Method for sequencing letters in mail-sorting facilities

• US 5,421,464 A
• Filed: 01/28/1994
• Issued: 06/06/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH
• Inventors: Kechel, Ottmar, Gillmann, Hanno
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan N.
• Application Number:
  US08/187,558
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 209/563, 209/564, 209/583, 209/584, 209/630, 209/900, 198/418.2, 198/449, 271/3, 271/3.1, 271/9, 271/35
• US Class Current: 209/584
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/008 Means for collecting objects, e.g. containers for sorted mail items pile receivers in general B65H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/02 Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/06 Linear sorting machines in which articles are removed from a stream at selected points
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

In the method of the invention for sequencing parcels in mail-sorting facilities having rows of stacking compartments, a sorting plan is used for sorting the parcels in which an overfilling of the individual stacking compartments is avoided so that, during one sorting procedure, the stacking compartments are not emptied, and that, after a sorting procedure has ended, an in-sequence transfer of the parcels is effected from the stacking compartments into a conveying device disposed opposite the stacking compartments or into containers.

Claims

1. Method for sequencing parcels in aisle sequence during a plurality of sorting procedures in mail-sorting facilities that have rows of stacking compartments, comprising the steps of:

sorting of the parcels into the stacking compartments in accordance with a plan in which substantially every one of the stacking compartments is filled at the most to its maximum filling capacity during a sorting procedure, wherein, in case a stacking compartment is filled to overflowing, it is allocated an overflow compartment, in which the further stacking is effected;

during one sorting procedure the stacking compartments are not emptied; and

performing after the end of a sorting procedure, an aisle-sequence transfer of the parcels from the stacking compartments into a conveying device disposed opposite the stacking compartments or into containers.

2. Method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of moving a transfer bridge along the row of stacking compartments for transfer into the conveying device or the containers.

3. Method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of filling the respective containers to their maximum receiving capacity during transfer.

4. Method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of visibly signaling an operator in the event stacking has taken place in an overflow compartment.

5. Method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of allocating to a location more than one stacking compartment.

6. Method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of bringing the containers onto a conveyor belt after transfer for further processing of tile parcels.

7. Method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said performing step includes providing said containers with movable compartment bottoms, said containers being for direct stacking of the parcels.