EP0645330B1 - Gripping device for flat objects and separating apparatus provided with such a gripping device - Google Patents
Gripping device for flat objects and separating apparatus provided with such a gripping device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0645330B1 EP0645330B1 EP94402118A EP94402118A EP0645330B1 EP 0645330 B1 EP0645330 B1 EP 0645330B1 EP 94402118 A EP94402118 A EP 94402118A EP 94402118 A EP94402118 A EP 94402118A EP 0645330 B1 EP0645330 B1 EP 0645330B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- gripper
- suction
- vacuum
- gripping device
- holding
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/08—Separating articles from piles using pneumatic force
- B65H3/12—Suction bands, belts, or tables moving relatively to the pile
- B65H3/124—Suction bands or belts
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C1/00—Measures preceding sorting according to destination
- B07C1/02—Forming articles into a stream; Arranging articles in a stream, e.g. spacing, orientating
- B07C1/025—Devices for the temporary stacking of objects provided with a stacking and destacking device (interstack device)
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H3/00—Separating articles from piles
- B65H3/46—Supplementary devices or measures to assist separation or prevent double feed
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
- B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
- B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
- B65H2701/1916—Envelopes and articles of mail
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a gripper flat objects. It also targets a unstacking of flat objects equipped with this gripper.
- the mail is placed on edge on a carpet routing, backed by a pallet. Thanks to a motorization of the carpet and the pallet, the mail advance towards the gripper.
- the carpet leads to a abrupt change of level, called hereafter falls, and the mail ends up in a store supply located between the conveyor belt and the gripper.
- the gripper includes vacuum zones in front of which a perforated belt passes.
- the mail When leaving the gripper, the mail passes in front the vacuum zone of the double outlet separator, located on the other side of the mail. This organ retains the mails which would be entrained by friction by the previous mail, so as not to let go only one mail at a time.
- the mail is supported in a mailing device transfer or spillway which provides the interface between the unstacking device and a sorting device.
- the suction cup described is a bellows suction cup made of a material such as, when grabbing the first dish of the stack, it retracts under the effect of depression and brings with it the surface of the object seized.
- This gripping device has however the disadvantage of only allowing a flow limit.
- US patent US-A-4357007 issued November 2 1982 discloses a gripping device comprising two suction equipment behind a belt perforated and two detectors which function activate the command of one or other of the suction equipment according to position effective of the first fold during unstacking.
- Document DE-B-1 267 012 describes a device for unstacking objects dishes comprising the features of the preamble of claim 1.
- the purpose of the present invention is to solve this problem by proposing a gripper of flat objects which ensures damage-free mail training open or slightly rigid, this gripper comprising a perforated belt driven by means of motorization and vacuum gripping means arranged inside said belt, and one face grip on which the said belt passes in movement in a transfer direction, and means for separating double sockets being arranged substantially opposite an exit edge of said gripping face.
- the gripper for flat objects is characterized in that the input means by vacuum include at least two vacuum heads substantially adjacent and aligned in direction one of said vacuum heads being at least partially opposite the means of separation of double sockets.
- a gripper in a preferred embodiment of a gripper according to the invention further comprising means for generating an area on its gripping face at low vacuum and high flow, the heads adjacent depressions are disposed between said low vacuum generation means and the end of said gripping face near the means of separation of double sockets.
- a device for unstacking flat objects comprising means of supply, a gripper for flat objects according to the invention, means double outlet separators and means for transfer, characterized in that the gripper comprises at least two vacuum heads arranged parallel to the transfer direction.
- the unstacking device 10 comprises means routing, in particular a motorized conveyor 14, a supply store 13, a device gripper 20 according to the invention, a device double outlet separator 24 and a device for transfer 16.
- the gripping device 20 comprises a perforated belt 15 driven by motor means (not shown) around a set of pulleys 26-33 whose axes are substantially parallel to each other. These axes may, by way of nonlimiting example, be perpendicular to the surface of the mat 14 and to the substantially planar bottom of the supply store 13. But one can also envisage arrangements where this perpendicularity is not ensured.
- the gripper 20 has on one side of the supply magazine 13 a substantially vertical gripping face 2 against which the first flat object of a stack of flat objects will be pressed due to the application of forces generated at a zone Z 0 with low vacuum and high flow.
- This zone Z 0 located substantially in the center of the gripping face 2, is intended to attract the first fold of the stack of folds located in the magazine 13.
- the zone Z 0 thus has the function of sucking up the objects and putting them in contact with the gripping face.
- the low vacuum is generated by a fan 40 located outside the movement circuit of the perforated belt 15 and operating permanently.
- a direction of transfer D representing the direction of travel folds supported by the gripper.
- This transfer direction also represents the direction of movement of the perforated belt 15 to level of the gripping face 2 of the gripper.
- the upstream and downstream concepts used in the following are considered in relation to the transfer direction of upstream downstream.
- Two zones with high depression Z 1 , Z 2 are located downstream of the zone with low depression Z 0 , while a third zone with high depression Z 3 is located upstream of said zone with low depression Z 0 .
- the three high vacuum zones are located behind the perforated belt 15 and are generated respectively by three vacuum heads 21, 22, 23.
- the third vacuum zone Z 3 has the function of ensuring a repackaging of the offset folds while the first two and the second zones Z 1 , Z 2 are provided for driving the folds towards the transfer device 16.
- the different return pulleys 26 -33 are arranged within the gripper so as to bypass the zone with low depression Z 0 and to include the vacuum heads 21, 22, 23. It should be noted that the devices for generating depression are not shown on Figures 1 and 2 for reasons of simplification.
- the usual vacuum generation techniques can be implemented in a gripper according to the invention depending on the actual energy availability.
- the two zones with high vacuum Z 1 , Z 2 and the jogging zone Z 3 are vacuum controlled by solenoid valves (not shown). These zones move the objects according to the conveying direction.
- the first and second vacuum zones Z 1 , Z 2 are preferably adjacent and best fill the gap separating the low vacuum zone from the vacuum head 24 of the double tap separator. This guarantees excellent retention of a driven fold until it is taken over by the double tap separator 24 and the transfer device 16.
- the perforations made in the belt 15 apply to the first object in the stack stored in the supply store 13 of vacuum forces generated by the different heads vacuum 21, 22, 23.
- an object 1 is seized by the gripping device 20, it is then moved to the transfer device 16 by driving the perforated belt 15 in the direction of transfer D.
- the second depression zone 22 is preferably placed at the level of the separating device 24 located on a wall 42 opposite the gripping face 2 of the gripper 20, so as to allow compensation to the less partial of the restraining forces developed by the vacuum head of the separating device 24 by forces of depression developed at the level of the second depression zone 22. This is very important when it is a single slightly rigid ply which is in course of treatment. Thanks to the presence of this second depression zone 22, the weak fold rigid will pass smoothly, and in particular without being crumpled, the region of the double tap separator.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
- Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
Description
La présente invention concerne un préhenseur d'objets plats. Elle vise également un dispositif de dépilage d'objets plats équipé de ce préhenseur.The present invention relates to a gripper flat objects. It also targets a unstacking of flat objects equipped with this gripper.
Un dispositif de dépilage d'objets plats comprend quatre organes principaux :
- un magasin d'approvisionnement du courrier,
- un préhenseur de courrier,
- un séparateur de prises doubles,
- un dispositif de transfert ou évacuateur.
- a mail supply store,
- a mail gripper,
- a double outlet separator,
- a transfer device or spillway.
Le courrier est posé sur chant sur un tapis d'acheminement, adossé à une palette. Grâce à une motorisation du tapis et de la palette, le courrier avance vers le préhenseur. Le tapis débouche sur un brusque changement de niveau, appelé dans la suite chute, et le courrier aboutit alors dans un magasin d'approvisionnement situé entre le tapis d'acheminement et le préhenseur.The mail is placed on edge on a carpet routing, backed by a pallet. Thanks to a motorization of the carpet and the pallet, the mail advance towards the gripper. The carpet leads to a abrupt change of level, called hereafter falls, and the mail ends up in a store supply located between the conveyor belt and the gripper.
Le préhenseur comprend des zones de dépression devant lesquelles passe une courroie perforée.The gripper includes vacuum zones in front of which a perforated belt passes.
Au sortir du préhenseur, le courrier passe devant la zone à dépression du séparateur de prises doubles, situé sur l'autre face du courrier. Cet organe retient les courriers qui seraient entraínés par friction par le courrier précédent, de façon à ne laisser partir qu'un seul courrier à la fois.When leaving the gripper, the mail passes in front the vacuum zone of the double outlet separator, located on the other side of the mail. This organ retains the mails which would be entrained by friction by the previous mail, so as not to let go only one mail at a time.
En sortie du séparateur de prises doubles, le courrier est pris en charge dans un dispositif de transfert ou évacuateur qui assure l'interface entre le dispositif de dépilage et un dispositif de tri.At the outlet of the double tap separator, the mail is supported in a mailing device transfer or spillway which provides the interface between the unstacking device and a sorting device.
On connaít déjà, par le brevet français FR-A-2 616 762 déposé le 18 Juin 1987 au nom de la Demanderesse, un dispositif préhenseur pourvu d'une ventouse, pour saisir le premier objet plat d'une pile de tels objets qui lui sont présentés et pour le mouvoir vers une position de sortie où l'objet plat saisi est relâché.We already know, by French patent FR-A-2 616 762 filed on June 18, 1987 in the name of the Claimant, a gripper device provided with a suction cup, for grab the first flat object from a stack of such objects presented to him and to move him towards a exit position where the gripped flat object is released.
La ventouse décrite est une ventouse à soufflet faite d'un matériau tel que, lorsqu'elle se saisit du premier plat de la pile, elle se rétracte sous l'effet de la dépression et entraíne avec elle la surface de l'objet saisi. Ce dispositif préhenseur présente cependant l'inconvénient de ne permettre qu'un débit limité.The suction cup described is a bellows suction cup made of a material such as, when grabbing the first dish of the stack, it retracts under the effect of depression and brings with it the surface of the object seized. This gripping device has however the disadvantage of only allowing a flow limit.
On connaít également par la demande de brevet français FR-A-2 679 540 déposée le 25 Juillet 1991 au nom de la Demanderesse, un organe préhenseur constitué d'une courroie perforée guidée et actionnée par poulies. Cet organe préhenseur comprend une chambre à faible dépression activée en permanence et prévue pour réaliser un prépositionnement des plis à dépiler, et une tête à dépression située à proximité d'un dispositif séparateur de prises doubles et d'un dispositif de transfert. Ce document enseigne également une mise en vitesse progressive du pli dépilé en deux étapes permettant de réduire la brutalité du dépilage, ce qui autorise le traitement des plis ouverts. Un organe de transfert et un organe séparateur de prises doubles comprenant des moyens de retenue sont disposés à proximité immédiate de l'organe préhenseur et il est prévu la mise en action des moyens de retenue au moment où le front avant d'un pli est pris en charge par l'organe de transfert.We also know by patent application French FR-A-2 679 540 filed on July 25, 1991 in the name of the Applicant, a gripping organ consisting of a perforated belt guided and driven by pulleys. This gripper includes a low chamber vacuum permanently activated and scheduled for perform a prepositioning of the pleats to be unstacked, and a vacuum head located near a separator device for double sockets and a transfer device. This document also teaches gradual speeding up of the fold unstacked in two steps to reduce the brutality of depilation, which authorizes the treatment of open folds. A transfer member and a tap separator double comprising retaining means are arranged in the immediate vicinity of the gripper and it is provided for the activation of the restraint means at the time where the front edge of a fold is supported by the transfer organ.
Le brevet américain US-A-4357007 délivré le 2 Novembre 1982 divulgue un dispositif préhenseur comprenant deux équipements de succion disposés derrière une courroie perforée et deux détecteurs qui ont pour fonction d'activer la commande de l'un ou l'autre des équipements de succion en fonction de la position effective du premier pli en cours de dépilage.US patent US-A-4357007 issued November 2 1982 discloses a gripping device comprising two suction equipment behind a belt perforated and two detectors which function activate the command of one or other of the suction equipment according to position effective of the first fold during unstacking.
Dans le cas d'un traitement de courriers très fins et faiblement rigides, il peut se poser le problème d'effets antagonistes développés d'une part par l'organe préhenseur, et d'autre part, par les moyens de retenue du séparateur de prises doubles. Ceci peut avoir pour conséquence de froisser un objet plat faiblement rigide. Il importe donc que les plis soient maintenus le plus longtemps possible dans leur cheminement devant le séparateur de prises doubles.In the case of processing very fine mail and weakly rigid, there may be the problem antagonistic effects developed on the one hand by the gripper, and on the other hand, by the means of retaining the double outlet separator. This can result in crumpling a flat object weakly rigid. It is therefore important that the folds are kept as long as possible in their routing in front of the double outlet separator.
Le document DE-B-1 267 012 décrit un disposif de dépilage d'objet plats comprenant les caractéristiques du préambule de la revendication 1.Document DE-B-1 267 012 describes a device for unstacking objects dishes comprising the features of the preamble of claim 1.
Le but de la présente invention est de résoudre ce problème en proposant un préhenseur d'objets plats qui assure un entraínement sans dommage de courriers ouverts ou faiblement rigides, ce préhenseur comprenant une courroie perforée entraínée par des moyens de motorisation et des moyens de saisie par dépression disposés à l'intérieur de ladite courroie, et une face de préhension sur laquelle transite ladite courroie en mouvement selon une direction de transfert, et des moyens de séparation de prises doubles étant disposés sensiblement en vis à vis d'un bord de sortie de ladite face de préhension.The purpose of the present invention is to solve this problem by proposing a gripper of flat objects which ensures damage-free mail training open or slightly rigid, this gripper comprising a perforated belt driven by means of motorization and vacuum gripping means arranged inside said belt, and one face grip on which the said belt passes in movement in a transfer direction, and means for separating double sockets being arranged substantially opposite an exit edge of said gripping face.
Suivant l'invention, le préhenseur d'objets plats est caractérisé en ce que les moyens de saisie par dépression comprennent au moins deux têtes à dépression sensiblement adjacentes et alignées selon la direction de transfert, l'une desdites têtes à dépression étant au moins partiellement en vis à vis des moyens de séparation de prises doubles.According to the invention, the gripper for flat objects is characterized in that the input means by vacuum include at least two vacuum heads substantially adjacent and aligned in direction one of said vacuum heads being at least partially opposite the means of separation of double sockets.
La mise en oeuvre de plusieurs zones de dépression permet ainsi de maintenir l'objet plat pris en charge par le préhenseur le plus longtemps possible dans son cheminement devant le dispositif et donc d'éviter son froissement.The implementation of several depression zones thus keeps the flat object supported by the gripper as long as possible in its path in front of the device and therefore avoid its wrinkling.
Dans une forme préférée de réalisation d'un préhenseur selon l'invention comprenant en outre des moyens pour générer sur sa face de préhension une zone à faible dépression et fort débit, les têtes à dépression adjacentes sont disposées entre lesdits moyens de génération à faible dépression et l'extrémité de ladite face de préhension à proximité des moyens de séparation de prises doubles.In a preferred embodiment of a gripper according to the invention further comprising means for generating an area on its gripping face at low vacuum and high flow, the heads adjacent depressions are disposed between said low vacuum generation means and the end of said gripping face near the means of separation of double sockets.
Suivant un autre aspect de l'invention, il est proposé un dispositif de dépilage d'objets plats comprenant des moyens d'approvisionnement, un préhenseur d'objets plats selon l'invention, des moyens séparateurs de prises doubles et des moyens de transfert, caractérisé en ce que le préhenseur comprend au moins deux têtes à dépression disposées parallèlement à la direction de transfert.According to another aspect of the invention, it is proposed a device for unstacking flat objects comprising means of supply, a gripper for flat objects according to the invention, means double outlet separators and means for transfer, characterized in that the gripper comprises at least two vacuum heads arranged parallel to the transfer direction.
D'autres particularités et avantages de l'invention apparaítront encore dans la description ci-après. Aux dessins annexés donnés à titre d'exemples non limitatifs :
- la figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble d'un dispositif de dépilage d'objets plats équipé d'un préhenseur selon l'invention ; et
- la figure 2 est une vue de dessus d'un préhenseur d'objets plats selon l'invention.
- Figure 1 is an overall view of a device for unstacking flat objects equipped with a gripper according to the invention; and
- Figure 2 is a top view of a gripper of flat objects according to the invention.
On va maintenant décrire un dispositif de dépilage d'objets plats équipé d'un préhenseur selon l'invention, en même temps que le fonctionnement de ce préhenseur, en référence aux figures 1 et 2.We will now describe an unstacking device flat objects equipped with a gripper according to the invention, along with the operation of this gripper, with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
Le dispositif de dépilage 10 comprend des moyens
d'acheminement, notamment un tapis motorisé 14, un
magasin d'approvisionnement 13, un dispositif
préhenseur 20 selon l'invention, un dispositif
séparateur de prises doubles 24 et un dispositif de
transfert 16.The
Le dispositif préhenseur 20 comprend une courroie
perforée 15 entraínée par des moyens de motorisation
(non représentés) autour d'un ensemble de poulies 26-33
dont les axes sont sensiblement parallèles entre eux.
Ces axes peuvent, à titre d'exemple non limitatif, être
perpendiculaires à la surface du tapis 14 et au fond
sensiblement plan du magasin d'approvisionnement 13.
Mais on peut également envisager des dispositions où
cette perpendicularité n'est pas assurée. Le préhenseur
20 présente sur un côté du magasin d'approvisionnement
13 une face de préhension 2 sensiblement verticale
contre laquelle le premier objet plat d'une pile
d'objets plats va être plaqué du fait de l'application
de forces générées au niveau d'une zone Z0 à faible
dépression et à fort débit. Cette zone Z0, située
sensiblement au centre de la face de préhension 2, est
prévue pour attirer le premier pli de la pile de plis
située dans le magasin 13. La zone Z0 a ainsi pour
fonction d'aspirer les objets et les mettre au contact
de la face de préhension. La faible dépression est
générée par un ventilateur 40 situé à l'extérieur du
circuit de déplacement de la courroie perforée 15 et
fonctionnant de manière permanente.The
On considère dans la suite une direction de
transfert D représentant la direction de déplacement
des plis pris en charge par le préhenseur. Cette
direction de transfert représente également la
direction de déplacement de la courroie perforée 15 au
niveau de la face de préhension 2 du préhenseur. Les
notions d'amont et d'aval utilisées dans la suite sont
considérées par rapport à la direction de transfert de
l'amont vers l'aval.We consider in the following a direction of
transfer D representing the direction of travel
folds supported by the gripper. This
transfer direction also represents the
direction of movement of the
Deux zones à forte dépression Z1, Z2 sont situées
en aval de la zone à faible dépression Z0, tandis
qu'une troisième zone à forte dépression Z3 est située
en amont de ladite zone à faible dépression Z0. Les
trois zones à forte dépression sont situées derrière la
courroie perforée 15 et sont générées respectivement
par trois têtes à dépression 21, 22, 23.Two zones with high depression Z 1 , Z 2 are located downstream of the zone with low depression Z 0 , while a third zone with high depression Z 3 is located upstream of said zone with low depression Z 0 . The three high vacuum zones are located behind the
La troisième zone de dépression Z3 a pour fonction
d'assurer un retaquage des plis décalés tandis que les
deux première et seconde zones Z1, Z2 sont prévues pour
entraíner les plis vers le dispositif de transfert 16.
Les différentes poulies de renvoi 26-33 sont disposées
au sein du préhenseur de façon à contourner la zone à
faible dépression Z0 et à englober les têtes à
dépression 21, 22, 23. Il est à noter que les
dispositifs de génération de dépression n'ont pas été
représentés sur les figures 1 et 2 pour des raisons de
simplification. Les techniques usuelles de génération
de dépression peuvent être mises en oeuvre dans un
préhenseur selon l'invention en fonction des
disponibilités énergétiques effectives.The third vacuum zone Z 3 has the function of ensuring a repackaging of the offset folds while the first two and the second zones Z 1 , Z 2 are provided for driving the folds towards the
Les deux zones à forte dépression Z1, Z2 et la zone de retaquage Z3 sont à dépression commandée par des électrovalves (non représentés). Ces zones déplacent les objets selon la direction de convoyage.The two zones with high vacuum Z 1 , Z 2 and the jogging zone Z 3 are vacuum controlled by solenoid valves (not shown). These zones move the objects according to the conveying direction.
Les première et seconde zones de dépression Z1, Z2
sont de préférence adjacentes et remplissent au mieux
l'intervalle séparant la zone à faible dépression de la
tête à dépression 24 du séparateur de prises doubles.
On garantit ainsi un excellent maintien d'un pli
entraíné jusqu'à sa prise en charge par le séparateur
de prises doubles 24 et le dispositif de transfert 16.The first and second vacuum zones Z 1 , Z 2 are preferably adjacent and best fill the gap separating the low vacuum zone from the
Les perforations réalisées dans la courroie 15
permettent d'appliquer au premier objet de la pile
stockée dans le magasin d'approvisionnement 13 des
forces de dépression générées par les différentes têtes
à dépression 21, 22, 23. Lorsqu'un objet 1 est saisi
par le dispositif préhenseur 20, il est alors déplacé
vers le dispositif de transfert 16 par entraínement de
la courroie perforée 15 selon la direction de transfert
D. La deuxième zone de dépression 22 est de préférence
placée au niveau du dispositif séparateur 24 situé sur
une paroi 42 opposée à la face de préhension 2 du
préhenseur 20, de façon à permettre une compensation au
moins partielle des forces de retenue développées par
la tête à dépression du dispositif séparateur 24 par
des forces de dépression développées au niveau de la
deuxième zone de dépression 22. Ceci est très important
lorsque c'est un seul pli faiblement rigide qui est en
cours de traitement. Grâce à la présence de cette
deuxième zone de dépression 22, le pli faiblement
rigide passera sans encombre, et notamment sans être
froissé, la région du séparateur de prises doubles.The perforations made in the
On peut envisager que les organes de motorisation
de la courroie perforée 15 soient commandés de sorte
que celle-ci est remise en mouvement à chaque dépilage
successif selon une rampe de vitesse prédéterminée.We can consider that the motorization organs
of the
Bien sûr, l'invention n'est pas limitée aux exemples qui viennent d'être décrits et de nombreux aménagements peuvent être apportés à ces exemples sans sortir du cadre de l'invention. Ainsi, on peut envisager un nombre de zones de dépression supérieur à deux en vue d'augmenter encore la progressivité de transfert d'un objet plat faiblement rigide. On peut également prévoir d'autres agencements du circuit de la courroie perforée.Of course, the invention is not limited to examples just described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without depart from the scope of the invention. So we can consider a number of areas of depression greater than two in order to further increase the progressiveness of transfer of a slightly rigid flat object. We can also provide for other arrangements of the circuit of the perforated strap.
Claims (3)
- Flat object holding device comprising a perforated belt (15) driven by drive means, suction grasping means inside said belt (15), a holding side (2) across which said belt moves in a predetermined transfer direction (D) and adapted to receive the first object from a stack of flat objects, double pick separator means (24) being disposed substantially facing an exit edge of said holding side (2), characterized in that the suction holding means comprise at least two substantially adjacent suction heads (21, 22) aligned in the transfer direction (D), one (22) of said suction heads at least partly facing the double pick separator means (24).
- Holding device (20) according to claim 1 further comprising means (40) for generating on its holding side (2) a low suction high flowrate area (Z0) and characterized in that the adjacent suction heads (21, 22) are disposed between said low suction high flowrate generator means (40) and the end of said holding side (2) adjacent the double pick separator means (24).
- Flat object unstacking device (10) comprising feed means (14, 13), a flat object holding device (20) according to claim 1 or claim 2, double pick separator means (24) and transfer means, characterized in that the holding device (20) comprises at least two adjacent suction heads (22, 21) aligned in the transfer direction (D).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR9311458A FR2710624B1 (en) | 1993-09-27 | 1993-09-27 | Gripper for flat objects and unstacking device equipped with this gripper. |
| FR9311458 | 1993-09-27 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP0645330A1 EP0645330A1 (en) | 1995-03-29 |
| EP0645330B1 true EP0645330B1 (en) | 1998-02-04 |
Family
ID=9451255
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP94402118A Expired - Lifetime EP0645330B1 (en) | 1993-09-27 | 1994-09-23 | Gripping device for flat objects and separating apparatus provided with such a gripping device |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5507480A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0645330B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP3475198B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2132803C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69408391T2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2710624B1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2030921A2 (en) | 2007-08-29 | 2009-03-04 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Sheet take-out apparatus |
| US7815184B2 (en) | 2006-05-11 | 2010-10-19 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Paper sheet separating and take-out device |
Families Citing this family (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6443444B1 (en) | 1999-10-04 | 2002-09-03 | Lockhead Martin Corporation | Singulation mechanism |
| US6575450B2 (en) | 2001-01-30 | 2003-06-10 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Singulation mechanism |
| DE102005003374A1 (en) * | 2004-12-23 | 2006-07-06 | Böwe Bell + Howell GmbH | Letter input station with jogger |
| DE102006029891A1 (en) * | 2006-06-28 | 2008-01-03 | Siemens Ag | Apparatus for loading flat objects |
| DE102007007811B3 (en) * | 2007-02-16 | 2008-04-30 | Siemens Ag | Device for aligning flat objects |
| FR2957906B1 (en) | 2010-03-25 | 2012-05-18 | Solystic | FEEDING DEVICE FOR POSTAL SHIPMENTS WITH A SEPARATE STORE AND DEPILEOR |
| US9376275B2 (en) | 2013-03-12 | 2016-06-28 | United States Postal Service | Article feeder with a retractable product guide |
| US9340377B2 (en) | 2013-03-12 | 2016-05-17 | United States Postal Service | System and method of automatic feeder stack management |
| US9061849B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2015-06-23 | United States Postal Service | System and method of article feeder operation |
| US9056738B2 (en) | 2013-03-13 | 2015-06-16 | United States Postal Service | Anti-rotation device and method of use |
| US9044783B2 (en) | 2013-03-12 | 2015-06-02 | The United States Postal Service | System and method of unloading a container of items |
Family Cites Families (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2856187A (en) * | 1955-11-18 | 1958-10-14 | Pitney Bowes Inc | Workpiece feeding device |
| DE1267012B (en) * | 1964-07-20 | 1968-04-25 | Telefunken Patent | Separator with a device to prevent double draws |
| GB1263292A (en) * | 1969-01-02 | 1972-02-09 | Parnall & Sons Ltd | Improvements relating to sheet feeding apparatus |
| DE1904705A1 (en) * | 1969-01-31 | 1970-08-06 | Licentia Gmbh | Suction band separator for flat mail |
| US4148476A (en) * | 1975-05-06 | 1979-04-10 | Ab Svenska Flaktfabriken | Conveyor for lamellar material |
| JPS54115870A (en) * | 1978-02-27 | 1979-09-08 | Masaharu Matsuo | Belt paper feeder |
| US4357007A (en) * | 1980-04-24 | 1982-11-02 | International Standard Electric Corporation | Singler device |
| IT1129850B (en) * | 1980-11-13 | 1986-06-11 | San Cassiano Di Drocco A & C S | MIXER MACHINE |
| FR2679540A1 (en) * | 1991-07-25 | 1993-01-29 | Cga Hbs | DEVICE FOR UNPACKING MAIL PACKS, IN PARTICULAR OPEN AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING THE DEVICE. |
| FR2696163B1 (en) * | 1992-09-25 | 1994-11-04 | Cga Hbs | Stacker for flat articles including a tracker. |
-
1993
- 1993-09-27 FR FR9311458A patent/FR2710624B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1994
- 1994-09-20 US US08/309,145 patent/US5507480A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-09-23 CA CA002132803A patent/CA2132803C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-09-23 EP EP94402118A patent/EP0645330B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-09-23 DE DE69408391T patent/DE69408391T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-09-27 JP JP23149394A patent/JP3475198B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7815184B2 (en) | 2006-05-11 | 2010-10-19 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Paper sheet separating and take-out device |
| EP2441715A1 (en) | 2006-05-11 | 2012-04-18 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Paper sheet separating and take-out device |
| EP2030921A2 (en) | 2007-08-29 | 2009-03-04 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Sheet take-out apparatus |
| EP2030921A3 (en) * | 2007-08-29 | 2011-06-22 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Sheet take-out apparatus |
| US8235378B2 (en) | 2007-08-29 | 2012-08-07 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Sheet take-out apparatus |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2132803C (en) | 2004-09-14 |
| DE69408391T2 (en) | 1998-06-04 |
| US5507480A (en) | 1996-04-16 |
| FR2710624B1 (en) | 1995-11-10 |
| FR2710624A1 (en) | 1995-04-07 |
| CA2132803A1 (en) | 1995-03-28 |
| JP3475198B2 (en) | 2003-12-08 |
| JPH07149442A (en) | 1995-06-13 |
| DE69408391D1 (en) | 1998-03-12 |
| EP0645330A1 (en) | 1995-03-29 |
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