System and method for improved fixation of flats sequencing system linear actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9611976-B2
Application number	US-201414553768-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2014
Priority date	Nov 27, 2013
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

A system of mitigating force in a mechanical system, the system comprising a frame member, a first rail connected to the frame member, a second rail connected to the frame member and extending along the frame member in parallel to the first rail, an assembly movably engaging the first and second rails, and a first bracket located between the first and second rails, with at least one first bracket attachment secured to the frame member, the first bracket sharing an upper edge with a lower edge of the first rail, such that a downward force applied on the first rail is distributed to the first bracket and the frame member via the at least one first bracket attachment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system of mitigating force in a mechanical system, comprising:
a frame member;
a first rail connected to the frame member;
a second rail connected to the frame member and extending in parallel to the first rail;
an assembly movably engaging the first and second rails;
a first bracket located between the first and second rails, with at least one first bracket attachment secured to the frame member, the first bracket sharing an upper edge with a lower edge of the first rail, such that a downward force applied on the first rail is distributed to the first bracket and the frame member via the at least one first bracket attachment; and
a second bracket located between the first and second rails, with at least one second bracket attachment secured to the frame member, the second bracket sharing an upper edge with a lower edge of the first bracket and sharing a lower edge with an upper edge of the second rail, such that any force distributed to the first bracket is further distributed to the second bracket and the frame member via the at least one second bracket attachment.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first bracket and the second bracket have a thickness less than a clearance distance between the assembly movably engaging the first and second rails and the frame member.

3. A method of mitigating force in a mechanical system, comprising:
applying the force to a first bracket below a first rail, wherein the first rail is secured to a frame member parallel to a second rail such that an assembly may movably engage the first rail and the second rail and move along the frame member, the first bracket comprising:
a first body containing at least one hole extending therethrough;
at least one first protrusion extending above a first face of the first bracket; and
an upper edge of the first bracket contoured to match a lower edge of the first rail;

wherein the first bracket is placed against the frame member such that a portion of the at least one first protrusion extending above a first face of the first bracket rests on a portion of a lip of the frame member, and such that at least a portion of a downward force distributed to the first bracket is further distributed to the frame member by the at least one first protrusion extending above the first face of the first bracket and wherein the first bracket is secured to the frame member with at least one first bracket securement, such that the first bracket is in contact with the first rail, a portion of the upper edge of the first bracket positioned flush against a portion of the lower edge of the first rail, such that at least a portion of a downward force applied to the first rail is distributed to the first bracket and the feeder system frame member by the at least one first bracket securement; and
applying the force to a second bracket placed below the first bracket and above the second rail, the second bracket comprising:
a second body containing at least one hole extending therethrough,
at least one second protrusion extending outward from a first face of the second bracket,
an upper edge of the second bracket contoured to match a lower edge of the first bracket, and
a lower edge of the second bracket contoured to match an upper edge of the second rail,

wherein the second bracket is placed against the frame member such that a portion the at least one second protrusion extending above a first face of the second bracket rests on a portion of a lip of the frame member, and such that at least a portion of a downward force distributed to the first bracket is further distributed to the second bracket and the frame member by the at least one second protrusion extending above the first face of the second bracket and wherein the second bracket is secured to the frame member with at least one second bracket securement, such that the second bracket is in contact with the first bracket and the second rail, a portion of the upper edge of the second bracket flush against a portion of the lower edge of the first bracket, and a portion of the lower edge of the second bracket flush against a portion of the upper edge of the second rail, such that at least a portion of a downward force distributed to the first bracket is further distributed to the second bracket and the frame member by the at least one second bracket securement.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first bracket and the second bracket have a thickness less than a clearance distance between the assembly moveably engaging the first and second rails and the frame member.

5. A system of mitigating force in a mechanical system, comprising:
at least one frame member;
at least one assembly;
a first rail and a second rail, the first and second rails fastened to the at least one frame member such that the first and second rails are parallel so as to provide for horizontal movement along the frame member, the first and second rails configured to support the at least one assembly, wherein the at least one assembly movably engages the first and second rails; and
a first bracket and a second bracket, the first and second brackets configured to distribute force along the frame, the first and second brackets fastened to the at least one frame member such that a top edge of the first bracket touches a lower edge of the first rail, a lower edge of the first bracket touches a top edge of the second bracket, and a lower edge of the second bracket touches a top edge of the second rail such that a downward force exerted on the first rail is distributed to the first and second brackets and the frame.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second brackets comprises at least one protrusion and the frame comprises at least one lip, such that the at least one protrusion of each of the first and second brackets rests on the at least one lip and provides support for the first and second brackets on the frame and distributes force applied to the first and second brackets to the frame.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the first and second brackets has a thickness less than a clearance distance between the at least one assembly movably engaging the at first and second rails and the at least one frame member.

8. An apparatus for mitigating force in a mechanical system, comprising:
first means for applying the force to a frame member, the first means positioned below a first rail having an upper and a lower edge, wherein the first rail is secured to the frame member parallel to a second rail having an upper and a lower edge such that an assembly may moveably engage the first rail and the second rail and move along the frame member, the first means comprising:
means for securing the first means to the frame member;
means for applying force to a lip extending outward from the first means; and
means for receiving force contoured to match the lower edge of the first rail,
wherein the first means is secured against the frame member such that a portion of the means for applying force to a lip rests on a portion of a first lip of the frame member, such that at least a portion of a downward force distributed to the first means is further distributed to the frame member by the means for applying force to a lip and wherein the first means is secured to the frame member with at least one first bracket securement, such that the first means is in contact with the first rail, the means for receiving force of the first means being flush against the lower edge of the first rail, such that a downward force applied to the first rail is distributed to the first means and the frame member by the at least one first bracket securement; and

second means for applying the force to the frame member, the second means positioned below the first means an

Assignees

• United States Postal Service

Inventors

• Yang Dongliang
• Good Matthew G
• Shiu Leung M

Classifications

• B65G59/00

  De-stacking of articles (B65G60/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65H2402/20

  Force systems, e.g. composition of forces · CPC title

• F16M11/2085

  comprising means allowing sideward adjustment, i.e. left-right translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage · CPC title

• B65H2402/40

  Details of frames, housings or mountings of the whole handling apparatus · CPC title

• B65H5/24

  Feeding articles in overlapping streams, i.e. by separation of articles from a pile · CPC title