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

• US 7,405,375 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2005
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• 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): Mackey; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATTHEWS, TERRELL HOWARD
• Application Number:
  US11/084,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20050173312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 209/583, 209/703, 209/584, 209/547, 209/900, 209/564, 535/04
• 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 holding a mail piece of the mail pieces 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 based on the code assigned to the mail pieces, the plurality of holders on the first carriage and the position on the second carriage such that when the mail pieces are moved to the second carriage they are in sequential order of delivery destination, ready to be packaged.

Claims

1. 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;

moving the separate holders from the first carriage to respective positions 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 based on delivery destination.

2. The method of claim 1, 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.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising dropping the objects from the separate holders now on the second carriage into a packager and sealing the objects into a package based on delivery point destination.

4. The method of claim 3, 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 packager for the specific delivery point;

determining whether there are additional objects for the specific delivery point and, if not, packaging the objects into a package for delivery;

placing the objects in a delivery container;

measuring a thickness of the objects prior to placing in the delivery container to determine when the delivery container is full; and

providing labels on the delivery container.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

placing a packager at a predetermined position with respect to the second carriage such that the objects are unloaded from each of the separate holders of the second carriage in the sequential order into the packager; and

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

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving the separate holders between the first carriage and the second carriage comprises sliding the separate holders from the first carriage to the second carriage.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein after the moving the separate holders between the first carriage and the second carriage, all of the separate holders are on the second carriage.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein after the moving the separate holders between the first carriage and the second carriage, the separate holders extend downward from the second carriage.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising unloading the objects from the separate holders extending from the second carriage.

6. A method for sorting objects, comprising:

placing objects into separate holders on a first carriage;

assigning each of the separate holders an assignment;

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

moving the separate holders from the first carriage to the unused spaces on the second carriage based on an alignment of the assignment and the final sort order.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the assignment corresponds to an order of the separate holders on the first carriage.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the assignment is associated with destination information for the objects placed therein.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the unused spaces are slots which accommodate the holders from the first carriage.