Abstract: A method and system for collecting airborne particles and hydrating the collected particles for analysis. The airborne particles, which may be biological contaminants, are collected from a container containing one or more mailpieces. In the collection stage, a dry filter collection assembly is connected to the container and air is drawn out of the container through a dry filter. A hydration solution is then injected into the collection assembly to hydrate the collected particles. Part of the hydration solution containing the collected particles is caused to move out of the collection assembly to a test cartridge for further testing.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting airborne particles and hydrating the collected particles for analysis. The airborne particles, which may be biological contaminants, are collected from a container containing one or more mailpieces. In the collection stage, a dry filter collection assembly is connected to the container and air is drawn out of the container through a dry filter. A hydration solution is then injected into the collection assembly to hydrate the collected particles. Part of the hydration solution containing the collected particles is caused to move out of the collection assembly to a test cartridge for further testing.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting airborne particles and hydrating the collected particles for analysis. The airborne particles, which may be biological contaminants, are collected from a container containing one or more mailpieces. In the collection stage, a dry filter collection assembly is connected to the container and air is drawn out of the container through a dry filter. A hydration solution is then injected into the collection assembly to hydrate the collected particles. Part of the hydration solution containing the collected particles is caused to move out of the collection assembly to a test cartridge for further testing.

Abstract: A method and system for isolating, transferring and testing potentially contaminated mail pieces. The mail pieces are encapsulated in a sealed package at one location and transferred to another location for testing. During testing, the sealed package is connected to an air sampling system, which directly draws an air sample from the sealed package. At the end of testing, the air pressure in the sealed package is sufficiently reduced, causing the sealed bag to collapse. A septum or a tube with a self-sealed coupler is provided on the sealed package to allow the air sampling system to draw air out of the sealed package. When the air sampling system is not connected to the sealed package, the septum or the self-sealed coupler prevents the air inside the sealed package from escaping into the environment. It is advantageous to disturb the mail pieces during air sampling.

Abstract: A weight estimating system for estimating the weight of a mailpiece and a postage metering system including such a weight estimating system. The weight estimating system includes a measuring system, a diverter mechanism and a microprocessor system. The measuring system includes a transport, a first plurality of detectors for measuring the dimensions of the mailpiece and a second plurality of detectors for measuring values of other characteristics of the mailpiece which are indicative of the presence of non-paper materials in the mailpiece as the mailpiece is transported. The microprocessor is responsive to the second detectors to determine if non-paper materials are included in the mailpiece and, if not, determines the volume from the dimensional measurements and estimates the weight as the product of the volume and a density for paper output an appropriate postage amount to the meter and the mailpiece to the printer.

Abstract: A method for exchange of information I over a communications link, a communications system including a data processor for carrying out the method, and computer readable media for providing program code to the data processor. The system receives a signal transmitted over the link, the signal being generated in accordance with a braid group based cryptosystem; transforming the signal to obtain a word expressive of a braid in Bn, braid encoding the information; and transforming the word into a word in novel standard form to recover the information. Word is represented by arrays a[m], a[m] in {0, 1, . . . , n?1}, and p[m], p[m] in {?1, 1}, and transforming the word to a standard form includes: inputting the arrays a[m], and p[m]; processing a[m] and p[m] to obtain array b[s], b[s] in {0, 1, . . . , n?1} and representing a positive braid word P, and variable r, ?r·P being a word in standard form representative of the braid; and outputting b[s] and r.

Abstract: A system and method for weighing of items such as mailpieces in the presence of external vibration such as ground noise. The system includes a scale system having a platform connected to a load cell, which provides an output signal to an analog-to-digital converter. The resulting digital output signal is processed by a low pass filter and analyzed by a microprocessor to determine weights of items on the platform. The microprocessor also determines postage amounts as functions of the weights and outputs these postage amounts to a postage meter. The system also includes an accelerometer and a limit detector for generating a no go signal if external vibrations exceed a predetermined limit. The microprocessor accepts a weight as valid if the external vibrations do not exceed the limit at any time while the weight is being determined and otherwise initiates an alternative weight determining method.

Abstract: A weighing system and a postage metering system including such a weighing system. The weighing system includes a transport assembly having a transport for receiving and outputting mail pieces to be weighed and for supporting mail pieces while they are weighed, and a feeder for successively feeding the mail pieces to the transport. A transducer supports the transport and generates and output representative of the load presented by pairs of mail pieces on the transport. After a current item and a previous item are weighed together on the transport, the transport is energized to output the previous item and replace the previous item with the current item, and the feeder is energized to input a next item to the transport as a new current item.

Abstract: A method scale system and transducer used in such system for rapid weighing of items. Said scale system includes: a transducer assembly; said transducer assembly in turn including, a transducer having a first member for supporting said item above a reference level, said first member producing a deflection proportional to said weight of said item, a clamping mechanism for clamping said first member to restrict deflection when activated, and a sensor for sensing said deflection and generating a signal representative of said weight as an output signal proportional to said deflection. Said scale system further includes a transport or platform for supporting said item during weighing, said transport being fixed to said first member, and a controller for controlling activation of said clamping mechanism. Said controller controls said clamping mechanism to clamp said transducer as said item is transported into position for weighing so that disturbances of said transducer are reduced and weighing time is decreased.

Abstract: A method for exchange of information I over a communications link, a communications system including a data processor for carrying out the method, and computer readable media for providing program code to the data processor. The system receives a signal transmitted over the link, the signal being generated in accordance with a braid group based cryptosystem; transforming the signal to obtain a word expressive of a braid in Bn, braid encoding the information; and transforming the word into a word in novel standard form to recover the information. Word is represented by arrays a[m], a[m] in {0, 1, . . . , n−1}, and p[m], p[m] in {−1, 1}, and transforming the word to a standard form includes: inputting the arrays a[m], and p[m]; processing a[m] and p[m] to obtain array b[s], b[s] in {0, 1, . . .

Abstract: A weight estimating system for estimating the weight of a mailpiece and a postage metering system including such a weight estimating system. The weight estimating system includes a measuring system, a diverter mechanism and a microprocessor system. The measuring system includes a transport, a first plurality of detectors for measuring the dimensions of the mailpiece and a second plurality of detectors for measuring values of other characteristics of the mailpiece which are indicative of the presence of non-paper materials in the mailpiece as the mailpiece is transported. The microprocessor is responsive to the second detectors to determine if non-paper materials are included in the mailpiece and, if not, determines the volume from the dimensional measurements and estimates the weight as the product of the volume and a density for paper output an appropriate postage amount to the meter and the mailpiece to the printer.

Abstract: A method and method for fast weighing of items such as mailpieces with variable accuracy. The method includes a scale method having a platform connected to a load cell that provides an output signal to an analog-to-digital converter. The resulting digital output signal is processed by a low pass filter and analyzed by a microprocessor to determine weights of items on the platform. The microprocessor also determines postage amounts of items on the platform. The microprocessor also determines postage amounts as functions of the weights and outputs these postage amounts to a postage meter. The microprocessor determines the weights as the average of a sequence of digital output signal values if the average id not closer than D to any weight break, where D is the difference between a maximum output value and a minimum output value.

Abstract: A method and method for fast weighing of items such as mailpieces with variable accuracy. The method includes a scale method having a platform connected to a load cell that provides an output signal to an analog-to-digital converter. The resulting digital output signal is processed by a low pass filter and analyzed by a microprocessor to determine weights of items on the platform. The microprocessor also determines postage amounts of items on the platform. The microprocessor also determines postage amounts as functions of the weights and outputs these postage amounts to a postage meter. The microprocessor determines the weights as the average of a sequence of digital output signal values if the average id not closer than D to any weight break, where D is the difference between a maximum output value and a minimum output value.

Abstract: A method scale system and transducer used in such system for rapid weighing of items. Said scale system includes: a transducer assembly; said transducer assembly in turn including, a transducer having a first member for supporting said item above a reference level, said first member producing a deflection proportional to said weight of said item, a clamping mechanism for clamping said first member to restrict deflection when activated, and a sensor for sensing said deflection and generating a signal representative of said weight as an output signal proportional to said deflection. Said scale system further includes a transport or platform for supporting said item during weighing, said transport being fixed to said first member, and a controller for controlling activation of said clamping mechanism. Said controller controls said clamping mechanism to clamp said transducer as said item is transported into position for weighing so that disturbances of said transducer are reduced and weighing time is decreased.

Abstract: A system and method for weighing of items such as mailpieces in the presence of external vibration such as ground noise. The system includes a scale system having a platform connected to a load cell, which provides an output signal to an analog-to-digital converter. The resulting digital output signal is processed by a low pass filter and analyzed by a microprocessor to determine weights of items on the platform. The microprocessor also determines postage amounts as functions of the weights and outputs these postage amounts to a postage meter. The system also includes an accelerometer and a limit detector for generating a no go signal if external vibrations exceed a predetermined limit. The microprocessor accepts a weight as valid if the external vibrations do not exceed the limit at any time while the weight is being determined and otherwise initiates an alternative weight determining method.

Abstract: A weighing system and a postage metering system including such a weighing system. The weighing system includes a transport assembly having a transport for receiving and outputting mail pieces to be weighed and for supporting mail pieces while they are weighed, and a feeder for successively feeding the mail pieces to the transport. A transducer supports the transport and generates and output representative of the load presented by pairs of mail pieces on the transport. After a current item and a previous item are weighed together on the transport, the transport is energized to output the previous item and replace the previous item with the current item, and the feeder is energized to input a next item to the transport as a new current item.

Abstract: A pipelined system for removing the contents of sealed coin-collection boxes, wherein each box requires a set of different operations to be performed in seriatim to remove the box contents. The operations include removing a seal, opening a box lid, removing the box contents, resetting the lid and resealing the box. The pipelined system comprises a rotary surface for supporting a plurality of the boxes at spaced locations. Stationary surfaces mount a plurality of box-processing units, including pneumatic actuators and processing tools, at spaced stations to form a pipeline. The processing units each perform a different one of the processing operations during each processing cycle. A motor assembly pivots the rotary surface for stepwise positioning the boxes at different ones of the stations. A control system, including computer and pneumatic systems, causes the box-processing units to perform the different processing operations simultaneously on all boxes in the pipeline.

Abstract: A pipelined system for removing the contents of sealed coin-collection boxes, wherein each box requires a set of different operations to be performed in seriatim to remove the box contents. The operations include removing a seal, opening a box lid, removing the box contents, resetting the lid and resealing the box. The pipelined system comprises a rotary surface for supporting a plurality of the boxes at spaced locations. Stationary surfaces mount a plurality of box-processing units, including pneumatic actuators and processing tools, at spaced stations to form a pipeline. The processing units each perform a different one of the processing operations during each processing cycle. A motor assembly pivots the rotary surface for stepwise positioning the boxes at different ones of the stations. A control system, including computer and pneumatic systems, causes the box-processing units to perform the different processing operations simultaneously on all boxes in the pipeline.

Abstract: A pipelined system for removing the contents of sealed coin-collection boxes, wherein each box requires a set of different operations to be performed in seriatim to remove the box contents. The operations include removing a seal, opening a box lid, removing the box contents, resetting the lid and resealing the box. The pipelined system comprises a rotary surface for supporting a plurality of the boxes at spaced locations. Stationary surfaces mount a plurality of box-processing units, including pneumatic actuators and processing tools, at spaced stations to form a pipeline. The processing units each perform a different one of the processing operations during each processing cycle. A motor assembly pivots the rotary surface for stepwise positioning the boxes at different ones of the stations. A control system, including computer and pneumatic systems, causes the box-processing units to perform the different processing operations simultaneously on all boxes in the pipeline.

Abstract: A pipelined system for removing the contents of sealed coin-collection boxes, wherein each box requires a set of different operations to be performed in seriatim to remove the box contents. The operations include removing a seal, opening a box lid, removing the box contents, resetting the lid and resealing the box. The pipelined system comprises a rotary surface for supporting a plurality of the boxes at spaced locations. Stationary surfaces mount a plurality of box-processing units, including pneumatic actuators and processing tools, at spaced stations to form a pipeline. The processing units each perform a different one of the processing operations during each processing cycle. A motor assembly pivots the rotary surface for stepwise positioning the boxes at different ones of the stations. A control system, including computer and pneumatic systems, causes the box-processing units to perform the different processing operations simultaneously on all boxes in the pipeline.