초록 ▼

The sort station system includes at least one outer support member and an elongated inner member. The at least one outer support member defines a channel along a first longitudinal axis thereof, and the elongated inner member is slideably disposed within the at least one outer support member such th

The sort station system includes at least one outer support member and an elongated inner member. The at least one outer support member defines a channel along a first longitudinal axis thereof, and the elongated inner member is slideably disposed within the at least one outer support member such that: (A) a first status is indicated by the at least one outer support member being disposed at a first position relative to an end of the channel and (B) a second status is indicated by the end of the elongated inner member being disposed at a second position relative to the end of the channel. The first position and the second position are spaced apart axially from each other.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A sort station communication system comprising: at least one outer support member defining a channel along a first longitudinal axis of said at least one outer support member, said channel having a first end opposite a second end and an inner width; andan elongated inner member extending along a

1. A sort station communication system comprising: at least one outer support member defining a channel along a first longitudinal axis of said at least one outer support member, said channel having a first end opposite a second end and an inner width; andan elongated inner member extending along a second longitudinal axis and having a first end opposite a second end and an outer width, said outer width of said elongated inner member being smaller than said inner width of said at least one outer support member;wherein: said elongated inner member is slideably disposed within said channel of said at least one outer support member such that: (A) a first status is indicated by said first end of said elongated inner member being disposed at a first position proximate said first end of said channel, and (B) a second status is indicated by said second end of said elongated inner member being disposed at a second position proximate said second end of said channel; andsaid first position and said second position are spaced apart axially from each other. 2. The sort station communication system of claim 1 wherein said at least one outer support member consists of an elongated outer support member. 3. The sort station communication system of claim 2 wherein said elongated outer support member comprises a hollow tube. 4. The sort station communication system of claim 3 wherein said hollow tube defines a substantially circular cross-section in a plane substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis. 5. The sort station communication system of claim 4 wherein: said elongated inner member is substantially cylindrical and has a first outer diameter,said channel of said hollow tube has a second inner diameter, andsaid first outer diameter is smaller than said second inner diameter. 6. The sort station communication system of claim 5 wherein: said elongated inner member is hollow and defines a hollow chamber extending along said second longitudinal axis,an elongated rod having an arcuate shape is slidably disposed within said hollow chamber of said elongated inner member such that a medial portion of said rod engages an inner surface of said hollow chamber adjacent a medial portion of said elongated inner member, andsaid medial portion of said rod is configured for urging said medial portion of said elongated inner member in a radially outward direction. 7. The sort station communication system of claim 2, wherein said channel has a substantially triangular cross-section in a plane substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis. 8. The sort station communication system of claim 2, said channel has a substantially rectangular cross-section in a plane substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis. 9. The sort station communication system of claim 1, wherein said channel has a substantially U-shaped cross-section in a plane substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis. 10. The sort station communication system of claim 1, wherein said channel has a substantially V-shaped cross-section in a plane substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis. 11. The sort station communication system of claim 1, wherein said at least one elongated inner member has a substantially triangular cross-section in a plane substantially perpendicular to said second longitudinal axis. 12. The sort station communication system of claim 1, wherein said at least one elongated inner member has a substantially rectangular cross-section in a plane substantially perpendicular to said second longitudinal axis. 13. The sort station communication system of claim 1 wherein said first end of said elongated inner member comprises a first plug, and said first plug has an outer surface radially spaced apart from said second longitudinal axis, said outer surface having a second width that is greater than said width of said elongated inner member, wherein said outer surface of said plug is biased in a radially outward direction. 14. The sort station communication system of claim 13 wherein said second end of said elongated inner member comprises a second plug, said second plug having an outer surface radially spaced apart from said second longitudinal axis, and said outer surface having a third width that is greater than said width of said elongated inner member, wherein said outer surface of said second plug is biased in a radially outward direction. 15. The sort station communication system of claim 1 wherein said channel has a first length and said elongated inner member has a second length, and said first length is shorter than said second length. 16. The sort station communication system of claim 1 wherein said channel has a first length and said elongated inner member has a second length, and said first length is substantially the same as said second length. 17. The sort station communication system of claim 1, wherein said elongated inner member is configured to be held in place relative to said end of said at least one outer support member by friction. 18. The sort station communication system of claim 1 wherein said first position is outside said channel and said second position is inside said channel. 19. The sort station communication system of claim 1 wherein said at least one outer support member comprises two or more outer support members, said two or more outer support members being spaced apart from each other along said first longitudinal axis. 20. The sort station communication system of claim 1 wherein said first and second longitudinal axes are coaxial. 21. The sort station communication system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the elongated inner member is colored a first color, and at least a portion of the at least one outer support member is colored a second color, the first color being lighter than the second color. 22. The sort station communication system of claim 21 wherein at least one of said first and second ends of said elongated inner member comprises a plug, and said plug is colored a third color, said third color being darker than said first color. 23. The sort station communication system of claim 22 wherein said third color is substantially similar to said second color. 24. A sort station system comprising: a sort station comprising at least one sort bin extending from a first side of said sort station to a second side of said sort station, said first side being spaced apart from and opposite said second side;at least one outer support member, said at least one outer support member defining a channel along a first longitudinal axis of said at least one outer support member, and said channel of said at least one outer support member having a first end opposite a second end and an inner width, said at least one outer support member being disposed adjacent said at least one sort bin of said sort station, and said first longitudinal axis of said at least one outer support member extending from said first side to said second side of said sort station; andan elongated inner member extending along a second longitudinal axis and having a first end opposite a second end and an outer width, said outer width of said elongated inner member being smaller than said inner width of said at least one outer support member,wherein: said elongated inner member is slideably disposed within said channel of said at least one outer support member such that: (A) said first and said second longitudinal axes are coaxial, (B) a first status is indicated by said first end of said elongated inner member being disposed in a first position proximate said first end of said channel, and (C) a second status is indicated by said second end of said elongated inner member being disposed at a second position proximate said second end of said channel; andsaid first position and said second position are spaced apart axially from each other. 25. The sort station communication system of claim 24 wherein said at least one outer support member is disposed in an opening extending through said sort station adjacent said sort bin. 26. The sort station communication system of claim 24 wherein said at least one outer support member is an opening extending through said sort station from said first side to said second side, said opening being adjacent said sort bin. 27. The sort station communication system of claim 24 wherein said first longitudinal axis of said at least one outer support member and said second longitudinal axis of said elongated inner member have a slanted orientation relative to a substantially horizontal plane extending through said sort station from said first side to said second side. 28. The sort station communication system of claim 24, wherein said first longitudinal axis of said at least one outer support member and said second longitudinal axis of said elongated inner member are substantially parallel to a substantially horizontal plane extending through said sort station from said first side to said second side. 29. A method of indicating a first status and a second status, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one outer support member defining a channel along a first longitudinal axis of said at least one outer support member, and said channel having a first end opposite a second end and an inner width;providing an elongated inner member extending along a second longitudinal axis and having a first end opposite a second end and an outer width, said outer width of said inner tube being smaller than said inner width of said at least one outer support member, wherein said elongated inner member is slideably disposed within said channel of said at least one outer support member;slideably moving a first end of said elongated inner member in a first direction along said second longitudinal axis to indicate a first status, said first end of said elongated inner member being moved to a first position proximate said first end of said channel; andslideably moving a second end of said elongated inner member in a second direction along said second longitudinal axis to indicate a second status, said second end of said elongated inner member being moved to proximate said second end of said channel. 30. The method of claim 29 wherein said first direction is opposite said second direction. 31. The method of claim 29 wherein said first position and said second position are outside of said channel of said at least one outer support member. 32. The method of claim 29 wherein said first position and said second position are inside of said channel of said at least one support member. 33. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of disposing said at least one outer support member and said elongated inner member adjacent a sort bin defined in a sort station, said sort bin extending from a first side of said sort station to a second side of said sort station, said first side of said sort station being spaced apart and opposite said second side of said sort station, and wherein said first and second longitudinal axes of said at least one outer support member and said elongated inner member extend between said first side and said second side of said sort station. 34. The method of claim 33 wherein said first and second longitudinal axes of said at least one outer support member and said elongated inner member have a slanted orientation relative to a substantially horizontal plane extending through said sort station from said first side of said sort station to said second side of said sort station.