Pitney Bowes Inc.

John Kline

Jay Reichelsheimer

Robert A Cordery

Gregory P Skinger

John F Pezzuti

Joseph A DiCristina

Potter R Noreen

A method for producing an envelope having improved seal integrity, comprising the steps of (i) applying a first conductive material to the flap of the envelope in an first area corresponding to a first seal location between the flap and the body portion of the envelope and (ii) applying a second conductive material to the body portion of the envelope in a second area corresponding to a second seal location between the body portion and flap of the envelope, the first and second seal locations being selected such that an end of the first conductive material contacts an end of the second conductive material when the conductive materials are arranged in a substantially common plane. The method further comprises the steps of sealing the flap to the body portion by closing the flap onto the body portion of the envelope to cause the conductive materials to lie in the substantially common plane, and inspecting the sealing interface to determine whether the conductive materials exhibit a property of electrical continuity thereby confirming that a seal has been formed between the flap and body portion of the envelope. A system and article is also described for producing an envelope having improved seal integrity.

Monitoring electrical continuity for envelope seal integrity

A method, system and article for producing an envelope having improved seal integrity. The method comprises the steps of disposing at least one material at the interface of the adhesive seal between the flap and the body portion of the envelope, which material exhibits a characteristic property when combined with an activating agent. The envelope is then sealed by closing the flap onto the body portion of the envelope such that the activating agent combines with the material along the sealing interface. The sealing interface is inspected to determine whether the material exhibits the characteristic property thereby confirming that a seal has been produced between the flap and body portion of the envelope. The system and article are directed to the various modules of a mailpiece fabrication system employed to produce the mailpiece including an inspection module for confirming that a seal has been formed.

Method, system and article for producing a mailpiece envelope having improved seal integrity

A method, system and article for producing an envelope having improved seal integrity. A method includes the steps of: disposing at least one material at the interface of the adhesive seal between the flap and the body portion of the envelope, which material radiates thermal energy when combined with an activating agent. The envelope is then sealed by closing the flap onto the body portion of the envelope and combining the material with the activating agent at the sealing interface so as to change the thermal energy radiated therefrom. The seal is then inspected to determine whether the thermal energy radiated from the activated material has changed thereby confirming that a seal has been produced between the flap and body portion of the envelope. The system and article are directed to the various modules of a mailpiece fabrication system employed to produce the mailpiece including an inspection module for confirming that a seal has been formed.

Seal integrity for mailpiece envelopes

A barcode scanning apparatus and method for reading barcodes on serially fed sheets having barcodes in a consistent location. A transport moves the barcode bearing sheets as they pass below at least two fixed barcode scanners. Both of a first and second barcode scanners scan the barcodes and transmit corresponding signals to an apparatus controller. Preferably the at least two barcode scanners are in series, one closely located immediately downstream of the other. The controller receives the signals from the first and second barcode scanners, and interprets them accordance with a predetermined algorithm. The predetermined algorithm is a function of both the first and second barcode signals and is selectable to provide different levels of reliability checking.

System and method for scanning barcodes with multiple barcode readers

An apparatus and method are disclosed for preventing components in an inserter machine from causing the inserter machine to stop or function less than optimally due to lack of proper attention from an operator. Accordingly, various component conditions are categorized based upon two or more levels of urgency, and each component having such a condition signals the category of urgency to an operator.

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Danbury, CT, United States of America

John Kline