Clamp for mixed mail sorter

• US 7,928,336 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Stemmle, Denis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Joseph C
• Application Number:
  US11/885,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20080164185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• Field of Search: 209/583, 209/584, 209/900, 209/903, 209/909, 209/912, 700/217, 700/228, 700/229, 198/803.7, 198/803.8, 414/751.1, 414/753.1, 294/106
• US Class Current: 209/584
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/08 using arrangements of conveyors transport of sheets B65H; transport in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2405/55 Rail guided gripping means running in closed loop, e.g. without permanent interconnecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1916 Envelopes and articles of mail
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/003 by grippers B65H29/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/912 Endless feed conveyor with means for holding each item individually

Abstract

A clamp is designed for accepting a mail piece at a loading station, and for releasably holding the mail piece while the mail piece is moved to an unloading station via a sorting system. The clamp is manipulated in the sorting system, instead of manipulating the mail piece held by the clamp. The clamp includes jaws for releasably holding the mail piece, plus a machine readable identifier, plus a mechanism for engaging with the sorting system. The clamp'"'"'s identifier includes clamp information which uniquely identifies the clamp. The clamp information is for use by the sorting system, in combination with address information on the mail piece, to enable sortation of the mail piece held by the clamp.

Claims

1. A clamp, for accepting at least one mail piece at a loading station, and for releasably holding the mail piece while the mail piece is moved to at least one unloading station via a sorting system, the mail piece having address information indicative of a destination address, and the clamp comprising:

two flexible jaws structured to hold and release the mail piece;

tabs extending from each of the flexible jaws on sides which are configured to open the two flexible jaws by engaging lead screws;

a machine readable identifying means; and

means for engaging with the sorting system;

wherein the identifying means includes clamp information which uniquely identifies the clamp,

wherein the clamp information is for use by the sorting system, in combination with the address information on the mail piece, to enable sortation of the mail piece held by the clamp.

2. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the identifying means comprises a bar code or radio frequency identity tag.

3. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the means for engaging comprises a hook for hanging the clamp from at least one support.

4. The clamp of claim 3, wherein the hook is a T-section.

5. The clamp of claim 3, wherein the hook is also for supporting the clamp when the clamp is in an inverted position.

6. The clamp of claim 3, wherein the hook is substantially co-planar with the mail piece.

7. The clamp of claim 3, further comprising at least one drive catch for allowing the clamp to be advanced in a direction of sorting motion.

8. The clamp of claim 3, further comprising a steering element for moving the clamp to a different path, the steering element being located opposite the hook from the jaws.

9. The clamp of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of teeth attached to the jaws, for clenching the mail piece.

10. The clamp of claim 9, wherein the teeth comprise bent tab segments for grasping a mail piece as thin as a single sheet of paper and as thick as two inches.

11. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the jaws are made of steel but the clamp is otherwise made mostly or entirely of plastic.

12. The clamp of claim 11, wherein the jaws have a spring steel construction capable of flexing a sufficient amount to hold a parcel up to two inches thick, and capable of exerting clamping force on the parcel to support its weight.

13. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the two flexible jaws include a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein the second jaw opposes the first jaw, and the first jaw and the second jaw are spring biased in a closed position for holding the mailpiece therein.

14. An escort assembly comprising:

a first jaw having at least one tab extending beyond a first edge thereof;

a second jaw, opposing the first jaw, the second jaw having at least one tab extending beyond a first edge thereof and opposing the at least one tab of the first jaw, the first jaw and the second jaw being spring biased in a closed position for holding a mailpiece therein; and

a unique identifier to uniquely identify the escort assembly and the mailpiece held therein,

wherein the at least one tab of the first jaw and the second jaw are configured and structured to engage with a screw mechanism in order to release the mailpiece from the escort assembly and into a containment device.

15. The escort assembly according to claim 14, wherein the first edge of the first jaw and the second jaw are perpendicular to a track which is configured to transport the escort assembly.

16. The escort assembly according to claim 14, further comprising an upward extending member configured and structured to engage a track and lead screw which transports the escort assembly to a containment device, wherein the upward extending member has a “

T”

shape at an upper end thereof.

17. An escort assembly comprising:

a first jaw having at least one tab extending beyond a first edge thereof;

a second jaw, opposing the first jaw, the second jaw having at least one tab extending beyond a first edge thereof and opposing the at least one tab of the first jaw, the first jaw and the second jaw being spring biased in a closed position for holding a mailpiece therein;

a unique identifier to uniquely identify the escort assembly and the mailpiece held therein;

an upward extending member configured and structured to engage a track and lead screw which transports the escort assembly to a containment device, wherein the upward extending member has a “

T”

shape at an upper end thereof; and

a plurality of downward extending members, wherein two of the downward members extend downward from the first jaw and one of the downward members extend downward from the second jaw, wherein;

the two of the downward members extend at opposing ends of a second edge of the first jaw, which is perpendicular to the first edge of the first jaw, and one of the downward members extend from a second edge of the second jaw, at a position remote from the first edge of the second jaw, and

the one of the downward members extending from the second jaw is positioned between the two of the downward members when the escort assembly is in the closed position.

18. An escort assembly comprising:

a first jaw having at least one tab extending beyond a first edge thereof;

a second jaw, opposing the first jaw, the second jaw having at least one tab extending beyond a first edge thereof and opposing the at least one tab of the first jaw, the first jaw and the second jaw being spring biased in a closed position for holding a mailpiece therein; and

a unique identifier to uniquely identify the escort assembly and the mailpiece held therein, wherein the unique identifier is one of a barcode and RFID chip.

19. An escort assembly comprising:

a first side having at least one tab extending beyond a first edge thereof, the at least one tab of the first side is configured and structured to engage with a mechanism during transport of the escort assembly on a track to move the first side away from a second side opposing the first side to release a mail piece that is spring biased between the first side and the second side and which spring bias is configured to hold the mailpiece between the first side and the second side;

a unique identifier to uniquely identify the escort assembly and the mailpiece held therebetween; and

an extending member extending upward with relation to the first side and the second and which is configured and structured to engage a transporting mechanism,

wherein the second side has at least one tab extending beyond a first edge thereof and opposing the at least one tab of the first side.

20. The escort assembly according to claim 19, further comprising at least one extending member from one of the first side and the second side which is configured to hold the mailpiece within the escort assembly, between the first side and the second side, and when actuate, releases the mailpiece therefrom.

21. The escort assembly of claim 19, wherein the first side and the second side are spring biased in a closed position for holding the mailpiece therein.