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(11)

EP 2 969 267 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 20.01.2016 Bulletin 2016/03 (21) Application number: 14779918.3 (22) Date of filing: 11.03.2014

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  B07C 1/04(2006.01) B65H 3/12(2006.01) B65H 1/16(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2014/023300 (87) International publication number: WO 2014/164719 (09.10.2014 Gazette 2014/41)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR Designated Extension States: BA ME (30) Priority: 12.03.2013 US 201313797731 12.03.2013 US 201313797698 12.03.2013 US 201313797291 13.03.2013 US 201313801749 14.03.2013 US 201313827122 (71) Applicant: United States Postal Service Washington, DC 20260-1135 (US)

(72) Inventors: BROWN, John, W. Manassas, VA 20110-7906 (US) HOUSTON, Edward, F. Bristow, VA 20136 (US) ROMAN, Juan, A. Fairfax, VA 22030 (US) SHIU, Leung, M. Gaithersburg, MD 20878-7812 (US) MAYHALL, Riley, H. Germantown, MD 20874 (US) MCCONNELL, William, P. Woodstock, MD 21163 (US) GOOD, Matthew, G. Eldersburg, MD 21784 (US) HUME, Robert, E. Woodstock, MD 21163 (US) HILLERICH, Thomas, A. Louisville, KY 40299 (US) HA, Long, K. Washington, DC 20260-1135 (US) TIMM, Jacob, L. Pasadena, MD 21122 (US) BADRI, Reza MD 21286 (US) SCHLENDER, Robert, L. Columbia, MD 21045 (US) AUSTIN, Christopher, D. Parkville, MD 21234 (US) DICKEY, Darin Owings Mills, MD 21117 (US) (74) Representative: Freeman, Jacqueline Carol  WP Thompson 55 Drury Lane London WC2B 5SQ London WC2B 5SQ (GB)