Postal processing system

• US 5,264,665 A
• Filed: 06/24/1992
• Issued: 11/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DST Output West LLC
• Original Assignee: U.S. Computer Services Co.
• Inventors: Delfer, Frank W. III
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER JR, GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US07/903,599
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 364/464.02, 364/464.03, 177/25.15, 177/50
• US Class Current: 177/25.15
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/005 with electric or electronic computing means
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00362 Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00467 Transporting mailpieces postal sorting B07C
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00661 Sensing or measuring mailpieces weighing G01G19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00379 Calculation of different sending options for a mail piece
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00491 Mail/envelope/insert handling system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00685 Measuring the dimensions of mailpieces
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00701 Measuring the weight of mailpieces

Abstract

A computer directed system is disclosed for optimizing the tracking of mailing pieces containing various inserts and increasing the efficiency and cost benefits derived from utilizing a postal agency'"'"'s mailing discount rates for sending the mailing pieces through the mail. Weight and thickness data for each mailing piece are employed by the system for the optimization.

Claims

1. For use by an operator engaged in sending mailing pieces comprising a sending envelope containing various types and quantities of inserts to specific consumers, a computer directed system for optimizing efficiency and cost benefits derived from utilizing a postal agency'"'"'s mailing discount rates that require adherence to a set of postal agency qualification rules, comprising:

a) means for determining an individual weight and thickness of each said insert type and said sending envelope and for communicating said individual weight and thickness determinations to a data processing location;

b) means for inserting selectively each said insert into one said sending envelope to produce said mailing piece as directed from said data processing location;

c) means for loading a plurality of mailing trays each with a plurality of said mailing pieces, wherein said loading is directed from said data processing location;

d) means for printing and applying a mailing tray label for each said loaded mailing tray, wherein each said mailing tray label indicates which said specific consumers'"'"' mailing pieces are loaded in each said loaded mailing tray as directed from said data processing location;

e) means for determining an actual weight of each said loaded mailing tray;

f) means for comparing said actual weight of each said loaded mailing tray with a projected weight to establish an acceptable weight variance and rejecting each loaded mailing tray not within said acceptable weight variance, wherein each said loaded mailing tray projected weight is provided from said data processing location; and

g) a computer at said data processing location having;

data storage means with information files containing;

consumer data indicating a quantity for each said insert type to be inserted into each said sending envelope;

said postal agency qualification rules;

said communicated individual weight and thickness determinations for each said insert type and said sending envelope;

weight data for said mailing tray in an unloaded state; and

a program utilizing said information files for processing said efficiency and cost benefits optimization, wherein said program performs the operations of;

calculating from said communicated individual thickness determinations a projected number of mailing pieces within each said loaded mailing tray, wherein said projected thickness is acceptable under said postal agency rules;

calculating said projected weight of each said loaded mailing tray from mailing tray weight, said communicated individual weights, and said projected number of mailing pieces within each said loaded mailing tray and communicating said loaded mailing tray projected weight to said comparison means for accepting or rejecting each said mailing tray; and

determining, based on said projected number of mailing pieces within each said loaded mailing tray, a range indicating which said specific consumers are within each said loaded mailing tray and directing said mailing tray label printing and applying means to denote said range of specific consumers on said mailing tray label.

2. A computer directed system according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining the actual number of mailing pieces loaded into each said mailing tray and means for rejecting each said mailing tray not having said actual number of mailing pieces the same as said projected number of mailing pieces as calculated by said computer to be loaded into each said mailing tray.

3. A computer directed system according to claim 1, wherein said mailing tray printing and mailing means prints and applies in addition to said mailing tray label an ACT tag indicating a destination airport location for said mailing tray.

4. A computer directed system according to claim 1, further comprising means for creating a mailing manifest with associated postage data and for printing said mailing manifest and postage data in report form as directed by said computer.

5. A computer directed system according to claim 1, further comprising means for creating a mailing manifest with associated postage data and for electronically transferring said created mailing manifest and postage data to a facility for transferring funds in payment of postage due for sending said mailing pieces.

6. A computer directed system according to claim 1, wherein said acceptable number of mailing pieces held in each said mailing tray is based on a calculated projected total thickness for each said mailing piece that is determined by combining said communicated individual thicknesses of each said sending envelope and said inserts within each said sending envelope and determining if the projected total thickness meets said postal agency rules for an acceptable total thickness of a loaded mailing tray.

7. For use by an operator engaged in sending mailing pieces comprising a sending envelope containing various types and quantities of inserts to specific consumers, a computer directed system for optimizing efficiency and cost benefits derived from utilizing a postal agency'"'"'s mailing discount rates that require adherence to a set of postal agency qualification rules and for tracking to delivery said mailing pieces, comprising:

a) means for determining an individual weight and thickness of each said insert type and said sending envelope and for communicating said individual weight and thickness determinations to a data processing location;

b) means for inserting selectively each said insert into one said sending envelope to produce said mailing piece as directed from said data processing location;

c) means for loading a plurality of mailing trays each with a plurality of said mailing pieces, wherein said loading is directed from said data processing location;

d) means for printing and applying a mailing tray label for each said loaded mailing tray, wherein each said mailing tray label indicates which said specific consumers'"'"' mailing pieces are loaded in each said loaded mailing tray as directed from said data processing location;

e) means for determining an actual weight of each said loaded mailing tray;

f) means for comparing said actual weight of each said loaded mailing tray with a projected weight to establish an acceptable weight variance and rejecting each loaded mailing tray not within said acceptable weight variance, wherein each said loaded mailing tray projected weight is provided from said data processing location;

g) means for determining the actual number of mailing pieces loaded into each said mailing tray and means for rejecting each said mailing tray not having said actual number of mailing pieces the same as said projected number of mailing pieces to be loaded into each said mailing tray; and

h) a computer at said data processing location having;

data storage means with information files containing;

consumer data indicating a quantity for each said insert type to be inserted into each said sending envelope;

said postal agency qualification rules;

said communicated individual weight and thickness determinations for each said insert type and said sending envelope;

weight data for said mailing tray in an unloaded state; and

a program utilizing said information files for processing said efficiency and cost benefits optimization, wherein said program performs the operations of;

calculating from said communicated individual thickness determinations a projected number of mailing pieces within each said loaded mailing tray, wherein said projected thickness is acceptable under said postal agency rules and said acceptable number of mailing pieces held in each said mailing tray is based on a calculated projected total thickness for each said mailing piece that is determined by combining said communicated individual thicknesses of each said sending envelope and said inserts within each said sending envelope and determining if the projected total thickness meets said postal agency rules for an acceptable total thickness of a loaded mailing tray;

calculating said projected weight of each said loaded mailing tray from mailing tray weight, said communicated individual weights, and said projected number of mailing pieces within each said loaded mailing tray and communicating said loaded mailing tray projected weight to said comparison means for accepting or rejecting each said mailing tray; and

determining, based on said projected number of mailing pieces within each said loaded mailing tray, a range indicating which said specific consumers are within each said loaded mailing tray and directing said mailing tray label printing and applying means to denote said range of specific consumers on said mailing tray label.

8. A computer directed system according to claim 7, wherein said mailing tray printing and mailing means prints and applies in addition to said mailing tray label an ACT tag indicating a destination airport location for said mailing tray.

9. A computer directed system according to claim 7, further comprising means for creating a mailing manifest with associated postage data and for printing said mailing manifest and postage data in report form as directed by said computer.

10. A computer directed system according to claim 7, further comprising means for creating a mailing manifest with associated postage data and for electronically transferring said created mailing manifest and postage data to a facility for transferring funds in payment of postage due for sending said mailing pieces.