Abstract: A device for edgewise stacking flat single objects such as letters from a belt conveyor system or the like into a container or a fixed or mobile stacking system utilizes a moving container mounted on its side in front of an output module of a sorting system and moving downwardly at a controlled rate. The container is inclined relative to the vertical and the sorted objects are guided into the container by an inclined flat bottomed chute having a single rib at its lower edge, whereby the objects are flatwise stacked into the container. When the container is then turned upwards, the objects (letters) are stacked edgewise and their orientation and face are maintained.

Abstract: A device for the automatic reading of bar-codes comprises a sliding plane whereon a dragging section of a conveyor belt, having a plurality of windows consecutively aligned, is advanced. Each window defines, in the conveyor belt, two orientating edges perpendicularly arranged to form a right angle, whose vertex is oriented opposite to the feed sense of the conveyor belt itself. In each opening there is dropped an article provided with a bar-code to be read by a read head acting at a readout station, towards which the dragging section of the belt is moving. Through the feed of the belt, the article is shifted toward the readout station and is simultaneously arranged with two orthogonal sides in abutment with the orientating edges of the belt, in order to approach the readout station according to a prefixed orientation.

Abstract: A device for identifying and sorting objects includes a low-friction surface for supporting parcels to be identified and sorted, each provided with a bar code on at least one side thereof, a dragging mechanism capable of conveying parcels from a staging area to a sorting area via a readout station which identifies each parcel by means of its bar code, and a plurality of trap doors, responsive to the readout station and located at predetermined positions on the low-friction surface, through which the identified parcels are selectively discharged and thereby routed to a corresponding plurality of intermediate or final destinations. The dragging mechanism comprises a pair of pulleys between which a flexible cable is operatively engaged which in turn pulls a plurality of drag arms over the low-friction surface.

Abstract: Sorting unit (1) for belt conveyor plants, of the type comprising a first sorting conveyor belt (7) extending between first transmission rollers (11) and revolvingly oscillating around a first oscillation axis (X-Y), extending in parallel and close to one of its longitudinal edges. A second sorting belt (8) is also provided, which extends between second transmission rollers (12) and is placed aside the first sorting belt at the opposite side to the first oscillation axis, as well as revolvingly oscillating around a second oscillation axis (X'-X') running in parallel and in correspondence of its longitudinal edge placed at the opposite side with respect to the first sorting belt.

Abstract: A sorting unit for belt conveyor systems is disclosed wherein the actuating mechanisms of the sorting conveyor belt comprise a driving roller exially connected to one of the transmission rollers between which the sorting belt extends, and controlled by an actuating belt friction-coupled thereto by two counter-rollers. When the belt, upon action of control mechanisms, lowers laterally for the discharge of the carried object, the contact driving roller-actuating belt lacks, thus causing a quasi-instantaneous stop of the sorting belt and therefore a controlled trajectory of the sorted object.

Abstract: A bidirectional travelling device for side sorting of articles in a flexible path transporting system made of at least one support fastened to a guide tow element of the system. Each support is made of a channel iron which is positioned to transversely with respect to the flexible path. The travelling device also includes a swiveling member positioned on each support for loading the article to be sorted. The swiveling member is made of two complementary, fork-shaped elements facing and interpenetrating one another. The fork-shaped elements pivot on sideboards of the channel iron. Due to gravity, the elements are in a horizontal, stable equilibrium position to define a plane for supporting the article. The travelling device further includes a scheme for actuating and resetting the swiveling member for rotating and raising the respective fork-shaped elements causing the downward discharge of the article transverse to the flexible path transporting system.

Abstract: The device comprises a flat element (9), mounted on a pivot (12) substantially lying in the plane of symmetry of the conveyor belts, and having a stroke that runs from a first lateral sorting position of the carried objects (8), to a second symmetrical position with respect to the pivot, and moreover a set of chutes (7) with convergent axis, placed symmetrically and below on both sides with respect to this pivot, to convey the objects being transported to their respective containers (3), situated below said chutes, said stroke being controlled by a suitable actuator.

Abstract: The invention comes within the scope of the transportation and sorting systems for articles such as postal articles and refers in particular to a belt conveyor. The conveyor in question includes a plurality of motor-driven conveyor belts arranged close to a plurality of containers for the collection of the sorted articles. According to this invention the conveyor belts are vertically superimposed on the containers and are defined by a plurality of adjacent conveyor units, each of which may be individually driven to oscillate in such a way as to convey the carried articles downwards, directly into the containers.