CA2547271A1 - Method and system for sorting mail - Google Patents
Method and system for sorting mail Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2547271A1 CA2547271A1 CA 2547271 CA2547271A CA2547271A1 CA 2547271 A1 CA2547271 A1 CA 2547271A1 CA 2547271 CA2547271 CA 2547271 CA 2547271 A CA2547271 A CA 2547271A CA 2547271 A1 CA2547271 A1 CA 2547271A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- mailstop
- receiving
- set forth
- mailpiece
- receiving bin
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
- B07C3/02—Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
- B07C3/06—Linear sorting machines in which articles are removed from a stream at selected points
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
- B07C3/10—Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination
- B07C3/14—Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination using light-responsive detecting means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
- B07C3/18—Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks
Landscapes
- Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
Abstract
A method and system for sorting mailpieces in a single pass is provided. The system consists of a mail feeding unit, a mail scanner and a mail distribution unit having a number of receiving bins. Mailpieces are fed into the system one at a time through the scanner to determine the mailstop of the mailpiece. A control system assigns unique mailstops to unique receiving bins. Each mailpiece is deposited in a receiving bin assigned with its mailstop. When the number of mailstops exceeds the number of receiving bins, the control system empties a receiving bin and assigns the new mailstop to the emptied bin so it can receive mailpieces having the new mailstop.
Accordingly, the system can sort mail destined for "m" mailstops into "n"
receiving bins where "m" is greater than "n".
Accordingly, the system can sort mail destined for "m" mailstops into "n"
receiving bins where "m" is greater than "n".
Claims (42)
1. A method for sorting mailpieces in a single pass, the method comprising the steps of:
a) receiving a mailpiece with a mail singulation apparatus, said mailpiece having a mailstop affixed thereon;
b) identifying said mailstop associated with said mailpiece;
c) assigning said mailstop to one of a plurality of receiving bins if said mailstop has not already been assigned to a receiving bin, each of said receiving bins capable of emptying its contents upon receiving a command to empty its contents; and d) conveying said mailpiece to the receiving bin assigned with said mailstop associated with said mailpiece and depositing said mailpiece into said receiving bin.
a) receiving a mailpiece with a mail singulation apparatus, said mailpiece having a mailstop affixed thereon;
b) identifying said mailstop associated with said mailpiece;
c) assigning said mailstop to one of a plurality of receiving bins if said mailstop has not already been assigned to a receiving bin, each of said receiving bins capable of emptying its contents upon receiving a command to empty its contents; and d) conveying said mailpiece to the receiving bin assigned with said mailstop associated with said mailpiece and depositing said mailpiece into said receiving bin.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein if and when all of said plurality of receiving bins have been assigned with a mailstop and a new received mailpiece is identified with a new mailstop that has not been assigned to a receiving bin, said method further comprising the steps of;
a) issuing a command to a first receiving bin to empty its contents whereupon said first receiving bin empties its contents into a receptacle;
b) reassigning said first receiving bin with said new mailstop of said new received mailpiece; and c) conveying said new received mailpiece into said first receiving bin.
a) issuing a command to a first receiving bin to empty its contents whereupon said first receiving bin empties its contents into a receptacle;
b) reassigning said first receiving bin with said new mailstop of said new received mailpiece; and c) conveying said new received mailpiece into said first receiving bin.
3. The method as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the step of identifying the mailstop of said contents emptied from said first receiving bin to an operator.
4. The method as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the steps of alerting an operator that said first receiving bin has emptied its contents and then identifying the mailstop of said contents emptied from said first receiving bin to said operator.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of assigning said mailstop to one of said plurality of receiving bins is made in accordance with at least one operator setting entered into a control system adapted to carry out said method.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of assigning said mailstop to one of said plurality of receiving bins is made in accordance with at least one piece of information associated with each received mailpiece.
7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of assigning said mailstop to one of said plurality of receiving bins is made in accordance with at least one piece of information associated with the receiving bins having mailpieces being deposited therein.
8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of assigning said mailstop to one of said plurality of receiving bins is made in accordance with at least one piece of historical information associated with the received mailpieces.
9. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of assigning said mailstop to one of said plurality of receiving bins is made in accordance with the position of said mailpieces in a mail sorting system adapted to carry out said method.
10. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the step of identifying said mailstop comprises printing said mailstop onto a piece of paper.
11. The method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising the step of depositing said printed paper with said contents emptied from said first receiving bin.
12. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the step of identifying said mailstop comprises displaying said mailstop on a visual display adapted to be read by said operator.
13. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the step of identifying said mailstop comprises generating an audio message adapted to be heard by said operator, said audio message comprising said mailstop.
14. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the step of identifying said mailstop comprises dispensing a token with said contents emptied from said first receiving bin, said token associated with said mailstop.
15. The method as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the step of binding said contents emptied from said first receiving bin.
16. The method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising the step of binding said printed paper with said contents emptied from said first receiving bin.
17. The method as set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of binding said token with said contents from said first receiving bin.
18. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein said mailpieces are incoming mailpieces.
19. A system for sorting mailpieces in a single pass, comprising:
a) a mail singulation apparatus adapted for receiving a mailpiece having a mailstop affixed thereon and for presenting said mailpiece to a mailpiece scanning apparatus;
b) a mailpiece scanning apparatus for scanning and identifying said mailstop of said mailpiece, said scanning apparatus operatively coupled to said singulation apparatus;
c) a plurality of receiving bins, each bin capable of emptying its contents upon receiving a command to empty its contents;
d) a conveyor apparatus operatively coupling said singulation apparatus to said plurality of receiving bins, said conveyor apparatus adapted to carry a mailpiece from said singulation apparatus to any one of said plurality of receiving bins; and e) a control system operatively coupled to said singulation apparatus, to said scanning apparatus, to each of said plurality of receiving bins and to said conveyor apparatus, wherein said control system is adapted to assign said mailstop to any one of said plurality of receiving bins, said control system further adapted to cause said conveyor apparatus to carry said mailpiece to the receiving bin assigned with said mailstop, said control system further adapted to cause said conveyor apparatus to carry said mailpiece to the receiving bin assigned with said mailstop and deposit said mailpiece into said receiving bin.
a) a mail singulation apparatus adapted for receiving a mailpiece having a mailstop affixed thereon and for presenting said mailpiece to a mailpiece scanning apparatus;
b) a mailpiece scanning apparatus for scanning and identifying said mailstop of said mailpiece, said scanning apparatus operatively coupled to said singulation apparatus;
c) a plurality of receiving bins, each bin capable of emptying its contents upon receiving a command to empty its contents;
d) a conveyor apparatus operatively coupling said singulation apparatus to said plurality of receiving bins, said conveyor apparatus adapted to carry a mailpiece from said singulation apparatus to any one of said plurality of receiving bins; and e) a control system operatively coupled to said singulation apparatus, to said scanning apparatus, to each of said plurality of receiving bins and to said conveyor apparatus, wherein said control system is adapted to assign said mailstop to any one of said plurality of receiving bins, said control system further adapted to cause said conveyor apparatus to carry said mailpiece to the receiving bin assigned with said mailstop, said control system further adapted to cause said conveyor apparatus to carry said mailpiece to the receiving bin assigned with said mailstop and deposit said mailpiece into said receiving bin.
20. The system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said control system is further adapted to transmit a command to a first receiving bin to empty its contents if
21 and when said scanning apparatus identifies a new mailpiece having a new mailstop after all of said receiving bins have been assigned a mailstop different from said new mailstop, said control system further adapted to reassign said first receiving bin with said new mailstop and to cause said conveyor apparatus to carry said new mailpiece to said first receiving bin and deposit said new mailpiece into said first receiving bin.
21. The system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said conveyor apparatus is adapted to circulate said received mailpieces through said system more than once.
21. The system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said conveyor apparatus is adapted to circulate said received mailpieces through said system more than once.
22. The system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said conveyor apparatus is adapted to carry said received mailpieces past each receiving bin more than once.
23. The system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said control system is adapted to alert an operator that said first receiving bin has emptied its contents.
24. The system as set forth in claim 23 further comprising means for identifying the mailstop of said contents emptied from said first receiving bin to said operator.
25. The system as set forth in claim 24 wherein said means comprises a printer for printing a piece of paper with the mailstop of said contents emptied from said first receiving bin.
26. The system as set forth in claim 25 wherein said system is further adapted to deposit said printed paper with said contents emptied from said first receiving bin.
27. The system as set forth in claim 24 wherein said means comprises a video display for visually displaying said mailstop of said contents emptied from said first receiving bin.
28. The system as set forth in claim 24 wherein said means comprises an audio playback system adapted to audibly broadcast said mailstop of said contents emptied from said first receiving bin.
29. The system as set forth in claim 24 wherein said means comprises of a token dispenser adapted to dispense a token with said contents emptied from said first receiving bin, said token associated with said mailstop.
30. The system as set forth in claim 20 further comprising a bundling device for bundling said contents emptied from said first receiving bin.
31. The system as set forth in claim 26 further comprising a bundling device for bundling said contents emptied from said first receiving bin.
32. The system as set forth in claim 29 further comprising a bundling device for bundling said contents emptied from said first receiving bin.
33. The system as set forth in any one of claims 19 to 32 wherein said mailpieces are incoming mailpieces.
34. A system for sorting mailpieces, comprising:
a) first means for receiving a plurality of mailpieces having mailstops affixed thereon and for presenting said mailpieces one at a time;
b) second means for identifying the mailstop of each mailpiece present by said first means, said second means operatively connected to said first means;
c) third means for assigning a mailstop identified by said second means to one of a plurality of receiving bins if said mailstop has not already been assigned to a receiving bin, said third means operatively connected to said first and second means;
d) fourth means for conveying a mailpiece whose mailstop has been identified by said second means and assigned to a receiving bin by said third means to said assigned receiving bin and depositing said mailpiece therein, said fourth means operatively connected to said first, second and third means; and e) a plurality of receiving bins, each receiving bin adapted to receive mailpieces from said fourth means.
a) first means for receiving a plurality of mailpieces having mailstops affixed thereon and for presenting said mailpieces one at a time;
b) second means for identifying the mailstop of each mailpiece present by said first means, said second means operatively connected to said first means;
c) third means for assigning a mailstop identified by said second means to one of a plurality of receiving bins if said mailstop has not already been assigned to a receiving bin, said third means operatively connected to said first and second means;
d) fourth means for conveying a mailpiece whose mailstop has been identified by said second means and assigned to a receiving bin by said third means to said assigned receiving bin and depositing said mailpiece therein, said fourth means operatively connected to said first, second and third means; and e) a plurality of receiving bins, each receiving bin adapted to receive mailpieces from said fourth means.
35. The system as set forth in claim 34 wherein each of said plurality of receiving bins is adapted to empty its contents upon receiving a command to empty its contents.
36. The system as set forth in claim 35 wherein said first means is a mail singulation apparatus adapted to present said plurality of mailpieces to a mail scanning apparatus.
37. The system as set forth in claim 36 wherein said second means is a mailpiece scanning apparatus adapted to optically scan and identify the mailstop of each mailpiece that passes therethrough.
38. The system as set forth in claim 37 wherein said third means is a general purpose computer.
39. The system as set forth in claim 38 wherein said computer comprises a computer-readable memory capable of storing a program code segment, said memory having a program code segment stored thereon, said program code segment adapted to cause said computer to assign a mailstop identified by said second means to a receiving bin.
40. The system as set forth in claim 38 wherein said fourth means is a conveyor adapted to move mailpieces from said mail scanning apparatus past each of said plurality of receiving bins.
41. The system as set forth in claim 39 where in the event that all of said receiving bins have been assigned a mailstop and said mail scanning apparatus identifies a mailpiece having a new mailstop that is not assigned to a receiving bin, said program code segment is further adapted to cause said computer to select a receiving bin and to generate and transmit a command to said selected receiving bin to empty its contents and to assign said new mailstop to said selected receiving bin after it has emptied its contents.
42. The system as set forth in claim 41 wherein said program code segment uses information associated with the mailpieces to select said selected receiving bin.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2547271 CA2547271C (en) | 2006-05-19 | 2006-05-19 | Method and system for sorting mail |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2547271 CA2547271C (en) | 2006-05-19 | 2006-05-19 | Method and system for sorting mail |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2547271A1 true CA2547271A1 (en) | 2007-11-19 |
| CA2547271C CA2547271C (en) | 2011-11-15 |
Family
ID=38719372
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2547271 Expired - Fee Related CA2547271C (en) | 2006-05-19 | 2006-05-19 | Method and system for sorting mail |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2547271C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8504192B2 (en) | 2007-12-13 | 2013-08-06 | Solystic | Method of sorting mailpieces by using a process for dynamically allocating sorting outlets |
-
2006
- 2006-05-19 CA CA 2547271 patent/CA2547271C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8504192B2 (en) | 2007-12-13 | 2013-08-06 | Solystic | Method of sorting mailpieces by using a process for dynamically allocating sorting outlets |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2547271C (en) | 2011-11-15 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US7781693B2 (en) | Method and system for sorting incoming mail | |
| CA2205166C (en) | Method for sorting items of mail in order of delivery | |
| US10751758B2 (en) | System and method for sorting items | |
| JP3641494B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for classifying and identifying sent items with address information | |
| US4507739A (en) | Sorter system for postal matter | |
| US20110192770A1 (en) | Method and device for sorting mail | |
| AU751530B2 (en) | Sorting system | |
| AU778253B2 (en) | Method and device for sorting parcels | |
| EP1204492B1 (en) | Sorting flat mail into delivery point sequencing | |
| US8374720B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for sorting articles by way of storage regions | |
| US6943312B2 (en) | Method and device for the marking of sections of a stack | |
| JP2008507401A (en) | One-pass postman delivery sequence sorting machine | |
| WO2008058677A1 (en) | Method and arrangement of devices for operating an electronic parcel postbox | |
| US8178811B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for sorting flat objects in a number of sorting passes | |
| JP2001503672A (en) | Delivery method and device | |
| US5673193A (en) | System and method for processing bulk mail | |
| WO2008058676A1 (en) | Method and arrangement of devices for processing mail items addressed to post office box systems within a postal transportation and mail distribution system | |
| US20240189862A1 (en) | Commingling physical tray boundaries | |
| CA2547271A1 (en) | Method and system for sorting mail | |
| JP2004532735A (en) | Sorting method of sent goods by automatic sorting equipment | |
| JP2016107189A (en) | Delivery processing device and delivery processing method | |
| EP2812131B1 (en) | Method for recipient-based sorting mailings | |
| EP1066886A2 (en) | Mail sorting system | |
| JP2768323B2 (en) | Paper sheet sorting method and apparatus | |
| US8135495B2 (en) | Systems and methods for processing packaged goods in the nature of cigarettes |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20180522 |