EP0875864A2 - Système pour communiquer entre stations d'une machine d'affranchissement - Google Patents

Système pour communiquer entre stations d'une machine d'affranchissement Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0875864A2
EP0875864A2 EP98250060A EP98250060A EP0875864A2 EP 0875864 A2 EP0875864 A2 EP 0875864A2 EP 98250060 A EP98250060 A EP 98250060A EP 98250060 A EP98250060 A EP 98250060A EP 0875864 A2 EP0875864 A2 EP 0875864A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stations
station
emergency
base station
interface
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98250060A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0875864A3 (fr
Inventor
Christoph Kunde
Marcus Kruschinski
Hasbi Kabacaoglu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Francotyp Postalia GmbH
Original Assignee
Francotyp Postalia GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Francotyp Postalia GmbH filed Critical Francotyp Postalia GmbH
Publication of EP0875864A2 publication Critical patent/EP0875864A2/fr
Publication of EP0875864A3 publication Critical patent/EP0875864A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00314—Communication within apparatus, personal computer [PC] system, or server, e.g. between printhead and central unit in a franking machine
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • G07B2017/00241—Modular design
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00314—Communication within apparatus, personal computer [PC] system, or server, e.g. between printhead and central unit in a franking machine
    • G07B2017/00322—Communication between components/modules/parts, e.g. printer, printhead, keyboard, conveyor or central unit
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00314—Communication within apparatus, personal computer [PC] system, or server, e.g. between printhead and central unit in a franking machine
    • G07B2017/00346—Power handling, e.g. power-down routine

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an arrangement for communication between stations of a mail processing machine according to the type specified in the preamble of claims 1, 10, 11 and 13.
  • the mail processing machine is suitable for processing filled letters of different formats with medium to large shipping quantities.
  • the structure of stations enables cost-effective adaptation to different customer requirements.
  • the system which is designed for communication, can be operated as a franking system, shipping system or postage stamp validation system and can be switched off quickly in an emergency.
  • a personal computer is already known from US 5,200,903 (Neopost) or a workstation with a reusable cable peripheral franking machine to connect, which is a billing and Control module (meter) and a printer for both printing the Franking stamp as well as for printing the recipient address contains.
  • a MODEM is connected to the personal computer.
  • the personal computer acts as a means of communication and does the calculation the respective postage fees for the individual packages Reason saved postage fee tables.
  • the peripheral accounting module is relieved of this computing and memory-intensive function. No additional scales need to be connected to the franking machine if the letter weight is based on the letter content from Personal computer can be calculated.
  • the billing module of the Postage meter has a processor system with postage memories and takes care of the billing and the directly connected control module controls the printing of address and franking stamp.
  • the disadvantage is that low working speed of the overall system. It is determined on the data transfer rate on the connection between the Input / output port of the personal computer on the one hand and that of the Billing module on the other hand. It also remains with the user left to ensure that the envelopes with the correct value or printed with the correct address. So these solutions allowed not the automatic processing of filled letters from different thickness and different formats. A fast automatic processing so-called mixed mail with changing Postage from letter to letter is practically impossible.
  • Some mail processing machines therefore consist of stations with their own Intelligence. There is generally such a mail processing machine from a variety of devices, for example an automatic one Feeding station, a dynamic scale, a franking machine and a letter tray. The devices either become central controlled or communicate with each other.
  • the invention has for its object the disadvantages of the prior art Eliminate technology and a more flexible mail processing machine too create, which consists of physically separate stations.
  • This Stations are designed for maximum adaptation to the respective customer requirements enable and can be added arbitrarily.
  • any other devices should be connectable without these devices with their own human / machine user interface must be equipped.
  • the mail processing machine is said to be one Postage meter base station include the processing of filled letters of different thickness and different Formats allowed for medium to large shipping quantities. Even with one mail processing machine consisting of several stations is said to be a Paper jams can be prevented under all circumstances.
  • the stations of the mail processing machine should therefore correspond to the communication with further stations and an emergency shutdown in an emergency can trigger the mail processing machine with great certainty.
  • the mail processing machine consists at least of an automatic feed station and a printing machine base station. It is possible to operate such an arrangement as a dispatch system or postage cancellation system, or the aforementioned base station serves as a franking machine in a franking system.
  • the system can be supplemented with a dynamic scale, which is inserted between the automatic feed station and the printing base station, ie "to the left" of the printing base station. It can also be advantageously equipped with a letter tray “to the right” of the base station.
  • the invention allows that "at the right" of the printing base station, at least one further station with end plug can be inserted.
  • an intelligent peripheral device If an intelligent peripheral device is also inserted, its status can be determined by the base station using an arrangement for communication between a base station and further stations of a mail processing machine.
  • the control of one or each station is optionally designed so that the switch-on of all stations can be activated by the base station via a single switch-on line.
  • a status line - called emergency exit - will be used by everyone Stations led. It is envisaged that a status line as an emergency stop line through all stations that the mail processing machine unlimited expandable and trained for both sides is an emergency shutdown from each station all stations can be activated. This is the control with the emergency exit and an emergency exit logic of a station with the emergency exit and connected to at least one actuator of the station. A such emergency exit is carried out by the franking machine base station all stations and back to the franking machine base station and forms an emergency loop. With this emergency loop and with the help of a corresponding evaluation in the corresponding logic or control a break in the line is recognized immediately.
  • the Emergency exit from each station can be an emergency shutdown of all stations can be activated by using appropriate hardware or software. This has the advantage that even when communicating collapses, security is guaranteed (fail-safe).
  • a additional communication, by means of a parallel or serial Interface has the advantage that a detailed protocol can also be used Information can be sent to the franking machine. It is provided that the control of the stations is programmed, the evaluate each message arriving at an interface or forward to the other interface if it is not on the receiving station is directed. Preferably connects one Data cables interface two neighboring stations. Just then when all devices are in perfect condition, the Franking process activated or continued. In advantageous A jam can thus be avoided. in case of an pulled out plug of such a data cable switches the logic the actuators of all stations are hardware-related at the emergency exit. The is also beneficial in the event of power failure if the processor or a Control of the station concerned no longer works properly.
  • the franking system contains at least one Communication channel chain. Two directly adjacent to each other Devices are through at least one bidirectional communication channel interfaced in the data cable.
  • Two directly adjacent to each other Devices are through at least one bidirectional communication channel interfaced in the data cable.
  • Each record contains the recipient and optionally the sender. From The advantage here is that each station in the chain knows from whom the Message is. It also makes it easy to route the message Possible way: "For me”, then the message will not be forwarded or "not for me”, then it will be connected to the next device in the chain forwarded. Every device can communicate with every other. Special device addresses, such as dimension collectors allow the addressing of virtual devices according to special orders who have not specified which device takes on which subtask. It is particularly advantageous that each station has its own parameters can add to a record if it has not yet been determined are. The length of the record that is sent to neighboring stations is sent is variable. Optimal utilization is therefore advantageous the bandwidth of the communication channel available.
  • Every module can If necessary, you can also use your own display masks via this interface display on a central display. With only one central display and The entire system can be controlled using a central keyboard.
  • the Mail processing machine can be in the mail processing direction, i.e. after right, or opposite, i.e. to the left, arbitrarily by suitable Stations will be expanded.
  • a Print head for a purely electronic print forms with a transport unit a franking printing station that is tolerant to post thickness.
  • the invention enables the processing of larger quantities of mixed mail on the Basis of filled letters.
  • the base unit is over a special one Interface unit coupled to the meter.
  • the meter is about a special high speed serial channel connecting to Printing electronics of the franking machine base station manufactured.
  • the individually controllable stations are each for example interfaced with a data cable.
  • the automatic feed station via a first Data cable with the dynamic scale and the dynamic scale via a second data cable to the franking machine base station is interfaced and that the franking machine base station is interfaced with the meter.
  • the medium-fast serial interface includes a sensor / actuator controller and optocoupler to control the Postage meter base station via a processing unit control and that the slow serial interface a UART circuit and includes optocouplers to separate the others controllable stations of the mail processing machine via a To control the transmission circuit of the V24 interface unit.
  • the transmission circuit of the V24 interface unit an associated socket for the data connector and includes a level converter which is in the postage meter base unit a conversion of TTL signals for a V24 interface, which is connected to a V24 socket.
  • FIG. 1 the mail processing machine is in perspective shown.
  • An automatic feed station 28 is on the incoming mail side connected.
  • the automatic feed station 28 should, for example, be a Envelope automatically to the inbox of the franking machine base station 24 put on. If necessary, it closes an order (not shown) with an automatic humidifier and closer a.
  • the postage to be franked is placed vertically on a support surface switched off. With a swiveling pressure arm 28.1 it becomes too franking stacks of mail are pressed resiliently against a contact surface, protrude from the feed rollers 28.2 driven by the motor.
  • the Feed roller 28.2 causes a separation of the mail items and is in the German application DE 196 05 017.0 has been described in more detail.
  • the letters are conveyed to the franking machine of the base 24 upright, inclined slightly backwards, with the aid of a conveyor belt 242 equipped with pressure elements 243.
  • the conveyor belt 242 with the pressure elements 243 is driven by a roller 244 and forms the letter transport unit of the franking machine base 24.
  • the letter transport unit 242 to 244 of the franking machine base 24 forms, together with the franking print head 82, the franking printing station.
  • the beginning of the letter is recognized by a sensor 247 immediately in front of the franking printing station.
  • An optical sensor 247 is preferably arranged in the guide plate 240.
  • the letter envelope, parcel or franking strip is conveyed by the letter transport unit 242 to 244 before, within and after the franking printing station.
  • the letters lie against a guide plate 240 in which at least one window 241 is provided and in which at least one ink print head 82 is permanently installed for printing. If the conveyor belt 242 is moved with pressure elements 243, an on / or. Deflection part 245 or 246 in extensions of the pressure elements 243 in order to form a clamp for the letter or to open it for supplied or to be discharged letters.
  • DE 19 605 014 and DE 19 605 015 such a base station for a franking machine has been proposed and described in more detail.
  • a letter envelope is placed in the franking machine base station 24 on the transported above by the conveyor belt 242 and by the printed side facing away from the viewer.
  • the Mail processing machine supplemented by a tray 23.
  • the letters would use the printed side down so that a running visual Control is not possible.
  • the unpublished German Application DE 197 05 089.1 is therefore an arrangement for filing proposed by record carriers with which a safe guidance also differently sized and thick envelopes and a turning of the Envelopes are reached, so that the franking imprint of the filed Envelope is clearly visible.
  • the envelope passes behind the Printing station, a channel 22 and is deflected by a rocker 21 then fall into a box of tray 23.
  • the mail processing machine also has a - shown in FIG. 1 - strip dispenser 248 for self-adhesive franking strips on.
  • the franking machine base station 24 forms together with others individually controllable stations 27, 28 can be expanded as required Mail processing machine, the individually controllable stations 27, 28 are connected to one another by means of data cables 25.
  • FIG 2a is for the variant of the mail processing system
  • Figure 1 has been shown a general block diagram.
  • the Mail processing machine shown in Figure 1 in plan view has consisted of the automatic feed station 28 which is connected to the postage receipt side, the franking machine base station 24 and the tray 23, which post office exit side connected.
  • the individually controllable station 28 an automatic feed for mail items, in particular of Mixed mail, allowed and, for example, an envelope to the Inbox of the franking machine base station 24 is created.
  • the automatic feed station is via a data cable 25 with the Franking machine base station 24 connected in terms of interface. Consequently the meter 10 controls the franking machine base station 24 and the automatic feed 28.
  • FIG. 2b shows an expanded variant of the mail processing system as a block diagram.
  • the system includes an automatic feeder 28, supplemented with a dynamic scale 27, a franking machine base station 24 with a control by the meter 10.
  • Die automatic feed 28 isolated letters from a stack and leads it to the franking machine base station 24, i.e. serves as a letter feeder. If the letter stack is different letter weights, which each require different postage, namely the additional Use of a dynamic scale 27 makes sense to the respective To determine the letter weight.
  • the dynamic scale 27 allows one higher throughput of different postal items (mixed mail) for one automatic mail processing.
  • FIG. 3a shows a block diagram for the first variant of the invention, according to the arrangement of the stations shown in FIG. 2a.
  • the automatic feed station 28 has connection contact means 284 and 285 on each side.
  • the pins 1 of the connection contact means connect a switch-on line which is switched to a predetermined voltage level for switching on the entire system, which is preferably done when the franking machine base station 24 is switched on when the power supply is on the switch-on line or to the pins 1 and thus also to a relay 280 connected in the station 28 between the line and ground potential.
  • the relay 280 actuates an associated switch which switches on the power supply to the station 28.
  • a connection contact means 284 is connected on the mail item input side to an end plug 29 which connects the lines NOT + and NOT- to form a loop via the pins 14 and 15.
  • the franking machine base station 24 likewise has connection contact means 204 and 205 on each side.
  • An end connector 30 is connected to the connection contact means 205 on the mail item output side and connects the lines NOT + and NOT- to form a loop via pins 14 and 15, with NOT- being connected to ground potential .
  • the mail item exit-side storage 23 has no electronics.
  • the automatic feed station is preferably connected to the franking machine base station 24 via a data cable 25, shown in FIG. 2a. The meter 10 thus controls the franking machine base station 24 and the automatic feeder 28.
  • each intelligent station has an interface electronics on each side, for example the station 28 has an interface electronics 281 on one side on the left and an interface electronics 282 on the other side on the right.
  • serial interface electronics will be used and that the controller 10 of the franking machine base station 24 will be programmed, that each station will be sent device composition information after initialization in order to control the communication process via the serial interfaces.
  • Each station 28 or 24 also has an emergency stop logic 283 or 203 connected to its controller 286 or 10.
  • This emergency stop logic 283 or 203 consists of a relay 287 or 207, which is controlled by the controller 10 or 286 trigger the emergency shutdown by interrupting the emergency loop.
  • the triggering can take place, for example, if an interruption is signaled by a corresponding circuit 288 or 208 for emergency stop interrogation.
  • Schmitt triggers are preferably used for this.
  • the aforementioned relays can be at least partially replaced by electronic switches, as will be explained in more detail below for the exemplary embodiment with reference to FIG. 3d.
  • the entire system can only be in again switch to normal working mode when the emergency exit is in the State Z1 is shifted.
  • To the fault cases Z2 to Z4 more precisely specify, is via a serial interface using a protocol the information to the franking machine transmits why the emergency exit line has been activated.
  • the Emergency exit kept active until all devices including the Franking machine are powered and the processor one has assumed a defined state. Then the Franking machine (meter) a status query of the connected Stations initiated, which is shown in more detail with reference to Figures 5 and 6 is.
  • the franking machine first sends one to the first device Inquiry (Fig. 6). If the postage meter device has responded, it forwards the status query to the next device (Fig. 5). The last Device in the row transmits in addition to its status also one System end information to the franking machine.
  • the sender and recipient identifiers each consist of 8 bits.
  • the main group is divided into the individual device types of the system.
  • the subgroup number is used to in a system to number these stations from O with more than one similar station (for example a large number of stacking boxes connected in series are). Usually the subgroup is always O.
  • the status message is information that is not in the Error statistics are included, such as: station is free. Status messages are generated in the respective station.
  • Error messages of the respective station are shown in the error statistics of the Franking machine saved. Error messages are in the respective Station generated.
  • Data is special information from the respective station and is provided by the station generated.
  • Commands cause the receiver stations to take action. Commands are sent to the respective station.
  • a data record for communication via the V24 interface is in Figure 8 shown.
  • a first word 1 is a field for the sender of the Data or message.
  • a second word 2 is a field for the recipient the data or message.
  • a third and fourth word 3 and 4 is a field for the message type of the data or message.
  • the number of words in the fifth data field is variable (WORD 5 to n).
  • the length of a data record is encoded in a nibble and indicates how many 16-bit words are sent according to the message type. Of the Longitude value can be between 0 and 15.
  • the shortest point Data record including header 4 bytes and the longest data record 34 bytes on.
  • the message code occupies the last byte of the message type.
  • FIG. 3b shows a block diagram for the second variant according to FIG 2b shown.
  • a meter 10 is with two connection contact means 204 and 205. On the connection contact means 205 is a End plug 30 inserted and closes the system to the right.
  • the Meter 10 is via terminal contact means 204 to the left with the first (Right) connection contact means 275 of a dynamic balance 27 connected, a data cable 25.2 being used.
  • the dynamic scale 27 also has a second (left) Terminal contact means 274 to the left and is with the first (right) Connection contact means 285 of an automatic feed station 28 connected, a data cable 25.1 being used. On their second (left) connection contact means 275 an end plug 29 is inserted and closes the system to the left.
  • the meter 10 is with a Emergency stop logic 203 connected in base station 24.
  • the stations 28, 27 are also equipped with an emergency logic 273, 283, which are again connected to their controls 276, 286.
  • V24 level converters and V24-SIO circuits are provided between Controls and the respective connection contact means.
  • the meter 10 contains Keyboard 2 and a display unit 4 with associated interface 3, non-volatile memory 5, program memory 6, working memory 7, one programmable memory 8 for the clichés and for the Postage fee tables and the clock / date module 9, at least the following components: first slow serial interface 11, medium-speed serial interface 12 for the system on the left and Printhead control interface 13. According to the invention, this structure is also a second slow serial interface 14 for the system on the right fitted.
  • the above components are among each other a bus 15 coupled.
  • a V24 level converter L 201 and an emergency stop logic 203 in the base station 24 with the first slow serial interface 11 of the meter 10 is connected.
  • the fast serial interface 13 is a special data transmission unit for fast serial data transfer to printhead electronics 81 formed in the franking machine base station 24.
  • the Serial interface 13 leads directly via optocouplers and the TTL high-speed channel to the pressure control electronics 81.
  • pressure pulse generating means 266 has the high speed channel with the printhead electronics 81 and the pressure pulse generating means 266 on the input side with an encoder 80 and on the output side with the printhead modules of the print head 82 are connected. Via the high-speed channel is at least one pressure signal on the pressure pulse generating means 266 applied when the sensor 247 a beginning of a Envelope or other piece of mail or franking tape start detected. Shift registers are also located in the printhead electronics 81 arranged which with the serial high-speed channel are coupled to at least the print data of a print column receive.
  • the printhead electronics 81 is connected to an encoder 80, which is a Emits a signal corresponding to the letter transport speed.
  • Figure 9 shows a franking machine base unit 24 with a letter 31 and with a device for upright letter transport 242 to 244, with Means 801, 802 of the encoder 80 and with the franking printhead 82.
  • With the drive roller 244 is coupled to an incremental encoder disk 801, which cooperates with a photo cell 802.
  • the encoder signal is added to meter 10 via the high-speed channel transmitted, which via the high-speed channel a clock signal CLOCK for the shift registers of the high-speed channel to the fast serial / parallel conversion of the data for the Printhead electronics 81 transmitted.
  • the medium-speed serial interface 12 is with the sensor / actuator control and optocouplers and leads to the status shift register 262 and the control shift register 261, which a Carry out serial / parallel conversion. This is done on the one hand to the Query the status of the following modules: pressure control electronics 81, Letter sensor 247, position sensor 268 of the swivel mechanism 88 and Position sensor 269 of the wiper lip 89 and on the other hand to the Actuators 86, 87, 88, 89, 90 with corresponding control signals act upon.
  • the at least the series connection on shift registers Data line containing control SR 261 with status SR 262 with the other serial data line connected to a closed To form a loop.
  • the franking print head 82 is preferably a dot matrix printer executed to change information, e.g. different Customer logos to be able to print.
  • the printing process is the piezo ink jet process. It allows due its high printing speed also the rational processing large amounts of letters.
  • Such a printhead is from the applicant (FP) developed and described in detail in US 5,592,203. Around enable the printer to use different letter thicknesses To be able to print of the same quality is one of the applicant Arrangement registered under the file number DE 196 05 014.6 which is the transportation and printer resources for a variant of the Postage meter base station describes.
  • the aforementioned slow serial interface 11 is also with a UART electronics and optocouplers equipped and used for control of stations to the left of base 24.
  • the slow channel transmission circuit 201 includes one Level converter to convert the TTL level to a V24 level.
  • On socket 204 is connected to this level converter and now leads to advantageously the V24 level.
  • FIG. 3d shows a preferred circuit arrangement of the emergency stop logic.
  • the emergency stop logic 283 in the peripheral device 28 serves as an aid in an emergency System shutdown.
  • the end plug 29 is on the left in the system arranged on the outside and connects the emergency stop lines NOT- with NOT + to a current loop.
  • the emergency stop lines NOT- with NOT + are through the emergency logic 283 passed so that the loop via switch S2 can be interrupted.
  • a pull-up resistor 289 is between a plus voltage + U1 and the emergency stop line NOT + arranged.
  • At the The connection point to the emergency stop line NOT + is the input of a Schmitt trigger gate N2 connected, which changes the level signals when the emergency stop request is carried out.
  • An entrance to the AZ controller 286 is at the output of Schmitt trigger gate N2 connected.
  • At the output of the Schmitt trigger gate N2 is a Input of an AND gate G2.
  • the actuator A7 can be switched off via a second Input of the AND gate G2 from the CPU in the control 286 of the AZ station 28 are triggered by L level at the second input of the AND gate G2 is applied.
  • a variety of actuators A1 to A7 can through such additional AND gates and driver transistors be switched off. Motors are also meant here under the term actuators are understood which are controlled via actuators or directly. Switching off the motors stops the letter transport movement interrupted.
  • the emergency stop logic enables an emergency stop to be activated independently from the operation of the CPU in the controller.
  • the controller is connected to sensors, not shown, which faults signal in AZ station 28.
  • An exit from AZ control 286 is connected to the input of the electronic switch S3 connected, which operates the switch S2 via a relay.
  • the electronic switch S3 is preferably a field effect transistor.
  • the Winding of the relay is on the one hand with the output of the field effect transistor and on the other hand to a different or the same plus voltage + U connected.
  • the control has a power output and can operate switch S2 directly via relay 287 (Fig.3a).
  • the CPU in the AZ controller opens via the electronic Switch S3 and the connected relay switch S2 and thus interrupts the emergency stop line EMERGENCY.
  • the level change on the Emergency stop line NOT + can be detected in the other stations. If in the emergency exit logic 283 of the automatic feed station 28 the Contacts of switch S2 of relay 287 are closed, then also closed the current loop. Is the one from the franking machine base station incoming emergency stop line EMERGENCY to ground potential (Low), then there is also the one leading to the franking machine base station Emergency stop line NOT + at the same potential. Otherwise a pull-up resistor pulls 289 the potential of the franking machine base station leading emergency stop line NOT + to plus (high). That is also the one Case when the stations are electrically isolated. On the left On the system side, the Schmitt trigger gate N2 signals the Level change to AZ control 286.
  • the emergency stop logic 203 of the franking machine base station 24 has one Switch S1 in the emergency stop line EMERGENCY.
  • a suitable electronic switch for example a transistor used, which in its control the ground potential to the Emergency stop line created.
  • a pull-up resistor 209 is between Plus voltage and the emergency stop line NOT + arranged.
  • N1, G3 are the one after the other switched logic gates N1, G3 connected.
  • At the exit of the AND gate G3 are a first input of an AND gate G4 Inputs of the controller 10 via input means, not shown connected.
  • the output of the AND gate G3 is preferably on connected to the input of a shift register, which the Level change stores until the emergency stop query is carried out.
  • Control signals are output.
  • an output of the controller 10 or the shift register, not shown, of the controller 10 is a second input of the AND gate G4 connected.
  • the exit of the AND gate G4 is connected to an electronic switch S8, which controls an actuator A8.
  • the logic gate G3 and G4 and the electronic switch S8 of the actuator A8 without current switched.
  • At least one further output of the control 10 is via logic gates N3, N4 connected to the input of the electronic switch S1. Two NOR gates N3, N4 are preferably used.
  • the exit of the NOR gate N4 supplies the signal on the control line EMERG_OUT H to turn on the electronic switch S1 and thus Apply earth potential to the emergency stop line.
  • the logical one Gate N1 is a negator that sends the inverted input signal to the creates the first input of the AND gate N3. From the control line EMERG_OUT becomes a connection via the end plug 30 to second input of the AND gate N3 produced. Will the end plug remote or in the system an emergency occurs, i.e. via the emergency stop line NOT + becomes a level change to franking machine base station 24 signaled, then one also occurs at the output of the AND gate G3 Level change from H to L. This is done via the two NOR gates N3, N4 Signal inverted twice.
  • the two NOR gates N3, N4 are connected in series and to operate the electronic switch S1 from the CPU of the Control 10 or required to switch on again. The latter is done only when the faults have been remedied.
  • the second Inputs of NOR gates N3, N4 are with separate outputs Controller 10 connected.
  • FIG. 3e A suitable circuit variant is shown in FIG. 3e shown.
  • the second input of the AND gate G3 of the emergency stop logic 203 is at the output of another logic gate N5, which also is a negator, which the inverted input signal to the second Input of the AND gate G3 creates.
  • the input signal is from the Emergency stop line NOT + is supplied on the right in the system and is normally L (Low) but in an emergency H (High). Via the end connector 30 in the system Located on the far right, there is a connection from the emergency stop line NOT + to the emergency stop line.
  • the signal L On the emergency stop line NOT + is normally the signal L, which has a electronic switch S4 to the emergency stop line EMERGENCY for at least one station 23 arranged on the right in the system is created.
  • the latter has basically the same communication Structure, like station 28 in the system on the left.
  • the signal L is on the EMERGENCY STOP line to be connected to a Schmitt trigger N6 to be inverted and then via a logic gate G6 turn off another electronic switch S9, which switches off an actuator A9 or - not shown - motor.
  • the output of the AND gate G3 is via the two NOR gates N3, N4 and a control line EMERG_OUT to the control input of the electronic switch S1 and to the control input of a further electronic switch S4 for supplying the stations arranged on the right in the system with the same emergency stop -Line EMERGENCY.
  • the potential H is on the control line EMERG_OUT so that ground potential L is applied to the emergency stop line EMERGENCY in the system on the right.
  • the signal on the control line EMERG_OUT is thus negated by the electronic switch S4 and passed back and forth via the stations on the right and then negated again by the gate N5 to the second input of the AND gate G3.
  • the station 23 ' is an intelligent peripheral device with its own controller 236.
  • the emergency stop logic 233 can preferably be constructed identically for the station 23 'and for all other stations connected to the franking machine base station.
  • connection contact means (284 and 285; 274 and 275; 204 and 205; 234 and 235) there are in addition to the emergency stop lines further communication lines which are connected to the respective interface electronics.
  • Interface electronics 281 and 282, 271 and 272, 201 and 201, 231 and 232, which are preferably of the same design for communication to the left and right, are arranged between the connection contact means and the respective control. 3d and 3e, this interface electronics has not been shown for reasons of simplification. In FIGS. 3a and 3b, this interface electronics was only shown for a system with one or two intelligent stations to the left of the base station.
  • the stations correspond to the two directions left and right to the immediately adjacent stations with communication means 281, 284 and 282, 285; 271, 274 and 272, 275; 201, 204 and 202, 205; 231, 234 and 232, 235 are equipped and that the stations 23 ', 24, 27, 28 have such a controller 10, 236, 276, 286 which is programmed to evaluate the message arriving at one interface or to the other To forward the interface if it is not directed to the receiving station, that the mail processing machine is designed to be expandable to both ends without limit, and that a status line is looped through the stations as an emergency exit and that emergency stop logic and control is provided in the stations, the controller 10 , 236, 276, 286 is designed accordingly so that an emergency shutdown of the actuators of the other stations can be activated by the emergency exit from each station in an emergency and that the control with the leading emergency exit emergency and that the emergency exit logic 203, 233, 273, 283 the station 23 ', 24, 27, 28 with the returning emergency stop line NOT +
  • each station to be designed with at least communication means and with an emergency exit logic with emergency exit.
  • the emergency stop logic includes at least one circuit for emergency stop interrogation and the driver means for controlling an actuator.
  • a correspondingly effective adapter can also be used as an intermediate station.
  • Such a station adapts the transition between two post-processing stations that are not immediately adjacent in the mail flow.
  • a station at the beginning or end of the mail stream ie at the left or right outer end of the system, is designed with at least one emergency exit logic with emergency exit. It is possible, as shown in FIGS. 2a and b, that the station at the end is, for example, only a storage device 23 for mail pieces, which in terms of circuitry corresponds to an end plug 30, as has already been explained in FIG. 3e.
  • Step 4 is a flow chart for the effect of the emergency shutdown in the mail processing machine, preferably shown for a station 28, which is in communication with meter 10.
  • the Station 28 is an intelligent peripheral.
  • Emergency exit whereby the emergency exit logic determined that the line NOT + or EMERGENCY has been interrupted by an interrupt at the associated control of an intelligent peripheral signals.
  • step 101 branches to step 102 to immediately to deactivate the actuators or to stop the motors.
  • step 103 waits for a request which is sent from meter 10.
  • step 104 the request a status message for meter 10 is received in step 105 in the Postage meter base station 24 sent. Otherwise it becomes Step 103 branches back to wait for the request.
  • After Submitting the status message for meter 10 in step 105 becomes a point d and thus the normal mode (normal operation in step 110) is reached.
  • a Such normal operation in step 110 is explained with reference to FIG. 7.
  • step 301 activation of the motors or actuators 86 to 90 switched off or deactivated and a request to find the The cause of the emergency shutdown was formed in step 302 and in step 303 on both sides (left and right) to the peripheral devices, sent in particular to stations 27, 28. After waiting for one Message from the stations in steps 304 and 305 will appear at Receiving such a message on step 306 for evaluating the Status message branches. If the status is OK, what in the step 307 is checked, step 308 is reached to close the emergency shutdown deactivate. Otherwise the method branches back to step 302.
  • FIG. 5 shows a flow chart for the operation of a Communication via the V24 interface when initializing the station the mail processing machine.
  • the station is initializing before the 4 from a defined status of the Restore station.
  • the information "last device" educated If there is no end connector on the other side of the station is plugged in step 406, a request is formed which for each other interface is sent. Following the steps 404 or 406, the status of the device becomes meter 10 in step 405 reported.
  • Step 6 is a flow chart for the operation of the meter at a Communication via the V24 interface at least during initialization shown a station of the mail processing machine.
  • the flow chart is shown in steps 501 to 535, of course.
  • Steps 501 to 512 left information about the system collected by base station 24 and in steps 513 to 533 information about the system is to the right of base station 24 collected.
  • the information is given in meter 10 in corresponding "left" and "right" memory cells of the non-volatile memory 5 saved.
  • the program then branches to step 534 to look for the device configuration information on both sides via the serial interfaces to send from the memory cells.
  • transitioning to the normal mode (with step 535) will be a correct page in the future Responsive stations guaranteed starting from the meter, i.e. from Stations that are on the left or right in the system.
  • FIG. 7 shows a flowchart for the mode of operation of a control of a station in communication via the V24 interface in normal mode 110.
  • step 113 for querying whether a message has been received, step 113 evaluating the address, 114 for Query as to whether the device has been addressed and step 115 for evaluating data or 116 for forwarding data branches to a query step 117. If a transmission to a station or to meter 10 is necessary, the process branches from step 117 to step 118 in order to compile a data record accordingly. Then point b is reached. From normal mode 110, a branch is made to step 100 in FIG. 4 in order to check the signal state on the emergency exit.
  • FIGS. 3d and 3e The associated logic with special means for emergency stop interrogation has already been explained with reference to FIGS. 3d and 3e.
  • the means for emergency query 208 or 288 in the franking machine base station or peripheral device are also shown in FIG. 3a and can alternatively also be implemented with other components in order to achieve the same effect in the result.
  • the system can be a personal computer or a special electronic Peripheral device can be integrated, which for the performed Franking a special statistic. For example the statistics are kept by department.
  • the personal computer can to be coupled accordingly with the meter 10.
  • the control of the personal computer is programmed to evaluate the incoming message or to forward each other interface (printer interface) if it is not directed to the receiving station.
  • the latter station can for example, a printer for statistics. Because through the Personal computer no post stream is led and there is a lead Statistics do not affect the post flow in terms of congestion or has similar faults, can lead the emergency loop through the aforementioned personal computer or a connected to it Statistics printers are completely eliminated. The emergency loop is then only up to Tray 23 or to the end connector 30.
  • the application of the invention is not limited to letter mail. Rather, the franking printer 82 can also print a label which is glued to a package by another station.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
EP98250060A 1997-03-13 1998-02-21 Système pour communiquer entre stations d'une machine d'affranchissement Withdrawn EP0875864A3 (fr)

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DE19711997A DE19711997A1 (de) 1997-03-13 1997-03-13 Anordnung zur Kommunikation zwischen einer Basisstation und weiteren Stationen einer Postbearbeitungsmaschine und zu deren Notabschaltung
DE19711997 1997-03-13

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EP0875864A3 EP0875864A3 (fr) 2000-08-30

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EP1103923A2 (fr) 1999-11-26 2001-05-30 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Procédé pour commander automatiquement des articles de consommation et dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé
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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1058212A2 (fr) 1999-06-01 2000-12-06 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Procédé et système pour le traitement d'articles postaux
EP1073018A1 (fr) 1999-07-30 2001-01-31 Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co. Machine d'affranchissement à pré-paiement et post-paiement
EP1103923A2 (fr) 1999-11-26 2001-05-30 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Procédé pour commander automatiquement des articles de consommation et dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé
DE19958941A1 (de) * 1999-11-26 2001-06-07 Francotyp Postalia Gmbh Verfahren zum Schutz eines Gerätes vor einem Betreiben mit unzulässigem Verbrauchsmaterial und Anordnung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens
DE19958946A1 (de) * 1999-11-26 2001-06-21 Francotyp Postalia Gmbh Verfahren zum Piraterieschutz eines Gerätes und Anordnung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens
DE19958941B4 (de) * 1999-11-26 2006-11-09 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Verfahren zum Schutz eines Gerätes vor einem Betreiben mit unzulässigem Verbrauchsmaterial
DE19958946B4 (de) * 1999-11-26 2006-11-09 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Verfahren zum Piraterieschutz eines Gerätes
EP1148445A1 (fr) 2000-04-22 2001-10-24 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Dispositif pour une interface optique entre appareils
US6625382B2 (en) 2000-04-22 2003-09-23 Francotyp Postalia Ag & Co. Configuration for an optical device interface
DE102004054999B3 (de) * 2004-11-15 2006-03-30 Francotyp-Postalia Gmbh Verfahren zum Wiegen von bewegtem Postgut
DE102010009431A1 (de) * 2010-02-24 2011-08-25 Francotyp-Postalia GmbH, 16547 Schnelle dynamische Waage und Verfahren zur Steuerung einer schnellen dynamischen Waage

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DE19711997A1 (de) 1998-09-17
US6178410B1 (en) 2001-01-23
EP0875864A3 (fr) 2000-08-30

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