Abstract: A heat-pump system includes a compressor, an outdoor heating exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a supplemental heater. The outdoor heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the compressor. The indoor heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the compressor. The expansion device is in fluid communication with the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. The supplemental heater includes a burner and a working-fluid conduit. The burner is configured to burn a fuel and heat the working-fluid conduit. When the heat-pump system is operating in a heating mode, the indoor heat exchanger receives working fluid from the working-fluid conduit such that the working fluid flows from an outlet of the working-fluid conduit to an inlet of the indoor heat exchanger.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a printer and a buffer coupled to the printer for temporarily storing sheets fed out from the printer. The apparatus further includes a control mechanism for monitoring the buffer to determine a number of sheets currently stored in the buffer. The apparatus also includes a data source device that is separate from the printer and is coupled to the printer for selectively providing pages of print data to the printer. The data source device is coupled to the control mechanism and is operative to provide the pages of print data to the printer in response to control signals from the control mechanism.

Abstract: A method for introducing instructions/commands within or acting on the content material of a mail run data file. The method comprises the steps producing an object-oriented data file of the mailpiece content material and displaying a visual image thereof to the user. The visual image displayed spatially corresponds to the object oriented data file. Through the use of a graphical user input device, such as a point-and-click input device, the user defines a region of the visual image. Further, the user creates or selects a rule or expression indicative of a desired instruction/command in connection with the defined region. The rule or expression is represented in computer program code and operates a signal processor to perform the selected instructions/commands.

Abstract: A method is provided for reprinting damaged mailpieces for use in a mailpiece inserter. The method comprising the steps of producing an object-oriented data file of the mailpiece content material including a scan code and storing the object-oriented data files in a reprint repository. The status of a mail run is tracked as mailpieces are fabricated and the results are recorded in a reprint file. The results record whether a mailpiece was successfully fabricated and reprint files are generated in connection with unsuccessfully fabricated mailpieces.

Abstract: A method for producing mailpiece content material for use in a mailpiece inserter. The method includes the steps of: creating an electronic application file of the mailpiece content material, generating print stream data from the software application and converting the print stream data into object-oriented data. The object-oriented data is then parsed or segmented to form a plurality of data sets. The data sets may be comprised of one or more data packets and include an object dictionary for indexing the data. Each data set may then be processed to produce mailpiece content material for use in the mailpiece inserter. Processing may include the steps of reconstituting the data into a plurality of logical documents in the form of pages, mailpiece documents, mailpieces, or an entire mailpiece data run file.

Abstract: A mailpiece inserter system is provided including a User PC or computer, a mailpiece inserter and a client server which are network connected to share information and data concerning mail run data. The user computer is operative to receive operator input in connection with mail run data and produce mailpiece content material having assembly code information. The mailpiece inserter is operative to receive the mailpiece content material and assemble the mailpiece content material in combination with envelops to form a plurality of mailpieces. The client server is operative to receive the mail run data for storing and tracking information concerning the assembly of each mailpiece. The communication network may be disabled in an open loop control mode to facilitate rapid mailpiece processing and enabled in a closed loop control mode to facilitate tracking, reconciliation and security of mailpiece assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a printer and a buffer coupled to the printer for temporarily storing sheets fed out from the printer. The apparatus further includes a control mechanism for monitoring the buffer to determine a number of sheets currently stored in the buffer. The apparatus also includes a data source device that is separate from the printer and is coupled to the printer for selectively providing pages of print data to the printer. The data source device is coupled to the control mechanism and is operative to provide the pages of print data to the printer in response to control signals from the control mechanism.