WO2007132347A1

WO2007132347A1 - A method for processing items of mail - (specification 3)

Info

Publication number: WO2007132347A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/001348
Authority: WO
Original assignee: Appuhannaditota, Hewage, Rohan, Kanishka, Ananda
Priority date: 2006-05-17
Filing date: 2007-05-16
Publication date: 2007-11-22
Also published as: GB0610301D0; WO2007132349A1; WO2007132350A3; GB0707374D0; GB2439164A; GB2438280A; GB0707373D0; WO2007132350A2; WO2007132349B1

Abstract

A postage stamp (30) or an equivalent printed marking has a code, preferably includes a single code (27) and printed on the surface of the postage stamp or on an envelope, provides the data necessary for processing a mail item. The code may be a visible printing or an invisible marker such as a fluorescent dye. This code gives one of four unique readings relative to the scanning direction. This arrangement provides that during the scanning process, one of four possible orientation of the postage stamp on a postal item relative to the scanning direction for each face, can be determined as well as the value.

Description

A method for processing items of mail - (specification 3)

This invention relates to a method for determining the orientation of a mail item relative to a code given to the postage stamp or an equivalent printed marking on the item of mail and then to determine the orientation of the mail item.

Under existing technology (GB 1,032,420) discloses a fluorescent dye as stripes 49 (figure 8) on postage stamp to determine the value (as 1^st class or 2^nd class) of the postage stamp and the orientation of the postage stamp using photoelectric cells. When passing through the mail processing machine, the reading devices may be positioned on either side of the mail items at two points, hence a total of four orientations for both faces can be determined. It needs to be highlighted that the square letters can have a total of eight orientations on both sides, thus the limitation of this method to four orientations on both sides (figure 2 and figure 3 of patent number GB 1,032,420) may not determine the other four possible orientations of a square letter (figure 4, orientations I, k, m and o of present invention).

Further, under the existing technology (GB 1,032,420), automated mail machinery (CFC machine) is designed for high speed culling (as 1^st class and 2nd class),facing (preparing all letters as all addresses face to same side and same orientation) and cancelling the postage stamps which affixed on these items of mail. (Postal items which can not be handled in this way at high speed are diverted for manual processing.)

Then these prepared letters on standard position which culled out from CFC (culling, facing and cancelling) machine are manually transported to another machine, which is called as automated address reading machine. This automated address reading machine reads the post code of the address and imprints that information as an address postal code under the conventional postage stamp affixing area. (Postal items which can not be handled in this way at high speed are diverted to manual address sorting.)

In this existing technology (GB 1,032,420), because of four reasons CFC machine could not identify the postage stamp which affixed on the items of mail.

1. When the postage stamp has not been affixed at the conventional location on the item of mail (upper right corner of the item of mail).

2. When the postage stamp is affixed in non-vertical position, even at the conventional location (could be horizontally or in any angle).

3. When the postage is affixed with the proper vertical position and at the proper conventional location (upper right corner) on a square letter, but which (the square letter) runs on the belt with a 90° shift in orientation. In the known art, the postage stamp is detected through fluorescent strips 49 (figure 8) and can be determined to be in one of four possible orientations for both faces. In these cases 2 and 3, the postage stamps go through the detectors horizontally or nearly horizontally. It means the transport direction is parallel to the fluorescent strips which marked on the postage stamp. Then the postage stamp is not be detected. It means according to case 3, this system offers only 50% accuracy of detecting the postage stamp with square letters (figure 7).

4. When value postage stamps (e.g.1Op, 5Op,....), contrast to class postage stamps (e.g. first class, second class), are available on the item of mail.

The objective of this invention is to facilitate a method for identification of all eight possible orientations for both faces of an item of mail, by determining the orientation of the postage stamp or an equivalent printed marking on the item of mail, by overcoming major difficulties of present system (CFC machine) which are mentioned above.

According to one aspect of present invention, there is provided a postage stamp or an equivalent printed marking for a postal item, and having a machine readable code 27 on the face surface thereof, characterised in that a single, displaced, machine readable code, preferably 2DPDF (2 Dimension Potable Data File) code, is provided, gives one of four unique readings p, q, r and s (figure 10) relative to the scanning direction, whereby the one of four possible orientation of the postage stamp 51, 52, 53, 54 (figure 10) or an equivalent printed marking on the item of mail, relative to the scanning direction may be determined. It is assumed that the postage stamp 30 or a marking (figures 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g) and the address on the item of mail are in the same orientation. Thus, for both faces, the mail processing machine can segregate the items of mail into eight separate stacking points (pockets) 34, based on the orientation of the letter address. (When consider about 1^st class and 2^nd class, the number of pockets should be doubled as sixteen.)

The present invention provides a specially marked postage stamp 30 (figure 2) or other marking, i.e. printing on an envelope (figures 3a,3b,3c.3e),or printing on stickers (figures 3f and 3g) which are issued from the post office, or printing on a special postage stamp (figure 3d) which will be used for hand written free post letters. The postage stamp 30 may be conventional with the usual printing and value marking (class or price) 28, but includes a machine readable code marking 27 (preferably 2DPDF code). An empty space 29 could be used for an art or design. The code which is printed on the postage stamp or on an envelope may be a visible printing or an invisible marker such as a fluorescent dye. (The code could be created by using magnetic cording source as well.) Each reading of the code relative to the scanning direction, may define a postage value (class or price) attributed to the postage stamp (or the marking), and the code is printed on the envelopes or stickers 3a,3b,3e,3f and 3g, may be contained the information such as returned mail (re-directed mail by the public). The code will preferably be readable through a linear scanning operation or raster scanning operation of item of mail. The scanner may be capable of scanning the whole surface of the postal item to detect the code at any location. It means postage stamp which is affixed at any location on the item of mail could be detected. The best scanned direction of the code is uniquely identified, when more than one code readers are used, so that the angle of the postage stamp is determinable. It means the postage stamp which is affixed in any angle on the item of mail could be detected. Thus the orientation of the item of mail could be determined. (Preferably scanning will be done on both faces of the postal item, simultaneously) This arrangement provides that, during the scanning process, the orientation of the postage stamp or a marking in one of four possible orientations for each face of the item of mail, can be determined as well as the value. It is assumed that the postage stamp or a marking and the address are in the same orientation. Thus, for both faces, the mail processing machine can segregate the items of mail in to eight separate stacking points (pockets) 34, based on the orientation of the letter address. In this invention, as shown in figure 4, the mail items with possible four orientations for each face of the mail items, are subsequently collected and manually turned in bulk, so that their addresses are face to the same side and same orientation to be sent to the automated address reading machine.

When the postage stamp (or a marking) and the address of the item of mail are not in same orientation, these items of mail 50 (figure 9) get in to a wrong pocket in CFC machine. This error will be corrected at next stage, at automated address reading machine, by segregating these items of mail to a separate pocket and diverted to manual entering of post codes.

(This facility is already used in existing system on same purpose and to read the unclear post codes of addresses which are available on items of mail.)

This invention also provides a method for sorting postal items having a postage stamp or a marking, described, the method comprising: a) feeding the postal item past a scanner; b) detecting and reading a machine readable code on the postage stamp or an equivalent printed marking on the item of mail; c) determining the orientation of the item of mail, through the orientation of detected code of the postage stamp or the marking, relative to the feeding direction (It is assumed that the postage stamp or the marking and the address of the item of mail, are in same orientation); d) detecting the vertical location where the postage stamp is affixed or an equivalent printed marking is available on the item of mail, and instantly pass that information to the cancellation mechanism and cancel the postage stamp or the marking; e) directing the postal item to a selected station (pocket) according to the said orientation. Both sides of the postal item may be independently scanned simultaneously or sequentially to determine the side which carries the postage stamp or a marking and directing the mail item to a selected collecting station (pockets), according to the side and orientation thus determined.

When there is a single code as given in the preferred embodiment, the vertical spatial location of the postage stamp or a marking may also be determined using the code and cancel at the same time, activating the cancelling mechanism. A series of sensors 44 (figure 6) are placed preferably in a vertical line, across the mail moving path and detects which beam of readers pick up the existence of the code. Thus determining the height at which the postage stamp is affixed or an equivalent printed marking on the item of mail is available. This provides the necessary vertical position information needed by the cancellation mechanism to carry out cancellation instantaneously. The cancellation mechanism uses this height information to determine the vertical position of the postage stamp or a marking and the instantaneous response make sure that the postage stamp or a marking is at the target area of cancellation, avoiding the necessity of horizontal position information. The cancellation mechanism is activated for an adequate time period to make sure, the postage stamp or a marking is moved across the cancellation mechanism target area within that adequate time, so that the cancellation process is properly taken place.

The various features of this invention are now further described and illustrated with reference to the drawings illustrating preferred embodiments. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows schematically the flow path through a known CFC machine, Figure 2 shows and embodiment of postage stamp in accordance with present invention,

Figure 3 shows arrangements where mail items use franked, printed markings or stickers (which are issued by the post office), defining the postage due. The code 27 is printed directly on the envelope as 3a, 3b, 3c and 3e. In figure 3d, the code 27 is contained on a free postage stamp which may be used with a hand written free post letter. In figure 3f and 3g, the code 27, is printed on a sticker (Horizon stamp) which is issued by the post office,

Figure 4 shows the four possible orientations of h, I, j, k square letters (face on) and second four possible orientations of I, m, n, o square letters (rear face),

Figure 5 shows the modified apparatus according to present invention,

Figure 6 shows the apparatus which identifies the location of postage stamp or a marking. The series of sensing beams 44 are placed preferably in a vertical line across the mail moving path and detects which beam of the readers pick up the existence (height) of the code. Such height determined by this mechanism is instantly passed that information to the cancellation mechanism, Figure 7 shows, how fluorescent dye marked postage stamps 45, 46, 47, 48 are appear on the machine belt with four possible orientations (for each face), when they are affixed on square letters,

Figure 8 shows, the fluorescent strips 49 which are marked on the postage stamp in known technology (GB 1,032,420). In this method, the postage stamp with one fluorescent strip is used to represent first class and two fluorescent strips are used to represent second class,

Figure 9 shows how an item of mail 50 is collected in a wrong pocket of CFC machine, when the affixed postage stamp or a marking and the address of the item of mail, are not in same orientation,

Figure 10 shows, how postage stamps 51, 52, 53, 54 with the single code are appear on the machine belt, which give four unique readings p, q, r, s relative to the four possible scanning directions, when they are affixed on square letters.

Referring firstly to figure 1 this illustrates a prior-art high speed machine (which is called CFC machine) for culling (as first class & second class), facing, and cancelling postal items in simplified form. As shown 1 is the tipping position for mail onto a moving belt 3. Unsuitable items are culled-out at 2 for manual processing and the mail proceeds to a drum sorter 4 where screening for size and width occurs. The unacceptable items are removed at 26 and acceptable items move along belt 5 to a segregating position 6 for removal of extraneous items; rubber bands, broken plastic ties etc. The apparatus 7 and 9 serves to;

1. separate letters which are stuck together,

2. remove "flats" (A4 envelopes),

3. remove oversize mail items (smaller than flats, bigger than normal envelopes),

4. turn normal rectangular letters which run upright (standing) position on the belt, by 90 degrees.

Accepted mail 8 passes to 11 into which a parallel path exists for operator 14 introduced mail 12.

If area 11 is blocked or jammed, the machine sorted letters 8 are thrown out from the machine at 10. If area 15 is blocked or jammed, the machine sorted letters from area 11 and manual sorted letters from area 12 are thrown out from the machine at 13.

Letters having fluorescent dye marked postage stamps (figure 8) are detected at 15 on one side of the letter and detected items (identified postal items with fluorescent dye marked postage stamp or marking) passed to channel 17, non-detected items 16 are flipped-over at 18 and passed through second detector 19, any non-detects are channelled through 20 and detects 21 join previously detected 17 and they are fed through postage stamp cancelling position 22, 23 and then to collecting pockets 24 where items of mail are collected by operator 25. Figure 5 shows schematically a modified apparatus according to present invention wherein the letters of size which can be handled are stacked at 31 these coming from a manual sorting source 38 and machine sorted source 8. If area 31 is blocked or jammed, the machine sorted letters 8 are thrown out from the machine at 39. If area 31 is blocked or jammed, the letters coming from manual sorting source 38 are thrown out from the machine at 40. The letters are moved at high speed though scanners 37 and 32 positioned each side of the letter path and comprising high speed code readers. Then letters are sent through sensors 41 & 42 which identify the height of the code is placed on the letter. This height information may be conveyed instantly to the following postage stamp cancelling stations 36 and 33 again located each side of the letter path, followed, optionally, by a printer 35 which marks each item of mail with the place and date of processing at a position along an edge. The letters then move to one of a number of pockets 34. These mail items with possible four orientations for each face are subsequently collected in eight pockets and manually turned in bulk by the operator 43, so that their addresses are face to same side and same orientation, to be sent to the automate address reading machine which reads the address and imprint an address postal code explaining the postcode of address. (When consider about 1^st class and 2^nd class, these number of collecting pockets, should be doubled as sixteen.)

In summary this invention provides a postage stamp 30 having a code, preferably machine readable single code 27 (preferably 2DPDF code), and printed on the surface of the postage stamp or on an envelope, provides the data necessary for determining the one of four possible orientation for each face of a mail item. The code may be a visible printing or an invisible marker such as a fluorescent dye. The code gives one of four unique readings p, q, r and s (figure 10) relative the scanning direction, whereby the one of four possible orientation of the postage stamp 51, 52, 53, 54 or an equivalent printed marking on the item of mail, relative to the scanning direction, may be determined. It is assumed that the postage stamp 30 or the marking and the address on the item of mail are in the same orientation. Thus, for both faces, the mail processing machine can segregate the items of mail into eight separate stacking points (pockets) 34, based on the orientation of the letter address, after the cancellation of the postage stamp 30 or a marking. (When consider about 1^st class and 2^nd class, the number of pockets should be doubled as sixteen.) The spatial location of the postage stamp or a marking is determined using sensors 41 and 42, simultaneously on both faces, which detects the vertical location of the code 27, and instantly inform that to cancellation mechanism 36 and 33, and cancel the postage stamp 30 or the marking.

Claims

Claims:

1. A postage stamp for a postal item, or a marking for such an item equivalent to such a stamp, and having a machine readable code on the face surface thereof, characterised in that a single, displaced machine readable code is provided, which gives one of four unique readings relative to the scan direction for each face of the item of mail, whereby one of four possible orientation of the postage stamp or a marking relative to the scan direction for each face of the item of mail, may be determined.

2. A postage stamp for a postal item, according to claim 1, wherein the code is readable through a scanning operation, preferably raster or linear scanning operation.

3. A postage stamp for a postal item, according to any preceding claim 1 to 2, wherein the code is in the form of 2 Dimension Potable Data File code or any other coding method.

4. A postage stamp for a postal item, according to any preceding claim 1 to 3, wherein the single code, whereby during scanning gives unique readings relative to the scan direction to determine the orientation of the postage stamp or a marking relative to the scan direction, which in turn used to determine the orientation of the item of mail relative to the scan direction.

5. A postage stamp for a postal item, according to any preceding claim 1 to 4, wherein the code is a visible printed marking or an invisible printed marking such as fluorescent dye.

6. A postage stamp for a postal item, according to any preceding claim 1 to 5, wherein the code is created using magnetic cording or other machine readable property, which is invisible to human eye.

7. A postage stamp for a postal item, according to any preceding claim 1 to 6, wherein the code is detected to determine the availability of the postage stamp, even when it has not been affixed at the conventional location of the item of mail.

8. A postage stamp for a postal item, according to any preceding claim 1 to 7, wherein the code is detected to determine the angle of the postage stamp, when it has been affixed in horizontally or with any non-vertical angle on the item of mail.

9. A postage stamp for a postal item, according to any preceding claim 1 to 8, wherein the code is distorted, so that when a cancelled postage stamp or a marking, comes to the machine, it is possible to arrange the machine to identify that the postage stamp or a marking is already cancelled.

10. Method for sorting postal items having a postage stamp or an equivalent printed marking on the item of mail in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9 as described herein and illustrated with reference to the drawings.