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EP0496575A2 - Machine avec capacité d'affichage d'état - Google Patents

Machine avec capacité d'affichage d'état Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0496575A2
EP0496575A2 EP92300498A EP92300498A EP0496575A2 EP 0496575 A2 EP0496575 A2 EP 0496575A2 EP 92300498 A EP92300498 A EP 92300498A EP 92300498 A EP92300498 A EP 92300498A EP 0496575 A2 EP0496575 A2 EP 0496575A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
machine
display
module
switches
modules
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP92300498A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0496575A3 (en
Inventor
Fran E. Blackman
Terrence M. Doeberl
Kenneth A. Schulz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Pitney Bowes Inc
Original Assignee
Pitney Bowes Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pitney Bowes Inc filed Critical Pitney Bowes Inc
Publication of EP0496575A2 publication Critical patent/EP0496575A2/fr
Publication of EP0496575A3 publication Critical patent/EP0496575A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • G07B2017/00266—Man-machine interface on the apparatus
    • G07B2017/00298—Visual, e.g. screens and their layouts

Definitions

  • This invention relates to machines provided with a display of one or more of its states, and in particular to a postage meter or mailing machine incorporating a display indicating an operating state, condition or function.
  • While this invention relates generally to machines capable of assuming a plurality of states or conditions representing active or inactive operating functions or conditions, the invention will be described in conection with mailing machines for processing mail.
  • This class of machine are frequently operated by users or operators with limited skills in an environment in which high speed processing of large quantities of mail pieces is necessary.
  • One such machine is described in detail in commonly-assigned U.S. patent No. 4,935,078, and in the referenced copending applications, some of which have issued as U.S. patents, Nos. 4,924,804; 4,924,805; 4,930,764; 4,953,842; 4,955,483; 4,957,179; and 4,9559,600.
  • the invention aims to provide a machine capable of assuming a plurality of states or conditions and providing the means for informing an operator of the machine as to its current state.
  • An embodiment of the invention is a postage meter or mailing machine that will rapidly indicate to a user the current state of the machine or what functions it will perform when activated by the user.
  • a machine has a control panel with switches operable by a user to cause the machine to assume one of a plurality of states, with the machine provided with a display which mimics the machine, and which display is provided with indications of one or more states of the machine.
  • the term "mimic” is used to mean the display of a pictorial representation of the actual machine configuration in this case, or the display of a layout of the machine or of its output.
  • the machine is a mailing machine for processing mail pieces, and the machine comprises a plurality of modules or stations, serially arranged, each adapted to carry out one or more mail processing functions. Furthermore, the machine is characterized by the capability of activating or bypassing or initiating one or more of the modules under the control of the user, and/or the capability of causing one or more of the modules to perform one or more functions.
  • the pictorial representation display depicts the various modules present in their approximate serial position within the actual machine, and the state or condition indicators for each module are located on the pictorial representation at positions adjacent where the module representation is located.
  • the user-actuable switches are located on the control panel at positions approximately aligned with the module on the pictoral representation whose state or condition or function is controlled by the associated switch.
  • a malfunction or fault or machine need can also be deemed a state of the machine that can be displayed at the module involved in the pictorial representation.
  • an indicator in the pictorial representation will indicate in which module the mail piece is jammed.
  • an indicator can be activated at the module representation in the display where the consumable is located to indicate it requires replenishing.
  • the machine comprises a postage meter which includes the feature that it not only prints postage indicia on a mail piece, but it also has additional printing means that, under control of a user, can print other markings, messages or information on the mail piece.
  • the display mimics the print layout on the mail piece, so that the user can see at a glance what he or she can expect to have printed on the envelope.
  • the user-actuable switches on the front panel that select the printing are preferably approximately aligned with the location on the pictorial representation of the corresponding printing.
  • a mail processing system is comprised of a plurality of stations, preferably as modules, under the control and influence of a system controller, generally indicated at 13.
  • the stations or individual modules are an envelope feeder module 15, a singulator module 17, a sealer module 19 which includes a sealer 21, and what is here referred to as an integrated module 23.
  • the integrated module includes a meter module 27, an inker module 29, a tape module 31, a transport module 33 and a platen module 35.
  • the integrated module is so referred to because the individual modules are mounted in a single housing.
  • Each module includes the appropriate mechanism to perform a mail processing function.
  • the feeder module 15 receives an envelope stack 36 and, in the preferred embodiment, includes suitable mechanisms to shingle the bottom portion of the mail stack 36.
  • the singulator 17 is charged with the function of extracting a bottommost envelope 38 in a seriatim manner and delivering the envelope 38 to the sealer transport module 19.
  • the sealer transport 19 is charged with the function of traversing the envelope 38 across the sealer module 21.
  • the sealer 21 has the capability of determining the sealing state of the envelope 38, and includes a diverter arm 40 for stripping open closed but unsealed envelope flaps, for responding to the seal state of an envelope such that only unsealed envelopes 38 are subject to sealing by the sealer module 21, and for detecting missealed envelopes.
  • the sealer transport serves up the envelope 38 to the transport module 33 of the integrated module 23.
  • the integrated module 23 is comprised of a scale module 25, a meter module 27, an inker module 29, a tape module 31, a transport module 33 and a platen module 35.
  • the mailing machine transport module 33 receives the envelope 38 from the feeder transport 19 and delivers the envelope to the scale 25.
  • the scale module 25 is charged with the function of weighing the envelope 38 and reporting the approximate postage value as a function of its weight to the postage meter module 27 mounted to the integrated module 23.
  • the indicia printing method employed in the preferred mailing system is referred to in the art as flat bed indicia printing.
  • the postage meter module 27 print elements are set to the appropriate value as a function of envelope 38 weight.
  • the inker module 29 is then charged with the function of inking the indicia of the meter module 27.
  • the platen module 35 is charged with the function of bringing the envelope 38 into printing contact with the print elements of the postage meter module 27.
  • the transport module 33 resumes control over the envelope 38 and ejects the envelope 38 from the mailing machine 23.
  • a stacker (not shown) for the discharged envelopes can be provided.
  • the tape module can be used to provide the meter imprints on tape, which is then adhered to the mail piece, instead of directly on the mail piece.
  • the postage meter can be of the type generally described in commonly-assigned U.S. patent No. 4,936,209 and equivalents, whose contents are also incorporated herein by reference, except that the display is adapted to display the information in connection with the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the machine 11 from the front showing the control panel 39 and Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged views of just the displays 40, 70 of the control panel 39 for mimicing the machine configuration and the print layout that will appear on the mail piece.
  • a stacker if added, would be attached at the right-hand or discharge end of the machine.
  • control panel 39 also includes an alphanumeric keyboard 90 for imputting postage value, text for advertisements (ads) and inscriptions, and other postal information, which is echoed in a separate display 91.
  • the machine display 40 (Fig. 3) has 22 elements, each of which may be individually activated or deactivated. In general, the acuation of some elements is logically tied to the acuation of other elements. It employs five keys or button switches 101-105 associated with it which may be employed by the user to control various portions of the machine configuration.
  • Button 101 is used to control the feeder mode.
  • Fig. 5 provides a software flow chart which illustrates the operation of this button.
  • Button 102 is used to control the sealer mode.
  • Fig. 6 provides a flow chart which illustrates the operation of this button.
  • Button 103 is used to control the WOW mode.
  • WOW stands or weigt-on-the-way scale.
  • Fig. 7 provides a flow chart which illustrates the operation of this button.
  • Button 104 is used to control the tape type.
  • Fig. 8 provides a flow chart which illustrates the operation of this button.
  • Button 105 is used to control the stacker mode when the stacker is present.
  • Fig. 9 provides a flow chart which illustrates the operation of this button.
  • Display elements 41 and 42 are used to indicate the current feeder mode. These elements function as follows:
  • Auto mode means that a batch of mail is supplied in the hopper at the feeder 15.
  • Single mode means that a single envelope will be processed.
  • Display elements 44, 45 and 46 are used to indicate the current sealer mode. These elements function as follows:
  • Display elements 47 and 48 are used to indicate the current WOW mode. These elements function as follows:
  • Display elements 49, 50 and 51 are used to indicate the current tape type. These elements function as follows:
  • the tapes are available for the meter printouts, which are then adhered to the mail piece.
  • Display elements 53 and 54 are used to indicate current stacker mode. These elements function as follows:
  • These display elements 41-54 are implemented as lights adjacent the labels on the display, for example, LEDs, which are turned on and off when the respective function is on or off.
  • the display itself can be an outline drawing on a panel behind which the lights are installed, or an LCD display which offers the possibility of varying the pictorial representation in accordance with the actual machine configuration.
  • the switches 101-105 are of the momentary type. Each press of the switch advances its module one step around a loop of its possible states. Thus, if only 2 states, on or off, are possible, then one press of the key will turn the function on if it were previously off. If on, a next press of the key will turn it off, and so on.
  • Display elements 49, 50, 51 and 52 are used to indicate the current water level in the system. These elements function as follows:
  • the system also includes a capability for disabling the water level display. If the water level display is disabled, and no operation requiring moistenting is currently underway, elements 50, 51 and 52 will all be off. If an operation requiring moistening is underway, elements 50, 51 and 52 will behave as per the above table. Element 49 operates as shown above at all times.
  • Display element 47 is used to indicate that the system is low on ink for the imprinting. This element operates in one of three ways:
  • Display element 46 is used to indicate that the tape supply has been exhausted.
  • the same display 40 is conveniently used to indicate the presence of jams, and the location of a jam.
  • Display elements 43, 55 and 58 are used to indicate faults such as the location of a jammed mail piece in the system, or a mail piece left in the transport after an emergency stop.
  • Element 43 will be on if and only if there is such a fault involving a piece in the mail piece singulation area of the feeder module.
  • Element 55 will be on if and only if there is a piece in the integrated module transport area.
  • Element 58 will be on if and only if there is a piece in the sealer area of the sealer module transport.
  • Display elements 55 and 58 are also used to indicate the location of a jammed tape in the system. Element 58 will be on if and only of there is a tape jam in the cutter or exit/moistener area. Element 55 will be on if and only if there is a tape jam in any area other than the cutter or exit/moistener area.
  • Display element 52 is used to indicate to the user that the power stacker is full. It will be on if and only if the system detects that the power stacker is full. If no power stacker is installed, this indicator will be off.
  • the keys 101-105 are respectively approximately vertically aligned with the part of the displayed machine representation which is assocated with and controlled by that particular key.
  • the feeder key 101 is adjacent the feeder end of the machine display
  • the stacker key 105 is adjacent the opposite power stacker end of the machine, and so on.
  • the display is always on when the machine is running, and the lighted display thus indicating the current state of the machine is thus also always on.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates the meter mimic display 70 which pictorally represents the layout and informational items that will currently be printed on each mail piece or tape. Below the display 70 are its control switches 106-110, in the form of button switches.
  • variable print element buttons 106, 107 may have different meanings depending on the country of use and the meter installed. These assignments are controlled by language PROM parameters of the microcontroller. A table of possible assignments follows:
  • Fig. 10 provides a flow chart which illustrates the operation of each of these buttons.
  • Button 109 can be used to select the date duck mode.
  • Fig. 12 provides a flow chart which illustrates the operation of this button.
  • Button 110 can be used to advance the system's logical date (and meter date).
  • Fig. 13 provides a flow chart which illustrates the operation of this button.
  • Indicators 53, 54, 77 and 78 are associated with the meter's variable print elements (ad, inscription and multi-slogan). Indicators 53 and 78 are associated with button 106, and indicators 54 and 77 are associated with button 107. Display elements 53 and 78 will be on if and only if button 106 is enabled. Display elements 54 and 77 will be on if and only if button 107 is enabled. There is no configuration in which button 107 is disabled in this example. If button 106 is enabled, 53 will display the current selection for the variable print element to which it corresponds. The selections will be displayed as alphabetic characters (A,B,C,D). If button 106 is disabled, elements 53 and 78 will be off.
  • button 107 If button 107 is enabled, element 54 will display the current selection for the variable print element to which it corresponds. The selections will be displayed as alphabetic characters (A,B,C,D). If button 107 is disabled, elements 54 and 77 will be off.
  • Display elements 55, 57, 80, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 and 76 are used to display the date currently set on the meter print wheels.
  • the date may be displayed in any of the following configurations: where 'A' indicates an alphabetic character (part of month name), and 'D', 'M', and 'Y' respectively indicate numeric characters which are part of the day, month and year number, respectively.
  • Items specified as 'MM' or 'DD' which are set to values less than 10 may be displayed with a zero in the "ten's" position.
  • the date configuration is usually a language PROM parameter. If the entire date is ducked, all date elements will be displayed as dashes. If only the day is ducked, the elements assigned as 'DD' (based on the date display configuration) will be displayed as dashes.
  • the Gebuhr Bezhalt element 58A will only be on when the meter which is installed contains a Gebuhr Bezhalt element and the Gebuhr Bezhalt element is in the print plane ("lowered").
  • the postage amount frame 52 will be on at all times, except when the entire display is blanked.
  • the system can also provide a language PROM parameter which will serve to enable or disable the collection of elements which represent the indicia graphics (e.g. the "eagle" on Fig. 4, shown as element 69).
  • Fig. 5 depicts the routine followed when the feeder button 101 is pressed by the user.
  • Fig. 6 depicts the routine followed when the sealer button 102 is pressed by the user.
  • the toggle action is illustrated at blocks 115-118.
  • Fig. 10 depicts the routine followed when either the ad button 106 or the inscription button 107 is pressed by the user.
  • the conventional postage meter typically includes the printing mechanisms for the eagle 69, the postage value 62, the town circle, as well as an assortment of fixed ad and inscription printouts which can be selectively enabled for a particular batch of mail pieces. This is well known in the art and need not be described further.
  • Fig. 11 depicts the routine followed when the today button 108 is pressed by the user.
  • Fig. 12 depicts the routine followed when the date on/off button 109 is pressed.
  • the meter print display 70 is a graphical representation of the meter inprint that will be currently generated on the next mail piece or tape. Again, the control switches are located adjacent their respective controllable item.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
EP19920300498 1991-01-22 1992-01-21 Machine with state display capability Withdrawn EP0496575A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US64435291A 1991-01-22 1991-01-22
US644352 1991-01-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0496575A2 true EP0496575A2 (fr) 1992-07-29
EP0496575A3 EP0496575A3 (en) 1993-06-02

Family

ID=24584529

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19920300498 Withdrawn EP0496575A3 (en) 1991-01-22 1992-01-21 Machine with state display capability

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP0496575A3 (fr)
CA (1) CA2059748A1 (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2698706A1 (fr) * 1992-11-27 1994-06-03 Neopost Ind Système de traitement de courrier comportant un dispositif centralisé d'affichage et de commande.
EP0600749A2 (fr) * 1992-12-03 1994-06-08 Pitney Bowes Inc. Systèmes de traitement postaux et autres systèmes avec interface d'utilisateur à code barré
EP0718801A1 (fr) * 1994-12-21 1996-06-26 Francotyp-Postalia GmbH Interface utelisateur pour une machine à affranchir
EP0981110A2 (fr) * 1998-07-20 2000-02-23 Pitney Bowes Inc. Méthode et système d'impression d'impreintes d'affranchissement avec une application pour la conception d'enveloppes
EP0981111A2 (fr) * 1998-07-20 2000-02-23 Pitney Bowes Inc. Méthode et système pour visualiser le contenu d'une base de données dans des champs de données d'enveloppes
EP1008962A3 (fr) * 1998-12-03 2000-11-08 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Dispositif pour l'entrée et l'affichage d'informations de l'utilisateur sur un dispositif d'affichage
US6384931B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2002-05-07 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system for capturing destination addresses from label data
US6995853B1 (en) 2000-03-31 2006-02-07 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system for modifying print stream data to allow printing over a single I/O port
EP1895477A1 (fr) * 2006-08-31 2008-03-05 Neopost Technologies Ligne d'insertion d'enveloppes à haute cadence intégrant une machine à affranchir

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4376981A (en) * 1978-06-26 1983-03-15 Pitney Bowes Inc. Electronic postage metering system
US4516209A (en) * 1983-02-09 1985-05-07 Pitney Bowes Inc. Postage metering system having weight checking capability
US4935078A (en) * 1988-12-28 1990-06-19 Pitney Bowes Inc. High throughput mailing maching timing
EP0387202A2 (fr) * 1989-03-08 1990-09-12 Frama Ag Machine à affranchir

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4376981A (en) * 1978-06-26 1983-03-15 Pitney Bowes Inc. Electronic postage metering system
US4516209A (en) * 1983-02-09 1985-05-07 Pitney Bowes Inc. Postage metering system having weight checking capability
US4935078A (en) * 1988-12-28 1990-06-19 Pitney Bowes Inc. High throughput mailing maching timing
EP0387202A2 (fr) * 1989-03-08 1990-09-12 Frama Ag Machine à affranchir

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2698706A1 (fr) * 1992-11-27 1994-06-03 Neopost Ind Système de traitement de courrier comportant un dispositif centralisé d'affichage et de commande.
EP0600749A2 (fr) * 1992-12-03 1994-06-08 Pitney Bowes Inc. Systèmes de traitement postaux et autres systèmes avec interface d'utilisateur à code barré
EP0600749A3 (fr) * 1992-12-03 1994-12-14 Pitney Bowes Inc Systèmes de traitement postaux et autres systèmes avec interface d'utilisateur à code barré.
EP0718801A1 (fr) * 1994-12-21 1996-06-26 Francotyp-Postalia GmbH Interface utelisateur pour une machine à affranchir
US5818020A (en) * 1994-12-21 1998-10-06 Francotyp-Postalia Ag & Co. User interface for a postage meter machine
US6384931B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2002-05-07 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system for capturing destination addresses from label data
EP0981111A2 (fr) * 1998-07-20 2000-02-23 Pitney Bowes Inc. Méthode et système pour visualiser le contenu d'une base de données dans des champs de données d'enveloppes
EP0981111A3 (fr) * 1998-07-20 2000-11-08 Pitney Bowes Inc. Méthode et système pour visualiser le contenu d'une base de données dans des champs de données d'enveloppes
EP0981110A3 (fr) * 1998-07-20 2000-11-08 Pitney Bowes Inc. Méthode et système d'impression d'impreintes d'affranchissement avec une application pour la conception d'enveloppes
US6282524B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2001-08-28 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system of printing postage indicia from an envelope design application
US6342899B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2002-01-29 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system of displaying database contents in envelope data fields
EP0981110A2 (fr) * 1998-07-20 2000-02-23 Pitney Bowes Inc. Méthode et système d'impression d'impreintes d'affranchissement avec une application pour la conception d'enveloppes
US6721717B2 (en) 1998-07-20 2004-04-13 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system of printing postage indicia from an envelope design application
EP1008962A3 (fr) * 1998-12-03 2000-11-08 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Dispositif pour l'entrée et l'affichage d'informations de l'utilisateur sur un dispositif d'affichage
US6995853B1 (en) 2000-03-31 2006-02-07 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system for modifying print stream data to allow printing over a single I/O port
EP1895477A1 (fr) * 2006-08-31 2008-03-05 Neopost Technologies Ligne d'insertion d'enveloppes à haute cadence intégrant une machine à affranchir
FR2905501A1 (fr) * 2006-08-31 2008-03-07 Neopost Technologies Sa Machine a affranchir pour ligne d'insertion d'enveloppes a haute cadence

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2059748A1 (fr) 1992-07-23
EP0496575A3 (en) 1993-06-02

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