A device for feeding items to a sorting machine, including: a conveyor plane (26) for feeding items or parcels along an advancement direction (A1); an optical detection device (18), to allow the acquisition, while the items are in motion on the conveyor plane (26) of the three-dimensional coordinates of a determined number of points on the surface of the items and to organize them into coordinate vectors; a manipulator (19) provided to pick the items from the conveyor plane (26) and to place the items picked in a desired position; a control system, provided to process, for each item in motion on the conveyor plane (26), the coordinate vectors in order to obtain a three-dimensional representation of the item, including the information based on which the control system handles the manipulator for picking and placing the items.

The invention also relates to a sorting machine and a method for feeding items to a sorting machine aimed at increasing production capacity and accuracy thereof.

A device for feeding items to a sorting machine, including: a conveyor plane (26) for feeding items or parcels along an advancement direction (A1); an optical detection device (18), to allow the acquisition, while the items are in motion on the conveyor plane (26) of the three-dimensional coordinates of a determined number of points on the surface of the items and to organize them into coordinate vectors; a manipulator (19) provided to pick the items from the conveyor plane (26) and to place the items picked in a desired position; a control system, provided to process, for each item in motion on the conveyor plane (26), the coordinate vectors in order to obtain a three-dimensional representation of the item, including the information based on which the control system handles the manipulator for picking and placing the items.

The invention also relates to a sorting machine and a method for feeding items to a sorting machine aimed at increasing production capacity and accuracy thereof.

Apparatus (1) for feeding an unstacker magazine (2) with mailpieces (3) on edge, which apparatus includes a first feed conveyor (4) for conveying trays (6) extending crosswise and loaded with mailpieces placed flat on the bottoms of the trays, and tray tipping means (8) for pivoting a tray forwards onto a ramp of the tray tipping means so as to bring the mailpieces on edge from the tray to the unstacker magazine. The apparatus includes a second feed conveyor (5) for conveying trays (6) extending lengthwise and loaded with mailpieces (3) placed on edge on the bottoms of the trays, and tray tipping-over means (9) designed for laying a tray over on its side onto the unstacker magazine.

A sorting/handling system for sorting/handling parcels or packets comprises a primary conveyor for conveying the packets in series around a looped path, at least one platform secondary conveyor fed by the primary conveyor and having a throughput rate lower than that of the primary conveyor, and a transfer unit for transfer between the primary conveyor and the secondary conveyor, which transfer unit comprises n chutes into which the packets coming from the primary conveyor fall by gravity so as to be received at the outlets on n parallel channels of an accumulation zone having movable barriers. Downstream from the accumulation zone, the system further comprises mechanical members for putting the packets into series by spacing them apart at a constant pitch, and then for transferring them to free platforms of the secondary conveyor at a rate of one packet per platform.

A sorting/handling system for sorting/handling parcels or packets comprises a primary conveyor for conveying the packets in series around a looped path, at least one platform secondary conveyor fed by the primary conveyor and having a throughput rate lower than that of the primary conveyor, and a transfer unit for transfer between the primary conveyor and the secondary conveyor, which transfer unit comprises n chutes into which the packets coming from the primary conveyor fall by gravity so as to be received at the outlets on n parallel channels of an accumulation zone having movable barriers. Downstream from the accumulation zone, the system further comprises mechanical members for putting the packets into series by spacing them apart at a constant pitch, and then for transferring them to free platforms of the secondary conveyor at a rate of one packet per platform.

A conveying system transports items, such as postal items, along a main conveying direction. A conveying route includes segments that are arranged one behind the other along the main conveying direction. The segments have conveyors arranged parallel to one another and the segments are offset relative to one another in a transverse direction. The conveyors are driven and activated individually by a control unit. The items are conveyed along the main conveying direction by transferring an item from a preceding segment to a following segment that is offset relative to the preceding segment and then transporting the item on the following segment. Items with small dimensions, which rest on just one conveyor can also be manipulated during the transportation.

A conveying system transports items, such as postal items, along a main conveying direction. A conveying route includes segments that are arranged one behind the other along the main conveying direction. The segments have conveyors arranged parallel to one another and the segments are offset relative to one another in a transverse direction. The conveyors are driven and activated individually by a control unit. The items are conveyed along the main conveying direction by transferring an item from a preceding segment to a following segment that is offset relative to the preceding segment and then transporting the item on the following segment. Items with small dimensions, which rest on just one conveyor can also be manipulated during the transportation.

A deform lead-retract removal track is provided which is configured to convey non-defective integrated circuit packages and remove integrated circuit packages having a lead-retract defect. The distance between the outside walls of the track is less than the distance between leads of the non-defective integrated circuit packages and greater than the distance between the leads of the integrated circuit packages having a lead-retract defect. The defective integrated circuit packages having a lead-retract defect are unable to enter the track or will become stuck on the track.

A sorting/handling system for sorting/handling parcels or packets comprises a primary conveyor for conveying the packets in series around a looped path, at least one platform secondary conveyor fed by the primary conveyor and having a throughput rate lower than that of the primary conveyor, and a transfer unit for transfer between the primary conveyor and the secondary conveyor, which transfer unit comprises n chutes into which the packets coming from the primary conveyor fall by gravity so as to be received at the outlets on n parallel channels of an accumulation zone having movable barriers. Downstream from the accumulation zone, the system further comprises mechanical members for putting the packets into series by spacing them apart at a constant pitch, and then for transferring them to free platforms of the secondary conveyor at a rate of one packet per platform.

A sorting/handling system for sorting/handling parcels or packets comprises a primary conveyor for conveying the packets in series around a looped path, at least one platform secondary conveyor fed by the primary conveyor and having a throughput rate lower than that of the primary conveyor, and a transfer unit for transfer between the primary conveyor and the secondary conveyor, which transfer unit comprises n chutes into which the packets coming from the primary conveyor fall by gravity so as to be received at the outlets on n parallel channels of an accumulation zone having movable barriers. Downstream from the accumulation zone, the system further comprises mechanical members for putting the packets into series by spacing them apart at a constant pitch, and then for transferring them to free platforms of the secondary conveyor at a rate of one packet per platform.