Abstract:
A pre-printed label is attached to an article of internal or interdepartmental mail. The label is imprinted with a matrix of boxes that are selectively scratched or blackened out by a sender to represent a destination mail stop code. The matrix includes a lead-in marker and a lead-out marker that are detected by an optical scanner of a mail sorting machine to determine the location and orientation of the matrix. The matrix is scanned and the destination mail code is read as the article is processed by the mail sorting machine. The mail sorting machine then determines if the mail stop code matches a known destination and, if so, routes the article to a mail receptacle corresponding to the mail stop code.

Description:
FOREIGN PRIORITY CLAIM 
   This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) from Canadian Application No. 2,486,817 filed Nov. 4, 2004. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is related to the field of machine-readable labels for articles of mail that are sorted by automated mail sorting machines. More specifically, the present invention relates to machine-readable address labels for articles of mail and interdepartmental mailing envelopes that are sorted by automated internal-mail sorting machines. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Large organizations such as corporations and universities, to name but a few, can have large quantities of mail to be routed between departments and individuals within the organization. In such organizations, it is known to use mail sorting machines to automate the sorting and routing of mail from one destination to another. 
   A number of schemes are known to read the destination addresses of an article of mail using such a mail sorting machine. One method is to use optical character recognition techniques to “read” the destination address written on the article of mail by the sender. The accuracy of such a method, however, is greatly variable on the legibility of the sender&#39;s handwriting. 
   Another method is to use a label affixed or printed on an article of mail consisting of a matrix of boxes containing alphanumeric characters that are marked to indicate a code, such as a mail stop or zip code, representing the destination address of the article. The limitation of such a method requires that the label be presented to the mail sorting machine in a particular and precise orientation so that it may be properly “scanned” by the machine in order to determine the boxes marked in the matrix and, hence, the destination address of the article. 
   Another method is to print a bar code on the article representing the destination address that may be scanned by the mail sorting machine. The limitation of this method is that the bar code needs to be printed by a machine. The sender cannot simply mark a destination code on the article by hand. 
   It is, therefore, desirable to have an apparatus and method for marking the destination address of an article of mail that can be easily marked by hand by the sender and yet be easily read by a mail sorting machine without having the article to be exactly and precisely aligned with the machine in order to be read. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is an apparatus and method of marking articles of mail that are sorted by an automated internal mail sorting machine. 
   The apparatus of the present invention is a pre-printed label that can be affixed to an article of mail. The label comprises a matrix of columns and rows forming a number of boxes equal to the product of a number of columns and the number of rows. Within each box is a printed alphanumeric character that may be scratched or blackened out by marking the box with a writing instrument. Preferably, the characters are ascending in order from left and right within each row of the matrix. 
   In an alternate embodiment of the apparatus, the matrix may be pre-printed on an envelope itself. In internal or interoffice mail systems, an envelope may be printed with a number of such matrices such that it can be used over again until all of the preprinted matrices have been used. 
   The number of columns and rows of the matrix is variable although, preferably, the number of columns in the matrix will range from 3 to 10 and the number of rows in the matrix will range from 2 to 4. Each known destination address or mail stop within the organization will be assigned a specific or unique code representing the mail stop or destination address. Any number of marking codes or techniques may be used to identify the mail stop or destination addresses, as well known by those skilled in the art. To aid the mail sorting machine in reading the matrix on an article, the assignment of codes to mail stops may include the rule of not repeating alphanumeric characters in the mail stop code. By following this rule, a column will never have more than one marked box. This will increase the accuracy of determining the mail stop code when the matrix is scanned by a mail sorting machine. 
   To aid the ability of a mail sorting machine to read the matrix, the matrix further comprises a lead-in marker of a pre-determined pattern. The lead-in marker may be placed in any position but it is, preferably, placed adjacent to the left side of the matrix when the matrix is viewed in an upright orientation. The pattern can take on any number of forms. In the present invention, the lead-in marker preferably consists of a series of alternating black and white vertical lines of varying thicknesses from left to right. The lines do not have to be exactly “black and white.” The lines just need to be sufficiently distinguishable from each other in contrast from one line to the next so as to be readable by the optical scanner of a mail sorting machine. 
   In addition to the lead-in marker, the matrix further comprises a lead-out marker of a second predetermined pattern. The lead-out marker may be placed in any of the remaining positions surrounding the matrix but it is, preferably, placed adjacent to the right side of the matrix. The lead-out marker is one that is distinguishable from the lead-in marker. Like the lead-in marker, the lead-out marker can take on a number of forms. In the present invention, the lead-out marker preferably consists of a series of alternating white and black vertical lines from left to right. Similar to the lead-in marker, the lines need not be pure white and black, they just need to be sufficiently distinguishable in contrast from one line to the next. The lines of the lead-in and lead-out markers may also comprise breaks to indicate the junction between adjacent rows of the matrix. 
   In operation, the matrix is printed onto a label that can be affixed to an article of mail or may be printed on an envelope. The sender simply scratches or blackens out the boxes on the matrix that represents the mail stop code of the intended recipient of the article of the mail. For organizations with internal mail systems, the use of such a matrix speeds the operation of sorting and determining the destination of an article of mail by the use of an automated mail sorting machine. 
   In determining the destination code of an article of mail having a label of the present invention affixed to it, the article is passed under the optical scanner of a mail sorting machine such that the label is visible to the scanner. The scanner scans the article to produce an electronic image of the article. The mail sorting machine identifies the lead-in and lead-out markers in the image so as to further determine the location and orientation of the label and how much, if any, the label is skewed from a perpendicular or upright orientation. By knowing how much the label in the image is skewed from an upright orientation, the mail sorting machine can use this information to then determine which boxes in the label&#39;s matrix is scratched or blackened out. 
   Upon determining which boxes are marked, the mail sorting machine produces an output value string representative of the mail stop code marked on the label. The mail sorting machine then compares the output value string to a data base of destination codes representing destinations known to the mail sorting machine. If the output value string matches the destination code of a destination known to the mail sorting machine, the mail sorting machine then produces an output signal indicating that the destination of the article of mail is the destination associated with the matched destination code. 
   In further operation of the present invention, if the mail sorting machine compromises receptacles for destinations known to the mail sorting machine, the machine uses the foregoing process, instead of producing an output signal, or in addition to producing the output signal, to move the article of mail and deposit it into a receptacle corresponding to the destination associated with the matched destination code. 
   According to one aspect of the present invention, a machine-readable label capable of being imprinted on or affixed to an article of mail includes a printed matrix having a first plurality of columns and a second plurality of rows, and the matrix having a left side and a right side when viewed in an upright orientation. The intersection of each columns with each row forms a box, whereby a matrix of “m” columns and “n” rows comprises “m” times “n” boxes is formed. Each box contains an alphanumeric character that is capable of being scratched or blackened out. A lead-in marker of a first predetermined pattern is imprinted adjacent to a first side of the matrix and a lead-out marker of a second predetermined pattern is imprinted adjacent to a second side of the matrix. The lead-in and lead-out markers are used by an optical reader of a mail sorting machine to determine the location and orientation of a label relative to the optical scanner of the sorting machine. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for manually marking a mail stop on an article for automated reading and conversion of the mail stop to a machine-readable code. The method includes the steps of applying to or printing on the article a machine-readable label comprising a printed matrix having a first plurality of columns and a second plurality of rows with the intersection of each of the columns with each of the rows forming a box containing an alphanumeric character that is capable of being scratched or blackened out; manually scratching or blackening out the boxes to designate characters that correspond to the mail stop address, and reading the boxes by an optical scanner of a mail sorting machine. 
   According to yet another aspect of the invention, the destination of an article is determined with reference to a machine-readable label affixed to or printed on the article. The label has boxes that are selectively scratched or blackened out to represent the destination of the article. The article is moved past the optical reader such that the optical reader can scan the label on the article and produce an electronic image of the article. Lead-in and lead-out markers on the label also appear in the electronic image to determine the location and orientation of the label relative to the optical scanner. An output value string is produced that is representative of the boxes scratched or blackened out on the label. The output value string is compared to a database of destinations known to the mail sorting machine. Each known destination has a unique destination code stored in the database. If the output value string matches a destination code stored in the database, an output signal indicates that the destination of the article is the destination associated with the matched destination code. The mail sorting machine then moves and deposits the article into the mail receiving receptacle that corresponds to the destination associated with the matched destination code. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of a third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of an envelope having a label printed with the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a first embodiment of an internal mail envelope printed with the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of a second embodiment of an internal mail envelope printed with the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of a second embodiment of a printed envelope having the apparatus of the present invention marked with destination mail stops. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an article marked with the apparatus of the present invention being scanned by an optical reader of a mail sorting machine. 
       FIG. 9  is a top of view of an article marked with the apparatus of the present invention being scanned by an optical reader of a mail sorting machine. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an article marked with the apparatus of the present invention being deposited into a destination receptacle by a mail sorting machine. 
       FIG. 11  is a front view of fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a front view of fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is a front view of sixth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  is a front view of a third embodiment of an internal mail envelope printed with the apparatus of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , apparatus  10  of the present invention is illustrated. Apparatus  10  consists of matrix  12  having a plurality of boxes  11 . Apparatus  10  may be printed on a label that may be affixed to an article of mail to be sent by a sender to an addressee. Alternatively, apparatus  10  may be printed directly to an envelope (not shown) to be sent from the sender to addressee. 
   Matrix  12  may consist of any number of columns and rows but, preferably will have 3 to 10 columns and 2 to 4 rows. In each box  11  is an alphanumeric character  13 . Preferably characters  13  represent a series of numerals listed in ascending order from left to right in each row with either a “0” or a “1”. To the left of matrix  12  is lead-in marker  14 . To the right of matrix  12  is lead-out marker  16 . Located below matrix  12  is addressee line  18  that is used by the sender to write the name of the addressee. 
   Lead-in marker  14  is a first unique pattern to designate the left side of matrix  12  when scanned by an optical scanner of a mail sorting machine. While the pattern can be of any configuration, lead-in marker  14  is, preferably, a series of vertical lines of alternating black and white lines from left to right. The lines need not be exactly black and white, but do need be of alternating contrast so that an optical scanner can distinguish one line from another. For the purposes of this specification, a “black line” will include lines of darker contrast whereas a “white line” will include lines of lighter contrast. The preferred embodiment of lead-in marker  14  consists of, in this order, a black line of width “X,” a white line of width “X,” a black line of width “2X”, a white line of width “2X”, a black line of width “4X” and a white line “4X”. The variable “X” is, preferably, in the range of 0.005″ to 0.1″. 
   Similarly, lead-out marker  16  is a second unique pattern to designate the right side of matrix  12  when scanned by an optical scanner. While the pattern can be of any configuration, lead-out marker  16  is, preferably, a series of vertical lines of alternating white and black lines from left to right. The preferred embodiment of lead-out marker  16  consists of, in this order, a white line of width “X,” a black line of width “X,” a white line of width “2X”, a black line of width “2X”, a white line of width “4X” and a black line “4X”. In other words, lead-out marker  16  can comprise a “negative” image of lead-in marker  14 . 
   The mail stop of the addressee is a code that is identified by the sender blackening out characters  13  to produce marked characters  15 . For improved accuracy when being scanned by an optical scanner of a mail sorting machine, the marking of mail stops on apparatus  10  may be limited such that each column may only have up to one box  11  marked. In a matrix  12  having 10 columns and three rows, for example, the total number of discreet mail stops is available is  720 . 
   An alternate embodiment of apparatus  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, matrix  12  further compromises registration lines  20  and  22 . Registration lines  20  and  22  permit the optical scanner to have greater precision in determining which boxes  11  have blackened characters  15  thereby removing the restriction of having only one blackened character  15  in each column and thereby increasing the total number of available mail stop addresses to 1,000 for matrix  12  having 10 columns and 3 rows. 
   In  FIG. 3 , a 3-column by 3-row version of apparatus  10  is shown. In this example, addressee line  18  is positioned to the left of matrix  12 . In  FIG. 4 , envelope  24  is shown having a label  26  preprinted with matrix  12 . 
   In  FIG. 5 , an envelope  30  is shown having a number of apparatuses  10  printed on it. In this example, apparatus  10  appears 18 times in a configuration comprising of 3 columns and 6 rows. In  FIG. 6 , an another example of envelope  30  is shown but, in this case, the printing of apparatus  10  is done having 2 columns and 9 rows on envelope  30 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a sample of this version of envelope  30  having all of its apparatuses  10  filled out with mail stops and names of addressees. 
   Envelope  30 , in each of the foregoing examples, is an envelope for use in an internal or interdepartmental mail system of an organization, such as a corporation or a university to name but a couple of examples. By printing apparatus  10  on envelope  30  a number of times, envelope  30  may be used over and over until every apparatus  10  has been filled out to successive number of addressees. 
   Referring  FIGS. 11 to 13 , other embodiments of apparatus  10  are shown. In  FIG. 11 , apparatus  10  includes addressee line  18  and addressee department line  19  to the left of matrix  12 . In  FIG. 12 , addressee line  18  and addressee department line  19  appear below matrix  12 . Addressee line  18  provides a space for the addressee&#39;s name to be written or typed in whereas addressee department line provides a space the addressee&#39;s department name to be written or typed in. 
   In  FIG. 13 , matrix  12  further comprises upper lead-in marker  21  located above and lower lead-out marker  13  located below. Upper lead-in marker  21  and lower lead-out marker  23  may be used in place, or in addition to, lead-in marker  14  and lead-out marker  16  by a mail sorting machine to determine the location and orientation of matrix  12  on an article of mail. Referring to  FIG. 14 , another embodiment of envelope  30  is shown having apparatus  10  printed 24 times in a 2-column by 12-row configuration. 
   In operation, matrix  12  of apparatus  10  is marked by scratching or blackening out boxes  11  so as to produce blackened characters  13 . Boxes  11  need not be completely blackened, only marks sufficiently such that the marks contrast with the background color of  17  of matrix  12 . 
   In  FIG. 8 , an envelope  30  is showing moving on conveyor  32  under optical scanner  34  of a mail sorting machine (not shown). Matrix  36 , in this case, represents mail stop ( 164 ) and is scanned by scan line  38 . In  FIG. 9 , a top view of envelope  30  passing under optical scan of  34  is shown. In this example, apparatus  36  is being scanned by scan lines  39 A and  39 B. In actuality, as envelope  30  passes under optical scanner  34 , a large number of scans are taken by scanner  34 , not just 2 as represented by scan lines  39 A and  39 B. 
   As well known by those skilled in the art, optical scanners  34  used in mail sorting machines scan articles of mail using charge-coupled devises that have been configured to read one line at a time. The resolution of such devices used in mail sorting machines is 1 dot high by 1000, 2000 or even 4000 dots wide. As shown in  FIG. 9 , envelope  30  is positioned not perfectly aligned with the direction of conveyor  32  as envelope  30  passes under optical scanner  34 . More often than not, envelope  30  is placed on conveyor  32  such that the envelope is skewed off-center by skew angle  37 . By incorporating lead-in marker  14  and lead-out marker  16  on matrix  12 , the mail sorting machine can determine what skew angle  37  is and use that information in processing the image of apparatus  36  taken by scanner  34  to determine which boxes  11  have blackened characters  15 . 
   In  FIGS. 8 and 9 , apparatus  36  is given mail stop “164”. Upon scanning apparatus  36 , the mail sorting machine will determine that the mail stop written on envelope  30  is “164” and produce an output value string to that effect. The mail sorting machine will then compare the output value string with its internal data base to determine if the output value string matches with the destination code of a mail stop known to the mail sorting machine. If there is a match, the mail sorting machine will then produce an output signal indicating the destination of envelope  30  matches with the destination known to the mail sorting machine. 
   The mail sorting machine may, in turn, direct envelope  30  to its destination. In  FIG. 10 , a portion of the mail sorting machine is shown. As the mail sorting machine, in this example, has identified the destination code of envelope  30  as “164”, envelope  30  is moved along conveyor  40  until it reaches flap  44 . In this example, flap  44  opens such that envelope  30  will move toward opening  46  and then fall through opening  46  thereby being deposited into receptacle  42  which receives all mail to be directed to mail stop “164.” While this example illustrates a flap that opens on a conveyor to allow to mail to fall through into a receptacle, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that any number of methods can be used to direct mail to an intended receptacle apart from the examples shown. 
   The terms and expressions used in this specification have been used for purposes of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention by the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described.