US3782541A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for transferring stacks of mail or like articles
Assignee: Masson Scott Thrissell Engineering Ltd
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Filing: 1972-12-11
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1992-12-11
Abstract
Abstract An automatic letter sorting machine including a large number of individual sorter boxes arranged in horizontal rows, a number of horizontal conveyors for delivering mail via deflector gates to the individual boxes, individual ejectors for ejecting stacks of mail from the boxes, a power operated receiver shelf moving vertically on guides at the front of the machine with compartments to receive the ejected mail, an overhead discharge conveyor at the top of the machine, a further ejector for shifting stacks of mail from the receiver shelf into compartments of the discharge conveyor, and an automatic mail bundling machine at the output of the discharge conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 D Wood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:45
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C3/00; B07C3/008; B07C3/02; B07C3/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/90; Y10S209/933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for transferring stacks of flat articles, for example mail envelopes, from a sorting machine having a plurality of sorter boxes arranged in several parallel rows, comprising a travelling receiver of extended length, spanning across a plurality of sorter boxes in a row, means for moving said receiver in a direction perpendicular to the lengths of said rows, means for discharging stacks of articles from said sorter boxes onto said receiver, and means for discharging stacks of articles from the receiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for transferring stacks of flat articles, for example mail envelopes, from a sorting machine having a plurality of sorter boxes arranged in several parallel rows, comprising a travelling receiver of extended length, spanning across a plurality of sorter boxes in a row, means for moving said receiver in a direction perpendicular to the lengths of said rows, means for discharging stacks of articles from said sorter boxes onto said receiver, and means for discharging stacks of articles from the receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said sorter box rows and said receiver extend horizontally, and said receiver is movable vertically.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said receiver is provided with compartments spaced at intervals corresponding to the spacing of said sorter boxes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, including means for sensing the presence of articles in the said individual compartments of the receiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including an output conveyor extending parallel with said receiver, said output conveyor having spaced receptacles at intervals corresponding to the spacing of said sorter boxes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said receiver is located on guides, and positioned externally of said sorting machine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including individual ejector means for ejecting stacks from said sorter boxes, and control means for controlling such ejection in accordance with the sensed capacity of said receiver to accept such stacks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, and wherein said receiver is provided with compartments spaced at intervals corresponding to the spacing of said sorter boxes, and including means for sensing the presence of articles in the said individual compartments of the receiver, an output conveyor extending parallel with said receiver, said output conveyor having spaced receptacles at intervals corresponding to the spacing of said sorter boxes, individual ejector means for ejecting stacks from said sorter boxes onto said receiver, sensing means responsive to the size of each stack in the individual sorter boxes, and control means for controlling the movements of said receiver in response to signals from said sorter box sensing means, and for controlling said individual sorter box ejector means in response to the sensed position of said receiver.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3459300A
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US3573748A
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US3696946A
Cited
US3674143A
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US3718267A
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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) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |