Abstract:
A method of tracking mail in a postal sorting system comprising first and second networks of sorting machines with first and second unique identification protocols for uniquely identifying the mailpieces, the first and second networks producing first and second dated tracking data as a mailpiece is passing through the sorting machines, this first and second dated data being associated with first and second unique mailpiece identifiers generated using the first and second protocols, said dated data associated with said first and second unique mailpiece identifiers is retrieved in a data-processing unit for the purpose of measuring a time characteristic of the journey of the mailpiece through the first and second networks, and a match is established between the unique identifiers via digital images of the mailpiece.
Abstract:
A method of tracking mail in a postal sorting system comprising first and second networks of sorting machines with first and second unique identification protocols for uniquely identifying the mailpieces, the first and second networks producing first and second dated tracking data as a mailpiece is passing through the sorting machines, this first and second dated data being associated with first and second unique mailpiece identifiers generated using the first and second protocols, said dated data associated with said first and second unique mailpiece identifiers is retrieved in a data-processing unit for the purpose of measuring a time characteristic of the journey of the mailpiece through the first and second networks, and a match is established between the unique identifiers via digital images of the mailpiece.
Abstract:
A postal sorting machine for flat articles on edge, said machine comprising first belt conveyor means suitable for conveying said flat articles along a first path, a plurality of sorting outlets, each of which is associated with a separator flap mounted to move about a pivot axis between a first position in which it does not interfere with said first path and a second position in which it intersects said first path so as to direct said flat articles along a second path, said separator flap being suspended by a pivot rod extending on one side of said flap only, so that the zone under said separator flap is left free.
Abstract:
A sorting machine (1) for sorting flat articles (2) on edge, which machine includes an upstream conveyor (10), and a downstream conveyor (30) that conveys the flat articles (2) by nipping them, the upstream conveyor (10) and the downstream conveyor (30) being separated by detector means (100) including an intermediate conveyor (20) provided with intermediate belts (22) that convey said flat articles (2) by nipping them, and that are associated individually with suction means (24, 25) pressing any flat article (2) against one or the other of said intermediate belts (22), image capture means (26) for capturing images of the bottoms of said flat articles (2) passing between the intermediate belts (22), and analysis and processing means (4) for analyzing and processing said images to detect any bunching of said flat articles (2).
Abstract:
A method of measuring the times taken for carrying mail through a network of postal sorting machines between at least a mail departure point and a mail arrival point, which method comprises the following steps, a) using first dummy mailpieces to measure first mail carrying times taken to carry said first dummy mailpieces from the departure point to a certain postal sorting machine of the network; b) using real mailpieces to measure second mail carrying times taken to carry said real mailpieces from said certain sorting machine of the network to another postal sorting machine of the network; and c) using second dummy mailpieces to measure third mail carrying times taken to carry said second dummy mailpieces from said other postal sorting machine to the arrival point.
Abstract:
A method of processing mailpieces for sorting mailpieces into sequence in a sorting machine depending on delivery points of delivery rounds, in which method the mailpieces are grouped together into batches associated with delivery rounds and are sorted as a function of various sorting plans each associated with a respective batch of mailpieces and defining a list of delivery points of delivery rounds, which method includes the following steps, assessing the batches of mailpieces before the machine sorting to detect those that will under-use the sorting capacities; aggregating the batches of mailpieces detected as under-using the capacity so as to constitute aggregated batches of mailpieces; computing an associated sorting plan resulting from the aggregating; feeding each aggregated batch of mailpieces into the postal sorting machine and controlling the sorting of the mailpieces as a function of the sorting plan computed for said aggregated batch of mailpieces.
Abstract:
A storage tray (1) for automatically unloading stacks of flat articles stacked on edge, the storage tray having panels (4A, 4B, 5) and a bottom plate (2) provided with slots (10) through which moving fingers (110) can pass for moving the edges of said flat articles away from or towards said bottom plate (2) and for automatically unloading said flat articles from the storage tray (1), and for automatically loading said flat articles into said storage tray (1), said panels (4A, 5) defining bearing faces (72) suitable for receiving the flanks of the stacks of flat articles and provided with grooves (70, 80, 90) in register with the ends of the slots (10) so that the moving fingers (110) extend beyond the stack of flat articles into the grooves (70, 80, 90) so as to ensure that all of the flat articles are moved. A method of loading and of unloading the storage tray (1).
Abstract:
A method of processing postal articles in an automatic address-reading system in which a multi-level gray scale image is formed of the surface of each article including address information, the multi-level gray scale image is transformed into a first binary image and the binary image is sent to an OCR unit for a first automatic evaluation of the address information, wherein a signature representative of a category of address information marks is extracted from the multi-level gray scale image and/or the binary image and/or the result of automatic data evaluation, the multi-level gray scale image is transformed again into a second binary image taking account of the category represented by said signature, and the second binary image is sent to an OCR unit in order to perform a second automatic evaluation.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for feeding unsorted parcels (1) conveyed on a feed conveyor onto a sorting conveyor, wherein a first camera arranged above the feed conveyor forms a digital image of the unsorted parcels, a control-and-monitoring unit identifies a parcel to be separated, which parcel has a gripping face at the top of same which is not covered by any other parcel in the digital image of the unsorted parcels, the control-and-monitoring unit being configured to servo-control a gripper robot (6), which comprises a gripper hand (9) with a palm (10) from which suction cups (11) extend, so as to pick up the parcel to be separated identified in the digital image and deposit it on the sorting conveyor.
Abstract:
An installation for sorting articles comprises a carousel sorting conveyor having transport bins, an article feed magazine in which articles stored loosely are put into series and then injected one-by-one into the transport bins of the conveyor by an injection device, and a monitoring and control unit that acts on the bins so as to open each of them over a receptacle that corresponds to a delivery address of the article, the injection device comprising piston pushers and a system of sensors being provided to generate data representative of an outline of the article seen in plan so as to enable the data processing unit to detect inappropriate positioning of the article before it is injected into a bin, and, in such a situation, direct the improperly positioned article towards a reject receptacle.