Envelope moistening detector
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorsJohn W. Sussmeier, Gregory P. Skinger, Eddy Edel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mailing system includes a mailing machine having an envelope feed path, a sealing system configured to apply a liquid to an envelope in the envelope feed path, a capacitive sensor located in the envelope feed path downstream from the sealing system, and a controller connected to the capacitive sensor. The sealing system may include a liquid reservoir and a liquid applicator. The capacitive sensor is configured to measure a quantity of liquid on a portion of the envelope applied by the sealing system and to generate a signal based on the measured quantity. The controller is configured to perform an operation based on the measured quantity signal from the capacitive sensor.
Claims21
An envelope moistening detection system, comprising:
- a capacitive sensor located in an envelope feed path downstream from a liquid application device of an envelope sealing apparatus, wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to measure a quantity of liquid on a portion of an envelope applied by the liquid application device and to generate a signal based on the measured quantity;
- and
- a controller connected to the capacitive sensor, wherein the controller is configured to perform an operation based on the measured quantity signal from the capacitive sensor.
A mailing system, comprising:
- a mailing machine having an envelope feed path;
- a sealing system configured to apply a liquid to an envelope in the envelope feed path, wherein the sealing system comprises a liquid reservoir and a liquid applicator;
- a capacitive sensor located in the envelope feed path downstream from the sealing system, wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to measure a quantity of liquid on a portion of the envelope applied by the sealing system and to generate a signal based on the measured quantity;
- and
- a controller connected to the capacitive sensor, wherein the controller is configured to perform an operation based on the measured quantity signal from the capacitive sensor.
A method of operating a mailing system, comprising:
- positioning an envelope on an envelope feed path of a mailing machine;
- applying a liquid to the envelope using a sealing system, wherein the sealing system comprises a liquid reservoir and a liquid applicator;
- measuring a quantity of liquid on a portion of the envelope applied by the sealing system using a capacitive sensor located in the envelope feed path downstream from the sealing system;
- generating a signal using the capacitive sensor based on the measured quantity;
- and
- performing an operation based on the measured quantity signal from the capacitive sensor using a controller connected to the capacitive sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.