The present invention relates to the field of mail sorting, and particularly to an apparatus and method for loading mail pieces into individual receptacles such as slots or pockets.
Each day more than 200,000 United States Postal Service (USPS) carriers deliver mail to approximately 100 million individual domestic addresses. The mail received and delivered by the USPS generally consists of three broad types of items, namely letters, flat mail that is larger than letter mail, and parcels. The term “letter” is generally used to refer to postcards, standard sized letters and mail pieces of similar dimensions, whereas the term “flat” is generally used to refer to magazines, catalogues and similar, larger mail pieces. Before a carrier begins to walk or drive through his or her delivery route, it is the carrier's responsibility to put all of this mail into an appropriate sequence for efficient delivery.
Under the present USPS procedure, the carrier assembles at least three sequenced stacks of mail, including letters, flats (including enveloped and non-enveloped magazines), and parcels. The carrier may also have one or more additional sequenced stacks, e.g., pre-sorted mass-mail items to be delivered to many or all of the stops on the delivery route. Thus, at each delivery stop the carrier selects the items for that address from each of the various stacks and puts them all into the postal patron's mailbox. This sorting and shuffling through various stacks of mail is time consuming, inefficient, and consequently expensive to the USPS.
One approach to reducing the amount of handling required is to sort and assemble the mail by delivery point. However, current mail sorting systems are not adapted to sort and collect mail destined for a single delivery point or address as a discreet group of mail pieces. Rather, mail is typically sorted in delivery bar code sorting machines into bins using destination information scanned from the mail piece using a bar code scanner or optical character recognition equipment. Although these machines are capable of sorting mail pieces within a limited size and thickness range, these machines are limited to sorting the mail into delivery order. Further, a large fraction of mail is not processed with these machines and must be manually sorted, producing a multiplicity of groupings of mail sorted into delivery order. This leaves the carrier with the task, at each delivery point, of separately accessing each grouping or stack of mail and separating the mail within each group by delivery point.
Thus, there exists a need for an automated method and apparatus that is capable of sorting and assembling mail pieces destined for a single delivery point into a single, discreet group for delivery by a carrier, as well as for reducing the amount of manual labor used to prepare or case mail for delivery.
The invention provides a method for sorting mail to a case having a plurality of slots, wherein each slot corresponds to a destination, such as a specific address. Such a method includes the steps of:
(a) loading a mail piece to be sorted into a delivery robot;
(b) determining for the mail piece a destination slot the mail piece is to be delivered to;
(c) moving the delivery robot along a rail disposed at the front of the case near the slots into proximity with an open end of the destination slot;
(d) inserting the mail piece from the delivery robot into the associated slot; and
(e) returning the delivery robot to a loading station whereby steps (a)-(d) may be repeated.
The delivery robot moves along a rail or other guide structure mounted above and/or below a horizontal row of the slots. According to one aspect of the invention, each slot is filled with a plastic bag that can be pulled down after sorting in completed, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2002/0031284, Mar. 14, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. The slot, with or without its bag, may already be partly filled with mail when another mail piece is to be inserted by the delivery robot. According to a preferred form of the invention, a special automated insertion mechanism is provided which can assure that a mail piece can be added to the slot without damaging the mail piece and without crushing or pulling out mail pieces already in the slot. For this purpose step (d) preferably further comprises extending an insertion mechanism holding the mail piece into the slot, and retracting the insertion mechanism from the slot in a manner effective to leave the mail piece in the slot.
According to another aspect of the invention, the case into which mail is sorted is built onto a rolling cart. At the end of the sorting run, an insert defining the series of separator slots is removed from the rolling case to allow the case to move away from the sorting machine into a truck or to another destination. Prior to the next sorting run, empty cases are rolled into predetermined positions alongside the fixed guide frame located at the front side of the case, and the insert defining the slots is moved into the case to facilitate sortation.
An automated system for sorting a series of mail pieces according to the invention includes a rail system forming a loop, a number of mail piece delivery robots mounted on the rail for movement along the loop, each delivery robot having an insertion mechanism that can receive a mail piece therein and then insert it into a destination slot, an automated loading station including a conveyor having a loading end at which a mail piece exits the conveyer and enters the insertion mechanism of an delivery robot positioned on the rail in alignment with the loading station, a case disposed along the rail for receiving mail sorted thereto for a plurality of destinations in delivery order, means such as an onboard propulsion system for moving the delivery robots from the loading station to the case and back to the loading station on the loop, and a control system that coordinates movement of the delivery robots so that each delivery robot moves from the loading station to a slot which corresponds to a destination indicated on the mail piece and then returns to the loading station to receive another mail piece for sorting. The case may have predefined slots into which mail pieces are inserted, which slots correspond to specific destinations, or slots may be defined by paired guides and partitions mounted on a rack by means of a movable frame that allows such guides and partitions to be inserted into the case.
The invention also provides a method of inserting a second flat article into a slot or similar opening having at least one first article positioned in the slot. Such a method includes the steps of (a) positioning an inserter apparatus in the slot adjacent to a first side of moveable guide, the moveable guide being positioned between the inserter apparatus and first article, the inserter apparatus carrying the second article, and (b) retracting the moveable guide from the slot, the moveable guide having a guide stripper surface in contact with the first article, and separating the guide stripper surface from the first article in a lateral direction as the moveable guide is retracted so that the portion of the guide stripper surface in contact with the first article does not move relative to the first article until separated, the guide stripper surface (e.g., a movable belt) being separated from the first article simultaneously with the retraction of the guide from the slot.
An inserter apparatus according to the invention useful for sorting mail pieces or other articles includes a frame, a pair of inserter plates spaced to receive a mail piece therebetween, a first guide disposed on the frame on which the inserter plates can move from a retracted position to an extended position, an H-shaped belt including two loops united by a lateral connecting portion, the loops being slidably mounted on each of the plates, a first drive system disposed on the frame for moving the plates and belt between the extended and retracted positions, and a second drive system disposed on the frame and connected to the connecting portion of the belt for moving the connecting portion of the belt forward and back along the plates, causing sliding movement of the loops around the outsides of each of the belts, with forward movement being effective to move a mail piece received by the belt ahead of the connecting portion out of a front end opening of the plates, and rearward movement being effective to draw a mail piece received in the front end opening of the plates rearwardly to a position between the plates. The H-shaped belt does not move relative to the mail piece as it is inserted.
The invention further provides other innovations related to mail sorting, for example, partitions that can move more than one pitch or slot width allow overfilling and move so that the inserter thickness does not reduce the capacity of the slot. A guide frame of the invention guides thin flat articles as such articles are received in a series of destination slots. The guide frame includes a series of substantially rigid, spaced apart partition, each pair of adjacent partitions defining a slot for receiving a flat thin article, and a frame including a mounting mechanism by which each of the partitions is mounted so that each partition is moveable over a limited range in a lateral direction along the frame. Adjacent partitions have overlapping ranges of lateral movement so that each slot may be expanded by lateral movement of adjacent partitions in opposite directions. The partitions may be mounted by means of brackets that slide in a series of spaced slots in the frame that overlap in a lateral direction, the ends of each slot defining the limited range of movement of each partition. Springs may be provided to reposition each partition so that each slot returns to normal size after an object causing the slot to expand has been removed from the slot.
A robot for delivery of articles according to the invention, especially thin flat articles such as letters, includes a frame, a carriage assembly configured for supporting the frame for movement along a rail, an article ejection mechanism mounted on the frame for receiving, holding and then ejecting an article, a signal receiver operative to accept a signal from a remote source directing the transport apparatus to a selected one of the plurality of destinations at which to eject the article, a sensor operable to locate the selected destination as the transport apparatus travels along the rail, and a controller which actuates the ejection mechanism in accordance with delivery instructions received by the signal receiver and a signal from the sensor indicating the robot is in position for ejection of the article to the selected destination.
The invention also includes an apparatus for transferring a thin flat article such as a letter into a delivery robot operating on a rail system. A loading station of such an apparatus includes a first pair of opposed movable elements mounted on a loading station frame, the first pair of opposed elements configured to engage and transport a flat thin article therebetween and eject the article from the opposed elements at a loading location, and a system for actuating the opposed elements when a delivery robot is in position to receive a thin flat article. A conveyor is equipped for engaging an incoming robot on an entry side and conveying the robot to a loading position at which the opposed elements of the loading station are in alignment with a pair of opposed receiving elements of the robot. The conveyor has an indexing system that controls movement of the robot to ensure that the robot is in the loading position when the loading station is actuated. In a preferred embodiment, synchronized moving belts may be used as the opposed elements to ensure that an article such as a mail piece is smoothly transferred from a loading conveyer to the delivery robot. Loading of a mail piece into an H-belt on the delivery robot may be controlled by retraction of a belt drive post to achieve controlled deceleration of the mail piece.
The invention further provides a method and apparatus for simultaneous insertion, packaging, traying, containerizing of mail, and a portable mail case for use in such a method in which mail can be sorted directly into trays. Where plastic bags are mounted in the case instead of using fixed slot dividers, the invention provides a method and apparatus for simultaneous loading into bag, tray, and container such as a rolling case. Further, since the system of the invention permits sorting to a relatively large number of slots or bags in a relatively compact space, the invention permits single pass sortation of mail in delivery order on a reasonable scale of system size and density. The system of the invention also achieves such sortation without any bending of mail pieces and accommodates mail of varying sizes and thicknesses, i.e., mixed mail. The invention also provides a method and apparatus for single step sorting directly to mail trays positioned in delivery carts, eliminating the traditional steps of manual sorting to a mail case and then pulling down the sorted mail into trays. These and other aspects of the invention are set forth in the detailed description which follows.
For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures in which corresponding numerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts and in which:
a is a partial top view of the inserter of
a is partial perspective view of a guide frame of
b is a cutaway view of the guide frame of
c is a cutaway side view of the guide frame of
a-13f are perspective views of the extractor and inserter mechanisms of
a-14f are schematic partial top views of the plates and belt assemblies of the inserter mechanism of
While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.
Turning to
In operation, an unordered batch of unsorted mail is loaded into feeder 14 which singulates and feed the mail pieces to leveler 16 by means of a pickoff mechanism that removes mail pieces from the end of an edgewise stack one at a time. The mail pieces then enter detection module 18 where overlapping, oversized and/or overweight mail pieces are detected and diverted onto divert conveyor 18a for further processing. The individual components loading of station 12 are known in art.
Destination information appearing on the surfaces of mail pieces passing through read station 20 is scanned with fluorescent bar code reader 22 and/or scanner 24 which transmits to the scanned images to a central computer 30 for resolution with bar code and OCR character recognition software according to known methods. OCR software can also be run locally at read station 20. The resolved destination information for the mail piece is stored at least temporarily in memory of computer 30 or in a stored database accessed by computer 30. A video image of each mail piece passing through read station 20 is captured by scanner 24 (e.g., a grayscale digital camera) and sent to a video image server or recorder 27 which stores the video image for transmission to a human operator for resolution and manual entry of the destination data in the event that the OCR computer cannot resolve a bar code or OCR image data for a mail piece. After scanning, the stream of mail pieces is conveyed through transfer conveyor 40 to first and second loading conveyors 42 and 44, respectively, which load the mail pieces onto an automated delivery unit or robot 100 for delivery to the location selected by central computer 30 as set forth below. Computer 30 controls operations of conveyors 40, 42, 44 according to an overall control scheme which maintains a steady feed of mail pieces into the sorting system and tracks each mail piece through conveyors 40, 42, 44 so that the destination of the mail piece to be loaded into a robot 100 is always known by computer 30.
Mail handling system 10 of the invention utilizes a plurality of delivery robots 100 that receive mail pieces from loading station 12, travel along a track system 60 to insert each of the mail pieces to a selected one of a plurality of slots 72 in one or more of mail cases 70, and then return to loading station 12 for reloading. Track system 60 includes one or more trolley rails 62 and an electrified power rail 64 (
It is possible to insert mail pieces into slot 72 by means of robots provided with little more than an ejection mechanism, if slots 72 are made sufficiently large that overcrowding of mail in each slot does not become a problem. Slots 72 could, for example, be in the nature of chutes each capable of holding a large amount of mail, with mail sliding to the end of the chute under the force of gravity. Each chute could end in a removal door or an opening having a plastic bag mounted thereon into which mail falling through the chute is collected. However, for ergonomic and slot density/floor space efficiency reasons, it is preferred to make slots 72 smaller, to the point where insertion of a mail piece into an almost-full slot becomes necessary. Further, as described in the foregoing U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2002/0031284, it would be useful for slots 72 to comprise a series of bags mounted on a supporting frame so that the mail can be sorted in carrier delivery order directly to thin walled plastic delivery bags, without additional steps of removing the sorted mail from the slots and transporting it to a packaging or bagging machine.
Inserting a single mail piece into a slot or bag already partly filled with mail is a difficult task. If the mail piece is inserted by itself, without the support of an inserter that enters the slot with it, it may strike mail already in the slot and double up, causing insertion to fail. This is likely if the mail piece is thin and flexible compared to other mail being sorted. At the other extreme, if the mail piece is large and rigid, it may crush less sturdy mail pieces as it forces its way in, or even rupture the bag, if one is used. If a simple inserter is used, for example, a pair of fingers that grasp the mail piece and reach in with it, the problem of crushing other mail or ripping the bag still persists. Accordingly, to assure that even a thin, frail mail piece can be inserted successfully into a slot, whether a walled slot or the mouth of a bag, a system is needed that prevents contact between the mail piece being inserted and one or more mail pieces already present in the slot. The present invention provides a two-part system that addresses these difficulties. As described in detail below, such a system includes both a mechanical inserter small and thin enough to be mounted on each robot 100, and a guide frame that cooperates with the inserter to protect mail already in the slot and assure that the inserted mail enters the slot successfully. In addition, steps must be taken to prevent mail in the slot from being pulled out of the slot when the inserter withdraws, and also when the guide frame is withdrawn after sorting is completed.
The guide frame of the invention is inserted into the slots of the mail case 70 prior to sorting. Referring to
Each partition 502 and guide assembly 550 pair is configured to partition the case 70 shelf, thereby creating individual slots 72. Further, if bags are present, the guide walls are dimensioned to fit into corresponding bags. In a simplified embodiment, and especially where slots with fixed walls are used in case 70, it may be sufficient to omit partition 502 and use only a movable guide 550, which acts as a guide to separate the incoming mail piece from mail already in the slot. On the other hand, partitions 502 can serve as dividers, eliminating the need for fixed slot walls 71. In such a case, it would be preferable to provide the partitions with moving belts or the like as described in connection with the guides to prevent mail from coming out of the case when the partitions are withdrawn at the end of a sorting run.
In general, when the robot 100 reaches a selected slot 72 and identifies it by suitable means, such as scanning a bar coded tag associated with that slot, the robot positions an inserter 142 (FIG. 6,) holding a mail piece into slot 72 between the partition 502 (on the left) and the guide assembly 550 (on the right as shown), avoiding direct contact between the inserter 142 and any mail already present in the slot 72, which is to one side of the inserter 142. Guide assembly 550 is then repositioned to the opposite side of inserter 142. Inserter 142 then inserts the mail piece into the slot, and inserter 142 is then retracted. According to a preferred form of the invention, the difficult task of inserting the mail piece is accomplished by moving a pair of inserter panels having the mail piece held there between into the slot, and then withdrawing the plates while leaving the mail piece behind, and without disturbing any mail previously sorted to one side of the inserter 142.
In general, when the robot reaches a selected slot 72 and identifies it by suitable means, such as scanning a bar coded tag associated with that slot, the robot positions an inserter 142 (
Once the robot 100 successfully unloads a mail piece into the selected slot 72, it returns via the rail system to the loading station 12, more specifically to the end of a queue of robots 100 awaiting loading, and receives another mail piece whereafter the process is repeated until all mail has been sorted. While computer 30 does accomplish a number of centralized functions, in particular operating the loading station, in a preferred embodiment of the invention it does not control individual robots 100 during their passage along the rail system. While such centralized control is certainly possible, such as using a wireless LAN or by transmitting signals along the rail, the simultaneous control of a very large number of robots requires elaborate software, may cause network bandwidth problems, and may increase the cost of each robot 100. Accordingly, the preferred form of the system is based on distributed control. As described in detail hereafter, each robot 100 receives a series of instructions from computer 30 after receiving a mail piece for delivery. These instructions are a bare minimum the robot needs to navigate itself from the exit side of the loading station 12 to the designated slot, for example, instructions on which switch position to actuate on its way to the destination followed by which slot to insert the mail into. For example (see
This brings the robot 100 at step 3 to the rail passing by second tier 74b from the top, whereupon the robot 100 uses an on board bar code scanner 122 (
The following is a detailed example of a robot and guide system capable of accomplishing the foregoing preferred form of the invention. Referring now to
Motor 110 may be equipped with an encoder 116 that registers the revolutions turned by the motor and transmits a signal to an onboard microprocessor 120, which uses the encoder signal to measure movement of the robot 100 along rail 62. Encoders such as encoder 116 are well known devices routinely used for control functions and are typically positioned inside the motor housing. The encoder can be used to measure cumulative wear on each robot 100 for purposes of determining when maintenance is needed. Controller 120 can be programmed to direct the robot 100 to a side rail for servicing after the distance traveled exceeds a preprogrammed amount. Robot 100 is also provided with a set of lower support wheels 98, mounted on the lower edge of a long side wall 108 of carrier frame 106, that engage shelf 78 to support and stabilize robot 100 during loading and unloading operations.
Robot 100 is equipped with a bar code reader 122 for reading bar coded tags or signs 66 positioned along track system 60. Bar code reader 122 is mounted on carrier frame 106 at a location to facilitate scanning tags 66, at the switches (66a, 66b,
As shown in
Referring to
As best illustrated in
Referring now to
Reliably receiving and discharging flat elongated items having variable dimensions and differing degrees of stiffness from a traveling transfer device such as robot 100 presents a number of challenges. A device designed to receive and discharge such items must be configured to receive items having a substantial range of widths, heights and thicknesses. In the case of mail pieces, the device must be capable of handling relatively heavy, thick and stiff items such as large envelopes, magazines and similar items. Alternatively, the device must also be capable of receiving flimsy single-sheets that are highly flexible, difficult to reliably engage, transfer and hold and are easily crumpled or damaged. Further, it is desirable that such items be received and discharged on the same side of the transfer device to facilitate equipment placement and reduce the footprint of the transfer system.
Turning now to
The lower edge of the stripper plate 256 (
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As best illustrated in
As best illustrated in
Turning to
Referring again to
As best illustrated in
In a first mode of operation, conveyor 410 moves or indexes robot 100 into alignment with second unloading conveyor 44 and stops with inserter 142 positioned such that a mail piece 425 conveyed by the second loading conveyor 44 will be aligned between inserter plates 252, 254 and inserter belts 280, 282 of the robot 100. Bar code reader 122 and/or a proximity switch or similar sensor 416, mounted adjacent to second loading conveyor 44 may be used in addition to the signal from the encoder of motor 414 to signal central computer 30, confirming that robot 100 is in position for loading.
As robot 100 moves into loading position, double-sided timing belt 350 of robot 100 moves into engagement with a corresponding powered double-sided timing belt 420 that is mounted adjacent to the path of robot 100. Powered double-sided timing belt 420 is conventionally driven with a motor 422 operated under control of central computer 30. Motor 422 is also provided with an encoder connected to computer 30, enabling computer 30 to monitor the speed of belt 420 and distance belt 420 travels when actuated.
As illustrated in
Referring again to
A detector, preferably a photocell 430, is positioned to detect the leading edge of the mail piece as it passes through a small gap between first and second loading conveyors 42, 44. When detector 430 senses the leading edge of the mail piece, it signals computer 30 which in turn decelerates conveyor 44 to a selected linear velocity matching the speed at which inserter belts 280, 282 will be operated to receive mail piece 425. Simultaneously, or with a small, preprogrammed delay, computer 30 engages motor 422 to drive belt 420 which in turn drives belt 350, carrying belt post 300 in an inboard (rearward) direction. As belt post 300 moves rearward, web 284 moves with it, causing inserter belts 280 and 282 to slide around inserter plates 252, 254 such that mail piece 425 is received and captured between the belts (left belt 280 clockwise, right belt 282 counterclockwise). Ideally there is no relative motion between the mail piece and the H-belt. Computer 30, using the signal from photocell 430, may delay or adjust the time at which it engages motor 422 such that inserter belts 280, 282 begin to move just as the leading edge of the mail piece 425 reaches inserter 142. Since inserter plates are held in position with cable 270 and spring 274, plates 252 and 254 can move laterally to accommodate mail pieces of varying thickness.
Computer 30, utilizing the signals from the encoders associated with motors 46 and 422, synchronizes the velocity of second loading conveyor 44 with the velocity of inserter belts 280, 282 as the mail piece 425 is transferred from conveyor 44 to inserter 142. Since second loading conveyor 44 and belts 280, 282 are driven at the same, or approximately the same, linear velocity, mail piece 425 is not subjected to longitudinal forces that would tend to cause the mail piece to buckle or bend as it is transferred from conveyor 44 to inserter 142. This feature allows mail-handling system 10 to process flimsy mail pieces such as thin single sheets that would otherwise be damaged or jam the system. This feature also provides a means of decelerating heavy mail pieces in a manner that avoids damaging the mail piece or the mechanism. While as described, the synchronization of conveyor 44 with inserter belts 280, 282 is accomplished by computer 30, it will be appreciated that the function may be accomplished with a variety of sensors and motor control devices known to those of skill in the art and all of which are specifically contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.
After a calculated or preprogrammed time interval sufficient to allow inserter belts 280, 282 to travel sufficiently to fully engage and capture mail piece 425 as illustrated in
In a second mode of operation, robot 100 continues to travel during the entire loading process. Referring now to
Referring again to
As illustrated in
Turning now to
Each of partitions 502a is formed with an associated pair of upper and lower mounting brackets 530 at the upper and lower front corners of the partition. Brackets 530 each have an L-shaped mounting pin 538a that extends upwardly then outwardly from partition 502a that is sized and configured to be slidably positioned one of a row of slots 520 in the front wall 524 of each channel members 510 and 512. Similarly, each of partitions 502b is formed with a pair of mounting brackets 536 at the upper and lower front corners of the partition including an L-shaped mounting pin 538b sized and configured to be slidably positioned in slots 522 in the rear side walls 526 of channel members 510 and 512. (Pins 538a extend up and then forwardly; pins 538b extend up and then rearwardly.) In
Alternating the sliding pin arrangement from front (pins 538a) to the back (pins 538b) in the arrangement of brackets 530, 536, together with slots 520 and 522 and mounting bars 538, permits partitions 502 to move laterally over a limited range within rectangular frame 500. Since slots 520 and 522 overlap, partitions 502a and 502b can move laterally across the same space within frame 500, providing a greater range of horizontal freedom than would otherwise be possible. This feature is particularly desirable where partitions 502a and 502b are to be inserted into a plurality of slots 72, each slot 72 containing a plastic bag held in a mail case 70 adopted to retain a plurality of such bags as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2002/0031284, or in an embodiment where the case has no slot walls 71. The ability of the partition and guide to open extra wide permits one slot to borrow space from adjacent ones and become overfilled with mail. It also permits the slot to expand temporarily to permit the inserter to enter between the partition and guide. In an embodiment employing a plurality of plastic bags retained in a mail case 70, the ability of partitions 502a and 502b to move laterally to accommodate differing amounts of mail received in adjacent bags provides greater overall system capacity and flexibility.
Referring again to
Each of racks 480 is provided with a guide frame drive assembly 588 (
As will be appreciated, inserting a plurality of elongated flat, potentially flimsy items into a relatively narrow slot presents a number of difficulties. For example, if a first item is already positioned in the slot, there is a high probability that the second item inserted into the slot will catch on the first item when inserted, in which case both items may be damaged or crumpled or the second item may not enter the slot. Another problem is presented when the inserting device enters the slot. The inserting device may catch on an item previously placed in the slot, crumpling or damaging the item. When the inserting device is withdrawn from the slot, there is the possibility that the inserting device will drag one or more or the articles out of the slot when withdrawn. If the slot is a thin plastic bag and the second item inserted, or the inserting device, catches on a first item previously inserted in the bag, the first item may tear or punch through the bag.
In order to overcome these difficulties, in accordance with the invention and as best illustrated in
A fabric stripper belt 564 similar to belt 286 extends continuously around stripper guide plate 560 and is configured to slide around plate 560 as the plate is moved. A latch hook 562 is fastened to the front lower corners of slip-sheet 552 and stripper guide plate 560 such that guide assembly 550 may be pulled out of slot 72 by pulling hook 562 outwardly from frame 500. Hooks 562 are vertically oriented, and are shown horizontally in
Each partition 502 is biased toward an adjacent partition 502 by one of a series of an L-shaped arms 570 each having a short end 572 pivotally mounted to horizontal beam 484 of rack 480 and a long end or post 574 extending upwardly between stripper belt 564 and stripper guide plate 560. Only one of the arms 570 appears in
Referring again to
Referring again to
With guide frames 80 inserted into each tier of mail cases 70, each mail case 70 is ready to receive a incoming mail piece 425a from robot 100. Robot 100 locates the slot 72 selected by computer 30 to receive mail piece 425 using onboard bar code reader 122 to identify the tag 66c corresponding to slot 72 assigned by computer 30 to receive mail piece 425. Referring now to
Next, microprocessor 120 activates motor 162, extending inserter 142 outwardly from robot 100 to position the inserter 142 between partition 502 and slip plate 552 as shown in
As inserter 142 is extended, inserter plates 252, 254 and web 284 are advanced with inserter bar 220, carrying belt post 300 outwardly from robot 100. Drive block 224 engages cam surface 332 of latch bar 320, pivoting the bar 320 upwardly in passing (
Edge 262 of stripper plate 256 disengages ramp-like arm 205 as inserter 142 is extended, allowing latch spring 204 to raise latch 202 so that it engages latch hook 562 as illustrated in
Microprocessor 120 then reverses the direction of motor 160, extending extractor 140 to insert guide assembly 550 between partition 502 and inserter 142 as illustrated in
As guide assembly 550 is extracted from slot 72, moving from the position illustrated in
Turning now to
As inserter belts 280, 282 are forced to slide around inserter plates 252, 254, stripper belt 286, which is attached to inserter belt 282, is also forced to slide around stripper plate 256 which is retracted simultaneously with inserter plates 252, 254. As stripper belt 286 slides around stripper plate 256, it is pulled away from mail piece 425b with a peeling motion as described above, preventing mail piece 425b from being dragged from slot 72 as inserter 142 is retracted.
Simultaneously with or shortly after the release of mail piece 425 by belts 280, 282, drive block 224 engages a frontwardly facing portion of cam surface 332 of bar 320, causing the bar to pivot (
Referring again to
As unsorted mail pieces enter mail handling and sorting system 10, destination information for each mail piece is determined utilizing one or more of fluorescent bar code reader 22, OCR 24 or a video encoding system (not shown) connected to the video image lift or scanner 26 at reader station 20. The destination information for each mail piece is stored in a database associated with central computer 30 as the mail pieces are scanned. Also stored in the database associated with computer 30 are the destinations on a given carrier's route along with the number and location of slots 72 in mail cases 70 into which mail pieces destined for a particular address or location are to be sorted. Utilizing this information and preprogrammed instructions, computer 30 assigns each mail piece read at reader 20 a destination code corresponding to a particular slot 72 in a mail case 70 as the mail piece is processed into system 10.
After a robot 100 is loaded with a mail piece, computer 30 transmits the destination code for the mail piece to the robot 100 as described above. If the destination information for the mail piece cannot be machine read and resolved, a video image of the mail piece, obtained by video image lift or scanner 26 is transmitted to a video encoding system for resolution by a human operator. While the human operator interprets and manually enters the address data, robot 100, following preprogrammed instructions or in response to a signal from computer 30 signals switch 68e to move into position to switch the robot onto full loop 60f. The robot 100 carrying the unresolved mail pieces travels around “full” or idling/holding loop 60f until the destination information for the mail piece is resolved and entered into computer 30 which then transmits the destination code to the robot via infrared transmitter/receiver 132c positioned adjacent to full loop 60f. Robot 100 then signals switch 68f to direct the robot off the full loop and back onto outgoing track tower 50. Full loop 60f also provides a holding area for robots in the event that a down stream condition prevents one or more robots 100 from unloading, in which case full loop 60f serves as a buffer.
In order to prevent collisions between robots 100 as the robots move along track system 60, each of the robots 100 is provided with an anti-collision detector such as a proximity switch 126 (
Empty robots 100 returning to the loading station 12 are merged onto incoming merge or empty tower 52 and track 60e. If a predetermined number of robots 100 are in the queue for loading, computer 30 signals switch 68g to route robot 100 onto empty loop 60g, which serves as a buffer or staging area until additional robots are required at the loading station. When computer 30 determines that additional robots 100 are required at loading station 12, the computer signals switch 68h to switch empty robots 100 off of empty loop 60g onto track segment 60e, directing the empty robots into loading station 12.
A reject or recycle station may be provided for mail pieces with destination information that cannot be resolved and must be returned for further processing. A robot 100 carrying such an unresolvable mail piece is directed to the recycle station by computer 30 where the mail piece is discharged, freeing the robot to return to the loading station. Additionally, a maintenance sidetrack may be provided. In one embodiment, robots 100 are programmed to proceed to the maintenance side track upon sensing a fault condition requiring servicing, utilizing transmitter/receiver 130 to communicate with one or more switches 68 to route the robot to the siding. In addition to empty and full loops 60f and 60g, additional staging and shunt track sections may be incorporated as needed to insure that sufficient buffer space is provided to avoid grid-locking system 10.
In an alternative embodiment two loading stations 12 are used, with one station dedicated to processing letter mail and the second dedicated to processing flats, along with two full towers 50, two merge towers 52, empty and full loops 60f and 60g. In this embodiment, assuming that the mail is approximately 75% letter mail and 25% flats, between 800 and 1000 robots 100 are anticipated to deliver mail pieces to between 15,000 and 20,000 slots 72 at a rate of between 14,000 and 15,000 mail pieces per hour. The mail cases 70 used in this embodiment are configured with approximately 160 slots arranged in 4 tiers 72. In this embodiment, slots 72 are preferably plastic bags, and cases 70 are mobile, such that a loaded case may be wheeled to an unloading area where a carrier will remove the bags corresponding to addresses on his or her route. To prepare mail handling and sorting system 10 for a sorting run, a plurality of empty mail cases 70 are positioned along track system 60 at locations corresponding to loading racks 480 and secured in position with locks 582.
To enable an operator to readily position empty mail cases 70 and disengage filled mail cases, each of mail cases 70 is provided with casters or wheels 82. With mail cases 70 positioned and locked, the operator engages guide frame drive assembly 588 to insert guide frames 80 into slots 72 of mail cases 70. After the guide frames have been inserted into mail cases 70, a batch of unsorted mail pieces are loaded into feeder 12 at loading station 12 to begin a sorting cycle. During the cycle, unsorted mail is periodically loaded onto feeder 12 until the batch has been sorted to slots 72 in mail cases 70. When the sort cycle is completed, the operator deactivates mail-handling system 10, and engages guide frame drive assemblies 588 to retract guide frames 80 from mail cases 70. The operator then unlocks mail cases 70 and repositions the cases for unloading by the carrier. Since the mail has been sorted into delivery order with each slot corresponding to a destination address, the carrier is required only to retrieve the sorted mail from slots 70, after which the carrier can begin his or her route without the necessity of additional hand sorting by delivery point. In the embodiment where slots 72 comprise plastic bags, the carrier simply removes the bags, with the mail sorted into the bags by delivery point on his or her route, and begins the route.
Referring to
Case 700 contains a number of trays 730 which rest side by side on shelves 707, two in center section 702 and one each on wings 704. There are 4 trays per row, 16 total trays when 4 tiers are provided. Each tray comprises a flat bottom 732, a pair of opposed side walls 734 with handholds 735, and a back wall 736, leaving the front open. Shelves 707 may be slightly angled (e.g., about 1-20 degrees) in a rearward direction, so that when trays 730 are placed therein with the front side facing outward as shown, mail tends to remain in the tray by the force of gravity. Trays 730 may be made from molded plastic and fit precisely within the open front of case 700.
When case 700 is in position for sorting, mail is sorted directly to trays 730. For this purpose, trays may be provided with parallel partition walls that correspond to side walls 71 in case 70. However, this takes up additional space and prevents the mail from being easily removed from the tray 730 by the postal carrier. Accordingly, it is preferred to used a multi-bag as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2002/0031284, or a removable partition insert 740 in the form of a series of slot-defining walls 742 united by a back wall 744. Partition inserts 740 can then be removed manually after sorting is completed.
Divider cards, which may be colored for easy identification and optionally printed with advertising, if intended for delivery to the postal customer, may be sorted to each slot before or after the mail is sorted, so that upon removal of the insert 740, the carrier can see where one delivery point ends and another begins, rather than having to leaf through the mail. Thin colored paperboard cards may be used for this purpose even if case 70 with fixed slots is used.
A number of steps of current postal processing can be avoided by means of portable case 700. Rather having a carrier pull down mail manually and place it into trays, the mail is sorted directly into trays, which can then be removed and carried to a staging area for final delivery. If the postal carrier is delivering mail by truck, it may be possible for on or more cases 700 to roll up a ramp onto the truck, so that the mail remains therein until the time of delivery. If the mail is then to be removed from the tray and put in a postal satchel, the bags or divider cards maintain the division between mail for each address, reducing delivery time.
The invention in its various aspects provides a number of key advantages that allow automated sorting to relatively narrow vertically oriented slots. The use of rolling sheets on the outside of the guide and optionally the partition (if acting as the slot wall) prevents mail in slots from being dragged out at the end of the day during automatic extraction of the guides and partitions. The staggered, overlapping grooves in which the mounting pins 538a, 538b are mounted allow the guide and partition to displace to temporarily allow room for the inserter during insertion, and to allow partial overfilling of the slot. Rolling cases as described above decrease the total number of steps in the process by permitting simultaneous sortation, bagging, traying and containerizing. Finally, the invention can operated in a variety of ways, that is, with or without divider cards, bags or a clustered (U-shaped) holder for the mail piece being carried by the inserter.
While this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. For example, a tug or locomotive could be used to pull one or more delivery robots along the track if it is not desired to incorporate an integral drive in the delivery robot. It will also be appreciated that a variety of known sensors, limit switches, proximity switches and the like may be utilized in addition to, or as replacements for the control mechanisms described herein. While belts that negate relative movement have been described as the preferred way of preventing mail from being pulled out of the slot, other means such as extremely low friction surface materials could be employed.
All such variations and additions are specifically contemplated to be with the scope of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims encompass any such modifications or embodiments.
This is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/142,348, filed May 9, 2002, U.S. Pat. No. 7,138,596, Nov. 21, 2006 which is a conversion of U.S. Ser. No. 60/309,402, filed Aug. 1, 2001.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10142348 | May 2002 | US |
Child | 11474250 | US |