U.S. patent application number 10/081263 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-28 for letter flow control.
Invention is credited to Jaeger, Hans, Moy, Christian, Stutz, Peter.
Application Number | 20020178130 10/081263 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56290252 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020178130 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moy, Christian ; et
al. |
November 28, 2002 |
Letter flow control
Abstract
A modular franking system including at least one module and a
module sensor adapted to sense objects fed to the module. The
module can include information on the distance between a position
of the sensor and at least one edge of the module, and a location
of at least one other module. The modular system can also include a
communication system adapted to allow the module to sense objects
being transported and communicate information concerning events
such as velocity and distance to another module.
Inventors: |
Moy, Christian;
(Grossaffoltern, CH) ; Stutz, Peter;
(Hinterkappelen, CH) ; Jaeger, Hans; (Thunstetten,
CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PERMAN & GREEN
425 POST ROAD
FAIRFIELD
CT
06824
US
|
Family ID: |
56290252 |
Appl. No.: |
10/081263 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60270796 |
Feb 23, 2001 |
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60277806 |
Mar 22, 2001 |
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60277841 |
Mar 22, 2001 |
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60277873 |
Mar 22, 2001 |
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60277931 |
Mar 22, 2001 |
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60277946 |
Mar 22, 2001 |
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60338892 |
Nov 5, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/406 ;
705/401 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 29/18 20130101;
B65H 2513/40 20130101; B41J 2/1752 20130101; B65H 31/06 20130101;
B65H 5/00 20130101; B65H 2301/321 20130101; G07B 2017/00677
20130101; B65H 2601/321 20130101; B65H 2405/35 20130101; B65H 1/08
20130101; B65H 2555/13 20130101; B65H 2511/13 20130101; B65H
2701/1916 20130101; B41J 2/16547 20130101; B65H 2402/441 20130101;
G07B 2017/00322 20130101; B65H 3/042 20130101; G07B 17/00661
20130101; B65H 2301/4214 20130101; B65H 2511/51 20130101; G06K
15/102 20130101; G07B 2017/00241 20130101; B65H 2511/13 20130101;
B65H 2220/01 20130101; B65H 2511/51 20130101; B65H 2220/01
20130101; B65H 2513/40 20130101; B65H 2220/02 20130101; B65H
2220/11 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/406 ;
705/401 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/00; B65B
035/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A modular system comprising, at least one module, a module
sensor associated with each module adapted to sense objects fed to
the module, the one module including information on the distance
between a position of the sensor and at least one edge of the
module and a location of at least one other, a communication system
wherein said module senses objects being transported therein and
the communication system is adapted to allow the module to
communicate information including information related to events,
velocity, and distance to another module.
2. The modular system of claim 1 further including a second module
mechanically coupled to the one module by an alignment plate,
wherein the alignment plate includes at least one upstream socket
mechanically mated with at least one downstream foot of the one
module and at least one downstream socket mechanically mated with
at least one upstream foot of the second module.
3. The modular system of claim 1 further including the one module
coupled to at least the one additional module wherein the
communication system includes a bus node coupled to each modules
processor system, wherein actors and sensors within each module are
coupled to the processor system, wherein the bus node is connected
via an outside bus segment to the bus node of an upstream module
and coupled to a second end of the outside bus segment to the bus
node of a downstream module.
4. The modular system of claim 3 wherein a computer within one of
the modules is coupled to the communication system as the host
node, the host computer including a data memory for storing
information that uniquely (a) identifies each authorized module
within a system and (b) uniquely identifies the modules employed
and (c) uniquely identifies the upstream to downstream positions
occupied by each module as a condition for gaining access to the
system.
5. The modular system of claim 1 wherein the one module is coupled
to a main external power cord to a public electrical power utility
and a second and any additional modules are connected to a power
source by a secondary power cord coupled from a powered module to
an adjacent module thereby permitting each module to be moved from
one position to a another within the modular system.
6. A modular franking machine for processing empty or filled
envelopes into fully or partially finished mailpieces, the machine
comprising, First and second envelope actors and sensors within at
least first and second modules for moving envelopes along an
envelope processing path through the modules and for sensing the
location of an envelope within each module Memory within each
module storing the distance between the sensors and at least one of
the upstream and downstream ends of the module, the second module
coupled downstream from the first module within the processing
path, the second module including a processor system with memory
for storing a table of data on each module including combinations
of different modules, a computer including a processor and memory,
for calculating and printing postage for each envelope fed through
the machine and coupled to a system bus by a bus node controller
wherein the host module includes information pertaining to each
module within the machine to identify to the host bus module
additions and removals of modules from a franking machine.
7. The modular franking machine of claim 6 wherein based on the
modules present in the system at startup, each module is assigned
its neighbour upstream and downstream modules to enable each module
to monitor and react properly on broadcasts of these modules
without burdening the host or master module.
8. The modular franking machine of claim 7 wherein the broadcast
are signals, telegrams, messages or status information.
9. The modular franking machine of claim 6 wherein each module is
capable of broadcasting information on the letter flowing through
the modular system on a multimaster field bus.
10. The modular franking machine of claim 9 where the information
is position, velocity, length, weight or identifier data.
11. The modular franking machine of claim 6 wherein any or each
module is capable of sending information on the letter flowing
through the modular system on a point to point communication bus,
the point to point addressing being dynamically set up at startup
based on the assignment of the neighbour upstream and downstream
modules.
12. The modular franking machine of claim 11 wherein the
information is position, velocity, length, weight or identifier
data.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of the following U.S.
provisional patent applications:
[0002] Serial No. 60/270,796 filed on Feb. 23, 2001;
[0003] Serial No. 60/277,806 filed on Mar. 22, 2001;
[0004] Serial No. 60/277,841 filed on Mar. 22, 2001;
[0005] Serial No. 60/277,873 filed on Mar. 22, 2001;
[0006] Serial No. 60/277,931 filed on Mar. 22, 2001;
[0007] Serial No. 60/277,946 filed on Mar. 22, 2001; and
[0008] Serial No. 60/338,892 filed on Nov. 5, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0009] 1. Field of the Invention
[0010] This application relates to modular methods, systems or
machines, and more particularly, to creating a reliable workpiece
processing path through the modular machine. In one embodiment the
modules are part of a franking system. The application also
includes a communication bus coupled to each envelope actor and
sensor within each module by a bus processor chip with memory that
identifies the features of each module.
[0011] 2. Brief Description of Related Developments
[0012] Current modular franking machines align processing modules
adjacent to one another without locking the modules to one another
and, when appropriate care is not taken, these free standing
modular machines give rise to envelope miss feeds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present modular system includes a system comprising at
least one module and a module sensor to sense objects fed to the
module. In one embodiment, the module can also include information
on the distance between its sensor and an edge of the module, where
another module is located and if applicable, the module may also
include any distance between the modules. A communication system
senses objects or mailpieces being transported therein and is able
to communicate information and the distance to another module.
Additionally, in one embodiment the present modular systems can
employ a second module mechanically coupled to the module having
the sensor for detecting an object or mailpiece, such as an
envelope, and memory for storing the distance from a detector to an
edge of a module. An alignment plate can mechanically couple two
modules. The plate includes two upstream sockets mechanically mated
with two downstream feet of the one module and two downstream
sockets mechanically mated with two upstream feet of the second
module.
[0014] The present modular system can further include first and
second modules coupled to one another. A communication system
employed by the system includes a host node coupled to each bus
node at each actor and sensor within one or more bus inside bus
segments within each module. The bus segments within one module
connect to bus segments in the next downstream module using an
outside bus segment coupled to an outside module segment coupled at
a first end to an inside bus segment of an upstream module and
coupled to a second end of the outside bus segment to a downstream
module.
[0015] A system computer within one of the modules is coupled to
the communication system as the host node. The system or host node
computer includes data memory for storing information that uniquely
(a) identifies each authorized module within a system, (b) uniquely
identifies the modules employed and (c) uniquely identifies the
upstream to downstream positions occupied by each module as a
condition for gaining access to the system.
[0016] The present modular system can further include one module
that is coupled to a main external power cord to a public
electrical power utility, and a second or additional modules that
are connected to a power source by a secondary power cord. The
secondary cord is coupled outside from a powered module to an
adjacent module thereby permitting each module to be moved from one
position to another within the modular system.
[0017] The present modular system can be used in a franking machine
and can be designed for processing envelopes, empty or filled, into
fully or partially finished mailpieces, that is for example,
franked letters ready for delivering to the post. For example,
processing envelopes can comprise readying the envelope for mailing
and may include weighing, stamping and sealing the envelope. The
machine has envelope actors and sensors within at least first and
second modules for moving envelopes along an envelope processing
path through the modules and for sensing the location of an
envelope within each module to determine the distance between the
sensors and the upstream and downstream ends of the module.
[0018] In one embodiment, the modular system disclosed herein can
include at least one module having a module sensor to sense objects
fed to the module. The module can include information on the
distance between its sensor and an edge of the module, where
another module is located and if applicable may also include any
distance between the modules. The module can also include a
communication system wherein the module senses objects being
transported therein and is able to communicate information and the
distance information to another module.
[0019] A modular franking machine for processing fully or partially
finished mailpieces is disclosed. The mailpieces can include
envelopes. The machine includes first and second envelope actors
and sensors within at least first and second modules for moving
envelopes along an envelope processing path through the modules and
for sensing the location of an envelope within each module and the
distance between the sensor and the edges of upstream and
downstream modules.
[0020] The second module is coupled downstream from the first
module within the envelope processing path and can further include
a bus processor chip including data memory for storing information
within a data table that uniquely identifies each machine module
and uniquely identifies only one authorized combination of modules
thereby indicating an unauthorized machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The foregoing aspects and other features of the present
invention are explained in the following description, taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0022] FIGS. 1 and 2 are, respectively, front and back elevation
views of a franking machine 10 having an envelope or mailpiece
feeder module 11 for feeding envelopes past actors and sensors
within the feeder module and into and through a franking module
wherein envelopes are processed into mailpieces.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the feeder module 11 with
the skins removed to reveal the sets of parallel rollers 17 that
feed envelopes or mailpieces through machine 10 into and through
module 11.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the franking module 12 of
machine 10 where postage is printed on envelopes or mailpieces also
showing one-half of an alignment plate 21 by which modules 11 and
12 are mechanically coupled.
[0025] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the feeder module
with the envelope or mailpiece processing path identified by the
multiple sets of feeder rollers.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a franking machine
10 comprising four envelope or mailpiece processing modules 11-14
mechanically coupled to one another by alignment plates 21a-21c and
outside bus segments S1-S3 of a machine 10 communication bus that
provide continuity of the system bus through the four modules.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a schematic, partial view of the left, or upstream
module (11) in front elevation view, and the right or downstream
face of the end walls of module 12 that abut when the two modules
11 and 12 are coupled together by an alignment plate 21 having
sockets 21a-d for mating with feet 23a-d thereby locking modules
together.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Value metering devices are devices, which in their most
basic form meter value. These devices take various forms such as,
for example, postage meters (i.e. franking machines), various kinds
of vending machines (i.e. lottery vending machines), tax stamp
machines, various kinds of ticket dispensing machines, etc. Of
these various devices, postage meters are one form of a value
metering device that dispense value in the form of postage, e.g.
postage indicia, basically either as a stand-alone type postage
meter or as part of a mailing system. The stand-alone type postage
meter is a postage meter having both its entire accounting system
and security system positioned in a single secure housing, the
accounting system being mechanically coupled to the printing
mechanism which prints the postage related indicia.
[0029] In addition to the stand-alone type system as described
above there are mailing systems which are formed of a mailing
machine (i.e. a machine that can perform different mailing related
functions (e.g. feeding, stacking, separating, sealing of
envelopes, etc.)) on which a postage meter is securely mounted. The
postage meter can be located in a securely sealed housing that
contains the accounting and printing mechanisms. These systems can
also use a Postal Security Device which is a plug-in type module
with its own processing capability that handles postal security
relevant operations such as funds handling, logging and generation
of indicia data including digital signature.
[0030] The mailing machine systems including an electronic postage
meter have enabled the users of such equipment to customize the
exact type of mailing system they require by designing the overall
mailing system in a modular fashion. One is able to set up a
mailing system that will include individually removably mounted
modules that can be added to or removed from the mailing system.
For example, if one had a modular mailing system without an
envelope stacker, one could add such a module to their system, and
thereby have a mailing system that is able to stack envelopes once
the postage has been placed on envelopes that are fed into the
system. If the stacker module required repair, the stacker could
easily be removed for repair since it is but one module within a
modular system. modules or peripherals can be based on features
such as inserters, feeders/separators, sealers, scales, moisteners,
addressers, stackers, etc. and can be added as appropriate for use
with a postage meter to form different types of mailing
systems.
[0031] It is desirable to have a mailing system that can be
securely customized in a fast and reliable manner to control
various kinds of external peripherals for handling envelopes. It is
desirable to be able to securely customize a mailing system in
accordance with customer needs, and to be able to connect various
desired mail related peripherals to a mailing system without the
need to provide a separate and dedicated electronic port to achieve
such a system.
[0032] From a manufacturing point of view, there are also several
issues to consider. For example, when postage meters are used in a
mailing machine, especially a modular mailing machine, there are
many different components to be considered based upon customer
requirements. Once a mailing machine with a postage meter is
manufactured, the machine is not easily expanded. For instance, if
a customer orders another component for their mailing machine, in
the past it has been generally difficult to easily add the new
component to an existing mailing machine. In addition, the devices
used in mailing systems are usually specially designed to work with
particular postage meters that tend to make them expensive to
manufacture. Each device also has to have special programming to be
able to electronically communicate with the postage meter, again
increasing the cost of each device. In order to differentiate
between each device for communication purposes, each device also
requires a unique identifier programmed into each device, and the
postage meter. This further increases the cost to customize each
device.
[0033] Various examples of the possible or different kinds of
modular mailing systems (machines) for handling the flow of letters
or various sizes and thicknesses that can be customized in
accordance with the present invention are given below:
1 Inserter Postage Address Connect Feeder Sealer Dynamic Meter
Module Stacker X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
[0034] More detailed descriptions of modular franking systems and
the communications used between the modules are found in U.S.
patent applications Ser. No. ______, filed on ______, Attorney's
Docket Number 770P010633-US (PAR), and Ser. No. ______, filed on
______, Attorney's Docket Number 770P010638-US (PAR), both of which
are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.
[0035] The new and improved modular system, in one embodiment, is
shown as a franking machine 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The front and rear
views respectively of machine 10 include, by way of example, two
modules: an envelope feeder module 11 and a PowerPost.TM. franking
module 12 for processing envelopes into mailpieces. Although the
present invention is generally described herein as function or
processing envelopes, it should be generally understood that any
suitable mailpiece article can be used. Additionally, the system
can be used in conjunction with or for processing paper like sheets
or articles.
[0036] Feeder module 11 of FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an adjustable
envelope side guide wall 13 and a end envelope guide wall 14. The
two guide walls support a stack of envelopes laid parallel to floor
15 with the flap of each envelope closed, facing downward in a
position to be fed along an envelope processing path defined by
floor 15.
[0037] With reference to FIG. 3, sets of feeder rollers and belts
17 are mounted below the floor 15 in the lower halves 16 of modules
10 and 11. The rollers extend through holes 18 cut into the feed
path floor at intervals to permit them to contact and move each
envelope along the envelope-processing path 15.
[0038] Modules 11 and 12 can be mechanically coupled to one another
by a single alignment plate 21 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. An alignment
plate includes circular sockets that mate with the feet at the
bottom corners of the modules. In one embodiment, the alignment
plate comprises a molded plastic plate. In an alternate embodiment,
any suitable material can be used to form the plate.
[0039] The alignment plates generally prevent movement between
modules 11 and 12 to avoid skewing of envelopes and/or jamming of
the envelopes at interfaces between two franking machine modules
during envelope feeding operations. Envelope feeding rates can be
in the range of 13000 envelopes per hour.
[0040] An alignment plate 21 is coupled to the two open ends of the
modules 11 and 12 of franking machine 10. For example, the feet at
the right end of module 11 are mated with sockets 21A and 21B, for
example, of alignment plate 21 and the other end of the plate is
positioned under module 12. Likewise, the feet at the left end of
module 12 are mated with sockets 21C and 21D, for example, of the
alignment plate and the other end of the plate 21 is positioned
under module 11. The alignment plate coupling modules 11 and 12
together maintain the envelope processing path 15 level and aligned
over the modules 11 and 12 employed in the franking machine 10, and
also maintain a defined gap between the modules, desirable not to
convey vibrations from one to the other.
[0041] Other new and improved features of the present modular
franking system 10 include [1] at least one module 11, having a
module photocell beam sensor 25 to detect the arrival of an
envelope, and memory storing the distance from the sensor to each
end or both ends of the module and [2] a machine microprocessor
system including a communication bus node controller integrated or
discrete part of the processor system. The memory stores system
information about each actor and sensor including the distance
between the photocell 25 and the ends of module.
[0042] The communication bus 30 of franking machine 10 is coupled
to the machine microprocessor system, which is coupled to sensor 25
and other sensors and actors that detect articles (envelopes) and
act on them. The microprocessor system processes information from
the sensors and actors together with memory stored information and
communicates information along the system bus.
[0043] In one embodiment, the franking machine communication system
is a CAN.TM. serial communication bus that connects via an
integrated or discrete CAN controller to each microprocessor system
in machine 10. In alternate embodiments, any other suitable
communications technique can be used between the modules.
Information such as the distance between the photocell 25 and one
or both ends of module 11 and/or 12 is stored in a chip memory, and
passed on to the system bus upon startup so it can be used to
control the flow of an envelope through modules.
[0044] The information about the distance from an envelope sensor
to an upstream edge of a module and the distance from an envelope
sensor to a downstream edge of the same module is stored in a
memory in each module but is broadcasted downstream to other
modules and the host processor.
[0045] In one configuration of the franking system, the franking
module, module 12, which typically contains the printhead and
postage information, can also contain the system controller. If a
jam occurs in the feeder module, it is broadcast to the system. The
franking module 12 may have to still process envelopes downstream
in the system and the system controller decides when the downstream
envelopes are finished and the downstream transport can be shut
down so that the jam can be cleared. Once the system is shut down,
the operator is issued a request that the jam be cleared. Once this
done, the operator confirms this through the control panel and the
controller starts the system again.
[0046] In this system each module or peripheral can send to
downstream modules a message to announce the next envelope is
coming. Because the downstream module is aware of the distance
between the upstream sensor and its edge and the downstream module
is aware of the distance between the downstream module sensor and
its edge, the downstream module knows the window of time to expect
the next envelope. For instance, if the downstream module can
expect the next envelope to arrive at its sensor within a window of
95 to 105 milliseconds and the downstream module does not sense the
envelope during this time frame or period, the downstream module
will identify and broadcast the problem. On the other hand, if the
downstream module senses an envelope and there was no announcement
from the upstream module that it is coming, the downstream module
will again broadcast that there is a problem. Once broadcast, such
feeding errors, detected by timing, force the system controller to
take appropriate action.
[0047] The following sequence is an example of initiating a run of
envelopes and detecting an error. The operator powers up the
system. The host controller in module 12 determines which modules
and peripherals are available and informs each module who its
upstream neighbor is. Each module provides the distance between its
sensor and its edge in the letter flow direction to the host
controller. Each module can do this since each has this information
about itself. The host controller determines which module is
immediately downstream of each other module and informs the
downstream module(s) which module is immediately upstream of it and
the distance from the upstream module sensor to its edge. When the
downstream module obtains the upstream module's distance the
downstream module puts it together with its own distance from its
sensor to the edge in the direction of the upstream module and
enables a calculation to be made for the time or window of time
when an envelope should arrive once it is announced by the upstream
module. If the envelope does not arrive in that time after an
announcement is received that it is on its way, an error is
broadcast by the downstream module. It is noted that the host
controller can be in a device electronically connected to the
system. In one embodiment, the host controller may not be a part of
the system, in the module with the franking device, or in any other
of the modules. In feeding an envelope through the system, the
present invention can also provide complete end-to-end control of
the envelopes as they pass by the sensors in each module.
[0048] In one embodiment, the franking system can be configured to
operate at a speed, such as, for example, 13000 envelopes per hour,
for mixed mail up to a predetermined thickness or size or weight of
envelope. If any of these parameters is exceeded, sensors built
into the system can detect this situation and automatically stop
the system. The operator can take out the envelope(s) beyond the
predetermined parameters and have postage applied manually such as
by placing the postage on a tape and attaching the tape to the
envelope.
[0049] Other configurations are also possible. For instance, if the
system is operated at a predetermined speed in a particular run of
envelopes up to a predetermined weight and/or size envelope, the
system can also accommodate larger and heavier envelopes. This can
result in a slower speed within a run of envelopes that would have
a normally higher speed of operation. The sizes of envelopes can be
detected, for instance, by sensing the leading and trailing edges
in the first module. The weight can be detected by a dynamic
weighing platform module in the system. When an envelope exceeds a
predetermined weight for the configured speed of the system,
postage can be withheld from being applied to that envelope.
However, the envelope can continue to be fed through and out of the
system and the system stopped at that point. As soon as the
overweight envelope without postage exits the system is stopped,
the envelope on the top of the output tray will be the one without
postage. The operator can remove the envelope from the tray and can
put it in the top of the stack of envelopes to be fed through the
system in the input tray. The system is then restarted and the rest
of the envelopes are fed through the system in the ordinary fashion
but at a slower speed more consistent with the envelope just placed
on the input stack. The remainder of the stack of envelopes is then
completely fed through the system at the lower speed. This
technique can be used to avoid having the franking system have to
change speeds in the middle of a run.
[0050] Turning to FIG. 7, modules 11 and 12 have vertical flat
surfaces 30 and 31 that fit with a defined gap when the downstream
feet 23A and 23B of module 11 and the upstream feet 23C and 23D of
module 12 are locked to sockets 21A-21D of the alignment plate 21.
A draft angle surface 27 or gap is formed on the downstream end of
module 11 when the vertical surfaces 50 and 51 of modules 11 and 12
are coupled. A resultant triangular gap is created that can be used
to separate modules 11 and 12. Returning to the CANopen data
communication bus, the broadcast data bus employs a communication
bus wire 60 that is coupled to the host processor chip in the
PowerPost.TM. module 12. Each actor and sensor within the interior
of each module of the franking machine 10 is connected to its
modules microprocessor or controller system by internal wired or
bus lines. The CANbus controller in each module is connected by a
bus wire to terminate outside a module. One end of a outside bus
system segment couples to an end of an upstream inside bus segment
and the second end of an outside bus system segment couples to an
end of a downstream bus segment. Thus, a continuous bus connection
extends via the upstream inside bus segments through an outside bus
segment to an inside downstream bus segment.
[0051] A single, outside CANbus segment 100 can be coupled to by
male connectors 101 and 102 at each end of segment 100 thereby
continuing the CANbus from module 11 through module 12. This
segmentation permits an operator to rapidly remove an outside
CANbus segment between two modules 11 and 12 to add or replace an
adjacent module.
[0052] A more complex use of the moveable outside bus segments 100
is shown in FIG. 6. The envelope processing machine of FIG. 6
employs three outside CANbus segments to complete a continuous
CANbus through all four modules 11-14. Each module of FIG. 6 can be
mechanically coupled to a neighbor module by an alignment plate 21
and is electrically coupled to a neighbor module by an outside
CANbus segment. Removing module 12 from the four module system
requires the removal of the downstream CANbus segment S1 from
module 12 and the removal of the upstream bus segment end of S2
from module 12. Alignment plate 21a binding modules 11 and 12
together is removed and the alignment plate 21b binding modules 12
and 13 together is removed thereby allowing the removal of module
12 from the four module system. Next, module 11 is bound to module
13 by binding plate 21a and the outside CANbus segment S1 is
coupled between module 11 and module 13 creating a new three-module
article processing system.
[0053] It should be understood that the foregoing description is
only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives
and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art
without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present
invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives,
modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *