The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 04, 1995
Filed:
Nov. 15, 1993
Eric A Belec, Southbury, CT (US);
Cheryl L Picoult, Southbury, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides an inserter based system that performs automated sorting of mailpieces in accordance with predetermined postal discount requirements. The system comprises an inserter for assembling the mailpieces and a sorter coupled to the inserter. The sorter includes a sorter controller and a plurality of on-edge sorting bins. The system also includes communicating mailpiece data and configuration data to the sorter controller. The sorter controller controls the sorting of mailpieces received from the inserter into sort groups according to postal discount requirements. A turn-up and alignment device and a vertical transport are located between the inserter and the sorter. The turn-up and alignment device turns the mailpieces from a horizontal alignment out of the inserter to a vertical alignment. The vertical transport transports the mailpieces on-edge to the sorter. The sorter further includes a scanner for scanning codes printed on the mailpieces. The sorter controller uses data from the scanned codes for sorting the mailpieces to designated sort bins.