Patent ID: 7781693

Claim:
A method for sorting mailpieces in a single pass, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a mailpiece with a mail singulation apparatus, the mailpiece having a mailstop affixed thereon; b) identifying the mailstop associated with the mailpiece; c) assigning the mailstop to one of a plurality of receiving bins if the mailstop has not already been assigned to a receiving bin, each of the receiving bins capable of emptying its contents upon receiving a command to empty its contents, d) conveying the mailpiece to the receiving bin assigned with the mailstop associated with the mailpiece and depositing the mailpiece into the receiving bin; and e) wherein if and when all of the plurality of receiving bins have been assigned with a mailstop and a new received mailpiece is identified with a new mailstop that has not been assigned to a receiving bin, the method further comprising the steps of: i) issuing a command to a first receiving bin to empty its contents whereupon the first receiving bin empties its contents into a receptacle, ii) reassigning the first receiving bin with the new mailstop of the new received mailpiece, and iii) conveying the new received mailpiece into the first receiving bin.