Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE
AUTO~ATIC HAIL-PROCESSING DEVICE WITH FULL FUNCTIONS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
s
The present invention relates to an automatic mail-
processing device with full functions, and more particularly
to an automatic mail-processing device which can be operated
by onlY one postal clerk to perform all delivery types and
additional service types of all kinds of mails~ and the
functions of which include automatical weighing, postage
calculation, charging, postage stanping, receipt printing,
register receipt printing and regular dailY, weekly, monthly
income listing ~hereby the postal business can be practiced
systematically, automatically, accuratelY and highly
; efficiently.
The mail-receiving and mail deliverying operations in
current Post Office are quite complicated. They can be
sorted according to their characters as follows:
(1) mail character: letter, printed matter, small packet,
commercial document, small packet,
electronic mail, etc.
~ (2) delivery area: domestic, international (further divided
into various districts or countries).
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~3) delivery type: air, sea/land, land/air, regular.
(4) service type: coDDon, registert special, insure,
declare, delivery advice, attest, express,
prompt delivery, etc.
(5) receiver/deliver amount: individual or bulk.
(6) charging manner: according to weight or number, also
considering mail character, delivery
area, delivery manner, service type,
and receive/deliver amount to charge
generally.
lS The above-mentioned various procedures are managed
through respective counters wherein the weighing is
practiced according to different standards, and the postage
is calculated according to complex charge list, and
therefore the eguipments needed in these procedures are
quite complicated and not so easily maintained. Horeover,
the numberous procedures waste enormous labor and are apt to
cause an uneven work distribution and low working efficiency
and thereby errors occur frequently. Particularly the
mailer always wastes a lot of time when waiting.
Furthermore, the postage stamps used in general post
offices are transmitted to the postal counter after the
following sequential complex procedures: design, printing,
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storing, delivery and receiving. These procedures are
performed at guite high expense. Horeover, when mailing a
mail, the mailer must go through weighing, postage
calculation, buying the stamp, attaching the stamp to the
mail, and then dropping the Dail into the mail box, etc.
The dispatched mail must thereafter be checked for ovQr-
weight, postage due, and then stamped, sorted, etc.
Considerable large work loading results therefrom. Nowever,
the aforesaid procedures have been adopted long since.
Although the post administrations of various countries have
tried to improve the defective operation, but nothing
innovative is developed.
It it therefore tried by the applicant to develop the
present automatic mail-processing device to eliminate the
aforesaid shortcomings existing in conventional mail-
processing system.
SUHMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to
provide an automatic intelligent mail-processing device with
full functions. The operations thereof are coopletely
computerized and adapted to cooperate with peripheral
equipoents such as printer, card reader/writer and key board
assembly, etc. Besides the Dail receiving operation, the
present device can print automatically the receipts in every
managing stops and perform business statistics and listing
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to thoroughtly replace the current postal table operations
and peripheral operations thereof and achieve an innovative
mail-processing procedure.
It is a further obiect of the present invention to
provide the above mail-processing device ~herein the postage
stamping operation and the postage calculation are both
greatly improved and simplified, and the steel stamp
required by securities is maintained and controlled by
microprocessor programs.
It is still a further obiect of the present invention
to provide the above mail-processing device wherein the
standard mail, which occupies at least about 70% of total
mails, can be weighed during conveyance automatically, and
then sent to the postage stamping area for stamping, whereby
the problem of discontinuity between weighing and stauping
procedures existing in conventional mail-processing machine
is overcome revolutionarily.
It is still a further object of the present invention
to provide the above mail-processing device wherein in case
that the device is disposed in a sub-post office or other
business office, it can be controlled remotely or on line by
remote host, and the data stored in each processing device
can be transmitted to the remote host or control center of
head~post office for completely controlling the operation of
each processing device. Therefore, the present device can
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be operated with least labor and at minimum expense.
It is still a further object of the present invention
to provide the above mail-processing device uherein the
functions thereof can be freely increased or decreased
according to various market reguirements, ~ail varieties,
and service levers, etc., and moreover, the present device
can be alternatively assembled within same spirit to satisfy
various special market requirements.
The present invention can be best understood through
the follDwing description and accompanying drawings wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figs. lA to lD are system block diagrams of four
embodiments of the present invention;
Figs. 2A and 2B are flow charts of operation of the
present invention;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the conveying device
and weighing device of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a plan view according to Fig. 3, showing a
first operation state;
Fig. 5 is a plan view according to Fig. 3, showing a
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second operation state;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the digital mark-
printer assembly of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the main shaft and
numeral wheel, illustrating the operation thereof:
Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the printing
head of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a side plan view of the digital mark-printer
assembly of the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a overall top plan view of an embodiment of
the present invention;
Fig. 11 is a front plan view according to Fig. 10;
Fig. 12 is a side plan view according to Fig. 10;
Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of the mechanis- center
according to Fig. 10;
Fig. 14 shows the domestic key board arrangement
according to Fig. 10; and
Fig. 15 shows the international key board arrange~ent
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according to Fig. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED Eh80DIHENTS
Referring to Fig. lA, a first embodiment of the present
automatic ~ail processing system includes a microprocessor
10, a display device 720, a printer 780, a keyboard system
70, an auto-conveying device 30 and a postage stamp device
25, vherein the microprocessor having a micro processor main
control unit includes a display I/F (interface) circuit ll
controlling the display device 720, a printer I/F CKT
(circuit) 14 commanding the printer 780 to work, a key board
system I/F CKT 18 capable of receiving commands from keY
board system 70 and communicating therewith, an auto-
conveying device I/F CKT 19 used to control auto-conveying
device 30 and receive signals therefrom and communicate
therewith, a parallel bus ZZ related to and communicated
uith the auto-conveying device I/F CKT 19 and a parallel bus
I/F CKT 22A, a postage stamp device I/F CKT 20 used to
control auto-postage stamp device 25 and receive signals
therefrom and communicate therewith, and a parallel bus 21
related to and communicated with the postage stamp device
I/F CKT 20 and a parallel bus I/F CKT 21A. As shown in
Fig. lA, the postage stamp device 25 includes a postage
stamp device control SW (switch) 25A, a postage stamp device
control unit 25B, a sensor CKT Z5C, a sensor I/F CKT 25E, a
sensor S5, S6, a driver CKT 25D, a driver I/F CKT Z5F and a
driver Z51, 253. Z56, etc. While the auto-conveying device
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30 includes an auto-conveying device control SW 30A, an
auto-conveying device control unit 30B, a sensor CKT 30C, a
sensor I/F CKT 30E, a sensor S1-S4, a driver CKT 30D, a
driver I/F CKT 30F and a driver 300, wherein the auto-
postage stamp device 25 transmits the signals obtained bysensors S5, S6 through the sensor I/F CKT 25E, sensor CKT
25C to auto-postage stamp device cGntrol unit 25B, auto-
postage stamp device control SW 25A, and then the signals
are converted into effective commands via the programs of
the microprocessor and sent to the driver CKT 25D, driver
I/F CKT 25F to command the drivers 251, 253, 256 to operate
in accordance with the commands. While the auto-conveying
device 30 also transmits the signals obtained by sensors
Sl-S4 through the sensor I/F CKT 30E, sensor CKT 30C to the
auto-conveying device control unit 30B, auto-conveying
device control S~ 30A, and then the signals are converted
into effective commands via the programs of the
microprocessor and sent to the driver CKT 30D and driver I/F
CKI' 30F to command the driver 300 to operate according to
the command.
.
Further referring to Fig. lB, a second embodiment of
the present invention is shown. A weighing scale 500 is
added to the system, and a ~eighing scale I/F CKT 12 is
added to the microprocessor 10 for receiving signals from
the weighing scale 500. The remaining parts are identical
to the first embodiment and the description thereof is
therefore omitted.
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A third embodiment of the Present invention is shown in
Fig. lC. A postage label supply device 60 and a postage
label supply device I/F CKT 16 adapted to comnand the
postage label supply device 60 and receive signals therefrom
S and communicate therewith are added to the second embodiment
to form the third embodiment.
A fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown
in Fig. lD. The fourth embodiment is achieved by adding to
the third embodiment a card reader/writer 711, a remote host
150, a money receiver 710, an Asynchronous I~F CKT 13
capable of receiving signals from card reader/~riter,
controlling the same and communicating therewith, a host I/F
CKT 15 capable of connecting to the remote host 150 via a
moden 151 or communcating with the remote host 150
wirelessly, and a money receiver I/F CKT 17 capble of
receiving signals from the money receiver 710 and
controlling the same.
As set forth above, the display 720, weighing scale
500, printer 780 and facsimile 150A can be added according
to actual requirements, while the remote host 150, card
reader/writer 711 and money receiver 710 can be removed in
accordance with different situations.
Please now refer to Figs. 2A and 2B. The operation of
one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by a
flow chart. The operation procedures of the present
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invention are generally divided into four types wherein ths
first thereof is the processing of Neight-counting standard
mail; the second is the processing of weight-counting non
standard mail; the third is the processing of sheet-counting
charged mail; the fourth is the processing of electronic
mail. With respect to the weight-counting standard mail,
the processing thereof starts from Fl and goes to panel
clearance F2 and stand by F3. When going to electronic mail
F4 and sheet-counting charged mail F5 and a negative signal
is given, the processing goes to standard mail F6. When a
posititve signal is given thereafter by means of pressing a
"standard mail" key, the microprocessor lO then commands the
system to operate according to the preset "standard mail"
procedure. The standard mail is thereby sent to a first
weighing scale F7. The operator then inputs relevant
informations of the standard mail (such as deliverYing
manner, service division, register, or insured value, etc.)
into the microprocessor 10, ~hich thereafter calculates the
postage according to these informations via preset programs.
If a positive signal is given in bulk mail procedure F10, a
bulk mail command must be input to enable the procedure to
go to the bulk mail procedure F101. The total postage mail
then be displayed on the display 720 in procedure Fll.
In case of individual standard mail, the procedure will
go directly from F9 to F11. After the postage payment
procedure F12, all commands are checked for correction, and
if so, the actuating key is pressed in procedure F13. At
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this ti~e, the microprocessor uill command the postage stamp
device to automatically set the nu~eral wheels thereof into
proper date and postage in procedure F16. When a Positive
signal is given in standard mail procedure F17, the mail is
conveyed to the printing position in mail conveying
procedure F18. In procedure Fl9, the postage is imprinted
on the mail. (The mails can be sorted if necessarY. This
procedure is not shown in Fig. 2B.) Thereafter, the postage
stamp device is zeroed in procedure F20. The printer will
then print a receipt and certificate in procedures F21 and
F22, and then the above relevant data are stored in
procedure F23. Simultaneously, the receipt, money card and
other documents are given to the customer in procedure F24
and the whole procedure ends in procedure F25.
According to the above procedure, in case of a non
standard mail, the procedurè will go from F6 to a second
weighing scale procedure F71 and relevant comDands are input
according to identical manner in procedure F81. In
procedure F9, the postage is calculated by microprocessor
and the procedure goes froD F10 to F17. Because of non
standard mail, the microprocessor 10 will co~mand the
postage stamp device to supply a blank postage label and
enter the label into printing position for imprinting from
procedure F180 to procedure F190. The following procedure
is the same procedure as the above-mentioned one and the
description thereof is therefore omitted.
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In case of sheet-counting charged mail, a position
signal is given in procedure F5, and a sheet-counting
command will be input in procedure F72. ~hen relevant
com~ands respecting the mail are input in procedure F82, the
procedure will go from F9 to F13. Since weighing is
unnecessary in the sheet-counting case, the procedure will
go directly from F14 to F17 after postage payment, and then
go to F17, F18, F19, F20 or F17, F180, Fl90, F20 according
to standard mail or non standard mail procedure. The
procedure goes finally to F21, F22 and ends after printing
the receipt.
As to electronic mail, when a positive signal is given
in procedure F4, and the electronic mail co~mand is input in
procedure F73, the commands of the mail can be input in
procedure F83. Thereafter, when procedure goes from Fll to
F13, since weighing i5 not necessary, the procedure will go
directly from F14 to F22 to print the certificate after
postage payment. The following procedure is identical to
aforesaid one and the description thereof is therefore
omitted.
To easily understand the postal material-managing
process of the present invention, two main portions thereof,
i.e., automatic weighing device for conveyed postal material
and automatic postage stamp device are described in detail
as follows:
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Referring to Figs. 3 to 5, one enbodiment of the
automatic weighing device 23 for postal aaterial in
conveyance according to the present invention is
illustrated. As shown in Fig. 3, the device 23 of the
present invention comprises a conveying device 30 and a
weighing scale 500, wherein the conveying device 30 includes
a driving neans 300, for example, a motor, a first conveying
means 301A and a corresponding first idle wheel 310 thereof,
a second conveying means 301B and a corresponding second
idle wheel 201A, a third conveying means 301C and a
corresponding third idle wheel 201B, a fixed stand 400, a
movable stand 200 with a pair of rocking arms 120 (see Figs.
4 and 5), and a weighing scale 500 located under the movable
stand 200, and a first sensor Sl located before the first
conveying means 301A (see Fig. 4) and a aecond sensor S4
located after the third conveying means 301C.
A novel aspect of the present invention is the ovable
stand 200 that includes a supporting stand uith a
rectangular opening 208 in the middle portion thereof. At
both ends of tb opening 208 there are disposed the second
and third idle wheels 201A and 201B that are in cooperative
relationship with the second and third conveyin~ means 301B
and 301C respectively to convey a standard Dail L to be
weighed.
Referring to Fig. 4. A ovable end 122 of each of a
pair of front and rear rocking arms 120 is pivotally
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connected at each end of the movable stand 200~ The other
end of each rocking arm 120 is pivotally cunnected at a
pivot 101. A pair of electromagnetic actuators 100, such as
a solenoid, is connected to the middle portion of the front
rocking arm 120. When the electromagnetic actuator 100 is
activated, the movable end 122 is pulled down with the pivot
101 as a ~ulcrum. Since the moving stand 200 is attached to
the movable ends 122 of both of the rocking arms 120, both
movable ends 122 are actuated and descend simultaneouslY to
move stand 200 to a lower horizontal plane~ As best sho~n
in Fig. 4, the second and third idle wheels 201A and 201B
are connected to move with the movable stand 200 in vertical
planes corresponding to the second and third conveying means
301B and 301C, respectively. The first conveying means 301A
precedes the second conveying means 301B. The driving means
300, e.g. a stepping motor, drives the first, second and
third conveying means. The first conveying means 301A is
urged by a first pulley 302 (Fig. 3) and a first conveying
belt 303 thereof. Referring again to Fig. 3, the second
and third conveying means 301B, 301C are urged by second
pulley 304, a second conveying belt 305, third pulley 306,
and a third conveying belt 307.
Disposed beneath the opening 208 of the movable stand
200 is the weighing scale 500. A weighing plate 501 of the
weighing scale 500 is Positioned above the main body of the
weighing scale with its surface a little lower than the
movable stand 200 so that the weighing plate 501 does not
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obstruct the conveyance of the article to be weighed.
The operation of the weighing device 23 of the present
invention can best be understood by referring to Figs. 3
through 5. Prior to reaching the first conveying means 301A
and first idle wheel ~eans 310, mail L comes in contact ~ith
the first sensor Sl, such as photo-sensor, and the driving
means 300 is actuated to convey oail L to a position to be
weighed, as shown in Figs. 4 (initial position) and 5
(weighing position). In the positions shown in Figs. 4 and
5, the electromagnetic actuator 100 is not activated.
Therefore, the movable ends 122 of the rocking arms 120, due
to the force of the springs 104, urge the second and third
idle uheels 201A, 201B upward and in close contact with the
second and third conveying ~eans 301B, 301C, whereby the
mail L can be delivered onto the movable stand 200 as shown
in Fig. 4.
When the mail L reaches the front edge of the second
sensor S4 the second sensor S2 sends a sensor signal to
actuator 100. The electromagnetic actuator 100 is thereby
activated and the movable end 122 of the related rocking arm
120 is pulled down lowering ovable stand 200 and the
movable end of the other rocking arm. The mail L to be
weighed is then seated on the weighing plate 501 of the
weighing scale 500, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The weighing
scale can weigh the mail L, and display the result on the
display means of the weighing scale 500 via microprocessor
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10 or send out a signal to perform some other control
functions.
After a pre-set time period following measurement of
the object's weight, the electromagnetic actuator 100 will
be deactivated, and both rocking ar~s 120 are ~rawn back by
the force of the springs 104 and the movable stand 200 i5
restored to its initial positon. The mail L, having been
weighed, is again held between the second and third idle
wheels 201A, 201B and the second and third conveying meaDs
301B, 301C, and thus continues to be conveyed into digital
mark-printer 25.
It should be emphasized that by using this invention
the mail L is weighed automatically in conveyance and in
weighing position, the movable stand 200 is indicated to
descend, preventing the mail L from contacting other
portions and the result can be transmitted to a computer for
analysis via the weighing device interface circuit 12.
After weighing, the movable stand 200 automatically returns
to its home position.
Turning now to Figs. 6 to 9, an embodiDent of the
postage stamp device 25 of this invention is shown. The
printer 25 includes a conveying system and a postmark
printing system wherein the conveying system is arranged
above and below a conveying reference surface Al, including
a main driving means of the conveying system, for example, a
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first stepper motor 251, driving a first roller 2512 and a
second roller 2513 through timing belts 2510 and 2511
respectively, as shown in Fig. 6. Referring to Fig. 6,
there are installed an idle roller 2514 with a stretching
spring above the first roller 2512 and an idle roller 2515
above the second roller 2513. The post mark printing syste~
is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, including a main shaft driving
means 256 e.g. a second stepper motor 256, pulleys 2561,
2563, a ti~ing belt 2562, a main shaft 2505, on which a
plurality of second racks 2504 are slidably mounted, a
plurality of stepper motors 253A,... 253H for driving their
respective numeral wheels 271, 272 through their respective
related gears means 253A4... 253H4, ink-printing means 40,
a printing head 27, and an idle roller 2516 ther~of (see
Figs. 6, to 9). The printing head 27, as seen in Fig. 8,
includes a postmark wheel means 271 for imprinting postage,
a postmark wheel means 272 for imprinting accepted date, a
graphical postmark means 273 for imprinting advertising
marks.
Referring to Fig. 7, the postmark wheel means of
postage 271 further comprises a numeral wheel 2711, a gear
2712 attached therewith, a first rack 2713 engaged with the
gear 2712, a guiding bar 2714 for the rack 2713 to move
thereon, and a hooking arm 2715. The lower end of the
hooking arm is secured to a recess 2506 of a second rack
2504. In order to restore the main shaft 2505 to its home
position after the completion of postmarking, an encoder
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2~4A and a main driver sensor 234 are disposed near the
driving portion of the second stepper motor 256. SimilarlY,
in order to assure that the stepper motor 253A properly
drives the corresponding character wheel 2711, an encoder
253A1 and a first wheel driver sensor 231 are disposed
thereon.
Prior to the entering of postal material into the
conveying system, the Printing head 27 is zeroed to its home
position (not shown) wherein a motor 251 is the prime
driving source of the conveying syste~. As shown in
Fig. 9, disposed between the first roller 2512 and printing
head 27 is a sensor S6 whereby after a postal material L
passes through the sensor S6, the CPU 10 will actuate the
printing head 27. Below the printing head 27 is a third
idle wheel 2516 uith stretching spring in order that the
postal material L have a close contact with the nuneral
wheel 271 of the printing head 27, as shown in Fig. 9.
As to the inking to be applied to the nuoeral wheel
271, it will be carried out by a printing ink means 40, as
shown in Fig. 9. The ink means 40 includes an ink tank 45,
a first roller 44A, a second roller 47, a third roller 41
and an adiusting means 48. ~he ink means 40 pertains to
prior art and the description thereof is therefore oEitted
herein.
As can be seen in Fig. 9, when the postal material L
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is forwarded to be printed by the printing head 27, due to
the spring effect of the first, second and third idle wheels
2514, 2515, 2516 the printing effect is equally excellent
regardless of the thinkness of the printed postal material.
This should be considered as an advantage of this invention
over prior art.
The disclosure going thus far is made only with rsspect
to a printing head with one nuneral wheel, in practical
operation, however, the device works with four numeral
wheels or more than four numeral uheels arranged as two or
more than t~o parallel sets, wherein one set functions as
date numeral wheel, the other as postal charge numeral
wheel, as shown in Fig. 8. Yarious arrangement between a
plurality of stspper motors 253A - 253F and their relatsd
second racks 2504A - 2504F for each set of character wheels
can be arranged easily. As can be understood, ~ore
character wheels mentioned above can be arranged in
accordance with the need.
It has to be pointed out that a relatively s~aller
diameter portion 2505B of the main shaft 2505 of the
printing head is in alignnent with that where tbe driving
gear 253A4 is located, as shown in Fig. 7. It will be seen
fro~ the drawing, the outer perineter of the relatively
snaller diameter portion 2505~, iust comes flush with the
dented base 2502 of the second rack 2504, so that after
respective stepper ~otors 253A - 253N are located at their
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proper positions and the Dain shaft 2505 of the printing
head rotates, the second racks 2504 and the relatively
smaller diaDter portions 2505B can slip through the driving
gear 253A4. In other words, tbe second rack 2504 for
driving the character wheels of the printing head 27 can
slide axially along the oain shaft 2505, and also can rotate
together with the main shaft 2505 after reaching its proper
position, thus smoothing the work of the printing head 2~
and reducing the very coDplicated machanism as needed in the
cases of prior art work. This should also be concluded as
one of the ~ost important feature of this invention.
To further understand the present invention, the
automatic mail-Processing system thereof is described as a
whole as follows:
Please refer to Figs. 10 to 12, which illustrate the
appearance of the present invention. The front portion of
the Dain body H of the auto~atic ~ail-processing systeD is
faced to the postal clerks, while the rear portion thereof
is faced to the customers norDally. A guide rail 309 for
bulk standard mail is disposed on the left front portion of
the main body H. On the right side of the guide rail 309 is
disposed a ~echanism center ~. Above the mechanism center ~
is located a first display device 720, and after tbe center
is located a second display device 720A. The ~echanis~
center ~ includes the automatic conveying device 30, the
first weighing scale SOO and settable auto~atic postage
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stamp device 25. On the right side of the mechanisa center
is disposed a collecting tank 21 for collecting processed
postage label and bulk mails. Adiacent to the tank 21 is
disposed the second ueighing scale 500A. The weighing
scales of the present invention are electronic weighing
scales applying load cells as ~eight sensors. The second
weight values are converted and displayed on the first and
second display devices 720, 720A via the ~eighing scale
I/F CKT 12 and microporcessor 10. To reach the object of
communication between postal clerks and customers, the two
display devices 720, 720A are disposed respectively on the
front and back sides of-the mechanism center to show the
data about mail weight, postage calculation, postage
payment, and other inner state indications (such as
insufficient ink, lack of postage label, over ~eight, etc.)
on both the first and second display devices 720, 720A.
As shown in Fig. 10, a key board system 70 is located
on the front upper right portion of the main body, including
domestic mail command input key board 730, international
mail command input key board 740, bulk mail coDmand input
key board 750 and actuating key 770. On the front left
portion of the main body is disposed the money receiver 710
including the card reader/writer 711, holding key 712,
accumulating key 713 and cash key 714. On the front right
portion of the main body is disposed the printer assembly
780 including receipt printers 782, 781, finacial list
printer 783, etc. A power switch 760 is located on the left
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side of the printer assembly 780 to control the operation
power of the present invention. Furthermors, a facsimile
600 is located at the right end portion of the main body for
transmision of the electronic mails.
Please now refer to Fig. 13, which illustrates the
mechanism center H of the present invention. The mechanism
center N essentially includes the automatic weighing device
23 and automatic postage stamp device 25, uhich have been
described in preceding paragraph.
It should be noted that to prevent mails with abnormal
length from affecting the normal operation of the present
invention, a set of sensors Sl to S5 are provided whereby
when a mail enters the system and is sensed by sensor Sl,
and the driver 300 consequentlY rotates to convey the mail
forward, if sensor S2 senses the mail while sensor S3 does
not sensè, it indicates a too short mail, then the driver
300 will reversely rotate to reiect the mail. Moreover,
when sensor S5 senses the mail while sensor Sl remains in
sensing condition, a too long mail is indicated and the
driver 300 also reverselY rotates to reject the mail.
Therefore, mails not meet length regulation will be removed
in advance. This arrangement is a characteristic of the
present invention.
As shown in Fig. 13, this embodiment of the present
invention is generally identical to the embodiment shown in
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Figs. 3 to 9. However, the first conveying means 301A,
first idle wheel 310 thereof, first pulleY 302 and second
pulley 304 are omitted in this eDbodi3ent, and a direct
driving manner is applied therein. While in the auto-atic
postage sta~p device, the second roller 2513 and second idle
roller 2515 are omitted, and the driver 300 of the automatic
weighing device is alternatively located between the second
and third rollers 301B, 301C to simultaneously drive the
rollers 2514, 2512 for simplifying the driving mechanism.
Additionally, a gate 308 is disposed at entrance 309 of the
uechanism center H to prevent processed mails from
interference of successive mails. The ink device 40 of the
preceding embodiment is of pump type, but is of roller type
in this embodiment. Furthermore, in this embodiment, to
apply postage label to the non standard mail instead of
direct postage stamp, a blank postage label supplying device
60 is disposed between the idle wheel 2516 and first roller
2512, and a movable guider 61 and brush ember 62 are
arranged at the exit of the printing head 27. Below the
brush member 62 is disposed a water tank 63. When applying
water to the back of postage label for attaching the same to
the mail, the movable guider 61 can be pressed down manually
(as shown in Fig. 13) or be controlled electromagnetically
and synchronized with supplying device 60 whereby the
postage label uith postage stamp can be guided through a
guide channel 64 when the guider 61 is Pressed downward to
be brushed by the brush member 62 and pass through an exit
65 to go into a collecting tank 21 as mentioned above.
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Please now further refer to Figs. lO, ll, 14 and 15.
The key board system 70 of the present invention is arranged
on the front right surface of the main body, serving as the
operation controlling center of the present invention. The
operation command input, state display, and the final
receipt and list printing are all accomplished via the key
board system. The keg board system 70 includes primarily
the money receiver 710, domestic mail command input key
board 730, international mail command input key board 740,
bulk mail amount command input key board 750, power switch
760, actuating key 770 and printer assembly 780. The
structures and functions thereof are described as follows:
l. The ~oney receiver 710, as shoun in Fig. ll, includes
the card reader/writer 711, holding key 712,
accumulating key 713, and cash keY 714 four
components, uherein the card reader/writer 711 is a
conventional device, uhich can read the balance amount
of money on the money card and subtract the postage
therefrom and then write down the new rest value.
During this procedure, the relevant data are processed
by cicroprocessor via RS232 interface and displaged on
display device 720, 720A. Horeove, the income amount
signal is transmitted to printer assembly 780 via
microprocessor, serving as the basis for single mail
receipt and list printing. If multiple mails are
mailed at a ti~e, and the ~ailer reguires that all
postages be printed on one receiPt~ he can press the
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accumulating key 713, whereby the microprocessor will
receive this command and print the accusulated postage
on one receipt. For example, Nhen a first ~oneY card
can not totally pay the needed Doney and a second
money card is required to pay the rest money, the
holding key 713 can be pressed after first money card
payrent. If the rest money is paid by cash or at a
time, the cash key 714 can be pressed after cash
paynent.
According to the above arrangeDent, the money receiver
710 of the present invention is operated utterly by
microprocessor and all income varieties can be listed
by printer 782.
2. The domestic mail key board 730, as sho~n in Fig. 14,
includes command input of all kinds of domestic mails,
such as ~ail size sorting key 7301, selecting key
7302, rejecting key 7303 and correcting key 7304. If
the operation is incorrect, the correcting key 7304
can be pressed to restart the operation. The keys
7305 to 7307 are nail delivery type selecting keys and
keys 7308 to 7312 are mail rough sorting keys
including mail key 7308, express key 7309, commercial
document key 7310, small package key 7311 and
electronic document key 7312, etc. Keys 7313 to 7316
are fine sorting keys of mail key 7308, including
letter heY 7313, printing key 7314, blindness key 7315
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2049407
and small packet key 7316. While keys 7317 to 7323
are service division keys for mail keg 7308, including
register key 7317, express key 7318, insure keys I and
II 7319, 7320, declare key 7321, delivery advice key
7322, and attest key 7323. Keys 7324, 7325 are local/
outgoing postage calculation sorting keys for express
key 7309, and keYs 7326 to 7329 are service division
keys for commercial document key 7310, including
regular key 7326, general register key 7327, siuple
register key 7328 and delivery advice key 7329, etc.
Keys 7330 to 7337 are delivery area/service division
keys for small package key 7311, including express keY
7330, register key 7331, insure key 7332, declare 7333
and delivery advice key 7334, etc. Keys 7335 to 7337
are first area, second area~ and third area keys
according to delivery area division. While keys 7338
to 7341 are key group for electronic mail key 7312 and
attest mail keY 7323. Since these t~o mails are
sheet-counting charged mail, therefore tbey are
operated by the follo~ing keys, i.e., a first numeral
key group 7339, correcting key 7340 and input keY
7341, and the result thereof are displayed on a third
display device 7338 for operator's checking. For
example, when operating, if the sheet nu~ber of the
2S mail is input via one of the ten numeral keys of the
numeral key group 7339, the data ~ill be displayed on
the third disPlay device 7338. After identified
visually, the input key 7341 is then pressed. If an
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Z~ 7
error is found, the correcting key 7340 then is
depressed to restart the operation. The sheet nu~ber
is trans~itted to the microprocessor for calculation
of proper postage ~hen depressing the input key 7341.
3. The international mail key board 740, as shown in Fig.
15, includes all international mail command inputs,
wherein most thereof are identical to the dooestic key
board 730, but the following keys are added to or
changed in the sorting key of the mail ksY 7408: a
print material special envelope key 7415, news key
7416, Hong Rong/Hacao key 7422, Asia Main Land key
7423, Europe/Africa/Central South ADerica key 7424
and A~erica/Canada key 7425. Moreover, on the sorting
key of the express key 7409 are alternatively arranged
a delivery advice key 7426, Hong Kong/Macao key 7427,
Asia key 7428, and Europe/Anerica/Africa key 7429. On
the sorting key of the commercial document key 7410
are alternatively arranged Asia key, etc. 7430 to
7432, and on the sorting key of the small package key
7411 are additionallY arranged input keys 7433 to 7446
of areas of East Asia I, East Asia II, East South
Asia, West South Asia, Oceania, ~iddle Near East, East
Europe, West Europe, Hiddle South America, Africa,
North America, South Africa, etc. Similarly, on the
electronic mail key 7412 are additionally arranged
input keys 7461 to 7463 of areas of Asia, North
America, Europe/Africa/South America/Middle Near East,
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etc. The operation manner and use obiect of the above
keys are identical to the precedinglY described
internal key group 730, and the descriPtion thereof is
therefore omitted.
4. The bulk mail amount com~and input key board 750, as
shown in Fig. lO, includes bulk ~ail key 751, numeral
key group (consist of O to 9 ten numeral keys) and
correcting key 753. When Dailing bulk mails, the bulk
mail key 751 and numeral key group 752 are dePressed.
The correcting key 753 performs the same function as
that described above.
5. The power switch 760 is the main power switch of the
present invention, and a lock set can be disposed
therson for security.
6. The actuating key 770 priaarily perfor~s the function
that when all the inputs are accomplished by the kays
on the operation panel, the actuating key 770 is
depressed to enable the other portions of the present
invention to practice the weighing, postage
calculation, postage stamping, money receiving,
receipt or certificate printing, datum storage, etc.
7. As described above and shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the
microprocessor is the operation center of the pressnt
invention, wherein the CPU and EPROM thereof are
:
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.
.
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provided Rith programs recording the required postage
table, postage calculation manner, sorting of delivery
area and postags calculation, Danaging manner of bulk
mail, sheet-counting charged mail calculation manner,
receipt and incoDe list and inner/outer operation
~anner in advance, whereby via the key board system
70, the operation, control, check, calculation,
judgement, analysis, execution, performance, datuD
storage, printing, etc. of the present invention can
all be practiced cnnveniently. Therefore, the present
invention can serve as a completely intelligent
automatic mail-processing system with full functions.
To best understand the aforesaid functions of the
present invention, an example is set forth as follows:
If a mailer wants to send an insured express air mail
with standard envelope to France, when the ~ailer passes the
mail to a postal clerk, as shown in Figs. 10 and 15, the
clerk can depress the standard Dail key ?401 on tbe
international key board 740, the air mail key 7405 thereof,
mail key 7408, express key 7419, insure key 7420, and
Europe/Africa/Hiddle South America key 7424 thereof, and
then depress actuating key 770 to co~plete the conmand
input. At this tine, the mail L will be automaticallY
conveyed to the weighing are a by the auto~atic conveying
device 30 (see Figs. 4, 5, and 13). When the mail L reacbes
the sensor S4 located at weighing area, the movable stand
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2C)4'~
200 of the automatic weighing device 23 descends under
commands from microprocessor 10 to set the mail L on the
weighing plate 501 of the first weighing scale 500 (see Fig.
5). The mail is thereafter weighed by the first weighing
scale 500 without contacting any other portion. After
weighing, the movable stand 200 of the weighing device 23
automatically returns to its home position to lift the mail
L to original level (as shown in Fig. 4). In the meanwhile,
the postage, being accurately calculated by microprocessor,
is displayed on display device 720, 720A tD show the mailer
the proper postage. If the ~ailer want to pay the postage
with money card, he can insert the money card into card
reader/writer 711. The balance is then displayed, and the
postage is substracted therefrom. A new balance is
thereafter written on the card by card reader/writer 711.
The card is then réjected therefrom. If the last balance
can not pay ths postage, the card ~ill be rejected from the
card reader/writer after the balance is totally substracted.
The mailer then can depress the holding key 712 and insert a
new money card. If the mailer wants to pay the due postage
in cash, the postal clerk can depress cash key 714 after
receiving the money to complete the postage payment
procedure.
In the meantime, when the mail L is conveyed to postage
stamping area by conveying device 30 as shown in Fig. 9, the
mail L ~ill be further sent into the stamping area by
rollers 2514, 2512 of the postage stamp device 25. When the
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mail is detected by the sensors thereof, the nu~eral wheels
271 thereof (see Fig. 7) are set to proper postage and date
positions according to com3ands from the microprocessor.
When the mail L reaches a predetermined position, the
printing head 27 is rotated to imprint the set postage and
date oarks thereon, and the 2ail-processing operation is
then accomplished. She receipt printers 781, 782 of the
printer assembly 780 will automatically print the receipts
and certificate, and the relevant data are stored in the
microprocessor. Additionally, an incoJe list will be
printed regularly.
Please now further refer to Fig. 10. Another example
is set forth for further understanding the operations of the
present invention. Supposing a mailer wants to mail an air
small packet to the United States, since the small packet is
not standard mail, and can not be stamped with postage stamp
directly, a postage label is necessarY to be attached to the
small packet. Therefore, when managing the small packet, it
must be first placed on the second weighing scale 500A to
show its weight on the display devices 720, 720A.
Thereafter, the necessary co-mands are input into the
microprocessor via key board system 70. Referring to the
international key board 740 as shown in Fig. 15, the non
standard mail key 7402, air mail key 7405, small packet key
7411 and North America 7445 thereof are depressed, and in
case of additional services, the insure key 7433 of the
additonal service key board is depressed. Consequently, the
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Z ~ ~ 9 ~
due postage is immediately displayed on the first and second
display devices 720, 720A. The other procedures are
identical to the aforesaid ones except that the postage
label is supplied by postage label supplY device 60 of the
postage stanp device 25 as shown in Fig. 13. After
imprinted with postage stamp, the postage label is sent out
of the rear end of the postage stamp device 25 to the
collecting tank 21. The postal clerk then can attach the
label to the air small packet. Simultaneously, the receipt
printer 781 will send out a double receipt wherein the lower
two sheets together with the postage label attached to the
small packet while the lower sheet of the upper two sheets
is given to the mailer and the upper sheet thereof is
attached to a check record of the clerk for later inquiry.
It is to be understood that the domestic and
international mail key boards 730 and 740 mentioned above
are designed on the requirement of the Post Office of the
Rep. of China, and the other similar key boards may be
further defined by those skilled in the art in accordance
with the different requirement of the Post Office on the
basis of each individual country under the spirit of the
present invention mentioned above.
As various possible embodiments might be made of the
above invention without departing from the scope thereof, it
is to be understood that all matter herein described or
shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted
merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.
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