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US Patent 7259346 - Progressive modularity assortment system with high and low capacity bins

US Patent Issued on August 21, 2007
Estimated Patent Expiration Date: Icon_subject January 30, 2026Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
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Abstract

A modular bin or pocket has an integrated transport assembly and mail piece diverter assembly and is usable in a bin stacker section in mail handling and sorting systems. The modular bin is individually removable, interchangeable and replaceable from the bin stacker sections of the mail processing system to allow for repair or maintenance of malfunctioning bins leading to reduced down time of the mail processing system. The modular bin further enables vertical and/or horizontal progressive modularity, i.e., vertical and/or horizontal expansion, of the bin stacker sections of the mail processing system which allows for cost-effective expansion of mail handling systems. Further, there is closed a tray management system and a tier diverter system that are usable in mail handling systems that use the modular bin with double sided bin stacker sections or single sided bin stacker sections with or without a turnaround section.

Other References

  • EP Search Report, May 2, 2006.

Inventors

Assignee

Application

No. 11341476 filed on 01/30/2006

US Classes:

209/584, On mail209/900, SORTING FLAT-TYPE MAIL271/292, With movable receivers or receiver portions271/297, By individual diverter for each receiver209/549, Signal lamp or audible alarm209/583, Reading indicia270/58.2, With hopper271/291, With selective actuation of means for inverting duplex sheets209/657, Deflector movable into and out of path of item209/630Including means supporting items for manual sorting or allowing operator to control item destination

Field of Search

209/630, Including means supporting items for manual sorting or allowing operator to control item destination209/942, OPERATOR SELECTS DESTINATION OF ITEM209/900, SORTING FLAT-TYPE MAIL209/702, Manual sorting209/703, Item supported on table or chute209/583, Reading indicia209/584, On mail198/583, With means connecting sections for quick assembly of disassembly198/584, By means allowing relative movement of joined sections211/1.51, POWER OPERATED211/1.57, Linearly movable211/1.52, Revolvable271/303, With movable diverter271/292, With movable receivers or receiver portions271/298, With means to program discharge destination271/177, Means to push sheets out of edgewise into broadside movement (e.g., packer)271/181, Packing sheets on-edge into receiver271/220, With movable pack-limiting member(s) (e.g., hold-down)271/207, To receiver for pack of sheets271/288, With control means to vary mode of operation271/297, By individual diverter for each receiver414/793.1, And endless belt for transporting414/793.3, And endless belt for transporting414/794.4, Includes endless belt for delivering414/795, Includes rotary deliverer414/788.3, And varying orientation of tapered articles in stack414/790.9, Stacks articles on different supports270/58.18, Plural stackers270/58.21, Radially arranged270/58.22, Annularly arranged270/58.08, Binding399/110Modular or displaceable

Examiners

Primary: Mackey, Patrick
Assistant: Hageman, Mark

Attorney, Agent or Firm

US Patent References

3219204, 3889811, 4124121, Document sorter system having interchangeable pocket modules
Issued on: 11/07/1978
Inventor: Sung ,   et al.
4146215, Horizontal collator-sorter
Issued on: 03/27/1979
Inventor: Mol
4190247, Sheet receiving apparatus
Issued on: 02/26/1980
Inventor: Guenther
5135115, Document sorter and stacker, particularly for document processors
Issued on: 08/04/1992
Inventor: Miller, et al.
5150891, Shingle device for use in multi-pass sorting machine
Issued on: 09/29/1992
Inventor: Svyatsky, et al.
5172909, Secondary pivotal drive stacker roller enabling stacking of small and large documents
Issued on: 12/22/1992
Inventor: Ricciardi
5398922, Feeder system for a mail sorter
Issued on: 03/21/1995
Inventor: Malatesta
5501449, Sorting apparatus and sorting and processing apparatus
Issued on: 03/26/1996
Inventor: Olexy, et al.
5649026, Apparatus for detecting marks on documents
Issued on: 07/15/1997
Inventor: Heins, III
5971161, Mailpiece sorting device
Issued on: 10/26/1999
Inventor: Branecky, et al.
6201203Robotic containerization system
Issued on: 03/13/2001
Inventor: Tilles

Foreign Patent References

  • 60-61442 JP 04/01/1985
  • WO99/20530 WO 04/01/1999
  • WO99/37411 WO 07/01/1999
  • WO 00/53344 WO 09/01/2000
  • WO 01/12348 WO 02/01/2001

International Class

B07C 5/00

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