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CPC Definition - Subclass B07C

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Last Updated Version: 2023.01
B07C
POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D 33/06, B23Q 7/12)
Definition statement

This place covers:

  • Postal sorting and sorting according to a destination
  • Sorting of articles based on a detected feature or characteristic (e.g. weight or colour)
Relationships with other classification places

Subclass B07C covers sorting involving the detection of a feature/characteristic of the item (address, colour, appearance, weight, response to induction) and normally a decision into which destination or fraction the item is to be put.

Sorting without decision-making, e.g. sieving, sorting using air currents or centrifugal effects is covered by the subclass B07B

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Machines for sorting heel lifts

A43D 33/06

Sorting arrangements

B23Q 7/12

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Tube mail systems

B65G 51/04

Sorting information records, e.g. punched cards

G06F 7/10

Measures preceding sorting according to destination
Definition statement

This place covers:

Involving measures immediately/directly enabling postal sorting by spacing, orienting mail pieces for automated sorting/processing, separating mail pieces by type/size.

References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Handling of sheet-like articles per se

B65H

Sorting according to destination {(collating the pages of a book B42C 1/00)}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Sorting of physical items (letters, parcels, photographic order bags, cheques) which will be routed according to a destination indicated on the item (address, barcode) or with the item (e.g. RFID tag).

Relationships with other classification places

G07B 17/00 usually covers handling and also sorting of mail piece content during production (i.e. before a letter or mailing is assembled), This main group, B07C 3/00, covers the sorting of entire/finished mail pieces.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

collating the pages of a book

B42C 1/00

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Conveyors in general

B65G

Character recognition, recognising digital ink or document-oriented image-based pattern recognition

G06V 30/00

Recognition or understanding of postal images

G06V 30/424

Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches (sorting by hand only B07C 7/00; separating solids from solids by sieving, screening, or sifting or by using gas currents or other separating by dry methods applicable to bulk material B07B)
Definition statement

This place covers:

Sorting according to a detected property/feature/characteristic of the item into fractions (weight, shape, colour, optical properties, applied code, magnetic property)

Relationships with other classification places

Quality check after production into acceptable/defective goods is normally classified in the manufacturing process only. The way the characteristic/feature is measured/detected in relation to the sorting step is a key aspect for B07C 5/00.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

sorting by hand only

B07C 7/00

separating solids from solids by sieving, screening, or sifting or by using gas currents or other separating by dry methods applicable to bulk material

B07B

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Weighing per se

G01G

Material testing

G01N

Optical detection

G01N 21/00

(Bottle) return vending machines

G07F 7/00

Sorting by hand only {e.g. of mail}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Sorting by hand / by an operator, e.g. parcels, final manual mail sorting into pigeon holes or specific furniture.

Arrangements facilitating positioning of the articles, reading the address, marking the drop-off point or the fraction (e.g. lights indicating target area), reading or identifying the address (e.g. headsets)

Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
Definition statement

This place covers:

Sorting, with or without orientating, not otherwise provided for, e.g. sorting of table equipment making use of their magnetic properties or shape.