Method for franking and processing deliveries

• US 20040074561A1
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manfred Boller, Wilhelm Maler
• Original Assignee: Manfred Boller, Wilhelm Maler
• Inventors: Maler, Wilhelm, Boller, Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 7,304,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/250
• 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: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for automatically transporting receiving containers for sorted products. The containers are filled with the sorted products along a sorting stretch at individual, similar target stations, and automatically transported by means of a transport device after being filled. A full receiving container for sorted products is thus lowered, after a transport command has been triggered, by means of a transport device beneath a target station. The container is then placed on the transport device, if the device is not already occupied by a receiving container. The receiving container is then transported away from the target station by means of the transport device.

Claims

1. A method for filling, removing, and transporting a receiving container for sorted items, a number of which are filled along a sorting path with sorted items at individual destination points (sorting items being of the same type) and after filling are transported away from the destination points by way of a transport facility, comprising the steps of:

placing an empty receiving container on a holder;

inserting the container and holder on a guide beneath a destination point;

withdrawing the receiving container and holder at least once for filling with sorted items, a withdrawing direction being crosswise with respect to a sorting path direction and opposite to an insertion direction;

reinserting the container and holder after the filling;

raising the container from the holder in response to a control command, the raising being performed by a lift;

withdrawing the holder in the opposite to an insertion direction;

lowering the receiving container via the lift onto the transport facility situated beneath the destination point;

transporting the receiving container away from the destination point via the transport facility; and

moving the lift into an idle position.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of replacing the container with another container at the destination point.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

prior to the step of lowering, determining if a space below the container is occupied, and

if the space is occupied, not performing the step of lowering.

4. A system for filling, removing, and transporting a receiving container for sorted items, comprising:

a sorting path along which the container can be filled with the sorted items;

a plurality of destination points positioned along the sorting path, the destination points providing the sorting items to the container;

a transport facility located proximate to the sorting path and destination points, the transport facility transporting the container from a destination point;

a holder for accommodating the container therein;

a guide facilitating lateral movement of the holder beneath the destination point and position the container in and out of a filling position, the filing position being a position wherein the container can be filled with the sorted items; and

a lift located proximate to the container, the lift facilitating raising and lowering of the container from the holder to the transport facility.

5. The System according to claim 4, further comprising means for moving the container from a filling position into and out of a ready position beneath the destination point.

6. The system according to claim 4 (or 5) wherein the holder comprises a holding frame facilitating accommodation of the container and a handle facilitating movement of the holder.

7. The system according to claims 4 (to 6) further comprising at least one actuation element effecting initiation of a control command for removal and transportation of the receiving container.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the lift further comprises means for first raising the receiving container from the ready position and, after the holder has moved into the filling position, lowering the container onto the transport facility.

9. The system according to claim 5, further comprising control elements for controlling and monitoring the removal and transportation of the receiving container.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein at least one control element comprises means for detecting a presence of the receiving container in the ready position.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein at least one control element comprises means for detecting the holder in the filling position.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein at least one control element is located at an uppermost and lowermost position of the lift and further comprises means for detecting if the lift is in the uppermost and lowermost positions.

13. The system according claim 9, wherein at least one control element comprises means for detecting an idle position of the lift.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein at least one control element comprises means for controlling and monitoring the removal and transportation of the receiving container on the transport facility.

15. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a transport facility section composed of a plurality of destination points.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein at least one control element is located at a beginning and/or end of a transport facility section.