Raf Technology, Inc.

William R Brandt

Gregor Nitsche

Methods, apparatus, software and systems are disclosed for improved processing of mailpieces in order to reduce expensive manual steps. Shiny mail, i.e., mailpieces having glossy surfaces that sometimes interfere with printing of barcodes and or ID Tags may lead to rejects. In some embodiments, shiny mailpieces are identified, and at least one new (non-shiny) label is over-labeled in the POSTNET clear zone (), the ID Tag zone (), or both. In one embodiment, a specially-configured Reject Encoding Machine (REM) () is employed to label or over-label a POSTNET clear zone (), resolve the destination address () if possible, and print the barcode () in a single operation. Thereafter, the mailpiece may be transferred from the REM into a downstream DBCS (), thereby re-introducing the mailpiece into the automated mail stream rather than being relegated to a manual stream.

Processing shiny mail pieces

Methods to solve the costly 'loop mail' problem (FIG.) in automated sorting and delivery of mail pieces are disclosed. Loop mail is detected, and marked as such (FIG.), in an automated reject encoding machine (REM) (FIGS.-). In one case, loop mail is detected where a new image of a returned mail piece is captured (), a new destination address is read (), and the new address does not match the bar code on the piece (), suggesting that the previous address resolution was erroneous. The bar code is over-labeled () and replaced with the new postal code (). The mail piece is marked with a loop mail indicator (), and then returned for automated DBCS sortation (). The loop mail indicator () indicates that the piece has already gone around the sorting and attempted delivery loop at least once, and is used to prevent recurrence ().

Loop mail processing

Improvements are disclosed for further processing of a mail piece initially rejected from an automatic sorting machine. In the case of a window envelope, the envelope is rotated or inverted, shaken, and rotated to reposition the insert. Address recognition is repeated, and additional techniques are applied if an address is not quickly resolved. Additional processing may be carried out on a reject processing machine.

Growing community of inventors

Arlington, VA, United States of America

William R Brandt