Abstract: A surgical robot system for cutting bone, the surgical robot system comprising: a surgical robot having an end effector; a cutter attached to the end effector; position determining means for determining the position of a bone which is to be cut vis-à-vis the surgical robot; pre-plan means for storing a pre-planned cut of the bone and instructing the surgical robot to cut bone in accordance with the same; a display for displaying the pre-planned cut of the bone; and input means for enabling a user to deactivate the pre-plan means and to enable manual control of the cutter by the user.

Abstract: A surgical robot system for cutting bone, the surgical robot system comprising: a surgical robot having an end effector; a cutter attached to the end effector; position determining means for determining the position of a bone which is to be cut vis-à-vis the surgical robot; pre-plan means for storing a pre-planned cut of the bone and instructing the surgical robot to cut bone in accordance with the same; a display for displaying the pre-planned cut of the bone; and input means for enabling a user to deactivate the pre-plan means and to enable manual control of the cutter by the user.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an end effector having at least three substrate support members and at least three movable substrate gripping members. In one embodiment, an end effector has at least four substrate support members and at least three movable substrate gripping members. In another embodiment, an end effector has at least four movable substrate support members and at least three movable substrate gripping members.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting indicia on articles. The indicia act to identify a group of articles, having a common characteristic. The articles may be address panels used in mass mailings. Particular address panels, representing the beginning or end of a zip code or a postal delivery route, are pre-marked with one or more special indicia. The apparatus includes a scanning station, a computerized system controller, and a marking station. The scanning station includes a video camera, a video analyzer, a camera controller, and a video monitor. The video camera is programmable by using the camera controller and the video monitor, to scan only a predetermined operative scanning area of each article. The video analyzer assess each pixel within the scanning area and adds up the total number of pixels having a desired characteristic. If the pixel count satisfies predetermined criteria correlating to the presence of an indicia, the article is electronically tagged by the system controller.

Abstract: For use with an envelope inserting apparatus having a motor and timing shaft or other suitable rotating member, a system and method for producing an actual stopping rotational position for the timing shaft or other suitable rotating member that corresponds to a desired or strategic stopping rotational position for the timing shaft or other suitable rotating member has a shaft encoder for establishing a rotational position of the timing shaft or other suitable rotating member. Additionally, included is a controlling computer that is interfaced with the shaft encoder and initiates the stopping of the timing shaft or other suitable rotating member at a desired rotational position by applying a stop command at a rotational position determined by an iterative analysis based on a previous stopping point for the timing shaft or other suitable rotating member.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamic insertion of selected inserts into statements to be mailed in which post processing mail data, including selective insert parameters, are developed into a record for mail items and communicated directly to an integrated system controller, which then directs selective insertion of enclosures. The system comprises a mail item preparation apparatus interfaced with a data processor, an inserter apparatus, and an integrated system controller interfaced with the data processor and the inserter. The mail preparing apparatus generally includes a printer, and is mechanically interfaced with the inserter for transfer of mail items. The integrated system controller directs the inserter to selectively include inserts with the mail items according to insert parameter data received from the data processor.

Abstract: For use with an envelope having a flap, a body, and a fold region connecting the flap to the body, a wetting and sealing apparatus for wetting the envelope flap with a liquid and sealing, after folding at the fold region, the wetted envelope flap to the envelope body. A computer directs the wetting and sealing operations. A continually primed spraying nozzle applies the liquid producing an active adhesive to the envelope flap and a pressure foot seals the wetted envelope flap to the envelope body.

Abstract: For use with a mailing packet assembling apparatus that creates a mailing packet from items comprised of machine readable indicia encoded forms and machine readable indicia encoded envelopes that are transferred into the assembling apparatus, a verification system for determining that the correct items are transferred for assembly into the mailing packet. The system has a data base with information on the items within the mailing packet, thereby establishing which forms and envelopes are required in the assembled mailing packet, a plurality of dynamically controlled detectors for identifying the indicia on each form and on each envelope, and a computer for verifying that the data base information and the dynamically detected form and envelope indicia correctly correspond or do not correctly correspond to the desired mailing packet and, if correct, direct the mailing packet to be assembled.

Abstract: For use in transporting a packet containing from one to a plurality of pages, a dynamic roller positioning system for adjusting a packet receiving gap between two rollers. Comprising the system is a pair of rollers with each roller having a packet contacting surface and the packet receiving gap separating the surfaces, gap setting actuators for setting the paired rollers by steps to a selected gap dimension, and a control system for setting the actuators for the number of pages in each packet.