Patent Publication Number: US-7219084-B1

Title: Method for processing postal matter and postal matter processing system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention is directed to a method for processing postal matter and a postal matter processing system which allow staggered postal matter processing and are suited for use with multiple carriers. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Public, automatic franking units are already known wherein a weighing device is combined with a franking device (German OS 28 19 872). Such systems, however, do not yet have a multi-carrier capability. Mail to be sent abroad is already transported by at least two respective national public mail carriers. Future mail delivery will also be handled by private carriers who may potentially use their own logos and rather different regulations for franking than the public carriers. It is specifically private carriers who, will only be present locally in the establishment phase, and who will have to collaborate with public mail carriers. 
   An automatic unit for franking mail and also printing out documentation thereof is disclosed in German OS 24 30 413. U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,000, for example, also discloses that two printers be utilized for a direct printing of a bar code on the postal matter and a separate printing of a record thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,022 discloses an automatic postal device with a slot for postal items, a drive mechanism, weighing, stamping and sorting mechanism. Such postal devices require a large amount of floor space for the many containers for sorted mail and are complicated and expensive to operate. One of the containers is always full first, which then negatively influences the work of the entire postal device. When, however, the postal devices are emptied in short cycles, then the containers with sorted mail are filled to different degrees and must also be individually emptied although one container is nearly empty. The transport costs are proportional to the transport distance and inversely proportional to the quantity of mail. The sorted mail must, of course, be separately transported, which requires additional attention and exertions on the part of the carrier company. If some carriers make higher demands on the franking stamp imprint in the future, for example a security imprint with 2-D bar code, high-grade printers that are expensive to maintain must be utilized. 
   An automatic postal matter receiving system is disclosed in European Application 503 311 with a money card or customer card and with a standardized postal matter delivery with a transport stage that does not include either a device for weighing or for franking. The money card allows an immediate debiting of a postage fee that is derived on the basis of the selection of the standardized postal matter delivery. The postage calculation does not take the weight into consideration. The transport stage is unlocked after the postage calculation. The employment of separate storage containers is also necessary since a distinction between shipping types is no longer subsequently possible due to the absence of a franking imprint. A conventional postage fee memory in combination with a secured postal matter storage container is required in combination with the card reading unit. The container is emptied by an authorized person, who loads the data from the postage fee memory into a specific removal chip card. When the sender has been authorized with a specific customer card when the postal matter is received, the card allows the customer account to be charged with the incurred fees in a central accounting location. 
   The remaining method up to the distribution of the unfranked mail is not disclosed in European Application 503 311, however, it can be assumed that the carrier also undertakes the mail distribution. If a public carrier were engaged for the further transport and for the distribution of postal matters, then the stipulations of this carrier for identifying or franking mail as well as for debiting would have to be adhered to. Since, however, no franking ensues, the stipulations of, for example, the Deutsche Post AG (or the USPS) are not adhered to. As a rule, postal matter, for example letters to be sent abroad, must at least be stamped with an imprint. The elimination of a franking imprint harbors further disadvantages such as problems of data documentation, a risk of fraud due to the introduction of a plurality of unpaid or overweight pieces of mail, particularly given the standard delivery of large-format postal matter. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a postal matter processing method and system wherein the deficiencies of the prior art are avoided and which allow secure and economical postal matter processing, and wherein the receiving stations are emptied in a short cycle without maintenance thereof and without a separate handling of the mail in the distributing stations having to ensue with the same frequency as the emptying of the receiving stations. 
   The above object is achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention in a method and a system for postal matter processing, wherein a number of automatic postal matter receiving stations are provided at which a customer can deposit unfranked letters and enter shipping data, and the receiving station prints a machine-readable marking on the deposited letters representing the entered shipping data. The deposited letters are temporarily stored at each receiving station, and are subsequently transported by a first postal carrier to a distributing station which is remote from the receiving station. At least one franking apparatus is present at the distributing station, and the shipping data, at the distributing station, are transferred into a memory of the franking apparatus, and the postal matter is franked at the distributing station according to the shipping data stored in the memory allocated to the marking. The franked postal matter is then supplied to a mail distribution center of a second postal carrier, such as governmental postal carrier. 
   The inventive method requires minimal outlay in the mail processing since the first carrier merely assigns an identification number per piece of mail (for example, letter) that is applied or attached as a machine-readable mark in a predetermined area at the postal matter. The aforementioned identification number is allocated to the shipping data input by the postal customer. These data are initially stored in a memory module of the receiving station and are then loaded into a memory module of the distributing station. A specific carrier card serves as transmission medium, the first carrier transporting this card to the distributing station together with the received postal matter. The marking on the postal matter is scanned in the distributing station in order to correspondingly undertake the franking. 
   It has been found that a common storage container for unfranked but marked mail is more likely to be filled to such an extent that the steps for emptying this container are optimum, even though the filling ensues in a short cycle. The invention therefore assumes that a common storage container for all unfranked postal matter is most beneficial for the mail dispatcher. Compared to the aforementioned solution of European Application 503 311, the invention has the advantage that the mail delivery when receiving mail is not standardized for a specific postal format. The transport stage can be unlocked independently of the postage calculation, so that the dispatcher can deposit all unfranked postal matter through a slot onto a lower guide plate of feeder arrangement. Because the mail feed is not standardized and a printer is utilized for marking the pieces of mail to be separated, attempted fraud is suppressed. The documentation of the mail deposit is also enabled by an additional document printer. A scale can be integrated in the common storage container, so that later weighing is eliminated. Differing from known systems a printer no longer need be arranged following the scale. This yields a simple structural format for the receiving stations. Alternatively, a scale can be integrated into the distributing station. The scale in the receiving station is then eliminated. In any case, the mail processing according to the invention ensues staggered such that a marking ensues before the weighing. It is advantageous that the receiving stations need only be equipped with marking printers but not with expensive franking printers. Advantageously, the stamping of the postal matter to be transported according to the rate schedule of the second carrier can ensue separately from receiving the postal matter. For a first carrier, this has the advantage of being able to negotiate a quantity discount with a second carrier for the service of delivering franked postal matter. The first carrier also can negotiate a quantity discount with further mail carriers. The franking device of the distributing station can be set for a number of different carriers. Supplying these carriers requires a deposit system in the distributing station with a controllable shunt and a number of deposits, respectively allocated to different carriers. The franking device of the distributing station is programmed to determine the carrier with the most favorable rate schedule for each carrier job. Whereas the first carrier profits from the differences in rates, supplying different carriers has the advantage for the mail shipper that the rates remain moderate as a result of competition. This, however, is not meant to preclude that the additional input of a carrier requested by the shipper being taken into consideration on the basis of a suitable user interface with keyboard and display unit in the receiving station. 
   It is thus inventively provided that a feeder arrangement and a marking printer are arranged in the receiving station in the direction of the mail stream preceding a storage container, and being connected to a control unit. The feeder arrangement includes a closure mechanism with a slot that can be driven by a read/write unit, so that the sender can insert at least one piece of mail through the slot into the feeder arrangement only when the sender has inserted a card into a slot of the read/write unit. A non-volatile memory for accounting data and a clock/date module are connected to the control unit, which is programmed to assign an identification number to each piece of mail and, dependent on the shipping inputs actuated via the keyboard, to make an entry in the non-volatile memory for accounting data under the aforementioned number, as well as to store the weight, if desired, and to drive the marking printer to print the aforementioned number onto the piece of mail while it is being transported downstream. 
   Given a specific carrier card introduced into the slot of the read/write unit by the authorized party, it is also inventively provided that the control unit is programmed to write the accounting data into the specific carrier card allocated to the respective number and to actuate an output closure (port) at the storage container for receiving the postal matter. The specific carrier card is fashioned for removal of postal matter from the receiving station by a first mail carrier as well as for input, by an authorized party, of the accounting data into a postage meter machine of the distributing station. The data transmission can likewise ensue via an alternative means (on line or off line) to the distributing station. The distributing station is at least composed of a postage meter machine and a sensor and a delivery arrangement preceding in the mail stream, the latter including a scanner for scanning the marking that was printed in the receiving station. The postage meter machine has a read/write unit for the specific carrier cards, a second non-volatile memory, a franking printer and a connection for the printout of received lists via a second printer as well as a control unit that is programmed to derive the number of the scanned piece of mail from the scanned marking data and to determine the appertaining, input accounting data, possibly with the appertaining weight, from the second non-volatile memory in order to correspondingly set the postage meter machine before the franking. 
   It is also advantageous that the shipper can employ a value or a customer card for paying for the service to be provided by the carrier. The debiting by value card is premised on an automatic format and thickness recognition of the pieces of mail. The value card can be a rechargeable money card. The customer card only allows the input of an identification number. A debiting does not ensue from the card but ensues either subsequently from the customer card or an invoice is prepared. A loss of the customer card is not tragic since money is thus not automatically lost as long as the first carrier is immediately notified who then can block the postage meter machine for the corresponding identification number. An added advantage is achieved due to the closure mechanism for the slot as protection against willful property damage to the receiving station in combination with the read/write unit. A card inserted into the latter is retained if vandalism is detected by additional sensors. The card owner, and possibly, the person causing the damage, can be determined via the identity number of the card. The keyboard and the display unit also can be protected in a similar way. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1   a  illustrates a first version of a mail processing system with receiving stations and with a distributing station in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 1   b  is a block circuit diagram of the receiving station in the first version. 
       FIG. 1   c  is a perspective view of the distributing station in the first version. 
       FIG. 2   a  illustrates a second version of a mail processing system with receiving stations and with a distributing station in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 2   b  is a block circuit diagram of the receiving station in the second version. 
       FIG. 2   c  is a plan view of a printing feeder arrangement of the distribution station in the second version. 
       FIG. 2   d  is a plan view of a sensor and feeder arrangement of the distributing station in the second version. 
       FIG. 2   e  is a block circuit diagram of the receiving station in a third version. 
       FIG. 2   f  is a perspective view of the distributing station in the second version. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a sensor and feeder arrangement. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1   a  shows a first version of a mail processing system with receiving stations  12 ,  13 ,  14  and with a distributing station  10 . These receiving stations represent an arbitrary number n of receiving stations. The receiving stations  12 ,  13 ,  14  can be placed at gas stations, shopping centers, self-service areas of banks, in the proximity of EC automats (in Europe) and at other important locations. The distributing station  10  is located remote therefrom. For example, the frankings are undertaken in a service center. The system assumes that the sender has a value card C (i.e., a credit card) and inserts it into a slot of the receiving station  12 . The receiving station  12  generates a different number for each postal matter B. The sender undertakes the required inputs for the shipping at a keyboard  26  of the receiving station in conformity with the postal matter B. A slot  22  is released by a closure. The postal matter B inserted into the slot  22  is weighed and marked inside the receiving station  12 . The marking ensues, for example, with a number and/or a bar code in a predetermined area on the postal matter B. The marked, unfranked postal matter A lands in a storage container shown in  FIG. 1   b . An ordinary mailbox  43  for letters prepaid with postage stamps or meter imprints or in some other way can be arranged next to the receiving station  12  or laterally integrated therewith. In a known way, the mailbox  43  has a slot  42  for inserting the stamped letters. The data entered by the sender and internally measured in each receiving station  12 ,  13 ,  14  are non-volatilely stored. An authorized party of the first carrier has a transport  46  and routinely empties the mailboxes and storage containers of the receiving stations  12 ,  13 ,  14 . Opening the receiving stations  12 ,  13 ,  14  requires an access means, such as insertion of a specific carrier card E into the corresponding slot of a read/write unit  23  of the receiving stations  12 ,  13 ,  14 . For transmission of the data to the distributing station, the non-volatilely stored data are entered into a transmission means, preferably by loading into the specific carrier card E. 
   Upon arrival of the transport  46  at the distributing station, the franked letters are placed in a second deposit  65 . The operation of the distributing station  10  initially requires a data transfer, for example an insertion of one of the specific carrier cards E into the corresponding slot of a read/write unit  63  of the postage meter machine  60 , in order to transfer the data stored in the card. The appertaining postal matter now can be automatically franked according to these data. Before the franking, the postal matter passes through a sensor and feeder stage  55  and is thereby scanned by a scanner  50  in view of the marking. The marking information is communicated via the feeder  55  to the postage meter machine  60 , is converted into a letter number and is checked in view of its appearance in a list of the stored data. In a known manner, the postage meter machine  60  has an accounting memory  69  that non-volatilely stores the list of stored data and wherein a debiting is undertaken. After the franking, the letters proceed into a first deposit  68  arranged downstream. A received list  67  having the stored data from the accounting memory  69  can be printed out with a printer  66  for a stack of franked pieces of mail. The printer can be connected to the postage meter machine either directly or, alternatively, via a personal computer (not shown). The stack of franked pieces of mail from the first deposit  68  with the received list  67  and the stamped letters from the second deposit  65  are delivered by a transport  47  of the first carrier to a mail distribution center  80  of the second carrier and are further-transported with the transport  81  of the latter to the addressee or distribution locations in order to distribute the mail. 
     FIG. 1   b  shows a block circuit diagram of the receiving station  12  of the first version. The read/write unit  23  is connected in terms of control to a drive (not shown) of a closure mechanism of the slot  22  and to a unit  25  for control and postage calculation. Since the slot  22  is only opened given an inserted card, there is effective protection against vandalism for the postal matter within the receiving station. The slot  22  is arranged upstream of a scanner and feeder  20  at the housing of the receiving station. A marking printer  30  is arranged downstream of the scanner and feeder  20 . Alternatively, the marking printer can also be a component part of the scanner and feeder  20 . The marking with the marking printer  20  can thus advantageously ensue upon or immediately after the deposit of the postal matter B. A storage container  40  for marked postal matter is arranged downstream behind the marking printer  30 . A static scale  31 , which includes a weighing pan  35  and a weighing cell S 6 , is a component of the storage container  40 . A port  41  with appertaining, controllable opening device is arranged at the housing of the receiving station. The weighing cell S 6  contains electronics for the transmission of a weight signal to the control unit  25 . The weight of the individually supplied pieces of mail is determined in the control unit  25  according to the difference method. 
   The presence of postal matter B to be delivered to the mail stream is detected with a sensor S 1 . The sensors S 2  and S 3  are for a format identification, the sensor S 3  is for a thickness identification, and the sensor S 5  is for a determination of the position of the supplied postal matter B in the transport path, and the sensor S 7  allows a determination of the filling level to be undertaken by the control unit  25 . A suitable scanner and feeder is disclosed in German patent application 19912807.3. Inventively, the marking printer  30  is additionally provided in this latter solution. For example, an arrangement of the marking printer  30  and the sensor S 1  ensues in the pre-separation region. 
   The control unit  25  is connected to the aforementioned components  20 ,  22 ,  23 ,  30 ,  41  in terms of control. The control unit  25  is equipped with a fee memory  39  and is programmed for calculating postage. The current rate for calculating the postage can be reloaded via the write/read unit  23  connected to the control unit  25  with a RATE TABLE chip card, or optionally via a connected modem  24 . A display unit  27 , a clock/date module  28 , a non-volatile memory  29  and a customer record printer  36  are connected to the control unit  25 . The customer record printer  36  can print out the number of the piece of mail, the time data and the shipping data input upon mail deposit as a customer record. The keyboard  26  and the display unit  27  form a user interface and can be fashioned combined with one another (soft keys) are integrated (touch screen). The user interface can likewise be protected against damage, for example vandalism, by a closure mechanism. 
   It is optionally provided that the receiving station is supplied with power from an autonomous energy source  33 , can be connected to solar collectors  34 . 
     FIG. 1   c  shows a perspective view of the distributing station of the first version, having a sensor and feeder  55 , a postage meter machine  60  and a deposit  68 . A scanner  50  is arranged in an opening at the mail application point of a lateral guide plate, for example in the separation area between the openings in the guide plate for two drive drums. A commercially available scanner, for example of the type LS 4100 of the Datalogic company, is utilized as scanner for a bar code. A sensor and feeder  55  suitable for such mixed mail processing is explained in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 3 . After the letters are applied, a pressure applicator is actuated, for example a plate  556  is pivoted into a position that presses the stack of letters against the guide plate, so that the letter placed at the bottom is scanned first. The stack is separated by the scanned letter being transported in the direction of the storage container. A separation of the supplied letters is undertaken under the cover  557 , as disclosed in German PS 196 05 017, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,324, and in the aforementioned German Patent Application 199 12 807.3 
   In a known manner, the postage meter machine  60  is composed of a meter  62  and a base. A system based on the postage meter machine Jet Mail® of Francotyp-Postalia AG &amp; Co. is particularly suited, as disclosed in detail in, among others, European Patent Applications 875 864 and 901 108. The base is equipped with a chip card read/write unit  63  that is arranged behind a guide plate and is accessible proceeding from an upper housing edge. After the postage meter machine is turned on with a switch next to the read/write unit  63 , a carrier card E can be inserted into an insertion slot from top to bottom. A supplied letter A that stands on edge and that has its surface to be printed lying against the guide plate is then printed with a meter stamp according to the input data and then drops into the deposit box  68 . 
   The feeder  20  in the receiving station  12  can have the same structural format as the feeder  55  in the distributing station  10 . The feeder  20  of the receiving station  12  (shown in  FIG. 1   b ), however, can be additionally equipped with sensors for sensing the format and the thickness of the postal matter. A scale  31  with the weighing cell S 6  for weight measurement is arranged following the sensor and feeder  20 . The sensor data and the weight measured with the scale  31  are communicated to the control unit  25 . The control unit  25  controls the transport of the postal matter and is fashioned for calculating postage. The customer&#39;s card is a value card C. The debiting of the postage from the value card C and a logging of the shipping data are undertaken in the non-volatile memory  29  of the control unit  25  of the receiving station  12 . The control unit is programmed to undertake a debiting from the value card C via the read/write unit  23  after the marking has been printed. 
   The inventive method includes the following steps: A card of the customer is identified when it is inserted into a first read/write unit  23  of the receiving station and input of shipping data. A number for a piece of mail B is generated and the number and the entered shipping data are written into a first memory  29  of the receiving station. The slot  22  of the receiving station is enabled for the purpose of feeding the postal matter. The postal matter B are marked at the receiving station. Further relevant data are entered into the first memory  29  of the receiving station. The marked postal matter A is intermediately stored in the storage container  40  of the receiving station. A specific carrier card E is inserted into the first read/write unit  23  and the accounting data are loaded from the first memory  29  into the memory of the specific carrier card E. The port  41  of the storage container  40  with the specific carrier card E is opened for removing the marked postal matter A. The marked postal matter A and the specific carrier card E are transported by a first mail carrier  46  to the remote postage meter machine  60  in a distributing station. The specific carrier card E is inserted into a remote, second read/write unit  63  and the accounting data are loaded from the memory of the specific carrier card E into a second memory  69  of the postage mater machine  60 . The postal matter A is inserted into a sensor and feeder  55  upstream of the postage meter machine of the distributing station. Correspondingly marked postal matter A are franked dependent on the appertaining accounting data in the second memory  69 . A list  67  is printed with a second printer  66 . A first mail carrier  47  transports the franked postal matter with the appertaining received list  67  to a second mail carrier in a remote mail distribution center  80  for mail distribution by the second mail carrier  81 . 
   As noted above, the customer&#39;s card is a value card C. The delivery of postal matter is detected by a first sensor S 1 . The step of entering further relevant data into the first memory  29  of the receiving station includes at least one time of day and date input by the clock/date module  28 . 
   When the customer&#39;s card is a value card C, the step of entering further relevant data into the first memory  29  of the receiving station includes an automatic data input by further sensors S 2  and S 4  for sensing the format and by sensor S 3  for the thickness of the piece of mail in the feeder  20  and from the weighing cell S 6  for weight measurement in a scale  31 ,  35  of the receiving station with subsequent calculation and debiting of the postage from the value card C. A suitable embodiment for the sensor and feeder stage  20  with the sensors S 2  through S 5  is disclosed in greater detail in the German Application 199 12 807.3. 
   A further system differs from the system of  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b  and  1   c  in that the customer&#39;s card is a customer card D (i.e., a debit card) that has an identification number is shown in  FIG. 2   a  with receiving stations and with a distributing station. Advantageously, the sensors for determining format and thickness as well as a scale can be eliminated in the receiving stations. The receiving station thus can be more economically manufactured, which can be seen from  FIG. 2   b . Therein, the identification number together with the shipping data, the time of day, the date and the generated number are stored in a first memory  29  of the receiving station. When the deposit of postal matter is detected by a first sensor S 1 , then the marking is triggered. A customer receipt  37  is also printed out. 
   It can be seen from  FIG. 2   a  that a communication of the stored data to the postage meter machine  60  of the distributing station  60  can again ensue with the specific carrier card E. After the step of inserting the postal matter into a sensor and feeder  55  of the distributing station, the distributing station implements a sensing of the format and of the thickness of the piece of mail in the feeder  55  and a weight measurement in a dynamic scale  58  for the postage meter machine  60  of the distributing station  60 . A more detailed specification of a suitable sensor and feeder  55  with sensors for sensing the format and the thickness of the piece of mail are disclosed in German Application 199 12 807.3. 
   Further details about the structural format of a suitable dynamic scale are disclosed in German Patent Application 198 33 767.1-53. The control, for example, can ensue as disclosed in German Applications 198 60 296.0 or 198 60 295.2. The weight measurement in a dynamic scale preferably ensues according to German Patent Application 198 60 294.4. 
   After the calculation of the postage, the debiting of the postage from the customer account ensues at the customer bank  90  or from the account at the data center via telepostage. A personal computer  59  preferably has a communication connection with the customer bank  90 . The letter remains unfranked when a debiting of the postage from the customer account cannot be undertaken. In a way that is not shown, the first deposit  68  can be equipped with a shunt or with an additional eject compartment with third deposit for unfranked letters. It is advantageous for operation when the personal computer  59  is connected to the postage mater machine  60  and to the printer  66  for the received lists  67 . A rate memory  61  and an accounting memory are required for calculating the postage in the deposit station, these preferably being components of the postage meter machine. 
   A meter generally forms a (second) control unit for the postage meter machine base. 
   According to an alternative proposal, the meter function of the postage meter machine can be assumed by the personal computer  59 . Such a printing machine base station controlled by a personal computer has been disclosed in detail in, for example, European Application 866 427. 
     FIG. 2   b  shows a block circuit diagram of the receiving station according to the second version. A feeder  20 ′ is arranged preceding the marking printer  30 , i.e. upstream, and a slot  22  with closure mechanism is again arranged preceding the feeder  20 ′, this closure mechanism being again driven by the read/write unit  23 . The opened slot  22  allows an insertion of at least one large-format letter having a width of 250 mm and a thickness of 55 mm into the feeder  20 ′ or, alternatively, an insertion of a stack of letters with smaller formats and/or thickness. 
   A suitable feeder with pre-separation and printer can, for example, be constructed as explained in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 2   c . Sensors for the format and thickness measurement are not required, differing from the first version. Inventively, an ink jet printer  30  is arranged in the pre-separation area as marking printer. 
   Differing from the conventional, generally practiced procedure, the letters of a stack are inventively printed first and then separated or removed. As a result, the entire letter acquisition or sensing and print control can be significantly simplified. Letters of an arbitrary thickness up to small packages thus can be directly printed with a bar code and mixed mail B of slight thickness deposited in stacks can be automatically processed. Compared to a purely manual system apparatus, a significant enhancement of the processing speed is achieved given automatic stack processing. 
   As schematically shown in  FIG. 2   b , the common storage container  40  for marked postal matter A is again arranged downstream, following marking printer  30  and feeder  20 ′. Differing from the first version, however, the installation of a scale is eliminated. The receiving station can, for example, have a cabinet-like structure, whereby the slot  22 , the read/write unit  23 , if present, a modem  23 , the control unit  25 , the keyboard  26 , the display unit  27 , the clock/date module  28 , the non-volatile memories  29  and  39 , the customer record printer  36  as well as the port  41  are built into a door. The port  41  allows the authorized carrier to unlock the door in order to open it. The control unit  25  is again connected for control purposes to the aforementioned components  20 ′,  22 ,  23   29 ,  30 ,  36 ,  41 . The energy source  33 , the feeder  20 ′ with the marking printer  30  and the common storage container  40  are arranged in the inside of the cabinet, so that the storage container  40  can be emptied when the door is opened. Such a receiving station can be placed at an arbitrary location. 
   In combination with a number of letters from a stack of letters deposited in the mail, the document  37  printed by the forms printer  36  enables a known recording for the postal customer with respect to the printing of the identification number on the postal matter in the receiving station. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the feeder  20 ′ and a marking printer  30  preceding a storage container  40  are arranged in the receiving station in the direction of the mail stream and are connected to the control unit  25 . 
   The feeder  20 ′ has an input closure with a slot  22  that can be driven by the read/write unit  23 , so that the sender can insert at least one piece of mail B through the slot  22  into the feeder  20 ′ only given a card D inserted into a slit of the read/write unit  23  by the sender; 
   A non-volatile memory  29  for accounting data and a clock/date module  28  are connected to the control unit  25 . 
   The control unit  25  is programmed to allocate a number to every piece of mail and, dependent on the shipping data actuated via the keyboard  26 , to undertake an accounting in the non-volatile memory  29  under the aforementioned number and to drive the marking printer  30  to print this number on the piece of mail B while it is being transported downstream. 
   Given a specific carrier card E inserted into the slot of the read/write unit  23  by an authorized party, the control unit  25  is programmed to write the accounting data into the specific carrier card E allocated to the respective numbers, to actuate an output closure port  41  at the storage container for removing the postal matter. 
   The specific carrier card E is fashioned for removal of postal matter from the receiving station by a first mail carrier  46  and for inputting the accounting data into a postage meter machine  60  of the distributing station by a party authorized to do so. 
   The distributing station is composed at least of a postage meter machine  60  and a sensor and feeder  55  preceding this in the mail stream. The sensor and feeder stage  55  has a scanner  50  for scanning the marking that was printed on the item in the receiving station. 
   The postage meter machine  60  has a read/write unit  63  for the specific carrier cards E, a second non-volatile memory  69 , a franking printer and a connection for the printout of received lists  67  via a second printer  68  as well as a second control unit that is programmed to derive the number of the respective piece of mail from the sensed marking data and to determine the appertaining input accounting data from the second non-volatile memory  69  in order to undertake a corresponding setting of the postage meter machine before the franking. 
   The control unit  25  of the receiving station  17  is programmed—after the insertion of a customer card D into the read/write unit  23 —to non-volatilely store the identification number allocated to the number of the postal matter, the date and the time of day as well as the shipping data that have been input in the first memory  29  of the receiving station  17 . The control unit  25  of the receiving station  17  is also programmed—after insertion of a specific carrier card E—to load the stored data into the memory of the carrier card E, so that a debiting from the customer account at a bank  90  of the customer can be undertaken after the marking but before the franking. 
     FIG. 2   c  shows a plan view of a printing feeder of the receiving station  17  according to the second version. After being deposited, the postal matter A resides on a lower guide plate  252  parallel to a lateral guide plate  251 . The guide plate  251  has openings for the transport, printing and sensor means. An opening  201  for the printer  30  is arranged in the pre-separation area between the openings  203  and  204  for the drive drums  253 ,  354 . For example, an ink jet printer is utilized as marking printer. For the purpose of depositing the mail, the applicator  256 , in conjunction with the opening of the slot, a driven by an actuator (not shown) until they are at a maximum distance from the lateral guide plate  251 . The covering  257  of the mechanism in the separation area limits the depth of the deposit region and simultaneously forms a stop edge for a stack of mail (mixed mail). A sensor S 1 , for example a light reflex sensor, signals the presence of at least one piece of mail in the pre-separation area. Before or after the input of the shipping parameters, the printer  30  prints a marking, and the applicator  256 —driven by the actuator (not shown)—is activated to resiliently press the stack against the printing region. After the marking has been printed, the printed piece of mail, driven by the drive drums  253 ,  354 , is moved forward to the separation area, and drive belts  258  and an ejector  259  assume the further transport to the storage container  40 . A sensor S 5 , for example a light barrier, signals the ejection of the at least one piece of mail into the storage container  40 . 
     FIG. 2   d  shows a plan view of a sensor and feeder stage  55  of the distributing station  11  according to the second version. The mechanical structure can ensue in the same way as set forth in  FIG. 2   c , but a sensor  50  is arranged in a window-like opening  501  of the lateral guide plate  551  instead of the printer  30  in order to scan a bar code that has been printed on the posted item. The lateral guide plate has openings for the transport, scanner and sensors. The opening for the scanner  50  is arranged between the openings  503  and  504  for the drive drums  553 ,  554 , whereby the sensor S 1  and the applicator  556  have an additional protective function for the eyes. A laser beam is shut off on the basis of the sensor signal of the sensor S 1  so that the laser beam of the laser scanner is not directed directly into the eye of the observer when a letter is not applied to the sensor and feeder stage  55 . The bar code is then scanned only during the separating. Moreover, the contact pressure bow  556  is sufficiently wide so that no laser beam can proceed directly into the eye of the observer during operation of the sensor and feeder stage  55 . 
   A suitable scanner is the type LS4100 of the Datalogic company having the dimensions 84×68×28 mm. The scanner LS4100 is mounted at a distance of at least 40 mm from the guide plate  551 . An embodiment having a 90° deflection mirror at the scanner is employed. This type allows a maximum scan rate of Smax=800 scans/sec. 
   A piece of mail is transported with the velocity V=630 mm/sec and preferably carries a bar code with lines parallel to the transport direction. The length of the lines L and the velocity V of the piece of mail enter into the number of effective scans N. The following equation applies:
 
N={(L/V)· S max}−2  (1)
 
A vertically glued label with a 10 mm bar code line length on a letter that is transported at 630 mm/sec yields a number of (800·10/630)−2=10 effective scans, which is adequate for the sensor and feeder of the JetMail® postage meter machine in order to distinguish a bar code from other imprints (address) on the basis of the redundancy of the measured values.
 
     FIG. 2   e  shows a block circuit diagram of a receiving station  15  according to a third version. The separate marking printer is also eliminated in this most economic version. The function thereof is assumed by the forms printer. The form  27  printed out by the customer receipt and marking printer  36  after the card identification number, the generated letter number and the input shipping data have been stored in the non-volatile memory  29  contains a section  38  with the bar code corresponding to the generated letter number. The letter number can be printed out together with the bar code, so that the section  38  is human-readable and machine-readable. The section  38  is implemented as a self-adhesive tape and is glued onto the piece of mail A by the person sending the letter. The piece of mail A can then be inserted into the storage container  40  through the open slot  22 . The container  40  and a separate mailbox  42  with a slot  22  for inserting stamped letters can be opened by carrier card E. The control unit  25  control a common port  41  in order to open the storage container  40  and the separate mailbox  42  for the purpose of being emptied by the first carrier. 
   The postal matter processing system has a storage container  40  with a filling level sensor S 7  that is connected to the control unit  25  is arranged in the receiving station. 
   The storage container  40  has an input closure with a slot  22  that can be driven by the control unit  25 , so that the customer can only insert postal matter A through the slot into the storage container when a card D has been inserted into a slit of the read/write unit  23  by the sender. 
   A non-volatile memory  29  for accounting data and a clock/date module as well as a customer form and marking printer  36  are connected to the control unit  25 . 
   The control unit  25  is programmed to assign a number to every piece of mail B and, dependent on the shipping inputs actuated via the keyboard  26 , to undertake an accounting entry in the non-volatile memory  29  under the aforementioned number and to drive the customer form and marking printer  36  in order to print the aforementioned number of the postal matter, the time data and the shipping data that was entered when the mail was deposited as a customer form, and to print a marking on a section  38  that is provided for being applied to the postal matter B. 
   The control unit  25  is also programmed, given insertion of a specific carrier card E in the slot of the read/write unit  23  by an authorized party, to write the accounting data into the specific carrier card E allocated to the respective numbers, to actuate an output closure (port  41 ) at the storage container for removal of the postal matter. 
   The specific carrier card E is fashioned for removal of postal matter from the receiving station by a first mail carrier  46  and for the input of the accounting data into a postage meter machine  60  of a distributing station by a person authorized to do so. 
   The distributing station at least includes a postage meter machine  60  and a sensor and feeder stage  55  preceding in the mail stream. The sensor and feeder stage  55  includes a scanner  50  for scanning the marking printed on in the receiving station. 
   The postage meter machine  60  has a read/write unit  63  for the specific carrier cards E, a second non-volatile memory  69 , a franking printer and a connection for the printout of received lists  67  via a second printer  66  as well as a control unit  59 ,  62  that is programmed to derive the number of the postal matter from the scanned marking data, and to determined the appertaining input accounting data from the second non-volatile memory  69  in order to undertake a corresponding setting of the postage meter machine  60  before the franking and a debiting from the customer account at a customer bank  90  after the marking but before the franking. 
     FIG. 2   f  shows a perspective view of the distributing station  11  according to the second version of the postal matter processing system. Such a distributing station  11  can frank postal matter that was marked in relatively simply constructed receiving stations  15  or  17 ,  18 ,  19 . The distributing station  11  has a sensor and feeder stage  55  suitable for mixed mail processing, a dynamic scale  58 , a postage meter machine  60  and a deposit  68 . A scanner  50  is arranged behind an opening in the pre-separation area. The scanner, for example of the type LS4100 of the Datalogic company, is employed as scanner for the bar code marking. The postage meter machine  60  of the distributing station has a rate memory  61  for calculating the postage according to current rate schedules. 
   In this version of the inventive method an identification number of a customer card D together with the shipping data, the time of day, the date and a generated number are stored in the first memory  29  of the receiving station  15 . 
   The number of the piece of mail, the time data and the shipping data input upon deposit of the mail are printed as customer receipt  37  and a marking  38  is printed by a customer form and marking printer  36  of the receiving station. 
   The application of a machine-readable marking  38  to the postal matter B ensues externally of the receiving station  15  and enabling the slot  22  of the receiving station  15  for marked postal matter A ensues. 
   After storing, the marked postal matter A is transported by a first mail carrier  46  to the distributing station  11 , whereby a communication of the stored data to the postage meter machine  60  of the distributing station  11  ensues with a specific carrier card E. 
   The insertion of the postal matter into a sensor and feeder means  55  of the distributing station is detected with a sensor S 51 , as a result of which a scanning of the marking with a scanner  50  is triggered. 
   Sensing of the format and of the thickness of the postal matter is implemented in the feeder stage  55  and a weight measurement is implemented in a scale  58  before the franking with the postage meter machine. 
   Debiting of the postage from the customer account ensues after the calculation of the postage. 
     FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a sensor and feeder stage  55  in the distributing station. The feeder stage  55  is functionally divided into a pre-separation area  55   a  and a separation area  55   b . A back guide plate  551  that is inclined slightly back and a lower guide plate  552  that is orthogonal thereto are provided for guiding the letters A. A commercially available scanner  50  for scanning the marking printed on in the receiving station is arranged in the pre-separation area  55   a  behind an opening  501  of the guide plate  551 . 
   As a stack, the letters A are arranged with non-positive lock between an applicator  556  and the back guide plate  551  with the edge of their envelope flap standing on the lower guide plate  552 . The applicator  556  can be pivoted out of an idle position into the illustrated operating position and is arranged lockable. 
   On the basis of two drive drum combinations  553 ,  554 , which, due to their specific fashioning, effect a loosening of the letter stack, the letters A are pushed one after the other from the pre-separation area  55   a  into the separation area  55   b  gliding along the back guide plate  551 . Further details about the mechanics in the separation area  55   b  are disclosed in German Patent Applications 198 36 235.8 and 199 12 807.3. 
   Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution to the art.