Method and system for high speed digital metering

US6893175B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Pitney Bowes Inc. · US

Inventors

• John W. Sussmeier · Cold Spring, US
• Richard F. Stengl · Wolcott, US
• Jerry Leitz · New Milford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 30, 2003
• Grant date: May 17, 2005
• Expiry date: Nov 11, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07B2017/00564
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system and a method to control the motion of envelopes within a postage printing module to accommodate the use of slower print techniques and to achieve continuous high speed throughput in a mail processing system. At least two print heads in series are utilized to ensure continuous printing operation, even when a print head must be taken out of service for maintenance, or fails. Depending on which print head is in used, different sets of transport elements in the print module are used to affectuate the motion profile appropriate for the print head that is in operation. Based on the status of the print heads, a controller selectively groups different individual transport elements together to act in unison for the motion control. Print heads may be geared to operate in synchronism with the motion of the print transport.