Abstract: A thermal ink ribbon cassette for holding an inked ribbon of indefinite length for is in a thermal transfer printing mechanism is disclosed in which the cassette holds a spool of fresh ink ribbon which passes out of the cassette and across a thermal printing head, and then back into the cassette into a used ribbon chamber. A ribbon drive mechanism is mounted in the cassette adjacent the location on the cassette where the used ribbon normally enters the cassette so that if the ribbon breaks, the free broken end can be manually fed into the drive mechanism so that the remaining portion of the unused ribbon can be used. The cassette may also be provided with a removable front wall so that replacement ribbons can be inserted by a user, and a disposable container can be put into the ribbon take up chamber of the cassette so that a user does not have to handle the rumpled ink ribbon when changing to a new ribbon.

Abstract: A mailing system includes a mailing machine having a printing mechanism for printing an indication of postage value on a mailpiece and structure for controlling relative movement between the printing mechanism and the mailpiece to ensure the mailpiece is properly positioned relative to the printing mechanism during printing of the indication of postage value; a meter vault having a securely sealed housing, and apparatus, within the securely sealed housing, for accounting for the printed indication of postage value, wherein the meter vault is removably mounted in the mailing machine for easy removal via a plug-in connector; and a printing mechanism control module for securely controlling printing by the printing mechanism based on data received from the meter vault, the printing mechanism control module being removably mounted in the mailing machine for easy removal via a quick disconnect connector; wherein the meter vault and the printing mechanism control module are in electrical communication via the mailin

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: An ac induction motor is supplied with variable frequency and amplitude excitation voltage by a power converter. Precise regulation of torque independent of motor parameter changes is achieved by feedback control loops for maintaining at command values constant airgap flux and also the real component of stator current with respect to airgap voltage as measured by a voltage sensor. The real stator current error controls the slip frequency which adjusts to maintain constant airgap power.

Abstract: A current source power converter for an electric motor is comprised by a combined controlled rectifier and chopper which is coupled to a controlled-current inverter by a dc reactor. In the motoring mode the combined rectifier and chopper functions as a phase controlled rectifier to control the current magnitude. In the dynamic braking mode a line switch is opened and a braking resistor placed across the rectifier output, and the combined rectifier and chopper is operated as a chopper to control the average voltage across the braking resistor and thus the current magnitude during braking.

Abstract: Improved stable four-quadrant operation of an induction motor supplied with variable amplitude and frequency stator line current by a motor controller with a constant current source converter is achieved by using several feedback control loops to control the slip frequency as well as the stator line current amplitude and frequency. Speed feedback is employed with optional control of rotor speed. Motor performance is optimized by indirectly regulating air gap flux to its rated value by controlling slip frequency as a function of sensed stator current. Thus, torque is approximately linear with stator current.