摘要:
Systems and methods including mailing machines configured to selecting a route and carrier or carriers for delivery of the mail and for finishing the mail according the selection are described. In one illustrative configuration, the mailing machine tags mail pieces according to the result of a carrier selection process and sorts the outgoing mail by carrier.
摘要:
Systems and methods including mailing machines having postage meters including multiple postal security devices are described. In one illustrative configuration, a postage meter having multiple postal security devices for use with different postal carriers is described. In another illustrative configuration, a postage meter is configured to apply two postage payment information indicia to a single mail piece using two separate postal security devices.
摘要:
Systems and methods including mailing machines having postage meters including multiple postal security devices are described. In one illustrative configuration, a postage meter having multiple postal security devices for use with different postal carriers is described. In another illustrative configuration, a postage meter is configured to apply two postage payment information indicia to a single mail piece using two separate postal security devices.
摘要:
A weighing system is provided to measure the article weight by first and second weight measurement devices. The first and second weight measurement devices each include a platform adapted to accept an article traveling along an upstream processing path and a device for sensing article weight as the article traverses the platform. Furthermore, the platforms of the first and second weight measurement devices define weight acquisition paths which are substantially parallel to one another. A diverter mechanism is provided to direct articles from the upstream processing path to one of the first or second weight acquisition paths. The diverter mechanism is controlled by a system processor which directs articles to one of the weight measurement devices depending upon its status, i.e., whether the path is available to receive another article for measuring weight. By diverting mailpieces to parallel weight acquisition paths, throughput is enhanced by multiple weight measurements occurring simultaneously.
摘要:
A mailing machine comprising a printer module, a transport device and a controller in operative communication with the transport device and the printer module. The printer module including an array of ink jet print elements for printing on an envelope and a repositioning device in operative engagement with the array of ink jet print elements for moving the array of ink jet print elements between a maintenance position and a print position. The transport device including suitable structure for feeding the envelope in a path of travel so that the envelope passes in opposed relationship to the array of ink jet print elements when the array of ink jet print elements are in the print position. The controller keeps an indicator of an amount of time elapsed between printing successive envelopes. If the indicator reaches a predetermined threshold, then the controller causes the array of ink jet print elements to perform a maintenance operation by firing the array of ink jet print elements in the absence of the envelope while the printer module is in the print position.
摘要:
An apparatus and method for feeding a mailpiece into and out of a weighing module. The apparatus comprises a device for feeding the mailpiece; and a device for positioning the feeding device in a first position for receiving the mailpiece from a first direction and feeding the mailpiece into the weighing module. Additionally, the positioning device moves the feeding device into a second position for feeding the mailpiece in a second direction out of the weighing module. The feed device includes a drive roller and an idler roller for keeping the mailpiece in operative engagement with the drive roller. The method comprises the steps of: (a) positioning a feeding device in a first position for receiving the mailpiece from a first direction; (b) feeding the mailpiece in the first direction into the weighing module; and (c) positioning the feeding device in a second position for feeding the mailpiece in a second direction out of the weighing module.
摘要:
The motor controller system controls the respective motors of a plurality of cooperative apparatus associated with a article processing system, the article processing system for performing a plurality of functions upon an article traversing the article processing system and comprises a motor driver board having a plurality of input channels and a plurality of respective output channels. The motors are in line communication with a respective one of the output channels of the motor driver board. A programmable microprocessor is in bus communication with the driver board's input channels. A plurality of sensors are respectively mounted to each of the apparatus and in bus communication with the programmable microprocessor, the sensors being strategically located on the apparatus to provide such information to the microprocessor as article size, position and velocity information and to provide apparatus operation information. The microprocessor is programmed such that a cycle is preformed at a desired frequency, each control cycle being divided into discreet time intervals during which respective time interval the microprocessor transmit motor control command information to the driver board for respective motors and during other of the time intervals the microprocessor reading information from the sensors.
摘要:
An improvement in combination with a postage meter including a rotary drum having a periphery adapted for feeding a sheet in a path of travel. The improvement comprises: a first device for sensing a time interval during which a sheet is linearly displaced a predetermined distance in the path of travel; a d.c. motor coupled to the drum for rotation of the drum; a second device for sensing angular displacement of the drum; and a computer coupled to the first and second sensing devices and to the d.c. motor; wherein the computer responds to the first sensing device for providing respective amounts representative of desired angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, responds to the second sensing device for providing respective amounts representative of actual angular displacements of the drum during successive sampling time periods, compensates for the difference between desired and actual angular displacements and generates a d.c. motor control signal for controlling rotation of the motor to cause the linear displacement of the periphery of the drum to substantially match the linear displacement of the sheet during respective sampling time periods.
摘要:
The status of deposits or withdrawals of items in a receptacle is indicated to one or more users having access to the receptacle. A receptacle is accessible by at least one user and is capable of containing an item. A deposit/withdrawal sensor for sensing a deposit or withdrawal of an item in the receptacle is also provided. A user identifier for identifying a user having access to the receptacle during the deposit or withdrawal of the item sensed by the deposit/withdrawal sensor is employed by the system. One or more indicators that are responsive to the deposit/withdrawal sensor and the user identifier are provided to indicate a deposit or withdrawal of the item in the receptacle by the identified user. The indicators may be placed on the receptacle or may be located remote from the receptacle.
摘要:
A sensor processor for cooperating with a drive controller in a high-speed mail-handling machine. The sensor procesor access periodically a plurality of sensors distributed throughout the machine, and then writes the sensor data to an NVM-RAM shared with the drive controller. Time-critical sensors are accessed more frequently than non-time-critical sensors.