Patent ID: 6816845
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: G07B

Abstract:
In a postage metering system having means for transporting an envelope through the postage metering system from an input end thereof, a print head for printing an indicia on an envelope while said envelope is transported by the transporting means through a print zone at a first speed, and means for processing mail related data and to provide said mail related data to the print head prior to printing, the mail related data including information necessary to generate a postal indicia, a method of improving the efficiency of the postage metering system comprising:sensing at least one edge of the envelope at a first position upstream from the print zone; and controlling the speed of the envelope responsive to said sensing and in accordance with a multi-speed profile so as to allow sufficient time, during which the envelope travels from the first position to the print zone, for the processing means to process said mail related data and provide said mail related data to the print head so that the postal indicia may properly be printed on the envelope.