Mailpiece container for stacking mixed mail and method for stacking mail therein

• US 8,231,002 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2006
• 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): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Madison L
• Application Number:
  US12/390,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20090152804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 220/781, 206/509, 206/504, 206/505, 206/507, 206/511, 206/512, 206/519, 206/520, 271/207, 298/24, 298/35.M, 414/163, 414/216, 414/332, 414/407
• US Class Current: 206/509
• 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 2301/323 Hanging
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/4212 of articles substantially horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/422548 filling or loading process
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/422615 from opposite part-support elements, e.g. operated simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2405/55 Rail guided gripping means running in closed loop, e.g. without permanent interconnecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2801/78 Mailing systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/003 by grippers B65H29/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/10 and applied at the top of the pile
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/22 removable or interchangeable
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/3018 from opposite part-support elements, e.g. operated simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/34 Apparatus for squaring-up piled articles

Abstract

A containment device includes a base, vertical walls extending from the base and an open end for accepting the mailpieces therein. The containment device, furthermore, has a slot formed in at least one of the vertical walls thereof. The containment device also includes a recess extending on an underside of the base between the vertical walls; a lip extending outward from an edge of the vertical walls; detents provided in the lip of opposing vertical walls of the vertical walls; and protrusions extending beyond the base and structured and adapted to mate with detents of a lower container in a stacked configuration of containers.

Claims

1. A containment device for use in an automated sorting apparatus having a plurality of clamp assemblies for transporting, sorting, and depositing mailpieces in the container, the containment device comprising:

a base and a plurality of vertical walls projecting from the base to define an enclosure for containing mailpieces therein;

at least one of the vertical walls including a vertical slot for accepting a clamp assembly when mailpieces are stacked within the container and when the edges are aligned along the vertical wall of the mailpiece container;

protrusions extending along opposing vertical walls of the plurality of vertical walls;

detents offset from the protrusions and provided with respect to the opposing vertical walls;

a recess extending on an underside of the base entirely between two opposing vertical walls of the vertical walls; and

a lip extending beyond the vertical walls, wherein

the protrusions are tapered beginning from the lip to the base; and

the protrusions extend outwardly from two opposing vertical walls of the vertical walls.

2. The containment device according to claim 1, wherein the slot defines a width dimension greater than a width dimension of the clamp assembly.

3. The containment device according to claim 1, wherein the containment device is a transport container for delivering mailpieces along a delivery route.

4. The containment device according to claim 1, wherein the containment device is an interim container for depositing mailpieces in a transport container.

5. The containment device according to claim 4, wherein the interim container includes at least one pivotable base, an actuator for pivoting the base mechanism from a closed to an open position, and a controller for issuing an input command to the actuator for moving the base mechanism to an open position to deposit the mailpiece from the interim container to a transport container.

6. The containment device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a recess extending on an underside of the base entirely between two opposing vertical walls of the vertical walls;

a lip extending about the vertical walls and within the slot, wherein the lip extends beyond an edge of the vertical walls, wherein;

the detents are formed in the lip of the opposing vertical walls of the vertical walls; and

the protrusions are tapered and are partially formed within the lip and extend from a top to the base of the opposing vertical walls of the vertical walls, the tapered protrusions extending outwardly from the base and structured and adapted to mate with the detents of a lower container in a stacked configuration of containers such that when mated the lower container is offset from an upper container.

7. A containment device, comprising:

a base;

vertical walls extending from the base to form an open end for accepting mailpieces;

a recess extending on an underside of the base between the vertical walls;

a lip extending outward from an edge of the vertical walls;

detents provided in the lip of opposing vertical walls of the vertical walls; and

protrusions extending beyond the base and structured and adapted to mate with detents of a lower container in a stacked configuration of containers, wherein;

the recess extends on an underside of the base entirely between two opposing vertical walls of the vertical walls;

the lip extends beyond the vertical walls;

the protrusions are tapered beginning from the lip to the base; and

the protrusions extend outwardly from two opposing vertical walls of the vertical walls.

8. The containment device according to claim 7, wherein the recess extends across the base to opposing vertical walls.

9. The containment device according to claim 7, further comprising a slot in one of the vertical walls.

10. The containment device according to claim 9, wherein the one of the vertical walls is positioned between vertical walls that include the detents.

11. The containment device according to claim 7, wherein a width of the recess is larger than a width of the lip.

12. The containment device according to claim 7, further comprising at least one pivotable base.

13. The containment device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one pivotable base includes a pair of trap doors which are pivoted to an open position by rotary actuators.

14. The containment device according to claim 7, wherein the lip extends within the slot from one side of the slot to another side of the slot.

15. The containment device according to claim 14, wherein the lip extends on the vertical sidewalls from the one side of the slot to the another side of the slot.

16. The containment device according to claim 7, wherein the protrusions are formed within the lip.

17. The containment device according to claim 7, wherein the detents are offset from the protrusions such that when mated the lower container is offset from an upper container.

18. The containment device according to claim 17, wherein the detents are formed in the lip.