Abstract: A system for securely controlling deposition and retrieval of shipments (40), including a managing distribution centre, at least one electronic locker unit connected to the managing distribution centre through a communication network, and having several lockable compartments (28i) of different sizes, wherein said at least one electronic locker unit comprises a weighing shipment module (50) located inside each compartment (28i) and made up of an arrangement of several thin flexible force sensors, linked together to circuit board, located under upper bearing plate and attached to bottom of the compartment within respective active measuring areas.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided in which a token is used to manage user access to actions and features within an application platform. The token includes an indication of each action and/or feature to which the user has permission within the platform, thereby allowing for rapid and efficient development and management of user access to features within the platform.

Abstract: A hybrid system for securely controlling deposition and retrieval of shipments, including a managing distribution centre, at least one electronic locker unit connected to the managing distribution centre through a communication network, and having a control desk and several lockable compartments of different sizes, wherein the electronic locker unit comprises a shape measurement module located inside each compartment for acquiring the shipment content's shape.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enabling third parties, such as authorized vendors, to reconcile short-paid adjustment requests initiated by service providers such as, for example, the United States Postal Service, in response to customer non- or underpayment for services rendered. In an embodiment, a method includes the steps of storing a short-paid adjustment request from an initiator, identifying a source for the short-paid adjustment request, generating a request to a VBI meter system for a short-paid adjustment request based on the source identified, storing the VBI meter system response to the short-paid adjustment request, and generating a file to the initiator based on the VBI meter system response.

Abstract: Method and system for automatically processing blanks for forming packaging boxes. By means of a feeding conveyor blank material is fed in a feeding direction from a storage of blank material to a single blank cutting station comprising a blank forming apparatus for cutting and creasing blank material into a blank. By means of said blank forming apparatus a blank is formed having a rectangular bottom panel and rectangular corner, side and end panels. Cutting and creasing blank material into the blank is performed during feeding of said blank material in feeding direction through the blank forming apparatus.

Abstract: A hand-held handle dispenser comprising: a main frame (12) having a handle (14), an adhesive tape roll (16) provided on a rear side of the main frame for delivering an adhesive tape, an application element (18) provided on the front side of the main frame for applying the adhesive tape onto a parcel and a cutting blade (20) for cutting the adhesive tape, and further comprising an insert strip roll cartridge (26) for storing an insert strip roll (28), transport and affixing elements (26, 30) for conveying the insert strip (24) from the cartridge to the application element and affixing it against the adhesive tape to form a handle, and a holding structure (13) supporting a system (32) for cutting the insert strip.

Abstract: Method and system for automatically forming packaging boxes and packaging an article therein, preferably simultaneously with the formation of said boxes. At least four folding units fold side and end panels of a blank upwardly. The four folding units comprise a front pair of folding units and a rear pair of folding units positioned upstream at a longitudinal distance from the front pair of folding units seen in conveying direction, and the folding units of the front pair and the folding units of the rear pair are positioned at a respective transverse distance from each other. Said longitudinal distance is adjustable during feeding of the custom sized blank into the supporting station, preferably by starting the displacement of the front pair of folding units towards the sealing station earlier than the displacement of the rear pair of folding units.

Abstract: Assisted manual mail sorting system for assisting an operator in manual sortation of mailpieces in a sorting station including a plurality of destination bins, the system comprising a headset wearable by the operator and connected to a computer comprising an image analysis software for extracting from an image of one of the mailpieces, a name, an address or other relevant information and a sorting application for determining a corresponding relevant destination bin, the headset comprising: a high resolution camera for capturing the image of the mailpiece, a transparent display for signalling to the operator the relevant destination bin where the article is to be placed by highlighting or overlaying a visual artifact on a view of the sorting station while the operator is looking at the sorting station.

Abstract: A hand-held handle dispenser comprising: a main frame having a handle, an adhesive tape roll provided at a rear side of the main frame for delivering an adhesive tape, an application element provided at the front side of the main frame for applying the adhesive tape on a parcel and a cutting blade for cutting the adhesive tape, a cartridge for storing an insert strip roll and transport and affixing elements for conveying the insert strip from the cartridge to the application element and affixing it against the adhesive tape to form a handle.

Abstract: A method and structure improves a reading efficiency for RFID tags located in a reading zone of a RFID reading apparatus. A structure is interposed between the RFID tag(s) and the RFID reading apparatus. The structure is essentially electrically non-conductive and comprises a network of RFID antennas. The network of RFID antennas network is positioned on the structure in a pattern whose periodicity in two dimensions is less than half an operating RFID wavelength, so as to create a three dimensional interferometric pattern with peaks of electromagnetic field intensities. The RFID reading apparatus or the at least one RFID tag is set in motion, relatively to one another. The at least one RFID tag is read by the RFID reading apparatus during the relative motion within the reading zone so that the three dimensional interferometric pattern shifts and thereby improves the reading efficiency.

Abstract: System (10) for automatically packaging items varying in size and number for shipment, comprising a unit (32) for acquiring size information of one or more item(s) to be packaged, an inner packaging material feeding unit (24) for feeding an inner packaging material, an outer packaging material feeding unit (26) for feeding an outer packaging material, a first wrapping station (16) for wrapping said inner packaging material around one or more item(s) to be packaged to create an inner packing surrounding the item(s) in a first direction and a second wrapping station (18) for wrapping said outer packaging material around said inner packing to create an outer packing surrounding the inner packing in a second direction, said second direction being substantially perpendicular to said first direction, wherein the first and the second wrapping stations are adapted to form said inner packing and said outer packing such that the inner and the outer packing form a combined package enclosing the packaged item(s) from all

Abstract: An apparatus for optimizing automated packaging of a shipment set, said shipment set comprising one or more items arranged in an arrangement for being automatically packaged, the apparatus comprising at least one image obtaining device for obtaining three-dimensional image data of said arrangement and at least one computer system and a signaling device, the computer system adapted for processing said image data to obtain information on the dimensions of individual items present in said arrangement and on the orientation and position of said items in said arrangement, performing an analysis of said information with respect to at least one optimization criterion and depending on said analysis, generating signals indicating to either proceed with automated packaging of said arrangement or to modify or to divert said arrangement, and the signaling device adapted for receiving the signals generated.

Abstract: Method and system for automatically forming packaging boxes. At least four folding units each provided with a controllable gripping element support a custom sized blank supporting an article in a supporting station. The at least one of the folding units is configured for folding respective side and/or end panels of the blank upwardly. The at least four folding units comprise a front pair of folding units and a rear pair of folding units positioned at a longitudinal distance from the front pair of folding units, and the folding units of the front pair and the folding units of the rear pair are positioned at a respective transverse distance from each other. Said longitudinal distance and/or said transverse distance are adjustable.

Abstract: A UHF radiofrequency identification (RFID) device operating at an UHF wavelength for enabling communication of an UHF RFID reader with UHF RFID tags positioned within a cavity having an internal volume with a largest dimension that is below twice said UHF wavelength. The device comprises a wire wave guide having an entry extremity and at least one exit extremity and positioned within said at least one cavity above a ground surface, wherein said entry extremity is fed by said UHF RFID reader and said at least one exit extremity is connected to said ground surface via a load.

Abstract: Methods and systems using a single centralized database to manage postal accounting data are provided. The central database may interface with remote postal meters by way of one or more transient data collectors, which cache data from associated meters and transmit the data to the central database. The data collectors also validate postage accounts to the associated meters. The use of local transient data collectors allows for a single centralized database to be used without requiring data replication among databases local to each computer that manages postal meters.

Abstract: An automatic built-in closing apparatus includes at least one common pivoting shaft that is driven by a unique motor, intermediate gear wheels and a clutch coupled to control doors of a series of lockable compartments pertaining to a same block of an electronic locker unit and a set of freewheels and overload clutch which is mounted on the common pivoting shaft as a hinge for each door of the series of lockable compartments.

Abstract: Mailpiece manufacturing, distribution and communication system comprising at least one production center, a production software/server for generating and sending production orders to at least one processing equipment over a network for printing documents and assembling the printed documents in a mailpiece, a distribution center for delivering the mailpiece to a customer and a domain server for interactive customer communication, the mailpiece comprising a single barcode containing a web page link for accessing the domain server and comprising processing equipment control codes or a mailpiece identifier for controlling the at least one processing equipment and for interactive customer communication.

Abstract: A UHF radiofrequency identification (RFID) system comprising a UHF RFID reader and at least one UHF RFID antenna for enabling communication of the UHF RFID reader with UHF RFID tags affixed on articles within a cabinet having electrically conductive walls and at least one door, the UHF RFID antennas being positioned within the cabinet and the UHF RFID system further comprises at least one conductive surface (e.g., a brewer, brasseur, or cross-connector) enclosed in a compartment positioned within the cabinet and comprising a conductive surface set in movement by a motor.

Abstract: A apparatus for creating corrugated cardboard (20) in particular on the site of a system for automatically forming packaging boxes, said corrugated cardboard having at least one corrugated layer (10) between two flat layers (12, 18). The apparatus includes a joining station (16) for attaching a second flat layer (18) to a corrugated layer (10) provided on a first flat layer (12), means for supplying said corrugated layer (10) with the first flat layer (12) attached thereto to said joining station (16) and means for supplying said second flat layer (18) to said joining station, means for removing a protective layer (28) from the corrugated layer (10) and/or the second flat layer (18), said protective layer (28) protecting an adhesive substance provided on the corrugated layer (10) or the second flat layer (18).

Abstract: A random byte generator comprising a noise source configured to generate a noise signal, a digitizer with a resolution of no less than two bits and configured to digitize the noise signal from the noise source, and a processor configured to apply pre-defined rules for selecting bits captured by said digitizer and to generate random bit strings by combining the selected bits.