Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
5560~ ~:
The present invention relates to postage meter setting ~ ~-
mechanism.
In our U.S. Patent 3,877,531 there is described a
POSTAGE METER SETTING MECHANISM having utility and inventive
features quite independent of the overall continuous automatic
mail handling system.
~j The present application is essentially directed to
details of the postage meter setting mechanism.
¦ According to the present invention there is provided
a high speed automatic postage meter setting mechanism for a
postage meter having a postage printing means, a plurality of
- banks o actuator assemblies of said meter each being settable to
control a postage value to be printed by said postage printing
~ means, said automatic mechanism comprising a plurality o stepper
:'
~ motors operatively connected to the banks o actuator assemblies
.~
of said meter, one stepper motor for each actuator assembly bank,
said stepper motors turning through a given rotational distance
corresponding to a particular actuator assembly setting, means for
individually pulsing each of the stepper motors to turn through
said given rotational distance so as to provide the postage print-
' ; ing means of said meter with a desired postage value, and electronic
s; computational means for electronically calculating the postage
~- value, siad computational means being operati~ely connected to
. ..
`ï',~ I said pulsing means for influencing said pulsing means to supply
the stepper motors with a number of pulses corresponding to said
;j postage value.
According to the present invention therefore each item
.,.,.
of mail, in its passage along the mail feed handling path, is
first weighed on a weighing scale as described in the aforesaid
;~ 1 30 U.S.~ Patent No. 3,877,531 and also in the U.S. Patene 3,861,480.
~r,'~' ~ Then when that particular so weighed envelope reaches the postage
meter, it finds the meter set up for printing of the correct
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1~55608
postage value as determined by the scale irrespective of whether
1 the postage value is higher or l~wer than that for the immediate
¦ preceding envelope or package.
i Thus, the present invention provides for the handling
of mixed mail automatically without manually resetting the meter
postage value as the weight changes as between successively fed
.
envelopes or packages.
According to one embodiment of the present invention
there is provided a high speed automatic postage meter setting
mechanism for a postage meter having a postage printing means, a
plurality of banks of actuator assemblies of said meter each being
settable to control a postage value to be printed by said postage
printing means, said aukomatic mechanism comprising a plurality
o~ stepper motor~ operatively connect.ed to the banks o~ actuator
~ assemblies of said meter via a set o~ nested rotakable shafts,
..,,
each shaft of said set interdisposed between a particular stepper
, motor and a corresponding actuator assembly, whereby the rotation-
` ?~ al movement of each stepper motor is transmltted to a respective
.:., ;: . '
actuator assembly, one st~pper motor for each actuator assembly
bank, said stepper motors turning through a given rotational
distance corresponding to a particular actuator assembly setting,
means for individually pulsing each of the stepper motors to turn
, through said given rotational distance so as to provide the
,¦ postage printing means of said meter with a desired postage value, ``
,~ and electronic computational means for electronically oalculating
.
.: the postage value, said computational means being operatively
^ connected to said pulsing means for causing said pulsing means
to supply the stepper motors with a number of pulses corresponding
to said postage value.
~ The present invention will now be further described, by
,~: ~ . .
way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
~ ~ S
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1~55608
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the mixed mail
handling system embodying postage meter setting mechanism accord-
ing to the present invention;
Figure la is a perspective view of the mail handling
system of Figure l;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the weighing
apparatus at the weighing station of the mixed mail handling
system shown in Figure 1;
Figure 2a is a side view of a portion of the scale of
: 10 the weighing apparatus of Figure 2, depicting a zero-adjustment :.
mechanism;
.. . .
;: Figure 2b is a side view of another portion of the
il . scale of the weighing apparatus of Figure 2, illustrating an
.... . .
;~ adjustable photodetector mechanism;
'; Figure 3a through 3d are top v.iew of the stopping and
, ejecting mechanism of the weighing apparatus of Figure 2,
illustrating the mechanical sequence for stopping, weighing, and :.
~;....................................................................... .
;I~ ejecting a piece of mail at the weighing station; ~ :
,,,i^, , . -. .
'~ Figure 4 is a timing diagram showing the timing : .
2Q sequence of the stopping, weighing, and ejecting operations of
Figures 3a through 3d;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the ca~ming ::
. .
,; mechanism for actuating the ejection rollers of Figures 2, and
~j~ 3a through 3d, and the mechanism for actuating the stopping :-
fingers of Figures~2~ and 3a through 3d;
~. : Figure 6 is a timing diagram of the camming cycle for :
i~ : the camming mechanism of Figure 5;
:! Figure 7 is a perspective view of the meter setting
mechanism according~to ~he present invention for the meter at
l~ 30: the postage meter station of the mixed mail handling system shown
x.: ~ in Figure l;
Figures 7a and 7b are perspective views o the feedback
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1055608
apparatus for the "dollar" setting solenoids of Fi~ure 7, Figure -
-~ 7a and 7b showing alternate upper and lower positions,
respectively,
... .
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Figure 8 is a sectional viCw o~ the nested shafts of
the setting mechanism of Fiyure 7;
- Figure 9 is a perspective view of a structural deletion
: for the meter at the postage meter station of the mixed mail
handling system shown in Figure l;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a modification of
the lock-out mechanism for the meter at the postage meter
... station of the mixed mail handling system shown in Figure l;
:j ~igures lla through lld are segments of an electrical
diagram of the arithmetic logic and pulse generating circuitry
operatively interconnecting the weighing stati.on with the
postage meter station of the mixed mail handling system of Figure `~
l; ,
Figure lle is a block diagram illustrating how the : .
. .~ . .
'' Figures lla through lld fit together;
: Figure 12 is an electrical diagram of the buffer control . - :
3f circuitry operatively interconnected between the scale of the
.~l weighing station of Figure 1, and the arithmetic logic and pulse
:. : generating circuitry of Figure 10;
-, 20 Figure 13 is a timing diagram for the buffer control
circuitry of Figure 12;
Figure 14 is a diagrammatic block diagram of the meter
control and feedback system of the meter of the postage meter
~ station o the mixed mail handling system shown in Figure l;
i~ Figures 15 and 16 are top views ofan imprinting deck
mechanism for the meter of the postage meter station of the mixed
~;~ mail handling system of Figure 1, Figure 15 depicting the imprint- ~
ing deck in a home, or at rest position, and Figure 16 . .
.
!: illustrating the i~printing deck in an operative, envelope-
: 30 : ~receiving position;
~ igure 17 is an electrical diagram of the conditioning
circuit shown in Figure 14; and
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1~556~8 ~
Figure 18 is an electrical diagram of the pull and
gating circuits shown in Figure 14.
~ ow re~erring to Figures 1 and la, a stack 10 of mixed
mail is depotited upon a feeder deck 11. The feeder deck 11 --
advances the stack 10 towards a feeder drive mechanism 13 in the
direction indicated by arrow 12. The feeder drive mechanism
feeds the mail along a feed path transversely to that of the deck
feed direction 12 as shown by arrow 15. As the mail is fed into
the system by the feeder drive 13, it is separated for one-at-a-
time feeding by separator 14. The separated letters then
proceed in seriatim along said feed path to a pre-seal transfer
station 16, a sealer station 17, and a pre-scale transfer station
18. The pre-seal transfer station 16 and the pre-scale transfer
station 18 are interim mail holding stations, which allow for a
synchronized traffic pattern to be developed along the feed path.
The sealer station 17 wets the flaps of unsealed envelopes, and
then the flaps are smoothed down to provide a seal. (See, for
example, U.S. Patent 3,878,025).
From the pre-scale transfer station 18, the letters are
.1 .
;i 20 deposited in seriatim upon a scale 19 at the weighing station 20.
, When each letter is weighed at said weighing station, a
', determination is made of the required postage necessary for that
particular envelope. This postage information is used to control
the settings of a postage meter 24 disposed at a postage meter
;station 28 further along said feed path. This information is
synchronously controlled so~that when that a particular letter ~ -
I reaches the postage meter station 28, the meter 24 will be
l' ~ properly set to cor~respond to the postage amount determined for
that particular piece of mail. In addition to having the
information synchronized, the flow of mail must be synchronized
~ between the weighing station 20 and the postage meter station 28,
,':
as well as all along the feed path from the feeder deck 11 to the
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`~ 1055608
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metered mail stacker 27. This mail ~low synchroniæation provides
a traf~ic control pattern, which allows for a multiplicity of
letters to be in transit along the feed path at any instant of
time.
After a letter is weighed at the weighing station, it is -
ejected from the scale 19 and enters a post-scale transfer station
. .
21. From the transfer station 21, the letter enters a selector
station 25, which contains a control gate 22. When the weighing
". , - ~ .
station determines that a letter is over-weight, more than 8 oz.
or 250 grams, for example, the gate 22 is directed to close
causing an arriving letter to be rejected into a reject stacker
26. When a letter arriving at the selector station 25 is within
the proper weight range to be metered, the gate 22 remains open.
In the open condition, the gate 22 allows the letters to pass on
to the postage meter station 28 via a meter transfer station 23.
Upon entering the postage meter station 28, a letter is imprinted
~ .
with the proper postage, and is then deposited into a metered
, mail stacker 27.
; The operation of the system is such, that a large volume
of mixed mail is continuously moved along the feed path. Unsealed
envelopes can be sealed. Over-weight envelopes are rejected and
!3 separately stacked. Letters within the proper weight range are
weighed and automatically imprinted with the required postage
s~ based upon the weight measurement. Bulk mail may be run through
i the system without having to weigh and meter the letters. Thus,
a completely~automatic mail handling system is provided.
~ : .
Figure 2 shows the apparatus for the weighing station
20 of Figure l. A letter 30 is depicted moving edgewise along
the mail feed path of the sy-stem (arrow 31). The envelope 30 is
.
~ 30 approaching two pairs o~ feed rollers 32 of the pre-scale
, :.. . .
transfer station 18. When the scale l9 is in the process of
weighing a letter,~the incoming letter 30 is held in check at the
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1055608
feed rollers 32. When the foregoing letter is weighed and passed -
on fro~ the weighing station, the feed rollers 32 transfer the
subsequent let-ter 30 to the scale 19. The letter 30 is deposited
- upon a weighing tray 33 of the scale 19. Tray 33 is tilted
backward, so that the letter rests upon the vertical wall 34 of
the tray, when the letter is deposited thereon. The tray 33 has
a trough 35 at its lower end for supporting the edge of the
letter 30. A baffle 36 is positioned ahead of the feed rollers
32 to properly guide the letters upon tray 33.
As a letter is fed to tray 33, it is given a certain
forward velocity. Therefore, there is a need for means to stop
the forward movement of the letter, so that it will be deposited
, . .
upon the tray 33. The stopping means consists of three pairs of
~; fingers 37, 38 and 39 respectively, arranged in a tier, and
positioned beyond the tray. The pairs of fingers 37, 38 and 39
are each respectively spring-loaded to a normally closed position
as shown. Each arm 41 of the fingers 37) 38 and 39 has an
involute surface 40, which curves inwardly. The two inwardly
~` curving surfaces 40 tend to present a progressively narrowing
. 20 stopping area, which acts to decelerate an incoming letter. These
1 curved surfaces 40, also are designed to accommodate different
:, .
thicknesses of mail. Each of the decelerating arms 41 of finger
pairs 37, 38 and 39 has a stop bar 42 at the end thereof~ The
stop bars 42 extend at right angles to the arms 41 of each pair of
fingers 37, 38 and 39, so as to overlap each other, and act as a
complete stop for an incoming letter. Each arm 41 is keyed to
the other arms 41 of the sets of fingers by means of a shaft 43. ; -
This provides that all three sets of fingers act in unison, when
opening and closing. Each involute surface 40, further contains
hook-like projections or teeth 44, which act to trap an incoming
letter in such a way, that the letter will not bounce or back-out
from between the arms 41. The sets of ~ingers 37, 38 and 39 are
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1~)556~ -
~taged at different levels to proyide stopping ~eans for different
heiyhts and sizes of letters. ~ small letter may not be trapped
by the set of fingers 37, for example, but will be stopped by
finger pairs 3~ and 39.
After an incoming letteris stopped by the pairs of
fingers, the fingers are made to separate, thus releasing the
letter supported on the weighing tray 33. The weighing scale 19
has two leaf springs 45 and 46, respectively, which are attached
to the wall 34 of tray 33 along their edges 47 and 48, respec-
tively. The other ends of the leaf springs are anchored to the
frame of the scale. After a letter is deposited in the trough
35 of the tray 33, the tray 33 is caused to deflect downwardly
~arrow 60) against the force of the springs 45 and ~6. When the
deposited letter is removed from the trough 35, the leaf springs
45 and 46 act to rectore the tray 33 to its original undeflected
position.
A rod 49 attached to the leaf spring 46 projects down
into a dashpot 50. The lower end of the rod.49 ïs attached.to a
tapered piston (not shown) of the dashpot device. The dashpot
a ts to damp oscillations which may occur when the tray
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J:~ 30 ~
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~355~
deflects. The tray 33 must be damped in order that an accurate
weight reading may be obtained within a given time range compatible
with the speed of the system in processing the mail. The dashpot
50 is of the variable-orifice type, wherein the damping becomes
greater as the deflection of the tray increases. This type of
variable dAmping has been found necessary with the leaf spring
~cale, since oscillations tend to increase in proportion to the
amount of deflection of the scale.
An optical read-out is provided fox measuring the deflection
of the tray 33.
Weight of a letter depresses the tray 33 in a downwardly
direction as shown by arrow 60. When the tray 33 is depressed,
a shutter-arm 51 attached to wall 3~ o the tray 33 moves past
(~rrow 54) a light window 52 containing a focusing lens. When
the shutter-arm 51 moves past window 52, the light source 53 is
partially or completely blocked Light is prevented from being
transmitted through the window ~. The light passing through the
window 52 ~ollows a light path illustrated by arrows by arrows 55.
Light passing through the window 52 is reflected by prism 56, and
is made to all upon a bank of photodetectors 57. When the shutter-
arm 51 i9 caused to cover the light window 52, the light which
normally ~loods detectors 57 is blocked, causing the detectors to
fall into ~hadow. A~ the tray 33 increasingly deflects downwards
under the welght of a letter, the photodetectors will progresslvely
be deprived of light. Shutter anm 51 will deflect a given amount
. . ~
'! dependent upon the weight of a piece of mail, and the photo-bank
57 will detect the a~moun of de1ection, and he~ce, the weight
of the letter.
A zero-ad~ust device 62 shown in greater detail in Figure
2a insures that the scale 19 is always set at the same initial
zero position despite possible dust accumulations within the
trough 35. The zero-adjust mechanism 62 comprises a motor~and
~~-
, ~ ~ S 56~ 8worm drive 64 which acts upon an adjustable spring 6S. The
spring 65 is attached to tray ~3 via bracket 66, so that every
time the worm ~4 is ~oved, the tray 33 will be r~turned to a
home or zero position. The devia~ti~n of the tray 33 from its
home position is sensed, when the first photodetector 90
(Figure 2b) of the bank o~ detectors 57 is bathed t n darkness
due to a downward movement (arrows 92) vf the shadow line 91
induced by the downward movement (arrow 60) of the tray 33 and
shutter arm 51 (arrow 54). When the first detector is bathed in
shadow, the motor 63 i9 activated to operate the worm mechanLsm
64 until the tray 33 an~ shutter arm Sl mo~e upwardly enough
to allow light to reach the first photodetector. Thus, a
definite zero or home position is automatically ~aintained. The
spring rate of coil spring 65 is a fraction (1/20th) that of the
combined spring rate of leaf springs 45 and 46, thus providing a
~ery sensitive and accurate adjustment for the zero position.
The bank of photodetectors 57 as shown in Figure 2b, has
;l a ~ screw adjustment 93. This adjustment ~nsures that despite
dif~erences in spring rates of springs 45 and 46, ~Figures 2 and
2Q 2a)~which may be due to manufacturing tolerances, the wei~ht of
; ' piece o mail will always be accurately sensed by detectors 57.
~ he detectors 57 are mounted upon a movable arm 95, which
is pivotable ~arrows 96) about pivot pin 94. When the screw 93
is turned, the bank of detectors 57 pivot (arrow 96) as~a slide
pin 97 attached to turnbuckle 99 and detector arm 95, is caused
to move in arcuate slot 98, The pivotable movement of the ,
¦ detector arm 95 causes th~ vertical distance "d" to change between
each of the detectors in the bank 57. This change in the vertical
distance compensates for changes in the leaf spring rate, which
dire¢tly ef~eats the distance the shado~ line 91 will travel per
ounce o~ mail. ~hus, the change; in the distance "d" will offset
any manufacturing or tolerance dlfferences in springs 45 and 46.
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lC~SS6~8 ~-
After a weiyht reading is made, ejector rollers 58 are
brought closer together, thus pinching the letter and ejecting
it from the weighing station. A light source 61 and photocell
59 detect when the letter is ejected from the weighin~ station.
The stopping, weighing and ejecting sequence can be more
clearly understood with reference to Figures 3a through 3d.
Figure 3a depicts a piece of mail 70 which has been fed
to the stopping fingers 37, 38 and 39. The letter comes to rest
against the stop bars 42, which block the passage of the letter.
The letter is held in place by involute surfaces 40 of the axms
41, and the saw-toothed projections 44.
. .
When the letter 70 enters the stopping fingers 37, 38
and 39, the light beam from the light source 61 to the detector
. .
59 is broken. When the detector 59 no longer sees the light beam,
it activates a solenoid 241 (Figure S) to rotate shafts 43,
causing the pairs of stopping flngers 37, 38 and 39 to separate
as shown by arrows 71 in Figure 3b. When the fingers separate,
the piece of mail 70 is deposited upon the tray 33 for weighing
purposes. After the letter 70 has been weighed in Figure 3b, the
ejection rollers 58 come together as shown by arrows 72 in Figure
3c. The ejection rollers 58 are each rotatively supported upon `
jaws 74. The lever-arms 7~ are rotatively turned toward each
other ~arrow 72) by means of a camming mechanism 73 shown in
Flgure 5. The cammlng mechanism 73 is activated by the breaklng
of the light beam~to detector 59 in Figure 3a. The camming ~-
mechanism 73 is operatively connected to lever-arms 74 by means
~of shafts 75 ~igure 3c~. The camming mechanism causes shafts 75
to turn, (arrows;76) which results in bringin~ jaws 74 and rollers
1 ~
58 together~(arrows 72). The ejection rollers 58 pinch the
~letter 70 between themselves, and eject the letter from the scale
as shown by arrow 77 as they rotate (arrows 78).
When the letter 70has been ejected from the scale, the
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` ~) 105560l~
lever-arms 74 carrying rollers 58 are caused to moye ap~rt as
depicted by arrows 79. Figure 3d. Fingers 37, 38 and 39 are
closed to stop a subsequent letter transferred to the scale by
rollers 32. The fingers 37, 38 and 39 are closed in response
to the photodetector 59 receiving light from light source 61,
when the trailing edge 80 of letter 70 moved past the detector
59.
; The rollers 32 will not feed a letter to the scale
until detector 59 receives light from source 61. The breaking of
the light beam between light source 81 and photodetector 82
positioned adjacent the rollers 32, operates to sense the
presence of an envelope at the pre-scale transfer station. This
detection causes rollers 32 to rotate, so as to feed the letter
to the weighing station, when de~ector 59 is receiving light.
Figure 5 depicts the camming mechanism 73 for actuating
the ejection rollers 58 of Figures 2 and 3a through 3d. Flgure
5 also illustrates the actuating mechanism for the stopping
fingers 41 (decelerating device) of Figures 2 and 3a through 3d.
Rollers 58 of the ejection mechanism of Figures 2, 3a-
3d, are continuously made to turn (arrows 78) by means of a belt
drive (not shown). When an envelope is caught between these
rotating rollers, as when the rollers are forced toward each other
(arrows 76), the envelope will be ejected from the weighing
1 station 20 of Figure 1. The pinching of rollers 58 is achieved
:! by rotating (arrow 212) eccentric cam 200 about its center shaft
201. Cam 200 is continually in contact with the wheel 202 due to
the biasing ~f coiI spring 206. Wheel 202 is free to turn (arrow
¦ ~ 220) about shaft 203, which is journalled in the U-shaped
. .
bracket 204.
When the eccentric portion of the cam moves against
wheel 202, it causes the wheel 202 to move backwards as indicated
by arrow 213. Because the wheel 202 is journalled in bracket
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204, the bracket 204 is caused to pivot (arrow 214) about shaft
Zll, a~ainst the biasing of spring 206 which is anchor~d against
movement in bracket 205.
When the U-shaped bracket 204 is caused to pivot, it
pushes against pin 207 which is affixed to shaft 208. This
causes shaft 208 to move backwards as depicted by arrow 216.
A bracket 209 secured to the end of shaft 208 is
similarly made to move backwards as the shaft moves bac~wards.
The bracket 209 carries two pins 210, which push against
pivot arms 223 and 224, respectively, ac the bracket 209 moves.
. .
;~ Two vertically extending shafts 75 are respectively keyed to pivot
arms 223 and 224, and are rotationally anchored in frame 270.
Irhen the pins 210 push against pivot arms 223 and 224,
shafts 75 are caused to rotate as illustrated by arrows 76.
Rollers 58 are each rotationally supported by jaws 74,
which are keyed to the vertical shafts 75, respectively. As the
shafts are caused to rotate (arrow 76), the jaws which are -
:~ :
i keyed to the shafts are caused to move the rollers towards each
'1 . , :
other as shown by arrows 72.
As the rotation of cam 200 rotates past its highest
eccentric position, the bracket 204 will pivot opposite to
rotational direction 214 r under the influence of coil spring 206.
This in turn, will move shaft 208 and bracket 209 forward
~! opposite in direction to arrow 216), causing shafts 75 to rotate -~
opposite to rotational direction 76. This will result in
separating the pinch rollers 58~
..
The tier arrangement of stopping fingers 37, 38 and 39
are operated between an open and closed position by means of a
~,~ solenoid 241. The stopping fingers are comprised of two arms 41
; 3Q as aforementioned, which are each keyed to rotatable shafts 43,
~ respectively. Each shaft 43 is free to rotate (arrows 260 and
! ~ 261, respectively) in slot 256 of push rod 242,
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105560 !3
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which is sccured to the solenoid push rod 244 by l~in 243.
Each shaft 43 carries a disc 250 which is pinned to rod
242 by a pin 251. The rod 242 is biased by a spring ~not shown)
towards the solenoid 241.
~ hen the solenoid 241 is energized, rod 242 is pushed
against push rod 244, causing rod 242 to move. When the
solenoid is de-energized, the rod 242 will move against its
biasing force back to a home position.
The reciprocal movement (arrows 240) of the push rod ~;
; 10 242, will alternately open and close the fingers 37, 38 and 39,
because shafts 43 will be made to alternately turn inwardly and
outwardly towards each other. This is accomplished by pins 251
... .. .
which engage suitable laterally extending slots (not shown) formed
. ~
in the rod 242, and which in turn cause disc 250 and shafts 43 to
rotate. The movement of the pins 251 will cause an opposite
rotation in shafts 43, because they are each secured to an
opposite side of push rod 242 as shown. Thus, the arms 41 will
J be caused to open and close with the reciprocal motion of the
: ~ rod 244.
i,~ Figure 4 is a timing chart showing the seqùence of
y events of handling mixed mail from the pre-scale transfer station
18 throughthe post-scale trans~er station 21. It will be readily
appreciated that various sizes and weights of letters will create
difficulties in sequencing of the various mail handling operations~
Therefore~with mixed mail~lt lS not easy to provide a~smooth flo~-
I ~ ~ of mail through the~system.
~ ~ For example, differences in the weight of letters~may
!; ~ require that some enve~lopes spend more~ time being welghed than
other pieces of mail.~Polnts of support and detectlon in thé
30 ~ transfer stations must be adequate to accomodate different lengths
of mail, So that~small~letters will not "float" between transfer
!~ ~ rollers or that two letters will occupy the same Station at o~e
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OS560~3
cime. Thicker letters must not cause j~n~ing, and the sequence
of weighing and ejecting must be uniform despite variations in
the length of the envelopes. Even the height of the letters must
be considered when vertically spacing the stopping fingers 37, 38,
and 39.
The present invention provides that all pieces of mail
regardless of their weight, be afforded the same weighing time
needed for the heaviest letter to fully deflect the scale 19.
-: This weighing time has been calculated to be .305 seconds in order
to provide a 1/2 second delay at the weighing station. The
weighing operation is commenced at .025 seconds after detector 59
of Figure 2 senses the breaking of the light beam by a letter
; which is stopped by fingers 37, 38 and 39. Between the initial
breaking o~ the light beam to detector 59 and at the start of
weighing, ~.025 seconds) the ingers 37, 38 and 39 support the
piece of mail.
, At the start of the weighing operation, the fingers are
timed to release the letter, so that it rests upon tray 33 (Figure
2).
The breaking of the beam to photodetector 59 serves
' several interdependent functions:
a) initiates the finger release and weighing operation;
b) initiates the camming device of Figure 5 to operate
~ the post-scale transfer ejection rollers 58;
! ~ c~ prevents the pre-scale transfer of another envelope
to the scale 19 by pre-scale transfer rollers 32, when a letter
lS still in the weighing station area; and
d) initiates information transfer from scale 19 to the
logic and pulse circuitry of Figures lla-lld.
~ The end of the wei~hing operation (.330 seconds) and the
maximum eject time for a l/2 inch thick letter ~maximum thickness)
are coincident. The thinnest envelopes are ejected st .380
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~055608 ~:
seconds (.050 seconds later). A 13" letter (maximum length) ~ -
will reinstitute the light beam at .420 seconds as the trailing
edge of the envelope moves past detector 59. Thirty thousandths
(.303) of a second is alloted to close the stopping fingers, so
as to receive a new incoming letter from the pre-scale transfer
- station. At .470 seconds, the incoming envelope breaks the Iight
beam to photodetector 59.
Therefore, it is seen that the initial time of trans-
ferring, stopping, weighing, and ejecting a letter through stations
18, 20 and 21, is achieved in approximately 0.5 seconds. This
time is required in order to process approximately 7,000 pieces
of mail an hour, which is the designed mail handling speed of this
system.
While the breaking oE the light beam to detector 59
initiates the ejection process at time zero, there isa built in
delay. Part of this delay is due to the rise time of the cam 200
~ of the ejecting mechanism shown ln Figure 5. The cam 200 has an
3 80rise as shown in Figure 6. At the top of the rise, the ejectorrollers 58 will drive the thinnest envelope. The thickest
letters will be driven at approximately one-half of the rise as
shown i n Figure 6.
' A subsequent incoming envelope will break the beam to
detector 59 at .470 secondsr at which time the cam 200 has almost
finished its downward decline (200 ml seconds). The cam is
signalled to cycle again at this point in time. Thus, another part
of the delay between initiation at post-scale ejection is provided
in the time required for the cam 200 to complete its previous
envelope aycle while the initiation of the new envelope camming
cycle is taking place.
~ The meter 24 at postage meter station 23 in Figure 1,
is a modi~ied postage meter Model 5318, manufactured by Pitney-
.... .
Bowes, Inc~, Stamford, Connacticut, the present assignee of this
,. : .
-16-
.:
SS60~
invention. Unless indicated to the contrary, the ~nVcntive
meter 24 is o~ similar construction, and functions in the same
manner as a standard Model 5318 meter. The m~del 5318 meter
contains settings for cents, tens, and dollars operative to a ~-
maximum of $9.99 of imprinted postage.
Meter 24 of the invention has been modified to be
automatically set to a maximum imprinted postage of $1.99 by mcans
of a pair of stepper motors 301 and 302, respectively, and
solenoids 303 and 304 as shown in Figure 7. The stepper motors -
301 and 302, and the solenoids 303 and 304 are arranged to control -
the appropriate meter setting actuators, one of which is shown in
Figure 7 as element 305.
Normally, the actuators (Part Nos. 5380752) are set
manually by means of levers (Part Nos. 5351242) one o~ which is
shown in phantom as element 306. In the modi~ied meter 24 of this
invention, the levers 306 have been removed to provide for auto-
matic setting ~hence, element 306 is shown in phantom in Figure
7).
The modified meter of the instant invention only
requires a maximum postage setting o~ $1.99, since the system is
set to only imprint postage on mail weighing 8 ounces or less.
All letters weighing more than 8 ounces are rejected from the feed
, path prior to metering, and are deposited in stacker 26 as
j aforemsntioned.
Stepper motor 301 and 302 individually control the cents,
and tens actuator~s in~a setting range from "0" to "9", respective-
ly,~as indïcated in Figure 8. The solenoids 303 and 304 control
! the dollar actuator to a~ reading of either "0" or "1".
~ The actuators 305 are controlled by the` stepper motors
`~ 30 and solenoids through three shafts 307, 308 and 309, respectively,
which are nested one within the other as shown in Fi~ures 7 and 8.
Solenoids 303 and 304 are each pivotably pinned to
::
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- 1~55608 ~:
extension links 310 and 311, Via ~ins 303a and 304~, respectively.
Each o~ the extension links 310 and 311 are alternately caused to
be pulled (arrows 315 and 313, respectively) by the solenoids.
Each of the respective extension links 310 and 311 are spring
loaded against the downward urging of their solenoids by means
of compression springs 312 and 314, respectively. Thus, wllen
either of the links 310 and 311 are pulled, they immediately
spring back to their original position. This linkage arrangement
allows that each link 310 and 311, respectively does not have to
pull against the mass of the other link every time the meter is
set to a different dollar position. Links 310 and 311 are movably
pinned to gear 316 via slots 310a and 311a, respectively. The
alternate pulling of the links 310 and 311, causes gear 316 to
inc--ementally turn in either a clockwise or counterclockwise
direction (arrows 317). When gear 316 is caased to incrementall~
rotate, another contacting gear wheel 318 (Figures 7 and 8) lS
made to incrementally turn. Gear 318 is pinned to shaft 307, so
that shaft 307 i5 likewise caused to turn an incremental distance
in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction when gears
~, .
0 316 and 318 rotate. The shaft 307 transmits its motion to gear
319 (Figures 7 and 8) pinned at its other end. The gear 319
imparts this incremental motion to dollar actuator 305 (Figure 7)
via an intermediate gear wheel 320. Thus, dollar actuator 305 is
~, made to move (arrows 350~ between a "0" or "1" position. -
Stepper motor 302 controls the "tens" actuator 305 (not
shown) by rotatlng shaft 308 (Figures 7 and 8). Stepper motor
~ ~ 302 caused its shaft 323 and a pinned gear wheel 321 to turn in
j ~ ~ either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, as shown by
:
arrows 322. Gear 324 rotates in response to the movement of ~ear ~;
~wheel 321 via intermediary gear 325~ Gear 324 i5 keyed to sha~t
308 as shown in Figure 8, so that shaft 308 is likewise made to
turn. A gear 326 keyed to the far end of shaft 308 turns the
. .
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'~..
1C~55608
"tens" actuator 305 (not shown) via in~ermediate gear 327.
- Stepper motor 301 controls the "cents" actuator 305 (not
shown) in similar fashion to the control of the "tens" actuator
by stepper motor 302.
Stepper motor 301 turns gear wheel 328 which is keyed to
shaft 329, in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction as
.. . .
shown by arrows 330. A gear 331 is made to turn via intermediary -
gears 332 and 333, when gear wheel 328 is caused to turn. Gear ~-
331 being keyed to shaft 309 (Figure 8) rotates shaft 309, thus
~i 10 turning gear 334 keyed at the other end of shaft 309. The "cents"
actuator 305 (not shown) assumes the motion of gear 334 via
intermediary gear 335 (Figure 8).
Each actuator 305 has a detent mechanism 336 which is
pivoted about point 3~4 and biased by means of spring 338, so
that its toothed end 337 bitès into gear teeth 339 of the actuator.
The detent 336 normally has an extension bar 340 (shown in phantom
in Figure 7). The bar 340 (tip of assembly, Part ~os. 5380308
;,
5380313) has been removed in the present meter, along with the
~ locking bail assembly 345 (Part Nos. 5380261 & 5310060) shown in
,~ 20 Figure 9. The locking bail assembly 345 comprises a bail 341 and
,~ a hinge pin 342. Normally, the extension bars 340 of each
I detent mechanism are depressed by the bail 341 in order to lock
j the actuators when a lack of funds is detected in the register.
i The locklng bail~341 is controlled by a locking comb 360 of
Figure 10. When the locking comb pivots, (arrow 346) as when the
teeth 351 drop into the "zero-position" slots 353 of counter
wheel 352, the locking ball 341 is normally caused to depress
against the extension bars 340. Thus, the actuators 305 are
,
~ prevented from turning. The locking bail also normally actuates
~, . . .
~30 a shutter bar which additionally prevents the meter from being
operated.
However, the present metering system has no need for
:: :
"':
--1 9--
::
lOS~608 `~
the setting levers 306, the locking bqil assembly 345, and the
extension bar 340, since the meter is automatically controlled.
The out-of-funds locking operation of this invention
is accomplished by electrical and mechanical means, as shown in
Figure 10. Instead of the comb 360 actuating the locking bail
341, a shutter plate 347 pivots (arrow 348) into the path of
r light beam 349, when the locking comb 360 pivots (arrow 346) to
its out-of-funds position. The light beam 349 is now intercepted
~` and is not reflected by means of prism 355, and is not detected
in window 354. The absence of the light in window 354 causes the
meter to shut down. This shutting down can be accomplished by any
suitable light activated electrical switching means (not shown).
Thus, the meter is electronically rendered inoperative when
insufficient funds are present in the descending register (counter
' wheels 35Z).
' The buffer control circuitry interconnecting the ;
weighing scale 19, with the logic and pulse generating circuitry
for controlling the postage meter 24 is shown in Figure 12.
Unless otherwise indicated herein, the electrical logic elements
.j , , .
I 20 illustrated in all thè circuit drawings are 7400 series TTL
,, ~transistor-transistor lo~ic) components, such as are available
~rom Texas Instruments, Inc. The buffer control will also be
explained with reference to the timing chart of Figure 13.
.~ . .. .
¦~ As the photodetector bank 57 (Figure 2b) of scale 1~9 is
progressively bathed in shadow due to the deflection o~ weighing
tray 33i the- photodetectors 90 feed signals to the BCD (Binary
~; coaded decimal) encodere S00 and 500A of Figure 12. The BCD
encoders are ten llne to four line priority encoders, wired
together to provide BCD signals for 8 ounces maximum. One
~encoder could have sufficed, but the double combination allows for
~ rewirin~ in the event a~
,: . :
. ~....
-20-
.
.. ~. . . .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .
~ ss~
~igher weight maximum is used~ The encoders deliver a four bit
~CD output corresponding to the weisht signal (maximum reading)
received from the photodetector ban.~ 57. The BCD output~from the
encoders are transmitted to a first buffer (first in - first out
register) 501 via lines 560, 561, 562 and 563 at cloc~ pulse 1
(Figure 13). A control flip flop 504 connected to buffer 501
receives a loading pulse on line 504A ~fifth bit) to start the
processing of the information, and will go high causin~ the
buffer 501 to be loaded with the BCD information. At the second
clock pulse, (Figure 13) the information is loaded from buffer
5~1 into a second buffer 503, and a control flip flop 505 connected
to buffer 503 is caused to ~o higi~ when flip flop 504 is caused
~o go low. When buffer 501 transmits this inormation, flip flop
S04 becomes low, so that the first buffer 501 can now be loaded
with new in~ormation for a subsequent letter. Flip flop 504
' will become high again causing buf~er 501 to be loaded as shown
'I in Figure 12 at pulse three. At the end of pulse 5, buffer 503
1~ transmits the information to the logic and pulse generating cir-
cuitry via lines 540, 541, 542 and 543, as shown in Figure llb,
Flip flop 505 now becomes low. The first buffer 501 is now
capable of loading the second buffer 503, and does so at the end
of clock pulse 6. The control flip flop 504 now becomes lo~Y,
and the ~lip ~lop 505 now becomes high. The load signal is
i provided by the one-shot 501A, which is initiated by the scale
phototransistor 59 of Figure 2.
The one-shot 501B provides a zero command to the motor 63
of the zero-adjustment mechanis~ 62 of Figures 2 and 2a. Whenever
th~ ~cale is not weighing letters, the one-shot 501B octivates
the zero-adjustment mechanism 62. This assures that the zero-
ad~ustment mechani9m will not be continually cycling, but willbe operative only between mail runs.
The clock controlling the buffex circuit o~ Figure 12 is
the same clock 506 shown in the logic and pulse generating circuit
- 105S6~
,
of F~gures lla-lld. The clock operates at a frequ~ncy of
approximately 250 Hz. Althou~h this pulse rate is not critical,
it is obtained by means of clock 506 and the external resistors
507, 508 and 509, and capacitor 510, rlespectively.
The buffer circuit of Figure ~2 is re~uired to maintain the
information sequence for several letters traveling from the
weighing station 20 to the postage meter 24. The need for buffering
can be eliminated where only one lett~r at a time is causeid to
trav~l between the weighing station and the postage meter. This
latter scheme is only possible, however, when the physical
~i~tance betwe~n the scale and the meter is short enough to
allow the p~ece of mail to transit between stations 20 and 23,
respectively, in 1/2 second or less. The 1/2 second requirement
i8 ~ecessary in order to maintain the design objective of
processing approximately 7,000 pieces of mail per hour.
Naturally, when the distance between the scale and meter
becomes too long, it then becomes necessary to have several
lètters enroute between stations 2~ and 23, which r~sults in the
need for the buffer control of Pigure 12.
~he logic and pulse generating circuit of Figures lla-lld
acaept~ the ~CD code from the buffer 503 of Figure 12, computes
the re~uired postage, and then generates the pulses to control
stepper motors 301 and 302 ~Figure 7) consistent with the
computed postage amount for the weight of the letter and the
~eedback information of the previous motor positions.
The logic and pulse generating circuitry operates in a
,
sequential manner such that flip flops 511 and 512 control certain
events according to a given order together t~lth their associated ~
gates 513, 514, 515, 516, 517 and 518, respectively. -
The arithmetic unit of the logic circuitry comprises IC's
~` Sl9, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527 and 528, respectively.
2.~
.~
i . . .
. , . , . , . - . .. ~ . .,: , . . . .
` 1~556~8
The arithmetic unit multiplies the unit price per ounce of mail
times the ounces measured b~ the scale 19. This multiplication is
really a series of additions which result in a computed postage,
as will be further described, hereinafter.
Two comparators 529 and 530, respectively, compare the
previous position of the "units" and "tens" actuator assemblies
305 (Figure 7) with the computed amount of postage. The stepper
motors 301 and 302 (Figure 7), respectively are then supplied
with pulses to adjust the actuator assemblies 305 to a new
1~ postage position. This adjustment is accomplished using the
shortest rotational path, since the logic decides in which
direction to move each stepper motor (clockwise or counterclock- -
wise) to reach the new required postage position. Once coincidence
is established between the meter settings and the computed postage
amount, the meter is energized to print. The IC's controlling
the pulse generation for the motors include the comparators 529
and 530, and components 531-539, and 550-555, respectively.
As aforementioned, the control flip flop 504 receives
a fifth bit ~load signal) from the one-shot 501A via the photo-
; 20 transistor 59, which initiates the processing of information.
A control panel (not shown) allows the operator to select several
j different operations such as:
~ a) check weight (display the weight measured by the
I scale on display panel);
j (b) bulk rate (constant postage - no weighing or com-
puting); and
(c) mixed mall metering (weighing and computing postage
i amount), etc.
A function such as "check weight" does not allow the
fifth bit to be marked, and the processing of the weight infor-
l~ mation from scale 19 will not take place.
i ~ Once the weight informationhas reached the second buff~r
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,' , ' .
.
~05560~ ~ -
~03, and the fifth bit is markcd, the Q output of J-K flip flops
~ F511 0; F512-0 condition to F511 1 and
F512=0 condition. This generates a load command to the up-down
counter 522 which receives the BCD information from buffer 503
over lines 540, 541, 542 and 543.
` Other control panel functions can prevent this load
command, such as when the system is only being used to seal
: -
envelopes or when the date is being checked. When such conditions
are present, the up-down counter 522 maintains a value ~0000), and
the load command is inhibited. The value ~0000) is set into
counter 522 at the "power-on" ~POR) or "clear" signals from
previous processed information. ;
With a next clock pulse, the Q output of the se~uencing
flip-flops 511 and 512 now step to a F511=0, F512=1 condition.
This generates a "clear fifth bit" signal. If the system is set
for bulk mail handling (constant postage), then counter 522 is
' stepped to a 1 value (0001). The three possible values for the
up-down counter are as follows;
IC 522 Reason
, ~ , ,
If seal-only or check-date 0000 No bookkeeping,
zero xunit price =~D
' ~f constant postage 0001 Unit price = postage,
1 x unit price
q .. ..
None of the above Scale Ounces x unit price =
~; Weight postage
A subsequent clock pulse steps the sequencing flip flops
to a F511=1, F512=1 condition. This removed the "clear" condition
~ from J-X flip flop 535. ~This allows flip-flop 535 to be set
j when up-down counter 522 reaches zero. This indicates that a
multiplication process has~ taken place. The setting of flip-
flop 535 initiates the generation of the pulses necessary to step
the stepper motors 301 and 302. This is carried out by compon-
ents 539, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554 and 556, and their associated
gates.
; -24-
. '; ' .:
: :.
10556a~8
Once the sequencing flip flops have attained the F511=1,
F512=1 condition, they remain in this condition until they are
cleared. The clearing condition will take place when the postage
to be imprinted is committed to the postage meter 24. When the
; letter is detected leaving the meter, one cycle has taken place.
The sequence of the flip-flops 511 and 512, and hence, the
circuit sequence is repeated for a new cycle with the marking of
the fifth bit.
When a value other than (0000) is loaded into the
counter 522, the process of multiplication takes place~ IC's
519 and 520 receive the "unit price per ounce" information over
0 lines 570, 571, 572, 573 and 574, 575, 576, 577 correspondiny to
"units" and "tens" values. IC's 519 and 520 channel this 4-bit
information from a control panel setting. This setting will allow
'i for adjustment from a "first-class" rate to an "air-mail" rate,
, or for an increase in mail rates, as w111 occur from time to time.
~, The steering flip-flop 521 allows the "units" and "tens"
values of IC's 519 and 520 to be added through to 4-bit adder 523
, via lines 544, 545, 546, and 547. The information output of
adder 523 is converted fr~m binary form to BCD by converter 524.
' The BCD information is then loaded into the 4-bit register 525,
~ which transfers the information to 4-bit register 526. Register
1 525 hold the information for "tens", and register 526 holds the
information for the "unlts" value. Registers 525 and 526 are
cleared at the end of the cycle when flip-flops 511 and 512 are
returned to their zero condition.
Multiplicatlon of the "unit price per ounce" (lnforma-
tion in registers 525 and 526) is repeatedly added to itself for
every ounce of weight measured for an envelope. The repeated
~30 additions ~re in effect a multiplication of the unit price times -
? ~
the welght. With every performed addition, the counter 522 is
stepped down one time, until zero is reached~ When the counter
, ::
. ~ . . -
-25-
: j ' ., .
~5~
522 reaches zero, the multiplication is completed. The following
is an example o~ a typical multiplioation operation:
Assume: Weight = 2 ounces
Unit price = $0.16
Output Or IC 519
a~id IC 520 (Set 1 IC 526 (Set 2
Adder IC 522 IC 521of Adder Inputs)IC 5~ Adder In~uts) C2rrv
,~, . ..
2 0 6 0 0 0
~- 6~0 2 1 1 6 0 0 -
1+0 1 0 6 1 6 0
6~6 1 1 1 2
1+1~ 0 0 6 [3 2] 0
Ca~ry Ansh~er
The above examples shows that initially, counter 522 has
two stepping operations corresponding to the assumed weight of
two ounces. The counter will count down once for each addition,
or in other words, once for each ounce of weight.
The combined output of IC 519 and IC 520 provide the
values for "units" and "tens", which in this case corresponds to
the value 15 ("1" and "6"). J-K f1ip-flop 521 selects the "units"
(Q=0) and "tens" tQ=l) for addition. During the first count
.1 -
}~ down of counter 522, the value "6" is loaded into register 519,
and is then transferred to register 520 as a "1" is load~ed into
20; register 520. In the next half count the "i" value in register
;;~ 525 is transferred to register 526 as the addition of "6" + "6"
produces a "2" value in register 525 with a "1" carry over. The
final haïf count provides a shift of the "2" to register 526, and
register~525 now receives~the previous "1" from reglster 526, a
ca~rry over, and an inputted "1" from IC 520 to give~ a result~
ant "3". ~ Thus, the ~se;cond count down results in a "32~"~ in
registers~525 and 526, which is the;correct answer. ~Because the
counter 522 is now at ~zero, ~the~addition operat1on is at an end.
The J-K flip-flop 535~ S now set, and the generation of stepping
30 ~ plllses for the stepping motors now takes place.
J-K flip-flops 539 and 550 control the generation of the
;.": ' : :
--26--
, . : ~:
` ~055608
.. ..
"units" pulses. Comparator 529 compares the "units" resulting
from the multiplication with the "units" fed back from stepper
motor 301 via lines 580, 581, 582 and 583. If the "units"
values are equal, the clock to flip-flops 53g and 550 is
inhibited. If the values are not equal, then the flip-flops 539
` and 550 begin to step through their code se~uence. Gate 555 ~
selects either the count-up or count-down code depending upon -
" :''.:
J-K flip-flop 536.
: , .
The result of the comparison of comparator 529 is
loaded into J-K flip-flop 534 via line 578A, if the comparison
is equal. When the postage "units" are either larger ~count- -
down) or smaller (count-up) than the feedback "units ~7 / the result
is loaded into flip-flop 536 via lines 588 and 589, respectively.
:, .
Loading is performed every time that the meter is at a
de~ined position (not in between). The Q outputs of flip-flops
` 539 and 550 both equal "1" , during this condition.
The "tens" comparator 530 loads J-K flip-flop 532 over
lines 578 and 579, respectively whenthe comparison result is
.~ .
,~ either greater or smalIer than the meter setting. If the
comparator resultant is equal, the J-K flip-flop 531 is loaded
via line 590.
When both flip-flops 531 and 534 are set (indicating
1 that "units" and "tens" are equal), a one-shot 538 generates a
i pulse which clocks J-K flip-flop 537. Flip-flop 537 supplies an
., .
;l ~ enable signal to the meter.
If there should be a malfunction in the system, such
that no coincidence~is found with the~meter feedback, then the
j system is de-energized and an alarm~is sounded.
I This is accomplished by means of counter 556, which has
~ ,
; 30 been counting how many~times the stepper motors have been stepped
i.e., one count for every four steps ~Fs3g=1, F550=1' F551=1' and
F552~ We ~now that when the unit is operating correctly, the
,
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i: ' ., ,~ . .: , .,, , . , ., " .. ,, .; .. .. , ... , . . ' ' '
` 1~55608 ~ ~
motQr will require a maximum of ten pulses to r~ach a given
~ position. An additional 5 pulses are allowed ~total of 15 pulses)
- to pull the motor into synchronization. If at the end of 15
` pulses, the motor has not reached the required position, then the
System is shut down. This condition will remain until a reset
switch is thrown.
,
The above error control may be better understood with ~
reference to the following chart: ~ -
Assume that the required computed postage is 32 and
the meter feedback is 24.
: .. .. -
.; Postage = 32
E = Equal
S - Postage smaller than feedback
L = Postage larger than feedback
D = Down
,. U = Up
0 = Don't care
.1 Output of Comparator
Meter Units Tens
IC 529 _ IC 530 Feedback S S Error .. -
Units SteJ~ Tens Stëp Tens Un~ts FF 539 FF 550 FF 551 FF 552 1234 1234 Counter
., ~ .
S D- L U 2 4 1 1 1 1 1100 1100 0
0 D 0 U 0 0 0 1 0 1 0110 1001 0 - .
: 0 D 0 U 0 0 0 0 0 0 0011 0011 0
0 D 0 U 0 0 1 0 1 0 1001 0110 0 : .
I 20 S D EStop 3 3 1 1 1 1 1100 1100
0 D EStop 0 0 ~ 1 1 1 0110 1100
0 D EStop 0 0 0 0 1 1 0011 1100 1 . :.
0 D EStop 0 0 1 0 1 1 1001 1100 1 .
~, EStop EStop 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 oa 1 1 oo 2 ~
; Counter 556 keeps track of the stepping cycles, such
~¦~ that if equality has not been found by the time the counter has
. . .:
counted 15 pulses, the gates 591 and 592 are set to provide a
j ~stop signal on llne~593.~
Drivers have~been provided at the clock of flip-flops
~' 539, 550, 551 and 552, and also at count-up "units", and count-up
:.
l~ "tens". This provides the flexibility of controlling a stepper
1~ 3Q motor strictly by pulsing, rather than by using a code.
,'1 : :
The dollar solenoids 303 and 304 of Figure 7, are ~;
controlled via line 59~ by 3-K ~lip-flop 528 as shown.
~:: , .. ~ ',
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`
~05560~
The system may bP manually clocked through switch 595,
when trouble shooting is to be done.
The positions of the actuator asse~blies 305 controlling
the "units" and "tens" settings in the meter are monitored by ;
coded disc assemblies 370 and 375, respectively, of Figure 7.
The "units" and "tens" positions are converted to electrically
coded (BCD) signals, and then fed back to comparators 529 and 530,
via lines 580, 581, 582, 583 and 584, 585, 586, 587, respectively,
of Figures lla -lld. The object of supplying this feedback, is
to pulse the stepping motors 301 and 302 through the silortest
rotational path for setting the actuator assemblies 305 from a
previous value of postage ~prior letter) to a new value of postage
(subsequent letter). In other words, motors 301 and 302 are
....
; stepped in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction,
whichever direction is shorter between the fixed end settings of
"0" and "9". This meter setting system is designed to set the
, actuator assemblies from a minimum "0" setting to maximum "9"
setting, or vice versa, in approximately 190 milliseconds. Of
course, a shorter rotation, e.g., such as from a "3" setting to
a "6" setting, will be accomplished in a shorter time.
I The feedback of the positions of the actuator assemblies
~ will be further explained with reference to Figure 7 and Figure ~`
,' 14. As aforementioned, the "units" and "tens" settings are
monitored by BCD coded disc assemblies 370 and 375, which are ~
respectively keyed to the stepper motor shafts 329 and 323 as ~ l -
shown~in Figure 7.~ The~settlng~ pos~itions of the actuator
assemblies 305 can be monitored in this way, since the stepper
motors directly cont~rol these positions ~ia rotation of their
shafts 329 and 323.~The stepper motor 301 controlling the "units"
1~3 ~actuator, has a BCD coded wheel~371 keyed to ita sha~t~329. The
BCD coded wheel 371 has ten different sets of apertuxes disposed
therein, as generally shown by arrows 372.
::
105560~3 -
The stepper motor 302 controlling the "tens" actuator,
has a BCD coded wheel 373 keyed to this shaft 323. The coded
` wheel 373, likewise has ten different sets of apertures (arrow
` 374) disposed therein, whlch is only partially shown due to the
cutaway of disc 373. ''~
Each set of apertures 372 and 379, respectively, pertain
to a different actuator setting from "0" through "9". The
. .
' maximum number of apertures in each set of apertures for each disc
~' is four, corresponding to the four bit BCD code which is eIectri-
cally generated by each aperture (or lack thereof) in each
''~ aperture set.
~; These apertures allow light to pass through the disc
~' 371 and 373, respectively. The light is generated for each disc
371 and 373 by means of a separate bank of four light emitting
, diodes (LEDS) 376 ~shown only for coded wheel assembly 373 for t~:e ~ `
i sake of brevity). The light generated by these LED's passes
through a particular set of apertures pertaining to the rotation-'l '
positions of the discs. m e coded discs 371 and 373,~respecti~el~
rotate (arrows 377 and 378) with the rotation of the stepper motor ''~
shafts 329 and 323, to which they are~respectively keyed. Thus, '
l an individual disc position (particular aperture set) directl~
;l relates to the actùator assembly poSitlOn.
~; A bank of four photodetectors 379 are positioned
opposite the LED's 376, on the other side of the apertured disc
as shown. These photodetectors sense the presence or absence of
. . ~
light generated~'by the LED's, depsndent upon whether sn sperture
. ~ s~present bet;wesn thèm, in~order;to~allow t.he light to pass
through the disc.
~ :: : : ~ -
The BCD signals from the photodetectors 379~for "units~
30; and "tens", respectlvely~are~fed to their associated comparators
529 and 530 of Figures Ila-lld, via lines 580, 581, 582, 583 a~d ''
584 585 586 587 ~respectively $hs signals from the photo- '
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detectors 379 are additionally conditioned by a schmitt trigyer
390 to provide sharp pulses.
The stepper motor 301 controlling the "units" actuator
assembly 305 is powered from a driving circuit 391 similar to
that shown in Figure 19 of the SLO-SYN Stepping r~otors Catalogue
MSM 1171, available from the Superior Electric Company, Bristol,
` Connecticut.
Similarly, the stepper motor 302 controlling the "tens"
actuator assembly 305 is powered from a driving circult 391.
The driving circuits 391 receive the stepping signals
via gates 389 and lines 381, 382, 383, 384 and 385, 386, 387, 388,
respectively of F.igure 14.
The actuation of the actuator assemblies 305 by stepper
motors 301 and 302 set the print wheels 392 in the postage meter,
, and is recorded in the ascending and descending registers 393. ~
The position of the actuator assembly 305 controlling ~;
; the "dollar" setting in the meter is monitored by disc assembly
450 shown in Situ in Figure 7, and in operational detail in Figures
7a and 7b. Disc assembly 450 comprises a disc 451 which assumes
either a "dollar" or a "zero" position (arrows 317), i.e. the
~, disc 451 will assume either an upper position (Figure 7a) or a
,' lower position tFigure 7b).
, A slot 452 disposed in the disc 451, likewise assumes :
.. . ..
an upper or a lower position with the displacement of the disc.
In the lower pos1tion ~(Figure 7b) the slot 452 is disposed between
a first pair of detection elements consisting of a light emitting
diode ~LED) 453, and~a photodetector 454 as shown. When the disc
~! ; 451 is in this position,~the slot 452 acts as a light passage
between the LED 453 a~nd the photodetector 454.
~ In the upper~position, ~Flgure 7a) the slot 452 is dis-
posed between a second pair of detection elements consisting o~
. .
! LED 455 and photodetector 456. The slot acts as a light window
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between elements 455 and 456 in the upper position.
The light detected by either photodetector 454 or 456,
respectively, is converted to an electrical signal which is fed
back to the logicand pulse circuitry of Figures lla-lld. Either
of these position signals are conditioned by a schmitt trigger 457
(Figure 14) to sharpen these pulses. The sharpened pulses are
then fed to the logic and pulse circuit of Figures lla-lld via
line 599.
.~
The pulse signals for activating the solenoids are fed
from the logic and pulse circuit of Figures lla-lld, via line
594. The activating signal is fed through a set and reset
gating arrangement 458 and a "pull-pull" circuit 459 prior to
... ..
being introduced to solenoids 303 and 304. The solenoids 303 and ~ ~
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304 actuate the "dollars" assembly ackuator 305, which in turn
sets the corresponding print wheel 392 in the postage meter. ~pon
tripping the meter and imprinting the postage, the setting is
' recorded in the ascending and descending registers 393.
:
`~ The conditionlng circuit 475 of Figure 17, comprises a -~
set and resetlgating arrangement 478, which conditions the ;
dollar settings for the logic and pulse circuitry of Figures lla-
~ lld via line 599. A gate 479 provides a signal via line 600
,.! (look), which tells the logic when the disc 451 has settled in a
1 definite zero or doLlar position. The conditioning circuit is
~j' activated by the two schmitt triggers 457 (zero and dollar
.1 , . .
circuits of Figure 18) via lines 476 and 477.
The circuitry of Figure 18 includes "pull" circuits 459
S ~ . .
~ as shown. The "pull" circuits 459 are actuated by the gating
¦~ arrangements 458 and 460, respectively. When a high signal is
received from the logis_ and pulse circuit of Figures lla-lld via
line 594 to pull solenoid 304 (dollar setting) with the solenoid
304 already in the dollar;position, phototransistor 456 will
provide a non-complementary high signal to gate 458A of circuit
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1~556~8
~ 458 via line 480, and ~ate 458A will not proyide a "low" triyger-
- ing signal to gate 458B to pull the solenoid 304. Gate 460A of
circuit 460 will not trigger solenoid 303 (zero setting~ to pull,
because the signal from line 594 (carried by line 482) is
inverted by gate 458C. Circuit 460 has an extra inverting gate
458C so that the "zero dollars" pull circuit 459 will not be
- actuated when a "dollars" command is received. Naturally, the
;; :
: "dollars" pull circuit will not be actuated by a "zero dollars"
command.
Similarly, when a "zero" (low) signal is received by
gate 458C via lines 594 and 482, it is inverted to a high signal.
Gate 460A receives this high signal, and if phototransistor 456
does not provide a non-complementary high signal to gate 460A via
, line 481, as when the disc 451 is in the "zero dollar" position,`
:~ .
the solenoid 303 will be actuated.
~ .
In order that postage meter 24 make a proper and uniform
imprint impression on all thicknesses of mail (to a maximum of
1/2 inch), there was a need for a movable imprinting deck
mechanism as shown in Figures 15 and 16. Figure 15 shows a
,i! movable deck mechan.ism in its home ~non-deflected) position.
~I Figure 16 shows the movable deck mechanism receiving an envelope,
`i which causes the deck 400 to deflect to accommodate the letter.
The deck 400 supports the postage impression roller 401,
so that as the deck;~400 separates from the adjacent driving belt
402 (Figure 16) a aeparatlon is llkewise creatéd between the
1l~ impression roller 401, and the postage imprint drum 403 of the -
j postage meter 24.
~ ` The impression roller 40I is spring loaded toward the
: .
postage imprint drum 403, so as to provide imprinting pressure
. , .
30~ between the roller 401 and~drum 403. The deck~ 400 uniformly
separates from the drivlng belt 4~02 (Figure 16) by means of
, ~ ~ linkage 404. LinXage 404 comprises two links 405 and 406 which
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55608
contains intermeshing gear surfa~es 407 and 408, respectively, at
one'end thereof. Link 405 is rotatively connected i,p-n 409) to~ '
deck 400 at a letter incoming end. Link 408 is rotatively
connected (pin 410) to deck 400 at a letter outgoing end. Links
405 and 406 are respectively pivotable about pins 411 and 412, so
that gear surfaces 407 and 408 are engageably movable with respe^t
to each other. Pivot pins 411 and 412 are anchored in frame 415.
Link 406 is connected to crank arm 414 about pin 412. ~ -
Crank arm 414 is spring loa~ed by means of spring 416, which is
connected to arm 414 about pin 417. The other end of spring 416
is anchored to frame 415 at point 418.
The envelope drive belt is continuously driven about
drive wheels 420 and tensioning rollers 421, which are rotatively
mounted on a spring biased arm 422.
When deck 400 is in its home position as in Figure 15, '
an incoming letter 425 ~arrow 430 of Figure 16) is fed ed~ewise '
to the deck, and abuts upon the lip 423 of the deck. This causes
the incoming end of the deck to deflect from drive belt 402 ';
(arrow 427) until the envelope is seated between the drive belt ' '
402 and the first of two guide rollers 426. When the forward end
of deck 400 is caused to separate from drive belt 402, the rear
po,rtion of the deck (generally shown by arrow 428) is likewise
made to deflect a like distance due to supporting linkage 404.
The linkage mechanism operates in such a manner that the deck 400 ' '
moves as a unit, thus providing uniform separation across the
whole envelope engaging surface of the deck. The thickness of
the envelope is also accommodated by the movable impression roller
401 which is supported upon end 428 of deck 400. The uniform
separation of deck elements 4~00 and 401 provide for a smooth flowing
ingress and egress of pieces of mail, as well as insuring a
uniform imprinting of postage upon the letter.
The operation of linkage 404 is such that, when a letter
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causes deflection of deck 400 at its incomin~ end, link 405 is
caused to pivot about pin 411. This in turn causes the gear end
407 of link 405 to move in the direction of arrow 435 (Figure 15).
- This movement will result in a corresponding movement (arrow 440)
in gear end 408 of supporting line 406. Since both supporting
links 405 and 406 are movable like distances, the movement of the
entire deck 400 will be uniform. This is so, because both links
405 and 406 support deck 400 at opposite ends of the deck (note
supporting pins 409 and 410, respectively).
Drive belt 402 is a frictional belt which grips the
; incoming letter 425 and drives the envelope over guide rollers 426
to the imprint dxum and impression roller 403 and 401, respec~
tively. When the letter is discharged (arrow 45Q of Figure 16)
the spring 416 acts upon crank arm 414 to bias link 406, so that
' it pivots about pin 412 in the direction of arrow 445. This ln
turn will cause link 405 to pivot about pin 411 in the direction
of arrow 446. The pivoting of links 405 and 406 cause deck 400 to
ii return to the home position shown in Figure 15.
, As the envelope 425 approaches (arrow 464) the imprint
drum 403, the leading edge of the letter passes between a light
emitting diode (LED) 460, and a photodetector 461. When the light
is no longer sensed by the photodetector 461, it actuates a
~motor i62, which starts the imprinting drum 403 turning as sho~n
by arrow 465.
When the letter is imprinted with postage, the envelope
I passes from under the printing drum 403. The leading edge of the
letter then passes through a light~emitting diode (LED) 471 and a
I photodetector 472 disposed adjacent LED 471. When the photo-
I
detector 472 senses the leading edge~of the envelope, as when it
30 ~ sees light from LED 471, lt signals the feedlng of a subsequent
letter to the imprinting deck.
~ The speed of the drum 403 is timed in relation with the ~ -
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; speed of the incoming letter such that the posta~e die 470 meets
the envelope at the required place in time. Thus, the impression
is placed in the upper right~hand corner of the envelope, as the
letter moves between roller 401 and the drum 403. Variations in
the speed of the drum and the velocity of the incoming letter may
be corrected by suitable compensatory controls (not shown).
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