Computerized manual mail distribution method and apparatus with feeder belt system

• US 6,243,620 B1
• Filed: 06/22/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Forest Robinson, Ira P. Shin
• Original Assignee: Forest Robinson, Ira P. Shin
• Inventors: Shin, Ira P., Robinson, Forest
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEAN, FRANTZ B
• Application Number:
  US09/102,127
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 700/223, 700/214, 700/219, 209/549, 209/584, 209/3.1, 705/406, 705/410, 705/408, 705/8, 271/298, 271/290, 271/296, 271/122, 271/176, 271/288, 271/303
• US Class Current: 700/223
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/00 Sorting by hand only e.g. of mail
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/005 Computer assisted manual sorting, e.g. for mail
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque

Abstract

A manually operated mail sorting station includes a case having numerous bins in which sorted mail will be placed. The mail sorting station includes a feeder belt system with a feeder belt a motor driving the feeder belt, and an interface port. A scanner reads an address printed on the pieces of unsorted mail. The scanner includes a communications interface connected to the interface port over which the scanner sends signals during operation. A computer for the mail sorting station is also provided and is connected to the interface port with the scanner. The computer further includes a program responsive to the signals transmitted by the scanner on the communications interface. The program also defines or stores a scheme representing an assignment of addresses to bins in the sorting case, an updatable case configuration that specifies locations of bins in the case, as well as instructions that match the internal address representation against the scheme to select one of the bins as the correct bin for the piece of unsorted mail.

Claims

1. A manually operated mail sorting station for sorting pieces of unsorted mail, the pieces of unsorted mail to be sorted into a plurality of bins in a sorting case for holding sorted mail, the mail sorting station comprising:

a feeder belt system comprising;

a feeder belt;

a motor driving the feeder belt; and

an interface port;

a scanner for reading an address on a piece of unsorted mail, the scanner including a communications interface, the communications interface connected to the interface port;

a computer connected to the interface port, including a program responsive to the address transmitted by the scanner on the communications interface, the program comprising;

instructions that store the address in a memory;

an updateable scheme representing an assignment of addresses to bins in the sorting case wherein the assignment maps addresses to individual postal delivery routes for Postal Service carriers, the individual delivery routes assigned at least one bin in the sorting case;

an updateable case configuration separate from the updateable scheme that specifies bin locations in the sorting case; and

instructions that match the address against the scheme to select a bin in the sorting case as a matched bin for the piece of unsorted mail.

2. The manually operated mail sorting station of claim 1, wherein

each of the bins in the sorting case includes an indicator with an ON state and an OFF state; and

wherein the computer is further connected to the case for controlling each of the indicators; and

wherein the program further comprises instructions selectively setting an indicator to the ON state in response to the matched bin as determined by the instructions that match the address against the scheme, and further comprising instructions setting the indicator to the OFF state in response to the piece of unsorted mail being placed in the matched bin.

3. The manually operated mail sorting station of claim 2, wherein the program further comprises instructions setting the indicator to the OFF state in response to a CLEAR event.

4. The manually operated mail sorting station of claim 2,

wherein each of the bins in the sorting case includes a sensor that indicates when the piece of unsorted mail has been placed in the bin;

and

wherein the program further comprises instructions that activate an alarm in response to a sensor signal indicating that the piece of unsorted mail has been placed in a bin other than the matched bin.

5. The manually operated mail sorting station of claim 4, wherein the program further comprises instructions gathering statistics on the sorting process.

6. The manually operated mail sorting station of claim 2, wherein the indicator is a light.

7. The manually operated mail sorting station of claim 2, wherein the indicator is a voice.

8. A manually operated mail sorting station according to claim 1, wherein the sorting case comprises:

wheels for mobility;

a letter case connected to a folding hinge;

a flat case connected to the folding hinge; and

a sorting case interface coupled to the communications interface.

9. A method of manually operating a mail sorting station for sorting pieces of unsorted mail, the pieces of unsorted mail to be sorted into a sorting case comprising a plurality of bins for holding sorted mail, the method comprising:

conveying pieces of unsorted mail along a feeder belt system;

providing a scanner and a scanner interface, and a computer connected to the scanner interface;

scanning an address on a piece of unsorted mail;

providing a program stored in the computer, the program;

storing the address received from the scanner in memory;

defining an updateable scheme representing an assignment of addresses to bins in the sorting case wherein the assignment maps addresses to individual postal delivery routes for Postal Service carriers, the individual delivery routes assigned at least one bin in the sorting case;

defining an updateable case configuration separate from the updateable scheme that specifies bin locations in the sorting case; and

matching the address against the scheme to select a bin as a matched bin for the piece of unsorted mail.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing each of the bins in the sorting case with an indicator having an ON state and an OFF state;

connecting the computer to the sorting case for controlling each of the indicators; and

selectively setting an indicator to the ON state in response to the matched bin as determined by the instructions that match the address against the scheme, and setting the indicator to the OFF state in response to the piece of unsorted mail being placed in the matched bin.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of setting the indicator to the OFF state in response to a CLEAR event.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of providing each of the bins in the sorting case with a sensor that indicates when the piece of unsorted mail has been placed in the bin;

and activating an alarm in response to a sensor signal indicating that the piece of unsorted mail has been placed in a bin other than the matched bin.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of gathering statistics on the sorting process.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said providing step provides an indicator that is a light.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said providing step provides an indicator that is a voice.

16. A method of manually operating a mail sorting station according to claim 9, wherein the sorting case comprises:

wheels for mobility;

a letter case connected to a folding hinge;

a flat case connected to the folding hinge; and

a sorting case interface coupled to the communications interface.

17. A manually operated sorting station for sorting unsorted articles, the unsorted articles to be sorted into a plurality of bins in a sorting case for holding sorted articles, the sorting station comprising:

a feeder belt system comprising;

a feeder belt;

a motor driving the feeder belt; and

an interface port;

a scanner for reading indicia on the unsorted articles, the scanner including a communications interface, the communications interface connected to the interface port;

a computer connected to the interface port and including a program responsive to the indicia transmitted by the scanner on the communications interface, the program comprising;

instructions that store the indicia in memory;

an updateable scheme representing an assignment of indicia to bins in the sorting case wherein the assignment maps indicia to individual postal delivery routes for Postal Service carriers, the individual delivery routes assigned at least one bin in the sorting case;

an updateable case configuration separate from the updateable scheme that specifies bin locations in the sorting case; and

instructions that match the indicia against the scheme to select a bin in the case as a matched bin for the unsorted article.

18. The manually operated sorting station of claim 17,

wherein each of the bins in the sorting case includes an indicator with an ON state and an OFF state; and

wherein the computer is further connected to the sorting case for controlling each of the indicators; and

wherein the program further comprises instructions selectively setting an indicator to the ON state in response to the matched bin as determined by the instructions that match the indicia against the scheme, and further comprising instructions setting the indicator to the OFF state in response to the unsorted article being placed in the matched bin.

19. The manually operated mail sorting station of claim 18, wherein

each of the bins in the sorting case includes a sensor that indicates when the unsorted article has been placed in the bin;

and

wherein the program further comprises instructions that activate an alarm in response to a sensor signal indicating that the unsorted article has been placed in a bin other than the matched bin.

20. A manually operated mail sorting station according to claim 17, wherein the sorting case comprises:

wheels for mobility;

a letter case connected to a folding hinge;

a flat case connected to the folding hinge; and

a sorting case interface coupled to the communications interface.