Macro Sorting System and Method
First Claim
1. A sorting system, for feeding and sorting mail pieces, and for moving the mail pieces to sorted mail stations according to delivery information on the mail pieces, the system comprising:
- a plurality of feeding stations, each of the feeding stations having means to singulate mail pieces and to read the delivery information thereon;
a plurality of sorters configured to receive and sort the mail pieces from the plurality of feeding stations; and
a plurality of pathways;
wherein each one of the feeding stations is connectable by pathways to substantially all of the plurality of sorters;
wherein each of the plurality of sorters has a plurality of the sorted mail stations, each of the sorted mail stations dimensioned for receiving a subset of the mail pieces according to the delivery information, andwherein the system further comprises means for selecting the pathways according to the delivery information read from the mail pieces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for feeding and sorting mail pieces, and for moving the mail pieces to sorter bins according to delivery information on the mail pieces, includes a plurality of feeders, and a plurality of sorters configured to receive and sort the mail pieces from the feeders. A separating mechanism is configured to separate the feeders from the sorters in order to provide a plurality of pathways, so that each of the feeders is connectable by pathways to substantially all of the sorters. Each sorter includes sorter bins, and each sorter bin receives a subset of the mail pieces. Also included is a mechanism for selecting the pathways according to the delivery information read from each of the mail pieces.
120 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A sorting system, for feeding and sorting mail pieces, and for moving the mail pieces to sorted mail stations according to delivery information on the mail pieces, the system comprising:
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a plurality of feeding stations, each of the feeding stations having means to singulate mail pieces and to read the delivery information thereon; a plurality of sorters configured to receive and sort the mail pieces from the plurality of feeding stations; and a plurality of pathways; wherein each one of the feeding stations is connectable by pathways to substantially all of the plurality of sorters; wherein each of the plurality of sorters has a plurality of the sorted mail stations, each of the sorted mail stations dimensioned for receiving a subset of the mail pieces according to the delivery information, and wherein the system further comprises means for selecting the pathways according to the delivery information read from the mail pieces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for feeding and sorting mail pieces and for moving the mail pieces from a plurality of feeding stations to sorted mail stations according to delivery information on the mail pieces, the method comprising:
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singulating the mail pieces and reading the delivery information thereon, at a plurality of feeding stations; receiving and sorting the mail pieces at a plurality of sorters; and wherein each one of the feeding stations is connectable by a plurality of pathways to substantially each of the plurality of sorters, wherein each of the plurality of sorters has a plurality of sorted mail stations, each of the sorted mail stations dimensioned for receiving a subset of the mail pieces according to the delivery information, and wherein the method further comprises selecting the pathways according to the delivery information read from the mail pieces. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification