Dynamic insertion system and method for including selected enclosures/inserts in mailed statements

• US 5,659,481 A
• Filed: 05/23/1996
• Issued: 08/19/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Billing Services
• Original Assignee: International Billing Services
• Inventors: Rader, George E., Hines, William L., Fehringer, Robert, Mulkey, Steven L., Saldana, Daniel M., Delfer, Frank W., Fagan, Marc J., Qutub, Motaz, Emigh, Jonathan D., Carnesecca, Lino E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore, Reba I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/652,844
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 364/471.01, 364/471.02, 364/478.01, 364/478.08, 364/478.06, 364/478.07, 364/478.11, 364/478.12, 364/478.13, 364/478.14 , 364/478.15, 364/468.01-468.05, 235/375, 53/493, 53/494, 53/500, 53/501, 209/592, 209/583, 209/584, 209/900
• US Class Current: 700/219
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 1/00 Measures preceding sorting according to destination

Abstract

A system and method for dynamic insertion of selected inserts into statements to be mailed in which post processing mail data, including selective insert parameters, are developed into a record for mail items and communicated directly to an integrated system controller, which then directs selective insertion of enclosures. The system comprises a mail item preparation apparatus interfaced with a data processor, an inserter apparatus, and an integrated system controller interfaced with the data processor and the inserter. The mail preparing apparatus generally includes a printer, and is mechanically interfaced with the inserter for transfer of mail items. The integrated system controller directs the inserter to selectively include inserts with the mail items according to insert parameter data received from the data processor.

Claims

1. A dynamic insertion system for including selected inserts with a selected mail item within a containing envelope, comprising:

(a) means for preparing the selected mail item, said preparing means including means for printing the selected mail item;

(b) means for processing data, said data processing means including interfacing means for communicating with said mail item preparing means, said data processing means including means for data storage, said data storage means including a data record, said data record including post-processing data, said post-processing data containing information for inclusion of said selected inserts with the selected mail item within the containing envelope;

(c) an inserter apparatus, said inserter apparatus including a plurality of means for feeding inserts into the containing envelope with the selected mail item, said inserter including means for mechanically interfacing with said mail item preparing means;

(d) integrated means for system control, said control means including interfacing means for communication with said data processing means, said control means including interfacing means for communication with said inserter apparatus; and

(e) means for directing inclusion of said selected inserts with the selected mail item within the containing envelope according to said post-processing data obtained from said data record within said data processing means, said directing means associated with said data processing means and said control means.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said integrated system control means further comprises second means for processing data.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said integrated system control means further comprises means for monitoring movement and position of said mail items.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said second data processing means includes means for inputting configuration data for said plurality of insert feeding means.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said mechanical interfacing means includes means for transferring said mail items from said mail item preparing means to said inserter apparatus.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said mail preparing means includes means for printing a plurality of said mail items.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein said mail preparing means includes means for separating said plurality of mail items.

8. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein said mail preparing means includes means for organizing said plurality of mail items for said transferring means.

9. A dynamic insertion system for including selected inserts with a selected billing statement within a within a containing envelope, comprising:

(a) means for preparing the selected billing statement, said preparing means including means for printing the selected billing statement, said preparing means including means for organizing items within the containing envelope;

(b) first means for processing data, said first data processing means including means for inputting selective insert parameters, said first data processing means including means for storing said selective insert parameters, said selective insert parameters containing information for inclusion of said selected inserts within the containing envelope with the selected billing statement, said first data processing means including interfacing means for communication with said selected billing statement preparing means;

(c) an inserter apparatus, said inserter including a plurality of means for feeding inserts into the containing envelope, said inserter including means for conveying the containing envelope past said plurality of insert feeding means, said inserter including means for transferring the containing envelope with the selected billing statement and selected inserts from said preparing means to said conveying means;

(d) integrated means for system control, said control means including second means for processing data, said control means including interfacing means for communication with said first data processing means, said control means including interfacing means for communicating with said inserter; and

(e) means for directing inclusion of said selected inserts with the selected billing statement within the containing envelope according to said selective insert parameters stored within said first means for processing data, said directing means associated with said first data processing means and said control means.

10. A dynamic insertion system for including selected inserts with a selected billing statement within a within a containing envelope, comprising:

(a) means for preparing the selected billing statement, said preparing means including means for printing a plurality of the selected billing statements, said preparing means including means for separating the selected billing statements, said preparing means including means for organizing items within the containing envelope;

(b) first means for processing data, said first data processing means including means for inputting selective insert parameters, said first data processing means including means for storing said selective insert parameters, said selective insert parameters containing information for inclusion of said selected inserts in the containing envelope with the selected billing statement, said first data processing means including means for displaying data, said first data processing means including interfacing means for communication with said billing selected statement preparing means.

(c) an inserter apparatus, said inserter apparatus including a plurality of insert hoppers, said hoppers each including a plurality of inserts, said inserter including means for conveying the containing envelope past said plurality of insert hoppers, said inserter including means for transferring the containing envelope with the selected billing statement and said selected inserts from said preparing means to said conveying means;

(d) integrated means for system control, said control means including second means for processing data, said second data processing means including means for inputting insert hopper configuration data, said control means including means for monitoring movement and position of said selected inserts, the billing statement, and the containing envelope, said control means including interfacing means for communication with said first data processing means, said control means including interfacing means for communicating with said insert hoppers on said inserter; and

(e) means for directing inclusion of said selected inserts into the containing envelope with the selected billing statement according to said selective insert parameters stored within said first means for processing data, said directing means associated with said first data processing means and said control means.

11. A method for dynamic insertion of selected inserts with selected billing statements into containing envelopes to produce mail statements, comprising the steps of:

(a) processing data for a plurality of the mail statements;

(b) providing post processing data for the mail statements, said post processing data including selective insert information required for each of the mail statements;

(c) developing a computer associated data record for each of the mail statements from said data and said post-processing data;

(d) communicating said data record to an integrated system controller, said integrated system controller including means for directing inclusion of selected inserts stored within said computer associated data record into the mail statements according to said data record;

(e) entering into said system controller, by a system operator, insert configurations for a plurality of insert hoppers on an inserter apparatus;

(f) acquiring and matching each of the mail items and said data records;

(g) monitoring, by said system controller, movement and position of the mail statements relative to said plurality of insert hoppers on said inserter apparatus; and

(h) actuating said insert hoppers, by said system controller, to selectively provide said inserts to each of the mail statements, according to said data records for each of the mail statements.

12. The method recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of receiving said data for said plurality of mail statements.