POSTAL SORTING MACHINE INCLUDING NIPPING CONVEYOR MEANS, AND A METHOD OF USING THE MACHINE

摘要

This sorting machine comprises an unstacker (10) suitable for putting mailpieces on edge, address recognition means (20, 25) for recognizing the addresses of said mailpieces, and a conveying zone (2, 3, 4) for conveying the mailpieces by nipping them, which zone is made up of an unstacking zone (1) extending from the unstacker, and of a sorting zone (3) having a plurality sorting outlets (S1-SN), distributed from an upstream sorting outlet (S1) adjacent to the unstacker, to a downstream sorting outlet (SN). In accordance with the invention, said machine further comprises a recirculation zone (4) interconnecting the downstream sorting outlet (SN) and the upstream sorting outlet (S1), said recirculation zone co-operating with the unstacking zone (1) to define a point of confluence (C) situated between the unstacker and the upstream sorting outlet.