Patent ID: 7396011

Claim:
A modular stacker section for use in a mail sorting system, the modular stacker section comprising: a frame; one or more base supports attached to the frame providing a horizontal arrangement of a plurality of bin attachment points; and a plurality of sort bin modules operatively positioned and detachably secured at the bin attachment points, each of the sort bin modules comprising: (a) a tray for receiving mail pieces diverted from a transport path of the stacker section; (b) a motor; (c) a belt driven by the motor; and (d) a coupling for operatively positioning and detachably securing the sort bin module to one of the bin attachment points, wherein the belts of the sort bin modules participate in moving mail pieces along the transport path of the stacker section, and wherein: at least one of the sort bin modules has a tray of a first size providing a first capacity to receive mail pieces; at least one other sort bin module has a tray of a second size larger than the first size so as to provide a second capacity to receive a larger number of mail pieces than the first capacity; and each attachment point is compatible with the sort bin modules of the first and second capacities.