Document delivery method and system with automated printing and enveloping

Abstract

In a document delivery method and system, a sending computer is adapted to be operated by a sending party to send out an electronic document. A receiving unit, which is situated at a mail delivery service provider, is operable so as to establish a network connection with the sending computer so as to receive the electronic document therefrom. A printing unit is coupled to the receiving unit, receives the electronic document from the receiving unit, and makes a printed document that corresponds to the electronic document. An enveloping unit is operable so as to wrap the printed document in enveloping material. A conveying unit, which is disposed between the printing unit and the enveloping unit, is responsible for conveying the printed document from the printing unit to the enveloping unit.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A document delivery system, comprising: 
 a sending computer adapted to be operated by a sending party to send out an electronic document;    a receiving unit operable so as to establish a network connection with said sending computer so as to receive the electronic document therefrom;    a printing unit coupled to said receiving unit so as to receive the electronic document therefrom, said printing unit being operable so as to make a printed document that corresponds to the electronic document;    an enveloping unit operable so as to wrap the printed document in enveloping material; and    a conveying unit, disposed between said printing unit and said enveloping unit, for conveying the printed document from said printing unit to said enveloping unit.    
     
     
         2 . The document delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said sending computer sends out the electronic document in a format that complies with FTP protocol.  
     
     
         3 . The document delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said sending computer sends out the electronic document in a format that complies with HTTP protocol.  
     
     
         4 . The document delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said receiving unit is situated at a mail delivery service provider.  
     
     
         5 . The document delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said receiving unit includes a receiving computer.  
     
     
         6 . The document delivery system of  claim 5 , wherein said printing unit includes a computer printer.  
     
     
         7 . The document delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said receiving unit and said printing unit are jointly implemented in a facsimile machine.  
     
     
         8 . The document delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said conveying unit includes: 
 a casing having a document inlet side adjacent to said printing unit, and a document outlet side adjacent to said enveloping unit;    a guide plate disposed in said casing and extending between said document inlet side and said document outlet side; a drive device disposed in said casing and operable so as to move the printed document along said guide plate from said document inlet side to said document outlet side; and    a sensing device coupled to said drive device for activating said drive device upon detecting that the printed document has entered into said document inlet side, and for deactivating said drive device upon detecting that the printed document has exited said document outlet side of said casing.    
     
     
         9 . The document delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein said drive device includes a roller set, and a motor for driving rotatably said roller set.  
     
     
         10 . The document delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein said conveying unit further includes a press plate disposed in said casing and adapted to press the printed document against said drive device.  
     
     
         11 . The document delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein said enveloping unit includes: 
 a horizontally extending document feed slot having a bottom portion formed with a blade port;    a feed roller set disposed at one end of said document feed slot for guiding the printed document from said conveying unit into said document feed slot;    a vertically movable folding blade disposed above said document feed slot and aligned vertically with said blade port, said folding blade being movable downwardly to engage the printed document and to force the printed document to pass through said blade port, thereby folding the printed document as the printed document passes through said blade port;    a roll unit disposed below said document feed slot and operative so as to feed the enveloping material for covering opposite sides of the printed document that passes through said blade port; and    seal forming means operable so as to weld edges of the enveloping material that wraps the printed document, thereby enclosing the printed document in an envelope.    
     
     
         12 . The document delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising a document box for collecting the printed document from said enveloping unit.  
     
     
         13 . The document delivery system of  claim 12 , further comprising a plunger mechanism disposed in said document box and operable so as to push the printed document toward one side of said document box.  
     
     
         13 . A document delivery method, comprising the steps of: 
 via a sending computer that is under the control of a sending party, creating an electronic document, and establishing a network connection with a receiving unit situated at a mail delivery service provider so as to transmit the electronic document from the sending computer to the receiving unit;    printing the electronic document received by the receiving unit so as to make a printed document; and    automatically conveying the printed document to an enveloping unit so as to commence automated wrapping of the printed document in enveloping material.    
     
     
         15 . The document delivery method of  claim 14 , wherein the sending computer transmits the electronic document to the receiving unit in a format that complies with one of the FTP and HTTP protocols.  
     
     
         16 . The document delivery method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of collecting enveloped documents from the enveloping unit, and delivering the enveloped documents to intended mail recipients.