Placement station for placing flat items and feeding them to a singularization station and method

US9790044B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Francotyp-Postalia GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Axel Ortmann · Berlin, DE
• Wolfgang Muhl · Hohen Neuendorf, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 6, 2016
• Grant date: Oct 17, 2017
• Expiry date: May 6, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65H2801/78
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A placement station for placing flat items has multiple transport elements extending through a related opening in a placement deck of the placement station. All transport elements are driven by a single drive motor via toothed belt discs and toothed belts. At least one trigger sensor is arranged in the placement station on the exit side of the mail-item flow. The drive motor and the trigger sensor are electrically connected with means for controlling the transport speed of the flat items. Each transport element is carried by a transport module. The placement station has multiple transport modules, each extending with a transport element mounted on its head side through a related opening in a placement deck of the placement station. The transport modules are lowerable below the placement deck in a direction contrary to a spring force. The direction of traction can be changed by turning at least one transport module before or during operation of the placement station. Each transport element has a barrel-shaped body with an equator, wherein different friction values of said body of the transport element are provided on both sides of the equator. The transport modules are directionally…