Single pass mail sorting system
First Claim
1. A method of mail sorting, comprising:
- sorting a batch of flat mail pieces addressed to recipients in a common postal delivery zone with an automated single pass mail sorting machine into groups wherein the flat mail pieces in each group have a common delivery destination, wherein individual flat mail pieces are each transported and inserted into one of a series of slots each containing one group of flat mail pieces;
removing the groups of flat mail pieces from their respective slots using an automated removal system;
transporting the groups of sorted mail using an automated conveying system to a delivery point packaging machine;
thenpackaging the groups of mail pieces with the delivery point packaging machine, wherein the step of transporting the groups of sorted mail using an automated conveying system comprisesextracting groups of mail pieces from slots into slots of transport barges, whereby groups of mail are kept separate from each other,transporting the barges from the slots to an unloading station, automatically unloading the barges by automatically removing groups of flat mail pieces from the barge slots at the packaging machine, andfeeding the groups of mail pieces into the packaging machine.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of mail sorting according to the invention includes the steps of sorting a batch of mail addressed to recipients in a common postal delivery zone with an automated single pass mail sorting machine into groups wherein the mail pieces in each group have a common delivery destination, transporting the groups of sorted mail using an automated conveying system to a delivery point packaging machine, and then packaging the groups of mail pieces with the delivery point packaging machine. Such a method is preferably part of a single pass sorting process wherein a batch of starting mail destined to a common zone is sorted into groups of mail for each destination that are then brought to the delivery point packaging machine in carrier delivery order.
16 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of mail sorting, comprising:
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sorting a batch of flat mail pieces addressed to recipients in a common postal delivery zone with an automated single pass mail sorting machine into groups wherein the flat mail pieces in each group have a common delivery destination, wherein individual flat mail pieces are each transported and inserted into one of a series of slots each containing one group of flat mail pieces; removing the groups of flat mail pieces from their respective slots using an automated removal system; transporting the groups of sorted mail using an automated conveying system to a delivery point packaging machine;
thenpackaging the groups of mail pieces with the delivery point packaging machine, wherein the step of transporting the groups of sorted mail using an automated conveying system comprises extracting groups of mail pieces from slots into slots of transport barges, whereby groups of mail are kept separate from each other, transporting the barges from the slots to an unloading station, automatically unloading the barges by automatically removing groups of flat mail pieces from the barge slots at the packaging machine, and feeding the groups of mail pieces into the packaging machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for sorting flat mail, comprising:
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(a) loading a flat mail piece to be sorted into an insertion mechanism of a delivery robot; (b) determining for the flat mail piece a destination slot the mail piece is to be delivered to, which slot is in a pod in a case, each pod having a plurality of slots wherein each slot corresponds to a delivery destination for mail, the destination slot associated with a specific pod; (c) moving the delivery robot along a rail disposed at the front of the case near the slots into proximity with the specific pod by measuring movement of the robot along the rail, traveling a predetermined distance to the specific pod according to the measured movement, and locating an open end of the destination slot using a machine-readable tag associated with the destination slot, wherein the robot is self-propelled and can move along the rail from one slot to another; (d) automatically inserting the flat mail piece from the delivery robot into the associated slot using an insertion mechanism of the robot; and (e) returning the delivery robot to a loading station whereby steps (a)-(d) may be repeated until sorting is completed; (f) then automatically unloading the mail pieces from the slots; (g) transporting each group of mail using a transport mechanism to a packaging machine; and (h) separately packaging each batch of mail pieces removed from the slots using the packaging machine. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification