WO2009083166A1

WO2009083166A1 - Sorting system

Info

Publication number: WO2009083166A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/010825
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claude Fichaut; Fabien Seguin; Christophe Martinet
Original assignee: La Poste
Priority date: 2007-12-20
Filing date: 2008-12-18
Publication date: 2009-07-09
Also published as: EP2225050B1; FR2925370B1; EP2225050A1; FR2925370A1; DK2225050T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for sorting planar objects, in particular postal items, including a first casing that comprises first boxes accessible from a front surface of the first casing and for receiving planar objects standing on their side and/or lying flat, and a second casing (4) mounted onto said first casing (1), the second casing being vertically movable between a higher forward position, in which said second casing is located above the first boxes of the first casing in front of the front surface (1a) of the first casing, and a lower position in which said second casing has second boxes (40) located in front of the first boxes of the first casing and accessible by a front surface (4a) of the second casing for receiving planar objects stacked in a flat arrangement.

Description

SORTING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a flat object sorting system and more particularly to a mailpiece sorting system for use in post offices to facilitate the sorting of mail.

The postal folds to be distributed arriving at the post offices are conventionally subjected to a first operation, called general sorting, of classifying the folds in one or more passes to form batches corresponding to the rounds of the factors. Each factor then performs a so-called cutting operation of sorting the folds of his tour by lane or portion of lane, then a so-called quilting operation of classifying the mail by lane number in the distribution order of his tour. Sorting systems used to date typically include a bin for general sorting operations, and a rack for stitching and cutting operations. The lockers are usually arranged on one or more tables while maintaining a work plan in front of each locker. These sorting systems generally have a certain modularity to adapt their volume and therefore their processing capacity to the volume of mail to be processed in each office. However, the footprint of this type of sorting system remains relatively high and their location in small post offices can be difficult.

The object of the present invention is to provide a solution to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, which in particular allows to reduce the footprint of the flat object sorting system, in particular mailpieces for their distribution.

For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is a system for sorting flat objects, in particular postal folds, comprising a first rack that has first cells arranged next to one another, accessible via a front face of the first rack. , intended to receive flat objects standing on their edge and / or flat, especially during intermingling operations, characterized in that it further comprises a second rack mounted on said first rack, said second rack being operable vertically between an advanced high position, wherein said second rack is disposed above the first boxes of the first rack, in front of the front of the first rack, and a position bass in which said second rack has second boxes arranged next to each other, in column and / or row, in front of the first boxes of the first rack, said second boxes being accessible by a front face of the second rack to receive objects flat stacked dishes, especially during general sorting operations.

According to the invention, the sorting system comprises a first bin with boxes that can be used for so-called interleaving operations of sorting directly in one pass the folds of a tour in the distribution order of the tour, this first bin being equipped with a second bin that can be used for general sorting operations, this second bin being maneuverable between a low position in which the second bin is placed in front of the first bin for carrying out sorting operations in the cells of this second bin rack, and a high position in which the second rack is placed above the first rack to allow access to the boxes of the first rack and perform sorting operations in the latter.

This principle of second locker for general sorting maneuverable above or in front of the locker for interleaving allows a significant gain of space in the post office, without reducing the power of classification of one and / or the other lockers .

According to a feature, the second rack comprises horizontal shelves, preferably rigid, connected by flexible partitions, each second box being formed between a horizontal shelf and two flexible partitions, said shelves being in the deployed position, at a distance from each other, in the low position of the second rack, and in the non-deployed position, substantially against each other, in the high advanced position of the second rack, so as to have both a reduced footprint, without increasing the overall size. height.

According to one embodiment, the second rack is equipped with means for automatically operating the tablets between their undeployed position and their deployed position.

According to one embodiment, the second rack comprises a box mounted on the first rack above the first boxes, at least one upper shelf connected by flexible partitions to the box and a lower shelf connected by flexible partitions to the upper shelf, optionally via intermediate tablets, said operating means comprising at least two lateral links, each connected by a first end to a lateral end of the lower shelf, and by its second end to a winding system mounted on said box, said winding systems being able to wind up and unwinding simultaneously the two lateral links for respectively bringing the tablets in the undeployed position, preferably in the box, and in the deployed position, the deployment of the shelves being performed preferably under the effect of the weight of said shelves. Advantageously, the flexible partitions are formed of flexible strips passing in slots of the shelves and extending from the box to the lower shelf, the vertical blocking of the shelves on the strips being ensured by locking means formed for example by rods passing in slots of said strips and bearing under the shelves in the deployed position of the latter.

According to another feature, the second rack is maneuverable horizontally between its advanced high position and a retracted high position in which said second rack is disposed above the first rack, substantially vertically aligned with the latter. According to one embodiment, said horizontal shelves are in the box in the undeployed position in the retracted high position of the second rack.

According to another feature, the first boxes of the first rack are mounted on a fixed horizontal table top, said table comprising a work plane movable between a retracted position, in which the work plan is in front of the first rack, under the second bin, and an advanced position in which the work plan is in front of the second bin.

According to another feature, said work plane and the second rack are mechanically linked to each other so that the operation of one of the elements of the second rack and the work plane between its two positions causes the displacement. of the other element between its two positions.

According to one embodiment, the boxes of the first rack are mounted between two uprights of the table, preferably connected by a upper cross member, said box being slidably mounted, via a system of slides, at the upper ends of the uprights.

According to one embodiment, the box is provided with at least one leg, preferably two side legs slidably mounted at their lower end on linear guide rails of the table, said work plane being mechanically connected by a leg binding to each lateral leg.

Advantageously, the second rack, in particular said box, is equipped with a lighting system capable of illuminating downwards, ie the work plan and the first boxes, or the work plan and the second boxes.

Advantageously, the first boxes of the first rack are equipped with a front edge extending downwards and serving as an information carrier.

Advantageously, the first boxes of the first rack are formed from modules arranged in rows and / or columns, the first vertical boxes and / or the first horizontal boxes being obtained by the installation of walls of corresponding separation in the modules. The use of such modules allows different configurations of lockers according to the requirements of the activity, characteristics of the tour and / or constraints of the site of implantation, each of the modules can be configured as needed with the first boxes vertical for non-productive distribution points, where the folds are arranged upright on the edge, and / or the first horizontal boxes for the productive distribution points, in which the folds are arranged flat.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed explanatory description of a particular presently preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the schematic drawings. annexed in which:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a sorting system according to the invention illustrating the general sorting bin in the retracted high position, the tablets being in the unexploded position in the box of said rack; - Figure 2 shows a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating the general sorting bin in the advanced position, with the tablets in the unexploded position in the box;

- Figure 3 shows a view similar to those of Figures 1 and 2, the general sorting bin in the advanced position, with the tablets in the deployed position;

FIG. 4 represents an enlarged perspective view of modules in which are formed compartments of the interleaving rack of FIGS. 1 to 3; and, - Figure 5 shows an enlarged partial view of the general sorting bin of Figure 3, illustrating the assembly of shelves and flexible partitions.

The sorting system illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 is more particularly intended for post offices for general sorting operations and interleaving operations of mailpieces. Although designed as part of postal sorting, the sorting system can be used on any site where mail-type flat objects require classification, particularly in communities such as schools and hospitals, or mail order organizations for example . Referring to Figure 1, the sorting system comprises a first rack 1, said interleaving, comprising several columns of boxes or modules 10, in particular five columns juxtaposed, each column comprising four modules superimposed and assembled to each other. Referring to Figure 4, each module 10 comprises two vertical walls 12a, 12b lateral interconnected by a rear wall 13 and an upper horizontal shelf 11. Each column is placed on a base 14. The first boxes for intercalation are obtained by the establishment of partition wall in the modules. Vertical partition walls 15 can be mounted parallel to the side walls to form first so-called vertical boxes 16 for receiving folds standing upright on their edge. For the mounting of the vertical walls in various positions, the horizontal shelves of the modules and the bases, as well as the rear walls of the modules each comprise at least one row of slots 11, 141, 131 for receiving lugs provided on the rear edge and the lower edge of the vertical partition walls. The minimum pitch of assembly between two vertical partition walls will for example be of the order of 10 mm. The side walls 12a, 12b, as well as the vertical partition walls 15, have front edges of suitable shape to allow easy manual filing and removal of folds. The front edges of the side walls, for example, have a notch 121 of generally concave shape and the vertical partition walls 15 have a leading edge having an oblique section 151 inclined downwards.

The modules may further allow the mounting of horizontal shelf 18 to form the first so-called horizontal boxes 19 for receiving folds stored flat. The shelves may for example be mounted at different heights between lateral pillars 20 integrated with the side walls to cover the notches 121. The interlocking rack may include some modules subdivided into horizontal boxes for the productive distribution points receiving a large volume of folds . Each sorting agent has the ability to adjust the number and width of the vertical boxes and the number and height of horizontal boxes useful for sorting. By way of example, and as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the lower modules of the columns are subdivided into horizontal boxes. The other modules will be subdivided into vertical boxes by means of vertical dividing walls, not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 for the sake of simplicity and clarity of the figures.

The modules of the tablets and the bases are also equipped with a front edge or label holder 17 to indicate the name of the distribution channel and the number of the channel associated with each vertical or horizontal box. These edges are for example mounted reclining on the front edge of the tablets so as to facilitate the reading of the indications by adjusting their inclination according to the height of the boxes on the column. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the five columns are juxtaposed, side by side by the side walls of the modules, on the upper plate 31 of a frame or table 30. The base of the table comprises two columns or uprights 32, each secured to a horizontal foot in the form of a lower horizontal bar 33 provided at each end supports 34 adjustable in height, the two legs being interconnected by a lower cross member 35. Advantageously, the base is adjustable in height, for example by means of uprights 32 formed of a system of sliding tubes (not shown) actuated by jack. Furthermore, the feet are advantageously equipped with swivel wheels to make the rack mobile, the height-adjustable supports then serving to immobilize the rack horizontally. The two uprights 32 are provided in the upper part with upper support bars 36 arranged parallel to the feet. The amounts of the table delimit so-called front and rear portions of the upper bars, or more generally the front and rear parts of the table. With reference to FIG. 2, the rear portions of the upper bars are connected by an upper cross member constituting said upper plate 31 for the modules of the interleaving rack. This support plate extends from the rear ends 36b of the upper bars, substantially to the level of the uprights. The columns of the rack are thus arranged on the rear part of the table, the open front faces of the boxes, which form the so-called open front face of the interlinking rack, being oriented towards the front part of the table. The columns are held between two uprights 37 secured to the rear portions of the support bars, and an upper crossbar (not visible) connecting the upper ends of the uprights. An extractable worktop 38 is assembled on the table, in front of the interleaving box, between the front portions of the upper bars 36. The worktop, in the form of a substantially rectangular plate, is slidably assembled between the front portions of the upper bars, via slideway systems 39, for example telescopic ball-bearing rails, known per se mounted between the side edges 38c of the worktop and the inner edges of the front portions of the upper bars. The work surface can be maneuvered between a retracted position, illustrated in Figure 1, wherein the work plane is disposed between the front portions of the upper bars, its front edge 38a substantially at the front ends 36a of the upper bars, and its rear edge 38b substantially against the front edge 31a (Figure 2) of the support plate, and an advanced position, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, wherein the support plate extends beyond the front ends 36a of the upper bars, the rear edge 38b of the support plate near said front ends. According to the invention, the sorting system further comprises a bin 4, called general sorting, mounted on the interleaving rack 1, comprising a plurality of second boxes 40 for general sorting.

With reference to FIG. 3, the general sorting box comprises a plurality of rigid shelves 41, for example made of metal, interconnected by flexible partitions or webs 42, each box 40 of the box being defined between two consecutive flexible sails and the portion tablet between said two consecutive flexible sails, this tablet portion forming the base of the box and the flexible sails forming the vertical side walls of the box. The flexible nature of the sails makes it possible to fold them, and thus to bring the shelves substantially against each other. In the illustrated example, the rack comprises eight shelves, including an upper shelf 41a, a so-called lower shelf 41b, six intermediate shelves 41c. Each shelf is connected to the upper adjacent shelf by six flexible webs 42a, and the upper shelf is connected by six flexible webs 42b to an upper box 50 mounted on the interleaving rack, at the upper end of its uprights 37. bin 4 thus includes 40 boxes. Advantageously, the set of flexible sails 42a, 42b are formed by six flexible strips 420, fixed at their upper end to the box and passing through slots 410 tablets, as shown in Figure 5. The vertical positioning of tablets on along each band 420 is provided by rods 43 inserted into cutouts 421 of the flexible band, of diameter greater than the width of the slots 410. The flexible bands are for example made of plastic webs provided with longitudinal reinforcement 422, as well as transverse reinforcements 423 at each series of cutouts 421. The box 50 is of generally parallelepipedal shape, and comprises a front wall 51, two side walls 52 and a rear wall 53, with an open bottom. The upper ends of the flexible strips 420 are fixed at regular intervals to rods (not visible) mounted at their ends to the front and rear walls 51, 53, in the upper part of the box, parallel to the side walls 52.

A maneuvering system is provided to bring all the shelves in the box, in a so-called folded position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and to deploy them under the box, at a distance from each other. others, in a so-called extended position, as illustrated in Figure 3, corresponding to a so-called low position of the general sorting bin. In the present embodiment, a flexible sideband 61 is joined at one end to each lateral end of the lower shelf 41b and mounted at its other end to a winding roller 62 mounted in the upper portion of the box as shown schematically in broken lines in Figures 1 to 3. Each roller 62 is mounted near a side wall 52 of the box, parallel to the latter, and is adapted to be rotated by an electric motor for winding and unwinding the strip , respectively to bring the set of tablets substantially flat against each other in the folded position in the box, and deploy the tablets in their extended position shown in Figure 3, to form boxes 40 general sorting. The electric motors are connected to a control box, mounted for example under the worktop 38, comprising manually operated control buttons for simultaneously controlling the two motors for simultaneously winding or unwinding simultaneously the two sidebands 61.

In the deployed position of the shelves, the boxes 40 are accessible by their open front face, which form the so-called open front face 4a of the general sorting box for sorting folds. The rear face of the locker can be closed by a flexible strip fixed along the rear edges of the shelves, this strip then forming a rear wall for each box 40. The box is assembled sliding on top of the interleaving modules, via a system slideways 71, for example of the telescopic slide type, known per se, mounted between the upper ends of the uprights 37 and the side walls 52, so as to be able to be maneuvered horizontally between a so-called high retracted position of the general sorting rack, in which the box is positioned above the columns of the interleaving rack, with its front wall 51 disposed substantially along the open front face of the first rack, and a so-called high forward position of the general rack, illustrated in FIGS. and 3, wherein the box is disposed in front of the interleaving rack, with its rear wall 53 disposed this time substantially according to the lan of the front side of the interchange locker, so that the shelves can be deployed in front of the interlocking crate.

The box is provided with two vertical lateral support legs 72, fixed to the side walls of the box, and whose lower ends are engaged on linear guide rails 73 mounted on the upper lateral bars 36. These lower ends are further connected. mechanically, via tabs 74, the work plane 38, so that when the box and the worktop are in their retracted position, the forward movement of the work plane to its advanced position, causes the movement of the box towards its advanced high position.

The front wall of the box carries an illumination system 8 allowing, in the retracted high position of the general sorting box, to illuminate the work surface 38 in the retracted position, as well as the compartments 16, 19 of the interlocking rack, and, in the advanced position of the general sorting box, to illuminate the work plane in its advanced position and the boxes 40 of the general sorting box formed between the shelves and the flexible strips.

A description of the use of the sorting system according to the invention will now be made, starting from the position of the general sorting box illustrated in FIG.

In Figure 1, the interleaving rack is in the retracted high position, with its shelves fully contained in the unfolded position in the box. To perform general sorting operations, the general sorting box is first brought to the advanced position shown in Figure 2, by manually pulling the work plan forward to its advanced position. In this high advanced position of the rack, the rear edges of the shelves are arranged in front of the interleaving rack, beyond the front face of the latter. Then, the shelves are deployed between the interleaving rack and the work plane by controlling the electric motors of the winding rollers. During the course of the sidebands, the tablets unfold as and when measured by the weight of the latter. In Figure 3, the tablets are being deployed, only part of them are in the deployed position. When all the shelves are deployed, the lower shelf 41b is substantially positioned at the work plane. The general sorting operations can then be performed in the boxes 40, using the work plan. Once the general sorting has been carried out, the sorted folds in the general sorting boxes can be stripped and placed in piles on the worktop. The shelves are then brought back to the undeployed position in the casing as illustrated in FIG. 2, by actuating the drive rollers, then the crate is returned to the retracted high position and the working plane to the retracted position, such as illustrated in Figure 1, pushing back the work plan. The interleaving operations can then be performed by sorting the folds in the vertical boxes 16 or horizontal 19 of the interleaving locker.

Advantageously, a security system is provided to allow the deployment of tablets only when the general sorting bin is in the advanced position. This security system comprises for example a position sensor, contactor type, which detects the high advanced position of the box, and which is connected to the control box.

In an alternative embodiment, the operation of the general sorting box between its retracted high and low advanced position is performed by an automatic operating system, comprising for example electric cylinders mounted on the table, between the base and the worktop.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for sorting flat objects, in particular postal folds, comprising a first rack which comprises first boxes arranged next to each other, accessible by a front face of the first rack, intended to receive flat objects standing on their slice and / or flat, especially during interleaving operations, characterized in that it further comprises a second rack (4) mounted on said first rack (1), said second rack being operable vertically between a position high advance, wherein said second rack is disposed above the first boxes (16, 19) of the first rack, in front of the front face (la) of the first rack, and a low position in which said second rack has second boxes (40 ) arranged next to each other, in front of the first boxes of the first rack, said second boxes being accessible by a front face (4a) of the second rack to receive flat objects stacked flat, n especially during general sorting operations.

2. sorting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the second rack (4) comprises horizontal shelves (41), connected by flexible partitions (42), each second box (40) being formed between a horizontal shelf and two flexible partitions, said tablets being in the deployed position, at a distance from each other, in the lower position of the second rack, and in the non-deployed position, substantially against each other, in the advanced position of the second rack.

3. Sorting system according to claim 2, characterized in that the second rack (4) is equipped with means (61-62) for automatic operation of the shelves (41) between their non-deployed position and their deployed position.

4. Sorting system according to claim 3, characterized in that the second rack (4) comprises a box (50) mounted on the first rack (1) above the first boxes (16, 19), at least one upper shelf (41a) connected by flexible partitions (42a) to the box and a lower shelf (41b) connected by flexible partitions (42b) to the upper shelf, said operating means comprising at least two lateral links (61), each connected by a first end at a lateral end of the lower shelf, and by its second end to a winding system (62) mounted on said casing, said winding systems being able to wind and unwind simultaneously the two lateral links to respectively bring the tablets in the undeployed position, and in the deployed position.

5. Sorting system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second rack (4) is operable horizontally between its advanced high position and a retracted high position in which said second rack is disposed above the first rack (1) substantially vertically aligned with the latter.

6. Sorting system according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in that said horizontal shelves (41) are in the box in the unexploded position in the retracted position of the second rack.

7. Sorting system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the boxes of the rack (1) are mounted on a fixed horizontal plate (31) of a table (3), said table comprising a plan of work (38) movable between a retracted position, in which the work plane is in front of the first rack (1), under the second rack (4), and an advanced position in which the work plan is in front of the second rack.

8. Sorting system according to claims 5 and 7, characterized in that said work plane (38) and the second rack (4) are mechanically connected to one another so that the maneuver of one of the elements among the second bin and the work plane between its two positions causes the movement of the other element between its two positions.

9. sorting system according to claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the first boxes (16, 19) of the first rack (1) are mounted between two uprights (37) of the table, said box (50) being slidably mounted via a slide system (71) at the upper ends of the posts.

10. Sorting system according to claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the box (50) is provided with two lateral legs (72) slidably mounted at their lower end on linear guide rails (73) of the table, said worktop (38) being mechanically connected by a connecting lug (74) to each lateral leg.