Abstract: A bank note processing apparatus comprises an insert port into which plural sheets of rectangular shaped bank notes having front/back and top/bottom extending in a longitudinal direction, a take-out portion for taking out the bank notes from the insert port with the top or bottom laid ahead one by one, a conveying path which then conveys the bank notes, a detector which detects information relative to the front/back and top/bottom of the bank notes being conveyed, a front/back reversing portion which selectively reverses the front/back of the bank notes based on the result of detection, first and second stackers which stack the selectively reversed bank notes, a sorter which sorts the bank notes being conveyed to the first or second stacker, and first and second banding portions which band the stacked bank notes for every prescribed number of sheets at the same position of one side of the longitudinal direction of the notes.

Abstract: A process for handling articles in the mail order business, particularly soft-good articles and hard-good articles, whereby each article is chaotically entered into a receptacle that holds only one article and this receptacle is incorporated into a commissioning device that has a plurality of receptacles, during which process the identifier of the receptacles and the identifier of the article are married to one another by a computer unit.

Abstract: The sorting machine main body of a sorting machine is a slender machine provided with a chain conveyer along an upper and lower two level endless loop route, and includes an IN side turn back portion, a transfer portion, a sorting portion, an OUT side turn back portion in this order from the IN side. Gathering boxes are provided on both the left and right sides in the advancing direction of the chain conveyer. A plurality of carrier boxes hangs from the chain conveyer. The carrier boxes are thrown with loads at the transfer portion, and are delivered by the chain conveyer and discharges the loads at a predetermined location according to the loads. The belt conveyer conveys the discharged loads to the gathering box.

Abstract: A double separator assembly used for a mail sorting system. A conveyor system facilitates movement of mail items through the double separator assembly. A substantially nonrotatable component is positioned proximate to the conveyor system. A mail driving assembly positioned proximate to the conveyor system if provided upstream from the friction component and in functional relation thereto. The mail driving assembly further includes an idler roller and a force generating device to hold the mail item against the conveyor system. Further disclosed are a mail processing system comprising a double separator, a mail processing method, a mail sensing assembly and method.

Abstract: A system and method for assisting an operator in sorting mail includes a wireless headset equipped with a microphone, and a workstation that includes a processing unit, voice-recognition and voice-synthesis circuitry, and a database. In operation, addressee information spoken into the microphone is transmitted to the workstation where it is used to search the database. Destination information from a matching database record is then output to the operator on one or more of a display terminal, headset speakers, and heads-up display fixed to the headset. The convenience and enhanced capability provided by this system streamlines operator productivity and sorting volume.

Abstract: Bills are loaded into a hopper, separated and moved one at a time passed authentication sensors and an optical scanner. The sensors include a UV scanner, a magnetic sensor, an infrared scanner and a metallic thread detector. A main transport belt cooperates with first and second sensor transport belts to move the bills through the scanning section and into the bill collection section. The bill collection section includes multiple collection bins, each associated with a gate which, when actuated, guides a bill into the bin. A plurality of bill tracking sensors are located along the transport path. Data signals from the authentication sensors and the optical scanner for each bill are digitized and alternately routed to two parallel data processors. The processor outputs and tracking sensor outputs are fed to a control circuit which operates the collection bin gates and regulates the transport mechanism speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for changing the redirecting the path of a flat article transported in an article processing system. A transport including a ramp that can raise the elevation of vertically oriented envelopes from a first level to a second level, and maintaining the alignment and orientation of transported envelopes square with the direction of travel. The transport comprised of nips which act to drive and orient the envelopes in the direction of travel. Sets of these nips comprising a driven roller and an idler roller. The idler roller has a toroidally shaped outer surface biased against the driven roller. The nips operate to allow the transported articles to pivot and maintain alignment in the travel direction as they are driven forward. In an alternative embodiment, the invention can be used to transport horizontal envelopes and alter the path of horizontal envelopes while maintaining the orientation of the envelopes in the direction of travel.

Abstract: A modular document sorting apparatus and method. A plurality of modules are functionally connected to one another to enable them to scan documents for information and sort the documents according to the scanned information. Each module performs at least one function. Functions can include, feeding documents into the apparatus, singulating documents, transporting documents through at least a portion of the apparatus, scanning documents, printing on documents and sorting documents according to scanned information. Each module may be powered by a separate power supply. A single on/off switch can controls a plurality of modules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. The mail is serially fed from a stack of mail into a system transport. The system transport conveys the mail to an imaging station, which scans the mail to obtain image data corresponding to at least a portion of each piece. From the imaging station, the mail is conveyed to a buffer, which selectively maintains the mail while the address printed on the mail is determined. After the address for a piece of mail is determined, the piece is conveyed out of the buffer to a printer, which prints a POSTNET barcode onto the piece. The POSTNET barcode corresponds to the address that was determined for the piece. Optionally, the apparatus may include a labeler for applying a blank label onto the mail, and the POSTNET barcode can then be printed onto the label after it is applied to the mail. After the POSTNET barcode is printed on a piece, it is conveyed past a verifier, which scans the printed POSTNET barcode to ensure that the barcode was printed properly.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing multiple and varied processing and sorting procedures on mixed mailpieces of varied sizes in a single pass is provided. The apparatus further provides a user interface so that as few as a single user can perform the multi-task processing and sorting of mixed and non-machineable mailpieces. Also provided are related methods for performing in a single pass with as few as a single operator multiple processing and sorting steps on mixed mailpieces primarily with the purpose of rehabilitating and improving the characteristics of the mailpieces for the purpose of subsequent high speed processing.

Abstract: A method of sorting and bundling mail for delivery to a plurality of delivery points includes sorting the mail pieces in one or more passes through an automated sorting machine using destination codes associated with the mail pieces that are scanned and stored by a computer so that the mail pieces are ordered such that a final sort to a plurality of locations using at least part of the destination codes will place the mail pieces in delivery order and transferring and feeding the mail pieces to a plurality of bundling machines as a singulated stream and sorting the mail pieces to the bundling machines so that mail pieces having the same destination code are sorted to the same machine where the mail pieces are bundled by destination code for delivery.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for receiving envelopes, or stacker, for a mail handling machine, comprising a conveyor belt arranged at the exit of the mail handling machine, for receiving these envelopes and conveying them perpendicularly to a direction of advance of these envelopes towards an inclined transfer surface from which these envelopes are then directed by guiding means mounted directly at the exit of the inclined transfer surface towards a first post storage bin of standard dimensions disposed beneath the conveyor belt. There is preferably provided, upstream of the conveyor belt, a motorized sorting flap adapted to be switched depending on the format of the franked mail item and which, in a first position, serves as support for the mail item when it is ejected towards the conveyor belt and, in a second position, forms an obstacle to the mail item which then drops loose directly in a second post storage bin disposed just at the exit of the mail handling machine.

Abstract: A method of processing documents of value. The method including detecting a visible pattern on at least one side of a document; detecting the response of at least one side of the document to infrared radiation; comparing the detected visible pattern to one or more predetermined patterns and identifying the document if the detected visible pattern is sufficiently similar to the or one of the predetermined patterns; and determining from the response to infrared radiation if the document is authentic.

Abstract: A method and system for sequencing deliverables using combined delivery codes and partial delivery point bar codes (DPBCs) provides pre-sequencing of deliverables for delivery carriers that has improved ordering with respect to the actual delivery route and accounts for un-coded new delivery points in the ordering process. A partial DPBC field is combined with a delivery code to generate the ordering sequence. The DPBC field is combined by generating delivery sequencing tables having sequence numbers splitting ZIP+4 codes into multiple entries delineated by ranges of the last two digits of the DPBC, that can then be flagged for ascending or descending delivery and assigned unique sequence numbers. The full address of actual delivery points is thereby concealed by the table, while providing more accurate sequencing conforming to actual deliver routes.

Abstract: A mail sequencing system has, its top surface part, a tray storage. A non-standard-size mail supplied from a mail supplying unit is read by a bar code reader. The mail is stacked in a predetermined sorting bin based on the information. A tray onto which the mail is stacked is carried sequentially from the sorting bin to the tray storage and is supplied via a spiral chute to the mail supplying unit again to perform the second sorting. The destination of the mail can be automatically further sorted.

Abstract: A method and system for re-sequencing mail prepared in enhanced carrier route line of travel (ECR-LOT) format into carrier walk sequence (CWS) format within a flat bundle collator (FBC) system. The mail items in LOT are separated into subsets, one subset being in the same order as CWS, and another subset being in reverse order to CWS. All items from all groups are then merged into a stream of items in CWS for delivery by mail carriers.

Abstract: The system of the present invention has as its objective the marking of mailpieces to indicate the origin of the depository. This function is carried out at two levels; in the field, by segregating at the time of collection, and subsequently, via pre-processing in the Post Office where previously segregated items are marked with an identifying code before they are merged with other mail into the normal distribution procedures.

Abstract: A paper sheet processor includes a paper sheet setting portion for setting a plurality of paper sheets approximately uniformed in face-and-back orientation, a feeding section for sequentially introducing the paper sheets set on the paper sheet setting portion one after another, a discriminator for discriminating at least face-and-back orientation of each paper sheet introduced, a first stacker as a main stacker, a second stacker as a sub-stacker having a smaller capacity than that of the first stacker, and a controller for controlling such that the paper sheet first fed and discriminated in face-and-back orientation by the discriminator and any paper sheets subsequently fed and discriminated to have the same face-and-back orientation as that of the first fed paper sheet are stacked in the first stacker, and the other paper sheets discriminated to be different in face-and-back orientation from the first fed paper sheet are stacked in the second stacker.

Abstract: There is described a method of optimizing a mail sorting process having a first and at least a second sorting cycle performed in succession on a sorting machine, which receives a group of mail items at an input and supplies, at its outputs, the mail items identified and separated according to given sorting rules; in a given sorting cycle, the mail items being fed to the outputs of the machine according to a predetermined respective sorting criterion, and then being fed in orderly manner back into the input of the machine for a following sorting cycle; each output of the sorting machine being assigned at least one respective delivery location according to an assignment criterion related to the delivery order of the mail items in the delivery locations.

Abstract: A double separator assembly used for a mail sorting system. A conveyor system facilitates movement of mail items through the double separator assembly. A substantially nonrotatable component is positioned proximate to the conveyor system. A mail driving assembly positioned proximate to the conveyor system if provided downstream from the friction component and in functional relation thereto. The mail driving assembly further includes an idler roller and a force generating device to hold the mail item against the conveyor system. Further disclosed are a mail processing system including a double separator, a mail processing method, a mail sensing assembly and method.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus including a voice recognition system performing a method of processing “return to sender” mailpieces using voice recognition. The operator obtains a “return to sender” mailpiece and determines a sender address segment for identification. The sender address segment is spoken by the operator to the recognition system. The voice recognition software interprets the information and communicates it to recipient matching software. The software narrows the potential sender matches in the mailpiece sorting apparatus addressee database. If a match is made, the operator is prompted to place the mailpiece onto mailpiece sorting apparatus which sends the mailpiece to the proper sort bin based on the identification performed by the matching software.

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: The invention concerns a method for sorting mail items, said sorting being carried out base on characteristics located on the face of the mail items and by a sorting machine which sorts said explored and recognized characteristics. In order to ensure continuous final sorting in a sorting machine whereof the number of separation racks is less than the number of final directions, the input mail items are pre-sorted according to a pre-sorting plan. Simultaneously, final sorting operations are executed on the machine, the pre-sorted mail items being re-inserted in the sorting machine to be subjected therein to a final sorting.

Abstract: A method and system for determining if a mail piece contains a loose particulate matter is disclosed. The mass of each mail piece is determined twice utilizing a vibrating tray scale. During one determination, the mass of everything contained within the mail piece, including any type of loose particulate matter, is included. During the other determination, the mass of any loose particulate matter contained within the mail piece is not included. If the mail piece contains any type of loose particulate matter, there will be a difference in the masses of the mail piece as determined by the vibrating tray scale, indicating the mail piece may contain a lose particulate matter. The mail piece can then be diverted from the normal processing path for further inspection, thereby preventing cross-contamination of other mail pieces and processing equipment.

Abstract: An automatic tray-handling system for use with a mail sorter (26) having a plurality of tray supporters, comprises a transporter (50) having a conveying surface (56) and an insertion/extraction assembly (58); and respective feed (44a, 44b) and discharge conveyors (46a, 46b) adapted to feed empty trays (38) to the transporter conveying surface (56) and receiving at least partially full trays (38) from the transporter conveying surface. The insertion/extraction assembly (58) is adapted to insert empty trays (38) to tray support areas and remove at least partially full trays (38) from tray support areas. The conveying surface operational is adapted to receive empty trays (38) from the feed conveyor (44a, 44b) and at least partially full trays (38) from the insertion/extraction assembly (58). Moreover from the conveying surface empty trays are dischargeable to the insertion/extraction assembly (58) and to the discharge conveyor (46a, 46b).

Abstract: An automatic tray handling system for use with an article or mail sortation system, such as a flats mail sortation system, is operable to automatically remove filled or partially filled trays from individual sorter units and to replenish the sorter units with empty trays. The empty trays and/or filled trays are moved along at least one conveying surface adjacent to the sorter units. The automatic tray handling system includes a plurality of tray moving devices, which are operable to move the empty trays from the conveying surface to the sorter units, whereby the trays are at least partially filled by the sorter units. The tray moving devices are then further operable to move the at least partially filled trays from the sorter units to a conveying surface, whereby the filled trays may be conveyed to downstream operations, such as an automatic labeling station. Preferably, the empty trays are movable in a continuous loop about the mail sortation system.

Abstract: A mail processing machine comprises a first holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of first pages. A card is coupled to each of the first pages, and each first page includes an identifier. A second holding location is adapted to hold a stack of second pages that each have an identifier. A first advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each first page from the stack, and a second advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each second page from the stack. First and second scanning devices read the identifiers on the first and second pages upon their advancement. A controller is configured to control the first and second advancing mechanism to permit the first and second pages to be scanned by the first and second scanners and to match the first pages with the second pages if the identifier on one of the advanced first pages corresponds with the identifier on one of the advanced second pages.

Abstract: A letters/flats transporting, handling, and sorting system is disclosed for handling an initially random mixed input of letters and flats and for sorting the letters and flats into a delivery address sequence for delivery by postal service personnel as a result of only a single pass of the letters and flats through the system. Sequencing modules include loading trays and storage trays. The storage trays represent individual delivery address destinations and are arranged in delivery address sequence. Incoming letter and flat mail is deposited within the loading trays and the loading trays are individually actuated so as to transfer the letter and flat mail pieces into the proper delivery address storage trays whereupon the completion of the processing of an entire batch of incoming mail, all mail will be sorted in delivery address sequence within the storage trays which may then be emptied for ultimate delivery in their address sequence by the postal service personnel.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail in a continuous and automatic procedure includes an operative combination of processing stations including an input station for receiving incoming mail in bulk fashion and for separating the pieces of mail for individual delivery to the remainder of the apparatus a station for detecting irregularities in the contents of the envelopes, such as metal items, folded contents, or oversized items; a station for outsorting envelopes rejected in accordance with determinations made at the detection station; a station for opening the envelopes, preferably along multiple edges; a station for removing the contents from the opened envelopes, for subsequent processing of the contents; and a series of stations for handling and orienting the contents for subsequent delivery to a plurality of output stackers.

Abstract: A bill arranger is provided that includes a loader for loading bills and feeding the bills one by one; a conveyer for conveying the bills fed from the loader; a discriminating device for discriminating the bills conveyed by the conveyer; a plurality of stackers for stacking the bills, which are conveyed by the conveyer, so that the bills can be removed; an operating device for selecting one of sorting process modes which defines a method of sorting the bills loaded in the loader; a controller for delivering the bills, which are fed from the loader, to one of the stackers, by the conveyer, based on the results of the discrimination by the discriminating device, according to the sorting process mode selected by the operating device; and guides, provided in the stackers, which are movable by the weight of the stacked bills delivered into the stackers from the conveyer.

Abstract: The video-coding station for an installation for sorting postal items, in particular packets, steering each packet towards a sorting outlet on the basis of an automatic reading of a postal address (AD) of the packet in a digitized image of the packet, comprises a central processor unit, a screen (EC), and a keyboard (CL), and is programmed so as to display an image (IP) so that a video-coding operator (OV) can perform semi-automatic processing of the reading of the address (AD). The station further comprises a pointing device (JS) for positioning a reticule (RE) on the center of a zone of the image displayed, and a trigger button (BT) for recording the current position of the reticule so that the operator can rapidly identify the location of the postal address (AD).

Abstract: A method for sorting mail to a case having a plurality of slots is described, wherein each slot corresponds to a destination. The method includes steps of loading a mail piece to be sorted into a delivery robot, determining for the mail piece a destination slot the mail piece is to be delivered to, moving the delivery robot along a rail disposed at the front of the case near the slots into proximity with an open end of the destination slot, inserting the mail piece from the delivery robot into the associated slot, and returning the delivery robot to a loading station whereby the cycle may be repeated. Such a method, when using a large number of robots moving along a common rail system, can sort a large volume of mail in carrier delivery order.

Abstract: A mail processing system drop box assembly. The drop box assembly includes a diverter and a sliding board. The sliding board is positioned below the diverter. A top edge of the sliding board is substantially parallel to the bottom edge of the diverter and extends partially to the interior side of the diverter so that a space is left between the sliding board top edge and the diverter bottom edge. The space is of sufficient size to allow a mail item to pass through edgewise. A slide portion of the sliding board section is at an angle greater than 90° to a front portion of the diverter. Mail items are received into the drop box assembly edgewise at an angle to the diverter front portion such that mail items undergo a substantially abrupt directional change substantially stopping forward momentum and thereby falling into the slide in a substantially controlled manner. Further disclosed are a mail processing system and a mail processing method.

Abstract: An article classifying system includes a conveyor 9 for conveying mail pieces 1, a weighing conveyor 18, and a sorting conveyor 26. A length measuring unit 5 measures the length of the mail pieces while they are being conveyed by the conveyor 9. Also, the width and the thickness of the mail pieces are measured by a width measuring unit 4 and a thickness measuring unit 3. The weight of the mail pieces is measured by a weighing unit 6 while the mail pieces are being conveyed on the weighing conveyor 18. Then, a control unit classifies the mail pieces into categories according to their length, width, thickness and weight.

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: This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a method of removing mail from the mail stream using a mail sorting apparatus. The foregoing is accomplished by providing a method that can determine whether mail is wanted or unwanted. Thus, the present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a method of removing unwanted mail from a mail stream using an incoming mail sorting apparatus comprising the steps of: obtaining information from a mailpiece using the mail sorting apparatus; evaluating the information obtained from the mailpiece to determine whether the mailpiece should be delivered; delivering the mailpiece if it is determined that the mailpiece should be delivered to an intended recipient or out-sorting the mailpiece if it is determined that the mailpiece should not be delivered to the intended recipient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. Mail is placed into an input bin having a conveyor that conveys the mail towards a feeder. The feeder serially feeds the envelopes by engaging the lead envelope in the stack of mail and displacing the lead envelope transverse the stack of mail. The mail is fed into a shuttle that vertically displaces the envelopes to position the envelopes for entering a justifier. The justifier justifies the top edge of the envelopes and conveys the envelopes to a cutter that severs the top edge of the envelopes. A transport conveys the envelopes from the top cutter to an extractor. The extractor opens the edge-severed mail and presents the contents of the envelopes to an operator who manually extracts the contents. The transport conveys the empty envelopes from the extractor to a verifier that verifies that all of the contents have been removed from the envelope before the envelope is discarded.

Abstract: A method for sweeping mail pieces from pockets of a sorter including the steps of (1) sorting mail pieces to a plurality of pockets based upon a preselected sorting criteria, (2) positioning an unloading robot adjacent to a selected one of the pockets when the pocket has received a predetermined volume of mail pieces, the robot carrying a tray having upright side walls and bottom wall, (3) engaging the pocket with a sweeping apparatus, (4) removing mail pieces in the pocket with the sweeping apparatus, (5) loading the removed mail pieces into the tray carried by the robot, and (6) carrying the tray containing the removed mail pieces to a destination with the robot. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.

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 method and apparatus for sorting mail to delivery point sequence includes providing a first sortation assembly adapted to performing a first sort pass to mail articles supplied to it and a second sortation assembly adapted to performing a second sort pass to mail articles supplied to it. Mail articles are supplied to the first sortation assembly which identifies the mail articles and performs a first sort pass to sort the mail articles. The mail sorted by the first sortation assembly is conveyed to the second sortation assembly which performs a second sort pass to sort the mail articles to delivery point sequence depth of sort.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a mailpiece sorting and stacking apparatus. The sorting and stacking apparatus has a series of stacking bins. Each stacking bin is designed to include a set of kicker fingers that engage the trailing ends of the mailpieces traveling towards a stop registration wall in each stacking bin. The stop registration wall in combination with the spring force exerted by the kicker fingers against the trailing ends of the mailpiece cause the end of each mailpiece to engage the outside surface of a pressure mailpiece conveying roller. The pressure mailpiece conveying roller is part of the conveying roller assembly leading to the stacking bin. The periphery of the pressure mailpiece conveying roller along with the deflection force against the trailing end of each mailpiece caused by the kicker fingers causes each mailpiece to stack against a pressure paddle inside the stacking bin.

Abstract: A method for reading and sorting documents is provided which generally comprises staging each document for processing, capturing a digital image of the front side and the back side of each document, determining the physical orientation of each document using digital orientation recognition software and possibly hardware, reading the information from a digital image of each document, sorting the documents by orientation, and then communicating the information read from each document to a posting system. Additionally, the image of the document can be automatically oriented and then read. The documents, among other things, can include checks and coupons. When the document is a bank check, the method further comprises endorsing the check, printing an audit trail for the check, sorting the check by orientation, preparing a cash letter and sending the check to the bank.

Abstract: A banknote receiving machine conveys inserted banknotes on a conveying path and corrects their conveying posture by a posture correction device. At the downstream side of the posture correction device, there are sensors provided for detecting features of banknotes from the feature portions of the banknotes. Kinds and directions of the front/back and the top/bottom of banknotes are detected by posture detecting sensors that are provided in front of the posture correction device, acquires correction amounts corresponding to the kinds and the directions of the banknotes from a memory, corrects conveying postures of the banknotes based on correction amounts and brings the feature portions of the banknotes to oppose to the conveying posture correcting sensors.

Abstract: The paper-like material processing apparatus having backups for loading stacked paper-like materials respectively in the two stackers that the stacked paper-like materials on the backups are transferred to one carrier and conveyed to a single banding mechanism, wherein the apparatus has a temporarily holding mechanism for receiving and holding the stacked paper-like materials from the backups when the carrier is in use and a delivery mechanism for transferring the stacked paper-like materials of the temporarily holding mechanism to the carrier and transfers the stacked paper-like materials to the carrier when the carrier becomes usable.

Abstract: A sequential mail sorting system for generating sort sequence codes, interpreting them for the sequential sorting of mail into a mail carrier walk sequence and providing for holdout mail types, which includes reading a sort plan text file for a selected postal delivery zone and determining the number of bins required in the sorting machine, selecting the carriers whose routes are located in such zone, generating sort sequence codes for sorting the mail in a sequential order, and generating sequence codes for holdouts and regular mail types and placing them into a sort plan binary file. The generating of sort sequence codes includes generating and interpreting sort sequence codes for holdout mail types to allow for sorting and removal of holdout mail from the mail sorting stream in the initial sorting pass of a multiple pass sequential mail sort. It also includes such a step which is performed in the final sorting pass.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. The mail is serially fed from a stack of mail into a system transport. The system transport conveys the mail to an imaging station, which scans the mail to obtain image data corresponding to at least a portion of each piece. From the imaging station, the mail is conveyed to a buffer, which selectively maintains the mail while the address printed on the mail is determined. After the address for a piece of mail is determined, the piece is conveyed out of the buffer to a printer, which prints a POSTNET barcode onto the piece. The POSTNET barcode corresponds to the address that was determined for the piece. Optionally, the apparatus may include a labeler for applying a blank label onto the mail, and the POSTNET barcode can then be printed onto the label after it is applied to the mail. After the POSTNET barcode is printed on a piece, it is conveyed past a verifier, which scans the printed POSTNET barcode to ensure that the barcode was printed properly.

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 docking station for a robotic mail tray loading system includes a ground plate that is mounted to the floor of the building in which the robotic mail tray loading system is housed. The ground plate has first and second wheel-retaining recesses that preferably include ramped surfaces to accommodate wheels of mail carts. A plurality of guide plates are positioned to locate one pallet or two mail carts in the docking station at a time. The docking station also includes a plurality of sensors that sense the presence or absence of a pallet or cart in the docking station and that sense the type of cart present at the cart docking station.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for collating a plurality of groups of mail items, such as flats mail, each group being pre-sequenced according to prioritized delivery addresses, into a final sequenced set of the mail items from the groups, utilizing the prioritized delivery addresses. Each bundle of mail items is formed into a single input stream of the individual mail items. The mail items are transported along a conveyor system from the input stream to a staging station. The mail items are sorted at the staging station into a plurality of subsets of mail items re-sequenced as an intermediate step to achieving the final sequenced sets. The mail items are then collated and merged into a single output stream from the respective subsets of mail items in the final sequenced set. Portions of the output stream from the staging station are collected in batches which maintain the sequence consistent with the prioritized delivery order sequence of the mail for a given carrier route.