Apparatus for delivery item sorting integrity
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorRyan J. HRAPSKY
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus that substantially improves the stack quality of delivery items in a delivery item sorting machine by ensuring uniformity of the orientation of the delivery items. The apparatus may accommodate toolless installation in the delivery item sorting machine and economical manufacturing options. The apparatus substantially prevents delivery item disorientation and undesired departure of delivery items from the sorting machine by increasing the height of a portion of the sorting bin's side or backstop. The apparatus reduces operator safety concerns, and increases the net speed of delivery item processing.
Claims22
A sorting machine apparatus for orienting a delivery item, the sorting machine apparatus comprising:
- a bumper;
- and
- a coupling feature connected to the bumper,
- wherein the coupling feature operably couples the sorting machine apparatus with a sorting machine such that the bumper is positioned to align with an upper portion of the delivery item, and
- wherein the coupling feature comprises a clip, and the clip comprises:
- a rigid wall;
- and
- a removable flap configured to attach to the rigid wall.
An apparatus configured to couple with a delivery item sorting machine, the delivery item sorting machine including a series of belts configured to transport at least one delivery item past at least one diverter, the at least one diverter configured to sort the at least one delivery item into an output bin that collects sorted delivery items, the apparatus comprising:
- a bumper configured to be a spatial extension to the output bin;
- and
- a coupling feature configured to securely couple the bumper with the output bin,
- wherein the coupling feature comprises a clip, and the clip comprises:
- a rigid wall;
- and
- a removable flap configured to attach to the rigid wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.