Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for sorting items for delivery. A smart case module includes a plurality of bins. Each bin includes a display for a sort criteria for the bin and a first indicator to indicate that the bin is active. The bin also includes an input device for an operator to use to indicate that an item has been placed in the bin. The bin further includes a second indicator to indicate that the bin contains a sufficient number of items for a shipping container.

Abstract: A method for private distribution of printed advertising materials includes the steps of: (a) receiving at a publishing house an order from a customer for direct distribution advertising materials intended for distribution to recipients, (b) creating the advertising materials at the publishing house, (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for a plurality of customers, (d) transporting the advertising materials created pursuant to (a)-(c) to one of a number of distribution centers associated with predetermined delivery regions, (e) bundling the sorted advertising materials so that advertising materials created for different customers for delivery to a single recipient address are grouped together, (f) dividing the packaged advertising materials up into delivery groups based on a predetermined delivery scheme, (g) providing a delivery group to each of a number of delivery couriers; and (i) hand delivering by the delivery couriers the sorted, packaged advertising materials to the recipients according to the delivery sc

Abstract: A method of processing unsorted mail pieces for delivery includes the steps of sorting mail pieces destined for delivery to a single delivery point into a group, printing human readable destination information corresponding to the delivery point of the group on a section of wrapping material, and wrapping the group of mail pieces with the wrapping material bearing the human readable destination information in a complete or abbreviated form. A machine readable code, such as a bar code may also be printed on the wrapping material and subsequently scanned to insure proper sequencing of the bundles of wrapped mail pieces.

Abstract: A sorting system using multiple sorters operating as part of a single, multi-sorting machine unified system. The system according to the invention includes a plurality of input sections capable of operating in parallel, each including a feeder that takes in mail pieces one at a time and a scanner that scans each mail piece for destination indicia, a plurality of stackers each comprising at least one row of pockets, a control system that determines a destination pocket in the stacker for each mail piece based on a predetermined sort scheme and the destination indicia, and a routing system effective to route mail in accordance with the sort scheme from any input section to any pocket of a stacker.

Abstract: A method of preparing flat articles for sorting includes the steps of: (1) receiving a bundle of flat items to be sorted, the bundle being wrapped with a flexible film such that the film forms an enclosed package of flat items, (2) placing the bundles on a substantially horizontal, substantially frictionless work surface, moving the bundle adjacent at least one film slitter, the film slitter being automatically activated when the bundle is moved adjacent the film slitter, (3) removing the cut film from the flat items, and (4) stacking the unbundled flat items in a cartridge.