Abstract: In a mail processing machine, there is at least one mail piece separating and feeding device for handling vertically oriented mail pieces to assure that only one mail piece at a time is fed into the mail processing machine. A feeding roller is positioned in a feed path defined by guide plates to keep the mail pieces in a vertical orientation, and a separator belt is mounted on a plurality of rollers mounted on a bell crank, one of the rollers being a drive roller. The bell crank is resiliently urged toward an adjustable stop member so that, a predetermined minimum gap is maintained between the outer surface of the belt and the adjacent surface of the feeding roller regardless of the extend of wear on the belt.

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: A cut tape feed module for use with a mailing machine. The module includes a stationary mounting and cassette support, a driven pinion rotatably mounted on the mounting and cassette support, a drive roller drivingly connected to the driven pinion, and a movable, cut tape cassette slidably mounted on the mounting and cassette support. The cassette includes a gear rack for driving engagement with the pinion and a biased backing plate for urging the cut tape against the drive roller. The downward movement of the cassette causes rotation of the drive roller which in turn effects separation of the forwardmost cut tape and dispensing thereof from the cassette.

Abstract: A disposable inking cartridge in combination with a housing for transferring ink to a secondary surface, including a housing having a pair of sidewalls, each of the sidewalls having a locating guide, wherein the locating guide includes at its trailing end a leg forming an acute or perpendicular angle therewith, an applicator roller rotatably mounted in the housing for transferring ink to a secondary surface, and a disposable inking cartridge lockingly mountable in the sidewalls of the housing.

Abstract: An improved heated fuser roll for use in a fuser apparatus for fixing toner images to a support surface is disclosed. The fuser roll includes a circular sleeve member having at least one heating unit positioned within the sleeve member. Each heating unit includes (i) a plurality of axially disposed thermally conductive members each formed of a chordal section having a curved surface positioned in contiguous relation to the inside curved surface of the sleeve member and a substantially flat surface, (ii) a plurality of wafer shaped heating elements formed of a semiconducting ceramic material having a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity and exhibiting a Curie temperature transition point at which the resistance of the material increases with increasing temperature, and (iii) resilient means. Each of the heating units is separated from each other by an insulating member.