GB2306450A

GB2306450A - Document stacking device with removable supports

Info

Publication number: GB2306450A
Application number: GB9618495A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andre Zeller
Original assignee: Danel Ferry SA
Current assignee: Danel Ferry SA
Priority date: 1995-10-26
Filing date: 1996-09-05
Publication date: 1997-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2016-09-05
Also published as: FR2740438A1; GB9618495D0; ES2128926A1; ES2128926B1; FR2740438B1; GB2306450B

Abstract

Envelopes 1 are fed into support elements 3,3'. Plates 5,5' lower and clamp the envelopes 1 when a stack has been formed, and the support elements then either translate apart by means of jacks 3d,3'd or rotate about pivots (see Fig 4) such that the stack of envelopes 1 can be lowered between the support elements 3,3' into a storage box 9.

Description

TITLE : RECEIVING SUPPORT FOR FLAT DOCUMENTS AND ITS COMBINATION WITH A COLLECTION AND STORAGE DEVICE DESCRIPTION The invention concerns a receiving support for flat documents and its combination with a collection and storage device.

In general, receiving supports, in the form of tables for example, for documents (folds, or items of correspondence, or other) flat or layered, that is to say overlapping one another, have transport means in the form generally of conveyor mats or belts which are arranged along the length of the support.

Receiving supports have also been envisaged provided with a fixed final receiving tray.

At the end of the receiving support is generally provided a stop system on which the documents come to rest after their transport.

A support of this type is combined to advantage with an automated collection device having, for example, at least two movable plates intended to hold the documents together.

After collection, the documents are in general formed into rows or piles in cases or small boxes.

In order, amongst other things, to facilitate the placing in boxes, the inventor has conceived a receiving support for flat documents, arriving flat or overlapped, which is particularly remarkable in that it has at least two elements which may draw apart and draw closer to one another in such a way as to adopt at least one close position in which the documents are supported by the said elements and one distanced position in which the documents may be transported between the said elements.

In accordance with one method of realisation, at least one of the support elements is mounted in such a way as to be able to be distanced from the other element by translation.

In accordance with another method of realisation, at least one of the support elements is mounted in a pivoting manner so that the part of the element on which the documents rest may be distanced from the other element by pivoting outwardly.

For example, each element has an angled form having in the receiving position a wing which is substantially horizontal and co-planar with a wing of the other element, at least one of the angled parts being mounted in such a way that it is able either to be distanced from the other angled part by translation, or to pivot in order that its horizontal wing may be distanced from the other angled part by pivoting.

As already stated, a support in accordance with the invention is intended in particular to be combined with a document collection device which is provided with at least two movable plates whose movements bring them closer together or distance them from each other and at least synchronised rising and falling movements so as to be able to assure the collection of the documents on the support by holding them together between the two plates and lowering them between the support elements after distancing these from each other.

In this case, under the said support is arranged a system for storage and/or transportation of the documents, intended to receive them directly from the collection device. For example, the storage and/or transportation system has at least one small box propelled by transport means.

The invention will be better understood by the reader from the description which follows and which refers to the attached drawings in which: Figures 1 to 3 show a device in accordance with the invention in three successive positions, and Figure 4 shows a device in accordance with another method of realisation, in a position equivalent to Figure 3 of the first method of realisation.

In the drawings, one can see various flat documents (1) in the form here of envelopes which arrive overlapped by means of conveyor belts (or mats) (2) (not shown for greater clarity in Figures 3 and 4), on or in a receiving support (3,3').

The support has in particular two similar elements (3,3'), in the form of squared or angled parts each having a vertical wing (3a,3'a) and a horizontal wing (3b,3'b) (in the positions as shown in Figures 1 to 3), as well as an end stop (3c,3'c).

Above the support is arranged a collection device (4) provided here with two plates (5,5') mounted so as to be movable vertically in relation to a structure or frame (6) by means of jacks (7,7').

In the collection device (4), the plates (5,5') can moreover move closer to and distance themselves from one another.

After receiving the documents (1) in the support (3,3'), the plates (5,5') lower and hold together the said documents by means of jacks (7,7'), as shown in Figure 2.

From the position in Figure 2, in order to remove the documents, the elements (3,3') distance themselves from one another by translation (Figure 3) by means, for example, of jacks (3d,3'd) or by a rotational movement (Figure 4) about axes (3e,3'e) arranged here on the wings (3a,3'a) of the elements in such a way that the initially horizontal wings (3b, 3'b) distance themselves from one another by rotation.

In this way, as is the case with the method of realisation in Figure 3 or that in Figure 4, the plates (5,5') may also descend passing between the elements (3,3') thus separated.

Under the support (3,3') is provided moreover a transport and/or storage system in the form here of a conveyor mat (8) intended to move the small boxes (9).

As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the envelopes (1) may thus be arranged in the small boxes (9) by a very simple descending movement of the collection device which may of course easily take up its initial position by rising again.

It is understood that a device in accordance with the invention allows the advantageous simplification of the operations of boxing the documents (1), in relation to a fixed support where it is necessary to take them away and which requires complicated movements by the collection device.

Claims

1. A receiving support for flat documents (1) arriving flat or overlapping, characterised in that it has at least two elements (3,3') which may be distanced from one another or brought close together so as to adopt at least one close position in which the documents (1) are supported by the said elements (3,3') and one distanced position in which the documents may be transported between the said elements.

2. A support in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the elements (3,3') of the support is mounted in such a way as to be able to be distanced from the other element (3,3') by translation.

3. A support in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the elements (3,3') of the support is mounted in a pivoting manner so that the part (3b,3'b) of the element (3,3') on which rest the documents (1) can be distanced from the other element (3',3) by pivoting outwardly.

4. A support in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that each element has an angled form (3,3') having in the receiving position a wing (3b,3'b) which is substantially horizontal and co-planar with a wing (3'b,3b) of the other element (3',3) at least one of the angled parts being mounted in such a way that it is able either to be distanced from the other angled part by translation, or to pivot in order that its horizontal wing may be distanced from the other angled part by pivoting.

5. A support in accordance with any preceding claim, characterised in that it is combined with a device (4) for collection of documents (1) which is provided with at least two movable plates (5,5') whose movements bring them closer together or distance them from each other and at least synchronised rising and falling movements so as to be able to assure the collection of the documents on the support by holding them together between the two plates and lowering them between the support elements (3,3') after distancing these from each other.

6. A support in accordance with claim 5, characterised in that under the said support is arranged a system for storage and/or transportation of the documents (1), intended to receive them directly from the collection device (4).

7. A support in accordance with claim 6, characterised in that the storage and/or transportation system has at least one small box (9) propelled by transport means (8).

8. A receiving support for flat documents substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.