Mailpiece container for stacking mixed mail and method for stacking mail therein
First Claim
1. A transport container adapted to be stacked on an angle for maintaining the relative position of mailpieces stacked therein during transport, each transport container comprising:
- a base and a plurality of vertical walls projecting from the base to define an enclosure for containing mailpieces therein,the base having a transverse abutment surface formed therein and a pair of stops projecting outwardly from opposing vertical walls of the plurality of vertical walls, andthe vertical walls each defining an outwardly extending lip along an upper edge thereof, wherein opposing outwardly extending lips each include a detent therein that is separated from the stops by a portion of the outwardly extending lip and vertical walls, wherein,when first and second transport containers are stacked one atop the other, the outwardly extending lip of a first vertical wall of the first transport container accepts the transverse abutment surface of the second transport container and the detents of the opposing outwardly extending lips of the first transport container accepts the stops of the second transport container such that the first and second transport containers are retained relative to each other in stacked relation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for stacking mail having an escort assembly for handling each mailpiece. The system comprises a containment device, a transport mechanism and a detachment mechanism. The 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 transport mechanism includes first and second transport segment, the first transport segment conveying escort assemblies and respective mailpieces over an open end of the containment device and the second transport segment lowering the escort assemblies and respective mailpieces into the open end of the containment device. The transport mechanism furthermore aligns the edges of the mailpieces along one of the vertical walls of the containment device and positions the escort assembly through the slot of the containment device. The detachment mechanism is operative to release the mailpieces from the respective escort assembly and move the escort assemblies through the slot of the containment device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A transport container adapted to be stacked on an angle for maintaining the relative position of mailpieces stacked therein during transport, each transport container comprising:
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a base and a plurality of vertical walls projecting from the base to define an enclosure for containing mailpieces therein, the base having a transverse abutment surface formed therein and a pair of stops projecting outwardly from opposing vertical walls of the plurality of vertical walls, and the vertical walls each defining an outwardly extending lip along an upper edge thereof, wherein opposing outwardly extending lips each include a detent therein that is separated from the stops by a portion of the outwardly extending lip and vertical walls, wherein, when first and second transport containers are stacked one atop the other, the outwardly extending lip of a first vertical wall of the first transport container accepts the transverse abutment surface of the second transport container and the detents of the opposing outwardly extending lips of the first transport container accepts the stops of the second transport container such that the first and second transport containers are retained relative to each other in stacked relation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A transport container adapted to be stacked during transport, each transport container of the stack comprising:
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a base; a plurality of vertical walls projecting from the base; a recess formed across an entirety of the base between two of the vertical walls that oppose one another on a first side of the transport container; an outwardly extending lip provided along an upper edge of each of the plurality of vertical walls; a detent provided in the outwardly extending lip of the two vertical walls that oppose one another; and a stop mechanism extending outwardly from the two vertical walls that oppose one another and separated from the detent by a portion of the outwardly extending lip, the stop mechanism being on a second side of the transport container, wherein when first and second transport containers are stacked one atop the other; the lip of a first vertical wall positioned adjacent between the two vertical walls that oppose one another on the first transport container engages with the recess of the second transport container; and the stop mechanism of the second transport container engages with the detents of the first transport container such that the first and second transport containers are retained relative to each other in angled stacked relation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification