Abstract: A method for controlling an inserter system having a chassis for assembling mailpieces, the chassis operating cyclically with successive accumulations advancing at the end of each cycle. The inserter system further includes a document feeder for feeding accumulations of documents to the chassis, the accumulations containing varying numbers of documents whereby the document feeder is operated at a first speed such that accumulations are available for input to the chassis at varying intervals substantially depending upon the number of documents in corresponding accumulations. And the chassis is operated at a selected speed, which speed is periodically updated in dependence upon the number of documents in the corresponding accumulations in the document feeder.

Abstract: A delivery tracking system for tracking parcels during an internal state of delivery within an organization after receipt of the parcel from a parcel delivery service. The system utilizes an intelligent, hand-held, portable data entry and data processing device to obtain signatures of recipients and scan codes printed on the parcel labels, and to respond to tracking inquiries prior to transferring collected information to a different computer. Data is entered on a touch-sensitive screen of personal digital assistant using the tip of a wand type bar code scanner.

Abstract: A method of teaching a plurality of automatic guided vehicles, each of which is provided with at least a robot arm for loading and unloading an article, having the steps of: teaching an original one of the automatic guided vehicles both about reference-positional data by use of a single unpractical reference station and about practical-positional data belonging to at least a practical station by use of the at least practical station; and both supplying the automatic guided vehicles, except for the original one, with common data identical with the practical-positional data taught to the original one, and further teaching the automatic guided vehicles, except for the original one, about individual positional-compensating data by use of the single unpractical reference station so as to individually compensate the common data with the individual positional-compensating data for compensation to individual instrumental errors of the automatic guided vehicles.

Abstract: As component replacement positions where component feeding tables are replenished with components, are arranged a number of component replacement positions, the number being obtained by substituting a total number of component feeding tables into a specified function. A component feeding table that is not in a component suckup position is moved necessarily to any one of the component replacement positions regardless of the combination of component feeding tables. This component replacement position is determined through steps of setting sequence numbers on the component replacement positions by the specified function based on the distance from the component suckup position, setting sequence numbers and component-replacement direction on the plurality of component feeding tables by a specified function, and giving a specified function the sequence number and component-replacement direction of a component-exhausted component feeding table.

Abstract: A printer (2; 52) prints documents which, after arriving in a finishing system (1; 51), are detected and finished in an order corresponding with the order in which the documents have been printed by the printer (2; 52). The printer (2; 52) generates verification markings following one of the documents and prior to a next one of the documents. The number of documents that arrive in an interval limited by at least one of the verification markings are counted and compared with a reference number. An error message is generated if the counted number of arrived documents does not agree with the reference number. This makes it possible to monitor whether, after the documents have been printed, any faults have occurred. Further, a system for finishing documents is described.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for automatically realigning an end effector of an automated equipment after an undesired contact of the end effector to prevent a crash of the end effector. The present invention includes a plurality of contact detectors, and each of the contact detectors is disposed at a respective location with respect to the end effector. In addition, each of the contact detectors generates a respective signal for indicating direction of force on the end effector that results from the undesired contact. Furthermore, the present invention includes an end effector controller that is coupled to the plurality of contact detectors and to the end effector. The end effector controller causes the end effector to move to a reset position after the undesired contact when any of the respective signals from the plurality of contact detectors is greater than a predetermined level.

Abstract: A high-capacity jukebox device for storing and accessing computer readable media. The present invention comprises a 1394-to-ATAPI bridge for coupling to other devices via an IEEE 1394 bus, an ATAPI drive coupled to the ATAPI bridge for communicating with the other devices, and a jukebox controller for controlling the robotics mechanism of the jukebox device. Significantly, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the ATAPI drive comprises a first serial port and the ATAPI jukebox controller includes a second serial port coupled to the first serial port for communicating with the ATAPI drive. In this way, the expensive conventional SCSI LSI and SCSI firmware are eliminated from the jukebox controller, effectively lowering the manufacturing and development costs of the jukebox of the present invention. An additional benefit is that ATAPI drives are less costly than SCSI drives and are more widely available.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking manually repaired mailpieces and the like. Control documents are produced by a data processing system and transported to an inserter system. The inserter system inputs the control documents and assembles mailpieces in accordance with mailpiece records identified by coded information on the documents. If a damaged mailpiece is manually repaired an operator scans the coded information from the damaged mailpiece. A data processing system accesses the mailpiece record in accordance with the scanned information and updates the corresponding mailpiece record to reflect manual repair of the document.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the automatic receipt and distribution of products, such as parenteral products from a hospital pharmacy or specimen from a laboratory, through a pneumatic tube transport system. The system of the present invention includes a method and apparatus for the automatic receipt of a pneumatic tube carrier, the automatic opening of the carrier, the loading of a product into the carrier, the automatic closing of the carrier, and the automatic distribution of the carrier into a pneumatic tube transport system.

Abstract: A control device for operation of a system for treating a surface of a solid running substrate by dielectric-barrier electrical discharge in a controlled gaseous atmosphere, comprising (A) a system which includes (i) a treatment device through which a substrate to be treated runs at a speed, (ii) the system is connected to the treatment device for supplying the treatment device with a flow of gas, (iii) the system is connected to the treatment device for supplying the treatment device with electrical power in order to produce the electrical discharge and (iv) the system sucking out the gas, (B) a data processing unit capable of receiving, as input, a datum regarding the speed at which the substrate is running through the treatment device, the data processing unit further comprising an output side connected to the system for controlling the electrical power supply system, in order to regulate the flow of gas delivered by the or each of the gas supply system and/or the electrical power delivered by the electric

Abstract: A system and method for integrating a business transaction processing system, a process control system, and a laboratory system provides a computer integrated manufacturing environment. The manufacturing execution system receives work orders from the business transaction processing system and obtains enrichment data to enhance the work orders. The manufacturing execution system uses the enrichment data and rules contained in a plant model database to generate setpoints based on the received work orders. A subset of the work order data is provided to the laboratory system to direct sample testing. The setpoints include detailed information required by the process control system to manufacture the product specified by the work order. The setpoints are transmitted to the process control system for manufacture of the required materials.

Abstract: A control device for operation of a system for treating a surface of a solid running substrate by dielectric-barrier electrical discharge in a controlled gaseous atmosphere, comprising (A) a system which includes (i) a treatment device through which a substrate to be treated runs at a speed, (ii) the system is connected to the treatment device for supplying the treatment device with gas, (iii) the system is connected to the device for supplying the treatment device with electrical power in order to produce the electrical discharge and (iv) the system for sucking out the gas (B) a data processing unit designed to receive, as input, a datum regarding the speed at which the substrate is running through the treatment device, the data processing unit being connected, on the output side, to the gas supply system, to the electrical power supply system and to the gas suction system, in order: (a) upon starting the treatment device and when the running speed of the substrate is greater than a predetermined speed, to c

Abstract: The invention relates to an interactive fuel dispenser system having a plurality of fuel dispensers operating in conjunction with a local server. Each dispenser generally has two fueling positions, each with a graphical user interface through which a customer interacts. In contrast with efforts to turn fuel dispensers into super computers, applicants' provide a dispenser architecture that need only be sufficient to establish interactivity with a server to create multimedia applications and carry out POS functions with a browser interface. Each fueling position acts as a client of a local server at the fuel station store. In the preferred embodiment, each fueling position client also may access remote servers connected to the same network in which the fueling position clients and the local server are connected. Preferably, this network is connected to the Worldwide Web of the Internet.