Abstract: Apparatus for inserting sheets of paper into an envelope. The apparatus includes: a first bursting module for separating a first web of paper into discrete sheets; a conveying device for conveying the discrete sheets from an upstream location to a downstream location along a feed path; a device for feeding a second web of paper having a plurality of longitudinally spaced lines of weakening oriented perpendicular to the feed path; a device for turning the second web of paper parallel to the feed path; a bursting device for bursting the second web into discrete sheets; a device for conveying the second web discrete sheets to the first web discrete sheets; a device for conveying the first web and the second web discrete sheets downstream along the feed path; and a device for inserting the first web and second web discrete sheets into an envelope.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening an envelope having a front panel, a back panel and a closing flap. The apparatus includes: a device for supporting the envelope in a substantially horizontal plane wherein the back panel is situated above the front panel; a device for holding the closing flap below the back panel; an opening horn for separating the back panel from the front panel, the opening horn being pivotable in a vertical plane; and a device for causing the horn to initially contact the closing flap and to pivot the horn into the envelope between the front and back panels, and to raise the horn inside the envelope, whereby the front and back panels are separated.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for generating a coded address list. The method is initiated by inputting an address list to a data processing device which then reads each address record on the address list. As an address record is read, a set of rules is applied to the record to determine whether or not a corresponding bar code can be assigned. If a bar code can be assigned, then the data processing device writes the address record and its corresponding bar code to a first list. If, however, a corresponding bar code is not determined for an address record, then the unmatched address record is posted to a second list. The first list is output for printing, while the second list is saved to memory. With respect to the second list, the system operator can: manually correct an address record on the list; delete the address record; or, output the address record to a printer for non-discounted mailing.

Abstract: Apparatus for turning and aligning flat articles. The apparatus includes: a first conveyor for transporting flat articles horizontally from an upstream to a downstream position; a second conveyor oriented at an angle to the first conveyor, the second conveyor having an upstream and a downstream end, wherein the upstream end of the second conveyor is situated adjacent the downstream end of the first conveyor, and second conveyor is situated to receive the flat articles from the first conveyor; a pivoting device located on one side of the second conveyor for engaging a side of the flat articles; and a third conveyor having an upstream end located adjacent the downstream end of the second conveyor, the third conveyor having a flat deck, an angled roller extending just above the flat deck, a registration wall on one side of the flat deck, and a normal force sphere mounted above the angled roller, wherein the angled roller and the sphere drive the flat articles downstream and against the registration wall.

Abstract: A method of recalibrating an electronic scale is disclosed which causes the scale to indicate accurate weight measurements regardless of variations in the physical and/or environmental conditions under which the scale is operating between a site of origin and a site of installation which tend to adversely effect accurate weight. The method utilizes the removable platter of the scale as a fixed weight of indeterminate amount which is used to calibrate the scale at a site of origin under controlled physical and/or environmental conditions and to recalibrate the scale at a site of installation at which the physical and/or environmental conditions may be different from those that prevailed at the site of origin.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting and then maintaining the leveling support of an assembly relative to the surface upon which that assembly has been placed. The apparatus can be locked or maintained in place to prevent the loosening of the adjustment if the assembly is moved. The apparatus is comprised of an elastomeric material molded concentrically around a threaded stud to form a foot; a plurality of longitudinal grooves on the interior wall of the foot; a plurality of longitudinal ridges on the outside surface of an extension from the base section of the assembly; and, a threaded insert within the extension that can mate with the threaded stud.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for variable opening of an envelope is disclosed. The apparatus includes a device for supporting the front panel and flap of an envelope in a plane, and a vacuum bar assembly situated above the supporting device, the assembly having a vacuum cup for gripping the back panel of the envelope. The apparatus includes a device for moving the vacuum cup downward to grip the envelope back panel and to move the cup upward a predetermined distance whereby the back panel is separated from the front panel to thereby open the envelope a predetermined amount. The apparatus also includes a measuring system for measuring the thickness of successive collations, and means responsive to the measuring system for controlling the amount of movement of the vacuum cups so that the predetermined amount of movement thereof varies from envelope to envelope to open each successive envelope only the amount required to accept the collation intended for that envelope.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing mail pieces. The apparatus includes a first printer for printing documents and a second printer for printing envelopes and a mail finishing unit for receiving the printed documents from the first printer and the envelopes printed with corresponding addresses from the second printer and inserting the documents into the envelope to form and frank a mail piece. The apparatus operates under the control of a single stream of job data from a host computer, where the job data includes a job header defining default mail piece attributes and mail piece records which include document data and address data, and which may include specific mail piece attribute data for each corresponding mail piece. The apparatus control mechanism partitions the data stream and controls the first printer to print the documents while controlling the second printer to separately print the envelopes which are moved along a separate path to an insert station where the mail piece is formed.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a mechanical system in response to messages from a host computer system. The apparatus includes a conventional communications link for communicating messages from the host computer system to a motion control processor and interface and driver circuits for converting digital signals generated by the motion control processor in response to messages from the host computer system into control signals having appropriate waveforms and timing for controlling a particular mechanical system. The motion control processor is programmed to perform a number of tasks in accordance with a schedule downloaded from the host computer system. The host computer system downloads profiles which consist of series of segments consisting of data structures which define elements in the mechanical system to be controlled, identify functions to be performed and include necessary data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of recalibrating an electronic scale to maintain accurate weight measurements of a scale regardless of variations in the physical and/or environmental conditions under which the scale is operating between a site of origin and a site of installation which tend to adversely affect accurate weight. Also disclosed is method of obtaining an accurate indication of the weight of an article by an electronic scale at a site of installation regardless of variations in the physical and/or environmental conditions under which the scale is operating between a site of origin and the site of installation which tend to adversely affect accurate weight. Both methods are accomplished by recalibrating the scale to adjust the output of certain electronic control components to compensate for the difference in the physical and/or environmental conditions between the two sites which tend to adversely affect accurate weight indications of the scale.

Abstract: An envelope ejecting apparatus is disclosed for use in an inserting machine in which envelopes are fed successively in one direction along a feed path to a first location and then are moved incrementally in a reverse direction to an insert receiving position at which envelope throat opening devices open the throats of the envelopes so that insert material can be fed thereinto. The envelope ejecting apparatus is connected to the throat opening devices for operation therewith and also to the means for feeding the envelopes in the reverse direction, and there is a control means operatively interconnected between the envelope throat opening means and the envelope ejecting means for preventing the envelope ejecting means from ejecting the envelope until it is positioned at the insert receiving position and insert material has been inserted thereinto.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing mail pieces. The apparatus includes a first printer for printing documents and a second printer for printing envelopes and a mail finishing unit for receiving the printed documents from the first printer and the envelopes printed with corresponding addresses from the second printer and inserting the documents into the envelope to form a mail piece. The apparatus operates under the control of a single stream of job data from a host computer, where the job data includes a job header defining default mail piece attributes and mail piece records which include document data and address data, and which may include specific mail piece attribute data for each corresponding mail piece. The apparatus control mechanism partitions the data stream and controls the first printer to print the documents while controlling the second printer to separately print the envelopes which are moved along a separate path to an insert station where the mail piece is formed.

Abstract: A system and method for issuing and validating tickets. The system includes a data processing system for receiving ticket request information and generating ticket information; the ticket information including encrypted validating information, a local printing system which receives the ticket information and prints the encrypted validating information on a ticket in machine readable format, and a validating system for converting the encrypted validating information into a digital format, decrypting the validating information, testing the validating information to validate the ticket and, if the ticket is valid, downloading at least a portion of the ticket information for reconciliation of accounts; that is for reconciling ticket issuance, use, and payment.

Abstract: The sheet feeder includes a tray having a pusher mechanism mounted at a rear portion and a feeder mechanism mounted at a forward portion. The pusher mechanism is driven through a spring wrap clutch which includes a ratchet which engages a pawl mounted on the feeder mechanism. When the feeder mechanism is in a first position the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet and the clutch is free to rotate and engage the pusher mechanism which advances the stack of sheets against the feeder mechanism, driving the feeder mechanism back to a second position where the pawl engages the ratchet, disengaging the spring wrap clutch and halting the pusher mechanism. As sheets are fed from the stack a spring urges the feeder mechanism back towards the first position, disengaging the ratchet and engaging the clutch and repeating the cycle. A spring maintains a substantially constant normal force between the feeder mechanism and the stack as the feeder mechanism moves between the first and second positions.

Abstract: The invention is a method and system for printing images to a substrate wherein the commands normally input by an operator, or resident within the printer, can be determined at a host data processor. The system can control address and postal code printing functions beginning at the host computer together. The system will derive printing data, including address data, from a selected application resident in the host computer. The host computer creates and then transmits printer command sets and printing data, via transmitting means to a microprocessor within the printer. The microprocessor drives a language interpreter which directs the printer commands to a parsing step for determining the address location from within the data to be printed. The language interpreter then assigns delivery point digits to a zip code that was isolated from the transmitted address data. The newly created zip code is then matched with the bar code data stored within the microprocessor's corresponding memory.

Abstract: A plurality of step time tables consisting of a sequence of step times defining intervals between steps and thus a velocity profile to be executed by a stepper motor are stored in a first memory. A step table defining a plurality of identical sequences of excitation pattern for driving a stepper motor is stored in a second table. Identical DMA channels output the step times to a timer and the plurality of exitation patterns to a buffer. The timer measures the duration of the step times and when each step time expires generates a trigger signal which initiates the transfer of the next step time and next excitation pattern through the respective DMA channels. The buffer includes a control register which selects one excitation pattern from the plurality of excitation patterns output from the step table to be output for control of a selected one of a plurality of motors connected to the buffer.

Abstract: The invention is a method whereby soft font data and graphic images which are stored on a host computer in a variety of formats are converted to a bitmap graphics format comprised of a group of printer commands designed for bitmap graphics printing and then downloaded and printed using a single set of printer control commands.

Abstract: A plurality of acceleration tables consisting of a sequence of step times defining intervals between steps and thus an acceleration profile to be executed by a stepper motor is stored in a first memory. A step table defining a sequence of excitation patterns for driving a stepper motor is stored in a second table. Identical DMA channels output the step times to a timer and an exitation pattern to a buffer. The timer measures the duration of the step times and when each step time expires generates a trigger signal which initiates the transfer of the next step time and next excitation pattern through the respective DMA channels. The buffer outputs are inverted to form bipolar signals to drive current drivers in accordance with the excitation pattern. The apparatus is initialized by a data processor to select one of the plurality of excitation tables to drive a selected motor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for deskewing sheets as they are transported along a path. An intake roller assembly and an urged roller assembly are positioned along the path. The urge roller assembly bears upon a sheet with a forced selected so that the urge roller will slip if the sheet is blocked before the sheet is damaged. A rotatable element having a pair of stop elements in an upstream and a pair of deflecting elements at a downstream end is pivotable mounted beneath the path and rotates in a plane normal to the path, and is bias so that the deflecting elements intersect the path and the stop element are clear from the path. When the intake roller assembly drives a sheet against the deflecting elements the rotatable element rotates as the sheet rides over the deflecting element so that the stop elements intersect the path. If the sheet is skewed, that is if one edge is advanced, that edge will encounter the stop elements first.

Abstract: In a printing system including an ink jet printhead, a supply of ink therefor, and structure for controlling the printhead for ejecting ink droplets therefrom, apparatus comprising, a disposable cartridge including the ink supply and printhead, the cartridge including a front wall and a base wall, the cartridge base wall including a foot portion extending to the cartridge front wall and defining therewith a lower frontal edge, structure for supporting the cartridge, the supporting structure including a front wall, the supporting structure including a portion of the printhead controlling structure, the portion including an electrical connector overlaying the supporting structure front wall, the connector including a plurality of exposed electrical terminals, the supporting structure including oppositely spaced shoe portions extending both toward one another and forwardly of the supporting structure front wall for positioning the cartridge relative to the supporting structure terminals when the cartridge is mou