Patent ID: 8552327

Claim:
A method of mail sorting, comprising: sorting a batch of flat mail pieces addressed to recipients in a common postal delivery zone with an automated single pass mail sorting machine into groups wherein the flat mail pieces in each group have a common delivery destination, wherein individual flat mail pieces are each transported and inserted into one of a series of slots each containing one group of flat mail pieces; removing the groups of flat mail pieces from their respective slots using an automated removal system; transporting the groups of sorted mail using an automated conveying system to a delivery point packaging machine; then packaging the groups of mail pieces with the delivery point packaging machine, wherein the step of transporting the groups of sorted mail using an automated conveying system comprises extracting groups of mail pieces from slots into slots of transport barges, whereby groups of mail are kept separate from each other, transporting the barges from the slots to an unloading station, automatically unloading the barges by automatically removing groups of flat mail pieces from the barge slots at the packaging machine, and feeding the groups of mail pieces into the packaging machine.