Abstract: A method of merging, on a table (7), postal articles (2) with mailpieces (3) that are already sorted into a certain sorting order comprises the steps of pre-sorting the postal articles (2) in a sorting frame having vertical slots by means of an electronic station for assisting with sorting in the sorting frame, and then in using said station again for assisting the operative with merging the pre-sorted postal articles with the mailpieces.

Abstract: A method of merging, on a table (7), postal articles (2) with mailpieces (3) that are already sorted into a certain sorting order comprises the steps of pre-sorting the postal articles (2) in a sorting frame having vertical slots by means of an electronic station for assisting with sorting in the sorting frame, and then in using said station again for assisting the operative with merging the pre-sorted postal articles with the mailpieces.

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 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: The unstacker device (1) for unstacking flat articles comprises: a magazine (3) in which the articles (2) to be unstacked are disposed on edge in a stack against a jogging edge (5) and facing an unstacking plate (4) arranged to separate a first article (2A) and to drive it in a certain unstacking direction (A) that is perpendicular to the jogging edge (5); a conveyor (7) for conveying the unstacked articles, the conveyor having an inlet (7A) downstream from the jogging edge (5); and retaining means (8) disposed between the jogging edge (5) and the inlet of the conveyor (7A) and actuated to exert a retaining force on an article (2A, 2B), which retaining force opposes movement of the article.

Abstract: The unstacker device (1) for unstacking flat articles comprises: a magazine (3) in which the articles (2) to be unstacked are disposed on edge in a stack against a jogging edge (5) and facing an unstacking plate (4) arranged to separate a first article (2A) and to drive it in a certain unstacking direction (A) that is perpendicular to the jogging edge (5); a conveyor (7) for conveying the unstacked articles, the conveyor having an inlet (7A) downstream from the jogging edge (5); and retaining means (8) disposed between the jogging edge (5) and the inlet of the conveyor (7A) and actuated to exert a retaining force on an article (2A, 2B), which retaining force opposes movement of the article.

Abstract: A method of detecting bunched-together overlapping postal items includes the steps of moving the postal items on edge above a camera, forming grayscale images including the bottom sides of the postal items, and analyzing the image for the purpose of detecting the presence of any overlapping postal items. The method further includes the steps of transforming each grayscale image into a binary image that causes a boundary defined by a “pale” zone to appear that represents the bottom side of at least one postal item and that extends between two “dark” zones, the boundary having a “right” first profile and a “left” second profile, and the method further includes the step of analyzing the right and left profiles for the purpose of detecting any profile discontinuity that is indicative of the presence of overlapping postal items.

Abstract: A method of detecting bunched-together overlapping postal items includes the steps of moving the postal items on edge above a camera, forming grayscale images including the bottom sides of the postal items, and analyzing the image for the purpose of detecting the presence of any overlapping postal items. The method further includes the steps of transforming each grayscale image into a binary image that causes a boundary defined by a “pale” zone to appear that represents the bottom side of at least one postal item and that extends between two “dark” zones, the boundary having a “right” first profile and a “left” second profile, and the method further includes the step of analyzing the right and left profiles for the purpose of detecting any profile discontinuity that is indicative of the presence of overlapping postal items.