Continuous flow transfer system

Abstract

The present invention provides for a continuous flow transfer system designed to transfer the contents of a mail tray into a cartridge for subsequent processing and then, after processing, to transfer the contents of the cartridge back into a mail tray without disrupting the facing or orientation of each piece of mail. The continuous flow transfer system comprises both a cartridge loader and a cartridge unloader, both of which have a tray section, a transfer conveyor and a cartridge section. The tray section, or infeed section, of the cartridge loader is designed to deliver filled mail trays to the transfer section of the loader. At the transfer section, the contents of each mail tray are deposited into an intermediate container that is affixed to the transfer section. The transfer section then delivers the contents of the intermediate container into empty cartridges being fed onto the cartridge section, or discharge section, of the loader. Once filled, each cartridge is then transported away from the cartridge loader for processing, where the mail is removed from each container, processed and place back into a cartridge. After processing, the filled cartridges are then delivered to the cartridge section, or infeed section, of the cartridge unloader. Similar to the loader, the contents of each cartridge are transferred into an intermediate container affixed to the transfer section. The transfer section then delivers the contents of the intermediate container to the mail section, or discharge section, of the unloader, where the mail is transferred back into mail trays. The filled mail trays are then ready for delivery.