Abstract: Disclosed is an installation for sorting incoming mailings which are assigned to a first plurality of first preselected directions or a second plurality of second remaining sorting directions, according to which the mailings are distributed to receptacles of a track, each mailing being deposited into one of several first receptacles for the first plurality of first preselected sorting directions or into at least one of the other receptacles for the second plurality of second remaining sorting directions. At least one external receptacle from an additional track is replaced with a receptacle from one of the preselected first sorting directions of the track via an interface at least during one passage of the track, the additional track is used as a storage device for the receptacles, and replaced receptacles can be redirected to the respective track thereof via the interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for diverting material in a controlled manner comprising a diverter plate attached to a mounting assembly. The diverter plate is shaped for receiving falling material and facilitating the flow of the material onto a conveyance means or into storage. The mounting assembly comprises a carrier spring assembly that permits the diverter plate to pivot about a shaft and thereby move from a default position to an unload position. The mounting assembly further comprises two adjustable locking mounts that hold the shaft in place and also allow the shaft to be adjustably rotated and thereafter fixed in place. A method for diverting material in a controlled manner comprises the steps of installing the apparatus at a transfer point and activating a first conveyance means that feeds material to the chute. A second conveyance means that receives the material after diversion by the apparatus can optionally be activated.

Abstract: A mail sorting and sequencing system having a number of DPP units cooperating with one another to sort and sequence mail items of three different types of mail. Each DPP unit having: a conveyor system wherein a number of trucks travel along a path; at least three truck feed units communicating with the conveyor system and receiving mail items of a respective type of mail; at least one accumulating device cooperating with the conveyor system to receive mail items released individually by the trucks; and a buffer unit for housing groups of mail items from the accumulating device.

Abstract: The invention starts with a hopper (1) where the objects are randomly introduced, with a bottom (2) tilted towards an adjustable outlet opening (3), arranged under the latter there is a unitary metering device (5) leading to a discharge plate (22) of a grooved front edge (23) so as to intertwine with blades (11) of a lifting means (6), wherein said plates are spaced by a magnitude which is not quite twice the width of the objects to be handled, a lifting means ending at a transfer mechanism consisting of a conveyor (27), also with grooved blades (28) acting on a base plate (29) framed by two rails (30) guiding the objects towards a drop opening (17), with means which make the objects swing during their fall so that they adopt the correct position when they reach an exit conveyor (41), between two side walls (34), another conveyor (36) collaborating with said conveyor (41), the former provided with a plurality of pushing means (35) spaced by a magnitude in accordance with the width of the objects to be conveye

Abstract: A method and apparatus for moving and packing freshly harvested agricultural products in such a way as to minimize the damage to agricultural products from bruising and breakage resulting from falling into storage bins. This invention uses a hydraulic-driven conveyor belt to move smaller transport containers which are physically closer to the actual point where the agricultural products are discharged into the waiting transport containers. Because the transport container is physically closer to the discharge point of the agricultural products, the actual distance the agricultural products fall is greatly reduced as is the probability of damage from bruising or breaking apart.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging solid particulate material is described that includes a deflectable, curved weigh pan with a given radius of curvature to receive a continuous flow of material and discharge the material along a first discharge pathway, the radius of curvature at the inlet end being substantially perpendicular to the feed pathway; a pivotal material flow diverter adjacent having an inlet end adjacent the pan outlet end, the diverter having a lowered position beneath the first discharge pathway, and a raised position intersecting the first discharge pathway; a transducer for continually measuring pan deflection; a controller to receive deflection measurements from the transducer and transmit an actuation signal when a target weight of material has crossed the pan; and an actuator to pivot the diverter between the first and second positions upon receipt of an actuation signal from the controller.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging containers includes a first conveyor for advancing items; a second conveyor for continuously advancing containers; a charging device including first and second chutes each having an inlet adjoining the discharge end of the first conveyor and an outlet positioned above the second conveyor. The first and second chutes adjoin one another in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the second conveyor. A drive shifts the charging device and the discharge end of the first conveyor relative to one another for selectively aligning the inlet of the first chute or the inlet of the second chute with the discharge end for selectively introducing items from the first conveyor into the first or second chute. A sensor detects items advanced on the first conveyor. A control device is connected to the sensor and the drive for operating the drive based on the sensor signals.

Abstract: A system for the automatic loading and/or unloading of products comprises a store (13, 19) with shelves inclined and provided with a mobile transversal blocking means (9, 12), and at least one traveling lift (3) provided with mobile bearing tops (4), also inclined and provided with at least one mobile transversal blocking means (9, 12). Said inclined shelves and bearing tops (4) are provided with transversal, parallel, idle and inclined rollers (5) whereon a product or a product container (1) can slide by gravity when the blocking means is lowered.

Abstract: An automatic packaging apparatus has a bag forming device for automatically forming bags each containing one or more articles and a vacuum sealing device for sealing open ends of the bags in a vacuum. The vacuum sealing device has a plurality of bag supporting devices revolving synchronously with the feeding device and having respective pillow heads for resting thereon the open ends of the bags and vacuum covers each cooperating with a respective one bag supporting device to form one vacuum box in which the open end of the bag is sealed by and between a heating member provided in the vacuum box and the pillow head. Further the pillow head or a platform of the bag supporting device is moved vertically.

Abstract: A machine for sorting objects of various destinations, particularly for bulky postal correspondence. A guide defines a path passing through at least one loading station and at least one sorting station. At least one succession of compartments for containing individual objects is moved along said guide. Each compartment is in the form of a narrow pigeon hole, which has its surface of maximum size perpendicular to the direction of movement of the compartment and is provided with an operable base wall.

Abstract: The device of this invention comprises a drum 11 rotatably mounted on a mounting frame 10. The device is designed to receive articles to be sorted from a controlled feed conveyor 12. The rotating drum 11, through its internal structure including lift fins 16 and associate structure, position the oblong articles on counter-rotating shaft conveyor 13. The articles proceed down the counter-rotating shaft conveyor 13 to a chain link loading mechanism 36 placing the sorted articles in receiving slots on chain link conveyor 37. Incorporated in the invention of this device are control structures such as feed control tilt flaps 20 and their associated structure which controls the rate of supply of articles to the rotating drum 11 by feed conveyor 12 and return rejected articles to the rear of the drum. A detector 29 is incorporated in association with the counter-rotating shaft conveyor 13 and include shaft conveyor light source 30, the shaft conveyor electric eye 31, and clearing means 32.