Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus (1) for feeding an unstacker magazine (2) with mailpieces (3) on edge. The apparatus comprises a conveyor bed (4) designed to convey the mailpieces on edge to the unstacker magazine in a first conveying direction, a feed conveyor (5) designed to convey trays (6) loaded with mailpieces to the conveyor bed in a second conveying direction (F2) and tray tipper means (7) interposed between the feed conveyor and the conveyor bed, which means are designed to tip a tray (6) over onto one side from the feed conveyor onto the conveyor bed in such a manner as to bring the mailpieces on edge from the tray to the unstacker magazine.

Abstract: An installation (1) for sorting mailpieces (2) includes an unstacker having an unstacking plate (3) suitable for separating a mailpiece at the head of a stack of mailpieces so as to feed a sorting conveyor (4) in which the mailpieces (1), as put into series, are moved in series and on edge. The installation (1) also includes: a feed inlet magazine (6) upstream from the unstacking plate with a motor-driven floor (8) designed to receive a stack of mailpieces (2) on edge; and a retaining paddle (9) that is mounted to move along the magazine and that is suitable for being placed behind the stack to keep it on edge while it is moving on the motor-driven floor towards the unstacking plate.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for feeding an unstacker magazine (2) with mailpieces (3) on edge, which apparatus includes a first feed conveyor (4) for conveying trays (6) extending crosswise and loaded with mailpieces placed flat on the bottoms of the trays, and tray tipping means (8) for pivoting a tray forwards onto a ramp of the tray tipping means so as to bring the mailpieces on edge from the tray to the unstacker magazine. The apparatus includes a second feed conveyor (5) for conveying trays (6) extending lengthwise and loaded with mailpieces (3) placed on edge on the bottoms of the trays, and tray tipping-over means (9) designed for laying a tray over on its side onto the unstacker magazine.

Abstract: A storage module (1) comprises a storage zone (3) for storing flat articles (2) by accumulation in a stack and on edge, a main conveyor (9) that extends transversely to the storage zone, a stacking function for transferring an article from the main conveyor to the storage zone and for stacking it at the back of the stack of articles in the storage zone, and an unstacking function for extracting an article from the stack of articles and for transferring it to the main conveyor. The unstacking function comprises an unstacking plate (7) having a perforated belt and controlled suction and disposed between the main conveyor and the storage zone, said unstacking plate having a first segment parallel to the stack of articles and a second segment that is adjacent to the first segment and that extends slantwise relative to the first segment, said controlled suction being disposed in the slantwise second segment of the unstacking plate.

Abstract: A storage module (1) comprises a storage zone (3) for storing flat articles (2) by accumulation in a stack and on edge, a main conveyor (9) that extends transversely to the storage zone, a stacking function for transferring an article from the main conveyor to the storage zone and for stacking it at the back of the stack of articles in the storage zone, and an unstacking function for extracting an article from the stack of articles and for transferring it to the main conveyor. The unstacking function comprises an unstacking plate (7) having a perforated belt and controlled suction and disposed between the main conveyor and the storage zone, said unstacking plate having a first segment parallel to the stack of articles and a second segment that is adjacent to the first segment and that extends slantwise relative to the first segment, said controlled suction being disposed in the slantwise second segment of the unstacking plate.

Abstract: Automatic loading/unloading apparatus (1) for automatically loading flat articles (200) stacked on edge into storage trays (300) and for automatically unloading flat articles (200) stacked on edge therefrom, each of the storage trays (300) having a bottom plate (301) provided with a through window (306), said automatic loading/unloading apparatus having a stationary actuator (4) in register with said window and a moving actuator (5) that receives said storage tray (300) and that is mounted to move between: a waiting position in which said stationary actuator (4) is set back from said moving actuator (5) and is not in contact with said flat articles (200); and an unloading position in which said stationary actuator (4) passes through said window (306) while carrying said flat articles (200) until it comes flush with said stacking zone (3) suitable for receiving said flat articles (200) without said storage tray (300) being interposed between said flat articles (200) and said stacking zone (3).

Abstract: A stacker device (1) for flat articles (2) stacked on edge, said device including a retaining paddle (6) mounted to be moveable along the stacking path (E) between an upstream position and a downstream position, and between a working position in which it interferes with said stacking path (E) and a resting position in which it does not interfere with said stacking path (E), a holding finger (7) suitable for being in a deployed position in which it interferes with said stacking path (E) so as to receive the foot of a flat article (2) bearing against it, and mounted to be moveable along said stacking path (E) between a rear position and a front position, said holding finger (7) and said retaining paddle (6) being independent from each other so that said holding finger (7) retains said foot of the flat article (2) even when said retaining paddle (6) is in its resting position.

Abstract: A handling installation (1) for handling flat articles (2) stacked on edge and a loading method, the handling installation (1) including a transport trolley (300) provided with a box (303) having an inclined bottom wall (307), an end wall (306) facing which an opening (304) is provided, first and second storage units (100, 200) respectively having a loading zone (101) and a storage zone (201), and an unloading zone (203) provided upstream from said storage zone (201) and mounted to move between a transfer position in which it is coplanar with said storage zone (201) and an unloading position in which it is coplanar with said bottom wall (307).

Abstract: In a method of sorting mailpieces, in which method the mailpieces sorted into the sorting outlets of a postal sorting machine are transferred from said sorting outlets to an unstacker magazine of the machine, or to an unstacker magazine of another sorting machine for the purpose of being sorted again into sorting outlets, said mailpieces are handled by means of shuttle trays of variable storage capacity for the purpose of transferring them from the sorting outlets to the unstacker magazine.

Abstract: A stacker device (1) for flat articles (2) stacked on edge, said device including a retaining paddle (6) mounted to be moveable along the stacking path (E) between an upstream position and a downstream position, and between a working position in which it interferes with said stacking path (E) and a resting position in which it does not interfere with said stacking path (E), a holding finger (7) suitable for being in a deployed position in which it interferes with said stacking path (E) so as to receive the foot of a flat article (2) bearing against it, and mounted to be moveable along said stacking path (E) between a rear position and a front position, said holding finger (7) and said retaining paddle (6) being independent from each other so that said holding finger (7) retains said foot of the flat article (2) even when said retaining paddle (6) is in its resting position.

Abstract: Automatic stacking and loading apparatus having at least one tray-receiving surface for receiving a multi-compartment tray having a bottom plate provided with through windows, a stacker for stacking said flat articles in a stacking zone, moving fingers mounted to move between a low position in which they are set back from said tray-receiving surface and a high position in which they define a bearing surface for the flat articles while said flat articles are being stacked, said tray-receiving surface being mounted to move relative to said moving finger between a first position and a second position, in which positions said moving finger is successively in register with the window of said first compartment and then in register with the window of said second compartment. A sorting machine including such apparatus, and an automatic stacking and loading method implementing said apparatus.

Abstract: The postal sorting machine has sorting outlets in which mailpieces are accumulated, said sorting outlets being disposed in line along a certain longitudinal axis. It further includes a recirculation device for recirculating the mailpieces stored in the sorting outlets, this device comprising a belt (40) mounted to move along the sorting outlets and to which cleats (41, 42) are fastened to define a succession of compartments (4a, 4b, 4c) that face respective ones of the sorting outlets, each compartment being arranged to store, on edge, mailpieces taken from a corresponding sorting outlet.

Abstract: A sorting machine for sorting mailpieces such as letters and flats, said machine having at least one row of sorting outlets (3) and a trolley for handling the mailpieces as a stack outside the sorting outlets. The trolley is mounted to slide on the machine along said row of sorting outlets and carries a deck that is substantially horizontal and that is mounted to move in rotation relative to the trolley (8) about a vertical axis so as to take up at least two angular positions that are offset from each other by 90 degrees.

Abstract: In a method of sorting mailpieces, in which method the mailpieces sorted into the sorting outlets of a postal sorting machine are transferred from said sorting outlets to an unstacker magazine of the machine, or to an unstacker magazine of another sorting machine for the purpose of being sorted again into sorting outlets, said mailpieces are handled by means of shuttle trays of variable storage capacity for the purpose of transferring them from the sorting outlets to the unstacker magazine.

Abstract: The postal sorting machine has sorting outlets in which mailpieces are accumulated, said sorting outlets being disposed in line along a certain longitudinal axis. It further includes a recirculation device for recirculating the mailpieces stored in the sorting outlets, this device comprising a belt (40) mounted to move along the sorting outlets and to which cleats (41, 42) are fastened to define a succession of compartments (4a, 4b, 4c) that face respective ones of the sorting outlets, each compartment being arranged to store, on edge, mailpieces taken from a corresponding sorting outlet.

Abstract: A sorting machine for sorting mailpieces such as letters and flats, said machine having at least one row of sorting outlets (3) and a trolley for handling the mailpieces as a stack outside the sorting outlets. The trolley is mounted to slide on the machine along said row of sorting outlets and carries a deck that is substantially horizontal and that is mounted to move in rotation relative to the trolley (8) about a vertical axis so as to take up at least two angular positions that are offset from each other by 90 degrees.

Abstract: A flat-article feed device comprising an unstacker device (4), a conveyor (5) on which the unstacked articles in series and on edge are moved with constant pitch, and a synchronization device (6) interposed between the unstacker device and the conveyor so as to compensate for variations in pitch between consecutive articles. The unstacker device (4) is servo-controlled to unstack a current article in response to a signal indicating detection of the passage of another unstacked article preceding said current article downstream from the unstacker. The synchronization device (6) is arranged to move a plurality of articles at the same time in series and on edge with different respective speed profiles in order to compensate for variations in pitch.

Abstract: Unstacker apparatus (1) for unstacking flat items (E), the unstacker apparatus comprising a flat item feed magazine (M) in which the flat items are disposed in a stack and on edge and are moved in a certain direction (D) until they reach an unstacking plate (6) disposed in alignment with said feed magazine, whereupon they are ejected one-by-one in a perpendicular direction (P) that is perpendicular to said certain direction (D), the unstacker apparatus further comprising a blower member (13) which is disposed so as to blow a jet of air onto the flat items, and which is mounted in a manner such as to be retractable into the unstacking plate.

Abstract: Unstacker apparatus (1) for unstacking flat items (E), the unstacker apparatus comprising a flat item feed magazine (M) in which the flat items are disposed in a stack and on edge and are moved in a certain direction (D) until they reach an unstacking plate (6) disposed in alignment with said feed magazine, whereupon they are ejected one-by-one in a perpendicular direction (P) that is perpendicular to said certain direction (D), the unstacker apparatus further comprising a blower member (13) which is disposed so as to blow a jet of air onto the flat items, and which is mounted in a manner such as to be retractable into the unstacking plate.