Importance

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Abstract

An automatic tray handling system for use with an article or mail sortation system, such as a flats mail sortation system, is operable to automatically remove filled or partially filled trays from individual sorter units and to replenish the sorter units with empty trays. The empty trays and/or filled trays are moved along at least one conveying surface adjacent to the sorter units. The automatic tray handling system includes a plurality of tray moving devices, which are operable to move the empty trays from the conveying surface to the sorter units, whereby the trays are at least partially filled by the sorter units. The tray moving devices are then further operable to move the at least partially filled trays from the sorter units to a conveying surface, whereby the filled trays may be conveyed to downstream operations, such as an automatic labeling station. Preferably, the empty trays are movable in a continuous loop about the mail sortation system. The automatic tray handling system may include an upper and lower conveying surface and a vertical tray moving device, which is operable to lower empty trays from the upper conveying surface to the lower, empty tray-conveying surface, whereby the empty trays are returned to an upstream end of the conveying surface along the sorter units. The empty trays may be conveyed along the conveying surfaces and may be moved into a proper position for filling at an appropriate one of the multiple sorter units positioned therealong.

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First Claim