Anti-skew device for mail processing machine
In a mail processing machine comprising a reception plate for receiving, in the form of a stack of items, the mail items to be printed, a jogging means for jogging this stack of items against a reference wall, a selection means for extracting the mail items to be printed from this stack of items one by one, and a printing means for printing a postal stamp on the selected mail item, an anti-skew device is provided, comprising a plurality of pivoting levers which are each positioned at a defined distance from the reference wall and a first end of which extends through an orifice made in the reception plate, in order to form, above the plate, a removable lateral obstacle for the mail items. These defined distances each correspond to a width of envelope of different format.
1. Anti-skew device for a mail processing machine comprising:
a reception plate for receiving, in the form of a stack of items, the mail items to be printed;
a jogging means for jogging this stack of items against a reference wall;
a selection means for extracting the mail items to be printed from this stack of items one by one;
a printing means configured to print a postal stamp on the selected mail item; and
a plurality of retractable members each of which is positioned at a defined distance from the reference wall and a first end of which extends through an orifice made in the reception plate, in order to form, above the plate, a removable lateral obstacle for the mail items wherein each one of the retractable members is configured to be individually retracted by a weight of a mail item on a respective retractable member.
2. Anti-skew device for a mail processing machine according to claim 1 , characterized in that each of the defined distances correspond to a width of an envelope of a different format.
3. Anti-skew device for a mail processing machine according to claim 1 , characterized in that the first end has a triangular shape.
4. Anti-skew device for a mail processing machine according to claim 1 , characterized in that the number of orifices made in the reception plate is greater than the number of retractable members.
5. Anti-skew device for a mail processing machine according to claim 1 , characterized in that the retractable members consist of pivoting levers.
6. Anti-skew device for a mail processing machine according to claim 5 , characterized in that it comprises at least two pivoting levers.
7. Anti-skew device for a mail processing machine according to claim 5 , characterized in that the pivoting levers are articulated on a common shaft secured to a frame of the mail processing machine by means of a supporting bar.
8. Anti-skew device for a mail processing machine according to claim 7 , characterized in that each of the pivoting levers comprises a second end connected to an elastic element of the supporting bar.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein each one of the retractable members is individually retracted when a width of the mail item exceeds the defined distance from the reference wall to the respective retractable member.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein each one of the retractable members within a path of the mail item is retracted when contacted by the mail item, and other non-contacted retractable members remain extended through a respective orifice in the reception plate.