EP1293936B1 - Modular and universal system for treating mail - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the exclusive field of mail processing and relates to a particularly modular mail processing system.

Prior art

Conventional franking machines for franking mail items are well known. In addition to their ability to postage standard mail items, they generally include a reeled tape label feeder (the tape, or ribbon, labeled with the label is a consumable) for printing on a label instead of a label. a direct impression on the mail item. The unwinding of the label tape is most often controlled, through a gear kinematics, pulleys and belts, for example, by the engine of the franking machine. This printing labels allows the franking packages, parcels and other rolls or large envelopes that, because of their size, could pass through a conventional franking machine.

Also known is the product of the applicant known under the trademark "simply postage" consisting of a miniature label franking machine with an integrated scale and which is used in cooperation with a standard computer (personal computer type) connected to a dealer server through a telecommunications network.

We also know with the request EP0 376 574 a franking system in which the printing means are controlled remotely from the accounting means.

Thus, at present, when one wishes to free large envelopes or parcels, one must have either a machine for traditional postage meter equipped with a label dispenser and to which an electronic balance must be connected (but this scale can also be directly integrated into the franking machine), the control of the assembly being carried out at the level of a user interface of the franking machine or resort to the aforementioned solution of the connected miniature machine. These two solutions which give each satisfaction appear however still expensive and not very versatile. Indeed, the integration of a label unwinder (in the traditional machine) or an electronic balance (in a miniature machine) increases the cost of these machines. In addition, the reduced user interface of the miniature machine is not appropriate when it comes to franking large quantities of envelopes of standard size and thickness.

Also, today there is a need for a universal low-cost mail processing system, more modular and ensuring greater versatility especially in the processing of non-standard format mail.

Object and definition of the invention

The present invention therefore relates to such a modular mail processing system, each module being of simple design and easily integrable to the entire system. An object of the invention is also to provide a dispenser of stamped labels part of this modular mail processing system.

These objects are achieved by a mail processing system according to claim 1.

Distributor remote control provides a more user-friendly and expanded user interface that allows for more functionality including orders for other franking devices.

This system may furthermore comprise a franking machine for printing postal impressions on standard mailpieces, the printing control being carried out remotely from the control computer terminal and an electronic balance to determine beforehand the weight of the mail items to be subsequently printed, the control of this balance being performed also remotely from the control computer terminal.

Advantageously, it also comprises a standard printer for printing receipts or receipts, the printing control being carried out remotely from the computer control terminal.

According to a preferred embodiment, the remote control from the computer terminal is performed by short-distance radio link, preferably bluetooth type or the like. In this configuration, it then preferably comprises a basic radio station module connected to a telecommunications network for communicating the control terminal with a remote computer server through this telecommunications network.

Preferably, the franking machine and the franked label dispenser comprise accounting means in the form of a standardized removable module which can be placed indifferently in one or the other franking device, this accounting module standardized that can integrate said short-distance radio interface.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'un système universel de traitement de courrier selon l'invention comportant notamment un distributeur d'étiquettes affranchies,
• la figure 2 illustre la structure interne d'un terminal informatique de commande du système universel de traitement de courrier de la figure 1, et
• les figures 3 et 4 sont respectivement des vues en perspective externe et en coupe longitudinale du distributeur d'étiquettes affranchies de la figure 1.

The features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a schematic view of a universal mail processing system according to the invention comprising in particular a dispenser of stamped labels,
• the figure 2 illustrates the internal structure of a control computer terminal of the universal mail processing system of the figure 1 , and
• the Figures 3 and 4 are respectively views in external perspective and in longitudinal section of the label dispenser freed from the figure 1 .

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

The figure 1 shows a mail processing system intended to be implemented in a mail room 10 of a company or an administration and described as "universal" because of its particular modularity.

This system is organized around independent modules each fulfilling a unique specific function and, therefore, can each benefit from a very simple design. It firstly comprises a postage meter 12 reduced to the postage function of standard mail items only, to the exclusion of any other label printing or weighing function of these mail items usually present in a postage meter. a traditional machine. This particularly simple franking machine thus comprises only means for supplying mail items, means of transport of these mail items and means for printing a postal imprint on these mail items. It is therefore devoid of any label dispenser and any weighing module. It also does not have an advanced user interface (keyboard plus traditional screen for example), the control of its functions being performed externally as will be explained further.

This universal system then comprises an electronic balance 14 intended to cooperate with the franking machine 12 by determining the weight of each of the standard mail items to be franked by this machine. But, this scale is also intended to cooperate with a stamped label dispenser 16 which delivers labels coated with a postal imprint for non-standard mail items (packages, parcels, rolls, thick envelopes). This dispenser is also of particularly simple structure with strip label feeding means, drive means of this tape and means for printing a postal imprint on a portion of the tape. It is therefore devoid of a weigh module as well as an advanced user interface. Like the preceding franking machine, the control of its functions is carried out externally.

To ensure the processing of the mail, ie to control the weighing of a mail item by the scale 14 and its printing by the franking machine 12 or to request the printing of a label by the stamped label dispenser 16, this universal system further comprises a computer control terminal 18, external to the previous modules, and from which all weighing and printing operations are managed. This terminal has a particularly simple hardware architecture with a central processing unit 20 associated with a screen 22 and a keyboard 24. The keyboard can advantageously be folded against the screen and the assembly can be transported by an integrated handle 26.

As shown in figure 2 , the central processing unit is reduced to a few interconnected standard components: a microprocessor 200, a RAM 210, a flash memory 220, a screen interface 230, a keyboard interface 240 and a radio interface 250. The flash memory contains the system operating system necessary for managing the terminal, in particular its user interface which provides both the control of the weighing by the electronic scale 14, the printing by the franking machine 12 or the franked label dispenser 16, and its communication links with these three modules. The various data useful for these commands and communications are stored temporarily in the RAM. The radio interface is advantageously an interface for managing short-haul radio links of the Bluetooth type, or the like (for example in accordance with the IEEE802-11b standard), transmitted or received by an antenna 28 mounted on the central unit (a other physical layout, along the screen, for example, is equally feasible). Of course, to ensure these radio links between modules, the balance, the machine to franking and the franked label dispenser are each provided with a similar radio interface 120, 140, 160 also provided with a transmitting / receiving antenna.

In its simplest configuration, the universal modular mail processing system according to the invention can be formed only of the control terminal 18 and the stamped label dispenser 16, the labels provided by such a dispenser can of course also be used to the postage of standard envelopes.

In a more advanced configuration, it can also integrate a standard printer 30, provided with means 300 radio link with the other modules for printing including receipts or receipts corresponding to different weighings or frankings made, and a module of base 32 comprising radio means 320 enabling a short-distance radio link with each of the modules, including the computer control terminal 18, and connected to an external telecommunications network 34 of the PSTN, ISDN or cable type to provide a communication link with a remote computer server 36, postal server or mail processing system dealer server. This link allows in particular the reporting of statistics relating to the printing of postal impressions to the server or the reloading of the accounting means of the franking machine or the stamped label dispenser.

According to a particular embodiment, these accounting means 38 are removable, standardized and common to the franking machine 12 and the franked label dispenser 16 and can be indistinctly arranged in one or the other of these two modules ( for example in the stamped label dispenser, as shown in the figure 1 , the dotted area 38A corresponding to the location of reception of these means of accounting in the franking machine which is then deprived). Thus, the user although having two means of printing postal impressions holds only one account, which makes it particularly easy to manage the system. In addition, the standardization of these means of accounting allows their use in any other franking device of the user's company (or an external service company for example), these means being no longer linked to a given machine but to a given user. When the connection between the different modules is carried out by radio, it may be advantageous for this standardized accounting module to directly integrate the short-distance radio interface and its transmitting / receiving antenna.

The Figures 3 and 4 show respectively in external perspective and schematically in longitudinal section a stamped label dispenser 16 for integrating the aforementioned universal mail processing system.

This dispenser comprises an idler roller 40 on which is rolled a continuous strip 42 of labels to be cut (or pre-cut), at least one drive roller 44 for debiting this strip along a transport path of this distributor from this roll to an output of stamped labels 48, a thermal type printing module 50 for printing a postal imprint on a portion of this tape, and possibly a cutting module 52 (in the case of labels to cut) placed on this transport path, advantageously at the output of the printing module 50.

The capstan-type drive roller 44 which ensures the unwinding of the label strip, by acting on the printing module against a spring 54, is actuated by a control micromotor 56 through a kinematics 58 with toothed wheels. The print module and the capstan control micromotor which is operated in synchronism with the printing (and possibly the cutting module if present) are fed from drive means 60, feed and feed. control of the heating elements of the thermal module managed from processing means 62 (advantageously microprocessor). These processing means conventionally incorporate accounting means to keep the accounting (management of ascending and descending counters, in particular) of postage effected. However, as explained previously, these means of accounting can be removable and standardized (reference 38 of the figure 1 ) so that it can be arranged indifferently in this dispenser or in any other franking device. In this case, they are then advantageously connected with the processing means by a conventional computer link type backplane. The processing means also comprise remote communication means with the computer control terminal 18 for receiving the printing orders of the postal imprints. This remote communication with the computer control terminal is preferably performed by short-haul radio link, bluetooth type or the like, via a radio interface provided with a transmitting / receiving antenna 64. However, any other type of link without wire, infrared for example, or wired, optical for example, is of course also conceivable insofar as other equipment, including the computer control terminal, would be provided with corresponding interfaces.

Finally, an end-of-band detector 66 is provided to allow precise control of the unwinding of the continuous strip and to avoid partial printing of the last postal impression.

Claims (7)

1. Mail handling system organized around independent modules and intended for printing postal indicia on a mail item, comprising:

   - a franking machine (12) comprising mail items feeding means, mail items transport means, printing means and accounting means and intended to ensure print of postal indicia on standard mail items, the control of print being effected remotely via a short distance radio interface (120),

   - a franked label dispenser (16) comprising labels tape feeding means, tape drive means, print means and accounting means and intended to ensure print of postal indicia on a label having thereafter to be stuck on the mail item, the control of the print being effected remotely via a short distance radio interface (160),

   - a portable control computer terminal (18) external to the previous modules and intended to remotely control print of the postal indicia on the franking machine or the franked label dispenser via a short distance radio interface (250).
2. The mail handling system of claim 1, characterized in that said accounting means of the franking machine or the franked label dispenser are in the form of a removable standardized module (38) which may be disposed equally well in one or the other franking device.
3. The mail handling system of claim 2, characterized in that said standardized accounting module integrates said short distance radio interface in order to communicate with said portable control computer terminal.
4. The mail handling system of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises an electronic scale (14) for previously determining the weight of the mail items having then to be printed, the control of this scale being effected remotely from the portable control computer terminal via a short distance radio interface (140).
5. The mail handling system of any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it further comprises a standard printer (30) for printing receipts or acknowledgements of receipt, the control of the print being effected remotely from the portable control computer terminal via a short distance radio interface (300).
6. The mail handling system of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it further comprises a base radio station module (32) linked to a telecommunication network to place the portable control computer terminal in communication with a remote server through this telecommunication network.
7. The mail handling system of any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each of said short distance radio interfaces is of Bluetooth or like type.

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