Apparatus and method for accumulating and transferring one or more stacks of articles
US5803704A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 1994 |
| Grant date | Sep 8, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 1, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S414/105
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Flat mail pieces of intermixed sizes and thicknesses are received and distributed to separately arranged storage compartments. Each such compartment contains special features and functions which ensure smooth entry of incoming mail, maintain the facing and orientation of received mail pieces, readily permit stack accumulation, and readily enable release of a full stack from the storage compartment. A vertically-mobile stack support plate maintains a relatively short but constant drop distance for all mail pieces entering the stacking compartment. To transfer a stack of mail, the stack is stripped off its support plate and onto a bed of rollers by lateral movement of the storage compartment away from the support plate. After a tray container has been positioned to accept the stack of mail, the bed is rolled out from beneath the stack, gently transferring the stack onto the bottom of the tray.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.