Pitney Bowes Inc.

Gerber Technology, Inc.

Andrew Zink

Brad L Davies

Mark A Scribe

Thomas Rapoza

Jeffrey Monroe

The present invention is a postage meter apparatus and method for printing in which print software is decoupled from print data such that print image data can change without impacting software. The decoupling can be performed using distributed architecture. Additionally, tables are used to decouple the print software from the print data.

Method and apparatus for printing postage

In a method for compensating for pattern distortion of sheet-type work material spread onto a support surface a processing apparatus is provided and carries said support surface. The work material is spread onto the support surface and images of selected areal portions of the work material are captured. A controller analyzes these images and projects them onto a display whereupon the images are mapped to define any distortion in the work material. The controller then undistorts the images of these areal portions and projects them back onto the display so that an operator can position undistorted digital representations of pattern pieces onto the undistorted images of the work material. The controller then distorts the geometry of the pattern pieces positioned on the work material by the operator to conform to the distortion in the spread material.

Method to compensate for pattern distortion on sheet-type work material spread onto a support surface

A print signal generation system for generating print bit map data corresponding to a desired image where the print bit map data is utilized by a digital printing device to print the desired image. The system includes region parameter data, a first data generation system and a second data generation system in operative communication with the first data generation system. The region parameter data includes region data defining a partitioning of the desired image into a plurality of regions and expansion data. The first data generation system generates transaction data associated with the desired image and using the transaction data in combination with the region parameter data to generate print instruction data. The second data generation system receives the print instruction data from the first data generation system and expands the print instruction data based upon the region parameter data to generate the print bit map data.

Print signal generation

In a method for aligning a spatial array of pattern pieces comprising a marker, a work material processing apparatus defining a support surface adapted to carry work material is provided and at least one layer of work is spread thereon. Images of said work material at a reference point and match point are captured and superimposed over one another these superimposed images being projected onto a display. One of said images of said work material at said reference point in said image of said work material at said match point is moved relative to the other to substantially align the images. The position of a matching pattern piece contained within the marker is then moved in accordance with the amount of relative movement to align the pattern of the sheet material within a boundary defined by the matching pattern piece with that defined by the reference pattern piece.

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Stafford Springs, CT, United States of America

Andrew Zink