Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lockhead Martin Corp.

Michael A Wisniewski

Bruce H Hanson

Jason G McLaughlin

Eugene C Stradley

Hajime Morikawa

Patrick J Carey

Dale J Larson

Patrick J Fitzgibbons

J Edward Roth

John T Swider

Robert J Felice

Michael W Finney

Louis B Taylor

Shane F Mills

Michael E Caporali

Barton Varney

A device and method for sequencing trays includes a tray receiving conveyor and a recirculating conveyor. Trays are placed on the recirculating conveyor and merged with ejected trays into a multiple of sequenced trays at one or more merge locations. The system can include more than one merge location, with one of the merge locations providing a merge of trays into a contiguous sequence of trays.

Tray handling system and process

An operational process for product distribution includes grouping product into groups when the product is in a first sort level and sorting the groups of product, in a first pass operation, to a second level sort. The method further includes sequencing the second level sort product including late arriving product, in a second pass operation, into a sequence of product. A machine readable code can also be used to implement the functionality of the operational process.

Operations for product processing

A system and method that sequences product to increase machine throughput. A plurality of input feeding devices each randomly receives products from a stream of product. A plurality of output groups corresponding to the plurality of input feeding devices are provided during a first pass phase and a second pass phase. The plurality of input feeding devices feed the product to output bins of the plurality of output groups. A control has a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation for a first pass phase and a second pass phase, respectively. In the first mode, the control allows all input feeding devices of the plurality of input feeding devices complete access to all output groups of the plurality of output groups during the first pass phase. In the second mode, the control constrains placement of the products to output groups assigned in the first pass phase such that the groupings of the products to the assigned output groups remain constant between the first pass phase and the second pass phase.

Sequencing system and method of use

A system and method for stacking and storing a plurality of trays includes a stacker system and a buffer system. The stacker system includes a component, e.g., a platform, which moves a tray between a raised position and a lowered position. The buffer system includes a plurality of opposing projections for capturing the tray when the component is in the raised position.

Tray stacking and buffer system and method of use

A system and method that sequences product to increase machine throughput and capacity. The system includes a plurality of input feeding devices each randomly receiving product received from a stream of product and a plurality of output groups each having output bins. A control has a mode which constrains the input feeding devices to (i) feeding non-rejected product from the stream of product to assigned output groups of the plurality of output groups associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of input feeding devices based on a code associated with each of the product, and (ii) feeding rejected product to at least one output bin in a single group of the plurality of output groups such that each of the plurality of input feeders has access to the at least one output bin. The method includes feeding the non-rejected and rejected product to appropriate output bins such that the rejected product is provided to an output bin which is accessible by any of the input feeding devices.

A publicly accessible drop box for isolating items deposited therein, includes a securable enclosure, a depository port, a closeable container having an opening and located within the securable enclosure, and a closure device for closing the opening prior to removal of the container. The depository port may include a housing forming a reception chamber having an entrance, wherein the housing is rotatably mounted within the drop box. The drop box may include a view port to allow viewing of the opening of the closeable container. The drop box may include a manipulation device extending into the securable enclosure to enable manipulation of the closure device or to enable movement of any items in proximity to the opening of the container.

Public drop box for isolating received items

The present invention includes a system and method for detecting contaminated objects, for example mail pieces, through use of a pinching device that compresses the objects, thereby possibly releasing potential contaminant-containing particles into the air in a closed chamber. Whatever particles are in the closed chamber mix with the air in the closed chamber and form cavity air, which is captured by a detection and alert mechanism.

System and method for biohazard detection using compression

A storage device for storing trays, the device including a first movable member and a second movable member positioned opposite the first movable member. The first and second movable members are adapted to selectively vertically move and support at least one tray therebetween. A conveyor moves a tray to transfer position, and a transfer mechanism elevates the tray to a storage position between the two movable members. A stack of nested trays may be stored.

Storage device

A device and method for stacking product into a container in a vertical orientation. The device includes at least one pivoting mechanism pivotable between a loading position and an initial/final position. The at least one pivoting mechanism retains a container thereon. The device may further include at least one corresponding diverting mechanism for injecting product into the container. The diverting mechanism includes a feeding area and a diverting arm swingable between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the diverting arm allows product to enter the feeding area. An ejection station is positioned proximate to the feeding area and injects the product into the container after the product enters the feeding area via movement of the diverting arm. In one aspect the ejection station is provided by a pinch belt arrangement and is controlled by a control.

Vertical flat stacking apparatus and method of use

A single pass sequencer and method of use for transporting the mail pieces in a single pass through a set of feeders. The system includes a transport system which transports articles to an transport system. At least one staging area stages the articles to be injected onto the transport system. A buffer stores the articles received from the transport system and a loader loads the articles from the buffer onto the transport system at a location downstream from the at least one staging area. A controller is in communication with the at least one staging area, the buffer and the loader. The controller coordinates the loader and the at least one staging area to inject the articles onto the transport system in a delivery point sequence. The controller may instruct the loader to create a gap between the articles loaded thereon in order of articles within the staging area to be inserted within the gap, in a sequence.

Single pass sequencer and method of use

A system and method sequencing objects in trays by assigning a direction to tray locations, where each of the tray locations provides space for trays. The objects are placed into the trays corresponding to assigned directions of the objects. A determination is made as to whether there are additional objects that correspond to the direction and, if so, the direction is assigned to unassigned tray locations based on pre-defined rules. Once all of the objects are in the trays, the trays are moved to the feeder system in a sequential order based on the directions. In a second pass, the directions are reassigned to the tray locations based on a number of trays required to hold the objects. The objects are placed into the trays corresponding to the directions of the objects. The trays are then transported to an unloading stage in a sequential order corresponding to the reassigned directions.

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Owego, NY, United States of America

Michael A Wisniewski