Patent EP0547922A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0547922A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Mailing machine including printing drum control system
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1992-12-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A mailing machine base 12 has a postage meter 14 mounted thereon. The meter includes a postage printing drum 64 having a home position. The base comprising, structure for moving the drum, a d.c. motor 110 for driving the drum moving structure, a microprocessor 122, a power switch connected between the d.c. motor and microprocessor, a comparator 125 connected between the microprocessor and d.c. motor for receiving therefrom a signal corresponding to the back e.m.f. voltage of the d.c. motor and providing a comparison signal to the microprocessor. The microprocessor is programmed for: providing a reference voltage signal for the comparator corresponding to a desired back e.m.f. voltage for causing the d.c. motor to drive the postage printing drum at t desired constant velocity, energizing the power switch with a first signal for causing the d.c. motor to accelerate the drum at a substantially constant rate to substantially the desired constant velocity from the home position thereof during a first predetermined time interval, determining whether the back e.m.f. is greater than the reference voltage, energizing the power switch with the first signal for a second predetermined time interval if the back e.m.f. voltage is not greater than the reference voltage, and energizing the power switch with a second signal for a third predetermined time interval if the back e.m.f. voltage is greater than the reference voltage and delaying energizing with the second signal if the back e.m.f. voltage is not greater than the reference voltage, thereby causing the d.c. motor to continue driving the drum at substantially the desired constant velocity.
Inventors
- 👤 Alton B. Eckert, Jr.
- 👤 Dennis M. Gallagher
- 👤 Thomas M. Pfeifer
- 👤 Richard P. Schoonmaker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:58
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; G07B17/00467; G07B2017/00516; G07B2017/00524; G07B2017/00548; G07B17/00661; G07B2017/00693
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
266 words
A mailing machine base adapted to have a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the meter includes a postage printing drum having a home position, the base comprising: a. means for moving the drum; b. a.d.c. motor for driving the drum moving means; c. a microprocessor; d. a power switch connected between the d.c. motor and microprocessor; e. a comparator connected between the microprocessor and d.c. motor for receiving therefrom a signal corresponding to the back e.m.f. voltage of the d.c. motor and providing a comparison signal to the microprocessor; and f. the microprocessor for: i. providing a reference voltage signal for the comparator corresponding to a desired back e.m.f. voltage for causing the d.c. motor to drive the postage printing drum at a desired constant velocity, ii. energizing the power switch with a first signal for causing the d.c. motor to accelerate the drum at a substantially constant rate to substantially the desired constant velocity from the home position thereof during a first predetermined time interval, iii. determining whether the back e.m.f. is greater than the reference voltage, iv. energizing the power switch with the first signal for a second predetermined time interval if the backe.m.f. voltage is not greater than the reference voltage, and v. energizing the power switch with a second signal for a third predetermined time interval if the back e.m.f. voltage is greater than the reference voltage and delaying energizing with the second signal if the back e.m.f. voltage is not greater than the reference voltage, thereby causing the d.c. motor to continue driving the drum at substantially the desired constant velocity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
266 words
A mailing machine base adapted to have a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the meter includes a postage printing drum having a home position, the base comprising: a. means for moving the drum; b. a.d.c. motor for driving the drum moving means; c. a microprocessor; d. a power switch connected between the d.c. motor and microprocessor; e. a comparator connected between the microprocessor and d.c. motor for receiving therefrom a signal corresponding to the back e.m.f. voltage of the d.c. motor and providing a comparison signal to the microprocessor; and f. the microprocessor for: i. providing a reference voltage signal for the comparator corresponding to a desired back e.m.f. voltage for causing the d.c. motor to drive the postage printing drum at a desired constant velocity, ii. energizing the power switch with a first signal for causing the d.c. motor to accelerate the drum at a substantially constant rate to substantially the desired constant velocity from the home position thereof during a first predetermined time interval, iii. determining whether the back e.m.f. is greater than the reference voltage, iv. energizing the power switch with the first signal for a second predetermined time interval if the backe.m.f. voltage is not greater than the reference voltage, and v. energizing the power switch with a second signal for a third predetermined time interval if the back e.m.f. voltage is greater than the reference voltage and delaying energizing with the second signal if the back e.m.f. voltage is not greater than the reference voltage, thereby causing the d.c. motor to continue driving the drum at substantially the desired constant velocity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 1, wherein the first signal is a first pulse-width-modulated signal including a first predetermined duty cycle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 2, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to determine whether the actual time interval required to accelerate the drum to the desired constant velocity is equal to the first predetermined time interval, and the microprocessor programmed to incrementally adjust the duty cycle if the actual time interval is not equal to the first predetermined time interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 1, wherein the second signal is a second pulse-width-modulated signal including a second predetermined duty cycle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 1 including means for sensing angular rotation of the postage printing drum, and the microprocessor programmed for receiving a signal from the sensing means when the drum commences rotation from the home position thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 5, wherein the microprocessor is programmed for determining whether the drum rotation commencement signal is received from the sensing means before the end of a predetermined fault time interval.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 6, wherein the microprocessor is programmed for implementing a shut-down routine if the drum rotation commencement signal has not been received at the end of the fault time interval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 1 including means for sensing angular rotation of the postage printing drum, and the microprocessor programmed for receiving a signal from the sensing means when the drum has rotated through a predetermined angle of rotation from the home position thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 8, wherein the microprocessor is programmed for determining whether the rotation angle signal is received from the sensing means before the end of a predetermined fault time interval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 9, wherein the microprocessor is programmed for implementing a shut-down routine if the rotation angle signal has not been received at the end of the fault time interval.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
325 words
A mailing machine adapted to have a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the meter has a postage printing drum having a home position, and the base comprising: a. means for moving the drum; b. a.d.c. motor for driving the drum moving means; c. a microprocessor; d. a power switch connected between the d.c. motor and microprocessor for driving the d.c. motor; e. a power switch connected between the d.c. motor and microprocessor for dynamically braking the d.c. motor; f. a comparator connected between the microprocessor and d.c. motor for receiving therefrom a signal corresponding to the back e.m.f. voltage thereof and providing a comparison signal to the microprocessor; and g. the microprocessor programmed for: i. energizing the braking switch with a first signal for a first time interval predetermined to cause the d.c. motor to decelerate the drum at a substantially constant rate from a substantially constant velocity thereof; ii. energizing and deenergizing the braking switch with a second signal successively during each of a predetermined number of successive second predetermined time intervals, iii. providing a reference voltage for the comparator having a value which is less than the backe.m.f. voltage corresponding to the constant velocity, iv. energizing the driving switch with a third signal for a third predetermined time interval, v. determining whether the drum is in the home position, vi. determining whether he back e.m.f. is greater than the reference voltage if the drum is not in the home position, vii. energizing the braking switch with a fourth signal for a fourth predetermined time interval if the drum is in the home position to ensure the drum is stopped in the home position, viii. energizing the driving switch for the third time interval if the back e.m.f. voltage is not greater than the reference voltage and delaying the third time interval of energization of the driving switch if the back e.m.f. is greater than the reference voltage to permit the drum to coast.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
325 words
A mailing machine adapted to have a postage meter mounted thereon, wherein the meter has a postage printing drum having a home position, and the base comprising: a. means for moving the drum; b. a.d.c. motor for driving the drum moving means; c. a microprocessor; d. a power switch connected between the d.c. motor and microprocessor for driving the d.c. motor; e. a power switch connected between the d.c. motor and microprocessor for dynamically braking the d.c. motor; f. a comparator connected between the microprocessor and d.c. motor for receiving therefrom a signal corresponding to the back e.m.f. voltage thereof and providing a comparison signal to the microprocessor; and g. the microprocessor programmed for: i. energizing the braking switch with a first signal for a first time interval predetermined to cause the d.c. motor to decelerate the drum at a substantially constant rate from a substantially constant velocity thereof; ii. energizing and deenergizing the braking switch with a second signal successively during each of a predetermined number of successive second predetermined time intervals, iii. providing a reference voltage for the comparator having a value which is less than the backe.m.f. voltage corresponding to the constant velocity, iv. energizing the driving switch with a third signal for a third predetermined time interval, v. determining whether the drum is in the home position, vi. determining whether he back e.m.f. is greater than the reference voltage if the drum is not in the home position, vii. energizing the braking switch with a fourth signal for a fourth predetermined time interval if the drum is in the home position to ensure the drum is stopped in the home position, viii. energizing the driving switch for the third time interval if the back e.m.f. voltage is not greater than the reference voltage and delaying the third time interval of energization of the driving switch if the back e.m.f. is greater than the reference voltage to permit the drum to coast.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 11, wherein the first signal is a first pulse-width-modulated signal including a first energization pulse having a first predetermined duty cycle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 12, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to determine whether the actual time interval required to decelerate the drum substantially to rest in the home position thereof is not equal to a predetermined total desired time interval, and the microprocessor programmed for incrementally adjusting the duty cycle of the first signal if the actual time interval is not equal to the total desired time interval.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 11, wherein the second signal is a second pulse-width-modulated signal including a second energization pulse having a second predetermined duty cycle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 11, wherein the third signal is a third pulse-width-modulated signal including a third energization pulse having a third duty cycle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mailing machine base according to claim 11, wherein the fourth signal is a fourth pulse-width-modulated signal including a fourth energization pulse having a fourth duty cycle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 11 including means for sensing angular rotation of the postage printing drum, and the microprocessor programmed for receiving a first signal from the sensing means when the drum has rotated through a first predetermined angle of rotation from the home thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 17, wherein the microprocessor is programmed for determining whether the first drum rotation angle signal is received from the sensing means before the end of a predetermined fault time interval.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 18, wherein the microprocessor is programmed for implementing a shut-down if the first drum rotation angle signal has not been received at the end of the fault time interval.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 11 including means for sensing angular rotation of the postage printing drum, and the microprocessor programmed for receiving a second signal from the sensing means when the drum has rotated through a second predetermined angle of rotation from the home position thereof and has returned to the home position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 20, wherein the microprocessor is programmed for determining whetehr the second drum rotation angle signal is received from the sensing means before the end of a predetermined fault time interval.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The mailing machine base according to Claim 21, wherein the microprocessor is programmed for implementing a shut-down routine if the second drum rotation angle signal has not been received at the end of the fault time interval.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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