Abstract: A device for loading, conveying, and sorting substantially flat items (FLATS), in particular mail items (3), having a number of item receptacles (18) traveling along an endless path (7) between a loading area (10), where a substantially flat item (3) is fed into each item receptacles (18), and an unloading area (12), where the substantially flat items in the item receptacles (18) are released selectively. Each item receptacle (18) has an inner cavity (26) for housing the substantially flat item (3), and which communicates with the outside through at least one rectangular elongated opening (30) positioned with its major sides substantially aligned with a first traveling direction (D).

Abstract: A mail accumulating device having a number of stream forming units, each of which has a pair of powered belts superimposed at a point of contact defining the input of the unit. Each stream forming unit is provided with a sensor for detecting the passage of a mail item into the unit, and for generating a signal for activating the belts, thereby moving the mail items retained on the belts from the input to the output of the unit in discrete steps, and forming a group of overlapping mail items with the leading edges separated by a substantially constant distance. The device also includes a number of conveyor belt devices, each of which has an input communicating with the output of a respective stream forming unit, to enable the conveyor belt to receive a group of mail items at the input and feed the group of mail items to an output of the conveyor belt device to define an accumulating unit.

Abstract: A separating device wherein two belts with different friction coefficients present respective straight portions facing each other and converging at a contact portion. The belts are fed with a number of mail items which are wedged in the V-shaped opening defined by the straight portions and are fed singly through the contact portion by the higher friction coefficient belt and to the input of a follow-up conveyor belt system. The device comprises a barrier of sensors located between the contact portion and the input of the conveyor belt system, and which provide for determining the form and spacing of the mail items. The signal generated by the barrier of sensors is used for adjusting operation of the higher friction coefficient belt.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprises a direct-current supply, at least one spark plug, an ignition coil with a primary winding and a secondary winding for connection to the supply and to the at least one plug, respectively, a first electronic switch between the primary winding and the supply, an inductor between the supply and the primary winding of the coil, a capacitor in parallel with the circuit branch including the primary winding and the first switch, a second electronic switch between the inductor and the supply and adapted to disconnect the circuit downstream of the inductor from the supply in its closed condition, and an electronic unit which controls the first and second switches in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: In a first operative mode, the control unit first causes energy to be stored by the inductor and then connects the inductor to the capacitor so as to form a resonance circuit whose energy is discharged into the primary winding of the coil in order to generate a spark. In a second operative mode, the unit causes a plurality of cycles to be effected to charge the capacitor so as to increase the voltage across its terminals at each cycle and the capacitor is then discharged into the primary winding of the ignition coil in order to generate the spark.

Abstract: A system for automatic control of the fuel mixture strength supplied in slow-running conditions to a heat engine having a fuel injection system and means for supplying supplementary air in adjustable quantities, comprising first means for periodically varying the quantity of supplementary air supplied to the engine and for detecting the consequent variation in the slow running of the engine for the purpose of obtaining activation for second means for modification of the quantity of fuel supplied to the injectors of the system for compensating the variation in the strength of the mixture.

Abstract: A system for correction of the fuel injection time control upon variation in altitude, for a heat engine having an electronic fuel injection system, and having means for substantially detecting the value of the external atmospheric pressure and the consequently correcting the value of induction air pressure utilized by a central processing unit of the injection system for calculating the injection time.

Abstract: A system for stroke identification of an internal combustion engine, comprising first sensor means for detecting given angles of a drive shaft; second sensor means for detecting given angles of a distributor shaft; third processing means for receiving signals from the first and second sensor means and for identifying the strokes on the engine; and on which the aforementioned second sensor means comprise a single sensor element.

Abstract: A system for automatically defining the minimum setting of a valve controlled by an accelerator for supplying air to an internal combustion engine, which system comprises means for repeatedly detecting the setting of the valve in relation to a given minimum setting value; which means define a new given minimum setting value, should the setting of the valve remain steadily, in excess of given time limits, within setting limits respectively over and below the aforementioned given minimum setting value.

Abstract: A system for limiting the maximum speed of an internal combustion engine comprising an electronic injection system, which system comprises first means for detecting when the speed of the engine exceeds a first given threshold value, and for consequently disabling fuel supply to the injectors, and second means for determining whether the speed of the engine exceeds a second given threshold value higher than the first threshold value, and for consequently maintaining disabled or enabling fuel supply.

Abstract: A starting fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, comprising an electronic injection system, and processing means which, prior to stroke identification of the engine, cause fuel to be supplied to more than one injector, including the injector relative to the cylinder first reaching the ignition point subsequent to such identification, and which has already completed the induction stroke, thus enabling substantially total intake of the fuel injected into the cylinder.

Abstract: A control system for at least one fuel injector in an electronic fuel injection system for a heat engine in which the injector has a linear operating time range defined by a minimum opening time (MIT) and a minimum rest time (MIOT). The system includes a first processor for determining a theoretical injector opening time (TJ), and a second processor directing asynchronous opening of the injector with respect to the phase of the engine, subject to the criteria that the minimum opening and rest times are maintained, while the same linear proportion between the opening and closing time of the injector is also maintained, to ensure that the operating time does not exceed this linear range.