EP1909234A1 - Test centre for testing postage on postal items - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves detecting graphical information in at least one selected area of the postal item, comparing the detected graphical information with stored representations of stamps and evaluating the results of the comparison. If the information does not correspond to any of the stored representations it is sent for further processing. Independent claims are also included for the following: an arrangement for checking stamps on mail and a checking station for checking stamps on mail.

Description

The invention relates to a verification center for checking franking applied to postal items.

From the International Patent Application WO 99/38700 is a method for authenticity verification of value documents known. In this method, emission lines lying in the infrared spectral range are investigated. The authenticity of the documents of value is proved by the presence of specific emission lines.

The invention has for its object to provide a verification center that allows verification of a large number of applied to postal items Freimachungen.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that a verification center for checking postal items applied to postal items is designed such that it contains a plurality of devices which capture graphical information in selected reading areas of postal items, and in that the checking center includes a computer that communicates the graphic information compares stored representations of frankings.
A development of the invention includes a verification center, which is characterized in that a plurality of symbol recognition units are connected to the computer.

A further development of the invention is characterized in that use of the computer makes it possible to input new frankings for a plurality of devices in a single processing step.

Furthermore, it is expedient that the computer contains a database with a learning system for teaching symbols.

A further development of the invention is characterized in that, when the database is used, information about the franking and / or about procedural instructions is transmitted to the device.

The invention further relates to methods for operating the devices as well as the verification center and for verifying clearances applied to postal items.
In the method according to the invention, a comparison of graphical information with stored representations of frankings takes place.

A development of the method is characterized in that it includes at least two sub-steps.

Conveniently, at least one of the two sub-steps includes a detection of whether the franking corresponds to a predetermined graphical symbol. Preferably, at least one further checking step includes a check as to whether a security feature is present.

An expedient embodiment of the method provides that in the event that the graphic information corresponds to one of the stored images of the indicia, the mailpiece is subjected to a further checking step in order to determine whether a security feature is present.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that, even in the event that the graphical information corresponds to one of the stored images of the frankings, the mail item is subjected to a further checking step.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention provides that in the event that the graphic information does not correspond to one of the stored images of the frankings, the mail item is subjected to a further checking step.

A particularly secure and reliable verification of the authenticity of the franking is advantageously achieved in that the further checking step involves irradiation with light.

In this case, it is particularly expedient to check whether the irradiation with light takes place in the selected reading area.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the method is carried out in such a way that it is detected whether the irradiation with light has produced a fluorescence appearance.

Furthermore, it is expedient that the graphical information in the selected reading area be detected by a sensor.

It is also advantageous that the graphical information is captured with a camera.

An embodiment of the invention which is particularly preferred because of the speed of checking the indicia is characterized in that the graphic information is detected in a symbol recognition unit (ACR).

Furthermore, it is expedient that the graphical representations of indicia are stored in a memory of a data processing unit prior to the acquisition of the graphical information.

The invention further provides for a device for checking postal items applied to postal items to be designed in such a way that the device has a means for acquiring graphic information in at least one region of the postal item that the device comprises means for comparing the graphical information with graphic reproductions Of postage includes that the device includes means for checking the presence of at least one security feature, that the device includes a means for selecting the means for checking the presence of the security feature and that in the absence of the security feature, the shipment is discharged.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that graphic information is recorded in at least one selected reading region of the mailpiece, that subsequently the acquired graphical information is compared with stored representations of frankings and that the result of the comparison is evaluated.
A particularly expedient development of the invention includes that in the event that the graphic information does not correspond to one of the stored images of the frankings, the mail item is subjected to a further checking step.

A development of the invention includes that in the event that the detected graphical information is not a stored image of a stamp corresponds, the mail item is subjected to a different from the further verification step verification routine.

In this case, it is particularly advantageous that the further checking step involves irradiation with light.

A further development of the invention involves detecting whether the irradiation with light has produced a fluorescence appearance.

The invention further relates to a device for checking postal items applied to postal items, which is characterized in that it has a means for acquiring graphical information in at least one region of the mail item, that the device comprises means for comparing the graphical information with graphic reproductions of Clearances include that the device includes means for verifying the presence of at least one security feature and that the device includes means for selecting the means for checking the presence of the security feature.

Further advantages, features and expedient developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings,

• Fig. 1 eine Prinzipdarstellung einer für die Durchführung erfindungsgemäßer Verfahren ausgerüsteten Aufstellmaschine;
• Fig. 2 eine Prinzipdarstellung des Laufweges einer Postsendung mit einer zu überprüfenden Freimachung und
• Fig. 3 eine Prinzipdarstellung von erfindungsgemäßen Überprüfungs- und Weiterbearbeitungsschritten.

From the drawings shows

• 1 is a schematic diagram of a set-up machine according to the invention for carrying out the invention;
• Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the path of a mail piece to be checked with a franking and
• Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of verification and further processing steps according to the invention.

The invention is explained below on the basis of a check of frankings applied to postal items in a set-up machine. The implementation of at least one of the components of the checking method in a set-up machine is preferred because the surface of the mail item is particularly accessible in the setting-up machine.

However, an inspection of the franking can also be done elsewhere. Preferably, these locations are for inspection within letter or cargo centers. It is particularly useful that the review of one or more of its components is done in sorting or Verteilmaschinen.

An integration of one or more components of the method for checking postage paid in sorting or distributing machines has the advantage that in this way the method for checking can be carried out particularly quickly and in large quantities.

In Fig. 1, a suitable for carrying out the invention Aufstellmaschine is shown.

The erection machine includes an input station 1 for the mail, a freewheeling link 2, a symbol recognition unit ACR, a first means 3 for detecting the presence of a postage stamp, in the simplest case of a stamp, a turning path 4 and a subsequent freewheeling path 5 to the turning path 4.

A further means 6 for checking whether a further security feature is present is preferably located at the point marked with 6.

In the course of a transport route of the letter items, a stamp device 7 and stacking pockets 8 are arranged following the further means for checking the further security feature.

The system is preferably controlled by a suitable digital circuit 9.

The set-up machine includes a sensor for detecting graphic information applied to the surface of mailpieces.
In the following description of the preferred embodiments, particularly preferred means for the implementation of inventive functions are shown. The person skilled in the art can replace these agents, if necessary, with equivalent means, for example against optical sensors such as cameras.

The sensor is part of a symbol recognition unit (ACR). For this purpose, the sensor S is preferably connected to a data processing unit, for example via a data line, which forwards graphic information determined by the sensor to other components of the symbol recognition unit.

The symbol recognition unit ACR is preferably equipped to recognize graphic symbols and assign them to graphical characters. That is why it is also known by the name 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 may be connected to a computer. It is possible to equip the symbol recognition unit with its own computer. However, in particular for larger verification centers for postage, for example in letter centers, it is expedient that a plurality of symbol recognition units are connected to a central computer.

The term "computer" is in no way limiting. It may be any unit suitable for performing calculations, such as a workstation, a personal computer, a microcomputer, or circuitry suitable for performing calculations and / or comparisons.

The use of a central computer for a plurality of symbol recognition units is particularly advantageous because it allows the entry of new frankings, such as new stamps, in a single processing step for multiple devices.

However, it is also possible to network the symbol recognition units of several letter centers with a central computer operating for several letter centers. This allows a review center to perform review tasks on multiple mail or freight centers. For example, it is possible for a postal service operator to operate a central computer for several, preferably all letter centers and / or freight centers.

The computer contains a database with a learning system for teaching symbols. The symbols are preferably graphic reproductions of stamps or other postage stamps. Preferably, a freely selectable subset is generated as a current database from a total amount of data contained in the database.

When using the database, it is expedient that information about the frankings and / or procedural instructions be transmitted to the individual devices. 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 clearances.

A schematic diagram of a preferred arrangement of means for checking the clearances is shown in FIG.

The illustrated checking device includes a symbol recognition unit ACR which is connected to a data processing unit (not shown). The symbol recognition unit preferably includes one or more sensors which evaluate color information, in particular local distributions of color information, and compare these with given symbols.

Preferably, the symbol recognition unit is used to recognize predetermined frankings, in particular stamps.

Although it is possible to connect a symbol recognition unit to a data processing unit, it is even more advantageous to connect a plurality of symbol recognition units ACR to one or more central data processing units. The central data processing unit preferably contains a database with an expandable data memory, which contains information for the recognition of symbols and can be extended by additional information, so that the recognition rate can be further improved by an evaluation of previous implementations of the verification method.

The device for checking the indicia also contains at least one means for checking the presence of a security feature.

A first means for checking the presence of a postage stamp, in particular a stamp, is denoted by BME, the abbreviation BME indicating that the means in the simplest case is a stamp recognition unit which checks for the presence of a stamp and / or the position the stamp determined.

For example, the tester designated BME is a fluorescence sensor. A light source is preferably arranged such that it specifically irradiates the surface of the mail item or a selected area of the surface of the mail item, so that fluorescence-excited areas applied to the mail item and provided with a fluorescence agent are excited. This fluorescence is detected by the fluorescence sensor.

The fluorescence sensor is preferably coupled to a first means for changing a letter passage through the device.

Depending on the result of the examination with the means BME for checking the presence of a postage stamp, the further examination and / or the further letter run can be varied.

It is thus possible, for example, to remove letters which have no fluorescence from the letter flow.

Furthermore, it is expedient to check the presence of one or more security features. In principle, a presence of a fluorescent dye can already be checked as a security feature.

To achieve greater protection against counterfeiting, it is advantageous to use the presence of a fluorescent dye only as a means of determining the position of an indicium and instead to verify the presence of other security features when verifying authenticity.

In the particularly advantageous case presented here, a superfluorescence sensor serves as a means for checking the presence of a security feature.

The superfluorescence sensor shown uses a physical effect previously used for checking value marks for checking the authenticity of the frankings.

This effect is an anti-Stokes effect. The anti-Stokes effect involves irradiation of the clearances 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.

This effect differs from the known investigation using fluorescence, since in the known examination methods, the sample is irradiated with higher energy radiation (for example UV light) and the subsequent emission of low energy radiation (for example visible light).

In the illustrated, particularly preferred embodiment, the symbol recognition unit ACR controls a turning device. Preferably, by the turning device, a surface, or a surface area, which has the first security feature, placed in an area in which it can be checked for the presence of the security feature.

Although a variety of features may be possible as the second security feature, such as watermarks, the use of a superfluorescence sensor is particularly advantageous.

Preferably, the superfluorescence sensor is designed so that it can analyze a spectral distribution of electromagnetic radiation received by it.

Preferably, the superfluorescence sensor further 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 the production of the frankings.

Such an adaptation is particularly useful because the effect of superfluorescence for energetic reasons is generally weaker than conventional fluorescence phenomena.

• Postsendungen P werden entlang einer vorgesehenen Brieflaufstrecke zuerst dem ersten Mittel ACR zur Überprüfung des Vorhandenseins einer gespeicherten graphischen Information zugeführt.

With the aid of the illustrated device, a verification procedure is carried out as follows:

• Mailpieces P are first fed along a designated mailing path to the first means ACR for checking the presence of stored graphical information.

Depending on the result of checking whether a given graphic symbol is recognized, the letter run is changed and / or the operation is changed controlled one or more means for checking the presence of a security feature.

In the illustrated, particularly preferred case, irradiation with light, in particular UV light of the mail item or the area of the graphic symbols applied to the mail item, checks whether the mail item, or in particular the surface area of the mail item, on which a stamp or other Fluorescence-containing symbol is attached, containing a fluorescent dye.

The mailpieces P, which have a graphic symbol which corresponds to a permissible franking and / or fluorescence, are supplied to a superfluorescence sensor. It is preferably investigated whether a superfluorescent superfluorescent dye also has a superfluorescence in that surface region which contains a conventional fluorescent dye.

In the area of the second means SFL-S for checking the presence of another security feature, a check is made as to whether superfluorescence is present. To investigate the presence of superfluorescence, it is checked whether there is an emission of higher energy radiation.

For example, after a previous irradiation with infrared light, it is checked whether there is an emission of visible light. Alternatively, it is checked, for example after irradiation with visible light, whether an emission in the range of UV light takes place. Expediently, a spectral distribution of the light emitted by the area of the mail item is examined and / or checked, if these spectral components with a previously defined wavelength and Contains intensity.

Since substances are used for the preparation of tamper-proof Superfluoreszenzfarbstoff substances, in particular dyes with components of rare earth atoms, which have one or more discrete fluorescence lines, it is thus possible to detect whether a true superfluorescent dye is present.

The means of checking security features presented may be replaced by means of equivalent value.

Far it is expedient to provide at suitable locations of the device possibilities for the removal of items in which one or more of the security features are not found and / or contain no prescribed for franking graphical symbol.

It is particularly useful to classify the programs examined into different categories.

Both predefined and freely selectable categories can be used.

Preferred examples of the categories are shipments stamped without a sender (hereinafter referred to as category 1), postal bank letters (hereinafter referred to as category 2), mail pieces (hereinafter referred to as category 3), mail pieces with permitted symbols (hereinafter referred to as category 4), mail pieces with illegal symbols (Category 5), items without symbols (category 6), postal items with invalid postage stamps not included in the database (category 7), postal items with invalid postage stamps and postage stamp symbols similar to those contained in the database (category 8), postal items with Postage due (category 9), postal items with digital franking (category 10).

When checking the frankings applied to the mailpieces, it is first examined whether they are shipments stamped without sender. These are transported - if necessary after a turn - in one or more compartments for admissible consignments. In addition, consignments accepted for free mail transport, such as postal mail or postal items, are recognized and - if necessary after turning - transported into a compartment for admissible consignments.

Subsequently, it is determined, for example by checking for the presence of a one- or two-dimensional barcode, whether it is a mailpiece provided with a digital postage indicium.

Mail with acceptable symbols will be stamped, if applicable after turning, and will also be forwarded to an authorized mailbox.

If impermissible symbols are detected, it is useful to check whether, despite the recognition of an impermissible symbol, there is a legally generated franking.

For example, it is checked here whether the symbols considered as inadmissible are postage stamps of one of the programs classified in categories 5, 7, 8 or 9. For this purpose, for example, checks whether the symbols are contained in a database. In this case, for example, such programs are recognized in which at least a predetermined area proportion of the postage stamps, or of the symbol, are located in a franking zone.

Symbols not contained in the database are supplied to the means SFL-S for checking the presence of a second security feature. If the second security feature is present, the shipments will be the same such as stamping the shipments previously validated in the database and shipping them to a bin for eligible shipments.

Other consignments, in particular consignments which contain no symbols, are removed from the apparatus and conveyed to a reject bin for prohibited consignments,

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

ACR

Symbol recognition unit

BME

First means for checking a first security feature

P

mailings

S

sensor

SFL-SZ

further means for checking a second security feature

IEP

Means of checking for secret information

1

entry point

2

Free-running section

3

First resource (BME)

4

turning line

5

further freewheeling route

6

another remedy (SFL-S)

7

Sternpeleinrichtung

8th

stacking trays

9

digital circuit

Claims (6)

Verification center for verifying postage paid postage, characterized in that
that it contains a plurality of devices which capture graphic information in selected reading areas of postal items, and
that the checking center comprises a computer that compares the graphic information with stored representations of postage indicia. Verification center according to claim 1,
characterized,
that several symbol recognition units are connected to the computer. Verification center according to claim 2,
characterized,
that use of the computer allows entry of new indicia for multiple devices in a single processing step. Verification center according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the computer contains a database with a learning system for teaching symbols. Verification center according to claim 4,
characterized,
that information about the frankings and / or about procedural instructions are transmitted to the devices when using the database. Verification center according to one or both of claims 4 or 5,
characterized,
in that the database contains an expandable data memory which contains information for the recognition of the symbols and can be extended by additional information, so that a recognition rate can be further improved by an evaluation of previous implementations of a verification method.

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