High-Speed Flats Feeder

Client:
United States Postal Service
(five contracts over a 10-year period)

Need

Material handling systems capable of moving a broad mix of mail
at high rates

Solution

• Studied physics governing the handling of mail
• Developed sophisticated sensing systems
  • Vision systems
  • Scanned-laser sensors
  • Position measuring systems
  • Optical systems
  • Developed control systems to handle the sensor data and control manipulators, grippers, and transport systems
• Developed specialized material handling hardware
  • Vacuum and mechanical grippers that could be reconfigured on the fly
  • Vacuum belts for acceleration
• Developed vacuum belt systems capable of separating double feeds

Result

Advanced features incorporated into production systems at USPS facilities