GB842214A - Improvements in or relating to automatic postal sorting systems - Google Patents

Abstract

842,214. Sorting solid materials. SIEMENS & HALSKE A.G. July 29, 1957 [July 27, 1956], No. 24019/57. Class 117 An automatic postal sorting system includes means for extracting letters and packages whose length exceeds a predetermined limit from a mixture of letters and packages, means for placing the remaining letters and packages singly on edge on a conveyer belt, means for extracting from the remaining letters &c. those whose thickness exceeds a predetermined limit and/or whose length and breadth fall outside predetermined limits, means for arranging all the then remaining letters and packages so that their longer edges lie in the direction of travel and so that their addresses can be read. Letters and packages are conveyed by a belt 1 under strippers 7 which push them into compartments 10 extending between transverse ribs on the belt. Long letters which during their travel extend between the end stripper and a belt 2 have their forward ends lifted by the belt whereby they are turned over and deposited on the sloping part of the belt 1 and on top of the other letters &c. packets and very thick letters are caught by a bladed roll 3 and transferred to a conveyer 4, and the rest pass between this roll and the belt 1. Long letters project from the belt over a shoot 5 and are carried away by a conveyer 9, and the remainder fall through the shoot on to a conveyer 6 from which they are delivered on edge to a conveyer channel 13. The letters are carried edgewise along the channel and fed singly under a resiliently mounted roll 16. Fig. 2, to an opening 17 with which a rotary drum 14 co-operates. One or more suction ducts 15 in the drum, associated during drum rotation with a stationary suction duct 18, draw letters singly on to the, drum periphery whereby they are conveyed via pressure roll 19 to a conveyer channel 20. Pressure rolls 22 guide the letters past a feeler connected with a switch K1 so that letters exceeding a pre-determined thickness operate the switch which operates a conveyer system 24 whereby pressure rolls 23 convey the thick letters up the wall of the channel 20 between a roller 26 and an endless belt 27 to a conveyer channel 25. The remaining letters pass under pressure rolls 29 and past further switches K2...K4 projecting into the channel above the belt. The arrangement is such that small letters do not operate those switches and those letters continue along the channel. Standard sized letters operate the switches so that a second similar system of pressure rolls convey the letters up the wall of the channel to a conveyer channel 30. Large letters operate all the switches so that a deflector 31 is operated to direct them from the conveyer rolls to a conveyer channel 32. Standard sized letters are then carried along to a device, which ensures that they are all placed on their longer edges. This device includes a switch at a position 33, Fig. 3, past which the letters are fed and which is operated only by those letters travelling on their shorter edges. Such switch operation brings pressure rolls 34 into play which lift the letters into engagement with a deflector 36 whereby they are turned through 90 degrees before they drop back into the conveyer channel. A marking is provided on those letters whose addresses are required to be read, and this is made at a pre-determined position on the front or back. The device which brings the letters into a position enabling their addresses to be read includes pressure rolls 39, 40, Fig. 4, which feed the letters past exploring devices 37, 38 each comprising two photoelectric cells one above the other. Letters without markings continue along to the channel 54, and the marked ones are delivered by apparatus controlled by the devces 37, 38 to either one of conveyer channels 45 or 47. The device 37 controls apparatus which delivers the letters to channel 47 via a device 46, similar to the previously described apparatus 24, whereby the letters are turned over before reaching the channel. Alternatively a deflector 41 is operated by device 37 to feed the letters to a channel 43 and to rolls 52, 53 which deliver them to channel 45. The device 38 operates similar systems which feed the letters to channel 45 via a device 51 or to a channel 47 via a deflector 48, channel 49 and rolls 52, 53. The deflectors 41 and 48 are not operated until a switch 42 is actuated.