EP2740694A2 - Feeding station - Google Patents

Abstract

The feed station (2) has sensor arranged at beginning of separating region and transport area respectively. A processing unit is located to process signals of sensor. The position of flat object is determined by determination unit. A control unit is connected with single feed motor so as to drive separation device arranged in transport path. The application program is programmed to memory of control unit so as to regulate the flat object out of pile with predetermined separation speed. The separation rate is in dependence on the measured length of the flat object.

Description

The invention relates to a feed station according to the preamble of claim 1. The feed station is used for supplying a flat Guts, which is fed individually or from a stack to a subsequent good processing device. Under a flat good and thin mail items such as postcards, "normal" mail pieces of medium thickness, such as the so-called standard letter in Germany, as well as thick mail pieces such as the so-called compact letter in Germany, understood. The feed station has a controller that controls the feeding so that a high throughput is achieved. For a mainboard processor of the controller has been created a way to recognize which mode is present. The feed station is used in connection with franking machines, addressing machines and other mail processing devices.

There are already feeders of various types are known in which the drive elements are mechanically coupled. So that especially for short goods, i. Letter formats or formats of mail items, the separation drive very early on the subsequent Good, i. Letter or mail impresses a driving force, so that goods, i. Letters or mail pieces are separated without or with an insufficient gap. In addition, there is no way to vary these gaps within the feeder.

The separating device of one of the manufacturers has two separating rollers and a transport device with a roller, but the rollers are kinematically all firmly coupled together. A lock of the separating device is formed by a gap between the second separating roller and by a number of fingers on the head of a rocker. The gap has dimensions that correspond to a width and height of filled commercial envelopes. A stack of mail pieces is placed on the first separating roller. As soon as the rotation of the lowermost mail piece of the stack releases the first separating roller, a transporting force is immediately impressed from the first separating roller onto a respective second lower mail piece. This can lead to separation errors. The propulsion of the second mail piece is stopped in a favorable case by the lock of the separating device, but represents a potential source of error and unnecessary burden of separation. Different formats also have an influence on the singulation. Although the separating device can be adapted by a mechanical adjustment or adjustment to other formats, but is no automatic adjustment possible. In the absence of a further sensor system, it is not possible to measure the length of the length of the bridge and thus also not to control it differently for different letter lengths. Other disadvantages of the aforementioned separating device are that no gap monitoring and thus no optimization of the gap that no error detection in the feeder is possible. The fixed kinematic coupling of the drive rollers allows no tuning of the separation and / or the transport speed and no gap adjustment.

A franking system of Francotyp-Postalia GmbH has a feed station with a separating device and with a transport device, wherein the feed station is arranged in the mail transport path upstream of a franking machine of the Ultimail® type. The separating device of the feed station has a conveyor belt in the pre-separating region. A drive drives the conveyor belt and the transport device, which are drivingly coupled together. Another drive acts on a separating roller. The lock of the separating device is formed by a gap between the separating roller and by a number of fingers on the head of a rocker, which are arranged above the separating roller. Empirically, it has been found that the requirements for the reliability of the singulation with a high throughput of flat goods only for a narrow spectrum, for example a certain type of stacked mail items, are met with a high level of security. A chamfered housing in front of the gap leads by a continuous narrowing in the entrance area for compressing the goods in the stack. Thick mail pieces can not be singulated from a stack if the gap would be set too narrow, through which a mail piece is passed. But if the gap is set too far, then errors occur in the singling, especially at a high throughput of flat goods. The throughput is also less than possible due to large gaps between the successive mailpieces, especially for short mail pieces, such as postcards. The transport device has a closing device for open envelopes, which is arranged between two transport rollers. An actuator with a sealer button can bring the device into an operating position. In the operating position, an unsealed flap is lifted off the envelope by a sword, moistened and then pressed against the envelope by means of the second transport roller. As soon as the lowermost postal item releases the first separating roller by rotation of the conveyor belt, a transporting force is immediately impressed from the first separating roller onto a respective second postal item. This can also lead to separation errors. The surface friction of the conveyor belt must be very accurately matched to the mail piece surface, so that no excessive driving force is impressed on the second lowest mail piece of the stack. The reliability of singulation would be enhanced if a propulsive force acts only on the mail item to be singulated and fed.

From the DE10127993A1 a device for separating flat objects is known which comprises a feeding belt on driven pulleys and retaining means, the latter containing a separating element which forms with the feeding belt a lock through which the separated flat objects are transported lengthwise. The feed belt is designed as a segment belt, which has a driving segment and a sliding segment. When creating a mail piece or stack of mail pieces, a first and a second motor are automatically turned on by a controller when a first sensor detects the application. The stack is transported to the retaining means of the separating means as soon as the first motor is switched on. The stack is singulated by pulling the lowest mail piece, the second motor being controlled accordingly by the controller. An encoder electrically connected to the controller serves to detect the reached position of the carrier segment and secures via control the speed constancy of the second drive during singulation. The flat object can be pulled out of the lock by driving the rollers of an ejector via a third motor, and thereafter ejected out of the singulator, the third motor being driven by the controller. Despite a considerable expenditure on motors, sensors and mechanical components, the separating device does not allow a predetermined gap to be maintained between successive flat objects, in particular mail pieces of different thickness and in the same format.

The task is to eliminate the shortcomings of the known solutions. The intention is to develop an automatic feeder for a flat product which, with a maximum of two separate drives, achieves a very reliable separation and offers a high degree of flexibility for the control with regard to throughput, processing of the various mailpiece formats and thicknesses as well as with respect to Setting defined gaps between the consecutive mail items.
The object is achieved with the features of the Zuführstation according to claim 1.

The feed station has a pre-separating region, a separating region and a transport region, wherein the transport region is arranged in the transport direction after the separating region on a transport path. The feed station is used to feed a flat Guts, which is supplied individually or from a stack isolated to a subsequent good processing device. The separating region is a section of the transport path lying on a feed deck between a first separating roller and a second separating roller of a separating device and has a multi-stage design.
A first sensor is arranged at the beginning of the separating region and detects a stack or a flat flat material applied in the pre-separating region to the feeding station. A second sensor is located at the beginning of the transport area. The sensors are arranged one after the other in the transport direction on the transport path. The feed station comprises motors with associated encoders, further mechanical drive elements, sensors and a control unit, which is electrically connected on the input side with a number of sensors and encoders in terms of circuitry. The control unit has a processor, a signal processing means for the signals of the sensors and the encoder and a determining means for determining the position of the flat Guts.
A processor of the control unit is programmed by an application program stored in a program memory such that the control unit, on the one hand, controls a first motor for driving a singulation device in the singulation area of the feed station so that a flat product is singled out of a stack arranged upstream of the feed station at a predetermined singling speed , The first motor is referred to below as a separating motor. The singling operation is stopped when the gap between the flat goods is too small as soon as the leading edge of a succeeding flat material reaches the region of the second sensor and continues when the previously separated flat good reaches a predetermined distance from the leading edge of the aforesaid flat material by its transport. The predetermined distance is a distance that causes a time distance between the immediately successive flat goods. The singling speed is automatically set as a discrete setpoint value for a digital speed control as a function of a measured length of a previously isolated flat Guts. On the other hand, the control unit can programmatically control a second motor for driving a transport device in the transport area of the feed station in such a way that an isolated flat good is transported downstream and fed to a subsequent good processing device at a predetermined transport speed. The second motor is referred to below as a transport engine. The transport speed is automatically varied prior to feeding depending on the stored data of a previously separated flat crop and the position of the flat stock to be separated, so that a too large gap between the goods is reduced and a predetermined throughput of flat goods results. In the control unit, a storage means for the automatically determined and for the other manually entered input variables is provided. As a result, the singling speed and the transport speed can be further varied in order to increase the separation safety even when the feed station is to fulfill additional functions. This way, very thick mail pieces can be processed. Also, a mail piece closure device has been integrated into the transport area of the feed station to wet and close the open flap of a filled envelope. This additional function is entered manually. The control is based on a number of suitable speed setpoints or machine-specific travel and / or time values for the singulation and transport of a flat good, which were determined empirically and are used in a position-dependent manner. As a result, the feed operation was changed so that the reliability of the separation is increased.

The first sensor detects whether a stack is present in the pre-singulation area at the feed station upstream of the post. A flat good or mail piece lying in the bottom of the stack is first separated and then removed from the stack. The singulation process is stopped as soon as the leading edge of a subsequent mailpiece reaches the area of a second sensor. A flat good or mail piece immediately following in the stack can therefore not be singled out as long as the singling process is stopped. The singulation process is continued when the previously isolated flat good reaches a predetermined distance from the leading edge of the aforementioned mail item by its transport in the transport area. Starting from a measured length of the respectively first-deducted mail piece from a stack of mailpieces having the same format, the singling speed of the mail piece immediately following the stack is automatically controlled to a predetermined target value. The good processing device is preferably a franking machine which is arranged downstream of the feed station. The postage meter has input means for mode selection and is communicatively connected to the delivery station. The feeder allows via an input means (seal button) a mode selection between a seal operation and a non-operate operation of the closing device of the feeder. With this and the aforementioned automatic length measurement, input variables for the control unit of the feed station are available for adapting the feed operation to the current separation and feed task. The automatic feeding station comprises two drive motors each with an associated encoder, further mechanical drive elements, sensors and a control unit. From a stack, the lowest good or mail item is separated from a separating device and transported by a subsequently arranged transport device. The separating region is arranged at a section of the transport path lying opposite a first separating roller and a second separating roller with respect to the feed deck and has a multi-stage design. Thus, a discontinuous narrowing is achieved in the entrance area, which advantageously does not lead to the compression of the goods.

Depending on an encoder is arranged on the axle shaft of the separating motor or the transport motor. The separating device also comprises a first sensor device and a first drive device, wherein the singulation motor is kinematically coupled via the first drive device with the first and second separating roller for rotation thereof, wherein the first sensor device comprises an inclined support, which is designed to fasten the first sensor which detects with a slant at an angle α to the transport direction extending light beam in a region in front of the first separating roller, as soon as a flat good is applied to the feed station. The transport device also includes a Transport motor, an encoder, a second drive device and a second and third sensor device, wherein the transport motor is kinematically coupled via the second drive device with the first and second transport roller for rotation thereof. The second sensor is at the beginning of the transport area and a third sensor is arranged in the transport area. The second and third sensor devices are each designed to fasten one of the further sensors, wherein the sensors are arranged one after the other in the transport direction of the flat material and provided for detecting the dimension and position of the flat material in the transport path. The feed station has a control unit, which is designed for communication with a subsequent good processing device, via which also the inputs can be made. The control unit is connected to receive a signal at least with the sensors and encoders and with the motors for their control. Each of the sensor devices has holders for light sources and light collectors of a light barrier. The latter are formed, for example as a photoelectric barrier and arranged in the transport path and connected to the control unit which controls the motors. The separating rollers and transport rollers are equipped with a freewheel mechanism and arranged rotatably within a U-shaped frame. The first drive device for the separating rollers is arranged on one side of the U-shaped frame and the second drive device for the transport rollers is arranged on the other side of the U-shaped frame. Depending on an encoder is arranged on the axle shaft of the separating motor or the transport motor, with encoder pulses are transmitted to the control unit.

Advantageously, only two separate drives and three sensors are needed to control the speed of the drive motors so that a high throughput of flat goods results with great separation reliability. The singulation motor is a first direct-current motor, which is controlled by the control unit in such a way that in the standard mode, a first predetermined singling speed is achieved, at least for a first flat product pulled off the stack. The transport motor is a second DC motor, which is controlled by the control unit so that in the standard mode at least at a first flat good pulled from the stack a first predetermined transport speed is achieved, wherein the transport speed is greater than the singling speed. From the control unit, the length of the transported flat Guts is determined on the basis of the number of encoder pulses of a second encoder, wherein a second predetermined separation speed is automatically set for each additional flat material pulled from the stack, if the length of the transported flat Guts does not fall below a first length value and wherein at each of the stack peeled flat Good a third predetermined separation rate is specified when in the subsequent good processing device, a changeover of the feed station has been made to a thickness mode. The second predetermined singling speed is greater than the first one and less than the third predetermined singulation speed. The third predetermined singling speed is smaller than the first predetermined conveying speed. The separate drives and sensors can be used to implement different sequential control systems, wherein at least one sequential control is predetermined by an operating mode of the feeder station selected via an input unit of the franking machine. Thus, different throughputs per minute and distances between the goods or mailpieces can be realized. Otherwise, if a certain process control has not been set, a default setting is automatically selected.

• Fig. 1, Perspektivische Darstellung eines Postverarbeitungssystems, mit einer modularen Anlegevorrichtung, mit einer Zuführstation, mit einer Frankiermaschine und mit einer Ablagevorrichtung,
• Fig. 2, Zuführstation mit einer modularen Anlegevorrichtung,
• Fig.3a, Perspektivische Darstellung des mechanischen Aufbaus der Zuführstation mit einem Andruckkasten in Betriebsposition, von vorn links oben,
• Fig.3b, Perspektivische Darstellung des mechanischen Aufbaus der Zuführstation mit einem Andruckkasten in Wartungsposition, von vorn links oben,
• Fig.3c, Perspektivische Darstellung des mechanischen Aufbaus der Zuführstation ohne Andruckkasten,
• Fig. 3d, Seitenansicht des mechanischen Aufbaus der Zuführstation von links,
• Fig. 3e, Querschnitt durch das Gestell,
• Fig. 3f, Ansicht des Vereinzelungsbereichs im Gestell von vorn,
• Fig. 3g, Betätigungsvorrichtung der Zuführstation in Seitenansicht von links,
• Fig. 4a, Blockschaltbild,
• Fig. 4b, Darstellung des Prinzips der Zuführung,
• Fig. 4c, Geschwindigkeits-/Wegdiagramm für ein flaches Gut,
• Fig. 5a - 5j, Darstellung der einzelnen Phasen des Transports von flachem Gut,
• Fig. 6, Programmablaufplan,
• Fig. 7 bis 12, Unterprogramme zum Programmablaufplan.

Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or will be described in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to FIG. Show it:

• Fig. 1 , Perspective representation of a mail processing system, with a modular application device, with a feed station, with a postage meter and with a storage device,
• Fig. 2 Feeder station with a modular jig,
• 3a , Perspective view of the mechanical structure of the feed station with a pressure box in operating position, from the front left top,
• 3b , Perspective view of the mechanical structure of the feed station with a pressure box in maintenance position, from the front left top,
• 3 c , Perspective view of the mechanical structure of the feeding station without pressure box,
• Fig. 3d , Side view of the mechanical structure of the feed station from the left,
• Fig. 3e , Cross section through the frame,
• Fig. 3f , View of the separation area in the frame from the front,
• Fig. 3g , Actuating device of the feed station in a side view from the left,
• Fig. 4a , Block diagram,
• Fig. 4b , Representation of the principle of feeding,
• Fig. 4c , Speed / path diagram for a flat good,
• Fig. 5a - 5j , Representation of the individual phases of the transport of flat goods,
• Fig. 6 , Program schedule,
• Fig. 7 to 12 , Subprograms to the program schedule.

The FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a mail processing system, with a modular application device 1, with a feed station 2, with a postage meter 3 and with a storage device 4 with a view from the top right top. The transport direction is the x-direction of a Cartesian coordinate system whose y-direction faces the back of the devices of the system and its z-direction upwards.

In the FIG. 2 is a feed station with a modular application device with a view from the top right top. The application device 1 has a housing 10 with a feed deck 11, a guide wall 12 and a slide 16. With the latter, mail items or stacks of uniform mail pieces can be pushed against the guide wall 12. An apply element 16 presses from above onto the stack (not shown) if a stack is applied. An applied stack would rest on the three rubber tires 2201, 2203 and 2203 of a first singulation roller 22 of the feed station 2 which separates mail pieces from the stack and pushes them onto the feed deck 21. The feed deck 21 has a seal button 216 located at the front of the machine. The mechanical structure of the feed station 2 below the housing 20 will be explained in more detail below.

In the FIG. 3a the mechanical structure of the feed station with a pressure box in operating position is shown in perspective with a view from the front left above. A frame 27 has a frame front wall 271 and a frame rear wall 272, both of which extend in the x direction and stand on a bottom plate 270 and are spaced from each other by two transverse walls 2701 and 2702 in the y direction. The first separating roller 22 is arranged in front of the second transverse wall 2702 on the postflow input side and rotatably mounted between the frame front wall 271 and the frame rear wall 272. A first sensor device 2721 is designed for fastening a first sensor, which scans obliquely, ie at an angle α to the transport direction, an area in front of the first separating roller 22, whether a flat good or a stack rests against the feed station.

On the frame rear wall 272, a pressure box 26 is slidably mounted, which carries a rocker 264 which is rotatably mounted on a rotary shaft 260. The rotary shaft 260 is parallel to the y-direction. The pressure box 26 is moved by spring force in the z direction when a lock 263 is released by pressing a button. The rocker 264 carries on the head side an adjustably arranged stop plate 265. Between the stop plate 265th and the swinging head a rubber mat with four separating fingers 2651 - 2654 is clamped, wherein the separating fingers 2652 - 2654 are covered in this illustration by the swinging head. The swinging head is driven by a spring force ( Fig.3f ) is attracted to a second separating roller 23 of the feeding station. The second separating roller 23 is arranged at a distance in the x-direction, ie in the transport direction to the first separating roller 22 of the feed station. The separation begins already at the pre-separation plate 2725, which is attached to the frame rear wall 272 and arranged transversely thereto and in front of the swing head. At the precleaner sheet 2725, at least one pre-separation finger 275 is fixed and arranged so that the singulation fingers 265 are adjacent and in the transporting direction. There are also shown means 2724, 27242, 27262 and 27271, which are provided for adjusting a stop of the swing head and will be explained in more detail below with reference to the following figures. When adjusting the swing head is moved in the direction of arrow of the white arrow. Both separating rollers 22 and 23 of the feeding station are driven by a first direct current motor 295 via a mechanism (hidden in the illustration) of a first drive device. On the motor axle, an encoder disk 293 is arranged, which is scanned by an encoder electronics 294. The first drive device will be explained in more detail below with reference to the following figures. A second drive device consists of a sprocket 281 mounted on a motor axle shaft 280 of a second (hidden in the illustration) DC motor, on which runs a first toothed belt 282 which drives a reduction gear 286. A second toothed belt 254 also runs on the reduction gear 286. He drives the sprockets 241 and 251 of two transport rollers 24 and 25, the sprockets 241 and 251 are rotatably mounted on Drehachswellen 240 and 250 and the transport rollers 24 and 25 with the Drehachswellen 240 and 250 are firmly connected. The toothed rollers 241 and 251 or the transport rollers 24 and 25 are internally equipped with a freewheel mechanism, wherein the freewheel in the x direction is effective.

The FIG. 3b shows a perspective view of the mechanical structure of the feed station with a pressure box in maintenance position, from the front left above. The maintenance position provides good access to the transport path for maintenance or jam clearance in case of jams of mail pieces. A pushed onto a guide rod 276 compression spring 274 moves the pressure box 26 in the z-direction as soon as the lock is released by pressing the button 263. The rocker 264 is rotatably mounted on the axle shaft 260 and has the aforementioned stop 2641 on the swing head. The pressure rollers 261, 262 are rotatably and resiliently mounted in the pressure box 26. The guide rod 276 is attached to the frame floor 270. Of the in the 3a shown means which are provided for adjusting a stop of the swing head are in the 3b nor the stop support plate 2724 and the adjustment screw 27271 and a sheet metal angle 2727 visible. Of the Sheet metal bracket 2727 is fixedly attached to the frame rear wall 272, which also from the Fig. 3c evident. Turning on the adjustment screw 27271 causes an up and down movement of the stop support plate 2724 in the z-direction. The stop support plate 2724 has a slot 27241 as a guide in the z-direction, which is arranged vertically below the concealed slot 27242, but in the FIG. 3a is visible. In these slots stuck two bolts 27261 (visible) and 27262 (hidden), which are mounted on the front of the frame rear wall 272. From the FIG. 3f is a bent perpendicular to the stop support plate 2724 sheet metal angle, which has a stop angle piece, the latter carries at least one stop rubber pad 27246. The stop rubber pad 27246 comes into contact with the stop 2641 of the rocker 26 when the pressure box has been moved back to the operating position. At the aforementioned sheet metal angle Justage- and fastening means of a roller support plate are mounted, which are accessible via a rectangular first adjustment opening 27250 in pre-separation plate 2725. The latter passes over at the lower edge in a direction 27252 angled in the transport direction. In Vorvereinzelungsblech a further opening is recessed near the frame rear wall 272 in which a holder 2721e of a first light emitter is mounted. A holder 2721 c of an associated first light collector is mounted on the frame rear wall 272 in front of the first separating roller 22. The first light emitter and the first light collector form a first light barrier. Both brackets are part of the first sensor device. A second sensor device 2722 is immediately in front of and a third (partially hidden) sensor device 2723 is arranged immediately after the first transport roller 24. A holder 2722e of a second light emitter is a component of the second sensor device 2722. Likewise, a holder 2723e of a third light emitter is part of the third sensor device 2723. Both sensor devices 2722, 2723 are not mounted obliquely but orthogonally to the transport direction on the frame rear wall 272. The two sensor devices 2722, 2723 can therefore also be designed as a common assembly. The first separating roller 22 and the second separating roller 23 each have an axle shaft 220, 230 which respectively run in plain bearings 222, 232, the latter being mounted on the frame front wall 271. On the frame rear wall 272 are - not visible - also mounted plain bearings in which the axle shafts 220, 230 run. The left side of the feed station may be referred to as a mail stream singulation page. The axle shaft 240, 250 of the first transport roller 23 and the second transport roller 25 also run in each case in plain bearings 242, 252, the latter being mounted on the frame front wall 271. On the frame rear wall 272 are - in Fig. 3b not visible - likewise plain bearings mounted, in which the axle shafts run. A large sprocket 2862 is fixedly connected to a small sprocket 2861 of the reduction gear 286. Both are preferably formed as a single component and mounted on a common axle 2716 which is mounted on the front of the frame front wall 271. The first toothed belt 282 drives the large sprocket 2862. On the small one Toothed roller 2861 of the reduction gear 286, a second toothed roller 241 and third toothed roller 251 runs the second toothed belt 254 of the second drive device. A first pulley 2711 is disposed adjacent to the second pulley 241 in the transport direction and rotates on a pivot 2710 which is also mounted on the front of the rack front wall 271 but located closer to the rack floor than the axle 240. A pulley 27141 of a tensioner is disposed between the second sprocket 241 and the small sprocket 2861 of the reduction gear 286. The pulley 27141 is rotatably supported on an axle 27140 mounted on a timing belt tension plate 2714 near the end thereof. At the end thereof, a first hook 27142 for a tension spring 2713 is mounted on the toothed belt tensioning plate 2714. On the front of the frame front wall 271, a second hook 27151 is provided for the tension spring 2713. The second hook 27151 is spaced from the first hook 27142 in the x and z directions. The tension spring 2713 is stretched between the aforementioned two hooks, wherein a tensile force acts on the tensioning roller 27141 of the tensioning device, so that the second toothed belt 254 is taut by the tensile force. At the other end of the toothed belt tensioning plate 2714 a slot 27143 is incorporated. Therein, a set screw 2715 is mounted, which is mounted on the frame front wall 271. By the deflection roller 2711 and the deflection roller 27141 of the tensioning device, the looping of the second toothed roller 241 is also increased by the toothed belt.

The Figure 3c shows a perspective view of the mechanical structure of the feeding station without the pressure box, as seen from behind and on top of the Poststromvereinzelungsseite the feed station. The first separating roller 22 is arranged vertically above the DC motor 295 in the frame between the frame front wall 171 and the frame rear wall 172 on the Poststromvereinzelungsseite the feed station. The DC motor 295 drives a mechanism of the first drive device, which has a reduction gear 296, which is arranged driving force between the DC motor 295 and the first separating roller 22 and increases the separating force. The first drive device further consists of a first sprocket 291, on which a first toothed belt 292 runs, which drives a large sprocket of the reduction gear 296. The sprocket 291 is mounted directly on the motor axle 290 of the first DC motor. The large sprocket is firmly connected to a small sprocket of the reduction gear 296. Both are preferably formed as a single component and mounted on a common axle 2730 which is mounted on the back of the frame rear wall 272. On the small sprocket of the reduction gear 296, a second sprocket 221 and third sprocket 231 runs a second toothed belt 273 of the first drive device. A pulley 27281 of a tensioner is disposed between the second sprocket 221 and the small sprocket of the reduction gear 296. The pulley 27281 is rotatably supported on an axle 27280 mounted on a timing belt tension plate 2728 near one end thereof is. At the end thereof, a first hook 27282 for a tension spring 2729 is mounted on the toothed belt tensioning plate 2728. On the back of the frame rear wall 272, a second hook 27263 is provided for the tension spring 2729. The second hook 27263 is spaced from the first hook 27282 in the x and z directions. The tension spring 2729 is stretched between the aforementioned two hooks 27282 and 27263, wherein a tensile force acts on the tensioning roller 27281 of the tensioning device, so that the tension of the second toothed belt 273 is taut. The sprocket 221 and 231 is fixedly mounted on the rotary axle 220 and 230, respectively. Each rotary axle 220 or 230 of the first drive device runs in a sliding bearing 223 or 233, wherein each of the sliding bearing 223 or 233 is mounted on the back of the frame rear wall 272. Also, each rotary axle 240 and 250 of the second drive device also runs in a sliding bearing 243 and 253, wherein each of the sliding bearings 243 and 253 mounted on the back of the frame rear wall 272. Corresponding sliding bearings are mounted on the frame front wall 271, as shown in FIGS FIGS. 3a and b evident. On the back of the frame rear wall 272, the guide rod 276 protrudes visibly in the height (z-direction). An attachment block 277 of the guide rod 276 is mounted on the rack floor. The attachment point is - not visible - on the one hand in the area between the slide bearings 243 and 253 and on the other hand in the region between the transverse walls of the frame and between the frame front wall 271 and the frame rear wall 272.

On the motor axle 280 of the DC motor 285 of the second drive device, an encoder disk 283 is arranged, which is scanned by an encoder electronics 284. The elements of the second drive device are essentially already with reference to the FIGS. 3a and 3b been explained. A sheet metal bracket 2727 on the frame rear wall 272 and the adjustment screw 27271 for height adjustment of the Anschlagsträgerblechs have already been mentioned together with other means that are provided for adjusting a stop of the swing head. A sheet metal bracket 27247 is angled at the top of the Anschlagsträgerblechs in the y direction and carries a bore 27248 with an internal thread into which the adjustment screw 27271 can be rotated. By turning the stop support plate is moved. Attachment means 27264 to 27267 are provided on the rack rear wall 272, which serve for fastening the pre-separating plate 2725. The Vorvereinzelungsblech 2725 is angled for this purpose at the edge near the frame rear wall 272 in the x direction. The angled sheet metal part 27255 is located on the back of the frame rear wall and carries openings for the fasteners. For example, screws 27265 and 27267 or alternatively bolts without threads or rivets may be used. In the case of screws 27265, 27267, nuts 27264, 27266 are used to secure the precleavage plate 2725 to the frame rear wall 272. A set screw 27268 is screwed in at the back of the rack rear wall to fix the holder 2721e of the first light emitter such that a light beam from the first light emitter to the first light collector, which is mounted on the bracket 2721 c, can pass, if no flat Good rests at the feed station. The holder 2721 c is mounted in the same manner on the frame rear wall 272. Alternatively, a single component is provided for the first sensor device, which comprises both holders. For the two sensor devices 2722, 2723, a common module 2720 is already provided, which is mounted on the back of the frame rear wall 272 and protrude their holders for the individual sensor elements through corresponding openings of the frame rear wall 272 forward to the transport path. The common assembly 2720 has a sheet metal part, which merges into an arm which extends in the transport direction (x-direction) and is angled in its y-direction at its end. The arm carries at its angled end a microswitch 2.6.

The 3d figure shows the side view of the mechanical structure of the feeding station from the left. The rotary axle 220 is rotatably mounted in the frame 27 in slide bearings 222 and 223. On the rotary axle 220, a roller rotating body 2204 is arranged. The roller body 2204 is equipped internally with a freewheel mechanism, wherein the freewheel in the transport direction (x-direction) is effective. The rotary axle 220 and the roller rotating body 2204 are part of the first separating roller 22. By the latter is in the illustration 3 d conceals the second separating roller, which is arranged in the transport direction behind the first separating roller 22. The first transport roller 24 is arranged in the transport direction behind the second separating roller. By the first transport roller 24 is in the illustration 3 d conceals the second transport roller, which is arranged in the transport direction after the first transport roller 24. Between two transport rollers lies hidden the first transverse wall. The first drive device 29 is arranged on the rear side of the frame rear wall 272 and is driven by the DC motor 295. The first drive device 29 drives the two separating rollers. The second drive device 28 is arranged on the front side of the frame front wall 271 and drives the two transport rollers. The second transverse wall 2702 is disposed between the first and second separating rollers. Above the first separating roller 22, two pre-separating fingers 275 are arranged, which are fastened to the pre-separating plate 2725. The pre-separating plate 2725 has at the lower edge a post-flow-input-side stack stop face 27251. Both have a common opening 27254 in the immediate vicinity of the angled sheet metal part 27255 on the frame rear wall 272, wherein the common opening 27254 is provided for the attachment of the holder 2721 e of the first light emitter. The angled sheet metal part 27255 is fastened to the frame rear wall 272 via the fastening means 27264 to 27267. The light emitter and the light collector are part of a light barrier, which is used as a first sensor. The attachment of the holder 2721 c of the first light collector is also effected via a locking screw 27269 on the back of the frame rear wall 272. The pre-separating plate 2725 has at its upper edge (in the z-direction) a rectangular Adjustment opening 27250, over which a roller support plate 27243 is accessible. The latter is fastened via adjusting and fastening means 272431, 272432 indirectly via angled sheet metal parts on the stop support plate 2724. The stop support plate 2724 is held by bolts 27262 on the front side of the frame rear wall 272 slidably. An encoder EN1 is arranged on the side of the second drive device 28 and detects the drive of the two separating rollers. An encoder EN2 is arranged on the side of the first drive device 29 and detects the drive of the two transport rollers. The encoders are constructed in a conventional manner. On each motor shaft an encoder disc is arranged, which is scanned by an encoder electronics. For the sake of clarity, were in the Fig. 3d the Andruckwagen with the rocker and some elements of the frame or the drive device not shown, already with reference to the Fig. 3b were explained.

The FIG. 3e shows a section across the frame in front of the second transverse wall 2702, wherein the second transverse wall between the frame front wall 271 and the frame rear wall 272 is arranged. The second separating roller 23 has a roller rotating body 2304 with integrated freewheel mechanism, in which the rotary axle 230 is inserted. The rotary axle 230 is rotatably mounted in slide bearings 232 and 233 in the rack front wall 271 and rack rear wall 272. On the rolling body 2304, three rubber tires 2301-2303 are mounted. Separating fingers 2652 and 2653, which are fastened under a contact plate 265, protrude into the interspaces of the tires. The remaining separating fingers 2651 and 2654 protrude at the outer edge of the roller body 2304 adjacent to the rubber tires 2301 and 2303 under the stopper plate 265, to which the separating fingers are attached. Their attachment takes place in the example shown by a - not shown - clamping a rubber plate having four comb-shaped separating fingers. However, the attachment can also be done in a different way. The run-up plate 265 is arranged at the head of the rocker 264. For the sake of clarity, were in the Fig. 3e some elements of the frame or the drive device relative to the Fig. 3d omitted. For the Andruckwagen 26 were shown with the rocker 264 and highlighted by a dot pattern. The pressure truck 26 with the rocker 264 are mainly made of plastic, while the frame consists essentially of sheet metal. The rocker 264 is rotatably mounted in the pressure box 26. In front of the head of the rocker, the pre-separation plate 2725 is arranged in the frame, to which the precleaning fingers 275 are attached. The stack stopper surface 27251 is located at the lower edge of the pre-separation plate 2725. A set screw 27256 is for fixing the pre-separation fingers 275 and is disposed above the first rubber tire 2301 above the stack stopper surface 27251 on the pre-separation plate. Between the upwardly bevelled side edge of Vorvereinzelungsblechs 2725 and the locking screw 27256 a circular adjustment opening 27253 is provided. The beveled Side edge is opposite to the angled sheet metal part, which is fastened by means of the fastening means 27264 to 27267 on the frame rear wall 272.

The FIG. 3f shows a view of the separation area in the frame from the front. The stop support plate 2724 lies with its surface parallel to the x- / z-plane. From the former, a sheet metal angle 27244 is bent at right angles, whose surface is parallel to the y / z plane. On the stop angle piece 27245 bent in the direction of transport, a stop rubber pad 27246 is preferably fastened by gluing. It is envisaged that the separating device has a lock for flat goods, which is designed in multiple stages in the separation area and comprises at least one pre-sluice. A stack of mail pieces is placed on the feed deck 21 and abuts against the post-entrance wall of the housing part 20a of the feed station. The housing is made of a plastic. From this housing wall to the stack stop surface 27251 of the frame 27 there is a distance of about 5 mm. As a result, not all mailpieces of a stack with a stack height greater than 23.5 mm can strike the stack stop surface at the same time when the first singulation roller 22 is driven, which protrudes approximately 6.5 mm beyond the surface of the feed deck 21. The lower edge of the housing part 20a forms a first step which lies approximately 30 mm parallel over the surface of the feed deck 21. The first stage and the first separating roller 22 form the first pre-sluice. A second stage for retaining the mail pieces of the stack is a fixed stepped bent sheet metal angle 27251, 27252 at the lower edge of the pre-separating plate, whose components are at an angle and / or perpendicular to the transport direction. The step lower side of the sheet 27252 is in the illustrated embodiment about 18.5 mm above the surface of the feed deck 21. As a result, only a single thick mail piece with a maximum thickness of 12 mm pass this stage or several thin mail pieces. After the above-mentioned stage, the pre-separating fingers 275, which are fastened at the top and obliquely downward in the transport direction, and the likewise abutment plate 265, which is also arranged obliquely, follow. The latter, together with the second separating roller 23, forms the main lock. The run-up plate 265 does not extend into the gap between the rubber tires of the second separating roller 23, as opposed to the separating fingers 2651, 2652, 2653, 2654. By the rotation of the separating rollers those mailpieces on the stop plate 265 fanned, which at the lower end of the stack Since the acute angle β of the stop plate 265 to the surface of the feed deck 21 does not allow un-stacked mail pieces. The aforementioned angle β is in the range of 30 ° to 45 °. By means of the adjusting screw 27271, the height of the stop of the swing head on stop rubber cushion 27246 relative to the surface of the feed deck 21 and thus also the angle β can be changed. The means 2724, 27242, 27262, 2727 and 27271 are provided for adjusting the stop of the swing head. On the stop angle piece 27245 and a roller support plate 27243 is adjustable adjustable. The roller carrier plate 27243 carries two rolls of the same construction, of which only the first roll 272433 was shown, which conceals the second roll 272434. Between the rollers 264 formed on the head of the rocker nose 2642 is guided. At the upper end of the nose of the rocker 264 molded nose a stop element 2641 is formed, which is brought into abutment with the stop rubber cushion 27246. The tensile force required for striking is applied by a tension spring 266 mounted on the one hand in the pressure box 26 and on the other hand mounted on the rocker 264. The pressure box 26 has the first pressure roller 261, which - in a manner not shown - is mounted resiliently and the first transport roller 24 faces. The Andruckkasten 26 has post-downstream in the 3b shown second pinch roller 262. It is also resiliently mounted in a manner not shown and faces the second transport roller 25. The transport rollers and separating rollers 22 and 23 are arranged between the frame front wall 271 and the frame rear wall 272 in the frame 27. The singulation finger 2651 obscures the remaining singulation fingers. All separating fingers are clamped between the stop plate 265 and the head of the rocker 264. The run-up plate 265 can be adjusted via the circular opening in the precleaning sheet.

In the Fig. 3g Fig. 10 is an left side elevational view of an actuator of the delivery station having a button 216 disposed on the delivery deck 21 at the front of the device. The key is also called the Seal key 216 (see Fig. 2 ) and serves on the one hand for actuating a known letter-closing device (not shown) and on the other hand for inputting information via a microswitch 2.6 into a (in the Fig. 4a shown) control unit of the feed station. In the position shown, the information is input to the control unit that the letter-closing device has been deactivated. A Laschenabweiser called poststromaufwärts convex shaped molding 212 protrudes above the feed deck 21 in the z-direction and thereby prevents a tab of an envelope can pass under a sword of the letter-closing device. The molded part 212 and the key 216 are mechanically fixed to one another via a lever 215. The molded part 212 is on the front side and the microswitch 2.6 is arranged on the rear side of the rear wall 272 of the frame. The molding 212 is formed on the one end of the lever. The rear wall 272 has an opening through which a leaf spring 2.61 of the microswitch 2.6 protrudes forward. The microswitch 2.6 is actuated by the leaf spring 2.61, by the outer edge of a hook 213, wherein the hook 213 is integrally formed at the other end of the lever and then to the molding 212 facing down. In the illustrated position, the hook 213 rests with its inner edge on an upper side of a housing part 214, wherein the surface of the upper side of the housing part 214 is parallel to the x- / y-plane of the Cartesian coordinate system. On the housing part 214, a leaf spring 2141 is attached to one end, which is bent in a U-shape and the other end acts above with a pulling force on the lever, so that the Hook 213 is pressed with its inner edge on the surface of the upper side of the housing part 214. The lever 215 has a bottom plate 2151, which has a contour on the inside, which is adapted to the other end of the leaf spring 2141 and shaped accordingly, so that the leaf spring 2141 does not slip out when the button 216, a force from above in y- Shifting direction acts (in the direction of the arrow of the white arrow). The lever 215 then carries out a movement (not shown), wherein the hook 213 slips with its inner edge from the surface of the upper side of the housing part 214. As a result, the microswitch 2.6 is then no longer actuated and thus signals to the control unit of the feed station that the letter-closing device has been activated.

In the Fig. 4a a block diagram is shown, with a control unit 2.4, which is electrically connected to the sensors S1, S2, S3, S4 and encoders EN1, EN2 as well as with the motors M1 and M2. The control unit 2.4 has a processor 2.41 for the automatic determination of input variables, a program memory 2.42, a memory means 2.43 for the automatically determined and for further manually entered input variables. The control unit contains signal processing means 2.44 for the signals of the sensors and the encoders EN1, EN2 and determining means 2.45 for determining the position of the flat goods in the transport path. The aforementioned means, such as processor 2.41, signal processing means 2.44 and encoder EN1 or EN2, work together, for example, for speed control of the motor M1 of the singulator or for speed control of the motor M2 of the conveyor. The purpose of the speed control is known to keep the speed independent of fluctuations in the load or the power supply automatically constant. Thus, a specific setpoint of the separation or transport speed can be maintained.

For example, processor 2.41, signal processing means 2.44, third sensor S3, and encoder EN2 work together to determine the length of a mail piece. The third sensor S3 is preferably designed as a light barrier. During the transport of a mail piece, a counter of the 2.45 means of investigation counts the pulses supplied by the EN2 encoder. The count Z _{1 of} the counter is determined as soon as a light beam interruption has been detected by means of the third sensor S3, which the processor interprets as mail item leading edge. If by means of the sensor S3, a change in light is detected, which the processor interprets as the trailing edge of the same piece of mail, a count Z _{3 is} determined. The length of the mail piece results as a counting distance from the difference of the counts L = Z ₃ - Z ₁ .

Alternatively, the determination of the length of a mail piece can also be carried out with the participation of the second sensor S2 in a basically identical way.

By further counting the counter results in the position of the mail piece or flat Guts in the transport path based on the count. The motors M1 and M2 are preferably DC motors 295, 285, which are controlled via the driver units 2.48, 2.49 of the control unit 2.4. The driver unit 2.49 is designed for quick stop of the motor M1. The encoders EN1, EN2 are preferably constructed and arranged as already using the encoder 385, 295 of FIGS. 3a to 3d was explained. The signal processing means and the processor are used for measurement, control and regulation purposes for both motors. A gap measurement is based on a first count of the encoder pulses EN2 achieved when the trailing edge of the mailpiece is detected by the processor and sensor S2 and a second count of the EN2 encoder pulses reached when using the processor and Sensors S2, the leading edge of the subsequent mailpiece is detected. The count between the two counts corresponds to the current gap Dist between the mailpieces.

Likewise, the determination of the gap between successive mail pieces can also take place with the participation of the third sensor S3 in a basically identical manner.

The above-mentioned means signal processing means 2.44 and / or determination means 2.45 may be a hardware and / or software component of the processor.

The above-mentioned means signal processing means 2.44, determination means 2.45 and driver units 2.49, 2.48 may alternatively be part of an input / output unit realized with discrete components.
Alternatively, it is provided that a freely programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific circuit (ASIC) is used. Preferably, an FPGA is used, which is programmed as an input / output unit. A suitable programmable logic is, for example, Spartan-II 3A FPGA from XILINX ( www.xilinx.com ).

Finally, the feed station can also contain additional assemblies, such as a closing module or a closing device. An actuator 211 with the button 216 mounted at one end thereof can bring the closing device into an operating position, the microswitch 2.6 arranged at its other end being actuated, which signals the operating position of the control unit 2.4. A sensor S4 is associated with the locking device and connected to the control unit 2.4 to signal the position of the tab. Thus, an error detection in the feeder is possible. The control unit 2.4 is connected to a light source LS8, which is turned on in the seal mode. The control unit 2.4 has a communication unit 2.5, which communicates via an interface 2.7 - in a manner not shown - with a franking machine in communication. Alternatively, however, the communication unit 2.5 can also be arranged externally to the control unit 2.4 and communicatively connected to the latter.

A representation of the principle of the supply goes out of the Fig. 4b out. The feed station 2 has in each case two separating rollers 22, 23 arranged on the axle shafts 220, 230 and two transport rollers 24, 25. The latter are each two arranged on the axle shafts 240, 250. The axle shafts 220, 230 and 240, 250 are - in a manner not shown - driven at different times and with different number of revolutions by the motors M1 and M2, so that a lying in the stack mail piece Pn is reliably isolated. The sensors are designed as light barriers. The first sensor consists of a light source LS1 arranged above the feed deck 21 and a light collector LC1 arranged below the feed deck 21, which is coupled to the light source via a light beam and detects any interruption of the light beam. The sensors are of the same design but arranged in the transport path at different positions. A gap is formed between the stopper plate 265 and the second separating roller 23 and limits the thickness of the mailpiece to be separated. After singulation, the postal item Pn is transported further in the direction of transport (white arrow) on the surface of the feed deck 21 along the transport path to the entry roller 31 of the franking machine 3. Another flat good can also be singulated and transported from a pile. The light source LS1 is located downstream of the axle shaft 220, but the light collector LC1 is located upstream of the axle shaft 220. The light sources LS2 and LS3 are located post-downstream to the axle shaft 220 and orthogonal to the associated light collectors LC2 and LC3. The second light barrier LS2, LC2 is arranged upstream of the axle shaft 240 of the first transport roller 24. The third light barrier LS2, LC2 is arranged downstream of the axle shaft 240 of the first transport roller 24. Both light barriers are arranged orthogonal to the transport path on the frame.

The Fig. 4c shows a speed / path diagram for a flat good. Along the abscissa axis, along the transport path, a path s traveled in mm from the front edge of the mailpiece is entered. The ordinate axis indicates the value of the velocity V of the leading edge of the mail piece. The position of the axle shaft 220 results from an orthogonal mapping to a waypoint of the transport path and has been illustrated on the left hand side of the diagram by means of a dash-and-dot line. The transport path is followed successively by the positions, such as the waypoint of the axle shaft 230, the waypoint W1 of the second sensor S2, the waypoint W2 of the axle shaft 240 and the waypoint W3 of the third sensor S3, which have also been illustrated by means of a dashed-dotted line. The aforementioned positions are in the Fig. 4b specified positions in a flight. A function curve of the speed V of the leading edge of the postal item Pn which ascends stepwise as a function of the setpoint value of the singling speed VSsoll is illustrated by a solid line. By contrast, the function curve of the velocity V of the leading edge of the mail piece Pn + 1, which is shown in dashed lines, shows a rising and falling path (when stopping at the waypoint W1) during singulation. If the gap is too small, the distance to the leading mail piece Pn increases due to the stopping. Too large a gap is reduced by a speed V of the leading edge of the mail piece Pn + 1 which continues to increase at the waypoint Wstart to a predetermined distance Dmin to the mail piece Pn. The speed V is again reduced at the waypoint WEnd to a predetermined target transport speed, for example VTsoll = 320 mm / s, before the leading edge of the mail item Pn + 1 reaches the input roller 31 of the franking machine 3.

1. i) einerseits den Vereinzelungsmotor M1 der Vereinzelungsvorrichtung so anzusteuern, dass eine zu kleine aktuelle Lücke auf eine Mindestlücke Dmin vergrößert wird und
2. ii) andererseits den Transportmotor M2 so anzusteuern, dass ein vereinzeltes flaches Gut poststromabwärts transportiert und einem nachfolgenden Gutverarbeitungsgerät mit einer vorbestimmten Transportgeschwindigkeit zugeführt wird, wobei die Transportgeschwindigkeit vor der Zuführung in Abhängigkeit von den gespeicherten Daten eines vorausgehend vereinzelten flachen Guts und von der Position des aktuell zu vereinzelnden flachen Guts automatisch variiert wird, so dass eine zu große Lücke zwischen den Gütern auf eine vorbestimmte Distanz verringert wird und ein vorbestimmter Durchsatz an flachen Gütern resultiert.

Die vorbestimmte Distanz ist eine Wegstrecke oder zeitliche Distanz zwischen den unmittelbar aufeinander folgenden flachen Gütern.It is from the 4a it can be seen that the control unit 2.4 is connected on the output side to a transport motor M2 for driving the transport device with the transport rollers 24, 25 and that the processor 2.41 is programmed by an application program stored in a program memory 2.42 of the control unit 2.4:

1. i) on the one hand to control the singling motor M1 of the singulation device such that a current gap that is too small is increased to a minimum gap Dmin and
2. ii) on the other hand to control the transport motor M2 so that an isolated flat good post-downstream transported and fed to a subsequent good processing device at a predetermined transport speed, the transport speed before feeding in dependence on the stored data of a previously isolated flat Guts and the position of the current is automatically varied to be separated flat goods, so that an excessive gap between the goods is reduced to a predetermined distance and results in a predetermined throughput of flat goods.

The predetermined distance is a distance or time distance between the immediately successive flat goods.

Furthermore, it is provided that the processor 2.41 is designed for the automatic determination of input variables and is connected to a memory means 2.43 for the automatically determined and for further manually inputted input variables that the control unit drives the singulation motor M1 and the transport motor M2, wherein the control a number is based on suitable speed setpoints or machine-specific travel and / or time values for the separation and transport of a flat good, which are used depending on the determined dimension and position of the flat material in the transport path.

A representation of the individual phases of the transport of a flat good goes out of the FIGS. 5a-5j produced in conjunction with Fig. 6 be explained.

In the Fig. 6 is a program flowchart for a processor of the control unit and in the FIGS. 7 to 12 subroutines to the program schedule are shown. The program schedule 100 after Fig. 6 After a start step 101, steps 102-103 are provided for initializing the feed station. It is contemplated that the processor of the control unit is programmed to load after initialization an associated user program and initial parameter to subsequently invoke a default mode in which the feeder station can operate.

• die erste vorbestimmte Vereinzelungsgeschwindigkeit im Standardmodus,
• für erste vorbestimmte Transportgeschwindigkeit im Standardmodus,
• für den minimalen Abstand der Poststücke voneinander im Standardmodus.

The initial parameters are at least setpoints for:

• the first predetermined singulation speed in standard mode,
• for the first predetermined transport speed in standard mode,
• for the minimum distance between the mail items in standard mode.

The feeder control unit is adjustable to different speeds for thick (thick mode) and non-thick mail pieces (standard mode). It is envisaged that the singulation speed for thick mail pieces in the thickness mode is higher than for non-thick mail pieces in the standard mode. It is assumed that the dimensions of the mailpiece.
For example, Deutsche Post AG carries mail pieces with the following maximum dimensions (postal format DIN-B): abbreviation description height width length M-DIN B4 Maxibrief 50 mm 250 mm 353 mm G-DIN B4 Großbrief 20 mm 250 mm 353 mm K-DIN B6 Kompaktbrief 10 mm 125 mm 235 mm S-DIN B6 standard letter 5 mm 125 mm 235 mm

Assuming that postcards have a smaller length (L = 162 mm) than a standard letter, an automatic length measurement is performed to determine the difference between standard letter and postcards.

However, instead of automatically making a direct thickness measurement via another sensor to determine the height, a thickness mode for a "compact letter" is entered manually. An adjustment of a certain operating mode for the feeding station via the display of a franking machine, which from the Fig. 1 is apparent.

It is further contemplated that in the standard mode, the singling speed for "normal" medium thickness mail pieces (standard letter) is higher than for postcards or other thin mail pieces, assuming that the postcards are shorter than 200 mm have. Further control parameters can be selected for different mailpieces (letters) in the seal mode or in the nonseal mode.

A stack of mail pieces is placed in the pre-dicing area on the feed deck and the first singulation roller 22 of the feed station 2 (see Fig. 5a ).

The program schedule after Fig. 6 provides in step 104 to send information to the postage meter and receive information from the postage meter. This assumes, of course, that the entire system is turned on, which from the Fig. 1 is apparent. The meter waits in standby mode after the system has started, as shown in step 301 of FIG Fig. 6 shown in the sequence 300. The operator of the system can now make inputs to the postage meter. In step 302, the mode selection is recognized by the postage meter and sent to the delivery station in step 303 as soon as there is a corresponding request from the delivery station for it. The mode selection information sent from the postage meter is received by the delivery station and recognized and stored in step 105. In addition, a query is made whether the key of the feed station has been actuated, which allows an additional closing function. The query result is also stored in a memory of the control unit. Now branch back to step 104 if the system is not ready yet. Otherwise, branching is made to subroutine 110, in which the encoder counter is set to zero in step 110.1 and started, and the transport motor is started in step 110.2 ( Fig. 5a . Fig. 7 ). Subsequently, a branch is made to the subroutine 120, in which the separation of the item of mail to be separated is started (see Fig. 5b and Fig. 8 ). In step 120.1, the system waits to inquire whether the first sensor S1 detects a mail item at the dicing area. The singulation motor is then started in step 120.2. In step 130.1 of the subsequent subroutine 130, the system waits to inquire whether the third sensor detects the leading edge of the postal item Pn. If so, a first count Z _{1 is} determined. In the following step 120.3, the count is stored and the singulation motor stopped (see Fig. 5d and Fig. 9 ). The piece of mail lying at the very bottom of the mail stack can now be removed from the post-stack by the rotation of the first transport roller, a free-running of the separating rollers being effective. Subsequently, a branch is made to the subroutine 140.

In the subroutine 140, the transport speed is regulated to the first predetermined setpoint value for the mail piece Pn (see FIG Fig. 5d, 5e and 10 ). In step 140.1, the transport motor M2 is controlled to the first predetermined desired value VTsetpoint until the second sensor has detected the trailing edge of the mail item Pn in step 140.2. Then in the Step 140.3, a second count Z _{2 of} the counter for the encoder pulses of the encoder EN2 determined and stored in step 140.4.

As soon as the trailing edge of the postal item Pn leaves the area detected by the second sensor (see FIG Fig. 5e ), it can then be controlled in the following subroutine 150 a separation of the subsequent mail item Pn + 1 (see Fig. 5f and Fig. 11 ), as long as another item of mail Pn + 1 is applied to the feed station, which is detected in step 150.1. In step 150.2, the singulation motor M1 is started. In step 150.3 it is queried whether the third sensor S3 detects the trailing edge of the mail piece Pn. If that - as in 5G If it is shown in step 150.4, the count of the counter is determined and step 150.5 the count of the counter is stored as a new previous mailpiece data. In step 150.6 of the same subroutine, it is recognized that the second sensor detects the leading edge of the subsequent mailpiece Pn + 1 (see Fig. 5g and Fig. 11 ). In step 150.7, a fourth count Z _{4 of} the counter is determined, which is required to determine the size of the current gap. In step 150.8, a gap Dist <Dmin has been determined that the count distance Z (Dist) is less than the minimum count distance Z (Dmin), which is detected in step 150.9. A deceleration predetermined in accordance with the initialization in steps 102-103 or set according to a preset routine is determined for the dicing motor M1 in step 150.10. The separating motor M1 is stopped in step 150.11 and then restarted after the determined delay. The delay is calculated so that the minimum gap is at least reached. The processor can calculate the delay time based on the present encoder counts and the known transport speed. When the closing function is activated, the delay is set to a predetermined minimum time gap Δt _D. However, if it was determined in step 150.1 that no further mail piece Pn + 1 is present at the feed station, then a point h is reached, branched to step 180 and the transport motor M2 is turned off. Subsequently, a stop step 181 is reached, which ends the routine 100.

If, however, another mail piece Pn + 1 is present at the feed station, the singulation motor M1 is restarted and after passing through steps 150.12 - 150.14 to determine that the leading edge of the mail piece Pn + 1 has reached the area of the third sensor S3 ( Fig. 5h ), a point f is reached. Thereafter, in subroutine 160, a gap reduction routine (see Figure 12 ) started. In the case of a postal item Pn withdrawn first, however, this routine can be skipped by not setting a bit, which is queried in the first step 160.1 (see FIG Fig. 12 ). Digital control of the transport motor to the first transport speed VTsoll is provided as the last step 160.8 of the gap reduction routine 160. Thereafter, a point g and thus a start of another subroutine 170 is reached, which is used for automatic presetting of the control unit in order to achieve the desired throughput of mail pieces with maximum separation security.

In this case, the processor in a first query step 171 queries whether the thickness mode was stored in the mode setting stored in step 105. A subsequent step 172 is branched if this was not the case. In the aforementioned step 172, a length calculation for calculating the length of the mail piece based on the stored encoder data is performed. In the subsequent query step 173, the query result is checked whether the (sealer) button has been pressed, which causes a closing function for closing the tab of the envelope of the mailpiece. If this is not the case, that the flap is to be closed, ie in non-stand-by mode, then the process branches to step 174 in order to set a minimum gap value. Otherwise, ie in the seal mode, ie in the case in which the tab is to close, then the query step 182 is branched. If it is determined in query step 182 that the length of the mailpiece exceeds a second length value, for example the limit value L2 = 280 mm, then a time gap is set in step 184 corresponding to a first time duration of Δt _D = 0.9 s (seconds). equivalent. If this is not the case, the length is greater than L2 = 280 mm, then branching is made to step 183 to set a time gap which corresponds to a second time duration of Δt _D = 0.2 s (seconds).

In step 174, a setpoint for a minimum gap is set depending on the intended throughput. For example, at a throughput of 60 mail pieces per minute, the minimum gap should be Δs = 60 mm. For example, at a throughput of 65 mail pieces per minute, the minimum gap between two immediately successive mailpieces should be Δs = 35 mm.

From step 174, the query step 175 is branched. In the interrogation step 175, it is determined whether the length of the mail item falls below a first length value, for example the limit value L1 = 200 mm. If this is the case, then a step 176 is reached in which the singling speed is set to a first set value VS _soll = 125 mm / s. If this is not the case, then a branch is made to a step 177, in which the singling speed is set to a second setpoint VS _soll = 160 mm / s. Step 177 also branches after passing through steps 183 or 184.

In the inquiry step 175, it was checked whether the length is smaller than L1 = 200 mm. In such a case, short and usually thin mailpieces are present in the stack being created. Since their separation is difficult, in the following step 176, the singling speed _is preset to a first set value VS _soll = 125 mm / s. Otherwise, standard letters of medium thickness in the stack, which can be reliably separated. Consequently, in step 177, the singling speed may be preset to a second setpoint VS _soll = 160 mm / s, where the second setpoint is greater than the first setpoint. Subsequently In a step 179, the transport speed _is preset to a first desired value VT _soll = 320 mm / s. However, if the thickness mode had been stored before the singulation, a branch is made to a subsequent step 178 and the singling speed is preset to a nominal value VS _soll = 300 mm / s. Subsequently, the step 179 is reached again and the transport speed to the target value VT _soll = 320 mm / s preset. Step 179 branches to point b and the routine of steps 120 to 170 is repeated for a subsequent mail piece. In the FIG. 5i a phase is shown in which the subsequent postal item Pn + 1 is deducted from the stack. The above-mentioned nominal values apply here. In this case and then the mail piece Pn + 1 is transported by the transport device, similar to that in the FIG. 5f for the mailpiece Pn has been shown. Then, in addition, the stack is further singulated, with the leading edge of a subsequent postal item Pn + 2 being transported to the sensor S2 by the separating device ( Fig. 5j . Fig. 11 ).

In the FIG. 11 In the first query step 150.1, the first sensor S1 detects a mail item Pn + 1 to be singulated which follows the mailpiece Pn with a distance. If, however, no postal item Pn + 1 currently to be separated has been detected, a point h is reached. In the case of an existing stack or postal item Pn + 1 still to be separated, in a second step the singling motor M1 is started again or operated at a previously set rotational speed so that the automatically determined or prescribed nominal value of the singling speed in the feed station is reached and constant is held. In the following query step 150.3, it is checked whether the third sensor S3 detects the trailing edge of the postal item Pn (predecessor). If not, then waiting in wait for the event that the trailing edge of the mail piece Pn (predecessor) is detected. A third count Z _{3 of} the counter for the encoder pulses of the encoder EN2 is reached. These data are then stored in step 150.5 as new parent mail piece data.

In the following query step 150.6 it is checked whether the second sensor S2 already detects the leading edge of the mail piece Pn + 1 currently to be separated. If not, then the event is waiting in a waiting loop. If yes, then in step 150.7 the fourth count Z _{4 of} the counter for the encoder pulses of the encoder EN 2 is determined and then a gap is determined. The latter presupposes that, in step 140.4, the routine 140 (FIG. Fig. 10 ) a second count Z ₂ of the encoder pulse counter of the EN2 encoder has been stored, which is associated with the event detected in step 140.2, that the second sensor has detected the trailing edge of the mail piece Pn ,. The current gap Dist results from the counting distance X = Z ₄ -Z ₂ . In the following query step 150.9, it is checked whether the determined count distance Z (Dist) is smaller than the minimum count distance Z (Dmin) which is the gap between enzsprechen the mailpieces. If so, then step 150.10 is branched to determine a delay time period by which the motor M1 stopped in subsequent step 150.11 can be restarted. If that is not the case that the count distance Z (Dist) is less than the minimum count distance Z (Dmin) corresponding to the predetermined minimum gap between the mail pieces, then branching is made to step 150.12 to wait for and determine that the leading edge of the Mail item Pn + 1 has reached the area of the third sensor S3. In step 150.13, a fifth count Z _{5 of} the counter for the encoder pulses of the encoder EN2 is determined and stored in step 150.14. Subsequently, the point f is reached.

Based on FIG. 12 the gap reduction routine 160 will be explained. In a first query step 160.1, it is checked whether a bit is set to the value 1. An eighth step 160.8 is branched if no bit is set to the value 1. If one bit is set to the value 1, then the gap reduction routine is carried out and a second step 160.2 is reached, in which a gap measurement is carried out involving the third sensor S3, the principle of which is already shown in FIG FIG. 11 was explained with reference to the second sensor. Then, a query step 160.3 is reached in which it is checked whether the minimum count distance Z (Dmin) is smaller than count distance Z (Dist), wherein the minimum count distance Z (Dmin) corresponds to the minimum path gap Dmin and count distance Z (Dist) of the currently measured gap Dist between two consecutive mail pieces. If so, that is, if the minimum path distance has been exceeded, then in the following step 160.4, the processor calculates the boost parameters.

If, however, the set minimum path gap Dmin is not smaller than the currently measured gap Dist, then the program branches back to the eighth step 160.8. After the Boost parameters have been calculated by the processor, a query step 160.5 is reached, in which it is checked whether a predicted waystart point has been reached by the mail piece Pn + 1. If that - as in Fig. 5i has been shown - then the transport motor is controlled so that the calculated increased transport speed Vboost during transport of the currently separated mail item Pn + 1 is effective. If this is not the case, then waiting for the event is waiting for the mail piece Pn + 1 to reach the path start point. The transport motor M2 of the transport device is activated in step 160.6 until it is determined in a subsequent query step 160.7 that the mail piece Pn + 1 has reached a predicted path end point. If this is not the case, then waiting for the event is waiting for the mail piece Pn + 1 to reach the path end point. But if that - as in Fig.5j has been shown - the case is, then the eighth step 160.8 is reached, in which the transport motor M2 of the transport device is controlled according to that the target transport speed VTsoll reached and kept constant. Then branched to the point g. Through the gap reduction routine 160 ( Fig. 12 ), the set minimum distance gap between two consecutive mail pieces of approx. 60 mm is reached even if the current gap is too large.

In standard mode, postcards (thin mailpieces) and standard letters, ie "normal" mailpieces of medium thickness, can be automatically processed. In a created stack only mail pieces of the same format may be present. In principle, differently thick letters of the same format can be mixed if they have the same postage. This is the case for the standard letter used in Germany. For the standard letter, the maximum dimensions are 5 mm x 125 mm x 235 mm. When power up, a standard control is set automatically, which operates with the lowest separation speed Vs _soll = 125 mm / s. With this setting, even smaller formats and thicknesses up to 5 mm can be processed without separation errors. The feeding station can automatically discriminate whether there is a stack of postcards or "thin" mail pieces or "normal" mail pieces of medium thickness (letters) due to the longest dimension of the mail piece (letter length) and automatically set the drive parameters of the drive motors differently. The length of the bridge is measured by the control unit using the third light barrier. It generally applies to postcards with a length L <L1 = 200 mm and a length L ≥ L1 = 200 mm for "normal" mailpieces of medium thickness.

The singling speed is Vs _soll = 125 mm / s for thin mail pieces, Vs _soll = 160 mm / s for "normal" mail pieces of medium thickness, but Vs _soll = 300 mm / s for thick mail pieces.

The transport speed is usually 320 mm / s and can be increased to 420 mm / s (boost transport speed) or reduced to zero.

The mode for thick mailpieces must be set via the franking machine. By "thick" mail pieces, for example, letters from about 5mm thickness meant. There is no assignment to the letter length. With the setting "thick letters" also differently thick letters of the same format can be mixed, from approx. 5mm to 10mm, if they have the same postage value. A mixture of thin and thick letters, ie 1 mm to 10 mm, is not permitted. When "thick letters" are selected, thin letter formats, especially short formats, may cause separation errors. The "thick letters" function is set via a control panel via a user interface on the touchscreen of the franking machine. About the postage meter is then converted to thick pieces of mail as needed, ie for very thick letters such as the compact letter used in Germany, for which the maximum dimensions 10 mm x 125 mm x 235 mm or apply to all mailpieces that with the Standard control are not or difficult to process. When setting the operating mode for thick mail items mail pieces of DIN formats B4 to B6 or C4 to C6 and all thicknesses are processed, but the separation of smaller formats is not always guaranteed.

In operation, the Nonseal Mindestweglücke between two successive mail pieces is 60 mm as a rule at .DELTA.s = _Dmin. However, this minimum _{travel gap} can be reduced to Δs _Dmin = 35 mm to increase throughput to 65 mail pieces per minute.

In contrast, when closing open envelopes, a certain minimum period of time is required to allow the tab to stick securely to the envelope. Therefore, the dicing process is stopped for each subsequent mail piece Pn + 1 when its leading edge reaches the area of the second sensor. The singulation motor is restarted with a delay, as shown in subroutine 150 ( Fig. 11 ). The processor of the control unit uses a - not shown - quartz-controlled clock for deriving different timing. Thus, this minimum period of time for the mail item Pn is adhered to, the tab was glued. Between the successive mail items, this results in a minimum time gap, which is independent of the transport speeds with which transport motor of the feed station is operated.

In Seal mode, the minimum time gap is typically Δt _D = 0.2 s for mail pieces shorter than 280 mm in length. Such items are called Deutsche Post AG as a compact letter and standard letter. However, this minimum time gap can be automatically increased to Δt _D = 0.9 s for mail pieces longer than 280 mm. Such mailpieces are referred to by Deutsche Post AG as Maxibrief and Großbrief.

By speaking of mail pieces or letters in the above example, however, other flat items which are to be stacked and to be singulated are not to be excluded.

Claims (11)

Feeding station, for supplying a flat Guts, which is supplied individually or from a stack isolated to a subsequent Goodverarbeitungsgerät, with a pre-separation, with a singulation and a transport area, wherein the transport region is arranged in the transport direction after the singulation on a transport path, wherein the feed station Includes motors with associated encoders, other mechanical drive elements, sensors and a control unit and wherein the control unit (2.4) on the input side with a number of sensors (S1, S2, S3) and encoders (EN1, EN2) is connected in circuit,
characterized by that the separating region is arranged on a feed deck (21) on a section of the transport path lying between a first separating roller (22) and a second separating roller (23) of a separating device, and that it has a multi-stage design, in that a first sensor (S1) is arranged at the beginning of the separating region and detects a stack or a single flat product applied in the pre-separating region to the feed station, that a second sensor (S2) is arranged at the beginning of the transport region, - That the control unit comprises a processor (2.41), a signal processing means (2.44) for the signals of the sensors and the encoder (EN1, EN2) and a determining means (2.45) for determining the position of the flat Guts, - that the control unit (2.4) is connected on the output side to a separating motor (M1) for driving the separating device, - That the processor (2.41) is programmed by an application program stored in a program memory (2.4) of the control unit (2.4) to control at least the singling motor (M1) of the feed station (2) so that a flat good from the stack at a predetermined singling speed is singled, wherein the singling process is stopped at a too small gap between the flat goods as soon as the leading edge of a subsequent flat Guts reaches the region of the second sensor (S2) and is continued, when the previously isolated flat Good by its transport a predetermined distance reached to the leading edge of the aforementioned flat Guts, wherein the singling speed is automatically set as a discrete set value for a digital speed control function of the automatically measured length of a previously isolated flat Guts. Feeding station, according to claim 1, characterized in that a third sensor (S3) is arranged on the transport path in the transport area, that the control unit (2.4) on the output side is connected to a transport motor (M2) for driving a transport device, that the processor (2.41) is programmed by an application program stored in a program memory (2.42) of the control unit (2.4): i) on the one hand to control the singling motor (M1) of the singulation device in such a way that a current gap that is too small is increased to a minimum gap Dmin and ii) on the other hand to control the transport motor (M2) so that a single flat good post-downstream transported and fed to a subsequent Goodverarbeitungsgerät at a predetermined transport speed, the transport speed before feeding in dependence on the stored data of a previously isolated flat Guts and the position of the flat material to be currently singulated is automatically varied so that an excessive gap between the goods is reduced to a predetermined distance and a predetermined throughput of flat goods results. Feeding station, according to claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the predetermined distance is a distance between the immediately successive flat goods. Feeding station, according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the processor (2.41) is designed for the automatic determination of input quantities and connected to a storage means (2.43) for the automatically determined and for further manually inputted input quantities, that the control unit the separating motor (M1) and the transport motor (M2), wherein the control is based on a number of suitable speed setpoints or machine-specific travel and / or time values for the separation and transport of a flat Good, which depends on the determined dimension and position the flat good in the transport path are used. Feeding station, according to claims 1 to 2, characterized in that - the separating device comprises the first separating roller (22), the second separating roller (23), an encoder (EN1), a first sensor device (2721), the separating motor (M1) and a first drive device (29), wherein the separating motor (M1) via the first drive device (29) with the first separating roller (22) and with the second separating roller (23) is kinematically coupled to the rotation thereof, wherein the first sensor device comprises an inclined bracket (2721 c), which is used for fastening the first sensor ( S1) is formed, which detects with an obliquely at an angle α to the transport direction extending light beam in a region in front of the first separating roller (22) when a flat good is applied to the feed station (2), - The transport device comprises a transport motor (M2), an encoder (EN2), a second sensor device (2722) and a third sensor device (2723) and a second drive device (28), wherein the transport motor (M2) via the second drive device (28) with a first transport roller (24) and with a second transport roller (25) is kinematically coupled to the rotation, wherein the second sensor device (2722) and the third sensor device (2723) for attaching the further sensors (S2, S3) is formed the sensors are provided for detecting the position of the flat material in the transport path and arranged successively in the transport direction of the flat material, and - The control unit (2.4) is designed for communication with the subsequent good processing device. Feeder station according to claim 5, characterized in that each of the sensor devices (2721, 2722, 2723) has holders for light sources (LS1, LS2, LS3) and light collectors (LC1, LC2, LC3) of a light barrier. Feeding station, according to claim 5, characterized in that the separating rollers (22, 23) and transport rollers (24, 25) equipped with a freewheel mechanism and rotatably disposed within a U-shaped frame (27) that the first drive device (29) for the separating rollers on one side of the U-shaped frame (27) and the second drive device (28) for the transport rollers on the other side of the U-shaped frame (27) is arranged and that in each case an encoder (EN1, EN2) on the Axle shaft of the drive motor (M 1) of the separating device or the drive motor (M2) of the transport device is arranged, encoder pulses are transmitted to the control unit (2.4). Feeding station according to claim 5, characterized in that the drive motor (M1) of the separation device is a first direct current motor (295) controlled by the control unit (2.4) is driven so that a first in standard mode at least at a first withdrawn from the stack flat Good predetermined separation speed is achieved that the drive motor (M2) of the transport device is a second DC motor (285) which is controlled by the control unit (2.4) so that in the standard mode at a first flat good pulled from the stack a first predetermined transport speed is achieved, wherein the first transport speed is greater than the first separation speed, that is determined by the control unit (2.4) on the basis of the encoder pulses of a second encoder (EN2), the length of the transported flat Guts, wherein at each other withdrawn from the stack flat Good a second separation speed is automatically specified, if the length of the transported flat Guts does not fall below a first length value and wherein at each of the Stack deducted flat Good a third separation speed is given if by means of the subsequent good processing device, a changeover of the feed station has been made to a thickness mode, wherein the third separation speed is greater than the second separation speed. A feeding station according to claims 1 and 8, characterized in that the standard mode is automatically selected or the thickness mode is manually selected when the thickness of the transported flat crop exceeds a predetermined thickness value, the third predetermined singling speed is smaller than the first predetermined conveying speed and greater than the second predetermined singulation speed, and that the second predetermined singulation speed is greater than the first predetermined singulation speed. Feeding station, according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating device has a multi-stage lock for flat Good, wherein at least one pre-sluice is provided in the separating region. Feeding station, according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one Vorvereinzelungsfinger (275) is attached to a Vorvereinzelungsblech (2725) of the pre-sluice.

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