Abstract: A method of sorting articles by means of a sorting system comprising N sorting machines (M1, MN) operating in parallel, in which method the articles are divided into N groups (G1, GN) of articles to be processed in parallel on the N sorting machines, at least one of the N groups of articles is subdivided into sub-groups of articles (G1.1, G1.N-1), and, if it is detected that one of the N machines is being rested, then the method comprises the steps of: feeding the N?1 other sorting machines with the sub-groups of articles from said subdivided group of articles and sorting these sub-groups of articles in parallel on the N?1 other sorting machines; and feeding the N?1 other sorting machines with the N?1 other groups of articles and sorting these N?1 groups of articles in parallel on said N?1 other sorting machines.

Abstract: A method of sorting articles by means of a sorting system comprising N sorting machines (M1, MN) operating in parallel, in which method the articles are divided into N groups (G1, GN) of articles to be processed in parallel on the N sorting machines, at least one of the N groups of articles is subdivided into sub-groups of articles (G1.1, G1.N-1), and, if it is detected that one of the N machines is being rested, then the method comprises the steps of: feeding the N?1 other sorting machines with the sub-groups of articles from said subdivided group of articles and sorting these sub-groups of articles in parallel on the N?1 other sorting machines; and feeding the N?1 other sorting machines with the N?1 other groups of articles and sorting these N?1 groups of articles in parallel on said N?1 other sorting machines.

Abstract: A method of sorting articles to be prepared into delivery rounds by means of at least first and second sorters (T1, T2), which method consists in distributing (St10) said articles between said sorters, in performing (St20) a first sorting pass (P1) for sorting the articles in parallel on the first sorter and on the second sorter, in retrieving (St30) first groups (G1) of articles at first sorting outlets (S1) of the first and second sorters, in bringing said first groups to the inlet (E) of the first sorter (T1), in retrieving (St30) second groups (G2) of articles at second sorting outlets (S2) of the first sorter and of the second sorter, in bringing said second groups to the inlet (E) of the second sorter (T2), and then in performing (St40) successive sorting passes (P2, P3) in parallel on the first sorter and on the second sorter until the preparation of the articles into delivery rounds is complete.

Abstract: Equipment for handling postal articles, in particular for preparing a delivery round, includes a sorting machine (1) with a feed inlet (2) and sorting outlets (3). The articles (4) sorted into the sorting outlets are transported in storage trays (5) by shuttle robot carts (6). A monitoring and control unit (7) causes the shuttle robot carts with full trays of articles to move from the sorting outlets to the feed inlet and causes the shuttle robot carts with empty trays to move past the sorting outlets, where the shuttle robot carts move in convoys and in a target-seeking mode.

Abstract: Equipment for handling postal articles, in particular for preparing a delivery round, includes a sorting machine (4) with a feed inlet (2) and sorting outlets (3). The articles (4) sorted into the sorting outlets are transported in storage trays (5) by shuttle robot carts (6). A monitoring and control unit (7) causes the shuttle robot carts with full trays of articles to move from the sorting outlets to the feed inlet and causes the shuttle robot carts with empty trays to move past the sorting outlets, where the shuttle robot carts move in convoys and in a target-seeking mode.

Abstract: Postal sorting equipment comprises a sorting machine with an unstacking member (5) and a feed magazine (7). The equipment further comprises storage trays (4) for storing mailpieces (3) and for bringing them into the feed magazine. The magazine has a deck with a first deck portion (22) that is superposed above a second deck portion (23). Each tray (4) has a bottom (26) provided with a groove that is open to the front and to the top of the tray. The first deck portion and the groove of each tray are designed to fit together so that when a tray filled with mailpieces in a stack and on edge is standing on the second deck portion, the first deck portion comes to fit into the groove in the tray under the stack of mailpieces, thereby enabling the mailpieces to be unloaded automatically from the tray.

Abstract: Storage tray for automatically unloading stacks of flat articles stacked on edge, the storage tray having panels and a bottom plate provided with slots through which moving fingers can pass for moving the edges of the flat articles away from or towards the bottom plate and for automatically unloading the flat articles from the storage tray, and for automatically loading the flat articles into the storage tray, the panels defining bearing faces suitable for receiving the flanks of the stacks of flat articles and provided with grooves in register with the ends of the slots so that the moving fingers extend beyond the stack of flat articles into the grooves so as to ensure that all of the flat articles are moved. Also a method of loading and of unloading the storage tray.

Abstract: Postal sorting equipment comprises a sorting machine with an unstacking member (5) and a feed magazine (7). The equipment further comprises storage trays (4) for storing mailpieces (3) and for bringing them into the feed magazine. The magazine has a deck with a first deck portion (22) that is superposed above a second deck portion (23). Each tray (4) has a bottom (26) provided with a groove that is open to the front and to the top of the tray. The first deck portion and the groove of each tray are designed to fit together so that when a tray filled with mailpieces in a stack and on edge is standing on the second deck portion, the first deck portion comes to fit into the groove in the tray under the stack of mailpieces, thereby enabling the mailpieces to be unloaded automatically from the tray.

Abstract: The invention relates to a postal sorting machine (101) for sorting mailpieces (1) and separators (2), which machine includes: sorting outlets (105); a first unstacker (102); a conveyor (104) for distributing said mailpieces (1) and said separators (2) between said sorting outlets (105); a second unstacker (103) for automatically unstacking at least one separator (2) on the basis of at least one predetermined criterion, and for inserting it into the stream of mailpieces (1), said conveyor (104) distributing said reinserted separator (2) to a certain predetermined sorting outlet (105); and a stacker (103) for stacking separators (2), which stacker is interposed between said first unstacker (102) and said second unstacker (103) for the purposes of extracting separators (2), of stacking them, of storing them, and of feeding said second unstacker (103) automatically. The invention also relates to a sorting method using said postal sorting machine (101).

Abstract: A storage tray (1) for automatically unloading stacks of flat articles stacked on edge, the storage tray having panels (4A, 4B, 5) and a bottom plate (2) provided with slots (10) through which moving fingers (110) can pass for moving the edges of said flat articles away from or towards said bottom plate (2) and for automatically unloading said flat articles from the storage tray (1), and for automatically loading said flat articles into said storage tray (1), said panels (4A, 5) defining bearing faces (72) suitable for receiving the flanks of the stacks of flat articles and provided with grooves (70, 80, 90) in register with the ends of the slots (10) so that the moving fingers (110) extend beyond the stack of flat articles into the grooves (70, 80, 90) so as to ensure that all of the flat articles are moved. A method of loading and of unloading the storage tray (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a postal sorting machine (101) for sorting mailpieces (1) and separators (2), which machine includes: sorting outlets (105); a first unstacker (102); a conveyor (104) for distributing said mailpieces (1) and said separators (2) between said sorting outlets (105); a second unstacker (103) for automatically unstacking at least one separator (2) on the basis of at least one predetermined criterion, and for inserting it into the stream of mailpieces (1), said conveyor (104) distributing said reinserted separator (2) to a certain predetermined sorting outlet (105); and a stacker (103) for stacking separators (2), which stacker is interposed between said first unstacker (102) and said second unstacker (103) for the purposes of extracting separators (2), of stacking them, of storing them, and of feeding said second unstacker (103) automatically. The invention also relates to a sorting method using said postal sorting machine (101).

Abstract: The device for unloading an open-top tray filled with flat articles placed in a stack on the bottom of the tray comprises a pivot member suitable for taking hold of the tray and for tilting its opening downwards. The device further comprises: a pusher for holding the flat articles at the bottom of the tray when the tray is tilted; a shuttle box moved by a conveyor between the pivot member and a box unloading zone remote from the pivot member, the shuttle box having a bottom with back and front walls that are retractable or removable relative to the bottom; a box tilting device for tilting the box into a tilted position immediately below the tray; and a moving paddle mounted to be moveable vertically and horizontally, and designed in such a manner as to retract the front wall of the box and as to be inserted between the back wall of the box and the stack of flat articles.

Abstract: The device (6) for unloading an open-top receptacle (2) filled with flat objects (3) arranged in a stack in the bottom of the receptacle comprises a pivoting member (18) capable of taking hold of the receptacle (2) and of downwardly inclining its opening (2a).

Abstract: The method of handling mail items for preparing delivery rounds in a postal sorting machine having sorting outlets with interchangeable trays, in which in order to separate the mail items of two delivery rounds at one sorting outlet, the machine causes a tray to be changed at said sorting outlet.

Abstract: In a method of handling mail items in a postal sorting machine, in which method the mail items pass a first time and then a second time through the machine in compliance with a sorting plan, the following steps are performed: during the first sorting pass, and for each current mail item, measuring a physical magnitude specific to the mail item, and determining an expected sequence of mail items for the second sorting pass; and, during the second sorting pass, and for each current mail item, measuring the same physical magnitude once again, and, if it is determined that said current mail item is not the item expected in said sequence, comparing the physical magnitudes as measured for the same mail item respectively during the first pass and during the second pass so as to identify the presence of mail items in multiple takes.

Abstract: A method of processing postal items in a postal sorting machine for preparing delivery rounds in a plurality of sorting passes (typically two sorting passes) includes a step that is performed during a sorting pass and for each current item, said step consisting in monitoring (31, 33, 35, 37, 38, 39) data representative of an order number or rank allocated to the distribution point corresponding to the current postal item in a predetermined sequence of distribution points to be run through this sorting pass in order to prepare each delivery round, the monitoring consisting in observing how rank varies for successive postal items in order to detect any difference relative to said predetermined sequence. In response to detecting such a difference for a current item, said current item is put back into circulation through the machine in order to delay its sorting and thus recreate the expected sequence.

Abstract: In a method for sorting postal objects in a sorting machine comprising sorting outlets with movable trays for the storage of the postal objects, respective logical destinations (DL) are associated to the sorting outlets and some sorting outlets of the machine are reserved, called reserved sorting outlets, without logical destination association. In case of the detection of a tray overflowing in a sorting outlet (DP?), the postal objects intended to this overflowing sorting outlet are directed to a reserved sorting outlet (DP?) extracted (40) from a logical waiting list (36) of reserved sorting outlets, an index is associated (32) to the empty tray of the reserved sorting outlet, the overflowing sorting outlet is inserted (42) into said waiting list and an empty tray is loaded (46) in the overflowing sorting outlet in the place of the full tray.

Abstract: In a method for sorting postal objets in a sorting machine comprising sorting outlets with movable trays for the storage of the postal objects, respective logical destinations (DL) are associated to the sorting outlets and some sorting outlets of the machine are reserved, called reserved sorting outlets, without logical destination association. In case of the detection of a tray overflowing in a sorting outlet (DP?), the postal objects intended to this overflowing sorting outlet are directed to a reserved sorting outlet (DP?) extracted (40) from a logical waiting list (36) of reserved sorting outlets, an index is associated (32) to the empty tray of the reserved sorting outlet, the overflowing sorting outlet is inserted (42) into said waiting list and an empty tray is loaded (46) in the overflowing sorting outlet in the place of the full tray.

Abstract: A method of processing postal items in a postal sorting machine for preparing delivery rounds in a plurality of sorting passes (typically two sorting passes) includes a step that is performed during a sorting pass and for each current item, said step consisting in monitoring (31, 33, 35, 37, 38, 39) data representative of an order number or rank allocated to the distribution point corresponding to the current postal item in a predetermined sequence of distribution points to be run through this sorting pass in order to prepare each delivery round, the monitoring consisting in observing how rank varies for successive postal items in order to detect any difference relative to said predetermined sequence. In response to detecting such a difference for a current item, said current item is put back into circulation through the machine in order to delay its sorting and thus recreate the expected sequence.

Abstract: In a method of handling mail items in a postal sorting machine, in which method the mail items pass a first time and then a second time through the machine in compliance with a sorting plan, the following steps are performed: during the first sorting pass, and for each current mail item, measuring a physical magnitude specific to the mail item, and determining an expected sequence of mail items for the second sorting pass; and, during the second sorting pass, and for each current mail item, measuring the same physical magnitude once again, and, if it is determined that said current mail item is not the item expected in said sequence, comparing the physical magnitudes as measured for the same mail item respectively during the first pass and during the second pass so as to identify the presence of mail items in multiple takes.