EP0111313A2
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EP
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Methods and apparatus for completing an incomplete trip in an electronic postage meter
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1983-12-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-12-08
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for completing an incomplete trip in an electronic postage meter. The state of a bistable cycle switch (84) is read after the trip cycle has commenced, a fatal error is set if the bistable member is in a "home state" prior to completion of the trip cycle, a drive motor (36a) is energized to try and complete the trip cycle, the state of the cycle switch (84) is read, and the drive motor is de-energized after a maximum period of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward C. Duwel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:50
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00314; G07B2017/00346
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for completing an incomplete trip in an electronic postage meter, characterised by the steps of: reading the state of a bistable member (84) after the trip cycle has commenced; setting a fatal error if the bistable member (84) is in its Home state prior to completion of the trip cycle; energizing a drive motor (36A) to try and complete the trip cycle; reading the state of the bistable member (84); and de-energizing the drive motor (36A) after a predetermined maximum period of time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for completing an incomplete trip in an electronic postage meter, characterised by the steps of: reading the state of a bistable member (84) after the trip cycle has commenced; setting a fatal error if the bistable member (84) is in its Home state prior to completion of the trip cycle; energizing a drive motor (36A) to try and complete the trip cycle; reading the state of the bistable member (84); and de-energizing the drive motor (36A) after a predetermined maximum period of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 characterised in that the predetermined maximum period of time for energization of the drive motor (36A) is approximately one (1) second.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2 characterised by the further steps of: reading the state of the bistable member (84) after a predetermined period of time; and continuing to read the state of the bistable member during subsequent time intervals until a maximum period of time is reached.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 3 characterised by setting a fatal error bit in a non-volatile memory (24) if the. bistable member (84) is still in cycle after the final reading thereof.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for completing an incomplete trip in an electronic postage meter, characterised by the steps of: reading the state of a bistable member (84) after the trip cycle has commenced; setting a fatal error if the bistable member (84) is in a Home state prior to completion of the trip cycle; energizing a drive motor (36A) to try and complete the trip cycle; reading the state of the bistable member (84) after the drive motor (36A) has been energized; de-energizing the drive motor (36A) if the bistable member (84) is in said Home state; running the drive motor (36A) for a maximum period of time while reading the bistable member during specified intervals if the bistable member is in an In Cycle state; de-energizing the drive motor (36A) prior to the end of the maximum period of time if the state of the bistable member is Home; and setting a fatal error if the state of the bistable member (84) is still In Cycle after the expiration of the maximum period of time.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for completing an incomplete trip in an electronic postage meter, characterised by the steps of: reading the state of a bistable member (84) after the trip cycle has commenced; setting a fatal error if the bistable member (84) is in a Home state prior to completion of the trip cycle; energizing a drive motor (36A) to try and complete the trip cycle; reading the state of the bistable member (84) after the drive motor (36A) has been energized; de-energizing the drive motor (36A) if the bistable member (84) is in said Home state; running the drive motor (36A) for a maximum period of time while reading the bistable member during specified intervals if the bistable member is in an In Cycle state; de-energizing the drive motor (36A) prior to the end of the maximum period of time if the state of the bistable member is Home; and setting a fatal error if the state of the bistable member (84) is still In Cycle after the expiration of the maximum period of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for completing an incomplete trip in an electronic postage meter, characterised by: a bistable member (84) having In Cycle and Home states; means (86) for reading the state of said bistable member (84) after the trip cycle has commenced; non-volatile memory means (24); address means (10) for setting a fatal error bit in said non-volatile memory means if said bistable member is in its Home state prior to completion of the trip cycle; means (36a) for energizing a drive motor in an attempt to complete the trip cycle; and means for de-energizing said drive motor after a maximum period of time has elapsed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for completing an incomplete trip in an electronic postage meter, characterised by: a bistable member (84) having In Cycle and Home states; means (86) for reading the state of said bistable member (84) after the trip cycle has commenced; non-volatile memory means (24); address means (10) for setting a fatal error bit in said non-volatile memory means if said bistable member is in its Home state prior to completion of the trip cycle; means (36a) for energizing a drive motor in an attempt to complete the trip cycle; and means for de-energizing said drive motor after a maximum period of time has elapsed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 characterised by: delay means for delaying a predetermined period of time after activation of said energizing means before reading said bistable means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 characterised in that said means for de-eriergizingsaid drive motor (36A) de-energizes the same if said bistable member (84) is in its Home state prior to the expiration of the maximum period of time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8 characterised in that said means for de-energizing said drive motor (36A) de-energizes the same after the maximum period of time has elapsed if said bistable member is still In Cycle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for completing an incomplete trip in an electronic postage meter, characterised by: a bistable member (84) having In Cycle and Home states; means (86) for reading the state of said bistable member (84) after the trip cycle has commenced; non-volatile memory means (24,24a) for storing data; address means in said non-volatile memory means for storing a fatal error bit if said bistable member is in its Home state during the trip cycle; means for energizing a drive motor in an attempt to complete the trip cycle; said reading means reading the state of the bistable member subsequent to the energization of said drive motor; means for de-energizing said drive motor after reading of the state of said bistable member by said reading means if said bistable member is in its Home state; and means for setting a fatal error bit in said non-volatile memory means after a predetermined maximum time period if said member is still In Cycle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for completing an incomplete trip in an electronic postage meter, characterised by: a bistable member (84) having In Cycle and Home states; means (86) for reading the state of said bistable member (84) after the trip cycle has commenced; non-volatile memory means (24,24a) for storing data; address means in said non-volatile memory means for storing a fatal error bit if said bistable member is in its Home state during the trip cycle; means for energizing a drive motor in an attempt to complete the trip cycle; said reading means reading the state of the bistable member subsequent to the energization of said drive motor; means for de-energizing said drive motor after reading of the state of said bistable member by said reading means if said bistable member is in its Home state; and means for setting a fatal error bit in said non-volatile memory means after a predetermined maximum time period if said member is still In Cycle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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