	US 11,872,597 B2
	Systems and methods for high throughput sorting
Scott R. Bombaugh, Burke, VA (US); Tuan A. Le, Fairfax, VA (US); Charles P. McLellan, Fairfax, VA (US); and Christopher M. Stratton, Springfield, VA (US)
Assigned to United States Postal Service, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by United States Postal Service, Washington, DC (US)
Filed on Aug. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/395,258.
Application 17/395,258 is a division of application No. 16/846,157, filed on Apr. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,167,319.
Application 16/846,157 is a continuation of application No. 15/967,870, filed on May 1, 2018, granted, now 10,946,417, issued on Mar. 16, 2021.
Application 15/967,870 is a continuation of application No. 15/403,693, filed on Jan. 11, 2017, granted, now 9,962,743, issued on May 8, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/277,837, filed on Jan. 12, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0362196 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B07C 5/36 (2006.01); B07C 3/18 (2006.01); B07C 3/08 (2006.01); B07C 3/02 (2006.01); B65G 47/38 (2006.01); B65G 47/96 (2006.01); B65G 47/44 (2006.01); B07C 3/00 (2006.01)

CPC B07C 5/36 (2013.01) [B07C 3/02 (2013.01); B07C 3/08 (2013.01); B07C 3/18 (2013.01); B65G 47/38 (2013.01); B65G 47/44 (2013.01); B65G 47/967 (2013.01); B07C 3/008 (2013.01)]

8 Claims

1. A method of high throughput sorting, comprising:

placing, by a first inductor, a first item onto a first cell in a first section of a sorter;

placing, by a second inductor, a second item onto a second cell in a second section of the sorter, wherein the first and second sections of the sorter are disposed parallel to each other;

associating the first cell with the first item in a memory;

associating the second cell with the second item in the memory;

scanning the first and second items to read first and second destination information located on the first and second items;

determining a first delivery destination for the first item and determining a second delivery destination for the second item based on the read first and second destination information;

determining sort destinations for the first item and for the second item based on the determined delivery destinations;

associating the first cell and the second cell with the sort destination in the memory;

moving the first cell along the sorter to a first location positioned over a chute leading to the sort destination;

depositing the first item onto the chute from the first cell at the first location such that the chute guides the first item to the sort destination;

moving the second cell along the sorter to a second location positioned over the chute, the second location being different from the first location; and

depositing the second item onto the chute from the second cell at the second location such that the chute guides the second item to the sort destination.