Apparatus and method for mail sorting
US7138596B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 9, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 17, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S209/90
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for sorting mail to a case having a plurality of slots is described, wherein each slot corresponds to a destination. The method includes steps of loading a mail piece to be sorted into a delivery robot, determining for the mail piece a destination slot the mail piece is to be delivered to, moving the delivery robot along a rail disposed at the front of the case near the slots into proximity with an open end of the destination slot, inserting the mail piece from the delivery robot into the associated slot, and returning the delivery robot to a loading station whereby the cycle may be repeated. Such a method, when using a large number of robots moving along a common rail system, can sort a large volume of mail in carrier delivery order.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.