The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 11, 1994
Filed:
Oct. 29, 1993
Otmar Kechel, Stockach, DE;
Dieter Altenburg, Allensbach, DE;
Werner Frank, Reichenau, DE;
Armin Zimmermann, Constance, DE;
Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH, Frankfurt, DE;
Abstract
A letter sorting system includes a row of juxtaposed stack compartments; a material intake device arranged along and spaced from the compartments; a carriage arranged for travel along the compartments; and a transfer bridge mounted on the carriage to be displaced thereby along the compartments. The transfer bridge includes an exterior frame pivotally attached to the carriage for pivotal motions into first and second positions; an interior frame pivotally attached to the exterior frame for pivotal motions into first and second positions; and a slide having a first part attached to the interior frame and a second part attached to the exterior frame. Dependent upon simultaneous positions of the exterior and interior frames, the transfer bridge may assume first, second and third operating positions. In the first operating position sliding surfaces of the first and second parts of the slide form a continuous, upwardly facing surface for guiding material thereon between a selected compartment and the material intake device. In the second operating position a part of the interior frame is oriented upwardly and is adapted to accommodate a container thereon; and in the third operating position the first and second parts of the slide are substantially in a vertical orientation.