Abstract: The input station of a mailing machine includes an inclined tray for feeding vertically extending mail pieces. The thickness of the mail pieces is sensed, and a separator is responsive to sensed thickness to control the feed of the lowest mail piece on the tray to a weighing device. The mail pieces are transported vertically upwardly from the weighing device, to an upper roll, with the bottoms of the mail pieces being carried over the roll to start their descent to an output stacker. A postage meter may be provided at the weighing station, or adjacent the top roll. A flap moistener may be provided upstream of the top roll, and the flaps may be sealed adjacent the top roll.

Abstract: Pauses present in an input audio signal are detected and digitally encoded to represent the length of each pause. The audio signals are recorded; but the pauses included therein are replaced by respective pause encoded signals, thereby compressing the audio signals. When the compressed audio signals are played back, each pause encoded signal is sensed and is replaced by a pause whose length is derived from the encoded signal.

Abstract: A system for conveying information for the reliable authentication of a plurality of documents includes a device for solving a set of polynomial equations to develop a string of characters and having a decryption key therein that, upon application to the string of characters provided, reveals not only a plain text message indicating the source of the authentication but, in addition, provides the decryption key for use with the information provided by the mailer. The solution of the set of polynomial equations requires the accumulation of individual documents, each having a random x.sub.i and a solution f(x.sub.i) associated therewith.

Abstract: A printwheel encoder comprises a non-ferrous shaft having a magnet strip and a flexible Hall-effect sensor arrangement affixed thereon. Molded printwheels including a flux conducting ring having an inner spiral surface are rotatably mounted on the shaft in respective juxtaposition to each Hall-effect sensor. The wheels are mounted adjacent to each other so that the rings form a nearly continuous flux conducting sheath which protects the Hall-effect sensors from external magnetic fields.

Abstract: A mailing machine in which the mail is directed to a weighing station and laterally deflected at the weighing station, to enable overlap in the feeding of mailpieces to the weighing station. The weighing station includes means for stopping the mailpieces from movement in the direction in which they had been transported thereto. The transport path of the mail in the machine may be vertically V-shaped, or horizontally in parallel paths that are preferably in opposite directions. The input feeder may include two serially coupled horizontal conveyors for conveying horizontal stacks or vertical oriented envelopes, with the first of the conveyors running a slower speed than the last conveyor. A vertical conveyor advantageous transports the envelopes from the last horizontal conveyor.

Abstract: A device according to the invention is compatible with conventional magnetic tape loggers. Such a device is termed a message repeater, and it records and replays audio signals forming messages on a message channel, such as a telephone line or a radio channel. The message repeater includes circuits for converting the audio signals on a particular channel into corresponding digital signals and circuits for storing the digital signals. The message repeater also includes circuits for selectively recalling the signals that were stored and circuits for converting the signals that were recalled into analog audio signals. Messages on the selected message channel may be recorded and later replayed by the message repeater. Preferably, the message repeater includes a display with indications of the relative locations and lengths of the stored messages as well as a cursor or index.

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 particlar 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). A matrix representing the juxtapositions of the detected geographical features is generated and compared with stored predetermined matrices which, in turn, represent predetermined characters.

Abstract: Apparatus for inserting documents into an envelope. The apparatus includes: a housing frame; a constantly turning roller rotatably mounted to the frame; a lower, rotatable belt mounted to the frame and trained over the roller, the lower belt having an upper reach; and an upper, rotatable belt mounted to the frame, the upper belt having a lower reach engagable with the upper reach of the lower belt for transporting the documents. The apparatus further includes: a device for separating the front wall from the back wall of the envelope, the device located on the downstream side of the upper and lower belts; an envelope throat opening blade mounted to the frame on the downstream side of the upper and lower belts; and a pivotable trigger cam connected to the blade and engageable with the constantly turning roller and the documents, whereby when the documents engage the cam, the roller is engaged by the cam to thereby drive the opening blade into the throat of the envelope.

Abstract: A multichannel communications recorder or logger. The recorder is formed from modular elements which may be configured into a large number of selectable configurations. In each configuration one or more record decks is controlled by a control module which includes a system control microprocessor and a CRT control microprocessor. Control is provided by a user selecting to implement functions defined in accordance with a particular page displayed. Access to various pages is controlled by various levels of passwords with the highest level being used by a service person and lower levels being provided to users of the system. Because of the need to provide physical security for recorded tapes, each tape deck is provided with a door secured by an electro-mechanical lock. Because of the need to maintain continuous monitoring in many applications, the system is provided with the capability to be configured in configurations providing back-up for selected channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying a total value for a batch of items, and particularly a total postage value for a batch of mail pieces. A batch of mail is prepared in a conventional manner in accordance with information generated by a data processing system. The information is also provided to a secure manifest system which generates an output to be marked on each item. The manifest system determines a particular value for each item and generates a message identifying the entire batch. The message is encrypted and expressed as k ordered numbers. The ordered numbers are taken as parameters of a function f(x)=a.sub.o +a.sub.1x +. . . a.sub.k-1 x.sup.k-1 mod p. A unique arbitrary value, x.sub.i, is selected for each item and a value f of x.sub.i is determined. Each item is then marked with indicia including the postage value v.sub.i, x.sub.i, and f(x.sub.i). A party may then sample the batch to obtain k items, determine the parameters, a, from k ordered pairs x.sub.i, f(x.sub.

Abstract: A cutter module for a mailing machine having a support wall and base includes a cutter support member slideably mounted to one of the mailing machine support walls such that the cutter support member can be slideably displaced longitudinally traversed to a tape portion. The mailing machine includes tape eject mechanism for ejecting indicia printed tape portions. A rotary cutter blade is rotatively mounted to the cutter support member. A drive mechanism reciprocally displaces the cutter support member traverse to the tape portion. A cutter beam is provided coactive with the rotary cutter blade.

Abstract: Driver cicuitry for multiple combination LED/silicon detector sensors arranged in an array or scattered in a machine, wherein the LEDs and detectors are connected in a matrix arrangement to common busses to reduce the number of connections and minimize interference.

Abstract: In a mailing machine including a postage meter and a housing for supporting the postage meter, wherein the mailing machine includes means for individually feeding sheets in a path of travel through the machine, wherein the postage meter includes rotary means for printing indicia on the sheets; and wherein the postage meter includes a roller spaced downstream in the path of travel from the rotary printing means, an improvement in the sheet feeding means, the improvement comprising: an impression roller and a shaft on which the impression roller is mounted for rotation therewith; an ejection roller and a shaft on which the ejection roller is mounted for rotation therewith; an elongate carriage including a pair of side walls spaced apart from each other, one end of each of the side walls including an arcuately-shaped portion pivotally attaching the carriage to the housing and forming a generally C-shaped bearing bushing; the ejection roller shaft rotatably mounted with the bearing bushings for supporting the eje

Abstract: In a mailing machine including a postage meter, wherein the postge meter includes rotary structure for printing indicia on a sheet fed to the machine, wherein the machine includes apparatus for driving the printing structure, wherein the machine includes apparatus for feeding a sheet fed thereto downstream in a path of travel through the machine, wherein the sheet feeding apparatus includes an impression roller rotatably mounted beneath the rotary printing structure, and wherein the impression roller has an inner end and an outer end, an improvement comprising: apparatus for aligning a sheet fed to the machine with the path of travel, the aligning apparatus including a registration fence aligned with the path of travel, the aligning apparatus including an elongate stop lever and a shaft on which the lever is pivotally mounted outboard of the outer end of the impression roller, the stop lever extending into the path of travel for pivoting a sheet fed thereto toward the registration fence, the aligning apparatu

Abstract: In a mailing machine including a postage meter and means for feeding a sheet through and from the machine, wherein the postage meter includes rotary printing structure for printing indicia on a sheet fed through the machine, and the machine includes apparatus for driving the printing structure, wherein the driving apparatus includes a drive gear for rotating the printing structure, the driving apparatus includes a shutter bar movable into and out of locking engagement with the drive gear, the driving appartus includes an actuating member for moving the shutter bar, and wherein the machine includes trip structure for sensing a sheet, an improvement comprising: a source of supply of d.c.

Abstract: A postage meter having a rotable print drum also has a control arrangement ensuring that power is fed to the motor which drives the print drum via at least two parallel paths. One of these paths is operative to cause the motor to be driven until an envelope trip switch signifies that the envelope is fully discharged from the meter, irrespective of whether the other path is electrically conductive or not.

Abstract: In a machine including rotary structure for printing indicia on a sheet fed to the machine, wherein the machine includes apparatus for driving the rotary printing structure, wherein the driving apparatus includes a drive gear having a home position, wherein driving apparatus includes a locking member movable into and out of locking engagement with the drive gear when the drive gear is in its home position, and wherein the machine includes trip structure for sening a sheet fed to the machine, an improvement comprising: an actuating member for moving the locking member into and out of locking engagement with the drive gear; apparatus for controlling the actuating member, the controlling apparatus including resilient structure for urging the actuating member to move the locking member into and out of locking engagement with the drive gear; and the trip structure including structure for normally latching the controlling apparatus for preventing the resilient structure from moving the actuating member to move the

Abstract: An encryption/decryption key is generated from an identification number ID by first generating two sets of numbers from the identification number ID, based upon known expressions. The first set of numbers are employed as coefficients of a first polynomial to generate N first numbers for x=0, 1 . . . N-1 (N is the number of bits of the key) and a second number corresponding to each first number is generating employing the second set of numbers as coefficients and the generated first numbers as variables. The ordered pairs of first and second numbers generated correspond to addresses of a memory at which bits of the key are stored, the order of the bits being determined by the corresponding values of X. The expressions employ modular arithmetic using prime numbers as bases.

Abstract: A postage meter module is removable from the mailing machine base. In order to protect the print die, a shutter is provided to cover the die. The cover can be moved to expose the die only when the meter is installed on an appropriate meter base. At all other times the shutter is locked in position to cover the print die.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding and sealing seriatim a supply of documents into envelopes, each of the documents containing water-activated adhesive on at least one portion thereof. The apparatus comprises a hopper for storing a supply of the documents, means for applying moisture to a portion of the documents, and a pair of folding rollers for imparting a fold to the documents. The apparatus further includes a buckle chute for stopping the forward progress of the documents and causing the documents to enter the nip of the folding rollers, means mounted on the buckle chute for applying moisture to a interior portion of the documents, a pair of ironing rollers located downstream of the folding rollers for maximizing adhesive contact of the documents and forming the envelopes, and conveying/curing means located downstream of the ironing rollers for holding the envelope together during transport prior to their release for further processing.