Patent Application
20100106293
The present invention relates to a system for providing post office box services, and, more particularly, to a new and useful postal kiosk system and method which employs an escort-based storage, conveyance and retrieval system for processing mail.
Post office facilities conventionally offer Post Office (P.O.) boxes to its customers having a need to receive mail at a location other than a home or business. Generally, the post office boxes range in size and cost based upon the perceived need by the customer concerning the number of mailpieces anticipated and the frequency of visits to the postal facility. Postal facilities typically offer these post office boxes on a first-come first-serve basis due to the limited space and number of boxes available. Hence, customers may need to be placed on a list to await the next available P.O. Box.
Inasmuch as each P.O. Box has fixed dimensions and occupies a fixed volume in space, P.O. boxes are not space efficient. Due to a lack of information concerning the number of mailpieces received on any given day or period of days, P.O. Boxes are generally empty for periods of time and almost never completely full. As a result the space utilization is relatively low in comparison to the space occupied by all of the boxes.
The problems associated with the lack of space efficiency are exacerbated at locations where a large number of mail recipients have been temporally co-located such as in military installations/bases. Commonly, military personnel are not afforded the convenience and privacy of a P.O. Box due to the large number of boxes which would be required and the poor utilization of space.
A need, therefore, exists for a system and method for providing post office box services which employs a space efficient loading/storage and retrieval system.
A system and method for providing electronic post office box services is disclosed which includes a storage system, a retrieval system, a postal kiosk, and a system processor. The storage system images and stores a plurality of mailpieces and includes a plurality of escort devices disposed in combination with a transport assembly for moving each escort device into and out of a loading station. The retrieval system releases at least one selected mailpiece from the plurality of mailpieces within the storage system and delivers the selected mailpiece to the operator. The postal kiosk includes a display unit and an input device. The display unit displays the imaged mailpiece information associated with the selected mailpiece in the storage system and the input device receives an instruction from an operator regarding the selected mailpiece. The system processor communicates the instructions associated with the selected mailpiece from the postal kiosk to the escort devices within the storage system.
The accompanying drawings illustrate presently various embodiments of the invention, and assist in explaining the principles of the invention.
An electronic post office box system and postal kiosk is described in the context of a mailpiece storage and retrieval system for use in a conventional Post Office facility. While the system has particular utility in a regional/local Post Office, the invention may be implemented at various other locations including corporate offices, commercial facilities, retail establishments, etc. Furthermore, while the invention is most applicable to a conventional Post Office facility, it should be borne in mind that the teachings of the present invention are equally applicable to any processing facility having a large quantity of mail to be stored and retrieved. Furthermore, while the electronic post office box system is described in the context of an escort-based storage/retrieval system employing a plurality of clamps for holding individual mailpieces, the teachings of the present invention are applicable to escort-based systems having any one of variety of holding devices for escorting mail within the storage/retrieval system. In the context used herein, an “escort-based system” is a system wherein individual mailpieces are retained by an escort device and wherein at least a portion of the storage/retrieval operations is conducted by a system which interacts with the escort device rather than with mailpiece itself. In these systems, mailpiece data is captured/stored in a database and an association is made between the mailpiece and a unique identifier on the escort device (discussed and illustrated hereinafter).
In
The postal kiosk 20 is operatively coupled to the storage and retrieval systems 40, 80 by means of a system processor 30 which controls the functions of, and integrates, the various systems and subsystems of the electronic post office box system 10. In the described embodiment, a single processor 30 is shown in communication with the various systems/subsystems, though, it should be appreciated that many processors may be substituted therefore, i.e., dedicated to one or more system elements, and, when connected, may be viewed as a single integrated processor 30 such as that shown in the figures.
The postal kiosk 20 includes a visual display unit 22, e.g., a video/liquid crystal display, for displaying mailpiece data associated with at least one selected mailpiece 26 in the storage system 40, an input device 24 operative to receive and issue instructions from an operator regarding the selected mailpiece 26, and, in the described embodiment, a receptacle/container 28 for receiving mailpieces 26 selected by the operator. The receptacle/container 28 may or may not be integrated within the postal kiosk 20, but may simply be located at a convenient location near the interface unit 20 for retrieval of the mail 26 by an operator.
The storage system 40 performs a variety of functions with respect to mail received from various external sources, e.g., collection mail and inbound mail from other distribution/post office facilities. More specifically, the storage system 40 functions to load mail into a plurality of escort devices 50, scan/image mailpiece information/data prior to or immediately following the loading of mail 26 into the escort device 50, store mail 26 for subsequent retrieval, and convey mail 26 along a transport path to pre-position the escort devices 50 for accepting mail 26 into the storage system 40 and to release the selected mailpieces 26 for subsequent retrieval.
The retrieval system 80 functions to receive the selected mailpieces 26 from the storage system 40 and convey the mail 26 to a convenient location for retrieval by an operator/customer. In the described embodiment, the retrieval system 80 issues a wireless signal to a mechanism disposed within each escort device 26 to release the selected mailpiece 26 from the respective escort device 50. Once released, the selected mailpieces are carried to the receptacle/container 28 within the postal kiosk 20.
The features/elements of the electronic post office box system 10 are best understood by describing the logical steps when storing, requesting and retrieving mailpieces 26 in a typical post office facility. In
For example, mailpiece destination information, which will typically include the recipients name and post office box number, can be read by the use of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. This information is then associated with the identifier 50I of the escort device 50, i.e., in a database of the processor 30, such that the electronic post office box system 10 can track the escort devices 50, and consequently, the mailpieces 26, associated with a particular electronic post office box number/ID. Furthermore, inasmuch any escort device 50 in the storage system 40 can be dynamically assigned/linked to any electronic post office box number, there is no need to assign a predefined number of escort devices 50 to store mailpieces associated with a particular post office box. As will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, the ability to dynamically assign/re-assign the use of escort devices is highly efficient in terms of space allocation/resources used.
Each escort device 50 is conveyed along a mechanized transport system 48 and may be opened to accept a mailpiece 26. That is, once an image of the mailpiece 26 has been obtained by the scanner 46, the escort device 50 may be aligned with and opened to accept a mailpiece 26. In the described embodiment, the escort device 50 is suspended downwardly from the transport system 48 and includes a pair of spring-loaded clamps or jaws 56a, 56b. The jaws 56a, 56b are spring-biased to a closed position to secure a mailpiece 26 between the jaws 56a, 56b and may be forcibly opened, i.e., against the spring bias force, by any of a variety of actuation mechanisms/devices. Furthermore, the jaws 56a, 56b may be opened to accept or release a mailpiece (discussed in greater detail below).
In
To facilitate opening and closure of the jaws 56a, 56b, the actuator mechanism 62 may be self-contained and wirelessly activated/controlled. That is, the actuator mechanism 62 may include a rechargeable battery 64 as a source of power, or receive power from one or more charged rails disposed along a support channel 66 of the transport mechanism 48. With respect to the latter, the wire traces (not shown) may be disposed along a surface of an S-shaped hanger 68 which suspends the jaws 56a, 56b from the support channel 66 to electrically connect, and provide power to, the actuator mechanism 62.
In the described embodiment, a Radio Frequency (RF) signal generator 70 is operatively coupled to the system processor 30 to issue command signals to the actuator mechanism 62, to open or close the jaws 56a, 56b of the escort device 50. More specifically, the RF signal generator 70 is capable of issuing multiple frequencies, i.e., one for each escort device 50, within the range or space occupied by the storage system 40. Furthermore, each escort device 50 includes a wireless relay 72 which is tuned, and is responsive, to one of these RF frequencies. To activate each of the escort devices 50, the system processor 30 is pre-programmed to link each wireless relay 72 to a frequency which can be generated by the RF signal generator 70.
Each of the escort devices 50 may be opened or closed for loading and/or release of mailpieces 26. During loading operations, i.e., loading into the storage system 40, a first wireless command signal is issued to the escort device 50 which is pre-positioned to receive a mailpiece 26 from a loading station 74. The wireless relay 72 closes a switch to power the actuator mechanism 62. The actuator mechanism 62 rotates to open the jaws 56a, 56b and a mailpiece 26 is inserted therebetween. Immediately following insertion, a second wireless command signal is issued to rotate the actuator mechanism 62, i.e., an additional ninety-degrees, to close the jaws 56a, 56b onto each face of the mailpiece 26.
The transport mechanism 48 employs a plurality of transport elements 76 which are supported within the support channel 66. In the described embodiment shown in
After each escort device 50 is loaded, the transport mechanism 48 conveys each mailpiece 26 to a new location, i.e., incrementally moving a loaded escort device 50 away from the loading station 74 and pre-positioning an empty escort device 50 to the loading station 74 to receive a mailpiece 26. This operation may continue until all of the escort devices 50 have been loaded. Furthermore, to the extent that some escort devices 50 may be empty while others, i.e., before and after, may be full, the system processor 30 is operative to track the status and location of every escort device 50 loaded within the transport mechanism 48. As a result, the system processor 30 is operative to move empty escort devices 50 directly to the loading station 74 while allowing other escort devices 50, i.e., those which are full, to move past the loading station 74. With respect to motion during loading operations, it will generally be necessary to lower the loading station assembly 75, e.g., rotation about a pivot 75A (shown in phantom in
Thus far in our discussion, mailpieces 26 have been stacked and singulated by the feeder 42, scanned/read by the imaging system 46, and loaded onto the transport mechanism 48 via the loading station 74. Furthermore, the system processor 30 (i) has stored information relating to the escort devices 50, i.e., in a memory storage device, (ii) has correlated the mailpiece information 26I with the respective escort device 50, e.g., within a database of the memory storage device, and (iii) contains specific information pertaining to each escort device 50 (e.g., the activation frequency) which will energize the actuation mechanism 62. The subsequent paragraphs will describe the retrieval system 80 operative to release and convey selected mailpieces 26 to an operator.
The retrieval system 80 is operative to receive selected mailpieces 26 from the storage system 40 and convey the selected mailpieces 26 to a convenient location for retrieval by an operator/customer. In the described embodiment, the retrieval system 80 receives a command signal from the postal kiosk 20 to release selected mailpieces 26 from their respect escort device 50. As mentioned previously, an operator may provide such selection through the input device 24 of the postal kiosk 20. Generally, an operator will input commands relative to an electronic post office box number which have been related to various escort devices 50 within the storage system 40. For, example, the operator may input a post office box number and a personal identification number (PIN) to access data within the electronic post office box system 10. The system 10, or more accurately, the system processor 30 may then present/display visual images of each mailpiece 26 associated with the post office box number on the display unit 22. As each image is displayed, the system 10 may query/prompt the operator regarding whether or not he/she wishes to receive the displayed mailpiece 26. If an affirmative response is provided by the operator, the system processor 30 may set a “retrieve” command/flag in a database to await responses associated with every mailpiece within the electronic post office box. If a negative response is provided, then a “discard” command/flag may be issued by the system processor 30.
Having received various selections from the postal kiosk 20, the system processor 30 commands the retrieval system 80 to retrieve the selected mailpieces 26. In
In the described embodiment, the transport mechanism 48 for storing/conveying escort devices 50 and their respective mailpieces 26 may be disposed over a large conveyor 82 which is operative to receive mailpieces 26 released from the escort devices 50 above. Furthermore, the conveyor 82 is operative to transport the selected mailpieces 26 to the receptacle 28 within the postal kiosk 20. Additionally, the conveyor 82 may be driven in two directions to accommodate the retrieval and discard commands of the operator. That is, the conveyor 82 may be driven in one direction to retrieve selected mailpieces 26, and driven in an opposite direction to discard selected mailpieces 26 i.e., to a discard receptacle (not shown).
To ensure that the mailpieces 26 are properly collected, a V-shaped trough 86, which spans the width and length of the transport mechanism 48, may be disposed between the suspended mailpieces 26 above and the conveyor belt 82 below. The V-shaped trough 86 also functions to direct the released mailpieces 26 to a central portion of the conveyor 82.
Various modifications, additions and deletions associated with the electronic post office box system 10 may be employed while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, while the system 10 depicts a single postal kiosk 20 disposed in combination with substantially linear storage and retrieval systems 40, 80, it will be appreciated that many variations may be contemplated. In
Additionally, various alternate embodiments of the invention are contemplated. For example, in another embodiment and referring to
Additionally, this arrangement can minimize the time required for an operator to review the selected mailpieces. While the personal computers 100 may be remotely located, i.e., at an operator's home address, it may also be advantageous to include multiple computer stations at the postal facility to more efficiently review the selected mailpieces, i.e., by several operators.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the operator may input various rules into the electronic post office box system 10 regarding the mailpieces received. For example, an operator may input a rule which provides an electronic notification (via any one of a variety of notification methods including electronic mail, voice mail, text messages etc.) regarding the delivery of a mailpiece requiring a payment, e.g., utility, credit card, loan repayment bills, etc. Similarly, a rule can be input which automatically responds to the delivery of an identifiable mailpiece. For example, an operator may wish to automatically notify solicitors of sporting goods/equipment to remove his/her name from their catalog mailing list.
In summary, the invention provides an electronic post office box system 10 which automates various aspects of mailpiece delivery/retrieval while providing space efficiency. While manual post office box systems of the prior art require a fixed volume of space for each post office box, the electronic post office box system 10 of the present invention provides flexible storage and retrieval systems 40, 80 which communicate with a single postal kiosk 20. Rather than providing a predefined volume of space in anticipation of mailpiece delivery, the system 10 of the present invention allocates space on an, “as needed” basis. That is, the system 10 only assigns an escort device 50 when loading a mailpiece 26. The escort devices are not pre-assigned for use by any one electronic post office box, but are only assigned when a mailpiece associated with a particular post office box is received. While the total number of escort devices 50 will generally be determined at the time of installation/assembly, the ability to dynamically assign the escort devices 50 within the system greatly diminishes the overall space requirements.
It is to be understood that all of the present figures, and the accompanying narrative discussions of preferred embodiments, do not purport to be completely rigorous treatments of the methods and systems under consideration. A person skilled in the art will understand that the elements described represent general cause-and-effect relationships that do not exclude intermediate interactions of various types. A person skilled in the art will further understand that the various structures and mechanisms described in this application can be implemented by a variety of different combinations of hardware and software, methods of escorting and storing individual mailpieces and in various configurations which need not be further elaborated herein.
