Alberta A Vitale

US Patent:

6740836, May 25, 2004

Filed:

Dec 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/035541

Inventors:

William E. Ryan - Monroe CT
Mark Cullen - Bethany CT
Robert K. Gottlieb - Milford CT
Joseph D. Mallozzi - Trumbull CT
Alberta A. Vitale - East Haven CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B07C 500

US Classification:

209584, 700223

Abstract:

An embodiment of the system of the present invention generally comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus which includes a feeder, an OCR scanner, a video scanner, a mailpiece transporter, a diverter and output module, compartments or bins for receiving sorted mailpieces, optical character recognition system for reading addressee information, an addressee database, a suspect database, and microprocessor based control system. In alternate embodiments of the present invention: the system is contained in a detection area and clean room and/or connection to an investigation entity. The system and method of integrates prediction of the presence of life harming material in mailpieces with mailpiece processing so as to help deter delays in incoming mail delivery caused by the presence of life harming material the suspected presence of life harming material and to protect the intended recipients from harm.

US Patent:

20030114956, Jun 19, 2003

Filed:

Dec 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/026584

Inventors:

Mark Cullen - Bethany CT, US
Alberta Vitale - East Haven CT, US

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Incorporated - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06F007/00

US Classification:

700/225000

Abstract:

An embodiment of the system of the present invention comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus and a postcard printer. A list of employees that no longer work at the company or a list of changed employee addresses can be used, as well as a database of forwarding addresses. The incoming mail sorting apparatus can obtain a digital image of the front of an incoming mailpiece and can determine that the mailpiece is addressed to a former employee or an employee whose address has changed. The sender or return address is also obtained from the digital image and is printed as the recipient address on a post card. The original recipient address is printed along with a forwarding address (if available). A message is sent to the addressor that, for example, the employee is no longer at the original recipient address. The original sender is instructed to update his or her database. In another example, if a forwarding address is not known for the intended recipient, the original sender is notified that the addressee has moved and a new address is not known and a request is made for the addressee to update his or her database.

US Patent:

6508365, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

Dec 28, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/474908

Inventors:

John H. Winkelman - Southbury CT
Alberta A. Vitale - East Haven CT
Christian A. Beck - Ridgefield CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06F 1760

US Classification:

209584, 209900, 700 30, 700400

Abstract:

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a method of removing mail from the mail stream using a mail sorting apparatus. The foregoing is accomplished by providing a method that can determine whether mail is wanted or unwanted. Thus, the present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a method of removing unwanted mail from a mail stream using an incoming mail sorting apparatus comprising the steps of: obtaining information from a mailpiece using the mail sorting apparatus; evaluating the information obtained from the mailpiece to determine whether the mailpiece should be delivered; delivering the mailpiece if it is determined that the mailpiece should be delivered to an intended recipient or out-sorting the mailpiece if it is determined that the mailpiece should not be delivered to the intended recipient. The method may also include the steps of collecting data regarding the mailpiece including data regarding mailpieces that should not be delivered and associating the data with the intended recipient. Additionally, the data collected could be used for calculating a cost of sorting the mailpiece.