EP0608161B1 - Device for temporary storing flat objects - Google Patents

Device for temporary storing flat objects Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0608161B1
EP0608161B1 EP94400074A EP94400074A EP0608161B1 EP 0608161 B1 EP0608161 B1 EP 0608161B1 EP 94400074 A EP94400074 A EP 94400074A EP 94400074 A EP94400074 A EP 94400074A EP 0608161 B1 EP0608161 B1 EP 0608161B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
receptacle
conveyor
flat
reception
receptacles
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
Application number
EP94400074A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0608161A1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Luc Alex Marc Remy
Jean Roch
Jean-Pierre Volat
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bertin Technologies SAS
Original Assignee
Bertin et Cie SA
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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
    • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
    • B07C3/02—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
    • B07C3/08—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution using arrangements of conveyors
    • B07C3/082—In which the objects are carried by transport holders and the transport holders form part of the conveyor belts
    • 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)
    • 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
    • B07C1/18—Orientating articles other than in a stream, e.g. turning, deflecting or changing direction

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for temporary storage of flat objects, especially for machines postal sorting.
  • Such a device is notably described in the application FR-A-2 677 626 and in the patent application European EP-A-0 480 822.
  • the temporary storage device includes a drum rotary equipped at its periphery with several grooves longitudinal and arranged in the extension of a entry conveyor on which flat objects circulate a to one following a given direction in a weakly plane tilted vertically.
  • a flat object leaves the input conveyor, its longitudinal bottom edge is received in one of the drum grooves and its rear side comes to bear against one of the pallets of a conveyor reception moved in synchronism with the drum.
  • the drum turns a quarter turn, the flat object is held parallel to itself by conjugate advancement of the conveyor reception and its bottom edge is presented in an area nip between a drum edge and a roller motorized which injects the object into the bucket an output conveyor located below.
  • the next groove in the drum is presented in the extension of the entry conveyor to receive a new flat object leaning against another pallet of the receiving conveyor.
  • Such a device is suitable for operating the delay line type, but it is not suitable for operate in stacker-destacker, that is to say when the moving flat objects between the entry and exit of the device is not synchronous.
  • EP-A-0 480 822 also describes a delay line type temporary storage device using two motorized helical spirals which receive one by one the flat objects circulating according to a direction given in an input conveyor, move them in synchronism, one by one, in an orthogonal direction to their direction in the input conveyor, and the deliver to an exit station where they are ejected individually in buckets of an output conveyor located under the helical spiral device.
  • Such a device is a technical achievement delicate, in particular due to the cantilever mounting of the helical spirals and the need to plan between the input conveyor and the helical spirals of the arms adjustable with drive belts capable of directing one by one flat objects to a suitable position along helical spirals. Furthermore, as in the case of the patent application FR-A-2 677 626, the device described in this document EP-A-0 480 822 can only operate in mode delay line.
  • Document US-A-3,519,145 describes a device for temporary storage consisting of two superimposed wheels with regularly distributed radial fins and defining two by two of the boxes suitable for receiving flat objects.
  • the two coaxial and superimposed wheels are separated by a disc with a slot and a second disc also provided with a slot is provided under the wheel lower.
  • the two wheels and the intermediate disc are motorized, while the lower disc is fixed.
  • the radial cells march past an entrance conveyor from which they receive one by one of the letters.
  • letters from the input conveyor can be transferred from the upper wheel to the lower wheel through the slot of the intermediate disc, and of the lower wheel towards an output conveyor through the disc slot fixed lower.
  • Such a device operates in stacker-destacker mode, that is, the upper wheel receives the letters at flow of the inlet conveyor and the lower wheel delivers at the output conveyor flow.
  • the device plays so the role of a buffer in which flat objects can stay for varying lengths of time if there is no synchronization between the input flow and the flow of exit.
  • the device of the document US-A-3,519,145 presents a number of limitations. This is how its storage capacity is depending on the number of boxes in the wheels, boxes which must be narrow enough to maintain letters in a substantially vertical position while having a entry opening of sufficient width to ensure the introduction one by one of the letters from the entry conveyor.
  • Increasing the capacity of storage therefore requires an increase in the diameter of wheels and a decrease in the angle at the center formed between the walls of a hut. but this increase leads quickly to a significant bulk of the device.
  • the increase in the diameter of the wheels is also reflected by an increase in weight likely to pose inertia problems for stepper wheel drive upper in synchronism with the inlet conveyor and the lower wheel in synchronism with the conveyor exit.
  • this temporary storage device offers no possibility modulation according to the space available between inlet conveyor and outlet conveyor, which can be variable from one machine to another.
  • the letters are necessarily evacuated to the exit conveyor without be able to be directed to another direction, for example in case of non-recognition of address.
  • a device for temporary storage of flat objects in accordance the preamble of claim 1 is also known from document DE-B-1 121 866
  • the invention aims to provide a storage device temporary which allows, without deterioration, to transfer individually at high speed and safely flat objects of an entry conveyor, on which said objects move in the same plane in a direction data, to an output conveyor.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide such a storage device that is simple in design and few expensive, while offering great safety high flow operation for heavy objects and variable dimensions in large ranges.
  • a temporary storage device intended to receive one by one of an input conveyor for flat objects passing through a same plane in a first direction and to move them one by one to an output conveyor, said device comprising a station fixed receiving and stopping in a slightly inclined position on the vertical of said flat objects coming from said input conveyor and a receiving conveyor comprising a plurality of movable receptacles on at least part of their journey in a second direction substantially orthogonal to said first direction, each receptacle being able to receive a flat object resting in a weak position inclined on the vertical and to move it towards the exit conveyor, characterized in that said post reception desk is interposed in said part of the path of said receptacles and has a shape combined with that of said receptacles so that an object resting on said post reception is transferred in said second direction by a receptacle resting in a receptacle during the passage of the latter in the plan of said reception station.
  • the movement of said receptacles and movement of said objects dishes in said input conveyor are synchronized for ensure the transfer of a flat object from said reception in a receptacle in the time interval separating the arrivals in said reception station from said flat object and the next flat object.
  • said fixed reception station comprises a plate arranged according to said orientation slightly inclined to the vertical and having several cutouts parallel to each other extending from one of its edges and each receptacle includes a comb with parallel teeth arranged so that they can pass through said cuts.
  • the receiving conveyor can be designed so that receptacles describe their movement in a horizontal plane or in a vertical plane.
  • the length of the conveyor, and by therefore the storage capacity of the device can, all other things being equal, be optimized by as a function of these space constraints.
  • the device storage according to the invention can be adapted for operate in delay line mode, stacker-destacker mode FIFO ("First in First out") type or in FILO type stacker-destacker ("First in last out").
  • a temporary storage device 1 for flat objects is interposed between an input conveyor 2 with belts 3 and 4 and an outlet conveyor 5 with buckets 6.
  • the temporary storage device 1 comprises a fixed reception and stop station 7 comprising a plate 8 slightly inclined to the vertical by an angle of preferably between 10 and 20 ° and arranged in the extension of the input conveyor 2.
  • the plate 8 presents from its lateral edge opposite the input conveyor 2 of the cutouts horizontal 9 extending over most of its length.
  • An articulated and motorized flap 10 having a concavity facing upwards is arranged horizontally along the lower edge of the plate 8 so as to make projection on the side of the front face of this plate, which is the one visible in figure 1.
  • the temporary storage device 1 comprises also a receiving conveyor 11 consisting of several carriages 12 (only one of which is shown in the Figure 1) driven along a horizontal loop path closed as shown in Figure 6.
  • each carriage 12 comprises a receptacle defined by a comb 13 whose teeth 14 are horizontal and by retaining means 15 from the lower longitudinal edge of the flat object intended for be received in the receptacle.
  • the dimensions and the spacing of the teeth 14 of the comb 13 are chosen in such a way that they can pass through the cutouts 9 of the plate 8 during the gripping stroke of the carriages 12 in the direction F1, which is orthogonal to the direction F2 of displacement of flat objects on the input conveyor 2.
  • the number of teeth and spacing between teeth are chosen from so as to keep the objects in the receptacle throughout the range of permissible dimensions, being understood that the smallest object must be in support at minus two zones depending on its height.
  • the teeth 14 of the comb 13 and the retaining means 15 are carried by a console 16, itself suspended from a structure 17 with rollers 18 for rolling and guiding on a T-rail 19 forming part of the structure 20 of the conveyor reception 11.
  • the bearing and guide structure 17 is coupled to a drive means 21 such as a chain or a cable passing over a driving wheel 22 and a wheel reference 23 (figure 6).
  • the retaining means 15 of the carriages 12 are arranged horizontally under the lower tooth 14 of the comb 13, at enough distance from this tooth to leave a passage to the lower part of the plate 8 and to the flap 10 when the carriage 12 passes through the plane of the reception 7.
  • the retaining means 15 comprise a frame 24 carrying a fixed flap 25 arranged horizontally, the lower part extends substantially in the plane of the comb 14 while its upper part is bent towards the rear relative to the plane of the comb 13, considering the direction F1 of advancement of the carriage. This curved part backwards is intended to prevent light objects and deformable to escape out of the receptacle under the tooth bottom of the comb.
  • the retaining means 15 include a second substantially flat flap 26 and ending in a rim 27 folded down on the front side of the carriage.
  • the flap 26 is articulated around an axis of rotation 28 itself allowing to switch between a weak position inclined to the horizontal as shown in Figure 3 and a strongly inclined position in which the flaps 25 and 26 define between them a gravity ejection slot of a flat object.
  • the flaps 25 and 26 define a horizontal edge dihedral 29, open upwards, in which the edge comes to rest lower a flat object P taken from the reception station 7.
  • the motorized shutter 10 of the reception and stop station 7 is articulated around a horizontal axis 30 so as to ability to quickly switch between the position of restraint shown in solid lines and the position of release of an object represented in phantom on the Figure 3.
  • the shape and dimensions of the flap 10 and its relative position with respect to the retaining means 15 are chosen so as to allow its retraction towards the rear when a carriage 12 is substantially present in the plan of the reception and stop station 7.
  • flap 10 releases the lower edge of a flat object P which can fall substantially parallel to itself in the aforementioned dihedral while coming to bear by its rear face against the comb 13 which, like the plate 8, is substantially inclined on the vertical from an angle between 10 and 20 ° approximately in order to maintain the position by gravity of the flat objects on the receptacles of the carts.
  • the tilting of the flaps 10 and 26 is controlled by conventional motorization means not shown, by example a stepping motor for shutter 10 and a mechanism with spring and electromagnet for each flap 26.
  • each carriage 12 is associated with a movable jogging plate 31 connected to the console support 16 by a shock absorber 32, for example of the type hydraulic.
  • the jogging plate is arranged in a plane vertical perpendicular to the plane of the associated comb 13 and extends forward relative to it so that the plate 31 protrudes from the front side of the plate 8 when the comb of the corresponding carriage is still found behind this turntable.
  • the conveyor 2 includes an output motorized pulley or the like shown in phantom in Figure 1 and providing a pinching flat objects to ensure their introduction complete in reception station 7.
  • the flat object P1 which was conveyed at the outlet of the inlet conveyor 2 substantially with the same inclination as that of the plate 8, finishes its race in the reception and stop station 7 where it is braked by friction on plate 8 and its front edge comes to rest against the jogging plate 31 thanks to the associated damper 32 which preferably has a damping frequency of around 0.3 hertz.
  • the carriage 12 arrives substantially in the plane of the plate 7 and, as described previously, the flap 10 swings down and releases the flat object P1 which is received in the means of retainer 15 of the carriage 12 as shown in FIG. 5 (on which, as is the case in Figures 4 and 6, all the combs were not shown for reasons of clarity).
  • the movement of the carriages 12 and the movement of flat objects in the input conveyor 2 are synchronized to ensure the transfer of a flat object from receiving station 7 in a carriage receptacle 12 in the time interval between arrivals at the post reception 7 of this flat object and of the following flat object.
  • This synchronization is ensured, for example, by controlling by conventional means the movement of carriages 12 at constant speed and by slaving the introduction of a flat object into the input conveyor 2 depending on the passage of a carriage 12 through a position determined.
  • the object P1 is being introduced by gravity in a bucket 6 of the output conveyor 5 under the effect of tilting the flap 26 which released the edge object P1.
  • a P2 object is being gripped by the next carriage, while a third object P3 is still on the conveyor input 2.
  • the carriages 12 are synchronized in speed and in phase with the buckets 6 of the outlet conveyor 5.
  • the temporary storage device which has just been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 has an operation of the delay line type, i.e. all objects are delivered to the output conveyor with a constant delay by compared to their entry into the device.
  • a device as described above makes it possible to treat objects with a maximum length of 381 mm, a thickness maximum of 20 mm with a conveying speed on the input conveyor 2 equal to 1.85 meters / second.
  • the time of minimum clearance is 70 milliseconds, allowing clear the thickest object (20 mm) while having a 10 mm safety margin before injecting the object following. This time allows to accept desynchronizations between objects (advance or delay of the object) in a range of 120 milliseconds (+ 50 milliseconds, - 70 milliseconds).
  • the device allows accepting debits higher with higher conveying speeds up to about 3 m / s on the input conveyor 2 while keeping the vertical and horizontal jogging of the objects, for masses up to about 1kg.
  • the device described also has the advantage of accepting catches multiples of objects without risk of jamming.
  • FIG. 7 illustrating a variant in which the elements counterparts but in different forms from those represented in Figures 1 to 6 are designated by the same reference increased by the number 100.
  • the temporary storage device of Figure 7 essentially differs from that shown in Figures 1 to 6 by the fact that the carriages 112 carry out their displacement in a plane which is vertical instead of being horizontal, the teeth 114 of the combs 113 being arranged in vertical planes, while the overall plan of the comb retains inclination backwards between 10 and 20 ° approximately.
  • the cutouts 109 of the plate 108 of the reception and stop station 107 are arranged in vertical planes and the jogging plate lateral 131 is fixed and is part of the receiving station and 107.
  • This jogging plate 131 is mounted on a fixed support 140 by means of a shock absorber hydraulic 132 of the same type as the shock absorbers 32, but having a damping frequency at least equal to the flow objects from the conveyor 2.
  • the means of retaining the lower longitudinal edge of the flat objects are constituted by fixed legs 110 formed by parts of the plate curved substantially horizontally towards the front and terminated by an upward facing rim and intended to retain and guide the lower edge of objects upon receipt.
  • These legs 110 are separated by the cutouts 109 which extend from the bottom of the stage 108.
  • these cutouts 109 have heights different, the three cutouts closest to the input conveyor 2 having for example a height greater than the three most distant cuts like shown in Figure 7.
  • the teeth 114 of combs 113 have different heights which are chosen so as to ensure the retention of objects throughout the range of admissible dimensions and to allow the passage of comb through the receiving plate 108.
  • These teeth of reduced height are intended to facilitate entry downstream objects out of the carts by a mechanism including a example will be given next to figure 8.
  • the retaining means 115 are constituted by a flat or slightly concave plate preferably having an adherent upper surface from which the comb teeth 114 extend.
  • the foot of each tooth 114 is fitted with a wedge-shaped hoof and suitable slope to clear the bottom edge of an object flat above the upward-facing edges plate 108 when this object is released by a carriage 112.
  • the operation of the device of FIG. 7 is similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, with this difference near that the release of the bottom edge of a flat object on the receiving station 7 a place by simple lateral translation of the lower edge of the object under the effect of driving the comb 113, until the bottom edge falls from the 110 hooves on the retaining plate 115 whose adherent surface prevents dragging of the object, after which the object is caught loaded by the cart that received it.
  • the storage device temporary 101 operates in the stacker-destacker mode of FIFO type, i.e. a mode in which the first object dish entering the device is the first to exit.
  • This device 101 is of the type described in FIG. 7 in which, in addition, the carriages 112 are controlled step by step to present themselves at the reception and stop station 107 in synchronism with the arrival of an object. They are then disengaged from their drive means at 141 by any known suitable means, such as for example the mechanisms used for disengaging the cabins of a gondola at the ascent and descent stations of users. From station 141, the carriages 112 are therefore advanced over a distance l at reduced speed and come to bear against each other so that the outlet conveyor 106 is fed at constant pitch for feeding the device 101 by the conveyor 102 which can be of variable pitch (we do not call the nominal time interval which separates the passage of two consecutive objects by the same position).
  • an unstacking mechanism 142 comprising an arm likely to perform movements at once following the F1 direction back and forth and in one plane vertical inclined in this direction.
  • This arm moved by a motor 143 carries suction cups 144 which are applied against the flat object to be grasped during its advance at low speed by the carriage 112 which carries it.
  • the arm of the mechanism 142 runs in the direction of arrow F1 to accompany the movement of the object and the carriage which door, then the arm performs a lateral movement which has for effect of escaping the flat object from the comb of the carriage and to present it at the entrance of the exit conveyor 106.
  • a such unstacking mechanism with reciprocating arms and suction cups is described in particular in the patent French No. 2 615 840 to which reference may be made.
  • unstacking mechanisms can be used to extract flat objects from the storage 101, for example a belt mechanism suction mounted oscillating so that it can accompany the movement of the flat object during its capture on the cart.
  • a belt mechanism suction mounted oscillating so that it can accompany the movement of the flat object during its capture on the cart.
  • Such a mechanism includes at least two belts horizontal arranged in a substantially vertical plane and whose dimensions and spacing allow the passage of comb of carts. In this case, of course, the combs should have horizontal teeth as in the example Figures 1 to 6.
  • the carriages 112 After passing through the object unstacking area flat, the carriages 112 are engaged to an area of storage located at the bottom of the conveyor and not visible in Figure 8. From this storage area, the carriages are again engaged so as to present to the reception and stop station 107 in synchronism with the arrival of an object as indicated previously.
  • FIG. 9 represents another embodiment of the temporary storage device in which the latter works in FILO type stacker-destacker mode, i.e. that the first object entering the device is the last to leave.
  • the receiving station plate and stop 207 consists of two suction belts perforated 208a-208b arranged horizontally so as to ability to pass combs 213 between teeth 214 when these pass through the reception station plan and stop 207.
  • the belts 208a-208b are moved so intermittent as will be described below.
  • the post of reception and stop 207 is supplemented by means 210 of the lower longitudinal edge of flat objects, this medium 210 consisting of a fixed plate provided of notches 244 in which can engage hooves 245 carried by the combs 213 at their lower part.
  • objects from the entry conveyor 202 arrive one by one at the reception and stop 207 from where they are removed one by one by the carriages 212 moving in the direction of the arrow F1 (figure 9).
  • a buffer stock of flat objects is thus set up downstream of reception station 207, in the direction of arrow F1.
  • the belts 208a and 208b are stopped and no depression applied to them.
  • the carriages 212 are moved opposite direction and the perforated belts 208a and 208b are driven in the direction indicated by the arrow F3.
  • An object flat brought into abutment against these belts by a carriage 212 is pressed against them under the effect of depression which is then applied to them, then trained towards outlet conveyor 206.
  • the reception and stop station 207 plays both the role of stacking and unstacking means depending on the phase of operation of the device.

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  • Intermediate Stations On Conveyors (AREA)
  • Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne un dispositif de stockage temporaire d'objets plats, notamment pour machine de tri postal.The present invention relates to a device for temporary storage of flat objects, especially for machines postal sorting.

Dans les machines de tri postal d'objets plats, il est fréquemment nécessaire de stocker temporairement et individuellement les objets plats entre une partie amont et une partie aval de la machine.In postal sorting machines for flat objects, frequently necessary to temporarily store and individually flat objects between an upstream part and a downstream part of the machine.

Dans un certain nombre de cas, il est nécessaire que le déplacement des objets plats dans le dispositif de stockage temporaire soit synchrone entre l'entrée et la sortie. Chaque objet plat provenant d'un convoyeur amont subit ainsi un retard constant avant d'être délivré à un convoyeur aval. Le fonctionnement d'un tel dispositif est donc du type ligne à retard.In a number of cases, it is necessary that the moving flat objects in the storage device temporary or synchronous between input and output. Each flat object coming from an upstream conveyor thus undergoes a constant delay before being delivered to a downstream conveyor. The operation of such a device is therefore of the line type late.

Un tel dispositif est notamment décrit dans la demande de brevet FR-A-2 677 626 et dans la demande de brevet européen EP-A-0 480 822.Such a device is notably described in the application FR-A-2 677 626 and in the patent application European EP-A-0 480 822.

Selon la demande de brevet FR-A-2 677 626, le dispositif de stockage temporaire comprend un tambour rotatif muni à sa périphérie de plusieurs gorges longitudinales et disposé dans le prolongement d'un convoyeur d'entrée sur lequel les objets plats circulent un à un suivant une direction donnée dans un plan faiblement incliné sur la verticale. Lorsqu'un objet plat quitte le convoyeur d'entrée, son bord inférieur longitudinal est reçu dans l'une des gorges du tambour et sa face postérieure vient en appui contre l'une des palettes d'un convoyeur de réception mû en synchronisme avec le tambour. Lorsque le tambour tourne d'un quart de tour, l'objet plat est maintenu parallèle à lui-même par avancement conjugué du convoyeur de réception et son bord inférieur est présenté dans une zone de pincement entre une arête du tambour et un rouleau motorisé qui assure l'injection de l'objet dans le godet d'un convoyeur de sortie situé en-dessous. Pendant cette phase d'injection, la gorge suivante du tambour est présentée dans le prolongement du convoyeur d'entrée pour y recevoir un nouvel objet plat en appui contre une autre palette du convoyeur de réception.According to patent application FR-A-2 677 626, the temporary storage device includes a drum rotary equipped at its periphery with several grooves longitudinal and arranged in the extension of a entry conveyor on which flat objects circulate a to one following a given direction in a weakly plane tilted vertically. When a flat object leaves the input conveyor, its longitudinal bottom edge is received in one of the drum grooves and its rear side comes to bear against one of the pallets of a conveyor reception moved in synchronism with the drum. When the drum turns a quarter turn, the flat object is held parallel to itself by conjugate advancement of the conveyor reception and its bottom edge is presented in an area nip between a drum edge and a roller motorized which injects the object into the bucket an output conveyor located below. During this injection phase, the next groove in the drum is presented in the extension of the entry conveyor to receive a new flat object leaning against another pallet of the receiving conveyor.

Un tel dispositif convient pour un fonctionnement du type ligne à retard, mais il n'est pas adapté pour fonctionner en empileur-dépileur, c'est-à-dire lorsque le déplacement des objets plats entre l'entrée et la sortie du dispositif n'est pas synchrone.Such a device is suitable for operating the delay line type, but it is not suitable for operate in stacker-destacker, that is to say when the moving flat objects between the entry and exit of the device is not synchronous.

Le document EP-A-0 480 822 décrit également un dispositif de stockage temporaire du type ligne à retard faisant appel à deux spirales hélicoïdales motorisées qui reçoivent un à un les objets plats circulant suivant une direction donnée dans un convoyeur d'entrée, les déplacent en synchronisme, un à un, suivant une direction orthogonale à leur direction dans le convoyeur d'entrée, et les délivrent à un poste de sortie où ils sont éjectés individuellement dans des godets d'un convoyeur de sortie situé sous le dispositif à spirales hélicoïdales.EP-A-0 480 822 also describes a delay line type temporary storage device using two motorized helical spirals which receive one by one the flat objects circulating according to a direction given in an input conveyor, move them in synchronism, one by one, in an orthogonal direction to their direction in the input conveyor, and the deliver to an exit station where they are ejected individually in buckets of an output conveyor located under the helical spiral device.

Un tel dispositif est d'une réalisation technique délicate, notamment en raison du montage en porte-à-faux des spirales hélicoïdales et de la nécessité de prévoir entre le convoyeur d'entrée et les spirales hélicoïdales des bras orientables à courroies motrices capables de diriger un à un les objets plats vers une position convenable le long de spirales hélicoïdales. En outre, comme dans le cas de la demande de brevet FR-A-2 677 626, le dispositif décrit dans ce document EP-A-0 480 822 ne peut fonctionner qu'en mode ligne à retard.Such a device is a technical achievement delicate, in particular due to the cantilever mounting of the helical spirals and the need to plan between the input conveyor and the helical spirals of the arms adjustable with drive belts capable of directing one by one flat objects to a suitable position along helical spirals. Furthermore, as in the case of the patent application FR-A-2 677 626, the device described in this document EP-A-0 480 822 can only operate in mode delay line.

Le document US-A-3 519 145 décrit un dispositif de stockage temporaire constitué de deux roues superposées comportant des ailettes radiales régulièrement réparties et définissant deux à deux des cases aptes à recevoir des objets plats. Les deux roues coaxiales et superposées sont séparées par un disque muni d'une fente et un deuxième disque également muni d'une fente est prévu sous la roue inférieure. Les deux roues et le disque intermédiaire sont motorisés, tandis que le disque inférieur est fixe. Lors de la rotation de la roue supérieure, les cases radiales défilent devant un convoyeur d'entrée dont elles reçoivent une à une des lettres. Par une commande appropriée de la rotation des roues et du disque intermédiaire, des lettres en provenance du convoyeur d'entrée peuvent être transférées de la roue supérieure à la roue inférieure à travers la fente du disque intermédiaire, et de la roue inférieure vers un convoyeur de sortie à travers la fente du disque inférieur fixe.Document US-A-3,519,145 describes a device for temporary storage consisting of two superimposed wheels with regularly distributed radial fins and defining two by two of the boxes suitable for receiving flat objects. The two coaxial and superimposed wheels are separated by a disc with a slot and a second disc also provided with a slot is provided under the wheel lower. The two wheels and the intermediate disc are motorized, while the lower disc is fixed. During the rotation of the upper wheel, the radial cells march past an entrance conveyor from which they receive one by one of the letters. By an appropriate order from the wheels and intermediate disc rotation, letters from the input conveyor can be transferred from the upper wheel to the lower wheel through the slot of the intermediate disc, and of the lower wheel towards an output conveyor through the disc slot fixed lower.

Un tel dispositif fonctionne en mode empileur-dépileur, c'est-à-dire que la roue supérieure reçoit les lettres au débit du convoyeur d'entrée et que la roue inférieure les délivre au débit du convoyeur de sortie. Le dispositif joue donc le rôle d'un tampon dans lequel des objets plats peuvent rester pendant des durées variables s'il n'y a pas synchronisation entre le débit d'entrée et le débit de sortie.Such a device operates in stacker-destacker mode, that is, the upper wheel receives the letters at flow of the inlet conveyor and the lower wheel delivers at the output conveyor flow. The device plays so the role of a buffer in which flat objects can stay for varying lengths of time if there is no synchronization between the input flow and the flow of exit.

Bien entendu, par une commande appropriée du mouvement des deux roues et du disque intermédiaire, un tel dispositif peut fonctionner également en ligne à retard si le débit d'entrée et le débit de sortie doivent être synchrones.Of course, by an appropriate movement control two wheels and the intermediate disc, such a device can also operate on delay line if the flow inlet and outlet flow must be synchronous.

Cependant, de par sa conception, le dispositif du document US-A-3 519 145 présente un certain nombre de limitations. C'est ainsi que sa capacité de stockage est fonction du nombre de cases que comportent les roues, cases qui doivent être suffisamment étroites pour maintenir les lettres en position sensiblement verticale tout en ayant une ouverture d'entrée de largeur suffisante pour assurer l'introduction une à une des lettres en provenance du convoyeur d'entrée. L'augmentation de la capacité de stockage passe donc par une augmentation du diamètre des roues et une diminution de l'angle au centre formé entre les parois d'une case. mais cette augmentation conduit rapidement à un encombrement important du dispositif. L'augmentation du diamètre des roues se traduit également par un accroissement de poids susceptible de poser des problèmes d'inertie pour l'entrainement pas à pas de la roue supérieure en synchronisme avec le convoyeur d'entrée et de la roue inférieure en synchronisme avec le convoyeur de sortie. En outre, la configuration cylindrique de ce dispositif de stockage temporaire n'offre pas de possibilité de modulation en fonction de l'espace disponible entre convoyeur d'entrée et convoyeur de sortie, qui peut être variable d'une machine à l'autre. Enfin, les lettres sont obligatoirement évacuées vers le convoyeur de sortie sans pouvoir être dirigées vers une autre direction, par exemple en cas de non reconnaissance d'adresse. However, by design, the device of the document US-A-3,519,145 presents a number of limitations. This is how its storage capacity is depending on the number of boxes in the wheels, boxes which must be narrow enough to maintain letters in a substantially vertical position while having a entry opening of sufficient width to ensure the introduction one by one of the letters from the entry conveyor. Increasing the capacity of storage therefore requires an increase in the diameter of wheels and a decrease in the angle at the center formed between the walls of a hut. but this increase leads quickly to a significant bulk of the device. The increase in the diameter of the wheels is also reflected by an increase in weight likely to pose inertia problems for stepper wheel drive upper in synchronism with the inlet conveyor and the lower wheel in synchronism with the conveyor exit. In addition, the cylindrical configuration of this temporary storage device offers no possibility modulation according to the space available between inlet conveyor and outlet conveyor, which can be variable from one machine to another. Finally, the letters are necessarily evacuated to the exit conveyor without be able to be directed to another direction, for example in case of non-recognition of address.

Un dispositif de stockage temporaire d'objets plats conforme au préambule de la revendication 1 est également connu du document DE-B-1 121 866A device for temporary storage of flat objects in accordance the preamble of claim 1 is also known from document DE-B-1 121 866

L'invention vise à fournir un dispositif de stockage temporaire qui permette, sans détérioration, de transférer individuellement à cadence élevée et de manière sûre des objets plats d'un convoyeur d'entrée, sur lequel lesdits objets défilent dans un même plan suivant une direction donnée, vers un convoyeur de sortie.The invention aims to provide a storage device temporary which allows, without deterioration, to transfer individually at high speed and safely flat objects of an entry conveyor, on which said objects move in the same plane in a direction data, to an output conveyor.

Un autre but de l'invention est de fournir un tel dispositif de stockage qui soit de conception simple et peu coûteuse, tout en offrant une grande sûreté de fonctionnement à débit élevé pour des objets de poids et dimensions variables dans des fourchettes importantes.Another object of the invention is to provide such a storage device that is simple in design and few expensive, while offering great safety high flow operation for heavy objects and variable dimensions in large ranges.

Ces buts ainsi que d'autres sont atteints au moyen d'un dispositif de stockage temporaire destiné à recevoir un à un d'un convoyeur d'entrée des objets plats défilant dans un même plan suivant une première direction et à les déplacer un à un vers un convoyeur de sortie, ledit dispositif comprenant un poste fixe de réception et d'arrêt dans une position faiblement inclinée sur la verticale desdits objets plats en provenance dudit convoyeur d'entrée et un convoyeur de réception comprenant une pluralité de réceptacles mobiles sur au moins une partie de leur trajet selon une seconde direction sensiblement orthogonale à ladite première direction, chaque réceptacle étant apte à recevoir un objet plat en appui dans une position faiblement inclinée sur la verticale et à le déplacer vers le convoyeur de sortie, caractérisé en ce que ledit poste fixe de réception est interposé dans ladite partie du trajet desdits réceptacles et a une forme conjuguée de celle desdits réceptacles de sorte qu'un objet en appui sur ledit poste de réception se trouve transféré selon ladite seconde direction par un réceptacle en appui dans un réceptacle lors du passage de ce dernier dans le plan dudit poste de réception.These and other goals are achieved through a temporary storage device intended to receive one by one of an input conveyor for flat objects passing through a same plane in a first direction and to move them one by one to an output conveyor, said device comprising a station fixed receiving and stopping in a slightly inclined position on the vertical of said flat objects coming from said input conveyor and a receiving conveyor comprising a plurality of movable receptacles on at least part of their journey in a second direction substantially orthogonal to said first direction, each receptacle being able to receive a flat object resting in a weak position inclined on the vertical and to move it towards the exit conveyor, characterized in that said post reception desk is interposed in said part of the path of said receptacles and has a shape combined with that of said receptacles so that an object resting on said post reception is transferred in said second direction by a receptacle resting in a receptacle during the passage of the latter in the plan of said reception station.

Suivant une caractéristique de l'invention, le mouvement desdits réceptacles et le mouvement desdits objets plats dans ledit convoyeur d'entrée sont synchronisés pour assurer le transfert d'un objet plat dudit poste de réception dans un réceptacle dans l'intervalle de temps séparant les arrivées dans ledit poste de réception dudit objet plat et de l'objet plat suivant.According to a characteristic of the invention, the movement of said receptacles and movement of said objects dishes in said input conveyor are synchronized for ensure the transfer of a flat object from said reception in a receptacle in the time interval separating the arrivals in said reception station from said flat object and the next flat object.

Suivant une autre caractéristique de l'invention, ledit poste fixe de réception comprend une platine disposée selon ladite orientation faiblement inclinée sur la verticale et présentant plusieurs découpes parallèles entre elles s'étendant à partir de l'un de ses bords et chaque réceptacle comprend un peigne dont les dents parallèles sont disposées de manière à pouvoir passer à travers lesdites découpes.According to another characteristic of the invention, said fixed reception station comprises a plate arranged according to said orientation slightly inclined to the vertical and having several cutouts parallel to each other extending from one of its edges and each receptacle includes a comb with parallel teeth arranged so that they can pass through said cuts.

Ainsi, suivant les exigences d'encombrement, le convoyeur de réception peut être conçu pour que les réceptacles décrivent leur mouvement dans un plan horizontal ou dans un plan vertical. La longueur du convoyeur, et par conséquent la capacité de stockage du dispositif peut, toutes choses égales par ailleurs, être optimisée en fonction de ces contraintes d'encombrement. Enfin, suivant que les réceptacles ont un mouvement synchrone ou asynchrone, et dans ce dernier cas dans un seul sens ou alternativement dans un sens ou dans l'autre, le dispositif de stockage selon l'invention peut être adapté pour fonctionner en mode ligne à retard, en mode empileur-dépileur de type FIFO ("First in First out") ou en mode empileur-dépileur de type FILO ("First in last out").Thus, depending on the space requirements, the receiving conveyor can be designed so that receptacles describe their movement in a horizontal plane or in a vertical plane. The length of the conveyor, and by therefore the storage capacity of the device can, all other things being equal, be optimized by as a function of these space constraints. Finally, following that the receptacles have a synchronous movement or asynchronous, and in the latter case in one direction only or alternately in one direction or the other, the device storage according to the invention can be adapted for operate in delay line mode, stacker-destacker mode FIFO ("First in First out") type or in FILO type stacker-destacker ("First in last out").

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention ressortiront de la description qui va suivre de modes de réalisation donnés uniquement à titre d'exemples illustrés par les dessins annexés sur lesquels :

  • La figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective éclatée d'une partie d'un dispositif de stockage temporaire suivant une première forme de réalisation de l'invention ;
  • La figure 2 est une vue en perspective plus détaillée du chariot du dispositif de stockage de la figure 1 ;
  • La figure 3 est une vue partielle en élévation latérale d'un chariot se présentant au poste de réception fixe pour y prélever au passage un objet plat ;
  • La figure 4 est une vue partielle en perspective éclatée montrant le dispositif de stockage temporaire dans une première position ;
  • La figure 5 est une vue analogue à la figure 4 montrant le dispositif de stockage temporaire dans une deuxième position ;
  • La figure 6 est une vue d'ensemble en perspective montrant le dispositif de stockage temporaire dans une troisième position ;
  • La figure 7 est une vue schématique en perspective éclatée d'un dispositif de stockage temporaire comportant un poste de réception fixe et des chariots mobiles suivant une seconde forme de réalisation de l'invention ;
  • La figure 8 est une vue schématique en plan d'un dispositif de stockage temporaire selon la forme de réalisation de la figure 7 et adapté pour fonctionner en empileur-dépileur du type FIFO ;
  • La figure 9 est une vue schématique en plan d'un dispositif de stockage temporaire selon une autre forme de réalisation de l'invention et adapté pour fonctionner en empileur-dépileur du type FILO, et
  • La figure 10 est une vue schématique en élévation du poste de réception et d'un chariot du dispositif de stockage temporaire de la figure 9.
    • Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows of embodiments given solely by way of examples illustrated by the appended drawings in which:
  • Figure 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of part of a temporary storage device according to a first embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a more detailed perspective view of the cart of the storage device of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a partial side elevational view of a carriage at the fixed receiving station for picking up in passing a flat object;
  • Figure 4 is a partial exploded perspective view showing the temporary storage device in a first position;
  • Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the temporary storage device in a second position;
  • Figure 6 is an overall perspective view showing the temporary storage device in a third position;
  • Figure 7 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a temporary storage device comprising a fixed receiving station and mobile carts according to a second embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 8 is a schematic plan view of a temporary storage device according to the embodiment of Figure 7 and adapted to operate as a stacker-destacker of the FIFO type;
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a temporary storage device according to another embodiment of the invention and adapted to operate as a stacker-destacker of the FILO type, and
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic elevation view of the reception station and of a trolley of the temporary storage device of FIG. 9.

    • En se reportant tout d'abord à la figure 1, un dispositif de stockage temporaire 1 d'objets plats est interposé entre un convoyeur d'entrée 2 à bandes 3 et 4 et un convoyeur de sortie 5 à godets 6.Referring first to Figure 1, a temporary storage device 1 for flat objects is interposed between an input conveyor 2 with belts 3 and 4 and an outlet conveyor 5 with buckets 6.

    Le dispositif de stockage temporaire 1 comprend un poste fixe de réception et d'arrêt 7 comportant une platine 8 faiblement inclinée sur la verticale d'un angle compris de préférence entre 10 et 20° et disposée dans le prolongement du convoyeur d'entrée 2. La platine 8 présente à partir de son bord latéral opposé au convoyeur d'entrée 2 des découpes horizontales 9 s'étendant sur la plus grande partie de sa longueur. Un volet articulé et motorisé 10 présentant une concavité tournée vers le haut est disposé horizontalement le long du bord inférieur de la platine 8 de manière à faire saillie du côté de la face avant de cette platine, qui est celle visible sur la figure 1.The temporary storage device 1 comprises a fixed reception and stop station 7 comprising a plate 8 slightly inclined to the vertical by an angle of preferably between 10 and 20 ° and arranged in the extension of the input conveyor 2. The plate 8 presents from its lateral edge opposite the input conveyor 2 of the cutouts horizontal 9 extending over most of its length. An articulated and motorized flap 10 having a concavity facing upwards is arranged horizontally along the lower edge of the plate 8 so as to make projection on the side of the front face of this plate, which is the one visible in figure 1.

    Le dispositif de stockage temporaire 1 comporte également un convoyeur de réception 11 constitué de plusieurs chariots 12 (dont un seul est représenté sur la figure 1) entraínés le long d'un trajet horizontal en boucle fermée comme représenté à la figure 6.The temporary storage device 1 comprises also a receiving conveyor 11 consisting of several carriages 12 (only one of which is shown in the Figure 1) driven along a horizontal loop path closed as shown in Figure 6.

    Comme représenté aux figures 1 à 3, chaque chariot 12 comprend un réceptacle défini par un peigne 13 dont les dents 14 sont horizontales et par des moyens 15 de retenue du bord longitudinal inférieur de l'objet plat destiné à être réceptionné dans le réceptacle.As shown in Figures 1 to 3, each carriage 12 comprises a receptacle defined by a comb 13 whose teeth 14 are horizontal and by retaining means 15 from the lower longitudinal edge of the flat object intended for be received in the receptacle.

    Les dimensions et l'écartement des dents 14 du peigne 13 sont choisis de telle manière que celles-ci peuvent passer à travers les découpes 9 de la platine 8 au cours de la course de préhension des chariots 12 selon la direction F1, qui est orthogonale à la direction F2 de déplacement des objets plats sur le convoyeur d'entrée 2. En outre, le nombre de dents et l'espacement entre dents sont choisis de manière à assurer le maintien dans le réceptacle des objets dans toute la gamme des dimensions admissibles, étant entendu que le plus petit objet doit être en appui en au moins deux zones selon sa hauteur. The dimensions and the spacing of the teeth 14 of the comb 13 are chosen in such a way that they can pass through the cutouts 9 of the plate 8 during the gripping stroke of the carriages 12 in the direction F1, which is orthogonal to the direction F2 of displacement of flat objects on the input conveyor 2. In addition, the number of teeth and spacing between teeth are chosen from so as to keep the objects in the receptacle throughout the range of permissible dimensions, being understood that the smallest object must be in support at minus two zones depending on its height.

    Les dents 14 du peigne 13 et les moyens de retenue 15 sont portés par une console 16, elle-même suspendue à une structure 17 à galets 18 de roulement et de guidage sur un rail en T 19 faisant partie de la structure 20 du convoyeur de réception 11. La structure de roulement et de guidage 17 est attelée à un moyen d'entrainement 21 tel qu'une chaíne ou un câble passant sur une roue motrice 22 et une roue de renvoi 23 (figure 6).The teeth 14 of the comb 13 and the retaining means 15 are carried by a console 16, itself suspended from a structure 17 with rollers 18 for rolling and guiding on a T-rail 19 forming part of the structure 20 of the conveyor reception 11. The bearing and guide structure 17 is coupled to a drive means 21 such as a chain or a cable passing over a driving wheel 22 and a wheel reference 23 (figure 6).

    Les moyens de retenue 15 des chariots 12 sont disposés horizontalement sous la dent inférieure 14 du peigne 13, à une distance suffisante de cette dent pour laisser un passage à la partie inférieure de la platine 8 et au volet 10 lorsque le chariot 12 passe dans le plan du poste de réception 7. Les moyens de retenue 15 comprennent un bâti 24 portant un volet fixe 25 disposé horizontalement dont la partie inférieure s'étend sensiblement dans le plan du peigne 14 tandis que sa partie supérieure est recourbée vers l'arrière par rapport au plan du peigne 13, en considérant le sens F1 d'avancement du chariot. Cette partie recourbée vers l'arrière est destinée à empêcher les objets légers et déformables de s'échapper hors du réceptacle sous la dent inférieure du peigne. Les moyens de retenue 15 comprennent un second volet 26 sensiblement plan et se terminant par un rebord 27 rabattu vers le bas du côté de l'avant du chariot. Le volet 26 est articulé autour d'un axe de rotation 28 lui permettant de basculer entre une position faiblement inclinée sur l'horizontale comme représenté à la figure 3 et une position fortement inclinée dans laquelle les volets 25 et 26 délimitent entre eux une fente d'éjection par gravité d'un objet plat. Dans la position de réception et de retenue d'un objet plat représentée sur la figure 3, les volets 25 et 26 définissent un dièdre d'arête horizontale 29, ouvert vers le haut, dans lequel vient prendre appui le bord inférieur un objet plat P prélevé au poste de réception 7.The retaining means 15 of the carriages 12 are arranged horizontally under the lower tooth 14 of the comb 13, at enough distance from this tooth to leave a passage to the lower part of the plate 8 and to the flap 10 when the carriage 12 passes through the plane of the reception 7. The retaining means 15 comprise a frame 24 carrying a fixed flap 25 arranged horizontally, the lower part extends substantially in the plane of the comb 14 while its upper part is bent towards the rear relative to the plane of the comb 13, considering the direction F1 of advancement of the carriage. This curved part backwards is intended to prevent light objects and deformable to escape out of the receptacle under the tooth bottom of the comb. The retaining means 15 include a second substantially flat flap 26 and ending in a rim 27 folded down on the front side of the carriage. The flap 26 is articulated around an axis of rotation 28 itself allowing to switch between a weak position inclined to the horizontal as shown in Figure 3 and a strongly inclined position in which the flaps 25 and 26 define between them a gravity ejection slot of a flat object. In the receiving and holding position of a flat object shown in FIG. 3, the flaps 25 and 26 define a horizontal edge dihedral 29, open upwards, in which the edge comes to rest lower a flat object P taken from the reception station 7.

    Le volet motorisé 10 du poste de réception et d'arrêt 7 est articulé autour d'un axe horizontal 30 de manière à pouvoir basculer très rapidement entre la position de retenue représentée en trait plein et la position de libération d'un objet représentée en trait mixte sur la figure 3. La forme et les dimensions du volet 10 et sa position relative par rapport aux moyens de retenue 15 sont choisies de manière à permettre son escamotage vers l'arrière lorsqu'un chariot 12 se présente sensiblement dans le plan du poste de réception et d'arrêt 7. Ainsi, par son mouvement de basculement vers l'arrière, le volet 10 libère le bord inférieur d'un objet plat P qui peut ainsi tomber sensiblement parallèlement à lui-même dans le dièdre précité tout en venant en appui par sa face postérieure contre le peigne 13 qui, comme la platine 8, est sensiblement incliné sur la verticale d'un angle compris entre 10 et 20° environ afin d'assurer le maintien en position par gravité des objets plats sur les réceptacles des chariots.The motorized shutter 10 of the reception and stop station 7 is articulated around a horizontal axis 30 so as to ability to quickly switch between the position of restraint shown in solid lines and the position of release of an object represented in phantom on the Figure 3. The shape and dimensions of the flap 10 and its relative position with respect to the retaining means 15 are chosen so as to allow its retraction towards the rear when a carriage 12 is substantially present in the plan of the reception and stop station 7. Thus, by its tilting movement backwards, flap 10 releases the lower edge of a flat object P which can fall substantially parallel to itself in the aforementioned dihedral while coming to bear by its rear face against the comb 13 which, like the plate 8, is substantially inclined on the vertical from an angle between 10 and 20 ° approximately in order to maintain the position by gravity of the flat objects on the receptacles of the carts.

    Le basculement des volets 10 et 26 est commandé par des moyens de motorisation conventionnels non représentés, par exemple un moteur pas à pas pour le volet 10 et un mécanisme à ressort et électro-aimant pour chaque volet 26.The tilting of the flaps 10 and 26 is controlled by conventional motorization means not shown, by example a stepping motor for shutter 10 and a mechanism with spring and electromagnet for each flap 26.

    Comme représenté à la figure 1, à chaque chariot 12 est associée une plaque mobile de taquage 31 reliée à la console de support 16 par un amortisseur 32, par exemple de type hydraulique. La plaque de taquage est disposée dans un plan vertical perpendiculaire au plan du peigne associé 13 et s'étend vers l'avant par rapport à celui-ci de telle sorte que la plaque 31 fasse saillie sur le côté avant de la platine 8 lorsque le peigne du chariot correspondant se trouve encore en arrière de cette platine.As shown in Figure 1, each carriage 12 is associated with a movable jogging plate 31 connected to the console support 16 by a shock absorber 32, for example of the type hydraulic. The jogging plate is arranged in a plane vertical perpendicular to the plane of the associated comb 13 and extends forward relative to it so that the plate 31 protrudes from the front side of the plate 8 when the comb of the corresponding carriage is still found behind this turntable.

    Ainsi, comme représenté sur la figure 4, lorsqu'un premier objet plat P1 est éjecté par inertie du convoyeur d'entrée 2 vers le poste de réception et d'arrêt 7, la plaque de taquage 31 d'un chariot 12 se trouve déjà en position pour intercepter la trajectoire de l'objet P1 tandis que le peigne du même chariot est encore situé en arrière de la platine 8. De préférence, le convoyeur 2 comporte en sortie une poulie motorisée ou similaire représentée en traits mixtes sur la figure 1 et assurant un pincement des objets plats pour assurer leur introduction complète dans le poste de réception 7. L'objet plat P1, qui était convoyé en sortie du convoyeur d'entrée 2 sensiblement avec la même inclinaison que celle de la platine 8, finit sa course dans le poste de réception et d'arrêt 7 où il est freiné par frottement sur la platine 8 et son bord avant vient s'immobiliser contre la plaque de taquage 31 grâce à l'amortisseur associé 32 qui, de préférence, présente une fréquence d'amortissement de l'ordre de 0,3 hertz. Au cours de son avance dans le sens de la flèche F1, le chariot 12 arrive sensiblement dans le plan de la platine 7 et, comme décrit précédemment, le volet 10 bascule vers le bas et libère l'objet plat P1 qui est reçu dans les moyens de retenue 15 du chariot 12 comme représenté à la figure 5 (sur laquelle, comme c'est le cas sur les figures 4 et 6, tous les peignes n'ont pas été représentés pour des raisons de clarté).Thus, as shown in Figure 4, when first flat object P1 is ejected by inertia from the conveyor entry 2 to the reception and stop station 7, the cover plate 31 of a carriage 12 is already in position to intercept the trajectory of the object P1 while the comb of the same carriage is still located in rear of the plate 8. Preferably, the conveyor 2 includes an output motorized pulley or the like shown in phantom in Figure 1 and providing a pinching flat objects to ensure their introduction complete in reception station 7. The flat object P1, which was conveyed at the outlet of the inlet conveyor 2 substantially with the same inclination as that of the plate 8, finishes its race in the reception and stop station 7 where it is braked by friction on plate 8 and its front edge comes to rest against the jogging plate 31 thanks to the associated damper 32 which preferably has a damping frequency of around 0.3 hertz. During of its advance in the direction of arrow F1, the carriage 12 arrives substantially in the plane of the plate 7 and, as described previously, the flap 10 swings down and releases the flat object P1 which is received in the means of retainer 15 of the carriage 12 as shown in FIG. 5 (on which, as is the case in Figures 4 and 6, all the combs were not shown for reasons of clarity).

    Bien entendu, le mouvement des chariots 12 et le mouvement des objets plats dans le convoyeur d'entrée 2 sont synchronisés pour assurer le transfert d'un objet plat du poste de réception 7 dans un réceptacle de chariot 12 dans l'intervalle de temps séparant les arrivées dans le poste de réception 7 de cet objet plat et de l'objet plat suivant. Cette synchronisation est assurée, par exemple, en commandant par des moyens conventionnels le déplacement des chariots 12 à vitesse constante et en asservissant l'introduction d'un objet plat dans le convoyeur d'entrée 2 en fonction du passage d'un chariot 12 par une position déterminée.Of course, the movement of the carriages 12 and the movement of flat objects in the input conveyor 2 are synchronized to ensure the transfer of a flat object from receiving station 7 in a carriage receptacle 12 in the time interval between arrivals at the post reception 7 of this flat object and of the following flat object. This synchronization is ensured, for example, by controlling by conventional means the movement of carriages 12 at constant speed and by slaving the introduction of a flat object into the input conveyor 2 depending on the passage of a carriage 12 through a position determined.

    Sur la figure 5, l'objet plat P1 a été dégagé du poste de réception et d'arrêt 7 et un second objet plat P2 est sur le point d'y parvenir en provenance du convoyeur d'entrée 2.In FIG. 5, the flat object P1 has been released from the station 7 and a second flat object P2 is on the point of getting there from the input conveyor 2.

    Sur la figure 6, l'objet P1 est en cours d'introduction par gravité dans un godet 6 du convoyeur de sortie 5 sous l'effet du basculement du volet 26 qui a libéré le bord inférieur de l'objet P1. Dans le même temps, un objet P2 est en cours de préhension par le chariot suivant, tandis qu'un troisième objet P3 se trouve encore sur le convoyeur d'entrée 2. Les chariots 12 sont synchronisés en vitesse et en phase avec les godets 6 du convoyeur de sortie 5.In Figure 6, the object P1 is being introduced by gravity in a bucket 6 of the output conveyor 5 under the effect of tilting the flap 26 which released the edge object P1. At the same time, a P2 object is being gripped by the next carriage, while a third object P3 is still on the conveyor input 2. The carriages 12 are synchronized in speed and in phase with the buckets 6 of the outlet conveyor 5.

    Le dispositif de stockage temporaire qui vient d'être décrit en regard des figures 1 à 6 a un fonctionnement du type ligne à retard, c'est-à-dire que tous les objets sont délivrés au convoyeur de sortie avec un retard constant par rapport à leur entrée dans le dispositif. A titre d'exemple, un dispositif tel que décrit ci-dessus permet de traiter des objets ayant une longueur maximale de 381 mm, une épaisseur maximale de 20 mm avec une vitesse de convoyage sur le convoyeur d'entrée 2 égale à 1,85 mètre/seconde. Pour des dents de peigne ayant une épaisseur de 10 mm, le temps de dégagement minimal est de 70 millisecondes, ce qui permet de dégager l'objet le plus épais (20 mm) tout en ayant une marge de sécurité de 10 mm avant l'injection de l'objet suivant. Ce temps permet d'accepter des désynchronisations entre objets (avance ou retard de l'objet) dans une fourchette de 120 millisecondes (+ 50 millisecondes, - 70 millisecondes).The temporary storage device which has just been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 has an operation of the delay line type, i.e. all objects are delivered to the output conveyor with a constant delay by compared to their entry into the device. For exemple, a device as described above makes it possible to treat objects with a maximum length of 381 mm, a thickness maximum of 20 mm with a conveying speed on the input conveyor 2 equal to 1.85 meters / second. For some comb teeth having a thickness of 10 mm, the time of minimum clearance is 70 milliseconds, allowing clear the thickest object (20 mm) while having a 10 mm safety margin before injecting the object following. This time allows to accept desynchronizations between objects (advance or delay of the object) in a range of 120 milliseconds (+ 50 milliseconds, - 70 milliseconds).

    Le dispositif permet cependant d'accepter des débits supérieurs avec des vitesses supérieures de convoyage pouvant atteindre environ 3 m/s sur le convoyeur d'entrée 2 tout en conservant les taquages vertical et horizontal des objets, pour des masses jusqu'à environ 1kg. Le dispositif décrit présente également l'avantage d'accepter les prises multiples d'objets sans risque de bourrage.However, the device allows accepting debits higher with higher conveying speeds up to about 3 m / s on the input conveyor 2 while keeping the vertical and horizontal jogging of the objects, for masses up to about 1kg. The device described also has the advantage of accepting catches multiples of objects without risk of jamming.

    On se référera maintenant à la figure 7 illustrant une variante de réalisation dans laquelle les éléments homologues mais de formes différentes de ceux représentés aux figures 1 à 6 sont désignés par la même référence augmentée du nombre 100.We will now refer to FIG. 7 illustrating a variant in which the elements counterparts but in different forms from those represented in Figures 1 to 6 are designated by the same reference increased by the number 100.

    Le dispositif de stockage temporaire de la figure 7 diffère essentiellement de celui représenté aux figures 1 à 6 par le fait que les chariots 112 effectuent leur déplacement dans un plan qui est vertical au lieu d'être horizontal, les dents 114 des peignes 113 étant disposées dans des plans verticaux, tandis que le plan d'ensemble du peigne conserve une inclinaison vers l'arrière comprise entre 10 et 20° environ. De même, les découpes 109 de la platine 108 du poste de réception et d'arrêt 107 sont disposées dans des plans verticaux et la plaque de taquage latéral 131 est fixe et fait partie du poste de réception et d'arrêt 107. Cette plaque de taquage 131 est montée sur un support fixe 140 par l'intermédiaire d'un amortisseur hydraulique 132 de même type que les amortisseurs 32, mais ayant une fréquence d'amortissement au moins égale au débit des objets en provenance du convoyeur 2.The temporary storage device of Figure 7 essentially differs from that shown in Figures 1 to 6 by the fact that the carriages 112 carry out their displacement in a plane which is vertical instead of being horizontal, the teeth 114 of the combs 113 being arranged in vertical planes, while the overall plan of the comb retains inclination backwards between 10 and 20 ° approximately. Similarly, the cutouts 109 of the plate 108 of the reception and stop station 107 are arranged in vertical planes and the jogging plate lateral 131 is fixed and is part of the receiving station and 107. This jogging plate 131 is mounted on a fixed support 140 by means of a shock absorber hydraulic 132 of the same type as the shock absorbers 32, but having a damping frequency at least equal to the flow objects from the conveyor 2.

    Sur le poste de réception et d'arrêt 107, les moyens de retenue du bord longitudinal inférieur des objets plats sont constitués par des pattes fixes 110 formées par des parties de la platine recourbées sensiblement à l'horizontale vers l'avant et terminées par un rebord tourné vers le haut et destiné à retenir et guider le bord inférieur des objets lors de leur réception. Ces pattes 110 sont séparées par les découpes 109 qui s'étendent à partir du bas de la platine 108. De préférence, ces découpes 109 ont des hauteurs différentes, les trois découpes les plus proches du convoyeur d'entrée 2 ayant par exemple une hauteur supérieure aux trois découpes les plus éloignées comme représenté sur la figure 7. De même, les dents 114 des peignes 113 ont des hauteurs différentes qui sont choisies de manière à assurer la retenue des objets sur toute la gamme de dimensions admissibles et à permettre le passage du peigne à travers la platine de réception 108. Ces dents de hauteur réduite sont destinées à faciliter en aval la saisie des objets hors des chariots par un mécanisme dont un exemple sera donné en regard de la figure 8.On the receiving and stopping station 107, the means of retaining the lower longitudinal edge of the flat objects are constituted by fixed legs 110 formed by parts of the plate curved substantially horizontally towards the front and terminated by an upward facing rim and intended to retain and guide the lower edge of objects upon receipt. These legs 110 are separated by the cutouts 109 which extend from the bottom of the stage 108. Preferably, these cutouts 109 have heights different, the three cutouts closest to the input conveyor 2 having for example a height greater than the three most distant cuts like shown in Figure 7. Similarly, the teeth 114 of combs 113 have different heights which are chosen so as to ensure the retention of objects throughout the range of admissible dimensions and to allow the passage of comb through the receiving plate 108. These teeth of reduced height are intended to facilitate entry downstream objects out of the carts by a mechanism including a example will be given next to figure 8.

    Les moyens de retenue 115 sont constitués par une plaque plane ou légèrement concave présentant de préférence une surface supérieure adhérente a partir de laquelle s'étendent les dents 114 de peigne. Le pied de chaque dent 114 est équipé d'un sabot en forme de coin de hauteur et pente appropriées pour dégager le bord inférieur d'un objet plat au-dessus des rebords tournés vers le haut de la platine 108 lors du dégagement de cet objet par un chariot 112.The retaining means 115 are constituted by a flat or slightly concave plate preferably having an adherent upper surface from which the comb teeth 114 extend. The foot of each tooth 114 is fitted with a wedge-shaped hoof and suitable slope to clear the bottom edge of an object flat above the upward-facing edges plate 108 when this object is released by a carriage 112.

    Le fonctionnement du dispositif de la figure 7 est similaire à celui décrit en regard des figures 1 à 6, à cette différence près que la libération du bord inférieur d'un objet plat se trouvant sur le poste de réception 7 a lieu par simple translation latérale du bord inférieur de l'objet sous l'effet de l'entraínement du peigne 113, jusqu'à ce que le bord inférieur tombe des sabots 110 sur la plaque de retenue 115 dont la surface adhérente empêche le glissement de l'objet, après quoi l'objet se trouve pris en charge par le chariot qui l'a reçu.The operation of the device of FIG. 7 is similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, with this difference near that the release of the bottom edge of a flat object on the receiving station 7 a place by simple lateral translation of the lower edge of the object under the effect of driving the comb 113, until the bottom edge falls from the 110 hooves on the retaining plate 115 whose adherent surface prevents dragging of the object, after which the object is caught loaded by the cart that received it.

    L'évacuation de l'objet vers un convoyeur de sortie ne peut pas avoir lieu par gravité puisque les moyens de retenue 115 ne sont pas équipés d'une trappe et différents moyens de prélèvement à bras et ventouses ou courroies aspirantes articulés peuvent être prévus dont un exemple sera donné à propos de la figure 8 à laquelle on se référera maintenant.The evacuation of the object to an exit conveyor does not cannot take place by gravity since the means of retainer 115 is not equipped with a hatch and different sampling means with arms and suction cups or belts articulated suction can be provided, an example of which will be given in connection with FIG. 8 to which we will refer now.

    Dans l'exemple de la figure 8 le dispositif de stockage temporaire 101 fonctionne dans le mode empileur-dépileur de type FIFO, à savoir un mode dans lequel le premier objet plat entrant dans le dispositif est le premier à en sortir.In the example of Figure 8 the storage device temporary 101 operates in the stacker-destacker mode of FIFO type, i.e. a mode in which the first object dish entering the device is the first to exit.

    Ce dispositif 101 est du type décrit à la figure 7 dans lequel, en outre, les chariots 112 sont commandés pas à pas pour se présenter au poste de réception et d'arrêt 107 en synchronisme avec l'arrivée d'un objet. Ils sont ensuite débrayés de leurs moyens d'entraínement en 141 par tout moyen approprié connu, tel que par exemple les mécanismes utilisés pour le débrayage des cabines d'un télécabine aux stations de montée et de descente des usagers. A partir du poste 141, les chariots 112 sont donc avancés sur une distance l à vitesse réduite et viennent en appui les uns contre les autres de sorte que le convoyeur de sortie 106 est alimenté à pas constant pour une alimentation du dispositif 101 par le convoyeur d'entrée 102 qui peut être à pas variable (on appelle pas l'intervalle de temps nominal qui sépare le passage de deux objets consécutifs par une même position).This device 101 is of the type described in FIG. 7 in which, in addition, the carriages 112 are controlled step by step to present themselves at the reception and stop station 107 in synchronism with the arrival of an object. They are then disengaged from their drive means at 141 by any known suitable means, such as for example the mechanisms used for disengaging the cabins of a gondola at the ascent and descent stations of users. From station 141, the carriages 112 are therefore advanced over a distance l at reduced speed and come to bear against each other so that the outlet conveyor 106 is fed at constant pitch for feeding the device 101 by the conveyor 102 which can be of variable pitch (we do not call the nominal time interval which separates the passage of two consecutive objects by the same position).

    Les objets plats sont évacués hors du dispositif 101 au moyen d'un mécanisme de dépilage 142 comprenant un bras susceptible d'effectuer des mouvements à la fois suivant la direction F1 dans un sens et dans l'autre et dans un plan vertical incliné sur cette direction. Ce bras mû par un moteur 143 porte des ventouses aspirantes 144 qui sont appliquées contre l'objet plat à saisir au cours de son avance à faible vitesse par le chariot 112 qui le porte. Au cours de cette phase de préhension, le bras du mécanisme 142 effectue une course dans le sens de la flèche F1 pour accompagner le mouvement de l'objet et du chariot qui le porte, puis le bras effectue un mouvement latéral qui a pour effet de faire échapper l'objet plat au peigne du chariot et de le présenter à l'entrée du convoyeur de sortie 106. Un tel mécanisme de dépilage à bras à mouvement alternatif et ventouses aspirantes est décrit notamment dans le brevet français No. 2 615 840 auquel on pourra se référer.Flat objects are evacuated from device 101 at by means of an unstacking mechanism 142 comprising an arm likely to perform movements at once following the F1 direction back and forth and in one plane vertical inclined in this direction. This arm moved by a motor 143 carries suction cups 144 which are applied against the flat object to be grasped during its advance at low speed by the carriage 112 which carries it. At during this gripping phase, the arm of the mechanism 142 runs in the direction of arrow F1 to accompany the movement of the object and the carriage which door, then the arm performs a lateral movement which has for effect of escaping the flat object from the comb of the carriage and to present it at the entrance of the exit conveyor 106. A such unstacking mechanism with reciprocating arms and suction cups is described in particular in the patent French No. 2 615 840 to which reference may be made.

    Des mécanismes de dépilage d'autres types peuvent être utilisés pour extraire les objets plats du dispositif de stockage 101, par exemple un mécanisme à courroies aspirantes monté oscillant de manière à pouvoir accompagner le déplacement de l'objet plat au cours de sa saisie sur le chariot. Un tel mécanisme comprend au moins deux courroies horizontales disposées dans un plan sensiblement vertical et dont les dimensions et l'écartement permettent le passage du peigne des chariots. Dans ce cas, bien entendu, les peignes devront avoir des dents horizontales comme dans l'exemple des figures 1 à 6.Other types of unstacking mechanisms can be used to extract flat objects from the storage 101, for example a belt mechanism suction mounted oscillating so that it can accompany the movement of the flat object during its capture on the cart. Such a mechanism includes at least two belts horizontal arranged in a substantially vertical plane and whose dimensions and spacing allow the passage of comb of carts. In this case, of course, the combs should have horizontal teeth as in the example Figures 1 to 6.

    Après leur passage par la zone de dépilage des objets plats, les chariots 112 sont embrayés jusqu'à une zone de stockage située en partie inférieure du convoyeur et non visible sur la figure 8. A partir de cette zone de stockage, les chariots sont à nouveau embrayés de manière à se présenter au poste de réception et d'arrêt 107 en synchronisme avec l'arrivée d'un objet comme indiqué précédemment.After passing through the object unstacking area flat, the carriages 112 are engaged to an area of storage located at the bottom of the conveyor and not visible in Figure 8. From this storage area, the carriages are again engaged so as to present to the reception and stop station 107 in synchronism with the arrival of an object as indicated previously.

    La figure 9 représente un autre mode de réalisation du dispositif de stockage temporaire dans lequel ce dernier fonctionne en mode empileur-dépileur de type FILO, c'est-à-dire que le premier objet entrant dans le dispositif est le dernier à en sortir.FIG. 9 represents another embodiment of the temporary storage device in which the latter works in FILO type stacker-destacker mode, i.e. that the first object entering the device is the last to leave.

    Dans cet exemple la platine du poste de réception et d'arrêt 207 est constituée de deux courroies aspirantes perforées 208a-208b disposées horizontalement de manière à pouvoir passer entre les dents 214 des peignes 213 lorsque ceux-ci passent dans le plan du poste de réception et d'arrêt 207. Les courroies 208a-208b sont mues de manière intermittente comme cela sera décrit ci-après. Le poste de réception et d'arrêt 207 est complété par un moyen 210 d'appui du bord longitudinal inférieur des objets plats, ce moyen 210 étant constitué d'une plaque fixe pourvue d'encoches 244 dans lesquelles peuvent s'engager des sabots 245 portés par les peignes 213 à leur partie inférieure. Ainsi, au passage d'un chariot 212 dans le plan du poste de réception et d'arrêt 207 les sabots 245 viennent s'engager sous le bord inférieur de l'objet plat reposant sur la plaque 210 et cet objet est ainsi dégagé latéralement hors du poste de réception 207.In this example, the receiving station plate and stop 207 consists of two suction belts perforated 208a-208b arranged horizontally so as to ability to pass combs 213 between teeth 214 when these pass through the reception station plan and stop 207. The belts 208a-208b are moved so intermittent as will be described below. The post of reception and stop 207 is supplemented by means 210 of the lower longitudinal edge of flat objects, this medium 210 consisting of a fixed plate provided of notches 244 in which can engage hooves 245 carried by the combs 213 at their lower part. Thus, the passage of a carriage 212 in the plan of the substation reception and stop 207 the shoes 245 come to engage under the lower edge of the flat object resting on the plate 210 and this object is thus released laterally outside of reception station 207.

    En fonctionnement, les objets en provenance du convoyeur d'entrée 202 arrivent un à un au poste de réception et d'arrêt 207 d'où ils sont enlevés un à un par les chariots 212 se déplaçant dans le sens de la flèche F1 (figure 9). Un stock tampon d'objets plats est ainsi constitué en aval du poste de réception 207, dans le sens de la flèche F1. Pendant toute cette phase de réception, les courroies 208a et 208b sont arrêtées et aucune dépression ne leur est appliquée. Lorsque le stock tampon doit alimenter le convoyeur de sortie 206, les chariots 212 sont mus en sens inverse et les courroies perforées 208a et 208b sont entraínées dans le sens indiqué par la flèche F3. Un objet plat ramené en appui contre ces courroies par un chariot 212 est plaqué contre celles-ci sous l'effet de la dépression qui leur est alors appliquée, puis entraíné vers le convoyeur de sortie 206. Grâce à un mécanisme de débrayage et d'embrayage conventionnel du type indiqué précédemment, le dépilage des objets vers le convoyeur de sortie peut avoir lieu à pas constant, indépendamment du pas entre les objets lors de l'empilage. Dans ce mode de réalisation, le poste de réception et d'arrêt 207 joue donc à la fois le rôle de moyen d'empilage et de dépilage suivant la phase de fonctionnement du dispositif.In operation, objects from the entry conveyor 202 arrive one by one at the reception and stop 207 from where they are removed one by one by the carriages 212 moving in the direction of the arrow F1 (figure 9). A buffer stock of flat objects is thus set up downstream of reception station 207, in the direction of arrow F1. During this entire reception phase, the belts 208a and 208b are stopped and no depression applied to them. When the buffer stock must supply the output conveyor 206, the carriages 212 are moved opposite direction and the perforated belts 208a and 208b are driven in the direction indicated by the arrow F3. An object flat brought into abutment against these belts by a carriage 212 is pressed against them under the effect of depression which is then applied to them, then trained towards outlet conveyor 206. Through a declutching mechanism and conventional clutch of the type indicated above, unstacking objects to the output conveyor can take place in constant step, regardless of the step between objects during stacking. In this embodiment, the reception and stop station 207 therefore plays both the role of stacking and unstacking means depending on the phase of operation of the device.

    Bien entendu, les modes de réalisation décrits ne sont que des exemples et l'on pourrait les modifier, notamment par substitution d'équivalents techniques, sans sortir pour cela du cadre de l'invention comme défini par les revendications.Of course, the embodiments described are not only examples and we could modify them, in particular by substitution of technical equivalents, without going out for that of the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

    Claims (14)

    1. Device for temporary storage (1;101;201) intended for receiving flat objects moving along in a same plane in a first direction (F2) one by one from an entry conveyor (2;102;202) and for displacing them one by one towards an exit conveyor (5;106;206), said device comprising a stationary station (7;107;207) for reception and stopping in a position which is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical of said flat objects originating from said entry conveyor and a reception conveyor (11) comprising a plurality of receptacles (12;112;212) movable over at least a part of their path in a second direction (F1) substantially orthogonal to the said first direction, each receptacle being capable of receiving a flat object bearing in a position which is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical and of displacing said flat object toward the exit conveyor, characterized in that said stationary reception station (7;107;207) is interposed in said part of the path of said receptacles and has a form matching that of the said receptacles (12;112;212) so that an object bearing on said stationary reception station is transferred in said second direction by a receptacle, bearing in the latter upon passage of said receptacle in the plane of the said reception station.
    2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the movement of said receptacles (12;112;212) and the movement of said flat objects in said entry conveyor (2;102;202) are synchronized in order to transfer a flat object from said reception station to a receptacle in the time interval separating the arrivals in said reception station (7;107;207) of said flat object and of the next flat object.
    3. Device according to any of claims 1 and 2, wherein said stationary reception station (7;107) comprises a plate (8;108) arranged in said orientation which is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical and which has several mutually parallel cuts (9;109) extending from one of its edges and wherein each receptacle comprises a comb (13;113;213), the parallel teeth (14;114;214) of which are arranged so as to be able to pass through the said cuts.
    4. Device according to Claim 3, in which said plate and said comb comprise at their lower part means (10,15;110,115;210) for retaining the lower longitudinal edge of said flat objects.
    5. Device according to Claim 4, in which said cuts (9) and said comb teeth (14;214) are horizontal.
    6. Device according to Claim 5, in which said retention means associated with said plate (8) comprise a first movable flap (10) displaceable between a position for retaining an object on the reception station (7) and a retracted position of release of said object towards the retention means (15) associated with a receptacle (12).
    7. Device according to Claim 6, in which said retention means (15) associated with each receptacle (12) comprise a second movable flap (26) displaceable between a position of retention of an object on said receptacle and a retracted position of release under gravity of said object towards said exit conveyor (5).
    8. Device according to any of claims 5 to 7, in which each said receptacle has associated with it a movable stop piece (31) for the front edge of said flat objects and damping means (32) interposed between said movable stop piece and support means (16) of the said receptacle.
    9. Device according to Claim 4, in which said cuts (109) and said comb teeth (114) are arranged in a vertical plane.
    10. Device according to Claim 9, in which said retention means consist, respectively, of lugs (110) projecting forwards at the lower part of said plate (108) and of a concave plate (115) supporting each comb (113).
    11. Device according to any of claims 9 and 10, in which said stationary reception station (107) comprises a movable stop piece (131) for the front edge of said flat objects and damping means (132) interposed between said movable stop piece and a stationary support.
    12. Device according to any of claims 1 to 11, in which said receptacles (12) are mounted on synchronous drive means (21-23).
    13. Device according to any of claims 1 to 11, in which said receptacles consist of carriages (112;212) associated with a mechanism comprising disconnection means capable of ensuring a nonsynchronous displacement of said carriages.
    14. Device according to Claim 13, in which said drive mechanism is adapted in order to drive said carriages (212) selectively in one direction and in the opposite direction.
    EP94400074A 1993-01-18 1994-01-12 Device for temporary storing flat objects Expired - Lifetime EP0608161B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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    FR9300396 1993-01-18
    FR9300396A FR2700527B1 (en) 1993-01-18 1993-01-18 Device for temporary storage of flat objects.

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    EP0608161A1 EP0608161A1 (en) 1994-07-27
    EP0608161B1 true EP0608161B1 (en) 1998-08-19

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    DE1296099B (en) * 1967-08-31 1969-05-22 Siemens Ag Arrangement for intermediate stacking of documents
    US3519145A (en) * 1968-01-19 1970-07-07 Control Data Corp Sorting apparatus
    JP2823668B2 (en) * 1990-08-08 1998-11-11 大日本印刷株式会社 Paper ejection device
    FR2667806B1 (en) * 1990-10-10 1994-10-07 Didier Thieriot DEVICE FOR THE QUICK DISTRIBUTION OF FLAT OBJECTS IN A BUCKET CONVEYOR.
    FR2677626B1 (en) * 1991-06-14 1995-08-25 Bertin & Cie DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING FLAT OBJECTS, IN PARTICULAR FOR A POSTAL SORTING MACHINE.

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    DE69412523D1 (en) 1998-09-24
    FR2700527A1 (en) 1994-07-22
    EP0608161A1 (en) 1994-07-27
    FR2700527B1 (en) 1995-04-07
    US5462268A (en) 1995-10-31

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