GB1157712A - Automatic Sorting System - Google Patents

Abstract

1,157,712. Sorting postal mail; packaging mail. INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ELECTRIC CORP. 6 April, 1967 [11 April, 1966], No. 15792/67. Headings B8A and B8C. Postal letters to be sorted are inserted in magazines 13, the addresses being encoded magnetically by a keyboard operator on coding bars 64 by low-level (40 gauss) magnetization. At a station 4, the magazines are inverted by a rotary member 50 (Fig. 4, not shown). This is to bring the coding bars to a suitable position to be processed by " read " and " write " heads 15, 16 of a code converter 5. This is coupled to a computer 6 which converts the original code to one of simplified form and which is written on the coding bar 64 with high-level (400 gauss) magnetization. The magazines then pass to an output station at which the coding bars are subject to a sensor 17. Those carrying certain predetermined codes are ejected by an actuator 18 into pockets 38 of heat-shrinkable material on a web 32 (Fig. 7). This operation is facilitated by air flow through ports 33 and 42. Air from a source 31 is heated at 36 and vented at 35 on to the pockets to cause them to shrink tightly over the letters carried therein. Magazines 13 containing letters still unsorted are carried via another inverter 8 (similar to the inverter 4) off the main conveyer circuit on to a branch loop (dotted lines, Fig. 1) which leads to a storage arrangement 9 (Fig. 6). This comprises a plurality of storage rows 90 for the magazine 13 served by a sleevable input conveyer arm 92 and a similar output arm (not shown). From the storage arrangement 9, magazines pass back into the main conveyer circuit, through the inverter 4, and are subject to another sortation pass as before. When the magazine is completely empty, it is routed along a path 11 instead of passing through the storage 9. Circuit details of the converter 5, sensor 17 and actuator 18, are shown in block form (Figs. 9 and 10, not shown). The junctions between the branch conveyer loop and the main conveyer circuit (Figs. 5A, 5B, not shown) comprise hinged endless belt sections (55) which are lowered so as to deposit the container on the downstream section of the conveyer junction. The hinged sections are operated automatically in response to the activation of position sensors (57)-(60).