Mail tray unloader with shuttle transfer through system comprising tilting
First Claim
1. An automated flats handling system, comprising:
- a plurality of shuttles;
a tray unloading section, including a first shuttle conveyor, to unload mail from a standard tray into one of the shuttles;
a quality control area, including a second shuttle conveyor coupled to the first shuttle conveyor, to facilitate grooming the mail in said one of the shuttles;
a shuttle tilter, coupled to the second shuttle conveyor, to tilt each shuttle prior to unloading the mail from said one of the shuttles;
a shuttle return section, including a third shuttle conveyor coupled to the shuttle tilter and the first shuttle conveyor, to return each of the shuttles to the tray unloading section; and
a stacker/loader to cooperate with the shuttle tilter and unload the mail from the shuttles, to create a mail stack from the unloaded mail, and to load a portion of the mail stack into an automation compatible tray,wherein the stacker/loader includes;
a frame;
a shelf attached to the frame;
a slotted surface plate, attached to the shelf, to cooperate with a plurality of slots in each shuttle;
two stackers, coupled to the frame, to unload the mail from each shuttle and to create a mail stack from the unloaded mail;
a backstop, coupled to the frame, to support the front end of the mail stack;
a separator, coupled to the frame, to divide the mail stack into a smaller portion of mail; and
an autopaddle, coupled to the frame, to load the smaller portion of mail into the automation compatible tray.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated flats handling system is provided that includes mail shuttles, a tray unloading section, a quality control area, a shuttle tilter, a shuttle return section and a stacker/loader. The tray unloading section has a conveyor and unloads mail from a standard tray into one of the shuttles. The quality control area also has a conveyor and facilitates grooming the mail in the shuttle. The shuttle tilter tilts each shuttle prior to unloading the mail from the shuttle. The shuttle return section also has a conveyor and returns the shuttles to the tray unloading section. The stacker/loader cooperates with the shuttle tilter and unloads the mail from the shuttles, creates a mail stack from the unloaded mail, and loads a portion of the mail stack into an automation compatible tray.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An automated flats handling system, comprising:
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a plurality of shuttles; a tray unloading section, including a first shuttle conveyor, to unload mail from a standard tray into one of the shuttles; a quality control area, including a second shuttle conveyor coupled to the first shuttle conveyor, to facilitate grooming the mail in said one of the shuttles; a shuttle tilter, coupled to the second shuttle conveyor, to tilt each shuttle prior to unloading the mail from said one of the shuttles; a shuttle return section, including a third shuttle conveyor coupled to the shuttle tilter and the first shuttle conveyor, to return each of the shuttles to the tray unloading section; and a stacker/loader to cooperate with the shuttle tilter and unload the mail from the shuttles, to create a mail stack from the unloaded mail, and to load a portion of the mail stack into an automation compatible tray, wherein the stacker/loader includes; a frame; a shelf attached to the frame; a slotted surface plate, attached to the shelf, to cooperate with a plurality of slots in each shuttle; two stackers, coupled to the frame, to unload the mail from each shuttle and to create a mail stack from the unloaded mail; a backstop, coupled to the frame, to support the front end of the mail stack; a separator, coupled to the frame, to divide the mail stack into a smaller portion of mail; and an autopaddle, coupled to the frame, to load the smaller portion of mail into the automation compatible tray. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A stacker/loader for an automated flats handling system, comprising:
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a frame; a shelf attached to the frame; a slotted surface plate, attached to the shelf, to cooperate with a plurality of slots in a mail shuttle; two articulated stackers, each coupled to the frame and having a fixed set of tines and a movable set of tines, to unload mail from the mail shuttle and to create a mail stack from the unloaded mail; an articulated backstop, coupled to the frame and having a fixed set of tines, to support the front end of the mail stack; an articulated separator, coupled to the frame and having a plurality of fingers, to divide the mail stack into a smaller portion of mail; and an articulated autopaddle, coupled to the frame and having a fixed set of tines, to load the smaller portion of mail into an automation compatible tray; a conveyor to deliver and remove automation compatible trays. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification