Method for sorting items according to distribution address
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorWolfgang Boensch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention concerns a method for the sorting of items such as mail pieces, according to their distribution addresses, in a sorting machine, whereby non-readable mail pieces are sorted into special bins for recirculation according to the different reasons for the non-reading. Beginning and end of the stack of mail pieces of the respective special bin for recirculation is readably marked for sorting machine reading, and the marked stack of mail pieces is again fed to the feeder of the sorting machine in the reading position and orientation. At unsuccessful reattempts of a mail piece of a marked stack of mail pieces from one of the special bins for recirculation, the mail piece is sorted into an additional special bin, from which it is no longer fed to the sorting machine.
Claims17
A method for sorting an item according to its destination address, comprising the steps of:
- recording a surface of said item with a picture recording unit, said picture recording unit being a part of an item sorting machine;
- determining the presence of said address with an image evaluation unit, and if said address is present, reading said address with said image evaluation unit;
- if said address is not readable, sorting said item into a select bin;
- determining when said bin contains a select number of items which form a stack of items within said bin;
- reorienting said stack into a select appropriate position;
- marking a beginning and end of said stack;
- directing said select positioned stack from said bin to an entrance of said sorting machine;
- reading addresses of items in said stack;
- and
- if said step of reading addresses of items in said stack is unsuccessful, sorting unsuccessfully read items into a select special bin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.