Abstract: The invention relates to an unstacker device for unstacking flat articles, said unstacker device including: first detection means for detecting transitions between article types; at least first and second specialized unstacking programs and a default unstacking program, which programs are suitable for maintaining respectively a first nominal gap, a second nominal gap, and a default nominal gap, between two consecutive flat articles; and a monitoring/control unit arranged for automatically executing said default unstacking program in response to detection of said transition, for counting said flat articles subsequent to said transition, and, in response to a predetermined counting threshold being reached, for executing, for said subsequent flat articles and until the next transition detection, the corresponding one of said first and second specialized unstacking programs. The invention also relates to a method of unstacking flat articles using said unstacker device.

Abstract: A flat-article feed device comprising a supply magazine in which flat articles are moved in a stack on edge in a first transfer direction, a separator for separating the leading flat article of the stack from the remainder of the stack and for driving it in a second transfer direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first transfer direction, an unstacker that takes a flat article that is being unstacked and brings it in the second transfer direction to the inlet of a conveyor, and a retainer that exerts a retaining force that opposes movement of the flat article towards the conveyor, the unstacker being offset from the separator by a distance not less than the maximum length of a flat article, and the retainer being provided facing the unstacker. A postal sorting machine including such a feed device.

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: The invention relates to an unstacker device for unstacking flat articles, said unstacker device including: first detection means for detecting transitions between article types; at least first and second specialized unstacking programs and a default unstacking program, which programs are suitable for maintaining respectively a first nominal gap, a second nominal gap, and a default nominal gap, between two consecutive flat articles; and a monitoring/control unit arranged for automatically executing said default unstacking program in response to detection of said transition, for counting said flat articles subsequent to said transition, and, in response to a predetermined counting threshold being reached, for executing, for said subsequent flat articles and until the next transition detection, the corresponding one of said first and second specialized unstacking programs. The invention also relates to a method of unstacking flat articles using said unstacker device.

Abstract: A postal sorting machine comprising an automatic feed station (8) with an unstacker device (2), a manual feed station (9), and a sorting conveyor adapted to move mailpieces in series one behind another in a conveying direction (31), the automatic feed station being designed to feed the conveyor automatically with mailpieces from a stack of mailpieces, the manual feed station (9) being adapted to receive mailpieces inserted individually and to place them in the conveyor. The manual feed station (9) comprises a protective cover forming a sort of tunnel over the conveyor, and an insertion slot (26) provided in the protective cover and through which a mailpiece can be inserted into the tunnel, said slot being in vertical alignment with a mailpiece receiving and handling space (34) for receiving and handling a mailpiece in the conveyor, which space is funnel-shaped.

Abstract: A mailpiece unstacker device comprises a feed magazine for moving the mailpieces in a stack and on edge in a certain direction towards an unstacker head. It is provided with materials sensors for delivering signals indicating that a current mailpiece has a cover made of a plastics material and/or includes a metal material. A control unit forces the feed magazine and the unstacker head to operate as a function of the signals generated by the sensors so that the mailpieces are presented facing the unstacker head in positions that are inclined backwards to various extents.

Abstract: The invention relates to a separator device (18) comprising a passage zone (40) through which the articles pass and which extends between drive means (20, 30), retaining means (24, 34) for retaining an article relative to another article, and suitable for separating them mutually, control means suitable for activating and deactivating, independently, each first and second drive means (20, 30), and each first and second retaining means (24, 34). The drive means (20, 30) are distant from each other so as to define the passage zone (40), and the retaining means (24, 34) are suitable for exerting substantially transverse forces in opposite directions, so as to suck at least one article against corresponding drive means. The invention also relates to a method of controlling the above-mentioned separator device (18), and to a postal sorting machine including such a separator device (18).

Abstract: The invention relates to a flat-article feed device, comprising a supply magazine (1) in which flat articles are moved in a stack on edge in a first transfer direction (A), separator means (3) for separating the leading flat article of the stack from the remainder of the stack and for driving it in a second transfer direction (B) that is substantially perpendicular to the first transfer direction, unstacker means (10) that take a flat article that is being unstacked and bring it in said second transfer direction (B) to the inlet of a conveyor, and retaining means (13) that exert a retaining force that opposes movement of the flat article towards the conveyor, said unstacker means being offset from said separator means by a distance not less than the maximum length of a flat article, and said retaining means being provided facing the unstacker means. The invention also relates to a postal sorting machine including such a feed device.

Abstract: A device for conveying flat articles, in which device the flat articles are moved in series while being at a pitch one from the next that is normally constant, includes a synchronization device for compensating for a certain amount of variation in said pitch. This device includes: means for categorizing the articles on the basis of certain physical characteristics of the articles; means for identifying a certain amount of variation in the pitch for the current article and for recording said pitch variation in a memory in correspondence with the class of the current article; and means for servocontrolling the synchronization system on the basis of said pitch variations recorded in the memory in correspondence with said classes of articles.

Abstract: A postal sorting machine comprising an automatic feed station (8) with an unstacker device (2), a manual feed station (9), and a sorting conveyor adapted to move mailpieces in series one behind another in a conveying direction (31), the automatic feed station being designed to feed the conveyor automatically with mailpieces from a stack of mailpieces, the manual feed station (9) being adapted to receive mailpieces inserted individually and to place them in the conveyor. The manual feed station (9) comprises a protective cover forming a sort of tunnel over the conveyor, and an insertion slot (26) provided in the protective cover and through which a mailpiece can be inserted into the tunnel, said slot being in vertical alignment with a mailpiece receiving and handling space (34) for receiving and handling a mailpiece in the conveyor, which space is funnel-shaped.

Abstract: A conveyor device for conveying flat objects on edge, which device comprises at least two wheels having elastically deformable treads and disposed facing each other so as to move a flat object on edge by pinching and friction. The two wheels are arranged in such a manner as to exert a pinching force on the flat object on edge that varies progressively as the flat object is driven forwards.

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: A flat-article feed device comprising an unstacker device (4), a conveyor (5) on which the unstacked articles in series and on edge are moved with constant pitch, and a synchronization device (6) interposed between the unstacker device and the conveyor so as to compensate for variations in pitch between consecutive articles. The unstacker device (4) is servo-controlled to unstack a current article in response to a signal indicating detection of the passage of another unstacked article preceding said current article downstream from the unstacker. The synchronization device (6) is arranged to move a plurality of articles at the same time in series and on edge with different respective speed profiles in order to compensate for variations in pitch.

Abstract: A mailpiece unstacker device comprises a feed magazine for moving the mailpieces in a stack and on edge in a certain direction towards an unstacker head. It is provided with materials sensors for delivering signals indicating that a current mailpiece has a cover made of a plastics material and/or includes a metal material. A control unit forces the feed magazine and the unstacker head to operate as a function of the signals generated by the sensors so that the mailpieces are presented facing the unstacker head in positions that are inclined backwards to various extents.

Abstract: A device for conveying flat articles, in which device the flat articles are moved in series while being at a pitch one from the next that is normally constant, includes a synchronization device for compensating for a certain amount of variation in said pitch. This device includes: means for categorizing the articles on the basis of certain physical characteristics of the articles; means for identifying a certain amount of variation in the pitch for the current article and for recording said pitch variation in a memory in correspondence with the class of the current article; and means for servocontrolling the synchronization system on the basis of said pitch variations recorded in the memory in correspondence with said classes of articles.

Abstract: A conveyor device for conveying flat objects on edge, which device comprises at least two wheels having elastically deformable treads and disposed facing each other so as to move a flat object on edge by pinching and friction. The two wheels are arranged in such a manner as to exert a pinching force on the flat object on edge that varies progressively as the flat object is driven forwards.

Abstract: An unstacker device for unstacking flat objects comprises a motor-driven feed magazine controlled so as to move flat objects in a stack and on edge facing an unstacking head provided with a motor-driven drive having a perforated belt and a suction chamber, which motor driven drive is actuated so as to separate a current first object from the stack and so as to eject it in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the stack of flat objects is moved, in which device the motor-driven drive is actuated and stopped each time a current object is unstacked, and the stack of flat objects is straightened up in the magazine in response to detection of signals delivered by a plurality of sensors disposed in the unstacking head.

Abstract: An unstacker device for unstacking flat objects, which device comprises a motor-driven feed magazine controlled so as to move flat objects in a stack and on edge facing an unstacking head provided with a motor-driven drive having a perforated belt and a suction chamber, which motor driven drive is actuated so as to separate a current first object from the stack and so as to eject it in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the stack of flat objects is moved, in which device the motor-driven drive is actuated and stopped each time a current object is unstacked, and the stack of flat objects is straightened up in the magazine in response to detection of signals delivered by a plurality of sensors disposed in the unstacking head.