Abstract: The invention relates to a feeder device (1) for feeding mailpieces (2) to a postal sorting conveyor (3), the feeder device comprising an unstacker head (4) designed to put the mailpieces in series and on edge on the sorting conveyor, an unstacker plate (5) designed to unstack the mailpieces one-by-one towards the unstacker head, and a mailpiece feed conveyor (6) designed to convey the mailpieces in a stack and on edge against the unstacker plate. The unstacker plate comprises a stationary portion (5a) that extends from the unstacker head, and a moving portion (5b) that extends the stationary portion, said moving portion being mounted to pivot from the stationary portion between a first position in which the stationary portion and the moving portion are aligned with each other, and a second position in which the stationary portion and the moving portion are angularly offset relative to each other.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the stiffness of mail articles on the principle of measuring deflection of a beam in bending comprises a rectilinear conveying portion for conveying the mail articles, a deflection roller disposed in a staggered offset manner between two wheels having deformable rims in such a manner as to form a substantially triangular peak on the rectilinear conveying portion, and an inlet ramp that is disposed upstream from the peak and that follows the upward slope of the peak.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the stiffness of mail articles on the principle of measuring deflection of a beam in bending comprises a rectilinear conveying portion for conveying the mail articles, a deflection roller disposed in a staggered offset manner between two wheels having deformable rims in such a manner as to form a substantially triangular peak on the rectilinear conveying portion, and an inlet ramp that is disposed upstream from the peak and that follows the upward slope of the peak.

Abstract: An unstacker device comprises a floor and a retaining paddle that are designed to move a stack of mailpieces from a feed magazine towards an unstacker head under the action of a monitoring and control unit as the mailpieces are being unstacked from the front of the stack. The device further comprises a vision system suitable for forming a profile digital image of said stack of mailpieces in the magazine, and said unit is arranged to evaluate a certain inclination of the mailpieces in the stack on the basis of said profile image and to cause the floor and the paddle to move so as to present the mailpiece at the front of the stack in a satisfactory position on edge so that it can be unstacked by the unstacker head.

Abstract: An unstacker device comprises a floor and a retaining paddle that are designed to move a stack of mailpieces from a feed magazine towards an unstacker head under the action of a monitoring and control unit as the mailpieces are being unstacked from the front of the stack. The device further comprises a vision system suitable for forming a profile digital image of said stack of mailpieces in the magazine, and said unit is arranged to evaluate a certain inclination of the mailpieces in the stack on the basis of said profile image and to cause the floor and the paddle to move so as to present the mailpiece at the front of the stack in a satisfactory position on edge so that it can be unstacked by the unstacker head.

Abstract: The method of detecting a mailpiece of the open mailpiece type such as a non-wrapped magazine consists in causing the mailpiece (3) to pass on edge through a first conveyor (2A) arranged to move the mailpiece (3) by nipping it while holding it tightly over substantially the entire height of the mailpiece, then to pass on edge through a second conveyor (2B) arranged to move the mailpiece (3) by nipping it while leaving a top end (3B) of the mailpiece free to fan out. Two measurements are taken of the thickness of the mailpiece (3) respectively when the mailpiece is in the first conveyor (2A) and when it is in the second conveyor (2B), for the purpose of determining, by differentially comparing the two measurements, whether the mailpiece is an open mailpiece.

Abstract: Apparatus designed to cancel at least one postage or franking mark on a surface of a mailpiece moving on edge in a belt conveyor, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor portion with a plurality of small superposed belts and a plurality of superposed print heads; and control means for controlling the print heads in such a manner as to cause a print head to print one or more cancellation marks over the franking mark(s) detected on the mailpiece. Each print head is suitable for operating selectively with a plurality of superposed inkjets so as to print only a portion (¾, ½, ¼) of said cancellation mark or a scaled-down version thereof over the franking mark when said franking mark is positioned in such a manner as to be off-center between two belts.

Abstract: The method of detecting a mailpiece of the open mailpiece type such as a non-wrapped magazine consists in causing the mailpiece (3) to pass on edge through a first conveyor (2A) arranged to move the mailpiece (3) by nipping it while holding it tightly over substantially the entire height of the mailpiece, then to pass on edge through a second conveyor (2B) arranged to move the mailpiece (3) by nipping it while leaving a top end (3B) of the mailpiece free to fan out. Two measurements are taken of the thickness of the mailpiece (3) respectively when the mailpiece is in the first conveyor (2A) and when it is in the second conveyor (2B), for the purpose of determining, by differentially comparing the two measurements, whether the mailpiece is an open mailpiece.

Abstract: Apparatus designed to cancel at least one postage or franking mark on a surface of a mailpiece moving on edge in a belt conveyor, said apparatus comprising: a conveyor portion with a plurality of small superposed belts and a plurality of superposed print heads; and control means for controlling the print heads in such a manner as to cause a print head to print one or more cancellation marks over the franking mark(s) detected on the mailpiece. Each print head is suitable for operating selectively with a plurality of superposed inkjets so as to print only a portion (¾, ½, ¼) of said cancellation mark or a scaled-down version thereof over the franking mark when said franking mark is positioned in such a manner as to be off-center between two belts.

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 method of using reflection of a laser ray (LZ) for measuring the thickness (e) of a flat mail item (1) consists in nipping the mail item by means of an elastically deformable member (3) that has a first surface (4a) in contact with one face of said mail item, and a reflective second surface (4b) substantially parallel to said first surface, and in directing the laser ray onto said reflective second surface (4b) for the purpose of measuring the thickness of the mail item.

Abstract: A method of using reflection of a laser ray (LZ) for measuring the thickness (e) of a flat mail item (1) consists in nipping the mail item by means of an elastically deformable member (3) that has a first surface (4a) in contact with one face of said mail item, and a reflective second surface (4b) substantially parallel to said first surface, and in directing the laser ray onto said reflective second surface (4b) for the purpose of measuring the thickness of the mail item.

Abstract: In a machine for processing mail articles, the method of distinguishing between mail articles (P1, P2, P3) contained in envelopes made out of paper and mail articles contained in envelopes made out of plastics material, consists in displacing each mail article in front of a pressure member (5) so as to produce an acoustic signal that results from a suction effect of the pressure member on one face of said article while it moves in front of said pressure member, and in comparing said acoustic signal with a reference signal in order to detect whether the envelope of said article is made out of paper or out of plastics material.

Abstract: A device (1) for removing flat objects from a stack includes a magazine (2), in which flat objects are stacked on edge to be serialized, and a vertical destacking plate (6) disposed directly in front of the magazine (2) and against which the first object (O1) of the stack is pressed. The first object (O1) of the stack is ejected in a direction (E) perpendicular to the direction of advance (D) of the stack of flat objects in the magazine (2). The device (1) also includes means (14,15) for measuring the thickness of each flat object pressed against the destacking plate (6). This thickness measurement serves as a feedback control for the movement of the stack of flat objects in the magazine (2). The device (1) may be used in a postal sorting machine.

Abstract: In a machine for processing mail articles, the method of distinguishing between mail articles (P1, P2, P3) contained in envelopes made out of paper and mail articles contained in envelopes made out of plastics material, consists in displacing each mail article in front of a pressure member (5) so as to produce an acoustic signal that results from a suction effect of the pressure member on one face of said article while it moves in front of said pressure member, and in comparing said acoustic signal with a reference signal in order to detect whether the envelope of said article is made out of paper or out of plastics material.

Abstract: Double pick separator device comprising means for retaining a flat object which might otherwise be entrained by friction by another flat object being moved in a predetermined transfer direction by transfer means.The retaining means are mounted on a structure mobile in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transfer direction. The separator device further comprises means for exerting a holding force on the retaining means, said holding force being oriented in a holding direction substantially perpendicular to the transfer direction.Application to automatic mail sorting, especially to sorting mail items of varying thickness.

Abstract: An automatic mail sorting flat object holding device has a driven perforated belt and suction grasping heads inside the belt. The holding device has a holding side consisting of the perforated belt moving in a predetermined transfer direction and to the front of which a stack of flat objects is offered up. A double pick separator has a suction head disposed substantially facing an exit edge of the holding side. The suction holding device has at least two substantially adjacent suction heads aligned in the transfer direction, one suction head of which is at least partly overlapping the double pick separator suction head.

Abstract: A flat object transfer device for transferring flat objects, particularly flat objects of varying thickness, to a sorting device from the output of an unstacking device. The flat object transfer device includes a gripping device for gripping a flat object initially located in a transfer plane. The gripping device includes a set of pinch rollers and pulleywheels on opposite sides of each pinch roller. A set of drive belts are trained around each pinch roller and the pulleywheels on opposite sides of the pinch roller. At least one of the pinch rollers in the set of pinch rollers can move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transfer plane. A double pick separator device is provided for retaining flat objects except for a flat object to be gripped by the gripping device. The double pick separator device is disposed between two levels of the drive belts trained around the pinch rollers and pulleywheels.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for feeding a stack of flat articles on edge, especially mail items, to a de-stacker head provided with a support surface, the device comprising a main feed magazine in which the stack is disposed and a plate pushing the rear of the stack. A secondary feed magazine is introduced between the main magazine and the support surface of the de-stacker head, the secondary magazine having an upwardly inclined transfer surface, its edge adjacent to the support surface of the de-stacker head being higher than the latter.