Abstract: A device for locking a slidable member, including a U-shaped bracket having a central section and a pair of legs extending upwardly from each end of the central section, each of the legs having upper and lower apertures, a lockable sliding member slidably mounted in the lower apertures, and a threaded spindle rotatably mounted in the upper apertures. The spindle includes a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion, the small diameter portion having a central threaded section for threaded engagement with one of the upper apertures and unthreaded end portions, the large diameter portion having a knob at its exterior end. The device further includes a yoke mounted on the spindle adjacent the large diameter portion, the yoke having a pair of camming posts extending outwardly therefrom perpendicular to the axis of the threaded spindle, and a U-shaped cam follower member situated between the legs of the U-shaped bracket.

Abstract: Sheet processing machinery including a bursting machine and a folding machine has a sheet conveying apparatus disposed there-between. The sheet conveying apparatus is pivotably mounted to allow service to an area adjacent to the input end of the following machine. A drive apparatus connected to the sheet processing machinery is disengaged to allow upward pivoting of the sheet conveying apparatus from a horizontal position to a retracted position, whereupon the service access may be achieved.

Abstract: An automated mailing system includes a scale having a weighing device, a keyboard for entering postage value determining data and an electronic postage meter selection code, a postage value determining processor and a programmable read only memory containing postal rate and zip to zone conversion data. A peripheral controller interface provides communication capability between the scale processor and a plurality of peripheral mailing devices including a series of electronic postage meters each of which is adapted to provide postage value denominations for mail originating from different postal zone distribution points. A data steering interface, which may be included within the peripheral controller interface, provides interconnection between the communications lines received from the scale system processor and the communication lines of the respective electronic postage meters.

Abstract: A postage meter which includes a thermal print head for printing indicia, postal value, and the like is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, thermal elements in the thermal print head are electronically pulsed in appropriate serially timed patters to provide a complete thermally transferred image on a strip moving past the thermal head. A reversible stepper motor and cam arrangement are utilized to provide a drive mechanism and a means for relieving pressure on the strip at the end of each print cycle.

Abstract: A document inserter system having an improved control system is disclosed. The system includes a sheet inserter system and one or more web modules for, receiving a web of forms, scanning the forms for information, storing and retransmitting the information, separating the web into discrete forms and feeding the forms for further processing. The information includes control information scanned from a control document for controlling formation of a batch of forms associated with that control document. The control system includes a supervisory control processor which receives the control information and controls the sheet inserter system and the web modules in accordance therewith. The system also includes web control processor systems for direct control of each web module, which web control processor systems are responsive to the supervisory control processor. The system is controlled in accordance with a prespecified configuration which defines the document type for each web module.

Abstract: A document feeding device having a hopper oriented at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane, the hopper having an upstream aperture and a downstream aperture and able to support a pack of documents to be fed therefrom, a device situated at the lower end of the hopper for feeding documents seriatim from the hopper, a first pulley whose outer surface extends slightly through the downstream aperture and a second pulley whose outer surface extends slightly through the upstream aperture, and a double sided timing belt mounted on the first and second pulleys and riding on the upper surface of the hopper.

Abstract: Light Emitting Diodes (LED) arrays are made by first applying LED monoliths to a metallic pallet, such as a copper pallet, and then securing the pallets to a substrate in a preferred geometrical arrangement. Because copper is so readily machinable, one is able to produce sizes as required for the geometry of an LED array and because of the rigidity, the problem of the fragile modules is removed since they are part of the pallets.

Abstract: An electronic postal meter has an accounting unit with redundant nonvolatile random access memories controlled by a microprocessor system. The redundant random access memories have separate groups of address and data lines to minimize identical errors in data stored therein. The data transfer may occur at different times to and from the memories, with respect to any given byte of data. The system may incorporate redundant microprocessors, and critical parameters may be checked at periodic intervals in the main program of the accounting microprocessor system.

Abstract: A security system for a postage meter includes two memories, one of which is an electronically programmable READ-ONLY memory having non-volatile storage, while the second memory is a shadow RAM which is a composite memory having a first section composed of a volatile RAM and a second section composed of non-volatile storage. During a power outage, a computer strobes the second memory to transfer data from the volatile section to the non-volatile section. Upon restoration of the power, a transfer circuit which includes a detector of the incoming power directs the transfer of at least a portion of the stored data in each of the memories to the computer for a comparison to determine if any data has been altered by the loss of power.

Abstract: A unitary load cell having an assembled connector that provides connection between the load beam of the load cell and the sensing beam. The structure allows ease of fabrication as well as subjecting the load cell to a compressive force as opposed to subjecting it to tension.

Abstract: A xerographic copying machine is adapted to receive toner supplied from an inverted toner supply bottle having a frangible seal member covering its outlet. The toner bottle is inserted by an operator through an access receptacle within the copier which normally covers a toner developing apparatus and toner supply container. During insertion, mutually engaging components of the toner bottle and a cooperating connecting apparatus are aligned to enable operative association of the components when the toner bottle is manually turned. In addition, during insertion the frangible seal member normally sealing the toner bottle dispensing opening is punctured by a piercing member associated with an actuating device including a cutting device rotatably mounted on the connecting apparatus. When the bottle is turned, the piercing member is caused to rotate within the neck opening of the bottle, thereby helping the toner to be dumped through the toner loading apparatus and into the toner supply container.

Abstract: A postage meter having a fixed coplanar printing die is provided with security means to prevent making of fraudulent impressions. This security means involves the use of interposers extending upward and through the space into which an envelope or other workpieces may be inserted. During the legitimate cycling operation these interposers are moved out of guarding position and the postage meter carries out its normal function.

Abstract: A system is provided for energizing the meter accounting circuit. The postage meter is of the type having a mechanism for printing postage and accounting circuits which account for postage printed by the printing mechanism. A secure housing means encloses and protects the mechanism, the accounting circuit and the system for energizing the accounting circuit. A source of operating potential external to the secure housing is also provided. A transformer is connected with its primary winding coupled to the source of operating potential and to the first and second electrode current path of a three terminal switching device to control the current flow through said primary winding. A timer circuit is provided and includes a first terminal which oscillates at a frequency depending on the voltage applied to the timer circuit second terminal. The timer circuit first terminal is coupled to the control electrode of the three terminal control device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for initializing the printwheels in an electronic postage meter is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a printwheel selection mechanism which is comprised of various components. The various components on the printwheel selection mechanism are adjusted to set a plurality of printwheels to a predetermined position. After those printwheels are adjusted a signal is produced which indicates that the printwheels are located at that predetermined position. The various components of the printwheel selection mechanism are sequentially adjusted to set the printwheels so that the postage meter settings are at a known initial point.

Abstract: A parcel mailing system includes a postage value determining scale and peripheral mailing system devices such as a postage meter/mailing machine. The scale includes a main processor, a memory which stores postage rate data, a weighing device which generates weight indicative signals, a display, and a keyboard. A voice recognition subsystem is coupled to the system processor for hands free operator entry of information relating to postage value determinations. The voice recognition subsystem is trained to recognize various operator words and generate appropriate signals for postage value determination, e.g. zone information, zip code information, and rate classifications, as well as command signals. The system processor receives such signals from either the voice recognition subsystem or the keyboard.

Abstract: A gauging system for an envelope inserter provides simplified set up procedures for adjustment of a set of enclosure pick-up station side guides, an envelope stop and coordinated adjustment of both a set of envelope station side guides and sets of stripper fingers. A panel at the face of the inserter includes a slot and a pointer for lengthwise insertion of an enclosure. The operator places a specimen enclosure against an index end of the slot and rotates a knob to frame the enclosure length between the index and the pointer. Rotation of the knob provides simultaneous movement of the pointer and adjustment of the enclosure side guides to correspond with the framed length. A further slot and pointer are provided for envelope widthwise insertion. Rotation of its knob for framing the envelope width simultaneously adjusts the envelope stop. A further slot and pointer are provided for lengthwise envelope insertion.

Abstract: A postal meter has a keyboard for entering postage values to be set, an electronic digital computer including at least one funding register, and a sealed switch enabling manual recharging of the funding register. A combination, fixed for any given meter, is entered in a further register in the postal meter, whereby the recharging of the funding register is inhibited if a comparison between the fixed combination and that combination entered in the keyboard fails.

Abstract: A stopping mechanism in an inserting machine having a feeder for feeding documents seriatim to a transport deck therebelow, the feeder being angled with respect to the deck. The stopping mechanism stops the documents at a predetermined position with respect to a previously collated package situated on a ramp located upstream of the deck and elevated with respect to the deck. The stopping mechanism comprises a pivotable paddle located downstream of the feeder substantially parallel to the direction of feed, a device for biasing the lower end of the paddle away from the transport deck to permit a collated package to pass therebelow without contacting the pivotable paddle, and a device for pivoting the lower end of the paddle downward adjacent the transport deck for a short period of time at an appropriate moment in order to stop the forward motion of a document exiting the feeder at a predetermined position on the transport deck.

Abstract: A reset circuit for an electronic postage meter controls the operation of the reset line of the meter's computing system. The reset circuit operates in conjunction with a non-volatile memory protection circuit. The inter-relation of the reset circuit and non-volatile memory protection circuit protects against the possible loss of postage funds due to spurious data being written into the non-volatile memory. The reset circuit operation is controlled in part by the voltage levels applied to the non-volatile memory. This insures that the reset to the electronic postage meter computing system is released during power-up of the meter after proper voltage levels have applied to the user's non-volatile memory and reestablished during low power or power-down conditions.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for providing a universal multi-station document inserter, including the steps of providing a plurality of feeder stations for feeding documents in response to signals from a central processor, providing each feeder station with a unique address, storing feeder programs in distributed processors associated with the feeder stations which provide instructions to each feeder station for feeding documents, storing a supervisory program in the central processor which is capable of providing address and command signals to the distributed processors of the feeder stations, and interconnecting the central processor and the distributed processors for the transmission of signals so that upon receipt of the proper address and command signals at the feeder stations, the feeder stations will provide certain document feeding functions under control of the central processor in accordance with instructions programmed into the distributed processors associated therewith.