Automated mail collecting and telecommunication machine

Self-contained apparatus for processing and collecting an item to be mailed and for telecommunicating comprising:

• computer means;
• display means coupled to said computer means, said display means displaying information associated with the use of the apparatus such as the instructions for using said apparatus;
• receiving means coupled to said computer means for receiving the item to be mailed;
• data entry means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for entering data relating to the item to be mailed, such as the address to which said item is to be mailed;
• weighing means coupled to said computer means and to said receiving means for securely weighing said item to be mailed;
• determining means including said computer means and coupled to said data entry means and to said weighing means for determining the required postage for said item to be mailed;
• payment means for accepting and verifying payment for said postage including said computer means and coupled to said display means, to said data entry means, and to said determining means;
• means coupled to said computer means for providing machine readable information concerning the item to be mailed on the item to be mailed, such as the zip code to which said item is to be mailed;
• transport means coupled to said computer means for transporting the item to be mailed from said receiving means to a storage area for subsequent pick up;
• telephone means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for placing a telephone call and means including said computer means and coupled to said display means and to said payment means for calculating a charge for said telephone call, said payment means being adapted to accept and verify payment for said telephone call charge;
• connector means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for connecting said apparatus to a database;
• means coupled to said computer means, to said display means, and to said connector means for interacting with said database;
• means coupled to said computer means, to said connector means, and to said interacting means for listing and printing data from said database;
• means including said computer means and coupled to said display means and to said payment means for calculating a charge for the use of said data listing and interacting capability, said payment means being adapted to accept and verify payment for said data listing and interacting capability charge;
• and
• means coupled to said computer means and to said display means for accepting and sending a telex message and means including said computer means and coupled to said display means and to said payment means for calculating a charge for the sending of said telex message, said payment means being adapted to accept and verify payment for said telex message sending charge.

A method of processing and collecting mail with, and otherwise operating a self-contained computerized apparatus comprising the steps of:

• displaying information associated with the use of the apparatus such as the instructions for the use of said apparatus;
• receiving an item to be mailed;
• weighing the item to be mailed;
• admitting data relating to the item to be mailed such as the address to which the item is to be mailed;
• determining the required postage for the item to be mailed;
• accepting and verifying payment for said postage;
• providing machine readable information concerning the item to be mailed on the item to be mailed, such as the zip code to which said item is to be mailed;
• and
• storing the item to be mailed for subsequent pick up.