Method and device for determining the degree of filling of a container with filled envelopes

1. A method of determining the degree of filling of a container with filled envelopes using an instruction processor, characterized in that the method comprising:

dynamically determining the real thickness of each of the filled envelopes of a plurality of filled envelopes using a measuring device before it is loaded into the container;

using the instruction processor to evaluate the degree of filling of the container on the basis of the real thicknesses of envelopes thus determined;

using the instruction processor to total the sum of the determined real thicknesses for the plurality of filled envelopes.

using the instruction processor to compare the sum of the determined real thicknesses for the plurality of filled envelopes with respect to a predetermined threshold; and

depending solely on the result of the comparison, deciding to identify using the instruction processor at least one of the last envelope of which the thickness has been determined or of the first envelope of the following plurality of envelopes, in order to indicate that the container is full.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the identification of the envelope is carried out by a marking operation of that envelope.

3. A method of loading a container with filled envelopes comprising:

conveying a plurality of filled envelopes from an enveloping machine to a loading station,

loading the filled envelopes into the container, characterized in that the method further comprises:

dynamically determining the real thickness of each of the filled envelopes before it is loaded into the container,

evaluating the degree of filling of the container solely on the basis of the real thicknesses of envelopes thus determined, wherein,

determining the real thickness of a filled envelope is carried out by at least one optical thickness measurement.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the degree of filling of the container is also determined on the basis of the internal dimensions of the container.

5. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising

totaling the sum of the determined real thicknesses for the plurality of filled envelopes.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising

comparing the sum of the determined real thicknesses for the plurality of filled envelopes with respect to a predetermined threshold; and

depending on the result of the comparison, deciding to identify at least one of the last envelope of which the thickness has been determined or of the first envelope of the following plurality of envelopes, in order to indicate that the container is full.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the identification of the envelope is carried out by a marking operation of that envelope.

8. The method according to claim 3 , wherein making the thickness measurement comprises:

sending at least one electromagnetic signal from a signal source towards a reference surface and receiving what is referred to as the reference signal reflected by the reference surface,

sending at least one electromagnetic signal towards the reference surface which is placed on the path of a filled envelope and which is brought closer to the signal source on passage of that filled envelope and receiving what is referred to as the measurement signal reflected by the reference surface, and

measuring the real thickness of the envelope on the basis of the reference signal and measurement signal that are reflected by the reference surface.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

expelling air from the envelope in order to determine the real thickness of the latter.

10. The method according to claim 3 further comprising:

expelling air from the envelope in order to determine the real thickness of the latter.

11. The method according to claim 8 wherein,

the reference surface placed on the path of the envelopes is both flexible so as to elastically deform on passage of a filled envelope and sufficiently rigid to exert a compressive force on the envelope tending to expel air therefrom.

12. A device for loading a container with filled envelopes comprising:

means for conveying a plurality of filled envelopes from an enveloping machine to a loading station,

means for loading the filled envelopes into the container,

means for dynamically determining the real thickness of each of the filled envelopes before it is loaded into the container,

means for evaluating the degree of filling of the container solely on the basis of the real thicknesses of envelopes thus determined, wherein,

the means for dynamically determining the real thickness of each of the envelopes comprises an optical thickness measuring means.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the optical measuring means are associated with a reference surface.

14. The device according to claim 12 wherein the thickness measuring means comprise:

means for sending at least one electromagnetic signal from a signal source towards a reference surface and for receiving what is referred to as the reference signal reflected by the reference surface,

means for sending at least one electromagnetic signal towards the reference surface which is placed on the path of a filled envelope and which is brought closer to the signal source on passage of that filled envelope and for receiving what is referred to as the measurement signal reflected by the reference surface, and

means for measuring the real thickness of the envelope on the basis of the reference signal and measurement signal that are reflected by the reference surface.

15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the reference surface placed on the path of the envelopes is both flexible so as to elastically deform on passage of a filled envelope and sufficiently rigid to exert a compressive force on the envelope tending to expel air therefrom.

16. The device according to claim 12 , further comprising:

means for totaling the sum of the determined real thicknesses for the plurality of filled envelopes;

means for comparing the sum of the determined real thicknesses for the plurality of filled envelopes with respect to a predetermined threshold; and

depending on the result of the comparison, means for deciding to identify at least one of the last envelope of which the thickness has been determined or of the first envelope of the following plurality of envelopes, in order to indicate that the container is full.

17. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the means for identification of the envelope is carried out by a marking operation of that envelope.

18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein dynamically determining the real thickness of each of the filled envelopes comprises pinching each of the filled envelopes to eliminate air.

19. The method according to claim 3 , wherein dynamically determining the real thickness of each of the filled envelopes comprises pinching each of the filled envelopes to eliminate air.

20. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the means for dynamically determining the real thickness of each of the filled envelopes comprises means for pinching each of the filled envelopes to eliminate air.