Mail coding system

• US 5,790,429 A
• Filed: 03/04/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mailcode, Inc. (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: M.A.I.L. Code, Inc.
• Inventors: Caddy, Donald, Baker, Christopher A., Purcell, David W., Chastain, David P., Fleming, Adam W., Baker, Peter N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US08/610,430
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 364/565, 364/478.01, 364/478.03, 364/478.09, 364/478.11, 364/478.16, 364/478.18, 364/148, 364/166, 209/900, 209/584, 209/546, 705/406, 705/410
• US Class Current: 700/304
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

A system for processing and encoding mail including a bin configured to hold mail and a transport coupled to said bin to receive mail therefrom. The transport displays multiple moving pieces of mail to an operator. The system includes a data entry device operable to enter data from mail moving on the transport and a coding device to receive mail from the conveyor. A controller is operatively coupled to the transport, data entry device, and coding device. The controller includes an address signal corresponding to at least a portion of an address of a mail piece entered with the data entry device by the operator, a routing code signal determined in accordance with the address signal, a performance signal corresponding to data entry capability of the operator, and a transport speed signal corresponding to speed of the transport. The controller adjusts speed of the conveyor as a function of the performance signal and the conveyor speed signal, and the coding device places a routing code on the mail piece in response to the routing code signal.

Claims

1. A method of mail processing, comprising the steps of:

(1) displaying a number of mail pieces to an operator, each of the number of mail pieces having an address with a street name, the number of mail pieces moving by the operator with a first nonzero speed;

(2) entering a portion of the address of a mail piece selected from the number of mail pieces into a processor during performance of step (1), the operator performing step (2) at a first data entry rate, the portion being sufficient to assign a routing code to the mail piece and including only a part of the street name; and

(3) changing the first nonzero speed of step (1) to a second nonzero speed as a function of the first data entry rate.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of referencing a data table with the processor to assign the routing code.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of printing a barcode on the mail piece corresponding to the routing code.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(4) routing the number of mail pieces one at a time from a bin with a powered transport;

(5) placing a barcode on the mail piece corresponding to the routing code; and

(6) returning the mail piece to the bin with the transport.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of mail pieces is at least three and further comprising the steps of:

(4) successively designating each of the number of mail pieces for entry of a portion of the corresponding address into the processor, the portion being sufficient to assign a corresponding routing code to each of the number of mail pieces including only a part of the corresponding street name; and

(5) printing a barcode on each of the number of mail pieces in accordance with the corresponding routing code.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator enters another of the number of mail pieces at a second data entry rate and further comprising the step of changing the second nonzero speed to a third nonzero speed as a function of the second data entry rate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (2) is performed by entering characters with a keyboard coupled to the processor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (2) includes the steps of:

(2a) entering a ZIP code;

(2b) entering a street number; and

(2c) entering the part of the street name, step (2c) being performed after steps (2a) and (2b).

9. A method of mail processing, comprising the steps of:

(1) simultaneously displaying a number of mail pieces to an operator;

(2) designating a mail piece displayed in step (1);

(3) entering a portion of an address of the mail piece designated in step (2), the portion being sufficient to assign a routing code to the mail piece and including only a part of a street name; and

(4) prompting the operator to stop performance of step (3) upon entry of the portion.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of referencing a data table with the processor to assign the routing code.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of printing a barcode on the mail piece corresponding to the routing code.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of moving the number of mail pieces during performance of steps (1) through (4) by the operator.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

(5) routing the number of mail pieces from a magazine with a singulating feeder; and

(6) placing a barcode on the mail piece corresponding to the routing code; and

(7) returning the mail piece to the magazine.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein step (3) is performed by entering characters with a keyboard coupled to the processor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein step (3) includes the steps of:

(3a) entering a ZIP code;

(3b) entering a street number; and

(3c) entering the part of the street name, step (3c) being performed after steps (3a) and (3b).

16. A method of mail encoding, comprising the steps of:

(1) displaying a mail piece with an address to an operator while the mail piece is moving at a first nonzero speed;

(2) entering a portion of an address of the mail piece into a processor during performance of step (1), the portion being sufficient to assign a routing code to the mail piece and including only a part of a street name; and

(3) changing the first nonzero speed of step (1) to a second nonzero speed as a function of the position of the mail piece during performance of step (2).

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

(4) referencing a data table with the processor to assign the routing code; and

(5) printing a barcode on the mail piece corresponding to the routing code.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

(4) routing a number of mail pieces one at a time from a bin with a powered transport;

(5) placing a barcode on the mail piece corresponding to the routing code; and

(6) returning the mail piece to the bin with the transport after performance of step (2).

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the number of mail pieces is at least three and further comprising the steps of:

(4) successively designating each of the number of mail pieces for entry of a portion of the corresponding address into the processor, the portion being sufficient to assign a corresponding routing code to each of the number of mail pieces including only a part of a corresponding street name; and

(5) printing a barcode on each of the number of mail pieces in accordance with the corresponding routing code.

20. The method of claim 16, further including the step of audibly instructing the operator with the processor.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein step (2) is performed by entering characters corresponding to the address with a keyboard coupled to the processor.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein step (2) includes the steps of:

(2a) entering a ZIP code;

(2b) entering a street number; and

(2c) entering the part of the street name, step (2c) being performed after steps (2a) and (2b).

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of successively designating each of a number of mail pieces for entry of a portion of a corresponding address into a processor, the portion being sufficient to assign a corresponding routing code to each of the number of mail pieces including only a part of the corresponding street name.

43. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

(4) entering a portion of an address of a second mail piece into a processor after step (3), the portion being sufficient to assign a routing code to the second mail piece and including only a part of the street name; and

,

(5) changing the second nonzero speed to a third nonzero speed as a function of the position of the second mail piece during performance of step (4).

24. A system for encoding mail, comprising:

a bin configured to hold mail;

a transport coupled to said bin to receive mail therefrom, said transport being configured to display multiple moving pieces of mail to an operator;

a data entry device operable to enter data from mail moving on said transport;

a coding device configured to receive mail from said transport;

a controller operatively coupled to said transport, said data entry device, and said coding device, said controller including;

an address signal corresponding to a portion of an address of a mail piece entered with said data entry device by the operator, the portion including only a part of a street name;

a routing code signal determined in accordance with said address signal,

a performance signal corresponding to data entry capability of the operator,

a transport speed signal corresponding to speed of said transport; and

,

wherein said controller adjusts speed of said transport as a function of said performance signal and said transport speed signal, and said coding device places a routing code on the mail piece in response to said routing code signal.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said coding device includes a barcode printer and said data entry device includes a keyboard.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said bin is configured to hold a row of mail stacked on edge and said transport includes a feeder configured to feed a leading mail piece from the row, said feeder including:

(a) an endless turning belt with a moving contact face adapted to frictionally engage the leading mail piece;

(b) a pivotable arm configured to bear against the row in a hold position to hold the leading mail piece away from said face and to selectively pivot to a feed position behind said face to facilitate feeding of the leading mail piece by said belt; and

(c) a controllable actuator configured to selectively move said arm between said hold and feed positions.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said transport further includes:

a roller positioned opposite said face to define a feed gap therebetween, said roller turning in the same rotational direction as said belt to discourage transport of multiple mail pieces from the row concurrently; and

a conveyor with a nip aligned with said feed gap to receive the leading mail piece after transport by said belt.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein said bin includes:

an input section for holding unprocessed mail;

an output section for holding processed mail;

a movable divider for adjusting the size of at least one of said input and output sections; and

,

further wherein said transport is coupled between said input and output sections and said bin is configured to decrease size of said input section as mail is being processed and correspondingly increase size of said output section.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

a first conveyor configured to selectively move mail from said input section to said transport; and

a second conveyor configured to move mail from said transport to said output section.

30. A system for encoding mail, comprising:

a magazine configured to hold mail stacked on edge, said magazine including;

a input section for holding unprocessed mail,

an output section for holding processed mail,

a movable divider for adjusting the size of at least one of said input and output sections;

a transport device for selectively moving mail from said input section and to said output section;

a processing station coupled to said transport to receive a mail piece from said input section, said processing station being configured to present the mail piece for view by an operator and including a data entry device for entry by the operator of data associated with the mail piece;

a coding device disposed along said transport device to place a routing code on the mail piece corresponding to the address; and

,

wherein said bin is configured to decrease size of said input section as mail is being processed and correspondingly increases size of said output section.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said station includes:

a movable display presenting the mail piece and at least one other mail piece to the operator at a first nonzero speed;

a controller operatively coupled to said controllable display, said data entry device, and said coding device, said controller including;

a data signal corresponding to data entered with said data entry device,

a routing code signal determined in accordance with said data signal;

a first performance signal corresponding to data entry capability of the operator, and,

wherein said controller changes speed of said display to a second nonzero speed as a function of said first performance signal, and said coding device places a routing code on the mail piece in response to said routing code signal.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein said transport device includes a feeder configured to feed a leading mail piece from said magazine, said feeder including:

(a) an endless turning belt with a moving contact face adapted to frictionally engage the leading mail piece;

(b) a pivotable arm configured to bear against the row in a hold position to hold the leading mail piece away from said face and to selectively pivot to a feed position behind said face to facilitate feeding of the leading mail piece by said belt; and

(c) a controllable actuator configured to selectively move said arm between the hold and feed positions.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said transport device further includes:

a roller positioned opposite said face to define a feed gap therebetween, said roller turning in the same rotational direction as said belt to discourage transport of multiple mail pieces; and

a conveyor with a nip aligned with said feed gap to receive the leading mail piece after transport by said belt.

44. The system of claim 31, wherein said controller includes a second performance signal corresponding to the data entry capability of the operator and changes the second nonzero speed to a third nonzero speed as a function of the second performance signal.

34. A mail feeder system, comprising:

a magazine for holding a row of mail stacked on edge;

a feeder configured to feed a mail piece leading the row, the feeder including;

an endless turning belt with a moving contact face adapted to frictionally engage the mail piece for transport away from the row;

a pivotable arm configured to bear against the row in a hold position to hold the mail piece away from the face and to selectively pivot to a feed position behind the face to facilitate feeding of the mail piece by the belt;

a controllable actuator configured to selectively move the arm between the hold and feed positions;

a roller positioned opposite the face to define a feed gap therebetween, the roller turning in the same rotational direction as the belt to discourage transport of multiple mail pieces;

a conveyor with a nip aligned with the feed gap to receive the mail piece after transport by the belt;

a first sensor to provide a detection signal corresponding to the presence of the leading piece at the conveyor; and

a controller coupled to the actuator and the first sensor, the controller being responsive to a feed signal to move the arm to the feed position, the controller being responsive to the detection signal to move the arm from the feed position to the hold position.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising a second sensor and a magazine drive coupled to the controller, the second sensor being configured to provide a pressure signal corresponding to pressure exerted on the arm in the hold position by the row, the controller providing an adjustment signal to the magazine drive in response to the pressure signal.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein said conveyor includes a pair of pinch rollers.

37. A method of mail encoding, comprising:

(a) simultaneously displaying a number of mail pieces at a first nonzero rate of speed, the mail pieces including a first mail piece and a second mail piece;

(b) entering into a processor at a first data entry rate a first number of characters appearing on the first mail piece without entering more characters than needed for the processor to determine a first routing code for the first mail piece;

(c) entering into the processor at a second data entry rate a second number of characters appearing on the second mail piece without entering more characters from the second mail piece than needed for the processor to determine a second routing code for the second mail piece, the second number of characters being different from the first number of characters in quantity; and

(d) changing the first nonzero rate to a second nonzero rate as a function of the first and second data entry rates.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising printing a barcode on the first mail piece corresponding to the first routing code.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the function includes an average data entry rate.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

(e) routing the first and second mail pieces one at a time from a bin with a powered transport;

(f) placing a barcode on the first mail piece corresponding to the first routing code; and

(g) returning the first mail piece to the bin with the transport.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein character entry is performed with a keyboard coupled to the processor, and the first number of characters includes a ZIP code, a street number, and at least part of a street name.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising audibly prompting an operator during performance of said entering into the processor the second number of characters.

45. The method of claim 37 further comprising the steps of:

(e) entering into the processor at a third data entry rate a third number of characters appearing on the third mail piece without entering more characters from the third mail piece than needed for the processor to determine a third routing code for the third mail piece, the third number of characters being different from the second number of characters in quantity; and

,

(f) changing the second nonzero rate to a third nonzero rate as a function of the third data entry rate.