Abstract: Apparatus and a method for merging vertically oriented documents with horizontally oriented documents. The apparatus includes: a document assembler for receiving vertically oriented documents, the document assembler having a pair of parallel paper paths, wherein each of the paper paths includes a device for transporting the vertically oriented documents and a device for stopping and a device for aligning the vertically oriented documents; a device located beneath the document assembler for re-orienting the documents from the document assembler in a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation; and a horizontal transport located beneath the re-orienting device for feeding horizontally oriented documents toward the re-oriented documents emerging from the re-orienting device, whereby the horizontally oriented documents are merged with the re-oriented documents from the document assembler.

Abstract: A computer-based system, such as a value printing system, has a host data processor having at least one disk drive that includes a first read/write head for reading data from and for writing data to a removable data recording disk. The system further includes a printer, coupled to the host data processor and responsive thereto, for printing indicia indicative of a monetary value. The system further includes a removable data recording disk having an integral data processor including a memory for storing data expressive of a monetary value associated with printed indicia. The integral data processor further includes a second read/write head coupled to the recording medium for communicating with the host data processor through the first read/write head.

Abstract: An identification card and method and apparatus for producing and authenticating such an identification card. An object or other entity for which the identification card will evidence identity, status or characteristics is scanned to produce a digital signal a portion of which is compressed, encrypted, and coded and which is recorded on a magnetic strip on the identification card. The image is also printed or otherwise embodied onto another portion of the identification card. A text message maybe appended to the signal before it is encrypted and also printed as plain text on the identification card. In one embodiment the signal representing the image is encrypted using a public key encryption system and the key is downloaded from a center. This key maybe changed from time to tome to increase security. To facilitate authentication the corresponding decryption key is encrypted with another key and incorporated on the card.

Abstract: A cassette for feeding envelopes to a printer. The cassette includes an elevator mechanism for continuously raising a stack of envelopes to maintain contact with a feed mechanism in the printer as envelopes are fed from the stack. The elevator pivots vertically around its back edge and is hinged to rotate orthogonally to the direction in which the envelopes are fed. The orthogonal rotation allows the envelope to remain horizontal even through the stack of flaps is thicker along its flap edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for buffering transport of freshly inked documents is comprised of an upper deck oriented at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane. The apparatus has a plurality of opposite, parallel, threaded screw conveyers orthogonal to the upper deck. Inked documents travel upon the threads of the screw conveyers. A lower deck is provided for receiving inked documents. An eject pin mechanism causes the inked documents to be delivered from the apparatus.

Abstract: In apparatus for feeding respective sheets including framework and a deck mounted thereon for supporting a plurality of sheets in an upright stack thereof, wherein the deck defines a path of travel for respective lowermost sheets to be fed from the stack, and the stack has an upstream end and a downstream end, an improvement for facilitating feeding lowermost sheets from the stack, the improvement comprising a platform connected to the framework, the platform including a base wall portion having a longitudinal length extending upstream from the upstream end of the deck; a stack supporting member, the member including an upright upper wall portion having a lower end, the member including a lower wall portion extending upstream from the upper wall portion's lower end and forming therewith an elongate downstream marginal edge having a wedge-shaped transverse cross-section; and structure for adjustably mounting the stack supporting member on the platform, the mounting structure including first structure for movin

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding respective sheets from a stack thereof comprising structure for supporting a plurality of sheets in an upright stack thereof, the supporting structure including an upright wall, the supporting structure including a deck extending beneath the wall and defining a path of travel for respective sheets fed from the stack, the deck extending transverse to the path of travel; structure for successively feeding respective sheets downstream in the path of travel, the feeding structure including opposed outfeed rollers downstream of the upright wall, the feeding structure including an elongate first roller longitudinally extending transverse to the path of travel upstream of the upright wall, the feeding structure including an elongate second roller longitudinally extending transverse to the path of travel upstream of the fist roller, the feeding structure including structure for driving the outfeed and first and second rollers; structure for controlling the driving structure, and the controlling

Abstract: A cost-effective motion control system communication architecture is provided that supports a centralized control node, distributed control nodes, and smart I/O peripheral control nodes. Networks designed using this architecture, which employs a serial bus, may be readily modified or expanded. The architecture supports both real-time highly periodic communications and event-driven peer-to-peer communications.

Abstract: A document secure against tampering or alteration and method and apparatus for producing and authenticating such a document. A document is scanned to produce a digital signal which is compressed, encrypted, and coded as a two dimensional barcode or as some other appropriate form of coding, which is incorporated into a label which is the affixed to the document. In one embodiment the signal representing the image is encrypted using a public key encryption system and the key is downloaded from a center. This key maybe changed from time to time to increase security. To facilitate authentication the corresponding decryption key is encrypted with another key and incorporated on the card. To validate the document the coded signal is scanned from the label, decoded, decrypted, expanded and displayed. The card may then be authenticated by comparison of the displayed representation of the image and the document.

Abstract: An identification card and system and apparatus for producing and authenticating such an identification card in a controlled manner. An object or other entity for which the identification card will evidence identity, status or characteristics is scanned to produce a digital signal a portion of which is compressed, encrypted, and coded and which is recorded on a magnetic strip on the identification card. The image is also printed or otherwise embodied onto another portion of the identification card. A text message may be appended to the signal before it is encrypted and also printed as plain text on the identification card. In one embodiment the signal representing the image is encrypted using a public key encryption system and the key is downloaded from a center. This key maybe changed from time to time to increase security. To facilitate authentication the corresponding decryption key is encrypted with another key and incorporated on the card.

Abstract: A label separating mechanism separates labels from a web of release liner upon which the labels are carried. The separating mechanism includes a separator bar, a guide bar, and two support members that hold the bars. The first support member has a "J"-shaped slot and the second support member has a flared mounting hole. One end of the guide bar slides in the slot between a first position and a second position. The other end of the guide bar pivots in the flared hole as the first end slides in the slot. The separator bar is fixed. When the guide bar is in the first position, the two bars define a label release path. When the guide bar is in the second position, a gap is formed to facilitate threading of the web between the bars.

Abstract: A method for retrieving and outputting literal strings in a data processing device. The strings are stored in the device's memory in the form of two or more tables. A directory of the tables is generated. When a literal string is needed, the directory is searched for an appropriate table; when an appropriate table is found, the table is searched for the needed string. When a string or table is to be corrected or superseded, a later table is stored in the memory. An updated directory is assembled. The updated directory is arranged so that the later table is searched before the corrected or superseded table.

Abstract: An accumulator for accumulating sheets of material such as sheets of paper, the sheets being of substantially any length and the accumulation being in substantially any order. The accumulator includes a mechanism for moving a sequence of sheets along a first path until the leading edges of the sheets meet a deflector which deflects the sheets onto a second path. The leading portions of the sheets pass through a retraining mechanism and are stopped by a selectively activatable mechanism such as a gate and successive sheets form an accumation at the stop mechanism. As the feed mechanism continues to feed a sheet after it is stopped, the sheet buckles in a direction determined by the angle between the first and second paths, and as the feed mechanism continues to feed the sheet the buckle grows into a loop which unrolls into a receiver, which may be no more than a space provided.

Abstract: A mailing machine including a base; a postage meter removably mountable on the base; the base and meter respectively including structure for guiding the meter in a path of travel to a predetermined position on the base when mounting the meter thereon; and a disposable inking cartridge having a generally rectangularly-shaped hollow housing movably connected to the base, the housing having opposed side walls and having an elongate perimeter edge wall extending between the side walls, each of the side walls including an arcuately-shaped cam surface oppositely spaced from the cam surface of the other side wall, the cam surfaces and edge wall defining a substantially arcuately-shaped aperture formed in the housing; and a transfer roller impregnated with printing ink and rotatably connected to the side walls so as to extend therebetween and be accessible via the housing aperture, the cam surfaces located in the path of travel of the meter for engagement thereby to move the housing out of the path of travel and carr

Abstract: A system for printing envelopes which includes a laser printer operating under control of a microcomputer. The printer includes a pair of parallel envelope paths for printing pairs of envelopes simultaneously, and also has a capability to print single envelopes as they are transported along the center line of the printer. The microcomputer controls the printer to print sequences of addresses on the envelopes. When envelope are printed in pairs the microcomputer forms subsequences of addresses which are printed on groups of envelopes so that the groups can be concatenated into larger groups with addresses in sequence. Movement through the printer is controlled by pairs of sensor which are "anded" and symmetrically spaced around the center line so that the sensors can control either a pair of envelopes or a single envelope transported along the center line of the printer.

Abstract: A method of managing the memory space of a data processing device includes defining a number of memory blocks in the memory space and establishing a different maximum memory fragment size for each of the memory blocks. When a memory allocation request is received, it is attempted to allocate the request in the memory block that has the smallest maximum fragment size that is not exceeded by the size of the allocation request. Consequently, smaller allocation requests tend to be loaded in the blocks with smaller maximum fragment sizes, while larger allocation requests are restricted to blocks with a sufficiently large maximum fragment size. The resulting segregation by size of memory fragments among blocks leads to more efficient use of the memory space. Memory fragments may also be segregated by size within a memory block.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for enabling an authorized user of the system to automatically apply customized rating adjustments to transaction charges. To this end, a structure is employed for supplying to a central processor information identifying criteria for rating and for customized rating adjustments. The central processor compares data entered through an input device with information stored in memory. The central processor, after correlating the identifying information with the entered input data, generates a base rate and a modified rate (which incorporates a customized rating adjustment) for a particular transaction and user. The calculated charges are made available for output to the user.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording a transaction where the transaction includes authenticating an identification card; the card having information pertaining to an object or other entity to be identified on a first portion in human recognizable form, and a coded representation of an encrypted signal comprising a representation of the information on a second portion. The apparatus includes a controller, a scanner for reading the coded representation, a decoder for decoding that representation, a decrypter for decrypting the decoded signal and a display for displaying the representation of the information.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for guiding and controlling a discrete item through a turn in the feed direction. The apparatus includes: a stationary cylinder; a transport belt having an input end and an output end for conveying the discrete item halfway around the circumference of the stationary cylinder, the feed direction of the transport belt being oriented at an angle to the axis of the stationary cylinder, and wherein an intermediate portion of the transport belt wraps around the half of the cylinder circumference remote from both the input and output ends of the transport belt; and a device to support the transport belt and provide a gap between the transport belt and the stationary cylinder, whereby the discrete item is turned in the feed direction when conveyed by the transport belt halfway around the stationary cylinder.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for adjustably leveling a machine base, such as a postal scale, wherein the machine base does not have to be turned over to accomplish the leveling adjustment. The apparatus includes a threaded support shaft having a non-circular configuration at one end and a leveling wheel having a threaded passage capable of receiving and mating with the threaded support shaft. A retaining structure is capable of retaining the rotational movement of the threaded support shaft and is capable of restricting movement of the threaded support shaft relative to the base.