Abstract: A system for determining and accounting for the costs of transactions. The system is particularly suited for determining and accounting the costs of shipping goods. The system includes an input device which is located at the shipper's (or other buyer's) premises and a central data processing facility. The input device receives information defining a shipment sufficiently so that the cost of that shipment may be determined in accordance with the rates of a carrier (or other seller), and uploads the information to the central data processing facility. Preferably, the input device includes rate information and software for determining shipment costs locally. The central data processing facility maintains accounts for a shippers and carriers, appropriately debits and credits costs for each shipment and periodically issues statements of their accounts to all shippers and carriers.

Abstract: A transport apparatus for a weighing module includes a scale which has a deck connected to a scale base for weighing an object placed on the deck. The deck has slots for accommodating dual thickness belts which are arranged below the deck to be in substantial registration with the slots. The belts are positioned with respect to the slot such that in a home position a thinner section of the belt does not protrude through the slot whereby the transport means does not interfere with weighing of the object on the deck. When the belts are actuated, the dual thickness belts move so that a thicker section of each belt protrudes through the slot as the belts are being driven to thereby lift the object from the deck onto the thicker section of the belt to transport the object on the belt. In a particular embodiment, the thicker section comprises lugs which include initial tapered transition lugs to assure lifting of the object.

Abstract: A method of felting an open cell polychloroprene latex foam layer to obtain desired properties. Such felting renders the finished foam suitable for controlled ink flow required for printing purposes. The felting is accomplished by reducing the volume of the foam and simultaneously heating at a temperature of 420.degree. to 480 .degree. F. for one half to two minutes, releasing the pressure for ten seconds to one minute and reapplying the pressure for an additional one half to two minutes.

Abstract: In a mailing machine base including structure for feeding an envelope, having a body and a flap, in a downstream path of travel, and including structure for deflecting the flap, a process for selectively guiding an envelope into and out of engagement with the flap deflecting structure, the process comprising the steps of, providing a baffle upstream from the flap deflecting structure, providing electromechanical structure for moving the baffle, providing a microprocessor for controlling the baffle moving structure, providing a resettable timer having a predetermined time out time interval, operating the baffle moving structure to move the baffle into the path of travel for guiding an envelope fed therein out of engagement with the flap deflecting structure and operating the baffle moving structure to move the baffle out of the path of travel for the time interval for guiding an envelope fed in the path of travel during the time interval into engagement with the flap deflecting structure.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing the amount of mail that is submitted to a local post office. A mailer sorts local mail from non local mail, identifies the destination of the non local mail and puts the same in a tray in accordance with the destination thereof. A label is attached to each tray and the tray is weighed. The destination of the mail and the weight thereof is communicated to the post office so that the post office can determine delivery routes and cost of such delivery. The non local mail is then forwarded directly to a common carrier by the mailer who will then deliver the mail to a non local postal distribution center.

Abstract: For speech signals that represent a wave form and include a sequence of samples, a method is provided for modifying the time scale of the speech signals. The method includes estimating the number of the samples that constitutes a pitch period. The estimate is made by a plurality of pitch estimators that operate in parallel and process peak and/or valley measurements of the wave form. The method also includes combining a first group of samples with a second group of samples to form a combined group. Each group consists of the same number of sequential samples from the sequence of samples. The number of samples in each group is equal to the estimated number of samples that constitutes a pitch period. The second group of samples immediately follows the first group in the sequence of samples. According to another feature of the invention, the method includes determininq whether the time scale of the speech signals is to be compressed or expanded.

Abstract: A method of felting porous polychloroprene latex foam to obtain desired properties. Such felting renders the finished foam suitable for controlled ink flow required for printing purposes. The felting is accomplished by reducing the volume of the porous polychloroprene latex foam and heating at a temperature of 400.degree. to 460.degree. F. for five to ten minutes.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying flat articles of varying width. The apparatus includes: a deck to support the flat articles; a device for moving the flat articles across the deck in a path from an upstream position to a downstream position, the deck having a pair of opposing slots extending perpendicular to the path; an arm below the deck pivotably secured with a center pin to the deck between the deck slots; a pair of links pivotably secured to the arm; a pair of guide plates pivotably secured to the links, each of the guide plates having a slot extending perpendicular to the path and slidingly engaging the center pin; a projecting member extending from each of the guide plates and slidingly engaging the deck slots; and a side guide fixedly secured to each of the guide plates, whereby movement of one of the guide plates in a direction closer or further from the path causes the other of the guide plates to simultaneously move closer or further from the path while the side guides retain a parallel relationship.

Abstract: An adjustment device for adjusting a lever arm located inside a machine frame wherein the lever arm is pivotally mounted to the frame at a first location and is spring biased against a stop at a second location of the frame. The device comprises a resilient sleeve having a shank portion adapted to extend through an aperture in the frame to act as the stop, and a head portion of larger diameter then the diameter of the aperture in the frame. The shank portion has a threaded section and a non-threaded section, the non-threaded section having a length greater than the frame thickness at the aperture, wherein the lever arm pivots as a screw extending axially through the sleeve is turned in the threaded section.

Abstract: An envelope sealing and feeding device has upper and lower interfitting parts defining a reservoir for a liquid to be used in the sealing operation and a substantially horizontal slot through which an envelope to be sealed can be fed. These parts co-operate with a wetter assembly which includes a wetter blade extending across the slot and a tubular structure containing wicking material and extending substantially vertically downwardly through the upper part and into the liquid reservoir.With this arrangement, replacement of the wetter assembly is made easier. Assembly and dis-assembly of the relevant parts of the machine in order to obtain access to the interior of the liquid reservoir can be done without difficulty.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing an envelope from a stream of envelopes moving along a straight path. The apparatus includes: an envelope turner; a device for raising and lowering the downstream end of the envelope turner; an envelope sealer situated adjacent and downstream of the envelope turner; a device for detecting an envelope to be ejected; and a device for signaling the raising and lowering device to be raised in order to feed an envelope to be ejected over the envelope sealer.

Abstract: In a mechanism for detecting double sheets fed from a feeder, including an actuator arm operatively coupled at one end to a magnet and at the other end to a paper follower, wherein the paper follower follows the profile of each sheet or group of sheets being conveyed between the paper follower and a fixed transport deck below thereto, the paper follower causing the actuator arm to pivot about a first axis to raise and lower the magnet with respect to a stationary electromagnetic sensor, an improvement comprises a flat spring mounted at one end to a shaft extending along the first axis, and a lever, having a pin for supporting an other end of the flat spring. The lever is pivotally mounted along a second axis for pivoting the pin between at least a first and second position wherein the flat spring provides a first dampening load to the paper follower and the actuator arm when the lever is in the fist position and provides a second dampening load to the actuator arm when the lever is in the second position.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating a pair of contiguous rollers from each other, the rollers being located beneath a cover. The apparatus includes: a pair of opposed, side frames; a lower roller fixedly mounted to the side frames; an upper roller adjustably mounted to the side frames; a biasing agent to bias the upper roller against the lower roller; a cover for the upper and lower roller pivotably mounted to the side frames; and a cable connected to the cover and to the upper roller. When the cover is pivoted from its closed positon to its open position, the cable is caused to move the upper roller away from the lower roller.

Abstract: In order to eliminate complex sheet forming operations, to provide an effective heat sink and to shield against radio frequency interference and electromagnetic induction effects, the housing arrangement has two assemblies which each comprise, inter alia, a die casting made of zinc or other material having equivalent radio frequency interference and electromagnetic induction shielding properties. A main logic circuit board is shielded by the two die castings when they are assembled together.

Abstract: A system for in-line feeding from two cut sheet feeders comprises a first feeder for feeding cut sheets seriatim along a lower paper path originating at the first feeder, and first transport structure adjacent the first feeder for transporting sheets fed from the first feeder along the lower paper path. There is a second feeder mounted above the first transport structure for feeding cut sheets seriatim along an upper paper path originating at the second feeder. Structure is provided for merging the upper and the lower paper paths into a main paper path whereby sheets fed from the first and second feeders are merged into the main paper path for further processing. Wherein the first and second feeders each include structure for reading control information printed on the sheets fed from the respective feeder. The control information is used to control the first and second feeders, the first transport structure and the merging structure.

Abstract: A system for automatically remotely recharging a postage meter. The system includes an integrated circuit microcontroller which establishes communication with existing electronic postage meters to obtain information necessary for automatic recharging using existing remote data processing system for the automatic recharging of postage meters, compiles that information with other information already contained within the system to form a message, transmits that message to the remote data processing system and receives in response a recharging code. The system then transmits the recharging code to the electronic postage meter which in turns test the code and, if the code is found valid, increments the meter descending register to effect the recharge. In one embodiment the system includes a communications unit and a base unit where the base unit is permanently connected to the meter and the communications unit may be separated from the base unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing a cut tape comprising, structure for receiving a cut tape, structure for feeding the cut tape from the receiving structure, the feeding structure including a solenoid operable for causing the feeding structure to feed the cut tape; and structure for controlling the feeding structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the solenoid electrically connected to the microprocessor, the controlling structure including a switch electrically connected to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor programmed for causing the solenoid to operate in response to actuation of the switch.

Abstract: A belt feeding assembly for feeding paper sheets. The assembly includes: a pair of side frames; an upstream shaft and a downstream shaft mounted in the side frames; a first timing pulley and a second timing pulley each having a one-way clutch for mounting on the downstream shaft; a third timing pulley and a fourth timing pulley each having a one-way clutch for mounting on the upstream shaft; a first timing belt mounted on the first and third pulleys; a second timing belt mounted on the second and fourth pulleys; and a device for driving the first and second timing belts, whereby when the first and second timing belts are initially driven at the start of operation, the one-way clutches enable the timing belts to properly and precisely seat in the timing pulleys.

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: Apparatus for folding and sealing sheets comprises means for feeding a sheet, means for bulging a portion of the sheet, means for folding the bulged portion, and means for adhering a sheet portion face to face to a portion thereof trailing the fold. Apparatus for enhancing the security of information on a front side of a sheet comprises said apparatus for folding and sealing sheets, where a plurality of folds are provided and the front side of said sheet is concealed from view inside said folds, said folds being sealed along the lateral side edge portions thereof. Address information may be applied adjacent the trailing edge of said sheet, and the trailing edge portion is folded to expose the address information to view.