Abstract: An installation for handling parcels, with independently self-propelled motor-driven shuttle carts, and a monitoring and control central unit that is suitable for individually and remotely controlling the shuttle carts to travel in freely guided manner on the basis of data indicating the instantaneous three-dimensional position of each shuttle cart, further includes at least one handheld electronic unit suitable for inputting information marked on a parcel and for transmitting said information to the central unit. The central unit is arranged to read the three-dimensional positions of the handheld unit and of the shuttle carts so as to associate said information with a certain shuttle cart, in a memory.

Abstract: A method of merging postal articles (11) for delivery together with mailpieces (2) sorted in a machine (1) into relevant delivery rounds, the method comprising the following steps: entering data into the sorting machine that is representative of the delivery addresses of the postal articles to be merged; in the sorting machine, simulating an ordered sequence of mailpieces for delivery on the relevant delivery round, and, on the basis of said data, determining in this simulated sequence respective locations for said postal articles to be merged; sorting said mailpieces into sorting outlets of the machine for delivery on relevant delivery rounds, and, while each mailpiece is being machine-sorted, detecting whether said mailpiece is a mailpiece adjacent to a postal article to be merged in said simulated sequence; and responding to each said detection by inserting a separator (10) into the sorting machine so as to direct it automatically towards the sorting outlet of the machine that corresponds to the deliver

Abstract: A mail stacker unit in a postal sorting machine includes a stacking actuator (22) driven in stop-start rotation for the purpose of stacking mailpieces on edge in a storage receptacle. The actuator is coupled in rotation to a clutch brake (34) driven at constant speed, and elliptical gearing (30, 31) is also provided between the clutch brake and said stacking actuator.

Abstract: A sorting machine (1) for sorting flat articles on edge, which machine has sorting outlets (2) for stacking the sorted flat articles, each of which sorting outlets is equipped with a stacking actuator (5) and with at least one slide plate (4) having a front face (40) against which the flanks of the flat articles slide while the flat articles are being stacked, the sorting machine (1) being provided with a noise damper and reducer (8, 12) for damping and reducing noise generated by the flat articles while they are being stacked, at least a portion of the noise damper and reducer (8) being provided on the slide plate (4).

Abstract: A method of merging a postal article (3) with machine-sorted mail arriving in a stack and on edge in an ordered sequence of mail articles (12), the method comprising steps consisting firstly in forming a digital image of said postal article (3), the image including a postal delivery address (6), then, on the basis of data produced in said sorting machine and of said digital image, in determining in said ordered sequence of mail articles (12) a location at which said postal article (3) is to be inserted in order to perform the merging, and finally in generating an identification signal that visually designates said location directly in the stack so as to assist an operator (5) with performing said merging.

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 postal sorting machine comprises a conveyor system having a conveyor adapted to move mailpieces along a certain conveyor path along sorting outlets of the sorting machine. The sorting machine includes at least one pass sensor to detect the mailpieces in motion on the conveyor going past at a certain point of the conveyor path and to respond to a detection of the mailpiece by delivering a pass detection signal to a monitoring and control unit which responds to the detection signal by delivering a control signal for an electromechanical actuator of the conveyor. The pass sensor is a virtual sensor. A movement tracking system generates digital images of the mailpieces. An emulator generates 3D-modeled mailpieces and detects interactions between the 3D-modeled mailpieces a 3D model of the conveyor to generate the pass detection signal.

Abstract: A method of sorting mailpieces into a sorting frame having sorting slots where, in a sorting pass, and in a memory of a monitoring/control unit with a display screen, recording digital images of mailpieces to be sorted, each image including a delivery address; on the basis of each digital image of a mailpiece, generating a sorting code identifying a sorting slot of the sorting frame, and, in the memory, organizing the mailpieces into virtual stacks of images, each virtual stack of images corresponding to a stack of mailpieces placed in a stack in a sorting slot of the sorting frame and the images in each virtual stack of images being sequenced in the same order as the mailpieces in said stack of mailpieces; and in a subsequent sorting pass, displaying on the screen the images and a sorting code of said mailpieces organized in a virtual stack.

Abstract: A method of sorting mailpieces, in which the mailpieces are sorted automatically in a sorting system with a view to being delivered to a recipient by a mail carrier, and are fed back into a sorting machine for additional sorting in order to re-sequence the mailpieces in a certain classification established by the recipient.

Abstract: A method of manually sorting flat articles (4) into a sorting case (7) comprising sorting slots (8) consists in generating an identification signal (100) designating a sorting slot of said sorting case, into which slot said article to be sorted is to be placed, and then placing said flat articles to be sorted in a stack and in taking the articles one-by-one from the top of the stack. The method also consists in automatically forming (310) digital images (14) of the top of the stack at a certain rate, the digital image of each article of the top of the stack including a sorting indication. Finally, on the basis of the digital image of said article on the top of the stack, the method further consists in automatically generating (330) said identification signal as a flat article is being taken from the top of the stack of flat articles.

Abstract: A cart (2) for assisting in transferring mailpieces (100) for a sorting machine (1) having a row of sorting outlets (10) for the mailpieces (100) stacked on a work surface (11), said cart (2) for assisting in transferring mailpieces including a support (23) supporting a tray (101) to be filled, a back plate (20) carrying guide means (24) co-operating with a longitudinal runner (14) on said sorting machine (1), said back plate (20) being extended by a transfer ramp (26) inclined relative to said back plate (20) with which it forms an acute angle and designed to bridge over the edge of the work surface (11) to come flush with said work surface (11) from above. A postal sorting installation including a sorting machine (1) and a cart (2) as described for assisting in transferring mailpieces.

Abstract: A method of tracking mail in a postal sorting system comprising first and second networks of sorting machines with first and second unique identification protocols for uniquely identifying the mailpieces, the first and second networks producing first and second dated tracking data as a mailpiece is passing through the sorting machines, this first and second dated data being associated with first and second unique mailpiece identifiers generated using the first and second protocols, said dated data associated with said first and second unique mailpiece identifiers is retrieved in a data-processing unit for the purpose of measuring a time characteristic of the journey of the mailpiece through the first and second networks, and a match is established between the unique identifiers via digital images of the mailpiece.

Abstract: A sorting machine (1) for sorting flat articles (2) on edge, which machine includes an upstream conveyor (10), and a downstream conveyor (30) that conveys the flat articles (2) by nipping them, the upstream conveyor (10) and the downstream conveyor (30) being separated by detector means (100) including an intermediate conveyor (20) provided with intermediate belts (22) that convey said flat articles (2) by nipping them, and that are associated individually with suction means (24, 25) pressing any flat article (2) against one or the other of said intermediate belts (22), image capture means (26) for capturing images of the bottoms of said flat articles (2) passing between the intermediate belts (22), and analysis and processing means (4) for analyzing and processing said images to detect any bunching of said flat articles (2).

Abstract: A postal sorting method in which mailpieces are subjected to at least two sorting passes in a machine so as to be sequenced in sorting outlets of the machine, and user processing information (PF) is available in the machine during a first sorting pass in relation to at least a certain mailpiece, is characterized in that it includes a step consisting, in a memory, in associating said user processing information with a graphical signature of the mailpiece that is representative of an image of the mailpiece, and in recovering (32, 33), during the second machine sorting pass of said certain mailpiece, said user processing information that is associated with it on the basis of matching of graphical signatures using a certain resemblance criterion.

Abstract: A sorting machine for sorting mailpieces including both letters and flats comprises: a first sorting system (20) adapted for flats and including a first mailpiece conveyor suitable for directing the flats towards sorting outlets of the type having racks (26) into which the flats fall by gravity; and a second sorting system (1) adapted for letters and including a second mailpiece conveyor suitable for directing the letters towards sorting outlets of the type having stackers (7) in which the letters are stacked on edge one behind another. The two sorting systems have the same number of sorting outlets, the two systems being superposed so that the sorting outlets of the first sorting system are superposed on respective ones of the sorting outlets of the second sorting system. Each sorting outlet of the first system may be equipped with at least two racks towards each of which a flat can be directed selectively by the first conveyor.

Abstract: A stacker device (1) for stacking flats (100) on edge, which device includes a stacking support (2) that extends along a certain stacking axis (D2) for storing flats (100) on edge and in a stack, which flats are inserted successively onto said stacking support (2), a stacking actuator (4) for guiding each flat (100) to be stacked along an insertion axis (D1) transverse to the stacking axis (D2), and for inserting it at the back of said stack of flats (100), said stacking support (2) being mounted to move relative to the stacking actuator (4) along the stacking axis (D2), and said stacker device (1) including impulse means (9) synchronized with the stacking actuator (4) so as to move the stacking support (2) in translation by applying an impulse along the stacking axis (D2) when a flat (100) is inserted at the back of said stack of flats (100). A storage device and a postal sorting machine including such a stacker device (1).

Abstract: A method of processing mailpieces, in which they are fed in series into a sorting machine comprising a sorting conveyor and sorting outlets, an image of each mailpiece is formed in the machine, processing is applied to the image for automatically recognizing address information for the purpose of automatically directing the mailpiece towards a determined sorting outlet, a digital model of running mailpieces or a “run” is built in a database prior to feeding the mailpieces into the machine, the model being built on the basis of an image of a mailpiece, and being defined by data characterizing the graphical appearance of the mailpiece in the image formed from an interactive acquisition terminal located remote from the machine, and the run model is associated in said database with indications usable by the recognition processing, which indications are also input from said interactive acquisition terminal.

Abstract: A method of tracking mail in a postal sorting system comprising first and second networks of sorting machines with first and second unique identification protocols for uniquely identifying the mailpieces, the first and second networks producing first and second dated tracking data as a mailpiece is passing through the sorting machines, this first and second dated data being associated with first and second unique mailpiece identifiers generated using the first and second protocols, said dated data associated with said first and second unique mailpiece identifiers is retrieved in a data-processing unit for the purpose of measuring a time characteristic of the journey of the mailpiece through the first and second networks, and a match is established between the unique identifiers via digital images of the mailpiece.

Abstract: A postal sorting machine for flat articles on edge, said machine comprising first belt conveyor means suitable for conveying said flat articles along a first path, a plurality of sorting outlets, each of which is associated with a separator flap mounted to move about a pivot axis between a first position in which it does not interfere with said first path and a second position in which it intersects said first path so as to direct said flat articles along a second path, said separator flap being suspended by a pivot rod extending on one side of said flap only, so that the zone under said separator flap is left free.

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.