EP0111321B1 - Procédé et dispositif pour positionner les roues d'impression dans une machine à affranchir électronique - Google Patents

Procédé et dispositif pour positionner les roues d'impression dans une machine à affranchir électronique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0111321B1
EP0111321B1 EP19830112363 EP83112363A EP0111321B1 EP 0111321 B1 EP0111321 B1 EP 0111321B1 EP 19830112363 EP19830112363 EP 19830112363 EP 83112363 A EP83112363 A EP 83112363A EP 0111321 B1 EP0111321 B1 EP 0111321B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
print wheel
print
moving
rotating
stepper motor
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19830112363
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0111321A3 (en
EP0111321A2 (fr
Inventor
Alton B. Eckert
Easwaran C.N. Nambudiri
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Pitney Bowes Inc
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Pitney Bowes Inc
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Publication of EP0111321A2 publication Critical patent/EP0111321A2/fr
Publication of EP0111321A3 publication Critical patent/EP0111321A3/en
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Publication of EP0111321B1 publication Critical patent/EP0111321B1/fr
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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
    • G07B2017/00524—Printheads
    • G07B2017/00548—Mechanical printhead

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for initializing print wheels of an electronic postage meter, and to electronic postage meters.
  • the present invention relates broadly to electronic postage meters, for example to electronic postage meters of the staand-alone type such as disclosed in the aforementioned copending European application corresponding to US Application Serial No. 447,815.
  • Known electronic postage meters have generally comprised two separate units like their earlier mechanical forerunners, i.e. a postage meter and base or mailing machine to enable the postage meter to be physically taken to the post office periodically to charge the meter.
  • a postage meter and base or mailing machine to enable the postage meter to be physically taken to the post office periodically to charge the meter.
  • Such a meter is disclosed in United States Letters Patent 4,301,507 issued on November 17, 1981 and assigned to Pitney Bowes, Inc. of Stamford, Connecticut.
  • remote meter resetting systems it is no longer necessary that the postage meter be separated into two distinct units since the necessity to take the meter to the post office for recharging has been eliminated.
  • a program for use with the stand-alone postage meter of the present invention is disclosed in the filed Program Appendix.
  • it is important during initial power up, after power failure, or after unforeseen binding of the meter components to relocate the print wheels to a known position for the subsequent setting of postage.
  • a method for initializing the print wheels of an electronic postage meter comprising the steps of:
  • apparatus for initializing the print wheels of an electronic postage meter comprising:
  • Figure 7 formed from partial Figures 7a and 7b is a flow chart of a Postage Selection Routine.
  • the electronic postage meter includes an 8-bit microprocessor 10 (CPU), such as an Intel Model 8085A microprocessor which is connected to various components through a system bus 12.
  • ROM 14 is connected to the microprocessor 10 through the system bus 12.
  • the ROM 14 stores the programs for controlling the postage meter. It should be understood that the term ROM as used herein includes permanently programmed and reprogrammable devices.
  • An integrated circuit 16, which may be Intel Model 8155, is connected to the system bus 12 and includes RAM, input and output lines and a timer.
  • the RAM portion of the integrated circuit 16 has memory space allocated for transient storage of the data for the ascending register and descending register.
  • An external data communication port 18 is connected to the microprocessor 10 through optical isolator 20.
  • the external data communication port 18 allows connection with devices such as an electronic scale, an external computer, servicing equipment and the like. Also electrically connected to the microprocessor 18 through the system bus 12 is the keyboard 22 of the postage meter and a non-volatile memory (NVM) 24. Stepper motors 26, 28 are also in electrical connection with the microprocessor 10 via motor drivers 30 and the integrated circuit 16. A reset and power control 32 is electrically connected between the integrated circuit 16, the NVM 24 and the microprocessor 10. A relay 34 connects the AC printer motor 34 to the integrated circuit 16. A display 38 is also electrically connected to the integrated circuit 16.
  • NVM non-volatile memory
  • Trip photosensor 40 is connected to the microprocessor 10 through integrated circuit 16 to indicate the presence of an envelope to be stamped, as described more fully in the aforementioned copending European patent application corresponding to the U.S. application entitled "Stand-Alone Electronic Mailing Machine".
  • the electronic postage meter is controlled by the microprocessor 10 operating under control of the programs stored in the ROM 14.
  • the microprocessor 10 accents information entered via the keyboard 22 or via the external communication port 18 from external message generators.
  • Critical accounting data and other important information is stored in the non-volatile memory 24.
  • the non-volatile memory 24 may be an MNOS semiconductor type memory, a battery augmented CMOS memory, core memory, or other suitable non-volatile memory component.
  • the non-volatile memory 24 stores critical postage meter data during periods when power is not applied to the postage meter.
  • This data includes in addition to the serial number of the mailing machine or postage meter information as to the value in the descending register (the amount of postage available for printing), the value in the ascending register (the total amount of postage printed by the meter), and the value in the piece count register (the total number of cycles the meter has performed), as well as other types of data, such as trip status, initialization and service information, which are desired to be retained in the memory even though no power is applied to the meter.
  • a power supply internal to the mailing machine energizes the microprocessor 10 and the balance of the electronic components.
  • the information stored in the non-volatile memory 24 is transferred via the microprocessor 10 to the RAM of the integrated circuit 16.
  • the RAM contains an image or copy of the information stored in the non-volatile memory 24 prior to energization.
  • certain of the data in the RAM is modified. Accordingly, when postage is printed, the descending reigster will be reduced by the value of the printed postage, the ascending register increased by the value of the printed postage and the piece counter register incremented.
  • the updated data in the RAM is transferred via the microprocessor 10 back into a suitably prepared area of the non-volatile memory 24. A like transfer of information between the non-volatile memory 24 and the RAM takes place during power failure.
  • FIG. 48 a more detailed block diagram of the arrangement of the electrical components for the postage meter is illustrated generally as 48.
  • Power is supplied to the postage meter from the AC line voltage, typically 115 volts.
  • This line voltage is applied to the meter through a hot switch 50 which cuts off power to the postage meter to protect the electrical components thereof if the temperature rises above a preset limit, nominally 70°C.
  • the hot switch 50 is connected to the AC drive motor 36A through an RF filter 52 and an open-triac 54 which provides isolation between the line voltage and the control logic for the meter.
  • the hot switch 50 is also connected to a transformer 56 protected by a fuse 58.
  • the output of the transformer 56 is coupled to a pre-regulator 59 through a cold switch 60.
  • the cold switch 60 cuts off power to the pre-regulator 59 if the temperature drops below a preset limit, nominally 0°C.
  • the pre-regulator 59 provides an output voltage of a predetermined range to a switcher 62 which generates the output voltage +5V; and the voltages for generating -12V and -30V.
  • the +5V is applied to a +3 volt regulator 64 and then to the display 38A.
  • the +5V from the switcher 62 is also applied to a +5V filter 66 which provides +5V for logic circuits.
  • the +5V is applied to the keyboard 22A, the display 38A, and bank, digit and trip sensor logic 68 and to the integrated circuits.
  • the -12V is applied to a -12V regulator 70 and then to the non-volatile memory 24A.
  • the -30V output from the switcher 62 is also applied to a -30V regulator 74 and then to a -30V switch 76 which switches its output voltage on and off in response to the requirements of writing in NVM as dictated by the program.
  • the output of the -30V switch is applied to the non-volatile memory 24A.
  • the -30V supply is connected to the power on reset 72 of the microprocessor 10A.
  • +5V from the switcher 62 is also supplied to one input of the power on reset 72; the other input receives -30V from the regulator 74 as previously described.
  • a low voltage sensor 88 also receives one input of +5V from the switcher 62 and its other input from the pre-regulator 59; its output is applied to the microprocessor 10A.
  • the low-voltage sensor 88 detects power failure and communicates this to the microprocessor 10A which in turn addresses the RAM through system bus 12A to transfer all security data present in the RAM to the non-volatile memory 24A.
  • Another output from the pre-regulator 59 in the form of +24V is applied to the digit and bank motor drive 30A for the bank motor 26A and digit motor 28A, which selects the particular printing wheel (bank) which is to be activated and the particular digit of the selected printing wheel which is to be set.
  • An output strobe from the integrated circuit 16A is buffered through buffer driver 68 and applied to digit sensor (encoder) 78, bank sensor (encoder) 80, and trip sensor 40A.
  • the opto strobe applies power to the digit sensor 78, bank sensor 80 and trip sensor 40A when needed.
  • the output from the trip sensor 40A is applied to the input/output lines 82 which are coupled to the integrated circuit 16A.
  • the outputs from the digit sensor 78 and bank sensor 80 and cycle switch 84 are applied to a storage buffer 86.
  • the key switch 42 see Fig. 1, is closed, and the AC line voltage energizes the electrical components previously described and an initialization process will occur.
  • Such initaliza- tion may include a hard and/or soft initialization process as disclosed in the aforementioned United States Letters Patent 4,301,507.
  • the microprocessor 10A under control of the ROM 14A and possibly the auxiliary ROM 100 communicates over the address bus 94 and control bus 98 with the device select 98.
  • the output of the device select 98 communicates with the particular module to be addressed over select lines 99.
  • the modules to be addressed are the RAM, the ROM 14A, an auxiliary ROM 100, a demultiplexer 102, NVM logic 104 and the buffer 86.
  • the RAM of integrated circuit 16A provides the working memory for the postage meter and the microprocessor 10A.
  • the ROM 14A stores the program; the auxiliary ROM 100 may be used to provide additional program storage space.
  • the non-volatile memory 24A provides storage of all security information for the meter and retains such information during power down or power failure.
  • the demultiplexer 102 latches the lower eight (8) bits of address information that defines a particular location which is used immediately thereafter.
  • the NVM logic 104 controls the mode of operation of the NVM 24A and also provides ready wait and NVM ready signals to the microprocessor 10A to indicate the presence of the slow speed device (NVM) as active on the bus 12A.
  • NVM slow speed device
  • the digital sensor 78 (optical encoder) and bank sensor 80, (optical encoder) and cycle switch 84 whose current state is read, i.e., "Home” or "In Cycle", apply input signals to the buffer 86 which sends output signals over data bus 108 to the microprocessor 10A for storage in the proper RAM location.
  • the RAM is also electrically coupled to I/0 lines to transmit or receive data from the trip sensor 40A, the display 38A, keyboard 22A, and privilege access switch 110, if present.
  • the privilege access switch 10 may be used in applications which require manual resetting of the meter postage via a switch which is kept under seal.
  • a print wheel selection mechanism for an electronic postage meter of the type disclosed in the aforementioned copending European patent application corresponding to the U.S. application entitled “Stand-Alone Electronic Mailing Machine”, is illustrated generally as 140, 182 and 185, respectively. Further details regarding the print wheel selection mechanism and the other mechanical components of such an electronic postage meter may be obtained from said aforementioned patent application, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as previously noted.
  • the print wheel selection mechanism 140 includes a trip lever 142 affixed to a rotatable trip shaft 144 adjacent to one end thereof for engagement and disengagement with a clutch 145.
  • the trip shaft 144 also includes a gear 146, see Fig. 4, affixed thereto for engagement with and rotation by a gear 148 affixed to a tri-lobed shaft 150.
  • a stepper motor 28A includes an output shaft 152 having a gear 154 and an optical encoder disk 156 (not to scale) mounted on the output shaft 152.
  • the optical encoder disk 156 is received within a sensor 158 so that the position of the stepper motor shaft 152 can be determined.
  • the gear 154 engages a gear 157 affixed to the tri-lobed shaft 150.
  • the gear 148 is disposed within an opening of a carriage 160.
  • Another stepper motor 26a has a gear 168 mounted on its output shaft 170.
  • An optical encoder disk 172 is also mounted on the output shaft 170 for determining the angular position of the gear 168 and output shaft 170.
  • An optical sensor 174 receives the optical encoder disk 172 therein.
  • the stepper motor 28A is energized to rotate the stepper motor gear 154 and the gear 157 affixed to the tri-lobed shaft 150.
  • rotation of the tri-lobed shaft 150 rotates gear 146 affixed to the trip shaft 144 which rotates a locking lever 162 affixed to the trip lever shaft 144 out of engagement with a carriage slot 164, thereby freeing the carriage 160 for movement along the tri-lobed shaft 150.
  • the trip shaft 144 and trip lever 142 are in their home or middle position.
  • the down position of the trip lever 142 is the set position.
  • the up position of the trip lever 142 is the trip position.
  • the individual digit or font 192 of the desired print wheel 194 is then selected by the stepper motor 28A which rotates the tri-lobed shaft 150 and thus gear 148 which is engageable with the upper teeth 196 of a selected one of four print wheel racks 198.
  • the gear 148 is engageable with the upper teeth 196 of one of the four racks 198 which racks 198 have lower teeth 200 on their opposite end.
  • the lower teeth 200 of each of the racks 198 engage gears 202 that are integral with their respective print wheels 194. That is, there is a corresponding print wheel 194 and associated gear 202 for each of the four racks 198.
  • the four print wheels 194 have fonts 192 distributed about their peripheries; each print wheel 194 having ten fonts 192 representing the digits 0 to 9.
  • the trip lever 142 and print wheel selection mechanism are in the lock position.
  • soft an initialization from a known position
  • hard initialization from an unknown position
  • the trip lever 142 is moved downwardly to its set or select position thereby freeing the locking lever 162 from the slot 164 to allow movement of the carriage 160.
  • the print wheel selection mechanism including the carriage 160, is then moved to the right to the limit of its range of movement until it abuts against framework 180. Two additional tries to move past this framework abutment 180 are made.
  • the print wheel selection mechanism including the carriage 160, is then aligned with its last legitimate position by the optical encoder disk 172, sensor 174 and stepper motor 26a, and moved four (4) positions for alignment with the left most or first channel or racks 198. Thereafter, the first print wheel 194 associated with the first rack 198 is set to zero. The print wheel selection mechanism is then moved one position to the right to the second channel of racks 198 and the second print wheel 194 associated therewith is set to zero. This procedure is repeated sequentially with the third and fourth print wheels 194 until all the print wheels are aligned at the position 0000.
  • a soft initialization of the type described in the aforementioned United States Letters Patent 4,301,507 occurs on each power up subsequent to the initial power up of the meter unless there was a power failure during postage selection, a power failure during soft initialization, or unforeseen binding of the meter components after which a hard initialization will occur. That is, a soft initialization will occur if the power was turned off in a stable state. Otherwise, a hard initialisation will occur.
  • the print wheels are individually exercised from their existing position until they all reach their maximum digit position, i.e., all 9s, and then rotated individually back to their minimum digit positions, i.e., all Os.
  • Optical encoder sensors indicate the position of the print wheels. Signals from these sensors are sent to the microprocessor for indicating on the display that the meter is now in condition for the new postage value to be selected, see Fig. 7.
  • gear 148 is meshing with gear 146, see Fig. 4. Therefore, the print wheel selection mechanism is in the select, lock and trip channel as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Two, the gear 148 is meshing with one of the racks 198, see Fig. 5. Three, the gear 148 is in between the racks 198.
  • the stepper motor 28a first rotates the gear 148 towards the select position, i.e., corresponding with the select position of the trip lever 142, one (1) increment or position at a time until it cannot rotate any farther. This fact is confirmed through a predetermined number of repetitive attempts, e.g., three times.
  • the gear 148 is then aligned by the stepper motor 28a, optical encoder disk 156 and sensor 158 until the print wheel selection mechanism 140 is in the select position.
  • condition Two exists, the digit stepper motor 28a first rotates the print wheel 194 associated with the rack 198 which is in mesh with gear 148 one (1) increment or position at a time until it abuts a stop beyond the maximum digit (cannot rotate any further). This is repeated three (3) times. The gear 148 is then aligned by the stepper motor 28a.
  • condition Three the interposer teeth 183, see Fig. 4, engage the racks 198 preventing rotation of the gear 148.
  • the bank stepper motor 26a first moves the gear 148 to a rack 198 and then the digit stepper motor 28a rotates the print wheel 194 associated with that rack 198 as described with reference to condition Two.
  • the print wheel selection mechanism including the carriage 160 is moved in one direction (to the right in Fig. 3) by the bank motor 26a one (1) increment or position at a time until it reaches an obstruction. Two more attempts are made to move past the obstruction. It is then concluded that the print wheel selection mechanism is at one end of the limit of its range of movement, i.e., abutting framework 180. Sensor 174 then aligns the print wheel selection mechanism to its last legitimate unobstructed position. To verify this position, the print wheel selection mechanism is then moved in a direction towards the other extreme position of the print wheel selection mechanism four (4) positions.
  • the select and lock positions are in the middle channel and two sets of print wheels 194 are located on each side thereof for engagement with four racks 198, resulting in five (5) possible positions within the extremes of the range of movement of the print wheel selection mechanism.
  • the only condition when the print wheel selection mechanism can move four positions in the direction towards the opposite extreme is if it is in the channel for the first print wheel.
  • the print wheel selection mechanism for the digit motor is positioned, i.e., what digit is selected.
  • the print wheel 194 under control of the digit motor 28a is moved one step or increment at a time to the upper limit in its range of movement until the movement fails after a total of three (3) attempts.
  • the print wheel is then aligned with its last legitimate position by moving digit motor 28a slightly backward or forward.
  • the motor rotates the print wheel nine (9) positions forward to its lowest digit to arrive at the position OXXX. If it does not arrive at the position OXXX, the entire process is repeated. The process is repeated a maximum of three times; if not successful, a fatal error bit is sent to the non-volatile memory 24a.
  • the bank motor 26a then moves the print wheel selection mechanism one position to the right (position of second print wheel (194) and the digit motor 28a then moves the second print wheel 194 into engagement with its mechanical block or stop, aligns it at the last legitimate position (digit 9), then rotates it forward to establish the position OOXX as explained above.
  • the bank motor 26a then moves the print wheel selection mechanism two positions to the right (skipping the select, lock and trip channel) and the digit motor 28a then moves the third print wheel 194 up into engagement with its mechanical block or stop, aligns it at the last legitimate position (digit 9) and then rotates it forward to establish the position OOOX.
  • the bank motor 26a moves the print wheel selection mechanism one position to the right and then the digit motor 28a rotates the fourth print wheel up into engagement with its mechanical block or stop, aligns it at the last legitimate position (digit 9) and then rotates it nine (9) positions forward to establish the position 0000.
  • the print wheel selection mechanism is then moved two channels to the left to arrive at the select channel and the digit motor 28a is moved a specified number of steps to position the trip lever 142 in the lock condition.
  • a flag or bit is then sent to the working memory (RAM 16a) to indicate that the Hard Initialization process has been completed.
  • the Hard Seek Routine for accomplishing the Hard Initialization is illustrated as 210.
  • the digit and bank motors 28a and 26a are aligned to their home positions via digit and bank motor sensor 158 and 174, respectively.
  • the digit stepper motor 28a rotates the gear 148 one position at a time until a stop is encountered. This is repeated two more times.
  • the digit motor 28a is then aligned to its last legitimate position.
  • the bank stepper motor 26a then moves the gear 148 and carriage 160 one position to the right, see Fig. 3. Movement of the carriage 160 is continued until the stop 180 is encountered. Two more attempts are made to move past the stop 180.
  • the digit motor 28a is aligned to its last legitimate position.
  • the print wheel 194 is then rotated nine (9) positions to its zero digit. If the move is not successful, RETRY is executed. If the move is successful, the print wheel selection mechanism is moved one position to the left to the next channel or rack. If the move is not successful, RETRY is executed. With a successful move, the index is changed by one. When the index becomes equal to three (3) (select, lock and trip channel position), this position is skipped and the index is changed by one. With the index equal to four (4) and five (5), the positions of the third and fourth racks or channels, respectively the same procedures are repeated as with the first and second print wheels.
  • the print wheel selection mechanism is moved to home, i.e., select lock and trip channel. If the move to home is okay, the digit motor 28a moves the trip lever 142 to the lock position. If this move is okay, the Routine stops. Ifthis move is not okay, RETRY is executed.
  • the alignment provided by the hard initialization of the present invention permits assembly of the postage meter with adjustments being done on the fly as required. This eliminates the need to make precise adjustments of the stepper motors, sensors and encoder disks during manufacture with an attendant reduction in manufacturing costs. Moreover, the digit motor 28a achieves precise positioning by utilizing a six (6) incremental movement for each digit in contrast with prior initialization techniques such as those disclosed in the aforementioned United States Letters Patent 4,301,507, which utilized a four (4) step incremental movement for each digit.
  • the Postage Selection Routine illustrated as 220 may be implemented. This routine begins with a computation between the present value at which the print wheels are set, and the new postage value. The trip lever 142 and print wheel selection mechanism is then moved from the lock to the select position. If the move is not okay, a fatal error is logged in non-volatile memory and the routine is ended. If the move is okay, the channel position (rack) is set at one (1). The print wheel selection mechanism is then moved to the position of the first rack. If the setting of the print wheels 194 at each rack 198 is okay, the channel position (rack) is then changed by one (1).
  • the print wheel selection mechanism When the channel number (rack) is equal to six (6), the print wheel selection mechanism is moved home. If the setting of the print wheels 194 at each rack 198 is not okay, the digit motor is energized to rotate the print wheel 194 to make up the differential. If the movement of each print wheel 194 is okay, the channel position is incremented by one (1); channel three (3) is skipped. If the movement caused by the digit motor 28a or bank motor 26a is not okay, a fatal error is logged in non-volatile memory 24a and the routine is ended.
  • the algorithm underlying the program set forth in the Program Appendix provides increased power to the bank motor 26a and digit motor 28a when an unforeseen mechanical obstruction or bind is encountered.
  • the bank motor 26a and digit motor 28a both of which include four windings, have only one (1) of their windings energized and operate as a single phase drive.
  • additional power is applied to the desired motor 26a or 28a by energizing a second winding, using a two phase drive for the subsequent attempts to move past the obstruction.
  • the algorithm de-energizes the second winding of the motor 28a or 26a and the respective motor 28a or 26a shifts back to a single phase drive. This conserves power and minimizes the effect of increasing the power on the electrical components. It should also be understood that power to the motors 26a or 28a may be increased prior to encountering a stop. That is, in anticipation of a stop.
  • the algorithm can cause the torque of the motors 26a or 28a to increase by reducing the stepping rate of the motors 26a or 28a.
  • the reduction in the stepping rate allows more time for current build up in the windings of the motors 26a or 28a to increase the torque and overcome any possible resistance by stress imparted to the mechanical components due to aging.
  • the stepping rate of the digital motor 28a is reduced since the digital motor 28a must drive the trip lever 142 to the trip position to enable the drive mechanism for printing postage on an envelope. It should also be understood that both the power and torque to the motors 26a and 28a may be increased as described above.
  • postage meter refers to the general class of device for the imprinting of a defined unit value for governmental or private carrier delivery of parcels, envelopes or other like application for unit value printing.
  • postage meter is utilized, it is both known and employed in the trade as a general term for devices utilized in conjunction with services other than those exclusively employed by governmental postage and tax services.
  • private, parcel and freight services purchase and employ such meters as a means to provide unit value printing and accounting for individual parcels.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
  • Dot-Matrix Printers And Others (AREA)

Claims (26)

1. Procédé pour initialiser les roues d'impression d'un appareil électronique d'affranchissement, comprenant les étapes consistant à:
placer un mécanisme (140, 182, 185) de sélection de roue d'impression dans sa position de sélection;
déplacer le mécanisme de sélection de roue d'impression vers la limite (180) de son mouvement dans une direction;
déplacer le mécanisme (140,182,185) de sélection de roue d'impression dans l'autre direction jusqu'à sa dernière position légitime à laquelle le mécanisme de sélection de roue d'impression agit sur une première roue d'impression (194);
faire tourner la première roue d'impression (194) vers la limite de son déplacement dans une direction; et
faire tourner la première roue d'impression (194) dans l'autre direction jusqu'à une position légitime sélectionnée.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant les étapes consistant à:
déplacer le mécanisme (140,182,185) de sélection de roue d'impression pour lui donner une orientation avec une seconde roue d'impression (194); et
répéter les étapes de mise en rotation, de déplacement et de mise en rotation de la roue d'impression pour placer cette roue d'impression (194) à une position prédéterminée.
3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, comprenant les étapes consistant à:
déplacer le mécanisme (140, 182, 185) de sélection de roue d'impression dans une orientation avec une troisième roue d'impression (194); et répéter les étapes de mise en rotation, de déplacement et de mise en rotation de la roue d'impression pour placer cette roue d'impression à une position prédéterminée.
4. Procédé selon la revendication 3, comprenant les étapes consistant à:
déplacer le mécanisme (140,182,185) de sélection de roue d'impression jusqu'à une orientation avec une quatrième roue d'impression (194); et
répéter les étapes de mise en rotation, de déplacement et de mise en rotation de la roue d'impression pour placer cette roue d'impression (194) à une position prédéterminée.
5. Procédé selon la revendication 4, comprenant les étapes consistant à:
placer le mécanisme (140,182,185) de sélection de roue d'impression dans une position bloquée lorsque toutes les roues d'impression (194) ont été placées à une position prédéterminée; et
transmettre un signal indiquant que toutes les roues d'impression (194) ont été initialisées à une position prédéterminée.
6. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel les mouvements jusqu'à la dernière position légitime fournissent des réglages au vol selon nécessité.
7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, comprenant l'étape consistant à augmenter la force avec laquelle le mécanisme (140, 182, 185) de sélection de roue d'impression est déplacé pour venir en aboutement avec la limite (180) lors de tentatives ultérieures jusqu'à une valeur supérieure à la force appliquée au mécanisme de sélection de roue d'impression pendant le premier mouvement jusqu'à l'aboutement avec la limite (180).
8. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, comprenant l'étape consistant à augmenter la force avec laquelle la roue d'impression est amenée par rotation en aboutement avec la limite lors de tentatives ultérieures jusqu'à une valeur supérieure à la force appliquée à la roue d'impression pendant la première rotation de venue en aboutement avec la limite.
9. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant l'étape consistant à continuer les étapes de déplacement de façon séquentielle avec chaque roue d'impression pour placer toutes les roues d'impression à une position prédéterminée, et sortir un signal lorsque les étapes précédentes ont toutes été accomplies.
10. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant l'étape consistant à augmenter la force avec laquelle le mécanisme de sélection de roue d'impression est déplacé jusqu'à ladite limite jusqu'à une valeur supérieure à la force normalement appliquée au mécanisme de sélection de roue d'impression.
11. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant l'étape consistant à augmenter la force avec laquelle la roue d'impression est animée d'un mouvement de rotation jusqu'à ladite limite de son mouvement jusqu'à une valeur supérieure à la force normalement appliquée à la roue d'impression.
12. Dispositif pour initialiser les roues d'impression d'un appareil électronique d'affranchissement, comprenant:
un moyen (140, 182, 185) de sélection de roue d'impression;
un moyen (26a) pour déplacer le moyen de sélection de roue d'impression jusqu'à la limite de son déplacement dans une direction;
un moyen (26a) pour déplacer le moyen (140, 182, 185) de sélection de roue d'impression dans l'autre direction jusqu'à sa dernière position légitime à laquelle le moyen de sélection de roue d'impression agit sur une première roue d'impression (194); et
un moyen (28a) pour mettre en rotation la première roue d'impression (194) jusqu'à la limite de son mouvement dans une direction et alors dans l'autre direction jusqu'à une position légitime sélectionnée.
13. Dispositif selon la revendication 12, dans lequel le moyen (140, 182, 185) de sélection de roue d'impression et la roue d'impression (194) jusqu'aux positions légitimes respectives fournissent des réglages de ceux-ci au vol selon nécessité.
14. Dispositif selon la revendication 12 ou 13, comprenant:
un moteur pas à pas (26a) inclus dans ledit moyen pour déplacer le moyen de sélection de roue d'impression; et
un moyen pour augmenter la puissance appliquée au moteur pas à pas (26a) en réponse à l'aboutement initial avec la limite de déplacement.
15. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 12 à 14 comprenant:
un moteur pas à pas (28a) inclus dans le moyen pour la mise en rotation de la roue d'impression (194); et
un moyen pour augmenter la puissance appliquée au moteur pas à pas (28a) en réponse à l'aboutement initial avec la limite de déplacement.
16. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 12 à 15, dans lequel le moyen pour déplacer le moyen (140, 182, 185) de sélection de roue d'impression sert à déplacer celui-ci pour le mettre en orientation avec une seconde roue d'impression (194),
le moyen (28a) pour la mise en rotation de la première roue d'impression (194) sert à déplacer celle-ci pour la mettre en orientation avec la seconde roue d'impression,
le moyen (28a) pour la mise en rotation de la première roue d'impression (194) sert à faire tourner la seconde roue d'impression (194) jusqu'à la limite de son déplacement dans une direction et alors dans l'autre direction jusqu'à une position légitime sélectionnée.
17. Dispositif selon la revendication 16, dans lequel le moyen pour déplacer le moyen de sélection de roue d'impression sert à déplacer celui-ci pour la mettre en orientation avec une troisième roue d'impression; et
d'impression sert à déplacer celui-ci pour la mettre en orientation avec une troisième roue d'impression; et
le moyen pour mettre en rotation la première roue d'impression sert à faire tourner la troisième roue d'impression jusqu'à la limite de ce déplacement dans une direction et alors dans l'autre direction jusqu'à une position légitime sélectionnée.
18. Dispositif selon la revendication 17, dans lequel le moyen pour déplacer le moyen de sélection de roue d'impression sert à déplacer celui-ci pour le mettre en orientation avec la quatrième roue d'impression; et
le moyen pour mettre en rotation la roue d'impression prédéterminée sert à faire tourner la quatrième roue d'impression jusqu'à la limite de son déplacement dans une direction et alors dans l'autre direction jusqu'à une position légitime sélectionnée.
19. Dispositif selon la revendication 18, comprenant un moyen pour placer le moyen de sélection de roue d'impression dans une position bloquée; et
un moyen pour transmettre un signal indiquant que le processus d'initialisation est achevé.
20. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 12 à 19, comprenant:
un moteur pas à pas (26a) ayant une multitude d'enroulements inclus dans ledit moyen pour déplacer le moyen de sélection de roue d'impression; et
un moyen pour augmenter la puissance appliquée au moteur pas à pas (26a) en mettant sous tension plusieurs des enroulements du moteur pas à pas.
21. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 12 à 20, comprenant:
un moteur pas à pas (28a) ayant une multitude d'enroulements inclus dans ledit moyen pour mettre en rotation les roues d'impression (194); et
un moyen pour augmenter la puissance appliquée au moteur pas à pas (28a) en mettant sous tension plusieurs enroulements du moteur pas à pas.
22. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 12 à 19, comprenant:
un moteur pas à pas (26a) inclus dans le moyen pour déplacer le moyen de sélection de roue d'impression; et
un moyen pour augmenter le couple du moteur pas à pas (26a) en réduisant la vitesse du pas à pas.
23. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 12 à 19 et 22, comprenant:
un moteur pas à pas (28a) inclus dans ledit moyen pour mettre en rotation la roue d'impression (194), et
un moyen pour augmenter le couple du moteur pas à pas (28a) en réduisant la vitesse du pas à pas.
24. Dispositif selon la revendication 12, comprenant en outre:
un moyen pour amener le moyen de déplacement, et le moyen de mise en rotation à agir séquentiellement sur les autres roues d'impression (194) pour placer toutes les roues d'impression (194) à une position légitime prédéterminée; et
un moyen pour sortir un signal lorsque toutes les roues d'impression ont été initialisées à ladite position prédéterminée.
25. Appareil électronique d'affranchissement comprenant un dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 12 à 24, ou agencé de manière à fonctionner en conformité avec le procédé de l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11.
EP19830112363 1982-12-08 1983-12-08 Procédé et dispositif pour positionner les roues d'impression dans une machine à affranchir électronique Expired - Lifetime EP0111321B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US44791382A 1982-12-08 1982-12-08
US447913 1982-12-08

Publications (3)

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EP0111321A2 EP0111321A2 (fr) 1984-06-20
EP0111321A3 EP0111321A3 (en) 1987-05-27
EP0111321B1 true EP0111321B1 (fr) 1990-07-18

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19830112363 Expired - Lifetime EP0111321B1 (fr) 1982-12-08 1983-12-08 Procédé et dispositif pour positionner les roues d'impression dans une machine à affranchir électronique

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EP (1) EP0111321B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS59114090A (fr)
CA (1) CA1214275A (fr)
DE (1) DE3381748D1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4635205A (en) * 1984-10-04 1987-01-06 Pitney Bowes Inc. Microprocessor controlled d.c. motor for indexing postage value changing means
US4646635A (en) * 1984-10-04 1987-03-03 Pitney Bowes Inc. Microprocessor controlled D.C. motor for controlling print value selection means
US4636959A (en) * 1984-10-04 1987-01-13 Pitney Bowes Inc. Microprocessor controlled d.c. motor for controlling a postage meter
US4701856A (en) * 1985-03-12 1987-10-20 Pitney Bowes Inc. Reset delay circuit for an electronic postage meter
US4747057A (en) * 1985-03-12 1988-05-24 Pitney Bowes Inc. Electronic postage meter having power up and power down protection circuitry
DE59007690D1 (de) * 1989-06-22 1994-12-15 Ascom Hasler Mailing Sys Ag Rotoreinheit für eine frankiermaschine.
CN102304209B (zh) 2005-03-15 2014-11-05 宝理塑料株式会社 不稳定末端基团分解处理剂、使用其的稳定化聚缩醛树脂、制造方法、组合物以及成型体

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3949203A (en) * 1974-04-03 1976-04-06 A J M Research Corporation Selection mechanism for a postage meter
US3978457A (en) * 1974-12-23 1976-08-31 Pitney-Bowes, Inc. Microcomputerized electronic postage meter system
US4050374A (en) * 1976-06-21 1977-09-27 Pitney-Bowes, Inc. Meter setting mechanism
FR2377066A1 (fr) * 1977-01-07 1978-08-04 Secap Perfectionnement aux dispositifs de securite dans une machine a affranchir electronique
US4251874A (en) * 1978-10-16 1981-02-17 Pitney Bowes Inc. Electronic postal meter system
US4253015A (en) * 1979-03-28 1981-02-24 Pitney Bowes Inc. Electronic postage meter having an accounting system independent of power failure
US4287825A (en) * 1979-10-30 1981-09-08 Pitney Bowes Inc. Printing control system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0111321A3 (en) 1987-05-27
DE3381748D1 (de) 1990-08-23
EP0111321A2 (fr) 1984-06-20
CA1214275A (fr) 1986-11-18
JPS59114090A (ja) 1984-06-30
JPH0410435B2 (fr) 1992-02-25

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