Apparatus and method for mail sorting

An automated system for sorting a series of mail pieces, comprising:

• a rail system including a loop;
• a number of mail piece delivery robots mounted on the rail for movement along the loop, each delivery robot having an insertion mechanism that can receive a mail piece therein and then insert it into an open side of a destination slot;
• an automated loading station including a conveyor having a loading end at which a mail piece exits the conveyer and enters the insertion mechanism of a delivery robot positioned on the rail in alignment with the loading station;
• a case disposed along the rail having a row of the destination slots for receiving mail sorted thereto for a plurality of destinations;
• means for moving the delivery robots from the loading station to the case and back to the loading station on the loop;
• a control system that coordinates movement of the delivery robots so that each delivery robot moves from the loading station to a slot which corresponds to a destination indicated on the mail piece and then returns to the loading station to receive another mail piece for sorting;
• and
• a proximity sensor mounted on each delivery robot, the proximity sensor detecting another delivery robot ahead of the robot on which the sensor is mounted within a predetermined distance, and communicating with the control system to prevent collisions between delivery robots.

An automated system for sorting a series of mail pieces, comprising:

• a rail system including a loop;
• a number of self-propelled delivery robots mounted on the rail for movement along the loop, each of the robots including an onboard drive system and power source for moving the robot along the loop, each delivery robot having an insertion mechanism that can receive a mail piece therein and then insert it into an open side of a destination slot;
• an automated loading station including a conveyor having a loading end at which a mail piece exits the conveyor and enters the insertion mechanism of a delivery robot positioned on the rail in alignment with the loading station;
• a case disposed along the rail having a row of the destination slots for receiving mail sorted thereto for a plurality of destinations;
• and
• a control system that coordinates movement of the delivery robots so that each delivery robot moves from the loading station to a slot which corresponds to a destination indicated on the mail piece and then returns to the loading station to receive another mail piece for sorting.