Improving the performance of the NP4000 letter sorting machine through better destacking-a study on 'in service' development

Royal Mail makes considerable use of automation in order to process large volumes of items within the time available, and one of the principle machines used in the processing of letter traffic is the NP4000 letter sorting machine. This paper tracks the development of one of the sub-systems in the NP4000, the destacker. Particular emphasis is placed on how the various interest groups have influenced the development of the destacker to date, and how the skills available within the mechatronics unit in the Royal Mail Technology Centre are working together in its continuing development.