FI76648C - OVER ANCHORING FOR FRANKERING AV POST. - Google Patents

Description

1 76648

Method and apparatus for postmarking mail

The invention relates to a method and a device for postmarking mail.

5 Known mailing machines are uneconomical in terms of low removal rate. Similarly, hand-stamping devices are only economically viable when relatively large volumes of mail accumulate. Therefore, when the mail accumulates in smaller quantities, 10 printed deletions are preferably used.

DE-A-27 01 072 discloses a small mail machine with a microcomputer, which is dimensioned in such a way that it can be held in the hand and used by hand and is always transportable. The small mail machine is equipped with a value setting specified at the central postage delivery point.

The disadvantage of such mailing devices is that value cards or stamps must be obtained from an authorized place or, otherwise, the postage memory must always be re-allocated again.

The object of the invention is to develop a mailing system and a corresponding mailing device which enables simple value setting and / or postage billing for a small amount of mail, is easy to handle, also suitable for private use and

This object is solved by the invention as set out in the characterizing parts of the claims.

In connection with the drawing consisting of two figures, the invention will be described in more detail below, in which Figure 1 shows a mailing device incorporated in a telephone station and Figure 2 shows a mailing device 2 76648 in addition to a telephone station.

In both figures, the same operating elements have the same reference numerals.

The mailing system is based on the connection of the mailing device 5 to a telephone station. In this case, two different settlement methods have been adapted for the postage amounts used, depending on the calculation method preferred by the depreciation institution in each case.

Thus, it is possible for the billing location 10 to set the value in a known manner via telephone lines, whereby the mailing device stores the value and the amount of postage is billed internally via the register and the memory.

Another solution is to calculate the consumption of postage free of charge at the point of invoicing. In this case, the mailing device transmits the value of the postage after each weighting directly via telephone lines to the sum calculator of the billing location.

For both solutions, there is an existing telephone exchange billing counter belonging to each telephone subscriber. In connection with this payment calculator, it is possible to set the value, for example, always as ten units of account for telephone payments, and also to register after one weight in smaller payment units. The overruns and balances resulting from the deviating values of the payment units in relation to the amounts of postage are entered into the memory of the mailing device and calculated with the next value weight.

The advantage of such a mailing system is a small invoice, a convenient purchase and always a postage available to the customer. Also when using a special postage calculator in a telephone exchange or postage billing office, the postage charge can be linked to the call charge.

35 The mail device is integrated in either telephone exchange

II

3,76648 (Fig. 1) or connected to an additional telephone exchange via an adapter connection (Fig. 2). The embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2 are merely examples. Thus, the mailing device can also be arranged on the side, in front of or below the telephone exchange, and in connection with the additional device, an existing telephone exchange display device can be utilized.

The mailing device 10 has a slot 11 into which a stamp letter 20 or a card or strip of adhesive is inserted. 10 As the letter is upside down in the case of postmarking, virtually all envelope sizes can be postmarked without any problems and with certainty. The mailing device 10 still has keys 12-15 for controlling various functions. The mail key 12 toggles 15 telephone stations for mail significance. The telephone station then closes in the outgoing direction. Incoming calls can be answered at all times. The changeover performed by the mail key 12 further provides a changeover of the telephone station selection keypad 30 or also the dial pad, which 20 now serve to enter the mailing values. The entered postage value is displayed on the display device 16. If an incorrect value is entered, it is corrected with a new entry, so that the internal logic causes the display to be reset, for example from the fourth digit entered, without the need to use an additional delete key. The postmarking is started with the command key 13 and in parallel with it the postmarked value is registered at the billing location or forwarded to the call charge calculator or charged internally with the value setting. When the desired number of delete markings-30 have been completed, the clear key 14 must be used, which resets the devices to the home positions and toggles the dial pad 30 to dialing.

If the value setting memory is used in the mailing device, then the value setting key 15 is necessary. When the position key 12 and the value setting key 15 are used 4 76648, a multiple of the call charge units is always entered into the memory by means of the key field 30, while the value to be entered is displayed on the display device 16 and the command key 13 is started leenkytkentä.

Il

Claims (12)

A method for postmarking mail, characterized in that the mailing device (10) is connected to a telephone station, whereby the postage is charged directly via telephone lines to the billing location, the telephone station selection device (30) acts as a payment value selection device, while additional mailing keys 15) provide a selection setting for the selection device, 10 and that the display device (16) is used to check the selected payment values. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that in a manner known per se, the payment values set by the billing location pre-ordered by the user via telephone lines are stored in the mailing device and each used mailing value is subtracted from the stored value. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the used mailing values are transmitted directly to the sum counter of the billing location after each weighting performed by the mailing device. Method according to Claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the mailing values used are registered and accounted for with a call charge calculator. Method according to Claims 1, 2 and 4, characterized in that the value setting is stored in the mailing device as a multiple of the call charge. 5,76648 Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the residues are stored in memory and added to the next value setting. Method according to Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the charging of postal charges is connected to the charging of calls. Device for carrying out the method according to claim 1, characterized in that the mailing device (10) is included in the speech line. Device for carrying out the method according to claim 1, characterized in that the mailing device (10) is connected to the telephone station as an additional means by means of an adapter 5. Device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the mail support device (10) has a display device (16). Device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the mailing device (10) makes use of the existing display device (16) of the telephone station. Device according to claims 8-11, characterized in that the mail support device (10) has control keys (12-15) for controlling the closed state of outgoing connections through the telephone station when using the mail device (10), switching the selection device (30), disconnecting the weight and the value of the setting. il 7 76648