METHOD AND MECHANISM TO AUTOMATE MAIL SWEEPING

• US 20160001911A1
• Filed: 06/30/2015
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba International Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba International Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Brigham, Michael Edward, Gavenas, Jeffrey Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 9,968,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/087 the objects being taken up in transport files or holders which are not part of the conveyor belts cable post B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/02 Compartmented furniture, e.g. pigeon-holes B07C7/005 takes precedence; furniture per se A47B; storage racks B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/04 Apparatus or accessories for hand picking

Abstract

Presently disclosed embodiments are directed to a process and mechanism for reducing human error and manual labor used to sweep pockets on a mail sorting machine. Specifically, the disclosed embodiments utilize a sliding drawer holding a receiving container that can mate in a flush arrangement with an output pocket of a mail sorting machine. Thus, sweeping of mail product from the output pocket to the receiving container can be accomplished in one motion that empties the entire output pocket into the receiving container. This sweeping may be performed by an operator without any errors caused by sweeping to an incorrect receiving container or issues caused by dropping sorted mail product and picking it back up in a different order.

Claims

1. A mail sortation and transportation system, comprising:

a mail sorter comprising an output pocket, wherein the mail sorter is configured to receive mail product and to sort at least a portion of the mail product into the output pocket;

a drawer system comprising a drawer that is moveable relative to a storage rack, wherein the drawer is extendable from the storage rack to a position proximate the output pocket of the mail sorter such that the mail product in the output pocket can be swept from the output pocket to the drawer without the mail product falling through a gap between the output pocket and the drawer.

2. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, wherein the drawer, when in a fully opened position, establishes a continuous surface for moving sorted mail product from the output pocket to the drawer.

3. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 2, wherein the drawer allows the mail product from the output pocket to all be swept from the output pocket to the drawer along the continuous surface using a single sweeping motion.

4. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, wherein the drawer is extendable from the storage rack into a flush engagement with the output pocket of the mail sorter.

5. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, wherein the gap between the output pocket and the drawer is less than approximately one inch in width.

6. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, wherein the mail sorter comprises a plurality of output pockets and is configured to receive mail product and to sort the mail product into at least one of the plurality of output pockets, and wherein the drawer system comprises a plurality of drawers that are moveable relative to the storage rack, wherein each of the plurality of drawers is extendable from the storage rack to a position proximate a corresponding one of the plurality of output pockets of the mail sorter.

7. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of output pockets of the mail sorter and the plurality of drawers have a one to one mapping.

8. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, comprising a receiving container removably disposed in the drawer.

9. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 8, wherein the drawer facilitates a movement of the sorted mail product from the output pocket to the receiving container without the drawer being permanently affixed to the output pocket or to the receiving container.

10. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 8, wherein the drawer comprises an open back side to allow the receiving container to be inserted or removed from the drawer when the drawer is closed.

11. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 8, wherein the drawer comprises rollers to facilitate insertion and removal of the receiving container.

12. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 8, wherein the receiving container comprises an automated bin having an adjustable floor or adjustable sides.

13. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 12, wherein the receiving container is configured to tilt the adjustable floor relative to a horizontal plane in response to the drawer opening.

14. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 12, wherein the drawer is slanted relative to a horizontal plane such that the adjustable floor, when tilted, is aligned with a floor of the output pocket.

15. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 12, wherein the drawer comprises:

a moveable portion configured to drop down when the drawer is opened to enable sides of the receiving container to tilt downward; and

a stationary portion configured to remain level when the drawer is opened to push up the adjustable floor of the receiving container, wherein the moveable and stationary portions of the drawer are configured to remain level when the drawer is closed.

16. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, wherein the drawer comprises a customizable handle to facilitate a transition from the output pocket to the drawer.

17. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, comprising a tray storage and movement system configured to transport receiving containers into the drawer, away from the drawer, or onto a tray to feeder path.

18. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 17, wherein the drawer system comprises a “

full container”

indicator that, when selected by an operator, signals the tray storage and movement system to remove the receiving container from the drawer.

19. A mail sortation and transportation system, comprising:

a drawer system comprising a storage rack and a plurality of drawers that are moveable relative to the storage rack, wherein each of the plurality of drawers is extendable from the storage rack to a position proximate a corresponding one of a plurality of output pockets of a mail sorter configured to receive mail product and to sort the mail product into at least one of the plurality of output pockets, wherein the plurality of drawers have a one to one mapping with the plurality of output pockets.

20. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of drawers is extendable such that the mail product in the corresponding one of the plurality of output pockets can be swept from the output pocket to the drawer without the mail product falling through a gap between the output pocket and the drawer.