Abstract: Apparatus (1) for feeding an unstacker magazine (2) with mailpieces (3) on edge, which apparatus includes a first feed conveyor (4) for conveying trays (6) extending crosswise and loaded with mailpieces placed flat on the bottoms of the trays, and tray tipping means (8) for pivoting a tray forwards onto a ramp of the tray tipping means so as to bring the mailpieces on edge from the tray to the unstacker magazine. The apparatus includes a second feed conveyor (5) for conveying trays (6) extending lengthwise and loaded with mailpieces (3) placed on edge on the bottoms of the trays, and tray tipping-over means (9) designed for laying a tray over on its side onto the unstacker magazine.

Abstract: The sorting installation (1) of the invention for sorting mailpieces (6) includes sorting outlets (2) in line along a sorting conveyor (3), each outlet having a recess (4) for receiving a tray (5) in which sorted mailpieces are stored, and also a tray conveyor (8) that extends under the sorting outlets for transporting the trays filled with sorted mailpieces from the sorting outlets to a feed inlet (7) of the sorting conveyor. The installation of the invention further includes a tray-manipulating shuttle robot (9) suitable for moving along the tray conveyor past the sorting outlets, and for extracting a tray from a recess of a sorting outlet associated with it under the control of a monitoring and control unit (19) so as to transfer it to the tray conveyor.

Abstract: The sorting installation (1) of the invention for sorting mailpieces (6) includes sorting outlets (2) in line along a sorting conveyor (3), each outlet having a recess (4) for receiving a tray (5) in which sorted mailpieces are stored, and also a tray conveyor (8) that extends under the sorting outlets for transporting the trays filled with sorted mailpieces from the sorting outlets to a feed inlet (7) of the sorting conveyor. The installation of the invention further includes a tray-manipulating shuttle robot (9) suitable for moving along the tray conveyor past the sorting outlets, and for extracting a tray from a recess of a sorting outlet associated with it under the control of a monitoring and control unit (19) so as to transfer it to the tray conveyor.

Abstract: Postal sorting equipment for sorting flat mailpieces comprises a postal sorting machine, a storage-tray conveyor for conveying open-topped storage trays that are filled with mailpieces stacked flat, a shuttle-tray conveyor for conveying open-fronted shuttle trays that are substantially L-shaped, and in which the mailpieces are placed on-edge in stacks, and a tray interchanger that is suitable for automatically transferring the mailpieces stored flat in an open-topped storage tray to an open-fronted shuttle tray, the transfer being achieved by turning the storage tray over relative to the shuttle tray, which is held on a slant relative to the horizontal and vertical directions in order to obtain jogging by gravity of the transferred stack of mailpieces against the far inside surface of said shuttle tray.

Abstract: An adjustment method for adjusting the heights of the nipping belts in a transport conveyor that moves flat articles in series and on edge, so that a transport height is substantially constant for the flat articles. The method causes the conveyor to operate empty in such a manner that the nipping belts of heights that are to be adjusted run without any flat article in the conveyor, emits two parallel and superposed light beams towards a belt of height to be adjusted, spaced apart by a certain distance equal to the width of the belt between the two opposite edges of the belt to be adjusted, the light beams emitted from a portable tool, and manipulate a tensioner adjusting the belt so as to move the belt heightwise while it is running empty until the two light beams intersect respective ones of the two opposite edges of the belt.

Abstract: An adjustment method for adjusting the heights of the nipping belts in a transport conveyor that moves flat articles in series and on edge, so that a transport height is substantially constant for the flat articles. The method causes the conveyor to operate empty in such a manner that the nipping belts of heights that are to be adjusted run without any flat article in the conveyor, emits two parallel and superposed light beams towards a belt of height to be adjusted, spaced apart by a certain distance equal to the width of the belt between the two opposite edges of the belt to be adjusted, the light beams emitted from a portable tool, and manipulate a tensioner adjusting the belt so as to move the belt heightwise while it is running empty until the two light beams intersect respective ones of the two opposite edges of the belt.

Abstract: Postal sorting equipment for sorting flat mailpieces comprises a postal sorting machine, a storage-tray conveyor for conveying open-topped storage trays that are filled with mailpieces stacked flat, a shuttle-tray conveyor for conveying open-fronted shuttle trays that are substantially L-shaped, and in which the mailpieces are placed on-edge in stacks, and a tray interchanger that is suitable for automatically transferring the mailpieces stored flat in an open-topped storage tray to an open-fronted shuttle tray, the transfer being achieved by turning the storage tray over relative to the shuttle tray, which is held on a slant relative to the horizontal and vertical directions in order to obtain jogging by gravity of the transferred stack of mailpieces against the far inside surface of said shuttle tray.

Abstract: Postal sorting equipment for sorting flat mailpieces comprises a postal sorting machine, a storage-tray conveyor for conveying open-topped storage trays filled with mailpieces stacked flat, a shuttle-tray conveyor for conveying substantially L-shaped open-fronted shuttle trays, and in which the mailpieces are placed on-edge in stacks, and a tray interchanger suitable for automatically transferring the mailpieces stored flat in an open-topped storage tray to an open-fronted shuttle tray, the feed inlet comprising an unstacker with a fork-shaped magazine with tines, each of which is constituted by a motor-driven belt, the shuttle tray and the fork-shaped magazine being designed so that, by advancing towards the unstacker, the shuttle tray is engaged by the motor-driven belts of the unstacker magazine that come to be inserted under the mailpiece stack disposed on-edge in the shuttle tray, the unstacker magazine including a conveyor section that is mounted to move in elevation under the magazine tines.

Abstract: A postal sorting machine for flat articles on edge, said machine comprising first belt conveyor means suitable for conveying said flat articles along a first path, a plurality of sorting outlets, each of which is associated with a separator flap mounted to move about a pivot axis between a first position in which it does not interfere with said first path and a second position in which it intersects said first path so as to direct said flat articles along a second path, said separator flap being suspended by a pivot rod extending on one side of said flap only, so that the zone under said separator flap is left free.

Abstract: A conveyor device for conveying flat articles on edge, for example as part of a postal sorting machine, includes a back belt and a front belt that define a first nip zone for conveying the flat articles along a first path, a conveying strip provided with a first slide plate supporting the flat articles and mounted to move between a working position in which it is situated adjacent to the first nip zone, the first slide plate being aligned with the nip zone, and a retracted position, in which it is remote from the first nip zone, the slide plate being taken out of alignment with the first nip zone for the purpose of allowing access to the first nip zone.

Abstract: A conveyor device for conveying flat articles on edge, for example as part of a postal sorting machine, includes a back belt and a front belt that define a first nip zone for conveying the flat articles along a first path, a conveying strip provided with a first slide plate supporting the flat articles and mounted to move between a working position in which it is situated adjacent to the first nip zone, the first slide plate being aligned with the nip zone, and a retracted position, in which it is remote from the first nip zone, the slide plate being taken out of alignment with the first nip zone for the purpose of allowing access to the first nip zone.

Abstract: A postal sorting machine for flat articles on edge, said machine comprising first belt conveyor means suitable for conveying said flat articles along a first path, a plurality of sorting outlets, each of which is associated with a separator flap mounted to move about a pivot axis between a first position in which it does not interfere with said first path and a second position in which it intersects said first path so as to direct said flat articles along a second path, said separator flap being suspended by a pivot rod extending on one side of said flap only, so that the zone under said separator flap is left free.

Abstract: This device has an arrival corridor via which the articles arrive, an article-receiving zone on which a stack (P) of said articles is formed, and a rotary actuator (22) suitable for pushing said articles away against a retaining element (32) for retaining the stack. The actuator (22) has at least one protective member (281, 282) for protecting the last article (N) in the stack (P) being formed, said protective member being suitable for being interposed between said last article and a current article (N+1) coming from the arrival corridor.

Abstract: This device has an arrival corridor via which the articles arrive, an article-receiving zone on which a stack (P) of said articles is formed, and a rotary actuator (22) suitable for pushing said articles away against a retaining element (32) for retaining the stack. The actuator (22) has at least one protective member (281, 282) for protecting the last article (N) in the stack (P) being formed, said protective member being suitable for being interposed between said last article and a current article (N+1) coming from the arrival corridor.

Abstract: A telescopic support device for supporting a storage bin for storing mailpieces comprises a first slideway with a first slide on which the bin rests, and a second slideway with a second slide, the first slideway being hinged pivotally on the second slide.

Abstract: A telescopic support device for supporting a storage bin for storing mailpieces comprises a first slideway with a first slide on which the bin rests, and a second slideway with a second slide, the first slideway being hinged pivotally on the second slide.

Abstract: In order to be able to prepare a postman's walk containing both letters (L) and “large format” flat postal objects (P) in a single pass: the letters and the large format objects are moved in series using a conveyor (3) over the bins of a bin carrousel (4) that is stationary, with the successive bins of the carrousel corresponding to different successive delivery points in the postman's walk; each letter or large format object on the conveyor is directed towards that one of the bins of the carrousel which corresponds to the delivery point for the letter or large format object; and when all of the letters and large format objects of the postman's walk have been grouped together by delivery points in the bins of carrousel, the bin carrousel is set into motion in order to bring each bin in succession to a location (5) where the bin is emptied into a receptacle.