CA1255003A - Electronic postage meter print wheel setting optimization system - Google Patents
Electronic postage meter print wheel setting optimization systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1255003A CA1255003A CA000492639A CA492639A CA1255003A CA 1255003 A CA1255003 A CA 1255003A CA 000492639 A CA000492639 A CA 000492639A CA 492639 A CA492639 A CA 492639A CA 1255003 A CA1255003 A CA 1255003A
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- Prior art keywords
- postage
- setting
- postage printing
- printing
- speed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
Abstract
ELECTRONIC POSTAGE METER PRINT WHEEL SETTING
OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM
Abstract of the Disclosure A postage printing mechanism is provided with settable postage printing elements. A drive mechanism is coupled to the postage printing device for setting the postage printing mechanism settable postage printing elements. The drive mechanism is operable to drive the postage printing mechanism settable postage printing elements at different operating speeds to set the postage printing elements to selected postage value to be printed. Control system is coupled to the drive mechanism for controlling the drive mechanism to set the postage mechanism settable postage printing elements to the selected postage value and for controlling the speed of opera-tion with which the drive mechanism drives the postage printing means settable postage printing elements to the selected postage value to be printed. A position detecting system is coupled between postage value selection and the postage print-ing mechanism and is further coupled to the control system, for detecting the actual setting of the postage printing mechanism settable postage printing element setting and allowing control means to verify setting system. The control system is operable in response to print element setting error information to control the speed at which the drive mechanism operates to drive the postage printing mechanism settable postage printing elements to a selected postage value.
A method is also provided for increasing the setting speed of the value selection mechanism of a postage printing device.
The method includes detecting whether the setting at each of a series of speed results in a proper setting of the print elements of the postage printing mechanism to the value intended and reducing the setting speed of the value selection mechanism of the postage printing device when predetermined setting error information is detected.
OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM
Abstract of the Disclosure A postage printing mechanism is provided with settable postage printing elements. A drive mechanism is coupled to the postage printing device for setting the postage printing mechanism settable postage printing elements. The drive mechanism is operable to drive the postage printing mechanism settable postage printing elements at different operating speeds to set the postage printing elements to selected postage value to be printed. Control system is coupled to the drive mechanism for controlling the drive mechanism to set the postage mechanism settable postage printing elements to the selected postage value and for controlling the speed of opera-tion with which the drive mechanism drives the postage printing means settable postage printing elements to the selected postage value to be printed. A position detecting system is coupled between postage value selection and the postage print-ing mechanism and is further coupled to the control system, for detecting the actual setting of the postage printing mechanism settable postage printing element setting and allowing control means to verify setting system. The control system is operable in response to print element setting error information to control the speed at which the drive mechanism operates to drive the postage printing mechanism settable postage printing elements to a selected postage value.
A method is also provided for increasing the setting speed of the value selection mechanism of a postage printing device.
The method includes detecting whether the setting at each of a series of speed results in a proper setting of the print elements of the postage printing mechanism to the value intended and reducing the setting speed of the value selection mechanism of the postage printing device when predetermined setting error information is detected.
Description
3 2S~
ELECTRONIC POST~GE METE~ PRINT W~EEL SETTING
OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electronic postage meter value selection setting systems, and more par-ticularly, a system for optimizing the setting speed of the postage printing value selection mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Postage meters are mass produced devices for imprinting a defined unit value for governmental or private carrier delivery of parcels and envelopes. The term "postage meter" also includes other like devices which provide unit value printing such as tax stamp meters. Postage meters include internal accounting devices which account for postage value representation which is stored within the meter and is printed by the meter. The postage printed by the meter is adjustable or settable through a value selection system to any value, within a range of values, selected by the postage meter user. The accounting for postage printed by the meter is stored only within the meter. As a result, postage meters must possess an extremely high reliability to avoid the loss of user or governmental funds stored within the meter.
Postage meters are often used in systems wherein the mail piece which i5 to receive a postage stamp impression, is transported to the postage meter ~or ~;~S5~03 imprinting. Systems of this type have been proposed which are coupled to scales to weigh the mail piece to determine the appropriate postage. The scale mechanism in such systems may be connected to the postage meter to cause the postage meter value selection mechanism to operate to set the postage meter print elements to the appropriate postage for the weight of the mail piece weighed and to be transported to the postage meter.
It has been recognized that electronic postage meters are particularly suited for systems applications, such as the system described above. This is, in part, because electronic postage meters are adapted to be electronically interfaced with scale mechanisms so that the value selection mechanism of the postage meter can be controlled by a signal generated by the weighing device and coupled to an input port of the electronic postage meter.
Examples of electronic postage meters are dis-closed in U.S. Patent No. 3,938,095 for COMPUTER RESPON-SIVE POSTAGE METER; U.S. Patent No. 3,97~,457 for MICRO-COMPUTERIZED ELECTRONIC POSTAGE METER SYSTEM; and, in U.S. Patent No. 4,301,507 for ELECTRONIC POSTAGE METER
HAVING PLURAL COMPUTING SYSTEMS. In postage meters of the type disclosed in the noted U.S. Patents, the accounting mechanism and the value selection mechanism are electronically controlle~. The memory function in the electronic accounting circuits have replaced the ~unction served in mechanical postage meters by mecha-~ ;~s~;~Q3--3--nical accounting registers. The motor or solenoid operated, electronically controlled, setting mechanism have replaced the function served in mechanical postage meters by levers and thumbwheels. Both the accounting circuits and value selection system in such postage meters may be operated under microcomputer control.
The value selection system must operate accurately in adjusting the postage meter printing mechanism to an appropriate selected postage value to be imprinted. An error in the value selection mechanism could result in a loss of funds to either the user or government. Addi-tionally, such an error could result in a mail piece being imprinted with a deficiency in the postage stamp value such that the governmental or private carrier will refuse or delay delivery of the parcels and envelopes, and/or, require additional postage to be paid over the amount printed on the mail piece, by either the sender or recipient.
In systems applications, it is desireable to increase the number of mail pieces which are imprinted with a postage stamp within a given unit of time without sacrificing the accuracy and reliability of the meter including the meter setting mechanism. By increasing the throughput, the productivity of the postage meter system is enhanced, diminishing the unit handling cost to the postage meter user of each mail piece. Nevertheless, because post~ge meters print unit value and are accounted for by no other mechanism than the postage meter account-` ~255~3 ing registers, the value set in the print mechanism mustaccurately reflect the value intended.
In recognition of the criticality of the postage value selection function, postage value selection confir-mation systems have been incorporated in the electronicpostage meter systems disclosed in U.S. Patent ~o.
3,938,095 and U.S. Patent No. 3,978,457.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention optimizes the speed of the value selection mechanism in a postage meter. It is also believed that the system of the present invention will allow the specification for meter operating mechanism components which are less rigorous, thereby resulting in reduced cost, for mass produced postage meters. This is because of the self adjusting feature of the setting mechanism when setting errors are detected. Thus, for a mass produced postage meter, significant savings may result by allowing the purchase of less expensive components It has been discovered that the value selection mechanism speed in a postage meter can be maximized by controlling the postage meter such that each time the postage meter is energized, the meter setting mechanism i5 controlled to increase the setting speed for each new setting until an error is detected. At this point, the postage meter setting mechanism controller readjusts the setting speed to a lower speed where an error is not encountered. The operation of the postage setting ~55C~03 mechanism then is operated for the duration of the meter use at the highest possible setting speed where no error is encountered.
It has been discovered that the speed with which postage value is set in a postage meter will become more and more important as the throughput of mail handling systems is increased. In systems where the postage to be printed on a mail piece is automatically determined, for example, by weighing on an electronic scale or by compu-tation knowing the contents of the mail piece, andcommunicated electronically to a postage meter, the postage setting time may require the whole system to slow down or stop until the meter is ready to imprint the postage value on the mail piece. This is particularly important in mixed weight mail mailing systems applica-tions where the meter print elements are frequently changed for imprinting the proper postage value on each mail piece passing through the system. It is therefore desire~ble to increase the setting speed to avoid such delays.
In a postage meter system embodying the present invention postage printing means are provided with settable postage printing elements. Drive means are coupled to the postage printing means for setting the postage printing means settable postage printing ele-ments. The drive means are operable to drive the postage prlnting means settable postage printing elements at different operating speeds to set the postage printing ~25~
elements to selected postage value to be printed.
Control means are coupled to the drive means for con-trolling the drive means to set the postage means set-table postage printing elements to the selected postage value and for controlling the speed of operation with which the drive means drives the postage printing means settable postage printing elements to the selected postage value to be printed. Error detecting means are coupled between postage value selection input means and the postage printing mechanism and are further coupled to the control means, for detecting errors ~etween the selected postage value entered into the postage value selection input means and the actual setting of the postage printing means settable postage printing element setting and providing error information to the control means. The control means are operable in response to print element settinq error information to control the speed with which the drive means operates to drive the postage printing means settable postage printing elements to a selected postage value.
The present invention ~urther embodies the method of increasing the setting speed of ~he value selection mechanism of a postage printing device, detecting whether the setting at each speed results in a proper setting of the print elements of the postage printing device to the value intended and reducing the setting speed of the value selection mechanism of the postage printing device when predetermined setting error information is detected.
~25sc~al3 6a Other aspects of this invention are as follows:
In a postage meter system of the type having postage value input selection means ~or specifying a desired postage value, a postage printing means with a settable printing element and a drive means in co~nunication with said input selection means and coupled to said postage printing means for setting said postage printing element of said postage printing means, a print element setting system, comprising:
said drive means operable to drive said printing element of said postage printing means at different operating speeds to set said postage printing element to selected postage value;
position detecting means for detecting the actual position setting of said printing element; and control means coupied to said input selection means and said drive means ~or controllably causing said drive means to change the position of said postage printing element from an initial position to a selected position corresponding to the desired postage value specified by said input selection means at a given setting speed and incrementally increasing said setting speed for each successive position change o~ said postage printing element up to a maximum setting speed;
said control means further coupled to said position detection means for comparing the actual position o~ said postage printing element to the selected position by said input selection means such that should said selected position and said actual position of said postage printing elements not correspond said control means shall position correct said postage p~inting element to said selected position and decrement said setting speed and set said maximum setting thereto.
In a postage meter system o~ the type having postage value for s~lection means for specifying a desired postage value, a postage printing means with a settablP printing ~:25S~O~
6b element and a stepper motor coupled to said postage printing means for setting said pos-tage printing element of said postage printing means, a print element setting system, comprising:
said stepper motor operable to dri~e said postage printing means settable printing element at different operating speeds to set said postage printing element to selected postage values;
position detection means for detecting the actual position setting said printing element; and microcomputer control means coupled to said input selection means and said stepper motor for controllably causing said stepper motor to change the position of said postage printing element from an initial position to a selected position corresponding to the desired postage value specified by said input selection means at a given setting speed and incrementally increasing said setting speed for each successive position change of said postaye printing element up to a maximum setting speed; and said microcomputer control means further coupled to said position detection means for comparing the actual position of said postage printing element to the selected position by said input sele~tion means such t~at should said selected position and said actual position of said postage printing elements not correspond said control means shall position correct said postage printing element to said selected position and decrement said setting speed and ~et said maximum setting thereto.
.s ;
s~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar elements in the various figures, and in which:
FIGURE 1 iS a block diagram of a postage meter system adapted to embody the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a block diagram of a portion of the electronic system of a postage meter system and a per-spective view, partially broken away, of a portion of the postage printing system of the postage meter system, embodying the present invention;
FIGURE 3 is an alternate embodiment of the postage meter system shown in FIGURE 2 with the postage setting drive motor external to the postage meter secure protec-tive housing~
FIGVRE 4 is a flow chart of the operation of the postage meter system program for operating the postage meter system shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference is now made to FIGURE 1. A postage meter system 10 includes an electronic postal scale 12 and an electronic postage meter 14. A communications bus 16 is connected between the electronic postal scale 12 and the electronic postage meter 14 for conveying information regarding the postage value required for a mail piece, such as mail piece 18 weighed by the scale in anticipa-tion of having a postage stamp printed thereon by elec-tronic postage meter 1~.
The mail piece may be transported by a series of drive belts 20 and 22 to position the mail piece with respect to the electronic meter so that a postage value can be printed. The drive belt 22 may be part of a postage meter base 24 which is adapted to operate in conjunction with the electronic postage meter 14 such as by providing mechanical drive energy to drive the postage printing mechanism. A data bus 26 is provided between the electronic postage meter 14 and the postage meter base 24 for conveying status information regarding the operation of the electronic postage meter and the operation of the postage meter base 24. This information may be used to control the speed of the transport 20 and 22 to control the speed at which the mail pieces are transported from the postal scale 12 to the electronic postage meter 14. In this regard~ a further data bus 28 ~0 may be provided for communicating information between the electronic postal scale 12 and the postage meter base 24. Additionally, if desired, the data bus 16 may be a bi-directional data bus, such as the data busses 26 and 28.
The electronic postage meter shown in FIGURE 1 may be similar to the electronic postage meter shown in the aforementioned U S. Patent No. 4,301,507 for ELECTRONIC
PO5TAGE MF,TER ~VING A PLURAL COMPUTING SYSTEMS, and the ~2~ 3 _9_ printing mechanism may be similar to the postage printing system disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,287,825 for PRINTING
CONTROL SYSTEMS a system for weighing a mail piece while in motion is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,890,492 for S POSTAGE VALUE DETERMINING CONTROL CIRCUIT and also in U.S.
Patent No. 4,325,440 for METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMPUTING
SPECIAL FEES IN PARCEL METERING SYSTEM.
It should be recognized with FIGURE 1 that the information communicated by the electronic postal scale 12 to the electronic postage meter 14 over bus 16 is utili7ed to adjust the print wheels of the postage printing mechanism to the proper value. The length of time to properly position the print wheels for any given setting speed for the setting mechanism relates to the distance to be traversed by the printing elements. For example, the length of time to rotate a printing wheel from a one to a nine (when rotating in the direction from one to nine) will be greater than the time necessary to rotate the printing wheel from one to five. It should be also recognized that the number and amount of rota-tions can vary greatly depending on the nature of the mail pieces which are presented to the postage meter system 10 to be imprinted with postage. Thus, for mixed mail of extremely light and extremely heavy mail pieces, the postage meter print wheels may be continuously adjusted between various values. This adjustment of the print wheels from one value to another value can be the limiting factor ~or the postage meter system 10.
~2~
Reference is now made to FIGURE 2. The electronic postage meter shown in FIGURE 2 iS operable to maximize the postage setting speed of the printing wheels. Each time the electronic postage meter 14 is energized, the postage meter microcomputer 30 under control of the operating program in the program store, read only memory 32, enters into a mode which increases the setting speed for each setting of the print wheels 34 of the postage printing drum 36. It should be noted that only one print wheel and its associated drive mechanism including the stepping motor 38 and driver 40 is shown. The system includes an associated setting position detection system including the amplifier comparator 42, opto-interrupter 44 and slotted disk 46 coupled via a gear 48 to setting rack 50. The postage meter drum may include other banks of printing wheels, associated drive mechanism and systems to print the various denomination required for the postage Yalue. The postage meter drum may include 3, 4 or even 5 such print wheel systems depending on the denominations to be printed and whether fractional cents are to be printed~
As previously noted, each time the electronic postage meter 14 is energized, under control of the microprocessor 30, the meter enters a mode in which the setting speed for each new settiny is increased until an error is detected. At this point, the ~icrocomp~ter 30 under control cf the operating program resident in the read only memory 32 enters into an operating mode in ~l25iSG103 which it reduces the setting speed. The setting speed is reduced to a speed at which no setting error is detected and is retained at that speed for the duration of the period of time that the meter is energized.
It should be noted that this setting speed informa-tion can be transferred into the electronic postage meters non-volatile memory 52 to be retained when the meter 14 is deenergized. In such case, when the meter is powered-up again, the information can be transferred into the microcomputer and provide the starting point for the setting speed of the print wheels. Additionally, in accordance with U.S. Patent No. 4,280,180 for ELECTRONIC
POSTAGE METER HAVING FIELD RESETTABLE CONTROL VALUES, the use of the increased setting speed can be a field service operation or alternatively a user entered feature.
In this regard, the setting speed can be permanently set or can be varied. It may be desired to permanently set the setting speed for use of the rneter in predetermined systems applications and thereafter to run through the error detecting routine only when ~he meter is used in different applications or in different hardware systems configurations.
In operation, when the meter is energized, external power is applied to the electronic postage meter 14 via input lead 54, protection circuits 56 and energy store 58 to a power supply 60. The power supply 60 is utilized to energize ~he microcomputer 30 and other electronic components within the meter such as the driver 40 and the ~S5~
amplifier comparator 42. The external power applied to lead 54 is also coupled via the protection circuits 56 to the stepper motor 38 and to the driver 40.
~n external control communications channel 62 is provided and is connected to the data bus 16. The communications channel is isolated by an optical isolat-ing system 64 which is coupled to the microcomputer 30.
Setting in~ormation for the postage printing wheel 34 is communicated to the meter over the bus 16 from the electronic postage scale 12. This information is used by the microcomputer 30 to control the driver 40 to operate the stepping motor 38 to set the print wheel 34 to the selected postage value. Simultaneously, the micro-computer obtains the information reyarding the selected postage print wheel setting value from the amplifier comparator 42 which is coupled to the opto-interruptor 44 which senses the rotation of the print wheel by detecting the motion of the slott~d disk 46. This provides infor-mation regarding the actual setting o~ the print wheels 34. The information is evaluated in the microcomputer 30 and if an error is detected between the inten~ed value to be set into the print wheel 34 and the actual value detected the microcomputer will prevent the postage printing drum from being energized to rotate and will ~5 additionally reduce the setting speed for the next setting of the postage printing wheel 34.
Re~erence is now made to FIGURE 3 which shows a postage meter system similar to F~GURE 2 but having a 3L25~3 postage setting driver motor 66 located external to the postage meter secure protective housing 15. The setting motor is connected to the printwheel 34 by a mechanism 68 which projects through the secure housing 15. The operation of the system shown in figure 3 is similar to the operation noted above in connection with FIGURE 2, however an additional microcomputer 70 (~7ith associated circuitry not shown) is provided for controlling driver 72 to operate the setting drive motor 66. Microcomputer 70 is coupled to the external communications channel and then over bus 16 to the electronic postage scale 14. The microcomputer 70 may be part of the postage meter base 24 for controlling operation of the base.
It should be recognized that the magnitude of the speed increase or decrease will be determined empirically for di~ferent mechanisms and drives. Moreover, the setting speeds for any given mechanism cannot be contin-ually increased to higher and higher setting speeds as eventually the motors or drive will fail to respond, will hang up or will break, either as the speed is increased or the mechanism is employed to print postage on mail pieces which require a higher torque. Thus, an upper limit on the setting speed may be resident in the oper-ating program in the read only memory 32 to preclude such ~5 problems~
Referen~e is now made to FIGURE 4. FIGURE 4 is a flow chart o tha~ po~tion oE the postage meter operating program resident in the read only memory 32 for con-~.2~
trolling the speed at which the print wheels are set.
In general and as will be described in greaterdetail in connection with the description of the flow chart, when power is turned on, the microcomputer exe-cutes an initialization routine. This routine sets aflag to be tested by the stepping motor contro~ling routine. When the stepping motor controlling routine is called, it tests the flag, and if the flag has been set, it increases the motor stepping rate by reducing the time period between steps before executing the routine. Each time a new setting activity is initiated, this flag test routine is repeated and the constant determining the step time will be reduced by a predetermined percentage and the setting speed thereby increased. When an error is detected, the motor controlling microcomputer is required to enter an error handling routine. This routine resets the flag previously set by the initializa-tion routine and reduces the motor speed by lengthening the step. The motor controlling routine will then find from this point on, that the flag was reset and will not modify the setting speed. Thus, the setting speed will remain constant until either the power is turned of~ and then turned on causing the flag to be set again or an error is detected which causes the routine to reduce the setting speed.
In operation, when power is turned on for the elec-tronic posta~e meter 14, the meter goes through an initialization routine and setting speed flags are set - ~L25;5gi ~3 blo~k 74. The meter may proceed to process other meter functions block 76. If it is not desired to set the print wheels decision block 78, the meter may be operated to process other postage meter functions block 80.
If the postage wheels are to be set decision block 78, an inspection is made to determine whether the print wheel setting speed flag is set or clear decision block 82. If the print wheel setting speed flag is set the .
program branches to modify the speed controlling constant to increase the postage setting speed block 84. There-after, the postage setting motor is driven at a speed determined by the speed control constant and movement detected by sensors on the shaft are monitored block 86.
I~ the speed flag is clear, block 86 is entered directly from decision ~lock 82. If a movement error is not detected, decision block 88, other postage meter ~unc-tions may be enabled block 90 and the program accordingly loops back to block 76 for other postage meter functions.
If, however, a movement error is detected, decision block 88, the speed flag is cleared block 92 and the speed controlling constant is then modified to decrease the postage setting speed block 94. The postage printing wheels are then re-initialized so that they will be at a known position block 96. The program thereater loops 25 back to block ~6 wherein the postage meter setting drive is determined by the speed control constant now entered into the system.
~5S~
Whlle the present invention has been disclosed and described with reference to the above noted embodiment, it will be apparent that variations and modifications may be made therein. It is, thus, intended in the following claims to cover each variation and modification as falls within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
ELECTRONIC POST~GE METE~ PRINT W~EEL SETTING
OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electronic postage meter value selection setting systems, and more par-ticularly, a system for optimizing the setting speed of the postage printing value selection mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Postage meters are mass produced devices for imprinting a defined unit value for governmental or private carrier delivery of parcels and envelopes. The term "postage meter" also includes other like devices which provide unit value printing such as tax stamp meters. Postage meters include internal accounting devices which account for postage value representation which is stored within the meter and is printed by the meter. The postage printed by the meter is adjustable or settable through a value selection system to any value, within a range of values, selected by the postage meter user. The accounting for postage printed by the meter is stored only within the meter. As a result, postage meters must possess an extremely high reliability to avoid the loss of user or governmental funds stored within the meter.
Postage meters are often used in systems wherein the mail piece which i5 to receive a postage stamp impression, is transported to the postage meter ~or ~;~S5~03 imprinting. Systems of this type have been proposed which are coupled to scales to weigh the mail piece to determine the appropriate postage. The scale mechanism in such systems may be connected to the postage meter to cause the postage meter value selection mechanism to operate to set the postage meter print elements to the appropriate postage for the weight of the mail piece weighed and to be transported to the postage meter.
It has been recognized that electronic postage meters are particularly suited for systems applications, such as the system described above. This is, in part, because electronic postage meters are adapted to be electronically interfaced with scale mechanisms so that the value selection mechanism of the postage meter can be controlled by a signal generated by the weighing device and coupled to an input port of the electronic postage meter.
Examples of electronic postage meters are dis-closed in U.S. Patent No. 3,938,095 for COMPUTER RESPON-SIVE POSTAGE METER; U.S. Patent No. 3,97~,457 for MICRO-COMPUTERIZED ELECTRONIC POSTAGE METER SYSTEM; and, in U.S. Patent No. 4,301,507 for ELECTRONIC POSTAGE METER
HAVING PLURAL COMPUTING SYSTEMS. In postage meters of the type disclosed in the noted U.S. Patents, the accounting mechanism and the value selection mechanism are electronically controlle~. The memory function in the electronic accounting circuits have replaced the ~unction served in mechanical postage meters by mecha-~ ;~s~;~Q3--3--nical accounting registers. The motor or solenoid operated, electronically controlled, setting mechanism have replaced the function served in mechanical postage meters by levers and thumbwheels. Both the accounting circuits and value selection system in such postage meters may be operated under microcomputer control.
The value selection system must operate accurately in adjusting the postage meter printing mechanism to an appropriate selected postage value to be imprinted. An error in the value selection mechanism could result in a loss of funds to either the user or government. Addi-tionally, such an error could result in a mail piece being imprinted with a deficiency in the postage stamp value such that the governmental or private carrier will refuse or delay delivery of the parcels and envelopes, and/or, require additional postage to be paid over the amount printed on the mail piece, by either the sender or recipient.
In systems applications, it is desireable to increase the number of mail pieces which are imprinted with a postage stamp within a given unit of time without sacrificing the accuracy and reliability of the meter including the meter setting mechanism. By increasing the throughput, the productivity of the postage meter system is enhanced, diminishing the unit handling cost to the postage meter user of each mail piece. Nevertheless, because post~ge meters print unit value and are accounted for by no other mechanism than the postage meter account-` ~255~3 ing registers, the value set in the print mechanism mustaccurately reflect the value intended.
In recognition of the criticality of the postage value selection function, postage value selection confir-mation systems have been incorporated in the electronicpostage meter systems disclosed in U.S. Patent ~o.
3,938,095 and U.S. Patent No. 3,978,457.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention optimizes the speed of the value selection mechanism in a postage meter. It is also believed that the system of the present invention will allow the specification for meter operating mechanism components which are less rigorous, thereby resulting in reduced cost, for mass produced postage meters. This is because of the self adjusting feature of the setting mechanism when setting errors are detected. Thus, for a mass produced postage meter, significant savings may result by allowing the purchase of less expensive components It has been discovered that the value selection mechanism speed in a postage meter can be maximized by controlling the postage meter such that each time the postage meter is energized, the meter setting mechanism i5 controlled to increase the setting speed for each new setting until an error is detected. At this point, the postage meter setting mechanism controller readjusts the setting speed to a lower speed where an error is not encountered. The operation of the postage setting ~55C~03 mechanism then is operated for the duration of the meter use at the highest possible setting speed where no error is encountered.
It has been discovered that the speed with which postage value is set in a postage meter will become more and more important as the throughput of mail handling systems is increased. In systems where the postage to be printed on a mail piece is automatically determined, for example, by weighing on an electronic scale or by compu-tation knowing the contents of the mail piece, andcommunicated electronically to a postage meter, the postage setting time may require the whole system to slow down or stop until the meter is ready to imprint the postage value on the mail piece. This is particularly important in mixed weight mail mailing systems applica-tions where the meter print elements are frequently changed for imprinting the proper postage value on each mail piece passing through the system. It is therefore desire~ble to increase the setting speed to avoid such delays.
In a postage meter system embodying the present invention postage printing means are provided with settable postage printing elements. Drive means are coupled to the postage printing means for setting the postage printing means settable postage printing ele-ments. The drive means are operable to drive the postage prlnting means settable postage printing elements at different operating speeds to set the postage printing ~25~
elements to selected postage value to be printed.
Control means are coupled to the drive means for con-trolling the drive means to set the postage means set-table postage printing elements to the selected postage value and for controlling the speed of operation with which the drive means drives the postage printing means settable postage printing elements to the selected postage value to be printed. Error detecting means are coupled between postage value selection input means and the postage printing mechanism and are further coupled to the control means, for detecting errors ~etween the selected postage value entered into the postage value selection input means and the actual setting of the postage printing means settable postage printing element setting and providing error information to the control means. The control means are operable in response to print element settinq error information to control the speed with which the drive means operates to drive the postage printing means settable postage printing elements to a selected postage value.
The present invention ~urther embodies the method of increasing the setting speed of ~he value selection mechanism of a postage printing device, detecting whether the setting at each speed results in a proper setting of the print elements of the postage printing device to the value intended and reducing the setting speed of the value selection mechanism of the postage printing device when predetermined setting error information is detected.
~25sc~al3 6a Other aspects of this invention are as follows:
In a postage meter system of the type having postage value input selection means ~or specifying a desired postage value, a postage printing means with a settable printing element and a drive means in co~nunication with said input selection means and coupled to said postage printing means for setting said postage printing element of said postage printing means, a print element setting system, comprising:
said drive means operable to drive said printing element of said postage printing means at different operating speeds to set said postage printing element to selected postage value;
position detecting means for detecting the actual position setting of said printing element; and control means coupied to said input selection means and said drive means ~or controllably causing said drive means to change the position of said postage printing element from an initial position to a selected position corresponding to the desired postage value specified by said input selection means at a given setting speed and incrementally increasing said setting speed for each successive position change o~ said postage printing element up to a maximum setting speed;
said control means further coupled to said position detection means for comparing the actual position o~ said postage printing element to the selected position by said input selection means such that should said selected position and said actual position of said postage printing elements not correspond said control means shall position correct said postage p~inting element to said selected position and decrement said setting speed and set said maximum setting thereto.
In a postage meter system o~ the type having postage value for s~lection means for specifying a desired postage value, a postage printing means with a settablP printing ~:25S~O~
6b element and a stepper motor coupled to said postage printing means for setting said pos-tage printing element of said postage printing means, a print element setting system, comprising:
said stepper motor operable to dri~e said postage printing means settable printing element at different operating speeds to set said postage printing element to selected postage values;
position detection means for detecting the actual position setting said printing element; and microcomputer control means coupled to said input selection means and said stepper motor for controllably causing said stepper motor to change the position of said postage printing element from an initial position to a selected position corresponding to the desired postage value specified by said input selection means at a given setting speed and incrementally increasing said setting speed for each successive position change of said postaye printing element up to a maximum setting speed; and said microcomputer control means further coupled to said position detection means for comparing the actual position of said postage printing element to the selected position by said input sele~tion means such t~at should said selected position and said actual position of said postage printing elements not correspond said control means shall position correct said postage printing element to said selected position and decrement said setting speed and ~et said maximum setting thereto.
.s ;
s~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar elements in the various figures, and in which:
FIGURE 1 iS a block diagram of a postage meter system adapted to embody the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a block diagram of a portion of the electronic system of a postage meter system and a per-spective view, partially broken away, of a portion of the postage printing system of the postage meter system, embodying the present invention;
FIGURE 3 is an alternate embodiment of the postage meter system shown in FIGURE 2 with the postage setting drive motor external to the postage meter secure protec-tive housing~
FIGVRE 4 is a flow chart of the operation of the postage meter system program for operating the postage meter system shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference is now made to FIGURE 1. A postage meter system 10 includes an electronic postal scale 12 and an electronic postage meter 14. A communications bus 16 is connected between the electronic postal scale 12 and the electronic postage meter 14 for conveying information regarding the postage value required for a mail piece, such as mail piece 18 weighed by the scale in anticipa-tion of having a postage stamp printed thereon by elec-tronic postage meter 1~.
The mail piece may be transported by a series of drive belts 20 and 22 to position the mail piece with respect to the electronic meter so that a postage value can be printed. The drive belt 22 may be part of a postage meter base 24 which is adapted to operate in conjunction with the electronic postage meter 14 such as by providing mechanical drive energy to drive the postage printing mechanism. A data bus 26 is provided between the electronic postage meter 14 and the postage meter base 24 for conveying status information regarding the operation of the electronic postage meter and the operation of the postage meter base 24. This information may be used to control the speed of the transport 20 and 22 to control the speed at which the mail pieces are transported from the postal scale 12 to the electronic postage meter 14. In this regard~ a further data bus 28 ~0 may be provided for communicating information between the electronic postal scale 12 and the postage meter base 24. Additionally, if desired, the data bus 16 may be a bi-directional data bus, such as the data busses 26 and 28.
The electronic postage meter shown in FIGURE 1 may be similar to the electronic postage meter shown in the aforementioned U S. Patent No. 4,301,507 for ELECTRONIC
PO5TAGE MF,TER ~VING A PLURAL COMPUTING SYSTEMS, and the ~2~ 3 _9_ printing mechanism may be similar to the postage printing system disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,287,825 for PRINTING
CONTROL SYSTEMS a system for weighing a mail piece while in motion is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,890,492 for S POSTAGE VALUE DETERMINING CONTROL CIRCUIT and also in U.S.
Patent No. 4,325,440 for METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMPUTING
SPECIAL FEES IN PARCEL METERING SYSTEM.
It should be recognized with FIGURE 1 that the information communicated by the electronic postal scale 12 to the electronic postage meter 14 over bus 16 is utili7ed to adjust the print wheels of the postage printing mechanism to the proper value. The length of time to properly position the print wheels for any given setting speed for the setting mechanism relates to the distance to be traversed by the printing elements. For example, the length of time to rotate a printing wheel from a one to a nine (when rotating in the direction from one to nine) will be greater than the time necessary to rotate the printing wheel from one to five. It should be also recognized that the number and amount of rota-tions can vary greatly depending on the nature of the mail pieces which are presented to the postage meter system 10 to be imprinted with postage. Thus, for mixed mail of extremely light and extremely heavy mail pieces, the postage meter print wheels may be continuously adjusted between various values. This adjustment of the print wheels from one value to another value can be the limiting factor ~or the postage meter system 10.
~2~
Reference is now made to FIGURE 2. The electronic postage meter shown in FIGURE 2 iS operable to maximize the postage setting speed of the printing wheels. Each time the electronic postage meter 14 is energized, the postage meter microcomputer 30 under control of the operating program in the program store, read only memory 32, enters into a mode which increases the setting speed for each setting of the print wheels 34 of the postage printing drum 36. It should be noted that only one print wheel and its associated drive mechanism including the stepping motor 38 and driver 40 is shown. The system includes an associated setting position detection system including the amplifier comparator 42, opto-interrupter 44 and slotted disk 46 coupled via a gear 48 to setting rack 50. The postage meter drum may include other banks of printing wheels, associated drive mechanism and systems to print the various denomination required for the postage Yalue. The postage meter drum may include 3, 4 or even 5 such print wheel systems depending on the denominations to be printed and whether fractional cents are to be printed~
As previously noted, each time the electronic postage meter 14 is energized, under control of the microprocessor 30, the meter enters a mode in which the setting speed for each new settiny is increased until an error is detected. At this point, the ~icrocomp~ter 30 under control cf the operating program resident in the read only memory 32 enters into an operating mode in ~l25iSG103 which it reduces the setting speed. The setting speed is reduced to a speed at which no setting error is detected and is retained at that speed for the duration of the period of time that the meter is energized.
It should be noted that this setting speed informa-tion can be transferred into the electronic postage meters non-volatile memory 52 to be retained when the meter 14 is deenergized. In such case, when the meter is powered-up again, the information can be transferred into the microcomputer and provide the starting point for the setting speed of the print wheels. Additionally, in accordance with U.S. Patent No. 4,280,180 for ELECTRONIC
POSTAGE METER HAVING FIELD RESETTABLE CONTROL VALUES, the use of the increased setting speed can be a field service operation or alternatively a user entered feature.
In this regard, the setting speed can be permanently set or can be varied. It may be desired to permanently set the setting speed for use of the rneter in predetermined systems applications and thereafter to run through the error detecting routine only when ~he meter is used in different applications or in different hardware systems configurations.
In operation, when the meter is energized, external power is applied to the electronic postage meter 14 via input lead 54, protection circuits 56 and energy store 58 to a power supply 60. The power supply 60 is utilized to energize ~he microcomputer 30 and other electronic components within the meter such as the driver 40 and the ~S5~
amplifier comparator 42. The external power applied to lead 54 is also coupled via the protection circuits 56 to the stepper motor 38 and to the driver 40.
~n external control communications channel 62 is provided and is connected to the data bus 16. The communications channel is isolated by an optical isolat-ing system 64 which is coupled to the microcomputer 30.
Setting in~ormation for the postage printing wheel 34 is communicated to the meter over the bus 16 from the electronic postage scale 12. This information is used by the microcomputer 30 to control the driver 40 to operate the stepping motor 38 to set the print wheel 34 to the selected postage value. Simultaneously, the micro-computer obtains the information reyarding the selected postage print wheel setting value from the amplifier comparator 42 which is coupled to the opto-interruptor 44 which senses the rotation of the print wheel by detecting the motion of the slott~d disk 46. This provides infor-mation regarding the actual setting o~ the print wheels 34. The information is evaluated in the microcomputer 30 and if an error is detected between the inten~ed value to be set into the print wheel 34 and the actual value detected the microcomputer will prevent the postage printing drum from being energized to rotate and will ~5 additionally reduce the setting speed for the next setting of the postage printing wheel 34.
Re~erence is now made to FIGURE 3 which shows a postage meter system similar to F~GURE 2 but having a 3L25~3 postage setting driver motor 66 located external to the postage meter secure protective housing 15. The setting motor is connected to the printwheel 34 by a mechanism 68 which projects through the secure housing 15. The operation of the system shown in figure 3 is similar to the operation noted above in connection with FIGURE 2, however an additional microcomputer 70 (~7ith associated circuitry not shown) is provided for controlling driver 72 to operate the setting drive motor 66. Microcomputer 70 is coupled to the external communications channel and then over bus 16 to the electronic postage scale 14. The microcomputer 70 may be part of the postage meter base 24 for controlling operation of the base.
It should be recognized that the magnitude of the speed increase or decrease will be determined empirically for di~ferent mechanisms and drives. Moreover, the setting speeds for any given mechanism cannot be contin-ually increased to higher and higher setting speeds as eventually the motors or drive will fail to respond, will hang up or will break, either as the speed is increased or the mechanism is employed to print postage on mail pieces which require a higher torque. Thus, an upper limit on the setting speed may be resident in the oper-ating program in the read only memory 32 to preclude such ~5 problems~
Referen~e is now made to FIGURE 4. FIGURE 4 is a flow chart o tha~ po~tion oE the postage meter operating program resident in the read only memory 32 for con-~.2~
trolling the speed at which the print wheels are set.
In general and as will be described in greaterdetail in connection with the description of the flow chart, when power is turned on, the microcomputer exe-cutes an initialization routine. This routine sets aflag to be tested by the stepping motor contro~ling routine. When the stepping motor controlling routine is called, it tests the flag, and if the flag has been set, it increases the motor stepping rate by reducing the time period between steps before executing the routine. Each time a new setting activity is initiated, this flag test routine is repeated and the constant determining the step time will be reduced by a predetermined percentage and the setting speed thereby increased. When an error is detected, the motor controlling microcomputer is required to enter an error handling routine. This routine resets the flag previously set by the initializa-tion routine and reduces the motor speed by lengthening the step. The motor controlling routine will then find from this point on, that the flag was reset and will not modify the setting speed. Thus, the setting speed will remain constant until either the power is turned of~ and then turned on causing the flag to be set again or an error is detected which causes the routine to reduce the setting speed.
In operation, when power is turned on for the elec-tronic posta~e meter 14, the meter goes through an initialization routine and setting speed flags are set - ~L25;5gi ~3 blo~k 74. The meter may proceed to process other meter functions block 76. If it is not desired to set the print wheels decision block 78, the meter may be operated to process other postage meter functions block 80.
If the postage wheels are to be set decision block 78, an inspection is made to determine whether the print wheel setting speed flag is set or clear decision block 82. If the print wheel setting speed flag is set the .
program branches to modify the speed controlling constant to increase the postage setting speed block 84. There-after, the postage setting motor is driven at a speed determined by the speed control constant and movement detected by sensors on the shaft are monitored block 86.
I~ the speed flag is clear, block 86 is entered directly from decision ~lock 82. If a movement error is not detected, decision block 88, other postage meter ~unc-tions may be enabled block 90 and the program accordingly loops back to block 76 for other postage meter functions.
If, however, a movement error is detected, decision block 88, the speed flag is cleared block 92 and the speed controlling constant is then modified to decrease the postage setting speed block 94. The postage printing wheels are then re-initialized so that they will be at a known position block 96. The program thereater loops 25 back to block ~6 wherein the postage meter setting drive is determined by the speed control constant now entered into the system.
~5S~
Whlle the present invention has been disclosed and described with reference to the above noted embodiment, it will be apparent that variations and modifications may be made therein. It is, thus, intended in the following claims to cover each variation and modification as falls within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims (9)
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. In a postage meter system of the type having postage value input selection means for specifying a desired postage value, a postage printing means with a settable printing element and a drive means in communication with said input selection means and coupled to said postage printing means for setting said postage printing element of said postage printing means, a print element setting system, comprising:
said drive means operable to drive said printing element of said postage printing means at different operating speeds to set said postage printing element to selected postage value;
position detecting means for detecting the actual position setting of said printing element; and control means coupled to said input selection means and said drive means for controllably causing said drive means to change the position of said postage printing element from an initial position to a selected position corresponding to the desired postage value specified by said input selection means at a given setting speed and incrementally increasing said setting speed for each successive position change of said postage printing element up to a maximum setting speed;
said control means further coupled to said position detection means for comparing the actual position of said postage printing element to the selected position by said input selection means such that should said selected position and said actual position of said postage printing elements not correspond said control means shall position correct said postage printing element to said selected position and decrement said setting speed and set said maximum setting thereto.
said drive means operable to drive said printing element of said postage printing means at different operating speeds to set said postage printing element to selected postage value;
position detecting means for detecting the actual position setting of said printing element; and control means coupled to said input selection means and said drive means for controllably causing said drive means to change the position of said postage printing element from an initial position to a selected position corresponding to the desired postage value specified by said input selection means at a given setting speed and incrementally increasing said setting speed for each successive position change of said postage printing element up to a maximum setting speed;
said control means further coupled to said position detection means for comparing the actual position of said postage printing element to the selected position by said input selection means such that should said selected position and said actual position of said postage printing elements not correspond said control means shall position correct said postage printing element to said selected position and decrement said setting speed and set said maximum setting thereto.
2. A print element setting system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes a microcomputer.
3. A printing element setting system as defined in claim 2 wherein said control means is a microcomputer.
4. A print element setting system as defined in claim 1 further comprising nonvolatile memory means coupled to said control means, for storing setting speed information.
5. A print element setting system as defined in claim 4 wherein said control means processes said setting speed information in said nonvolatile memory to provide an initial starting point for controlling the speed of operation with which said drive means drives said postage printing means settable postage printing element to selected postage values.
6. A print element setting system as defined in claim 5 further comprising power supply means coupled to said control means for energizing said control means to operate, said control means processing said setting speed information in said nonvolatile memory only when said control means is initially energized by said power supply means.
7. In a postage meter system of the type having postage value for selection means for specifying a desired postage value, a postage printing means with a settable printing element and a stepper motor coupled to said postage printing means for setting said postage printing element of said postage printing means, a print element setting system, comprising:
said stepper motor operable to drive said postage printing means settable printing element at different operating speeds to set said postage printing element to selected postage values;
position detection means for detecting the actual position setting said printing element; and microcomputer control means coupled to said input selection means and said stepper motor for controllably causing said stepper motor to change the position of said postage printing element from an initial position to a selected position corresponding to the desired postage value specified by said input selection means at a given setting speed and incrementally increasing said setting speed for each successive position change of said postage printing element up to a maximum setting speed; and said microcomputer control means further coupled to said position detection means for comparing the actual position of said postage printing element to the selected position by said input selection means such that should said selected position and said actual position of said postage printing elements not correspond said control means shall position correct said postage printing element to said selected position and decrement said setting speed and set said maximum setting thereto.
said stepper motor operable to drive said postage printing means settable printing element at different operating speeds to set said postage printing element to selected postage values;
position detection means for detecting the actual position setting said printing element; and microcomputer control means coupled to said input selection means and said stepper motor for controllably causing said stepper motor to change the position of said postage printing element from an initial position to a selected position corresponding to the desired postage value specified by said input selection means at a given setting speed and incrementally increasing said setting speed for each successive position change of said postage printing element up to a maximum setting speed; and said microcomputer control means further coupled to said position detection means for comparing the actual position of said postage printing element to the selected position by said input selection means such that should said selected position and said actual position of said postage printing elements not correspond said control means shall position correct said postage printing element to said selected position and decrement said setting speed and set said maximum setting thereto.
8. In a postage meter system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the speed at which said stepper motor operates is dependent upon the duration of stepping voltage pulses applied to said stepper motor and wherein said microcomputer means controls the duration of said stepping voltage pulses applied to said stepping motor to control the operating speed with which said stepper motor operates to drive said settable printing element of said postage printing means to a selected postage value.
9. A print element setting system as defined in claim 8 wherein said printing element is a printwheel.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000492639A CA1255003A (en) | 1985-10-09 | 1985-10-09 | Electronic postage meter print wheel setting optimization system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000492639A CA1255003A (en) | 1985-10-09 | 1985-10-09 | Electronic postage meter print wheel setting optimization system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1255003A true CA1255003A (en) | 1989-05-30 |
Family
ID=4131582
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000492639A Expired CA1255003A (en) | 1985-10-09 | 1985-10-09 | Electronic postage meter print wheel setting optimization system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1255003A (en) |
-
1985
- 1985-10-09 CA CA000492639A patent/CA1255003A/en not_active Expired
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