Patents by Inventor Mark T. Neebe
Mark T. Neebe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8642911Abstract: A route enhanced mail sorting and dispatch system and method sorts mail based on carrier route and then arranges the mail into delivery point order in a single pass that accommodates both letter and flat format mail. Mail sorting based on carrier routes and arrangement into delivery point order is achieved through a plurality of route enhanced dispatch modules. Each dispatch module has upper and lower helical mail conveyors. The lower helical mail conveyor is linearly translatable and can moved to a plurality of positions. Mail sorted based on carrier route is held in the upper helical mail conveyor before being placed or dropped into an allocated position in the lower helical mail conveyor by a put away shuttle. The lower helical mail conveyor can then be rotated to dispatch the mail in delivery point order.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2010Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventors: Mark T. Neebe, Matthew G. Good
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Patent number: 8284060Abstract: A system for managing a plurality of carriers in a mail sorting facility includes a server configured to create, implement and/or execute a sort plan, a plurality of terminals disposed on the plurality of carriers and each configured to send a wireless beacon signal and at least one gateway in communication with the server and configured to receive the wireless beacon signals from the terminals. The terminals preferably each include an alert mechanism. Preferably, the server is further configured to determine the location of a terminal based on the beacon signal transmitted by the terminals to the servers via the at least one gateway and configured to compare the location of each terminal to the location required by the sort plan and to activate the alert mechanism in any terminal determined to be in an incorrect location.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2009Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Norththrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventors: Mark T. Neebe, Paul J. Speese, Randall Keith Neilson
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Publication number: 20120097584Abstract: A route enhanced mail sorting and dispatch system and method sorts mail based on carrier route and then arranges the mail into delivery point order in a single pass that accommodates both letter and flat format mail. Mail sorting based on carrier routes and arrangement into delivery point order is achieved through a plurality of route enhanced dispatch modules. Each dispatch module has upper and lower helical mail conveyors. The lower helical mail conveyor is linearly translatable and can moved to a plurality of positions. Mail sorted based on carrier route is held in the upper helical mail conveyor before being placed or dropped into an allocated position in the lower helical mail conveyor by a put away shuttle. The lower helical mail conveyor can then be rotated to dispatch the mail in delivery point order.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2010Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicant: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventors: Mark T. Neebe, Matthew G. Good
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Publication number: 20110080281Abstract: A system for managing a plurality of carriers in a mail sorting facility includes a server configured to create, implement and/or execute a sort plan, a plurality of terminals disposed on the plurality of carriers and each configured to send a wireless beacon signal and at least one gateway in communication with the server and configured to receive the wireless beacon signals from the terminals. The terminals preferably each include an alert mechanism. Preferably, the server is further configured to determine the location of a terminal based on the beacon signal transmitted by the terminals to said servers via said at least one gateway and configured to compare the location of each terminal to the location required by the sort plan and to activate the alert mechanism in any terminal determined to be in an incorrect location.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2009Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventors: Mark T. NEEBE, Paul SPEESE, Randall Keith NEILSON
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Publication number: 20090254212Abstract: A method and system for transferring flats mail from palletized bundles into a flats sorting system. The bundles are loaded into a system in which they are scanned for delivery zone information. The bundles are transported to a tray loading station based on delivery zone. The flats mail is unbundled and placed into system trays at the tray loading stations. The system trays are then transported to a flats sorting system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2008Publication date: October 8, 2009Applicant: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventors: Mark T. NEEBE, Randall K. Neilson, Matthew G. Good, Mark D. Bittenbender, Thomas A. Hillerich
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Patent number: 7195236Abstract: In some embodiments, a system for automated loading of a side-by-side stack of thin objects to a feeder is provided. The system can include, e.g.: a) a transporter having a transport surface upon which a side-by-side stack of thin objects can be conveyed; b) a carrier, configured to carry a side-by-side stack of thin objects, over the transport surface; c) a pusher over the transport surface; d) the pusher and the carrier being movable relative to one another between a first position in which the pusher is inside the carrier behind a side-by-side stack of thin objects on the carrier and a second position in which the pusher is laterally displaced from the carrier, such that the side-by-side stack of thin objects on the carrier is laterally slid off of the carrier by the pusher.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2003Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Thomas A. Hillerich, Jr., Mark T. Neebe
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Patent number: 7133743Abstract: An item delivery and retrieval system including a storage subsystem and a computer subsystem. The storage subsystem includes a secure enclosure having an item storage carousel including internal controller apparatus. The computer subsystem is embodied in internet web page based customized application software for implementing an application interface of selectively configurable ActiveX controls for providing user access, such as an employee of a delivery service company and/or a customer of the delivery service company and customer access to one or more storage bins located behind a set of normally closed doors, for providing access control to the bins, and for managing the location of the items in the storage subsystem. The doors are opened when proper identification is provided by the customer so as to permit retrieval of items located in specifically designated bin(s) or to return items thereto.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2004Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: David J. Tilles, David J. Janos, Mark T. Neebe, Bruce G. Chestnutt, Ann C. Schofield, Randall K. Neilson
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Patent number: 7072937Abstract: A web-based common use terminal, e.g. a kiosk of an item delivery and retrieval system utilizing a web connection with one or more web servers for respective delivery service providers with any desired number of applications being separately run, depending upon the needs of a user. In a preferred embodiment, four discrete application including package pick-up, package exchange, buying postage, and club type delivery and pick-up of discrete items, are hosted while using the same system hardware.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2002Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Mark T. Neebe, Bruce G. Chestnutt, Randall K. Neilson, Ann C. Schofield, Cathryne I. Tondreau
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Publication number: 20040193314Abstract: An item delivery and retrieval system including a storage subsystem and a computer subsystem. The storage subsystem includes a secure enclosure having an item storage carousel including internal controller apparatus. The computer subsystem is embodied in internet web page based customized application software for implementing an application interface of selectively configurable ActiveX controls for providing user access, such as an employee of a delivery service company and/or a customer of the delivery service company and customer access to one or more storage bins located behind a set of normally closed doors, for providing access control to the bins, and for managing the location of the items in the storage subsystem. The doors are opened when proper identification is provided by the customer so as to permit retrieval of items located in specifically designated bin(s) or to return items thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2004Publication date: September 30, 2004Applicant: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: David J. Tilles, David J. Janos, Mark T. Neebe, Bruce G. Chestnutt, Ann C. Schofield, Randall K. Neilson
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Publication number: 20040193554Abstract: In some embodiments, a system for automated loading of a side-by-side stack of thin objects to a feeder is provided. The system can include, e.g.: a) a transporter having a transport surface upon which a side-by-side stack of thin objects can be conveyed; b) a carrier, configured to carry a side-by-side stack of thin objects, over the transport surface; c) a pusher over the transport surface; d) the pusher and the carrier being movable relative to one another between a first position in which the pusher is inside the carrier behind a side-by-side stack of thin objects on the carrier and a second position in which the pusher is laterally displaced from the carrier, such that the side-by-side stack of thin objects on the carrier is laterally slid off of the carrier by the pusher.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2003Publication date: September 30, 2004Inventors: Thomas A. Hillerich, Mark T. Neebe
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Patent number: 6748295Abstract: An item delivery and retrieval system including a storage subsystem and a computer subsystem. The storage subsystem includes a secure enclosure having an item storage carousel including internal controller apparatus. The computer subsystem is embodied in internet web page based customized application software for implementing an application interface of selectively configurable ActiveX controls for providing user access, such as an employee of a delivery service company and/or a customer of the delivery service company and customer access to one or more storage bins located behind a set of normally closed doors, for providing access control to the bins, and for managing the location of the items in the storage subsystem. The doors are opened when proper identification is provided by the customer so as to permit retrieval of items located in specifically designated bin(s) or to return items thereto.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2001Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: David J. Tilles, David J. Janos, Mark T. Neebe, Bruce G. Chestnutt, Ann C. Schofield, Randall K. Neilson
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Publication number: 20020138548Abstract: A web-based common use terminal, e.g. a kiosk of an item delivery and retrieval system utilizing a web connection with one or more web servers for respective delivery service providers with any desired number of applications being separately run, depending upon the needs of a user. In a preferred embodiment, four discrete application including package pick-up, package exchange, buying postage, and club type delivery and pick-up of discrete items, are hosted while using the same system hardware.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2002Publication date: September 26, 2002Inventors: Mark T. Neebe, Bruce G. Chestnutt, Randall K. Neilson, Ann C. Schofield, Cathryne I. Tondreau
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Publication number: 20020032501Abstract: An item delivery and retrieval system including a storage subsystem and a computer subsystem. The storage subsystem includes a secure enclosure having an item storage carousel including internal controller apparatus. The computer subsystem is embodied in internet web page based customized application software for implementing an application interface of selectively configurable ActiveX controls for providing user access, such as an employee of a delivery service company and/or a customer of the delivery service company and customer access to one or more storage bins located behind a set of normally closed doors, for providing access control to the bins, and for managing the location of the items in the storage subsystem. The doors are opened when proper identification is provided by the customer so as to permit retrieval of items located in specifically designated bin(s) or to return items thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Inventors: David J. Tilles, David J. Janos, Mark T. Neebe, Bruce G. Chestnutt, Ann C. Schofield, Randall K. Neilson