Process for sorting mailings

• US 6,239,397 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kechel, Ottmar, Lohmann, Boris, Rosenbaum, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beauchaine, Mark J.
• Application Number:
  US09/319,785
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 209/3, 209/3.1, 209/3.3, 209/44.1, 209/576, 209/584, 705/28, 705/29
• 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 process of the type disclosed according to DE 196 50 875 for sorting mailings having different properties by using sorting machines not suitable for all properties of the mailings. The unsuitable mailings receive an identification (ID) marking and their sensed distribution information is stored under this ID marking. As representing each non-processible mailing, a processible substitute is added to the stack of substitutes being assigned one of the non-processible mailings, in each case by means of an ID marking. Then, the processible mailings and the substitutes are sorted according to the associated distribution information. After sorting, the non-processible mailings are brought into a sequence appropriate for sorting on the basis of the ID markings located on them and the associated substitutes.

Claims

1. A process for sorting mailings having different properties by using sorting machines which sense distribution information located on the mailings, comprising:

when using sorting machines not suitable for all properties of the mailings, providing unsuitable mailings with an identification marking (ID marking), and sensing the distribution information of the unsuitable mailing and storing the sensed distribution information under the relevant ID marking,

as representing each non-processible mailing, adding a prosecutable substitute to a stack of prosecutable mailings to be sorted, with each substitute being assigned one of the non-processible mailings, in each case by an ID marking,

sorting, the processable mailings and the substitutes according to the associated distribution information, and, after sorting, bringing the non-processable mailings into a sequence appropriate for sorting on the basis of the ID markings located on them and the associated substitutes.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ID marking of the respective non-processable mailing and of the substitute assigned to it match.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-processable mailings and the substitutes have different ID markings and each non-processable mailing is assigned a specific substitute.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distribution information of the non-processable mailings which has been sensed and assigned to the ID markings is transferred to the control system of the sorting machine.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distribution information of the substitutes is determined by reading their ID marking and and comparing read ID markings with a list of the distribution information of the non-processable mailings stored under the assigned ID markings.

6. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein, along with the ID marking, the distribution information of the respectively associated non-processable mailing is applied to the substitutes.

7. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ID marking comprises a consecutive number beginning anew for each delivery district.

8. The process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the ID marking comprises a delivery district code and a consecutive number beginning anew for each delivery district.

9. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the ID marking, and the ID marking and the distribution information is applied to the substitutes in one of a coded form and a form which can be read by a person.

10. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distribution information of the substitutes is determined by reading distribution information located on these substitutes.

11. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substitutes are designed in such a way that they are clearly distinguishable from the processable mailings.

12. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ID markings of the substitutes are only applied during the processing in the sorting machines.

13. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substitutes are reusable and have a fixed ID marking.

14. The process as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, after sorting, the substitutes are exchanged in the sorted stack for the assigned non-processable mailings.

15. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein, after sorting, the non-processable mailings are sorted on the basis of the sorted substitutes separately from the processed mailings.