Abstract: A postage meter which includes a thermal print head for printing indicia, postal value, and the like is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, thermal elements in the thermal print head are electronically pulsed in appropriate serially timed patterns to provide a complete thermally transferred image on a strip moving past the thermal head. The meter tape is cut prior to the strips moving past the thermal head.

Abstract: A drive system in which a rack having orthogonal teeth is driven off a helically threaded drive gear through a pinion. In order to compensate for the angle between the helical thread of the drive gear and the teeth of the driven rack, the drive gear and the rack engage the pinion at diametrically opposed positions and the axis of rotation of the pinion is skewed relative to the teeth of the rack by half the angle and the teeth themselves are also skewed relative to the axis of the pinion by half the angle. This has the effect that the teeth of the pinion are parallel at one side to the helical thread and are also parallel at the opposite side to the teeth of the rack. The drive system may be used in a postage meter for adjusting the print value wheels.

Abstract: The invention features a high speed thermal printing mechanism having a dichotomized printing sequence. The thermal printing mechanism is particularly useful for printing postal values and indicia upon postage tape in a variable and fixed format, respectively. The variable information can be imprinted by a thermal head under the influence of a microprocessor. The fixed information can be imprinted by an etched thermal print screen.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stand-alone electronic mailing machine that includes a postage metering device. The invention has particular utility when utilized in a mailing machine of the reciprocating platen type. The entire drive mechanism, setting mechanism, and control devices as well as the postage metering mechanisms are all contained in one housing so that there is no need for a separate base. In the mailing machine of this invention, a single central processing unit is utilized along with memory for the purpose of accounting for the postage value that has been charged into the mailing machine as well as the amount that has been used. Non-volatile memory is provided for permanent storage in case of power failure. A pair of stepper motors is used for the purpose of adjusting the print dies with the amounts that are to be imprinted. One of the stepper motors is also used to trip a single revolution clutch which is utilized to affect the printing operation.

Abstract: Novel radiation-curable, liquid vinyl-hydro copolymers and coating compositions which are free of volatile solvent(s) and which are adapted to be applied to a substrate and cured rapidly by exposure to radiation to form release coatings having good release properties with respect to adhesives and methods for producing such polymers and compositions and for applying and curing such release coatings are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for limiting the erasing and writing of data in the non-volatile memory (NVM) of an electronic postage meter operated under microcomputer control to predetermined periods of time after the power up and during the power down cycles of the meter, comprising the steps and associated apparatus for providing an output power signal in response to the establishment of a power up voltage condition, generating an output pulse in response to the presence of the output power signal, presetting the width of the output pulse to provide sufficient time to erase the desired data words from the NVM, applying a bias enable signal to an NVM enable terminal during the duration of the output pulse, enabling the remaining terminals of the NVM during the duration of the output pulse to allow the erasure of data from the NVM, removing the output power signal in response to a power down voltage condition, interrupting the operation of the microcomputer in response to the removal of the output power

Abstract: An electronic postage meter includes a printer mechanism for printing postage and a microcomputer system for monitoring the printing of postage by the printing mechanism. A secure housing protects the printing mechanism and the microcomputer system. A source of operating potential is provided and is external to the secure housing. The electronic postage meter includes a system for energizing the microcomputer system. A transformer is provided and is mounted within the secure housing. The transformer secondary winding is operatively connected to the microcomputer system. A controlling circuit is coupled to the transformer primary winding and also to the external source of operating potential. The controlling circuit controls the voltage applied to the transformer primary winding and operates to switch the voltage applied to the transformer primary winding between a first condition where the transformer primary winding is energized and a second condition where the primary winding is not energized.

Abstract: In a postage meter having structures for entering data, for displaying numerical values and other data, and for printing postage, and having a computer electrically connected to each of the aforesaid structures and programmed for processing data for controlling their operation, wherein the data entering structure includes a keyboard having a plurality of depressable numeric keys, and wherein the computer means includes means for storing data and calculating amounts pertaining to the operation of said postage meter; there is provided apparatus and a method of operation of the postage meter. The method includes the steps of providing the keyboard with a depressable special purpose key, depressing selected numeric keys for causing the display of a predetermined numerical value, depressing the special purpose key when said numerical value on display, and programming the computer for causing a particular operation of the postage meter to be performed in response to the depression of the special purpose key.

Abstract: A scale having a base, a single point load cell and a platform is disclosed. The platform is fixed to the load cell at a single point by an overload protection structure which is substantially rigid under normal loads but which collapses under excessive torsion loads so that the platform may pivot and transfer the load to one or more downstops spaced around the periphery of the platform. A central downstop structure for protecting the load cell from excessive axial loads is also disclosed.

Abstract: Sheet processing machinery including a bursting machine and a folding machine has a sheet conveying apparatus disposed there-between. The sheet conveying apparatus is pivotably mounted to allow service to an area adjacent to the input end of the following machine. A drive apparatus connected to the sheet processing machinery is disengaged to allow upward pivoting of the sheet conveying apparatus from a horizontal position to a retracted position, whereupon the service access may be achieved.

Abstract: A device for locking a slidable member, including a U-shaped bracket having a central section and a pair of legs extending upwardly from each end of the central section, each of the legs having upper and lower apertures, a lockable sliding member slidably mounted in the lower apertures, and a threaded spindle rotatably mounted in the upper apertures. The spindle includes a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion, the small diameter portion having a central threaded section for threaded engagement with one of the upper apertures and unthreaded end portions, the large diameter portion having a knob at its exterior end. The device further includes a yoke mounted on the spindle adjacent the large diameter portion, the yoke having a pair of camming posts extending outwardly therefrom perpendicular to the axis of the threaded spindle, and a U-shaped cam follower member situated between the legs of the U-shaped bracket.

Abstract: A postage meter which includes a thermal print head for printing indicia, postal value, and the like is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, thermal elements in the thermal print head are electronically pulsed in appropriate serially timed patters to provide a complete thermally transferred image on a strip moving past the thermal head. A reversible stepper motor and cam arrangement are utilized to provide a drive mechanism and a means for relieving pressure on the strip at the end of each print cycle.

Abstract: A document inserter system having an improved control system is disclosed. The system includes a sheet inserter system and one or more web modules for, receiving a web of forms, scanning the forms for information, storing and retransmitting the information, separating the web into discrete forms and feeding the forms for further processing. The information includes control information scanned from a control document for controlling formation of a batch of forms associated with that control document. The control system includes a supervisory control processor which receives the control information and controls the sheet inserter system and the web modules in accordance therewith. The system also includes web control processor systems for direct control of each web module, which web control processor systems are responsive to the supervisory control processor. The system is controlled in accordance with a prespecified configuration which defines the document type for each web module.

Abstract: Light Emitting Diodes (LED) arrays are made by first applying LED monoliths to a metallic pallet, such as a copper pallet, and then securing the pallets to a substrate in a preferred geometrical arrangement. Because copper is so readily machinable, one is able to produce sizes as required for the geometry of an LED array and because of the rigidity, the problem of the fragile modules is removed since they are part of the pallets.

Abstract: A document feeding device having a hopper oriented at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane, the hopper having an upstream aperture and a downstream aperture and able to support a pack of documents to be fed therefrom, a device situated at the lower end of the hopper for feeding documents seriatim from the hopper, a first pulley whose outer surface extends slightly through the downstream aperture and a second pulley whose outer surface extends slightly through the upstream aperture, and a double sided timing belt mounted on the first and second pulleys and riding on the upper surface of the hopper.

Abstract: An electronic postal meter has an accounting unit with redundant nonvolatile random access memories controlled by a microprocessor system. The redundant random access memories have separate groups of address and data lines to minimize identical errors in data stored therein. The data transfer may occur at different times to and from the memories, with respect to any given byte of data. The system may incorporate redundant microprocessors, and critical parameters may be checked at periodic intervals in the main program of the accounting microprocessor system.

Abstract: A security system for a postage meter includes two memories, one of which is an electronically programmable READ-ONLY memory having non-volatile storage, while the second memory is a shadow RAM which is a composite memory having a first section composed of a volatile RAM and a second section composed of non-volatile storage. During a power outage, a computer strobes the second memory to transfer data from the volatile section to the non-volatile section. Upon restoration of the power, a transfer circuit which includes a detector of the incoming power directs the transfer of at least a portion of the stored data in each of the memories to the computer for a comparison to determine if any data has been altered by the loss of power.

Abstract: A unitary load cell having an assembled connector that provides connection between the load beam of the load cell and the sensing beam. The structure allows ease of fabrication as well as subjecting the load cell to a compressive force as opposed to subjecting it to tension.

Abstract: A xerographic copying machine is adapted to receive toner supplied from an inverted toner supply bottle having a frangible seal member covering its outlet. The toner bottle is inserted by an operator through an access receptacle within the copier which normally covers a toner developing apparatus and toner supply container. During insertion, mutually engaging components of the toner bottle and a cooperating connecting apparatus are aligned to enable operative association of the components when the toner bottle is manually turned. In addition, during insertion the frangible seal member normally sealing the toner bottle dispensing opening is punctured by a piercing member associated with an actuating device including a cutting device rotatably mounted on the connecting apparatus. When the bottle is turned, the piercing member is caused to rotate within the neck opening of the bottle, thereby helping the toner to be dumped through the toner loading apparatus and into the toner supply container.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for initializing the printwheels in an electronic postage meter is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a printwheel selection mechanism which is comprised of various components. The various components on the printwheel selection mechanism are adjusted to set a plurality of printwheels to a predetermined position. After those printwheels are adjusted a signal is produced which indicates that the printwheels are located at that predetermined position. The various components of the printwheel selection mechanism are sequentially adjusted to set the printwheels so that the postage meter settings are at a known initial point.