GB2193332A - Insertion machine with prioritized selection of inserts - Google Patents

Description

GB2193332A 1 SPECIFICATION As may be appreciated, such systems do not

provide a means for optimizing the num Insertion machine with prioritized selection ber or type of included enclosures as to such of inserts criteria as weight, and hence postage cost, 70 and other factors. Inasmuch as the reduction The present invention relates generally to in- of postal mailing costs is often an important serting machines and, more particularly, per- goal of the users of insertion systems, the tains to an inserting machine capable of mak- systems of the prior art may not be suitable ing an intelligent selection of enclosures based for such applications where the optimization of on specific requirements, for example postage 75 enclosure selection and reduced postal mailing requirements and a user's specific application costs are important goals.

requirements. In an attempt to achieve this goal of reduc The invention also relates to a method of ing postal costs, it has been known in the topping off the final weight of a mailpiece, to prior art to provide an inserting machine a method of selectively determining relative to 80 wherein the per item weight of the inserts a value of postage which enclosure types are held at a plurality of feeding stations is stored to be provided by a mailing system and to a in a data processing memory. A processing method of optimising the final weight of a means, using the stored per item weights, mailpiece. The invention further relates to a thereby calculates a total weight based on the mailing system, and to an inserting machine 85 number of inserts selectively fed from the which can operate one or more of the above- feeding stations. This calculated weight is then mentioned methods. utilized to determine which one of a plurality Multistation insertion machines are widely of postage meters, each being set to apply utilized for mailing applications wherein a plu- postage relating to a different weight categ rality of different types of enclosures, such as 90 ory, will be subsequently activated to apply advertising enclosures or enclosures of general postage to the envelope. Such a system is or limited interest, are to be included with a disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,561,925, is customer's monthly statement. Examples of sued on February 25, 1986 to Jerryl Adams.

such applications are monthly statements A problem may, however, be created in the mailed by utilities, credit card companies, and 95 use of such a system in that the per item banking or other financial institutions. Included, weight entered for a particular insert may be typically, with the statement are one or more an average weight for such an insert. As is enclosures, or inserts, which may convey a well known, there is associated with the indi message to the companies customers, such vidual members of any group of similar items, as an offer of additional services, or of a 100 such as advertising inserts of bank checks, a change in company policy, or advertisements range of weights depending on the tolerances provided by third parties for inclusion within associated with the physical characteristics of the companies monthly mailing. these items. Differences in dimensions or the Illustrative of such inserting machines are a type of paper stock utilized, which differences U.S. patent No. 3,935,429, issued January 105 may vary from lot to lot, will affect the actual 27, 1976 to George N. Branecky and Gary R. weight of each item. In addition, envirommen Sochrim, and a U.S. Patent No. 4,077,181, tal factors such as humidity will affect the issued March 7, 1978 to Leslie K. Asher, weight of a document. Thus, the per item Charles E. Gibson, and Frank T. Roetter, each weight entered may be an average weight and of the aforementionpd Patents being assigned 110 may not reflect the actual weight to the item, to the present Applicant. Although well suited thereby resulting in the calculated weight be for their intended applications, these and other ing in error. Such an error may result in the known insertion machines of the prior art per- application of an excessive amount of postage form their insertion function in accordance to some envelopes or an insufficient amount with a scheme which is fixed for each piece 115 of postage to others. In the case of the appli of mail processed. That is, in addition to the cation of insufficient postage, additional costs required statement and other required docu- may be incurred im reprocessing such mail in ments which must be inserted, such as paid order to apply the correct postage amount.

bank checks, these machines insert either a Furthermore, the use of such a system does fixed or a prespecified number of enclosures. 120 not address the significant problem of optimiz In such a fixed insertion machine, a plurality img the number of the included inserts in or of insert feeders disposed along a document der to achieve the full benefit of the postage insertion 'track are activated for each machine category into -which the envelope falls. Neither cycle, thereby feeding an enclosure for each does such a system address the problem of piece of mail processed. Other types of ma- 125 the selection of enclosures for insertion based chines are operable for readinq an indicia pro- on criteria other than weight vided on a control document, the indicia spe- It has been known in the past to provide cifying, among other information, which of a apparatus to optimize the final weight of a plurality of inserts are to be fed for inclusion plurality of items such that the final weight is with the associated statement. 130 substantially equal to a desired final weight.

2 GB2193332A 2 However, such apparatus generally do not selectively activating the document feeders, take into consideration any criteria except and especially the enclosure feeders, to feed weight. For example, in the U.S. Patent No. enclosures based upon maximum enclosure 4,428,179, issued January 31, 1984 to C. weight and a specific application definition.

Wane Jordan and John W. Walker, there is 70 Such an insertion machine is operable for disclosed a device for filling a package with a maximizing the number and type of enclosures predetermined weight of items, such as pieces fed such that the final weight of the stuffed of chicken. The device, under the control of a envelope is optimized to realize the full value computer, determines which of several pieces of a postage category into which the stuffed of chicken held in a plurality of holding bins 75 envelope falls. Such an insertion machine is should be added to a partially filled package further operable to drive an electronically pro of chicken in order to bring the final weight of grammable postage meter or other means of that package up to the predetermined final postage application, such as a manifest type weight. In order to determine which one or of device, to apply the correct value of pos- ones of the pieces of chicken should be 80 tage to each stuffed envelope, thereby elimi added, each holding bin is provided with a natimg the requirement of the prior art inser weighing means to determine the individual tion machines to provide multiple postage weight of each such piece of chicken so held. meters.

Thus, the piece or pieces which will most Such an insertion machine is further oper- closely approach the desired final weight are 85 able for selecting an insert for insertion within selected for inclusion within the package. an envelope based on a predefined level of Other U.S. Patents which describe means to significance, or priority, associated with the inarrive at a predetermined final weight when sert, as well as upon the maximum weight of packaging items, such as cookies or bacon, the insert. The levels of significance may fur- are Nos. 4,545,179, 4,209,960, 4,141,442, 90 ther be varied "on the fly, " that is, the levels 4,136,504, and 4,065,911. may be varied based on parameters related to In these U.S. Patents set forth above the a particular mailpiece such as the number of sole- criteria for including an item within the checks enclosed, other account types which package is item weight, the individual items the customer maintains or even by address or being, in general, of a fungible nature. 95 zip code. - It is an aim of the present invention to pro- The above mentioned and other features of vide an insertion machine capable of intelligent the invention will become better understood selection of one or more enclosures from a with reference to the following detailed de plurality of various enclosure types. The selec- scription when taken in conjunction with the tion may be based on postage and other apaccompanying drawings in which:

plication specific requirements, such as the Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic significance or priority of an enclosure relative postal mailing system having one embodiment to a particular customer. It is -another aim to of the invention; optimise the total. Final weight of the mail- Fig. 2 is a flow chart depicting an enclosure piece is optimized to realize the full value of a 105 sorting procedure in accordance with the in postage category, by appropriate selection of vention; and enclosures. Fig. 3 is a flow chart depicting an enclosure It is a further aim of the invention to pro- selection procedure in accordance with the in- vide an insertion machine or method which vention.

utilizes the maximum weight tolerance for each 110 Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown a enclosure in order to calculate a true total portion of a multistation inserting system 10 weight for a mail piece having an embodiment of the invention. Al- An, inserting machine as disclosed herein though the system 10 as shown in provides for the intelligent selection of enclo- Fig, 1 is adapted for use in a banking appli- sures, or inserts, based upon a maximum 115 cation, it should be realized that this is an weight of each enclosure and an application illustrative embodiment only, and that the definition. method of the invention is well suited for use In an illustrative embodiment an inserting with a variety of different inserting systems machine has a plurality of document feeders including, but not limited to, billing systems disposed along a transport'deck for selectively 120 and systems adapted for the mass mailing of feeding a bank statement, customer checks, advertising literature and the- like. The system and other enclosures thereto. A plurality of is also usable outside of the mailing field in document pusherg attached to an endless loop any application wherein the topping off of a conveying chain are operable for collating the final weight is desired and selectable inser documents so fed and conveying them to an 125 tions have different priorities.

envelope inserting and sealing machine, from In general, system 10 operates to feed do which the sealed envelope is conveyed to a cuments from a plurality of document feeders printing device, such as a postage meter, to onto a transport deck, the documents being have th, e appropriate postage applied. conveyed down the deck to an envelope A processing means may be provided for 130 feeder and insertion station where the collated 3 GB2193332A 3 documents are inserted within an envelope. 30 applied thereto. The postage metered en Thereafter the envelope is sealed and con- velope 32 will thereafter be transported to veyed to a postage meter where a correct other, unillustrated portions of the system 10 amount of postage is applied. The system, in where it may be sorted according to zip code this illustrative embodiment, is operable for 70 and stacked for mailing.

reading an indicia provided on a control docu- Control of the operation of system 10 is ment which is also conveyed upon the deck, provided by a control unit, which may be the indicia being indicative, among other thcomprised of a central processing unit (CPU) ings, of which inserts from a plurality of insert 34. CPU 34, which may be a microcomputer, stations are to be included within a particular 75 has a plurality of inputs and outputs (only envelope. Controlling the operation of the some of which are shown in Fig. 1) for inputt document feeders in response to the indicia is ing document related data and for controlling a system processing unit. The processing unit the various document feeders, the inserter and is also operable for determining the correct the postage meter.

amount of postage for each stuffed envelope 80 As may be seen in Fig. 1, there is con and for providing by a suitable communi- nected to CPU 34, in this embodiment of the cations means the postage information to the invention, a photosensor 36 having an output postage meter. The meter is comprised of a 38. Photosensor 36 is disposed relative to printer, such as an ink jet printer, operable for deck 14 such that it may sense an indicia 40 printing a postmark or postage indicia indica- 85 provided on a control document 42, the indi tive of differing postage amounts upon each cia being read by CPU 34 via output 38. Typi successive stuffed envelope depending upon cally, one such control document 42 is pro the weight of the stuffed envelope. Such an vided for each customer mailpiece, the indicia indicia may take the form of a graphical pat- 40 being indicative of, for example, the num tern or a bar code or some other type of 90 ber of returned checks to be fed by feeder approved pattern for representimg the dollar 22, which ones of the inserts contained in amount of the postage and other information, feeders 18a through 18d are to be included such as a level of presort or a level of signifi- Within the mailpiece and additionally, enclosure cance (or priority), etc. significance data. As may be appreciated, in As may be seen more specifically in Fig. 1 95 other embodiments of the invention such in a plurality of document coliations 12a through formation may be provided to CPU 34 in a 12f are disposed upon the surface of a tran- variety of different ways, such as by a direct sport deck 14 and are transported thereon in communications link to a central electronic a direction indicated by the arrow 16. The data processing (EDP) computer.

collations 12 may be transported by a plurality 100 Also connected as an input to CPU 34 is a of document pushers (not shown) which ex- data entry device 44, the device 44 being tend upwards through the deck 14, the pushconnected via a suitable cable 46. The data ers being attached to an endless loop convey- entry device 44, which may be an operator ing chain (not shown) disposed beneath deck actuated keyboard or a separate EDP system, 14. Each of the collations 12a through 12f 105 functions, in accordance With the invention, to may be comprised of a different number of enter enclosure significance data and a repre documents and document types, the docu- sentation of enclosure mqximum weight data ment types being inserts fed from a plurality into CPU 34. The purpose and method of us of insert feeders 18, a statement fed from ing this data will be discqssed hereinafter.

feeder 20, and bank checks fed from check 110 In addition to the above described inputs, feeder 22. As may be appreciated, collation CPU 34 has a plurality of output lines 48 12a will generally be comprised of one or through 62 suitable for controlling the activa more inserts fed from feeder 18a, while colla- tion of the insert feeders 181 the statement tion 12b,may be comprised of two or more feeder 20, the check feeder 22, the inserter inserts fed from feder 18a and feeder 18b. 115 24 and the postage meter 28, For example, Collation 12c may e comprised of three or line 62 may be a serial data communications more inserts, and so on. link operable for transmitting information ex Collation 12f, also ref erred to herein as a pressive of a required value of postage to be final collation, is comprised of a bank state- applied by meter 28.

ment fed from feeder 20 and some variable 120 It should be realized that an insertion sys nunber of checks fed from feeder 22, In addi- tem of the type described above is operable tion, collation 12f may be comprised of one for processing a plurality of individual mail or more inserts fed from feeders 18a through pieces in a high speed and continous manner.

18d. Final collation 12f is transported to an Of particular interest to the instant invention envelope feeder and inserter 24, whore it is 125 is the activation by CPU 34 of the insert feed inserted, or stuffed, within an envelope. The ers 18. As has been previously mentioned, in operation of inserter 24 subsequently seals some systems of the prior art all of the feed the stuffed envelope 26 which is thereafter ers 18 would be activated for every customer conveyed to a postage printing device such as mailpiece. Thus, no selectivity as to which in postage meter 28 to have a postage indicia 130 serts a particular customer would receive was 4 GB2193332A 4 provided. inserted only if the total final weight of the In other systems of the prior art which do mailpiece, including this enclosure, will not ex provide for some selectivity as to insert selecceed t2, and tion, the selection of inserts would be predet- (d) S = D when an enclosure should be ermined and provided to the system, typically, 70 inserted only if the total final weight of the on the control document. In such a system mailpiece, including this enclosure, will not ex only the feeders for the selected inserts would ceed t, be activated during the collation of a mail- It should be realized, however, that the piece. number of levels of significance is not limited As may be appreciated, neither of the 75 to four, in that a different postal rate categori- above mentioned types of systems of the zation or other factors may result in more or prior art have the capability to modify the in- less than four levels of significance being uti serts selected during the actual processing of lized for a particular application.

a particular mailpiece. Because of this defici- It should further be realized that the assign- ency the systems of the prior art also do not 80 ment of particular level of significance to an have the capability to optimize the final weight enclosure may be based on a variety of appli of the mailpiece in order to obtain the full cation specific factors. For example, a particu value of a postage category. lar enclosure may be assigned a significance Referring now to the flow charts of Figs. 2 level of D for certain of the bank's customers and 3, there will be described a method of 85 and a level of B or C for certain other of the providing an inserting machine with the neces- bank's customers. The differentiation between sary decision making capability to make an customers may be made in a variety of man intelligent determination as to which enclo- ners, such as by other types of banking ac sures to include within a particular mailpiece, counts maintained by the customers, or the the determination being based on an applica- 90 average minimum balance maintained within tion definition. such an account, or even by geographical lo- In general, an application definition can be cation, such as indicated by the customer's considered as a set of enclosures (IE, E2.. zip code. For example, an encl osure describ E.), the set beimg comprised of an enclosure ing a new type of money market account to E, to be fed from a feeder 1, and so on. The 95 be offered by the bank may be considered to total number of potential emclosures, repre- be of more significance to those of the bank's sented by N, includes the carrier, or mailimg customers who already maihtain money mar envelope ' In this embodiment of the invention ket accounts than to those of the bank's cus there are two attributes associated with each tomers who only maintain a checking account.

enclosure, namely a level of significance (S), 100 Therefore, such an enclosure may be as or priority, amd a postage influencing charac- sigmed a relatively high significance level of A teristic, which in this embodiment is a maxi- or B for some customers and a relatively low mum weight (W). significance level of D for certain other of the For example, the existing postal rate system bank's customers. As may be appreciated, is based on twelve weight categories of 0.00 105 such customer related information may be to 12.00 ounces. In inserting applications all provided to the CPU 34 by the control docu weights over three ounces are considered as ment 42 or by any of a variety of suitable one category, therefore there are four weight means. Thus, the level of significance of a categories of intereg for this embodiment of particular enclosure may be dynamically varied the invention. The categories of interest are 110 from one mailpiece processed to the next. In 0.00 to 0.99 ounces, 1.00 to 1.99 ounces, other words, the significapce data entered via 2.00 to 2.99 ounces and 3.00 - ounces or data entry device 44 may be modified by in greater. For the purposes of this discussion formation contained on the control document 3.0 0 ounces will be assigned the weight 42. Thus the significance or priority of a threshold t, two ounces will be assigned the 115 document may be altered-- -onthe fly.--- weight threshold t2, and one ounce the weight Inasmuch as the levels of significance are threshold t, each such threshold being indica- based on maximum weight thresholds, the tive of the point at which a different postage levels are thereby also based on an amount of amount is required. postage. An enclosure assigned to sigmifi Based on the above described postal rate 120 cance level C will be deemed to have a higher categorization, the levels of significance may priority than an enclosure assigned to a level be defined as follows: of D since the dollar amount of postage asso (a) S = A when an enclosure must be in- ciated with weight threshold t2 is greater than serted.without reservation as to the total final that assigned to weight threshold t, weight-'of the mailpiece, 125 In accordance with the levels of significance (b) S = B when an enclosure should be described above, certain enclosures will by inserted only if the total final weight of the definition be considered level A enclosures. In mailpiece, including this enclosure, will not ex- the banking insertion machine of the illustra ceed t3, tive embodiment, the bank statement, returned (C) S = C when an enclosure should be 130 customer checks, and the carrier envelope itGB2193332A 5 self must all by necessity be included without a selecting procedure as illustrated in the flow reservation as to the final weight of the mail- charts of Figs. 2 and 3. It should be realized piece. Additionally, one or more of the inserts however, that the procedures as illustrated in held in feeders 18a through 18d may convey Figs. 2 and 3 are representative only and that important inf ormation applicable to all check- 70 a possibly large nunber of alternative sorting ing account customers. As an example, such and selecting procedures may be devised by an insert may give notification of a change in those skilled in the art. Hence, the method of checking account fees. Such an insert may be the invention should not be considered to be considered to be of such general importance limited to tne procedures depicted in the that it is assigned to a significance level of A, 75 flowcharts of Figs. 2 and 3.

thereby being included with each mailpiece Referring now to Fig. 2, a first procedure is without regard for the total final weight and shown wherein all potential enclosures (E) are hence the postage cost of the mailpiece. sorted into four groups, namely:

Others inserts held in feeders 18a through (a) Eil, Ei2-. Ein; 18d may be considered to be of more limited 80 (b) Ejj, EiV-. E1,,; interest, and hence are not required to be in- (c) Ekl, EU,---. Ekp; and cluded in every mailpiece without reservation (d) E,,, E120 E1q.

as to postage cost. These various insert types These groups are representative of enclo would theref ore be assigned to the remaining sures of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class significance levels, namely B, C or D. 85 D, respectively.

As has been previously mentioned, the sec- For each mailpiece processed there is en ond attribute of the two attributes associated tered the significance (S) and the maximum with each enclosure is the maximum weight of weight (W) of each enclosure, block 70. As the enclosure. More specifically, the second has been previously mentioned, such data may attribute is the maximum possible weight 90 be entered by an operator actuated keyboard based on the maximum possible deviation or some other suitable manner. The total num from the average weight. For example, if the ber of entries so made is assigned the value average weight of a check is assumed to be - N. After the step of data entry, all variable 0.1 ounce, ten such checks may be assumed parameters and the total weight of all Class A to weigh 1.0 ounce. If, however, the possible 95 enclosures are initialized to zero, block 72.

deviation, or weight tolerance of each check Thereafter, a counter value, represented by h, is 0.01 ounces, ten such cheks could weigh is incremented by one, block 74, and at block in the range of 0.9 to 1. 1 ounce. Ten such 76 the value of h is compared to N. If h is checks included with a statement, carrier en- greater than N, N being the total number of velope, and inserts may result in the final 100 enclosure entries made at block 70, then the mailplece weighing in excess of say, two enclosure sorting method of FIG. 2 is halted ounces, when the calculated weight of the at block 78. If h is equal to or less than N, mailpiece, based on the average weight, is the method next determines at block 80 if the calculated to be less than two ounces. Thus, value of S associated with this enclosure indi- the mailpiece may be metered with an insuffi- 105 cates that the enclosure is a Class A enclo- cient amount of postage, thereby creating the sure. If S is not equal to A, another compari possibility that additional costs will by incurred son is made at block 82 to determine is S is in reprocessing such incorrectly metered mail. equal to B. If S is not equal to B, S is com In order to overcome this problem the use pared to C at block 84. If S is not equal to C, of the invention provides for utilizing the maxi- 110 one further comparison is made at block 86 mum possible weight of each enclosure during to determine if S is equal to D. In the event the calculations which will be described more that an error occurred during the data entry fully hereinafter. The maxim-um possible procedure of block 70 such that the signifi weight may be entered directly via the data cance of an enclosure does not correspond to entry device 44, or an average or nominal 115 any of the four recognized significance levels weight may be entered along with the maxi- A, B, C or D, a suitable error process is per mum possible deviation from the -nominal formed at block 88 after which the program weight. If the latter type of data entry. is uti- returns to block 74 in order to process the lized, CPU 34 will compute the maximum pos- next enclosure.

sible weight of each particular enclosure. 120 Referring Once more to block 80, if the sig In addition, the significance level of each ennificance of an enclosure is determined to be closure, namely A, B, C or D, is entered via of level A, a counter having a value of (a) is device 44. Such data entry may beaccom- incremented by one at block 90, thereby plished in a variety of ways, such as by an maintaining a count of the total number of operator keypad or by a separate data pro- 125 Class A enclosures. Next, at block 92, the cessing computer. Yet another way to enter position of the enclosure within the list of en such significance data is to assign the levels closures is assigned according to the current to predefined document feeders. value of h. As an example, if the seventh The method of the invention is substantially enclosure being processed is also the third accomplished through the use of a sorting and 130 Class A enclosure processed then E,, would 6 GB2193332A 6 equal E731 which enclosure would be identified tested for inclusion within the mailpiece and as seventh on the list of entered enclosures. processing continues for the Class C enclo In addition, at block 92 the total weight of the sures.If there are remaining Class B enclo Class A enclosures would be increased by the sures processing continues to block 118 maximum weight of the current enclosure, 70 where the maximum weight of the current such that at the completion of the sorting pro- Class B enclosure (Wjr) is added to the cur cess, block 78, the maximum total weight of rent total weight (TW) of the mailpiece. At all Class A emclosures (TWA) for the mail- block 120 this tentative total weight is com piece is known. Thereafter the program reen- pared to threshold t3, which in this example is ters block 74 in order to process the next 75 3.00 ounces. If the tentative total weight ex enclosure on the list of entered enclosures. ceeds t3 then processing continues to block If an enclosure is determined, at block 82, 122, where the total weight is adjusted down to be a Class B enclosure the Class B counter wards by the weight to the Class B enclosure (b) is incremented by one at block 94. At added at block 118. Since the inclusion of block 96 the value of h is assigned to jm, 80 this particular Class B enclosure would exceed which value then is indicative of the position the threshold t3l the enclosure is not selected of this enclosure in the list of all enclosures of for the inclusion and processing resumes at Class B. The program next reverts to block block 114. If the tentative total weight is de 74 to process the next enclosure on the list. termined, at block 120, to be less than The operation of blocks 98 and 100, and 102 85 threshold t3 then the enclosure is selected for and 104, are similar for those enclosures iden- inclusion at block 124, afterwhich processing tified as -Class C and Class D enclosures, re- continues at block 114. The enclosure proce spectively. dure, shown as block 124, may involve in At the- completion of the sorting procedure cluding the document feeder which contains as illustrated by Fig. 2, all -potential enclosures 90 this enclosure within a list of feeders to be will have- been sorted into the aforementioned activated during the processing of this particu four categories. In addition, the maximum total lar mailpiece.

weight of all Class A enclosures (TWA) will Returning to block 116, when it is deter- - be known as will the number -of enclosures- mined that all Class B enclosures have been within each category, as represented by the 95 examined for possible inclusion within the values assigned to n, m, p and q. mailpiece a test is made at block 126 to de At the completion of the sorting procedure termine if the maximum total weight (TW) of of Fig. 2 it is necessary to determime which the mailpiece thus far is less than threshold t2l of the inserts will be selected for insertion or two ounces in this example. If TW is de within a mailpiece. One goal of the selection 100 termined to be greater than t2 the enclosure procedure, it should be remembered, is to op- selection process is halted at block 128. At timize the final weight of the mailpiece to real- this time, the document feeders selected for ize the full value of a postal category. activation may be energized and the mailpiece Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown a processed by the system 10.

flow chart of this eficlosure selection process. 105 If at block 126 it is determined that TW is At Block 110 the selection procedure is less than t, then those enclosures belonging started. At this time all those enclosures iden- to C1 ass C are sequerritially tested to deter tified as Class A eqclosures will have already mime which, if any, may be included within been selected for inclusion within the mail- the mailpiece without excpeding the weight piece, it being recalled that Class A enclosures 110 threshold t2. This testing procedure is indi- are inserted without regard to the final weight cated by blocks 132 through 142, which per of the mailpiece. In the instant exampl e, the form in a similar fashion to the blocks 114 to bank statement, cancelled checks, carrier en- 124.

velope and, possibly, certain ones of the in- Referring to block 134, when it is deter- serts will thus alreaHy be designated for inser- 115 mined that all of the Class C enclosures have tion within the mailpiece. been tested for possible inclusion within the At block 112 a counter designated as r is mailpiece a further test is made at block 144 reset to zero and a'variable'which is represen- - to determine if the TW of the mailpiece thus tative of the total weight JW) of the mail- far is less than threshold t1, or one ounce in piece is assigned the value TWA, TWA hav120 this example. If TW is less than t1, the list of ing been calculated at block 92 in the flow Class D enclosures is sequentially tested to chart of FIG. 2 to be the maximum total determine which, if any, of the Class D enclo weight of all Class A enclosures. sures may be included within the mailpiece At block 114 r is incremented and at block without exceeding the ti threshold. The Class 116 compared to the total number, repre- 125 D selection procedure is indicated by the sented by m, of all Class B enclosures. If r is blocks 148 through 160, which operate in a less than or equal to m then there still re- similar fashion to the blocks 130 through 142 mains at least one Class B enclosure within and 112 through 124.

the list of B enclosures. If r is greater than M, Referring to Block 152, when it is deter- then all of the Class B enclosures have been 130 mined that all of the Class D emclosures have GB2193332A 7 been tested for possible inclusion within the assigning to each of the enclosure types an mailpiece, the selection process halts at block attribute representative of at least a first or a 162. As has been previously mentioned, at second level of priority, the level of priority the completion of the enclosure selection pro- being based at least on a postage category; cess of Fig. 3, those enclosures selected will 70 assigning to each of the enclosure types an be included within the mailpiece by selectively attribute representative of a per emclosure activating their respective document feeders. maximum possible weight; In accordance with the method and system sorting the enclosure types into groups, of the embodiment of the invention shown in each group being comprised of enclosure Figs. 2 and 3, it can be seen that a final 75 types having an identical priority level attribute mailpiece will be comprised of all Class A en- assigned thereto whereby each group has the closures and, in addition, those Class B, C priority level attribute associated therewith; and D enclosures which do not exceed their determining from the level of priority associ respective maximum weight thresholds. There- ated with each group which, if any, of the fore, the method of the invention allows for 80 groups must be provided for the mailpiece optimizing the final weight or a mailpiece so without regard for the required value of pos as to realize the full value of a postage categ- tage; ory. Such a weight optimization, or -topping determining an initial maximum total weight off-, procedure results in increased efficiency of the mailpiece due to the per item maximum and financial savings. 85 weight attribute of each of the enclosure For example, if the final total weight of a types of a group which must be so provided mailpiece containing Class A enclosures is 2.2 whereby the mailpiece is assigned to a given ounces, the mailpiece must be metered with postage category; an amount of postage corresponding to determining the difference in weight, if any, threshold t, The mailpiece may, however, 90 between the initial maximum total weight of contain an additional 0.79 ounces of weight the mailpiece and a maximum allowable without exceeding threshold t2. Thus, the weight threshold of the give n postage categ method of the invention allows for selecting ory; and one or more Class B enclosures for inclusion selecting individual enclosures to be pro within the mailpiece in order to realize the full 95 vided for the mailpiece, the individual enclo value of the postage required for threshold t, sures being selected from a group having a It should be realized that the above de- level of priority which is equal- to or greater scribed embodiment of the invention may be than the given postage category, the individual modified in a variety of ways and those modi- ones being selected such that the per enclo fications would still be within the Applicants' 100 sure maximum weight, when added to the ini invention. For example, one such modification tial maximum weight, yields a final maximum may be controlling the system by some other weight which is substantially equal to the means than by the control document, such as maximum allowable weight threshold of a pos by counting the checks as they are fed until a tage category.

check divider document is encountered, as is 105 2. A method of selectively determining rela well known in the art. As another example, tive to a value of postage which ones of a the Class A emclosures may be fed, collated, plurality of different enclosure types are to be and conveyed to a weighing station. The ac- provided by a mailing system for inclusion tual weight may then be compared to the vari- within a mailpiece, the system comprising a ous weight thresholds to determine which, if 110 processing unit operable at least for having any, of the enclosures of Class B, C or D may emclosure related data entered therein and be added to the collation to bring up the also for selectively activating individual ones weight to the maximum allowable weight for a of a plurality of enclosure feeding stations for particular postage category. Thus, while this feeding individual ones of an enclosure type inventionhas been -disclosed by means of a 115 contained therein, the method comprising the specific, illustrative embodiment, the principals steps of:

thereof are capable of a wide range of modifi- entering data into the processing unit indica cation by those skilled in the art. within the tive of a level of significance relative to a scope of the following claims. value of postage associated with each of the 120 enclosure types;

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS entering data into the processing unit indica

   1. A method of topping off the final weight tive of a maximum amount of a postage influ of a mailpiece, the mailpiece being comprised encing characteristic associated with each of of one' or more enclosure types, such that the the enclosure types; and final weight is substantially equal to a maxi- 125 selecting individual ones of. the plurality of mum allowable weight threshold of a postage enclosure types to be provided for inclusion category, the category being indicative of a within the mailpiece based upon a determina range of weight, the category further being tion of the level of sigmificance and the pos indicative of a required value of postage, corn- tage influencing characteristic associated with prising the steps of: 130 each enclosure type whereby a final postage 8 GB2193332A 8 influencing characteristic of the mailpiece is closure type contained therein for insertion optimized such that substantially all of the within a mailpiece, said mailpiece subsequently value of an amount of postage required for being postmarked with an amount of postage the mailpiece is realized. determined by a postage influencing character- 3. The method of Claim 2 wherein the pos- 70 istic of said mailpiece, the system further tage influencing characteristic is a maximum comprising: means for entering emclosure re weight. lated data for a mailpiece into said processing 4. The method of Claim 2 further comprisunit, said data at least being indicative of a ing the step of selectively activating individual level of significance and of a maximum ones of the enclosure feeding stations, as de- 75 amount of a postage influencing characteristic termined by the step of selecting, to feed indi- associated with each of said enclosure types; vidual ones of the enclosure type contained and therein for inclusion within the mailpiece. means for selecting individual ones of said 5. A method of optimizing the final weight enclosure feeding stations for activation, said of a mailpiece being comprised of one or 80 means for selecting being responsive to said more enclosures such that substantially all of entered data for optimizing the postage influ the value of a required postage amount is re- encing characteristic of said-mailpiece whereby alized, comprisimg the steps of: the full value of said amount of postage is assigning a level of significance relative to realized.

   an amount of postage to each enclosure; 85 9. The mailing system of Claim 8 wherein determining the maximum weight of each said postage influencing characteristic is a enclosure; and maximum weight.

   selecting for inclusion within the mailpiece 10. A method of selectively determinimg individual ones of the enclosures, the selecting relative to a value of postage which ones of a being based on the level of significance and 90 plurality of different enclosure types are to be the maximum weight of each enclosure provided by a mailing system for inclusion whereby the final weight of the mailpiece is within individual ones of a plurality of mail made to be substantially equal to the maxi- pieces, the system comprising a processing mum total weight allowed for the value of the unit operable at least for having enclosure re- required postage amount. 95 lated data entered therein and also for selec- 6. A method of optimizing the final weight tively activating individual ones of a plurality of of a mailpiece such that the substantially all of enclosure feeding stations for feeding indivi the value of a required postage amount is re- dual ones of an enclosure type contained alized, the mailpiece beimg comprised of one therein, the method comprising the steps of:

   or more required enclosures and possibly one 100 (a) entering data into the processing unit in- or more optional enclosures, comprising the dicative of a level of significance relative to a steps of:- value of postage associated with each of the assigning a level of significance to each en- enclosure types; closure relative to an amount of postage; (b) entering data into the processing unit in- determining the maximum weight of each 105 dicative of a maximum amount of a postage enclosure; influencing characteristic associated with each determining an ini.tial maximum weight of the of the enclosure types; mailpiece due to the maximum weight of the (c) optionally entering additional data into required enclosures, the processing unit indicative of a level of sig- determining a required value of postage due 110 nificance modifying characteristic whereby the to the initial maximum weight of the mailpiece; s I ignificance data entered at step (a) may be determining an additional 'amount of weight, modified; and if any, which may he added to the initial maxi- (d) selecting individual gnes of the plurality mum weight without exceeding the required of enclosure types to be provided for inclusion value of postage; a0d 115 within the mailpiece based upon a determina selecting, if required, one or more optional tion of the level of significance or the modified enclosures which have a total maximum level of significance and the postage influenc weight substantially equal to the determined ing characteristic associated with each enclo additional' amount of weight whereby the final sure type whereby a final postage influencing maximum weight of the mailpiece is optimized 120 characteristic of the mailpiece is optimized such that substantially all of the value of the such that substantially all of the value of an required postage is realized. amount of postage required for the mailpiece 7. The method of Claim 6 wherein the step is realized.

   of selecting is accomplished by utilizing the 11. The method of Claim 10 wherein the level of significance and the maximum weight 125 postage influencing characteristic is a maxi of each enclosure. mum weight.

   8. A mailing system having a processing 12. The method of Claim 10 further com unit operable for selectively activating indivi- prising the step of selectively activating indivi dual ones of a plurality of enclosure feeding dual ones of the enclosure feeding stations, as stations for feeding individual ones of an en- 130 determined by the step of selecting, to feed 9 GB2193332A 9 individual ones of the enclosure type contained therein for inclusion within the mailpiece.

   13. A method of optimizing the final weight of each mailpiece of a plurality of mailpieces such that the substantially all of the value of a required postage amount is realized, each of the mailpieces being comprised of one or more required enclosures and possibly one or more optional enclosures, comprising the steps of:

   dynamically assigning for each mailpiece a level of significance for each enclosure relative to an amount of postage; determining the maximum weight of each enclosure; determining an initial maximum weight of each mailpiece due to the maximum weight of the required enclosures; determining a required value of postage due to the initial maximum weight of each mailpiece; determining an additional amount of weight if any, which may be added to the initial maxi- mum weight without exceeding the required value of postage; and selecting, if required, one or more optional enclosures which have a total maximum weight substantially equal to the determimed additional amount of weight whereby the final maximum weight of each mailpiece is optimized such- that substantially all of the value of the required postage for each mailpiece is realized ' 14. The method of Claim 13 wherein the step of selecting is accomplished by utilizing the dynamically assigned significance and the maximum weight of each enclosure.

   15. An inserting machine substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

   16. A mailing system substantially as described herein with reference t o and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

   17. A method of optimising the final weight of a mail piece substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

   18. A method of topping up the final weight of a mailpiece substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

   19. Any novel combination or sub-combination discolosed and/or illustrated herein.

   Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WC 1 R 4TP. Furthfr copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con. 1/87.