MXPA99003995A - Device for sorting documents - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (1) for sorting documents comprising a frame (2) in which are arranged a number of vertical and substantially parallel compartments (4) in which documents are placed standing up. Said compartments (4) are delimited by means of partitions (3) which at their inner vertical sides and/or at an inner portion of their upper sides are fixedly or removably connected to elements (5) forming part of the frame (2) or arranged therein. The sorting device is characterised in that the compartments (4) have a bottom (6) in which the sorted documents rest, said bottom (6) and partitions being displaceable in relation to one another in a direction which, when seen in a horizontal plane, at least in the final stage of the movement, deviates from the general direction in which the partitions (3) extend.

Description

DEVICE FOR CLASSIFYING DOCUMENTS The present invention relates to a device for classifying documents, mail and the like, this device is designed to arrange documents in a group with a desired order among the documents, and to do this in a way of saving labor. In the post offices, in the mail departments of companies, institutions, government agencies and the like, there is a need for a rational way to handle large amounts of mail, so the mail can be distributed for the solution in a way of saving workforce . Conventional document / mail sorting cabinets consist of _ compartments for sorting documents in a certain order of distribution, ie, addresses or department number. The documents are classified within the compartments, and are then removed and assembled into groups for distribution within, for example, a postal district. The objects of the present invention are to provide a sorting device that facilitates the grouping of documents once classified, comprising means for emptying the compartments for sorting in such a way as to automatically group the documents in the order of sorting. This objective is achieved by means of a device for classifying documents, according to the appended claims. The invention will be described in more detail, in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawings therein. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic top view of a first embodiment of the classifying device, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic top view of a second embodiment of the classifying device, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the first embodiment in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a third embodiment of the classifying device, Figure 5 is a view, a partially broken-away form, of a detail of the invention, Figure 6 is a top plan view, in diagram of a fourth embodiment of the invention, and Figure 7 is a diagrammatic side view of two interconnected classification devices according to any of the described claims of the invention. Figure 1 shows, in a top plan view, a document classification device 1 comprising a frame 2, in which the partitions 3 are placed in a separate relation, forming a number of compartments or compartments for classification 4. Said partitions 3 are placed firm or removable in the rear section or rear element 5 connected to the frame 2, said partitions extend substantially parallel with respect to each other. In the first embodiment shown in Figure 1, the partitions are bent so that, in a horizontal plane, they will extend in an oblique direction with respect to the frame, showing right angles. Extending below the partitions 3, separated from its lower corners, is a horizontal plate member which forms the lower part 6 of the compartments for classification 4. Said lower member 6 can be detached from the frame in the direction of the arrow P, and is movable with respect to the partitions 3 in a direction P which deviates from the direction in which said portions extend. The line of dots and stripes shows the lower member in a position that can be separated or moved. The sliding guide means, ie guide rails, not shown, are arranged in the frame to act as carrier means to allow the displacement of the lower member ß. Figure 2 shows, in a view similar to that of Figure 1, a device 10 for classifying documents according to a second embodiment of the invention. Said device 10 has straight portions 13 extending mainly at right angles in relation to the frame 12, and run parallel to each other, thus forming a number of compartments for classification 14. The partitions 13 are placed in the frame 12 by suitable means, ie, as described above, the lower ends of said partitions extend to , although separated from, a lower member 16 of the compartments for classification, arranged under said partitions. The lower member or base 16 of the sorting compartments is arranged on the sliding guide means (not shown) extending obliquely with respect to the frame 10, in order to, when removed, be displaced in a direction P 'which is deviates from the general direction in which the partitions 13 extend. The dotted and dashed line indicates the lower member 16 separating the frame. Figure 3 shows the first embodiment in a diagrammatic sectional view with one of the sides of the separate frame for the purpose of illustrating the displaceable arrangement of the lower member 6 in the sliding guide means 7, said guide means being arranged at the lower end of the frame. side of the frame. The Figure also indicates the manner in which the partitions can be removably positioned in the frame by means of snap lock means 8 cooperating with the rods 9 or the like, which, in turn, are firmly placed in the frame. the frame 2. The reference numbers 3 'indicate a fold or felxion line of the partition 3. Figure 4 is a sectional view, which generally corresponds to Figure 3, which differs in that the frame 22, in a third embodiment, has a lower member firmly positioned 26. The partition 23 extends, in a horizontal plane, obliquely with respect to the frame 22, said partition thus showing a flexure line 23 '. It will be appreciated that the oblique orientation of the partition with respect to the frame may be provided in other ways considered appropriate by those skilled in the art. The partitions 23 are placed firmly and removably, that is, by means of snap lock means 28, on the rods 29, which, in turn, are directly or indirectly attached to the sliding guide means 27 fixed to the side of the frame. The assembly of the partitions 23 is thus placed in a position displaced in the frame 22, for movement relative to it, and in relation to the lower member 26 in a direction which, in a horizontal view, deviates from the general direction in which the partitions extend. Figure 5 shows, partially in a side view, partly in a top view, an embodiment of the snap lock means 8, 28, arranged at the rear end and the upper end of a partition 13 which is partially fractioned. The figure depicted illustrates the manner in which the snap-in member can be used as a spacer to determine the width of the compartments 14. By means of the snap-lock function, a partition can be easily removed for, should the need, increase the width of a compartment associated with a certain recipient. Figure 6 shows a fourth embodiment 30 of the invention, in which the lower member of a classification compartment 36 is slidably positioned in the carriage means 31, which in turn is slidably supported in the guide means, i.e. , the guide rails 37 in a frame 32. The frame has removably arranged partitions 33 to form sorting compartments 34 which extend mainly parallel and at right angles to the frame 32. A bracket 35, which is firmly placed in the frame 32 , extends below the lower member 36. Said bracket has a notch 38 which, at least in an outer portion extends in a direction deviating from the general direction in which the partitions extend. The outside portion of the notch can be placed at an angle relative to the frame / partitions, or, as shown in the drawings, have a curved shape. The notch 38 receives a pin 39 which extends from the lower side of the lower member, which is guided in said notch, when the carriage means 31 is separated from the frame, for the purpose of moving the lower member 36 in a direction P which, at least during the final phase of said separation, deviates from the general direction in which the partitions extend. During the movement of displacement the lower member 36 slides in the guide members 40 of the half carriage 31. When the documents, letters or the like are classified, they are placed in a respective compartment, according to the order in which they will be distributed, in such a way that the lower end of each document rests on the displaceable lower member 6, 16, 26, 36 of the compartment. When all the documents are classified, they can be placed in groups, in the same order of classification, to be placed later in a car, a mail bag or similar, for distribution to the recipients. Due to the fact that the lower member of the classifying device is displaceable in relation to the partitions, in a direction which is deviated from the general direction in which said partitions extend, the documents will be, during the displacement movement displacement, in a controlled manner, in the same direction, then they can be pushed together into groups in the correct order in a simple way. For those skilled in the art it is, of course, an obvious constructive step, to interconnect a number of classifying devices, as shown in Figure 1, said classifying devices, then, include means (not shown) to interconnect from side to side or on the top of each one. Various embodiments of the invention are described, all share the common feature of mutual displacement of the lower member and the partitions in a direction that deviates from the general direction in which the partitions extend, through which movement of movement the controlled fall of classified documents in a common direction. Concerning details can be mentioned so that the sorting device can be designed as a cabinet or a frame construction, the partitions can be made from wood, metal or plastic plates or elastic elements, the device can be supported by a structure, rest in a drawer or table, beams or rails, as deemed necessary or desirable. In addition, the sorting device preferably has a surface layer with a suitable coefficient of friction to prevent the lower corners of the documents from slipping during the separation movement, and can, for example, be covered with a layer of a cellular plastic material.

Claims (7)

1. A device for sorting documents, comprising a number of compartments placed substantially parallel and vertical in a frame in which the documents of the compartments are placed straight, said compartments being delimited by means of partitions that on their vertical internal sides and / or in an internal portion on its upper sides are firmly or removably connected to elements forming part of the frame, said compartments have a lower member on which the documents rest, the lower member being displaceable in relation to the partitions, characterized in that said member The lower part and the partitions are mutually displaceable in a direction which, in a horizontal plane, deviates from the general direction in which said partitions extend, said displacement is carried out by the lower member or the partitions placed in a displaceable manner in the half guide, which in turn, is placed , in the frame, in a direction that is curved in relation to the direction in which the partitions extend.

2. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the lower member of the sorting compartments is placed in the movable frame in a direction that deviates from the general direction in which the partitions extend.

3. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the partitions are placed in the frame movable in a direction that deviates from the general direction in which the partitions extend.

4. The device of claim 1 is characterized in that the partitions are positioned at an angle relative to the frame, the lower member of the compartments being displaceable in a rectilinear direction relative to the frame, when viewed in a horizontal plane. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the partitions are placed at right angles in relation to the frame, the lower member of the compartments being displaceable in a curved direction, when viewed in a horizontal plane. 6. The device of claim 1 and 5, characterized in that the lower member of the compartments for classification is movably placed in a carriage means, the carriage means being supported and guided for rectilinear movements in relation to the frame and has the means for simultaneous movement of the lower member in a direction that deviates from the general direction in which the partitions extend, when observed in a horizontal plane. The device of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper side of the lower member of the compartments has a layer of material with high friction, for example, a surface of a cellular plastic material.