Patent ID: 7683284
Filing Date: 2010-03-23
Classification: B07C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A sorting device for flat mail items comprising: one or more input units comprising a mail item singulation device and a subsequent transport device disposed to transport the singulated mail items past process devices to a loading station of a mail item buffer receptacle, wherein the mail item buffer receptacle includes a number of storage pockets circulating continuously in a conveyor, the storage pockets disposed one after another so as to be moved past one or more loading stations, wherein empty storage pockets are disposed so as to be loaded in the loading stations with the individual mail items, fixed intermediate storage receptacles including open tops disposed below straight transfer sections of the conveyors of the mail item buffer receptacle or receptacles so as to accept one or more mail items from the loaded storage pockets themselves disposed to be opened under control in the transfer sections, mail item containers including open tops and disposed so as to move continuously on a transport path below the intermediate storage receptacles as sorting end points assigned to the destination address or destination address groups, in which the mail items can be unloaded downwards in a horizontal position in accordance with their destination address by controllable opening of a relevant intermediate storage receptacle at the point in time at which the mail item container assigned to the address is in an appropriate position below the intermediate storage receptacle with mail items for this container, and wherein the mail item container transport path includes at least one feed device disposed to accommodate empty mail item containers and at least one removal device disposed to accommodate filled mail item containers.