Abstract: A counterbalance device for a mail processing system includes a cover; a base; a support arm fixedly mounted to one of the cover and the base and articulately mounted to the other of the cover and the base such that the cover and the base pivot relative to each other; a device for counterbalancing the one of the cover and the base to create a predetermined force profile throughout a full range of pivoting movement of the one of the cover and the base from a closed position to a fully opened position relative to the other of the cover and the base. The predetermined force profile represents the net force acting on the one of the cover and the base at each point in the full range of pivoting movement.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively guiding an envelope having a body and a flap, the apparatus including structure for deflecting the envelope flap from the envelope body, structure for feeding an envelope in a downstream path of travel toward the flap deflecting structure, structure for selectively guiding an envelope out of the path of travel, the guiding structure including a baffle movable between a first position for guiding an envelope away from the flap deflecting structure and a second position for guiding an envelope to the flap deflecting structure, the guiding structure including a solenoid operable for moving the baffle, structure for controlling the guiding structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the solenoid electrically connected to the microprocessor, the controlling structure including a switch electrically connected to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor programmed for causing the solenoid to operate to move the baffle from one of the positions to the other of the posi

Abstract: A mailing machine for processing sheets respectively having a leading edge, wherein the sheets include respective envelopes and tapes, the mailing machine comprising, structure for printing an indicia, the printing structure including a rotary drum having a cycle for printing the indicia on respective sheets, structure for successively feeding each sheet in a path of travel to the printing structure, structure for successively feeding cut tapes into the path of travel for feeding by the sheet feeding structure, structure for controlling the feeding and printing structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including structure connected to the microprocessor for sensing the leading edge of each sheet in the path of travel and providing a corresponding signal to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for commencing in response to the sensing signal corresponding thereto a different predetermined time delay for tapes and envelopes before commencing the drum printing cycle, each time

Abstract: A mailing machine is disclosed in which a digital printing device, preferably of the ink jet type, is mounted for movement between one of two printing positions, in one of which the printing device will print a postage indicia direction on envelopes being fed through the mailing machine, and in the other of which the printing device prints the postage indicia on a strip of tape which is extracted from the mailing machine and affixed to an envelope which is incapable of being fed through the mailing machine. There is also a third position for the printing device which is a maintenance position to which the printing device is moved after each or some other predetermined number of printing cycles for the purpose of cleaning the ink ejecting portion of the printing device and/or maintaining a suitable high ink solvent vapor atmosphere adjacent to the ink ejecting portion of the printing device.

Abstract: An improved mailing machine has a modifiable deck for accommodating a mailpiece feeder. The mailing machine is modified by providing a plate which may be incorporated into the deck. The plate carries a positive drive mechanism for the feeding of mailpieces at the desired speed which comprises a positive drive roller and pulley which are aligned to use the drive mechanism of the mailing machine for belt driven power.

Abstract: A mailing machine which incorporates the method in includes a postage meter having a postage meter drum. There is a sensor for detecting tape in the tape path and a knife for cutting the tape and means for ejecting a cut segment of tape. The method for initializing the machine includes the steps of testing for each of the conditions which may indicate that there was a failure to complete a proper sequence of ejection of a cut tape prior to the machine shutting down. A plurality of recovery sequences of steps are provided to eject the cut tape and place the end of the tape roll into a known position.

Abstract: A value selection and printing apparatus includes a printing device having a printing wheel; a movable rack gear operatively engaged with the printing wheel such that at times when the rack gear moves along a normal linear operative path of travel the printing wheel is repositioned, the rack gear including a stress concentration area where the rack gear deforms when subjected to a force sufficient to disassociate the printing wheel from the rack gear; and a device, interfering with the deformed rack gear, for preventing the deformed rack gear from traversing the normal linear operative path.

Abstract: In a machine including structure for energizing the machine, structure for printing indicia on a sheet, and structure for feeding the sheet in a path of travel to the printing structure, apparatus for automatically testing the machine in response to energization thereof, the apparatus comprising, structure for controlling the machine, the controlling structure including structure for energizing the machine, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for operating the sheet feeding structure and for operating the printing structure, the controlling structure including a random access memory (RAM) and a non-volatile memory (NVM) respectively connected to the microprocessor, a plurality of sensors respectively connected to the microprocessor for sensing actual movements of the sheet feeding and printing structure and of a sheet in the path of travel and providing respective voltage signals to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor programmed for automatically storing

Abstract: A flat bed printing mechanism for a postage meter is disclosed which includes a flat printing die, a platen mounted beneath the printing which is movable toward and away from the printing die to as to bring the image area of a mail piece disposed over the platen into printing contact with the printing die. The platen supports a resilient pressure pad which contacts the mail piece, and there is a resilient means interposed between the upper surface of the platen and the lower surface of the pressure pad to support the pressure pad in spaced relationship with the upper surface of the platen so that the pressure pad is free to move both linearly and angularly with respect to the platen when the platen moves upwardly to press the mail piece against the printing die, to cause the plane of the upper surface of the pressure pad to conform to the plane of the image area of the mail piece as the platen pushes the image area of the mail piece upwardly toward the printing die.

Abstract: A mailing machine base adapted to have a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the meter includes a postage printing drum having a home position, the base comprising, structure for moving the drum, a d.c. motor for driving the drum moving structure, a microprocessor, a power switch connected between the d.c. motor and microprocessor, a comparator connected between the microprocessor and d.c. motor for receiving therefrom a signal corresponding to the back e.m.f. voltage of the d.c. motor and providing a comparison signal to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor programmed for, providing a reference voltage signal for the comparator corresponding to a desired back e.m.f. voltage for causing the d.c. motor to drive the postage printing drum at a desired constant velocity, energizing the power switch with a first signal for causing the d.c.

Abstract: A mailing machine for printing a postage indicia with or without an advertisement on envelopes and varying lengths of postage tape. Also, a method of feeding, printing and cutting postage tape in a mailing machine. The mailing machine includes: an elongate feed deck; a postage meter mounted in the mailing machine and having a printer downstream of the feed deck for printing a postage indicia with or without an advertisement on successive envelopes as they are fed along the feed deck or on postage tape; and a tape feeding and cutting apparatus mounted in the mailing machine for feeding postage tape to the postage meter for printing of the postage indicia with or without advertisement and for cutting the postage tape into finite lengths and ejecting the lengths of tape from the mailing machine. The cut, printed portion includes only the amount of tape necessary for the printing of the indicia with or without advertisement regardless of the length of any advertisement printed.

Abstract: A tax stamp machine for printing tax stamps on documents. The tax stamp machine includes: a housing; a registration point marked on the housing; a feed deck for receiving documents; a device for printing a tax stamp on a portion of the documents; a pair of drive rollers for feeding the documents to the printing device; and a device for indexing the drive rollers to thereby register the documents with the registration point prior to printing the tax stamp.

Abstract: A disposable inking cartridge adapted to be removably connected to a mailing machine, the cartridge comprising: a generally rectangularly-shaped hollow housing having opposed side walls and having an edge wall extending between the side walls, the walls defining an aperture formed in the housing; an ink impregnated reservoir roller extending between the side walls and supported thereby for rotation about a first predetermined axis; an ink impregnated transfer roller extending between the side walls and supported thereby for rotation about a second predetermined axis extending parallel to the first axis; and the reservoir and transfer rollers respectively dimensioned for rolling engagement with each other to cause ink from the reservoir roller to be transferred to the transfer roller, and the transfer roller disposed within the housing to permit peripheral access thereto via the housing aperture.

Abstract: A mailing machine is disclosed having an elongate feed deck, means for feeding envelopes along the feed deck, and a postage meter mounted in the mailing machine and having a printing mechanism disposed in juxtaposition with the feed deck so as to print postage indicia on successive envelopes as they are fed along the feed deck. The mailing machine includes a tape feeding and cutting apparatus mounted above the feed deck and adjacent to the postage meter on the side thereof opposite to the direction of feed of envelopes along the feed deck for feeding successive finite lengths of tape to the postage meter for printing of postage indicia on a portion thereof and for cutting and ejecting the printed portion of the finite length of tape from the mailing machine. The tape feeding and cutting apparatus is constructed and arranged so that all of the tape storing, feeding, severing and ejecting mechanisms of the apparatus are all positioned entirely one one side of the postage meter.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which is a tape feeding, cutting and ejecting apparatus for a mailing machine which has a feed deck for envelopees and a postage meter for printing postage indicia on successive envelopees as they are fed along the feed deck. The tape feeding, cutting and ejecting apparatus is mounted in the mailing machine above the feed deck and adjacent to the postage meter on the side thereof opposite to the direction of the feed of envelopees for feeding successive finite lengths of tape to the postage meter for printing of postage indicia on a portion thereof and for cutting and ejecting the printed portion of the finite lengths of tape from the mailing machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tape feeding, cutting and ejecting apparatus for a mailing machine which has a feed deck for feeding envelopes therealong and a postage meter for printing postage indicia on successive envelopes as they are fed along the feed deck. The tape feeding, cutting and ejecting apparatus is mounted in the mailing machine above the feed deck and adjacent to the postage meter on the side thereof opposite to the direction of the feed of envelopes for feeding successive finite lengths of tape to the postage meter for printing of postage indicia on a portion thereof and for cutting and ejecting the printed portion of the finite lengths of tape from the mailing machine. The apparatus includes a tape holding assembly and means for pivotally mounting the tape holding assembly for movement between a normal operating position and an operator accessible position to facilitate loading and threading of a fresh roll of tape.

Abstract: In a machine for processing a mailpiece, wherein the machine includes an elongate horizontally-extending deck, the machine includes structure for feeding a mailpiece in a downstream path of travel on the deck, the machine includes an upright mailpiece registration wall extending downstream alongside of the deck, and the machine includes a stripper blade horizontally aligned with the deck for operational engagement with a mailpiece fed thereto, an improvement for guiding a mailpiece out of operational engagement with the stripper blade, the improvement including: the deck including a horizontally-extending upstream portion; and an elongate mailpiece guide wall extending laterally from the registration wall and overhanging the upstream portion of the deck; the guide wall having an upstream edge and a downstream edge, the guide wall inclined downwardly from the upstream to the downstream edge thereof and forming an angle of substantially ten to twenty five degrees with respect to the upstream portion off the dec

Abstract: A tape positioning apparatus is disclosed which is used in a mailing machine having means for printing a postage indicia on a discrete portion of a strip of tape of indefinite length which is fed intermittently through the mailing machine. The apparatus includes a tape feed chute which moves the tape from a normal position out of alignment with the printing die of a postage meter in the mailing machine to a printing position in which the tape is aligned with the printing die. In order to assure proper feeding of the tape from the chute to a cutting device, the apparatus is provided with a latching device for latching the free end of the chute in a home position so that the leading edge of the tape cannot snag on any portion of the tape path as it is pushed from the chute to the cutting device after printing has taken place.

Abstract: A mailing machine for processing respective sheets including envelopes which each have a body and a flap and including cut tapes which each have a substrate portion and an adhesive tape portion removably connected thereto, the machine comprising, structure for feeding each sheet in a predetermined path of travel extending downstream through the machine, the sheet feeding structure including oppositely spaced input rollers defining a nip therebetween, structure for feeding a cut tape, structure for controlling the feeding structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including structure upstream from the nip of the input rollers for sensing a sheet fed to the machine and providing a corresponding first sensing signal to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for causing the sheet feeding structure to commence feeding in response to receiving the first sensing signal, the controlling structure including a switch connected to the microprocessor and providin