Lockheed Martin Corporation

Michael E Caporali

Shane F Mills

John Rasile

Thomas Arnold

Bruce H Hanson

Patrick J Fitzgibbons

J Edward Roth

Michael A Wisniewski

John T Swider

Louis J Hendzel

Brian Sharkey

Eric Reisenauer

Richard J Holmberg

Kenneth J Banker

A system and method designed to position a tray for either horizontal stacking or vertical stacking of product. The system includes a stationary conveyor and a tray carriage in a tray transportation path with the conveyor. The tray carriage is moveable between an elevated, horizontal position and an inclined position. Guides are located near the tray carriage to guide the tray carriage into the inclined position.

Tray positioning device for stacking of product

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 bidirectional article pusher for a conveying system, which includes a multiplicity of spaced rollers for moving articles along a longitudinal path. There is a push up stop arranged below the conveyor and movable between adjacent rollers to a position above the rollers to stop forward movement of an article which is on the rollers. There are lateral stations, one on each side of a section of the conveying system, and lateral diverters move articles which are on the rollers and stopped by the push up stop, to a position off of the rollers and out of the longitudinal path and at a right angle to the longitudinal path. A stop activator is controlled based upon information, such as that on a bar code sort label on an article and which has been previously provided to the control device upstream of the push up stop. There are three jam detection/correction devices provided to assure proper operation. One is a proximity sensor to detect the presence of the pusher fingers while in their home position. The other is a current overload sensor circuit which detects jams. The third is a number of software timers embedded in the control software for controlling the diverter arrangement. There is also an acceleration profiler which obtains weight information and uses it to control acceleration/deceleration of the articles being moved.

Bi-directional mail tray pusher

A justification insert block is adapted to be inserted into a flat mail sorting or storage container, bin, or tub and comprises an upper planar surface which is downwardly inclined from a first corner region toward a second diagonally opposite corner region. In this manner, when the justification insert block is inserted within the flat mail sorting or storage container, bin, or tub, two edge portions of mail pieces are automatically justified against two upstanding side walls of the sorting or storage container, bin, or tub so as to maintain the mail articles or pieces in a predetermined order within a stack of flat mail articles or pieces.

Flat tub mail positional orientation justification insert

A conveying system for conveying articles, each having a label with indicia, on one end, either a leading or a trailing end. There is a conveyor having multiple sections, each defining a longitudinal conveying path for moving the articles. Each is driven independently from the other sections. The conveyor has a plurality of tray sensors, with at least one on each conveyor section for detecting whether there is a tray on that section. There is also a scanner which detects whether a tray moving along the conveyor has a label on its leading end or its trailing end. A turning arm conveyor section is located downstream from the scanner and arranged to receive control signals from the scanner for momentarily intercepting all articles which are determined by the detector to have the label on the incorrect end. This turning arm conveyor has a turning arm, and a limit stop arranged to prevent the articles moved angularly from being moved further than desired. This turning arm conveyor moves those articles angularly approximately 50 to 75 degrees to be out of their normal position along the longitudinal path of the conveyor. A stationary bump and turn element is located downstream from the turning arm conveyor for engaging those articles which are moved out of their normal position along the longitudinal path and moving them further angularly a sufficient amount that they are moved 180 degrees.

180 Degree tray rotator

A conveyor for moving trays in a longitudinal direction and a position correcting device for the trays. The trays have opening in two opposite walls but do not have such openings in two other opposing walls. The conveyor is arranged to convey trays along a longitudinal path. A tray rotating arm is positioned adjacent to the conveyor and has a tray handle engaging finger and is constructed and arranged to only engage a tray handle when the tray is in an incorrect orthogonal position. There is also a bumper downstream of the arm for engaging the side of a tray so rotated for completing the tray rotation initiated by the tray rotating arm. The arm has a cam surface for being moved by a tray away from such tray on the conveyor, and the arm is biased toward contact with a tray as it moves past the arm on the conveyor. The finger projects in the same direction as the cam surface.

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Endicott, NY, United States of America

Michael E Caporali