EP2131331B1 - Frankierverfahren in Abhängigkeit von der Kategorie der Post - Google Patents

Frankierverfahren in Abhängigkeit von der Kategorie der Post Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2131331B1
EP2131331B1 EP09156819A EP09156819A EP2131331B1 EP 2131331 B1 EP2131331 B1 EP 2131331B1 EP 09156819 A EP09156819 A EP 09156819A EP 09156819 A EP09156819 A EP 09156819A EP 2131331 B1 EP2131331 B1 EP 2131331B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
franking
mailpiece
amount
mail
initial
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP09156819A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP2131331A1 (de
Inventor
Laurent Farlotti
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
Original Assignee
Neopost Technologies SA
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Publication date
Application filed by Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Publication of EP2131331A1 publication Critical patent/EP2131331A1/de
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Publication of EP2131331B1 publication Critical patent/EP2131331B1/de
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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00572—Details of printed item
    • G07B2017/0058—Printing of code
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00685—Measuring the dimensions of mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00709—Scanning mailpieces

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of mail processing.
  • it relates to a method of franking mail items by means of a franking system.
  • the entry-level franking machines do not have such an automatic feeding device that is both complex and expensive, but a simple plate devoid of any measuring device and on which are deposited one by one the mail items to be conveyed to the franking module, which, in order to calculate the appropriate franking amount, requires a prior seizure of the format of each mail item to the user interface of the franking module and therefore limit considerably the franking rate of these entry-level machines.
  • the present invention thus aims to provide a method of franking automatically taking into account the measurement of the format (length, width, thickness) of a mail item without the need to resort to complex or expensive systems to perform this measurement.
  • An object of the invention is also to provide a method particularly suitable for franking non-standard mail items.
  • the method of the invention makes it possible, without resorting to complex and therefore expensive format determination means, to automatically calculate the postage amount for standard mailpieces and by a second impression allowing a correction of an amount. initial franking, also the passage of non-standard mail items.
  • Said extraction step of said mail item can be performed automatically after validation by the operator of the initial postage amount previously displayed on said franking machine and it can be further provided a step of displaying said franking amount corrected on said franking machine.
  • the method of the invention further comprises, prior to the calculation of the initial postage amount, a step of weighing the mail article by a weighing device and a step of measuring the thickness of the article.
  • this thickness measurement can be continued throughout the advancement of said mail article through said franking machine to determine a maximum thickness of the mail piece.
  • said maximum value of thickness is greater than a maximum value of thickness for the category of mail considered, it is generated an audible or visual warning by said alarm of said franking machine and a calculation is carried out by said processing means of a postage amount corrected.
  • a step of reloading by the operator of said postage-paid article on said supply tray and printing of said new postal imprint on said mail item is carried out for an amount of franking corresponding to the difference between the the amount of postage corrected and the amount of initial postage incorrect or a step of loading a label and printing of said new stamp on said label is carried out for a postage amount corresponding to the difference between the the amount of postage corrected and the initial postage amount erroneous or simply equal to the amount of postage corrected, said label then being affixed to said postage item containing the initial postage amount erroneous.
  • the figure 1 illustrates in perspective a franking machine implementing the method of franking mail items according to the invention.
  • a machine intended for one-on-one printing of mailpieces comprises means for printing the postal imprint on the mail article, typically an inkjet printing head, a tray feed 12 provided with a longitudinal reference wall 14 for supplying mail items with these printing means.
  • An external receiving tray (not shown) may be provided to receive the mail items once they are freed by the printing means.
  • this machine includes a user interface 10A for entering the postal data necessary to determine the amount of postage (weight class, geographical area of destination, services requested, etc.) and secure processing means 10B including, inter alia, the postage accounting data, in particular ascending and descending counters, and the reloading data. It may also include means of connection to a remote server system (not shown) which then makes it a communicating machine including reloading and sending postal statistics.
  • a remote server system not shown
  • An external weighing device 16 delivering the weight of the mail article that must then be placed on the tray prior to its franking is also provided. This device is of course in connection with the franking machine to communicate the value of weight thus obtained.
  • a thickness measuring device 18 which extends partly on and across the supply tray from the reference wall 14 and which comprises for example a pressing member acting on the upper face of the mail piece and which can move vertically during the advancement of the mail item according to the thickness of this mail piece.
  • the feed plate comprises, arranged on the same line perpendicular to the referencing wall 14 of the mail items, several presence detectors 12A-12C each connected to the secure processing means 10B, the respective predetermined positions of these presence detectors relative to this referencing wall being intended, by defining a range of width for a mail item deposited on the feed tray, to determine an estimate of the category of mail to which this article belongs.
  • individualized presence detectors can be of any type allowing detection of the article of mail on the board, such as optical, mechanical, ultrasonic sensors, etc.
  • the first sensor 12A the closest to the referencing wall, disposed at a distance of 88.9 mm from this wall makes it possible to detect a mail item corresponding to the US minimum card format (US postcard)
  • the second sensor 12B disposed at a distance of 108 mm can detect a mail item corresponding to the US maximum card format (US postcard)
  • the third sensor 12C disposed at a distance of 155.6 mm can detect a mail item corresponding to the US Letter Maximum.
  • these positions corresponding to the width limit values defining a specific category of mail items will differ according to the postal regulations considered.
  • a first step 100 the mail item is in principle weighed on the weighing device 16 and the corresponding weight value is sent to the processing means 10B (this step is however not essential if the mailpieces to be processed are all of the same weight) then, in a step 102, the mail piece is loaded (deposited) on the feed tray 12 under the pressure member of the thickness measuring device 18 (which will deliver a first measure the thickness of the processing means 10B) and against the referencing wall 14 so as to cover part of the line of the presence detectors 12A-12C and the operator, in a step 104, enters the geographical code of destination of the mail item and possibly the requested service (as well as the weight if it was not provided automatically by the weighing device).
  • the receipt of the mail item on the feed tray will, along with this input, start the process of calculating the amount of postage, by determining, in a next step 106, the only width (more exactly a range width) of the mail item given by the state, covered or not, presence detectors.
  • the only width more exactly a range width
  • This is done in a step 108, in which it is proceeded at the level of the processing means 10B to an estimate of the category of mail to which the mail item belongs from the previous evaluation of its width and knowledge of its initial thickness.
  • the franking amount is then calculated automatically, in a step 110, according to this estimate and the postal data entered or determined previously and this computation completed, the mail item is, in a step 112, automatically extracted from the board. supply to start the franking process (printing of the postal stamp) at the level of the printing means 10 (it can however also be envisaged a manual launch of the extraction process by the operator by validating the amount of postage displayed at the user interface of the machine).
  • the synchronization of the printing process is carried out, as is known, during the entry of the mail item in the franking machine from the detection of the front of this mail piece, for example by a detector conventional lever or optical (not shown), which, in the context of the present invention, also allows, in a step 114, a measurement of the actual length of the mail piece obtained during the passage of the front and the back of the mail item at this detector. This measured actual length of the mail piece can then, in a next step 116, be compared to the length previously estimated from the width of the mail piece and a warning generated by a sound or visual horn of the mailpiece.
  • user interface 10A will then be sent to the operator, in a step 118, when the estimated mail category and the determined effectively will not coincide, thereby signifying to the operator the need for a second printing process of the mail item. It will be noted that this lack of identity of the categories will occur mainly in the presence of non-standard mail items and therefore in practice relatively infrequently. However, since the postal imprint is a monetary value, an incorrect postage amount which causes financial loss or rejection by the postal administration can not be tolerated.
  • the device 18 for measuring the thickness of the mail piece generating a value of thickness throughout the advance of the article of mail, it is possible that the maximum thickness of this article of mail is greater than the static value of thickness initially obtained on receipt of the mail piece and that it also results in an erroneous postage amount calculation (which is possible if this variation in thickness causes a change of category of mail). In this case, it will also be generated an audible or visual warning to the operator so that he is also informed of the need for a second printing process of the mail item.
  • the processing means will then calculate automatically and if possible display to the user interface the postage amount corrected and it will eventually be proposed to the operator is to print a label of this corrected amount, or print a new postal imprint of a postage amount corresponding to the additional postage required to obtain the corrected amount from the erroneous amount initially printed.
  • this choice when this choice is given to him (it may indeed be decided to print a label systematically), it will be proceeded in a step 122 to the loading (manually or automatically by means of a distributor of integrated label) of a label and the printing on it of the corrected amount or, in an alternative step 124, the reloading of the mail item and printing next to and preferably at the back of the initial postal impression, as shown in figure 3 , a new postage stamp of the postage supplement calculated.
  • the operator will in a final step 128 paste this label in place of the initial postal imprint which it corrects the amount.
  • it will not be proceeded to a new weighing or a new measurement of the thickness of the mail piece nor to a new measurement of the actual length thereof.
  • the franking machine implementing the method of the invention is thus particularly suitable for small numbers (a few tens per day) and, because of its simplified and robust structure, it can be implemented in various environments. , not only office, but also industrial or commercial.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Verfahren zum Frankieren von Poststücken in einer Frankiermaschine, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es die folgenden Schritte umfaßt:
    - Auflegen eines Poststücks auf eine Zuführplatte (12) der Frankiermaschine durch eine Bedienungsperson,
    - automatisches Bestimmen der Breite des Poststücks durch eine Vielzahl von Anwesenheitsdetektoren (12A-12C), die an der Zuführplatte senkrecht zu einer Längswand (14) zum Ausrichten des Poststücks angebracht sind,
    - Abschätzen der Postsendungskategorie, zu der das Poststück gehört, durch Verarbeitungsmittel (10B) der Frankiermaschine, anhand der Breite des Poststücks,
    - Berechnen eines auf das Poststück aufzubringenden Anfangsportobetrages durch die Verarbeitungsmittel,
    - Abtransportieren des Poststücks von der Zuführplatte und Aufdrucken eines den genannten Ausgangsportobetrag enthaltenden Poststempels durch Druckmittel (10) der Frankiermaschine,
    - Bestimmen der tatsächlichen Länge des Poststücks durch Längenmeßmittel der Frankiermaschine,
    - Vergleichen der zuvor geschätzten Postsendungskategorie mit einer anhand der tatsächlichen Länge des Poststücks bestimmten Postsendungskategorie durch die Verarbeitungsmittel,
    - falls diese beiden Postsendungskategorien nicht identisch sind, Erzeugen eines akustischen oder visuellen Alarms durch eine Meldeeinrichtung (10A) der Frankiermaschine,
    - Berechnen eines korrigierten Portobetrages durch die Verarbeitungsmittel und
    - Aufdrucken eines neuen Poststempels, der eine Korrektur des Ausgangsportobetrages ermöglicht.
  2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Schritt des Abtransportierens des Poststücks nach Bestätigen - durch die Bedienungsperson - des zuvor an der Frankiermaschine angezeigten Ausgangsportobetrages automatisch durchgeführt wird.
  3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es ferner einen Schritt zum Anzeigen des korrigierten Portobetrages an der Frankiermaschine umfaßt.
  4. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es ferner, vor dem Berechnen des Ausgangsportobetrages, einen Schritt zum Wiegen des Poststücks mittels einer Wiegeeinrichtung (16) umfaßt.
  5. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es ferner, vor dem Berechnen des Ausgangsportobetrages, einen Schritt zum Messen der Dicke des Poststücks mittels einer Dickenmeßeinrichtung (18) umfaßt.
  6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Dickenmeßschritt während des gesamten Vorschubs des Poststücks durch die Frankiermaschine durchgeführt wird, um eine maximale Dicke des Poststücks zu bestimmen.
  7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß wenn der maximale Dickenwert größer als ein maximaler Dickenwert für die betrachtete Postsendungskategorie ist, durch die Meldeeinrichtung der Frankiermaschine ein akustischer oder visueller Alarm erzeugt wird und eine Berechnung eines korrigierten Portobetrages durch die Verarbeitungsmittel durchgeführt wird.
  8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es ferner einen Schritt zum erneuten Auflegen des frankierten Poststücks auf die Zuführplatte durch die Bedienungsperson umfaßt und das Aufdrucken des neuen Poststempels für einen Portobetrag, der der Differenz zwischen dem korrigierten Portobetrag und dem fehlerhaften Ausgangsportobetrag entspricht, direkt auf das Poststück erfolgt.
  9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es ferner einen Schritt zum Laden eines Etiketts umfaßt und das Aufdrucken des neuen Poststempels für einen Portobetrag, der der Differenz zwischen dem korrigierten Portobetrag und dem fehlerhaften Ausgangsportobetrag entspricht, auf das Etikett erfolgt.
  10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es ferner einen Schritt zum Laden eines Etiketts umfaßt und das Aufdrucken des neuen Poststempels für einen dem korrigierten Portobetrag entsprechenden Portobetrag auf das Etikett erfolgt.
  11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9 oder Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es ferner einen Schritt zum Aufkleben des Etiketts auf das den fehlerhaften Ausgangsportobetrag aufweisende Poststück umfaßt.
EP09156819A 2008-06-03 2009-03-31 Frankierverfahren in Abhängigkeit von der Kategorie der Post Active EP2131331B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0853655A FR2931977A1 (fr) 2008-06-03 2008-06-03 Procede d'affranchissement en fonction de la categorie de courrier

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2131331A1 EP2131331A1 (de) 2009-12-09
EP2131331B1 true EP2131331B1 (de) 2011-03-02

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EP09156819A Active EP2131331B1 (de) 2008-06-03 2009-03-31 Frankierverfahren in Abhängigkeit von der Kategorie der Post

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US (1) US8429094B2 (de)
EP (1) EP2131331B1 (de)
DE (1) DE602009000796D1 (de)
FR (1) FR2931977A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110209923A1 (en) * 2010-02-26 2011-09-01 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and Device for Weighing Objects of Different Weight Classes

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5915257A (en) * 1994-10-11 1999-06-22 Brio Technology, Inc. Cross tab analysis and reporting method
DE19617557A1 (de) * 1996-05-02 1997-11-06 Francotyp Postalia Gmbh Verfahren zur Ermittlung des günstigsten Beförderers und Postverarbeitungssystem mit Personalcomputer und mit einem Verfahren zur Datenverarbeitung
US6006210A (en) * 1997-03-27 1999-12-21 Pitney Bowes Inc. Mailing machine including dimensional rating capability
EP1777660B1 (de) * 1997-09-22 2008-12-10 Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems, Inc. Technik zur Vorabherstellung von Codes basierend auf einer Prognose
WO2004021287A1 (en) * 2002-08-29 2004-03-11 United States Postal Service Systems and methods for re-estimating the postage fee of a mailpiece during processing
FR2850753A1 (fr) 2003-01-31 2004-08-06 Neopost Ind Module de pesee pour pesee a la volee
US20050065896A1 (en) * 2003-09-19 2005-03-24 Pitney Bowes Incorporated Method and system for automated postage correction of residual mail
FR2881549B1 (fr) * 2005-01-31 2007-05-11 Neopost Ind Sa Dispositif de mesure de largeur d'un article de courrier dans une machine de traitement de courrier
US7933846B2 (en) * 2007-04-20 2011-04-26 Pitney Bowes Inc. Mail processing system including dimensional rating with true length support
US7702593B2 (en) * 2007-06-13 2010-04-20 Pitney Bowes Inc. System and method for printing correct postage for batches of mail with presort discounts

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Publication number Publication date
EP2131331A1 (de) 2009-12-09
DE602009000796D1 (de) 2011-04-14
FR2931977A1 (fr) 2009-12-04
US20090299917A1 (en) 2009-12-03
US8429094B2 (en) 2013-04-23

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