(19)

(11)

EP 0 954 387 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 10.11.1999 Bulletin 1999/45 (21) Application number: 98902706.0 (22) Date of filing: 23.01.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  B65G 47/ 49( . ) G06K 9/ 20( . ) G06T 1/ 60( . ) B07C 3/ 14( . ) G06T 1/ 00( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1998/001366 (87) International publication number: WO 1998/032545 (30.07.1998 Gazette 1998/30)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 23.01.1997 US 19970787974 23.01.1997 US 19970788852 (60) Divisional application: 03020263.4 / 1371424 (71) Applicant: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC. Atlanta, GA 30328 (US)	(72) Inventors: BONNET, Henri Atlanta, GA 30328 (US) BJORNER, Johannes, A., S. Woodbury, CT 06798 (US) PARDEE, Bennett Redding, CT 06875 (US) ALEXANDER, Catherine Danbury, CT 06811 (US) (74) Representative: Chettle, Adrian John, et al  Withers & Rogers, Goldings House, 2 Hays Lane London SE1 2HW London SE1 2HW (GB)