Letter distribution system
A letter distribution system is a computer-aided , electromechanical machine for sorting ( distributing ) letters in letter centers . A distinction is made between small letter distribution systems for formats up to C5 , flat distribution systems for formats up to B4 and large letter distribution systems for parcels and consignments .
While letters were still distributed by hand a few years ago, there are letter distribution systems in almost all European postal companies . In these machines, the surface of each letter is scanned and at least the postcode is determined from the image using OCR software . In the connected specialist section, the letter is ejected into the designated compartment. A table defines which postcode belongs to which subject.
The distribution ( sorting ) of the letters usually takes place in two stages, the pre-distribution and the fine distribution. The pre-distribution usually comprises 18 to 52 targets, depending on the further distribution. After the consignments have been transported to the destination center , they are distributed there. At the end of this processing step, the letters assigned to this postal delivery district are obtained for each compartment .
It all began on May 31, 1965, when the first electronic mail sorting system went into operation in Pforzheim. The Deutsche Bundespost attached a barcode as a target code to the shipment.
See also
Web links
- ( Page no longer accessible , search in web archives: process computer controls the letter distribution systems in the postal service )
Individual evidence
- ↑ Milestones in letter coding ( memento of the original from March 23, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 5.6 MB)
