Abstract: The device for consignments transported one after the other in a path of conveyance has bearing points (3, 8, 11) and a deflection device (5) that can be moved practically vertical to said bearing points in the path of conveyance for bending the consignments (4), measuring means (6) for detecting the extent of deflection of the consignments (4) and/or measuring means for detecting the size of the deflection force and a measuring device for measuring the thickness of the consignment. The extent of the deflection of the consignments (4) at a set constant deflection force or the size of the deflection force for constant and equal deflection of the deflection device (5) is used as indication of the bending strength. The deflection device (5) or the bearing points (3, 8, 11) are positioned before every measurement in such a way that their spacing vertical to the direction of transport corresponds to the thickness of the consignment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for identifying overlap during the successive transport of flat mail in a double belt system. After edges have been detected on both sides of the transport path and after the distances between the detected edges and the respective guiding front edge measured by a light barrier have been determined, both sides of the longitudinal sides of the mail are acted upon with different transport speeds, ensuring that the minimum gaps are maintained. The distances between the edges and the guiding front edge are then re-measured. A double feed is detected if there is a change in distance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for dividing a stack of items. The items may comprise mail pieces. The apparatus comprises at least one supporting finger which extends through an opening within a base. The base supports the items which stand thereon and further lean against a supporting wall. Where more than one supporting finger is present, the finger may further comprise a hollow opening and/or groove which accommodates the other supporting fingers therein. Accordingly, as all of the supporting fingers pass through the opening, the size of the opening is reduced. In addition, the supporting fingers may be specially sized so as to accommodate different sized items. The supporting fingers are arced so that when they are extended through the opening, they arc towards the base. The height achieved by a supporting finger is related to the height of the item being engaged by the finger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a receiving area or stacking tray for items. Thc stacking tray may be flat and the items mail items. The mail items may also be flat. The flat mail items are accommodated in an upright position. The receiving area has a stacking base, a stacking location, and a stack-retaining stack support which is movable in approximately horizontal stacking direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for stacking articles. The articles may comprise mail pieces. The apparatus comprises a base having a top surface. The top surface defines a rake element having extending fingers defining open spaces therebetween. A receiving unit is mounted proximate to the rake. The unit may be made to rotate. The unit further comprises a plurality of coils. The coils may be helical, concentric and vertically displaced so as to define a vertical open space therebetween. When rotating, the coils may be made to move in the direction of a support positioned atop the top surface. The support may further comprise a spring bias to urge the support against a stack of articles. A supporting wall is also provided as well as a supply element which directs incoming articles into the vertical opening. The movement of the coils transports the articles to a stack which is support on one side by the support, on another by the supporting wall and on yet another by the top surface.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and a device for unloading a mail piece container, open at the top, with sidewalls that slant toward the outside, that is loaded with mail pieces that stand upright next to one another. According to the invention, the mail piece stack, after having been compressed, is held by holding supports that are inserted into the container and that feature driven revolving conveyor bands. While the supports are being inserted, the conveyor bands are driven in such a way that the conveyor band segments in contact with the mail piece stack are motionless with respect to the mail pieces. Next, the container is tilted by >90° along with the mail pieces and the holding supports. After the container is tilted back somewhat, a base plate is inserted and the whole ensemble is tilted back to the point where the stack stands on the horizontally positioned base plate. Then the container is removed towards the bottom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for dividing a stack of items. The items may comprise mail pieces. The apparatus comprises at least one supporting finger which extends through an opening within a base. The base supports the items which stand thereon and further lean against a supporting wall. Where more than one supporting finger is present, the finger may further comprise a hollow opening and/or groove which accommodates the other supporting fingers therein. Accordingly, as all of the supporting fingers pass through the opening, the size of the opening is reduced. In addition, the supporting fingers may be specially sized so as to accommodate different sized items. The supporting fingers are arced so that when they are extended through the opening, they arc towards the base. The height achieved by a supporting finger is related to the height of the item being engaged by the finger.

Abstract: Method for correcting gaps between mail items Given that the actual gaps b of a mail stream are smaller than the minimum gaps c which are required for processing, every xth mail item, where x=(a+b)/(c−b), with a=the average mail item length, is ejected. The mail stream is then divided by alternately supplying the mail items to two gap-correcting units, in which said mail items are shifted to the ejection gaps in such a way that the required minimum gaps are attained after both partial mail streams have been combined.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for the marking sections of a stack of items, such as mail items, to be sorted in sorting machines according to a distribution order. After reading and allocating a destination address to the stopping points of the distribution order, the last or the first and the last mail item of a section of a stack to be distinguished in a stack is automatically provided with an easily removable sticker, well visible in the stack, by an sticker dispenser, which is placed in the sorting machine after the reading unit for the distribution information and before the distribution unit. The stickers are then removed again during the distribution of the mail items to the receivers of the mail items.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for stacking articles. The articles may comprise mail pieces. The apparatus comprises a base having a top surface. The top surface defines a rake element having extending fingers defining open spaces therebetween. A receiving unit is mounted proximate to the rake. The unit may be made to rotate. The unit further comprises a plurality of coils. The coils may be helical, concentric and vertically displaced so as to define a vertical open space therebetween. When rotating, the coils may be made to move in the direction of a support positioned atop the top surface. The support may further comprise a spring bias to urge the support against a stack of articles. A supporting wall is also provided as well as a supply element which directs incoming articles into the vertical opening. The movement of the coils transports the articles to a stack which is support on one side by the support, on another by the supporting wall and on yet another by the top surface.

Abstract: Switch for flat, flexible mail items in a mail item sorting machine, wherein the mail items are transported off while clamped between two conveyor belts. According to the invention, the deflection element consists of two rigid partial deflection elements (1, 2) with a joint pivoting axis (3), which elements are positioned side-by-side in conveying direction and are fixedly connected outside of the letter flow. The joint pivoting axis (3) is located in the frontal part of the switch region, as seen in conveying direction, and away from the conveying belts (4, 5) that continue on diverging paths in the switch region. Depending on the switch position, the respective mail item, is guided in the chosen direction between one of the two partial deflection elements (1, 2) and the respective outer conveying belt (4, 5). The other partial deflection element (1, 2) in that case is completely located outside of the conveying belts (4, 5) that diverge in the switch region.

Abstract: The stack of flat mail pieces that are arranged adjacent to one another on a support can be portioned with the aid of at least one displaceable holding support containing a conveyor belt because the support is divided into a horizontally oriented, stationary section and an adjacent section that can be pivoted about a pivoting axis positioned at the end of the pivotable section in the stacking direction. During the portioning process, the pivotable section extending downward at an angle from the stationary section is pivoted downward into a horizontal position. A holding support with a conveyor belt that is driven downward during the pivoting process is arranged underneath the stationary section at its border with the pivotable section. An additional support is arranged on the frame of the pivotable section of the support above the mail pieces. This additional support holds the stack remaining on the stationary section of the support.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device to change the speed of individual flat shipments that are jammed and displaced one behind the other on a two-part conveyance system. In order to carry out any desired speed changes, without subjecting the shipments to pull or strain, a first conveyance device is located in front of a second conveyance device with controllable speed. The first conveyance device is normally driven at the speed of the inputting part of the conveyance system and does not exert a propelling or braking effect on the relevant delivery when it is blocked on the second conveyance device with controllable speed.

Abstract: A method and a device form a scaled flow of overlapped articles from a flow of individual, flat and elastic articles, e.g. for stacking, without the following articles impacting with the rear edges of the preceding articles. In order to achieve a high flow rate, independent of the article length, the respectively preceding article remains during the overlapping in a locally fixed position until the supplied, respectively following article impacts from the side with the preceding article in accordance with the predetermined overlapping length. Following this, the two articles as well as all previous articles are jointly transported further until the rear edge of the now last, preceding article has reached the locally fixed position according to the predetermined overlapping length.

Abstract: An arrangement for positioning flat articles, transported inside a container with straight sides. For a gentle positioning of flat articles of varied thickness and mass, which are transported at high speed into the container having a pivot bearing is provided. The location of the pivot bearing, the length and the pivoting range of the rigid member are selected such that for a return movement of the article out of the container, the pivot bearing is located in the return movement direction in front of the point of contact on the side. As a result and owing to non-reversibility, the article is clamped between the container wall or between the articles present therein and the rigid member (2).

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting sheets includes a sorting section having boxes, a separating section, and a printing section, the latter two of which are respectively located on both sides of the sorting section. The separating section includes a separating mechanism for downwardly feeding out sheets in a constant gap system, a recognizing mechanism for scanning character information described on each sheet, a bar code scanning unit for scanning bar code information, and a conveying path of the separating section for conveying the sheets fed out of the separating mechanism. The printing section includes a printing mechanism for printing the recognized result as bar code information on the sheets, a verifying mechanism for verifying the printed result, and a conveying path of the printing section for feeding out the sheet on which the bar code is printed, to the sorting section.

Abstract: An apparatus for reversing an orientation of flat items includes a first conveyor driven with a first speed; a second conveyor adjoining the first conveyor such that items discharged by the first conveyor are introduced into the second conveyor; a third conveyor driven with a second speed and adjoining the second conveyor such that items discharged by the second conveyor are introduced into the third conveyor; a sensor for determining a moment when a trailing edge of an item leaves the first conveyor; and a control arrangement connected to the sensor and the second conveyor for driving the second conveyor with the first speed as an item enters the second conveyor from the first conveyor, for decelerating the second conveyor when the sensor determines the moment when a trailing item edge passes by, for reversing a direction of motion of the second conveyor after deceleration and for accelerating the second conveyor to the second speed as an item enters the third conveyor from the second conveyor.

Abstract: A letter sorting system includes a row of juxtaposed stack compartments; a material intake device arranged along and spaced from the compartments; a carriage arranged for travel along the compartments; and a transfer bridge mounted on the carriage to be displaced thereby along the compartments. The transfer bridge includes an exterior frame pivotally attached to the carriage for pivotal motions into first and second positions; an interior frame pivotally attached to the exterior frame for pivotal motions into first and second positions; and a slide having a first part attached to the interior frame and a second part attached to the exterior frame. Dependent upon simultaneous positions of the exterior and interior frames, the transfer bridge may assume first, second and third operating positions.

Abstract: A stacking device for letters or similar flat, flexible articles to be transported employing a plurality of stacking compartments to which the articles are supplied by way of switches separately associated with the individual compartments and in which the articles are stacked next to one another. A transporting roller and a stacking roller for engaging a side surface of the incoming article and a contact surface for engaging a bottom edge of the article are provided to guide the article in a transporting direction. To avoid congestion of successive articles, an additional conveying device is provided which urges the lower edge of each incoming article in the direction of the stack. The additional conveying device is a pressure roller disposed sufficiently below the contact surface of the incoming articles that part of the upper roller circumference engages the lower edge of the respective incoming article.

Abstract: A stacker for letters and similar flat, flexible conveyed material includes a number of stack compartments to which the letters are fed past shunts assigned separately to the individual compartments and in which the letters are stacked on top of one another, the stack compartments are sloped by a specific angle in the direction of the incoming letters. Each stack compartment has an inlet strap mounted at one end to rotate above the letter inlet opening and to guide the letter into the stack compartment during its energy. The inlet strap has an angle iron shaped cross section, with the ends of the legs pointing in the direction of the stacking space.