Abstract: System and method for providing confirmation relating to the distribution of a mailpiece within a mailing system includes a determination of postal data required for postage evidencing of a mailpiece originated by a mailer. The postal data is combined with other data related to value-added services desired for the mailpiece. The value-added services data includes addressing information for a return receipt to the mailer. A digital postmark which includes the postal data and the value-added services data is created. At delivery of the mailpiece, the digital postmark is read and the value-added services data is captured from the read digital postmark. A confirmation message is sent to the mailer and/or other interested third parties, in accordance with information contained in the value-added services data.

Abstract: Water-based invisible red fluorescent inks provide machine-readable, inverse contrast invisible images and can be printed using conventional ink jet printers. The inks employ rare earth complexed ligand fluorophores having narrow excitation and emission spectra. In one embodiment the images are printed with an ink comprising water and a water-soluble organic fluorescent fluorophore, which when printed and dried on paper is invisible to the eye and fluoresces in the green to infrared range, e.g., from about 550 to 1200 nm, when irradiated with short wave length UV radiation, e.g., from 230 nm to 280 nm. The highly specific excitation and emission rates, coupled with a high inverse contrast on papers of all colors, makes them particularly useful as ink jet inks for postal and other purposes.

Abstract: Machine-readable light-colored or invisible, but luminescent, postage-evidencing symbology and dark, readable other postage information are printed, preferably in a single print operation, to provide large amounts of information without diminishing read rates. The resulting combination image can be printed independent of substrate material to enable the provision of a high information density without obscuring any one component. The postage-evidencing symbology is printed in large-format and can include redundant information within an IBI image or between an IBI and visible dark image for a variety of practical purposes. In a preferred form, the images are printed using conventional ink jet printers using water-based inks. In one embodiment of this type, the images are printed with a conventional two-cartridge color ink jet printer by printing postage-evidencing symbology with a single-color ink and printing the visible dark image as a composite dark color from a standard multi-color cartridge.

Abstract: A system and method for preparing and electronically delivering a statement, message, or file to a party. The method may comprise receiving from a party an electronic statement, message, or file, preparing a redacted statement, message, or file from the electronic statement, message, or file by redacting selected secured information from the electronic statement, message, or file, sending the redacted statement, message, or file electronically to the party, and preparing and outputting a reconstructed statement, message, or file at the party's computer by inserting the selected secured information into the redacted statement, message, or file. The act of preparing and outputting a reconstructed statement, message, or file may further comprise the act of inserting standard components into the redacted statement, message, or file to create a reconstructed statement, message, or file.

Abstract: A transaction evidencing system includes a plurality of computer systems operatively configured to form a network with one of the computer systems functioning as a server and the remaining computer systems functioning as clients. Each of the computer systems includes a processor, memory and storage media. At least some of the storage means includes non-metering application programs that are selectively run on the client computer systems. An unsecured printer is operatively coupled to at least one of the computer systems for printing in accordance with the non-metering application programs. A portable vault card, which is removably coupled to the server computer system, includes digital token generation and transaction accounting processing. The client computer systems issue requests for digital tokens to the server computer system in response to requests for indicia from the non-metering application programs.

Abstract: A mailing machine comprising a device for feeding an envelope having a width in a path of travel; a device for determining the width of the envelope; and a control device in operative communication with the determining device for using the width of the envelope to ascertain a proper amount of postage to be applied to the envelope. According to a first embodiment, the determining device includes a sensor array located transverse to the path of travel for detecting the presence of the envelope where the sensor array includes an inner plurality of sensors and an outer plurality of sensors located further away from a registration wall than the inner plurality of sensors. According to a second embodiment, the determining device includes a first sensor for detecting a lead edge of the envelope and a sensor line located downstream in the path of travel from the first sensor and at an angle to the path of travel so as to detect a lead corner of the envelope.

Abstract: Ink compositions described are suitable for ink jet printing (ink jet inks) and are highly effective for simultaneously imparting visible and fluorescent images. In the preferred forms, both a dark, visible image and a complementary fluorescent image will be visually discernable as well as machine readable to enable efficient hand and automated processing or handling of the objects printed. These results are achieved by ink formulations that moderate the natural phenomena of quenching while possessing the physical properties necessary for an ink jet ink.

Abstract: A router instruction processor for a digital document delivery system 10 interacts with one or more electronic inserts and a bill processing server to function as a general document fulfillment server. The router instruction processor makes use of the electronic inserters and bill processing server to ensure that documents as contained in Send Request objects are presented to their destinations according to sender requirements and recipient preferences. The router instruction processor further ensures the sender requirements are not compromised by recipient preferences to the extent that conflict may arise.

Abstract: An enclosure feeder system (500) and corresponding method for use in combining collations in a sequence of collations with a given number of respective corresponding specific enclosures, the enclosures for each successive collation ordinarily being separator by a divider indicator, the enclosure feeder system (500) including: an enclosure feeder (210) for feeding the enclosures, and a supervisory controller (300) for providing to the enclosure feeder (210) a dynamic over-count number, corresponding to a specific collation, equal to one more than the expected number of enclosures for the collation, with the enclosure feeder (210) implemented so as to continue feeding enclosures for a collation until either encountering a divider indicator or until the number of enclosures actually fed is equal to the expected number of enclosures for the collation.

Abstract: A method and system for regenerating misprocessed 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 coded information on the documents. If the inserter system controller identifies a misprocessed mailpiece it writes a record, which can be a separate zero byte file, to a common data store. The data processing system accesses the record in the common data store and regenerates the control document. The inserter system processes the regenerated control document to regenerate the mailpiece.

Abstract: A method and device for locking and unlocking a print head assembly along a shaft in an addressing machine. The print head assembly is fixedly mounted on a locking mechanism, which comprises a flange and a collet, wherein the collet has an inner circumference for slideably mounting on the shaft, and a tapered outer circumference having a first threaded section and a second threaded section. The flange has a threaded opening larger than the first threaded section but smaller than the second threaded section. When adjusting the position of the print head assembly, an operator turns the collet so that flange is engaged with the first threaded section. When locking the position of the print head assembly, the operator turns the collet so that the flange is engaged with the second threaded section, causing the collet to exert a frictional force on the shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for stacking mailpieces received from a mail-processing machine in consecutive order. There is a receiving conveying section positioned at a greater height than the following stacking conveying section. A stacking ramp extends from the downstream portion of the stacking conveying section. The receiving conveying section has a single continuous belt extending along the receiving conveying section in a first direction and positioned centrally along a second direction of the conveying section. The continuous belts of the stacking conveying section are positioned substantially at equal intervals extending along the first direction of the stacking conveying section and have top surfaces which extend above the stacking conveying section and which contact the mailpieces received from the mail processing machine.

Abstract: A mail sorter (22) includes an imaging device (60) to generate a plurality of images each corresponding to one of the plurality of mail pieces (36). The mail sorter (22) performs a character recognition routine on each of the images to sort a number of the mail pieces (36) and identify one of the mail pieces as being unsortable by the routine. An operator input processing subsystem (24) includes a number of stations (74). These stations (74) each include a display and a voice input device. The subsystem (24) responds to the mail sorter (22) to route the images to the stations (74). One of the stations (74) is operable to display one of the images on its corresponding display device and receive vocal input from an operator with its corresponding voice input device in response to viewing the image. The subsystem (24) executes a voice recognition routine to determine address information from the vocal input and provides this information to the mail sorter (22) to sort a corresponding one of the mail pieces (36).

Abstract: In a processing station for a mail processing machine, a housing is formed by parallel housing side parts, standing opposite each other at a distance corresponding to the width of the conveying track of the mail processing machine, a housing part connecting these across the conveying track and a supporting partition fixed to the connecting housing part, situated in a vertical median plane relative, to the distance between the housing side parts and parallel to the housing side parts, and restricted to a prismatic or cylindrical space above a level at a distance from the surface of the conveying track. The supporting partition serves to support bearings for axles and shafts of an actuating apparatus arranged in the processing station in question, in such a manner that the space immediately above the conveying track surface is kept free of drive members and control members for the actuating apparatus in order to enable large-format inserts or sets of inserts to be passed through the processing station.

Abstract: A postage metering system includes a plurality of computers operatively connected as part of a computer network and operating as client computers on the computer network. At least one postal security device (PSD) is coupled to at least one of the client computers (local client computer). The PSD includes unique identification the ability to store postal value and generate digital signatures. The client computers function as a postage metering network wherein a client computer other than the local client computer (remote client computer) requests evidence of postage payment from the PSD for concluding a postage metering transaction. The local client computer functions as a meter server and the remote client computer functions as a meter client on the postage metering network. The remote client computer initiates a postage metering transaction in the PSD by sending a request for evidence of postage payment to the local client computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing information, such as postal indicia and other information, on a medium. The system is implemented by detecting a type of medium and entering a printing mode as a function of the type of medium detected. The printing mode is either an envelope printing mode or a tape/label printing mode. When in the envelope printing mode, a print module is positioned at a first position, and prints postal indicia data on a first area of the envelope. The print module is then positioned at a second position. Additional data is obtained and the additional data is printed on a second area of the envelope. The print module is then positioned at a third position and recipient address data is obtained and printed on a third area of the envelope. The print module is positioned at a fourth position, and sender address information is obtained and printed on a fourth area of the envelope.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for verifying digital postal marks on mailpieces or, more generally, for verifying a mark on any kind of document where the mark represents value and might be counterfeited or used fraudulently, the system including in the specific case of verifying a digital postal mark: a plurality of mail processing machine verification modules (MPMVMs), each responsive to information obtained from sampled mailpieces, and each further responsive to a control file specifying patterns of sampling and specifying responses to sampling results, each MPMVM performing local verification of the sampled mailpieces according to the control file, each MPMVM for providing the information obtained from the sampled mailpieces and optionally the local verification results; and a data center verification module (DCVM), responsive to the information obtained from the sampled mailpieces and also to the local verification results, for analyzing the information obtained from the sampled mailpieces, for period

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a apparatus for stacking mailpieces comprising elongated intermittently rotating S-elements, one of the rotating S-elements has an S-shaped cross section, the other of the rotating S-elements has a mirror image of the S-shape cross section. In the preferred embodiment, a new mailpiece to be stacked enters the stacker below the top curve of the rotating S-shaped elements, and above the shelf-like center portion of the S-shaped elements. The imaged portion of the mailpiece (i.e. the top side) does not contact the stack or the S-shaped elements while being moved into the stacker. The likelihood of smearing is greatly reduced. Once the new mailpiece is moved into the area below the stack and between the two rotating S-shaped elements, the two elements are rotated. This action lifts the new mailpiece upward directly into contact with the bottom of the stack, thus lifting the entire stack by the thickness of the new mailpiece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing information, such as postal indicia and other information, on a medium. The system is implemented by detecting a type of medium and entering a printing mode as a function of the type of medium detected. The printing mode is either an envelope printing mode or a tape/label printing mode. When in the envelope printing mode, a print module is positioned at a first position, and prints postal indicia data on a first area of the envelope. The print module is then positioned at a second position. Additional data is obtained and the additional data is printed on a second area of the envelope. The print module is then positioned at a third position and recipient address data is obtained and printed on a third area of the envelope. The print module is positioned at a fourth position, and sender address information is obtained and printed on a fourth area of the envelope.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a means for holding the stack in a tilted position, the means comprising a tilted base; a sliding retainer positioned to support a side of the stack that is tilted toward the sliding retainer by the means for holding the stack in a tilted position; a first input area positioned above retainer element; a second input area positioned below the retainer element and above the means for holding the stack in a tilted position; a second input area positioned below the retainer element and above the means for holding the stack in a tilted position; and a translating carriage means attached to the means for holding the stack in a tilted position, the translating carriage means movable in an about vertical direction in response to a control signal indicating the direction of about vertical movement; whereby the apparatus is configured to selectably add mailpieces to the top of the vertical stack via the first input area or the bottom of the vertical stack via the second