Pivotable Mail Selection Dies for Double-Passage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mail processing systems face issues with double envelope passage, leading to over-billing, non-postage, and damage to thick mail items, particularly those with windows, due to inadequate selection mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A mail item selection device featuring a first die pivoting about one axis and a second die pivoting about a second axis offset upstream, both cooperating with selection rollers, with drive means allowing automatic pivoting of the second die beyond a predetermined thickness range, ensuring precise separation and handling of mail items of varying thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single die is used to prevent double passage of thin mail items by applying significant force, then double passage is reduced, but thick mail items risk being damaged or torn
Solution Approach 1:
The single die is divided into two separate dies: a first die for initial contact and a second die for final separation. This segmentation allows each die to perform a specialized function - the first die applies force to prevent double passage while the second die provides additional separation without requiring excessive force that would damage thick items.
Solution Approach 2:
The dies are made pivotable about axes of rotation rather than being fixed. This dynamic configuration allows the dies to automatically adjust their position and applied force based on the thickness of each mail item, applying significant force to thin items to prevent double passage while reducing force on thick items to avoid damage.
2Manufacturing precision
If significant force is applied by the die to limit double envelopes passage, then selection quality for thin items is improved, but thick mail items with windows risk being damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable dies automatically adjust their configuration based on mail item thickness. For thin items requiring high selection quality, the dies pivot to apply significant force. For thick fragile items, the dies pivot to reduce applied force, preventing damage while maintaining adequate separation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters (position and applied force) of the dies based on the detected thickness of each mail item. This parameter adjustment allows optimization of selection quality for thin items while protecting thick fragile items from damage.
3Reliability
If the die is pressed against mail item by compression spring to avoid double passages, then double passage prevention is improved, but the mechanism cannot adapt to varying thicknesses of different mail items
Solution Approach 1:
The compression spring mechanism is enhanced with pivotable dies that can dynamically adjust their position and applied force. This allows the system to maintain reliable double passage prevention through spring pressure while adapting to varying mail item thicknesses through the pivotable configuration that automatically adjusts force distribution.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces double passage errors to less than 1 in 1000, improves selection quality for thin envelopes, and minimizes damage to fragile items by adjusting the second die's position based on mail item thickness, enabling efficient processing of all types of envelopes.
Implementation Method 1
said first die being able to pivot about a first axis of rotation counter to a first elastic return means and said second die pivotable about a second axis of rotation counter to a second elastic return means
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A mail item selection device for separating mail items one by one from a stack of mail items and transporting them downstream, the device comprising a first die (12) followed by a second die (14), both cooperating with at least one opposing selection roller (16) to select mail items one by one and transport them downstream, the first die being able to pivot about a first axis of rotation (18) against a first elastic return means (20A, 20B) and the second die being able to pivot about a second axis of rotation (22) against a second elastic return means (24), the second axis of rotation being offset upstream relative to the first axis of rotation, and said first and second dies comprising drive means (12B, 14B) to allow, beyond a predetermined range of mail item thickness,an automatic pivoting of said second die during the pivoting of said first die.