Pitney Bowes Inc.

Alpex Computer Corporation

Wallace Kirschner

Edilberto I Salazar

Easwaran C Nambudiri

Douglas H Patterson

Robert A Cordery

Richard A Malin

Jerome E Jackson

John H Steinmetz

Edward J Naclerio

Maria P Parkos

Lawrence Martin Haskel

Alton B Eckert, Jr

Donald T Dolan

Arno Muller

Bahram Javidi

David W Hubbard

Keith E Schubert

Charles F Murphy, Iii

John L Lorenzo

Joseph L Gargiulo

Philip Pollak, Jr

Richard A Connell

Patrick M Brand

Edward P Cornell

Thomas A D'Andrea

Joel I Wald

David T McPherson

A method and system for reading a two-dimensional barcode symbol on a mailpiece. The barcode symbol may be distorted during the printing process or the image acquiring process, rendering it difficult to recognize by a conventional template matching method. Typically, a two-dimensional barcode symbol is composed on a two-dimensional array of visually contrasting blocks. Any group of four adjacent blocks sharing a common corner may form an identifiable pattern. These patterns can be used as internal landmarks. When the barcode symbol is distorted, the distances between the internal landmarks change accordingly. Using an Lp-norm algorithm to measure the distances in the transform domain, distortion can thus be determined and the global geometry of the barcode symbol restored based on the distance measurements.

Robust barcode reader

A mailing system includes a mailing machine having a printing mechanism for printing an indication of postage value on a mailpiece and structure for controlling relative movement between the printing mechanism and the mailpiece to ensure the mailpiece is properly positioned relative to the printing mechanism during printing of the indication of postage value; a meter vault having a securely sealed housing, and apparatus, within the securely sealed housing, for accounting for the printed indication of postage value, wherein the meter vault is removably mounted in the mailing machine for easy removal via a plug-in connector; and a printing mechanism control module for securely controlling printing by the printing mechanism based on data received from the meter vault, the printing mechanism control module being removably mounted in the mailing machine for easy removal via a quick disconnect connector; wherein the meter vault and the printing mechanism control module are in electrical communication via the mailing machine. The mailing system can also include ciphered communications between the vault and the printing mechanism.

Modular mailing system

A method for printing an enhanced postal indicia image on a mailpiece utilizing a postage meter having a printing mechanism including a plurality of nozzles that deposit an ink in a dot-matrix pattern includes moving the printing mechanism and the mailpiece relative to each other over a first swath area on the mailpiece; selectively energizing the nozzles during step A) thereby printing a dot-matrix pattern of a postal indicia within the first swath area; moving the printing mechanism and the mailpiece relative to each other over a second swath area on the mailpiece, the second swath area in overlapping relationship with the first swath area; and selectively energizing the nozzles during step C) for printing a dot-matrix pattern of selected portions of the postal indicia which is complimentary to the dot-matrix pattern of the postal indicia such that a dot-matrix pattern of the enhanced postal indicia is produced by a combination of the dot-matrix pattern of the postal indicia and the dot-matrix pattern of selected portions of the postal indicia.

Method and apparatus for securely printing an indicia image in multiple

A mailing system is includes of a mailing machine operating under the control of a microcontroller having a communication port with a first channel and a second channel. The mailing system also includes a meter vault which operates under the control a microcontroller mounted in a secure housing and having a communication port with a first channel and a second channel. A printer is included which operates under the control of a microcontroller mounted in a secure housing and having a communication port having a first channel and a second channel. A printer interface is included for providing a number of independent communication paths. A first path provides communication between first channel of the mailing machine and the first channel of the meter vault. A second path provides communication between the second channel of the mailing machine and the second channel of the printer, and a third path for providing communications between the second channel of meter vault and the first channel of the printer.

Digital postage meter system

A postage metering system includes input means for inputting into the system a value of postage to be imprinted on a mail piece and means storing data concerning appropriate postage value amounts. A printing means is provided for printing a first postage imprint and for printing a different second postage imprint. Print control means are coupled to the printing means and the storing means for causing the printing means to print the first postage imprint for an appropriate postage value and the second postage imprint for postage value which are other than the appropriate postage raise.

Postage metering system with short paid mail deterrence

In an electronic postage meter, two accounts are maintained in non-volatile memory. One account represents the funds available for the postage meter and the other is an account representing operational funds. The operational funds account is accessed and updated in meter trips. The other is accessed when operating funds reach a predetermined level. In a first embodiment, the first register is disposed in a low endurance non-volatile memory while the second register is disposed in a high endurance device which has lower retention capability. The non-volatile memory in which the first register is disposed may be maintained at power-down or power-savings condition during trip cycles and other system operations in order to protect the funds stored in the first register.

Electronic postage meter having separate funds charge registers and

An improvement in combination with apparatus including rotary means, wherein the rotary means includes a periphery having indicia printing means and is adapted for feeding a sheet in a path of travel. The improvement comprises: a first device for sensing a time interval during which a sheet having a leading edge is linearly displaced a predetermined distance in the path of travel; a d.c. motor coupled to the rotary mean for rotation of the rotary means; a second device for sensing angular displacement of the rotary means and a computer coupled to the first and second sensing devices and to the d.c. motor; wherein the computer responds to the first sensing device for providing respective amounts representative of desired angular displacements of the rotary means during successive sampling time periods, responds to the second sensing device for providing respective amounts representative of actual angular displacements of the rotary means during successive sampling time periods, compensates for the difference between desired and actual angular displacements and generates a d.c. motor control signal for controlling rotation of the motor to cause the linear displacement of the indicia printing means to initially engage the sheet in the path of travel a predetermined marginal distance from the leading edge of the sheet.

Microprocessor controlled d.c. motor for controlling printing means

An electronic postage meter includes two non-volatile memories. One of the non-volatile memories is utilized for storing in historical sequence in respective registers the transaction information for each of a predetermined number of transactions which have occurred prior to the last transaction. This memory is accessed at the time of each transaction. The real-time transaction information may be sequentially written over the earliest information in the registers. The other non-volatile memory stores cumulative data upon power-down.

Electronic postage meter having multiple non-volatile memories for

A method and associated apparatus is provided for protecting the accounting data stored in an electronic postage meter having multiple non-volatile memories for the storage of accounting data, including the steps of and associated apparatus for providing a first non-volatile memory; writing postage transactions accounting data into the first non-volatile memory in real time during each trip cycle of the meter; providing a second non-volatile memory; writing postage transaction accounting data into the second non-volatile memory only during the power cycle of the meter; and disabling the first non-volatile memory when the meter enters a power down cycle to prevent any further writing of data into the first non-volatile memory. Advantageously, the first non-volatile memory is clamped to ground potential during the power down cycle.

Data protection system for electronic postage meters having multiple

In a machine which includes apparatus for feeding tape and for driving the tape feeding apparatus, there is provided an improvement for controlling the tape feeding apparatus. The improvement comprises the driving apparatus is provided with a d.c. motor having an output shaft for driving the tape feeding apparatus, and apparatus is provided for sensing angular displacement of the motor output shaft. In addition there is provided a microcomputer including a microprocessor comprising a clock for generating successive sampling time periods, structure for providing first counts respectively representative of successive desired angular displacements of the motor output shaft during successive sampling time periods, structure responsive to the sensing apparatus for providing second counts respectively representative of actual angular displacements of the motor output shaft during successive sampling time periods, and structure for compensating for the difference between the first and second counts during each successive sampling time period and generating a pulse width modulated control signal for controlling the d.c. motor, the motor control signal causing the actual angular displacement of the motor output shaft to substantially match the desired angular displacement of the motor output shaft during successive sampling time periods. Further, a signal amplifier circuit is provided for operably coupling the motor control signal to the d.c. motor.

Microprocessor controlled D.C. motor for controlling tape feeding means

In printing apparatus including structure for changing a value to be printed and structure for selecting a value to be printed, wherein the former includes a plurality of banks, each of which includes a print wheel having a plurality of print elements, and the latter includes structure for selecting each bank and structure for selecting each print element of a selected bank, and structure for driving the bank and print element selection structure, wherein the driving structure includes an output shaft, and structure for selectively coupling the shaft to the bank and print element selection structure, the improvement for controlling the value selection structure, the improvement comprising: the driving structure including a d.c. motor having the output shaft; structure for sensing angular displacement of the shaft; a microprocessor comprising clock structure for generating successive sampling time periods, structure for providing first counts respectively representative of successive desired angular displacements of the shaft, structure responsive to the sensing structure for providing second counts respectively representative of actual angular displacements of the shaft, and structure for compensating for the difference between the first and second counts during each successive sampling time period and generating a PWM signal causing the actual angular displacement of the shaft to substantially match the desired angular displacement thereof during successive sampling time periods; and signal amplifying structure operably coupling the signal to the motor.

Microprocessor controlled D.C. motor for controlling print value

In combination with apparatus for printing indicia on a sheet, and a microcomputer for controlling the indicia printing apparatus to cause the indicia to be printed a predetermined marginal distance from an edge of the sheet, there is provided an improvement for changing the marginal distance. The improvement comprises: operator-controlled apparatus for providing at least one signal representative of at least one increment of distance; and programming the microcomputer for processing the at least one signal to provide a changed marginal distance, wherein the changed marginal distance includes the predetermined distance changed by the at least one increment of distance.

Apparatus for controlling printing means

Sheet handling apparatus is provided which includes structure for feeding a sheet in a predetermined path of travel, for sensing the sheet in the path of travel and providing at least one sensing signal indicative thereof, for printing postage indicia on the sheet, and for controlling the printing structure. The sensing structure is coupled to the controlling structure, which includes a microcomputer adapted to be energized from a local source of supply of power. The microcomputer is responsive to the at least one sensing signal for providing a time delay before commencement of operation of the printing structure to cause the postage indicia to be printed on the sheet a predetermined marginal distance from a reference edge of the sheet. The controlling structure includes a keyboard coupled to the microcomputer. The keyboard includes at least one key selectively operable for generating at least one key signal representative of a desired change in the marginal distance. The microcomputer is responsive to the key signal for providing an adjusted time delay before commencement of operation of the printing structure to cause the postage indicia to be printed on the sheet a changed marginal distance from the reference edge of the sheet, the changed marginal distance being the predetermined distance by the desired change in marginal distance. And the microcomputer includes a nonvolatile memory for storing therein an amount representative of the desired change in marginal distance.

Sheet handling apparatus

In combination with a postage meter which includes a plurality of loads, a source of supply of motive power for driving the respective loads and instrumentalities for selectively coupling the source of motive power to the respective loads, there is provided an improvement which comprises: the motive power source including a d.c. motor having an output shaft adapted to be selectively coupled to the respective loads; means for sensing angular displacement of the motor output shaft; a microprocessor comprising a clock for generating successive sampling time periods, means for providing first counts respectively representative of successive desired angular displacements of the motor output shaft during successive sampling time periods, means responsive to the sensing means for providing second counts respectively representative of actual angular displacements of the motor output shaft during successive sampling time periods, and means for compensating for the difference between the first and second counts during each successive sampling time period and generating a pulse width modulated control signal for controlling the d.c. motor, the motor control signal causing the actual angular displacement of the motor output shaft to substantially match the desired angular displacement of the motor output shaft during successive sampling time periods; and a signal amplifier circuit for operably coupling the motor control signal to the d.c. motor.

Microprocessor controlled d.c. motor for controlling a postage meter

An improvement in combination with a postage meter including a rotary postage printing drum having apparatus for changing respective postage values to be printed, and including apparatus for actuating the changing apparatus, there is provided an improvement for indexing the changing apparatus into engagement with the actuating apparatus. The improvement comprises: a d.c. motor coupled to the drum for rotation of the drum; a device for sensing angular displacement of the drum; and a computer coupled to the sensing device and to the d.c. motor; wherein the computer provides respective amounts representative of desired angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, responds to the sensing device for providing respective amounts representative of actual angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, compensates for the difference between desired and actual angular displacements and generates a d.c. motor control signal for controlling rotation of the motor to cause the changing apparatus to be indexed into engagement with the actuating apparatus.

Growing community of inventors

Trumbull, CT, United States of America

Wallace Kirschner