Pitney Bowes Inc.

Robert K Gottlieb

Joseph D Mallozzi

Edward Paul Daniels, Jr

William E Ryan, Jr

John H Steinmetz

Clare E Woodman

Kevin W Bodie

Michael R Ifkovits

Peter N Piotroski

Richard A Grossman

Cindy Mangiameli

Michael A Gagliardi

Mark F Cullen

James F Giordano

Alberta A Vitale

Philip G Ruess

Elias B Haidar

Richard D Marry

Jim Churchill

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a method of calculating sorting costs for incoming mail. The foregoing is accomplished by providing a method that can determine the number and types of mailpieces being sorted and associated that number with addressee information. The combination of the number and types of mailpieces being sorted for the addressees can then be used to calculate a charge back amount by using a predetermined cost per mailpiece. Thus, the present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a method of calculating sorting costs for an incoming mail sorting apparatus having a database of addressees for use in sorting incoming mailpieces comprising the steps of: collecting information about each one of a plurality of mailpieces sorted using the incoming mail sorting apparatus, the information used to determine a type of mailpiece for each one of the plurality of mailpieces; determining the type of mailpiece using the information collected; and associating the information about each one of the plurality of mailpieces sorted using the incoming mail sorting apparatus with addressee information from the database of addressees; and calculating a piece count for each mailpiece for each addressee.

Method of calculating mailroom chargeback cost for incoming mails

A system including a mailpiece sorting apparatus which includes a feeder, an OCR scanner, a mailpiece deliverer, a diverter and output module, compartments or bins for receiving sorted mailpieces, an optical character recognition system for reading addressee information, an addressee database, and microprocessor based control system is described. In an illustrative example, harmful materials are detected in mailpieces and such mailpieces are diverted from the mail stream. In another example, the system is contained in a detection area and clean room; and/or the system uses x-ray technology to determine the content of the mailpieces. The system provides for detection of harmful materials in mailpieces so as to help deter delays in incoming mail delivery caused by the presence of life harming material and to sanitize the mail so as to protect the intended recipients from harm.

System for detecting the presence of harmful materials in an incoming mail stream

A mailpiece sorting apparatus is described which includes a feeder, an OCR scanner, a mailpiece transporter, a sanitizer and compartments or bins for receiving sorted mailpieces, an optical character recognition system (OCR) for reading addressee information, an addressee database, and a personal computer (PC) or microprocessor based control system. In one configuration, mailpieces are feed, singulated and sanitized. In another configuration, mailpieces are fed, singulated, sanitized and sorted. In another configuration, the system is contained in a sanitization area and clean room. The system provides for sanitization of mailpieces so as to help deter delays in incoming mail delivery caused by the presence of life harming material and sanitize the mail so as to protect the intended recipients from harm.

System for sanitizing and sorting mail

The an embodiment of the present invention generally comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus including a customer specific keyword database and a method of post processing OCR reject mailpieces. Mailpieces that the OCR cannot read and determine the recipient for (&ldquo;rejects&rdquo;) are post processed using the customer specific keyword database which contains information regarding addressee field that is particular to the customer. Address cleansing is performed to the information obtained from the OCR system and an addressee match is attempted. If a match is made, the mailpiece is delivered to an appropriate sort bin. If a match is not made then the mailpiece is delivered to a reject bin. The method provides for better automated throughput of sorted mailpieces.

Method of post processing OCR information obtained from mailpieces using a customer specific keyword database and a mailpiece sorting apparatus

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus video coding station, inserter system, return mail workstation and a web server for interconnecting several components of the system. The system provides a closed loop solution for reducing return to sender mailpieces generated by a company that is sorting incoming mailpieces using an automated system. This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art providing updated data to inserting systems producing such mailpieces. This helps to solve data quality problems at their source and reduce processing costs by reducing the number of return to sender mailpieces.

Method and apparatus for processing and reducing the amount of return to sender mailpieces

The an embodiment of the present invention generally comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus including an addressee database and a state/ZIP Code list generated from the addressee database. Mailpieces for which the addressee cannot be determined are processed using ZIP Code and/or State information read from the mailpiece. The state/ZIP Code information read from the mailpiece is compared to the state/ZIP Code list to determine if there is a match. If there is not match, the mailpiece is sorted to a &ldquo;return to sender&rdquo; bin.

Method of outsorting return to sender mail using an incoming mail sorting apparatus

An embodiment of the system of the present invention generally comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus which includes a feeder, an OCR scanner, a video scanner, a mailpiece transporter, a diverter and output module, compartments or bins for receiving sorted mailpieces, optical character recognition system for reading addressee information, an addressee database, a suspect database, and microprocessor based control system. In alternate embodiments of the present invention: the system is contained in a detection area and clean room and/or connection to an investigation entity. The system and method of integrates prediction of the presence of life harming material in mailpieces with mailpiece processing so as to help deter delays in incoming mail delivery caused by the presence of life harming material the suspected presence of life harming material and to protect the intended recipients from harm.

System and method for outsorting suspect mail from an incoming mail stream

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus including a voice recognition system performing a method of processing &ldquo;return to sender&rdquo; mailpieces using voice recognition. The operator obtains a &ldquo;return to sender&rdquo; mailpiece and determines a sender address segment for identification. The sender address segment is spoken by the operator to the recognition system. The voice recognition software interprets the information and communicates it to recipient matching software. The software narrows the potential sender matches in the mailpiece sorting apparatus addressee database. If a match is made, the operator is prompted to place the mailpiece onto mailpiece sorting apparatus which sends the mailpiece to the proper sort bin based on the identification performed by the matching software. The present invention may also calculate statistical information regarding reject mailpieces and chargeback information for the cost of sorting the &ldquo;return to sender&rdquo; mailpiece.

Method of processing return to sender mailpieces using voice recognition

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a method of sorting mailpieces which requires less stopping of the sorting process for bin emptying. The present invention is directed to a mailpiece sorting method which indicates when a bin is partially full to the level of a partially full sensor so that an operator can empty that bin. Additionally, a bin-full calculation is performed for determining if redirection of the mailpieces to an alternate bin is necessary should the operator not empty the bin as directed. If a bin is partially full to the level of the sensor, the process performs an addition of thicknesses of all of the mailpieces which are in the mailpiece delivery system, but not yet delivered to the bin to determine whether those mailpieces would fill the bin. If the bin would be full, it is determined whether an alternate bin is available and, if so, the mailpieces are routed to the alternate bin. If an alternate bin is not available, the sorting system is shut down and the full bin(s) is(are) emptied.

Method for sorting mailpieces

A method of selectively printing a Postnet barcode on an envelope which includes conveying an address bearing document from an input module along a chassis from an upstream location to a downstream location. Also including scanning the document at the input module to determine whether or not a Postnet barcode is to be printed on the envelope and printing a Postnet barcode with a printer on the envelope if the scanning process indicates that the document contains data which is valid based on a selected configuration. Further including, changing the font of the printer to print a blank string, if the scanning process indicates that the document contains data which is not valid based on selected configuration.

Selective printing of postnet barcode for inserting system

An apparatus is disclosed for closing and sealing the flaps of envelopes that have passed through an inserting machine in which collations of insert material have been inserted into the envelopes, and for detecting whether or not certain envelopes cannot be properly closed and sealed and for separating such envelopes from those that are properly closed and sealed. The apparatus is constructed and arranged such that if insert material is improperly inserted into the envelope such that the flap cannot turn freely about the crease line that connectes the flap to the envelopem, the flap will remain substantially in the flat, extended position it occupies when the envelope enters the closing and sealing apparatus. That position of the flap is sensed and the envelope is then diverted from the normal path of properly closed and sealed envelopes into a collection bin for retreival by an operator.

Envelope closing and sealing apparatus

A method and improved system for controlling an inserter having a plurality of functional devices, including the steps providing a control system that divides the inserter into a plurality of logical stations each of which control at least one of the functional devices, separating the control system into a top-level, generic supervisor which is operative independent of the functional devices, and a lower level comprising the logical stations, and storing the supervisor and the logical stations in a central processor, the supervisor being operative for selecting an appropriate one of the logical stations at an appropriate time whereby the selected one of the logical stations controls a corresponding one of the functional devices. The method further includes the steps of providing a plurality of distributed processors electrically coupled to the central processor and associated with the functional devices, and controlling the functional devices by the logical stations through the distributed processors.

System and method for two level real-time control for an inserting

A document inserter has a touch screen for manually controlling the functioning of the inserter from a central location. The touch screen is capable of providing a plurality of different displays. A remote transmitter communicates with the control system of the inserter to remotely control a limited number of functions of the inserter, and preferably only during the occurrence of one or a limited number of the possible displays. Remote control also causes the emission of an audible warning.

Method and apparatus for remotely controlling a document inserter

A method and associated apparatus for interfacing with envelope handling accessories for a universal multi-station document inserter for performing predetermined functions with envelopes having documents inserted therein by the multi-station document inserter, comprising the steps of providing an accessory interface microcomputer, arranging accessories responsive to output signals from the accessory interface microcomputer in an array, providing envelope sensing means in the array for providing clock signals to the accessory interface microcomputer, storing data words in the accessory interface microcomputer, certain of the data words indicating particular combinations of enelope sensing means for envelope jams and other data words indicating the type of accessory, its output location and providing clock data relating to the particular accessory, and indicating the accessories to be actuated by an envelope entering the array, storing envelope handling programs in the accessory interface microcomputer, and actuating the accessories of the accessory array under control of the accessory interface microcomputer in accordance with the data words stored therein in response to clock signals from the envelope sensing means.

Accessory interface circuit for universal multi-station document inserter

A method and associate apparatus for providing a scanner interface circuit for a universal multi-station document inserter having a plurality of document feeder stations has a central processor which stores a supervisory program and scanner interface circuits associated with at least some of the feeder stations. Each scanner interface circuit has a unique address, a portion of which is shared with that of its associated feeder station and a distributed processor which stores a scanner program containing instructions for scanning coded documents. The scanner circuit, in response to address signals received from the central processor, scans the coded document and provides document present and end of collation signals to the central processor. A programmable counter is provided in the scanner circuit to provide timing signals for reading codes on coded documents.

Growing community of inventors

Milford, CT, United States of America

Robert K Gottlieb