DE2524670A1 - PROCEDURE AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING MIXED MAILS - Google Patents

Description

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT

LAW FIRM

Boehmert & Boehmci t, D-2800 Bremen 1, P.O. Box 786

To the

German Patent Office

8 Munich 2 PATENT LAWYER DR.-ING.KARL BOEHMERT (1933-1973) PATENT Attorney DIPL.-ING. ALBERT BOEHMERT.BREMEN PATENT ADVOCATE DR.-ING. WALTER HOORMANN.BREMEN PATENT ADVOCATE DIPL.-PHYS. DR.HEINZ GODD ^ R. BREMEN PATENT Attorney DIPL.-ING. EDMUND F. EITNER. MUNICH-

LAWYER WILHELM j. H. STAHLBERG. BREMEN

Your sign
Your jvf.

Ή Notice

Your letter from Your letter

our mark Our ref.

P 144 Bremen,
Feldstrasse 24

4th June 1975

FITHEY-BOWES, INC., Stamford, Connecticut, (V.St.A.)

Process and system for processing mixed mail

The invention relates to a method for continuous Processing of a large number of mixed mail items, with individual items continuously one after the other be conveyed essentially upright along a transport path, on which a weighing station and a

Bremen office:
D-2800 Bremen 1
P.O. Box 7 »6. Fddstrasse 24
Telephone: (0421) -74044

TpIpv :? 44 35;?. Bopü d

Telegr.: Diagram.Bremen

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Bremen accounts: Bremer Bank. Bremen (BLZ 29080010) 1001449

PSrhA Hamhurg

(BLZ 20010020) 1260 33-202 Munich office:
D-8000 Munich 90 Schlotthauer Strasse 3

Telephone: (089) 6 52321

Telegr .: Telepatent. Munich

252A670

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT

Postage meter station, each shipment is weighed and then printed with the postage that corresponds to the weight corresponds to the respective shipment. The invention also relates to a system for continuous processing of mixed mail.

The invention is based on the object of creating a method and a system that allow rapid processing enable large quantities of mixed shipments, i.e. shipments that are not all of the same weight, be the same size and / or format.

According to the invention, this object is achieved with regard to the method in that

a) a set of mail items continuously in sequence, essentially upright along a continuous line Transport rail is promoted,

b) each shipment is continuously fed one after the other to a weighing station arranged on the transport path so that the shipment can be weighed,

c) each consignment fed to the weighing station is weighed,

d) the amount of postage required for each weighed shipment is determined,

e) each weighed consignment of a postage meter station arranged on the transport path continuously, one after the other is supplied,

f) the amount of postage to be printed on each item is controlled or adjusted so that it is the Corresponds to the amount of the determined postage, and

g) the set postage is printed on each mail item supplied to the postage meter station.

A continuous, automatically weighing and franking processing system for mail items for processing

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a large amount of mixed or shipments that automatically individual items are weighed and postage is imprinted continuously one after the other a continuous transport line are promoted, at which a weighing station and a postage meter station are located, with the weighing station automatically sending each shipment weighs, the amount of the postage to be printed is determined and then the amount of the postage meter station so set on each item to be printed on tiden postage or is controlled so that it corresponds to the determined height, is characterized according to the invention by Facilities that have a continuous conveyor track form a weighing station for the mail items to be processed, along which the mail items are transported is arranged on the transport path and for measuring the weight of each shipment fed to the weighing station serves, a first, automatic feeder, which is used to continuously in sequence numerous to feed individual shipments on the continuous conveyor to the weighing station, one on the continuous Transport track arranged postage meter station, which the weighed shipments from the weighing station receives and diont to print the postage on each shipment according to the determined amount, a second, automatic feeding device »which is used to continuously, one after the other, the weighed To transfer consignments on the transport track from the weighing station to the postage meter station, and a functional one between the weighing station and the postage meter station switched control device, which is based on the height of the addresses determined postage and causes the postage printed by the postage meter station for each shipment corresponds to the determined height.

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In the system according to the invention, a transport path is provided on which the processing of the mail items takes place. A weighing station for weighing the weight of each shipment belongs to this transport line Scales in the transport path is fed so that the postage to be printed on the shipment is determined. The printing takes place when the consignment has a postage meter station following in the direction of the transport path achieved.

Further features of the invention emerge from the claims and the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Pig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a processing system according to the invention for mixed mail items;

Fig.1a is a perspective view of the processing system according to Pig. 1;

Pig. 2 shows a perspective view of the balance in the weighing station of the processing plant according to Pig. 1;

Pig.2a a side view of part of the weighing pan the scales according to Pig. Fig. 2 showing a mechanism for zeroing;

Pig.2b is a side view of another portion of the Libra according to Pig. 2 showing an adjustable potentiometer mechanism;

Pig. 3a to 3d plan views of a stop and eject mechanism the scales according to FIG. 2, which show the mechanical gates when stopping, weighing and ejecting a shipment in the weighing station demonstrate;

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Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing the time sequence stopping, weighing and ejecting operations according to Figures 3a to 3d reproduces;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a control mechanism for actuating ejector rollers in Figs. 2 and 3a to 3d and the mechanism for actuating pairs of fingers in the Figures 2 and 3a to 3d;

Fig. 6 is a flow chart of the control cycle for the Control mechanism according to FIG. 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a meter adjustment mechanism for one meter in the postage meteriation of the processing system according to FIG. 1;

7a and 7b are perspective views of the means for returning the position of solenoids for the so-called medullary adjustment according to FIG. 7, FIG. Yes. and Figures 7b show a lower and upper position, respectively;

FIG. 8 shows a section through shafts of the adjustment mechanism according to FIG. 7, which are mounted one inside the other;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an omitted construction detail of the meter in Fig Postage meter station of the processing system according to Pig. 1;

10 is a perspective view of a modified locking mechanism for the meter in the postage meter station the processing system according to FIG. 1;

11a to 11d segments of an electrical circuit diagram for the arithmetic logic circuit and pulse switching, which functionally

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station and the postage meter station of the processing system according to Figure 1 connects to each other;

Pig. 11e is a block diagram showing how the Pig. 11a to 11d belong together;

Pig. 12 is an electrical diagram of the buffer control circuit; the functionally between the scales of the weighing station according to Pig. 1 and the

arithmetic logic circuit and pulse circuit according to the Pig. 11a to 11d is turned on;

Pig. 13 is a flow diagram for the buffer control circuit according to Pig. 12;

Pig. Figure 14 is a schematic block diagram of the control and feedback system of the meter of the postage meter station the processing plant according to Pig. 1;

Pig. 15 and 16 are plan views of a pressure bottom mechanism for the meter of the postage meter station the processing plant according to Pig. 1, where Pig. 15 the pressure floor in rest position and Pig. shows the printing base in the working position while it picks up an envelope or letter;

Pig. 17 shows an electrical circuit diagram of the intermediate or conditioning circuit in Pig. 14; and

Pig. Figure 18 is an electrical schematic of the train circuits and gate circuits in Pig. 14th

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The following first refers to the Pig. 1 and 1a received. There is a stack of 10 mixed mailings " on an input floor 11. On the input floor 11 becomes the stack 10 to a feed drive 13 in the input direction 12, which is indicated by an arrow, advanced. The feed drive transports the mail items on a transport path that runs transversely to the input direction on the input floor, like this through a Arrow 15 is indicated. While the mail items are being fed into the system from the feed drive 12, they are separated by a separator 14 so that they are transported individually. The isolated ones Letters or mailings then move one after the other on the transport path to one in front of one Closing station arranged transfer station 16, a closing station 17 and one arranged in front of a scale Transfer station 18. Transfer station 16 and transfer station 18 are stations for the intermediate storage of the shipments and enable a synchronization of the passage along the Transport track. In the closing station 17, the flaps of unsealed envelopes are moistened, after which the flaps are turned over and closed. Reference is made, for example, to US Pat. No. 3,878,025.

From the transfer station 18 arranged in front of the scale, the letters are successively transferred onto a scale 19 stored in a weighing station 20. After each letter has been weighed in the weighing station, this is done for This special envelope will set required postage. This postage information is used to control the setting a so-called meter 24 is used for postage, which is located in a postage meter station 28, which follows the transport path. This information is controlled synchronously, so that when the.-3s certain

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Letter reaches the postage meter station 28, the meter 24 is correctly set so that its setting corresponds to the amount of postage set for that particular shipment. Except for one Synchronization of this information must be the flow of transmissions both between the weighing station 20 and the postage meter station 28 as well as on the transport path from the input base 11 to a stacking device 24 for franked mail can be synchronized. This synchronization of the stream of broadcasts leads to a flow control that enables that at any point in time numerous letters pass through on the transport track.

After a letter has been weighed in the weighing station, it is ejected from the scale 19, whereupon it to a transfer station following the weighing station entry. From the transfer station 21, the letter arrives at a separating station 25 in which there is a control gate 22 is located. If the weigh station has determined that a letter is overweight, for example more weighs less than 250 grams, the control gate 22 is closed causing it to reject an incoming letter and is directed to a stacker 26 for rejected mail items. If one in the separation station 25 incoming letter has a weight within the permissible weight range for which franking can take place, the control gate 22 remains open. When the control gate 22 is open it allows letters continue through a transfer station 23 in front of the meter to the postage meter station 28. After entering in the postage meter station 28 the letter is provided with the correct postage imprint and then in the Stacking device 27 deposited for franked mail.

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The system works in such a way that a large number of mixed shipments are continuously guided over the transport track will. Unsealed envelopes can be sealed. Be overweight envelopes rejected and stacked separately. Letters within the permitted weight range are weighed and automatically stamped the required postage based on the weight measurement. Bulk mailings can run through the system without the letters having to be weighed and franked. Consequently the invention represents a completely automatic processing system for mail items.

FIG. 2 shows the device in the weighing station according to FIG. 1. A letter 30 moves along on edge the transport path of the plant in the direction of an arrow 31. The letter 30 approaches two pairs of Transport rollers 32 of the transfer station 18 in front of the scale. When the scales 19 are receiving a letter weighs, the incoming letter 30 is held back on the transport rollers 32. If the previous letter has already been weighed and removed from the weighing station, the transport rollers 32 transfer the The following letter 30 is placed on the balance 19. The letter 30 is placed on a weighing pan 33 of the balance 19. the Weighing pan 33 is inclined backwards, so that the letter on an approximately vertical wall 34 of the On the weighing pan after it has been placed on the scale. The weighing pan 33 has on its a trough 35 which supports the edge of the letter 30 at the lower end. In the direction of passage behind the Transport rollers 32 is a guide plate 36, which for correct guidance of the letter on the weighing pan 33 serves.

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While the letter is being transported to the weighing pan 33, it is given a certain forward speed granted. Therefore, a stop device is needed that interrupts the forward movement of the letters, so that they can be placed on the weighing pan 33. The stop device consists of three pairs of fingers 37 »38 and 39, which are arranged one above the other behind the weighing pan. The pairs of fingers 37, 38 39 and 39, each τοη springs are pressed into the normally closed position shown. Everyone Arm 41 of the pairs of fingers 37? 38 and 39 has a curved Surface 40 that faces inward. The two inwardly curved surfaces 40 form one gradually narrowing stop area, which is used to delay an incoming letter. This curved Surfaces 40 are also designed so that they can accommodate mail items of different thicknesses. At the end of each of the retarding arms 41 of the pairs of fingers 37, 38 and 39 is a locking bar 42. The locking bars 42 each extend at right angles to the arms 41 of each of the pairs of fingers 37, 38 and 39 so that they overlap and act as a final block to an incoming letter. Each arm 41 is firmly connected to the other arms 41 of the fingering via a shaft 34. To this We ensure that all three pairs of fingers work simultaneously when opening and closing. Further each curved surface 40 has hook-like protrusions or teeth 44 that support an incoming letter in such a way that the letter from the space between the arms 41 can not jump back. The finger pairs 37, 38 and 39 are arranged at different heights so that the stop device for letters is different Heights and sizes is suitable. For example, it may happen that a small letter does not

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is detected by the pair of pingers 37, which is then stopped by the pairs of pingers 38 and 39.

After an incoming letter has been stopped by the finger pairs, these are opened so that they release the letter supported by the weighing pan 33. The balance 19 has two leaf springs 45 and 46, with their edges 47 and 48 on the Wall 34 of the weighing pan 33 are attached. The other ends of the leaf springs are anchored to the frame of the scale. After a letter has been deposited in the trough 35 of the weighing pan, the weighing pan 33 is opposite the force of the leaf springs 45 and 46 is deflected downward in the direction of an arrow 60. If the discarded Letter is removed from the trough 35, the leaf springs 45 and 47 bring the weighing pan 33 into its undeflected position Starting position back.

A rod 49, which protrudes downward into a damper 50, is fastened to the leaf spring 46. At the bottom the rod 49 sits a not shown, conical piston of the damper. The damper dampens vibrations, which could occur when the weighing pan is deflected. The weighing pan 33 must be dampened so that a accurate weighing is obtained within a certain period of time depending on the speed of the system is coordinated when processing the shipments. The damper 50 is a damper with variable throttling in which the damping becomes stronger with increasing deflection of the weighing pan. This type of variable damping has proven to be necessary for leaf spring scales because the Vibrations would increase proportionally to the deflection of the balance.

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The weight of a letter presses the weighing pan 33 in the direction of arrow 60 downwards. While the scales 33 is pushed down, a shutter 51 moves on the wall 34 of the weighing pan is attached, in the direction of an arrow 54 past a light window 52 with a converging lens. When the shutter arm 51 moves past the light window 52, light from a light source 53 becomes partial or completely interrupted. The light can then no longer be passed on through the light window 52 will. Light passing through the light window 52 follows a light path, which is represented by arrows 55 is. The light passing through the light window 52 is reflected by a prism 56 and directed to a photodetector row 57. When the lock arm 51 has been brought into position in which it covers the light window 52, the light beam will normally be the photodetector array 57 irradiated, interrupted so that the detectors are in the shade. When the scales 33 is increasingly deflected downward under the weight of a letter, the photo detectors gradually withdrawn the light. The locking arm 51 steers depending on the weight of the shipment certain amount of light, and the photodetector row 57 represents the extent of the deflection and thus the Weight of the letter fixed.

A zero adjuster 62, which is shown in detail in Fig. 2a, ensures that the balance 19 despite possible dust deposits in trough 35 is always set to the same zero position. The zero setter 62 comprises a motor 63 and a worm drive 64 which acts on an adjustable spring 65. The feather

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is attached to the weighing pan 33 via a suspension 66, so that whenever the worm drive 64 is adjusted, the weighing pan 33 is brought back into a corresponding rest or zero position will. The deviation of the weighing pan from its rest position is determined by the fact that a first Photodetector 90 (Pig. 2b) of the row of detectors 57 is in the dark when there is a shadow border 91 in the direction of an arrow 92 due to the downward movement of the weighing pan 33 in the direction of arrow 60 and the locking device 51 is moved in the direction of arrow 54 downwards. When the first detector in the shade is, the motor 63 is operated so that it adjusts the worm drive 64 until the weighing pan 33 and the shutter arm 51 has been moved upward enough for the light to reach the first photodetector can. In this way, a certain zero or rest position is automatically maintained. The spring constant of the spring 65, which is a coil spring, is a fraction, for example 1/20, of the combined spring constant of the leaf springs 45 and 46, so that a very sensitive and precise setting the zero position results.

The photodetector row 57 has a set screw 93, as shown in Fig. 2b. By this possibility the setting ensures that the weight of a shipment despite different spring constants the leaf springs 45 and 46 (Fig. 2 and 2a), which may be caused by manufacturing tolerances, of the Photo detector row 57 is always precisely determined.

The photodetector row 57 is mounted on a movable arm, which in the direction of arrows 96 around a Pivot pin 94 "'can be pivoted.

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screw 93 is rotated, the photodetector row 57 is pivoted in the direction of one of the arrows 96 , since a slide pin 97 attached to a threaded sleeve 99 and the detector arm 95 is displaced in a curved slot 98 as a result. The pivoting movement of the arm 95 of the row of detectors causes the vertical distance "d" between the individual detectors of the row of detectors 57 to change. This change in the vertical distance compensates for differences or changes in the spring constants of the leaf springs, which have a direct effect on the distance by which the shadow boundary 91 is shifted per unit weight of the mail item. By changing the distance "d", any manufacturing or tolerance differences in the leaf springs 45 and 46 are compensated for.

After a weighing has been made, ejector rollers 58 are brought closer together so that they pinch the letter and eject it from the weighing station. When the letter is ejected from the weighing station, this is detected by a light source 61 and a photocell 59.

The sequence of stopping, weighing and ejecting is described below with reference to FIGS. 3a to 3d explained in more detail.

FIG. 3 a shows a mail item 70 which has been transported as far as the finger pairs 37, 38 and 39. These The consignment or this letter comes to a standstill at the locking bars, which the letter continues to pass through prevent. The letter is supported by the inwardly curved surfaces 40 of the arms 41 and the protruding teeth held in place.

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IS

As the mail item 70 enters the finger pairs 37, 38 and 39, a light beam is emitted from the light source 61 to photocell 59 interrupted. As soon as the photocell 59 is no longer exposed to the light beam, controls they attach a solenoid 241 (Fig. 5) which rotates shafts 43, causing pairs of fingers 37, 38 and 39 in Direction of arrows 71 are opened, as shown in Fig. 3b. When opening the pairs of fingers the mail item 70 is placed on the weighing pan 33 so that it can be weighed there. after the .Shipment 70 has been weighed in the position shown in FIG. 3b, the ejector rollers 58 are relative to one another moved as shown by arrows 72 in Fig. 3c. The ejector rollers 58 are each rotatable Lever arms 74 mounted. The lever arms 74 are controlled in the direction of the arrows 72 by a control mechanism 73 rotated relative to one another, which is shown in FIG. The control mechanism 73 is activated by the interruption of the light beam to the photocell 59 is activated during the state shown in FIG. 3a. The control mechanism 73 is functionally connected to the lever arms 74 via shafts 75 (FIG. 3c). The waves 75 are from Control mechanism rotated in the direction of arrows 76, which causes the lever arms 74 and the ejector rollers 58 are brought together in the direction of arrows 72. The ejector rollers 58 clamp the mail item 70 between them, pull them off the scales and throw them out in the direction of an arrow 77 while they are turn in the direction of arrows 78.

After the mailing 70 has been withdrawn from the scales, the lever arms 74, which the ejector rollers bear, moved apart in the direction of arrows 79, as shown in Fig. 3d. The finger pairs 37, 38 and 39 are closed to have a following,

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Letter transferred from the transport trolleys 32 to the scales can stop · The closing of the pairs of fingers 37, and 39 takes place when the photocell 59 again light from of the light source 61 after the trailing edge of the mail item 70 has passed the photocell 59.

The transport rollers 32 do not transport a letter to the scale until the photocell 59 of the light source Receives light. The interruption of a light beam between a light source 81 and a photodetector 82 adjacent to the transport rollers determine that an envelope is present in the transfer station in front of the scale. This finding causes the transport rollers 32 to rotate and feed the envelope to the weighing station as soon as the Photocell 59 receives light.

FIG. 5 shows the control mechanism 73 for actuating the ejection rollers 58 according to FIGS. 2 and 3a to 3a. Fig. 5 also shows an actuation mechanism for the arms 41 of the pairs of fingers, i.e. for the delay device according to FIGS. 2 and 3a to 3d.

The ejector rollers 58 of the ejector mechanism according to FIGS

2 and 3a to 3d are continuously in the direction of arrows 78 by a belt drive, not shown turned. When an envelope is jammed between these rotating ejector rollers, i.e. when the ejector rollers ± n direction of the arrows 72 are pressed towards each other, the envelope is from the weighing station 20 ejected according to FIG. 1. The ejector rollers 58 are driven by rotation of an eccentric cam (Arrow 212) compressed about its central shaft 201. The cam disk 200 is in constant contact with a coil spring 206 due to the bias of a coil spring 206

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Wheel 202. The wheel 202 can rotate freely about an axis 203 (arrow 220) which is contained in a U-shaped bracket 204 is stored.

When the eccentric portion of the cam presses against the wheel 202, it causes the wheel 202 to follow is moved to the rear, as shown by an arrow 203. Since the wheel 202 is mounted in the bracket 204 is, the bracket 204 is pivoted about an axis 211 T (arrow 214), against the bias of the Coil spring 206 which is supported on a bracket 205.

When the TJ-shaped bracket 204 is pivoted, pushes he against a pin 207 which is attached to a shaft 208. This moves the shaft 208 to the rear moves, as indicated by an arrow 216.

Similarly, a part 209 attached to the end of the shaft 208 is moved rearward while the shaft moves backwards.

The part 209 carries two pins 210 which press against pivot arms 223 and 224, respectively, while the part 209 is displaced will. The vertically extending shafts 75 are firmly connected to the pivot arms 223 and 224, respectively and rotatably mounted in a frame 270. When the pins 210 press against the pivot arms 223 and 224, the shafts 75 are rotated in the direction of the arrows 76.

The ejector rollers 58 are rotatably mounted in the lever arms 74, each of which has a vertical shaft is firmly connected. Therefore, when the shafts are rotated in the direction of arrows 76, the lever arms move, which are firmly connected to the shafts, the ejection

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roll towards each other, as indicated by the arrows 72.

As soon as the control disk 200 has been rotated through its position with the greatest eccentricity, the bracket 204 is pivoted by the helical spring 206 against the direction of the arrow 214. This in turn the shaft 208 and the part 209 are moved forwards, i.e. in the opposite direction to the direction of the arrow 216, so that the shafts 75 are rotated counter to the direction of the arrows 76. This leads to a breakup the ejector rollers 58.

The group of pinger pairs 37, 38 and 39 of the stop mechanism arranged one above the other is activated by means of the solenoid 241 adjusted between an open and a closed position. The pinger pairs consist of as already mentioned, from two arms 41, from each of which is firmly seated on one of two rotatable shafts 43. Each shaft 43 can freely move into the Rotate directions of arrows 260 and 261, respectively, in a slot of a push rod 242 that has a pin attached to a rod 244 of the solenoid.

Each shaft 43 carries a disk 250 which is in pin connection with the push rod 242 via a pin 251 stands. The push rod 242 is pulled away from the solenoid 241 by a peder (not shown).

When the solenoid is energized, the rod pushes against the push rod 242 causing an Movement of push rod 242. When the solenoid is de-energized, push rod 242 moves due to it their bias back into a rest position.

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The reciprocating movement of the push rod 242 in the direction of by arrows 240 opens the pinger pairs 37, 38_ and 39 alternately, since the shafts 43 are rotated alternately inwardly of each other and outwardly. this will Reached via the pins 251, which are in engagement with suitable, laterally extending, not shown Slots are in the push rod 242 and cause the discs 250 and shafts 34 to be turned around. The movement of the pins 251 causes opposite rotations of the shafts 43, since the pins are hinged to the push rod 242 on opposite sides in the manner shown. In this way, the arms 41 open and close as the rod 244 reciprocates.

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart showing the sequence of Events in the processing of mixed mail items from the transfer station 18 in front of the scale to the Shows transfer station 21 after the scale. It is easy to see that different formats and weights of letters cause difficulties in controlling the timing of the various mail processing operations. Therefore, it is not easy, for mixed shipments for a trouble-free passage of the shipments through the Care facility.

For example, different weights of letters may require more time for some envelopes is used for weighing than for other shipments. The support points and detectors in the transfer stations must be appropriately designed so that Mailings of different lengths can be recorded so that small letters do not "float" between transfer rollers and thus not two

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Letters at the same time "occupy the same station. Thicker letters must not get stuck, and the weighing and ejection processes must be different in spite of that Lengths of the sheaths be uniform. Even the height of the letters must be taken into account when hiring the vertical distances between the pairs of fingers 37, 38 and 39 are taken into account.

In the invention it is provided that the same for all broadcasts regardless of their weight Weighing time is expended that the heaviest letter needs to fully deflect the scale 19. This weighing time was calculated to be 0.305 seconds, resulting in a dwell time of 0.5 seconds in the weighing station results. The weighing process begins 0.025 seconds after the photocell 59 according to FIG. 2 the interruption of the light beam has been detected by a letter which is stopped by the pairs of fingers 37, 38 and 39. Between the first interruption of the light beam to the photocell 59 and the start of weighing (0.025 seconds) hold the pairs of fingers 37, 38 and 39 the broadcast.

At the beginning of the weighing process, the pairs of fingers or arms are timed so that they receive the letter or release envelope so that it then sits on weighing pan 33 (FIG. 2).

The interruption of the beam to the photocell 59 fulfills several 'independent functions ' -

a) initiation of the opening of the pairs of fingers and the weighing process;

b) triggering the control mechanism according to FIG. 5 in the sense that it is the transfer behind the Ejection rollers 58 serving for the scales actuated;

c) Preventing the transfer of another envelope

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to the scale 19 from in front of the scale through the transport rollers 32, if there is still a letter in the weighing area; and

d) initiation of the transmission of information from the balance 19 to the logic circuit and pulse circuit according to FIGS. 11a to 11d.

The end of the weighing process (0.330 seconds) and the beginning the maximum ejection time for 12.7 mm thick letters (greatest thickness) coincide. The thinnest envelopes are ejected after 0.380 seconds, i.e. 0.050 seconds later. A letter with a length of 330.2 mm (greatest length) gives the light beam after 0.420 seconds clear when the rear edge of the envelope passes the photocell 59. Thirty! Bausendstel (0.030) Seconds are available to close the arms of the pairs of fingers and then a new one from the transfer station a letter arriving in front of the scales can be recorded. Interrupts after 0.470 seconds the incoming envelope sends the light beam to the photocell 59.

It turns out that the transfer, the stopping, the weighing and the ejection of a letter in the Transfer station 18, weighing station 20 and the Transfer station 21 takes about 0.5 seconds. These It takes time to process around 7,000 shipments per hour. This processing speed for the shipments is the design speed of the system.

Although the interruption of the light beam to photocell 59 initiates the ejection process at time zero, a time delay is provided. Part of this delay is due to the ramp-up time of the cam

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the ejection mechanism according to Pig. 5 justified. the Cam disk 200 has an elevation of 8, as shown in FIG. 6. At the highest point the ejector rollers 58 drive the thinnest envelopes. The thickest envelopes will be driven after about half the rise as shown in FIG.

A subsequent incoming envelope interrupts the light beam to the photocell 59 after 0.470 seconds; at this point in time, the control cam 200 has almost finished its downward movement (200 msec). To this At this point in time, the control cam receives the signal for a new cycle. Thus becomes another part the delay time after the initiation of ejection behind the scales formed by the time that the control cam 200 needs to end its previous cycle while the initiation of a new ejection cycle for an envelope takes place.

The meter 24 in the postage meter station 28 according to FIG. 1 is a modified postage meter type 5318 manufactured by Pitney-Bowes, Inc. of Stamford, Connecticut. So far it is not asserted to the contrary, the meter of the invention has the same construction and function as the meter of the usual type 5318. The meter of type 5318 allows settings for one hundredth of a currency unit, a tenth of a currency unit and a whole currency unit, which can be any Trade currency unit, for example dollar or mark. In the following the Mark is used as an example of the Monetary unit taken. In this case, the type 5318 allows the highest postage imprint DM 9.99.

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The meter 24 according to the invention was modified so that that it is by means of a pair of stepper motors 301 and 302 and solenoids 303 and 304, which in 7 are automatically set up to a maximum postage imprint of DM 1.99 can be. The stepping motors 301 and 302 and the solenoids 303 and 304 are so arranged and designed that they control the corresponding meter actuators, one of which in Fig. 7 as Element 305 is shown.

The meter actuators (part number 5380752) are normally operated by hand using levers (part number 5351242), one of which is shown in dashed lines as lever 306. With the modified, According to the invention meter 24, the levers 306 have been removed to allow automatic adjustment enable; therefore the lever 306 is only shown in phantom in FIG.

The modified meter according to the invention only requires a maximum postage imprint of DM 1.99, because the system is set so that it only shows items with a certain maximum weight, for example Items weighing no more than 227 g (8 ounces), prepaid. All letters or shipments that weigh more than this maximum weight are removed from the transport track before franking and stored in the stacking device 26, as already mentioned.

The stepper motors 301 and 302 control the meter actuators for the currency unit hundredths, i.e. the Pennies, and the currency unit tenths, i.e. the tens, in a range from "0" to "9", like this

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in Pig. 8 is shown. The solenoids 303 and 304 bring the meter actuator for the currency unit, ie the mark actuator, to the setting ^rt 0 "or ¹¹ 1".

The meter actuators 305 are driven by the stepper motors and solenoids via three shafts 307, 308 and 309, which are nested, like the Pig. 7 and 8 show.

Each of the solenoids 303 and 304 are pin-connected articulated with a pin 303a or 304a to an intermediate member 310 or 311. At the intermediate links 310 and 311 are alternately driven by the solenoids in the direction of arrows 315 and drawn. A compression spring 312 or 314 presses against each of the intermediate members 310 and 311 Direction of pull of the associated solenoid. As a result, each of the intermediate members 310 and 311 immediately jumps back to its starting position when it has been pulled. This linkage enables that the respective intermediate member 310 or 311 does not always carry the mass of the other intermediate member with it must pull when the meter is set to a different mark setting. The intermediate links 310 and 311 are pinned to a toothed wheel 316 so as to be movable via a slot 310a and 311a, respectively. The train of Intermediate members 310 and 311 in opposite directions causes the gear 316 in either Clockwise or counterclockwise (arrows 317) is rotated by one step. When the gear 316 is rotated by one step, a further meshing gear 318 (Pig. 7 and 8) is rotated by one Step turned. The gear wheel 318 is pinned to the shaft, so that the shaft 307 either clockwise

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O £ γ "7 I R 7 Q BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT

ts

clockwise or counterclockwise by one step when the gears 316 and 518 are rotated will. The shaft 307 transmits its rotation to a gear 319 (Figs. 7 and 8) on its other End is pinned or attached. The gear 319 transmits this rotational step via an intermediate gear 320 to the meter actuator 305 for setting the mark (Pig. 7). This is how the meter actuator 305 adjusted for the mark setting between the positions "0" and "1" (arrows 350).

The stepping motor 302 controls the meter actuator 305, not shown, for the tens by turning the Wave 308 (Pig. 7 and 8). The stepper motor 302 rotates its shaft 323 and a gear mounted thereon either clockwise or counterclockwise, as indicated by arrows 322. A gear 324 is rotated by the rotation of the gear 3 321 via an intermediate gear 325. The gear 324 is mounted on the shaft 308 (see Pig. 8) so that the shaft 308 is also rotated. One on the opposite Gear 326 attached to the end of shaft 308 rotates meter actuator 305, not shown for the tens via an intermediate gear 327.

The stepping motor 301 controls the meter actuator 305 (not shown) for the pennies in the same way Way like the stepper motor 302 the meter actuator for the tens.

The stepper motor 301 rotates a gear 328 attached to the shaft 329 either clockwise or counterclockwise, as indicated by arrows 330. Via idler gears 332 and 333 a gear 331 is driven when the

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BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT

Gear 328 is rotated. The gear 331 is mounted on the shaft 309 (Pig. 8) and rotates it so that a gear 334 attached to the other end of the shaft 309 is also rotated. The rotation of the Gear 334 is via an intermediate gear 335 (Fig. 8) on the meter actuator, not shown 305 transferred for the pennies.

Each meter actuator 305 is assigned a locking mechanism 336 which is pivotable about a pin 344 is and is held under tension by a spring 338, so that its pawl 337 between teeth 339 of the meter actuator engages. The locking mechanism 336 is normally provided with a shoulder 340, the one in Pig. 7 is shown in dashed lines. The approach 340 (top of the assembly, part numbers 5380308 and 5380313) is included in the meter of the invention together with a locking mechanism 345 (part numbers 5380261 and 5310060) removed in Pig. 9 is shown. The locking mechanism 345 includes a bracket and a pivot pin 342. Typically, the Lugs 340 depressed each locking mechanism from the bracket to lock the meter actuators, if it is found in the register that the default amount has been used. The bracket 341 is of a locking fork 360 controlled in Pig. 10 is shown. When the locking fork is in the direction of a Arrow 346 pivots as is the pail when teeth 351 on zeroing slots 353 of counter wheels 352, the bracket 341 is normally made to press on the tabs 340. on this prevents the meter actuators 305 from rotating. The bracket also operates usually a locking bar which additionally prevents the meter from operating.

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In the meter of the invention, however, levers 306, locking mechanism 345 and lug 340 are used not "required because the meter is controlled automatically.

In the invention, the blocking is when the Target amount achieved by means of electrical and mechanical devices, which are shown in FIG are. Instead of the locking fork 360 actuating the bracket 341, a locking plate 347 pivots in Direction of an arrow 348 in the path of a light beam 349 »when the locking fork 360 in the direction of the Arrow 346 pivots into its position, which corresponds to the consumption of the default amount. The ray of light 349 is now interrupted and not reflected by a prism 355, so that it is not on a window 354 meets. If no light hits the window 354, the meter is turned off. This shutdown can by means of any suitable, not shown, light-actuated, electrical Switching device take place. Thus, the meter is electronically put out of operation if that down-counting registers, i.e., counter wheels 352, indicate that the default amount is insufficient.

The buffer control circuit that controls the scale 19 with the logic circuit and pulse circuit of the meter 24 is shown in FIG. Unless otherwise expressly mentioned, the electrical logic elements in all circuit diagrams are TTL components, i.e., components with transistor-transistor logic, the 7400 series from Texas Instruments, Inc. at for the explanation of the buffer control, reference is also made to the flowchart of FIG.

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ze

When the photodetector row 57 (Fig. 2t>) of the balance 19 is gradually immersed in shadow due to the deflection of the weighing pan 33, deliver the photodetectors 90 signals to BCD converters 500 and 500A in Fig. 12. These converters are 10-to-4 converters, which are connected in such a way: ■ that they are BCD signals for a maximum of 8 ounces. (Fig. 12 and the following description are based on the fact that the weight is in ounces (abbreviated: oz) takes place. The following applies: 1 oz = 28.34953 g.) One converter would have been enough; the combination of two However, converters allow different wiring in the event that a higher maximum weight is used will. The converters deliver a 4-bit BCD output signal that corresponds to the weight signal (largest display), which the photodetector array 57 supplies. The BGD output signals from the converters are transmitted via Lines 560, 561, 562 and 563 at clock pulse 1 (Fig. 13) to a first buffer 501 (shift register) transfer. A control flip-flop 504 connected to the buffer 501 receives an input pulse on a line 504A (fifth bit) to start processing the information and toggle high, causing the BCD information to be entered into the buffer 501. At the second clock pulse (Fig. 13) the information from the buffer 501 is input into a second buffer 503 and is caused that a control flip-flop 505 connected to the buffer 503 flips up when the flip-flop 504 falls down. When the buffer 501 transmits this information, the control flip-flop 504 flips down, so that the first buffer 501 can then be filled with new information for a subsequent letter. That Control flip-flop 504 flips back up and causes buffer 501 to be loaded on the third clock pulse (see Fig. 12), At the end of the fifth clock pulse

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the buffer 503 transmits the information over lines 540, 541, 542 and 543 for logic switching and pulse switching as shown in Fig. 11b. The control flip-flop 505 is now tilting down. The first buffer 501 can then be transferred to the second buffer 503 store and do so at the end of the sixth clock pulse. Then the control flip-flop 504 flips down and the control flip-flop 505 high. The input signal is provided by a monostable multivibrator 501A supplied, which is controlled by the photocell 59 according to FIG.

A raonostable multivibrator 501B provides one Zero command to the motor 63 of the zero adjuster 62 according to the Pig. 2 and 2a. Whenever the scales aren't straight weighs a shipment, the monostable multivibrator 501B activates the zero setter 62. This ensures that that the zero set does not oscillate continuously, but only between the mail items passing through is working.

In the case of the clock generator that controls the buffer circuit according to Pig. 12 controls, it is the clock 506, in the logic circuit and pulse circuit according to the Pig. 11a to 11d is shown. The clock operates at a frequency of approximately 250 Hz. This frequency is not critical; she is made by means of the clock generator 506 and external resistors 507, 508 and 509 as well as a capacitor generated.

The buffer control circuit of Fig. 12 is required to include the flow of information for some letters going from weighing station 20 to meter 24. the Buffering or intermediate storage is not necessary,

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when there is only one letter traveling between the weighing station and the meter. However, this is only possible when the distance between the scale and the meter is so small that a shipment of the weighing station 20 can get to the transfer station 23 in 0.5 seconds or less. This requirement is necessary in order to maintain the design speed, namely about 7000 mailings per hour to edit.

It goes without saying that if the distance between the scale and the meter becomes too great, it will be necessary is that there are several letters or mail items on the way between the weighing station 20 and the Transfer station 23 are located what the buffer control circuit according to Pig. 12 makes it necessary.

The logic circuit and pulse circuit according to the 11a through 11d take the BCD signal from buffer 503 according to FIG. 12, calculates the necessary postage and then generates the pulses for controlling the stepper motors 301 and 302 (Fig. 7) correspond to the postage calculated for the weight of the letter and accordingly the returned information regarding the previous engine positions.

The logic circuit and pulse circuit works sequentially in such a way that flip-flops 511 and 512 certain events in a predetermined order together with associated gates 513, 514, 515, 516, 517 and 518.

The arithmetic unit or computing unit of the logic circuit comprises integrated circuits 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527 and 528. Die

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Calculation circuit multiplies the price unit each Weight unit of the shipment with the number of weight units measured by the scale 19. Indeed this multiplication is a sequence of additions that leads to a calculated postage, like this one will be explained.

Two comparators 529 and 530 respectively compare the previous one Position of the meter actuators 305 (Pig. 7) for the pennies and tens with the calculated value of the Postage. The stepping motors 301 and 302 (FIG. 7) are then supplied with corresponding pulses which lead to a Adjustment of the meter actuators 305 lead to a new postage. This setting is made via the shortest rotation, as the logic decides in which direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) every stepper motor has to turn so that the desired, new postage position is reached. Once the settings of the meter and the calculated postage match, the meter carries out the imprint. the Integrated circuits that control pulse generation for the motor include comparators 529 and 529 as well as components 531 to 539 and 550 to 555.

As already mentioned, the control flip-flop 504 is triggered by the monostable multivibrator 501A through the photocell 59, a fifth bit (input signal) which initiates the processing of the information. At a control panel, not shown, can the operator can select various different modes of operation. This includes:

a) Weight control (display of the weight measured by the scales on a display);

b) Bulk mailings (constant postage, no weighing or charging); νηά

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SZ

c) Franking mixed items (weighing and postage calculation), etc.

A mode of operation such as "weight control" does not allow the fifth Mt to be set so that the weight information is not processed by the scales 19.

As soon as the weight information has reached the second memory and if the fifth bit is set, see the Q output of the flip-flops 511 and 512, which are JK flip-flops, from the state F, -.... = O; F = o to the state Ft ^ = 1 and F ^ ^ ⁼ ° over. This generates an input command to an up / down counter 522 which receives the BCD information from the buffer over lines 540, 541, 542 and 543.

Other modes of operation that can be set on the control panel can prevent this input command, for example if the system is only used to close envelopes or when the date is checked. Among those Conditions, the up-down counter 522 holds a value (0000) and the input command is prevented. Of the Value (0000) is entered in the up-down counter for the signals "Mains power on" (POR) or "Clear" set of previously processed information.

At the next clock pulse, the Q outputs of the flip-flops 511 and 512 serving for sequential control go to the state F ₅₁ ^ = 0, Fc-J ₂ ⁼ 1. This generates a "delete fifth bit" signal. If the system is set to process bulk mail (constant postage), the up / down counter 522 is set to a "J" value (0001). The three possible values of the up / down counter

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BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT are the following: SS IS 522 Reason 0000 No billing,
0 χ unit price = DM C Just close or
Date verification 0001 Unit price = postage
1 χ unit price Constant postage measured
weight Weight units
χ Unit price
= Postage None of the
above cases

The following clock pulse sets the flip-flops

Sequence control in the state

= 1, F

₁ - , "

This sets the "clear" state from the JK flip-flop 535 removed. This allows the JK flip-flop 535 to be set when the up-down counter 522 zero reached. This indicates that a multiplication process has taken place. Setting the JK flip-flops 535 initiate the generation of the pulses for stepping the stepper motors 301 and 302 are required. This is done by components 539, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554 and 556 as well as their associated ones Gates executed.

As soon as the sequence control flip-flops have reached the state Fc ^ = 1, J ¹ C-J2 ^{= 1} , they remain in this state until they are deleted. The erasure state occurs when the postage to be printed has been transferred to the meter 24. If the letter is found to leave the meter, a cycle is ended. The sequence control by the flip-flops 511 and 512 and thus the functional sequence in the circuit are repeated for a new cycle with the marking of the fifth bit.

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JV

If a value other than (0000) in the up / down counter 521 has been entered, a multiplication takes place. The integrated circuits 519 and 520 - integrated circuits are sometimes also called IS for short in the following - are obtained the "unit price-per-unit weight" information Via lines 570, 571, 572, 573 and 574, 575, 576, 577 according to the penny and tens values. In the designation "Pfennigwert" stands for the smallest currency unit to be considered and "Pfennig" can be replaced by a corresponding currency unit of any other currency. The integrated Circuits 519 and 520 get this 4-bit information from a setting on the control panel. This setting enables different postage to be taken into account, from letter postage to airmail postage or the consideration of an increase in postage as may occur from time to time.

A flip-flop 521 serving for sequence control enables the penny and tens values of the integrated Circuits 519 and 520 are added to a 4-bit adder 523 via lines 544, 545 and 547 will. The output information of the 4-bit adder 523 is converted from the binary code by a converter 524 converted to the BCD code. The BDC information is then entered into a 4-bit register 525 which contains the Information transferred to a 4-bit register 526. The 4-bit register 525 holds the information for the Tens value, and the 4-bit register 526 holds the information for the penny value. The 4-bit register and 526 are cleared at the end of the cycle when flipflotBs 511 and 512 are returned to their zero state will.

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252467Q

The multiplication of the "unit price per unit of weight" (Information in the 4 "bit registers 525 and 526) is obtained by repeatedly adding this information to itself for each unit of weight, such as each ounce measured for an envelope. The repeated additions represent, in effect, a multiplication of the unit price by the weight The up / down counter is used for each addition that is carried out 522 downshifted once until zero is reached. As soon as the up-down counter 522 reaches zero, the multiplication is finished. The following is an example of a typical multiplication process reproduced:

Assumption: weight = 2 ounces

Unit price = $ 0.16

Ad- IS 522 2 IS 521 exit IS 52 " I IS 526 U Result transfer dier 2 the IS 519 (Sentence 2 1 and IS 520 the ad 1 (Sentence 1 of dier- O Adders inputs) corridors) O 6th O O O 6 + 0 1 1 6th O O 1 + 0 O 6th 1 6th O 6 + 6 1 1 2 1 1 1 + 1 + O 6th C3. 21 O Above wear

This example shows that the up / down counter 522 initially prescribes two steps corresponding to the assumed weight of 2 ounces. With everyone Addition, i.e. once for each ounce of weight, the up / down counter counts down.

The outputs of the integrated circuits 519 and 519 together give the values for the pennies and the Tens; in this case this corresponds to the value 16

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("1" and "6"). Flip-flop 521, which is a JK flip-flop, chooses the pennies (Q = O) and tens (Q = 1) for addition. During the first countdown of the up / down counter 522, the value "6" is input into the integrated circuit 519, which is a register and then transferred to integrated circuit 520, which is also a register, since a "17" is in the integrated Circuit 520 is entered. During the following half count, the "1" value in the 4-bit register 525 is transferred to the 4-bit register 526, since the addition of "6" + "6" results in a "2" value in the 4-bit register 525 results with a "1" carry. The last half count involves shifting the "2" to the 4-bit register 526, and the 4-bit register 525 now receives the previous "1" from the 4-bit register 526, a "1" transfer and an entered "1" from the integrated circuit 520, so that the result is π311. The second countdown thus leads to a "32" in 4-bit registers 525 and 526 which is the correct result. Because the up-down counter 522 is now at zero, the addition is ended. The JK flip-flop 535 is now set, and it the generation of the step impulses for the stepper motor takes place,

JK flip-flops 539 and 550 control the generation of the Penny impulses. The comparator 529 compares the penny value resulting from the multiplication with the penny value that is returned from the stepper motor 301 via lines 580, 581, 582 and 583. When the penny values are equal, the JK flip-flops 539 and 550 are prevented from being clocked. If the Values are not equal, the JK flip-flops go through 539 and 550 their code sequence. A gate 555 selects

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neither the count up code nor the count down code depending on a JK flip-flop 536.

The result of the comparison by the comparator is fed into a JK flip-flop 534 via a line 578A entered if the comparison results in the same values. If the penny value of the postage is either greater (Count down) or less (count up) than the returned penny value, the result will be Input to JK flip-flop 536 on lines 588 and 589, respectively.

The entry is always made when the meter is in a certain position (not in an intermediate position) is located. The Q outputs of the JK flip-flops and 550 are both "1" in this state.

The comparator 530 for the tens feeds a JK flip-flop 532 via a line 578 or 579, if that The result of the comparison is either greater or less than the setting of the meter. If the comparison If the comparator yields the same values, a JK flip-flop 531 is fed via a line 590.

If both JK flip-flops 531 and 534 are set, which means that the penny values and tens values are the same a monostable multivibrator 538 generates a pulse that clocks a JK flip-flop 537. The JK flip-flop 537 supplies a control signal to the meter.

Palis in the system should a malfunction occur, so that no coincidence with the feedback from the meter is found, the system is switched off and an alarm is triggered α

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3 *

This is achieved by means of a counter 556, which has counted how often the stepper motors have been switched on, namely it counts once for every four steps (F ₅₃₉ = 1, F ₅₅₀ = 1, F ₅₅₁ = 1 and ^^ 52 ⁼ O · It is known that if the system is working correctly, the motor needs a maximum of ten pulses to reach a certain position has not reached the correct position at the end of 15 impulses, the system is switched off.This state remains until a reset switch is thrown.

This error monitoring should be explained with reference to the following table for a better understanding will:

It is assumed that the necessary postage calculated is 32 and that the return is from the meter amounts to.

Postage = 32

E = equal

S = postage less than return

I = postage greater than return

D = down

U = up

0 = disregard

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SB

Output of the -ρ Meter- o>
W) 1 FF55O FF551 PF552 O)
W) Q) Blunder Comparator +> Shock- • Η O 1 1 1 • Η Ä z aiii he • Η IS530 guide O 1 O 1 Q) ω 0 U
£ -ρ (D
Cl_ J 1 O O O «Η 0 O
CO U -P h 1 O 1 O Ph S. 0 D. (U (U O 1 1 1 S. 1234 0 IS529 D. O 1 1 1 1234 1100 1 ω
W) D. Q) O Q) 1 O 1 1 1100 1001 1 • Η D. L U 2 1 O 1 1 0110 0011 1 D. 0 U 0 1 1 1 0011 0110 1 ω D. 0 YY 0 1001 1100 2 «Η
FM D. 0 U 0 1100 1100 S. D. E stop 3 0110 1100 0 stop E stop jZJ S FF539 0011 1100 0 E stop 0 4th 1001 1100 0 E stop 0 0 1100 S. ι Ε Stop 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 E, 0 0 2

In the table above, FP stands for JK flip-flop.

The counter 556 registers the step cycles so that if at the time the counter counts 15 pulses has, no equality is found, gates 591 and 592 are set so that on one line a stop signal is generated.

Drivers are on the clock from the JK flip-flops 539, 550, 551 and 552 are provided and also in the up-counter of the penny values and up-counter of the tens. This leads to the more flexible option of using a stepper motor solely by applying pulses instead of using it of a code to control.

The solenoids 303 and 304 according to FIG. 7 for setting the currency unit, for example marks or Dollars are controlled by a JK flip-flop 528 over line 594 as shown.

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The system can be clocked manually by means of a switch 595 when troubleshooting is carried out must become.

The positions of the meter actuators 305, which control the setting of the pennies and tens in the meter, are detected by encoder disk assemblies 370 and 375 (see Fig. 7). The pfennigs and tens are converted to electrically encoded signals (BCD signals) and then to comparators 529 and 529 via lines 580, 581, 582, 583 and 584, 585, 586, respectively, in FIGS. 11a to 11d. The reason for this feedback is that the stepper motors 301 and 302 are to be driven by means of pulses over the shortest turning distance if they are the meter actuators 305 from the previous postage for the previous letter to a new postage for the following letter to adjust. In other words, the stepper motors 301 and 302 step by step either clockwise or counterclockwise, namely ^ e according to which direction between the fixed end settings "0" and "9" is shorter. This meter setting system is designed to that it is the meter actuators from the lowest "O" position to the highest "9" position or vice versa changes in approximately 190 msec. Of course, a shorter rotation, for example from a "3" position to a "6" position, in less time executed.

The feedback of the positions of the meter actuators will be more fully understood with reference to FIGS explained. As mentioned earlier, the penny and tens settings are used by encoder disk assemblies 370 and 375 for BCD encoding captured the

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each on the shafts 329 and 323 of the stepper motors are attached, as is the case in Pig. 7 is shown. , The settings of the meter actuators 305 can In this way it can be determined as the stepper motors direct these positions via the rotation their shafts 329 and 323 control. To the stepper motor 301, which controls the meter actuator for the pennies, includes a BCD encoded disk 371 mounted on its shaft 329. The BOD encoded disk 371 has ten different sets of openings formed in it, as generally indicated by an arrow 372 is shown.

On the shaft 323 of the stepper motor 302, the outer meter actuator for the tens controls, a BCD encoded disk 373 is attached. In the coded Disc 373 are also ten different sets of openings (arrow 374) formed only partially can be seen since the disk 373 is shown partially broken away.

Each set of openings shown by arrows 372 and 374, respectively, are associated with a different one Adjustment of the meter actuator from "O" to "9". The largest number of openings in each set of There are four openings for each disc, in accordance with the 4-bit BCD code, which is electrically transmitted through each opening or the lack of one in each set of openings is created.

These openings allow light to pass through the panes 371 and 373, respectively. This light is for each of the discs 371 and 373 from a separate row of four clear lights! t animal diodes (LED) 376 generated, being off For the sake of simplicity only the series for the

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coded logs 373 is shown. The light generated by these light emitting diodes passes through a specific set of openings corresponding to the rotational position of the respective disc. the Coded disks 371 and 373 rotate in the direction of arrows 377 and 378 respectively and the shaft rotates or 323 of the respective stepper motor to which they are respectively attached. So a special one belongs Section of the disc, i.e. a specific set of openings, directly to a specific position of the Meter actuator.

A row of four photodetectors 379 are on the other side of the apertured disc arranged opposite the diodes 376 in the manner shown. These photo detectors represent the impact or absence of light generated by the light emitting diodes, depending on whether there is an opening between the photodetectors and the diodes to allow light to pass through made possible by the disc.

The BGD signals from the photo detectors 379 for the pennies or the tens are transmitted via the lines 580, 581, 582, 583 or 584, 585, 586, 587 to the associated comparator 529 or 530 according to Pig. 11a given to 11d. The signals from the photodetectors 379 are additionally generated by a Schmitt trigger 390 shaped so that clearly pronounced impulses are delivered.

The stepping motor 301, which controls the meter actuator 305 for the pennies, is fed by a drive circuit 391, which is shown in Fig. 19 of the SLO-SYN step.uotorkatalogsMSM 1171 shown

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BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT "'

is similar to that available from Superior Electric Company, Bristol, Connecticut.

In the same way, the stepping motor 302, which controls the meter actuator 305 for the tens, is from a drive circuit 391 fed.

The drive circuits 391 receive the step signals via gates 389 and lines 381, 382, 383, 384 or 385, 386, 387, 388 according to Fig. K.

When the meter actuators 305 are actuated by the stepping motors 301 and 302, print wheels 392 set in the meter. This setting is captured in an up-down register 393.

The position of the meter actuator 305, which controls the mark setting in the meter, is controlled by a Detected disk assembly 450, which is shown in Fig. 7 in its installation position and the functioning of the Figures 7a and 7b show. The disk assembly 450 comprises a disk 451, which by pivoting in Direction of arrow 317 assumes either a mark position or zero position. This means that the Disk 451 assumes either an upper layer (Fig. 7a) or a lower layer (Fig. 7b).

In a corresponding manner, a slot 452 formed in the disk 451 takes on the pivoting of the Slice an upper or lower layer. The slot 452 is located in its lower position (FIG. 7b) between a first pair of detector elements consisting of a light emitting diode 453 and a photodetector 454 exists as shown. When the disk 451 is in this position, it acts

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Hf

the slit 452 as a light passage between the diode 453 and the photodetector 454.

In the upper layer (Pig. 7a) the slot 452 is located between a second pair of detector elements, which consist of a light emitting diode 455 and a photodetector 456. In the upper layer acts the slit as a light window between these elements.

The light detected by either photodetector 454 or 456 is converted into an electrical signal, the logic circuit and pulse circuit according to Figures 11a to 11d are returned. Each of these Position signals are shaped by a Schmitt trigger 457 to sharpen these pulses (FIG. 14). The shaped pulses are then transmitted to the logic circuit and pulse circuit according to FIGS. 11a to 11a 11d given via a line 599.

The pulse signals for controlling the solenoids are generated by the logic circuit and the pulse circuit 11a to 11d via a line 594 supplied. The control signal is generated by a set and reset gate 458 and a so-called pull-pull circuit 459 before it is applied to the solenoids 303 and 304 is given. The solenoids 303 and 304 adjust the meter actuator 305 for the marrow adjustment, the in turn adjusts the associated pressure wheel 392 in the Mater. When the meter is triggered and the Postage becomes the setting in the up-down register 393 detected or recorded.

An intermediate circuit 457 shown in FIG. 17 includes a set and reset gate 478 which controls the mark settings for the logic circuit and the

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Impulse switching according to the Pig. 11a to 11d suitable conditioned and available via a line 599. A gate 479 provides a signal through a Line 600 (attention), which tells the logic that the disk 451 is in a certain zero position or Market position is reached. This interposition is triggered by two Schmitt triggers 457 (see the zero setting circuit and mark setting circuit according to Pig. 18) activated via lines 476 and 477.

The one in Pig. 18 includes so-called train circuits 459 of the type shown. The train circuits 459 are controlled by a set and reset gate 458 and 460, respectively. When a "high" Signal over line 594 from the logic circuit and pulse circuit according to the Pig. 11a to 11d received so that the solenoid 304 pulls (marrow setting), while the solenoid 304 is already in the marrow position is located, supplies the potentiometer 456, which is a phototransistor non-complementary "high" signal on gate 458a of set and reset gate 458 over line 480, so that gate 458a does not provide a "low" trigger signal to gate 458b that controls solenoid 304 would pull. The gate 46Oa of the set and reset gate does not control the solenoid 303 (zero setting) so that it picks up as the signal from line 594 present on line 482 from gate 458c is inverted. The set and reset gate 460 has this additional reverse gate 458c so that the Zero adjustment train circuit 459 is not actuated when a mark adjustment command is received will. Of course, the train circuit for the Markeins-cellung is not activated by a zero setting command controlled.

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Ϋ6

If a "low" signal, i.e. a zero signal, is received over lines 494 and 482 from gate 458c is received, this is inverted in a corresponding manner to a "hohaa" signal. The gate 46Oa receives this "high" signal, and if the photodetector 456 does not receive a non-complementary "high" Signal via line 481 to gate 46Oa, as is the case when the disc is in the zero position, the solenoid 303 switched on.

So that the Meter 24 makes a good and even impression on the items of all possible thicknesses produced up to a maximum thickness of 12.7 mm, a movable pressure floor mechanism proved to be necessary, as shown in Figs. Fig. 15 shows the movable press floor mechanism in its unguided position, i.e. its rest position. Fig. 16 shows the movable pressure floor mechanism, how it picks up an envelope that causes the push bottom 400 to deflect around the To include an envelope or letter.

The pressure floor 400 carries a counter pressure roller 401, see above that the counter-pressure roller 401 is somewhat separated from a postage printing drum 403 of the meter 24 when the pressure floor 400 moves away from an adjacent conveyor belt 402 (FIG. 16).

The counterpressure roller 401 becomes a postage printing drum by a spring 403 printed so that for printing sufficient pressure between the platen 401 and the postage printing drum 403 is taken care of. The pressure floor 400 is evenly from a linkage 404 Conveyor belt 402 moved (Fig. 16). The linkage 404

-46-509851 / 0801

f?

includes two links 405 and 406, respectively have intermeshing, toothed surfaces 407 and 408 at one end. The connecting link 405 is rotatably connected via a pin 409 to the printing base 400 at its inlet end for letters. The connecting member 406 is articulated via a pin 410 to the pressure base 400 at its drain end connected for letters. The links 40 and 406 are each around a pin 411 and 412, respectively pivotable so that the toothed surfaces 407 and in engagement with one another can be moved relative to one another are. The pins 411 and 412 are attached to a frame.

The link 406 is connected to a lever arm 414 that sits on the pin 412. The lever arm 414 is acted upon by a spring 416 which is articulated to the lever arm 414 via a pin 417. That The other end of the spring 416 is suspended from an anchoring point 418 on the frame 415.

The conveyor belt for the envelopes is continuously driven around drive wheels 420 and tension rollers 421, which are rotatably mounted on a spring-loaded arm 422.

When the pressure base 400 is in its rest position according to FIG. 15, a is in direction 430 (Fig. 16) incoming letter 425 conveyed upright to the printing floor, where it is on a lip 423 of the printing floor meets. This causes the inlet end of the pressure floor of the conveyor belt 402 in the direction of a Arrow 427 is pushed away until the letter is between the conveyor belt and the first of two guide rollers 426 is seated. When the front end of the pressure floor 400 is pushed away from the conveyor belt 402, the

-47-

509851/0801

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT * - ^{H υ} ' ^u

rear section of the pressure plate in the direction of an arrow 428 due to the linkage 404 by the same Line deflected. The linkage works in such a way that the pressure floor moves as a whole, so that this results in a uniform separation over the entire contact surface of the printing base for the letter. Of the The thickness of the letter is also met by the movable counter-pressure roller 401, which is at the end of the printing plate 400 is stored. The uniform separation or displacement of the printing plate 400 and the counter-pressure roller 401 leads to trouble-free and smooth entry and exit of the broadcasts and takes care of this for a uniform postage imprint on the letter.

The linkage 401 works in such a way that when a letter deflects the printing base 400 at its inlet end, the connecting member 405 is pivoted about the pin 411. This in turn causes the toothed surface 407 of the connecting link 405 moved in the direction of an arrow 435 (Fig. 15). These Movement leads to a corresponding movement of the toothed surface 408 of the connecting link 406 in the direction of an arrow 440. Since both connecting links Moving 405 and 406 over equal distances is the displacement of the entire pressure floor 400 evenly. This is due to the fact that the two connecting members 405 and 406 the pressure base 400 support its opposite ends via pins 409 and 410.

The conveyor belt 402 is a friction belt that grips and transfers the incoming letter 425 the guide rollers 426 to the counter-pressure roller 401 and

-48- 509851/0801

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT

transported to the postage printing drum 403. If the Letter in the direction of an arrow 441 in Pig. 16 has been ejected, the spring 416 acts on the Lever arm 414 so that it presses on link 406 so that it is around pin 412 in The direction of an arrow 445 pivots. This in turn causes the link 405 toward an arrow 446 pivots about the pin 411. The pivotal movements of the links 405 and 406 cause the pressure base 400 in its in Fig. 15 shown rest position returns.

While the letter 425 approaches the postage printing drum 403 in the direction of an arrow 464, his is running Leading edge between a light emitting diode and a photodetector 461 through. When the photo detector 461 no longer receives light, he actuates a motor 462, which the postage printing drum 403 in the direction of a Arrow 465 sets in rotation.

After the postage has been printed on the letter, the letter passes under the postage printing drum 403. The leading edge of the letter then passes between a light emitting diode 471 and a photodetector by, which is arranged opposite the diode 471. When the photo detector 472 detects the leading edge of the letter, i.e., if it does not receive any light from diode 471, it signals that the next letter is the Pressure floor is to be fed.

The speed of the postage printing drum 403 is related to the speed of the incoming letter determined so that a postage stamp 470 hits the letter in the right place at the right time. on this way the imprint on the obtre, right

-49-509851 / 0801

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT

Corner of the letters3 applied while the letter is between the back pressure roller 401 and the postage printing drum 403 moves. Fluctuations in the speed of the Drum and the speed of the incoming letter can be achieved by suitable, not shown Equalization controls are corrected.

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509851/0801

BOEHMEFT & BOEHMERT

File: ^P

Si

REFERENCE CHARACTERISTICS LIST (LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS)

1 1 2 ?. 3 4th 4th 5 5 6th 6th 7th 7th 8th 8th 9 9 10 stacks 10 11 input shelf 11 12 Input direction 12th 1 $ feed drive 13th 14 isolated eggs 14th 15 arrow 15th 16 Transfer Sisbion 16 17 ßrOilifsßstation 17th 18 transfer station 18th 19 scales 19th 20 meadow station 20th 21 Transfer station 21 22 control gate 22nd 23 ÜhfiTfiJTrrun ^ RstPti on 23 24 meters 24 25 separation station 25th 26th 2 «7 stacking device 27 28 postage meter station 28 29 29

30 letter

509851/080 i

SZ

31 arrow

32 transport rollers 32 33 weighing pan 33 34 wall ■ 34 35 trough 35 56 guide plate 36 37 pair of fingers 37 38 pair of pingers 38 39 pair of pingers 39 40 area 40 41 arm 41 42 locking bar 42 43 WaIIp 43 44 tooth 44 45 leaf spring 45 46 leaf spring 46 47 margin 47 48 margin 48 49 rod 49 50 dampers 50 51. Lock arm 51 52 light windows 52 53! Light source 53 54 arrow 54 55 arrow 55 56 prism 56 , 57 Potodetector series 57 ^ 8 ejector roller 58 59 photocell 59 60 arrow 60 .61 Light source 61 62 zero adjuster 62 63 engine 63 64 worm drive 64 € 5 spring 65

- 2 509851/0801

BOEHMERT & BCEHMERT 2 5 2 4 6 7 D

66 suspension ₆₆

67 67 68 68 69 69 70 broadcast 70 71 arrow 71 72 arrow 72 73 Control Mechanism 73 74 lever arm 74 75 'wave 75 76 arrow 76 77 Pf _P iι 77 78 arrow 78 79 arrow 79 80 trailing edge 80 81 Liehtauelle 81 82 photo detector 82 83 83 84 84 85 85 86 86 87 87 88 88 89 89 90 photo detector 90 91 shadow border 91 92 Pfpi ι 92 93 adjusting screw 93 94 pivot pin 94 95 arm 95 96 arrow 96 97 sliding pin 97 98 slot 98 99 threaded sleeve 99 2DO cam disc 00

- 3 50985 1/0801

P01 medium wave 201 POP wheel 2OP PO ' ² »axis 20 ⁵ p pn ¹ '* bracket ? 04 20 5 Holders 205 ? 06 coil spring 206 207 pen 207 208 wave 208 209 part 209 210 pen 210 2.1.1 axis 211 P.12 arrow ? 12 2.13 arrow 213 214- arrow ? 14 215 215 216 arrow ? 16 217 217 218 ? 18 219 P19 220 arrow 220 221 2? 1 222 222 223 swivel arm ? 23 224 swivel arm 224 2? 5 225 2? £. . . 226 227 227 228 228 229 229 230 230

- 4 - 50985 1/0801

BOEHMERT & BOEI1MERT 2 ^ 24670

SS

231 231 ? 32 232 233 233 234 254 235 235 236 236 237 237 238 ? 58 239 239 240 arrows 240 24: solenoid 241 242 push rod 242 243 pin c 243 244 rod 244 245 245 246 246 247 247 248 248 249 249 250 disc 250 251 pen 251 252 252 253 253 254 254 255 255 256 slot 256 ? 57 257 258 258 259 259 ? 60 arrow 260 261 arrow 261 262 262 263 263 264 264 265 265

50985 1/0801

265 266 26? 267 268 268 269 269 270 races 27O 271 271 272 272 275 275 274 274 275 275 276 276 277 277 278 278 279 279 280 230 281 281 282 232 285 235 284 284 285 285 286 286 287 287 288 288 289 289 290 290 291 291 292 292 295 295 29 ^ 294 295 295 296 296 297 297 298 298 299 299 VO 300

50985 1/0801

BOEHMcFT & BOEHMERT

301 stepper motor 301 3OP stepper motor 3OP "503. ',' -, lfioid, 303a pen 303 304 ^ rlr-noid, 304a pin 304 305 Ii λ tor 55 partial drive 305 306 ν ,, - Λν-Λ. 306 307 wave 307 308 wave 308 309 full 309 310 pontic. 310a slot TIO 311 Zwi.rsehGTifflied. 311a slot 311 312 compression spring 312

315 ρ ff »η

513

314 compression spring

314

515 arrow

315

5 16 gear

516

5 17 Arrow 3 I8 Cogwheel Cogwheel

519

5 20 idler gear

320

5 21 gear

521

3 22 arrow

322

525

5 24 gear

524

5 25 idler gear

325

gear

526

527 intermediate gear 3 28 gear

528

329 wave

329

330 arrow

330

- 7 -

50985 1/0801

Sf

3 31 gear 331 3 32 idler gear 332 3 33 Intermediate gear 333 3 3 ^ gear 334 3 35 idler gear 335 3 36 Locking Mechanism 3 36 3 37 latch 337 3 38 spring 3 38 3 39 tooth 3 39 340 approach 340 341 bracket 341 342 pivot pin 342 343 343 3 44 pen 344 3 45 Locking Mechanism 345 3 46 arrow 346 3 47 locking plate 347 3 48 arrow 348 3 49 beam of light 3 49 3 50 arrow 3 50 3 51 tooth 3 51 3 52 7, dial prrart 3 52 3 53 Reset slot 3 53 3 54 windows 3 54 3 55 prism 3 55 3 56 3 56 3 57 3 57 3 58 00
LA
K " 3 59 3 59 3 60 locking fork 3 60 3 61 3 61 3 62 3 62 363 3 63 3 64 3 64 365 3 65

50985 1/0801

BOEHMERT & BOFHMJ-RT 2 5 2 A 6 7

S3

366 566

567 367

368 568

369 569

370 encoder disk assembly 57O

371 washer 571

572 arrow ; 57g

373 washer 573

374- arrow 574-

575 encoder disk arrangement

576 diode 576

577 arrow 577

578 diode 3 78

3 79 photo detector 579

580 580

381 line 581

5 82 line 532

5 83 line 383

5 8 4 line 584

3 83 line 585

5 86 line 386

5 87 line 387

5 88 line 388

3 89 gate 589

3 90 Schmitt trigger 590

5 91 Drive circuit 591

5 92 iVuckrad 592

5 95 Upward - Downward.srRgi ffer 593

5 94 5_9i

595 595

5 96 596

5 97 597

5 98 598

3 99 599

4-00 pressure floor 4OO

50985 1/0801

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT

401 counter pressure roller 401 402 conveyor belt 402 403 PostodrucV-krQTjn-nfil 403 404 fi-p? pole 4-04 405 connecting link 405 406 connecting link 406 407 area 407 408 area 408 409 pen 4-09 4IO pen 410 411 S + ift 411 412 pen 412 413 413 414 lever arm 414 415 frame 415 416 spring 416 417 pen 417 418 anchorage point 418 419 419 420 drive roller 420 421 tension pulley 421 422 arm 422 423 lip 423 424 424 425 letter 425 4? P, leadership 426 427 arrow 4 ₂ 7 428 arrow 428 429 429 430 arrow 430

50985 1/0801

BOEHMEKT & BÜEHMERT

431

432 432

433 433

434

4 35 arrow 435

436 436

437

438

439

440 arrow 440

441 arrow 441

442

443

444

4 45 arrow 445

4 46 arrow 446

447

448

449

Disc assembly 4 50

4 .51 Washer 4 51

4 52 slot 4 52

4 53 diode 4 53

Photo detector 454

4 55 diode 4 55

4 _> 6 Photo detector 4 56

4 57 Schmitt trigger

4 60 set and reset gates, 460a. 460b gate 4 61 photodetector

4 57

4 58 set and reset gates, 458a.458b.458c gates 4 58

4 59 Pull-to-pull switching 4 59

4 60 4 61

4 62 engine 4 62

4 63 diode 4 63

4 64 arrow 4 64

4 65 arrow 4 65

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50985 1/0801

4 66 466 467 467 468 468 469 469 470 postage stamps 470 471 diode 471 472 photo detector 472 473 473 474 474 475 interposition 475 476 line 476 477 line 477 4-78 Setting and Resetting Gafcfcfcer 478 479 gates 479 480 line; 480 48I 481 482 line 482 483 483 4 84 . 484 4 85 485 486 486 487 487 4 88 488 4 89 489 4 90 490 4 91 491 4 92 492 493 493 4 94 494 4 95 495 4 96 496 4 97 497 4 98 498 4 99 499 5 00 BCD converter, 500A BCD converter 5OO

- 12 -

509851/0801

BOEHMHRT & BOEHMERT 2 ^ 24670

5Ö ± _. Buffer, .._ 5O1A, 5O1B multivibrator 501 502 . . 50? 503-.PUfEr _ 50 ^ 504 flip-flop 5O4A line: 504 505 control flip-flop 50 5 506__ clock generator 506 502 "Resistance 507 508__ resistance. . .. 508 '5Ö9._ Resistance 509 5 ^ Q- capacitor ... 510 5H._iÜpflop_. R11 B12__Elipflop. ".... ... ς12 5J.i_.Gat.ter. . 51 ^ 5 5:14. Gate. _. 514 ^ .15. ÜättRr _ _ 515 5 * 1.6 ... gate 516 Bή Ζ. gate 517 5.10._ Gate 518 5j.9 "Integrated circuit R19 5.2Ö integrated circuit 520 551 ..- J ¹ IlPfIoP. 521 522 up / down counter 522 % j £ '3 ..... l - \) i t-ΑΑά i erer 525 5.5 ^ converter 524 5 ^ Sl 4 hit register 525 % 5 & 4-tiit-Reis2ister 526 % pj integrated circuit 527 528 JK-PIipflop 528 5J29-? Equal 529 53Ö comparator

- 13 -

50985 1/0801

531 JK flip-flop 531 532 JK flip-flop 532 533 533 534 JK-FUpf lop 534- 535 JK flip-flop 535 536 JK flip-flop 536 537 JK flip-flop 537 538 multivibrator 538 539 JK flip-flop 539 540 line 54-0 541 line 54-1 542 line 54-2 543 line 54-3 544 line 544 54-5 line 545 54-6 line 546 547 line 54-7 5 4-8 54-8 5 49 54-9 5 50 JK flip-flop 550 5 51 JIC-T ?! 1 ηΠ η-η 551 5 52 JK-LFIiOf lop 552 5 53 553 55 ^ "554 5 55 fi-attPT. 555 5 56 counters 556 ς 57 557 ς 58 558 5 59 <559 5 60 management 560 5 61 management 561 5 62 management 562 5 63 management 563 564. 564 5 65 565

- 14 -

509851/0801

BOEHMEPT & BOEHMER'J

CS

566 566 567 567 568 568 569 569 57O LfiitiiTiP- 570 571 line 571 572 leitune 572 j (Z> Tipi -fcnncr 573 574 line ς 74 575 line 575 576 line ς 76 577 line * 77 578 wire, 578A wire 578 579 line 579 580 lei tune 5 80 581 line 58I 582 line 582 583 line 583 584 line ς 84 585 line 585 586 line 586 587 line. 587 588 line 588 5B9 line 589 590 Leitune 590 591 gate 591 592 gate 592 593 line 593 594 line 5 94 595 switch 5 95 596 5 96 597 5 * 97 598 5 98 599 line R 99 600 line 600

- 15 -.

509851/0801

Claims (1)

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT 2 F)? A 6 7 Claims 1. Process for the continuous processing of a large amount of mixed mail, with individual mail continuously in sequence in the are essentially conveyed upright along a conveyor track with a weighing station and a Postage meter station, each shipment is weighed and then printed with the postage that corresponds to the weight corresponds to the respective shipment, characterized in that a) a lot of τοη shipments continuously in sequence essentially upright along a continuous Transport rail is promoted, b) each shipment is continuously fed one after the other to a weighing station arranged on the transport path so that the shipment can be weighed, c) each consignment fed to the weighing station is weighed, d) the amount of postage required for each weighed shipment is determined, e) each weighed consignment is continuously fed one after the other to a postage meter station arranged on the transport path, f) the amount of postage to be printed on each item is controlled or set so that it corresponds to the amount of the postage determined, and g) the set postage is printed on each mail item supplied to the postage meter station. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized by the additional steps that h) a stack of mixed items is held, and -51- 5 0985 1/080 1 i) Mail items from this stack are introduced into the transport path. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that unsealed programs that • conveyed along the conveyor belt, sealed or closed. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that programs are overweight be deflected from the transport path after weighing and before the postage is printed. 5. Continuous, automatically weighing and franking processing system for mail items for processing a large number of mixed items that automatically weigh individual items and are stamped with postage provides, which are continuously conveyed one after the other along a continuous transport path, at which a weighing station and a postage meter station are located, with the weighing station automatically sending each shipment weighs, the amount of the postage to be printed is determined and then the amount of the postage meter station The postage to be printed on each consignment is set or controlled in such a way that it corresponds to the determined amount, characterized by facilities that provide a continuous transport path for the too Processing mailings (30), along which the mailings are transported, form a weighing station (20) which is connected to is arranged on the transport path and for measuring the weight of each mail item fed to the weighing station serves, a first, automatic feed device (18), which is used continuously in sequence numerous, individual broadcasts on the continuous -52-
£ 0985 1/080 BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT se Transport "to feed the weighing station the continuous transport path arranged postage meter station (28), which the weighed mail items from the weighing station and is used to postage on each shipment according to the determined amount to print, a second, automatic feed device (21, 23), which is used to continuously one after the other, the weighed mail items on the conveyor belt from the weighing station to the postage meter station to transfer, and a functionally switched between the weighing station and the postage meter station Control device (Fig. 11a to 11d, Pig. 14), which responds to the amount of the determined postage and causes the postage printed by the postage meter station for each shipment to correspond to the determined amount. 6. Processing system according to claim 5, characterized in that the height of the weighed on each Consignment of postage to be printed from the weighing station (20) is determined and that this is a postage determination device includes. 7. Processing system according to claim 6, marked z ei without t. by means of the individual broadcasts while they pass through the conveyor belt, they are essentially supported on edge. 8. Processing system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by a support device, the next the transport track is arranged and carries a lot of mixed mail items, and from the carrying device Borrowed funds that promote the shipments to the transport track. -53-509851 / 0801 BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT 9. Processing system according to one of claims 6 to 8, gekennzei chnet by a locking device (17), which is arranged on the transport path is and is used to close open items conveyed along the transport path. 10. Processing system according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the first automatic feeder (18) delay means to stop τοη includes items that move along the transport path, and that the weighing station (20) comprises a scale (19) for weighing the mail items, the delay means stopping each mail item so that that it can be placed on the scales for weighing. 11. Processing system according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the weighing station (20) includes a device that can determine whether a shipment is overweight and that a reject device (22) is located on the transport path, which is used to reject overweight mail items and which is functionally connected to the weighing station in such a way that it can respond to the plague of Overweight appeals and then deflects an overweight consignment from the transport path. 12. Processing system according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the postage meter station (28) comprises a printing unit (401, 403) and that the second automatic feed device (23) comprises a compensatingly movable floor (400), the correspondingly different thicknesses of the mail items fed to the printing unit of the postage meter station is adjustable so that for each broadcast independently -54- 509851/0801 BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT its thickness provides substantially uniform pressure during printing. 13. Processing system according to claim 5, characterized in that the postage meter station (28) each Consignment is supplied that the postage corresponds to the weight of each consignment is determined that between the weighing station (20) and the postage meter station (28) functionally a computing device (Fig. 11a to 11d) is switched on, the required postage for each of the postage meter stations for printing the postage determined deliveries, and that the control device functionally between the computing device and the postage meter station is switched on. 14. Processing system according to claim 13, characterized in that the computing device is a selection device, which makes it possible to change the unit price per weight unit or weight step, and multiplying means (523, 524, 525, 526) which perform a multiplication of the 3 weights of each Can carry out a shipment with the selected unit price. 15. Processing system according to claim 14, characterized in that the computing device further a bypass control means (522) which serves to bypass the multiplier therewith in the case of bulk mailings, each mailing is printed with the same or a constant unit price. 16. Processing system according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the postage meter station (28) a meter (24) with numerous print wheels (392) for printing the digits for the -55-509851 / 0801 BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT Currency unit, the tenth currency unit and the hundredths of a currency unit of postage included. 17. Processing system according to claim 16, characterized in that the control device several stepper motors (301, 302) for stepwise turning or switching of the print wheels in one of includes two directions. 18. Processing system according to claim 17, characterized in that the computing device (Fig. 11a to 11d) comprises a device for generating stepping motor pulses, which is determined on the Postage and depending on the postage determined and previous positions of the Stepper motors (301, 302) supplies pulses to the stepper motors. 19. Processing system according to claim 5, characterized in that the amount of the to be printed on each shipment Postage is determined by a computing device (Fig. 11a to 11d), which is functionally connected to the weighing station (20) and is used to electronically determine the amount of the on each to determine postage to be printed on the mailing weighed by the weighing station that the control device is functional is connected between the determining device and the postage meter station (28) and that functional between the weighing station and the calculating computation. mediating device a synchronization device (Fig. 12) is switched, which ensures that each weighed shipment with the postage determined for this special mailing is printed when the weighed mailing is transferred to the postage meter station. -56-509851 / 0801 BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT * ' 20 »Processing system according to claim 19, characterized in that the synchronization device at least one buffer (501, 503) for storing information regarding a weighed Transmission and a buffer control device (501A, 501B, 504, 505) for transmitting the stored Information from the buffer to the computational determination direction (Pig. 11a to 11d), which for ! Determination of the amount of postage required for the weighed shipment. 21. Processing system according to claim 19 »characterized in that the synchronization device two buffers (501, 503), namely a first buffer (501) for storing the weight information of a first shipment, which are essentially located in the weighing station (20), and a second buffer (503) functionally connected to the first buffer is and is used to store weight information of a second shipment that was previously has been weighed and has essentially just been transferred from the weighing station to the postage meter station (28) will" §2 * processing system according to claim 21, characterized in that the synchronization device furthermore a first control device which is functionally connected to the "buffers (501, 503) and for Control of the transmission of weight information from the first buffer to the second buffer is used, and one gwelte control device includes, which is functional with the A wide buffer is connected and for the transmission of weight information from the second buffer to the determination device (Fig. 11a Ms 11d) is used. -57-509851 / 0801 BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT 23. Processing system according to claim 5, characterized in that the height of the on each Consignment to be printed postage is determined by a determination device (Pig. 11a Ms 11d), which is functionally connected to the weighing station and serves to measure the height of each of the weighing station weighed mail to be printed postage to determine that the control device (Fig. 11a to 11d) is functionally connected between the determining device and the postage meter station (28) and that functionally a flow control device on the transport track is connected, which is used to synchronize the passage of the shipments on the transport track in serves to ensure that numerous shipments in the various stations on the transport path at any point in time are in progress. -58- 509851/0 801 , 7t. Blank page