IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,463,946
Granted Patent B2
US 7,463,946 · App. 11/152,682 · Granted Dec 9, 2008

Mail handling equipment and methods

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,463,946
App. No.
11/152,682
Granted
Dec 9, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mail processing machine comprises a first holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of first pages. A card is coupled to each of the first pages, and each first page includes an identifier. A second holding location is adapted to hold a stack of second pages that each have an identifier. A first advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each first page from the stack, and a second advancing mechanism is adapted to separately advance each second page from the stack. First and second scanning devices read the identifiers on the first and second pages upon their advancement. A controller is configured to control the first and second advancing mechanism to permit the first and second pages to be scanned by the first and second scanners and to match the first pages with the second pages if the identifier on one of the advanced first pages corresponds with the identifier on one of the advanced second pages.

Claims (53)

1. A mail processing machine, comprising:

a first holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of first pages, wherein a card is coupled to each of the first pages, and wherein each first page includes an identifier;

a second holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of second pages, and wherein each second page includes an identifier;

an advancing system that is adapted to advance each first page along with its attached card from its stack and each second page from its stack;

a scanning system that is adapted to read the identifiers on each first page and each second page as they are advanced using the advancing system;

a controller that is configured to control the advancing to permit the first and second pages to be scanned by the scanning system and to match the first pages with the second pages if the identifier on one of the advanced first pages corresponds with the identifier on one of the advanced second pages.

2. A machine as in claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor, wherein the advancing system is configured to place one of the first pages onto the conveyor, and to place one of the second pages onto the first page if the identifiers are corresponding.

3. A machine as in claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of inserting locations that are adapted to hold inserts, and a plurality of inserting mechanisms that are adapted to place selective ones of the inserts onto the first and second pages as they pass along the conveyor.

4. A machine as in claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the inserting mechanisms to place the inserts based on the identifiers on the first and second pages.

5. A machine as in claim 3 , further comprising a stuffing mechanism that is adapted to place the first and the second pages along with any inserts into an envelope.

6. A machine as in claim 5 , further comprising a postage station that is adapted to place postage onto the envelope.

7. A machine as in claim 1 , wherein the first holding location is adapted to hold the first pages when the first pages are pre-folded into three sections defined by two fold lines.

8. A machine as in claim 1 , wherein the second holding location is adapted to hold the second pages when the second pages are flat or are pre-folded into three sections defined by two fold lines.

9. A machine as in claim 1 , wherein the first holding location is adapted to hold the first pages in a vertical stack, and wherein the advancing system is adapted to advance a bottom one of the first pages.

10. A machine as in claim 1 , wherein the second holding location is adapted to hold the second pages in a vertical stack, and wherein the advancing system is adapted to advance a bottom one of the second pages.

11. A method for processing mail, the method comprising:

placing a stack of first pages into a first holding location, wherein a card is coupled to each of the first pages, and wherein each first page includes an identifier;

placing a stack of second pages into a second holding location, wherein each second page includes an identifier;

advancing one of the first pages along with its attached card from the stack using an advancement system;

advancing one of the second pages from the stack using the advancement system;

scanning the advanced first page with a scanning system to read the identifier on the first page;

scanning the advanced second page with the scanning system to read the identifier on the second page; and

determining with a controller is the identifiers on the advanced first and second pages correspond; and

matching the advanced first and second pages if the identifier correspond.

12. A method as in claim 11 , wherein the matching step comprising placing the first and second sheets in a stack onto a conveyor.

13. A method as in claim 12 , wherein the advancing system is configured to place the advanced first page onto the conveyor, and to place the advanced second page onto the first page to stack the first and second pages onto the conveyor.

14. A method as in claim 13 , further comprising selectively placing inserts from a plurality of inserting locations onto the first and second pages as they pass along the conveyor.

15. A method as in claim 14 , further comprising placing the inserts using inserting mechanisms, and further comprising controlling operation of the inserting mechanisms based on the identifiers on the first and second pages.

16. A method as in claim 14 , further comprising placing the first and the second pages along with any inserts into an envelope using a stuffing mechanism.

17. A method as in claim 16 , further comprising placing postage onto the envelope.

18. A method as in claim 11 , wherein the first pages are pre-folded into three sections defined by two fold lines when held in the first holding location.

19. A method as in claim 11 , wherein the second pages are flat or are pre-folded into three sections defined by two fold lines when held in the second holding location.

20. A method as in claim 11 , wherein the first pages are held in a vertical stack, and wherein the advanced first page is a bottom one of the first pages.

21. A method as in claim 11 , wherein the second pages are held in a vertical stack, and wherein the advanced second page is a bottom one of the second pages.

22. A mail processing machine, comprising:

a first holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of first pages, wherein a card is coupled to each of the first pages, and wherein each first page includes an identifier;

a second holding location that is adapted to hold a stack of second pages, and wherein each second page includes an identifier;

an advancing system that is adapted to advance each first page from its stack and each second page from its stack;

a scanning system that is adapted to read the identifiers on each first page and each second page as they are advanced using the advancing system;

a controller that is configured to control the advancing to permit the first and second pages to be scanned by the scanning system and to match the first pages with the second pages if the identifier on one of the advanced first pages corresponds with the identifier on one of the advanced second pages;

a conveyor, wherein the advancing system is configured to place one of the first pages onto the conveyor, and to place one of the second pages onto the first page if the identifiers are corresponding; and

a plurality of inserting locations that are adapted to hold inserts, and a plurality of inserting mechanisms that are adapted to place selective ones of the inserts onto the first and second pages as they pass along the conveyor.

23. A method for processing mail, the method comprising:

placing a stack of first pages into a first holding location, wherein a card is coupled to each of the first pages, and wherein each first page includes an identifier;

placing a stack of second pages into a second holding location, wherein each second page includes an identifier;

advancing one of the first pages from the stack using an advancement system;

advancing one of the second pages from the stack using the advancement system;

scanning the advanced first page with a scanning system to read the identifier on the first page;

scanning the advanced second page with the scanning system to read the identifier on the second page; and

determining with a controller is the identifiers on the advanced first and second pages correspond; and

matching the advanced first and second pages if the identifier correspond;

wherein the matching step comprising placing the first and second sheets in a stack onto a conveyor; and

wherein the advancing system is configured to place the advanced first page onto the conveyor, and to place the advanced second page onto the first page to stack the first and second pages onto the conveyor.

Assignments (7)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Aug 19, 2019
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FIRST DATA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050094/0455 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Aug 19, 2019
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FIRST DATA CORPORATION; DW HOLDINGS, INC.; FIRST DATA RESOURCES, INC. (K/N/A FIRST DATA RESOURCES, LLC); FUNDSXPRESS FINANCIAL NETWORKS, INC.; INTELLIGENT RESULTS, INC. (K/N/A FIRST DATA SOLUTIONS, INC.); LINKPOINT INTERNATIONAL, INC.; MONEY NETWORK FINANCIAL, LLC; SIZE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TASQ TECHNOLOGY, INC.; TELECHECK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 050090/0060 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Aug 19, 2019
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FIRST DATA CORPORATION; DW HOLDINGS, INC.; FIRST DATA RESOURCES, LLC; FUNDSXPRESS FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC.; FIRST DATA SOLUTIONS, INC.; LINKPOINT INTERNATIONAL, INC.; MONEY NETWORK FINANCIAL, LLC; SIZE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TASQ TECHNOLOGY, INC.; TELECHECK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 050091/0474 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2019
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: CARDSERVICE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; DW HOLDINGS INC.; FIRST DATA CORPORATION; FIRST DATA RESOURCES, LLC; FUNDSXPRESS, INC.; INTELLIGENT RESULTS, INC.; LINKPOINT INTERNATIONAL, INC.; SIZE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TASQ TECHNOLOGY, INC.; TELECHECK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TELECHECK SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 049902/0919 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2011
From: DW HOLDINGS, INC.; FIRST DATA RESOURCES, LLC; FUNDSXPRESS FINANCIAL NETWORKS, INC.; FIRST DATA SOLUTIONS, INC.; LINKPOINT INTERNATIONAL, INC.; MONEY NETWORK FINANCIAL, LLC; SIZE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TASQ TECHNOLOGY, INC.; TELECHECK INTERNATIONAL, INC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 025719/0590 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 17, 2010
From: DW HOLDINGS, INC.; FIRST DATA RESOURCES, INC. (K/N/A FIRST DATA RESOURCES, LLC); FUNDSXPRESS FINANCIAL NETWORKS, INC.; INTELLIGENT RESULTS, INC. (K/N/A FIRST DATA SOLUTIONS, INC.); LINKPOINT INTERNATIONAL, INC.; MONEY NETWORK FINANCIAL, LLC; SIZE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TASQ TECHNOLOGY, INC.; TELECHECK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 025368/0183 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 31, 2007
From: FIRST DATA CORPORATION; CARDSERVICE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; FUNDSXPRESS, INC.; LINKPOINT INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TASQ TECHNOLOGY, INC.; TELECHECK SERVICES, INC.; DW HOLDINGS, INC.; FIRST DATA RESOURCES, INC.; INTELLIGENT RESULTS, INC.; SIZE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TELECHECK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 020045/0165 →