How letters are sorted within seconds
The Integrated Reading and Video Coding Machines – or IRV-new – usher in a new era of letter sorting. Equipped with revolutionary reading technology, they forward the shipments, within seconds, to the pigeon hole to which the destination address on the envelopes is allocated. They pass through several important stages on the way.
Having installed the last of 288 new mail sorting machines in November 2010, MAIL division has a brand new competitive advantage.
The ultramodern IRV-new is raising the bar. It is extreme compact and has no external components. Machine operation, reading technology and the switchbox are integrated into the machine itself. This saves a lot of floor space at the sorting centers. Each machine was ready for operation just nine days from the start of assembly.
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Stage 1: Feeder unit
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Stage 2: Operator Terminal
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Stage 3: Identification Line
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Stage 4: Reject Processing
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Stage 5: Sorter Feeder
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Stage 6: Sorter
Stage 1: Feeder unit
The letters are fed manually into the machine. They then travel at four meters per second towards the pigeon holes to which their destination addresses are allocated.
Stage 2: Operator Terminal
From this point, the machine is operated. The screen displays the number of letters currently being sorted (throughput) and the number of letters on which the address could be read (reading rate). The IRV-new sorts more than 40,000 letters per hour. The monitor also provides information on troubleshooting.
Stage 3: Identification Line
The heart of the machine. State-of-the-art reading technology is found under its cover. It identifies the addresses of the individual letters. Indicator lights draw attention to any dysfunction.
Stage 4: Reject Processing
Letters not suitable for machine processing, such as those that are too thick, are separated from the rest here, checked manually and then again fed into the machine or transferred to manual sorting.
Stage 5: Sorter Feeder
In transit between the Identification Line and the Sorter (the 128 pigeon holes), letters are guided to the upper or lower line, depending on their destinations. This is decided by the recognized address.
Stage 6: Sorter
The Sorter marks the end of the letters' journey through the machine. 128 pigeon holes direct the letters to their destinations. These can be, for example, post office boxes, large-volume delivery destinations or district groups. Individual letters to home addresses go to the carrier sequence sorter.
