Automated mail collecting and telecommunication machine II

Claim 2

Self-contained apparatus for processing and collecting an item to be mailed comprising: computer means; display means coupled to said computer means, said display means displaying information associated with the use of the apparatus such as the instructions for using said apparatus; receiving means coupled to said computer means for receiving the item to be mailed; data entry means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for entering data relating to the item to be mailed, such as the address to which said item is to be mailed; weighing means coupled to said computer means and to said receiving means for securely weighing said item to be mailed; determining means including said computer means and coupled to said data entry means and to said weighing means for determining the required postage for said item to be mailed; payment means for accepting and verifying payment for said postage including said computer means and coupled to said display means, to said data entry means, and to said determining means; means coupled to said computer means for providing machine readable information concerning the item to be mailed on the item to be mailed, such as the zip code to which said item is to be mailed; transport means coupled to said computer means for transporting the item to be mailed from said receiving means to a storage area for subsequent pick up; and means coupled to said transport means for moving said transport means to drop said item in said storage area and moving said transport means to its original position after said item has been dropped in said storage area.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said display means are initially activated by a sensor detecting a person in proximity to said apparatus.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receiving means include means for positioning said item to be mailed within said apparatus.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said data entry means include an alphanumerical keyboard coupled to said computer means and to said display means.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said payment accepting and verifying means include: means including said computer means and coupled to said display means and to said determining means for detecting the presence of currency, for validating said currency, for counting said currency, and for returning change from said currency; and means including said computer means and coupled to said display means, to said data entry means, and to said determining means for detecting the presence of debit, credit, or IC cards, for reading said cards, for validating said cards, for charging said cards, and for returning said cards.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said information providing means include: means including said computer means for converting the information concerning the item to be mailed into laser readable bar code; and means for printing said laser readable bar code directly on the item to be mailed.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the information concerning the item to be mailed converted into said laser readable bar code includes information such as zip code, country code or special requests.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means coupled to said computer means for printing and dispensing human readable text detailing the transaction performed by said apparatus.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a telephone installation including; means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for placing a telephone call; and means including said computer means and coupled to said display means and to said payment means for calculating a charge for said telephone call, said payment means being adapted to accept and verify payment for said telephone call charge.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a data listing and interacting capability including: connector means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for connecting said apparatus to a database; means coupled to said computer means, to said display means, and to said connector means for interacting with said database; means coupled to said computer means, to said connector means, and to said interacting means for listing and printing data from said database; and means including said computer means and coupled to said display means and to said payment means for calculating a charge for the use of said data listing and interacting capability, said payment means being adapted to accept and verify payment for said data listing and interacting capability charge.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a telex message sending capability including: means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for accepting and sending a telex message; and means including said computer means and coupled to said display means and to said payment means for calculating a charge for the sending of said telex message, said payment means being adapted to accept and verify payment for said telex message sending charge.

Claim 13

Self-contained apparatus for processing and collecting an item to be mailed and for telecommunicating comprising: computer means; display means coupled to said computer means, said display means displaying information associated with the use of the apparatus such as the instructions for using said apparatus; receiving means coupled to said computer means for receiving the item to be mailed; data entry means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for entering data relating to the item to be mailed, such as the address to which said item is to be mailed; weighing means coupled to said computer means and to said receiving means for securely weighing said item to be mailed; determining means including said computer means and coupled to said data entry means and to said weighing means for determining the required postage for said item to be mailed; payment means for accepting and verifying payment for said postage including said computer means and coupled to said display means, to said data entry means, and to said determining means; means coupled to said computer means for providing machine readable information concerning the item to be mailed on the item to be mailed, such as the zip code to which said item is to be mailed; transport means coupled to said computer means for transporting the item to be mailed from said receiving means to a storage area for subsequent pick up; means coupled to said transport means for moving said transport means to drop said item in said storage area and moving said transport means to its original position after said item has been dropped in said storage area; telephone means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for placing a telephone call and means including said computer means and coupled to said display means and to said payment means for calculating a charge for said telephone call, said payment means being adapted to accept and verify payment for said telephone call charge; connector means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for connecting said apparatus to a database; means coupled to said computer means, to said display means, and to said connector means for interacting with said database; means coupled to said computer means, to said connector means, and to said interacting means for listing and printing data from said database; means including said computer means and coupled to said display means and to said payment means for calculating a charge for the use of said data listing and interacting capability, said payment means being adapted to accept and verify payment for said data listing and interacting capability charge; and means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for accepting and sending a telex message and means including said computer means and coupled to said display means and to said payment means for calculating a charge for the sending of said telex message, said payment means being adapted to accept and verify payment for said telex message sending charge.

Claim 14

Self-contained apparatus for processing and collecting an item to be mailed and for telecommunicating comprising: computer means; display means coupled to said computer means, said display means displaying information associated with the use of the apparatus such as the instructions for using said apparatus; receiving means coupled to said computer means for receiving the item to be mailed; data entry means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for entering data relating to the item to be mailed, such as the address to which said item is to be mailed; weighing means coupled to said computer means and to said receiving means for securely weighing said item to be mailed; determining means including said computer means and coupled to said data entry means and to said weighing means for determining the required postage for said item to be mailed; payment means for accepting and verifying payment for said postage including said computer means and coupled to said display means, to said data entry means, and to said determining means; means coupled to said computer means for providing machine readable information concerning the item to be mailed on the item to be mailed, such as the zip code to which said item is to be mailed; transport means coupled to said computer means for transporting the item to be mailed from said receiving means to a storage area for subsequent pick up; means coupled to said transport means for moving said transport means to drop said item in said storage area and moving said transport means to its original position after said item has been dropped in said storage area; telephone means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for placing a telephone call and means including said computer means and coupled to said display means and to said payment means for calculating a charge for said telephone call, said payment means being adapted to accept and verify payment for said telephone call charge; connector means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for connecting said apparatus to a database; means coupled to said computer means, to said display means, and to said connector means for interacting with said database; means coupled to said computer means, to said connector means, and to said interacting means for listing and printing data from said database; means including said computer means and coupled to said display means and to said payment means for calculating a charge for the use of said data listing and interacting capability, said payment means being adapted to accept and verify payment for said data listing and interacting capability charge; and means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for accepting and sending a telex message and means including said computer means and coupled to said display means and to said payment means for calculating a charge for the sending of said telex message, said payment means being adapted to accept and verify payment for said telex message sending charge.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said information providing means include: means including said computer means for converting the information concerning the item to be mailed into laser readable bar code; and means for printing said laser readable bar code directly on the item to be mailed.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the information concerning the item to be mailed converted into said laser readable bar code includes information such as zip code, country code or special requests.

Claim 19

The method according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of: connecting a telephone call; calculating a charge for said telephone call; and accepting and verifying payment for said telephone call charge.

Claim 20

The method according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of: connecting said computerized apparatus to a database; interacting with said database; calculating a charge for said database interaction; and accepting and verifying payment for said database interaction charge.

Claim 21

The method according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of: sending a telex message; calculating a charge for the sending of said telex message; and accepting and verifying payment for said telex message sending charge.

Claim 22

The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of printing information further comprises the step of converting said information, which includes a zip code, a country code or special requests, into laser readable bar code prior to printing said information on the item to be mailed.