Method and apparatus for mechanized pocket sweeping

• US 20030006174A1
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korber Supply Chain LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Harres, Luiz C., Burkett, Harold G. Jr., Hickey, Richard C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,112,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/584
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/008 Means for collecting objects, e.g. containers for sorted mail items pile receivers in general B65H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0435 with pulling or pushing means on either stacking crane or stacking area
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/46 Tray unloading features
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

A method for sweeping mail pieces from pockets of a sorter including the steps of (1) sorting mail pieces to a plurality of pockets based upon a preselected sorting criteria, (2) positioning an unloading robot adjacent to a selected one of the pockets when the pocket has received a predetermined volume of mail pieces, the robot carrying a tray having upright side walls and bottom wall, (3) engaging the pocket with a sweeping apparatus, (4) removing mail pieces in the pocket with the sweeping apparatus, (5) loading the removed mail pieces into the tray carried by the robot, and (6) carrying the tray containing the removed mail pieces to a destination with the robot. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of sweeping mail pieces from pockets of a sorter comprising:

sorting mail pieces to a plurality of pockets based upon a preselected sorting criteria;

positioning an unloading robot adjacent to a selected one of the pockets when the pocket has received a predetermined volume of mail pieces, the robot carrying a tray having upright side walls and bottom wall;

sweeping mail pieces in the pocket with a sweeping apparatus, the robot activating the sweeping apparatus;

loading the removed mail pieces into the tray carried by the robot; and

carrying the tray containing the removed mail pieces to a destination with the robot.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mail pieces are swept laterally out of the pocket and lowered into the tray.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sweeping apparatus includes a movable paddle and sweeper gate for holding mail therebetween and the step of sweeping mail pieces comprises moving the mail pieces with the paddle and sweeper gate from the pocket.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the robot includes a sweeper drive assembly and the method further comprises for engaging the sweeper apparatus with the sweeper drive assembly.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the tray includes a false bottom, and the method further comprising the step of lifting the false bottom with the robot to a position adjacent the top of the upright side walls of the tray.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein a stack of mail is swept from the pocket onto the false bottom.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of loading the removed mail pieces into the tray further comprises lowering the false bottom for a stack of mail from the pocket.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising supporting the removed mail pieces with a retainer as the false bottom is lowered.

9. A method of sweeping mail pieces from pockets of a sorter comprising:

sorting mail pieces to a plurality of pockets based upon a preselected sorting criteria;

positioning robot means adjacent to a selected one of the pockets, the robot means including means for transporting a tray having upright side walls and a bottom wall;

sweeping mail pieces from the pocket with a sweeping means including means for moving the mail pieces laterally from the pocket;

loading the removed mail pieces into the tray carried by the robot; and

carrying the tray containing the removed mail pieces to a destination with the robot.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the robot includes drive means for driving the sweeping means, the method further comprising driving the sweeping means with the drive means to remove mail pieces from the pocket.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the drive means further comprises engaging means for engaging the sweeping means, the method further comprising engaging the sweeper means.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the tray includes means for lowering mail pieces swept from the pocket, the method further comprising lowering the mail pieces into the tray.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the robot include lift means for positioning the lowering means, the method comprising lifting the lowering means with the lift means.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the method further comprises supporting the mail pieces with support means associated with the tray as the mail pieces are lowered with the lowering means.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising lifting means for lifting a false bottom of the tray to align the false bottom with the bottom of the pocket.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the robot further comprises means for moving the tray laterally with respect to the robot for positioning the tray adjacent to pocket.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the robot further comprises retaining means for retaining a stack of letter mail on the false bottom.

15. An apparatus for sweeping mail pieces from the pockets of a sorter, the apparatus comprising:

an unloading robot for carrying and positioning a mail tray adjacent to a pocket to be emptied, the robot including a sweeper drive assembly;

a sweeper assembly, including means for holding mail in the pocket and sweeping mail from the pocket, the sweeper drive assembly including means for engaging the sweeper assembly and moving letter mail laterally from the pocket.