摘要:
A table will be generated for tracking each mailpiece in a mailing system having multiple document paths. Attribute data relating to a mailpiece will be stored in a memory while job data relating to a mailing job will also be stored in a memory. A sequence builder process will look at the attribute data and determine the motion profiles that are required to ensure the mailpiece obtains the desired attributes. The sequence builder then commands execution of the motion profiles.
摘要:
A plurality of step time tables consisting of a sequence of step times defining intervals between steps and thus a velocity profile to be executed by a stepper motor are stored in a first memory. A step table defining a plurality of identical sequences of excitation pattern for driving a stepper motor is stored in a second table. Identical DMA channels output the step times to a timer and the plurality of exitation patterns to a buffer. The timer measures the duration of the step times and when each step time expires generates a trigger signal which initiates the transfer of the next step time and next excitation pattern through the respective DMA channels. The buffer includes a control register which selects one excitation pattern from the plurality of excitation patterns output from the step table to be output for control of a selected one of a plurality of motors connected to the buffer. The buffer outputs are inverted to form bipolar signals to drive current drivers in accordance with the excitation pattern. The apparatus is initialized by a data processor to select one of the plurality of excitation tables and to select one of the groups of outputs of the buffer to drive a corresponding selected motor. The DMA channel for outputting the step time table is initialized for non-repetitive operation and the DMA channel outputting the step table is initialized for cyclic operation. The direction in which the selected stepper motor is to be driven is determined by the direction in which the step table is accessed.
摘要:
A method of synchronizing the feeding and printing of sheets of media, i.e., paper, envelopes, post cards, etc. even though shingled feeds have occurred in the system. The foregoing is accomplished by utilizing two sensors and counters to monitor two sheets of paper to allow two software tasks to stay in synchronization and release the appropriate print data to the printer even when a sheet of paper was not detected in the feeder appears at the print head. The feeder sensor has a counter for its Lead Edge as does the Start of Print Sensor that is in the system's transport paper path. The feeder sensor counter and the start of print counter are incremented and decremented as the paper approaches the sensor and leaves the sensor. If the lead edge counter of the feeder sensor goes negative, then the feeder has shingled and the data for that sheet of paper must be printed.
摘要:
A customizable user interface for a mailing apparatus, such as a postage meter or other mailing equipment, provided as input data to a user interface control program, the input data specifying all aspects of the look and feel of the user interface. The invention provides a specific organization of the input data suitable for providing the required specifications. At a high level, the data is organized into a screen tree component, for providing the feel of each screen, i.e. the response by the mailing apparatus (usually the execution of a function) to any key pressed by a user in association with each screen of the user information as well as for providing what screens to display in response to an event so as to communicate the occurrence of the event to a user; and a screen language component, used in conjunction with a font component, for providing the look of each screen, i.e. for providing its content and layout, where the characters or symbols to be painted on a screen is specified in the screen language component, and how to paint the characters and symbols is specified in the font component.
摘要:
A method of controlling a motor to cause it to execute a move toward a target position including calculating a deceleration position, wherein when the deceleration position is reached, the motor will be caused to execute a deceleration in a manner that will result in the motor stopping short of the target position, and determining whether the requested move is a first move type after the motor has reached the deceleration position and the deceleration is complete. If the requested move is a first move type, the method includes causing the motor to move toward the target position at a first velocity, and if the requested move is a second move type, the method includes causing the DC motor to move toward the requested target position at a second velocity, wherein the second velocity is greater than the first velocity. Settling time is also varied depending on move type.
摘要:
A method and device for improving the efficiency of a postage meter by using a sensing to detect the edges of an incoming envelope in order to initiate a multi-speed profile for transporting the envelope with different speeds through the postage meter. With the multi-speed profile, the postage meter is allowed to have sufficient time to process mail related data and provide mail related data to a print head before the envelope reaches a print zone where the print head starts printing an indicia on the envelope.
摘要:
A method of printing a string of characters includes receiving a sequence of character data codes. Each character data code corresponds to a respective character to be printed in the string of characters. The method also includes transcoding the sequence of character data codes to generate a sequence of glyph codes. Each glyph code corresponds to a respective glyph. Each glyph corresponds to at least part of a respective character. At least some of the glyphs correspond to less than a complete character. The method further includes using the sequence of glyph codes to generate print image data and printing an image on the basis of the print image data.
摘要:
A system architecture is provided for a fixed-head mailpiece printer. The printer includes at least two laterally and longitudinally-spaced print heads for depositing ink on a face surface of a mailpiece. The print system architecture includes print application software or software program code operative to render print image data into a plurality of logical rectangular bitmap print buffers. Further, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) remaps each of the logical rectangular bitmap print buffers into one of the print heads based upon its spatial position relative to the mailpiece. Furthermore, the FPGA is operative to control the deposition of ink from the print heads based upon the print image data contained in the print buffers. Moreover, the FPGA minimizes processing time associated with print image rendering to achieve enhanced print system throughput.
摘要:
An apparatus for controlling a mechanical system in response to messages from a host computer system. The apparatus includes a conventional communications link for communicating messages from the host computer system to a motion control processor and interface and driver circuits for converting digital signals generated by the motion control processor in response to messages from the host computer system into control signals having appropriate waveforms and timing for controlling a particular mechanical system. The motion control processor is programmed to perform a number of tasks in accordance with a schedule downloaded from the host computer system. The host computer system downloads profiles which consist of series of segments consisting of data structures which define elements in the mechanical system to be controlled, identify functions to be performed and include necessary data. Tasks performed by the motion control processor include a communications interface task for handling messages from the host data system, a profile handler task for executing profiles, a motion control task for controlling motors in the mechanical system, and a read sensors task for reading sensor in the mechanical system. Other conventional, non-critical tasks may be performed by the motion control processor on a less frequently scheduled basis or in a background mode of operation. New profiles, schedules, and tick period duration may be down loaded from the host computer system dynamically, during operation of the mechanical system to provide highly flexible, adaptive control of the mechanical system.
摘要:
A network connectivity device that when coupled to a mail processing machine enables a cloud application running on a personal computer or other device to interface with and control the mail processing machine without requiring any software to be installed on the personal computer other than a web browser. The network connectivity device plugs into a standard USB port on the mail processing machine to allow wired or wireless connectivity to a network. There is no software or other code required to run on the personal computer other than a standard web browser running a hosted web application. The network connectivity device allows the mail processing machine to be found and addressed by the hosted web application. This allows a user to control operations of the mail processing machine, as well as giving the mail processing machine network connectivity for outside world communication activities.