Abstract: A universal postal code system in which mail piece delivery address information is associated with a universal postal code affixed to a mail piece. As part of the association process, the delivery address information can be verified and formatted according to postal authority standards to help ensure reliable and efficient delivery. The universal postal codes are reusable after completion of delivery by reassigning a universal postal code to a new recipient. The universal postal codes permit mailing of a mail piece without having any human readable delivery or return address information visible on the mail piece. Universal postal codes can be used for military mail systems and systems requiring anonymous mailing. Universal postal codes can also be used for automatic tabulation of votes while maintaining voter anonymity.

Abstract: A method for seasoning a chamber and depositing a low dielectric constant layer on a substrate in the chamber is provided. In one aspect, the method includes seasoning the chamber with a first mixture comprising one or more organosilicon compounds and one or more oxidizing gases and depositing a low dielectric constant layer on a substrate in the chamber from a second mixture comprising one or more organosilicon compounds and one or more oxidizing gases, wherein a ratio of the total flow rate of the organosilicon compounds to the total flow rate of the oxidizing gases in the first mixture is lower than the total flow rate of the organosilicon compounds to the total flow rate of the oxidizing gases in the second mixture.

Abstract: A sheet is placed on a sheet feed unit. A main-scanning sensor detects first detection information for identifying a sheet size in a main-scanning direction and a sub-scanning sensor detects second detection information for identifying a sheet size in a sub-scanning direction. A sheet sensor detects presence of the sheet on the sheet feed unit. It is monitored whether the sheet sensor has detected a sheet and a timer starts counting a first elapsed time from a time point at which the sheet sensor detects a sheet. A size identifying unit identifies, when the first elapsed time exceeds a first predetermined set time, a sheet size based on the first and the second detection information.

Abstract: A parts production management system includes: a first table in which a line cycle number representing a line cycle that is a process unit for processing a group of parts and a parent lot number of a part input for being processed in a line cycle represented by the line cycle number are stored while being linked together; a second table in which the line cycle number and a child lot number of a part processed in the line cycle represented by the line cycle number are stored while being linked together; and a lot linking unit that stores a line cycle number of a line cycle for processing a parent lot and a parent lot number in the first table while being linked together when the parent lot is input to a production line and stores a line cycle number of a line cycle that has processed a child lot and the child lot number while being linked together when a process in the production line is completed and the child lot is output from the production line.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of systems and methods for receiving shipment parcels at materials handling facilities. A parcel receiving system has an imaging tunnel through which shipment parcels received at a materials handling facility are passed. While a shipment parcel is passing through the imaging tunnel, a camera captures at least one image of the parcel. The parcel image is electronically analyzed to discover various tracking information and to detect various types of exceptions, such as damage to the parcel or defective tracking information. In addition, the captured image is stored in order to create a visual record of the parcel at the time of reception. This record may be used in a variety of ways, such as resolving or tracking exceptions or providing feedback to the vendor or shipment carrier. In addition, the parcel image may be viewed by a user to enable the user to detect and/or resolve an exception.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of systems and methods for receiving shipment parcels at materials handling facilities. A parcel receiving system has an imaging tunnel through which shipment parcels received at a materials handling facility are passed. While a shipment parcel is passing through the imaging tunnel, a camera captures at least one image of the parcel. The parcel image is electronically analyzed to discover various tracking information and to detect various types of exceptions, such as damage to the parcel or defective tracking information. In addition, the captured image is stored in order to create a visual record of the parcel at the time of reception. This record may be used in a variety of ways, such as resolving or tracking exceptions or providing feedback to the vendor or shipment carrier. In addition, the parcel image may be viewed by a user to enable the user to detect and/or resolve an exception.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring work flow of a resource is disclosed. The method accounts for the expected work flow of the resource in determining the location of the resource as well as dwell times at each work zone. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by determining if subsequent work zones sequentially follows the first work zone in the expected sequence of work zones.

Abstract: Apparatus for RFID tagging of packages is provided, including a conveyor, along which tags having microchips and antennae are applied to packages, with the tags being encoded via radio waves, to contain information about packaged identification and other information, with the encoding being done upstream of a palletizer system, and with the palletizer system being provided for receiving encoded packages from the conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor system comprising an electronic control which provides a plurality of local material flow controls and a material flow monitoring system. The local material flow controls are associated with respective individual branch points in the conveyor system and calculate for every item conveyed, upon its arrival in the area of the branch point, the conveyor path towards the respective desired destination while taking into consideration possible disturbances of individual conveyor sections. The local material flow controls are provided with information on possible disturbances via a corresponding transmitting facility of the material flow monitoring system in the fashion of radio messages broadcast across the conveyor system.

Abstract: Today, high density mailings such as “marriage mail,” Advo type advertisements, saturation mail, periodicals, and catalogs often require manual handling by the postal authority. Other than saturation mailings, where every carrier stop gets the same article, these items must be addressed. Verification of production is often desired due to spoilage and damage during production, which requires rework by the mailer. The addition of a data controlled mail collation feeder to existing or new Postal Authority automation equipment or the like eliminates the need to manually handle these difficult mail types and eliminates the need to address specific items. The manual casing at the delivery is eliminated. The data processing system that controls the data controlled mail collation feeder will also perform delivery confirmation and may assess postage due.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automation system with a control unit, to which at least one sensor or actuator is connected. To connect it to the control unit, the sensor or actuator is connected to the connector which features an RFID chip with relevant data of the sensor or actuator. The data for use in the control unit can be read out by means of a reader.

Abstract: A method and system for efficient package delivery in bulk to pickup locations for recipients in which items ordered by different customers from one or more different retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, and the like can be sorted within and picked from an on-hand inventory at a distribution center and packed into a package for delivery to a specific pickup location for a specific recipient. A replenishment order for items to replace the on-hand inventory at the distribution center can be made to a fulfillment location to maintain inventory levels defined for an item at a distribution center. The items to replenish the on-hand inventory at the distribution center can be shipped in bulk from a fulfillment location in containers organized by item identifier. The items can be sorted at a different distribution center, still organized within containers of all the same item identifier, to reach the distribution center placing the replenishment order for the items.

Abstract: The described embodiments involve the use of an information medium, such as a Barcode, Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) tag or other machine readable medium, such as may be readable by Optical Character Recognition (OCR), to identify a manufactured item. Alternatively, a Machine Vision Identification System (MVIS) may be used to facilitate the identification of the item. Once an item is identified, the materials and subassemblies it is made of may also be identified and used to facilitate its repair, replacement, refurbishment, remarketing and recycling by either a human or robotic device or combination thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of using same is provided which includes the use of an apparatus configured to scan and apply labels to parcels moving along a conveyor belt. The apparatus of the present invention includes first and second adjacent conveyors positioned with a gap there between, the gap being sufficiently narrow to allow passage of parcels from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. Parcels crossing the gap are exposed to a reading device having a reading axis passing upwardly through the gap to read indicia. The labels, which are scanned and decoded, provide information which is subsequently sent to a printing device which prints a “second” label which is blown or otherwise transferred to a second side of the parcel. The parcel then exits the second conveyor to be sorted downstream by use of the second label.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for generating an identifier for guiding the transport of a return product during shipment from an end user to one or more processing or collection centers, wherein the identification is suitable for use during transport in a number of countries or by means of a number of transport organizations each utilizing their own identification system, including means for generating an identifier comprising: first, identification data for identifying of the product by the transport organization during transport, and second, identification data for identifying the return product during storage and/or processing.

Abstract: The invention seeks to improve the effectiveness of sortation and delivery point processing of military mail on behalf of the U.S. military.

Abstract: Disclosed is an installation for sorting incoming mailings which are assigned to a first plurality of first preselected directions or a second plurality of second remaining sorting directions, according to which the mailings are distributed to receptacles of a track, each mailing being deposited into one of several first receptacles for the first plurality of first preselected sorting directions or into at least one of the other receptacles for the second plurality of second remaining sorting directions. At least one external receptacle from an additional track is replaced with a receptacle from one of the preselected first sorting directions of the track via an interface at least during one passage of the track, the additional track is used as a storage device for the receptacles, and replaced receptacles can be redirected to the respective track thereof via the interface.

Abstract: Objects to be transported which are transported between at least one storage unit and a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses by a plurality of transport vehicles in accordance with a command of a controller are managed inexpensively and easily and with high reliability. An ID card 20 incorporating a wireless communication function is installed on all carriers 18, and an ID read/write unit 25 is installed in some transport vehicles 10. Further, a carrier ID is read or written with respect to the ID card 20 in accordance with a command of an MCS 4 connected to the ID read/write unit 25, so as to manage the carrier ID by a carrier ID management unit 4a.

Abstract: A targeted product distribution system is described herein with respect to an exemplary management of product flow through a distribution center. Specifically, the system and method described herein is directed to the management and display of direct and easily-understood instructions, such that average individuals, as well as those with mental disabilities, will be able to contribute equally to the overall process.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for categorizing airline passengers traveling with and without baggage and unbundling the baggage costs associated with the airfare to encourage separate parcel service use. In one embodiment, based on information from an online booking system, the traveler is allowed to choose from a variety of options addressing modes of baggage handling, and an online routine determines the associated costs for the options chosen, providing travel rates that vary from the typical base airfare.

Abstract: A document discarding apparatus includes: a metal detector that detects presence or absence of a metal embedded in a document; a code reader that reads a code; an instruction accept portion that accepts an instruction to discard the document; a document discarding portion that discards the document; a first determining unit that, according to the presence or absence of the metal, determines whether the document may be discarded in the document discarding portion; a second determining unit that, according to the code, determines whether the document may be discarded in the document discarding portion; and a document discarding control unit that, when the instruction accept portion accepts an instruction to discard the document, on condition that the first determining unit and the second determining unit both determine that the document can be discarded in the document discarding portion, controls the document discarding portion to discard the document.

Abstract: An exemplary method for processing mailpieces is adapted to be performed in a data network having a plurality of first processing units situated in at least two mail processing centers, the plurality of first processing units having a first functionality, and having at least one second processing unit having a second functionality, the plurality of first processing units and the at least one second processing unit being connected to each other within the data network, wherein images of at least one surface of the mailpieces have been recorded, and wherein mailing data associated with the mailpieces has been ascertained on the basis of the recorded images.

Abstract: A targeted product distribution system is described herein with respect to an exemplary management of product flow through a distribution center. Specifically, the system and method described herein is directed to the management and display of direct and easily-understood instructions, such that average individuals, as well as those with mental disabilities, will be able to contribute equally to the overall process.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to systems and methods for improving a sort plan. According to one embodiment, several groups are formed where each group contains articles having an identifier of a hierarchical structure. In certain embodiments, the identifier may include a geographical indication, such as a postal or ZIP code. Further aspects relate to systems and methods for conducting sort plan optimization where at least some prior data is known or otherwise obtainable. In one embodiment, data relating to the quantity of groups within the sort plan, the quantity of articles associated with each identifier, and/or the quantity of articles within each group may be estimated or known. In certain embodiments, such data may be utilized to assign articles to specific bins, including any available bin, and then optimize the sort plan by selecting at least one bin for improvement.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for tracking the location of one or more assets, comprising an integrated system that identifies an asset, determines the time the asset is acquired by a conveying vehicle, determines the position, elevation and orientation of the asset at the moment it is acquired, determines the time the asset is deposited by the conveying vehicle, and determines the position, elevation and orientation of the asset at the time the asset is deposited, each position, elevation and orientation being relative to a reference plane. Mobile subsystems, each on a conveying vehicle, identify the location and orientation of that conveying vehicle using an optical position sensor unit viewing an array of optical position markers, determine the identity of the asset from a label, confirm acquisition of the asset, determine the elevation of the asset relative to the reference plane and communicate the tracking information to a fixed-base subsystem.

Abstract: A battery transfer and charging system for electric vehicles is described. A station removes one or more spent batteries of electric vehicles having multiple batteries. The receiving system includes an engagement device for engaging with engagement structures of the batteries, in order to assist the removal of spent batteries. Spent batteries removed from vehicles may be tested and charged as they progress through the system in an assembly-line fashion. Following recharge, batteries may be transferred to the displacement station for installation within later vehicles. Batteries which cannot adequately be recharged can be automatically removed from the system.

Abstract: The present invention has a communication connection means (21) which mutually connects communicatably control units (Ca, Cb) for individually controlling operations of robots (Ra, Rb) to constitute a network, input means (37a, 37b) which are respectively installed in the control units and input operation instructions of the robots, and timing signal generation means (69a, 69b). The control units are selectively set to any one of an independent function execution mode, a master function execution mode, and a slave function execution mode, and among the control units, the control unit (Ca) to perform a master operation is set to the master function execution mode, and the residual control unit (Cb) is set to the slave function execution mode, and by correcting a minimum interruption period (Ts(b)) of the slave side control unit (Cb), a control time (ta11, ta12, ta13) to the master robot (Ra) of the master side control unit (Ca) is delayed by a predetermined time (T) to perform the cooperative operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods, and computer program products for altering delivery of a piece by altering either the delivery address, mode of processing, and/or the mode of delivery. The invention provide an indicia associated with the piece of mail including instructions that are at least one of a different delivery address, mode of processing, or a mode of delivery than that originally designated for the piece of mail. During mail sorting and processing, the indicia associated with the piece of mail are analyzed. Either the delivery address, mode of processing, and/or mode of delivery currently associated with the piece of mail are altered to conform with the delivery address, mode of processing, and/or mode of delivery indicated by the indicia. In some embodiments, the indicia is altered by on a business parameter, such as a monetary value associated with the contents of the piece of mail.

Abstract: A computer-based baggage transportation system includes a client computer and an attendant. The client computer is coupled via a network to a server computer and is configured to check in baggage and passengers from a property that is remote from a common carrier departure location. The attendant is cross-utilized with the remote property. That is, the attendant performs remote common carrier check-in services as well as remote property services. The attendant has met federal agency approval standards for common carrier check-in services.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for updating address information and using document processing equipment to print delivery point information, including a barcode or readable text, on mail pieces. The address data is processed and updated by a service provider or by an address service provider. When the mailpieces are processed on document processing equipment, the printed address data is compared with an updated address data record to retrieve the updated address and apply the correct delivery point information. The delivery point information representing the most current and accurate address for the addressee of the mail piece.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for mail item processing within a mail sort environment. In particular, a method and system are provided for allowing different mail sort schemes that share common sort parameters to be referenced to one another in a mail sort environment. There is further provided a method and system to permit mail sort parameter changes as applied to one sort scheme to be readily reflected in any other sort schemes that share the same sort parameters.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the management of books returned by patrons in a library or similar setting are disclosed. In various aspects, apparatus for receiving a book from a patron, conveying the book, and placing the book onto a book collector in a near vertical orientation as well as associated methods are disclosed.

Abstract: In some example, a computerized method includes sorting mail, wherein sorting mail for a mail piece comprises reading an encoded value located on the mail piece. Sorting the mail also includes decoding the encoded value to determine an identification of a class of the mail piece and an identification of a service type of the mail piece. Sorting the mail includes performing the following operation in response to determining that the mail piece is undeliverable as addressed: performing final disposition of the mail piece using at least one of the identification of the class of the mail piece or the identification of the service type of the mail piece derived from the encoded value, in response to a determination that the mail piece is an actual undeliverable as addressed mail piece.

Abstract: A pharmacy medication verification system is particularly useful for verifying medications to be dispensed to hospital patients while minimizing or eliminating verification by a pharmacist. Typically, a technician or robot picks the medications from storage bins in accordance with a medical prescription or stocking order and uses various sensors to ensure that the correct medication was picked and enters a medication container. The system typically provides correct and incorrect medication indicators as well as correct and incorrect entry indicators. Error reports may be generated when appropriate to communicate any relevant errors to the pharmacist, who can then verify that the correct medications are in the container. In one aspect, the containers are in the form of patient drawers which fit within a cart for delivery to hospital rooms. A containment device may be used to secure the drawer or other container during the verification process.

Abstract: An information processing device (central apparatus (2)) in a sensor network system is arranged so as to include an input-output processing section (101); an information converting section (103) and a resource specification information recognizing section (104) for dividing target information which is requested with the information request signal into a combination of information elements which appropriately compose the target information; a data acquiring section (107) for acquiring data of sensing results; and an input-output processing section (101) for outputting information based on the data acquired by said data acquiring section.

Abstract: A method and a device teach transporting a plurality of articles to destinations. Each article for transportation is provided with an identification of a destination and is transported to a destination. Each specified change in destination determines a destination that differs from the destination. The transportation is carried out using at least one display device. The display device displays each specified change in destination during the transportation. For each of the articles for transportation it is ascertained with which destination identification this article is provided. A check is made as to whether the display device is displaying a change in destination for this destination. If the display device displays a change in destination for this destination the article is transported to the destination whose determination the display device displays. Otherwise the article is transported to the destination with whose identification it is provided.

Abstract: A document processing device having an evaluation region disposed along a transport path between an input and output receptacle capable of processing both currency bills and identification cards. An evaluation unit enables entry of source identification information before or after processing currency bills. Memory is adapted to store source identification information for multiple batches of currency. Multiple batches are placed in the processing device for multiple batch processing. The evaluation region includes detectors for detecting predetermined characteristics of currency bills and distinguishing identification cards from currency. During processing, the identification card, or other separator card, is sent to a predetermined output receptacle designated as a reject receptacle. Currency that is rejected is sent to the reject receptacle. Rejected currency is separated into batches by the identification cards sent to the reject receptacle during processing.

Abstract: A device for automating a chain for distributing meal trays includes a plurality of trays (11) each of which is provided with identification elements, a plurality of carriages (200), a tray conveying chain (150) used for providing the trays with meal components and a computer system for assigning the trays to carriages in such a way that each tray is transported to the destination thereof by the carriage. In a preferred embodiment, the computer system is designed in such a way that it makes it possible to select the tray contents of a sequence of trays addressed to the same recipient service. In the preferred embodiment, each tray identification elements is provided with an electronic label, for example a RFID label, a radiofrequency identification or a rewritable memory.

Abstract: An object management apparatus is provided which can reliably and easily perform a confirmation operation of necessary objects depending on a destination when a vehicle travels. The object management apparatus comprises an object database for storing therein a list of necessary objects depending on the destination, a navigation device for setting a destination for travel of the vehicle, an object detector for detecting objects present in the vehicle, a missing-object determination section for comparing the actually detected objects with the list of the necessary objects corresponding to the destination to determine whether any object included in the list is missing or not, and a notification section for providing a notice when an object is missing.

Abstract: A system for buffering articles in transport is provided. The system comprises a buffer module configured to buffer articles and a computing system. The buffer module includes a first conveyor configured to transport the articles and a transference node configured to transfer the articles between the first conveyor and an external location. The computing system is configured to maintain an inventory list including a present location of each of the articles buffered by the buffer module. The computing system is further configured to control operation of the buffer module to transfer a selected article among the buffered articles to the external location.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling transportation of objects provided with machine-readable codes to specified distribution points by means of a transport vehicle includes a reading device and a determination unit. The transport vehicle has a rack module for accommodating the objects, wherein the rack module has a plurality of levels. The reading device is configured to automatically read the respective code of an object transported past the reading device, and to determine the rack level on which this object is located. The determination unit processes the codes to determine which object is to be unloaded at which distribution point, and includes an evaluation unit to automatically determine for each distribution point the position of each object to be unloaded at this distribution point in the rack module depending on a sequence of the reading of the code and the rack level in which the object is located.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of processing substrates is provided that includes (1) grouping substrates in a plurality of substrate carriers as a logical lot; (2) processing the logical lot as if the substrates were stored in a single substrate carrier; and (3) performing metrology on a representative subset of substrates in the logical lot. Numerous other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A method of processing postal items in a postal sorting machine for preparing delivery rounds in a plurality of sorting passes (typically two sorting passes) includes a step that is performed during a sorting pass and for each current item, said step consisting in monitoring (31, 33, 35, 37, 38, 39) data representative of an order number or rank allocated to the distribution point corresponding to the current postal item in a predetermined sequence of distribution points to be run through this sorting pass in order to prepare each delivery round, the monitoring consisting in observing how rank varies for successive postal items in order to detect any difference relative to said predetermined sequence. In response to detecting such a difference for a current item, said current item is put back into circulation through the machine in order to delay its sorting and thus recreate the expected sequence.

Abstract: System and method for creating response pieces. The response piece system authenticates a user, generates a standardized address based on address code information received from the user, and generates a response piece mailpiece based on the standardized address and the information received from the user. In additional embodiments, including an embodiment for prepaid response pieces, the response piece system generates a response piece permit based on permit information received from the user, generates a unique address code based on address code information received from the user, received payment of an identified fee, and generates the response piece mailpiece based on the permit and the unique address code.

Abstract: In a communications network, such as the Internet system and method for arranging the transportation of baggage for airline passengers. Flight information and baggage information from a user is received via the communications network. Typically this is accomplished via a combination of information capture from an online travel provider (e.g., airline) and user input at a Web page. The baggage to be transported is identified and transported from an origin airport to a destination airport. The baggage is delivered to the user specified destination location. The method may further comprise collecting the baggage from an origin location other than the origin airport (e.g., residence, office, hotel, etc.). Travelers may access updated information concerning the location of their baggage from a desktop or laptop computer, a hand-held communication device, a cellular telephone with Internet access, or other suitable communications device.

Abstract: Method and system for tracking packages including readable indicia in a movable cargo container includes mounting at least one scanner to an interior surface of the container capable of reading the indicia on, in or associated with the packages, operatively reading the indicia from the packages, converting the read indicia into an identification of the packages, and transmitting the package identifications to a remote facility. Each scanner may be controlled to read the indicia at predetermined times, upon command from the remote facility or upon detection of an event which could result in a change in the contents of the container. A positioning system may be arranged on the container to determine its location and the location of the container transmitted with the package identifications. This provides an entity managing the delivery or transport of the packages with an efficient way to track its package in real-time.

Abstract: A container seal device is provided that comprises a seal device for a shipping container, comprising a first unit that is affixed to a shipping container. A control system is contained in the first unit containing a control system. A second unit is provided that is configured to engage with an element of a door of a shipping container to which the first unit is affixed and to electrically connect with the control system in the first unit. The control system in the first unit is configured to detect a breach of the second unit indicative of access being made to the shipping container.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting information associated with warewashing activities is disclosed. Articles to be cleaned by a warewasher are placed in racks designed to fit inside a wash chamber of the warewasher. Each rack is assigned a unique identifier (ID). No two racks are associated with the same unique ID. An Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) tag is embedded within or placed on the outer shell of each rack. The RFID tag of a rack is programmed with the unique ID assigned to the rack. An RFID reader reads the unique ID of each rack as the racks are placed into the warewasher. The RFID reader transmits the unique ID to a host computer where the unique ID is stamped with a time reference, stored and eventually uploaded to a server computer. The unique ID and associated time reference are analyzed by the server computer, the host computer or a client computer connected to the server computer in order to monitor performance of the warewasher.

Abstract: A sorting system may include a sorting apparatus coupled to a programmable control system which is configured to actuate the sorting apparatus so that it assembles similar products for packaging in an arbitrary, user imposed order or selection bias. In preferred implementations, a user may activate a biasing protocol pursuant to which items bearing certain images appear with a disproportionate frequency on the top of a stack of items such that the selected images are the most common images viewable through a transparent product packaging. In certain implementations, empirical sales data is used to determine weighting factors used in the biasing protocol. In still other implementations, a more specific ordering protocol is imposed by a user such that some or all of the sequence of items in a stack or collection is arbitrarily imposed.

Abstract: Systems and method of identifying shipping anomalies are provided. One anomaly detection module is configured to access data related to items in a delivery environment and determine the occurrence of anomalies based on the accessed data. The detected anomalies are evaluated with other accessed data to identify source, destination or routing errors and to correct same.