Abstract: A postage meter is provided with a mounting bracket with predetermined openings. Openings of the mounting bracket receive projections from an optical sensor to assure proper alignment of the optical sensor. Another opening in the plate receives the shaft of a stepper motor that has an encoder disk mounted thereon. Marks are provided on the optical sensor and the encoder disk through the use of which precise alignment of components and proper setting of the stepper motor may be achieved.

Abstract: A system is provided for automatically correcting imaging irregularities in a document scanner which uses an electronic imaging detector. This system avoids the need of expensive correction methods and is accomplished through an electronic system whereby feedback is provided so that corrections may be made in the output to compensate for the irregularities in the system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stand-alone electronic mailing machine. The entire drive mechanism, setting mechanism, and control devices as well as the postage metering mechanisms are all contained in one housing so that there is no need for a separate base. In the mailing machine of this invention, a reciprocating platen is used for the purpose of driving an envelope against a print head during the applying of postage to the envelope. A stripper is resiliently mounted on the platen to assure the envelope does not adhere to the print head.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for xerographic printing wherein a magnetic brush unit is used to both apply toner to an image on a photoconductive surface and clean the surface in the same cycle. A reverse imaging process is used in combination with an electronically controlled exposure station. A cleaner or separate cleaning station is not required in the inventive method and apparatus described herein.

Abstract: Conveying apparatus for embossing machines for producing printing plates for address printing machines or for identification means made out of sheet metal or plastic material. The embossing machine conveying apparatus is capable of moving the printing plates in two directions which are perpendicular to each other. One of these directions is the direction required for character embossing within a print or read line and the second direction, which is perpendicular to the first, is in the direction of line spacing.

Abstract: A postage meter indicia plate that has openings therein for the purpose of receiving the print wheels of the postage meter print head. The surface of the plate is covered with a elastomeric material so as to facilitate printing but has a metallic portion exposed in this elastomeric material for including identification markings. A locking mechanism is also provided so that the indicia plate cannot be removed from the postage meter without complete disassembly of the latter.

Abstract: An electrostatic copier having a control system wherein switches are used to detect conditions that would lead to paper jams. Such jams could result from sheets that are too short to be conveyed or as a result of overlong originals being copied during a copy cycle of an electrostatic copier of the coated paper type having an automatic document feeder. Circuitry is provided to re-sequence the system if copy paper is in transmit at the time of a power failure and the copy paper is located in a position that would result in a jam or an overlong copy sheet if the copier were to operate from a start mode.

Abstract: This invention relates to circuitry for non-impact printers that use light emitting diodes (LED's) to produce an image on a photoconductor and for controlling the output of each LED of a light emitting diode array that is part of the printer. A binary weighted duty cycle control is used to obtain substantial uniformity in the light emitted from each LED. The binary cycle is time related so that through use of a four-bit code, sixteen outputs are available which yield sixteen periods during which an LED may be enabled.

Abstract: A non-impact printer in which a source of image information such as a computer, facsimile machine, word processor or the like provides image information to an image transfer device which transfers the image to a moving image receiving surface for printing of the image as hard copy. A motion encoder senses the motion of the image receiving surface and creates a digital timing signal representative of the motion. A logic circuit selectively delays the input of the image information signal to the image transfer device in response to digital timing signal to synchronize motion of the image receiving surface with transfer of the image to the image receiving surface.

Abstract: An electronic postage meter having an accounting section including a nonvolatile memory (NVM), computer means for reading the condition of the nonvolatile memory during a power-up cycle of the meter, and means in the meter for storing any signal which results from the reading of the nonvolatile memory by the computer means. In accordance with further aspects of the present invention, a method is provided for determining that an electronic postage meter has a weak nonvolatile memory, a data center and service department are adapted to receive signals from the meter indicating a weak nonvolatile memory, and an intercommunication system is established between the data center to receive signals from the meter indicating a weak nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: This invention relates to a stand-alone electronic mailing machine that includes a postage metering device. The invention has particular utility when utilized in a mailing machine of the reciprocating platen type. The entire drive mechanism, setting mechanism, and control devices as well as the postage metering mechanisms are all contained in one housing so that there is no need for a separate base. In the mailing machine of this invention, a single central processing unit is utilized along with memory for the purpose of accounting for the postage value that has been charged into the mailing machine as well as the amount that has been used. An envelope ejection mechanism is provided to remove an envelope from the mailing machine after postage has been printed thereon. Included in the envelope ejection mechanism is a provision for applying pressure to an envelope being ejected so that the contents thereof will move in unison with the envelope.

Abstract: In a value printing device such as a postage meter, a novel system is provided for automatically and electronically warning the operator that an inking member has reached the end of its useful life span and must be replaced.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for non-impact printers such as those that use light emitting diodes (LEDs) to produce an image on a photoconductor. In such devices, a discontinuity is generally created in a line of printed characters because of the movement of the imaging surface relative to the LED array. The system of this invention eliminates such discontinuity through adjustment in the enabling sequence of the LEDs of the array.

Abstract: A method for entering the serial number into the nonvolatile memory of an electronic postage meter upon completion of assembly of the meter including the steps of programming a given chip number into a nonvolatile memory to be used in assembly of the meter, assembling the electronic postage meter with a meter body serial number and a nonvolatile memory with a given chip number, communicating the serial number and chip number to a data center, receiving information from the data center in response to the communicating steps, and entering the serial number into the nonvolatile memory if the received information is properly enterable into the meter.

Abstract: A secured housing for an electronic device having an electronic memory mounted therewithin is provided which has an access aperture which provides tamper proof security and electro-magnetic interference protection while permitting access to the memory for reading the information maintained in the memory. Opening of the access aperture disables the electronic device from further operation by unlatching a switch which disconnects the electronic device from its power supply while preventing relatching of the switch to reactivate the electronic device. Use of the access aperture provides a visible indication of access to the interior of the housing. In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device is an electronic postage meter and the electronic memory is a nonvolatile memory containing postage accounting information.

Abstract: A value printing device, such as a postage meter, is provided with a switch for automatically signaling when a new inking member unit has been inserted into the device. The switch has a piercing member that closes the switch when a membrane or cover over an opening in the inking member is overcome by the piercing member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for controlling the amount of print material supplied to an electronic printer and, more specifically, for controlling the amount of ink or toner supplied to the sump of an ink jet printer or a photoelectrostatic copier that is used as a printer, respectively. The supply of print material is controlled by a determination of the amount of material that would be required to print a given text. This determination is based upon a knowledge of how much print material is required for various characters and the make-up of characters in the text.

Abstract: Method for tracking creep and drift of a digital scale after a load has been placed upon a scale pan. The tare weight is determined at a time before a load is placed upon the pan and is stored. After the pan comes to equilibrium, the gross weight of the scale is determined and stored. Variance in the gross weight as a result of creep and drift is tracked and after an incremental amount is determined the value of such variance is added to the stored tare weight so that upon removal of the load from the pan the true tare weight is maintained.

Abstract: A novel ink cartridge for a value printing device such as a postage meter is disclosed having built-in handles so that the cartridge can be inserted and removed from a device without the need of a special tool and without risk of inking the operator's hands or clothing.

Abstract: A method of representing decimal numbers in a quasi binary coded decimal (BCD) form is disclosed along with apparatus for using the same. The value assigned to a combination of binary bits is dependent on the location of the combination on the medium which is encoded. Use is made of the direction of motion of the medium to determine the position and hence the decimal value of specific combinations of binary bits. By interpreting certain combinations of bits in two different ways, an additional binary bit of information can be obtained from a given number of bits increasing the obtainable information from conventional BCD codes.