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US 9,849,487 B2Granted
System and method of sorting and sequencing items
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorScott R. Bombaugh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of a system and method for sorting and sequencing articles in a processing facility are disclosed. Delivery endpoints are divided and grouped into stop groups. A first sorter sorts items according to stop group and outputs the items to trays. The output trays from the first sorter are loaded to a second sorter in stop group order. The second sorter sorts items for each stop group into separate lanes. Each lane can then be sorted into output bins in delivery sequence order.
Claims7
A system for sorting and sequencing items comprising:
- a sorter comprising:
- a first scanner configured to scan a plurality items and identify a destination for each of the plurality of items;
- a processor in communication with the first scanner, and configured to associate the identified destination for the for each of the plurality of items with one of a plurality of stop groups;
- and
- a sorting portion configured to receive items from the scanner, and sort the plurality of items into a plurality of bins according to the associated stop groups, the sorting portion comprising:
- a buffer comprising a plurality of lanes, the buffer configured to temporarily store a stack of items of the plurality of items;
- a dividing member configured to divert items having different identified destinations into one of the plurality of lanes for temporary storage;
- and
- an output sorter configured to selectively pick a leading item from each of the plurality of lanes and to direct the items toward the plurality of bins.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.