Abstract: A mailing machine is disclosed having an elongate feed deck, means for feeding envelopes along the feed deck, and a postage meter mounted in the mailing machine and having a printing mechanism disposed in juxtaposition with the feed deck so as to print postage indicia on successive envelopes as they are fed along the feed deck. The mailing machine includes a tape feeding and cutting apparatus mounted above the feed deck and adjacent to the postage meter on the side thereof opposite to the direction of feed of envelopes along the feed deck for feeding successive finite lengths of tape to the postage meter for printing of postage indicia on a portion thereof and for cutting and ejecting the printed portion of the finite length of tape from the mailing machine. The tape feeding and cutting apparatus is constructed and arranged so that all of the tape storing, feeding, severing and ejecting mechanisms of the apparatus are all positioned entirely one one side of the postage meter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tape feeding, cutting and ejecting apparatus for a mailing machine which has a feed deck for feeding envelopes therealong and a postage meter for printing postage indicia on successive envelopes as they are fed along the feed deck. The tape feeding, cutting and ejecting apparatus is mounted in the mailing machine above the feed deck and adjacent to the postage meter on the side thereof opposite to the direction of the feed of envelopes for feeding successive finite lengths of tape to the postage meter for printing of postage indicia on a portion thereof and for cutting and ejecting the printed portion of the finite lengths of tape from the mailing machine. The apparatus includes a tape holding assembly and means for pivotally mounting the tape holding assembly for movement between a normal operating position and an operator accessible position to facilitate loading and threading of a fresh roll of tape.

Abstract: A tape positioning apparatus is disclosed which is used in a mailing machine having means for printing a postage indicia on a discrete portion of a strip of tape of indefinite length which is fed intermittently through the mailing machine. The apparatus includes a tape feed chute which moves the tape from a normal position out of alignment with the printing die of a postage meter in the mailing machine to a printing position in which the tape is aligned with the printing die. In order to assure proper feeding of the tape from the chute to a cutting device, the apparatus is provided with a latching device for latching the free end of the chute in a home position so that the leading edge of the tape cannot snag on any portion of the tape path as it is pushed from the chute to the cutting device after printing has taken place.

Abstract: A mailing machine for processing respective sheets including envelopes which each have a body and a flap and including cut tapes which each have a substrate portion and an adhesive tape portion removably connected thereto, the machine comprising, structure for feeding each sheet in a predetermined path of travel extending downstream through the machine, the sheet feeding structure including oppositely spaced input rollers defining a nip therebetween, structure for feeding a cut tape, structure for controlling the feeding structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including structure upstream from the nip of the input rollers for sensing a sheet fed to the machine and providing a corresponding first sensing signal to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for causing the sheet feeding structure to commence feeding in response to receiving the first sensing signal, the controlling structure including a switch connected to the microprocessor and providin

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying moisture to an envelope, having a body portion and a flap portion, the apparatus including, a substantially solid-rectangle-shaped pad made of a material capable of upwardly transferring fluid by capillary action, a device for supplying fluid to the pad, the fluid supplying device including a source of supply of fluid, the fluid supplying device including an elongate well having an elongate substantially rectangularly-shaped base wall, the well including a fluid inlet tube depending from the base wall and removably connected in fluid flow communication with the fluid supply source, the well including a pair of elongate substantially rectangularly-shaped and oppositely-spaced side walls, the well including a pair of substantially rectangularly-shaped and oppositely-spaced end walls extending between the side walls, the side and end walls extending upwardly from the base wall, the well including a plurality of upright posts located at spaced intervals longitudinally of the length of the

Abstract: A method of managing the memory space of a data processing device includes defining a number of memory blocks in the memory space and establishing a different maximum memory fragment size for each of the memory blocks. When a memory allocation request is received, it is attempted to allocate the request in the memory block that has the smallest maximum fragment size that is not exceeded by the size of the allocation request. Consequently, smaller allocation requests tend to be loaded in the blocks with smaller maximum fragment sizes, while larger allocation requests are restricted to blocks with a sufficiently large maximum fragment size. The resulting segregation by size of memory fragments among blocks leads to more efficient use of the memory space. Memory fragments may also be segregated by size within a memory block.

Abstract: Apparatus for inserting one or more documents into a waiting envelope. The apparatus includes: a supporting frame; a device mounted in the frame for holding the envelope; a movable, endless belt rotatably mounted in the frame for transporting one or more documents into the waiting envelope; and a datum guide plate secured to the frame above the movable belt. The movable belt includes an upper reach which is biased toward the datum guide plate.

Abstract: A deactivatable electronic article surveillance marker is produced by placing elongated magnetically soft elements on a support and aligning short sections of magnetically semi-hard wires parallel to one another in bands with the bands being perpendicular to the elongated ferromagnetic materials. In another embodiment a criss-cross configuration of magnetically soft elements are provided and the bands of magnetically semi-hard wires are placed diagonally relative to the criss-cross elongated soft magnetic elements.

Abstract: In an inserter system, an apparatus for bar code scanning includes a scanner, a travel bar attached to a frame of an inserter, and adjustable brackets for slidably fastening said scanner to the travel bar. The travel bar is positioned wherein said scanner is moveable transverse to a paper path travelled by a sheet having a bar code symbol thereon. The apparatus further includes a plate attached to the adjustable brackets, and nylon and hook type fasteners for fastening the scanner to the plate. A transparent medium deck is positioned between the scanner and the paper path. The transparent medium deck is resistive to abrasion and has optical characteristics which would allow scanning by the scanner through the transparent medium deck.

Abstract: The ink pad replenishing system includes an ink tray containing an ink pad, inlet means for receiving ink and outlet means for providing drainage of excess ink from the ink tray, and an ink reservoir. A first pump is comprised of a deformable and resilient tubular member, and first and second end caps fixably mounted to respective ends of the tubular member, and valve means mounted in the first pump for providing uni-directional flow in a first direction through the first pump upon actuation of the first pump. A second pump is comprised of a deformable and resilient tubular member, and first and second end caps fixably mounted to respective ends of the tubular member, and valve means mounted in the second pump or providing uni-directional flow in a second direction through the second pump upon actuation of the second pump.

Abstract: An alphanumeric character is recognized by optically scanning that character, detecting the occurrence of predetermined geographical features in the scanned image, comparing the detected geographical features to a store of particular geographical features which identify respective alphanumeric characters, and identifying the scanned image as the alphanumeric character having those geographical features to which the detected geographical features favorably compare. The aforementioned geographical features comprise lagoons (formed as enclosed areas) and bays (formed as open areas). The types of bays and lagoons, as well as the relative positioning of such bays and lagoons with respect to each other, characterize the respective alphanumeric characters. By detecting the bays and lagoons and relative positions thereof in the scanned image, the identity of that image is ascertained.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjustably positioning a scanner along a transport deck includes a cartridge; and a belt structure rotatably mounted in said cartridge, for positioning the scanner transversely along the transport deck. The belt structure includes a reach parallel to the transport deck having an aperture at which the scanner can be mounted. There is adjustment structure, adjacent the belt structure, for rotating the belt structure to adjust the position of the aperture.

Abstract: A digitally implemented central dictation system wherein users designated as dictators may input Voice Files for later retrieval and transcription by a second group of users designated as transcriptionists. A system Supervisor has the capability to monitor operation of the system and allocate system resources. The system further includes an optional Voice Mail capability wherein selected dictators may input Voice Files for later retrieval by designated other dictators. The system further includes a plurality of telephone-like input/output devices used by system users for input and output of voice messages, which devices further include DTMF generators for input of command signals. Still further the system includes a Supervisory station for use by the system Supervisor in monitoring system activity and allocation of system resources, which station further includes a CRT type display and keyboard, and a printer for output of hardcopy reports by the system.

Abstract: A computerized system for displaying menu selections, and a touch switch comprising an array of reflective sensors paralleling the menu selections for highlighting a menu choice in response to a user touch, cooperating with a spacebar type switch paralleling the array for depression by the user to execute the highlighted function.

Abstract: An integrated records management system having the capability to record and transcribe dictation. The system is particularly useful for the prompt and efficient management of patient's medical records. The system includes a digital dictation sub-system with a number of dictation input units and a number of transcription output units. The dictation system receives dictation jobs corresponding to reports, and particularly medical reports and stores them as voice files for later output for review of transcription. Job records containing information about the dictation jobs is transmitted to a database server which manages and maintains a database of medical records. The transcription output terminals together with word processing stations connected to the data base server form work stations for transcriptionists.

Abstract: In a material processing system comprising a plurality of material processing stations, a base material processing station, and structure directing material to be processed serially through the plurality of stations in a given order to the base station; the improvement wherein each of the plurality of stations and the base station comprises a separate data and control processor, and further comprising a communication loop interconnecting the processors of the plurality of stations in the given order to the processor of the base station and interconnecting the processor of the base station to the processor of the first of the plurality of stations.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides for automatically controlling positioning of a moistening nozzle relative to an envelope flap being moved therepast at high speed. The invention has particular application as an envelope flap moistener in a high speed mailing machine. Envelopes are moved to and past the nozzle at a speed of at least about 65 inches per second along a given path with the flap extending from the envelope in an opened configuration thereof. A sensor attached to the nozzle senses the location of the edge of the flap within about 0.2 inch of the nozzle upstream thereof a plurality times as the flap moves to and past the nozzle. The nozzle is then positioned to track the flap edge in accordance with sensing of the envelope flap. The nozzle may be pre-positioned by a lower bandwidth servo system having an envelope sensor located further upstream of the tracking sensor. A higher bandwidth servo loop controls tracking of the nozzle in response to the tracking sensor.

Abstract: A mailing machine base includes a postage meter insertable and removable from a receptacle means, said receptacle means being mounted within said base and a tape feed assembly positioned between a home position and a second position. A tape frame assembly includes a first frame section including feed means for receiving a tape and causing said tape to displace in said tape track and gear means for driving said feed means, said tape track being fixably mounted to said first frame section at one end and aligned to receive tape from said feed means.

Abstract: A bursting apparatus and method for conveying a web of sheet material having successive transverse lines of weakening along a longitudinal path from an upstream position to a downstream position and for separating the web along a transverse line of weakening.

Abstract: A system for processing mail pieces such as letter mail wherein the mail and the mail data are certified during such processing is provided. Information relative to the anticipated weight and thickness of each mail piece is supplied to a processor from a central computer. During processing the weight and thickness of each mail piece is measured, and if there is a difference between the actual determination and the anticipated parameters, the information is fed back to the computer so that corrections can be made for future processing. In addition, print quality of the mail is determined with regard to accuracy of addresses and readability.