Patents Represented by Attorney Scolnick
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Patent number: 5910179Abstract: Communication of information from a central station, acting as a source node, to a plurality of destination nodes at customer sites is implemented by using various of the destination nodes as intermediary transfer nodes, which receive information from the central station or from other predecessor intermediary nodes and which transfer the information to other intermediary transfer nodes or to final destination nodes. Communication links are established between specified ones of the destination nodes to provide a grouping of nodes in which each node transfers information to no more than a predetermined number of nodes, resulting in a top-down tree structure in which the central station is a top source node of the tree. The destination nodes provide confirmation signals confirming receipt of the transmitted information to the nodes in the immediately preceding level of the tree structure, along the same communication links used to transmit the information.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1996Date of Patent: June 8, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Ali Akbar Mohseni
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Patent number: 5909373Abstract: A postal meter is contained in a kiosk. The kiosk also contains a postage meter secure classifier; and a modem link, which communicates with a data center, that is located at a different location. The secure classifier records every time postal funds are dispensed by the postal meter and classifies the postal transactions of the postage meter into various categories, which are then stored in funds registers memory. The modem link communicates with the secure classifier and the data center, during a postage meter refill, by exchanging funds and information so that proper rebates will be applied to the kiosk owner. Thus, the data center may also be used to supply additional funds or refills to the postage meter contained within the kiosk.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1996Date of Patent: June 1, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Ronald P. Sansone, George B. Harvey
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Patent number: 5909013Abstract: A dimensional weighing apparatus is disclosed which has a weighing scale for determining the actual weight of a carton, and a conveyor means along which cartons are moved after being weighed to pass the cartons through a measuring station at which the length, width and height of the cartons are measured. A first measuring means measures both the height and length as the cartons move through the measuring station by means of a member that rides up the leading vertical face of the cartons to measure the height and then across the top surface thereof to measure the length. A second measuring means measures the width of the cartons as they move through the measuring station by means of carton contact members mounted along the side surfaces of the carton and move in and out of contact with the carton.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1996Date of Patent: June 1, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Daniel F. Dlugos
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Patent number: 5904092Abstract: A postage metering apparatus including a postage meter having a housing, a printing device disposed in the housing, an aperture in the housing exposing the printing device, a shutter bar mounted to the postage meter housing for movement from a closed position in which the shutter bar is disposed to cover the aperture and an open position in which the shutter bar is disposed away from the aperture, the shutter bar preventing access to the printing device through the aperture when the shutter bar is in the closed position and permitting access to the printing device when the shutter bar is in the open position; a base into which the postage meter is removeably inserted, the base including engaging structure for engaging the shutter bar; and driving structure for driving the engaging structure to move the cover between the closed and open positions, the driving structure including a motor, a drive shaft coupled to and driven into rotation by the motor and having a worm gear at one end thereof, a first pinion geaType: GrantFiled: March 6, 1998Date of Patent: May 18, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Thomas M. Lyga
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Patent number: 5899615Abstract: An apparatus and method for two-sided printing on items such as mail pieces. A printing station includes an ink jet printhead which is spaced from a transfer roller. As the roller rotates the printhead forms a first image on the surface of the roller. A mail piece or other item to be printed is feed through the printing station to pass between the printhead and the roller with the timing control so that the mail piece makes tangential, rolling contact with the transfer roller just as the image is completed on the roller and the image is then transferred from the roller to one side of the mail piece as the mail piece continues through the printing station by an offset printing process. As the mail piece passes between the roller and the printhead the printhead is controlled to print a second image on the opposite side of the mail piece.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1996Date of Patent: May 4, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Ronald P. Sansone
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Patent number: 5898785Abstract: A mailing system includes a mailing machine having a printing mechanism for printing an indication of postage value on a mailpiece and structure for controlling relative movement between the printing mechanism and the mailpiece to ensure the mailpiece is properly positioned relative to the printing mechanism during printing of the indication of postage value; a meter vault having a securely sealed housing, and apparatus, within the securely sealed housing, for accounting for the printed indication of postage value, wherein the meter vault is removably mounted in the mailing machine for easy removal via a plug-in connector; and a printing mechanism control module for securely controlling printing by the printing mechanism based on data received from the meter vault, the printing mechanism control module being removably mounted in the mailing machine for easy removal via a quick disconnect connector; wherein the meter vault and the printing mechanism control module are in electrical communication via the mailinType: GrantFiled: September 30, 1996Date of Patent: April 27, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Edward P. Cornell, Jerome E. Jackson, Wallace Kirschner, Richard A. Malin, Edward J. Naclerio, Maria P. Parkos, John H. Steinmetz
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Patent number: 5890818Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing fractions of a pixel from bar code bars to maintain the correct distance between adjacent correctly sized code forming bars. Thus, the distance between adjacent code forming bars will be constant and accurate. The foregoing is accomplished by varying a parameter of the beam or ink droplet that is used to produce the bar so that the bar width and space between adjacent code forming bars will be accurately maintained. Hence, bars of a bar code will be accurately reproduced to enable the bar code to be accurately read.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1997Date of Patent: April 6, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Ronald P. Sansone
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Patent number: 5889535Abstract: Apparatus and a method for cleaning and maintaining an inkjet printhead with a maintenance head. The apparatus includes: an inkjet printhead translatable in a first plane; a device for translating the printhead to a cleaning station; an inkjet maintenance head translatable in a second plane, wherein the first plane is not parallel to the second plane; and a device for translating the maintenance head in at least two directions in the second plane to engage the printhead at the cleaning station.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1996Date of Patent: March 30, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Jerome E. Jackson, Richard A. Malin, David Priven, Patricia Wong
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Patent number: 5888047Abstract: A separating and feeding machine is disclosed for removing a succession of bound booklets or the like from a supply hopper adapted to hold a stack of the booklets for feeding them to a subsequent apparatus for further processing. The separating and feeding machine includes a reciprocating vacuum feed plate disposed in the bottom of the hopper for advancing the bottom booklet through a discharge opening to a take away feed mechanism, and includes first and second stage separating mechanism which initially maintains at least the bottom two booklets in the hopper in shingled relationship to expose a marginal portion thereof adjacent the bound edge so that a pressing member can maintain a normal force on the exposed marginal portion of the bottom booklet to prevent it from wrinkling and becoming jammed in the discharge opening while the vacuum feed plate is moving it toward the discharge opening.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1996Date of Patent: March 30, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: David R. Auerbach, Rocco J. DiCrescenzo, Joseph Guiles, Richard F. Stengl
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Patent number: 5884158Abstract: This invention relates to a cellular telecommunications systems that utilizes the telephone number the cellular telephone is calling, with the number of telephone calls placed on that cellular telephone, i.e., call count and a seed number to create a digital certificate of the data. The digital certificate is used to make it more difficult to make unauthorized cellular telephone calls. The seed number may be changed after a predetermined number of calls has been made, i.e. one hundred, one thousand, etc. Thus, the transmission of seed numbers between data centers would be substantially reduced.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1996Date of Patent: March 16, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Frederick W. Ryan, Jr., Nathan Rosenberg
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Patent number: 5884292Abstract: A system for providing items of value, charging the items to a smart card, and for recharging the smart card. The system includes a station for providing the items of value, which may be postal services, and debiting the cost of the items to a smart card; the smart card being charged with funds equivalent data. The station also communicates with a Data Center for recharging the smart card. Users of the system communicate with the data center to request recharge of a particular smart card and in response to an authorized request the data center generates an encrypted authorization message which includes an identification number, the amount of recharge requested, and control data which preferably includes a control sum formed by adding the amounts stored in a descending register, which stores the amount available on the smart card, and an ascending register which stores the total of the amounts by which the card has been charged since initialization. Thus, the authorization message may be used only once.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1993Date of Patent: March 16, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Walter J. Baker, Joseph L. Gargiulo, Richard W. Heiden
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Patent number: 5881133Abstract: This invention includes a voice response unit that communicates rapidly and directly with a system with minimum human intervention and minimizes the number of retransmissions of information due to errors. The rapid communication is achieved by knowing the question or prompt posed by the voice response unit and preparing a response which is speed dialed to the voice response unit. The voice response unit also examines an error correction code, i.e., Reed-Solomon, to determine if there is an error in the information transmitted to the voice response unit. The timing information enabled the voice response unit to determine whether or not one or more tones are missing from the transmitted information or one tone became two tones. The voice response unit determines if the information it received is correct based upon the error correction code. If, the information is incorrect the voice response unit uses the error correction code to determine and correct certain errors.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1996Date of Patent: March 9, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes inc.Inventors: Frederick W. Ryan, Jr., Frank M. D'lppolito
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Patent number: 5878379Abstract: A dimensional weighing apparatus is disclosed which has a weighing scale for determining the actual weight of a carton placed thereon, and associated therewith is a measuring frame and an optical sensing system for measuring the linear distance of the three axes of carton positioned on the scale necessary to determine the volume of the carton. A computer processing unit determines firstly whether the actual volume of the carton is less or greater than a predetermined threshold volume, and provides an operator with a signal indicating that determination.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1996Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Daniel F. Dlugos, Seymour Feinland
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Patent number: 5876029Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet material feeder apparatus that includes a first feeder assembly positioned on an exit area of a sheet material storage compartment, which first feeder assembly is operative to provide a first driving force to a sheet material disposed in the storage compartment so as to convey the sheet material from the exit area of the storage compartment onto the main deck of an inserter system. The feeder apparatus further includes a second feeder assembly positioned on the main deck of the inserter system, which second feeder assembly is operative to provide a second driving force to the sheet material conveying through the first feeder assembly such that the sheet material is combined with the other sheet materials conveying along the main deck of the inserter system.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1997Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: William J Wright, Carlos L DeFigueiredo
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Patent number: 5878136Abstract: A key control system comprises the generation of a first set of keys which are then used for a plurality of respective postage meters. The keys are then related to a respective meter in accordance with a map or algorithm. The keys may be changed by entering the second key via an encryption using the first key.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1993Date of Patent: March 2, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Hyung-Kun Paul Kim, Robert A. Cordery, Leon A. Pintsov
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Patent number: 5873073Abstract: The invention is a method for producing a finished mail piece. The method allows a system user to select at a first node, a plurality of characteristics which define a mailing. These characteristics include selection of a document to be printed at a terminal node and a list of addresses to which the printed document will be sent. Once selections have been made, the print job is transmitted to a terminal node which comprises a data processor, an envelope printer, and a document printer among other elements. The document printer will print the document in accordance with the characteristics selected at the first node; and, the envelope printer will print addresses from the address list to corresponding envelopes. Once the document has been printed, it is inserted into the envelope by inserting means to form an unfinished mail piece. The unfinished mail piece is sealed and then franked with appropriate postage in order to form a finished mail piece.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1996Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Mark Bresnan, Je H. Oh
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Patent number: 5871288Abstract: A method is provided for improving print quality for a 2-D bar code. The method includes determining printer type, including print resolution, for printer that will print 2-D bar code and entering paper type for the envelope. A suggested 2-D bar code module size is calculated based on the paper and the printer type. A test sample 2-D bar code is printed at the suggested 2-D bar code module size. The printed test sample is scanned and then evaluated for print quality and readability. The method can also suggest a 2-D bar code module size to the user.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1996Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Frederick W. Ryan, Jr., Robert W. Sisson
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Patent number: 5867967Abstract: This device reduces the size of the gap between the apex of the flap opener blade and the drive roller. The above increases the probability that the flap of the envelope would be opened. The foregoing was accomplished by removing segments of the apex of the flap opener blade to allow clearance for the envelope and/or drive roller. Thus, the nominal position of the apex of the flap opener blade was moved closer to the drive roller which reduced the gap between the apex of the flap opener blade and drive roller. Consequently, the chance that the envelope flap would be closed was reduced.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1997Date of Patent: February 9, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Jason P. Paradis, Francesco Porco, Michael S. Doery
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Patent number: 5862753Abstract: An apparatus and method for printing postal indicia and similar images. The apparatus includes two print stations and an ink jet printhead transportable between the stations. The printhead forms images on a transfer roller located at each of the stations and the image is then transferred from the roller to a substrate. At the second station the transfer roller is incorporated in a detachable roller and is used to print remotely located substrates.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1996Date of Patent: January 26, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes, Inc.Inventors: Donald T. Dolan, Pushpavadan S. Nagarsheth
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Patent number: 5864622Abstract: An identification card and method and apparatus for producing and authenticating such an identification card. An object or other entity for which the identification card will evidence identity, status or characteristics 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. This key maybe changed from time to time to increase security. To facilitate authentication the corresponding decryption key is encrypted with another key and incorporated on the card.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1992Date of Patent: January 26, 1999Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: James R. Marcus