Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system for preparing mail items comprising both postal indicia and a service marking representative of a service associated with this mail item and previously requested by a user, this system comprising first standard print means connected to a computer terminal of the user itself linked, through an Internet network, to a server housing the website of a third party in charge of preparing the mail items, in order to print both the postal coordinates of the addressee and the service marking. Second secured print means constituted by a franking machine are further provided to print the postal indicia.
Abstract:
An item handling system and method, the item handling system comprising: at least one item printing unit for printing destination address codes on items, each destination address code corresponding to a destination address to which the respective item is to be delivered; and a plurality of item processing units through at least one of which the items are processed in delivery to the respective destination addresses, each item processing unit including an item handler for reading the destination address code on each item, determining, for each item, through use of the destination address code, a destination item processing unit which is local to the destination address, and routing each item to the destination item processing unit.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a machine for franking mail items, comprising means for printing postal indicia on a mail item and means for also printing on this mail item a unique identification number for this mail item, means for creating at least one data document or file associated with this unique identification number printed on the mail item and means for communicating, through a secure link, the or each data document or file to an information server remote from the franking machine.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a document accumulation device comprising an accumulation receptacle provided with a mobile accumulation guide for receiving a bundle of documents to be folded and drive means constituted by a motor roller driven in rotation by motor means and associated with a free counter-roller adapted to pivot about a pivot pin, in order, on the one hand, to drive and align these documents one after the other against the accumulation guide and, on the other hand, thereafter to eject in one go the bundle of documents thus formed by accumulation in said receptacle, this device further comprising displacement means, constituted by an electro-magnet of which the core having two positions of displacement is connected to a piece supporting said free counter-roller, in order to position these drive means, on the one hand, in a first position in which they are subjected to a rathermore weak drive effort to ensure drive and alignment of the documents and, on the other hand, in a second position in which they are subjected to a rathermore strong drive effort to ensure ejection of the bundle of documents.
Abstract:
According to the process for monitoring the consumptions of a plurality of franking machines through a public communication network, at least one franking machine not being connected to this network, a link is firstly established with a management server, through the public network, by means of at least one supervision terminal independent of the off-line franking machine, in accordance with a determined protocol of communication, and data is then exchanged between the terminal and the server during which the user acquires at the supervision terminal a current invoicing index relative to the off-line franking machine and receives in return a code of authorization to frank in order to validate the subsequent frankings of the off-line franking machine.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a process for recording an extension of guarantee of print for a system for franking mailpieces, comprising a display of an indication of nullend of initial guaranteenull at the level of the franking system; comparing a remaining volume of ink with a minimum volume of ink beyond which printing of the mailpieces is prohibited; and, if the remaining volume of ink permits, a display of an indication nulloffer of extension of guaranteenull at the level of the franking system; if this offer is accepted by the user of the franking system, link with a server of the franking system distributor; and recording of the extension of guarantee in the distributor's server. The indication of the end of initial guarantee corresponds to the franking of a predetermined number of mailpieces.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a device for maintaining the take-up rollers of document feeders of a folding/insertion machine, comprising a sheet imbibed with a liquid maintenance product and intended to be entrained inside the machine by the take-up rollers, this self-cleaning sheet comprising retaining means for stopping its advance in the machine and allowing its withdrawal once the take-up rollers of the feeder are stopped.
Abstract:
An item handling system for and method of handling items in an item stream, the system comprising: a validation unit for validating an element containing an authentication code on each item in an item stream, wherein an item is assigned as being spoiled where the element does not satisfy at least one validation criterion; and a sorting unit for separating spoiled items from the item stream.
Abstract:
A method and System for using a postal meter to pay for services other than postage. This can include funding the postal meter from a postal data center, establishing a communication channel between the postal meter and a host server, accessing a services/products purchase menu through the post server, selecting one or more services/products for purchase, debiting funds from the postal meter for the services/product purchased, adjusting a postal account associated with the postal meter with the funds debited from the postal meter for the services/product purchase, and reallocating the recredited funds to an account associated with the services/products purchased.
Abstract:
A mailpiece inventory management system. The system includes a franking machine, a mailpiece identification system coupled to the franking machine and a administration system adapted to communicate with the franking machine. There can be at least one mailpiece counter in the franking machine with each mailpiece counter associated with a type of mailpiece and incremented when a particular type of mailpiece as identified by the mailpiece identification system is franked by the franking machine.