Dynamic Fold Address Selection for Mail Sorting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current mail sorting processes are inefficient as they often require manual effort and physical sorting after mail pieces are created, limiting the ability to take advantage of postal workshare discounts, which are tied to specific address and barcode standards, and do not accommodate varying address placements within the same mail run.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves coding address locations on documents to enable electronic sorting of mail pieces with different address placements before physical creation, allowing for more accurate and reliable sorting based on workshare discount rules, delivery sequence, and desired delivery dates, using a folder control system that can fold documents according to coded instructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical sorting of mail pieces is performed after creation, then manual effort can be used to handle varying address placements, but sorting accuracy and reliability decrease and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical mechanical sorting operations with electronic sorting of digital address data. The system reads address information from documents, electronically sorts the digital representations, and only performs physical folding and envelope insertion after electronic sorting is complete. This substitution of mechanical sorting with electronic data processing significantly improves sorting accuracy while reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs electronic sorting of address data before the physical creation and assembly of mail pieces. By sorting the digital address information in advance, the system determines the correct sequence for subsequent physical folding and envelope insertion, eliminating the need for energy-intensive physical sorting operations after mail piece creation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single fold address combination is used for all mail pieces, then envelope compatibility is maintained, but adaptability to different address placements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs electronic sorting of address data before physical mail piece creation. By determining the correct fold address combination through electronic sorting based on the recipient's address placement, the system can apply the appropriate fold pattern (e.g., top-address fold, bottom-address fold, center-address fold) to each document, enabling a single envelope design to accommodate multiple address placements without requiring multiple envelope varieties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the fold address combination dynamic rather than fixed. The system selects different fold patterns based on the electronic sorting results and the specific address placement on each document. This dynamic adaptation allows a single envelope design to work with multiple address formats, as the fold pattern is adjusted to match the address location while maintaining envelope compatibility.
3Reliability
If mail pieces are sorted physically after creation, then workshare discounts can be obtained, but the process requires manual effort and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual physical sorting with electronic sorting of address data, which occurs automatically and rapidly during the mail creation process. This electronic sorting ensures workshare discount qualification by properly sequencing addresses according to postal standards, while simultaneously maintaining high productivity because the sorting occurs digitally without manual intervention or physical manipulation of mail pieces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates electronic sorting into the continuous flow of mail piece creation and assembly. The electronic sorting of address data occurs seamlessly as part of the automated process, maintaining continuous productive action without interruption for separate manual sorting operations. This ensures both workshare discount qualification and sustained high productivity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for coding the address location on a document (300) or in a data base (309) so that two or more electronic mailings with differing address placements may be combined together and sorted while the mailings are still in electronic form in order to take advantage of workshare discounts, delivery sequence efficiency, desired delivery date, class of delivery service, etc.