Abstract: An apparatus for changing the direction of motion of rectangular pieces of mail from a path parallel to a long edge of the pieces of mail to a path parallel to the short edge thereof, comprises a first conveying segment having an end section which moves the pieces of mail in a direction parallel to their long edge but displaceable so that the pieces of mail can be moved in addition by another mechanism. At the end of the first conveying segment, a first deflecting device is provided for engaging a leading edge of the pieces of mail and deflecting them for movement into a second direction but, at the same time, holding the pieces of mail so their edges remain parallel throughout the operation. A second conveying segment is provided for receiving the pieces of mail from the first deflecting device and conducting the pieces of mail along the second direction to a second deflecting device.

Abstract: A conveying device for rectangular substantially flat objects, for example, letters, including first and second conveyor sections each including a guide trough which defines a conveying path for the objects and supports a longitudinal edge of same, a direction changing conveyor section connecting the first and second sections together so that objects can be conveyed from the first to the second section, and a rotating pulling device having a plurality of pusher fingers mounted thereon for moving the fingers along the guide troughs of the first and second conveyor sections so as to move objects along the conveying path. The pulling device is mounted on a plurality of drums with one of these drums being disposed in the direction changing conveyor section and having a first contact surface for the pulling device.

Abstract: A sorting conveyor for flat rectangular items has a guide surface extending in a conveying direction; a drive continuously moving along the guide surface in the conveying direction; a plurality of pusher fingers attached in a spaced relationship to the drive for individually engaging and serially conveying the items along the guide surface in the conveying direction; and at least one feeding station operatively coupled to the sorting conveyor for introducing items thereinto.

Abstract: A conveyor for transporting substantially flat articles, such as mail, along a trough by pusher fingers. The pusher fingers are individually mounted to carriers which are connected to pulling mechanism and guided by guide rails. The present conveyor design causes reduced operational noise and need for maintenance.

Abstract: In apparatus for the successive discharge and conveyance, along a conveying path, of items of mail from a stack by a continuously driven conveying device and an externally controllable removal member arranged to transport successive items from the stack to the region of action of the conveying device, the desired spacing between successive items is established by the provision of a first sensing unit disposed between the stack and the conveying device to define a first measuring path extending along the conveying path and to provide an output signal indicative of the length of the portion of the first measuring path traversed by the leading edge of an item presently being conveyed by the removal device, a second sensing unit disposed downstream of the first sensing unit, along the conveying path, to define a second measuring path offset from the first measuring path, along the conveying path, by a distance corresponding to the desired spacing between successive items, and to provide an output signal indicativ

Abstract: A conveyor-distributor apparatus for handling flat rectangular items, has a horizontal conveyor channel; a support face defining the conveyor channel floor on which the lower edges of the substantially upright oriented items are guided; and a plurality of consecutive deflector switches arranged along the conveying path of the conveyor channel. A guiding device is connected to each deflector switch for changing the orientation of the deflected items from the position they assumed in the conveyor channel to a flat-lying, stacking position. Each guiding device is constituted by a slide that comprises a curved deflecting surface having a first surface portion which adjoins the associated deflector switch and which is in alignment with the plane of the items as they emerge from the deflector switch subsequent to their deflection thereby.

Abstract: In an apparatus for forwarding flat items individually from a stack, a withdrawing mechanism forwards the items in succession into the gripping zone of a feed mechanism for further conveyance. Between the withdrawing mechanism and the feed mechanism there is situated a sensor which is connected to a control circuit controlling the operation of the withdrawing mechanism. The location of the sensor determines a standby position for each item. The control circuit causes operation of the withdrawing mechanism only when either the sensor senses no item present or the sensor senses the presence of an item and there is applied a call signal to the control circuit. Each item is first forwarded by the withdrawing mechanism from the stack to the standby position and is advanced by the withdrawing mechanism from the standby position into the gripping zone of the feed mechanism only when the call signal is applied to the control circuit.