Michael D Norris

US Patent:

7728245, Jun 1, 2010

Filed:

May 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/842252

Inventors:

Dale E. Redford - Grand Prairie TX, US
Michael O. Norris - Colleyville TX, US
Floyd W. Worth - Richardson TX, US

Assignee:

Siemens Industry, Inc. - Alpharetta GA

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

209584, 209900

Abstract:

A sorting system using multiple sorters operating as part of a single, multi-sorting machine unified system. The system according to the invention includes a plurality of input sections capable of operating in parallel, each including a feeder that takes in mail pieces one at a time and a scanner that scans each mail piece for destination indicia, a plurality of stackers each comprising at least one row of pockets, a control system that determines a destination pocket in the stacker for each mail piece based on a predetermined sort scheme and the destination indicia, and a routing system effective to route mail in accordance with the sort scheme from any input section to any pocket of a stacker.

US Patent:

7999206, Aug 16, 2011

Filed:

Mar 13, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/381678

Inventors:

Michael O. Norris - Colleyville TX, US

Assignee:

Siemens Industry, Inc. - Alpharetta GA

International Classification:

B07C 5/00

US Classification:

209584, 209900, 700223

Abstract:

A method for sorting flat mail pieces includes the steps of; sorting automation letters on the first pass of a two pass operation, then sorting extended capability letters after all automation mail has been sorted on pass one of a two pass operation. A control system identifies which pieces are automation and which pieces are extended capability (EC) mail during the first pass and re-feeding the mixed letters in a second pass.

US Patent:

8283588, Oct 9, 2012

Filed:

Apr 13, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/786839

Inventors:

Michael O. Norris - Colleyville TX, US
James B. Amigh - Plano TX, US

Assignee:

Siemens Industry, Inc. - Alpharetta GA

International Classification:

B07C 5/00

US Classification:

209586, 209592

Abstract:

A process is provided for analyzing the physical characteristics of flat articles being sorted to determine which downstream operations the articles should be processed with next. Length, height, width and stiffness information are received from sensors, and the data is analyzed to determine if the mail piece is automation compatible, extended capability or manual letter, or a flat.

US Patent:

20040059462, Mar 25, 2004

Filed:

Sep 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/664444

Inventors:

Michael Norris - Colleyville TX, US
Abdul Salemizadeh - Arlington TX, US
Shahrom Kiani - Arlington TX, US

International Classification:

G06F007/00

US Classification:

700/223000

Abstract:

A system is provided for the simple image capture and address recognition of mail, flats or parcels that does not require complex support or equipment and can be practiced on machinable and non-machinable mail pieces. The method described herein allows for further downstream processing of the scanned items by automated or manual mail or parcel systems. A simple OCR device can be used to read information on a piece of mail, flat or parcel using a hand held camera or fixed mounted camera. The image data is analyzed with OCR software or pattern recognition software, and a bar code label is printed representing the ZIP code or other relevant information and applied to the mail piece. A unique identification tag is printed on a label for those mail pieces captured but with no ZIP code results determined for later recall of the image and processing either on-line or off-line.

US Patent:

20060016738, Jan 26, 2006

Filed:

Jul 15, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/182514

Inventors:

Michael Norris - Colleyville TX, US
Dale Redford - Grand Prairie TX, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
B07C 5/00

US Classification:

209584000

Abstract:

A method of processing unsorted mail pieces for delivery includes the steps of sorting mail pieces destined for delivery to a single delivery point into a group, printing human readable destination information corresponding to the delivery point of the group on a section of wrapping material, and wrapping the group of mail pieces with the wrapping material bearing the human readable destination information in a complete or abbreviated form. A machine readable code, such as a bar code may also be printed on the wrapping material and subsequently scanned to insure proper sequencing of the bundles of wrapped mail pieces.

US Patent:

20060030969, Feb 9, 2006

Filed:

Oct 3, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/243315

Inventors:

Michael Norris - Colleyville TX, US
Abdul Salemizadeh - Arlington TX, US
Shahrom Kiani - Arlington TX, US

International Classification:

G06F 7/00

US Classification:

700215000, 209900000

Abstract:

A system is provided for the simple image capture and address recognition of mail, flats or parcels that does not require complex support or equipment and can be practiced on machinable and non-machinable mail pieces. The method described herein allows for further downstream processing of the scanned items by automated or manual mail or parcel systems. A simple OCR device can be used to read information on a piece of mail, flat or parcel using a hand held camera or fixed mounted camera. The image data is analyzed with OCR software or pattern recognition software, and a bar code label is printed representing the ZIP code or other relevant information and applied to the mail piece. A unique identification tag is printed on a label for those mail pieces captured but with no ZIP code results determined for later recall of the image and processing either on-line or off-line.

US Patent:

20070144948, Jun 28, 2007

Filed:

Dec 12, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/637330

Inventors:

Floyd W. Worth - Richardson TX, US
Michael O. Norris - Colleyville TX, US
Dale E. Redford - Grand Prairie TX, US
James M. Pippin - Keller TX, US

International Classification:

B07C 5/00
G06K 9/00

US Classification:

209584, 209900

Abstract:

A method is provided for processing mail at a sorting facility, which mail includes automation mail that can be processed automatically by automated machines at the sorting facility and manual mail which, due to its physical characteristics, cannot be processed by the automated machines at the sorting facility. Such a method includes the steps of placing a piece of manual mail into a sleeve such that the combination of sleeve and mail piece can be processed by the automated machines at the sorting facility, and processing the sleeve containing the manual mail piece on the automation equipment along with automation mail. Following processing, the sleeve can either be removed from the mail piece, or left in place for delivery to the postal customer.

US Patent:

20090084716, Apr 2, 2009

Filed:

Nov 12, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/269484

Inventors:

Michael D. Carpenter - Arlington TX, US
Michael O. Norris - Colleyville TX, US

Assignee:

Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. - Arlington TX

International Classification:

B07C 5/16

US Classification:

209645

Abstract:

A method and system is described for determining the physical weights of flat articles being sorted without actually weighing the articles. Such a method includes the steps of; receiving volume information for individual flat articles from sensors, comparing that resultant data to classifiers stored in computer memory, and assigning a weight value associated to the physical flat article.