Multi-pass sorting machine
First Claim
1. An improved document sorting machine, suitable for sorting mail, which comprises in combination;
- a document input feed means, at least one singulation means for orienting and singulating said documents so that indicia on their faces can be disposed at a predetermined level about a data reference plane, indicia reading means including means for generating indicia indicating signals, electronic/computer means for processing said indicating signals, means for sorting said documents into bins, said sorting means being controlled by said signal generating means after generated signals are interpreted by said electronic/computer means, a plurality of said bins being located in side-by-side array, first elongated belt means disposed along said side-by-side array of bins for moving documents received therefrom, said first elongated belt means having an outboard edge remote from said array of bins, means for moving said documents from said bins onto said first elongated belt means, locating means associated with said first elongated belt means for positioning documents on said first elongated belt means, shingler means for shingling documents received from said first elongated belt means, transport means for moving shingled documents as they are discharged from said shingler means, and loading means for receiving shingled documents and sequentially loading said shingled documents into empty trays.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mail document sorting device includes a document input feeder, and at least one singulation device for orienting and singulating the documents so that indicia on their faces can be disposed at a predetermined level about a data reference plane. Single documents pass to an indicia reader, which generates indicia indicating signals. An electronic/computer mechanism processes the indicating signals, and provides for sorting the read documents into bins. A plurality of the bins is located in side-by-side horizontal array, with an elongated belt disposed along the array of bins for moving documents received therefrom. The elongated belt has an inboard edge adjacent the array of bins and an outboard edge remote from the array of bins. The sorting device further includes a mechanism for moving documents from the bins onto the elongated belt, locating device associated with the elongated belt for positioning an edge of documents on the elongated belt, a shingler for shingling documents received from the elongated belt, transport of the shingled documents as they are discharged from the shingler means, and loading received shingled documents sequentially into mail trays.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An improved document sorting machine, suitable for sorting mail, which comprises in combination;
- a document input feed means, at least one singulation means for orienting and singulating said documents so that indicia on their faces can be disposed at a predetermined level about a data reference plane, indicia reading means including means for generating indicia indicating signals, electronic/computer means for processing said indicating signals, means for sorting said documents into bins, said sorting means being controlled by said signal generating means after generated signals are interpreted by said electronic/computer means, a plurality of said bins being located in side-by-side array, first elongated belt means disposed along said side-by-side array of bins for moving documents received therefrom, said first elongated belt means having an outboard edge remote from said array of bins, means for moving said documents from said bins onto said first elongated belt means, locating means associated with said first elongated belt means for positioning documents on said first elongated belt means, shingler means for shingling documents received from said first elongated belt means, transport means for moving shingled documents as they are discharged from said shingler means, and loading means for receiving shingled documents and sequentially loading said shingled documents into empty trays.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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24. An improved document sorting machine, suitable for sorting mail, which comprises a document input feed means for orienting individual documents so that indicia on their faces can be disposed at a predetermined level about a data reference plane, indicia reading means including means for generating indicia indicating signals, means for sorting said individual documents into an array of bins responsive to said signals, first elongated belt means disposed along said array of bins for moving documents received therefrom, means for moving said documents from said bins onto said first elongated belt means, shingler means for shingling documents received from said first elongated belt means, transport means for moving shingled documents as they are discharged from said shingler means, and loading means for receiving shingled documents and sequentially loading said shingled documents into empty trays.
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33. An improved document sorting machine, suitable for sorting mail, which comprises in combination;
- a document input feed means, at least one singulation means for orienting and singulating said documents so that indicia on their faces can be disposed at a predetermined level about a data reference plane, indicia reading means including means for generating indicia indicating signals, means for sorting individual documents into an array of bins responsive to said signals, first elongated belt means disposed along said array of bins for moving documents received therefrom, means for moving said documents from said bins onto said first elongated belt means, shingler means for shingling documents received from said bins, means for moving shingled documents as they are discharged from said shingler means, and means for receiving shingled documents and sequentially loading said shingled documents into empty trays.
- View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
Specification