Enhanced object-feeder pre-processing system

Abstract

In some embodiments, a system and/or method includes pre-processing objects (such as, e.g., mail or other thin-objects) that are delivered to an object feeder. Various embodiments disclosed herein can have various advantages, such as enhancing processing, improving ergonomics and/or other advantages.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for pre-processing mail delivered to at least one mail feeder having a conveyor from which mail is fed to a downstream system, comprising: 
 a) having at least one preparation operator place non-bundled mail on a carrier;    b) delivering said carrier via said delivery system to the feeder without requiring an operator to lift said carrier; and    c) transferring mail from said carrier to the conveyer of the feeder.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transferring mail includes having the feeder operator laterally move mail to the conveyor of the feeder.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including providing said mail as mail flats.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including delivering carriers from a plurality of preparation operator locations to a common supply, and delivering said carriers from said common supply to a plurality of feed operator locations proximate respective mail feeders.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said delivering includes delivering said carriers via said delivery system along a path that includes a lateral component such that said carrier is moved, at least in part, laterally.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said delivering includes delivering said carriers via said delivery system along a path that includes a generally vertical component such that said carrier is moved, at least in part, generally vertically.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said delivery system includes a conveyor.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said delivery system includes a movable platform.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said delivery system includes a conveyor and a movable platform.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said movable platform is supported upon a frame.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said movable platform is raised or lowered to the feeder.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said movable platform is laterally moved to the feeder.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said movable platform is movable between an end of said conveyor and adjacent said feeder.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further including sliding said mail off of said carrier onto said feeder with a transfer slide having an angled upper surface.  
     
     
         15 . A method for pre-processing mail delivered to at least one mail feeder having a conveyor from which mail is fed into a system, comprising: 
 a) de-bundling mail at at least one preparation operator location;    b) placing said de-bundled mail upon at least one mail carrier; and    c) delivering said at least one mail carrier to at least one mail feeder via a delivery system that permits egress of a feed operator around a periphery of each of the at least one mail feeder.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including delivering carriers from a plurality of preparation operator locations to a common supply, and delivering said carriers from said common supply to a plurality of feed operator locations proximate respective mail feeders.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said delivering includes delivering said carriers via said delivery system along a path that includes a lateral component such that said carrier is moved, at least in part, laterally to the feeder.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said delivering includes delivering said carriers via said delivery system along a path that includes a generally vertical component such that said carrier is moved, at least in part, generally vertically to the feeder.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said delivery system includes a conveyor.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said delivery system includes a movable platform.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said delivery system includes a conveyor and a movable platform.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said movable platform is movable between a position adjacent said conveyor and a position adjacent said feeder.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , further including sliding said mail off of said carrier onto said feeder via an angled sliding surface.  
     
     
         24 . A method for pre-processing and delivering objects to an object-feeder, comprising: 
 a) loading objects onto a plurality of carriers;    b) conveying said carriers with a supply conveyor towards an object-feeder;    c) transporting at least one of said carriers from said conveyor toward said feeder upon a reciprocated transporter;    d) after transporting, transferring objects from said at least one carrier to said feeder;    e) after transferring, placing said at least one carrier upon a return conveyor.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said platform is reciprocated at least partly in a generally vertical direction.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said platform is reciprocated at least partly in a generally horizontal direction.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said objects includes mail.  
     
     
         28 . A mail handling system, comprising: 
 a) a feeder for feeding mail;    b) a plurality of mail carriers;    c) a transporter upon which at least one of said mail carriers can be placed;    d) said transporter including a platform that is movable along a path from a location proximate said feeder to a location distal from said feeder so as to permit egress of a feed operator around a periphery of the feeder.    
     
     
         29 . The mail handling system of  claim 28 , wherein said path includes a lateral component such that said support is moved, at least in part, laterally to the feeder.  
     
     
         30 . The mail handling system of  claim 28 , wherein said path includes a generally vertical component such that said support is moved, at least in part, generally vertically to the feeder.  
     
     
         31 . An thin-object handling system, comprising: 
 a) a feeder for feeding thin-objects;    b) a plurality of carriers carrying a plurality of said thin-objects;    c) a conveyor for conveying said carriers toward said feeder;    d) a transporter arranged to transport at least one of said carriers from said conveyor toward said feeder, said transporter being movable to permit egress of a feed operator around a periphery of the feeder.    
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein said thin objects include mail.