WO1997036788B1 - Transferring a stack from a cartridge - Google Patents
Transferring a stack from a cartridgeInfo
- Publication number
- WO1997036788B1 WO1997036788B1 PCT/US1997/005536 US9705536W WO9736788B1 WO 1997036788 B1 WO1997036788 B1 WO 1997036788B1 US 9705536 W US9705536 W US 9705536W WO 9736788 B1 WO9736788 B1 WO 9736788B1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- stack
- articles
- cartridge
- support
- holder
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000003032 molecular docking Methods 0.000 claims abstract 10
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract 8
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims 1
Abstract
A method and apparatus for transferring a stack (75) of flat articles from a cartridge (25). The method and apparatus are adapted for use in connection with a method and apparatus for automatically stacking mail into cartridges in output compartments (20) of a sorting machine (15), robotically transferring filled cartridges from the output compartments to a buffer shelf (40) and from the buffer shelf to a docking station (55) of a cartridge unloader and automatic feeder (50) to the input (70) of the sorting machine, and for transferring empty cartridges from the docking station to either the buffer or the output compartments (20) of the sorter, is provided.
Claims
AMENDED CLAIMS
Ireceived by the International Bureau on 23 September 1997 (23.09.97); original claims 1 , 3, 4, 6- 13 and 15-18 amended; original claims 2, 5 and 14 cancelled (6 pages)]
1. A method for transferring a stack of articles supported in a cartridge positioned in a docking station, comprising the steps of: opening a door of the cartridge following support of the stack of flat articles; extending a moveable front stack support to a front of the stack of articles to provide support for said stack of articles,- removing a stack support from a position supporting the stack of articles in response to extending the moveable front stack support in the front of the stack of articles; positioning a moveable pusher into the cartridge to engage a back of the stack of articles; and pushing the stack of articles from the cartridge while supporting the front thereof and retaining the stack of articles between said moveable front stack support and the moveable pusher.
3. The method for transferring a stack of articles from a cartridge as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the step of pushing the stack of articles includes actuating the moveable pusher to push the stack of articles from the cartridge.
4. The method for transferring a stack of articles from a cartridge as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said cartridge further comprises a longitudinally slidable rear stack support, and wherein the step of positioning a moveable pusher includes contacting the longitudinally slidable rear stack support with the moveable pusher when pushing the stack of articles from the cartridge.
6. The method for transferring a stack of articles from a cartridge as set forth in Claim 4, further comprising the steps of: positioning a rear stack support between the longitudinally slidable rear stack support and a back of the stack of articles; moving the moveable front stack support and said rear stack support with the stack of articles retained therebetween to a position adjacent a previously queued stack of articles, said moved stack of articles becoming a newly queued stack; moving a queued stack support from between the previously queued stack of articles and the newly queued stack of articles to a position behind the newly queued stack of articles; and moving said moveable front stack support and said rear stack support to a starting position.
7. The method for transferring a stack of articles from a cartridge as set forth in Claim 1, including the steps of: returning the stack support to a position for supporting the stack of articles in response to the step of pushing the stack of articles from the cartridge; and removing the cartridge from the docking station after the stack of articles have been pushed therefrom.
8. An apparatus for transferring a stack of flat articles supported in a cartridge positioned in a docking station, comprising: means for supporting a front of the stack of flat articles in the cartridge; means for opening a door of said cartridge following support of the stack of flat articles in the cartridge; a front stack holder for supporting the front of the stack of flat articles during removal thereof from said cartridge; means for positioning said front stack holder at the front of the stack of flat articles; means for removing the means for supporting the stack of flat articles from a stack holding position; and means for pushing the stack of flat articles from said cartridge.
9. The apparatus for transferring a stack of flat articles from a cartridge as set forth in Claim 8, wherein the cartridge comprises a longitudinally slidable rear stack support for supporting the stack of flat articles, and wherein said means for pushing further includes means for engaging the longitudinally slidable rear stack support to push the stack of flat articles from the cartridge.
10. The apparatus for transferring a stack of flat articles from a cartridge as set forth in Claim 8 wherein said means for pushing includes: a rear stack support holder for supporting a back of the stack of flat articles in the cartridge; means for positioning the rear stack holder at the back of the stack of flat articles; and means for moving the stack of flat articles positioned between the front stack holder and the rear stack holder from the cartridge.
11. The apparatus for transferring a stack of flat articles from a cartridge as set forth in Claim 10 further includingj, a queuing station adjacent the docking station to receive said stack of flat articles pushed from the cartridge; and said means for moving including means for pushing the stack of flat articles removed from the cartridge to the queuing station.
12. The apparatus for transferring a stack of flat articles from a cartridge as set forth in Claim 11 further comprising: a queuing stack support mounted at the queuing station; means for positioning said queuing stack support from between a previously queued stack of flat articles and the most recently queued stack of flat articles to a position in contact with the back of the most recently queued stack of flat articles.
13. The apparatus for transferring a stack of flat articles from a cartridge as set forth in Claim 11, further comprising: means for moving said front stack holder and said rear stack holder from contact with the stack of flat articles in the queuing station; and means for returning the front stack holder and said rear stack holder to respective starting positions.
15. An apparatus for transferring a stack of articles supported in a cartridge positioned in a docking station, comprising: a stack support for supporting a front of the stack of articles in the cartridge; a cam and cam follower for opening a door of said cartridge during insertion of said cartridge into the docking station, and for closing said door during removal of said cartridge from the docking station; a front stack holder for supporting the front of the stack of articles during removal thereof from said cartridge; said stack support moved from a position supporting the stack of articles in the cartridge in response to positioning the front stack holder at the front of the stack of articles; a moveable pusher positioned behind the stack of articles in the cartridge; and a rear finger carriage for longitudinally moving said moveable pusher to transport the stack of articles from said cartridge through the open door.
16. The apparatus for transferring a stack of articles from a cartridge as set forth in Claim 15 further comprising a longitudinally slidable rear stack holder positioned behind the stack of articles in the cartridge and wherein said moveable pusher engages said longitudinally slidable rear stack holder to push the stack of articles from the cartridge.
17. The apparatus for transferring a stack of articles from a cartridge as set forth in Claim 15, further comprising: a queuing station located adjacent the docking station for queuing said stacks of articles removed from a cartridge; a rear stack holder coupled to said rear finger carriage, said rear stack holder positioned at the back of the stack of articles to support said stack of articles during removal from the cartridge; and a front finger carriage for moving the front stack holder with the stack of articles retained between said front stack holder and said rear stack holder during removal of the stack of articles from the cartridge to the queuing station.
18. The apparatus for transferring a stack of articles from a cartridge as set forth in Claim 17 including a queuing stack support mounted at the queuing station for supporting said stack of articles at said queuing station; and a drive coupled to said queuing stack support for positioning said queuing stack support from between a previously queued stack of articles and the most recently queued stack of articles to a position behind the most recently queued stack of articles.
STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19
Claims 2, 5 and 14 have been cancelled. Claims 1, 3-4, 6-13 and 15-18 have been amended to further distinguish over documents cited in
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU24366/97A AU2436697A (en) | 1996-03-29 | 1997-03-28 | Transferring a stack from a cartridge |
| EP97920085A EP0929446B1 (en) | 1996-03-29 | 1997-03-28 | Transferring a stack from a cartridge |
| DE69731648T DE69731648T2 (en) | 1996-03-29 | 1997-03-28 | TRANSFERRING A STACK FROM A MAGAZINE |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US62625196A | 1996-03-29 | 1996-03-29 | |
| US08/626,251 | 1996-03-29 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO1997036788A1 WO1997036788A1 (en) | 1997-10-09 |
| WO1997036788B1 true WO1997036788B1 (en) | 1997-11-06 |
Family
ID=24509586
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US1997/005536 WO1997036788A1 (en) | 1996-03-29 | 1997-03-28 | Transferring a stack from a cartridge |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2436697A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69731648T2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1997036788A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6217274B1 (en) | 1999-01-20 | 2001-04-17 | Bell & Howell Postal Systems, Inc. | Continuous flow transfer system |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2690824A (en) * | 1949-04-23 | 1954-10-05 | Chrysler Corp | Brake holding device |
| US4022340A (en) * | 1975-08-12 | 1977-05-10 | American Technical Industries, Inc. | Bin for mail sorting apparatus |
| JPS6392984U (en) * | 1986-12-05 | 1988-06-15 | ||
| US4863037A (en) * | 1986-09-05 | 1989-09-05 | Opex Corporation | Apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail and the like |
| US5478185A (en) * | 1993-12-27 | 1995-12-26 | Tension Envelope Corporation | Bulk envelope container and transfer system and method |
-
1997
- 1997-03-28 AU AU24366/97A patent/AU2436697A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-03-28 DE DE69731648T patent/DE69731648T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-03-28 WO PCT/US1997/005536 patent/WO1997036788A1/en active IP Right Grant
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