Abstract: A direction indicator placed on one site of a sorting block indicates, for a given good, the direction towards a nominated slot through which the good is to be placed in the block. This arrangement makes it possible for the hauler to immediately put a good into a nominated slot without looking around at sorting blocks at large, which will lead to the improvement of work efficiency. Moreover, because this will moderate the burden imposed on the hauler, the number of wrongly hauled goods would be greatly reduced.

Abstract: A direction indicator placed on one site of a sorting block indicates, for a given good, the direction towards a nominated slot through which the good is to be placed in the block. This arrangement makes it possible for the hauler to immediately put a good into a nominated slot without looking around at sorting blocks at large, which will lead to the improvement of work efficiency. Moreover, because this will moderate the burden imposed on the hauler, the number of wrongly hauled goods would be greatly reduced.

Abstract: A process is provided for the automated conveying, sorting and loading of baggage items in airports having a baggage-conveying facility conveying baggage from a check-in region to a baggage area, from where they are transported for loading into aircraft. In a first step, a flight destination and travel class as well as weight, shape, volume and consistency of each baggage item are recorded and registered. In a second step, the recorded baggage data are entered into a computer system (packing computer) which divides the baggage items into predetermined classes and determines optimum assignment to loading devices in accordance with classification and flight destination. In a third step, the baggage items handled in this way are transported to loading stations for loading in accordance with the defined assignment and, in a fourth step, are loaded there into a loading device essentially in an automated manner. A configuration which is suitable for implementing the process is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sorting and selecting parts comprising a computer for designing a plurality of a first type of component parts and a plurality of a second type of component parts. Each job, which consists of the plurality of first component parts and the plurality of second component parts, is assigned a unique identification by the computer. In addition, the computer also assigns a part identification for each of the component parts. A first tooling machine computer-controller, coupled to the computer, receives the plurality of first component part designs, creates tooling instructions for the first component parts, and creates labels for each of the first component parts. The labels include the unique job identification and the part identification. A first tooling machine, coupled to the first tooling machine computer-controller, receives the first component part tooling instructions, receives material for the first component parts, and creates the first component parts.

Abstract: In the method, each envelope (1) is provided with an envelope number that can be read by humans and by machine. The control system of a sorting machine (4) is coupled to an e-mail system. The sender (3) looks for the addressee in the e-mail system and enters the number (2) of the envelope (1) to be sent. He then transmits a message with the addressee and the envelope number (2) to the control system of the sorting machine. In the control system there is a file (6) for the sorting plan, which allocates sorting compartments to the addressees. By means of the message from the e-mail system, the sorting compartment of the addressee is also allocated the envelope number (2), so that after the machine-readable number (2) of the envelope (1) has been read, the envelope can be led into the compartment belonging to the addressee. This allocation is then deleted again. In this way, the difficulties in reading the handwritten addresses are avoided.

Abstract: Diagnostic strips of the kind which are exposed to biological fluids such as blood or urine to detect or monitor medical conditions are cut sequentially from elongated cards by a reciprocating shear blade. The cards may be ones which exhibit defective areas that should not be included in the finished strips. Blade motion seats each newly cut strip on a movable strip carrier which abuts the blade during the cutting operation. The carrier then travels a nondefective strip to a pickup location where it is precisely positioned and picked off of the carrier for emplacement in a housing. A strip with a defective area is carried further to a discharge location where it is released into a waste receptacle. This enables more economical manufacture of diagnostic strips by efficiently making use of nondefective areas of cards that have defective areas.

Abstract: A product handling apparatus, components of a product handling apparatus, a method of handling products and a software program for controlling a product handling apparatus. The apparatus includes an induct area, in which products are inducted or fed, either automatically or manually, into the product handling apparatus, an identification area, in which the product configuration, the product type and the product title are identified, a labeling area, in which product labels are printed, applied to each product and verified, and a product sorting area, in which the products are sorted into the individual customer order product collection locations for packaging and shipment to the customer. In the product sorting area, products are diverted by air knife diverter mechanisms, and stackable products are stacked in stacker assemblies. An “endless” main conveyor assembly conveys products from the induct area, through the product handling apparatus, to the product sorting area.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting products, such as magazines, newspapers and books, CDs and/or diskettes, includes a separation station arranged for making single items of the products supplied in stacks, a conveyor arranged for conveying one by one the products coming from the separation station, and a number of sorting stations arranged adjacent the conveyor. The sorting stations are connected to the conveyor such that a product located on the conveyor can be supplied from the conveyor to a desired sorting station for forming a sorted collection of products in the respective sorting station. The apparatus further includes a control. The control is arranged for controlling at least the conveyor and the sorting stations, such that at least two sorting functions can be performed.

Abstract: An article sortation system includes a plurality of transport units which are movable along a conveying path between induction stations and discharge stations along each side of the conveying path. Each transport unit has side by side loading and support capability and is operable to receive packages from induction stations and discharge the packages at an appropriate discharge station. The system includes a control which determines the destination of articles and resolves blocking conditions between articles at the induction stations or at the transport units. The system may include a reinduction station for receiving an article from a transport unit and reinducting the article onto a transport unit, in order to resolve a blocking condition between a pair of articles on the respective transport unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an article sorting system includes successive coarse and fine singulators and a recirculating loop for processing a disordered stream of items including three-dimensional non-flat articles. A coarse singulator includes cascaded ramped conveyors, preferably operating at progressively greater speeds. A detection system, such as a vision system, for monitoring the stream of articles and identifying and/or tracking individual items passing through the system is used in conjunction with a fine singulator such as a chevron, hold-and-release or strip conveyor downstream from the coarse singulator. A control system is utilized in connection with the vision system to regulate the flow of articles through the system by, for example, diverting doubles or clusters for separations.

Abstract: A system for sorting articles, the system having a track which defines a route starting at least one loading point, the route continuing on to a plurality of destination points and arriving back at the loading point. The system also has at least one tray for conveying an article from the loading point to a selected one of the destination points. The tray comprises a first and a second half pivotally coupled to each other. The track includes a first segment for momentarily tilting a leading end of the tray upward relative to a trailing end of the tray and possibly downward again, and a second segment for laterally tilting the first half and the second half of the tray at an angle. The first and second segments selectively maneuver an article loaded in the tray to a bottom corner thereof prior to the tray reaching the selected destination point in order to substantially reduce the jarring of the article during the discharge thereof at the selected destination point.

Abstract: Reticles are selected for use in a wafer processing system based on the wafer-processing recipe and on the level of degradation exhibited by the reticle after multiple exposures to light and constant physical handling. In an example embodiment of an integrated reticle sorter and stocker, a scanner identifies the reticle and gathers dimensional data on each reticle. A sorter sorts reticles within reticle pods according to the processing recipe and stores the pods within a storage location in the stocker. A computer arrangement then records information from the scanner and the sorter and assesses whether any of the reticles has degraded beyond an acceptable level of usage.

Abstract: A sorter conveyor system according to the invention includes at least one endless conveyor loop including a rail. One or more conveyor segments are mounted on the rail. Each segment is a series of cart units each having wheel structures mounted for rolling movement along the rail, a carrier for carrying one or more items thereon, a selectively actuable mechanism for actuating the carrier laterally in at least one direction to unload an item from the carrier to an unloading station adjacent the conveyor loop, and a coupling mechanism for joining each cart unit in each series in a head to tail relationship. One or more drive elements are connected to one or more of the cart units and configured to permit the conveyor segment to be driven by a linear drive unit.

Abstract: A direction indicator placed on one site of a sorting block indicates, for a given good, the direction towards a nominated slot through which the good is to be placed in the block. This arrangement makes it possible for the hauler to immediately put a good into a nominated slot without looking around at sorting blocks at large, which will lead to the improvement of work efficiency. Moreover, because this will moderate the burden imposed on the hauler, the number of wrongly hauled goods would be greatly reduced.

Abstract: Piece goods are sorted with tilting tray sorters by recognizing when a large good needs two consecutive empty tilting trays in order to be inwardly transferred; locating a first, empty tilting tray; emptying a second tilting tray occupied by a good adjacent to the first empty tilting tray prior to the inward transfer of the large good, thereby resulting in two adjacent empty tilting trays; inwardly transferring the large good requiring two tilting trays to the two adjacent empty tilting trays; and transferring the outwardly removed good inward to a third empty tilting tray.

Abstract: A medicine feeder apparatus comprising a plurality of cassettes each of which contains a different kind of medicine and a base portion on which the plurality of cassettes are mounted and which discharges the medicine in accordance with the prescription. the apparatus comprises an identification which is provided on each cassette, the identification showing information on the medicine contained in the cassette; a reader which is provided on the base portion, the reader reading the identification of the cassette during the cassette is mounted on the base portion; and a rock which is provided on the base portion, the rock preventing the cassette from being mounted. If the information of the medicine read from the identification by the reader does not coincide with a previously stored information, the rock is operated, while if coincide, the rock is released.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting articles to a delivery point sequence includes at least one sortation assembly adapted to sort articles and a buffer. The buffer is operable to arrange and convey containers of articles sorted in a first sort pass to an induct of the at least one sortation assembly for a second sort pass or process of the articles. The buffer automatically arranges the containers in an arranged manner prior to conveying the containers and articles to the induct of the at least one sortation assembly for the second sort process. The second sort process is then performed to sort the articles to a delivery point sequence or carrier walk sequence depth of sort. A conveyor assembly may be operable to convey containers to an appropriate one of multiple sortation assemblies and/or buffers to increase the sequencing matrix capability of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and system for collating and binding signatures includes a plurality of signature feeders responsive to a signature feed control signal. Coded data is stored on a magnetic disk. The coded data is representative of like groups of signatures and unlike groups of signatures. Apparatus transfers the coded data to a printer which prints related mailing information on the groups of like signatures.

Abstract: A direction indicator placed on one site of a sorting block indicates, for a given good, the direction towards a nominated slot through which the good is to be placed in the block. This arrangement makes it possible for the hauler to immediately put a good into a nominated slot without looking around at sorting blocks at large, which will lead to the improvement of work efficiency. Moreover, because this will moderate the burden imposed on the hauler, the number of wrongly hauled goods would be greatly reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sorting documents contained with envelopes into selected batches of documents. An envelope feeder feeds a group of envelopes containing documents onto a document transport. A document extractor positioned along the path of movement extracts the documents from the envelopes. An orientation detector including a magnetic image reader and an optical image reader determines the orientation of selected documents along the path of movement. A document orientor changes the orientation of documents along the path of movement into a desired orientation. An image acquisition device acquires an image of the batch identification pieces and selected documents conveyed along the path of movement to enable the system controller to assign documents of selected transactions into selected batches. A non-volatile image storage medium stores the acquired images of the selected documents.

Abstract: A depository for waste articles includes a chamber for storing waste articles and a control unit for determining a characteristic of a waste article presented to the depository for storage in the chamber.

Abstract: A method for continuous, non lot-based manufacturing of integrated circuit (IC) devices of the type to each have a unique fuse identification (ID) includes: reading the fuse ID of each of the IC devices; advancing multiple lots of the IC devices through, for example, a test step in the manufacturing process in a substantially continuous manner; generating data, such as test data, related to the advancement of each of the IC devices through the step in the process; and associating the data generated for each of the IC devices with the fuse ID of its associated IC device.

Abstract: A dynamic sortation system and method. The invention is preferably utilized in a robotic containerization system having a number of locations for containers such as carts or pallets. Each location may be assigned a speed of loading rating that represents the time needed for a robot to load an item to a location. The system may be preprogrammed with a simplified, base scheme of destinations. After these initial steps, the system reads destination codes from each of the plurality of items in a load of items sent to the system for sortation. The system may store the destination code of each read item in a historical database. The system then determines whether the read destination code is assigned a location. If the destination code is assigned a location, the item is loaded in a container at the assigned location.

Abstract: A method for sorting integrated circuit (IC) devices of the type having a substantially unique identification (ID) code, such as a fuse ID, includes automatically reading the ID code of each of the IC devices and sorting the IC devices in accordance with their automatically read ID codes.

Abstract: A multi-spectral imager and the applications of same for the marking and coding of, for example, textiles, linens, garments, documents and packages for high-speed machine identification and sortation. Specific uses include garment and textile rental operations, laundry operations, and the postal and mail sortation of documents and packages. Methods and apparatus are provided to identify items via information encoded within an applied mark, as well as a novel mark reading/decoding scheme. A method is disclosed for printing fluorescent marks on an item, such as a heat-sealable label, to generate a unique identification number or indicia, as well as a reader system for reading applied marks.

Abstract: A recycling system particularly useful for using, sorting and reusing large quantities of animal identification tags for use by producers, feedlots and packing plants is described. In one aspect of the invention, a plurality of unsorted, previously used and cleaned identification tags are passed through a tag aligner that aligns the tags in series. The aligned tags are fed to a tag sorter that includes a plurality of sorting bins for storing the sorted tags. A tag reader reads the identification tags and passes identification information stored on the tags to a controller. The controller analyzes the identification information from the tags and determines in which one of the sorting bins each tag should be stored. When each tag is adjacent the proper sorting bin, the controller signals the sorter to eject the tag into such bin. After sorting, the tags are redistributed to their original users for reuse.

Abstract: A product storage method is carried out by a product storage system comprising an intermediate storage yard, a product moving means capable of holding a product, of moving vertically, laterally and longitudinally and of placing the product at any place in the intermediate storage yard, a first conveying means for conveying products to the intermediate storage yard, a second conveying means for conveying the products out of the intermediate storage yard, and a control means for controlling the product moving means, the first conveying means and the second conveying means.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for sorting and receiving optical discs as a function of different quality control codes associated with respective optical discs including a base and a motor mounted to the base and having an output shaft. A turntable has a plurality of vertically oriented fixed spindles attached thereto, and the turntable is connected to, and rotates with, the output shaft of the motor. Each of the spindles has a diameter less than a diameter of a centerhole in the optical discs. A control is responsive to the quality control codes and operates the motor to rotate the turntable and move a spindle to a loading position for receiving an optical disc. The control selects the spindle to receive the optical disc so that only discs having a common quality control code are received by the spindle.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process and apparatus for automatically sorting and sequencing a random assemblage of products associated with a particular order for same. In one embodiment, the invention sequences the random products to match a predetermined label application sequence.

Abstract: A paper sheet sorting apparatus comprising a device for reading the information recorded in paper sheets and a device for sorting the paper sheets in accordance with the information thus read, is disclosed. The load of recognizing the information is detected by a load detector. In accordance with the load detected by the load detector, the interval between the paper sheets supplied or the speed at which the paper sheets are transported is changed. In this way, the interval of the papers sheets entering the reading device is changed. The number of paper sheets having the information that cannot be recognized and hence cannot be sorted is reduced, while at the same time improving the processing speed.

Abstract: A system is for sorting an article on shipping the article. The article has a tag label in which a symbol is written. The article has an ID tag in which tag information is written. The article is conveyed on a conveyer. A first detector detects the article conveyed on the conveyer to produce a first detection signal. A second detector is located downstream of the first detector and detects the article conveyed on the conveyer to produce a second detection signal. A control device controls a symbol reading device in response to the first detection signal to make the symbol reading device read the symbol as read-out symbol information out of the tag label. The control device controls an ID tag writing device in response to the second detection signal to make the ID tag writing device write the tag information in the ID tag in accordance with the read-out symbol information. The article is sorted on the basis of the tag information written in the ID tag.

Abstract: A feeding system and method for placing a plurality of objects within a single designated destination area of a sorting system to increase the throughput rate of the system. The disclosed sorting system includes a plurality of carriages movable under the control of a programmable controller between the loading and unloading stations of the sorting system, each carriage carrying a tilt tray. The geographic destination of each of the objects to be placed on a tray, as well as a dimension of each of the objects to be placed on a tray, is determined by an optical scanner and a measuring device. The controller uses the dimension information to determine whether more than one object having the same geographic destination may be placed on the same tray. The invention is adaptable for use with other types of sorting systems.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sorting a group of documents contained with an envelope into selected batches of documents. An envelope feeder feeds a group of envelopes containing documents onto a document transport. A document extractor positioned along the path of movement extracts the documents from the envelopes. A system controller identifies the documents extracted from each respective envelope along with the respective envelope as a single transaction along the path of movement. An orientation detector including a magnetic image reader and an optical image reader determines the orientation of selected documents along the path of movement. A document orientor changes the orientation of documents along the path of movement into a desired orientation. An image acquisition device acquires an image of the envelopes and selected documents conveyed along the path of movement to enable the system controller to assign documents and the envelope from which it was extracted into selected transactions and batches.

Abstract: A multi-spectral imager and the applications of same for the marking and coding of, for example, textiles, linens, garments, documents and packages for high-speed machine identification and sortation. Specific uses include garment and textile rental operations, laundry operations, and the postal and mail sortation of documents and packages. Methods and apparatus are provided to identify items via information encoded within an applied mark, as well as a novel mark reading/decoding scheme. A method is disclosed for printing fluorescent marks on an item, such as a heat-sealable label, to generate a unique identification number or indicia, as well as a reader system for reading applied marks.

Abstract: A discarded industrial product recycling system capable of acquiring pertinent data required for processings of discarded industrial products such as discarders, reception dates, persons responsible for disposal, disposal dates and so forth for selecting proper disposal for each of the discarded industrial products while automatizing the article data acquisition to a possible maximum for enhancing the enhance disposal rate. An electronic tag (radio-frequency identifier tag) is attached to each of discarded industrial products to allow data required for the processing to be written and read by readers/writers. At a time point and a place where a discarded industrial product is received, basic data required for the processing of that article is written in the electronic tag. Pertinent processing route for each of the manufactured articles is decided by reading the data from the electronic tag while writing additional data in the tag as occasion requires.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for sorting documents. The documents are scanned to determine a characteristic of each document and then sorted in response to the scanned characteristic. In particular, a method is provided for multi-pass processing of documents. In accordance with one method, each document is assigned a logical sort number corresponding to the recipient of the document. The documents are then sorted in sequential order according to the logical sort numbers. A method is also provided that compares data scanned during a pass with data obtained during a previous pass to determine the recipient of the document. In addition a method is provided for marking the documents and sorting the documents so that the markings provide indicators of pre-defined groups of documents.

Abstract: A robotic tire end effector apparatus and system including a method for picking up and placing tires positioned horizontally onto vertical stacks of tires. The apparatus and system includes a totem support assembly having a support housing and support bars capable of bearing against the inside diameter of a tire bead and a bottom assembly mounted to the support housing of the totem support assembly. The bottom assembly includes pivot arms and fingers. The fingers are capable of bearing against the inside diameter of the tire bead and supporting the weight of the tire. The support bars are also capable of supporting the weight of a tire. The system includes a computer and program capable of receiving data from the tires for identification, tracing tire location, allocation, pick optimization and continuous calculation of sorting and pick options.

Abstract: A sorting machine has multiple input bins which are used for all passes of sorting. At each sorting pass, each output bin is associated with and receives input from exactly one input bin. A multi-bin sorter has p input bins and n output bins, n being greater or equal to p. A first sort is performed on the basis of at least part of the sorting key which is associated to each article, providing n output groups of articles corresponding to the n output bins. The sorted articles in n output bins are then grouped in p input bins and resorted by the multi-bin sorter providing n new output groups of articles, each output group being associated with and fed by exactly one of the input bins. The first sorting could be based on a first portion of the sorting key, and the second sorting could be based on a second portion of the sorting key, the first and second portions being non-disjoint.

Abstract: A wafer ID optical sorting system includes an auto-ID reader, a manual-ID reader and a conveying device, operation of which units is controlled by a monitoring system. The auto-ID reader, connected to the monitoring system, can automatically read and identify an ID and allows the ID to be displayed on the monitoring system. The manual-ID reader, connected to the monitoring system, can fetch the ID image and allows it to be displayed on the monitoring system. The conveying device, connected to the monitoring system, can move the auto-ID reader and the manual-ID reader.

Abstract: A conveyor sorter includes a shuttle moving transversely to the conveyor direction to place in the path of articles either a pass-through conveyor or a diverting conveyor. The shuttle is mounted on a reversible belt drive and preferably has two diverting conveyors, one on either side of the pass-through conveyor. Multiple shuttles can be installed in series along the main conveyor to allow sorting to many destinations. Large packages can be sorted at high speed, and the shuttle can be replaced easily to reduce down time when repairs are needed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting indicia on articles. The indicia act to identify a group of articles, having a common characteristic. The articles may be address panels used in mass mailings. Particular address panels, representing the beginning or end of a zip code or a postal delivery route, are pre-marked with one or more special indicia. The apparatus includes a scanning station, a computerized system controller, and a marking station. The scanning station includes a video camera, a video analyzer, a camera controller, and a video monitor. The video camera is programmable by using the camera controller and the video monitor, to scan only a predetermined operative scanning area of each article. The video analyzer assess each pixel within the scanning area and adds up the total number of pixels having a desired characteristic. If the pixel count satisfies predetermined criteria correlating to the presence of an indicia, the article is electronically tagged by the system controller.

Abstract: A laboratory primary sample distributor equipped with a sorter device removing receptacles containing lab samples fitted with destination coding and arriving on a conveyor belt after having code-reading, and with a sorter gripper that transfers the receptacles into one of several destination transport means intended for different destinations. The sorter gripper is designed to simultaneously pick up several receptacles.

Abstract: A processing system and apparatus for sorting and routing reusable mail pieces is shown. Each mail piece bears an identifier, which is stored in a database with the current intended destination of the mail piece to simplify subsequent sorting and routing operations. An envelope is shown that is suited for use in such a system. Computer readable media are shown that are executable to control such a system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reading encoded symbols such as bar code labels at any orientation to a raster scanning device. Objects bearing encoded symbols are transported from one conveyor across a relatively narrow gap to a second conveyor, with a linear scanner positioned beneath the conveyors so as to read the encoded symbols through the narrow gap as the objects pass over. A pattern of virtual scan lines is selected over the two-dimensional imaging region according to the specifications of the images to be read. The pattern is generated by defining a family of parallel lines of a certain spacing and rotating the family by a specified angle until the two-dimensional imaging region is covered. In a preferred embodiment, only the data at selected raster locations on the virtual scan lines is stored and processed. One-dimensional signal processing methods are used to detect edges and decode the encoded symbols.

Abstract: A recycling system particularly useful for using, sorting and reusing large quantities of animal identification tags for use by producers, feedlots and packing plants is described. In one aspect of the invention, a plurality of unsorted, previously used and cleaned identification tags are passed through a tag aligner that aligns the tags in series. The aligned tags are fed to a tag sorter that includes a plurality of sorting bins for storing the sorted tags. A tag reader reads the identification tags and passes identification information stored on the tags to a controller. The controller analyzes the identification information from the tags and determines in which one of the sorting bins each tag should be stored. When each tag is adjacent the proper sorting bin, the controller signals the sorter to eject the tag into such bin. After sorting, the tags are redistributed to their original users for reuse.

Abstract: A parallel document buffer for holding a plurality of documents while recognition processing is performed on data captured from the documents. Information from each document in a document stream is captured, and passed to a recognition processor. Each document is then passed to one of a plurality of parallel buffer stages of a document buffer, and held until a specified processing time has elapsed. Upon expiration of the processing time, the document is returned to the document stream.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sorting a group of documents contained with an envelope into selected batches of documents. An envelope feeder feeds a group of envelopes containing documents onto a document transport. A document extractor positioned along the path of movement extracts the documents from the envelopes. A system controller identifies the documents extracted from each respective envelope along with the respective envelope as a single transaction along the path of movement. An orientation detector including a magnetic image reader and an optical image reader determines the orientation of selected documents along the path of movement. A document orientor changes the orientation of documents along the path of movement into a desired orientation. An image acquisition device acquires an image of the envelopes and selected documents conveyed along the path of movement to enable the system controller to assign documents and the envelope from which it was extracted into selected transactions and batches.

Abstract: A method for use in card processing systems which includes at least one supply magazine for accommodating the cards to be processed, at least one processing station for applying the data to the respective card, and at least one storage magazine for accommodating properly processed cards. The cards are processed in accordance with a processing list which contains the data to be applied to the respective card. A check is carried out as to whether a card has been properly processed. The properly processed cards are stored in a defined sequence, while the cards which have not been properly processed are rejected. The storage sequence of the properly processed cards is automatically checked, and in case of the detection of a gap in the storage sequence, a marking device for identifying the sequence gap is set.

Abstract: Method of sorting postal objects in which a postal sorting machine has a first input and at least one second input and a plurality of outputs communicating with the inputs via a sorter device. The method comprises the steps of: supplying first and second streams of postal objects to the first and second inputs, directing the postal objects to all the outputs; withdrawing from at least some of the outputs groups of postal objects previously directed to respective outputs forming two collections of groups of postal objects; and operating in a transport mode which each postal object supplied to the first input is directed only towards a first subset of the outputs and each postal object supplied to the second input is directed only towards the second subset of the said output. During the said transport mode the groups of postal objects belonging to a respective collection are supplied respectively to the first and second input.

Abstract: A multiple pass sheet sorter in which supplied sheets are automatically sorted in multiple passes. The sheets are sorted into classifying boxes such that the assignment of sheets to classifying boxes in the second and subsequent passes are automatically adjusted based on a classification information added to the sheets and with reference to a stacking order table and a classifying box assignment table.