Abstract: A method of sorting articles by means of a sorting system comprising N sorting machines (M1, MN) operating in parallel, in which method the articles are divided into N groups (G1, GN) of articles to be processed in parallel on the N sorting machines, at least one of the N groups of articles is subdivided into sub-groups of articles (G1.1, G1.N-1), and, if it is detected that one of the N machines is being rested, then the method comprises the steps of: feeding the N?1 other sorting machines with the sub-groups of articles from said subdivided group of articles and sorting these sub-groups of articles in parallel on the N?1 other sorting machines; and feeding the N?1 other sorting machines with the N?1 other groups of articles and sorting these N?1 groups of articles in parallel on said N?1 other sorting machines.

Abstract: The mailpiece sorting machine includes a bin sorting conveyor (1) that acts under the control of a control unit (4) to move the bins (3) over sorting outlets (S1, S2, Sn) having removable storage trays (5). The control unit is suitable for detecting (20) that a current mailpiece has a destination address that does not correspond to an available sorting outlet in the machine. If such a situation is detected, a manipulator robot (R) comes to replace the tray of a sorting outlet with an empty tray (or with a tray already containing mail for the same destination address) into which the current mailpiece is sorted, while the replaced tray is placed on standby on a rack (8).

Abstract: A method of sorting articles by means of a sorting system comprising N sorting machines (M1, MN) operating in parallel, in which method the articles are divided into N groups (G1, GN) of articles to be processed in parallel on the N sorting machines, at least one of the N groups of articles is subdivided into sub-groups of articles (G1.1, G1.N-1), and, if it is detected that one of the N machines is being rested, then the method comprises the steps of: feeding the N?1 other sorting machines with the sub-groups of articles from said subdivided group of articles and sorting these sub-groups of articles in parallel on the N?1 other sorting machines; and feeding the N?1 other sorting machines with the N?1 other groups of articles and sorting these N?1 groups of articles in parallel on said N?1 other sorting machines.

Abstract: A method of sorting articles to be prepared into delivery rounds by means of at least first and second sorters (T1, T2), which method consists in distributing (St10) said articles between said sorters, in performing (St20) a first sorting pass (P1) for sorting the articles in parallel on the first sorter and on the second sorter, in retrieving (St30) first groups (G1) of articles at first sorting outlets (S1) of the first and second sorters, in bringing said first groups to the inlet (E) of the first sorter (T1), in retrieving (St30) second groups (G2) of articles at second sorting outlets (S2) of the first sorter and of the second sorter, in bringing said second groups to the inlet (E) of the second sorter (T2), and then in performing (St40) successive sorting passes (P2, P3) in parallel on the first sorter and on the second sorter until the preparation of the articles into delivery rounds is complete.

Abstract: A method of sorting mailpieces by using a dynamic assignment process and an overbooking mechanism whereby an overbooked sorting destination (D) is substituted for a sorting destination that is already assigned to a certain sorting outlet (S) comprises the following steps: a) identifying from among said sorting outlets (S) a sorting outlet that has a filling level (N) greater than a first threshold (s1) and the longest idle time, and assigning the overbooked sorting destination to that sorting outlet; b) if all of the sorting outlets (S) have filling levels (N) less than said first threshold (s1), identifying from among the sorting outlets the sorting outlet that has the longest idle time, assigning that sorting outlet to said overbooked sorting destination, and indicating that said other sorting destination is a sorting destination to be amalgamated.

Abstract: A method of sorting mailpieces by using a dynamic assignment process and an overbooking mechanism whereby an overbooked sorting destination (D) is substituted for a sorting destination that is already assigned to a certain sorting outlet (S) comprises the following steps: a) identifying from among said sorting outlets (S) a sorting outlet that has a filling level (N) greater than a first threshold (s1) and the longest idle time, and assigning the overbooked sorting destination to that sorting outlet; b) if all of the sorting outlets (S) have filling levels (N) less than said first threshold (s1), identifying from among the sorting outlets the sorting outlet that has the longest idle time, assigning that sorting outlet to said overbooked sorting destination, and indicating that said other sorting destination is a sorting destination to be amalgamated.

Abstract: A method of processing mailpieces for sorting mailpieces into sequence in a sorting machine depending on delivery points of delivery rounds, in which method the mailpieces are grouped together into batches associated with delivery rounds and are sorted as a function of various sorting plans each associated with a respective batch of mailpieces and defining a list of delivery points of delivery rounds, which method includes the following steps, assessing the batches of mailpieces before the machine sorting to detect those that will under-use the sorting capacities; aggregating the batches of mailpieces detected as under-using the capacity so as to constitute aggregated batches of mailpieces; computing an associated sorting plan resulting from the aggregating; feeding each aggregated batch of mailpieces into the postal sorting machine and controlling the sorting of the mailpieces as a function of the sorting plan computed for said aggregated batch of mailpieces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of optimizing a process for handling mail, which method comprises the following steps: subjecting mailpieces to a first machine-sorting cycle in which a plurality of first sorting outlets are allocated to respective ones of a plurality of first delivery destinations having high rates of filling and one other sorting outlet is allocated to second delivery destinations having low rates of filling; directing separators to the first sorting outlets; re-circulating the mailpieces coming from the other sorting outlet; and subjecting them to a second sorting cycle in which the first sorting outlets are allocated to the second delivery destinations. If the sorting outlets use storage bins, at the end of the second sorting cycle, the mailpieces of a first destination and the mailpieces of a second destination are sorted in layers in the same bin by being separated by a separator.

Abstract: In a method of sorting mailpieces in a plurality of sorting passes in a postal sorting machine (10) provided with sorting outlets so as to sequence the mailpieces in the sorting outlets for delivery in the order of a delivery round, delivery points defining the delivery round are grouped together into disjoint subsets of delivery points. For the various sorting passes, the delivery points of each subset are associated every time with a common sorting outlet. Statistical data (11) is retrieved from a memory of the machine, which data is associated with respective ones of said delivery points, and is representative of the volume of mail delivered in association with the delivery point in question, and successive delivery points are grouped together into a common subset of delivery points by taking account of said statistical data associated with said delivery points.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of optimizing a process for handling mail, which method comprises the following steps: subjecting mailpieces to a first machine-sorting cycle in which a plurality of first sorting outlets are allocated to respective ones of a plurality of first delivery destinations having high rates of filling and one other sorting outlet is allocated to second delivery destinations having low rates of filling; directing separators to the first sorting outlets; re-circulating the mailpieces coming from the other sorting outlet; and subjecting them to a second sorting cycle in which the first sorting outlets are allocated to the second delivery destinations. If the sorting outlets use storage bins, at the end of the second sorting cycle, the mailpieces of a first destination and the mailpieces of a second destination are sorted in layers in the same bin by being separated by a separator.

Abstract: In a method of sorting mailpieces in a plurality of sorting passes in a postal sorting machine (10) provided with sorting outlets so as to sequence the mailpieces in the sorting outlets for delivery in the order of a delivery round, delivery points defining the delivery round are grouped together into disjoint subsets of delivery points. For the various sorting passes, the delivery points of each subset are associated every time with a common sorting outlet. Statistical data (11) is retrieved from a memory of the machine, which data is associated with respective ones of said delivery points, and is representative of the volume of mail delivered in association with the delivery point in question, and successive delivery points are grouped together into a common subset of delivery points by taking account of said statistical data associated with said delivery points.

Abstract: In a method of handling mail items in a postal sorting machine, in which method the mail items pass a first time and then a second time through the machine in compliance with a sorting plan, the following steps are performed: during the first sorting pass, and for each current mail item, measuring a physical magnitude specific to the mail item, and determining an expected sequence of mail items for the second sorting pass; and, during the second sorting pass, and for each current mail item, measuring the same physical magnitude once again, and, if it is determined that said current mail item is not the item expected in said sequence, comparing the physical magnitudes as measured for the same mail item respectively during the first pass and during the second pass so as to identify the presence of mail items in multiple takes.

Abstract: In a method of handling mail items in a postal sorting machine, in which method the mail items pass a first time and then a second time through the machine in compliance with a sorting plan, the following steps are performed: during the first sorting pass, and for each current mail item, measuring a physical magnitude specific to the mail item, and determining an expected sequence of mail items for the second sorting pass; and, during the second sorting pass, and for each current mail item, measuring the same physical magnitude once again, and, if it is determined that said current mail item is not the item expected in said sequence, comparing the physical magnitudes as measured for the same mail item respectively during the first pass and during the second pass so as to identify the presence of mail items in multiple takes.