WO1999064993A1

WO1999064993A1 - Mail handling device

Info

Publication number: WO1999064993A1
Application number: PCT/DE1999/001674
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas STÜTZ
Original assignee: Friendlyway Aktiengesellschaft Für Anwenderfreundliche Systeme
Priority date: 1998-06-08
Filing date: 1999-06-07
Publication date: 1999-12-16
Also published as: AU5152599A

Abstract

The invention relates to a mail posting device (1) comprising a mail receptacle which has an insertion opening (2) for inserting mailed items. The posting device also comprises means for determining the postage charges which are required for each inserted mailed item and which are based on the delivery cost parameters. In addition, a collection device is provided for accepting payment means provided for paying the determined postage charges. A franking device is provided for applying postage value marks in the amount of the postage charges which are determined for the respective mailed item. The means for determining the postage charges, the collection device, and the franking device are each interactively connected to a control device (3). The device (1) also comprises solar cells (7) which are arranged on the exterior and which are provided for fulfilling the energy demand. The mail posting device is configured as a retrofit set (8) for mail receptacles for use on the same.

Description

Postal handling facility

The present invention relates to a mail delivery device or handling device with a mail letter box having at least one insertion opening for inserting mail items. The invention further relates to a mailing device or handling device for use on mailboxes.

Such devices are already known and are often distributed as fixed stations at crossroads within cities. However, it is unsatisfactory that only franked or franked items can be inserted. Consignments that have not been cleared must therefore often be taken to the nearest post office in a time-consuming manner, with further queues resulting from the frequent queues.

In contrast, the object of the present invention is to develop a mailing device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the mailing in of mail items which have not yet been cleared is possible in a time-saving manner.

The object according to the invention is achieved in terms of device technology in that means for recognizing the mailing introduced for the particular mail item introduced are provided on the basis of the necessary postage fees, which depend on the transport cost parameters, that a cashier device is provided for receiving payment means provided for payment of the determined postage fees, that a franking device is provided for attaching postage stamps in the postage fee determined for the respective mail item, the means for recognizing and the cashier device and the franking device being operatively connected to and controllable by a control device.

It is therefore characteristic of the invention that unfranked mail items can be posted by feeding the mail items through the insertion opening of a mailbox according to the invention to the detection means, which scan the respective imported mail item according to its physical dimensions with regard to the current fee parameters and determine the fees required thereafter or Calculate, whereby parameters such as size, weight and destination specified on the shipment can be decisive. The fee determined thereafter becomes one via a control device Cashier transmitted, which carries out a corresponding debiting process; Furthermore, the franking device is activated via the control device, with which the respective consignment is now provided with a corresponding stamp or a corresponding note. The individual processes automated by means of the control device thus result in a largely automatic miniature post office.

According to an embodiment of the invention that is expedient in terms of detection technology, the detection means comprise optical sensors, with which the physical dimensions of the respectively introduced mail item and, on the other hand, the information about the destination written on the mail item can be scanned. Since the detection means comprise a weighing device, the weight of an imported consignment can also be determined, so that all measuring parameters for calculating the required postage fee can be determined. An advantageous further development of the invention consists in that the detection means comprise a conveyor device for detecting inserted mail items.

According to an expedient embodiment, the control device is designed to be event-controlled, so that, for example, the insertion of a shipment initiates the course of a complete work cycle.

It is particularly advantageous if the control device has an externally operable dialog interface with which a user can intervene in the running cycle in order, for example, to correct an incorrect detection of the destination.

According to a particularly user-friendly variant, the dialog interface is designed as an interactive user interface. This is preferably arranged on the front of the device below the insertion opening.

In order to be able to retrace postal delivery routes, the control device has a storage medium for storing data associated with the respectively introduced mail item, the data stored in the storage medium being readable.

A particularly efficient control results if the control device has at least one microprocessor. In order to enable cashless payment transactions when paying the necessary postage, the cashier device is designed as a chip card reader.

A printing output unit coupled to the control device is provided for documentation purposes, in particular for generating an accounting document.

For the electrical energy supply, the mailing device is characterized by at least one solar cell arranged on the outside of the device, so that the result is an energy-self-sufficient mailing device. An energy storage device, preferably an accumulator, can be operatively connected to the solar cell.

In terms of use technology, the object is achieved in that the mailing device is designed as a retrofit kit for mailboxes. This means that existing mailboxes can be economically converted into miniature post offices that work automatically.

Via the user interface, a user can, for example, enter a personal identification code, such as a PIN, in order to gain access to mail items stored in a collecting device of the device. Furthermore, a user can gain access to networks, in particular computer networks, such as the Internet, for example, via the interactive user interface, which is preferably designed as a touch-sensitive keyboard. With the device according to the invention, a user can send e-mails, send faxes, carry out banking transactions, etc. All types of electronic mailing forms are thus possible using the mail delivery device according to the invention.

A user can also use the keyboard to enter formal transactions, such as a forwarding request. The data can be transmitted from the mailing device according to the invention directly to a data center, or can be temporarily stored in a memory of the device in order to then be read out, for example when a delivery of delivered mail takes place.

Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims. An embodiment of the invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawing. In a highly schematic view:

1 is a perspective view of a mailing device, a mailbox having a checkout device arranged above the insertion slot and solar cells arranged on the outside for the power supply of internally arranged components.

A mailing device designated in its entirety by 1 in FIG. 1 has a mail letter box with a slot 2 for inserting mail items such as letters, printed matter and the like. Such post mailboxes are permanently installed at clearly visible traffic intersections or streets within cities or towns and are emptied on a regular basis.

It is characteristic of the mail delivery device 1 that several components which are electrically connected and electronically controlled via a control device 3 are arranged inside the device. An important component consists of recognition means with which an inserted mail item is scanned in order to determine its physical dimensions, i.e. to detect their geometric dimensions or size. An arrangement of optical sensors is used for this. To detect the weight of the respective mail item, the detection means also have a weighing device. The weighing device is preferably designed as two pivotable flaps 4 with an integrated weight sensor, so that after the weighing process and by a signal displayed by the control device 3, the flaps can be opened and the mail item can fall into the lower collecting area of the mailing device 1. The optical sensors also perform the function of scanning written information on the mail item, from which the destination of the respective mail item is determined; In cooperation with the control device 3, which has a microprocessor and a memory, the data transmitted by the sensors are evaluated, the parameters determining the postage fees, such as size, weight and destination of the mail item being determined.

When this scanning and evaluation process is completed, a control device 3 is activated via the control device 3. User display 5 arranged in the mailbox shows the fee amount calculated by the control device 3. In the exemplary embodiment, the cashier device has a chip card reader 6 arranged above the slot 2, with which the displayed amount can be debited from a plastic card to be inserted into the chip card reader 6 with a microchip accommodated therein.

After the payment process has ended, the control device 3 activates a franking device with which the imported mail item is franked in accordance with the determined and paid postage fee. The memory of the control device stores all the parameters associated with the respective mail item, in particular also data relevant for the mail delivery, such as the time and place of the mail item and the type of mail item, for. B. simple delivery or registered mail. When the payment process is completed, the data stored with respect to a mail item currently being processed is output in the form of a document via a print output unit arranged on the front side of the mail box, so that in particular a delivery process, such as a registered letter, can be activated by means of the device 1 according to the invention. However, the entire memory content can only be carried out by an authorized person, preferably when the device is emptied. The total storage content is to be understood as the totality of all storage processes that have arisen from mail items previously recorded in the device 1. For the individual user of this device, on the other hand, only the individual storage process can be called up or read out, which is linked to the mail item being processed. Such an individual storage process comprises all parameters associated with the respective mail item, such as, for example, size, weight, destination of the mail item and time and place of the mail item that has occurred, and the type of delivery chosen by the user.

In order to make the control as flexible as possible, an event control is provided. This means that the control device 3 reacts to an external event, such as, for example, the insertion of a mail item into the insertion slot 2 of the mail letter box, as a result of which the device 1 is activated. On the other hand, external events can also be carried out via the user display 5, which has a dialog-based graphical user interface. This allows the user to make entries relating to the desired delivery type or the parameters of the mail item and, on the other hand, to correct any false detections that may occur when evaluating the optical scanning of the address information applied to the item. The tax Parameters ascertained in device 1 are output as output information on the dialog box of the user display 5 and, when confirmed by the user, are output on a receipt via the print output unit.

Furthermore, the device 1 according to the invention has a conveying device which is arranged on the inside of the insertion slot 2 of the letter box and mechanically detects an inserted mail item and feeds it to the optical scanning, the weighing device and the franking device. In the exemplary embodiment, the conveyor is designed as a conveyor belt. The conveyor also serves to eject the mail item through the slot 2 if necessary. At the end of an automatic processing process, the shipment is placed by the conveyor belt in a container provided on the bottom of the mailbox until the regular emptying takes place. In the event that an introductory operation is to be canceled, the conveyor belt leads after an appropriate input on the user display 5 or event-controlled, for. For example, if no destination can be identified and no input is provided on the user display 5, the mail item can be returned to the outside via the slot 2.

In order to cover the electrical energy requirement, the device 1 has a plurality of solar cells 7 on an outside of the mailbox facing upwards in the intended installation position, which is electrically connected to a power supply unit belonging to the device with a voltage stabilization circuit.

The invention was previously explained on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments. However, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that various modifications and modifications can be made without departing from the concept on which the invention is based. In particular, in addition to the design of the mailing device, the invention also provides a cassette-shaped retrofit kit that is suitable for all existing dimensions of mailboxes and is attached directly behind the slot and is connected to the user display 5 and the solar cell 7 (which can also be retrofitted) is included. The retrofit kit comprising the most essential components of the device according to the invention is provided with the reference symbol 8 in FIG. 1.

Claims

claims

1. Post feed device with at least one insertion opening (2) for inserting mail items having a mail box, characterized. that means are provided for recognizing the postal item introduced in each case on the basis of the necessary postage fees, which depend on transport cost parameters, that a cashier device is provided for receiving payment means intended for payment of the determined postage fees, that a franking device is provided for attaching postage stamps in the respective postage determined amount is provided, the means for recognizing and the cashier and the franking device are each operatively connected to and controllable by a control device (3).

2. Post-posting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection means comprise optical sensors.

3. Mailing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the detection means comprise a weighing device.

4. Post feed device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the detection means comprise a conveyor for detecting inserted mail items.

5. Post-posting device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control device (3) is event-controlled.

6. Post-posting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the control device has an externally operable dialog interface (5).

7. Post-posting device according to claim 6, characterized in that the dialog interface is designed as an interactive user interface.

8. Post-posting device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the control device (3) has a storage medium for storing data associated with the respectively introduced mail item.

9. Post-posting device according to claim 8, characterized in that the data stored in the storage medium can be read out.

10. Mailing device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the control device (3) has at least one microprocessor.

11. Mailing device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the cashier is designed as a chip card reader (6).

12. Post-posting device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a printing output unit coupled to the control device is provided.

13. Mailing device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by at least one solar cell (7) arranged on the outside of the mailing device.

14. Post-posting device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by at least one power storage device, in particular an accumulator, which is preferably connected to the solar cell (7) and is charged by the latter.

15. Post posting device, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 14 for use on post letter boxes, characterized in that the post posting device (1) is designed as a retrofit kit (8) for post letter boxes.

16. Mailing device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the mailing device has a collecting device for mail items.

17. Mailing device according to claim 16, characterized in that the collecting device is an interchangeable container.

18. Post-posting device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized by an identification device for a user.

19. Post-posting device according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the identification device is coupled to the collecting device, and that the collecting device in response to a signal from the identification device. direction, which indicates that the user has been identified, releases a mail item assigned to the user from the collecting device.

20. Post-posting device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the device has a remote copying device.

21. Post-posting device according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized by a device for external data exchange.