Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for preparing forms used by the Postal Service in delivering certain types of mail (E). Each piece of such mail is conveyed past a camera or scanner (12) to obtain an image of the piece including the name of the sender and name and address of the recipient. The image is processed by an image processor (14) to locate the edge (C) of the piece at its upper left hand corner where sender information is located. A first line of information, usually the sender's name, is extracted from a sender information segment (S) of the envelope, and the first two lines of recipient information, usually the recipient's name and street address, are extracted and from a recipient's information segment (R) of the mail piece. These three lines of information are now transferred from the memory onto an appropriate postal form (F) with each line of information copied onto an appropriate portion of the form.

Abstract: A bulk mail processing system (10) conveys bulk mail containers (C) from a receiving station (R) at which the container is placed on a conveyor (12) to an unloading station (D) at which the contents of the container are dumped. A video camera (22) obtains an image of the container which is transmitted to a processor (24). The image is processed to determine if residual mail (M) is left in the container after it is emptied. A mechanism (18) removes the container from the conveyor, empties the container, and then returns the container back to the conveyor. A controller (20) controls operation of the emptying mechanism. The controller is responsive to an input from the processor that all the contents of a container have been removed to replace the empty container on the conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) monitors a railroad crossing (X) for the presence of an object (H, V, A) in the crossing. The apparatus determines if an object is of sufficient size to damage to a train (1) approaching the crossing, and provides an alarm (Sa) to an approaching train so it can be timely halted. This prevents injury to people or other objects in the crossing, or to the train and its occupants. A camera (14) continuously views the crossing to obtain images of the crossing. An image processor (28) processes images, establishes the presence of objects in the crossing, and determines the size of the object. If appropriate, an alarm (26) is activated and an alarm signal is sent to the train through a relay (36) transmitter (44), and on board receiver (46). An audio alarm (48) on the train is sounded in response to receipt of the signal.