GB2436099A

GB2436099A - Stamp code and orientation reading, and mail sorting

Info

Publication number: GB2436099A
Application number: GB0621931A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rohan Kanishaka Ananda Hewage
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-15
Filing date: 2006-11-03
Publication date: 2007-09-19
Also published as: GB0621931D0

Abstract

A stamp contains a reactive substance which exhibits a change in property when subjected to a pre-defined condition. In this way the stamp may be cancelled by a machine, in a manner which is also subsequently machine readable. More specifically the mechanism can be a coating which changes under a process of irradiation. Also disclosed is a method of processing a postal item in which a stamp orientation is determined from a machine readable code, which reading determines a subsequent redirection of the item, and the cancelling of the stamp. Also disclosed is a stamp with two machine readable codes at a mutual angle to each other, such as ninety degrees, from which the orientation of the stamp can be determined from a machine reading of the code.

Description

TITLE

Method and apparatus for processing items of mail.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing items of mail.

Automated mail processing machinery, so called CFC machines, are designed for high speed culling, facing and cancelling and in these phases of operation letters culled-out of incoming mail, arc faced to a standard position and then have the postage stamps evaluated and cancelled. The mail item is then directed to the MTT machine which reads the address and imprints a machine readable code including information of post code of address for the onward direction of the postal item. Postal items which cannot be handled in this way at high speed are diverted for manual processing.

However difficulties occur with certain mail items, such as stamps given in values, items of mail of which the stamp has not been affixed at the conventional location and where the stamp arrives at stamp reading machine in a non-vertical position. In all these cases the letter is not amenable to CFC machine and require manual processing.

Another problem overcome by this invention is the rejection of stamp which comes to the machine in a non-upright or non-vertical position which may cause due to affixing the stamp with a 900 angIe to the conventional upright position or a square letter comes to machine with a 90 shift in orientation.

Postage stamps may be sensed through markings to determine the class of it but fails to identify the value of stamps. If no stamp is detected, due to not affixing along an upper part of the letter, then the letter is turned 180 degrees along the moving axis and re-send thc item of mail through the same path checking for the stamp. This is a repetitive process which lowers down the throughput of the mail processing machine. This ensures that a letter of a rectangular shape is detected as long as it is pasted on right upper corner.

If machine fails to identify a stamp, then the letter will be rejected and proceeds to manual processing. Thus in present system if the stamp is in an incorrect orientation or non-standard position then it will likewise be undetected as the customary vertical linear fluorescent line markings will not be detected.

The present invention overcomes this problem and it is capable of detecting the postage stamp at any location of the item of mail as well as affixed in any angle and continues to process it through the automated mail processing machine with no 1800 turning.

To overcome the deficiencies and impediments, the invention proposes a mail processing system based on scanning, stamp location identification, possible recipient address orientation determination, letter class determination, stamp cancellation, direction method and applicable apparatus.

The methods disclosed under CA2279666A1, GB 1032420 A and US 5943432B methods, the item of mail is rejected by automated processing if the postage stamp is not affixed at traditional upper-right corner. These rejects are manually processed and the purpose of automated mail processing fails.

The present invention overcomes all above deficiencies in addition to its unique features.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a postage stamp or marking for a postal item explained under figure 1 through which the location and orientation of the stamp may be assessed as well as the value, and data stored in the stamp even in cases where the stamp is other than in the customaly position being normally the upper right hand corner.

Another object is to provide a method and an apparatus for detecting the orientation of the recipient address indicated on a postal item passing through an automated letter processing station. This overcomes the present problem, wherein the machine's capability of identification of address orientation is limited to only two orientations, that is only when the letter goes along on the belt in upright position or with an 180 shift on the same plane.

A further and alterative object is to provide a method and apparatus for cancelling the stamp thus preventing reuse.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a postage stamp for a postal item, or a marking for such an item equivalent to such a stamp, and having a machine readable code on the face surface thereof, characterised in that at least two angularly displaced machine readable code parts are provided such that the code part read determines the orientation of the postage stamp.

The code will preferably be readable through a linear scanning operation, more preferably a raster scanning of an area, and two code parts are provided mutually at right angles. In this way and during scanning one or other of the codes will be detected and thus the orientation of the stamp may be determined relative to the scan direction, this being achieved by each code part having a unique identification. Furthermore by arranging for each code part to be readable in both directions of scan with each direction being uniquely identified the stamp may be assessed as having one of four possible orientations.

In a preferred embodiment the stamp has two machine readable bar codes mutually at right angles and printed on the surface of the stamp. The codes may be a visible printing or an invisible marker such as a fluorescent dye. Each code may define a postage value attributed to the stamp and preferably is machine readable in either direction of scanning. Thc scanning direction being uniquely identified by the code during reading as well as the stamp value. This arrangement provides that, during the scanning process, the orientation of the stamp, in one of four possible positions, can be determined as well as the value.

The conventional postal stamp is a print of a specific pattern with a printing ink which is supposed to be stable over heat, radiation, light or chemicals within reasonable limits from the time the stamp is printed to cancellation! disposal. This ink is not intended to change its print or visual properties due to any exposure to rays including light, heat, gases or any other specific physical or chemical condition as the cancellation of stamp is supposed to be done by placing a visual seal or imprint on its surface by manual or other means. Due to expected stability over physical or chemical exposures, the conventional stamp can be classified or named as "Passive" or passive stamp in general.

The nature of this is passive stamp is that it does not take an active role in mail processing, making it possible the improvements in speed and reliability of mail processing. The present passive stamp limits its information to visible identification of value, the state as new or used and this passive nature impedes the improvement in mail processing methodology.

To overcome this impediment, the active stamp, provides the data necessary for processing the mail item and reacts in a pre-determined manner changing one or more properties when subjected to an intentionally created condition.

The information stored in the active stamp provides the necessary instructions to the mail processing machine to process it with minimal human intervention.

The active change of physical properties enables the change of state of stamp from new to used, facilitate the machine to idcnti1' it as a new or used stamp, and make it possible for rapid cancellation as the cancellation happens in the stamp itself.

The data stored in a code in a manner a machine can read. The code further indicate the user the state of stamp as new or used (already processed).

The reaction happens due to a change of properties embedded to the stamp in a way of printing or coating substance or modification of the substance used to make the stamp itself. Explaining further the change may be caused by a property of the ink used to print the stamp, a coating applied over the stamp or a property imparted in developing the base material used to make the stamp.

The active stamp changes some physical property may be in visual! transparent' magnetic fluorescence means, which may or may not be identifiable to naked eye and! or machine identifiable. The change would be in the form of changing colour(s), becoming dark, erasing the pre-use pattern, emerging a predefined pattern, placing a pattern as defmed by the cancellation mechanism, or making a change which is machine identifiable or erasing a machine identifiable property. This facilitates the recognition of the existence of stamp by visual and/or machine detection. This may further facilitate the identification of whether the stamp is new or used.

The active stamp contains a coding like a barcode printed in visual / invisible / magnetic form, machine readable printed separately, under the stamp image or embedded to the stamp, or coated on the stamp, or printed on the surface.

This invention also provides a method for sorting postal items having a postage stamp or marking as described, the method comprising: a) feeding the postal item past a scanner; b) detecting and reading a machine readable code on the stamp or marking; c) determining from the code the orientation and/or location of the stamp or marking and the one of four possible orientations of the stamp relative to the feeding direction thus determines the orientation of address; d) directing the postal item to a selected location according to the said orientation and/or location and, preferably c) the detector identified the location where the stamp is affixed and passes this information to the stamp cancellation mechanism when the cancellation mechanism is based on location specific cancelling such as CO2 laser beam; 1) based on this information, the laser cancellation effect is restricted to the postage stamp area and does not create a distortion or imprint on the envelope area.

Both sides of the postal item may be independently scanned simultaneously or sequentially to determine that side which carries the stamp or marking and directing the item to a selected location according to the side and orientation thus detennined. The spatial location of the stamp or marking on the postal item may also be determined.

A stamp cancelling means can be operatively controlled to apply a cancellation marking at the location of the stamp thus determined and the scanner may be arranged to individually detect a plurality of stamps, where present, on the postal item. The scanner can also determine from the code a characteristic of the stamp, such as monetary value.

The scanner may be capable of scanning the whole face of a postal item by means of a progressive raster scan to detect the postage stamp at any position thereon. In this invention and assuming that the stamp has been placed on the postal item the correct way and in a defined position, typically the top right hand corner relative to the address, the postal item can be identified as in a particular one of four possible orientations and thus subsequently sorted and turned to present the address in the correct orientation for a subsequent machine address reading operation. Preferably scanning will be on both sides of the postal item to identify whether the item needs to be "flipped-over" for subsequent processing.

In a second, alternative, aspect this invention provides a postage stamp adapted for cancellation to prevent reuse, wherein the face surface of the stamp has printed thereon a machine defaceable coating whereby on irradiation the coating changes characteristics.

Preferably the coating is an ink coating or overlay, normally colourless, and which changes characteristic on irradiation with a laser, preferably a CO2 laser. The laser may be configured to apply defined markings to the surface of the stamp. With this arrangement the C02 laser may irradiate the whole of the postal item without spoiling the surface other than the stamp which is receptive to such radiation. Thus the position of the stamp need not necessarily be identified.

The various features of this invention are now further described and illustrated with reference to the drawings illustrating preferred embodiments. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows and embodiment of postage stamp in accordance with this invention, Figure 2 a) to h) shows eight different and basic orientations of a postal item, here a square envelope, Figure 3 shows the coding applied as markings to a postal item or to a sticker (I lorizon stamp) rather than as an attached stamp, Figure 4 shows schematically the flow path through a known CFC machine, and To Figure 5 shows a modified apparatus according to this invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 4 this illustrates a prior-art high speed machine for cancelling, segregating (as first & second class) and facing postal items in simplified form.

As shown 1 is the tipping position for mail onto a moving belt 3. Unsuitable items are culled-out at 2 for manual processing and the mail proceeds to a drum sorter 4 where screening for size and width occurs and acceptable items move along belt 5 to a segregating position 6 for removal of extraneous items; rubber bands broken plastic ties etc. The apparatus 7, 8 and 9 serves to; 1. separate letters stuck together 2. "flats" (A4 envelopes) are removed 3. extra large letters are also removed 4. Upright rectangular letters are turned by 900 Accepted mail passes to 11 into which a parallel path exists for operator introduced mail 14, 12.

Letters having fluorescent dye marked stamps are detected at 15 on one side of the letter and passed to channel 17, non-detected items are flipped-over at 18 and passed through second detector 19 any non-detects are channelled through 20 and detects are fed through stamp cancelling position 22, 23 and thence to collecting pockets 24 at station 25.

In the know art the position of the stamp is detected through fluorescent marks and can be determined to be in one of four positions depending on whether the item is upside down or back to front. Reference is made to GB 1032420 A. However the assumption is that the letter is elongate and has been turned to a horizontal position and that the stamp is invariably in the top right-hand corner relative to the address. This system offers only 50% accuracy with square letters and cards as there may be four other possible orientations in each of which the stamp will not be detected, that is when the transport direction is parallel to the fluorescent strips. Subsequent processing electronically reads the address and hence the orientation for OCR is critical. Thus many letters are rejected and require manual address reading. Flats and other non-standard items cannot be detected as they are "tipped" to lie long sided horizontal.

This invention overcomes these problems by providing a specially marked stamp or other marking, i.e. printing on an envelope, as shown in Figure 1. The stamp 4 may be conventional with the usual printing and value marking 2 but includes one or more distinct machine readable bar-code markings I and 3 preferably mutually at right angles. Each may be coded with the value of the stamp and any other information required for mail processing but will include a discrete code element identifying the orientation and direction of scanning when passing through a reader whereby an item may be diverted to one of four stacking points according to the bar-code read and the direction. Thus the two codes elements provide four possible machine readable results depending firstly which of the barcodes is seen by a scanner and then secondly which direction the scan is running. Where items are back to front a second reader may operate to divert the items to the correct stacking point according to orientation. A postage stamp with a bar code is disclosed in US 5943432B, however the code is solely used for indicating postage due and whether this is sufficient or not for the item.

The four, or possibly eight, stacked items may then be brought together in harmonious alignment for subsequent passage through an address reader. This does assume that the stamps or markings are in the top right hand corner relative to the address.

Figure 2 shows at a, b, c and d four possible orientations face-on and e, f, g, and h show a second four where the rear face of the envelope is presented. It will be appreciated that even square envelopes may be orientated correctly as well as "flats", that is A4 size envelopes, as detection of the stamp in any one of the four positions possible can be effected whilst the items are moving at high speed through the automated machine.

Stamps can be successfully read even in any alignment.

Figure 3 shows arrangements where mail items use franked, printed markings or slickers issued by post office defming the postage due and as shown in Figures 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e as well as 3f and 3g (the last two are called horizon stamps), the two bar-codes 1 and 3 are printed directly onto the envelope with other matter such as postal licence details. In Figure 3d the codes are contained on a stamp which may be used with a handwritten "freepost" response letter.

In another aspect of this invention the stamp is of reactive nature, imparted in a way of printing or coating substance or modification of the substance used to make the stamp itself, can be marked through a low-power laser, such as a C02 laser. Or possibly by other means such as a gas or reagent or subjected to an intentionally created condition such as exposure to rays including light, heat, gases or any other specific physical or chemical condition. The coating may be over the whole surface of stamp or in discrete locations only. The laser is then arranged to either irradiate that part of the letter where the detected stamp is positioned or the whole face of the letter. In this embodiment the laser is of insufficient power to mark the envelope but merely marks the sensitised coating on the stamp to cancel same.

Under disclosure CA2279666A1, a high power laser beam is used to semi-bum the traditional area for affixing the stamp to place a mark. Contrast to present invention, this method does not use a sensitive dye on the stamp or mailing item.

This method has following disadvantages: 1. for effective cancellation, the stamp must be at upper-right corner 2. recipient address may be spoilt in the case of if it is extends to the traditional stamp affixing area 3. the location where MTT barcode (Fig 6) is to be printed may be spoilt in the case of a square letter with a shift of 90 resulting rejection of 50% of square letters at MTT address reading machine. This 50% has to be manually address sorted.

4. the need of high power Carbon Dioxide (C02) laser adequate to make a semi-burn on the item of mail including the postage stamp.

This is in contrast to CA2279666A1 wherein the laser bums into the stamp and envelope and possibly also marks the address depending on location. In this invention there is thus no risk of obscuring the address or marring the postal code data. In the known systems printing is applied to one or other sides of the item to cancel any stamps on the assumption that the stamps are at least approximately in a defmed position. With this system there is a risk that the address will be marred or obscured. However where no stamp has been detected by the reader then the item has to be manually processed and the stamp cancelled manually. The aforementioned arrangement according to this invention avoids this procedure as the laser scan can effect cancellation regardless of the location of the stamp. The benefits are: a) The detector system can identify and cancel all square letters; b) different bar codes can be provided for different value stamps and the machine can identify each and add the values to determine the class of the letter; c) the stamp need not be presented for cancellation in the top right corner nor need it be vertical.

Figure 5 shows schematically a modified apparatus according to this invention wherein the letters of size which can be handled are stacked at 1 these coming from a manual sorting source 8 and machine sorted source. If 1 area is blocked orjanimed, the letters are thrown out from the machine at 9. The letters are moved at high speed though scanners 7 and 2 positioned each side of the letter path and comprising high speed bar code readers. Following are laser stamp cancelling stations 6 and 3 again located each side of the letter path followed, optionally, by a printer which marks each item with the place and date at a position along an edge 5. The letters then move to one of a number of pockets 4 according to the bar code data, that is, for example, first class or second class and size. The bar code data read also defines the orientation and enables a particular letter to be diverted to an appropriate stack to be then reoriented to a uniform position for subsequent machine address reading and marking with a code defining the destination.

This invention can be applied to non-standard or oversize items with the restriction that the throughput speed will be slower. This is due to the fact that the orientation can be unambiguously defined and thus the items can be sorted into a common position where the address is machine readable. In known systems postal items are turned to the "long side horizontal" position and then scanned thus normally upright items are turned and thereafter cannot be read by fluorescent ink reader moreover the one out four positions cannot be detected.

In summary this invention provides a postage stamp having one or more machine readable bar codes mutually at right angles and printed on the surface of the stamp provides the data necessary for processing the mail item. The codes may be a visible printing or an invisible marker such as a fluorescent dye. Each code may define a postage value attributed to the stamp and is machine readable in either direction of scanning whereby one or other of the bar codes can be uniquely identified by the reading apparatus as well as the direction of scan. This arrangement provides that, during the scanning process, the orientation of the stamp on a postal item in one of four possible positions, can be determined as well as the value. This invention provides also a method of processing postal items and an apparatus, as well as a postage stamp having a active substance on the surface or imparted to the stamp making material reacts in a prc-dctcrmined manner changing one or more properties when subjected to an intentionally created condition such as a low power CO2 laser to effect cancellation of the stamp by marking the surface thereof. -Ii-

Claims

Claims: 1. A postage stamp for a postal item, or a marking for such an

item equivalent to such a stamp, characteriscd by the incorporation into the stamp, or the marking, of a reactive substance which changes its properties when subjected to a pre-defined condition.

2. A postage stamp according to claim 1, wherein the stamp, or the marking, includes a machine readable code containing data relevant to processing of a postal item.

3. A postage stamp according to claim I or 2, wherein the change of property is machine readable or identifiable.

4. A postage stamp according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein the change of property defines the state of stamp, as used or new.

5. A postage stamp according to claims 2 or 3 or 4, wherein machine reading of the code is effected through raster scanning of an area of the postal item.

6. A postage stamp according to claims 2 to 5, wherein scanning and machine reading of the or a code is detected to determine the orientation of the address relative to the scan direction.

7. A postage stamp according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the or each code part has a unique machine readable data, identification or instruction to control a machine to facilitate further processing of the postal item.

8. A postage stamp according to any preceding claim, including a code part readable in any direction of scan with each direction being uniquely identifiable whereby the stamp may be assessed as having one of a number of possible orientations.

9. A postage stamp according to any preceding claim, in which the change in property is visible to the naked eye to identify the state of stamp as new or used.

10. A postage stamp according to any preceding claim 2 to 9, wherein the machine readable code contains information necessary to processing of the postal item.

11. A postage stamp according to any preceding claim 2 to 10, wherein one or more code parts are each located in dcfmcd orientations on the postal item with preferably two associated code parts angularly offset and more preferably perpendicular to each other.

12. A postage stamp according to any preceding claim 2 to 11, wherein the code is created using machine readable codes invisible to the human eye, magnetic coding, or other machine readable property.

13. A postage stamp according to claim 7, wherein the special instructions contain the information such as returned mail.

14. A postage stamp according to any preceding claim 2 to 10, wherein the code is in the form of a bar code or any other coding method.

15. Method for processing postal items having a postage stamp or marking, the method comprising: a) feeding the postal item past a scanner; b) detecting and reading a machine readable code on the stamp or marking; c) determining from the code the location of the stamp or marking and the one of four possible orientations of the stamp relative to the feeding direction thus determines the orientation of address; d) directing the postal item to a selected location according to the said orientation; and wherein preferably: e) the detector identifies the location where the stamp is affixed and passes this information to a stamp cancellation mechanism, the cancellation mechanism being at a specific location and the cancelling being effected using a CO2 laser beam; f) the laser cancellation effect being restricted to the postage stamp area and thus does not create a distortion or imprint on the envelope area.

16. Method in accordance with claim 15, wherein both sides of the postal item arc independently scanned simultaneously or sequentially to determine that side which carries the stamp or marking and directing the item to a selected location according to the side and orientation thus determined.

17. Method in accordance with claim 15 or 16, wherein the spatial location of the stamp or marking on the postal item is determined.

18. Method in accordance with claim 17, wherein a stamp cancelling means is operatively controlled to apply a cancellation marking at the location of the stamp thus determined.

19. Method in accordance with any preceding claims 15 to 18, wherein the scanner is arranged to individually detect a plurality of stamps, where present, on the postal item.

20. Method in accordance with any preceding claim 15 to 19, wherein the scanner delennines from the code a characteristic of the stamp, such as monetary value.

21. Method in accordance with any preceding claim 15 to 20, wherein the surface of the postal item is subject to areal raster scanning to detect the location and to read the stamp code.

22. A postage stamp adapted for cancellation to prevent reuse, wherein the face surface of the stamp has printed thereon a machine defaceable coating whereby irradiation the coating changes characteristics.

23. A postage stamp or an equivalent marking according to claim 9 & 22, wherein the stamp substance, the sensitized ink, coating or overlay changes the characteristic such as the colour, brightness, darkening, blackening, bleaching, making colourless, surface change on irradiation with a laser generated beam, preferably a CO2 laser or any other form making it different from the original state of that property.

24. A method for cancelling a postal item having a postage stamp in accordance with claim 22 or 23, in which method the face surface of the postal item is irradiated in a controlled manner to deface the stamp coating only without spoiling the surface of the postal item.

25. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein, the irradiation is configured to apply defined markings to the surface of the stamp.

26. A method in accordance with claim 24 or 25 in combination with the method of any one of claims 15 to 21.

27. A postage stamp in accordance with any preceding claim 1 to 14 further including the features of the postage stamp of claim 22 or 23.

28. Apparatus for carrying out the method of claim 15 or any other claim dependent thereon, the apparatus including a scanner, means to move a .4-postal item past the scanner, means associated with the scanner to detect a machine readable code on a postal item or stamp or sticker (horizon stamp), means to interpret the code detected and to assess the probable orientation of the code and thus orientation of the postal item relative to the scanner, and means to direct the postai item to of a plurality of stations according to the detected code.

29. A postage stamp or marking or means for imparting a marking to a postal item as described herein and illustrated with reference to the drawings.

30. Method for processing postal items having a postage stamp or marking in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 14 as described herein and illustrated with reference to the drawings.

31. Apparatus for processing postal items having a postage stamp or marking in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 14 as described herein and illustrated with reference to the drawings.

32. A postage stamp for a postal item, or a marking for such an item equivalent to such a stamp, and having a machine readable code on the face surface thereof, characterised in that at least two angularly displaced machine readable code parts are provided, one or each code part being uniquely identifiable during reading whereby thc orientation of the postage stamp may be determined.

33. A postage stamp for a postal item according to claim 32, wherein each code part is readable through a scanning operation in a defined direction.

34. A postage stamp for a postal item according to claim 33, wherein machine reading is effected through raster scanning of an area of the postal item.

35. A postage stamp for a postal item according to claims 32 to 34, wherein at least two code parts are provided mutually at right angles, whereby during scanning one or other of the codes is detected to determine the orientation of the stamp relative to the scan direction.

36. A postage stamp for a postal item according to any preceding claim 32 to 35, wherein each code part has a unique machine readable identification.

37. A postage stamp for a postal item according to any preceding claim 32 to 36, wherein each code part is readable in both directions of scan with each direction being uniquely identifiable whereby the stamp may be assessed as having one of a number of possible orientations.

38. A postage stamp for a postal item according to any preceding claim 32 to 37, wherein two machine readable bar codes are provided and mutually at right angles and printed or otherwise marked on the surface of the stamp.

39. A postage stamp for a postal item according to claim 32 to 38, wherein the codes are visible printed marking or an invisible printed marking such as a fluorescent dye.

40. A postage stamp for a postal item according to any preceding claim 32 to 39, wherein each code defines an unique characteristic or value attributed to the stamp.

41. A postage stamp adapted for cancellation to prevent reuse, wherein the face surface of the stamp has printed thereon a machine defaceable coating whereby on irradiation the coating changes characteristics.