An automated method and apparatus for sequencing and/or inspecting decks of playing cards is presented. The method and apparatus utilizes pattern recognition technology or other image comparison technology to compare one or more images of a card with memory containing known good images of a complete deck of playing cards to identify each card as it passes through the apparatus. Once the card is identified, it is temporarily stored in a location corresponding to or identified according to its position in a properly sequenced deck of playing cards. Once a full set of cards has been stored, the cards are released in proper sequence to a completed deck hopper. The method and apparatus also includes an operator interface capable of displaying a magnified version of potential defects or problem areas contained on a card which may then be viewed by the operator on a monitor or screen and either accepted or rejected via operator input. The present invention is also capable of providing an overall wear rating for each deck of playing cards.

Automated method and apparatus for playing card sequencing, with optional defect detection

A method and apparatus for sorting articles to a delivery point sequence includes at least one article sorter adapted to sort articles and a conveying system operable to arrange and convey containers of articles sorted in a first sort pass to an induct of the article sorter for a second sort pass or process of the articles. The system or method automatically sorts and conveys trays containing sorted articles from a discharge of at least one sorting assembly to an induct of the at least one sorting assembly. The conveying assembly may have a generally continuous conveying track and is operable to automatically provide the trays to the induct of the at least one sorting assembly in a sequenced manner.

Delivery point sequencing mail sorting system with flat mail capability

A method and an apparatus for collating a plurality of groups of mail items, such as flats mail, each group being pre-sequenced according to prioritized delivery addresses, into a final sequenced set of the mail items from the groups, utilizing the prioritized delivery addresses. Each bundle of mail items is formed into a single input stream of the individual mail items. The mail items are transported along a conveyor system from the input stream to a staging station. The mail items are sorted at the staging station into a plurality of subsets of mail items re-sequenced as an intermediate step to achieving the final sequenced sets. The mail items are then collated and merged into a single output stream from the respective subsets of mail items in the final sequenced set. Portions of the output stream from the staging station are collected in batches which maintain the sequence consistent with the prioritized delivery order sequence of the mail for a given carrier route.

Flats bundle collator

A container storage and delivery system includes an individual container storage and delivery system. A palletizer is provided for forming a group of containers from the individual container storage and delivery system into a layer or a partial layer, and placing this layer or partial layer onto a pallet. A high speed pick station provides access for manual retrieval of high throughput case types from each storage location. An individual container placement station is also provided for placing individual containers onto a pallet. A conveyor system conveys containers and pallets from the individual container storage and delivery system, the palletizer, the high speed pick station, and the individual container placement station.

Automated container storage and delivery system

An apparatus for sorting and distributing sheet-like items, such as postal matter. A feeder successively feeds the sheet-like items to a stacker which is positioned above the feeder and on which the sheet-like items are stacked in an upright position. Both the feeder and the stacker have a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the stacker is normally positioned at a first distance above the bottom surface of the feeder. A bottom surface opening mechanism is able to open the bottom surface of the stacker to permit sheet-like items stacked in the stacker to be transferred to the feeder. A bottom surface moving mechanism is able to move the bottom surface of the feeder unit and the bottom surface of the stacker unit toward each other so as to position the stacker bottom surface at a second distance above the feeder bottom surface, with the second distance being less than the first distance, and is able to return the bottom surfaces to a position in which they are spaced by the first distance.

Apparatus for sorting sheets or the like

A mail document sorting device includes a document input feeder, and at least one singulation device for orienting and singulating the documents so that indicia on their faces can be disposed at a predetermined level about a data reference plane. Single documents pass to an indicia reader, which generates indicia indicating signals. An electronic/computer mechanism processes the indicating signals, and provides for sorting the read documents into bins. A plurality of the bins is located in side-by-side horizontal array, with an elongated belt disposed along the array of bins for moving documents received therefrom. The elongated belt has an inboard edge adjacent the array of bins and an outboard edge remote from the array of bins. The sorting device further includes a mechanism for moving documents from the bins onto the elongated belt, locating device associated with the elongated belt for positioning an edge of documents on the elongated belt, a shingler for shingling documents received from the elongated belt, transport of the shingled documents as they are discharged from the shingler means, and loading received shingled documents sequentially into mail trays.

Multi-pass sorting machine

A shingling device for use in a mail document sorting apparatus includes a first conveyor belt for receiving a vertical stack of sorted documents. A guide element is oblique to the conveyor belt for shifting the moving vertical stack into a shifted oblique stack and defines a gap between the belt and the guide element to enable passage of documents from the lower portion of the stack. A rotatable roller is disposed adjacent and downstream from the guide element and has a lower surface partially obstructing the gap. The roller rotates opposite to movement of the first conveyor belt for shingling documents passing through the gap. A second conveyor belt cooperates with the first conveyor belt to confine shingled documents advancing on the first belt, and cooperates with the roller so that the second belt has a longitudinal velocity substantially equal to the tangential velocity of the roller.

Shingle device for use in multi-pass sorting machine

Document feeding apparatus advances the leading document in a stack of documents against a moveable feed element which moves at a predetermined, load sensitive speed. The torque applied to the leading document by the feed element is maintained at a substantially constant level by sensing the speed of the moveable feed element and electronically controlling the pressure applied by the stack of documents against the moveable feed element in order to maintain the torque applied by the moveable feed element to the leading document of the stack at a substantially constant value.

George Paroubek

Papers

Multi-pass sorting machine

Shingle device for use in multi-pass sorting machine

Method and apparatus for feeding documents