1) A device for loading, conveying, and sorting substantially flat items (FLATS), in particular mail items (3), comprising at least one loading unit (18) traveling along a path (7) between a loading area (10), where a substantially flat item (3) is fed to the loading unit (18), and an unloading area (12), where the substantially flat item in the loading unit (18) is released; said loading unit (18) defining an inner cavity (26) for receiving and housing said substantially flat item (3); and said inner cavity (26) communicating with the outside of the loading unit (18) through at least one opening (30);
characterized in that said opening (30) is elongated, and is positioned with its major sides substantially aligned with a first traveling direction (D) of said loading unit when the loading unit is located at said loading area (10); said device also comprising a FLAT feed device (50) for feeding a said substantially flat item (3) in a second direction (F) crosswise-in particular, perpendicular-to the first direction (D), so that said substantially flat item (3) is fed into said inner cavity (26) through said elongated opening (30), with leading edges (LE) of said substantially flat item (3) parallel to said major sides of said elongated opening (30).
2) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongated opening (30) is rectangular.
3) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said loading unit (18) comprises at least a first and a second wall (20,21) spaced apart and defining opposite sides of said inner cavity (26); at least one portion each of respective facing straight edges (20b2, 21b2) of said first and second wall defining the major sides of said elongated opening (30).
4) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said loading unit (18) comprises at least one unloading opening (33) fitted with a lid (35) which is movable between a closed position closing the unloading opening (33), and an open position in which the unloading opening (33) is at least partly accessible; said lid (35) being set, at said unloading area (12), to said open position to enable said substantially flat item (3) to be unloaded from said inner cavity (26) through said unloading opening (33).
5) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a number of loading units (18) are connected to form a conveying unit (5) traveling along said path (7).
6) A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said elongated openings (30) of said loading units (18) extend on the same side of said conveying unit (5).
7) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein rotation means (43) are provided to rotate said loading unit (18) about an axis of rotation (45); said rotation means rotating said loading unit (18) between a first loading position, in which said elongated opening (30) is positioned with its major sides parallel to said first direction (D), and a second unloading position, in which said elongated opening (30) is positioned with its major sides crosswise-in particular, perpendicular-to said first direction (D).
8) A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rotation means (43):
set said loading unit (18) to said first loading position at said loading area (10);
set said loading unit (18) to said second unloading position at said unloading area (12) to unload said substantially flat items by force of gravity; and
restore said loading unit (18) to said first loading position once said substantially flat items (3) are unloaded.
9) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said FLAT feed device (50) comprises at least one pair of powered rollers (53, 54) positioned with their axes parallel to the first direction (D), and which frictionally engage opposite flat surfaces (3a, 3b) of a substantially flat item (3);
said rollers (53, 54) being rotated by drive means in opposite directions to accelerate the substantially flat item (3) retained between the rollers, and to hurl it in said second direction (F) towards the elongated opening of said loading unit (18).
10) A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein a number of loading units (18) are connected to form a conveying unit (5) traveling along said path (7);
the position of said pair of powered rollers (53, 54) with respect to the various loading units (18) being adjustable.
11) A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the position of said pair of powered rollers (53, 54) is fixed, and the position of said conveying unit (5) is adjustable to position a selected loading unit (18) facing said pair of powered rollers (53, 54), and to feed said substantially flat item (3) to said loading unit.
12) A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the position of said conveying unit (5) is fixed, and the position of said pair of powered rollers (53, 54) is adjustable to position said pair of powered rollers (53, 54) facing a selected loading unit (18), and to feed said substantially flat item (3) to said loading unit.
13) A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a number of pairs of powered rollers are provided, each pair positioned facing a respective loading unit (18) to feed said substantially flat item (3) to the loading unit.
14) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said path is an endless path (7) extending in a three-dimensional space.
15) A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one conveying unit (5) is provided comprising a number of loading units (18) adjacent to one another in one direction;
said path comprising a sloping portion (7c) extending between a start point (7-i) located at a first height (h1) with respect to a reference plane (P), and an end point (7-ii) located at a second height (h2) lower than the first height (h1);
said device (1) also comprising a number of FLAT feed devices (50) spaced along said sloping portion (7c) and substantially at a third height (h3) with respect to the reference plane (P);
as the conveying unit (5) travels along said sloping portion (7c), different loading units (18) are positioned at the third height (h3), so that each loading unit (18) is positioned facing a respective FLAT feed device (50) to receive from it a substantially flat item (3).
16) A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said sloping portion (7c) terminates at a first upward portion (7a-I) which terminates at a first unloading area (12-I) where first loading units (18) are selectively opened to feed the released substantially flat items to a first conveying system; said first upward portion (7a-I) continuing, downstream from said first unloading area (12-I) into a second upward portion (7a-II) which terminates at a second unloading area (12-II) where second loading units (18) are selectively opened to feed the released substantially flat items to a second conveying system;
said second upward portion (7a-II) terminating, downstream from the second unloading area, at a downward portion (7d) leading back to said sloping portion (7c).
17) A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said sloping portion (7c) slopes downwards in steps, and comprises a number of horizontal portions (7c-h) located at different heights and connected by sloping portions (7c-s).
18) A device as claimed in claim 1, and comprising:
first sensor means (60) for detecting the approach of said loading unit (18) to said FLAT feed device (50); and
second sensor means (61) for detecting the position of the substantially flat item 83) fed to said FLAT feed device (50);
said device also determining the position of the incoming substantially flat item (3) with respect to the incoming loading unit (18).
19) A method of loading, conveying, and sorting substantially flat items (FLATS), in particular mail items (3), comprising the steps of:
feeding a substantially flat item (3) to a loading unit (18) at a loading area (10);
moving said loading unit to an unloading area (12); and
selectively releasing the substantially flat item from said loading unit;
said loading unit (18) defining an inner cavity (26) for housing said substantially flat item (3) and which communicates with the outside of the loading unit (18) through at least one elongated opening (30);
characterized in that said feeding step comprises the steps of:
positioning said elongated opening with its major sides substantially aligned with a first traveling direction (D) of the loading unit (18); and
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A computer comprising:
a motherboard with a signal receiving port;
a switch circuit comprising a force sensing module and a transistor, the transistor comprises a first terminal connected to the force sensing module, a second terminal connected to a power source, and a third terminal connected to the signal receiving port;
wherein when no pressure is applied to the force sensing module, the force sensing module outputs a first driving signal to turn on the transistor, and the third terminal sends a first signal to the signal receiving port to keep a power on or off state of the computer unchanged; and when a pressure is applied to the force sensing module, the force sensing module outputs a second driving signal to turn off the transistor, and the third terminal sends a second signal to the signal receiving port to switch off or on the computer accordingly;
wherein the force sensing module comprises a force sensing resistor of which a resistance decreases when there is a pressure applied thereto, the force sensing module further comprises an amplifier connected between the force sensing resistor and the transistor and a third resistor, which is connected to the force sensing resistor in series, a positive input terminal of the amplifier is connected to a third node, a negative input terminal of the amplifier is connected to an output terminal of the amplifier, a first end of the force sensing resistor is connected to the power source, and a second end of the force sensing resistor is connected to the third node; the first terminal of the transistor is connected to the output terminal of the amplifier; a first end of the third resistor is connected to the third node, and a second end of the third resistor is grounded.
2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the force sensing module further comprises a first resistor, a first end of the first resistor is connected to the power source, and a second end of the first resistor is connected to a first node, the first terminal is connected to the first node; a first end of the force sensing resistor is connected to the first node, and a second end of the force sensing resistor is connected to ground.
3. The computer of claim 2, wherein the transistor is an NPN type bipolar transistor, the first terminal is a base terminal, the second terminal is a collector terminal, and the third terminal is an emitter terminal.
4. The computer of claim 3, wherein the switch circuit further comprises a second resistor, a first end of the second resistor is connected to the emitter terminal, and a second end of the second resistor is connected to ground.
5. The computer of claim 1, wherein the transistor is a PNP type bipolar transistor, the first terminal is a base terminal, the second terminal is a collector terminal, and the third terminal is an emitter terminal.
6. The computer of claim 5, wherein the switch circuit further comprises a fourth resistor, a first end of the fourth resistor is connected to the emitter terminal, and a second end of the fourth resistor is connected to ground.
7. The computer of claim 1, wherein the first signal is at high level, the second signal is at low level, and a level of the first driving signal is opposite to that of the second driving signal.
8. A computer, comprising a circuit, the circuit comprises:
a force sensing module comprising a force sensor and a first resistor connected to the force sensor in series, each of the force sensor and the first resistor connected to a node; and
a transistor comprising a first terminal connected to the node, a second terminal connected to a power source, and a third terminal connected to ground via a second resistor, the third terminal used to send a PWRBTN signal to switch or maintain a power on or off state of the computer;
wherein when no pressure is applied to the force sensor, the force sensing module outputs a first driving signal to turn on the transistor, and the third terminal sends a first PWRBTN signal to keep a power on or off state of the computer unchanged; when there is a pressure applied to the force sensor, the force sensing module outputs a second driving signal to turn off the transistor, and the third terminal sends a second PWRBTN signal to switch off or on the computer;
wherein the force sensor is a force sensing resistor of which a resistance decreases when there is a pressure applied thereto, a first end of the force sensing resistor is connected to the power source, and a second end of the force sensing resistor is connected to the node; a first end of the first resistor is connected to the node, and a second end of the first resistor is connected to ground, the force sensing module further comprises an amplifier connected between the force sensing resistor and the transistor, a positive input terminal of the amplifier is connected to the node, a negative input terminal of the amplifier is connected to an output terminal of the amplifier, the first terminal of the transistor is connected to the output terminal of the amplifier.
9. The circuit of claim 8, wherein a first end of the first resistor is connected to the power source, and a second end of the first resistor is connected to the node; a first end of the force sensing resistor is connected to the node, and a second end of the force sensing resistor is connected to ground.
10. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the transistor is an NPN type bipolar transistor, the first terminal is a base terminal, the second terminal is a collector terminal, and the third terminal is an emitter terminal.
11. The circuit of claim 8, wherein the transistor is a PNP type bipolar transistor, the first terminal is a base terminal, the second terminal is a collector terminal, and the third terminal is an emitter terminal.
12. The circuit of claim 8, wherein the first PWRBTN signal is at high level, the second PWRBTN signal is at low level, and a level of the first driving signal is opposite to that of the second driving signal.