System and Method for Full Escort Mixed Mail Sorter Using Mail Clamps
First Claim
1. A sorting system, for accepting a group of mail pieces at a loading station, for sorting the group of mail pieces into a desired sequence according to delivery information on the mail pieces, and for moving the mail pieces to at least one unloading station, the system comprising:
- a reader for retrieving delivery information associated with each mail piece from a plurality of the mail pieces;
a plurality of clamps, each clamp dimensioned for receipt of at least one mail piece;
means for placing each mail piece from the group into one of said clamps;
means for creating an association between the retrieved delivery information of each mail piece and its respective clamp;
a sorter for moving the clamps which hold the mail pieces, based upon the association of each clamp with the retrieved delivery information, so that the mail pieces held by said clamps are sorted according to the desired sequence; and
means for opening the sorted clamps to release the mail pieces at the at least one unloading station.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sorting system accepts a group of mail pieces at a loading station, sorts them, and then moves them to an unloading station. The system includes a reader for retrieving delivery information associated with each mail piece, and also includes clamps dimensioned for receipt of a mail piece into each clamp. The system has a device for creating an association between the retrieved delivery information of each mail piece and its respective clamp. The system also has a sorter for moving the clamps holding the mail pieces, based upon the association of each clamp with the retrieved delivery information, so that the mail pieces held by the clamps are sorted according to a desired delivery sequence. Additionally, the system includes a mechanism for opening the sorted clamps to release the mail pieces at the unloading station.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A sorting system, for accepting a group of mail pieces at a loading station, for sorting the group of mail pieces into a desired sequence according to delivery information on the mail pieces, and for moving the mail pieces to at least one unloading station, the system comprising:
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a reader for retrieving delivery information associated with each mail piece from a plurality of the mail pieces; a plurality of clamps, each clamp dimensioned for receipt of at least one mail piece; means for placing each mail piece from the group into one of said clamps; means for creating an association between the retrieved delivery information of each mail piece and its respective clamp; a sorter for moving the clamps which hold the mail pieces, based upon the association of each clamp with the retrieved delivery information, so that the mail pieces held by said clamps are sorted according to the desired sequence; and means for opening the sorted clamps to release the mail pieces at the at least one unloading station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of mail sortation, for accepting a group of mail pieces at a loading station, for sorting the group of mail pieces into a desired sequence according to delivery information on the mail pieces, and for moving the mail pieces to at least one unloading station, comprising:
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retrieving delivery information associated with each mail piece from a plurality of the mail pieces; placing each mail piece from the group into one of a plurality of clamps;
creating an association between the retrieved delivery information of each mail piece and its respective clamp;moving the clamps which hold the mail pieces, based upon the association of each clamp with the retrieved delivery information of the mail piece held by the clamps, so that the mail pieces held by said clamps are sorted according to the desired sequence; and opening the sorted clamps to release the mail pieces at the at least one unloading station. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for sorting a group of unsorted mail pieces, having faces containing delivery information, into a desired sequence according to the delivery information on the faces, comprising:
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arranging the group of unsorted mail pieces in a face to face orientation; moving the group of unsorted mail pieces in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the mail piece faces; diverting individual mail pieces in a direction substantially lateral to the direction of the group, in accordance with the delivery information; collecting at least one of the individual pieces diverted substantially laterally, in at least one common location, arranged in face to face orientation; and moving the at least one individual pieces collected in the common location, in a direction parallel to the direction of the unsorted mail pieces.
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Specification