WO1994020933A1 - Method and device for the automated processing of parcels which are offered for dispatch - Google Patents

Method and device for the automated processing of parcels which are offered for dispatch Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1994020933A1
WO1994020933A1 PCT/EP1994/000430 EP9400430W WO9420933A1 WO 1994020933 A1 WO1994020933 A1 WO 1994020933A1 EP 9400430 W EP9400430 W EP 9400430W WO 9420933 A1 WO9420933 A1 WO 9420933A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
parcel
offerer
details
addressee
sender
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP1994/000430
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Hans Mast
Original Assignee
Halton System Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Halton System Oy filed Critical Halton System Oy
Publication of WO1994020933A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994020933A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/26—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • G07B2017/0037—Calculation of postage value
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • G07B2017/00379—Calculation of different sending options for a mail piece
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00612—Attaching item on mailpiece
    • G07B2017/0062—Label

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for the automated processing of parcels which are offered for dispatch, whereby parcels are identified and registered in a device which is suitable therefor.
  • Service businesses in the area of the dispatch and delivery of parcels usually work with a network of stations where parcels are offered for dispatch, and these parcels are then distributed via a central collection station across the stations refer ⁇ red to above, from whence they are delivered to the addressee via those stations.
  • various actions must be taken by both the offerer of the parcel and the station where the par ⁇ cel is offered for dispatch.
  • One must think, for example, of "reading" of the name and address of the addressee by the dispatching station, determining the weight of the parcel and determining the freight price on the basis of both of these details. That amount must then be paid by the offerer and checked at the dispatching station, after which the offerer receives his "proof of receipt".
  • the purpose of the invention is to have the above mentioned act ⁇ ions run faster and more efficiently, especially by having the offering of the parcels and their being made ready for dispatch carried out in an automated manner to a considerable degree.
  • a parcel which is offered for dispatch is placed into a device which determines and registers the volume and/or weight thereof, which, after details on the sender, place of destination and addressee have been entered, de- termines the freight price, and which, after receipt of the amount concerned from the offerer and after these details have been applied to the parcel and this has been checked by the device, takes up the parcel for further treatment and makes a proof of receipt available to the offerer.
  • a method and an appertaining device for identifying and register ⁇ ing objects which are destined for further processing, such as trans ⁇ port, storage etc., are known. For example, this is described in the American patent no. k .656.510 for the identification and registration of crates, whether or not filled with bottles.
  • a crate which is offered is moved through a light beam. Pictures are made via the light which is reflected by the crate (and any bottles located therein), which are led in a digital form to a data-processing unit.
  • a three-dimensional image of the crate is com ⁇ piled from those pictures in order to identify it. This image is re- corded with the aid of a recorder.
  • the identification must be more extensive: the volume and/or the weight of the parcel which has been offered must also be identified, as well as the details relating to the sender and the addressee; after all, those details are decisive for determining the freight price which is to be paid by the offerer. Furthermore, the following must be integrated in the method: the calculation of the freight price on the basis of the volume/weight and the destination, the statement of that amount to the offerer, so that he can pay it, checking whether payment has been made and subsequently applying the details concerned to the parcel and then preparing it for further transport.
  • the details of the sender are added via a ZIP code. They are prin ⁇ ted with a bar code, which contains the ZIP code and the details of the addressee, onto a sticker which is attached to the parcel. The latter action can be carried out by the offerer, after which the device checks whether the sticker has indeed been attached
  • this attachment of the sticker to the parcel is inte- grated in the method: it therefore occurs in the device.
  • the invention also contains a device with the aid of which the method according to the invention is achieved.
  • a de ⁇ vice contains: a transport mechanism for introducing a parcel into the device; - a mechanism for detecting and recording the details on sender and addressee which have been entered into the device by the offerer; a light source which gives a light beam through which a parcel which has been introduced into the device moves during the trans ⁇ port; a detection and registration unit for detecting the light reflect ⁇ ed from the parcel and recording the images which correspond therewith; a data-processing unit for determining the volume and/or the weight of the parcel on the grounds of the images received and for determining the freight price therewith; a printer for printing the details on the sender and the addressee which have been entered onto a sticker and for printing a proof of receipt for the offerer; a display on which the consecutive actions which are to be carried out by the offerer appear; a keyboard on which the offerer can type in the details on the sender and the addressee; - a
  • the transport mechanism with which a parcel is led through a light beam will generally be a conveyor belt, on which the parcel is placed.
  • the other mechanisms and units mentioned are all known in themselves, or can be made suitable for the intended purpose without inventive work. What new and inventive is, is the manner in which those mecha ⁇ nisms and units cooperate in a single device, in order to achieve the intended purpose in a manner which is considerably automated.

Abstract

Method and device for the automated processing of parcels which are offered for dispatch. On the basis of the distance across which the parcel must be sent and the volume and/or the weight thereof, the freight charge is determined in a device which is suitable therefor. After receipt of the amount concerned the details are printed on a sticker, and this is applied to the parcel, either in the device or by hand by the offerer. All this is checked, the offerer receives a proof of receipt and thereafter the parcel is further processed via the device, for example by being dispatched. The method and the device therefore provide an integrated parcel processing.

Description

Method and device for the automated processing of parcels which are offered for dispatch.
The invention relates to a method for the automated processing of parcels which are offered for dispatch, whereby parcels are identified and registered in a device which is suitable therefor.
Service businesses in the area of the dispatch and delivery of parcels (courier services) usually work with a network of stations where parcels are offered for dispatch, and these parcels are then distributed via a central collection station across the stations refer¬ red to above, from whence they are delivered to the addressee via those stations. When a parcel is sent via such a network, various actions must be taken by both the offerer of the parcel and the station where the par¬ cel is offered for dispatch. One must think, for example, of "reading" of the name and address of the addressee by the dispatching station, determining the weight of the parcel and determining the freight price on the basis of both of these details. That amount must then be paid by the offerer and checked at the dispatching station, after which the offerer receives his "proof of receipt".
The purpose of the invention is to have the above mentioned act¬ ions run faster and more efficiently, especially by having the offering of the parcels and their being made ready for dispatch carried out in an automated manner to a considerable degree. To that end a parcel which is offered for dispatch is placed into a device which determines and registers the volume and/or weight thereof, which, after details on the sender, place of destination and addressee have been entered, de- termines the freight price, and which, after receipt of the amount concerned from the offerer and after these details have been applied to the parcel and this has been checked by the device, takes up the parcel for further treatment and makes a proof of receipt available to the offerer. A method and an appertaining device for identifying and register¬ ing objects which are destined for further processing, such as trans¬ port, storage etc., are known. For example, this is described in the American patent no. k .656.510 for the identification and registration of crates, whether or not filled with bottles. To that end a crate which is offered is moved through a light beam. Pictures are made via the light which is reflected by the crate (and any bottles located therein), which are led in a digital form to a data-processing unit. In the memory of that unit a three-dimensional image of the crate is com¬ piled from those pictures in order to identify it. This image is re- corded with the aid of a recorder.
Such a method and the identification achieved therewith is, ho¬ wever, insufficient for achieving the aims which have been set. The identification must be more extensive: the volume and/or the weight of the parcel which has been offered must also be identified, as well as the details relating to the sender and the addressee; after all, those details are decisive for determining the freight price which is to be paid by the offerer. Furthermore, the following must be integrated in the method: the calculation of the freight price on the basis of the volume/weight and the destination, the statement of that amount to the offerer, so that he can pay it, checking whether payment has been made and subsequently applying the details concerned to the parcel and then preparing it for further transport.
The details of the sender are added via a ZIP code. They are prin¬ ted with a bar code, which contains the ZIP code and the details of the addressee, onto a sticker which is attached to the parcel. The latter action can be carried out by the offerer, after which the device checks whether the sticker has indeed been attached
According to a further characteristic of the method according to the invention this attachment of the sticker to the parcel is inte- grated in the method: it therefore occurs in the device.
The invention also contains a device with the aid of which the method according to the invention is achieved. To that end such a de¬ vice contains: a transport mechanism for introducing a parcel into the device; - a mechanism for detecting and recording the details on sender and addressee which have been entered into the device by the offerer; a light source which gives a light beam through which a parcel which has been introduced into the device moves during the trans¬ port; a detection and registration unit for detecting the light reflect¬ ed from the parcel and recording the images which correspond therewith; a data-processing unit for determining the volume and/or the weight of the parcel on the grounds of the images received and for determining the freight price therewith; a printer for printing the details on the sender and the addressee which have been entered onto a sticker and for printing a proof of receipt for the offerer; a display on which the consecutive actions which are to be carried out by the offerer appear; a keyboard on which the offerer can type in the details on the sender and the addressee; - a unit for the receipt and registration of the payment by the offerer.
The transport mechanism with which a parcel is led through a light beam will generally be a conveyor belt, on which the parcel is placed. The other mechanisms and units mentioned are all known in themselves, or can be made suitable for the intended purpose without inventive work. What new and inventive is, is the manner in which those mecha¬ nisms and units cooperate in a single device, in order to achieve the intended purpose in a manner which is considerably automated.
The fact that the said integration of functions has appeared pos- sible is based partly and mainly on the insight that, with the aid of the data-processing unit, as already known from the said American pa¬ tent no. 4.656.510, besides identification of the shape of the parcel which has been offered, also its weight and especially its volume can be determined. If such a device is used in a network of offering stations with a single collection station, it is advantageous to equip the device with a modem, with which the relevant details on the parcel can be passed on electronically to the collection station.

Claims

A Claims
1. Method for the automated processing of and dispatch of parcels which have been offered, whereby a parcel is introduced into a device which determines and records its volume and/or weight, which, after details on the sender, place of destination and the addressee have been entered, determines the freight price on the basis of those details, and which, after receipt of the amount concerned from the offerer, and after those details have been applied to the parcel and this has been checked by the device, takes up the parcel for further processing and makes a proof of receipt available to the offerer.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the details are recorded on a sticker, which is placed on the parcel in the device.
3. Device for implementing the method according to claim 1 or 2 with the aid of this device, containing; - a transport mechanism for introducing the parcel into the device; a mechanism for detecting and recording details on the sender and addressee entered into the device by the offerer; a light source which provides a light beam through which a parcel which has been introduced into the device moves during the trans- port; a detection and recording unit for detecting the light reflected by the parcel and recording the images corresponding therewith; a data-processing unit for determining the volume and/or the weight of the parcel on the basis of the images which have been obtained and determining the freight price therewith; a printer for printing the details on the sender and the addressee which have been entered and for printing a proof of receipt for the offerer; a display on which the consecutive actions which are to be carried out by the offerer appear; a keyboard on which the offerer can type in the details on the sender and of the addressee; a unit for receiving and recording the payment by the offerer; . Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it contains means for attaching the sticker on the parcel. 5. Device according to claim 3 or , characterized in that it contains a modem for passing on the details electronically to a collection device.
PCT/EP1994/000430 1993-03-01 1994-02-14 Method and device for the automated processing of parcels which are offered for dispatch WO1994020933A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL9300378A NL9300378A (en) 1993-03-01 1993-03-01 Method and device for the automated processing of packages offered for dispatch.
NL9300378 1993-03-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1994020933A1 true WO1994020933A1 (en) 1994-09-15

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ID=19862123

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP1994/000430 WO1994020933A1 (en) 1993-03-01 1994-02-14 Method and device for the automated processing of parcels which are offered for dispatch

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NL (1) NL9300378A (en)
WO (1) WO1994020933A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5777746A (en) * 1996-12-31 1998-07-07 Pitney Bowes Inc. Apparatus and method for dimensional weighing utilizing a mirror and/or prism
US6069251A (en) * 1990-12-28 2000-05-30 Neurogen Corporation Certain 4-aminomethyl-2-substituted imidazole derivatives and 2-aminomethyl-4- substituted imidazole derivatives; new classes of dopamine receptor subtype specific ligands

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3436968A (en) * 1965-02-11 1969-04-08 Fairbanks Morse Inc Processing control system
BE850225R (en) * 1977-01-07 1977-07-07 Photronic Internat Establishme COMBINED POSTAL MACHINE
FR2619236A1 (en) * 1987-08-06 1989-02-10 Body Camille Programmable reception apparatus for objects for the purposes of processing them
FR2650098A1 (en) * 1989-07-21 1991-01-25 Campos Philippe Automatic machine for franking mail
EP0462427A2 (en) * 1990-06-11 1991-12-27 Wu Sheng-Jung An automatic postal teller machine
WO1992006453A1 (en) * 1990-09-28 1992-04-16 Gilbert Necco Method and device for the automatic stamping for payment of fees
WO1992017861A1 (en) * 1991-04-01 1992-10-15 Pi Electronics Incorporated Automated self-service package shipping machine
WO1992018949A1 (en) * 1991-04-10 1992-10-29 U-Ship International, Ltd. System for mailing and collecting items

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3436968A (en) * 1965-02-11 1969-04-08 Fairbanks Morse Inc Processing control system
BE850225R (en) * 1977-01-07 1977-07-07 Photronic Internat Establishme COMBINED POSTAL MACHINE
FR2619236A1 (en) * 1987-08-06 1989-02-10 Body Camille Programmable reception apparatus for objects for the purposes of processing them
FR2650098A1 (en) * 1989-07-21 1991-01-25 Campos Philippe Automatic machine for franking mail
EP0462427A2 (en) * 1990-06-11 1991-12-27 Wu Sheng-Jung An automatic postal teller machine
WO1992006453A1 (en) * 1990-09-28 1992-04-16 Gilbert Necco Method and device for the automatic stamping for payment of fees
WO1992017861A1 (en) * 1991-04-01 1992-10-15 Pi Electronics Incorporated Automated self-service package shipping machine
WO1992018949A1 (en) * 1991-04-10 1992-10-29 U-Ship International, Ltd. System for mailing and collecting items

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6069251A (en) * 1990-12-28 2000-05-30 Neurogen Corporation Certain 4-aminomethyl-2-substituted imidazole derivatives and 2-aminomethyl-4- substituted imidazole derivatives; new classes of dopamine receptor subtype specific ligands
US5777746A (en) * 1996-12-31 1998-07-07 Pitney Bowes Inc. Apparatus and method for dimensional weighing utilizing a mirror and/or prism

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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