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: 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: In a device for processing documents being transported therethrough along a document feed path, an aligner apparatus comprising: first and second guide walls, each guide wall positioned parallel to the document feed path and facing the other guide wall 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, the guide walls forming a plurality of openings, each opening in the first guide wall being in alignment with an opening in the second guide wall; and a trap assembly comprising first and second trap levers, each trap lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall opposite the document feed path, each trap lever received by one of the plurality of openings in the guide walls and each trap lever opposing the other trap lever and positioned to, when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path i

Abstract: In a device for processing documents being transported therethrough along a document feed path, an aligner apparatus comprising: first and second guide walls, each guide wall positioned parallel to the document feed path and facing the other guide wall 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, the guide walls forming a plurality of openings, each opening in the first guide wall being in alignment with an opening in the second guide wall; and a trap assembly comprising first and second trap levers, each trap lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall opposite the document feed path, each trap lever received by one of the plurality of openings in the guide walls and each trap lever opposing the other trap lever and positioned to, when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path i

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 tape feeding apparatus is provided for preventing the feeding of successive strips of tape unless and until the manual activator for the tape feeding mechanism has been allowed to return to its manual in operative position. There is a tape feeding apparatus, a drive apparatus for driving the tape feeding apparatus, and a clutch interposed there between. A latching mechanism normally maintains the clutch disengaged to prevent the driving apparatus from driving the tape feeding apparatus. A second clutch is interposed between the latching mechanism and a manually movable actuator for normally engaging and providing a direct connection between the movable actuator and the latching mechanism so as to disable the latching mechanism when the actuator is moved to the actuating position, and thus allowing the first clutch to engage and cause the driving apparatus to drive the tape feeding apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for maintaining substantially constant tension in an inelastic timing belt driven by a rigid, swinging arm, including a driven, circular pulley, an eccentrically mounted, circular idler pulley, an inelastic timing belt mounted about the driven and idler pulleys to provide minimum tension at mid-motion and maximum tension at the start and end of motion, and a rigid swinging arm pivotably mounted equidistant from the centers of the driven and idler pulleys and secured at one end to the timing belt.

Abstract: A mailing machine including a postage meter for printing postage impressions on tape, a removable tape dispensing module, and a device for receiving the removable tape dispensing module. The removable tape dispensing module includes a support housing, a shaft translatably mounted in the housing, an advance roller slidably mounted on the inner end of and rotatably with the shaft, a paddle pivotably mounted on the housing and biased downwardly onto the advance roller to thereby clamp the tape, a cam fixedly mounted on the interior portion of the shaft, the cam being engagable with the paddle to lift the paddle away from the advance roller, a rotatable knob mounted on the outer end of the shaft and capable of rotating the advance roller, and a device for effecting translation of the cam in the direction of the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A removable paper cassette for feeding different lengths of cut paper sheets seriatim to a machine operatively associated with the cassette. The cassette includes a chutelike base having a bottom panel, and a pair of sidewalls contiguous with the front wall and extending only along a portion of the bottom panel. The cassette further includes an upwardly biased paper elevating plate pivotably secured at its rearward section to the base, the plate having a pair of detents situated in the forward section thereof adjacent the sidewalls, and a cassette cover pivotably secured to the sidewalls of the base. The cover includes a pair of inwardly projecting camming fingers integral therewith, one on each side of the forward section thereof. The detents engage the fingers when the cover is raised to the open position whereby the cover is held in the open position and the elevating pate is maintained in a depressed position ready for paper loading.