Sorting system for groups of items having recirculation

Details Sorting system for groups of items having recirculation Sorting system for groups of items having recirculation

1999-03-24

2001-05-08

Nguyen, Tuan N. (Department: 3653)

Classifying, separating, and assorting solids

Sorting special items, and certain methods and apparatus for...

Separating means

C209S584000, C209S900000, C209S919000, C198S703000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06227378

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a sorting system, in particular, though not necessarily, for use in sorting mail items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a mail sorting system, there is a need to sort a large number of individual items into groups of such items which can be processed together. For example, mail items can be sorted into groups, with each group being intended for a particular geographical destination. For example, when handling newly received items, the sorting system may be required to sort the items on the basis of their intended final, or “outward” destinations, which may for example be relatively large geographical areas. Additionally, the items may be sorted by product group, for example the class of service required. When the system is processing mail which has been received from another sorting station, then those items may be intended for delivery within a relatively small geographical area, and the sorting system then sorts them into groups of items intended for delivery to even smaller areas, for example areas which might be covered in a single round of deliveries.
In either case, a conventional sorting system might include a number of output receptacles for receiving sorted items, with one receptacle being designated for items intended for each of the relevant geographical areas. When the number of destinations is large, this means either that the sorting system itself must be very large, including a large number of output receptacles, or that the sorting must be carried out in two or more stages, with one sorting stage being used for a relatively coarse sort, and second and any subsequent stages being used for finer sorts.
British Patent No. 1,506,516 describes a circulating apparatus including a plurality of receptacles for receiving sorted items. Received items are sorted manually and place in the appropriate receptacles, which can be emptied and replace as desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sorting system, comprising:
an inlet area, for receiving items;
an outlet device, comprising a plurality of outlet receptacles, the output receptacles being detachable to allow the removal of items therefrom;
a plurality of storage receptacles, mounted for circulation past the inlet area and the outlet device; and
a control system;
wherein an incoming item is passed from the inlet area to a storage receptacle;
wherein the control system receives data identifying each item within the system;
wherein output receptacles are assigned to groups of items having particular common characteristics; and
wherein the control system:
determines when output receptacles should be detached to allow the removal of items therefrom;
determines the assignment of output receptacles to groups of items;
and, when a storage receptacle, containing an item belonging to a group having no output receptacle assigned thereto, approaches the outlet device, determines whether to assign an output receptacle to said group or whether to recirculate said item within said storage receptacle.
This allows a group of mail items to be stored temporarily within the system, until the number of such items is such that those items can be grouped together efficiently for further processing. An advantage is that the number of physical outlets may be relatively small, and may be far less than the number of potential destinations for the sorted items.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided means for identifying an intended future destination of a group of items supplied to an output.
This allows the output group of items to be forwarded efficiently to the next stage in the process.
This identification may be in the form of a signal sent to a display (for example, a LED display), which can be read by a human operator to determine the intended future destination of the sorted group. Alternatively, the identification may be in the form of a code applied to the output receptacle, which may be read by an automated handling system. Alternatively, the identification may be in the form of a signal, sent to an automated handling system, which directs that automated handling system as regards the intended future destination of the sorted group.
Preferably, the system is for sorting mail items.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2617527 (1952-11-01), Smith
patent: 3980553 (1976-09-01), Quinn
patent: 4244672 (1981-01-01), Lund
patent: 5994657 (1999-11-01), Maier et al.
patent: 0 476 984 A2 (1992-03-01), None
patent: 1 506 516 (1978-04-01), None

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