Abstract: A method for securing a postage transaction in a postage meter having an accounting module and a printing module includes A) storing a plurality of data patterns in the accounting module; B) storing the plurality of data patterns in the printing module; C) utilizing one of the accounting module and the printing module to request that a specific one of the plurality of data patterns be sent from the other of the accounting module and the printing module to the one of the accounting module and the printing module; D) sending a return data pattern from the other of the accounting module and the printing module to the one of the accounting module and the printing module in response to the request of step C); E) determining if the return data pattern and the specific one of the plurality of data patterns are the same; and F) initiating printing by the printing module only when in step E) it is determined that the return data pattern and the specific one of the plurality of data patterns are the same.

Abstract: A method of transferring update data from a microcomputer to a memory device having a transportable non-volatile memory median requiring that the transportable non-volatile memory median is divided into a plurality of sectors. Update data is to be written to data sectors of the transportable non-volatile memory median in accordance with a sector map. One of the sectors to be updated is the directory sector and another one of the sectors to be updated is the file access table sector. The microcomputer is programmed to reserve a specified number of sectors as a recovery area wherein some of the sectors of the recovery area are reserved for the sector map and other sectors of the recovery area are reserved for storage of the update data. The microcomputer identifies if a sector map resides in the recovery area. If no sector map resides in the sector map area of the recovery area, the microcomputer proceeds to identify which of the sectors are to be updated and generating a sector map accordingly.

Abstract: An article of manufacture includes a substrate layer having an indicator of value thereon; an adhesive layer; and a switch attached to one of the substrate layer and the adhesive layer. The switch is activatable to produce a signal in the presence of a first magnetic field and deactivatable to prevent detection of the signal. The substrate may have a printed pattern and the indicator of value on one surface and the adhesive layer on the other surface, for example, as in a postage stamp. This article may be employed in a mail processing system where mailpieces are fed to a facer canceller where the stamp is deactivated to prevent reuse without pavement to the postal or other issuing authority.

Abstract: A service station for use in an inkjet printer having a printhead with nozzles, the service station including a carriage moveably mounted to the inkjet printer, the printhead being mounted on the carriage to be moveable therewith; a device for moving the carriage between a printhead printing position and a printhead parked position; a cap; a cap garage connected to the inkjet printer; a device for moving the cap to cover the nozzles when the carriage is moved to the printhead parked position and for moving the cap into the cap garage to be covered thereby when the carriage is moved to the printhead printing position.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing an image in a mail handling machine includes a printing device and a non-volatile memory having fixed and variable image data elements stored therein, a first portion of the fixed image data elements being stored in a compressed manner and a second portion of the fixed image data elements being stored in a bit map form.

Abstract: An apparatus for ensuring proper registration of a mailpiece in a feed path of a postage meter prior to printing includes a printing mechanism; detecting structure which detects first and second edges of the mailpiece in the feed path, the detecting structure initiating printing by the printing mechanism on the mailpiece at times when the first and second edges are concurrently detected in the feed path by the detecting structure and inhibiting printing by the printing mechanism at times when the first and second edges are not concurrently detected in the feed path by the detecting means. A method accomplishes the function of the apparatus.

Abstract: A side guide for a mailing machine includes a main wall, a secondary wall spaced from the main wall and moveable between an operative position and an inoperative position, and structure for allowing movement of the main and secondary walls in a direction transverse to movement of mailpieces passing through the mailing machine. The side guide operates such that at times when the secondary wall is in the operative position it is moveable in the direction transverse to movement of mailpieces via the structure to abut against mailpieces having a width within a first predetermined width range and at times when the secondary wall is in the inoperative position the main wall is moveable in the direction transverse to movement of mailpieces via the structure to abut against mailpieces having a width within a second predetermined width range that is different from the first predetermined width range.

Abstract: A mail handling apparatus having a printing mechanism; a device for moving the printing mechanism along a path of travel between a printing mechanism printing position and a printing mechanism maintenance position; a maintenance station positioned lateral to the path of travel; and a device for rotating the printing mechanism along the path of travel to align the printing mechanism for engagement with the maintenance station as the printing mechanism moves into the maintenance position.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing on a substrate includes a device for printing indicia on a substrate; a control that controls the indicia printing device, the control including apparatus for establishing a communicating link with an external device, the establishing apparatus including a protocol which utilizes an encryption key, the protocol operable for establishing the communicating link if the encryption key is properly used, the control including apparatus for providing a tampering code as part of the indicia if the encryption key is not properly used.

Abstract: A method for printing a postal indicia includes printing a first dot-matrix ink pattern of the postal indicia; and printing a second dot-matrix ink pattern of a portion of the postal indicia in overlapping relationship to the first dot-matrix ink pattern such that a combination of the first and second dot-matrix ink patterns results in a combined dot-matrix pattern of the postal indicia having a first dot density along its length and a second dot density along its height, the first and second dot densities being different from each other but sufficient in combination to permit detection of the combined dot-matrix ink pattern by a facer/canceler machine. An apparatus incorporates the above method.

Abstract: In the field of transport paths used typically in postage meters, it is sometimes desired to prevent withdrawal of items in the opposite direction to forward travel along the transport path. The disclosure relates to a one way gate (10) for such a transport path including a transport surface (11). The gate includes a rotatable roller (17) disposed opposite the surface such that an item traveling forwardly along the transport path engages and rotates the roller (17); and a device preventing rotation of the roller (17) in a direction corresponding to withdrawal of an item (22) in a reverse direction along the transport path.

Abstract: A method for sequencing the exiting of a cut tape segment from a tape roll feeding, cutting and ejecting apparatus of a mailing machine having a tape roll drive and cut tape segment ejection device and in which a cut tape segment from the tape roll is ejected in an opposite direction from the feeding direction of the feeding of tape of the tape roll drive as it feeds the tape for printing includes the steps of feeding the tape in the feeding direction for a first predetermined time period for extending a predetermined length of tape, further feeding the tape in the feeding direction to create a trail edge margin to assure that the tape is not cut shorter than a minimum length, printing on the tape; then feeding the tape in the opposite direction until one of a first and second conditions occurs, the first condition being the sensing of a leading edge of the tape by a sensor and the second condition being feeding the tape in the opposite direction beyond a second predetermined time period, then at times when t

Abstract: An ink priming device for an ink jet printing apparatus is disclosed which includes a housing adapted to fit over the nozzle plate of the print head when the print head is in a non-printing position, the housing having a substantially air tight connection to the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A tape roll rewind device includes a rotatable tape spool with tape wound thereon; and a device for 1) storing energy in response to rotation of the tape spool in a first direction, 2) storing a maximum amount of energy regardless of the amount of rotation of the tape spool in the first direction, and 3) utilizing the stored energy to rotate the tape spool in a second direction to rewind tape onto the tape spool upon the ending of rotation of the tape spool in the first direction.

Abstract: A method for controlling the speed of a motor for a tape drive in a mailing machine includes providing an optical sensor for signaling the appearance of slots in a slotted wheel connected to the motor shaft. The time intervals between slots are used to make a prediction in respect of expected future time intervals and the motor speed is adjusted in accordance with the predicted value to obtain the desired value. For best results, the data is received at the microprocessor using the "capture" mode of operation in order to avoid excessive errors due to a "busy" processor. The invention enables the small motor of a tape drive to avoid over and undershoot even when operating under highly variable load conditions.

Abstract: A tape cutting mechanism uses a bi-directional motor and a clutch arrangement. However, with the use of such a clutch in an inexpensive open loop control system, the dynamic energy stored in the motor armature at the initiation of the cutting sequence is greater than the maximum energy required and the maximum cutting energy requirements vary considerably. Leftover energy is removed from the system in order to prevent a large impact at the end of its stroke which may damage the clutch mechanism and to decrease the noise by controlling the bi-directional motor for oscillating a member for cutting a tape and for feeding the cut tape.

Abstract: In a machine including structure for printing indicia on a sheet, and structure for feeding the sheet in a path of travel to the printing structure, wherein the feeding and printing structure each include a plurality of components, apparatus for accounting for malfunction conditions of the machine, the apparatus comprising, structure for controlling the machine, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including a random access memory (RAM) and a non-volatile memory (NVM) respectively connected to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for causing a plurality of desired movements of the respective components of the sheet feeding and printing structure and thus of a sheet in the path of travel, a plurality of sensors respectively connected to the microprocessor for sensing actual movements corresponding to the desired movements of the respective components of the sheet feeding and printing structure and of a sheet in the path of travel and providing signals to

Abstract: There is disclosed an adjustable pressure roller assembly for use in a paper feeding machine having a paper feed path and a feed roller for feeding various paper items, such as envelopes, single sheets, a plurality of layered sheets, etc. along the feed path. The pressure roller assembly has a back up pressure roller disposed on the opposite side of the feed path in juxtaposition to the feed roller of the paper feeding machine. There is structure for mounting the pressure roller for movement toward and away from the feed roller to vary the amount of pressure exerted by the pressure roller against a paper item disposed between the pressure roller and the feed roller. An actuating assembly is provided for controlling the direction and extent of movement of the pressuer roller So that the pressure roller and feed roller can accommodate a wide variety of thicknesses, types and grades of paper without risk of mutilating or misfeeding the paper.

Abstract: A value selection and printing apparatus includes a printing device having a printing wheel which is rotatable into a plurality of positions to present a corresponding plurality of value printing elements into a printing position; a value selecting device including a moveable first rack gear having a driven element thereon, a rigid guide shaft mounted within the printing device, a second rack gear mounted to be slidable on the guide shaft and having a driving element thereon in engagement with the driven element, wherein the second rack gear operatively engages the printing wheel so that rotation of the printing wheel occurs due to transmission of a moment of the first rack gear to the printing wheel via the second rack gear; and a substantially cylindrical security sleeve slidably disposed on the guide shaft and moveable in response to sliding movement of the second rack gear on the guide shaft wherein the guide shaft includes a weakened section such that at times when a force sufficient to disassociate the