Patent ID: 7737378
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: B07C,B65H,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A sorting system for flat mail items, comprising: a process controller; and at least three storage modules connected in a parallel arrangement, wherein each of the at least three storage modules comprises a storage area and an infeed function configured to transfer mail items from a mail item stream into the storage area, and an extraction function configured to extract mail items from the storage area for generating an improved mail item stream, wherein said process controller is adapted to control the at least three storage modules such that one of the at least three storage modules operates in the infeed function another one of the at least three storage modules simultaneously operates in the extraction function, and at least one further module of the at least three storage modules operates in a halt status, wherein said process controller includes means for adding address information to the mail items for at least the mail items contained in the storage area of the storage module operated in the halt status, and wherein each the at least three storage modules can buffer a plurality of mail items and can provide a last-in/first-out operation during an extraction of the buffered mail items.