Abstract: A mailing machine for conveying envelopes seriatim along a feed path toward a postage meter operatively connected to said mailing machine. The mailing machine includes a housing frame, a deck secured to the frame for supporting the envelopes, the deck having a longitudinal slot therein, a lower, driven, feed roller rotatably mounted on the frame, and an electro-mechanical tripper mounted on the frame for actuating the postage meter, the tripper projecting upwardly through the deck slot adjacent and downstream of the lower feed roller.

Abstract: A microprocessor based mailing system, wherein postal rate charts are provided on portable media such as floppy disks, having the capability to update such postal rate charts. The mailing system includes a microcomputer system made up of a microprocessor, a CRT display, a keyboard, dual disk drives and printer; a scale for determining the weight of items to be mailed, and an optional postal meter. The microprocessor determines the appropriate postage for items to be mailed in accordance with the item's weight, postal information input by an operator and postal rate charts stored on a first disk in one of the disk drives. To update the postal rate charts a second disk may be substituted for the first while the first disk is shifted to the other drive. The second disk contains updating information and an updating program to update the rate charts. Upon initialization of the system the updating program is loaded and executed.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing a workpiece having a flexible upper wall. The apparatus includes a vacuum plenum having a bottom wall provided with a multiplicity of apertures. In addition, the apparatus includes workpiece feeding apparatus. The feeding apparatus includes container structure including an evacuatable enclosure made of a flexible air-impermeable material rendering the enclosure contractable upon evacuation. The enclosure has a top wall dimensioned for receiving thereon a workpiece. And the feeding apparatus includes structure for moving the container structure in a predetermined path of travel relative to the bottom wall of the plenum.

Abstract: A mailing system that generates data representative of the total postage value of a stream of mail pieces to provide proof of the debiting of a stored postal value includes a portable device having a processor and a memory.

Abstract: A mailing system for processing a batch of mail generates data representative of the total postage value of a batch of mail. The total postal value is debited from a descending register such that proof of the total postal value debited can be printed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for indicating the number of the particular message that has been reached on a bi-directionally movable record medium used with a record/playback device. A position count is incremented and decremented as the record medium moves in forward and reverse directions, respectively; and end-of-message counts representing the locations of the ends of messages relative to an arbitrary reference location of the record medium are stored. Information representing the number of each message whose end-of-message count is stored is provided; and the number of the message which has been reached is determined as a function of which stored end-of-message count is greater than the present position count and which stored end-of-message count is less than that position count.

Abstract: A system for detecting fraudulent imprints on documents is disclosed. The system comprises a metering device, a host and a verifying facility. The metering device provides a validation signal to the host and its associated printer. Thereafter, the printer prints information which includes information from the validation signal. Thereafter the information printed on a mailpiece can be validated at the verifying facility by detecting the validation information provided by the metering device. The system provides a method to make a secure metering device without an integral printer. This value printing system provides for a secure system that will allow for the detection of fraudulent imprints at a veryfying facility.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for turning flat articles. The apparatus includes an apparatus for receiving a serial stream of the articles which are traveling along a first linear path, the path including a nonrotating surface. There is a rotating device which causes each article to rotate through a pre-selected angle. The device also steers the articles in a pre-selected direction by a roller. A guiding apparatus causes each article to be properly directed, and a conveying device causes each rotated article to be conveyed along a path which is parallel to the pre-selected direction of travel. The apparatus is utilized in executing a method for receiving, rotating and conveying the articles along the pre-selected direction.

Abstract: A mailing system for metering batches of mixed weight mail. The system includes a demand feed for singulating mailpieces, a weighing module for weighing the singulated mailpieces and determining the appropriate postage amount and a postage meter responsive to the weighing module for metering each singulated mailpiece with the appropriate postage amount. A transport system sequentially transports singulated mailpieces from the feeder to the weighing module when the postage meter is set then stops during the weighing period. The postage meter is set for the next sequential mailpiece only after weighing and metering are both completed. In another embodiment a mechanical buffer is provided between the weighing module and the meter to allow overlapping of weighing time with meter setting time.

Abstract: A collating station is disclosed for a machine intended to insert first and second documents into an envelope. Prior to the insertion operation, the first and second documents are advanced serially in a common plane. At a predetermined location, each first document is intercepted and lifted above the common plane and moved to a holding platform spaced above the common plane. The holding platform has a transverse terminal edge downstream from where the first document comes to rest. Thereupon, the first document resting on the holding platform and a following second document which continues to advance along the common plane as the first document travels toward the holding platform are advanced together in a parallel spaced relationship, toward a downstream station. As the documents are advanced, the first document drops off the terminal edge of the holding platform and onto the second document thereby completing the collating operation.

Abstract: Cancellation of noise in the weighing channel output of an electronic scale due to external vibrations is achieved by use of a reference, non-weighing channel in the scale. The reference channel is exposed to the vibrations affecting the weighing channel. The average output, Aavg, of the reference channel is divided by the instantaneous output, A.sub.t, thereof, and the result is multiplied by the instantaneous output, W.sub.t, of the weighing channel to obtain a corrected output, Wavg, indicative of the weight of an article plus tare. Method and Apparatus are disclosed. Analog and Digital embodiments of the apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: Two spaced-apart outer elements are adapted to be excited by an oscillator. An inner element is disposed therebetween and provides a signal indicative of its spacing relative to the other elements. The signal is processed to determine this position. The elements are arranged on a flexure that is responsive to a load to form a load cell wherein the signal from the inner element is indicative of the magnitude of the load. Various flexure arrangements are disclosed. The elements are preferably parallel plates, having a surface area substantially greater than their separation. In an embodiment of the invention, the inner plate is bifurcated longitudinally, forming two nominally-coplanar inner plates, to offset the effects of off center loading on the flexure with respect to the output of the load cell.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing enhanced security to the non-volatile memory of an electronic postage meter during power up and power down of the meter is disclosed. The apparatus comprises means for detecting a regulated voltage level of the meter, means for detecting an unregulated voltage level of the meter, means for detecting a predetermined frequency from a system clock associated with the meter and a reset delay circuit responsive to the detected unregulated voltage, detected regulated voltage and the predetermined clock frequency for allowing access to the non-volatile memories if the unregulated voltage level, the regulated level and the clock frequency have reached their appropriate levels and preventing access to the memories otherwise. Through the use of this circuitry the critical accounting information within the memories is protected during the powering up and powering down of the postage meter.

Abstract: A low voltage control circuit, and associated method, is provided for maintaining at least one output terminal in a known state regardless of the state of the inputs, when at least one voltage to be monitored is above a threshold voltage and below a predetermined limit voltage, comprising control means for providing a deactivating output voltage when the voltage to be monitored is below the predetermined limit voltage, output means electrically coupled to the control means for receiving the output voltage from the control means and for receiving at least one input voltage, the output means being deactivated in response to the deactivating output voltage to provide a known voltage state at the output terminal until the voltage to be monitored reaches the predetermined limit voltage whereupon the control means will provide an activating output voltage to the output means to enable the voltage state at the output terminal to be controlled by the state of the inputs.

Abstract: A postage meter system of the type having postage value input selection means, a postage printing means with a settable printing element and a drive means coupled to said postage printing means for setting the postage printing element including a print element setting system. The element setting system employs the drive means such that the drive means is operable to drive said printing element at different operating speeds to set said postage printing element to a selected postage value. The print element setting system further includes a position detecting means and a control means. The position detecting means detects the actual position setting of the printing element.

Abstract: An improved deskewing device for a postage meter mailing machine comprising a support mounted over an upper surface of the mailing machine feed deck. A first feed roller is rotatably mounted on the support upstream from the postage meter with the axis of the first feed roller disposed at an angle within the range of 5 to 30 degrees to the registration guide and spaced laterally from the feed deck registration guide at approximately 0.75 inches. A drive rotates the first feed roller. Mounted in the feed deck is semispherical member directly below the first feed roller. A drag is mounted to the support upstream from the postage meter for encountering the envelope and applying thereto a drag force parallel to the registration guide and counter directional to the envelope traversing direction, the drag being spaced laterally from the registration guide approximately 3.0 inches therefrom and upstream from the first feed roller approximately 0 to 0.6 inches therefrom.

Abstract: A mailing system for metering batches of mixed weight mail. The system includes a demand feed for singulating mailpieces, a weighing module for weighing the singulated mailpieces and determining the appropriate postage amount and a postage meter responsive to the weighing module for metering each singulated mailpiece with the appropriate postage amount. A transport system sequentially transports singulated mailpieces from the feeder to the weighing module when the postage meter is set then stops during the weighing period. The postage meter is set for the next sequential mailpiece only after weighing and metering are both completed. In another embodiment a mechanical buffer is provided between the weighing module and the meter to allow overlapping of weighing time with meter setting time.

Abstract: A postage and mailing information system wherein an encrypted message based upon postage and mail address information is created. This encrypted message is used in the determination of authenticity. Another aspect of the invention resides in placing the encrypted message in the address field of a mail piece for authentication by an automatic high speed sorter.

Abstract: Insertion and extraction of a circuit board (40) into and from a car guide (10) is aided by a lever-like, rigid, elongated member (66) hingedly attached at one hinged end (62) thereof to one side (22) of the card guide (10). The other nonhinged end (64) of the member (66) is manipulatable so that the member (66) may be moved between an open and a closed position. A bump (70) on the member (66) contacts the trailing edge (44) of the circuit board during insertion as the member (66) is moved to its closed position. In the closed position, the member (66) extends from one hinge side (22) of the card guide (10) to the other nonhinge side (12) thereof. A locking device (94) on the nonhinge side (12) of the card guide (10) releasably engages the nonhinge end (64) of the member (66) in the closed position.