Postal sorting machine including a bin-transfer structure

• US 7,080,739 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solystic
• Original Assignee: Solystic
• Inventors: François, Gillet, Guy, Forella
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Joseph C.
• Application Number:
  US10/511,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20050224399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 209/584, 209/630, 209/922, 414/285, 198/465, 198/369.1, 198/370.03, 198/370.06
• US Class Current: 209/630
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/008 Means for collecting objects, e.g. containers for sorted mail items pile receivers in general B65H31/00

Abstract

A postal sorting machine (1) comprises sort outlets (7) distributed in one or more horizontal rows that are superposed and parallel. A bin transfer structure (3) is placed along said rows of sort outlets (7), said transfer structure (3) comprising one or more superposed bin conveyors (9) extending parallel to respective rows of sort outlets and one or more superposed gangways (10) that are movable along the rows of sort outlets (7), each extending between a row of sort outlets (7) and a corresponding bin conveyor (9) to enable at least one storage bin (4) to be transferred from a sort outlet (7) to a corresponding bin conveyor (9).

Claims

1. A postal sorting machine (1) having sort outlets (7) distributed in one or more horizontal rows (6a, 6b) that are superposed and parallel, wherein

a bin transfer structure (3) is disposed along said rows (6a, 6b) of sort outlets (7), said transfer structure (3) comprising

one or more superposed bin conveyors (9) extending parallel to respective rows (6a, 6b) of sort outlets, and

one or more superposed gangways (10;

10′

, 10″

) that are movable along the rows (6a, 6b) of sort outlets (7), each extending between a row (6a, 6b) of sort outlets (7) and a corresponding bin conveyor (9) to enable at least one storage bin (4) to be transferred from a sort outlet (7) to a corresponding bin conveyor (9) said superposed gangways being offset from one another in a vertical plane extending transversely to the rows of sort outlets.

2. The postal sorting machine (1) according to claim 1, in which a corresponding row (6a, 6b) of sort outlets (7), bin conveyor (9), and gangway (10) are disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane.

3. The postal sorting machine (1) according to claim 1, in which each conveyor (9) is a belt conveyor.

4. The postal sorting machine (1) according to claim 1, in which each conveyor (9a) is an accumulation conveyor.

5. The postal sorting machine (1) according to claim 1, in which the conveyors (9) are arranged to move the storage bins (4) in two opposite directions so as to be capable of taking the storage bins (4) at one end towards an inlet (8) of the sorting machine (1), and at the other end towards a bin removal point (Ev).

6. The postal sorting machine (1) according to claim 1, in which each gangway (10) includes a set of parallel idler rollers (17) on which the storage bins (4) are placed.

7. The postal sorting machine (1) according to claim 1, in which each gangway (10) is arranged to be capable of being raised or lowered, or of being withdrawn.

8. The postal sorting machine (1) according to claim 1, in which each gangway (10) is mounted on a wheeled carriage (15).

9. The postal sorting machine (1) according to claim 1, in which each gangway (10) is mounted on a frame (11) of the corresponding bin conveyor (9).