Single pass mail sorting system

• US 20070017855A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Logistics LLC (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Pippin, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,552,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/584
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00

Abstract

A method of mail sorting according to the invention includes the steps of sorting a batch of mail addressed to recipients in a common postal delivery zone with an automated single pass mail sorting machine into groups wherein the mail pieces in each group have a common delivery destination, transporting the groups of sorted mail using an automated conveying system to a delivery point packaging machine, and then packaging the groups of mail pieces with the delivery point packaging machine. Such a method is preferably part of a single pass sorting process wherein a batch of starting mail destined to a common zone is sorted into groups of mail for each destination that are then brought to the delivery point packaging machine in carrier delivery order.

Claims

1. A method of mail sorting, comprising:

sorting a batch of mail addressed to recipients in a common postal delivery zone with an automated single pass mail sorting machine into groups wherein the mail pieces in each group have a common delivery destination;

transporting the groups of sorted mail using an automated conveying system to a delivery point packaging machine;

then packaging the groups of mail pieces with the delivery point packaging machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the groups of mail are brought to the delivery point packaging machine in carrier delivery order.

3. A method for sorting mail to a case having a plurality of slots, wherein each slot corresponds to a destination, comprising:

(a) loading a mail piece to be sorted into a delivery robot;

(b) determining for the mail piece a destination slot the mail piece is to be delivered to;

(c) moving the delivery robot along a rail disposed at the front of the case near the slots into proximity with an open end of the destination slot;

(d) inserting the mail piece from the delivery robot into the associated slot; and

(e) returning the delivery robot to a loading station whereby steps (a)-(d) may be repeated until sorting is completed;

(f) then unloading the mail pieces from the slots; and

(g) separately packaging each batch of mail pieces removed from the slots.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the delivery robot moves along a rail mounted adjacent a horizontal row of upright slots that receive mail pieces from the delivery robot through an open front side thereof.

5. An apparatus for packaging a group of flat items disposed side by side, comprising:

a roll of a packaging sheet material mounted for rotation about its lengthwise axis;

a pair of vacuum rollers rotatably mounted in spaced positions such that a free end of the sheet on the roll may be unwound and extend over a perforate circumferential surface each of the vacuum rollers;

a drive system that drives at least one of the vacuum rollers towards the other in a manner effective to form a well in a free end of the sheet held to respective perforate circumferential surfaces of each of the vacuum rollers; and

a cutter positioned between the roll and the vacuum rollers to sever a free end portion of the sheet.