Abstract: In an inserter including a support member rigidly extending transversely over a paper path in the inserter, a self adjusting document scanning apparatus includes a scanner having a scan head and structure for mounting the scanner to the support member. The mounting structure is operatively coupled to the support member so as to allow position adjustments of the scanner in the transverse direction. The mounting structure also provides a fixed reference for the upward movement of the scanner. There is linkage for coupling the scanner to the mounting structure. The linkage holds the scanner stationary in longitudinal and transverse directions and allows downward-upward movement of the scanner. Paper guides are operatively coupled to the scanner for maintaining a fixed distance between the scan head and a sheet of paper being scanned.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 1, 1991
Date of Patent:
December 15, 1992
Assignee:
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Inventors:
Joseph H. Marzullo, Franklin J. Buckley
Abstract: An adjustable deck system including: a first, stationary deck; a second, rotatable deck partially overlying and pivotably mounted to the stationary deck; and a device for rotating the rotatable deck relative to the stationary deck. The rotating device includes: a pair of support brackets spaced from each other and secured to the stationary deck; a first shaft fixedly secured at its ends to the pair of support brackets; a traveling block slidably mounted on the shaft; a device for moving the block along the shaft; and a link pivotably secured at one end to the block and at its other end to the rotatable deck, whereby when the block is caused to move along the shaft, the link causes the rotatable deck to rotate with respect to the stationary deck.
Abstract: A printing mechanism sub-module for postage meters of the flat-bed type includes a meter housing with a print meter slogan aperture. A first and second print element each includes a plurality of radially locatable print faces around the center of the respective print elements. A first and second brackets is mounted to the internal of the meter housing and a shaft is rotatively mounted between the first and second brackets having a first and second shaft section. The first printing element is mounted radially around the first shaft section such rotation of the shaft causing corresponding rotation of the first printing element. The second printing element is rotatively mounted around the second shaft section such that the second printing element may be rotatively positioned independently of the shaft position. A first gear fixably mounted around the shaft. A second print element has a second gear formed at one end and aligned opposite the first gear.
Abstract: In an envelope stuffing apparatus which has an enclosure inserting station and includes a deck at the inserting station, side guides coupled to the deck, structure for delivering an enclosure along the deck, structure for feeding an envelope to the inserting station, structure for opening the envelope, and structure for inserting an enclosure into the envelope and for removing the envelope from the inserting station, and wherein said opening structure includes structure for supporting the flap of the envelope above the deck, there is an improvement in the inserting structure for handling different style envelopes. The improvement comprises an adjustable section of the deck comprising a center deck plate adjustably mounted for being positioned adjacent to a specific throat opening of the envelope. The center deck plate is on a horizontal plane slightly higher than a plane of horizontal members of a pair of throat openers.
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: An apparatus for adjustably positioning a scanner along a transport deck includes a cartridge; and a belt structure rotatably mounted in said cartridge, for positioning the scanner transversely along the transport deck. The belt structure includes a reach parallel to the transport deck having an aperture at which the scanner can be mounted. There is adjustment structure, adjacent the belt structure, for rotating the belt structure to adjust the position of the aperture.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 24, 1990
Date of Patent:
November 17, 1992
Assignee:
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Inventors:
Earl E. Eschweiler, Jr., Edward M. Ifkovits
Abstract: An alphanumeric character is recognized by optically scanning that character, detecting the occurrence of predetermined geographical features in the scanned image, comparing the detected geographical features to a store of particular geographical features which identify respective alphanumeric characters, and identifying the scanned image as the alphanumeric character having those geographical features to which the detected geographical features favorably compare. The aforementioned geographical features comprise lagoons (formed as enclosed areas) and bays (formed as open areas). The types of bays and lagoons, as well as the relative positioning of such bays and lagoons with respect to each other, characterize the respective alphanumeric characters. By detecting the bays and lagoons and relative positions thereof in the scanned image, the identity of that image is ascertained.
Abstract: An improvement to a modular inserter system that provides customized inserter machines which are configured by combining a plurality of modules, including a variety of module types, for example, feeder, folder and insertion modules, each module containing a microprocessor for controlling the module as part of the control system for the customized inserter machine. The improvement comprises a first upstream module of the inserter machine and a submodule feeder including structure for coupling the submodule feeder to the upstream end of the first upstream module. The submodule feeder performs operations of a feeder module under the control of the microprocessor of the first upstream module.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 20, 1990
Date of Patent:
November 17, 1992
Assignee:
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Inventors:
Susan Mahmoodi, Joseph H. Marzullo, Mark A. Scribe
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.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 22, 1989
Date of Patent:
November 10, 1992
Inventors:
Alan F. Sweet, Albert J. Gobel, Jr., Mark N. Vogel, Judith M. Eckert, Emil F. Jachmann
Abstract: A communication system for processing information for distribution, including: a central data station, a plurality of user stations, a communication link interconnecting the user stations with the central data stations, each the user station including means for accessing the central station, the central station including a data base of distribution information, the user station including means for accessing the central data station data base, the central data station including means responsive to the user usage pattern for providing data to the station which optimizes rate and time of distribution.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 16, 1988
Date of Patent:
November 3, 1992
Assignee:
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Inventors:
Raymond Keating, Ronald P. Sansone, Karl H. Schumacher
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.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 24, 1989
Date of Patent:
October 27, 1992
Assignee:
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Inventors:
Paul Kroll, Eugene P. Gerety, Earl B. Holtz
Abstract: Apparatus for processing letters, comprising: an elongate deck; structure for feeding respective letters in a downstream path of travel extending longitudinally along the deck, the feeding structure including a pair of axially parallel spaced rollers, the feeding structure including an endless belt looped about the rollers and disposed in engagement therewith; and structure for supporting the feeding structure, the supporting structure including a stationary frame, the supporting structure including a pair of elongate parallel-spaced support members pivotably attached to the frame and extending therefrom into overhanging relationship with the deck, and the feeding structure removably connected to the support members.
Abstract: In an inserter, an apparatus for reading a bar code symbol on a sheet comprising feeder means for sequentially feeding a plurality of sheets, at least one containing a bar code symbol printed thereon. A moving beam scanner is positioned to scan at least two times the bar code symbol on at least one of the sheets as the sheet is fed from the feeding means. The apparatus includes means for decoding the bar code symbol. The moving beam scanner can be pivoted to scan either ladder position bar code symbols or picket fence position bar code symbols without requiring any further changes to the inserter.
Abstract: Apparatus for assembling sheets comprising: portable structure for supporting a first plurality of sheets in a predetermined order in a stack, said portable structure including memory structure having stored therein a plurality of codes listed in said predetermined order, each of said codes including data identifying one of the sheets of said stack; structure for receiving a second plurality of sheets respectively including an identity code; structure for comparing codes for relatedness thereof; and structure for collating first and second sheets identified by related codes.
Abstract: A fluid level detector comprises a tank including a sleeve portion extending vertically from a bottom section of the tank to a top section of the tank, and sensor device mounted to a circuit board connected at one end to monitoring device, with the circuit board being inserted into the sleeve. There is a circular float assembly with a center aperture. The circular float assembly includes a pair of magnets mounted in push-pull orientation at opposite sides of the aperture within the float assembly. The float assembly is slidably positioned over the sleeve whereby the float assembly moves up and down the sleeve as the water level changes in the tank, wherein the sensor device generate a signal representing detection of fluid level by the sensor device when the fluid level in the tank is substantially at the level of the sensor device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 17, 1991
Date of Patent:
October 20, 1992
Assignee:
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Inventors:
Carlos L. DeFigueiredo, George J. Doutney
Abstract: A sensor processor for cooperating with a drive controller in a high-speed mail-handling machine. The sensor processor access periodically a plurality of sensors distributed throughout the machine, and then writes the sensor data to an NVM-RAM shared with the drive controller. Time-critical sensors are accessed more frequently than non-time-critical sensors.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 8, 1991
Date of Patent:
October 13, 1992
Assignee:
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Inventors:
Peter C. DiGiulio, Williams J. Linkowski, Francis E. McDermott, Edilberto I. Salazar, Robert J. Tolmie, Jr.
Abstract: An automatically settable date printing apparatus adapted particularly for use in postage meters which print an indicia on envelopes as they are fed seriatim past a rotary printing drum in the postage meter in which a plurality of print wheels print the day, month and year successively for each day. The apparatus includes a date print wheel assembly having individual print wheels for printing the unit day, the decade day, the month and the year for any given date. A drive wheel assembly includes a plurality of independent drive wheels for driving the date print wheels an appropriate amount, the drive wheel which is connected to the unit day print wheel being the sole source of input drive for the other drive wheels which rotate the other date print wheels by an appropriate amount through transfer components on the drive wheels.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 20, 1992
Date of Patent:
October 13, 1992
Assignee:
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Inventors:
Michael S. Doery, Arnold T. Eventoff, James A. Salomon, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.
Abstract: An accessing guide in combination with the paper path of a deck for transporting paper documents. The combination includes: a deck for supporting and transporting paper documents seriatim; and an adjustable side guide mounted on the deck for movement perpendicular to the direction of the paper path for guiding the flow of documents along the deck. The guide has a pivotable rail which can pivot away from the paper path in order to allow access to the paper path by an operator.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 9, 1991
Date of Patent:
October 13, 1992
Assignee:
Pitney Bowes Inc.
Inventors:
Richard D. Boughton, Joan T. Wagner, Kenneth A. Schulz, Robert D. Lynch, Jr., Joseph H. Marzullo