Patent ID: 7726460

Claim:
A system for automatically transferring one or more trays of mail between a dolly and a conveyor comprising: one or more automation compatible trays configured to hold mail: a conveyor configured to transport said one or more automation compatible trays; a dolly having an upper surface upon which said one or more automation compatible trays can be loaded and unloaded: a dolly docking bay configured to receive said dolly in a loading/unloading position relative to said conveyor; and an overhead manipulator positioned relative to said dolly docking bay and said conveyor, said overhead manipulator having an end effector configured to engage one or more of said automation compatible trays and being movable to transfer said one or more trays of mail between said dolly in said loading/unloading position and said conveyor; wherein said automation compatible trays include a bottom surface with one or more holes formed therein and wherein said upper surface of said dolly includes one or more registration probes positioned to extend into said one or more holes in said bottom surface of said one or more automation compatible trays.