×

Method and apparatus for stacking flat articles into a cartridge

  • US 5,857,830 A
  • Filed: 03/28/1997
  • Issued: 01/12/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method for transferring flat articles of mail from a mail sorting article processing machine to a cartridge in an output compartment, comprising the steps of:

  • sorting flat articles of mail in accordance with destination codes recorded on each article of mail;

    transporting sorted articles of mail from the article processing machine toward and into an open end of a first cartridge docked at a designated output compartment of the mail sorting article processing machine, said cartridge including a door and having a longitudinally slidable rear stack support;

    guiding the sorted flat articles of mail into said first cartridge to form a stack of articles of mail in the cartridge;

    monitoring the formation of the stack of articles to determine a time for removal of the first cartridge from the output compartment;

    disabling the transporting of flat articles of mail to the first cartridge at the time for removal thereof from the output compartment;

    closing the door of the first cartridge for removal of the cartridge from the output compartment; and

    redirecting the sorted articles of mail from the article processing machine toward and into an open end of a second cartridge docked at a designated output compartment in response to disabling the transporting of flat articles of mail to the first cartridge.

View all claims
  • 10 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×