System and method for directly connecting an advanced facer canceler system to a delivery bar code sorter
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorsTimothy B. Barnum, George Laws, Leung M. Shiu, James E. Goodbar, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods that allow for orienting and delivering mail between a postage verifier and a mail sorter. A postage verifier includes an optical character reader for decoding addresses on mail pieces that do not have bar codes. A reverter orients mail from the postage verifier into a position required for processing by the mail sorter. A combination of mail carrying modules carry the mail from the reverter to the mail sorter. The mail sorter prints bar code information on mail lacking bar codes, when the data is available, and sorts the mail based on the bar code information.
Claims17
A method for processing mail pieces through a postage verifier having an optical character reader, a mail interface system, and a mail sorter, the mail interface system having an upward module carrying mail pieces up to an overhead transport positioned at a height above an output of the postage verifier, and a downward module carrying mail pieces down from the overhead transport to the mail sorter, the method comprising:
- verifying and canceling postage on the mail pieces by the postage verifier;
- determining whether the mail pieces include a bar code;
- decoding address information on the mail pieces that are determined not to include a bar code;
- storing in a database a mail piece identifier corresponding to the mail pieces and bar code data corresponding to the decoded address information;
- individually positioning the mail pieces in a same orientation in a reverter;
- directing the oriented mail pieces through the upward module to the overhead transport;
- directing the oriented mail pieces through the overhead transport;
- directing the oriented mail pieces through the downward module from the overhead transport to the mail sorter;
- and
- sorting the oriented mail pieces based on destination.
A method for processing mail pieces comprising:
- receiving mail pieces at a postage verifier, the verifier verifying and canceling postage;
- determining whether the mail pieces include a bar code;
- decoding address information on the mail pieces that are determined not to include a bar code;
- storing in a database a mail piece identifier corresponding to the mail pieces and bar code data corresponding to the decoded address information;
- signaling a configuration and mail type of the mail pieces to a reverter;
- sending the mail pieces to the reverter, the reverter configured for orienting the mail pieces received from the postage verifier, receiving mail type information from the postage verifier, and performing at least one of sorting the mail pieces in a first mail sorter and selecting at least one specific mail type for placement into at least one stacker;
- carrying the mail pieces in a first mail carrying module to a transport;
- transporting the mail pieces to a second mail carrying module;
- and
- carrying the mail pieces in the second mail carrying module to a second mail sorter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.