Patent ID: 6107588
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: B07C,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of sorting postal objects with a postal sorting machine (1) having a first input (A) and at least a second input (B) and a plurality of outputs (U1, . . . Un) communicating with the said inputs (A, B) via a sorter device (17), the said method being characterized in that it comprises the steps of:supplying a first stream (F1) of postal objects to a first input (A) and simultaneously supplying a second stream (F2) of postal objects to the second input (B);directing the said first stream (F1) to all the outputs (N) of the machine by operating the said sorter device (17) in a common mode of transport in which each postal object (7) supplied to the first input (A) can be directed to any of the outputs (N);directing the said second stream (F2) to all the outputs (N) of the machine by operating the said sorter device (17) in a common mode of transport in which each postal object (7) supplied to the second input (B) can be directed to any of the outputs (N);removing (130), from at least some of the said outputs, groups of postal objects previously directed to the respective outputs;operating a separate transport mode according to which each previously removed postal object (7) supplied to the first input (A) is directed solely to a first subset (Wa) of the said outputs and each previously removed postal object (7) supplied to the second input (B) is directed solely towards a second subset (Wb) of the said outputs; said first subset (Wa) and the said second subset (Wb) being disjoint;supplying at least one first group of previously removed postal objects to the said first input with the said separate transport mode active to form, in at least part of the outputs belonging to the first subset, a first arrangement of postal objects;supplying a further group of previously removed postal objects to the said first input to form, in at least some of the outputs belonging to the first subset (Wa), a further arrangement of postal objects adjacent to the first arrangement; andrepeating in a sequential manner a supply phase of groups of previously removed postal objects to the said first input (A) to form sets of sorted postal objects in at least some of the outputs belonging to the said first subset (Wa).