Patents Represented by Attorney Scolnick
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Patent number: 5765475Abstract: An postage printer including a print drum for printing a postage indicia having a fixed portion and a variable portion, the print drum including a first print surface and a second print surface, the postage printer comprising: an ink jet print head for printing the variable portion of the postage indicia on the second print surface; a print head cap; mechanism for bringing the ink jet print head and the print head cap into a capped relationship and a spaced apart relationship; wherein the ink jet print head prints while the ink jet print head and the print head cap are in the spaced apart relationship and the print drum passes between the print head and the print head cap.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1996Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: James A. Salomon
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Patent number: 5762428Abstract: A method for printing a high resolution postal indicia image includes printing with a printing mechanism a first low resolution indicia image on a mailpiece during a first pass between the printing mechanism and the mailpiece; printing with the printing mechanism a first portion of a second low resolution indicia image on the mailpiece during a second pass between the printing mechanism and the mailpiece; and printing with the printing mechanism a second portion of the second low resolution indicia image on the mailpiece during at least a third pass between the printing mechanism and the mailpiece, the second portion being complementary to the first portion to create therewith the second low resolution image, the second low resolution image being complementary to the first low resolution image to create therewith the high resolution postal indicia image. An apparatus incorporates the above method.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1995Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Cordery, Charles F. Murphy, III
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Patent number: 5765106Abstract: This invention relates to a cellular telecommunications systems that utilizes encryption and employs encrypted seed number signals to make it more difficult to make unauthorized cellular telephone calls.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1995Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Anthony F. Violante, Ronald P. Sansone
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Patent number: 5760801Abstract: A method comprising the step(s) of: positioning a print head and a maintenance head of an ink jet printer into proper mating relationship; driving the print head to a hard stop; measuring an indicator of the distance from the proper mating relationship position to the print head hard stop; storing the print head distance indicator in a memory; driving the maintenance head to a hard stop; measuring an indicator of the distance from the proper mating relationship position to the maintenance head hard stop; storing the maintenance head distance indicator in the memory; using the print head distance indicator to repeatably return the print head to the proper mating relationship position; and using the maintenance head distance indicator to repeatably return the maintenance head to the proper mating relationship position.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1997Date of Patent: June 2, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Jerome E. Jackson, Richard A. Malin, Edilberto I. Salazar
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Patent number: 5761665Abstract: The invention is a method of determining the contents of a selected data field. The steps begin by attaching, from an application program, a database to be mapped. Once the database is attached, a field identification module (FIM), will scan the contents of the database to determine a data field identifier for each of the data fields to be worked upon. The FIM will then compare each of the data field identifiers with a list of known identifiers stored in a repository and assess a first score in respect of the comparison wherein the score is representative of a probability that the comparison is an accurate comparison. When a first probability score has been determined, the FIM will sample the data field according to a pre-selected list of requirements and make a second comparison with the data field. The FIM will then assess a second score.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1995Date of Patent: June 2, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: David P. Gardner, Steven M. Kaye, Jeffery D. Pierce
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Patent number: 5757387Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning the nozzle plate of an ink jet print head and for drying the ink of an indicia on an envelope just printed is disclosed in which a strip of absorbent material is drawn across the nozzle plate after each or a predetermined number of printing operations has been completed, and heat is applied to the area of the absorbent material passing across the nozzle plate so that the absorbent material cleans any ink or other debris which may have collected on the nozzle plate during the printing operation. A similar strip of absorbent material is pressed against a freshly printed indicia on each succeeding envelope, and heat is applied to the area of the absorbent material that is in contact with the indicia to facilitate drying of the ink and to cause the absorbent material to absorb any excess ink on the indicia.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1994Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Flavio M. Manduley
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Patent number: 5758330Abstract: An electronic postage meter has non-volatile memories storing postage meter data under control of the CPU operating from a program in ROM. The data in non-volatile memory is organized into buffers of related data for ease of access. The memory is segmented and such segment has a corresponding bit in a bit map buffer which may be turned on or off in accordance with the good or bad status of the segment. The ROM stores initial entry into the non-volatile memory which is updated in the CPU's working memory in accordance with the data stored in the bit map buffer of the non-volatile memory.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1993Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Nanette Brown
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Patent number: 5746881Abstract: The moistening system is used in combination with a postage meter system, wherein the postage meter system includes a horizontal extend deck supported by a meter housing. A portion of the deck defines a printing station. The moistening system includes a housing defining a first chamber. A horizontally extending feed deck is detachably mounted to the housing enclosing the first chamber. A second chamber defined by the housing includes a latching mechanism for detachably mounting the housing and feed deck to the postage meter such that the feed deck is aligned contiguous to the deck of the postage meter. A reservoir container is removably mounted within the first chamber of the housing and has an aperture aligned to an aperture formed in the feed deck. A wick assembly includes a support brace is detachably mounted to the feed deck, a wick and a cap.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1995Date of Patent: May 5, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Ian R. Jenkins, Walter J. Kulpa, Howard M. Stevens, Chiping Sye, Christopher V. Hibberd
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Patent number: 5749078Abstract: A value dispensing system comprising a portable data carrier and a terminal. The portable data carrier including a memory having stored therein accounting information indicative of an amount of value available for dispensing. The terminal including a memory and means for dispensing value and adapted to receive the portable data carrier and process a transaction which dispenses a given value in response to a digital token generated by the portable data carrier using a first cryptographic key. For the value dispensed, the postage evidencing system creates a transaction record having a secret portion which is indicative of the amount of value available for dispensing on the portable data carrier wherein the secret portion of the transaction record is encrypted using a second cryptographic key derived from the first cryptographic key, and the transaction record is stored in the terminal memory.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1996Date of Patent: May 5, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Joseph L. Gargiulo, Walter J. Baker, Richard W. Heiden
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Patent number: 5745887Abstract: A value printing system having a printing mechanism; a device for moving the printing mechanism in a first predetermined manner during printing by the printing mechanism to record an indication of value on a recording medium; and apparatus, remote from the printing mechanism and the moving device, for effecting the moving device to change the movement of the printing mechanism from the first predetermined manner to a second predetermined manner different from the first predetermined manner during printing by the printing mechanism to record the indication of value on the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1996Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Joseph L. Gargiulo, Charles F. Murphy, III
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Patent number: 5742932Abstract: The invention is a method of accounting for a transaction cost and currency exchange relative to customer accounts in a hybrid mail system. The method begins by establishing a data center, a first remote data entry point, and a second remote data entry point which has mailpiece production means. The first remote data entry point, the second remote data entry point, and/or the data center may be co-located. A set of parameters which define a mailpiece, a unit cost where known for each parameter, a destination for the mailpiece, and a choice of debiting or crediting a customer account are determined at the first remote data entry point. The parameters and known costs point are transmitted to the data center and to the second remote data entry point. The mailpiece is produced at the second remote data entry point and a unit cost for each of the mailpiece production and delivery elements is calculated at the second remote data entry point and transmitted to the data center.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1996Date of Patent: April 21, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Paul A. Levitsky
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Patent number: 5742683Abstract: A system and method of managing multiple users of an open metering system, wherein the users have different access privileges, includes the steps of providing a user password system for vault access; programing the vault with a plurality of transition states operatively relating to the user password system; assigning vault functional access to each user password first entered into the user password system; and performing a requested vault function when an entered user password under which the request is made has been assigned vault functional access for the requested vault function. The vault is manufactured in a first state in which the user password system is not activated and the activates the user password system upon entry of an initial user password which changes the vault to a second state that accepts requests for vault functions.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1995Date of Patent: April 21, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: David K. Lee, David W. Riley, Frederick W. Ryan, Jr.
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Patent number: 5742685Abstract: An identification card and method and apparatus for producing and authenticating such an identification card. A person whom the identification card will identify, is scanned to produce a digital signal which is compressed, encrypted, and coded as a two dimensional barcode or as some other appropriate form of coding, which is incorporated into one portion of the identification card. The image is also printed or otherwise embodied onto another portion of the identification card. A text message maybe appended to the signal before it is encrypted and also printed as plain text on the identification card. In one embodiment the signal representing the image is encrypted using a public key encryption system and the key is downloaded from a center. To validate the card the coded message is scanned, decoded, decrypted, expanded and displayed.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1995Date of Patent: April 21, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: William Berson, Shailendra Kumar
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Patent number: 5742682Abstract: A method of manufacturing a secure box in a Key Management System that includes a plurality of functionally distinct secure boxes initializes a first manufacturing box if one does not exist. The method creates in a manufacturing box at least one logical security domain including encryption keys needed to perform Key Management System processes within the domain, and provides a target secure box with the capability to perform at least one Key Management System function from a plurality of functions required by the Key Management System. The method authenticates the target secure box to the manufacturing box, installs a unique secure box identification in the target secure box, and creates at least one logical security domain in the target secure box corresponding to a logical security domain in the manufacturing box.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1995Date of Patent: April 21, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Walter J. Baker, Robert A. Cordery, Frank M. D'Ippolito, Gary M. Heiden, Kathyrn V. Lawton, Steven J. Pauly
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Patent number: 5740728Abstract: A mailing machine comprising a control system, a print head having individual print elements which are selectively energizable for printing on an envelope and a transport system for feeding the envelope past the print head. The transport system including a first pulley, a second pulley in proximate location to the print head, an endless belt extending between the first and second pulley, the endless belt engaging the envelope and feeding the envelope past the print head, a drive system for causing the endless belt to rotate and an encoder system operatively coupled to the second pulley for providing signals indicative of the position of the second pulley. The control system in operative communication with the print head, the encoder system and the drive system for synchronizing the feeding of the envelope with energizing of the elements of the print head.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1996Date of Patent: April 21, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Christopher DeBarber, Gerald C. Freeman
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Patent number: 5740247Abstract: This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing cellular telecommunications systems that utilize encryption and employ encrypted seed number signals to enable various payment plans for access and payment.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1995Date of Patent: April 14, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Anthony F. Violante, Ronald P. Sansone
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Patent number: 5737899Abstract: This invention provides utilizes a centering device located in the accumulation portion of mail production equipment to reduce jamming caused by the insertion of material into an open envelope. The apparatus of this invention is located in the accumulation area of production mail equipment before the inserter. The apparatus of this invention includes: two guides; a solenoid and a flexible wire cable. Two centering guides are actuated through a solenoid and move to a predetermined center position to align and deskew the accumulated enclosure contents (which may include printed and pre-printed folded sheets, business reply envelopes and other insert material). A flexible wire cable is used to provide highly efficient transfer of motion from the solenoid to the centering guides.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1996Date of Patent: April 14, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Steven A. Supron, Michael D. Ballard, Joseph H. Marzullo
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Patent number: 5737805Abstract: Disclosed is a self rising cover assembly for use on a machine housing which includes a frame and a plurality of panels connected to the frame to define the machine housing. The cover assembly includes a flat body member which is pivotally connected to a portion of the frame to pivot from a closed horizontal position to an open nearly vertical position to provide operator access to the interior of the machine housing. A spring loaded actuator is interconnected between the body member and the frame which exerts sufficient upward torque on the body member to overcome the downward torque on the body member from the force of gravity to urge the body member upwardly after it has been manually lifted through a relatively short distance, after which the actuator moves the body member to the fully open position.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1995Date of Patent: April 14, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Ming Xiao
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Patent number: 5737426Abstract: The postage metering system includes a postage meter in bus communication with an external interface unit. The postage meter operates under the control of a programmable micro control system which is responsive to a number of postage meter program routines stored in the program memory of the meter micro control system. The postage meter also includes a principal communication port in bus communication with the micro control system and a keyboard also in bus communication with the meter micro control system for providing operator instruction to the micro control system. An external interface unit which includes a micro control system responsive to one or more of a program routines stored in the program memory of the external interface unit. The external interface further includes a postage meter port and a plurality communication ports. The postage meter port of the external interface unit is in bus communication with the principal communication port of the postage meter.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1994Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: George M. Brookner, Hyung-Kim Paul Kim
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Patent number: D395018Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1997Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: David W. Beckstrom, Ian R. Jenkins, Paul W. Porter, Karl W. Vanderbeek