Method and Device for Transporting and Processing Multiple Items

Abstract

A method and a device transports and processes multiple items, in particular postal consignments. Each item passes through a first processing installation and then at least one second processing installation. The first processing installation measures in each case a processing attribute and two values which two predefined features assume for the item, and generates a data record for the item. Data records for items that the second processing installation subjects to a predefined treatment are selected. The second processing installation measures at a first time point the value which the first feature assumes and later the value of the other feature. It searches for a selected data record and uses the feature value measured initially. When it finds such a data record, it subjects the item concerned to the predefined treatment.

1 . A method for transporting and processing multiple items, which comprises the steps of:
 predefining at least one measurable processing attribute and at least two measurable features;   passing each item through a first processing installation and performing the steps of:
 measuring what value the measurable processing attribute assumes for the item resulting in a measured processing-attribute value; 
 measuring for each of the two measurable features what value a measurable feature assumes for the item resulting in two measured feature values; 
 generating and storing a data record for the item, the data record containing the two measured feature values and the measured processing-attribute value; 
   passing each item through at least one second processing installation and performing the steps of:   measuring afresh for each of the measurable features what value the measurable feature assumes for the item resulting in two new measured feature values;
 measuring at a first time point the value which one of the two measurable features assumes for the item; 
 measuring at a subsequent second time point the value which the other measurable feature assumes for the item; 
 searching for a selected data record with the value measured at the first time point; 
 after the data record is found, subjecting the item concerned to a predefined treatment; 
   using the two new measured feature values to determine the data record which the first processing installation has generated and stored for the item; and   processing the item depending on the processing-attribute value in the data record determined;   
     selecting at least one data record which was generated for the item, the item being subjected to a predefined treatment by the second processing installation. 
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second processing installation, when it has found the selected data record with the value measured at the first time point, starts the predefined treatment of the item before the second time point. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises:
 passing the items through the first and the at least one second processing installation in one sequence respectively;   determining a sequence in which the items pass through the first processing installation; and   using the sequence determined to define a target sequence in which the items are to pass through the at least one second processing installation, and the at least one second processing installation uses the target sequence of the items in searching for the selected data record with the feature value measured at the first time point.   
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , which further comprises deriving from the target sequence of the items and from the data records, a target sequence of data records and using the target sequence of the data records in the search. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises for each item passing through the at least one second processing installation:
 generating in each case an image of the item; and measuring the two measurable features by analyzing the image and a time at which a respective analysis is complete is used as a respective time of measurement of the value of the measurable feature.   
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second processing installation, for at least one data record which it has found using the first feature value, performs the steps of:
 checking whether the value which the other feature in the item assumes during the measurement at the second time point matches the value of the other feature which a found data record contains, and if there is no match, performing a corrective operation for the item which, based on the feature value measured at the first time point and the finding of the data record, the item is subjected to the predefined treatment.   
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predefined treatment of the item by the second processing installation depends at least on one of the first feature value measured at the first time point and on the processing-attribute value measured during the first pass for the item. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises:
 executing the selection of the at least one data record using the processing-attribute values measured during the first pass of the items; and   the processing of an item from which a selected data record that was found using the feature value measured at the first time point originates contains the step whereby the second processing installation affixes at least one character to the item, depending on the value which the processing-attribute value assumes for the item.   
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein in that for at least one item the measured processing-attribute value which the first processing installation measures, is an identification of a destination to which the item is to be transported and with which the item is furnished, and the at least one character which the second processing installation affixes to the item depending on the measured processing-attribute value, is a further parameter for transportation of the item. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the further parameter for transportation of the item is a different destination point. 
   
   
       11 . A device for transporting and processing multiple items, the device comprising:
 a first processing installation;   a second processing installation; and   a database connected to both said first and second processing installations;   said first processing installation being configured, for each item, to:
 measure a value of a predefined processing attribute of the item resulting in a measured processing-attribute value; 
 measure two values of two predefined features of the item resulting in two measured feature values; and 
 generate and store in said database a data record for the item, the data record containing the two measured feature values and the measured processing-attribute value; 
   said second processing installation being configured, for each item, to:
 measure anew the two values, which the two predefined features assume for the item resulting in two new feature values; 
 use the two new feature values measured to determine the data record which said first processing installation has generated and stored for the item; and 
 process the item depending on the processing-attribute value in the data record; 
   the device configured to select at least one data record which was generated for the item, the item being subjected to a predefined treatment by the second processing installation;   said second processing installation further configured, for each item, to:
 measure at a first time point the value which the one of the two features assumes for the item; 
 measure at a subsequent second time point the value which the other feature assumes for the item; and 
 search for a selected data record with the feature value measured at the first time point and when the selected data record is found, subject the item concerned to the predefined treatment.