ApplicAtion Article Picture Perfect Match SySteM OfferS the firSt SteP tOward autOMating yOur Match MailingS
The patent pending Picture Perfect Match System was designed to fill the gap between costly automated match verification systems and hand matching or hand checking match mailings off the end of the inserter. The Basic System displays images of the personalized mail components on a screen for the inserter operator to monitor for good or bad matches. Up to four USB pluggable cameras are positioned over the insert track, under the envelope hopper or under the backtable (with a cutout in the backtable) to grab an image of each personalized component. The images are stored in memory and after the last image of the mail piece has been taken, all of the images are displayed on the screen. These images are then easily viewed side by side for the operator to verify that all of the components match. This allows match mailings to be run on swingarm inserters, at up to 7,200 pieces per hour, and every piece can be verified as a good match. Because the images are ordinarily displayed prior to reaching the moistener brush, sealing can be done inline without the worry of having to rip the envelopes open in the event of a mismatch. The software was designed with the operator in mind. A customizable set up
screen allows for one click per camera to set the position and timing. The images can be displayed as often as desired, every image, every other, every third, etc. Each camera has individual adjustments for brightness, contrast, focus and more. Each image can be zoomed in or flipped upside down if needed. Ten sets of images remain in memory. In the event of a mismatch, the sets images can be recalled to identify where the mismatch first occurred. The cameras are mounted to a flexible, magnetic mounting stand. When repositioning for a new job, simply lift them up and set them into a different place. The cables run through the inside of the flexible arm, protecting then from damage. The cameras swivel 90 degrees in each direction and are small enough to fit under the envelope station, aiming up at the envelope, even on inserters with a butterfly opener. The only moving component is the encoder that attaches the PC to the inserter and since 2007 not one has failed. The system comes complete with the PC, 20� monitor, two cameras, software, and a mobile computer stand.
Optional upgrades include Image Capture, Optical Character Recognition and Barcode Recognition. Image Capture simply records every set of images to the hard drive. Optical Character Recognition(OCR) takes the same images captured by the basic system and converts them to data such as name or sequence number. This data can then be compared by the software and determined to be a good or bad match. In the event of a mismatch the software can then stop the inserter automatically. This upgrade can also be used to verify sequence numbers and provide a report upon completion of the job including number of pieces, number of matches/mismatches, as well as end of process verification as quality control for the customer. Barcode recognition, which includes OCR, can decode IMB and 2D (data matrix) barcodes to be compared to another barcode or sequence number. For more information contact us at: larry@clearimagetechnologies.com or 314-853-5867.
www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com a MARCH-APRIL 2011
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