Clamp for mixed mail sorter

• US 8,143,548 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• 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:
  US12/985,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20110095154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 446 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, 248/316.5, 248/316.7, 248/317, 248/323, 248/324
• 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. 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 two tabs extending beyond a first edge thereof and opposing the at least one tab of the first jaw, the two tabs being positioned on sides of the at least one tab of the first jaw when the first jaw and the second jaw are 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.

2. The escort assembly according to claim 1, 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.

3. The escort assembly according to claim 1, wherein the each of the first jaw and the second jaw are spring biased.

4. The escort assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw have spring steel construction capable of flexing a sufficient amount to hold the mailpiece of specified thickness.

5. The escort assembly according to claim 4, wherein the sufficient amount is one inch maximum thickness.

6. The escort assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw exert clamping force on the mailpiece to support its weight.

7. 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; and

bent tab segments on the end of the first jaw and the second jaw to grasp the mailpiece therebetween.

8. The escort assembly according to claim 7, wherein the bent tag segments are structured to grasp mailpieces as thin as a single sheet with sufficient force to support the mailpiece.

9. The escort assembly according to claim 8, wherein the bent tab segments are located at an end of the first jaw and the second jaw, remote from a connection mechanism.

10. 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; and

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.

11. 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; and

tabs on edges of each of the first jaw and the second jaw for periodically engaging lead screws located on both sides of the first jaw and the second jaw.

12. The escort assembly according to claim 11, wherein the tabs are engaged with the lead screws simultaneously for purposes of moving apart the first jaw and the second jaw to receive or unload the mailpieces.