Method for grouping mail pieces in a sorter

摘要

A method and system for processing of media items includes a separator system feeding a series of media items onto a transport system. The separator system is controlled to feed onto the transport system groups of sequential media items having similar information and to separate and feed onto the transport system sequential media items having dissimilar information spaced apart on said transport system from the group of media items having similar destination information. The separator system may be controlled to limit the thickness of each group of media items not to exceed a predetermined thickness. The separator system may also be controlled to separate and feed onto the transport system any subsequent media items which would cause said group of media items to exceed the predetermined thickness. In one arrangement, a series of media items are fed onto the transport system transport path for sortation into two or more sortation bins. The separator is controlled such that adjacent media items destined for the same sortation bin are transported along said transport path as a group of media items to the same sortation bin and such that adjacent media items destined for different sortation bins are separated for separate transport along the transport path to the different sortation bins. The order of the media items within groups created by said separator system may be controlled by an order diverter such that subsequent sortation of groups of media items will further differentiate the media items by media item order sequence of media items in each of the groups of media items. Additional controllable separators may be connected to the media item transport. The system may group media items for unescorted transport on a sorter or may group media items for escorted transport such as by being place in a carrier.