Abstract: A device and method for stacking product into a container in a vertical orientation. The device includes at least one pivoting mechanism pivotable between a loading position and an initial/final position. The at least one pivoting mechanism retains a container thereon. The device may further include at least one corresponding diverting mechanism for injecting product into the container. The diverting mechanism includes a feeding area and a diverting arm swingable between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the diverting arm allows product to enter the feeding area. An ejection station is positioned proximate to the feeding area and injects the product into the container after the product enters the feeding area via movement of the diverting arm. In one aspect the ejection station is provided by a pinch belt arrangement and is controlled by a control.

Abstract: A single pass sequencer having a transport system for transporting the mail pieces and a character recognition system proximate to the transport system for reading destination information associated with the mail pieces. The system includes a first carriage system and a second carriage system with a a plurality of holders slidable between the first carriage system and the second carriage system. Each of the plurality of holders holding a mail piece of the mail pieces received from the transport system. A sorting device stores information from the mail pieces and assigns a code to: (i) the mail pieces based on the destination information, (ii) the plurality of holders on the first carriage based on an initial sequence of each of the plurality of holders on the first carriage, and (iii) a position on the second carriage which corresponds to the initial sequence and a destination sequence of the mail pieces.

Abstract: A system and method for loading product onto a conveyor. The system includes a conveyor movable in at least a first direction and a metering section located proximate to at an end of the conveyor. The metering section includes a plate mechanism movable between a first position and a second position and a door adapted to be opened to a feeder. The door is at least partially supporting a predetermined amount of product and is positioned between a movable distance of the plate.

Abstract: A processing system for automating the packaging, packing, unpacking, transfer/short term storage and loading of flats mail into flats sorters for sortation is disclosed. This involves bundling flats mail into bundles or logs and creating pallets for transporting in a standardized manner at mailer facilities such as publishers so that the sort depth and final destination of the bundle contents are preserved and used throughout its journey through postal facilities. Sort depth and destination bar coding is placed on each bundle. An automated method for palletizing involves creating a stack of bundles on a pallet in a predetermined sequence so that sorting processes in the postal facility become more efficient. Once the pallets are received at the postal facilities, the pallets are broken down in a pre-determined sequence in accordance with the sequence of original creation.

Abstract: A flat mail edge biasing machine and method of use for separating stacks of bulk flats (products) into at least two separate stacks each with bound edges oriented in a same direction. The flat mail edge biasing machine has a feed head mechanism which is capable of detecting a bound or non-bound edge of the product, and sort the products based on the detection. The sorting includes moving the products from a center compartment to side compartments. In the side compartments, the products stacks with the bound edges oriented in a same direction.

Abstract: A method using a single pass sequencer having a transport system for transporting the mail pieces to a transport system having a first carriage system and a second carriage system with a plurality of holders slidable between the first carriage system and the second carriage system with packaged output. Each of the plurality of holders holding a mail piece of the mail pieces received from the transport system. The method includes assigning a code to: (i) the mail pieces based on the destination information, (ii) the plurality of holders on the first carriage, and (iii) a position on the second carriage which corresponds to the initial sequence and a destination sequence of the mail pieces.

Abstract: A method using a single pass sequencer having a transport system for transporting the mail pieces to a transport system having a first carriage system and a second carriage system with a plurality of holders slidable between the first carriage system and the second carriage system with packaged output. Each of the plurality of holders holds a mail piece received from the transport system. The method includes assigning a code to: (i) the mail pieces based on the destination information, (ii) the plurality of holders on the first carriage, and (iii) a position on the second carriage which corresponds to the initial sequence and a destination sequence of the mail pieces. The method instructs movement of the plurality of holders from the first carriage to the second carriage so that they are in sequential order of delivery destination, ready to be packaged. Once the mail pieces are in sequential order on the second carriage, they are dropped into a container for a delivery point.

Abstract: A method and system using a single pass sequencer having a transport system for transporting the mail pieces to a transport system having a moveable carriage system and a stationary carriage system with a plurality of holders slidable between the moveable carriage system and the stationary carriage system. The plurality of holders hold a mail piece of the mail pieces received from the transport system. The mail pieces are sequenced as they are transported or moved to the stationary carriage from the moveable carriage.

Abstract: A device and method for merging pre-sequenced products includes at least a first and a second feeder mechanism. The first feeder mechanism feeds a stream of first pre-sequenced product and the second feeder mechanism feeds a stream of second pre-sequenced product. A reading device reads product information of each product of the stream of the first and second pre-sequenced product. A pausing device pauses one of the first stream of pre-sequenced product and the second stream of pre-sequenced product based on the information read from the reading device. The product from one or both of the stream of first and second pre-sequenced product having the same product information is organized into a sequentially merged order.

Abstract: A method and system using a single pass sequencer having a transport system for transporting the mail pieces to a transport system having a moveable carriage system and a stationary carriage system with a plurality of holders slidable between the moveable carriage system and the stationary carriage system. The plurality of holders hold a mail piece of the mail pieces received from the transport system. The mail pieces are sequenced as they are transported or moved from the stationary carriage to the moveable carriage.

Abstract: A device and method for device for sequencing disparate products includes at least a first feeder mechanism feeding a stream of a first product type in a pre-sequenced order. At least a second feeder mechanism feeds a stream of second product type though a sequencing process. A reading device reads product information of the first product type and the second product type. A pausing device pauses the first stream of the first product type or the second stream of the second product type in a first pass sort order of the sequencing process based on the information read from the reading device. The first product type and the second product type are intermixed into a stream forming a merged stream of sequenced first and second product type.

Abstract: A processing system for automating the packaging, packing, unpacking, transfer/short term storage and loading of flats mail into flats sorters for sortation is disclosed. This involves bundling flats mail into bundles or logs and creating pallets for transporting in a standardized manner at mailer facilities such as publishers so that the sort depth and final destination of the bundle contents are preserved and used throughout its journey through postal facilities. Sort depth and destination bar coding is placed on each bundle. An automated method for palletizing involves creating a stack of bundles on a pallet in a predetermined sequence so that sorting processes in the postal facility become more efficient. Once the pallets are received at the postal facilities, the pallets are broken down in a pre-determined sequence in accordance with the sequence of original creation.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for sorting a plurality of items into a predetermined sorted sequence. Items are initially located on initial sorting regions of a sorting apparatus. The items are then sorted into at least one intermediary sorted set and then sorted, from the intermediary sorted sets, into the final sorted sequence. A computer may be used to track the position of the items on the sorting apparatus and to control the movement of the items into the sorted sequence.

Abstract: A mail handling system that imports data from a thickness measurement device regarding the thickness of a substantially flat mail article, counts the number of flat articles deposited on the top surface of the drop pocket, instructs the drop pocket to open to drop a unitary body of flat mail articles when the total stack thickness and/or number of articles exceeds threshold limits. A computer, operably connected to conventional conveyor system having, a drop pocket, a thickness measurement device, and a conveyor, implements the system.

Abstract: A device and method for stacking product into a container in a vertical orientation. The device includes at least one pivoting mechanism pivotable between a loading position and an initial/final position. The at least one pivoting mechanism retains a container thereon. The device may further include at least one corresponding diverting mechanism for injecting product into the container. The diverting mechanism includes a feeding area and a diverting arm swingable between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the diverting arm allows product to enter the feeding area. An ejection station is positioned proximate to the feeding area and injects the product into the container after the product enters the feeding area via movement of the diverting arm. In one aspect the ejection station is provided by a pinch belt arrangement and is controlled by a control.

Abstract: A rejection rate of a selective sequential processing apparatus such as a mail sortation apparatus is reduced by combining results of at least two feature discrimination arrangements such as optical character recognition and a bar code reader based on comparisons of results of the feature discrimination results against each other and against expected values to validate at least one result and rejecting articles for manual processing only when no feature discrimination result can be validated. The results of one feature discrimination technique can be used to augment results of another feature discrimination technique to improve selective processing accuracy and processing speed and throughput are increased by allowing use of faster or accelerated feature discrimination processes while maintaining a greater number of articles within the automated process.

Abstract: A method using a single pass sequencer having a transport system for transporting the mail pieces to a transport system having a first carriage system and a second carriage system with a plurality of holders slidable between the first carriage system and the second carriage system with packaged output. Each of the plurality of holders holds a mail piece received from the transport system. The method includes assigning a code to: (i) the mail pieces based on the destination information, (ii) the plurality of holders on the first carriage, and (iii) a position on the second carriage which corresponds to the initial sequence and a destination sequence of the mail pieces. The method instructs movement of the plurality of holders from the first carriage to the second carriage so that they are in sequential order of delivery destination, ready to be packaged. Once the mail pieces are in sequential order on the second carriage, they are dropped into a container for a delivery point.

Abstract: A single pass sequencer having a transport system for transporting the mail pieces and a character recognition system proximate to the transport system for reading destination information associated with the mail pieces. The system includes a first carriage system and a second carriage system with a a plurality of holders slidable between the first carriage system and the second carriage system. Each of the plurality of holders holding a mail piece of the mail pieces received from the transport system. A sorting device stores information from the mail pieces and assigns a code to: (i) the mail pieces based on the destination information, (ii) the plurality of holders on the first carriage based on an initial sequence of each of the plurality of holders on the first carriage, and (iii) a position on the second carriage which corresponds to the initial sequence and a destination sequence of the mail pieces.

Abstract: A method using a single pass sequencer having a transport system for transporting the mail pieces to a transport system having a first carriage system and a second carriage system with a plurality of holders slidable between the first carriage system and the second carriage system with packaged output. Each of the plurality of holders holding a mail piece of the mail pieces received from the transport system. The method includes assigning a code to: (i) the mail pieces based on the destination information, (ii) the plurality of holders on the first carriage, and (iii) a position on the second carriage which corresponds to the initial sequence and a destination sequence of the mail pieces.

Abstract: A processing system for automating the packaging, packing, unpacking, transfer/short term storage and loading of flats mail into flats sorters for sortation is disclosed. This involves bundling flats mail into bundles or logs and creating pallets for transporting in a standardized manner at mailer facilities such as publishers so that the sort depth and final destination of the bundle contents are preserved and used throughout its journey through postal facilities. Sort depth and destination bar coding is placed on each bundle. An automated method for palletizing involves creating a stack of bundles on a pallet in a predetermined sequence so that sorting processes in the postal facility become more efficient. Once the pallets are received at the postal facilities, the pallets are broken down in a pre-determined sequence in accordance with the sequence of original creation.