WO2004094077A1

WO2004094077A1 - An installation and a method for processing printed papers

Info

Publication number: WO2004094077A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/005182
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pierre Jost
Original assignee: France Routage
Priority date: 2003-04-23
Filing date: 2004-04-23
Publication date: 2004-11-04
Also published as: ES2293249T3; DE602004008609D1; FR2854266B1; EP1620211A1; ATE371506T1; EP1620211B1; DE602004008609T2; FR2854266A1

Abstract

An installation and a method of processing printed papers (7) for dispatch purposes. The installation (1) and the method enable printed papers (7) to be packaged in packaging units such as bundles (8) and/or containers (9), and enable the final content of each packaging unit (8, 9) to be determined by sampling in the packaging system and by using data stored in a database.

Description

AN INSTALLATION AND A METHOD FOR PROCESSING PRINTED PAPERS

The present invention relates to installations and methods for processing printed papers. More particularly, the invention relates to an installation for processing printed papers in order to dispatch the printed papers to addressees, the installation including means for accessing a database corresponding to a list of addressees for printed papers packaged in packaging units in an order corresponding to the list of addressees, and for instance in an order allowing an optimized distribution.

This type of installation can be implemented in a routing or mail-handling business or a printed paper distribution business (such as a postal distribution business, for example) , specifically for the purpose of sorting and gathering printed papers as a function of their destinations.

Unfortunately, a packaging unit, e.g. a container, may have a filling volume that is well determined whereas the volume of the printed papers may vary and be difficult to predict. This applies particularly when inserts specific to each (or to some) addressees are associated with printed papers. Such a packaging unit then becomes full with a varying and unpredictable number of printed papers. Correlation between the list of addressees and the content of the packaging unit is thus lost. The ability to trace printed papers is also lost. The present invention seeks in particular to mitigate that drawback.

To this end, the invention provides a printed paper processing installation which, in addition to the features mentioned above, is characterized by the fact that it includes control means adapted for transmitting information to computer means for the purpose of characterizing all of the printed papers of the packaging unit, the information corresponding to at least one printed paper of at least one packaging unit.

By means of these dispositions, it is possible to determine the content of a packaging unit and thus to track the printed papers of the packaging unit while it is being dispatched, for example until final delivery of the printed papers making it up.

Information can be transmitted to the computer means individually for each printed paper, or for only some of them.

If information is transmitted for each printed paper, then the computer means can store information associated with each printed paper in a new database or it can include it in an existing database. Alternatively, each item of information is compared with at least one item extracted from the database corresponding to the list of addressees in order to match the database corresponding to the list of addressees to the real content of the packaging unit. The information corresponding to each printed paper may correspond to one or more of the following items: a packaging unit number; a number for the printed paper in the packaging unit; information specific to the addressee of the printed paper; the weight of the printed paper (possibly including the weight of an insert, of wrapping, etc.); etc.

If information is transmitted for only some of the printed papers, the computer means can compare this information with at least one item extracted from the database, e.g. corresponding to the list of addressees, in order to characterize and/or identify all of the printed papers in the packaging unit.

The packaging unit may be a bundle of printed papers. In which case, the installation of the invention may include packaging means adapted to put the printed papers into bundles. The control means can then be constituted, for example, by identity (ID) code reader means, e.g. for reading a bar code, a two-dimensional code, a numerical code, or the like, or indeed means for reading an ID code or information contained in a chip. The ID code may correspond to a plurality of code subunits. For example, there may be a bar code that is specific to each printed paper and a bar code that is specific to the bundle in which the printed paper is to be inserted. Under such circumstances, the bar code specific to the printed paper corresponds to information about the addressee, for example, whereas the bar code specific to the bundle encodes a bundle number and a predefined content corresponding thereto determined by the number of copies, and thus also the number of bundles that are to be dispatched to a distribution site such as a printed paper handling depot, a regional or departmental postal sorting center, or a local inward sorting office. These reader means are connected to a computer to which they transmit the information as read. The computer is programmed to compare said information with data taken from a database, e.g. a database corresponding to the list of addressees. The database contains information about addressees, about the makeup of bundles, etc., for example. Thus, if the printed papers are bundles in an order corresponding to the list of addressees, it is possible to use sampling means to sample one printed paper per bundle, e.g. by reading the ID code of the printed paper situated on the top of the bundle, and to identify in the list of addressees the particular bundle concerned and to deduce therefrom and identify which other printed papers are in the bundle.

This serves to minimize the number of read operations and the amount of information that is exchanged between the reader means and the computer means (computer, database server, etc.). This also makes it possible for ID codes to be read more easily at a rate that is compatible with the rates of throughput of wire-stitching, and/or stapling, and/or packaging machines. Only one ID code needs to be read per bundle instead of reading one code per printed paper. The control means may also be means for reading a beginning or end of bundle signal from a label or from printing that is already present on the bundle, such as a bundle number code. These control means then send a signal to the computer means for identifying the state of progress of the system for filling packaging units relative to the list of addressees.

Alternatively or complementarily, if there is a process error on a printed paper, the corresponding ID code identifying for example an addressee is read on this printed paper and the corresponding information is transmitted to the computer means. Then the corresponding data are removed from the bundle and/or the container data in which this paper was foreseen to be. As mentioned above, the packaging unit could also be a container. In which case, the printed papers may initially be put into bundles prior to being put into the container. The installation may thus also include a containerizing station in which the bundles are put into a container.

If the content of each bundle has already been identified as described above, by using sampling means such as means for reading the ID code of one printed paper in each bundle, then the computer means can also identify the bundles in a container on the basis of a signal for identifying printed papers from the information corresponding to the list of addressees, or more directly from the ID code of at least one printed paper in at least one bundle of the container, and from the number of bundles put into the container. This number of bundles can be given to the computer means or it can be deduced thereby, on the basis of a control signal triggered by an operator actuating control means while verifying the level to which the container has been filled.

It is not always necessary for the content of the bundles to be identified as mentioned above by the sampling means recognizing the ID code of a printed paper in each bundle. If the preparation of the bundle is itself controlled on the basis of information extracted from the distribution list, then the content of each bundle is known. Only the content of the container then needs to be deduced by making a comparison between the list of addressees and counting and/or identifying the bundles put into the container.

An ID code can be printed for each bundle on the basis of fields in the list of addressees.

Amongst the fields in the list of addressees that can be encoded in the ID code, there can be fields for characterizing the printed paper (its title, its issue number, its print number, etc.), fields relating to the destination of the printed paper (the postal distribution network, the sorting center to which the printed paper is to be dispatched or to which the bundle containing it is to be dispatched, a bundle ID code, the inward sorting office to which the printed paper is to be dispatched, or the bundle containing it, the address of the addressee of the printed paper, etc.), and other fields (the weight of the printed paper and/or of the insert included therewith, etc.).

The computer means are adapted to read at least one of these fields from the database corresponding to the list of addressees.

The installation may also include printer means. The printer means can serve to print, as a function of instructions received from the computer means, the ID code on a label which is then stuck onto a printed paper, or it may print directly onto each printed paper or onto its wrapping film, e.g. using an ink jet printer. The installation may also include means for printing container labels. Each container label is for applying to a container. It includes, for example, a routing code that encodes information concerning the content and the destination of the container. This information may include the number of the network to which the container is to be dispatched, the departments corresponding to the destination addresses of the printed papers stored in the container, etc. This information may also include data such as the quantity of printed papers stored in the container, the corresponding weight, and/or other fields such as those mentioned above.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of processing printed papers for the purpose of dispatching the printed papers to addressees, the method comprising operations of using computer means and reading at least one printed paper ID field from a database corresponding to a list of addressees, the method being characterized by the fact that it further comprises an operation consisting in transmitting information to the computer means corresponding to at least one printed paper of at least one packaging unit in order to characterize all of the printed papers of the packaging unit. In implementations of the invention, recourse may optionally also be had to one or more of the following dispositions :

• the computer means proceed by comparing information corresponding to at least one printed paper stored in the packaging unit with at least one printed paper ID field read in the database in order to identify all of the printed papers stored in a packaging unit containing a plurality of printed papers;

. the packaging unit is a bundle of printed papers; • the method includes an operation consisting in reading an ID code on at least one printed paper of each bundle, and in extracting therefrom said information corresponding to at least one printed paper stored in the packaging unit;

• the packaging unit is a container containing at least one bundle of printed papers; • the method includes an operation of printing container labels each comprising a routing code encoding information about the content and the destination of the container;

• the method includes an operation of printing a list code corresponding to the containers loaded into a vehicle;

• the method includes an operation of reading ^' a list code, a routing code, and/or an ID code in order to associate it with the location of the packaging unit concerned, so as to obtain corresponding location data in order to enable containers and/or printed papers to be traceable;

• the method includes an operation of publishing the location data on a computer server in order to enable users to follow the dispatching of printed papers towards their addressees;

. the computer means are able to amend a list of printed papers in a packaging unit as a function of the data they receive; . a service quality is monitored using data recorded by the computer means;

. packaging units are weighted on the fly; . the weight of each weighted packaging unit is transmitted to the computer means; and . the computer means calculate the weights of containers or bundles.

Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the invention appear on reading the following description of an implementation thereof. The invention will also be better understood with the help of the drawings, in which: ^■ Figure 1 is a diagram showing the various operations of dispatching printed papers in a first example of an installation and a method of the invention; and ^• Figure 2 is a diagram showing the various operations of dispatching printed papers in a second example of an installation and a method of the invention.

In the first example of an installation in accordance with the invention as described below, the installation 1 comprises computer means 2, ID code printer means 3, ID code reader means 4, means 5 for printing container code labels, and a containerizing station 6.

This type of installation 1 may be situated in a mail-handling business. In accordance with the method of the invention as described herein, the mail-handling business receives printed papers 7 from a publisher, together with a computer file corresponding to a list of addressees for the printed papers 7. Together with the computer file, the business may also receive labels printed with an ID code.

The computer means 2, in this case a computer, are programmed to read the computer file corresponding to the list of addressees. The ID code printer means 3, e.g. constituted by an ink jet printer, print an ID code that is specific to each printed paper, as a function of the data extracted from the computer file by the computer means 2 and transmitted by the computer means to the ID code printer means 3. In general, this printing is performed on a packaging film wrapped around the printed paper 7.

Alternatively, a label carrying an ID code may be stuck onto each printed paper.

The ID code corresponds to a plurality of fields selected from: the title of the printed paper; its issue number; its publication number; the number of the postal network via which it is to be dispatched; the sorting office through which it is to pass; a bundle number; an inward sorting office for delivery; the address of the addressee; etc. The ID code may also encode information such as the weight of the printed paper, a reference number for an insert that is to be associated with the printed paper, the weight of the insert, etc.

The printed papers 7 are then put into bundles 8. Each bundle corresponds, for example, to a "postman's walk". Bundling is performed by a stacker. This machine responds to the ID code or to some other printed sign to identify end-of-bundle papers so as to bundle together the printed papers that belong to the same bundle.^' The end-of-bundle information corresponds to data from the computer file giving the list of addressees. The reader means 4 read the printed paper ID code situated on the top of the bundle and forwards the corresponding information to the computer means 2. This information serves in particular to determine whether the corresponding bundle has been completed and whether it is being dispatched to a container 9.

In the containerization station 6, an operator places the bundles coming from the stacker in a container 9. When the container 9 is almost full, for example three bundles before it has been completely filled, the operator actuates control means causing a container label 11 to be printed. The container label 11 includes a routing code encoding information about the destination of the container 9, together with information describing the content of the container 9. This information is deduced from the data forwarded by the reader means 4 and the data in the computer file corresponding to the list of addressees.

The containers 9 as identified in this way with their container labels 11 are loaded into transport vehicles 12 to be taken to transit and sorting centers 13. The installation 1 may optionally include means for printing lists.

Each list enables the content of a transport vehicle

12 to be identified. On the basis of the lists and/or of the container labels 11, staff in the sorting centers 13 can determine the content and the destination of each container 9.

Thus, without weighing the containers 9, it is possible to calculate the postal costs due. From the transit and sorting centers 13, the containers 9 are dispatched to inward sorting offices 14.

In the inward sorting offices 14, the bundles 8 are extracted from the containers 9 for insertion into

"postmen's walks". Each postman subsequently undoes the bundles 8 in order to deliver the printed papers 7 to the letter boxes 15 of the addressee.

In a variant of the method of the invention, the printed papers 7 are put into bundles 8 and into containers 9 using the installation 1 of the invention, but the containers 9 are dispatched directly to the inward sorting offices 14 without passing via the transit and sorting centers 13.

In yet another variant of the method of the invention, only the operation performed, e.g. by postal services, in order to reconstitute the content of a bundle 8, consists in identifying the printed papers 7 of a packaging unit, such as a bundle 8, by comparing information obtained by reading an ID code on a printed paper 7 in the bundle 8 with printed paper ID fields read from the database. Analogously, this type of operation may also be used to reconstitute the content of a container 9.

The second example of an installation in accordance with the invention is substantially analogous to that described above. In this second example, the installation 1 differs from that described above essentially by the fact that the computer means 2 communicate with a handler server 20 (see Figure 2) . The handler server 20 is not necessarily located in a mail- handling business. It may be a secure and independent central handler server which stores information coming from a plurality of mail-handling businesses.

Returning to Figure 1, in the second implementation of the method of the invention, information such as the weights of the various elements for sending (printed papers, inserts, reminders, packaging films, etc.), printed paper destination fields (postal distribution network, sorting center, inward sorting office, address of addressee, etc.) etc. are stored by the computer means 2 in a file. On the basis of this file, the computer means 2 generate a subscriber ID code (bar code, encoded chip, etc.) together with a bundle ID code (bar code, encoded chip, etc. ) . The subscriber ID code essentially encodes information associated with the distribution network and the address of the subscriber. The bundle ID code corresponds to a bundle number and to its content. The content is determined by the computer means 2 as a function of the site(s) through which the bundle is to pass (printed paper handling depot, regional sorting center, departmental sorting center, inward sorting office, etc. ) . A temporary list describing a packaging unit such as a container 9 is printed, said list containing the numbers of the bundles that are to be loaded into the container 9 in question.

Simultaneously with printing the address, the printer means 3 also print the various ID, bundle, and subscriber codes, a number for the container 9, and a number for the printed paper 7 in the bundle 8 in question .

The computer means 2 determine the most suitable volume for the container 9 (small or large crate) . The bundles 8 are made up as a function of their weight. For example, according to the current postal regulations, a bundle must contain at least six printed papers or four printed papers if the bundle weight is at least 800 grams .

In a stacker, the reader means 4 read on each printed paper 7 its bundle ID code.

The bundle ID code as read is compared with the file stored in the computer means 2. An operator or a robot at the outlet from the installation 1 places the bundles 8 in the containers 9 as a function of the bundle numbers and as a function of the container numbers printed on each of the bundles 8.

Certain printed papers 7 are processed individually. These may be single pieces (which cannot be included in a bundle of more than four copies), recycled papers (e.g. after reprinting a code that was wrongly printed initially) , or printed papers that have suffered some other incident in production.

The subscriber code for each of these printed papers 7 that are handled individually is read by the reader means 4. The corresponding information is transmitted to the computer means 2. The computer means look for the corresponding file to verify the way in which they ought to have been processed. Thus, if the corresponding paper 7 ought to belong to a bundle 8, the computer means 2 modify the file in order to remove this copy from the list of papers provided in the initial bundle. If the item is a single piece, the computer means 2 tell an operator in which container 9 it should be placed.

When a container 9 is full, a final list or a final container label 11 is printed for each full container 9. The final list 11 is an accurate representation of the content of the container 9.

For each container 9, a final sheet is issued giving a list of the bundles contained in the container together with a sorting level (e.g. direct or to be sorted), their weight, and the number of printed papers contained in each bundle. When the containers 9 are loaded into a vehicle 12, a code characteristic of each container 9, e.g. printed on the list 11, is read. The corresponding information is transmitted to the computer means 2 which prints a delivery note and a depot list. These documents include the number plate number of the vehicle 11 and the time it left the mail-handling business.

The information stored by the computer means 2 is transmitted in full or in part to the handler server 20. As shown in Figure 2, on reaching the intended delivery site 13 or 14, the codes characteristic of each container 9 are read again. The corresponding information, together with the time of being taken in charge by the delivery site is transmitted to the handler server 20. This information is processed by the handler server 20, in particular to verify that the delivery complies with what ought to have been delivered. Otherwise, the corresponding file stored in the handler server 20 is corrected accordingly. The containers 9 and/or the bundles 8 are distributed in a distribution network. Optionally, the distribution is associated with tracing using the bundle and/or subscriber ID codes.

The publisher (s) of printed papers can consult the handler server 20 in order to discover in real time how distribution is progressing.

When all of the printed papers corresponding to a particular title have been delivered, i.e. when all of the final reception centers have confirmed that they have received the bundles and/or papers intended for them, a new list can be printed. The data corresponding to this list can be processed by the billing server 30, for example with the consent of a checking administration 25. The corresponding information is also optionally transmitted to the handler server 20. The data in the files as established and optionally corrected in the handler server 20 can be analyzed in such a manner as to determine the quantities and the weights transmitted to the sorting centers, to the depot centers, as a function of bundle type (direct, for sorting, multiple), as a function of issue number, etc. The files created and possibly modified by the computer means 2 and/or by the handler server 20 make it possible to know the following:

• the elements making up a consignment, the weight of the consignment, the time and date of its production, etc. ; ^• the number of printed papers in a bundle, as a function of bundle number, together with its weight and the location where it was prepared, etc.;

^• the times at which each container was opened and closed; ^• the list of bundles loaded into the container, together with the numbers of said bundles, the number of printed papers in each bundle, the weight of each bundle, and the location where it was prepared;

• the times at which the containers were loaded, the identities of the carriers; and

• the time at which the consignment was taken in charge by the distribution network, etc.

The method of the invention thus enables the quality of the service provided by the distribution network to be monitored. This enables complaints to be sent to the distribution network in the event of late distribution. In each above-described variant of the method, the weight of each printed paper and/or of each bundle need not be calculated but could be weighed on the fly, prior to stacking and/or prior to loading containers with bundles. Thus, the information corresponding to these weights can be transmitted to the computer means 2 in order to calculate the weights of the containers 9 and/or of the bundles 8 and/or of the papers 7 dispatched through a distribution network. One or more lists taking account of the individual weighing operations performed on the papers or the bundles can be printed.

Claims

1. An installation for processing printed papers (7) in order to dispatch the printed papers (7) to addressees, the installation (1) including means for accessing a database corresponding to a list of addressees for printed papers packaged in packaging units (8, 9) in an order corresponding to the list of addressees, the installation being characterized by the fact that it includes control means adapted for transmitting information to computer means (2) for the purpose of characterizing all of the printed papers (7) of the packaging unit (8, 9), the information corresponding to at least one printed paper (7) of at least one packaging unit (8, 9) .

2. An installation according to claim 1, in which the computer means (2) proceed by comparing the information that has been transmitted thereto with at least one data item extracted from the database corresponding to the list of addressees in order to identify all of the printed papers (7) of the packaging unit (8, 9).

3. An installation according to any preceding claim, including packaging means adapted to put printed papers (7) into bundles (8) .

4. An installation according to claim 3, including reader means (4) for reading ID codes and adapted to read an ID code for each printed paper (7) of each bundle (8).

5. An installation according to claim 4, in which the ID code reader means (4) transmit information to the computer means (2) corresponding to the ID code read from a printed paper (7) of each bundle (8) .

6. An installation according to any one of claims 3 to 5, including a containerizing station (6) in which the bundles (8) are put into a container (9) .

7. An installation according to claim 6, in which sampling means identify a printed paper in each bundle (8) and the computer means (2) identify the bundles (8) of a container (9) on the basis of the ID code of at least one printed paper (7) of at least one bundle (8) and on the basis of the number of bundles (8) put into the container (9) .

8. An installation according to any preceding claim, in which: ^• the computer means (2) are adapted to read a destination field for each printed paper (7) from the database corresponding to the list of addressees; and

^• printer means (3) respond to instructions received by the computer means (2) to print an ID code encoding information from the destination field for each printed paper (7), in particular.

9. An installation according to any preceding claim, including means (5) for printing container labels, each label being for placing on a container (9) and each label including a routing code encoding information about the content and the destination of the container (9).

10. A method of processing printed papers for the purpose of dispatching the printed papers (7) to addressees, the method comprising operations of using computer means (2) and reading at least one printed paper ID field from a database corresponding to a list of addressees, the method being characterized by the fact that it further comprises an operation consisting in transmitting information to the computer means (2) corresponding to at least one printed paper (7) of at least one packaging unit (8, 9) in order to characterize all of the printed papers (7) of the packaging unit (8, 9).

11. A method according to claim 10, in which the computer means (2) proceed by comparing information corresponding to at least one printed paper stored in the packaging unit with at least one printed paper ID field read in the database in order to identify all of the printed papers (7) stored in a packaging unit (8, 9) containing a plurality of printed papers.

12. A method according to claim 10 or claim 11, in^' which the packaging unit is a bundle (8) of printed papers (7).

13. A method according to claim 12, including the operation consisting in using reader means (4) to read an ID code on at least one printed paper (7) of each bundle (8), and in extracting therefrom said information corresponding to at least one printed paper (7) stored in the packaging unit (8) .

14. A method according to claim 10 or claim 11, in which the packaging unit is a container (9) containing at least one bundle (8) of printed papers (7) .

15. A method according to claim 14, including an operation of printing container labels (11) each comprising a routing code encoding information about the content and the destination of the container (9).

16. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, including an operation of reading a list code, a routing code, and/or an ID code, in order to associate it with location information in order to enable containers and/or printed papers to be traced.

17. A method according to claim 16, including an operation of publishing the location data on a computer server in order to enable users to follow the dispatching of printed papers (7) towards their addressees.

18. A method according to any preceding claims, in which the computer means (2) are able to amend a list of printed papers in a packaging unit (8,9) as a function of the data they receive.

19. A method according to any preceding claims, in which a service quality is monitored using data recorded by the computer means (2).

20. A method according to any preceding claims, in which packaging units (8,9) are weighted on the fly.

21. A method according to claim 20, in which the weight of each weighted packaging unit (8,9) is transmitted to the computer means (2) .

22. A method according to claim 21, in which the computer means (2) calculate the weights of containers (9) or bundles (8) .