Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for preparing a mail piece, comprising: a) input means for input of information defining a mail piece configuration; b) a printer for printing text on at least a sheet and an address on an associated envelope form; c) sheet processing means for receiving at least said sheet and said envelope form from said printer and for accumulating at least said sheet and said envelope form, folding said accumulated sheet and envelope form and then sealing said envelope form to form said mail pieces, said sheet processing means having a capacity to process mail pieces having a predetermined maximum value of a parameter, said parameter defining the number of sheets in said mail pieces; d) diverting means for selectively diverting sheets and envelope forms output by said printer from input to said sheet processing means; and e) control means responsive to said input means for: e1) determining the value of said parameter in accordance with said defining information; and, e2) if the value of said parameter is less than said maximum value, controlling said sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
Apparatus for preparing a mail piece, comprising: a) input means for input of information defining a mail piece configuration; b) a printer for printing text on at least a sheet and an address on an associated envelope form; c) sheet processing means for receiving at least said sheet and said envelope form from said printer and for accumulating at least said sheet and said envelope form, folding said accumulated sheet and envelope form and then sealing said envelope form to form said mail pieces, said sheet processing means having a capacity to process mail pieces having a predetermined maximum value of a parameter, said parameter defining the number of sheets in said mail pieces; d) diverting means for selectively diverting sheets and envelope forms output by said printer from input to said sheet processing means; and e) control means responsive to said input means for: e1) determining the value of said parameter in accordance with said defining information; and, e2) if the value of said parameter is less than said maximum value, controlling said sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein: a) said sheet processing means performs a sequence operations to form said mail piece; b) said control systems translates said defining information into a data structure comprising a plurality of data elements, each of said data elements specifying control parameters for an operation in said sequence; and c) one of said data elements further includes a control parameter for causing said control system to execute a predetermined routine to determine the value of said parameter in said mail piece, and, if the value of said parameter is greater than or equal to said maximum value, divert at least said sheet and said envelope form from said processing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said control system comprises: a) a data processing system for translating said defining information and generating and outputting said data structure; and b) controller means responsive to said data processing means for controlling said sheet processing means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of preparing a mail piece, comprising the steps of: a) receiving at least a sheet and an envelope form; b) receiving information, including the value of a parameter, defining a mail piece configuration, said parameter defining the number of sheets in said mail piece; c) printing at least said sheet with text and said envelope form with an address; and d) if the value of said parameter is less than a predetermined maximum, accumulating at least said sheet and said envelope form, folding said accumulated sheet and envelope form, and sealing said envelope form to form a mail piece in accordance with said defining information; and otherwise, e) diverting at least said sheet and said envelope form for output after said printing step and without further processing.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of preparing a mail piece, comprising the steps of: a) receiving at least a sheet and an envelope form; b) receiving information, including the value of a parameter, defining a mail piece configuration, said parameter defining the number of sheets in said mail piece; c) printing at least said sheet with text and said envelope form with an address; and d) if the value of said parameter is less than a predetermined maximum, accumulating at least said sheet and said envelope form, folding said accumulated sheet and envelope form, and sealing said envelope form to form a mail piece in accordance with said defining information; and otherwise, e) diverting at least said sheet and said envelope form for output after said printing step and without further processing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method as described in claim 4 wherein said processing step includes performing a sequence of operations in accordance with a data structure, said data structure corresponding to said defining information and comprising a plurality of data elements, each of said data elements specifying control parameters for one of said operations; wherein one of said data elements specifies a first control parameter for printing said sheets and further includes a second control parameter for initiating said determining step.