Postal Automation

Open Mail Handling System OMS

Structural changes in mail deliveryand additional demands arising fromnew communication media for on-lineordering of goods will lead to a furtherincrease in the number of flats andgoods sent by mail.

For this reason the sorting of mail withwidely varying formats must be per-formed in an increasingly economicand efficient manner. Siemens hasbeen involved in the development offlats sorting machines for more than25 years and consistently applies thisexperience to the development of newsystems.

Open Mail Handling System OMS

Innovative system architecture

The new generation of efficient and er-gonomic flats sorting equipment, theOpen Mail Handling System OMS, meetsthe market requirements for a systemwith a high throughput and the ability tohandle a wide range of mail.

The system's architecture, which repre-sents a new departure from conventionalflats sorting machines, is based on mov-ing outlets and two counterflow trans-

port levels. This solution provides a highthroughput of up to 50,000 items perhour, allowing the mail to be transportedwith great care and ensuring maximumstacking quality. The system enables awide range of mail to be processed, fromstandard letters to flats of all types andpackaging.

The new system facilitates not only simpleinward and outward sorting, but also1- and 2-pass sequencing.

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The benefits of the OMS at a glance

Reduced operating and investmentcosts

■ High productivity (up to 50,000 items per hour)

■ High system scalability

■ High availability through redundancy based on independent sorting sections

■ Designed for a wide range of mail items

■ Low rate of doubles

■ Minimum number of jams

■ High stacking quality reduces the amount of work during further automatic pro- cessing

Significant staff satisfaction

■ Ergonomic design and handling thanks to the integrated tray unloading system

High flexibility

■ Up to 650 outlets

■ Scalable in throughput

Optimized logistics

■ On-the-fly sort plan changing

■ High level of tray filling and stacking quality

Sorting function

■ Allows 1- and 2-pass sequencing

■ Allows operation with several sort plans (virtual machines)

Even with high system throughput themail in the sorter is transported at a lowspeed to the transfer pockets via two de-coupled counter-rotating transport levelsand dropped into circulating outlets. Thisreduces the risk of damage and jams dur-ing transport.

Optimum stacking quality and tray filling

The timing at which mail pieces are drop-ped into the customer trays is controlledaccording to format and thickness. Acentrally located tray filling measurementsystem records the actual filling level ofeach tray. The result of this measurementis also used to determine the right mo-ment for transferring the mail. This en-sures the best possible stacking qualityand alignment of the mail in the tray.

Automatic feeder module with trayunloading

Ergonomically designed infeed sectionsallow efficient operation even over sus-tained periods. With only one personup to 12,500 items per hour can be pro-cessed per feeder. The tray unloadingdevices help to reduce the work strainand enable the available level of process-ing capacity to be maintained even overlonger periods of time without fatigue.

Gentle mail transport with highthroughput

Low transport speeds and smooth trans-port of mail in up to four parallel identifi-cation lines ensure gentle transfer of themail to the sorter.

Barcode printing and reading

The OMS is designed to print and readboth fluorescent and black-and-whitebarcodes. Where items cannot be directlyprinted on due to their surface properties(poly-wrapped), a label is applied before-hand by means of the high-speed labelapplicator.

Fingerprint – alternative mail identifi-cation

As an alternative to barcodes, the newlydeveloped fingerprint system (digitalmail signature) can also be used. Thereis no need for any processing equipmentfor the application of barcodes. This alsoresults in additional savings for consuma-bles (labels, ink) and maintenance. Inaddition, there are considerable marke-ting advantages in having the mail arriveat the recipient in its original state.

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Open Mail Handling System OMS

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Automatic address reader

The newly developed scanner with a re-solution of 256 dpi allows image captureto a hight of 306 millimeters and isequipped with state-of-the-art LED illu-mination with constant light emissionand a long service life.

This new technology is the basis for theimplementation of all future readingtasks and extensions, such as indiciadetection or automatic forwarding.

Numerous configuration options

The innovative system design providesmaximum flexibility with regard to con-figuring the system and adapting thelogistics to a very wide range of sortingprocesses. The OMS can be scaled to suitmany different requirements regardingthroughput, available space and thenumber of required outlets.

Intelligent sorting

A high degree of efficiency is achievedthanks to the innovative approach of sort-ing mail into moving outlets rather thanstatic outlets. The allocation of the traysto the sorting product is handled dynami-cally. Intermediate storage of mail in thetransfer pockets also allows the option of1-pass sequencing without the need foradditional hardware. On-the-fly sort planchanging is possible, as is the operationof different sort plans depending on thefeeder module (virtual machines).

Integrated tray handling systems

Integrated tray handling systems, whichtransport the full and empty trays withinthe operating area of the machine, en-sure that the customer trays are movedas little as necessary by the operatingstaff based on ergonomic considerations.The full tray supply system transportsand distributes the trays to the individualtray unloading devices. The empty traysupply system takes the empty trays tothe empty tray buffer and the sorter. Thefull tray take-away system combines allthe relevant functions for the removaland further processing of the completelysorted full trays, for example connectionto an external handling system or manualcommissioning.

Ergonomic design

The workplaces, which have been de-signed on ergonomic principles, providefor simple and low-stress operation.

The high quality of the design, which re-veals exemplary innovation in both formand function, also won the international"Red Dot Design Award".

Optimized operating concept

Each feeder module is equipped with anoperating station for operative inputs andoutputs.

An additional central operating station isavailable for administrative activities. Allinteractions for operating the system areimplemented in web-based user interfa-ces.

Comprehensive diagnostics and analysistools allow quick and easy troubleshoot-ing and fault rectification, thus contri-buting to the high level of operationalavailability.

Simple maintenance and diagnostics

Access for repair and maintenance workwas already taken into consideration dur-ing the design and development stages.Easy access and fast replacement of ser-viceable units help to reduce maintenancecosts and increase system availability.The user-friendly electronic DirectDoc®documentation and the online diagnos-tics system provide the maintenancestaff with the necessary information forrapidly identifying and rectifying faults.

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www.siemens.com/postalautomation

For further information,please contact:

Siemens AGIndustrial Solutions and ServicesInfrastructure LogisticsPostal AutomationBücklestr. 1-578467 KonstanzGermanyTel. +49 (0)7531 86-01Fax +49 (0)7531 86-2421

E-mail: postalautomation.industry@siemens.com

The information provided in this brochure containsmerely general descriptions or characteristics ofperformance which in case of actual use do notalways apply as described or which may changeas a result of further development of the products.An obligation to provide the respective character-istics shall only exist if expressly agreed in theterms of contract.

Order No.: E10001-PA-A4-V1-7600 Printed in GermanyAFA WS 09072.Subject to change without prior notice

© Siemens AG 2007. All rights reserved.

Technical data

Types of mail

■ Length 101 mm – 406 mm

■ Height 85 mm – 305 mm

■ Thickness 0.5 mm – 32 mm

■ Weight 2 g – 2,000 g

Nominal throughput

■ Configuration with 2 feeder modules: up to 25,000 mail items/hour

■ Configuration with 4 feeder modules: up to 50,000 mail items/hour

Noise level

■ 68 dB(A) (DIN EN ISO 11 204, DIN EN ISO 11 200)

Configurations

■ 1 infeed section (2 feeder modules)

■ 2 infeed sections (4 feeder modules)

■ Tray unloading device for each feeder module

■ (Pre-) barcode reader

■ Barcode printer

■ Barcode verifier

■ High speed label applicator

Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.Postal Automation1401 Nolan Ryan ExpresswayArlington, TX 76011USAPhone +1 (817)436-7000Fax +1 (817)436-7476

Tray handling systems (optional)

■ Connection to the customer's full tray supply system

■ Manual full tray supply

■ Manual empty tray infeed

■ Full tray commissioning

Further options

■ Tray label printer

■ Tray label applicator

■ Fingerprint (virtual ID tag)