EP2041008B1 - Method for feeding a device for picking from a stack items sent in the post - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of feeding flat items, in particular postal items, into unstacker apparatus (6) for unstacking flat items, which apparatus includes a feed magazine (3) with first and second paddles (8, 13), in which method a first stack of flat items (9) are moved in front of the first paddle towards the unstacker apparatus, comprises the steps consisting in: forming the second stack of flat items (22) on edge behind the second paddle; moving the second stack of flat items on edge and the second paddle until a junction is obtained between said first and second paddles; and moving said first and second paddles together to behind the second stack of flat items. This method contributes to facilitating building up of the first stack of flat items for feeding the unstacker apparatus.

Description

The invention relates to the field of unstacking flat objects arranged in stack on edge, for example postal items, checks or banknotes, coupons, books, etc ...

The invention more particularly relates to a method for supplying flat objects with a flat objects unstacking device comprising a feed magazine in which flat objects arranged on edge and constituting a current stack of flat objects are moved in a certain direction. moving by a first pallet to an unstacking face of the unstacking device to be serialized. In this method, at the rear of said first pallet is formed in said certain direction of displacement a second stack of flat objects disposed on edge using a second pallet mounted movable in said certain direction and manipulated said first and second pallets for reconstitute at the front of the first pallet according to said certain direction of movement the current stack of flat objects on edge with the flat objects on the edge of the second pile of flat objects.

The unstacking device is more particularly a device by which the first flat object of the current stack of flat objects which is in contact with the unstacking face is ejected in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the flat objects in the magazine. feeding so that the flat objects are serialized on singing one behind the other.

The invention applies more particularly to the processing of large format postal items commonly called "flats" but can also be used for the processing of letters for example in a postal sorting machine.

In a postal sorting machine, postal items to be sorted are generally brought to the entrance of the machine in bins where they are stored in pile on edge or flat (that is to say in packets). A tray filled with postal items is inverted on a worktop and an operator collects mail packages to store them in the feed magazine of a destacker of the sorting machine.

Different methods are used to manipulate these packages of postal items in the food store, these methods mainly depending on the configuration of the food store and the habits and preferences of the operators handling the mail items.

Typically, the sorting machine unstacker feed magazines have a so-called dynamic mailpiece storage area in that it consists of a horizontal conveyor belt (an endless conveyor belt extending horizontally) and a conveyor belt. movable paddle driven by a motor to move synchronously or not synchronized with the treadmill to push a current stack of mail items to be unstacked to the unstacker unstacking face.

In general the pallet extends in a slightly inclined vertical plane to support the stack of postal items.

The role of the operator is therefore to reconstruct the current stack of mail items that is pushed by the pallet.

To perform this operation it may be possible for an operator to manipulate the pallet to free space between the pallet and the current stack of postal items being unstacked while seizing a new package of mail items to dispose of these shipments on song in the space left free. This manipulation operation proves impractical or difficult to achieve because the operator must both ensure support and push the current stack of postal items with one hand and the other hand grab a packet of mailings and bring this package of mailings in front of the pallet to restore the current stack of mailings. As a result, this manipulation can affect the processing speed of the sorting machine.

Another manipulation is to constitute at the rear of the motorized pallet a stack of mail items waiting. When this stack of pending mail items is sufficiently supplied, the operator enters and moves the pallet to merge the mail items of the standby stack and the current stack. This manipulation is complicated by the fact that during the formation of the pile of postal objects waiting, the operator must at the same time follow the movement of the pallet, which is in continuous movement with the conveyor belt.

To overcome the above drawbacks patent document is known US 5,829,742 another feeder store layout for unstacker postal sorting machine. Such a food store 101, shown on the figure 14 which comprises a conveyor belt 102 constituting the dynamic storage surface and two movable pallets 103, 104 spaced longitudinally from one another in the direction D of movement of the pallets. These two pallets comprise a first pallet 103 which faces the depilatory face of a destacker 105 and which pushes the current stack 106 of postal items and a second pallet 104 arranged behind the first pallet 103 in the direction D of moving postal items to the unstacking side. These two pallets are motorized in a synchronized manner and their displacement is synchronously linked to the movement of the conveyor belt 102 constituting the dynamic storage surface. The space left free between the two mobile pallets serves as a reserve area for the constitution of a stack of pending mail items 107. In this case, the handling of the items of mail consists of the operator, after having constituted the pile of waiting mailpieces 107 between the two movable pallets 104, 103, to lift the first pallet 103 to pass between the second pallet 104 and the stack of mailpieces pending 107 so that the current stack 106 and the stack waiting 107 are merged. The operator then grabs the second pallet to move it backwards so as to release again a space between the two pallets constituting the reserve area. Although with this arrangement, the operator has more facility to constitute the pile of mailpieces waiting, the handling is still complicated and tedious because of the permanent movement of the pallets and thus the stack waiting which requires the operator to follow this move. In addition, the operator is obliged to seize the postal items and carry them to bring them into the reserve area and can not drag them because the second pallet is on the passage between the bin containing shipments and the reserve area. The operator must at the same time concentrate his efforts on keeping on edge the postal items in the reserve area.

Patent document is still known US 4,052,052 a device for grouping stacks of sheets and introducing them into a book binding machine using motorized conveyors and inserts pushed by paddles coupled with springs. Such a device is too complex to be implemented in a postal sorting machine.

Patent applications are also known EP 1 322 538 and EP 1 322 537 trolleys that can be coupled to an unstacking system of a postal sorting machine to feed mail. These trolleys comprise two longitudinal guides arranged on either side of the mailpieces on edge, a longitudinal guide supporting two pallets for gripping a stack of postal items and the other longitudinal guide carrying a pallet intended to pass behind this pile of mailpieces. mailings to push it to the unstacking system after lifting the other two pallets. Such devices involve the manipulation of three different pallets. In addition, these pallets are arranged on either side of the storage magazine, which makes their handling inconvenient.

We still know the document US5829742 , a method for feeding an unstacking device of postal items in which is raised and placed a stack of shipments on edge between a first and a second pallet. This method involves delicate handling of shipments.

The object of the invention is to provide a method for facilitating the introduction of postal items on the sorting machine and to design an ergonomic food store allowing an operator to introduce postal items in a postal sorting machine as quickly as possible with limited effort.

• constituer la seconde pile d'objets plats sur chant sur la surface de stockage statique (4) à l'arrière de ladite seconde palette selon ladite certaine direction de déplacement ;
• déplacer la seconde pile d'objets plats sur chant et la seconde palette vers la première palette selon ladite certaine direction de déplacement jusqu'à obtenir une jonction entre lesdites première et seconde palettes ;
• déplacer ensemble lesdites première et seconde palettes à l'arrière de ladite seconde pile d'objets plats selon ladite certaine direction de déplacement ;
• déplacer la pile courante d'objets plats au moyen de la première palette et de la surface de stockage dynamique.

For this purpose, the object of the invention is a method for supplying flat objects with a flat-object unstacking device comprising a feed magazine in which flat objects arranged on edge and constituting a current stack of flat objects are displaced. in a certain direction of movement by a first pallet towards an unstacking face of the unstacking device to be serialized and in which is constituted at the rear of said first pallet according to said certain direction of movement a second stack of flat objects arranged on singing using a second movable pallet mounted in said certain direction and wherein said first and second pallets are manipulated to reconstitute at the front of the first pallet along said certain direction of movement the current stack of flat objects on edge with the objects flat on the edge of the second pile of flat objects, characterized in that the store includes a static face and a dynamic surface extending along said certain direction, said dynamic surface being disposed between said surface static and the unstacking face, and in that it comprises the steps of:

• forming the second pile of flat objects on edge on the static storage surface (4) at the rear of said second pallet according to said certain direction of movement;
• moving the second pile of flat objects on edge and the second pallet towards the first pallet along said certain direction of movement until a junction between said first and second pallets;
• moving said first and second pallets together at the rear of said second stack of flat objects along said certain direction of travel;
• move the current stack of flat objects using the first pallet and the dynamic storage area.

The first and second pallets can be advantageously moved with one hand. The second pallet serves as a support for forming a new pile of flat objects, and more particularly of postal items or large formats, to be attached to the current stack being unstacked. The constitution of this new stack of postal items, for example on a static storage surface, is easy and the combination of the two batteries can be performed by a simple gesture.

• lesdites première et seconde palettes sont déplacées ensemble à l'arrière de la seconde pile d'objets plats par un premier mouvement sensiblement perpendiculaire à ladite certaine direction de déplacement et ensuite par un second mouvement de translation selon ladite certaine direction de déplacement et enfin par un troisième mouvement sensiblement perpendiculaire à ladite certaine direction de déplacement mais en sens opposé au premier mouvement de translation ;
• après le troisième mouvement de translation, la seconde palette est séparée de la première palette par un quatrième mouvement de translation selon ladite certaine direction de déplacement mais en sens opposé ;
• la seconde palette est déplacée jusqu'à une butée disposée au niveau de ladite surface de stockage statique.

According to particular embodiments of the invention:

• said first and second pallets are moved together at the rear of the second stack of flat objects by a first movement substantially perpendicular to said certain direction of movement and then by a second translational movement along said certain direction of travel and finally by a third movement substantially perpendicular to said certain direction of movement but in opposite direction to the first translational movement;
• after the third translational movement, the second pallet is separated from the first pallet by a fourth translational movement along said certain direction of travel but in opposite directions;
• the second pallet is moved to a stop disposed at said static storage surface.

The invention also extends to a device for unstacking flat objects comprising a flat objects supply magazine with a first motorized pallet mounted on a longitudinal edge of the magazine and able to move in a certain direction of movement towards a unstacking side, a second pallet movably mounted on said edge of the magazine to be moved according to said certain direction of displacement, said second pallet being disposed at the rear of said first pallet according to said certain direction of movement, characterized in that said second pallet is freely movably mounted on said edge of the magazine and in that the magazine comprises a first flat-on-edge storage surface which is static and a second flat-on-edge storage surface which is dynamic and which is arranged between the first static storage surface and the unstacking face and that said second pallet is suitable to be moved in a direction opposite to said certain direction of movement of the dynamic storage surface to the static storage surface to a means for blocking the free movement of the second pallet.

• lesdites palettes sont montées de telle manière à être déplacées selon une direction perpendiculaire à ladite certaine direction de déplacement et il est prévu un dispositif de jonction qui solidarise lesdites première et seconde palettes lorsqu'elles sont déplacées ensemble face contre face selon ladite direction perpendiculaire à ladite certaine direction de déplacement ;
• ledit dispositif de jonction est une ouverture formée dans la première palette et un téton disposé dans la seconde palette pour s'insérer dans ladite ouverture quand lesdites palettes sont face contre face
• lesdites palettes sont montées sur le bord du magasin chacune par l'intermédiaire d'un pantographe correspondant s'étendant dans un plan sensiblement perpendiculaire à ladite certaine direction de déplacement.
• la seconde palette est articulée sur le pantographe correspondant selon un axe de rotation perpendiculaire à ladite certaine direction de déplacement pour être escamotée hors du magasin ;
• le moyen de blocage est activé à l'issue d'un déplacement de ladite seconde palette selon ladite certaine direction de déplacement ;
• ladite surface de stockage statique est pourvue d'une surface crantée avec des crans de blocage, ces crans anti-retour étant plus particulièrement des semi-crevés disposés en plusieurs rangées parallèles;
• les palettes sont munies chacune d'une poignée de manipulation, les poignées des palettes étant décalées selon une direction sensiblement perpendiculaire à ladite certaine direction de déplacement.

The unstacking device further comprises the following features:

• said pallets are mounted so as to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to said certain direction of movement and there is provided a junction device which secures said first and second vanes when moved together face-to-face in said direction perpendicular to said certain direction of movement;
• said connecting device is an opening formed in the first pallet and a stud disposed in the second pallet for insertion into said opening when said pallets are face-to-face
• said pallets are mounted on the edge of the magazine each by means of a corresponding pantograph extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to said certain direction of movement.
• the second pallet is articulated on the corresponding pantograph according to an axis of rotation perpendicular to said certain direction of movement to be retracted out of the store;
• the blocking means is activated at the end of a displacement of said second pallet according to said certain direction of displacement;
• said static storage surface is provided with a notched surface with locking notches, these non-return notches being more particularly semi-flattened arranged in several parallel rows;
• the pallets are each provided with a handling handle, the handles of the pallets being offset in a direction substantially perpendicular to said certain direction of movement.

The device according to the invention simplifies and greatly facilitates the handling of the operator for the introduction of postal items in the machine so that the operator is less tired and the machine performance is improved.

• Les figures 1 à 6 sont des vues en perspective d'un magasin d'alimentation d'une machine de tri à différents stades d'avancement de la méthode selon l'invention.
• La figure 7 est une vue en perspective du magasin d'alimentation de la machine de tri illustrée sur les figures précédentes avec la seconde palette en position escamotée.
• La figure 8 est une vue schématique de dessus du magasin d'alimentation selon l'invention.
• La figure 9 est une vue en perspective de derrière de la première palette.
• La figure 10 est une vue en perspective de derrière de la seconde palette.
• La figure 11 montre le pantographe et l'intérieur de la seconde palette.
• La figure 12 est une représentation schématique du dispositif de jonction permettant de solidariser les palettes.
• La figure 13 est une représentation schématique du moyen de blocage de la seconde palette.
• La figure 14 montre de façon très schématique un magasin d'alimentation de l'art antérieur.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows and on examining the figures which accompany it. This description is given as an indicative and non-limiting example of the invention.

• The Figures 1 to 6 are perspective views of a feed magazine of a sorting machine at different stages of advancement of the method according to the invention.
• The figure 7 is a perspective view of the feed magazine of the sorting machine illustrated in the preceding figures with the second pallet in the retracted position.
• The figure 8 is a schematic view from above of the feed magazine according to the invention.
• The figure 9 is a perspective view from behind of the first pallet.
• The figure 10 is a rear perspective view of the second pallet.
• The figure 11 shows the pantograph and the inside of the second pallet.
• The figure 12 is a schematic representation of the junction device for securing the pallets.
• The figure 13 is a schematic representation of the locking means of the second pallet.
• The figure 14 shows very schematically a feed store of the prior art.

The figure 1 partially illustrates a postal sorting machine 1 with a feed store designed ergonomically, that is to say to facilitate the introduction of postal items in the sorting machine by the operator and improve the efficiency.

The sorting machine 1 has from left to right on the figure 1 a tray display 2, a feed magazine 3 with a static storage surface 4 and a dynamic storage surface 5, and an unstacking system or device 6. We will later use for the sake of simplicity the relative terms of forward or backward movement, as well as relative terms of positioning in front of or behind, these terms being understood in the direction of movement of the mail items on the feed magazine, represented by the arrow D, the front located on the side of the unstacking system 6 and the rear side of the tray display 2.

The dynamic storage surface 5 comprises a conveyor belt 7 moving horizontally horizontally in the direction of displacement D towards an unstacking face of the unstacking system 6 and a first motorized moving pallet 8 advancing above the conveyor belt 7 according to the direction of displacement D towards the face of the unstacking system 6. The motorized movable pallet 8 comprises a flat front face facing the unstacking system 6 and is slightly inclined relative to the vertical, the distance between the front face of the the pallet 8 and the unstacking system 6 increasing with the height. The motorized movable pallet 8 holds and pushes against the postal items against, while they advance on the conveyor belt towards the unstacking system. The conveyor belt 7 and the movable pallet 8 have for example a common drive system which automatically manages their advance with servocontrol on unstacking of postal items, but can also be designed with individual drive systems dissociated to play on their respective travel speeds so that the postal items arrive as vertically as possible in front of the unstacking face. As visible on the figure 1 , a first stack 9 of mailpieces 9 held on edge against the front face of the motorized moving pallet 8 advances in front of the movable pallet 8 on the conveyor belt 7 towards the unstacking system 6. The purpose of the invention consists in reconstitute as the simple way this stack of postal items arranged in front of the mobile pallet 8.

The first pallet 8 is more particularly illustrated in detail on the figure 9 . A song 52 of the pallet 8 facing the operator is provided with a handle 11 to facilitate its grip and handling. The motorized moving pallet 8 is mounted on a pantograph 12 allowing a vertical translation movement of the pallet 8. The pallet 8 can thus be raised by the operator above postal items arranged on edge on the storage surface. The pantograph 12 is coupled to the pallet at the edge opposite the handle 11 and is mounted outside the storage surface so as to leave the storage surface free when the pallet is raised. A spring placed appropriately inside the pallet makes it possible to compensate for a part of the mass of the pallet in order to avoid excessive forces for the operator when lifting the pallet. The pallet moving in a vertical translational movement, the grip of the handle 11 is easy and this handle remains close to the body of the operator permanently, thus limiting its efforts.

The pantograph is mounted on a rail 50 visible on the figure 8 disposed on a longitudinal edge of the feed magazine and extending in the direction of displacement D set back from the storage surface. The pantograph 12, and therefore the pallet 8, can slide along the rail 50. The rail 50 passes more particularly through a groove 51 equipped with a guide formed in the structure of the pantograph 12. When the pallet 8 is lowered, ie is in contact with the treadmill 7, a clutch mechanism 54 coupled to the pantograph 12 engages the pantograph / pallet assembly on a motorized chain advancing along the rail, thus driving the pallet forward. The clutch mechanism further comprises a unidirectional pinion which allows an additional manual movement forward of the pallet but prevents a rearward movement of the pallet, this for a good retention of the items by the exercise of a forward pressure on shipments. When the pallet 8 is raised, the clutch mechanism 54 is disengaged from the motorized chain and the pallet 8 in the up position can slide freely forward or backward along the rail. The clutch mechanism 54, visible on the figure 9 , more particularly consists of a rod 56 fixed on one of the branches of the pantograph 12 and driving in vertical translation a pinion 58 mounted on a unidirectional ball bearing depending on the movement of the branch of the pantograph. When the pallet 8 is lowered, said branch of the pantograph 12 is lowered, so that the pinion 58 descends and engages on a motorized chain. Conversely, when the pallet is raised, the pinion rises and disengages from the chain. The unidirectional ball bearing allows the operator to move the pallet forward when the pallet is in the down position.

The feed magazine further comprises a second pallet 13 arranged behind the first pallet 8 in the direction of displacement D. This second pallet 13, substantially identical to the first pallet 8 is shown in more detail on the Figures 10 and 11 . This second pallet 13 is mounted on a pantograph 14 allowing a vertical translational movement thereof, the pantograph 14 being itself mounted so as to slide on the same rail 50 as the pantograph 12. The pantograph 14 does not include of the clutch mechanism so that the pallet 13 mounted on the pantograph 14 is not driven automatically forward when it is in the down position and can slide freely along the rail forward or backward according to the direction of displacement D by simple action of an operator manipulating the pallet by holding it by a handle 15 facing it, whether the pallet is in the up position or in the low position.

When the pallet is retracted as far as possible from the feed magazine, it is locked in position by means of a locking system or means and can be unlocked by the exercise of a forward force exerted by the operator . This blocking system described below with reference to the figure 13 for example consists of a bent blade spring against which acts a stop 72 formed on the structure of the pantograph 14. The pallet is then above the static storage surface 4, as visible on the figure 1 . The static storage surface has a less adherent surface, that is to say perfectly slippery, and includes a verification space of the template of postal items and an accumulation space of postal items. The surface of the accumulation space of mailpieces comprises locking notches 16. On the checking space of the postal item template, a line 17 drawn on the surface in the direction of displacement D serves as a reference mark for verifying the length of mailpieces to be inserted into the machine when they abut against a vertical wall 18. This vertical wall 18 has a particular height which serves as a reference for checking the height of postal items to be inserted into the machine. The template verification space further comprises an insert 27 for verifying the thickness of the postal items. These different markers make it possible to eliminate mailings out of size, ie which for example exceed 260 mm in height, 360 mm in length and 20 or 32 mm in thickness.

A ramp 19, specially adapted to facilitate spilling and setting on the static storage surface 4 of postal items contained in a tray shown on the tray display 2, serves as a junction between the tray display 2 and the store supply 3.

Other details of the sorting machine will be presented hereinafter during the description of the manipulations performed by the operator to introduce postal items in the sorting machine and followed step by step with reference to the successive figures.

As visible on the figure 1 a first pile 9 of postal mailings advance automatically on the conveyor belt 7 in front of the first pallet 8 in the lower position towards the unstacking system which serializes and sends one by one the mail items of the stack 9 inside of the sorting machine. The second pallet 13 is retracted to the maximum on the feed magazine 5 in the low position and is therefore locked in the waiting position.

A tray containing postal items to be inserted in the machine is then brought into the tray display 2 and reversed on the side, opening in front of the ramp 19. The operator, who has both hands free, seizes a package of postal items he stands on edge on the space for the verification of the template of the postal items and aligns against the vertical wall 18, face perpendicular to the direction of movement D. The operator then locates the out-of-gauge mail items, this is at say the postal items which pass beyond the line 17 and / or the vertical wall 18, and eliminates them from the sorting machine by throwing them into a hopper 20. This hopper 20 is disposed just behind the vertical wall 18 and comprises a slide that returns these off-size shipments into a recovery tank 21 disposed below the verification space of the template of postal items. The recovery tank 21 out of jig shipments so arranged is easily accessible and manageable by the operator.

The operator then slips the postal items, always on edge and face perpendicular to the direction of travel D, on the static storage surface until they press against the rear face of the second pallet 13. The pallet 13 remains in place without any intervention of the operator because it is blocked. The postal items then slipped forwards on the locking notches 16 and these locking notches hold the lower edges of postal items naturally tending to slide back. These locking notches 16 or anti-sag notches thus prevent postal items from collapsing on the static storage surface.

The material constituting the static storage surface must be very slippery to minimize the friction of the items sliding on it and thus the deterioration of postal items and efforts produced by the operator. On a slippery surface, postal mail on edge pressing against a vertical wall will tend to collapse, the lower edge of the shipments resting on the slippery surface away from the vertical wall. This problem is particularly true when handling flexible and light mail items. To remedy this problem, the slippery surface of the mailpiece accumulation space is notched to allow forward mail to slide and to prevent the lower edge of the postal items from recoiling when they are resting against the face. rear of the second pallet, the locking notches serving as stops or blocking the lower edges of postal items. Different types of locking notches 16 may be used, based on the principle of fish scales or seal skins. The locking notches are more particularly arranged in a matrix on the accumulation space of postal items.

According to the particular embodiment shown in the figures, these locking notches are constituted by several rows of semi-punctured, for example three, extending in the surface parallel to the direction of displacement D. By semi-punctured means a a sort of springboard formed in a metal sheet with a profile in the direction of displacement D in the shape of a right triangle, the front side being open. Three rows of semi-punctured are used rather than a single row with longer semi-punctured ones to prevent the consignments from getting stuck in the openings of the semi-punctured ones, if these openings are sufficient for a postal item to be placed there. inserts. On the Figures 1 to 7 each row has seven semi-flat.

The static storage surface is more particularly formed by an embossed sheet in order to limit the electrostatic interactions with the postal items. The semi-punctured are more particularly made by stamping in this sheet, that is to say by tearing the surface and deformation of the sheet to form the inclined surface. Such a method of manufacturing is particularly advantageous because it is simple and provides sharp notches, on which postal items can not slip backwards. The semi-punctured have for example a height of 3 mm for a length in the direction of displacement of 30 to 40 mm. A height of 3 mm is sufficient to retain the lower edges of postal items and the sliding slope of the semi-punctured is low enough not to hinder the forward sliding of shipments. The notches of the toothed surface therefore have a vertical profile in the direction of displacement D in the form of fish scales.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the toothed surface could be formed simply by a stepped plate, or stepped, down in the direction of displacement D.

A number of postal items then rest without any intervention by the operator against the rear face of the second pallet 13, on the static storage surface 4. The immobility of the pallet in the locked position and the static storage surface , as well as the presence of locking notches facilitates the singing arrangement of postal items and more particularly their alignment against a vertical wall.

The operator then brings other packets of postal items behind the postal items already resting against the second pallet until having formed behind the second pallet, a second stack of postal items 22 judged sufficiently large to be united with the first one. stack of postal items 9 already being unstacked. This configuration is shown on the figure 2 .

When the operator deems it necessary, he decides to gather the first and second piles of postal items 9.22. This judgment is quite subjective and depends on the habits of the operator, for example when the first pile 9 has been reduced by half.

The operator then grasps the second pallet 13 by the handle 15 with his right hand, places his left hand last the second stack of postal items 22 and slides together, that is to say the shipments always bearing against the rear face of the pallet, the second pallet 13 and the second stack of postal items 22 to behind the first pallet 8. The operator releases the second pallet of the locking system by exerting a force forward. The force required to release is calculated to be slightly greater than the force exerted by postal shipments on edge pressing on the pallet and allow the formation of the second package of postal items without have to hand hold this second pallet. As visible on the figure 10 , a pad 60 is arranged under the second pallet to allow the move with less effort.

A junction device arranged on the pallets makes it possible to secure the two pallets when they are face-to-face, that is to say the front face of the second pallet against the rear face of the first pallet. This junction device 61 is more particularly described with reference to the figure 12 . A nipple 23, also visible on the figure 2 , it is arranged on the front face of the second pallet 13. This stud 23 has an upward hook-shaped end and is arranged to fit into an opening 62 arranged in the rear face of the first pallet 8 This opening is more particularly of oblong shape as visible on the figure 9 . A small plate 64 is arranged inside the opening, in the upper part of the latter, so that when the two pallets are face-to-face and the operator lifts the second pallet, the hook of the nipple 23 comes catch the small plate 64 in the opening 62. The two pallets 8, 13 are then secured and can be moved together in the air by handling only the second pallet 13 by the handle 15.

We showed on the figure 3 the second pallet 13 advanced against the rear face of the first pallet 8. The second stack of postal items 22 was pushed forward simultaneously with the second pallet 13 against the rear face of the latter. The stud 23 has then been introduced inside the opening 62. The second stack of postal items 22, as well as the second pallet, are on the dynamic storage surface 5 above the conveyor belt 7.

As visible on the figure 3 the handles 11 and 15 of the first and second pallets are vertically offset relative to one another. The operator can thus bring the second pallet against the first pallet by holding it by the handle 15 without being disturbed by the handle 11. It does not at any time need to release the handle 15 to perform the next step of securing and simultaneously lifting the two pallets 8, 13, as shown in FIG. figure 4 .

The operator continues to maintain forward pressure on the second stack of postal items 22 with his left hand placed behind the second stack and raises the second pallet by holding it by the handle 15. The hook of the pin 23 then catches the small plate 64 in the opening, which secures the two pallets 8,13 in upright. By this simple gesture, the operator raises the two pallets above the postal items.

The operator then returns the two pallets 8, 13 in the lower position behind the second stack of postal items 22, as visible on the figure 5 , passing the two pallets secured above the second stack of postal items 22.

He then pushes the second pallet forward, still holding it by its handle 15, and therefore pushes the first pallet so as to reunite and push forward the two stacks of postal items 9,22.

According to another alternative, the two batteries 22,9 can be joined by action of the operator pushing with his left hand the second stack forward when the two pallets 8,13 are raised.

The two pallets 8, 13 being in the lower position, the first pallet resumes its automated advance and the hook of the stud 23 has released the small plate 64 in the opening 62 so that the two pallets 8, 13 are disengaged. The operator can then back only the second pallet 13 by sliding it in the lower position, still holding it by the handle 15 with his right hand.

As visible on the figure 6 , the two batteries 9.22 are united on the treadmill 7 bearing against the front face of the first pallet 8 and are automatically brought to the unstacking system 6. The second pallet has been moved back by the operator to the locking system and is locked above the toothed surface.

We find ourselves on the figure 6 in the provision of the figure 1 . The operator can therefore repeat the operations described above to continuously recharge the stack of mail items in front of the first pallet.

As visible on the figure 7 , the second pallet can be retracted and blocked out of the passage of postal items on the food store. This configuration makes it possible to insert postal items into the machine using only the first pallet, as is known from the prior art. The pantograph 14 is more particularly mounted on a hinge 24 so that the pallet can be moved in rotation from the retracted position to the working position and vice versa. A cleat 25 makes it possible to block the second pallet in one position or in another. The second pallet 13 is more particularly locked in the retracted position by insertion and rest of the lower edge of the pallet in a groove of a blocking support 66 as is visible on the figure 7 .

The figure 10 shows in greater detail the second pallet 13. The pantograph 14 carrying the pallet 13 is mounted on a support structure 68 having a vertical hinge 24 around which the pantograph 14 and the pallet 13 can turn. figure 10 , the pallet is locked in use position on the feed magazine by means of a catch 25 inserted inside a bore formed in the hinge element 24 carrying the pantograph 14. The catch 25 is pushed and held inside said bore by means of a compression spring. To bring and lock the pallet in the retracted position, the operator then pulls on the catch 25 to release the hinge, rotates the pallet 13 by 90 ° around the hinge 24 and releases the stopper. The support structure 68 further comprises a recess 70 in the direction of movement and within which is fixed the rail 50 so that the pallet slides along the rail. The support structure 68 further includes a stop 72 extending vertically below the structure 68.

This stop 72, visible from below on the figure 13 , allows the blocking of the pallet above the static storage surface and more particularly just in front of the locking notches in the direction of travel. The locking system 80 is constituted by an angled leaf spring 74 mounted on a frame 76 of the sorting machine and constrained by the stop 72 mounted on the movable support structure 68 of the pantograph 14. When the pallet 13 is moved back, the stop 72 is pressed against the front portion of the blade 74 so that the blade deviates from the passage and allows the stop which comes to lock between the rear portion of the blade and the frame. Sufficient pressure must be exerted forward to separate the blade 74 from the passage of the stop 72 and release the pallet. A damping system may further be provided to prevent the structure of the pallet 13 from striking too strongly against the frame 76.

The figure 11 shows in more detail the constitution of the pantograph 14 of the pallet 13. The pantograph 14 consists of two bent branches 82 fixed on fixed hinges 84 each at one end in the pallet and at the other end on the structure 68. Such a pantograph 14 allows a translational movement of the pallet 13 or more particularly a movement of the pallet with the lower edge of the pallet moving parallel to the surface of the feed magazine 3. A compensation spring 86 is arranged between the two branches 82 of the pantograph 14 so as to load when the pallet is lowered and unloaded when the pallet is raised. This compensation spring partially compensates for the weight of the pallet so that the effort to be provided by the operator to lift the pallet is reduced.

The Figures 1 to 7 show a noise hood 26 disposed at the entrance of the unstacking system 6 to reduce the noise generated by unstacking postal items. This hood is stretchable on the feed magazine 3 or retractable in the unstacking system 6. A magnet is attached to the pantograph 12 of the first pallet 8 and attracts a metal element arranged in correspondence on the noise-reducing hood. When the first pallet advances sufficiently towards the unstacking system, this first pallet couples to the noise-canceling hood by means of the magnet, pushing the hood into the unstacking system as it moves forward and pulls the hood over the system. unstacking when raised and retracted. The noise hood will automatically come off the pallet when stretched to the maximum. Coupling the displacement of the noise hood to the displacement of the first pallet makes it possible to limit the noise due to unstacking as much as possible without the operator's particular intervention.

The front of the first palette (see figure 1 to 7 ) and the back side of the second pallet (see figure 10 ) comprises each of the sliding strips 10. These sliding strips 10 promote the sliding of the postal items supported directly against and therefore facilitates the lifting of the pallets 8,13 above the piles of postal items 9,22 during the represented on the figure 4 . The pile end mailpiece pressed against the face of the pallet will not be raised with the lifting of the pallet, which could lead to disruptions in the order of introduction of shipments or difficulties in bringing the first and second stacks of mailings.

For the same reason, the rear face of the first pallet 8 is also provided with sliding strips 10 (see figure 9 ), this rear face can indeed be used when the first pallet is used alone, that is to say that the second pallet is retracted, to form a sending stack intended to be united with the sending stack arranged against the front face of the same pallet, by lifting this pallet.

It is obvious that the invention is in no way limited to the details of the embodiment which has just been described but extends to any variant that is obvious to a person skilled in the art.

For example, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the rear face of the second pallet is slightly inclined relative to the vertical, the bottom of this rear face being further away from the unstacking device than the top, contrary to this which is visible in the figures. Such inclination facilitates the maintenance of postal items during the preparation phase of the second package of mail items on the space of accumulation of postal items or static notched storage area.

Furthermore, the motorization of the treadmill and the first motorized movable pallet can be dissociated to improve the disposition of postal items when they arrive in front of the unstacking face.

Finally, the embodiment described above refers to pallets releasing the passage on the feed magazine by a vertical translation movement but pallets can also be designed to be pulled by the operator in a horizontal translational movement. Pallets may also be designed to free the passage on the rotational feed magazine, as known from the patent document. US 5,829,742 .

It is also possible to design a static storage surface in which the locking notches are not formed by stamping but are retractable. Thus, by turning a wheel, the operator can, depending on his needs, out or not locking notches of the static storage surface.

Claims (27)

1. A method of feeding flat items into unstacker apparatus (6) for unstacking flat items, which apparatus includes a feed magazine (3) in which the flat items disposed on edge and constituting a current stack of flat items (9) are moved in a certain direction of movement (D) by a first paddle (8) towards an unstacking face of the unstacker apparatus so as to be put in series, in which method a second paddle (13) mounted to move along the axis defined by said certain direction is used to form a second stack of flat items (22) disposed on edge behind said first paddle in the direction of movement, and in which method said first and second paddles are manipulated so as to build up in front of the first paddle, in said certain direction of movement, the current stack of flat items on edge together with the flat items on edge of the second stack of flat items, said method being characterized in that the magazine comprises a static surface and a dynamic surface that extend in said certain direction, said dynamic surface being disposed between said static surface and the unstacking face, and in that the method comprises the steps consisting in:

   - forming the second stack of flat items on edge on the static storage surface (4) behind said second paddle in said certain direction of movement;

   - moving the second stack of flat items on edge and the second paddle towards the first paddle in said certain direction of movement until the second paddle joins the first paddle;

   - moving said first and second paddles together to behind the second stack of flat items in said certain direction of movement; and

   - moving the current stack of flat items by means of the first paddle (8) and of the dynamic storage surface.
2. A method according to claim 1, in which said first and second paddles are moved together to behind the second stack of flat items by means of a first movement that is substantially perpendicular to the axis defined by said certain direction of movement, and then by means of a second movement in translation along the axis defined by said certain direction of movement, and finally by means of a third movement substantially perpendicular to said axis defined by said certain direction of movement but in the opposite direction to the direction of said first movement.
3. A method according to claim 2, in which, after the third movement, the second paddle is separated from the first paddle by a fourth movement in translation along said axis defined by said certain direction, but in the opposite direction.
4. A method according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the first movement and the second movement are movements in substantially vertical translation.
5. A method according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the first movement and the second movement are movements in substantially horizontal translation.
6. A method according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the first movement and the second movement are movements in rotation in a substantially vertical plane.
7. A method according to claim 3, in which the second paddle is moved to an abutment disposed at said static storage surface.
8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the flat items are postal items.
9. A method according to claim 8, in which the postal items are large-format items or "flats".
10. Unstacker apparatus (6) for unstacking flat items, which apparatus includes a flat item feed magazine (3) with a motor-driven first paddle (8) mounted on a longitudinal edge of the magazine and suitable for moving in a certain direction of movement (D) towards an unstacking face, a second paddle (13) mounted to move on said edge of the magazine so as to be moved in said certain direction of movement, said second paddle being disposed behind said first paddle in said certain direction of displacement, said unstacker apparatus being characterized in that said second paddle is mounted to move freely on said edge of the magazine, and in that the magazine comprises a first storage surface (4) for storing flat items on edge that is static, and a second storage surface (5) for storing flat items on edge that is dynamic and that is disposed between the static first storage surface and the unstacking face, and in that said second paddle, when it is joined with the first paddle so that the two paddles are moved together, is suitable for being moved in a direction opposite from said certain direction of the movement from the dynamic storage surface towards the static storage surface to locking means (80) for preventing the second paddle from moving freely.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, in which said paddles are mounted in a manner such that they can be moved in a direction that is perpendicular to said certain direction of movement, and in which junction apparatus (61) is provided that unites said first and second paddles when they are moved together, face against face, in said direction perpendicular to said certain direction of movement.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, in which said junction apparatus is constituted by an opening (62) formed in the first paddle (8) and by a lug (23) disposed in the second paddle (13) to be inserted into said opening when said paddles are face against face.
13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12, in which said paddles (8, 13) are mounted on the edge of the magazine, each via a corresponding pantograph (12, 14) extending in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to said certain direction of movement.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13, in which the second paddle is hinged to the corresponding pantograph about an axis of rotation (24) that is perpendicular to said certain direction of movement so as to be retracted out of the magazine.
15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 14, in which the locking means (80) are activated at the end of a movement of said second paddle along the axis defined by said certain direction of movement.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15, in which the locking means are constituted by a spring comprising a blade (74) provided with an L-bend, which spring is stressed by an abutment (72).
17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 16, in which said static storage surface is provided with a notched surface with notches for retaining the flat items (16).
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, in which the retaining notches are semi-punched-out recesses formed in a metal sheet and disposed in a plurality of parallel rows.
19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 18, in which the static storage surface includes a verification region provided with reference indicators (17, 18) defining a certain size of flat item.
20. Apparatus according to claim 19, in which said reference identifiers (17, 18) are disposed on two mutually perpendicular surfaces of said static storage surface so as to make it possible to perform size verification on two dimensions of the flat items.
21. Apparatus according to claim 19 to 20, in which a hopper (20) is provided for collecting the flat items that are over-size, which hopper is disposed beside said size verification region, said hopper being disposed so as to direct a flat item into a stowage space for stowage of a removable bin (21), disposed below said verification region.
22. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 21, provided with a slidably-mounted anti-noise cover (26) mounted to move along the axis defined by said displacement direction and surrounding said unstacking face, and in which apparatus coupling apparatus is provided for coupling together said cover and said first paddle (8), which coupling apparatus constrains said first paddle and said cover to move together.
23. Apparatus according to claim 22, in which said coupling apparatus is constituted by magnetic coupling apparatus including a magnet.
24. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 23, in which each of the paddles (8, 13) is provided with a respective manipulation handle (11, 15), the handles on the paddles being mutually offset in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to said direction of movement.
25. Apparatus according to claim 13, in which each pantograph (14) is provided with a weight-compensating spring (86).
26. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 25, in which the paddles are provided with slide strips (10).
27. A machine for handling postal items (1), said machine being characterized in that it includes apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 26.

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