The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 18, 1985
Filed:
Dec. 08, 1982
Jovito N Abellana, Trumbull, CT (US);
Easwaran C Nambudiri, Hicksville, NY (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
An electronically controlled mailing machine is provided which includes a housing having a slot into which an envelope may be inserted, a platen movably connected to said housing, a print head overhanging said platen, and structure for moving the platen into engagement with an envelope inserted into the slot for urging the envelope into imprinting engagement with the print head. In addition there is provided a computer, for controlling the platen moving means, and switching apparatus including a member movably connected to the housing and extending into said slot for movement by an envelope inserted into the slot. The switching apparatus includes an optical sensing device mounted within the housing and electrically connected to the computer. The sensing device is responsive to movement of the member for signalling the computer. And the computer is responsive to the signalling for causing the platen moving structure to move the platen. It is a feature of the invention that the computer include a microprocessor, a strobe and a program for controlling the microprocessor. The strobe is electrically connected to the microprocessor and to the optical sensing means to permit the microprocessor, under the control of the program, to intermittently energize the optical sensing device, whereby the life of the optical sensing device is extended.