Patent US4589555A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4589555A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Mail sorting apparatus and method
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-08-12
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Granted: 1986-05-20
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Expires: 2003-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A mail sorting system employing a modified mail conveyor in combination with a sorting table where articles of mail moving linearly in the direction of their longest dimension are deposited in a shingled pattern onto an angled sorting table surface provided with a conveyor so that the articles of mail are conveyed in the direction of their shortest dimension and in partial overlapping relationship.
Inventors
- 👤 James A. Hollingsworth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:45
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C3/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
329 words
A variable speed mail sorting apparatus for manual mail sorting when used with the exit end of a conveyor table associated with commercial mail inserting equipment comprising: sorting table surface means for receiving and collecting pieces of mail for subsequent manual sorting; support means for supporting the sorting table surface means at a height generally below the height of the mail handling conveyor table used, said surface means being generally rectangular and generally angled from the horizontal, downwardly in a direction away from the exit end of the mail inseting conveyor table at a preselected angle for receiving said pieces of mail in a shingled overlapping relationship, said surface means being generally perpendicular and adjacent to said conveyor table and extending past the exit end of the conveyor table a sufficient distance to receive articles conveyed by said conveyor table, said surface means being wide enough to completely receive articles delivered from the exit end of the conveyor table; guide means located on the lower side of the surface means on said sorting table extending upwardly therefrom and capable of preventing articles received onto the surface means for sliding off the sorting table after being delivered thereto; and first conveying means included on said sorting table surface means for conveying articles received on said surface means from a position near the exit end of the conveyor table to a position remote therefrom whereby the mail articles are received in a preselected timed relationship from the conveyor table and are moved on said surface means by said first conveying means at a preselected speed so as to be retained in a predetermined overlapping relationship on said sorting table surface means by said guide means and are conveyed in said predetermined overlapping relationship by said first conveying means generally perpendicularly, from the conveyor table in a direction away from the position where they are received on the surface means, so as to be capable of manual sorting by zip code breaks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
329 words
A variable speed mail sorting apparatus for manual mail sorting when used with the exit end of a conveyor table associated with commercial mail inserting equipment comprising: sorting table surface means for receiving and collecting pieces of mail for subsequent manual sorting; support means for supporting the sorting table surface means at a height generally below the height of the mail handling conveyor table used, said surface means being generally rectangular and generally angled from the horizontal, downwardly in a direction away from the exit end of the mail inseting conveyor table at a preselected angle for receiving said pieces of mail in a shingled overlapping relationship, said surface means being generally perpendicular and adjacent to said conveyor table and extending past the exit end of the conveyor table a sufficient distance to receive articles conveyed by said conveyor table, said surface means being wide enough to completely receive articles delivered from the exit end of the conveyor table; guide means located on the lower side of the surface means on said sorting table extending upwardly therefrom and capable of preventing articles received onto the surface means for sliding off the sorting table after being delivered thereto; and first conveying means included on said sorting table surface means for conveying articles received on said surface means from a position near the exit end of the conveyor table to a position remote therefrom whereby the mail articles are received in a preselected timed relationship from the conveyor table and are moved on said surface means by said first conveying means at a preselected speed so as to be retained in a predetermined overlapping relationship on said sorting table surface means by said guide means and are conveyed in said predetermined overlapping relationship by said first conveying means generally perpendicularly, from the conveyor table in a direction away from the position where they are received on the surface means, so as to be capable of manual sorting by zip code breaks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The variable speed mail sorting table of claim 1 wherein the first conveying means is capable of conveying articles of mail received thereon at speeds up to about 8 inches per second in a shingled pattern so as to expose the address to the view of the sorter operator for ease of sorting for zip code breaks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
289 words
A mail handling system for use with conventional envelope stuffing equipment comprising: sorting table surface means located adjacent to the exit end of said envelope stuffing equipment, said surface means located generally below, perpendicular, and angled downwardly, away from an exit end of said envelope stuffing equipment for receiving said articles of mail for subsequent manual sorting; support means for supporting the sorting table surface means at a height generally below the height of said equipment used, said surface means being generally rectangular and generally angled from the horizontal between about 12° to about 18° and in a direction away from the exit end of said equipment used and capable of supporting the articles conveyed by said equipment, said surface means being wide enough to receive articles delivered from the exit end thereof; guide means located on the lower side of the surface means on said sorting table surface means and upstanding therefrom and capable of preventing articles received onto the surface means for sliding off the sorting table surface means after being delivered thereto; and conveying means included on said sorting table surface means capable of conveying rectangular mail articles received on said surface means in the direction of their shortest dimension at preselected speeds from a position near the exit end of said equipment to a position remote therefrom whereby articles received on said surface means are retained on said surface means by said guide means and are conveyed by said conveying means on said surface means so as to provide a predetermined overlapping relationship of said articles on said conveying means moving in a direction away from the position where they are received on the surface means, whereby manual sorting of the mail articles is facilitated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
289 words
A mail handling system for use with conventional envelope stuffing equipment comprising: sorting table surface means located adjacent to the exit end of said envelope stuffing equipment, said surface means located generally below, perpendicular, and angled downwardly, away from an exit end of said envelope stuffing equipment for receiving said articles of mail for subsequent manual sorting; support means for supporting the sorting table surface means at a height generally below the height of said equipment used, said surface means being generally rectangular and generally angled from the horizontal between about 12° to about 18° and in a direction away from the exit end of said equipment used and capable of supporting the articles conveyed by said equipment, said surface means being wide enough to receive articles delivered from the exit end thereof; guide means located on the lower side of the surface means on said sorting table surface means and upstanding therefrom and capable of preventing articles received onto the surface means for sliding off the sorting table surface means after being delivered thereto; and conveying means included on said sorting table surface means capable of conveying rectangular mail articles received on said surface means in the direction of their shortest dimension at preselected speeds from a position near the exit end of said equipment to a position remote therefrom whereby articles received on said surface means are retained on said surface means by said guide means and are conveyed by said conveying means on said surface means so as to provide a predetermined overlapping relationship of said articles on said conveying means moving in a direction away from the position where they are received on the surface means, whereby manual sorting of the mail articles is facilitated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
The mail handling system of claim 3 wherein the speed of the conventional mail stuffing equipment is preselected so as to provide, in combination with the speed of said conveying means on said surface means so that delivery of mail articles to said sorting table surface means provides a moving shingled pattern of moving mail articles on said sorting table surface means with the address exposed to the view of the sorter operator whereby sorting visually for zip code breaks is facilitated.
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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) | 1989-05-19 | 1989-11-18 | 1990-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-19 | 1993-11-18 | 1994-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-19 | 1997-11-18 | 1998-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |