Abstract: In a machine for processing sheet material, an apparatus for centering and deskewing the sheet material being processed, comprises a deck; a pair of side guides adjustably located above the deck; adjustment limiting structure coupled to the side guides for limiting the distance adjustments can be made; linkage structure operatively coupled to the side guides and to the adjustment limiting structure for maintaining fixed center adjustments to the side guides, the linkage structure comprising at least three links, including a center link pivotally mounted to a center point of the deck and two end links, each of the end links coupled to one of the side guides; and friction structure coupled to each of the side guides for maintaining a position of the side guides after an adjustment is made.

Abstract: A moistening arrangement for moistening the flaps of envelopes comprising a guide path for guiding envelopes, a moistener, an arrangement for moving the moistener transversely of the guide path, a first drive for moving envelopes at a first speed onto the guide path, a detector for detecting the first speed, and a second drive for moving envelopes away from the guide path at a second speed. The first and second drives are spaced apart a distance less than the lengths of the envelopes. A sensor arrangement senses the widths of the flaps of envelopes at a determined position between the first and second drives, and a control arrangement is provided for controlling the position of the moistener as a function of the speed of an initial portion of the envelope, and as a function of the speed of a final portion of the envelope.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding, sealing and aligning seriatim a supply of documents into envelopes, each of the documents containing a water-activated adhesive on a portion thereof. The apparatus includes: a hopper for storing a supply of the documents; a device for applying moisture to a portion of the documents; a pair of folding rollers for imparting a fold to the documents; a buckle chute for stopping the forward progress of the documents and causing the documents to enter the nip of the folding rollers; a pair of ironing rollers located downstream of the folding rollers for maximizing adhesive contact of the documents and forming the envelopes; a conveying device located downstream of the ironing rollers for holding the envelopes together during transport prior to their release for further processing; and a downwardly billowing, flexible membrane situated above the conveying device.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are disclosed for associating a strip with a set of stacked sheets. The strip, which may be paper tape, is positioned intersecting a path along which a set of sheets such as paper sheets is advanced. The sheet set is advanced towards the strip so that the downstream edge of the sheet set engages the strip with portions of the strip extending substantially beyond opposed major sides of the sheet set. The strip is then folded at least once to the sheet set adjacent the downstream edge of the sheet set with the strip portions extending generally adjacent the major sides of the sheet set. The strip is folded by advancing the sheet set and the strip through a nip. The strip is indexed from a roll to the position in the path of the sheet set. The strip is tensioned and is drawn against a knife edge as the sheet set advances through the nip to sever the strip from the roll.

Abstract: A combined copy machine and fax signal production device wherein the scanning system of the copy machine is employed to direct stray light from a document being scanned to a second lens, without displacing the copy lens. The second lens images the document on a linear photoreceptor array, such as a CCD. A control system produces fax signals from the output of the linear array, and may also control the scanning speed of the apparatus to be optimum for the generation of fax signals.

Abstract: A control for a transport mechanism vibrating tray scale that conveys flats on and off of the platform of the tray. The scale supports a follower plate that has ramps which contact with the rollers of the transport mechanism. The follower plate is also in contact with a cam which upon rotation cause the follower plate to move within the scale. As the follower plate is moved, the rollers of the transport mechanism will move into and out an opening of the scale platform, depending upon direction of movement of the follower plate.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying one or more sheets of paper. The apparatus includes a supporting housing; a first, upstream pulley and a second, downstream pulley rotatably mounted on the housing; a lower, endless, elastic belt mounted on the first and second pulleys, the belt having an upper and a lower reach, the reaches being substantially horizontal; a third, downstream pulley rotatably mounted on the housing above the lower belt; a fourth, upstream pulley rotatably mounted on the housing above the lower belt, the fourth pulley biased toward the lower belt; and an upper, endless, elastic belt mounted on the third and fourth pulleys, whereby the fourth pulley can move away from the lower belt when the thickness of the sheets being conveyed requires a larger gap to engage the upper belt.

Abstract: Portable apparatus for supporting a stack of sheets, the apparatus comprising: an elongate tray including a base wall and opposed longitudinally extending side walls, the side walls extending upwardly from the base wall and defining therewith opposed end openings through which sheets may be successively fed; at least one sheet-stack supporting wall slidably connected to one of the side walls of the tray for movement between the end openings, the supporting wall including a rectangularly-shaped portion thereof dimensioned to extend transversely of the tray between the side walls; memory structure connected to the tray for storing data relating to respective sheets fed thereto and structure for removably interfacing the apparatus with at least one external structure.

Abstract: The improved combination is comprised of a postage meter insertable into and removable from a base receptacle. The postage meter includes a housing, an aperture in housing and aperture shield positionable along the housing to selectively cover or uncover the aperture. The receptacle has an engaging assembly for engaging the shield of a predetermined location of the postage meter within the receptacle. A drive motor is provided for driving the engaging assembly for positioning the shield. The drive motor is mounted in the base and can be selectively coupled to the engaging assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding sheets respectively having an upright surface and a lower edge, the apparatus comprising: structure for supporting a stack of said sheets on said lower edges thereof; first structure for feeding said sheets of said stack in a downstream path of travel; second structure for feeding said sheets on said lower edges thereof from said stack in a direction extending transverse to said path of travel, said second sheet feeding structure including structure for frictionally engaging the upright surfaces of successive sheets; and structure for resiliently urging said structure for frictionally engaging into engagement with said upright surfaces of successive sheets.

Abstract: A homogeneous fluorescent ink has been conceived that has particular use in devices such as inking components of postage meters. The inks are in the form of solutions, and contain a soluble fluorescent toner that is dissolved within a polar organic solvent. Additives can be used to modify the properties of the ink.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting an evelope including a body having opposed front and back wall portions defining a bottom edge, wherein the envelope includes a flap wall portion extending from the front wall portion and defining therewith a crease edge extending parallel to the bottom edge for folding the flap wall portion in overlaying relationship with the back wall portion, and wherein the front and back wall portions define parallel-spaced side edges extending between the crease and bottom edges, the apparatus comprising: first structure for conveying the envelope in a first direction wherein the front and flap wall portions thereof are upwardly oriented, the first conveying structure including first structure for aligning one envelope side edge in the first direction; second structure for conveying the envelope in a second direction wherein the front and flap wall portions thereof are downwardly oriented, the second conveying structure including second structure for aligning the one envelope side edge in the

Abstract: A computer accessory for interfacing a microcomputer with a fax line includes facility for converting fax signals to Ascii form for application to a PC port, and for converting signals of Ascii form received at the PC port to image for conversion to fax signals. The accessory, which preferably is incorporated in a laser printer or copier scanner, also includes a facility for notifying an intended recipient of the reception of a fax message.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are disclosed for associating a relatively wide strip with a set of stacked sheets. The strip, which may be a paper tape, is positioned to intersect a path along which a set of sheets such as paper sheets is advanced. The sheet set is advanced towards the strip and a nip is formed by a pair of opposed belt conveyers so that the downstream edge of the sheet set engages the strip and carries the strip into the nip of the belt conveyers where the strip is folded at least once to the sheet set adjacent the downstream edge of the sheet set. The strip is indexed from a roll to the position in the path of the sheet set. The strip is tensioned and is drawn against a knife edge as the sheet set advanced through the nip to sever the strip from the roll. Pairs of opposed rollers, each pair forming another nip, are disposed adjacent the nip formed by the belt conveyers to cooperate with that nip and form a wider composite nip for folding wider strips and skewed narrower strips.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding and separating seriatim a sheet of paper from a stack of sheets.

Abstract: A system embodying the present invention includes first structure having a first area for stacking at least one sheet to form a first collation, second structure having a second stacking area adjacent to the first stacking structure for stacking at least one sheet to form a second collation, and diverting structure arranged in a sheet path between the feeder and the first and second stacking structure for diverting the sheets fed by the feeder. The diverting structure having first and second operative positions for respectively diverting the sheets to the first stacking structure and to the second stacking structure. The system further provides control structure operatively coupled to the diverting structure for actuating the diverting structure to one of its operative positions and sensor structure operatively connected to the control structure for sensing when a sheet is conveyed to the diverting structure.

Abstract: Solution inks have been discovered that have an acceptable red fluorescent signal for machine detection while emitting a different visual color in white light. The formulation is based on a combination of a fluorescent dyes and a non red dye belonging to the spectral sensitizer class of dyes. The red fluorescent dye and non-red dye are combined in a resin to form a toner. Because of a bathochronic shift, fluorescence at higher wave lengths is achieved. Upon dissolving the toner in a polar solvent, increased viscosity is achieved which results in an enhanced fluorescent signal as compared to prior fluorescent inks.

Abstract: A mailing machine comprised of a plurality of modules, each of the modules a particular process function on a delivered envelope. The modules are arranged with in a single process station. The comprising modules include a scale module having means for weighing a envelope, a transport module having means for positioning the envelope in the process station and ejecting the envelope from the process station, a meter module having printing means for imprinting an indicia on the envelope, a platen module having means for causing the envelope to contact the printing means of the meter module, and a inking module having means for causing printing ink to be deposited on the printing means of the meter module. The modules operate in a manner functionally independent of any other module and in a manner. A tape module is included having means for positioning a tape for indicia printing between the meter module.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing sheets, comprising: first structure for feeding a nestable sheet having a leading edge downstream in a path of travel; structure for forming a buckle loop in a foldable sheet, the buckle loop forming structure including a stop, the buckle loop forming structure including second structure for feeding the foldable sheet across the path of travel and against the stop to form a buckle loop therein, the buckle loop forming structure including structure for guiding the buckle loop downstream of the leading edge of the nestable sheet and in the path of travel thereof; and structure for assembling the sheets, the assembling structure including third structure for feeding the sheets in the path of travel, the third feeding structure including an elongate drive roller extending transverse to the path of travel, the third feeding structure including an elongate roller extending parallel to the drive roller and defining therebetween an elongate gap, and the assembling structure including structur

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for flapping envelopes and inserting enclosures into the flapped envelopes. The apparatus is constructed so that parts thereof may be easily moved to substantially fully expose the enclosure feed path, as well as the envelope flap unfolding path and the upstream end of the location at which an envelope is held open and enclosures inserted therein, thereby facilitating removal of jammed envelopes and enclosures. The components for unfolding the envelope flap are provided as an assembly movably mounted with respect to the enclosure transporter. This allows that entire flap unfolding assembly to be moved away from an enclosure transporter, thereby providing access to the enclosure feed path and to the upstream end of a queuing station. The flap unfolding assembly includes two frames which may be pivoted apart to provide access to the flap unfolding path.