Mailing Equipment

If you're in the mailing industry, then you have probably heard the term "read-print", but what exactly is read-printing?

A read-print system normally consists of an envelope inserter, an inkjet system mounted on an in-line -or an open ended- transport, and some kind of camera or scanner system, e.g. a Lake Image Vision System. Many mailers already have some or most of what is needed for read-print inserting.

Follow up:

Most envelope inserters and some inkjet addressing machines can be upgraded to work as a read-print system. The vision system, after installed on your current inserter or on a new one, will capture a unique identifier on a personalized insert, and then send that data to the inkjet. Using a series of encoders and photo eyes the inkjet or the vision system, will track that piece through the rest of the inserter, and then the inkjet will spray the proper address on the outside of the envelope. Many if not all, letter shops are already doing this work, but some are doing it manually by spot checking every few envelops to make sure the names match. This is a very costly process compared to an automated read-print system.

When investing to add read-print capability to your shop, the most important decision is deciding on which vision system to purchase. You will need to know what type of identifier or symbology that you can use on the personalized insert that you are using, and you'll also want to keep in mind that your needs will change. Most shops use either a barcode and -or- a human readable number (the number is read and translated using OCR technology). Some vision systems have limited reading capabilities; I'll write a separate blog on the different symbologies used for read-print applications.

Other vision system features to consider include multi-tasking and upgradeability. A lot of your jobs will call for multiple document inspections. For instance, you might have multiple personalized pieces going into one envelope. This will require your vision system to have matching capabilities. Or you might need to compare every read to a database and produce an audit report to show any missing or duplicate pieces. These are just a few examples of the many tools you can use with a good vision system. Give us a call at Addresser Based Systems for more information on specific applications: 800-398-5786.