Granted Patent B2

US 8,397,782 · App. 12/643,791 · Granted Mar 19, 2013

Abstract

Claims (27)

1. A mailing machine having a moistening fluid level indicator comprising;

a mail piece transport including a mail piece flap opening and moistening assembly,

a moistening fluid container operatively connected to the moistening assembly for providing moistening fluid to the moistening assembly, and a fluid level indicator arm operatively connected to the moistening fluid container, wherein the fluid level indicator arm has an indicator surface adjacent to an indicator window for indicating the presence of the moistening fluid level container and for indicating an amount of moistening fluid in the container, and wherein,

the moistening fluid container is spring biased upward operatively connected to a cam surface of the fluid level indicator arm.

2. The mailing machine according to claim 1 , wherein:

the fluid level indicating arm includes an indicator surface having at least two portions, each of the two portions marked with respective different color.

3. The mailing machine according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a moistening fluid level gauge marked on a surface adjacent to the fluid level indicator arm.

4. The mailing machine according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a user interface controller including a mailing machine processor operatively connected to the mailing machine; and

a moistening system engagement sensor operatively connected to the mail piece flap opening and moistening assembly and the mailing machine processor.

5. The mailing machine according to claim 4 , wherein

the moistening assembly includes a moistening brush connected to a moistening brush holder for applying moistening fluid to an envelope flap.

6. A mailing machine having a moistening fluid level indicator comprising;

a mail piece transport including a mail piece flap opening and moistening assembly,

a moistening fluid container operatively connected to the moistening assembly for providing moistening fluid to the moistening assembly, and

a fluid level indicator arm operatively connected to the moistening fluid container, wherein the fluid level indicator arm has an indicator surface adjacent to an indicator window for indicating the presence of the moistening fluid level container and for indicating an amount of moistening fluid in the container,

wherein the moistening assembly includes a moistening brush connected to a moistening brush holder for applying moistening fluid to an envelope flap, further comprising:

an electrical moistening fluid presence detector connected to the moistening brush holder downstream of the moistening brush, wherein the electrical moistening fluid presence detector is operatively connected to the mailing machine processor.

7. The mailing machine according to claim 6 , further comprising:

an electrical moistening fluid level detector operatively connected to the fluid level indicator arm to determine moistening fluid level, wherein the electrical moistening fluid level detector is operatively connected to the mailing machine processor.

8. The mailing machine according to claim 7 , wherein,

the user interface controller is configured to provide an indication to a mailing machine user based upon a signal received from the electrical moistening fluid level detector.

9. The mailing machine according to claim 8 , wherein,

the user interface controller is configured to provide a second indication to a mailing machine user based upon a signal received from the electrical moistening fluid presence detector.

10. The mailing machine according to claim 6 , wherein,

the user interface controller is configured to provide an indication to a mailing machine user based upon a signal received from the electrical moistening fluid presence detector.

Assignments (6)