Device for selecting mail items

• US 6,971,645 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neopost Industrie
• Original Assignee: Neopost Industrie
• Inventors: Coret, Francis, Pillard, Romain
• Primary Examiner(s): MACKEY, PATRICK HEWEY
• Application Number:
  US10/325,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20030141650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 271/2, 271/137, 271/121, 271/138, 271/35
• US Class Current: 271/138
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/42322 from bottom of the pile
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1916 Envelopes and articles of mail
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/042 separating from the bottom of the pile
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/5238 Retainers of the pad-type, e.g. friction pads
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/5284 Retainers of the roller type, e.g. rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/54 Pressing or holding devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a selection device for separating one by one, or singulating, the items of a stack of mail items, comprising a support surface, conveying means for driving these mail items over the support surface, a mobile presser plate cooperating with the conveying means in order to drive downstream a part of the mail items issuing from the stack of mail items to be separated and corresponding to a predetermined maximum thickness of mail items, and independent, individually mobile selection means for selecting a mail item from the mail items driven by the conveying means.

Claims

1. A selection device for separating one by one, or singulating, the items of a stack of mail items, comprising:

a support surface;

conveying means for driving these mail items over the support surface;

a mobile presser plate cooperating with the conveying means in order to drive downstream a part of the mail items issuing from the stack of mail items to be separated and corresponding to a predetermined maximum thickness of mail items, said mobile presser plate being pivotable between a first position and a second position angularly spaced from said first position; and

independent, individually mobile selection means for selecting a mail item from the mail items driven by the conveying means.

2. The selection device of claim 1, wherein said presser plate is pivotable about a hinge pin of an articulated mechanism which is pivotable about a pivot pin so as to remain constantly parallel to said support surface whatever the number of mail items conveyed.

3. The selection device of claim 2, wherein the pivoting of said presser plate about said hinge pin is exerted against a first elastic member of which one end is fixed to said presser plate and the other end is fixed to said articulated mechanism.

4. The selection device of claim 3, wherein said presser plate comprises a stop for limiting its pivoting with the articulated mechanism.

5. The selection device of claim 3, wherein the pivoting of said articulated mechanism about said pivot pin is exerted against a second elastic member of which one end is fixed to said articulated mechanism and the other end is fixed to a fixed part of the device.

6. The selection device of claim 1, wherein said conveying means comprise parallel drive belts controlled by a common motor and extending through said support surface.

7. The selection device of claim 6, wherein said selection means comprise tongues interposed between the drive belts and acting against an elastic member of which one end is fixed on said tongue and the other end is fixed to said fixed part of the device.

8. The selection device of claim 1, wherein it further comprises, downstream of said selection means, articulated return means for driving upstream all the mail items except one issuing from said selection means.

9. Mail item feed device intended to be mounted upstream of a franking machine and comprising a device for receiving and conveying downstream a stack of mail items and a device for selecting one only of these mail items according to claim 1.

10. The selection device of claim 1, wherein the conveying means and the presser plate are disposed on a side of the mail items opposite the support surface.

11. The selection device of claim 1, wherein the presser plate and the selection means are disposed on the side of the mail items opposite the support surface.