Optical reader kit for letter sorting machines

#The U.S. Postal Service has approximately 800 multiple-position letter sorting machines, MPLSM's, such as the Series Nos. 120 and 140, in use in postal facilities throughout the United States. Each sorting machine includes 12 operator-manned coding consoles which serve as input devices for the delivery of mail into the MPLSM for the sortation and distribution thereof to any of 277 destination receptacles. Each letter must pass before an operator who reads the address and enters certain address information into the machine via a keyboard while the mail piece is automatically deposited in a letter-conveying cart compartment. The cart and the address data in memory are then instrumental in the delivery of the mail piece to its designated receptacle.

#It has been observed that the flexibility and utility of letter sorting machines might be extended if they could be provided with the ability to automatically machine-read mail pieces that have had their address information pre-coded in machine readable form on the face of the mail pieces. Under these conditions, the consoles would not require the services of operators. Rather the consoles would merely serve as document handling input devices having an automatic read capability. However, this automation would only be beneficial if it did not impair or modify existing operator-controlled console operation when the processing entails non-coded letter mail.

#The present invention meets the foregoing criteria in providing for the conversion of the MPLSM's to increase their processing capabilities.

#FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the input console of a present day letter sorting machine modified to include an optical reader station as contemplated by the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the principal portions of a letter sorting machine adapted in accordance with the present invention to accept address data from the optical reader station as well as keyboard initiated data.

#FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the modifications shown generally in FIG. 2, particularly the "ZIP Date Input Interface".

#FIG. 1 illustrates the physical relationship of an optical code reader 10 to the existing elements of the input console 12 of the LSM.

#To implement the automated mode, conventional transport rollers (not shown), driven from existing power sources within the console, and associated spring-loaded pinch rollers (not shown) are combined with elevation adjustments in the letter trough 14 to insure that the document 16 is front face registered against the reader platen within the read station 10, as it is transported therethrough . Briefly, in operation, a letter 16 is delivered by transport means (not shown) to the viewing area 18 where it is momentarily at rest and may be examined by an operator, who then enters its destination into the console 12 via keyboard 20. Subsequently, a pusher finger 22 actuated by a second transport means (not shown) engages and accelerates the trailing edge of the letter. In the absence of the read station 10, the last mentioned transport means would continue to move the letter along its normal conveyance path. However, with the addition of the optical read station, the aforementioned rollers engage the mail piece and move it at a substantially uniform velocity corresponding to that of the pusher finger 22. It is apparent that the finger continues to move along with the letter 16 but is relieved of its document pushing function. As the document leaves the read station transport rollers, the conveying of the mail piece along its usual path in the console is again resumed by the pusher finger 22.

#In FIG. 2, there is illustrated in simplified form the block diagram of a letter sorting machine 24 capable of accepting both manual keyboard and code controlled data, the latter being provided by the optical reader kit of the present invention.