Lockheed Martin Corporation

Other

Lockhead Martin Corp.

Aai Microflite Simulation International

Wayne Blackwell

Bruce A Williams

Mark Gaug

Jamie R Swetland

George C Cera

Bruce H Hanson

John F Hartman

David Bailey

Michael J Riess

Michael D Senger

Michael W Finney

Bryan Dalton

Gerald Sensenig

Clifford Solowiej

Matthew Bossard

Thomas Erb

Jonathan Wee

Jamie Micha

William Olver

Lou Taylor

Joseph W Porter

John Nasakaitis

David Benninger

Kalon Riehle

Leslie Scrivener

Frank Sweet

Kevin Zimmer

Kenneth Marks

Daniel Ondreyko

John Patrick

David K Brown

Patrick J Fitzgibbons

Douglas A Slocum

Patrick J Carey

Paul E Mueller

Charles J Bratt

John J Fuller

John Nasakaitus

Mark Grandstaff

Jamie Swetland

John Nasakiatus

Bruce Willams

John Hartman

The invention generally relates to a facility wide sorting and/or sequencing system for improving product processing operations and, more particularly, to a facility wide system and related functionality for simultaneously sorting and sequencing mixed mail pieces such as, for example, flats and letter mail pieces. The flats and letter mail pieces are placed in frames so that all types of mail pieces can be sorted and/or sequenced simultaneously through merging and diverting a stream of filled trays into and out of different streams at a full or substantially full transport speed.

Facility wide mixed mail sorting and/or sequencing system and components and methods thereof

A device and system for registering or justifying product such as mail pieces in a vertical position for future processing of such mail pieces. The system includes a mounting block having an angled bore and a driven alignment mechanism mounted within the angled bore. The driven alignment mechanism includes a shaft assembly mounted in the angled bore such that the shaft assembly is at approximately a same angle as the angled bore. At least one surface is mounted to the shaft assembly which, when contacting a product, is driven and provides a downward correction vector to the product for vertically aligning the product.

Vertical justification system

A system and method for loading mail objects. The system includes a bucket assembly which holds variable sized mail holding containers. An actuator system moves the bucket assembly between at least an upright position, an intermediate tilt position and a fully tilt position. At least one sensor detects whether any of the variable sized mail holding containers has reached a fill capacity at each of the upright position, the intermediate tilt position and the fully tilt position. A feedback control system controls an indexing of the bucket assembly, via the actuator system, between the upright position, the intermediate tilt position and the fully tilt position. In the intermediate position, packages or other mail objects are permitted to settle within any of the variable sized mail holding containers such that additional packages or other mail objects can be introduced into the any of the variable sized mail holding containers in the intermediate position. A method and control system is provided for implementing the steps of the loading system.

Positional container loading and chute sensor

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 system and method for loading product onto a conveyor. The system includes a conveyor movable in at least a first direction and a metering section located proximate to at an end of the conveyor. The metering section includes a plate mechanism movable between a first position and a second position and a door adapted to be opened to a feeder. The door is at least partially supporting a predetermined amount of product and is positioned between a movable distance of the plate.

Loading system and method of use

A flat mail edge biasing machine and method of use for separating stacks of bulk flats (products) into at least two separate stacks each with bound edges oriented in a same direction. The flat mail edge biasing machine has a feed head mechanism which is capable of detecting a bound or non-bound edge of the product, and sort the products based on the detection. The sorting includes moving the products from a center compartment to side compartments. In the side compartments, the products stacks with the bound edges oriented in a same direction.

Flat mail edge biasing machine and method of use

Presentation control for flat article singulation mechanism and sensors suitable for use therewith

An improved singulation mechanism is provided for flat articles having significant variations in size, thickness and weight, which mechanism utilizes at least two vacuum chambers positioned behind a moving perforated to feed the articles and selectively controls at least one of pressure and flow for at least one of the chambers to facilitate the feeding of heavier articles, while inhibiting bleed through doubles for lighter articles. A mechanism may be provided which provides a puff of air to at least one of the chambers at the end of the operation thereof to reduce the feeding of doubles and a bent fence may be suitably positioned to both facilitate feeding of shorter articles and to facilitate proper initial alignment of the articles.

Singulation mechanism

An apparatus and method are provided for controlling the presentation of articles to the singulation head of a system for singulating a stack of edge-mounted articles, for example mixed mail, which mechanism senses the instantaneous pressure at which the lead article of the stack is pressed against the singulation head. A feedback control may be provided responsive to a difference between detected instantaneous pressure and a desired target pressure for controlling at least one drive member in a manner so as to reduce such difference. Where there is a pick window of instantaneous pressure at which singulation can be effectively performed, a control may also be provided to inhibit operation of the singulation head when the instantaneous pressure is outside the pick window. Two vertically spaced pressure sensors may be provided on the singulation head to detect the angle at which the lead article is presented to the head and controls may be provided for the drive mechanism(s) to reduce the difference between the instantaneous angle detected and an optimum angle for singulation and/or to inhibit operation of the singulation head when the instantaneous angle is outside of a range where singulation may be effectively performed. The sensor preferably includes a lever extending from the surface of the singulation head which is moved by a distance dependant on the pressure applied thereto. A servo motor may be connected to the lever to apply a bias pressure thereto which bias pressure is determined by a control signal applied to the motor. The sensor may also include a position encoder generating an output indicative of lever position.

A flat article conveyor system comprises a forming wheel which is provided for operative cooperation with a grooved roller whereby a relatively shallow and temporary longitudinal crease, rib, or spine is formed or impressed within relatively thin pieces or units of mail, or similar flat articles, as the pieces or units of mail, or similar flat articles, are conveyed so as to effectively reinforce the piece or unit of mail, or similar article, such that the piece or unit of mail will not experience curl or sag so as not to subsequently rollover when, for example, the particular piece or unit of mail, or similar flat article, is being released from a conveyor mechanism into a stacking or similar accumulation chamber.

Flat mail anti-rollover mechanism

Growing community of inventors

Chenango Forks, NY, United States of America

Wayne Blackwell