Abstract: A method and a printer for printing on a substrate with a plurality of print head assemblies, wherein each assembly includes at least one print head. The printer includes a roller assembly to move the substrate towards the print head assemblies along a feed path, which is substantially perpendicular to the width of the substrate. A movable fence is used to adjust the width of the feed path according to the width of the substrate. A linking arm is used to mechanically couple the print head assemblies with pivot action. The moveable fence is used to manually move the print head assemblies relative to each other via the linking arm in order to properly place the print head assemblies over the width of the feed path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically positioning a plurality of suction devices over the throat of envelope to lift the throat.

Abstract: A method and system for transporting envelopes from an envelope feeder to an envelope staging area in an envelope insertion machine. The envelope transport system includes two envelope bins and two envelope supply paths linking the envelope bins to an envelope feeder. Each of the bins is used to temporarily store an envelope before that envelope is moved to the staging area. The envelope supply paths are controlled by a flipper gate which alternately opens one path and closes another so as to allow an envelope to enter one envelope bin while another envelope in the other envelope bin is moved to the staging area. With the dual envelope bins connected to the dual supply paths to receive envelopes released by the envelope feeder, the envelope feeder does not have to slow down substantially in order to wait for the released envelope to clear the feeding path.

Abstract: In order to locate a package (110) which houses active elements including an opto-electric type transducer (100), in a position which assures that the opto-electric sensor and other active elements will be located in proper operative positions when the package is installed in predetermined piece of apparatus, the package casing (102) is provided with location features (112) at least some of which are deformable. During optimization, the package is moved with respect to a target until such time as the sensor is detected as producing an optimal output. Selected location features are then deformed to form location faces (112a) which have a predetermined spatial relationship with the active elements and which ensure that the active elements will be supported in an optimally operative position when the package is operatively disposed in a device such as an optical scanner or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the location and content of data blocks on a mailpiece includes a computer connected to a structure for obtaining a digital bit map image of an outer surface of a mailpiece. The computer includes structure programmed for: finding each run of a plurality of black bits of each scan line of the bit map image and determining if any bit thereof neighbors at least one black bit of another scan line; combining the found run with each neighboring bit to form a piece; assigning a descriptive value to a block having at least one piece and comparing the descriptive value to a list of values to determine which type of data block the block having the descriptive value is.

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: This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a method of sorting mailpieces which requires less stopping of the sorting process for bin emptying. The present invention is directed to a mailpiece sorting method which indicates when a bin is partially full to the level of a partially full sensor so that an operator can empty that bin. Additionally, a bin-full calculation is performed for determining if redirection of the mailpieces to an alternate bin is necessary should the operator not empty the bin as directed. If a bin is partially full to the level of the sensor, the process performs an addition of thicknesses of all of the mailpieces which are in the mailpiece delivery system, but not yet delivered to the bin to determine whether those mailpieces would fill the bin. If the bin would be full, it is determined whether an alternate bin is available and, if so, the mailpieces are routed to the alternate bin.

Abstract: A method of reissuing digital tokens in a open system meter includes the steps of calculating a digital token using the predetermined postal information including addressee information, postage amount and piece count; debiting postal funds by the postage amount; issuing the digital token for generation of postage indicia; storing the digital token and the predetermined postal information as part of a transaction record in a transaction record file indexed according to addressee information; determining that the indicia generated from the digital token has not been successfully printed on a mailpiece for a particular addressee; and reissuing the digital token from the transaction record in the transaction file to generate the indicia for another attempt to print the indicia on the mailpiece.

Abstract: An ink composition suitable for printing machine readable indicia on a substrate with an ink jet printing device is disclosed. The disclosed ink composition comprises water, a water soluble resin, a red fluorescent colorant material mixture comprising C.I. Basic yellow 40 dye, C.I. Basic Red 1 dye, and C.I. Basic Violet 11:1 dye, and a blue colorant material comprising C.I. Acid Blue 9. In the preferred embodiments of the ink composition, the dyes in the red fluorescent colorant material mixture are present in a weight ratio of approximately 1.12 to 1.36 to 1, respectively, and the weight ratio of the red fluorescent colorant material mixture to the blue colorant material is in the range of about 3.8 to 1 to about 46 to 1.

Abstract: The invention is a method and system for printing a postage meter indicia from a data processing system. The printing of the indicia is under control of an indicia control in an object linking and embedding (OLE2) environment. The method begins with instantiating an indicia control in the design application that will utilize the object control for indicia printing. The indicia control is attached to an application window for use by the application. Once established, the control will be passed a set of postage meter data from an interoperatively linked postage meter. The interface is enhanced by displaying an envelope representation on a monitor screen to a system operator, wherein the envelope display comprises design fields and wherein one of the design fields is a representation of the postage indicia. The postage indicia additionally comprises postage meter data such as available funds, a transaction value, and a postage meter identification.

Abstract: The invention is a method and system for providing a standard interface between a client and a plurality of peripheral devices. The interface is established through creating an interface object and/or a peripheral object in an object oriented development environment of a data processing system. The method and system includes both the object creation environment and the method of object utilization. In one embodiment, the client requests and stores an interface object from a server and establishes an interface object by storing object methods and object properties within the interface object by utilizing a programming interface. The user selects a peripheral device from a collection of devices; the client then request; the server to create a peripheral object corresponding to the selected peripheral device. The peripheral object is created and stored within the client. Communication between the client and the peripheral device is established by implementing the created object's methods and properties.

Abstract: A pocket assembly for use in an ink jet printer included in a mailing machine. The pocket assembly is adapted to receive an ink cartridge and includes: a housing defining a pocket for receiving the ink cartridge, a needle, a door and a door mechanism. The housing has an open end and a closed end and includes a recess extending away from the pocket. The needle is mounted to the housing closed end and protrudes into the pocket. The door is movably mounted to the housing and is located within the pocket. The door mechanism is operatively coupled with door for repositioning the door between a closed position blocking access to the needle and an open position allowing access to the needle. The door is seated in the recess when in the closed position so that the door is less likely to be manually repositioned to the open position.

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: A method for creating a status report data file for a document job in a document system including a central database configured to create a status report data file for each document job received at the central database and a plurality of sub-systems coupled to the central database where each sub-system is configured to perform a specific document task pertaining to a document job. A status report for a document job is created in the central database upon the appearance of that job from any one of a plurality of sub-systems coupled to the central database.

Abstract: A retard module in a mail separator having a floating, middle idler to change the ingestion angle of the mail separator. The retard module further has a downstream idler, an upstream pulley driven by a motor, and an endless belt forming a loop around the idlers and the pulley to provide a retarding force against a feed module. The downstream portion of the retard belt and the belt of the feed module form a nip to ingest incoming mail. The floating idler and the downstream idler are mounted on a bracket which, in turn, is pivotally mounted on a frame of the retard module. Initially, the ingestion angle at the nip is acute and thereby reduces damage to the incoming mailpieces. But when a thick mailpiece enters the separator, it causes the floating idler to move away further from the feed module and thereby increases the ingestion angle. A large ingestion angle allows thicker mailpieces to pass through the nip without substantially increasing the nipping forces.

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 mounting assembly for mounting a lower envelope transport onto a chassis of an envelope insertion station. The mounting assembly includes mechanisms for a three-plane adjustment in XYZ directions so that the positioning relationship between the lower envelope transport and the envelope staging area in the envelope insertion station can be adjusted to achieve a desired distance at the hand-over point. Furthermore, the mounting assembly allows the lower envelope transport to be removed from the chassis for jam access, maintenance or shipping purposes. The lower envelope transport can be remounted onto the envelope insertion station without the need for readjusting its position to achieve the desired distance in the XYZ directions at the hand-over point.

Abstract: A system and method for relating the delivery of a mail piece or package to what is inside the mail piece or package. Thus, when the mail piece or package is received and signed for by a recipient the mailer will have proof that the recipient received the mail piece or package and what was inside the mail piece or package at the time the mail piece or package was delivered to the recipient.

Abstract: A method and device for collating a number of sheets, serially and separately entering an entry point, into a stack at an exiting point without slowing down or pausing the sheets. The method and device, according to the present invention, provide a plurality of traveling paths with different path lengths to connect the entry point and exiting point, and use controlling devices to control the paths such that a sheet entering the entry point will travel a shorter path than the preceding sheet. It is preferred that the path length difference between any two adjacent paths is the same. The path length difference can be smaller than or equal to the length of the sheets. When the path length difference is equal to the sheet length, all sheets travel through different paths will arrive the exiting point concurrently.

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.