Abstract: A device to lift a throat of an envelope to spread open the envelope. The device comprises a suction cup mounted to a pitching arm; a hook movably mounted adjacent to the suction cup; means for lowering the pitching arm to allow the suction cup to seal with the throat with a suction force, and raising the pitching arm to allow the suction cup to lift the throat; and an actuation device for placing the hook under the throat after the throat has been lifted by the suction cup so as to mechanically maintain the lifted position of the throat. Accordingly, the method of maintaining the lifted position of a throat includes the steps of: 1) positioning the suction cup over the throat; 2) pressing the suction cup against the throat to seal with the throat; 3) raising the suction cup to lift the throat; and 4) placing the hook under the lifted throat to mechanically maintain the lifted position of the throat.

Abstract: A novel voice-enabled directory look-up system is disclosed. In one embodiment, an operator reads the first few characters from each of the first and last names of a mail addressee. The system captures the speech as an audio signal, which is parsed into character position segments. The system determines one or more candidate characters that might have resulted in the audio signal for each character position segment. The system then expands the list of candidate characters for at least one character position to include one or more characters that sound like the original candidate characters for that character position. The candidate characters for the respective character positions are composed into a regular expression, which is applied using an inexact string matching look-up routine to a directory of records. Records with the best matches are returned in a menu for the operator. The operator selects the desired record from the menu.

Abstract: A method for verifying that the expected components of a postage metering system includes alternate embodiments for verifying a PSD coupled to a host system is the expected PSD. The method further includes verifying the host system as the expected host system. A first message is encrypted in the PSD using a first cryptographic key to obtain a first encrypted message. The first encrypted message is sent to the host system which decrypts the first encrypted message using a second cryptographic key. The host system then encrypts a second message derived from the decrypted first encrypted message using the second cryptographic key. The host system then sends the encrypted second message to the PSD which decrypts the second encrypted message in the PSD using the first cryptographic key.

Abstract: This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a non-contact apparatus for moistening envelope flaps that projects moistening fluid without pumping fluid. The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a non-contact envelope flap moistening apparatus which can be installed in a mailing machine apparatus.

Abstract: This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an apparatus that will assist in sorting mailpieces which increases the efficiency of the mail sorting apparatus, provides an organized space for intermediate storage of mailpieces and provides ergonomic features that reduce injury to the mail sorting apparatus operator and increases productivity. The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a mailpiece storage rack. The storage rack is used to hold partially sorted mailpieces between sorting passes in multiple pass sorting of mailpieces using a mail sorting apparatus or stores mailpieces after sortation and prior to delivery. The storage rack maintains the grouping, sequence and stack quality or alignment of partially sorted mailpieces which provides for more efficient re-feeding. The rack is designed ergonomically for easy transferring of mail into and out of storage and also provides for organized workflow.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aligner apparatus which bottom edge aligns documents and separates documents and provides adequate gap between documents for subsequent processing. The an aligner apparatus includes first and second guide walls, forming an alley along the document feed path in which the documents are relieved of interdocument forces allowing bottom edge alignment of the documents with the document feed path. A trap assembly including first and second trap levers is lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall and when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path in the aligner apparatus so as to control the gap between the documents. It apparatus further provides an adequate gap between documents while reducing noise. Each trap lever has a head portion which is fitted with a resilient pad which is attached to the trap arm in a manner that forms a gap between the head and the pad.

Abstract: A jogger system to be mounted on a vertical stack mixed mail feeder to provide a vibration, intermittently pushing a mail stack preferably on the outboard side of the mail stack in order to cause the bottom edges of the mail stack to rest on an outboard slider bed and a timing belt on the feeder, and to align the lead-edges of the mail stack against a registration wall. Preferably, the jogger system is integrated to the outboard slider bed of the feeder and comprises at least one imbalance weight rotatably mounted on a shaft which is substantially parallel to the length of the slider bed, and a motor to rotate the imbalance weight so as to cause the vibration. The jogger system further comprises compliance means to be placed between the jogger system and the feeder for mounting.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a platform independent rate data structure for representing a rate chart for a carrier manager system and a method of calculating a rate using the platform independent rate data structure and carrier rate calculation software of the carrier manager system. The rate data structure represents the rate chart, and comprises a header and a data area. The header contains information which describes the content of the rate data structure. The data area may comprise a collection of expressions and a collection of subtables. The expressions are mathematical formulas representing rates. The subtables are formats representing rate chart data. A rate chart may be represented by a combination of subtables and/or expressions in a rate data structure. The amount of space required to represent the rate chart is reduced by the rate data structure representation of the present invention. The rate data structure representation is also platform independent.

Abstract: The method of the present invention relates generally to a method for sorting mailpieces using a mail sorting apparatus. In one embodiment of the present invention, instructions are provided to the mail sorting apparatus in a machine readable format such as barcode. The instructions are printed on a form that can be fed into the mail sorting apparatus in the same manner that a mailpiece is fed into the mail sorting apparatus. The form is run through the feed path of the mail sorting apparatus. The barcode is read using a scanner. A signal on the form indicates that the mailpiece is a form, and that information contained in the barcode is an instruction. The instruction may be, for example, an instruction to 1) halt may be implemented through use or reprogramming of application software may be presented by using the form. The method provides for sorting of mailpieces with less stopping of the sorting apparatus to provide new instructions.

Abstract: A postage printing system, comprising an ink jet printer including a print head for printing a postal indicia on a mailpiece and a control system. The control system is in operative communication with the print head and performs the following: monitoring an initial temperature of the print head; causing the print head to print a test print; monitoring a subsequent temperature of the print head after completion of the test print; comparing an actual temperature change, from the initial temperature to the subsequent temperature, within an expected temperature change; and continuing normal operation of the postage printing system if the actual temperature change is with an acceptable range of the expected temperature change.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in a general aspect, to a nudger for a mixed mail feeder and in particular to an apparatus and method for detecting high stack forces in a stack of mixed mail. The apparatus generally comprises an anti-lean sensor for detecting whether the mailpiece is positioned without improper lean and a stack force sensor for detecting high stack forces at the nudger wall. The method generally comprises the steps of sensing whether the mailpiece is positioned without improper lean and whether the stack of mailpieces is leaning on the nudger wall causing a high stack force which is detrimental to feeding the mailpieces. If high stack forces are present, the apparatus will work to straighten the stack. If the stack does not straighten, the operator is signaled to reorient the stack of mailpieces.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a nudger for a mixed mail feeder and, in particular, to an apparatus and method of providing and detecting proper position in a stack of mixed mail. The apparatus, generally, comprises a nudger arm for detecting proper positioning of the mailpiece and a lean detection arm for detecting proper lean of the mailpiece with respect to the nudger. The method comprises generally, a determination that when the lean detection arm and the nudger arm are in a position indicating that the lead mailpiece is in the proper position, the stack of mixed mail is decelerated and fed to, for example, a separator, for further processing. The deceleration is performed at a slow rate and provides for a predetermined amount of over travel by the stack of mixed mail. This ensures proper contact of the lead mailpiece with the nudger rollers for feeding the mailpieces for further processing.

Abstract: This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an accurate moistening system which provides for less fluid waste and better wetting. This in turn causes better sealing of the envelope flap. The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a non-contact envelope flap moistening system which can be installed in a mailing machine apparatus. The flap moistening system comprises an array of inkjet print heads and a document scanner for sensing the envelope flap. Envelope flaps can be moistened by the flap moistening system by performing a method comprising the following steps: sensing the envelope flap; profile and/or the glue area of an envelope flap; building a firing sequence for the print head nozzles; and actuating the nozzles to precisely fire discreet fluid droplets onto the glue area of the envelope flap. The system provides precise fluid amounts for envelope sealing.

Abstract: An ink supply system for a plurality of ink jet printheads offset from each other at different elevations includes an ink reservoir having a single outer casing and a plurality of individual ink wells inside of the casing, the plurality of individual ink wells arranged in a stepped relationship from each other and extending from a first ink well at a highest elevation to a last ink well at a lowest elevation, each of the plurality of individual ink wells supplying ink to and being lower in elevation than a corresponding one of the plurality of ink jet printheads for the purpose of controlling the negative pressure applied to the printheads to properly control the meniscus position at the nozzles for proper operation of the printheads; an ink supply having ink stored therein; and structure for supplying ink to the first ink well.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of encrypting unique addressee information into the indicium of a mail piece and verifying the indicium. Local digital tokens are printed in the indicium of the mail piece and point to pivotal address characters in the addressee block. The pivotal address characters are also printed in the indicium. Additionally, a global digital token is included in the indicium.

Abstract: A postage metering system includes means for printing postage a postage indicia. The printing means has first meter data stored therein. Means are coupled to the printing means for accounting for value printed by said printing means. The accounting means has second meter data stored therein. Means are provided for operating the printing means to print an indicia containing said first meter data from said printing means and said second meter data from said accounting means.

Abstract: A mailing machine has an envelope transport device extending longitudinally therethrough and a digital ink jet printing device located adjacent the downstream end of the transport device. Due to the criticality of the spacing between the upper surface of an envelope and the discharge nozzles of the ink jet print head, the envelopes passing through the mailing machine must have their upper surfaces registered with a fixed plane that extends in spaced relationship with the nozzles. The mailing machine includes a flap closing device having fixed and movable elements that can accommodate variations in thickness of the envelopes extending from the registration plane downwardly within a fixed range so that the flap closing device can simultaneously close the flaps of both thin and thick envelopes passing through the mailing machine in a mixed stream.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a transfer roller in an ink jet printer. In an ink jet printer having a transfer roller on which an image is formed by an ink jet printhead, the printhead is periodically purged to prevent clogging. During purging the ink discharged by the printhead is used to wet the entire surface of the roller to dissolve residual dried ink and the transfer roller is then cleaned with a wipping pad or roller.