EP0871146A2 - Briefkasten mit Mitteln zur Verarbeitung von Korrespondenz - Google Patents

Briefkasten mit Mitteln zur Verarbeitung von Korrespondenz Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0871146A2
EP0871146A2 EP98105997A EP98105997A EP0871146A2 EP 0871146 A2 EP0871146 A2 EP 0871146A2 EP 98105997 A EP98105997 A EP 98105997A EP 98105997 A EP98105997 A EP 98105997A EP 0871146 A2 EP0871146 A2 EP 0871146A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mailbox
letter
microprocessor
user
posted
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP98105997A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0871146A3 (de
EP0871146B1 (de
Inventor
Michele Carriero
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
New Postal System SA
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0871146A2 publication Critical patent/EP0871146A2/de
Publication of EP0871146A3 publication Critical patent/EP0871146A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0871146B1 publication Critical patent/EP0871146B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • G07B2017/00209—Mailbox, i.e. container for outgoing mail
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • G07B2017/0037—Calculation of postage value
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00701—Measuring the weight of mailpieces

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a mailbox provided with means for processing correspondence.
  • the invention falls within the field of correspondence processing in mailboxes and, more particularly, concerns improvements to the mailbox described in European patent application 95110857.02303.
  • the said mailbox comprises a microprocessor that controls: a) a first optical means capable of seeing whether a letter has been posted correctly as far as its positioning within the slot of the mailbox is concerned; b) if this is the case, an electric motor of a means that transports the posted letter to a device that stamps the postage stamps affixed to letter with the date and the time at which the letter is posted; c) a second optical means that sees whether the postage stamps affixed to the letter are of the correct amount and, if so, causes the said motor to restart in such a way as to let the letter drop to the bottom of the box, whereas in the contrary case it restarts the motor in such a way as to represent the letter at the slot of the mailbox; c) a third optical means that checks that the heap of letters at the bottom of the box does not exceed a predetermined value and, as soon as this is the case, any further letters posted will be refused by means of an acoustic signal and the stopping of the motor.
  • the limitations of the said mailbox derive from the fact that it is not capable of either writing the address or weighing each posted letter to check the stamps that may have been applied by the user, and accepts only normal letters to which stamps have already been applied and does not accept registered letters, insured letters or express mail.
  • the present invention overcomes these limitations and offers other advantages that will become evident in the further course of the description, including that of making it possible for the user to read on a display the amount of postage due for the forwarding of the letter and to pay the said amount either by means of a magnetic card or in cash; this mailbox is particularly suitable for being installed inside a post office. It comprises the parts envisaged in the aforesaid patent application and, as set out in the characterizing parts of the claims, comprises also the following, all associated with and controlled by the microprocessor:
  • the first keyboard is also capable of cancelling the zip code whenever the user happens to have made a typing error.
  • the display is also programmed in such a way that whenever the mailbox is not actually being used, it will put messages of public utility or publicity prepared by the Post Office on view for users and passers-by.
  • a magnetic card reader codified for accessing a third keyboard is provided to enable Post Office personnel, after duly typing their identity code on the said third keyboard, to start the motor for opening the mailbox and collecting the mail.
  • an electric resistance is installed in an appropriate position inside the mailbox and, controlled by a thermostat, ensures that the mailbox environment will be maintained at a constant temperature.
  • Figure 1 shows the external appearance of the mailbox 1, while the other reference numbers are assigned as follows: 2 indicates the slot for posting the letters, 3 the first alphanumerical keyboard, 4 the second alpha-numerical keyboard, 5 the third alphanumerical keyboard, 6 the display unit, 7 the slot for the magnetic card reader, 8 the slot for bank notes, 9 the slot for coins, and 10 the slot corresponding to a device for printing and delivering a receipt.
  • Figure 2 is the block diagramme of the principal parts; its reference numbers have the following meanings: 3 is the first alphanumerical keyboard, B1 is the microprocessor, 6 is the display, F1 is the printing device, F2 is the stamping device, L1 is the weighing device and 7 stands for the magnetic reader.
  • Figure 3 shows the association of the codification and printing block with the motor control card and the other parts.
  • the figure is self-explanatory, but we shall nevertheless list its principal parts below, namely:
  • the photocell made up of the diodic light detectors (FT1 - TU) detects the passage of a letter before it reaches the stamping zone and the letter, after having been recognized by the optical means that sees the stamp, moves forward and thus interrupts the infrared light beam of the optical means, thereby causes a negative pulse at the input of the monostable integrated circuit U2 (74C221), which serves to lengthen the time of the pulse in such a way as not to have false reading errors.
  • the diodic light detectors FT1 - TU
  • the U2 output pulse constitutes the setting input of U2 (an integrated flip/flop 4013), which in its turn activates the relay RL1 via the transistor Q2, so that the relay cuts the current supply to the motor.
  • the shutdown of the motor ensure that the letter will come to a halt before arriving at the stamping point. This interruption serves to activate the sequence for the binary coding and the stamping.
  • the microprocessor asks the user via the display unit to type the zip code or the name of the locality to which the letter is to be sent.
  • the display asks the user to type the name of the place of destination.
  • the user will then type MILAN, for example, and on the display there will appear the zip code 20100 followed by any other words or phrase that the designer may choose when programming the microprocessor.
  • the microprocessor program will quickly activate the printer, which - always acting via the microprocessor - will then print the zip code in the binary code used by the mail services.
  • the microprocessor sends a resetting pulse to the integrated flip/flop circuit U1, which via one of the transistors will then give its new consent for the closure of the relay.
  • the motor will start up again and activate the normal procedure of the mechanical device of the mailbox, thus causing the letter to be stamped and then inserted in the storage space.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
  • Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
  • Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
  • Cash Registers Or Receiving Machines (AREA)
  • Supports Or Holders For Household Use (AREA)
EP98105997A 1997-04-10 1998-04-02 Briefkasten mit Mitteln zur Verarbeitung von Korrespondenz Expired - Lifetime EP0871146B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT97MI000823A IT1291532B1 (it) 1997-04-10 1997-04-10 Miglioramenti in una cassetta postale dotata di dispositivo per trattare la corrispondenza
ITMI970823 1997-04-10

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0871146A2 true EP0871146A2 (de) 1998-10-14
EP0871146A3 EP0871146A3 (de) 1999-09-15
EP0871146B1 EP0871146B1 (de) 2005-10-19

Family

ID=11376828

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98105997A Expired - Lifetime EP0871146B1 (de) 1997-04-10 1998-04-02 Briefkasten mit Mitteln zur Verarbeitung von Korrespondenz

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0871146B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE307366T1 (de)
DE (1) DE69831892D1 (de)
IT (1) IT1291532B1 (de)
TW (1) TW385398B (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2388668A (en) * 2002-04-16 2003-11-19 Styrbjoern Gaerde Automatic mailing machine
WO2009004658A1 (en) 2007-07-03 2009-01-08 Michele Carriero Mailbox comprising a radio receiver for detecting stamps with a radio receiver, a detector for detecting letters with a dangerous content and a video camera
EP2048624A1 (de) * 2007-10-12 2009-04-15 Neopost Technologies Frankiersystem mit kontrolliertem Verteilungspunkt
CN113409477A (zh) * 2021-06-15 2021-09-17 张家港塑金机电制造有限公司 一种具有智能识别信息功能的铁质信箱

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2430413A1 (de) * 1974-06-25 1976-01-15 Roby Rushing Automat zum freimachen von postsendungen
AU599336B2 (en) * 1986-10-17 1990-07-19 Wu Sheng-Jung Microcomputerized automatic post counter
EP0338108A1 (de) * 1988-04-20 1989-10-25 Jack Jen Intelligenter Briefkasten
US4923022B1 (en) * 1989-04-25 1994-04-12 Hsieh Tzu Yen Automatic mailing apparatus
US5369258A (en) * 1993-07-29 1994-11-29 Pitney Bowes Inc. Postage applying kiosk
EP0692212B1 (de) * 1994-07-14 1998-09-16 Michele Carriero Mit eines Vorrichtung zur Behandlung von postbeförderte Korrespondenz verberbundener Briefkasten

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2388668A (en) * 2002-04-16 2003-11-19 Styrbjoern Gaerde Automatic mailing machine
WO2009004658A1 (en) 2007-07-03 2009-01-08 Michele Carriero Mailbox comprising a radio receiver for detecting stamps with a radio receiver, a detector for detecting letters with a dangerous content and a video camera
EP2048624A1 (de) * 2007-10-12 2009-04-15 Neopost Technologies Frankiersystem mit kontrolliertem Verteilungspunkt
FR2922345A1 (fr) * 2007-10-12 2009-04-17 Neopost Technologies Sa Systeme d'affranchissement a point de distribution controle
US9058700B2 (en) 2007-10-12 2015-06-16 Neopost Technologies Franking system with a verified distribution point
CN113409477A (zh) * 2021-06-15 2021-09-17 张家港塑金机电制造有限公司 一种具有智能识别信息功能的铁质信箱

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0871146A3 (de) 1999-09-15
DE69831892D1 (de) 2006-03-02
ATE307366T1 (de) 2005-11-15
IT1291532B1 (it) 1999-01-11
TW385398B (en) 2000-03-21
ITMI970823A1 (it) 1998-10-10
EP0871146B1 (de) 2005-10-19

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