WO1996017328A1

WO1996017328A1 - Electronic equipment for stamping of correspondence or documents

Info

Publication number: WO1996017328A1
Application number: PCT/IT1995/000190
Authority: WO
Inventors: Armando Portesi
Original assignee: Tecnotour-Eltec S.P.A.
Priority date: 1994-11-25
Filing date: 1995-11-16
Publication date: 1996-06-06
Also published as: AU3855595A; IT1268183B1; ITTO940951A1; ITTO940951A0

Abstract

An electronic equipment for paid postage or stamping of correspondence or documents comprising a support for the object to be stamped, a stamping device, selecting means of the value to be stamped, at least a unit for the payment of the selected value and an electronic control unit. The stamping of the logogram, of the Postal Administration or of the body managing the service, and of the postage value is carried out by a single punch with a single operation. Automatic selecting means of tariffs on predetermined maturity are also used. The equipment is able to guarantee suitably the Postal Administration or the body managing the service against the falsification of both the logogram of the Postal Administration and of the postage value and to allow the selection among several tariffs on predetermined maturity.

Description

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT FOR STAMPING OF CORRESPONDENCE OR DOCUMENTS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electronic equipment for stamping of correspondence or documents, comprising a support for the objects to be stamped, a stamping device, selection means of the value to be stamped, at least a unit for the payment of the selected value and an electronic control unit to control said stamping device, said selection means and said payment unit.

Such equipment, for the postage of correspondence or the stamping of documents, is adapted to stamp, by indelible ink, a particular logogram, the same reproduced on the stamps, directly on a document, or an envelope, or a similar mail object, or on an self adhesive label to be stuck on that envelope or similar mail object. Such equipment may be installed either inside a post office, or at another public place or open to the public, or directly by the interested users.

BACKGROUND ART

From the French utility certificate N. 2646943, an equipment of this type is known, in which the stamping of the logogram and the tariff value is made in two distinct times, respectively by a roller which stamps the logogram and, subsequently, by a wire printer, adjacent to said roller, which impresses the amount of the tariff value in a predetermined area within the logogram. An equipment of this type has the disadvantage of having different means for the logogram and tariff value stamping and moreover does not grant the Postal Administration or the body managing the service against possible falsifications of the tariff value since this is easily reproducible by an unauthorised person by means of any type of printer.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The technical problem that the present invention aims to solve is that of realising an equipment for the stamping of correspondence or documents, which can suitably guarantee the Postal Administration, or the body managing the service, against the falsification of either the Postal Administration logogram or the tariff value.

This technical problem is solved by the electronic equipment for stamping of correspondence or documents according to the present invention which is characterised in that said stamping device comprises a punch, having a fixed part representing a predetermined logogram and a part to be selected to represent the amount to be stamped, and in that the punch stamps the fixed part and the part to be selected at the same time.

According to another feature of the equipment according to the present invention, means are provided to carry out the revision automatically of the stamping and postage tariffs on predetermined dates and hours. In fact it is known that, sometimes, the tariffs may be modified by the Postal Administration or by the body managing the service. Therefore the equipment is able both to keep in memory more than one tariff, as well as to become operative the new tariff on the date and hour fixed by the Postal Administration or by the body managing the service. According to said feature, the equipment according to the present invention comprises means for the memorising at least of two stamping tariffs, said control unit being capable of selecting one of said tariffs allowing it to become effective on predetermined hours and dates. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 3

These and other features of the present invention will be clear by the following disclosure, given by way of non-limiting and not restrictive example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective front view of the electronic equipment according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the functions of the equipment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a lateral view, schematic and partially sectioned, of the stamping device of the equipment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a detail of the stamping device of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a partial section according to line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to Fig. 1, the electronic equipment 11 for stamping of correspondence or documents is formed by a frame 12 on which there are mounted: a display 13, a keyboard 14 of a known type, an opening 15 in which the documents to be stamped or posted or the mail 52 (Fig. 5) (opening of the stamping) are capable of being inserted, an opening 16 (Fig. 1) capable of inserting coins (coin-counter opening) , an opening 17 capable of inserting badges (badge opening) , an opening 18 for banknote (banknote opening) and a dispenser change 19 of known type. Moreover the electronic equipment 11 comprises a computer 21 (Fig. 2) formed by an electronic plate with a microprocessor of known type, for example as those used in personal computers, equipped with random access memory

(RAM) 32, a floppy disk unit 34 and a hard disk unit 36 on which an applicative program is memorised capable of managing the functions of the equipment 11. Moreover the electronic equipment 11 comprises a correspondence and documents stamping device 23, an interface unit (card I/O) 24, of known type, an electronic unit 33 for the management of direct payments (monetary card) , of known type, and a reader/writer of magnetic card device or badge reader (decreasing reader) 27, all connected to the computer 21. The coin-counter opening 16, a coins recognition device 26 with change return (coin-counter and change return) and a banknote reader device 28, each also of known type, are connected in a known manner to the monetary card. Control devices series 25 are connected to the card

I/O 24 comprising, in addition to the display 13 and to the keyboard 14, a door sensor device 29, which in turn is connected, in a known manner, to an alarm device 31, which is capable of issuing an alarm signal in case of effraction attempt of the frame 12 (Fig. 1) . A plug 20, of known type, is capable of providing power supply to the equipment 11.

The electronic equipment 11 comprises, as an option, connected to the computer 21 (Fig. 2), a receipt printer 35, of known type, connecting means 22 to other computers, not shown in the drawings, and means of additional power supply 37, of known type.

The stamping device 23 (Fig. 3) comprises a metallic structure 40, pivoted on a fixed pin 41 of the frame 12, and an inking roller 56 mounted rotatable at an end of a lever 46.

The structure 40 comprises a punch 43 (Fig. 3 and 4) , built by the State Mint for account of the Postal Administration or of the body managing the service, formed by a fixed part 47, that represents the logogram chosen by the Postal Administration or by the body managing the service, and by a part to be selected formed in turn by four digit holder rollers 44, and by a separator 50, so that the fixed part 47, the one to be selected 44 and the separator 50 may be stamped at the same time according to the present invention. The digit holder rollers 44 are capable of representing, in a known manner, through the rotation of the gear 58, keyed on their shaft 67, any amount of four digits, having means capable of increasing the most significant digit of a unit after predetermined pulses of the wheel bearing the least significant adjacent digit.

The gear 58 is capable of receiving the motion from a rotator 45, mounted on the structure 40, through a pinion 55 thereof and an intermediate gear 48. The latter is also engaged with a reference gear 54 the movement of which is capable of picking up, in a known manner, by a counter 57, which is provided with means capable of driving the stopping of the rotator 45 after a predetermined number of turns and in a predetermined position starting from a initial reference position e/o from the position reached previously.

The stamping device 23 comprises moreover a cam 49, keyed on a shaft 60, mounted rotatable on the fixed frame 12, and capable of rotating in the clockwise sense by means of an electric motor not shown in the drawings. A follower roller 69, is mounted rotatable on an end of the structure 40.

A spring 59 induces the structure 40 to rotate, in the counterclockwise sense with respect to the fixed pin 41 of the frame 12, so that the punch 43 stamps, by means of pressure, the fixed part 47, the separator 50 and the part to be selected 44 on the document or correspondence 52 (Fig. 5) , positioned on a surface 42 of the fixed frame 12, arranged by the opening 15.

The stamping device 23 also comprises a stop wall 51 and a paper stop 53 capable of stopping in a known manner the document or the correspondence 52 with respect to the surface 42. The electronic equipment 11 (Fig. 1) may be placed inside a post office or a firm, as well as outside a building since its frame 12 is provided with means capable of protecting the same equipment 11 against either vandalism or atmospheric agents. In fact the display 13 and the keyboard 14 are, in a known manner, of the type water and atmospheric agents proof while the badge opening 17, the banknote opening 18 and the change dispenser unit 19 have known means capable of draining eventual water infiltration.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The operation of the equipment 11 till now disclosed is the following.

On ignition or on connection to the electric network, by way of the plug 20 (Fig. 1), the applicative program, memorised on the hard disk unit 36 (Fig. 2), is transferred, in a known manner, to the RAM 32, so that the equipment 11 is arranged in a stand by situation of external drives coming from the control devices 25. As a user strikes a predetermined key of the keyboard 14 (Fig. 1 and 2), the equipment 11 passes from a stand by to an operative position. Through the card I/O 24 the computer 21 reads the drive coming from the keyboard 14 and, if foreseen in the applicative program, it orders to the monetary card 33 and to the stamping device 23, respectively to open the coin-counter opening 16 and the opening 15, which are usually closed. Suitably driven by the messages transmitted to the display 13 from the applicative program housed in the RAM 32 of the computer 21, the user will be able therefore to select the kind of correspondence 52 (Fig. 5) to be posted (letters, cards, others) , the weight band of the correspondence, the number of consecutive postage to be effected and the country where to send the same mail 52, so that to know, always through the display 13 (Fig. 1), the postage total amount. As soon as he knows the value of the postage, the user inserts coins e/o banknote in one of the openings 16 e/o 18 respectively, so that he can reach the necessary total amount, which will be read in a known manner by the unit 26 e/o 28 (Fig. 2) and transferred through the monetary card 33, to the computer 21, which is capable of comparing the postage total value with the inserted value. In turn the user can also pay the postage total amount inserting a badge in the opening 17.

As the value inserted is higher or equal to the postage value the computer 21, by the way of the monetary card 33, activates the closing of the coin- counter opening 16 and sends, by the way of the card I/O 24, a message to the user on the display 13 so that he can insert the correspondence 52 (Fig. 5) in turn, in the opening 15. Moreover the computer 21 (Fig. 2) sends to the stamping device 23 (Fig. 3) drives to activate the rotator 45 so that it can perform a number of turns capable of aligning the digit holder rollers 44 on the postage amount selected. In fact the pinion 55 (Fig. 3 and 4) transmits the motion to the gear 48 which in turn transmits it to the gear 58 and to the reference gear 54 that, controlled by the counter 57, stops the rotator 45 after a predetermined number of turns e/o an angular rotation.

When the digit holder rollers 44 are aligned, the stamping device 23 activates the lever 46 (Fig. 3) and moves it towards right, so that the inking roller 56 deposits indelible ink on the punch 43.

The inserting and the positioning of every mail object 52 (Fig. 5) with respect to the punch 43 is controlled by the stamping device 23 (Fig. 3) by way either of optical sensors, not shown in the drawings, which can be disposed on the surface 42, or of the stop wall 51 (Fig. 5) . Then the stamping device 23 (Fig. 3) makes the stopping by means of pressure of the mail object 52 (Fig. 5) by way of the paper stop 53. 8

As the stopping of the mail object 52 is made, the stamping device 23 (Fig. 3) activates in a known manner the rotation of the cam 49 in the clockwise sense, so that structure bearing the wheels 40, which is pivoted on the pin 41 and which is stretched by a spring 59 rotates in the counterclockwise sense and induces the punch 43 to stamp, in a blow only, the fixed part 47, which represents the logogram of the Mail Administration, the separator 50 and the variable part 44, which represent the selected value, on the documents or on the mail 52 (Fig. 5) .

The operations comprised between the inking and the stamping are consecutively repeated the number of times desired and pre-stated by the user, upon a control in a known manner by the stamping device 23 (Fig. 3) , by way of sensors, not shown in the drawings, disposed on the surface 42 which indicates the extraction of the mail 52 (Fig. 5) already stamped and- the insertion of further mail 52 in the opening 15. At the end of said operations the stamping device 23 (Fig. 2) drives in a known manner the lock up of the stamping opening 15.

As the stamping and postage operations are performed the computer 21, in a known manner, prints the eventual payment receipt by way of the printer 35 and through the monetary card 33, transmits drives capable of the eventual returning of the change by way of the coin- counter and of the return change device 26. Either the payment receipt or the eventual change are given to the user in a known manner through the dispenser change unit 19 (Fig. 1) . At this point the electronic equipment 11 comes back to the initial stand by situation.

In the case it is necessary to enter within the frame 12 (Fig. 1) for the routine or extraordinary maintenance of the equipment 11, it is necessary to stroke a secret code (or key word) on the keyboard 14, 9 in order to prevent that the alarm device 31 is activated. In fact the computer 21 (Fig 2), as receives the relevant signal from the sensor device, significant the opening of the frame 12, through the card I/O 24 transmits to the display 13 the request of the stroke of the secret code on the keyboard 14. Only the stroke of the correct key word on the keyboard 14 permits to the computer 21 to transmit to the sensor door 29 a signal for the inhibition of the issue of the alarm signal by part of the alarm device 31.

The electronic equipment 11 (Fig. 2) may be optionally configured by additional power supply means 37 capable of keeping the various devices of the equipment 11 working for the lapse of time so that these latter can complete any outstanding operation, in the case of interruption of the power supply through the plug 20 (Fig. 1) .

An eventual revision of the postal rates may be transmitted and memorised on the hard disk unit 36 (Fig. 2) of the computer 21, in a known manner, by the Postal Administration or by the body managing the service, either by way of means connecting to other computers 22 or by way of the floppy unit 34.

According to a further feature of the present invention the coming in force of new postal rates may become operative, in a programmed manner, on any date and hour, as said computer 21, having means capable of measuring the time, is capable of comparing the current date and hour with the ones programmed for the coming in force of the new rates and it is capable of selecting said new rates on predetermined dates and hours.

According to the present invention the equipment 11 may also be configured in such a way as to stamp or post autoadhesive labels to be subsequently stuck on the correspondence. In this further type of configuration, not disclosed in details, the functional conditions of the equipment 11 (Fig. 1), remain the same with regard to the stamping, the rates revision, the equipment activation and the payments, but in this case the stamping device 23 (Fig. 3) will be capable of delivering, automatically and in a known manner, the posted autoadhesive labels by way of the stamping opening 15 (Fig. 1) .

Eventual changes in the dimensions, shapes, materials, components, circuits, connections and contacts, as in the circuitry details and of the disclosed construction and of the operation method may be made without departing from the invention sphere.

Claims

1. Electronic equipment for stamping of correspondence or documents, comprising a support for the objects to be stamped, a stamping device, means for the selection of the value to be stamped, at least a unit for the payment of the selected value and an electronic control unit to control said stamping device, said selecting means and said payment unit, characterised in that said stamping device comprises a punch having a fixed part representative of a predetermined logogram and a part to be selected to represent the stamping amount and in that said punch stamps said fixed part and said part to be selected at the same time.

2. Equipment according to claim 1, characterised in that said punch is inked with indelible ink before every stamping operation.

3. Electronic equipment according to any of the previous claim, characterised in that said part to be selected comprises a series of movable rollers to compose said stamping amount.

4. Equipment according to claim 3, characterised in that said rollers bear a ring of characters in relief which form the digits of the stamping amount.

5. Electronic equipment for stamping of correspondence or documents, comprising a stamping device, selecting means of the stamping tariff in the sphere of a predetermined tariff, at least a unit for the payment of the selected tariff and an electronic control unit to control said stamping device, said selecting means and said payment unit, characterised in by memorising means of at least two stamping tariffs and in that said control unit is capable of selecting one of said tariffs to permit it to enter in force on predetermined hours and dates.

6. Equipment according to claim 5, characterised in that said memorising means comprise a hard disk unit of said control unit.

7. Electronic equipment, according to claims 5 or 6, characterised in that said tariffs are capable of being memorised in said memory means by way of the connection of said control unit to other control units.

8. Electronic equipment for paid postage or stamping of correspondence or documents substantially as disclosed and with reference to the accompanying drawings.