Pitney Bowes Inc.

Rockwell Int'l Corp.

Daniel F Dlugos

Flavio M Manduley

Edward P Daniels

Ronald P Sansone

Vincent G Coppola

Earl B Holtz

Fran E Blackman

Stephen J Sabulis

Leon A Pintsov

Denis J Stemmle

Gerald C Freeman

Edilberto I Salazar

Richard A Bernard

Seymour Feinland

John L Lorenzo

John H Steinmetz

John I Clark

David L Rich

Denis J Stemmle, Sr

Robert A Law

Gary G Hansen

Arthur Rubinstein

Michael W Wilson

Louis T Canevari

Frederick J Staudinger

Karin A Russo

Robert K Chen

Donald D Harenberg

Francis X Hines, Jr

Flavio M Manduely

Susan Garvey

Stan T Hagmajer

Critelli Michael

John N Moody

John F Zettler

A method that enables the post to deliver letters, flats, post cards and packages (mail) addressed to a recipient's virtual post office box and then to be delivered directly to the recipient. The process enables individuals or entities to rent a virtual post office (VPO) box i.e., a box that does not physically exist, from the post office ('post'). Mail addressed to the virtual post office box would be captured by the post during the post's sortation process and rerouted to the specified address of the renter of the virtual post office box.

Virtual post office box

A facsimile machine that is capable of receiving, transmitting and storing both document images and data transfers, identifying the appropriate device the data transfer is intended for, and providing the data transfer to the appropriate device is disclosed. A facsimile machine is provided with one or more ports for coupling with other office equipment, such as, for example, postage meters, postage scales, personal computers, etc. Data transfers from a service center or the like are received by the facsimile machine and identified as to which device is the intended recipient. The facsimile machine can then send the data transfer to the intended device, or store the data transfer for sending to the intended device at a later time. Accordingly, only a single analog telephone line is required for all of the devices coupled to the facsimile machine.

Facsimile machine having multi-purpose data ports for signal routing and data management

A method and system for providing a delivery confirmation service to a mailer who uses a postage meter to pay the postage for mailing a mail piece. The mailer applies a shipping label containing an identification number on the mail piece to identify the mail piece and the mailer. The identification number is retrieved by the postage meter which sends the identification number to a data processing center or a meter refill data center for processing. Upon receiving the identification number, the data processing center sends a shipping file to the carrier. When the mail piece is delivered, a message regarding the delivery status of the mail piece is sent to the carrier by the mail deliverer. With the shipping file and the delivery status message, the carrier makes available the delivery status of the mail piece to the data processing center which stores the delivery status. Upon request, the data processing center communicates at least a portion of the delivery status to the mailer via a meter refill system.

Method and system for reporting carrier delivery status to a mailer

A system for facilitating communication between customer equipment modules and a third party equipment module through use of the data transfer module is described. The data transfer module includes a communication port for communicating with the third party equipment module, as well as ports and a connector for communicating with customer equipment modules. The data transfer module is portable and allows for the transfer of information to and from itself and any customer equipment module while disconnected from the third party equipment module and, likewise, information can be transferred between the data transfer module and the third party equipment module while disconnected from the customer equipment modules. This portability and ability to transfer information to the customer equipment modules without simultaneous communication to the third party equipment module facilitates use of the system when customer equipment modules are not easily accessible to external communication sources.

Data transfer module and system using same

A telecommunications signal routing and data management apparatus for directing incoming telecommunications signals to devices connected thereto, or receiving message signals over a telephone subscriber line from a remote source for display, for receiving and transmitting data to and from a remote source over the telephone subscriber line and for storing received data on a programmable memory module is disclosed. The disclosed apparatus enables the uploading and display of postal rate information, uploading of equipment diagnostic information from a programmable memory module and the downloading of postal rate data onto a programmable memory module. Updating of postal equipment, for example, can be carried out with minimal interruptions to the use of the postal equipment.

Method and apparatus for telecommunications signal routing and data management

A method and system for authenticating a postage indicium on a mail piece. The method comprises the steps of providing a first pattern containing encrypted information in a printed area, engaging a mask with the printed area, wherein the mask comprises a second pattern for forming with the first pattern a third pattern indicative of the encrypted information. The method further comprises the step of comparing the third pattern with a template having stored information. If the encrypted information revealed in the third pattern matches the stored information, then the postage indicium is assumed to be an original copy and not a duplicated copy.

Hidden information on a document for authentication

Hidden information on a mail piece for authentication

A system and method for determining the location of a mail piece using a code identifier of the mail piece that is read as the mail piece is placed within a mail tray. Determination of the location of the mail tray is thus determination of the location of each mail piece therein. Code identifiers on mail trays are read as mail trays are placed in vehicles. Determination of the location of the vehicle is thus determination of the location of each mail tray placed therein and coded mail pieces within the tray. A database is maintained with this hierarchical location information so as to provide a readily available means for determining the location of any mail piece.

System and method for determining the location of a mail piece

A system that uses a digital postage meter or Postal Security Device to add information to the indicia that indicates that the mail piece has already been scanned. This information will inform the scanner and a human that the postage paid for, as indicated in the indicia, has been used. The foregoing is accomplished by printing a scanner readable data field in the indicia or in the vicinity of the indicia that indicates the mail piece was received. Human readable data is also printed in the indicia or in the vicinity of the indicia that indicates the mail piece was received. For instance, the word 'VOID' may be written in coded form and/or in human readable form. Information regarding the canceling of the indicia is transmitted to a data center.

Reading encrypted data on a mail piece to cancel the mail piece

A method and apparatus for processing mail pieces by a mailer for mailing by a postal facility utilizes a manifesting system to evidence payment by the mailer to the postal facility for the cost of the mailing. A discrete batch of mail is identified, and each piece in the batch is weighed in succession by a scale which includes a first data processing means and a first data base, and the weight is entered in the first data base, optionally together with other information that is pertinent to the cost of mailing. A first printer collocated with the scale prints a unique number for each mail piece. A second data processing means having a second data base receives the information from the first data base and generates a compilation of the unique numbers, the weight, other optional pertinent information, if any, and the compilation is converted into a user functional form which can be delivered to a postal facility as evidence of payment by the mailer for the cost of mailing the mail pieces in the batch by the postal facility.

Method and apparatus for batch mail processing with integrated scale and

The status of deposits or withdrawals of items in a receptacle is indicated to one or more users having access to the receptacle. A receptacle is accessible by at least one user and is capable of containing an item. A deposit/withdrawal sensor for sensing a deposit or withdrawal of an item in the receptacle is also provided. A user identifier for identifying a user having access to the receptacle during the deposit or withdrawal of the item sensed by the deposit/withdrawal sensor is employed by the system. One or more indicators that are responsive to the deposit/withdrawal sensor and the user identifier are provided to indicate a deposit or withdrawal of the item in the receptacle by the identified user. The indicators may be placed on the receptacle or may be located remote from the receptacle.

Status indicating system for indicating the deposit and withdrawal of

A dimensional weighing apparatus is disclosed which has a weighing scale for determining the actual weight of a carton placed thereon, and associated therewith is a measuring frame and an optical sensing system for measuring the linear distance of the three axes of carton positioned on the scale necessary to determine the volume of the carton. A computer processing means determines firstly whether the actual volume of the carton is less or greater than a predetermined threshold volume, and if greater, calculates a dimensional weight of the carton and compares the dimensional weight of the carton with the actual weight to determine which weight is the larger, and sends a signal indicative of the larger weight to a shipping system which determines an appropriate shipping charge for the carton based on the weight determined by the dimensional weighing apparatus to be the larger of the two weights.

Low cost dimensional determining system

A dimensional weighing apparatus is disclosed which has a weighing scale for determining the actual weight of a carton, and a conveyor means along which cartons are moved after being weighed to pass the cartons through a measuring station at which the length, width and height of the cartons are measured. A first measuring means measures both the height and length as the cartons move through the measuring station by means of a member that rides up the leading vertical face of the cartons to measure the height and then across the top surface thereof to measure the length. A second measuring means measures the width of the cartons as they move through the measuring station by means of carton contact members mounted along the side surfaces of the carton and move in and out of contact with the carton. Computer processing means receives the linear measurement data, calculates the volume, compares that volume with a predetermined threshold volume stored in a memory, and if greater calculates a dimensional weight of the carton and compares that with the actual weight as determined by the scale, and sends a signal indicative of the larger of these weights to a shipping system to determine an appropriate shipping charge.

Dimensional weighing utilizing a following arm mechanism

A dimensional weighing apparatus is disclosed which has a weighing scale for determining the actual weight of a carton placed thereon, and associated therewith is a measuring frame and an optical sensing system for measuring the linear distance of the three axes of carton positioned on the scale necessary to determine the volume of the carton. A computer processing unit determines firstly whether the actual volume of the carton is less or greater than a predetermined threshold volume, and provides an operator with a signal indicating that determination. The apparatus includes means for permitting the operator to determine whether he will manually measure the carton to determine its actual volume for a more accurate determination than is provided by the measuring frame and optical sensing system, or if he will cause the dimensional weighing apparatus to calculate the dimensional weight of the carton and determine a shipping weight based thereon, thereby accepting a less accurate determination of a shipping weight in the interest of greater speed.

Coarse volume measurement with interlock

The invention is a method and apparatus for measuring the dimensions of a parcel. The invention begins by placing a parcel in the corner of a field of measurement upon a flat surface and against two adjacent walls. At the base of each wall, and along the angle where the adjacent walls meet, is a calibrated reflective strip. The calibration marks on each of the reflective strips are of known size and spacing. One or more sensors are activated and read the number of visible calibrated marks. The one or more sensors transmits this data to a processor which calculates the measurement for the length, width, and height of the parcel by subtracting the observed visible calibration marks from the number of possible calibration marks. If the flat surface, upon which the parcel has been placed is the weighing surface of a scale, then weight for the parcel can be determined. Each of the then calculated dimensions (length, width, height, and weight) can then be displayed and/or transmitted to a parcel processing system. Alternatively, the flat surface upon which the parcel is to be placed would require only one adjoining wall. Calibration marks are placed directly upon the flat surface and upon the one adjoining wall. The calibration marks on the flat surface appear as lines forming a chevron pattern progressing outwardly from a surface corner. The calibration marks on the adjoining wall are placed upon the wall from bottom to top.

Growing community of inventors

Huntington, CT, United States of America

Daniel F Dlugos