Abstract: A sorting conveyor has pivotally mounted flaps for sorting articles into sorting outlets as a function of a sorting indication affixed to each of the articles. The conveyor includes a monitoring and control unit designed to cause each flap to pivot between a closed position in which the flap forms a conveyor portion suitable for conveying an article in a certain conveying direction and an open position in which the flap interrupts conveying of an article on the conveyor to deflect it towards an appropriate sorting outlet. The monitoring and control unit is also arranged to retrieve thickness data from a memory giving a certain thickness for the article to be deflected, and to respond by causing the flap to pivot into an open position through a certain opening amplitude determined as a function of the thickness data about the article that is to be deflected.

Abstract: A postal sorting machine comprises an unstacker in a mailpiece feed inlet, a sorting conveyor, and sorting outlets, each of which is provided with a receptacle designed for storing the mailpieces in a stack and on an edge. Each sorting outlet is provided with a wheel having a helical blade. The wheel projects through an opening in the bottom of the receptacle and is mounted on a transmission shaft. The transmission shaft is disposed under the receptacle to impart a rotary movement to the helical blade so that the helical blade pushes the base of a current mailpiece in the receptacle against the stack of mailpieces that is being formed. The wheel is also mounted on the transmission shaft by being clipped by moving in translation across the axis of rotation of the transmission shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sorting conveyor having pivotally mounted flaps for sorting articles into sorting outlets as a function of a sorting indication affixed to each of the articles. The conveyor includes a monitoring and control unit designed to cause each flap to pivot between a closed position in which the flap forms a conveyor portion suitable for conveying an article in a certain conveying direction and an open position in which the flap interrupts conveying of an article on the conveyor to deflect it towards an appropriate sorting outlet. The monitoring and control unit is also arranged to retrieve thickness data from a memory giving a certain thickness for the article to be deflected, and to respond by causing the flap to pivot into an open position through a certain opening amplitude determined as a function of the thickness data about the article that is to be deflected.

Abstract: A postal sorting machine comprises an unstacker in a mailpiece feed inlet, a sorting conveyor, and sorting outlets, each of which is provided with a receptacle designed for storing the mailpieces in a stack and on an edge. Each sorting outlet is provided with a wheel having a helical blade. The wheel projects through an opening in the bottom of the receptacle and is mounted on a transmission shaft. The transmission shaft is disposed under the receptacle to impart a rotary movement to the helical blade so that the helical blade pushes the base of a current mailpiece in the receptacle against the stack of mailpieces that is being formed. The wheel is also mounted on the transmission shaft by being clipped by moving in translation across the axis of rotation of the transmission shaft.

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: A conveyor apparatus including a main conveyor by which mail items are routed by being nipped between a transport belt and a main belt, and a secondary conveyor towards which the mail items are routed, after switching, along a secondary belt. The main and secondary belts performing the main conveying and the secondary conveying functions are constituted by a single, common belt that is twisted twice. The twice-twisted belt is engaged over a tensioner pulley that is a floating pulley.

Abstract: Conveyor apparatus (D) comprising a main conveyor (2) by which mail items are routed by being nipped between a transport belt (6) and a main belt (7), and a secondary conveyor (4) towards which the mail items are routed, after switching, along a secondary belt (8). The main and secondary belts performing the main conveying and the secondary conveying functions are constituted by a single, common belt (9) that is twisted twice. Said twice-twisted belt (9) is engaged over a tensioner pulley that is a floating pulley (Pf).

Abstract: A device for unstacking flat objects comprises an unstacking head (2) provided with a suction cup (88) for grasping the first flat object in a stack of such objects presented thereto and for moving a grasped flat object towards an exit position (40) in which the object is released. The suction cup (88) is a bellows suction cup made of a flexible material such that when it grasps the first flat object in the stack, it retracts under the effect of the suction and entrains at least the surface of the grasped object therewith as it retracts. A shoe (90) having a surface close to the grasping plane of the suction cup is disposed adjacent to the suction cup in fixed relationship relative to the mount (50) carrying the suction cup. The shoe thus constitutes an obstacle to the surface of a grasped flat object, thereby warping said surface as the suction cup retracts.

Abstract: A method of extracting and accelerating flat objects such as postal items which are presented in the outlet position of an unstacking head for use by a machine downstream therefrom, the method making use of a clamp for grasping postal items one-by-one and of various sensors (7) such as photoelectric cells, serving to indicate the presence of a postal item in the outlet position of the unstacking head, or in the field of action of the clamp, or serving to indicate that the clamp is in a waiting position or in an end-of-stroke position, the method being characterized in that it essentially comprises the following stages:moving the clamp to a waiting position;when the presence of a postal item is expected in the outlet position from the unstacking head, driving the carriage towards the outlet position of the unstacking head;when the presence of the postal item is detected within the field of action of the clamp, the clamp is closed and the carriage is driven towards the downstream machine;as soon as the presence

Abstract: A belt and pulley conveyor device for flat objects comprises a substantially linear input conveyor and a substantially linear output conveyor orthogonal to the input conveyor. The input of the output conveyor is substantially contiguous with the output of the input conveyor. A chute is adapted to link the input and output conveyors. It has an object input/output and is adapted to pivot between an idle position in which it extends the output of the input conveyor and a transfer position in which it extends the input of the output conveyor. A control device is adapted to move the chute between the idle and transfer positions.