SORTING MACHINE FOR SORTING FLAT ARTICLES ON EDGE, WITH ARTICLE BUNCHING BEING DETECTED

摘要

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).

主权项

1. A sorting machine (1) for sorting flat articles (2) on edge, which machine includes an upstream conveyor (10), a downstream conveyor (30) that is provided with side downstream belts (32) facing each other and that is arranged to convey said flat articles (2) by nipping them, and detector means (100) for detecting bunching of said flat articles (2), said sorting machine being characterized in that said detector means (100) are provided between said upstream conveyor (10) and said downstream conveyor (30) and include:
an intermediate conveyor (20) provided with side perforated intermediate belts (22) facing each other and arranged to convey said flat articles (2) without nipping them; suction means (24, 25) associated individually with said intermediate belts (22) and suitable for generating suction at each of said intermediate belts (22), which suction is suitable for pressing any flat article (2) traveling between said intermediate belts (22) against one or the other of said intermediate belts (22); image capture means (26) suitable for capturing images (40-48) of the edges of said flat articles (2) passing between said intermediate belts (22), said image capture means (26) being disposed facing the passage zone (27) defined by said intermediate belts (22), in the downstream portion of said passage zone (27); and image analysis and processing means (4) suitable for detecting any bunching of said flat articles (2) on the basis of said images (40-48).