Abstract: An apparatus and method for presenting a substrate/print media having favorable surface conditions and optimum spatial orientation for printing purposes. The apparatus/method includes a mechanism for maintaining the substrate/print media in a substantially orthogonal spatial orientation relative to the direction of ink deposition, and a pressurization device for developing a pressure differential across a face surface of the substrate/print media such that positive pressure is applied to a surface opposing the face surface. The pressurization device provides a cushion of air to support the substrate/print media during ink deposition. The apparatus/method may further include a system for transporting the substrate/print media beneath or across a print head assembly for in-line printing on a mailpiece.

Abstract: A feed input assembly for accepting and conveying sheet material of variable length along a feed path including a processing station for performing an operation on the sheet material and an ingestion assembly adapted to capture the sheet material between the opposed friction drive surfaces and accept a leading edge of the sheet material from the processing station at a point of entry. The ingestion assembly includes transport elements having positionable opposed friction drive surfaces which are adapted to vary point of entry along the feed path. By varying the point of entry, sheet material of variable length can be accepted without varying the position of the processing station relative to the ingestion assembly. Also, a method for operating a feed input assembly having positionable friction drive surfaces.

Abstract: A feed input assembly for accepting and conveying sheet material of variable length along a feed path including a processing station for performing an operation on the sheet material and an ingestion assembly adapted to capture the sheet material between the opposed friction drive surfaces and accept a leading edge of the sheet material from the processing station at a point of entry. The ingestion assembly includes transport elements having positionable opposed friction drive surfaces which are adapted to vary point of entry along the feed path. By varying the point of entry, sheet material of variable length can be accepted without varying the position of the processing station relative to the ingestion assembly. A method for operating a feed input assembly having positionable friction drive surfaces is also described.

Abstract: A system and method for providing electronic post office box services including a storage system, a retrieval system a postal kiosk and a system processor. The storage system images and stores a plurality of mailpieces and includes a plurality of escort devices disposed in combination with a transport assembly for moving each escort device into and out of a loading station. The retrieval system releases at least one selected mailpiece from the plurality of mailpieces within the storage system and delivers the selected mailpiece to the operator. The postal kiosk includes a display unit and an input device. The display unit displays the imaged mailpiece information associated with selected mailpiece in the storage system and the input device receives an instruction from an operator regarding the selected mailpiece. The system processor communicates the instructions associated with the selected mailpiece from the postal kiosk to the escort devices within the storage system.

Abstract: A mailing machine is provided for processing mailpiece envelopes including a housing having a transport deck adapted to convey an envelope along a feed path and a receiving station. The mailing machine is reconfigurable to perform one of two mailpiece processing operations by alternately selecting or activating one of two mailpiece modules/assemblies. A first processing module/assembly is disposed along the feed path and is operative to moisten a glue line disposed along an envelope flap during the first mailpiece processing operation. The second processing module assembly is disposed along the feed path and is adapted to cut and open an edge of the envelope during the second mailpiece processing operation. Further, a mechanism for interchangeably receiving one of the first and second the processing modules/assemblies within the receiving station to perform the processing operations.

Abstract: A mailing machine is provided for processing mailpiece envelopes including a housing having a transport deck adapted to convey an envelope along a feed path. The mailing machine is reconfigurable to perform one of two mailpiece processing operation by alternately selecting or activating one of two mailpiece modules/assemblies. A first processing module/assembly is disposed along the feed path and is operative to moisten a glue line disposed along an envelope flap during the first mailpiece processing operation. The second processing module assembly is disposed along the feed path and is adapted to cut and open an edge of the envelope during the second mailpiece processing operation. Further, a means is provided for selecting one of the first and second the processing modules/assemblies to perform the processing operations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for presenting a substrate/print media having favorable surface conditions and optimum spatial orientation for printing purposes. The apparatus/method includes a mechanism for maintaining the substrate/print media in a substantially orthogonal spatial orientation relative to the direction of ink deposition, and a pressurization device for developing a pressure differential across a face surface of the substrate/print media such that positive pressure is applied to a surface opposing the face surface. The pressurization device provides a cushion of air to support the substrate/print media during ink deposition. The apparatus/method may further include a system for transporting the substrate/print media beneath or across a print head assembly for in-line printing on a mailpiece.

Abstract: Tamper detecting enclosures are described. In one configuration, an inflated balloon at least partially surrounds a module in an enclosure and biases at least one normally opened switch into a closed position during normal operation. If an attacker attempts to attack the enclosure, the balloon should at least partially deflate and cause the switch to return to its normally opened position thereby detecting the attack. In another configuration, the balloon is adhered to the inside wall of the outer enclosure.

Abstract: Tamper detecting enclosures are described. In one configuration, an inflated balloon at least partially surrounds a module in an enclosure and biases at least one normally opened switch into a closed position during normal operation. If an attacker attempts to attack the enclosure, the balloon should at least partially deflate and cause the switch to return to its normally opened position thereby detecting the attack. In another configuration, the balloon is adhered to the inside wall of the outer enclosure.

Abstract: A postage meter for printing an indicia image on a print surface of a mailpiece includes a print head having a plurality of nozzles through which ink is ejected to print the indicia image on the print surface during relative movement between the print head and the mailpiece; a registration plate having a registration surface against which the mailpiece is registered to define an operative gap between the nozzles and the print surface, the registration plate having an opening therein to expose the print surface to the nozzles to permit printing of the indicia image on the print surface; and a stop mechanism connected to the print head so that at times when the print surface of the mailpiece extends through the opening the stop mechanism prevents contact between the print surface and the nozzles during printing of the indicia image.