US5283752A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of preparing an item to be mailed and system for carrying out that method
Assignee: Neopost Industrie BV
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Filing: 1993-04-08
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Granted: 1994-02-01
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Expires: 2013-04-08
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a method of preparing an item to be mailed using a printer in which a main document is printed and a line of mail preparation stations comprising an inserter station, responsive to an output, comprising instructions for controlling the printer and the mail preparation stations, said instructions for controlling the mail preparation stations being detected and fed to those mail preparation stations. According to the invention the main document is fed directly from the printer to the mail preparation stations and the supply of the instructions for controlling the mail preparation stations is carried out in accordance with the printing of the main document. Further, an apparatus according to the invention is set forth, to be used for carrying out the method according to the invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacobus F. Gombault
- 👤 Gerhard Hidding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:45
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; B; B07; B07C; B07C1/00; G07B17/00467; G07B2017/00491; G07B2017/00572; G07B2017/00596
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for preparing an item to be mailed, comprising the steps of: outputting a set of instructions to a mail preparation line, the mail preparation line including a printer and one or more stations of the mail preparation line, the set of instructions including instructions for controlling the printer and associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations, the instructions for controlling the printer and the associated instructions being outputted at the same time; subsequently printing a document in accordance with the instructions for controlling the printer; subsequently directly feeding individual printed documents from the printer to the one or more stations; supplying operating instructions to the one or more stations in accordance with the associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations and in accordance with the printing of the documents and the feeding of the printed documents form the printer to the one or more stations; and subsequently processing the printed documents in accordance with the associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for preparing an item to be mailed, comprising the steps of: outputting a set of instructions to a mail preparation line, the mail preparation line including a printer and one or more stations of the mail preparation line, the set of instructions including instructions for controlling the printer and associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations, the instructions for controlling the printer and the associated instructions being outputted at the same time; subsequently printing a document in accordance with the instructions for controlling the printer; subsequently directly feeding individual printed documents from the printer to the one or more stations; supplying operating instructions to the one or more stations in accordance with the associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations and in accordance with the printing of the documents and the feeding of the printed documents form the printer to the one or more stations; and subsequently processing the printed documents in accordance with the associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1, the outputting step further comprising supplying he set of instructions to the printer and removing the associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations from the set of instructions supplied to the printer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 2, comprising the further step of replacing the associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations that are removed from the set of instructions supplied to the printer with printing instructions which cause the printer to print a blank portion of the printed document.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the operating instructions are not recognized by the printer as printing instructions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method according to claim 1, the outputting step further comprising supplying the associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations in the form of printing instructions for printing coded information for controlling at least one mail preparation station, and converting the instructions for printing coded information into instructions that do not effect any printing and are partly passed on to the printer in unmodified form to effect the printing of one or more markings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 1, the outputting step further comprising outputting the set of instructions from a data processing and receiving the output set of instructions at an interface, and the interface generating, from the set of instructions received, separate information streams to the printer and the one or more stations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 6, the outputting step further comprising feeding the interface with signals from and printer and the one or more stations, for control of the printer and the one or more stations, and regulating the output of the data processor depending on the signals from the printer and the one or more stations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 6, the outputting step further comprising feeding signals to the interface from control apparatus, and the interface generating further signals in response to the signals to influence the printing of the printed document and the processing of the printed document.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 6, the outputting step further comprising adding, at the interface, additional information, and coupling the additional information to at least one of the separate information streams.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1, the supplying step further comprising supplying the operating instructions to the one or more stations before the document is printed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 1, the supplying step further comprising supplying the operating instructions to the one ore more stations before the individual printed documents are directly fed from the printer to the one or more stations.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for preparing items to be mailed, comprising: a mail preparation line comprising a printer and one or more stations including an inserter station; means for directly feeding individual documents from the printer to a first subsequent one of the one or more stations; a data processor for generating a set of instructions including instructions for controlling the printer and associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations, the instructions for controlling the printer and the associated instructions being generated at the same time; and an interface connected between the data processor and the printer and interconnected with the one or more stations, the interface supplying operating instructions for controlling the one or more stations in accordance with the associated instructions and in accordance with the printing of documents by the printer and the feeding of printed documents to the one or more stations.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for preparing items to be mailed, comprising: a mail preparation line comprising a printer and one or more stations including an inserter station; means for directly feeding individual documents from the printer to a first subsequent one of the one or more stations; a data processor for generating a set of instructions including instructions for controlling the printer and associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations, the instructions for controlling the printer and the associated instructions being generated at the same time; and an interface connected between the data processor and the printer and interconnected with the one or more stations, the interface supplying operating instructions for controlling the one or more stations in accordance with the associated instructions and in accordance with the printing of documents by the printer and the feeding of printed documents to the one or more stations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 12, the interface further comprising input means for inputting further instructions.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for preparing an item to be mailed, comprising the steps of: outputting a set of instructions for controlling a mail preparation line to an interface, the mail preparation line including a printer and one or more stations of a mail preparation line, the set of instructions including first instructions for controlling the printer and associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations of the mail preparation line; subsequently supplying second instructions for controlling the printer in accordance with the first instructions for controlling the printer from the interface to the printer; printing a document in accordance with the second instructions for controlling the printer; subsequently directly feeding individual printed documents from the printer to the one or more stations; supplying operating instructions from the interface to the one or more stations in accordance with the associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations and in accordance with the printing of the documents and the feeding of the printed documents from the printer to the one or more stations; and subsequently processing the printed documents in accordance with the associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for preparing an item to be mailed, comprising the steps of: outputting a set of instructions for controlling a mail preparation line to an interface, the mail preparation line including a printer and one or more stations of a mail preparation line, the set of instructions including first instructions for controlling the printer and associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations of the mail preparation line; subsequently supplying second instructions for controlling the printer in accordance with the first instructions for controlling the printer from the interface to the printer; printing a document in accordance with the second instructions for controlling the printer; subsequently directly feeding individual printed documents from the printer to the one or more stations; supplying operating instructions from the interface to the one or more stations in accordance with the associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations and in accordance with the printing of the documents and the feeding of the printed documents from the printer to the one or more stations; and subsequently processing the printed documents in accordance with the associated instructions for controlling the one or more stations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 14, comprising the further step of feeding the interface with signals from the printer and the one or more stations, for control of the printer and the one or more stations, and regulating the output of the data processor depending on the signals from the printer and the one or more stations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 14, comprising the further step of feeding the interface with signals from control apparatus, the interface generating further signals in response to the signals from the control apparatus to influence the printing of the printed document and the processing of the printed document.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 14, the step of supplying operating instructions including supplying operating instructions to the one or more stations before the document is printed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 14, the step of supplying operating instructions including supplying operating instructions to the one or more stations before the individual printed documents are directly fed from the printer to the one or more stations.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-31 | 1997-08-02 | 1998-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-31 | 2001-08-02 | 2002-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-31 | 2005-08-02 | 2006-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |