Object sortation for delivery sequencing
First Claim
1. An article sortation method comprising the steps ofassigning a sequence number to each of a plurality of articles in response to an optical detection of indicia thereon, assigning a first bin to each article based on a first evaluation of the sequence number of the article, delivering each article to an assigned first bin, delivering said first bins in order, assigning a second bin to each article based on a second evaluation of the sequence number of the article to articles in each first bin, said second evaluation being performed in order of articles within each first bin and in order of the first bins, delivering each article to an assigned second bin, and delivering said second bins in order.
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Abstract
A sortation process provides high-speed sorting of randomly ordered articles into a desired order in a plurality of ordered bins or tubs such as standard USPS tubs in two passes, without additionally marking the articles in any way or requiring additional processes to do so. Optical character recognition or bar code reading performed on an image of the article provides a sequence number which is used to place the articles in respective bins or tubs during a first pass. The process then presents the content of the bins or tubs in order for a second pass during which they are placed in final desired order among a final ordered group of bins or tubs. During the first pass, sequence number information can be collected and used for error checking against the order of articles in each bin or tub during a second pass. The final output of the process provides the articles in standard (e.g. USPS) tubs face up and in delivery order.
113 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article sortation method comprising the steps of
assigning a sequence number to each of a plurality of articles in response to an optical detection of indicia thereon, assigning a first bin to each article based on a first evaluation of the sequence number of the article, delivering each article to an assigned first bin, delivering said first bins in order, assigning a second bin to each article based on a second evaluation of the sequence number of the article to articles in each first bin, said second evaluation being performed in order of articles within each first bin and in order of the first bins, delivering each article to an assigned second bin, and delivering said second bins in order.
Specification