# US 5,346,351 A · Postal robot > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,346,351 A - Document ID: US5346351A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/007,725 - Filed: 1993-01-22 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1992-01-22 - Assignees: Elsag Bailey, S.p.A. - Inventors: Vincenzo Priolo; Giorgio Repetto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346351A ## CPC - B07C 3/02: Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution - B07C 3/008: {Means for collecting objects, e.g. containers for sorted mail items (pile receivers in general B65H31/00)} - B25J 9/023: {Cartesian coordinate type} - Y10S 209/90: Sorting flat-type mail - B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A robot for emptying a postal machine having a plurality of containers into which the postal items (letters and cards) are delivered and form a substantially ordered stack of items, one on top of another. The robot includes a base structure located on a rectilinear structure arranged parallel to a wall of the postal machine and a columnar structure which is fixed to the base structure and supports a slide slidable vertically on the columnar structure itself. The slide supports a pair of arms which are slidable relative to the slide and have gripper devices at their ends arranged to be introduced into one of the containers to grasp a stack of postal items, to withdraw them from the container and to deposit them on a conveyor belt. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A postal robot for emptying a postal machine having a plurality of containers for containing postal items, the robot comprising: (a) take-up means for taking up the postal items the take-up means comprising a support body having a substantially L-shaped cross section including a vertical portion and a horizontal portion substantially perpendicular to said vertical portion and defining a support surface having respective adjoining flat surfaces which are angularly offset with respect to each other by an obtuse angle; (b) an automatic drive means for moving the take-up means; (c) a clamping element pivotable relative to the support body; and (d) a first drive means for moving the clamping element relative to the support body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A robot according to claim 1, wherein said postal machine further comprises a perimeter, said automatic drive means comprising: (a) a base structure arranged on a guide structure disposed substantially parallel to at least a part of the perimeter; (b) a substantially vertical structure fixed to the base structure; (c) a slide slidable along the vertical structure; and (d) a second drive means for sliding said slide along said vertical structure, and said take-up means further comprising at least one pincher take-up device supported by said slide, said pincher take-up device being adapted to grip said postal items. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A robot according to claim 2, wherein said vertical structure includes at least one columnar body affixed to said base structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A robot according to claim 2, said slide comprising: (a) at least one part slidable on said vertical structure; and (b) at least one appendage projecting from said part and being substantially perpendicular to said part wherein said appendage supports said pincer take-up device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A robot according to claim 4, said slide further comprising: (a) an arm having opposite ends slidably engaged to said appendage where said pincer take-up device is attached to one of said ends of said arm; and (b) a third drive means for sliding said arm relative to said appendage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A robot according to claim 5, said appendage comprising an end portion, said arm being slidably mounted to said end portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) A robot according to claim 2, wherein said slide moves along a straight vertical path which is substantially perpendicular to said guide structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A robot according to claim 7, wherein said pincer take-up device is movable along a straight horizontal path which is perpendicular to said straight vertical path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A robot according to claim 1, wherein said clamping element is substantially L-shaped having a straight portion having an end portion for pressing said postal items. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) A robot according to claim 2, said first drive means comprising: (a) a gear sector having a radial wall pivotally attached to said support body where said clamping element is connected to said radial wall; and (b) a worm screw coupled to said gear sector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A robot according to claim 10, said first drive means further comprising a motor mounted upon said support body, said motor having an output shaft affixed to said worm screw. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A robot according to claim 1, said take-up means comprising a control means for regulating said first drive means for controlling an output level of torque provided by said first drive means. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A robot according to claim 10, said take-up means comprising a detecting means for detecting an angular position of said clamping element relative to said support body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A robot according to claim 13, wherein said detecting means has at least one switch mounted on the support body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A robot according to claim 14, further comprising a resilient part affixed to said radial wall of said gear sector wherein said switch is actuated by said resilient part. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A robot according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic control means for controlling said automatic drive means and said take-up means. ### Claim 17 A postal robot for emptying a postal machine having a plurality of containers for containing postal items, the robot comprising: (a) a take-up means for taking up the postal items, the take-up means comprising a support body having a substantially L-shaped cross section including a vertical portion and a horizontal portion substantially perpendicular to said vertical portion and defining a support surface; (b) an automatic drive means for moving the take-up means; (c) a clamping element pivotable relative to the support body; (d) a first drive means for moving the clamping element relative to the support body, said first drive means comprising a radial wall having a gear sector and a resilient part; and (e) a detecting means connected to said take-up means said detecting means for detecting an angular position of said clamping element relative to said support body, said detecting means having at least one switch mounted on said support body whereby said switch is activated by said resilient part during the change of relative positions between said radial wall and said support body.