EP1058212B1 - Method for processing mail pieces and mail piece processing system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for mail processing, according to the type specified in the preamble of claim 1 and for a mail processing system according to the type specified in the preamble of claim 8. The method allows staggered mail processing and is suitable for a Multicarrierarbeit. The system has picking stations set up for picking up in strategic locations, which are emptied by a first carrier, who transports the mail to a dispensing station. The latter will be able to frank the post so that a second carrier can transport the mail to the distribution points.

There are already known public franking machines, in which a weighing device is combined with a postage meter ( DE OS 28 19 872 ). However, such systems do not yet have a multicarrier capability. The mail to be sent abroad is already transported by at least two national public postal carriers. The future Postal transport is also operated by private carriers, which may use their own logos and very different free-for-sale provisions than public carriers. Private carriers in particular will only be present locally during the start-up phase and will have to work together with public postal carriers.

A machine can free the post office and also give the evidence about it, is out DE OS 24 30 413 known. Moreover, for example, from the US 5,065,000 It is known to use two printers for direct bar code printing on the mail piece and a separate printing of a record over it. From the US 4,923,022 is an automatic mailing device with special slot, a drive mechanism, weighing, stamping and sorting mechanism known. Such postal devices require a lot of footprint for the variety of containers for sorted mail and are expensive and expensive to operate. One of the containers is always full first, which then affects the work of the entire mailing device. However, if the postal devices are emptied in a short rotation, the containers are filled differently with sorted mail and must be emptied one at a time, and two even if a container is almost empty. The transport costs are proportional to the transport route and inversely proportional to the postal quantity. The sorted mail must of course be transported separately, which requires additional attention and expenses by the carrier. If in future some carriers place higher demands on the franking stamp print image, for example security imprint with 2-D barcode, high-quality printers whose maintenance is expensive must be used.

The Applicant has already published under the title: "Method and Device for Processing Mail" in EP 503 311 A2 proposed an automatic mail acceptance system with a cash card or customer card and with a standardized mail item with transport lock, which has neither a device for weighing nor for franking. The money card allows an immediate debit a postage due to the selection of the standardized postage. The postage calculation does not take into account the weight. The transport lock is unlocked after the postage calculation. In addition, the use of separate storage containers is necessary because a distinction of shipping due to the lack of franking pressure is no longer possible later. In connection with the card reading unit, a conventional postage fee storage in combination with a secured mail storage container is needed. The container is emptied by an authorized person who loads the data from the postage fee storage into a special withdrawal chip card. The latter allows, if the sender had authorized himself with the mail acceptance with a special customer card, to debit the customer accounts with the consumed fees in a central clearing office.
The further procedure until the distribution of the unfranked mail has not been described in detail, but it can be assumed that the carrier also takes over the mail distribution. If a public carrier is to be commissioned for the further transport and distribution of postal items, then its provisions for marking or franking of mail as well as for billing must be complied with. However, since no franking takes place, for example, the provisions of Deutsche Post AG are not met. As a rule, items of mail, for example letters to be sent abroad, must be at least cleared by a print. The elimination of a franking imprint entails further disadvantages, such as a date-verification problem, a risk of fraud by the introduction of several or excessively unpaid mail pieces, in particular in the case of the standard feed for large-format mail pieces.

From the Patent US 6,282,525 (= DE 196 17 586 A1 ) is a Brieferstellung the personal computer out. The printed letters are enveloped by hand in the office and franked in a remote post office and automatically enveloped with an inserting system. Such post offices have a scanner, scale and franking machine system and deliver the franked mail to a mail carrier, with both departmental billing via account numbers and billing by carrier numbers to different mail carriers possible. However, the mail, which is collected in a conventional manner from the offices and transported to the post office, comes from the same institution or from a customer group limited to cost center numbers. The mail piece task at any place by an unlimited circle of customers is not possible.

The invention has for its object to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and to develop an optimal method and a secure and cost-effective system for mail processing, with the task stations are emptied in a short turn, without in the same frequency of their maintenance and a separate treatment of the post must already take place in the feeding stations.

The object is achieved with the features of claim 1 for a method and with the features of claim 8 for a system.

A method has been found which requires a minimum of effort in mail processing since the first carrier assigns only one identification number per mail item (eg letter) which is attached or attached to the mail item as a machine-readable mark in a predetermined area. The shipping data entered by the postal customer is assigned the aforementioned identification number. These data are first stored in a memory module of the loading station and then loaded into a memory module of the dispensing station. The transfer means is a special carrier card, which is transported together with the posted mail from the first carrier to the delivery station. The mark on the mail is scanned in the dispensing station to make the franking accordingly.
It has been found that a common storage container for unfranked but marked mail is rather filled, so that the expenses for its emptying are optimal, although the latter takes place in a short rotation. The invention is therefore based on the fact that a common storage container for all unfranked mail for the mail sender is the cheapest. The invention according to the above solution EP 503 311 A2 the advantage that the postal delivery is not standardized for postal acceptance for a particular postal format. The transport lock can be unlocked independently of the postage calculation, so that the sender can deposit all the unfranked postal goods through a slot on a lower guide plate of a feeder. The fact that the mail delivery is not standardized and a printer is used to mark the mail pieces to be separated, fraud attempts are suppressed. An additional receipt printer also enables the proof of the mailing task. A Libra can be integrated into the common storage container, so that a later weighing is eliminated. In contrast to the prior art, a printer no longer has to be arranged behind the scale. This results in a simple structural design for the feeding stations. Alternatively, a scale can be integrated into the dispensing station. Then the scale in the loading station is eliminated. The mail processing in each case according to the invention staggered so that a marking is done before weighing. It is advantageous that the feeding stations need only be equipped with marking printers but not with expensive franking printers. Advantageously, the franking of the mail item to be transported can take place separately from the mail item according to the tariff of the second carrier. This has the advantage for a first carrier that he can deliver franked mail for his service and can negotiate a volume discount with a second carrier. The first carrier may also negotiate a volume discount with other carriers. The franking device of the dispensing station can be set for a large number of different carriers. Their delivery requires in the delivery station a storage system with a controllable switch and a plurality of shelves, each being assigned to the respective carrier. The franking device of the delivery station is programmed to determine for each transport task the carrier with the cheapest tariff. While the first carrier benefits from the tariff differentials, the delivery of different carriers to the mail sender has the advantage that the tariffs remain moderate due to competition. However, this should not be ruled out that the additional input of a desired by the sender carrier is taken into account by a suitable user interface with keyboard and display unit in the loading station.
It is therefore provided according to the invention that in the feeding station in the direction of the postal stream, a feeder and a. Marking printer arranged in front of a storage container and connected to a control unit. The feeder has a shutter mechanism with a slot which can be controlled by a read / write unit, so that only when a card inserted by the sender in a slot of the read / write unit from the sender at least one mail can be inserted through the slot in the feeder. A non-volatile memory for booking data and a clock / date block are connected to the control unit, which is programmed to associate each piece of mail with a code number and make a reservation in the non-volatile memory for booking data under the aforementioned number, depending on the mailings made via the keyboard if necessary, store the weight and drive the marking printer to print the above number on the mail while it is being transported downstream.
It is provided according to the invention in a special carrier card inserted by the authorized person in the slot of the read / write unit, that the control unit is programmed to write the booking data associated with the respective numbers in the special carrier card and to the Postgutentnahme a discharge closure (TOR) to the storage container actuate. The special carrier card is formed on the one hand for taking out mail from the loading station by a first mail carrier and on the other hand for entering the booking data by a person entitled to do so in a franking machine of the delivery station. The data transmission may also be via an alternative means (on-line or off-line) to the dispensing station. The dispensing station consists of at least one franking machine and a scanning and feeding device in the mail stream, the latter having a scanner for scanning the marking printed in the dispensing station. The postage meter has a special carrier card reading / writing unit, a second nonvolatile memory, a franking printer and a terminal for printing out posting lists via a second printer, and a control unit programmed to program the number of the respective mail from the scanned marking data to derive and determine the associated input booking data, if necessary, with the associated weight from the second non-volatile memory to adjust the postage meter before franking accordingly.
It is also advantageous that the sender can use a value or a customer card to pay for the service to be provided by the carriers. The debit by value card requires an automatic format and thickness detection of the mail pieces. The prepaid card can be a rechargeable bank card. The customer card only allows the entry of an identification number. A debit does not take place from the card, but takes place either later from the customer account or an invoice is issued. A loss of the loyalty card is not tragic, since it does not automatically lose money when a service of the first carrier is immediately notified that locks the postage meter machine for the corresponding identification number. An additional advantage results from the locking mechanism for the slot as protection against willful damage to the receiving station in connection with the read / write unit. A card inserted in the latter will be withheld if additional sensors detect vandalism. The cardholder's identity number and, if applicable, the cause of the damage can be determined using the identity number of the card. Similarly, in addition, the keyboard and the display unit can be protected.

Figur 1a,

Postverarbeitungssystem nach einer ersten Variante mit Aufgabestationen und mit einer Abgabestation,

Figur 1b,

Blockschaltbild der Aufgabestation nach der ersten Variante,

Figur 1c,

Perspektivische Ansicht der Abgabestation nach der ersten Variante,

Figur 2a,

Postverarbeitungssystem nach einer zweiten Variante mit Aufgabestationen und mit einer Abgabestation,

Figur 2b,

Blockschaltbild der Aufgabestation nach der zweiten Variante,

Figur 2c,

Draufsicht auf eine druckende Zuführeinrichtung der Aufgabestation nach der zweiten Variante,

Figur 2d,

Draufsicht auf eine Abtast- und Zuführeinrichtung der Abgabestation nach der zweiten Variante,

Figur 2e,

Blockschaltbild der Aufgabestation nach der dritten Variante,

Figur 2f,

Perspektivische Ansicht der Abgabestation nach der zweiten Variante,

Figur 3,

Perspektivische Ansicht einer Abtast- und Zuführeinrichtung.

Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are presented in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to FIGS. Show it:

FIG. 1a,

Postprocessing system according to a first variant with feeding stations and with a dispensing station,

FIG. 1b,

Block diagram of the feeding station according to the first variant,

FIG. 1c,

Perspective view of the dispensing station according to the first variant,

FIG. 2a,

Post-processing system according to a second variant with feeding stations and with a dispensing station,

FIG. 2b,

Block diagram of the feeding station according to the second variant,

FIG. 2c,

Top view of a printing feeder of the feeding station according to the second variant,

FIG. 2d,

Top view of a scanning and feeding device of the dispensing station according to the second variant,

2e,

Block diagram of the feeding station according to the third variant,

FIG. 2f,

Perspective view of the delivery station according to the second variant,

FIG. 3,

Perspective view of a scanning and feeding device.

In the FIG. 1a a mail processing system according to a first variant with feeding stations 12, 13, 14 and with a dispensing station 10 is shown. The feeding stations 12, 13, 14 are placed at gas stations, shopping centers, self-service areas of banks, near EC machines and other important places. The dispensing station 10 is located away from it. For example, frankings are made in a service center. The system I assumes that the sender has a value card C and inserted into a slot of the loading station 12. The feeding station 12 generates a different number for each mail item B. The sender will make the necessary entries for the dispatch on a keyboard 26 of the loading station corresponding to the mail B. From a closure, a slot 22 is released. The inserted in the slot 22 mail B is weighed and marked within the feeding station 12. The latter is done for example by a number and / or a barcode in a predetermined area on the mail. The marked unfranked mail ends up in one in the FIG. 1b shown storage box. In addition to the feeding station 12 or laterally integrated, an ordinary mailbox 43 can be arranged for letters franked by franking or franking or otherwise franked letters. The mailbox 43 has in a conventional manner a slot 42 for insertion of the franked letters. The data measured internally in each delivery station 12, 13, 14 and entered by the sender are stored in non-volatile memory. A representative of the first carrier has a transport means 46 and routinely unloads the mailboxes and storage containers of the delivery stations 12, 13, 14. Opening the delivery stations 12, 13, 14 requires access means such as inserting a special carrier card E into the corresponding slot of a reader / Writing unit 23 of the feeding stations 12, 13, 14. For the transmission of data to the dispensing station, the non-volatile stored data in a transmission medium, preferably loaded into the special carrier card E.

Upon arrival of the means of transport 46 at the delivery station, the franked letters are parked in a second bin 65. The operation of the dispensing station 10 first requires a data transfer, for example, insertion of one of the special carrier cards E into the corresponding slot of a read / write unit 63 of the postage meter 60 to take over the data stored in the card. The associated mail can now be franked automatically according to this data. Before franking, the mail passes through a scanning and feeding device 55 and is scanned by a scanner 50 for the marking. The marking information is transmitted via the feeding device 55 to the franking machine 60, converted into a letter number and checked for its occurrence in a list of the stored data. The franking machine 60 has, in a known manner, a booking memory 69, which non-volatile stores the list of stored data and in which a debit is made. After franking, the letters arrive in a downstream first tray 68. By means of a printer 66, a posting list 67 with the stored data from the booking memory 69 can be printed out for a stack of franked mail pieces. The printer may be connected to the postage meter 60 directly or alternatively via a personal computer (not shown). The stack of franked mail pieces from the first tray 68 with the posting list 67 and the franked letters from the second tray 65 are delivered by a transport means 47 of the first carrier at a postal distribution center 80 of the second carrier and with its transport means 81 on to the recipient or Transporting distribution points to distribute the mail.
The FIG. 1b shows a block diagram of the feeding station 12 according to the first variant. The read / write unit 23 is connected to a - not shown - drive a shutter mechanism of the slot 22 and with a control unit 25 for control and postage calculation. Since the slot is only opened when the card is inserted, there is effective protection of the mail within the loading station from vandalism. The slot 22 is arranged upstream of a scanning and feeding device 20 on the housing of the loading station. downstream the scanning and feeding device 20 is a marking printer 30 is arranged. Alternatively, the marking printer 30 may also be part of the scanning and feeding device 20. The marking can thus be carried out advantageously by the marking printer 30 during or immediately after the feeding of the mail B. A marked mail storage box 40 is located downstream of the marking printer 30. A static balance 31, which includes a weighing plate 35 and a load cell S6, is part of the storage container
40. A gate 41 with associated controllable opening device is arranged on the housing of the loading station. The weighing plate 35 is arranged on a load cell S6, which contains electronics for transmitting a weight signal to the control unit 25. The weight of the individually supplied mail pieces is determined by the difference method in the control unit 25.
With a sensor S1, the creation of post office bag B to be postponed is detected. The sensors S2 and S4 allow a format determination, the sensor S3 to determine the thickness, and the sensor S5 to determine the position of the delivered mail B in the transport path and the sensor S7 to determine the filling level by the control unit 25. A suitable scanning and feeding device is disclosed in the non-prepublished German Patent Application 19912807.3 described in detail, under the title: "Arrangement for determining the dimension of print media". According to the invention, the marking printer 30 is arranged in addition to the latter solution. For example, an arrangement of the marking printer 30 and the sensor S1 in the pre-separating region takes place.
The control unit 25 is connected to the aforementioned means 20, 22, 23, 30, 41 in terms of control. The control unit 25 is equipped with a rate memory 39 and programmed for postage calculation. The current tariff for the postage calculation can be reloaded via the read / write unit 23 connected to the control unit 25 by means of a RATE TABLE chip card or optionally via a connected modem 24. To the control unit 25 are connected the keyboard 26, a display unit 27, a clock / date module 28, a nonvolatile memory 29, and a customer receipt printer 36. The latter can print out the number of the item in the mail, the time data and the shipping data entered during the mailing process as a customer document. The keyboard and display unit form a user interface and can combined (softkeys) or integrated (touch screen) be formed. The user interface can also be protected by a Verschußmechanik from damage, such as from vandalism.
Optionally, it is provided that the feeding station from a self-sufficient energy source 33 is supplied with power, wherein the energy source is fed from solar panels 34.

In the Figure 1c is a perspective view of the dispensing station according to the first variant comprising a scanning and feeding device 55, a postage meter 60 and a tray 68 shown. At the Potgutanlegestelle a lateral guide plate, for example in Vorunterzelungsbereich between the openings in the guide plate for two drive rollers, a scanner 50 is disposed in an opening. A commercially available scanner, for example of the type LS 4100 from Datalogic, is used as a scanner for a barcode. Such suitable for mixed mail processing scanning and feeding device 55 is based on the FIG. 3 explained in more detail. After the letters have been applied, a pressing means is actuated, for example a loading means 556 folded up, which presses the stack of letters against the guide plate, so that the letter located at the bottom is scanned first. The stack is unzipped by transporting the respectively scanned letter in the direction of the storage container. Under the cover 557 a separation of the supplied letters is made, as the principle already in German Patent DE 196 05 017 C2 and in the aforementioned German Patent Application 199 12 807.3 has been described.
The franking machine 60 consists in a conventional manner of a meter 62 and a base. In particular, a system based on the franking machine Jet Mail® of the applicant, which is described in detail in, inter alia, the European patent applications, is suitable EP 875 864 A2 and EP 901 108 A2 has been described. The base is equipped with a smart card reader / writer 63 which is located behind a guide plate and accessible from the top of the housing. After switching on the postage meter by means of a switch next to the read / write unit 63, a ticket E inserted from top to bottom in a slot. A supplied standing on the edge letter A, with its surface to be printed on the guide plate is applied, is then printed according to the input data with a franking stamp and then falls into the storage box 68th

The feeder 20 in the feed station 12 may have the same structural design as the feeder 55 of the delivery station 10. The feeder 20 of - in the FIG. 1b However, loading station 12 is additionally equipped with sensors for scanning the format and the thickness of the mail piece. A balance 31 with the weighing sensor S6 for weight measurement is arranged downstream of the scanning and feeding device 20. The sensor data and the weight measured by means of the balance 31 are transmitted to the control unit 25, the latter controlling the transport of the mailpiece and being designed for postage calculation. The customer's card is a value card C. The debiting of the postage from the value card C and a booking of the shipping data are made in the non-volatile memory 29 of the control unit 25 of the loading station 12. The control unit is programmed to make a debit from the value card C via the read / write unit 23 after the mark has been printed.

• Identifizierung einer Karte des Kunden bei deren Einstecken in eine erste Lese-/Schreibeinheit 23 der Aufgabestation und Eingabe von Versanddaten,
• Generieren einer Nummer für ein Poststück B und Schreiben der Nummer und eingegebener Versanddaten in einen ersten Speicher 29 der Aufgabestation,
• Freigabe des Slots 22 der Aufgabestation zwecks Postgutzuführung,
• Markierung des Postgutes B mittels der Aufgabestation,
• Eingabe weiterer relevanter Daten in den ersten Speicher 29 der Aufgabestation,
• Zwischenspeicherung des markierten Postgutes A im Aufbewahrungsbehälter 40 der Aufgabestation,
• Einstecken einer speziellen Befördererkarte E in die erste Lese/Schreibeinheit 23 und Laden der Buchungsdaten aus dem ersten Speicher 29 in den Speicher der speziellen Befördererkarte E,
• Öffnen des Tors 41 des Aufbewahrungsbehälters 40 mittels der speziellen Befördererkarte E zur Entnahme des markierten Postgutes A,
• Transport des markierten Postgutes A und der speziellen Beförderer-karte E durch einen ersten Postbeförderer 46 zur entfernten Frankier-maschine 60 in einer Abgabestation,
• Einstecken der speziellen Befördererkarte E in eine entfernte zweite Lese-/Schreibeinheit 63 und Laden der Buchungsdaten aus dem Speicher der speziellen Befördererkarte E in einen zweiten Speicher 69 der Frankiermaschine 60,
• Einlegen des Postgutes A in eine Abtast- und Zuführeinrichtung 55 stromaufwärts der Frankiermaschine der Abgabestation,
• Frankierung von entsprechend markiertem Postgut A in Abhängigkeit von zugehörig Buchungsdaten im zweiten Speicher 69,
• Ausdrucken von Einlieferungslisten 67 mit einem zweiten Drucker 66,
• Transport durch einen ersten Postbeförderer 47 zur Einlieferung des frankierten Postgutes mit der zugehörigen Einlieferungsliste bei einem zweiten Postbeförderer in einer entfernten Postverteilzentrale 80 zur Postverteilung durch den zweiten Postbeförderer 81.

The method according to the invention comprises the steps:

• Identification of a customer's card as it is inserted into a first reading / writing unit 23 of the loading station and input of shipping data,
• Generating a number for a mailpiece B and writing the number and entered shipping data into a first store 29 of the loading station,
• Release of the slot 22 of the loading station for the purpose of postal supply,
• Marking the mail B by means of the loading station,
• Input of further relevant data into the first storage 29 of the loading station,
• Temporary storage of the marked postal item A in the storage container 40 of the loading station,
• Inserting a special carrier card E in the first read / write unit 23 and loading the booking data from the first memory 29 into the memory of the special carrier card E,
• Opening the door 41 of the storage container 40 by means of the special conveyor card E for the removal of the marked postal matter A,
• Transport of the marked mail item A and the special carrier card E by a first mail carrier 46 to the remote franking machine 60 in a dispensing station,
• Inserting the special carrier card E into a remote second read / write unit 63 and loading the booking data from the memory of the special carrier card E into a second memory 69 of the postage meter 60,
• Placing the mail A in a scanning and feeding device 55 upstream of the dispensing station meter,
• Franking of correspondingly marked mail A as a function of associated booking data in the second memory 69,
• Printing out posting lists 67 with a second printer 66,
• Transport by a first mail carrier 47 for delivery of the franked mail with the associated posting list at a second mail carrier in a remote mail distribution center 80 for distribution of mail by the second mail carrier 81.

It is provided that the customer's card is a prepaid card C, that the supply of mail is detected by a first sensor S1 and that the step of entering further relevant data in the first memory 29 of the loading station by at least one automatic time and date input includes the clock / date block 28.
If the customer's card is a value card C, the step of entering further relevant data into the first store 29 of the loading station comprises automatic data entry by further sensors S2 and S4 to scan the format and S3 the thickness of the mail piece in the feeder 20 and S6 for weight measurement in a scale 31, 35 of the loading station with subsequent calculation and debiting of the postage from the prepaid card C. A suitable embodiment for the scanning and feeding device 20 with the sensors S2 to S5 is in the non-prepublished German Application 199 12 807.3 entitled "Arrangement for Determining the Dimension of Print Carriers".

Alternatively, another system II is provided which differs from the former system 1 in that the customer's card is a customer card D having an identification number. Such a mail processing system according to a second variant with feeding stations and with a dispensing station is in the FIG. 2a shown. Advantageously, the sensors for format and thickness determination and a balance can be omitted in the feeding stations. The Aufgabestation can thus be produced more cheaply, resulting from the FIG. 2b is apparent. The identification number is stored there together with the shipping data, the time, the date and the number generated in a first memory 29 of the loading station. If the delivery of mail is detected by a first sensor S1, then the marking is triggered. In addition, a customer document 37 is printed out.

From the FIG. 2a It can be seen that by means of the special carrier card E, a transfer of the stored data to the franking machine 60 of the delivery station can again take place. For the same purpose, a comparable storage medium or alternative transmission medium could also be used. The dispensing station, after the step of loading the postal matter into a scanning and feeding device 55 of the dispensing station, performs a scan of the size and thickness of the mail piece in the feeder 55 and a weight measurement in a dynamic scale 58 for the dispenser franking machine 60. A more detailed description of a suitable scanning and feeding device 55 with the sensors for scanning the format and the thickness of the mailpiece can be found in the non-prepublished German application 199 12 807.3 with the title: "Arrangement for determining the dimensions of print media".
Further details on the structural design of a suitable dynamic balance are in the non-prepublished German patent application P 198 33 767.1-53 refer to. The controller can For example, as already under the title: "Method and Arrangement for controlling a dynamic balance" in the non-prepublished German patent applications P 198 60 296.0 respectively. 198 60 295.2 was proposed. The weight measurement in a dynamic balance is preferably carried out according to the not previously published German Patent Application P 198 60 294.4 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Determining Weight with a Dynamic Balance".
After the postage has been calculated, the postage will be deducted from the customer account at the customer bank 90 or by teleport from the account at the data center. Preferably, a personal computer 59 communicates with the customer bank 90. If no debit of the postage from the customer account can be made, the letter remains unfranked. The first tray 68 can - not shown manner - be equipped with a switch or with an additional control box with third tray for unfranked letters. It is convenient for operation when the personal computer 59 is connected to the postage meter 60 and the printer 66 for the posting lists 67. For the postage calculation in the storage station, a tariff memory 61 and a booking memory 69 are required, which are preferably part of the franking machine 60.
Usually one meter forms a (second) control unit for the franking machine base.
According to an alternative proposal, the meter function of the franking machine can be taken over by the personal computer. Such a personal computer-controlled printing machine base station is detailed in the European patent application, for example EP 866 427 A2 been described.

In the FIG. 2b a block diagram of the loading station according to the second variant is shown. In front of the marking printer 30, that is to say upstream, there is a feed device 20 'and, before the latter, a slot 22 with closure mechanism, which is actuated again by the read / write unit 23. The opened slot 22 allows inserting at least one large letter of 250 mm width and 50 mm thickness into the feed device 20 'or alternatively inserting it from a stack of letters of smaller formats and / or thickness.

A suitable feeder with pre-separation and printer, for example, as based on the Figure 2c be explained in more detail. Sensors for format and thickness measurement are not required in contrast to the first variant. According to the invention, an inkjet printer 30 is preferably arranged in the pre-inking area as a marking printer.
In contrast to the previous, generally practiced procedure, according to the invention, the letters of a stack are first printed and then isolated or removed. As a result, the entire collection of letters or scanning and pressure control can be significantly simplified. Letters of any thickness up to parcels can be printed directly with a barcode and on the other hand, batch-based mixed mail B of small thickness can be automatically processed. Compared to a pure hand-held device, a substantial increase in the processing speed is achieved in automatic batch processing.
Like in the FIG. 2b shown schematically, downstream of marker printer 30 and feeder 20 'again the common storage container 40 is arranged for marked mail A. In contrast to the first variant, however, eliminates the installation of a balance. The loading station can for example have a cabinet-like structure, wherein in a door, the slot 22, the read / write unit 23, possibly a modem 23, the control unit 25, the keyboard 26, the display unit 27, the clock / date module 28, the non-volatile memory 29 and 39, the customer receipt printer 36 and the door 41 are installed. Gate 41 allows the authorized carrier to unlock the door to open it. The control unit 25 is again connected to the aforementioned means 20 ', 22, 23, 29, 30, 36, 41 in terms of control. In the interior of the cabinet are the power source 33, the feeder 20 'with the marking printer 30 and the arranged common storage container 40, the latter can be emptied with the door open. Such a loading station can be erected at any job site.

The document 37 printed by the receipt printer 36, in combination with several letters from an post-paid stack of letters, enables a known record for the mailing customer regarding the printing of the identification number on the mail in the delivery station.

• daß in der Aufgabestation in Richtung des Poststroms eine Zuführeinrichtung 20' und ein Markierungsdrucker 30 vor einem Aufbewahrungsbehälter 40 angeordnet und mit der Steuerungseinheit 25 verbunden sind,
• daß die Zuführeinrichtung 20' einen Eingabeverschluß mit einem Slot 22 aufweist, wecher von der Lese-/Schreibeinheit 23 ansteuerbar ist, so daß nur bei einer vom Absender in einen Slit der Lese-/Schreibeinheit 23 eingesteckten Karte D vom Absender mindestens ein Postgut B durch den Slot 22 in die Zuführeinrichtung 20' eingelegt werden kann,
• daß ein nichtflüchtigen Speicher 29 für Buchungsdaten und ein Uhr/Datumsbaustein 28 mit der Steuerungseinheit 25 verbunden sind,
• daß die Steuerungseinheit 25 programmiert ist, jedem Postgut eine Nummer zuzuordnen und in Abhängigkeit von den über die Tastatur 26 getätigten Versandeingaben eine Buchung in dem nichtflüchtigen Speicher 29 unter der vorgenannten Nummer vorzunehmen und den Markierungsdrucker 30 anzusteuern, die vorgenannte Nummer auf das Postgut B zu drucken, während es stromabwärts transportiert wird,
• daß bei einer vom Berechtigten in den Slit der Lese-/Schreibeinheit 23 eingesteckten speziellen Befördererkarte E die Steuerungseinheit 25 programmiert ist, die Buchungsdaten zugeordnet zu den jeweiligen Nummern in die speziellen Befördererkarte E einzuschreiben, zur Postgutentnahme einen Ausgabeverschluß TOR 41 am Aufbewahrungsbehälter 40 zu betätigen,
• daß die spezielle Befördererkarte E einerseits zur Postgutentnahme aus der Aufgabestation durch einen ersten Postbeförderer 46 und andererseits zur Eingabe der Buchungsdaten durch einen dazu Berechtigten in eine Frankiermaschine 60 der Abgabestation ausgebildet ist,
• daß die Abgabestation mindestens aus einer Frankiermaschine 60 und aus einer im Poststrom vorangestellten Abtast- und Zuführeinrichtung 55 besteht, wobei letztere einen Scanner 50 zur Abtastung der in der Aufgabestation aufgedruckten Markierung aufweist,
• daß die Frankiermaschine 60 eine Lese-/Schreibeinheit 63 für die speziellen Befördererkarten E, einen zweiten nichtflüchtigen Speicher 69, einen Frankierdrucker und einen Anschluß für das Ausdrucken von Einlieferungslisten 67 über einen zweiten Drucker 66 sowie eine zweite Steuerungseinheit aufweist, welche programmiert ist, aus den abgetasteten Markierungsdaten die Nummer des jeweiligen Postgutes abzuleiten und die zugehörigen eingegebenen Buchungsdaten aus dem zweiten nichtflüchtigen Speicher 69 zu ermitteln, um eine entsprechende Einstellung der Frankiermaschine vor dem Frankieren vorzunehmen.

According to the invention, in a preferred embodiment:

• a supply device 20 'and a marking printer 30 are arranged in front of a storage container 40 and connected to the control unit 25 in the feed station in the direction of the postal stream,
• in that the feeder 20 'has an input shutter with a slot 22, which can be controlled by the read / write unit 23, so that at least one mail item B passes through the sender at least one mail item B from the sender into a slot of the read / write unit 23 the slot 22 can be inserted into the feeder 20 ',
• in that a non-volatile memory 29 for booking data and a clock / date module 28 are connected to the control unit 25,
• in that the control unit 25 is programmed to assign a number to each mail item and make a booking in the non-volatile memory 29 at the aforementioned number and to trigger the marking printer 30 to print the aforesaid number on the mail item B, depending on the mailing entries made via the keyboard 26 while being transported downstream,
• in the case of a special carrier card E inserted in the slot of the read / write unit 23 by the authorized person, the control unit 25 is programmed to write the booking data associated with the respective numbers into the special carrier card E, to actuate a dispensing shutter TOR 41 on the storage container 40 for taking out the mail item;
• that the special carrier card E is designed, on the one hand, for taking out mail from the loading station by a first mail carrier 46 and, on the other hand, for entering the booking data by a person authorized to do so in a franking machine 60 of the dispensing station
• in that the dispensing station consists of at least one franking machine 60 and a scanning and feeding device 55 preceding the mail stream, the latter having a scanner 50 for scanning the marking printed in the feeding station,
• in that the franking machine 60 has a special carrier card reading / writing unit 63, a second nonvolatile memory 69, a franking printer and a terminal for printing out posting lists 67 via a second printer 66 and a second control unit which is programmed from scanned marking data derive the number of the respective mail and to determine the associated input booking data from the second non-volatile memory 69 to make a corresponding adjustment of the postage meter before franking.

The control unit 25 of the loading station 17 is programmed, after inserting a customer card D in the read / write unit 23 the identification number assigned to the number of the mail, the date and time and the entered shipping data non-volatile store in the first memory 29 of the loading station 17. The control unit 25 of the loading station 17 is further programmed to load the stored data into the memory of the carrier card E after insertion of a special carrier card E, so that a debit from the customer account at a customer bank 90 after the marking but before franking can be made.

The Figure 2c shows a plan view of a printing feeder of the feed station 17 according to the second variant. The mail A is after the task on a lower guide plate 252 parallel to a lateral guide plate 251. The latter has openings for the transport, Pressure and sensor means on. In Voreinzelungsbereich an opening 201 for the printer means 30 is disposed between the openings 203 and 204 for the drive rollers 253, 354. As a marking printer, for example, an ink jet printer is used. For the purpose of mail items are in connection with the opening of the slot 22, the application means 256 of a - not shown - driven actuator until they are removed from the lateral guide plate 251 maximum. The cover 257 of the mechanism in the separation area limits the depth of the feed area and at the same time forms a stop edge for a stack of mail pieces (mixed mail). A sensor S1, for example a light-reflecting sensor, signals the presence of at least one mail piece in the pre-separating area. Before or after input of the shipping parameters, a marking is printed by the printer means 30, wherein the application means 256, driven by the - not shown - actuator, are used, which press the stack resiliently to the printing area. After the marking has been printed, the printed mail is driven by the drive rollers 253, 354 to the separation area and drive belts 258 and ejectors 259 take over the further transport to the storage container 40. A sensor S5, for example a light barrier, signals the ejection of the at least one mail piece into the Storage container 40.

The Figure 2d shows a plan view of a scanning and feeding device 55 of the dispensing station 11 according to the second variant. The mechanical structure can also - as in the Figure 2c explained - done, but instead of the printer means 30 now a scanning means 50 in a window-like opening 501 of the side guide plate 551 is arranged to scan a printed bar code. The lateral guide plate 551. has openings for the transport, scanning and sensor means. In Voreinzelungsbereich between the openings 503 and 504 for the drive rollers 553, 554, the opening 501 is arranged for the scanning means 50, wherein the sensor S1 and the application means 556 additionally have a protective function for the eyes. So not when the sampling and Feeding device applied letter is not a laser beam of the laser scanner directly into the eye of the observer, the laser beam is switched off due to the sensor signal of the sensor S1. The barcode is then scanned only during singulation. In addition, the Andruckbügel 556 was widened accordingly, so that even during operation of the scanning and feeding no laser beam can get directly into the eye of the beholder.

A suitable scanner is the type LS4100 from Datalogic with the dimensions 84 x 68 x 28 mm. The LS4100 scanner is mounted at a distance of at least 40 mm from the guide plate 551. A version with 90 ° deflection mirror is used on the scanner. This type allows a maximum scan rate of Smax = 800 scans / sec.

A mailpiece is transported at the speed V = 630 mm / sec and preferably carries a barcode with dashes parallel to the transport direction. In the number of effective scans N enter the length of the lines L and the speed V of the mail piece. This results from the following formula: $$\mathrm{N}\mathrm{=}\left\{\left(\mathrm{L}\mathrm{/}\mathrm{V}\right)\mathrm{*}\mathrm{Smax}\right\}\mathrm{-}\mathrm{2}$$

A vertically adhered label with 10 mm bar code stroke length on a letter transported at 630 mm / sec gives a number of (800 * 10/630) -2 = 10 effective scans, which is for the scanning and feeding device of the franking machine JetMail is sufficient to distinguish a barcode from other imprints (address) due to the redundancy of the measured values.

The FIG. 2e shows a block diagram of a feeding station 15 according to the third variant. In this cost-effective variant, the separate marking printer is also saved. Its function is taken over by the previous receipt printer. The after storing the card identification number, the generated letter number and the entered shipping data in the non-volatile memory 29 of Customer receipt and marking printer 36 printed receipt 27 contains a section 38 with the barcode corresponding to the generated letter number. The letter number can be printed together with the barcode so that the section 38 is human and machine readable. The section 38 is designed as a self-adhesive strip and is glued by the mail sender on the mail piece A. The mail piece A can then be inserted through the open slot 22 into the storage container 40. The latter and a separate mailbox 42 with a slot 42 for insertion of franked letters can be opened by carrier card E. The control unit 25 drives a common gate 41 to open the storage box 40 and the separate mailbox 42 for discharge by the first conveyor.

• daß in der Aufgabestation ein Aufbewahrungsbehälter 40 mit einen Füllstands-Sensor S7 angeordnet ist, welcher mit der Steuerungseinheit 25 verbunden ist,
• daß der Aufbewahrungsbehälter 40 einen Eingabeverschluß mit einem Slot 22 aufweist, wecher von der Steuerungseinheit 25 ansteuerbar ist, so daß nur bei einer vom Absender in einen Slit der Lese/Schreibeinheit 23 eingesteckten Karte D vom Kunden ein Postgut A durch den Slot in den Aufbewahrungsbehälter eingesteckt werden kann,
• daß ein nichtflüchtigen Speicher 29 für Buchungsdaten und ein Uhr/Datumsbaustein 28 sowie ein Kundenbeleg- und Markierungsdrucker 36 mit der Steuerungseinheit 25 verbunden sind,
• daß die Steuerungseinheit 25 programmiert ist, jedem Postgut B eine Nummer zuzuordnen und in Abhängigkeit von den über die Tastatur 26 getätigten Versandeingaben eine Buchung in dem nichtflüchtigen Speicher 29 unter der vorgenannten Nummer vorzunehmen und den Kundenbeleg- und Markierungsdrucker 36 anzusteuern, um die vorgenannte Nummer des Postgutes, die Zeitdaten und die bei Post-aufgabe eingegebenen Versanddaten als Kundenbeleg und eine Markierung auf einem Abschnitt 38 zu drucken, welche zur Anbringung auf dem Postgut B vorgesehen ist,
• daß die Steuerungseinheit 25 weiterhin programmiert ist, bei einer vom Berechtigten in den Slit der Lese-/Schreibeinheit 23 eingesteckten speziellen Befördererkarte E, die Buchungsdaten zugeordnet zu den jeweiligen Nummern in die speziellen Befördererkarte E einzuschreiben, zur Postgutentnahme einen Ausgabeverschluß (TOR 41) am Aufbewahrungsbehälter zu betätigen,
• daß die spezielle Befördererkarte E einerseits zur Postgutentnahme aus der Aufgabestation durch einen ersten Postbeförderer 46 und andererseits zur Eingabe der Buchungsdaten durch einen dazu Berechtigten in eine Frankiermaschine 60 einer Abgabestation ausgebildet ist,
• daß die Abgabestation mindestens aus einer Frankiermaschine 60 und aus einer im Poststrom vorangestellten Abtast- und Zuführeinrichtung 55 besteht, wobei letztere einen Scanner 50 zur Abtastung der in der Aufgabestation aufgedruckten Markierung aufweist,
• daß die Frankiermaschine 60 eine Lese-/Schreibeinheit 63 für die speziellen Befördererkarten E, einen zweiten nichtflüchtigen Speicher 69, einen Frankierdrucker und einen Anschluß für das Ausdrucken von Einlieferungslisten 67 über einen zweiten Drucker 66 sowie eine Steuereinheit 59, 62 aufweist, welche programmiert ist, aus den abgetasteten Markierungsdaten die Nummer des jeweiligen Postgutes abzuleiten und die zugehörigen eingegebenen Buchungsdaten aus dem zweiten nichtflüchtigen Speicher 69 zu ermitteln, um eine entsprechende Einstellung der Frankiermaschine 60 vor dem Frankieren und eine Abbuchung vom Kundenkonto bei einer Kundenbank 90 nach der Markierung aber vor dem Frankieren vorzunehmen.

The mail processing system is characterized

• in that a storage container 40 with a filling level sensor S7, which is connected to the control unit 25, is arranged in the feeding station,
• the storage container 40 has an input closure with a slot 22, which can be controlled by the control unit 25, so that a postal item A is inserted through the slot into the storage container only when the card D is inserted into a slot of the read / write unit 23 by the sender can be,
• a non-volatile storage 29 for booking data and a clock / date module 28 as well as a customer receipt and marking printer 36 are connected to the control unit 25,
• in that the control unit 25 is programmed to assign a number to each mail item B and to make a booking in the nonvolatile memory 29 at the aforementioned number and to control the customer receipt and marking printer 36, in response to the mailing entries made via the keyboard 26, to call the aforementioned number Postage to print the time data and the shipping data entered at the time of posting as a customer receipt and a mark on a section 38 intended to be mounted on the mail B,
• in that the control unit 25 is further programmed to register the booking data associated with the respective numbers in the special carrier card E with a special carrier card E inserted in the slot of the read / write unit 23 by the creditor, for the purpose of taking out a mail, an output shutter (TOR 41) on the storage container to press,
• that the special carrier card E is designed, on the one hand, for taking out mail from the loading station by a first mail carrier 46 and, on the other hand, for entering the booking data by a person authorized to do so in a franking machine 60 of a dispensing station
• in that the dispensing station consists of at least one franking machine 60 and a scanning and feeding device 55 preceding the mail stream, the latter having a scanner 50 for scanning the marking printed in the feeding station,
• in that the franking machine 60 has a special conveyor card reading / writing unit 63, a second nonvolatile memory 69, a franking printer and a terminal for printing out posting lists 67 via a second printer 66 and a control unit 59, 62 which is programmed derive the number of the respective mail from the scanned marking data and determine the associated input booking data from the second non-volatile memory 69, a corresponding setting of the postage meter 60 before franking and a debit from the customer account at a customer bank 90 after the marking but before franking make.

In the FIG. 2f is a perspective view of the dispensing station 11 shown according to the second variant of the mail processing system. Such a dispensing station 11 can frank mail which has been marked in relatively simply constructed feeding stations 15,..., Or 17, 18, 19. The dispensing station 11 comprises a scanning and feeding device 55 suitable for mixed mail processing, a dynamic scale 58, a franking machine 60 and a tray 68. In the pre-separating region, a scanner 50 is arranged behind an opening. The scanner, for example, type LS 4100 from Datalogic, is used as a scanner for bar code marking. The postage meter 60 of the dispensing station has a tariff memory 61 for postage calculation according to current tariffs.

• daß eine Identifikationsnummer einer Kundenkarte D zusammen mit den Versanddaten, der Uhrzeit, dem Datum und einer generierten Nummer im ersten Speicher 29 der Aufgabestation 15 gespeichert werden,
• daß die Nummer des Poststückes, die Zeitdaten und die bei Postaufgabe eingegebenen Versanddaten als Kundenbeleg 37 und eine Markierung 38 von einem Kundenbeleg- und Markierungsdrucker 36 der Aufgabestation 15 gedruckt werden,
• daß das Anbringen einer maschinenlesbaren Markierung 38 am Postgut B extern von der Aufgabestation 15 und die Freigabe des Slots 22 der Aufgabestation 15 für markiertes Postgut A erfolgt,
• daß nach Aufbewahrung das markierte Postgut A mittels eines ersten Postbeförderes 46 zur Abgabestation 11 transportiert wird, wobei mittels einer speziellen Befördererkarte E ein Übermitteln der gespeicherten Daten zur Frankiermaschine 60 der Abgabestation 11 erfolgt,
• daß das Einlegen der Postgüter in eine Abtast- und Zuführeinrichtung 55 der Abgabestation mittels einem Sensor S51 detektiert wird, wodurch ein Abtasten der Markierung mittels einem Scanner 50 ausgelöst wird und
• daß eine Abtastung des Formates und der Dicke des Poststückes in der Zuführeinrichtung 55 und eine Gewichtsmessung in einer Waage 58 vor der Frankierung mit der Frankiermaschine 60 durchgeführt wird sowie
• daß nach Berechnung des Portos die Abbuchung des Portos vom Kundenkonto erfolgt.

The method is characterized

• that an identification number of a customer card D together with the shipping data, the time, the date and a number generated in the first memory 29 of the loading station 15 are stored,
• that the number of the item of mail, the time data and the shipping data entered during the mailing process are printed as a customer document 37 and a marking 38 from a customer document and marking printer 36 of the delivery station 15,
• the attachment of a machine-readable marking 38 on the mail piece B takes place externally from the loading station 15 and the release of the slot 22 of the marked mail piece loading station 15,
• that after storage the marked mail A is transported to the delivery station 11 by means of a first mail carrier 46, wherein by means of a special carrier card E a transfer of the stored data to the franking machine 60 of the delivery station 11 takes place,
• that the insertion of the postal matter is detected in a scanning and feeding device 55 of the dispensing station by means of a sensor S51, whereby a scanning of the marker is triggered by a scanner 50 and
• that a scan of the format and the thickness of the mailpiece in the feeder 55 and a weight measurement in a balance 58 before the franking with the postage meter 60 is performed and
• that after calculation of the postage the debiting of the postage from the customer account takes place.

The FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a scanning and feeding device 55 in the dispensing station. The feeder 55 is functionally divided into a pre-separation area 55a and a separation area 55b. To guide the letters A is a slightly backward inclined, rear guide plate 551 and one to this orthogonal lower guide plate 552 provided. In the pre-separating area 55a, a commercially available scanner 50 for scanning the marking printed in the feeding station is arranged behind an opening 501 of the guide plate 551.

The letters A are arranged as a stack with the edge of their envelope flap on the lower guide plate 552 standing between a contact means 556 and the rear guide plate 551 frictionally. The application means 556 is arranged from a rest position in the illustrated operating position pivotable and lockable.

By means of two drive roller combinations 553, 554, which due to their special design effect a shaking of the letter stack, the letters A are slid along the rear guide plate 551, sliding one after the other from the pre-separating region 55a into the separating region 55b. Further details for the mechanism in the separation area 55b have been described in the non-prepublished German patent applications 198 36 235.8 and 199 12 807.3 under the title: "Device for separating print media" and under the title: "Arrangement for determining the dimension of print media" described.

The invention is not limited to the present embodiment, since obviously other other arrangements or embodiments of the invention can be developed or used, which - starting from the same basic idea of the invention - are encompassed by the appended claims.

Claims (16)

1. A method for the handling of postal items, with automatic acceptance of postal items at automatic posting stations and with post distribution by a postal carried after a franking of the postal items, characterized by a staggered handling of postal items, comprising

   - identification of a card (C, D) of the customer upon insertion of said card into a first read/write unit (23) of the automatic posting station and entry of dispatch data,

   - marking of the postal item (B) with a machine-readable marking by means of the automatic posting station,

   - entry of further relevant data into the first memory (29) of the automatic posting station and intermediate storage of the marked postal item (A) in the storage container (40) of the automatic posting station,

   - insertion of a special carrier card (E) into the first read/write unit (23) and loading of the booking data from the first memory (29) into a memory of the special carrier card (E);

   - transport of the marked postal item (A) and of the special carrier card (E) by a first postal carrier to a distant franking machine (60) at a private carrier service station (10, 11);

   - insertion of the special carrier card (E) into a second read/write unit (63) and loading of the booking data from the memory of the special carrier card (E) into a second memory (69) of the franking machine (60); as well as

   - franking of the postal item at the private carrier service station (10, 11) in accordance with the data available in the memory (69) assigned to the marking.
2. A method according to Claim 1, characterized by the steps of

   - generation of a number for a postal item (B), and writing of the number and of entered dispatch data into a first memory (29) of the automatic posting station after identification of a card (C, D) of the customer,

   - release of the slot (22) of the automatic posting station for feeding the postal item before the postal item (B) is marked by means of the automatic posting station,

   - opening of a gate (41) of the storage container (40) by means of the special carrier card (E) for removing the marked postal item (A) after loading of the booking data from the first memory (29) into the memory of the special carrier card (E),

   - feeding of the marked postal item (A) into a scanning and feeding device (55', 55) upstream the franking machine (60) of the private carrier service station (10, 11) after loading of the booking data from the memory of the special carrier card (E) into a second memory (69) of the franking machine (60),

   - printing of posting lists (67) by a second printer (66) after franking,

   - transport by the first postal carrier for delivery of the franked postal items with the respective posting list to a second postal carrier at a distant post distribution centre (80) for post distribution by the second postal carrier.
3. A method according to Claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the card of the customer is a value card (C); that the feeding of a postal item is detected by a first sensor (S1) and that the step of entry of further relevant data into the first memory (29) of the automatic posting station (10) comprises at least an automatic entry of time and date by a clock/date module (28).
4. A method according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the card of the customer is a value card (C), that the step of entering further relevant data into the first memory (29) of the automatic posting station (11) comprises an automatic data entry by further sensors (S2) and (S4) for scanning the format and (S3) the thickness of the postal item in the feeding device (20) and (S6) for weight measurement in a scales (35, S6) of the automatic posting station (10) with subsequent calculation and debiting of the postage from the value card (C).
5. A method according to Claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the card of the customer is a customer card (D) having an identification number that is stored together with the dispatch data, the time, the date and the generated number in the first memory (29) of the automatic posting station (17, 18, 19); that the feeding of postal items is detected by a first sensor (S1); that the stored data are transmitted by means of the special carrier card (E) to the franking machine (60) of the private carrier service station (11), wherein the private carrier service station (11) detects the feeding of postal items and carries out a scanning of the format and thickness of the postal item (A) in the feeding device (55) and a weight measurement in a dynamic scales (58) upstream the franking machine (60) of the private carrier service station (11) after the step of putting the postal items into a scanning and feeding device (55) of the private carrier service station (11); and that, after calculation of the postage, the postage is debited from the customer account.
6. A method according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the number of the postal item, the time data and the dispatch data entered upon posting are printed out as customer receipt by a receipt printer (36) of the automatic posting station (17, 18, 19).
7. A method according to Claim 1, characterized in

   - that an identification number of a customer card (D) together with the dispatch data, the time, the date and a generated number are stored in the first memory (29) of the automatic posting station (15);

   - that the number of the postal item, the time data and the dispatch data entered upon posting are printed as customer receipt (37) and a marking (38) is printed by a customer-receipt and marking printer (36) of the automatic posting station (15);

   - that a machine-readable marking (38) is fixed on the postal item (B) outside the automatic posting station (15) and the slot (22) of the automatic posting station (15) for marked postal items (A) is released;

   - that, after its storage, the marked postal item (A) is transported by a first postal carrier to the franking device, the stored data being transmitted by means of a special carrier card (E) to the franking machine (60) of the private carrier service station (11);

   - that the feeding of the postal items into a scanning and feeding device (55) of the private carrier service station (11) is detected by means of a sensor (S51), which triggers a scanning of the marking by means of a scanner (50); and

   - that the format and the thickness of the postal item are scanned in the feeding device (55) and its weight is measured in a scales (58) before it is franked by the franking machine (60); as well as

   - that, after calculation of the postage, it is debited from the customer account.
8. A postal items handling system with automatic posting stations for the automatic acceptance of postal items as well as private carrier service stations for the franking of postal items and with a post distribution by a postal carrier after franking the postal items, every automatic posting station having a keyboard and a display unit connected with a control unit, characterized in

   - that the automatic posting stations (12 to 19) have a read/write unit (23) for reading from and writing on an inserted card, a first memory (29), a marking device for the marking of postal items and a storage container (40) for postal items; and

   - that the automatic posting stations (12 to 19) are arranged distantly from a private carrier service station (10, 11), said private carrier service station being equipped with a franking machine (60) that carries out the franking of respectively marked postal items (A) in dependence from transmitted related booking data, said franking machine having a read/write unit (63) for special carrier cards (E) as well as a second non-volatile memory (69).
9. A postal items handling system according to Claim 8, characterized in

   - that, in the automatic posting station, in direction of the postal item flow, a feeding station (20, 20') and a marking printer (30) are arranged upstream a storage container (40) and are connected with the control unit (25);

   - that the feeding device (20, 20') has a locking mechanism with a slot (22) that can be activated by the read/write unit (23) so that, only when the sender has inserted a card into the slot of the read/write unit (23), at least one postal item (B) can be fed by the sender through the slot (22) into the feeding device (20);

   - that a non-volatile memory (29) for booking data and a clock/date module (28) are connected with the control unit (25);

   - that the control unit (25) is programmed to assign a number to each postal item and make, depending on the dispatch data entered via the keyboard (26), a booking in the non-volatile memory (29) under the above-mentioned number and to trigger the marking printer (30) for printing the above-mentioned number on the postal item (B) while it is being transported downstream;

   - that, when a special carrier card (E) has been inserted by the authorized person in the slot of the read/write unit (23), the control unit (25) is programmed to write the booking data assigned to the respective numbers into the special carrier card (E) and to operate an exit lock (GATE 41) on the storage container (40) for removing the postal items;

   - that the special carrier card (E) is designed, on the one hand, for the removal of postal items from the automatic posting station by a first postal carrier (46) and, on the other hand, for the entry of the booking data by an authorized person into a franking machine (60) of the private carrier service station (10, 11);

   - that the private carrier service station (10, 11) comprises at least a franking machine (60) and a scanning and feeding device (55', 55) arranged upstream in the postal-item flow, the latter having a scanner (50) for scanning the marking printed at the automatic posting station;

   - that the franking machine has a read/write unit (63) for the special carrier cards (E), a second non-volatile memory (69), a franking printer and a connection for the printing of posting lists (67) by a second printer (66) as well as a control unit (62) that is programmed to derive the number of the respective postal item from the scanned marking data and to determine the related entered booking data from the second non-volatile memory (69) in order to make a respective setting of the franking machine (60) before the franking takes place.
10. A postal items handling system according to Claim 9, characterized in that the feeding unit in the automatic posting station (12, 13, 14) is designed as a scanning and feeding device (20) that includes sensors (S2, S3, S4) for scanning the format and thickness of the postal item; that a scales (31, 35) for weight measurement is arranged downstream the scanning and feeding device (20); that the sensor data and the weight measured by means of the scales (31, 35) are transmitted to the control unit (25) that controls the transport of the postal item (A) and that is designed for calculating the postage; that the card of the customer is a value card (C) and there is made the debit of the postage from the value card (C) and a booking of the dispatch data in the non-volatile memory (29) of the control unit (25) of the automatic posting station (12, 13, 14); and that control unit (25) is programmed to effect a debit from the value card (C) via the read/write unit (23) after the marking was printed.
11. A postal items handling system according to Claim 9, characterized in that the control unit of the automatic posting station is programmed to store, after insertion of a customer card (D) into the read/write unit (23), the identification number assigned to the number of the postal item, the date and time as well as the entered dispatch data in the first memory (29) of the automatic posting station in a non-volatile manner, that the control unit (25) of the automatic posting station is programmed to load, after insertion of a special carrier card (E), the stored data into the memory of said carrier card (E) so that a debiting from the customer account at a customer bank can be effected after marking, but before franking.
12. A postal items handling system according to Claim 8, characterized in

    - that, in the automatic posting station (12 to 19), there is arranged a storage container (40) with a filling-level sensor (S7) that is connected with the control unit (25);

    - that the storage container (40) is provided with an input lock with a slot (22) that can be activated by the control unit (25) so that, only when the sender has inserted a card (D) into the slot of the read/write unit (23), a postal item (A) can be fed by the customer through the slot into the storage container;

    - that a non-volatile memory (29) for booking data and a clock/date module (28) as well as a customer receipt and marking printer (36) are connected with the control unit (25);

    - that the control unit (25) is programmed to assign a number to each postal item (B) and, depending on the dispatch entries made via the keyboard (26), to make a booking in the non-volatile memory (29) under the above-mentioned number and to drive the customer receipt and marking printer (36) in order to print out the above-mentioned number of the postal item, the time data and the dispatch data entered upon posting as a customer receipt as well as a marking on a slip (38) that is to be affixed to the postal item (B);

    - that the control unit (25) is further programmed to write, when special a carrier card (E) has been inserted in the slot of the read/write unit (23) by an authorized person, the booking data assigned to the respective numbers into the special carrier card (E) and to operate an exit lock (GATE 41) on the storage container (40) for removing the postal items;

    - that the special carrier card (E) is designed, on the one hand, for the removal of postal items from the automatic posting station by a first postal carrier (46) and, on the other hand, for the entry of the booking data by an authorized person into a franking machine (60) of a private carrier service station;

    - that the private carrier service station comprises at least a franking machine (60) and a scanning and feeding device (55) arranged upstream in the postal-item flow, the latter having a scanner (50) for scanning the marking printed at the automatic posting station;

    - that the franking machine (60) has a read/write unit (63) for the special carrier cards (E), a second non-volatile memory (69), a franking printer and a connection for the printing of posting lists (67) by a second printer (66) as well as a control unit (59, 62) that is programmed to derive the number of the respective postal item from the scanned marking data and to determine the related entered booking data from the second non-volatile memory (69) in order to make a respective setting of the franking machine (60) before the franking takes place and to effect a debit from the customer account at a customer bank (90) after marking, but before franking.
13. A postal items handling system according to one of the Claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the control unit (25) of the automatic posting station (12 to 19) is connected to an energy source (33) that is supplied with energy by solar collectors (34).
14. A postal items handling system according to Claim 13, characterized in that the franking machine (60) of the private carrier service station (11) is equipped with a tariff memory (61).
15. A postal items handling system according to Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the control unit (25) of the automatic posting station (12, 13, 14) is connected with a tariff memory (39).
16. A postal items handling system according to Claim 15, characterized in that the control unit (25) of the automatic posting station (12, 13, 14) is connected with a modem (24) and the control unit (25) is programmed to reload the current transport tariffs into the tariff memory (39).

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