting and / or distributing bills of different sizes.
• This automaton comprises in particular a ticket stacking device, comprising a ticket arrival corridor, a receiving area on which is formed a stack of banknotes and a rotary actuator, able to push the bank of notes against a banknote bank. cell retainer.
• the rotary actuator is a curved pin wheel, the free end of each lug being interposed between the ticket to stack and the top of the ticket stack to thereby protect it.
• Banknotes are flat objects having a substantially constant thickness and rigidity and this automaton is not suitable for sorting postal objects having variable dimensions and / or mechanical characteristics.
• Publication US Pat. No. 2,844,373 is also known, which describes a stacking device for postal items comprising a motorized curved finger wheel able to press the stack in formation and to receive and accompany each mailpiece during its stacking.
• publication JP 6 183 630 describes a device for stacking printed sheets comprising a slotted wheel adapted to receive and accompany each sheet to its stacking zone. The battery is held in its lower part by a latch. Such stacking devices nevertheless have significant risks of collision between postal items.
• the invention aims to remedy the various disadvantages of the prior art presented above. It aims in particular to treat, by means of the same stacking device, objects of different natures by limiting the risk of collision. The invention also aims to provide such a device, which is likely to maintain the integrity of these objects during stacking.
• a device for stacking flat objects on edge comprising a receiving zone and stacking of flat objects on edge disposed between an arrival corridor of each flat object to be stacked and a bank jogging bordering said receiving zone and against which said stacked flat objects are supported to form a stack of said flat objects and a rotary actuator disposed opposite said receiving zone and downstream of said arrival corridor to push said stack of said flat objects against a cell retaining element, this actuator comprising bent lugs to accompany the movement of each flat object to be stacked on the top of said stack of flat objects in the direction of said jogging edge, characterized in that it further comprises a deflector flap disposed in said arrival corridor upstream of said actuator with reference to the advancing direction of said flat objects, said deflector flap being rotatably mounted between a retracted position in which it does not protrude into said arrival lane and does not interfere with the advancement of an object flat current to stack and an advanced position in which it protrudes into said arrival lane and pushes said stack
• the idea underlying the invention is to insert at least one protective member, carried by the actuator, between the front part of the object being stacked and the adjacent object belonging to the stack. Training. This makes it possible to isolate the surface opposite this adjacent object, so that it is protected from the arrival of the current object. This is particularly advantageous in the case where the adjacent object is fragile in nature, given the relatively high linear velocity of the current object.
• such a protection member is capable of modifying the trajectory of the current object.
• it can accompany the current object upon arrival, so as to drive towards the jogging shore.
• this protection member not only provides an interface function, but also an additional guiding function.
• the protection member is a substantially rectilinear protection tongue which extends a lug of said actuator, this protection tongue coming into interface between said current object and the last object of said stack in formation,
• said actuator comprises two bent lugs arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of rotation of said actuator,
• said protection tab is removably mounted on said pin
• said protection tab is made of plastic
• said actuator pivots 180 °
• said control means of said deflector flap is adapted to take into account parameters selected from the group comprising at least the length, the height, the flatness and the constituent material of the flat object of the top of the pile of flat objects in formation current, as well as the length, height, thickness, stiffness, kinetic energy and constituent material of the current object to be stacked,
• the device comprises several coaxial rotary deflector flaps.
• the subject of the invention is also a postal sorting machine comprising sorting outlets with on-edge accumulation of postal flat objects, characterized in that each sorting outlet is provided with a stacking device as above.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stacking device according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a top view, illustrating more particularly an actuator belonging to this stacking device
• Figures 3 to 6 are schematic representations illustrating, seen from above, successive steps of the implementation of this stacking device.
• Figure 7 is a schematic representation illustrating, seen from above, the implementation of a shutter belonging to this stacking device. Description of the embodiments
• the stacking device comprises firstly a fixed frame, designated by the reference 2. There is also an inlet corridor 4, ensuring the arrival of flat objects. Typically, this input is placed in communication with a conveyor device, not shown, belonging to a sorting machine of conventional type.
• This stacking device further defines an area 6 for receiving the objects, which is bordered laterally by a jogging edge 8, against which the objects bear, as well as by a retaining bank 10. longitudinal of the device, along which the stack of objects moves as and when it is formed.
• a plate 12, forming a sliding edge, makes it possible to guide along the arrow F1 the flow of objects admitted from the inlet 4 towards the zone 6.
• the plate 12 is hollowed, in its upstream part with reference to the direction of progression of the objects, of a first series of slots 14. These allow the passage of several flaps 16, which are provided in the number of three in the illustrated example . These flaps are capable of pivoting about a vertical axis A1, which extends in the vicinity of the rear face of the plate 12. As will be explained in more detail in the following, each flap can pivot about the axis A1, between two positions. The first of these is a retracted position, in which the flaps are retracted behind the plate 12, namely that they do not protrude into the entry corridor 4 and therefore do not interfere with the advancing objects . In the second position, which is said advanced, the flaps protrude into the corridor so as to influence the path of objects, as will be seen in what follows.
• the plate 12 is further hollowed, in its downstream part, with a second series of slots 20.
• the latter cooperate with an actuator 22, capable of being rotated about a vertical axis A2, which is placed at a distance of the plate, opposite the receiving zone 6.
• this actuator 22 comprises a central hub 24, from which several couples of pins extend, of which only one 26i, 262 is visible in this figure. These are likely to protrude towards the reception area, via the aforementioned slots 20. In addition, these lugs are slightly curved so as to be oriented towards the arrival corridor, when they extend through of these slots.
• the two pins extend symmetrically, being mutually offset by 180 °.
• Each lug 26i, 262 is associated with a tongue 28i, 282, which is advantageously releasably attached, for example by screwing.
• the tongues can then be made of a material different from that of the lugs, in particular a plastic material while the lugs are metallic. In this way, the tongues may have characteristics adapted to their function, while being easily replaceable.
• Each tongue has a portion 29i, 292 of curved shape, for attachment to the pin, and a rectilinear main portion 30i, 302, whose function will be detailed in what follows.
• the length L of the main part 30i, 302, namely the distance separating its free end and its junction with the lug, is preferably greater than 40mm, being in particular between 40mm and 60mm.
• each tongue 28i, 282 extends tangentially to a circle C, centered on the axis A2 and whose radius R is between 60mm and 80mm.
• the longitudinal end of the receiving zone, opposite the actuator, is defined by a pallet 32 forming a retaining element in the usual way (see FIG. 3 and following).
• This pallet is movable relative to the chassis, in the direction D, by being mounted on a guide 34.
• means not shown, of the winder or counterweight type are associated with the pallet so that it exerts a return force. on the stack of objects, so as to ensure the retention.
• the actuator 22 In the initial position, illustrated in Figure 3, the actuator 22 is stationary.
• the object N + 1 first circulates along the sliding edge 12 in the direction of the first series of lugs 26i, which bear against the stack formation P.
• the rotation of the actuator 22 is initiated (see arrow f in Figure 4). In this way the front of this object comes into contact, not with these pins 26i, but with the inner face, facing the hub 24, tabs 28i associated therewith.
• the tongues thus provide a deflector function of the object N + 1, since they tend to him to give a trajectory that is almost parallel to the object N, in the direction of the jogging edge 8.
• these tongues play a role of interface between the objects N and N + 1, namely in particular that they isolate the front before sending N + 1 during stacking, compared to the previously stacked shipment N. It is therefore conceivable that this makes it possible to guarantee the integrity of the object N, especially in the case where the latter is fragile.
• the object N + 1 then comes into abutment against the jogging edge 8, while a possible rebound is limited by the retaining edge 10.
• the actuator is kept in rotation, so that the outer face of the second series of tabs 28 2 strikes this object N + 1, now stacked (see Figure 6). This contributes to stabilize the whole of the new stack formation P ', now consisting of N + 1 objects.
• FIG. 7 illustrates an advantageous implementation of flaps 16 described above.
• the arrival of the current flat object N + 1 is detected and, before it passes to the right of the flaps, the latter are pivoted according to the arrow f. Under these conditions, these flaps strike directly against the object N of the stack in formation, by their free end 16 ', which allows to push this stack towards the pallet 32.
• This flap action thus delimits a free trajectory for the object N + 1, also called the entry cone C, which avoids any collision of the object.
• N + 1 with the stack in formation, upstream of the reception zone. As a result, the risks of jamming are substantially reduced.
• the flaps are retracted again, so as not to hinder the free progression of the object N + 1.
• the pivoting of the flaps as described above, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 for its first implementation variant, and with reference to FIG. 7 for its second variant, may be initiated according to various parameters, relative in particular at the last fold N of the stack in formation and the current fold N + 1.
• various parameters relative in particular at the last fold N of the stack in formation and the current fold N + 1.
• the length, the height, the flatness and the material constituting the N-fold as well as the length, height, thickness, rigidity, kinetic energy and constituent material of the fold N + 1.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Pile Receivers (AREA)
• Discharge By Other Means (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=43561912

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (7)

Family Cites Families (23)

• 2010
  • 2010-06-17 FR FR1054813A patent/FR2961417A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 2011
  • 2011-05-30 EP EP11728324.2A patent/EP2582605B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2011-05-30 AU AU2011266934A patent/AU2011266934B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2011-05-30 JP JP2013514755A patent/JP5592007B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2011-05-30 US US13/203,782 patent/US8459636B2/en active Active
  • 2011-05-30 DK DK11728324.2T patent/DK2582605T3/da active
  • 2011-05-30 RU RU2013102248/13A patent/RU2520020C1/ru active
  • 2011-05-30 WO PCT/FR2011/051230 patent/WO2011157919A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2011-05-30 CN CN201180029641.4A patent/CN102971243B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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