Pitney Bowes Inc.

Thomas M Pfeifer

Dennis M Gallagher

Richard P Schoonmaker

Alton B Eckert, Jr

John R Nobile

William A Ross

Arnold Fassman

A method for controlling a tape motor using a microcontroller for feeding tape in correspondence to printing of an indeterminate length of printing on the tape by a print drum utilizes a sensor for indicating a tape condition which changes in accordance with the engagement of a printing portion of the print drum with the tape. An optical sensor and slotted disk provide signals indicative of the rotation of a motor shaft of the tape motor. At least first and second counters are provided for counting signal pulses from said optical sensor corresponding to the passage of slots during rotation of the motor. From these counts and the indication of printing by the print drum, the micro controller can develop the timing of control signals for controlling the motor in correspondence to the length of printing on the tape.

Method for control of length of imprint for a mailing machine

A mailing machine comprising, structure for feeding a sheet in a path of travel, structure for printing indicia on the sheet, structure for controlling the sheet feeding and printing structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including structure for sensing the sheet in the path of travel, the sensing structure including a first sensor for sequentially sensing the leading and trailing edges of the sheet and providing corresponding sequential first signals to the microprocessor, the sensing structure including a second sensor downstream from the first sensor for sensing the leading edge of the sheet and providing a corresponding second sensing signal to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor programmed for causing the sheet feeding structure to feed the sheet, commencing a count of a first time interval when the trailing edge of the sheet is sensed by the first sensor, determining whether the first time interval count is less than a predetermined second time interval when the leading edge of the sheet is sensed by the second sensor, and terminating sheet feeding if the first time interval count is not less than the predetermined second time interval.

Mailing machine including overrideable sheet length discriminating

A method for controlling the speed of a motor for a tape drive in a mailing machine includes providing an optical sensor for signaling the appearance of slots in a slotted wheel connected to the motor shaft. The time intervals between slots are used to make a prediction in respect of expected future time intervals and the motor speed is adjusted in accordance with the predicted value to obtain the desired value. For best results, the data is received at the microprocessor using the 'capture' mode of operation in order to avoid excessive errors due to a 'busy' processor. The invention enables the small motor of a tape drive to avoid over and undershoot even when operating under highly variable load conditions.

Method for controlling speed in a tape feeding, cutting and ejection

A tape cutting mechanism uses a bi-directional motor and a clutch arrangement. However, with the use of such a clutch in an inexpensive open loop control system, the dynamic energy stored in the motor armature at the initiation of the cutting sequence is greater than the maximum energy required and the maximum cutting energy requirements vary considerably. Leftover energy is removed from the system in order to prevent a large impact at the end of its stroke which may damage the clutch mechanism and to decrease the noise by controlling the bi-directional motor for oscillating a member for cutting a tape and for feeding the cut tape. The method comprises operating the motor for a predetermined length of time in a first direction at a predetermined duty cycle, reversing the motor for a shorter predetermined length of time for slowing it down, thereafter running the motor in the first direction while incrementally reducing the duty cycle to assure that the member has been moved to a maximum position in a first direction and to limit its impact as the member reaches the maximum position, and thereafter reversing the motor to move the member to a maximum position in the opposite direction. At least some of the times and duty cycles for operation may be stored in non-volatile memory.

Roll-tape knife control for a tape-cutting apparatus in a mailing machine

In a machine including structure for printing indicia on a sheet, and structure for feeding the sheet in a path of travel to the printing structure, wherein the feeding and printing structure each include a plurality of components, apparatus for accounting for malfunction conditions of the machine, the apparatus comprising, structure for controlling the machine, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including a random access memory (RAM) and a non-volatile memory (NVM) respectively connected to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for causing a plurality of desired movements of the respective components of the sheet feeding and printing structure and thus of a sheet in the path of travel, a plurality of sensors respectively connected to the microprocessor for sensing actual movements corresponding to the desired movements of the respective components of the sheet feeding and printing structure and of a sheet in the path of travel and providing signals to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for determining whether the differences between corresponding desired and actual movements are acceptable, and the microprocessor programmed for storing data in both the RAM and NVM corresponding to malfunction conditions identifying respective unacceptable differences.

Machine including apparatus for accounting for malfunction conditions

A mailing machine for processing sheets respectively having a leading edge, wherein the sheets include respective envelopes and tapes, the mailing machine comprising, structure for printing an indicia, the printing structure including a rotary drum having a cycle for printing the indicia on respective sheets, structure for successively feeding each sheet in a path of travel to the printing structure, structure for successively feeding cut tapes into the path of travel for feeding by the sheet feeding structure, structure for controlling the feeding and printing structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including structure connected to the microprocessor for sensing the leading edge of each sheet in the path of travel and providing a corresponding signal to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for commencing in response to the sensing signal corresponding thereto a different predetermined time delay for tapes and envelopes before commencing the drum printing cycle, each time delay corresponding to a selected marginal distance from the leading edge of the sheet for printing indicia thereon, the controlling structure including structure for independently manually selecting from a different plurality thereof the marginal distance for tapes and envelopes, the controlling structure including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the microprocessor programmed for energizing a different one of the LEDs for each selected tape and envelope marginal distance to permit visual verification thereof.

Mailing machine including means for selectively changing the marginal

In a machine including structure for energizing the machine, structure for printing indicia on a sheet, and structure for feeding the sheet in a path of travel to the printing structure, apparatus for automatically testing the machine in response to energization thereof, the apparatus comprising, structure for controlling the machine, the controlling structure including structure for energizing the machine, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for operating the sheet feeding structure and for operating the printing structure, the controlling structure including a random access memory (RAM) and a non-volatile memory (NVM) respectively connected to the microprocessor, a plurality of sensors respectively connected to the microprocessor for sensing actual movements of the sheet feeding and printing structure and of a sheet in the path of travel and providing respective voltage signals to the microprocessor, and the microprocessor programmed for automatically storing data in both the RAM and NVM corresponding to at least one condition of at least one of the sensors in response to energization of the machine if the condition of the at least one of the sensors corresponds to a malfunction condition thereof.

Mailing machine with testing of sensors

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 for printing a postage indicia with or without an advertisement on envelopes and varying lengths of postage tape. Also, a method of feeding, printing and cutting postage tape in a mailing machine. The mailing machine includes: an elongate feed deck; a postage meter mounted in the mailing machine and having a printer downstream of the feed deck for printing a postage indicia with or without an advertisement on successive envelopes as they are fed along the feed deck or on postage tape; and a tape feeding and cutting apparatus mounted in the mailing machine for feeding postage tape to the postage meter for printing of the postage indicia with or without advertisement and for cutting the postage tape into finite lengths and ejecting the lengths of tape from the mailing machine. The cut, printed portion includes only the amount of tape necessary for the printing of the indicia with or without advertisement regardless of the length of any advertisement printed.

Method and apparatus for cutting mailing machine roll tape

A tax stamp machine for printing tax stamps on documents. The tax stamp machine includes: a housing; a registration point marked on the housing; a feed deck for receiving documents; a device for printing a tax stamp on a portion of the documents; a pair of drive rollers for feeding the documents to the printing device; and a device for indexing the drive rollers to thereby register the documents with the registration point prior to printing the tax stamp.

Tax stamp machine

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 for processing respective sheets including envelopes which each have a body and a flap and including cut tapes which each have a substrate portion and an adhesive tape portion removably connected thereto, the machine comprising, structure for feeding each sheet in a predetermined path of travel extending downstream through the machine, the sheet feeding structure including oppositely spaced input rollers defining a nip therebetween, structure for feeding a cut tape, structure for controlling the feeding structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including structure upstream from the nip of the input rollers for sensing a sheet fed to the machine and providing a corresponding first sensing signal to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for causing the sheet feeding structure to commence feeding in response to receiving the first sensing signal, the controlling structure including a switch connected to the microprocessor and providing a switch signal thereto in response to actuation of the switch, and the microprocessor programmed for causing the sheet feeding structure followed by the cut tape feeding structure to commence feeding in response to receiving the switch signal.

Mailing machine including improved tape dispensing means and control

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.

Growing community of inventors

Bridgeport, CT, United States of America

Thomas M Pfeifer