Progressive modularity assortment system with high and low capacity bins

US7396011B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Bowe Bell & Howell Company · US

Inventors

• Ed Svyatsky · Libertyville, US
• Walter S. Conard · Lake Villa, US
• Tomasz Bednarek · Niles, US
• John Overman · Chicago, US
• Tony Estis · Morton Grove, US
• Mike Stollenwerck · Libertyville, US
• Manny Panopoulos · Chicago, US
• Gary VanErmen · Palatine, US
• Mike Swift · Libertyville, US
• Richard Szewczyk · Buffalo Grove, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 23, 2007
• Grant date: Jul 8, 2008
• Expiry date: Jan 23, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S209/90
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A modular bin or pocket has an integrated transport assembly and mail piece diverter assembly and is usable in a bin stacker section in mail handling and sorting systems. The modular bin is individually removable, interchangeable and replaceable from the bin stacker sections of the mail processing system to allow for repair or maintenance of malfunctioning bins leading to reduced down time of the mail processing system. The modular bin further enables vertical and/or horizontal progressive modularity, i.e., vertical and/or horizontal expansion, of the bin stacker sections of the mail processing system which allows for cost-effective expansion of mail handling systems. Further, there is disclosed a tray management system and a tier diverter system that are usable in mail handling systems that use the modular bin with double sided bin stacker sections or single sided bin stacker sections with or without a turnaround section.