Abstract: A sheet feeding, folding and accumulating machine has an integral sheet storing and feeding mechanism, and a plurality of feeding inputs from which sheets are fed to a path of travel through the machine from the sheet storing and feeding mechanism or from an external source. A pair of buckle chutes are mounted in the machine, and suitable feeding and folding rollers are mounted adjacent the input ends of the buckle chutes for folding sheets that are fed into the buckle chutes. A movable buckle chute bypass gate is mounted adjacent the input end of each buckle chute, the gates being movable between opposite positions to cause sheets either to enter one or both of the buckle chutes or to bypass the buckle chutes and proceed directly to an accumulating mechanism that is mounted adjacent an outlet end of the machine to control whether each sheet will be folded or not folded before being deposited in the accumulating device.

Abstract: A tape roll rewind device includes a rotatable tape spool with tape wound thereon; and a device for 1) storing energy in response to rotation of the tape spool in a first direction, 2) storing a maximum amount of energy regardless of the amount of rotation of the tape spool in the first direction, and 3) utilizing the stored energy to rotate the tape spool in a second direction to rewind tape onto the tape spool upon the ending of rotation of the tape spool in the first direction.

Abstract: Document registration apparatus, including: a deck for supporting documents along a document path from an upstream position to a downstream position; a pair of transport belts for transporting the documents along the document path; a plurality of laterally spaced registration stops defining a document registration position in the document path, the stops being located at a downstream position substantially perpendicular to the document path for both stopping the documents at the document registration position and for aligning the documents relative to the document path; a pinch roller situated above each of the pair of transport belts at an upstream position for urging the stopped documents against the transport belts; and a pair of laterally spaced belt/paper supports secured to the deck.

Abstract: A buckle chute folding system for imparting a fold to a collation of paper sheets. The system includes: a substantially vertically oriented buckle chute; a pair of upper and lower feeding rollers defining a feed nip upstream of the buckle chute; a third feed roller associated with the lower feed roller, the third feed roller and lower feed roller defining a feed nip; and a device for positively driving the upper feeding roller, whereby the collation of sheets is fed through the nips into the buckle chute without any shingling effects.

Abstract: As apparatus for producing items in selected configurations and a system and method for controlling the same. The apparatus includes a laser printer and folding sealing apparatus controlled by a data processor. The folder sealer apparatus combines sheets printed by the laser printer with pre-printed sheets and envelope forms, which also may be printed by the laser printer. The apparatus folds the sheets as necessary and folds and seals the envelope form about the folded sheets to produce a mail piece. A user inputs a configuration for the mail piece which is translated by the data processor and transmitted to the controller of the folder sealer apparatus. The controller controls the laser printer and the folder sealer to produce the mail piece in the defined configuration. Concurrently the data processor transmits text from an output file to the laser printer for printing on printed sheets and envelope forms. The data processor also controls the laser printer to print an address for the mail piece.

Abstract: A mailing machine is disclosed having an elongate feed deck, means for feeding envelopes along the feed deck, and a postage meter mounted in the mailing machine and having a printing mechanism disposed in juxtaposition with the feed deck so as to print postage indicia on successive envelopes as they are fed along the feed deck. The mailing machine includes a tape feeding and cutting apparatus mounted above the feed deck and adjacent to the postage meter on the side thereof opposite to the direction of feed of envelopes along the feed deck for feeding successive finite lengths of tape to the postage meter for printing of postage indicia on a portion thereof and for cutting and ejecting the printed portion of the finite length of tape from the mailing machine. The tape feeding and cutting apparatus is constructed and arranged so that all of the tape storing, feeding, severing and ejecting mechanisms of the apparatus are all positioned entirely one one side of the postage meter.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which is a tape feeding, cutting and ejecting apparatus for a mailing machine which has a feed deck for envelopees and a postage meter for printing postage indicia on successive envelopees as they are fed along the feed deck. The tape feeding, cutting and ejecting apparatus is mounted in the mailing machine above the feed deck and adjacent to the postage meter on the side thereof opposite to the direction of the feed of envelopees for feeding successive finite lengths of tape to the postage meter for printing of postage indicia on a portion thereof and for cutting and ejecting the printed portion of the finite lengths of tape from the mailing machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tape feeding, cutting and ejecting apparatus for a mailing machine which has a feed deck for feeding envelopes therealong and a postage meter for printing postage indicia on successive envelopes as they are fed along the feed deck. The tape feeding, cutting and ejecting apparatus is mounted in the mailing machine above the feed deck and adjacent to the postage meter on the side thereof opposite to the direction of the feed of envelopes for feeding successive finite lengths of tape to the postage meter for printing of postage indicia on a portion thereof and for cutting and ejecting the printed portion of the finite lengths of tape from the mailing machine. The apparatus includes a tape holding assembly and means for pivotally mounting the tape holding assembly for movement between a normal operating position and an operator accessible position to facilitate loading and threading of a fresh roll of tape.

Abstract: A poster meter is insertable into and removable from a mail machine base receptacle. The postage meter includes a shutter bar which is slidably mounted to the meter. The shutter bar is positionable between a first position where the shutter bar is located opposite and blocking external access to the indicia plate of the meter and in a second position, the shutter bar is laterally positioned from said indicia plate. The receptacle is pivotally mounted to mailing machine base and includes a shutter bar locking mechanism for engaging the shutter bar in the shutter bar's first position and for slidably positioning the shutter bar between the first and second position. A brush assembly is mounted to the shutter bar for brushing or sweeping the indicia plate upon reciprocal displacement of the shutter bar between the first and second positions.

Abstract: The improved tape advancing system includes a conveyor having a moving surface, a motor having an output shaft, means coupled to said motor for driving said moving surface. A frame is locate opposite said moving surface and includes a plurality of wheel assemblies rotatively supported by said frame for assuring positive communication between the tape shaft carrying a first and second wheel fixably mounted to respective ends of the shaft and are spaced apart, a distance such that said wheels will contact an edge portion of the tape which has not been printed upon by an associated postage meter.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for use in dewatering a suspension of solids in which an electric field augments an applied vacuum includes a chamber having ion-pervious walls on which a cake of solids is deposited and an electrode element within the chamber immersed in an electrolyte; the surface area of the ion-pervious walls being substantially greater than the surface area of the electrode element.