子分类：
| 序号 | 专利名 | 申请号 | 申请日 | 公开（公告）号 | 公开（公告）日 | 发明人 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 161 | Methods and system for hazardous material early detection for use with mail and other objects | US10334504 | 2002-12-31 | US20030144800A1 | 2003-07-31 | Charles E. Davis; Juan E. Flores; Dennis L. Kenbeek |
| The present invention provides methods and systems for the application of the analysis of radiation interactions to early detection hazardous material. The method, in a mail processing system, includes the steps of: (a) positioning one or more sensors, a sensor including a radiation source, a detector and the analysis instructions in the computing unit, along the path of a transport system for processing the mail, (b) sensing the presence of a hazardous material in a mail piece, and (c) culling the mail piece, if the presence of hazardous material is detected where culling includes, but not limited to, one or more of the following: diverting to a secure pocket and alerting, removing from the processing stream, alerting and interrupting the processing stream in order to remove an item, diverting the item from the processing stream for further inspection. | ||||||
| 162 | System for detecting the presence of harmful materials in an incoming mail stream | US10036982 | 2001-12-31 | US20030121839A1 | 2003-07-03 | William E. Ryan JR.; Robert K. Gottlieb; Joseph D. Mallozzi |
| An embodiment of the system of the present invention generally comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus which includes a feeder, an OCR scanner, a mailpiece deliverer, a diverter and output module, compartments or bins for receiving sorted mailpieces, optical character recognition system for reading addressee information, an addressee database, and microprocessor based control system. In an embodiment of the present invention, harmful materials are detected in mailpieces and such mailpieces are diverted from the mail stream. In alternate embodiments of the present invention: the system is contained in a detection area and clean room; and/or the system uses x-ray technology to determine the content of the mailpieces. The system provides for detection of harmful materials in mailpieces so as to help deter delays in incoming mail delivery caused by the presence of life harming material and sanitize the mail so as to protect the intended recipients from harm. | ||||||
| 163 | Safety apparatus and method for automated services | US10286202 | 2002-11-02 | US20030085266A1 | 2003-05-08 | Rudy J. Simon |
| Apparatus and method for enhancing the safety of postal and other services, and in particular, that of mail-processing and mail-delivery personnel. The apparatus and method provide for the neutralization of various harmful substances that may have been inserted into or adhere to the outside a piece of mail. The apparatus includes conventional neutralization devices, such as UV light emitters, heaters, fogging or misting devices, ultrasonic emitters, ionizers, face masks and gloves. Furthermore, the apparatus and method enable identification of the place of origin of each individual piece of mail deposited with the service and the identity of the person who deposited it. | ||||||
| 164 | Anti-terrorist network hardcopy mail scanning and remote viewing system and process | US09981584 | 2001-10-17 | US20030072469A1 | 2003-04-17 | Ray M. Alden |
| In a preferred embodiment, a network-based hardcopy mail scanning system to enable a mail recipient to view virtual images of their mail prior to physically receiving said mail. Unwanted mail from unknown origins can be discarded remotely by the mail recipient prior to actually receiving or touching the hardcopy mail. Thus the mail recipient is insulated from contact with potential letter bombs, biological agents, and chemical agents distributed by terrorists through the US or international postal systems. The process includes a means to digitize an image of hardcopy mail intended for a mail recipient, a database to store the digitized image, a scanning service computer connected to said database. Said scanning service computer and a mail recipient computer are interconnected by a computer network. The scanning service computer communicates images of hardcopy mail (addressed for delivery to the mail recipient) to the mail recipient computer via the computer network. The mail recipient can elect to accept mail for receipt or to reject mail which is then destroyed. By virtually selecting what mail to accept and discarding the rest, the recipient can discard mail from unknown origins prior to ever physically handling it. | ||||||
| 165 | Automated mail extraction and remittance processing | US09378895 | 1999-08-23 | US06547078B1 | 2003-04-15 | William R. Lile; Albert F. Stevens; Mark A. Stevens; Robert R. Dewitt; Michael E. York; Roy E. Patterson |
| An apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail in a continuous and automatic procedure includes an operative combination of processing stations including an input station for receiving incoming mail in bulk fashion and for separating the pieces of mail for individual delivery to the remainder of the apparatus a station for detecting irregularities in the contents of the envelopes, such as metal items, folded contents, or oversized items; a station for outsorting envelopes rejected in accordance with determinations made at the detection station; a station for opening the envelopes, preferably along multiple edges; a station for removing the contents from the opened envelopes, for subsequent processing of the contents; and a series of stations for handling and orienting the contents for subsequent delivery to a plurality of output stackers. | ||||||
| 166 | Method and apparatus for sorting and acquiring image data for documents | US10007317 | 2001-11-05 | US20020104782A1 | 2002-08-08 | Robert R. DeWitt; George L. Hayduchok |
| An apparatus is provided for sorting documents contained with envelopes into selected batches of documents. An envelope feeder feeds a group of envelopes containing documents onto a document transport. A document extractor positioned along the path of movement extracts the documents from the envelopes. An orientation detector including a magnetic image reader and an optical image reader determines the orientation of selected documents along the path of movement. A document orientor changes the orientation of documents along the path of movement into a desired orientation. An image acquisition device acquires an image of the batch identification pieces and selected documents conveyed along the path of movement to enable the system controller to assign documents of selected transactions into selected batches. A non-volatile image storage medium stores the acquired images of the selected documents. The present invention also provides an apparatus for semi-automated processing of mail by severing an edge of each envelope in a stack of mail and presenting the edge-severed mail to an operator. The operator manually extracts the documents from each envelope and can then identify the type of transaction in the envelope. The operator then places the extracted documents into an input for an imaging device that acquires image data relating to the image of each document. A conveyor may be provided for conveying the documents from the imaging device to one or more output bins. | ||||||
| 167 | Article dimension measuring apparatus | US09627890 | 2000-07-28 | US06403907B1 | 2002-06-11 | Michiaki Tanimoto |
| An article classifying system includes a conveyor 9 for conveying mail pieces 1, a weighing conveyor 18, and a sorting conveyor 26. A length measuring unit 5 measures the length of the mail pieces while they are being conveyed by the conveyor 9. Also, the width and the thickness of the mail pieces are measured by a width measuring unit 4 and a thickness measuring unit 3. The weight of the mail pieces is measured by a weighing unit 6 while the mail pieces are being conveyed on the weighing conveyor 18. Then, a control unit classifies the mail pieces into categories according to their length, width, thickness and weight. | ||||||
| 168 | Apparatus for blocking tabbing feature of mail handling system and associated methods | US09752266 | 2000-12-29 | US20010036889A1 | 2001-11-01 | John R. Pinchin; Vince Kubert |
| An apparatus and methods for blocking a tabbing feature of a mail handling system are provided which preferably include a mail register positioned to register a plurality of pieces of mail being conveyed so that each selected edge of the plurality of pieces of mail aligns along a common path of travel, a mail presence detector positioned downstream from the mail register to detect the presence of each piece of mail as the piece of mail travels along the common path of travel, and a mail identifier positioned downstream from the mail detector and in communication with the mail detector to identify preselected pieces of mail which should not be tabbed. The apparatus also preferably includes a tab controller positioned in communication with the mail detector and the mail identifier to communicate to a tabber of a mail handling system to not tab the preselected pieces of mail. | ||||||
| 169 | Mailing machines | US09319515 | 1998-06-04 | US06230898B1 | 2001-05-15 | Edward Philip Duffy |
| A mailing machine including a scanner for detecting data marks printed on documents to be mailed for conveying control information to the machine, for example in the manner known as the “Optical Mark Recognition” system. The machine includes a memory buffer for storing data concerning the marks if the user inputs data indicating that the reference or “gate” mark is at the end of the group of marks. The data may then be read from the buffer in the reverse order. Thus, the data marks may be printed in the same position on all documents regardless of the fold configuration, and thus feed orientation, which is required. | ||||||
| 170 | Apparatus for blocking tabbing feature of mail handling system and associated methods | US09337699 | 1999-06-21 | US06224527B1 | 2001-05-01 | John R. Pinchin; Vince Kubert |
| An apparatus and methods for blocking a tabbing feature of a mail handling system are provided which preferably include a mail register positioned to register a plurality of pieces of mail being conveyed so that each selected edge of the plurality of pieces of mail aligns along a common path of travel, a mail presence detector positioned downstream from the mail register to detect the presence of each piece of mail as the piece of mail travels along the common path of travel, and a mail identifier positioned downstream from the mail detector and in communication with the mail detector to identify preselected pieces of mail which should not be tabbed. The apparatus also preferably includes a tab controller positioned in communication with the mail detector and the mail identifier to communicate to a tabber of a mail handling system to not tab the preselected pieces of mail. | ||||||
| 171 | Method and apparatus for feeding and tabbing intermixed pieces of mail | US08997565 | 1997-12-23 | US06196392B1 | 2001-03-06 | Steven Wynn Lopez; Daniel Wayne Barber |
| A method and apparatus are provided for feeding and tabbing intermixed pieces of mail. A method preferably includes positioning a plurality of intermixed pieces of mail having a plurality of different widths, lengths, and thicknesses so that each of the plurality of intermixed pieces of mail has a commonly-oriented edge to be tabbed. The commonly-oriented edge to be tabbed is preferably defined as being the side of a piece of mail generally perpendicular to the address orientation when reading the address of the piece of mail. The method also preferably includes positioning at least one tab on each of the plurality of intermixed pieces of mail. An apparatus for feeding and tabbing intermixed pieces of mail preferably includes an intermixed mail feeder for feeding a plurality of intermixed pieces of mail having a plurality of different widths, lengths, and thicknesses so that each of the plurality of intermixed pieces of mail has a commonly-oriented edge to be tabbed. The commonly-oriented edge to be tabbed is preferably defined as being the side of a piece of mail being generally perpendicular to the address orientation when reading the address of the piece of mail. The apparatus also preferably includes a tabber positioned downstream from the intermixed mail feeder and directly aligned with and adjacent the commonly-oriented edge to be tabbed for positioning at least one tab on each of the plurality of intermixed pieces of mail. | ||||||
| 172 | High speed document processing machine | US328450 | 1999-06-09 | US6131053A | 2000-10-10 | David Nyffenegger; Glen Allen Nester |
| The invention is directed to a high-speed document-processing machine, comprising a diverse-set-compilation section, comprising a burster having a local non-Distributed Control System controller; a reader and an accumulator having a reader/accumulator Distributed Control System Local Control Module; a folder and a diverter having a folder/diverter Distributed Control System Local Control Module; a buffer having a buffer Distributed Control System Local Control Module; wherein all of said Local Control Modules are interconnected via a multi-drop communication link; said burster local non-distributed control system is connected to said reader/accumulator Local Control Module via a communication link; and, said reader/accumulator Local Control Module is a Command Module including means for dynamically controlling the speed of said burster based on the state of one or more variables affecting the speed at which downstream devices can operate. | ||||||
| 173 | Method and apparatus for sorting and acquiring image data for documents | US160401 | 1998-09-25 | US06112902A | 2000-09-05 | George L. Hayduchok; Robert R. DeWitt; Albert F. Stevens |
| An apparatus is provided for sorting a group of documents contained with an envelope into selected batches of documents. An envelope feeder feeds a group of envelopes containing documents onto a document transport. A document extractor positioned along the path of movement extracts the documents from the envelopes. A system controller identifies the documents extracted from each respective envelope along with the respective envelope as a single transaction along the path of movement. An orientation detector including a magnetic image reader and an optical image reader determines the orientation of selected documents along the path of movement. A document orientor changes the orientation of documents along the path of movement into a desired orientation. An image acquisition device acquires an image of the envelopes and selected documents conveyed along the path of movement to enable the system controller to assign documents and the envelope from which it was extracted into selected transactions and batches. A non-volatile image storage medium stores the acquired images of the envelopes. A document sorter sorts the documents and envelopes of respective batches into selected output areas. | ||||||
| 174 | Method for the automated processing of ATM envelopes | US62220 | 1998-04-17 | US06003677A | 1999-12-21 | James E. Foley |
| A method of processing groups of envelopes that have contents contained therein. The method prints information on at least one side of an envelope and then separates that side from the rest of the envelope. The contents of each envelope are then placed adjacent to the separated side and assembled in series with other separated sides and contents. When the separated sides and contents are assembled, the separated sides act as a boundary between other envelopes, thus preventing the contents of the envelopes from becoming commingled with contents from other envelopes. The printed information on the separated side of the envelope provides an audit trail for subsequent processing. | ||||||
| 175 | Postage due detection system | US154167 | 1993-11-17 | US5943432A | 1999-08-24 | Jack R. Gilmore; Neil D. Graves |
| A coded postal stamp which carries machine readable indicia representative of a minimum postal denomination. The indicia may be in the form of a UPC code, special inks which can be scanned or specially placed numerals which are easily optically read. The method of the invention includes the steps of scanning postal material such as first class letters previously sorted, and detecting the presence of the coded stamp. Postal material having less than a predetermined denominational amount are rejected. | ||||||
| 176 | Method for processing mail in a sweepstakes contest | US754444 | 1996-11-21 | US5898153A | 1999-04-27 | Thomas A. Lagan; Charlie H. Sims |
| A method for automatically processing sweepstakes entries and mail orders is disclosed. The method reads a machine code identifying the sender and simultaneously detects orders from non-orders using a magnetic field detector, without opening the envelopes. The machine code is printed on the outside face of the envelope, or alternatively, on the reply insert itself, in which case it is visible through a die-cut window formed in the return envelope. When read, the machine code identifies the contestant and enters him or her into the sweepstakes. The returned envelopes are also fed through a sorter which magnetically detects whether each return envelope contains a magnetic order stamp. If the sorter detects a magnetic stamp, the envelope is routed to an order batch where the envelope is opened for order processing, otherwise the envelope is routed to a non-order batch. During the outgoing mail processing, a machine code indicative of the recipient may be preprinted on each carrier envelope or reply insert. This code may be read and used to print a machine code corresponding thereto on the return envelope. The return envelope and the reply insert, along with order stamps each having a magnetic ink layer, are inserted into the carrier envelope and mailed out to the recipient. | ||||||
| 177 | Automated mail extraction and remittance processing | US969188 | 1997-11-13 | US5842693A | 1998-12-01 | Albert F. Stevens; Mark A. Stevens; Robert R. Dewitt; William R. Lile; Michael E. York; Jeffrey L. Chodack; Roy E. Patterson |
| In a method for the automated processing of bulk mail, envelopes are transferred to a receiving apparatus in bulk fashion (from incoming mail trays or the like) for the extraction of documents contained by the envelopes, and the extracted documents are delivered to a remittance processing device, preferably both automatically and without the need for human intervention. Subsequent processing of the extracted documents within the remittance processing device then proceeds in usual fashion, completing the acquisition of information which is necessary to ready such documents for deposit into the banking system. Also disclosed are various presorting functions so that only envelopes containing documents of a specified type will be fully processed, other sorting functions such as the identification of specific types of documents (invoices or checks) for separate processing, and the use of a single extraction device to deliver extracted documents to either one, or a series of remittance processing devices. If desired, a buffer is provided which can receive and temporarily store documents received from the extraction device, for appropriate delivery to the remittance processing device responsive to demand. | ||||||
| 178 | System and method for mail run processing on multiple inserters | US637881 | 1996-04-25 | US5777883A | 1998-07-07 | Mariano R. Lau; Clare E. Woodman |
| A method of processing a mail run on a plurality of inserter systems, including first and second inserter systems, comprising the following steps. A mail run data file (MRDF) is downloaded to a file server. Documents comprising mailpieces of the mail run are scanned at each of the plurality of inserter systems. Each of the documents are scanned for an MRDF ID and a mailpiece ID. A MRDF data block is requested from the file server by each of the inserter systems based on the MRDF ID and mailpiece ID scanned at each of the plurality of inserter systems. The file server verifies that the respective request from each of the inserter systems has data available for the requested mailpiece ID and that the requested mailpiece ID has not been processed by any of the plurality of inserter systems. The file server allocates the requested MRDF data block respectively to each of the inserter systems when the data is available and the requested mailpiece has not been processed. Each inserter system uses mailpiece data from the respective MRDF data block to create a mailpiece at each of the plurality of inserter systems. The file server denies allocation of the MRDF data block requested by a first inserter system when the data is not available or when the requested MRDF data block has already been processed by a second inserter system. | ||||||
| 179 | Automated insert verification for inserting machine and method | US565219 | 1995-11-30 | US5730299A | 1998-03-24 | Thomas H. Helsley |
| An automation and verification device for an insert machine which assembles stacks of inserts. The inserts are located in electronically selectable hoppers and are encoded with an electronically readable sort code. The automation and verification device has a controller unit, a first code scanner and a second code scanner, and a program executed on the controller unit. The controller unit has a microprocessor and an electronic memory circuit. The controller unit is electrically connected to the insert machine such that the electronically selectable hoppers can be controlled by the controller unit. The first and the second code scanners are mounted on the insert machine such that the scanners are oriented to read the sort code on the inserts. The code read by the first scanner is interpreted by the program which responds by designating a job set of hoppers for inserts to be taken from. When the job set encounters the second code scanner, the code read is verified against a value stored in a table located in the electronic memory circuit. In a further aspect of the invention, if an error occurs, the insert job is halted so the error may be corrected and continued after the error is corrected. | ||||||
| 180 | System having multiple user input stations and multiple mail preparation apparatus for preparing and franking a mail piece | US453301 | 1995-05-31 | US5684706A | 1997-11-04 | James L. Harman; Flavio M. Manduley |
| A system for producing mail pieces. The system includes a plurality of apparatus each having a first printer for printing documents and a second printer for printing envelopes and a mail finishing unit for receiving the printed documents from the first printer and the envelopes printed with corresponding addresses from the second printer and inserting the documents into the envelope to form and frank a mail piece, and a plurality of user input stations. The apparatus operates under the control of a single stream of job data from a mail center controller, where the job data includes a job header defining default mail piece attributes and mail piece records which include document data and address data, and which may include specific mail piece attribute data for each corresponding mail piece. The apparatus control mechanism partitions the data stream and controls the first printer to print the documents while controlling the second printer to separately print the envelopes which are moved along a separate path to an insert station where the mail piece is formed. The system also includes data stores of postal rates and of per item weights of items of materials used to form mail pieces which are used to calculate postage values for mail pieces. | ||||||
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