Abstract: Apparatus for transporting documents from two directions includes first direction transporting structure for transporting first documents seriatim over the deck in a first direction, and second direction transporting structure adjacent a downstream end of the first direction transporting structure for seizing control of the first documents and transporting the first documents over the deck in a second direction. The second direction is approximately at a 45.degree. angle to the first direction. A third direction transporting structure is downstream from the second direction transporting structure for transporting the first documents in the third direction as the first documents are released from the control of the second direction transporting structure. The third direction is orthogonal to the first direction. An in-line transport is located upstream from the third direction transporting structure and adjacent a downstream end of the second direction transporting structure.

Abstract: An improvement in a stacking system having an urge roller, an input guide, a spring loaded backup paddle, a substantially horizontal surface and a substantially vertical registration wall. The improvement comprising a rib wrapped around the surface of the urge roller in a helical pattern. Thus, as the urge roller rotates and feeds an article toward the vertical registration wall, the helical rib forces the bottom edge of the article into contact with the horizontal surface. As a result, a properly aligned and tight stack of articles is formed.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding paper sheets of different length or into different folding patterns and for combining the folded sheets into a single collation. The apparatus includes: a first, right angle paper path for folding paper sheets s of a given size; and a second, straight paper path for folding paper sheets either of a different size than the paper sheets in the first path or in a different folding pattern than the paper sheets in the first path.

Abstract: A tape roll rewind device includes a rotatable tape spool with tape wound thereon; and a device for 1) storing energy in response to rotation of the tape spool in a first direction, 2) storing a maximum amount of energy regardless of the amount of rotation of the tape spool in the first direction, and 3) utilizing the stored energy to rotate the tape spool in a second direction to rewind tape onto the tape spool upon the ending of rotation of the tape spool in the first direction.

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 improved electronic meter for accounting for funding and transaction information includes a micro control system for controlling the operation of the meter in response to an operation program. The micro control system utilizes a microprocessor in bus communication with a plurality of addressable memory units and input device in bus communication with the microprocessor. The meter has a first mode of operation for performing transactions and accounting for the transactions and a second mode of operation for accessing the accounting information in response to a first security code. At least one of the memory units has a plurality of accounting registers for storing the accounting information in predetermined categories. The meter has a third mode of operation for accessing the registers of the first memory and initializing the registers in response to the input of a second security code.

Abstract: Inks have been discovered that may be used for providing additional security to the printed matter to which the ink has been affixed. A single ink provides the foregoing result by being fluorescent and phosphorescent.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an envelope flap moistener that comprises a frame for supporting the moistener and an elongate substantially rectangular-shaped base removably connected to the frame. The base has a fluid outlet aperture and a plurality of pockets located at spaced intervals longitudinally across the base. The moistener has a plurality of brushes capable of upwardly transferring fluid by capillary action. The plurality of brushes include means for slidably engaging the plurality of brushes within the plurality of pockets located in the base. A cover is mounted onto the base. The cover has a fluid inlet aperture and a plurality of openings for exposing the plurality of brushes.

Abstract: In a microprocessor-controlled apparatus a plurality of event vector tables and a plurality of event action blocks are defined and stored in memory to provide a determined set of actions to be performed in correspondence to activation by respective determined events. A profile interpreter processes action function sequences from these tables and commands the corresponding actions, sets a corresponding event-occurred flag and thereafter commands other actions and manipulates the flag by operation of respective profile action functions associated with the respective operations of the apparatus. The levels of operation may be arranged hierarchically so that additional modules may be added at a lower level without altering the control functions provided at the higher level. All of the primitive functions that can be realistically supported by the device controller are preferably included in the base software. Aggregate functions may be designed to support complex I/O functions such as scanning.

Abstract: Document registration apparatus, including: a deck for supporting documents along a document path from an upstream position to a downstream position; a pair of transport belts for transporting the documents along the document path; a plurality of laterally spaced registration stops defining a document registration position in the document path, the stops being located at a downstream position substantially perpendicular to the document path for both stopping the documents at the document registration position and for aligning the documents relative to the document path; a pinch roller situated above each of the pair of transport belts at an upstream position for urging the stopped documents against the transport belts; and a pair of laterally spaced belt/paper supports secured to the deck.

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: A buckle chute folding system for imparting a fold to a collation of paper sheets. The system includes: a substantially vertically oriented buckle chute; a pair of upper and lower feeding rollers defining a feed nip upstream of the buckle chute; a third feed roller associated with the lower feed roller, the third feed roller and lower feed roller defining a feed nip; and a device for positively driving the upper feeding roller, whereby the collation of sheets is fed through the nips into the buckle chute without any shingling effects.

Abstract: A stacker for stacking paper documents seriatim is disclosed. The stacker includes: a platform, a helix extending upwardly from the platform; and a device for rotating the helix, whereby a paper document placed at the bottom of the helix can be driven upwardly to the top of the helix.

Abstract: A control system and method for ejecting an envelope having: a feeder for feeding the envelope out of the envelope handling device, a sensor for sensing the trailing edge of the envelope, and a microcontroller for controlling the feeder and in communication with the sensor the microcontroller causing the feeder to accelerate the envelope above a desired speed and decelerate the envelope after the sensor senses the trailing edge of the envelope so that the envelope is fed from the envelope handling device at the desired speed.

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

Abstract: The apparatus of this invention consists of a housing containing 1) a "cam-motor" mechanism 2) an input shaft and 3) an output shaft that may or may not be collinear with the input shaft. The "cam motor" mechanism linking the input and output shafts is capable of an infinite variety of motion transfer functions between the input and output shafts. A "cam-motor" or cam-modulated linkage provides the transfer function. Output motion can be specified to be any of a large variety of displacement profiles (either clockwise and or counter-clock wise) including several dwells and controlled accelerations and decelerations between them. Input motion can also be specified and can have either constant or variable velocity.

Abstract: A postal indicia is disclosed that contains markings thereon which may be used to distinguish between availability or non availability of additional security and sorting information. The foregoing will make the handling of the mail faster and more efficient. The ink that is used to print portions of the indicia is fluorescent for conventional indicia printing and fluorescent and phosphorescent for value added bit map generated printing.

Abstract: The electronic postage meter includes a printing unit which is responsive to a plurality of motors for printing of a postage indicia in response to a control circuit. The control circuit is comprised of a programmable microprocessor in bus communication with an accounting medium having memory units for accounting for the postage printed by the printing unit responsive to the programming of the microprocessor. An integrated circuit includes an address decoding module for generating a unique combination of ASIC control signals in response to a respective address placed on the bus by the microprocessor. A timer register is responsive to ones of the control signals from the address decoding module to enable writing of the timer data into the timer registers by the microprocessor. The timer unit is responsive to the timer data for generating one of a plurality of timing signals in accordance with timer data. Also included are a plurality of non-volatile memory units.

Abstract: A method for providing motion information for a motor controller is accomplished by defining a determined set of motion parameters for describing a desired motion in terms of encoder position data. The parameters are stored for use in calculating the desired motion profile of the motor during the various motion segments of the desired profile as the motor is being driven. The method saves on required memory storage for all the various motor profiles typically used in devices such as inserters since only the parameters used in calculating must be stored. A flag field is also provided to enable the microprocessor to determine which of the segments is being generated.

Abstract: In an envelope stacker, a normal force roller mechanism drives a mail piece vertically then retracts without adding significant torque to the stacker. The normal force roller mechanism is comprised of a frame and a bracket pivotally mounted to the frame, the bracket further having an aperture and an arm with a shaft extending therefrom. An idler roller is mounted to the shaft. A hub having a slot is rotatably mounted to a plate. An assembly is provided for moving the plate in a substantially horizontal direction. A generally L-shaped pin having a first end portion and a second end portion extends through the slot so that the first end portion engages the aperture of the bracket. A spring is mounted onto the L-shaped pin between the second end portion and the hub.