AND METHOD THEREOF

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a device and method for handling mail, and particularly to an automated postal service (APS) device by which a letter or a parcel to be mailed is automatically weighed, stamped and sorted.

More particularly, the invention relates to an APS device through which the recipient of the letter or parcel is notified for the shipment of the letter or parcel at the moment that the payment regarding the shipment has been performed by a sender (user of the APS device) of the letter or parcel by using payment means of the APS device and the letter or parcel is transferred to the storage means of the APS device.

The above mentioned APS device may operate on behalf of a universal service post office or in general on behalf of a post office and/or a postal agency.

BACKGROUND ART

Automated postal service (APS) devices are known for allowing users to post a letter and/or a parcel in a fast and efficient manner even when post offices are closed. Particularly, the APS devices provide self-service to the users 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

Nowadays, the postal service process is divided into that of the initial stage, where mail to be sent by a sender is weighed, stamped, sorted, classified, transported, etc. by the post office of dispatch, and that of the final stage (known as the last mile) which regards the transfer from the post office which receives the above mentioned mail sent by the sender and then delivers the same to the recipient. The post office which delivers the mail to the recipient is known as the post office of delivery. One of the problems that the postal industry encounters is mail with incomplete, illegible, and incorrect addresses. In that case, the post office is obliged to exhaust all efforts to deliver the mail to the recipient (who is not even aware that there is a mail to be delivered to him) or return the mail to the sender. This is an extremely harmful process, and, in the end, a significant number of letters (known as dead letters) are never delivered to the declared address.

Additionally, the mobility of people intensifies the above mentioned problem, as the average citizen of a developed country changes their address 11.4 times throughout their lifetime (see https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-many- times-the-average-person-moves/). Because of this, the postal delivery address shown on the mail item (i.e. letter or parcel) is not necessarily the recipient's current address, so the recipient should be sought at his new address.

From the above, some of the problems to be solved in the postal industry are the following: a) incomplete addresses, b) illegible addresses, c) incorrect addresses, and d) out-of-date (past and not current) addresses. All these problems lead to losses which are reflected in the post offices’ balance sheets. At the same time, quality indexes, such as the “performance factor” of the post office, are also affected. As for citizens, businesses and public administration, delayed mail causes incalculable damages.

Also, it is to be noted that, from the supply chain costs of the postal process, the last mile, i.e., the mail delivery to the recipient from the post office of delivery, is proven to be the most expensive process. Moreover, while the postal process has been completed, items are nevertheless lost from mailboxes, building entrances, etc., and for this reason, the receipt of mail by the recipients themselves ensures its delivery. In fact, when the receipt of mail by the recipients themselves is done at the delivery post office, delivery costs are reduced. In general, Universal Postal Service Providers meet the needs of the world in every comer of the earth. They operate in cooperation with each other, based on the regulatory framework of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), which falls under the United Nations (UN). All of the above providers, without exception, encounter the same problems for performing their valuable work and they hire numerous staff and have expensive equipment with respect to digital tools and technical means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment an automated postal service device (1) for handling mail, comprises: a user interface (4) for user interaction with the device; a slot (2) having an entry and provided with a surface whereupon a letter or parcel to be mailed is placed by the user; weighing means (15) for weighing the letter or parcel for providing weight information; dimensions measuring means (14) for measuring the length, width and height of the leter or parcel for providing dimensions information; processing means (10) for receiving package type information, shipping information and delivery service information selected by the user via the user interface, for computing from the package type information, shipping information, delivery service information, weight information and dimensions information, a delivery date and cost for delivery of the letter or parcel; label printing means (23) responsive to the processing means for printing a shipping label (22); storage means (29) located beneath the exit of the slot (2) for storing therein the leter or parcel; payment means for receiving payment from the user; said automated postal service device being characterized in that: the slot (2) comprises transfer means provided with a driving mechanism and a conveyor belt at the surface of the slot (2) whereupon the letter or parcel is placed by the user, for transferring the letter or parcel to the storage means located beneath the exit of the slot (2) at the moment that the payment has been performed by the user, and in that it further comprises communication means for notifying a recipient for the shipment of the letter or parcel at the moment that the payment has been performed by the user.

According to another embodiment, detection means located at the exit of the slot (2) for detecting that the letter or parcel drops from the exit of the slot (2) into the storage means located beneath the exit of the slot (2).

According to another embodiment, weighing means (15) is a scale located beneath the slot (2) and the surface of the slot (2) whereupon the leter or parcel is placed is detachable and adapted to move vertically by an air piston (13) between a first position at the level of the slot (2) and a second position at the level of the scale such that at the second position the letter or parcel rests at the scale for measuring its weight.

According to another embodiment, dimensions measuring means comprising sensors configured for measuring the volume of the letter or parcel during the vertical movement of the letter or parcel by the air piston (13).

According to another embodiment, the dimensions measuring means comprising photocells installed on the roof of the slot (2) with corresponding reflectors installed on the surface of the slot (2) for measuring the width and length of the letter.

According to another embodiment, the label printing means (23) is a label printer comprising an air piston (24) for affixing a label (22) onto the letter or parcel. According to another embodiment, the communication means comprising a transceiver for transmitting and receiving SMS and/or e-mail and/or voice messages.

According to an embodiment, the method for handling mail using an automated postal service device, comprises the steps: receiving package type information from a user via a user interface of the automated postal service device identifying a letter or parcel to be mailed; placing the letter or parcel into a slot of the automated postal service device; weighing the letter or parcel for providing weight information; measuring the length, width and height of the letter or parcel for providing dimensions information; receiving shipping information from the user via the user interface; receiving delivery service information from the user via the user interface; computing from the package type information, shipping information, delivery service information, weight information and dimensions information of the letter or parcel, at least a delivery date and cost for delivery of the letter or parcel; providing a shipping label to the letter or parcel; storing the letter or parcel with the shipping label applied thereto in storage means of the automated postal service device; receiving payment from the user; characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of: transferring by transfer means of the automated postal service device the letter or parcel to the storage means at the moment that the payment has been performed by the user, and notifying a recipient for the shipment of the letter or parcel at the moment that the payment has been performed by the user.

According to another embodiment, the letter or parcel is detected whether is dropped into the storage means.

According to another embodiment, the automated postal service device is connected via a processor with a Digital Postal Addresses platform, for example the www.afaiss.com platform, through which a check is made as to whether the shipping information is up-to-date so that otherwise it may be corrected by the user of the automated postal service device.

According to another embodiment, the sender's and the recipient's Digital Postal Addresses are registered via the user interface, all the relevant shipping information is automatically filled in the corresponding fields of the user interface with the exact and updated addresses of the sender and the recipient.

According to another embodiment, the user is provided with the option of selecting that his/her postal address on the Digital Postal Addresses platform is visible to public bodies only.

According to another embodiment, the recipient is notified for the shipment of the letter or parcel, multiple options regarding the means and points of the delivery of the letter or parcel are provided to him/her.

According to another embodiment, by using Google maps and any other available spatial database, the existence or non-existence of the sender’s and/or the recipient’s postal addresses are checked and in case that both or one of them is incorrect or incomplete, the user of the automated postal service device is provided with the option to correct the postal address, otherwise the sending process will be cancelled.

According to another embodiment, when the recipient is notified for the shipment of the letter or parcel and finds out that the shipping address is wrong or simply wants to change it, he/she can intervene during the shipment of the leter or parcel.

An advantage of this invention is that, firstly, the postal industry reduces the risk of receiving mail which delivery is problematic to impossible; secondly, as its authorized and competent carrier, it is not limited to its executive role but creates a channel to communicate with the recipient, to offer them additional services in mutual benefit of both the recipient and the post office.

According to an embodiment of the APS device and method of the invention, the sender of mail and parcels uses an APS self-service postal service machine (1) which bears a slot (2) with a sliding door (3) for placing letters and parcels and works on behalf of a universal service post office or post office and postal agency in general; it also has a touch screen (4) for user communication, a credit and debit card reader (5), a digital wallet reader (6), PIN entry keyboard (7), receipt printer (8), additional auxiliary equipment for audio messages (9), etc., and a processor inside the machine (10), where, to send a letter or parcel, they insert their credit or debit card, or place their digital wallet, enter their PIN for identification, choose the language of communication, accept the operating conditions, country of dispatch, type of letter or parcel, opens the door, inserts the item (11), and places it in a specific position to measure the dimensions, closes the door; where the item is placed, a detachable lift base (12) is found; they select the “continue” option on the communication screen and then the lift, which is a mechanism that moves vertically or mechanically using an air piston (13), and begins to descend; in the initial phase, it passes through sensors measuring the volume of the item, where, in the present case, we are talking about two pairs of transmitter- receiver beam sensors which measure its width and length by scanning the space through which the item passes and another sensor, a linear encoder, measures its height (14), where the lift continues its descent and the base on which the item is placed is detached and remains on a yoke (15), while the lift continues its downward path for a while until it ends, where the indications of volume and weight, or of the volumetric weight, are shown on the communication screen, where, if it is about letters, the indication is small, large, or irregular; when, according to the post office, the width and length exceed predetermined limits, and are measured by photocells installed on the roof of the slot with the reflectors being placed on the metal surface, and in case it has a volume or weight that does not fit in an envelope, it is characterized as irregular; after the sender does agree with the measurements, a table appears on the screen where, in specific boxes, he fills in their address, mobile number, and email, as well as those of the recipient, while, when filling in the addresses and to begin the sending process, an electronic check is made so that the declared address of the recipient as well as the one of sender have been located, otherwise it correction (16) is requested, where, in connection of the processor (10) of the machine with the www.afaiss.com Digital Postal Addresses database or a similar one, the check is made as to whether the address is up-to-date so that it can be corrected, or registers their and the recipient's Digital Postal Address (18a), in which case the various boxes are automatically filled in with their exact and updated addresses; afterwards, depending on their initial selections, one of the “Domestic Leter”, “International Letter”, “Domestic Parcel”, “International Parcel”, and any others required in the future, each of which has a list of service options provided by the post office, where, after they have been selected, all the information, names, addresses, type, weight and volume of the item, the simple or special handling of the item, e.g., registered, cash on delivery, etc., date and time of dispatch, post office of dispatch and delivery, information which is obtained from the mail server, the cohabitant (17a) nominated by the sender and who can receive the item on behalf of the recipient, are gathered in a tab to which a link and/or bar code and/or QR code or any other code that may exist is assigned, produced by a relevant online generator and, among other things, contribute to tracking the item; the bar code, along with the addresses of the sender and recipient, the cohabitant, the stamp that indicates the shipping cost, the distinguishing features that the post office places on the letters and parcels to make the type of shipment visible, the amount that the post office claims in some cases, such as, for example, cash on delivery, are stored in the processor’s memory and transferred to a label printer (23), to print a label (22) which is affixed using the air piston (24) or mechanically of the label printer onto the letter or parcel (11), where, subsequently, another air piston or other mechanism opens vertically or otherwise; an inner door (25) and a forwarding mechanism (26) which is a C- shaped metal structure mounted on a wagon which moves on a rail and is driven by a motor through which it is connected by a belt, or by an air piston, or any other mechanism, drops the item into the collection bin (27), and in case the bin is full, then the item is placed, by the forwarding mechanism, on a tipper platform (28) which rotates around an axis by an air piston or another mechanism, at an angle equal to or less than 90°, so that through the rotation of dropping the item into another bin (29), as soon as the cycle of the machine is finished, in which case the receipt of the item from the post office is considered granted, the machine is connected to a provider and sends the recipient, by sms and/or by email, a card with complete information, a bar code or its alphanumeric part, the QR code, etc. or some of them with links that refer to relevant information, to inform the recipient, immediately and in detail, about the shipment, and have the means for tracking the item at their disposal from the beginning; the bar code is printed on the payment receipt so that the sender can also track the item, while, at their option, the receipt can be sent to their email to register it in an electronic file, where all relevant information is sent to the mail server, where the codes and the link, as means of information transfer, can take each other’s place and more than one can be used at the same time, where an address can even be a post office box, coordinates, and any other way of printing, as long as the data printed are obtained from geospatial maps and become accepted by the post office; one function of the machine is for its program to run on the Windows platform, it bears USB and Ethernet ports to connect with the touch screen, label printer, obtain signal from the scale and volumetric sensors, while the equipment includes a multi-purpose, camera protection against power grid instabilities, as well as an Ethernet port or WiFi card to connect to the internet to perform operation checks, software upgrades, communication with the API of another platform or platforms, communication with the POS, communication with the mail server, to connect with a provider to send SMSes and emails, etc.; the processor also includes a HDMI or VGA or DVI connectivity or anything else, while finally, the sender, during the sending process, can register on a Digital Postal Addresses platform (18b) by acquiring their own Digital Postal Address.

According to another embodiment of the APS device, the detachable metal surface onto which the item (11) is placed has been replaced by a detachable conveyor belt (31), the exit of the items is placed on the back side of the device (33), the reflectors of the photocells used to measure the dimension of the letters, are reflective tapes attached onto to the conveyor belt, where on payment of the price, an air piston or other mechanism opens vertically or otherwise, an internal door (32), the conveyor belt rotates dropping the items into a bin (34), where when there are more than one, they are placed in a rolling mail cart (36), which moves using a mechanism consisting of a screw of two end ball bearings are embedded into the ground; the screw includes a clamshell bucket (37) which is connected to the rolling mail cart and an electric motor (38) rotates the screw; when one bin is full, the clamshell bucket moves the rolling mail cart bringing the other empty bin (35) to the exit of the device, thereby enabling a post office worker to empty the full one without interrupting the operation of the device, and when the other bin is filled, the clamshell bucket moving in the opposite direction brings the empty bin to the exit and so on, where in case there is an n number of buckets the order of movement is 1,2,...n and back n,n-1,n-2,...2,1 or when there are many stationary buckets, the outgoing items are placed in a tipper which is in a moving mechanical carrier such as, a wagon on rails, a robot, a robot on rails, etc., and, depending on the selection, it visits the corresponding bin and drops the item.

According to an embodiment, the method for handling mail is characterized in that, in the information card which is sent by SMS/email to the recipient the first time, or in another SMS/email sent at a later, etc. time, there is the “unacceptable-return” option (19), where the recipient can fill in the reason in a pop-up window; there is also the additional “new address” option (20), where in the new shipping address that is registered in the records of the post office and elsewhere can be filled in a pop-up window, to continue the sending process.

According to another embodiment, the method for handling mail is characterized in that the elements of the summary record/s sent to the recipient by SMS/email contain information in typography or links, etc., for receiving mail from the recipient at a post office, etc. (21), which are drawn from the server of the post office(s), where firstly, through the postal code which is written in the shipping address, or that the equivalent of the postal code exists in the country of receipt, the nearest postal offices are located, it notifies them to the recipient, so that, in case they want to receive the item themselves, they can choose one of them, secondly, through the city name that is written in the shipping address, it informs the recipient of all the post offices in the city, so that in case they want to receive the item themselves, they can choose one of them, thirdly, through the city name that is written in the shipping address, the server of the post office or the cooperating post office, (such) as, for example, it is done with foreign mail, connecting to the servers of Mass Transit System Organizations and Public Transport that may exist there, as well as to other databases that may maintain files with a history of the location and movements of citizens, draws data from the recipient's daily or usual routes with means of public transport and/or by private means of transport and/or walking, (embark- disembark, start-end), locates the nearest post offices and notifies them to the recipient, so that in case they want to receive the item himself during their daily or usual commute, they can choose one of them, and the recipient has the option to authorize another person to receive their mail (17b).

According to an embodiment, the method for handling mail is characterized by the fact that the mail recipient uses their Digital Postal Address, where, on the relevant website, they entered their postal address which is visible to public bodies device, then, when a private sender or private entity types, into the APS device, or wherever else the method specifies, the recipient's Digital Postal Address, they may receive their mail without the sender knowing the shipping address, where the APS device does not display the address of the recipient on the screen while other postal operations are the same as any other piece of mail since the sender does not have access to the data, where in a similar case of using the method, a post office worker undertakes the task of receiving the item and placing the relevant label, thereby protecting the privacy of the recipient's address.

According to another embodiment, the method for handling mail is characterized in that the post office handles the mail from receipt to delivery to the recipient themselves, to a mailbox or to their cohabitant, using only the Digital Postal Address, barcode, or QR code printed on the label or any other code available to the post office, thereby protecting, from the beginning to the end of the process, the privacy of the recipient's address and other details of the mail, the card with the complete details is sent to them as usual so that they can be informed and take advantage of the services provided by the post office.

According to an embodiment, the method for handling mail by using the APS device, or depending on the infrastructure of the post office, uses other technical means, at the time when a post office providing universal postal services, post office, postal agency in general receives a letter or a parcel from the sender, which method includes: identifying the sender by various means, such as by inserting their credit or debit card into a corresponding device or by placing the sender's digital wallet into the corresponding device, and typing the personal identification number (PIN) on the keyboard, selection of the language of communication, acceptance of the operating conditions of the mail handling device or other technical means, acceptance of the postal regulations, selection, by the sender, of the country of dispatch and selection of the type of shipment between letter or parcel via the touch screen (4) or another technical means, characterized by the fact that it additionally includes: placing the letter or parcel in a certain position on the device or other technical means, for measuring and weighing the letter or parcel by means of the measuring and weighing mechanism, and if a letter has been selected as the type of shipment, measurement of its width and length to be classified as small or large, and if it has a volume and/or weight that exceeds the limits set by the post office to be classified as irregular, display on the touch screen (4) or other screen, of the measurements and classification if it is a letter, their acceptance by the sender, registration through the touch screen (4), or through another technical means, of the details of the sender and the recipient, which at least include their name, address, mobile phone number, and electronic address (email), where, after the registration of the details, an electronic check takes place to identify the registered address of the sender and the recipient and, if it is not found, a corrected address is entered or the shipment is cancelled, where in connection with the processor (10) of the device or the processor of the other technical means, through a website of Digital Postal Addresses or another similar one, the check is made as to whether the address is up-to-date in order to correct it, or enter it via the touch screen (4) or other technical means, the Digital Postal Address of the sender or the recipient, in which case the various boxes are automatically filled in with their exact and updated addresses, and additional entry of the cohabitant’s last name in case it is chosen, by the sender, that the cohabitant can also receive the letter or parcel, selection via the touch screen, or through another technical means, of at least one of the services offered by the post office regarding the sending of the letter or parcel domestically or abroad, display on the touch screen (4), or another screen, of a tab that gathers all shipping information which at least includes the selected type of shipment between letter or parcel, measurements of the volume (and) weight of the parcel or letter and/or volumetric weight of the letter, classification of the letter as small, large, or irregular if a letter has been selected as the type of shipment, the details of the sender and the recipient, the name of the cohabitant if they have been selected by the sender so that the cohabitant can also receive the letter or parcel, the details of each of the postal services offered that have been selected by the sender, the shipping cost, the post offices of receipt and delivery (destination post) as well as the date and time of shipment, where a link, and/or a bar code and/or a two-dimensional barcode (QR code) is assigned to the tab, acceptance, by the sender, of the shipping information gathered on the tab and making the payment through their credit or debit card or through their digital wallet and printing a shipping payment receipt through a receipt printer; printing a label via a label printer, affixing it to the letter or parcel, a label (22) which includes the shipping information, a digital stamp or symbol or other indication of the shipping charge, the bar code and/or the two-dimensional barcode (QR code), dropping the letter or parcel into at least one collection bin, and internet connection via an Ethernet port or WiFi card with a telecommunications provider immediately after dropping the letter or parcel in the collection bin, where, at the time of dropping, the letter or parcel is assumed to have been received by the post office, and sending a message through the telecommunications provider (sms) to the recipient's mobile phone and/or email message (email) to the recipient's email address, thereby informing the recipient that the letter or package was received by the post office.

According to another embodiment, the method is characterized in that, in the data of the summary record sent by SMS/email to the recipient, the sending post office adds a box (19) so that the recipient can declare, by a click or otherwise, that they do not wish to receive the item, where they can fill in the reason in a pop-up window, it also adds a box (20) so that the recipient can declare, by a click or in any other way, a possible change of the receiving address, where they can fill in the new one in a pop-up window, furthermore, it enables the recipient to pick up their mail themselves (21) from a post office of their choice, by providing them with a list of post offices to choose from, where, for domestic mail, by drawing information from the post office's database, the list of recommended post offices and general delivery points is: a) those which are closest to the area of the Postal Code indicated in the recipient's address, b) all (post offices that are) located in the city listed in the recipient's address, c) those that are closest to the points where the recipient usually embarks- disembarks, starts-ends, when he uses Public Transport and/or private means of transport and/or walks, where the data are drawn from the mail processor in connection with Mass Transit System Organizations and Public Transport that may exist in the city of the recipient of the mail, as well as other databases that may maintain files with a history of location and movements of citizens, as for intemational/foreign mail, there is cooperation between the sending post office and the delivery post office located abroad, or the receiving post office itself which is located abroad, immediately and/or at a time later than that of the initial dispatch of the summary record, it can facilitate the recipient by sending supplementary information cards with the list of collection points.

An advantage of this invention is that, firstly, the postal industry reduces the risk of receiving mail which delivery is problematic to impossible; secondly, as its authorized and competent carrier, it is not limited to its executive role but creates a channel to communicate with the recipient, to offer them additional services in mutual benefit of both the recipient and the post office.

Establishing and utilizing an “introductory” stage in the postal process, beyond the “initial” and “final” stage, is the beginning. The “introductory stage” is “Digital Postal Addresses”, of the afaiss.com format or any other future format similar to afaiss.com, which are consistent for life as opposed to changing “postal addresses” of the (street, number, zip code, city, state, country) format. Taking the afaiss.com Digital Postal Address as an example, the user, a natural or legal person, creates an afaiss.com/id account on the www.afaiss.com website and enters his/her main address, as well as any other address he/she wishes into it. If the user deems it necessary, he/she uploads a document to confirm it. Afterwards, the user declares his/her afaiss.com/id Digital Postal Address everywhere. Thus, whenever the users change their address, they update their afaiss information and, at the same time, everyone is informed; afaiss is a cross national communication tool and the www.afaiss.com database contains records of updated addresses because the process of updating them has been oversimplified, and because that is the main reason why one has a Digital Postal Address. The website also allows its users to choose a category in which they include their address, according to who will have access to it, e.g., public bodies only.

Another advantage of the invention is that the Automated Postal Services (APS) device, installed in a location providing universal postal services or elsewhere, along with its relevant operating software and hardware, with a telephone and internet connection to inform the recipient and all the databases related to the postal process, and the method of mail handling, enter all three stages of the postal process, (introductory, initial, and final stage) and constitute a holistic approach to the solution of the abovementioned problems, to alleviate of the postal industry, citizens, businesses, and public administration.

The present APS device also has the following advantages:

1) By using Google maps and any other available spatial database, the existence or non-existence of the declared postal address of the sender and the recipient is checked. In case they are illegible, incorrect, or incomplete, the sender must correct them, otherwise the sending process will be cancelled.

2) In connection with the www.afaiss.com Digital Postal Addresses database or any other similar database, it checks whether the declared address of the recipient is the current one; therefore, it informs the sender and asks them to make corrections. In case the sender uses Digital Postal Addresses, no one needs to check for the existence and validity of the addresses.

3) It also cross-checks the addresses with respect to any other database of up- to-date postal addresses available from the Post Office or another third party.

4) It clearly prints the addresses and other data on a label, which the device sticks onto the item, so there are no illegible addresses.

5) It informs the recipient by SMS/email or voice, about the shipment, the moment of receiving their mail from the device (post office), and this is done for each item.

Thus, to begin with, illegible addresses, those with incomplete information, incorrect and out-of-date addresses are eliminated from the letters and parcels, and, at the same time, the recipient is informed of the shipment of the item, so that they can perform their search.

Additional services provided, as described below, are: a) in the event that the recipient does not wish to receive the item, they immediately inform the post office by clicking on the “unacceptable-return” option, in order to stop the process in time and the item is returned to the sender, which is the direct obligation and responsibility of the post office, b) in case the recipient finds that the shipping address is wrong or simply wants to change it, they can intervene in time.

So, by using the APS device and method, the post office reduces the volume of mail it has to manage by sorting what is manageable or not, minimizes returned mail and dead letters, helping to improve its economic indicators and quality indexes, thereby reducing CO2 emissions, in improving the quality of life of citizens, etc. At the same time, keeping up with the times, it seizes the opportunity to further upgrade the quality of its services.

The database of the post office which has registered the complete details of the transaction, with the device and method in general, is connected to the database/s of the Mass Transit System Organizations and Public Transport that exist in the recipient cities, as well as to other databases which keep records of citizens' location and movement history. Thus, in case there are data from the recipient's daily or usual routes by means of public transport and/or by private means of transport and/or walking, (embark-disembark, start-end) then, with the first SMS/email and/ and in the second, third, etc. time, through a new SMS/email or even voice message(s), the post office provides the recipient with more than one option to receive the mail from themselves or an authorized person.

Firstly, the post offices, agencies, etc. are those which are closest to the recipient's Postal Code area; secondly, they are the closest to the embarkation- disembarkation, start-end points, and the recipient's routes in general, and thirdly, all post offices etc. of the recipient's city, sorted by area or otherwise, are available to choose from. That is, apart from the address to which the mail is sent and to which, in principle, the post office is obliged to deliver it in return for the fee collected, the post office creates a channel of communication with the recipient, to provide its services in an alternative, practical and safe way. It provides them with options to pick up their mail during their daily commute, thus reducing delivery costs and the CO2 emission burden on the environment.

Therefore, in the information card which is sent to the recipient by SMS/email by the sender (of the mail) to the post office at the time of delivery, using the device or the method, except for the “unacceptable-return” option, where the recipient can fill in the reason in a pop-up window, and in the “new address” option, where they fill in the new shipping address in a pop-up window, there are available links a) with the post offices closest to the recipient's Postal Code, etc. b) with those that have been located and are close to the embarkation- disembarkation and start-end points of the recipient, c) with all the locations in the city, so that they can finally choose the delivery office (destination post).

Anytime the parcel is tracked by the recipient, or whenever the post office notifies the recipient, or whenever it deems it necessary, it may send a supplemental tab with readable text and/or links with new updated options, reminding the recipient that they have options for receiving their mail.

When the recipient ignores the proposed options or the time limits for accepting the alternative services are exhausted, then the post office delivers their mail to the predetermined postal address.

The entire process is carried out by the post office of dispatch in an electronic connection with the central services of the post office, or of other post offices and agencies, especially when it comes to international mail, from a different state, etc. In this case, the initial notification of the recipient by SMS/email or voice is done by the post office of dispatch, and then the information about the delivery options is provided by the post office partner(s).

The procedure concerns all types of mail and not only special handling. For mail with special management, e.g., “Registered”, the sender fills in the name of the cohabitant who can receive it on behalf of the recipient. But, in any case, if the recipient chooses to pick up from a point other than the address written on the item, they can nominate another person to pick it up.

The innovation of the method also consists in the fact that a sender, an individual or a private entity, can send mail to the recipient without knowing their postal address but only their Digital Postal Address. And this is because the user of the Digital Postal Address has chosen that their postal address on the www.afaiss.com website be visible to public bodies only.

In this case, the sender, (either an) individual or (a) private entity, types in the APS device, or fills in, wherever else the method requires, the Digital Postal Address of the recipient and possibly their name, the post office according to the operating conditions of the device and the method is authorized to access the contents of the Digital Postal Address, the APS device protects the recipient's privacy by not displaying the relevant information on the communication screen, proceeds with printing the label which the sender cannot see, and other postal procedures up to delivery of the mail to the recipient are performed normally, as with any other mail piece. In any such case where the method requires a label to be printed, a postal worker undertakes the shipping task, thereby protecting the privacy of the recipient’s address.

In special cases, the post office handles mail from receipt to delivery to the recipient or to a cohabitant or an authorized person using the Digital Postal Address, the barcode or QR code or any other code available to the post office, protecting of the process the privacy of their address from the beginning to the end.

Finally, the sender, using the APS device, can register on a Digital Postal Address website (www.afaiss.com etc.) to obtain their own Digital Postal Address, and even update their information, when they already have such.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the attached drawings. For an easier understanding of the invention, the figures show a parcel shipment, while the operation of the device regards mail in general, i.e. letters and parcels.

Figure 1 shows a part of the Automated Postal Service (APS) device view.

Figure 2 shows a view from the inside of the APS, showing the operating mechanisms, with the parcel in place inside the slot. The items are dropped into collection bin(s) on the sides of the device.

Figure 3 shows the package midway down the lift, where the sensors for calculating its volume are activated.

Figure 4 shows the screen where the weight, volume, volumetric weight measurements, as well as the classification of the letter into small or large or irregular, are displayed. Figure 5 shows the communication screen in which the sender fills in the boxes with their address and those of the recipient’s address in detail, or fills in the Digital Postal Address, in which case boxes are filled in automatically.

Figure 6 shows tables of postal services offered by item and type of shipment. The listed services are indicative.

Figure 7 shows the final tab with all the information related to the shipment of the item, which is sent to the recipient, entered in the database of the post office and elsewhere.

Figure 8 shows the label and the boxes where the information for postal processing is filled in.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of the item with the label being transferred by a transfer mechanism into collection bin(s).

Figure 10 shows the package on a tipper platform which drops the items into a second collection bin.

Figure 11 shows a plan view of another version of an APS device where the detachable item placement surface is a conveyor belt and the dropping of the items into collection bin(s) is performed from the posterior side of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

According to an embodiment of the invention, the APS device (1) is installed in a postal service location for customer service (Figure 1), in which the following are found: a box for letters and parcels (2), with a manual or automatic sliding door (3), a touch screen for communication (4), debit and credit card reader (5), digital wallet reader (6), keypad for PIN sign-in option (7), receipt printer (8), additional auxiliary equipment for audio messages etc. (9), processor inside the device (10). The sender sees the on-screen welcome message and instruction to insert their credit or debit card into the card reader, enter the PIN to be identified, or place their digital wallet onto the relevant device sb that the RFID radio frequency identification technology can recognize it and enter their PIN, if required. The communication screen displays the selected communication language, operating conditions of the device, instructions related to post office regulations, etc. After accepting all these, the device starts.

Firstly, they need to choose between “domestic” or “foreign” country-related shipment, if it is a “letter” or “parcel”, and they can open the sliding door, insert the item (letter or parcel) (11) into the appropriate position inside the slot, and finally, close the sliding door to continue (Figure 2).

One way to classify the letters into small or large is to have at least two photocells on the roof of the chamber and reflectors on the metal surface, where the positions in which they are installed are the predetermined limits of the length and width of the letters.

The surface (metallic or other) (12) on which the item (11) is placed is detachable. During its descent with an air piston (13) or mechanically, the volume of the item is measured by relevant beam sensors or others (14) (Figure 3), while, before the lift reaches its final position, it has left the detachable surface with the item onto a scale (15), to measure its weight.

Then, the lift along with the item returns to its original position; the volume and weight or volumetric weight indications appear on the screen according to the way each mail is calculated. The letter is classified as “small”, “large”, or “irregular”, when it has a volume and weight outside the limits (Figure 4). Parcels are sorted according to the options offered by the post office to its customers.

When the sender agrees to the measurements, they select “Continue” and boxes appear on the screen, in which they fill in their own Digital or traditional postal address, as well as the recipient's. For traditional addresses, an address detection check is performed. If no postal address is found, it is requested to be corrected (16). If it is still not detected, the sending process is cancelled. The sender nominates the cohabitant (17a) who can receive the item on behalf of the recipient. All elements are gathered in one tab (Figure 5). The keyboard is on the touch screen.

The processor of the APS device, through a central processor or directly, communicates with the www.afaiss.com website, where the sender enters their own Digital Postal Address, as well as the recipient’s (18 a); the remaining boxes that are of their concern, first name, last name, postal address, mobile phone and email are immediately filled in and updated. It was mentioned above that the website user updates their address in their Digital Postal Address, but can also update their other communication tools, such as their phone number and email. Depending on the available Digital Postal Addresses platforms that may exist in the future, other ones except the abovementioned www.afaiss.com may be used.

Entering a PO Box address is the same as any other process, while addresses with coordinates or others can be entered, as long as they are accepted by the post offices.

The user, having made the choices from the beginning on whether the shipment is made domestically or abroad, whether it is a letter or a parcel, the corresponding table with the services offered by the post office appears on the screen. The tables of services offered are the following four: “Domestic Letter”, “International Letter”, “Domestic Parcel”, “International Parcel” which are gathered in one plan (Figure 6). A new table can be added whenever needed. Each one contains a list of basic services provided by the post office, with technologically advanced countries providing more. In this case, the mentioned services are indicative. Sub-tables can also be added within the existing ones if this is of interest to other services such as customs, for example, when it comes to commercial transactions. To understand the invention, it is assumed that the user of the APS device selects “Domestic Letter”. The communication screen displays the relevant table with the options “Priority A”, “Priority B”, “Registered”, “Declared Value/Insured”, “Printed Proof of Delivery/Receipt”, “Electronic Return Receipt”, “Prepaid Return Fee”, “Cash on Delivery”. Whatever choice or choices they make, based on the post office's price list, the cost will be calculated at the end, and they make the payment by pressing “accept”.

We make another working hypothesis that the sender chose for their letter, weighing 70 g., to be sent as “Priority A” (A), “Declared value/Insured” (DVI) for €140, and requests a “Printed Proof of Delivery/Receipt” for Printed Return of Receipt (PRR). The shipping cost is calculated, supposing it to be €16.8, which they agree to pay by selecting the “payment” command on the touch screen. They reinsert the credit or debit card into the device or places the digital wallet into the reader, enters the PIN, and the financial transaction is completed by mail. Then, all the shipping information related to the item and entered by the sender, i.e., sender and recipient name, addresses, type (letter or parcel), weight, simple or special handling, date and time of shipment, post office of shipment and recipient, cohabitant, etc., which are data retrieved from the post office server, are gathered in a tab (Figure 7). A digital generator produces a barcode, QR code, link, or any other coding system that corresponds to this tab. Thus, everything that has to do with the shipment and tracking of the item is performed by scanning the barcode, QR code, or any other code that has been used, or the alphanumeric part of the codes is typed into a similar device.

The post office adds new information to the sender's contact card with the recipient, to provide new services and to facilitate the postal process. It adds a box (19) where the recipient can state whether they accept or reject the receipt of the item, where they can fill in the reason in a pop-up window. It adds a box (20) for a possible change of delivery address, either because the original one is incorrect, or because they wish to change it, where they fill in the new one in a pop-up window. It adds a box (21) with options for receiving the mail by themselves, which are located by the receiving address or their profile, as formed by their daily or usual movements.

Information about the addresses of the sender and the recipient, the cohabitant of the recipient, the shipping options marked with distinguishing features of the post office, the various amounts where these must be visible, the stamp or symbol or any other indicating the shipping cost, the barcode, or QR code etc. are transferred to a label printer and printed on a label (22) (Figure 8).

Classification of the information on the label can be done in various ways, depending on the size of the label, the font, etc. In this case, the arrangement of the information was done on a 75X105 mm label, using the Calibri font and size 11 and larger, thus ensuring the legibility of the addresses from the mail distributors.

The label is then affixed, by the label printer (23), onto the item using an air or mechanical piston (24), which is a part of the label printer (Figure 9). When the label is label onto the item, an internal door (25) opens, and the transfer mechanism (26) drops it into the collection bin.

In case (Figure 10) the collection bin (27) is full, then the tipper (28) comes into operation in which the transfer mechanism leaves the piece. The tipper, through its rotation, drops the item into the second bin (29) until it is also full, at which point a light and/or acoustic signal notifies the person in charge to replace the bins. It may be necessary to separate the basic types of mail from the device, e.g., urgent, from ordinary mail, so the tipper can distribute the different items to the two bins.

Another embodiment of the invention is the APS device (30) (Figure 11), in which there are all the mechanisms and components mentioned in the device of Figure 1, with the difference that the metal surface on which the item (12) is placed has been replaced by a conveyor belt (31) so the transfer mechanism (26) is not needed, the internal door (32) opens and their exit is placed on the back side (33) of the device. When the sender pays the price, the conveyor belt (31) rotates, and the item is dropped into the bin (34).

Classification of the letters into small or large is done with at least two photocells which are located on the roof of the chamber, and the reflectors are reflective tapes attached onto the conveyor belt.

After the items leave the device, they are collected according to the requirements of the post office, available space, etc. and there is a variety of technical solutions.

Figure 11 shows a rolling mail cart (36) with at least two bins (34) and (35). The rolling mail cart is connected to a clamshell bucket (37) which is mechanically driven by a screw of which two end ball bearings are embedded into the ground, under the cart. When the bin (34) is foil, the electric motor (38) rotates the screw and the clamshell bucket (37) moves the rolling mail cart parallel to the front, bringing the other bin (35) to the exit of the device (33). A worker empties the foil bin (34) and places a new empty bin (sack, etc.) in its place. When the bin (35) is foil, the clamshell bucket (37) moving in the opposite direction brings the bin (34) to the exit (33), so that the worker can empty the bin (35) and so on. In case there is an n number of buckets the order of movement is 1,2, ...n and back n,n-1,n-2,...2,1.

Other embodiments of the invention are that there is a series of stationary bins, the outgoing items are placed in a tipper, which is on a moving mechanical carrier, (conveyor belt, wagon, static robot, moving robot, etc.), and depending on the selection, it visits the corresponding bin and drops the piece. Another case is when the bins move (in a straight, circular, a combination of straight and circular movements) and reach the exit of the device to receive the item.

Filling of the bins is detected by a) at least one level sensor b) the exceeding of the limit of the number of items combined with their total volume and weight, which have been measured previously, c) the combination of a) and b). In case the device is installed in a kiosk and receives mail on behalf of several postal services (companies), the items are dropped into the respective bins, where, through a separate door that exists for each postal service, the bin with the items is received.

The barcode or (any) other element is printed on the payment receipt for the sender to track the item, and optionally the receipt can be emailed to the sender for record keeping.

The QR code comes in where the bar code probably doesn't fit, where the codes and the link as means of information transfer can take each other’s place.

With respect to the processor, one solution is for the engine program to run on the Windows platform. It bears USB and Ethernet ports to connect to the touch screen, label printer, receive signal from the scale, volume sensors, while the equipment includes a multi-purpose camera. The equipment includes protection against power grid instabilities, as well as an Ethernet port or WiFi card to connect to the internet to perform software upgrades, communication with the API of the www.afaiss.com platform, communication with the POS, communication with its mail server and for the connection with a provider for sending SMS, e-mails etc. The computer will also bear an HDMI or VGA or DVI connectivity, or something else.

The sender, during the sending process, where they fill in their information, has the possibility to register on the Digital Postal Addresses platform (18 b) by obtaining their own Digital Postal Address or, if they have any, to update their information. When there are several platforms with Digital Postal Addresses, then there is a list of options for the sender in boxes (18 a) and (18 b).

Finally, with respect to the part of the device which is accessible by a worker so that they can change the collection bins and supply it with consumables, a protective partition with an entrance door is raised.