Abstract: A computing system including a common substrate having both superconducting components and non-superconducting components is provided. The superconducting components may be attached towards a first end of the common substrate and the non-superconducting components may be attached towards a second end, opposite to the first end, of the common substrate. The common substrate may include circuit traces for interconnecting the superconducting components with the non-superconducting components. A heat-shield may thermally separate the first end from the second end of the common substrate such that the superconducting components are configured to operate in a temperature range between 2 Kelvin to 77 Kelvin and the non-superconducting components are configured to operate in a temperature range between 200 Kelvin to 400 Kelvin.

Abstract: A storage tray for storing mail items in the sorting outlets of a mail sorting machine having a carousel with buckets that hold mail items and move in a transport direction such that the mail items describe an arcuate path when released from the buckets. The storage tray includes a bottom surrounded by side walls defining a horizontal top portion of the tray and a horizontal bottom portion of the tray, wherein the bottom of the tray includes a landing wall and a jogging wall intersecting in the bottom portion of the tray, the landing wall extending from the jogging wall in a first direction towards the top portion of the tray at an angle relative to the horizontal bottom portion of the tray, and the jogging wall extending away from the landing wall in a second direction along a generally arcuate curved path toward the top portion of the tray. The shape of the jogging wall preferably corresponds generally to the path of a mail item released from a bucket carousel of a sorting machine.

Abstract: A storage tray for storing mail items in the sorting outlets of a mail sorting machine having a carousel with buckets that hold mail items and move in a transport direction such that the mail items describe an arcuate path when released from the buckets. The storage tray includes a bottom surrounded by side walls defining a horizontal top portion of the tray and a horizontal bottom portion of the tray, wherein the bottom of the tray includes a landing wall and a jogging wall intersecting in the bottom portion of the tray, the landing wall extending from the jogging wall in a first direction towards the top portion of the tray at an angle relative to the horizontal bottom portion of the tray, and the jogging wall extending away from the landing wall in a second direction along a generally arcuate curved path toward the top portion of the tray. The shape of the jogging wall preferably corresponds generally to the path of a mail item released from a bucket carousel of a sorting machine.

Abstract: A modular mail processing method and control system for sorting pieces of incoming, internal, and outgoing mail including a plurality of sorting bins which correspond to either mail stops or zip codes depending on which sort plan is selected. The modular mail processing method and control system permitting mixed pieces of mail of various sizes to be sorted. Additionally, an internal mail envelope, which has address regions consisting of blocks, may be utilized in connection with the modular mail processing method and control system in order to allow accurate detection of handwritten addresses.

Abstract: A modular mail processing method and control system that includes a plurality of induction transport modules and a stacker/transport module. The system maintains a real time statistics concerning the mail flowing through the system. The modularity of the system increases its flexibility in adapting to sorting either incoming or outgoing mail. In addition, a variety of readers and printers can be employed in the system to meet the needs of a particular customer.

Abstract: A transport/stacker module provides for a vertical stacking of mail bins. Carriers traveling in a transport path have openable and closable doors at both ends, and a frame of the transport/stacker module is provided with cam actuators to open the doors after the carriers pass turnaround areas and close the doors before the carriers enter the turnaround areas. A rake mechanism disposed above each bin is provided with a snubber which engages a mail piece prior to rake tines of the rake mechanism.

Abstract: A document transfer system for receiving a cluster of stacked documents within the first end of an output holder and, by using movable partitions, advancing the clusters to the second end of the output holder, thereby permitting a next document cluster to be received within the output holder at the first end. A document cluster at the second end of the output holder is then, using extendable and retractable gates, transferred from the output holder to a separate holder for further processing.

Abstract: A method for increasing the throughput of a multiple pass document sorting device that sorts documents into a plurality of output holders by automatically displacing the sorted documents within the receiving areas of each output holder into recirculation holders. The recirculation holders are then sequentially aligned with the input holder and the associated document cluster is transferred to the input holder. In this manner a next sorting pass may be initiated, using documents from the recirculation holders, with documents being sorted into the available output holders.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the throughput of a multiple pass document sorting device that sorts documents into a plurality of output holders by automatically displacing the sorted documents within the receiving areas of each output holder into a transitional area to make the receiving areas available. In this manner a next sorting pass may be initiated, using documents from the transitional area from the output holders, without the need to empty all of the output holders before a sorting pass can be initiated.

Abstract: The electronic component retrieval and insertion apparatus for printed circuit boards is a tactile and displacement monitoring device for the retrieval from a source and insertion of electronic components into a through-hole PCB utilizing force and displacement sensors on extendable fingers adjustable for a multitude of shapes such that excessive force to the component and PCB can be avoided and the final position of the inserted component can be checked to verify proper seating.