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US 2020/0269282 A1Published application
System and method of sorting and sequencing items
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorScott R. Bombaugh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of a system and method for sorting and sequencing articles in a processing facility are disclosed. Delivery endpoints are divided and grouped into stop groups. A first sorter sorts items according to stop group and outputs the items to trays. The output trays from the first sorter are loaded to a second sorter in stop group order. The second sorter sorts items for each stop group into separate lanes. Each lane can then be sorted into output bins in delivery sequence order.
Claims20
A method of sorting and sequencing items comprising;
- sorting, in a first sorting apparatus, a plurality of items of a first type according to a delivery sequence;
- receiving, in a second sorting apparatus, a plurality of items of a second type, sorted according to the delivery sequence;
- receiving, in the second sorting apparatus, the plurality of items of the first type;
- determining, in the second sorting apparatus, an intended delivery destination for each of the plurality of items of the first type;
- determining, in the second sorting apparatus, an intended delivery destination for each of the plurality of items of the second type;
- moving items of the plurality of items of a first type intended for a first delivery destination into an output location;
- identifying a final item of the plurality of items of the first type intended for the first delivery destination;
- moving items of the plurality of items of a second type to the output location after the final item of the plurality of items of the first type has been moved to the output location.
5 more elements
A system of sorting and sequencing items, the system comprising:
- a first sorting apparatus for sorting a plurality of items of a first type and outputting the plurality of items of a first type according to a delivery sequence;
- a second sorting apparatus comprising a scanner and a sorter, the second sorting apparatus configured to:
- scan each item of the plurality of items of the first type to identify an intended delivery destination;
- receive, from the first sorting apparatus, the plurality of items of the first type;
- and
- receive a plurality of items of a second type, sorted according to the delivery sequence;
- a processor configured to:
- receive the identified intended delivery destination for each of the plurality of items of the first type;
- receive intended delivery destinations for each of the plurality of items of the second type;
- cause the second sorting apparatus to move the items of the plurality of items of a first type intended for a first delivery destination to an output location;
- identify a final item of the plurality of items of the first type intended for the first delivery destination;
- and
- cause the second sorting apparatus to move items of the plurality of items of a second type intended for delivery to the first delivery destination to the output location after the final item of the plurality of items of the first type has been moved to the output location.
10 more elements
A system of sorting and sequencing items, the system comprising:
- a first sorting apparatus configured to sort a plurality of items according to a plurality of stop groups and output the plurality of items to one or more trays;
- a staging location, the staging location comprising automated equipment to receive the one or more trays from the first sorting apparatus;
- a second sorting apparatus comprising:
- a scanner;
- and
- a multiplier portion;
- wherein the second sorting apparatus is configured to sort the plurality of items from stop groups into a delivery sequence order;
- wherein the staging location further comprises automated equipment to provide the one or more trays to the second sorting apparatus;
- and
- a processor in communication with the first sorting apparatus, the second sorting apparatus, and the automated equipment, the processor configured to:
- store an association between the items in the one or more trays sorted according to the plurality of stop groups;
- store a location of the one or more trays within the staging location;
- and
- instruct the automated equipment to retrieve and provide a selected tray of the one or more trays according to a sort plan of the second sorting apparatus.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.