Method and system for sequentially ordering objects using a single pass delivery point process
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsBruce H. Hanson, J. Edward Roth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system using a single pass sequencer having a transport system for transporting the mail pieces to a transport system having a moveable carriage system and a stationary carriage system with a plurality of holders slidable between the moveable carriage system and the stationary carriage system. The plurality of holders hold a mail piece of the mail pieces received from the transport system. The mail pieces are sequenced as they are transported or moved from the stationary carriage to the moveable carriage.
Claims20
A method of sorting objects, comprising the steps of:
- inducting objects into separate holders on a first carriage;
- transporting the separate holders from the first carriage to a second carriage, in substantially a same order;
- instructing the separate holders to move from the second carriage to a corresponding positions of a plurality of assigned positions on the first carriage, incrementally and in sequence, based on sorting criteria read from the objects;
- and
- unloading the sequenced objects from each of the separate holders on the first carriage.
A method of sequencing objects, comprising:
- placing non-sequenced mail pieces in separate holders extending from a moveable carriage;
- incrementally moving the moveable carriage and aligning each separate holder filled with one of the non-sequenced mail pieces with a next empty position on a stationary carriage;
- moving the separate holders from the moveable carriage to each of the next empty position on the stationary carriage;
- assigning codes to the mail pieces and positions on the moveable carriage based on final destination sequence;
- moving each of the separate holders from the stationary carriage to the moveable carriage, in a delivery order sequence, based on the assigned codes;
- and
- unloading the mail pieces from the holders on the moveable carriage at a predetermined location in the sequence.
A method comprising:
- feeding non-sequenced objects to separate holders extending from a carriage movable in at least one direction;
- assigning codes to positions on the moveable carriage based upon information on the non-sequenced objects;
- and
- transporting the non-sequenced objects in the separate holders back and forth between the moveable carriage and a stationary carriage to sort the non-sequenced objects stored in the separate holders into a sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.