Patent ID: 7999206

Claim:
A method for sorting flat mail pieces includes the steps of initializing an automated pinch-belt sorting machine wherein letters are fed one at a time to a pinch belt conveyor by a mechanized feeder, scanned for destination information and then diverted to stacker pockets according to a sort scheme implemented by a computerized control system; sorting automation letters using the sorting machine in a first pass of a two pass mail sorting operation using a first gap setting; sorting extended capability mail using the sorting machine in the first pass separately from the automation mail using a second gap setting that is greater than the first gap setting; tracking with a computerized control system the number of automation mail pieces and the number of extended capability mail pieces sorted to each pocket, and the order in which automation mail pieces and extended capability mail pieces are sorted to each pocket; sweeping mail from each pocket including both automation mail and extended capability mail pieces mail while maintaining the order in which mail pieces were sorted to that pocket; and re-feeding the mail from each pocket including both automation mail and extended capability mail to the sorting machine for a second pass of the sort scheme, wherein the computerized control system uses the first gap setting as a series of automation mail pieces from each pocket are sorted and uses the second gap setting as a series of the extended capability mail pieces from each pocket are sorted.