Pitney Bowes Inc.

Joseph M Mozdzer

Wesley A Kirschner

Gary S Jacobson

Robert G Arsenault

Konstantin G Kodonas

Joseph P Tokarski

Sharon A McNeal

Daniel Lanin

Charles F Murphy, Iii

Dale A French

Roger J Ratzenberger, Jr

David J Eaton

William F Bailey

Craig J DeFilippo

Steven J Shapiro

William T Lefebvre

Paul A Diel

Kevin W Baxter

A method for maximizing the overall efficiency of an insertion system by running the system with the optimal balance between system throughput and potential for system stoppages. In other words, the system is capable of running at less than maximum throughput if running at such throughput is causing excessive amounts of system stoppages and thus, negatively impacting overall system efficiency. The foregoing is accomplished by an algorithm that controls the flow of material being processed by a particular section of the machine, or 'module'. This algorithm is capable of reducing the flow rate of material to, or within, that module if a problem arises downstream that may lead to a paper jam.

Method for committing material to a module of an inserting system

A mailing machine is provided that determines if entry into a disabled state is coupled with the need for auxiliary information to be entered by the user. If auxiliary information is required to be entered by the user, the print head will not move to the capped position but instead remains in the printing position, and a timer is activated to provide the user with time to enter the information. If the user enters the required information before a predetermined amount of time has expired, the mail piece will be processed without any delay required for the print head to move from the capped position to the printing position. Only if the user has not entered the required information within the predetermined amount of time will the print head move to the capped position.

Method and system for controlling processing performed by a mailing machine

A mailing machine is provided that, when operating in a differential weighing mode, can detect if a user has replaced one or more mail pieces that may have been inadvertently removed at the same time back onto the scale. If the mailing machine detects such replacement within a predetermined time period after the scale has stabilized, the weight calculated for the mail piece can be reduced by the amount added back to the scale, or, alternatively, the user could be requested to confirm that multiple pieces were inadvertently removed from the scale at the same time, the user is trying to correct that error, and a new weight is to be determined.

Mailing machine including methods and systems to reduce weighing errors when operating in a differential weighing mode

A customizable user interface for a mailing apparatus, such as a postage meter or other mailing equipment, provided as input data to a user interface control program, the input data specifying all aspects of the look and feel of the user interface. The invention provides a specific organization of the input data suitable for providing the required specifications. At a high level, the data is organized into a screen tree component, for providing the feel of each screen, i.e. the response by the mailing apparatus (usually the execution of a function) to any key pressed by a user in association with each screen of the user information as well as for providing what screens to display in response to an event so as to communicate the occurrence of the event to a user; and a screen language component, used in conjunction with a font component, for providing the look of each screen, i.e. for providing its content and layout, where the characters or symbols to be painted on a screen is specified in the screen language component, and how to paint the characters and symbols is specified in the font component.

Customizable user interface for a mailing apparatus

A postage metering system includes a postage meter and a user interface in communication with the postage meter. The user interface includes a micro controller and a memory. The memory has stored therein a plurality of image data files corresponding to different currencies. The postage meter includes a micro controller and a memory having stored therein an indicator of meter currency type. The user interface uses the indicator of meter currency type from the postage meter to select a particular one of the plurality of image data files for use in printing a postal indicia.

Postage metering system having separable modules with multiple currency capability and synchronization

A postage metering system which performs a plurality of different functions including printing of postage and exchange of data with a remotely located data center to accomplish a postage fund refill of the postage metering system, a remote postage metering system inspection, and a download of location data into the postage metering system is provided and further includes a portable vault having first data indicative of location stored therein, the portable vault accounting for the value of postage printed; and a terminal which houses structure for removably receiving the portable vault, a printing mechanism for printing postage, apparatus for communicating with the data center to perform the remote postage metering system inspection, the postage fund refill of the postage metering system, and the download of location data into the postage metering system, structure for storing second data indicative of location, and apparatus for comparing the first and second data at times when the portable vault is inserted in the receiving means, for permitting operation of all of the plurality of different functions if the first and second data match, and for preventing the printing of postage while permitting the operation of at least some of the other of the plurality of different functions if the first and second data do not match. A method associated with the postage metering system is also provided.

Method and apparatus for ensuring for the correct accounting of postage

A postage metering system includes a portable postage meter vault; structure for printing an indication of postage value; a postage meter terminal including apparatus for receiving the portable postage meter vault, a device for determining at times when the portable postage meter vault is inserted into the receiving means if the portable postage meter vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions and a device for automatically disabling the portable postage meter vault from performing vault functions if the determination is made that the portable postage meter vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions. A method for disabling a portable vault of a postage metering system includes the steps of: (A) inserting the portable vault into a terminal of the postage metering system; automatically determining via the terminal if the portable vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions; and (C) at times when in step (B) it is determined that the portable vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions automatically disabling the inserted portable vault from performing vault functions.

Method and apparatus for automatically disabling a removable, portable

A value dispensing mechanism which prints an indication of value includes a portable accounting device which accounts for the printed indication of value; and a terminal including apparatus for printing the indication of value, a display which displays messages related to functions of the value dispensing mechanism, structure for controlling messages displayed on the display and for initiating operation of the printing means to print the indication of value, a storage device for storing a plurality of display options, and apparatus for removably receiving the portable accounting device such that at times when the portable accounting device is received in the receiving apparatus the controlling structure and the portable accounting device are in operative communication with each other to permit operation of the value dispensing mechanism; wherein the portable accounting device includes means for automatically designating at least one of the display options upon insertion of the portable accounting device into the receiving means for at least one of displaying the selected display option on the display and printing the selected display option as at least a portion of the indication of value.

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Shelton, CT, United States of America

Joseph M Mozdzer