US3757939A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for sorting articles such as letters
Assignee: Thompson & Co J
•
Filing: 1971-05-12
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Granted: 1973-09-11
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Expires: 1991-05-12
Abstract
Abstract System and method for sorting articles, particularly letter mail, in such fashion that articles having a common characteristic, e.g., letters with the same address, are delivered as containerized group containing at least a predetermined threshold number of the articles. Applied to systems of the type wherein a classifying apparatus identifies each article and delivers the articles to individual article retaining stations while retaining cognizance of the characteristics and locations of the articles, the invention employs receptacles which are advanced past the retaining stations, articles having a common characteristic being discharged into the same receptacle, means being provided whereby any receptacle in which less than a predetermined number of articles have been accumulated can be transferred to storage and later retrieved and advanced again past the article retaining station for addition of more articles having the same characteristic.
Inventors
- 👤 S Henig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:52
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C3/00; B07C3/02; B07C3/003; B07C3/006; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/90; Y10S209/933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
In a sorting system of the type comprising article classifying and retaining means and release means for discharging articles from the classifying and retaining means selectively in accordance with predetermined characteristics of the articles, the combination of main conveying means; a plurality of articles receiving receptacles adapted to be conveyed by said main conveying means, said main conveying means being constructed and arranged to advance said receptacles past the article classifying and retaining means when said receptacles are disposed on said main conveying means; off-bearing means for receiving said receptacles from said main conveying means; receptacle storage means; first recirculating conveyor means arranged to deliver said receptacles to said storage means; selectively actuatable transfer means operative, when actuated, to transfer a receptacle from said main conveying means to said first recirculating conveyor means; control means responsive to the cumulative number of articles discharged into each of said receptacles, as the receptacles are advanced past said article classifying and retaining means, for actuating said transfer means to transfer from said main conveying means to said first recirculating conveyor means such of said receptacles as contain a cumulative number of article less than a predetermined value; and second recirculating conveyor means for retrieving receptacles from said storage means and returning the same to said main conveying means to again receive articles from the classifying and retaining means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
225 words
In a sorting system of the type comprising article classifying and retaining means and release means for discharging articles from the classifying and retaining means selectively in accordance with predetermined characteristics of the articles, the combination of main conveying means; a plurality of articles receiving receptacles adapted to be conveyed by said main conveying means, said main conveying means being constructed and arranged to advance said receptacles past the article classifying and retaining means when said receptacles are disposed on said main conveying means; off-bearing means for receiving said receptacles from said main conveying means; receptacle storage means; first recirculating conveyor means arranged to deliver said receptacles to said storage means; selectively actuatable transfer means operative, when actuated, to transfer a receptacle from said main conveying means to said first recirculating conveyor means; control means responsive to the cumulative number of articles discharged into each of said receptacles, as the receptacles are advanced past said article classifying and retaining means, for actuating said transfer means to transfer from said main conveying means to said first recirculating conveyor means such of said receptacles as contain a cumulative number of article less than a predetermined value; and second recirculating conveyor means for retrieving receptacles from said storage means and returning the same to said main conveying means to again receive articles from the classifying and retaining means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
166 words
A sorting system according to claim 1 and wherein the classifying and retaining means is of the type comprising a plurality of article retaining stations arranged in a generally horizontal series and each arranged to discharge articles downwardly, said main conveying means extending horizontally below the article retaining stations and lengthwise of the series thereof in such fashion that each of said receptacles advanced by said main conveying means will pass successively beneath the article retaining stations, the combination further including means for correlating each of said receptacles supplied to said main conveying means with a particular predetermined characteristic of articles present in the retaining stations; and release control means for controlling operation of the release means for discharging articles from the retaining stations in such fashion that the articles having said particular predetermined characteristic are delivered into the correlated receptacle by successive release from the respective retaining stations as the correlated receptacle is advanced along the series of retaining stations by said main conveying means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
A sorting system according to claim 2 and wherein the retaining stations are of a type adapted to retain relatively thin flat articles such as letters, said receptacles have a length which is large as compared to the thickness of the flat articles and are adapted to Be advanced lengthwise by said main conveying means, and said release control means is operative to cause discharge of the flat articles from the retaining stations in a timed succession such that the first flat article discharged drops to a location adjacent the trailing end of the advancing receptacle and each successive discharged article drops to a location immediately ahead of the preceding discharged article.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sorting system according to claim 3 wherein each of said receptacles is provided with a longitudinally extending series of upwardly opening locator notches each dimensioned to receive and retain the bottom edge of one of the flat articles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sorting system according to claim 2 and further comprising means for retaining a supply of said receptacles and delivering the same individually to said main conveying means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sorting system according to claim 1 and further comprising means adjacent said off-bearing means and operatively arranged to apply covers to said receptacles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
A sorting system according to claim 1, wherein said storage means comprises a plurality of horizontal storage conveyors arranged in a spaced group with the input ends of all of said storage conveyors disposed at one side of the group and the delivery ends of said storage conveyors disposed at the other side of the group; said first recirculating conveyor means includes a conveyor extending past the input ends of said storage conveyors; and said second recirculating conveyor means includes a conveyor which extends past the delivery ends of said storage conveyors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A sorting system according to claim 7 and further comprising a plurality of receptacle transfer devices each located adjacent the input end of a different one of said storage conveyors and cooperating with said first recirculating conveyor means for selective delivery of receptacles to the respective storage conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
A sorting system according to claim 7, and further comprising a plurality of receptacle stop devices each operatively arranged adjacent the delivery end of a different one of said storage conveyors and actuatable between an operative position, in which the stop device will engage and hold stationary a receptacle advanced thereto by the storage conveyor, and a retracted position, in which the stop device allows receptacles to be delivered by the storage conveyor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
A sorting system according to claim 7 and further comprising a by-pass conveyor having an input end and a delivery end and arranged with its input end adjacent said second recirculating conveyor means at a point downstream from said storage conveyors and its delivery end adjacent said first recirculating conveyor means at a point upstream from said storage conveyor means; and selectively actuatable transfer means adjacent the input end of said by-pass conveyor for transferring receptacles from said second recirculating conveyor means to said by-pass conveyor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
A sorting system according to claim 10 and further comprising a stop device disposed at the delivery end of said by-pass conveyor and actuatable between an operative position, in which the stop device will engage and hold stationary a receptacle advanced thereto by said by-pass conveyor, and a retracted position, in which the stop device allows receptacles to be delivered by said by-pass conveyor to said first recirculating conveyor means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
298 words
In a sorting system for thin flat articles such as letter, the combination of classifying and retaining means comprising means for receiving the articles and determining a characteristic thereof, a plurality of article retaining stations arranged in a series and each adapted to retain one of the articles and operable to release the retained article, means for delivering articles from said first-mentioned means each to a different one of said retaining stations; conveying means arranged to carry a plurality of article receiving reCeptacles past said series of retaining stations; computer operated control means operative to release from said retaining stations articles having a selected characteristic, with such release effected in timed relation with the movement of a receptacle on said conveying means such that the released articles having the selected characteristic are deposited in the receptacle, said control means including means for determining whether the total of articles released for deposit in the receptacle reaches a predetermined threshhold value; receptacle storage means; receptacle diverting means cooperating with said conveying means in a location to be reached by the receptacles after the receptacles have been carried past said retaining stations, said diverting means being actuatable between a first position, in which receptacles are allowed to pass said diverting means, and a second position, said control means being operative to actuate said diverting means to said second position, to divert a receptacle to said storage means, only when the receptacle contains a number of articles less than the predetermined threshhold value when the receptacle reaches said diverting means; and means operated by said control means for recalling from said storage means and delivering to said conveying means a receptacle containing articles of a particular characteristic when additional articles having that characteristic have been accumulated in said series of retaining stations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
298 words
In a sorting system for thin flat articles such as letter, the combination of classifying and retaining means comprising means for receiving the articles and determining a characteristic thereof, a plurality of article retaining stations arranged in a series and each adapted to retain one of the articles and operable to release the retained article, means for delivering articles from said first-mentioned means each to a different one of said retaining stations; conveying means arranged to carry a plurality of article receiving reCeptacles past said series of retaining stations; computer operated control means operative to release from said retaining stations articles having a selected characteristic, with such release effected in timed relation with the movement of a receptacle on said conveying means such that the released articles having the selected characteristic are deposited in the receptacle, said control means including means for determining whether the total of articles released for deposit in the receptacle reaches a predetermined threshhold value; receptacle storage means; receptacle diverting means cooperating with said conveying means in a location to be reached by the receptacles after the receptacles have been carried past said retaining stations, said diverting means being actuatable between a first position, in which receptacles are allowed to pass said diverting means, and a second position, said control means being operative to actuate said diverting means to said second position, to divert a receptacle to said storage means, only when the receptacle contains a number of articles less than the predetermined threshhold value when the receptacle reaches said diverting means; and means operated by said control means for recalling from said storage means and delivering to said conveying means a receptacle containing articles of a particular characteristic when additional articles having that characteristic have been accumulated in said series of retaining stations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an article sorting system adapted to deposit groups of like articles in receptacles, the combination of conveying means for conveying the receptacles to a discharge point after articles having been deposited therein; receptacle diverting means operatively arranged relative to said conveying means and actuatable to divert therefrom receptacles which contain a number of articles which is less than a threshhold value; receptacle storage means; first recirculating conveyor means arranged to deliver receptacles from said diverting means to said storage means; and second recirculating conveyor means arranged to deliver receptacles from said storage means to said conveying means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an article sorting system adapted to deposit groups of like articles in receptacles, the combination of conveying means for conveying the receptacles to a discharge point after articles having been deposited therein; receptacle diverting means operatively arranged relative to said conveying means and actuatable to divert therefrom receptacles which contain a number of articles which is less than a threshhold value; receptacle storage means; first recirculating conveyor means arranged to deliver receptacles from said diverting means to said storage means; and second recirculating conveyor means arranged to deliver receptacles from said storage means to said conveying means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
135 words
An article sorting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said storage means comprises a plurality of continuously driven endless storage conveyors each of an effective length adequate to accommodate a plurality of the receptacles to be stored and each having an input end and a delivery end, said storage conveyors being arranged in a spaced series with the input ends of the storage conveyors all disposed at one side of the series and the delivery ends of the storage conveyors all disposed at the other side of the series; and a plurality of stop devices each disposed adjacent the delivery end of a different one of said storage conveyors and operative selectively to engage and stop a receptacle advanced thereto by the storage conveyor and to release the conveyor for delivery by the storage conveyor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
An article sorting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each of said storage conveyors comprises two parallel endless belts extending side by side but spaced apart, and said stop devices are each located between said belts of the respective one of said storage conveyor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
210 words
In the sorting of letters by first depositing the letters individually in upright retaining stations arranged in a horizontal series and then releasing letters of a selected category from the retaining stations in progression along the series and in timed relation with movement of a conveyor arranged below the retaining stations, the improvement comprising advancing along the conveyor an open top receptacle, the bottom of said receptacle having a series of upwardly opening locating and retaining notches, the receptacle having an end wall which trails as the receptacle is moved along the conveyor and which slants upwardly and rearwardly; and dropPing the letters toward the bottom of the receptacle in such fashion that each letter is substantially vertical as it drops and the lower edge thereof engages in one of the notches presented by the bottom wall of the receptacle, the first letter dropped engaging in a notch adjacent the trailing end wall of the receptacle and continued advance of the receptacle then causing that letter to pivot into engagement with the trailing end wall, the other letters being similarly dropped to engage in successive ones of the locating and retaining notches and continued advance of the receptacle causing each letter to pivot into engagement with the next preceeding letter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
210 words
In the sorting of letters by first depositing the letters individually in upright retaining stations arranged in a horizontal series and then releasing letters of a selected category from the retaining stations in progression along the series and in timed relation with movement of a conveyor arranged below the retaining stations, the improvement comprising advancing along the conveyor an open top receptacle, the bottom of said receptacle having a series of upwardly opening locating and retaining notches, the receptacle having an end wall which trails as the receptacle is moved along the conveyor and which slants upwardly and rearwardly; and dropPing the letters toward the bottom of the receptacle in such fashion that each letter is substantially vertical as it drops and the lower edge thereof engages in one of the notches presented by the bottom wall of the receptacle, the first letter dropped engaging in a notch adjacent the trailing end wall of the receptacle and continued advance of the receptacle then causing that letter to pivot into engagement with the trailing end wall, the other letters being similarly dropped to engage in successive ones of the locating and retaining notches and continued advance of the receptacle causing each letter to pivot into engagement with the next preceeding letter.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
329 words
The method for providing a group of flat, relatively thin articles such as letters, comprising providing a plurality of the articles in a plurality of upright retaining stations with each article disposed in a different one of the stations, the stations being arranged in a series which extends at least generally horizontally; advancing an open top receptacle beneath the retaining stations with the receptacle travelling lengthwise of the series at a predetermined constant rate, the receptacle having a bottom provided with a plurality of upwardly opening article positioning notches, the trailing end of the receptacle presenting an upwardly and rearwardly inclined article supporting surface, the first one of the article positioning notches being located immediately in advance of the bottom edge of the upwardly and rearwardly inclined article supporting surface and the remaining notches being present as a series progressing toward the leading end of the receptacle and in which the effective spacing of the notches approximates the maximum thickness of the articles; dropping a first article from one of the retaining stations when the receptacle has advanced to a position such that the first article will drop to a position in which the lower edge thereof is engaged in the first notch of the series of notches, continued advance of the receptacle causing the first article to tilt rearwardly until it is engaged with and supported by the upwardly and rearwardly inclined article supporting surface; and successively dropping additional articles from their respective retaining stations in such timed relation to the advance of the receptacle that each article is dropped to a position in which the lower edge thereof is engaged in one of the article positioning notches just in advance of the preceding article, advance of the receptacle causing each successive article, when so dropped and engaged in one of the notches, to tilt rearwardly and come to rest in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position in which the same is supported by the immediately preceding article.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
329 words
The method for providing a group of flat, relatively thin articles such as letters, comprising providing a plurality of the articles in a plurality of upright retaining stations with each article disposed in a different one of the stations, the stations being arranged in a series which extends at least generally horizontally; advancing an open top receptacle beneath the retaining stations with the receptacle travelling lengthwise of the series at a predetermined constant rate, the receptacle having a bottom provided with a plurality of upwardly opening article positioning notches, the trailing end of the receptacle presenting an upwardly and rearwardly inclined article supporting surface, the first one of the article positioning notches being located immediately in advance of the bottom edge of the upwardly and rearwardly inclined article supporting surface and the remaining notches being present as a series progressing toward the leading end of the receptacle and in which the effective spacing of the notches approximates the maximum thickness of the articles; dropping a first article from one of the retaining stations when the receptacle has advanced to a position such that the first article will drop to a position in which the lower edge thereof is engaged in the first notch of the series of notches, continued advance of the receptacle causing the first article to tilt rearwardly until it is engaged with and supported by the upwardly and rearwardly inclined article supporting surface; and successively dropping additional articles from their respective retaining stations in such timed relation to the advance of the receptacle that each article is dropped to a position in which the lower edge thereof is engaged in one of the article positioning notches just in advance of the preceding article, advance of the receptacle causing each successive article, when so dropped and engaged in one of the notches, to tilt rearwardly and come to rest in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position in which the same is supported by the immediately preceding article.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
241 words
The method for sorting articles into groups of articles having the same characteristic, comprising depositing the articles in a plurality of article retaining stations arranged in a series; maintaining an inventory of the articles so deposited in the retaining stations so that the number of articles of any given characteristic present in the series is known; successively passing a plurality of receptacles along the series of retaining stations; releasing articles of each characteristic from the successive retaining stations of the series into a different predetermined one of the receptacles as that receptacle is passed along the series; maintaining a count of the articles released into each receptacle; removing for further handling those of the receptacles in which the number of articles is at least equal to a predetermined threshhold value; diverting to storage those of the receptacles in which the number of articles is less than the threshhold value, the step of depositing articles in the retaining stations continuing over a period which is long in comparison to the time required to pass a receptacle along the series of retaining stations; recalling the Stored receptacles from storage when additional articles having the characteristics of the articles already present in the respective stored receptacles have been deposited in the series of retaining stations; and passing the recalled receptacles again along said series of retaining stations to again receive articles therefrom having the respective characteristics of the articles already present in the receptacles.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
241 words
The method for sorting articles into groups of articles having the same characteristic, comprising depositing the articles in a plurality of article retaining stations arranged in a series; maintaining an inventory of the articles so deposited in the retaining stations so that the number of articles of any given characteristic present in the series is known; successively passing a plurality of receptacles along the series of retaining stations; releasing articles of each characteristic from the successive retaining stations of the series into a different predetermined one of the receptacles as that receptacle is passed along the series; maintaining a count of the articles released into each receptacle; removing for further handling those of the receptacles in which the number of articles is at least equal to a predetermined threshhold value; diverting to storage those of the receptacles in which the number of articles is less than the threshhold value, the step of depositing articles in the retaining stations continuing over a period which is long in comparison to the time required to pass a receptacle along the series of retaining stations; recalling the Stored receptacles from storage when additional articles having the characteristics of the articles already present in the respective stored receptacles have been deposited in the series of retaining stations; and passing the recalled receptacles again along said series of retaining stations to again receive articles therefrom having the respective characteristics of the articles already present in the receptacles.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein the articles to be sorted are letters and the characteristics are address categories; the letters are deposited in the retaining stations in upright position with the addressed sides of the letters all facing in the same direction throughout the series; the receptacles are each provided with a plurality of locator notches arranged in a series; and the letters are each released from the stations into engagement with one of the locator notches of the respective receptacle and are retained in the receptacle with the addressed sides of the letters all facing in the same direction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 19, wherein the series of retaining stations extends horizontally; the receptacles are open top receptacles and are passed along a horizontal path immediately below and aligned with the series of retaining stations; and the letters are dropped from the retaining stations into the respective receptacles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3184061A
Cited
US3300066A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |