DE3850513T2 - Apparatus for processing letters. - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates generally to a device for processing letters, and in particular, but not exclusively, to a modular, computer-controlled, interactive processing system for outgoing and incoming mail.

The manner in which large commercial mailers prepare and process various types of outgoing business mail has changed in recent years from a primarily labor-intensive activity to one that is performed primarily by computer-controlled, automated paper handling equipment. It is therefore common practice for large commercial mailers, such as telephone companies, trading houses and private mailers, to use computer-controlled inserters to insert monthly bills, remittance slips, reply envelopes, questionnaires, purchase order forms and other returnable stationery items into address window outer envelopes and to automatically seal the outer envelopes. The sealed envelopes are then fed to a postage meter to have a predetermined postage value printed thereon and stacked for delivery to the postal service. In some cases, To stack for delivery, the stamped mailpieces may be loaded into other mechanized equipment, such as for sorting according to their destination zip codes or for bundling into bundles, or both. In other cases, the stamped mailpieces may be loaded into a keyboard-operated printer to add a bar code corresponding to the destination zip code to each mailpiece in response to a keystroke from an operator. The stamped and zip code and/or bar code coded mailpieces, which may also be presorted, are then delivered to the postal service.

Assuming that no bar code is provided, the postal service uses the zip code and address provided by the business mailer for sorting purposes upon arrival at the post office. For this purpose, the mail items are loaded into an automatic mail item separator, and under the control of a computer, the address and/or zip code information from each mail item is read and translated into a corresponding destination bar code which is printed on the mail item. The mail items are then sorted by the computer according to destination information. Assuming that a particular mail item is already provided with a destination bar code, the same computerized device in a different mode of operation, or another automatic device, is used to read bar codes and sort the mail items on this basis. Generally, the postal service processes mail automatically at at least one main post office or distribution center prior to final sorting at the local level. Therefore, it is a common practice to process a particular mailpiece through multiple sorting operations for delivery to destinations identified by human and machine readable languages. The mailpieces are then hand delivered to the addressees, who respond by posting mailpieces including one or more of the returnable stationery items mentioned above to the postal service for processing and delivery to the business mailer.

Some business mailers provide a sort code on reply envelopes sent to their customers with an invoice so that when such envelopes are returned with a payment, they can be scanned for the code, automatically sorted to a sorting location corresponding to the code, and thus separated by the business mailer from differently coded and uncoded envelopes. The envelopes are then hand delivered to the business unit corresponding to the code. At this point, the mailpieces may or may not be fed into an automatic letter opening machine, depending on the number of mailpieces received by the particular business unit. If for some reason the location of the business unit has changed while the reply envelope was in transit, the mailpiece may or may not be delivered directly to the business unit. Equally frequently, the mail item is diverted to the old business unit location, where the original recipient may or may not properly redirect the mail item, or may do so but may not notify the mail handling personnel of a change of location, with the result that the personnel does not initiate any procedures for the proper delivery of mail items received thereafter.

In addition to the foregoing problems, in order to expedite the payment of large outstanding invoices and therefore reduce customer "round-trip", some large business mailers have established special procedures to mark selected reply envelopes added to mail sent to a particular customer with a machine-readable code which allows such envelopes, when returned, to be separated from the main stream of incoming reply envelopes and processed on an expedited basis. The need for business mailers to rely on such procedures clearly demonstrates the inadequacy of their normal mail handling operations.

Other parts of the business world experience mail processing delays that can have a negative impact on the business mailer's reputation. For example, catalog mailers frequently find that a particular product ordered by filling out a pre-coded notice is out of stock, but fail to timely inform customers that the product has been back-ordered and provide an estimated delivery date. Similarly, insurance companies often find that additional information is required from a healthcare provider regarding a particular claim, but fail to timely notify the claimant that payment of the claim will be delayed until the additional information requested from the healthcare provider is received.

The foregoing problems and other difficulties arise from the fact that commercial mailers must classify reply mail before it is sent to their customers. The code applied to the reply envelope or other reply stationery is the only source of information available to mail sorting personnel or code reading sorting equipment that can be referred to in determining where the return item should be delivered. However, the business mailer may not know the basis for sorting a particular reply item at the time it is mailed; or he may know the return destination but not know that the sorting criteria change while the return item is in transit from the sender to the customer and back to the sender; or he may know the return destination and other information needed for sorting but find that the other information is not within the scope of the code recognition capability of the incoming mail sorting equipment. An example of this could be instructions to inform a different addressee that a particular inbound reply envelope has been received in order to avoid the costs associated with double bookings.

From US-A-4585220 it is known to provide a letter processing device which has:

(a) a device for preparing a letter including a returnable stationery item for sending to an addressee, wherein the returnable stationery item has a code identifying the addressee; and

b) means for directing the returnable stationery item to a selected location among a plurality of locations. However, the letter processing apparatus according to US-A-4585220 is not adapted to recognize and handle the returnable stationery items after they have been returned.

EP-A-0164302, US-A-3803556 and US-A-4309600 describe control methods for a messenger service for a building, a conveyor system and a machine tool, respectively. All three documents describe the use of codes to identify objects that are movable within the respective system. However, none of the three documents disclose an arrangement by which objects can be transported to locations remote from the respective systems and then returned to them for further processing.

EP-A-0164302 describes a device by which the destination address of a messenger chain can be changed during passage through the chain. However, this document only describes a device which allows programming of a changed address at the same time as requiring the address to be changed.

Embodiments of the invention provide a processing apparatus for outgoing coded stationery items comprising a printing device and a device for feeding the stationery item to the printing device, with arrangement for feeding the stationery item out of the transport path to the printing device when the code is detected;

Embodiments of the invention provide an interactive outgoing and incoming mail processing system;

Embodiments of the invention provide an incoming mail processing system comprising means for sorting incoming mail items based on sorting criteria established while the mail was in transit to its addressee or thereafter; and

Embodiments of the invention provide a modular interactive processing system for outgoing and incoming mail, with an arrangement for processing reply stationery items taking into account different codes.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a letter processing apparatus comprising:

a. means for preparing a letter containing a returnable stationery item for sending to a recipient who may be remote from the device, the returnable stationery item having a code identifying the recipient;

b. means for directing the returnable stationery item to a selected one of a plurality of locations, the directing means including means for scanning the code;

c. a computer device having a storage device for storing a completion date list for the code, where the completion data list contains data that defines the selected location; and

d. a facility for changing the completion date list, which allows the selected location to be changed,

the means for directing being operable to automatically direct the stationery item on its return as a result of the scanning of the code by the scanning means and the association of the code by the computer means with data specifying the selected location for the returned stationery item, the computer means being coupled to the directing means and having means for controlling the directing means to automatically direct the returned stationery item to the selected location when the code is scanned; and

wherein the means for completing the completion data list is arranged so that the programming of the computer means for assigning the code to the data can be carried out at a time and, if desired, at a location different from the time and location of dispatch of the returnable stationery item.

The stationery item can be, for example, an envelope or a money transfer order.

In one embodiment, the code is a bar code.

In a further embodiment, the computer has a terminal which has a user-controlled keyboard, and the changing device comprises the keyboard.

In another embodiment, the to-do list includes data corresponding to a message, and the computing device includes means for sending the message to an external device when the code is scanned.

One embodiment includes a remote computer connected to the computing device, and the remote computer includes the modifying device.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a feeding device comprising means for normally feeding the stationery item in a first feeding branch to the printing device, means for selectively feeding the stationery item in a second feeding branch outside the first feeding branch, and means for scanning the code;

wherein the completion data list optionally contains data specifying the second feed branch, the control means comprises means for causing the feed means to feed the stationery item into the second feed branch when its code is scanned, and the associated completion list contains the data specifying the second feed branch; and wherein the means for selectively changing the completion data list allows the completion data list to be changed so that it contains the data specifying the second feed branch.

In another embodiment, the printing device includes means for printing postage, and the computing device includes means for controlling the postage printing device.

In a further embodiment, the means for feeding the stationery item comprises means for selectively guiding the stationery item away from the first feed branch, whereby the stationery item is guided out of the first feed branch.

In one embodiment, the computing device is located in a mailroom environment.

The printing means preferably comprises means for printing a bar code on the stationery item and/or means for printing a serial number thereon. One embodiment comprises an insertion means for inserting the stationery item into an envelope; the insertion means may comprise means for sealing the envelope and/or means for folding the stationery item prior to insertion into the envelope. In this embodiment the printing means may comprise means for printing postage indicia on the envelope.

In one embodiment, the bar code may be a postal bar code. Further preferred features are set out in the appended claims; the preferred features or their broad equivalents may be used, where appropriate, in two or more of the above-mentioned aspects of the invention. For example, the interactive system described above for outgoing and incoming mail items optionally have one or more of the preferred features of the letter processing device described above, etc.

The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1(a) is a front view of a reply envelope prepared for inclusion in a mailing envelope, showing a return code disposed at an exemplary position;

Figure 1(b) is a front view of another reply stationery item prepared for inclusion in a mailing envelope, showing a return code disposed in more than one exemplary position;

Figure 1(c) is a front view of a foldable reply stationery article prepared for inclusion in a mailing envelope, showing a return code located in a different exemplary position;

Fig. 1(d) is a front view of a reply stationery article prepared for enclosure with a reply envelope having a transparent window showing different return and customer account codes;

Fig. 1(e) is a front view of an encoded, transparent mailing envelope into which the returnable stationery items shown in Fig. 1(b), 1(c) or 1(d) can be inserted individually or in combination with one of the reply envelopes shown in Fig. 1(a) or 1(f) for mailing;

Fig. 1(f) is a front view of a coded transparent reply envelope;

Fig. 2(a) is a schematic view showing a portion of the stationery article processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, including the feed and print modules and the local computer;

Fig. 2(b) is a schematic view showing a portion of the stationery article processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, including the insertion and letter opening modules and the remote computer;

Fig. 2(c) is a schematic view showing the processing apparatus for the stationery items according to an embodiment of the invention, including the franking module, the stack sorting module and other processing modules;

Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the processing steps provided in the main program of the local computer shown in Fig. 2(a);

Fig. 4(a) is a flow chart showing the processing steps implemented by the local computer of Fig. 2(a) to control the feed and print modules of the processing apparatus of Fig. 2(a);

Fig. 4(b) is a flow chart showing the processing steps implemented by the local computer of Fig. 2(a) to control the insertion and franking modules of the processing apparatus of Figs. 2(b) and 2(c), respectively;

Fig. 4(c) is a flow chart showing the processing steps implemented by the local computer of Fig. 2(a) to control the batch module and other processing modules of Fig. 2(c);

Fig. 4(d) is a flow chart showing the processing steps carried out by the local computer of Fig. 2(a) to control the sorting and letter opening modules of Fig. 2(c) and 2(b), respectively; and

Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing the processing steps carried out by the remote computer of Fig. 2(b), for interconnection with the local computer of Fig. 2 (a).

Figures 1(a) to 1(f) inclusive show examples of various documents of the type which can be processed in accordance with the invention. Figure 1(a) shows a typical reply stationery item, exemplified by envelope A. Envelope A contains a mailing address A1 of a typical business mailer to whom envelope A is to be sent. For simplicity, the mailer's address A1 has been chosen to be that of the applicants of the present invention. In addition, envelope A has a reply address field A2 for completion by the person, firm, corporation or other form of business to whom reply envelope A was sent by the mailer and by whom reply envelope A is normally received. In the lower left corner of envelope A, an alphanumeric reply code A3 was added to the envelope when it was printed. In accordance with the invention, the code A3 shown, i.e. 5C230, has been arbitrarily selected to represent any response code assigned by the sender and may be a bar code without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, the code A3 may be located at any predetermined location on the paper goods article without departing from the scope of the invention. Preferably, the code A uniquely identifies the sender of the reply envelope A, although it is within the scope of the invention to provide the same reply code for multiple envelopes for sorting purposes. Thus, instead of the code A3 shown, the sender's social security number, or other tax identification code in the case of a business, could be represented as the code A3, or - if such numbers are used - a bar code or other Customer account code can be used, for example the recipient's telephone number.

Fig. 1(b) shows another returnable stationery item, in this case illustrated by the remittance form B. The remittance form B has the address of its recipient B1 located in the lower right quadrant of the form B, for identification through the window of a window envelope into which the form B can be inserted to be mailed to the recipient B1. In addition, the response stationery item B has a perforation line B2 along which the form B can be folded to facilitate separation of the form into returnable and retainable parts, designated by B3 and B4 respectively, as designated near the top of each of the parts of the stationery item B3 and B4. In this case, the response code A3 is indicated on both parts B3 and B4, because recipient B3 often sends the wrong part back to sender B5, in this case part B4.

Fig. 1(c) shows another reply stationery item, in this case a foldable, returnable item C, such as a letter or a computer printout sheet. The returnable item C has a recipient's address C2 and a sender's address C3 located in the lower right and upper left quadrants of the returnable item C, respectively. The returnable item C is thus designed to be mailed by the sender C3 to the recipient C2 in a window mailing envelope, with the window located in the lower right quadrant, together with a window reply envelope, with the window located in the upper right quadrant.

Furthermore, the foldable returnable article C has a return code A3 which is shown to be located near the lower left corner of the returnable article to illustrate the fact that in the context of the present invention it does not matter where the return code A3 is located on any returnable article as long as a standard location is employed for code scanning purposes.

Fig. 1(d) shows another returnable paper goods item, in this case a different type of billing or remittance slip D. The return form D has the addresses of the sender and the recipient, designated D1 and D2 respectively, in the upper and lower right quadrants, for the reasons explained above in the discussion of Fig. 1(c). The form D also shows a customer account number D3 which is different from the return code A3. According to the invention, the code A3 and the account number D3 may be different from each other, although they may be the same for convenience, as shown in Fig. 1(b). In some cases, the capability of a system that processes returned paper goods items may not have the ability to recognize an account number such as the number D3 shown for illustrative purposes, resulting in a portion of that number or the different number A3 being used as the return code A3.

In Fig. 1(e) a window mailing envelope E is shown which has a window E1 arranged in the lower right quadrant, whereas in Fig. 1(f) a window mailing envelope F is shown which has a window F1 arranged in the upper right quadrant. The envelope E is marked with the address E2 of the sender. whereas envelope F has an area F2 to be filled in by the recipient. Thus, envelope E illustrates a shipper's window envelope marked with a code A3 in accordance with the invention, whereas envelope F illustrates a window-type reply paper article having the code A. As shown in Fig. 1(e), in order to reduce postage costs for mailing, some mailers mark outgoing mailpieces with a standard bar code representation E3-, referred to by those skilled in the art as a stripe-half-stripe code, used by the U.S. Postal Service for bar code sorting purposes, and used to pre-sort such mailpieces prior to delivery to the Postal Service. Preferably, reply envelope F is also marked with a postal bar code F3, in this case that of the business mailer, to facilitate expedited processing by the Postal Service. Additionally, envelope F may be marked with a permission mailing serial number F4 in the upper right quadrant to provide prepaid reply envelopes to the business mailer's customers.

In view of the above considerations, it is obvious that the reply envelope A together with the reply stationery item B can be enclosed in the envelope E by a commercial mailer so that the address B1 of the recipient is visible through the window E1. However, the reply item C can also be enclosed by the reply envelope F in the mailing envelope E so that the address C2 is visible through the window E1 when mailed, and then when the reply envelope F is returned by the recipient C2, the reply item C can be enclosed in the envelope F so that the address C2 is visible through the window F1. Other combinations, dimensions and shapes of Envelopes A, E, F and other stationery items B, C and D may, of course, be used by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, including, for example, envelopes E and F which are not window envelopes.

As shown in Fig. 2(a), a system 10 of the type that can be used to process the stationery items A through D described above may include a conventional sheet feed module 12 into which a plurality of such stationery items, hereinafter designated by the reference numeral 14, may be loaded for feeding. A typical stationery item 14 may have a code A printed on the item 14 at a predetermined location prior to processing by the apparatus 10, or the apparatus 10 may be used to print the code A3 on the stationery item 14. Assuming that the stationery item 14 has a code A, the feed module 12 in the device 10 may be provided to provide a scan of the code A to determine that a document 14 bearing a particular response code A3 is being prepared for mailing.

The feed module 12 (Fig. 2(a)) is preferably a conventional stand-alone device which includes a suitable control arrangement 15, such as a microprocessor, for controlling the various arrangements and functions of the module 12. In addition, the module 12 includes a conventional operator interface 16 including a keyboard which is connected in a conventional manner to the control arrangement 15 for operation thereof in response to input signals from the user interface 16. The control arrangement 15 is further conventionally arranged to include a conventional two-way serial or parallel communications link 17 for conventionally connecting the control assembly 15 to an external source, such as the local computer described below, for actuating the control assembly in response to control signals, such as signal 17A, received from the external source. Thus, the module 12 is arranged to enable control of the arrangements and functions of the module 12 from an external source rather than from the user interface 16. The module 12 additionally includes a conventional input stack assembly 18 into which the stationery items 14 can be loaded. In addition, the feed module 12 includes a conventional feed assembly 20, a suitable code scanning assembly 22, and preferably a conventional gated output stack assembly 24. The feed assembly 20 may be any suitable top or bottom sheet feeder 20. In the case of using an upper sheet feeder 20, the code scanning assembly 22 may be operatively associated with the feeder assembly 20 for scanning the code A3 (Fig. 1) on the stationery article 14 (Fig. 2(a)) prior to feeding the article 14 from the stacking assembly 18, whereas in the case of using a lower sheet feeder 20, the code scanning assembly 22 is typically operatively associated with the feeder assembly 20 for scanning the code A3 (Fig. 1) on the stationery article 14 (Fig. 2(a)) after feeding the document 14 from the stacking assembly 18. The output stacking assembly 24 may be any conventional stacking assembly of the type having a suitable compartment 24A and provided with a stationery article diverter gate 24B. The gate 24B is arranged in the supply branch for stationery items fed from the input stack assembly 18 and is selectively operated by the control arrangement 15 to divert respective stationery items 14 from the feed branch and into the compartment 24. The code scanning arrangement 22 is connected to the control arrangement 16 which produces a digital signal such as the signal 25 corresponding to the scanned code A3 as the stationery item 14 is fed past the scanning arrangement 20. The feed module 12 additionally comprises a motor 26 and one or more drive units 28 for the gate 24B of the output stacking arrangement 24, and for the feed assembly 20. In addition, the module 12 is provided with a plurality of sensors 30 for sensing the stationery item 14 in the feed branch, and for sensing various positions of the motor 26 and the drive units 28, including their respective home positions. The sensors 30 are connected to the control arrangement 16, whereby the control arrangement 16 can provide digital signals such as the signal 25 to indicate the above-mentioned positions of the documents 14 and the elements of the motor 26 and the drive units 28. In addition, the feeder 20 can include conventional means such as a roller 32 for feeding the respective stationery items 14 from the feeder 12.

The device 10 (Fig. 2(a)) may further optionally comprise a conventional printing module 40 for applying respective response codes A3 to uncoded stationery items 14, or to such items 14 which contain an identification code D3 which is not suitable for use in the subsequent sorting of the stationery items 14, or to stationery items 14 which contain either an identification code D3 or another response code A3 which is not arranged in the correct place on the stationery item. In addition, the Printing module 40 may be used to print a postal bar code or a permit mail serial number, or both, on respective items with a view to ensuring prompt mailing by a customer or prompt processing by the postal services, or both, and thereby, for example, reducing the number of "open customers". Assuming the provision of printing module 40, printing module 40 is preferably a conventional stand-alone device having suitable control means 41, such as a microprocessor, to control the various means and functions of module 40. In addition, module 40 includes a conventional operator interface 42 including a keyboard connected in a conventional manner to control means 41 for operation thereof in response to input signals from user interface 42. The control arrangement 15 is also conventionally arranged to include a two-way serial or parallel communication link 43 for connecting the control arrangement 41 to an external source, such as the local computer described below, for actuating the control arrangement 41 in response to control signals such as signal 43A received from the external source. Therefore, the module 40 is arranged to allow control of the arrangements and functions of the module 40 from an external source rather than from the user interface 42. The module 40 additionally includes a sensor arrangement 44 for detecting that a stationery item 14 has been received and any suitable printing arrangement 46 for marking the stationery items 14 with a response code A3, a bar code F3, or a permit serial number F4, individually or in combination with one another. In addition, the module 40 is provided with a conventional means 48 for Feeding the stationery items 14 through and away from the printing module 40 includes a roller 50. The feeding module 40 further includes a motor 52 and is provided with one or more drive units 54 for the printing assembly 46, if a mechanical printing assembly is provided, and for the feeding assembly 48. The module 40 further includes a plurality of conventional sensor devices 46 for sensing respective elements of the motor 52, the drive units 54, the printing assembly 46 and the feeding assembly 48, and for detecting various positions of the stationery items 14 in the transport path through the printing module 40. Furthermore, the respective sensors 44 and 56 are connected to the control arrangement 41, whereby the control arrangement 41 can provide respective digital signals, such as the signal 58, for indicating the receipt of stationery items 40 and the respective positions of the motor 52, the printing arrangement 46, the feeding arrangement 48 and the drive units 54, including their respective home positions, as well as other positions of the stationery items 14.

The apparatus 10 (Fig. 2(b)) further comprises a conventional insertion module 40 for inserting solid stationery items 14 into envelopes and sealing them. The insertion module 60 is preferably a conventional stand-alone device which comprises a suitable control arrangement 61, such as a microprocessor, for controlling the various arrangements and functions of the module 60. In addition, the module 60 comprises a conventional operator interface 62, including a keyboard, which is conventionally connected to the control arrangement 61 for operation in response to input signals from the operator interface 62. The control arrangement 61 is further conventionally arranged to provide a two-way serial or parallel Communications link 63 for conventionally connecting control arrangement 61 to an external source, such as the local computer described below, for actuating control arrangement 61 in response to control signals, such as signal 63A, from the external source. Thus, module 60 is adapted to permit control of the arrangements and functions of module 60 from an external source rather than from user interface 62. Module 60 may optionally comprise a conventional folding arrangement 64, depending upon the dimensions of the stationery items 14 typically handled by a mailer. Whether or not folding arrangement 64 is provided, module 60 comprises a conventional envelope stacking arrangement 65 into which a plurality of window envelopes 66 are loaded, and a sensing arrangement 68 connected to control arrangement 61 for sensing the presence or absence of envelopes 66 in stacking arrangement 65. The module 60 additionally comprises a conventional sheet sensing device 70 connected to the control arrangement 61 for detecting receipt of stationery items 14. The module 60 is further provided with suitable feeding means 72 for feeding the stationery items 14 through the module 60 and hence also through the folding arrangement 64, if provided, in which the stationery item 14 is folded for insertion purposes. The module 60 further comprises an insertion device 74 for inserting stationery items 14 into the respective envelopes 66. The module 60 may optionally comprise an insert feeding arrangement 75 for attaching one or more inserts to a stationery item 14 to be inserted into an envelope 66. For example, if the stationery item 14 is a remittance form envelope, the remittance envelope may not the address of the recipient to whom the envelope 66 is to be sent, resulting in the need for an additional insert containing the address of the recipient and properly positioned so that it can be seen through the window of the envelope 66. If multiple insertions are adopted, the module 60 will include a plurality of sheet sensing devices 70 to detect the presence of one or more inserts and provide an appropriate signal to the control arrangement 61. In addition, the module 60 would be provided with an appropriate accumulator arrangement 76 in which the stationery article 14 and additional inserts would be properly stacked prior to insertion into the envelope 66 so that the address to which the envelope 66 is to be sent would be properly positioned after insertion so that it can be seen through the window of the envelope 66. The module 60 further includes a conventional sealing arrangement 77 for sealing the filled envelopes 66. The insertion module 60 further includes a motor 78 which is operatively connected to one or more drive units 79 for the feed and insertion assemblies 72, 74 and 75. In addition, the module 60 is provided with a plurality of additional sensors 70 connected to the control assembly 61 for detecting the respective positions of the stationery items 14 and other inserts, and of elements of the motor 78 and drive units 79. The control assembly 61 provides respective digital signals, such as signal 80, corresponding to the presence or absence of envelopes 66 and stationery items 14 and other inserts, and corresponding to the respective positions of the motor 78, drive units 79, stationery items 14, inserts and envelopes 66 when the respective sensors 68 and 70 detect these conditions. Furthermore, the feed assembly 72 may include suitable means, such as a roller 81, for feeding sealed envelopes 66 from the module 60.

The apparatus 10 (Fig. 2(c)) further includes a conventional franking module 85. The franking module 85 is preferably a conventional stand-alone electronic franking device having suitable control means 86, such as a microcomputer, for controlling the various means and functions of the module 85. The module 85 further includes a conventional user interface 87 including a keyboard connected in a conventional manner to the control means 86 for operation in response to input signals from the user interface 87. The control means 86 is further arranged in a conventional manner to include a two-way serial or parallel communications link 88 for connecting the control means 86 to an external source, such as the local computer described below, for operation of the control means 86 in response to control signals, such as signal 88A, from the external source. Therefore, the module 85 is designed to allow control of the arrangements and functions of the module 85 from an external source rather than from the user interface 87. The module 85 further includes a conventional sensor arrangement 89 connected to the control arrangement 86 for detecting the receipt of a sealed envelope 66. The franking module 85 is further provided with a conventional postage value setting arrangement 90 for setting the postage value to be printed on the envelope 66 and a plurality of postage value sensor devices 90A connected to the setting arrangement 90 for detecting the postage value that is set at any given time. The franking module 85 further includes a conventional printing assembly 91 having a postage value printing device that is operated by the value setting assembly 90 to print the set postage value. The franking module 85 further includes a conventional envelope feed assembly 92 for transporting the sealed envelopes 66 through the franking module 85 and is provided with a motor 93 connected to one or more drive units 94 and with a plurality of additional sensors 89 connected to the control assembly 86 for detecting the respective positions of the envelope 66 and elements of the motor 93 and the drive units 94, including their respective home positions. In addition, the feed assembly 92 may comprise a conventional means for feeding the envelope 66 from the franking module 85, for example a roller 95. In addition, the microcomputer of the control assembly 86 is preferably programmed to store the postage credit and used amounts 96 which indicate the postage available for printing and the total amount of all postage printed by the printing assembly 91, respectively. Preferably, the franking module 85 additionally comprises a card reader assembly 96A into which a postage credit or debit card of the type issued by a post office can be inserted. The reader assembly 96A comprises a conventional logic circuit connected to the control assembly 15 and constructed and arranged to provide an interface with the logic circuit of the credit or debit card to change the total postage available for printing to a higher or lower amount depending on the credit or debit amount stored in the card. Furthermore, the control assembly 86 provides respective digital signals such as For example, signal 97 is available, which corresponds to the stored and used postage credit amounts and the respective states detected by sensors 89 and 90A.

Assuming that the other processing modules described below are not provided, the apparatus 10 (Fig. 2(c)) may comprise a conventional stack module 100. The stack module is preferably a conventional stand-alone device comprising a suitable control arrangement 101, such as a microprocessor, for controlling the various arrangements and functions of the module 100. In addition, the module 100 comprises a conventional user interface 102 provided with a keyboard connected in a conventional manner to the control arrangement 101 for operation in response to input signals from the user interface 102. The control arrangement 101 is also conventionally arranged to comprise a two-way serial or parallel communication link 103 for connecting the control arrangement 101 to an external source, such as the local computer described below, for operation of the control arrangement 101 in response to control signals, such as the signals 103A, from the external source. Therefore, the module 100 is designed to allow control of the arrangements and functions of the module 100 from an external source rather than from the user interface 102. The module 100 further comprises an envelope feed assembly 104, a sensor 105 for detecting the presence or absence of respective envelopes 66, and a stacking assembly 106 to which the envelopes 66 are fed. In addition, the stacking module 100 is provided with a motor 107 connected to one or more drive units 108 for driving the feeder 104, and a plurality of sensors 109 connected to the Control arrangement 101 are connected to detect the respective positions of elements of the motor 107, the drive units 108 and various positions of the envelopes 66, whereby the control arrangement 101 can provide associated digital signals such as the signal 110 which correspond to the conditions detected by the sensors 105 and 109.

The apparatus 10 (Fig. 2(c)) may further include additional, optional processing module devices 112, such as an additional printing module 40 for printing a bar code corresponding to the zip code on the envelope 66 to enable mechanical bar code sorting by the postal service, or a sorting module 130 of the type described in more detail below. Preferably, a sorting module 130 is provided for pre-sorting envelopes 66 into a plurality of different destination zones to take advantage of the reduced postage costs charged to senders who pre-sort mail for the postal service, thereby reducing mail processing labor at the postal service.

Whether or not the other modules 112 mentioned above are provided, the mail is delivered from the stacking module 100 or such other modules 112 to the postal service for eventual delivery to the destination specified by the addressee on the envelope 66.

Assuming that mail is delivered by the postal service, most, but not all, addressees who receive an enclosed coded reply envelope or other coded reply stationery item 14 return it to the commercial sender. However, some mail items 120 (Fig. 2(c)) are received in envelopes that do not contain a response code A3, whether or not a response stationery item 14 was provided, and other mailpieces 120 are received in envelopes which do not contain a sort coded response stationery item 14, whether or not such a response item 14 was provided.

For processing incoming mail items 120 (Fig. 2(c)), apparatus 10 includes a conventional sorting module 130. Sorting module 130 is preferably a conventional stand-alone device including a suitable control device 131, such as a microprocessor, for controlling the various devices and functions of module 130. In addition, module 130 includes a conventional user interface 132 including a keyboard conventionally coupled to control device 131 for operation in response to output signals from user interface 132. Control device 131 is also conventionally configured to include a two-way serial or parallel communications link 133 for connecting control device 131 to an external source, such as the local computer described below, for operation of control device 131 in response to input signals such as signal 133A from the external source. Therefore, the module 130 is designed to allow control of the arrangements and functions of the module 130 from an external source rather than from the user interface 132. The module further includes a conventional singulation arrangement 134, of a type which accommodates different sizes of mailpieces 120, for singulating mailpieces 120 loaded into the arrangement 134 for processing. The sorting module 130 further includes a sensor arrangement 136 which is connected to the Control arrangement 131 is connected to detect whether mail items 120 are available for singulation or not. In addition, the sorting module 130 has a feed arrangement 138 to feed singulated mail items 120 from the singulation arrangement 132 and is provided with a sensor arrangement 140 which is connected to the control arrangement 131 to detect response codes A4 on the respective mail items 120. Furthermore, the sorting module 130 has a plurality of sorting location arrangements 132 to stack the mail items 120 which are fed by the feed arrangement 138 in the sorting location arrangement 142. Insofar as some of the mail items 120 do not have a response code A3, one of the sorting location arrangements 142 represents a code-free sorting location arrangement 142 to receive uncoded mail items 120. The sorting module 130 further includes a motor 144 connected to one or more drive units 146 connected to the singulation assembly 132, the feed assembly 138, and the sorting location assemblies 142, and a plurality of position sensor devices 138 connected to the control assembly 131 for sensing the respective positions of the mailpieces 20 and elements of the motor 144, the drive units 146, and the sorting location assemblies 142. The control assembly 131 provides digital signals, such as signal 150, corresponding to conditions sensed by the sensors 136, 150, and 148 when such conditions are sensed. The mail items 120 from the sorting location arrangements 142 are then delivered by hand to the addressee corresponding to the sorting location or, in some cases, to other equipment for further processing, it being noted that depending on the quantity of uncoded mail items 120, the process of Opening letters and extracting their contents can be mechanized.

Assuming that further machine processing of the mailpieces 120 is performed, the apparatus 10 (Fig. 2(b)) may include a conventional letter opening module 160 to which the unencoded mailpieces 120 are manually fed. The module 160 is preferably a conventional stand-alone device including a suitable control arrangement 161, such as a microprocessor, for controlling the various arrangements and functions of the module 160. In addition, the module 160 includes a conventional user interface 162 including a keyboard connected in a conventional manner to the control arrangement 161 for operation thereof in response to input signals from the user interface 162. The control assembly 161 is further conventionally arranged to include a two-way serial or parallel communications link 163 for connecting the control assembly 161 to an external source, such as the local computer described below, for actuating the control assembly 161 in response to input signals such as signal 163A from the external source. Thus, the module 160 is arranged to allow control of the assembly and functions of the module from an external source rather than from the user interface 162. The module 162 further includes a sensor assembly 164 connected to the control assembly 161 for sensing whether or not mailpieces 120 are available for opening. Furthermore, the module 160 is provided with a letter feed assembly 166, an opening assembly 168, a content extraction assembly 170, an envelope disposal assembly 172, and a content stacking assembly 174. In addition, the module 160 is provided with a motor 176, connected to one or more drive units 178 connected to the feed 166, open 168, extract 170, discard 172 and stack 174 assemblies, respectively, and a plurality of sensors 180 connected to the control assembly 161 for sensing the respective positions of elements of the motor 176 and drive units 178, various elements of the assemblies 166, 168, 170 and 172, and the mailpieces 120. The control assembly 161 provides respective digital signals, such as signal 182, corresponding to the conditions sensed by the sensors 164 and 180. The mailpiece contents are then manually processed by the stacker 174, for example to separate the contents from one another.

The separate contents of the mailpieces 120 may contain personal checks with or without coded order forms or other reply stationery items 14. Any coded remittance forms received together with a check covering the full amount of payment due may be processed on a different basis than those not containing full payment, depending on the business practices of the recipient. However, assuming a large number of coded remittance forms or other coded stationery items 14, the coded items 14 may be manually fed to the sorting module 130 for further sorting as previously discussed below.

According to the invention, each of the modules 12, 40, 60, 85, 100, 112, 130 and 160 is constructed and arranged to be interconnected with a local computer 180, and with a remote computer, as explained below, via conventional two-way serial or parallel communication links for control and data. For this purpose, the local computer 180 may be any commercially available computer that includes a sufficient number of communication ports programmable for serial or parallel transfers, as required, to provide a separate two-way serial or parallel communication link for each of the above-identified device modules and the remote computer. In addition, the local computer generally includes a plurality of discrete circuits, including those for a plurality of central processing units, each of which includes control circuits 186, a program memory 188, a plurality of registers 190, and an arithmetic logic unit 192, and those for one or more oscillators and clocks 194, data memory 196, clocks and event counters 198, and a program extension controller 200. The local computer 180 also includes additional register circuits for storing a log 202 of response codes A3, each of which preferably uniquely identifies a particular stationery item, or a person, firm, corporation, or other business entity to whom one or more stationery items are being sent. The local computer also includes additional register circuits for storing a plurality of completion or disposition data lists 204, each of which is associated in a one-to-one mapping with one of the response codes A3 of the log 202. Furthermore, the local computer 180 is provided with a plurality of register circuits for storing a main line program 301, a plurality of module routines 350, 380, 400, 440, 460, 500 and 530, one for each of the device modules, and a plurality of additional registers 206 for future use or for use as working registers, or for other permanent or momentary data storage purposes. The local computer 180 also includes a conventional local terminal which is operatively connected in a conventional manner to the remainder of the local computer 180. The local terminal generally includes a plurality of processing circuits 214 which are mutually connected in a conventional manner to a keyboard 216, a display 218, a disk drive 219 and a printer 220.

Each of the completion data lists 204 may contain data corresponding to a plurality of operations to be performed by the apparatus according to the invention. The respective operations may be in the form of routines for performing respective operations or messages, each of which relates to preparation and completion and other matters relating to the mailing of envelopes or other stationery items, whether or not such items bear an A3 response code. For example, each of the lists 204 preferably includes a message identifying the sorting location 142 of the sorting module 130 to which each mailpiece 120 bearing the A3 response code associated with the list 204 is to be delivered when the mailpiece 120 is sorted. Furthermore, respective lists may contain the addressee's postal bar code, the business mailer's postal bar code, and the business mailer's mailing permit serial number. In addition, a particular list 204 may contain a message indicating that upon detection of the code A3 on a particular stationery item, a routine is to be executed which causes a message to be sent to a remote computer indicating that the stationery item has been detected bearing that particular code, together with the time and date of detection, and together with information which indicating whether such detection occurred during mail processing of an outgoing letter or incoming mail. Preferably, the remote computer is conventionally programmed to print such messages when received. Thus, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a user at the remote computer site may be provided with a message indicating that code detection of a particular stationery item occurred at the feed module 12 where the item was diverted to the output stacker 24 rather than being fed to the print module 40. Alternatively, it could be reported that code detection occurred at the sorting module where the mailpiece was sorted to a particular sorting location 142. In connection with the foregoing, it should be noted that during the time delay between the creation of a particular stationery item bearing a response code and the stacking of the items in the feed module 12, the business dispatcher may have added a message to the completion data list for the particular coded stationery item indicating that the item is to be diverted to the output stacker 22 on the feed module 12 as a result of the occurrence of an event which was not known at the time the particular coded stationery item was prepared, for example for the purpose of avoiding double booking. Thus, any particular stationery item may be diverted to the feed module in this manner, resulting in postage printing costs being avoided. When a particular code is detected, its list 204 may contain a message causing the local terminal printer 220 to print a note adapted to be sent to an addressee named in the message, which addressee may be the addressee, but may not be his which is identified by the detected code A3. In another case, the list may also contain a message causing the printing of a note indicating that a particular person is to be contacted by telephone. In addition, the list may contain one or more other messages to be printed either at the local or at a remote computer terminal and concerning one or more elements of the current history of correspondence between the addressee and the sender, for example a change of the addressee's address including the postal code, or a message causing the printing of a corresponding bar code, an addition of the addressee's tax code number, his telephone number or facsimile terminal number, or any other information relevant to the current relationship between the addressee and the sender, or to the operation of one of the modules explained above.

Furthermore, the processing circuits 214 of the local computer terminal 212 are conventionally programmed to permit the retrieval, display and modification of the response code log 202 and the completion data lists 204 associated with each of the response codes A3 of the log 203. In addition, the terminal 202 is conventionally programmed to permit modification of the contents of each of the completion data lists 204 at any time in accordance with user input of appropriate commands from a remote computer or from the keyboard 216 of the local computer terminal 212. Furthermore, the local computer terminal 212 is conventionally programmed to permit its programming from a conventional disk inserted into the disk drive 219. In addition, the terminal 212 is conventionally programmed to permit programmed to permit the retrieval and printing at printer 220, in response to user input from keyboard 216, of all or part of logbook 202, alone or in combination with all or any part of the completion data lists.

The device 10 (Fig. 2) may further include a remote computer 250 and conventional means for providing a serial or parallel communication link 252, via ports 254, between the local computer 180 and the remote computer 250. The remote computer 250 is preferably programmed to have a copy of the logbook 202 and the task data lists 204 stored in the local computer 180. The remote computer 250 further includes conventional main line programming 600 for communicating with the local computer 180 and for modifying the contents of the logbook and to-do lists in both the local and remote computers 180 and 250, respectively. The program 600 includes conventional routines for responding to communications from the local computer 180 or from user input from one or more terminals of the remote computer 250. The remote computer 250 further includes at least one local terminal, such as terminal 212.

Generally, the local computer 180 includes two software programs, including a master program 300 (Fig. 3) and several instruction execution programs 400 (Fig. 4).

The local computer main program 300 (Fig. 3) begins with step 302, in which the local computer 160 is initialized in a conventional manner, wherein generally, the establishment of initial voltage levels on the computer ports used for the control and data communication lines of the device modules is provided, as well as the setting of the clocks and counters. The local computer 300 then communicates with the respective device modules and causes their respective motors and other drive units to be initialized in a conventional manner, step 304. In step 304, the control arrangement microprocessors of the various modules are provided to scan the various microprocessor ports associated with the motor drive units and sensors of the modules to determine whether or not the sensed elements of the motors and drive units, for example their respective output elements, are properly arranged to begin operation of the various components of the modules, and if not, the program 300 causes the motors and drive units to be driven so as to force the respective elements, and hence the motors and drive units, into their respective home positions.

Assuming that initialization steps 302 and 304 have been completed, program 300 enters an idle loop routine, step 306. In idle loop routine 306, a determination is initially made as to whether or not a request or command has been received from one of device modules 12, 40, 60, 85, 100, 112, 130, or 160, from remote computer 250, or from local terminal 212, step 308. Assuming that a request or command has not been received, 308, processing returns to idle 306. If a request or command 308 is received, a determination is made as to whether or not the request or command originated from the remote computer, step 310. If the request or command from the remote computer 310, a determination is made as to whether or not it is directed to the use of the local terminal, step 312. Assuming that a determination is made that the request or command is directed to the local terminal 312, the program 300 causes the local terminal to execute the request or command, i.e., print the message 314, and then causes processing to return to idle 306. If such a determination is made that the request or command was not intended for the local terminal 312, then the program causes the log, list or lists, or both, to be retrieved, step 316, followed by a determination as to whether or not the log, list or lists, or both, are to be modified, step 318. If no modification is to be made, 318, since the only other reason for retrieving the log, list or lists, or both is to send them to the remote computer, copy, the program 300 causes the log, one or more of the lists, or both to be copied to the host computer, step 320, followed by causing processing to return to idle 306. If a change is to be made, 318, then the program 300 causes processing to be executed to change the log, one or more of the lists, or both, step 322, followed by the program 300 returning processing to idle 307.

If a determination is made in step 310 that the request or command 308 does not originate from the remote computer 310, the program 300 then performs processing to determine whether or not the request or command 308 originates from the local terminal, step 324. If so, 324, a determination is then made as to whether the request or command is for the remote computer or not, step 326, and if so, the request or command, i.e. a message, is sent to the remote computer, step 328, followed by a return to idle 306 initiated by the program 300. However, if the message is not intended for the remote computer 326, since the request or command may only be to fetch the logbook, one or more of the lists, or both, for display, the logbook, one or more of the lists, or both are displayed in step 330. The program 300 then executes step 332 where a determination is made as to whether or not a change is to be made. If a change is to be made, 332, the program causes a change, step 334, to the logbook, one or more lists, or both, and then processing is caused to return to idle 306, whereas if no change is to be made, 332, processing is caused to return directly to idle 306. Since processing returns to idle 306 when no change is to be made 332, if a request or command 308 is received from the remote computer 310 before a request or command 308 is received from the local computer terminal 324, the request or command from the remote computer 310 is processed 312-322 prior to processing any request or command from the local terminal 324. Therefore, requests or commands from the remote computer 310 are given processing priority over those from the local terminal 324.

If a determination is made in step 324 that the request or command 308 does not originate from the remote computer 310 and not from the local terminal 324, then the request or command must necessarily originate from one of the device modules, whereupon a determination is made as to whether or not the request or command is intended for the local terminal 338. If the local terminal 338 is concerned, the message is printed, step 340. If the message is not intended for the local terminal 338, the program executes the request or command, step 338 (Figs. 3 and 4(b)), since the request or command must then be a request or command which must be executed for one of the modules.

As shown in Figure 4, which includes Figures 4(a), 4(b), 4(c) and 4(d), requests and commands from the various device modules that are intended for the modules and are not directed to use the local terminal 334 (Figure 3) are handled by the local computer (Figure 3) on a first come, first served basis. However, in the preferred embodiment, the local computer 180 has the capacity to perform parallel processing of requests and commands from and for the device modules, resulting in the response time of the local computer to execute any particular request or command in no way affecting the timely processing function of the respective modules for the stationery item.

Assuming that the feed module routine 350 (Fig. 4(a)) is called, a determination is initially made, step 352, as to whether or not a stationery item is available for feeding from the feed module stacker. Assuming that an item is not available, processing returns to idle 306 to allow the program to execute the next request or command until such time as an item is available. is, 352. Assuming that a stationery item is available, 352, the program causes the item to be fed through the module's feeder, step 354. When the stationery item is fed, the identification code on the item is caused to be sensed by the module's code sensor, step 356. The routine then causes the logbook code to be used in processing stationery items bearing the identification code to be fetched, step 358, and causes a comparison to be made to determine whether or not the logbook code and the identification code are the same, step 360. If a determination is made that they are the same, step 362, then the program causes the identification code to be stacked as the next code to be used for reference purposes in the course of inspecting and preparing stationery items. If they are not equal, step 362, then processing is performed to store the log code in the stack as the next code to be used for reference purposes in the course of inspecting and preparing the stationery items, step 364. When the next code to be used to inspect the stationery item has been identified, the program performs the step of retrieving the completion data list corresponding to that code, step 365, and causes a determination to be made as to whether or not the stationery item should be diverted to the output stack of the feed module, step 366. If the determination is made that diversion should be made, step 366, then the program executes step 367, at which the stationery item is diverted to the output stack and the stacked code is deleted from the next code stack, and a message is caused to be transmitted to the feed module, step 368 (Fig. 4(d)) indicating that the request or command has been executed. The program then causes processing to return to idle 306. On the other hand, if the list does not indicate that the stationery item bearing the code is to be directed to the feed module's output stack, step 366, then the program causes the stationery item to be fed to the next module, step 369, then the program causes a message to be transmitted to the feed module indicating that the request or command has been executed, step 368, and then causes processing to return to idle, step 306.

Assuming that the request or command 338 (Fig. 4(a)) is for the print module, the print module routine 380 is called and an initial determination is made as to whether or not the stationery item has been received by the print module, step 382. Assuming that a stationery item has not been received, the program causes processing to return to idle 306 so that the next request or command can be executed. Assuming that the document has been received, step 382, the next code from the code stack is retrieved, step 384, which is the log code 364 or the identification code 362 that was stacked as the next code during the course of execution of the feed module routine 350. Additionally or alternatively, the completion data list associated with that code may be retrieved. The program then executes step 386, in which a determination is made as to whether or not the retrieved code or one or more of the messages contained in the completion data list, such as a bar code or a mail permit serial number, must be printed. If so, the program causes the printer of the print module to print the appropriate code or number on the stationery item, step 387. Whether or not a print is caused, the routine 380 then causes the stationery item to be fed to the next module, step 388, such as the introductory module, whereupon a message is caused to be transmitted to the print module to indicate that the request or command has been carried out, 368, and processing is then caused to return to idle, 306.

Assuming that the request or command 342 (Fig. 4(b)) is for the induction module, the induction module routine 400 is called and initially a determination is made as to whether or not a mailing envelope is available, step 402. Assuming that the mailing envelope is not available, processing returns to idle 306 for execution of the next request or command until an envelope is available. Assuming that a mailing envelope is available, step 402, a determination is then made as to whether or not the encoded stationery item has been received by the print module, step 404. Assuming that the encoded stationery item has not been received, step 404, processing again returns to idle 306 for execution of the next request or command 338 until the encoded stationery items are received. Assuming that a stationery item is received, 404, a determination is then made as to whether or not the item is to be folded, step 406. If it is not to be folded, a determination is made as to whether or not other inserts are to be inserted along with the stationery item, step 410, whereas if the stationery item is to be folded, step 406, it is folded, step 408, and then a determination is made, step 410, as to whether or not other inserts are to be inserted along with the stationery item. Assuming that no other inserts are involved, step 410, the folded or unfolded stationery item is caused to be inserted into the envelope, step 414, whereas if other inserts are involved, step 410, the other inserts are caused to be fed via the accumulator of the insertion module in which they are stacked in a pile consisting of the other inserts and the folded or unfolded stationery item. The stack contents are then caused to be inserted into the envelope, step 414. After the insertion step 414, the local computer routine causes the start of the determination of the postage value for mailing the envelope, step 416, either by calculation or by using a look-up table. In addition, the routine 400 causes a delay timer to start counting, step 416. When the determination of the postage value and the timer functions are complete, step 416, the next step 418 is executed, which causes the envelope to be closed, whereupon the sealed envelope is fed to the next module, step 420. A message is then transmitted to the insertion module to indicate that the request or command has been carried out, 368 (Fig. 4(d)), whereupon the routine causes processing to return to idle 306.

Assuming that the request or command 338 concerns the meter module, the meter module routine 440 is called and processing begins with the execution of step 442, in which a determination is made as to whether or not the next envelope has been received. If a If a determination is made that the envelope has not been received, step 442, processing returns to idle 306 to execute the next request or command, whereas if the envelope has been received, 442, a determination is made as to whether or not the postage has been set, step 444. Assuming that such a determination has been made that the postage has not been set, 444, then an inquiry is made as to whether or not the delay timer has expired, step 446. Until such time as the delay timer has expired, processing continues to loop through steps 444 and 446, namely until such time as either a determination is made that the postage has been set, 444, or the delay timer has expired, 446. If the postage has been set, 444, before the delay timer has expired, 446, then a determination is made that the postage has been set, step 444. The routine then causes the Printing the postage, 448, whereupon the mailpiece is then caused to be fed to the next module, step 450. A message is transmitted to the metering module that the request or command has been carried out, 368 (Fig. 4(d)), and processing is then caused to return to idle 306. On the other hand, if the postage has not been set, step 444, before the delay timer has expired, step 446, it is assumed that the meter setting system requires maintenance since the delay timer is set for a sufficiently long time interval to change any meter setting to any other meter setting before the delay timer has expired. In such circumstances, therefore, routine 440 causes a message to be printed at the local terminal, step 452, to to indicate that an error condition exists and, accordingly, maintenance personnel should be called to check the operation of the meter. The routine 440 then causes the print module to be locked out to prevent further use, step 454, i.e., shut down. The routine then causes processing to return to idle 306. For the purposes of this description, it is assumed that postage has been set, step 444, whereupon the routine causes steps 448, 450, 368, and 306 to be executed sequentially.

Assuming that the request or command to be executed 338 (Fig. 4(c)) is for the batch module, the batch module routine is called, step 460, and processing is begun by making a determination as to whether or not mail has been received by the postage printing module, step 462. If no mail has been received, processing is caused to return to idle 306 to execute other commands and requests until such time as a mail item is received, step 462. If the mail item is received, step 462, routine 460 causes the mail item to be batched, step 464, whereupon a message is caused to be transmitted to the batch module indicating that the request or command has been executed, step 368 (Fig. 4(d)), and then causing processing to return to idle 306.

Assuming that other outgoing mail processing modules are involved in processing the mail, and the request or command to be executed is directed to such other processing modules, the appropriate routine or routines for other processing modules are called, step 480. For the purpose of For the purposes of the present description, it is assumed that the other processing in question is to either print a bar code on the envelope, or to pre-sort the envelope before it is delivered to the postal service, or both. Therefore, assuming that the other processing routine is called, 480, and assuming that bar code printing is involved, 482, the mail is processed to print a bar code on the mailpiece, and the mailpieces are processed in accordance with the steps in the feed module and print module routines 350 and 380 described above, except for step 384 of the print module routine 380 which is executed to additionally retrieve the bar code from the completion data list associated with the next code, and except for the additional execution of the print step 387 to cause the bar code to be printed. However, assuming that only pre-sorting or pre-sorting after bar code printing is involved, processing involves execution of the steps of the sort module routine explained below.

The foregoing discussion of processing at the local computer primarily relates to the preparation of returnable stationery items, and the envelope in which they are inserted, for delivery to the postal service. On the other hand, returnable stationery items are processed by carriers other than the postal service and may be prepared in a substantially similar manner. Therefore, the invention includes, but is not limited to, the provision on each returnable stationery item, whether or not contained in an outgoing envelope, of a return or response code which uniquely identifies the stationery item or the recipient of the returnable stationery item. stationery item. In accordance with the foregoing discussion, the return code or a code pre-printed on a particular stationery item can be used to access the completion data list associated with the code to determine whether or not the stationery items should be further prepared for mailing, and if the completion data list indicates that this should not be done, the stationery items can be sorted out of the mail preparation stream in advance of marking an envelope with postage for this purpose, with the result of eliminating postage waste that might otherwise occur. To the extent that some mailpieces do not reach the recipient to whom they are mailed, with the result that the entire mailpiece is returned to the business mailer, it is within the scope of the invention to print the return code on the outgoing envelope using a printing module after processing by the induction module is completed. Therefore, the above-mentioned unique code identifying the outgoing mail items or their recipients can be used to facilitate the appropriate handling of returning mail items.

For ease of discussion, it is assumed that the mail items have been prepared for delivery to the postal service, whereupon they are processed by the postal service for delivery and hand delivered to the recipient. Then the pre-coded, returnable stationery items are returned in pre-coded envelopes, or - in some cases - in envelopes not bearing the return code. In either case, incoming, returning coded mail 120 would be sent to the sorting module 130 (Figure 2) delivered for sorting after receipt by a commercial consignor.

Referring to Figure 4(d), and assuming that the request or command is for the sorting module, the local computer would call the sorting module routine, step 500, which begins processing by making a determination as to whether or not a stationery item was received. If none was received, step 502, processing would be caused to branch to idle 306 until a stationery item is received. However, assuming that a returning stationery item was received, step 502, routine 500 causes the item to be singulated, step 504, then fed, step 505, and during feeding, 505, scanned for response code, step 506. At this point, routine 500 performs the step of making a determination as to whether or not the item has a code 508. If not, step 508, the routine causes the insertion module to be operated to sort the item to a code-free sorting location 510. A message is then sent to the insertion module indicating that the request or command has been completed, step 368, whereupon the routine causes processing to return to idle 306. However, if it is determined in step 508 that the stationery item is coded, the routine 500 performs the step of fetching the completion data list corresponding to the response code, step 512. Therefore, the routine initially makes a determination as to whether or not the fetched list contains a message for the remote computer, step 514. If so, the message is transmitted, step 516, to the local computer. The message 516 may, for example, be a message which simply notifies the remote computer that the return-encoded stationery item has been received, or a message which tells the remote computer to execute a routine which results in the printing of a message on a permanent copy for a specific person at the remote computer location. Assuming that the message has been transmitted to the remote computer, step 516, or assuming that no message exists for the remote computer, step 514, routine 500 then executes step 518 which makes a determination as to whether or not the to-do list contains a message for the local terminal. Assuming a message for the local terminal 518, the message is printed 520 by the local terminal's printer. Message 520 may, for example, contain instructions for the user at the local terminal to call a specific person to notify that person that the return-encoded stationery item has been received. Accepting instructions from said person to retrieve the coded stationery item, the user of the local terminal may call up the completion data list for display, determine the sorting location to which the stationery item was sorted as explained below, and retrieve the stationery item for discussion. Assuming that the local terminal printer has printed message 520, or assuming that there is no message in the completion data list for the local terminal 518, the routine then performs the step of sorting the stationery item to the sorting location specified in the completion data list, step 522. The local routine then causes a command execution message to be transmitted, step 368, to the sorting module, whereupon the processing is caused to return to idle 306.

At this point, as shown in Fig. 2, it is assumed that both coded and uncoded stationery items are located in the sorting locations 142 of the sorting module 130. The next processing step is to manually deliver the sorted stationery items to their respective destinations where they are manually opened to remove their contents, or to deliver the documents to the optional letter opening module 160. If delivery is made to the letter opening module 160, reference is again made to Fig. 4(d) since the module 160 is controlled by the local computer.

Assuming the use of a mail opening module, as shown in Figure 4(d), upon receipt of the appropriate request or command, the mail opening module is called, step 530, and the routine 530 causes a determination to be made as to whether or not a stationery item has been received, step 532. If not, step 532, the routine 530 causes a return to idle 306. However, assuming that such a determination has been made that a stationery item has been received, 532, the routine performs the steps of causing the mail to be opened, step 532, then causing the contents of the mail to be extracted, step 536, and finally, in subsequent steps, causing the envelope to be discarded, step 538, and the contents of the envelopes to be stacked, 540, and sending a message to the mail opening module 368. indicating that the request or command has been executed, and finally causing processing to continue with idle 306.

At this point, as shown in Figure 2, the discarded envelopes 172 may be manually discarded at the letter opening module 160. Additionally, the contents of the opened mailpieces may be retrieved by the stacker 174 to separate coded stationery items from the remainder of the contents. The coded stationery items may then be manually delivered to the sorting module 130 for the processing described above in connection with sorting mailpieces 120.

As shown in Figure 5, assume that the remote computer is powered on and connected and has a main line program 600 having an idle loop from which requests and commands are serviced to and from various routines, including a routine relating to the local computer. The main line program 600 therefore continually branches from idle 602 to the step of making a determination as to whether or not a request or command has been received, step 604, and back to idle 602 until a request or command is received, 604. Upon receipt of a request or command, step 604, a determination is then made as to whether or not a routine is to be called, step 606. If a routine does not need to be called, the program 600 causes the request or command to be executed, step 608, after which processing is caused to return to idle 602. Assuming that a routine is called, step 606, a determination is then made as to whether the local computer is affected or not, step 610. If the local computer is not affected, 610, the other involved routine is called, step 612, whereupon the request or command relating to the other routine is caused to be executed, step 614, whereupon processing is caused to return to idle 602. On the other hand, if the request or command is assumed to be for the local computer, that is, a message either to or from the local computer, then the routine for the local computer is called, 616, whereupon a determination is made as to whether or not the request or command is for execution by the local computer, step 618. If it is assumed that execution by the local computer is intended, step 618, a determination is then made as to whether or not it is a message for the local terminal, step 620, and if so, the request or command message marked for the local terminal is transmitted to the local computer, step 622, whereupon processing returns to idle 602. Assuming that the message to be executed by the local computer is not intended for the local terminal 620, a message not marked with respect to the local terminal is transmitted to the local computer, step 624. If the request or command is not executed by the local computer 618, then the message originated from the local computer. Therefore, if the message is not intended for the local computer 618, the request or command is executed by the local computer, step 626, and processing returns to idle 602. In the processing steps described above, there is a processing priority for messages sent by the remote computer over those received by the local computer.

An interactive processing system for outgoing and incoming letters was described, which is particularly suitable for processing return-coded stationery items on the basis of criteria established at any time after the stationery items have been coded for the purpose of return, and therefore while the mail items are being prepared for dispatch, and also at any time thereafter and before they are actually processed. In addition, a system has been provided which allows operations other than sorting of such documents to be carried out when preparing and processing outgoing and incoming stationery items.

Claims (16)

1. Letter processing device with: a device (10, 12, 60, 85, 100, 250) for preparing a letter (A, E, F) with a returnable stationery item (B, D, F) for sending to a recipient who may be located remotely from the device, the returnable stationery item having a code (A3; E3; F3) identifying the recipient; b. means (130) for directing the returnable stationery item to a selected one of a plurality of locations (142), the directing means including means (140) for scanning the code; c. a computer device (180; 250) having a storage device for storing a completion data list (204) for the code, the completion data list (204) containing data specifying the selected location; and d. a device (214, 216) for changing the completion data list, whereby the selected location can be changed, wherein the means (130) for directing is operable to automatically direct the stationery item upon its return as a result of the scanning of the code by the scanning means (140) and the association of the code by the computer means (180; 250) with data specifying the selected location for the returned stationery item, the computer means (180, 250) being coupled to the directing means and having means for controlling the directing means to automatically direct the returned stationery item to the selected location when the code is scanned; and wherein the means (214, 216) for completing the completion data list is arranged such that the programming of the computer means (180; 250) for associating the code with the data can be carried out at a time and, if desired, at a location different from the time and location of mailing the returnable stationery item. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preparation means comprises means (40) for printing a serial number on the returnable stationery item, and the computer means comprises means for controlling the printing means. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the preparation means comprises means (40) for printing the code on the returnable stationery item, and the computer means comprises means for controlling the printing means. 4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the preparation means comprises means (60) for inserting the stationery item into an envelope, and the computer means comprises means for controlling the insertion means. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the preparation means comprises means (85) for printing postage on the envelope, and the computer means comprises means for controlling the postage printing means. 6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the computer means comprises a terminal, the terminal comprises a printer, the completion data list contains data corresponding to a message, and the computer means comprises means for causing the printer to print the message when the code is scanned. 7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which a remote computer (250) is provided connected to the computer device (180) and having a printer, the completed data list containing data corresponding to a message, the computer device having means for causing the message to be transmitted to the remote computer when the code is scanned, and the remote computer having means for causing the transmitted message to be printed by the printer. 8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, with a remote computer (250) having means for storing data corresponding to the completion data list (204), the remote computer being connected to the computer means (180), the remote computer having a keyboard controlled by an operator, and the changing means comprising the keyboard. 9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the computer means comprises means (202) for storing data corresponding to the code, the completion data list is associated with the stored code data, the scanning means comprises means for providing a signal (150) corresponding to the scanned code, the computer means comprises means for providing data corresponding to the code signal, the computer means comprises means for comparing the scanned code data and the stored code data, and the control means comprises means for directing the stationery item to a location other than the selected location if the scanned and stored code data do not match. 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, with: a feed device (12) with a device for normally feeding the stationery item in a first feed branch (32) to the printing device, a device (50) for selectively feeding the stationery item into a second feed branch outside the first feed branch, and means for scanning the code (180); wherein the completion data list optionally contains data defining the second feed branch, the control means comprises means for causing the feed means to feed the stationery article into the second feed branch when the code thereof is scanned, and the associated completion data list contains the data defining the second feed branch; and wherein the means for selectively changing the completion data list permits the completion data list to be changed so that it contains the data defining the second feed branch. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the code scanning means comprises means for providing a signal representing the code, the computer means comprises means for receiving the signal and for providing corresponding data, and means for storing code data associated with the completed data list, the stored code data representing the code for the completed data list, and the computer means further comprises means for comparing the provided code and the stored code data and, in response to a match, retrieving the completed data list associated with the stored data. 12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the completion data list contains data corresponding to an address. 13. Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, in which the computer device has a device for displaying the completion data list. 14. Device according to claim 4 and one of claims 10 to 13, in which the introduction device is arranged in the feed branch from the feed device to the printing device. 15. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the completion data list for the identification code contains data corresponding to an operation to be performed by the system, and wherein the computer means further comprises means for causing the system to perform the operation upon scanning the identification code for the list; and the apparatus comprises means for processing an incoming mailpiece, the incoming mailpiece containing the stationery item on return. 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein, when the to-do list includes data corresponding to an address, the operation to be performed comprises printing the address, the apparatus comprising means for printing the address on the stationery article, and the computer means comprising means for causing the printing means to print the address when the code is scanned.