Process for optimal economic efficiency in postal operations

Abstract

A process for optimal economic efficiency in postal operations generally comprises the steps of conveying objects such as postal inserts from a first repository to a second repository and offline pre-processing a combination from among at least one of said objects based on assigned criteria. The offline pre-process collects customer-specific optimized combinations of postal inserts and stores them as a “Packet” in postal insert packet storage devices. The pre-processing of packets obviates the need for the disruptive Set Ups and large costs and removes the indirect costs of ESM “down time” and the inability to efficiently obtain the pre-sorting discounts offered by the U.S. Postal Service.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A mail piece construction method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a mail packet construction device including a plurality of bins, each bin containing a plurality of discreet inserts, first and second packet transfer devices, a packet storage device and a final mail piece construction device;    conducting a pre-processing method comprising the steps of: 
 releasing from one or more of said bins at least one insert at a predetermined timing, such that as the inserts are released a packet is formed;  
 transferring with the first packet transfer device said packet to the packet storage device;  
   conducting a final processing method comprising the steps of: 
 transferring with the second packet transfer device, at a predetermined time, said packet from the packet storage device to the final mail piece construction device; and  
 forming a final mail piece including at least one packet.  
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of the packets are stored in the package storage device.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the said plurality of packets are stored in the packet storage device until sufficient packets have been formed such that forming a final mail piece with said packet will generate an expected net profit greater than 0.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each bin of the packet construction device releases inserts to form a packet according to a predetermined scheme.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the inserts is a return envelope.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a plurality of packets stored in the packet storage device is transferred together to the final mail piece construction device.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the formation of the packet is conducted at a first speed and the final mail piece construction occurs at a second speed.  
     
     
         20 . A final mail piece construction device comprising: 
 a pre-processing portion comprising: 
 a plurality of bins, wherein at least one bin contains a plurality of inserts;  
 a conveyor, said plurality of bins releasing at least one insert thereto at a predetermined timing, wherein as the inserts are released packets are formed;  
 a first packet transfer device, transferring packets to a packet storage device;  
   a final processing portion comprising: 
 a second package transfer device retrieving the stored packets at a predetermined time; and  
 a final mail piece construction device receiving the retrieved packets from the second package transfer device and forming final mail pieces, said final mail pieces including at least one packet.  
   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the first packet transfer device retrieves a plurality of packets and stores them in the packet storage device.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the envelope stuffing device combines at least one packet and an envelope into a mail piece.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the pre-processing portion operates at a first speed and the final processing portion operates at a second speed.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the pre-processing portion operates pursuant to a first software program.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the final processing portion operates pursuant to a second software program.  
     
     
         26 . A method comprising: 
 combining at least two inserts to form a packet, each insert coming from a respective insert bin;    transferring the packet to a final mail piece construction device; and    creating mail pieces by combining a packet with other elements of a mail piece, wherein the packets are firmed at a first rate and the combining occurs at a second speed.