Patent ID: 7414217
Filing Date: 2008-08-19
Classification: B07C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for sorting a plurality of items, to each of which a sequence number is assigned, into a predetermined sorted sequence using a plurality of sorting regions, including for each sort, at least one initial sorting regions, and least two additional sorting regions, at least one of the additional sorting regions functioning as a return region, the items being initially located, in an unsorted order, in the at least two initial sorting regions, the method comprising the acts of: sorting the items in each at least one initial sorting regions into at least one intermediary sorted set, in which the items are in a sorted order, by moving at least some of the items in the at least one initial sorting regions between the at least one initial sorting region and at least two of the additional sorting regions, such that two items from different initial sorting regions are sorted into the same intermediary sorted set, and by moving at least some of the items between positions in the at least two additional sorting regions; and sorting the items within each intermediary sorted set by moving at least some of the items to the return region in substantially the predetermined sorted sequence.