Tote and method for automated bagging of items and documents

Abstract

A tote and method for automated packing of items and documents. In one embodiment, the tote includes: (1) a sidewall defining an interior having a tote height, (2) a divider coupled to the sidewall to define an item bin and a document transport slot in the interior, the divider having a divider height less than the tote height further to define and provide support for a document cradle over the item bin and the document transport slot and (3) a door coupled to the sidewall and moveable between a closed position in which the door forms a floor for only the item bin and an open position in which the floor is displaced to open the item bin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tote, comprising:
 a sidewall defining an interior having a tote height;   a divider coupled to said sidewall to define an item bin and a document transport slot in said interior, said divider having a divider height less than said tote height further to define and provide support for a document cradle over said item bin and said document transport slot; and   a door coupled to said sidewall and moveable between a closed position in which said door forms a floor for only said item bin and an open position in which said floor is displaced to open said item bin.   
     
     
         2 . The tote as recited in  claim 1  wherein said tote is elongated and said document cradle and said document transport slot span a width thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The tote as recited in  claim 1  wherein said sidewall has a ledge operable to provide further support for said document cradle. 
     
     
         4 . The tote as recited in  claim 1  wherein said tote is elongated and said sidewall has ledges spanning a width thereof and operable to provide further support for said document cradle. 
     
     
         5 . The tote as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a hinge coupling said door to said sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The tote as recited in  claim 1  wherein said divider is a first divider and said tote further comprises a second divider, said document transport slot centrally located in said interior. 
     
     
         7 . The tote as recited in  claim 1  wherein said item bin is a first item bin, said door is a first door and said divider is a first divider, said tote further comprising:
 a second divider defining a second item bin in said interior; and 
 a second door coupled to said sidewall and moveable between a closed position in which said second door forms a floor for only said second item bin and an open position in which said floor is displaced to open said second item bin. 
 
     
     
         8 . The tote as recited in  claim 1  wherein said sidewalls are substantially normal to a plane of said door. 
     
     
         9 . The tote as recited in  claim 1  wherein said sidewalls, said divider and said door are plastic. 
     
     
         10 . The tote as recited in  claim 1  wherein a length and a width of said tote are based on dimensions of documents to be placed in said document cradle. 
     
     
         11 . The tote as recited in  claim 1  further comprising an identifier uniquely identifying said tote. 
     
     
         12 . A tote, comprising:
 a sidewall defining an interior having a tote height;   first and second dividers coupled to said sidewall to define first and second item bins and a document transport slot in said interior, said first and second dividers having a divider height less than said tote height further to define and provide support for a document cradle over said first and second item bins and said document transport slot;   a first door coupled to said sidewall by a first hinge and rotatable between a closed position in which said first door forms a floor for only said first item bin and an open position in which said floor is displaced to open said first item bin; and   a second door coupled to said sidewall by a second hinge and rotatable between a closed position in which said second door forms a floor for only said second item bin and an open position in which said floor is displaced to open said second item bin.   
     
     
         13 . The tote as recited in  claim 12  wherein said tote is elongated and said document cradle and said document transport slot span a width thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The tote as recited in  claim 12  wherein said tote is elongated and said sidewall has ledges spanning a width thereof and operable to provide further support for said document cradle. 
     
     
         15 . The tote as recited in  claim 12  wherein said document transport slot is located between said first item bin and said second item bin. 
     
     
         16 . The tote as recited in  claim 12  wherein said sidewalls are substantially normal to a plane of said door. 
     
     
         17 . The tote as recited in  claim 12  wherein said sidewalls, said divider and said door are plastic. 
     
     
         18 . The tote as recited in  claim 12  wherein a length and a width of said tote are based on dimensions of documents to be placed in said document cradle. 
     
     
         19 . The tote as recited in  claim 12  further comprising an identifier uniquely identifying said tote. 
     
     
         20 . A method of employing a tote having dividers therein defining an item bin, a document transport slot and a document cradle in said tote to insert a document and an item into a bag, comprising:
 placing said item into said item bin, a door of said tote being in a closed position to provide a floor for, and retain said item in, said item bin;   then placing a document into said document cradle;   then pushing said document from said document cradle through said document transport slot and into said bag; and   then opening said door to cause said items to enter said bag.   
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein said placing said item is carried out at a first station, said then placing said document is carried out at a second station and said then pushing is carried out at a third station. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 21  wherein said then opening is also carried out at said third station. 
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 20  further comprising conveying said tote from said first station to said third station via said second station on a conveyer. 
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein said dividers cause said document to fold during said pushing. 
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein at least a portion of said bag is transparent and a face of said document contains a mailing address, said method further comprising placing said document face down into said document cradle such that said mailing address is visible through said portion after said pushing.