EP1066886A2 - Postsortiersystem - Google Patents

Postsortiersystem Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1066886A2
EP1066886A2 EP00660122A EP00660122A EP1066886A2 EP 1066886 A2 EP1066886 A2 EP 1066886A2 EP 00660122 A EP00660122 A EP 00660122A EP 00660122 A EP00660122 A EP 00660122A EP 1066886 A2 EP1066886 A2 EP 1066886A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mail
sorting
control device
compartments
indicating means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00660122A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1066886A3 (de
Inventor
Matti Jaurila
Raimo Väisänen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Lakeuden Levytyo Oy
Original Assignee
Lakeuden Levytyo Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lakeuden Levytyo Oy filed Critical Lakeuden Levytyo Oy
Publication of EP1066886A2 publication Critical patent/EP1066886A2/de
Publication of EP1066886A3 publication Critical patent/EP1066886A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C7/00—Sorting by hand only e.g. of mail
    • B07C7/005—Computer assisted manual sorting, e.g. for mail
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
    • B07C3/008—Means for collecting objects, e.g. containers for sorted mail items

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a mail sorting system for sorting mail matter according to the delivery order, the mail sorting system comprising a set of sorting compartments and means for assigning a receiving compartment for mail matter to be delivered to a specific delivery destination.
  • the invention relates to the mail sorting step to be carried out prior to delivery to final addressees.
  • Mail is delivered to final addressees, i.e. to so-called mail delivery destinations according to delivery areas.
  • a delivery area may typically comprise up to 980 delivery destinations.
  • the delivery area is divided up to seven sections of 140 delivery destinations.
  • sorting is carried out at a sorting station with the assistance of a set of mail sorting compartments, i.e. an installation system designed for efficient sorting of mail matter.
  • the set of sorting compartments has a compartment for each delivery destination.
  • the sorting step divides into two parts.
  • the first is a so-called sorting step, in which a bunch of mail sorted according to sections is sorted to compartments to be mail bundles in such a manner that the mail pieces destined for a specific delivery destination are sorted into a postal bundle in the same compartment.
  • the mail bundles sorted into the sorting compartments are arranged in delivery order by collecting them from the sorting compartments, in the delivery order, into so-called bundle containers, from which the mail carrier delivers the mail to the delivery destinations either by van or on foot.
  • both addressed and unaddressed mail pieces are handled and distributed into sorting compartments.
  • the addressed mail matter refers to mail pieces with the address of the receiver being marked on the mail piece.
  • a typical example of the mail piece of this kind is an ordinary letter.
  • the unaddressed mail matter refers to mail pieces, in which delivery address data is not marked directly on the piece or it is missing completely.
  • Unaddressed mail matter typically includes advertising material.
  • Another example could be mail pieces that are delivered to subscribers but the address data is not marked on the mail piece.
  • a mail piece of this kind can be e.g. a periodical which is supplied for bulk delivery accompanied by separate delivery address data.
  • addressed mail matter is sorted into sorting compartments in a sorting step in such a way that an address tag that indicates the delivery address of the delivery destination of each compartment is arranged in the compartments of the set of sorting compartments.
  • the delivery addresses are arranged on the tag in the alphabetical order.
  • Addressed mail matter is sorted into a compartment indicated by the delivery address.
  • the prior art solution employs the following method: an address tag arranged in connection with compartments contains information on which compartments unaddressed mail matter is sorted, or correspondingly, if a section includes delivery destinations which do not wish to receive advertising material, an indication thereof appears on the address tag.
  • Address data of some mail matter may also be supplied as a separate list with the mail bundle.
  • a step of collecting mail pieces into bundle containers, in which the mail bundles are arranged in the delivery order is implemented in such a way that the address tags are turned and on the reverse side thereof appear the collecting order of the mail bundles in the final delivery order according to the delivery destinations.
  • the above prior art mail sorting system and the method of working employed therein have a problem that the sorting of mail matter without the address being marked thereon is slow and sorting errors can readily occur in the sorting step.
  • the reason is that the sorter must constantly read sorting data in the address tag or separate lists.
  • the sorter of the section concerned changes, it takes a relatively long time for a new sorter or a stand-in to become an efficient sorter.
  • the sorter must constantly read the collecting order in the address tags, which is a relatively slow method.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a mail sorting system in such a way that the above-described problems can be solved.
  • a mail sorting system of the type described in the preamble which is characterized in that means to be attached to the mail sorting system comprise an indicating means arranged in each compartment of a set of sorting compartments and a control means controlling the indicating means, in which control means a mail sorting program and delivery order of said mail delivery area are arranged.
  • the invention is based on the idea that, in the mail sorting system, an indicating means and a control means controlling the operation of these indicating means are arranged in connection with each sorting compartment of a set of compartments.
  • the indicating means is preferably a signal light and the control means is preferably a micro-processor-based, programmable device provided with a data communication port, data communication features and a local control panel.
  • the control means controls the operation of the indicating means on the basis of a sorting program stored therein and on the basis of control data supplied to the control device by the sorter.
  • the sorter can supply the control data to the control device by means of both the control panel and a step push button connected to the control device.
  • a mail sorting program and delivery order of a mail delivery area required for mail sorting can preferably be retrieved directly from an address database for the control device via the data communication port.
  • sorting compartments for unaddressed mail matter to be sorted to specific receivers can be indicated by a dynamically controllable indicating means which indicates an active sorting compartment in accordance with a predetermined sorting or collecting program, instead of a method based on text or another static sign, it is possible to enhance and speed up the sorting step while the quality of sorting work is substantially improved. In a corresponding manner it is also possible to indicate the compartments where advertising mail is not desired.
  • An advantageous embodiment of the indicating means is a signal light, such as a LED light. It has a considerable advantage that the marked compartment is well detected visually and it is readily controllable by an electric control signal and it is also reliable due to on/off options of the required signal.
  • the control means controlling the indicating means of the mail sorting system of the invention is preferably a micro-processor-based device which is provided with sufficient memory capacity. Then it is simple to program the control device to control the indicating means on the basis of the control data, stored in the control device, which form the sorting and collecting order.
  • control means comprises control members, by which the sorter can supply control data to the control means.
  • the invention in question preferably employs two different types of control elements.
  • the control device comprises a control panel, through which, in the sorting step, the sorter can select a delivery area to be sorted, a section and a delivery method, which refers to the type of the mail matter to be sorted.
  • the device comprises a step push button which the sorter pushes in the collecting step in order to shift the indicating means to indicate the next mail bundle to be taken down and inserted in a bundle container. This arrangement has an advantage that the device is simple to use and the working step becomes more effective.
  • the control means of the mail sorting system of the invention also comprises data communication elements, i.e. a data communication port and the required software. Through these elements the control data forming the sorting and delivery order of various delivery areas can be stored easily and quickly in the control device and the control device can be connected to a central control system and the databases thereof. Fast programmability and a possibility to use the same distribution workstation for sorting the mail matter of several delivery areas are an advantage of this arrangement.
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a mail sorting station.
  • An installation system which consists of a set of compartments 1 comprising sorting compartments 2 forms the framework of the workstation.
  • One sorting compartment 2 corresponds to one delivery destination, i.e. delivery address.
  • the sorting station is designed for sorting one section of a mail delivery area.
  • the set of sorting compartments 1 is provided with a mail sorting system of the invention comprising indicating means 11, i.e. signal lights, arranged in the sorting compartments, which indicating means are equal in number with the sorting compartments.
  • the indicating means 11 are connected with bus cabling 17 to a control device 12.
  • the control device 12 controls the operation of the indicating means 11.
  • the control device 12 is a micro-processor-based device comprising, in addition to the processor, a memory in which sorting or collecting software required for mail sorting is stored.
  • the control device 12 also comprises an operating panel 13 and a step push button 14, by which the sorter can give control commands to the control device 12, i.e. in practice, control the control device 12 to run the sorting and collecting programs of various delivery areas and sections thereof.
  • the control device 12 also comprises a data communication bus for connecting the control device 12 to a mainframe 16. From the mainframe 16, the sorting and collecting programs of various delivery areas and sections thereof are stored in the memory of the control device 12. Thus, it is possible, in a centralized manner, to program, maintain and distribute directly as files the sorting and collecting programs determined in the databases of the mainframe.
  • the mail sorting system of the invention works as follows:
  • Mail is sorted by a sorter.
  • the sorter works at a sorting station, and if addressed delivery is concerned, the sorter is given for sorting bunches of mail 6 sorted according to sections.
  • the sorter reads the address on a mail piece and inserts the piece in the compartment 2 indicated by the address tag 5.
  • Some of the mail matter is delivered in bunches without the addresses being written on the mail pieces. Delivery data related to these bunches are stored in the memory of the control device 12 and the sorter carries out sorting into receivers' compartments 2 as follows:
  • the sorter selects with keys of the operating panel 13 of the control device 12 the delivery area to be sorted, the section thereof and the delivery method.
  • the delivery method refers to a type of mail matter to be delivered, for instance, a specific magazine.
  • the control device 12 controls the indicating means 11 of the sorting compartments 2 to indicate the compartments 2 into which said mail pieces are inserted.
  • the sorter thus detects the sorting data as visual information, preferably as a signal light, and each compartment receiving said mail matter at the same time.
  • the sorter selects the next delivery method and in a corresponding manner the control device 12 controls the indicating means 11 of the set of sorting compartments receiving those mail pieces to indicate the compartments 2 into which said mail pieces are inserted.
  • delivery instructions i.e. delivery method
  • stored in the control device 12 can be used to control the indicating means 11 in such a way that the indicating means 11 indicate, into which sorting compartments 2 certain mail matter, such as advertising mail, is not desired.
  • the above-described operating model, in which the sorter selects the delivery method is repeated for all delivery methods.
  • the process proceeds to a collecting step.
  • the sorter collects the mail bundles 3 accrued in the sorting compartments during the sorting step into bundle containers 4, in which the sorted mail is transported to be distributed to delivery destinations.
  • the sorter starts the collecting step by lightly pressing the step push button 14.
  • the control device 12 starts the collecting program of the section and indicates one compartment 2 at a time the collecting order according to the delivery destinations of the section.
  • the indicating means 11 of the sorting compartment 2 controlled by the control device 12 indicates the sorting compartment 2 of the first postal bundle 3 to be taken down and collected into the bundle container 4.
  • the indicating means 11 of the sorting compartment 2 controlled by the control device 12 indicates the sorting compartment 2 of the second postal bundle 3 to be taken down and collected into the bundle container 4 and the same procedure is continued until the collecting program is completed and the whole section is collected into the bundle container 4. If the button is erroneously pushed and several compartments 2 are stepped over, a reversing step is carried out by pushing the step push button longer, for about 2 seconds, whereby the control device 12 shifts the indicating means one step backwards.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
EP00660122A 1999-07-05 2000-07-04 Postsortiersystem Withdrawn EP1066886A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI991532A FI991532A (fi) 1999-07-05 1999-07-05 Postinlajittelujärjestelmä
FI991532 1999-07-05

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1066886A2 true EP1066886A2 (de) 2001-01-10
EP1066886A3 EP1066886A3 (de) 2004-06-16

Family

ID=8555020

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00660122A Withdrawn EP1066886A3 (de) 1999-07-05 2000-07-04 Postsortiersystem

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1066886A3 (de)
EE (1) EE200000297A (de)
FI (1) FI991532A (de)
NO (1) NO20003446L (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10216336A1 (de) * 2002-04-13 2003-11-06 Siemens Ag Verfahren zum Verteilen von Massensendungen
WO2005053864A1 (de) * 2003-12-06 2005-06-16 Siemens Schweiz Ag Verfahren zum sortieren von adressierten und unadressierten poststüken
WO2006088346A1 (en) * 2005-02-16 2006-08-24 Koninklijke Tpg Post B.V. Sorting center and method for sorting and combining mail and a sorting cabinet and buffer assembly for use therein
EP1755795A2 (de) * 2004-04-15 2007-02-28 United States Postal Service Verfahren und systeme zum sortieren von nicht adressiertem gut
NO338215B1 (no) * 2003-10-31 2016-08-08 Northrop Grumman Systems Corp System og fremgangsmåte for leveringsstedsavhengig pakking

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN106984551A (zh) * 2017-03-28 2017-07-28 顺丰科技有限公司 无线分拣指示装置、无线分拣指示***及其方法

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2230235A1 (de) * 1972-06-21 1974-01-10 Daimler Benz Ag Verfahren und vorrichtung zum verteilen von informationsblaettern
US4181948A (en) * 1977-06-06 1980-01-01 Electronic Data Systems Corporation Computer directed manual sorting aid
US5794789A (en) * 1995-12-13 1998-08-18 Payson; William H. Semi-automated integrated sort system
EP0928641A1 (de) * 1998-01-12 1999-07-14 Neopost Industrie Vorrichtung zur Unterstützung der Handsortierung von Postartikeln

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2230235A1 (de) * 1972-06-21 1974-01-10 Daimler Benz Ag Verfahren und vorrichtung zum verteilen von informationsblaettern
US4181948A (en) * 1977-06-06 1980-01-01 Electronic Data Systems Corporation Computer directed manual sorting aid
US5794789A (en) * 1995-12-13 1998-08-18 Payson; William H. Semi-automated integrated sort system
EP0928641A1 (de) * 1998-01-12 1999-07-14 Neopost Industrie Vorrichtung zur Unterstützung der Handsortierung von Postartikeln

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10216336A1 (de) * 2002-04-13 2003-11-06 Siemens Ag Verfahren zum Verteilen von Massensendungen
NO338215B1 (no) * 2003-10-31 2016-08-08 Northrop Grumman Systems Corp System og fremgangsmåte for leveringsstedsavhengig pakking
WO2005053864A1 (de) * 2003-12-06 2005-06-16 Siemens Schweiz Ag Verfahren zum sortieren von adressierten und unadressierten poststüken
EP1755795A2 (de) * 2004-04-15 2007-02-28 United States Postal Service Verfahren und systeme zum sortieren von nicht adressiertem gut
EP1755795A4 (de) * 2004-04-15 2008-10-15 Us Postal Service Verfahren und systeme zum sortieren von nicht adressiertem gut
US7622692B2 (en) 2004-04-15 2009-11-24 United States Postal Service Methods and systems for sorting unaddressed items
US8078313B2 (en) 2004-04-15 2011-12-13 United States Postal Service Methods and systems for sorting unaddressed items
WO2006088346A1 (en) * 2005-02-16 2006-08-24 Koninklijke Tpg Post B.V. Sorting center and method for sorting and combining mail and a sorting cabinet and buffer assembly for use therein

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1066886A3 (de) 2004-06-16
NO20003446L (no) 2001-01-08
EE200000297A (et) 2001-02-15
FI991532A (fi) 2001-01-06
NO20003446D0 (no) 2000-07-03

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