Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides for automatically controlling positioning of a moistening nozzle relative to an envelope flap being moved therepast at high speed. The invention has particular application as an envelope flap moistener in a high speed mailing machine. Envelopes are moved to and past the nozzle at a speed of at least about 65 inches per second along a given path with the flap extending from the envelope in an opened configuration thereof. A sensor attached to the nozzle senses the location of the edge of the flap within about 0.2 inch of the nozzle upstream thereof a plurality times as the flap moves to and past the nozzle. The nozzle is then positioned to track the flap edge in accordance with sensing of the envelope flap. The nozzle may be pre-positioned by a lower bandwidth servo system having an envelope sensor located further upstream of the tracking sensor. A higher bandwidth servo loop controls tracking of the nozzle in response to the tracking sensor.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides for automatically controlling positioning of a moistening nozzle relative to an envelope flap being moved therepast at high speed. The invention has particular application as an envelope flap moistener in a high speed mailing machine. Envelopes are moved to and past the nozzle at a speed of at least about 65 inches per second along a given path with the flap extending from the envelope in an opened configuration thereof. A sensor attached to the nozzle senses the location of the edge of the flap within about 0.2 inch of the nozzle upstream thereof a plurality times as the flap moves to and past the nozzle. The nozzle is then positioned to track the flap edge in accordance with sensing of the envelope flap. The nozzle may be pre-positioned by a lower bandwidth servo system having an envelope sensor located further upstream of the tracking sensor. A higher bandwidth servo loop controls tracking of the nozzle in response to the tracking sensor.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides for automatically controlling positioning of a moistening nozzle relative to an envelope flap being moved therepast at high speed. The invention has particular application as an envelope flap moistener in a high speed mailing machine. Envelopes are moved to and past the nozzle at a speed of at least about 65 inches per second along a given path with the flap extending from the envelope in an opened configuration thereof. A sensor attached to the nozzle senses the location of the edge of the flap within about 0.2 inch of the nozzle upstream thereof a plurality times as the flap moves to and past the nozzle. The nozzle is then positioned to track the flap edge in accordance with sensing of the envelope flap. The nozzle may be pre-positioned by a lower bandwidth servo system having an envelope sensor located further upstream of the tracking sensor. A higher bandwidth servo loop controls tracking of the nozzle in response to the tracking sensor.

Abstract: A low cost, high resolution optical encoder for a brushless DC motor comprises reflective sensors, and a movable disk cooperating with a stationary pattern to provide a pattern of reflective and non-reflective areas for the sensors that can be used to generate motor positional information as well as commutation drive signals.

Abstract: A moistening arrangement for moistening the flaps of envelopes comprising a guide path for guiding envelopes, a moistener, an arrangement for moving the moistener transversely of the guide path, a first drive for moving envelopes at a first speed onto the guide path, a detector for detecting the first speed, and a second drive for moving envelopes away from the guide path at a second speed. The first and second drives are spaced apart a distance less than the lengths of the envelopes. A sensor arrangement senses the widths of the flaps of envelopes at a determined position between the first and second drives, and a control arrangement is provided for controlling the position of the moistener as a function of the speed of an initial portion of the envelope, and as a function of the speed of a final portion of the envelope.

Abstract: A moistening arrangement for moistening the flap of an envelope includes a moistening device for moistening the flap of the envelope, a source of first signals that are a function of the width of the flap, a motor coupled to provide relative movement between the nozzle and the flap, and a control arrangement responsive to the first signals for controlling the motor to vary the relative positions of the flap and nozzle in a direction for moistening the flap at determined positions thereof. The control arrangement comprises an arrangement responsive to the signals for determining the rate of change of the first signals, an arrangement responsive to the rate of change below a determined rate of change for controlling the motor to move in a servo mode, and an arrangement responsive to the rate of change above the determined rate of change for controlling the motor to move in a torque mode.

Abstract: A moistening arrangement for moistening the flaps of envelopes comprising a guide path for guiding envelopes, a moistener, an arrangement for moving the moistener transversely of the guide path, a first drive for moving envelopes at a first speed onto the guide path, a detector for detecting the first speed, and a second drive for moving envelopes away from the guide path at a second speed. The first and second drives are spaced apart a distance less than the lengths of the envelopes. A sensor arrangement senses the widths of the flaps of envelopes at a determined position between the first and second drives, and a control arrangement is provided for controlling the position of the moistener as a function of the speed of the first means for an initial portion of the envelope, and as a function of the speed of the second means for a final portion of the envelope.

Abstract: The motor controller system controls the respective motors of a plurality of cooperative apparatus associated with a article processing system, the article processing system for performing a plurality of functions upon an article traversing the article processing system and comprises a motor driver board having a plurality of input channels and a plurality of respective output channels. The motors are in line communication with a respective one of the output channels of the motor driver board. A programmable microprocessor is in bus communication with the driver board's input channels. A plurality of sensors are respectively mounted to each of the apparatus and in bus communication with the programmable microprocessor, the sensors being strategically located on the apparatus to provide such information to the microprocessor as article size, position and velocity information and to provide apparatus operation information.

Abstract: A mailing machine for high-speed processing of mixed mail, capable of high throughput, and of compact size. It includes mail piece processing at four main stations in a straight-through manner, under positive control at all times by separate drive units at each station, with the sequential processing actions timed to optimize mail piece throughput.

Abstract: The multiple channel servo system engages in bus communication with a micro-controller, motor driver for driving a plurality of motors and motor servo for providing servo information for selected ones of the motors. The micro-controller generates respective motion command profile information for each of the selected motors. RAM is provided for receiving and storing the motion command profile information from the micro-controller for the selected motors. The servo system sequentially compares the respective servo information with the respective motor command information and generating respective motor control information for the respective motor for causing the motor driver to cause the respective motor to closely track the respective motor command profile. RAM memory is also provided for receiving and storing microcode for each of the selected motors.

Abstract: A moistening arrangement for moistening the flap of an envelope moving in a first direction in a given plane, includes a nozzle directed to spray a liquid at an envelope flap along a given locus in the plane. A source of first signals that are a function of the position of the edge in the plane is provided. An arrangement responsive to the first signals moves the nozzle in a direction substantially parallel to the plane for moistening the flap at positions thereof. The source comprises a source of first signals corresponding to the edge positions of the flap at a position spaced a given distance from the locus in a second direction opposite the first direction. A source of a second signal corresponding to the velocity of the envelope is provided.

Abstract: A digital robot control is provided with position/velocity and torque control loops with microprocessor servo controllers in each. The position/velocity servo controller includes two microprocessors that operate as a servo engine in providing position/velocity control for six robot axes. One microprocessor operates as a manager to perform data processing and coordination tasks supportive to position/velocity control. The other microprocessor performs position and velocity servo calculation tasks and operates as a slave processor to the position/velocity control manager. The programming for the position/velocity control sends manager position and other commands and position and velocity feedback from other control levels to the position/velocity calculator and sends torque commands received from the calculator to the next lower control level. The calculator employs position/velocity control algorithms in making torque command calculations.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measurement of the ratio of the triboelectric toner particle charge to the toner particle mass in electrostatographic apparatus. The ratio of the toner particle charge to the toner particle mass is determined by combining a measurement of the difference between the electrostatic photoreceptor potential in the presence and in the absence of charged toner particles with a measurement of a difference in optical reflectance in the presence and in the absence of charged toner particles. The measurement of the difference in the electrostatic potential of the photoreceptor provides a quantity proportional to the toner particle charge per unit area. The measurement of the difference in optical reflectance provides a quantity related to the toner mass per unit area, a quantity that is linear for low particle densities. Combining the two difference measurements provides a quantity proportional to the toner charge per toner mass.