A method for processing a batch of mailpieces on an inserting station comprising at least a document feeder and a document scanner to read barcodes printed on pages of documents belonging to said batch of mailpieces, the method including the steps of selecting a job type having job parameters for the batch of mailpieces, extracting a first page belonging to a mailpiece from the document feeder, scanning the first page with the document scanner, searching a first barcode printed on the first page, reading the first barcode on the first page, extracting from the first barcode an information including at least one of a mailpiece identifier, a page count or position coordinates, processing the information to retrieve a position of a second barcode printed on a second page to be extracted from the document feeder, extracting the second page from the document feeder, scanning the second page with the document scanner, searching a second barcode on the second page at the retrieved position, and reading the second barcode on the second page.

A postage evidencing system for tracking postage amounts for multiple users comprising at least two register set partitions is disclosed. Each of the partitions includes an ascending register holding a number representing a value of postage that can be evidenced by the device, a descending register holding a number representing a value of postage that has been previously evidenced by the device, and an identification representing a source of mail pieces that are evidenced with postage from the partition. A security module limits access to the partitions and registers. The identifier for a selected partition is printed on mail pieces as part of an Information Based Indicia (IBI) to identify the source of the mail pieces.

Systems and methods which utilize gravity feed for mail item movement in postage metering operations are shown. Embodiments provide for gravity drop feeding mail items into a portion of a postage metering system for metering operations, such as to activate or apply postage indicia thereto. Embodiments provide for gravity drop exit of mail items from a portion of a postage metering system after metering operations, such as activation or application of postage indicia thereto. Postage metering operations as performed by embodiments of the invention may comprise scanning and activation of preprinted tokens. Postage metering operations according to alternative embodiments of the invention may printing postage indicia. Embodiments provide processing in addition to or in the alternative to the aforementioned postage indicia activation or printing and mail item marking operations, such as weighing, sorting, etc.

A system and method for estimating dimensions of an approximately cuboidal object from a 3D image of the object acquired by an image sensor of the vision system processor is provided. An identification module, associated with the vision system processor, automatically identifies a 3D region in the 3D image that contains the cuboidal object. A selection module, associated with the vision system processor, automatically selects 3D image data from the 3D image that corresponds to approximate faces or boundaries of the cuboidal object. An analysis module statistically analyzes, and generates statistics for, the selected 3D image data that correspond to approximate cuboidal object faces or boundaries. A refinement module chooses statistics that correspond to improved cuboidal dimensions from among cuboidal object length, width and height. The improved cuboidal dimensions are provided as dimensions for the object. A user interface displays a plurality of interface screens for setup and runtime operation.

According to the present embodiment, a control device of a conveyor system controls a moving device and a suction device to suction the transport target article so that an approximate center of an opening of at least one suction unit is located on a first imaginary line, and remaining suction unit is located on one end side in a longitudinal direction of the transport target article with respect to the first imaginary line, controls a turning-over section to be in a front-back reversing orientation, and performs control so that suction of the transport target article by the suction units is released after the suction device is in the front-back reversing orientation.

A mail item sortation system and method that includes an external controller for culling candidate letters in a mailing job to produce groupings of letters based on industry average weights and/or thicknesses in order to place all the candidate letters going to a single address adjacent to each other, an internal controller, interfaced with the external controller, that utilizes the groupings of letters to manage multiple letter sorters, wherein a specific letter sorter is selected to pair a calculated number of pockets to accommodate the groupings with an actual number of pockets in the selected letter sorter, and a transfer process for moving letters within the letter sorter pockets to a StatementPack machine.

Device for weighing flat objects in motion comprising a conveyor (12) with drive rollers (22A, 22B) for conveying the flat objects along a transport path (14), a weighing plate (16) facing said transport path and comprising a set of free rollers (160) for receiving the flat objects, and a weighing sensor (18) attached to the weighing plate for measuring the weight of the flat objects during their passage between the conveyor and the weighing plate, wherein the weighing sensor is arranged above the transport path and the conveyor is adapted to move vertically in order to press the flat objects in motion against the weighing plate.

A method for franking mail items fed to a franking machine. The mail items are drawn from the underside of a stack for separation or are fed individually on a conveying section upstream of the franking machine to a printing unit for franking, after franking, are discharged in the opposite direction from the printing unit. The mail items are fed via a diverter section to the conveying section, after franking, are conveyed via the diverter section which is switched over to change the conveying direction into a depositing apparatus below the diverter section. The mail items are guided in the opening region of the franking machine into the printing position and are returned out of the printing position. The printing position of a mail item fed to the printing unit is determined by a print head movement-controlled from a readiness position pursuant to the format length of the mail item.

A mail item sortation system and method that includes an external controller for culling candidate letters in a mailing job to produce groupings of letters based on industry average weights and/or thicknesses in order to place all the candidate letters going to a single address adjacent to each other, an internal controller, interfaced with the external controller, that utilizes the groupings of letters to manage multiple letter sorters, wherein a specific letter sorter is selected to pair a calculated number of pockets to accommodate the groupings with an actual number of pockets in the selected letter sorter, and a transfer process for moving letters within the letter sorter pockets to a StatementPack machine.

An individualization station has a supply deck for supplying flat goods to a goods processing apparatus following in the transport path in the transport direction x of a Cartesian coordinate system, with openings in the supply deck for a drum in an individualization region, and with individualization assembly as well as with a contact pressure box. The contact pressure box is movable in the z-direction, and has a linkage that is pivotable at a downstream end. An individualization assembly carrier forms an L-shape at an upstream end of the linkage that is pivotable in the contact pressure box. A stop side of the undeflected individualization assembly carrier is aligned parallel to the y/z-plane and extends counter to a y-direction. The individualization assembly carrier can be deflected above the supply deck at a variable distance corresponding to the thickness of the flat good to be individualized, and is adjustable in the y-direction and counter thereto by an adjustment assembly.