Mail processing system and method of delivering articles to delivery locations therein

• US 20090272623A1
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Berdelle-Hilge, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/370.10
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 1/00 Measures preceding sorting according to destination
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• 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: B07C 3/082 In which the objects are carried by transport holders and the transport holders form part of the conveyor belts conveyors with carriers B65G47/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/36 Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02

Abstract

A mail processing system that delivers articles to delivery locations includes a predetermined number of casing towers arranged in parallel, wherein each casing tower has a plurality of slots to receive articles. A transport system is associated with the casing towers and configured to guide at least one transport vehicle loaded with an article along a delivery path towards a delivery location. At least one elevator device is coupled to the transport system and configured to receive the transport vehicle at a first level and to index the elevator device to move the transport vehicle from the first level to a second level, where the transport vehicle exits the elevator device to travel along the delivery path.

Claims

1. A method of delivering articles to predetermined delivery locations within a mail processing system, comprising:

guiding a transport vehicle loaded with an article along a delivery path towards a delivery location;

guiding the transport vehicle to an elevator device to board the elevator device at a first level;

indexing the elevator device to move the transport vehicle from the first level to a second level; and

guiding the transport vehicle out of the elevator device at the second level to travel along the delivery path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein indexing the elevator device comprises moving the transport vehicle along a substantially straight vertical path.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein indexing the elevator device further comprises moving the transport vehicle upwards and moving another transport vehicle downwards.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein indexing the elevator device further comprises reversing a direction of movement.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising guiding other transport vehicles to the elevator device to board the elevator device at varying levels.

6. A mail processing system, comprising:

a predetermined number of casing towers arranged in parallel, each casing tower having a plurality of slots to receive articles;

a transport system associated with the casing towers and configured to guide at least one transport vehicle loaded with an article along a delivery path towards a delivery location; and

at least one elevator device coupled to the transport system, the elevator device configured to receive the transport vehicle at a first level and to index the elevator device to move the transport vehicle from the first level to a second level, where the transport vehicle exits the elevator device to travel along the delivery path.

7. The system of Claim 6, wherein the elevator device includes trays that move in a vertical direction along a closed loop.

8. The system of Claim 6, wherein the elevator device moves the transport vehicle upwards.

9. The system of Claim 6, wherein the elevator device moves the transport vehicle downwards.

10. The system of Claim 6, wherein the elevator device moves the transport vehicle upwards, while it moves another transport vehicle downwards.

11. A mail processing system, comprising:

a predetermined number of casing towers arranged in parallel, each casing tower having a plurality of slots to receive articles;

a transport system associated with the casing towers and configured to guide at least one transport vehicle loaded with an article along a delivery path towards a delivery location; and

at least one elevator device coupled to the transport system and configured as a paternoster elevator, the elevator device configured to receive the transport vehicle at a first level and to index the elevator device to move the transport vehicle from the first level to a second level, where the transport vehicle exits the elevator device to travel along the delivery path.