Mailing machine including skewed sheet detection means

In a mailing machine base including means for feeding a sheet in a path of travel, the base including a fence defining a direction of the path of travel and against which an edge of a sheet is normally registered for alignment thereof in the direction of the path of travel, and the base including means for controlling the sheet feeding means, wherein the controlling means includes a microprocessor connected to the sheet feeding means, wherein the controlling means includes means for sensing a sheet fed into and out of blocking relationship with the sensing means and providing a corresponding signal to the microprocessor, wherein the signal has a first magnitude when a sheet is not disposed in blocking relationship with the sensing means, wherein the signal has a second magnitude when a sheet is disposed in blocking relationship with the sensing means, wherein the signal has a variable magnitude between the first and second magnitudes for less than a predetermined time interval when a sheet is fed into blocking relationship with the sensing means and the sheet edge is in alignment with the registration fence, and wherein the signal has a variable magnitude between the first and second magnitudes for at least the predetermined time interval when a sheet is fed into blocking relationship with the sensing means and the sheet edge is not in alignment with the registration fence, a method of processing a sheet comprising:

• programming the microprocessor for
• 1. successively alternately obtaining a sample of the magnitude of the signal and delaying sampling thereof for the predetermined time interval,
• 2. determining whether the magnitudes of any two successive samples are both between the first and second magnitudes, and
• 3. causing implementation of a shut-down routine if the magnitudes of any two successive samples are both between the first and second magnitudes.