Method for sequentially ordering objects using a single pass delivery point process

• US 6,921,875 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2002
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanson, Bruce H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kohner, Matthew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/265,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20040065596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 209/900, 209/584, 209/583
• US Class Current: 209/583
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/02 Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

A method using a single pass sequencer having a transport system for transporting the mail pieces to a transport system having a first carriage system and a second carriage system with a plurality of holders slidable between the first carriage system and the second carriage system with packaged output. Each of the plurality of holders holds a mail piece received from the transport system. The method includes assigning a code to: (i) the mail pieces based on the destination information, (ii) the plurality of holders on the first carriage, and (iii) a position on the second carriage which corresponds to the initial sequence and a destination sequence of the mail pieces. The method instructs movement of the plurality of holders from the first carriage to the second carriage so that they are in sequential order of delivery destination, ready to be packaged. Once the mail pieces are in sequential order on the second carriage, they are dropped into a container for a delivery point. A determination is made as to whether the container is full.

Claims

1. A method for sorting objects based on destination point, comprising:

reading destination information associated with objects;

assigning a code based on the destination information to each of the objects;

placing the objects each in one of a plurality of holders on a first carriage and assigning sorting criteria to each of the plurality of holders based on the code of the each of the objects within each of the plurality of holders;

instructing the plurality of holders to move from the first carriage to a corresponding position on a second carriage based on the sorting criteria to sequentially order the objects based on delivery destination on the second carriage;

dropping the objects into a container for a delivery point;

determining whether the container is full; and

if the container is full, indexing the container away from the drop point, and

if the container is not full, repeating the dropping step.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

assigning final sorting order information to locations on the second carriage;

based on the instructing step, moving the at least one of the plurality of holders from the first carriage to the second carriage based on an alignment between the sorting criteria and the final sorting order information

determining that all destination information is read, and if not then resolving associated images with the destination information.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising incrementally moving the first carriage to align at least one of the plurality of holders with one of the locations on the second carriage based on an alignment of the sorting criteria and the final sorting order information to sequentially order the objects on the second carriage while the second carriage remains stationary.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the plurality of holders are moved from the first carriage to the second carriage based on the sorting criteria and the final sorting order information and, if so, dropping each of the objects into a packager for a specific delivery point.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising indexing a new container to the drop point when the determining step determines that the container is full and is indexed away from the drop point.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing a label on the container which is indexed away from the drop point.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether all of the objects are appropriately dropped.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining whether the container under the drop point has one or more objects therein when the determination of whether all of the objects are appropriately dropped.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising indexing the container away from the drop point when the determination of whether the container under the drop point has one or more objects contained therein is positive.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising moving each of the holders from the second carriage to the first carriage when all of the objects are unloaded.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein only the first carriage moves incrementally in a single revolution while the second carriage remains stationary to sequentially order the objects.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the first carriage concentrically about the second carriage.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the objects remain in the plurality of holders when the plurality of holders are moved from the first carriage to the corresponding position on the second carriage to sequentially order the objects.

11. A method for sorting objects based on destination point, comprising:

reading destination information associated with the objects;

placing the objects into separate holders on a first carriage;

assigning each of the separate holders an assignment number associated with the destination information for the objects placed therein;

assigning a final sort order number to unused spaces on a second carriage;

transferring the separate holders between the first carriage and the second carriage based on an alignment of the assignment number and the final sort order number in order to sequentially order the objects based on delivery destination; and

dropping the objects into a container for a delivery point;

determining whether the container is full; and

if the container is full, indexing the container away from the drop point, and

if the container is not full, repeating the dropping step.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising one of:

(i) initially moving any of the separate holders from the first carriage to the second carriage based on an alignment of the assignment number and the final sort order number without moving either of the first carriage or the second carriage; and

(ii) incrementally rotating the first carriage to align the separate holders with a location on the second carriage based on an alignment of the assignment number and the final sort order number in order to sequentially order the objects on the second carriage while the second carriage remains stationary.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising dropping the objects from the separate holders now on the second carriage into the container based on delivery point destination.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether there are additional objects in any of the separate holders for the specific delivery point and, if so, continuing to drop each of the objects into the container for the specific delivery point; and

providing labels on the container.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

moving each of the separate holders from the second carriage to the first carriage when all of the objects are unloaded.

16. A method for sorting objects based on destination point, comprising:

assigning a code based on predetermined criteria information to each of a plurality of objects;

placing each of the plurality of objects in a respective one of a plurality of holders on a first carriage;

assigning sorting criteria to each of the plurality of holders based on the code of the each of the plurality of objects within each of the plurality of holders; and

transferring each of the plurality of holders from the first carriage to a corresponding position on a second carriage based on the sorting criteria to sequentially order the plurality of holders on the second carriage.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising incrementally moving the first carriage to align at least one of the plurality of holders with one of the locations on the second carriage while the second carriage remains stationary.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising dropping the objects into a container for a delivery point from the plurality of holders on the second carriage.