Systems, devices and methods for receiving an item

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10273107-B2
Application number	US-201715799748-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2017
Priority date	Sep 12, 2014
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods for receiving an item in a receptacle are disclosed. Features are disclosed for receiving and guiding an item in a receiving space of a receptacle so as to attenuate or remove the impact force of the item on the receptacle. Some embodiments of the disclosure include a bumper having an impact surface which absorbs most or all of the impact force of the item and thereby mitigates or removes the imposition of cyclic impact loads on the receptacle from repeated receipt of items. The bumper may be structurally and/or functionally de-coupled or otherwise physically separated from the receptacle such that an advantageous division of labor is created between absorbing the impact and receiving the item. This disclosure may be useful, for example, in modern industrial operations where a high volume of items are received daily, such as in mail sorting and handling operations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for receiving an item, the system comprising:
a moveable receptacle comprising a front side and a back side, the front side and the back side at least partially defining a receiving space therebetween for receiving the item;
an injector disposed above the moveable receptacle, the injector configured to inject the item into the receiving space of the moveable receptacle;
a fixed surface below the moveable receptacle, the fixed surface comprising a bumper, the bumper comprising an impact surface on a top of the bumper, the impact surface being configured to absorb an impact force of the received item;
wherein the moveable receptacle is positionable over the impact surface such that the received item impacts the impact surface.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the top of the bumper defines a first length and the distance between the front side and the back side of the moveable receptacle defines a second length, the first length being greater than the second length.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the front side comprises a first notch, the back side comprises a second notch, and the bumper comprises an elongate body configured to extend into and between the first notch and the second notch.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fixed surface further comprises a second bumper, the second bumper comprising a second impact surface on a top of the second bumper, the second impact surface being aligned with the impact surface of the bumper and configured to absorb the impact force of the received item together with the impact surface of the bumper.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fixed surface further comprises a second bumper, the second bumper comprising a second impact surface on a top of the second bumper, the second impact surface being configured to absorb an impact force of a second received item.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bumper comprises an elongated body extending along a length from a front end to a back end and wherein the moveable receptacle moves in a first direction aligned with the length of the elongated body.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second moveable receptacle comprising a front side and a back side, the front side and the back side of the second removable receptacle at least partially defining a second receiving space therebetween for receiving a second item, wherein the second moveable receptacle is joined to the moveable receptacle such that the moveable receptacle and second moveable receptacle are moveable together.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the back side of the moveable receptacle is joined to the front side of the second moveable receptacle.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the injector injects the item in a first direction and an upper portion of the back side of the receptacle comprises an angled surface which extends upward in a direction substantially opposite the first direction.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the moveable receptacle comprises a gate on a bottom portion of the moveable receptacle, the gate being configured to open to allow the received item to exit the moveable receptacle after the received item impacts the impact surface.

11. A method for receiving an item, the method comprising:
continuously moving a receptacle comprising a front side and a back side in a first direction over a stationary bumper, the stationary bumper comprising an impact surface;
injecting the item into the receiving space of the receptacle; and
impacting the item such that an impact force of the received item is absorbed by the impact surface of the stationary bumper,
wherein the continuous movement of the receptacle and the injection of the item are coordinated such that the impact surface is positioned between the front side and the back side of the receptacle during the impact of the received item.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising moving the item within the receiving space after impacting the item.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising unloading the item from a bottom portion of the receptacle.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein unloading the received item comprises rotating a gate on a bottom portion of the receptacle.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the item is injected into the receiving space of the receptacle in a direction that intersects the front side of the receptacle at an angle less than 45 degrees.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the item is injected from an injector before the impact surface is positioned between the front side and the back side of the receptacle.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising guiding the item toward the impact surface within the receptacle before impacting the item.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
continuously moving the receptacle over a second impact surface on a stationary bumper;
injecting a second item into the receiving space of the receptacle; and
impacting the second item such that an impact force of the second item is absorbed by the second impact surface,
wherein the continuous movement of the receptacle and the injection of the second item are coordinated such that the second impact surface is positioned between the front side and the back side of the receptacle during the impact of the second item.

Assignees

• United States Postal Service

Inventors

• Yang Dongliang
• Goodbar Iii James E

Classifications

• B65H2701/1916

  Envelopes and articles of mail · CPC title

• B65H2405/221

  details of bottom · CPC title

• B65H39/115

  in juxtaposed carriers · CPC title

• F16F7/00

  Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers (using fluid F16F5/00, F16F9/00; specific for rotary systems F16F15/10 {; belt tensioners F16H7/12}) · CPC title

• B65H29/26 Primary

  by dropping {the articles} · CPC title