Abstract: A plastic actuator for a postage meter is provided with a resilient extension having a plurality of detents adapted to engage a detent post at fixed positions of the actuator. The extension is not stressed at these fixed positions, and is not subject to any stresses greater than the yield point during rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets having folded edges comprising: a support for supporting a stack of upright sheets respectively on an edge thereof; a sliding wall engaged by a toothed belt for feeding the sheets in a path of travel; an endless belt having an upper run disposed for engagement of the edges of the sheets for feeding the sheets in a direction extending transverse to the path of travel; and a front wall resiliently biased against each sheet fed from the stack for exerting a force in a direction opposite to the path of travel.

Abstract: A homogeneous ink for use in postage meter inking systems. The homogeneous ink is formulated by dissolving a coloring material composed of fluorescent toner in a non-volatile solution blend consisting of low molecular weight, low viscosity, non ionic surfactants with alcohol or ester terminal groups having an HLB number varying from 8 to 15 and glycols. Viscosity modifiers can be used as thinners and thickeners. A surface tension modifier compatible to the system of the polyether-alkl/polymethylsiloxane copolymers type can be added in trace concentrations. The ink components of this invention are all hazard free, non-hygroscopic and do not adversely affect the materials of the inking system in which they are used.

Abstract: A self-mailing form suitable for use with laser printers and the like. The form is made from a single sheet of paper stock and comprises a rectangular upper portion and a rectangular lower portion joined by a connecting portion. The lower portion is printed with message information and the upper portion is printed with address information and the like on the reverse side of the form. The form is then folded once about the upper edge of the connecting portion so that the obverse sides of the upper and lower portions are adjacent and then again so that the upper edge of the upper portion is brought to the lower edge of the connecting portion, so that the upper portion forms an envelope around the lower portion. The form has adhesive around the edges of the upper portion to seal the resulting envelope. Perforation lines are provided transversely across the form so that after folding a tear strip is formed which includes the connecting portion.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for preventing a computer program from being used by a computer system other than a designated system. The values of certain characteristics exhibited by the designated computer system first are stored, and then the values of those same characteristics exhibited by the computer system which is intended to use the computer program are measured and compared to the stored values. If the compared values are substantially the same, the computer program may be executed. However, if they are different, the computer system which was intended to use the program is inhibited from executing that program.

Abstract: A front-end feeder for a mixed mail handling machine employs a raised deck portion spaced from a registration wall for the mail pieces. The raised deck portion, preferably a plurality of fixed steps of increasing height, provides additional tilting and guidance of wide mail pieces to prevent mis-registration.

Abstract: A postage meter having a plurality of value wheels extending through a window in a housing, and die protector bars between the value wheels, the die protector bars having a first position at which they extend a further distance from the housing than the value wheels, and a second, retracted, position. The die protector bars extend in the housing between a pivot block and a cam block. A die shield is slidably movable between a first position aligned with the window, and a second, retracted, position. The cam block and dead bolt are positively moved in common via cam surfaces, by a rotatable yoke. A latch lever may engage the dead bolt to latch the postage meter to a mailing machine.

Abstract: In a postal charge accounting system, a control unit is connected to a card read-write unit which accepts one or more so-called "smart cards". Postage meter use information is written into and read from one of these cards. The postage expanded by the card user is stored in the card memory and can be displayed or printed out as desired. The system is applicable to delivery services other than postal mail which involve a franking operation.

Abstract: A removable transport mechanism for a vibrating tray scale for conveying flats on off of the platform of the tray. The removable drive mechanism has belts trained about rollers that can be readily replaced after they become worn. The transport mechanism has a floor that supports the conveying mechanism and the floor is attached to the vibrating tray scale by springs so as to be readily removable.

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 label printing system prints information on a series of labels carried on a web of release liner. The system includes a data processor and a printer. The printer includes a print head, a mechanism for advancing the web, a mechanism for reversing the web, and a mechanism for separating the labels from the release liner as the web advances. The data processor controls the printer to reverse the web until one of the labels is aligned with the print head, print information on the label, and then advance the web for separation of the printed label from the release liner.

Abstract: A turning bar for shifting the path of travel of a web of tape. The bar includes: a first guide having a cylindrical shaped guiding surface, wherein the axis of the cylindrically shaped guiding surface is perpendicular to the path of travel; and a second guide downstream and below the first guide, the second guide having an upper, flat surface angled to the axis and a lower, arcuate surface extending from the upper, flat surface.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in an inserting machine which feeds documents, inserts and envelopes. The sheet feeder comprises a frame, including a feed deck for holding a stack of sheets to be fed; and a separator wheel assembly, including at least one separator wheel, adjustably mounted to the frame above the feed deck. A motor is mounted adjacent to the wheel assembly for directly driving the separator wheel. Separator means for cooperating with the separator wheel assembly to restrict the feeding to single sheets is mounted to the frame opposite the separator wheel assembly and extends in-part above the feed deck. In another embodiment of the present invention, the direct drive motor is positionable on either side of the separator wheel assembly for achieving offset feeding adjustments of the separator wheel assembly.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for marking letter mail or mail pieces to provide a fast and convenient way of determining zip code breaks in a stack of letter mail. The mail pieces have marks printed on the edges thereof indicative of the continuity of the same zip codes thereon. The marks are visible when the mail pieces are stacked. Adjacent envelopes with the same zip codes will have an edge mark at the same location, but upon the zip code changing, the next envelope will have a mark placed at a different location. Numbers in sequence can be printed on each of the letters so that a mail clerk can inspect the last letter within a zip code group to determine if there is a sufficient number of mail pieces within that zip code set to allow a postal discount.In an alternative embodiment, the markings on the side of the mail pieces are printed in a pattern so as to form numbers when a stack is viewed from the side. In addition to forming numbers, a pattern line can extend between the numbers.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing an elongate portion of a web of sheets, wherein the web portion includes a plurality of uniformly dimensioned successive sheets bordered by an elongate marginal edge having a plurality of sprocket holes formed therein at equal intervals along its length, the apparatus comprising: structure for guiding the web portion in a downstream path of travel, the guiding structure including a pair of spaced apart idler rollers and a timing belt endlessly looped about the rollers, the belt including a plurality of sprockets extending outwardly therefrom at said equal intervals, the belt including a belt run aligned with the path of travel, the web portion sprocket holes disposed in meshing engagement with the belt run sprockets for guiding the web portion in the path of travel; and structure downstream from the guiding structure for feeding the web portion downstream in the path of travel against an upstream force exerted thereagainst by the guiding structure.

Abstract: A method of moistening an envelope having a curved flap with a glue portion on the periphery thereof. The method includes: rotating the envelope in a plane containing the envelope; in the course of the rotating, contacting the glue portion of the flap with a moistening device; and thereafter urging the glue portion of the flap against the body of the envelope to thereby form a seal.

Abstract: A method of felting partially cured open cell polychloroprene latex foam to obtain desired foam member properties with intricate geometric shapes. Such felting renders the finished foam suitable for controlled ink flow required for printing purposes. The foam is open cell latex polychloroprene, cured in a steam autoclave, washed and dried while in the partially cured state. Thereafter, the partially cured foam can be stored and formed into intricate shape and fully cured when required.

Abstract: A mailing system includes a mail output system for sequentially delivering mail pieces to an accumulator, the accumulator assembling stacks of mail in response to zip code break signals from the mail output system and the count of mail pieces currently on a stack. The stacks are delivered to a bundler for holding together groups of mail directed to a common zip code destination.

Abstract: A low cost, high resolution optical encoder for a brushless DC motor comprises reflective sensors, and a movable disk cooperating with a stationary pattern to provide a pattern of reflective and non-reflective areas for the sensors that can be used to generate motor positional information as well as commutation drive signals.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for aligning, i.e., de-skewing, sheet material having squared upstream and downstream edges which is being advanced along a path. The advancing apparatus includes a pair of endless belts having pushers projecting therefrom which engage the upstream edge of the sheet material to advance the sheet material with rotation of the belts. The disclosed apparatus adjusts the relative positions of the pushers so that the squared upstream and downstream edges of the sheet material are normal to the path of travel of the sheet material. The invention has particular application to mailing machines in which paper sheets to be inserted in envelopes are advanced towards a folding station and/or an envelope insertion station. The invention has particular application to use with apparatus that cross folds paper.