Container with a rotary device, and method of rotation

Abstract

A container has a rotary device for rotating an article in the container, in particular a stack of flat items of mail. The container contains a base, a supporting side wall and a further side wall. The rotary device has a first sheet-like retaining element and a second sheet-like retaining element. These two retaining elements are connected mechanically to one another. In a filling position of the rotary device, the first retaining element rests on the supporting side wall, and the second retaining element is located on the base. In a raising position, the first retaining element is located on the base. An article located in the container then rests on the first retaining element. An article can be moved into the container when the rotary device is located in the filling position. The rotary device is then transferred into the raising position, this action rotating the article.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A container, comprising:
 a base;   a supporting side wall;   at least one further side wall, said base, said supporting side wall and said at least one further side wall enclosing an enclosed space for receiving at least one article;   a rotary device for rotating the article disposed in the enclosed space, said device containing a first sheet-shaped retaining element and a second sheet-rotary shaped retaining element, said first and second sheet-shaped retaining elements connected mechanically to one another, said rotary device can be set to a filling position and as a result the container set to a filling state, then, when said rotary device is in the filling position, said first sheet-shaped retaining element rests on said supporting side wall, said second sheet-shaped retaining element lies on said base and said first and second sheet-shaped retaining elements delimit an area within the enclosed space;   wherein the article can be moved into said area such that the article lies on said second sheet-shaped retaining element;   said rotary device can be transferred from the filling position into a raising position and as a result the container can be transferred from the filling state to a raising state; and   then, when said rotary device is in the raising position, said first sheet-shaped retaining element lies on said base and the article disposed in the enclosed space rests on said first sheet-shaped retaining element.   
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said rotary device additionally contains an actuating element, said actuating element is connected mechanically to said second sheet-shaped retaining element; and   the container is configured such that pulling on said actuating element effects a transfer of the container from the filling position into the raising position.   
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein said rotary device has an articulated mechanical connection between said first and second sheet-shaped retaining elements and said first and second sheet-shaped retaining elements are pivotably connected to one another by means of said articulated mechanical connection. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 10 ,
 further comprising a guide device connecting said first sheet-shaped retaining element mechanically to said supporting side wall such that said first sheet-shaped retaining element can be moved parallel to a plane of said supporting side wall toward said base and away from said base;   further comprising and end stop; and   wherein said first sheet-shaped retaining element can be pivoted relative to said supporting side wall, but movement of said first sheet-shaped retaining element away from said supporting side wall is prevented, and said end stop limits the movement of said first sheet-shaped retaining element toward said base when said rotary device is being transferred into the raising position parallel to said supporting side wall.   
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein said rotary device has a spacer element connected to said first sheet-shaped retaining element and when said rotary device is in the raising position, said spacer element is disposed between said first sheet-shaped retaining element and said base. 
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 10 , further comprising an arresting element, when said rotary device is disposed in the filling position, said arresting element connecting said first sheet-shaped retaining element to said supporting side wall and prevents said rotary device from being transferred into the raising position. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said at least one further side wall is disposed such that the article in said enclosed space is disposed between said supporting side wall and said further side wall; and   the container is configured such that when said rotary device is disposed in the raising position, said second sheet-shaped retaining element leans on said further side wall and is supported by said further side wall.   
     
     
         17 . A processing system, comprising:
 at least one container, containing:
 a base; 
 a supporting side wall; 
 at least one further side wall, said base, said supporting side wall and said at least one further side wall enclosing an enclosed space for receiving at least one article; 
 a rotary device for rotating the article disposed in the enclosed space, said rotary device containing a first sheet-shaped retaining element and a second sheet-shaped retaining element, said first and second sheet-shaped retaining elements connected mechanically to one another, said rotary device can be set to a filling position and as a result the container set to a filling state, then, when said rotary device is in the filling position, said first sheet-shaped retaining element rests on said supporting side wall, said second sheet-shaped retaining element lies on said base and said first and second sheet-shaped retaining elements delimit an area within the enclosed space; 
 wherein the article can be moved into said area such that the article lies on said second sheet-shaped retaining element; 
 said rotary device can be transferred from the filling position into a raising position and as a result the container can be transferred from the filling state to a raising state; and 
 then, when said rotary device is in the raising position, said first sheet-shaped retaining element lies on said base and an article disposed in the enclosed space rests on said first sheet-shaped retaining element; 
   an ejection device for moving the article into said container;   a transport device for transporting said container to said ejection device; and   a checking device for checking automatically whether said rotary device of said container is disposed in the filling position or not during transport to said ejection device.   
     
     
         18 . A method for rotating an article using a container containing a base, a supporting side wall, at least one further side wall and a rotary device with a first sheet-shaped retaining element and a second sheet-shaped retaining element, the first and second sheet-shaped retaining elements are connected mechanically to one another, the method comprises the steps of:
 moving the article into an enclosed space being enclosed by the supporting side wall, the further two side wall and the base;   rotating the article disposed in the enclosed space;   moving the rotary device to a filling position and as a result the container is moved to a filling state, wherein in the filling position, the second sheet-shaped retaining element lies on the base and the first sheet-shaped retaining element leans on the supporting side wall;   moving the article into the enclosed space such that the article lies on the second sheet-shaped retaining element; and   exerting a pulling force on the second sheet-shaped retaining element, wherein a direction of a pulling movement points vertically upward or obliquely away from the supporting side wall, and due to the pulling movement the rotary device is moved from the filling position into a raising position and as a result the container is moved from the filling state into a raising state, wherein in the raising position the first sheet-shaped retaining element lies on the base and the article lies on the first sheet-shaped retaining element.