Lockheed Martin Corporation

Patrick J Carey

Dale J Larson

Bruce H Hanson

Michael A Wisniewski

Wayne Blackwell

Bruce A Williams

Thomas M Brown

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

An article or postal mail conveyor or transportation system which has an in-line mechanism integrally incorporated therein that has been specifically constructed and assembled so as to enable mail tray and mail tub receptacles, which may initially be disposed upon the conveyor or transportation mechanism in improperly oriented states or dispositions, to be automatically moved to properly oriented dispositions or states such that the mail tray and mail tub receptacles can in fact be processed further by automated apparatus or equipment without encountering or causing operational difficulties. The mechanism for re-orienting the mail trays or mail tubs comprises a four-sided tubular housing within which conveyor rollers are disposed upon the four walls of the tubular housing such that any one of the walls of the tubular housing can effectively serve as the floor member of the housing along which the mail trays or mail tubs can be conveyed. The tubular housing is rotatable either in 90&#xb0; or 180&#xb0; modes such that regardless of the degree to which a particular mail tray or mail tub is improperly oriented, the mail tray or mail tub can be properly oriented.

In-line flipper mechanism and conveyor system for achieving the proper orientation of mail tray and mail tub receptacles

A mail tray singulator for controlling the handling, movement and sensing of mail trays or other mail items into a single file arrangement on a conveyor system for downstream processing. The mail tray singulator includes conveyor modules configured at preferably right angles with respect to one another. The modules are configured so that they can be readily adapted to preexisting conveyor systems with minimal reconfiguration. The system may use differing speed, height and belt friction conveyor belts between adjacent modules to achieve separation and enhance the effect of the right angle configuration between adjacent conveyor modules. Guard rails and side rail rollers may also be employed. Photoeyes, in conjunction with a programmable logic controller, allow the conveyors to be started/stopped based on pre-programmed scenarios.

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Endwell, NY, United States of America

Patrick J Carey