Abstract: A high volume mailing installation is disclosed in which the output of a programmable high speed electronic digital computer provides destination and postage amount information, a high speed chain printer driven by the computer prints the destination information on address labels, and an authorized postage printing meter is mounted piggy-back fashion on the chain printer and responds to the same computer for automatic printing of authorized postage impressions of the calculated amount on the same mailing labels. The meter includes a fast, rugged solenoid-actuated segmented flat bed postage printer unit and fixed-program electronic digital postal accounting circuitry, with appropriate security features to prevent or detect postal fraud.

Abstract: A composite of several materials constructed to form a printing disc, of the type used in high speed printers. The printing disc is manufactured in separate stages in order to achieve characteristics within the final assembly that are necessary for high speed quality printing. The assembled printing disc comprises a disc shaped member of flexible plastic. The hub of the disc has radially extending arms which each unite with a print head character composed of a thin layer of powdered metal or plastic zinc plated with a layer of metal.

Abstract: A flap separating mechanism and method for distending a flap from a body portion of an envelope.An envelope moving through a mail handling system may require its flap to be moistened and sealed. As a prelude to the moistening procedure, the flap of the envelope must be separated from the body portion. The separating mechanism disclosed herein comprises a pivotable elongated bar. An incoming vertically oriented envelope engages a dog-leg bend in the bar causing it to pivot to a deflected position. A weighted lever arm urges the elongated bar to pivot back to its original position, which provides a force to be applied to the back of the envelope. This force "breaks-the-back" of the envelope, which in turn results in distending the flap from the body portion thereof.

Abstract: A mounting fixture for mounting a postage meter to a mail-handling machine is disclosed. The fixture features a pivotable housing which pivots to disengage the postage meter from its printing position. A pair of elongated tracks are disposed upon the housing, which then guides and allows the postage meter to be pulled forward to an accessible position. In this position, the meter is easily set to a new register reading for purposes of adding funds to the machine.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for controlling a document inserting machine having a plurality of operating stations therein, one of which includes a high speed feeder for feeding documents bearing control function indicia thereon. The process involves detecting the leading edge of the document and generating time signals in accordance with the speed of the document through the feeder. The control function indicia are scanned for generating control function data bits therefrom which are stored and recycled on the occurrence of a first data bit, thereby converting the time measurement to a distance measurement which provides a means for producing accurate distance measurements between the occurrence of a first data bit and subsequent data bits based on the control function indicia on the document.

Abstract: A collating, folding and inserting system having a plurality of collating stations arranged in series along a feed path. Documents are collated in seriatim along the feed path, and are then collectively stuffed into an envelope at a stuffing station located downstream of the collating stations. One or more of the collating stations can comprise a combination document folding mechanism and a document feeding mechanism. The folding and feeding combination comprises a folder feed roller for feeding one document at a time into a folding apparatus which discharges a folded document into said feeding mechanism. The feeding mechanism comprises a discharging roller which receives the folded document and discharges it to a chain driven gripper operatively movable along the feed path.

Abstract: The apparatus relates to an electronic verification and control system for obtaining an input count of entered bills and an analysis for various entry conditions for the bills and their state of fitness, and further to an automatic separator and inserter for packaging bills in a desired quantity for delivery.The system includes a conveyor for entering the quantity of a block of currency, commonly referred to as a strap, in terms of the number of bills contained within the strap. A detection circuit detects various entry conditions and determines quality and fitness. The bills are sorted accordingly, and a total count is maintained. At entry condition factors such as bill size, double bills, or bills too closely spaced are monitored, which provides for rejection of improperly entered bills as well as inhibiting the operation of the input count for consistency. Verification of an input count is provided by further ecount detection in the area of collection.