Method and device for the marking of sections of a stack
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorArmin Zimmermann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a system and method for the marking sections of a stack of items, such as mail items, to be sorted in sorting machines according to a distribution order. After reading and allocating a destination address to the stopping points of the distribution order, the last or the first and the last mail item of a section of a stack to be distinguished in a stack is automatically provided with an easily removable sticker, well visible in the stack, by an sticker dispenser, which is placed in the sorting machine after the reading unit for the distribution information and before the distribution unit. The stickers are then removed again during the distribution of the mail items to the receivers of the mail items.
Claims37
A method for marking a section of items in a stack, comprising the steps of:
- sorting said items with a sorting machine according to a select distribution order;
- reading identifying information on said item with a reading unit, said information indicative of a last item in accordance with said distribution order, said reading unit functionally associated with said sorting machine;
- applying a sticker to said last item with a sticker dispenser, said dispenser functionally associated with said sorting machine and positioned downstream from said reading unit;
- and
- distributing said items according to said distribution order with a distribution unit, said distribution unit positioned downstream from said sticker dispenser.
A system for marking sections of a stack of items, comprising:
- a sorting machine for selectively sorting and stacking said items, said sorting machine comprising a control unit, at least one conveyance route, and determining means, said determining means functionally associated with said control unit to provide said unit with information regarding item location within said stack and speed and direction of items conveyed along said route;
- and
- a sticker dispenser for applying stickers to said items, said dispenser functionally associated with said control unit and positioned along said route so as to receive said information and selectively apply a sticker to a select item in accordance with said information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.