EP 0481569 A2 19920422 - Mail sorting apparatus and method.
Title (en)
Mail sorting apparatus and method.
Title (de)
Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Postsortierung.
Title (fr)
Dispositif et procédé de tri de courrier.
Publication
Application
Priority
US 59818990 A 19901006
Abstract (en)
A mail sorting machine (20) includes an input hopper (30); a mailpiece reading and processing section (22); and, a sorting bin section (24) comprising a plurality of bins (261 - 26128). The reading and processing section (22) includes a CPU (54) which executes a program ANALYZE_MAIL for sorting third class mailpieces. The program ANALYZE_MAIL sorts the mailpieces included in a batch into packages, and then associates the packages into sacks or bags. The program ANALYZE_MAIL constructs the packages and sacks to obtain maximum postage discounts. Upon an initial pass of all mailpieces of a batch through the sorting machine (20), the program ANALYZE_MAIL generates output (TABLE 1) advising how the bins (26) are to be grouped for subsequent passes. The program ANALYZE_MAIL also generates output (TABLES 2A - 2E) advising, for each group, which bins (26) are to have their packages associated together for insertion into the same bag or sack. Advantageously, the mailpieces are sorted so that the bins (26) to be associated together are physically adjacent one another in the sorting machine (20). Bag tags are generated to tell an operator which bins are to be collected together to form a sack or bag, as well as the sack number and group number. The program ANALYZE_MAIL also includes an accounting capability for billing postage to a possible plurality of clients having mailstreams included in the batch, and for allocating postage costs in accordance with whether the client's mailpieces qualify for postage discounts. <IMAGE>
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
B07C 3/00 (2006.01); B07C 3/02 (2006.01); B07C 3/14 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
B07C 3/00 (2013.01)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
CH DE FR GB IT LI
DOCDB simple family (publication)
EP 0481569 A2 19920422; EP 0481569 A3 19930421; CA 2053455 A1 19920417; JP H04265183 A 19920921
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 91202690 A 19911016; CA 2053455 A 19911015; JP 29637691 A 19911016