Microcomputer-controlled electronic postage meter having print wheels set by separate d.c. motors
US5121327A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 18, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jun 9, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 18, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00548
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electronic postage meter is disclosed which comprises a plurality of print devices each individually settable to a desired position so that the print devices may print a desired postage value; a plurality of d.c. motors, one for each of the plurality of the print devices, a different one of the d.c. motors being coupled to a different one of the print devices for setting the respective print device to a respective desired position; actual position sensing means for providing signals related to the actual positions of the print devices; and a microcomputer coupled to the d.c. motors and to the actual position sensing means. The microcomputer in response to signals from the actual position sensing means, a desired postage value and programming of the microcomputer sequentially controls the d.c. motors to set the print devices to respective desired positions for printing the desired postage value. The microcomputer includes a single microcompressor which performs all electronic control functions of the postage meter including time-intensive closed loop control of the d.c. motors, printing control and accounting. The control loops include low cost, low bandwidth incremental quadratu…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.