Abstract: A modular franking system including at least one module and a module sensor adapted to sense objects fed to the module. The module can include information on the distance between a position of the sensor and at least one edge of the module, and a location of at least one other module. The modular system can also include a communication system adapted to allow the module to sense objects being transported and communicate information concerning events such as velocity and distance to another module.

Abstract: A modular franking system including at least one module and a module sensor adapted to sense objects fed to the module. The module can include information on the distance between a position of the sensor and at least one edge of the module, and a location of at least one other module. The modular system can also include a communication system adapted to allow the module to sense objects being transported and communicate information concerning events such as velocity and distance to another module.

Abstract: A franking machine control panel and its associated method provide users with touch screen displays in which the main screens contain history tabs. When a history tab is pressed, the display reverts to the previous status of the category of interest, and allows the user to make changes if desired. In the preferred embodiment, the history tabs allow users to view and modify information which is mandatory to the franking process, such as the mail class and postage rates. Another aspect of the present invention allows the user to configure the more actively used buttons of touch screen on one side or the other, depending on the dominant side of the user's body.

Abstract: A tape feed for a postage meter which uses the envelope transport system of the postage meter to feed a tape from a tape receptacle into the path of the envelope feed system. The tape receptacle is pivotally mounted adjacent one of the belts of the envelope transport system. A solenoid is connected to the tape receptacle through a cam pin and cam slot arrangement for providing the pivotal movement. When the solenoid is energized, the tape receptacle is pivoted into a position wherein the belt extends into a slot in the receptacle and grips a tape to discharge a tape from the receptacle and feed it into the envelope transport system. When the solenoid is de-energized, the solenoid pivots the receptacle into a position wherein the tapes in the receptacle are out of contact with the belt. A sensor is provided to de-energize the solenoid when the belt moves the leading edge of the tape into gripping relationship by the envelope transport system.

Abstract: A modular franking system including at least one module and a module sensor adapted to sense objects fed to the module. The module can include information on the distance between a position of the sensor and at least one edge of the module, and a location of at least one other module. The modular system can also include a communication system adapted to allow the module to sense objects being transported and communicate information concerning events such as velocity and distance to another module.

Abstract: A customized modular mailing system including a module capable of metering value and having a plurality of disabled operating features that are not available for use is described. The system includes the ability for generating an authorization code for disabling certain designed operating features; and for entering the authorization code into the value metering module whereby the desired combination of operating modules having the desired operating features could be placed in communication with the metering value module to create a desired modular mailing system.

Abstract: A franking machine has an easily removable module. The module can comprise a flash memory for rapid updating when postal rates change. A RAM can also be used for additional data storage.

Abstract: A tape feed for a postage meter which uses the envelope transport system of the postage meter to feed a tape from a tape receptacle into the path of the envelope feed system. The tape receptacle is pivotally mounted adjacent one of the belts of the envelope transport system. A solenoid is connected to the tape receptacle through a cam pin and cam slot arrangement for providing the pivotal movement. When the solenoid is energized, the tape receptacle is pivoted into a position wherein the belt extends into a slot in the receptacle and grips a tape to discharge a tape from the receptacle and feed it into the envelope transport system. When the solenoid is de-energized, the solenoid pivots the receptacle into a position wherein the tapes in the receptacle are out of contact with the belt. A sensor is provided to de-energize the solenoid when the belt moves the leading edge of the tape into gripping relationship by the envelope transport system.

Abstract: A franking machine control panel and its associated method provide users with touch screen displays in which the main screens contain history tabs. When a history tab is pressed, the display reverts to the previous status of the category of interest, and allows the user to make changes if desired. In the preferred embodiment, the history tabs allow users to view and modify information which is mandatory to the franking process, such as the mail class and postage rates. Another aspect of the present invention allows the user to configure the more actively used buttons of touch screen on one side or the other, depending on the dominant side of the user's body.

Abstract: A postage meter (franking machine) uses a digital print head such as an ink-jet or thermal transfer or dot-matrix print head, for which it is necessary to know the velocity of the mail piece passing by the print head. Two collimated monochromatic beams strike the mail piece, one at an angle leading the mail piece velocity and the other at an angle lagging the mail piece velocity. The beams converge yielding a sensing region filled with a diffraction pattern. The mail piece, assumed to be rough at a scale that is appropriate for the velocity measurement, moves at some velocity. A detector detects light intensity (photon flux) at a small region within the sensing region, and the intensity signal has a frequency that is proportional to the mail piece velocity. The frequency is detected or measured, the instantaneous velocity is derived therefrom, and the velocity is used to control the print head.

Abstract: A postage meter has a locking cam follower so that locking arms on the print wheels of the postage meter are able to lock the wheels from unintended movement when the print rotor is out of its home position. Stiff runners are provided below guide rods of setting racks in the rotor so that the racks cannot be displaced away from the value wheels. A sensor is placed on the rotor cover with the meter software set up to keep a print cycle from starting if the cover is open. A cam on the rotor makes it impossible to open the cover when the rotor is out of the home position. A latch holds the cover shut, and the only way the latch can be released is if the meter software releases it, for example by sliding a rack to a position that triggers the latch. Cogs and cog teeth are used instead of gears and gear teeth to reduce the possibility of unintended movement of the value wheels. Rotating disks lock the racks when the rotor is not in the home position.

Abstract: In a postage printing device, a printer is employed to print postage indicia on mail pieces. The printer is preferably a noncontact printer such as an ink-jet printer. Printing occurs as the mail piece moves relative to the print head of the printer, which requires that reliable motion information (e.g. a print clock signal) be made available to the electronics driving the print head. The reliable motion is provided in a noncontact way, preferably by directing a laser beam toward the mail piece and detecting a moving speckle pattern in the light scattered from the mail piece.

Abstract: A postage meter has a locking cam follower so that locking arms on the print wheels of the postage meter are able to lock the wheels from unintended movement when the print rotor is out of its home position. Stiff runners are provided below guide rods of setting racks in the rotor so that the racks cannot be displaced away from the value wheels. A sensor is placed on the rotor cover with the meter software set up to keep a print cycle from starting if the cover is open. A cam on the rotor makes it impossible to open the cover when the rotor is out of the home position. A latch holds the cover shut, and the only way the latch can be released is if the meter software releases it, for example by sliding a rack to a position that triggers the latch. Cogs and cog teeth are used instead of gears and gear teeth to reduce the possibility of unintended movement of the value wheels. Rotating disks lock the racks when the rotor is not in the home position.

Abstract: A date-setting method for use in a postage meter having date wheels includes the steps of setting the date wheels, printing a date on a mail piece, requesting an input indicating whether the date printed on the mail piece is correct, receiving a response in the negative, receiving information indicative of the date printed on the mail piece, resetting the date wheels, logging a record indicative of the negative response and the resetting action, printing another date on a mail piece, requesting an input indicating whether the date printed on the mail piece is correct, receiving a response in the negative, receiving information indicative of the date printed on the mail piece, resetting the date wheels, logging another record indicative of the negative response and the resetting action; and annunciating the records indicative of negative responses.

Abstract: A postage meter has an improved means of monitoring the position of the cover providing access to the print rotor. A mechanical latch and associated mechanism is provided responsive to a cam on the print rotor and responsive to the movement of the cover, and the mechanism has an electrical sensor output to the processor of the postage meter. In the event that the cover is opened at a time when the rotor is away from its home position, for example at a time when the power to the meter has failed, the latch enters a latched state. Upon the restoration of power the meter determines if the rotor is away from its home position, and if it is, the meter inspects the sensor output to determine if the latch has been caused to enter its latched state. This condition is annunciated, for example by rendering the meter incapable of printing postage.

Abstract: A postage meter has the print rotor and platen within a single secure housing, with a letter detection lever along the paper path downstream from the rotor. The letter detection lever is in a spring-loaded coupling relationship with the trigger that triggers franking. If a letter remains in the meter due to a paper jam, the detection lever continues to be actuated and the spring-loaded coupling keeps the trigger in the triggered position. The meter further comprises a platen carrier moving the platen toward and away from the rotor; when the rotor is in its home position a radial cam on the rotor and cam follower keep the carrier away from the rotor. When franking of a letter begins and the rotor begins to rotate, the rotor cam releases the cam follower, permitting the carrier to move up in spring-loaded relation toward the rotor. A letter stopper is in the paper path downstream from the rotor and helps to align the letter so that the postage imprint is optimally oriented on the letter.

Abstract: A self-contained postage meter does not have a base separable from a main body. The single secure housing contains everything that would be in the main body of a prior art postage meter and everything that would be in a prior art meter base. Despite containing all these things, the single secure housing is small enough and light enough in weight to permit the entire meter to be readily transported to the post office for inspection or resetting. Within the single secure housing are the print rotor with value wheels, all the mechanisms for setting the print wheels, the descending and/or ascending register and associated microprocessor, and all the mechanisms for transport of the mail piece through the meter. Only a handful of controlled elements are required, chiefly a single inexpensive DC motor for franking and value wheel setting and a few electromagnets.

Abstract: A label dispenser (10) includes a storage container (13) for labels (11). A withdrawal roller (15) is in contact with the labels (11) and is supported together with a gear-wheel pinion (17) and a free-wheeling bearing (19) at the storage container (13). The pinion (17) is engaged with a fixed-position gear rack (23). As soon as the finger pressure actuates the server plate (29), the storage container (13) is pressed downwardly, the gear-wheel pinion (17) rotates the withdrawal roller (15) such that the outermost label is pushed out downwardly out of the storage container (13). The outermost label is then gripped by a transport roller pair and can be transported off. As soon as the finger pressure is released, a helical spring (37) slides the storage container (13) back into the starting position. In this case, a hollow cylinder (33), together with an air valve (39) furnishes a braking of the speed, while the free-wheeling bearing (19) runs freely.

Abstract: The invention relates to the sidestop (20) guides, in the separating device (10), in particular a device for feeding a franking machine, the respective pile (11) of letters to be franked, irrespective of their particular format, by the front part of their longitudinal edge. The stop (20) comprises a support (25) with two stop surfaces (21, 22) arranged at right angles. The support can turn through 90.degree. around a pin (29) in a counter-clockwise direction. Small envelopes are guided by one of the stop surfaces (21); larger ones are guided by the other stop surfaces (22) when the support (25) is rotated. The stop (20) can be moved perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the envelope and turned to a third working position in which it forms an additional stop surface for envelopes of very large dimensions.