Convertible mail container and method
View Patent ↗A convertible mail container and related method. The convertible mail container includes a bottom, two fixed side walls connected to the bottom, and a fixed end wall connected to the side walls and to the bottom. The convertible mail container also includes a movable wall that is movable from a first position where the movable wall forms a second end wall of the convertible mail container, opposite the fixed end wall, to a second position where the movable wall is adjacent to the two fixed side walls and the fixed end wall so that it covers a portion of a top opening of the convertible mail container.
1. A method of transporting mail items, comprising:
using a convertible mail container in a horizontal configuration as an output tray of a mail processing machine, the convertible mail container having
a bottom,
two fixed side walls connected to the bottom,
a fixed end wall connected to the side walls and to the bottom, and
a movable wall that is movable from a first position where the movable wall forms a second end wall of the convertible mail container, opposite the fixed end wall, to a second position where the movable wall is adjacent to the two fixed side walls and the fixed end wall so that it covers a portion of a top opening of the convertible mail container,
wherein the movable wall the movable wall can rotate about a hinge that is configured to travel in slots in the side walls and acts as a wall of the convertible mail container when the convertible mail container is in a first configuration where the movable wall is in the first position and the convertible mail container is in a horizontal orientation, and also when the convertible mail container is in a second configuration where the movable wall is in the second position and the convertible mail container is in a vertical orientation;
receiving a plurality of items in the convertible mail container in a horizontal stack;
reconfiguring the convertible mail container to a vertical configuration, including moving a wall of the convertible mail container, so that the plurality of items is moved to a vertical orientation; and
extracting the plurality of items while the convertible mail container is in the vertical configuration.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transporting the convertible mail container in the vertical configuration so the plurality of items can be selectively extracted for delivery.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wall of the convertible container is at least partially transparent so that the plurality of mail items can be viewed through the wall.
4. A method of transporting mail items, comprising:
using a convertible mail container in a horizontal configuration as an output tray of a mail processing machine;
receiving a plurality of items in the convertible mail container in a horizontal stack;
reconfiguring the convertible mail container to a vertical configuration, including moving a wall of the convertible mail container, so that the plurality of items is moved to a vertical orientation;
transporting the convertible mail container in the vertical configuration so the plurality of items can be selectively extracted for delivery; and
extracting the plurality of items while the convertible mail container is in the vertical configuration.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the wall of the convertible container is at least partially transparent so that the plurality of mail items can be viewed through the wall.