Device for filling and removing containers for sorted mail

• US 7,540,385 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Zimmermann, Armin, Enenkel, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey; Patrick H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hageman; Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/573,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20070056885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 209/584, 209/900, 209/702, 209/703, 209/707, 209/933, 211/151, 198/346.1, 198/346.2, 198/594, 198/588, 193/35.TE, 414/404, 414/332, 414/331.04, 414/268, 414/269, 414/799, 414/789.9
• US Class Current: 209/630
• 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: B65H 2301/422546 superposed

Abstract

A device for filling and removing containers (8, 9) for sorted mail. The containers are filled from two sorting points (2, 3) of a sorting device (1) that are arranged in two rows one above the other and can be transferred to a storage and transport device (10). A telescopic retaining mechanism (4) for holding two containers (8, 9) one behind the other is located beneath the two sorting points (2, 3) that are arranged one above the other, the mechanism being extended halfway to fill the front container (9) or completely to fill the rear container (8) or both containers (8, 9).

Claims

1. A sorting device, comprising:

two rows of sorting compartments, the two rows being disposed one above the other;

an extendable support mechanism configured to accommodate two containers one behind the other, the support mechanism being disposed below the two rows of sorting compartments, the support mechanism being extendable halfway to fill a front container of the two container or completely to fill a rear container of the two containers or both containers;

means for sorting mail items into the sorting compartments according to their destination address; and

a sorting and conveying device arranged such that the containers can be transferred from the support mechanism to the sorting and conveying device.

2. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the sorting and conveying device runs as a conveying track parallel to the two rows of sorting compartments.

3. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the support mechanism adjoin in its fully extended state at an approximately equal height as the storage and conveying device.

4. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the support mechanism has a telescopic extending mechanism.

5. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the support mechanism has a frame with swiveling rollers configured to support the containers, and the rollers are arranged such that the containers can be moved toward the storage and conveying device.

6. The sorting device according to claim 5, wherein the rollers are disposed height-wise for inclining each container to a stop when at rest.

7. The sorting device according to claim 6, wherein the rollers are disposed such that each container at rest, held against the stop, is inclined toward the storage and conveying device.

8. The sorting device according to claim 7, wherein the last rollers in the inclining direction are mounted in a raised manner so that they act as a stop.

9. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the support mechanism has a flat floor with a low coefficient of friction for accommodating and moving the containers on the support mechanism.

10. A sorting device, comprising:

two rows of sorting compartments, the two rows being disposed one above the other;

an extendable support mechanism configured to accommodate two containers one behind the other, the support mechanism being disposed below the two rows of sorting compartments, the support mechanism being extendable halfway to fill a front container of the two container or completely to fill a rear container of the two containers or both containers;

a device for sorting mail items into the sorting compartments according to their destination address; and

a sorting and conveying device arranged such that the containers can be transferred from the support mechanism to the sorting and conveying device.

11. The sorting device according to claim 10, wherein the sorting and conveying device runs as a conveying track parallel to the two rows of sorting compartments.

12. The sorting device according to claim 10, wherein the support mechanism adjoin in its fully extended state at an approximately equal height as the storage and conveying device.

13. The sorting device according to claim 10, wherein the support mechanism has a telescopic extending mechanism.

14. The sorting device according to claim 10, wherein the support mechanism has a frame with swiveling rollers configured to support the containers, and the rollers are arranged such that the containers can he moved toward the storage and conveying device.

15. The sorting device according to claim 14, wherein the rollers are disposed height-wise for inclining each container to a stop when at rest.

16. The sorting device according to claim 15, wherein the rollers are disposed such that each container at rest, held against the stop, is inclined toward the storage and conveying device.

17. The sorting device according to claim 16, wherein the last rollers in the inclining direction are mounted in a raised manner so that they act as a stop.

18. The sorting device according to claim 10, wherein the support mechanism has a flat floor with a low coefficient of friction for accommodating and moving the containers on the support mechanism.