Pitney Bowes Inc.

Alton B Eckert, Jr

John H Soderberg

Thomas M Pfeifer

Edward C Duwel

Robert B McFiggans

Frank T Check, Jr

Dennis M Gallagher

Richard P Schoonmaker

Howell A Jones, Jr

Joseph R Warren

Easwaran C Nambudiri

Danilo P Buan

John I Clark

John R Nobile

David M Warren

Arno Muller

Edilberto I Salazar

Wallace Kirschner

Christian A Beck

Arnold Fassman

Richard A Malin

Raymond R Lupkas

Julius Gluck

Wayne W Pritchett

Leonard M Pengue

Lynnwood Lowe

Raymond R Crowley

Bruce E Hinman

C Edward Duwel

Danilo P Baun

Edward E Duwel

A mailing machine base adapted to have a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the meter includes a postage printing drum having a home position, the base comprising, structure for moving the drum, a d.c. motor for driving the drum moving structure, a microprocessor, a power switch connected between the d.c. motor and microprocessor, a comparator connected between the microprocessor and d.c. motor for receiving therefrom a signal corresponding to the back e.m.f. voltage of the d.c. motor and providing a comparison signal to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor programmed for, providing a reference voltage signal for the comparator corresponding to a desired back e.m.f. voltage for causing the d.c. motor to drive the postage printing drum at a desired constant velocity, energizing the power switch with a first signal for causing the d.c. motor to accelerate the drum at a substantially constant rate to substantially the desired constant velocity from the home position thereof during a first predetermined time interval, determining whether the back e.m.f. is greater than the reference voltage, energizing the power switch with the first signal for a second predetermined time interval if the back e.m.f. voltage is not greater than the reference voltage, and energizing the power switch with a second signal for a third predetermined time interval if the back e.m.f. voltage is greater than the reference voltage and delaying energizing with the second signal if the back e.m.f. voltage is not greater than the reference voltage, thereby causing the d.c. motor to continue driving the drum at substantially the desired constant velocity.

Mailing machine including printing drum deceleration and constant

A mailing machine comprising, structure for feeding a sheet in a path of travel, a fence for defining a direction of the path of travel and against which an edge of a sheet is normally registered for alignment thereof in the path of travel, structure for printing postage indicia on a sheet in the path of travel, the printing structure including a rotary postage indicia printing drum, the printing structure including structure for driving the drum, structure for controlling the sheet feeding and drum driving structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including structure for sensing a sheet in the path of travel and providing a signal to the microprocessor when a sheet is fed into and out of blocking relationship with the sensing structure, the signal having a first magnitude when a sheet is not disposed in blocking relationship with the sensing structure, the signal having a second magnitude when a sheet is disposed in blocking relationship with the sensing structure, the second signal magnitude having a time duration corresponding to an overall length of a sheet as measured in the direction of the path of travel, and the microprocessor programmed for commencing a count when a sheet is fed into blocking relationship with the sensing structure of a predetermined time interval corresponding to a minimum overall sheet length acceptable for printing purposes determining whether the sheet is still in blocking relationship with the sensing structure at the end of the count, and implementing a shut-down routine if the sheet is not in blocking relationship with the sensing structure at the end of the count.

Mailing machine including short sheet length detecting means

A mailing machine base adapted to have a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the meter has a postage printing drum and a drive gear therefor, and wherein the meter has a shutter bar movable in opposite directions through a predetermined distance for movement thereof out of and into locking engagement with the drive gear, the base comprising, structure for moving the shutter bar, a d.c. motor for driving the shutter bar moving structure, a microprocessor, including a program power switching structure connected between the microprocessor and d.c. motor, the switching structure including four power switches arranged in an H-bridge circuit configuration for driving the motor in opposite directions respectively corresponding to the opposite directions of movement of the shutter bar, and the microprocessor program including means for: (i) energizing the switching structure with a first signal for driving the d.c. motor in a given direction for a first time interval predetermined to cause the d.c. motor to move the shutter partially through the predetermined distance, (ii) energizing the switching structure with a second signal for driving the d.c. motor in the given direction for a second time interval predetermined to cause the d.c. motor to move the shutter bar substantially through the remainder of the predetermined distance, (iii) energizing the switching structure with a third signal for driving the d.c. motor in the direction opposite to the given direction for a time interval predetermined to cause the d.c. motor to decelerate movement of the shutter bar, and (iv) energizing the switching structure with a fourth signal for driving the d.c. motor in the given direction for a fourth time interval predetermined to move the shutter entirely through the remainder of the distance.

Mailing machine including shutter bar control system

A mailing machine comprising, a base and a postage meter mounted on the base, the postage meter including a rotary postage indicia printing drum, the base including structure for driving the drum at a desired constant indicia printing speed corresponding to a desired reference voltage, the base including structure for controlling the postage printing drum, the controlling structure including a microprocessor connected to the drum driving structure, the controlling structure including structure for sequentially sensing a commencement and a completion of constant printing speed of the drum and providing corresponding successive signals to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for providing a predetermined reference voltage corresponding to the desired drum printing speed, counting a time interval in response to receiving the successive constant speed commencement and completion signals, determining whether the counted time interval and the desired time interval are substantially equal, and storing the predetermined reference voltage as the desired reference voltage if the counted and desired time intervals are substantially equal.

Mailing machine including printing speed calibrating means

A mailing machine base comprising, structure for feeding a sheet having a leading edge and a trailing edge in a path of travel, the sheet feeding structure including a roller, the sheet feeding structure including structure for driving the roller at a desired sheet feeding speed corresponding to a desired reference voltage, structure for controlling the sheet feeding structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor connected to the roller driving structure, the controlling structure including structure for sequentially sensing the leading and trailing edges of the sheet in the path of travel and providing corresponding successive signals to the microprocessor, the sheet having a predetermined length from the leading edge to the trailing edge thereof; and the microprocessor programmed for providing a predetermined reference voltage corresponding to the desired sheet feeding speed, counting a time interval in response to receiving the successive leading and trailing edge signals, determining whether the counted time interval and the desired time interval are substantially equal, and storing the predetermined reference voltage as the desired reference voltage if the counted and desired time intervals are substantially equal.

Mailing machine including sheet feeding speed calibrating means

A mailing machine base comprising, structure for a direction of the path of travel and feeding a sheet in a path of travel, a fence defining against which the an edge of a sheet is normally registered for alignment therewith and thus in the direction of the path of travel, structure for controlling the sheet feeding structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor connected to the sheet feeding structure, the controlling structure including structure for sensing a sheet fed into and out of blocking relationship with the sensing structure and providing a corresponding signal to the microprocessor, the signal having a first magnitude when a sheet is not disposed in blocking relationship with the sensing structure, the signal having a second magnitude when a sheet is disposed in blocking relationship with the sensing structure, the signal having 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 structure and the sheet edge is in alignment with the registration fence, and the signal having a variable magnitude between the first and second magnitudes for at least the predetermined time interval when a sheet is fed out of blocking relationship with the sensing structure and the sheet edge is not in alignment with the registration fence; and the microprocessor programmed for successively alternately obtaining a sample of the magnitude of the signal and delaying sampling thereof for the predetermined time interval, determining whether the magnitudes of any two successive samples are both between the first and second magnitudes, and causing implementation of a shut-down routine if the magnitudes of any two successive samples are both between the first and second magnitudes.

Mailing machine including skewed sheet detection means

A mailing machine base comprising, structure for feeding a sheet in a downstream path of travel, the feeding structure including opposed upper and lower rollers for feeding a sheet into the path of travel, the feeding structure including a d.c. motor connected for driving the rollers, structure for controlling the feeding means, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including structure for comparing the back e.m.f. voltage of the d.c. motor to a reference voltage and providing the microprocessor with a comparison signal, and the microprocessor programmed for controlling the d.c. motor to drive the rollers at a substantially constant sheet feeding speed in response to the comparison signal.

Mailing machine including sheet feeding control means

A mailing machine base adapted to have a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the meter has a postage printing drum having a home position, and the base comprising, structure for moving the drum, a d.c. motor for driving the drum moving structure, a microprocessor, a power switch connected between the d.c. motor and microprocessor for driving the d.c. motor, a power switch connected between the d.c. motor and microprocessor for dynamically braking the d.c. motor, a comparator connected between the microprocessor and d.c. motor for receiving therefrom a signal corresponding to the back e.m.f. voltage thereof and providing a comparison signal to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor programmed for, energizing the braking switch for a first time interval predetermined to cause the d.c. motor to decelerate the drum at a substantially constant rate from a substantially constant velocity thereof, energizing and deenergizing the braking switch with a second signal successively during each of a predetermined number of successive second predetermined time intervals, providing a reference voltage for the comparator having a value which is less than the back e.m.f. voltage corresponding to the constant velocity, energizing the driving switch with a third signal for a third predetermined time interval, determining whether the drum is in the home position, determining whether the back e.m.f. is greater than the reference voltage if the drum is not in the home position, energizing the braking switch with a fourth signal for a fourth predetermined time interval if the drum is in the home position to ensure the drum is stopped in the home position, energizing the driving switch for the third time interval if the back e.m.f. voltage is not greater than the reference voltage and delaying the third time interval of energization of the driving switch if the back e.m.f. is greater than the reference voltage to permit the drum to coast.

Mailing machine including printing drum deceleration and coasting

A mailing machine base adapted to have a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the meter includes a printing drum and a drive gear therefor, and wherein the meter includes a shutter bar mounted for movement into and out of locking engagement with the drive gear to respectively prevent and permit driving the drive gear and thus the printing drum, the mailing machine base comprising, framework, structure for moving the shutter bar out of locking engagement with the drive gear and then moving the shutter bar into locking engagement with the drive gear, the moving structure including a lever arm pivotally attached to the framework and adapted to be disposed in bearing engagement with the shutter bar when the meter is mounted on the base, the lever arm including a yoke portion depending therefrom, the moving structure including a cam shaft journaled for rotation to the framework, the moving structure including a cam connected to the cam shaft for rotation therewith and having an end portion thereof disposed within and in bearing engagement with the yoke portion, the moving structure including a first pulley connected to the cam shaft for rotation thereof, the moving structure including a d.c. motor having an output shaft, the moving structure including a second pulley mounted on the output shaft for rotation therewith, and the moving structure including a belt looped about the first and second pulleys for transmitting motor drive from the output shaft to the cam shaft, structure for controlling the moving structure, and the controlling structure including structure for driving the motor in one direction to move the shutter bar out of locking engagement with the drive gear and for driving the motor in the opposite direction to move the shutter bar into locking engagement with the drive gear.

Mailing machine including shutter bar moving means

A system for the metering of encrypted postage and similar indicia includes a device for printing such indicia and a device for reading such indicia. The printing is accomplished with a dot matrix printer driven by signals obtained by altering character generation signals with encryption signals. The interleaving is accomplished on a row-by-row basis by inserting delays from an encryption circuit into signals from a character generator circuit. The reading is accomplished by correlating received characters against a stored array of a symbols to determine the presence of a symbol, the extraction of coded data from character data of the received and identified character, and the comparison of the separated coded data with a reference code to determine the accuracy of the printed material. Thereby, forgery and alteration is inhibited. The coding is accomplished with the dot matrix format of the characters by displacing some of the dots slightly from the remainder so as to retain the general form of the character for recognition of the character while the displaced dots serve as the code for the encryption.

System for the printing and reading of encrypted messages

An advanced electronic postage meter system is described, which is built around a micro computer set. The micro computer set is of LSI design, and comprises a single chip central processor unit (CPU) which performs all control and data processing functions. Auxiliary to the CPU are ROM's which store the program of the postage meter system; RAM's which provide the system wtih a working memory; and Shift Registers which expand the I/O capacity of the system and provide multiplexing capability. The postage meter system comprises componentry such as a non-volatile memory for postage accounting purposes; a display for visually monitoring the functions of the system; a keyboard for instructing the system; and a modified postage meter with motorized setting means for printing postage upon pieces of mail. These peripheral devices communicate with the micro computer set through ports, and means are provided to expand port capabilites for these peripheral devices.

Micro computerized electronic postage meter system

Indicia having an encrypted number that is stamped upon a mail piece representative of postage so as to provide a code for authentication of such postage.

Method and apparatus for verifying postage

A system for the metering of encrypted postage and similar indicia includes a device for printing such indicia and a device for reading such indicia. The printing is accomplished with a dot matrix printer driven by signals obtained by altering character generation signals with encryption signals. The interleaving is accomplished on a row-by-row basis by inserting delays from an encryption circuit into signals from a character generator circuit. The reading is accomplished by correlating received characters against a stored array of symbols to determine the presence of a symbol, the extraction of coded data from character data of the received and identified character, and the comparison of the separated coded data with a reference code to determine the accuracy of the printed material. Thereby, forgery and alteration is inhibited. The coding is accomplished with the dot matrix format of the characters by displacing some of the dots slightly from the remainder so as to retain the general form of the character for recognition of the character while the displaced dots serve as the code for the encryption.

An improvement in combination with a postage meter including a rotary postage printing drum having apparatus for changing respective postage values to be printed, and including apparatus for actuating the changing apparatus, there is provided an improvement for indexing the changing apparatus into engagement with the actuating apparatus. The improvement comprises: a d.c. motor coupled to the drum for rotation of the drum; a device for sensing angular displacement of the drum; and a computer coupled to the sensing device and to the d.c. motor; wherein the computer provides respective amounts representative of desired angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, responds to the sensing device for providing respective amounts representative of actual angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, compensates for the difference between desired and actual angular displacements and generates a d.c. motor control signal for controlling rotation of the motor to cause the changing apparatus to be indexed into engagement with the actuating apparatus.

Microprocessor controlled d.c. motor for indexing postage value changing

In a postal meter adapted to be connected to a source of supply of power for energization, and having structures for printing postage values and a selected data, for displaying a plurality of segments, and for entering data, and having a computer electrically connected to each of the aforesaid structures and programmed for processing data for controlling the operation thereof, and wherein the postal meter includes structure for selecting one of a plurality of dates; there is provided an improvement for reminding an operator of the postal meter to check the selected date. The improvement includes the computer being programmed for causing the display to start displaying at least one unique segment in response to energization of the postal meter, the data entering structure including a depressable key for entering data into the computer, and the computer being programmed for causing the display to stop displaying the at least one segment in response to the depression of the key. In addition, the postal meter preferably includes the computer being programmed for disabling the printing structure in response to the energization of the postal meter, for causing the display to start displaying a postage setting in response to energization of the postal meter, for causing the display to start intermittently flashing the postage setting on display in response to energization of the postal meter, and for causing the display to stop intermittently flashing the postage setting on display in response to the depression of the key.

Growing community of inventors

Norwalk, CT, United States of America

Alton B Eckert, Jr