Classifying – separating – and assorting solids – Sorting special items – and certain methods and apparatus for... – Condition responsive means controls separating means
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-31
2003-08-26
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
Sorting special items, and certain methods and apparatus for...
Condition responsive means controls separating means
C209S900000, C700S224000, C700S227000, C700S228000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06610955
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of mail processing systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to performing multiple processing and sorting tasks on mixed and non-machineable mailpieces and the ability to rehabilitate and improve the characteristics of mailpieces for the purpose of subsequent processing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Mailpiece processing generally involves multiple tasks. These disparate tasks are dictated by whether, for example, the particular mailpieces are properly addressed, whether the mail piece addresses are machine readable, whether the mailpiece has be properly routed up to the point of processing. Thus, one task involves identifying and processing improperly addressed mailpieces, which, of course, must be processed differently than other mailpieces. Mailpieces lacking machine readable addresses, too, will have to be processed separately. Usually, with current mailpiece processing equipment, such items of necessity are processed and sorted manually off-line. Other tasks are intended to provide a valuable service to mail service users but also complicate the mail service providers processing and sorting procedures. Such services include forwarding address routing of mailpieces and, sometimes, providing notice to the sender when a mailpiece is forwarded. Other tasks include processing certified mail or postage due mail and properly allocating the charges associated with such mail.
It follows that a mail service provider such as the United States Postal Service is responsible for myriad activities beyond simply accepting, sorting, and delivering individual mailpieces. There are many unique services involved with the postal activities of a mail service provider such as returning mail to the sender, uniquely handling of certified or postage due mail. Additionally, there are many processes that are unique to the internal processing of the mail that is intended to correct previous errors and/or reduce processing costs such as re-directing mis-sent mail, tabbing open mail so as to make “machineable”, placing a clean label over extraneous printing or a bad bar code for subsequent automated processing, facing random oriented mail, and machine sorting of non-machine readable mail.
More specifically, the existing sorting equipment does not have the ability to rehabilitate or improve a mailpiece, in a single operation, that is designated for manual processing means whereby it can be subsequently processed on standard high speed automation equipment.
Conventional mail processors and sorters are limited to performing a particular, narrow function. Primarily due to economic reasons, however, conventional high-volume devices have had to be limited to a single designated task. For example, a typical application involves scanning a letter-sized mailpieces for the purpose of reading each mailpiece's address indicators, barcoding the mailpieces, and subsequently sorting them. Other distinct devices or manual effort are needed to perform different processing tasks.
While conventional technology is limited in requiring different devices for distinct processing and sorting tasks, the technology is further limited in the sense of requiring different devices for different types of mailpieces. A separate machine, for example, is necessary to handle the larger size flats, due to the different size of the scanner, sort bins, and feed rates. Although equipment recently has been developed that will sort a wider range of mail piece sizes, such as letter-sized and flat-sized mailpieces together, these devices remain limited to performing a single, distinct function. Such is the case with both Siemens MMS I-Sort machine, Lockheed-Martin's ST3000 and MailCode's Olympus Sorter mentioned above. This equipment has typically been limited to reading and sorting mixed mail based on the postal address.
Thus, the conventional technology is limited in failing to provide a unified multi-task, mixed mailpiece processing and sorting device capable of performing multiple processing and sorting tasks on differently sized mailpieces. An even more important, more fundamental limitation of these conventional devices, however, is that none provide an interface between a processor/sorter and the user that can be under the unified control of as few as a single user. An even more important, limitation of these conventional devices, however, is that none provide a capability to improve the machineability of the mailpiece in a single processing operation.
Accordingly, there is a need for a multitask, mixed mailpiece processor and sorter that automates not some but all of the processing and sorting tasks needed for efficient mail handling, that makes each of the tasks performable on not some but most all sized mailpieces, and that not only brings these capabilities into a single, unified device but also provides a user interface f or controlling each of the disparate tasks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing in mind, the present invention advantageously provides an apparatus and related methods for performing multiple processing and sorting tasks. The tasks each are to be performed at a predetermined speed for first-sized mailpieces (e.g., letter-sized mailpieces) and at a second predetermined speed for second-sized mailpieces (e.g., flat-sized mailpieces) so that the plurality of mailpieces including both first- and second-sized mailpieces is processed and sorted in a single pass. Mixed mailpieces thus need not be segregated into same-size groups. The same methods can be performed on the same apparatus in a single pas s rather than on different machines or in separate, distinct passes. This function adds value when the LISPS goes to a single environment to DPS (Delivery Point Sequence) Mail in one container so that the carrier does not need to spend additional time in his day “casings”(i.e. putting all different mail volumes in his route order) by hand.
Therefore, a mail handling facility no longer need have multiple machines arrayed at various locations throughout the facility's mailpiece processing area. Instead, a single apparatus according to the present invention may be utilized for accomplishing each of the various tasks necessary for complete and efficient handling of mailpieces. Moreover, there is no need to run one pass with a same-size group and then stop the apparatus and re-tool before processing and sorting another same-size group of mailpieces. The apparatus and methods accordingly provide major advantages. Among these is the reduced footprint of processing and sorting equipment situated in the mail handling facility. Another is the elimination of downtime that occurs when an apparatus must be re-tooled before being able to perform different processing and sorting functions. Moreover, by reducing the necessary operators to as few as a single user, a considerable reduction in labor expenses is achieved with the present invention.
Specifically, the present invention provides a multi-task mix ed mailpiece processor and sorter capable of processing and sorting differently sized mailpieces including letters and flats in a single pass under the control of as few as a single user. More specifically the multi-task mixed mailpiece processor and sorter according to the present invention includes a mailpiece feeder to individually feed a plurality of mailpieces of varies sizes to a variable-speed mailpiece transporter that transports each received mailpiece. A mailpiece scanner is positioned downstream from the mailpiece feeder and adjacent the mailpiece transporter to scan each mailpiece for any mail handling indicia that may be positioned on a mailpiece such as recipient address, sender address, identification code, and post code.
The apparatus further includes a user interface that preferably has a visual display terminal possibly a touch screen to make entries easier to permit the input of commands by a user and to provide to the user visual images of mail handling indicia positioned on each mailpiece. A printer is also incl
Rodriguez Joseph
Walsh Donald P.
Whittle Jeffrey S.
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