Pitney Bowes Inc.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lockheed Martin Corpora Tion

Denis J. Stemmle

Denis J Stemmle

John W Sussmeier

Clare E Woodman

Michael J Cummings

Eric A Belec

Douglas B Quine

Boris Rozenfeld

Gregory P Skinger

Michael M Farrell

Edward C Miller

Jeffrey A Gateman

Pascal Ferracani

Ronald P Sansone

Leon A Pintsov

Robert J Allen

Daniel F Dlugos

Judith D Auslander

Bertrand Haas

Thomas M Lyga

Jacques E Hasbani

Darryl T Rathbun

John E Massucci

Deborra J Zukowski

Pushpavadan S Nagarsheth

Fran E Blackman

Cornelius S McNab

Donald Caddy

Mark D Lee

Francis X Hines, Jr

Jean-Louis Potey

David Wittenberg

John F Zajac

Patrick Archain

Boris Rosenfeld

Dominique Bernard

An Escort-Based Sorting (EBS) mail sorting and distribution center system configured and controlled for optimum mail flow and dispatch, minimal sorting center space usage, and elimination of peripheral storage and retrieval equipment. A plurality of input stations each include a mechanism for loading mailpieces and obtaining mailpiece data. A plurality of sorting banks each having a plurality of sorting modules, each sorting module adapted for the face-to-face conveyance of mailpieces for sorting by transferring select mailpieces from a first to a second conveyance path. The sorting modules define at least one row and a plurality tiers operatively coupled by a plurality of elevators. The elevators move mailpieces to and from tiers of the respective sorting bank. A system controller, operatively coupled to the input stations, sorting banks, and elevators, creates an association between the mailpiece information and the escort device, and sorts and dispatches mailpieces according to a dispatch schedule.

Escort based sorting system for mail sorting centers

A system is provided for stacking mail having an escort assembly for handling each mailpiece. The system comprises a containment device, a transport mechanism and a detachment mechanism. The containment device includes a base, vertical walls extending from the base and an open end for accepting the mailpieces therein. The containment device, furthermore, has a slot formed in at least one of the vertical walls thereof. The transport mechanism includes first and second transport segment, the first transport segment conveying escort assemblies and respective mailpieces over an open end of the containment device and the second transport segment lowering the escort assemblies and respective mailpieces into the open end of the containment device. The transport mechanism furthermore aligns the edges of the mailpieces along one of the vertical walls of the containment device and positions the escort assembly through the slot of the containment device. The detachment mechanism is operative to release the mailpieces from the respective escort assembly and move the escort assemblies through the slot of the containment device.

Mailpiece container for stacking mixed mail and method for stacking mail therein

A system, method, and software are for moving inventory items to an unloading station in response to a fulfillment order. An input device is used to enter identification information about the inventory items. At a loading station, the inventory items are received and loaded into holders. The holders are then moved to storage area. A controller is configured for creating and storing a first association between the entered identification information and each of the holders in which each of the inventory items is placed. A selector and transporter are responsive to the fulfillment order and the first association, and are configured to select a holder which holds the inventory items corresponding to the fulfillment order, and configured to transport the holder from the storage area to the unloading station.

System for responding to fulfillment orders

A method for producing a continuous web of printed material for use in creating mailpieces. The continuous web has a width and a length, the length comprised of a series of attached sheets. The series of attached sheets are comprising envelope sheets and rectangular content pages. The content pages are rectangular in shape and may be oriented relative to the envelope sheets in a number of different configurations. In some configurations, two sets of content pages and/or envelope sheets can be printed across the width of the web. Sheets for forming business return envelopes may be printed in series with the content pages and envelope sheets. BREs may include individualized return addresses. A control code may be printed on one or more of the sheets for a given mailpiece, providing information for controlling assembly of the mailpiece. Two sets of sheets may be printed across the width of the web by printing content pages onto the continuous web such that two end-to-end content pages are printed across the width of the web. Positioning of mail content pages and envelope sheets for a given mailpiece may be optimized based on respective processing times determined for the system.

Method for creating a single continuous web from which to fabricate mailpieces

A system, method, and software () are for moving inventory items () to an unloading station () in response to a fulfillment order. An input device () is used to enter identification information about the inventory items. At a loading station (), the inventory items are received and loaded into holders (). The holders are then moved to storage area (). A controller () is configured for creating and storing a first association between the entered identification information and each of the holders in which each of the inventory items is placed. A selector and transporter () are responsive to the fulfillment order and the first association, and are configured to select a holder which holds the inventory items corresponding to the fulfillment order, and configured to transport the holder from the storage area to the unloading station ().

A method for stacking objects in a container including the step of measuring a thickness value of each object at a plurality of predetermined locations along a face surface of the respective object. A cumulative thickness profile is developed indicative of a plurality of stacked objects, i.e., juxtaposed along each face surface. The cumulative thickness profile is, furthermore, calculated by summing each of the measured thickness dimensions at each of the predetermined locations. Next, a maximum thickness value is determined as each of the objects is measured and compared to a maximum fill value for each container to determine an overfill condition/number. The overfill condition corresponds to the number of objects which additively cause the maximum thickness value to exceed the maximum fill value. The objects may then be stacked based upon the overfill condition such that the total number of objects is less than the number corresponding to the overfill condition. The method facilitates optimum stacking of objects wherein at least one object has an irregular shape or non-uniform thickness profile.

Method for optimally loading objects into storage/transport containers

A method for creating mailpieces from a single web of printed material. The web of printed material includes printed matter to be used on envelopes, and other printed matter to be used on mail content to be included in the envelopes. The method starts with cutting consecutive sections of the web into separated sheets. Some of the separated sheets are envelope sheets including envelope printed matter, and some of the sheets are mail content sheets including mail content printed matter. The method includes cutting variable sized sheets depending on whether a sheet is a mail content sheet, or an envelope sheet. The method further includes cutting variable sized envelope sheets depending on the size of the mailpieces.

Method for creating mailpieces from a single continuous web of printed material

A mail sorter, method, and software product are used for sorting inbound mail pieces and outbound mail pieces. The mail sorter includes sorter modules cooperatively engaged with each other, so as to receive mail pieces that are a mixture of both inbound mail pieces and outbound mail pieces, and so as to sort both the inbound mail pieces and the outbound mail pieces. The mail sorter also includes an unsorted mail piece path that is utilized by both the inbound mail pieces and the outbound mail pieces. The outbound mail pieces are mail pieces destined for sorting at a remote postal facility prior to delivery to destination addresses, whereas the inbound mail pieces are mail pieces that are not destined for sorting at a remote postal facility prior to delivery to destination addresses.

Mail sorter for simultaneous sorting using multiple algorithms

Mail carriers are assisted in delivering mail pieces. Each group of mail pieces is received from a sorting system, for delivery to respective final destinations. Also, the sorting system provides delivery data, preferably in electronic form, about delivering the group of mail pieces. Subsequently, GPS is used to determine a location of the mail carrier along a mail route. Information is then provided to the mail carrier regarding delivery of the group of mail pieces, in response to the location of the mail carrier and in response to the delivery data that was received from the sorting system.

Method and system for GPS augmentation of mail carrier efficiency

A deformation binding apparatus for fabricating a package defining a content area therein such as a mailpiece. The deformation binding apparatus including axial and radial binding mechanisms for deformation binding sheet material along first and second bind lines, respectively. The axial and radial binding mechanisms are in-line such that the sheet material may be passed along a unidirectional path to form the mailpiece. Furthermore, the bind lines are orthogonal to enclose at least a portion of the mailpiece. The axial binding mechanism includes first and second rotating elements each having a substantially axial array of intermeshing teeth and a drive device for driving at least one of the rotating elements. The radial binding mechanism includes first and second rotating discs each having a plurality of teeth disposed about the circumference of each and a drive device for driving at least one of the rotating discs.

In-line deformation binding apparatus

A containment device includes a base, vertical walls extending from the base and an open end for accepting the mailpieces therein. The containment device, furthermore, has a slot formed in at least one of the vertical walls thereof. The containment device also includes a recess extending on an underside of the base between the vertical walls; a lip extending outward from an edge of the vertical walls; detents provided in the lip of opposing vertical walls of the vertical walls; and protrusions extending beyond the base and structured and adapted to mate with detents of a lower container in a stacked configuration of containers.

A clamp is designed for accepting a mail piece at a loading station, and for releasably holding the mail piece while the mail piece is moved to an unloading station via a sorting system. The clamp is manipulated in the sorting system, instead of manipulating the mail piece held by the clamp. The clamp includes jaws for releasably holding the mail piece, plus a machine readable identifier, plus a mechanism for engaging with the sorting system. The clamp's identifier includes clamp information which uniquely identifies the clamp. The clamp information is for use by the sorting system, in combination with address information on the mail piece, to enable sortation of the mail piece held by the clamp.

Clamp for mixed mail sorter

Growing community of inventors

Stratford, CT, United States of America

Denis J Stemmle