Method and apparatus for multi-task processing and sorting of mixed and non-machinable mailpieces and related methods
First Claim
1. A multi-task mixed mailpiece processor and sorter for processing and sorting differently sized mailpieces at least some of which have an outer surface portion on which is positioned mail handling indicia, the system comprising:
- a mailpiece feeder positioned to individually feed a plurality of mailpieces including at least mailpieces of a first size defining first-sized mailpieces and mailpieces of a second size defining second-sized mailpieces;
a variable-speed mailpiece transporter positioned to receive each of the plurality of mailpieces from the mailpiece feeder, to transport each received mailpiece therefrom along a predetermined path of travel, and to selectively transport some mailpieces at a first speed and other mailpieces at a second speed;
a mailpiece size determiner positioned adjacent the mailpiece feeder and mailpiece transporter to determine the size of each of the plurality of mailpieces;
a mailpiece scanner positioned downstream from the mailpiece feeder and adjacent the mailpiece transporter to scan each mailpiece for mail handling indicia positioned on each mailpiece;
a user interface including a visual display terminal in communication with the mailpiece scanner to permit the input of commands by a user and to provide to the user visual images of mail handling indicia positioned on the mailpieces;
a printer positioned downstream from the mailpiece scanner and adjacent the mailpiece transporter to print on a mailpiece;
at least one mailpiece sorting bin positioned downstream from the printer and adjacent the mailpiece transporter; and
a process controller including optical character reader in communication with the mailpiece transporter, mailpiece size determiner, mailpiece scanner, printer, and user interface, the process controller having;
a transport speed control processor responsive to the mailpiece size determiner to control the speed at which each mailpiece is transported by the mailpiece transporter so that the first-sized mail is transported at a first speed and the second-sized mail is transported at a second speed, and a sorting processor responsive to mail handling indicia scanned by the mailpiece scanner so as to cause an image to be displayed on the visual display terminal and an identification code to be printed by the printer on a mailpiece when the mailpiece is devoid of at least one address indicator readable by the optical character reader, and to cause the printer to print a first preselected code on a mailpiece when a second preselected code is positioned on the mailpiece, and otherwise to cause the mailpiece to be transported to the at least one mailpiece sorting bin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for performing multiple and varied processing and sorting procedures on mixed mailpieces of varied sizes in a single pass is provided. The apparatus further provides a user interface so that as few as a single user can perform the multi-task processing and sorting of mixed and non-machineable mailpieces. Also provided are related methods for performing in a single pass with as few as a single operator multiple processing and sorting steps on mixed mailpieces primarily with the purpose of rehabilitating and improving the characteristics of the mailpieces for the purpose of subsequent high speed processing.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multi-task mixed mailpiece processor and sorter for processing and sorting differently sized mailpieces at least some of which have an outer surface portion on which is positioned mail handling indicia, the system comprising:
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a mailpiece feeder positioned to individually feed a plurality of mailpieces including at least mailpieces of a first size defining first-sized mailpieces and mailpieces of a second size defining second-sized mailpieces;
a variable-speed mailpiece transporter positioned to receive each of the plurality of mailpieces from the mailpiece feeder, to transport each received mailpiece therefrom along a predetermined path of travel, and to selectively transport some mailpieces at a first speed and other mailpieces at a second speed;
a mailpiece size determiner positioned adjacent the mailpiece feeder and mailpiece transporter to determine the size of each of the plurality of mailpieces;
a mailpiece scanner positioned downstream from the mailpiece feeder and adjacent the mailpiece transporter to scan each mailpiece for mail handling indicia positioned on each mailpiece;
a user interface including a visual display terminal in communication with the mailpiece scanner to permit the input of commands by a user and to provide to the user visual images of mail handling indicia positioned on the mailpieces;
a printer positioned downstream from the mailpiece scanner and adjacent the mailpiece transporter to print on a mailpiece;
at least one mailpiece sorting bin positioned downstream from the printer and adjacent the mailpiece transporter; and
a process controller including optical character reader in communication with the mailpiece transporter, mailpiece size determiner, mailpiece scanner, printer, and user interface, the process controller having;
a transport speed control processor responsive to the mailpiece size determiner to control the speed at which each mailpiece is transported by the mailpiece transporter so that the first-sized mail is transported at a first speed and the second-sized mail is transported at a second speed, and a sorting processor responsive to mail handling indicia scanned by the mailpiece scanner so as to cause an image to be displayed on the visual display terminal and an identification code to be printed by the printer on a mailpiece when the mailpiece is devoid of at least one address indicator readable by the optical character reader, and to cause the printer to print a first preselected code on a mailpiece when a second preselected code is positioned on the mailpiece, and otherwise to cause the mailpiece to be transported to the at least one mailpiece sorting bin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium to cooperatively control a mailpiece feeder, transporter, scanner, printer, and at least one mailpiece sorting bin for carrying out multi-task mixed mailpiece processing and sorting of differently sized mailpieces including letters and flats at least some of which have an outer surface portion on which is positioned mail handling indicia including at least one of recipient address, sender address, identification code, and postnet code, the program comprising:
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mailpiece transport speed control means at least one mailpiece size for controlling speeds at which each of a plurality of mixed mailpieces including at least mailpieces of a first size defining first-sized mailpieces and mailpieces of a second size defining second-sized mailpieces are transported, wherein the speed at which a mailpiece is transported being a function of physical dimensions of each mailpiece so that first-sized mail is transported at a first speed and second-sized mail is transported at a second speed;
mail handling indicia reading means for reading at least one of recipient address, sender address, identification code, planetcode and postnet code positioned on each mailpiece;
user interfacing means for allowing a user to receive at a visual display terminal a visual image of a mailpiece including mail handling indicia positioned on the mailpiece and for accepting the input of commands by the user;
printer controlling means for controlling the printing of mail handling indicia on a mailpiece by the printer;
mail processing and sorting means responsive to the mail handling indicia reading means for causing an image to be displayed on the visual display terminal and an identification code to be printed by the printer on a mailpiece when the mailpiece is devoid of at least one address indicator and for causing the printer to print a first selected code on a mailpiece when the identification code is positioned on the mailpiece, and otherwise for causing to cause the mailpiece to be transported by the mailpiece transporter to a carrier bin positioned to receive processed and sorted mailpieces. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of performing multiple processing and sorting tasks on individual mailpieces of a plurality of mixed mailpieces of different sizes including at least mailpieces of a first size defining first-sized mailpieces and mailpieces of a second size defining second-sized mailpieces, the method comprising:
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determining from each of the plurality of mailpieces whether one or more mailpieces lacks sufficient mail handling indicia positioned on the mailpieces for effecting delivery of each mailpiece to a correct mailpiece recipient;
generating a visual image of a mailpiece when the mailpiece lacks sufficient mail handling indicia positioned thereon for effecting delivery of the mailpiece to a correct mailpiece recipient; and
marking a mailpiece with an indicator code when the mailpiece lacks sufficient mail handling indicia positioned thereon for effecting delivery of the mailpiece to a correct mailpiece recipient, each of the steps of determining and marking the method being performed at a first speed for first-sized mailpieces and at a second speed for second-sized mailpieces. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification