초록 ▼

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an apparatus that will assist in sorting mailpieces which increases the efficiency of the mail sorting apparatus, provides an organized space for intermediate storage of mailpieces and provides ergonomic features that reduce in

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an apparatus that will assist in sorting mailpieces which increases the efficiency of the mail sorting apparatus, provides an organized space for intermediate storage of mailpieces and provides ergonomic features that reduce injury to the mail sorting apparatus operator and increases productivity. The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a mailpiece storage rack. The storage rack is used to hold partially sorted mailpieces between sorting passes in multiple pass sorting of mailpieces using a mail sorting apparatus or stores mailpieces after sortation and prior to delivery. The storage rack maintains the grouping, sequence and stack quality or alignment of partially sorted mailpieces which provides for more efficient refeeding. The rack is designed ergonomically for easy transferring of mail into and out of storage and also provides for organized workflow. The storage rack may be configured to accept containers such as, for example, standard tubs used by national posts, and/or custom tubs designed for mailer environments.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A rack for storing sorted mailpieces that have been sorted by an automated mail sorting apparatus comprising:a plurality of shelves each comprising an upper end and a lower end and configured to accept and store mail containers; a shelf extension projecting from the lower end of at least one shel

1. A rack for storing sorted mailpieces that have been sorted by an automated mail sorting apparatus comprising:a plurality of shelves each comprising an upper end and a lower end and configured to accept and store mail containers; a shelf extension projecting from the lower end of at least one shelf of the plurality of shelves for holding at least one of the mail containers at a compound angle, each shelf extension comprising at least one rest for holding one of the mail containers for facilitating access by an operator; the compound angle comprising the angle of the extension to the horizontal axis of between greater than about 0 degrees and not more than about 50 degrees and an angle of the rest with respect to a front edge of the rack of between greater than about 0 degrees and less than about 90 degrees.