CZ20001038A3 - Compound sticker with address and postage, process of its preparation and system for producing thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Stickers (109,111,113,115) on continuous a perforated strip (101) on which the perforations (105) define each label field (107) (109,111,113,115) includes at least a sticker for the intended address of the recipient and a sticker carrying postage data approved by the postal service which to be used for a single item to be sent by post. Tape (101) is adapted for use with the printer (206) computer controlled (202) and capable of sticking (109,111, 113, 115) within a single field (107) to print an address recipient, postage data, and other subject-related data to be mailed.

Description

Technical field

Self-adhesive segmented postal labels made by a computer connected to a printer made of perforated tape that can be continuously fed into a computer controlled printer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Postage meters approved by the United States Postal Service (USPS) for use in commerce, and individuals have long been a major commercial product of USft. Typical postage meters commercially available from companies such as Pitney Boves of Stamford, Connecticut, are able to weigh an item to be mailed and print the USPS approved postage data at the required amount in dollars based on the desired class of postal service (parcel post, first class, etc.). A popular example of a common postage meter is the Pitney Boves feature and the modes of operation are completely the guide that is listed here as

Model 5630, described in operational call-off. The postage information used instead of the stamp is normally printed on a self-adhesive tape or directly on the letter to be sent. Conventional postage meters include a postal security device that maintains, within the meter, charging for available postage purchased from the United States Postal Service (USPS) or from a third party. Available postage may be as required. User added mechanically or electronically in various increments through the United States Postal Service (USPS); or other approved third parties.

With the advent of personal computers and the available accessories that can be used with them, merchants or individuals routinely prepare correspondence that contains postal address information using a variety of commercially available word processor software packages and computer printers that work together. One common accessory available for use with word processor systems includes the automatic preparation of postal address labels. Such label preparation systems, such as a CoStar Labelwriter XL printer and CoStar AddressMate software, available from CoStar Corporation of Greenwich, Connecticut. are capable of identifying address data from a computer data set. representing the intended correspondence, formatted, for example, by various popular word processor packets such as Corel WordPerfect and Microsoft Word. The CoStar label preparation system may format and print postal labels with addresses based on the data contained in the data set representing the intended correspondence, or alternatively, the address information to prepare the postal labels may be entered directly into the computer system independently of the data set representing the intended correspondence. The features and operating modes of the CoStar printer example and software are detailed in the CoStar User's Guide for AdressMate and AdressMate Plus and in the User's Guide for the Labelwriter XL, referred to herein as a reference.

While the above postage measuring instruments and label printing systems are known, it has not previously been known to produce computer-generated labels grouped to provide the associated address and postage data for a single postal service. • 4 4 9 99 • 4 9 9 • 9 9 9

499 4 4 9 4 9 ··· fcfc ·· subject. This means that the combination of the advantages of a postage measuring instrument with the advantages provided by the known postmarking systems was not known. In October 1996, the United States Postal Service (USPS) published a draft specification for the Host Based Systems for Information Based Indices Program Host Systems, which established guidelines for the preparation of such address-postage combined labels.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide computer-generated stickers such that address information and associated postage data can be printed in a uniform manner in accordance with the USPS specification for use on an item to be mailed. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system and method for generating postal labels having associated address information and postage information for an item to be mailed, grouped in a uniform manner in accordance with USPS specifications. Other objects and improvements associated with the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the description of preferred embodiments detailed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a computer generated postal label formed from a perforated strip of self-adhesive segmented labels that can be continuously fed into a computer-controlled printer. Perforations define and functionally separate label fields associated with a specific item to be mailed. Each field would contain at least a sticker with the address of the recipient and a sticker with the postal details approved by the postal service to be used for the subject to be sent by post. Additional stickers could be contained within each label field, such as a Return Address Label or Mail Handling Instructions. This invention also explains a system and method for preparing computer generated postal labels, wherein the computer system has address information and desired postage and optionally other information, such as return address or instructions relating to the subject to be sent, and the associated printer then prints the address and shipping information and any other information on suitable labels within the box on a perforated tape of segmented self-adhesive labels of the type explained herein. The computerized method of preparing such postal labels further comprises a billing step to ensure the correct charging of monetary amounts placed by the United States Postal Service (USPS) for use in a computer system that prepares the labels. Accordingly, the postal measuring instrument and address label printing functions are effectively combined in a single unified system.

for mail handling. Computer

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a continuous strip of multiple address and postage sticker labels according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a device comprising a system used to prepare labels according to the invention;

in Fig. 3A there is a single field of labels for mailing

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And with postage according to the invention for an item to be mailed;

Fig. 3B shows postage and postage labels used in accordance with the invention for a package; and Fig. 4 is a functional diagram of the stepfl used in the methodology for preparing postage and postage labels in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to Figure 1, a perforated self-adhesive label strip 101 in accordance with the present invention is shown. The strip 101 is shown as a continuous roll 103 divided by perforations 105 into equally sized sections. The perforations 105 define individual label fields 107. The perforations need not be apertures or serrations, but may be suitable means for functionally separating individual label fields, including, for example, dark lines that can be optically recognized by a human being or by an electronic printer used in conjunction with a continuous label band. Each label field 107 includes multiple labels to be associated with an individual item (not shown) to be sent by mail. The strip may have any shape, and the label fields may be attached in succession and continuously fed into the printer. The roll of labels can be attached, for example, to an axis inside the printer, as in a CoStar Labelwriter XL, or to consecutive sheets that are fed into a conventional dot matrix or thermal printer.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, each array has four segmented self-adhesive stickers 109, 111, 113, 115 to be bonded to an object to be mailed.

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In accordance with the invention, at least two sticker segments are required in each field to meet the intended recipient address and postal data approved by the postal service for postal delivery, postage stamp replacement data indicating the postal fees required. Additional stickers within each box to be associated with an individual item to be mailed may be added to meet the needs of the user. Each label inside the box can also be tailored to order and be sized to suit the desired use, and different ribbons with differently formatted designs can be commercially available. The intended use for each may determine its size requirements, larger labels or labels requiring more text have a larger size.

the sticker inside the box larger packages have

E.g. in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the labels 109 and 111 are larger than the labels 113 and 115. The labels 109 and 111 are sized to include the intended recipient address data and, accordingly, the return address data. The smaller stickers 113 and 115 are intended to contain postal service data and postal handling instructions (ie, fragile, handle carefully, etc.). However, the present invention foresees that the number of labels, the size of each label, and the intended use of each label within each field will change to maximize convenience and usefulness for the user. It is expected that once labels have been printed with address information, postage information and any other information to be printed inside the box, the user separates the box along the perforation. The resulting label group within the box will thus contain a single label group that can be separated and affixed to a single item to be mailed. Such a uniform structure will minimize confusion and error due to improper attachment of the address

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4444 44 4 »« · 4 44 44 and postage details to be affixed to the item to be mailed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the functional elements of the system used to perform a method of preparing postal labels including associated address information and postage data in accordance with the present invention. The main elements include a computer 202 coupled to a mail meter / weighing 204 and a printer 206 capable of printing address information and postage data on a perforated continuous ribbon array of the type described above.

The computer 202 is capable of receiving the intended recipient address information in any of a variety of conventional ways. E.g. a computer using commercially available software, such as the CoStar products discussed above, can recognize the recipient's address from an electronic data file stored in the computer memory, the data file being created by a commercially available word processor such as WordPerfect or Microsoft Word. The dataset may represent the intended correspondence or may only be contained in the subject to be sent by mail. Alternatively, the intended recipient address may be transmitted and directly loaded into the computer by a user interface such as a standard alphanumeric keypad 208 or a reader (not shown). The computer 202 is capable of receiving return address information related to the sender in a similar manner, e.g., from an electronic data set or from a user interface. Keyboard (interface)

208 of the user may additionally be used to enter the mail class, handling instructions and weight data relating to the object to be mailed.

The computer 202 is further able to receive weight data.

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0 * 0 ··· mail class and handling instructions regarding the item to be sent by mail, eg by means of a postal measuring instrument / weight 204. The package 210 to be sent by post would be placed on the postal measuring instrument / weight 204 and the weight of the package could be electronically transferred to the computer. The Postal Meter / Weight may also have a user interface such as a keyboard or button panel 212 from which mail class information and / or handling instructions could be input and transferred to computer 202. Recipient address and return address information would also be it is possible to insert via the panel (interface) 212 buttons of the user of the postal measuring instrument / weighing machine for reception by the computer 202 therefrom.

The system is also able to determine the required postage for an item to be mailed.

The weight information is converted to the amount to be sent and mailed to the mail class. The fee may be normal for the subject, determined on the basis of postal charges set by the United States Postal Service (USPS) at the time of posting. These charges may be determined by various conventional computer reception means, including updated charge tables stored in the computer memory or postal measuring instrument / scales or manually locating tables for user input through the user interface.

The system will also include a mail security device stored in the memory of the computer 202 or in the mail measuring instrument i / weight 204, which will provide a secure billing function regarding the cash available for printing postage data. The charging process will ensure that there is sufficient cash balance for the user

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999 99 999 9 99 9 9 99999 9 999 999 • 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9999 99 99 · * · · <** coverage of the postage required for the subject to be sent by mail and that will keep the account balance. Such security mail devices are well known in the art and have long been used in conventional postage measuring instruments. The funds may be replenished, for example, electronically by a user account maintained by the United States Postal Service (CUSPS) or other approved third party vendors.

The system also includes a printer 206 coupled to the computer 202. The printer is capable of loading and printing continuous perforated ribbons 214 of the drawn label fields associated with an individual object to be mailed. The printer is capable of receiving from the computer and printing on a suitable label within each label field the recipient's address and postage data approved by the United States Postal Service (USPS) with the correct postage amount for the item to be mailed as well as other data attached to the item should be sent by mail, such as return address, mail class, and handling instructions. The printer may be a single-purpose label printer, such as a CoStar Labelwriter XL, or it may be any other type of printer capable of receiving and printing continuous continuous sheets, including a conventional dot matrix or thermal printer.

Giant. 3A shows an exemplary embodiment of a single label array 301 for an article to be mailed prepared in accordance with the present invention. The label field is a unified segment containing data related to the item to be mailed, which is separate from the adjacent perforation fields 105. The labels within this example field include a recipient's address label 303, a shipping information label 305, a return address label 307, sticker 309

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0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 000 0 0

0 0 0 0000 00 00 with mail class and label 311 with handling instructions. Each sticker, except for the recipient address sticker and postage stamp, is an optional feature of the present invention and may be used when deemed appropriate by the user. It is expected that, depending on the user's request, additional labels may be added bearing other information regarding or not relating to the subject to be mailed.

As shown in Fig. 3A, the recipient address label includes a standard mailing address 313 received from the computer and a standardized barcode 315 of the destination, which can normally be computer generated, by the US Postal Service (USPS). The shipping postcard 305 includes three parts as may be required by the United States Postal Service (CUSPS): a human readable portion of the postage 317, a standard two-dimensional barcode 319 containing readable USPS data relating to the host system that produced a label, and a front identification mark 321 by a standardized United States Postal Service (USPS), which may alternatively be pre-printed on envelopes. The return address sticker 307 is labeled to include an optional company logo, may include any United States class, parcel post, and so on.

Mail Class Label 309 Selecting a Postal Service (USPSI, Such As First Handling Label) may contain desired user notes such as fragile, not bend, etc.

As shown in FIG. 3B, after printing an integrated label array for the item to be mailed, the stickers are separated and affixed to the item to be mailed to the package 323. Because the stickers for each item to be mailed Send by mail, are printed ··

♦ this to * »; ·· · • · in the integrated field, errors are reduced when postage, address and other information related to the subject to be mailed is separated. This integration feature reduces errors, especially where multiple postal labels are printed consecutively for multiple items to be mailed.

Giant. 4 shows a basic flow diagram of the steps associated with a possible postage stamp printing method using one version of the preferred embodiment of the postage stamp preparation system described above in accordance with the present invention. Providing the data 408 to the computer for processing the recipient address data 402, the weight and mail class data 404, and any additional Cnapr postage stamp data 406. return address, postal class, or handling instructions) associated with the item to be mailed. This data may be provided by direct user input, an electronic dataset, a postal measuring instrument / balance or other suitable source. The computer shall perform the tasks of: (a) determining requirements 410 for postage data based on weight, mail class and address data; (b) formatting 412 recipient address data, postage data and additional postal sticker data to be printed in accordance with the requirements of the United States Postal Service (CUSPS) and formatting the perforated tape decals used in the label fields used: Cc) sufficient cash balance was confirmed to print the required postage data. This is followed by sending 416 formatted data to a printer capable of processing it on a continuous perforated tape of integrated stickers. Then, an integrated array of postal stamps associated with the subject to be mailed is printed 418. Finally, 420 billing means inside the computer are updated so that stickers related to this can be processed. this to this to to this to to this to · to · to · to · to · to · to · to · to · to · to · to · to · to · to · to · to · · ·: · · · · To to to · · · · dalšího dalšího dalšího dalšího předmětu dalšího předmětu předmětu předmětu předmětu předmětu předmětu předmětu předmětu předmětu předmětu předmětu předmětu předmětu předmětu předmětu

While the invention has been described in terms of its previous specific embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The postal stickers, the system and the methodology were provided by way of example only in a detailed explanation.

Claims (20)

PATENT CLAIMS 1. A computer-generated postal sticker comprising: a perforated strip of segmented self-adhesive labels, said perforations defining a plurality of fields, each field comprising a separate address label and a separate postage label, said labels to be affixed to an item to be mailed, the strip being adapted for use with a computer controlled printer, wherein the printer is adapted to print the intended recipient address on an address label and postage-approved details of the postal service on a postage label in a preselected one said field. The computer-generated postal label of claim 1, wherein each label field further comprises a return address label on which the sender's return address is printed by a computer-controlled computer. A computer-generated postal label according to claim 1, wherein each label field further comprises a label for handling instructions on which the manipulation instructions for the object to be mailed are printed by a computer-controlled printer. 4. A computer-generated postal label according to claim 1, wherein the postal label is a computer-controlled printer class for the object to be sent indicating the class to which the postal service is required. At (χ) - each label field also contains probably a missing label - in the sense of r r r i ve r ve ve r ve ve r ve ve ve The text of the patent application and analogous to the wording of claims 2 and 3 is missing in the sentence). 5. A method for preparing computer-generated postal stamps comprising address information and postage data approved by a postal service comprising (a) providing a computerized address information system regarding an intended recipient of an item to be mailed: (Cb) providing a computerized postage system for an article to be mailed: (c) introducing into a printer controlled by a computer a continuous perforated tape of segmented self-adhesive labels, said perforations defining a plurality of fields, each field comprising a separate address label and a separate postage label for the article to be mailed: Cd) printing address information for an item to be mailed, on a label for an address within the box, and postage data approved by the postal service with the required postage for the item to be mailed, on a postage label within the box when the tape is fed into printers; Ce) posting printed postage in the postage account maintained by the computer system. 6. A method for preparing a label as claimed in claim 5, wherein the article which the computer-generated postal item is to send by post comprises a letter including address information relating to the recipient, said letter being included in a data set in a computer system, the intended recipient is provided to the printer through software capable of determining address information from the letter data set. • 4 444 99 99 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 4 · · 9 9 9 9 9 9 9999 99 99 999 99 99 to be sent by mail. A method for preparing computer-generated postal labels according to claim 5, characterized in that postage requirements for the item to be mailed are provided to the computer system by entering the computer weight system and mail class information for the item to be mailed send by mail that the computer system converts into postage requests. Method for preparing computer-generated postal labels according to claim 7, characterized in that the weight of the item to be sent by mail is inserted by a weight on which the item to be mailed is placed, which directly enters the weight of the item into the computer system . The method for preparing computer-generated postal labels according to claim 5, wherein each label field further comprises a return address label, and wherein the computer system is further provided with return address information that is printed on the return address label within the field that: is currently printing. A method for preparing computer generated postal labels according to claim 5, characterized in that. that each label field further comprises a label for handling instructions, and wherein the computer system is further provided with information about the handling instructions that is printed on the label for handling instructions inside the field being printed. Method for preparing computer-generated postal labels according to claim 5, characterized in that: »99 99 '·· · 9 9 9 · 9 99 999 9 that each label field further comprises a postal class label, while the computer system is further provided with postal class information that is printed on the postal class label within the field being printed. 12. A system for preparing an integrated field of self-adhesive postal labels for an item to be mailed, said field of labels comprising a label bearing the intended address of the recipient and a label bearing the postal information approved by the postal service, comprising: (Ca) a computer capable of receiving information on the reception address of the intended recipient of the item to be mailed, receiving weight and mail class information regarding the item to be mailed, determining the monetary requirements for postage on the basis of weight and mailing information the class for the item to be mailed and maintain and supplement the secure accounting of the funds available in the system for use in preparing postal data; (Cb) means for providing weight and mail class information regarding the item to be mailed; (Cc) a continuous perforated strip of said integrated self-adhesive label fields, wherein said perforations define a plurality of fields, each field corresponding to an individual item to be mailed, and comprising said label bearing the intended recipient address and said label bearing postal data, said continuous the perforated ribbon has the ability to be loaded into a computer controlled printer; and Cd) a computer-controlled printer connected to a computer to print the address information received by the computer onto a label for the intended address of the recipient and postage information in an amount of »» 00 9 · 0 » 0 0 · 0 0 0 0 · 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 · 0 0 0 e * »» The 9,000 computer-designed item that is integrated into the sticker for is to be sent by self-adhesive corresponding item to be postal details for mail, within the postal sticker box, sent by mail. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for providing weight information to the computer for the item to be sent by mail is a mail weight connected to the computer and capable of electronically providing the computer with the weight of the item to be mailed. A system according to claim 12, characterized in that. that the means for providing the mail class information for the subject to be sent by mail is a mail weight associated with the computer and capable of receiving mail class information via the user interface, said weight being able to electronically provide the mail class information to the computer. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for providing the computer with weight and mail class information for the item to be mailed is an interface of the user's computer. 16. The system of claim 12, wherein the address information for the subject to be sent by mail is received via the user's computer interface. 17. The system of claim 12, wherein the address information for the subject to be sent by mail is received via software capable of determining address information from an electronic data file stored in a computer memory representing correspondence having the following: »Toto to toto toto toto toto toto toto toto toto toto to to to to to to to 4 this is to be included in the subject to be sent by post. The system of claim 12, wherein each field on the perforated tape corresponding to each item to be mailed further comprises a return address label and the computer is further able to receive return address information regarding the item to be sent. and the computer is able to print the return address information received by the computer on the return address sticker for the subject to be mailed. 19. The system of claim 12, wherein each array on the apertured tape corresponding to each item to be mailed further comprises a label for handling instructions, the computer is further able to receive instructions for handling the item to be mailed. , and the printer is capable of printing the handling instructions received by the computer on the handling instructions label for the item to be mailed. 20. The system of claim 12 wherein each array on the apertured tape corresponding to each item to be mailed further comprises a mail class label, the computer is further able to receive the mail class information for the item to be mailed, and the printer is capable of printing a mail class received by a computer onto a mail class label for an item to be mailed.