Patent ID: 8231002

Claim:
A containment device for use in an automated sorting apparatus having a plurality of clamp assemblies for transporting, sorting, and depositing mailpieces in the container, the containment device comprising: a base and a plurality of vertical walls projecting from the base to define an enclosure for containing mailpieces therein; at least one of the vertical walls including a vertical slot for accepting a clamp assembly when mailpieces are stacked within the container and when the edges are aligned along the vertical wall of the mailpiece container; protrusions extending along opposing vertical walls of the plurality of vertical walls; detents offset from the protrusions and provided with respect to the opposing vertical walls; a recess extending on an underside of the base entirely between two opposing vertical walls of the vertical walls; and a lip extending beyond the vertical walls, wherein the protrusions are tapered beginning from the lip to the base; and the protrusions extend outwardly from two opposing vertical walls of the vertical walls.