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 installation comprises a delivery conveyor (4) for delivering unit items in buckets (5). A station (3) injects unit items onto the delivery conveyor. A sorting conveyor (6) carries packs (8) corresponding to respective batches to be made up. The sorting conveyor is disposed relative to said delivery conveyor so as to establish at least one item transfer zone therebetween. A central control unit (10) ensure that desired coincidences occur between item-containing buckets (5) and packs (8) for receiving the items, with the control units controlling the transfer of items from the buckets to the packs. The invention is particularly applicable to making up batches of items in response to orders therefor.

Abstract: The installation comprises a delivery conveyor (4) for delivering unit items in buckets (5). A station (3) injects unit items onto the delivery conveyor. A sorting conveyor (6) carries packs (8) corresponding to respective batches to be made up. The sorting conveyor is disposed relative to the delivery conveyor so as to establish at least one item transfer zone therebetween. A central control unit (10) ensure that desired coincidences occur between item-containing buckets (5) and packs (8) for receiving the items, with the control units controlling the transfer of items form the buckets to the packs. The invention is particularly applicable to making up batches of items in response to orders therefor.

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