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:
Jul. 23, 1996
Filed:
Feb. 28, 1994
Dennis M Gallagher, Danbury, CT (US);
Thomas M Pfeifer, Bridgeport, CT (US);
Richard P Schoonmaker, Wilton, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
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.