EP1024461A1 - Autonomous and multifunctional system for the preparation of mail - Google Patents

Abstract

The printer feeds the letter and envelope directly into a folding machine. The system comprises a general use computer for preparing a document for dispatch and a secure franking system. A digital system (14) is provided for forming an image, and this is connected to the computer for printing both the document for dispatch, and the destination address on an envelope which is intended to receive the document. A folding and inserting machine (16) is connected to the image forming printer, to assembly the document inside the envelope for dispatch. An electronic labelling system is used to keep track of documents, and a copying facility is provided to allow digital copying of documents introduced into the machine. The general use computer is linked to both parts of the machine to provide overall control.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of mail processing and more particularly the devices ensuring with a view to its dispatch a complete preparation of a mail article, from document creation to the franking of the envelope in which this document will be inserted.

Prior art

To date there is no system on the market entirely standalone usable in an office environment that performs a complete preparation of mail items for dispatch.

The applicant in its European patent application EP 0 612 036 proposed a mail processing system that folds and insertion into envelopes of documents directly from a word processing system. However, shipping the item from mail thus obtained can only be carried out if the envelope contains the recipient's address and is properly prepaid, which at least supposes the addition of a franking machine to this system.

We know from European patent application EP 0 265 192 a mail processing system associating around a central computer (system controller) on the one hand a first laser printer followed by a folder / inserter that folds and inserts documents into envelopes and on the other hand a second inkjet printer ensuring printing of the recipient's address on these envelopes. We will note that such a system also does not envisage the franking of the articles of mail thus made. In addition, printing the address directly on the envelopes already containing the documents is not without creating some difficulties with print quality due to thicknesses variables that these envelopes can present.

This print quality problem is however resolved in the European patent application EP 0 745 435 by printing the envelopes before inserting documents into them. This impression is obtained from a first inkjet printer, the documents being printed independently on the level of a second laser printer. The article preparation system mail described in this document is still complex, especially at the level of the routing of mail items, and, in requiring the use of a large number of components, it excludes in practice use in an office environment where space is necessarily reduced.

These are the main reasons which led the plaintiff to proceed to the filing of the French patent application N ° 97 11798 which describes a system for complete processing of a mail item implementing a single digital printer ensuring both printing of the document and the envelope, including the postal imprint. However, this system, while giving overall satisfaction, presents two more disadvantages. The first drawback stems from the fact that the coding of the postal imprint, made necessary to ensure the security of postage data, by mobilizing the single printer for a duration which can be high (for example when displaying a code to two-dimensional bars), has the effect of reducing the speed maximum processing of the system as a whole. Then, in case of document jam in the folding and insertion module, recording the characteristics of the postage that has been made in parallel with the prior printing of the postal imprint at the printer's print module should then be canceled to avoid a erroneous accounting of the folds dispatched. However, the postal administration does not has no means to check whether the canceled mail has not been sent in fraud of his rights, except to impose a systematic recourse to a of its agents during each incident.

Definition and object of the invention

Also, the present invention provides a system entirely autonomous which can be used very simply in an environment classic office and which is intended to completely treat an article of mail, since the constitution of the individual document or documents forming this article of mail until the closing of this article in view of its shipping, including folding and inserting documents into a envelope, the printing on this envelope of all useful information including the recipient's address and the affixing of the postal imprint. An object of the invention is to provide a system which allows rates of high salary. Another object of the invention is to propose a system which limits the possibilities of fraud during an incomplete preparation of the mail item, as in the case of document jams.

These goals are achieved by an autonomous preparation system mail items including a general purpose computer for develop a document to be sent and postage information secure, a digital imaging device connected to the computer for general use to print both the document to be sent and at least an address of a recipient of this document, excluding the imprint itself, on an envelope to receive this document, and a folder / inserter connected to both the imaging device and the general-purpose computer for receiving and folding the printed document and, once it is inserted in the envelope, selectively proceed to affixing the postal imprint by a writing operation in a writable microcircuit of an electronic label carried by the envelope or the document.

So, with the structure of the invention all the necessary functions to the preparation of a mail item are carried out very simply by the combination of a conventional imaging device associated with a computer and folder / inserter. In addition, the affixing of the imprint postal by electronic marking only at the end of the processing prevents fraud on postage amounts that are not thus registered only after complete constitution of the mail item.

The image forming device has means envelope feeder, document feeder, printing module connected either by means of envelope feeding or by document feeding to ensure successively envelope and document printing, and document output linked to the printing module to deliver envelopes and documents thus printed on the folder / inserter, a control module being additionally provided to ensure printing control and synchronization transport of envelopes and documents, in particular of orders received from the general purpose computer.

The folder / inserter has an accumulation module connected to a input of documents intended to cooperate with the output of documents of said image forming device, to store if necessary different documents corresponding to a given envelope, a module of folding connected either to the document entry or to the accumulation module for fold the documents before their insertion in the envelope, a module of turning linked to the document entry to receive and position the envelope for the insertion of documents, an insertion module linked to folding and turning modules to insert documents in the corresponding envelope, and an electronic marking module arranged at the output of the insertion module to carry out the writing operation in the writable microcircuit of the electronic label carried by envelope or documents, before ejecting the mail item as well obtained to a document output, a control module being in additionally provided to ensure the control and synchronization of these different modules depending in particular on orders received from the computer at general purpose.

Preferably, the digital imaging device also includes an optical reader module to allow scanning of documents introduced directly at the device level as well as a fax sending module to allow transmission direct on a document communication network beforehand digitized by said optical reader module.

Advantageously, a first tank can also be provided. reception of documents arranged at the output of the printing module for receive printed documents that should not be sent.

The printing module of said image forming device can have one of the following: laser print drum or inkjet print head.

Advantageously, the folder / inserter may include a module additional supply of advertising inserts.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device digital imaging and the folder / inserter make up a common set.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 montre un schéma d'un système autonome multifonctions de préparation de courrier selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente les différentes fonctions réalisées par le système de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 illustre le cheminement d'un article de courrier dans deux des composants essentiels du système de la figure 1, et
• la figure 4 est un organigramme explicitant les principales étapes de fonctionnement du système selon l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting illustration, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an autonomous multifunctional mail preparation system according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 represents the different functions performed by the system of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 illustrates the routing of a mail item in two of the essential components of the system of FIG. 1, and
• Figure 4 is a flowchart explaining the main stages of operation of the system according to the invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

Figure 1 schematically illustrates the architecture of a system autonomous multifunction mail preparation according to the invention. This system which can be connected to an external communication network 10, switched telephone network (PSTN) or integrated network services (ISDN), consists of three main components cooperating between them: a computer or microcomputer 12, a digital device for image formation (Digital imaging device 14) and a folder / inserter 16.

Computer 12 is a general purpose computer, for example a PC or similar personal computer (but a workstation or a network computer may also be suitable), comprising conventionally a central processor to which are connected by a link bus standardized program memories (for example of the ROM type or EEPROM), data memories (RAM type or equivalent) and several input / output modules. These modules provide in a classic way the interface between the central processor of this computer and different associated devices, such as a keyboard, a pointing device (in particular ball or mouse), a display terminal (plasma or liquid crystal for example), a data storage device (a hard disk or a CD-ROM), a modulator / demodulator (analog or cable modem type depending on the nature of the network connection 10), the digital imaging device and the folder / inserter.

The computer further comprises software means for ensuring on the one hand, the different accounting functions (advantageously secured with suitable encryption software) usually associated with a traditional franking machine and on the other hand conventional transmission and reception fax functions, document processing (including graphics), receipt and dispatch of email on the global network also says the Internet.

The digital imaging device 14 is a device multipurpose general purpose providing both a printing function advantageously in color, of the laser or inkjet type, a function of advantageously color scanning and a function for sending faxes. Its implementation, in stand-alone mode or from the computer 12, is carried out in a very conventional manner using software means known per se. In particular, apart from its preparation function mail items, this device can be used on the one hand like any document printing terminal in conjunction with standard software of the market like Word, Excel, or Access for example (software of the Microsoft Corporation) implanted in computer 12. In mode standalone, it can also be used as any scanning terminal color (scanner) or color reproduction of documents (copier). In in addition, thanks to its fax sending function, it can also be used like any fax machine directly from scanned documents.

According to the invention, some of the documents to be printed, or preferably the envelopes, are provided beforehand with a label electronic with a writable microcircuit (also called transponder) in which, by a write operation by means of a adequate registration system, it is possible to register different information including secure postage information, reading of this information then being made directly by postal administration by means of a contactless reading device specially adapted.

The folder / inserter 16 can be a conventional folder / inserter of the type of that described in patent EP 0 352 692 in the name of the applicant and to which we will have added specific power supply modules envelopes and electronic marking to allow operation of previous writing necessary for the affixing of the postal imprint, or well yet be specially designed for the preparation system of mail according to the invention as will be explained later.

The different functions that can be performed by the system autonomous multifunctional mail preparation according to the invention are now summarized next to Figure 2. At the computer level 12 is mainly responsible for processing the document and the envelope 60 i.e. the initial production of the document (its capture with if necessary the addition of graphic elements), its possible modification and its sending on the communication network 10 in the form of a fax 62 or email 64, as well as envelope data entry (recipient, sender, etc.) excluding those relating to the imprint postal. This document can however also come from the network of communication directly by fax 66 or by email 68 and possibly be retired 60. The document thus produced, received directly or reprocessed can then be printed 70 on the device digital imaging 14 then folded and inserted into an envelope 72 before being freed 74 for shipment. Printing 70 can also be produced directly from a digitized document 76 in the device 14, which scanned document can be sent fax 78 or be sent to computer 12 for sending e-mail or for reprocessing 60.

Figure 3 shows in more detail the material structures of the digital imaging device 14 and folder / inserter 16 and it illustrates schematically the different paths possible for mail items through these two components essentials of the system.

The device 14 conventionally comprises a first means feed 20 to receive empty envelopes 21 and a second supply means 22 for receiving the blank documents to be printed 23. The first supply means can be produced for example under the form of an external loading tank and the second supply means can conventionally be in the form of a built-in store side loading. Document paths 24, 25 allow transport (the transport rollers and their motorization are not shown) respectively envelopes and documents to a module 26. This module advantageously consists of either a printing drum (in the case of laser printing) or a head thermal printing (in the case of inkjet printing). In output from the printing module, a document path 27 directs the printed object, envelope or document, around first 28 or second 29 device outputs. The first output 28 allows the supply of a first receiving tank 30, conventionally placed on an upper part of the device, and intended to receive the documents printed within the framework conventional use in autonomous mode (scanner function or copier) or in conjunction with general purpose computer 12 (function printer), the second outlet 29, advantageously placed at the rear of the digital imaging device, intended to power directly the folder / inserter at its document entry. The device 14 further comprises a third supply means produced for example in the form of an external front loading container 31 for receive documents to be scanned 32. These documents, after passage before an optical reader module 33 will then be available on a front part of the device at a second receiving tank 34. A control module, advantageously with microprocessor 35, is well heard provided in the device to control both scanning (in connection with module 33) and printing (in connection with module 26) and synchronize the transport of documents and envelopes. This module of control which has an external link with computer 12 ensures also driving an internal modulator / demodulator 36 in connection with the communication network 10 through a specialized outlet 37.

The folder / inserter 16 basically consists of five modules. The first module 40 is a document accumulator placed at the level of a document entry 39 (located opposite exit 29 of the device 14) and intended to store the various documents to be inserted in the same envelope. The second module 42 is a module classic pocket folding that receives the documents to be folded either directly from the document entry 39 (in case the envelope should not have only one document) is from the document accumulator 40. The third module 44 is a specific turning module intended for modify the position of the envelope to facilitate the insertion of documents in this envelope. Indeed, at the output of the image forming device 14, the envelopes are conventionally presented in a longitudinal direction whereas the insertion of the documents must be carried out transversely. The Applicant's patent application No. 97 11797 entitled "device reorientation of envelopes ”illustrates an exemplary embodiment of such module. The fourth module 46 is a conventional insertion module which receives the empty envelope on the one hand and the document or documents to be inserted thereon part and who performs the insertion. Finally, in order to ensure the "impression" of the postal imprint, the folder / inserter has a fifth module 48 of electronic marking placed at the output of the insertion module and which achieves the affixing of the postal imprint by entering certain secure postage information provided by computer 12 in a microcircuit of an electronic label carried by the envelope or the document (transponder activation operation). Mail article thus closed and correctly franked is then ejected towards an exit of documents 49. For the sake of simplification and readability of the drawing, secondary modules have not been represented although they are part of such a folder / inserter. It is, for example, a module of wetting which ensures the gluing of the envelope flap after insertion or an additional module for supplying advertising inserts. Well understood, as for the device 14, this folder / inserter 16 comprises a control module 50 for controlling the transport of documents and folding, transporting and inverting the envelopes, inserting documents in the corresponding envelope from orders received from computer 12 and affixing the postal imprint by activating the transponder.

The operation of the system according to the invention will now be explained with regard to FIG. 4 which represents a flow chart of the operations required to prepare a mail item.

After an initialization step 100 in which the various system parameters are reset, it is carried out in a step 102 to a selection from store 20 containing the empty envelopes 21. Transport of an envelope and its printing are then carried out in a step 104, the print including at least that of the recipient's address to excluding that of the postal imprint. The envelope thus completed is routed through the device 14 then the folder / inserter 16, in a step 106, until the entry of its insertion module 46 after having been redirected by module 44. After having checked in a next step 108 that the entry 39 of the folder / inserter is free, it is then proceeded in a step 110 to a selection of the tray 22 containing the blank documents 23. The transport of a document and its printing are then carried out in a immediately following step 112. Depending on whether the printed document is or not the only document to be inserted in the envelope beforehand completed (test in step 114), it is proceeded or not in a new step 116 to an intermediate storage of this document in the module accumulation 40 of the folder / inserter. When all of documents corresponding to this envelope have been printed (reply positive in the above test 114), the printed document (s) are folded by the folding module 42 in a next step 118 then inserted into the envelope at the insertion module 46 (step 120). Finally, in in a step 122, the mail item is closed by gluing its flap. If the for example, the mail preparation cycle was interrupted, the observation is made in a test step 124 which then leads the issue of alarms both at the folder / inserter and computer 12 (next step 126) and stopping the processing process is engaged. On the contrary, if the processing of the mail item has occurred without incidents (answer yes to the test in step 124), it is then carried out writing postage information on this item (by activation of the transponder carried by the envelope or the document) in a step 128 then checked in a new test step 130 if the mail item processed is the last one, which has the effect of ejecting this item from mail to the exit of folder / inserter 16 and stop the process of processing, or on the contrary if other letters are awaiting preparation. It is then returned to step 102 of selection of the tank envelopes for a new item preparation operation next mail.

a) impression de données d'information utiles sur l'enveloppe avec le module d'impression 26, dont un numéro d'autorisation postale s'il existe un accord avec l'Administration Postale ;

b) envoi de cette enveloppe imprimée dans la plieuse/inséreuse 16 dans l'attente des documents destinés à y être insérés ;

c) impression des documents précités, préalablement préparés initialement au clavier de l'ordinateur 12 et au module de lecture optique 33;

d) envoi de ces documents dans la plieuse/inséreuse 16 pour pliage et mise sous pli ;

e) éventuellement affranchissement par marquage électronique avec un transpondeur ; et

f) transmission électronique par télécopie ou courrier électronique des documents précités.

It will have been noted that the document to be printed extracted from the store 22 can, depending on the origin of its creation, be produced internally in the device 14 from the scanning of one or more documents by the optical reading module 33, the scanning data then being sent to the printing module 26 via the control module 35 which formats it for printing, either produced from the computer 12 (or received on this computer from the network of communication 10) and transmitted to the control module 35 of the device 14 for activation of the printing module 26. Multiple sending combinations are thus possible. For example, a simple sequential mode can include the succession of the following preparation cycles:

a) printing of useful information data on the envelope with the printing module 26, including a postal authorization number if there is an agreement with the Postal Administration;

b) sending of this printed envelope in the folder / inserter 16 while awaiting the documents intended to be inserted therein;

c) printing of the aforementioned documents, previously prepared initially on the keyboard of the computer 12 and on the optical reader module 33;

d) sending these documents to the folder / inserter 16 for folding and enveloping;

e) possibly postage by electronic marking with a transponder; and

f) electronic transmission by fax or electronic mail of the above documents.

The various functions ensured by the present invention make it a real office machine, well suited to small structures and to a set of preparation of mail items which he optimizes the performance / quality / price equation. Its electronic marking function postage by transponder gives it more flexibility of remarkable use and its scanning / faxing function allows it to copy at least twenty pages without manipulation, and Communicate documents by fax or email. In indeed, at the time when the Internet and electronic mail (E-mail) become inevitable, a written or printed trace of messages transmitted quickly and easily takes on a certain importance.

Thus, an order can be honored and confirmed with invoicing first by email then by traditional mail, while recording all transactions with billing to the computer.

A fax received at the hotel, for example, can be returned confidential by enveloping immediately after receipt of automatically. Without resorting to expert recognition software characters to identify the recipient it is conceivable to scan the upper part of the first page received to print or copy it on the envelope to be distributed, the format of the envelope can then be used as copy or print format. In this case, it is then not necessary to affix the postal imprint.

Likewise, internal distribution in a company or in a administration does not require postage. From this other scenario, folding and folding provides the necessary confidentiality, that the mail comes from the computer by email or fax, whether it comes from the scanning module, from a loading bin of the folder / inserter or simply a combination of at least two of these elements.

Another interesting example of application is to prepare a mail to computer only once, scan only once documents like pictures or photographs, and to ship the item of mail obtained and identical to a large number of recipients. The invention then makes it possible to transmit by fax or by mail. electronic these shipments, and to supplement this transmission by a shipment by classic mail.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the single mode preferred embodiment described and variants or additions may be considered without departing from the scope of the invention. So it is possible to include inscriptions other than the address on the envelope the recipient or the sender, for example an advertising logo or utility or event information. Likewise, the computer can be also connected to a remotely located credit restoration station in the premises of a postal administration or any other body empowered. It can also be noted that the digital device imaging 14 and folder / inserter 16 can be validly integrated into a single unit then being in the form of a fully autonomous specific office automation machine 15 for mail preparation.

Claims (9)

Autonomous multi-function system for preparing articles mail including a general purpose computer (12) for developing a document to be sent and secure postage information, a digital imaging device (14) connected to the computer for use general to print both the document to be sent and at least one address of a recipient of this document, excluding the imprint itself, on an envelope to receive this document, and a folder / inserter (16) connected to both the imaging device and to the general purpose computer to receive and fold the printed document and, once it is inserted in the envelope, selectively proceed to affixing the postal imprint by a writing operation in a writable microcircuit of an electronic label carried by the envelope or the document. Autonomous multi-function system for preparing articles mail according to claim 1, characterized in that said delivery device image formation comprises means for feeding envelopes (20), means for supplying blank documents (22), a module printer (26) connected either to the envelope feeder or to the means for feeding blank documents to ensure successively envelope and document printing, and document output printed matter (29) connected to the printing module to deliver the envelopes and the documents thus printed with the folder / inserter (16), a module for control (35) being further provided for ensuring the control of printing and synchronizing the transport of envelopes and documents based in particular on orders received from the computer for use general (12). Autonomous multi-function system for preparing articles mail according to claim 1, characterized in that said folder / inserter has an accumulation module (40) connected to a document entry (39) for cooperating with document exit (29) of said image forming device, to store if necessary the different documents corresponding to a given envelope, a module folding (42) connected either to the document input or to the module accumulation to fold the documents before their insertion in the envelope, a turning module (44) connected to the document entry to receive and position the envelope for the insertion of documents, an insertion module (46) connected to the folding and turning to insert the documents in the corresponding envelope, and an electronic marking module (48) disposed at the output of the module insertion to carry out the write operation in the microcircuit writable from the electronic label carried by the envelope or documents, before ejecting the mail article thus obtained towards an exit documents (49), a control module (50) being further provided for ensure the control and synchronization of these different modules by function in particular of orders received from the general-purpose computer (12). Autonomous multi-function system for preparing articles mail according to claim 2, characterized in that said device digital imaging system further includes a playback module optical (33) to allow scanning of documents (32) introduced directly at the device level. Autonomous multi-function system for preparing articles mail according to claim 4, characterized in that said device digital imaging system further includes a module for sending facsimile (36) for direct transmission over a network of communication (10) of documents previously scanned by said optical reader module. Autonomous multi-function system for preparing articles mail according to claim 2, characterized in that said device digital imaging system further includes a first reception of documents (30) disposed at the output of the printing module (26) to receive printed documents that should not be sent. Autonomous multi-function system for preparing articles mail according to claim 2, characterized in that the module one (26) of said image forming device includes one of following two items: laser print drum or inkjet. Autonomous multi-function system for preparing articles mail according to claim 3, characterized in that said folder / inserter also includes a feed module additional in advertising inserts. Autonomous multi-function system for preparing articles mail according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the digital imaging device (14) and the folder / inserter (16) form a common assembly (15).

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