Pitney Bowes Inc.

Edilberto I Salazar

Wallace Kirschner

Richard P Schoonmaker

Peter C DiGiulio

Gerald C Freeman

Jerome E Jackson

Jean-Hiram Coffy

Richard A Malin

Frank D Ramirez

Christopher S Riello

Francis E McDermott

John W Sussmeier

Sungwon R Moh

Robert J Tolmie, Jr

Kenneth A Schulz

Norman J Bergman

Michael J Kasmin

Williams J Linkowski

Scott T Potter

Benita J Felmus

Robert A Cordery

Ronald P Sansone

Daniel F Dlugos

Alton B Eckert, Jr

Flavio M Manduley

Donald T Dolan

David W Beckstrom

Boris Rozenfeld

Thomas M Lyga

Keith E Schubert

Brian M Romansky

Richard A Bernard

John L Lorenzo

George M Macdonald

Robert J Francisco

Michael J Ramadei

Philip Pollak, Jr

Denis J Stemmle, Sr

Pushpavadan S Nagarsheth

Fran E Blackman

Arthur Rubinstein

Christopher D Smith

Sandra J Peterson

Gilbert N Riley

Karin A Russo

Kevin M Minckler

Jeffrey L Chodack

Mark W Van Gorp

Ido Weisman

Douglas M Mattingly

Benita F Felmus

John N Moody

Systems and methods including mailing machines having postage meters including multiple postal security devices are described. In one illustrative configuration, a postage meter having multiple postal security devices for use with different postal carriers is described. In another illustrative configuration, a postage meter is configured to apply two postage payment information indicia to a single mail piece using two separate postal security devices.

Multiple carrier mailing machine

A weighing system is provided to measure the article weight by first and second weight measurement devices. The first and second weight measurement devices each include a platform adapted to accept an article traveling along an upstream processing path and a device for sensing article weight as the article traverses the platform. Furthermore, the platforms of the first and second weight measurement devices define weight acquisition paths which are substantially parallel to one another. A diverter mechanism is provided to direct articles from the upstream processing path to one of the first or second weight acquisition paths. The diverter mechanism is controlled by a system processor which directs articles to one of the weight measurement devices depending upon its status, i.e., whether the path is available to receive another article for measuring weight. By diverting mailpieces to parallel weight acquisition paths, throughput is enhanced by multiple weight measurements occurring simultaneously.

Parallel path weight measurement system for sheet handling devices

A system and method for fast weighing of items such as mailpieces. The system includes a scale system 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 median of the peak to valley difference of the digital output signal when the digital output signal peak to valley difference is less than a predetermined value. The microprocessor identifies peaks and valleys of the digital output signal by determining when the derivative of the signal changes sign. The microprocessor uses the determined first peak value to determine if the weight is below the first weight break point. The microprocessor also estimates the weight as an average of a sum of medians for N preceding cycles if the digital output signal does not converge. The postage meter initially assumes that all mailpieces have a minimum postage amount due and corrects the postage amount when a weight signal is received from the microprocessor so as to take advantage of the fact that the majority of mailpieces require only a minimum postage amount.

System and method for fast weighing of items such as mailpieces

A method and system for providing external user interfaces is described. In one configuration a co-located external processor and a business machine negotiate a communications connection. The co-located external processor then utilizes a server to determine a shared secret in order to pair a wireless connection with the business machine in order to act as the user interface for the business machine. In another configuration, the co-located external processor is connected to a remote data center that authenticates the user and provides the user interface code and secret pairing information to the co-located external processor. In another configuration, the co-located external processor performs data processing for providing a cryptographically processed print stream to a postage meter.

System and method for wireless user interface for business machines

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 microprocessor determines the weights as the median of the peak to valley difference of the digital output signal when the digital output signal peak to valley difference is less than a predetermined value. The microprocessor identifies peaks and valleys of the digital output signal by determining when the derivative of the signal changes sign. The microprocessor estimates the weight as an average of a sum of medians for N preceding cycles if the digital output signal does not converge.

System and method for weighing items such as mailpieces in the presence of external vibration

A mailing machine comprising a device for feeding an envelope having a width in a path of travel; a device for determining the width of the envelope; and a control device in operative communication with the determining device for using the width of the envelope to ascertain a proper amount of postage to be applied to the envelope. According to a first embodiment, the determining device includes a sensor array located transverse to the path of travel for detecting the presence of the envelope where the sensor array includes an inner plurality of sensors and an outer plurality of sensors located further away from a registration wall than the inner plurality of sensors. According to a second embodiment, the determining device includes a first sensor for detecting a lead edge of the envelope and a sensor line located downstream in the path of travel from the first sensor and at an angle to the path of travel so as to detect a lead corner of the envelope.

Mailing machine including dimensional rating capability

Predetermined print control signals are provided to a digital printing mechanism that responds to the print control signals to print an image on a substrate. A reference signal is derived from said print control signals. The image is scanned to generate a post-print signal. The reference signal is compared with said post-print signal. If the reference signal and the post-print signal do not compare within predetermined standards, an output signal indicative of poor print quality is generated. The print mechanism can be incorporated into a postage metering system and the image can be a postal indicia. The postage meter is responsive to a signal generated as a function of the output signal to inhibit further printing of postal indicia. Prior to printing the image, a substrate upon which the image is to be printed is scanned to generate a reflectance signal, the reflectance signal being used to correct the post-print signal. The post-print signal can represent integration of reflectance over segments of the image, or can represent summation of scanned pixels over segments of the image.

Apparatus and method for real-time measurement of digital print quality

A method for dynamically determining a motion control profile used in controlling motion of an axis of an overhead transport motor so as to be synchronized to the motion of a collating transport motor of an insertion engine used to insert a collation into an envelope when the collating transport motor causes a collating pusher to handoff the collation to an overhead pusher being driven by the overhead transport motor. The motion profile consists of a finite number of segments and repeats after the finite number of segments, the finite number of segments constituting a cycle. The method includes the steps of: electronically gearing the overhead transport motor to the collating transport motor from the beginning of a cycle until handoff; based on position information provided by a sensor, determining whether the collating transport is decelerating between handoff and insertion; and using either forward integration or electronic gearing of the overhead transport motor to the collating transport motor up until the collating transport motor is first determined to be decelerating between handoff and insertion, and using forward integration when the collating transport motor is first determined to be decelerating between handoff and insertion and continuing the forward integration until insertion. In some applications, the forward integration is used when the collating transport motor is first determined to be decelerating between handoff and insertion and continuing the forward integration until the end of the cycle.

Method for synchronizing an envelope inserter

A methodology for generating a motion profile for an axis of a motor in a mailing apparatus, the linear or angular motion of the motor axis imparting a motion to a sheet or envelope being conveyed by the mailing apparatus. The methodology includes four processes for generating a segment of a motion profile, depending on whether, for the segment, absolute positional synchronism (of the motor axis to be controlled relative to another motor axis) is needed, or whether a so-called quick step is needed, i.e. a change in velocity corresponding to acceleration that varies during the step. The processes include: forward integration, given the jerk (acceleration per unit time) and starting acceleration as well as initial values of position and velocity; non-parabolic displacement mapping (sometimes called electronic gearing) relating the motion of the axis to be controlled to the motion of another axis where the function expressing the mapping is not parabolic in the commanded or actual position of the other axis; integration based on a velocity equation that is parabolic in time; and a parabolic displacement mapping, i.e. a displacement mapping using a function that is parabolic in the actual or commanded position of a reference axis.

Motion control methodology for a high-speed inserting machine or other mailing apparatus

The mailing machine includes a microcontroller system for executing machine control algorithms during each control cycle and user interface algorithms. Each control cycle is divided into first discrete time intervals sufficient to allow completion of the respective control algorithms, and a second time interval for execution of user interface algorithm and, if required, completion of the user interface algorithm during subsequent control cycles.

Method of providing real time machine control system particularly suited for a postage meter mailing machine

The status of deposits or withdrawals of items in a receptacle is indicated to one or more users having access to the receptacle. A receptacle is accessible by at least one user and is capable of containing an item. A deposit/withdrawal sensor for sensing a deposit or withdrawal of an item in the receptacle is also provided. A user identifier for identifying a user having access to the receptacle during the deposit or withdrawal of the item sensed by the deposit/withdrawal sensor is employed by the system. One or more indicators that are responsive to the deposit/withdrawal sensor and the user identifier are provided to indicate a deposit or withdrawal of the item in the receptacle by the identified user. The indicators may be placed on the receptacle or may be located remote from the receptacle.

Status indicating system for indicating the deposit and withdrawal of

An ink jet printer comprising a replaceable cartridge having a supply of ink and a controller in operative communication with the cartridge. The controller keeps an estimate of an amount of ink remaining in the cartridge and provides a signal indicating that the cartridge is to be weighed in response to a predetermined event. A method of operating an ink jet printer, a postage printing apparatus and a method of operating a postage printing system are also provided.

Mailing machine including ink jet printing having ink availability

A mailing machine includes an external communication port, a resident user interface and a control system in operative communication with the resident user interface and the external communication port. The control system detects whether or not an external user interface is connected at the external communication port and, if the external user interface is connected, enables the external user interface and disables a portion of the resident user interface. The external user interface provides additional functionality beyond the resident user interface. A corresponding method of operating the mailing machine is also provided.

Mailing Machine disabling a keyboard/display of a resident user

An apparatus and method for transporting a mailpiece. The apparatus comprises an assembly for feeding the mailpieces in a path of travel; a sensor assembly for determining the length of the mailpieces; and a controller in operative communication with the sensor assembly and the feeding assembly, the controller for adjusting the gap between a first mailpiece having a measured length and a second mailpiece to: (i) establish a fixed pitch between the first mailpiece and the second mailpiece if the measure length is equal to or less than a predetermined value, or (ii) establish a fixed gap between the first mailpiece and the second mailpiece if the measure length is greater than the predetermined value. The method comprises the steps of feeding the mailpieces in a path of travel; determining the length of the mailpieces; and adjusting the gap between a first mailpiece having a determined length and a second mailpiece to establish a fixed pitch between the first mailpiece and the second mailpiece if the determined length is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

Article transport apparatus

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Brookfield, CT, United States of America

Edilberto I Salazar