Abstract: Improvements in high-speed machines for inserting sheets into envelopes include a first apparatus for pre-opening envelopes after they are pulled from a hopper and before a blade-like envelope flap opener fully opens them. The first apparatus includes a roller and a roller housing having a top part that defines a small space between them through which a flap-including longitudinal edge of an envelope passes. The edge is constrained to form a curvature as it passes through the small space, causing the flap to open at least to some extent. A second improvement in pre-openers includes a cut out formed in an envelope support plate and a rigid deflector positioned in the path of the envelopes as they leave the hopper. The envelope flaps are partly opened as they are deflected below the plane of the support plate. A third improvement includes a plurality of vacuum dishes formed in an envelope-supporting plate.

Abstract: A buckle chute having a deflector disposed in front thereof to allow a sheet of document to enter the buckle chute channel or to deflect the sheet away from the channel. The deflector is pivotally linked to two actuator arms on the left and right sides of the buckle chute. Each actuator arm is pivotally linked to a bell crank, which is also pivotally linked to a linking member. The linking members are further connected to a lever such that they can be moved in opposite directions from left to right or from right to left so as to cause the bell cranks to rotate in opposite directions. As such, the actuator arms are simultaneously moved toward or away from the front side to control the deflector position.

Abstract: A method and system for aligning a moving stack of sheets. A pair of cams, positioned on opposite sides of the moving stack, rotate synchronously to each other but in opposite directions. When the stack approaches the cams, the distance between the outer surfaces of the cams is wider to the stack width to receive the stack. As the stack moves forward further, the distance between the cam surfaces is reduced so as to allow the cam surfaces push the sheets toward a center line until the distance between the cam surfaces is substantially equal to the width of the sheets. In a sheet collator where sheets are moved by a plurality of finger pairs which are linked to a moving chain, the cam can also be linked to the moving chain so that their rotation is synchronous to motion of the stacks.

Abstract: A method and system for processing intermixed qualified and non-qualified mailpieces and the like. Control documents are produced by a data processing system and transported to an inserter system. The inserter system inputs the control documents and assembles mailpieces in accordance with a data base of mailpiece records identified by coded information on the documents. When the system is configured for a mailing, nominally specified operations can be modified in accordance with specified conditions comprising Boolean combinations of tests of mailpiece record fields. In one embodiment intermixed qualified and non-qualified mail can be separated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for re-transmitting an e-mail message transmitted from a sender to a recipient based upon predetermined criteria. The method performing the steps of prescribing at least one time period for performing messaging tasks and defining messaging tasks to be initiated for the e-mail message during the at least one prescribed time period. When an e-mail message is received in a recipients e-mail account a determination is made as to whether if the e-mail message was received within the at least one prescribed time period. And re-transmitting the e-mail message in accordance with the defined messaging tasks if the e-mail message was determined to be received within the prescribed time period.

Abstract: The invention is a client message structure and its method for use in communicating a message between a client and a server in a print stream processing system. The structure comprises a set of elements that facilitate message throughput while minimizing competing client message traffic. The first element comprises message assembly device at the client for producing a message structure in accordance with a protocol established by the server. An interface, such as a TCP/IP socket, is provided for interfacing the client with the server. The interface is linked with socket thread production device for maintaining a link with the server. The structure includes a message structure format which comprises message header segments for identifying the message to the server, and a message property structure format, comprising a set of message header segments for identifying message properties.

Abstract: A method and system for reformatting an ASCII or similar text file is provided, such that the resulting output can be easily manipulated, enhanced and postal coded. Text reformatting of the present invention uses easily defined set up data tables to read the input text file and then to direct extraction of information from the input text file for storage in a set of data base tables. Included in this information may be destination addresses, which can be optionally exported to address quality software for postal coding and presorting. The address data is then re-imported and a report is created using a standard report generator. The report may then be sent to a document finishing program for processing into a mail stream.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for remote receipt of a message, such as a telephone, e-mail, facsimile or paper message. A server or data center is provided for receiving messages from a sender communicating with a recipient mobile device. The data center sends the message to the mobile device. If the recipient desires to receive the message, he/she indicates this on his/her mobile device. The mobile device and the device which will receive the message, i.e., the destination device, are spontaneously networked such that the mobile device communicates the information to the destination device without requirement of ensuring the compatibility of programs or networks. Prior to transmission, the mobile device determines if any translation or transcoding of the original message is required in order for the destination device to receive the message in proper format. Once transcoding or translation is effected, the message is routed to the destination device for output.

Abstract: This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing automated personal messaging assistance with the capability of checking a user's destination for arrival and forwarding messages by a preferred modality. The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a method of providing personal messaging using a virtual messaging assistant. The virtual messaging assistant has a voice user interface and provides a human-like voice which interfaces with the user' and with callers. The personal messaging assistant provides forwarding of messages to a destination in accordance with user selected preferences. The personal messaging assistant receives incoming messages. The personal messaging checks the user's calendar to find out where the user is expected to be. Then the personal messaging assistant calls the expected destination and inquires whether the user has arrived.

Abstract: Sheet collation apparatus is disclosed in which an initial sheet (A1) from a sheet feeder (4) is advanced to a collation station (10), reversed into an accumulation station (8) and then returned to the collation station where it is collated with the next sheet (A2) from the sheet feeder. This process may be repeated any number of times to form a collation of sheets of any required number.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a document processing and collating machine having a feeding path leading to at least one document conveying devices having one or more document accumulating bins for receiving a series of documents that are fed downstream in spaced apart collations with documents in shingled relationship. The document accumulator bins have an intermediate conveying and diverting apparatus which is momentarily engaged to cause a leading end of a shingled collation of documents to be diverted into a document accumulating bin where the documents are registered at their common leading end at a nip of a set of downstream conveying rollers that are stopped during the registration process.

Abstract: A system and method for correcting the timing and spacing between envelopes being serially processed in a high speed mail processing inserter system, whereby a pitch correcting module receives sensor input detecting unwanted pitch variation between envelopes and a transport mechanism in the pitch correcting module accelerates or decelerates an envelope according to a pitch correcting profile calculation performed by the pitch correcting module, the pitch correcting module being dimensioned to optimally perform pitch correction without interfering with high speed mail processing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in a general aspect, to a method of updating an addressee database in an incoming mail sorting apparatus comprising the steps of: a) providing the addressee database stored in memory associated with the mail sorting apparatus; b) providing a mailpiece to be read and sorted by the mail sorting apparatus; c) reading the mailpiece to determine whether the mailpiece is an update form; d) reading update information from the mailpiece if the mailpiece is an update form; e) updating addressee information as required by the update information on the update form. The method can be initiated by each individual employee using a readily available form and providing information manually or by using a software program resident on the employee's personal computer to generate the update form information. The method provides an easily accessible method of updating an addressee database that reduces database maintenance costs.

Abstract: An unflapped envelope (60) is fed, with its crease line trailing, along a path (42) from an envelope feeder and between the rollers of a reversibly driveable roller pair (43), for onward transfer to, for example, an insertion station. When the crease line reaches a predetermined point in front of the roller pair (43), the drive is reversed and the envelope with the crease line leading directed along a flapper path, including a deflecting surface 46; to a flapping chamber or zone (47), at least until the flap (61) is engageable by a flapper blade (44;44a). The drive is then reversed again and the envelope driven back along the flapper path, a flap opening surface (49) of a flapper blade (44) or a pair of flapper blade elements (44a), causing the flap (61) to be stripped from the body of the envelope (60) as it exits the flapping zone, and proceeds to the insertion station.

Abstract: A method for correctly connecting the wiring for the hall effect sensors and the motor phase terminals of a three-phase brushless DC motor to the corresponding connections on an amplifier, the method using known waveforms that describe the electrical operational characteristics of the motor and amplifier. The method comprising connecting the hall effect sensors in any order, determining two motor phase terminals that correspond to a back-electro-magnetic-force peak in the middle of a waveform for a first hall effect sensor and a third motor phase terminal that does not, determining an amplifier pin that does not carry current during the middle of a wave form for a first hall sensor input on the amplifier. The correct connection is thus determined to be between the third motor phase terminal and the identified amplifier pin. The remaining connections are determined in the same manner by repeating this process, but in relation to the other hall effect sensor waveforms.

Abstract: A method and system for printing a 2D-barcode corresponding to a binary data array and a substrate imprinted with such barcode. The barcode has I first columns of modules and J rows of modules transverse to columns. Each module having a one-to-one correspondence with a bit in a data array and comprising X columns and Y rows of pixels.

Abstract: A method providing for programming reprogramming at least some software into flash memory of a postage machine or other mailing apparatus. The method calls for providing the software to be programmed into the flash memory in at least two builds, with one build providing kernel software that includes the functionality needed for programming/reprogramming (including functionality for linking to a personal computer by which the software to be programmed may be provided), and the other build providing non-kernel software, usually routines providing application-oriented functionality, and not essential to programming the flash memory. The first build, of the at least two builds, is written into sectors of the flash memory that are then locked. The system provides, in some applications, for writing the non-kernel software using a paging algorithm that writes several sectors worth of non-kernel software at a time.

Abstract: An apparatus for changing the redirecting the path of a flat article transported in an article processing system. A transport including a ramp that can raise the elevation of vertically oriented envelopes from a first level to a second level, and maintaining the alignment and orientation of transported envelopes square with the direction of travel. The transport comprised of nips which act to drive and orient the envelopes in the direction of travel. Sets of these nips comprising a driven roller and an idler roller. The idler roller has a toroidally shaped outer surface biased against the driven roller. The nips operate to allow the transported articles to pivot and maintain alignment in the travel direction as they are driven forward. In an alternative embodiment, the invention can be used to transport horizontal envelopes and alter the path of horizontal envelopes while maintaining the orientation of the envelopes in the direction of travel.

Abstract: An envelope that enables personal computer printers to be able to print a Facing Identification Mark (FIM) as part of a Information-Based Indicia (IBI) registered along the top edge of the envelope. The personal computer printers will also be able to print the FIM, IBI, the recipient's address and the sender's address without the glue on the envelope closure flap adhering to the body of the envelope, which would seal or partially seal the envelope, potentially rendering the envelope useless.