摘要:
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.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
Apparatus for generating a plurality of pulse width modulated signals for separately driving a plurality of electrical loads, comprising, a microprocessor, a plurality of comparator means, each of the comparator structure including first and second input terminals and an output terminal, digital to analog converter structure connected to the microprocessor for control thereby, the converter structure including a plurality of output terminals respectively connected to a different comparator structure first terminal for providing separate control signals thereto, structure for generating a reference voltage signal having a variable amplitude, the signal generating structure connected to each of the comparator structure second terminals for providing the reference voltage signal thereto, a plurality of power amplifiers, a plurality of electrical loads respectively connected to a different comparator structure output terminal via a different power amplifier for receiving therefrom an amplified comparator structure output signal, the microprocessor programmed for selectively addressing the converter structure output terminals, the microprocessor programmed for generating said separate control signals, and each of the comparator structure responsive to a different separate control signal and said variable reference voltage signal for modulating the pulse width of a comparator structure output signal to drive the power amplifier and thus the electrical load connected thereto.
摘要:
In a machine including structure for printing an indicia on a sheet at a predetermined printing speed, wherein the machine includes structure for feeding the sheet in a path of travel to the printing structure, apparatus for detecting a malfunction of the machine, the apparatus comprising, structure for controlling the machine, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, structure for sensing the sheet in the path of travel, the sensing structure including a first sensor connected to the microprocessor for providing a first sensing signal thereto in response to sensing the sheet, the sensing structure including a second sensor connected to the microprocessor for providing a second sensing signal thereto in response to sensing the sheet, and the microprocessor programmed for causing the sheet feeding structure to feed the sheet to the sensing structure at a first predetermined sheet feeding speed less than the printing speed, causing the printing structure to commence a printing cycle after a first predetermined time delay from the microprocessor receiving the first sensing signal, preventing the printing structure from commencing the printing cycle after a second predetermined time delay from the microprocessor receiving the first sensing signal if the second sensing signal is not previously received thereby, and causing the sheet feeding structure to feed the sheet at the printing speed if the second sensing signal is received by the microprocessor before the second predetermined time delay is ended.