Method and system for delivery point multiplication
View Patent ↗System, methods, and computer-readable media. A method performed by a mail sorting machine includes receiving a plurality of mailpieces in an input of the mail sorting machine and sorting the mailpieces into a plurality of sequencing groups. The method includes storing a first subset of the mailpieces in each sequencing group. The method includes sorting a second subset of the mailpieces in each sequencing group to a plurality of outlets, where storing the first subset and sorting the second subset are performed for each sequencing group by processing each sequentially in a group order. The method includes sorting the stored first subset mailpieces to the plurality of outlets.
1. A method performed by a mail sorting machine, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of mailpieces in an input of the mail sorting machine;
sorting the mailpieces into a plurality of sequencing groups, each sequencing group includes a sequence of a first subset of odd numbered mailpieces of the plurality of mailpieces and a second subset of even numbered mailpieces of the plurality of mailpieces;
storing the second subset of even numbered mailpieces in each sequencing group;
sorting the first subset of odd numbered mailpieces in each sequencing group to a plurality of outlets, wherein storing the second subset and sorting the first subset are performed for each sequencing group by processing each sequentially in a group order; and
sorting the stored second subset mailpieces to the plurality of outlets.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second subset of mailpieces from each group are stored together in a buffer according to the group order.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mailpieces in the outlets are sorted in a destination sort order.
4. A mail sorting machine, comprising:
at least one controller;
a feeder configured to receive a plurality of mailpieces; and
a plurality of outlets; the mail sorting machine configured to
sort the mailpieces into a plurality of sequencing groups, each sequencing group includes a sequence of a first subset of odd numbered mailpieces of the plurality of mailpieces and a second subset of even numbered mailpieces of the plurality of mailpieces;
store the second subset of even numbered mailpieces in each sequencing group in a buffer feeder;
sort the first subset of odd numbered mailpieces in each sequencing group to the plurality of outlets, wherein storing the second subset and sorting the first subset are performed for each sequencing group by processing each sequentially in a group order; and
sort the stored second subset mailpieces from the buffer feeder to the plurality of outlets.
5. The mail sorting machine of claim 4 , further comprising a diverter gate configured to divert the second subset of the mailpieces in each sequencing group to the buffer feeder.
6. The mail sorting machine of claim 4 , wherein the buffer feeder is configured to singulate the stored second subset of the mailpieces and transfer the singulated mailpieces to a primary transport path of the mail sorting machine.
7. A mail sorting machine, comprising:
at least one controller;
a feeder configured to receive a plurality of mailpieces; and
a plurality of outlets; the mail sorting machine configured to
sort the mailpieces into a plurality of sequencing groups;
store a first subset of the mailpieces in each sequencing group in a buffer feeder;
sort a second subset of the mailpieces in each sequencing group to the plurality of outlets, wherein storing the first subset and sorting the second subset are performed for each sequencing group by processing each sequentially in a group order; and
sort the stored first subset mailpieces from the buffer feeder to the plurality of outlets, wherein the buffer feeder has a buffer capacity C calculated according to
C
=
(
V
g
2
)
(
1
L
)
where Vg represents a total expected volume of the mailpieces and L represents a number of buffer splits L.
8. The mail sorting machine of claim 7 , further comprising a diverter gate configured to divert the first subset of the mailpieces in each sequencing group to the buffer feeder.
9. The mail sorting machine of claim 7 , wherein the buffer feeder is configured to singulate the stored first subset of the mailpieces and transfer the singulated mailpieces to a primary transport path of the mail sorting machine.
10. A non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions stored thereon executable by one or more processors to control the operation of a mail sorting machine, the mail sorting machine having at least a controller and a plurality of outlets, wherein the instructions cause the mail sorting machine to:
receive a plurality of mailpieces in an input of the mail sorting machine;
sort the mailpieces into a plurality of sequencing groups, each sequencing group includes a sequence of a first subset of odd numbered mailpieces of the plurality of mailpieces and a second subset of even numbered mailpieces of the plurality of mailpieces;
store the second subset of even numbered mailpieces in each sequencing group;
sort the first subset of odd numbered mailpieces in each sequencing group to the plurality of outlets, wherein storing the second subset and sorting the first subset are performed for each sequencing group by processing each sequentially in a group order; and
sort the stored second subset mailpieces to the plurality of outlets.
11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the second subset of mailpieces from each group are stored together in a buffer according to the group order.
12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the mailpieces in the outlets are sorted in a destination sort order.
13. A method performed by a mail sorting machine, the method comprising:
receiving a plurality of mailpieces in an input of the mail sorting machine;
sorting the mailpieces into a plurality of sequencing groups;
storing a first subset of the mailpieces in each sequencing group in a buffer feeder;
sorting a second subset of the mailpieces in each sequencing group to a plurality of outlets, wherein storing the first subset and sorting the second subset are performed for each sequencing group by processing each sequentially in a group order; and
sorting the stored first subset mailpieces from the buffer feeder to the plurality of outlets, wherein the buffer feeder has a buffer capacity C calculated according to
C
=
(
V
g
2
)
(
1
L
)
where Vg represents a total expected volume of the mailpieces and L represents a number of buffer splits L.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first subset of mailpieces from each group are stored together in a buffer according to the group order.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first subset of mailpieces has an even sort criterion and the second set of mailpieces has an odd sort criterion.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the mailpieces in the outlets are sorted in a destination sort order.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the buffer feeder is configured to singulate the stored first subset of the mailpieces and transfer the singulated mailpieces to a primary transport path of the mail sorting machine.