Method and mechanism to automate mail sweeping

• US 9,968,969 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2015
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba International Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba International Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Brigham, Michael Edward, Gavenas, Jeffrey Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Joseph C
• Application Number:
  US14/755,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20160001911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 209630, 211 12, 211134
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/087 the objects being taken up in transport files or holders which are not part of the conveyor belts cable post B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/02 Compartmented furniture, e.g. pigeon-holes B07C7/005 takes precedence; furniture per se A47B; storage racks B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/04 Apparatus or accessories for hand picking

Abstract

Presently disclosed embodiments are directed to a process and mechanism for reducing human error and manual labor used to sweep pockets on a mail sorting machine. Specifically, the disclosed embodiments utilize a sliding drawer holding a receiving container that can mate in a flush arrangement with an output pocket of a mail sorting machine. Thus, sweeping of mail product from the output pocket to the receiving container can be accomplished in one motion that empties the entire output pocket into the receiving container. This sweeping may be performed by an operator without any errors caused by sweeping to an incorrect receiving container or issues caused by dropping sorted mail product and picking it back up in a different order.

Claims

1. A mail sortation and transportation system, comprising:

a mail sorter comprising an output pocket, wherein the mail sorter is configured to receive mail product and to sort at least a portion of the mail product into the output pocket; and

a drawer system that is separate from the mail sorter and disposed across an aisle space from the mail sorter, the drawer system comprising a storage rack and a drawer that is slidably coupled to the storage rack;

wherein the drawer comprises a slide mechanism interfacing with the storage rack, wherein the drawer is moveable between a closed position and an open position relative to the storage rack via the slide mechanism;

wherein the storage rack is in a stationary position with respect to the mail sorter when the drawer is in both the closed and open positions relative to the storage rack;

wherein in the closed position the drawer is housed within and fully supported by the storage rack;

wherein in the open position the drawer remains attached to and fully supported by the storage rack and is extended from the storage rack across the aisle space to a position immediately adjacent the output pocket of the mail sorter;

wherein the mail sorter comprises a plurality of output pockets and is configured to receive mail product and to sort the mail product into at least one of the plurality of output pockets, and wherein the drawer system comprises a plurality of drawers that are slidably coupled to the storage rack, wherein each of the plurality of drawers comprises a slide mechanism interfacing with the storage rack, and wherein each of the plurality of drawers is moveable between a closed position and an open position relative to the storage rack via the corresponding slide mechanism; and

wherein the mail sorter comprises a total number of output pockets that is equivalent to a total number of drawers in the drawer system.

2. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, wherein the drawer comprises a leading edge that is in direct contact with a lower edge of the output pocket when the drawer is in the open position.

3. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, wherein the drawer is in flush engagement with the output pocket of the mail sorter when in the open position.

4. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, wherein when the drawer is in the open position, a gap of less than approximately one inch in width is present between an edge of the output pocket and a leading edge of the drawer.

5. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, comprising a receiving container removably disposed in the drawer.

6. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 5, wherein the drawer is not permanently affixed to the output pocket or to the receiving container.

7. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 5, wherein the drawer comprises an open back side facing a direction opposite the mail sorter, wherein the open back side enables access to the receiving container located within the drawer when the drawer is in the closed position.

8. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 5, wherein the drawer comprises rollers interfacing with a lower surface of the receiving container.

9. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 5, wherein the receiving container comprises an automated bin having an adjustable floor or adjustable sides.

10. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 9, wherein when the drawer is in the open position, the adjustable floor of the receiving container is tilted relative to a horizontal plane.

11. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 9, wherein the drawer and the slide mechanism of the drawer are both slanted relative to a horizontal plane.

12. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 9, wherein the drawer comprises:

a stationary portion that remains level with respect to a horizontal plane when the drawer is in the open position and in the closed position; and

a moveable portion that is level with respect to the horizontal plane when the drawer is in the closed position, wherein the moveable portion is tilted downward relative to the horizontal plane when the drawer is in the open position.

13. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, wherein the drawer comprises a customizable handle with an edge that can be brought into alignment with the output pocket.

14. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, comprising a tray storage and movement system configured to transport receiving containers into the drawer, away from the drawer, or onto a tray to feeder path.

15. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 14, wherein the drawer system comprises a “

full container”

indicator that, when selected by an operator, signals the tray storage and movement system to remove the receiving container from the drawer.

18. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 1, wherein in the closed position an opening at the top of the drawer is inaccessible to an operator in the aisle space, and wherein in the open position the opening at the top of the drawer is accessible to an operator in the aisle space.

16. A mail sortation and transportation system, comprising:

a drawer system comprising a storage rack and a plurality of drawers that are slidably coupled to and moveable relative to the storage rack, wherein the storage rack is located in a stationary position, and wherein each of the plurality of drawers comprises a slide mechanism interfacing with the storage rack, wherein each of the plurality of drawers is fully supported by the storage rack and moveable relative to the stationary storage rack between a closed position and an open position via the corresponding slide mechanism;

wherein each one of the plurality of drawers, when in the closed position, is housed within and fully supported by the storage rack;

wherein each one of the plurality of drawers, when in the open position, remains attached to and fully supported by the storage rack and is extended from the storage rack across an aisle space to a position immediately adjacent a corresponding one of a plurality of output pockets of a mail sorter located across the aisle space from the drawer system; and

wherein the drawer system comprises a total number of drawers that is equivalent to a total number of output pockets in the mail sorter.

17. The mail sortation and transportation system of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of drawers is extendable across the aisle space such that the mail product in the corresponding one of the plurality of output pockets can be swept from the output pocket directly to the corresponding one of the plurality of drawers without the mail product falling through a gap between the output pocket and the drawer.