EP0815959B1 - Classifier system for sorting - Google Patents

Abstract

A sorting unit comprises identical rectangular compartments (C1-C5) which can be arranged vertically with partitions (5) allowing the objects being sorted to be laid flat inside them, or they can be placed horizontally and divided into sections for standing the objects on their edges. Each of the compartments (C1-C5) used to construct the sorting unit has a length which is a multiple of its width. The partitions (5) have up-turned front edges to retain the objects placed into the sections, while the spacers (7) used to divide the horizontal compartments have catches (81) at the top to hold them in place. The compartments are preferably made from a synthetic material such as PVC in a dark colour.

Description

The present invention relates to the sorting of objects, and more particularly the sorting of flat objects of the type of postal folds.

Although not limited to this application, the invention was made to solve the problems encountered in postal sorting with materials that no longer meet current needs.

These existing materials are sets consisting of a vertical grid of boxes, generally all identical, in which the folds are stacked. The most modern, such for example that disclosed in US-A-4,795,042, present a some modularity to adapt in a some measure their volume to the particular need but, in practice, this modularity brings little although its cost is relatively high. On the other hand, in the furniture, modular elements such as disclosed in FR-A-2 259 564 have in no way been designed and could not be used as such for sorting.

You should know that in any office of post of some importance, sorting operations show great variability, partly due to the uniqueness of each factor tour, and for another part to the fact that they are staged in several also highly differentiated levels. It's about first of the general sort consisting in classifying the bulk in one or more passes to form batches corresponding to the postmen's rounds. Then these generally intervene themselves to order their "satchel". A first pass called "coupage" consists of pre-sorting in a limited number of lots, each batch is then treated individually during "stitching" to achieve a precise classification. Face to this great variability in sorting operations and to the significant increase in the volume of mail that we have known for a few years, sorting tools current, not very flexible, have become totally obsolete. There are cost issues and space congestion due to the importance of necessary materials, as well as problems efficiency and discomfort for operators.

The invention is the culmination of research of a global solution to these various problems, that is to say an economical, space-saving solution, and providing each user with the ability to have a practical, efficient and suitable sorting tool at best to his particular need.

It consists of a new sorting system for sorting flat objects from the type of postal envelopes, characterized in that it comprises identical unit lockers in the form of elongated rectangle parallelepiped, which have means to freely organize a plurality of stacked shelves for use in standing or vertical position, in order to place the objects to sort or stack flat freely a plurality of juxtaposed boxes for a use in lying or horizontal position, in view to deposit there, at least for the majority of the boxes, the objects to be sorted upright on their edges, in order to allow to constitute sorting conformations in according to the need for which they are intended, for grouping and interior design of a plurality lockers arranged upright and / or horizontal, and can be juxtaposed and / or superimposed; lockers being arranged so that said system of filing cabinet allows sorting of flat objects stacked flat and sorting flat objects standing on their edges.

The vertical arrangement of the lockers with stacking of shelves will be better for receiving large groupings of folds that will be there stacked, while the horizontal layout will significantly more advantageous for groupings of folds in limited number which can then be placed standing on their edge in the boxes (sorting method in vertical), offering the possibility of reducing considerably the size of the boxes that will then be their width (height in the other configuration) without loss of operational convenience for users.

It will therefore be understood that the mode of use in vertical lockers will be used primarily for the general sorting, as well as for the first operation so-called "cutting" of the organization of touring factors, whereas for the second operation called "stitching" is the mode of use in horizontal lockers that will be retained. In a form of preferred embodiment of the invention, the lockers have a length whose value is a multiple of that of their width, to allow combinations associating juxtapositions and overlays of lockers, including overall form remains simple, compact and rational.

Means for organizing the interior of lockers advantageously subdivided into a set of tablets with vocation of shelf for the mode of use of vertical lockers and a set of dividers for the horizontal mode of use. The means of restraint shelves and dividers will be manipulated simple and fast, so that users have all freedom and ease of carrying out layout modifications, even during work. On the other hand, the shelves and dividers will be provided with practical employment information supports.

la Fig. 1 est une vue en perspective d'un casier selon l'invention,

la Fig. 2 est une vue en perspective d'une tablette à vocation d'étagère dans le casier disposé verticalement, accompagnée d'une barrette servant à son maintien, la tablette étant représentée retournée pour faire apparaítre sa face inférieure,

la Fig. 3 est une vue schématique illustrant un moyen des intercalaires servant à leur maintien dans le casier disposé horizontalement, et formant de plus un support d'information, et

la Fig. 4 est une vue de face d'un ensemble de tri formé sur une table par superposition de trois casiers horizontaux, et juxtaposition de ce bloc et de deux casiers verticaux.

The characteristics and advantages set out above, as well as others, will become clear on reading the following description, made in relation to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rack according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a shelf intended for a shelf in the rack arranged vertically, accompanied by a bar serving to hold it, the shelf being shown inverted to reveal its lower face,

Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a means of the dividers serving to hold them in the rack arranged horizontally, and further forming an information medium, and

Fig. 4 is a front view of a sorting assembly formed on a table by superposition of three horizontal compartments, and juxtaposition of this block and two vertical compartments.

The locker C shown in FIG. 1 is a elongated rectangular parallelepiped, fully open in facade on one of its large faces, manufactured by example of sheet steel or synthetic material dark in color such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Its length is three times its width, so that its height when standing corresponds exactly to that of the superposition of three identical lockers arranged horizontally. In practice, for application to postal sorting, its dimensions can be 1 m for its length, and 33 cm for its width and depth.

Locker C has a set of accessories allowing to organize shelves at will superimposed for vertical use, or juxtaposed boxes for horizontal use. The same elements could be used to constitute the shelves or partitions between juxtaposed boxes, but in practice, it was considered preferable to subdivide them in two specific games which can then be adapted optimally to their function by presenting a maximum convenience for users, especially for their installation and removal which must give an immediate character to the operations of rearrangement of the locker.

A first game brings together a plurality of tablets identical to vocation of shelves, such as that which is shown upside down in FIG. 2, identified in 5 and which consists of a square plane with internal dimensions transverse of the locker, which plane is bordered on its front side by a square return 50 intended to be facing downwards and used for marking information. Each tablet 5 is associated with a bar 6 used to hold it in the compartment C, in cooperating with means of it.

In the example of embodiment shown, the means of the locker consist of simple slots 30 formed in the two longitudinal bottom corners, which consist of oblique sections 3 (at 45 °, and which, alternatively, can be rounded), intermediate between the bottom wall 1 and the side walls elongated 2. The slots 30, perpendicular to the axis longitudinal sections 3, follow one another 5 cm apart, and they are aligned two by two between the two sides. The slots 30 are intended to receive the rear corners of shelves 5.

The shelves are carried at the front by the bar 6 which engages on each side in holes correspondents 20 housed in the walls 2, near their front edge and which, of course, are spread longitudinally in the same pitch as the slots 30. The bar 6 has a main part 60 of length corresponding to the internal width of the rack, extended on both sides, beyond shoulders keeping it in place in the locker, by end parts of smaller diameter 61, the diameter of the main part 60 being itself of diameter slightly less than that of the holes 20. FIG. 2 on the other hand lets appear a stop 51 making protrusion on the underside of the shelves 5, which located behind bar 6 to prevent them from slide forward when in place.

The same means 30 and 20 on rack C are used the establishment and maintenance of tabs 7, Figs. 1 and 4, forming the second set of accessories of the locker to organize it in a series of boxes juxtaposed.

Like the shelves 5, the dividers 7 are square plates with rear corners fit into the slots 30. They are held at the front near their upper corner, by a cooperating lock 8 with holes 20 and also serving as a support information. As seen in Fig. 3, the lock represented is an arm articulated on the interlayer, near its upper front corner, whose side upper defines a boss 80 designed to engage in a hole 20. Preferably, the boss 80 flares from its top to its base, to allow a locking without play. The free end of the arm 8 has a return 81 forming a small panel in facade when the interlayer is in place, intended to receive information. It can also include a means of hanging mini-documents, relating for example redirection.

Preferably, and as shown in FIG. 1, the dividers 7 present at a certain height of their base, from their front edge, a notch 70 the purpose of which is to facilitate deposit or withdrawal of all mail formats. In a prototype satisfactory, they were planned transparent, realized made of synthetic material.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a fitted filing cabinet on two tables T by a user, for example a postman having to organize his tour. Two lockers C1 and C2 arranged vertically are juxtaposed on one of the T tables of appropriate width (for example 70 cm), forming a set of "coupage", itself juxtaposed with a set of "stakes" of three compartments C3 to C5 lying horizontally and superimposed on the other table T of corresponding width (1 m). Bosses and complementary hollows, not shown, can be provided on the external faces of the lockers, for allow mutual calibration between adjacent compartments.

On the other hand, the set of lockers C1 to C5 is surmounted on the front by transparent strips 9, Fig. 1, which serve as information carriers additional. They have a horizontal wing 90 which screws onto the lockers, and an oblique wing 91 intended to form an overhanging pan on the front of lockers. The strips 9 have a unique length of 1 m, which therefore corresponds to the length of the lockers and the triple their width. They can be completed by shorter strips of length corresponding to twice the width of lockers. Otherwise, as in the arrangement of FIG. 4 two strips 9a, 9b can overlap if necessary over part of their length. Note that strips 9 constitute a high connection between compartments.

The "cutting" assembly C1, C2 is provided shelves 5 suitably spaced, generally at least two spacing steps (10 cm), to make it easy to form and remove the piles of P mail addressed to them. Well that a regular provision of the shelves 5, the user is free to organize them as he sees fit, to the best of his need, knowing that in principle, the mail will be deposited there stacked at dish. It records useful information on returns 50.

Lockers C3 to C5 of the "pricking" set are organized in a succession of juxtaposed boxes, intended to receive in principle the folds p standing on their edge (sorting said vertical), so that their width can be reduced considerably without loss convenience for the user. This adjusts the width boxes according to the volume of mail they must receive, rearrangements that may take place being sorted. In practice, the most used width is one step apart (5 cm). If an address is abnormally loaded, the width of the box can be enlarged enough to accommodate the mail stacked flat.

Of course, the arrangement of FIG. 4 was described only as an example, but is absolutely not limiting. In practice, the user will be able to organize its lockers according to its personal suitability, in U, in L, in spans, etc.

A sorting file according to the invention such as that of Fig. 4, compared to conventional equipment, represents a gain of space on the ground and in height by at least 50%, an even greater cost saving, and also provides maximum flexibility and comfort use. Although designed as part of sorting postal, these qualities of the invention are susceptible to make it accessible and advantageous wherever mail items require classification, especially in communities: schools, hospitals, mail order organizations, etc.

Claims (11)

1. System for sorting flat objects of the postal envelope type, characterised in that it comprises identical unitary sets of pigeon holes (C) in the form of an elongated rectangular parallelepiped, which comprise means which make it possible to freely organise a plurality of superposed shelves (5) therein for use in an upright or vertical position, with a view to depositing the objects to be sorted therein, stacked flat, or to freely organise a plurality of juxtaposed pigeon holes therein for use in a flat or horizontal position, with a view to depositing the objects to be sorted therein standing on their edge, at least in the majority of the pigeon holes, in order to make it possible to create sorting configurations according to the need for which they are intended, by grouping and internal arrangement of a plurality of sets of pigeon holes (C) disposed upright and/or horizontally, and capable of being juxtaposed and/or superposed; the sets of pigeon holes (C) being disposed so that said sorting system allows sorting of flat objects stacked flat and sorting of flat objects standing on their edge.
2. System for sorting according to claim 1, characterised in that the sets of pigeon holes (C) have a length the value of which is a multiple of that of their width.
3. System for sorting according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the sets of pigeon holes (C) are associated with sets of shelves (5) for their vertical mode of use, and inserts (7) for their horizontal mode of use.
4. System for sorting according to claim 3, characterised in that the shelves (5) exhibit a front flange (50) serving as a carrier for information.
5. System for sorting according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the inserts (7) comprise a latch (8) close to their front upper corner to hold them in place in the sets of pigeon holes (C), which latch (8) comprises a portion (81) forming a carrier for information.
6. System for sorting according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that said inserts (7) exhibit a cut-out (70) which is located a certain distance from their base and extends from their front edge and is designed to facilitate the insertion or removal of all sizes of post in the pigeon holes which they bound.
7. System for sorting according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the inserts (7) are transparent.
8. System for sorting according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterised in that the sets of pigeon holes (C) comprise front and rear means co-operating with means of said shelves (5) or means of said inserts (7) to hold them in place, which means of the sets of pigeon holes (C) are arranged longitudinally in succession with a spacing interval.
9. System for sorting according to claim 8, characterised in that said means of the sets of pigeon holes (C) serving to hold the shelves (5) and the inserts (7) are slots (30) in oblique or rounded faces (3) forming the longitudinal bottom corners of the sets of pigeon holes (C) and holes (20) in their elongated walls (2), close to the front edge of the latter.
10. System for sorting according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the sets of pigeon holes (C) are made of a synthetic material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) of dark colour.
11. System for sorting according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that it additionally comprises strips (9) designed to go above the sets of pigeon holes (C) to serve as carriers for information.

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