Pitney Bowes Inc.

William E Ryan, Jr

Robert K Gottlieb

Joseph D Mallozzi

John H Steinmetz

Kenneth A Schulz

Lyle W Shaw

Edward Paul Daniels, Jr

Mark F Cullen

James F Giordano

Alberta A Vitale

A system including a mailpiece sorting apparatus which includes a feeder, an OCR scanner, a mailpiece deliverer, a diverter and output module, compartments or bins for receiving sorted mailpieces, an optical character recognition system for reading addressee information, an addressee database, and microprocessor based control system is described. In an illustrative example, harmful materials are detected in mailpieces and such mailpieces are diverted from the mail stream. In another example, the system is contained in a detection area and clean room; and/or the system uses x-ray technology to determine the content of the mailpieces. The system provides for detection of harmful materials in mailpieces so as to help deter delays in incoming mail delivery caused by the presence of life harming material and to sanitize the mail so as to protect the intended recipients from harm.

System for detecting the presence of harmful materials in an incoming mail stream

A mailpiece sorting apparatus is described which includes a feeder, an OCR scanner, a mailpiece transporter, a sanitizer and compartments or bins for receiving sorted mailpieces, an optical character recognition system (OCR) for reading addressee information, an addressee database, and a personal computer (PC) or microprocessor based control system. In one configuration, mailpieces are feed, singulated and sanitized. In another configuration, mailpieces are fed, singulated, sanitized and sorted. In another configuration, the system is contained in a sanitization area and clean room. The system provides for sanitization of mailpieces so as to help deter delays in incoming mail delivery caused by the presence of life harming material and sanitize the mail so as to protect the intended recipients from harm.

System for sanitizing and sorting mail

An embodiment of the system of the present invention generally comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus which includes a feeder, an OCR scanner, a video scanner, a mailpiece transporter, a diverter and output module, compartments or bins for receiving sorted mailpieces, optical character recognition system for reading addressee information, an addressee database, a suspect database, and microprocessor based control system. In alternate embodiments of the present invention: the system is contained in a detection area and clean room and/or connection to an investigation entity. The system and method of integrates prediction of the presence of life harming material in mailpieces with mailpiece processing so as to help deter delays in incoming mail delivery caused by the presence of life harming material the suspected presence of life harming material and to protect the intended recipients from harm.

System and method for outsorting suspect mail from an incoming mail stream

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus including a voice recognition system performing a method of processing &ldquo;return to sender&rdquo; mailpieces using voice recognition. The operator obtains a &ldquo;return to sender&rdquo; 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. The present invention may also calculate statistical information regarding reject mailpieces and chargeback information for the cost of sorting the &ldquo;return to sender&rdquo; mailpiece.

Method of processing return to sender mailpieces using voice recognition

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an apparatus that will assist in sorting mailpieces which increases the efficiency of the mail sorting apparatus, provides an organized space for intermediate storage of mailpieces and provides ergonomic features that reduce injury to the mail sorting apparatus operator and increases productivity. The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a mailpiece storage rack. The storage rack is used to hold partially sorted mailpieces between sorting passes in multiple pass sorting of mailpieces using a mail sorting apparatus or stores mailpieces after sortation and prior to delivery. The storage rack maintains the grouping, sequence and stack quality or alignment of partially sorted mailpieces which provides for more efficient refeeding. The rack is designed ergonomically for easy transferring of mail into and out of storage and also provides for organized workflow. The storage rack may be configured to accept containers such as, for example, standard tubs used by national posts, and/or custom tubs designed for mailer environments.

Storage rack for storing sorted mailpieces

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an apparatus that will assist in sorting mailpieces which increases the efficiency of the mail sorting apparatus, provides an organized space for intermediate storage of mailpieces and provides ergonomic features that reduce injury to the mail sorting apparatus operator and increases productivity. The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a mailpiece storage rack. The storage rack is used to hold partially sorted mailpieces between sorting passes in multiple pass sorting of mailpieces using a mail sorting apparatus or stores mailpieces after sortation and prior to delivery. The storage rack maintains the grouping, sequence and stack quality or alignment of partially sorted mailpieces which provides for more efficient re-feeding. The rack is designed ergonomically for easy transferring of mail into and out of storage and also provides for organized workflow. The storage rack may be configured to accept containers such as, for example, standard tubs used by national posts, and/or custom tubs designed for mailer environments.

Growing community of inventors

Monroe, CT, United States of America

William E Ryan, Jr