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:
May. 13, 2003
Filed:
May. 04, 2001
W Scott Kalm, Plano, TX (US);
Douglas E Olson, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Gerald A Brouwer, Grandville, MI (US);
Ricardo N Schiesser, Grandville, MI (US);
David H Cotter, Coopersville, MI (US);
Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp., Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Abstract
An automatic tray-handling system for use with a mail sorter ( ) having a plurality of tray supporters, comprises a transporter ( ) having a conveying surface ( ) and an insertion/extraction assembly ( ); and respective feed ( ) and discharge conveyors ( ) adapted to feed empty trays ( ) to the transporter conveying surface ( ) and receiving at least partially full trays ( ) from the transporter conveying surface. The insertion/extraction assembly ( ) is adapted to insert empty trays ( ) to tray support areas and remove at least partially full trays ( ) from tray support areas. The conveying surface operational is adapted to receive empty trays ( ) from the feed conveyor ( ) and at least partially full trays ( ) from the insertion/extraction assembly ( ). Moreover from the conveying surface empty trays are dischargeable to the insertion/extraction assembly ( ) and to the discharge conveyor ( ).