Abstract: A method and system for sorting mail includes the steps of imaging a face surface of the mailpieces to acquire mailpiece delivery information and distributing the mailpiece image to a virtual sorting station. The virtual sorting station is operative to sort each mailpiece image into one of a plurality of database files based upon common mailpiece delivery information. Depending upon the number of virtual sorting stations required to perform the sorting operation, the mailpiece delivery information contained in each database file may be processed by a system controller and/or transmitted to an automated mailpiece sorting device where each mailpiece is physically sorted into one of a plurality of mailpiece containers. The system for sorting mail includes an imaging device, a virtual sorting station for virtually sorting the mailpiece images and an automated sorting station for physically sorting the actual mailpieces.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for positioning objects at a desired reference position, including a sensor for determining the length of each object/mailpiece from a leading to a trailing edge, a transport mechanism having a positionable drive element for transporting the object/mailpiece, and a controller or processor for controlling the position of the drive element to release the object/mailpiece at a desired reference position. The described embodiments of the invention relate to positioning an object/mailpiece in a clamp assembly of a mixed mail sorter. The jaws of the clamp assembly are separated to receive the object/mailpiece by a pair of spiral cams. The spiral cams interpose and engage tabs of each jaw to open and close the clamp assembly as they concomitantly effect translation of the clamp assembly linearly past the positioning apparatus. The apparatus and method ensures predictable conveyance and release of objects/mailpieces while being manipulated by automated handling equipment.

Abstract: A system is provided for stacking mail having an escort assembly for handling each mailpiece. The system comprises a containment device, a transport mechanism and a detachment mechanism. The containment device includes a base, vertical walls extending from the base and an open end for accepting the mailpieces therein. The containment device, furthermore, has a slot formed in at least one of the vertical walls thereof. The transport mechanism includes first and second transport segment, the first transport segment conveying escort assemblies and respective mailpieces over an open end of the containment device and the second transport segment lowering the escort assemblies and respective mailpieces into the open end of the containment device. The transport mechanism furthermore aligns the edges of the mailpieces along one of the vertical walls of the containment device and positions the escort assembly through the slot of the containment device.

Abstract: Discrete means of setting a feeder to process a wide range of media, i.e., sheets, slips, envelopes, booklets and hand collated documents, etc. as well as providing a method of utilizing the feeder for manual feed operation. The foregoing is accomplished by a friction-clutch retard feeder equipped with one or more friction clutches. When a selection lever is moved to a position 1, a primary clutch engages the separator roller with a resistive torque T1. The selection lever configures the mechanism such that the separator roller rotation is resisted entirely by the torque of the primary clutch. When the selection lever is moved to a position 2, the ground of the primary clutch is removed, and the rotation of the separator roll is coupled through a gear ratio to a secondary clutch. The selection of the gear ratio and the value of the secondary clutch allows the separation mechanism to be resisted by a second torque, T2, which can be lower than T1.

Abstract: A sorter, method, and software product are used for sorting objects into a sequence of destination addresses, in at most a single pass through the sorter. In a first stage of the single pass through the sorter, the objects are sorted into a plurality of batches corresponding to groups of the destination addresses. The batches are then eventually advanced from the first stage to a second stage of the single pass through the sorter. During that second stage, objects in each of the batches are sorted into the sequence of destination addresses.

Abstract: A coordinated direct marketing contact strategy between the direct mailing and the other marketing channels. The method determines the marketing prospect names that are common between the direct mailing and the other marketing channels being used in the direct marketing campaign. Then, using mail prediction with the common names between marketing channels the method determines the probability of the prospect receiving the mail piece on a certain date or dates. For each common name the method calculates the contact date(s) for the other contact channels based on the marketers contact strategy and the predicted in home dates. The method then aggregates the individual contact strategies into an overall contact strategy which enables other channels to coordinate with the direct mailing. This process is repeated over several campaigns to benchmark campaign performance that can then be used to analyze and refine future campaign execution.

Abstract: A method for printing secure source images of the type that contain specific critical elements and non-secure images on a single printer includes determining the origin of an image (secure source or non-secure source). If the image to be printed is from the non-secure source, a determination is made if the image contains the specific critical elements of the type contained in secure source images. Printing of the image from the non-secure source is disabled if the image contains specific critical elements of the type contained in secure source images. Printing of the image from a non-secure source is enabled if the image does not contain specific critical elements of the type contained in the secure image. The determination if the non-secure source image contains the specific critical elements of the type contained in secure source images can be made after printing has commenced of the non-secure image.

Abstract: A method and system for closing opened envelopes flaps against the envelope body includes transporting an envelope in a first direction and parking the envelope in a first parked position. An envelope flap closing mechanism is moved to commence the movement of the envelope flap toward said envelope body. The envelope flap is closed against the envelope body while transporting the envelope in a second direction toward a second parked position. The flap closing mechanism may be moveable from a lower position to an upper position. The envelope flap closing system may include a first transport path of travel for envelopes to be moved seriatim in a first direction from an entrance point to an exit point. A moveable flap closing mechanism is mounted along the path of travel for movement between a lower position and an upper position.

Abstract: A fixture for rating mail pieces for determination of postage payments includes a generally planar member. The member has formed therein a recess defined at least partially by a floor and at least four side walls. The recess has at least some dimensions that correspond in magnitude to dimensions used to define a first postal category of mail pieces. A second, smaller recess may be nested inside the first recess to indicate the dimensions for another category of mail pieces.

Abstract: The sheet capacity of a pivoting feed head is combined with a complimentary pivoting design for the paper tray lift, such that a large total capacity of sheets is attained within a compact space, while allowing the lifting mechanisms to be located outside of the perimeter of the paper tray.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient uncorrectable error detection in flash memory is described. A microcontroller including a non-volatile flash memory utilizes an Error Correction Code (ECC) having a certain error detection and correction bit strength. The user data is first processed by a hash function and hash data is stored with the user data. Then, the user data and hash data are processed by the ECC system. In detection, the hash ensures that a relatively low bit-strength ECC system did not incorrectly manipulate the user data. Such a hash integrity check provides an efficient, robust detection of incorrectly corrected user data resulting from errors beyond the correction but strength of the ECC system utilized.

Abstract: A method for stacking objects in a container including the step of measuring a thickness value of each object at a plurality of predetermined locations along a face surface of the respective object. A cumulative thickness profile is developed indicative of a plurality of stacked objects, i.e., juxtaposed along each face surface. The cumulative thickness profile is, furthermore, calculated by summing each of the measured thickness dimensions at each of the predetermined locations. Next, a maximum thickness value is determined as each of the objects is measured and compared to a maximum fill value for each container to determine an overfill condition/number. The overfill condition corresponds to the number of objects which additively cause the maximum thickness value to exceed the maximum fill value. The objects may then be stacked based upon the overfill condition such that the total number of objects is less than the number corresponding to the overfill condition.

Abstract: A method of processing a check issued by a payor includes creating a check image at a payor location, obtaining positive pay data from the image at the payor location using OCR and transmitting the positive pay data to a payor bank of the payor. Alternatively, the positive pay data may be generated by the payor bank from the check image received from the payor. The positive pay data includes at least a name of a payee of the check and a payment dollar amount of the check, but may also include one or more of a date of the check, a serial number of the check, and an account number of the account on which the check is drawn. The positive pay data is stored by the payor bank and used to detect potential fraud when the check is later presented to the bank for payment.

Abstract: Methods and systems that prevent completion of postdated financial transactions until the specified future date is provided. A portion of the information necessary to complete a financial transaction is encrypted utilizing an identity-based encryption (IBE) scheme. The encryption key used to encrypt the information is associated with the date on which the transaction is authorized to be completed. The encrypted information is provided to the payee. The issuing bank provides a daily decryption key that allows decryption of information encrypted using the key associated with the corresponding date. Thus, only when the maturity date of the transaction has arrived will the payee or depositing bank be able to obtain the decryption key that will decrypt the encrypted information necessary to complete the transaction. Since the encrypted information can not be decrypted until the date associated with the encryption key, the financial transaction can not be completed until such date.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for folding inserts by inverting the insert sheet after the first fold is made and reintroducing the folded insert sheet into a first buckle chute from the opposite end. The second fold is then made in a second buckle chute which results in either a bottom address or a middle address appearing on the folded insert in a manner that the address will appear through the window of the envelope.

Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for adaptively controlling a stepper motor to produce a required torque output based on selection information provided by a sensor or a user/user interface which, in combination with a selector, selects a torque-related value. The selection information provided to the selector for selecting the stepper motor torque-related value may be, for example, the size or thickness of material being handled or the number of accumulated sheets for processing. The torque-related value is predetermined through experimentation and loaded into a lookup table stored in the memory of a motion control system board. The selected torque-related value is provided to a stepper motor driver which supplies the appropriate drive signal(s) to the stepper motor.

Abstract: A method of printing of printing a string of characters includes receiving a sequence of character data codes. Each character data code corresponds to a respective character to be printed in the string of characters. The method also includes transcoding the sequence of character data codes to generate a sequence of glyph codes. Each glyph code corresponds to a respective glyph. Each glyph corresponds to at least part of a respective character. At least some of the glyphs correspond to less than a complete character. The method further includes using the sequence of glyph codes to generate print image data and printing an image on the basis of the print image data.

Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for preventing stepper motor control signals from being applied to a stepper motor drive circuit in order to stop a stepper motor when an interlock situation is present. A sequence of one or more control signals is generated by a motion control system and passed to one or more interlock logic gates connected in series. The interlock logic gates have an enable signal input which allows the control signals to pass through to the stepper motor drive circuit if the enable input signal is set to a logic level of “1”. On the other hand, the interlock logic gates will prevent the control signals from reaching the stepper motor drive circuit if the enable input signal is set to a logic level of “0”. The logic level of the enable input signal may be connected to a switch, relay, or an integrated circuit responsive to an interlock situation such as the opening of an access door.

Abstract: A mail processing system and method for reducing delivery expenses is provided. When a mailer prepares a batch of mail pieces, the mailer will print on each mail piece information associated with each mail piece. The mailer provides the batch of mail pieces to a mail processing facility. The mail processing facility can then combine batches of mail received from different mailers together to form a single aggregation. The mail processing facility reads the information associated with each mail piece and sorts the aggregation into a plurality of batches based on the information read from each mail piece. A carrier can then be selected, from among a plurality of different carriers, for each of the plurality of batches that preferably provides the desired delivery services at the lowest cost for delivery.

Abstract: A method of processing a check prior to electronically depositing the check includes steps of (a) attempting to print a cancellation mark on the check using an energy emitting ink, such as a luminescent ink, (b) radiating first energy, such as UV energy, toward the check, (c) determining whether second energy is emitted from the check as a result of the radiated first energy impinging upon the energy emitting ink present on the check, and (d) allowing the check to proceed to electronic deposit only if it is determined that the second energy is emitted from the check. Also, an apparatus for electronically depositing a check that implements the method.