System and method for full escort mixed mail sorter using mail clamps

A sorting system, for accepting a group of mail pieces at a loading station, for sorting the group of mail pieces into a desired sequence according to delivery information on the mail pieces, and for moving the mail pieces to at least one unloading station, the system comprising:

• a reader for retrieving delivery information associated with each mail piece from a plurality of the mail pieces;
• a plurality of clamps, each clamp dimensioned for receipt of at least one mail piece;
• means for placing each mail piece from the group into one of said clamps;
• means for creating an association between the retrieved delivery information of each mail piece and its respective clamp;
• a sorter for moving the clamps which hold the mail pieces, based upon the association of each clamp with the retrieved delivery information, so that the mail pieces held by said clamps are sorted according to the desired sequence;
• and
• means for opening the sorted clamps to release the mail pieces at the at least one unloading station,
• wherein the unloading station is configured so that the clamps move to an inverted orientation whereby the clamps are beneath each of the respective mail pieces at the unloading station.

A method of mail sortation, for accepting a group of mail pieces at a loading station, for sorting the group of mail pieces into a desired sequence according to delivery information on the mail pieces, and for moving the mail pieces to at least one unloading station, comprising:

• retrieving delivery information associated with each mail piece from a plurality of the mail pieces;
• placing each mail piece from the group into one of a plurality of clamps;
• creating an association between the retrieved delivery information of each mail piece and a respective unique readable identifier affixed to each clamp to identify each clamp;
• moving the clamps which hold the mail pieces, based upon the association of the unique readable identifier of each clamp with the retrieved delivery information of the mail piece held by the clamps, so that the mail pieces held by said clamps are sorted according to the desired sequence;
• and
• opening the sorted clamps to release the mail pieces at the at least one unloading station.

A method of mail sortation, for accepting a group of mail pieces at a loading station, for sorting the group of mail pieces into a desired sequence according to delivery information on the mail pieces, and for moving the mail pieces to at least one unloading station, comprising:

• retrieving delivery information associated with each mail piece from a plurality of the mail pieces;
• placing each mail piece from the group into one of a plurality of clamps;
• creating an association between the retrieved delivery information of each mail piece and its respective clamp;
• moving the clamps which hold the mail pieces, based upon the association of each clamp with the retrieved delivery information of the mail piece held by the clamps, so that the mail pieces held by said clamps are sorted according to the desired sequence;
• and
• opening the sorted clamps to release the mail pieces at the at least one unloading station,
• wherein the clamps move to an inverted orientation whereby the clamps are beneath each of the respective mail pieces at the unloading station.

A method of mail sortation, for accepting a group of mail pieces at a loading station, for sorting the group of mail pieces into a desired sequence according to delivery information on the mail pieces, and for moving the mail pieces to at least one unloading station, comprising:

• retrieving delivery information associated with each mail piece from a plurality of the mail pieces;
• placing each mail piece from the group into one of a plurality of clamps;
• creating an association between the retrieved delivery information of each mail piece and its respective clamp;
• moving the clamps which hold the mail pieces, based upon the association of each clamp with the retrieved delivery information of the mail piece held by the clamps, so that the mail pieces held by said clamps are sorted according to the desired sequence;
• and
• opening the sorted clamps to release the mail pieces at the at least one unloading station,
• wherein the clamps exiting the loading station move from an inverted orientation, in which the clamps are respectively beneath the respective mail pieces at the loading station, to a non-inverted orientation.