Leung Man Shiu

US Patent:

6671577, Dec 30, 2003

Filed:

May 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/849994

Inventors:

Timothy B. Barnum - Severna Park MD
George Laws - Goldvein VA
Leung M. Shiu - Gaithersburg MD

Assignee:

United States Postal Service - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06F 700

US Classification:

700223, 700224, 700228, 700226, 209569

Abstract:

Systems and methods that allow for orienting and delivering mail between a postage verifier and a mail sorter. A postage verifier incudes an optical character reader for decoding addresses on mail pieces that do not have bar codes. A reverter orients mail from the postage verifier into a position required for processing by the mail sorter. A combination of mail carrying modules carry the mail from the reverter to the mail sorter. The mail sorter prints bar code information on mail lacking bar codes, when the data is available, and sorts the mail based on the bar code information.

US Patent:

7930062, Apr 19, 2011

Filed:

Jun 1, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/444510

Inventors:

Timothy B. Barnum - Severna Park MD, US
George Laws - Goldvein VA, US
Leung M. Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US

Assignee:

United States Postal Service - Washington DC

International Classification:

G07F 7/00

US Classification:

700223, 700224, 700227

Abstract:

Systems and methods that allow for orienting and delivering mail between a postage verifier and a mail sorter. A postage verifier includes an optical character reader for decoding addresses on mail pieces that do not have bar codes. A reverter orients mail from the postage verifier into a position required for processing by the mail sorter. A combination of mail carrying modules carry the mail from the reverter to the mail sorter. The mail sorter prints bar code information on mail lacking bar codes, when the data is available, and sorts the mail based on the bar code information.

US Patent:

8078314, Dec 13, 2011

Filed:

Jan 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/015926

Inventors:

Timothy B. Barnum - Severna Park MD, US
George Laws - Goldvein VA, US
Leung M. Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US

Assignee:

United States Postal Service - Washington DC

International Classification:

G07F 17/00

US Classification:

700224, 700223, 700228, 700229, 700230

Abstract:

Systems and methods that allow for orienting and delivering mail between a postage verifier and a mail sorter. A postage verifier includes an optical character reader for decoding addresses on mail pieces that do not have bar codes. A reverter orients mail from the postage verifier into a position required for processing by the mail sorter. A combination of mail carrying modules carry the mail from the reverter to the mail sorter. The mail sorter prints bar code information on mail lacking bar codes, when the data is available, and sorts the mail based on the bar code information.

US Patent:

20040078112, Apr 22, 2004

Filed:

Oct 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/681183

Inventors:

Timothy Barnum - Severna Park MD, US
George Laws - Goldvein VA, US
Leung Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US
James Goodbar - Springfield VA, US

Assignee:

United States Postal Service

International Classification:

G06F007/00

US Classification:

700/223000, 700/224000, 700/226000, 700/228000, 209/569000

Abstract:

Systems and methods that allow for orienting and delivering mail between a postage verifier and a mail sorter. A postage verifier incudes an optical character reader for decoding addresses on mail pieces that do not have bar codes. A reverter orients mail from the postage verifier into a position required for processing by the mail sorter. A combination of mail carrying modules carry the mail from the reverter to the mail sorter. The mail sorter prints bar code information on mail lacking bar codes, when the data is available, and sorts the mail based on the bar code information.

US Patent:

20210039901, Feb 11, 2021

Filed:

Oct 21, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/076701

Inventors:

- Washington DC, US
Edward F. Houston - Bristow VA, US
Juan A. Roman - Fairfax VA, US
Leung M. Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US
Riley H. Mayhall - Germantown MD, US
Jacob L. Timm - Pasadena MD, US
Matthew G. Good - Eldersburg MD, US
William P. McConnell - Woodstock MD, US
Robert L. Schlender - Columbia MD, US
Christopher D. Austin - Parkville MD, US

International Classification:

B65H 3/12
B65H 5/24
B65H 3/46
B65H 5/22
B65H 7/12
B65G 47/06
B65G 47/28
B65G 47/46
B65G 59/04

Abstract:

Embodiments of a system and method for shingulating, singulating, and synchronizing articles in an article feeder system are disclosed. The article feeder system may include a shingulating device configured to receive a stack of articles and to produce a positively lapped stack of articles, a plurality of picking devices configured to pick one or more articles from the positively lapped stack of articles and to produce one or more singulated articles, and one or more synchronization devices configured to deliver the one or more singulated articles to one or more sorter windows.

US Patent:

20210017007, Jan 21, 2021

Filed:

Jul 17, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/931956

Inventors:

- Washington DC, US
Leung Man Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US
Michael Joseph Goldberg - Portland OR, US
Mark David Bittenbender - Baltimore MD, US
William Patrick McConnell - Woodstock MD, US

International Classification:

B66F 9/075
B66F 9/06
B60D 1/36
G05D 1/00

Abstract:

Systems and methods for towing, hitching, and connecting devices are described. An autonomous guided vehicle includes an automated hitch capable of connecting to a variety of types of containers.

US Patent:

20200010294, Jan 9, 2020

Filed:

Sep 17, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/573887

Inventors:

- Washington DC, US
Edward F. Houston - Bristow VA, US
Juan A. Roman - Fairfax VA, US
Leung M. Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US
Riley H. Mayhall - Germantown MD, US
Jacob L. Timm - Pasadena CA, US
Reza Badri - Towson MD, US
Thomas A. Hillerich - Louisville KY, US

International Classification:

B65H 3/12
B65H 1/02
B65H 9/16
B65H 3/66
B65H 7/16

Abstract:

A device for reducing rotation of an article during singulation of a stack of articles is disclosed. The device may include a torsion element, a rotatable member configured to rotate about an elongated axis of the torsion element between a first position and a second position, and a revolving member coupled to the rotatable member. An outer surface of the revolving member contacts a drive belt in the first position and an article in the second position. The torsion element exerts torque on the rotatable member when it moves from the first position towards the second position. The torque causes the outer surface of the revolving member to apply a frictional force to the article, thereby minimizing rotation of the article. Systems and methods of singulating articles are also disclosed.

US Patent:

20190367293, Dec 5, 2019

Filed:

Aug 15, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/542172

Inventors:

- Washington DC, US
Edward F. Houston - Bristow VA, US
Juan A. Roman - Fairfax VA, US
Leung M. Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US
Riley H. Mayhall - Germantown MD, US
Jacob L. Timm - Pasadena MD, US
Matthew G. Good - Eldersburg MD, US
William P. McConnell - Woodstock MD, US
Robert L. Schlender - Columbia MD, US
Christopher D. Austin - Parkville MD, US

International Classification:

B65G 47/74
B65H 5/24
B65H 3/46
B65H 5/22
B65H 7/12
B65H 3/12
B65G 47/06
B65G 47/28
B65G 47/46
B65G 59/04

Abstract:

Embodiments of a system and method for shingulating, singulating, and synchronizing articles in an article feeder system are disclosed. The article feeder system may include a shingulating device configured to receive a stack of articles and to produce a positively lapped stack of articles, a plurality of picking devices configured to pick one or more articles from the positively lapped stack of articles and to produce one or more singulated articles, and one or more synchronization devices configured to deliver the one or more singulated articles to one or more sorter windows.