Abstract: A scale can include a low capacity sensing mechanism operatively coupled to a load, wherein the low capacity sensing mechanism may detect movement of the load. A transfer mechanism can be operatively coupled to the low capacity sensing mechanism, wherein the low capacity sensing mechanism may enable the scale to weigh both relatively heavy loads and relatively light loads to a minor division resolution associated with the low capacity sensing mechanism.

Abstract: A method of securely updating software in a remote device includes copying selected portions of program code in the remote device to a memory, downloading software to the remote device, and upon detecting an unsuccessful download, reinstalling the selected portions of program code.

Abstract: Postage values are determined for a plurality of documents stored in a document file. Value-bearing indicia are generated based upon the determined values. The indicia are stored separately from the documents. The documents and the indicia are printed on the same mailpiece.

Abstract: In a mailpiece feed device comprising a mailpiece-receiving deck for receiving a stack of mailpieces for printing, selector means for extracting the mailpieces for printing one-by-one from said stack, and superposed conveyor rollers including movable upper rollers for conveying downstream the mailpieces extracted one-by-one in this way, there are further provided movable optical read means that are placed downstream from said selector means and that move synchronously with said movable upper conveyor rollers for conveying the mailpieces, so that, in cooperation with processor means, said optical read means scan and recognize automatically the data printed on said mailpieces.

Abstract: A mechanical device for measuring the width L of a mail item on the fly in a mail handling machine in which mail items are caused to move along a mail item conveyor path, parallel to a reference wall; said mechanical device comprising a device for detecting a leading edge of a mail item, a downstream lever disposed across the mail item conveyor path and forming a determined angle relative to said reference wall, a device for detecting said downstream lever moving as the leading edge of the mail item goes past, a device for determining a movement distance over which the leading edge of the mail item moves between the device for detecting a leading edge of a mail item and a point of activation at which said leading edge activates said downstream lever, which point of activation is determined by the device for detecting the downstream lever moving, and a computation device for computing the width L of the mail item on the basis of said movement distance.

Abstract: A mail article feeder device having a weighing cell for delivering a weighing signal, a receiver tray having longitudinal and transverse walls for jogging mail articles, and for receiving a stack of mail articles, and an automatic extractor for ejecting mail articles from the stack one by one. The automatic extractor and the receiver tray are carried by the weighing cell, the feeder device further including an intrusion detector for detecting any intervention by an operator on the elements or mail articles.

Abstract: In a mail processing machine having a receive deck for receiving a stack of mail items for printing, jogging means for jogging the stack of items against a reference wall, selection means for extracting mail items for printing one by one from stack of items, and print means for printing a postal imprint on the selected mail item, a jogging device is provided that includes an external strip slidably mounted on a moving slideway and having a jogging flat mounted at the terminal end thereof, a brake-forming friction shoe secured to the stationary slideway and mounted between the stationary slideway and the moving slideway, and a resilient element having one end connected to the moving slideway and its other end connected to the external strip in order to cause the external strip to back off automatically through a determined distance from the moving slideway once the jogging flap has been brought into contact with the stack of mail items.

Abstract: A method of franking mailpieces in a closed franking machine fed from a mixed batch of mailpieces, said method comprising the following steps, for each mailpiece: acquiring a digital image of the mailpiece by using optical read means; locating a recipient's address block by using search software means; extracting at least one item of postal data from the recipient's address block by using OCR software means; when the at least one extracted item of postal data is not identified or is improperly identified, automatically stopping the transport of the mailpiece in the franking machine; correcting the at least one item of postal data, the correction being performed by the user on the keyboard of a user interface of the franking machine on the basis of an image of the previously located address block, which image is displayed on a screen of the user interface; and restarting the transport of the mailpiece in the franking machine automatically once the correction has been validated by the user by acting on a

Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for franking mail items, comprising means for printing postal indicia on a mail item, means for detecting the position of this mail item along a path of travel of this item and control means linked to said detection means and to said printing means for proceeding with printing postal indicia on said mail item at a predetermined place, and means for acquisition and processing of an image of such printed postal indicia so as to determine the conformity thereof with respect to at least one predetermined reference image. These image acquisition and processing means comprise in particular means for determining a lack of registration of said printed postal indicia.

Abstract: A secure system for tracking goods loaded on a delivery vehicle having a driver's cab and at least one container, said driver's cab being provided with a first RFID transponder disposed on any wall of said cab, and each of the containers is provided with at least two RFID transponders, one of which is disposed on any wall of said container and the other of which is disposed on each of the delivery doors of said container, each of said RFID transponders being designed to co-operate with a RFID reader/interrogator integrated into a mobile telephone of the driver of the vehicle, said mobile telephone being in communication with a management server via a mobile communications network.

Abstract: A method of enabling mailpieces to be distributed and consulted in electronic form, said method comprising the following steps: scanning each of the mailpieces and transmitting the images of the mailpieces scanned in this way to a first server on which said images are stored; displaying said images stored on said first server on a first viewing screen associated with said first server, and assigning each of said images to a recipient by “dropping” said image into one of the pigeonholes of a virtual sorting rack associated with said recipient and displayed on said first viewing screen or on a second viewing screen also associated with said first server; and displaying a dynamic dialogue box on at least one consultation screen of a final recipient, said dynamic dialogue box including at least one counter whose value depends on the number of images that are assigned to the pigeonhole of said final recipient and that are accessible on said first server from said consultation screen via a local area network con

Abstract: A device for determining the category of mail of a mailpiece, which device comprises: an stand designed to receive said mailpiece; at least one gauge fastened to said stand and provided with a slot of predetermined length and of predetermined height, which length and which height are suitable for defining a determined maximum width and a determined maximum thickness for the mailpiece; means for automatically estimating a length of the mailpiece depending on its position on the stand, and relative to the gauge; and means for acting, on the basis of that single estimate of the length of the mailpiece, to deliver, to a franking machine, information about the category of mail to which said mailpiece belongs.

Abstract: A method of disabling operation of a disposable print module that has an ink reservoir and a plurality of ink ejection nozzles including unused nozzles, and that serves to be mounted on a base of a postage meter, the method including the following steps: forming, in a prior step, a residual ink level counter using a determined first group of the unused nozzles; determining the volume of ink consumed; destroying one of the unused nozzles of the residual ink level counter every time the print module is mounted on a different postage meter base; destroying one of the unused nozzles of ink consumed exceeds a predetermined ink level; and disabling operation of the print module when all of the unused nozzles of the residual ink level counter have been destroyed.

Abstract: For collating postal items into sets, the actual relative positions of the collated first and second postal items (6-9) is measured and a tolerance between nominal relative positions of the first and second postal items (6-9) and the actual relative positions of the collated first and second postal items (6-9) is determined. For at least one later set to be collated, the feeding of the second postal item (7, 9, 52-55; 102) is controlled for bringing the leading or trailing edge (27, 29; 57-60; 104) of the second postal item (7, 9, 52-55; 102) into a nominal off-set relative to the leading or, respectively, the trailing edge (26, 28; 56; 103) of the first postal item (6, 8; 61; 101), which nominal off-set is larger than or equal to the determined tolerance. An apparatus for carrying out such a method is also described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a separator for separating envelope flaps from envelope bodies, of which the active separation zone is formed by a supple part which comprises a peripheral edge arranged at the level of an envelope conveyor deck.

Abstract: An inserting machine with an assembly (7) for unfolding a flap (8) of an envelope (9), including: a scraper (20) with a sharp scraping end (21) and an envelope carrier (23-26) as well as a drive (27, 29) for moving the holder portion (18) and the scraper (20) relative to each other, such that the holder portion (18) with the fold edge (17) in trailing position scrapes along the scraping end (21), the scraper (20) scrapes the flap (8) in the area of its free edge (19) off the holder portion (18), and pivots the flap (8) open about the fold edge (17). The scraping end (21) moves along a circulation path (30), of which a first portion (31) extends in a direction towards the fold edge (17) over the holder portion (18) of the envelope (9) and of which a second, contiguous portion (32) diverges from the holder portion (18) of the envelope (9).

Abstract: A mail processor machine casing having an identity plate for identifying the machine, which identity plate is formed by a portion of said casing that is connected to the remainder of said casing by a peripheral zone of weakness that, on being broken, makes it possible to detach said identity plate. Preferably, said zone of weakness comprises a plurality of casing bridges that can be broken by hand.

Abstract: Inserter for inserting postal items into envelopes, wherein an envelope catcher separates the envelopes and transports the envelopes away from the stack of empty envelopes and the envelopes are subsequently transported further with the initially leading flap end trailing. The envelope catcher is suspended for movement and drivable along a catcher path, of which at least a section extends closely along the envelope to be separated. When the envelope is transported away from the envelope catcher with its flap end trailing the flap is folded open.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting sheets from paper or other material that is form-retaining in its plane, having a transport track with a transport roller with a circumference, of which a circumferential section extending through an angular range of the circumference forms a bend from a first track portion to a second track portion. At least one sheet guide has a sheet guiding surface facing the circumferential section, which sheet guiding surface extends coaxially with at least a portion of the circumferential section. At least the sheet guiding surface or the circumferential section is yieldably supported for yieldably urging towards each other the sheet guiding surface and the circumferential section.

Abstract: For determining a setting of an apparatus for folding documents to be inserted into windowed envelopes, a tentative folding setting is determined. Then, an overlay image representing the envelope and at least a portion of a side of the folded document that would be visible through the envelope window after folding of the specimen of the documents in accordance with the tentative folding setting and insertion of the folded specimen into the envelope is displayed. If the overlay image is not satisfactory, another tentative folding setting is inputted and an accordingly changed overlay image is generated. If the overlay image is satisfactory, the current tentative folding setting is selected as the folding setting to be applied for folding documents.