Delivery point sequencing mail sorting system with flat mail capability
First Claim
1. An article sortation system for sorting articles to a delivery point sequence depth of sort, said article sortation system comprising:
- at least one article sorter having an induct and a discharge, said induct receiving articles for sorting by said at least one article sorter, said at least one article sorter being operable to sort articles into a plurality of trays and discharge the trays of sorted articles at said discharge; and
a buffering assembly for automatically sorting and conveying the trays containing sorted articles sorted during a first sort of said at least one article sorter from said discharge of said at least one article sorter to said induct of said at least one article sorter, said buffering assembly being operable to automatically arrange the trays in an arranged manner and convey the arranged trays to said induct of said at least one article sorter, the articles sorted during the first sort being removed from the trays for a second sort of the articles by said at least one article sorter.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for sorting articles to a delivery point sequence includes at least one sortation assembly adapted to sort articles and a buffer. The buffer is operable to arrange and convey containers of articles sorted in a first sort pass to an induct of the at least one sortation assembly for a second sort pass or process of the articles. The buffer automatically arranges the containers in an arranged manner prior to conveying the containers and articles to the induct of the at least one sortation assembly for the second sort process. The second sort process is then performed to sort the articles to a delivery point sequence or carrier walk sequence depth of sort. A conveyor assembly may be operable to convey containers to an appropriate one of multiple sortation assemblies and/or buffers to increase the sequencing matrix capability of the apparatus.
116 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An article sortation system for sorting articles to a delivery point sequence depth of sort, said article sortation system comprising:
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at least one article sorter having an induct and a discharge, said induct receiving articles for sorting by said at least one article sorter, said at least one article sorter being operable to sort articles into a plurality of trays and discharge the trays of sorted articles at said discharge; and
a buffering assembly for automatically sorting and conveying the trays containing sorted articles sorted during a first sort of said at least one article sorter from said discharge of said at least one article sorter to said induct of said at least one article sorter, said buffering assembly being operable to automatically arrange the trays in an arranged manner and convey the arranged trays to said induct of said at least one article sorter, the articles sorted during the first sort being removed from the trays for a second sort of the articles by said at least one article sorter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for sorting articles to a delivery point sequence depth of sort, said method comprising:
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providing at least one article sorter having an induct and a discharge;
sorting articles in a first sort of said at least one article sorter into a plurality of trays;
providing a buffering assembly for automatically sorting and conveying trays containing sorted articles sorted during a first sort of said at least one article sorter;
conveying and arranging trays of sorted articles in an arranged manner on said buffering assembly;
conveying the arranged trays of sorted articles to said induct of said at least one article sorter for a second sort of the articles;
unloading sorted articles from said arranged trays;
inducting the unloaded sorter articles to said induct of said at least one article sorter; and
sorting articles in a second sort of said at least one article sorter. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification