(19)
(11) EP 0 949 014 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
12.06.2002 Bulletin 2002/24

(43) Date of publication A2:
13.10.1999 Bulletin 1999/41

(21) Application number: 99250195.7

(22) Date of filing: 17.03.1994
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B07C 3/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
CH DE ES FR GB IT LI SE

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
94104185.7 / 0673686

(71) Applicant: ELECTROCOM AUTOMATION L.P.
Arlington, Texas 76011-5276 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Allen, Ronald L.
    Dallas, TX 75051 (US)
  • Cykana, Michael J.
    Tarrant, TX 76017-7470 (US)
  • Lui, Eddie K.
    Tarrant, TX 76040 (US)
  • Sipe, Stanley Wayne
    Arlington, Texas 76018 (US)
  • Bishop-Jones, Brenda J.
    Tarrant, TX 76011 (US)

(74) Representative: UEXKÜLL & STOLBERG 
Patentanwälte Beselerstrasse 4
22607 Hamburg
22607 Hamburg (DE)

   


(54) Method for intercepting and forwarding incorrectly addressed postal mail


(57) The invention relates to a method of forwarding a mail piece (12) using a system wherein mail pieces are collected and shipped between a number of general facilities (18, 22, 34) each corresponding to a geographic area where mail is deposited for delivery and is delivered. It includes the steps of (a) reading an incorrect delivery destination marking from the mail piece (12), (b) comparing the read delivery destination marking to a list of incorrect delivery destinations, (c) determining a forwarding delivery destination for the mail piece (12) which corresponds to the incorrect delivery destination on the list, (d) correcting the delivery destination marking to indicate the forwarding delivery destination and (e) forwarding the mail piece to the forwarding delivery destination. The steps (a)-(d) are carried out at the receiving general mail facility (18) or at a local post office (16) from which the mail piece (12) is transported to the receiving general mail facility (18) and the mail piece (12) is transported directly from the receiving general mail facility (18) to the general mail facility (34) which corresponds to the forwarding delivery destination without first being transported to the general mail facility (22) which corresponds to the original incorrect delivery destination.






Search report