Abstract: A non-rail-bound vehicle, truck or bus, includes a current collector feeding electrical energy from an overhead line installation having a contact wire. The collector has a contact strip with a working region contacting the contact wire. An actuating device coupled to the collector adjusts the contact strip. The contact strip is horizontal and adjustable transversely to a vehicle longitudinal axis. A sensor senses the position of the vehicle relative to the contact wire. A control device connected to the sensor and the actuating device actuates the actuating device based on the sensed vehicle position, so that the contact strip maintains contact with the contact wire within its working range. The vehicle thus reliably maintains contact with the contact wire through the collector during operation on multilane roadways with an at least partially electrified lane, even at relatively high speeds of, for example, 80 to 100 km/h.

Abstract: A non-rail-bound vehicle, truck or bus, includes a current collector feeding electrical energy from an overhead line installation having a contact wire. The collector has a contact strip with a working region contacting the contact wire. An actuating device coupled to the collector adjusts the contact strip. The contact strip is horizontal and adjustable transversely to a vehicle longitudinal axis. A sensor senses the position of the vehicle relative to the contact wire. A control device connected to the sensor and the actuating device actuates the actuating device based on the sensed vehicle position, so that the contact strip maintains contact with the contact wire within its working range. The vehicle thus reliably maintains contact with the contact wire through the collector during operation on multilane roadways with an at least partially electrified lane, even at relatively high speeds of, for example, 80 to 100 km/h.

Abstract: A device for identifying mail items includes a memory for storing mail item information of a mail item and characteristic image features of the mail item. A control unit assigns the mail item information to image features that are recorded again. In order that the mail items can still be identified reliably even after a cancellation in print or a forwarding sticker has been applied, the control unit carries out the assignment with the aid of an identification code associated with the mail item.

Abstract: A method of identifying transportation items which are physically different from one another, particularly for identifying automatically sortable passenger luggage in air, rail, or ocean travel, using electronically readable information associated with the transportation item.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a system, in which a plurality of acoustic images are recorded and compared at defined intervals of time over a period of time extending several weeks. A large system can be monitored reliably and with little complexity if the acoustic images each contain a plurality of acoustic image areas which are arranged in a spatially different manner, and, between respective recordings of the image areas of an acoustic image, an acoustic sensor is aligned with an image area, which is to be recorded, of a next image area by being moved.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for transporting a set of articles to destinations, particularly items of mail to delivery addresses. The articles to be transported are placed into a transportation apparatus and the filled transportation apparatus and also a portable position measuring instrument are transported along the route. At each destination on the route, the following step is performed: each article which is provided with details relating to the destination is taken from the transportation apparatus, and the transportation for the article is concluded. The position measuring instrument carried along measures its own current geoposition during the transportation at each prescribed measurement time and stores the measured geoposition together with an identification for the measurement time. The interval between two prescribed measurement times is shorter than the period of time for transporting the position measuring instrument from one destination to the next destination on the route.

Abstract: A method of identifying transportation items which are physically different from one another, particularly for identifying automatically sortable passenger luggage in air, rail, or ocean travel, using electronically readable information associated with the transportation item.

Abstract: A device for identifying mail items includes a memory for storing mail item information of a mail item and characteristic image features of the mail item. A control unit assigns the mail item information to image features that are recorded again. In order that the mail items can still be identified reliably even after a cancellation in print or a forwarding sticker has been applied, the control unit carries out the assignment with the aid of an identification code associated with the mail item.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting overlapping flat objects, wherein each object has flat sides and narrow sides, includes a doubles detector configured to derive at least one feature of an object, a first imaging unit configured to produce an electronic image of a first flat side of the object, and a second imaging unit configured to produce an electronic image of a second flat side of the object. A determination facility of the apparatus is coupled to the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit to receive the electronic images, and to derive at least one further feature of the object. Further, a decision facility of the apparatus is coupled to the doubles detector and the determination facility to receive the least one feature and the at least one further feature of the object, and to determine whether the object is a single object or a number of objects.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a system, in which a plurality of acoustic images are recorded and compared at defined intervals of time over a period of time extending several weeks. A large system can be monitored reliably and with little complexity if the acoustic images each contain a plurality of acoustic image areas which are arranged in a spatially different manner, and, between respective recordings of the image areas of an acoustic image, an acoustic sensor is aligned with an image area, which is to be recorded, of a next image area by being moved.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting overlapping flat objects, wherein each object has flat sides and narrow sides, includes a doubles detector configured to derive at least one feature of an object, a first imaging unit configured to produce an electronic image of a first flat side of the object, and a second imaging unit configured to produce an electronic image of a second flat side of the object. A determination facility of the apparatus is coupled to the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit to receive the electronic images, and to derive at least one further feature of the object. Further, a decision facility of the apparatus is coupled to the doubles detector and the determination facility to receive the least one feature and the at least one further feature of the object, and to determine whether the object is a single object or a number of objects.

Abstract: A forgery-proof value document, in particular a postage stamp, is examined for its authenticity. The value document contains a two-dimensional area with a security element in the form of a two-dimensional structure. The two-dimensional area is provided with, for example printed with, at least one first and at least one other substance. When illuminated with light that is visible to the human eye, the two substances have the same hue and different hues when illuminated with infrared light. The security element is placed on the value document by use the first substance, the remaining part of the area by use of the at least one other substance. When illuminated with visible light the entire two-dimensional area appears in the same hue. When illuminated with infrared light the security element is optically distinguished from the remaining area.

Abstract: A value document, in particular a postage stamp, which contains an optically recognizable security element in the form of a two-dimensional structure. Accordingly, the security element has a resolution of at least 300 dpi which makes it difficult to electronically reproduce the security element and therefore protect against the production of counterfeit postage stamps.

Abstract: In the multistage sorting method, the mail items read in the first step are re-identified in the subsequent steps on the basis of characteristic features determined. If unambiguous assignment to a plurality of candidates is not possible, reading steps are additionally carried out in the subsequent sorting steps and the partial reading results of the candidates are compared with the corresponding partial reading results of the first steps until unambiguous assignment is produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recognizing objects in mail items and an arrangement for carrying out the method. In the method, the color image produced in the relevant color camera is converted into a gray level image having a resolution higher than that of the color camera and suitable for reading the postal information in the automatic reading devices; the color image produced in the relevant color camera is converted into a color image having a resolution lower than the camera resolution but sufficient far recognizing objects and their positions; the objects and their position present in the relevant lower resolution color image are determined and identified, the assignment of the objects to postal information categories being performed on the basis of structural rules established in an upstream teaching phase, and the required postal information in the gray level images of the relevant identified objects are automatically read.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for recognizing objects in mail item images, their position and reading their postal information The following operations are performed: Converting the color image produced in the relevant color camera (11) into a gray level image having a resolution higher than that of the color camera (11) and suitable for reading the postal information in the automatic reading devices, Converting the color image produced in the relevant color camera (11) into a color image having a resolution lower than the camera resolution but sufficient for recognizing objects and their positions, Determining and identifying the objects present in the relevant lower resolution color image including their position, the assignment of the objects to postal information categories being performed on the basis of structural rules established in an upstream teaching phase, Automatic reading of the required postal information in the gray level images of the relevant identified objects.

Abstract: A device and method for labeling flat mail items applies labels to the items by compressed air. The thickness and length of each items is determined in the time for initiating blowing of a respective label is determined as a function of the lengthened thickness of the items and the desired position of the label on the item.

Abstract: A device for automatically determining the weight of items of post comprising a feeding device (1) that contain conveyor belts that grip the postal items and conveys them in single file. A distributor (3) separates the incomming stream of items from the feeding device (1) into parallel conveying paths (TS) where they are weighed. The parallel conveying paths (TS) also contain belts which continue to grasp the postal items even as they are being weighed. Once the items are weighed, they are fed to a channelling device (4) which recombines the multiple streams of postal items from the parallel conveying paths (TS) into a single stream (2).