CA2049407A1 - Automatic mail-processing device with full functions - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An automatic mail-processing device with full functions, and more particularly to an automatic mail-processing device which can be operated by only one postal clerk to perform all delivery types and additional service types of all kinds of mails, and the functions of which include automatical weighing, postage calculation, charging, postage stamping, receipt printing, register receipt printing and regular daily, weekly, monthly income listing whereby the postal business can be practiced systematically, automatically, accurately and highly efficiently.

Description

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TITLE
AUTO~ATIC HAIL-PROCESSING DEVICE WITH FULL FUNCTIONS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
s The present invention relates to an automatic mail-processing device with full functions, and more particularly to an automatic mail-processing device which can be operated by onlY one postal clerk to perform all delivery types and additional service types of all kinds of mails~ and the functions of which include automatical weighing, postage calculation, charging, postage stanping, receipt printing, register receipt printing and regular dailY, weekly, monthly income listing ~hereby the postal business can be practiced systematically, automatically, accuratelY and highly ; efficiently.

The mail-receiving and mail deliverying operations in current Post Office are quite complicated. They can be sorted according to their characters as follows:

(1) mail character: letter, printed matter, small packet, commercial document, small packet, electronic mail, etc.
~ (2) delivery area: domestic, international (further divided into various districts or countries).

:

... ,.. ,. : .

~3) delivery type: air, sea/land, land/air, regular.

(4) service type: coDDon, registert special, insure, declare, delivery advice, attest, express, prompt delivery, etc.

(5) receiver/deliver amount: individual or bulk.

(6) charging manner: according to weight or number, also considering mail character, delivery area, delivery manner, service type, and receive/deliver amount to charge generally.

lS The above-mentioned various procedures are managed through respective counters wherein the weighing is practiced according to different standards, and the postage is calculated according to complex charge list, and therefore the eguipments needed in these procedures are quite complicated and not so easily maintained. Horeover, the numberous procedures waste enormous labor and are apt to cause an uneven work distribution and low working efficiency and thereby errors occur frequently. Particularly the mailer always wastes a lot of time when waiting.
Furthermore, the postage stamps used in general post offices are transmitted to the postal counter after the following sequential complex procedures: design, printing, ~ O ~ 9 ~ ~ 7 storing, delivery and receiving. These procedures are performed at guite high expense. Horeover, when mailing a mail, the mailer must go through weighing, postage calculation, buying the stamp, attaching the stamp to the mail, and then dropping the Dail into the mail box, etc.
The dispatched mail must thereafter be checked for ovQr-weight, postage due, and then stamped, sorted, etc.
Considerable large work loading results therefrom. Nowever, the aforesaid procedures have been adopted long since.
Although the post administrations of various countries have tried to improve the defective operation, but nothing innovative is developed.

It it therefore tried by the applicant to develop the present automatic mail-processing device to eliminate the aforesaid shortcomings existing in conventional mail-processing system.

SUHMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an automatic intelligent mail-processing device with full functions. The operations thereof are coopletely computerized and adapted to cooperate with peripheral equipoents such as printer, card reader/writer and key board assembly, etc. Besides the Dail receiving operation, the present device can print automatically the receipts in every managing stops and perform business statistics and listing ~ 9 ~ O 7 to thoroughtly replace the current postal table operations and peripheral operations thereof and achieve an innovative mail-processing procedure.

It is a further obiect of the present invention to provide the above mail-processing device ~herein the postage stamping operation and the postage calculation are both greatly improved and simplified, and the steel stamp required by securities is maintained and controlled by microprocessor programs.

It is still a further obiect of the present invention to provide the above mail-processing device wherein the standard mail, which occupies at least about 70% of total mails, can be weighed during conveyance automatically, and then sent to the postage stamping area for stamping, whereby the problem of discontinuity between weighing and stauping procedures existing in conventional mail-processing machine is overcome revolutionarily.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above mail-processing device wherein in case that the device is disposed in a sub-post office or other business office, it can be controlled remotely or on line by remote host, and the data stored in each processing device can be transmitted to the remote host or control center of head~post office for completely controlling the operation of each processing device. Therefore, the present device can ::

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be operated with least labor and at minimum expense.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above mail-processing device uherein the functions thereof can be freely increased or decreased according to various market reguirements, ~ail varieties, and service levers, etc., and moreover, the present device can be alternatively assembled within same spirit to satisfy various special market requirements.
The present invention can be best understood through the follDwing description and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figs. lA to lD are system block diagrams of four embodiments of the present invention;

Figs. 2A and 2B are flow charts of operation of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the conveying device and weighing device of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view according to Fig. 3, showing a first operation state;

Fig. 5 is a plan view according to Fig. 3, showing a .

second operation state;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the digital mark-printer assembly of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the main shaft and numeral wheel, illustrating the operation thereof:

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the printing head of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a side plan view of the digital mark-printer assembly of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a overall top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a front plan view according to Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a side plan view according to Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of the mechanis- center according to Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 shows the domestic key board arrangement according to Fig. 10; and Fig. 15 shows the international key board arrange~ent :

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according to Fig. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED Eh80DIHENTS

Referring to Fig. lA, a first embodiment of the present automatic ~ail processing system includes a microprocessor 10, a display device 720, a printer 780, a keyboard system 70, an auto-conveying device 30 and a postage stamp device 25, vherein the microprocessor having a micro processor main control unit includes a display I/F (interface) circuit ll controlling the display device 720, a printer I/F CKT
(circuit) 14 commanding the printer 780 to work, a key board system I/F CKT 18 capable of receiving commands from keY
board system 70 and communicating therewith, an auto-conveying device I/F CKT 19 used to control auto-conveying device 30 and receive signals therefrom and communicate therewith, a parallel bus ZZ related to and communicated uith the auto-conveying device I/F CKT 19 and a parallel bus I/F CKT 22A, a postage stamp device I/F CKT 20 used to control auto-postage stamp device 25 and receive signals therefrom and communicate therewith, and a parallel bus 21 related to and communicated with the postage stamp device I/F CKT 20 and a parallel bus I/F CKT 21A. As shown in Fig. lA, the postage stamp device 25 includes a postage stamp device control SW (switch) 25A, a postage stamp device control unit 25B, a sensor CKT Z5C, a sensor I/F CKT 25E, a sensor S5, S6, a driver CKT 25D, a driver I/F CKT Z5F and a driver Z51, 253. Z56, etc. While the auto-conveying device : :

.

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30 includes an auto-conveying device control SW 30A, an auto-conveying device control unit 30B, a sensor CKT 30C, a sensor I/F CKT 30E, a sensor S1-S4, a driver CKT 30D, a driver I/F CKT 30F and a driver 300, wherein the auto-postage stamp device 25 transmits the signals obtained bysensors S5, S6 through the sensor I/F CKT 25E, sensor CKT
25C to auto-postage stamp device cGntrol unit 25B, auto-postage stamp device control SW 25A, and then the signals are converted into effective commands via the programs of the microprocessor and sent to the driver CKT 25D, driver I/F CKT 25F to command the drivers 251, 253, 256 to operate in accordance with the commands. While the auto-conveying device 30 also transmits the signals obtained by sensors Sl-S4 through the sensor I/F CKT 30E, sensor CKT 30C to the auto-conveying device control unit 30B, auto-conveying device control S~ 30A, and then the signals are converted into effective commands via the programs of the microprocessor and sent to the driver CKT 30D and driver I/F
CKI' 30F to command the driver 300 to operate according to the command.
.

Further referring to Fig. lB, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. A weighing scale 500 is added to the system, and a ~eighing scale I/F CKT 12 is added to the microprocessor 10 for receiving signals from the weighing scale 500. The remaining parts are identical to the first embodiment and the description thereof is therefore omitted.

20~ 407 A third embodiment of the Present invention is shown in Fig. lC. A postage label supply device 60 and a postage label supply device I/F CKT 16 adapted to comnand the postage label supply device 60 and receive signals therefrom S and communicate therewith are added to the second embodiment to form the third embodiment.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. lD. The fourth embodiment is achieved by adding to the third embodiment a card reader/writer 711, a remote host 150, a money receiver 710, an Asynchronous I~F CKT 13 capable of receiving signals from card reader/~riter, controlling the same and communicating therewith, a host I/F
CKT 15 capable of connecting to the remote host 150 via a moden 151 or communcating with the remote host 150 wirelessly, and a money receiver I/F CKT 17 capble of receiving signals from the money receiver 710 and controlling the same.

As set forth above, the display 720, weighing scale 500, printer 780 and facsimile 150A can be added according to actual requirements, while the remote host 150, card reader/writer 711 and money receiver 710 can be removed in accordance with different situations.
Please now refer to Figs. 2A and 2B. The operation of one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by a flow chart. The operation procedures of the present _ g_ Z~9~7 invention are generally divided into four types wherein ths first thereof is the processing of Neight-counting standard mail; the second is the processing of weight-counting non standard mail; the third is the processing of sheet-counting charged mail; the fourth is the processing of electronic mail. With respect to the weight-counting standard mail, the processing thereof starts from Fl and goes to panel clearance F2 and stand by F3. When going to electronic mail F4 and sheet-counting charged mail F5 and a negative signal is given, the processing goes to standard mail F6. When a posititve signal is given thereafter by means of pressing a "standard mail" key, the microprocessor lO then commands the system to operate according to the preset "standard mail"
procedure. The standard mail is thereby sent to a first weighing scale F7. The operator then inputs relevant informations of the standard mail (such as deliverYing manner, service division, register, or insured value, etc.) into the microprocessor 10, ~hich thereafter calculates the postage according to these informations via preset programs.
If a positive signal is given in bulk mail procedure F10, a bulk mail command must be input to enable the procedure to go to the bulk mail procedure F101. The total postage mail then be displayed on the display 720 in procedure Fll.

In case of individual standard mail, the procedure will go directly from F9 to F11. After the postage payment procedure F12, all commands are checked for correction, and if so, the actuating key is pressed in procedure F13. At 2~
this ti~e, the microprocessor uill command the postage stamp device to automatically set the nu~eral wheels thereof into proper date and postage in procedure F16. When a Positive signal is given in standard mail procedure F17, the mail is conveyed to the printing position in mail conveying procedure F18. In procedure Fl9, the postage is imprinted on the mail. (The mails can be sorted if necessarY. This procedure is not shown in Fig. 2B.) Thereafter, the postage stamp device is zeroed in procedure F20. The printer will then print a receipt and certificate in procedures F21 and F22, and then the above relevant data are stored in procedure F23. Simultaneously, the receipt, money card and other documents are given to the customer in procedure F24 and the whole procedure ends in procedure F25.
According to the above procedure, in case of a non standard mail, the procedurè will go from F6 to a second weighing scale procedure F71 and relevant comDands are input according to identical manner in procedure F81. In procedure F9, the postage is calculated by microprocessor and the procedure goes froD F10 to F17. Because of non standard mail, the microprocessor 10 will co~mand the postage stamp device to supply a blank postage label and enter the label into printing position for imprinting from procedure F180 to procedure F190. The following procedure is the same procedure as the above-mentioned one and the description thereof is therefore omitted.

20~9407 In case of sheet-counting charged mail, a position signal is given in procedure F5, and a sheet-counting command will be input in procedure F72. ~hen relevant com~ands respecting the mail are input in procedure F82, the procedure will go from F9 to F13. Since weighing is unnecessary in the sheet-counting case, the procedure will go directly from F14 to F17 after postage payment, and then go to F17, F18, F19, F20 or F17, F180, Fl90, F20 according to standard mail or non standard mail procedure. The procedure goes finally to F21, F22 and ends after printing the receipt.

As to electronic mail, when a positive signal is given in procedure F4, and the electronic mail co~mand is input in procedure F73, the commands of the mail can be input in procedure F83. Thereafter, when procedure goes from Fll to F13, since weighing i5 not necessary, the procedure will go directly from F14 to F22 to print the certificate after postage payment. The following procedure is identical to aforesaid one and the description thereof is therefore omitted.

To easily understand the postal material-managing process of the present invention, two main portions thereof, i.e., automatic weighing device for conveyed postal material and automatic postage stamp device are described in detail as follows:

:

2 ~ 3 L~

Referring to Figs. 3 to 5, one enbodiment of the automatic weighing device 23 for postal aaterial in conveyance according to the present invention is illustrated. As shown in Fig. 3, the device 23 of the present invention comprises a conveying device 30 and a weighing scale 500, wherein the conveying device 30 includes a driving neans 300, for example, a motor, a first conveying means 301A and a corresponding first idle wheel 310 thereof, a second conveying means 301B and a corresponding second idle wheel 201A, a third conveying means 301C and a corresponding third idle wheel 201B, a fixed stand 400, a movable stand 200 with a pair of rocking arms 120 (see Figs.
4 and 5), and a weighing scale 500 located under the movable stand 200, and a first sensor Sl located before the first conveying means 301A (see Fig. 4) and a aecond sensor S4 located after the third conveying means 301C.

A novel aspect of the present invention is the ovable stand 200 that includes a supporting stand uith a rectangular opening 208 in the middle portion thereof. At both ends of tb opening 208 there are disposed the second and third idle wheels 201A and 201B that are in cooperative relationship with the second and third conveyin~ means 301B
and 301C respectively to convey a standard Dail L to be weighed.

Referring to Fig. 4. A ovable end 122 of each of a pair of front and rear rocking arms 120 is pivotally 2~
connected at each end of the movable stand 200~ The other end of each rocking arm 120 is pivotally cunnected at a pivot 101. A pair of electromagnetic actuators 100, such as a solenoid, is connected to the middle portion of the front rocking arm 120. When the electromagnetic actuator 100 is activated, the movable end 122 is pulled down with the pivot 101 as a ~ulcrum. Since the moving stand 200 is attached to the movable ends 122 of both of the rocking arms 120, both movable ends 122 are actuated and descend simultaneouslY to move stand 200 to a lower horizontal plane~ As best sho~n in Fig. 4, the second and third idle wheels 201A and 201B
are connected to move with the movable stand 200 in vertical planes corresponding to the second and third conveying means 301B and 301C, respectively. The first conveying means 301A
precedes the second conveying means 301B. The driving means 300, e.g. a stepping motor, drives the first, second and third conveying means. The first conveying means 301A is urged by a first pulley 302 (Fig. 3) and a first conveying belt 303 thereof. Referring again to Fig. 3, the second and third conveying means 301B, 301C are urged by second pulley 304, a second conveying belt 305, third pulley 306, and a third conveying belt 307.

Disposed beneath the opening 208 of the movable stand 200 is the weighing scale 500. A weighing plate 501 of the weighing scale 500 is Positioned above the main body of the weighing scale with its surface a little lower than the movable stand 200 so that the weighing plate 501 does not ~ , 20~3407 obstruct the conveyance of the article to be weighed.

The operation of the weighing device 23 of the present invention can best be understood by referring to Figs. 3 through 5. Prior to reaching the first conveying means 301A
and first idle wheel ~eans 310, mail L comes in contact ~ith the first sensor Sl, such as photo-sensor, and the driving means 300 is actuated to convey oail L to a position to be weighed, as shown in Figs. 4 (initial position) and 5 (weighing position). In the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the electromagnetic actuator 100 is not activated.
Therefore, the movable ends 122 of the rocking arms 120, due to the force of the springs 104, urge the second and third idle uheels 201A, 201B upward and in close contact with the second and third conveying ~eans 301B, 301C, whereby the mail L can be delivered onto the movable stand 200 as shown in Fig. 4.

When the mail L reaches the front edge of the second sensor S4 the second sensor S2 sends a sensor signal to actuator 100. The electromagnetic actuator 100 is thereby activated and the movable end 122 of the related rocking arm 120 is pulled down lowering ovable stand 200 and the movable end of the other rocking arm. The mail L to be weighed is then seated on the weighing plate 501 of the weighing scale 500, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The weighing scale can weigh the mail L, and display the result on the display means of the weighing scale 500 via microprocessor 2~ 9~7 10 or send out a signal to perform some other control functions.

After a pre-set time period following measurement of the object's weight, the electromagnetic actuator 100 will be deactivated, and both rocking ar~s 120 are ~rawn back by the force of the springs 104 and the movable stand 200 i5 restored to its initial positon. The mail L, having been weighed, is again held between the second and third idle wheels 201A, 201B and the second and third conveying meaDs 301B, 301C, and thus continues to be conveyed into digital mark-printer 25.

It should be emphasized that by using this invention the mail L is weighed automatically in conveyance and in weighing position, the movable stand 200 is indicated to descend, preventing the mail L from contacting other portions and the result can be transmitted to a computer for analysis via the weighing device interface circuit 12.
After weighing, the movable stand 200 automatically returns to its home position.

Turning now to Figs. 6 to 9, an embodiDent of the postage stamp device 25 of this invention is shown. The printer 25 includes a conveying system and a postmark printing system wherein the conveying system is arranged above and below a conveying reference surface Al, including a main driving means of the conveying system, for example, a .

.

20~94Q7 first stepper motor 251, driving a first roller 2512 and a second roller 2513 through timing belts 2510 and 2511 respectively, as shown in Fig. 6. Referring to Fig. 6, there are installed an idle roller 2514 with a stretching spring above the first roller 2512 and an idle roller 2515 above the second roller 2513. The post mark printing syste~
is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, including a main shaft driving means 256 e.g. a second stepper motor 256, pulleys 2561, 2563, a ti~ing belt 2562, a main shaft 2505, on which a plurality of second racks 2504 are slidably mounted, a plurality of stepper motors 253A,... 253H for driving their respective numeral wheels 271, 272 through their respective related gears means 253A4... 253H4, ink-printing means 40, a printing head 27, and an idle roller 2516 ther~of (see Figs. 6, to 9). The printing head 27, as seen in Fig. 8, includes a postmark wheel means 271 for imprinting postage, a postmark wheel means 272 for imprinting accepted date, a graphical postmark means 273 for imprinting advertising marks.
Referring to Fig. 7, the postmark wheel means of postage 271 further comprises a numeral wheel 2711, a gear 2712 attached therewith, a first rack 2713 engaged with the gear 2712, a guiding bar 2714 for the rack 2713 to move thereon, and a hooking arm 2715. The lower end of the hooking arm is secured to a recess 2506 of a second rack 2504. In order to restore the main shaft 2505 to its home position after the completion of postmarking, an encoder 2~9~07 2~4A and a main driver sensor 234 are disposed near the driving portion of the second stepper motor 256. SimilarlY, in order to assure that the stepper motor 253A properly drives the corresponding character wheel 2711, an encoder 253A1 and a first wheel driver sensor 231 are disposed thereon.

Prior to the entering of postal material into the conveying system, the Printing head 27 is zeroed to its home position (not shown) wherein a motor 251 is the prime driving source of the conveying syste~. As shown in Fig. 9, disposed between the first roller 2512 and printing head 27 is a sensor S6 whereby after a postal material L
passes through the sensor S6, the CPU 10 will actuate the printing head 27. Below the printing head 27 is a third idle wheel 2516 uith stretching spring in order that the postal material L have a close contact with the nuneral wheel 271 of the printing head 27, as shown in Fig. 9.

As to the inking to be applied to the nuoeral wheel 271, it will be carried out by a printing ink means 40, as shown in Fig. 9. The ink means 40 includes an ink tank 45, a first roller 44A, a second roller 47, a third roller 41 and an adiusting means 48. ~he ink means 40 pertains to prior art and the description thereof is therefore oEitted herein.

As can be seen in Fig. 9, when the postal material L

, . . .. .. . . .

2 0 ~ 7 is forwarded to be printed by the printing head 27, due to the spring effect of the first, second and third idle wheels 2514, 2515, 2516 the printing effect is equally excellent regardless of the thinkness of the printed postal material.
This should be considered as an advantage of this invention over prior art.

The disclosure going thus far is made only with rsspect to a printing head with one nuneral wheel, in practical operation, however, the device works with four numeral wheels or more than four numeral uheels arranged as two or more than t~o parallel sets, wherein one set functions as date numeral wheel, the other as postal charge numeral wheel, as shown in Fig. 8. Yarious arrangement between a plurality of stspper motors 253A - 253F and their relatsd second racks 2504A - 2504F for each set of character wheels can be arranged easily. As can be understood, ~ore character wheels mentioned above can be arranged in accordance with the need.
It has to be pointed out that a relatively s~aller diameter portion 2505B of the main shaft 2505 of the printing head is in alignnent with that where tbe driving gear 253A4 is located, as shown in Fig. 7. It will be seen fro~ the drawing, the outer perineter of the relatively snaller diameter portion 2505~, iust comes flush with the dented base 2502 of the second rack 2504, so that after respective stepper ~otors 253A - 253N are located at their ~.

, .... . . . .

20~"34~7 proper positions and the Dain shaft 2505 of the printing head rotates, the second racks 2504 and the relatively smaller diaDter portions 2505B can slip through the driving gear 253A4. In other words, tbe second rack 2504 for driving the character wheels of the printing head 27 can slide axially along the oain shaft 2505, and also can rotate together with the main shaft 2505 after reaching its proper position, thus smoothing the work of the printing head 2~
and reducing the very coDplicated machanism as needed in the cases of prior art work. This should also be concluded as one of the ~ost important feature of this invention.

To further understand the present invention, the automatic mail-Processing system thereof is described as a whole as follows:

Please refer to Figs. 10 to 12, which illustrate the appearance of the present invention. The front portion of the Dain body H of the auto~atic ~ail-processing systeD is faced to the postal clerks, while the rear portion thereof is faced to the customers norDally. A guide rail 309 for bulk standard mail is disposed on the left front portion of the main body H. On the right side of the guide rail 309 is disposed a ~echanism center ~. Above the mechanism center ~
is located a first display device 720, and after tbe center is located a second display device 720A. The ~echanis~
center ~ includes the automatic conveying device 30, the first weighing scale SOO and settable auto~atic postage Z~
stamp device 25. On the right side of the mechanisa center is disposed a collecting tank 21 for collecting processed postage label and bulk mails. Adiacent to the tank 21 is disposed the second ueighing scale 500A. The weighing scales of the present invention are electronic weighing scales applying load cells as ~eight sensors. The second weight values are converted and displayed on the first and second display devices 720, 720A via the ~eighing scale I/F CKT 12 and microporcessor 10. To reach the object of communication between postal clerks and customers, the two display devices 720, 720A are disposed respectively on the front and back sides of-the mechanism center to show the data about mail weight, postage calculation, postage payment, and other inner state indications (such as insufficient ink, lack of postage label, over ~eight, etc.) on both the first and second display devices 720, 720A.

As shown in Fig. 10, a key board system 70 is located on the front upper right portion of the main body, including domestic mail command input key board 730, international mail command input key board 740, bulk mail coDmand input key board 750 and actuating key 770. On the front left portion of the main body is disposed the money receiver 710 including the card reader/writer 711, holding key 712, accumulating key 713 and cash key 714. On the front right portion of the main body is disposed the printer assembly 780 including receipt printers 782, 781, finacial list printer 783, etc. A power switch 760 is located on the left 2~9~07 side of the printer assembly 780 to control the operation power of the present invention. Furthermors, a facsimile 600 is located at the right end portion of the main body for transmision of the electronic mails.

Please now refer to Fig. 13, which illustrates the mechanism center H of the present invention. The mechanism center N essentially includes the automatic weighing device 23 and automatic postage stamp device 25, uhich have been described in preceding paragraph.

It should be noted that to prevent mails with abnormal length from affecting the normal operation of the present invention, a set of sensors Sl to S5 are provided whereby when a mail enters the system and is sensed by sensor Sl, and the driver 300 consequentlY rotates to convey the mail forward, if sensor S2 senses the mail while sensor S3 does not sensè, it indicates a too short mail, then the driver 300 will reversely rotate to reiect the mail. Moreover, when sensor S5 senses the mail while sensor Sl remains in sensing condition, a too long mail is indicated and the driver 300 also reverselY rotates to reject the mail.
Therefore, mails not meet length regulation will be removed in advance. This arrangement is a characteristic of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 13, this embodiment of the present invention is generally identical to the embodiment shown in :

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Figs. 3 to 9. However, the first conveying means 301A, first idle wheel 310 thereof, first pulleY 302 and second pulley 304 are omitted in this eDbodi3ent, and a direct driving manner is applied therein. While in the auto-atic postage sta~p device, the second roller 2513 and second idle roller 2515 are omitted, and the driver 300 of the automatic weighing device is alternatively located between the second and third rollers 301B, 301C to simultaneously drive the rollers 2514, 2512 for simplifying the driving mechanism.
Additionally, a gate 308 is disposed at entrance 309 of the uechanism center H to prevent processed mails from interference of successive mails. The ink device 40 of the preceding embodiment is of pump type, but is of roller type in this embodiment. Furthermore, in this embodiment, to apply postage label to the non standard mail instead of direct postage stamp, a blank postage label supplying device 60 is disposed between the idle wheel 2516 and first roller 2512, and a movable guider 61 and brush ember 62 are arranged at the exit of the printing head 27. Below the brush member 62 is disposed a water tank 63. When applying water to the back of postage label for attaching the same to the mail, the movable guider 61 can be pressed down manually (as shown in Fig. 13) or be controlled electromagnetically and synchronized with supplying device 60 whereby the postage label uith postage stamp can be guided through a guide channel 64 when the guider 61 is Pressed downward to be brushed by the brush member 62 and pass through an exit 65 to go into a collecting tank 21 as mentioned above.

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Please now further refer to Figs. lO, ll, 14 and 15.
The key board system 70 of the present invention is arranged on the front right surface of the main body, serving as the operation controlling center of the present invention. The operation command input, state display, and the final receipt and list printing are all accomplished via the key board system. The keg board system 70 includes primarily the money receiver 710, domestic mail command input key board 730, international mail command input key board 740, bulk mail amount command input key board 750, power switch 760, actuating key 770 and printer assembly 780. The structures and functions thereof are described as follows:

l. The ~oney receiver 710, as shoun in Fig. ll, includes the card reader/writer 711, holding key 712, accumulating key 713, and cash keY 714 four components, uherein the card reader/writer 711 is a conventional device, uhich can read the balance amount of money on the money card and subtract the postage therefrom and then write down the new rest value.
During this procedure, the relevant data are processed by cicroprocessor via RS232 interface and displaged on display device 720, 720A. Horeove, the income amount signal is transmitted to printer assembly 780 via microprocessor, serving as the basis for single mail receipt and list printing. If multiple mails are mailed at a ti~e, and the ~ailer reguires that all postages be printed on one receiPt~ he can press the Z049~Q~
accumulating key 713, whereby the microprocessor will receive this command and print the accusulated postage on one receipt. For example, Nhen a first ~oneY card can not totally pay the needed Doney and a second money card is required to pay the rest money, the holding key 713 can be pressed after first money card payrent. If the rest money is paid by cash or at a time, the cash key 714 can be pressed after cash paynent.
According to the above arrangeDent, the money receiver 710 of the present invention is operated utterly by microprocessor and all income varieties can be listed by printer 782.
2. The domestic mail key board 730, as sho~n in Fig. 14, includes command input of all kinds of domestic mails, such as ~ail size sorting key 7301, selecting key 7302, rejecting key 7303 and correcting key 7304. If the operation is incorrect, the correcting key 7304 can be pressed to restart the operation. The keys 7305 to 7307 are nail delivery type selecting keys and keys 7308 to 7312 are mail rough sorting keys including mail key 7308, express key 7309, commercial document key 7310, small package key 7311 and electronic document key 7312, etc. Keys 7313 to 7316 are fine sorting keys of mail key 7308, including letter heY 7313, printing key 7314, blindness key 7315 : ~
:~:
~ - 25 -and small packet key 7316. While keys 7317 to 7323 are service division keys for mail keg 7308, including register key 7317, express key 7318, insure keys I and II 7319, 7320, declare key 7321, delivery advice key 7322, and attest key 7323. Keys 7324, 7325 are local/
outgoing postage calculation sorting keys for express key 7309, and keYs 7326 to 7329 are service division keys for commercial document key 7310, including regular key 7326, general register key 7327, siuple register key 7328 and delivery advice key 7329, etc.
Keys 7330 to 7337 are delivery area/service division keys for small package key 7311, including express keY
7330, register key 7331, insure key 7332, declare 7333 and delivery advice key 7334, etc. Keys 7335 to 7337 are first area, second area~ and third area keys according to delivery area division. While keys 7338 to 7341 are key group for electronic mail key 7312 and attest mail keY 7323. Since these t~o mails are sheet-counting charged mail, therefore tbey are operated by the follo~ing keys, i.e., a first numeral key group 7339, correcting key 7340 and input keY
7341, and the result thereof are displayed on a third display device 7338 for operator's checking. For example, when operating, if the sheet nu~ber of the 2S mail is input via one of the ten numeral keys of the numeral key group 7339, the data ~ill be displayed on the third disPlay device 7338. After identified visually, the input key 7341 is then pressed. If an .
. .

Z~ 7 error is found, the correcting key 7340 then is depressed to restart the operation. The sheet nu~ber is trans~itted to the microprocessor for calculation of proper postage ~hen depressing the input key 7341.

3. The international mail key board 740, as shown in Fig.
15, includes all international mail command inputs, wherein most thereof are identical to the dooestic key board 730, but the following keys are added to or changed in the sorting key of the mail ksY 7408: a print material special envelope key 7415, news key 7416, Hong Rong/Hacao key 7422, Asia Main Land key 7423, Europe/Africa/Central South ADerica key 7424 and A~erica/Canada key 7425. Moreover, on the sorting key of the express key 7409 are alternatively arranged a delivery advice key 7426, Hong Kong/Macao key 7427, Asia key 7428, and Europe/Anerica/Africa key 7429. On the sorting key of the commercial document key 7410 are alternatively arranged Asia key, etc. 7430 to 7432, and on the sorting key of the small package key 7411 are additionallY arranged input keys 7433 to 7446 of areas of East Asia I, East Asia II, East South Asia, West South Asia, Oceania, ~iddle Near East, East Europe, West Europe, Hiddle South America, Africa, North America, South Africa, etc. Similarly, on the electronic mail key 7412 are additionally arranged input keys 7461 to 7463 of areas of Asia, North America, Europe/Africa/South America/Middle Near East, . .

~ 2~)~9~7 etc. The operation manner and use obiect of the above keys are identical to the precedinglY described internal key group 730, and the descriPtion thereof is therefore omitted.

4. The bulk mail amount com~and input key board 750, as shown in Fig. lO, includes bulk ~ail key 751, numeral key group (consist of O to 9 ten numeral keys) and correcting key 753. When Dailing bulk mails, the bulk mail key 751 and numeral key group 752 are dePressed.
The correcting key 753 performs the same function as that described above.

5. The power switch 760 is the main power switch of the present invention, and a lock set can be disposed therson for security.

6. The actuating key 770 priaarily perfor~s the function that when all the inputs are accomplished by the kays on the operation panel, the actuating key 770 is depressed to enable the other portions of the present invention to practice the weighing, postage calculation, postage stamping, money receiving, receipt or certificate printing, datum storage, etc.

7. As described above and shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the microprocessor is the operation center of the pressnt invention, wherein the CPU and EPROM thereof are :

.

.

~9~

provided Rith programs recording the required postage table, postage calculation manner, sorting of delivery area and postags calculation, Danaging manner of bulk mail, sheet-counting charged mail calculation manner, receipt and incoDe list and inner/outer operation ~anner in advance, whereby via the key board system 70, the operation, control, check, calculation, judgement, analysis, execution, performance, datuD
storage, printing, etc. of the present invention can all be practiced cnnveniently. Therefore, the present invention can serve as a completely intelligent automatic mail-processing system with full functions.

To best understand the aforesaid functions of the present invention, an example is set forth as follows:

If a mailer wants to send an insured express air mail with standard envelope to France, when the ~ailer passes the mail to a postal clerk, as shown in Figs. 10 and 15, the clerk can depress the standard Dail key ?401 on tbe international key board 740, the air mail key 7405 thereof, mail key 7408, express key 7419, insure key 7420, and Europe/Africa/Hiddle South America key 7424 thereof, and then depress actuating key 770 to co~plete the conmand input. At this tine, the mail L will be automaticallY
conveyed to the weighing are a by the auto~atic conveying device 30 (see Figs. 4, 5, and 13). When the mail L reacbes the sensor S4 located at weighing area, the movable stand 2C)4'~

200 of the automatic weighing device 23 descends under commands from microprocessor 10 to set the mail L on the weighing plate 501 of the first weighing scale 500 (see Fig.
5). The mail is thereafter weighed by the first weighing scale 500 without contacting any other portion. After weighing, the movable stand 200 of the weighing device 23 automatically returns to its home position to lift the mail L to original level (as shown in Fig. 4). In the meanwhile, the postage, being accurately calculated by microprocessor, is displayed on display device 720, 720A tD show the mailer the proper postage. If the ~ailer want to pay the postage with money card, he can insert the money card into card reader/writer 711. The balance is then displayed, and the postage is substracted therefrom. A new balance is thereafter written on the card by card reader/writer 711.
The card is then réjected therefrom. If the last balance can not pay ths postage, the card ~ill be rejected from the card reader/writer after the balance is totally substracted.
The mailer then can depress the holding key 712 and insert a new money card. If the mailer wants to pay the due postage in cash, the postal clerk can depress cash key 714 after receiving the money to complete the postage payment procedure.

In the meantime, when the mail L is conveyed to postage stamping area by conveying device 30 as shown in Fig. 9, the mail L ~ill be further sent into the stamping area by rollers 2514, 2512 of the postage stamp device 25. When the z~9~07 mail is detected by the sensors thereof, the nu~eral wheels 271 thereof (see Fig. 7) are set to proper postage and date positions according to com3ands from the microprocessor.
When the mail L reaches a predetermined position, the printing head 27 is rotated to imprint the set postage and date oarks thereon, and the 2ail-processing operation is then accomplished. She receipt printers 781, 782 of the printer assembly 780 will automatically print the receipts and certificate, and the relevant data are stored in the microprocessor. Additionally, an incoJe list will be printed regularly.

Please now further refer to Fig. 10. Another example is set forth for further understanding the operations of the present invention. Supposing a mailer wants to mail an air small packet to the United States, since the small packet is not standard mail, and can not be stamped with postage stamp directly, a postage label is necessarY to be attached to the small packet. Therefore, when managing the small packet, it must be first placed on the second weighing scale 500A to show its weight on the display devices 720, 720A.
Thereafter, the necessary co-mands are input into the microprocessor via key board system 70. Referring to the international key board 740 as shown in Fig. 15, the non standard mail key 7402, air mail key 7405, small packet key 7411 and North America 7445 thereof are depressed, and in case of additional services, the insure key 7433 of the additonal service key board is depressed. Consequently, the :~ ~

Z ~ ~ 9 ~

due postage is immediately displayed on the first and second display devices 720, 720A. The other procedures are identical to the aforesaid ones except that the postage label is supplied by postage label supplY device 60 of the postage stanp device 25 as shown in Fig. 13. After imprinted with postage stamp, the postage label is sent out of the rear end of the postage stamp device 25 to the collecting tank 21. The postal clerk then can attach the label to the air small packet. Simultaneously, the receipt printer 781 will send out a double receipt wherein the lower two sheets together with the postage label attached to the small packet while the lower sheet of the upper two sheets is given to the mailer and the upper sheet thereof is attached to a check record of the clerk for later inquiry.
It is to be understood that the domestic and international mail key boards 730 and 740 mentioned above are designed on the requirement of the Post Office of the Rep. of China, and the other similar key boards may be further defined by those skilled in the art in accordance with the different requirement of the Post Office on the basis of each individual country under the spirit of the present invention mentioned above.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Claims (31)

1. An automatic mail-processing device with full functions, comprising:
a main body;
a microprocessor;
a display device;
a key board system;
an automatic weighing device capable of weighing a mail being conveyed, including an automatic conveying device and a weighing means; and a settable automatic postage stamp device including postage numeral wheels and date numeral wheels, whereby when mailing a standard mail, relevant data thereof are input to said microprocessor via said key board system, and the mail is sent into an entrance of said main body and sensed by a sensor means of said automatic conveying device when conveyed by said automatic conveying device, said conveying device then conveying the mail to a weighing area in which a movable stand of said weighing device descends, permitting the mail to be weighed by said weighing means without contacting any other portion, said display device simultaneously displaying weight and due postage of the mail to indicate a mailer to pay the postage whereby when the mailer pays up the postage and a command thereof is input, said movable stand returns to its home position, permitting the mail to be further conveyed to a stamp area said settable automatic postage stamp device, said postage stamp device being capable of receiving commands from said microprocessor to arrange said numeral wheels whereby the mail is carried by a set of rollers and simultaneously imprinted with postage stamp including postage and date by said postage stamp device, and then released from rear end thereof to complete a mail-processing operation.

2. An automatic mail-processing device with full functions, comprising:
a main body;
a microprocessor;
a display device;
a key board system;
a weighing device having a weighing stand forming a part of upper face of said main body;
a settable automatic postage stamp device including postage and date numeral wheels;
a postage label supply device; and an automatic conveying device capable of conveying a mail from entrance of said main body to a postage stamping area, whereby when mailing a non standard mail, the mail is placed on said weighing device, and relevant commands of the mail are input to said microprocessor via said key board system by a postal clerk, said display device then displaying weight and due postage of the mail to indicate a mailer to pay the postage whereby when the postage is paid up and a command thereof is input, said postage stamp device receives commands from said microprocessor to arrange said numeral wheels into required postage and date positions, and said postage label supply device begins to send out a blank postage label to said postage stamping area of said postage stamp device in which the label is sensed by a sensor means thereof and said numeral wheels are rotated to imprint the being conveyed label with set postage and date marks, the imprinted label being then released from rear end of said postage stamp device for the mailer to be attached to the non standard mail.

3. An automatic mail-processing device with full functions, comprising:
a main body;
a microprocessor;
a display device;
a key board system;
a settable automatic postage stamp device having postage numeral wheels and date numeral wheels; and a postage label supply device, whereby when mailing a sheet-counting charged mail, relevant commands of the mail are input to said microprocessor via said key board system by a postal clerk, said display device then displaying weight and due postage of the mail to indicate a mailer to pay the postage whereby when the postage is paid up and a command thereof is input, said postage stamp device receives commands from said microprocessor to arrange said numeral wheels into required postage and date positions, and said postage label supply device begins to send out a blank postage label to a postage stamping area of said postage stamp device in which the label is sensed by a sensor means thereof and said numeral wheels are rotated to imprint the being conveyed label with set postage and date marks, the imprinted label being then released from rear end of said postage stamp device, while a standard mail is directly sent to said postage stamp device and imprinted with postage stamp and released.

4. An automatic mail-processing device with full functions, comprising:
a main body;
a microprocessor;
a display device;
a key board system;
an automatic weighing device capable of weighing a being conveyed mail, including an automatic conveying device having a movable stand, and a first weighing means;
a settable automatic postage stamp device including a postage stamping means, postage stamping means controlling unit, a sensor means, a driver means and a set of postage and date numeral wheels;
a postage label supply device; and a money receiver, whereby when a standard mail is sent into entrance of said mail body, and relevant commands of the mail are input to said microprocessor via said key board system by a postal clerk, said automatic conveying device conveys the mail into a weighing area after the mail is sensed by said sensor means, and said movable stand of said conveying device descends, permitting the mail to be weighed by said weighing means without contacting any other portion, said display device then displaying weight and due postage of the mail to indicate a mailer to pay the postage whereby when the postage is paid up and a command thereof is input, said microprocessor then commands said postage stamp device to arrange said numeral wheels into required postage and date positions, and said movable stand returns to its home level, permitting the mail to be conveyed into a postage stamping area of said postage stamp device by said automatic conveying device in which when the mail is sensed by said sensor means and said numeral wheels are rotated to imprint the mail with postage and date marks, the imprinted mail being then released from rear end of said postage stamp device to complete a mail-processing operation.

5. An automatic mail-processing device with full functions, comprising:
a main body;

a microprocessor;
a display device;
a facsimile;
a printer assembly;
a money receiver; and a key board system, whereby relevant commands of sheet-counting charged electronic mail are input to microprocessor via said key board system by a postal clerk, said display device displays due postage of the mail to indicate a mailer to pay the postage whereby when the postage is paid up, the clerk presses an actuating key and the mail is transmitted by said facsimile, and simultaneously, said microprocessor stores relevant data while said printer assembly automatically prints postage receipt for the mailer's keeping.

6. An automatic mail-processing device with full functions, comprising:
a main body;
a conveying device capable of conveying a mail to a postage stamping area;
a display device;
a key board system having all input keys required in mail-processing operation;
an automatic postage stamp device having postage numeral wheels and date numeral wheels; and a microprocessor including a microprocessor mail control unit, display I/F circuit, key board system I/F
circuit, conveying device I/F circuit and postage stamp device I/F circuit, whereby when mailing a mail, the mail is first weighed by an external weighing scale, and then the weight and relevant data are input to said microprocessor via said key board system, said display device displaying weight and due postage to indicate a mailer to pay the postage whereby when the postage is paid up, in case of a general standard mail, the mail is dropped into said main body from an entrance thereof, and thereafter said conveying device conveys said mail to said postage stamp device whereby said microprocessor commands said postage stamp device to arrange said numeral wheels into required postage and date positions and imprint the postage and date marks on the mail, the imprinted mail being released from said postage stamp device by said conveying device finally.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, further comprising a postage label supply device whereby in case of non standard mail, via said key board system, said postage label is commanded to supply blank postage label into said postage stamp device to be imprinted with postage and date marks and released therefrom by said conveying device for a mailer to be attached to the mail.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said microprocessor further includes a weighing device I/F

circuit whereby an additional weighing device is connected to said microprocessor for on line operation.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6, wherein said microprocessor further includes a printer I/F
circuit whereby a printer assembly is connected to said microprocessor for on line operation.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, further comprising a second display device whereby a mailer is enabled to understand mail-processing operation practiced by a postal clerk.

11. a device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein said key board system includes an internal mail-processing command input key board and an external mail-processing command input key board.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 6, wherein said microprocessor further includes a money receiver I/F
circuit whereby an additonal money receiver is connected to said microprocessor for on line operation.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said money receiver includes a card reader/writer, holding key, accumulating key and cash key.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein said key board system further includes a bulk mail amount command input key board for bulk mail command inputting.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein said printer assembly includes a receipt printer, general receipt printer and an income list printer capable of regularly printing an income list automatically or according to commands.

16. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein said printer assembly is synchronized to print relevant documents.

17. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein said microprocessor is connected to a remote host wirelessly or via wire line to enable the remote host to completely control operation data of each mail-processing device and use the data as basis for maintenance/service commands.

18. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6, wherein said microprocessor further includes a facsimile I/F
circuit whereby a facsimile is connected to said microprocessor for on line operation.

19. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6, wherein said postage stamp device is on line connected to said microprocessor via a parallel bus I/F circuit and postage stamp device I/F circuit.

20. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 4 or 6. wherein said automatic conveying device is on line connected to said microprocessor via a parallel bus I/F circuit and an automatic conveying device I/F circuit.

21. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6, wherein said postage stamp device includes a postage stamp device control switch, postage stamp device control unit, sensor, sensor circuit thereof sensor I/F circuit thereof, driver, driver. circuit thereof and driver I/F
circuit thereof.

22. A device as claimed in claim l, 2, 4, or 6, wherein said automatic conveying device includes an automatic conveying device control switch, automatic conveying device control unit, sensor, sensor circuit thereof, sensor I/F circuit thereof, driver, driver circuit thereof, and driver I/F circuit thereof.

23. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein said automatic weighing device includes an automatic conveying device and a weighing means wherein said conveying device includes a driving means, a first conveying means, a corresponding first idle wheel, a second conveying means, a corresponding second idle wheel, a third conveying means, a corresponding third idle wheel, a fixed stand, a movable stand under which said weighing means is located, a first sensor located before said first conveying means and a second sensor located after said third conveying means

24. A device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said movable stand includes a supporting stand with a rectangular opening in a middle portion thereof, at both ends of said opening, there being disposed said second and third idle wheels which are in cooperative relationship with said second and third conveying means respectively to convey a mail to be weighed.

25. A device as claimed in claim 23, wherein a pair of front and rear rocking arms are further provided under said movable stand in such a manner that a movable end of each of said rocking arm is pivotally connected to each end of said movable stand, and the other end of each rocking arm is pivoted on a pivot whereby a pair of electromagnetic actuators are connected to a middle portion of said front rocking arm so that when said electromagnetic actuator is activated, said movable end of each said rocking arm is pulled down with said pivot as a fulcrum, and since said movable stand is attached to said movable ends of both said rocking arms, said movable stand descends together therewith to a lower level, permitting a mail placed thereon to be weighed by said weighing means without contacting any other portion, and after weighing, said rocking arms returns to their home positions, permitting the mail to be conveyed by said second and third conveying means into a postage stamping area of said postage stamp device

26. A device as claimed in claim 23, wherein said supporting stand of said conveying device is capable of receiving commands from said microprocessor to descend and separate from said conveying device, permitting a mail to be placed on said movable stand and weighed by said weighing means without contacting any other portion, and after weighing, said supporting stand returns to its home position automatically

27. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein said settable postage stamp device includes a main shaft capable of rotating within a certain angle;
a main shaft driving means disposed on a first end of said main shaft;
a main shaft driving means sensor means used to locate said main shaft a printing head means disposed on a second end of said main shaft, including plural numeral wheels;
a numeral wheel driving means used to drive said numeral wheels; and a sensor means used to locate said numeral wheels

28 A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein said printing head means of said settable postage stamp device includes a main shaft on which a plurality of axial grooves are formed, said main shaft being disposed in a direction perpendicular to conveying direction of a mail;
a main shaft driving means including a driving motor, a transmitting means and an encoder means wherein said driving motor is engaged with a first end of said main shaft via said transmitting means;
a printing head disposed on a second end of said main shaft whereby when relevant date of a mail are input via said key board system, said microprocessor commands driving gear of a set of second rocks slidably disposed on said grooves of said main shaft to control travels of said second racks and consequently control rotation angles of said numeral wheel to set numeral wheels into required postions whereby when a mail enters a printing area of said postage stamp device, said main shaft driving means is commanded to rotate said main shaft one turn to imprint set postage, date or relevant marks of said numeral wheels on the mail, the mail being further sent to a subsequent processing device thereafter and said numeral wheels being zeroed for next printing cycle.

29. A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein said printing head includes at least one settable numeral wheel means, and said numeral wheel means includes at least two independent numeral wheels, and each said numeral wheel has a synchronic gear driven by a corresponding first rack disposed outside said main shaft, said first rack being formed with a hooking arm at its lower end, said hooking arm being capable of engaging with a first end of said second rack.

30. A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein said printing head further includes a separate encoder disposed near a second end of said second rack for controlling travel of said second rack, the travel of said second rack being completely controlled by programs of said microprocessor.

31. A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein a relatively smaller diameter portion is formed on said main shaft in alignment with said driving gear of said second rack, just coming flush with dented base of said second rack so that when said printing head together with said main shaft are rotated, said relatively smaller diameter portion can slip through said driving gear.