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

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method for checking a franking applied to a mail item.
• the invention is based on the object of developing a generic method in such a way that postage indicia applied to postal items can be checked quickly and reliably.
• a method is to be provided which enables a large number of postage indicia applied to postal items to be checked.
• this object is achieved by checking whether the franking contains a predetermined security feature and, in the event that the franking does not contain the security feature, checking whether at least one selected reading area of the mail item contains a graphic representation of a franking.
• Another expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that in the event that the mail item corresponds to a predetermined graphic representation of a stamp but does not contain the predetermined security feature, it is rejected.
• Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the route of a mail item with a postage to be checked
• the principle representation of the route in FIG. 2 shows that the device for checking a franking applied to a mail item is a conventional fluorescence sensor, a Superfluorescence sensor and a symbol recognition unit ACR contains.
• a first means for checking the presence of a postage stamp, in particular a stamp is referred to as BME, the abbreviation BME making it clear that in the simplest case the means is a stamp recognition unit that checks the presence of a stamp and / or the position the stamp determined.
• the checking means designated BME is, for example, a fluorescence sensor.
• a light source is preferably arranged such that it covers the surface of the mail item or a selected area of the
• the surface of the mailpiece is irradiated in a targeted manner, so that areas provided with a fluorescent agent on the mailpiece are excited to fluoresce. This fluorescence is detected by the fluorescence sensor.
• the fluorescence sensor is preferably coupled to a first means for changing a letter run through the device.
• the further examination and / or the further letter run can be varied.
• a letter intended for the transport of regular letters contains a means for checking the presence of a security feature behind the checking means designated BME.
• a superfluorescence sensor serves as a means for checking the presence of the security feature.
• the superfluorescence sensor shown uses a physical effect not previously used to check stamps to check the authenticity of the postage.
• the anti-Stokes effect includes irradiation of the postage to be examined with low-energy electromagnetic radiation of high intensity, the excitation of fluorescence from higher-energy electromagnetic radiation and the subsequent detection of the higher-energy electrical radiation.
• the symbol recognition unit ACR controls a turning device.
• the turning device preferably brings a surface, or the surface area which has the first security feature, into an area in which it can be checked for the presence of the security feature.
• the superfluorescence sensor is preferably designed such that it can analyze a spectral distribution of electromagnetic radiation received by it.
• the superfluorescence sensor preferably also determines in particular the beam intensity in a selected spectral range. This makes it possible to adapt the superfluorescence sensor to the emission behavior of the superfluorescent dye used for producing the frankings.
• a symbol recognition unit ACR is located after the superfluorescence sensor in the direction of the letter run intended for regular mail items.
• Superfluorescence sensor SFL-S and the symbol recognition unit ACR further devices for checking and / or transporting mail items are located. In the case shown, there is a turning range for letters.
• the respective means are adapted to the mail items to be checked, in particular taking into account the security levels to be achieved and the type of mail items. It is particularly useful to take into account the type of mail items, since the method illustrated for checking the postage is suitable for all types of letter mail items as well as for freight items.
• the other means shown can also be replaced by means having the same effect, for example the sensors shown by cameras.
• the symbol recognition unit ACR preferably contains at least one sensor.
• the sensor is connected to a data processing unit, for example via a
• the symbol recognition unit ACR is preferably equipped in such a way that it recognizes graphic symbols and assigns them to graphic characters. That is why it is also known as Advanced Color Recognizer.
• the symbol recognition unit ACR is connected to a data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit enables and / or supports a comparison of the graphic information with stored representations of frankings.
• the symbol recognition unit can be connected to a computer. It is possible to equip the symbol recognition unit with its own computer. In particular in the case of larger verification centers for frankings, for example in letter centers, it is expedient for several symbol recognition units to be connected to a central computer.
• ⁇ is in no way to be understood as restricting. It can be any unit suitable for carrying out calculations, for example a workstation, a personal computer, a microcomputer or one for carrying out calculations
• the computer contains a database with a learning system for teaching symbols.
• the symbols are preferably graphic reproductions of stamps or other postage stamps.
• a freely selectable subset as the current database is preferably generated from a total amount of data contained in the database.
• the method instructions are preferably automated processing plans or program routines, which preferably control one or more of the functions of the device for checking the frankings.
• the symbol recognition unit preferably contains one or more sensors which evaluate color information, in particular local distributions of color information, and compare this with predefined symbols.
• the symbol recognition unit is preferably used to provide predetermined frankings, in particular stamps detect .
• the central data processing unit preferably contains a database with an expandable data memory, which contains information for recognizing symbols and can be expanded by additional information, so that the recognition rate can be further improved by evaluating previous executions of the verification method.
• BME postage stamp
• a previous irradiation with infrared light it is checked whether there is an emission of visible light.
• a check is carried out to determine whether there is an emission in the UV light range.
• a spectral distribution of the light emitted by the area of the mailpiece is expediently examined and / or checked whether it contains spectral components with a predetermined wavelength and intensity.
• Components of rare earth atoms are used that have one or more discrete fluorescence lines, it is possible to recognize whether a real one
• the method shown allows great flexibility in its implementation and in the adaptation to different security standards and / or throughput speeds.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
• Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
• Inspection Of Paper Currency And Valuable Securities (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
• Investigating, Analyzing Materials By Fluorescence Or Luminescence (AREA)
• Character Discrimination (AREA)
• Image Analysis (AREA)
• Image Processing (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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• 2001
  • 2001-02-12 DE DE10106632A patent/DE10106632A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2002
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  • 2002-01-25 PL PL02363925A patent/PL363925A1/xx not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-01-25 NZ NZ527443A patent/NZ527443A/en unknown
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  • 2002-01-25 CN CNB028048504A patent/CN100334600C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
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  • 2002-01-25 EP EP02708164A patent/EP1364348A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-01-25 WO PCT/DE2002/000264 patent/WO2002065409A2/de active IP Right Grant
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• 2003
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