Abstract: An improved reciprocating ram for an envelope inserter includes a pusher which drives an enclosure from a ram pick-up station to an envelope station. Cycle time has been reduced by providing a ram return path which is beneath the elevation of the pick-up station. Thus, the next enclosure is fed to the pick-up station before the ram has completed its return stroke. The ram mechanism includes a ram carriage which rides along a pair of longitudinal rods. A ram block carrying a ram blade rides with the carriage and is keyed for vertical movement relative to the carriage. The block includes a follower which engages a longitudinal box cam having a latch adjacent its envelope station end. When the ram blade reaches the envelope station, the latch directs the follower to a lower elevation camming surface for the return stroke. The pusher is secured to the ram blade by a leaf spring catch which engages a grating on the undersurface of the blade.

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. An envelope ejection mechanism is provided to remove an envelope from the mailing machine after postage has been printed thereon. Included in the envelope ejection mechanism is a provision for applying pressure to an envelope being ejected so that the contents thereof will move in unison with the envelope.

Abstract: An electronic postage meter having an accounting section including a nonvolatile memory (NVM), computer means for reading the condition of the nonvolatile memory during a power-up cycle of the meter, and means in the meter for storing any signal which results from the reading of the nonvolatile memory by the computer means. In accordance with further aspects of the present invention, a method is provided for determining that an electronic postage meter has a weak nonvolatile memory, a data center and service department are adapted to receive signals from the meter indicating a weak nonvolatile memory, and an intercommunication system is established between the data center to receive signals from the meter indicating a weak nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A disposable inking cartridge in combination with a housing for transferring ink to a secondary surface, including a housing having a pair of sidewalls, each of the sidewalls having a locating guide, wherein the locating guide includes at its trailing end a leg forming an acute or perpendicular angle therewith, an applicator roller rotatably mounted in the housing for transferring ink to a secondary surface, and a disposable inking cartridge lockingly mountable in the sidewalls of the housing.

Abstract: In a value printing device such as a postage meter, a novel system is provided for automatically and electronically warning the operator that an inking member has reached the end of its useful life span and must be replaced.

Abstract: Novel radiation-curable, liquid vinyl organosilicon polymers 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.The vinyl polysiloxane may be prepared from dimethyl dichlorosilane, vinyl methyl dichlorosilane, and tetrachlorosilane or trichloromethylsilane.It may be mixed with a polymethyl hydrogen polysiloxane and a photosensitizer and cured by ultraviolet or electron beam radiation.

Abstract: Within a recirculating sheet feeding apparatus capable of feeding sheets from a back to a stack support, a set separation device having an elongated separator member is arranged to distinguish between cycles of feeding a given stack of sheets. The separator member is mounted with respect to the stack of sheets so that it rotates alongside one edge of the sheets, and past the adjacent edge when the last sheet from the stack is fed. A drive mechanism enables the separator member to rotate beneath the sheet stack support back to the topmost sheet in the stack when the member passes through an aperture in the stack support.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling mailpieces is provided, including a feed deck, having an upright wall, and including instrumentalities for successively feeding mailpieces downstream on said feed deck. The feeding instrumentalities include a device for engaging the lower major surface of respective mailpieces and a directional feed roller assembly; the latter including a roller and a flexible shaft. The roller extends from the flexible shaft for disposition in engagement with the upper major surfaces of respective mailpieces and cooperates with the mailpiece engaging device for urging the mailpieces against the upright wall for edge registration. The apparatus also includes instrumentalities for selectively gating mailpieces from the feed deck and for stacking the gated mailpieces on edge at a receiving station.

Abstract: An improvement in a fiber optic illuminating system having a linear array of fiber ends and a platen for supporting an original document to be scanned and copied. The improvement includes a flexible lens assembly situated intermediate the array of fiber ends and the platen, a deflectable frame supporting the flexible lens assembly, and a device for deflecting the deflectable frame, whereby the flexible lens assembly can be transversely deflected to thereby modify the linearity of the lens assembly without disturbing the focal adjustment thereof.

Abstract: A line scanning, illuminating apparatus for use in an electrophotocopying machine. The apparatus includes a linear source of light, a hyperbolic reflector situated behind the linear light source, and a cylindrical lens located in front of the linear light source. The profile of the reflector is given by the equation: ##EQU1## wherein the x and y axes intersect at the center line of the reflector, and wherein B is a positive quantity on the x axis representing the distance between the center line of the reflector and a virtual image of the light source created behind the reflector, and wherein A is a negative quantity representing the distance between the center line of the reflector and the linear light source located in front of the reflector.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for non-impact printers such as those that use light emitting diodes (LEDs) to produce an image on a photoconductor. In such devices, a discontinuity is generally created in a line of printed characters because of the movement of the imaging surface relative to the LED array. The system of this invention eliminates such discontinuity through adjustment in the enabling sequence of the LEDs of the array.

Abstract: A method for entering the serial number into the nonvolatile memory of an electronic postage meter upon completion of assembly of the meter including the steps of programming a given chip number into a nonvolatile memory to be used in assembly of the meter, assembling the electronic postage meter with a meter body serial number and a nonvolatile memory with a given chip number, communicating the serial number and chip number to a data center, receiving information from the data center in response to the communicating steps, and entering the serial number into the nonvolatile memory if the received information is properly enterable into the meter.

Abstract: A secured housing for an electronic device having an electronic memory mounted therewithin is provided which has an access aperture which provides tamper proof security and electro-magnetic interference protection while permitting access to the memory for reading the information maintained in the memory. Opening of the access aperture disables the electronic device from further operation by unlatching a switch which disconnects the electronic device from its power supply while preventing relatching of the switch to reactivate the electronic device. Use of the access aperture provides a visible indication of access to the interior of the housing. In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device is an electronic postage meter and the electronic memory is a nonvolatile memory containing postage accounting information.

Abstract: An electronic postal meter has a control unit, an accounting unit and a printing unit, each incorporating a CPU having a separate crystal controlled clock. Communication between the units is serial character asynchronous, bit synchronous, in message form, with the bits of the messages being timed in accordance with a given schedule for synchronous control. The messages themselves, upon receipt by a receiver, are returned bit by bit to the transmitter, for checking, whereupon the transmitter sends a no-error pulse upon successful comparison of the transmitted message and the message received from the receiver. All control and data signals utilize the same pair of conductors in each direction with precisely defined timing for control.

Abstract: In an optical scanning system for scanning an original document to be copied, in which the system includes a carriage, an array of fiber optics for illuminating the original document with a line of light, a first mirror, a second mirror opposing the first mirror and forming an acute angle therewith, the mirrors being separated by a predetermined distance, whereby one end of the mirrors is more open than the other end of the mirrors and input light rays enter at the more open end of the mirrors upon the first mirror at a predetermined angle, and wherein the light rays are reflected off each of the mirrors a predetermined multiplicity of times and exit the mirrors at the more open end by reflecting off the second mirror at the same predetermined angle the input rays make with the first mirror, and a lens cell for focusing the line of light upon a light sensitive surface, an improved adjustment mechanism for the lens cell.

Abstract: In an electronic postage meter, the setting motors for setting the print wheels in the printing drum are directly controllable externally of the secure portion of the meter. The meter includes a shutter bar arranged to block rotation of the printing drum under determined conditions, the printing drum being rotatable in response to drive from a postage meter base. The postage meter includes first and second interposers controlled by a microprocessor for redundantly inhibiting movement of the shutter bar from a position blocking printing of postage. One of the microprocessor controlled interposers is also mechanically coupled to the print wheel setting mechanism to inhibit release of the interposer at determined positions of the stepping mechanism, and to inhibit operation of the setting mechanism when the interposer is released.

Abstract: A semiconductor strain gauge comprises an elastic member having a surface subject to stress; a semiconductor substrate secured to the elastic member and including at least one PN junction wherein both the P type and N type material is composed of amorphous semiconducting material; and an electrical connection for conducting a signal indicative of strain.

Abstract: Imprinting apparatus is provided which includes framework, a printing device, and a roller platen movably attached to the framework for movement from a print ready position to a home position. The roller platen is disposed for urging a pressure sensitive medium into imprinting engagement with the printing device in the course of such movement. In addition, the apparatus includes structure for supporting the printing device. The structure includes an anvil constructed and arranged for carrying the printing device in either of two different locations relative to the print-ready position of the roller platen.

Abstract: A gauging system for an envelope inserter provides simplified set up procedures for adjustment of a set of enclosure pick-up station side guides, an envelope stop and coordinated adjustment of both a set of envelope station side guides and sets of stripper fingers. A panel at the face of the inserter includes a slot and a pointer for lengthwise insertion of an enclosure. The operator places a specimen enclosure against an index end of the slot and rotates a knob to frame the enclosure length between the index and the pointer. Rotation of the knob provides simultaneous movement of the pointer and adjustment of the enclosure side guides to correspond with the framed length. A further slot and pointer are provided for envelope widthwise insertion. Rotation of its knob for framing the envelope width simultaneously adjusts the envelope stop. A further slot and pointer are provided for lengthwise envelope insertion.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of emulsion polymers having a solid content of about 65% to about 80% is disclosed. The process comprises the step of adding a monomeric mixture to a reaction system maintained at a temperature of from about 60.degree. C. to about 90.degree. C., the monomer addition not exceeding an hourly rate of about one-fourth of the total monomer to be added, the mixture comprising monomers having a particle size of from about 10-100 microns, the system having therein an emulsifier and initiator at the time of the monomeric addition.