WO2002034421A1

WO2002034421A1 - Device for separating and stacking flat objects such as postal covers

Info

Publication number: WO2002034421A1
Application number: PCT/FR2001/003200
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pascal Bellouard; Patrick Mandin; Didier Mellou
Original assignee: La Poste
Priority date: 2000-10-24
Filing date: 2001-10-17
Publication date: 2002-05-02
Also published as: FR2815558B1; FR2815558A1

Abstract

The invention concerns an assembly (E) comprising in combination a transversely inclined vibrating tray (2) divided into a plurality of narrow transverse passages (23) by dividers (26) between an upper input edge (20) and a lower output edge (21), the passages (25) being designed to be loaded in input with object supporting plates, a bar (40) arranged across the passages (25) and designed to constitute a height template in the passages (25), and a bin (3) adjacent to the output edge (21) of the inclined tray (2) and designed to receive objects at the output of the passages (25), standing pressed against the lower edge (31) thereof. The invention is useful for separating and stacking mail.

Description

DEVICE FOR SEGREGATION AND STACKING OF FLAT OBJECTS SUCH AS POSTAL FOLD

The present invention relates to a device for forming separate stacks in format from a bulk of flat objects of substantially rectangular shape, such as postal envelopes.

The invention has more particularly been developed within the framework of the processing of mail, precisely in the first phase of organization of this mail following the collection in postal mailboxes.

This first phase of mail organization consists in sorting to separate the folds by categories according to their format, the nature of the envelopes, etc., then, at least for some of the categories, to arrange them in piles for the place in boxes on their edge. This is particularly the case with folds of small formats which are clearly in the majority, and which are intended to be subsequently processed in automatic lines. The transfer requires in particular that in the boxes, the folds are correctly placed, resting on their large edge and jigged all on the same side. Currently, this first task of organizing mail after collection is done manually, from the contents of the collection bags emptied in bulk on a table. Given the volumes to be treated, a large workforce is necessary, which poses problems of cost and congestion of premises due to the multiplicity of workstations required, to which are added problems of efficiency and arduousness for operators.

The present invention proceeds from the search for a global solution to these various problems, that is to say a solution which is economical, of reduced bulk, and which offers operators means enabling them to gain very clearly. in efficiency as well as in working comfort, while being simple and reliable. In this perspective, rather than considering automatic equipment which would have been necessarily complex due to the highly heterogeneous nature of mail, the option chosen was that of a tool leaving a large part to human intervention. According to the invention, this tool is a device used for forming separate stacks in format from a bulk of flat objects of substantially rectangular shape such as postal envelopes, characterized in that it comprises an assembly comprising in combination : - a vibrating plate inclined transversely and divided into a plurality of transverse corridors of small width by spacers between an upper entry edge and a lower exit edge, said corridors being intended to be loaded at entry with the hands of objects standing dishes;

- A bar arranged longitudinally across said corridors, at a distance from their entry ends, which bar is intended to form a template in height in said corridors and to help the tilting of objects in said corridors; and a container adjacent to said exit edge of said inclined tray intended to receive the objects leaving said passageways, standing and pressing against the lower edge thereof. During an operating cycle of said assembly, the hands of flat objects loaded in the corridors freely descend to the level of the bar. And when the vibrating plate is vibrated, the objects are separated or "stripped" between them, and correctly straightened in abutment on their edges, so that those of height less than the template pass under the bar and are received in the tray, resting and therefore tapped against the lower edge or front wall thereof. Preferably, the bin is arranged in such a way that the objects remain therein upright, at least for the majority of them, due to the fact that they are not entirely out of said corridors. Preferably also, the tray is a drawer provided movable in translation, so that during a vibration cycle of said vibrating plate, the lower edge of the drawer moves apart from a position where it is adjacent to the outlet edge of said vibrating plate.

According to preferential characteristics concerning said bar:

- It is provided adjustable in height with respect to said vibrating plate;

- it is loaded onto the vibrating platform;

- It is of round and / or flexible section, which increases its efficiency, in particular for straightening their large edge in the corridors of objects which otherwise they would be stopped by it when they would normally have to cross it.

The device according to the invention advantageously further comprises a trolley intended for loading objects into said assembly into hands, which trolley has a first plane intended to receive bulk of said objects, said first plane being inclined to feed a second plane for forming hands of objects substantially horizontal and substantially at the same level as the entry edge of said vibrating plate. In a preferred embodiment, a carriage is associated with two of said assemblies, which are arranged symmetrically to form between them a passage for said carriage. These characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the following description, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a stacking and segregation assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a carriage intended to be associated with one or two assemblies such as that of FIG. 1; and Fig. 3 is a schematic end view of a device according to the invention consisting of two assemblies such as that of FIG. 1 and a carriage such as that of FIG. 3.

The assembly E for stacking and segregation according to the invention has not been shown in FIG. 1 that in its essential elements and without the frame which supports, to facilitate understanding of the drawing. As shown in FIG. 3, the assembly E is mounted on an elongated frame 1 defining a rectangular support frame 10, the long sides of which are horizontal and which is inclined transversely along a relatively steep slope, in this case of the order of 45 °.

On the support frame 10, and parallel to it, are thus mounted from top to bottom as parts of the assembly E, a vibrating plate 2 and a drawer 3 in extension thereof.

The vibrating plate 2 has its upper side or inlet side 20 substantially perpendicular to the upper side of the frame 10, and its lower side or outlet side 21 engaged in the drawer 3.

The vibrating plate 2 is suspended on the frame 10, for example and as shown in FIG. 3 at its four corners, by flexible connections 22 of the conventional type, and it is driven in vibration (the vibrations, indicated by the arrows f in FIG. 1, being oriented essentially in its plane), also conventionally, by an eccentric mechanism 23 coupled to a motor 24.

According to the invention, the vibrating plate 2 constitutes a flat sliding surface, divided from the inlet side 20 to the outlet side 21 in a succession of transverse corridors 25 by transverse or intermediate partitions 26. The corridors 25 are relatively narrow compared to the dimensions of the objects to be treated, so that they can only adopt the substantially upright position. The drawer 3 has a bottom wall 30 parallel to the plate 2, on which the outlet side 21 of the latter is located, as well as a longitudinal front wall or bottom flange 31 perpendicular to the wall 30.

As shown, the drawer 3 has a transverse displacement ability in translation (indicated by the double arrow FI in FIG. 1), parallel to the plate 2, between a withdrawal position or high position for which its front wall 31 is adjacent at the outlet side 21 and a deployed position or low position for which its front wall is spaced from the outlet side 21 by a distance "d".

According to the invention, the assembly E further comprises a retractable means 40 obstructing the corridors 25 at a certain distance perpendicularly above the sliding surface of the plate 2. This means therefore constitutes a height gauge in the corridors 25, in other words limits the passage height there; and moreover helps tilting of the objects in the corridors 25.

The means 40 is here a longitudinal bar (transverse therefore with respect to the corridors 25) mounted in a gantry 41 perpendicular to the plate 2, the gantry 41 being carried by the plate 2, fixed to the lower corners thereof by the base of its amounts. The bar 40 is carried on the uprights of the gantry 41 by means such as the slides 42 and jacks 43 shown in the drawings, Figs. 1 and 3, allowing you to vary its height (as indicated by the double arrow F2 in Fig. 1) in the part high of the gantry 41. It should be noted that the high crosspiece of the gantry 41 can serve as an upper anchor for the spacers 26, which then have for this purpose an upward extension part behind which the bar 40 is located.

In the application for processing mail, the above-described assembly operates as follows. At the start of a cycle, the drawer 3 is in the high position, and the bar 40 in a defined position so as to allow passage only of folds of small formats. The tray 2 being stationary, a first loading phase takes place, consisting in placing in the corridors 25 hands of mail extracted from a bulk. By gravity, the hands slide down the slope and stop against the bar 40, the folds being upright but equally supported on the bottom of the corridors by their large edge, their small edge or one of their corners.

When the loading is finished, begins a second phase of the cycle during which, concomitantly, the plate 2 is vibrated and the drawer 3 slowly descends to its low position.

Under the effect of the vibrations of the plate 2, the folds of the same hand separate from each other or "flake", so that the folds of small formats correctly placed pass under the bar 40 until they come into abutment against the rim 31 in the drawer 3. The folds of small formats which remain upright on their small edge or one of their corners are straightened correctly by the repeated impacts against the bar 40. In order to optimize this effect, the bar 40 is advantageously chosen to have a round section. It also benefits from being flexible in order to be itself animated in relation to the gantry under the combined effect of vibrations and impacts against folds. As a variant, the bar 40 can be an axis on which a succession of tube portions are threaded radially loosely.

At the end of the second phase, the plate 2 is stopped, as well as the drawer 3 which has reached its low position. The small formats are pressed against the rim 31, which have remained upright because at least some of them, because of their length greater than the distance "d", remain engaged in the outlet end of the corridors 25. The folds other than those of small sizes remained blocked behind the bar 40.

The folds of small formats can then be manually removed from the drawer 3, correctly sorted and stacked: double jagged with respect to their large edge and to their side of support against the rim 31. Note that the rim 31 is preferably provided not internally smooth, for example rib in the height direction, in order to improve the hold of the folds.

After the drawer 3 has been emptied of the folds of small formats, the bar 40 is raised in the gantry 41 to release the folds of larger formats which in turn descend into the drawer 3.

Of course, if the conditions of the application require it, after recovering the folds of small formats, one or more additional separation phases similar to the second phase can be implemented after raising the bar 40, to separate and recover folds of intermediate formats.

In addition to being very simple in design, this device according to the invention has another important advantage in that it can leave a significant part to human intervention, to control the smooth running of operations, but also to contribute thereto, for example by helping to straighten the folds during the second phase, by removing bulky folds by their nature (such as those which are too flexible to stand in the corridors 25), by already removing the large ones from the second phase formats if they are few, which can make it possible to shorten in a timely manner the total cycle time. The carriage C shown in FIG. 2 is intended to be used for loading an assembly E as described above. The carriage C essentially comprises a support wall 5 subdivided into a first rear plane 50 intended for the reception of bulks of flat objects to be treated, and a second front plane 51 intended for the formation of hands of objects. The first plane 50, bordered laterally by sides 53, is inclined descending towards the second plane 51, which is horizontal and at a height corresponding substantially to that of the entry side 20 of the plate 2 in the assembly E. Preferably, the front panel 51 extends along its front side into a chute 52 below.

The carriage C is intended to be moved along the entry side of an assembly E, by an operator who will only have very simple gestures to accomplish for form hands of objects and load them in the corridors 25: gradually lower the bulk of objects from plane 50 to plane 51, by laying there objects that are not yet there, grasp the thickness of the bulk, by pinching between the fingers, the hands of objects lying on top of each other, possibly roughly arranging the hands of objects by tapping them on the plane 51 or in the chute before introducing them into the corridors 25. FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which a carriage such as the carriage C in FIG. 3 is associated with two sets such as the set E of Figs. 1 and 2. The assemblies E are arranged back to back, at a distance from each other corresponding to the width of the carriage C, in such a way that the latter can be moved in the passage P thus formed, in view of the simultaneous loading of the two assemblies E. The carriage C can be guided in its movements by means such as lateral rollers 55 rolling on corresponding longitudinal tracks forming part of the frames 1 of the assemblies E. FIG. 3 further shows the carriage C moving on a level raised relative to that of the sets E, which makes it possible, for ergonomic purposes, to position the drawers 3 of the sets E at the right height for picking up the objects there.

Claims

1) Device for forming separate stacks in format from a bulk of flat objects of substantially rectangular shape such as postal folds, characterized in that it comprises an assembly (E) comprising in combination: - a tray vibrating (2) inclined transversely and divided into a plurality of transverse corridors

(25) of small width by spacers (26) between an upper entry edge (20) and a lower exit edge (21), said lanes (25) being intended to be loaded at entry with the hands of objects standing dishes;

- A bar (40) arranged longitudinally across said corridors (25), at a distance from their entry ends, which bar (40) is intended to form a height gauge in said corridors (25), and to help tilting said flat objects in the corridors (25); and

- A tray (3) adjacent to said outlet edge (21) of said inclined plate (2) and intended to receive objects at the outlet of said corridors (25), standing and pressing against the lower edge (31) thereof.

2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said tank (3) is a drawer provided movable in translation, in order to move during a vibration cycle of said vibrating plate (2), said lower flange (31) in spacing from a position where it is adjacent to the outlet edge (21) of said vibrating plate (2).

3) Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said bar (40) is adjustable in height relative to said vibrating plate (2).

4) Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said bar (40) is embedded on the vibrating plate (2).

5) Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said bar (40) is of round section.

6) Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said bar (40) is flexible. 7) Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said bar (40) is an axis on which are loosely threaded radially a succession of tube portions.

8) Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it further comprises a carriage

(C) intended for loading objects into said assembly (E), which trolley (C) has a first plane (50) intended to receive bulks of said objects, said first plane (50) being inclined to feed a second plane (51) for forming hands of substantially horizontal objects and substantially at the same level as the entry edge (20) of said vibrating plate (2).

9) Device according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a carriage (C) associated with two assemblies (E), which are arranged symmetrically to form between them a passage (P) for said carriage.

10) Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the carriage (C) is guided in its movements in the passage (P).