Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel thermoplastic composition, characterized in that it contains: a) 15% to 60% of at least one starchy material; b) 10% to 30% of at least one starchy material plasticizer; c) 15% to 70% of at least one polyolefin; and d) 10% to 40% of at least one plant material selected among plant fibers and plant fillers. The invention also relates to a thermoplastic composition preparation method that includes the following steps: (i) selecting at least one composition (a) containing at least one starchy material, one plasticizer of said starchy material, and one polyolefin; (ii) selecting at least one plant material (b) selected among plant fibers and plant fillers, said plant material being formed of particles, the dimensions of which are between 0.5 and 5000 micrometers; and (iii) mixing the composition (a) and the plant material (b) so as to obtain the thermoplastic composition according to the invention.

Abstract: A postal sorting machine comprising an automatic feed station (8) with an unstacker device (2), a manual feed station (9), and a sorting conveyor adapted to move mailpieces in series one behind another in a conveying direction (31), the automatic feed station being designed to feed the conveyor automatically with mailpieces from a stack of mailpieces, the manual feed station (9) being adapted to receive mailpieces inserted individually and to place them in the conveyor. The manual feed station (9) comprises a protective cover forming a sort of tunnel over the conveyor, and an insertion slot (26) provided in the protective cover and through which a mailpiece can be inserted into the tunnel, said slot being in vertical alignment with a mailpiece receiving and handling space (34) for receiving and handling a mailpiece in the conveyor, which space is funnel-shaped.

Abstract: A postal sorting machine comprising an automatic feed station (8) with an unstacker device (2), a manual feed station (9), and a sorting conveyor adapted to move mailpieces in series one behind another in a conveying direction (31), the automatic feed station being designed to feed the conveyor automatically with mailpieces from a stack of mailpieces, the manual feed station (9) being adapted to receive mailpieces inserted individually and to place them in the conveyor. The manual feed station (9) comprises a protective cover forming a sort of tunnel over the conveyor, and an insertion slot (26) provided in the protective cover and through which a mailpiece can be inserted into the tunnel, said slot being in vertical alignment with a mailpiece receiving and handling space (34) for receiving and handling a mailpiece in the conveyor, which space is funnel-shaped.

Abstract: A method of feeding flat items, in particular postal items, into unstacker apparatus (6) for unstacking flat items, which apparatus includes a feed magazine (3) with first and second paddles (8, 13), in which method a first stack of flat items (9) are moved in front of the first paddle towards the unstacker apparatus, comprises the steps consisting in: forming the second stack of flat items (22) on edge behind the second paddle; moving the second stack of flat items on edge and the second paddle until a junction is obtained between said first and second paddles; and moving said first and second paddles together to behind the second stack of flat items. This method contributes to facilitating building up of the first stack of flat items for feeding the unstacker apparatus.

Abstract: A device for discharging flat objects into a receptacle, especially pieces of mail or letters at the output of a sorting machine in which the letters are routed vertically disposed in pockets and are released above the said device, wherein the device comprises:a flat main guide surface inclined at an angle relative to the vertical plane and down which the flat object at the output of the pocket falls under gravity,a deflecting and retaining plate downstream of the main surface, anda receptacle inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal plane,the plate being movable from an initial position in which its lower edge is parallel to and close to the base of the lowermost wall of the receptacle, to an end position in which it is near to the uppermost wall of the receptacle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for inclining and stacking flat in a box flat objects, especially letters exiting particularly from a sorting machine, in which the letters are fed vertically orientated and are released above the device. It comprises a chute with a concave main slide and deviating surface and an associated convex secondary surface, the latter being continued by a flap hinged about a transverse horizontal axis and with its lower edge in contact with the letters stacked in the box.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a feed device for feeding a sorting machine for sorting flat objects and comprising at least one input feeder for the objects and pockets to which the objects are fed vertically for transport, the feed device allowing the objects to be fed one by one from the input feeder towards a vertical pocket. A conveyor module comprises at least two stop gates spaced by a distance greater than the maximum length of the objects. An accelerator module is located between the conveyor module and a vertical transfer device and comprises a downstream stop gate. The vertical ejection device is formed by an injecting module. These modules are provided with continuously operating positive entrainment devices and the stop gates control the movements of the objects in response to detectors located in the path of the objects.

Abstract: The magazine has slats for advancing flat articles to an unstacking head. The magazine comprises a first zone into which articles are loaded and along which they are advanced by removable slats, which slats are individually mounted in the first zone, being held and guided therein and also being driven therealong. The magazine also includes a second zone for stocking slats that are not in use, with the second zone being formed adjacent to the unstacking terminal portion of the first zone and being equipped for removing the slats form the first zone, and for transferring the removed slats into a stock of slats. The invention is applicable to separating postal items one by one.

Abstract: An installation for making up batches of articles, the installation being characterized in that it comprises at least one work station for one operator, said station including a storage member (4) for storing said articles species-by-species, said articles each being provided with automatically readable identification means, said station also including a reader (19) for automatically reading the said identification means and a hatch (17) communicating with a chute (18) whose opening is controllable, said installation further including an endless chain of buckets (21) disposed in such a manner that the buckets pass beneath the chutes, and a moving belt (25) disposed beneath the buckets and receiving the boxes (26) for receiving the batches of articles via an inlet station, each bucket being provided with a controllable pivoting device in order to cause the article contained therein to fall into a box, the installation including a station (20) from which loaded boxes are removed and being controlled by a comput

Abstract: The invention relates to a stacker for flat objects, in which a conveyor moves the objects to be stacked in in an edgewise manner. A drum rotates permanently in front of the orifice of a hollow cylindrical body, connected to a suction source. The stack of already stacked objects is engaged against said drum. A shell, controlled in rotation, controls the application of suction through the openings of the drum, of an object inserted between the drum and the stack. Suction application is timed to correspond to a displacement of the leading edge of the object inserted between the orifice and the stopping border of the receptacle. Application to postal sorting.

Abstract: A box formed by a set of walls closed by a pivoting bottom which is openable so that the object which it carries falls vertically in the ejection zone to be collected in a receptacle. The walls are extended below the bottom so that the pivoting operation may be started before the box quite reaches the ejection zone. The bottom in the closed position forms an angle with the horizontal, thus the object which it carries is automatically jolted against the rear wall during the conveying phase. The portion of the rear wall above the rest position of the bottom is given a slight forward inclination to promote the sliding of the object towards the discharge position. A comb-shaped separation scrapes the bottom (indented) so as to loosen any object adhering abnormally thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for supplying a conveyor of an article sorting machine. It also relates to a method for using this apparatus. The apparatus essentially comprises a storage system (1) constituted by a plurality of belts (t.sub.1 . . . t.sub.n) and a tilting chair-like support (2) able to occupy a raised position (P.sub.1) and a lowered position P.sub.2. The articles are placed on the first belt t.sub.1 only when the latter is completely free of articles and when the following belt is also free. Movement of the said belt is then commenced. Movement of each of the following belts is only commenced when the belt following it is free. The final belt t.sub.n is put into movement when it carries an article and when the support (2) is free and in the raised position P.sub.1. When a free rack (4) of conveyor (5) arrives at the right of the support, tilting takes place and the article then drops into rack (4).