MultiPick functions in mail processing and sorting centers as sorting and buffer storage in many work stages: mail acceptance, sorting of outward and inward mail, and dolly loading for delivery.

The mail is handled at the sorting center in plastic trays. These trays are transferred from the mail acceptance to the sorting areas for outward sorting. The trays are directed to the buffer storage under MultiPick if there is no need for them in the sorting areas. As soon as more trays are needed, the sorting areas “pull” them from the MultiPick storage based on demand.

After the first sorting stage (outward sorting, to other sorting centers), the mail trays again enter the MultiPick area, where they are arranged into stacks for each sorting center.

Similarly, after the second sorting stage (inward sorting, for the local area), the mail trays come into the MultiPick area and are put into separate stacks for each local delivery office or terminal. When one dolly-load of goods is ready, MultiPick moves it onto the dolly, which is transferred to the mail delivery vehicle. This stage occurs after both inward and outward sorting.

As well as speed, accuracy, and flexibility, the system has many other benefits. MultiPick arranges the trays in stacks on the floor as they arrive from the sorting areas. Trays can be fed into the system in any order whatsoever. Trays to be transferred to the delivery vehicles are sequenced and pre-arranged under the MultiPick robot and therefore they can be loaded to the delivery unit quickly. This is crucial because the schedules between sorting centers are tight and so the loading windows for loading are also tight.