US3643798A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mail weighing and sorting machine
Assignee: Bell and Howell Co
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Filing: 1970-02-27
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Granted: 1972-02-22
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Expires: 1990-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A synchronizing station sequentially interrupts the travel of serially fed pieces of mail so that they are both aligned and sequentially delivered to a weighing station one at a time. A means at the weighing station generates a signal representing a weight category for each piece of mail and delivers each signal to a memory. The pieces of mail are then moved in a first direction along a track having segments that are selectively pivotable upwardly by means operative in response to signals from the memory. In this manner, selected track segments are thusly pivoted to direct pieces of mail onto separate secondary track segments adapted to move the mail in a second direction. Each secondary track segments is also selectively pivotable about a horizontal axis to selectively direct given pieces of mail along either first or second planes into corresponding first or second bins. A means is also provided for changing the weight range of the weighing station so that the above described structure is adapted for use with mail falling within a plurality of weight ranges.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward A Krupotich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G7/00; G01G7/02; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/16; B07C5/165; G01G19/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A mail weighing machine comprising: a segmented main feed track for moving pieces of mail in seriatim past a plurality of stations including: a weighing station; and, a plurality of sorting stations; means for sequentially delivering said pieces of mail to said weighing stations one at a time; control means; means associated with said weighing station for weighing each given piece of mail, generating a weight signal representing the weight thereof, and delivering said signal to said control means; said segmented main track including a plurality of moveable portions each associated with a given one of said sorting stations and adapted for motion to prevent selected pieces of mail from passing thereover; a secondary feed track associated with at least one of said moveable segments of said main feed track and adapted to direct pieces of mail placed thereon in a direction different than that of said main feed track; said control means being operative in response to receipt of said weight signals for causing selected such segmented portions of said main feed track to undergo said motion for preventing passage of the given piece of mail thereover and directing said given piece of mail to the corresponding secondary feed track for moving said given piece of mail in said different direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
A mail weighing machine comprising: a segmented main feed track for moving pieces of mail in seriatim past a plurality of stations including: a weighing station; and, a plurality of sorting stations; means for sequentially delivering said pieces of mail to said weighing stations one at a time; control means; means associated with said weighing station for weighing each given piece of mail, generating a weight signal representing the weight thereof, and delivering said signal to said control means; said segmented main track including a plurality of moveable portions each associated with a given one of said sorting stations and adapted for motion to prevent selected pieces of mail from passing thereover; a secondary feed track associated with at least one of said moveable segments of said main feed track and adapted to direct pieces of mail placed thereon in a direction different than that of said main feed track; said control means being operative in response to receipt of said weight signals for causing selected such segmented portions of said main feed track to undergo said motion for preventing passage of the given piece of mail thereover and directing said given piece of mail to the corresponding secondary feed track for moving said given piece of mail in said different direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said segmented portions of said main track are pivoted about a horizontal axis so that the ends thereof nearest said weighing station are selectively pivoted upwardly out of the plane of said main track.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said secondary feed track is located beneath the associated segmented portion of said main track and wherein the direction of travel of a given piece of mail directed thereto is at right angles to the direction of travel along said main track.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said segmented portions of said main track are pivoted about a horizontal axis so that the ends thereof nearest said weighing station are selectively pivoted upwardly out of the plane of said main track.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said secondary feed track is selectively pivotable from a first plane to a second plane so that mail placed thereon is adapted to be selectively directed into first and second sorting areas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said secondary feed track is located beneath the associated segmented portion of said main track and wherein the direction of travel of a given piece of mail directed thereto is at right angles to the direction of travel along said main track.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said segmented portions of said main track are pivoted about a horizontal axis so that the ends thereof nearest said weighing station are selectively pivoted upwardly out of the plane of said main track.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mail is moved along said main track by means of separate moving belt means on each of said segmented portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said secondary feed track is selectively pivotable from a first plane to a second plane so that mail placed thereon is adapted to be selectively directed into first and second sorting areas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said mail is moved in said different direction on said secondary feed track by moving belt means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
119 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of saiD segmented portions of said main track has a secondary feed track associated therewith, said segmented portions being pivoted about horizontal axes so that the ends thereof nearest said weighing station are selectively pivoted upwardly out of the plane of said main track; said secondary feed tracks being selectively pivoted about a horizontal axis that is orthogonally disposed with respect to the axis about which the associated segmented portion is pivoted so that each given secondary feed track is adapted to direct mail placed thereon at right angles to the direction of travel of said main track and for selectively directing the mail placed thereon into first or second sorting areas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said mail is moved along said main track by means of separate moving belt means on each of said segmented portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said mail is moved in said different direction on said secondary feed track by moving belt means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-21 | 1975-08-23 | 1976-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-21 | 1979-08-23 | 1980-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-21 | 1983-08-23 | 1984-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |