United Parcel Service of America, Inc.

Ssmc Inc.

The Singer Company

Pao-Ter Huang

John H Lecko

Jaroslav Janik

Christopher Chunsheng Cai

Peter Douglas Jackson

Rajan Chandrakant Penkar

Joseph P Snyder, Jr

Chunsheng Cai

Donald R Davidson

H David Rogers

Robert B Brauch

James S Morton

Robert Louis Sedlatschek

Victor G Stevens

Jaroslay Janik

A method and apparatus for palletizing rectangular packages received in random size and weight. A 'corner'-based modeling system is used to assist in evaluating possible placements of packages accumulated on a line conveyor, and a placement evaluation process is used to select a 'best' package placement based on heuristic analysis. Statistically-based measurement and comparison is used to assist in the evaluation process.

Method and apparatus for palletizing packages of random size and weight

A method and apparatus for palletizing rectangular packages received in random size and weight. A &ldquo;corner&rdquo;-based modeling system is used to assist in evaluating possible placements of packages accumulated on a line conveyor, and a placement evaluation process is used to select a &ldquo;best&rdquo; package placement based on heuristic analysis. Statistically-based measurement and comparison is used to assist in the evaluation process.

An apparatus for gripping parcels which includes a pair of cooperating side clamps connected by a scissors actuator, configured for movement with a suction holding device. A controller and a trigger switch are likewise used to facilitate accurate gripping of parcels thereby.

Apparatus for gripping parcels

Apparatus for measuring length of accumulated packages

An efficient package sorting system in which a stationary matrix of multi-directional conveyor cells sorts packages to a plurality of destination locations. In a preferred embodiment, the matrix delivers sorted packages to a plurality of lift assemblies that further transfer the packages to receiving conveyors or chutes on different levels. According to another preferred aspect of the system, a selectively elevating stop bar is provided to control side transfer between conveyor cells. A controller is operative to plan a path for each of the objects from the input cell to a destination location, to monitor availability of successive conveyor cells along the path, and to cause an object to be moved to the next conveyor cell along its path only when the next conveyor cell is available. The system may include a plurality of sensors positioned to sense the passage of objects from one conveyor cell to another, the sensors being connected to the controller. The sensor input is used to guide the packages through the matrix, and to optimize the speed at which a plurality of packages can be sorted.

Method and apparatus for sorting articles using a matrix of conveyor cells

An apparatus for selecting individual packages from an accumulated package line, which measures one common dimension of a plurality of packages, combines the packages together in line contract, establishes an 'actual line error' by comparing the actual overall length of the line to a theoretical length, and assigns portions of this actual line error to different packages in the line, depending on their location in the line.

Apparatus for selecting package from a line of accumulated packages

Method and apparatus for sorting articles using a matrix of conveyor

A conveyor control system and method for positioning an object at a desired location along a conveyor. The system and method detects objects moving along a conveyor and controls deceleration of the conveyor in order to position the object as desired. The system and method account for varying distances between objects on the conveyor and varying distances between objects and the desired position by calculating a delay period during which the conveyor is allowed to continue to accelerate before it is decelerated. At the end of the deceleration, the object reaches the desired location. The delay period is calculated by comparing the known acceleration and deceleration rates of the conveyor with the measured acceleration time of the conveyor from a starting time to the time the object is detected. The system and method are useful for stopping an object such as a package at the exit end of the conveyor.

Conveyor control system

An apparatus is provided which provides measuring and accumulation of packages for downstream sorting or stacking. The apparatus provides variable force feeding of packages to reduce chaos accumulation. Reversing of conveyors allows for reduced line compression of packages for ease of removal. An ultrasonic measuring arch is also provided.

Package measuring system and accumulator

A steam iron press employs first and second members and a lever mechanism connected to the second member and when manually actuated by an operator causing the second member to be moved to any position between a position of maximum separation and a position of engagement with respect to the first member. The second member receives water and converts the water into steam which is expelled through openings therein. A pump connected between the second member and a water reservoir feeds water to the second member. A cam mechanism is connected between the lever mechanism and the pump to only actuate the pump during a predetermined interval t between the instant of time T1 at which the lever mechanism has initiated movement of the second member toward the first member and the instant of time T2 at which an article to be pressed is squeezed between the two surfaces.

Steam ironing press

A steam iron press employs first and second members and a lever mechanism connected to a second member and when manually actuated by an operator causing the second member to be moved to any position between a position of maximum separation and a position of engagement with respect to the first member. The second member receives water and converts the water into steam which is expelled through openings therein. A pump connected between the second member and a water reservoir feeds water to the second member. A cam mechanism is connected between the lever mechanism and the pump to only actuate the pump during a predetermined interval t between the instant of time T1 at which the lever mechanism has initiated movement of the second member towards the first member and the instant of time T2 at which the article to be pressed is to be squeezed between the two surfaces.

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Alpharetta, GA, United States of America

Pao-Ter Huang