Abstract: In a machine having a printing cycle, and including an inking mechanism, there is provided apparatus for controlling operation of the inking mechanism. The control apparatus comprises a latch including a manually operable switch, a pulse generator coupled to the latch and adapted to be enabled thereby to commence generating pulses in response to momentary operation of the switch, a counter for counting a predetermined number of pulses, instrumentalities for providing an inking enabling signal for a predetermined time interval during at least one of the printing cycles, a gate for gating the pulses to the counter during at least one of the aforesaid time intervals, and means for operating the inking mechanism during the time period the predetermined number of pulses are being counted.

Abstract: In a machine which includes a motor and a housing, and wherein the machine is adapted to be connected to a source of supply of power for energizing the motor, and the housing has an opening formed therein and a door pivotably movable between a closed position and an opened position for respectively covering and uncovering the opening, there is provided safety control apparatus including a manually inaccessibly mounted switch which is operable in a power-on mode permitting motor energization and a power-off mode preventing motor energization. The safety apparatus also includes an actuator which is pivotably attached to the housing and disposed in engagement with the switch, and includes a cam follower movable between a first position, wherein the actuator is disposed for operation of the switch in its power-on mode, and a second position, wherein the actuator is disposed for operation of the switch in its power-off mode.

Abstract: In a storage system including a semi-permanent database there is provided apparatus for updating said database comprising: instrumentalities for reading magnetically recorded data and storing said data in said database; a rotatable drum having an exterior circumferentially-extending surface, said drum including a plurality of protrusions extending beyond said exterior surface; a flexible magnetic card including database updating data magnetically recorded on a major surface thereof, said card having opposed side edges extending lengthwise thereof and having a leading edge and a trailing end edge respectively extending transverse to the length thereof, the length of said card being such that one of said end edges is disposable in overlapping relationship with respect to the other of said end edges when said card is wrapped around said drum, said card having a plurality of apertures formed therein, said apertures located to permit registration of a sufficient number of said apertures with said drum protrusions

Abstract: In a copier, copy sheet handling apparatus is provided which includes a pair of feed rollers spaced apart from each other, and a copy sheet tray which extends substantially transversely through a plane which, in turn, extends midway between the feed rollers. Further, the copy sheet handling apparatus includes structure for swivelably supporting the tray in the aforesaid plane; and instrumentalities cooperative with the supporting structure for applying a resilient force to the tray substantially in the aforesaid plane to move the tray toward the feed rollers for disposition of a copy sheet into engagement with the feed rollers, whereby the force is substantially equally distributed between the feed rollers.

Abstract: Document weighing apparatus is provided which includes a scale having a channel-shaped document weighing platform. The platform defines a passageway for receiving vertically oriented documents serially fed to the platform. In addition, the apparatus includes document decelerating instrumentalities comprising a pair of flexure springs mounted for movement between a passageway restricting position and a non-passageway restricting position. The flexure springs are oriented with respect to each other, when disposed in the passageway restricting position, for cooperatively progressively restricting the passageway in the direction of downstream movement of documents; thereby to exert decelerating forces on the opposed major surfaces of documents in the passageway. In addition, the apparatus includes instrumentalities for moving the flexure springs.

Abstract: A system for automatically setting a postage meter as a function of package weight and destination includes a scale mechanism for generating weight-representing signals. The package postage can be established by converting the destination zip code to a destination zone. The destination zone used in retrieving a minimum postage and incremental postage amounts is applicable for that zone from data storage. The weight-representing signal is successively decremented and the postage amounts synchronously incremented until a signal checking circuit establishes that the decremented weight-representing signal is equal to zero.

Abstract: For use with a copier of the type which includes a document illuminating station, a platen at the illuminating station and instrumentalities for flash illuminating respective documents of different thickness at the illuminating station, there is provided a document feeder which includes a plurality of document feeding instrumentalities. A first feeding instrumentality, which is provided for feeding respective documents of different thickness to the platen, includes a first roller disposable in feeding engagement with the respective documents. In addition, a second feeding instrumentality is provided for feeding such documents from the platen, and a third feeding instrumentality is provided for feeding such documents both to and from the platen. Apparatus is provided for translating the first roller into document feeding engagement with the respective documents in response to inserting such documents into document feeding relationship with respect to the first roller.

Abstract: A microcomputerized, miniature postage meter comprises an ink jet printing device adapted to project ink droplets onto a document. A microcomputer, which performs the control and data processing functions of the meter, includes a logic circuit programmed to actuate the ink jet printing device to project ink droplets on the document in a postage indicia forming pattern. In the preferred form of the postage meter, the ink jet printing device is mounted to be moved in close operative proximity relative to the document and the microcomputer is programmed to sequentially actuate the printing device during this relative movement. The movement of the printing device relative to the document is detected by an encoded rotating wheel mounted on the lower contact surface of the printing device. The rotating wheel is coupled to an interrupter disc means which is adapted to provide signal pulses for coordinating the proper time for actuation of the printing device.

Abstract: A document handling device that is adapted to turn a document such as a letter or other flat mail piece through an angle of substantially 90 degrees in its own plane by means of a plurality of pairs of feed rollers, the latter being respectively driven at different effective speeds which are proportional to the respective distances of said feed roller pairs from a predetermined axis located adjacent the lower leading corner of said document. The geometry of the system is such that the lower edge of the document before and after being turned is adapted to move along one substantially horizontal planar surface. Provision is made for enabling at least some of said feed roller pairs to feed a document without turning the latter through said 90 degree angle.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting flat mail bearing postage indicia adjacent one corner thereof. Pieces bearing postage indicia adjacent their leading edges are selectively sent to first or second transfer stations according to whether the indicia is adjacent the top or bottom edge. The pieces are caused to fall from the first or second transfer stations onto a common conveyor in such a fashion that all pieces on the conveyor are similarly positioned.Those pieces wherein the postage indicia are disposed adjacent their trailing edges are directed to third and fourth stations. The third and fourth stations operate similarly to the first and second stations to position the pieces uniformly on a second conveyor. Each of the first and second conveyors supplies a first and second loading station. At these stations postal trays are automatically filled with mail from the respective conveyors and thereafter the filled trays are deposited in uniform relationship upon a common conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing mathematical calculations and for converting postal zip code information into postal zone information comprises a mathematical logic circuit which is programmed to perform mathematical calculations. A converter circuit, incorporated in the apparatus in removable, replaceable, modular form, is programmed to determine the postal zone designating each of a plurality of specific geographical destinations of mail as a function of the zip code associated with each of the geographical destinations. Since the postal zone associated with each destination zip code is also a function of the location from which mail originates, the converter logic circuit is programmed to perform the determination for a specific originating location. The apparatus may be adapted for use at different originating locations by substituting an appropriately programmed modular converter logic circuit for one which is inappropriately programmed.

Abstract: Apparatus for self-positioning a platen covering device of a copier having a platen. The apparatus includes a linkage assembly for movably supporting the platen covering device; resilient means biased for moving the covering device from a predetermined position for feeding respective documents to respective non-document feeding positions and means for maintaining the covering device at said predetermined position and said respective positions to which the covering device is moved.

Abstract: For use with a copier of the type which includes a document illuminating station, a platen at the illuminating station and instrumentalities for flash illuminating respective documents at the illuminating station, there is provided a document feeder which includes a plurality of document feeding instrumentalities. A first feeding instrumentality is provided for feeding respective documents to the platen, a second feeding instrumentality is provided for feeding documents from the platen, and a third feeding instrumentality is provided for feeding documents both to and from the platen. Apparatus is provided for moving the third feeding instrumentality out of document feeding engagement with respective documents fed to the platen to permit such documents to settle on the platen prior to illumination.

Abstract: A copier of the type which includes a photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image may be formed, a movable applicator which carries developer from a working supply of image developer and applies it to the image, and developer dispensing instrumentalities for replenishing the working supply of developer, is provided with a system for controlling the developer dispensing instrumentalities and thus replenishment of the working supply of developer. The control system responds to the optical density of developer on the applicator to generate a signal indicating whether or not the working supply of developer is in need of replenishment, and this signal is utilized for energizing the dispensing instrumentalities. The control system also includes circuitry for preventing energization of the dispensing instrumentalities for a predetermined time interval after commencement of movement of the applicator, to be sure that the applicator has picked up a sample of the developer from the working supply.

Abstract: Self-positioning apparatus for a platen covering device is provided for a copier of the type which includes a platen, instrumentalities for flash illuminating a document placed by an operator on the platen, and a platen covering device such as a document feeder or a flat, opaque sheet of material or the like. The apparatus includes a linkage assembly for movably supporting the platen covering device; a manually releasable latch for holding the covering device at a predetermined position for holding respective documents of minimal thickness in contact with the platen; and resilient means including at least one torsion bar for urging the covering device away from said predetermined position, when said latch is released, for holding respective documents of greater thickness in contact with said platen.

Abstract: In a copier, there is provided copy sheet handling apparatus which includes an arrangement of the instrumentalities for aligning the end edges of a stack of copy sheets when the stack is being loaded and for then maintaining alignment of the end edges; and linkage for moving the respective aligning and alignment maintaining instrumentalities in a predetermined sequence to facilitate loading copy sheets in the copier.

Abstract: A date printing device, such as a postal meter, includes an electronic calendar clock which generates and stores signals representing different days and months of the year. The electronic calendar clock provides one input to a comparison circuit. Another input to the comparison circuit is provided by an encoder which generates signals representing the current setting of the date printing device. The comparison circuit samples inputs from the calendar clock and the encoder and generates a control signal when a mismatch is detected.

Abstract: A top-of-stack sheet feeder includes a stack lifting apparatus which provides uniform stack pressure at the feeder as well as stack replenishment without interruption of feeder operation. The stack lifting apparatus includes a comblike feeding platform which incrementally elevates a feed stack to a feed roller which removes successive top sheets. Platform elevation control is responsive to requirement signals generated by a top sheet height sensor. When the stack is depleted to a predetermined reserve, a pair of opposed comblike feeding decks interfit between spaces in the feeding platform and assume the stack elevation function after which the platform descends to a loading station to receive a new stack and lift same to the decks. Upon introduction of the new stack, the decks disengage the reserve and index to a lower dwell station ready to again resume stack lifting when the combined stack reaches the reserve level.

Abstract: In a copier including a photoconductor comprising a web of photoconductive material, having a plurality of photoconductive sections connected in series with one another to form an endless strip-type photoconductor, and including suitable instrumentalities for successively feeding the photoconductive sections from a zigzag folded stack of such sections through several processing stations and back to the stack, there is provided apparatus for storing the photoconductive sections in the stack. The storing apparatus includes a receptacle having oppositely disposed walls defining an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The walls relatively converge towards one another from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, for guiding the folds of the photoconductive sections progressively closer to the outlet opening than the mid-portions thereof in transit through the receptacle.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting documents jammed at the entry to an image fixing station in a copier includes a latch-controlled timer. Energization of a paper feed clutch sets the latch to initiate a timing cycle. A photoelectric circuit indicates whether the trailing edge of a document being fed to the image fixing station has cleared the entry. The proper output from this circuit clears the latch and interrupts the timing cycle. If the timer times out before the entry is cleared, the timer output is driven to a jam-indicating state.