GB717913A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for sorting postal letters or like flat articles - Google Patents

Abstract

717,913. Sorting letters etc.; screw conveyers. POSTMASTER GENERAL. Dec. 3, 1952, [April 6, 1951.] No. 8093/51. Class 78 (1). In apparatus for presenting flat articles, e.g. postal letters, for viewing by a sorter, the articles L are supported edgewise in individually spaced apart relation one in front of another on a platform 2 and are fed successively into the viewing position from a direction substantially normal to the plane of the article by an intermittentlyrotated helix 1. The articles are fed on to the platform 2, Fig. 3, one at a time through a trough 12 by an endless belt i 1 and feed rollers 13, 14. The foremost article is removed from the viewing position by a pair of suckers 17 mounted on a bracket 19 which is carried by rods 20, 21. The rods are rotatably mounted in the upper ends of equal and parallel links 23, 24. The lower ends of these links are pivoted in a side member 25 and the pivot of the link 24 carries an arm 28, Fig. 2, which is pivoted to a connecting rod 29. This rod is pivoted to a rocker arm 30, a roller 33 on which is held by a spring 31 in contact with a rotary cam 34. Means is provided to connect the suckers to atmosphere to release the article when they reach their extreme left position. In a modification the front portion 2a of the platform is hinged to the remainder' and is normally held in the position shown by spring means. The part 2a is connected to the rod 29 and is swung down at intervals to release the article. Specifications 671,837, 712,031, [both in Group XVI], and 716,231 are referred to.