Methods and apparatus to combine mail streams in a binding line

• US 9,481,016 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2014
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LSC Communications MCL LLC
• Original Assignee: RR Donnelley & Sons Company
• Inventors: Brown, Chris, Drummond, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOGAN, KYLE O
• Application Number:
  US14/527,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 700/223
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 1/02 Forming articles into a stream; Arranging articles in a stream, e.g. spacing, orientating transport of sheets B65H
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00467 Transporting mailpieces postal sorting B07C
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00483 Batch processing of mailpieces

Abstract

Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture to combine mail streams in a binding line are disclosed. An example method includes analyzing a mailing list including a plurality of addresses. The example methods also includes associating a primary book with a first set of the addresses and associating a secondary book with a second set of the addresses. In addition, the example method includes creating multiple primary books on a production line and depositing multiple secondary books in the production line.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

analyzing a mailing list including a plurality of addresses;

associating a primary book with a first set of the addresses;

associating a secondary book with a second set of the addresses;

creating multiple primary books on a production line;

depositing multiple secondary books via a book feeder on one or more of the primary books as the primary books move along the production line with an advancing mail table to form sub-stacks of secondary books and primary books; and

assembling the sub-stacks in bundles to receive a mail discount.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set and the second set overlap.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set and the second set are the same.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein two or more secondary books are deposited on one or more primary books.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising depositing one or more secondary books on a portion of the production line free of the primary books.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

associating a tertiary book with a third set of the addresses; and

depositing one of more of the tertiary books in the production line.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein one of more of the secondary books are deposited on one or more of the primary books and one or more of the tertiary books are deposited on one or more of the secondary books or the primary books.

8. A system comprising:

a controller to;

analyze a mailing list including a plurality of addresses;

associate a primary book with a first set of the addresses; and

associate a secondary book with a second set of the addresses;

a binding line to create multiple primary books on a production line;

a book feeder to deposit multiple secondary books on one or more of the primary books as the primary books move along the production line with an advancing mail table to form sub-stacks of secondary books and primary books; and

a stacker to bundle the sub-stacks to receive a mail discount.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first set and the second set overlap.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first set and the second set are the same.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the feeder is to deposit two or more secondary books on one or more primary books.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the feeder is to deposit one or more secondary books on a portion of the production line free of the primary books.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller is to associate a tertiary book with a third set of the addresses, and the feeder is to deposit one of more of the tertiary books in the production line.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the feeder is to deposit (a) one of more of the secondary books on one or more of the primary books and (b) one or more of the tertiary books on one or more of the secondary books or the primary books.

15. A method comprising:

creating a delivery order by combining mailing address data for a first printed material and a second printed material;

selecting an order of the first printed material and the second printed material to be positioned on a conveyor line based on the delivery order;

positioning the first printed material on the conveyor line;

receiving a trim dimension of the first printed material to be trimmed;

trimming the first printed material in accordance with the trim dimension;

positioning at least some of the second printed material on at least some of the first printed material on the conveyor line to form sub-stacks of first printed material and second printed material; and

producing bundles of the sub-stacks of first printed material and second printed material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first printed material includes a first title and the second printed material includes a second title different that the first title.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first printed material and the second printed material are advanced on the conveyor line at the same time.

18. A system comprising:

a controller to;

create delivery order by combining mailing address data for a first printed material and a second printed material;

select an order of the first printed material and the second printed material to be positioned on a conveyor line based on the delivery order;

receive a trim dimension of the first printed material to be trimmed; and

produce bundles of the first printed material and the second printed material in a single production run;

a binding line to position the first printed material on the conveyor line;

a trimmer to trim the first printed material in accordance with the trim dimension;

a feeder to position at least some of the second printed material on at least some of the first printed material on the conveyor line to form sub-stacks of first printed material and second printed material; and

a stacker to bundle the sub-stacks of first printed material and second printed material.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first printed material includes a first title and the second printed material includes a second title different that the first title.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the binding line is to advance the first printed material and the second printed material on the conveyor line at the same time.