Delivery point sequencing mail sorting system with flat mail capability
AssigneeSiemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
InventorsGary P. Burns, Douglas E. Olson, Robert L. Stone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for sorting articles to a delivery point sequence includes at least one article sorter adapted to sort articles and a conveying system operable to arrange and convey containers of articles sorted in a first sort pass to an induct of the article sorter for a second sort pass or process of the articles. The system or method automatically sorts and conveys trays containing sorted articles from a discharge of at least one sorting assembly to an induct of the at least one sorting assembly. The conveying assembly may have a generally continuous conveying track and is operable to automatically provide the trays to the induct of the at least one sorting assembly in a sequenced manner.
Claims15
A delivery point sequencing system comprising:
- at least one sorting assembly operable to sort articles into a plurality of trays;
- a conveying assembly for automatically sorting and conveying individual trays containing sorted articles from a discharge of said at least one sorting assembly to an induct of said at least one sorting assembly;
- said conveying assembly having a generally continuous conveying surface, wherein said conveying surface comprises at least one of (a) a ;plurality of rollers of a roller conveyor and (b) a belt of a belt conveyor, and wherein said conveying surface is operable to automatically rearrange the order of the individual trays as they ore conveyed along said conveying surface to provide the trays to said induct of said at least one sorting assembly in a sequenced manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.