Abstract: Apparatus for printing, folding, and sealing a one-piece form sheet to prepare a self-mailer. The apparatus includes a substantially conventional printer, which may be a laser printer, suitable for use with a personal computer. The printer is mounted above and outputs printed form sheets downwards to a folder sealer for folding and sealing to prepare a self-mailer. The folder sealer includes a folder having a central and peripheral rollers and curved, one-sided, open buckle chutes for folding the form sheet and delivering it to a transport which extends under the printer. The folder sealer also includes moistening apparatus for moistening areas on the form sheet to which a remoistenable glue has been applied.

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 load cell type 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: A load cell supporting member includes a central portion formed to receive a load cell and to protect a load cell from overloading. A plurality of arms extends radially from the central portion. The supporting member is a single, integral piece of said material.A weighing scale includes a first supporting member, a load cell supported by the first supporting member. The scale also includes a second supporting member, that is identical to the first and supported by the load cell and is identical to the first supporting member. The second supporting member supports a scale platform.Another weighing scale includes three identical supporting members and the load cells. A first supporting member supports a first load cell. The first load cell supports a second supporting member, which supports a second load cell. The second load cell supports a third supporting member. The third supporting member supports a scale platform.

Abstract: An adjustable cassette for use in an envelope printing system. The cassette includes an elevator for maintaining the top envelope in a stack of envelopes in contact with a take-up roller in the printing system. The cassette also includes lateral guides positioned adjacent to the extreme forward portion of the envelope stack. The lateral guides are resiliently mounted to depress and pass beneath the take-up roller as the cassette is inserted into the printing system.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing items in selected configurations and a system and method for controlling the same. More particularly, an apparatus for producing mail pieces and a system and method for controlling it to produce mail pieces in a variety of configurations are disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser printer and folding sealing apparatus controlled by a data processor. The folder sealer apparatus combines sheets printed by the laser printer with pre-printed sheets and envelope forms, which also may be printed by the laser printer or may be windowed envelopes, folds the sheets as necessary and folds and seals the envelope form about the folded sheets to produce a mail piece. A user inputs a configuration for the mail piece which is translated by the data processor into a data structure and transmitted to the controller of the folder sealer apparatus.

Abstract: A scale for fast determination of weights including a platform and a load cell transducer. Output of the transducer is converted to a digital signal, processed by a low pass digital filter, and weights computed as a function of the sequence of digital signals by means of an algorithm which compares a first estimate of the weight to the break points of a postal rate chart and uses the first estimate if it is not within a predetermined distance of a break point, and otherwise determines a second, more accurate estimate. The platform and transducers are combined to form a structure which does not have any significant resources below the cut-off frequency of the filter.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing items in selected configurations and a system and method for controlling the same. More particularly, an apparatus for producing mail pieces and a system and method for controlling it to produce mail pieces in a variety of configurations are disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser printer and folding sealing apparatus controlled by a data processor. The folder sealer apparatus combines sheets printed by the laser printer with pre-printed sheets and envelope forms, which also may be printed by the laser printer or may be windowed envelopes, folds the sheets as necessary and folds and seals the envelope form about the folded sheets to produce a mail piece. A user inputs a configuration for the mail piece which is translated by the data processor into a data structure and transmitted to the controller of the folder sealer apparatus.

Abstract: An electronic scale for weighing an article includes a weighing channel for providing an output indicative of the instantaneous weight of the article and a reference channel for providing an output indicative of instantaneous vibrations affecting the output of the weighing channel. The scale also has a mechanism for providing a signal indicative of a long term average of the reference channel's output. Another mechanism of the scale compares the average signal with the reference channel's output and provides a validation signal when the reference channel's output does not differ by more than a threshold amount from the average signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the representation of binary data. Each bit of binary data corresponds to one of two representations, where each representation is a 3.times.3 array of cells. In a first representation five cells of the array are asserted and four cells are not asserted, and the second representation is complementary to the first representation. In the first representation the asserted cells are the four corner cells and the central cell of the 3.times.3 array. These representations are preferred since they minimize the possibility of long runs of contiguous cells having the same value in an indicia representing a plurality of data bits; which is useful to synchronize scanning of the indicia. An error in the transcription of a data bit is detected by comparison of a nominal representation with the received 3.times.3 array in determining the number of cells which differ between the nominal and the received representations.

Abstract: A digitally implemented central dictation system wherein users designated as dictators may input Voice Files for later retrieval and transcription by a second group of users designated as transcriptionists. A system Supervisor has the capability to monitor operation of the system and allocate system resources. The system further includes an optional Voice Mail capability wherein selected dictators may input Voice Files for later retrieval by designated other dictators. The system further includes a plurality of telephone-like input/output devices used by system users for input and output of voice messages, which devices further include DTMF generators for input of command signals. Still further the system includes a Supervisory station for use by the system Supervisor in monitoring system activity and allocation of system resources, which station further includes a CRT type display and keyboard, and a printer for output of hardcopy reports by the system.

Abstract: An integrated circuit communication interface device includes data bus terminals, a serial output terminal, a serial input terminal, and an internal data bus. A data bus buffer connects the data bus terminals to the internal data bus. A transmit buffer connects the serial output terminal to the internal data bus. A receive buffer connects the serial input terminal to the internal data bus. Control circuitry controls the buffer so that the device receives or transmits data in either the Echoplex protocol or the RS 232 protocol. The device includes a data register which is programmed to select the device's mode of operation.

Abstract: An integrated circuit card includes a microprocessor, a memory and input and output devices. The card stores information regarding a parcel. The card is secured to the parcel and serves as a label. The card includes a liquid crystal display that displays a bar code.A similar integrated circuit card stores manifest data regarding a group of parcels. The card containing the manifest data is delivered to a carrier together with the group of parcels.

Abstract: A method and system for authenication of communications. More particularly the subject application discloses a method and apparatus whereby a third party may validate that a communication is an authentic communication from a second party sent with the authorization of a first party. For example, the third party may be a postal service, the second party may be a mailer, and the communication may be a postal indicia showing that a mail piece has been properly franked. The first party and the second party share an encryption key, or a series of keys. The first party also has a second encryption key which the third party has the ability to decrypted. In the subject invention the first party encrypts a key shared with the second party with the first party's second key and transmits this to the second party. The second party then uses its copy of the key to encrypt information and appends its encrypted information to the message received from the first party and transmits all this to the third party.

Abstract: A mail handling machine includes a mechanism for serially transporting along a main path sealed and unsealed close-flapped envelopes, some of which may be mis-sealed. The machine also inlcudes a mechanism for opening the flaps of the unsealed close-flapped envelopes. The flap opening mechanism includes a shaped blade pivotally mounted on the machine and located along the main path. There is also a shaped portion of a deck that includes a fixed guide edge located along the path and downstream of the blade. The blade strips open the flaps of the unsealed envelopes. A member is hingedly mounted to the trailing edge of the blade. The member is biased so as to obstruct the gap between the blade and the guide edge to prevent opened flaps from entering the gap.When a mis-sealed envelope engages the blade, causing the blade to move pivotally, the shaped portion cams up the member, which contacts the mis-sealed envelope and urges it out of engagement with the blade.

Abstract: A register system such as a carrier management system has a scale for weighing parcels, and a computer for determining shipping costs of the parcels. The computer has a memory including one or more accounting registers. A user PROM having a unique identification number therein is insertable in the system, and an initialization program stores this number in the system memory. Transactions cannot be accounted unless the numbers in the PROM and memory compare. A further PROM is insertable in the system in order to enable the initialization program.

Abstract: A circuit for modulating or demodulating an input potential includes a first operational amplifier for receiving the input potential and a second operational amplifier for outputting an output potential. A resistor network is connected to the operational amplifiers. A switch with a first position and a second position is connected to the resistor network and to at least one of the operational amplifiers. The circuit also includes a mechanism for repeatedly driving the switch between its first position and its second position. When the switch is in its first position, the output potential equals the input potential. When the switch is in its second position, the output potential equals minus one times the input potential.

Abstract: A load cell supporting member includes a central portion formed to receive a load cell and to protect a load cell from overloading. A plurality of arms extends radially from the central portion. The supporting member is a single, integral piece of said material.A weighing scale includes a first supporting member, a load cell supported by the first supporting member. The scale also includes a second supporting member, that is identical to the first and supported by the load cell and is identical to the first supporting member. The second supporting member supports a scale platform.Another weighing scale includes three identical supporting members and two load cells. A first supporting member supports a first load cell. The first load cell supports a second supporting member, which supports a second load cell. The second load cell supports a third supporting member. The third supporting member supports a scale platform.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing, folding, and sealing a one-piece form sheet to prepare a self-mailer. The apparatus includes a substantially conventional printer, which may be a laser printer, suitable for use with a personal computer. The printer is mounted above and outputs printed form sheets downwards to a folder sealer for folding and sealing to prepare a self-mailer. The folder sealer includes a folder having a central and peripheral rollers and curved, one-sided, open buckle chutes for folding the form sheet and delivering it to a transport which extends under the printer. The folder sealer also includes moistening apparatus for moistening areas on the form sheet to which a remoistable glue has been applied.

Abstract: A carrier management system includes a scale for weighing parcels to be shipped, a computer connected to receive data from the scale related to the weight of a parcel thereon, and first input keys enabling the input of information. The computer has a data base for storing shipping charge data for a plurality of carriers and/or shipping classes, based upon the weight of a parcel of the scale. The computer is responsive to the operation of the first keys for determining shipping charges for predetermined carriers and/or shipping classes represented by data in the data base. The input includes auto-rate selection key, and the computer is responsive to operation of the auto-rate selection key for determining shipping charges of the least costly carrier and/or shipping class of a predetermined subgroup of carriers and/or shipping classes represented by data in the data base. In one operating mode, the computer may determined the next least costly shipping charges.

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.