RU2361275C2 - Mail box service payment - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics; computer engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to mail boxes, working in places where potential users of postal services are located (business centres, institutions, shops, postal institutions, subway, underground passages etc.). Mail box contains containers for mail of different types and/or size, each of which is related to a corresponding reception window, a device for making payment, an information display, keyboard for selecting control instructions and a microprocessor. The mail box is also provided with a device for issuing envelopes and a device for reading information from the envelopes, and can also be provided with memory for storing different information, and an extra advertisement display.

EFFECT: widening of operational capabilities of the mail box, increased reliability and easier use, as well as increased protection against vandalism.

9 cl, 6 dwg

Description

The invention relates to mailboxes operating in places where potential users of postal services may be located (business centers, institutions, shops, post offices, subways, underpasses, etc.).

Known electronic mailbox for receiving packages containing an electronic postage stamp, including an information transmitter, a container with a door having a lock, means for identifying the delivery agent and for opening the door during identification (WO 01/17407, publ. 2001). This mailbox is unable to accept payment for the mail service.

Also known is a mailbox combined with an apparatus for receiving payments, containing a container for mail, a receiving window for placing mail on electronic scales, from which the shipment is transported to the container. The payment system of the device is equipped with a display, through which the user is informed of the size of the postal tariff associated with the weight of the letter. Payment can be made in coins and banknotes, as well as using cards. The device can be equipped with a device for issuing a receipt to the user (DE 10153393, publ. 05/15/2003).

The disadvantage of this technical solution is the lack of simplicity and reliability associated with the availability of devices for weighing and transportation, as well as insufficient vandal resistance.

Closest to the proposed is a mailbox containing a container having a door with a lock, a receiving window for placing the mail in a container, a payment device, a device for issuing packaging envelopes, an information display, a keyboard for selecting a control command and a microprocessor, as well as a device for weighing postal items (JP 5132093, 05/28/1993).

The disadvantage of this technical solution is also the lack of simplicity and reliability associated with the presence of a device for weighing, as well as insufficient vandal resistance due to insecurity of the receiving window.

The technical result of the proposed invention is to increase reliability and ease of use by eliminating the weighing device, as well as increasing vandal resistance by restricting access to the internal volume of the mailbox exclusively to the circle of customers who purchased the envelope or registered customers (via the website, see below) .

The technical result is achieved in that the mailbox containing at least one container having a door with a lock, at least one receiving window for placing the mail in the container, a device for making payment, a device for issuing packaging envelopes, an information display , a keyboard for selecting a control command, and a microprocessor according to the invention contains two or more receiving windows designed to be placed in a container of mail items of various types and / or sizes, as well as nabzhen device for reading information from packaging envelopes, and the microprocessor is arranged to command the opening of the receiving task window on a signal from said reading device.

The mailbox may also be equipped with a memory device for recording information about the time the postal item was placed in the container, the number of postal items in the container, the opening time of the container, individual information about the user, individual information about the courier.

A mailbox may have receiving windows of various sizes. It may also have a window for issuing change.

The mailbox may also have containers for items of various types and / or sizes, with each of the containers associated with a corresponding receiving window.

The mailbox can be equipped with an additional advertising display. In addition, it can be equipped with a means of remote transmission of information, such as an Internet modem, through which the microprocessor is connected to the logistics-sorting console.

The device for making a payment includes a banknote receiver as well as a plastic card receiver. The mailbox may also have a window for issuing change.

The invention is illustrated by drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a mailbox, Fig. 2 is a diagram of courier and postal services using the proposed group of inventions, Fig. 3 is a packaging envelope for courier items, and Fig. 4 is the same , in the process of separating the address block of the receipt, figure 5 is the same, after separating the address block of the receipt, figure 6 shows a diagram of the interaction of the main elements of the mailbox and the microprocessor (one possible implementation).

The mailbox, intended for placement in public places, includes a building that is a container of 1 courier items. The container 1 has a door 2 with a lock 3 for locking and opening it, as well as receiving windows 4 for placing mail (including courier) items (envelope, package, etc.) inside the container. Door 2 is used to access the internal volume of container 1 in order to retrieve accumulated mail items, and can also serve to perform other operations, for example, of a service nature (equipment setup, repair, replacement of items, etc.).

To pay for the delivery of mail, the mailbox is equipped with a banknote receiver (window 5), as well as a plastic card receiver (window 11). The mailbox may also be provided with a change delivery window 13.

To familiarize the user with the rules of using the mailbox, the latter is equipped with an information display 6 (as an option, an electronic display) with the rules of use. The mailbox may also have an additional advertising display 10.

To set the control command, the mailbox is equipped with a keyboard 7.

The mailbox is equipped with a device for issuing packaging envelopes to the user, a window 8 of which is located on the container 1. On the container is also located a device 9 for reading a code (bar code, electromagnetic code, etc.) from the packaging envelope to open the receiving window 4.

The mailbox is equipped with two or more receiving windows 4 for envelopes, and windows 4 are designed for items of various types, sizes and may be different in size.

The mailbox may have containers inside the case for items of various types (and / or sizes) associated with the respective receiving windows 4.

The mailbox is equipped with a microprocessor and a memory device for controlling the mailbox: selecting and specifying a command to open the receiving window by a signal from the code reader, fixing information about the mail, the opening time of the container door, identification of the courier, service worker, collector, etc. d.

A mailbox can be connected remotely (for example, using an Internet modem) with an information logistics center.

The interaction of the microprocessor with other structural elements of the mailbox is explained in the diagram of Fig.6. It can be seen that the commands (processes) for opening the door, storing information, transferring information between the devices of the mailbox or an external addressee (for example, a logistics point) are carried out using a microprocessor.

The packaging envelope 15 (package) for use in the proposed mailbox on its front part is made two-layer, and its outer layer is intended for the client user and can be easily separated after filling information blocks on it. The external detachable layer is in contact with the inner layer through the copy layer, so that all information from the outer layer is copied to the inner layer of the envelope when filling out information blocks, and the copy side may be the inner side 20 of the outer layer of the envelope (Fig. 4).

The detachable part of the outer layer of the envelope 15 with an individual departure number, cost of the service, with information about the addressee, with information about the return address is an address block receipt 16.

Alternatively, the envelope can be equipped with a code 17 — an individual electromagnetic tag or barcode that acts as a key for opening the inlet of the mailbox, as well as other functions, for example, control, including for accounting purposes, for example, to confirm information about the receipt of envelope 15 in the mail box, type and size of the envelope, the time the envelope was placed in the box. A code (bar code) 17 is located on the inner surface of the envelope under the detachable address block-receipt 16. Alternatively, the separation of the address block-receipt 16 is due to the perforation 19 made in the outer layer around the perimeter of the address block-receipt 16.

The proposed mailbox works as follows.

A user of a mailbox installed in a public place, for example, in the metro lobby, etc., using the information display 6, gets acquainted with the instructions for using the mailbox and buys a special envelope 15 (package) of the required size with an individual code 17 (barcode, t .d.). Also, envelope 15 shows the cost of the service, which does not depend on the weight of the mail. Tariffs for sending mail are fixed and depend only on the destination and the size of the envelope, which allows you to do without a device for weighing.

An envelope is purchased by placing banknotes in window 5 of the receiver of banknotes or plastic (bank, prepaid) cards in window 12 of the device for accepting them.

Payment of a special envelope is at the same time payment for a courier service for its delivery.

Next, the user signs the envelope 15, filling in the relevant fields of the required information of the delivery address, return, contact phone number, opens the address block receipt 16, which is the receipt for payment for the service and remains with the user (it contains the individual encoded data of the postal item and the amount of payment for the courier service ), and the envelope 15 is applied to the device 9 for reading the code, the signal from which opens the corresponding receiving window 4, in which the envelope 15 with the mail phenomenon.

In the case of payment by banknotes, the user may be given change through window 13. Alternatively, the device may be modified without this service, then the client will be required to pay for the service without change.

With a certain frequency, the courier extracts correspondence from the mailbox through door 2, opening the lock 3, and delivers it, as an option, to the point 14 of logistics and sorting, from where it, in turn, is delivered to the addressee 15 (see figure 2).

The delivery to the addressee of the courier package is documented, as an option, with a receipt of delivery, which, in turn, can be communicated to the client upon his request or, for a fee, the client can be delivered with a receipt of receipt.

The envelope 15 can be equipped with an individual electromagnetic code or barcode 17, which is used to open the receiving window for the package and to record information in the control memory device (including time, individual information about the mailbox in which the package was placed, etc. .) about the fact and time of putting this package inside. This information, for example via the Internet, can be transferred to point 14 of the logistics and sorting. An individual code also allows you to identify a registered user.

This allows you to quickly monitor information about the status of the device, as well as manage the status of the device.

Service workers, with the necessary frequency, perform maintenance operations with the mailbox (servicing the blocks and devices of the mailbox, placing packages in the device for their sale, extracting and delivering cash (collection), etc.).

A registered user of the service can fill out a special address-registration form, including one containing an individual barcode or other individual code, and register the shipment on the courier service provider's website, after which the specified form is printed, pasted on a regular envelope and placed in the mailbox, when This opens the inlet of the mailbox by reading the individual code (or bar code) on the printed form. In this embodiment, the payment for the service is made either through the Internet, or using individualized plastic cards.

Claims (9)

1. A mailbox containing at least one container having a door with a lock, at least one receiving window for placing the mail in the container, a payment device, a device for issuing packaging envelopes, an information display and a keyboard for selection a control command and a microprocessor, characterized in that it contains two or more receiving windows designed to be placed in a container of mail items of various types and / or sizes, the box is also equipped with a reader for formations with packaging envelopes associated with the receiving window with the possibility of opening the latter, and the microprocessor is configured to command the opening of the receiving window by a signal from the specified reader. 2. The mailbox according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with a memory device for recording information about the time the postal item was placed in the container, the number and type of mail in the container, the opening time of the container, individual information about the user, individual information about the courier, service workers, collectors. 3. The mailbox according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving windows are made of various sizes. 4. The mailbox according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that it has containers for items of various types and / or sizes, each of which is associated with a corresponding receiving window. 5. The mailbox according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with an advertising display. 6. The mailbox according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with a means for remotely transmitting information, for example, an Internet modem, through which the microprocessor is connected to a logistics-sorting console. 7. The mailbox according to claim 1, characterized in that the device for making a payment includes a banknote receiver. 8. The mailbox according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that the device for making payment includes a device for receiving plastic cards. 9. The mailbox according to claim 1, characterized in that the container has a window for issuing change.

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