Abstract: A device for moistening an envelope flap includes a mechanism which defines an envelope feed path and a plate disposed adjacent the envelope feed path. The plate passes between the envelope body and the envelope flap. A plurality of orifices formed in the plate discharge moistening fluid received from a reservoir onto the envelope flap. The moistening device also includes a valve mechanism to selectively supply each of the orifices with moistening fluid from the reservoir. A flap sensing mechanism is disposed adjacent the envelope feed path for sensing an edge portion of the envelope flap and operatively connected to the valve mechanism to supply signals to the valve mechanism to selectively actuate the valve mechanism to selectively supply moistening fluid to the orifices in response to the sensing of the edge portion of the envelope flap.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a method and apparatus of detecting edges. Light directed from any angle at a smooth surface will not cast a shadow regardless of the printing on the surface. Light cast at an appropriate angle on a stepped surface casts a shadow. The apparatus and method of the present invention cast light from several directions/sources while focusing on one location. If the same level of gray is detected from all sources, there is no shadow and hence the location is not an edge. If the result of one or more of the light sources is a darker image than the others, there is indication of an edge by the presence of a shadow. The use of edge detection in an insertion machine can help to decrease the amount of user adjustment needed to operate the machine using various sizes of envelopes.

Abstract: A method for printing indicia on mailpieces at an increased average speed. The system includes: a postal scale for determining a postage amount for a mail piece; a printer; and a postage meter responsive to the postal scale to control the printer to print an indicium representative of the postage amount. The postage meter further includes: a programmable controller; a secure mechanism for accounting for postage amounts expended; and an indicia generator.

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 device to lift a throat of an envelope to spread open the envelope. The device comprises a suction cup mounted to a pitching arm; a hook movably mounted adjacent to the suction cup; means for lowering the pitching arm to allow the suction cup to seal with the throat with a suction force, and raising the pitching arm to allow the suction cup to lift the throat; and an actuation device for placing the hook under the throat after the throat has been lifted by the suction cup so as to mechanically maintain the lifted position of the throat. Accordingly, the method of maintaining the lifted position of a throat includes the steps of: 1) positioning the suction cup over the throat; 2) pressing the suction cup against the throat to seal with the throat; 3) raising the suction cup to lift the throat; and 4) placing the hook under the lifted throat to mechanically maintain the lifted position of the throat.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods to facilitate printing on a media surface. For example, a topography of a print surface on a media may be determined. A firing time of a print nozzle may then be adjusted based upon the determined topography.

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 weighing mailpieces while in motion in a mailpiece weighing system. The weigh pan in the mailpiece horizontal transport path generates a signal corresponding to a weight of the moving mailpiece, and the system controller compares the weight of the moving mailpiece to a postal weight break to determine if the postal weight break is within the margin of error of the weighing mechanism. If the postal weight break is within the margin of error of the weighing mechanism, the system controller stops transport of the moving mailpiece and reweighs the mailpiece.

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 top registration transport mechanism and method for a mailing machine is provided. The transport mechanism includes one or more displaceable rollers that have a diameter larger than the drive/idler rollers. A semi-elastic belt is looped around the drive/idler rollers and displaceable rollers. The larger diameter of the displaceable rollers causes a portion of the transport belt in the area of the displaceable rollers to be slightly raised. The registration plate can contact the raised portion of the belt to displace the belt and displaceable rollers, thereby ensuring that very thin mail pieces can be effectively processed by the transport. As thicker mail pieces traverse the transport, the displaceable rollers can be further displaced before the entire transport mechanism must be displaced to maintain registration of the mail piece against the bottom of the registration plate.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods to facilitate printing on a media surface. For example, a topography of a print surface on a media may be determined. A firing time of a print nozzle may then be adjusted based upon the determined topography.

Abstract: A method of modeling a heat exchanger is disclosed and comprises assigning input temperatures, assumed output temperatures, and a set of flow rates, inputting the parameters into a set of equations arranged to calculate a heat transfer coefficient, inputting parameters into a second set of equations arranged to calculate output temperatures, substituting actual output temperatures for the assumed output temperatures, and again calculating the heat transfer cooefficient. The new heat transfer coefficient is then used to obtain revised actual output temperatures, and the initial actual output temperatures and the revised actual output temperatures are compared to determine whether they differ by less than a desired variance. If not, a new iteration is performed until the output temperatures converge.

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: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a method and apparatus of detecting edges. Light directed from any angle at a smooth surface will not cast a shadow regardless of the printing on the surface. Light cast at an appropriate angle on a stepped surface casts a shadow. The apparatus and method of the present invention cast light from several directions/sources while focusing on one location. If the same level of gray is detected from all sources, there is no shadow and hence the location is not an edge. If the result of one or more of the light sources is a darker image than the others, there is indication of an edge by the presence of a shadow. The use of edge detection in an insertion machine can help to decrease the amount of user adjustment needed to operate the machine using various sizes of envelopes.

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 for printing indicia on mailpieces at an increased average speed. The system includes: a postal scale for determining a postage amount for a mail piece; a printer; and a postage meter responsive to the postal scale to control the printer to print an indicium representative of the postage amount. The postage meter further includes: a programmable controller; a secure mechanism for accounting for postage amounts expended; and an indicia generator.

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 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 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.