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EP0102699A2
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Universal multi-station document inserter
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1983-06-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A universal multi-station document inserter has a plurality of feeder stations for feeding documents in response to signals from a central processor. Each feeder station has a unique address. Feeder programs are stored in distributed processors associated with the feeder stations which provide instructions to each feeder station for feeding documents. A supervisory program is stored in a central processor which is capable of providing address and command signals to the distributed processors of the feeder stations. The central processor and the distributed processors are interconnected for the transmission of signals so that upon receipt of the proper address and command signals at the feeder stations, the feeder stations will provide certain document feeding functions under control of the central processor in accordance with instructions programmed into the distributed processors associated therewith.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Gomes
- 👤 Peter N. Piotroski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:37
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43M; B43M3/00; B43M3/04; B07; B07C; B07C1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A universal multi-station document inserter, comprising: a plurality of feeder means arranged to feed documents; address means associated with each of said feeder means to specify a unique address for each of said feeder means; distributed processor means associated with each of said feeder means; scanner means for detecting the presence of a predetermined code on a coded document; and central processor means interconnected to said scanner means and said distributed processor means for activating said distributed processor means in response to a signal from said scanner means indicating the presence of a coded document including the predetermined code.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A universal multi-station document inserter, comprising: a plurality of feeder means arranged to feed documents; address means associated with each of said feeder means to specify a unique address for each of said feeder means; distributed processor means associated with each of said feeder means; scanner means for detecting the presence of a predetermined code on a coded document; and central processor means interconnected to said scanner means and said distributed processor means for activating said distributed processor means in response to a signal from said scanner means indicating the presence of a coded document including the predetermined code.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The universal multi-station document in Claim 1, including: bus means for specifying a unique address for each of said feeder means; comparator means for comparing the data transmitted by said bus means with the unique address specified by said address means to. provide an acknowledge signal when there is a coincidence therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The universal multi-station document inserter recited in Claim 1, including: means for reading data from said central processor means in response to a transfer acknowledge signal; said central processor means issuing a feed command to said feed means in response to data stored therein; and means for updating the data in said central processor means in response to the actions of said feeder means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
4 . The universal multi-station document inserter recited in Claim 1, wherein: said central processor means includes PROMS having executable routines stored therein to operate the devices of the inserter and to perform all desired control functions and configuration PROM means having a data table stored therein which specifies a particula inserter configuration and the inserter functions to be performed by the executable routines.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
5 . A universal multi-station document inserter, including: a plurality of feeder stations for feeding documents; distributed processor means associated with each of said feeder stations for feeding documents in accordance with feeder programs stored therein; address means associated with each of said feeder stations for providing a unique address thereto; and central processor means electrically coupled to said distib- uted processor means for interaction therewith to initiate the feeding of documents by said feeder stations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
5 . A universal multi-station document inserter, including: a plurality of feeder stations for feeding documents; distributed processor means associated with each of said feeder stations for feeding documents in accordance with feeder programs stored therein; address means associated with each of said feeder stations for providing a unique address thereto; and central processor means electrically coupled to said distib- uted processor means for interaction therewith to initiate the feeding of documents by said feeder stations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
6 . The universal multi-station document inserter recited in Claim -.5, wherein: said central processor means includes PROM means programmed to supervise the feeding of documents by said feeder stations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
, The universal multi-station document inserter recited in Claim 6 , wherein: said PROM means includes a configuration PROM means including data which configures the inserter operation in accordance with desired user functions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
8 . The universal multi-station document inserter recited in Claim 7, wherein: said central processor means includes RAM means for storing the data present in said configuration PROM means; switch means for enabling the operator to reconfigure said RAM means; display means for displaying the original inserter configuration present in said configuration PROM means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The universal multi-station document inserter recited in Claim 5, including: scanner means electrically coupled to said central processor and said feeder stations for providing signals indicative of certain coded documents to said central processor and end of collation signals to said feeder stations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The multi-station document inserter recited in Claim 5 including: . display means for displaying the location and a description of any faults present in the inserter in human readable form;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
117 words
A universal multi-station document inserter, including: a plurality of feeder stations arranged to feed documents; distributed processor means associated with each of said feeder stations; supervisory control means electrically coupled to said distributed processor means; said supervisory control means being programmed to interact with said feeder stations in accordance with certain pre- . determined operating conditions desired by a user; and said supervisory control means including first PROM means programmed with a maximum set of defined inserter configurations and functions and a second PROM means configured to interact with said first PROM to select a subset of the maximum set of defined inserter configurations and functions to operate the document inserter in accordance with desired customer requirements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
117 words
A universal multi-station document inserter, including: a plurality of feeder stations arranged to feed documents; distributed processor means associated with each of said feeder stations; supervisory control means electrically coupled to said distributed processor means; said supervisory control means being programmed to interact with said feeder stations in accordance with certain pre- . determined operating conditions desired by a user; and said supervisory control means including first PROM means programmed with a maximum set of defined inserter configurations and functions and a second PROM means configured to interact with said first PROM to select a subset of the maximum set of defined inserter configurations and functions to operate the document inserter in accordance with desired customer requirements.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for providing a universal multi-station document inserter, including the steps of: providing a plurality of feeder stations for feeding documents in response to signals from a central processor; providing each feeder station with a unique address; storing feeder programs in distributed processors associated with the feeder stations which provide instructions to each feeder station for feeding documents; storing a supervisory program in the central processing unit is capable of providing address and command signals to the distributed processors of the feeder stations, and interconnecting the central processor and the distributed processing units for the transmission of signals so that upon receipt of the proper address and command signals at the feeder stations, the feeder stations will undergo certain document feeding functions under control of the central processor in accordance with instructions programmed in the distributed processor associated therewith.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for providing a universal multi-station document inserter, including the steps of: providing a plurality of feeder stations for feeding documents in response to signals from a central processor; providing each feeder station with a unique address; storing feeder programs in distributed processors associated with the feeder stations which provide instructions to each feeder station for feeding documents; storing a supervisory program in the central processing unit is capable of providing address and command signals to the distributed processors of the feeder stations, and interconnecting the central processor and the distributed processing units for the transmission of signals so that upon receipt of the proper address and command signals at the feeder stations, the feeder stations will undergo certain document feeding functions under control of the central processor in accordance with instructions programmed in the distributed processor associated therewith.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method recited in Claim 12,including the steps of: transporting coded documents between feeder stations; scanning the coded documents; transmitting end of collation signals to the feeder stations in response to the codes on the coded documents.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
14 . The method recited in Claim 12, wherein: the supervisory program is stored in a plurality of PROMS, including one PROM which includes a data table that specifies the inserter configuration and the functions to be performed for that inserter configuration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method recited in Claim 12, including the step of: scanning for the presence of a coded document at each feeder station to provide input data to the central processor regarding the status of the coded document.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method recited in Claim 12, including the step of: converting output signals from the central processor to high level voltage signals for actuating the devices for transporting documents from one feeder station to the next feeder station.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method recited in Claim 12, including the step of: sequentially feeding documents from feeder station to feeder station beginning with the last feeder station during a Sequence Start Mode to ensure a complete collation for the initial collation of documents to be fed from the feeder stations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method recited in Claim 12, including the step of: sequentially deactivating the feeder stations one by one beginning with the last feeder station during a Sequence Stop Mode to ensure that a partial collation of documents is not left on the transport deck of the document inserter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method recited in Claim 12, including the step of: changing the configuration of the document inserter by instructions submitted to the central processor by the inserter operator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method recited in Claim 19, including the step of: retaining the initial central processor configuration prior to any change thereto; displaying the initial central processor configuration when requested.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for providing a universal multi-station document inserter, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of feeder stations for feeding documents in response to control signals from a central processor; providing each feeder station with a unique address; storing feeder programs in distributed processors associated with the feeder stations which provide instructions to each feeder station for feeding documents in response to control signals from the central processor, storing a supervisory program in the central processor which is capable of providing address and command signals to the distributed processors of the feeder stations; interconnecting the central processor and the distributed processors for the transmission of signals so that upon receipt of the proper address and command signals at the feeder stations, the feeder stations will undergo certain document feeding functions under control of the central processor in accordance with the instructions programmed into the distributed processors associated therewith; scanning coded control documents to provide input signals to the central processor upon detection of predeterminded document codes, and converting output signals from the central processor to high level voltage signals for actuating document transport devices associated with the document inserter.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for providing a universal multi-station document inserter, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of feeder stations for feeding documents in response to control signals from a central processor; providing each feeder station with a unique address; storing feeder programs in distributed processors associated with the feeder stations which provide instructions to each feeder station for feeding documents in response to control signals from the central processor, storing a supervisory program in the central processor which is capable of providing address and command signals to the distributed processors of the feeder stations; interconnecting the central processor and the distributed processors for the transmission of signals so that upon receipt of the proper address and command signals at the feeder stations, the feeder stations will undergo certain document feeding functions under control of the central processor in accordance with the instructions programmed into the distributed processors associated therewith; scanning coded control documents to provide input signals to the central processor upon detection of predeterminded document codes, and converting output signals from the central processor to high level voltage signals for actuating document transport devices associated with the document inserter.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method recited in Claim 21, including the steps of; sequentially feeded coded documents from one feeder station to another; feeding documents from a feeder station in response to command signals from the central processor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method recited in Claim 21, including the steps of; changing the configuration of the inserter by instructions submitted to the central processor by the inserter operator.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method recited in Claim 23, including the step of: retaining the original inserter configuration in the central processor after it has been changed; displaying the initial programmed configuration when requested.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of providing a universal multi-station document inserter, including the steps of: providing a plurality of feeder stations for feeding documents in response to signals from a central processor; scanning documents for a document code; transmitting a signal indicative of the presence of a coded document to a central processor; providing a unique address for each feeder station; storing a supervisory program including a data table in the central processor which includes information on the type of feeder stations and the function to be performed thereby; accessing the data table stored in the central processor to determine the type of feeder station present at each feeder station location and the function to be performed thereby; transmitting a command signal from the central processor including the unique address of a particular feeder station; feeding documents from a particular feeder station in response to the command signal; and updating the data table in the central processor after each feeder station has completed its feed sequence to include data as to the status of a coded document.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of providing a universal multi-station document inserter, including the steps of: providing a plurality of feeder stations for feeding documents in response to signals from a central processor; scanning documents for a document code; transmitting a signal indicative of the presence of a coded document to a central processor; providing a unique address for each feeder station; storing a supervisory program including a data table in the central processor which includes information on the type of feeder stations and the function to be performed thereby; accessing the data table stored in the central processor to determine the type of feeder station present at each feeder station location and the function to be performed thereby; transmitting a command signal from the central processor including the unique address of a particular feeder station; feeding documents from a particular feeder station in response to the command signal; and updating the data table in the central processor after each feeder station has completed its feed sequence to include data as to the status of a coded document.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method recited in Claim 25, wherein; the steps of accessing, feeding, and updating are undertaken for each feeder station during each cycle of operation of the inserter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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